News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-11-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. Global Breast Implants Market Analysis and Forecast 2016 2022 steady growth to be seen http://bit.ly/2ePPskC http://bit.ly/2e0mFdZ ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Global Breast Implants Market Analysis and Forecast 2016 2022 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.The global breast implants market, has witnessed a steady growth and is anticipated to grow with a healthy CAGR during the forecast period.Breast Implants Market: Segment wise OutlookThe silicone breast implants segment is expected to grow at fast pace because of the popularity of highly cohesive silicone implants made of high strength silicone gel and textured with silicone shell. Silicone is the most preferred breast implants worldwide. It accounted for more than 80% market share in 2015. It is projected that silicone breast implants will gain the highest market share in the forecast period.Breast Implants Market: Region wise OutlookThe Americas dominated the market, followed by the EMEA and APAC. The breast implants market in APAC is expected to grow at a faster pace than the market in the Americas because of the high acceptance of the procedure in China and South Korea. In the EMEA, the breast implants market is expected to grow slowly because of the safety concerns and decrease in spending power. It is likely that the Americas will lead the breast implants market with more than 60% market share by the year 2022.To view detailed description and Table of Contents of this report please visitThe research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industryvalidated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. This report provides detailed analysis of global markets for breast implants from 2014-2015, and provides extensive market forecasts (2016-2022) by region/country and subsectors.The report covers key technological developments in the recent times and profiles leading players in the market and analyses their recent key development. The major players in the global breast implants market are Allergan, Mentor Worldwide, GC Aesthetics, Establishment Labs, Groupe Sebbin, Laboratories Arion, Kangning, Guangzhou Wanhe Plastic Materials and Sientra. The report also entails major drivers and challenges of breast implants market.The report covers indepth analysis on: Breast Implants Market Segments Breast Implants Market Dynamics Historical Actual Market Size, 2014 2015 Market Size & Forecast 2016 to 2022 Competition & Companies involved Market Growth Drivers and ChallengesGlobal Breast Implants Market is segmented as follows:Breast Implants Market & Forecast (2014 2022)Breast Implants Market Share & Forecast (2014 2022) Breast Implants Segment Wise Market Share Breast Implants Region Wise Market ShareBreast Implants Market By Segment Silicone Breast Implants Saline Breast ImplantsBreast Implants Market: By Geography The Americas United States Rest of the Americas Europe, Middle East, & Africa (EMEA) Asia Pacific(APAC)Cost Analysis of Breast Implant ProceduresMarket Segmentation by Surgical Procedures Breast Augmentation Breast ReconstructionKey Companies Analysis Allergan GC Aesthetics Mentor Worldwide LLC Sientra Arion Laboratories Establishment Labs Groupe Sebbin Guangzhou Wanhe Plastic Materials KangningGlobal Breast Implants Market: Growth & ChallengesTo Get Sample Copy of this report please visitAbout ReportsWorldwide.comReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends. Moreover, ReportsWorldwide's Research Associates have in-depth knowledge of the reports and services on offer and are ready to provide assistance.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-4994Fax +1 (617) 398-4995abigail@reportsworldwide.com Bag-in-Box Containers Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Growth, Trends, Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=12782 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Bag-in-Box Containers Market: SnapshotThe demand for aseptic and convenient packaging formats on the part of the consumer and the need to reduce per-package cost price on the part of the manufacturer are the prime factors behind the emergence and rising adoption of bag-in-box containers across industries. Bag-in-box containers, as against conventional packaging solutions, provide improved hygiene and safety features in addition to greater convenience in packaging, storage, and transportation and low space utilization.While the sales of bag-in-box containers are anticipated to amount to US$2.7 bn by the end of 2016, the market is anticipated to face a major challenge from the introduction of competitive alternate products such as cubitainers. Nevertheless, the surging demand for bag-in-box containers for wine packaging is expected to help overcome growth restrictions and give the global market a significant push to expand at a 6.5% CAGR from 2016 to 2024.GET MORE INFO IN PDF FILE OF : Bag-in-Box Containers Market (Material Type - Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH); End-use - Food & Beverages, Alcoholic Beverages, Non-alcoholic beverages (juice, smoothies), Liquid food (cooking oil, milk & other, dairy products), Industrial Liquid Products (chemicals, battery acids), Household products (Liquid washing & cleaning products, Water, cosmetics)) :-Soaring Opportunities in Customized Bag-in-Box ContainersBased on end use, the global bag-in-box containers market caters to the food and beverages industry, household applications, and industrial liquids packaging companies. The food and beverages sector dominates the global bag-in-box containers market with a share amounting to over three-fourths of the overall market by end use. This segment comprises alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, and liquid foods. The use of bag-in-box containers for household products is anticipated to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period at an 8.8% CAGR.Bag-in-box containers are made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), and other materials. Low-density polyethylene is the most widely used material for bag-in-box containers and accounts for a prominent share in the global market owing to its high consumption in the packaging of food and beverages as well as household products. Driven by its oxygen barrier properties, ethylene vinyl alcohol is anticipated to gain traction over the forecast period in the packaging of food items and beverages.By the type of received order, the global bag-in-box containers market includes standard orders and customized orders. Bag-in-box containers are mainly available in a standard format and thus, the segment accounts for the maximum share. However, customized bag-in-box offerings are expected to present lucrative opportunities for manufacturers. This segment is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2016 to 2024.Asia Pacific to Gain Traction in Near FutureOn the basis of geography, the global bag-in-box containers market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Europe is the largest revenue generator in the global bag-in-box containers market in terms of value and volume. Latin America is anticipated to witness the highest growth over the forecast period, registering a CAGR of 8.0%. The growing demand for bag-in-box containers is likely to boost the Asia Pacific market, with countries such as China and India emerging as major contributors to the growth of the regional market. Prominent bag-in-box container manufacturers have been significantly investing in these countries in the recent past. The bag-in-box containers market in MEA is expected to witness moderate growth in the coming years.Leading players in the global bag-in-box containers market include Smurfit Kappa Group, DS Smith, Amcor Limited, Liqui-Box, Scholle IPN, CDF Corporation, Vine Valley Ventures LLC, Parish Manufacturing Inc., TPS Rental Systems Ltd, and Optopack Ltd. Companies have been mostly focused on geographical and capacity expansions in order to secure a top spot among the global leaders.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: SpecPage expands into the Nordic market to deliver product development software solutions and services for the food & beverage industry www.specpage.com SpecPage, a global provider of integrated software solutions and online tools for the recipe-based manufacturing industry, has strengthened its presence in the Nordic market with a new branch office in Sweden and the appointment of Marek Andreasson to develop the companys business in the region.SpecPage with headquarters in Switzerland and branch offices in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Slovakia and the United States, is a rapidly growing technology company specializing in the food & beverage (F&B) industry and is set to expand its activities in the Nordic region in order to meet the increasing demand for product development and information solutions. To strengthen its presence in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, the company has opened a new office in Stockholm, Sweden to provide enhanced support to its existing customers, including Lantmannen-Unibake, Almondy, Stanta Maria, Tine, Diplom Ise and Hennig Olsen.As part of this initiative, SpecPage has also extended its team with Marek Andreasson as Business Development Manager to develop the business in the Nordic region. He previously held business development positions with companies such as Emagic, Screen9, Dell and Apple before joining SpecPage.SpecPage provides product development solutions, including Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Product Data Management (PDM) and Laboratory Information and Management System (LIMS), enabling F&B companies to innovate competitive products in compliance with relevant food laws.With expertise in the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN), the company offers individually customizable online catalogs, including Suppliers Guide, Buyers Guide and Compliance Guide, to help manufacturers, distributors and buyers manage high-quality product information at the touch of a button.Food and beverage companies face increasing challenges to launch and market innovative products efficiently. SpecPages customized solutions help clients streamline product development processes, minimize costs and ensure regulatory compliance, said Severin Weiss, CEO at SpecPage. We are confident that we can offer a high-quality service to existing clients and prospects in the Nordic region through our new branch office in Sweden with a dedicated and experienced team on site.I am pleased to be joining SpecPage and leading activities in the Nordic region, especially at this exciting time as the company continues to expand globally, said Andreasson. I have worked in the technology industry for over 15 years and look forward to bringing in my experience to help SpecPage clients get the most of their software investment and achieve their company goals. We offer leading products and I am convinced that we can grow significantly in the Nordics.About SpecPageSpecPage with headquarters in Switzerland and branch offices in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Italy, Slovakia and United States is a leading vendor of integrated software solutions and online catalogs for the food and beverage industry. Kelloggs, Subway, Ferrero, Lindt, Dr. Oetker, Mondelez, Develey, Nestle Wagner, Campbell Soup, R&R Ice Cream, OSI, Zeelandia and Glanbia (to name a few) are well-known customers who use the innovative and user-friendly software solutions from SpecPage to successfully manage the special and complex aspects of product development in the global competition for attractive products. With expertise in food law, the company offers turnkey product data management tools for master data and recipe as well product lifecycle management with integrated GDSN interface, simplifying compliance with global labeling requirements. In addition to its standardized software solutions, SpecPage offers master data capturing services and audits.Sabrina WeissMedia & CommunicationsSpecPagePilatusstrasse 356402 Merlischachen-KussnachtSwitzerlandE: sabrina.weiss@specpage.comT: +41 44 500 75 00 Looking for a friendly spot to take your ghosts, goblins and superheroes on Halloween? These Portland-area locations are hosting trick-or-treating events. Saturday Howloween at the zoo: Costumed trick-or-treaters can learn about wildlife in a scavenger hunt with treats and prizes throughout the Oregon Zoo. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Oregon Zoo. Recommended for ages 2-12. Free with zoo admission. oregonzoo.org Monday (Halloween) Northeast Alberta Street: Businesses with "Trick or Treat Alberta Street" posters on display will have treats for kids in costumes. 3:30-6 p.m. albertamainst.org Cedar Hills Crossing: It's Mall-O-Ween in Beaverton. Look for bright orange signs at participating stores and restaurants on the interior and exterior of the mall. 6-7 p.m. cedarhillscrossing.com Clackamas Town Center: Trick-or-treating at participating stores for ages 12 and under. No masks, painted faces or toy weapons. 5-7 p.m. clackamastowncenter.com Gresham: Merchants in historic downtown Gresham will hand out treats for kids in costumes. Main Avenue will be blocked to vehicle traffic between First and Fifth streets. 4-6 p.m. exploregresham.com Hillsboro Main Street: Downtown businesses make way for "Harvest on Main," with tricks and treats, live music, a costume contest, carnival games and more. 5-9 p.m. hillsborodowntown.com Mississippi Avenue: Look for participating businesses with black and orange balloons on display. 3-7 p.m. on North Mississippi Avenue. https://www.facebook.com/MississippiAve/ Multnomah Village: Trick-or-treat, rain or shine, in Southwest Portland. Start at Starbucks to pick up your walking map and finish at Dr. Jensen's at 7717 S.W. 34th Ave. 3:30-5:30 p.m. multnomahvillage.org Oregon City: Trick-or-treat down Main Street in downtown Oregon City at participating businesses. 4-6 p.m. downtownoregoncity.org Tigard: Merchants (look for the orange pumpkins in their windows) invite trick-or-treaters to downtown Tigard's Main Street. 4-6 p.m. exploredowntowntigard.com Vancouver Mall: Bootacular trick-or-treating at participating stores while supplies last. No masks or accessories that resemble weapons. For children 12 and under. 5-7 p.m. shopvancouvermall.com -- The Oregonian/OregonLive Marathon runners compete in the 2011 Lon A survey from the magazine Runner's World showed that harassment of female runners is widespread. (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) Sexual abuse and harassment has become an increasingly prevalent topic of conversation of late as an increasing number of women have come forward to share their experiences publicly. Heightened awareness about the issue is shedding light on exactly how widespread abuse and harassment is, from offices to nightclubs and nearly all places in between, a fact many women already know all too well. A new survey from Runner's World, in which they asked readers about their experiences, shows that many women can't even go for a jog without being hit on, followed, harassed or worse. "When we asked readers about their own experiences - more than 4,500 people responded - and the statistics are shocking," David Willey, editor in chief of the magazine, said in a statement. Of those respondents -- 2,137 of whom were men and 2,533 who were women -- 43 percent of female runners reported they had been harassed, but only 4 percent of men reported the same. One in three women who responded had been followed by a person in a car, on foot or on a bicycle. Jennifer Herr, a 36-year-old runner from Brooklyn, New York, told the magazine she was out on a run when she heard a policeman blare over a megaphone "Stop running!" "When I turned around, I discovered that they were calling a man that had been chasing me," she said. The majority of female runners under the age of 30 said harassment was a frequent experience with "58 percent saying it happens to them mid-runs always, often or sometimes," the magazine said in a press release. Another 18 percent of women said they had received sexual propositions mid-run. "A group of older, drunk dudes saw me and started catcalling and calling out every step I took with 'Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce!'" said Anna Revolinsky, a 26-year-old runner from Portland. "They were commenting on the motion of my chest as I moved." Five percent told Runner's World that men had flashed them. "I was about five months pregnant," Amber Balbier, of McKinney, Texas, told the magazine. "Enjoying an easy run on a beautiful afternoon, when a man pulled his car over and exposed himself to me." An additional 3 percent of women said they had been grabbed, groped or otherwise physically assaulted while running. While Willey said the survey would not be the end of harassment, a problem that is larger than just the sport of running, he hoped the survey would, at the very least, increase awareness to the issue. "Gender-based harassment is a complex social problem, not just a running problem," he said. "We runners are a tribe and talking openly and honestly about the on-the-run harassment is a step in the right direction." -- Kale Williams 503-294-4048 1tuition.JPG In this February 2010 file photo, then-Gov. Ted Kulongoski speaks to a rally where students protested high tuition. (Oregonian/OregonLive file photo) By Lynn Pasquerella Special To The Washington Post The ideal of higher education as a public good - once inextricably linked to the American Dream - has been all but abandoned in favor of the college degree as a private commodity. The narrow focus on earning power, coinciding with demographic shifts in the number and diversity of college students, has fueled the understanding of college as a purely private benefit rather than a good for all. Our colleges should instead be seen as a means of strengthening our democracy as well as bolstering our nation's economy. The next president should work with leaders in higher education to reclaim the mission of higher education, which should allow us to pinpoint the costly factors that are driving up prices and crowding out under-served student populations. Community colleges and other state institutions enroll 80 percent of all students, and yet public education is becoming increasingly privatized due to decreases in state support and the failure of federal student aid to keep pace with increased costs. Indeed, the maximum Pell Grant now covers only about 30 percent of the price of a four-year public education - an all-time low. As a result, public colleges and universities have had to do more with less, leading to a burgeoning reliance on contingent faculty, larger classes, greater numbers of out-of-state students and widening gaps between public and private schools in terms of per-student spending. Formulaic, short-term solutions to fill deficits - such as cutting faculty, increasing enrollment and using technology to bridge the gap - have proved unsuccessful. To accomplish long-term reform and refocus college as a public good, the real drivers of the cost of education need to be interrogated, including the current reward structures within ranking systems. Many colleges and universities are caught up in a veritable arms race that encourages excess by allocating scarce resources to the recruitment of the largest number of students with the highest academic profiles in order to improve their selectivity rankings by turning more of them away. Meanwhile, tenure and promotion processes often privilege publishing in arcane peer-reviewed journals over excellence in teaching, advising and other services that we know have a disproportionately positive influence on under-served students. Quality and equity in education must be made national priorities. Incentives such as federal grants should be provided for colleges and universities to lower costs per student through the creation of institutional partnerships among different types of colleges and universities. This will allow institutions to commit to resource sharing of faculty, technology and services aimed at developing equity-minded practices and demonstrated achievement of student learning outcomes. The government should further explore sponsoring programs at institutions that make a commitment to creating pathways for academic achievement reaching out to under-served segments of society, such as the Second Chance Pell Program for prisoners. It is also important, now more than ever, to respond to accusations from politicians that a college education - more specifically, one in the liberal arts and sciences - has become irrelevant and illegitimate. The next president should recognize these charges as collusion in the growth of intellectual oligarchy, where only the very richest and most prestigious institutions preserve access to the liberal arts traditions. While many have acknowledged that higher education is essential to equality of opportunity, the reality is that a growing economic segregation in higher education threatens to undermine our nation's historic mission of educating for democracy. Only when equity is combined with access will the full promise of American higher education truly be fulfilled. Pasquerella is president of the Association of American College and Universities, a philosopher and host of Northeast Public Radio's "The Academic Minute." 1kelly.JPG In this Jan. 28, 2016 file photo, Moderator Megyn Kelly waits for the start of the Republican presidential primary debate in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) By Margaret Sullivan More magazine's final issue last March showed a lovely - and quite serious - face with a memorable headline: "Lessons From America's Most Beautiful Badass." The face belonged to Megyn Kelly, perhaps the hottest property in TV news and the host of Fox News's "The Kelly File." Kelly hasn't always lived up to her steel-spined reputation. Her much-touted special with Donald Trump last May was an exercise in mutual promotion that featured softball questions and cutesy laughs with the candidate, and ended in a cringe-worthy preview of her soon-to-be-published book. But Tuesday night, Kelly once again showed what she can do in her best moments. Her interview with former House speaker and current Trump ally Newt Gingrich offered a rarely seen mic-drop. They sparred, mesmerizingly, over the allegations of Trump's sexual misconduct. Gingrich tried to dismiss the topic - and diss the interviewer: "You are fascinated with sex, and you don't care about public policy." Quite a claim - and Kelly wasn't having it. Gingrich had conflated the violence of sexual assault with consensual sex. She fired back, citing polls that show most women actually do care about the issue of sexual harassment. And, as Gingrich proceeded to repeatedly label former president Clinton a "predator," she asserted the obvious: Fox has given plenty of coverage to Bill Clinton's checkered past with women. (And let's not forget that while the House speaker was championing Clinton's impeachment, he was carrying on an adulterous affair with one of his staffers.) Then Kelly, a lawyer, ended the interview on a startling note: "We're going to leave it at that, and you can take your anger issues and spend some time working on them, Mr. Speaker." Startled, Gingrich managed this much: "You, too." The interview immediately blew up on social media, with the general reaction being something as simple as "Wow." (Trump's own reaction on Wednesday was affirming: "We don't play games, Newt, right?") Trump's social media adviser, Dan Scavino, took the EZ Pass lane to the low road with a threatening tweet worthy of his boss: "Megyn Kelly made a total fool out of herself tonight - attacking Donald Trump. Watch what happens to her after this election is over." I'm not sure what that means - whether it was meant to evoke the need for a bodyguard or a defense lawyer - but I doubt that Kelly is losing sleep over it, any more than the New York Times is losing sleep over Trump's recent threats to sue the paper. There's more than a whiff of desperation in that misguided silliness. The Kelly-Gingrich dustup made for riveting TV - and it was good to see her taking no prisoners - but it wasn't Kelly's top moment. That remains her stunning question to Trump in the first Republican primary debate last year. "You've called women you don't like 'fat pigs,' 'dogs,' 'slobs,' and 'disgusting animals.' Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president?" Trump's immediate answer carried a hint of a yet another threat: "I've been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me." And in fact, he shunned her show for many weeks afterward until a much-touted summit meeting at Trump Tower, which resulted in the aforementioned special in May. Kelly is tough, talented and smart. She did the right thing when she told internal investigators that she, too, had been sexually harassed by her former boss Roger Ailes - a move that might have been the final blow for him at Fox, where he was fired in August. She is also often occupied with burnishing her brand and enhancing her career, which includes the matter of the expiration of her Fox contract in 2017. Meanwhile, her autobiographical book, "Settle for More," comes out next month, and is expected to detail her feud with Trump and the toll it took. Let's not equate Kelly's iron-fist-velvet-glove interviews - some interviews, that is - with journalistic idealism. Neither is it crusading feminism. There's a hefty measure of calculated self-promotion in all of this. But it serves a good purpose: Kelly, with her stratospheric profile, has provided a consistent voice for women's issues during this campaign. If that also helps her sell books and get a fatter contract, I'm all for it. (c) 2016, The Washington Post Update at 4:10 p.m.: All defendants found not guilty. Update: The jury reported to the court Thursday afternoon that it has reached consensus on all but one charge. The jury sent a note to the judge that members have "exhausted all discussion" and can't come to an agreement, and that "further deliberation would not help." Deliberations started anew Thursday morning after the federal judge in the conspiracy trial against Ammon Bundy and six co-defendants welcomed a new juror and told the reconstructed 12-member jury to "disregard entirely'' past discussions and begin fresh. "Starting over may seem frustrating,'' U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown told the jurors in court. "Do not let it discourage you.'' Brown directed the jurors not to speculate or discuss the reasons why they'd been reconfigured, with Juror 11 replaced by Juror 18. The judge dismissed Juror 11 on Wednesday, a day after a fellow juror questioned his impartiality in a note to the court, submitted on the third day of deliberations. "That's happened. That's passed,'' Brown said. She urged the group to start all over, "as if the previous deliberations have never occurred.'' The judge also reminded the group that unanimous rulings are required for a verdict, as to each count in the case. Ammon Bundy and six-co-defendants are charged with conspiring to impede federal employees at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge through intimidation, threat or force stemming from the 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Four of the seven defendants are charged with possessing guns in a federal facility. Two of the defendants each face an additional charge of theft of government property. After the judge's five-minute instructions, the jury was released by 8:40 a.m. to start deliberations again. The jury is expected to deliberate an hour past it's usual end time, until 5:30 Thursday. The jury won't meet on Friday. If the jury is not done Thursday, deliberations will continue on Monday. Brown questioned if Juror 18, a legal assistant for a state public defender who was summoned from Central Oregon Wednesday afternoon, had any exposure to information about the case since she was temporarily dismissed last week after closing arguments and lengthy jury instructions were heard. She shook her head no. Juror 1, who was the past presiding juror, asked if the newly-reconstructed jury picks a new person to serve in that role. "Yes, because your prior deliberations don't count,'' the judge told him. The judge didn't hear any arguments in court about a motion filed by Ammon Bundy's lawyers, seeking a change in the jury instruction about the Second Amendment. His lawyers had asked the instruction include a reference to a militia. Judge Brown said she found no basis to change the instructions. David Fry, one of the defendants in the Oregon standoff trial, is released from custody after a jury found him not guilty of federal conspiracy and gun charges during the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Stephanie Yao Long/Staff In fact, the judge didn't repeat the lengthy jury instructions Thursday, since the alternate juror, now a full-fledged member of the jury, had been present for that delivery last week. Ammon Bundy's lawyer, Marcus Mumford, said he's pleased that Juror 11 was dismissed, after a fellow juror had questioned if he could be impartial. Juror 4 had reported to the court that Juror 11, a former Bureau of Land Management employee, had stated at the start of the last deliberations, "I am very biased...'' "I'm still racked with self doubt about all sorts of things here, but that's sort of the nature of this business,'' Mumford said. His client, who chose to wore jail scrubs throughout the trial, appeared in court before the newly-reconstructed jury on Thursday in a gray suit. Mumford said he wasn't sure why, but said he believes Ammon Bundy wants to be dressed in a suit for the eventual reading of the verdicts. -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian Logan Kitzhaber, son of the former governor, was briefly jailed Wednesday in Portland on a warrant stemming from a July rollover crash north of Lincoln City. The warrant was for third- and fourth-degree assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and second-degree criminal mischief, according to a Multnomah County Sheriff's Office spokesman. Kitzhaber was booked into jail early Wednesday afternoon and had been released on bail by early evening, records show. Kitzhaber, who turns 19 on Friday, hasn't been formally charged, said Lt. Chad Gaidos, the spokesman. Kitzhaber was in jail for about four hours and 40 minutes before being released on $15,000 bail, which is 10 percent of his total bail, according to a jail staff member. Logan Kitzhaber Kitzhaber was involved in a rollover crash on U.S. 101 north of Lincoln City on July 4. A witness told authorities that Kitzhaber attempted to pass another car and then hit the side of a motorhome, causing it to roll onto its side. Kitzhaber was flown by air ambulance to OHSU Hospital in Portland and released by the next day. He admitted drinking a beer at some point before embarking on the drive and said he smoked marijuana the night before, court records show. State police confirmed in early September they had forwarded toxicology test results, which could reveal whether Kitzhaber had alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of the crash, to the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office. The district attorney didn't immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday. Police obtained a search warrant to draw samples of Kitzhaber's blood and urine the night of the crash, and Senior Trooper Bryan Fitch said in an affidavit he believed Kitzhaber was under the influence of intoxicants at the time. The occupants of the motorhome -- Martha and Stanley Lyckman of Port Angeles, Washington -- were treated at a local hospital for injuries that didn't threaten their lives. Kitzhaber's mother has property in Neskowin, which is about nine miles north of the crash scene on U.S. 101. He has a 2015 speeding conviction for going 55 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to records. -- Jim Ryan jryan@oregonian.com 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Hillary Borrud and Lynne Palombo of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report SALEM, Ore. -- A South Korean man flown to the U.S. 37 years ago and adopted by an American couple at age 3 has been ordered deported back to a country that is completely alien to him. "It is heartbreaking news," said Dae Joong (DJ) Yoon, executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, who had been in contact with Adam Crapser. Crapser, who lives in Vancouver, remains confined in an immigration detention center in Tacoma, Washington, pending his deportation. Crapser waived an appeal during the hearing Monday because he is desperate to get out of detention, his Seattle attorney, Lori Walls, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "I'm sure he doesn't have any idea what he can do in Korea," Yoon said in a phone interview from his group's offices in Annandale, Va. Crapser's plight mirrors those of thousands of others. Yoon's group says an estimated 35,000 intercountry adoptees lack U.S. citizenship. It is backing legislation in Congress to address that. Seven years after Crapser and his older sister were adopted, their parents abandoned them. The foster care system separated Crapser when he was 10 from his sister. He was housed at several foster and group homes. When Crapser was 12, he moved in with Thomas and Dolly Crapser, their biological son, two other adoptees and several foster children. There, he was physically abused, Crapser has said. In 1991, the couple was arrested on charges of physical child abuse, sexual abuse and rape. They denied the charges. Thomas Crapser's sentence included 90 days in jail, and Dolly Crasper's included three years of probation. Adam Crapser got into trouble with the law after he broke into his parents' home -- it was, he said, to retrieve the Korean Bible and rubber shoes that came with him from the orphanage -- and later it was for stealing cars and assaulting a roommate. Federal immigration officials say they became aware of Crapser after he applied for a green card. His criminal convictions made him deportable. Becky Belcore, who was adopted at age 1 and brought to the United States from South Korea, said she was with Crapser in the courtroom, located inside the detention center. She said the facility seems worse than jail because visitors cannot touch or hug detainees and must talk to them on a telephone. "He has been in detention for almost nine months," Belcore said in a phone interview from her home in Chicago. "He's been separated from his children. It is really hard for him." Walls said Crapser is married and has four children. Belcore said Crapser was wearing what looked like hospital scrubs, the uniform for detainees, and that Immigration Judge John C. O'Dell appeared matter-of-fact as he announced his deportation verdict. In an email, Walls said Adam was eligible for a deportation reprieve called "cancellation of removal," but the "judge decided he did not deserve this relief." "He will be deported as soon as Immigration and Customs Enforcement makes the necessary arrangements," Walls said. "Adam, his family, and advocates are heartbroken at the outcome." Kathryn Mattingly, a spokeswoman with the Executive Office for Immigration Review of the U.S. Department of Justice, said in an email that she could not provide confirmation or details of the hearing without an alien registration number for Crapser and possibly a privacy waiver. Walls said she would seek permission from Crapser later to provide that information. Belcore said she feels lucky that her adoptive parents obtained her U.S. citizenship. "A lot of times, parents simply didn't know that they were supposed to do it," she said. "It seems so wrong and so inhumane" for Crapser to be sent to South Korea, Belcore said. "Without knowing the language and the culture, it will be so difficult to survive." --The Associated Press Attorneys for the U.S. Justice Department and the city of Portland are expected to spend the next week discussing the next steps for a police oversight panel, one of the components of an agreement between the federal government and the city intended to improve community and police relations. The previous panel, called the Community Oversight and Advisory Board, has apparently dissolved following the resignation of its chairman, multiple unfilled vacancies and meetings that were routinely disrupted beyond the point where meaningful dialogue was taking place. Justice Department attorneys had asked U.S. District Court Judge Michael E. Simon on Tuesday to order the city to come up with a replacement panel within 30 days. The request was part of an annual review of a settlement agreement between the Justice Department and the city to reform Portland police procedures. The Justice Department is expected to file a report within a week saying whether the two sides had reached any agreement on the citizens' panel. Justice Department attorneys also were seeking an order that told the city to return to the court in 90 days to continue with an overall assessment of the agreement. Simon listened to Justice Department and city of Portland attorneys for about three hours Tuesday at an annual review of the agreement, reached in 2014. Then, he listened to policing experts and about a dozen citizens give testimony about the agreement, adjourning some time after 7 p.m. During a break between the two portions of the hearing, U.S. Marshals and a Homeland Security officer arrested citizen activist Roger Hardesty, citing him for creating a disturbance. Simon also set the third annual status conference for the Justice Department-city agreement for 10 a.m., Oct. 5, 2017. --Allan Brettman 503-294-5900 @allanbrettman 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. #BTS BTS' RM to make solo debut soon RM, leader of the K-pop juggernaut BTS, will release his first official solo album soon, the band's agency said Tuesday. Big Hit Music said RM is currently preparing for the al... Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Balloons and cupcakes were added amongst vegetables and produce to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Moncks Corner Farmers Market. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC (AHP) has announced the merger of Miller & Associates, P.C. with AHP effective Nov. 1. Ann Arbor-based Miller & Associates is a one office certified public accounting firm with a staff of 10 employees. The addition of the Ann Arbor office brings AHP to eight offices throughout the state of Michigan and over 150 staff members. Among communities with offices are Midland, Bay City and Saginaw. Warner Norcross & Judd LLP has been named a Best Medium Workplace by Great Place to Work. Based on extensive employee surveys conducted by independent analysts, Warner Norcross got top marks for providing a challenging and rewarding work environment with great leadership. Ninety-nine percent of those surveyed among the firms eight offices said they were proud to tell others they work at Warner Norcross. This is the firms first year on the national list. Our attorneys and staff really make this a great place to work, said Cheryl Coutchie, director of human resources for Warner Norcross. As a firm, we have a strong commitment to providing work-life balance, ensuring our team members can have challenging and rewarding careers without sacrificing their personal lives. We are honored to receive this recognition, which is based on employee feedback. Warner Norcross is one of the largest law firms in Michigan with 145 staff supporting 230 attorneys practicing in eight offices, including an office in Midland. A full-service law firm, Warner Norcross has 40+ practice and industry groups that cover virtually every aspect of law. Theres a generosity of spirit that infuses the Best Small and Medium workplaces one that has a measurable return, said Kim Peters, executive vice president of Great Place to Work. Whether its funding employee passion projects or giving surprise gifts to customers, the best workplaces give it away. And they get it back in the form of inspired people who innovate harder and generate higher revenue. The Dow Chemical Co. reported favorable third quarter earnings on Thursday, and the company remains hopeful regulators will approve its $130 billion merger with the DuPont Co. We havent given up hope that we can get it closed by the end of the year, said Jim Fitterling, Dows president and chief operating officer. But as the end of the year nears, Fitterling said Dow has to be realistic and anticipate that the European Commissions approval may not arrive until the first quarter of 2017. The merger would result in a combined company known as DowDuPont, which would then spin off into three separate, independent businesses within 18 to 24 months: Material Sciences, said to stay headquartered in Midland, and Agriculture and Specialty Products, to be based in Wilmington, Delaware, where DuPont is currently headquartered. It would essentially carve Dow into three companies, Fitterling said. Before closing the deal, the merger would need approval from what Fitterling dubbed the big four: the European Union, U.S. Department of Justice, China and Brazil. In the meantime, most employees know their job statuses related to the acquisition of Dow Corning, the president and chief operating officer said. Over 85 percent of the people that will be affected in the Dow and (Dow Corning) combination know the status of whether they will have a job or not or if theyre leaving and when they would leave, Fitterling said. On June 28, Dow announced it had planned to cut 4 percent of its global workforce and that 700 of those jobs will come from the Great Lakes Bay Region. About a month later, Dow Corning Corp. filed two notices with the state to detail nearly 350 layoffs. The notices state that 238 employees at Dow Cornings Corporate Center and another 110 employees from its Uptown office in Bay City will be affected by a restructuring of the company. The layoffs were expected to begin Sept. 30. Dow Corning became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Co. in June. Also announced at the time was a specialized job portal, launched July 11 to help workers affected by layoffs. There are over 1,100 jobs in that job bank today, Fitterling said. We have a lot of very qualified people in this region who have a lot of financial IT capabilities (and) good manufacturing and technical knowledge, and a lot of those skills are needed in the state of Michigan. There is nothing beyond in terms of further job cuts at this point, he said. I dont imagine we would be in a position to look at that until well after closing the deal, he said. As for Dows earnings announced today, Fitterling said it was the companys highest third quarter ever, and that Dow saw its highest third quarter earnings per share in more than a decade. Dow has shifted the company over the last couple years away from industrial commodities to downstream products, including specialty packaging, automotive, electronics and household goods. That business mix I think has led to this volume growth, Fitterling said. The growing middle class economy around the world is creating that demand. He said for 74 years, Dow Corning had stood alone in joint development projects, and that he couldnt be happier with the way Dow and Dow Corning teams are working. So far, so good, Fitterling said. Were off to a really good start with Dow Corning. European antitrust regulators continue their review of the Dow-DuPont merger. The EU cited a concern about the lack of competition that could result, notably in the agriculture industry. Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris recently said the merger may be delayed until February. One of the strongest lobbies in the world out there is the farm lobby, and in Europe, the agricultural sector is very, very critical to them, somewhat protected, Liveris said in an interview with Bloomberg News this week (http://bloom.bg/2eNBnU6). During an earnings conference call today, Liveris said discussions are going a little longer than we had hoped, but that 10 jurisdictions had approved the merger and Dow is confident a deal will be reached by the first quarter of 2017. A few months shouldnt impact the value creation of a $130 billion deal, he said. Mega-mergers in the seed and agrochemical industry, including the pending Dow-DuPont combo, drummed up worries of threats to free market system fundamentals at a Senate Judiciary Committee Meeting in September. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned when the market will reach a tipping point with the size of companies and concentration if five of the nations six biggest farm chemical and seed companies (Monsanto Co., Bayer, Dow, DuPont, BASF and Syngenta) are in merger or acquisition talks, adding it may be a consolidation wave that has birthed a tsunami. (See: http://bit.ly/2eU32Da). Liveris plans to step down after merger approval. Bloomberg reported Liveris had noted a keen interest in politics, and that he said the U.S. is not doing a good job selecting candidates and that business leaders with worldly experience could be valuable in the political arena. People like me should consider going and serving after they leave jobs like these, Liveris told Bloomberg, saying he didnt necessarily plan to run for any office. Both Dow and DuPont reportedly are looking to sell copolymers and herbicides businesses to gain merger approval. Dow hired a financial adviser to manage the sale of its unit that makes copolymers used in food packaging, which generates about $150 million in annual revenue, according to Bloomberg News, which cited unidentified sources in its report. Fitterling acknowledged the reports, but did not confirm them. This article was updated to reflect that more than 85 percent of employees know their job status related to Dow acquiring Dow Corning. A previous version indicated it was related to the proposed Dow and DuPont merger. The Dow Chemical Co. today reported earnings per share at 63 cents, marking what the company said is its fourth consecutive year in earnings growth expansion and third year of volume growth. "We did have gains in all geographic areas," said Dow Spokesperson Rachelle Schikorra. In the third quarter earnings report, Dow revealed it earned $719 million, or $1.03 billion when certain items are excluded. Dow reported sales at $12.5 billion. Numbers in the third quarter report a year ago show Dow earned $1.29 billion, or $959 million when certain items are excluded, and a higher $1.09 earnings per share. "The differentiating factor is, this quarter versus last year, we had a large gain when we divested our Agrofresh business, which was a large gain into our earnings per share," Schikorra said. Still, Schikorra said, the numbers are "very health" compared to what industry analysts had expected Dow to deliver. Dow reported a 4 percent uptick in sales to $500 million compared to the 2015 third quarter report, when the company had its lowest sales of the year. Gains were made in all segments except the company's performance materials and chemicals, which declined primarily as a result of the Dow chlorine products divestiture, the report states. "It's a strong testament to how well we're running the organization and how our market driven strategy is performing for us. ... And it's showing up on our bottom line," she said. The earnings report stated the company has returned $928 million to shareholders through paid dividends and share repurchases. Operating segments reporting gains include Agricultural Sciences, Consumer Solutions, Infrastructure Solutions and Performance Plastics. Sales in the Performance Materials and Chemicals division was down $700 million from $3.1 billion in the year-ago period, the report states, reflecting the impact of the split-off of Dow Chlorine Products and pricing declines in all businesses. Volume was down 16 percent. "Our increasingly consumer markets-oriented portfolio was once again on display, with strong results reported in the businesses that serve the packaging, automotive, electronics, construction and agriculture markets," stated Andrew Liveris, Dow chairman and CEO. "In our newest business addition Dow Corning's silicones business we delivered double-digit earnings growth, while disciplined execution yielded synergies ahead of plan. And finally, we were pleased with the ongoing advancement of our strategic growth investments, most notably the successful startup of the largest unit at our Sadara joint venture (in Saudi Arabia) and steady progress on our Texas ethylene plant, which is now more than 85 percent complete." Chainsaw Man Season 1: The anime community is now buzzing about Chainsaw Man. Although the manga has been out for Read more Updated : Mar 10, 2020 in Culture Some Things You Need to Know About Pakistani Culture - In the previous article I discussed the history, the system of government and its economy, WASHINGTON, D.C. They're known for bouncing around jobs, delaying marriage and holing up in their parents' basements. Dubbed recently as the "children of the Great Recession" by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, millennials are the best educated and most diverse population of young people in U.S. history. They are also perhaps the most coddled, some would say spoiled. As they emerge this year as the United States' largest demographic group some 75 million strong millennials are taking up the mantle as the most impactful generation since the baby boomers. Their influence has started slowly, due largely to the economic instability that has left many struggling to find good-paying jobs and saddled with staggering student loan debt. But millennials adults under 35 are certain to shape the economy for decades to come. And their coming of age in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression has bred distinct traits that could pose special challenges for the nation's future growth and prosperity. For starters, millennials are not big spenders, at least not in the traditional sense. Millennials tend to prefer experiences over buying things and accumulating stuff. To them, an impressive selfie capturing a memorable moment is, in some sense, as enviable as a new car or fancy watch was to their parents. Neil Howe, an economist and demographer who coined the term "millennials" with co-author William Strauss, sees it as part of a redefining of American conspicuous consumption. Instead of material wealth, millennials show off through their travels, hobbies and even meals, which get photographed and posted on Facebook, Instagram and other social media. "If you're a foodie, you can go out and have some incredible dining experience, and then you can curate it almost as if it were a thing," Howe said. Millennials are one reason restaurants have been doing well and hiring so many workers. Dominick Ardis, 29, typifies his generation. In between jobs this year, the Tallahassee, Fla., resident scrounged money from family and friends so he could immerse himself in Hebrew studies this summer at Middlebury College in Vermont. Last year it was the art of glass-blowing. And before that he was getting voice lessons. "Music is such an emotional and experiential event," he said. Ardis is interested in his career and making money, too. It's just that he's got other things on his mind, like taking a trip to Cuba next year. Such priorities may well give Ardis and his fellow millennials a more fulfilling, well-balanced life than, say, workaholic boomers. But that may not be great for a U.S. economy driven by consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of the nation's gross domestic product. Young Americans are unusually optimistic, which could propel purchases and economic growth as their disposable income increases. But they're still not likely to have as much left over because so much is going for skyrocketing rents and education expenses. The low home-buying rate of young adults already has been a big factor in the slow housing market. The homeownership rate for those under 35 slipped to a low of 34 percent this year, compared with around 40 percent for young adults in the prior three decades. And people today are getting married and having children later, which will weigh on home sales in the future. "I don't believe they're going to catch up," said John Burns, an Irvine, Calif.-based national real estate consultant. Like other millennials, Summer Lollie is keenly interested in having her own place. She wants something close to her parents' two-story, four-bedroom house in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite where she grew up and currently lives, she says. But the 27-year-old community organizer can't imagine how she will be able to save up for a down payment and afford a mortgage. While Lollie's parents never finished college, she graduated from Washington and Lee University, a well-regarded school in Lexington, Va. But with more than $35,000 in student debt and a car loan to boot, she has struggled to make ends meet. She moved back with mom and dad in April 2015, paying a little rent to them. There's more than economics behind the living-at-home phenomenon, however. Lollie doesn't mind the arrangement at all because she likes being with her parents something more common among millennials than people of their age in previous generations. Experts think that reflects their protective upbringing and more-frequent exchanges, thanks in part to the rise of texting and social media. "I have loving parents here," Lollie said. Another key difference with their predecessors, particularly Generation X, is that millennials are not big risk takers. That seems especially true when it comes to starting businesses. Two decades ago, a little more than 34 percent of all new entrepreneurs in the U.S. were younger than 34 years old. Today it's just 25 percent. "This could be really troubling," says Arnobio Moreli, a senior research analyst at Kauffman. Startups represent dynamism in the economy. New and young businesses have long created the bulk of new jobs in America, and are critical for productivity growth, too. Moreli believes some would-be entrepreneurs are being held back by their heavy student debt load. Nonetheless, he finds it puzzling that there seems to be relatively less entrepreneurial zeal among millennials, particularly since they grew up in an era when people like Facebook founder and millennial Mark Zuckerberg, 32, have been celebrated in business schools and popular culture. In fact, however, there's evidence that young adults today would rather work for big companies than take their chances at budding firms or in their own garages. Compared to boomers, millennials are more interested in having the same job through most of their life, says Jean Twenge, a San Diego State University psychologist and author of "Generation Me." Coming soon Scheduled to open in area theaters next weekend (Nov. 4) are: Doctor Strange: The metaphysical saga of NYC neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbaugh), who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Scott Adkins, Amy Landecker and Benedict Wong co-star. Hacksaw Ridge: Mel Gibson returns to the commercial mainstream wearing his director cap for the first time since "Apocalypto" 10 years ago. It's on behalf of a gritty war film based on the true story of conscientious collaborator Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of World War II, saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun, becoming the first conscientious objector to ever earn the Congressional Medal of Honor. Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths and Vince Vaughn co-star. Trolls: DreamWorks Animation's latest, set in Troll Village, where Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious curmudgeonly Branch (Justin Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends after an invasion of Troll-consuming creatures called Bergens. Timberlake also produced the film's active music soundtrack, comprised of new and old material. Supporting vocals by Russell Brand, James Corden, Gwen Stefani, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski and John Cleese. Film clips The horror, the horror: For the second Halloween running, the Normal Theater is allowing ISU's Theatre of Ted to take over the bijou with its annual interactive close encounter with The Rocky Horror Picture Show, subject of a GO! cover story a year ago this week. There are plenty of opportunities to do the Time Warp a la Ted: at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and, for those who only come out late at night, 10:30 p.m. encores Friday and Saturday. Tickets: $10, with a limited supply of sanctioned prop bags also available for purchase. Dress for success: There's also some seasonal dress-up fun for the little 'uns at the Normal, via the Halloween edition of the regular Dress-Up Movies series, screening Hotel Transylvania 2 at at 1 p.m. Saturday, thus ensuring there'll be no shortage of capes and fangs on hand. NORMAL A letter signed by more than 30 faculty members questions Illinois State University spending nearly $100,000 to join the Education Advisory Board for information that the professors characterize as recommendations that risk undermining our core values and mission. But Janet Krejci, ISU's vice president for academic affairs and provost, denied that there is any intent to water down the university's support of liberal arts and the humanities. She said EAB provides information on current higher education trends and best practices. EAB helps us explore ideas, but we have not made any decisions, said Krejci. This is just to start the conversation. That's not how Jim van der Laan, a German language and culture professor, sees it. Van der Laan, one of the people behind the letter, called PowerPoint presentations with material from EAB a propaganda tool in its basest form. At the time the letter was printed in the campus newspaper, The Vidette, it was signed by 34 faculty members. Since then, van der Laan said, others have contacted him to add their support. ISU has about 700 full-time, tenure-track faculty. Two recommendations stand out as most disturbing, according to the letter. One essentially advises faculty to teach and grade in ways to please our students and so keep them enrolled, the letter states. It goes on to say, Another troubling recommendation advises that ISU courses/programs be utilitarian. They should have practical application and lead to employment in the American workforce. Van der Laan said: We're opposed to the business model. Education is not a business. The faculty letter argues that learning how to read and write well in humanities courses involves learning how to think well, certainly excellent training for any career. Krejci agreed with the letter writers about the importance of the humanities and liberal arts. We pride ourselves on our very strong liberal arts and humanities foundation, she said. That is the foundation of who we are. Krejci said a liberal arts background helps students think critically, learn quickly and build teams to solve problems all skills sought by employers. The money being paid to EAB represents a two-year commitment, according to Krejci. It includes a total of $55,000 to belong to the academic affairs research forum and just under $40,000 to belong to the enrollment management research forum. Krejci said the memberships give ISU access to information about what is happening at the 1,100 schools that are part of EAB so ISU can see what's helping and what's not working. But another person involved in the faculty letter, Jennifer Howell, associate professor of French language and culture, asked, Is that really a good way to allocate resources at a time of stringent finances? She noted that ISU's Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology already does a good job of helping faculty and others learn best practices and that faculty who attend conferences also bring back information on best practices. To her, turning to EAB seems like a dismissal of the faculty's ability to recognize best practices. Van der Laan called shared governance, the philosophy that the faculty, students and staff all have voices in policy decisions, a farce and a myth at ISU. In response to that characterization, ISU chief of staff Jay Groves said, Shared governance leaves room for disagreement. Interestingly, the ultimate publication in higher education, the Chronicle of Higher Education, recently honored ISU for its commitment to shared governance and that honor was based on a survey of our own faculty and staff members. The letter writers acknowledged that ISU and the other state universities face real financial problems and noted that class sizes have been allowed to grow. We do not think the administrators are demons, said van der Laan. We think there is a lack of leadership or poor leadership. NORMAL First Student will remain the bus provider for McLean County Unit 5, but only if the company agrees to conditions proposed by the school board at Wednesdays meeting. The board voted unanimously that the bus service has until Tuesday to agree to new conditions or the contract will be terminated as of June 30, 2017. We believe Nov. 1 is the time all of this needs to come to a close. Our expectation is to have this service improved for students and families, said district Superintendent Mark Daniel. The conditions say First Student must compensate Unit 5 for expenses incurred as a result of poor service such as staffing a bus service hotline to field calls from parents and having employees stay after work while students wait for late buses. The district also is calling for collecting on late bus penalties and other penalties listed in the contract. Daniel said the compensation estimate since August is close to $70,000. The board also is asking the Cincinnati-based contractor to fix performance issues and continue to hire drivers to build up a 20 percent substitute pool by Nov. 22. That would mean First Student would need to have 146 drivers available daily to cover the 122 bus routes in Unit 5. First Student officials said there are 129 drivers working now with several new hires receiving commercial drivers licenses this week. We will not stop our recruiting efforts. Its not going to slow down, said Roger Moore, First Student senior vice president. If the need arises, we can pull in extra drivers from other locations but we certainly want to have local drivers. First Student officials recently increased base pay for bus drivers from $14 an hour to $16 an hour and added a sign-on bonus of $2,000 for new drivers as incentive to apply. Mark Bohl was hired as new location manager for First Student this month and Daniel said Bohls prompt communication with parents and explanations to district officials has been an improvement. The after-hours school phone center has seen a significant decline in parent calls during the past week, said Daniel, adding there were no after-hour calls made on Friday. Data provided by First Student and Unit 5 shows a decrease in late buses and an increase in drivers, but the parameters for what constitutes a late bus differ for each organization. First Student says the bus is late if it arrives after the bell rings. Unit 5 said the bus is late if it arrives less than 5 minutes before the bell rings, because students need time to get to their lockers and get to class. District board member Mike Trask acknowledged the slow improvements, but he said it doesnt take away from the absolutely horrible bus service at the beginning of the year. For every child that has lost education time from being late to school, they will never get it back, said Trask. Daniel presented a survey of teachers showing more than 100 Unit 5 high school students have been greatly affected by late buses and how high school counselors and assistant principals are following up with each student. Normal Community and Normal Community West have started an after-school tutoring and support center for affected students. Daniel said teachers have been creative in finding ways to work with students, including moving student schedules to first-hour study hall. If we see these improvements and commitment given to us from First Student, late buses should essentially be zero and we should have an ample bus driver supply, said board member John Puzauskas. First Student has provided buses, drivers and on-board bus monitors for the district since 2013, when Unit 5 opted to eliminate its in-house transportation staff. Like manna from heaven, a small bit of much-needed joy fell upon Chicago this month as the Cubs secured a trip to the World Series for the first time since 1945. I wasn't watching game 6 of the NLDS, but knew the moment they won because the pure bliss emanated from Wrigley Field many miles out to me as my neighbors burst from their homes onto the street shrieking and hooting. Moments later, the sky was awash in fireworks and people were driving down the street honking their horns in jubilation. The collective delight offered a refreshing pause for Chicagoans distressed over the nation's election-year anxiety and the gun violence pounding the city's lowest-income residents. That night, people of all backgrounds, races and income levels were in the streets singing together, hugging and crying there were quite a lot of bittersweet tears, in fact. The Cubs' win brought wistfulness to those lucky enough to witness the October miracle. Yahoo Sports' Kevin Kaduk picked right up on it, writing: "The thing that struck you were the tears. "The tears were for so many things. They were for the achievement, of course. ... But for the fans, the tears were also for so many other things. It was for relatives no longer with us. One man waved a posterboard sign that said 'Best fan in heaven: Mom' with a picture of a woman wearing a Cubs hat in a hospital bed. 'I wish my dad was alive' trended on Facebook because so many people were posting that phrase in relation to the Cubs. "It was for people no longer near us, too. Fans texted and called others from the stands when they could catch a signal. When's the last time so many sons and daughters called their mothers and fathers that late on a Saturday night?" This til-death-do-we-part love affair between Cubs fans and their beloved team is viscerally real to many people. In his 2014 book, "A Nice Little Place on the North Side: Wrigley Field at One Hundred," Washington Post columnist and Cubs fan George F. Will wrote: "The gushing is never worse than when Cub fans get going about Wrigley Field. It is, they think, if thinking can be said to enter into such talk, a little foretaste of you guessed it the hereafter. The only real resemblance between Wrigley Field and heaven is that the ballpark is indeed the final destination of some Cub fans. Every once in a while someone in the bleachers leans out from the front row and, pursuant to the wishes of the deceased, pours onto the outfield a small billowing gray cloud of dust that is the ashes of Uncle Ralph or Aunt Min, who, one hopes, really meant it when he or she said, 'You know, when I die I wish ... ' This use of Wrigley Field is officially frowned upon, but it is believably said, sotto voce, that ushers and other representatives of officialdom have been known to enable this by pretending not to see it." I'm not a Cubs fan, but when I heard the news my mind went to Senobio Nila, a 106-year-old Cubs fan whom I interviewed in 2007. He had come to the suburbs of Chicago from Mexico in 1923 to work in the railroads and, during his long life, Nila married, had seven children, put them through Catholic school and basically achieved the American Dream. When I spoke to Nila, he was near the end. In his hoarse, low voice, he told me that he was very satisfied with all the things he'd experienced in America and in Chicago but the one thing he wished he could live to see was the Cubs winning the World Series. Nila passed away 10 months later. But if there is a heaven, I like to imagine that this Cubs-loving immigrant, who initially lived in a discarded boxcar given to him by his employer and who eventually made his way to a beautifully appointed suburban home surrounded by well-to-do children and grandchildren, is up there waving a Cubs flag. Fans of underdog teams like the Cubs and the Cleveland Indians who between them have 174 years' worth of World Series-win drought know the true meaning of hope, love and faith. And now, they're holding precious memories of their ancestors close as they cheer on their teams. Todd Park Mohr, namesake of Big Head Todd & The Monsters, is off the road for a week and nestled at home in his native Colorado. Life is good ... a "beautiful world," in fact, to name-check the album that was riding high when Big Head Todd and the gang were last here in town: a spring-of-'97 show in IWU's Shirk Center, alongside fellow over-sized travelers, They Might Be Giants. "The aspens are turning, the mountains are spectacular, the weather's perfect," he observes from his vantage point. It's just a day or two before the road beckons Mohr and the band again, with no regrets ... even as they prepare to leave those golden aspens and Rocky Mountains behind for the horizontal lines of Central Illinois and a Sunday night show at the Castle Theatre in Bloomington with the second edition of their all-star Big Head Blues Club (more about which, shortly). The show begins at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $32.50 to $37. It helps that the Monsters' union guitarist Mohr, bass player Rob Squires, drummer Brian Nevin extends all the way back to the their high-school-buddy days coming of age in the heart of the Colorado Rockies (Jeremy Lawton turned the trio into a quartet when he became a Monster in 2004). "We're all better now, more interesting and more interested in learning," says Mohr of the band in its relative middle age. Hence, the Monsters' separate touring entity, the Big Head Blues Club, which is a full-on blues celebration that forsakes the Monsters' rock-band heritage. "Meaning, no, you won't be hearing 'Broken Hearted Savior,' 'Bittersweet' or 'Resignation Superman'," says Mohr of the band's string of '90s chart hits spread over three key albums, "Sister Sweetly" (1993), "Stratagem" (1994) and "Beautiful World" (1997). There's a risk involved, he knows, especially among casual fans who see the name Big Head Todd and make some automatic assumptions. "In the beginning (with the first edition of the Big Head Blues Club five years ago) I think a lot of our fans were disappointed that we weren't playing 'Bittersweet' ... but our other fans, who are also blues fans ... to them, this is a really big deal. So I think it's gone both ways." The first Big Head Blues Club was a celebration of "100 Years of Robert Johnson," which began touring in 2011 with a guest roster that included the formidable likes of B.B. King, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Charlie Musselwhite, Hubert Sumlin, Ruthie Foster and others. The second edition the one headed to the Castle Theatre hit the road in September as "A Tribute to Willie Dixon." Aboard the tour bus with the Monsters this time around are Ronnie Lee Brooks, son of Chicago legend Lonnie Brooks; Mug Morganfield, Muddy Waters' kid; and Billy Branch, who, among many other credits, was Dixon's harmonica player. The Monsters' first close encounter with a legendary bluesman occurred on the "Beautiful World" album, which featured a cover version of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom," a staple from the band's earliest days. When the album was being recorded, Hooker happened to be in the same studio. "World" producer Jerry Harrison asked Mohr & Co. to jam on the song while he talked to Hooker's manager. "Nobody was very excited, because we'd never recorded a cover song before," drummer Brian Nevins recalled in a Pantagraph interview. "We did it to appease Jerry. We didn't know that John was down the hall in the studio." After they learned of his presence, the band told Harrison that they didn't want the song on the album unless Hooker himself played with them. "Well, he (Hooker) liked it, and came in there for 20 minutes. He turned the mike on, that legendary voice came out, the tape rolled..." There was no turning back after that experience, agrees Mohr 20 years later. "And the great thing about the Big Head Blues Club is that we're getting the blues to new audiences and letting them see and hear these legendary artists who get to make a little money doing it." He pauses. "I have to pinch myself every day, I'm having so much fun." Getting away with your friends doesnt just have to be about celebrating big milestones. Why not plan the perfect weekend getaway just because? JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers have always been on the spotlight even after the previous run of "The Bachelorette" ended. Fans of the show are somehow expecting that after getting the final rose and being engaged on live TV, JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers will come rushing down the altar to exchange their "I dos." However, that has not been the case for the brunette beauty and her prince charming. Because of their decision to delay their wedding, rumors have started to circulate that JoJo and Jordan might not be getting along well. Other reports have even deliberately claimed that the two have broken up. JoJo and Jordan recently addressed all the rumors and explained why they haven't decided on a wedding date just yet. As E! reported, the couple is still deciding on the arrangements of their wedding given that it could possibly happen in two locations- JoJo's hometown and Jordan's hometown. When asked about the break-up rumors, JoJo and Jordan claimed that they have learned to ignore the drama. "There's always going to be something, so we just pay no attention to it and live our lives," JoJo claimed, while Jordan said that anyone who follows their social media accounts know full well what's really happening in their lives. Some of the rumors flying around concerning JoJo Fletchers and Jordan Rodgers also involved "The Bachelorette's" former flame Ben Higgins. Previous reports claimed that JoJo could still have feelings for Ben, thus hindering her from having a sincere relationship with fiance Jordan. While the rumors sound really interesting, the couple did claim that these are not true, with JoJo even saying that she's very happy for Ben and Lauren Bushnell. Stay tuned for more JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers news here! This issue on Vibrio Vulnificus just recently killed a man from Maryland, and now the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is warning everyone to keep an eye on this matter. It is a flesh-eating bacteria that usually reside in warm bodies of waters. In an article published by Live Science, the victim of this disease, Michael Funk, first had a little wound on his leg that happened to touch the water in Ocean City. His open wound welcomed the bacteria in his bloodstream. The 67-year-old was rushed to the hospital after experiencing some massive pain in his leg. His skin was badly infected that doctors had to cut his leg for the bacteria to stop its spreading. Unfortunately, he succumbed to this disease after four days, as the infection moved really fast towards other parts of his body. This is a wake-up call for those who frequent the beach, especially the ones who are known for having a warm temperature. According to Tech Times, this flesh-eating bacteria usually inhabit the warm and shallow part of the ocean or sea. They are often found in beaches or bodies of water in countries with tropical weather. Avoid eating raw seafood like shellfish and oysters. Never go to a warm salt water if you think you have an open wound. Should you be exposed, make sure that you wash your wound immediately using soap and water. Run to the doctor, as soon as you notice signs of your skin being infected. If a patient handles it right and was immediately given medical attention, the CDC said that there might not experience some long-term consequences from it. However, those who didn't act on it quickly could experience the septic shock coming from this infection. Unfortunately, chances of making it after that are very low. Share this information with your friends and family, so they are aware of this health news. This could help a lot of people you know, especially if they love to go to the beach. A teenage girl from Kentucky is now charged as an adult for the murder of her step mom in September. Police arrested her along with her boyfriend after two days that the victim's body was found in her own home in Boyle County. In an article published by CBS News, the culprit, Jenna Oakley is only 15 years old and her age didn't make the jury doubt to indict her for the crime of murdering her stepmom, Rhonda Oakley. She was arrested in New Mexico in September where the police also saw the stolen car she and her boyfriend, Kenneth Nigh took. The vehicle was owned by her late stepmother. Nigh attempted to kill himself and was confined in the hospital for a month after he got arrested. The jury charged him with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was supposed to be a suspect in the murder of Rhonda Oakley, but no case was filed against him for that due to his medical condition. The teenage girl's father, Philip Oakley, confessed that he hates her own daughter and that he is more worried about the people he needs to protect, excluding her. There are no reports on how the murder happened and not even the murder weapon used. According to People, her father also doesn't feel any remorse for what her daughter did and was even glad that she was caught. There is no schedule for the 15-year-old's arraignment yet and there are no reports as to whether she has a lawyer to represent her. But it is not complicity to murder that Jenna has to face, she was also charged with theft, as she allegedly stole more than $10,000. She is now in a juvenile detention center. Do you think that Jenna Oakley murdered her stepmother? Teenagers are prone to cases like this these days. Check out the video below to a story similar to this report. What is your opinion regarding this matter? The International Business Machines or IBM has announced last Monday, Oct. 24, that it will offer its supercomputing technology to help scientists and doctors discover the most effective treatments and medical trials for cancer patients. The fight against cancer continues as IBM's Watson teams up with laboratory testing gigantic Quest Diagnostic in a major expansion of the firm's continuing push of cancer precision medicine and genomic sequencing. "We believe this era is 'man and machine' -- and, in fact, I know we say artificial intelligence, but it is really augmenting our intelligence," IBM CEO Ginni Rometty told CBS This Morning last Monday, Oct. 24, emphasizing that the goal of IBM for artificial intelligence is not to overtake man smarts but to conduct "supervised learning." Watson was trained two years ago to evaluate medical literature and look for any latest development on the Internet. The trainings were supplied by world-famous biomedical and cancer institutions like Broad Institute. Now, Watson collaborated with the giant lab testing center, Quest Diagnostics, to aid oncologists to determine the appropriate treatments and medical trials for the specific cancers of their patients through the use of its cognitive technology. So how does this works? Physicians would send Quest a sample tissue of the patient so that it could be sequenced generally. If the genomic information is harder to analyze, the lab can use the help of Broad Institute. Then the genomic info would be fed to Watson. Now, Watson will sift the information through the newest drug trials and cancer research and will give a report to the doctors and patients about their findings. "There's been a lot of pessimism among those [fighting] cancer, and Watson offers an opportunity to fight back against that pessimism," Business Insider quoted Lukas Wartman, assistant director of Cancer Genomics at Washington University and a leukemia survivor, as saying. In a press release, Dr. Kyu Rhee, chief health officer of IBM Watson Health stated that with this first-ever U.S. rollout of the technology, the full breadth and depth of Watson's services could benefit an entire population of individuals who need them. The father who left his son for hours inside his car, who died from a hot car incident, underwent the 14th day of his trial. Investigators are saying that his wife, Leanna Harris, might have also played a part in the death of the two-year-old toddler. Fox 5 reported that the trial for Ross Harris continued in Brunswick, Georgia. During the 14th day of Ross Harris' trial, Cobb County Police Detective David Riassi said in a statement that when police told him he would be charged with the murder of his toddler son, the comment about having "no malicious intent" given by the accused was odd. The lead detective, Detective Phil Stoddard, of the case, noted earlier this week during the prior trial dates that Ross Harris blurted out, "but there was no malicious intent." The jury was ordered to walk around the SUV of Harris twice with the door open and twice with the door closed. They have up to five minutes to examine the SUV but are not allowed to touch it. Aside from that, Ross Harris allegedly lived a double life as he told women and underage females that he has a sex addiction, is only married due to their son and is cheating on his wife. He used the apps Whisper and KIK. He reportedly exchanged sexual text messages with a 14-year-old female while his son was dying at the backseat of the vehicle. Videos showing Ross Harris holding his son Cooper at the Chick-fil-A and when he arrived at the Home Depot parking lot, where he worked, were also presented. Ross Harris claimed that he forgot his son was in the back seat of the car. The reports believed that Ross Harris visited his vehicle during lunch time from his Home Depot job. Ross Harris is charged with murder, disseminating harmful material to a minor, and criminal attempt to commit sexual exploitation to a juvenile. As for the wife of Ross Harris, Daily Mail reported that investigators said she showed no emotion when she was allowed to see her husband, and she never asked to see the body of their toddler son. Ross' wife, Leanna, is currently one of the listed suspects, but there is not enough evidence to charge her. She is expected to be in court next week as a defense witness. Multiple sexual assault allegations have were made by more than a dozen women against a University of Wisconsin male student. He reportedly had a stalking list, and police officials seized this. The University Of Wisconsin-Madison student identified as Aleck Cook, 20. At least nine charges have been made against Cook after three women had claimed he sexually assaulted them. It is possible that more charges will be filed against Cook because more than a dozen women have come forward claiming that they were also sexually assaulted by the University Of Wisconsin-Madison student, the Dane County District Attorney's office said. Cook was arrested just last week after a female went to police to file a complaint against him, NBC reported. The female student, also from the University Of Wisconsin-Madison, said that she was strangled and assaulted while they were at Cook's apartment on October 12. Four women who came forward with their rape allegations are reportedly studying at the University Of Wisconsin-Madison. The first female who filed a complaint against Cook reported that she met him via Facebook and had gotten together four to five times. They then had dinner, and he invited her to his apartment promising that they would not be doing anything that would make the woman uncomfortable, The Washington Post reported. After five minutes of being at the flat of Cook, he started kissing the female and said that he should stop. He then pinned her to the bed and was assaulted for more than two hours. The female said that Cook strangled her, penetrated her at one point, pushed her face into a pillow, and slapped her in the face. According to authorities, a detective searched the home of Cook and noted that he found a black leather notebook with a list of the names of different women. He wrote how he met these women and what he liked about them. Some of the pages reportedly stated what Cook wanted to do with the women. Authorities did not elaborate on what were written, but a statement from the department handling the case said, "Disturbingly enough there were reports of 'kill' and declarations of 'sexual' desires." Cook is now under emergency suspension and is not allowed to go to campus. He will be appearing in court this Thursday for a bail hearing. The University Of Wisconsin-Madison is urging students to come forward if they were survivors of sexual assault. Dozens of students from a Utah Middle School in a Salt Lake City suburb reportedly witnessed the shooting of a student at a nearby high school. The student has been shot by another student studying at the middle school. Reports say that the student is a 16-year-old male and critically wounded from the gunshot. Another teenager, name not revealed yet, inflicted the injury to the 16-year-old during an argument. Authorities identified the school as Union Middle School and Hillcrest High School. The victim is reportedly attending Hillcrest High School while the perpetrator attended Union Middle School, KUTV reported. Sandy police Sgt. Dean Carriger said in a statement that they apprehended a 14-year-old male student who is believed to be the shooter. The incident took place on Tuesday at around 3 P.M. during the time that students were dismissed from school and were starting to leave the area. An ambulance reportedly took the 16-year-old victim to a hospital, which has not identified. The teen was in surgery as of Tuesday evening, and no other updates have been released about his condition yet. Two shots were reportedly fired, but it was unclear if both bullets hit the victim, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The 16-year-old is believed to have confronted the 14-year-old after class, and that witness said they were fighting before shots rang out. One witness from Hillcrest High School, identified as Jasen Trotter, said that the teens seemingly planned the encounter beforehand and met just shortly after they dismissed. The shooter reportedly fell to the ground crying after he fired the gun. Detectives are still interviewing students as to why the shooter shot the victim and what the argument about. It is also unclear if the shooter had the gun at school for the whole day. The schools were placed on a lockdown but were lifted shortly after the incident. In an article published by the Wall Street Journal, locals of New York would now be getting mental health counseling, not just through phone calls, but also through Internet chatting and even mobile texting. This service is available 24 hours, 7 days a week. This project is linked to the one that the Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, and his wife, Chirlane McCray, has put up and it is called the Thrive NYC: A Mental Health Roadmap for All. McCray did the honor of announcing the release of new hotlines for people to call, as it is their goal that their locals would live their lives to the fullest. She also added that their project together with the hotlines they recently launched is about the people having better services with this issue. It also helps create awareness in treating and managing problems regarding mental health. A photo posted by Thrive Wellness (@thrivenyc) on May 10, 2016 at 5:32am PDT According to New York Daily News, aside from callers getting counseling from a professional over the phone and online chats, they too could get an intervention team at home given by the staff if it is really needed. The first lady of New York had experience needing a service like this when their child, Chiara was battling with anxiety and depression. They had no clue who to run to for help with their situation. That incident inspired her to pursue this project because she knows what is it like to experience having no one to turn to when she needed help. It felt like help was hiding from her family that time, and she didn't want that same feeling for others, especially those who are having their darkest hours. Save these numbers in case you or someone you know needs it, 1-888-692-9355. You can also text WELL and send it to 65173. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. They told us we were supposed to change the world. They told us to run for office. They told us not to say racist things on Facebook. No wait, they didnt tell us that, and Robert Saunders, running for state legislature, is learning this the hard way. Saunders and I were both raised in an environment that mixed evangelicalism and conservative politics to the extent that the two became indistinguishable. And we were both homeschooled. For many, homeschooling is simply a method for giving their child an individualized, flexible, and/or hands-on education. For evangelical Christians, though, its more than that. Its a way to raise up a new generation to retake the country for Christ, both culturally and politically. Saunders attended Patrick Henry College, which was founded by Michael Farris in 2000. My parents gave money to this college, and sent me to a summer program there while I was in high school. While we sat in a lecture hall, Farris gestured this way and that, telling us that those sitting on the left would become Congressmen, and those on the right would become Senators, and those in the center would sit on the Supreme Court or be future presidents. This was his dreamto launch young evangelical conservative homeschool graduates into politics. Saunders is the fruit of that dream. Except that scandal has now enveloped Saunders campaign for state legislature in Billings, Montana. The controversy surrounds remarks Saunders has made in person and on Facebook while at Patrick Henry College and in the following years. Yesterday the allegations grew worse, and surrounded not reports of things hed said in private but rather posts hed made on Facebook. Lets look at Montana Republican Party Chairman Jeff Essmanns repudiation: This is a textbook example for young people for taking a pause in the heat of the moment before posting comments like these on social media. Taking a life is only justified as a means of defending a life. Mr. Saunders outburst, which he himself has repudiated, does not represent the values of the Montana Republican Party. Mr. Saunders has stated his error, repudiated his own statement, and asked for forgiveness. It will be up to the voters to decide if hes learned from the experience. Wait wait wait. Is Essmann honestly saying that the problem was that Saunders put his comments down in print, rather than that he had those thoughts to begin with? Look, Im not comfortable with people having hella racist thoughts even in the heat of the moment, whether or not they later think better of making their thoughts public. I wouldnt want to elect an official who thinks those things but doesnt say them any more than Id want to elect an official who both thinks and says those things. Methinks Essmanns priorities are askew. [Note: Yes, everyone sometimes thinks bad thoughts. Most of us learn how to manage these thoughts and not let them effect our behavior. But Saunders thoughts, even if he had kept them mere thoughts and not stated them publicly, put his racism on stark display, and he has said nothing at all that would suggest that he is aware of or combatting these internal biases. Think about it this waywould you want to elect a man who was constantly thinking about women as nasty bitches, regardless of what his stated policy on womens issues was?] Beyond this, all Essmanns objections aside, a quick look around the internet suggests that Saunders comments may be exactly in line with the values of the Montana Republican Party. Perhaps Essmann is trying to change these values, but change is difficult if one cant admit that theres a problem that needs changing there to begin with. How did Saunders respond to his comments becoming public? First, throwing out that one of the business owners who suffered vandalism was black does not make the comments not racist (as Saunders appears to think). Second, its not okay to say hella racist things even when youre upset. And finally, Saunders long Facebook apology is actually an explainy not-apology. Its also completely clueless as to why people are upset. It hammers home both Saunders racism and his complete lack of introspection or understanding of why his beliefs are wrong, problematic, and downright dangerous. It only makes things worse. I mean for goodness sake, he begins it The secret is out: I am a flawed person. That language is intentional, because we all know that everyone has flaws. So basically, hes just like us. Except not. Interestingly, I started out on the same path Saunders is on. I planned to go into politics and change the world, championing conservative values and conservative principles. When I won my first political office, I was barely old enough to vote. It was a small, local office that was party-affiliated, but it was to be just the first step of my career as a political change maker. Longterm, I hoped to marry a good, upstanding politically active conservative evangelical man like Saunders and support his political career, because something something gender roles. But I attended a college that challenged me to think for myself and examine my premises. Saunders did not. Instead, Saunders attended Patrick Henry College. Someone needs to tell Farris he isnt helping with his he says what he believes bit. But also, does Farris realize that never having been made uncomfortable by anything Saunders said speaks badly of Farris, and not well of Saunders? Saunders views were so notoriously bad while he was at Patrick Henry College that he gained the nickname Little Hitler among his own classmates. He advocated in favor of involuntary servitude and a return to serfdom. He argued that Muslims should be deported, forced to convert to Christianity, or executed. Farris was either not listening very closely, or his views are worse than Id thought. In thinking back on what I learned from Farris and other conservative political figures, Im struck by the role race played in political rhetoric and position-making. As far as I can tell, the only time race was discussed was to deride affirmative action or to call for cutting welfare. We were taught that all races are equal before God, yes, and magazines with an evangelical bent sometimes put a spotlight on black churches or black ministries. But when it came to politics, what we were taught about raceand the way race was discussedfed directly into the racist mindset held by Saunders. Blacks were dependent on welfare, blacks were criminal, blacks were preferred over whites in hiring and in higher educationhow could rhetoric like this not create racist views? Farris told us to run for office, yes. But he never told us to not be racist. Hopefully, come election day, Saunders will learn that the hard way. I have a Patreon! Please support my writing! Patna: Five days after they were abducted shortly after arriving in Patna on October 21, Bihar police on early Wednesday morning rescued Delhi businessmen brothers Suresh Sharma and Kapil Sharma from Simra Talli village in Lakhisarai while also arresting five members of the notorious Mandal gang. As reported, a police team led by none other than Manu Maharaj, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), made early morning inroad in the dense forest long known for being the hideout of Maoist extremists. Following on the leads obtained by hundreds of interrogations and cell phone records, the police reached the hiding place of Ranjit Mandal gang. Seeing the men in uniform with weapons drawn, the kidnappers opened fire on them. The police retaliated by opening fire of their own forcing the gang members to make a hasty retreat leaving their victims on the spot. Police arrested five men from the hideout and freed the Sharma brothers from their clutches. As reported, Suresh and Kapil Sharma, originally from Rajasthan running their marble business in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, were invited to come to Patna to discuss a business proposition to the tune of Rs. 200 crore. However, as soon as the brothers stepped out of the Patna Airport, they were overpowered by some men who forced them into a waiting car. Soon their cell phones went silent and there was no trace of them. Shortly, their father in Delhi received a phone call from Patna in which a man told him that his sons had been kidnapped and would be released following the payment of a ransom of Rs. 4 crore. Speaking to reporters, Additional Director General of Police Sunil Kumar said that while five men had been taking into custody, other gang members including their leader Ranjit Mandal managed to escape. Attempts were being made to nab them, he said. Police recovered five pistols, several cartridges along with some drugs and injections that were believed to be used on the victims to keep them sedated. Police have denied any ransom was paid to secure the freedom of the Sharma brothers. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Iran says imports from Germany up 25 percent 10/27/16 Source: Press TV Figures released by the Customs Administration of Iran show that the country's exports from Germany have increased by 25 percent. Shahid Rajaee port in Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas This is Iran's main entry and exit point for cargoes. Iran's official figures show that the country's imports from Germany have increased by a quarter in what could be a fresh indication of growing opening in Iran's post-sanctions business environment. Figures released by the Customs Administration of Iran showed that the country imported $1.27 billion worth of goods from Germany over a period of seven months starting 21 March 2016 - the start of the current Iranian calendar year of 1395. This shows an increase of around 25 percent compared to the same period last year. It also shows that Germany is now the fifth main exporter to Iran and the leading European country with a significant level of trade activities with the Islamic Republic. The top four exporters to Iran - as figures relating to the same seven-month period showed - are China ($5.71 billion), the UAE ($4.98 billion), South Korea ($1.88 billion) and Turkey ($1.55 billion), figures released by the Customs Administration of Iran showed. The top importers of Iranian non-oil commodities and services over the same period have been China ($4.43 billion), the UAE ($3.88 billion), Iraq ($3.50 billion), Turkey ($2.50 billion) and South Korea ($1.95 billion). A majority of Iran's exported items are downstream products such as condensate, liquefied petroleum gas, gas oil, propane and others. Key items imported during the period have been cattle feedstock, soy, rice, auto spare parts and vehicles. Figures released by Iran's Customs Administration last month showed that the country's non-oil exports to Europe for a period of five months starting 21 March 2016 had increased by 21 percent. Top importers were accordingly identified as Italy, Spain and Germany. Sense of mission leads young artist in way to promote Persian literature 10/27/16 By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet, Tehran Times Calligrapher/photographer Amir Jalilvand TEHRAN - Young calligrapher Amir Jalilvand, who is also a prominent photographer, talks about a sense of responsibility that leads him in a way to promote contemporary Persian literature in Iran today. He believes that Iranians, many of whom nowadays have an academic education, are suffering from a dearth of minimum knowledge of their literature. The sense pushed him to use his art in this way. The outcome was "The Spring of Morning", a collection of works by contemporary poet Mohammad-Ali Bahmani, which was inscribed by a group of prominent calligraphers, including Gholam-Hossein Amirkhani and Abbas Akhavein. Poet Mohammad-Ali Bahmani The book, which also contains Jalilvand's photos of Bahmani and the master calligraphers, was unveiled at Tehran's Niavaran Cultural Center in April during a ceremony in which the 74-year-old poet and songwriter was honored for his lifetime achievements. "There are close links between calligraphy and literature, in particular, poetry," 32-year-old Jalilvand said in a recent interview with the Tehran Times. "Many masters of Persian calligraphy have repeatedly inscribed the Divan of Hafez, the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, the Shahnameh and works of other luminaries in classical Persian literature, but no work by a contemporary writer had been calligraphed before 'The Spring of Morning' was published," he added. Commemorating living writers and poets by publishing their works in books inscribed by prominent calligraphers can be inspiring for them, he noted. The poems for "The Spring of Morning" were selected from the oeuvre of Bahmani by Jalilvand. Forty-three of his colleagues at the Iran Calligraphers Association collaborated with him in the project. However, many others declined participation. "I engaged in self-sacrifice to get the book published," Jalilvand mentioned. Jalilvand referred Amirkhani as "the sage of the country's calligraphers" and said, "In a comment made about the book, master Amirkhani said that a task that seemed to be a pipe dream at the association for years was completed by a young artist." However, Jalilvand believes that the book could be much better from what it is if he had the support of cultural organizations. Spring of Morning He is currently working on a new project that will focus on works of Qeisar Aminpur (1959-2007), the most influential poet of post-revolution literature. The idea of selecting Aminpur for the new project comes from the book launching ceremony. "When I was presented with flowers and gifts alike at the ceremony, a lifelong friend gave me something wrapped in paper and said, 'I hope it will be your next project.' It was a divan of Qeisar Aminpur," Jalilvand said. "At that moment, I made my decision without hesitation," he added. "Qeisar poetry is very close to his impeccable character; whatever he said was fair and an honorable. As a result, he was the most popular poet of the post-revolution literature," he stated. Qeisar's work about martyrs is scheduled to be the opening poem of the new book. In addition, a poem on veterans injured during the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iraq war has been selected for the collection, which will be inscribed by calligrapher Seyyed Mohammad Sarhaddi, a veteran who is still suffering serious injuries from the war. "Commemorating martyrs at the beginning, I think will help the book be more impressive," said Jalilvand who deems himself a patriot. The book will probably be entitled "The Adze of Imagination", but Jalilvand is still not certain about the title. The calligraphy of the selected poems will be adorned with illuminations by masters of this Persian art. In addition, plans are to have English translations of the poems in the book. However, Jalilvand faces a problem to find an organization to finance the project. He has called cultural and economic organizations in the country and abroad to sponsor the project, which he believes will undoubtedly be a moneymaker. He repeatedly asked some Iranian cultural centers and galleries to help him organize an exhibition for the collection that he accumulated for "The Spring of Morning". He said that the collection includes some works that can viewed as museum pieces, but the centers and galleries have not shown a willingness to provide support. By such projects, he said that he tries to take a step, even if it is a short one, in familiarizing people about Persian literature and art luminaries. Jalilvand is also a teacher of art at Tehran's Pand Primary School, where he helps children in the proper way to read Persian poetry. "Working with children is great and I try to elevate their knowledge of art and Persian poetry as well," he stated. He also holds periodic workshops for people from every walk of life, but people's ignorance of Persian literature and their luminaries is disappointing for him. "A Ph.D. student who attended one my workshops didn't know [poet Mohammadreza] Shafi-Kadkani. It is like this a Frenchman does not know Albert Camus or Jean-Paul Sartre," he lamented. Jalilvand also criticized a long interruption to introduce contemporary Persian literature to the world, which he says is unaware of the many amazing works that have been created in contemporary Persian literature. He says that this ignorance has resulted in the fact that modern Persian literature is not recognized in the international arena while he believes many contemporary Persian authors deserve a Nobel prize. TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us. How many desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones exist in your household? Can you even count them? They all need antivirus protection, especially the PCs and Androids. Even the more inherently secure macOS and iOS devices cant protect data in transitthey need a VPN, for sure. McAfee Total Protection used to let you install security on every device in your household, but now that generous licensing is only found in McAfee AntiVirus Plus and the new McAfee+ suite. Without that all-devices licensing, and without several features that have been dropped or will be dropped soon, this suite doesnt bring as much to the table as it once did. How Much Does McAfee Total Protection Cost? McAfee has long been known for its unlimited licensing, but as noted, McAfee Total Protection no longer participates. You can buy a one-device license for $89.99 per year or crank that up to three licenses for $99.99. Pricing tops out at $119.99 for five licenses. Thats a far cry from the previous offer of $124.99 for unlimited devices. That $89.99 price for a single license is more than just about any competing product, as is the $99.99 price for three licenses. Only Panda Dome Complete and Panda Dome Premium, at $106.99 and $166.99 per year, cost more for three licenses. At the five-license level, Norton 360 with LifeLock Select costs a bit more, $130.99 per year. However, that price gets you five suite licenses, five VPN licenses with no bandwidth limits, 50GB of online storage for your backups, and LifeLock identity theft protection. The point here is that McAfee Total Protection is no longer top dog in the McAfee product line. It certainly seems the company would rather you choose McAfee+. This new suite comes in three versions, Premium, Advanced, and Ultimate, for $139.99, $199.99, and $279.99 respectively. All levels give you unlimited licenses; for $20 more you can raise any of the three to the Family edition, adding McAfee Family Safety. Ill discuss McAfee+ in detail in a coming review. It's Surprisingly Easy to Be More Secure Online It's Surprisingly Easy to Be More Secure Online You dont want your antivirus protection to end abruptly, so opting for auto-renewal is smart. McAfee contacts you before the automatic renewal kicks in, giving you a chance to opt out. Auto-renewal also comes with significant benefits. For one, it activates McAfees Virus Protection Pledge. If malware gets past the antivirus, McAfees fearless virus hunters will remote-control your computer and eradicate it manually, a service that would normally cost $89.95. In the rare event they fail at their efforts, McAfee will refund the price of the product. In addition, auto-renewal removes the draconian 500MB per month bandwidth limit on the VPN. Simple Installation As with McAfees antivirus, you start by activating your registration code online. At that point, you can either immediately install it on the device you're using or send links to install on other devices. When you download the product, you get a serial number, distinct from your activation code. Hang onto that number, as you might need it to reinstall the product. After the quick install, McAfee is ready to protect you. A banner at the top of the main window still provides useful information about recent activities or actions needed. Below that, you see six panels: Check Your Protection Score; Antivirus; Secure VPN, ID Protection, Tracker Remover; and Protect More Devices. The standalone antivirus looks almost the same, though Secure VPN and ID Protection are absent, replaced by Browser Security and Secure Apps. (Credit: PCMag) Down the left side of the main window is a simple set of icons for Home, My Protection, Protection Score, Account, Help, Settings, and Feedback. Clicking My Protection opens a menu of all available protection features, divided into four groups: Protect Your PC; Protect Yourself on the Web; Protect Your Identity; and More Security. The features in the first and last groups dont change with upgrading to this suite. In the web protection group, the suite adds Secure VPN. In the identity group, Password Manager and ID Protection make an appearance. To complete your setup, follow the prompts to install McAfees WebAdvisor in your default browser (presuming the default is Chrome, Edge, or Firefox). Shared Antivirus Features Of course, everything you get as part of McAfee AntiVirus Plus is also present in the full suite. As noted, the two products look very similar, the main difference being the full suite displays different features in the main windows six big buttons. Below is a synopsis of my findings on the antivirus; for details do please read my full review. Three of the four independent labs I follow include McAfee in their testing. Along with all the other tested products, McAfee takes top marks from SE Labs(Opens in a new window) in its latest report. McAfee also picks up the maximum possible score, 18 points, in the latest test by AV-Test Institute(Opens in a new window). Note that more than two thirds of the tested products attain that top mark in the latest test. Out of the three tests from AV-Comparatives(Opens in a new window) I follow, McAfee earns the top certification (Advanced+) in two, and reached Standard certification in the third, the same certification combo as Norton. Avast, AVG, and Bitdefender Total Security are the only products that hold an Advanced+ rating for all three tests. I use an algorithm that maps lab results onto a 10-point scale and returns an aggregate score. McAfee earns a 9.7-point aggregate score, which is quite good. Among products tested by three labs, Kaspersky does a bit better, with 9.8 points, while AVG and Bitdefender own a perfect 10. The top score among the handful of products tested by all four labs goes to Avast, with 9.6 points. In my own hands-on malware protection tests, I observed McAfee doesn't scan files just because Windows Explorer accesses them for display. Rather, it waits until they try to launch and quarantines any that prove to be malware. With 98% detection and 9.7 of 10 points, McAfee beat out almost every other product tested with the current sample set. G Data Total Security and ZoneAlarm squeaked higher with 9.8 points, and Norton leads with 9.9. Challenged with a collection of 100 active malware-hosting URLs, McAfee used two techniques to defend the test system. Its WebAdvisor browser plugin prevented the browser from even visiting 10% of the URLs, and it eliminated the malware payloads during download for another 84%, earning a 94% protection rate. Thats very good, but down from McAfees previous 100% score. Sophos, Trend Micro, and ZoneAlarm all reached 100% in their latest tests. WebAdvisor also steers users away from phishing sites, those fraudulent sites that pose as banks, finance sites, and even dating sites with the purpose of stealing your login credentials. In testing with 100 very new phishing sites, McAfee reached 94% protection, down from its previous 100% protection. Bitdefender, Trend Micro, and ZoneAlarm hold the current top score in this test, a perfect 100%. WebAdvisor warns you when it detects tech support scams, sites that try to trick you into letting them remote-control your PC. As always, it marks up search results to help you avoid dangerous ones. WebAdvisor also marks up links in LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit. WebAdvisors cryptojacking blocker rats out websites that suck up your PCs computational power to mine for Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. This can be legitimate, if the site informs visitors youre paying in CPU cycles rather than by viewing ads, so the blocker includes an option to exempt user-specified sites. Ransom Guard adds a layer of protection against ransomware. When it detects a whiff of illegitimate "file transformation," it backs up files that might be affected. If that whiff matures into evidence of a ransomware attack, it quarantines the attacking program and restores the files. Because turning off ordinary antivirus protection also turns off Ransom Guard, I couldnt use my usual technique for isolating ransomware protection in testing. Undaunted, I created new hand-modified versions of a dozen real-world ransomware threats. McAfee caught 11 of them, but the remaining one ran rampant, despite McAfee having all possible protective layers enabled. Other Shared Features McAfee Antivirus Plus contains a surprising number of features that go beyond merely protecting against malware, including a variety of performance-enhancing components. The Protect Your PC section in the features menu gives you access to antivirus scans and settings, but it also links to the integrated firewall, not a common feature for a nominally standalone antivirus. The firewall component both protects against outside attacks and keeps programs from misusing your network connection. By default, it handles program control internally, which is much better than entrusting that task to the untutored user. The firewall mostly stood up to direct attack test, though I managed to disable a few of its Windows services, including WebAdvisor, using techniques available to a malware coder. You access the firewall by opening the My Protection Menu and looking in the Protect Your PC section. Also in that section are Secure Apps and App Boost. Clicking Secure Apps brings up a vulnerability scanner that seeks out missing security patches for Windows and popular programs and, when possible, automates the update process. App Boost speeds up the loading of common programs, diverts extra resources to the foreground program, and looks for processes that could work better if given more resources. Dont get too attached to Secure Apps and App Boost, though. According to an in-app banner, these features will be removed to make room for new types of protection starting in September 2022. The Web Boost feature, found in the web protection section, is likewise slated for removal, as is the My Home Network security scanner. (Credit: PCMag) Still present in the web protection section are Browser Security and Tracker Remover, both also found in the standalone antivirus. Clicking Browser Security somewhat pointlessly brings you to the Web Protection page of McAfees multi-purpose security reportit really should open WebAdvisors settings page. Tracker Remover does its best to clean away traces of your computer and internet use that could give a snoop insight into your activities. In the standalone antivirus, the Protect Your Identity section of the menu is a disappointment. It offers just one component, the File Shredder. By securely deleting sensitive files with the File Shredder, you make it impossible for anyone to recover them using forensic software or (if you choose the Complete shred type) forensic hardware. This suite adds ID Protection and Password Manager, which Ill discuss below. (Credit: PCMag) Security protection for non-Windows devices is much the same whether you're subscribed for the antivirus or the full suite, except that identity protection becomes accessible and some of the suite's added features offer mobile apps. On a Mac, it effectively installs McAfee AntiVirus Plus for Mac, the only visible difference being that the window title reads McAfee Total Protection. Please read that review for an in-depth account. After a recent makeover, the Android edition feels less like an Android antivirus than like a security-enhancement experience. It does include antivirus scanning, VPN, Wi-Fi scan, and Safe Browsing, but many features, from antitheft to App Lock, are no longer present. As with the Mac edition, upgrading to this suite opens up identity protection features, and the password manager works on Android. With the mobile revamp, McAfees iOS edition is closer in appearance and functionality to the Android version. It doesnt offer an antivirus scanthe same extreme safeguards that keep malware out of iOS devices likewise make it very difficult for antivirus activity. But you get Safe Browsing, Wi-Fi Scan, and VPN. No-Limits VPN Protection A security suite protects your data on your devices, but when that data heads for the jungle of the internet it's vulnerable. Running your connection through a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, secures the data while its in transit. The connection is encrypted between your device and the VPN server, so even if you've connected through a compromised Wi-Fi network your data is safe. A VPN also serves to mask your IP address, so nobody can track you or determine your (approximate) location using that address. How a VPN Works How a VPN Works When McAfee acquired TunnelBear in 2018, that acquisition came with the VPN server network of the popular TunnelBear VPN, a PCMag Editors' Choice pick for VPN protection. McAfees Safe Connect VPN, available as a separate application for $47.99 per year, is built on the same technology, but without animated bears. For users of McAfee Total Protection, the Secure VPN component is fully integrated with the main suite, appearing in the features menu under Protect yourself on the web. When you connect to a server using TunnelBear, an animated bear visibly tunnels to the location on the on-screen map. The more sedate Secure VPN simply reports when youre connected, but the effect is the same. Your data travels in encrypted form to the server you've chosen, or rather, to the country youve chosenyou dont get to choose a server or even a city. By observation, McAfee offers connections in 46 countries. (Credit: PCMag) Note that unlimited bandwidth is only available for those who have signed up to renew protection automatically each year. If you dont accept auto-renewal, you get a measly 500MB per month of VPN bandwidth. Theres no harm in signing up for auto-renewalyou can always cancel when the pre-renewal email arrives. Running all your internet activity through a VPN company's servers requires you trust that company not to misuse your data. We look closely at the privacy policy for each VPN, hoping to see that they retain little or no information and have sensible policies in place to handle requests for information from law enforcement. In the past we've admired TunnelBear's clear and appropriate policy. Secure VPN falls under McAfee's all-product privacy policy, which is significantly more verbose and seems (to our non-legally trained minds) less focused on keeping customer data private. Quite a few TunnelBear features didn't make it into Secure VPN. Among these are: GhostBear, which disguises VPN traffic as HTML traffic, for situations where VPN use is blocked; Vigilant Mode protection for your connection during the moments between an accidental disconnect and restored connection; and Blocker, an advanced ad-blocking browser extension. (Credit: PCMag) One major choice on the Settings page involves when Secure VPN connects. By default, it waits for you to connect manually, but you can have it kick in automatically any time you're connected, or any time you're using Wi-Fi. There's also an option to define trusted Wi-Fi networks where VPN protection isn't required. Enabling Safe Reconnect means McAfee cuts all communication if the VPN connection drops, restoring it when the VPN connection is up again. Many products call this feature Kill Switch. Why would you not use VPN protection when it's available without bandwidth limits? The most likely reason is speed. When you connect through a VPN your traffic necessarily travels farther and passes through more servers. The time from when your device sends a query to when it receives acknowledgment (called latency) tends to be longer, which can be a problem for gamers. More universally problematic is the fact that using a VPN can slow downloading or uploading of data. At PCMag, we use the Ookla speedtest tool(Opens in a new window) to gauge the impact a VPN has on performance. We have a whole feature on how we test VPNs, so do read it for more on our methodology and the limits of our tests. Note that we havent yet put Safe Connect to the test, speed-wise, much less the integrated Secure VPN. (Editors' Note: Ookla is owned by PCMag's publisher, Ziff Davis.) Secure VPN works on all four platforms, but not in precisely the same way. It uses the well-regarded WireGuard protocol on Windows and iOS, not on the other platforms. The safe reconnect feature I mentioned is specific to Windows and Android. A feature called App level protection matches what many other products call split tunneling, but its available only on Android. VPN support for macOS is new, so its not surprising Mac users dont get any of these upscale features. With ever-growing interest in VPN usage, many security companies have started adding VPN protection to their security suites. Alas, in many cases what you get is a severely feature-limited version. Typically, you get a skimpy allowance of bandwidth, and you must accept whatever server the VPN chooses for you. Bandwidth limits are all over the map. Like McAfee, Avira Free Security gives users 500MB per month. Bitdefender is more generous, allowing 200MB per day. And with the free Avast One Essential you get 5GB per week. Kaspersky used to fall into this category, but now you get no-limits VPN protection starting at the Kaspersky Plus level. Secure VPN doesn't have the advanced features and settings a VPN expert would likely want, but it's very easy to use, and it comes without the painful limitations imposed in some competing suites. It adds significant value to this security suite. As noted, Symantec's Norton suite products all include a no-limits VPN, too. And where McAfee limits you to five devices even at its top tier, Norton gives you five, 10, or unlimited devices, depending on the tier. Absent Features At its top pricing tier, McAfee Total Protection used to include the McAfee Safe Family parental control system. In the current lineup, that top pricing tier no longer exists, replaced by McAfee+. Even then, you pay $20 extra if you want Safe Family added to your McAfee+ subscription. If you use a web-based email system, the service provider filters out spam, and such services are quite effective. Your work email probably has spam filtered out at the server level. That being the case, its not surprising McAfee pulled the spam-filtering component. When active, it integrated with Outlook and Thunderbird, filtering both POP3 and Exchange email. It even had the unusual (and dated) ability to filter spam from webmail accounts. As noted earlier, a few other features are still present but slated for removal. The My Home Network monitor lets you view all devices attached to your network and even get notification of new connections. Secure Apps checks for missing Windows updates as well as missing security patches for your apps and does its best to install them. App Boost tweaks system settings to give specific apps a performance enhancement. And Web Boost has the strangely specific task of halting videos that auto-play on web pages. All of these will be removed to make room for new types of protection, starting on a date thats already passed. True Key Password Manager Your McAfee Total Protection subscription also gets you premium access to the True Key password manager. In fact, you get five licenses for True Key, so five individuals in your household can each have their own personal password manager. And each of those users can install True Key on all their Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. Please read our review for the down-low on this product. Youll find a Password Manager menu item in the protection menus Protect Your Identity section. but that doesnt mean this component lives within the suite. When you click that panel, it sends you to the web to initialize and configure True Key. (Credit: PCMag) Under Windows or macOS, True Key is a browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. It works in Edge on Windows, too, but not in Safari on the Mac. Yes, the features chart online shows Safari support, but trying to install it gets a browser isnt supported error. The Android and iOS editions are apps, naturally. True Key looks and works as much the same as possible across all the platforms. What Is Two-Factor Authentication? What Is Two-Factor Authentication? True Key syncs nicely across devices, and supports an array of multifactor authentication options, including email verification, trusted device management, master password, fingerprint recognition, Windows Hello, and Apple Face ID. Alas, you cant use a physical security key as one of your authentication factors. However, you can reset a lost master password using multiple other authentication factors. With almost all other password managers, losing your master password means you've lost all your data. (Credit: PCMag) True Key's multifactor authentication system works nicely, and it handles standard password manager functions, but it lacks advanced features found in the best competing products. There's no secure password sharing, password inheritance, or automated password updating. It doesn't even fill personal data into web forms, though it will save such things as addresses, credit card numbers, and SSNs. Getting it free as part of this suite is great; if you paid for five licenses individually, they'd cost $99.95 per year. But you can do better by choosing one of our Editors' Choice password managers. Identity Protection Monitoring McAfees standalone antivirus is bulging with features, but it doesnt include the ID Protection found in McAfee Total Protection. This component scans both the Dark Web and the ordinary internet for signs your personal information has been exposed, and helps you deal with the exposures it finds. To start, you direct it to check your account email for data breaches. Before you can see its findings, you must verify you own the account by typing an emailed code. My McAfee contacts point out that information about breaches comes from their own research, not from widely available sites like HaveIBeenPwned. They estimate this gets notifications to users as much as 10 months faster. Once youve completed the initial email-checking step, you land at the Protection Center. Here it gives you advice to improve your protection score. (Credit: PCMag) To start, review any breaches found in that initial search. Clicking each gets you details and advice, though sometimes the details are sketchy. As you click to confirm youve dealt with each breach, your score goes up. The process is a bit slow, as theres an animation for each score increase, and you must confirm every time if you dont want McAfee to text you with notifications. In some cases, the protection system offers a link to change your password, which is handy. And of course, this is a good time to capture that password with True Key, if its not already in your collection. Once youve worked through these, any new breaches will stand out. Your next step is to add more personal information for monitoring. You can add: 10 email addresses, 10 phone numbers, One Social Security Number, Two passports, Two driver's licenses, Two tax IDs, and One date of birth, Two health IDs. 10 usernames 10 credit and debit cards, 10 bank accounts, For each email address, it requires entry of an emailed verification code. Likewise, you verify each phone number with a texted code. If you fill in the maximum in every category, youll have McAfee monitoring 60 distinct pieces of PII (personally identifiable information) for you. Note that if you havent enrolled in auto-renewal you still get monitoring of 10 email addresses, but thats all. (Credit: PCMag) Each time you add a new item, youre likely to get some new breach warnings. As with email breaches, its wise to take care of these right away, even if all you do is click to mark the warning as addressed. My contacts at McAfee pointed out that the ID protection system has been revamped to offer comforting messaging, not scare tactics. Phrases like Now youre better prepared, Well done! and Weve got your back are everywhere, along with pictures of friendly people. Once you get through the initial setup, the Protection Center dashboard focuses on your protection score, on a scale from 0 to 1,000. McAfees designers hope users will be inspired to raise that score by doing things to improve their privacy and identity protection. To that end, the dashboard page displays a list of useful actions below the score. For starters, if the scan found any exposed personal information, you can gain points by dealing with the problem. If an email password was breached, for example, you can either change it or let the system know you already took care of the problem. I did find this to be a slow process, because after each update McAfee played a short animation about raising my score, it displayed a page with Well done! or a similar message, and then asked permission to send breach notifications by text. And after each breach I addressed, I had to click back to the list of items pending attention. In addition, more than half the breach warnings had no associated website, meaning there was no way to change the password. I saw a gradual increase in protection score as I worked through the systems advice. The score increase animation did include a note that points are pending and may not show up right away. Indeed, when I checked back after not using the system for a while, I found my score had gone up significantly. In addition, every success got an encouraging notification message, each featuring a human figure. (Credit: PCMag) At the time of my last review, opting for McAfee Total Protections Ultimate tier got you active identity theft protection and remediation. That tier no longer exists, replaced by the new McAfee+ suite. Minimal Impact on Performance If your security suite puts such a drag on system performance that you turn it off, that's not effective security. Fortunately, the days of resource-hog suites are long in the past. I still evaluate performance impact using a few simple tests. I time certain common activities before and after installing the suite, averaging multiple runs, to come up with apercentage reflecting impact on performance. For one test, I run a script that launches at startup and checks CPU usage once per second. When 10 seconds pass with CPU usage at 5% or lower, I consider the PC ready for use. Subtracting the start of the boot process (as reported by Windows) yields the length of time required to boot the system. Adding McAfee to a previously suite-free system only increased the boot time by 8%, the same as when I last tested it. Note, too, that with the modern fast-booting physical system I use for this test, that 8% increase represents approximately one second. My other two tests time scripts that move and copy a mixed collection of files between drives, and that zip and unzip that same collection repeatedly. Neither script ran measurably longer with McAfee on the job. That's very good, since most users spend a lot more time working with files than restarting the system. McAfee's average impact of 3% puts it among the products with the lightest touch. However, quite a few suites have done even better. Topping that group are K7 and Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete, which didn't have any measurable impact on performance, and ESET, whose minimal impact averaged out to zero. Stuck in the Middle McAfee Total Protection used to offer unlimited licenses for all the devices in your household, but not anymore. You get that unlimited licensing with McAfee AntiVirus Plus, a feature-rich antivirus that includes most of this suites features, especially on non-Windows platforms. You also get unlimited licenses with the new McAfee+ suite. As for Total Protection, its stuck in the middle, with one-, three-, or five-license subscriptions and a diminished feature set. If you want identity theft protection, go with McAfee+; if not, the antivirus is a fine choice. Theres just no reason to choose McAfee Total Protection. Bitdefender Total Security is our Editors Choice for feature-rich security mega-suite. In addition to a wealth of bonus features on Windows, it does include protection for macOS, iOS, and Android devices. Norton 360 Deluxe offers five cross-platform licenses and five VPN licenses as well as 50GB of online storage for your backups. Norton is our Editors' Choice winner for cross-platform multi-device suite. McAfee Total Protection 3.5 (Opens in a new window) Check Price (Opens in a new window) Pros Excellent antivirus lab test scores Very good phishing protection No-limits VPN Data breach monitoring Simple password manager View More Cons No longer offers unlimited licenses Missed one hand-modified real-world ransomware attack Spam filtering and parental control no longer present Several features are at end of life View More The Bottom Line McAfee Total Protection offers security, VPN, and password management on all popular platforms, but unlimited device licensing is off the table, as are features including parental control and spam filtering. Oracle has taken its bid for up to US$9 billion in damages to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after a judge in a federal court in California recently struck down its bid for a retrial in a copyright infringement suit against Google over the use of Java code in the Android operating system. A jury had cleared Google of copyright infringement in May this year, upholding the companys stand that its use of 37 Java APIs (application programming interfaces) in the Android mobile operating system constituted fair use under the Copyright Act, which allows copying of creative works under certain circumstances. Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California entered a final judgment in favor of Google on June 8. Oracle had subsequently asked the district court for a new trial, which would be the third in this dispute. The company claimed, among other grounds, that Google had concealed information during discovery on its plans to integrate Android apps with the Chrome OS running on desktops and laptops, thus extending the scope of the infringement beyond smartphones and tablets. Judge Alsup last month denied Oracle a new trial. He wrote in his decision that Google had produced at least nine documents discussing the goals and technical details of its ARC++ project in 2015, at least five months before trial, but the information was in any case not relevant to the trial which was limited to infringement in smartphones and tablets. Oracle provided notice to the court Wednesday that it appeals to the Federal Circuit the June 8 final judgement, the order denying a retrial and other decisions by the court. Google could not be immediately reached for comment. An Oracle lawyer had said after the trial that the company planned to appeal the jury verdict in the Federal Circuit. Samsung Electronics continued on top of the smartphone market in the third quarter but was battered by the impact of the Galaxy Note7 recall and increased competition in India, China and the U.S., according to Strategy Analytics. Overall the market grew by 6 percent annually to reach over 375 million units in the quarter, which was the smartphone industrys fastest growth rate for a year, according to the research firm. Chinese brands Huawei, Oppo and Vivo posted strong growth rates in shipments even as Samsung and Apple saw volumes drop. Samsungs worldwide slowdown is due to the sizeable loss of several million Note 7 shipments, combined with fierce competition from Chinese brands like OPPO in the huge China and India markets, wrote Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics in an email. Samsung is filling some, but not all, of the Note 7 gap with increased S7 and S7 edge promotions. Samsung recalled the Note7 smartphone in September after reports of overheating lithium-ion batteries. Replacement Note7 phones also ran into similar problems leading the company to discontinue production of the smartphone in October. The company said Thursday that the third quarter revenue of its IT and Mobile Communications division was down 15 percent from the same period last year to 22.5 trillion Korean won (US$19.8 billion) while operating profit fell 95 percent to 100 billion won, as a result of the discontinuation of the Galaxy Note7. In the third quarter, Samsung shipped 75.3 million smartphones, down by 10 percent year-on-year from 83.8 million phones moved in the same quarter of last year. This was Samsungs slowest growth rate in almost two years, according to Strategy Analytics, which estimated that the companys market share in smartphones dropped to 20 percent in the quarter from 23.7 percent in the same quarter in the previous year. The figures for Samsung shipments in the third quarter do not include Note7 volumes, said Linda Sui, director at Strategy Analytics. If the Note7 is added back, the total volume would be around 79 million units or so, which would still result in a year-on-year decline, she added. Samsung is losing ground in the top three countries worldwide. In India, it is still number one, but it has lost ground to rising Chinese players, while in China, it has been pushed out of the top 5 list for four quarters in a row, Sui said. In the U.S too, Samsung faces intensified competition from Apple, which benefited from solid promotions from top tier carriers for iPhone 7 models in September, she added. Samsungs declining shipments can be attributed in part to its move out of the ultra low-end segment, consisting of phones priced under $200, which in 2015 was a big driver of its particularly high third-quarter volumes, Melissa Chau, IDCs associate research director said. The other factor is the overall slowing smartphone market which is affecting most smartphone players, including Apple, Chau said. Brands like Huawei and other regional brands have also been getting better at positioning themselves to cannibalize Samsungs mid to lower-tier offerings, she added. Rival Apple also lost market share to 12.1 percent from 13.6 percent in the quarter as shipments dropped to 45.5 million units from 48 million units in the same quarter a year ago, according to Strategy Analytics. Apple has been given a slight boost by Samsungs Note 7 missteps, but it continues to face iPhone fatigue among many consumers in major regions such as China and Europe, Mawston said. In the event, it were the Chinese vendors who picked up the slack with high growth. Shipments of smartphones by third-ranking Huawei increased year-on-year by nearly 26 percent to 33.6 million units. Oppo, the fourth largest vendor in the quarter, grew smartphone shipments by 140 percent year-on-year to 21.6 million units, while Vivos shipments grew by almost 87 percent to 18.3 million smartphones, Strategy Analytics said. IDC reported a lower worldwide growth at 1 percent in smartphone shipments in the third quarter. It also reported declining shipments and market share for Samsung and Apple. Total worldwide shipments were nearly 363 million in the quarter, according to the research firm. Privacy Shield, the legal agreement allowing businesses to export Europeans personal information to the U.S., is under fire. An Irish privacy advocacy group has challenged the adoption of the decision in the EUs second-highest court, Reuters reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with the case. Privacy Shield entered effect in July, replacing the Safe Harbor framework, which had itself fallen victim to a legal challenge in October 2015. The new agreement supports transatlantic commerce worth US$260 billion, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has said, and has consequences for many companies offering cloud services to consumers. While Safe Harbors demise was an unexpected legal consequence of a complaint to the Irish privacy regulator about Facebooks handling of one users personal information, the challenge to Privacy Shield is more explicit: a direct attempt to overturn the decision implementing it. Digital Rights Ireland filed an action on Sept. 16, seeking annulment of a European Commission decision in the area of freedom, security and justice, according to electronic records of the Court of Justice of the EU. Further details of the action will not be made public until they are published in the EUs Official Journal, a move that is expected in the next few days. Digital Rights Ireland declined to comment on its action. Unfortunately we arent in a position to offer any statement at all on this at this stage, a spokesman said. The organization has a history of challenging EU authorities on privacy matters, though, helping overturn the Commissions Data Retention Directive in 2014, and contributing to the case that ended Safe Harbor. The European Commission is aware of Digital Rights Irelands application to the court, but does not comment on ongoing court cases, said Commission spokesman Christian Wigand. The Commission is convinced that the Privacy Shield lives up to the requirements set out by the European Court of Justice, which have been the basis for the negotiations, he said. A court challenge to Privacy Shield was expected, but the method used is surprising, said Aaron Tantleff, a privacy and information security lawyer at Foley & Lardner. Tantleff said he would have expected Digital Rights Ireland to file its complaint through a national data protection authority, which in turn could have referred it to the court. By going to the court directly itself, it faces an uphill battle proving that the Privacy Shield is of direct and individual concern' to it, he said via email. I do not have high expectations that this case will proceed based upon the current facts, he said, but given Digital Rights Irelands past record, I am not ready to dismiss this as a mere PR stunt or just a nuisance. Everybody expected mixed-reality technology to play a part in Microsofts big Windows 10 event on Wednesdaybut nobody expected what we got. Rather than showing yet another HoloLens demonstration, Microsoft instead announced a small army of virtual reality headsets unlike anything available today, and theyre all powered by the forthcoming Windows 10 Creators Update. The demo raised more questions than it supplied answers, but there was still plenty of info to glean if you were paying attention. Heres everything we know about Microsofts Windows 10 VR headsetsand one massive question spurred by their mere existence. 1. Theyre wholly unique Seriously. Todays mobile VR headsets (like the Gear VR and Daydream View) can track your heads rotation, but not its position in space, making mobile VR a stationary experience. PC-powered VR (like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive) can track both head rotation and position, but require the use of extra base stations that cast out invisible laser beams to keep tabs on your movement across space. Windows chief Terry Myserson says the new Windows 10 powered VR headsets use inside-out six-degree-of-freedom sensors. That means theyll be able to track their own position with internal sensors, negating the need for base stations and dedicated VR spaces. No currently available VR headset offers that flexibility. The closest weve seen is the Santa Cruz prototype revealed at Oculus Connect earlier this month, but its far from finished, with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg stressing that Santa Cruz is more idea than reality at this point. The HoloLens overlays 3D holograms atop the real world, providing an experience totally different from traditional virtual reality. That said, HoloLens head Alex Kipman told Polygon that the new Windows VR headsets borrow their inside-out technology from Microsofts augmented reality device. 2. Theyre tethered The Windows 10 headsets cant quite shake all of PC-based VR shackles, it seems. Unlike Microsofts HoloLens (and Oculus standalone Santa Cruz prototype), it appears as though these incoming devices lack onboard computers, requiring them to be tethered to a PCsomewhat of a bummer after the excitement about inside-out sensors. During an on-stage demonstration, the hosts headset clearly sported a long wire, and a promotional image for these headsets shows a discrete connection to a laptop in the background. This raises some interesting questions. How powerful will the PC powering these Windows 10 headsets need to be? Full-blown VR is much more graphically demanding than the HoloLens augmented reality. The laptop in the image doesnt appear bulky, but Nvidias new GTX 10-series mobile chips are powerful, yet cool enough to drive virtual reality experiences from relatively svelte notebooks. Comments Kipman made to Polygon suggest the requirements wont be particularly beefy. Weve lowered the specs you need for a [VR-ready] PC from a $1,500 system to a $500 one, he said. Microsoft will reveal more detailed info at an event in December, Kipman says. 3. They share HoloLens controls These Windows 10 Creators Update accessories, as Myerson calls them, may be different from the HoloLens but it appears theyve picked up some tricks from Microsofts augmented reality device. During Microsofts on-stage demo yesterday, the Windows 10 VR headset was controlled using voice commands and hand gestures, similarly to how you control the HoloLens. No obvious in-hand controllers were visible. You cant help but wonder if these more affordable, tethered VR headsets will stand in as consumer HoloLens alternatives until Microsofts able to perfect the design of its headset and drive the cost of its standalone design down to more reasonable levelswhich may take years. 4. Theyre popular with PC makers A slew of PC makers want in on the VR action. HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, and Acer will all offer Windows 10 VR headsets. Heres hoping Microsoft and its partners institute some quality controls, as janky VR hardware can make you puke in a jiffy. 5. Theyre damned cheap Or at least one version is. Myerson says these Windows 10 VR headsets will start at just $299, compared to $600 for the Oculus Rift and $800 for the HTC Vive. Dont expect all Windows VR headsets to be that affordable, though. Just like gaming and gaming on a PC, there is a difference if you want to play Halo or you want to play solitaire, Kipman told Polygon. The entry to play anything was a $1,500 PC; thats what we lowered. 6. Theyre coming soon Look for these Windows 10 VR headsets to appear around the launch of the Windows 10 Creators Update, early next year. The big question: What about Oculus? Just last year, Oculus and Microsoft seemed pretty buddy-buddy. Xbox chief Phil Spencer took the stage at Oculus E3 2015 event to announce that the Rift would ship with an Xbox One controller, and be able to play Xbox One games on a virtual TV screen. Rampant rumors suggested that rather than building an in-house headset like PlayStation VR, Microsoft would instead tap Oculus as a drop-in solution for the Xbox One. Hayden Dingman The new consumer version of Oculus Rift is due to ship in early 2016. But it looks like things have changed since then. Those Xbox games have yet to materialize for the Rift, and these Windows 10 headsets could very well wind up being the Xbox Ones VR solution. The only time Oculus was mentioned at the Microsoft event was when Myerson tossed shade, stating that those other, less immersive accessories today cost over $500 dollars (emphasis his). To be clear, the Rift headset still ships with an Xbox One gamepad, and neither Oculus nor Microsoft have mentioned anything negative about each other. The Rift could very well still become the Xbox Ones VR headset! But the Oculus teams noticeable absence at Microsofts event paired with the natural rivalry between the Windows 10 VR headsets and Oculus Santa Cruz headset sure makes you wonder. I think that Microsoft has been targeting this price segment for quite some time, says Anshel Sag, associate analyst and VR expert at Moor Insights & Strategy. Their biggest fear is missing this technology inflection and not being a major player like in mobile. That is why they partnered with Oculus early before they had a working headset design of their own. Microsoft will still likely partner with Oculus, but that relationship seemed one more out of convenience than necessity, says Sag. Facebook and Microsoft fundamentally have competing visions and platforms for VR and that ultimately boils down to why their partnership couldnt last. Beaumont mechanic Raymond Lee Oyler is believed to be the first person in the United States convicted of first-degree murder for setting a wildland arson fire. In 2009, a Riverside County jury found Oyler guilty and a judge sentenced him to death for touching off the 2006 Esperanza fire, which killed five U.S. Forest Service firefighters in the San Jacinto Mountains. Oyler is on death row but is appealing the case. Has Oylers conviction and punishment deterred would-be wildland arsonists? Although the number of arson wildfires has decreased significantly in the San Bernardino National Forest since Oylers arrest, its difficult to say with certainty why more fires havent been set. You cant prove a negative, said Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, who as a deputy district attorney prosecuted Oyler. Theres no consensus among those who study crime about how much the death penalty deters the most serious offenses. Violent homicides that could merit a death sentence continue. Rickie Lee Fowler was convicted of murder in August 2012 and sentenced to death five months later for setting the Old fire in San Bernardino County, which a jury ruled caused five people to suffer fatal heart attacks. That fire was set in 2003, three years before Esperanza. Officials at the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit organization that analyzes issues related to capital punishment, said they have not heard of any subsequent wildland arson death penalty cases. I still believe that the death penalty is a deterrent. And to what extent is difficult to determine, Hestrin said. The number of arson fires started per month in the San Bernardino National Forest since the Esperanza fire is less than half the number started in the decade before the fire, U.S. Forest Service statistics show. The total number of fires is down only slightly. Cal Fire statistics on wildland arsons were not available. But Cal Fire Battalion Chief Tim Chavez said arson fires have almost disappeared in the past few years from the San Gorgonio Pass, where prosecutors said Oyler started 23 blazes culminating in the Esperanza fire. Vigorous prosecution of the law deters crime, and I think arson would certainly qualify as that. In law enforcement, weve made a statement that we are not going to tolerate these arsonists, Hestrin said. Academic studies indicate that the threat of incarceration and prison conditions could be more of a deterrent of all crimes than the death penalty itself. A 2009 study by the University of Colorado reported that 88 percent of criminologists surveyed said they believe the death penalty is not a deterrent. Recent real-life examples provide evidence that not all criminals fear the consequences of committing a capital offense. This month, four law enforcement officers statewide, including two in Palm Springs, have been shot to death. Three suspects are in custody and could face the death penalty. Contact the writer: brokos@scng.com or 951-368-9569 Re: Prop. 58 shows school choice need [Opinion, Oct. 23]: I am disgusted at the way propositions are presented on our ballots. Depending upon how the wording is phrased, a voter can easily be swayed into a position that they would not take, had the proposition been described more clearly. Proposition 58 is one of these. In 1998 Californians voted for Prop. 227 that gave us stricter requirements to get English learners up to speed, thus reducing the time for them to become proficient in English. The result was that all students could achieve academically at a higher level than they had been and thus compete more successfully. So why Prop. 58? This proposition actually relaxes the parental permission requirement for their children, whether English-speaking or not, to be enrolled in dual language classes. Therefore, it will affect all students. It says on our ballot English Proficiency. Multilingual Education. Initiative Statute. Authorizes schools districts to establish dual-language programs for both native and non-native speakers of English. On the other hand, Prop. 227 established the requirement for parental permission of English-speaking students to be enrolled in bilingual classes. These bilingual classes have resulted in all students being held back academically. In effect, a yes vote on Prop. 58 removes Prop. 227s requirement. If you read the Voter Information Guide on page 11 it says A NO vote on this measure means: Public schools would still be required to teach most English learners in English-only programs. This is what Prop. 227 established and why it passed. Immigrating to the U.S. as the child of German parents, I was an English learner. I was dropped into kindergarten speaking only German and understanding no English. I quickly learned English in a total immersion situation there were no ESL programs then (and there still is not for Germans, by the way). I eventually went on to earn a B.S. and M.S. in physics and math and am now retired from a long and successful career in the aerospace industry. Dont penalize all students by slowing down their progress in English proficiency! Vote no on Prop. 58 and preserve the intent of Prop. 227. Klaus Schiessel Jurupa Valley Standing in the rear of a near vacant Hemet grocery store Wednesday, Oct. 26, Jim Lineberger loaded packages of eggs into a crate. The executive director of the Hemet Community Pantry was collecting the final bit of food being donated to the charity from a closed Sprouts Farmers Market. Sprouts opened a new location in the city earlier in the day. While the business moved, the food didnt. Instead, it was donated to a number of charities that feed the hungry, including the Hemet-based Community Pantry. Lineberger showed up with an army of volunteers and a couple of trucks. He left with about five pallets of food, mostly produce and dairy. Were usually given food, but not as healthy food, Lineberger said. Founded in 1965, the pantry serves more than 900 families per month. It addition to Sprouts, it gets regular donations from businesses such as Panera Bread, Target, Walmart Neighborhood Market and Agri-Empire. The businesses donate food that is edible, but no longer can be sold. Wednesdays haul adds to the typical donation of cereal, top ramen and boxes of mac and cheese. Lineberger, who just passed his fifth anniversary as director, said the type of client has changed over the years. Were seeing more and more seniors and were feeding more working poor, he said. Among the volunteers who helped load donated items Wednesday were some homeless men who came from Weston Park to assist. Another volunteer was Hemet Teachers Association President Billy Valenzuela. When I saw what part of the day it was being done, I didnt think a lot of people could volunteer, Valenzuela said as he moved jugs of milk from a refrigerator into carrying cases around 1 p.m. I figured I can so I will. Its unknown as to what will happen to the now vacant building at State Street and Stetson Avenue. Sprouts and forerunners Boneys and Henrys were there for almost two decades. The market was a Stater Bros. before that. The new store, at 2207 W. Florida Ave, is in a complex created from the shell of a former Walmart store. The new Sprouts opened Wednesday and will continue to participate in the companys local Food Rescue Program, which donates food to food banks. In 2015, Sprouts donated approximately 14 million pounds of product to those in need, which is equivalent to 12 million meals, according to a news release. Contact the writer: 951-368-9086 or cshultz@scng.com A traffic collision sent two people to the hospital on the surface streets of Hemet on Wednesday. The crash was reported to Hemet police about 11:25 a.m., said Lt. Eric Dickson. A Nissan headed south on Girard Street crossed into the path of a Toyota Scion headed west on Menlo Avenue. Dickson said there is a stop sign there on Girard Street and its not clear whether the Nissan stopped. He added that the vehicles were both heavily damaged. Two people were hospitalized as a result of the crash with complaints of pain. Both victims are expected to be OK, he said. A pack of animals went hog wild at Riversides Fairmount Park on Wednesday night, damaging the turf. The culprits caught on camera by a resident were feral pigs that roam the Santa Ana River bottom and sometimes come up to root in nearby yards and landscaping. On Facebook, news of Fairmount Parks porcine visitors got some commenters debating whether the animals are dangerous and if its legal to hunt them. Others minds were on one thing: bacon. RELATED After pig intestines found in Riverside park, officials remind public that hunting not allowed The pigs have lived in the river bottom for decades and have been reported tearing up plants and grass from the Hidden Valley Wildlife Area in western Riverside to Eastvale to Jurupa Valley. People believe they escaped from farmers or ranchers, with the current pack rumored to be descended from pigs freed during a 1938 flood, Riverside City Councilman Mike Gardner said. Generally, they arent a problem, he said. Occasionally, they will come up into residential neighborhoods or parks and root in landscaped areas. The pigs typically stay out of sight during the day and emerge at dusk or later to forage and feed. They generally will leave people alone, but if you corner one or if, like (with) a bear, you get between mama and babies, thats not a good thing, Gardner said. City spokesman Phil Pitchford said officials arent aware of previous pig problems at Fairmount Park. In previous years when the pigs caused more widespread damage or their population exploded, angry or concerned humans have sought state permits and organized hunts to kill some of the animals. But in several instances, the pigs reportedly made themselves scarce before a hunt could take place. The group spotted in Fairmount Park apparently included some little piggies. Johnna Davidson, who posted a photo on Facebook, wrote that she thought about half of the herd were babies. Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 orarobinson@scng.comTwitter: @arobinson_pe Within two days, a jewelry store and a convenience store were robbed in Hemet and police there are calling for the publics help in finding the suspects. The first robbery happened Oct. 14 just before 4 p.m. at the Gold Crown Exchange at 326 S. Sanderson Ave., according to a news release from Hemet police. Two men entered the business and robbed an employee and a customer at gunpoint. The men left with jewelry, cash and personal items, police say. The department released a surveillance video of the incident. The jewelry store is offering $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the men who robbed their store. Then about 10:20 a.m. the following day, Hemet police responded to a Check N Go at 3671 W. Florida Ave. and learned that three men entered the business and robbed an employee at gunpoint. The suspects made off with cash and personal property. Investigators believe the same suspects were involved in both robberies. A surveillance camera captured photos of the suspects at the Check N Go. Anyone with information about the robberies may call Investigator Jessica Tuttle at 951-765-2422. The Inland Valley Repertory Theatre is closing its 2016 season with the play Amadeus, which runs through Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Candlelight Pavilion in Claremont. The 1981 winner of five Tony Awards by playwright Peter Shaffer is almost like a soap opera, about revenge and betrayal, said Donna Marie Minano, the companys co-founder and executive director. People really like it for the acting and for the story and the fact that its performed live, making you part of the moment. The intriguing drama pits mediocrity against genius. The 18th-Century imperial court of the Austrian Empire appointed Antonio Salieri as its director of Italian opera. The staunchly Catholic musician had devoted himself to God so that he might realize his ambition to be a great composer. Enraptured by Mozarts music and recognizing its brilliance, Salieri is horrified by the vulgar oaf when the two composers finally meet at a salon. Salieri, furious that the creator would bestow a dolt like Mozart with supreme gifts, renounces God and vows to destroy his nemesis. The play is a character study and a study in revenge, said Minano. Its about what happens to a persons soul when they they believe theyve been wronged. Salieri feels that God has betrayed him. Prior to the production, local musicians will perform a mini concert, thanks to a grant received last summer from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which helps support through its art commission the Inland Valley Repertory Theatre. Although the show itself is not a live musical, Minano said that it incorporates Mozarts compositions that have been recorded from orchestras. Minano and her husband Frank launched the company in 1990, staging shows for the first eight or nine years at various locations around the Inland valley. After taking a hiatus to raise their family, the couple rebooted Inland Valley Repertory in 2007 in a permanent home, the 299-seat Ben D. Bollingers Candlelight Pavilion. While Candlelight staged dinner shows on weekends, the Minanos produced high-quality community theater on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For the first time in their 10-year association, Inland Valley Repertory Theatre will partner with Candlelight to kick off the 2017 season, Minano said. Their joint production of Beauty and the Beast will run from Jan. 13 Feb. 5. Contact the writer: llucas@scng.com, 951-368-9559 Ghana needs a strong opposition. Every country, every democracy benefits from a strong opposition. When people like Dr. Nduom challenge the system or speak out about injustice, it does not mean they do not like President Mahama. It simply means they probably do not trust his government to do the right things for Ghana all the time. It is not personal. The people have to speak up when the president's appointees mismanage his governments affairs; when they do things that damage the country; things we hold dear, Education, Health, Energy. The Cedi stops at his desk. When the Economy does well he gets the credit. When his appointees abuse their positions, he should call them to order. Yes we want strong institutions, not Gestapo type heads wielding dictatorial powers. Ghanaians have a right to stand up and define the argument. A vibrant opposition works to make Ghana a better place for all. Ghana our dear Motherland will be a better place if the voices of the opposition are heard. There is a strong appetite for change and progressive politics. And it is not bad. All the good people who want a better Ghana should speak up when the institutions paid by our tax monies are used to suppress opposition voices. Democracy is a work in progress, it takes all sorts of ideologies to make it work effectively. Ours is a young one, we cannot afford to settle on only two ideologies. We need a few more years of trying to determine if we need only two parties in the political arena. In the interim, credible small parties should be encouraged to develop. Opinion leaders who are supporting the government's agenda of suppressing the voices of smaller parties that have conformed to the Political Parties's law, but through minor technicalities and selective injustice, have been forced out should rethink their positions. By: Ruth Appiah Osei University of Nordland, Norway Email: [email protected] Date: 26th October 2016 Source: Ruth Appiah Osei 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 Lawyer for embattled Prophet, Isaac Owusu-Bempah has disclosed that his client is now a special asset for the Ghana Police Service following his prophecy about an assassination plot hatched against NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo. According to Yaw Buaben Asamoah, Rev. Owusu Bempah is now a spiritual informant' for the police to avert any evil plot against the NPP leader before, during and after the December polls. The founder and leader of Glorious Word and Power Ministry International is reported to have prophesied that there will be gunshots at the NPP strongholds during the December 7 polls. Rev. Owusu-Bempah also said some persons are plotting to assassinate the presidential candidate. However, the Prophets inability to name those plotting the assassination is the reason he has been invited by the police to assist in investigations. Some supporters and church members who were peeved at the invitation massed up at the Police Headquarters asking for his release. But Yaw Boabeng Asamoah on Asempa FMs Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday said the police acted professionally. His client, he said, urged the police to be vigilant since prophecy is the outcome of a spiritual encounter thus any explanations in the physical realm might not make sense to a lay man. Rev Owusu-Bempah is a very powerful prophet; whatever he says comes to pass so the police is ready to work with him to be proactive, he added. Citing how the Man of God prophesied about someone throwing a stone at Akufo-Addo two weeks before the unfortunate incident happened at a rally in Osu to buttress his point, Mr. Buabeng Asamoah said Rev. Owusu-Bempah is a national asset who must not be taken for granted. He said his client is ready to help the police with any information to protect the life of incoming President Nana Akufo-Addo. Source: adomonline 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 Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced a partnership with Breast Care International (BCI) in Ghana. For the first time, Delta will provide year-long financial support to BCIs Community Outreach Programme and also sponsored the recent Walk For The Cure event in Kumasi. With Deltas support, the outreach programme will be extended to rural communities throughout Ghana providing the opportunity for its women to be educated and clinically screened. Over the next 12 months, up to 50 trained specialists will travel to communities allowing over 10,000 previously unreachable women to be examined and taught how to detect irregularities in their breasts. BCI will work closely with local community leaders and church pastors to facilitate the participation in breast cancer awareness, education and screening. Delta is committed to positively impacting the communities it serves and this new partnership with Breast Care International supports the early detection of this disease affording many women the greatest possibility for long term survival, said Nat Pieper, Deltas Senior Vice President-Europe, Middle East and Africa. As Delta prepares to celebrate 10 years of service between Ghana and the United States later this year, this partnership highlights our continued commitment to this country. Breast Care International highly appreciates Delta Air Lines for their support and investment into our womenfolk. We are convinced, that the platform we both share will offer us the required visibility and mileage, said Dr. Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, The President of Breast Care International. We believe in this partnership because breast cancer prevention is not only about educating, screening and empowering women, but also effecting attitudinal change, a primary consideration in all our awareness creation programs. We believe, that this collaboration is just the beginning of great things to happen between our two institutions. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month across the world and Delta is supporting the cause through fundraising events, serving refreshments, including pink lemonade and also flying the dedicated pink plane to various cities across Deltas network. The airlines employees and customers have raised $11 million for breast cancer charities since 2005, including last year's efforts of $1.75 million. The collective contributions have funded the work of 44 different research projects. Delta has operated service to Ghana since December 2006 and this year will be celebrating ten years of flying to Africa. Delta operates service to four African cities in four countries namely Lagos, Nigeria; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa and Accra, Ghana. Through the hubs in Atlanta and New York-JFK, Delta offers an unsurpassed network of hundreds of convenient onward connections. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In the quest to boost the development of the Fanteakwa area, President John Mahama yesterday announced the initiation of an electrification project for 29 communities in the area. The project is expected to connect the communities to the national power grid towards promoting agriculture, trade and general economic activities in the Fanteakwa North and South Districts. According to President Mahama, Parliament had approved the loan arrangement for the project and the government was awaiting the Chinese loan grantor to advance the funds for the project to commence. Announcing this at a rally at Ahomahomaso in the Fanteakwa North District of the Eastern Region as part of his campaign tour of the region, he said the project was one of the priority activities of the government. In addition to the electrification project, he said the district would also host one of the Farmer Service Centres to be established across the country with the aim of providing support to farmers to enhance agricultural production. The Centres, which the government hopes to use to revolutionise agricultural production, would offer farm inputs and extension services to assist farmers to improve their yield. The President also assured the people of the area of efforts to rehabilitate all roads that are in poor conditions in the district. He said although a lot of projects had been undertaken in the area, the government was determined to do more, promising that the district would have its fair share of development. He called for the support of the chiefs and people of the area to enable the government to execute the development plans for the district by voting to retain the NDC government in power. As part of his rounds yesterday, President Mahama inaugurated the 15th Community Day Senior High School at Kwawu Fodoa, and addressed mini rallies at Anyinam and Osino. Source: The Ghanaian Times Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A 10-day-old baby girl was left to die in the early hours of Sunday after suspected highway robbers held the ambulance conveying her from Tumu to Wa in the Upper West Region hostage for nearly two hours. The baby was being transferred to the regional hospital in Wa following some complications at birth at the Virtue Clinic at Tumu. The ambulance took off just after midnight on Saturday, but armed robbers reportedly attacked the vehicle as it headed from Tumu towards Han in the Sissala East District on its way to the regional hospital in Wa. The robbers, said to be four in number, kept the new mother, her baby and two others for almost two hours as they harassed them and collected cell phones, cash and some other personal effects. Police investigations According to the Public Relations Officer of the Upper West Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Joy Afagbedzi, the baby died before the ambulance finally made the nearly three-hour journey (minus the two hours with the robbers) from Tumu to Wa. He said the police had started investigations and that information on the incident was still scanty. Staff of the National Ambulance Service in Wa said the case had since been reported to the police as they shied away from official comments and media attention. Both the mother of the deceased child and the ambulance driver are said to have been treated and discharged from the regional hospital. 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 Sexual harassment and even violence against female parliamentarians is widespread, a report from a global parliamentary grouping suggests. The study by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) is being released during the group's annual assembly in Geneva. Just 55 female MPs took part in the survey, but they represent parliaments from across the globe. Over 80% said they had experienced some form of psychological or sexual harassment or violence. Rape threats The report from the IPU comes at a time when US Presidential candidate Donald Trump's comments about his opponent, Hillary Clinton, and his alleged sexual harassment of other women over the years, have been making headlines. It reveals some of the abuse female politicians around the world face while fulfilling their roles in elected positions. A European member of parliament reported receiving more than 500 threats of rape on Twitter in the space of just four days. Another, from Asia, received threats of violence to her son, detailing his school, his class, and his age. Of the women who took part in the survey, 65.5% said they had been the target of insults using sexual language and imagery. The report suggested humiliating remarks from male colleagues were commonplace. "In my part of the world there is all sorts of language that is associated with female parliamentarians," says Prof Nkandu Luo, currently minister of gender in Zambia. She recalls a male member of parliament publicly recounting that he liked to go to parliament because "all the women are there and I can just point and choose which one I want". The remarks, Professor Luo said, were reported in the press as something amusing and acceptable. "It's the way they demean women." Meanwhile Senator Salma Ataullahjan of Canada said she at first thought the survey would not be relevant to her. "I said, I'm from Canada, I don't need to take part in this." But answering the survey questions was, she said, enlightening. "You know as parliamentarians, we go out, we meet people, and I remember this one gentlemen getting up very close to me." The 'gentlemen' went on to make suggestive comments to Sen Ataullahjan, which at the time she brushed off. But recounting the incident for the survey brought it home that she had experienced inappropriate, even threatening, behaviour. Elite 'not immune' Now, she says, she has become much more open with her male colleagues. "We have to change the mindset about what is acceptable language, and what is acceptable behaviour and what is not," she says. The report concludes that the sheer pervasiveness of sexual discrimination, from humiliating language to harassment to real violence is preventing many elected women from carrying out their duties in freedom and safety. That, according to the IPU's chief, Martin Chungong, is one of the report's most worrying aspects. "Members of parliament are supposed to be leaders in society," he says. "But we see women members of parliament, the elite, as it were, are not immune. "So if the elite are victims of sexual aggression, what about the underprivileged? Source: BBC 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 Contractors working on the 500-bed Military Hospital at Afari in the Ashanti Region have completed 90 per cent of the structural works. Already, the state-of-the-arts equipment and machinery for the centre of excellence have arrived in the country and deposited at warehouses in Tema waiting for the 10 per cent works to be done for their installation. The Resident Engineer of the contracting firm, Euroget De-Invest, Mr Islam Sharawy, who was accompanied by the Construction Manager, Mr Mohamed Salama, conducted journalists round the health facility which has about 50 structures and a helipad. He said although the rains had hindered work a bit, they were on course in delivering the project by the end of the second quarter of 2017, the expected delivery time. Mr Sharawy explained that most of the structures were complete with others being fitted with ceiling and other electrical wiring as well as painting. He noted that the hospital would have a dedicated fire fighting area, however, every single room was being fitted with fire detecting sensors while their ceilings were made of fire proof materials. Mr Salama added that the hospital was situated on a 260,000 square metres of land. He gave an assurance that the project was being undertaken with all safety measures as a guide. The construction manager said even though they were working more hours to be able to deliver in good time, they would not compromise on quality, as standards were checked at all stages to ensure that they met the required levels. Over 600 Ghanaians The Administrative Manager of the Euroget De-Invest, Mr Baba Anaba, said currently, over 600 Ghanaians were working in various capacities at the construction site. When completed, he said, the hospital would employ many health professionals, as well as others for auxiliary duties, not to mention the indirect jobs it would create. Mr Anaba mentioned the laundry services, catering, transportation, schools, accommodation, among other services, that would be provided on completion of the project, and added that it was a plus for the community and the nation in general. Sewua 250-bed Hospital Journalists in Kumasi were also taken round the 250-bed hospital at Sewua in the Bosomtwi District of the Ashanti Region. All the 44 buildings which are housing the state-of-the-art regional hospital have been completed, plastered and being roofed in readiness for the equipment and other facilities to be fixed. Already, the equipment for the hospital have arrived in the country and been deposited in warehouses in Tema. The Resident Engineer, Mr Ahmed Massoud, who led a team of engineers and other officials of the contracting firm, Euroget De-Invest on the inspection, said works on the health facility were over 80 per cent complete. Explaining the state of work on the project to the journalists, he said they were on course to deliver the project to the people of the region in June next year. The media men were taken round the twin-administration block, out-patients department, in-patient wards, maternity wards, laboratories, physiotherapy, laboratory, radiology, emergency and casualty, blood bank, kitchen and laundry. Using the most modern technology, Euroget De-Invest Company is building the $64 million Ashanti Regional Hospital to ease the burden on other hospitals and serve the over 4.7 million inhabitants of the region. A distinctive feature of the construction is that the project includes accommodation for over 200 health personnel, especially medical doctors and nurses so that they would be close to the facility to ensure easy availability of their expertise. For his part, the Administrative Manager of Euroget De-Invest, Mr Baba Anaba, said that was a turnkey project, which meant that the firm would construct the structures and fit them with the needed equipment before handing it over. The company would hand over a complete hospital ready for use to the government and people of Ghana, Mr Anaba stated. The absence of a regional hospital in the Ashanti Region, which has put undue pressure on most health facilities in the region, especially the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), would be a thing of the past with the completion of the 250-bed hospital. He noted that the project was a turnkey one and Euroget was expected to provide all the structures and undertake the fittings, with cutting-edge technology to place the military hospital among the top-class hospitals in the world. Mr Anaba gave the assurance that when the company handed over the hospital finally to the government, everything would have been fitted to make it ready for public use. The 500-bed hospital, a multi-million dollar project by the government of Ghana which is situated at Afari, a town between Kumasi and Nkawie, would boost the countrys healthcare system when it becomes operational. 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 Military officers in Ghana are not seeking medical treatment at the 37 Military Hospital, a facility originally built for soldiers, because it lacks the basic equipment and necessary drugs to treat patients, Major Derek Oduro (rtd), Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North and Ranking Member on the Committee of Defence and Interior, has revealed. According to him, the lack of these basic equipment and drugs at the hospital demonstrate the ineptitude and propaganda on the part of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). Speaking in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM, on Wednesday, October 26, in connection with the ongoing construction of the Kumasi Military Hospital, the MP noted that such a project, though good for the country, was not a priority. He suggested that in the interim, the 37 Military Hospital in Accra should be equipped with all the tools needed to work with and also be provided with the drugs. He said: There is too much propaganda with this government. They (NDC) are good at using propaganda to win elections but not good at governance. Government approved the budget for this Kumasi Military [Hospital] project, which started in 2009 but they have done propaganda in all these years and that has delayed the project. He added: These kinds of projects are good for the country. If we could provide such hospitals in every region, it would be good but the propaganda attached to these projects by the government is what is worrying. At the moment, as we speak, the 37 Military Hospital is under-resourced. They lack the basic equipment to work with. They dont have the needed drugs to supply to patients and so most military officers are abandoning the hospital to seek treatment elsewhere. Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive of Atwima Nwabiagya, Nana Asare Bediako, told Chief Jerry Forson that the Kumasi Military Hospital will reduce the burden on other hospitals in the region. He revealed that the 500-bed hospital was nearing completion. He stated on the show that: The military hospital in Kumasi will reduce the burden on the 37 [Military] Hospital and so President Mahama should rather be commended for building the hospital in Kumasi. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Mr Sylvanus Kofi Adzornu, Head of the Urban Development Unit at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, says rural urban migration is the cause of slums in Ghana. He said the population of Accra and Kumasi alone put pressure on the infrastructure and social amenities, thereby creating slums in the city. Mr Adzornu was contributing to a discussion on Affordable Housing Network organized at the United Nations Habitat III Conference held in Quito, Ecuador, on Wednesday. He said the politicization of important issues in Ghana was one of the major problems that had set back the country's development, adding: "Our institutions must be working without any politics. It is an offence for people to build on waterways in Ghana but people build on waterways with impunity with no respect for our laws." The Head of the Urban Development Unit said there was the need for uniformity and equal disbursement of public funds and state houses in all parts of the country to reduce rural-urban migration, which was the major cause of slums in our cities. He said it took many countries a number of years to develop their cities which Quito was no exception. The UN Habitat III Conference is a platform to ratify and adopt the New Urban Agenda which will focus on Sustainable Urban Development, including issues such as housing, slum prevention and upgrading, climate change, protection and public safety. The Habitat III, the third conference in line with the bi-decennial cycle (1976, 1996 and 2016), is aimed at invigorating and securing a renewed global political commitment to sustainable urbanization to focus on the implementation of a New Urban Agenda, building on the Habitat Agenda of Istanbul in 1996. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ahead of Ghanas general elections in December, Vodafone Ghana Foundation has partnered Human Network International (HNI) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to equip Ghanaians with free and accurate information on the electoral process and voter education. The service is being delivered through the Vodafone 3-2-1 platform the first free on-demand information service in Ghana. The latest addition to the 3-2-1 service menu, which is under the elections tab, contains detailed information on voter registration, exhibition, campaigning, Election Day as well as electoral malpractices. The free on demand service, is programmed in various languages including English, Ewe, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani and Twi, and customers can access these by simply dialling 3-2-1 on their mobile phones. Additionally, customers can also dial the short code - *321# - to assess the written content. The election content was developed in partnership with YES Ghana and was reviewed by the Electoral Commission of Ghana. Commenting, Ebenezer Amankwah, Corporate Relations Manager at Vodafone Ghana said: One of the greatest contributions a telecommunications company can bring to subscribers is the ability to empower them to get relevant and up to date information using fewer resources. The elections tab is therefore our way of championing civic education on the upcoming general elections for the good of society. The 3-2-1 service also provides news, weather forecasts, maternal and sexual reproductive health, family planning, water and sanitation for subscribers. Kris H. Ozar, Country Representative for Catholic Relief Services in Ghana and Cote dIvoire said: The youth are often used to disrupt electoral processes in many developing countries and Ghana is no exception. This service will hopefully contribute in curbing this phenomenon and create an enabling environment across the country. We at CRS believe that our involvement will serve to ensure peaceful elections in 2016. Sarah Rogers, the HNI Ghana Programme Manager also expressed excitement about the benefit the partnership will bring to Ghana: "At HNI we believe that everyone should have access to information, including the most rural Ghanaians with limited literacy. We are very excited to expand the 3-2-1 Service with information on the upcoming elections, allowing Ghanaians to have a better understanding of the electoral process and to be more informed as participants." The technology behind the 3-2-1 Service is developed by VOTO Mobile, a Ghana-based tech start-up and beneficiary of Vodafone Ghana Foundations Mobile for Good Initiative. DKT International, Marie Stopes International, Grameen Foundation, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Ghana News Agency, Ghana Health Service, and GSMA, UNICEF, and Earth Networks are the main contributors to this service. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The New Patriotic Party has disclosed what it terms a dangerous agreement President Mahama and his government is seeking to secure with China. Revealing some aspects of this intended agreement between Ghana and China at a Press Conference in Accra today, NPPs Policy advisor Mr. Boakye Agyarko said, the Mahama Cabinet has recently given approval to a proposal which they hope will entice the China Development Bank to re-activate the remaining $2 billion of the $3 billion loan which the Chinese discontinued after disbursing $1 billion of it to Ghana. In the original Master Facility Agreement, he said, President Mahama committed Ghana to supplying, as collateral security, 13,000 barrels per day of crude oil up to 2027 to service the CDB facility. The Chinese eventually considered this as insufficient because of the slump in oil prices, refusing to release the remaining tranches, he said. Mr. Boakye Agyarko said, in the new offer to CDB, the Mahama government is proposing to export to the Chinese, all the Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) to be processed by the Ghana Gas processing plant at Atuabo from 2018, estimated at the value of $1.5 billion. Quoting from the Decisions Memorandum on the facility drafted by the Mahama administration this year, Mr. Boakye Agyarko said, the Mahama administration intends to release up to US$450 million from the revenue accruing from the sale of Lean Gas over 2016 to 2018 for purposes of resolving shortfalls in GoG payment obligations under the MFA for 2016 to 2021. This means that the gas that we are hoping will power our industries, offices, hospitals and homes, will rather be used to service a commercial loan of highly questionable prudence, he stated. The NPPs Policy Advisor also revealed how the NDC is looking up to the Chinese to find an additional US$1.9 billion for the Ghana Gas Processing Plant to build the export infrastructure to make it possible to export all the NLGs to the Chinese. To cap it all, the NDC brains, if I may stress, big brains putting this deal together, led by Ato Ahwoi and Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, are demanding US$6 million to fund the work of the Task Force, which the President set up to unlock this wonderful gift from China. And, that money is coming from the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund funds that Finance Minister Seth Terpker went to the international money market to borrow at a very expensive rate, he said. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Electoral Commission (EC) has said it is impossible for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary polls to be rigged for any one political party. EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei says for results of the election to be altered for the four contesting political parties,she would need a "superman powers" to do that. Speaking to traditional rulers of the Asanteman Traditional Council Wednesday, the EC boss said the Commission is working assiduously to avoid a repeat of the eight-month-long electoral dispute which engulfed the country after the 2012 general election. The Commission's preparation for the general election has been an issue for many Ghanaians, considering that the plans to have the election held in November was thrown out by Parliament citing the unpreparedness of the Commission. Another issue that is feeding into the unpreparedness of the Commission is the recent disqualification of 12 presidential candidates for failing to abide by the Constitutional Instrument (C.I.94). The law governing the December 7 polls that directs that for nominations of candidates to be accepted, they have to get 432 valid voters endorsing their forms but the EC boss explained the disqualified candidates failed to meet that requirement due to some irregularities found on their forms. The Commission is now battling lawsuits leveled against it by some of the political parties namely, the National Democratic Party (NDP), Progressive People's Party (PPP), and the All People's Congress (APC). Many political pundits and social commentators had predicted the disputes in court if not handled properly could derail the upcoming election. Minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah had told Joy News that the decision by the EC to disqualify the 12 candidates might lead Ghana to the Nigerian situation where the 2015 election had to be postponed for six weeks. But before the Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, the EC boss said the Commission is ready and committed to ensuring that the election pulls through without hitches. She said the Commission as part of ensuring the credibility of the polls has introduced and implemented 27 electoral reforms which include the increasing of polling stations from 22,000 to 29,000. The Commission would be using professionals to man the December 7 polls to forestall issues with documentation and processing, she said. Mrs Osei said the use of the biometric and manual verification machines in the election would help to enhance its transparency. She also added that "political parties would be at printing houses when the ballots are being printed and when they are being transported by the security agencies." Considering the measures the Commission has put in place, she said what would be required is for the political parties and the electorates to work with the EC to understand the law and the processes. "There is no way all of us at the Electoral Commission can change the results. It is nearly impossible for you to change the election results," she said. "You have to be at 29,000 polling stations, you have to change the results on all the sheets of the party agents who are there and run to the coalition centers to change the results before coming to declare the results. Nana, I would need Superman powers to be able to do that," Mrs Osei said. Source: myjoyonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Electoral Commission has hinted over 15 million people are eligible to vote come December 7, 2016. The chairperson of the Electoral Management Body Mrs. Charlotte Osei has also served notice the final register of voters will be made available to all political parties by close of October. According to her, no polling station would have over 850 voters in this years elections, adding this will help ease pressure on the verification and vote counting machines. The political parties by Friday will get a list of all the polling stations, Mrs. Osei stated when she addressed the second general meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs in Kumasi on Wednesday. All of them (political parties) who have brought their hard drives will have a list of the final voters register. She added: The register has now been finalised; we have implemented all the decisions and we are in a good place and, so, they (political parties) will have the register at the end of this week. We will probably have an approximately 15,800,000 names thereabout on the register going into the elections. Three political parties are contesting the presidential race National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and an independent candidate Joseph Osei Yeboah. The polls come off December 7. Source: Today / Starrfm 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 We reported earlier that the Ardent Leisure annual general meeting (AGM) unfortunately timed to only days after the tragedy at Dreamworld which killed four people was going ahead. Many were concerned that a meeting in which business performance would be discussed and annual bonuses would be dished out should have been delayed or rescheduled. As Senator David Leyonhjelm somewhat callously pointed out, AGMs are governed by the Corporations Act 2001. You obviously dont need to know anything about Corporations Law to comment on Twitter. https://t.co/69q2rHhPki David Leyonhjelm (@DavidLeyonhjelm) October 26, 2016 Sure, but hes not correct in implying they cant be delayed, rescheduled or pushed beyond the legislated window of time via an application to ASIC, but thats neither here nor there. Either way: it happened, and the press conference afterwards wasnt a particularly gratifying experience. 9 News Gold Coast livestreamed it: Deborah Thomas, CEO of Ardent Leisure, immediately copped a grilling over the incident, the companys response, and the fact that she had received a $860,000 bonus. The bonus issue was addressed early: Thomas said that it was not an appropriate time to discuss it, and Ardent board director Neil Balnaves defended it on the grounds that it was a planned bonus based on earlier good performance prior to the incident on Tuesday. After issuing her condolences and saying that Ardent had offered its support to the families of those affected, Thomas was interrogated by Channel 10 reporter Melinda Nucifor who claimed that the company had in fact not reached out and offered support at all. Nucifor said that the family of Kate Goodchild and Luke Dorsett had told her this directly. They say that theyve had no direct contact whatsoever, no ones even reached out to them, the journalist said. Theyve even sent me [Luke Dorsett and Kate Goodchilds mothers] mobile phone number, saying, Can someone please call her? Thomas changed her tune slightly, suggesting that the chaos of the 24 hours after the fatal incident was spent trying to get in contact with the family via a police liaison officer, who would then be offered the companys full support: Yesterday was all about trying to get hold of the families so we could offer assistance, and we have it back from the police that they have made contact with them. And my understanding was that our people would be with them today. She offered her condolences, clearly shaken by the exchange: I would like to say to Mrs Dorsett that my sincere sympathies for what you must be going through. And on behalf of the staff and management at Ardent and Dreamworld, that our hearts and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. And I will be calling you to see what assistance we can offer you. Thank you. The investigation into the accident continues. Source: 9 News Gold Coast. Photo: Facebook. Deborah Thomas, CEO of Dreamworlds owner Ardent Leisure, has pledged to donate the entirety of her scheduled cash bonus to the Australian Red Cross following the tragic death of four guests at the theme park on Tuesday. In a statement, Thomas writes she has been deeply affected and saddened by the deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi and Cindy Low, and the impact of this incident on their children and families. As such, shes directing the cash amount of $167,500 through Dreamworlds (recently postponed) memorial day event, which will be run with the support of the Red Cross and has the express purpose of supporting those close to the victims. This announcement comes after it was initially estimated Thomas bonus would total between $670,000 and $860,000. Earlier today, a visibly-shaken Thomas faced questions from the media about the incident at Ardent Leisures post-annual general meeting press event. Speaking to a reporter who mentioned Luke Dorsett, Thomas said our hearts and our thoughts and prayers are with [the Dorsett family] at this difficult time. And I will be calling you to see what assistance we can offer you. Source: Supplied. Photo: Christopher Pearce / Getty. Only 2 days after the tragic incident at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, where four people passed away after a ride malfunction, executives are allegedly meeting to discuss bonus pay. News Ltd. is reporting that executives from the theme parks parent company, Ardent Leisure, are holding their general annual meeting today, where its elusive CEO Deborah Thomas will face investors. Dreamworld makes up approximately a third of Ardent Leisures earning, but the parks shares have tumbled since the tragedy. Shares have dropped a total of 67 cents since Tuesday, wiping a whopping $310 million from the companys market capitalisation. Thomas, who was met with controversy when she nabbed the CEO job after leaving her editor role at Australian Womens Weekly, is said to be up for the six-figure bonus. Reports say she was expected to receive a bonus package between $670,000-$860,000. She was expected to make a public statement after she travelled to the Gold Coast yesterday in wake of the devastating incident, but failed to. Shes now expected to face the media after todays general meeting. Source: News Ltd. Photo: Dreamworld. *inhales deeply* Ahhhhhh yes, its that time of year again. Where we watch the worlds fittest, (and simultaneously) most conventionally beautiful women in the world walk up and down a runway on television, while eating a family-size block of Dairy Milk and convincing ourselves its like, so totally fine to drink an entire bottle of wine in one night. Thats right, the Victorias Secret Fashion Show will soon be upon us once again, and the last round of castings concluded in New York City earlier this week. Imagine that for a job, hey? Meeting with hundreds of beautiful and talented women, in order to find the new flock of nearly-angels who might one day become full-strength VS Angels. Its already been announced that superstar Bella Hadid has made the cut in 2016 (following in the footsteps of her big sister Gigi), but it looks like theres a crapload of fresh photogenic meat in two kay sixteen. The fifteen women whove been picked for the modelling job that tops all the modelling jobs have announced their chosen one status on social media. Meet them here: HERIETH PAUL Hailing from Tanzania and living her best life in Ottawa in Canada, Herieth Paul has walked on some of the biggest runways in the business. Shes signed with Women Management & Select Model Management. GEORGIA FOWLER Georgia Fowlers the biggest newbie name on the list; shes walked for Chanel, AND she dated Harry Styles. Shes a New Zealand gal, but Australia has done what we do best weve claimed Fowler as our own. Shes signed with IMG worldwide. LAIS OLIVEIRA ??BAM?? ?? felling just fab with VS ??? @victoriassecret #victoriasecrets #vs #vslovers ??? A photo posted by Lais Oliveira ???? (@laisoliveiraofficial) on Oct 18, 2016 at 8:31am PDT Brazilian model Lais Oliveira is a massive fan favourite shes a Adriana Lima lookalike, which is interesting. Shes with Supreme Management in New York & Paris. ALANNA ARRINGTON Alanna has just turned 18 years of age, but this Iowa youngun had already opened Altuzarra at the ripe age of seventeen. She loves Harry Potter, and shes signed with NEXT Models in LA and New York. JOURDANA ELIZABETH This lovely goofball is a fresh face with a pretty scarce internet presence. Jourdana is signed with Major Models in New York, and Supreme Management in Paris. MAGGIE LAINE Blonde beauty Maggie Laine might look fresh-faced and straight out of her first go-see, but shes an experienced walker with a bunch of shows and multiple years experience. Shes with IMG worldwide. LUMA GROTHE Luma has a wealth of experience under her belt shes already a brand ambassador, for LOreal AND Paco Rabanne fragrances. Shes with Premier Model Management. KEKE LINDGARD Hawaiian gal Keke is a Insta fave that youve probably already seen when you were buying bathers online. Shes with Women Mgmt in NYC. MARY JANICE DILONE (but she goes by just Dilone) This absolute cutie is stanned so hard on social media, and is a fave of i-D and Carine Roitfeld. A more independent and alternative face for the VS family, shes with DNA Models. CINDY BRUNA Today we pranked @cindybruna and called her in for some bad news ?? Congrats on booking @victoriassecret cant wait to watch you kill it in Paris ???? #VSFashionShow #VSFSParis2016 A video posted by Wilhelmina (@wilhelminamodels) on Oct 26, 2016 at 10:13am PDT Cindy, a French model with a Congolese background, got pranked by her agency Wilhemina New York as the announcement shed nabbed the Victorias Secret casting. MEGAN WILLIAMS Megan Williams is a British rose, and shes also a face of Guess. Shes with Women in New York and Storm Models in London. ZURI TIBBY A Palm Beach girl, Zuri was discovered at a mall. She was the first black woman to be the face of VS Pink, but this is her first time walking in the VS fashion show. Shes with IMG. GRACE ELIZABETH Miami local Grace Elizabeth was a Guess girl, and has walked for Miu Miu and Oscar de la Renta. Shes with NEXT Models worldwide. YES LADIES, YOU DO IT! Source: Instagram. Photos: Instagram / @georgiafowler, @laisoliveiraofficial, @maggievlaine, @_dilone. Sexuality is a lot like dinner at the (late but forever relevant) Australian buffet establishment, Smorgies. Some people who go there stick to a meat-and-two-veg situation; they love their bain-marie roast dinners, always have. They dont need to try the chicken to know they dont like it. Others are a little more adventurous. They want the powdery carbonara, a bit of zucchini fritter, heck, they might even give the soft serve a lick. Its all there in front of them, and it all looks delicious why not? Some people just arent interested in Smorgies, at all. All of these choices and preferences arent out of the ordinary, especially when you consider them through a lense of attraction. Thats been confirmed by new research out of the UK suggests that nearly half of young people identify as something other than straight. deciding what to go for like Online surveying tool YouGov asked 1,632 British people to rank themselves using the Kinsey Scale also known as the Heterosexual-Homosexuality scale from 1 (straighty 180) to 6 (totes gay). Heres an idea of what they were asked: A total of 49 per cent of 18-24 year olds defined themselves as something other than totally heterosexual. I was personally ranked a 2 (slight homo), and told this: funniest disclaimer ever Of the 49 per cent officially surveyed, only six per cent identified as totally homosexual with the remaining 43 per cent placing themselves somewhere along the scale of sexual orientation. In the same survey, 46 per cent of those aged 18-24 saw themselves as totally heterosexual. The research is insightful as it helps dismantle the idea that there are clear cut categories we need to assign ourselves to. Speaking to PEDESTRIAN.TV, Melbourne-based sex and relationship therapist Cyndi Darnell said shes definitely seeing adjustments in attitudes around sexuality, and representations of difference in the media have definitely played a role. I think its a cultural shift. More and more people are just accepting of sexual diversity, says Darnell. If you watch the Deep Water doco on SBS [that spotlighted the spate of hate crimes committed against homosexual men in Bondi in the 80s and 90s] its astounding how far weve come in 25 years in relation to distinctions as clear cut as heterosexuality and homosexuality. People have been having sex wed associate with heterosexuality or homosexuality for thousands of years. We have associated that with labels, with particular acts having more political power and thats where the problem is. Its not about whos doing who its how its perceived and who holds social control with this stuff it plays out in peoples beds. Turns out were not just questioning who we should be rubbing uglies with, but rather who we ourselves would like to be. Its beyond heterosexual and homosexual. Its moving beyond gender binaries, says Darnell. Strict gender roles dont do us much good as a society, and while young people are more keen to question them, the older generation are a little more set in their ways. I dont see it as much with older people thats not to say thats a trend, thats just what I see in my limited practice. In my context, younger people, by and large, are more flexible around those things, says Darnell. The research echoes Darnells experience. When you take all generations into account, a whopping 89% of Brits consider themselves full hetero. Of course, heterosexuality is not dead, and its unlikely our generation is any more gay than the last were just more open. Darnell reckons social media has played an integral part in our acceptance. Its more through what we see in the media, and social media; the way that people are crafting their experiences. Young people tell their stories through social media, so theres a stronger presence of such things compared to 10 years ago. Its a chicken and egg situation though because of course social media didnt exist in the abundance that it does now ten years ago. People are talking about things that are neither heterosexual or homosexual. Im excited to see where that goes in 10 years or so. You might remember Magda Szubanski coming out on The Project back in 2012. She described her orientation in a very Kinsey-esque fashion. I am absolutely not straight, she said. I wouldnt define myself as bisexual either. I would say I am gay-gay-gay-gay-gay-gay-a little bit not gay-gay-gay-gay. Unfortunately theres not actually a word to describe me so I have to express myself through the medium of the dance. While Darnell sees the positives in coming out, she doesnt believe its totally necessary for everyone. You never need to come out. Its entirely up to you. For some people, its very dangerous to do that. If they live in a community thats highly homophobic or conservative, the implications of coming out could cost them their life. Its a choice, but its also not a neoliberal choice. Its much more a case by case, circumstantial thing. Were moving beyond rigid definitions and thats bloody exciting. Lets just hope we arent still talking about marriage equality in 2026. Source: YouGov. Photo: The Notebook. Remember Tim Robards from Australias first-ever The Bachelor? I have a bone to pick with him. If youre a die-hard bachie fan like myself, youll remember that he was given the opportunity to take his final three contestants Anna, Rochelle and Ali on overnight dates way back in 2013. Just as they do on every season in the U.S, he opened an envelope with a key to the contestants chastity belts fantasy suite where they would have the opportunity to bump uglies spend alone time off-camera. He decided to take the honourable human route rather than the Im-only-human root and decline on the offer with all three of the hopefuls (poor Ali, homegirl was roaring for it). From that point on, never again did we ever see the v. sexy, v. necessary fantasy suite card on an Aussie Bachelor / Bachelorette. I think I did the guys in because I was the first one to say no overnight dates and they followed suit so I think Ive screwed it up for everyone, he told Daily Tele once upon a cockblocking time. Tbh Im fucking off it something brought to my attention yet again when Nick Honey Badger Cummins and Sophie were macking on in the pool during an episode last week. Thats dry (but wet) humping right there. We saw the same sexy pool and spa scenes with the likes of Blake Garvey + forehead penetrator Jess, as well as Matty J and Georgia Love. These couped up civilians clearly wanna bang. But its only natural, right? If youre going to commit to someone at the end of this potentially for life its common decency to try before you buy or ask for a refund. Unfortunately, both Badge and Sophie was denied this privilege. Before you protest that sex doesnt define a relationship, hear me out. What if Badger sends Brooke home tonight, only to later find out shes what his sex life had been missing all these years? What if he likes to say You dirty bitch, you dirty whore as he climaxes, and rumoured winner Britt dont like that? Weve all seen Sex And The City, and, while we all know that many of that shows storylines are crocks, we also know that theyre very real possibilities. Aside from the sex though, these overnight dates are about spending alone time together off camera. Sure, theyd probably smang, but theyd also have the opportunity to find out a bunch of other potentially deal-breaking stuff in the process. Britts pretty prim and proper, Id bet money that she builds up all her farts for the day and lets them rip overnight. Its not exactly the kind of thing you talk about while riding camels on the beach, you know? This isnt all about discovering things about the contestants, either. Im sure they wanna know how Badgers curly mop head looks in the morning, whether or not hes prone to a butt sweat pimple (no judgement here), whether or not he takes up the entire bed, or if he too has farty parties in his sleep. Its clearly worked a treat in the U.S. The show has aired more than triple that of Australian iterations, with countless marriages and babies to prove that meeting ones D is integral to life-long commitment. We could be wrong. Three-ish dates over a coupla weeks could be just what these bachies need to make such a huge decision. But, again, a huge thanks to Tim Robards and Channel 10 producers for keeping their suitors and contestants blue, one ball + vaginal lip at a time. CORRECTS DATE OF PHOTO TO TUESDAY, OCT. 25, 2016 - This photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard shows a trimaran that the U.S. Coast Guard has located in Hawaii on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. Guo Chuan, a Chinese man attempting to set a sailing record from San Francisco to Shanghai, has been reported missing from the yacht. (U.S. Coast Guard/Air Station Barbers Point via AP) October 28, 1916 A local business man suggests that, in anticipation of probable spells of cold, dry weather during the nearing winter season, with consequent increase of danger from fires, now would be a very proper time for some preparedness. While the present members of Petersburgs volunteer fire department have proven their efficiency in the handling of firefighting apparatus, and have thereby on numerous occasions prevented serious property loss, a strengthening of the organization at this time through the acquisition of and drilling of new members would be but anticipating a work which, with continued growth of the city, will become a necessity in the near future. With more people and more buildings and both are much more numerous in Petersburg than they were a couple of years ago come more chances of fire. It is therefore apparent that the growth of the fire department and efficiency of its equipment should keep pace with the growth of the city. October 31, 1941 The shining new instruments now on display in the windows of the C. E. Swanson Company store are not those of a passing symphony, but are all soon to be in the hands of Petersburg students, pouring forth band and orchestral music under the direction of Reuel Griffin, public school supervisor of music. This large shipment of instruments arrived only Monday, but already many of them have been claimed by students taking advantage of the generous discount and trial payment plan made possible through the school. The instruments carry a 20 percent discount from the regular Seattle purchase price, with an added discount, in that the freight charges were absorbed by Sherman Clay and Company of Seattle, retailers of the instruments. So that the instruments will be in the reach of every student, they will be assigned to students on their parents signature on low payment basis. Already quite a number of students who own or have access to orchestral instruments, are taking free group instruction under Mr. Griffin at school. All students are to be given the Seashore Tests for musical talent universally adopted standardized test developed by the Dean of Psychology of the University of Iowa. Through these tests a scientific analysis of each childs musical talents will be made and used in planning his musical curriculum. October 28, 1966 Chris Hanson leads the Hammer and Wikan deer derby this week with a 150-pound buck. The 172-pound buck which was shot two weeks ago by Henry Lemke was not entered in the deer derby, contrary to a story in last weeks Press. Hammer and Wikan annually sponsors a deer derby with prizes for the largest deer and the largest antlers. October 31, 1991 Plans for an independent mental health center for Petersburg are being fleshed out, but the planning committee has been advised to proceed with caution so that children and the chronically mentally ill dont lose services. Mental health care in Petersburg is currently provided by Gateway Center for Human Services, operated by the city of Ketchikan. But in September, the hospital board voted to establish a new mental health center independent of Gateway. Many have thought that adequate services for Petersburg, which, critics say, has been treated like a poor stepchild. The hospital board approved at its Oct. 24 meeting an organizational structure, in which an independent advisory board for the proposed center would be set up. The clinic would be run by a human services director, who would answer to the hospital administrator and the hospital board. Women's Resource Center adapts to meet rising domestic abuse concerns With many victims unable to reach out during the pandemic, the Women's Resource Center had to find new ways to connect. Petrobras willing to settle to resolve corruption cases Petrobras settlements show company eager to resolve corruption cases RIO DE JANEIRO/NEW YORK Petroleumworld.com 10 27 2016 Petrobras' decision to settle four lawsuits over corruption allegations signals its willingness to negotiate deals in other civil cases but does not remove the threat of massive government penalties from U.S. and Brazilian investigations, legal experts said. The four settlements with large Petrobras shareholders, approved by the oil company's board on Friday, represent only a fraction of the 27 individual lawsuits and one class action case filed against the company in U.S. courts. But they could be a sign the firm is ready to press ahead with other settlements, legal experts said. Petrobras admitted to no wrongdoing in the agreements. "It's a signal that leadership wants to turn the page," said Michael Fine, an expert on anti-corruption law and the principal of NXG Global Law & Compliance. "If the company is at the table it should create some momentum for the resolution of the rest of the suits, but it depends on who the parties are and what the merits are of each of their claims," said Fine. Investors are suing Petrobras in New York accusing it of covering up a sweeping graft scheme and publishing misleading accounts. They believe the corruption and mismanagement helped destroy nearly $200 billion of shareholder value since 2008. Any resolution in the civil cases is not likely to affect corruption investigations by U.S. and Brazilian authorities that could potentially carry hefty fines, legal experts said. In August 2015, Reuters reported that Petrobras' legal advisers estimated the company may face penalties of $1.6 billion or more to settle claims with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, an amount that would make it one of the largest-ever settlements over corporate wrongdoing. "As much as the investors and bondholders think that they are getting some of this civil litigation behind them, they still have the U.S. government investigation hanging over them," said Charles Connolly, an attorney focused on government and corporate investigations at Akin Gump in Washington D.C. IMPORTANT TO REMOVE UNCERTAINTY Despite clean-up efforts by Petrobras Chief Executive Pedro Parente, the lawsuits and government probes have made investors reluctant to lend new cash to develop the company's giant offshore oil and gas resources. We recognize that to remove uncertainty about the company is extremely important so that our investors can have a better notion of the company's future prospects, Parente, who assumed control of Petrobras in May, told reporters on Monday. Petrobras said on Friday it plans to set aside $353 million to settle the cases with the PIMCO Total Return Fund, Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund, Janus Overseas Fund and Al Shams Investments. The funds represent some of the largest holders of Petrobras bonds and stocks. One investor with direct involvement in the settlements told Reuters that the agreements were "a sign that corporate governance has materially improved" at Petrobras. He added that the improvement in governance had encouraged investors to strike a deal with Petrobras' new management. Other investors consulted by Reuters said a global settlement with the class action plaintiffs will still be needed to ease concerns about the size of remaining liabilities. Lawyers for the class action plaintiffs have refused to say how much they are seeking. Parente has maintained that the corruption was caused by a small group of executives and managers acting on their own, and that the state oil company itself was a victim of their actions. In an interview with Reuters on Sept. 22, he vowed that the lawsuits would not derail a recently announced five-year recovery plan. While the settlements are a positive step for Petrobras, said Salim Saud Neto, a lawyer in Rio de Janeiro, "it is too early to see a more meaningful change in the perception of the company." Venezuela protests, opposition calls for national strike Opposition casts doubt on Vatican-mediated dialogue process CARACAS Petroleumworld.com 10 27 2016 Venezuela's opposition upped the ante in efforts to unseat an unpopular president, calling a nationwide strike for Friday and a protest march to the presidential palace next week if the government fails to allow a recall referendum to proceed. Either the government restores the constitution, or all Venezuelans will go to the palace, opposition state governor Henrique Capriles told hundreds of thousands of supporters at a rally in Caracas on Wednesday. The prospect of Friday's strike and further marches once again puts Venezuela on tenterhooks, just days after President Nicolas Maduro's agreement to Vatican-mediated talks with the the opposition coalition, known as the MUD, appeared to diffuse tensions. Wednesday's rally cast fresh doubt that any agreement between the country's dueling political factions can be reached. Things are changing in Venezuela every day, Carlos Romero, a political scientist at Central University of Venezuela, said. A train crash between the government and the opposition is brewing, the question is when and if it can be avoided. While the talks are scheduled to begin Sunday on Margarita Island, the opposition alliance has said it will only participate if the dialogue is held in Caracas. Capriles on Wednesday renewed that requirement, promising more protests if the government ignored the MUD's demand to allow the recall referendum against Maduro's rule to go forward. To read more about the political standoff in Venezuela, click here. "On Sunday we're not going to Margarita, but Maduro wants to go to the beach," Capriles said. You rectify the constitutional order, or I convene all of Venezuela to march Nov. 3. The renewed call to the streets drew loud cheers from the sea of supporters, many of whom have voiced frustration with the planned opposition-government talks. People are upset, they took away our vote; people who never marched are here today, said Xiomara Rangel, a 65-year-old retired fashion designer. Protesting what she said was a government that has taken an increasingly authoritarian bent, Rangel said she was baffled that the opposition and religious leaders could sit down with the ruling socialists. "I'm upset with the pope, how can he receive a dictator?" Last week, authorities suspended a nearly year-long push by the opposition to hold a recall vote, after courts in a number of pro-government states ruled that the referendum petition was fraught with fraud. New Phase' The timing of the recall referendum vote is crucial. Although polls show that more than three quarters of Venezuelans want the president ousted, if the recall referendum is delayed beyond year-end, then the constitution dictates that Maduro could be forced from office only to be succeeded by his vice president, thus cementing the ruling party's hold on power. Demonstrations in Caracas on Wednesday were largely peaceful, but the opposition said on social media that several protesters had been injured in demonstrations outside the capital. The marches come on the heels of a two-day raucous congressional session, where the opposition-controlled legislature voted to open a political trial against Maduro. While the measure is largely symbolic, given the government's control of virtually all other institutions, the MUD vowed to proceed with those hearings Thursday aiming to eventually sanction the president for abandoning his post and disrupting the constitutional order, among other charges. Venezuela's political crisis is set to enter into a new phase over the days and weeks ahead, Eurasia Group said in an e-mailed note. No Alternative' Facing a collapsing economy and increased political pressure from abroad, Maduro has brushed off the prospect of holding any vote this year, saying the efforts are tantamount to a coup led by foes at home and abroad. Now they say they want to shut down the country. They didn't make that call, It came from the gringo embassy, he said Wednesday at rally attended by thousands of red-clad supporters. In recent days, the beleaguered president has doubled down on his call for talks, but many in the opposition suspect that Maduro's sole aim is buy time and delay the recall process. There is no alternative to dialogue and peace. We want dialogue because we want peace and prosperity for the people, the president said African Swine Fever (ASF) will be a priority issue on the agenda for discussion in Poland tomorrow when the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, is due to meet Polands Health Minister, Konstanty Radziwi, and Agriculture Minister, Krzysztof Jurgiel. Mr Andriukaitis (pictured above) is visiting Warsaw to hold a Citizens Dialogue event entitled Healthy Investments in Growth Poland in the EU. In addition to witnessing Minister Radziwi being given a very public vaccination against seasonal flu, the Commissioner is to hold talks with Minister Jurgiel, with ASF top of their discussion list. Mr Andriukaitis is also due to attend the Polish Governments ASF inter-ministerial meeting, which is scheduled for Friday. The latest Defra report on ASF in Poland, dated August 15, revealed that there were eight new disease outbreaks in domestic pigs since the previous update on the June 27, involving a total of almost 900 pigs shred between large and small scale units. Get Our E-Newsletter - Pig World's best stories in your in-box twice a week See e-newsletter example Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy SQlab has been in the saddle scene since 2001, gathering information, undertaking scientific studies and even writing a book on the subject, literally: 'The Path to the Perfect Saddle.' Their latest Ergowave saddle technology was created in conjunction with Frankfurt's University Hospital and the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. The 612 Ergowave Active saddle promises a lot, with a choice of widths from 12-15cm in 1cm increments, and three interchangeable compounds of rubber elastomer to support your body weight using their 'Active Technology.' My saddle was the most affordable of the 612 range that features these two technologies with TiTube alloy rails and is priced at $189.99 USD / 149.95. SQlab 612 Ergowave Active Details: TiTube Alloy rails C84 Kevlar cover Superlight Foam 3 interchangeable elastomer dampers Relief of perineal area: 60% Length: 280mm Width: 12cm, 13cm, 14cm and 15cm Weights: 275g, 278g, 281g, 286g Price: $189.99 USD / 149.95 sq-lab.com TiTube Alloy rails C84 Kevlar cover Superlight Foam 3 interchangeable elastomer dampers Relief of perineal area: 60% Length: 280mm Width: 12cm, 13cm, 14cm and 15cm Weights: 275g, 278g, 281g, 286g Price: $189.99 USD / 149.95 Fit My 10cm wide sit bones, plus my choice of mountain biking meant the 14cm option was the correct size for me. Technology The Active 612 is designed to flex slightly in conjunction with the rocking of a rider's hips as they pedal. A choice of three different compounds of elastomer are supplied to gain the correct level of support. Performance Pinkbike's Take Saddle choice will always be a matter of personal preference, but when it comes to fit and comfort SQlab have done a great job of taking away some of the guesswork that goes into finding the correct saddle. A wide array of fit options in conjunction with a sturdy construction make the Active 612 worth a try. - Paul Aston SQlabs Ergowave saddles are probably the most adjustable on the market. By visiting your local dealer for measuring, or by placing some corrugated cardboard on a hard surface and resting down onto your sit bones, you can measure the distance between your sit bones. Once this is known, follow the SQlab recommendations for your style of riding and add them together. As it turns out, I have sit bones spaced 10 centimeters apart, and being a mountain biker that prefers an upright pedaling position, the recommendation is to add 4cm to that number. There are no gender specific saddles from SQlab; on average men's hipsnarrower than women's, but the correct saddle should only be chosen on actual width, not based on the idea thator vice-versa.The Ergowave shape was developed to distribute pressure evenly to the sit bones while also relieving pressure in sensitive areas. You can read more about all of SQlabs technologies here The saddle's second feature is called Active Technology, which uses interchangeable elastomers located at the rear of the saddle that are designed to flex along with the motion that occurs while pedaling. They can be adjusted using the soft, medium or hard elastomers, although swapping them out isn't the easiest job, and requires strong fingers.I felt instantly at home on the Active 612 saddle, and headed right into six straight days of riding at this years Trans-Rezia with minimal prior bedding in period. This is easily the most comfortable and supportive saddle I have used to date, and there was no pressure anywhere there shouldn't be. I played with the different Active Technology elastomers, but found there was not a major difference between the three. Being fairly light I stuck with the softest compound for more comfort and my notion that it should absorb trail chatter.The saddle's construction is solid, and the water resistant material stayed free of tears. The vertical plastic edges of the saddle are covered with foam, and the top layer of material ensures there are no sharp edges that'll knock your inner thighs. The only negative I can draw to the Active 612 is the width. At the widest point the rear of the saddle is 152mm, and while it didn't prevent me from moving fore and aft, it was definitely noticeable. Photo: Glock Glock Inc., donated $50,000 and a commemorative 30th Anniversary Pistol for auction to Concerns Of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) on Monday, Oct. 17, at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference held at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA. The donation to C.O.P.S. assists in providing support to the surviving family members of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. "Organizations like C.O.P.S. provide hope and support for family members during a time of tragedy," said Bob Radecki, National Sales Manager at Glock. "It means a great deal to Glock to provide for those left behind by their loved ones." Radecki made the presentation on behalf of Glock. On hand to receive the donation on behalf of C.O.P.S were National President Brenda Donner, Executive Director Dianne Bernhard, and Northern California Chapter President Susan Moody. "The mission is to rebuild shattered lives but the organization is here to help survivors through the tragedy," said Susan Moody, surviving spouse and Northern California Chapter President. "It is about finding a new normal and about hope, not grief." "We could not do it without the support of Glock year after year," added Dianne Bernhard, Executive Director of C.O.P.S. The 30th Anniversary Pistol, a hand-engraved G17 Gen 4, will be raffled off at the 2017 National Conference on Officer Wellness and Trauma in Grapevine, TX, to raise funds to support C.O.P.S. programs. To purchase tickets online, visit https://www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org/gunraffle.html To learn more about Glock corporate social responsibility and other news, visit https://us.Glock.com/news. For more information about Glock, visit https://us.glock.com. Cuyahoga Falls, OH, authorities are looking into possible criminal charges against an off-duty police officer whose gun discharged Tuesday afternoon and the bullet went into a day care center. No one was injured. The officer, who works for East Cleveland and as a volunteer reserve for Cuyahoga Falls, told authorities that he was unloading his 9mm Glock 19 inside his home when it went off accidentally at 3:35 p.m. The bullet went through the wall of his home, through a fence behind the center and into the center before lodging in a wall at the KinderCare Learning Center. The officer immediately went over to the center to make sure no one was hurt. The officer could face felony charges for discharging a firearm in a school zone, Ohio.com reports. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Hopefully, as a country, well return to a time in our politics when violent language is shocking and rare. But this year, when the man at the top of the Republican ticket has repeatedly encouraged his supporters to revolt if he loses, isnt likely to be that time. On Wednesday, former GOP Congressman Joe Walsh, a right-wing extremist who now hosts a talk radio show, followed his nominees lead and told urged his Twitter followers to grab their guns on Nov. 9 if Hillary Clinton is elected. Tweet: On November 8th, Im voting for Trump. On November 9th, if Trump loses, Im grabbing my musket. You in? Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) October 26, 2016 This type of language from someone who used to be and thankfully no longer is a member of the United States Congress is abhorrent, but its also to be expected in the Trump era of American politics. After all, not long ago Trump himself instructed his supporters to revolt if Clinton decides to fulfill her constitutional duty and nominate Supreme Court judges. If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks, the Republican nominee said. Although the Second Amendment people maybe there is, I dont know. More recently, Trump said that hed like to see what happens if Clintons bodyguards were disarmed. I think her bodyguards should drop all weapons. Disarm immediately, he said. Take their guns away, lets see what happens to her. Not only does Walshs rhetoric align perfectly with what Trump has suggested at various points throughout this campaign, but its also a continuation of dangerous language that the former Republican congressman seems to enjoy using. Earlier in the year, when five police officers were gunned down in Dallas, Walsh blamed President Obama, tweeting: This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you. Before Trump hit the scene, this type of rhetoric existed, but it often only came from the most extreme elements in either party. Now it has the encouragement of a major party presidential nominee. On Nov. 9, we shouldnt hope that people take up arms to protest the results of the election. We should hope that when Trump loses, hell take a lot of this dangerous rhetoric with him. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The corporate media doesnt want a blowout election, so with less than two weeks to go some in the press are pushing a bogus Trump comeback narrative. Will Jordan of YouGov tweeted that CNN, in particular, is getting very desperate: "Comeback" narrative was really only a matter of time tho tbh pic.twitter.com/ssFdom49Ag Will Jordan (@williamjordann) October 26, 2016 The problem with the notion of the race tightening is all statistical evidence points to the presidential race not moving much at all. CNNs own average of all polls shows Hillary Clintons lead holding steady: CNN Poll of Polls: Clinton's national lead holds steady at 47% support to Trump's 40% https://t.co/Vkw6B8o8ag pic.twitter.com/WDQiafp5ko CNN (@CNN) October 26, 2016 Fox News is busy feeding their viewers the dream of a Trump comeback, but thats to be expected. Fox News is the channel that brought you Dick Morris predicting Mitt Romneys victory and Karl Roves election night flip out over Obamas win in 2012. One of the sure signs that a voters are close to a definitive outcome in a presidential election is when some in the media start trying to gin up a comeback for the trailing candidate. With the exception of Fox News and other conservative outlets, media like CNN go down this path because they see interest waning in the election, so they are looking to boost ratings with some artificial drama. Like clockwork, some in the press are cooking up the comeback kid narrative. Dont fall for it. Trust numbers. Trust facts, and trust voting results. The rest of it is the standard nonsense that gets pulled every election year when the networks begin to see their election bounce end and ratings decline. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Ever since Donald Trump was lambasted by leaders in both parties for fighting with a Gold Star family and dishonoring the service of Captain Humayun Khan, hes been trying out a new approach: pretending Khan would still be alive if he was president. Khan was killed in 2004 in a suicide attack in Iraq. When the Republican was asked in an interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos if he thinks he should apologize for the way he treated the Khan family following the Democratic National Convention, he repeated this bogus claim. Video: .@realDonaldTrump stands by claim slain U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan would still be alive if he had been president. https://t.co/VgLaQ0cJ3A pic.twitter.com/bcDiTMXY2k ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 26, 2016 Trump said, I have great respect for the Khan family, I have great respect for I mean their son is a great hero but if I were president at that time, Capt. Khan would be alive today, George, because I wouldnt have been in Iraq I was opposed to the war in Iraq. As Hillary Clinton and many objective sources have noted repeatedly throughout the campaign, Donald Trump was not opposed to the war in Iraq from the beginning. Had he been president at the time, the war still would have taken place because Trump was in favor of it. In fact, Trumps campaign rhetoric today indicates that he would be a president who acts recklessly and would only embolden our enemies. This would make the world a more dangerous place and only increase the odds that America gets mired in more conflicts, not less. For their part, the Clinton campaign has continued to stand up to Trumps attacks on the Khan family. In an emotional new ad released days ago, Capt. Khans father recounts how his son died protecting everyone in his unit. Khans father asked of Trump, Would my son have a place in your America? The answer to Mr. Khans question is a resounding no, as Trump has promised to ban Muslims like the Khans from even entering the United States. For those living here already, a President Trump would treat them like criminals. Donald Trump will likely continue to rewrite history when it comes to his initial support of military intervention in Iraq. But after spending so much time throwing mud at the Khan family, its unlikely that anybody will buy it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Trumps claims that the election is rigged and that his supporters need to go to the polls to intimidate voters have landed the Republican Party in court as the DNC has filed a lawsuit. The Washington Post reported: The Democratic National Committee has filed papers in federal court against the Republican National Committee, accusing it of violating a 1982 court order intended to prevent voter intimidation. The motion filed in New Jersey says the RNC has supported the efforts of presidential candidate Donald Trumps campaign to intimidate and discourage minority voters from voting in the 2016 Presidential Election. Trump has recently been urging his supporters to monitor polling places on Election Day. Democrats arent going to stand by and let Trump supporters waltz into polling places in heavily Democratic areas to intimidate voters. Trumps call for his supporters to go to polling places that arent their own to watch voters is a clear violation of the consent decree. The Republican Party, which has completely abandoned the idea of winning elections based on ideas, is firmly standing behind their nominee because the same party that was too weak to stop Trump during the primary is certainly not going to stand in the way of what might be their only chance of winning. People should not be afraid to go to the polls and vote. No matter who you are voting for, Democrats have your back. The Republican Party has been trying to suppress the vote and intimidate voters for years. Democrats are on to their tricks, and as the lawsuit demonstrates, Trump and the GOP are not going to get away with intimidating voters. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print A Democratic super PAC is injecting millions of dollars into the Florida Senate race in a bid to retire Sen. Marco Rubio. CNN reported that Harry Reids super PAC, the Senate Majority PAC, is injecting millions of dollars into the Florida Senate race to help Rep. Patrick Murphy in his bid to defeat Marco Rubio: This race is closing, spokesman Shripal Shah told CNN. Voters know that Marco Rubio is only looking out for himself and theyre going to hold him accountable for pushing a self-serving agenda at their expense. This afternoon Senate Majority PAC made a seven-figure transfer to Floridians for a Strong Middle Class, a Florida based Super PAC supporting Patrick Murphys campaign. The move comes hours after Senate Majority PAC announced a record fundraising haul $19.3 million covering the pre-general reporting period (October 1st thru 19th) that will be filed with the FEC today. Democrats have been divided over the strategy for handling the Florida race. Sen. Chuck Schumer canceled future spending in Florida to direct resources into Senate races in North Carolina, Indiana, and Missouri. Reid sees an opportunity to knock out Rubio and eliminate him from presidential contention in 2020. The retiring Senate Democratic leader has been loudly urging Democrats to spend big in Florida to end Rubios national political career. According to Harry Enten at FiveThirtyEight, the polling suggests that pulling out of Florida is probably the right move for Democrats, but with cash to burn and a shot to beat Rubio, there is a case to be made for more spending. Democrats on the ground wanted in Florida wanted more spending on the Senate race, and theyve gotten their wish thanks to Sen. Harry Reid. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print At a Donald Trump rally in North Carolina, a proud Ginger Glover waved a Lyin Hillary Doll with a special edition noose on it. Watch a clip with Glover at the Wednesday rally here via NBC News: Glover said the noose was her way of making a point that Hillary Clinton should be incarcerated at the very least, but when asked said she doesnt think Clinton should be killed. Yet her employees put the noose on the doll for her and she brought it out in public and waved it around. For effect. Where is all of the Trump rallies violent rhetoric and imagery going? Donald Trump seems to attract people who are angry and want someone to blame. The Washington Post did an incredible story on Melanie Austin, a Trump supporter who said Trump sees the world like she does. She realized this days after she had been injected with something intended to calm her, after she was involuntarily committed for homicidal ideation against President Obama. The first time she had seen him, at a rally in June, she was just beginning to realize how many people saw the world the way she did, that she was one among millions. At the time, her hips were still sore from a series of injections intended to calm her. She had gotten them in February, during a difficult time in her life, when she had been involuntarily hospitalized for several weeks after what she called a rant, a series of online postings that included one saying that Obama should be hanged and the White House fumigated and burned to the ground. On her discharge papers, in a box labeled medical problem, a doctor had typed homicidal ideation. Donald Trump and the alt-right, and indeed way too many elected Republicans, have already pointed these folks at Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as Evil People Who Must Be Harmed. When you attract unstable people who are easily manipulated out of anger and fear and then direct them to harm someone, as Trump and his advisers have done suggesting Hillary Clinton might be shot and saying she should be executed with a firing squad, you are responsible for inciting violence. Things are not going well for Trump supporters, and even buoyed as they are with unscientific online polls and delusions fed by the alt-right media and Fox News, they smell defeat. Perhaps thats not connected to this specific woman who brought a Hillary Clinton doll in a noose to wave at a Trump rally last night, but it is a trend were seeing in general angry Trump fans using more and more violent rhetoric. There will be more of this, not less, as Trumps likely defeat becomes reality outside of tinfoil circles. This is political intimidation that mimics Donald Trumps despotic promises to jail Clinton even though shes been cleared of wrong-doing in all of the relentless Republican investigations into her activities as Secretary of State. Of which there will be plenty more, Republicans promise us, should she win because just like the Trump camp doesnt want you to vote, Republicans only want government to work when theyre not in power. The potent mixture of tinfoil and rage is creating a toxic brew of violent fantasies and rhetoric among Trump supporters. Image: Screencap from NBC News video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The Democratic dream team of Hillary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama teamed up to fire up North Carolina Democrats and get voters to the polls. Hillary Clinton spoke first and delivered a speech that was offered glowing praise for President and First Lady Obama. Clintons happiness and relaxed nature have never been more obvious on the campaign trail. Clip of Hillary Clinton talking about Michelle Obama: "No one knows more about what's at stake in this election than our first lady." #ImWithHer pic.twitter.com/dYoYdQuyJK Barrier Breakers (@nobarriers2016) October 27, 2016 First Lady Obama said of Clinton, She is absolutely ready to be commander in chief on day one, and yes, she is a woman. Clip of First Lady Obama touting Clintons experience: Mrs. Obama went on to call Trumps vision of America grounded in hopelessness and despair. She said Trump calls on us to build walls and to be afraid. The First Lady said that voters have a choice between those who divide the country between us and them and those who encourage us to embrace our better angels. First Lady Obama said that the election is about who will shape our children and the country we leave for them. Obama devasted Trump by reminding America that the president is the most powerful role model for children in the world. The enthusiasm and positivity pulsed through the building. Democrats are hungry for victory. Democrats can feel it in their bones. They are so close to electing Clinton that they can taste it. The tone of Clinton and Obamas speeches told the story of where the election stands. Trump is increasingly becoming an afterthought as Democrats are transitioning towards healing the damage that Trump did to the country. Michelle Obama called out Trumps strategy of calling the election rigged to depress voter turnout. Obama said, Voters decide who wins election. Period. End of story. Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama both offered inspirational speeches for Democrats and the American people. Democrats have one job left to do, and that is to go out and vote for Hillary Clinton to be the next President Of The United States. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The 12th woman has come forward to accuse Donald Trump of doing what he bragged about doing on the Billy Bush bus tape. In a story that sounds very familiar, former Miss Finland Ninni Laaksonen told the tabloid Ilta-Sanomat that the now Republican nominee grabbed her butt just before Trump and three other beauty pageant contests went on the air for the Late Show with David Letterman in 2006. Before the show we were photographed outside the building, Laaksonen is quoted by Haaretz. Trump stood next to me and suddenly he squeezed my butt. He really grabbed my butt. I dont think anybody saw it but I flinched and thought, What is happening?' As to the veracity of these claims, it should be noted that Laaksonen didnt seek the tabloid out. Ilta-Sanomat, the second largest paper in the country according to Wikipedia, reached out to Finnish women who had encountered Trump and thats how they discovered her story. In case youre not already grimacing, the former Miss Finland added, Somebody told me there that Trump liked me because I looked like Melania when she was younger. Trump has been caught on tape saying women expire at the age of 35. Melania Trump is now 46, so she would have been expired when this alleged groping incident took place in 2006. New York Magazine has an exhaustive list of allegations made by women against Donald Trump. Donald Trump is on tape bragging about grabbing women by their p*ssy against their will, so its not a stretch to hear that he did indeed do this to women who are also willing to come forward and face the wrath of the Trump machine. What should be alarming is that Donald Trump is the best of the best on the Republican bench. I mean, that is supposed to be how this works, right? A group of top contenders are picked for possible nomination and the best gets it. Republicans try to say this is just locker room talk, but if then Senator Barack Obama had had a bus tape like Trumps, let alone 12 women accusing him of doing what he bragged about doing, he not only wouldnt be in office right now he wouldnt have been a contender. Rightfully so. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print *The following is an opinion column by R Muse* Over the past few months, there has been a dearth of good news, and if there did happen to be anything good to report it was overshadowed by the national clown show that is a typical American election. Where there has not been one iota of good news is on climate change. Even dismissing the horrible flooding, wildfires, droughts, sea level rise, melting ice caps, hurricanes and worldwide food shortages, there have only been dire reports on the level of CO2 permeating the atmosphere and the subsequent yearly record-setting rise in global temperatures. This week, while most Americans were living, breathing and bleeding over Donald Trump and the tortuously-long presidential campaign, the International Energy Agency offered up some good news; for the climate, the Earths population, and even for America. The good news for the planet came in the form of an announcement on Tuesday by the International Energy Agency (IEA) that stated according to new data, for the first time Renewable energy sources have passed coal as the largest new source of electricity in the world. It may not seem like such fantastic news, but climate scientists the world over have warned that if human beings are going to avoid that climate-ending 2-degree C rise in global temperatures, it is critical for the world to transition off of carbon-producing fossil fuels and embrace renewable, clean energy generating sources. This is particularly true for getting off dirty coal-fired electrical generation plants that are responsible for a quarter of Americas C02 emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions are one of the main culprits contributing to climate change driven by global warming. The IEA report revealed that solar and wind account for nearly two-thirds of current renewable energy growth and interestingly those increases are occurring in, and coming from, developing and industrialized nations alike. For a developing nation, it makes perfect sense to embrace cheaper renewable energy as opposed to any fossil fuel-generated power sources whether they are dirty coal-fired plants or not-quite-as-dirty natural gas-burning generating plants. The IEA also revised its earlier projections for renewable energys continued expansion and growth and significantly increased the amount of green energy it expects to come on line over the next five years. Renewable energy includes so-called green sources such as biomass, biogas, eligible biomass and small hydroelectric sources, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both terms, renewable and green energy, include solar and wind generating sources and depending on the context they can be interchangeable. In addition to pro-renewable policies (such as the Paris climate agreement and to a lesser extent the America-China deal to roll back coal-generated emissions, there has been a significant price decline that is helping drive the growth in renewables; particularly in solar. And, the IEA projected that the worldwide costs for solar-generated power will continue declining by an additional 25 percent over the next five years. Onshore wind generated electricity costs will drop by at least another 15 percent during that same five-year period. Although the IEA report was incredibly good news for the entire planet, there was some extra good news in the report about Americas transition to renewable energy. According to the IEAs Medium-Term Renewable Market Report, the United States is adding renewables at a faster rate than demand is growing. What that means for the climate is that renewables are not only covering the ever-increasing demand for electricity but are now supplanting some fossil fuel electricity. Still, America has a long way to go because wind and solar generating sources make up a small portion of Americas electricity. In time and if the Koch brothers allow it, America may catch up to still-developing nations where renewable energy accounts for about half of new electric power sources. Industrialization is fueling a rapid increase in demand for electricity that is best generated with cheaper renewable energy. Although there appears to be no down-side in this bit of good news, the growth of renewable energy does have economic implications. The dirty coal industry is facing some struggles in part due to the glut of oil and lower national gas prices, financial mismanagement, and new clean-air regulations, but the amount of CO2 driving climate change is a testament that they have had a good long reign in providing dirty fuel to generate electricity. It is noteworthy that as coal jobs may be declining the solar industry is growing and thriving to more than take up the slack in any lost coal jobs. The IEA couldnt pass up the chance to note one sticking point in their otherwise encouraging report; persistent challenges of heating and transportation energy that renewables are not affecting. However, since the IEA only monitored and tracked the worlds transistor from oil and gas to biofuels, they note that as electric and hybrid vehicles continue to increase around the world, they will be connected to the same electrical grid that is steadily getting a little greener, significantly cheaper, and one Hell of a lot more friendly for the climate and the people. It is a mystery how Republicans beholden to the Koch brothers and dirty fossil fuel industry, particularly the dirty coal industry, will absorb this good news. In the past eight years, Republicans, the Kochs, their lobbyists at the Heritage Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have made killing renewable energy one of their primary goals. It is likely that the IEAs report will signal they are not winning the war on renewable energy and in the past that may have been worrisome. But now that more Americans are benefitting from renewable energy, particularly solar, Republicans will have a difficult time convincing them to stop getting free electricity from the Sun and saving the climate for their childrens future; something the IEAs report never mentions. image: J Pat Carter Portfolio English Edition's premium content is available only for subscribers Learn about the hottest news of the day, along with immediate follow-up analyses and 1000's of exclusive articles with full access to the premium content. Register and apply for a 14 days free trial period. You might think a character from a 2007 teenage comedy and a dead Englishman might have absolutely no connection whatsoever - and you'd be right. However, when Gary Fisher explains why he had his name legally changed to McLovin - one of the main characters from Superbad - it begins to make a little bit more sense. Not a huge amount of sense, but a bit more sense. As Mr. Lovin explains it, it's all about not taking life seriously. A close friend of McLovin died suddenly in somewhat mysterious circumstances, prompting him to look and reevaluate his life. "There was a group of four of us together who were inseparable. Then he started to disappear, hang out with different people. Then one day they found him dead, with no shoes, no wallet, no phone. The police said it was not suspicious, saying he must have fallen and hit his head, but it just didn't make sense to me," explained McLovin to the Marlborough Express. As McLovin explains it, he became depressed and his friend's death took him a lot of time to deal with and process emotionally. Although he doesn't advocate for everyone changing their name to a fictional comedy character, it worked for him as a reminder that life isn't to be taken so seriously. "It makes people happy, even if they are taking the piss. They always have to see my licence before they believe me," explains Lovin. What's even funnier is that it wasn't even his first choice. McLovin had originally thought that Skeletor Overlord Evil might be a good name, however his partner persuaded him against being called Mr. Evil. As it turns out, having a name like McLovin has helped him out both with depression and meeting new people - even police officers. As McLovin explains, he was stopped in his campervan on a routine checkpoint. "When I handed him my driver's licence, he couldn't believe it. He asked if he could take a photo to show the boys back at the station." Really, if the police officer started playing Van Halen's Panama afterwards, then that would have been too perfect for words. As it stands, McLovin's name is a source of fun and amusement for him - and his girlfriend doesn't seem to mind too much either. She did, however, state that she was unlikely to take his name if they got married. Makes sense, really. Via The Marlborough Express Charleston, SC (29403) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High near 80F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. EL Education CEO says a hotel employee recorded audio of an employee for the nonprofit that works in several SC school districts, mentioning both Lexington County and critical race theory, but someone spliced together the audio in a deceptive way to create a false political controversy. Read moreFox News used 'false and crudely edited' audio to target SC schools, nonprofit CEO says Electric vehicles arent a panacea. They dont reduce traffic congestion or the need to spend billions of dollars repairing and expanding our highways, the way mass transit, ride sharing and more walkable and bicycleable communities can. To the contrary, they make it more difficult to pay for the necessary upgrades, because despite some modest steps, politicians here and elsewhere have been unwilling to change our tax laws to ensure that vehicles using little or no gasoline pay their fair share for those improvements. Read moreEditorial: SC electric vehicle expansion helps state in multiple ways Voters in Berkeley County will face two referendums on their ballot: one a continuation of an existing 1 percent sales tax to improve infrastructure and preserve green space, and the other a new 1 percent sales tax to pay for new schools and other district construction projects. Read moreWhat you need to know about Berkeley County's two 1-percent sales tax votes OWATONNA Authorities are investigating after a body was found in a burning vehicle last weekend in rural Steele County. The incident occurred in a farm field around 6:30 p.m. Sunday on the 2000 block of 52nd Avenue Northwest, west of Owatonna. The body of a male victim was found inside after firefighters extinguished the blaze, Steele County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Scott Hanson said in a press release issued Wednesday afternoon. The victim's identity has not been made public, nor has his cause of death. A spokesman from the Steele County Sheriff's Office said no additional details are expected to be released today. This Saturday, Rochester businessman John Kruesel will serve as auctioneer to an antiques sale of the private collection of Michael Dammen, a Rushford resident who died last summer. In neither quantity nor value will it be the largest auction Kruesel has ever held. But it will be, Kruesel says, "one of the most fascinating" auctions he has done in his four-decade career. "Very uncommon. I'm sure there's some other collections like this in the United States, but I have never seen one like this," Kruesel said. A founder of the Antique Center in La Crosse, one of Wisconsin's largest antique malls, Dammen spent a lifetime buying and selling valuable objects. They included fine art, jewelry and antiques. When he died suddenly last July at 71, Dammen left behind a storage facility and house so well-packed with possessions that even his children were dismayed. Of the more than 10,000 items to be sold Saturday, they will include: nearly 300 fountain pens; an assortment of stringed instruments, including guitars, mandolins, fiddles and violins; hundreds of wrist watches, one-third of them made of gold; turn-of-the-century native American pottery and photography; Native American, Norwegian and Swedish jewelry; scores of colorful paperweights; and framed photographic prints from 19th century and turn-of the-century photographers. ADVERTISEMENT To Dammen, an object had an origin, a history and story that gave it value separate from its economic worth. And to learn each object's story, Dammen maintained a veritable library of pre-Internet reference books. Dammen loved sharing and talking about his collections, says his daughter, Beth Brewer of Seattle. He would share his enthusiasm for guitars with the car repair man or rush into the local coffee shop to show workers his latest jewelry purchase. "Every single time one of us kids were with him, he would make sure to tell us a little bit about something he picked up. If it was a watch, a painting or a piece of jewelry he loved jewelry he loved a lot of things," Brewer said. "He would always say, 'Oh, so much to learn. So little time,'" she added. But even Brewer and her two other siblings failed to appreciate the extent and vastness of their dad's collection until after he died. Uncertain how to handle this trove, they turned to Kruesel, a friend of Dammen and owner of Rochester's General Merchandise & Auction Company. "John came right away," Brewer said. "John was a very well respected person in my dad's eyes, because he actually knew as much, if not more, than my dad, who knew a ton." Brewer describes Kruesel's wonder and awe when he first walked through Dammen's Rushford home, moving from object to object and occasionally exclaiming, "Oh, Michael" or "Oh, good job, Mike." Not everything was deemed to be equally valuable. As a Kruesel employee went through the house and storage facility separating the valuable from the not-so-valuable, about 12 hay racks of furniture and other stuff were carted away. ADVERTISEMENT The bidding will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday in Building 35 of the Olmsted County Fairgrounds with two auctions proceeding simultaneously. Phone booths will be set up to allow people from across the country to bid. As many as 100 lots will be sold a hour, Kruesel said. Auctions can viewed as melancholy events as the collections and possessions of a person's life are sold to the highest bidder. But Kruesel says he takes comfort in overseeing this auction. If he hadn't been friends with Dammen, he doubts he would have taken on the project, given how time-consuming such auctions can be. From cataloging and photographing objects to organizing an auction, it can take 800 hours to do the job right. Kruesel said he's doing the auction "to honor Michael." Dammen was Norwegian, which is "not entirely a negative in the eyes of us." "Most collectors seem to be forced into this business of selling at some point in time, because you accumulate so much and your taste becomes refined," Kruesel said. "What he kept for himself is a refinement of the wonderful collection." PINE ISLAND -- One of Pine Island's local landmarks is slated to return to life next month. Owner Ted Galatyplans to re-launch the renovated Olde Pine Theatre , at 113 Second St. SW, with showings of the original "Ghostbusters" movie on the first weekend of November. The showings will be more than just a movie. A Minnesota group in full Ghostbuster gear will be on hand with two "Ectomobiles." Plus local actors will perform a ghost containment scene for the audience. The first show is at 7 p.m. Nov. 4. Three more shows with the live actors and Ectomobiles are scheduled for 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. Admission to those shows is $6. A Sunday matinee featuring only the movie is scheduled for Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. Admission is $4. Galaty, director/producer of the nearby Fright at the Farm haunted event, said he feels keeping the Olde Pine open and available as a venue is important for the city. The theater was renovated in recent years by Tony Love. Since Love died in 2015, the building has sat empty and unused. ADVERTISEMENT Spurred by his love for theater plus seeing a need for a local events venue, Galaty bought the Olde Pine in July. He intended to use it to show movies, such as "Ghostbusters," a few times per year, and as a site for performances. A Pine Island Craft Fair is scheduled at the theater on Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is open to all local crafters. To participate, crafters only are asked to make a donation toward the Gabe Heiden medical fund. Having dealt with medical issues within his family, Galaty is enthusiastic about using the theater to host benefit events to raise money for people struggling with expensive medical problems. "I really want to pay it forward," he said. A benefit carnival featuring local magician Sin 'Gee'also is scheduled on Nov. 12, after the craft fair, from 4 to 8 p.m. Admission will be $5. Proceeds will go to the Todd and Angie Heiden family, whose son, Gabe, needs a kidney transplant. On Nov. 19, a concert to benefit Barbara Ann Nelson is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. Nelson has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and is receiving treatment at Mayo Clinic. The band Nostalgic No Names will be performing. In 1866, a group of civic-minded businessmen in the 12-year-old city of Rochester formed a new organization the Rochester Board of Trade. That organization grew and changed through the years and eventually evolved into what we now know as the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. On Wednesday, about 700 local business leaders gathered at the Rochester International Event Center to celebrate the chamber's sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary. Chamber president Rob Miller welcomed the crowd and said the night was about honoring the work the chamber's members had accomplished through the years. KTTC news anchor Tom Overlie hosted the proceedings and narrated a history video about Rochester, followed by a short film by Donny Rowles, of Hey! Original Storytelling, featuring several key Rochester leaders talking about the chamber. The celebration served as a hand-off for outgoing 2016 chamber chair Dharani Ramamoorthy, of Xylo Technologies, to the 2017 chair, Lisa Clarke, of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency. ADVERTISEMENT Clarke told the crowd that while Rochester is on the rise, there is a lot of work to be done in the coming year. The city's rapid DMC-fueled growth has deepened a local workforce shortage. She said the chamber needs to help lead the way on solving that issue, as well as improving conditions to retain the good employees who are here. The core of Wednesday night's event was a panel discussion with four people deeply involved with the chamber. The group included Marilyn Stewart, the first woman chamber chair in 1990-1991; Joe Powers, the 2000-2001 chair; Barbara Jordan, the 2004-2005 chair; and Jerry Williams, who served as interim president before Rob Miller was hired. Experiences related Overlie spurred the discussion with a series of questions about their experiences with the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. Powers, the owner of Powers Ventures, the Canadian Honker and the Rochester International Event Center, recounted how tough a decision it was for him as a new business owner to join the chamber in 1984. "I was flat broke. Lloyd Welty (former chamber membership director) kept coming by. After a while, I just wished he would stop coming," he remembered. "I didn't know where I would get the $150 membership fee." Eventually, Welty wore him down and Powers joined the chamber. It is a decision Powers says he never has regretted. "Without a doubt, this is the greatest organization that I've ever joined," he said. ADVERTISEMENT Stewart, a legendary Rochester Realtor and education activist, remembered many achievements by the chamber that laid the foundation for Rochester's current success. She remembered the historic collaboration between the chamber, the city and Olmsted County called FutureScan 2000. The strategic planning partnership spurred the creation of the Greater Rochester Advocates for Universities and Colleges, or GRAUC. It was through GRAUC that Stewart led the campaign to bring a four-year university to Rochester, which resulted in the governor naming her to a state committee. The end result was the University of Minnesota Rochester, which started classes in downtown Rochester in 2007. She also recalled a similar collaboration involving the chamber, which mapped out a possible city and county government center. That plan eventually became a reality and a major landmark for the community. "When you are pioneering, you have to blaze new trails," she said. Jordan, a Mayo Clinic executive and former leader of the Rochester Diversity Council, recalled serving as the chamber chair during the presidential election year of 2004. She worked closely with then-chamber president John Wade, who was known as being a strong Republican supporter. "John Wade and I were an odd couple. We definitely had different political leanings," she said. ADVERTISEMENT However, that difference didn't slow them down as they worked together to strengthen Rochester's diversity. Jordan helped started the annual chamber-sponsored Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast, which has become a major holiday event. They also launched a series of diversity roundtable discussions through the chamber. When at the Diversity Council, we could always count on the chamber as a partner," said Jordan. "I'm delighted to see that the partnership is still strong." Williams, a former superintendent of the Rochester Public School District and interim chamber president, recalled how the chamber and the school district hasn't always worked in tandem. "In the 1990s, there was a rocky time," he said. The school district proposed a referendum and the chamber declined to support it. The referendum failed and the relationship between the two organizations was sour for a few years. "You know, they (the chamber) did the right thing," said Williams. "We didn't do our homework." That disagreement spurred a conversation between the chamber and the school district that led to the creation of C-TECH, the Career and Technical Education Center. The alternative vocational high school center is a collaborative effort involving the Rochester Public Schools, Rochester Community and Technical College, Winona State University and the chamber. "The chamber teaches an important lesson about communication and partnership," he said. ZUMBROTA At the eighth annual Goodhue County EDA Summit, about 60 to 70 area leaders in economic development and the arts listened to a pair of speakers discuss one problem on the horizon and one solution for communities. Mark Schultz, a labor market analyst for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, talked about the looming challenge businesses face with the shortage of a qualified workforce in Southeast Minnesota. Meanwhile, Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, said one area where cities can build on their economic base is to find ways to support nonprofit culture and arts organizations that help bring spending to the region. Here is a look at what summit attendees heard Wednesday from Schultz and Smith: SHEILA SMITH $1.2 billion ADVERTISEMENT That's the total economic impact of the arts in Minnesota from nonprofit cultural and arts organizations. That's simply counting the $696 million in expenditures by these organizations and the $501 million spent by members of the audience attending these organizations' events. That represents a 43 percent increase over spending in 2006 ($838 million). Southeast Minnesota is the third-largest region as far as economic impact from nonprofit cultural and arts organizations in the state with $25.5 million. "Minnesota and Wisconsin have roughly the same population, and we have double the economic impact (through the arts) that Wisconsin has, and 10 times the impact of Kansas," Smith said. 1,269 arts and culture organizations That's the number of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Minnesota. In this region, there are 122 such organizations. Arts and cultural organizations have thrived thanks to the Legacy amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, Smith said. "Sixty-seven percent have budgets under $100,000," Smith said. "I look at that ... as the R and D sector of the arts." The most common sector is the performing arts (527 organizations) followed by multipurpose arts organizations (154), history and historical preservation (147) and visual arts (125). 33,381 jobs That's the number of jobs in Minnesota provided by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. This includes everything from professional artists to support personnel and administrators. There also are 43,189 people in Minnesota who list their primary job as "artist." Additionally, just in Red Wing, there are 66 jobs in the arts and reportedly 189 volunteers supplied 9,099 hours of work in 2015. "It's really more like 104,000 people doing creative work in Minnesota," Smith said. As for the volunteers and hours in Red Wing, "This is very much an undercount." ADVERTISEMENT 19 million attendees That's how many people attended arts or cultural events in Minnesota in 2015. This represents about four events for every Minnesotan. Furthermore, 2.6 million K-12 students see arts or cultural presentations each year despite there being only 900,000 students in Minnesota, Smith said. Red Wing alone had 41,094 people attend arts or cultural presentations from nonprofit organizations in 2015. Households with incomes under $60,000 represent 31 percent of attendees statewide. "These organizations are serving the whole spectrum of the community, not just rich people," Smith said. "Arts events get people out of their house and interacting with the community." MARK SCHULTZ 65-84 This represents the age range with the largest projected increases in Southeast Minnesota from 2015 to 2035, meaning the workforce in Southeast Minnesota is aging and younger workers are not replacing retirees. "There's a lot is going on in Southeast Minnesota," Schultz said. "Some is very good; some is kind of frightening." From 2000 to 2015, Olmsted County has seen a population growth of 27,159. However, that growth has not met Olmsted County's needs. Furthermore, four counties in Southeast Minnesota Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston and Wabasha have seen population decreases. ADVERTISEMENT Less than 60 The labor participation rate for teens in the region those 16 to 19 years old is 56.4 percent. Meanwhile the average for those age 20 to 65 is above 80 percent. For blacks and Native Americans, the numbers are equally as bad, if not worse. The participation rate for blacks is 59.9 percent, and Native Americans are engaged in the workforce at a 45.1 percent rate. "How are we going to draw in more young people to be participants in the labor force," Schultz asked the audience. "Criminal history is a huge driver with minorities keeping them out of the labor force." 2,418 available jobs The two largest sectors of available jobs in Southeast Minnesota are those in the food industry (1,407 jobs) or in retail sales (1,011 jobs). Most of those are part-time jobs and low paying, less than $12 per hour on average. "There's barely one job seeker per vacancy," Schultz said, pointing to the latest figure of 1.1 people looking for work for each available job in Southeast Minnesota. "But who's to say that one job seeker has the training or experience for that job." $15.56 per hour That's how much a family of three with one parent working full time and the other working part time needs to make to meet their basic living expenses. But with the biggest sectors with openings paying less than $12 per hour, those parents need to work more than one job apiece. "If you have more kids or child care costs, that will drive this up," he said. A family of four would need those parents to make more than $19 per hour working one full- and one part-time job. "There's an impact of working 60-70 hours each week, an impact on morale." Dennis Schminke said getting voters involved in politics can be challenging. As he makes his second run to unseat Jeanne Poppe in House District 27B, he's focusing on economic issues to show things need to change. Schminke, who served as chairman of the Mower County Republican Party in 2011 and 2012, says one of his basic tenets in life is "work solves everything." In answering a question about whether the light rail issue was important enough to hold up other legislation this year, he brought up the philosophy, noting while he opposes the light-rail plan, buses and other public transit options play a part in the economy by getting people to work. "If we have more Minnesotans working working more jobs, more hours if they want them, better jobs at higher rates of pay we'd solve our budget problem," he said, noting sales tax and income tax revenue in the state would soar. Poppe was unique among state House and Senate candidates we spoke with during endorsement interviews. She recognized the layers of the light-rail question, noting rather than just asking about light rail, we were watching for potential thoughts on larger transportation issues, as well as the need to bridge ideological divides between parties and the rural and metro areas. While she said light rail must be part of the larger transportation discussion, she said how it was handled this year was troubling. "It can seem very disheartening to have any factor take over the conversation and prevent other things from happening," she said. ADVERTISEMENT Taxes Two years ago, we noted we liked Schminke's unique focus on economic issues, which likely has roots in his 38 years of experience in accounting, finance and operations research for Hormel Foods. He continues to note the state's tax structure chases businesses across state lines, especially in border districts like 27B, which includes most of Mower County and parts of Freeborn and Dodge counties. He said he'd like to see the state's tax structure changed to focus on income, sales and fuel taxes, to lessen reliance on property taxes. At the same time, he opposes raising Local Government Aid to cities as a means of lowering property taxes. He points to a 2013 increase that failed to stem rising local taxes. Poppe, however, noted the increase came after cuts a decade earlier, meaning many municipalities were still trying to overcome shortfalls. She wants to see LGA increased, calling it an "equalizer" for communities and a way to support economic centers like Austin, which then drive the regional economy. She also expressed hope that property tax cuts for farms and other businesses in this year's tax bill will remain in place when the legislature meets in January. She said they will provide more balance in local funding streams. Other issues On a couple issues outside the economic realm, we were disappointed to see Schminke didn't broaden his knowledge of issues. We expected someone making his second bid for a seat to have been better versed in issues discussed since his last campaign. Asked about the need to increase access to mental health beds, Schminke called it "a very small, arcane issue." He noted it could be considered as part of his top three issues education, transportation and taking care of those who can't help themselves but he said he didn't have any answers outside of increasing funding, which he could support. ADVERTISEMENT Poppe, on the other hand, said the issue is larger than it seems. "It cuts across into criminal justice, frankly into colleges and everyday living," the Riverland Community College counselor said, noting the state must look at ways to encourage people to go into mental health fields to fill existing needs. The candidates do agree on the need to change the legislative process to ensure work is complete. Schminke, who criticizes Poppe's campaign for taking money from outside the district, said he'd be willing to call for legislation that states lawmakers don't get paid if they don't meet stated goals. Poppe said deadlines would help get things done, but a larger cultural change is also required. Based on the issues discussed, as well as the leadership she has shown in six terms, the Post Bulletin Editorial Board is endorsing Jeanne Poppe for re-election in House District 27B. She has demonstrated a moderate political stance and proven she is willing to listen and engage with her constituents. Schminke noted as much when he spoke with us, noting Poppe always responds to his inquiries with personal insights, rather than party-driven answers. That's the kind of local leadership we expect from political leaders and too often fail to see. Learn more The Post Bulletin Editorial Board endorsements are offered to provide one view of candidates for local and regional offices. We encourage you to do your own research as you get ready to vote. ADVERTISEMENT To find out more about the candidates in Minnesota House District 27B, visit their websites: Jeanne Poppe jeannepoppe.com Dennis Schminke www.schminkeforhouse.com For information on polling places and sample ballots, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website at www.sos.state.mn.us. Upcoming endorsements: Friday Minnesota Senate, District 27 Dan Sparks vs. Gene Dornink Saturday Minnesota House, District 28B Greg Davids vs. Thomas Trehus Minnesota Senate, District 28 Jeremy Miller vs. John Pieper Monday U.S. House, First District Tim Walz vs. Jim Hagedorn U.S. House, Second District Angie Craig vs. Jason Lewis Endorsements published: Oct. 10: Olmsted County Board, District 3 Oct. 11: Olmsted County Board, District 7 Oct. 12: Rochester City Council, Ward 2 Oct. 13: Rochester City Council, Ward 4 Oct. 14; Rochester City Council, Ward 6 Oct. 15: Rochester City Council president Oct. 17: Rochester School Board, Seat 1 Oct. 18: Rochester School Board, Seat 3 Oct. 19: Rochester School Board, Seat 7 Oct. 20: Minnesota House, districts 21A and 21B Oct. 21: Minnesota Senate, District 21 Oct. 22: Minnesota House, districts 25A and 25B Oct. 24: Minnesota Senate, District 25 Oct. 25: Minnesota House, districts 26A and 26B Oct. 26: Minnesota Senate, District 26 Past endorsements are online at postbulletin.com/opinion An award more than 50 years in the waiting was finally presented to a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran yesterday at Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo's district office in Hagatna. Army Spc. 4 William Bill D. Sablan was awarded the Army Commendation Medal by direction of the Secretary of the Army during a ceremony yesterday, Oct. 27. The ceremony was attended by family members including daughter Jessica Sablan, cousins Joe and Viviane Ada, and Sens. Frank Blas Jr., Frank Aguon Jr., Tina Muna-Barnes and Jim Espaldon. Bordallo, who presented the award to Sablan, was also the catalyst behind efforts that resulted in the designation of the award that was should have been awarded 51 years prior. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Sablan earned the award for service carried out during the Vietnam War from May 1965 to April 1966. 'Devotion to duty' According to the citation read during the commendation ceremony, Sablan was granted the award "through his outstanding professional competence and devotion to duty" and for "working long and arduous hours (whereby) he set an example that inspired his associates to strive for maximum achievement." Sablan, who is a son of the Segundo Sablan family of Saipan, said he was drafted into military service following his graduation from high school. He said he had originally wanted to serve in a military branch where he could work with airplanes, but wound up in the Army and eventually worked his way through Airborne, or Jump, School. As a member of the U.S. Army's airborne forces, Sablan said his duties as a paratrooper included making aerial deployments, "pushing people out of planes" and, on one occasion, disbursing bilingual pamphlets from the air to Viet Cong stationed throughout Vietnam encouraging them to surrender and offering humane treatment to those who laid down arms. According to Sablan, these efforts resulted in a number of surrenders by Viet Cong who had been, he said, pressured into military service. Left waiting Sablan told the Post that he was originally designated for the commendation around the time that he left active service in 1966. However, the award never came. He said that over the years he pursued multiple avenues in the hope of receiving the award promised to him. Eventually, he approached Sen. Frank Aguon Jr., who is a familial relation. In response, Aguon told him that a source more likely to result in a solution would be Bordallo. Through her connections at the capitol, Bordallo was able to establish the validity of Sablan's claim with a letter that Sablan said had come from Army Headquarters Saigon detailing the commendation. Sablan served as a paratrooper with the Army and sniper within the U.S. Army Special Forces. He is the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal and a certificate of recognition from the Secretary of Defense. No one who has been paying attention doubts that the Clinton Foundation is a corrupt enterprise or that Hillary Clinton is a party to the corruption. But two new articles, if read in tandem, drive home the point. The first article is from the Washington Post, no less. Its called Inside Bill Clinton Inc.: Hacked memo reveals intersection of charity and personal income. The memo in question was written by the infamous Doug Band, at that time a central player at the Clinton Foundation and president of his own corporate consulting firm. In his memo, say Post writers Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger, Band detailed a circle of enrichment in which he raised money for the Clinton Foundation from top-tier corporations such as Dow Chemical and Coca-Cola that were clients of his firm, Teneo, while pressing many of those same donors to provide personal income to the former president. Helderman and Hamburger continue: The memo, made public Wednesday by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, lays out the aggressive strategy behind lining up the consulting contracts and paid speaking engagements for Bill Clinton that added tens of millions of dollars to the familys fortune, including during the years that Hillary Clinton led the State Department. It describes how Band helped run what he called Bill Clinton Inc., obtaining in-kind services for the President and his family for personal travel, hospitality, vacation and the like. Bill Clinton is the focus of the Posts article. Hillary is in the background. Her complicity is perhaps implied, but not documented. The second article, by Chuck Ross of the Daily Caller, gives Hillary her due. It explains the role she played as Secretary of State in Bill Clinton, Inc. an enterprise that should be called Bill and Hillary Clinton, Inc. Ross bases his reporting on documents obtained by Citizens United. The documents show how decisions about access to Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State were based, at least in part, on status as a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) donor. A Dec. 4, 2012 email shows that Paul McElearney, CGIs head of member development, emailed Abedin asking if he could meet with Hillary Clinton during her trip to Ireland two days later. Abedin said that she could accommodate McElearney. He then asked if four other people could also meet Clinton. Before responding, Abedin asked Band and two of his associates: Are these legit cgi [Clinton Global Initiative] people? She added: Everyone is asking to see [Secretary Clinton]. Clearly, then, contributing to the Clinton Global Initiative was a factor in determining who, among the many who were asking to see Hillary, would be given access. Putting the two articles together, we see (again) that Bill Clintons man Doug Band obtained not just charitable contributions but also personal income and benefits for the Clintons and that those who contributed to Bill and Hillary Clinton, Inc. had preferred status when they sought access to Secretary Clinton. In fact, one of the corporations mentioned by the Post, Dow Chemical, features in another email cited by Ross in the Daily Caller story. According to Ross, an email obtained by Citizens United shows that in April 2011, Band asked Abedin to invite Diego Donoso, an executive with Dow Chemicals offices in Japan, to a diplomatic session between Hillary Clinton and Naoto Kan, Japans prime minister at the time. Dow wasnt just a donor to the Clinton Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative. It was also a client of Bands consulting firm, Teneo. It isnt clear whether Donoso attended the diplomatic session. It is clear that his contributions to Bill and Hillary Clinton, Inc. counted in his favor with Abedin (and therefore Hillary). According to the Post, Dows massive payments to Teneo led to an investigation by an internal Dow fraud investigator. He concluded: It appears Dow is paying Teneo for connections with Clinton. The investigator was right. And, taken together, the reporting of the Post and the Daily Caller shows that Dow was also paying Bill Clinton for connections, in the form of better access at a minimum, with Hillary. In the summer of 2015, the New York Times was covering Hillary Clintons email scandal, to the dismay of her presidential campaign. So Neera Tanden, who heads the Center for American Progress, an arm of the Democratic Party, made some suggestions to her former boss, John Podesta, who by then was running the Clinton presidential campaign. This is from the latest batch of Wikileaks emails: Several observations. First, the emails subject heading is Howards advice. This is the only email with that subject line, and it doesnt indicate who Howard is, but I think it is Howard Wolfson. Second, Tanden recites an anecdote about Michael Bloomberg, when he was Mayor of New York. Unhappy with the Timess coverage of him, he complained to Pinch Sulzburger. Bloomberg and his staff believed that his meeting with Sulzburger changed the newspapers coverage, and also aired the issues in the newsroom. So the Clinton team takes it for granted that the vaunted separation between management (Sulzburger) and the Times news room is a myth. Third, Tanden thinks Sulzburger is a wuss, because he wouldnt do more than pass on Bloombergs complaint. A proper newspaper owner, she apparently thinks, would more strongly direct the tenor of his papers coverage. Fourth, Tanden thinks Hillary should be the one to call Sulzburger to complain about the Timess coverage of the email scandal. Did Hillary make the call? We dont know. Fifth, the casual cynicism with which Tanden recommends using brown and women pundits to shame the times and others on social media is stunning. Why brown and women pundits would shame the Timesfor publishing accurate news stories on a topic of great public interestmore effectively than others is not clear, but that is how these people think. We know, too, what pundits Tanden had in mind: Joan Walsh (National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation and MSNBC political analyst), Matthew Yglesias (co-founder of Vox.com), Mike Allen (chief political reporter for Politico), Perry Bacon (senior political reporter at NBC News) and Greg Sargent (Washington Post online columnist). Once again, she cynically assumes that these purported journalists will be happy to do the Clinton campaigns bidding on social media. Was she right? It would be interesting to check the Twitter accounts and other writings of these journalists/pundits during the summer of 2015 to see whether they took up the cudgels against the Times on behalf of Hillary Clinton. Tanden concludes by noting that she pushed p i r to do this a yr ago. That would be Philippe Reines, another Clinton campaign aide. Its an interesting strategy: enlisting journalists to shame other journalists into not reporting the news. Unlike Steve, Im convinced that, unfortunately, Hillary Clinton will win this election. Assuming she does, and that the race isnt very close, what will happen to Trumpism? To answer this question we must identify Trumpisms main characteristics. In my view, there are five: (1) the unbridled egotism of its leader and his whiff of authoritarianism; (2) gratuitous nastiness; (3) a strong stance against illegal immigration; (4) intense skepticism about the the virtue of free trade; (5) an anti-interventionist foreign policy. (I should note that the first two traits dont sharply distinguish Trumpism from leaders of the Democrats. However, they have not characterized GOP leaders in the decades since Richard Nixon.) Lets consider whether the five defining features of Trumpism will prevail in a post-Trump GOP. Unbridled egotism and the whiff of authoritarianism If Trump loses, those aspiring to lead the Republican party in 2020 are unlikely to emulate Trumps bullying, demeanor, and other personal characteristics. Similarly, Republican voters are unlikely to want to nominate another candidate who exhibits them. Following a disappointing defeat, we often see the rejection of the losing candidates personal characteristics. Trump himself is the polar opposite of Mitt Romney in terms of aura and personal qualities. Romneys personality and aura were very different from John McCains. I think this trend will hold in 2020. Gratuitous nastiness See above. A strong stance against illegal immigration Although this stance was crucial to Trumps capture of the GOP, it is not uniquely Trumpian. The conservative wing of the GOP was, for the most part, strongly opposed to amnesty and a path to citizenship before Trump emerged as a force in the Party. Its true that leaders of the conservative wing wavered after the 2012 defeat, which is why Trump gained instant traction. But it requires no accommodation to Trumpism for the GOP to maintain a strong stance against illegal immigration going forward. I fear, however, that Paul Ryan will work with Hillary Clinton to pass amnesty-style immigration reform. By doing so, he will all but guarantee a bitter and enduring fight within the party. I expect immigration to again be a defining issue in the fight for the GOP nomination, and I hope (and expect) that Trumpism will prevail on this matter. Intense skepticism about the virtue of free trade Unlike with immigration, Trumps approach to trade represents a sharp break from traditional GOP thinking. In theory, then, trade could be another defining issue in the fight for the GOP nomination in 2020. In practice, it probably wont be. It should be possible for Republican aspirants to finesse the issue by saying (as Hillary Clinton does) I favor trade deals that help the U.S. and oppose deals that dont. That dodge wont work if Clinton makes controversial trade deals. In that event, aspirants will have to say whether the deal is good for the U.S. or bad. However, Clintons party is so divided on trade that she is unlikely to negotiate controversial deals during her first term. If Im right about this, trade need not be a major issue in the next four years. Anti-interventionist foreign policy Here too, Trumpism represents a break with traditional Republican thinking. But its worth noting that, pre-Trump, the Party moved briefly in an anti-interventionist direction. The rise of ISIS pushed it back into a more normal posture. The post-Trump thinking will be driven by events. If Clinton is an interventionist and things go poorly, the Party will embrace anti-interventionism (and this would be true had Trump never run). If Clinton interventions go well, the Partys normal stance will prevail. If Clinton fails to intervene and bad results ensue, the Party will become vocally pro-intervention. If Clinton fails to intervene and things remain relatively quiet, there will be disagreement within the Party about Americas role in the world, but the issue will be academic and have little bearing on whom the GOP nominates in 2020. In sum, assuming Clinton defeats Trump fairly comfortably, I expect that the Party will nominate an anti-Trump in terms of personality, aura, and behavior. On substance, the Party ignores Trumpism on immigration at its peril; can probably finesse Trumpism on trade; and will embrace or reject Trumpism on foreign intervention depending on how things go in the coming years. Another Wikileaks nugget: in July of last year, Hillary Clintons top supporters were worried about her primary race against Bernie Sanders, which was unexpectedly close, and how the emerging off-the-books server scandal would impact it. Neera Tanden of Center for American Progress exchanged emails with her former boss, now Hillarys campaign manager, John Podesta. Initially they fretted about a CNN poll that was about to come out: Neera then turned to the emerging State Department email scandal: Heh. That is undoubtedly the most candid comment we have seen from a top Democrat on the server scandal. It is interesting, too, that Tanden assumes Hillary didnt evaluate the private server herselfsome unknown person told her she could do it. And the answer to her question is, no: we dont know who that person was, and he or she apparently hasnt been drawn or quartered. If I had to guess, I would guess it was Cheryl Mills, who remains a key member of Hillarys team, and who was protected from serious inquiry by the FBI by naming her as one of Hillarys lawyers in the email matter. But that is pure speculation. The Washington Post is concerned that the Trump campaign will have long-term negative repercussions for the Republican Partys standing among women. Okay, I made that up. In reality, the Washington Post hopes the Trump campaign has short and long-term negative repercussions for the Republican Partys standing among women. Thats the only sense I can make out of this deeply biased article by Jenna Johnson and Karen Tumulty. It argues that because some prominent Republicans (if Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani still qualify as such) have defended Trump against allegations of sexual misconduct, and because Trump and a few of his male defenders have attacked the women making these allegations, the GOP will be irreparably damaged when it comes to its relationship with female voters. The Post makes this argument as America is poised to elect the spouse of a former president whose sexual misconduct was excused, and whose accusers were reviled, by Democrats. Who was the reviler-in-chief? None other than Hillary Clinton, the candidate poised to win the presidency. Johnson and Tumulty dont see the irony. The only irony they detect is that sexism has reared its head just as the nation seems on the verge of electing its first female president. This irony will serve Clinton apologists at the Post and elsewhere well when they attribute attacks on Clintons policies to sexism. The only reference to the events surrounding Bill Clintons sexual escapades is a shot at Gingrich. Noting that, during a contentious interview, Gingrich said that Megyn Kelly is fascinated with sex, Johnson and Tumulty observe: Gingrich once had a fascination of his own with Bill Clintons sex life, as he was a driving force behind the movement to impeach Clinton following a consensual sexual relationship he had with a young former intern. You would think, from reading this, that Clinton was impeached for his sexual relationship. In fact, he was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice. The perjury and obstruction occurred in connection with a lawsuit by Paula Jones alleging sexual harassment by Clinton. There was no meaningful dispute that Clinton lied under oath. Democrats pooh-poohed the lies as trivial, even thought they were stated, under oath, in a sex discrimination suit (sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination). Yet, there was no talk about a Democratic war on women. Nor have female voters ever punished the Democrats or the Clintons. Far from it. If Trump loses, its extremely doubtful that his response, and that of Gingrich and a few others, to the sexual misconduct allegations will have an ongoing effect on how the GOP is perceived by women. Its not even clear that it will impact congressional races this year. Will female voters attribute the sins of Trump and Gingrich to, say, Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, or Nikki Haley in 2020? Of course not. Will the Washington Post and other liberal conjure up new sins to trumpet as part of the bogus war on women theme? Of course they will. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, said corruption in the oil and gas industry was overblown. Mr. Kachikwu said this in Abuja on Thursday at a news briefing shortly after the launch of the new roadmap tagged The 7 Big Wins. I think sometimes the corruption indices in Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are overblown, because sometimes people do not understand the technicalities of what is going on and the short answer is corruption. I do agree that there were all kinds of sleaze stories in the past, but if you look at the last one year and in the last 13 months, those have dramatically disappeared. The TSA definitely helped, being able to suck in all our funds in one pond, being able to look at long term focus. The fact that we have saved over a billion dollars through the Direct Sale Direct Purchase programme, it is something. Otherwise, it would have gone into private pockets. There are good people in the NNPC, he said. Mr. Kachikwu said that in spite of doom stories that abound in the country, the petroleum industry was one sector that had said there is hope, we can find solutions; we can solve problems. The only thing that we must hold high is commitment and collegiality in trying to fix things. I believe if the petroleum ministry works, the rest of the country will work, he said. On the issue of refineries, he said that the fact that they were working today was because there were local engineers who were able to resuscitate them. The feeling of the Federal Executive Council and the President is that we should first get the refineries to be efficient before we talk about privatization, otherwise, we will be selling scraps. In their present state, nobody is going to offer you serious money. A huge amount of investment is going into this. Secondly, there are union issues; we do not just take decisions, not recognizing that people work there. If you privatise in a hurry and are sucked into union issues, that closes the place and it does not function for years, he said. (NAN) Over 100 people are missing a day after a boat carrying illegal migrants sank off the Libyan coast, a Libyan coastguard official said on Thursday. The rubber boat tore apart and sank on Wednesday shortly after it left Libya across the Mediterranean Sea en route to Italy, the official added on condition of anonymity. He said that 29 people were rescued by the Libyan coastguard, in what is the latest in a series of shipwreck tragedies on the Mediterranean. The UN refugee agency said that this year has been the deadliest ever for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, with over 3,800 people having drowned. Libya has descended into chaos since a 2011 uprising that deposed long time autocrat Muammar Gaddafi. The North African country has since become a major hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe via illegal sea migration routes operated by people-smugglers. (dpa/NAN) Another suspect involved in the N8 billion Central Bank currency scam is currently negotiating for a plea bargain. Tope Akintade, one of the suspects being prosecuted, has begun the process for plea bargain arrangement with EFCC, the commissions counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, told a court on Wednesday. Mr. Adeniyi, however, said that the arrangement was yet to be completed with the defence counsel, Femi Edema. Mr. Akintade had complained of being a prostate cancer patient. Mr. Akintades plea bargain will be the second in the case in which several bank officials allegedly conspired to steal and conceal mutilated and defaced naira notes amounting to N8 billion, from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Earlier in the month, Ademola Oni had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for each of five charges for which he was convicted. Since the charges are to run concurrently, Mr. Oni will only spend two and a half years in jail. On Wednesday, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, adjourned till November 18 the trial of the accused persons. The adjournment followed the illegibility of copies of documentary evidence produced by the anti-graft commission, EFCC. Mr. Ayo-Emmanuel said that it was necessary to give all the parties concerned in the matter equal opportunity to read what was contained in the first two sheets of the documentary evidence given by a prosecution witness, Omotayo Igbosanu. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that all the defence counsel had complained about their inability to read the documentary evidence made by Mr. Igbosanu as contained in the illegible pages. Kolawole Babalola, Adeola Olaniran, Philip Togun, Ibrahim Salami, Emmanuel Odiah and Tope Akintade, along with others, have been standing trial on multiple charges. The charges bordered on alleged conspiracy, forgery, theft and recirculation of N8 billion currencies belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria. Mr. Igbosanu, the Head of Currency Processing and Disposal Unit of CBN, Ibadan branch, told the court that the accused persons only destroyed N98 million out of the possible N610 million. He added that Sterling Bank of Nigeria sent 61 boxes containing a total sum of N610 million out of which the accused persons replaced cut newspapers or lower denominations with moneys meant for destruction. (NAN) In what appears an attempt to muddle up information about the disappearance of 83 soldiers after a Boko Haram attack, two senior officers of the Nigerian Army have given uncoordinated and contradictory statements on the matter. While the man who officially speaks for the Nigerian Army claimed the army would not release true figures of the missing soldiers, a major general several hundred kilometres away said only 39 soldiers went missing in action. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how 83 Nigerian soldiers, including a commanding officer, went missing after a major attack by insurgents. Several of the soldiers, who fled their station due to the superior firepower of the terrorists, were later feared dead from drowning in the River Yobe. On Wednesday, at two different interactions with the media, Army spokesman Sani Usman, and Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole in the north-east, issued different statements to reporters about the number of missing troops. While Mr. Usman, a colonel, told an online news platform, Pulse Nigeria, that the Army would not disclose the number of missing soldiers, Mr. Irabor told reporters in Maiduguri that 39 soldiers were missing. In his interview, Mr. Usman told Pulse Nigeria the Army issued a statement after the attack, but deliberately conceal information on the number of missing troops. We issued a statement of what happened, he said. We did not mention the number of soldiers that were missing. Eventually, we went to the theatre of war. But they didnt bother to ask us that we should tell them the number of soldiers that were missing. Despite being pressed about the specific number of those missing, Mr. Usman remained elusive. Apart from deflecting questions, Mr. Usman also charged this newspaper to justify the missing persons completely absolving the Army of the responsibility to give names and figures of the missing uniformed men. Yeah, but the figures Premium Times reeled out are outrageous and not correct. I tried to make them understand that look, all you have to do is ask for information, not speculate, not say that everybody is a criminal because that is the way it looks like, Mr. Usman said. I declined to comment on the number Premium Times gave so that wherever they got that information, they should go and justify it. On his part, Mr. Irabor was quoted by the New Agency of Nigeria as saying that the Army declared 39 soldiers missing. It is true that about 39 soldiers were declared missing, the major general said even though his statement was the first official one mentioning a figure of missing officials. Mr. Irabor added that some of the soldiers had returned, but declined to provide figures, NAN reported. I want to inform you that a sizeable number of our soldiers have returned to base, Mr. Irabor said. I think it is only a handful that have not been found. Mr. Usman had in a different interview maintained that the Army will not release the number of missing soldiers to avoid complicating rescue efforts. Notwithstanding, PREMIUM TIMES stands by its reports that 83 soldiers were feared missing in the attack, which also left some soldiers dead. As with the missing, the Army had been silent on the number of dead soldiers from the attack. On Wednesday morning, this newspaper reported that the Army had launched a probe into the Gashigar attack. A lieutenant colonel, who is among those missing, has since been replaced by a captain, who is acting as commanding officer of the affected battalion. The armys refusal to come clean on the fate of the soldiers appears part of efforts to manipulate information to the public on the happenings in the north-east. In December 2015, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, asked the media to consider national interests when reporting Boko Haram attacks, a euphemism used by many governments to seek suppression of unfavourable reports. Acting in the national interest means not playing up reports of cowardly Boko Haram attacks on soft targets, Mr. Mohammed said during a press briefing on Christmas Eve. Also, following our exclusive report last Saturday about how soldiers were enduring months of unpaid salaries, with their allowances being held by their superiors, the Army hurriedly began paying them that same weekend. A number of soldiers confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES. Presently, family members of soldiers stationed at Gashigar are getting increasingly agitated because they had not been able to contact their loved ones. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that telecom signals were not functional in the location, making it difficult for family members to confirm whether their loved ones were amongst those missing or not. A former governorship candidate in Katsina State, Usman Bugaje, has rejected his nomination as an ambassador. President Muhammadu Buhari submitted Mr. Bugajes name alongside 45 others last week for Senate approval. The Senate has yet to consider and approve the names. Another nominee, Pauline Tallen, a former Plateau State deputy governor, had earlier turned down her nomination. Mr. Bugaje, who contested governorship election on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, announced his decision on Thursday. In a Facebook post, he said his hands were full and he would not take up the appointment. His state reads: Assalamu Alaikum. Regarding the published nomination for an ambassadorial posting, I have not spoken to the press and may not do so anytime soon. I thank those who think me fit for the job, but I have so much in my hands already, especially the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), which is the only broad platform in the North driving development. I have weighed the options and have decided to remain home and continue the struggle for development and good governance. Thank you for the concern, support and prayers. Usman Bugaje 26/10/16 The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki challenging a previous decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT. Mr. Saraki is facing trial at the tribunal for alleged false declaration of asset. He had approached the appeal court after the CCT dismissed his application in April, challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him. A five man panel of justices led by Abdul Aboki on Friday affirmed the decision of the tribunal and dismissed Mr. Sarakis application for lacking in merit. Mr. Sarakis applications on the matter has repeatedly been dismissed by the higher courts. A similar petition was previously dismissed by the court, after which same was also struck out by the apex court in February 5 when the Supreme Court decided that Mr. Saraki should return to face his trial at the tribunal. He is facing a 16-count charge brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau. President Muhummadu Buhari has unveiled Seven Big Wins, as part of short to medium term strategy framework with robust priorities to grow Nigerias oil and gas sector. The seven big wins to revamp and revive the sector will focus on key areas including Niger Delta development and security of the oil producing region; policy and regulation; business environment and investment drive; transparency and efficiency; stakeholder management and international coordination; gas revolution, refineries and local oil production capacity. Unveiling the document in Abuja on Thursday, the president noted that the oil and gas sector was still a critical revenue point for the country despite the drastic dip in global crude oil prices at the international market. As important as it is to ensure that Agriculture, Solid minerals and other critical sectors of the economy are supported to grow and contribute more to the nations economy, we still need a virile and efficient oil and gas industry to take care of our foreign exchange requirements, he said. From an average price of about $100 and above per barrel two years ago, the price of crude oil dropped to below $30 last year, throwing the country into a tailspin in terms of revenue to implement its policies and programmes. With an ambitious budget of N6.06 trillion announced last year, the massive drop in oil earnings left government scrambling for funds to finance approved appropriations. The situation became so bad that government that government considered selling some national asset to raise funds to finance its business, amidst stiff oppositions by Nigerians. The situation worsened with a new wave of sabotage of oil production facilities following series of attacks by armed militant groups in the Niger Delta led by the Niger Delta Avengers. Following the attacks, oil production and exports was cut to almost half, from an average of 2.1 million barrels to about 1.1 million barrels, with the armed groups unwilling to embrace dialogue on their demand for improved share of the oil wealth to the oil producing communities. The crisis in the oil producing region has forced oil multinationals to reconsider their Nigerian operations. Some of them are divesting from Nigeria, with a lot of their workers, particularly those on contract employment, either being sacked, or the renewal of their appointments put on hold till further notice. The Petroleum Industry Bill, which is supposed to address legislative limitations of petroleum sector laws, has been stalled at the National Assembly more than three years since it was sent there by the executive. At the unveiling of the roadmap on Thursday, the president urged the Ministry of Petroleum to ensure that it delivered on the expectations contained in the document to bring about the speedy development of the oil and gas industry. The Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, who gave a breakdown of the big wins, said it was time for Nigeria to take drastic steps to fix the sector. The implementation of the wins would increase government streams of income and ensure a zero tolerance level for militancy in the Niger Delta, he said. More later Akintunde Akinwande, a U.S.-based Nigerian engineer recently nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday said reports that he had rejected the offer were nothing but mere fiction. Mr. Akinwandes statement countered media reports (not by PREMIUM TIMES) that he had rejected the nomination to head the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Mr. Buhari announced Mr. Akinwande for the position in July. The university don was due to appear before the Senate Committee on Power for screening earlier this week, but his absence stalled the proceeding. Subsequently, Enyinnaya Abaribe, chairman of the senate committee, postponed the exercise indefinitely. Reporters then concluded that Mr. Akinwandes non-appearance had meant he had forfeited the nomination. But Mr. Akinwande, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told PREMIUM TIMES from his office that he only had scheduling difficulties. I did not reject the nomination of the president, Mr. Akinwande said. I had scheduling difficulties which I had informed the concerned parties about. It is shocking to see all the reports flying around the Nigerian media and I will tell you theyre all fiction, Mr. Akinwande said. Only fiction. Mr. Akinwande said PREMIUM TIMES should give him until Friday to say when he would be in the country for the screening. Mr. Abaribe told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that his committee would schedule a new date after getting instructions from the Buhari administrations National Assembly liaison. A member of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption has called for the probe of previous Nigerian administrations, beyond the government of Goodluck Jonathan. Femi Odekunle, a professor and career criminologist, also called for the revocation of national honours bestowed on corrupt individuals. He spoke Thursday at a lecture organised by Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in Abuja. Mr. Odekunle, while decrying the systemic corruption in the country, said officials of previous governments going back to the military regime of Mr. Babangida should also be probed. Mr. Babangida held power between 1985 and 1993. Tell the government to revoke the national honour on those who are corrupt, Mr. Odekunle said, referring to the FRCN. Tell truth to power. If we are to truly fighting corruption, we must go as far back as possible. Pick two persons starting from the regime of Babangida and then take 100 from Jonathan. He urged the station to stop singing the praises of President Muhammadu Buhari, and to also deploy propaganda in humiliating corrupt elements in the society. Radio Nigeria must be at the forefront to not only propagate but do propaganda for good by naming and shaming people who are corrupt, he said. Radio Nigeria tell Buhari that there are many more rivers to cross and not just singing his praise. Mr. Odekunle welcomed the raid of judges home recently by the State Security Service. President Buhari established PACAC last year to coordinate his anti-corruption war and complement the efforts of the anti-corruption agencies. Messrs Babangida and Jonathan are holders of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic. The honours are awarded annually by the National Awards Commission which was created by the National Honours Act, 1964. An average of 83 Nigerians crossed illegally from Nigeria to Europe, daily, via the Mediterranean in the first nine months of 2016, data by the European Union shows. The daily figure was extrapolated from the 22,500 illegal Nigerian migrants that the EU said crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Europe between January and September this year. This figure in the first 9 months of 2016 is against the 23,000 who crossed in the whole of 2015. The Deputy Head of EU Delegation in Nigeria, Richard Young, made this disclosure on Thursday at a media workshop in Abuja. Mr. Young expressed concern that the number of Nigerians taking dangerous adventure through Mediterranean to Europe within nine months in 2016 was higher than those who did same throughout 2015. According to him, there has been huge increase in migrants crossing border without the right travel document to Europe from all over the world. In 2014, the number of people traveling irregularly into Europe clinched 280,000 people; in 2015 it rose to 1.8 million in 2015. From January to September 2016, the number is about 420,000; we are expecting that the number will rise to 800,000 before the end of the year. Within this number, people coming from Nigeria in 2012 was 800, in 2013 the number was 2,900, in 2014 the number was 8,700 in 2015 the number was 23,000. And between January and September 2016 the number is 22, 500, he said. While expressing concern that the people crossed Mediterranean on boats, he said, 3,700 drowned in Mediterranean Sea in 2016 alone, which indicated that one in 50 people drowned. He, however, said that the EU had put in place measures to address illegal migrants from Nigeria. Mr. Young explained that these measures include the three R policy of return, re-admission and reintegration for the illegal migrants. According to him, there is an agreement that the illegal migrants be sent back home and be empowered with vocational skills that could enhance their living in Nigeria, but the training would be done in Nigeria. The second thing we are trying to do is tackling the smuggling routes. We are trying to put in place some level of collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service, with NAPTIP to tackle this issue, he said. He stressed that if the immigration issue was not properly addressed, it might have longer impact on the EU-Nigerian relationship. He, therefore, urged Nigeria to grow its economy and address poverty so as to address the root cause of illegal migrants. (NAN) The National Assembly on Thursday transferred presidential powers over the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act (CCB and CCT) to itself. At the conclusion of work on the Bill to amend the CCB and CCT, the Assembly successfully altered section 18 (2) to enable the National Assembly to confer additional powers on the CCB instead of the president. The Bill stopped the president from enjoying the powers of exempting public officers from investigation and trial. Instead, it gave that power to the National Assembly. The Bill, initiated and first passed by the House of Representatives, was transmitted to the Senate for concurrence in May. With the concurrence of the Senate and the House, the Bill is expected to be sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent. The bills passage is coming as the president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who doubles as chairman of the National Assembly, faces trial at the CCT, over allegation of asset falsification. The charge was brought against Mr. Saraki in 2015 by the Code of Conduct Bureau. The introduction of the bill to the National Assembly was opposed by many Nigerians, who saw the move as an attempt to emasculate the CCB and CCT at a time Mr. Saraki has a case before them. Section 18 (1) of the existing Act reads says The President may, by order, exempt any cadre of public officers from the provisions of this Act if it appears to him that their position in the public service is below the rank which he considers appropriate for the application of those provisions. Section 18(2) of the existing Act provides that The President may, by order, confer on the Bureau such additional powers as may appear to him to be necessary to enable it to discharge more effectively the functions conferred upon it under this act. The Senate also agreed with the House that the appointment of chairman of the CCB be based on tenure of two terms of five years each. The Bill reduced the tenure of the chairman of the Bureau and members from serving until they attain 70 years to a term of five years, subject to the confirmation of the Senate. The chairman and members shall serve for a term of five years subject to renewal for one further term. Section 20 (4) has made it mandatory that the appointment of the chairman and members of the CCT be subjected to the confirmation of the Senate. Another significant amendment effected to the CCT/CCB Act is to make it compulsory for any case of breach or non-compliance to be brought to the notice of the person concerned. This is to enable him to make a written admission of such breach or non-compliance and where such is done, there shall be no reference to the tribunal, the bill says. A key peg of Mr. Sarakis defence at the CCT has been that the CCB did not avail him fair hearing after spotting a suspected breach in his asset declaration filings. But the passage of the Bill on Thursday witnessed the exchange of unpleasant words on the floor of the upper chamber. Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, had to intervene to restore peace. Contributing, Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe) said the passage of the bill would be seen as a move by the Senate to favour itself. He said the Senate was merely a moderator of legislation. This bill emanated from the House of Representatives and our colleagues there passed it. I agree totally with the submissions of some of our colleagues that we dont have to tarry to pass it. We will be doing ourselves and this national assembly a better service if we step down this thing and move on some other things that will make this a better bill, only when we convince ourselves that what we are trying to do is not for our sake. I feel very passionate about this that whatever we feel about any situation that we are in, lets make sure that that thing doesnt get into us when we legislate for the sake of our people. (NAN) President Muhammadu Buharis wife, Aisha, on Thursday reassured his supporters that she was committed to the success of her husbands administration. In her first public comment since the furore ignited by her criticism of her husbands administration in an interview she granted the BBC Hausa Service, Mrs. Buhari said she was relieved that the administration had started to fulfill some of the promises the president made during the electioneering campaigns. Mrs. Buhari spoke when she paid a visit to Benisheik, one of the liberated towns of Borno State, to flag off the distribution of relief items to displaced rural women. She made the gesture under the Get Involved initiative, a sub-component of her pet project, Future Assured. The initiative seeks to harness donations from individuals and organisations for the support of victims of violence. The presidents wife told the gathering that she was committed to seeing her husband succeed as president of Nigeria. In the BBC interview, Mrs. Buhari had criticised her husband for allegedly sidelining his long-term loyalists and political associates. She also vowed not to support his bid for reelection unless he quickly corrected the perceived anomaly. The presidents public response suggesting his wife had no business expressing views on his government, and that she belonged in the kitchen, further stoked the controversy. But Mrs. Buhari appeared to have put the controversy behind her on Thursday as she flew into the North-east state, worst affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. Mrs. Buhari, who arrived the Maiduguri International Airport at about noon in the company of wives of service chiefs and political party women leaders, was received by the wife of Borno State governor, Nana Shettima. From the airport she and her team were flown in a Nigerian Airforce Agusta-105 combat chopper to Kaga, headquarters of Kaga local government area of the state. Awaiting her in the town was a delegation of Borno State government officials led by Governor Kashim Shettima. Addressing the gathering in Kaga, Mrs. Buhari said she was happy that her husbands government had begun to fulfill campaign promises to Nigerians, and especially to the distressed people of Borno state. She said: On our campaign promises to Nigerians, especially to the people of Borno State, we thank Almighty Allah for giving us the opportunity of beginning to fulfill these promises. That is the essence of being a good leader; when you promise, you try to fulfill your promises. That is what we are all after. And what I am after in particular is the success of my husbands administration. And we cant do it alone, except with the help of the governors, their wives and members of our progressive party and all Nigerians. Mrs. Buhari said the distribution of relief items was part of her Get Involved project, which she hopes to carry on in the state through a committee led by the wife of the state governor. As you are all aware, some weeks ago, I had launched a component of my programme, Future Assured, known as Get Involved, which is aimed at bringing all Nigerians together; and it has integrated and united the people of Nigeria. The launching of Future Assured has consolidated and united the people of Nigeria. The relief items you are seeing today were received from well-meaning Nigerians who sent their regards and congratulatory messages. It is on that note that I am here today to flag off the distribution of the food items donated by well-meaning Nigerians from across the country. I thank all Nigerians for this support for the people of Borno State. Earlier, the Borno state governor and his wife commended Mrs. Buhari for making regular visits to Borno State. Mrs. Shettima noted that Thursdays visit was the third since her husband assumed the presidency of Nigeria in May 2015. Governor Shettima said Kaga town was totally destroyed and sacked by Boko Haram insurgents, until it was liberated with the coming of the administration of President Buhari. Two years ago it would have been impossible for us to hold this kind of high-level occasion here; our security forces would never have allowed us for fear of the unknown, the governor said. But today we are here under an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, and this is the situation that is prevailing in most parts of Borno state. We want to thank our mother, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, who has shown so much love and affection to Borno State. This is not her first time of coming to Borno. And this time she even ventured to visit the hinterland to see how our people are faring and to show empathy and support to the people of Kaga local government. We are mightily proud of her; we are eternally indebted to her and insha Allah (by Gods grace), in the fullness of time when the history of this epoch is going to be written, her name will be written in gold. You are indeed a proud daughter of the North-east and you have played a pivotal role in the passage of the bill establishing the North-east Development Commission. And it is pertinent to mention that you are of Borno by extraction. We want to thank you and all members of your delegation, especially eminent persons like Dame Pauline Tallen, former deputy governor of Plateau State, who has been with Her Excellency, wife of the president, each time she visits Borno and other places in Nigeria. Justice U.N Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced to one and half years imprisonment, a former Director General of Delta State Direct Labour Agency, Emmanuel Igbini. The sentence is without an option of fine. Mr. Igbinis journey to prison began when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned him on a three-count charge in November 2014, for failing to make full disclosure of asset comprising his Naira account with Stanbic IBTC Bank, US Dollar Account and his daughters account with same bank. He pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge and the matter went into full trial. Justice Agomoh found Mr. Igbini guilty of the charges and sentenced him to six months imprisonment on each of the counts without an option of fine. One of the charge reads that you Emmanuel Odafe Igbini on or about 13th November, 2013 at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, South-South Zonal Office, No 6A olumeni street, Old GRA Off Forces Avenue, Port Harcourt within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your Assets to wit: your Stanbic IBTC Bank US Dollar Account number 0006441862 in the Asset Declaration Form you filled at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby violated provisions of the Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under section 27 (1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004. In the same vein, Justice Agomoh convicted and sentenced one Onaioye Kiipoye to ten years imprisonment without an option of fine for dealing in petroleum products without requisite license. The convict was arraigned on February 10, 2011 on a two-count amended charge bordering on dealing in petroleum products without license. She pleaded not guilty and the matter went into full trial. Justice Agumoh found her guilty of the charges and consequently convicted and sentenced her to five years imprisonment on each of the count charge without an option of fine. The judge ordered that the Man Diesel Caravan Truck with Reg. No. XB 103 RUM used in conveying the proceeds of crime should be forfeited to the Federal Government. The journey to prison started when the Joint Task Force Operation Flush Out III of the Nigerian Army arrested Ms. Kiipoye on April 15, 2008 with a truck that contained about 64 drums of petroleum products suspected to be condensate, and handed them over to the EFCC for further investigation. President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday inaugurated the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative, PCNI, under the chairmanship of Theophilus Danjuma, a retired general. At a brief event at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mr. Buhari said the committee, which is to coordinate the reconstruction of the Boko Haram-damaged north-east, will exist for three years. Read Mr. Buharis full speech at the inauguration below. Today marks an important milestone in our desire and determination to restore normalcy and stability to the North Eastern part of our country. The devastation to human lives and livelihoods by the insurgency in the North East is severe, with more than an estimated 20,000 persons killed, an estimated 2.4 million persons displaced and billions of naira worth of personal and public assets destroyed. Many humanitarian intervention efforts, national and international, have worked over time to assist in coping with the task of bringing succour to the IDPs in and outside the region, with most of these efforts aimed at providing short-term emergency assistance and relief to the victims of the violence and displacement. However, there remains a need for better coordination of these efforts particularly the humanitarian resettlement and reconstruction of the region. Fortunately, the worst of the insurgency is behind us. This we owe principally to the valiant efforts of our military whose gallant efforts have significantly degraded the insurgency. With these successes, many displaced persons are willing and ready to return home to pick up their lives and move forward. However and sadly so, many have nothing to return to. They have lost everything to the insurgency. In addition, social and public services are also absent due to the massive destruction of public and private infrastructure. Government is committed to providing effective coordination and guidance towards addressing the humanitarian crisis the resettlement and reconstruction of the North East region. To this end, I have established the Presidential committee on the North East Initiative (PCNI), under the Chairmanship of General T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd), GCON, a man of proven integrity, outstanding patriotism and dedication. He will lead this Committee comprising members who have been carefully chosen from a wide spectrum of stakeholders. The Committee will be the apex coordinating body for all interventions in the region including those by the public, private, national and international development partners. The Committee is domiciled in the Presidency and is charged with responsibility for developing the strategy and implementation framework for rebuilding the North East region. The PCNI would not exist in perpetuity or isolation. Rather, it will exist for a period of 3 years, where after it is envisaged that a long-term regional development framework or entity may be established. Meanwhile, PCNI will be funded through Federal, State and Local Government appropriation, as well as funds from the private sector and international development partners. Finally, while having great trust and confidence in the team of General TY Danjuma, I urge them to approach their task with dedication, commitment, accountability and transparency. The Committee should take a quick look at the conditions of the IDPs and take urgent remedial measures to alleviate these conditions. I also call on all stakeholders to give the PCNI their maximum support to enable it to deliver on its mandate. It is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative. Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Justice Tukur Muazu of Kaduna State High Court has convicted and sentenced the immediate past sole administrator of Kaura Local Government, Kaduna State, Ibrahim Baba, to seven years imprisonment without option of fine. Mr. Baba was jailed for offences bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, the EFCC said in a statement Thursday. The convict was arraigned before Justice Muazu on January 7 on allegation of defrauding Auwal Ibrahim of Rahusa Investment Limited, Sabon Hunkuyi, Kaduna State in 2011, over a phony gas supply contract. The victim allegedly paid the convict N1 million for the supply of five trucks of gas at the rate of N200,000 per truck. But after the payment was made, the victim neither received the product nor gets a refund, EFCC said. The All Progressives Congress on Wednesday set up an ad-hoc disciplinary committee to investigate activities of the deputy publicity secretary, Timi Frank, who has been relentless in his harsh criticisms of chairman John Oyegun. The partys vice chairman for south-south, Hilliard Eta, inaugurated the committee chaired by Solomon Edoja. It is a disciplinary committee because there is a petition lying in front of us in respect of the activities of Mr. Timi Frank who is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Edoja said on Wednesday. Weve just been inaugurated. We will soon invite him to state his own side of the story. We are also going to invite the petitioner because the legal procedure is that you have to hear from both sides before you can reach the decision. We are going to subject our recommendation to the zonal executive committee for ratification. But Mr. Frank, speaking with PREMIUM TIMES Thursday morning, said he believed the committee was set up to punish him. I am aware of the strategies and the gimmicks, said Mr. Frank, but Ill not be distracted. I am just going to face my course. I am not worried about it. It is not easy to suspend me. There is a process. And I am not going to appear before any committee. The committee lacks the credibility to invite me. Mr. Frank has persistently criticised Mr. Oyegun as incapable of leading the party. Trouble started when Mr. Frank unilaterally opposed the party leadership during National Assemblys leadership elections last year. The party endorsed Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila for the positions of Senate President and Speaker respectively; but Mr. Frank backed the eventual winners Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara. Also, after the partys publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed, was made a minister by President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Frank expected he would by virtue of his position emerge as the partys spokesperson. That was not to be as Mr. Oyegun and the national secretary, Mala Buni, said only they could henceforth speak for the ruling party. Mr. Frank also recently backed former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu, in asking Mr. Oyegun to resign over alleged fraud in the September 3 Ondo APC governorship primaries. Asked what he ultimately had in view to be firing blistering remarks at Mr. Oyegun, he said the chairman has failed in his capacity to run the party. There have been insinuations Mr. Oyegun is pushing for a former minister and Mr. Sarakis loyalist, Bolaji Abdullahi, to replace Lai Mohammed as party spokesperson. Against this background, Mr. Frank, also an ally of Mr. Saraki, was asked if conflict would not arise between him and the Senate President. I am loyal to the Senate President, he said. I have no conflict with him. If the Senate President takes any decision, Ill support it. But I know the Senate President will not support illegality. I respect because we are still loyal to one boss. Bolaji Abdullahi is not the issue. In truth, the position of publicity secretary belongs to the North Central, Kwara State. So, I dont have problem with it if they want to bring Bolaji Abdlullahi but there is a process to follow. The Chairman does not have the power to appoint. This is not a Ministry. Oyegun fails to understand hes no longer permanent secretary. This is why hes not able to manage the party effectively. The process is to convene NEC and then go to convention. Oyegun should not put this party to shame. This is a battle I must fight to finish. Mr. Frank said he had the capacity to form a strong splinter party from APC, the way Julius Malema did in South Africa. The committee asked to investigate Mr. Frank said it received a petition from a member of the party in Akwa-Ibom State, Aneka Akpabio, against the deputy publicity secretary. Other members of the committee are Utufam Etah, Ben Opute (Secretary) Wilson Samuel, Dan Akpan and Tony Odey. Be that as it may, the APC wants to tell the world that the party is supreme, our constitution is supreme, and if there are infractions, we have to follow due process to attain whatever petition that comes before us, Mr. Edoja said. He said his committee, which has two weeks to work, will be fair and transparent in its operations. President Muhammadu Buharis personal assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has explained why he did not attend the Social Media Panel organized by Enough Is Enough Nigeria, a social advocacy group, holding in Abuja from Thursday. Mr. Bashir told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that he officially wrote organisers of the event that he would not be attending because it coincided with another important event he was scheduled to attend outside Abuja. In the October 25 letter to the organisers, Mr. Bashir said, I have an official engagement out of Abuja on that same day of the event which make it impossible for me to be at the conference and it is highly regretted. I look forward to working with you on future projects too, he concluded. One of the organisers, Yemi Adamolekun, wrote back to acknowledge receipt of Mr. Bashirs letter. Thanks for informing us. It is quite unfortunate you wont be able to join us as we were looking forward to a robust conversation about Hausa Facebook; how its mostly unrecognized in mainstream discussions about social media. This is particularly interesting because Facebook is a sponsor of the conference. We look forward to working with you on future projects. The Social Media Panel has generated intense interest among Nigerians on social media, particularly with the inclusion of Idris Okuneye, a Snapchat sensation also known as Bobrisky. Mr. Okunleye has been speculated to be gay. But he flatly denied this, saying he is a cross-dresser who spends exactly 48 minutes applying makeup for every outing. When it became public that Mr. Bashir would not be attending the event, it was speculated that he pulled out just as Alder Consulting, an advertising agency, to avoid being on the same stage with Mr. Okunleye because of public perception of his sexuality. Mr. Bashir is currently attending the Kano state All Progressives Congress retreat holding in Sokoto. A Court in Enugu on Thursday sentenced a woman to 90 years in jail for university admission fraud. The woman, Chika Amsy Charles, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and was sentenced to three years imprisonment on each of the 30-count charge brought against her. The sentences are to run concurrently from the date of her conviction. Ms. Charles was found guilty of swindling three young Nigerians to the tune of N5.6 million under the guise of helping them secure admission into Enugu State University of Science and Technology, through her unregistered NGO called Bold and Dynamic Gender Initiative. But Ms. Charles ran out of luck in 2007 when one of her victims whom she defrauded petitioned the EFCC, on her fraudulent activities. One of the Counts on which she was convicted and sentenced reads: That you Chika Amsy Charles, Simon Chidubem (at large) and Friday Ali(at large) on or about the 10th October, 2007 at Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained N330,000(Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand) from Okudoh Obinna by false pretense when you represented yourselves as capable of procuring admission for his wards into Enugu State University of Science and Technology which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act NO: 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Kaduna on Thursday convicted Aminu Yau, a former cashier of Giwa Local Government Area, Kaduna State for money laundering. The court found the accused guilty on two counts of money laundering and sentenced to him to five years imprisonment on each count. However, following the plea for mercy by his counsel, D.G. Laah and submissions of the prosecution counsel M. S. Abubakar that the court should be guided by the recently enacted sentencing guidelines, the judge, Evelyn Anyadike, directed that the effective date of the sentence should be July 2012 when the convict was first arraigned before the court. Ms. Ya u was accused of running private business enterprise in the name and style of Yuzafa Global Link through which he executed contracts in the LGA and deployed the proceeds for the acquisition of choice properties in Zaria, Kaduna state and establishment of a bakery, block industry and sachet water factory, among others. A Makurdi Magistrates Court on Thursday remanded a cleric, Elijah Ebimone, in prison for allegedly abducting three girls and turning them to sex slaves. Ebimone, 32, is facing a two-count charge of abduction and causing miscarriage, punishable under Sections 274 and 233 of the Penal Code, Laws of Benue State, 2004. The Magistrate, Theresa Wergba, ordered the remand of the accused and adjourned the matter till December 28 for further mention. Her action followed the application for adjournment made by the prosecutor, Daniel Suende, who said that investigation by the police was ongoing. Mr. Suende, a police inspector, told the court that a team of detectives led by Attai Sule, attached to the State CID, Makurdi, received information about the activities of the cleric on October 20. He said that the detectives immediately launched an investigation into the matter and arrested the accused. The prosecutor said that Mr. Ebimone, who claimed to be a prophet, had been abducting young girls and using them as sex slaves. He said that the cleric went all the way to Delta last June and abducted Victory Mieturda, Dolor Dinah and Esther Young and brought them to Makurdi. Mr. Suende said that the man had deceived the girls parents into believing that he was assisting the girls to travel to Ukraine to seek greener pasture. However, they got to Makurdi and he turned them into sex slaves impregnating all of them at different times and also causing them to miscarry the pregnancies, the prosecutor said. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that when the case was called, the court did not take the plea of the accused because it lacked jurisdiction. (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to always speak positively about the country in spite of the current economic recession, saying it will end soon. Mr. Buhari made the call at the 7th National Prayer Breakfast organised by the National Assembly with the theme: A tree and its fruits: is yours a blessing or a curse to Nigeria, on Thursday in Abuja. The president was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. Mr. Buhari assured Nigerians that the recession would end very soon as the government is doing all within its power to restore the economy of the country. As Christians and political leaders, we must strive to be the light of the world by speaking positively concerning the state of the nation. These hard times we are in, require leaders who are aware of the situation to stand in the gap to see how to turn the situation around. According to him, Christian leaders have forgotten to look at the positive side of issues and the opportunity it presents for the good of all. I have total faith that Nigeria will emerge from this crisis strong, united and prosperous, this will come to fruition in the lifetime of this government. Also as Christians and leaders we should all thank God for the opportunity to be key player in this time of economic meltdown, Mr. Lawal admonished. Abu Bako, in his keynote address, charged leaders to rise up and take responsibility of making Nigeria a blessed nation. He said that Nigeria was founded upon water so that she can bear fruits and flourish, adding we are all instruments of transformation and our role is to make Nigeria great. Mr. Bako urged political and religious leaders to behave like persons who would not steal from the peoples wealth, but have the interest of the people at heart. Let us behave as God-fearing persons, who have the interest of its citizen and welfare at heart and not behave as politicians. We must be able to take Nigeria to a place of her destiny by praying for clarity of vision for our leaders who are leading us, Mr. Bako stressed. He urged Nigerians to be instruments of transformation and be carriers of blessing where ever they go by speaking positively. When the nation seeks Gods face then the Lord will heal our land, he added. According to him, as a nation we have responsibility to build Nigeria and not to tear it down by our action, inaction and the words of mouth. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the atmosphere was eventful with inspirational songs from popular gospel artist Samsong, Jamaica and Lester Lewis who sang the national anthem with reggae tune. (NAN) A Compliance Officer with GTBank, Kayode Olanrewaju, on Thursday told a Federal High Court, Lagos how Waripamo-owei Dudafa allegedly laundered N270.7 million. Mr. Dudafa, former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, alongside Joseph Iwuejo and four companies are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. They are standing trial on a 23-count charge bordering on N5.1 billion fraud. The companies involved include Seagate Property Development & Investment Ltd, Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd, Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Pluto LUTO Property and Investment Company Ltd. Others are Iwejuo Joseph Nna and Rotate Interlink Services Ltd, Ibejige Services Ltd; DE Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigeria Ltd; and Ebiwise Resources. At the resumed trial on Thursday, Mr. Olanrewaju, the third prosecution witness, was led in-evidence by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo. Mr. Olanrewaju informed the court that his bank received a letter from the EFCC requesting for the account opening packages of DJakes Fast-food and Restaurant. He said that Mr. Dudafa; his wife, Preye; his son, Dudafa Junior; and one Florence Itekesi, were the directors of the restaurant. The witness also told ex the court how N63.2 million was deposited into the account of DJakes Fast-food and Restaurant on March 18, 2013. He, however, said the money was deposited into the fast-food accounts in instalments. The prosecution witness also stated that N20 million and N79.2 million were deposited into the Fast-food account from a Bureau De Change named 313 on January 23 and 26, 2015. He added that N88 million was paid into the account by Danbazau Global Ltd and Bambura Global Company. He added that the sum of N20.3 million was paid into the Fast-food account by Dambazua Global Ltd on January 30, 2015. However, the witness was cross-examined by the counsel to the accused, Gboyega Oyewole and Sunday Abumere. The witness said during cross-examination that the Fast-foods account were domiciled at the Yenegoa branch of the bank and was opened in the year 2007. He also said that there were inflow of cash in the account when it was opened but would not know if the account was sometime dormant. Another compliance officer, Adeniyi Tunde, testified how the accused managed the accounts, contrary to the banking regulations. Justice Mohammed Idris, after listening to the witnesses, adjourned the case to December 8 for continuation of the trial. (NAN) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will continue the global campaign against Boko Haram insurgency in a lecture he will deliver at the Harvard University, Boston, in the U.S. on Thursday. According to a statement issued by the Vice Presidents spokesperson, Laolu Akande, on Thursday, the lecture at the universitys Nigeria in the World seminar is at the invitation of the university. It added that Mr. Osinbajo will be talking on Destroying Boko Haram and the Rebuilding of Nigerias North-East. Mr. Akande said Mr. Osinbajo will highlight the progress made by the Buhari presidency in degrading Boko Haram resulting in the freedom of thousands of Nigerians in Boko Haram captivity, including some of the abducted Chibok girls. He also said that Mr. Osinbajos lecture will be a clarion call for a more concerted global action against terrorism and an increasingly effective international collaboration regarding the humanitarian crisis in the North-East. He said that the Harvards Nigeria in the World seminar is hosted by the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs. Mr. Akande said the seminar will serve as a forum for scholars, researchers, policy makers, and professionals to reflect on critical issues pertaining to Nigerias relations with the world by focusing on strategic issues of security. He said it also focused on regional stability, economic development, interreligious relations, health policy, human rights, justice and gender, while its overall goal is to bring Nigeria into dialogue with world issues. While in Harvard, the vice president will be received by top officials of the university and will also visit the Divinity School and the African Studies Centre, the statement said. It added that Mr. Osinbajo will participate on Friday in a town hall event in Houston, Texas, and also a business conference organised by U.S.-based Nigerians on infrastructure development issues. It said he will round off the visit in Houston by attending an evening gala to honour high flying U.S.-based Nigerians. The Vice President who left Abuja on Wednesday after attending the Federal Executive Council meeting and the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative is expected back on Sunday, Mr. Akande said. (NAN) The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed, has said that the National Judicial Council will consider an application by a civil society group demanding media coverage of court sessions in the country. The group, Civil Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, CASER, made the request in response to the recent controversy over the arrests of judges accused of corruption. Seven judges were arrested by the State Security Service on October 7. The Executive Director of CASER, Frank Tietie, said opening court sessions to the media would ensure greater transparency of the judiciary. In a letter to the groups leader, Mr. Mohammed promised that the NJC would consider the request at its next meeting scheduled to hold in November. Reference your letter dated 20th October, 2016 to The Honourable, The Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, GCON on the above subject matter. I have been directed to inform you that your request will be considered by the Council at its next meeting which is scheduled for 2nd and 3rd November, 2016 and the outcome of which will be communicated to your office, please, the statement said. The letter was signed by Mr. Mohammeds Secretary, Danladi Halilu, A witness has told a court that embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was absent when ex-PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, was given N400 million. Mr. Metuh is facing trial for alleged diversion of the N400 million he got from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. Richard Ihediwa, a defence witness, stated his position while fielding questions from Mr. Metuhs counsel, Emeka Etiaba, in the ongoing trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja Mr. Ihediwa said Mr. Dasuki was not present when N400 million was given to Mr. Metuh, during a November 2014 meeting with former president Goodluck Jonathan. He said Mr. Metuh was paid the money after a screening exercise conducted at the meeting of leaders of the party with the former president. Present at the meeting were national leaders like Doyin Okupe, Peter Obi, Liyel Imoke, Namadi Sambo, among others, Mr. Ihediwa said. Asked whether Mr. Dasuki was present during the meeting, Mr. Ihediwa responded in the negative. He added that the controversial sum of N400 million was given to Mr. Metuh, following the outcome of that meeting. The witness also told the court that the ex-spokesperson used personal funds to run the affairs of the then ruling party. Mr. Ihediwa said Mr. Metuh bought various equipment for use by the publicity department with his personnel earnings, ahead of the 2015 General elections. Several equipment including still cameras, video cameras, laptops and other computers were bought by the defendant with his personal fund, to my knowledge, said Mr. Ihediwa. He said five new staff were recruited at the time who were under the payroll of Mr. Metuh. I had noticed that he was using his personal funds to finance major expenses for the party, so I asked why. He then explained that given the current circumstance, he would not allow the lack of funds to deter his desire to succeed as leader of the partys publicity department. In many occasions, media houses covering the PDP were always owed money for adverts that they ran for us, due to the lack of fund, said Mr. Ihediwa. Mr. Metuhs trial continues before Justice Okon Abang on October 31. A former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, has urged the judiciary to cooperate fully with the federal government in the fight against corruption, saying there should be no sacred cows in the anti-graft war. The EFCC former boss spoke at the 11th Annual October Lecture of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) held Thursday at NAF Conference Centre Abuja. The event had the theme Fighting Corruption and growing a sustainable Nigerian economy. Mr. Ribadu said the fight against corruption should be of national concern because the key to the survival and progress of our economy depends on it. Mr. Ribadu, who was also the chairman of the event, recounted how the senate president, the Inspector General of Police and other top government officials were arrested during his time at the EFCC, saying the recent probe on the judiciary is nothing abnormal. He urged the judiciary to support the fight against corruption even though there are conflict of interests in the methods used. Fighting corruption therefore is key to the survival and progress of our economy. When we fight corruption with seriousness and sincerity it deserves, we safeguard our local economy and our country, he said. Though there is consensus about the need to stop corruption, it is usually in fighting it that disagreements usually arise. With fighting corruption often comes ripples and discomfort as we have seen recently with the probes in the judiciary. It is normal. But we have to withstand the pressure and move on. We have passed the same road before. Mr. Ribadu said when they started at the EFCC, some governors felt the EFCC was overreaching its mandate. They ganged up to stop us but we persevered. Some of them even went to court but today that has been accepted as normal, he said. It was similar with the case of the National Assembly, when we went after the then Senate President. Another example is our taking up of the Inspector General of Police. Here was I and my colleagues, middle level and junior police officers taking on the IG. It was unimaginable! The day that arrest was made it was like the sky would fall. But it came to pass. It is similar situation we are having today. However, even if we disagree with the method, we have to appreciate the fact what is being done is needed. The Judiciary should understand this and cooperate fully. We have to have this all-out war against corruption without sparing any sacred cow, he said. The trial of Abiodun Agbele, aide and confidant of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, got underway, Thursday, in Abuja with the first prosecution witness, providing a blow by blow account of how the accused supervised the disbursement of N1.2 billion, part of the N4.7billion that was transferred from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by the sons of a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro. Mr. Agbele is facing an 11-count charge of fraud before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja for allegedly diverting N1.2 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. At the commencement of the trial on Thursday, Alade Sunday, a manager and Branch Head of the Zenith Bank, narrated how over N1.2 billion was disbursed on the instruction of Agbele. I first met Agbele on June 17, 2014. On that day, my zonal head, Abiodun Oshode, informed me that he recieved a message from Lawrence Akande, the Zonal Head of Oyo State Branch of Zenith Bank that a customer will be coming to the bank from the airport with cash. He said that I should arrange for our bullion van to be taken to the airport to convey the cash when it arrives. After about an hour, Oshode walked to me that the customer is in the bank and I followed him to his office where he introduced Mr. Abiodun Agbele to me as the customer. Agbele told me that they had security details and that I should not bother about policemen since they had enough. That was how I, my Zonal Head, the bullion van driver, Agbele, and his team drove to the airport. When we got to the airport, we waited for some minutes before the aircraft arrived. When the aircraft offloaded its passengers, one of them appeared to me to be Senator Musliu Obanikoro and the other one appeared to be his ADC, Adewale. Agbele walked up to them and had a dicsussion with them. Thereafter, he signaled me to bring the van. Bags loaded with cash were evacuted into the van and Obanikoros ADC, I and Agbele drove back to the bank. When we got to the bank, we bundle counted the cash and it was N724,500,000. Agbele told us that more money was still coming and then, Obanikoros ADC left for the airport immediately. In the evening, all of us left for the airport a second time. After the passengers disembarked, we offloaded the cash bags into our bullion van and drove back to the bank to ascertain how much the cash was. The second tranche was N494,990,000, bringing the total about N1.219, 490,000 We headed straight to our zonal head office where instructions were given by Agbele on how the funds were to be credited to various accounts. However, because of the amount involved, we needed to detail count before crediting the accounts the next day. All these are recorded in the statements I volunteered to the EFCC. Thereafter, the prosecuting counsel gave the PW1 the four statements he volunteered to the EFCC which he (PW1) identified. Three of the statemnets were made on June 2, 2016 while the other one was made on July 4, 2016. They were all tendered and admitted as exhibit AA1A, AA1B, AA1C and AA1D respectively. Mr. Sunday, while reading from exhibit AA1B stated that, N100million was credited to Spotless Investments; N219.490million was credited to De Privateer Limited; another N300million was credited to De Privateer Limited; another N200million was credited to De Privateer Llimited; N200million was also credited to De Privateer Ltd; N137million was credited to Ayodele Fayoses account and the balance N263 million was taken by Abiodun Agbele to Ado Ekiti. The De Privateer Limited account is domiciled in the Ibadan branch of Zenith Bank. The Spotless Investments account is also domiciled in Ibadan branch of Zenith Bank too while Ayodele Fayoses account is domiciled in Zenith Bank Lagos branch, he stated. Thereafter, Justice Dimgba adjourned to November 14 and 17, 2016 for further hearing. The Sokoto State government has disbursed N31 million to 775 beneficiaries to enable them send their children to school. The state commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Bala Kokani, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing in Sokoto. Mr. Kokani said that the disbursement was made under the governments conditional cash transfer project of the Millennium Development Goals. He added that the state government had revived its moribund food and nutrition committee. Mr. Kokani said government had also conducted situation assessment and analysis of all communities in the state. The commissioner disclosed that experts have begun fine-tuning documents as part of preparations for the 2017 budget. Mr. Kokani said the state government achieved significant success in meeting the targets of the 2016 budget, and assured that more projects would be implemented for the benefit of the citizenry next year. He expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the 2016 budget. Mr. Kokani said the state government had created a website for showcasing its activities under the Millennium Development/Sustainable. An Abuja division of the Federal High Court has refused an application brought by the governorship candidate of the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, seeking permission to appeal the courts earlier decision. The candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, had approached the court, presided over by Okon Abang, for permission to appeal its October 14 judgement. Mr. Abang had in that judgement declared the governorship candidate from the rival faction led by former Borno State governor, Ali-Modu Sheriff, as the authentic PDP candidate for the November, 26 election in the state. The decision followed his June 29 judgement in which the court declared the faction led by Mr. Sheriff as the authentic group of members of the PDP. Mr. Jegede asked the court to allow him appeal the ruling. In a judgement Thursday, Mr. Abang said Mr. Eyitayo lacked the locus standi to appeal the decision of the court. He said section 31 of the Electoral Act only allows the party and not the candidate to contest the judgement. The only case where the applicant would have been considered as having a locus standi to contest the October 14 judgement is if he had taken part in the August 29 primaries conducted by Mr. Sheriffs faction, said Mr. Abang. He said the record placed before his court did not show that Mr. Jegede was a sponsored candidate of the PDP in Ondo State. Mr. Abang also said the notion of Mr. Jegede that the court denied him fair hearing when it gave its decision on October 14 after his (Jegedes) name had been submitted to INEC as PDP flagbearer was wrong. He said there was no record before his court, ahead of the October 14 ruling, which stated that Mr. Jegedes name had been submitted to INEC. He said the document now before the court shows that Mr. Jegedes name was submitted to INEC as early as on October 5 and wondered why INEC failed to make mention of the submitted name in his court. Mr. Abang also said the failure of Mr. Jegede to challenge the June 26 judgement, which formed the basis of the October 14 judgment, further rendered his application worthy of failing. In a separate judgement; the court dismissed an application by the Makarfi-led faction seeking a stay of execution of the October 14 judgement. The court also awarded a fine of N100, 000 in two tranches of N50, 000 against the lawyer who represented the Makarfi faction on Thursday. Mr. Abang said N50, 000 would be paid by the counsel, Adeola Adedipe, to each of the two counsels, who represented both factions in the previous sitting. Mr. Abang described the recent appearance of Mr. Adedipe as a reckless and hopeless abuse of judicial process, since the counsel was not a party during the court session where the said judgement was given. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State , Olusegun Agbaje, said on Thursday that there are reports that some persons were planning to clone permanent voter cards, warning that such acts would attract severe punishment. Mr. Agbaje who spoke at the presentation of the voters register to political parties in Akure, said the cloned cards would be detected by the card readers to be deployed by the electoral commission, INEC, for the election. We hear people are cloning cards to cheat during the election, he said. Cloned cards will not work, the card readers will detect the cloned cards. Mr. Agbaje warned voters to protect their cards from those who would want to steal the cards for dubious purposes. Protect your cards, dont sell them, it is a criminal offence. There will be enough card readers, so that if any malfunctions it will be immediately replaced, he said. The commissioner also debunked claims by the All Progressives Congress and businessman Jimoh Ibrahim, alleging that top officials of the Ondo State INEC were compromised. INEC has no candidate for the coming election, anybody who wins will win fairly, he said. According to him, he had wanted to go to court, but the response from the INEC headquarters against the allegation had addressed the issues. INEC will not do anything that reduces the credibility it has built through the years, Mr. Agbaje said. He disclosed that his office had taken delivery of non-sensitive materials, which had been distributed to all the local government areas. He noted that no one would be allowed to vote without the PVC, adding that voting without card readers is a nullity. Also speaking at the session, the Ondo State Police Commissioner, Hilda Harrison, said the command was prepared to bring perpetrators of crime before, during and after the election to book. She called on political parties to avoid violence and educate their supporters not to destroy posters of political opponents as such acts would be treated as a serious crime. According to her, some areas already witnessed pockets of violence, assuring that the police and other security agencies had mapped out strategies to forestall such occurrences. Ocean City Intermediate School social studies teacher Nick Verducci admits he cant wait for the presidential election to be over. Our focus is to get students to understand the process, not to influence, he said. But some topics have been tough to deal with. A presidential election is typically a great teachable moment in schools. But this years contentious campaign has forced teachers to tread carefully as they attempt to teach civics in an election that has demonstrated little civility. We started getting calls from teachers in June, said Arlene Gardner, director of the New Jersey Center for Civic Education at Rutgers University, which is working with the Community Foundation of New Jersey, the New Jersey Social Studies Supervisors Association and the N.J. Council for Social Studies on this years state mock election. Atlantic City officials present their plan to the state TRENTON Atlantic City pitched its recovery plan Tuesday to the state officials who will de The group held a workshop in September that attracted 110 teachers, and it had to turn away at least 40 more. Participants talked about understanding school policies on what can be discussed in class and the pros and cons of revealing personal views. Teachers are having a tougher time, Gardner said. And some are just not doing the mock election at all this year. That really bothers me because one of the purposes of public school is a civic mission, to create an active, informed electorate. She noted New Jersey does not require students to take a separate course in civics, instead embedding it in U.S. history. But, she said, thats not enough and leaves teachers scrambling to cram it all in during an election season. Local teachers said they are staying focused on the policy issues, even if the candidates often are not. It has been harder because of the behavior, said Michelle Tornblom, who teaches seventh-grade social studies in Ocean City. The candidates are saying and doing things that we are trying to teach students not to do. Tornblom taught a class on propaganda using product advertisements and old political posters. For an example of an attack ad, she cited a local race in Pennsylvania to avoid any appearance of bias. Students at the school already held one mock election using voting booths loaned by the Cape May County Board of Elections. Donald Trump won over Hillary Clinton by a vote of 147 to 107, with Gary Johnson also getting 10 votes. Students will get specific lessons focused on the issues of each major candidate this week and will vote again to see if focusing on the issues changed anyones mind. Anthony Corson, 13, is not likely to change his mind. Wearing a T-shirt depicting Donald Trump as Superman, he said he agrees with Trumps views on immigration and taxes. GEHR union votes no confidence in superintendent; board disagrees EGG HARBOR CITY The Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association took its contentious The Tighe School in Margate will hold its annual Election Fair on Nov. 2. Students are studying the election process and candidate issues and will hold a mock election. Im focusing on the issues, but it is hard to do, said teacher Kathy Styles-Landgraf, who said her motto is stay neutral. We talk about how to debate, and they watch the debates, but then were reflecting back on what not to do, she said. The presidential debates have not been good examples of how to debate, Verducci said. If there is one thing students and teachers seem to agree on, its that the debates have not been very helpful in informing them about policy issues. Robert ODell, president of the New Jersey Social Studies Supervisors Association, said this is an ideal opportunity to teach students how to listen to opposing views. Given the tone of this election, its even more important for us to teach students how to have a civil discourse, he said. Egg Harbor Township history teacher Michael Martirone hosted debate parties at the homes of students in his AP Government class so they could discuss the televised debates while they watched them. When he asked what they wanted from the third debate, the response was unanimous: more time on issues and less on name-calling. I want them to not just answer but to give their opponent a chance to answer. Be civil, said Bailey Clauson, 17. EHT considers full-day kindergarten, seeks public input EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Local school officials are studying how they might expand their half-d They got their wish for a while last Wednesday, as moderator Chris Wallace led off with a question on Supreme Court appointments that demonstrated clear differences between the candidates. Good answers, said Eric Gonzalez, 17. Martirone has been teaching federalism, or a multilevel system of government, and he used the debate questions to ask which answers were federalist or anti-federalist. Munching on snacks, the students played debate bingo and remained attentive for about the first hour, until the name-calling began. Well, they tried to be more professional, Clauson said. Students agreed Trump acted more professional than he had in previous debates, but they were not sure it was enough to help him win. Paige Evans, 17, said she wished the candidates would talk less about personal lives and more about policies. Warning: The following includes spoilers for Episode 4 of Marvels Luke Cage. If youre late to the party, check out our recaps of episodes 1 through 3, then read on here. After three episodes MIA, Episode 4 of Luke Cage finally puts the spotlight on Carl Lucas. Who? Siddown, kids, its origin story time. Once upon a time, a Savannah, Georgia, police officer named Carl Lucas was framed and sentenced to a privately owned prison called Seagate that is essentially Alcatraz East. At first, he refuses to make friends or open up to anyone, but as such protagonists so often do, he ultimately befriends a smaller inmate named Squabbles and a prison counselor named Reva. That name ring any bells, Jessica Jones fans? A corrections officer named Rackham sees the physically impressive Lucas and believes hed be a suitable candidate for the prisons underground fight club. Victors in the club are allowed extra rations, conjugal visits, the works. Losers disappear. Rumors are theyre subjected to experiments. Lucas refuses, at first, till Rackham threatens to have Squabbles framed for the shivving of another inmate. Lucas agrees to fight in exchange for a guarantee of Squabbles survival. And boy, does he fight. Lucas becomes more and more savage in the ring, with the out-of-control hair to match. Both Squabbles and Reva are concerned Lucas has lost his way. Rackham notices Lucas and Reva seem to have a thing going and threatens her life to Lucas, which prompts our hero to announce to Squabbles that he plans to shut down Rackhams operation. Fearing for his own safety, Squabbles rats out Lucas, which results in our hero being near-fatally beat down by two inmates in on Rackhams racket, one of whom is Hernan Shades Alvarez, whom weve seen in the present hanging with the shows main villain, Cottonmouth Stokes. Lucas winds up in the hospital infirmary, being attended to by a Dr. Noah Burstein. Reva visits Lucas, tells him Squabbles has been killed and pleads with Burstein to save his life. To do so, he plugs Lucas into a tanning-bedlike machine meant to heal him as its healed those whove lost in the prison fight club. The equipment for said machine includes a very familiar looking pair of metal armcuffs and headgear resembling an upside-down tiara. (Guys, were so close now.) Suddenly, Rackham bursts in and throws a switch that appears to set the tank water to boiling. The tank bursts open, killing Rackham and injuring Burstein in the process. Lucas emerges, filled with rage. He punches the wall and discovers hes made a sizable dent in reinforced concrete, to which he replies, Sweet Christmas. (Almost there ) As alarms blare, Lucas keeps hitting the wall till he punches clean through to the other side and freedom except for the part where Seagate is literally a prison on the sea and he has to swim to shore, which for whatever reason he does while continuing to wear the bracelets and headpiece from the tank that gave him his newfound abilities. Once on land, Lucas steals some dry clothes a pair of jeans and a yellow womans blouse. Ladies and gentlemen, classic 1970s-style Luke Cage has arrived. He doesnt stick around very long, though. Lucas checks his reflection in a car window and declares, I look like a damn fool. His first call is to Reva, who meets him at a motel, where they consummate their feelings for each other and Lucas shaves his head into a style we all recognize. Reva suggests he find a new identity. Lucas replies with a rambling monologue that includes a quote from the Book of Luke and the advice of his preacher father: No one can cage a man if he truly wants to be free. Reva suggests Luke Freeman, to which he replies, Nah, its a bit on the nose. If at that point they had both started to laugh and then freeze-framed as credits appeared over them, it would not have been entirely out of place. 'Luke Cage' debut mixes racial politics, 'Avengers' references Much has been made of the heavy themes of social justice and black identity politics running Observations: But wait, didnt Genghis Connies blow up at the end of last episode? What happened with that? Very little of this episode takes place in the present. Trapped in the wreckage of the restaurant, Luke reveals his strength to Connie and helps her escape, but those scenes mostly serve as a framing device for the prison flashback. That said, the show does a nice job cutting between Luke tearing away at the rubble in the present and punching through the wall of Seagate Prison in the past. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. To what extent was Reva involved in the experiments happening at the prison? What is her connection to Pop? Why did they move to New York? How did she come to be possessed by Kilgrave on Jessica Jones? Did Squabbles really die off camera? How did Shades get from Seagate to New York? What exactly was Luke framed for to end up in prison in the first place, and what is he claiming to be guilty of, if not the crime for which he was convicted? While theres something to be said for sticking with the source material, this episode of Luke Cage marks at least the fifth time in the past decade weve seen someone on screen get superpowers by being subjected to experiments that required them to spend time in a weird-looking tank. See also 2009s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 2011s Captain America: The First Avenger, 2014s Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Buckys turn) and, earlier this year, Deadpool. Though the afro, puffy yellow shirt and upside-down tiara are considered Lukes classic look, hes actually changed outfits many times over the years. In the early 90s, Cage had short hair and wore a black leather jacket, red shirt and a giant metal belt with matching leg braces. In the 2000s, he wore street clothes, basically jeans and a T-shirt, and his head was shaved. In the current Power Man and Iron Fist series by David F. Walker and Sanford Greene, Cage wears a bluish-gray vest and slacks with a yellow button-down shirt. His head is still bald, but his beard is fuller. At the same time, a Cage miniseries currently running at Marvel features the 70s version of the character, written and drawn by Samurai Jack creator Genndy Tartakovsky. What year is this? Luke makes a call from a payphone after he escapes prison, yet in prison he schools the Lisa Bonet-obsessed Squabbles on the latest in attractive black women, including Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and Bonets daughter, Zoe Kravitz (or as Luke calls her, Godfather Part II). Kravitzs first IMDB credits are from 2007, and she didnt rise to prominence until 2011s X-Men: First Class, by which time payphones were a rarity at best. ATLANTIC CITY Defeating the ballot question that would expand casino gaming to North Jersey is not enough. That was the message of local leaders during a rally against the proposal Thursday. We cant just win, we have to win big, Joe Kelly, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce, said during a rally at Boardwalk Hall. The rally took place steps away from where Gov. Brendan Byrne signed the legislation allowing gaming in the resort on June 2, 1977. During the rally, which drew more than 1,000 people, several local officials spoke about the impact expanding gambling to northern New Jersey could have on Atlantic City. Voters will decide Nov. 8 whether to approve as many as two casinos in the northern part of the state. Since Byrne signed the 1977 legislation, Atlantic City has had a monopoly on gaming in the state. Officials hope a strong denial of the ballot question will prevent the question from coming back in years to come. If state voters reject the question, the same or a similar proposed amendment cant go back on the ballot for three years. The people of North Jersey dont want casino gaming either, said Bob McDevitt, president of Unite Here Local 54, as the crowd cheered and waved signs voicing their opposition to the plan. We have to make that spread as big as possible, so it doesnt come back again. We cant do this every two years. The ballot question states the new casinos would have to be in separate counties and be at least 72 miles from Atlantic City, where five casinos have closed since 2014. This would be like kicking us when we are down, said Jordan Brittingham, a 28-year-old employee at Harrahs Resort Atlantic City. This is not what we need now. Expanding gaming to North Jersey could force the closing of three to five casinos in the city, leaving 20,000 to 30,000 people out of work, said Nick Moles, Resorts AC Casino Hotel vice president and general counsel. We cant stop casinos in other states, but we can stop them in our own, Moles said. Proponents of the plan, such as Ron Simoncini, executive director of North Stars New Jersey, said expanding gaming could create much-needed revenue for Atlantic City. Deutsche Bank said last year that North Jersey casinos could generate $500 million in gambling revenue. A rally like this only shows how misinformed of the circumstances most New Jerseyans are, said Simoncini. Atlantic City is broken, and it has no means of recovery except this referendum. No alternative business plans or choices have been made. Its casino gaming market is never coming back, and even without northern Jersey casinos, it will continue to have its market decimated by introductions in New York and Pennsylvania. The rally comes as the question faces a difficult uphill battle. About 24 percent of registered voters say they support expanding casinos to areas in northern New Jersey, while 70 percent are opposed, according to a recent Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll. We can disagree on the Indians and the Cubs or Hillary and the Donald, but the one thing that we can agree on is voting down Question 1, said Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian. AVALON The borough cut down about 210 Japanese black pine trees on the maritime dunes, despite months of opposition by a residents group. Opponents of the tree removal said the pines were healthy and important for the dunes integrity, while the borough said some were infested with southern pine beetles and all needed to be removed to prevent further spread. Borough Administrator Scott Wahl said the tree cutting began Tuesday and finished Wednesday. The work was performed by the Department of Public Works and Bayshore Landscaping, of North Cape May, he said. The borough got a $24,000 federal grant to combat the southern pine beetle, a rapidly spreading insect that quickly kills pine trees. The grant was funneled through the state Department of Environmental Protection. Avalons maritime forest, one of the last in New Jersey, runs from about 32nd to 58th streets along the beachfront. Wahl said the goal was to remove Japanese black pine trees that were within 100 feet of the dune paths on 48th Street and 50th Street and a few along Dune Drive in that area. DEP spokeswoman Caryn Shinske said the state is confident the southern pine beetle has been there for about two years after its forestry experts visited the site and found evidence of it in some trees. But she also said the beetles dont have to be there for the borough to use the grant. It provides for suppression and/or prevention of southern pine beetle infestation, she said. Its up to Avalon to decide whether or not to remove trees. Some trees were removed last year in a smaller effort. Avalon plans to replace the pines with native oak trees, Eastern red cedars, American holly, persimmon, bayberry and beach plum, its consultant, Joseph Lomax, vice president of the Lomax Consulting Group, has said. Wahl said Lomax will present the borough with a reforesting plan that will result in additional plantings of native vegetation by March. Northern Cape mainland real estate market outpaces islands Kevin Best lives on the Cape May County mainland in Upper Township, but his office is right The grant requires the borough to leave stumps and root systems in place to stabilize the dunes. Resident Martha Wright said she filed a federal fraud complaint, alleging the borough is improperly using federal funds intended to fight the southern pine beetle to remove healthy trees. There are squiggly marks the southern pine beetle leaves. You can peel the bark off the tree and see it, said Wright. It seems to me with 150 trees they could point to one, peel the bark off and show it to us. They have not been able to produce that. They have not been able to produce a beetle, Wright said. She and other residents opposed to the cutting believe the borough is removing the trees to improve the ocean views of beachfront homeowners. She said the borough produced a photo of a dripping hole in a tree infected with blue fungus, but it was identified by certified tree expert Mark Demitroff, of Buena Vista Township, as indicative of the turpentine beetle. The Lomax firm wrote a dune vegetation management plan for the borough in 2009 that recommended replacing non-native Japanese black pine with native species. It said the pine was taking over too much of the dune system and its dropped needles presented a fire hazard. The barrier islands dont have enough trees to begin with, said Wright. Where are migratory birds going to rest and replenish? This runs counter to tourism. Wright filed an initial complaint with the General Accounting Offices fraud unit, she said, and the GAO forwarded it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We may not have the ability to stop it, but other shore towns need to look very carefully at what has happened here, said Tom Evaul, a year-round resident who lives on 47th street, a block from the dunes. If nothing else comes of it, its important that other towns not be foolish. Woman sues to shut North Wildwood beach where husband drowned A Pennsylvania woman is suing to permanently close a North Wildwood beach where her husband His next-door neighbor, Frank McCloughlin, said the dunes protect all the properties on the island, and they will only become more important as sea levels rise. The Japanese black pines were planted in the dunes after a devastating 1962 noreaster. At 48th Street, they grew taller than the bayberry and American holly and provided welcome shade on the trail. Its an absolute massacre of trees, said 40-year resident Elaine Scattergood. Its hard to see it go for this. ATLANTIC CITY The No North Jersey Casinos Coalition, with support from the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, will host a rally Thursday morning at Boardwalk Hall in opposition of bringing gaming north. The Press of Atlantic City will live-stream the rally from 10:30 a.m. to noon, which is designed to drum up opposition to the referendum that would allow casino gambling in North Jersey. We dont want weather to be a reason for not attending the rally, said Joe Kelly, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber. This rally is an opportunity to remind stakeholders how critically important it is to vote no on ballot question No. 1 on Nov. 8, and to actively engage their friends, neighbors and business colleagues to do the same. Voters will decide whether to approve as many as two casinos in North Jersey. The ballot question states the new casinos must be in separate counties and at least 72 miles from Atlantic City, where five casinos have closed since 2014. During the rally, various local officials, including Mayor Don Guardian, will speak about the impact expanding gambling could have on the resort. Deutsche Bank said last year North Jersey casinos could generate $500 million in gambling revenue. CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE An Upper Township woman accused of texting while driving during a crash that killed a 76-year-old pedestrian two years ago pleaded not guilty Thursday. Mihaela Reilly was charged with death by auto and violation of a law intended to protect public safety in the 2014 death of David Loder, who was killed as he was crossing Route 9 near his home in the Shore Acres neighborhood of Upper Township. Upper Township woman indicted, again, in fatal texting case An Upper Township woman accused of texting while driving during a fatal crash has been indic Authorities claim she was texting while driving during the time of the crash. Reilly was indicted by a Cape May County grand jury earlier this month for the second time. Superior Court Judge John C. Porto dropped identical charges against her last year because he said the Cape May County Prosecutors Office and State Police used a problematic timeline. Porto was presiding at Reillys arraignment Thursday, and her attorney, John Tumelty, said hes planning for the same outcome. I do anticipate filing a new motion to dismiss the indictment, Tumelty said to the judge. He said he wanted to see a copy of the grand jury transcripts before taking that step. Tumelty also requested a copy of recordings from the state troopers who responded to the scene. He said each vehicle is equipped with a dash cam and each trooper has a body microphone that records conversations while on duty. Tumelty argued at a hearing last year the timeline presented to the grand jury by prosecutors and State Police misled jurors to believe Reilly sent four texts and made one phone call immediately before the crash. He said the call and texts were made after the crash. Assistant Prosecutor Dara Paley said no new evidence prompted the renewed indictment. She said the original charges were dropped due to procedural complications. Loders family was in the courtroom Thursday, and Tom Loder, the victims son, said in an email following the arraignment: We are hopeful this time she will get a trial and a conviction of guilt. Reilly faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted, and Paley said in court Thursday that the state was offering a five-year prison sentence for a guilty plea. A status hearing for the case is scheduled for Dec. 15. The Nov. 8 referendum on putting two casinos somewhere in North Jersey looks likely to be defeated. Now the many opponents of gaming expansion have an even better reason to turn out to vote: If the rejection is strong enough, it might prevent the proposals return. The main proponent of North Jersey casinos, the Our Turn NJ group funded by would-be developers of the two casinos, last month suspended its campaign in favor of passage of the referendum. That followed a Stockton University poll showing 68 percent of N.J. residents surveyed opposing casino expansion and just 27 percent supporting it. By mid-October, North Jersey supporters of getting casinos worried that the defeat would be so definitive that reviving the proposal in two years would be extremely difficult or impossible. A lobbyist for casino expansion said it was necessary to keep the losing margin to less than 20 percentage points. North Jersey casinos leader Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, D-Essex, said, If we get clocked, were not coming back. Were going to try to hold him and other North Jersey casino supporters to that, especially since there seems to be a good chance the proposal will be soundly rejected. A new Fairleigh Dickinson Public Mind poll released Monday found the same overwhelming opposition as the Stockton survey, with 70 percent against casino expansion and 24 percent for it. The upstate casino proponents still have some cards to play. Last week, for example, they floated the possibility that Newark might get a casino, rather than the Meadowlands and Jersey City where the developers want to build. The Greater Atlantic City Chamber, which has fought the referendum as part of the No North Jersey Casinos Coalition, says the fight against the revival of the gaming expansion proposal will begin the day after the Nov. 8 vote. Chamber officials said a second campaign after the mandated two-year waiting period for another referendum has been part of the North Jersey plan all along. No doubt it has, and its surely prudent to maintain aggressive opposition until proponents truly give up. But the poll numbers suggest a vigorous final drive for a crushing defeat of North Jersey casinos could bring that surrender sooner than expected. That should motivate South Jersey voters especially, since it would dodge a disaster and bring the much-wanted market stability needed to start redeveloping Atlantic City in earnest. 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. LUND, Sweden, October 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- -Dr. Hakan Bjorklund of Tellacq AB, former CEO of Nycomed, becomes Chairman-Elect - CERAMENT BVF, CERAMENT G AND CERAMENT V continue to increase sales rapidly driven by a growing body of compelling clinical data BONESUPPORT AB, an emerging leader in innovative injectable bioceramic bone scaffolds to treat bone voids caused by trauma, infection, disease or related surgery, announces that it has raised $37 million (SEK 327 million) in a combination of equity and debt finance. These new funds will be used to deliver further value from its unique CERAMENT platform. The oversubscribed equity financing was led by Tellacq AB and was supported by the Company's current major shareholders, including HealthCap, Lundbeckfond Ventures, Industrifonden, AP3 (The Third Swedish National Pension Fund) and Carl Westin. The debt finance was provided by Kreos Capital. Dr. Hakan Bjorklund of Tellacq AB will be joining the BONESUPPORT Board as Chairman in conjunction with the fund raising, subject to shareholder approval. Dr. Bjorklund has a long and successful track record in the healthcare industry, including as the former CEO of Nycomed, which he grew from a small Scandinavian company into a global business before its acquisition by Takeda in 2011. He is currently chairman of the board of Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB and an Industry Executive at Avista Capital Partners. Richard Davies, CEO of BONESUPPORT said, "I am delighted that we have been able to complete this new financing to help us to execute our strategy to deliver the significant potential of our unique CERAMENT drug eluting osteoconductive/osteoinductive bioceramic platform. I am also pleased that the equity element reflects the significant progress that we have made during the course of 2016. With our sales on a strong growth trajectory, an increasing body of compelling clinical data and a drug eluting platform that will allow us to develop a pipeline of novel products to treat a broad range of bone diseases, BONESUPPORT can look to the future with great confidence." "We are delighted to welcome Hakan Bjorklund to the board at this exciting time for the company and look forward to benefiting from his extensive experience in the years ahead. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the departing chairman Dr. Orn Stuge for his significant contribution to BONESUPPORT over many years" says Bjorn Odlander, Managing Partner at HealthCap and board member. Hakan Bjorklund, said: "Our decision to invest in BONESUPPORT was driven by the important progress that has been made over recent years. The CERAMENT drug eluting platform offers multiple opportunities to generate significant value by providing much needed and cost-efficient treatment options for patients with a broad range of bone diseases. I look forward to working with the management team and the Board to deliver BONESUPPORT's potential to become a global leader in the management and treatment of bone disease. " The new funds will be used to support the execution of BONESUPPORT's strategy to deliver significant shareholder value, focused on: Driving the sales of CERAMENT BVF, CERAMENT G and CERAMENT V in existing and new markets. Generating further clinical data to highlight the compelling benefits that the current CERAMENT products deliver and to conduct the FORTIFY study to support a planned PMA filing in the US for CERAMENT G. Building the Company's product pipeline by capitalizing on the unique drug eluting properties of its injectable osteoconductive/osteoinductive bioceramic platform. In the first half of 2016, BONESUPPORT's overall sales have continued to grow rapidly driven by the European success of CERAMENT G and CERAMENT V, the first CE-marked injectable antibiotic eluting bone graft substitutes. These products are used for the management of problematic bone infections including osteomyelitis and prophylactically in patients who are at risk for developing infection. Sales of CERAMENT BVF have also shown good growth as the product has continued to gain traction in the US where it is marketed by BONESUPPORT's partner Zimmer Biomet. BONESUPPORT is also continuing to generate the clinical data needed to drive the adoption of its products. A recent paper in The Bone and Joint Journal[1] provided follow up data from the first 100 patients in a prospective study evaluating CERAMENT G for dead space (void) management in patients with chronic osteomyelitis (bone infection) using a single stage surgical procedure. These data showed that this approach, augmented by the use of CERAMENT G, was highly effective, delivering a 96% prevention of infection recurrence rate, a 3.0% fracture rate and a total wound leakage rate of 6.0%. This represents a significant improvement in both the infection recurrence and fracture rates when compared to published results evaluating alternative bone graft substitutes that deliver antibiotics locally. The Company has also recently received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin an IDE (Investigational Device Exemption) study with CERAMENT G. The FORTIFY study, a randomized multicenter controlled trial, which will evaluate the safety and efficacy of CERAMENT G as part of surgical repair of open diaphyseal tibial fractures. The first patient is expected to be recruited into this prophylactic study before the end of 2016. BONESUPPORT will also use the funds to develop its product pipeline. The Company believes that the attractive properties of its CERAMENT platform will allow it to develop products that will deliver a broad range of drugs to the bone to manage indications including osteoporosis, cancer and pain. References McNally et al, The Bone and Joint Journal, 2016, Vol. 98-B, No. 9, p1289-96 Raina, D. et al. A Biphasic Calcium Sulfate Hydroxapatite Carrier Bone Morphogenic Protein -2 and Zoledronic Acid Generates Bone (2016) Nature Scientific Reports - Ends - Notes to Editor About BONESUPPORT BONESUPPORT has developed CERAMENT as an innovative range of radiopaque injectable osteoconductive bioceramic products that have a proven ability to heal defects by remodeling to host bone in six to twelve months. Our products are effective in treating patients with fractures and bone voids caused by trauma, infection, disease or related surgery. Our lead product, CERAMENT BVF addresses important issues facing health care providers, such as avoiding hospital readmissions and revision surgery that result from failed bone healing and infection caused by residual bone voids. CERAMENT BVF is commercially available in the U.S., EU, SE Asia and the Middle East. CERAMENT's distinctive properties as a drug eluting material have been validated in clinical practice by CERAMENT G and CERAMENT V, the first CE-marked injectable antibiotic eluting bone graft substitutes. These products provide local sustained delivery of gentamicin and vancomycin, respectively. The local delivery feature enables an initial high concentration of antibiotics to the bone defect and then a longer sustainable dose above the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to protect bone healing and promote bone remodeling. CERAMENT G and V have demonstrated good results in patients with problematic bone infections including osteomyelitis. They are also used prophylactically in patients who are at risk for developing infection. CERAMENT G and CERAMENT V are available in the EU. BONESUPPORT was founded in 1999 by Prof. Lars Lidgren, an internationally respected scientist who has been the President of various musculoskeletal societies. BONESUPPORT's mission is to bring people with bone and joint diseases back to an active life. The Company is based in Lund, Sweden. http://www.bonesupport.com BONESUPPORT is a registered trademark. SOURCE BONESUPPORT WEST MALLING, England, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Of the ten million British women living with incontinence; almost six in 10 (58%) haven't confided in their spouse or partner A staggering 10 million British women experience incontinence; almost two-thirds (64%) find it difficult to talk about, and almost one in five (19%) admit they haven't spoken to anyone about it. As a result, people are left with an incorrect perception of incontinence - with two-thirds (66%) of women surveyed with incontinence not identifying with their condition. This means women delay the move to incontinence underwear with 43% not using any products at all. Sadly, this results in giving up doing activities they love. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/433031 ) Global incontinence brand Depend is launching in the UK today with the release of a white paper which highlights the prevalence of incontinence amongst UK women, and uniquely explores the behavioural and emotional effects of dealing with incontinence alone. The white paper is the first step in the launch of Depend's community of women to get people talking, because - despite 61% of surveyed women saying they felt more supported upon receiving information, advice or being told a story - 86% haven't been able to speak to someone who's been in their shoes. Depend's community of women is spearheaded by popular television presenter Nadia Sawalha, supported by Psychologist, Honey Langcaster-James, TV doctor, Dr Sara Kayat, and inspiring women who experience incontinence and have regained their lives by using Depend Active-Fit underwear. "It makes me so sad when I talk to women who experience incontinence and find they feel embarrassed, less feminine and unable to talk about it with their loved ones. Although I've spoken publicly about experiencing incontinence I still find it really difficult to speak to my husband, so I understand why it's a sensitive topic for so many of us" said Nadia, "I never dreamed I would ever use an incontinence product. To me, it represented a line I didn't want to cross. Now I've worn Depend Active-Fit underwear, I realise I couldn't have been more wrong. The underwear is discreet, comfortable and has a very flattering cut." Kate Goodman, Vice President & Managing Director, Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland says, "If we can just get 10% of women to share their story, that's one million women opening up and offering support and advice to other women in their shoes, so women can find their way into the right product to get back to the life they love." Visit Depend's online community to find stories and advice from other women who have taken control of their incontinence http://www.depend.co.uk - where you can also learn about new Depend Active-Fit underwear, made from comfortable, cotton-like fabric with an elasticated waistband that creates a natural, brief-like fit. The new underwear is designed for active women who don't want to stop things they love and need protection that moves and keeps up with them. SOURCE Depend DUBLIN, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "The Future of FSU Fuel Oil Supply and Demand, 2005- 2025: Trends, Drivers, Challenges and Forecasts of Fuel Oil Production and Consumption under Current Market Dynamics" report to their offering. Former Soviet Union (FSU) Fuel Oil Outlook report provides detailed analysis and forecast of Fuel Oil consumption patterns and supply scenario in all key Fuel Oil markets in Former Soviet Union (FSU). Forecasts of production and demand of each of the Fuel Oil markets in Former Soviet Union (FSU) are provided annually from 2005 to 2025. Drivers and challenges of industry growth in each of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries are analyzed. Further, information on current refining capacity, refining complexity along with planned refining infrastructure details are also provided in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) Fuel Oil outlook report. Historic data is taken largely from government ministries and companies involved, ensuring highest accuracy of the data. Further, forecasts are made through our sophisticated methodology considering current market conditions and future prospects. Fuel Oil Forecasts for each market are evaluated by in-house experts and also validated by industry professionals to ensure utmost accuracy and certainty. The research work also provides information on leading refining companies in each country along with business profiles of three leading Fuel Oil suppliers in the region. All latest industry developments in Former Soviet Union (FSU) Fuel Oil are also provided in the report. Scope Annual forecasts of country wise Gasoline consumption and Gasoline production from 2005 to 2025 All key Gasoline markets across Asia Pacific are analyzed in detail are analyzed in detail Refining, coking, FCC and Hydrocracking capacity outlook for each of the refining markets in Asia Pacific are provided from 2005 to 2020 are provided from 2005 to 2020 Drivers and Challenges of operating and or investing in Asia Pacific Gasoline markets Details of all planned refining projects in each of the Gasoline markets in Asia Pacific Details of leading Gasoline suppliers in Asia Pacific markets are provided markets are provided Company profiles of three leading refining companies in Asia Pacific Gasoline markets All largest Gasoline industry developments in Asia Pacific Gasoline Key Topics Covered: 1. Tables & Figures 2 Executive Summary 3 Armenia LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 4 Azerbaijan LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 5 Belarus LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 6 Estonia LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 7 Georgia LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 8 Kazakhstan LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 9 Kyrgyzstan LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 10 Latvia LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 11 Lithuania LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 12 Moldova LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 13 Russia LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 14 Tajikistan LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 15 Turkmenistan LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 16 Ukraine LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 17 Uzbekistan LPG Production and Consumption Outlook to 2025 18 Business Profiles of Leading Refiners 19 Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/448t3s/the_future_of_fsu Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets A high-end SUV self-developed by GAC Motor, the GS8 meets the North American SUV roof anti-force standard and redefines Chinese high-end SUV market. It integrates the GAC production system, global R&D network and global supply chain system and has formed the core competitive advantage of sustainable development, leading Chinese brands with innovative paces. The release of GS8 benefits from GAC Motor's pursuit of quality, performance, design and the ability to deliver continuous technological innovations. To constantly provide competitive products. The company, through 10 years of accumulation, has established a state-level enterprise technology center by taking GAC Automotive Engineering Institute, which ranks Top 10 among all Chinese industrial technology research institutions, as the core and investing enterprise R&D center as the support. An important step in GAC Motor's strategic plan to fully enter high-end market, the GS8 is a c-level high-end product based on the creative cross-platform modular architecture, a platform focusing on technological innovation to guarantee quality consistency, lowers production and manufacturing cost, accelerates development speed, and expands technical advantages among competitors. The Chinese No. 1 high-end SUV, the GS8 is powered by the company's golden dynamic Ti POWER 320T engine and six-speed automatic gearbox. By applying GAC Motor's second generation i-4WD 2.0 four-wheel drive system, the GS8 offers a powerful yet smooth ride across six driving modes (sandy roads, muddy roads, snowy roads, intelligent auto, sports, and ECO). It also applies the latest Bosch electronic stability program 9.1 (ESP 9.1) that improves the car's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction (skidding). Other intelligent technology attributes include automatic tailgate opening and a series of auxiliary driving assistance systems for active and passive protection, such as emergency braking and lane departure warning. The GS8's matrix-type LED headlights and U-shaped taillights generate a deep, multi-layered lighting effect and combine for an aggressive yet calm aesthetic, while the elegantly simple interior adopts a 7-seat, 3-row layout and an ultra-size panoramic sunroof. Both the outside and inside of the car are testament to GAC Motor's ability to blend technical R&D strength and quality assurance with upscale design. "The GS8 is another milestone for GAC Motor in terms on global outreach demonstrating our R&D capability and quality assurance system," said Yu Jun, GAC Motor's General Manager speaking at the release conference. "Since it became available for pre-sale, we have already received over 8,000 orders in two months, which marks another huge step forward for GAC Motor in terms of building world-class products that are able to compete with the best in class." GAC Motor has now released GS8 and GA8 and is planning to release GM8, another self-developed high-end product, and will become the first Chinese brand to provide high end products in sub markets of sedan, SUV and MPV. To get more photos, please visit: http://pan.baidu.com/s/1hsa6gTY About GAC Motor A subsidiary of GAC Group, GAC Motor develops and manufactures premium quality vehicles, engines, components and auto accessories, achieving a year-to-year growth rate of 138% in the first nine months of 2016, the highest among all Chinese brands in the corresponding period. For six years GAC Motor has maintained an international vision and insisted on forward development and international standards and made a breakthrough for Chinese brands in 2016. GAC Motor ranked 5th, among all brands in J.D. Power Asia Pacific's 2016 China Initial Quality Study, the highest of all Chinese brands for the fourth consecutive year. For more information, please visit: Facebook: GAC Motor: https://www.facebook.com/GACMoto/posts/1275665359142728 Instagram: GAC Motor: https://instagram.com/p/BMCLdjegUnI/ Twitter: GAC Motor: https://twitter.com/gac_motor/status/791324958353821697 Media Contact: Zhujun Wang +86-186-8058-2829 sukie_gacmotor@126.com Qi Li liqi@gacmotor.com SOURCE GAC Motor SINGAPORE, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Invengo, the global RFID technology provider, today announced the acquisition of a 10% stake in SML Holdings Ltd., the Hongkong-headquartered total brand identification technology and solution provider for the global retail and apparel industry. With a presence in over 30 countries and manufacturing facilities around the world, SML delivers best-in-class products and solutions built on a great technology and thorough understanding of their customers and the retail market. The extensive SML offerings include product branding and labeling, RAIN RFID tag solutions, retail RFID software solutions and data management services, anti-counterfeit and product packaging design and engineering. SML has an enviable customer list that includes such leading fashion brands and retailers as Levi's, American Eagle, American Apparel, Ann Taylor, GAP, Tesco, Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart and Adidas. Retailers frequently struggle with inaccurate inventory and that inaccuracy has significant negative impacts to their business such as: lost sales, excess shrink, ineffective omnichannel processes, poor employee productivity and bloated inventories. As retailers work to improve efficiency they are entering a new era of retailing (Retail 3.0) by using RFID technology and solutions which is enabling retailers to achieve over 98% inventory accuracy and thus more efficiently manage their inventory and deliver new levels of customers service. This Retail 3.0 retail world includes: dramatically reducing out of stocks, creating better instore experiences and enabling more effective omnichannel delivery models. And likewise, in supply chains, RFID technology and solutions from SML are being used to improve inventory accuracy through the lifecycle of a product. Based on the IDTechEx forecast for 2016, the number of tags used in 2017 is expected to reach over 5 billion. SML, as a market leader in traditional clothing labels and packaging, is already serving the needs of the apparel retail industry. As a result of adding RFID technology and solutions to its existing programs, SML is in an excellent position to benefit from the shift towards comprehensive retail inventory management and the Internet of Things. The aim of the investment is to establish optimal synergy between Invengo and SML in areas such as products, marketing, sales and innovative RFID solutions. Blending the extensive RFID product and solution depth of Invengo with the proven retail technology and global reach of SML will strengthen the global leadership position of both companies in apparel inventory management solutions for the retail sector. "We have admired SML for years as they built a world-class data management system to support the global expansion of their locally based service bureaus. Coupled with an excellent track record in on time delivery and price efficiency, an experienced and highly-valued management team and in-company know-how, we are in an excellent position to benefit in this fast-moving growth market," comments, Jiann Hsieh, CEO of Invengo International. ABOUT INVENGO TECHNOLOGY Invengo - the global RFID technology provider - is a leading developer and manufacturer of high quality, intelligent RAIN RFID, HF and NFC inlays, tags and connectivity solutions utilized in the Internet of Things (IoT). With a focus on RFID innovation, Invengo has created a leading product line in retail, library, (industrial) laundry, pharmaceutical, healthcare, (public) transportation and many other industries. With over 20 years of experience in RFID, Invengo is fully dedicated to enabling efficiency in applications such as ticketing, identity management, supply chain management, authentication, asset management and brand equity. Invengo Technology Pte. Ltd, located in Singapore (with subsidiaries in the US and Europe), is the international headquarters of Invengo Information Technology Co. Ltd, listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE: 002161.SZ). Employing over 600 people worldwide, Invengo is one of the largest publicly traded, RFID-oriented companies in the world, with design and manufacturing plants located in the United States, Europe and China and sales offices spanning all major geographies. ABOUT SML HOLDINGS LTD. SML is a global total brand identification solution provider serving an international customer base consisting of, among others, top fashion brands and some of the largest retailers in the world. Its wide range of high quality products include woven labels, printed fabric labels, EAS solutions, RAIN RFID solutions, heat-transfer products, packaging solutions, specialty trims and printed paper products. With a presence in over 30 countries and manufacturing facilities around the world, SML is committed to effectively and efficiently serving the worldwide needs of customers and exceeding their expectations in quality, price, service and speed. The SML RFID tagging solutions enable RFID item visibility with loss prevention functionality. They include RFID-enabled labels, tickets or hang-tags with RFID data personalization which is provided through a network of globally located service bureaus. On the software side, SML also provides market-leading RAIN RFID solutions based on the proven Clarity platform. Media contact Invengo Technology Val Peters General Manager Marketing +31 88 6363793 http://www.invengo.com/press SOURCE Invengo Designed and manufactured by Jereh, the five sets of 1253 kW gas engine-driven compressors will support a gas boosting project at Block 405B in Algerian oil and gas company SONATRACH-FCP's Berkine Basine. "As regards the African market, we have already had a presence in Nigeria and Gabon and by now about 100 sets of non-standard compressors have been delivered for different applications," said Mr. Xiuqiang Song, the R&D engineer of this project. "We have more than ten years of experience on high-end compressor packaging and designing, and together with the high-quality pressure vessel design and manufacturing capacity, our winning this order is recognition not just for us but for the Made in China label. Oil and gas development and utilization projects have high requirements on assessment, investment, design and execution. Due to their quality and machining capacity in the entire project, Chinese private enterprises therefore play the role of equipment supplier. Hassan Ma, Director of Jereh North Africa, said, "Jereh has been the EPC contractor for several large-scale oil and gas projects in terms of providing design, procurement and construction services. Algeria is the largest natural gas producer in Africa and the third-largest oil producer in Africa, after Nigeria and Angola. We are fully prepared to participate in Africa's oil and gas development as an integrated EPC contractor, and maximize mutually beneficial potential, which will be our priority in future market development." About Jereh Jereh is an international, integrated oil and gas company specializing in oil and gas EPC, oilfield technology services, equipment manufacturing and environmental management. Leveraging its strong R&D, high-quality production facilities and global sales network, Jereh has served customers in over 60 countries. For more information, visit www.jereh.com. Related Links http://www.jereh.com SOURCE Jereh Group LONDON, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Introduces new products, service initiatives - including connected Gen2 life elevator With the dramatic change to London's skyline currently underway, the city and the rest of the UK will be set with modern high-rise buildings. Otis, whose founder invented the modern elevator, is introducing new elevator products and services to meet that demand, including the connected Gen2 Life elevator and the expanded Otis SkyRise product family for high-rise buildings. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/432991 ) "It's predicted that 60 percent of the world will be living in cities by 2030, and Otis is leading the way with new products and services that combine connectivity with the modern designs as well as the mechanical and functional excellence that has been critical to our success for more than 160 years," said Hemant Jolly, managing director of Otis, UK and Ireland. "These investments show that Otis is a multinational company that sees tremendous opportunity in the UK, and we look forward to showing people here how our new products and services can bring passengers - and the buildings they live and work in - to the next level." Former President of the Royal Institute of British Architects and English architect Maxwell Hutchinson said: "The ever fresh and resourceful London is in the vanguard of the reach for the sky; ever higher, ever different, ever more and more ingenuous. Higher requires fast, reliable efficient vertical circulation to move the sky dweller and worker. In 1854 Elisha Otis knew it and introduced the world to the Otis Safety Lift to do the job." High-end products for tomorrow's smart buildings The Gen2 elevator redefined the elevator industry with breakthrough technology that replaced conventional ropes with flat belts, leading to a more comfortable ride, greater reliability, more efficient operation and increased energy efficiency compared to conventional roped elevators. Since its introduction, the Gen2 elevator has become one of the company's best-selling elevators in Otis' 163-year history with more than half-million units sold. Now, the Gen2 Life builds on that legacy, adding more than 400,000 elevator design combinations with new interior design concepts, providing continuity with the architecture and design of a building. The Gen2 Life also features integration of multimedia and connected services, including a full HD eView screen; Otis' eCall mobile application and OneCall dashboard. High-rise solutions for the UK's tallest buildings Otis also recently expanded its SkyRise product family, designed for the world's tallest buildings. The self-climbing SkyBuild elevator joins the SkyRise family as a time-saving option. Installed at the beginning of a building's construction, the SkyBuild elevator allows movement of crews and tools quickly and safely - without an external lift or exposure to weather. Its unique hydraulic piston system enables it to quickly climb one floor at a time as the building rises. Once construction is complete, the SkyBuild elevator quickly transitions for immediate service as a SkyRise elevator. Service to meet the demands of the future Otis mechanics in the UK will also be among the first to pilot new technology to improve elevator and escalator repair and maintenance. As part of Otis' service digitalisation strategy, the mechanics will receive new smartphones with apps to provide more efficient service and enhanced customer communication. The global investment will reach Otis' more than 31,000 service mechanics, starting in key locations, including the UK. "The UK was picked as one of several pilots for this initiative because of its global importance in the building sector," Jolly said. "Here, we like to say we're 'leading the fleet' to a future of more connected elevators and ever-smarter buildings." Made to Move You is the new proposition and creative platform from Otis which aims to create a story thread between the connectivity and design aspects of the product and the human connections that take place behind an elevator's closed doors, unpicking rich story themes told in a beautifully shot, short film.http://www.madetomoveyou.co.uk SOURCE Otis Emerging Technologies Energizing the Future of the Pharmaceutical Sector, the recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan's TechVision (Health & Wellness) subscription, brings out the emerging technology trends in pharma on a global scale. The insight includes a detailed strategic assessment of industry challenges and needs as well as case studies. Click on the following link for complimentary access to more information on this analysis and to register for a Growth Strategy Dialogue, a free interactive briefing with Frost & Sullivan's thought leaders: http://frost.ly/zg. "The slow yet steady growth of technology convergence in pharmaceuticals is a positive shift in the direction of value-based care, personalization, and cost reduction," said TechVision Sr. Research Analyst Debarati Sengupta. "Some of the emerging technologies have unveiled new business models and marketing strategies, helping in the growth of the pharma industry." "Growth in digital pharma, precision medicine, patient-centric medicine, and biopharmaceuticals will help address the depleting pipeline of innovative drugs, slow drug discovery and clinical trials, cost pressures and stringent regulations," explained Sengupta. "However, integrating new complex technologies into established processes may require a heavy shift in the strategy, structure and culture of pharmaceutical companies." Some of the technology companies pharma companies must pay attention to: Top pharma companies are already leading the way, collaborating with cross cluster technology companies in order to address unmet needs, get a disruptive advantage in industry, and gain diverse opportunities in the market. About TechVision Frost & Sullivan's global TechVision practice is focused on innovation, disruption and convergence, and provides a variety of technology-based alerts, newsletters and research services as well as growth consulting services. Its premier offering, the TechVision program, identifies and evaluates the most valuable emerging and disruptive technologies enabling products with near-term potential. A unique feature of the TechVision program is an annual selection of 50 technologies that can generate convergence scenarios, possibly disrupt the innovation landscape, and drive transformational growth. View a summary of our TechVision program by clicking on the following link: http://ifrost.frost.com/TechVision_Demo. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion. Emerging Technologies Energizing the Future of the Pharmaceutical Sector D75A-TV Contact: Jana Schoneborn Corporate Communications Europe P: +49 (0)69 77033 43 E: jana.schoeneborn@frost.com Twitter: @TechVision_FS Linkedin: www.frost.com/techvisionlinkedin http://www.frost.com http://www.frost.com/techvision Related Links http://www.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan ESPOO, Finland, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Picosun Oy, the leading supplier of advanced industrial ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) technology, now provides its customers production-scale aluminum nitride batch process with superior film thickness uniformity and fast speed. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140528/689557 ) Aluminum nitride (AlN) is one of the key materials in semiconductor industries. Compatibility with III-V -semiconductors makes it an excellent material for power electronics, and in mobile communications technology it is used in the production of several key components such as RF filters and microphones. "We have achieved excellent results in our new AlN batch process, so we are very happy now to offer it to our industry customers for mass manufacturing applications. AlN is a very sought-after material amongst our microelectronics production customers", says Dr. Erik streng, Applications and Services Director of Picosun. High quality, but low cost microelectronics mass production is a prerequisite also for the rapidly expanding Internet-of-Things (IoT). Soon, the IoT will require trillions of sensors, actuators, transducers, energy harvesters and other, often independently operating electronic components. AlN thin films are important building blocks also in these devices. In all semiconductor applications, the quality of the thin films, especially their uniformity and purity, is crucial. For the end product prices to stay competitive, the films must be manufactured fast and cost-efficiently in large batches. "We at Picosun want to offer our customers comprehensive, turn-key ALD manufacturing solutions and the best and most agile customer care. A process, tailored, optimized and ramped-up for each customer's individual needs is the core part of this solution", continues Mr. Juhana Kostamo, Managing Director of Picosun. Picosun's production ALD systems are designed to fulfill the most stringent quality and reliability requirements of today's semiconductor industry. With Picosun's SEMI S2 compliant batch ALD tools equipped with fully automatic substrate handling in constant vacuum excellent AlN film thickness uniformities and conformality across the batch have been achieved(*). (*) Picosun AlN batch process data: Film thickness 50 nm Substrate 200 mm Si wafer Batch size 25 pcs Process temperature 375 oC Non-uniformity (1summation, within-wafer) 0.9 % Throughput/10 nm/one ALD tool 1300 wafers/day Picosun provides the most advanced ALD thin film coating technology to enable the industrial leap into the future, with turn-key production solutions and unmatched expertise in the field. Today, PICOSUN ALD equipment are in daily manufacturing use in numerous major industries around the world. Picosun is based in Finland, with subsidiaries in North America, Singapore, Taiwan, China, and Japan, and a world-wide sales and support network. For more information visit http://www.picosun.com. Mr. Juhana Kostamo, Managing Director, juhana.kostamo@picosun.com , tel. +358-50-3699-565 SOURCE Picosun Oy LONDON, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SilverArrow Capital Group announced that it has acquired the majority share (51%) of PrivatAir, SA. PrivatAir is an international premium airline and leading business aviation group with headquarter in Geneva, Switzerland and operating offices in Duesseldorf, Germany and Lisbon, Portugal. PrivatAir operates a wide-range of aircrafts ranging from Boeing B767, B757, BBJs to Airbus A319 and business jets for premium airlines like Lufthansa and SAS. The company has been in operation for more than 40 years and currently employs over 400 people. PrivatAir is a comprehensive group with three divisions delivering service excellence both in the air and on the ground: scheduled services, business aviation (aircraft charter, aircraft sales and sourcing, aircraft management) and PrivatTraining. In addition, PrivatAir together with Swissport operates PrivatPort, a premium ground services company. "We are very excited about the acquisition of these premium brands. PrivatAir and PrivatPort offer unlevered potential for profitable growth within a changing market," said Thomas Limberger, CEO of SilverArrow Capital Group and new Chairman of PrivatAir. "Having SilverArrow as a new shareholder, will lead the company into an era of new financial strength and growth," said Antonio Gomes de Menezes, CEO of PrivatAir. About SilverArrow SilverArrow Capital is a group of private investment firms focusing on industrial growth sectors, real-estate and infrastructure projects supported by a leading global advisory and operations team. SilverArrow Capital brings value to its private investors and partners by executing a proven activist investment strategies in industrial growth companies. In addition the group provides strategic advisory services in areas of corporate strategy, corporate restructuring and corporate finance. For further information please visit http://www.silverarrowcapital.com SOURCE SilverArrow Capital Group ZURICH, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Starhome Mach's Real-Time Anti-Fraud Solution to be Installed at Major EU Operator Starhome Mach, a global leader in mobile inter-carrier and M2M/IoT services, reports that mobile operators continue to suffer significant fraud losses due to an ever-increasing number of International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF) cases, with average losses of about 15,000 per hour, and up to 40,000 during severe incidents caused by fraudulent roaming calls. The actual total loss per case can reach hundreds of thousands of Euros. IRSF is usually performed by fraudsters making simultaneous calls and generating as many voice minutes as possible before the fraud is detected and blocked. It is the most common and lucrative type of fraud, affecting telecom operators daily. Starhome Mach's Real-time Anti-fraud (RAF) solution, which was recently ordered by a major EU operator, detects such fraud cases in real time and enables the operator to take immediate actions to stop the fraud and prevent the significant related losses. An example Starhome Mach discovered through analyzing its global clearing and operational data involved a European operator and thousands of fraudulent calls placed to a country in central Africa which caused losses of more than 200,000. A system with real-time detection and action would have prevented this loss. "These alarming figures we see across operators around the world show how much damage a single SIM can cause in a roaming IRSF scenario and how critical real-time detection and prevention is," said Starhome Mach CEO Itai Margalit. "Unlike the traditional anti-fraud solutions that detect the losses after the fact, the only effective way to immediately reduce the IRSF related losses is to automatically monitor, detect and take action in real time, as soon as the fraudster starts to operate. " Although the Industry implemented Near Real-time Roaming Data Exchange (NRTRDE) in 2008 to speed up the exchange of call detail records among network partners, roaming remains the most vulnerable service to fraudulent attacks. Starhome Mach's analysis shows that on average, without a real-time solution, operators stop the roaming fraud after more than 18 hours from the first fraudulent call. This delay allows the fraudster to generate significant financial gains for itself at the expense of the home operator. In some of cases, the loss rate reached 40,000 an hour. Starhome Mach has applied its extensive experience in global roaming to develop the Real-time Anti-fraud (RAF) product. It detects, mitigates, and prevents fraud in real-time while complementing existing fraud management solutions. The technology focuses on well-known fraud like PBX hacking, roaming fraud, and IRSF scenarios originating from subscription fraud, stolen phones and SIM swap. The operator has complete control over the system, creating customizable blocking rules (who, when, where, length of call) rather than mass blocking, which affects quality of service for legitimate subscribers. The solution works for both domestic (fixed & mobile) and roaming (inbound & outbound). Starhome Mach will be discussing the new Anti-Fraud Product at WAS Dublin, October 30--November 3. About Starhome Mach Starhome Mach is a market leader in value-added global mobility and clearing services, removing communication barriers and differentiating services for connected people and devices. The company's wide portfolio for mobile operators includes solutions in the fields of Wholesale Management, Clearing, Fraud Prevention, User Experience, Business Management and IoT/M2M. Starhome Mach's customer base encompasses over 300 operators including 24 leading groups. The company has sales and R&D offices worldwide and a network of support locations providing local support and professional services. Media Contact Amy Kenigsberg K2 Global Communications amy@k2-gc.com +1-913-440-4072 (+7 ET) SOURCE Starhome Mach Signs New EMEA Customer, Sherwin Currid SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ThinkSmart, the leader in Digital Transaction Management (DTM), today announced the opening of its Ireland office to strengthen the U.S. company's sales, operations and client management efforts in EMEA. In EMEA, ThinkSmart is planning to scale as companies migrate towards DTM and electronic signatures, across several industries including government, healthcare, insurance, and financial services. Under the leadership of Christina O'Connell, General Manager EMEA, who spent the last six years building the company in San Francisco with ThinkSmart's customers and leadership team, the Dublin office now supports the growing needs of its international clients that span multiple office locations around the globe. Based in the heart of "Silicon Docks," ThinkSmart's new office is in the CHQ Building. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160918/409074LOGO "With the growing technology community in Europe, and movement towards digital transformation, there is increased demand for new tools from companies who need to increase efficiencies and save valuable time and resources," said Christina O'Connell, General Manager EMEA, ThinkSmart. "More than ever, companies see the need to go paperless using DTM solutions like TAP, such as the government initiative and digital society, e-Estonia." Signaling its EMEA expansion, ThinkSmart also announced today a new contract with Sherwin Currid, a leading provider of accountancy and taxation services to small and medium sized businesses and an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) member. The two companies are in the initial deployment phases of TAP. Over the last few years, the accounting firm has grown, and now needs to focus on improving work processes, including company accounts and tax returns. "We are implementing TAP to improve staff efficiency, quality of work, and scheduling of resources. Overall, this solution will help us better manage and operate our business and teams," said Martyn Currid, Director, Sherwin Currid. "Also, most of our business processes use Adobe Sign. TAP's ability to easily integrate with eSignatures enables a complete end to end workflow process in a centralized, standardized and secure environment." Across industries and organizations, TAP automates processes, including, but not limited to, human resources (HR), legal operations and procurement. ThinkSmart's Digital Transaction Management solution integrates top tier eSignature products to manage the end-to-end workflow in a centralized, standardized and secure environment. ABOUT THINKSMART ThinkSmart LLC, the leader in Digital Transaction Management (DTM), provides an Automation Platform (TAP) to companies seeking to automate and digitize business processes. The TAP solution provides intuitive drag and drop tools enabling companies to very quickly design, build and implement any workflow. Integration with client internal systems, and top tier eSign companies makes TAP an attractive option for organizations interested in optimizing the business using cost effective automation tools. In 2016, ThinkSmart was named as an Aragon Research Hot Vendor in DTM. For more information, visit www.thinksmart.com, call +1-888-489-4284, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. ThinkSmart LLC is the owner of ThinkSmart LLC and all of its other marks. All other marks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners. Related Links http://www.thinksmart.com SOURCE ThinkSmart VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Future Market Insights delivers key insights on the global enterprise asset management market in a new report titled, "Enterprise Asset Management Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026". The global enterprise asset management market was valued at US$ 1,877.4 Mn in 2015 and is estimated to increase to US$ 2,005.8 Mn by the end of 2016, reflecting a Y-o-Y growth rate of 6.8%. In this report, Future Market Insights analyses the factors and trends impacting the growth and performance of the global enterprise asset management market between 2016 and 2026. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO) A marked shift towards cloud services, improved ROI with the aid of enterprise asset management solutions, and the emergence of the Internet of Things are factors expected to drive the growth of the global enterprise asset management market over the forecast period. Factors expected to hamper overall market growth to a certain extent include high costs associated with designing and implementing enterprise asset management solutions, lack of strategic planning post installation of enterprise asset management solutions, and lack of skilled personnel to manage the enterprise asset management process. Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents and Figures: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-193 "Major enterprise asset management solution providers are laying emphasis on introducing cloud-based enterprise asset management solutions to cater to the growing demand across various verticals, especially small and medium enterprises. Providers are also looking to integrate predictive analytics and ERP with their enterprise asset management solution offerings." --- Analyst - Electronics & ICT, Future Market Insights Segmentation highlights The global enterprise asset management market is segmented on the basis of Solution (Database Solution, Analytics Solution, Mobile Solution, Cloud-based Solution); Service (Consulting Service, Implementation Service, Training and Support Service, Outsourcing Service); and Vertical (Public Sector, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Industry, Energy and Utility, Transportation, Wholesale and Distribution, Food & Beverages, Paper and Packaging, Chemical and Process Industry (Including Steel Industry), Mining, Service Industry). The Cloud-based Solution segment of the global enterprise asset management market is anticipated to reach a market valuation of US$ 1,243.8 Mn by 2026, registering a high CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period, owing to greater adoption backed by lower cost of maintenance and support post installation. The Mobile Solution segment is anticipated to create incremental $ opportunity of US$ 265.3 Mn between 2016 and 2026. by 2026, registering a high CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period, owing to greater adoption backed by lower cost of maintenance and support post installation. The Mobile Solution segment is anticipated to create incremental $ opportunity of between 2016 and 2026. The Implementation Service segment is expected to be the most dominant segment in the global enterprise asset management market in terms of revenue share and is estimated to account for 46.6% market share by the end of 2016. The Training and Support Service segment is estimated to register a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. The Manufacturing vertical segment was valued at US$ 274.9 Mn in 2015 and is estimated to reach US$ 306.8 Mn by the end of 2016, reflecting a Y-o-Y growth rate of 8.6%. The Public Sector vertical segment is estimated to create incremental $ opportunity of US$ 168.0 Mn between 2016 and 2026. Preview Analysis on Global Enterprise asset management market analysis and forecast by solution - analytics, mobile, cloud-based; by services - consulting, implementation, training and support, outsourcing; by vertical - public sector, manufacturing, oil and gas, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, energy and utility, transportation, wholesale and distribution, food and beverages, paper and packaging, chemical process industry, mining, and services industry: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-enterprise-asset-management-market Regional forecast The global enterprise asset management market is segmented on the basis of region into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Japan. North America is expected to dominate the global enterprise asset management market by the end of 2016 and is likely to continue its dominance throughout the forecast period, registering a CAGR of 8.3% between 2016 and 2026. Europe is expected to be the second largest market in terms of revenue in the global enterprise asset management market over the next 10 years, and is expected to regist>Am CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period. Speak with Analyst for any Report Related Queries: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-193 Vendor insights IBM Corporation, SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, ABB Ltd., IFS AB, Infor Inc., Ultimo Software Solutions bv, CARL International SA, eMaint Enterprises, LLC, Mainsaver Inc., MEX Pty Ltd., and AssetWorks LLC are some of the leading companies operating in the global enterprise asset management market. Key market players are focussing on deploying enterprise asset management solutions primarily for large enterprises and asset intensive industries such as public sector, transportation, and energy & utilities. More From FMI's Cutting-edge Intelligence: Next Generation Packaging Market Segmentation By Product Type - Active, Intelligent, And Modified Atmosphere; By Application - Food And Beverages, Healthcare And Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care; By Key Regions - North America , Western Europe , Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan , Eastern Europe , Latin America and the Middle East and Africa : http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/next-generation-packaging-technology-market Smart Mining Market Segmentation By Automated Equipment - Driller & Breaker, Load Haul Dump, Mining Excavator, Robotic Truck, Others; By Component - Hardware, Solution, and Service (Engineering & Maintenance, Consulting, Product Training, and Implementation & Integration Service): http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/smart-mining-market Smart Factory Market Segmentation By Market Structure - Wired And Wireless Networking, Wide Area Networking, Local Area Networking, Machine-To-Machine Network; By To Collect Segment - Sensors, Digital Measurement Devices, Auto Identification Hardware; By To Analyse Segment - Data Historian, Reporting, Complex Event Processing, Predictive Algorithm; By Manufacturing Vertical - Food And Beverages, Electrical And Electronics, Aerospace And Defence, Oil And Gas, Garment And Textile: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/smart-factory-market About Us Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends. Browse More Electronics, Semiconductors, and ICT Market Insights Contact Us 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790 Sales: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Press@futuremrketinsights.com Website: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com SOURCE Future Market Insights ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The US delegation headed by Thomas Alfred Shannon, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, has confirmed the country's intent to participate in the international specialized exhibition EXPO 2017 Future Energy to be held in Astana. "I arrived in Astana last night. This is my first official visit, and I think our message is clear: we will participate in EXPO 2017. I have just had a chance to see the pavilion intended for the US - an excellent building and great pavilion," said Thomas Alfred Shannon during his meeting with Akhmetzhan Yessimov, the Chairman of the Board of the National Company Astana EXPO 2017. The Under Secretary of State noted that EXPO 2017 is an important element of building relations with Kazakhstan. According to him, the exhibition provides the Republic with an excellent opportunity to present itself as a global player, including in the energy sphere. In his turn, Akhmetzhan Yessimov stressed the importance of the American participation in the exhibition. "I have visited the US twice this year. I know how much work is being done in terms of renewable sources of energy. The US is the leader in fostering new technologies and state-of-the-art scientific developments," he said. At the end of the meeting, the Under Secretary of State said they would promptly settle all procedural matters related to the country's participation in EXPO 2017. About Astana EXPO 2017 The International Specialized Exhibition Astana EXPO 2017 dedicated to Future Energy is an expositional and recreational event that will take place between 10 June and 10 September 2017 in Astana. The exhibition will last 93 days and will become one of the most spectacular cultural venues in 2017. To date, 105 countries and 18 international organizations have confirmed their intention to participate in the Astana EXPO 2017 exhibition. Overall, over 100 participating countries are expected to attend the event with over 5 million visits to be made. As part of Astana EXPO 2017, global policy documents will be drafted in order to promote an energy-efficient lifestyle and wide use of renewable energy sources. Artem Storozhenko, expo@m-p.ru SOURCE Astana Expo 2017 MUNICH, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers can try out products first-hand in store, order online and arrange delivery 'Retail 2.0' app launched in Munich store, roll-out is planned to all WMF stores in Germany Wirecard and WMF are teaming up to merge e-commerce with high-street retail henceforth. The electronic payment specialist is now working with one of Germany's largest retail chains on the integration of an omnichannel shopping solution in WMF stores. With this cooperation, the two leading companies are pioneering the path towards omnichannel solutions and at the same time presenting a vision of the future of retail. The solution will allow WMF customers to choose products in store, order directly online and get it delivered at their doorstep. WMF has set up iPads in store on which the relevant app has been installed for this purpose. The app is directly linked with the online shop, creating a unified purchase experience across all channels. For Visa, MasterCard and Maestro customers, the solution presents further advantages: all payment-relevant data for card transactions is captured via the integrated mobile point of sale (mPOS) terminal (SPM2) before being displayed in the app by way of a Bluetooth connection. This means that it is not necessary to manually enter credit card data into the tablet device. Furthermore, UnionPay and the mobile Alipay app are accepted payment types. "One of our stated objectives and promises to our customers was to create an uncomplicated and inspiring purchase experience across various sales channels. With the help of Wirecard, we have managed to do precisely this, making our vision of future retailing a reality", Hendrik Koepff, Head of Portal Management and Business Development at WMF. Marion Laewe, Vice President Sales Consumer Goods at Wirecard, comments, "The shift in the retail landscape and the cross-channel challenges presented by this have long been part of Wirecard's vision - with this 'retail 2.0'-app we have now truly arrived in this future. We are delighted to follow this path together with WMF." Within the framework of this partnership, Wirecard will assume responsibility for acquiring and will therefore process all payment transactions. Moreover, the payment provider will act as a technical interface as WMF will integrate Wirecard's mPOS Software Developing Kit (SDK). The cross-channel shopping solution should be available to German, European as well as Chinese consumers. Wirecard and WMF launched this project in September, with the omnichannel solution initially integrated in one Munich store. This may be extended to up to four more stores during the initial pilot phase. About Wirecard: Wirecard AG is a global technology group that supports companies in accepting electronic payments from all sales channels. As a leading independent supplier, the Wirecard Group offers outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payments. A global platform bundles international payment acceptances and methods with supplementary fraud prevention solutions. With regard to issuing own payment instruments in the form of cards or mobile payment solutions, the Wirecard Group provides companies with an end-to-end infrastructure, including the requisite licences for card and account products. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060, WDI). For further information about Wirecard, please visit http://www.wirecard.com or follow us on Twitter @wirecard. The WMF Group: For more than 160 years, the brands that make up the WMF Group have stood for the best in cooking, drinking and dining. Every day, more than 100 million people around the world use products from WMF, Silit and Kaiser to prepare, cook, bake, eat and drink in their homes. And when they are not doing that, they are enjoying coffee specialities and foods prepared by the hotel and catering industry using WMF, Schaerer and Hepp brand products. Our employees are passionate about bringing people together, whether at home, on the move or at fine-dining establishments, in order to give them shared moments that are both precious and delicious. All this with products which have outstanding design, perfect functionality and excellent quality to make every culinary experience a real joy. Our traditional company was founded in 1853 in Geislingen an der Steige, in southern Germany. Nearly 6,000 employees provide culinary pleasure at over 40 locations worldwide. In the 2015 financial year, the WMF Group recorded sales totalling EUR 1.061 billion. Wirecard media contact: Wirecard AG Jana Tilz +49(0)89-4424-1363 Email: jana.tilz@wirecard.com WMF media contact: WMF Group Kai M. Hummel +49-7331-258167 Email: media@wmf.com SOURCE Wirecard AG LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, Inc., in partnership with the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), announce the honorees of the 2016 Women of Color Achievement Awards. A total of 17 women will be recognized for outstanding professional achievement and exemplary community service. Sponsored by UPS, Microsoft Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company and SDI International, the event will take place on Friday, November 4th from 6:30 8:30 p.m. at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, CA. All award recipients were identified by the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, in conjunction with the Los Angeles chapters of the WPO. The selection criteria included successful operation of a woman-owned or led business that has reached annual revenues of at least $2 million for product-based businesses, or $1 million for service-based businesses. All companies have provided an increase in employment opportunities on a local, regional, and national level and have significantly strengthened the economy. According to Rev. Jewett L Walker Jr, M.Div., President and Chairman of the Board, 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, Inc., "This represents a rare opportunity to bring together some of the brightest and most innovative women business leaders of this generation." "We are very proud to continue our ongoing partnership with 100 Black Men of America to acknowledge a distinguished group of influential women business leaders. Each one is at the peak of her professional achievement, demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities and running multi-million dollar businesses that promote economic security. They also devote their time and energy to improving the quality of life in our local communities. We salute all of this year's award winners as role models for women and girls everywhere," said Marsha Firestone Ph.D., President and Founder of the Women Presidents' Organization. "Since 2007, UPS has partnered with the WPO and 100 Black Men of America to help women entrepreneurs realize their dreams. We salute this year's distinguished Women of Color Achievement Awards honorees and their significant contributions, and stand ready to support the logistical needs of women-owned businesses globally," said La Shawn Stanford, District Community Relations Manager. The following women will be honored: Name Tsan Abrahamson* Dulari Amin* Barbara Bouza* Cheryl Calhoun* Lindsey Carnett* Janice Bryant Howroyd* Greta Hutton* Mandy Li* Martha Montoya Constance Moonzwe* Frances Moreno* Sonya Shelton* Bea Stotzer* Teresa Zobrist* Maria Thompson Alison Jamele Melba Simpson Company Cobalt LLP PHENOMENON Gensler CBIZ, Inc. Marketing Maven Public Relations, Inc. Act 1 Group Knapp, Petersen & Clarke Mandy Li Collection AG Tools, Los Kitos Entertainment LLC, El Mundo Communications ITH Staffing VACO Los Angeles, LLC Executive Leadership Consulting New Capital, LLC Zobrist Consulting Group, Inc. Agile Sourcing Partners, Inc. Mediamation Inc. Simpson & Simpson *WPO Member About 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, Inc. The 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, Inc. (100BMLA) is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 civic and community-based organization that serves as a catalyst for the disadvantaged and underrepresented segments of the community. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for African Americans and other minorities through the enhancement of educational and economic opportunities within the community. The 100BMLA was founded on the precept that we would make a difference in the communities we serve by demonstrating our unconditional support for the enhancement of education for our youth. Among the 100's many accomplishments is the major sponsorship of the Young Black Scholars Program ("YBS"). For more information please visit www.100bmla.net. Like us on Facebook. About the Women Presidents' Organization The WPO is the premier peer advisory organization connecting women who own multi-million dollar companies. In monthly meetings across six continents, chapters of 20 women presidents from diverse industries invest time and energy in themselves and their businesses to drive their corporations to the next level. Local WPO chapters are coordinated by a professional facilitator and meet monthly to share business expertise and experience in a confidential setting. For more information, call 212-688-4114 or visit www.womenpresidentsorg.com. Follow us on Twitter @womenpresidents. Like us on Facebook @TheWPO. Contact: Susan Johnson [email protected] (212) 688-4114 Office (917) 601-5778 Mobile Jewett Walker [email protected] (310) 947-7745 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130423/DC99942LOGO SOURCE Women Presidents' Organization Related Links http://www.womenpresidentsorg.com ZEIST, Netherlands, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Impressive social media response demonstrates demand for values-based causes and society. This October two unlikely but aligned partners came together to build a collaborative movement that celebrated the importance of embracing values in all areas including, wait for it: banking! Headed by the UK Values Alliance and the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, October 20 marked a day of online sharing that highlighted the importance of values in society, the economy and business. Social media impressions exceeded 20 million and are still increasing, demonstrating a growing international appetite to put real needs and human interests at the heart of all that matters. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160725/392614LOGO ) '#BankingOnValues is about Thinking People Before Profit, investing in the real economy, and ensuring banking serves real needs and local communities. It's about encouraging banks to commit their people, capital and resources to create and support positive economic, social and environmental impact. We're collectively asking 'Why isn't all banking done this way?' and we're working through members, partners and policy makers to show how it can be done,' stated Marcos Eguiguren, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Banking on Values. 'This year our #BankingOnValues collaboration with #WorldValuesDay was another significant step in showing how partnerships can bring people and possibilities together to drive positive change.' http://www.gabv.org/the-movement/bankingonvalues Liz Murphy, Founder-member of the UK Values Alliance explained 'The collaboration between World Values Day and #BankingOnValues reinforces that if we are to truly act on our values, we also need to look at the way we spend and invest our money. #WorldValuesDay calls on people to think about their most deeply held values and then to act on them, because putting our values into action changes our lives and also the world we live in for the better. The campaign brought many change makers together in areas such as education, health, business, sport, arts, and banking and finance. We encouraged people to make one different choice, like switching to a Fairtrade product, or to an ethical investment fund. Initiatives led by #WorldValuesDay partners and collaborators is helping to ensure many small actions add up to happier lives and a healthier global society. About the Global Alliance for Banking on Values The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) is a not-for-profit organisation representing an independent network of banks and banking cooperatives with a shared mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social and environmental impact. The GABV comprises 36 financial institutions and four strategic partners from across the world committed to using their people, capital and resources to create positive change in the banking sector by building and empowering a global values-based banking movement.http://www.gabv.org Abut the UK Values Alliance The UK Values Alliance is a collaborative group that promotes values in society. The Alliance formed as a result of a recent UK National Values Survey, which demonstrated a large gap between the personal values of UK residents and the values seen at a national level. A core belief is that by acting together, 'we can make a bigger difference.' The organisation's purpose is to build a better UK society by helping individuals and organisations be more aware of, understand and live their values. http://www.valuesalliance.co.uk ### Media Relations: GABV Linda Ryan, [email protected] T: +1 604 442 3041 #BankingOnValues SOURCE Global Alliance for Banking on Values CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of its 32nd Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards (NAMM TEC Awards), The NAMM Foundation has announced that rocker Joe Perry will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award. The annual award is given on behalf of the Les Paul Foundation and honors individuals that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of recording technology in the spirit of the famed audio pioneer, inventor and musician, Les Paul. The award will be presented at a January 21st ceremony being held in Anaheim, CA as part of The 2017 NAMM Show. Perry, who was included in Rolling Stone's list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time," is also scheduled to perform live before an audience of pro audio and sound production inventors, musicians and industry friends. "Anytime my name is mentioned in the same sentence as Les Paul, it's a huge honor," says Perry. "Getting an award bearing his name is the icing on the cake." A long-standing co-founding member of a group whose music repertoire spans four decades, Perry's versatile musicianship and influence has helped pave the way for a long list of accolades that reach beyond the band's more than 150 million albums sold. In the role of principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and as producer for multiple tracks featured on several notable Aerosmith albums, Perry's talent has helped contribute to the super group's four Grammy Awards, (one of which includes Perry's guitar-based instrumental "Boogie Man"); six Billboard Music Awards; twelve MTV Video Awards; and two People's Choice Awards, to name a few. "Joe Perry was a friend of Les Paul's and is undoubtedly one of the most innovative and talented musicians of our time," says Michael K. Braunstein, Executive Director, Les Paul Foundation. "His ability to push boundaries of the electric guitar with his signature sound and deft playing ability embodies the true spirit of what Les Paul and the award given in his name stands for. The Les Paul Award has been presented at the NAMM TEC Awards to remarkably-distinguished and accomplished individuals from the music industry, including such luminaries as Sir Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townsend, Slash and last year's recipient, Don Was. The Les Paul Foundation could not be more thrilled to be adding Joe Perry to this amazing list." Hollywood also became a part of Perry's musical resume when his familiar riffs were heard on the band's hit song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (from the soundtrack to "Armageddon"), which received an Oscar nomination for Best Song. Among many other TV and film projects, Perry also composed the theme song for the "Spiderman" animated TV series and provided the instrumental music for "This Thing of Ours," starring James Caan. Watch for news related to his upcoming sixth solo album and learn more about Joe Perry here. Along with Perry, famed Aerosmith engineer and producer Jack Douglas, will be inducted into the NAMM TEC Hall of Fame, which was created nearly thirty years ago to honor pioneers of audio technology, as well as the music industry's most accomplished producers and audio technicians. Douglas is associated with many of the band's most iconic releases and affectionately dubbed "the sixth member" of Aerosmith for having contributed lyrics to several tracks released from the band. He also engineered and produced many multi-platinum Aerosmith albums including Toys in the Attic and Rocks, both of which ranked among Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." Douglas rose to prominence when the Record Plant Studio opened its doors and eventually engineered John Lennon's Imagine and the Who's Who's Next EP. The NAMM TEC Awards celebrate the pro audio community by recognizing the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind today's sound recordings, live sound, films, television, and video games. Outstanding Technical Achievement and Outstanding Creative Achievement nominees were announced earlier for the Saturday, January 21 event. Tickets can be purchased on site or in advance here for $50 (General Admission) or $175 (VIP). The show will be hosted by comedian Sinbad and will be available via a live event web stream during The NAMM Show. Access previous TEC Award highlights here. ABOUT THE TEC AWARDS Presented annually by The NAMM Foundation during The NAMM Show, The NAMM TEC Awards recognizes the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games and other media in 23 Technical and 8 Creative Achievement Categories. The Les Paul Award is given at the event in tribute to musical artists and others whose work has exemplified the creative application of audio technology. Through its Hall of Fame, The TEC Awards also honors the pioneers of audio technology and the music industry's most accomplished producers and audio technicians. The NAMM Foundation's TECnology Hall of Fame celebrates innovations and ground breaking technical achievements of the past. For more information, visit www.tecawards.org ABOUT THE LES PAUL FOUNDATION The Les Paul Foundation inspires innovative and creative thinking by sharing the legacy of Les Paul through support of music education, recording, innovation and medical research related to hearing. Determined to perpetuate support to the areas most important to him and on which he spent his life's focus, Les created his foundation. Through his foundation, Les continues to encourage music education and innovations in engineering and medical research, especially as it applies to hearing loss. MEDIA CONTACT: Chalise Zolezzi Director of Public Relations, NAMM M: 760-801-7900 [email protected] SOURCE NAMM Related Links http://www.namm.org HONOLULU, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NYSE:ALEX) ("A&B" or "Company") today announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. "We continued to enjoy solid performance in our Commercial Real Estate segment during the quarter. Our portfolio delivered strong year-over-year growth, with operating profit and net operating income (NOI) up 9.6% and 3.4%1, respectively, compared to last year's third quarter," said Chris Benjamin, A&B president and chief executive officer. "Development & Sales and Materials & Construction both remain significant contributors to overall earnings. We sold a large agricultural parcel on Maui for $9.5 million, a Kahala Avenue lot and several joint venture units. Materials & Construction adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was roughly in line with last year's third quarter, and backlog remains robust at $242.5 million2. Agribusiness operating profit, excluding sugar cessation costs, was a positive $1.9 million in the quarter and has been better than anticipated year to date thanks to a favorable harvest. As a result, we now anticipate that the full-year 2016 pre-tax loss for Agribusiness operations will be closer to the favorable end of the $5-$15 million loss guidance previously provided." "While our financial performance in the quarter was solid, we are most pleased with our strategic progress. Since redoubling our focus on Hawaii in 2012, we've migrated the capital from 17 mainland commercial properties to Hawaii in a tax efficient manner, significantly enhancing the quality and concentration of the portfolio. Over the same period, we've grown the recurring income stream from our commercial portfolio by over 40% and, today, over 85% of portfolio NOI comes from Hawaii compared to 40% at the beginning of 2012. A&B is now the largest owner of grocery-anchored retail properties in the state. With this concentration comes the opportunity to serve our communities and tenants better, and we are leveraging our development expertise in the redevelopment of existing commercial assets, like the Lau Hala Shops in Kailua and the food court at Pearl Highlands Center." "As we strategically grow our commercial portfolio in Hawaii, it's important that we assess the optimal structure for the Company going forward and take a serious look at organizing our Company like other large commercial real estate owner/operators. Over the last several months, management has undertaken a preliminary analysis of the potential for conversion to a real estate investment trust (REIT). Based on the findings of this analysis, our Board has approved an in-depth exploration of a conversion to a REIT, which could greatly enhance A&B's ability to pursue its core strategy of investing in Hawaii assets and communities. In particular, the structure could provide A&B with greater ability to compete on a level playing field with out-of-state investors for Hawaii commercial properties, positioning A&B to increase investment in the state and keep more Hawaii properties in local hands." "As a major developer, quarry operator, infrastructure firm and agricultural enterprise in Hawaii, we also want to ensure that a REIT conversion would not adversely impact these operations. A possible REIT conversion will be evaluated in careful detail before a conclusion about whether or not to convert is reached. In the near term, shareholders can expect to see increased expenses associated with the evaluation, which we will reflect as a separate line item in our income statement." Quarter Highlights & Recent Activity Commercial Real Estate (formerly "Leasing") Operating profit was up 9.6% to $13.7 million and NOI increased by 3.4% to $21.1 million 1 compared to the same period last year. Development & Sales Construction of The Collection remains on schedule for commencement of deliveries in November. Sold a 268-acre agriculture parcel to Maui County for $9.5 million and a lot on Kahala Avenue for $3.0 million . Materials & Construction Backlog remains healthy at $242.5 million 2 . . Operating profit was $5.6 million , which included a $1.6 million noncash write-down of a surplus vacant land parcel held by an unconsolidated joint venture. , which included a noncash write-down of a surplus vacant land parcel held by an unconsolidated joint venture. Adjusted EBITDA was $9.6 million 1 excluding the aforementioned noncash write-down. Agribusiness Final harvest sugar production outlook is toward the higher end of the expected range, facilitating an improvement in operating loss guidance, though operational and weather risks still remain. Diversified agriculture plans continued to advance, including crop and grazing trials, technology research and financial analysis. Expanded grazing lands on Maui based on initial trial results to date. Commencing conversion of 3,700+ acres of additional working lands to improved pasture; some with supplemental irrigation for drought resistance. Financial/Other The board of directors authorized an increase in the quarterly dividend and an in-depth evaluation of a REIT conversion. In August 2016 , borrowed $60 million of secured debt: 13-year term. 3.135% interest rate fixed by an interest rate swap agreement. Increased weighted average maturity to approximately six years with only a negligible increase in the weighted average cost of debt. , borrowed of secured debt: Financial Performance Third Quarter 2016 The Company reported a net loss for the third quarter of 2016 of $1.9 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, which included a $9.6 million after-tax loss from the Agribusiness segment, or $0.20 per diluted share, principally related to the previously disclosed cessation of sugar operations at Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S). Earnings for the third quarter of 2015 were $6.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, and included after-tax losses from the Agribusiness segment of $5.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share. Revenue for the third quarter of 2016 was $138.7 million, compared to revenue of $144.7 million for the third quarter of last year. Revenue declined primarily due to lower development sales revenue. Segment and other results: Commercial Real Estate operating profit increased 9.6% in the third quarter from $12.5 million in 2015 to $13.7 million in 2016, primarily due to improved same store performance. Leasing NOI increased in the third quarter compared to last year by 3.4%1. Portfolio occupancy was lower at 92% compared to 95% in 2015. Hawaii occupancy remained stable at 93%, however, mainland occupancy fell from 96% to 90% due to a large industrial tenant downsizing in July. Development & Sales reported operating profit of $6.6 million in the third quarter of 2016 due primarily to the sale of a 268-acre agricultural parcel to the County of Maui for $9.5 million, and a Kahala lot sale for $3.0 million, but also included joint venture closings of a unit at Kukui'ula and six units at Ka Milo. Operating profit from Development & Sales in the third quarter of 2015 was $11.2 million and primarily included the sale of 11.0 acres at Maui Business Park to Lowe's, and joint venture sales of five units at Kukui'ula and seven units at Ka Milo. The Materials & Construction segment contributed $5.6 million of operating profit in the third quarter of 2016, net of a $1.6 million noncash write-down of a surplus vacant land parcel held by an unconsolidated joint venture, compared to $7.5 million in last year's third quarter. EBITDA for the third quarter, adjusted to exclude the previously described $1.6 million write-down, was $9.6 million1 compared to $10.2 million1 last year. Segment performance for the quarter compared to last year's third quarter was also impacted by lower materials sales and lower paving revenues per ton, but was partially offset by lower quarry costs. Wet weather and delays in notices to proceed affected both periods under comparison. The percentage of rained out crew days in these two quarters were materially higher than the average over the preceding three years. However, additional crews were added midway through the third quarter of 2016, which helped increase tons paved by 18.7% compared to last year. Total Agribusiness operating losses for the third quarter of 2016 were $15.7 million and included $17.6 million of sugar cessation-related expenses. Agribusiness operating profit excluding sugar cessation expenses was $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to a loss of $9.0 million in the third quarter of 2015. The improvement primarily was due to lower sugar production costs, partially offset by lower power margin. As a result of favorable experience so far this year, full-year pre-tax operating losses and cessation costs are expected to be at the favorable end of their previously provided ranges$(5)-$(15) million and $(75)-$(90) million, respectively. Corporate finance and other: Interest expense decreased slightly to $6.4 million for the third quarter of 2016 from $6.5 million for the third quarter of 2015. for the third quarter of 2016 from for the third quarter of 2015. General corporate expenses increased to $5.5 million for the third quarter of 2016 from $4.8 million for the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to increased professional fees and other expenses. for the third quarter of 2016 from for the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to increased professional fees and other expenses. Professional fees and other expenses associated with the evaluation of a potential REIT conversion amounted to $1.9 million for the third quarter of 2016. for the third quarter of 2016. The Company reported an income tax benefit of $2.4 million in the quarter due to a net loss before taxes resulting primarily from Agribusiness losses for the quarter. Year-To-Date The Company reported a net loss for the first nine months of 2016 of $10.1 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, which included a $30.4 million after-tax loss from the Agribusiness segment, or $0.62 per diluted share, principally related to the cessation of sugar operations at HC&S. Earnings for the first nine months of 2015 were $41.8 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, and included after-tax losses from the Agribusiness segment of $7.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share. Revenue for the first nine months of 2016 was $350.2 million compared to revenue of $449.1 million for the first nine months of last year. Revenue declined principally due to lower development sales, and lower paving and asphalt revenue. ALEXANDER & BALDWIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED INDUSTRY SEGMENT DATA, NET INCOME (LOSS) (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts, Unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, Revenue: 3 2016 2015 2016 2015 Real Estate: Commercial Real Estate $ 32.9 $ 33.0 $ 102.3 $ 100.5 Development & Sales 12.8 19.9 74.1 108.8 Reconciling item4 (60.7) (21.0) Materials & Construction 52.1 51.0 144.8 165.3 Agribusiness 40.9 40.8 89.7 95.5 Total revenue $ 138.7 $ 144.7 $ 350.2 $ 449.1 Operating Profit (Loss): Real Estate: Commercial Real Estate $ 13.7 $ 12.5 $ 42.6 $ 39.6 Development & Sales 6.6 11.2 7.8 57.5 Materials & Construction 5.6 7.5 18.5 21.7 Agribusiness: Agribusiness operations 1.9 (9.0) 1.7 (11.8) HC&S cessation costs (17.6) (51.6) Total operating profit 10.2 22.2 19.0 107.0 Interest expense (6.4) (6.5) (20.1) (20.2) General corporate expenses (5.5) (4.8) (16.0) (15.7) REIT evaluation costs (1.9) (3.8) Reduction in solar investments (0.2) (0.1) (9.7) (1.7) Income (loss) before income taxes (3.8) 10.8 (30.6) 69.4 Income tax expense (benefit) (2.4) 3.8 (21.6) 26.4 Net income (loss) (1.4) 7.0 (9.0) 43.0 Income attributable to noncontrolling interest (0.5) (0.3) (1.1) (1.2) Net income (loss) attributable to A&B shareholders $ (1.9) $ 6.7 $ (10.1) $ 41.8 Earnings (Loss) Per Share: 5 Basic - Net income (loss) available to A&B shareholders $ (0.03) $ 0.11 $ (0.19) $ 0.83 Diluted - Net income (loss) available to A&B shareholders $ (0.03) $ 0.11 $ (0.19) $ 0.82 Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding: Basic 49.0 48.9 49.0 48.8 Diluted 49.0 49.4 49.0 49.3 Cash Dividends Per Share $0.06 $0.05 $0.18 $0.15 ALEXANDER & BALDWIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (In Millions, Unaudited) September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 Assets Current assets $ 144.6 $ 152.5 Investments in affiliates 430.8 416.4 Real estate developments 192.6 183.5 Property, net 1,256.1 1,269.4 Intangible assets, net 55.8 54.4 Goodwill 102.3 102.3 Other assets 42.0 63.8 $ 2,224.2 $ 2,242.3 Liabilities & equity Current liabilities $ 181.5 $ 184.7 Long-term debt, non-current portion 523.9 496.6 Deferred income taxes 184.2 202.1 Accrued pension and post-retirement benefits 58.6 59.7 Other non-current liabilities 49.6 60.5 Redeemable noncontrolling interest 11.6 11.6 Equity 1,214.8 1,227.1 $ 2,224.2 $ 2,242.3 ALEXANDER & BALDWIN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW TABLE (In Millions, Unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 Cash flows from operating activities: $ 48.4 $ 115.3 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (105.3) (34.9) Capital expenditures related to 1031 commercial property transactions (6.2) (1.3) Proceeds from disposal of property and other assets 11.4 5.1 Proceeds from disposals related to 1031 commercial property transactions 59.3 25.2 Payments for purchases of investments in affiliates and investments (36.0) (22.5) Proceeds from investments in affiliates 6.0 37.6 Change in restricted cash associated with 1031 transactions 16.2 (2.7) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities $ (54.6) $ 6.5 Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt $ 222.0 $ 71.0 Payments of long-term debt and deferred financing costs (191.1) (182.1) Payments under line-of-credit, net (11.8) (0.4) Dividends paid (8.8) (7.4) Distributions to non-controlling interests (0.5) (1.1) (Tax withholding payments) proceeds from issuance of capital stock and other, net 0.9 (0.5) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $ 10.7 $ (120.5) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $ 4.5 $ 1.3 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 1.3 2.8 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 5.8 $ 4.1 USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES The Company calculates NOI as Commercial Real Estate operating profit from continuing operations, and adjusted for general and administrative expenses, straight-line rental adjustments, interest income, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, and gains on sales of interests in real estate. NOI is considered by management to be an important and appropriate supplemental performance metric because management believes it helps both investors and management understand the ongoing core operations of our properties excluding corporate and financing-related costs and noncash depreciation and amortization. NOI is an unlevered operating performance metric of our properties and allows for a useful comparison of the operating performance of individual assets or groups of assets. This measure thereby provides an operating perspective not immediately apparent from GAAP income (loss) from operations or net income (loss). NOI should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP net income, as an indicator of the Company's financial performance, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of the Company's liquidity. Other real estate companies may use different methodologies for calculating NOI, and accordingly, the Company's presentation of NOI may not be comparable to other real estate companies. The Company believes that the Commercial Real Estate segment's operating profit from continuing operations is the most directly comparable GAAP measurement to NOI. A reconciliation of the Commercial Real Estate segment operating profit to Commercial Real Estate segment NOI is as follows: Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in millions) 2016 2015 Commercial Real Estate segment operating profit $ 13.7 $ 12.5 Adjustments: Depreciation and amortization 7.0 7.4 Straight-line lease adjustments (0.4) (0.8) General, administrative and other expenses 0.8 1.3 Commercial Real Estate segment NOI $ 21.1 $ 20.4 Percent change over prior comparative period 3.4 % The Company presents Adjusted EBITDA for the Materials & Construction segment, which is a non-GAAP measure. The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA when evaluating operating performance for the Materials & Construction segment because management believes that it provides insight into the segment's core operating results, future cash flow generation and the underlying business trends affecting performance on a consistent and comparable basis from period to period. The Company provides this information to investors as an additional means of evaluating the segment's ongoing core operations. The non-GAAP financial information presented herein should be considered supplemental to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that Materials & Construction operating profit is the most directly comparable GAAP measurement to the segment's Adjusted EBITDA. A reconciliation of segment operating profit to Adjusted EBITDA follows: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in millions) 2016 2015 2016 2015 Operating profit $ 5.6 $ 7.5 $ 18.5 $ 21.7 Depreciation & amortization expense 2.9 3.0 8.8 8.8 Income attributable to noncontrolling interest (0.5) (0.3) (1.1) (1.2) Noncash write-down of a surplus vacant land parcel held by an unconsolidated affiliate 1.6 1.6 Adjusted EBITDA $ 9.6 $ 10.2 $ 27.8 $ 29.3 Percent change over comparative period (5.9)% (5.1)% __________________________________________ 1 This is a non-GAAP disclosure. See above for a discussion of management's use of non-GAAP financial measures and required reconciliations from GAAP to non-GAAP measures. 2 Backlog represents the amount of revenue that the Grace Pacific and Maui Paving, LLC, a 50-percent-owned unconsolidated affiliate, expect to realize on contracts awarded or government contracts in which Grace Pacific has been confirmed to be the lowest bidder and formal communication of the award is perfunctory. Backlog primarily consists of asphalt paving and, to a lesser extent, Grace's consolidated revenue from its construction- and traffic-control-related products. Backlog includes estimated revenue from the remaining portion of contracts not yet completed, as well as revenue from approved change orders. The length of time that projects remain in backlog can span from a few days for a small volume of work to 36 months for large paving contracts and contracts performed in phases. Maui Paving's backlog at September 30, 2016 and 2015 was $19.1 million and $18.9 million, respectively. 3 Inter-segment revenue during the each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were immaterial. 4 Represents commercial property sales that are classified as "Gain on sale of improved property" in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, but reflected as revenue for segment reporting purposes. 5 Earnings per share available to A&B shareholders reflect $0.4 million of undistributed earnings allocated from redeemable noncontrolling interests for the third quarter of 2016 and $0.9 million for the first nine months of 2016. Undistributed losses allocated from redeemable noncontrolling interests for each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015, amounted to $1.3 million. ABOUT ALEXANDER & BALDWIN Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. is a Hawaii-based public company, with interests in commercial real estate, real estate development, agriculture, materials and infrastructure construction. With ownership of 87,500 acres in Hawaii, A&B is the state's fourth largest private landowner, and one of the state's most active real estate investors. The Company manages a portfolio comprising 4.7 million square feet of leasable space in Hawaii and on the U.S. Mainland and is the largest owner of grocery-anchored retail assets in the state. A&B is also Hawaii's largest materials company and paving contractor. Additional information about A&B may be found at www.alexanderbaldwin.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including potential benefits, consequences and impact of a potential REIT conversion, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This release should be read in conjunction with pages 17-29 of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.'s 2015 Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC through the date of this release, which identify important factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this release. We do not undertake any obligation to update our forward-looking statements. Contact: Suzy Hollinger 808.525.8422 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120801/LA50085LOGO SOURCE Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. Related Links http://www.alexanderbaldwin.com HONOLULU, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NYSE:ALEX) will host an Investor Day on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time at The Benjamin Hotel in New York City. The Investor Day will include a discussion about A&B's strategic direction. Company participants will be Chris Benjamin, president and chief executive officer, Paul Ito, senior vice president and chief financial officer, and Lance Parker, A&B Properties' president, as well as additional members of the Company's management team. The event will be live webcast in listen-only mode and may be accessed on A&B's website at www.alexanderbaldwin.com. Presentation slides will be available for download on the home page and in the investor relations events section of the website at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on November 2nd. A replay of the event will be available on A&B's website following the conclusion of the meeting for a period of one year. ABOUT ALEXANDER & BALDWIN Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. is a Hawaii-based public company, with interests in commercial real estate, real estate development, agriculture, materials and infrastructure construction. With ownership of 87,500 acres in Hawaii, A&B is the state's fourth largest private landowner, and one of the state's most active real estate investors. The Company manages a portfolio comprising 4.7 million square feet of leasable space in Hawaii and on the U.S. Mainland and is the largest owner of grocery-anchored retail assets in the state. A&B is also Hawaii's largest materials company and paving contractor. Additional information about A&B may be found at www.alexanderbaldwin.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This release should be read in conjunction with pages 17-29 of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.'s 2015 Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC through the date of this release, which identify important factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this release. We do not undertake any obligation to update our forward-looking statements. Contact: Suzy Hollinger 808.525.8443 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120801/LA50085LOGO SOURCE Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. Related Links http://www.alexanderbaldwin.com In the Phase 2b study, relamorelin administered for 12 weeks demonstrated substantial efficacy for the key diabetic gastroparesis symptoms of nausea, post-prandial fullness, abdominal pain and bloating (measured both individually and as a composite endpoint), along with a potent prokinetic effect on gastric motility. Patients receiving relamorelin also experienced an approximately 75 percent reduction in vomiting frequency across all doses compared to baseline (the primary endpoint), similar to the effect seen in the Phase 2a trial. However, an unusually high placebo response for vomiting frequency, extending well beyond that expected from previous studies, limited the ability to demonstrate treatment efficacy on the vomiting frequency endpoint. "The clinical results with relamorelin in this Phase 2b trial in diabetic gastroparesis are very encouraging. Based on these results and the results observed in the earlier phase 2a trial, Allergan has exercised its option to acquire Motus Therapeutics and intends to initiate Phase 3 clinical trials of relamorelin," said David Nicholson, Executive Vice President of Global Research and Development for Allergan. "We very much look forward to sharing this phase 2b data with the US Food and Drug Administration and to discussing our plans to conduct Phase 3 trials." The Phase 2b trial was designed to evaluate the effect of relamorelin on the key signs and symptoms of gastroparesis identified in the draft FDA guidance for gastroparesis, as well as gastric emptying and safety in patients with moderate to severe diabetic gastroparesis and with symptoms of vomiting at baseline. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the safety and efficacy of dosing regimens ranging from 10 to 100 mcg administered twice daily over three months. The trial enrolled 393 patients with diabetic gastroparesis at clinical sites in the U.S. and Europe. "Patients with diabetic gastroparesis suffer greatly and have very limited treatment options," said Michael Camilleri, MD, gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic who was an advisor on the design and interpretation of the study. "The findings in this trial support initiating Phase 3 clinical trials to confirm these Phase 2b results with relamorelin for the treatment of moderate to severe diabetic gastroparesis." "There has not been a drug approved for gastroparesis by the FDA since 1983. Relamorelin may offer a much needed opportunity for patients with diabetic gastroparesis to have symptom relief and improved quality of life, said Richard McCallum, MD, of Texas Tech University." It is particularly impressive that relamorelin can be delivered through SC injections because these patients are not able to absorb medications once they start vomiting. Relamorelin may be a major advance in the armamentarium of physicians who manage diabetic gastroparesis." Overall, relamorelin was safe and well-tolerated in the phase 2b study with high compliance and completion rates over the course of the study. There was some evidence of dose-related adverse events related to worsening of glycemic control in some patients. Motus Therapeutics previously completed a successful 4-week Phase 2 clinical trial of relamorelin in diabetic gastroparesis, in which patients treated with relamorelin 10 mcg twice daily demonstrated statistically significant improvements in gastric emptying and vomiting frequency and in a pre-specified subgroup also showed statistically significant improvements in the other symptoms of gastroparesis. "We are very excited that Allergan has exercised its option to acquire Motus and that relamorelin will now advance into Phase 3 trials," said Bart Henderson, President and Founder of Rhythm Holding. "Relamorelin has enormous potential to improve the lives of patients with GI functional disorders, and Allergan has the skill and resources to develop and commercialize this promising drug to its fullest potential." "The need for better treatments for diabetic gastroparesis is urgent," said Keith Gottesdiener, MD, CEO of Rhythm Holding. "This is a devastating condition that affects several million people in the U.S., with only one drug approved by the FDA in the past 30 years. In this clinical trial, relamorelin improves gastric function, and shows substantial efficacy for the debilitating symptoms of DG. We thank everyone who has participated in this clinical trial. And we thank Allergan for joining with us to help advance this potentially breakthrough treatment for patients who may benefit from it." Rhythm Holding and Allergan plan to submit the data for presentation at a major gastrointestinal medical conference in 2017. About the Acquisition As a result of exercising its option to acquire Motus Therapeutics, Allergan will pay the exercise price of $200 million at closing to Rhythm Holding. In addition, Rhythm Holding will be eligible for a contingent payment upon first commercial sale of relamorelin. Allergan previously made $47 million in payments related to the option-to-acquire Motus and the relamorelin Phase 2b clinical trial. Completion of Allergan's acquisition of Motus Therapeutics is expected to occur by the end of 2016 subject to customary closing conditions. About Relamorelin (RM-131) Relamorelin is a potent ghrelin agonist in development for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. Derived from the natural ghrelin sequence, relamorelin has been optimized to stimulate gastrointestinal (GI) motility, with greater potency and enhanced stability and pharmacokinetics. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track review status to relamorelin for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. About Diabetic Gastroparesis Diabetic gastroparesis is a disorder in which there is a substantial delay in stomach emptying with characteristic symptoms of vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, early satiety, and bloating. Moderate to severe diabetic gastroparesis results in significant debility and hospitalizations and can interfere with nutrition and the absorption of medications. Gastroparesis affects between 11 and 21 percent of the 29 million diabetics in the U.S; an estimated 2.3 million type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients with moderate or severe gastroparesis symptoms are seeking treatment. Available therapies to treat this disorder are limited and exhibit significant side effects. No new therapies have been approved in the U.S. for the treatment of gastroparesis in more than 30 years. About Allergan plc Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model - Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceuticals, devices and biologic products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health, urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories. Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, the Company's R&D model, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. This approach has led to Allergan building one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry with 65+ mid-to-late stage pipeline programs in development. Our Company's success is powered by our more than 16,000 global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what is right. With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives. For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com. About Motus and Rhythm Holding Motus ( www.motustx.com ) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing peptide therapeutics for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Motus, formerly Rhythm Health, Inc., is a subsidiary of Rhythm Holding Company, LLC. Motus is developing the ghrelin peptide agonist, relamorelin (RM-131. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.rhythmtx.com) is another subsidiary of Rhythm Holding Company, LLC, focusing on developing peptide therapeutics for the treatment of rare genetic deficiencies that result in life-threatening metabolic disorders. Rhythm's lead peptide product candidate is setmelanotide, a first-in-class melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) agonist for the treatment of rare genetic disorders of obesity. The companies are based in Boston, Massachusetts. Forward-Looking Statement Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, successful consummation and integration of the acquisition of Motus Therapeutics and the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Motus Therapeutics; the anticipated size of the markets and anticipated demand for Motus Therapeutics' products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the inherent uncertainty associated with financial projections; periodic dependence on a small number of products for a significant source of net revenue or income; variability of trade-buying patterns; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; the risks and uncertainties normally incident to the pharmaceutical industry; risks that the carrying values of assets may be negatively impacted by future events and circumstances; the timing and success of product launches; the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of product development efforts and regulatory agency approvals or actions, if any; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's and Motus Therapeutics' products; costs and efforts to defend or enforce intellectual property rights; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; the availability and pricing of third party sourced products and materials; successful compliance with governmental regulations applicable to Allergan's and Motus Therapeutics' facilities, products and/or businesses; changes in the laws and regulations affecting, among other things, pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 (certain of such periodic public filings having been filed under the "Actavis plc" name). Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. CONTACTS: Allergan Rhythm & Motus Investors: Lisa DeFrancesco (862) 261-7152 Bart Henderson President & Founder (857) 264-4281 Media: Mark Marmur (973) 906-1526 Adam Daley Berry & Co. (212) 253-8881 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/433041LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150612/222796LOGO SOURCE Allergan plc Related Links http://www.allergan.com SOUTH BEND, Ind., Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AM General today announced that General (Ret.) Jack Keane has joined the company as its Executive Chairman. General Keane is widely recognized as one of America's most insightful and trusted thought leaders on national security issues. In his new role, General Keane will work closely with AM General's President and CEO, Andy Hove, and AM General's parent corporation, MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated, to provide strategic oversight and counsel on the company's strategic growth initiatives. "AM General has been the military's most trusted partner for over 30 years, delivering innovative, reliable and affordable vehicle solutions," said General Keane. "This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining AM General, as the company has experienced tremendous growth and success over the last year by strengthening its core business here at home and abroad. There is tremendous demand and momentum building for a modernized HMMWV fleet, as well as other types of vehicles and services only AM General can provide. These are exciting times for AM General with great opportunities ahead and I look forward to working with the entire AM General team." AM General President and CEO, Andy Hove noted, "General Keane's extensive knowledge of global security issues, corporate governance and his renowned leadership acumen will be invaluable to the company as we continue our unyielding focus on providing our customers the most advanced and affordable vehicle solutions today and for decades to come. As the U.S. Army continues to adapt to an ever-changing future, we are pleased to welcome such a respected voice to our company's leadership team. We are honored to partner with General Keane." General Keane, a four star general, completed more than 37 years of service, culminating in his appointment as Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army, a position he held from 1999-2003. In addition, General Keane has worked with and served on the boards of several companies in the private sector including defense and national security related organizations. General Keane graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Science degree and received a Master of Arts from Western Kentucky University. He is a graduate of the Army War College and the Command and General Staff College. About AM General AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. Through its military business, the company is widely recognized as the world leader in design, engineer, manufacture and support of Light Tactical Vehicles, having produced and sustained more than 300,000 vehicles in over 60 countries. Its growing Commercial business includes its wholly owned subsidiary, Mobility Ventures, designer and manufacturer of the acclaimed MV-1, the only American made vehicle specifically engineered from the ground up in support of wheelchair users and people with disabilities. AM General is also proud to have been selected by Mercedes-Benz to be its only contract manufacturer in the United States, producing the R-Class vehicle in Mishawaka, Ind. Additionally, the company was selected by the U.S. Postal Service to develop and test advanced automotive technologies for use in the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle program. AM General has more than five decades of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com. Media Contact: Jeff Adams Global Communications & Marketing / AM General Phone: 703-347-2276 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE AM General Related Links http://www.amgeneral.com HUTCHINSON, Kan., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Center Inc. (DCI), the privately-owned developer of iCore360 core banking software and related technologies, announced that prominent client banker and company board member Keith Hughes, CEO of First National Bank of Hutchinson, Kan., has been appointed to serve on the American Bankers Association (ABA) Community Bankers Council. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/432858 Mr. Hughes also serves on the Kansas Bankers Association board of directors and Federal Affairs Committee, and is credited with building one of the region's foremost correspondent banking operations as part of his 36-year banking career before being named First National Bank's CEO in 2010. Hughes was elected to join seven other DCI client bankers on the fintech company's board of directors in 2015. Said Hughes, "Helping community banks thrive has always been important to me, and this appointment to the ABA council is another great opportunity to advocate on their behalf." First National Bank is one of the founding private shareholders of DCI and has assets in excess of $650 million, 9 locations and over $1 billion under management including the largest Farm Management organization in the state of Kansas, managing over 250,000 acres. John Jones, DCI president and CEO, commented, "It is great to know that the ABA will benefit from the same great insight, integrity and advocacy for community bankers that Keith brings to all our DCI bank clients." Established in 1981, the ABA Community Bankers Council is comprised of community bank presidents and CEOs that are appointed by the ABA chairman and convene twice a year in Washington, D.C., to address the current opportunities and challenges facing community banks across the country. Council members are frequently called upon to promote the positive aspects of community banking on Capitol Hill, appearing in media interviews and serving as sources for the industry's responses to government regulations and rules. Earlier this week DCI announced that another prominent DCI client and board member, Jeffrey Ball, President and CEO of Friendly Hills Bank in Whittier, Calif., was also recently elected to the ABA Board of Directors and as chairman of the ABA Government Relations Council. About DCI DCI is the developer of the award-winning iCore360 core banking software and related technologies for community banks nationwide. DCI is privately owned by a group of bank clients, with several clients serving as board members and user group leaders. In addition to iCore360 (available hosted or in-house), DCI offers integrated solutions for Internet and mobile banking, private ATM network and card management, teller automation, remote capture, custom analysis, risk/vendor management, managed IT and more. Among other awards, DCI has been named a 2016 IDC FinTech Top 100 Technology Provider, a 2015 FinTech Forward Top 100 provider by American Banker and BAI, a three-time winner of the BankNews Innovative Solutions Award and the exclusive core processing solution endorsed by the California Bankers Association. For more information about DCI, visit www.datacenterinc.com or contact [email protected]. Contact: Mark Harris, VP, Marketing (620) 694-6771 SOURCE Data Center Inc. Related Links http://www.datacenterinc.com James (Jim) Yee, executive vice president and chief information and operations officer, has announced his plans to retire in the second quarter of 2017. Yee, who joined Associated in 2012, had a successful career in information technology and back office operations in the financial services industry spanning four decades. He played an integral role in aligning operations with the company's market opportunities during his tenure on Associated's executive committee. "Under Jim's guidance, we have invested in technology and reengineered processes to improve efficiencies and ensure we are well positioned to manage the increasing complexities of our business," said Philip B. Flynn, Associated president and CEO. "Jim has been an integral part of the Associated team and we thank him for his lasting contributions." In anticipation of Yee's retirement and succession, the company also announced that James (Jim) Payne has accepted the position of executive vice president and deputy chief information and operations officer effective October 25, 2016. He will report to Yee and serve as a member of the executive committee. Payne joined Associated in 2015 as executive vice president and chief technology officer. He has more than 30 years' of operations and technology experience, including 18 years within the financial services industry. ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $29 billion and is one of the top 50 publicly traded U.S. bank holding companies. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from over 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, and commercial financial services in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com. Contact: Jennifer Kaminski Vice President | Public Relations Manager 920-491-7576 [email protected] Photo- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/432931 Photo- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/432930 SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp Related Links http://www.associatedbank.com PLANO, Texas, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- At Home, the home decor superstore, announces the opening of the Albany, N.Y., location on Thursday, October 27. The more-than 82,000 square-foot store, located at 161 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany, N.Y., marks the first store in New York for the big-box specialty retailer of home decor products. Following the store opening, the Albany location will host a grand opening ribbon-cutting Friday, November 4, at 9 a.m. with the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce. At Home will offer mystery gift cards to customers who visit the store Saturday, November 5 beginning at 9 a.m. With the holiday season is just around the corner, At Home helps customers get their homes ready for the winter season with home decor, furniture and more. At Home allows customers to express their personal style with any budget by choosing from an expansive selection of more than 50,000 itemsincluding wall art and decorative accents, rugs, housewares, patio furniture, home furnishings, seasonal and holiday decor. Employing an everyday low pricing model, At Home is dedicated to allowing customers to affordably make their house into a home. This new location brings 25 jobs to Albany and surrounding communities. One other New York At Home store can be found in Syracuse. ABOUT AT HOME: At Home, the home decor superstore, is focused on providing customers with the broadest assortment of home decor products to suit any style, at any budget, for any reason to redecorate. With a wide assortment of 50,000 items throughout our stores, At Home enables customers to express themselves and create a home that reflects their personality and style, in ways big and small. At Home is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and currently operates 115 stores in 29 states. For more information, visit the company on http://www.athome.com or find us on Facebook (AtHomeStores), Instagram (AtHomeStores) or Pinterest (AtHomeStores). Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150904/263908LOGO SOURCE At Home Group Inc. Related Links http://www.athome.com Rio Tinto chief vows to continue cutting costs Updated: 2016-10-27 07:19 By Yang Ziman(China Daily) A mineworker looks at a train loader at the Rio Tinto West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara, northwest of Perth, Australia. [Photo provided to China Daily] Rio Tinto will continue to reduce its production costs as an oversupply in iron ore is expected to last for seven to 10 years, said Jean-Sebastien Jacques, chief executive officer of the company. "Rio Tito's strategy has not changed, which is to keep our iron ore products at very low cost so that whatever the condition is, we will remain profitable," Jacques told China Daily in a group interview on Tuesday. Jacques, who took the helm at Rio Tinto in July, said that the company has removed $6 billion of costs from its system since 2012. The iron ore spot price was around $58 per metric ton in mid October, compared with $184 per ton in January 2011. Jean-Sebastien Jacques, CEO of Rio Tinto. [Photo/Agencies] The company's iron ore sales volume in the third quarter fell by 5 percent year-on-year to 80.9 million tons, compared with the forecast 83.5 million tons. Its output increased 2 percent year-on-year to 83.2 million tons. The company forecasts total annual iron ore output of between 325 and 330 million tons. Jacques said that he is "cautiously optimistic" about the prospects for the Chinese economy. "China is very important for Rio Tinto as our largest customer in iron ore and our largest shareholderChalco (Aluminum Corp of China Ltd) holds around 10 percent of Rio Tinto's shares," he said. Wang Liqun, vice-president of the China Iron & Steel Association, said earlier that 86.7 percent of the country's iron ore was imported in the first two months of this year, compared with 64 percent in 2010. "Three years ago, China's annual iron ore output was 400 million tons. This year, production is expected to be 230 to 250 million tons. The difference of 150 million tons must be reached by imports from Australia and other places," said Jacques. PLANO, Texas, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- At Home, the home decor superstore, announces the opening of the Syracuse, N.Y., location on Thursday, October 27. The 88,000 square-foot store, located at 9090 Destiny USA Drive, Syracuse, N.Y., marks the second store in New York for the big-box specialty retailer of home decor products. Following the store opening, the Syracuse location will host a grand opening ribbon-cutting Friday, November 4, at 9 a.m. with the CenterState CEO Chamber of Commerce. At Home will offer mystery gift cards to customers who visit the store Saturday, November 5 beginning at 9 a.m. With the winter season just around the corner, At Home is helping customers get ready to celebrate the holidays with an expansive collection of seasonal decor. At Home allows customers to express their personal style with any budget by choosing from an expansive selection of more than 50,000 itemsincluding wall art and decorative accents, rugs, housewares, patio furniture, home furnishings, seasonal and holiday decor. Employing an everyday low pricing model, At Home is dedicated to allowing customers to affordably make their house into a home. This new location brings 25 jobs to Syracuse and surrounding communities. One other New York At Home store can be found in Albany. ABOUT AT HOME: At Home, the home decor superstore, is focused on providing customers with the broadest assortment of home decor products to suit any style, at any budget, for any reason to redecorate. With a wide assortment of 50,000 items throughout our stores, At Home enables customers to express themselves and create a home that reflects their personality and style, in ways big and small. At Home is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and currently operates 115 stores in 29 states. For more information, visit the company on http://www.athome.com or find us on Facebook (AtHomeStores), Instagram (AtHomeStores) or Pinterest (AtHomeStores). Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150904/263908LOGO SOURCE At Home Group Inc. Related Links http://www.athome.com HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kriser's Natural Pet, a multi-unit retailer specializing in natural pet food, supplies and grooming, debuts its latest location in Houston's River Oaks community with a Grand Opening celebration on November 12-13. Kriser's will be the first tenant in a building redevelopment at 1515 W. Gray St., just east of Dunlavy. Kriser's brings its trademark educated staff and warm, welcoming shopping experience to this latest River Oaks location. The Kriser's Pack invites neighborhood pet parents to join its mission of helping pets live happier, healthier lives naturally, with a carefully curated selection of natural food, treats, toys, supplements, supplies and grooming services. "River Oaks is a phenomenal community in which to continue our mission of helping pets live happier, healthier lives, naturally," said Brad Kriser, founder and CEO. "Our expansion into Houston in the last few years has been met with a remarkably positive reaction from the community, and we can't wait to engage with even more pets and pet parents as a trusted resource for education, products and grooming." This opening marks the 42nd store for Kriser's Natural Pet, which has been recognized with multiple national honors for its excellence in the pet industry, including the Best Overall Pet Retailer at the 2015 Global Pet Expo, as well as Houston Pet Talk Henrietta Award and A-List honors more locally. Kriser's will offer a number of activities and promotions throughout the Grand Opening weekend: Free pet nail trimming (Saturday & Sunday, 10am-4pm ) ) Free pet ID tags (Saturday & Sunday, 10am-4pm ) ) Free poop bag holders (Saturday, while supplies last) Free can lids (Sunday, while supplies last) Free freezer bags (while supplies last) In-store raffles for store and grooming gift certificates and merchandise Shopping sprees both Saturday and Sunday, whereby one of the first people in line each day at 10 a.m. will win an on-the-spot shopping spree A few weeks after the Grand Opening, Kriser's will host another event on December 11th with free photography, goodie bags for the first 50 pets and more raffles and prizes. For store events, hours and details, visit http://www.krisers.com. ABOUT KRISER'S NATURAL PET Kriser's, often referred to by its customers as the "Whole Foods for pets," is a multi-unit pet retailer specializing in natural pet food, supplies and grooming. Founded by lifelong pet owner and healthy pet advocate Brad Kriser, the company has locations in four regions Chicagoland, Denver/Fort Collins, CO, Southern California, Texas (Houston, Austin & San Antonio) and recently announced an acquisition to extend its reach to D.C. and Northern Virginia. The stores are all based on a model of educating consumers and providing an unparalleled shopping experience in a clean and inviting store area. All products sold in Kriser's stores are carefully selected by Brad and his team, and endorsed as "Kriser's Approved" only after extensive review. In addition to carrying a large variety of natural food and treats brands, which have no corn, soy or by-products, Kriser's also offers grooming services and a wide selection of toys and supplies. At the forefront of the natural segment of the flourishing pet industry, Kriser's has grown steadily with an unwavering commitment to pets. In addition to its 2014-2015 Retailer of the Year Award from Pet Product News International and finalist spot in Pet Age's Business of the Year Awards in the Natural Products category, Kriser's also received the Best Overall Multi-Unit Pet Retailer at the 2013 and 2015 Global Pet Expos. For more information, please visit www.krisers.com. SOURCE Kriser's Natural Pet Related Links http://www.krisers.com BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bitfinex, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, announced today that many of its largest BFX token holders have agreed to exchange over 20 million BFX tokens for equity in Bitfinex. The equity consists of shares of Bitfinex's owner, iFinex Inc. The exchange comes in the wake of a serious security breach against the company and its customers, in which Bitfinex discovered the theft of approximately 119,756 bitcoins valued at more than $70 million. "Since the theft more than two months ago, our primary objective has been to make our customers whole," said Philip Potter, Chief Strategy Officer at Bitfinex. "This is a significant step towards the recovery and stabilization of our company. We are very pleased with this highly favorable trend of conversions." Daily trading and deposits on the Bitfinex exchange is also on the rise, yielding more volume and fees for the firm. The Recovery Plan Following the theft on August 2, 2016, management halted all trading, deposits, and withdrawals on its platform, assessed the damage, and finalized the accounting of losses. The company then generalized the losses across all accounts according to what was expected to transpire in a liquidation context. In place of the losses, Bitfinex credited tokens labeled "BFXs" to customer accounts to record each customer's dollarized loss. The tokens are contingent on the recovery of the stolen property, and remain outstanding, pending redemption for $1 per token by the company or pending exchange for shares of the capital stock of iFinex. On September 2 and 30, 2016, the company announced the unilateral redemption of 1.1812% and 1.3152% of outstanding BFX tokens, respectively. Redemptions were applied pro rata to all settled wallet balances. The company also assisted in developing two opportunities for customers to exchange their BFX tokens for capital stock of iFinex. First, management collaborated with Simon Dixon and Bnk To The Future to create a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that enabled qualified Bitfinex users to exchange their BFX tokens for beneficial interests in iFinex, at a value of $1 USD per BFX token. The company also worked with Monaco-based entrepreneur Alistair Milne to allow certain verified, non-U.S. Bitfinex users to convert BFX tokens to equity through a newly created BFX Trust. Since the creation of those two vehicles, a significant number of large Bitfinex token holders has elected to convert tokens into shares. Through the month of October, in excess of 20 million BFX tokens have been exchanged for shares of iFinex; all tokens exchanged for shares have been destroyed by Bitfinex. As of 12 o'clock noon EDT on October 10, 2016, a total of 48,205,714 BFX tokens were issued and outstanding. Special Recovery Tokens As a further reward for BFX token holders converting to equity, Bitfinex created a tradable Recovery Right Token (RRT) to compensate victims. In the event of any recovery of the bitcoins stolen from Bitfinex, the first priority will be to use any recovery amounts to repay the then-outstanding or unconverted BFX tokens. If there are any excess recovered amounts after all outstanding BFX tokens have been redeemed at full face value, the recovered funds will be distributed to RRT holders. Management laid out a subscription schedule that rewards those who committed to conversion early. Subscriptions received on or before October 7, 2016 were provided with one RRT for each BFX token converted into shares of iFinex. Those subscribing on or after October 8, 2016 but before November 1, 2016 will be entitled to one-half an RRT for each BFX token converted into shares. Subscriptions received after October 31, 2016 up to and including November 30, 2016 will receive one-quarter of an RRT per BFX token converted to shares. After November 30, 2016, no further RRTs will be offered. "We are thrilled to welcome our new shareholders to the Bitfinex community of interest," Potter said. "It is our intention to continue to build customer confidence, enhance our new security protocols, and make Bitfinex a strong investment option for our shareholder-partners." SOURCE Bitfinex Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, D.A. Gonyea Branch Boys & Girls Clubs of King County Southwest Branch Southwest Branch Boys & Girls Clubs of King County Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club "After-school hours are a critical time for the health and wellness of our nation's kids and teens," said Daryl Edmonds, president of Amerigroup Washington. "With Washington youth back to school, we are committed to helping fill their open afternoons and weekends with constructive games and fun activities that will help build lifelong healthy habits." As Boys & Girls Clubs of America's proven health and wellness program, Triple Play is a game plan for the mind, body and soul. Supported by founding sponsor The Coca-Cola Company and co-sponsor, Amerigroup Foundation, the program's three components encourage Club members to eat healthier (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul). "Year after year we experience tremendous adoption of our Triple Play programs, and thanks to continued support from our partner Amerigroup Foundation we are able to bring Triple Play to even more Clubs across the country," said Dr. Jennifer Bateman, national vice president for programs, training and youth development with BGCA. "The new grants in Washington will create a healthy environment where our youth can thrive, and the funds will have a lasting impact on the kids and teens served by these Clubs." Amerigroup Foundation is committed to improving health and strengthening Washington communities. Through its Healthy Generations grant program, Amerigroup Foundation works to identify the issues most in need of attention and then directs its financial support and volunteer efforts toward improving health in those areas. Promoting youth health and active lifestyles is an ongoing focus of the foundation. The Triple Play grants announced today are part of a five-year, $10 million commitment from Amerigroup Foundation's parent company foundation to BGCA to promote healthy lifestyles. About Boys & Girls Clubs of America For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter. About the Amerigroup Foundation The Amerigroup Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Amerigroup, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anthem, Inc. Together, with local, regional and national organizations, the Amerigroup Foundation works to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Amerigroup and its affiliated health plans serve. Amerigroup Foundation funding is focused on strategic initiatives working to address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative with five areas of focus: Healthy Heart, Cancer Prevention, Healthy Maternal Practices, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, and Healthy Active Lifestyle. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about the Amerigroup Foundation, please visit www.anthem.foundation. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130710/MM44829-b SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America Related Links http://www.bgca.org "In California we review statistics to assist in focusing our regulatory and enforcement efforts," said DIR Director Christine Baker. "This preliminary data along with the case and demographic statistics to be published next month will help us refine and strengthen workplace safety and health regulations, training materials, and outreach and education efforts for employers and workers." The estimates show there were approximately 470,600 nonfatal reportable job related injuries and illnesses in 2015, with 77% occurring in private industry and 23% in state and local government sectors. The total numbers of injuries and illnesses increased slightly year to year, which correlates to an uptick in the state's employed labor force from 17.4 million in 2014 to 17.8 million in 2015. The statewide all-industry rate of "lost time" cases, (referred to in the survey as "days away from work, job transfer, or restriction" (DART) cases) remained constant at 2.2 cases per 100 full time workers over the last three years surveyed, while the rate of days away from work cases (DAFW) has remained unchanged for the last seven years. By industry in 2015, the days away from work (DAFW) rate in the Construction industry improved 23%, from 1.8 to 1.4 cases per 100 workers, while the Administrative Support and Waste Management sector's rate improved 36% from 1.4 to 0.9 cases per 100 full time workers. The days away from work rate in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector increased from 1.2 to 1.3 cases per 100, and the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector's rate increased from 1.5 to 1.6 cases per 100 full time employees. Estimates for the California Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses are derived from a statistical sample of 16,000 employers in the state. The SOII program is administered by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in cooperation with participating state agencies. Under the OSHA Recordkeeping regulation (29 CFR 1904), covered employers are required to prepare and maintain records of serious occupational injuries and illnesses, using the OSHA 300 Log. Additional background and methodological information regarding the BLS occupational safety and health statistics program can be found in Chapter 9 of the BLS Handbook of Methods. Employment data are annual averages from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. DIR protects and improves the health, safety and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. Its' Division of Occupational Safety and Health, commonly known as Cal/OSHA, helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA does not have authority when injuries occur on public roadways. Cal/OSHA's Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services. Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR's Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers' Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices. Members of the press may contact Erika Monterroza or Peter Melton at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR's press releases or other departmental updates. Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Email The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR's Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433382 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433381 SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations Related Links http://www.dir.ca.gov/ MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Camtek Ltd. (Nasdaq: CAMT; TASE: CAMT) announced that it will release its financial results for the third quarter of 2016 before the NASDAQ market opens on Monday, November 7, 2016. The Company will also host a conference call on the same day at 9:30 am ET. Rafi Amit, Chief Executive Officer and Moshe Eisenberg, Chief Financial Officer, will host the call and will be available to answer questions after presenting the results. To participate, please call one of the following telephone numbers a few minutes before the start of the call: US: +1-888-668-9141 at 9:30 am Eastern Time Israel: 03-918-0610 at 4:30 pm Israel Time International: +972-3-918-0610 For those unable to participate, the teleconference will be available for replay on Camtek's website at http://www.camtek.com beginning 24 hours after the call. ABOUT CAMTEK LTD. Camtek Ltd. provides automated and technologically advanced solutions dedicated to enhancing production processes, increasing products yield and reliability, enabling and supporting customers' latest technologies in the Semiconductors, Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and IC Substrates industries. Camtek addresses the specific needs of these interconnected industries with dedicated solutions based on a wide and advanced platform of technologies including intelligent imaging, image processing and functional 3D inkjet printing. This press release is available at http://www.camtek.com . This press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future performance of the Company. These statements are only predictions and may change as time passes. We do not assume any obligation to update that information. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected, including as a result of changing industry and market trends, reduced demand for our products, the timely development of our new products and their adoption by the market, increased competition in the industry, intellectual property litigation, price reductions as well as due to risks identified in the documents filed by the Company with the SEC. CAMTEK LTD. Moshe Eisenberg, CFO Tel: +972-4-604-8308 Mobile: +972-54-900-7100 [email protected] INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR RELATIONS GK Investor & Public Relations Ehud Helft / Gavriel Frohwein Tel: (US) +1-646-688-3559 [email protected] SOURCE Camtek Ltd HOUSTON, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, CenterPoint Energy, Inc.'s (NYSE:CNP) Board of Directors appointed John W. Somerhalder II as a director. Somerhalder is expected to stand for election at the company's annual meeting in April 2017. Prior to retiring in 2015 from AGL Resources Inc., a former publicly traded energy services holding company, which was acquired by Southern Company, whose principal business is the distribution of natural gas, he served as chairman, president and chief executive officer. He also served in a number of roles with El Paso Corporation, including as executive vice president. He currently serves as a director of Crestwood Equity GP LLC, the general partner of Crestwood Equity Partners LP. Somerhalder joins current board members Milton Carroll (executive chairman), Michael P. Johnson, Janiece M. Longoria, Scott J. McLean, Theodore F. Pound, Scott M. Prochazka, Susan O. Rheney, Phillip R. Smith and Peter S. Wareing. CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and competitive natural gas sales and services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. The company also owns a 55.4 percent limited partner interest in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp., which owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With more than 7,400 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 140 years. For more information, visit the website at www.CenterPointEnergy.com. For more information contact Media: Leticia Lowe Phone 713.207.7702 Investors: David Mordy Phone 713.207.6500 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20020930/CNPLOGO SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Related Links http://www.centerpointenergy.com BEIJING, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhaopin Limited (NYSE: ZPIN) ("Zhaopin" or the "Company"), a leading career platform[1] in China focused on connecting users with relevant job opportunities throughout their career lifecycles, released its 2016 third quarter report on China labor market supply and demand for white-collar workers. The report found that competition for white-collar workers continued to ease in the third quarter of 2016 with an average of 38 applications per vacancy, down from 45 in the second quarter of 2016. China Third-Quarter White-Collar Labor Market Highlights: Competition for white-collar jobs continued to relieve in the third quarter of 2016, with an average of 38 applications per vacancy, down from 45 in the second quarter of 2016. Beijing was still the most competitive city, with 78.5 applications per vacancy, up from 74.2 in the second quarter. was still the most competitive city, with 78.5 applications per vacancy, up from 74.2 in the second quarter. The most competitive sector for job seekers in the third quarter of 2016 was online games, with 79.7 applications per vacancy. Software/internet development/system integration was the most competitive occupation, with 105.5 applications per vacancy. The average salary has been on the rise since the start of 2016, reaching RMB7,531 in the third quarter of 2016, up from RMB7,233 in the second quarter. in the third quarter of 2016, up from in the second quarter. Beijing continued to be the city with the highest pay at an average monthly salary of RMB9,886 , followed by RMB9,642 in Shanghai , RMB8,582 in Shenzhen and RMB7,798 in Guangzhou . Overall market supply and demand for white-collar workers Zhaopin publishes the competitive index for the labor market based on data collected from its online platform. The competitive index is calculated with the number of resume applications divided by the number of job vacancies. For the third quarter of 2016, the competitive index was 37.8, which means there were an average of 38 applications per job vacancy. The competition in the white-collar labor market has been waning since the start of this year. The competitive index declined to 37.8 in the third quarter of 2016, down from 45.1 in the second quarter and 48.0 in the first quarter. Even with college graduates entering the labor market in the third quarter, the job competition continued to ease as more white-collar workers held on to their jobs, waiting for year-end bonuses. Competitive index 2015-2016 Quarter Competitive index Q4 2015 36.8 Q1 2016 48.0 Q2 2016 45.1 Q3 2016 37.8 (Competitive index = number of applications/number of job vacancies) Beijing was still the most competitive city for white collar workers, with a competitive index of 78.5 in the third quarter of 2016, followed by Chengdu (52.8), Shenyang (50.9), and Shenzhen (48.7). Except for a few cities such as Beijing and Kunming where the competition intensified in the third quarter, most cities saw the job competition weakening in the third quarter. Competitive index for cities in the third quarter of 2016 Ranking City Index Ranking City Index 1 Beijing 78.5 18 Wuhan 24.9 2 Chengdu 52.8 19 Zhengzhou 23.8 3 Shenyang 50.9 20 Wuxi 23.6 4 Shenzhen 48.7 21 Qingdao 23.1 5 Shanghai 42.3 22 Guiyang 22.9 6 Dalian 40.5 23 Shijiazhuang 21.9 7 Tianjin 37.9 24 Hangzhou 21 8 Guangzhou 36.9 25 Hefei 19.3 9 Xi'an 35.2 26 Jinan 19 10 Suzhou 32 27 Yantai 16.1 11 Harbin 31.1 28 Fuzhou 14.7 12 Changchun 30.1 29 Nanning 14.2 13 Nanjing 29.3 30 Dongguan 14.1 14 Chongqing 29.1 31 Xiamen 13.9 15 Taiyuan 28.5 32 Nanchang 13.4 16 Changsha 27.8 33 Foshan 12.6 17 Kunming 27.3 34 Ningbo 11.6 Competitive index = number of applications/number of job vacancies From job postings in the third quarter of 2016, first-tier cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, had the most demand for white-collar workers. The demand was also brisk in regional business centers and emerging first-tier cities, including Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Tianjin, Xi'an, Nanjing and Wuhan. Top ten cities with most job demand in the third quarter of 2016 Ranking City 1 Beijing 2 Shanghai 3 Shenzhen 4 Guangzhou 5 Zhengzhou 6 Chengdu 7 Tianjin 8 Xi'an 9 Nanjing 10 Wuhan The top ten cities with the most job applications were almost the same as cities with the most job demand, indicating that cities with more job demand were also more attractive to job seekers. Shenyang was an exception in the top ten list. With a struggling economy, Shenyang had relatively more job seekers, leading to a more competitive job market. Top ten cities with most job applications in the third quarter of 2016 Ranking City 1 Beijing 2 Shanghai 3 Shenzhen 4 Guangzhou 5 Chengdu 6 Tianjin 7 Xi'an 8 Zhengzhou 9 Nanjing 10 Shenyang In terms of employer size, companies with 1,000 to 9,999 employees were the most competitive for job seekers, with an index of 44.8, followed by 42.6 for companies with 500 to 999 employees. The competition was relatively low for large companies with over 10,000 employees and small companies with under 100 employees. With slowing growth, large companies were less attractive to job seekers. Small companies had some trouble attracting talents due to low brand recognition. Competitve index for different size companies in third quarter 2016 Size of Company Index Below 20 26.4 20-99 32.7 100-499 42.4 500-999 42.6 1,000-9,999 44.8 Over 10,000 36.6 Supply and demand by sector According to Zhaopin's online database, the top ten sectors with the most job demand remained largely unchanged in the third quarter of 2016 from the second quarter. The fast-growing internet/e-commerce sector is still on top with the most job vacancies, followed by funds/securities/futures/investment, and real estate/construction/building materials/engineering. Top 10 sectors with the most job demand in the third quarter of 2016 Ranking Sector 1 Internet/e-commerce 2 Funds/securities/futures/investment 3 Real estate/construction/building materials/engineering 4 Education/training/college 5 Computer software 6 Professional service/consulting (finance and accounting, legal and HR, etc.) 7 Trade/export and import 8 FMCG (food, drinks, alcohol and tobacco, and chemicals for daily use) 9 Media/publishing/movie and TV/culture communications 10 IT services (system/data/maintenance) The most competitive sector for job seekers in the third quarter of 2016 was online games, with 79.7 applications per vacancy, followed by 54.2 for real estate/construction/building materials/engineering, and 46.7 for IT services (system/data/maintenance). For the online games sector, applications far exceeded the vacancies, leading to the fiercest competition. Top 10 most competitive sectors in third quarter 2016 Ranking Sector Index Ranking in second quarter 1 Online games 79.7 1 2 Real estate/construction/building materials/engineering 54.2 2 3 IT services (system/data/maintenance) 46.7 20 4 Internet/e-commerce 46.5 10 5 Computer software 45.2 23 6 Aviation/aerospace research and manufacturing 44.1 3 7 Energy/mineral/mining/smelting 43.6 4 8 Cross-industry operation 43.6 11 9 Environmental protection 43.0 5 10 Telecom/carrier operators/value-added service 42.0 21 Insurance was the least competitive sector in the third quarter, with 13.6 applications per vacancy, followed by 22.2 for intermediary service and 24.2 for office supplies and equipment. Least competitive sectors in third quarter 2016 Sector Index Insurance 13.6 Intermediary service 22.2 Office supplies and equipment 24.2 Printing/packaging/papermaking 24.4 Banking 24.6 Outsourcing service 25.0 Trust/warrant/auction/pawn 26.0 Leasing service 26.4 Entertainment/sports/leisure 27.1 Healthcare/nursing/beauty 27.9 The sectors with the most job applications in the third quarter included internet/e-commerce, real estate/construction/building materials/engineering, and computer software. Job seekers should not stampede to hot sectors, advised Zhaopin experts. They should select industries that appeal to and suit them. Top 10 sectors with the most job applications in third quarter 2016 Ranking Sector 1 Internet/e-commerce 2 Real estate/construction/building materials/engineering 3 Computer software 4 Funds/securities/futures/investment 5 Education/training/college 6 IT services (system/data/maintenance) 7 Professional service/consulting (finance and accounting, legal and HR, etc.) 8 Trade/export and import 9 FMCG (food, drinks, alcohol and tobacco, and chemicals for daily use) 10 Media/publishing/movie and TV/culture communications Supply and demand by occupation The top occupations with the most vacancies for white collar workers in the third quarter included sales, administration/logistics/secretary, and software/internet development/system integration. Top 10 occupations with the most job demand in third quarter 2016 Ranking Occupation 1 Sales 2 Administration/logistics/secretary 3 Software/internet development/system integration 4 Sales management 5 Finance/auditing/tax 6 Customer service/pre-sales and after-sales support 7 Education/training 8 Human resources 9 Marketing 10 Internet product/operation management The most competitive occupation in the third quarter of 2016 was software/internet development/system integration with 105.5 applications per vacancy, followed by 75.3 for finance/auditing/tax, and 74.6 for civil engineering/construction/decoration/municipal engineering. Top 10 most competitive occupations in third quarter 2016 Ranking Occupation Index Ranking in second quarter 1 Software/internet development/system integration 105.5 8 2 Finance/auditing/tax 75.3 1 3 Civil engineering/construction/decoration/municipal engineering 74.6 2 4 IT quality management/testing/configuration management 66.1 14 5 Senior management 65.7 5 6 Human resources 60.1 4 7 Transportation services 58.0 3 8 Administration/logistics/secretary 50.1 9 9 Purchasing/trade 50.0 6 10 Art/design 43.6 27 The least competitive occupations in the third quarter of 2016 were healthcare/beauty/hairdressing/bodybuilding with 9.4 applications per vacancy, followed by 10.2 for community/residency/housekeeping, and 11.1 for insurance. Least competitive occupations in third quarter 2016 Occupation Index Healthcare/beauty/hairdressing/bodybuilding 9.4 Community/residency/housekeeping 10.2 Insurance 11.1 Cooking/catering/food R&D 13.0 Sales 14.5 Mechanic/operator 15.5 Trust/warrant/auction/pawn 17.0 Hospital/medical care/nursing 18.3 Consulting/research/data analysis 19.2 Farming/forestry/animal husbandry/fishery 19.5 The occupation with the most job applications in the third quarter of 2016 was software/internet development/system integration. Finance/auditing/tax, and administration/logistics/secretary were ranked second and third, respectively. Top 10 occupations with the most job applications in third quarter 2016 Ranking Occupation 1 Software/internet development/system integration 2 Finance/auditing/tax 3 Administration/logistics/secretary 4 Civil engineering/construction/decoration/municipal Engineering 5 Human resources 6 Sales 7 Art/design 8 Internet product/operation management 9 Sales management 10 Purchasing/trade Salary analysis Based on online job postings in 34 key cities compiled by Zhaopin, the average monthly salary in the third quarter of 2016 was RMB7,531, up from RMB7,233 in the second quarter. The average salary has been on the rise since the beginning of this year. Employers had to offer higher salaries to attract talent as the increase in job demand had exceeded the growth of job seekers. Average monthly salary 2015-2016 Quarter Average salary (yuan) Change over previous quarter Q4 2015 6,756 0.8% Q1 2016 7,018 3.9% Q2 2016 7,233 3.1% Q3 2016 7,531 4.1% Among job postings in the third quarter, 31.4% of positions offered salaries between RMB4,001 to 6,000, and 27.7% offered salaries of more than RMB8,000. Only 20.7% of positions offered salaries below RMB4,000. Breakdown of positions by salaries in the third quarter of 2016 Salary (yuan) Percentage of positions Over 8,000 27.7% 6,001 to 8,000 20.7% 4,001 to 6,000 31.4% 2,001 to 4,000 18.6% Below 2,000 1.6% Beijing continued to be the city with the highest pay in the third quarter of 20-16, at an average monthly salary of RMB 9,886 yuan, followed by RMB9,642 in Shanghai, RMB8,582 in Shenzhen and RMB7,798 in Guangzhou. Average salary for cities in third quarter 2016 Ranking City Average salary Ranking City Average salary 1 Beijing 9,886 18 Kunming 6,522 2 Shanghai 9,642 19 Guiyang 6,507 3 Shenzhen 8,582 20 Zhengzhou 6,385 4 Guangzhou 7,798 21 Dalian 6,381 5 Hangzhou 7,669 22 Hefei 6,379 6 Dongguan 7,314 23 Nanchang 6,293 7 Xiamen 7,158 24 Tianjin 6,292 8 Ningbo 7,125 25 Changsha 6,271 9 Nanjing 7,085 26 Jinan 6,265 10 Foshan 7,071 27 Qingdao 6,217 11 Suzhou 6,956 28 Shijiazhuang 6,169 12 Chengdu 6,953 29 Shenyang 6,168 13 Chongqing 6,789 30 Taiyuan 5,962 14 Wuxi 6,743 31 Xi'an 5,947 15 Fuzhou 6,611 32 Yantai 5,917 16 Nanning 6,599 33 Harbin 5,728 17 Wuhan 6,527 34 Changchun 5,523 The best-paying sector in the third quarter of 2016 continued to be professional service/consulting (finance and accounting, legal and HR, etc.) with an average salary of RMB10,771, followed by RMB9,966 for online games and RMB9,304 for cross-industry operation. Top 10 highest paid sectors in the third quarter of 2016 Sector Average salary Professional service/consulting (finance and accounting, legal and HR, etc.) 10,771 Online games 9,966 Cross-industry operation 9,304 Funds/securities/futures/investment 9,201 Intermediary service 8,899 Energy/mineral/mining/smelting 8,821 Communications/telecom/network equipment 8,617 Academic/R&D 8,304 Real estate/construction/building materials/engineering 8,171 Banking 8,158 The top three occupations with the highest salaries in the third quarter of 2016 were senior management (RMB18,946), IT management/project coordination (RMB14,575) and securities/futures/investment management/services (RMB10,675), which was the same as the previous quarter. Top 10 highest paid occupations in the third quarter of 2016 Occupation Average salary Senior management 18,946 IT management/project coordination 14,575 Securities/futures/investment management/service 10,675 Sales management 10,547 Trust/warrant/auction/pawn 10,324 Software/internet development/system integration 9,881 Project management/project coordination 9,634 Banking 9,561 Real estate development/broker/agency 9,362 Hardware development 9,139 Among different types of companies, joint ventures offered the highest average salary of RMB8,313, higher than RMB7,783 from wholly foreign-owned enterprises and RMB7,560 from private companies. The average salary of public institutions was the lowest at RMB7,173. Average salaries from different types of companies in the third quarter of 2016 Type of Company Average salary Joint ventures 8,313 Wholly foreign-owned enterprises 7,783 Private companies 7,560 Public companies 7,552 State-owned enterprises 7,390 Public institutions 7,173 The average salary of micro-sized companies with fewer than 20 employees was RMB8,981, much higher than salaries of bigger companies. These micro-sized companies had to offer higher salaries to compete with bigger companies which had more advantages in brand reputation, training and career development. Average salaries from different size companies in the third quarter of 2016 Size of company Average salary Below 20 8,981 20-99 7,862 100-499 7,643 500-999 7,682 1,000-9,999 7,495 Above 10,000 7,627 About Zhaopin Limited Zhaopin is a leading career platform in China, focusing on connecting users with relevant job opportunities throughout their career lifecycle. The Company's zhaopin.com website is the most popular career platform in China as measured by average daily unique visitors in each of the 12 months ended June 30, 2016, number of registered users as of June 30, 2016 and number of unique customers[2] for the three months ended June 30, 2016. The Company's over 120.0 million registered users include diverse and educated job seekers who are at various stages of their careers and are in demand by employers as a result of the general shortage of skilled and educated workers in China. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, approximately 36.9 million job postings[3] were placed on Zhaopin's platform by 509,813 unique customers including multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises and state-owned entities. The quality and quantity of Zhaopin's users and the resumes in the Company's database attract an increasing number of customers. This in turn leads to more users turning to Zhaopin as their primary recruitment and career- related services provider, creating strong network effects and significant entry barriers for potential competitors. For more information, please visit http://www.zhaopin.com. Safe Harbor Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Zhaopin may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Zhaopin's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: Zhaopin's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to retain and grow its user and customer base for its online career platform; the growth of, and trends in, the markets for its services in China; the demand for and market acceptance of its brand and services; competition in its industry in China; its ability to maintain the network infrastructure necessary to operate its website and mobile applications; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the corporate structure, business and industry; and its ability to protect its users' information and adequately address privacy concerns. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Zhaopin does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law. For more information, please contact: Zhaopin Limited Ms. Daisy Wang Investor Relations [email protected] ICR Beijing Mr. Edmond Lococo Phone: +86 10 6583-7510 [email protected] [1] Zhaopin's website is the most popular career platform in China as measured by average daily unique visitors in each of the 12 months ended June 30, 2016, the number of registered users as of June 30, 2016 and the number of unique customers for the three months ended June 30, 2016. [2] A "unique customer" refers to a customer that purchases the Company's online recruitment services during a specified period. Zhaopin makes adjustments for multiple purchases by the same customer to avoid double counting. Each customer is assigned a unique identification number in the Company's information management system. Affiliates and branches of a given customer may, under certain circumstances, be counted as separate unique customers. [3] Zhaopin calculates the number of job postings by counting the number of newly placed job postings during each respective period. Job postings that were placed prior to a specified period - even if available during such period - are not counted as job postings for such period. Any particular job posting placed on the Company's website may include more than one job opening or position. SOURCE Zhaopin Limited Related Links http://www.zhaopin.com CLEVELAND, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) announced today that it has appointed Eric M. Rychel to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Rychel is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Aleris Corporation, a privately held company that is a global leader in aluminum rolled products. He joined Aleris in 2012 and presently leads the global finance activities for the organization. Mr. Rychel will join the Audit Committee of Cliffs Natural Resources' Board. With the addition of Eric Rychel, the Cliffs' Board of Directors is now comprised of ten members, of which nine are independent directors. Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cliffs Natural Resources stated, "I am honored that Eric Rychel is now a member of Cliffs' Board. I have known and respected Eric for many years, from Investment Banker to Corporate Executive to an accomplished CFO. Eric's knowledge and diverse experience will further strengthen our board's breadth of talent and expertise." As Aleris' Chief Financial Officer since 2014, Eric Rychel leads all of Aleris' capital structure and key initiatives in finance. He provides leadership for the global finance, investor relations and IT functions, and also chairs Aleris' risk and benefits committees. Previously, Mr. Rychel served as vice president and treasurer at Aleris, with responsibility for treasury, strategy, corporate development and investor relations, upon joining the company in 2012. Mr. Rychel was a managing director in the Industrials Group at Barclays Capital, Inc. between 2010 and 2012, where he initiated its Metals industry banking effort as the global head of Steel and Metals corporate finance coverage. Prior to that, Mr. Rychel was a managing director at Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., from 1998 to 2009, where he ran the Metals industry investment banking effort. Mr. Rychel began his career as an analyst at LSG Advisors, an M&A boutique and predecessor to SG Cowen. Mr. Rychel received his Bachelor of Science in Economics degree from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to Mr. Rychel's appointment to the Audit Committee, Cliffs announced today other changes to its Board Committee assignments effectively immediately. Michael Siegal, who is a current member of Cliffs' Board of Directors, has been appointed to the Audit Committee. Additionally, Gabriel Stoliar has stepped down from the Audit Committee and has been appointed as a member of the Compensation and Organization Committee of the Board of Directors. About Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is a leading mining and natural resources company in the United States. The Company is a major supplier of iron ore pellets to the North American steel industry from its mines and pellet plants located in Michigan and Minnesota. Cliffs also operates an iron ore mining complex in Western Australia. Driven by the core values of safety, social, environmental and capital stewardship, Cliffs' employees endeavor to provide all stakeholders operating and financial transparency. News releases and other information on the Company are available at http://www.cliffsnaturalresources.com. SOURCE Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Related Links http://www.cliffsnr.com AUSTIN, Texas, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Surface family has just expanded thanks to Microsoft's newly upgraded Surface Book, the much-awaited successor of last year's version. The hybrid device is a laptop and tablet rolled into one and is extremely appealing for users who want all the options without many products. Compulocks, the industry leader for computer locking solutions, has followed Microsoft's 'hybrid' trend and introduced a Surface Book Lock that locks any laptop or tablet. The Blade Surface Lock is the ultimate in device security with an ultra-strong retractable locking bracket. It has a minimalistic profile and sleek design, which essentially hides it from plain site and complements the tablet or laptop in use. The industrial adhesive bracket attaches to nearly any gadget and incorporates a lock slot to the tip of the retractable blade. Adding The Blade makes any device ergonomically comfortable, and improves airflow and ventilation. The major strengths of the New Surface Book are its sleek modern design and flexibility, so it's only fitting that The Surface Book Lock has similar attributes. It can either be attached to the screen or keyboard of the New Surface Book and each option has its own unique advantages. Connect to the screen and it turns into an ergonomic handgrip for use as a tablet, recommended for retail and healthcare sectors. When the lock is attached to the keyboard it results in an improved, more comfortable, typing experience, better for those in the enterprise industry. The Blade Surface Book Lock is compatible with the full line of Surface Tablets and Devices and is rated the best security solution for the mobile workforce. This Universal Lock is the most recent addition to the world-renowned hardware company that has been designing laptop locks for over 30 years. Contact: Meira B. Levison Online Marketing and PR Manager +1-512-333-2006 SOURCE Compulocks Rail drives cross-border e-commerce Updated: 2016-10-27 08:06 (Xinhua) A worker directs a cargo train returning from Europe into the station in Chongqing. The Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway is driving the fast growth in cross-border trade. [Photo/Xinhua] Fifteen days after departing Chongqing in southwestern China on Sept 29, 139 parcels arrived in a processing center in Frankfurt for delivery to people across Germany. The packages included storage boxes, stuffed toys and Chongqing local specialties. Though the parcels were few in number, their delivery marked the successful test of mail delivery via the China-Europe railway system. Cross-border e-commerce platforms such as DHGate have been notified to prepare for another test, during which their products will be sold and shipped to Russia and Germany via the railway. The past few years have seen burgeoning sales in cross-border online shopping, but traditional sea and air postal routes have hampered its expansion. China's total transaction volumes in cross-border e-commerce reached 5.4 trillion yuan ($810 billion) in 2015, up 28.6 percent year-on-year, said a report issued by China e-Business Research Center. Global trade growth has been slower than economic growth for four years, but cross-border e-commerce has grown quickly because it has reduced trading costs and streamlined the international trading chain, said Lu Pengqi, deputy head with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade at the 19th China International Fair for Investment and Trade in September. According to the municipal railway authority, a parcel sent from Chongqing will arrive in Germany at least 20 days faster via China-Europe regular trains than by sea. The cost is just one-fifth of that by air, making the train highly cost-effective. However, a 1956 convention passed by members of the Organization for Co-operation between Railways prohibited mail delivery through international railway cargo transport. In early June 2014, the OSJD finally deleted the related clause. During a postal service forum in April in Chongqing, a declaration was made to guarantee international cooperation in mail servicesvia the China-Europe railwayand to provide road routes compatible with cross-border e-commerce. Following the declaration, in May Chongqing became China's first pilot city approved by the General Administration of Customs to run the China-Europe railway mail service. Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe regular cargo trains were assigned to carry out the service. According to an official at the Chongqing Customs, the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway transports nearly 50 percent of freight from China to Europe every year. The volume of cross-border e-commerce in the city exceeded 6 billion yuan last year, up from 60 million yuan two years ago. The test run also highlighted innovations in management. Improved "smart" customs locks were used for monitoring parcels and facilitating clearance at the departure, the transfer depot and exit. It was the first time Chinese customs officials and the postal service shared data. The China-Europe railway mail service has adopted electronic customs clearance, rather than manual clearance, allowing the parcels to remain unopened and stay on the same train for the entire trip. KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marcum LLP and Philadelphia SmartCEO magazine have recognized CSL Behring with the 2016 Innovator Breakthrough Award for developing novel products that save lives and improve quality of life for people with chronic and serious medical disorders. In 2016 these included bringing to market two innovative recombinant factor therapies for treating hemophilia A and hemophilia B respectively. These two novel recombinant products aim to better protect patients from bleeds while reducing the treatment burden for patients and caregivers. The Marcum awards recognize companies and individuals who add to the vitality and stability of the Philadelphia area. Dennis Jackman, CSL Behring's senior vice president of Global Healthcare Policy and External Affairs, expressed the company's ongoing commitment to the Philadelphia area, and said he is honoured to accept the award on behalf of CSL Behring and its more than 14,000 employees worldwide, including more than 500 in King of Prussia. "Our innovative therapies begin with our dedicated team of R&D professionals worldwide," Jackman said. "We employ more than 1,100 R&D experts around the globe dedicated to discovering and developing new therapies that save and improve lives. Over the last five years we have invested $2.3 billion in R&D." "The work of our research scientists is driven by our passion to make a difference in the lives of people with rare and chronic conditions. We will continue to unlock the potential of therapeutic proteins to save lives and protect the health of people living with chronic and serious conditions, as we have for the last 100 years." About CSL Behring CSL Behring is a global biotherapeutics leader, which is driven by its promise to save lives. Focused on serving patients' needs by using the latest technologies, we develop and deliver innovative therapies that are used to treat coagulation disorders, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema, inherited respiratory disease, and neurological disorders. The company's products are also used in cardiac surgery, organ transplantation, burn treatment and to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn. CSL Behring operates one of the world's largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. The parent company, CSL Limited (ASX: CSL), headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, employs more than 16,000 people with operations in more than 30 countries. For more information visit www.cslbehring.com and follow us on www.Twitter.com/CSLBehring. Media Contact Name: Chris Florentz Office: 610-878-4316; Mobile: 484-238-8509 Email: [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100914/PH63692LOGO SOURCE CSL Behring Related Links http://www.cslbehring.com NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Daniels Health (previously Daniels Sharpsmart) is pleased to announce it will be continuing to grow its global business footprint after signing a binding agreement to sell its Australian medical waste business to Tox Free Solutions Ltd (ASX:TOX) for $186m. In the past financial year, Daniels Australia had revenues of $83m generating an EBITDA of $21m. "This sale is a natural evolution of the Daniels mission to bring to the rest of the world the same sort of innovative approach to medical and sharps waste disposal that we developed in Australia," said company founder, Mr Dan Daniels. "Ever since we introduced cleaner and more sustainable medical waste solutions in Australia back in 1986, we have been aware of a strong international demand for products such as our Sharpsmart and Clinismart reusable sharps and clinical waste containers," said Mr Daniels. "The sale of the Australian business will allow us to redouble our efforts in expanding into the global healthcare industry, particularly in our current key markets of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and South Africa. "Following our first offshore expansion in 1997, we have had an excellent response from healthcare workers and organisations to our Sharpsmart reusable sharps containment system, which has been globally recognised and appreciated for its safety and environmental concern," said Mr Daniels. Daniels Health chairman, Mr Markus Koch, said the international push was a natural progression for a company that had started out of a concern about the potential environmental damage resulting from the widespread practice of burning medical waste, including disposable sharps containers, in inefficient hospital incinerators. "It was this concern that led us to develop reusable sharps container systems and alternative waste treatment methods, which have resulted in millions of kilograms of plastic being prevented from disposal," said Mr Koch. Daniels Health is the second largest player in North America for the provision of waste services to the healthcare sector. With national coverage including 22 operational sites, Daniels currently services over 4,500 customers across the USA. Mr Daniels said Daniels Health provides a comprehensive offering of products and services that vary according to the demands of individual markets and include services such as safer sharps management, effective medical waste treatment, secure pharmaceutical and chemotherapy waste destruction and efficient waste segregation and logistics systems. "We will continue tailoring our offerings to suit the various markets that we operate in and will invest to support the international growth we have already been experiencing," he said. As part of the binding agreement to acquire Daniels Health Pty Ltd and Daniels Manufacturing Pty Ltd by Tox Free Solutions, Mr Daniels and its chairman Mr Koch have been retained as advisers to the health business unit and will assist Toxfree on its strategic and operational management. Mr Daniels has also agreed to subscribe for approximately 12.6 million Toxfree shares as part of the transaction and will become a shareholder in Toxfree on completion. About 300 employees across 17 sites including two incineration facilities in Sydney and Melbourne, and three joint venture managed sites in New Zealand, will transition to Toxfree. Under the current indicative timetable, the sale of the Australian business is due to complete by December 1 this year. About Daniels Daniels Health is a specialised medical waste disposal company and its Sharpsmart system has a significant market share in healthcare facilities in the USA, Canada, UK and South Africa. It is estimated to be the most widely used reusable sharps containment system in the world and is arguably the world's safest and most environmentally-responsible sharps management system. For more information, please visit the company's web site at danielshealth.com.au Media Contact John Beveridge, Monsoon Communications Phone: +61 (0)3-96203333 E-mail: [email protected] Monsoon Communications Level 1, 121 Flinders Lane Melbourne VIC 3000 Ph: +61 (0)3-96203333 www.monsoon.com.au This message and its attachments may contain legally privileged or confidential information. It is intended solely for the named addressee. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to the addressee), you may not copy or deliver this message or its attachments to anyone. Rather, you should permanently delete this message and its attachments and kindly notify the sender by reply e-mail. No warranty is made that the e-mail or attachment(s) are free from computer virus or other defect. If you wish to be removed from our contact list please send an email to [email protected] immediately. SOURCE Daniels Health Related Links http://danielshealth.com.au NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Culinary Center (ICC), a global leader in culinary and wine education, is proud to introduce Dave Arnold as the Associate Dean of Culinary Technology. After teaching at ICC from 2005 to 2011, the famed culinary innovator launches new courses, "Liquid Intelligence" and "Cooking Issues." On November 15th, "Liquid Intelligence," the one-day, lecture style course delves into inventive spirits and cocktail technology. Paralleling the structure of Arnold's book, Liquid Intelligence, the 6-hour session will explain the theory of classic cocktail technique, balance and recipe development. Arnold will build upon the fundamentals of traditional cocktails to teach new, every day bar techniques, as well as incorporate more demanding and specialized techniques. Students will learn the advancements in cocktail technology and why, when, and how to use these new techniques. Specific skills include shaking techniques, how stirring works, ice production, milk-washing techniques, and more. The course will be $495. To apply: http://www.internationalculinarycenter.com/new-york-campus/one-day-classes-ny/liquid-intelligence-dave-arnold/ On December 5th, Arnold will also teach "Cooking Issues," a 4-hour lecture based off of his acclaimed podcast on Heritage Radio Network. The class will demystify the latest in innovative techniques and equipment and students will gain an understanding of commonly used modern culinary technology, such as sous vide machines, liquid nitrogen and more. "One of my favorite things to do is teach people how to apply new techniques, technologies, and ingredients in a practical way," says Arnold. "I'm excited to return to the ICC and pick up where I left off teaching culinary technology." The courses will be available as one-day classes to both the general public and to students. To apply: http://www.internationalculinarycenter.com About Dave Arnold: After teaching at ICC from 2005 to 2011, Dave Arnold opened Booker and Dax, a bar devoted to cutting-edge cocktail techniques and launched Booker and Dax Equipment, designing equipment for chefs and home cooks. Arnold is the author of the James Beard and IACP award-winning book Liquid Intelligence, host of the weekly podcast "Cooking Issues" on Heritage Radio Network, and founder of The Museum of Food and Drink. About the International Culinary Center: Founded by the late Dorothy Cann Hamilton as The French Culinary Institute in 1984, the International Culinary Center (ICC) is a global expert in professional culinary and wine education, with programs in New York, California and Italy, and graduates from more than 85 countries. The renowned six-month Total Immersion program has produced such talents as Bobby Flay, David Chang, Dan Barber, Christina Tosi and 15,000 more under the guidance of deans including Jacques Pepin, Jacques Torres and Jose Andres. Awarded the coveted "School of Excellence" by accrediting commission ACCSC for its career education, ICC provides students with the credentials, confidence and connections to chart a successful career anywhere in the world. For additional information contact: Meredith Sidman at Baltz & Co PR: 914.588.0518 / [email protected] Lia Berger at Baltz & Co PR: 949.870.6667 / [email protected] SOURCE International Culinary Center Related Links http://www.internationalculinarycenter.com SOREL-TRACY, Quebec, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Denise Ouellette is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Professional in the field of Hospitality. Denise is the Owner of Motel Tracy which is located in Sorel-Tracy,a city at end point of Lake Champlain Valley at the confluence of the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence River, on the western edge of Lac Saint-Pierre downstream and east of nearby Montreal. Sorel Tracy is known for its activities in the steel industry and metallurgy as well as for its ferry linking the city to the village of Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola, a roadside lodge, Motel Tracy is home to eight private rooms and one apartment with all of the amenities. Beginning her career in the industry in 1972, while working at the Montreal Airport Hilton and Ramada Inn, Denise is a seasoned business owner and hospitality professional. She purchased Motel Tracy in 2005 and prior to that, she owned and operated with her husband a Motel on the French Riviera, France. From customer service to finances, Denise is responsible for all facets of the motel. Her areas of expertise include hotel administration and management, cleaning, marketing and the oversight of daily operations. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. In the industry for over forty years, Denise is looking forward to retirement and would like to find someone to purchase the motel. Moreover, Denise is an independent distributor of the following for her clientele: moteltracy.teamsea.com, moteltracy.jeunesseglobal.com moteltracy.myorganogold.com Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com BOSTON, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- From October 26-28, DentaQuest Foundation is hosting its fourth annual Oral Health 2020 National Network Gathering in Phoenix. With an expected 400 attendees, the meeting is DentaQuest Foundation's largest convening to date, almost doubling last year's record of 250 attendees. The theme of this year's convening, "Improving Oral Health: Many Voices, Shared Leadership, Mapping the Path Forward," emphasizes DentaQuest Foundation's continued commitment to collaborating with the Oral Health 2020 network to grow tangible solutions to complex oral health care challenges and organize for health equity. The annual national gathering is an opportunity for grantees and partners to connect in person to discuss a myriad of topics, including: progress made by the Oral Health 2020 movement in improving lifelong oral health, embracing oral health as a social justice issue, and upcoming trends that shape how we think about change, health and justice. The relationships forged and strategies developed during the three-day event will deepen the understanding of and activate the Oral Health 2020 roadmap and how it can guide actions at the national, state and community levels over the coming years. "We are at a pivotal moment in time not only in our health care system, but also when it comes to the work of the Oral Health 2020 movement. We stand together at this convening to recognize the progress we've made in realizing the Oral Health 2020 goals and rally together for the work that still lies ahead," said DentaQuest Foundation President Ralph Fuccillo. "We are committed to bringing leaders from all over the country together to accelerate and activate our shared vision to achieve the Oral Health 2020 goals and make oral health disparities a thing of the past." During the convening, DentaQuest Foundation grantees and partners will also welcome Carlos Saavedra, leader in the Student Immigrant Movement and founder of the Ayni Institute, and Andrew Zolli, futurist and resilience expert, as keynote speakers on organizing for health equity, and how to change systems and our own behaviors in order to realize a healthier and more vibrant future, respectively. You can learn more about the gathering by following a livestream of the Twitter feed, using the hashtag #OH2020. About the DentaQuest Foundation: The DentaQuest Foundation is the leading U.S. philanthropy focused solely on oral health. The Foundation is supporting the development of the Oral Health 2020 network, a group of partners committed to working collectively at the national, state and community levels to eradicate dental disease in children and improve lifelong oral health. The DentaQuest Foundation is the philanthropic arm of DentaQuest. To learn more, visit dentaquestfoundation.org. Follow the DentaQuest Foundation on Twitter, @OralHealth2020, and visit our Facebook page. CONTACT: Katie Leonard (617) 886-1125 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161025/432587LOGO SOURCE DentaQuest Foundation Related Links http://dentaquestfoundation.org PLAINFIELD, Ill., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental Who's Who recognizes The Honorable Dr. Dale Pierre Layman as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member in recognition of his contributions to the fields of Human Sciences and Physiology. Dr. Layman is a highly decorated academic, earning multiple high-level degrees from the University of Michigan Medical School, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Academie Europeenne D'Informatisation and World Information Distributed University, where he received the first Grand Doctor of Philosophy in Medicine degree to be awarded in the United States. Today, Dr. Layman is Founder of Robowatch, LLC, an advocacy group which examines the state of human rights as a result of the threat of artificial intelligence. He educates the public on artificial intelligence as well as robotics, and their potential effects to human beings. "I Am Come as Messenger to save ALL Mankind its Still human body and its still-natural mind," Dr. Layman said. "We are in Grave Danger of being taken over by Artificial Intelligence. We must walk in the shoes of the Good Shepherd and try to inform all Mankind." Dr. Layman has worked on several public initiatives, including a campaign to help save a threatened wetland in the Joilet, Illinois area, passed the Faculty Ranking Initiative for All Public Community College Instructors in the State of Illinois and was a candidate for President of the Joliet Junior College Faculty Union. He was also named to a 2003 United Nations Special Assignment as he was authorized to address the Emerging Global Program with his two thesis papers, titled GHOSTS IN THE MIRROR: The Coming 'Technological Extinction of Homo Sapiens. A Call to the European Union for Help and Are We Really 'Natural-Born Cyborgs?': Mankind Must Reject The False Promise of Robo Sapiens! Little Time for Homo Sapiens, Still Remains! Currently, Dr. Layman is also a member of the President's Circle of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the [Illinois] Annuitants Association and Human Rights Watch. He has published two textbooks, four trade books and several articles for other publications including TIME Magazine. He has also amassed a multitude of honors and awards for his work. For more information, visit www.robowatch.org. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, Dr. Eric Walsh, lay pastor and public health expert, appeared on Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, a national radio show which airs on more than 240 stations across the country. On the show, Dr. Walsh and his Attorney, Jeremy Dys, discussed the State of Georgia's demand that he hand over his sermons and personal Bible. Since 2014 Dr. Walsh has been battling the state of Georgia after he was fired from a government job because of the content of his sermons. Nearly 22,000 have signed a petition to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal asking him to intervene to correct this unjust demand. In the interview, Dr. Walsh's Attorney, Jeremy Dys, explained the state of Georgia's demand, "This request has the full force of a subpoena and there is no subject matter limitation on it. There is no time limitation on this request, so that means that any sermon he has ever given at any time since he started preaching at the age of 18, he has to turn it over. It means that if he scribbled a sermon outline on the back of a napkin then he has to turn over that napkin. If he's written in the margins of his Bible that Bible now has to be turned over to the attorney general of the state of Georgia. This is a really remarkable intrusion upon the pulpit in the state of Georgia." Jeremy went on to discuss the state of Georgia's claim that Dr. Walsh was not fired because of his sermons, "Now that they've asked for his sermons as a part of the discovery request, I'm kind of sitting here going, 'Well, if it wasn't about his sermons that you fired him, why are you asking for his sermons?' You see, what the government is doing here is akin to them kind of kicking down the door of his study and ransacking through his entire study looking for evidence and it's sort of a desperate attempt to cover up their illegal behavior. It was illegal for them to ask for his sermons in the first place, it's illegal for an employer to consider an employee's religion and make an employment decision, and now that they have demanded these sermons, they've violated the Constitution on top of all that." Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, the host of Washington Watch, responded, "This from the state of Georgia here in the United States of America! Nathan Deal is the governor down there and it's his administration that is doing this. Unbelievable This seems very excessive and obviously intrusive, breaching that wall of separation between the state and the church." concluded Perkins. To listen to the full interview, click this link: https://soundcloud.com/family-research-council/20161026-eric-walsh Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150422/200566LOGO SOURCE Family Research Council Related Links http://www.frc.org Dr. Sharma acknowledges the lack of licensed residential health care facilities and says that individuals from across the country come to Sovereign Health's four California centers for treatment. Its San Clemente center has been operating since 2009; the company also has California facilities in Los Angeles, Palm Desert and San Diego, in addition to centers in Utah, Texas, Arizona and Florida. Addiction "is a brain issue," Dr. Sharma explains in the feature. "We know so much about the brain and we need to be aware that mental illness is something that commonly occurs. It's expensive for society if not treated." One in 4 individuals will experience mental illness this year, according to mental health experts. Statistically that means about 800,000 of Orange County's 3.2 million residents will experience major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or another mental illness in 2016. "Mental illness is a matter of fact across humankind," notes John Leyerle, president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness's Orange County office. "In our lifetimes, half of us will be touched by mental illness." In the article, Mr. Leyerle also addresses the importance of dual diagnosis treatment, noting that addiction and mental illness are two conditions that are complex, often occur simultaneously, and are both difficult to treat. "Dr. Sharma gets credit for being a pioneer in this type of treatment," he adds. Sovereign Health's centers have been awarded Gold Seal accreditation by independent accreditation organization The Joint Commission, the highest level of accreditation available in the behavioral health field. About Sovereign Health Sovereign Health's mission is to provide a broad spectrum of high-quality behavioral health treatment services for adults and adolescents. One factor that differentiates Sovereign from other treatment providers has been the company's ability to offer separate mental health and addiction or dual diagnosis treatment programs at its facilities. For more information, visit www.sovhealth.com. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/433104 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150814/258633LOGO SOURCE Sovereign Health Related Links http://www.sovhealth.com TSX-V:ELY VANCOUVER, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Ely Gold & Minerals Inc. ("Ely Gold" or the "Company") (TSX-V: ELY, OTC: ELYGF) is pleased to announce that Novo Resources Corp. (TSX-V: NVO, OTCQX: NSRPF), through its wholly owned subsidiary Novo Resources (USA) Corp ("Novo") has exercised its option to purchase 100% of 24 unpatented mining claims in Elko County, Nevada (the "Claims"). The Claims, known as the Tuscarora Project, were lease/optioned by Novo on November 7, 2014 (the "Option Agreement"). The Option Agreement allowed Novo to purchase 100% of the Claims by making lease payments aggregating US$100,000 over time. The final payment, which was due on November 7, 2016, was paid by Novo on October 4, 2016. The Option Agreement also provides for: 1. a sliding scale net smelter returns royalty, subject to the gold price, as follows: less than or equal to $1,500 greater than $1,500.00 but less than or equal to $2,000 greater than $2,000 Two percent (2.0%) Three percent (3.0%) Four percent (4.0%) 2. an advance minimum royalty payment as follows: third through fifth anniversaries sixth through tenth anniversaries eleventh and succeeding anniversaries $4,000 $8,000 $12,000 3. an area of interest of mile Ely Gold, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Inc. was the underlying owner of the claims through staking and owns 50% of the Option Agreement which was executed in partnership with Platoro West Inc, a privately held Nevada corporation. Ely Gold and Platoro West will each be deeded 50% of the royalty and will each be entitled to 50% of the advance minimum royalty payments. Novo recently completed a 4,775 foot (1,455 meters) reverse circulation drill program Tuscarora. Eight holes targeted the pediment-covered Navajo vein, a one km long target situated along the south-southeast extension of the Navajo vein which was the most prolific past-producing vein in the Tuscarora mining district. In Novo's news release, dated September 13, 2016, it announced the first assay results from this program including an intercept of 143.5 grams per tonne (gpt) gold over 1.5 m. Additional results, reported in a news release dated October 12, 2016, included intercepts of 21.50 gpt gold over 1.5 meters and 7.37 gpt gold over 3.1 meters within an intercept of 1.72 gpt gold over 35.1 meters. About Ely Gold Ely Gold is focused on developing recurring cash flow streams through the acquisition, consolidation, enhancement, and resale of highly prospective, un-encumbered North American precious metals properties. Ely's property development efforts maximize each property's potential for acquisition, while reserving significant royalty interests. Additional information about Ely Gold is available at the Company's website, at www.elygoldinc.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors Signed "Trey Wasser" Trey Wasser, President & CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. SOURCE Ely Gold & Minerals Inc. Related Links http://www.elygoldandminerals.com/ DALLAS, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Hunter Resources, Inc., an oil-focused energy company headquartered in Dallas, Texas (www.energyhunter.energy), announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Roger Burks as Interim Chief Financial Officer effective November 1, 2016. Commenting on the appointment, Gary C. Evans, Chairman and CEO of Energy Hunter Resources said, "Roger's extensive experience in all matters related to initial public offerings, acquisition and divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, financial strategy and SEC reporting rules and regulations, specifically as it relates to the energy industry, will be an integral part of our future plans. Mr. Burks will oversee all accounting and financial related services required as a SEC reporting company. Initially, while Roger will move in-house to Energy Hunter, we will outsource back-office and technical accounting support for Energy Hunter's ongoing operations to his existing firm, WG Consulting, LLC. Roger's 34-plus years of experience navigating complex financial transactions for both public and privately-held companies, as well as his 20 year successful track record at Deloitte & Touche, will provide us significant bench strength as we enter the capital markets arena. In the coming weeks as we move closer toward our planned initial public offering, I look forward to working with Roger again." Roger Burks is currently executive managing director and CEO of WG Consulting, LLC based in Houston, Texas. Mr. Burks has had a diverse business career. He is a CPA with over 34 years of business experience, which includes over 20 years with Deloitte & Touche and 14 years as a senior executive in the energy industry. He has been a senior executive in the energy industry, served on numerous Boards, funded new ventures, and started two management consulting firms. Mr. Burks serves on the Houston Chapter of CPAs, and has previously served on the Board of a publicly traded SEC registrant and various other private company and non-profit boards. Roger Burks has also advised a number of companies and provided financial, operational, and transactional services to them. About Energy Hunter Resources, Inc. Energy Hunter Resources, Inc. is an independent oil company headquartered in Dallas, Texas with a mission to own and operate properties within some of the most prolific resource plays in the United States. Initially focusing on the Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin, Energy Hunter aims to maximize stockholder value through a balanced program of acquisitions and low-risk development and exploitation. Energy Hunter intends to leverage its management team's long history in the oil and gas industry and operational expertise to identify and acquire ownership interests in producing, proved developed, proved undeveloped, and probable properties with a particular emphasis on distressed assets and smaller acquisition opportunities not generally known in the marketplace. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include ''forward-looking statements.'' To the extent that the information presented in this press release discusses financial projections, information, or expectations about our business plans, results of operations, products or markets, or otherwise makes statements about future events, such statements are forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as ''should,'' ''may,'' ''intends,'' ''anticipates,'' ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''projects,'' ''forecasts,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' and ''proposes.'' Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the offering statement we have filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are contained, and Energy Hunter does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law. Legal Disclaimer Energy Hunter has filed an offering statement on Form 1-A relating to its securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission but it has not yet become qualified. You may obtain a copy of the most recent version of the offering statement containing the preliminary offering circular with the following link: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1679073/000156761916003100/0001567619-16-003100-index.htm. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No money or other consideration is being solicited at this time with respect to such an offering, and if sent in response to these materials for such an offering, it will not be accepted. No securities may be sold, and no offer to buy securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received for an offering under Regulation A, until an offering statement is qualified by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time before notice of its acceptance given after the qualification date. An indication of interest made by a prospective investor in a Regulation A offering is non-binding and involves no obligation or commitment of any kind. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160713/389516LOGO SOURCE Energy Hunter Resources, Inc. Related Links http://energyhunter.energy Quanzhou refinery exports more high-quality oil products Updated: 2016-10-27 08:06 By Yang Ziman and Hu Meidong(China Daily) Exports of high-quality refined oilproduced using domestically manufactured equipment by Sinochem Quanzhou Petrochemical Co Ltd's huge refinery-have been increasing among the Belt and Road countries, said General Manager Zhang Qiang. Zhang said that oil overcapacity currently in China mostly involves lower-quality crude and outdated capacity, and high-quality oil is, in fact, in short supply. The Sinochem Quanzhou is located in the Quanhui Petrochemical Industrial Park of Quanzhou, Fujian province. It has total installed capacity for processing 12 million metric tons of crude oil per year. In 2015, Sinochem Quanzhou refined 9.97 million tons of crude. "Our company's main goal is to produce high-quality oil for the domestic and overseas market," Zhang said. The refinery, which began operations in 2014, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinochem Group, a State-owned enterprise whose portfolio spans oil, agriculture and chemical services. Sinochem Quanzhou's oil is produced under the national V emission standard for automobiles, equivalent to the Euro 5 emission standard for acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in the European Union from September 2009 to January 2014. China is following the national IV emission standard. The national V emission standard will be implemented nationwide in January 2017. Zhang said that two-thirds of his company's exports are to the Belt and Road countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Netherlands. In order to guarantee the quality of its product, the company is using a high level of advanced and modern processing equipment, 95 percent of which was produced in China. Wang Yucui, chief designer of the project in Quanzhou, said that multinational companies have dominated the high-end petrochemical equipment market. "Relying on foreign equipment is a huge burden on China's petrochemical industry," Wang said. "Having the equipment made in China of the same quality is critical for China to produce high-quality oil at competitive prices," Wang added. Chinese refineries used to import 4M150 hydrogen compressorsa key component for high-grade oil refining. Sinochem Quanzhou has developed the same equipment, together with Shenyang Blower Works Group Corp. Anthony Brandt's epic backdrops and technical expertise echo great masters, but his figures are uniquely modern. Notably, his robust depictions of maternity, are influenced more by his strong Jewish mother than Michelangelo's Madonna and child. A silver sculpture of an exuberant mother, balancing her newborn above her head with one hand, liberates the iconic image of 'mother and child'. Brandt spent a lifetime recreating oils that replicated the great masters, and along with innovative brushed aluminum as a canvas, he ensured his art will last several lifetimes. His portraits hang in stately homes, but not his nudes. Brandt's nudes depict vigorous sexually charged, sensual beings, partaking in the creation of life. From a distance, they could well be Renaissance paintings, but on closer inspection, such virility would have led to excommunication rather than placement in chapels. Sole reliance on this circle for patronage eventually led to disillusionment. Brandt left London and converted a derelict chapel into an opulent home and artist studio, in the remote Welsh Brecon Beacons, which now houses his life's work. Despite the highest critical acclaim, Brandt became increasingly reclusive as ill health set in. But he worked tirelessly on his 'Cosmos' masterpieces and continued painting until his death in 2009 aged 84. Brandt named the chapel 'Shalom Shalom' (a warm welcome) in a tribute to his Jewish heritage. This may have been lost on the UK aristocracy, but New York is sure to welcome the rare works of this genius Jewish artist. Media Contact: Dot at Dot PR E: [email protected] W: http://www.anthonybrandt.com/ Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/432723 SOURCE Keppe Brandt Foundation Related Links http://www.anthonybrandt.com ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) today announced that Jeff Dodge, senior vice president of Investor Relations, will meet with investors the week of November 7th in New York. Dodge will meet with investors on: Tuesday, November 8 th at the Bernstein's 3rd Annual Technology Innovation Summit. at the Bernstein's 3rd Annual Technology Innovation Summit. Wednesday, November 9 th at the RBC Capital Markets Technology, Internet, Media and Telecommunications Conference. at the RBC Capital Markets Technology, Internet, Media and Telecommunications Conference. Thursday, November 10 th at the SunTrust Financial Technology, Business & Government Services Conference. Dodge will discuss the company's third quarter performance, as well as the strategic outlook for the remainder of 2016. An archive of the presentation will be available at investor.equifax.com. About Equifax Equifax powers the financial future of individuals and organizations around the world. Using the combined strength of unique trusted data, technology and innovative analytics, Equifax has grown from a consumer credit company into a leading provider of insights and knowledge that helps its customers make informed decisions. The company organizes, assimilates and analyzes data on more than 820 million consumers and more than 91 million businesses worldwide, and its databases include employee data contributed from more than 5,000 employers. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. It is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index, and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. Equifax employs approximately 9,400 employees worldwide. Some noteworthy achievements for the company include: Ranked 13 on the American Banker FinTech Forward list (2015); named a Top Technology Provider on the FinTech 100 list (2004-2015); named an InformationWeek Elite 100 Winner (2014-2015); named a Top Workplace by Atlanta Journal Constitution (2013-2015); named one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies (2011-2015); named one of Forbes' World's 100 Most Innovative Companies (2015). For more information, visit www.equifax.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060224/CLF037LOGO SOURCE Equifax Inc. Related Links http://www.equifax.com HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In association with the upcoming theatrical release of the epic adventure film ASSASSIN'S CREED, in theaters December 21, Family Tree DNA is pleased to announce a new partnership with 20th Century Fox and Findmypast, which features the Assassin's Creed DNA Testing Bundle and Assassin's Creed Sweepstakes. Loosely based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, and starring award-winning actors Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, the movie's main character Callum Lynchthrough a revolutionary technology called the Animustravels deep into the past to discover that his genetic ancestor, Aguilar, was part of a mysterious secret organization, the Assassins, in 15th Century Spain. The action-adventure follows Callum as he relives Aguilar's memories in present day. As pioneers in the direct-to-consumer DNA testing industry, Family Tree DNA was tapped by 20th Century Fox to be the exclusive testing partner for the film. The company's premier suite of DNA tests along with the world's most comprehensive matching database enable users to trace their lineage through time, explore ancestry and connect with relatives across the globe. Family Tree DNA Director of Product Development, Michael Davila, noted that "The opportunity to partner with 20th Century Fox on the release of Assassin's Creed is not only exciting but serendipitous. The storyline of Callum Lynch connecting to his ancestral past ties in completely with what our company does in helping people discover their origins and explore family history," said Davila. "We are excited to be partnering with Family Tree DNA," said Zachary Eller, Senior Vice President, Marketing Partnerships, 20th Century Fox. "They provide a fantastic opportunity to bring the central themes of Assassin's Creed to a real world application by allowing consumers to actually discover their past." With the purchase of the special limited-time Assassin's Creed Bundle, customers will be mailed a sample collection kit which, when processed, will provide both Family Tree DNA's signature Family Finder test and the Warrior Gene DNA test. They will also receive a free one-month premium subscription to Findmypast's online genealogy service. According to Belinda Hanton, Global Head of Partnerships at Findmypast, "We are thrilled to be teaming up with Fox and Family Tree DNA to promote family history research and genetic genealogy. It's partnerships like this that allow us to speak to completely new audiences and help spread the word that anyone can start exploring their heritage at the click of a mouse. The lives of our ancestors are not only recorded in historical records, but are also written in our DNA and it is now easier than ever before to unlock the incredible stories hidden in our families' past." Using a simple cheek swab and step-by-step instructions, users return the sample collection test kit by mail, in a provided envelope, directly to Family Tree DNA. Results typically take four to five weeks and are delivered through a private customer dashboard with email notification. Unlike other testing companies, Family Tree DNA results are kept completely confidential and secure privacy settings put users in control of how much information they choose to share. Family Finder is an autosomal (non-sex) DNA test that finds matches within five generations and includes myOrigins, a powerful mapping tool that provides a detailed geographic and ethnic breakdown of personal genetic ancestry. The Warrior Gene test determines whether a person carries the Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) gene variant, dubbed the "Warrior Gene," which some researchers say may cause certain carriers to engage in more risk-taking behaviors and be able to better assess their chances of success in critical situations. Together with the Assassin's Creed DNA Testing Bundle is the Assassin's Creed Sweepstakes and a chance to win a Grand Prize trip for two to Las Vegas for an Assassin's Creed-themed adventure. The experience includes a series of high-octane Assassin's Creed-inspired activities like a master parkour class, nighttime zip lining and an electrifying sky jump from the tallest tower in the city. Although no purchase is necessary to enter the contest, purchasing the Assassin's Creed Bundle earns customers ten additional entries into the Sweepstakes for a greater chance to win a trip to Las Vegas as well as other prizes. Followers will also have the opportunity to earn bonus entries by sharing Sweepstakes social posts on their Facebook and Twitter pages. With the exclusive DNA Testing Bundle and Sweepstakes movie tie-in, Assassin's Creed fans everywhere will be able to jump back in time, embrace their inner warriors and unlock their genetic memories. "The partnership between Fox's Assassin's Creed and Family Tree DNA is a perfect fit," Davila said. "Test-takers get to find out if they carry the "Warrior Gene" in their DNA, and while they're at it, will be able to delve into the exciting world of genetic genealogy and discover their own family historiesall through DNA. Everyone has a story to tell, so it's an absolute win-win scenario." To learn more about the Assassin's Creed DNA Testing Bundle and Sweepstakes, visit: https://www.familytreedna.com/assassinscreed About Family Tree DNA: Since pioneering the field of direct-to-consumer DNA testing for genetic genealogy in 2000, Family Tree DNA has grown to become the most trusted source for providing beginners, enthusiasts, to serious genealogists with innovative ways and powerful tools to break through conventional barriers in unlocking their family histories. The company's premier suite of DNA tests along with world's most comprehensive ancestry database are what set Family Tree DNA apart, and led to their being selected as the official testing provider for the Genographic Project launched in 2005 by National Geographic and IBM. Located in Houston, Texas, Family Tree DNA is the only company in the industry with its own state-of-the-art Genomics Research Center. By offering the widest variety of DNA tests to help determine genetic relationships and ancestral origins, Family Tree DNA has continued to experience unprecedented growth and success worldwide. To learn more visit www.familytreedna.com. About Assassin's Creed: Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day. Directed by Justin Kurzel, Assassin's Creed stars Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard. The film is distributed by 20th Century Fox and opens in theaters worldwide on December 21st, 2016. About 20th Century Fox: One of the world's largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, 20th Century Fox produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of 20th Century Fox Film: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation. About Findmypast: With an ever-expanding collection of over 2 billion historical records from around the globe, Findmypast is the world's best resource for researching family history and documentation. Censuses from as far back as 1790 help identify long-lost relatives, the world's largest collection of Irish records reveal unknown connections to the Emerald Isle, while US military data going all the way back to the American Revolution prove if a person is descended from war heroes. Users can fill in blanks in their ancestors' stories by searching millions of newspaper records going back to 1710. www.findmypast.com For further information, please contact: Elena Collot, Product Marketing Manager Family Tree DNA, a division of Gene by Gene, Ltd. [email protected] (832) 691-7282 Leslie Sachnowitz Meimoun, Senior Writer-Marketing|Communications Family Tree DNA, a division of Gene by Gene, Ltd. [email protected] (832) 877-0683 SOURCE Family Tree DNA Related Links https://www.familytreedna.com NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Five top communications experts, including the former press secretary for NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, are joining Fenton, the Social Change Agency, to expand the firm's offerings in progressive public relations from coast to coast. Known for its success in creating the first full service social change agency capable of developing and executing effective media advocacy campaign strategies for its clients, Fenton has hired Karen Hinton, to be the Managing Director of its New York City office and the firm's Chief Strategy Officer. For over 30 years, Karen Hinton has advocated through public campaigns for issues important to low-income communities, such as affordable housing, community banking, education and environmental cleanup. Before joining Fenton, Karen was President of Hinton Communications, a public relations firm with offices in Washington, D.C. and New York where she led an effort to draw attention to Chevron's extensive contamination of the Ecuadorian rainforest, resulting from its oil drilling there for over three decades. As a result of her efforts, 60 Minutes, The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and NY Times featured major stories about the environmental disaster. "No other public relations firm in the country offers the range of progressive issues to promote than Fenton. I am thankful for an opportunity where every day I can support organizations and companies doing good work across the globe," said Hinton. "We're proud to welcome these progressive leaders into the Fenton family to accelerate the good we can do with our clients," said Michael Huttner, Fenton's CEO. Valarie De La Garza, whose marketing and communications career spans nearly 25 years, will join Fenton as the Managing Director of its Los Angeles office. A highly skilled strategist, writer, engaging presenter and team builder with expertise in marketing, media relations, community outreach and public affairs, Valarie has worked for boutique, mid-sized and global PR agencies, including The Rogers Group (now Finn Partners), MS&LGROUP and her own successful consultancy, De La Garza PR. She led communications and marketing efforts for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Latino and the California Community Foundation, one of the largest and most prestigious community foundations in the country. Lucille Renwick, who joins Fenton as a Vice President, is a communications strategist with more than two decades of experience helping individuals and organizations tell their stories and advance their goals and missions. She led communications and marketing efforts for the City University of New York's School of Law where she helped advance the school's mission of public interest and public service law. She has spent more than a decade as a journalist and editor writing about and advocating for education. Devi Ramachandran Thomas, who joins the Fenton staff as a Senior Vice President focused on the firm's Corporate Social Responsibility practice, has more than fifteen years of experience leading strategic marketing, social responsibility and shared value philanthropic campaigns, She comes to Fenton from the UN Foundation where she was the Senior Director of Brand Citizenship working on cause-related marketing partnerships and also Director of [email protected], a global cause brand that aims to increase access to immunizations for children in developing countries through UN partners. Eric Hollister Williams , who has dedicated his 15 year career to advancing policies that address social inequality and injustice, is joining Fenton as a Vice President. He has a background in political advocacy, strategic communications, global health and development, and stakeholder engagement. Eric currently serves as a Special Projects Director for Ohio Together, the Ohio coordinated campaign for Hillary for America; was as a Senior Director at williamsworks, a social impact and philanthropic advisory firm based in Seattle; served as the Democratic Staff Director for the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. He began his career at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Michael Huttner, Fenton's CEO, is available to discuss more details about the firm's new hires and new advocacy projects. SOURCE Fenton BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fisher College will host its 10th annual Honor Your Veterans celebration, an event that recognizes the service and dedication of U.S. veterans connected to the Fisher community, on Wednesday, November 2nd. The luncheon event will begin with "The Singing Trooper", Sergeant Daniel M. Clark, who will perform the national anthem and the armed forces medley. This year's keynote speaker will be Giselle Sterling, Commissioner of Veterans Services, City of Boston. Sterling is the first woman and first Latina to hold the position. Prior to joining the City of Boston in 2012, Sterling served in the United States Marine Corps. In 2000 she completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina and was soon after trained as a Field Radio Operator with deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan; the Philippines; Guam; Diego Garcia and Okinawa, Japan. Giselle was honorably discharged in 2004 and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Fisher College will also present its fourth annual Distinguished Veterans Awards to Francisco Urena, Secretary of Veterans Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Fisher College is continuing its tradition of and will once again observe activities through its Adopt-a-Soldier program. The College created the program, independent of the traditional Adopt-a-Soldier affiliation, in 2009. All of the veterans who benefit from the program have a personal connection to the College, i.e. a former student, family friend, etc. The Adopt-a-Soldier program began through a suggestion of Mike Wall, former Admissions Counselor. Fisher College will be bringing back a World War II M3 Halftrack. After making its way down Storrow Drive, the halftrack will park in front of Fisher on Beacon Street at about 11:45am. Throughout the day, students, faculty, staff, and neighbors are invited to take pictures of the historic army vehicle. M3 halftracks were widely used during World War II as a communications vehicle. Fisher is also continuing its relationship with the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV), teaching a course to those residing at the Center. The New England Center and Home for Veterans is dedicated to ending homelessness for our Nation's Veterans. The course, Computer Concepts and Applications, including books, is free to Veterans residing at NECHV. There are currently eight Veterans from NECHV enrolled in the course. Fisher College is proud to be a Military Friendly institution for the last seven years. About Fisher College Fisher College is an accredited four-year college located in Boston's historic Back Bay with locations in Boston, Brockton, New Bedford, and North Attleboro. For over a century, Fisher has been changing lives by providing opportunities to students focused on the three most important aspects of a college experience: education, dedication, and life. Fisher's Division of Accelerated and Professional Studies offers a variety of online degree programs. Fisher's "Military to Management" initiative proudly offers benefits and flexible degree options to veterans and active military personnel seeking higher education. Additionally, Fisher now offers a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership that combines traditional in-classroom learning methods at Fisher College's main Boston campus with the latest online learning technology. For more information, please visit http://www.fisher.edu. SOURCE Fisher College Related Links http://www.fisher.edu OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations' Safety Management Council recognized outstanding trucking leaders at the Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition in Oklahoma City. Frank Calvert, professional truck driver with AAA Cooper, was honored as the industry's National Truck Driver of the Year. American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight.Trucking Moves America Forward. "Awards like these are the trucking industry's acknowledgement of worthwhile effort applied to the area that matters most to our industry safety," said American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear. "Safety defines our value system, so whether you're a million mile accident-free driver or an executive that dedicates resources to safety investments, we want you to know that you're making a difference on the highways." Calvert, who was awarded the 2016 National Driver of the Year trophy on stage in Las Vegas at ATA's Management Conference and Exhibition earlier this month, is in the middle of his 60th year as a professional truck driver. He was also named the Alabama Driver of the Year in April. The Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition also set the stage for the presentation of several other key trucking safety and security awards. The Tennessee Trucking Association was honored with the State Excellence Award, given annually to a state trucking association making innovative and impactful progress on promoting safety to their members. The ATA President's Award was given to three companies who exhibited safety excellence in their daily operations: Gorski Bulk Transport, Detroit, Mich. , for fleets under 25 million miles; , for fleets under 25 million miles; TCW Inc., Nashville, Tenn. , for fleets between 25 million and 100 million miles and; , for fleets between 25 million and 100 million miles and; Old Dominion Freight Line, Thomasville, N.C. , for fleets with more than 100 million miles. Security, an increasingly critical topic in the trucking industry, was also featured in several of the awards given out in Oklahoma City. ABF Freight System Inc. was presented the Excellence in Security award and Old Dominion Freight Line and Roehl Transport Inc. were honored with the Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award in the less-than-truckload and truckload divisions, respectively. ATA's Safety Management Council and Transportation Security Council's Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition began Oct. 24 in Oklahoma City. American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140523/90962 SOURCE American Trucking Associations Related Links http://www.trucking.org DALLAS, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Popular free email accounts from huge corporations such as Google, Yahoo and AOL are the biggest threat to personal privacy for most Americans, according to 1776Email.com. That's why the company has introduced a new email service that automatically encrypts the content of emails to ensure they are always secure, safe and private. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/433079 "Free email accounts aren't really free," said Clayton Hale, co-founder of 1776Email.com. "You pay for your 'free' email with your personal privacy. If you use Gmail, Google scans every email so it can learn the intimate details of your personal life. We think that's a violation of your 4th Amendment right to privacy, and we launched 1776 Email so Americans could begin to take back their privacy before it's too late." Email sent using 1776 Email is safe from computer hackers, corporate scanners and the prying eyes of government agencies. Every email sent using 1776 Email is encrypted so it can't be read by hackers or profiteers. This state-of-the-art encryption is done automatically, so using 1776 Email is just as easy as using the most popular "free" email services. The added security provided by 1776 Email happens seamlessly with every email and requires no extra plug-ins or procedures. "There's an ugly secret about Gmail, Yahoo, AOL and others that the giant Silicon Valley corporations won't tell you," said Hale. "That secret is their email services are a weak link in your online privacy. In an age when American freedoms are under attack like never before by cyber criminals, terrorists and even the Russian government, it should be a crime to make it easy to hack into the personal lives of American citizens." According to Hale, unprotected emails are an easy way for hackers and criminals to steal private information such as account passwords and other details that make identity theft possible. Emails also reveal intimate details about private relationships and even the dates we will be away on vacation when our homes are unprotected, creating a potential security risk. 1776 Email was created to help "today's American patriots" fight back and control their private lives from government agencies, computer hackers and giant corporations. 1776 Email is designed for people who want to protect their online privacy but who don't want to be bothered with email encryption software. Tech-savvy computer programmers have known for years that emails are notoriously easy to intercept and read, so they routinely use encryption tools to keep their emails and other correspondence secure from prying eyes. But without the knowledge of computer coding and computer network protocols, it's difficult to use the tools available to ensure email security. "We created 1776Email.com for people who want an easy-to-use way to keep their private lives private," said Hale. "If George Washington and Alexander Hamilton were alive today, they would be using 1776 Emailnot Gmail." A safe and secure account from 1776 Email costs $17.76 for six months of service. To sign up for a secure email account and select your personal email address, visit www.1776Email.com. Media Contact: Randy Schultz, 505-822-8222 or [email protected] SOURCE 1776 Email PLYMOUTH, Mich., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To satisfy the future emission reduction demands of the off-highway industry, wider application of existing technologies and the development of innovative, new, cost-effective technologies is required. Advanced emissions solutions, like those found in Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies' Low Emission Sealing Solutions (LESS) portfolio, help reduce weight and friction while improving the overall efficiency of today's industrial powertrains. They must play a larger role in efforts to manufacture more sustainable vehicles and equipment. Freudenberg-NOK's Joel Johnson, global vice president of the company's Mobile Machinery Sector, discussed these topics and more during today's SAE "Advanced Emissions Strategies" technical webinar. Johnson joined two off-highway technical experts: David McShane, executive vice president, business development and strategy, and general manager of Chicago Technical Center, Ricardo; and Duncan Riding, senior technical steward, business development engineering, Perkins. Together, the group discussed the advanced emissions solutions currently available to the off-highway industry, as well as future technical product solutions, requirements and development strategies. Topics ranged from the latest in advanced combustion and emissions control, to alternative power solutions, to advances in materials, simulation tools and sealing technologies. A recording of the webinar can be accessed for up to 12 months via this link: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1117503 or on the SAE website at: www.sae.org/webcasts According to Johnson, it's difficult to separate fuel efficiency from engine emissions and, as such, off-highway suppliers' advanced emissions strategies must meet both of these criteria, while also addressing the market trends of downsizing and exhaust gas after treatment. For Freudenberg-NOK, this means optimizing the following areas: engine (for size reductions); direct injection; exhaust gas recirculation; friction reduction; improved transmission technologies; and selective catalytic reduction. Freudenberg-NOK's efforts have coalesced in development of its LESS product portfolio of comprehensive solutions that influence energy consumption and emissions. For its off-highway customers, Johnson focused on the following LESS technologies: Valve Stem Modification for Diesel Emissions: a "double-lip" lip seal that offers the advantages of oil metering and blow-by control; Levitex: a next-generation seal technology that reduces friction by up to 90 percent; Improved Transmission Efficiencies: by leveraging its material development and process expertise, as well as optimizing designs and molding to help use oil flow and oil pressure to minimize power loss; Improved Hot Joint Gaskets: multi- and single-layer steel gaskets compatible with exhaust gas and urea additives; and AdBlue Resistant Materials for High Temperatures: ongoing development of materials that can handle AdBlue, an aqueous urea solution, while reaching a continuous upper temperature limit of 200C and a volume swell of 15 percent after 168H at 140C. According to Johnson, using and refining the technology of today, there is an opportunity to reduce emissions significantly even as much as the reductions generated in the past 10 years. Through its LESS portfolio, Freudenberg-NOK is doing its part to make that statement a reality. About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies runs the business operations for Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) in the Americas. Being part of the global Freudenberg Group, the company is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for a variety of markets including: aerospace; agriculture; appliance; automotive; construction; diesel engine; energy; food and beverage; heavy industry; and pharmaceutical. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a joint venture between FST and NOK Corp. in Japan, is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich. and operates more than 20 facilities across the Americas. For additional information, please visit: www.fst.com. SOURCE Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies Related Links http://www.fst.com SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gigamon Inc. (NYSE: GIMO), the leader in traffic visibility solutions, announced that Mr. Rex S. Jackson is joining the company as chief financial officer, effective today. Rex previously served as CFO for four public companies including Rocket Fuel, JDS Uniphase, Symyx and Synopsys. His financial, strategic and operational experience managing both small and large enterprises across hardware, software and services, extend the breadth and depth of Gigamon's leadership team. "We are excited to have Rex's proven financial leadership on the Gigamon team, as we continue to scale our business and execute our growth strategy," said Gigamon's chief executive officer, Paul Hooper. "His experience makes him ideally suited to assume the role of Gigamon's CFO as we capitalize on new opportunities." Mike Burns, Gigamon's CFO since July 2014, has agreed to stay on in an advisory role to ensure a seamless transition before pursuing his next career opportunity. Mr. Hooper stated, "I would like to thank Mike for his steady financial leadership and consistent execution on our compelling software-centric profit model. He has built a strong and stable finance team at Gigamon, and we all wish him continued success in the future." "It has been a privilege to partner with Paul and the entire Gigamon team to help deliver sustainably high profits and outstanding returns to shareholders, as we continue to monetize our innovative platform," said Mr. Burns. "I am confident exciting days are ahead for Gigamon, as the company is well-positioned to capture share in the security, mobility and cloud markets." Gigamon Gigamon (NYSE: GIMO) provides active visibility into physical and virtual network traffic, enabling stronger security and superior performance. Gigamon's Visibility Fabric and GigaSECURE, the industry's first Security Delivery Platform, deliver advanced intelligence so that security, network and application performance management solutions in enterprise, government and service provider networks operate more efficiently and effectively. See more at www.gigamon.com, the Gigamon Blog, or follow Gigamon on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook. Legal Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, our expectations regarding our future growth opportunities, the evolution of our marketplace and the goals for our Unified Visibility Fabric and our Security Delivery Platform. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include our ability to continue to deliver and improve our products and successfully develop new products; customer acceptance and purchase of our existing products and new products; our ability to retain existing customers and generate new customers; the market for network traffic visibility solutions not continuing to develop; competition from other products and services; and general market, political, economic and business conditions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 26, 2015 and our most recently available Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Gigamon as of the date hereof, and Gigamon disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150209/174350LOGO SOURCE Gigamon Inc. Related Links http://www.gigamon.com ABIDJAN, Cote d'Ivoire, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 500 representatives of the global chocolate and cocoa sector, including farmers, have gathered in Cote d'Ivoire, the world's leading producer of cocoa, to address critical sustainability issues confronting the crop, which is the main source of income for millions of people across West Africa and in large parts of Latin America and Southeast Asia. The Partnership Meeting & Cocoa Sustainability Trade Fair, centered on the theme "People, Planet, Profit in a Changing World," is jointly organized by the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and Cote d'Ivoire's cocoa regulatory agency, Le Conseil du Cafe-Cacao. Underscoring the urgency of these issues, WCF and the United States Government's Feed the Future are launching African Cocoa Initiative II. The five-year, $12 million effort will increase production of quality cocoa planting materials and provide financial services to cocoa farmers in Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. The program is a joint effort to support the implementation of the World Cocoa Foundation's CocoaAction strategy for cocoa sustainability and brings together the public and private sector. According to WCF President Richard Scobey, the Abidjan conference aims to address both persistent challenges and emerging concerns for the cocoa sector. Scobey says, "We are deepening our focus on the key elements of the sustainability agenda. Ensuring that cocoa farming constitutes a sustainable livelihood for farmers, providing youth meaningful opportunities in the cocoa sector and empowering women who work in cocoa have long been top priorities for WCF, but we know that more needs to be done. Other issues, such as financing farm rehabilitation, addressing deforestation, and strengthening accountability and transparency, demonstrate our commitment to confront new threats and explore new opportunities." In opening remarks, Ivorian Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan outlined a series of steps that the host country is taking to encourage further development of its cocoa industry, including an ambitious plan to locally process 50 percent of the local cocoa crop by 2020 and support local production of chocolate. According to Massandje Toure-Litse, Director General of Le Conseil du Cafe-Cacao, "We are particularly happy that the World Cocoa Foundation's 2016 Partnership Meeting, the 28th of its type, is taking place in Cote d'Ivoire, the land of cocoa. We are looking forward with much interest to hearing responses to the following questions that appear to us as fundamental for effectively addressing the challenge of achieving sustainability in the sector. These include i) how to grow cocoa in the face of climate change and deforestation, ii) how to empower women so they contribute to sustainability in the sector, iii) how to encourage a new generation to follow in the footsteps of earlier generations of cocoa farmers, and iv) how to improve farmer incomes, which is key to maintaining the workforce in cocoa growing areas, and also how to improve living and working conditions in cocoa growing communities." The Partnership Meeting will address a wide range of topics, including sustainability, women's financial inclusion, deforestation, engaging a new generation of cocoa farmers, future trends in cocoa-related science, providing farmers needed finance to rehabilitate and renew their farms, and more. To reinforce the transparency theme of the Abidjan discussions, WCF issued today its first CocoaAction Annual Report, an important step to report results and enhance accountability by nine of the world's leading chocolate and cocoa companies to voluntarily align around a strategy for a rejuvenated and economically viable cocoa sector. CocoaAction, announced in 2014 in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, is committed to a transformed cocoa sector that offers a profitable way of life for professionalized and economically empowered cocoa farmers and their families, while providing a significantly improved quality of life for cocoa-growing communities. The strategy's initial focus is 300,000 Ivorian and Ghanaian cocoa farmers and their communities. Nearly 500 attendees representing the chocolate and cocoa industry, global retailers, cocoa producing country governments, nonprofit organizations, academia, and research institutes are participating in more than a dozen plenaries and small group discussions during the two-day session. The Partnership Meeting also features a Cocoa Sustainability Trade Fair, which offers information about sustainability efforts being undertaken in the cocoa sector around the world. The Trade Fair is an integral part of efforts by the sector to share information and practices to assist in deepening knowledge and highlighting successful approaches. To learn more about the 2016 Partnership Meeting and CocoaAction, visit www.worldcocoafoundation.org. About WCF: The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is an international membership organization that promotes sustainability in the cocoa sector. WCF provides cocoa farmers with the support they need to grow more quality cocoa and socially and economically strengthen their communities. WCF's members include cocoa and chocolate manufacturers, processors, supply chain managers, and other companies worldwide, representing more than 80 percent of the global cocoa market. WCF's programs benefit farmers and their communities in cocoa-growing regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Americas. For more information, visit www.worldcocoafoundation.org or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. About Le Conseil du Cafe-Cacao: The Council of Regulation, Stabilization and Development of the Coffee and Cocoa Sector, i.e. Le Conseil du Cafe-Cacao, was created by Presidential Order 2011-481 of December 28, 2011, and set the rules relative to the trade of coffee and cocoa and the regulation of the coffee and cocoa sector in Cote d'Ivoire. It is the single government-established body responsible for managing the coffee and cocoa sector. Le Conseil du Cafe-Cacao exists primarily to serve Ivorian coffee and cocoa farmers. For more information, visit www.conseilcafecacao.ci. SOURCE World Cocoa Foundation Related Links http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org Entrepreneurs to get taste of British civility Updated: 2016-10-27 08:08 By Chris Peterson and Cecily Liu(China Daily) If you want to learn about English manners and social etiquette, why not go straight to the top? Baron Fermoy, a cousin of the late Princess Diana and sixth baron in an Irish peerage created by Queen Victoria in 1856, will go to Guangzhou next month for a week to brief eager Chinese entrepreneurs on how the upper crust lives in 21st-century England. The British television series Downton Abbey, a huge hit in China, has inspired wealthy Chinese to find out more about how Britain's nobility lives. Fermoy, born Maurice Burke Roche, announced details on Wednesday of his Nov 6 to 12 visit. "My purpose is to bring the best of British culture to a Chinese audience," Fermoy said. "There is clearly a fascination in Chinese society as to why the British behave as we do, with the grace and the manners we bring. "This is a two-way street. I hope to bring the best of Chinese culture to the UK," he said. Fermoy said he has already taught some Chinese students basic etiquette in the UK. In China, things such as English afternoon tea, formal balls, country house weekends or dressing up for formal dinners, with polished silver plates and cutlery and served by butlers and maids, are becoming fashionable. Growing wealth in China means that many who can now afford to aspire to live the British aristocratic life-style, creating a huge market of people paying big money for authentic British etiquette classes. Fermoy's trip is being organized by Peak Group Global, a cultural exchange organizer based in London and founded in 2005. He will be talking to a group of no more than 35 entrepreneurs and their families, a group ranging from primary school children to parents in their 30s and 40s. Events traditionally accessible only to the British upper classes, like the Royal Ascot races and Queen Charlotte's Ball, have attracted attention from Chinese living overseas, and their social media postings have become big talking points in China. In 2014, Britain's 250-year-old heritage etiquette organization, Debrett's, established an office in Beijing, teaching Chinese secondary school students British etiquette in partnership with Dulwich College Beijing. Grant Harrold, a former butler to heir-to-the-throne the Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, established an etiquette school in London with the exiled Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Serbia. One-fourth of the students in its afternoon tea and dinner etiquette classes come from China. "Chinese students are very quick learners and ask lots of questions," Harrold said. A growing number of Chinese etiquette schools are also entering the competition. Lessons with teachers flying in from the UK can cost 9,800 yuan ($1447.9) for two days, but lessons with Western teachers based in China are 6,800 yuan for a package of 10 short classes. WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Street Solar Power, a solar sales, finance and installation company located in the Bronx, NY, has begun construction on a 4.1-megawatt high efficiency PV system in West Bridgewater the largest single rooftop installation in Massachusetts. The system will be used to offset the electric bills for the entire public school system in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Green Street Solar Power plans to own and operate the system long term. "We are thrilled about going solar with Green Street," said Marc Furtado, Director of Finance for the Attleboro Public Schools. "Not only will the district save millions over the life of the system, but we're having a positive impact on the environment, and setting a great example for our nearly 6,000 students." As one of the largest roof-top commercial solar installations in the country on record, the system's clean energy is projected to save Attleboro more than $3.5 million over 25 years, while the environmental benefits are equivalent to taking 18,850 cars off the road or preserving 700 acres of forest. Scott Kerner, Green Street's CEO, notes that, "It's projects like West Bridgewater that remind us why we got into the solar business. It's incredibly rewarding to know that ultimately this project is benefitting kids, and we're honored that the project will provide Attleboro schools with clean, reliable power for a generation." Financing for the project was provided by Seminole Financial Services. Chris Diaz, principal at Seminole stated, "The West Bridgewater Solar System is an excellent example of the positive impact solar can have on local schools and municipalities. Seminole is proud to be a part of this project with a great developer like Green Street." About Seminole Financial Services, LLC Seminole Financial Services focuses on originating debt and equity investments for renewable energy and multi-family real estate projects nationwide. Seminole's finance programs include: short term (construction) and long term (mini-perm) loans for multi-family real estate and renewable energy; project-based equity for multi-family real estate; and tax credit equity for renewable energy transactions. Since 2009, The Seminole Companies has closed over 150 transactions totaling more than $1.3 billion in investments. For further details about Seminole Financial Services' renewable energy financing, please contact Chris Diaz, Senior Vice President, at (727) 460-0578 or visit their website at SeminoleFinancialServices.com. About Green Street Solar Power Green Street Solar Power provides solar energy systems to homes and businesses throughout the northeast. Headquartered in the Bronx, NY, Green Street has grown from two founders to more than 60 employees in less than two years. Green Street continues to experience rapid growth with 100 MW of commercial and community solar projects in development. As they expand their solar coverage, Green Street consistently provides the best available solar technology coupled with an unwavering commitment to customer service. To find out more about Green Street Solar Power please contact Scott Kerner at 917-254-4344, or visit GreenStreetSolarPower.com. Green Street Solar Power Contact: Scott Kerner [email protected] 917-254-4344 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433246LOGO SOURCE Green Street Solar Power Related Links http://www.greenstreetsolarpower.com SEATTLE, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of national Make A Difference Day, Seattle's Scientology Environmental Task Force and the Seattle chapter of The Way To Happiness Foundation teamed up to clear invasive plants out of Kinnear Park. Volunteers spent the day beautifying the official city landmark that stands as one of Seattle's oldest parks. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433270 Seattle's parks are a point of pride for the city that is known for its sustainability programs and its care for the environment, and the Church of Scientology is a committed partner in this endeavor. "We adopted Kinnear Park 16 years ago to ensure that one of Seattle's most beautiful parks was well maintained and improved and we've been proud to work closely with the Seattle Parks and Recreation in our volunteer efforts," says David Scattergood, coordinator of Seattle's Scientology Environmental Task Force. "Giving service to others and ensuring that we are good environmental stewards is a watchword of both The Way to Happiness Foundation and the Task Force." The work of both groups was inspired by The Way to Happiness, the nonreligious guide to better living written by author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. Precept No. 12 of The Way to Happiness is "Safeguard and improve your environment." Mr. Hubbard wrote, "There are many things one can do to help take care of the planet. They begin with the idea that one should. They progress with suggesting to others they should. Man has gotten up to the potential of destroying the planet. He must be pushed on up to the capability and actions of saving it." Environmental task forces are a way even a small group can make a difference, says Scattergood. "If every neighborhood in America created an environmental task force of even just a dozen people, that would be at least 5 million people working on a common purpose to keep America green." For over 25 years, the Scientology Environmental Task Force has been working to beautify Seattle area streets and parks, painting out graffiti and creating murals in the community. The Task Force and The Way to Happiness Foundation have contributed thousands of hours of volunteer time to create a more sustainable environment. Volunteers from across the country unite each year on Make A Difference Day, one of the largest single annual days of service nationwide. Since 1992, volunteers and communities have come together on this with a single purpose: to improve the lives of others. Read the article on the Scientology Newsroom. Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKJVLkZ-RVE This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Church of Scientology Seattle Related Links http://www.scientology-seattle.org "With an internationally known brand like TUMI, this year's #Heineken100 program has been more successful than ever before," said Raul Esquer, Heineken USA Brand Manager. "We're proud to add yet another functional and beautifully designed item to the program with the carry-on." Made from high tensile poly weave, the roller features cowhide leather accents and trim. Heineken-green zippers add pops of color to the spacious and luxurious piece. Inspired by the city of Amsterdam, the #Heineken100 suitcase meets FAA carry-on size regulations and features numerous spacious compartments, making it ideal for both local and international travel. The first #Heineken100 release, a Miami-inspired TUMI tote with signature Heineken-green detailing, debuted in August, while the second, a similarly styled convertible backpack/duffle, debuted in September. For seven consecutive years, Heineken has selected #Heineken100 collaborators based on their aesthetic visions and spheres of active cultural influence. Past partners have included Public School, Garrett Leight, Union Los Angeles, Parabellum, Mark McNairy, KITH and Neighborhood Japan, among others. Watch the #Heineken100 hashtag for more information. About HEINEKEN USA HEINEKEN USA Inc., the nation's leading upscale beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International NV, the world's most international brewer. European brands imported into the U.S. include Heineken, the world's most international beer brand, Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders, Amstel Light, and Newcastle Brown Ale. HEINEKEN USA also imports the Dos Equis Franchise, Tecate Franchise, Sol, Indio, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from Mexico. For the latest information on our company and brands, follow us on Twitter @HeinekenUSACorp, or visit HEINEKENUSA.com. About TUMI Since 1975, TUMI has been creating world-class business and travel essentials, designed to upgrade, uncomplicate, and beautify all aspects of life on the move. Blending flawless functionality with a spirit of ingenuity, we're committed to empowering journeys as a lifelong partner to movers and makers in pursuit of their passions. Designed in America, for Global Citizens everywhere. The brand is sold in over 350 stores from New York to Paris to London and Tokyo, as well as the world's top department and specialty stores and travel retail in more than 75 countries. For more about TUMI, visit www.TUMI.com, www.facebook.com/TUMItravel, www.twitter.com/TUMItravel. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433358 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433360 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433359 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150720/238612LOGO SOURCE HEINEKEN USA Inc. Related Links http://HEINEKENUSA.com DALLAS, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Cheong Koon Hean, a widely acclaimed architect and urban planner credited with shaping much of Singapore's urban landscape, has been named the 2016 recipient of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development. Dr. Cheong, the 17th Nichols laureate and the first from Asia, is being honored this evening at a celebratory event during the institute's 2016 Fall Meeting in Dallas. The ULI J.C. Nichols Prize recognizes a person or a person representing an institution whose work demonstrates a commitment to the creation of communities that reflect the highest standards of design and development. The prize honors the legacy of Kansas City, Missouri, developer J.C. Nichols, a founding ULI member considered to be one of America's most creative entrepreneurs in land use during the first half of the 20th century. Dr. Cheong, whose extraordinary career in city building spans 35 years, is Chief Executive Officer of Singapore's Housing & Development Board (HDB), which builds and manages public housing for more than 80 percent of the city-state's population. With over 9 in 10 of them owning the homes they live in, it has one of the highest homeownership rates in the world. Since holding this position in 2010, she has overseen one of Singapore's largest residential building programs to help address the high housing demand. She has also introduced HDB's 'Roadmap to Better Living in HDB Towns', which guides HDB's development of well-designed, sustainable and community-centric towns. In 2004, Dr. Cheong became the first woman to be named CEO of Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), where she had worked as an urban planner since 1990. In that capacity, Dr. Cheong played a key role in several transformative developments, including Marina Bay, a new vibrant live-work-play destination that created a signature skyline for Singapore. She championed the concept of creative placemaking to inject greater vibrancy not only at Marina Bay, but also in downtown areas such as the historic Singapore River and the civic and museum district at Bras Basah-Bugis. She was instrumental in the development of new growth areas at Kallang Riverside and Paya Lebar, as well as Jurong Lake District, transforming an industrial area into a new regional center with a vibrant community by introducing new housing, retail, and commercial uses. Under Dr. Cheong's leadership, the URA developed a conservation program that has been recognized by ULI as one of the most comprehensive conservation programs in Southeast Asia, balancing economic considerations with the need to safeguard Singapore's heritage. She championed policies and urban plans to beautify Singapore with "sky rise" greenery, ample public spaces and urban art. "What Dr. Cheong has accomplished in Singapore exemplifies what the Nichols Prize is about -- being an urban visionary, taking chances, weathering the risks and producing ever better results," says 2016 Nichols Prize Jury Chairman Marilyn J. Taylor, dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Design in Philadelphia and a former ULI Chairman. "Cities face enormous challenges, and visionaries by definition bring a longer-term view far beyond a single political term or a single process or project as a way to achieve transformation. Highlighting long-term thinking in a time when societies tend to think in short-term increments is an important activity for ULI." Dr. Cheong's approach to successful city building consists of being visionary and creative, and being willing to introduce new ideas and persevere with missionary zeal to see them through. "Singapore's story is about how a land- and resource-poor city-state has managed to develop a highly livable, high-density city," she says. "Long-term, comprehensive planning, thoughtful urban design, and responsible governance has helped us become more sustainable, livable and economically vibrant, bringing jobs and a better quality of life for our people." "Doing this has not come easy. It requires collective effort, innovative policies and plans, and dedicated and capable people, all supported by strong leadership. It is heartening that the Urban Land Institute recognizes the role of urban planners, many of whom work behind the scenes, to shape cities for a better future," Dr. Cheong says. Nichols Prize Jury Member Mark Johnson pointed to Dr. Cheong's successful efforts to improve the quality of affordable housing -- not just increase the quantity -- for Singapore's residents, with a special emphasis on keeping extended families closer together. In raising standards for housing design, she guided the transformation of Singapore's public housing into award-winning projects, including The [email protected], Waterway Terraces at Punggol, as well as SkyTerrace and SkyVille @ Dawson. "She has been very effective at finding new ways to make housing for families attainable, and at accommodating the many different cultures and ethnicities in Singapore in socially harmonious communities," says Johnson, president of Civitas in Denver. "The closeness of Singapore makes it imperative that housing is built as a community. Applying this to extended families opens up intergenerational and inter-ethnic opportunities opportunities for people of all walks of life to be together, Johnson added. "The solutions to urban issues that Dr. Cheong has led in Singapore are showing the way for the rest of world. We are all headed toward living closer together, in more diverse communities, and she is demonstrating how to address this." In addition to Taylor and Johnson, other 2016 Nichols Prize jury members are: Dana Crawford, chairman, Urban Neighborhoods Inc., Denver; Ellen Dunham Jones, professor, School of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta; and Sir Stuart Lipton, a former Nichols Prize laureate and founder of Lipton Rogers Developments LLP in London. Dr. Cheong frequently shares her expertise as a participant on planning and urban design panels around the globe. She helped to formulate the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco City Master Plan, and conceptualized the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, a biennial international award that recognizes cities and the leaders responsible for urban initiatives that display foresight and thoughtful governance. She is currently on the boards of the National University of Singapore, the Civil Service College, and the International Federation for Housing and Planning. Dr. Cheong has been awarded several national honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding public service. She was recently conferred the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's 2016 Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also appointed the Tan Swan Beng Endowed Professor by the Nanyang Technological University in 2015. In 2014, she was inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame, and in 2011, she received the Women Who Make a Difference award from the International Women's Forum. In 2010, she was named Woman of the Year in Singapore by Her World magazine. About the ULI J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development The ULI J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development is funded by an endowment from the family of J.C. Nichols to the ULI Foundation. A management committee including ULI representatives and members of the Nichols family directs the prize program. About the Urban Land Institute The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has nearly 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information, please visit uli.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100310/ULILOGO SOURCE Urban Land Institute Related Links http://www.uli.org LONDON, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Coverage Historical market size for the period 2012-2014 and forecast for the period 2015-2020. Number of cards in cirulation, and value and volume of transactions. Number of terminal, and value and volume of transactions. Industry trends, drivers, and opportunities. Competitive landscape of card issuers for both, debit cards and credit cards. Major schemes, debit and credit cards by customer segments. Research methodology The study is based on extensive secondary and primary research. The various sources studied during the secondary research include websites of payment/ banking/ industry associations, industry regulatory bodies, banks, and card issuers. The primary research included in-depth interviews with industry experts and key opinion leaders. Indonesia cards and payments market overview In terms of number of cards in circulation, the Indonesian payment cards market grew at a CAGR of 10.3% during the period 2012 -2014. The pay now cards are the dominant payment cards in Indonesia. Growth in the Indonesian pay now card market has been relatively strong in terms of number of cards in issue, witnessing a CAGR of 11.9% during 2012-2014. The percentage of the urban population in total population of the country grew from 51.3% in 2012 to 53% in 2014 and is expected to grow further over the forecast period, to reach 58% in 2020. The increase in urbanization is expected to lead to increase in card usage in the country. The total number of credit cards in Indonesia increased at a CAGR of 2% during the period 2012-2014. The transaction value of credit cards reported at POS terminals was greater than at ATMs. The credit card turnover witnessed a CAGR of 7.2%, growing from IDR 13.9 in 2012 to IDR 16.0 in 2014. In January 2016, UOB Indonesia announced the launch of travel-focused PRVI Miles credit card which caters to well-travelled Indonesians. In 2015, UOBI cardholders spent around IDR 800 billion abroad, an increase of 5% y-o-y. During their travels, cardholders spent the most on accommodation and fashion. Singapore and Thailand were among the top 5 destinations favoured by Indonesians travelling abroad. Card offers travel privileges across Southeast Asia which includes discounts with travel merchants such as Agoda, Expedia, as well as fashion, dining and hotel benefits at merchants across Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. In May 2015, Bank Mandiri signed an agreement with a Japan based international credit card payment services provider "JCB", to allow acceptance of credit cards with JCB logo at the Bank's ATMs and EDC machines. This alliance will allow JCB credit card holders to make withdrawals, transfer money and make purchases through Bank Mandiri's EDC machines and ATMs. Also the bank foresees to issue JCB logo bearing credit cards as well. Key players in the Indonesian cards and payments market: Bank Rakyat Indonesia Bank Central Asia Bank Negara Indonesia Bank Mandiri HSBC Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3861593/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com Greater Trinity is unique among private schools. It combines small class size, highly trained staff, individualized programs, and social services to overcome obstacles that financially struggling families face. Currently, 25% of its students are homeless. No child is ever turned away for an inability to pay. "Homelessness brings a great challenge to learning for a child, especially when the child comes to the program and hasn't had a healthy meal the night before," said Executive Director Paul A. Stoot, Sr. "We offer balance, where that child has six to eight hours of comfort during the day." While Greater Trinity focuses on serving the greater Everett area, its students are far from alone in being impacted by homelessness. According to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, more than 35,000 children have no home to sleep in at night across Washington. Fortunately, there's much we can do to help as members of a community passionate about education. See the Greater Trinity story and meet Kye, an enthusiastic six-year-old, who embodies Greater Trinity's motto, "I can learn anything!" In just one year at Greater Trinity, he went from below grade level to above grade level and is now a thriving first-grader in public school. To share the story and learn more about how you can help, please visit inspirusCU.org/greater-trinity-academy. About Inspirus Credit Union Founded in 1936 by a Seattle math and journalism teacher, Inspirus serves about 80,000 members across Washington who share a passion for education. With $1.1 billion in assets, Inspirus operates branches in Seattle, Spokane, and Lynnwood. Its philanthropy model includes education-giveback programs that allow members to direct charitable contributions to schools in their communities. Inspirus employees donate upwards of 1,000 volunteer hours each year in support of education. In addition, Community Education Representatives provide free financial seminars, professional development, and recognition to school employees statewide. For more information, visit inspirusCU.org. Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Inspirus-Credit-Union-Greater-Trinity-Academy-Video.mp4 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160201/328369LOGO SOURCE Inspirus Credit Union Related Links https://www.inspiruscu.org ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ) today reported financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2016. "Our continued focus on clients and running a disciplined business helped us, in a challenging business environment, achieve robust long-term net inflows of $12.2 billion during the quarter, driven by solid retail and institutional demand across active and passive capabilities," said Martin L. Flanagan, president and CEO. "We also returned $176 million to shareholders during the third quarter through dividends and buybacks." Q3-16 Q2-16 Q3-16 vs. Q2-16 Q3-15 Q3-16 vs. Q3-15 U.S. GAAP Financial Measures Operating revenues $1,201.6 m $1,189.4 m 1.0 % $1,273.5 m (5.6) % Operating income $306.3 m $301.5 m 1.6 % $352.7 m (13.2) % Operating margin 25.5 % 25.3 % 27.7 % Net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. $241.2 m $225.5 m 7.0 % $249.3 m (3.2) % Diluted EPS $0.58 $0.54 7.4 % $0.58 % Adjusted Financial Measures (1) Net revenues $854.7 m $856.6 m (0.2) % $903.0 m (5.3) % Adjusted operating income $339.3 m $330.4 m 2.7 % $373.4 m (9.1) % Adjusted operating margin 39.7 % 38.6 % 41.4 % Adjusted net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. $246.2 m $233.0 m 5.7 % $261.4 m (5.8) % Adjusted diluted EPS $0.60 $0.56 7.1 % $0.61 (1.6) % Assets Under Management Ending AUM $820.2 bn $779.6 bn 5.2 % $755.8 bn 8.5 % Average AUM $814.1 bn $784.5 bn 3.8 % $788.9 bn 3.2 % (1) The adjusted financial measures are all non-GAAP financial measures. See the information on pages 8 through 10 for a reconciliation to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures. Assets Under Management Total assets under management (AUM) at September 30, 2016, were $820.2 billion (June 30, 2016: $779.6 billion), an increase of $40.6 billion during the third quarter. Total net inflows were $19.2 billion for the third quarter, as detailed below: Summary of net flows (in billions) Q3-16 Q2-16 Q3-15 Active $8.3 $ ($1.6) Passive 3.9 4.5 (2.3) Long-term net flows 12.2 4.5 (3.9) Invesco PowerShares QQQ 1.1 (3.8) (0.9) Money market 5.9 2.0 (1.5) Total net flows $19.2 $2.7 ($6.3) Annualized long-term organic growth rate* 7.1 % 2.6 % (2.2%) *Annualized long-term organic growth rate is calculated using long-term net flows (annualized) divided by opening long-term AUM for the period. Long-term AUM excludes institutional money market AUM and PowerShares QQQ AUM. Long-term net flows during the third quarter included a $6.5 billion inflow from the State of Rhode Island 529 mandate. Net market gains led to increases of $23.6 billion in AUM during the third quarter, compared to market gains of $10.7 billion in the second quarter 2016. Foreign exchange rate movements led to a $2.2 billion decrease in AUM during the third quarter, compared to a $7.7 billion decrease in the second quarter 2016. Average AUM during the third quarter were $814.1 billion, compared to $784.5 billion for the second quarter 2016, an increase of 3.8%. Further analysis is included in the supplementary schedules to this release. Operating Results This section discusses the company's third quarter 2016 results, as compared to the second quarter 2016, and comments on significant items that have impacted the company's results as presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Operating revenues increased $12.2 million (1.0%) to $1,201.6 million in the third quarter, from $1,189.4 million in the second quarter 2016. The change was primarily due to increased investment management fees, offset by lower performance fees and other revenues. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third quarter operating revenues by $23.1 million compared to the second quarter 2016. Investment management fees increased $19.2 million (2.0%) to $965.9 million in the third quarter, from $946.7 million in the second quarter 2016. The increase reflects the higher average AUM during the third quarter compared to the second quarter 2016 partially offset by the impact of changes in the AUM product and currency mix. The average Pound Sterling exchange rate for Q3 was 1.3136 compared to 1.4346 for Q2 2016, an 8.4% devaluation. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third quarter management fees by $22.8 million when compared to the second quarter 2016. The capital management discussion below includes details of our Pound Sterling hedge. Service and distribution fees increased $10.0 million (4.9%) to $213.4 million in the third quarter, from $203.4 million in the second quarter 2016. The increase in service and distribution fees reflects the higher average AUM for products that receive these fees in the third quarter. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third quarter service and distribution fees by $0.1 million when compared to the second quarter 2016. Performance fees were $3.4 million in the third quarter, compared to $8.9 million in the second quarter 2016. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third quarter performance fees by $0.1 million when compared to the second quarter 2016. Other revenues decreased by $11.5 million (37.8%) to $18.9 million in the third quarter, compared to $30.4 million in the second quarter 2016 primarily due to a decrease of $7.3 million in transaction fees from real estate and a $2.0 million decrease in transactional sales charges from unit investment trust products. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased other revenues by $0.1 million in the third quarter when compared to the second quarter 2016. Operating expenses increased $7.4 million (0.8%) to $895.3 million in the third quarter, from $887.9 million in the second quarter 2016, primarily related to increased third-party distribution, service and advisory costs. Business optimization charges were $11.7 million in the third quarter, compared to $10.3 million in the second quarter ($28.8 million year-to date and $45.0 since inception of this initiative). As of the end of the third quarter 2016, this initiative has produced annualized run-rate expense savings of $13.9 million. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third quarter operating expenses by $12.9 million when compared to the second quarter 2016. Third-party distribution, service and advisory expenses increased by $13.7 million (3.9%) to $362.1 million in the third quarter from $348.4 million in the second quarter 2016, consistent with the revenues derived from the increase in related retail AUM. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third-party distribution, service and advisory expenses by $4.7 million in the third quarter when compared to the second quarter 2016. Employee compensation expenses decreased by $5.2 million (1.5%) to $345.1 million in the third quarter, from $350.3 million in the second quarter 2016. Staff severance costs related to business optimization were $5.8 million in the third quarter compared to $4.4 million in the second quarter. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third quarter employee compensation expenses by $5.2 million when compared to the second quarter 2016. Marketing expenses decreased by $1.9 million (6.7%) to $26.4 million in the third quarter, from $28.3 million in the second quarter 2016 reflecting a reduction in client events. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third quarter marketing expenses by $0.3 million when compared to the second quarter 2016. Property, office and technology expenses decreased $4.1 million (5.0%) to $78.2 million in the third quarter, from $82.3 million in the second quarter 2016. The decrease includes a $3.4 million credit recorded in the third quarter associated with a vacated leased property. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third quarter property, office and technology expenses by $1.0 million when compared to the second quarter 2016. General and administrative expenses increased $4.9 million (6.2%) to $83.5 million in the third quarter, from $78.6 million in the second quarter 2016. General and administrative expenses for the second quarter included a regulatory settlement credit of $4.9 million that did not recur in the third quarter. The third quarter included $5.4 million of professional services fees related to the business optimization initiative compared to $5.5 million in the second quarter 2016. Foreign exchange rate changes decreased third quarter general and administrative expenses by $1.7 million when compared to the second quarter 2016. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates increased $0.9 million to $5.5 million in the third quarter from $4.6 million in the second quarter 2016. Non-operating other income and expenses in the third quarter also included a $39.0 million consolidated investment product (CIP) net gain comprised of market-driven gains and losses of investments held by the consolidated funds and net interest income of CIP (second quarter 2016: $37.9 million gain). Other gains and losses, net was a net gain in the third quarter of $16.2 million compared to a net loss of $4.2 million in the second quarter. The components and variances are included in the table below: Summary of Other gains and losses, net (in millions) Q3-16 Q2-16 Change Investment gains/(losses) $3.3 $0.4 $2.9 Market valuation gains/(losses) in deferred compensation plan investments 7.3 3.6 3.7 Market valuation gains/(losses) on acquisition-related contingent consideration 5.3 (15.1) 20.4 Market valuation gains/(losses) on foreign exchange hedge contracts 0.9 6.6 (5.7) Foreign exchange gains/(losses) on intercompany loans (0.6) 0.3 (0.9) $16.2 ($4.2) $20.4 The acquisition-related contingent consideration gains and losses relate to the investment management contracts acquired from Deutsche Bank in the first quarter of 2015. The foreign exchange hedge contract gains and losses reflect the mark to market of all the open put option contracts. Further details of these foreign exchange hedge contracts are given below in the capital management section. The effective tax rate decreased to 26.0% for the third quarter, from 26.1% for the second quarter 2016. The impact of the inclusion of non-controlling interests in CIP decreased our effective tax rate by 1.1% for the third quarter, compared to a decrease of 1.0% for the second quarter 2016. Third quarter 2016 included a 0.2% rate increase and second quarter 2016 included a 0.5% rate decrease as a result of adjustments related to changes in the fair value of contingent consideration discussed above. Capital Management As of September 30, 2016, the company's cash and cash equivalents were $1,581.3 million, with long-term debt of $2,073.2 million. The credit facility balance was zero at both September 30, 2016 and June 30, 2016. Dividends paid in the third quarter were $115.7 million. Today the company is announcing a third-quarter cash dividend of 28.0 cents. The dividend is payable on December 5, 2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 15, 2016, with an ex-dividend date of November 11, 2016. During the third quarter the company repurchased $60.0 million of its common shares. This included the conclusion on September 6, 2016 of a $150.0 million accelerated share repurchase (ASR) agreement announced on June 30, 2016 that, in total, delivered 5.3 million shares at a weighted average share price of $28.35. Of the $150.0 million ASR, $120.0 million was repurchased in the second quarter. In addition to the ASR, a further $30.0 million of the company's common shares were repurchased on the open market during the third quarter, representing 1.0 million shares at a weighted average share price of $30.96. The diluted share count at September 30, 2016 was 411.7 million. In early October 2016 the company received $4.9 million from the third quarter's Pound Sterling - U.S. Dollar hedge contract. As previously disclosed, during the third quarter the company entered into additional put option contracts to hedge 75% of the Pound Sterling-based operating income and 75% of the Euro-based operating income through to the end of 2017. These new put option contracts are set at a strike level of $1.2496 (Pound Sterling) and 1.0719 (Euro). Headcount As of September 30, 2016, the company had 6,812 employees, compared to 6,796 employees as of June 30, 2016. Invesco is an independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life. NYSE: IVZ; www.invesco.com . Members of the investment community and general public are invited to listen to the conference call today, October 27, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. ET by dialing one of the following numbers: 1-866-617-1526 for U.S. and Canadian callers or 1-210-795-0624 for international callers. An audio replay of the conference call will be available until Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. ET by calling 1-800-889-9139 for U.S. and Canadian callers or 1-402-220-9120 for international callers. A presentation highlighting the company's performance will be available during a live Webcast and on Invesco's Website at www.invesco.com . This release, and comments made in the associated conference call today, may include "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include information concerning future results of our operations, expenses, earnings, liquidity, cash flow and capital expenditures, industry or market conditions, assets under management, geopolitical events and their potential impact on the company, acquisitions and divestitures, debt and our ability to obtain additional financing or make payments, regulatory developments, demand for and pricing of our products and other aspects of our business or general economic conditions. In addition, words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," and future or conditional verbs such as "will," "may," "could," "should," and "would" as well as any other statement that necessarily depends on future events, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations. We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements and urge you to carefully consider the risks described in our most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may obtain these reports from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . We expressly disclaim any obligation to update the information in any public disclosure if any forward-looking statement later turns out to be inaccurate. Invesco Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited, in millions, other than per share amounts) Q3-16 Q2-16 % Change Q3-15 % Change Operating revenues: Investment management fees $965.9 $946.7 2.0 % $1,016.9 (5.0) % Service and distribution fees 213.4 203.4 4.9 % 214.8 (0.7) % Performance fees 3.4 8.9 (61.8) % 15.6 (78.2) % Other 18.9 30.4 (37.8) % 26.2 (27.9) % Total operating revenues 1,201.6 1,189.4 1.0 % 1,273.5 (5.6) % Operating expenses: Third-party distribution, service and advisory 362.1 348.4 3.9 % 392.3 (7.7) % Employee compensation 345.1 350.3 (1.5) % 337.6 2.2 % Marketing 26.4 28.3 (6.7) % 24.9 6.0 % Property, office and technology 78.2 82.3 (5.0) % 79.0 (1.0) % General and administrative 83.5 78.6 6.2 % 87.0 (4.0) % Total operating expenses 895.3 887.9 0.8 % 920.8 (2.8) % Operating income 306.3 301.5 1.6 % 352.7 (13.2) % Other income/(expense): Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates 5.5 4.6 19.6 % 8.2 (32.9) % Interest and dividend income 2.6 2.5 4.0 % 2.4 8.3 % Interest expense (23.9) (22.1) 8.1 % (20.4) 17.2 % Other gains and losses, net 16.2 (4.2) N/A 0.9 N/A Other income/(expense) of CIP, net 39.0 37.9 2.9 % 1.5 N/A Other income/(expense) of CSIP, net N/A (3.6) N/A Income before income taxes 345.7 320.2 8.0 % 341.7 1.2 % Income tax provision (89.8) (83.7) 7.3 % (100.4) (10.6) % Net income 255.9 236.5 8.2 % 241.3 6.1 % Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities (14.7) (11.0) 33.6 % 8.0 N/A Net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. $241.2 $225.5 7.0 % $249.3 (3.2) % Earnings per share: ---basic $0.58 $0.54 7.4 % $0.58 % ---diluted $0.58 $0.54 7.4 % $0.58 % Average shares outstanding: ---basic 412.6 418.9 (1.5) % 428.8 (3.8) % ---diluted 412.9 419.1 (1.5) % 429.1 (3.8) % Invesco Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited, in millions, other than per share amounts) Nine months ended September 30, 2016 2015 % Change Operating revenues: Investment management fees $2,826.2 $3,074.0 (8.1) % Service and distribution fees 614.5 647.8 (5.1) % Performance fees 26.8 69.1 (61.2) % Other 72.2 92.3 (21.8) % Total operating revenues 3,539.7 3,883.2 (8.8) % Operating expenses: Third-party distribution, service and advisory 1,057.7 1,204.7 (12.2) % Employee compensation 1,039.8 1,045.7 (0.6) % Marketing 79.6 81.3 (2.1) % Property, office and technology 240.4 230.7 4.2 % General and administrative 240.0 266.0 (9.8) % Total operating expenses 2,657.5 2,828.4 (6.0) % Operating income 882.2 1,054.8 (16.4) % Other income/(expense): Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (2.1) 32.0 N/A Interest and dividend income 8.7 7.5 16.0 % Interest expense (69.9) (58.7) 19.1 % Other gains and losses, net 7.3 (5.2) N/A Other income/(expense) of CIP, net 69.4 39.1 77.5 % Other income/(expense) of CSIP, net 10.9 N/A Income before income taxes 895.6 1,080.4 (17.1) % Income tax provision (245.4) (311.1) (21.1) % Net income 650.2 769.3 (15.5) % Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities (22.5) (3.1) 625.8 % Net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. $627.7 $766.2 (18.1) % Earnings per share: ---basic $1.51 $1.78 (15.2) % ---diluted $1.51 $1.78 (15.2) % Average shares outstanding: ---basic 416.7 430.9 (3.3) % ---diluted 417.0 431.3 (3.3) % Invesco Ltd. Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations We are presenting the following non-GAAP performance measures: net revenues (and by calculation, net revenue yield on AUM), adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net income attributable to Invesco Ltd., and adjusted diluted EPS. We believe these non-GAAP measures provide greater transparency into our business on an ongoing operations basis and allow more appropriate comparisons with industry peers. Management uses these performance measures to evaluate the business and for internal management reporting. The most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures are operating revenues (and by calculation, gross revenue yield on AUM), operating income, operating margin, net income attributable to Invesco Ltd., and diluted EPS. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as substitutes for any measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The following are reconciliations between the presented non-GAAP measures and the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures. These measures are described more fully in the company's Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Refer to these public filings for additional information about the company' non-GAAP performance measures. In addition, a reconciliation of adjusted operating expenses is provided below, together with reconciliations of the U.S. GAAP operating expense lines to provide further analysis of the non-GAAP adjustments. Reconciliation of Operating revenues to Net revenues: in millions Q3-16 Q2-16 Q3-15 Operating revenues, U.S. GAAP basis 1,201.6 1,189.4 1,273.5 Proportional share of revenues, net of third-party distribution, service and advisory expenses, from joint venture investments 9.5 10.5 12.3 Third party distribution, service and advisory expenses (362.1) (348.4) (392.3) CIP 5.7 5.1 9.5 Net revenues 854.7 856.6 903.0 Reconciliation of Operating income to Adjusted operating income: in millions Q3-16 Q2-16 Q3-15 Operating income, U.S. GAAP basis 306.3 301.5 352.7 Proportional share of net operating income from joint venture investments 3.0 4.2 4.2 CIP 13.1 13.0 18.2 Business combinations 4.5 4.5 2.7 Compensation expense related to market valuation changes in deferred compensation plans 4.1 1.8 (4.4) Business optimization expenses 11.7 10.3 Vacated property lease credit (3.4) Regulatory-related (credits)/charges (4.9) Adjusted operating income 339.3 330.4 373.4 Operating margin (1) 25.5 % 25.3 % 27.7 % Adjusted operating margin (2) 39.7 % 38.6 % 41.4 % Reconciliation of Net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. to Adjusted net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. in millions Q3-16 Q2-16 Q3-15 Net income attributable to Invesco Ltd., U.S. GAAP basis 241.2 225.5 249.3 CIP, eliminated upon consolidation (3.2) (8.0) 13.2 Business combinations: Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration (5.3) 15.1 (18.4) Other business combination-related adjustments 4.5 4.5 2.7 Deferred compensation plan market valuation changes and dividend income less compensation expense (3.5) (2.0) 7.4 Business optimization expenses 11.7 10.3 Vacated property lease credit (3.4) Regulatory-related (credits)/charges (4.9) Foreign exchange hedge 2.2 (8.4) (1.6) Taxation: Taxation on business combinations 6.2 (1.7) 11.4 Taxation on deferred compensation plan market valuation changes and dividend income less compensation expense 1.1 0.7 (2.6) Taxation on business optimization charges (3.7) (3.2) Taxation on vacated property lease credit 0.7 Taxation on regulatory-related (credits)/charges (1.4) 1.9 Taxation on foreign exchange hedge (0.9) 3.2 Adjusted net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. (3) 246.2 233.0 261.4 Average shares outstanding - diluted 412.9 419.1 429.1 Diluted EPS $0.58 $0.54 $0.58 Adjusted diluted EPS (4) $0.60 $0.56 $0.61 ____________ (1) Operating margin is equal to operating income divided by operating revenues. (2) Adjusted operating margin is equal to adjusted operating income divided by net revenues. (3) The effective tax rate on adjusted net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. is 26.5% (second quarter 2016: 26.5%; third quarter 2015: 26.5%). (4) Adjusted diluted EPS is equal to adjusted net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. divided by the weighted average number of common and restricted shares outstanding. There is no difference between the calculated earnings per share amounts presented above and the calculated earnings per share amounts under the two class method. Reconciliation of Operating expenses to Adjusted operating expenses: in millions Q3-16 Q2-16 Q3-15 Operating expenses, U.S. GAAP basis 895.3 887.9 920.8 Proportional share of revenues, net of third-party distribution expenses, from joint venture investments 6.5 6.3 8.1 Third party distribution, service and advisory expenses (362.1) (348.4) (392.3) CIP (7.4) (7.9) (8.7) Business combinations (4.5) (4.5) (2.7) Compensation expense related to market valuation changes in deferred compensation plans (4.1) (1.8) 4.4 Business optimization (11.7) (10.3) Vacated property lease credit 3.4 Regulatory-related credits/(charges) 4.9 Adjusted operating expenses 515.4 526.2 529.6 Employee compensation, U.S. GAAP basis 345.1 350.3 337.6 Proportional consolidation of joint ventures 4.7 4.1 4.9 Business combinations (0.8) (0.3) Market appreciation/depreciation of deferred compensation awards (4.1) (1.8) 4.4 Business optimization (5.8) (4.4) Adjusted employee compensation 339.1 347.9 346.9 Marketing, U.S. GAAP basis 26.4 28.3 24.9 Proportional consolidation of joint ventures 0.4 0.7 0.9 Adjusted marketing 26.8 29.0 25.8 Property, office and technology, U.S. GAAP basis 78.2 82.3 79.0 Proportional consolidation of joint ventures 1.0 0.9 0.9 Business optimization (0.5) (0.4) Vacated property lease credit 3.4 Adjusted property, office and technology 82.1 82.8 79.9 General and administrative, U.S. GAAP basis 83.5 78.6 87.0 Proportional consolidation of joint ventures 0.4 0.6 1.4 Business combinations (3.7) (4.2) (2.7) CIP (7.4) (7.9) (8.7) Business optimization (5.4) (5.5) Regulatory-related credits/(charges) 4.9 Adjusted general and administrative 67.4 66.5 77.0 Invesco Ltd. Quarterly Assets Under Management (in billions) Q3-16 Q2-16 % Change Q3-15 Beginning Assets $779.6 $771.5 1.0 % $803.6 Long-term inflows 51.7 45.8 12.9 % 43.5 Long-term outflows (39.5) (41.3) (4.4) % (47.4) Long-term net flows 12.2 4.5 171.1 % (3.9) Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund 1.1 (3.8) N/A (0.9) Net flows in institutional money market funds 5.9 2.0 195.0 % (1.5) Total net flows 19.2 2.7 611.1 % (6.3) Market gains and losses/reinvestment 23.6 10.7 120.6 % (35.6) Acquisitions/dispositions, net 2.4 (100.0) % Foreign currency translation (2.2) (7.7) (71.4) % (5.9) Ending Assets $820.2 $779.6 5.2 % $755.8 Average long-term AUM $705.9 $681.8 3.5 % $685.5 Ending long-term AUM $711.5 $681.7 4.4 % $657.3 Average AUM $814.1 $784.5 3.8 % $788.9 Gross revenue yield on AUM(a) 59.8 bps 61.3 bps 65.1 bps Gross revenue yield on AUM before performance fees(a) 59.6 bps 60.9 bps 64.3 bps Net revenue yield on AUM(b) 42.0 bps 43.7 bps 45.8 bps Net revenue yield on AUM before performance fees(b) 41.8 bps 43.2 bps 44.9 bps (in billions) Total AUM Active(e) Passive(e) June 30, 2016 $779.6 $646.1 $133.5 Long-term inflows 51.7 39.9 11.8 Long-term outflows (39.5) (31.6) (7.9) Long-term net flows 12.2 8.3 3.9 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund 1.1 1.1 Net flows in institutional money market funds 5.9 6.0 (0.1) Total net flows 19.2 14.3 4.9 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 23.6 18.7 4.9 Acquisitions/dispositions, net Foreign currency translation (2.2) (2.2) September 30, 2016 $820.2 $676.9 $143.3 Average AUM $814.1 $673.1 $141.0 Gross revenue yield on AUM(a) 59.8 bps 69.3 bps 15.3 bps Net revenue yield on AUM(b) 42.0 bps 47.6 bps 15.3 bps By channel: (in billions) Total Retail Institutional June 30, 2016 $779.6 $504.3 $275.3 Long-term inflows 51.7 40.3 11.4 Long-term outflows (39.5) (31.5) (8.0) Long-term net flows 12.2 8.8 3.4 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund 1.1 1.1 Net flows in institutional money market funds 5.9 5.9 Total net flows 19.2 9.9 9.3 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 23.6 20.2 3.4 Acquisitions/dispositions, net Foreign currency translation (2.2) (2.3) 0.1 September 30, 2016 $820.2 $532.1 $288.1 See the footnotes immediately following these tables. Invesco Ltd. Quarterly Assets Under Management (continued) By asset class: (in billions) Total Equity Fixed Income Balanced Money Market (d) Alternatives(c) June 30, 2016 $779.6 $348.8 $196.3 $47.4 $71.1 $116.0 Long-term inflows 51.7 19.9 17.1 2.6 1.2 10.9 Long-term outflows (39.5) (23.1) (7.9) (2.4) (1.1) (5.0) Long-term net flows 12.2 (3.2) 9.2 0.2 0.1 5.9 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund 1.1 1.1 Net flows in institutional money market funds 5.9 5.9 Total net flows 19.2 (2.1) 9.2 0.2 6.0 5.9 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 23.6 20.0 1.9 1.5 0.1 0.1 Acquisitions/dispositions, net Foreign currency translation (2.2) (1.4) (0.4) (0.2) (0.2) September 30, 2016 $820.2 $365.3 $207.0 $48.9 $77.2 $121.8 Average AUM $814.1 $364.4 $203.8 $48.4 $78.1 $119.4 By client domicile: (in billions) Total U.S. Canada U.K. Continental Europe Asia June 30, 2016 $779.6 $512.5 $23.1 $93.8 $72.8 $77.4 Long-term inflows 51.7 32.5 0.8 4.1 6.0 8.3 Long-term outflows (39.5) (24.5) (1.0) (3.6) (6.3) (4.1) Long-term net flows 12.2 8.0 (0.2) 0.5 (0.3) 4.2 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund 1.1 1.1 Net flows in institutional money market funds 5.9 1.7 4.1 0.1 Total net flows 19.2 10.8 (0.2) 4.6 (0.3) 4.3 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 23.6 13.9 1.3 4.9 2.5 1.0 Acquisitions/dispositions, net Foreign currency translation (2.2) (0.3) (2.6) 0.5 0.2 September 30, 2016 $820.2 $537.2 $23.9 $100.7 $75.5 $82.9 See the footnotes immediately following these tables. Invesco Ltd. Year-to-Date Assets Under Management (in billions) September 30, 2016 September 30, 2015 % Change Beginning Assets $775.6 $792.4 (2.1) % Long-term inflows 140.3 146.1 (4.0) % Long-term outflows (124.9) (133.8) (6.7) % Long-term net flows 15.4 12.3 25.2 % Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund (5.3) (3.8) 39.5 % Net flows in institutional money market funds 11.7 (10.1) N/A Total net flows 21.8 (1.6) N/A Market gains and losses/reinvestment 31.3 (26.0) N/A Acquisitions/dispositions, net (1.2) (0.7) 71.4 % Foreign currency translation (7.3) (8.3) (12.0) % Ending Assets $820.2 $755.8 8.5 % Average long-term AUM $678.9 $692.2 (1.9) % Ending long-term AUM $711.5 $657.3 8.2 % Average AUM $782.0 $798.4 (2.1) % Gross revenue yield on AUM(a) 61.0 bps 65.3 bps Gross revenue yield on AUM before performance fees(a) 60.6 bps 64.2 bps Net revenue yield on AUM(b) 43.1 bps 46.0 bps Net revenue yield on AUM before performance fees(b) 42.6 bps 44.7 bps (in billions) Total AUM Active(e) Passive(e) December 31, 2015 $775.6 $636.5 $139.1 Long-term inflows 140.3 106.3 34.0 Long-term outflows (124.9) (97.5) (27.4) Long-term net flows 15.4 8.8 6.6 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund (5.3) (5.3) Net flows in institutional money market funds 11.7 12.0 (0.3) Total net flows 21.8 20.8 1.0 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 31.3 25.1 6.2 Acquisitions/dispositions, net (1.2) 2.0 (3.2) Foreign currency translation (7.3) (7.5) 0.2 September 30, 2016 $820.2 $676.9 $143.3 Average AUM $782.0 $648.8 $133.2 Gross revenue yield on AUM(a) 61.0 bps 70.7 bps 14.6 bps Net revenue yield on AUM(b) 43.1 bps 49.0 bps 14.6 bps By channel: (in billions) Total Retail Institutional December 31, 2015 $775.6 $514.8 $260.8 Long-term inflows 140.3 108.2 32.1 Long-term outflows (124.9) (102.6) (22.3) Long-term net flows 15.4 5.6 9.8 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund (5.3) (5.3) Net flows in institutional money market funds 11.7 11.7 Total net flows 21.8 0.3 21.5 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 31.3 24.9 6.4 Acquisitions/dispositions, net (1.2) 0.4 (1.6) Foreign currency translation (7.3) (8.3) 1.0 September 30, 2016 $820.2 $532.1 $288.1 See the footnotes immediately following these tables. Invesco Ltd. Year-to-Date Assets Under Management (continued) By asset class: (in billions) Total Equity Fixed Income Balanced Money Market (d) Alternatives(c) December 31, 2015 $775.6 $370.9 $187.9 $48.1 $64.6 $104.1 Long-term inflows 140.3 60.8 38.8 7.8 3.2 29.7 Long-term outflows (124.9) (74.7) (24.4) (9.0) (2.9) (13.9) Long-term net flows 15.4 (13.9) 14.4 (1.2) 0.3 15.8 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund (5.3) (5.3) Net flows in institutional money market funds 11.7 11.7 Total net flows 21.8 (19.2) 14.4 (1.2) 12.0 15.8 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 31.3 18.0 7.3 2.5 0.3 3.2 Acquisitions/dispositions, net (1.2) 0.4 (1.1) 0.4 (0.9) Foreign currency translation (7.3) (4.8) (1.5) (0.5) (0.1) (0.4) September 30, 2016 $820.2 $365.3 $207.0 $48.9 $77.2 $121.8 Average AUM $782.0 $355.3 $194.3 $47.3 $72.6 $112.5 By client domicile: (in billions) Total U.S. Canada U.K. Continental Europe Asia December 31, 2015 $775.6 $510.7 $21.7 $104.2 $75.4 $63.6 Long-term inflows 140.3 84.6 2.6 11.5 18.7 22.9 Long-term outflows (124.9) (76.8) (3.2) (12.4) (21.5) (11.0) Long-term net flows 15.4 7.8 (0.6) (0.9) (2.8) 11.9 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund (5.3) (5.3) Net flows in institutional money market funds 11.7 5.6 0.4 3.3 2.4 Total net flows 21.8 8.1 (0.2) 2.4 (2.8) 14.3 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 31.3 22.1 1.2 5.6 1.5 0.9 Acquisitions/dispositions, net (1.2) (3.6) 2.4 Foreign currency translation (7.3) (0.1) 1.2 (11.5) 1.4 1.7 September 30, 2016 $820.2 $537.2 $23.9 $100.7 $75.5 $82.9 See the footnotes immediately following these tables. Invesco Ltd. Quarterly Assets Under Management - Passive(e) (in billions) Q3-16 Q2-16 % Change Q3-15 Beginning Assets $133.5 $131.1 1.8 % $141.6 Long-term inflows 11.8 12.3 (4.1) % 6.8 Long-term outflows (7.9) (7.8) 1.3 % (9.1) Long-term net flows 3.9 4.5 (13.3) % (2.3) Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund 1.1 (3.8) N/A (0.9) Net flows in institutional money market funds (0.1) 0.1 N/A 0.1 Total net flows 4.9 0.8 512.5 % (3.1) Market gains and losses/reinvestment 4.9 1.5 226.7 % (6.8) Acquisitions/dispositions, net N/A Foreign currency translation 0.1 (100.0) % Ending Assets $143.3 $133.5 7.3 % $131.7 Average long-term AUM $102.2 $95.1 7.5 % $99.6 Average AUM $141.0 $131.7 7.1 % $138.4 Gross revenue yield on AUM(a) 15.3 bps 14.6 bps 14.9 bps Gross revenue yield on AUM before performance fees(a) 15.3 bps 14.6 bps 14.9 bps Net revenue yield on AUM(b) 15.3 bps 14.6 bps 14.9 bps Net revenue yield on AUM before performance fees(b) 15.3 bps 14.6 bps 14.9 bps By channel: (in billions) Total Retail Institutional June 30, 2016 $133.5 $117.0 $16.5 Long-term inflows 11.8 10.9 0.9 Long-term outflows (7.9) (7.7) (0.2) Long-term net flows 3.9 3.2 0.7 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund 1.1 1.1 Net flows in institutional money market funds (0.1) (0.1) Total net flows 4.9 4.3 0.6 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 4.9 4.9 Acquisitions/dispositions, net Foreign currency translation September 30, 2016 $143.3 $126.2 $17.1 By asset class: (in billions) Total Equity Fixed Income Balanced Money Market Alternatives(c) June 30, 2016 $133.5 $84.9 $38.9 $ $0.2 $9.5 Long-term inflows 11.8 6.9 4.1 0.8 Long-term outflows (7.9) (6.2) (0.7) (1.0) Long-term net flows 3.9 0.7 3.4 (0.2) Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund 1.1 1.1 Net flows in institutional money market funds (0.1) (0.1) Total net flows 4.9 1.8 3.4 (0.1) (0.2) Market gains and losses/reinvestment 4.9 4.9 0.1 (0.1) Acquisitions/dispositions, net Foreign currency translation September 30, 2016 $143.3 $91.6 $42.4 $ $0.1 $9.2 Average AUM $141.0 $90.8 $40.7 $ $0.1 $9.4 See the footnotes immediately following these tables. Invesco Ltd. Quarterly Assets Under Management - Passive(e) (continued) By client domicile: (in billions) Total U.S. Canada U.K. Continental Europe Asia June 30, 2016 $133.5 $128.9 $0.5 $ $1.7 $2.4 Long-term inflows 11.8 11.6 0.1 0.1 Long-term outflows (7.9) (7.7) (0.1) (0.1) Long-term net flows 3.9 3.9 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund 1.1 1.1 Net flows in institutional money market funds (0.1) (0.1) Total net flows 4.9 5.0 (0.1) Market gains and losses/reinvestment 4.9 4.7 0.2 Acquisitions/dispositions, net Foreign currency translation September 30, 2016 $143.3 $138.6 $0.5 $ $1.9 $2.3 See the footnotes immediately following these tables. Invesco Ltd. Year-to-date Assets Under Management - Passive(e) (in billions) September 30, 2016 September 30, 2015 % Change Beginning Assets $139.1 $141.4 (1.6) % Long-term inflows 34.0 25.7 32.3 % Long-term outflows (27.4) (24.0) 14.2 % Long-term net flows 6.6 1.7 288.2 % Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund (5.3) (3.8) 39.5 % Net flows in institutional money market funds (0.3) 0.1 N/A Total net flows 1.0 (2.0) N/A Market gains and losses/reinvestment 6.2 (7.0) N/A Acquisitions/dispositions, net (3.2) (0.7) 357.1 % Foreign currency translation 0.2 N/A Ending Assets $143.3 $131.7 8.8 % Average long-term AUM $95.6 $102.6 (6.8)% Average AUM $133.2 $141.7 (6.0)% Gross revenue yield on AUM(a) 14.6 bps 14.5 bps Gross revenue yield on AUM before performance fees(a) 14.6 bps 14.5 bps Net revenue yield on AUM(b) 14.6 bps 14.5 bps Net revenue yield on AUM before performance fees(b) 14.6 bps 14.5 bps By channel: (in billions) Total Retail Institutional December 31, 2015 $139.1 $118.7 $20.4 Long-term inflows 34.0 32.1 1.9 Long-term outflows (27.4) (25.6) (1.8) Long-term net flows 6.6 6.5 0.1 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund (5.3) (5.3) Net flows in institutional money market funds (0.3) (0.3) Total net flows 1.0 1.2 (0.2) Market gains and losses/reinvestment 6.2 6.3 (0.1) Acquisitions/dispositions, net (3.2) (3.2) Foreign currency translation 0.2 0.2 September 30, 2016 $143.3 $126.2 $17.1 By asset class: (in billions) Total Equity Fixed Income Balanced Money Market Alternatives(c) December 31, 2015 $139.1 91.0 38.6 0.4 $9.1 Long-term inflows 34.0 21.7 9.7 2.6 Long-term outflows (27.4) (21.0) (4.0) (2.4) Long-term net flows 6.6 0.7 5.7 0.2 Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund (5.3) (5.3) Net flows in institutional money market funds (0.3) (0.3) Total net flows 1.0 (4.6) 5.7 (0.3) 0.2 Market gains and losses/reinvestment 6.2 5.2 0.8 0.2 Acquisitions/dispositions, net (3.2) (2.7) (0.5) Foreign currency translation 0.2 0.2 September 30, 2016 $143.3 $91.6 $42.4 $ $0.1 $9.2 Average AUM $133.2 $86.3 $37.9 $ $0.1 $8.9 See the footnotes immediately following these tables. Invesco Ltd. Year-to-date Assets Under Management - Passive(e) (continued) By client domicile: (in billions) Total U.S. Canada U.K. Continental Europe Asia December 31, 2015 $139.1 134.4 0.4 1.9 2.4 Long-term inflows 34.0 33.4 0.3 0.3 Long-term outflows (27.4) (26.7) (0.2) (0.5) Long-term net flows 6.6 6.7 0.1 (0.2) Net flows in Invesco PowerShares QQQ fund (5.3) (5.3) Net flows in institutional money market funds (0.3) (0.3) Total net flows 1.0 1.4 0.1 (0.2) (0.3) Market gains and losses/reinvestment 6.2 6.0 0.2 Acquisitions/dispositions, net (3.2) (3.2) Foreign currency translation 0.2 0.2 September 30, 2016 $143.3 $138.6 $0.5 $ $1.9 $2.3 See the footnotes immediately following these tables. Invesco Ltd. Footnotes to the Assets Under Management Tables (a) Gross revenue yield on AUM is equal to annualized total operating revenues divided by average AUM, excluding China joint venture (JV) AUM. For quarterly AUM, our share of the average AUM in the third quarter for our JVs in China was $10.4 billion (second quarter 2016: $8.6 billion; third quarter 2015: $6.0 billion). For year to date, our share of the average AUM for our JVs in China in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $8.9 billion (nine months ended September 30, 2015: $6.0 billion). It is appropriate to exclude the average AUM of our China JVs for purposes of computing gross revenue yield on AUM, because the revenues resulting from these AUM are not presented in our operating revenues. Under U.S. GAAP, our share of the net income of the JVs is recorded as equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Gross revenue yield, the most comparable U.S. GAAP-based measure to net revenue yield, is not considered a meaningful effective fee rate measure. The numerator of the gross revenue yield measure, operating revenues, excludes the management fees earned from CIP; however, the denominator of the measure includes the AUM of these investment products. Therefore, the gross revenue yield measure is not considered representative of the company's true effective fee rate from AUM. (b) Net revenue yield on AUM is equal to annualized net revenues divided by average AUM. See the reconciliations of U.S. GAAP to Non-GAAP Information on pages 8 and 9 of this release for a reconciliation of operating revenues to net revenues. (c) The alternatives asset class includes absolute return, commodities, currencies, financial structures, global macro, long/short equity, managed futures, multi-alternatives, private capital - direct, private capital - fund of funds, private direct real estate, public real estate securities, senior secured loans and custom solutions. (d) Long-term AUM excludes institutional money market AUM and PowerShares QQQ AUM. Ending AUM as of September 30, 2016 includes $69.2 billion in institutional money market AUM and $39.5 billion in PowerShares QQQ AUM. Ending retail money market AUM as of September 30, 2016, included in long-term AUM, were $8.0 billion. Ending AUM as of June 30, 2016 included $63.1 billion in institutional money market AUM and $34.8 billion in PowerShares QQQ AUM. Ending AUM as of September 30, 2015 included $61.3 billion in institutional money market AUM and $37.2 billion in PowerShares QQQ AUM. (e) Passive AUM includes ETFs, UITs, non-fee earning leverage and other passive mandates. Active AUM are total AUM less Passive AUM. Invesco Ltd. Investment Capabilities Performance Overview Benchmark Comparison Peer Group Comparison % of AUM Ahead of Benchmark % of AUM In Top Half of Peer Group Equities 1yr 3yr 5yr 1yr 3yr 5yr U.S. Core 5 % % 4 % 5 % % 5 % U.S. Growth 54 % 37 % 37 % 82 % 96 % 36 % U.S. Value % 36 % 37 % 22 % 54 % 86 % Sector 11 % 2 % 56 % 11 % 7 % 16 % U.K. 3 % 93 % 100 % 3 % 92 % 100 % Canadian 13 % 21 % 48 % 13 % 21 % 46 % Asian 82 % 88 % 91 % 76 % 69 % 76 % European 48 % 78 % 100 % 54 % 74 % 77 % Global 43 % 53 % 56 % 58 % 66 % 80 % Global Ex U.S. and Emerging Markets 21 % 98 % 99 % 93 % 89 % 98 % Fixed Income Money Market 98 % 64 % 64 % 98 % 98 % 98 % U.S. Fixed Income 90 % 90 % 95 % 82 % 86 % 85 % Global Fixed Income 44 % 45 % 94 % 15 % 15 % 89 % Stable Value 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Other Alternatives 62 % 48 % 53 % 64 % 11 % 30 % Balanced 56 % 56 % 44 % 95 % 89 % 92 % Note: AUM measured in the one-, three-, and five-year peer group rankings represents 57%, 55%, and 55% of total Invesco AUM, respectively, and AUM measured versus benchmark on a one-, three-, and five-year basis represents 71%, 68%, and 65% of total Invesco AUM, respectively, as of 9/30/2016. Peer group rankings are sourced from a widely-used third party ranking agency in each fund's market (Lipper, Morningstar, IA, Russell, Mercer, eVestment Alliance, SITCA, Value Research) and are asset-weighted in USD. Rankings are as of prior quarter-end for most institutional products and preceding month-end for Australian retail funds due to their late release by third parties. Rankings for the most representative fund in each GIPS composite are applied to all products within each GIPS composite. Performance assumes the reinvestment of dividends. Excludes passive products, closed-end funds, private equity limited partnerships, non-discretionary funds, unit investment trusts, fund of funds with component funds managed by Invesco, stable value building block funds, and CDOs. Certain funds and products were excluded from the analysis because of limited benchmark or peer group data. Had these been available, results may have been different. These results are preliminary and subject to revision. Performance assumes the reinvestment of dividends. Past performance is not indicative of future results and may not reflect an investor's experience. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110131/MM39469LOGO-a SOURCE Invesco Ltd. Related Links http://www.invesco.com In her new role, McCarthy will work closely with healthcare client directors and North America client development director Michael O'Brien to strengthen client relationships and ensure client experience remains the practice's top priority. At the same time, she will continue to lead some of the agency's largest global client engagements. She will continue to report to Mike Doyle , partner and director, New York. "Amy has led the New York Healthcare Practice with her hallmark professional grace and unequaled intellect for more than a decade. The practice is growing at a tremendous pace and is delivering some of the most compelling work in the agency. She is a seasoned client counselor and I know our current and future clients will benefit greatly from having Amy in this role," said Doyle. As McCarthy assumes her new position, Ketchum hired Tom Jones to serve as SVP and director of the New York Healthcare Practice. Jones will be responsible for driving the practice's growth and also joins the New York office's senior leadership team, reporting to Doyle. Doyle said of Jones, "With Amy's new role, we set our sights on bringing in a strong healthcare leader to carry the mantle of the New York practice. We found that in Tom, who brings to Ketchum a depth of experience in multiple therapeutic categories as well as in leading successful client engagements and teams. We are thrilled to welcome Tom back to the firm." Jones joined Ketchum in 1995, rising through the ranks to VP and group manager in the New York Healthcare Practice. He departed in 2002 for a leadership role at Novartis and most recently served as SVP and head of Makovsky's healthcare practice. Jones is a graduate of Rowan University and earned a master's degree from New York University. McCarthy joined Ketchum in 2003 as SVP and group manager, was named director of the New York Healthcare Practice in 2006, and became a Ketchum partner in 2013. She started her career at Burson-Marsteller in 1986 and served as team leader at Chandler Chicco Agency from 1999 to 2003. McCarthy is a graduate of Brown University. About Ketchum Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. The winner of 19 Cannes Lions and an unprecedented five PRWeek Campaign of the Year Awards, Ketchum partners with clients to deliver strategic programming, game-changing creative and measurable results that build brands and reputations. For more information on Ketchum, a part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, visit www.ketchum.com. About Omnicom Public Relations Group Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, fashion, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,000 public relations professionals in more than 330 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433412 SOURCE Ketchum Related Links http://www.ketchum.com PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lannett Company, Inc. (NYSE: LCI) today announced that it will report financial results for its fiscal 2017 first quarter on Thursday, November 3, 2016, after the market closes. Lannett management will host a conference call that same afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to review the company's performance and answer questions. The conference call will be available to interested parties by dialing 888-771-4371 from the U.S. or Canada, or 847-585-4405 from international locations, passcode 43660920. The call will be broadcast via the Internet at www.Lannett.com. Listeners are encouraged to visit the website at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the scheduled presentation to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A playback of the call will be archived and accessible on the same website for at least three months. About Lannett Company, Inc. Lannett Company, founded in 1942, develops, manufactures, packages, markets and distributes generic pharmaceutical products for a wide range of medical indications. For more information, visit the company's website at www.lannett.com. Contact: Robert Jaffe Robert Jaffe Co., LLC (424) 288-4098 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150417/199461LOGO SOURCE Lannett Company, Inc. Related Links http://www.lannett.com CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Levo Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that it has agreed to terms with Swiss-based Ferring Pharmaceuticals that, subject to contract, grant Levo Therapeutics worldwide rights to Ferring's drug, carbetocin, for the treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The agreement includes full data rights to the intranasal carbetocin regulatory docket, all associated intellectual property, and API for ongoing clinical development. Ferring has completed a successful Phase II trial comparing intranasal administration of carbetocin to placebo in PWS patients in the US, demonstrating a clinically meaningful improvement in hyperphagia and associated behavioral symptoms compared to placebo. The treatment was safe and well tolerated and the drug is ready to progress to the next phase of development. Carbetocin for the treatment of PWS received orphan drug designation in the EU in 2012 and in the US in 2014. "We are very pleased to acquire the opportunity to advance intranasal carbetocin, building on Ferring's encouraging proof of concept results in PWS. Patients with Prader-Willi syndrome have been underserved and are in desperate need of new therapeutic options. Intranasal carbetocin fits squarely within our mission to address this serious, unmet medical need," said Sara Cotter, CEO of Levo Therapeutics. "Levo Therapeutics has demonstrated a strong network of contacts in the PWS physician- and patient-based communities and a willingness to develop our drug further in the US and other countries. We are pleased to partner with Levo Therapeutics in progressing our drug for this underserved disease," said Alan S. Harris, SVP R&D Executive Office, Ferring. Under the terms of the arrangement, Levo Therapeutics will now fund further product development in exchange for an exclusive, worldwide license, with the goal of realizing the potential of this orphan drug for the treatment of PWS. About Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex, multisystem neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in approximately 1 in 16,000 births1. The underlying cause of PWS is the lack of expression of paternally inherited imprinted genes on chromosome 15q11-q13. These genetic anomalies lead to a distinctive phenotype that includes mild to moderate levels of intellectual disability, compulsivity, growth hormone deficiency, life-threatening hyperphagia, and high risk of obesity. About Ferring Pharmaceuticals Headquartered in Saint-Prex, Switzerland, Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopedics. Ferring has its own operating subsidiaries in nearly 60 countries and markets its products in 110 countries. To learn more about Ferring or its products please visit www.ferring.com. About Levo Therapeutics, Inc. Levo Therapeutics is dedicated to advancing treatments for Prader-Willi syndrome and related disorders. To learn more about Levo, please visit www.levotherapeutics.com. For further information: Levo Therapeutics Tel: 847-901-9260 [email protected] Ferring Lindsey Rodger Tel: +41 58 451 40 23 [email protected] 1Burd L, Vesely B, Martsolf J, Kerbeshian J. Prevalence study of Prader-Willi syndrome in North Dakota. Am J Med Genet. 1990; 37:97-9. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Levo Therapeutics, Inc. Related Links http://www.levotherapeutics.com Chinese, French oil firms in talks over Uganda's pipeline Updated: 2016-10-27 10:52 (Xinhua) KAMPALA - China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and France's Total are in final talks over the construction of Uganda's oil pipeline that will run up to the Tanzanian seaport of Tanga. Li Yong, executive vice-president of CNOOC limited, in a meeting with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni said the oil firm was ready to undertake the $4 billion pipeline project. Li, according to a State House statement issued on Wednesday, said they are in talks with Total regarding the necessary modalities to ensure the take-off of the project. East African Community (EAC) leaders in April agreed that an oil pipeline be built to link oil wells in western Uganda and the east African coastline through Tanzania. EAC is an economic bloc that brings together Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan. Uganda plans to start commercial production of its so far discovered 6.5 billion barrels of oil. It plans to refine some of the oil and transport the rest to the east African coast for export. SaTo products are designed to improve the user experience and safety of open-pit latrines. They are refined yet affordably priced and simple to install. They utilize an airtight counterweighted trap-door to prevent odors and the transmission of disease. First developed by LIXIL's American Standard Brands with previous support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, over one million units are currently in use in over 14 countries, starting with Bangladesh and now including the Philippines, India, Uganda, Kenya and Haiti. Kinya Seto, LIXIL President and CEO, said, "As the global leader in sanitary ware, LIXIL is uniquely positioned to contribute to tackling global sanitation issues through innovative products and a sustainable business focused-approach. LIXIL has set a goal to improve sanitation for 100 million people by 2020, and SaTo products will play a leading role in reaching this target. We look forward to now increasing SaTo's presence in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where these products can make a meaningful difference." Jim McHale, Ph.D., Vice President, LIXIL, and General Manager of the SaTo business unit, commented, "SaTo products offer a simple and affordable solution that can help improve the lives of people in low-income and off-grid areas suffering from poor sanitary conditions. We are now accelerating the scaling-up of the SaTo business, using the expertise we have developed in Japan, the U.S. and globally, to tackle poor sanitation. I would like to thank the Gates Foundation for its support, which will help us improve access to SaTo products in developing countries worldwide." Brian Arbogast, Director of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said, "Inadequate sanitation is a pressing global problem, adversely affecting the health and prosperity of billions of people in low-resource setting. We are honored to partner with LIXIL to explore and scale innovative product solutions that will expand sanitation access and improve outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable around the world." During the SaTo development phase, engineers underwent a number of technological design iterations and field tests similar to designing high-end toilets, including computational analyses of flushing and fluid mechanisms. The SaTo series today consists of several variations, adapted to suit local practices, cultures and regulations. This is the third grant provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the development of SaTo products. International Contact Public Affairs Division, LIXIL Corporation John Short / Masako Takada / Kai Maraun [email protected] Tel: +81-3-6268-8801 Contact in U.S.A. Nora DePalma O'Reilly DePalma For LIXIL Water Technology Americas, American Standard, DXV (770) 772-4726 [email protected] About LIXIL LIXIL Corporation is a global leader in housing and building materials products and services. The foundation of LIXIL's success is our constant investment in technological innovation to improve the way we live. Delivering core strengths in water, housing, building and kitchen technologies, our brand portfolio businesses LIXIL, GROHE, American Standard Brands and Permasteelisa are leaders in the industries and regions in which they operate. LIXIL produces some of the world's most fundamental and innovative products and services, and our solutions are an integral part of some of the world's most iconic and cutting-edge living and working spaces. Operating in more than 150 countries, and employing more than 80,000 people, we bring together function, quality and design to make people's lives better, and more delightful wherever they are. About LIXIL Group LIXIL Group Corporation (TSE Code: 5938) is the listed holding company containing LIXIL Corporation, LIXIL VIVA CORPORATION and LIXIL Housing Research Institute, Ltd.. The Group, which is led by President and CEO Kinya Seto, is involved in a broad spectrum of housing-related businesses, ranging from the manufacture and sales of building materials and housing equipment to the operation of home centers and a network of homebuilding franchises, and comprehensive real estate service. LIXIL Group Corporation posted 1.85 trillion in consolidated sales in FYE March 2016. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/432854 SOURCE LIXIL Corporation "Jerry's impact on LUNGevity's work is pervasive his influence has been felt in all that we have accomplished over the past 7 years and he will be incredibly missed," said LUNGevity President and Chairman Andrea Stern Ferris. "He has been a powerful, yet gentle ally in the ongoing battle against lung cancer, and we rededicate our efforts to finding cures and treatments in Jerry's memory. His dedication and selflessness have benefited so many in the lung cancer community. We join his wonderful family, and all who called Jerry friend and colleague, in mourning the loss of his inspiring presence in our lives." Jerry Sorkin, in addition to his important role in accelerating progress and creating hope for lung cancer patients, was Executive Director, CEB in the Community at CEB. He is survived by his wife Lisa and daughters Emma and Claire, who were always by his side in all his efforts to change the dialogue about lung cancer and change the future for lung cancer patients. They joined him in making lung cancer research a life-motivating priority. For more information on LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org. About Lung Cancer in the U.S. About 1 in 15 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime More than 224,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year About 60%-65% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers Lung cancer takes more lives than the next four deadliest cancers (colorectal, pancreatic, breast, and prostate) combined Only 18% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, BUT if it's caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves dramatically Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433263 SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation Related Links http://www.lungevity.org SHANGHAI, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Yixing Manhesi Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ("Manhesi", or "the Company') attended the 120th Canton Fair from October 15 - 18, showing a wide range of high-quality products including gasoline engines, gasoline generators and water pumps. By the virtue of the Fair, Manhesi not only reconnected with some business partners from the past, but also received compliments and positive reviews from other foreign buyers. About Manhesi Yixing Manhesi Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd specializes in producing engines, generators, water pumps and other power machines. Manhesi always attaches the highest importance to product quality, focusing on quality control and management throughout the entire production process. Due to the high quality and wide application of its products, Manhesi has exported the engines, generators and water pumps to over 20 countries in the world. Combining technology and creation with high-quality products and company credit, Manhesi will strive to create a more splendid future in the power machinery field. Yixing Manhesi Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd Add: Zhuxi Industrial Zone, Yixing, Jiangsu, China Contact: Adam MP: +86 15995376885 TEL: +86 0510-87500060 FAX: +86 0519-87922117 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Manhesi Machinery SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketo, Inc., the leading provider of marketing software and solutions, today announced that it has hired Steve Lucas as its new chief executive officer, underscoring the company's commitment to accelerating growth and innovation. Lucas joins Marketo from his role as President, Enterprise Platform & Analytics, at SAP. Marketo founder and current CEO Phil Fernandez will step down on November 1, 2016, following more than 10 years in which he led the business through its launch, a successful IPO, and acquisition by Vista Equity Partners. Lucas brings a proven track record of leading multibillion-dollar businesses through worldwide growth of cloud, mobile, database, and analytics solutions. In his most recent role at SAP, Lucas drove innovative strategies to accelerate offerings from inception to market within the company's enterprise platform and analytics solutions. He previously held global leadership positions across SAP's Business Analytics Database & Technology, Business Objects, and Corporate Strategy & Market Development organizations. Lucas also drove early force.com growth and ecosystem expansion at Salesforce.com as senior vice president, Platform Marketing & Force.com, before returning to SAP. "I am excited to join the company as Marketo accelerates its growth through enterprise expansion, its unprecedented next-generation marketing platform, and its robust partner ecosystem," said Lucas. "I look forward to leading this incredible organization and enabling anyone using these market-leading solutions to innovate faster and accelerate their digital transformation through marketing, all with a firm commitment to Marketo's unique culture that champions diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility." "I founded Marketo with a bold vision that marketers would take on a powerful new role within their organizations, owning customer engagement and digital transformation," said Fernandez. "I am confident that the Marketo team under Steve's leadership will maintain and extend our commitment to innovation, integrity, and customer success, as well as to the thousands of successful, passionate individuals who are the heart of the Marketing Nation." "I want to welcome Steve to the leadership team as Marketo CEO and thank Phil for his instrumental role pioneering a new industry and building Marketo into a world-class brand that serves nearly 5,000 customers and more than 650 partners around the globe," said Martin Taylor, principal at Vista Equity Partners and Marketo Director. About Marketo Marketo provides the leading engagement marketing software and solutions designed to help marketers develop long-term relationships with their customers - from acquisition to advocacy. Marketo is built for marketers, by marketers and is setting the innovation agenda for marketing technology. Marketo puts Marketing First. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with offices around the world, Marketo serves as a strategic partner to large enterprise and fast-growing small companies across a wide variety of industries. To learn more about Marketo's Engagement Marketing Platform, LaunchPoint partner ecosystem, and the vast community that is the Marketo Marketing Nation, visit www.marketo.com. About Vista Equity Partners Vista Equity Partners, a U.S.-based private equity firm with offices in Austin, Chicago and San Francisco, with over $26 billion in cumulative capital commitments, currently invests in software, data and technology-based organizations led by world-class management teams with long-term perspective. Vista is a value-added investor, contributing professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies realizing their full potential. Vista's investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions, and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity in private equity investing. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070917/AQM011LOGO SOURCE Marketo, Inc. LONDON, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The medical lifting sling market is expected to reach USD 1.1 billion by 2024, according to the new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Long term care is required in case of chronic disorders and surgical treatment. Medical lifting slings are essential elements in long term care and post operative recovery as they assist in patient transfer and other purposes. Increasing prevalence of chronic disorders and subsequent surgical interventions are boosting the usage of these products thus contributing toward substantial market growth. Home healthcare has emerged as an important area where treatment cost is much lower compared to in traditional healthcare settings. In addition, long term care and post operative recovery can be efficiently achieved in these settings. Hence, in the developed as well as developing regions home healthcare services are growing swiftly resulting in the considerable growth of this vertical. Further Key Findings From the Study Suggest: Nylon-based medical lifting slings segment held a commanding share in 2015 and is anticipated to grow at a lucrative rate. This can be attributed to their durability and resistance to the infections. Patient transfer is the primary application of these products, which held a dominating share in 2015. Universal slings, which have multiple utility, are also expected to gain a substantial share over the forecast period. Reusable lifting slings were the most used products in 2015. However, with the rising incidence of infections and hygiene issues, disposable products are used to a greater extent and are expected to exhibit healthy growth over the forecast period. Hospitals use these products to a large extent, as they purchase in bulk and they have a greater patient pool. This makes hospitals the largest end-user of medical lifting slings. On the other hand, with the growing awareness and streamlined policies for home healthcare services, the usage of these services is surging. As a result, the growing home healthcare vertical is anticipated to increase the usage of medical lifting slings, thus affecting the market positively. Europe dominated the global medical lifting slings vertical in 2015. Larger pool of geriatric patients, rising research funding in medical devices, and steadily increasing awareness amongst patients are the key growth governing factors for this region. Asia Pacific is projected to witness remunerative growth in the coming eight years. Policy reforms, increasing disposable income, and economic developments are anticipated to foster the usage of advanced treatment options, and consequently engender a high demand for medical lifting slings. Some of the key players in this vertical are Getinge Group (ArjoHuntleigh), Invacare Corporation, Hill-Rom, Joerns Healthcare LLC, Argo Medical, Inc., Prism Medical, DJO Global, V.Guldmann A/S, Spectra Care Group, and Drive Medical. Strategic initiatives undertaken by these market players include new product development, distribution enhancement, collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4230367/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com HIGASHIOSAKA, Japan, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Be-s Co., Ltd. announced on October 27 that it has started distributing "Mewgaroo Hoodie," a hooded sweatshirt with a pocket for cats, under the brand of UNIHABITAT in the United States. (16 Images: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/opn/release/201610245542/) Mewgaroo Hoodie has a cat-sized pocket for housing and snuggling attention-starved cats. This pocket allows cats and their owners to stay together like a kangaroo family even if humans are busy reading, watching TV or Internet surfing. By holding the bottom of the pocket, owners can easily change their posture, stand or have a short walk without annoying their cat. (*Caution: When you stand and walk with your pets in the pocket, please hold the bottom of the pocket to make sure your pets will not fall off.) The pocket has two layers so that the liner can be removed and washed separately to clean up the fur remaining inside. It has a cat-shaped hood and paws on sleeves to feel like their real mother or father cat. There is an UNIHABITAT tag on the product to show its genuineness. Since the first launch in the Japanese market in 2015, UNIHABITAT has received positive responses from the media and cat owners worldwide, especially from the United States. More than half of the website page views were from the States at its peak. Besides establishing the distribution channel, an XXL size for the U.S. market has been additionally developed, as there is a wider range of demand for sizes there. Size: M, L, XL (Japanese size) and XXL (U.S. size). Color: Heather gray, black (for M, L, XL only) and white (for M, L, XL only). Expected market price: US$70.00 (tax excluded), available online including Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AKZJ12W). Website: http://www.unihabitat.jp/products/upa32-us/ About UNIHABITAT UNIHABITAT is a pet supply brand in Japan, founded by Be-s in 2014. It focuses on providing fun and producing space-saving or multifunctional products to help pets and their owners live together in one (=uni) habitat. http://www.unihabitat.jp/ About Be-s Co., Ltd. Be-s is a Japanese maker of various living supplies under its own brands, founded in 1997. In addition to UNIHABITAT, the main brands are DOPPELGANGER (bicycles and accessories), DOPPELGANGER OUTDOOR (outdoor equipment), and Bauhutte (office and home furniture). http://www.be-s.co.jp/ SOURCE Be-s Co., Ltd. FAIRFAX, Va., Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- From his earliest days as Defense Information Systems Agency director, Lt. Gen. Alan R. Lynn, USA, has emphasized the importance of the military partnering with industry to contend with the dangers that lurk in cyberspace. Gen. Lynn, who also is the commander of the Joint Force HeadquartersDepartment of Defense Information Networks, has called upon the commercial sector to help the agency meet its mission needs, asking for ideas and capabilities that support big data analytics, advance software-defined networking, assure identity verification and improve encryption. Gen. Lynn will be one of many esteemed experts at MILCOM 2016, which takes place November 1-3 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland. AFCEA International and IEEE co-sponsor the event. At an AFCEA conference earlier this year, the general amplified his call industry to create the cyber solutions the military needs. "We want the technology industry to partner with us to develop the next generation of military [information technology] services," he stated. Addressing cybersecurity needs, Gen. Lynn added, "If you have novel ideas of how to do encryption, we're all ears. "The world has changed," the general declared. "In cyber, it used to be almost like an intel gamea gentlemanly sport. People would try to break into your network real smoothly, real slowly. "Today, they don't care," he continued. "They're kicking in the doors. It's loud and fastit's snatch and grab. The gloves are off. It's cyber warfare, and it's daily. It's happening on our networks." Other MILCOM 2016 speakers and panelists include Maj. Gen. Dwyer L. Dennis, USAF, program executive officer C3I & Networks, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center; R. Michael Gill, secretary of commerce for the state of Maryland; and Maj. Gen. Earl D. Matthews, USAF (Ret.), vice president, enterprise security solutions, Enterprise Services U.S. Public Sector, Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The conference features several panel discussions that focus on modernization, operational priorities and capability needs, as well as how to equip the cyber force. In addition, MILCOM includes technical paper presentations, tutorials and a restricted access technical program. More than two dozen sessions are approved as continuing education for maintaining cybersecurity certifications. Additional information about MILCOM 2016 is available online. AFCEA International, established in 1946, is a non-profit membership association serving the military, government, industry and academia. Join online. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130410/DC92618LOGO SOURCE AFCEA International Related Links www.afcea.org "We wanted to provide parents a fun and engaging tool that would help them to instill positive eating habits in their children at a young age,"said Meena Sen director of marketing, Mott's. "Through research Mott's found that many kids have aversions to various foods and because of several key factors, they will not even attempt what they perceive to be "gross." Teachable Tastes aims to teach families the fundamentals of healthy eating by cooking together and providing recipes and tips that tackle the four common barriers: texture, appearance, flavor and aroma. Introducing new food to your children can be challenging and surprisingly, it can take up to 15-20 tastes for a child to embrace a new food. So, with the help of leading child nutritionists, Teachable Tastes tackles those barriers. "If you think about it, there are quite a few educational opportunities for expecting moms such as 8-week Lamaze classes, but there is nothing comprehensive and effective for properly handling the 18-year project of feeding your child," said Jill Castle. The new innovative Mott's website features a catalog of animated recipe videos centered around the themes of texture, appearance, flavor and aroma; however, these aren't your ordinary recipes. Since children are more open to new foods when they're included in the process, each recipe offers simple steps for both children and parents. With every recipe, there are a plethora of tips, fun lessons and engaging activities that make healthy eating exciting and teach kids healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Mott's, with the help of The Richards Group, held a workshop with some of the nation's leading child nutrition experts to draw some key insights into the eating habits of children. Child Nutrition Experts: Jill Castle MS, RDN, LDN Angela Lemond RDN, CSP, LD The Authors of "Food Chaining" Sibyl Cox Laura Walbert Cheri Fraker For instance, children focus on much more than just the taste of food and often make decisions based on things like touch, color and texture. Through research we have found that there are still plenty of misconceptions and myths about feeding that are common among parents. "If you think about it, we have things like 8-week Lamaze classes, but there is nothing substantial and effective for properly handling the 18-year project of feeding your child," said Jill Castle. To learn more about Mott's Teachable Tastes, please visit http://www.motts.com/teachable-tastes to get started. About Mott's Mott's, a brand of Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS), is the nation's leading producer of branded apple sauce and apple juice. Since 1842, Mott's has proudly created delicious and nutritious products for adults and children. Mott's continues to provide "simple solutions" to meet the needs of today's busy families. Mott's is available in a variety of juice and sauce offerings, including Mott's Original, Mott's for Tots, Mott's Medleys, Mott's Healthy Harvest Sauce and Mott's Snack & Go Applesauce Pouches. DPS is a leading producer of flavored beverages, marketing Mott's and 50-plus other beverage brands across North America and the Caribbean. For more information, visit Motts.com or DrPepperSnapple.com. For the brand's latest news and updates, follow Mott's at Facebook.com/Motts or Twitter.com/Motts. MEDIA CONTACT: Dr Pepper Snapple Group Brian Bell (972) 673-6688 [email protected] Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Motts-Teachable.mp4 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/433084 SOURCE Mott's Related Links http://www.motts.com OSLO, Norway, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The IDEAS IDE3380 is a general purpose integrated circuit (IC) for the readout of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM). The SiPM is a relatively new type of optical sensor for the detection and timing of single photons. While the IC was designed primarily for arrays with many SiPM, it can also read out state-of-the-art photomultiplier tubes (PMT). Like PMT, SiPM and arrays of SiPM can be used for many applications, for example, medical imaging, life sciences, industrial scanning, and range finding. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433210 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433209 The requirements for this IC were derived from needs in space science, in particular for Gamma-Ray Imaging, Polarimetry and Spectroscopy (GRIPS), scintillating fibers for a gamma-ray telescope (PANGU) and astro-particle missions (HERD). These and many other space-borne instruments are producing results that are essential for our understanding of the universe, the solar system and our planet. Operation in space requires radiation tolerance and low power dissipation. Therefore, special design effort has been on latch-up immunity, single event upset mitigation and error corrections, as well as low-power design and programmable power-down. The circuit covers a wide range of detector technologies and applications in space and terrestrial, for example, high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy, detector front-end readout for diagnostic imaging in nuclear medicine, fast photon counting, and timing. IDEAS DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT System developers benefit from the IDE3380 development kit, which helps them to become familiar with IDE3380 and reduces their time-to-product. The IDE3380 development kit contains the IC on a test board and a readout system that connects to standard PC via Ethernet. The software allows one to program the IC and characterize the performance and measure data with up to 16 SiPMs. The integrated circuit IDE3380 is ideal for the readout of large arrays of SiPMs. Each readout channel has an input stage for programmable gain and offset adjustment, analogue signal processing and digitization of the signals. These functions have previously been built with discrete devices. The state-of-the-art integrated circuit technology allows engineers to integrate the auxiliary electronics in a system-on-chip and thereby increase the performance and reliability, and significantly reduce power, weight and size. The reduced weight and power is essential for lowering the cost for launch from Earth and operations in space. "For many years IDEAS delivers to scientific experiments in space that are procured by ESA, NASA, JAXA, CAS, ISRO and recently small satellite missions." said Aage Kalsg, CMO at IDEAS. Please visit http://www.ideas.no for more information. ABOUT IDEAS Integrated Detector Electronics AS (IDEAS) is a privately held, R&D driven, semiconductor company, based in Norway. The company designs application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) and subsystems for radiation detection and imaging, with emphasis on sensor and detector readout. IDEAS ICs enable precise measurements of natural and man-made radioactivity, and has developed Intellectual Property for radiation hardened and extended temperature range. IDEAS was founded in 1992 by scientist and engineers with background from The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the University of Oslo. HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGES: Fig. 1 IDEAS development environment Fig. 2 IDE3380 IC connected to SiPM PAPER: D. Meier et al., "SIPHRA 16-Channel Silicon Photomultiplier Readout ASIC", Proc. AMICSA&DSP 2016, 12-16 June 2016, Gothenburg, Sweden. Available from https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1460.8882 Press Release Contact: Aage Kalsg; +47 900 50 265, [email protected] SOURCE Integrated Detector Electronics AS (IDEAS) Related Links http://http://www.ideas.no CHARLESTON, W.Va., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, members of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) met with chemical industry colleagues, community leaders and state officials in West Virginia for the Enhancing Chemical Safety and Environmental Performance workshop. Hosted by NACD, the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, and the American Chemistry Council, the workshop focused on chemical industry best practices and provided local businesses a unique chance to explore efforts that enhance chemical safety and security throughout the supply chain. The workshop included panels on operations management, chemical handling and safety, and crisis preparation, and allowed attendees to learn from each other in a scenario breakout session focusing on industry-specific issues. Vanessa Allen Sutherland, chairperson of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board gave the keynote address, while U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito discussed the importance of the chemical industry to West Virginia's economy and improvements made to chemical safety following the recent passage of bipartisan Toxic Substances Control Act legislation. "NACD members have an average of 26 employees, so we understand that implementing effective environmental, health, safety and security programs can be a challenge for small businesses," said NACD President Eric R. Byer. "Responsible Distribution and similar industry environmental, health, safety and security programs like Responsible Care provide the resources smaller businesses need to ensure they are responsible partners to their suppliers and customers and responsible neighbors in the communities where they operate." NACD is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its mandatory, third-party verified environmental, health, safety and security program, Responsible Distribution. NACD members experience fewer injuries, fatalities and lost work days than chemical distributors that do not belong to the association and have a safety rating nearly twice as good as all manufacturing combined. "The chemical industry has a big presence in West Virginia, providing thousands of jobs and generating millions in state and local taxes," Byer said. "Thanks to this workshop, we had a great opportunity to work with members of the chemical industry and leaders in West Virginia about how we can all collaborate to enhance worker and public safety." NACD and its over 440 member companies are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users. NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, established in 1991 as a condition of membership and a third-party verified management practice. For more information, visit www.NACD.com. Contact: Matthew McKinney (571) 482-3074 [email protected] SOURCE National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) Related Links http://www.nacd.com Datong speeds up expansion Updated: 2016-10-27 17:33 By Hu Yuanyuan and Gao Songya(chinadaily.com.cn) Datong Financial Services, China's first nationwide professional insurance brokerage firm, is expected to see its premium income reach 2.5 billion yuan ($373 million) this year and 5.5 billion yuan in 2017, the company's top management says. The rapid growth, according to Datong's chairman and chief executive Jiang Ming, is being contributed to ongoing supply-side reform. The record-filing system has replaced the approval system to simplify procedures regarding the establishment of company affiliates, thus speeding up Datong`s expansion in many third-tier and fourth-tier cities, as well as counties. Over the past seven years, Datong has opened 100 affiliates in different cities. This year alone, however, 59 new city and county-level affiliated agencies were open to business. So far, Datong`s service network has covered 23 provinces in total. Next year, Datong will set foot in three to four other provinces and open more than 100 city-level affiliated agencies, and the total premium is estimated to soar to 5.5 billion yuan from this year`s 2.5 billion yuan. "We hope our entity service network could reach every city of China in 5 to 10 years," Jiang said. "And we are quite confident that our average annual growth will exceed 100 percent in the coming three years." COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lack of visibility into data traffic hinders network security efforts, both before and after an event has occurred. To rectify this issue, Napatech announced today that the Pandion network recorder is now fully integrable with Splunk, the leading platform for operational intelligence. This integration gives current Splunk users the possibility of having 100 percent visibility into network traffic data. Click to Tweet Splunk users now have access to a key component in their network infrastructure, the Napatech Pandion network recorder, for 100 percent data capture. Instant insight into alarms: The integration enables network security personnel to reduce the resolution times of events. The Splunk software triggers alarms, and when an unusual activity occurs in the network traffic, users can instantly get to the root of the problem. The integration enables network security personnel to reduce the resolution times of events. The Splunk software triggers alarms, and when an unusual activity occurs in the network traffic, users can instantly get to the root of the problem. Smarter data retrieval: The Pandion recorder offers quick retrieval of the relevant data so that further forensic analysis and investigation can be done, with 100 percent data capture and zero packet loss to provide data that is also completely reliable. The Pandion recorder offers quick retrieval of the relevant data so that further forensic analysis and investigation can be done, with 100 percent data capture and zero packet loss to provide data that is also completely reliable. A scalable security solution: The scalability of Pandion offers a long-term solution that grows with users' increasing security needs. To learn more, visit Napatech at booth 609, BlackHat Europe 2016. The company will also be exhibiting at SuriCon 2016. Peter Ekner, CTO, Napatech, said: "The quicker an event can be identified, the quicker it can be resolved. This integration gives Splunk users faster resolution times, which means more robust security. Complete data capture enables quick access to relevant data in the case of a breach, and further forensic analysis can also be initiated quickly. The integration provides an overall reduction in costs and resources needed to maintain users' cybersecurity operations. We're pleased to work with Splunk to offer this valuable integration." About Napatech Napatech is the world leader in data delivery solutions for network management and security applications. As data volume and complexity grow, organizations must monitor, compile and analyze all the information flowing through their networks. Our products use patented technology to capture and process data at high speed and high volume with guaranteed performance, enabling real-time visibility. We deliver data faster, more efficiently and on demand for the most advanced enterprise, cloud and government networks. Now and in the future, we enable our customers' applications to be smarter than the networks they need to manage and protect. No Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements which are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to, business conditions, trends in the industry and markets, global economic and geopolitical conditions, macro-economic factors, and other risks and uncertainties set forth in Napatech's reports. The matter discussed in this release is based on current expectations and maybe subject to change. Napatech will not necessarily update this information. For details, visit us at www.napatech.com. Media Investor Relations Kim Dearborn, Nadel Phelan Niels Hobolt +1 831 440 2407 +45 8853 7003 [email protected] [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130917/LA81677LOGO SOURCE Napatech Related Links http://www.napatech.com NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Max Wilson, Ph.D., a post-doctoral researcher in the Molecular Biology Department at Princeton University, has received a $50,000 Innovation Grant from New Jersey Health Foundation (NJHF) to advance two projects aimed at controlling cell behavior to improve treatments for a wide range of disease entities, announced James M. Golubieski, president of NJHF. One project seeks to improve and maximize treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders using a technique called optogenetics that enables researchers to use light-responsive proteins to control the therapeutic behaviors of cells. This aims to greatly reduce the side effects of cell-based therapies by allowing physicians to pinpoint the site where a therapeutic behavior modification occurs. With the second project Dr. Wilson hopes to revolutionize cancer treatment by customizing therapies that can be targeted to tumor cells of any cancer patient using a two-tiered level of precision medicine that should eliminate the severe side effects of traditional radiation and chemotherapy. Dr. Wilson will pursue the projects with Alexander Goglia, a student in the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-Princeton University M.D. /Ph.D. program, under the supervision of Jared Toettcher, an assistant professor of molecular biology at Princeton. "Both of Dr. Wilson's projects use innovative approaches that deserve further exploration," explained George F. Heinrich, M.D., vice chair and CEO of New Jersey Health Foundation. "Our Innovation Grant program is geared specifically to advance translational research projects that demonstrate the potential to offer improved and focused treatments and cures for people affected by a variety of ailments." Through this New Jersey Health Foundation program, Innovation Grants of up to $50,000 each are available to full-time faculty and personnel at major research universities in New Jersey New Jersey Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Rowan University and Stevens Institute of Technology. For more information, contact Mike Wiley, vice president of Foundation Venture Capital Group, an affiliate of NJHF, at (908) 731-6612 or [email protected]. About New Jersey Health Foundation New Jersey Health Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that supports biomedical research and health-related education programs in New Jersey through its Grants Program and its affiliate, Foundation Venture Capital Group which makes private equity investments in life science start- up companies in New Jersey headed toward commercialization. SOURCE New Jersey Health Foundation Related Links http://www.njhf.org SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's customers in the Sacramento, Stockton, and Modesto region will have the opportunity to donate to Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern California (RMHCNC) throughout the month of November. McDonald's customers will be able to purchase a "hand" showcasing their support for the Charity and can put that hand they purchased in a special kiosk created specifically for Northern California McDonald's restaurants. The donation amounts are in $1, $3, and $5 increments and come with a coupon for free small French Fry order or Hash Brown. The Northern California McDonald's Restaurants are only one of two regions that are supporting this fundraiser for the entire month of November. "Most McDonald's restaurants throughout the country are supporting the fundraiser for the first two weeks of November. Earlier this year, the franchisees in the Sacramento, Stockton, and Modesto region decided to support this fundraiser throughout the entire month to do a little more to support the local Ronald McDonald House here in Sacramento," said Steven Ramirez, a McDonald's franchise owner in Elk Grove and Modesto, and Global Chairman for Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc. "I am so honored to live in a region where support of a Charity that provides a home away from home from home for the families of sick children is such a priority. We are excited to do what we can to help keep families close." Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern California supports two local programs: Camp Ronald McDonald at Eagle Lake and the Sacramento Ronald McDonald House. Camp Ronald McDonald provides a summer camp experience for children with special needs between Memorial Day and Labor Day of each year. The Sacramento Ronald McDonald House allows families with a child who is interned at a local hospital for medical care with a place to stay so they can be close by to their child during their medical treatment. "The funds raised at McDonald's restaurants during the month of November will go towards supporting our two programs here at Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern California," said Stacey Hodge, Senior Director of Community Relations for RMHCNC. "We are so fortunate to receive the support from the local McDonald's franchise owners, and we hope the customers in Northern California will make those donations to support the families and kids who are in need of our services." The fundraiser will go from November 1 30 at McDonald's restaurants throughout Northern California. Restaurants in the following Northern California counties are participating in this month long promotion, which include: Sacramento Placer Nevada Sutter Yuba Yolo El Dorado (not including S. Lake Tahoe restaurants) (not including restaurants) Solano (not including restaurants west of Fairfield ) (not including restaurants west of ) San Joaquin Stanislaus Amador Calaveras Tuolumne Colusa About McDonald's in Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto There are over 170 McDonald's Restaurants in the Greater Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto Area, owned and operated by more than 54 franchisees. McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with over 36,000 locations in over 100 countries. More than 80% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business men and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter (@McD_NorCal) and Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonalds). FOR MORE INFORMATION: Clay Merrill 916-544-2820 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411285LOGO SOURCE McDonalds NEW YORK, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NorthStar Realty Europe Corp. (NYSE: NRE) will host a conference call to discuss third quarter 2016 financial results on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. EST (14:00 GMT). Hosting the call will be Mahbod Nia, Chief Executive Officer, Scott Berry, Chief Financial Officer and Trevor Ross, General Counsel. The third quarter 2016 financial results press release will be issued before market open on November 10, 2016. Conference call details: 1-866-966-5335 (U.S. Toll Free) +44 (0) 20 3003 2666 (International) 0808 109 0700 (UK Toll Free) Passcode: NorthStar The call will also be audiocast live via NorthStar Realty Europe's website at http://www.nrecorp.com. Call replay details: (available approximately two hours after the call until November 25, 2016) 1-866-583-1035 (U.S. Toll Free) +44 (0) 20 8196 1998 (International) 0800 633 8453 (UK Toll Free) Passcode: 9467020# About NorthStar Realty Europe Corp. NorthStar Realty Europe Corp. (NYSE: NRE) is a European-focused commercial real estate company with predominantly prime office properties within key cities in Germany, the United Kingdom and France, organized as a REIT and managed by an affiliate of NorthStar Asset Management Group Inc. (NYSE: NSAM), a global asset management firm. For more information about NorthStar Realty Europe Corp., please visit http://www.nrecorp.com. Investor Relations: Gordon Simpson, Finsbury, +1-855-527-8539 or +44(0)20-7251-3801 SOURCE NorthStar Realty Europe Transform Magazine honors and rewards the most innovative, creative and successful brand work across the world. Each of the prestigious award programs focus on specific aspects of the branding process and provides a platform from which to benchmark and showcase excellence. In June of this year at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) conference in Las Vegas, nThrive was officially unveiled as the new uniform identity of what once was three separate companies: MedAssets, Precyse and Equation. Bringing the three companies together under a common name completed the vision of a new kind of revenue cycle management company one that empowers health care for every one in every community. nThrive and Aloft Group received awards in three separate categories for the North America Transform 2016 awards: GOLD for "Best Corporate Rebrand Following a Merger or Acquisition" SILVER for "Best Creative Strategy" GOLD for "Best Visual Identity for the Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Sector" "We are delighted to receive this recognition that acknowledges the brand strategy that brought together three companies into one," said Kristen Saponaro, Chief Marketing Officer for nThrive. "It was important for us to align the strategy to the vision, mission, values and approach of our merged organization, which essentially became the DNA of our new brand and brand name. Aloft Group was instrumental through every step of this process and we are grateful for their guidance and creative direction. They were able to help us effectively develop the brand story that uniquely and strategically positioned us as a complete patient-to-payment solutions provider for the healthcare industry." "We enjoy the challenge of the branding process, it's what we do best," said Matt Bowen, CEO of Aloft Group. "This project was a pleasure to be involved in as it became apparent that no one company was providing the complete spectrum of services to healthcare providers that nThrive now offers. I'm very proud of the strong story that we have created behind the brand something you don't always see in healthcare. In this case nThrive allows the healthcare community as a whole to thrive to the nth degree. It's pretty special. Having recognition from Transform is validation of the many months of our strategic process on behalf of nThrive, we are truly honored." For more information and a list of all the winners, please visit: http://www.transformmagazine.net/awards/north-america/the-awards/the-winners/ About nThrive, Inc. nThrive is built on a legacy of excellence. In the past you knew us as MedAssets, Precyse and Equation. While each formerly a leader in its own right, we've combined our talents and capabilities into a single enterprise. From patient-to-payment, we'll provide all the technology, advisory expertise, services, analytics and education programs healthcare providers need to thrive in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.nthrive.com. About Aloft Group, Inc. Aloft Group is an internationally focused brand strategy, strategy-organization alignment and marketing communications firm committed to helping organizations achieve business and sales objectives and attain leadership positions across countries, markets and channels. Aloft Group specializes in health and health technology and has helped lead growth brand strategy and growth initiatives with such brands as the New England Journal of Medicine, FUJIFILM Medical Systems, AAAS-Science Magazine, MediRevv, Sciex, Beacon Partners, GE, The North Face, Clinithink and Nuance. Aloft is part of E3, a hands-on team of over 1000 from 30 organizations across 24 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.aloftgroup.com. Media Contacts: Audra Murphy, nThrive Tracy Hartman, Aloft Group 800-555-2311 x224 978.462.0002 x103 [email protected] [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160624/383238LOGO Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433474 SOURCE nThrive Related Links http://www.nthrive.com "We are grateful to the many supporters and donors who helped to make the New York City AIDS Memorial Park at St. Vincent's Triangle a reality," said Keith Fox, President of the Memorial's Board of Directors. "Through their generosity, we have raised more than $6 million over five years for the design, construction, and maintenance of the Memorial, as well as educational programs. We thank Barneys New York for hosting such a wonderful evening to help us express our thanks." "Barneys New York is proud to welcome this new downtown landmark. Its presence is a moving reminder of the 100,000+ New Yorkers who have died from AIDS and the broad community that has been affected by this loss and struggle. We were honored to celebrate its many supporters at last night's memorable reception," said Mark Lee, CEO. Christopher Tepper and Paul Kelterborn, two urban planners who have never known a world without AIDS, launched a grassroots campaign to create the Memorial in 2011. Nearly 500 architects worldwide submitted designs for the Memorial during an ideas competition held in late 2011, sponsored by Architectural Record and Architizer and displayed at the AIA's Center for Architecture. The jury, chaired by Michael Arad, designer of the National September 11th Memorial, selected a winning design by Brooklyn-based architectural firm Studio ai. The reception also featured the unveiling of a limited edition artwork honoring the Memorial by artist Kobi Benezri, Remember, Reflect, Renew. The AIDS Memorial organization and Artspace are offering a limited number for purchase at http://www.artspace.com/kobi-benezri. Proceeds will benefit the Memorial's educational programs. For more information or to support the New York City AIDS Memorial Park at St. Vincent's Triangle, visit http://nycaidsmemorial.org. About New York City AIDS Memorial Park at St. Vincent's Triangle: The Memorial project was launched in 2011 by urban planners Christopher Tepper and Paul Kelterborn to recognize and preserve the history of the AIDS crisis through the creation of a Memorial to honor New York City's 100,000+ men, women and children who have died from AIDS, and to commemorate and celebrate the efforts of the caregivers and activists who responded heroically to the crisis. Their efforts evolved into the New York City AIDS Memorial organization. For more information about the New York City AIDS Memorial, visit http://nycaidsmemorial.org, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCAIDSMemorial and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AIDSMemPark. Additional images can also be found at http://nycaidsmemorial.org. Media Contact: Kathy Malangone, [email protected], 917-680-7122 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433312 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433314 SOURCE New York City AIDS Memorial Related Links http://nycaidsmemorial.org CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Oasis Outsourcing's Charlotte office opened five years ago this month. The office, located at 13840 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Ste.150, opened in October of 2011 and has experienced steady growth ever since. "Charlotte is a prime metropolitan target for Oasis due to its position as the second largest financial center in the United States," said Andrew Stolz, Regional Vice President of the Midwest Region for Oasis Outsourcing. "Small and medium-sized businesses in Charlotte have come to depend on Oasis for its unique service proposition and client-centered approach to business." Oasis is a comprehensive Professional Employer Organization (PEO) offering a wide variety of HR, Employee Benefits, Payroll and Risk Management administrative services. As the nation's largest privately held PEO, Oasis continues to grow organically and through strategic acquisition. "When we opened our Charlotte office five years ago, we knew we were entering a dynamic market, but had no idea of the opportunities that truly lie in this important economic hub," said Alina Gabbard, Senior Vice President of Field Sales. "We look forward to expanding even further in the North Carolina market." About Oasis Outsourcing Holdings, Inc. Oasis Outsourcing is a Florida-based Professional Employer Organization (PEO) serving almost 200,000 employees and 6,000 clients nationwide. Founded in 1996, it specializes in providing human resources services, employee benefits administration, healthcare reform support, payroll and tax administration, risk management services and staffing solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses throughout the United States. Oasis is accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC), ensuring the highest level of ethical, financial and operational standards in the PEO industry and has received SOC 1 Type II (formerly SAS 70) certification for its high level of accuracy and performance. Offices are located in Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Boca Raton, FL; Boston, MA; Boulder, CO; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Edison, NJ; Hartford, CT; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Jacksonville, FL; Long Island, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Manhattan, NY; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Nashville, TN; Orlando, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Provo, UT; Queens, NY; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Sarasota, FL; St. Louis MO; Tampa, FL; Tucson, AZ; and West Palm Beach, FL. For more information about Oasis Outsourcing, visit www.oasisadvantage.com. Contact: Jennifer Clarin at Boardroom Communications, Inc., 954-370-8999, or [email protected]. SOURCE Oasis Outsourcing Related Links http://www.oasisadvantage.com HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016, including a reported net loss of $46.2 million, or a $0.37 loss per share, on revenues of $97.2 million. Third quarter adjusted EBITDA was $5.1 million. "We are pleased with our third quarter results given the challenging market conditions," said Gary Rich, the Company's Chairman, President and CEO. "While results were down quarter-on-quarter, they were in line with our expectations. We also saw improvements in some areas of our business. "Results from our Rentals Tools business improved slightly in the third quarter. Our rental activity in the U.S. land market increased as drilling activity improved, and this partially offset further declines in our U.S. offshore rentals. Results from our International Rental Tools segment improved in the third quarter due to the startup of previously delayed contracts and further cost reductions. In addition, our Drilling Services business benefited from the initial startup of a new operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for the Atlantic Coast, Canada and the addition of a fourth rig under an existing O&M contract on Sakhalin Island, Russia, both of which were awarded in the second quarter. "We remain focused on cash flow and ended the quarter with $194 million in liquidity including $104 million in cash and $90 million available on our undrawn revolver. Contracted backlog was $421 million at the end of the third quarter compared with $446 million as of June 30, 2016. "Looking forward, while there are indications market conditions are stabilizing and we may continue to see conditions improve in the near future, our expectations for the pace of the recovery remain guarded. As we navigate these market conditions, we are well positioned in our target markets and will continue to focus on execution, cash flow and financial discipline," concluded Rich. Third Quarter Review Parker Drilling's revenues for the 2016 third quarter, compared with the 2016 second quarter, decreased 7.7 percent to $97.2 million from $105.3 million, operating gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization expense (gross margin) decreased 22.4 percent to $12.5 million from $16.1 million and gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 12.9 percent, compared with 15.3 percent. Drilling Services For the Company's Drilling Services business, which is comprised of the U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling and International & Alaska Drilling segments, third quarter revenues decreased 8.6 percent to $66.7 million from $73.0 million for the 2016 second quarter, gross margin decreased 28.8 percent to $9.9 million from $13.9 million, and gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 14.8 percent, compared with 19.0 percent for the prior period. U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling segment revenues were $1.4 million compared with $1.1 million in the 2016 second quarter. Gross margin was a $3.7 million loss as compared with a 2016 second quarter loss of $3.9 million. The increase in revenues and gross margin improvement were primarily the result of slightly higher utilization. International & Alaska Drilling International & Alaska Drilling segment revenues were $65.3 million, a 9.2 percent decrease from 2016 second quarter revenues of $71.9 million. Gross margin was $13.6 million, a 23.6 percent decrease from 2016 second quarter gross margin of $17.8 million. Gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 20.8 percent as compared with 24.8 percent in the 2016 second quarter. The decrease in revenues and gross margin were attributable to the completion of a project services engagement early in the third quarter and lower rig utilization. There were also margin benefits in the second quarter that did not repeat in the third quarter, including a rig contract early termination fee and the release of accruals related to the wind down of operations in certain locations. Partially offsetting these declines were the start-ups of the new O&M contracts. Rental Tools Services Effective July 1, 2016, we report our Rental Tools Services business as two reportable segments: (1) U.S. Rental Tools and (2) International Rental Tools. Third quarter revenues for the Rental Tools Services business decreased 5.6 percent to $30.5 million from $32.3 million for the 2016 second quarter, gross margin increased 18.2 percent to $2.6 million from $2.2 million, and gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 8.5 percent compared with 6.8 percent for the prior period. U.S. Rental Tools U.S. Rental Tools segment revenues were $15.0 million, compared with $18.0 million for the 2016 second quarter. Gross margin was $4.2 million compared with $5.7 million for the 2016 second quarter. The declines in revenues and gross margin were primarily due to a decline in offshore Gulf of Mexico revenues partially offset by an increase in land revenues. International Rental Tools International Rental Tools segment revenues were $15.5 million, compared with $14.3 million for the 2016 second quarter. Gross margin was a $1.7 million loss compared with a 2016 second quarter loss of $3.5 million. The increase in revenues and improvement in gross margin were due to increased rental activity associated with both previously delayed new contract start-ups and existing contracts. Gross margin also benefited from lower operating expenses. Consolidated General and Administrative expenses were $7.4 million for the 2016 third quarter, down from $8.0 million for the 2016 second quarter. The decrease was primarily due to incentive plan adjustments. Capital expenditures in the third quarter were $4.7 million, and year-to-date through September 30, 2016 were $21.0 million. Conference Call Parker Drilling has scheduled a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) on Friday, October 28, 2016, to review third quarter results. The call will be available by telephone by dialing (+1) (412) 902-0003 and asking for the Parker Drilling Third Quarter Conference Call. The call can also be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. A replay of the call can be accessed on the Company's website for 12 months and will be available by telephone through November 4, 2016 at (+1) (201) 612-7415, conference ID 13646195. Cautionary Statement This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical facts addressing activities, events or developments the Company expects, projects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about anticipated future financial or operational results; the outlook for rental tools utilization and rig utilization and dayrates; the results of past capital expenditures; scheduled start-ups of rigs; general industry conditions such as the demand for drilling and the factors affecting demand; competitive advantages such as technological innovation; future operating results of the Company's rigs, rental tools operations and projects under management; future capital expenditures; expansion and growth opportunities; acquisitions or joint ventures; asset purchases and sales; successful negotiation and execution of contracts; scheduled delivery of drilling rigs or rental equipment for operation; the Company's financial position; changes in utilization or market share; outcomes of legal proceedings; compliance with credit facility and indenture covenants; and similar matters. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Although the Company believes its expectations stated in this press release are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include risks relating to changes in worldwide economic and business conditions, fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices, compliance with existing laws and changes in laws or government regulations, the failure to realize the benefits of, and other risks relating to, acquisitions, the risk of cost overruns, our ability to refinance our debt and other important factors, many of which could adversely affect market conditions, demand for our services, and costs, and all or any one of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. For more information, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other public filings and press releases. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Company Description Parker Drilling provides drilling services and rental tools to the energy industry. The Company's Drilling Services business serves operators in the inland waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico utilizing Parker Drilling's barge rig fleet and in select international markets and harsh-environment regions utilizing Parker-owned and customer-owned equipment. The Company's Rental Tools Services business supplies premium equipment and well services to operators on land and offshore in the U.S. and international markets. More information about Parker Drilling can be found on the Company's website at www.parkerdrilling.com. Contact: Jason Geach, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development, (+1) (281) 406-2310, [email protected]. PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Dollars in Thousands) September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 (Unaudited) ASSETS: Current Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 103,613 $ 134,294 Accounts and Notes Receivable, net 130,616 175,105 Rig Materials and Supplies 32,681 34,937 Other Current Assets 22,514 22,405 Total Current Assets 289,424 366,741 Property, Plant and Equipment, net 718,254 805,841 Other Assets Deferred Income Taxes 87,653 139,282 Other Assets 54,551 54,838 Total Other Assets 142,204 194,120 Total Assets $ 1,149,882 $ 1,366,702 LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Current Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities $ 93,293 $ 136,121 Total Current Liabilities 93,293 136,121 Long-Term Debt, net of debt issuance costs 575,935 574,798 Deferred Tax Liability 78,893 68,654 Other Long-Term Liabilities 16,161 18,617 Total Stockholders' Equity 385,600 568,512 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 1,149,882 $ 1,366,702 PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Consolidated Statement Of Operations (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 Revenues $ 97,189 $ 173,418 $ 105,287 Expenses: Operating Expenses 84,680 128,963 89,195 Depreciation and Amortization 34,474 39,584 36,317 119,154 168,547 125,512 Total Operating Gross Margin (21,965) 4,871 (20,225) General and Administrative Expense (7,424) (8,895) (7,995) Provision for Reduction in Carrying Value of Certain Assets (906) Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets, net (187) 383 (2) Total Operating Income (Loss) (29,576) (4,547) (28,222) Other Income (Expense) Interest Expense (11,015) (11,293) (12,187) Interest Income 9 7 32 Other (351) (719) (358) Total Other Income (Expense) (11,357) (12,005) (12,513) Income (Loss) before Income Taxes (40,933) (16,552) (40,735) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) 5,295 31,930 (913) Net Income (Loss) (46,228) (48,482) (39,822) Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest 138 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Controlling Interest $ (46,228) $ (48,620) $ (39,822) Income (Loss) per Share - Basic Net Income (Loss) $ (0.37) $ (0.40) $ (0.32) Income (Loss) per Share - Diluted Net Income (Loss) $ (0.37) $ (0.40) $ (0.32) Number of common shares used in computing earnings per share: Basic 124,486,848 122,933,518 124,101,349 Diluted 124,486,848 122,933,518 124,101,349 PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Consolidated Statement Of Operations (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 Revenues $ 332,979 $ 563,435 Expenses: Operating Expenses 281,992 411,802 Depreciation and Amortization 106,605 118,474 388,597 530,276 Total Operating Gross Margin (55,618) 33,159 General and Administrative Expense (25,200) (29,243) Provision for Reduction in Carrying Value of Certain Assets (3,222) Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets, net (249) 2,686 Total Operating Income (Loss) (81,067) 3,380 Other Income (Expense) Interest Expense (34,764) (33,767) Interest Income 48 209 Other 1,776 (3,628) Total Other Income (Expense) (32,940) (37,186) Income (Loss) before Income Taxes (114,007) (33,806) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) 67,878 24,832 Net Income (Loss) (181,885) (58,638) Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest 789 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Controlling Interest $ (181,885) $ (59,427) Income (Loss) per Share - Basic Net Income (Loss) $ (1.47) $ (0.49) Income (Loss) per Share - Diluted Net Income (Loss) $ (1.47) $ (0.49) Number of common shares used in computing earnings per share: Basic 123,894,980 122,430,957 Diluted 123,894,980 122,430,957 PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Selected Financial Data (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30, June 30, 2016 2015 2016 Revenues: Drilling Services: U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling $ 1,431 $ 5,961 $ 1,065 International & Alaska Drilling 65,307 110,661 71,926 Total Drilling Services 66,738 116,622 72,991 Rental Tools Services: U.S. Rental Tools $ 14,967 $ 31,905 $ 17,961 International Rental Tools 15,484 24,891 14,335 Total Rental Tools Services 30,451 56,796 32,296 Total Revenues $ 97,189 $ 173,418 $ 105,287 Operating Expenses: Drilling Services: U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling $ 5,112 $ 7,820 $ 4,967 International & Alaska Drilling 51,682 81,586 54,110 Total Drilling Services 56,794 89,406 59,077 Rental Tools Services: U.S. Rental Tools $ 10,746 $ 17,002 $ 12,267 International Rental Tools 17,140 22,555 17,851 Total Rental Tools Services 27,886 39,557 30,118 Total Operating Expenses $ 84,680 $ 128,963 $ 89,195 Operating Gross Margin: Drilling Services: U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling $ (3,681) $ (1,859) $ (3,902) International & Alaska Drilling 13,625 29,075 17,816 Total Drilling Services 9,944 27,216 13,914 Rental Tools Services: U.S. Rental Tools $ 4,221 $ 14,903 $ 5,694 International Rental Tools (1,656) 2,336 (3,516) Total Rental Tools Services 2,565 17,239 2,178 Depreciation and Amortization (34,474) (39,584) (36,317) Total Operating Gross Margin $ (21,965) $ 4,871 $ (20,225) PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Adjusted EBITDA (1) (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 June 30, 2016 March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 September 30, 2015 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Controlling Interest $ (46,228) $ (39,822) $ (95,835) $ (35,646) $ (48,620) Interest Expense 11,015 12,187 11,562 11,388 11,293 Income Tax Expense (Benefit) 5,295 (913) 63,496 (2,519) 31,930 Depreciation and Amortization 34,474 36,317 35,814 37,720 39,584 EBITDA 4,556 7,769 15,037 10,943 34,187 Adjustments: Other (Income) Expense 342 326 (2,492) 6,059 712 (Gain) Loss on Disposition of Assets, net 187 2 60 1,043 (383) Provision for Reduction in Carrying Value of Certain Assets 9,268 906 Special items (2) 1,265 Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,085 $ 8,097 $ 12,605 $ 28,578 $ 35,422 (1) We believe Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of operating performance because it allows management, investors and others to evaluate and compare our core operating results from period to period by removing the impact of our capital structure (interest expense from our outstanding debt), asset base (depreciation and amortization), remeasurement of foreign currency transactions, tax consequences, impairment and other special items. Special items include items impacting operating expenses that management believes detract from an understanding of normal operating performance. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to review current period operating performance and period to period comparisons. Our Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of another company because other entities may not calculate EBITDA in the same manner. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of financial performance under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to operating income or loss, net income or loss, cash flows provided by or used in operating, investing and financing activities, or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. (2) For the three months ended December 31, 2015, special items include a $1.3 million write-off of inventory associated with our decision to no longer provide drilling services in Colombia. PARKER DRILLING COMPANY Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings Per Share (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30, June 30, 2016 2015 2016 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Controlling Interest $ (46,228) $ (48,620) $ (39,822) Income (Loss) per Diluted Share $ (0.37) $ (0.40) $ (0.32) Adjustments: Valuation Allowance 36,632 Total adjustments 36,632 Tax effect of adjustments Net adjustments 36,632 Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Controlling Interest (1) $ (46,228) $ (11,988) $ (39,822) Adjusted Income (Loss) per Diluted Share (1) $ (0.37) $ (0.10) $ (0.32) (1) We believe Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Controlling Interest and Adjusted Income (Loss) per Diluted Share are useful financial measures for investors to assess and understand operating performance for period to period comparisons. Management views the adjustments to Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Controlling Interest and Income (Loss) per Diluted Share to be items outside of the Company's normal operating results. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Controlling Interest and Adjusted Income (Loss) per Diluted Share are not measures of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to Net Income (Loss) or Income (Loss) per Diluted Share. SOURCE Parker Drilling Company Related Links http://www.parkerdrilling.com DUBLIN, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Perrigo Company plc (NYSE: PRGO; TASE) today announced that it will release financial results for its third quarter calendar year 2016 on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at approximately 6:30 a.m. (ET). The Company will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. (ET) hosted by John Hendrickson, Perrigo's Chief Executive Officer. The conference call will be available live via webcast to interested parties in the investor relations section of the Perrigo website at http://perrigo.investorroom.com/events-webcasts or by phone at 877-248-9413, International 973-582-2737, and reference ID #8408170. A taped replay of the call will be available beginning at approximately 12:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday, November 10, until midnight Friday, November 25, 2016. To listen to the replay, dial 800-585-8367, International 404-537-3406, and use access code 8408170. About Perrigo Perrigo Company plc, a top five global over-the-counter (OTC) consumer goods and pharmaceutical company, offers consumers and customers high quality products at affordable prices. From its beginnings in 1887 as a packager of generic home remedies, Perrigo, headquartered in Ireland, has grown to become the world's largest manufacturer of OTC products and supplier of infant formulas for the store brand market. The Company is also a leading provider of branded OTC products, generic extended topical prescription products and receives royalties from Multiple Sclerosis drug Tysabri. Perrigo provides "Quality Affordable Healthcare Products" across a wide variety of product categories and geographies primarily in North America, Europe, and Australia, as well as other key markets including Israel and China. Visit Perrigo online at (http://www.perrigo.com). Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements." These statements relate to future events or the Company's future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including the timing, amount and cost of share repurchases, future impairment charges, the ability to achieve its guidance and the ability to execute and achieve the desired benefits of announced initiatives. These and other important factors, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-KT for the six-month period ended December 31, 2015, as well as the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC, may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120301/DE62255LOGO SOURCE Perrigo Company plc Related Links http://www.perrigo.com ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet lovers are invited to a book signing by the renowned founder of The Honest Kitchen, Lucy Postins. She will be at Bentley's Pet Stuff in Arlington Heights, Ill., with her new book, "Dog Obsessed," a guide for creating happier and healthier lives for dogs. Bentley's Pet Stuff, a leading natural pet food store, will host the book signing, which also includes a recipe demonstration by Postins. Lisa Senafe, founder of Bentley's, first opened the store to help pet lovers find natural and healthy foods for their pets. "As a fellow entrepreneur, I admire Lucy's commitment to providing healthy recipes for dogs through both her new book and her food line," said Senafe. "We love hosting fun events that help our loyal customers make smart decisions for their pets." The book signing will take place at 6 p.m., Nov. 2 at Bentley's Pet Stuff in Arlington Heights (12 S. Dunton). Senafe will kick off the event and talk about pet nutrition, and then introduce Postins, who will create a pet-friendly recipe from her book. More about Bentley's Pet Stuff Bentley's Pet Stuff is a family-owned business with over 30 store locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado, with 100 projected stores by March, 2017. Bentley's is one of the largest independent natural pet supply retailers. It opened in 2008 with a mission to feed animal lovers' pets genuine high quality ingredients. Started from a single retail store, Bentley's Pet Stuff offers natural pet food, a variety of treats, toys, and more. Bentley's won Retailer of the Year from Pet Product News in August 2016. To date, Bentley's Pet Stuff has donated over 50,000 pounds of food to local pet shelters and rescues. Bentley's Pet Stuff is open to recommendations on other pet rescue or shelters. Email [email protected] to make a recommendation. More about Dog Obsessed Dog Obsessed offers practical advice with amusing anecdotes, instructions and steps for uncovering food allergies. This complete guide combines humorous advice with sound, veterinarian-approved programs for weight loss, exercise, and physical and emotional health, recipes and more. Visit DogObsessed.com for more information. SOURCE Bentleys Pet Stuff Related Links https://www.petstuff.com/ Rio Tinto chief vows to continue cutting costs Updated: 2016-10-27 07:29 By Yang Ziman(China Daily) Rio Tinto will continue to reduce its production costs as an oversupply in iron ore is expected to last for seven to 10 years, said Jean-Sebastien Jacques, chief executive officer of the company. "Rio Tito's strategy has not changed, which is to keep our iron ore products at very low cost so that whatever the condition is, we will remain profitable," Jacques told China Daily in a group interview on Tuesday. Jacques, who took the helm at Rio Tinto in July, said that the company has removed $6 billion of costs from its system since 2012. The iron ore spot price was around $58 per metric ton in mid October, compared with $184 per ton in January 2011. The company's iron ore sales volume in the third quarter fell by 5 percent year-on-year to 80.9 million tons, compared with the forecast 83.5 million tons. Its output increased 2 percent year-on-year to 83.2 million tons. The company forecasts total annual iron ore output of between 325 and 330 million tons. Jacques said that he is "cautiously optimistic" about the prospects for the Chinese economy. "China is very important for Rio Tinto as our largest customer in iron ore and our largest shareholder - Chalco (Aluminum Corp of China Ltd) holds around 10 percent of Rio Tinto's shares," he said. Wang Liqun, vice-president of the China Iron & Steel Association, said earlier that 86.7 percent of the country's iron ore was imported in the first two months of this year, compared with 64 percent in 2010. "Three years ago, China's annual iron ore output was 400 million tons. This year, production is expected to be 230 to 250 million tons. The difference of 150 million tons must be reached by imports from Australia and other places," said Jacques. yangziman@chinadaily.com.cn A mineworker looks at a train loader at the Rio Tinto West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara, northwest of Perth, Australia. Provided To China Daily (China Daily 10/27/2016 page13) NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rabobank recently announced several senior-level staffing changes and additions to its Corporate Clients franchise in North America (CCNA), reflecting the bank's strategy of developing its knowledge in the food and agribusiness (F&A) sector to provide value-added products and services for its clients. The CCNA franchise serves hundreds of the world's leading F&A companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico across all segments of the food value chain, from farming to manufacturing to retail. The new staff positions fall within Mergers & Acquisitions, Food & Agribusiness Research (FAR), Client Coverage and a newly-created department focused on innovative startup companies in the F&A industry. "I am excited about these actions because they bolster our position as the go-to bank for expert advice, innovative thinking and value-added solutions in the F&A space," said David Bassett, Head of Corporate Clients, Rabobank North America Wholesale. "These changes include a key external hire and several important internal moves, showcasing the deep F&A knowledge that exists within Rabobank and creating a deeper alignment among our research, M&A and client coverage teams in terms of strategic dialogue with clients. Overall it's about providing better solutions for our clients, the heart of our organization." Staff Announcements: Gregg Fatzinger has joined the bank as Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions, reporting to Donald Meltzer, Vice Chairman and Head of Mergers & Acquisitions-North America. Mr. Fatzinger augments the senior coverage already present on the M&A team and he will work closely with sector experts to bring new ideas to clients. Mr. Fatzinger has focused almost exclusively on the food and agribusiness sector over his 20+ year career on Wall Street, co-founding Credit Suisse's consumer coverage group in 1997, becoming Managing Director in 2008 and heading the U.S. Consumer Investment Banking Group starting in 2007. He joined Rabobank from Nomura International which he joined in 2010 as head of the U.S. Consumer team, focused primarily on food and agriculture. Stefan Behrens and Ross Colbert were promoted to Global Sector Head-Consumer Foods and Global Sector Head-Beverages, respectively. As Global Sector Heads, they will be responsible for setting and executing the overall strategy in their respective sectors and strengthening Rabobank's long-standing relationships with major consumer food and beverages clients around the world. Mr. Behrens relocated to New York from Hong Kong, where he was previously Head of Loan Product Group in Rabobank's Asian franchise, leading a team of bankers providing debt capital solutions to Asian corporates. Mr. Colbert was previously Head of FAR-North America and Global Strategist-Beverages, where he was responsible for developing FAR's research portfolio and Rabobank's global view toward the beverage sector, along with managing the Food & Agribusiness Research North America team. Mr. Behrens and Mr. Colbert join Bill Cordingley, Global Sector Head-Animal Protein, as senior global sector coverage officers based in North America, greatly enhancing Rabobank's origination and advisory efforts in these key F&A segments. Pablo Sherwell was promoted to the role of Head of Food & Agribusiness Research following Mr. Colbert's move. Mr. Sherwell joined the FAR team in New York earlier this year from Rabobank Mexico where he played an important role in developing Rabobank's understanding of the F&A sector in Mexico and of how events in Mexico affect the rest of North America. He has deep knowledge of the sugar and animal protein industries, and his broad experience with research in the F&A space allows him to promote research that adds value to our clients. Before joining FAR in 2012, Mr. Sherwell served 5 years in the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture. He has spent over 14 years in the food and agricultural sector, and holds a PhD in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University. Stephen Rannekleiv was appointed to the position of Global Sector Strategist, Beverages, within the FAR team. Previously an Executive Director and the bank's senior analyst in alcoholic beverages, Mr. Rannekleiv now leads the beverage research team and works closely with Mr. Colbert and other key Rabobank staff to develop thought-provoking ideas and analytics that could be useful to beverage clients. Before joining Rabobank in 2006, Mr. Rannekleiv worked in agricultural development projects in Latin America. Mark Abrams was appointed Head of Rabobank North America Wholesale's San Francisco office. Mark has a wealth of banking and corporate finance experience, most recently serving as Head of M&A, South America for the past four years. The Western Region of the U.S. is home to several vital production and processing segments of the F&A universeincluding wine, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seafood. Mark's appointment will bring value-added product expertise to the bank's clients and prospects in this important market as he leverages his deep M&A and relationship experience. Manuel Gonzalez, previously Head of Rabobank's San Francisco office, has been appointed to a newly created role as Head of Startup Innovation. Rabobank has become more involved with F&A startup companies as a way to identify key trends in F&A and to increase the bank's relevance to its corporate clients by helping to uncover the next great ideas in F&A. Rabobank's flagship FoodBytes! event series that allows startups to pitch their ideas to investors, and Terra, Rabobank's own F&A accelerator, are examples of this startup work, and Mr. Gonzalez has been instrumental in both. This new role institutionalizes Rabobank's startup efforts, and Mr. Gonzalez will work closely with partners in CCNA and in Rabobank globally to drive our outreach efforts in the F&A startup space. "These are key moves for us as a knowledge bank in the food and agribusiness sector," said Rajiv Singh, CEO, Rabobank North America Wholesale. "Not only will they help us provide the best knowledge and advice to our clients, but we have positioned ourselves to play a proactive role in deploying the right kind of innovation throughout our industry". About Rabobank Rabobank Group is a global financial services leader providing wholesale and retail banking, leasing, and real estate services in more than 40 countries worldwide. Founded over a century ago, Rabobank today is one of the world's largest banks in the world with over $750 billion in assets. In the Americas, Rabobank is a premier bank to the food, agribusiness and beverage industry, providing sector expertise, strategic counsel and tailored financial solutions to clients across the entire food value chain. NAW.Rabobank.com Twitter LinkedIn Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150819/259591LOGO SOURCE Rabobank Related Links http://www.rabobank.com WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) today announced net sales for the third quarter 2016 of $6.0 billion, up 4 percent compared to $5.8 billion in the third quarter 2015. Third quarter 2016 EPS from continuing operations was $1.79 compared to $1.47 in the third quarter 2015. Third quarter 2016 EPS from continuing operations included a favorable FAS/CAS Adjustment of $0.23 compared to a favorable FAS/CAS Adjustment of $0.09 in the third quarter 2015. "The Company's strong operating performance in the third quarter reflects our continued focus on driving global growth and creating value for our customers and shareholders," said Thomas A. Kennedy, Raytheon Chairman and CEO. Operating cash flow from continuing operations for the third quarter 2016 was $0.6 billion compared to $1.1 billion for the third quarter 2015. Operating cash flow from continuing operations in the third quarter 2016 was lower than the third quarter 2015, as expected, primarily due to the timing of collections and payments. Year-to-date operating cash flow from continuing operations was $1.7 billion in 2016 versus $1.5 billion for the comparable period in 2015. The increase in operating cash flow from continuing operations in 2016 was primarily due to the timing of cash taxes. Summary Financial Results 3rd Quarter % Nine Months % ($ in millions, except per share data) 2016 2015 Change 2016 2015 Change Bookings $ 6,940 $ 5,315 30.6% $ 20,259 $ 17,366 16.7% Net Sales $ 6,033 $ 5,783 4.3% $ 17,831 $ 16,919 5.4% Income from Continuing Operations attributable to Raytheon Company $ 528 $ 448 17.9% $ 1,666 1 $ 1,503 2 10.8% EPS from Continuing Operations $ 1.79 $ 1.47 21.8% $ 5.60 1 $ 4.91 2 14.1% Operating Cash Flow from Continuing Operations $ 640 $ 1,102 $ 1,711 $ 1,533 Workdays in Fiscal Reporting Calendar 63 63 192 188 1 Nine months 2016 Income from Continuing Operations attributable to Raytheon Company and EPS from Continuing Operations included the tax-free gain of $158 million and $0.53 impact, respectively, for the TRS transaction. 2 Nine months 2015 Income from Continuing Operations attributable to Raytheon Company and EPS from Continuing Operations included the favorable $181 million pretax ($138 million after-tax) and $0.45 impact, respectively, for the first quarter 2015 eBorders settlement. The Company had bookings of $6.9 billion in the third quarter 2016, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.15 in the quarter. Third quarter 2015 bookings were $5.3 billion. Year-to-date 2016 bookings were $20.3 billion, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.14. Year-to-date 2015 bookings were $17.4 billion. In the third quarter 2016, the Company repurchased 1.4 million shares of common stock for $198 million. Year-to-date 2016, the Company repurchased 6.2 million shares of common stock for $801 million. Backlog ($ in millions) Period Ending Q3 2016 Q3 2015 2015 Backlog $ 35,811 $ 33,571 $ 34,669 Funded Backlog $ 25,666 $ 24,361 $ 25,060 Backlog at the end of the third quarter 2016 was $35.8 billion, an increase of approximately $2.2 billion compared to the end of the third quarter 2015. Funded backlog was $25.7 billion, an increase of approximately $1.3 billion compared to the end of the third quarter 2015. Outlook The Company has updated its financial outlook for 2016 and increased guidance for EPS. Charts containing additional information on the Company's 2016 outlook are available on the Company's website at www.raytheon.com/ir. 2016 Financial Outlook Current Prior (7/28/16) Net Sales ($B) 24.2 - 24.5* 24.0 - 24.5 Deferred Revenue Adjustment ($M)1 (77) (77) Amortization of Acquired Intangibles ($M)1 (121) (121) FAS/CAS Adjustment ($M) 433* 428 Interest Expense, net ($M) (215) - (220)* (215) - (225) Diluted Shares (M) ~297* 296 - 298 Effective Tax Rate ~28.0% ~28.0% EPS from Continuing Operations $7.28 - $7.38* $7.13 - $7.33 Operating Cash Flow from Continuing Operations ($B) 2.8 - 3.1 2.8 - 3.1 * Denotes change from prior guidance 1 Deferred Revenue Adjustment and Amortization of Intangibles represent the unfavorable impact of the acquisition accounting adjustments to record acquired deferred revenue at fair value and the amortization of acquired intangible assets for all business segments. Segment Results The Company's reportable segments are: Integrated Defense Systems (IDS); Intelligence, Information and Services (IIS); Missile Systems (MS); Space and Airborne Systems (SAS); and Forcepoint (FP). Integrated Defense Systems 3rd Quarter Nine Months ($ in millions) 2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change Net Sales $ 1,334 $ 1,417 -6% $ 4,070 $ 4,289 -5% Operating Income1 $ 209 $ 198 6% $ 731 $ 583 NM Operating Margin1 15.7% 14.0% 18.0% 13.6% 1 Nine months 2016 operating income and operating margin include the favorable $158 million impact of the TRS transaction. NM = Not Meaningful Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) had third quarter 2016 net sales of $1,334 million compared to $1,417 million in the third quarter 2015. The change in net sales for the quarter was primarily driven by lower net sales on various radar production programs and on an international communications program due to scheduled completion of certain production phases on these programs. IDS recorded $209 million of operating income in the third quarter 2016 compared to $198 million in the third quarter 2015. The increase in operating income for the quarter was primarily driven by higher net program efficiencies, partially offset by lower volume in the third quarter 2016. During the quarter, IDS booked $265 million to provide advanced Patriot air and missile defense capabilities for an international customer. IDS also booked $92 million for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase on the competitively awarded Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) program for the U.S. Navy. Intelligence, Information and Services 3rd Quarter Nine Months ($ in millions) 2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change Net Sales $ 1,541 $ 1,519 1% $ 4,676 $ 4,574 2% Operating Income1 $ 122 $ 118 3% $ 346 $ 535 NM Operating Margin1 7.9% 7.8% 7.4% 11.7% 1 Nine months 2015 operating income and operating margin include the favorable $181 million impact of the eBorders settlement. NM = Not Meaningful Intelligence, Information and Services (IIS) had third quarter 2016 net sales of $1,541 million, up 1 percent compared to $1,519 million in the third quarter 2015. IIS recorded $122 million of operating income in the third quarter 2016 compared to $118 million in the third quarter 2015. During the quarter, IIS booked $255 million on the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) program for the U.S. Navy, $286 million on domestic and foreign training programs in support of Warfighter FOCUS activities, $107 million to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support to the U.S. Air Force, and $101 million to provide a common ground station for unmanned vehicles for the U.S. Air Force. IIS also booked $435 million on a number of classified contracts. Missile Systems 3rd Quarter Nine Months ($ in millions) 2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change Net Sales $ 1,800 $ 1,645 9% $ 5,176 $ 4,677 11% Operating Income $ 241 $ 219 10% $ 656 $ 610 8% Operating Margin 13.4% 13.3% 12.7% 13.0% Missile Systems (MS) had third quarter 2016 net sales of $1,800 million, up 9 percent compared to $1,645 million in the third quarter 2015. The increase in net sales for the quarter was primarily driven by higher sales on the Paveway and Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) programs. MS recorded $241 million of operating income in the third quarter 2016 compared to $219 million in the third quarter 2015. The increase in operating income for the quarter was primarily driven by higher volume. During the quarter, MS booked $538 million for Standard Missile-3 (SM-3), $376 million for Phalanx weapon systems, and $176 million for Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wireless-guided (TOW) missiles, all for both U.S. and international customers. Space and Airborne Systems 3rd Quarter Nine Months ($ in millions) 2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change Net Sales $ 1,590 $ 1,446 10% $ 4,587 $ 4,220 9% Operating Income $ 210 $ 213 -1% $ 586 $ 590 -1% Operating Margin 13.2% 14.7% 12.8% 14.0% Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) had third quarter 2016 net sales of $1,590 million, up 10 percent compared to $1,446 million in the third quarter 2015. The increase in net sales for the quarter was primarily driven by higher sales on an international classified program. SAS recorded $210 million of operating income in the third quarter 2016 compared to $213 million in the third quarter 2015. The decrease in operating income for the quarter was primarily due to a change in program mix partially offset by higher volume. During the quarter, SAS booked $164 million to provide integrated Sentinel support services for the U.K. Royal Air Force. SAS also booked $922 million on a number of classified contracts. Forcepoint 3rd Quarter Nine Months ($ in millions) 2016 2015 % Change 2016 2015 % Change Net Sales $ 149 $ 114 31% $ 423 $ 195 NM Operating Income $ 19 $ 20 -5% $ 40 $ 19 NM Operating Margin 12.8% 17.5% 9.5% 9.7% NM = Not Meaningful Forcepoint (FP) had third quarter 2016 net sales of $149 million, up 31 percent compared to $114 million in the third quarter 2015. The increase in net sales for the quarter was primarily driven by higher sales in Federal products and services, and the acquisition of Stonesoft in the first quarter of 2016. FP recorded $19 million of operating income in the third quarter 2016 compared to $20 million in the third quarter 2015. The decrease in operating margin for the quarter was primarily due to a change in product mix and an increase in commissions expense due to higher bookings. About Raytheon Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter. Conference Call on the Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results Raytheon's financial results conference call will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 9 a.m. ET. Participants will include Thomas A. Kennedy, Chairman and CEO; Anthony F. O'Brien, vice president and CFO; and other Company executives. The dial-in number for the conference call will be (866) 953-6856 in the U.S. or (617) 399-3480 outside of the U.S. The conference call will also be audiocast on the Internet at www.raytheon.com/ir . Individuals may listen to the call and download charts that will be used during the call. These charts will be available for printing prior to the call. Interested parties are encouraged to check the website ahead of time to ensure their computers are configured for the audio stream. Instructions for obtaining the free required downloadable software are posted on the site. Disclosure Regarding Forward-looking Statements This release and the attachments contain forward-looking statements, including information regarding the Company's financial outlook, future plans, objectives, business prospects and anticipated financial performance. These forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts and represent only the Company's current expectations regarding such matters. These statements inherently involve a wide range of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual actions and results could differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. Specific factors that could cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the Company's dependence on the U.S. Government for a significant portion of its business and the risks associated with U.S. Government sales, including changes or shifts in defense spending due to budgetary constraints, spending cuts resulting from sequestration, a government shutdown, or otherwise, uncertain funding of programs, potential termination of contracts, and difficulties in contract performance; the resolution of program terminations; the ability to procure new contracts; the risks of conducting business in foreign countries; the unpredictability of timing of international bookings; the ability to comply with extensive governmental regulation and obtain approvals, including export and import requirements such as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the Export Administration Regulations, anti-bribery and anti-corruption requirements including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, industrial cooperation agreement obligations, and procurement and other regulations; changes in government procurement practices; the impact of competition; the ability to develop products and technologies, and the impact of associated investments and costs; the impact of potential security and cyber threats, and other disruptions; the ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; the risk that actual pension returns, discount rates or other actuarial assumptions, including the long-term return on asset assumption, are significantly different than the Company's current assumptions; the risk of cost overruns, particularly for the Company's fixed-price contracts; dependence on component availability, subcontractor and partner performance and key suppliers; risks of a negative government audit; risks associated with acquisitions, investments, dispositions, joint ventures and other business arrangements; the ability to grow in the government and commercial cybersecurity markets; risks of an impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets; the impact of financial markets and global economic conditions; the use of accounting estimates in the Company's financial statements; the outcome of contingencies and litigation matters, including government investigations; the risk of environmental liabilities; and other factors as may be detailed from time to time in the Company's public announcements and Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release and the attachments or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release, including any acquisitions, dispositions or other business arrangements that may be announced or closed after such date. Attachment A Raytheon Company Preliminary Statement of Operations Information Third Quarter 2016 (In millions, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 Net sales $ 6,033 $ 5,783 $ 17,831 $ 16,919 Operating expenses Cost of sales 4,512 4,408 13,292 12,766 General and administrative expenses 715 678 2,161 1,968 Total operating expenses 5,227 5,086 15,453 14,734 Operating income 806 697 2,378 2,185 Non-operating (income) expense, net Interest expense 58 58 174 175 Interest income (4) (3) (12) (9) Other (income) expense, net (4) 9 (7) 6 Total non-operating (income) expense, net 50 64 155 172 Income from continuing operations before taxes 756 633 2,223 2,013 Federal and foreign income taxes 233 189 591 513 Income from continuing operations 523 444 1,632 1,500 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax 1 (1) 1 Net income 524 443 1,633 1,500 Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries (5) (4) (34) (3) Net income attributable to Raytheon Company $ 529 $ 447 $ 1,667 $ 1,503 Basic earnings per share attributable to Raytheon Company common stockholders: Income from continuing operations $ 1.79 $ 1.47 $ 5.60 $ 4.91 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax Net income 1.79 1.47 5.61 4.92 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Raytheon Company common stockholders: Income from continuing operations $ 1.79 $ 1.47 $ 5.60 $ 4.91 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax Net income 1.79 1.47 5.60 4.91 Amounts attributable to Raytheon Company common stockholders: Income from continuing operations $ 528 $ 448 $ 1,666 $ 1,503 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax 1 (1) 1 Net income $ 529 $ 447 $ 1,667 $ 1,503 Average shares outstanding Basic 295.2 303.9 297.2 305.8 Diluted 295.5 304.3 297.5 306.2 Attachment B Raytheon Company Preliminary Segment Information Third Quarter 2016 Operating Income Net Sales Operating Income As a Percent of Net Sales (In millions, except percentages) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Three Months Ended 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 Integrated Defense Systems $ 1,334 $ 1,417 $ 209 $ 198 15.7 % 14.0 % Intelligence, Information and Services 1,541 1,519 122 118 7.9 % 7.8 % Missile Systems 1,800 1,645 241 219 13.4 % 13.3 % Space and Airborne Systems 1,590 1,446 210 213 13.2 % 14.7 % Forcepoint 149 114 19 20 12.8 % 17.5 % Eliminations (364) (331) (42) (42) Total business segment 6,050 5,810 759 726 12.5 % 12.5 % Acquisition Accounting Adjustments (17) (27) (46) (63) FAS/CAS Adjustment 104 43 Corporate (11) (9) Total $ 6,033 $ 5,783 $ 806 $ 697 13.4 % 12.1 % Operating Income Net Sales Operating Income As a Percent of Net Sales (In millions, except percentages) Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 Integrated Defense Systems $ 4,070 $ 4,289 $ 731 $ 583 18.0 % 13.6 % Intelligence, Information and Services 4,676 4,574 346 535 7.4 % 11.7 % Missile Systems 5,176 4,677 656 610 12.7 % 13.0 % Space and Airborne Systems 4,587 4,220 586 590 12.8 % 14.0 % Forcepoint 423 195 40 19 9.5 % 9.7 % Eliminations (1,037) (999) (109) (111) Total business segment 17,895 16,956 2,250 2,226 12.6 % 13.1 % Acquisition Accounting Adjustments (64) (37) (155) (109) FAS/CAS Adjustment 318 141 Corporate (35) (73) Total $ 17,831 $ 16,919 $ 2,378 $ 2,185 13.3 % 12.9 % Attachment C Raytheon Company Other Preliminary Information Third Quarter 2016 (In millions) Funded Backlog Total Backlog 2-Oct-16 31-Dec-15 2-Oct-16 31-Dec-15 Integrated Defense Systems $ 7,996 $ 8,961 $ 9,667 $ 10,629 Intelligence, Information and Services 2,833 2,933 6,127 6,367 Missile Systems 8,998 7,998 11,077 10,885 Space and Airborne Systems 5,336 4,692 8,435 6,309 Forcepoint 503 476 505 479 Total $ 25,666 $ 25,060 $ 35,811 $ 34,669 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 Total Bookings $ 6,940 $ 5,315 $ 20,259 $ 17,366 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 Administrative and selling expenses $ 536 $ 495 $ 1,602 $ 1,457 Research and development expenses 179 183 559 511 Total general and administrative expenses $ 715 $ 678 $ 2,161 $ 1,968 Attachment D Raytheon Company Preliminary Balance Sheet Information Third Quarter 2016 (In millions) 2-Oct-16 31-Dec-15 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,342 $ 2,328 Short-term investments 462 872 Contracts in process, net 6,469 5,564 Inventories 651 635 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 231 413 Total current assets 10,155 9,812 Property, plant and equipment, net 2,053 2,005 Goodwill 14,791 14,731 Other assets, net 2,453 2,733 Total assets $ 29,452 $ 29,281 Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Equity Current liabilities Advance payments and billings in excess of costs incurred $ 2,063 $ 2,193 Accounts payable 1,415 1,402 Accrued employee compensation 1,131 1,154 Other current liabilities 1,392 1,377 Total current liabilities 6,001 6,126 Accrued retiree benefits and other long-term liabilities 7,284 7,140 Long-term debt 5,334 5,330 Redeemable noncontrolling interest 366 355 Equity Raytheon Company stockholders' equity Common stock 3 3 Additional paid-in capital 398 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (6,856) (7,176) Retained earnings 17,320 16,903 Total Raytheon Company stockholders' equity 10,467 10,128 Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries 202 Total equity 10,467 10,330 Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity $ 29,452 $ 29,281 Attachment E Raytheon Company Preliminary Cash Flow Information Third Quarter 2016 Nine Months Ended (In millions) 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 Cash flows from operating activities Net income $ 1,633 $ 1,500 (Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (1) Income from continuing operations 1,632 1,500 Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations, net of acquisitions and divestitures Depreciation and amortization 377 353 Stock-based compensation 120 114 Gain on sale of equity method investment (158) Deferred income taxes (102) (248) Tax benefit from stock-based awards (43) Changes in assets and liabilities Contracts in process, net and advance payments and billings in excess of costs incurred (1,016) (700) Inventories (15) (207) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 276 7 Income taxes receivable/payable (78) 3 Accounts payable 52 63 Accrued employee compensation (25) 109 Other current liabilities (47) 47 Accrued retiree benefits 693 583 Other, net 2 (48) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations 1,711 1,533 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 1,711 1,533 Cash flows from investing activities Additions to property, plant and equipment (344) (239) Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment 25 45 Additions to capitalized internal use software (47) (37) Purchases of short-term investments (472) (658) Sales of short-term investments 209 Maturities of short-term investments 822 1,336 Payments for purchases of acquired companies, net of cash received (57) (1,892) Other (9) (6) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (82) (1,242) Cash flows from financing activities Dividends paid (635) (595) Repurchases of common stock under share repurchase programs (801) (750) Repurchases of common stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations (95) (98) Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in RCCS LLC (90) Contribution from noncontrolling interests in Forcepoint 11 Tax benefit from stock-based awards 43 Sale of noncontrolling interest in Forcepoint 343 Other (5) (3) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (1,615) (1,060) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 14 (769) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 2,328 3,222 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 2,342 $ 2,453 Attachment F Raytheon Company Supplemental EPS Information Third Quarter 2016 (In millions, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 2-Oct-16 27-Sep-15 Per share impact of the FAS/CAS Adjustment (A) $ 0.23 $ 0.09 $ 0.70 $ 0.30 Per share impact of the TRS transaction (B) 0.53 Per share impact of the eBorders settlement (C) 0.01 0.45 (A) FAS/CAS Adjustment $ 104 $ 43 $ 318 $ 141 Tax effect (at 35% statutory rate) (36) (15) (111) (49) After-tax impact 68 28 207 92 Diluted shares 295.5 304.3 297.5 306.2 Per share impact $ 0.23 $ 0.09 $ 0.70 $ 0.30 (B) TRS transaction $ $ $ 158 $ Diluted shares 297.5 Per share impact $ $ $ 0.53 $ (C) eBorders settlement $ $ $ $ 181 Tax effect (at 23.7% blended global tax rate) 4 (43) After-tax impact 4 138 Diluted shares 304.3 306.2 Per share impact $ $ 0.01 $ $ 0.45 Investor Relations Contact Todd Ernst 781.522.5141 Media Contact Corinne Kovalsky 781.522.5899 SOURCE Raytheon Company Related Links http://www.raytheon.com HELSINKI, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Button Corporation, creator of the first physical push button always connected to the internet, bttn, launches a joint effort targeted to online stores with Accolade Partners. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161025/432233 The solution, dubbed Button for Commerce, runs on the leading commerce platform Magento. It brings a convenient re-order functionality that has so far been a privilege only to large brands operating in a major ecommerce store to all online stores. "Traditional subscription models in B2C eCommerce have been longing for easy ways to serve on-demand, instead of passive time-based order fulfilment," comments Joni Kautto, CEO of Accolade and continues: "On the B2B space where subscription modules are challenging because of varying needs, Button for Commerce offers re-ordering that will deliver consumables needed when they are actually needed, minimising costly returns. Through Button for Commerce, merchants are able to forecast the future demand, based on customer order history, as well as offer cross-selling items that could bring added value to customers' subscriptions." "We're aiming for simplicity and ease of use. When an end-user gets a bttn with built-in mobile data, he just needs to switch it on and everything works out-of-the-box. Equipped with two different actions a press places the order and when queried by the bttnlong-press confirms it. Plus business functionalities to make things easy, such as being able to remotely monitor and manage bttns," sums Juuso Pesola, CEO of The Button Corporation. Button for Commerce solution is available at www.accolade.fi/button-for-commerce About Accolade Accolade Partners Inc. is eCommerce Service Design and Solution Partner based in Helsinki, Finland and running eCommerce Incubator in Tenerife, Spain. We help B2C and B2B companies to push the boundaries of global eCommerce. www.accolade.fi About The Button Corporation The Button Corporation / Bttn Inc. is the creator of the bttn , the Simplest internet user interface in the World. It brings the power of Internet-of-Everything to individuals, families, and businesses with its elegantly designed physical push buttons always connected to the net. The Button Corporation is privately funded and based in Helsinki, Finland and New York, U.S. Read more at www.bt.tn. For further information, please contact: Saku Everi, Communications, Joni Kautto, CEO, Bttn Accolade Tel. +358 40 717 7776 Tel. +358 50 3838123 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] SOURCE The Button Corporation Related Links http://www.bt.tn PORTLAND, Maine, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RebeccaLily Pro Set IV, designed for both professional and enthusiast photographers who shoot digital or a mix of film and digital, provides a new palette of color and black & white renditions with more emphasis on subtlety and fine-tuned control. It includes a diverse pastel collection inspired by pro lab scanned film, soft desert hues, vintage tones, presets for indoor use and a wide range of black & whites. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433404 Edited with Apple from Rebecca Lily Pro Set IV. Image credit: Cody Priebe, shot on Leica Q. Each preset contains 3 - 5 versions that gives maximum control over dosage, from mildest to a more bold effect. This allows for the quickest possible edit and reduces the need for tweaking, saving time in the photographer's workflow. It also enables a cohesive look to be applied to a session with changing light. Every product has been crafted for optimal skin tone and luminosity, minimizing the need for retouch, and incorporates film characteristics like maximal highlight and shadow detail, natural and aesthetic colors, enhanced light and balanced contrast and clarity. A tool kit is also included for quick finishing touches with custom toning, sharpening, grain and more. "Rebecca Lily presets are the best I've used. They add just the right amount of punch to an image's colors and contrast while maintaining gorgeous looking skin tones," said Chris Ozer, a lifestyle photographer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY who has shot for brands like Apple, Nike and Mercedes-Benz. "I love Rebecca's presets. Soft, film inspired tones that perfectly replicate the look of a printed page on my screen," said Finn Beales, an award-winning Wales photographer who has shot for Cereal Magazine and commercial commissions for Land Rover and Barbour. "Beautiful colors, and just the right amount of texture and grain." Rebecca Lily Pro Set IV is available for $119 and contains 167 presets: 93 color, 34 black & white, and 40 tools. This product can be applied to both RAW and JPG files and has been designed and extensively tested on all camera models including Canon, Nikon, Leica, Fuji, Sony, Hasselblad and Phase One. Both Lightroom and ACR versions are included with every set. Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg image3.jpg image4.jpg Related Links Rebecca Lily Rebecca Lily Products This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Rebecca Lily Related Links http://www.rebeccalily.com BELOIT, Wis., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark J. Gliebe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Regal Beloit Corporation (NYSE: RBC), announced that the Board of Directors, at its regular quarterly meeting held on October 27, 2016, declared a dividend of $.24 per share. The dividend is payable on January 13, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 30, 2016. This represents the 226th consecutive quarterly dividend declared by the Company. Regal Beloit Corporation (NYSE: RBC) is a leading manufacturer of electric motors, electrical motion controls, power generation and power transmission products serving markets throughout the world. The company is comprised of three business segments: Commercial and Industrial Systems, Climate Solutions and Power Transmission Solutions. Regal is headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, and has manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit RegalBeloit.com SOURCE Regal Beloit Corporation Related Links http://www.regalbeloit.com LONDON, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "Growing demand from the healthcare industry to drive the market for sterile medical packaging" The global market for sterile medical packaging is projected to grow from USD 26.55 billion in 2015 to reach USD 35.07 billion by 2020, at an estimated CAGR of 5.72%. The market for sterile medical packaging is driven by the growing demand from the healthcare industry due to increase in health awareness. "Need for harmonization between the global standards and regulations in the sterile medical packaging market" In line with the global applicable standards, each country may have its own specific set of applications and environments in which the product needs to perform. Having multiple standards may create confusion and trade barriers for manufacturers. Hence, in order to avoid this as well as to easily understand and implement packaging requirements, harmonization between the standards is necessary. "Asia-Pacific projected to grow during the forecast period" Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the sterile medical packaging market in the next five years. However, factors such as longer timelines for approving the medical devices in Australia, red tapism in India, and higher cost for the approval of medical devices make the regulatory framework in the region more complex. Breakdown of Primaries: Primary interviews were conducted with a number of industry experts in order to collect data related to different aspects of sterile medical packaging. Estimates reached after analyzing secondary sources were validated through these interviews. Primary sources include professionals such as sterile packaging manufacturers, distributors, and academic professionals. Distribution of primary interviews is as follows: By Company Type: Tier 1 38%, Tier 2 38%, and Tier 3 24% By Designation: C-level 38%, Manager Level 34%, and Others* 28% By Region: North America 32%, Europe 28%, Asia-Pacific 25%, and RoW 15% The tier of the companies is defined on the basis of their total revenue, as of 2014: Tier 1: Revenue >USD 500 million, Tier 2: Revenue USD 100 to USD 500 million, and Tier 3: Revenue *Others include sales managers, marketing managers, and product managers. Reasons to buy the report The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market in the following ways: 1. This report segments the market for sterile medical packaging comprehensively and provides the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall market across different regions. 2. The report helps stakeholders to understand the market and related regulations further providing them information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. 3. The report helps to understand the regulatory aspects of the sterile medical packaging industry for the top key countries and regions. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3783881/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SecurityScorecard, the most accurate security rating and continuous risk monitoring platform, released its 2016 Healthcare Industry Cybersecurity Report - a comprehensive analysis exposing alarming cybersecurity vulnerabilities across 700 healthcare organizations including medical treatment facilities, health insurance agencies and healthcare manufacturing companies. Security breaches in this industry pose devastating consequences because they can render an entire system or network inoperable, creating a life or death situation that needs immediate attention. Among all industries, Healthcare ranks 15th out of 18 in Social Engineering, suggesting a security awareness problem among healthcare professionals, putting millions of patients at risk. The Verizon Data Breach Report ranks Social Engineering as the third most common cause for breaches, a number that is rising at the same rate as Hacking and Malware. "The low Social Engineering scores among a multitude of healthcare organizations show that security awareness and employee training are likely not sufficient," said Alex Heid, Chief Research Officer at SecurityScorecard. "Security is only as strong as the weakest link, and employees are often the lowest-hanging fruit when it comes to phishing, spear phishing, and other Social Engineering attacks. For a hacker, it only takes one piece of information such as learning the email structure of an organization to exploit an employee into divulging sensitive information or providing an access point into that organization's network." Another risk is the array of devices with wireless capabilities such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, wireless medical devices and tablets, which have paved the way for medical advances benefiting hospitals and patients. However, their speedy delivery and implementation has resulted in subpar security setups. "As long as these IoT devices are manufactured with poor security standards, the vulnerability doesn't only lie within the devices themselves, but they also pose a risk to any hospital, treatment center, or individual using the device. If a connected device is hacked into, the device can be forced to malfunction or it can be used as a pathway to reach an organization's primary network," continued Mr. Heid. Among the report's key findings are: Over 75% of the entire healthcare industry has been infected with malware over the last year 96% of all ransomware targeted medical treatment centers Healthcare manufacturing nearly reaches a 90% malware infection rate 63% of the 27 Biggest US Hospitals have a C or lower in Patching Cadence, which measures an organization's ability to implement security software patches in a timely fashion Healthcare has the 5th highest count of ransomware among all industries Over 50% of the healthcare industry has a Network Security score of a C or lower Past-breached healthcare companies still have 242% as many low scores in Social Engineering compared to non-breached companies Ransomware and breaches are affecting the healthcare industry at an increasingly alarming rate with 22 major public breaches occurring since August 2015. Earlier this year, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paid $17,000 as a result of ransomware after losing access to patient records for 10 days. In March 2016, 21st Century Oncology struggling with DNS Health, Network Security and Patching Cadence suffered a data breach that led to a loss of 2.2M patient records and a $57M class-action lawsuit. Overall, breached healthcare companies still struggle with security post-breach, according to the report. The 2016 Healthcare Industry Cybersecurity Report identifies other major healthcare data breaches between August 2015 and August 2016. The conclusions and rankings featured in the report are based on data derived from SecurityScorecard's patented security rating platform. For more information about these findings, download the full report. About SecurityScorecard SecurityScorecard provides the most accurate rating of security risk for any organization worldwide. The proprietary SaaS platform helps enterprises gain operational command of the security posture for themselves and across all of their partners, and vendors. It provides continuous, non-intrusive monitoring for any organization including third and fourth parties. The platform offers a breadth and depth of critical data points not available from any other service provider including a broad range of risk categories such as Application Security, Malware, Patching Cadence, Network Security, Hacker Chatter, Social Engineering and Leaked Information. To receive a free SecurityScorecard assessment and consultation for your business, visit instant.securityscorecard.com. SOURCE SecurityScorecard Featuring PSM mode for enhanced light load efficiency, the RT6204 uses current mode topology with external compensation, allowing great flexibility in loop tuning using either ceramic or electrolytic output capacitors. The 80V max input rating makes it tolerant to hot-swapping and other supply voltage transients. Slew rate limited switching helps to reduce EMI radiation. The RT6204 is housed in a small SOP-8 thermally effective package. To start your design with the RT6204, please download the product datasheet, reference design and application note for more design examples on the RT6204 product page. RT6204 Key features and benefits: The input range from 5.5V to 60V makes it suitable for virtually any industrial application range, from battery fed automotive to industrial supplies. The 80V max rating makes this IC very tolerant to hot-swapping and other supply voltage transients. The integrated synchronous rectifier eliminates the external buck diode, lowering BOM cost. Small minimum on time archives very high step down ratios. External compensation gives great flexibility in loop tuning, and allows the use of either ceramic output capacitors for low voltage outputs or electrolytic output capacitors for higher output supplies. Frequency reduction at light load enhances light load efficiency. Slew rate limited switching helps to reduce EMI radiation. Housed in the popular SOP-8 package with thermal pad, this IC is a great building block for any system requiring output voltages from 0.8V up to 50V at 0.5A max load current. Applications Automotive electronics, solar power systems, networking and telecommunication systems, industrial and communication low power systems, LCD monitors and TVs, LED lighting, motor driver bias supplies, etc. Availability, packaging and pricing Available in volume now. Please visit the RT6204 product page or contact our distributors or local sales offices for free samples and pricing. For more information about Richtek's other Buck converter products, please visit the Buck converter product page. About Richtek Richtek, the global leading analog company in design and development of power management solutions for consumer electronics, computers, communications equipment, industrial and automotive products. Learn more at www.richtek.com. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161025/432673 SOURCE Richtek Technology Related Links http://www.richtek.com DALLAS, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SC) ("SC" or the "Company") today filed its second quarter 2016 Form 10-Q (the "Q2 2016 10-Q"), its amended Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the "2015 10-K/A"), and its amended Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015, September 30, 2015, and March 31, 2016 (the "10-Q/As"). There are no material changes to the preliminary figures reported in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on September 23, 2016 (the "September 2016 Form 8-K"). A Financial Supplement aggregating all restated financials is also available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://investors.santanderconsumerusa.com. Choose "Events" and select the information pertaining to the Restated Financials. As previously disclosed in the September 2016 Form 8-K, SC is filing restated financial statements and associated disclosures for the full years 2013, 2014 and 2015, and the quarters within 2014 and 2015, as well as the first quarter of 2016, due to errors identified in the financial statements for each of those periods. The restated filings correct all known errors in the respective filings, the most significant of which are: The Company's methodology for accreting dealer discounts, subvention payments from manufacturers and capitalized origination costs. The Company's lack of consideration of net discounts when estimating the allowance for credit losses. The discount rate used in determining the impairment for loans accounted for as troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs"). The restated filings also correct an error in the Company's accounting for certain executive severance-related and stock compensation expenses. This error was previously disclosed in the September 2016 Form 8-K under the heading "Other identified and resolved errors." More specifically: During the year ended December 31, 2015 , the Company had recognized approximately $12 million in severance-related expenses, approximately $10 million in stock compensation expense and a liability for approximately $115 million in contemplation of the amounts and benefits payable to former CEO Thomas G. Dundon pursuant to the terms of the previously disclosed Separation Agreement among Mr. Dundon, the Company, DDFS LLC, Santander Holdings USA , Inc. and Banco Santander. , the Company had recognized approximately in severance-related expenses, approximately in stock compensation expense and a liability for approximately in contemplation of the amounts and benefits payable to former CEO pursuant to the terms of the previously disclosed Separation Agreement among Mr. Dundon, the Company, DDFS LLC, Santander Holdings , Inc. and Banco Santander. The Company subsequently determined that its previous accounting for the expenses and liabilities contemplated in the Separation Agreement was in error as such expenses and liabilities should not be recorded until all applicable conditions have been satisfied, including that all required regulatory approvals have been obtained. Accordingly, the restated consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 do not include any expense or liability associated with the Separation Agreement. do not include any expense or liability associated with the Separation Agreement. If all applicable conditions are satisfied, including receipt of the required regulatory approvals, the Company will be obligated to make a cash payment to Mr. Dundon of up to approximately $115 million . Because the revised accounting treatment of the Separation Agreement results in Mr. Dundon's remaining unexercised vested stock options' being considered to have expired, the entire payment would be recorded as compensation expense in the period which approval is obtained. Further details regarding the restatement can be found in Footnote 2 to the financial statements included in the respective filings and in the September 2016 Form 8-K. In addition, as previously disclosed, the Company reported the existence of additional material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. A description of all material weaknesses can be found in Item 4 of the Q2 2016 10-Q and the respective 10-Q/As, and in Item 9A of the 2015 10-K/A. Conference Call Information SC will release third quarter financial results on Wednesday, November 9, 2016. SC management will host a conference call to discuss the quarterly results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on November 9. The conference call will be accessible by dialing 1-877-604-9668 (U.S. domestic), or 1-719-325-4870 (international), conference ID, 2258671. Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be accessible via live audio webcast through the Investor Relations section of the corporate website at http://investors.santanderconsumerusa.com. Choose "Events" and select the information pertaining to the Q3 2016 Earnings Call. Additionally, there will be several slides accompanying the webcast. Please visit the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary software. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the Company's website or by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (U.S. domestic), or 1-412-317-6671 (international), conference ID, 2258671, approximately two hours after the event. The dial-in replay will be available for two weeks after the conference call, and the webcast replay will be available through November 23, 2016. An investor presentation will also be available by visiting the Investor Relations page of SC's website at http://investors.santanderconsumerusa.com. About Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SC) ("SC") is a full-service, technology-driven consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance, third-party servicing and delivering superior service to our more than 2.7 million customers across the full credit spectrum. The Company, which began originating retail installment contracts in 1997, has a managed assets portfolio of more than $53 billion (as of June 30, 2016), and is headquartered in Dallas. (www.santanderconsumerusa.com) Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates," "believes," "can," "could," "may," "predicts," "potential," "should," "will," "estimates," "plans," "projects," "continuing," "ongoing," "expects," "intends," and similar words or phrases. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various important factors, some of which are beyond our control. For additional discussion of these risks, refer to the section entitled "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by us with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Among the factors that could cause the forward-looking statements in this press release and/or our financial performance to differ materially from that suggested by the forward-looking statements are (a) the inherent limitations in internal controls over financial reporting; (b) our ability to remediate any material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting completely and in a timely manner; (c) continually changing federal, state, and local laws and regulations could materially adversely affect our business; (d) adverse economic conditions in the United States and worldwide may negatively impact our results; (e) our business could suffer if our access to funding is reduced; (f) significant risks we face implementing our growth strategy, some of which are outside our control; (g) unexpected costs and delays in connection with exiting our personal lending business; (h) our agreement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC may not result in currently anticipated levels of growth and is subject to certain performance conditions that could result in termination of the agreement; (i) our business could suffer if we are unsuccessful in developing and maintaining relationships with automobile dealerships; (j) our financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations depend on the credit performance of our loans; (k) loss of our key management or other personnel, or an inability to attract such management and personnel; (l) certain regulations, including oversight by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the European Central Bank, and the Federal Reserve, whose oversight and regulation may limit certain of our activities, including the timing and amount of dividends and other limitations on our business; and m) future changes in our relationship with Banco Santander that could adversely affect our operations. If one or more of the factors affecting our forward-looking information and statements proves incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking information and statements. Therefore, we caution not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information or statements. The effect of these factors is difficult to predict. Factors other than these also could adversely affect our results, and the reader should not consider these factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties. New factors emerge from time to time, and management cannot assess the impact of any such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements only speak as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking information or statements, whether written or oral, to reflect any change, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Contacts: Investor Relations Evan Black 800.493.8219 [email protected] Media Relations Laurie Kight 214.801.6455 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160330/349824LOGO SOURCE Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. Vivid Sydney is the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas, which annually transforms the Harbour City into an outdoor art exhibition with its colourful creative canvas. The event features large scale light installations and projections (Vivid Light); music performances and collaborations (Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House); and creative ideas, discussion and debate (Vivid Ideas), all celebrating Sydney as the creative hub of the Asia-Pacific. NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres said: "Vivid Sydney is the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas, and the biggest event in Australia. "Last year, Vivid Sydney boasted its biggest program ever with more than 90 light installations and projections created by more than 150 artists from 23 countries, 190 music performances and 658 speakers in 183 Vivid Ideas events. Highlights included Songlines, an incredible projection inspired by the ancient dreaming tracks that weave across landscape and skies, created with the work of six renowned Indigenous artists and the first Indigenous lighting of the iconic Sydney Opera House Sails. "Vivid Sydney 2017 promises to be even bigger so put Friday 26 May to Saturday 17 June in your diary, and start planning a trip to see Vivid Sydney now." For a glimpse of Vivid Sydney's magic, watch this timelapse from the 2016 event here https://vimeo.com/171516072. Diary date What: Vivid Sydney 2017 The world's largest festival of Light, Music and Ideas, and Australia's largest event, Vivid Sydney is a major celebration of the creative industries. When: Friday 26 May - Saturday 17 June 2017 Where: Sydney, Australia - Locations across the city including lighting projections along the iconic Sydney Harbour foreshore including the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Website: www.vividsydney.com Media: www.vividsydney.com/media-centre (images, broadcast quality footage and media materials) Please note: The full Vivid Sydney 2017 program will be announced early 2017. Social media directions about Vivid Sydney: Follow Vivid Sydney facebook.com/vividsydney twitter.com/vividsydney instagram.com/vividsydney youtube.com/vividsydney Follow Vivid Ideas facebook.com/vividideas twitter.com/vividideas instagram.com/vividideas Hashtags #vividsydney #vividideas #ilovesydney Media enquiries: Melissa Coates, Destination NSW M: +61-419-093-882 E: [email protected] Jessica Parry, Destination NSW M: +61-428-767-836 E: [email protected] To download images and video footage of Vivid Sydney 2016, please visit www.vividsydney.com/media-centre. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161025/432137 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161025/432138 SOURCE Destination NSW Related Links http://www.vividsydney.com Duterte's visit has ushered in a new era Updated: 2016-10-27 07:26 By Yang Danzhi(China Daily) President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony to greet Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Beijing on Thursday. Xie Huanchi / Xinhua During his four-day state visit to China last week, and his first to a country outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte proved to be more than a man of his words. His acerbic remarks on the Manila-Washington alliance apart, Duterte made genuine efforts during his visit to China to put Beijing-Manila ties back on track after his predecessor Benigno Aquino III soured the relationship between China and the Philippines by blatantly siding with the United States to initiate arbitral proceedings against Beijing over their maritime dispute in the South China Sea. Interactions between Chinese and Philippine leaderships, for starters, are likely to resume after Duterte's visit to China, when he and his host President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of many a cooperation deal. Duterte's visit should help the two sides restore the damaged mutual trust and revitalize their cooperation in infrastructure building, and combating drug trafficking and terrorism. In particular, the two countries pledged to resolve their dispute in the South China Sea through consultations and negotiations by the directly concerned sovereign states, according to a joint statement issued on Friday. In this context, Duterte, unlike his predecessor, is expected to adopt a more independent, flexible and comprehensive foreign policy to strike a balance between major regional powers. However, it is impossible for Duterte to seek full "separation" from the US, even though he is unhappy with the Philippines' long-time ally. Take the Philippines' military dependence on the US for example. Most of the weapons used by the Philippine military are supplied by the US and many military personnel have been trained in the US. That Duterte hinted at forging a new "alliance" with China and Russia and buying weapons from the two countries was more like emotional talk rather than a warning to the overreaching US. Given the close economic ties between Washington and Manila, a breakup between the allies seem unlikely. As of 2015, the US had more direct investment in the Philippines than any other country; and at least 30 percent of the 10 million Philippine expatriates work in the US. The joint statement by Beijing and Manila does avoid any mention of the South China Sea arbitration case initiated by the former Philippine government against China, but that does not mean their territorial dispute is settled. The Philippines is unwilling to make compromises and needs the US to endorse its claims. And although Washington has basically stayed calm in the face of "dramatically" improving Beijing-Manila relations, which can reduce the possibility of the US rooting for its Asian ally in the South China Sea issue, it is unlikely to sit idle while the ties between Beijing and Manila improve. The USS Decatur's intrusion into China's territorial waters near Xisha Islands on the last day of Duterte's China visit sent a signal to the international community that Washington will continue to intervene in the South China Sea issue on the pretext of protecting "navigational freedom" despite the improvement in the Beijing-Manila ties. Besides, the US welcomes Japan and the Philippines, its two close allies, to strengthen their maritime cooperation, in an attempt to consolidate its regional leadership without directly confronting China. But its intervention in the South China Sea issue would only backfire should all parties directly involved manage to reach a consensus on shelving their disputes to deal with more urgent issues. The author is a researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. ATLANTA, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Schlotzsky's, home of The Original oven-baked sandwich, will celebrate National Sandwich Day on Nov. 3 by treating guests to a free medium sandwich, with the purchase of a medium sandwich of equal or greater value, at participating Schlotzsky's restaurants nationwide. Any medium sandwich on Schlotzsky's menu is available through this buy-one, get-one offer on National Sandwich Day, including the seven new Specialty Sandwiches. "We're a brand that was originally built on a sandwich, so National Sandwich Day is the perfect way to reward our guests, and spotlight our growing sandwich lineup," said Kelly Roddy, president of Schlotzsky's. "We hope to help Schlotzsky's lovers across the country get their sandwich fix by offering our guests their favorite one for free." The Original the sandwich that made Schlotzsky's famous features 13 fresh, flavorful ingredients served on Schlotzsky's legendary Fresh-from-Scratch oven-baked sourdough buns. The Original is topped with lean smoked ham, genoa and cotto salamis, melted cheddar, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. It's layered with black olives, red onion, lettuce, tomato, mustard and signature dressing to create a truly one-of-a kind sandwich. Guests can use the National Sandwich Day offer to sample one of Schlotzsky's seven new hand-crafted Specialty Sandwiches. Each offers bold flavors and fresh, high quality ingredients such as vine-ripened tomatoes, thinly sliced meats, caramelized onions, roasted red bell peppers and rich, melted cheeses piled high on the brand's signature freshly-baked bread. With seven unique recipes, including one vegetarian option, Schlotzsky's is offering something new to satisfy every craving. To find the nearest Schlotzsky's location, visit www.schlotzskys.com. About Schlotzsky's Since 1971, Schlotzsky's has been the home of The Original oven-baked sandwich. The menu has evolved with guests' tastes to include the highest quality hot delicious sandwiches on its legendary Fresh-from-Scratch oven-baked sourdough buns, gourmet pizzas, Artisan flatbreads, handcrafted Macs, freshly made-to-order salads, savory soups and delicious Cinnabon treats at co-branded locations. With more than 350 locations worldwide, Schlotzsky's is the fast-casual choice for a quick and fresh dining experience. For more information, visit www.schlotzskys.com. Media Contact: Lauren Tweet, Allison+Partners, (214) 975-8784, [email protected] SOURCE Schlotzsky's Related Links http://www.schlotzskys.com ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power today announced it has completed the acquisition of the Mankato Energy Center from Calpine Corporation. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, the facility includes two natural gas units the existing 375-megawatt (MW) Mankato Energy Center I and the 345-MW Mankato Energy Center II expansion, which is under development. "The Mankato Energy Center is an excellent fit for Southern Power's business model and will be a strong addition to our generation portfolio," said Southern Power President and CEO Buzz Miller. "We look forward to serving this region and expanding our partnerships in the Midwest." With the addition of the Mankato Energy Center, Southern Power owns 10 combined-cycle and combustion-turbine, natural gas-fired power plants across five states, representing 9,300 MW of generating capacity operating or under construction. Mankato Energy Center I is a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle facility contracted with Xcel Energy-Minnesota through 2026. The Mankato Energy Center II expansion is expected to be operational by June 2019 to serve an additional 20-year power purchase agreement with Xcel Energy-Minnesota. When complete, the Mankato Energy Center will represent 720 MW of generating capacity. The Mankato Energy Center fits Southern Power's business strategy of growing its wholesale business through the acquisition and construction of generating assets substantially covered by long-term contracts. The facility represents Southern Power's first generating asset within the Midcontinent ISO (MISO). About Southern Power Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider meeting the electricity needs of municipalities, electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities and other energy customers. Southern Power and its subsidiaries own or have the rights to 41 facilities operating or under construction in 11 states with more than 11,700 MW of generating capacity in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas. About Southern Company Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company, with 44,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million electric and gas utility customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric utilities in four states, natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com. Cautionary Notes Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning the construction and subsequent operation of the Mankato Energy Center II expansion. Southern Company and Southern Power caution that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Southern Company and Southern Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in each of Southern Company's and Southern Power's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the ability to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of generating facilities, to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses, and to satisfy any operational and environmental performance standards, including the requirements of tax credits and other incentives; and potential business strategies, including acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses, which cannot be assured to be completed or beneficial to Southern Company or Southern Power. Southern Company and Southern Power expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking information. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080801/SOCOLOGO SOURCE Southern Company Related Links http://www.southerncompany.com ZURICH, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Starhome Mach's Real-Time Anti-Fraud Solution to be Installed at Major EU Operator Starhome Mach, a global leader in mobile inter-carrier and M2M/IoT services, reports that mobile operators continue to suffer significant fraud losses due to an ever-increasing number of International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF) cases, with average losses of about 15,000 per hour, and up to 40,000 during severe incidents caused by fraudulent roaming calls. The actual total loss per case can reach hundreds of thousands of Euros. IRSF is usually performed by fraudsters making simultaneous calls and generating as many voice minutes as possible before the fraud is detected and blocked. It is the most common and lucrative type of fraud, affecting telecom operators daily. Starhome Mach's Real-time Anti-fraud (RAF) solution, which was recently ordered by a major EU operator, detects such fraud cases in real time and enables the operator to take immediate actions to stop the fraud and prevent the significant related losses. An example Starhome Mach discovered through analyzing its global clearing and operational data involved a European operator and thousands of fraudulent calls placed to a country in central Africa which caused losses of more than 200,000. A system with real-time detection and action would have prevented this loss. "These alarming figures we see across operators around the world show how much damage a single SIM can cause in a roaming IRSF scenario and how critical real-time detection and prevention is," said Starhome Mach CEO Itai Margalit. "Unlike the traditional anti-fraud solutions that detect the losses after the fact, the only effective way to immediately reduce the IRSF related losses is to automatically monitor, detect and take action in real time, as soon as the fraudster starts to operate. " Although the Industry implemented Near Real-time Roaming Data Exchange (NRTRDE) in 2008 to speed up the exchange of call detail records among network partners, roaming remains the most vulnerable service to fraudulent attacks. Starhome Mach's analysis shows that on average, without a real-time solution, operators stop the roaming fraud after more than 18 hours from the first fraudulent call. This delay allows the fraudster to generate significant financial gains for itself at the expense of the home operator. In some of cases, the loss rate reached 40,000 an hour. Starhome Mach has applied its extensive experience in global roaming to develop the Real-time Anti-fraud (RAF) product. It detects, mitigates, and prevents fraud in real-time while complementing existing fraud management solutions. The technology focuses on well-known fraud like PBX hacking, roaming fraud, and IRSF scenarios originating from subscription fraud, stolen phones and SIM swap. The operator has complete control over the system, creating customizable blocking rules (who, when, where, length of call) rather than mass blocking, which affects quality of service for legitimate subscribers. The solution works for both domestic (fixed & mobile) and roaming (inbound & outbound). Starhome Mach will be discussing the new Anti-Fraud Product at WAS Dublin, October 30--November 3. About Starhome Mach Starhome Mach is a market leader in value-added global mobility and clearing services, removing communication barriers and differentiating services for connected people and devices. The company's wide portfolio for mobile operators includes solutions in the fields of Wholesale Management, Clearing, Fraud Prevention, User Experience, Business Management and IoT/M2M. Starhome Mach's customer base encompasses over 300 operators including 24 leading groups. The company has sales and R&D offices worldwide and a network of support locations providing local support and professional services. Media Contact Amy Kenigsberg K2 Global Communications [email protected] +1-913-440-4072 (+7 ET) SOURCE Starhome Mach TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) will release its third quarter 2016 financial results on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, after markets close. The Company will hold its earnings conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET the following day. Date: Thursday, November 10, 2016 Time: 10:00 a.m. ET To listen to the live webcast and view the presentation slides, visit www.sunlife.com/QuarterlyReports 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation. An archive will be available on the website following the event. To listen via telephone, please call 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time as follows: Participant Dial In (Toll Free): 1-866-521-4909 Participant Dial In (International): 647-427-2311 A replay of the conference call will be available from Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. ET until 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 24, 2016 by calling 404-537-3406 or 1-855-859-2056 (toll free within North America) using conference ID: 92121618. About Sun Life Financial Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2016, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $865 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars Media Relations Contact: Gannon Loftus Manager, Media & PR Corporate Communications T. 416-979-6345 [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Greg Dilworth Vice-President Investor Relations T. 416-979-6230 [email protected] SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc. - Financial News Related Links http://www.sunlife.com Sydney Festival 2017 is comprised of 150 events, 73 of which are free. 454 performances will take place across 46 venues, featuring 1021 artists from 15 countries. With 16 world premieres, 9 Australian premieres and 14 Australian exclusives, summer in Sydney is not to be missed. Direct from Broadway, the Australian premiere of The Encounter is an award-winning and technologically ground-breaking work from UK Company, Complicite directed by Simon McBurney. From internationally renowned UK company, Cheek by Jowl, and Pushkin Theatre Moscow, Declan Donnellan directs Shakespeare's Measure for Measure in Russian. Winner of the Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work, Ladies in Black is Queensland Theatre's new musical directed by Simon Philips featuring original music from Tim Finn (Crowded House). Music headliners include Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and PJ Harvey. Other highlights include 1967 Music in the Key of Yes, a special Sydney Opera House concert to mark the 50th anniversary of Australia's 1967 Indigenous rights referendum. Bayala is a series of events and exhibitions celebrating Sydney's Indigenous heritage and reawakening local language. Hyde Park's much loved festival hub Meriton Festival Village is doubling its free offering and features a variety of circus, comedy, contemporary music and cabaret acts, headlined by male burlesque/cabaret outfit, Briefs. In Sydney's famous outdoor venue The Domain, crowd favourites Symphony under the Stars and Opera in the Domain return. Coming to Sydney Festival as an Australian exclusive, The Beach is a joyous monochromatic installation of 1.1 million recyclable white balls by US design studio Snarkitecture. Artist Ben Quilty co-curates the first major exhibition of Myuran Sukumaran's artworks, painted during his incarceration at Bali's Kerobokan jail. Sydney Dance Company responds to powerful artworks spanning two centuries from Art Gallery of NSW's exhibition Nude: Art from the Tate collection. A spotlight on Canadian artists includes Inheritor Album from Company 605; Gabriel Dharmoo's Anthropologies Imaginaires; Huff from Native Earth Performing Arts; and iD from Cirque Eloize. Contact: Jessica Keirle Publicity Manager +61-2-8248-6525 / +61-438-805-109 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161021/431214 SOURCE Sydney Festival Related Links http://www.prnasia.com/mnr/sydneyfestival_201610.shtml PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Systech International, the global leader in brand protection technologies, will showcase its ability to enable rapid compliance with pharmaceutical serialization during this year's PACK EXPO event, being held November 6-9 in Chicago, IL. Systech's UniSolve serialization solution will be on display on carton coding and bottle labeling hardware from Omega Design Corporation and LSI by ID Technology, with Systech team members available for demonstrations, prospective customer meetings and discussions on pharmaceutical regulations within the industry. Systech will be in Booth #N5746 of the Upper North Building of McCormick Place. In addition, Stephen Lisa, Director, Product Management, will participate in a serialization discussion panel on Wednesday, November 9 at 10:00 a.m. EST. The panel is part of Pharma EXPO, which is co-located with PACK EXPO. Mr. Lisa oversees the UniSolve solution as part of Systech's UniSeries product suite. Systech's UniSolve is a configurable serialization solution that allows drug manufacturers and packagers to cost-effectively maintain compliance with changing global regulations. With the FDA planning new implementation requirements for DSCSA stakeholders in 2015, 2017 and 2023, manufacturers and packagers need to rapidly implement unit-level serialization ahead of these dates. UniSolve is an end-to-end deployment solution that includes hardware, software, services and program integration. "There is a recognized lack of resources to meet industry demand around serialization. Pharmaceutical manufacturers do not have the luxury of time to comply with stringent serialization regulations in the face of potential fines, line stoppages and other penalties. UniSolve is the fastest and most comprehensive solution to serialization that pairs the best software with the best machine manufacturers in the industry," states Robert DeJean, Systech Founder and CEO. "We work with a wide variety of OEMs across the globe to ensure our solution is available quickly, with minimal downtime, with the flexibility to meet individual customer needs and any future alterations to existing regulations. While other providers are struggling to meet demand, UniSolve enables a faster, more cost-effective compliance solution for our customers." In the Systech booth, Omega Design Corporation, a global provider of packaging machinery, serialization solutions, and bottle unscrambling technology, will showcase its Intelli-Code Carton Coder configured with Systech's UniSolve. Omega was an early member of Systech's UniSolve Partner Ecosystem, a multi-vendor environment featuring the industry's premier OEMs. Earlier this year, Systech announced that Omega had become a partner-in-residence at the company's training and demonstration facility at its U.S. headquarters in Princeton, NJ. This allows Systech's regional clientele to participate in live training and active demonstrations showcasing UniSolve's seamless integration with Omega's case aggregation hardware. Systech's UniSolve solution will also be featured with LSI by ID Technology's labeling hardware. LSI is a leading single-source provider of labeling, coding and marking equipment, service and supplies. Systech will also have demos for LSI's Bottle Labeling System for DSCSA. Both Systech and LSI's products are used by a large number of pharmaceutical companies, contract manufacturers and contract packagers. About Systech International Systech is the global technology leader in product safety, and consumer and brand protection. Systech pioneered serialization and is defining the future of authentication. The world's largest pharmaceutical companies trust their brands to Systech's technology solutions. Systech unifies and optimizes enterprise serialization, track and trace, and authentication technologies to ensure regulatory compliance, mitigate risk, and drive efficiency and profitability. For 30 years, Systech's innovation has led best practices for key brands across the pharmaceutical, life science, food and beverage, and consumer packaged goods industries. About Omega Omega Design Corporation is a global provider of innovative packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and consumer healthcare industries. Since 1969, Omega has specialized in the design, manufacture, service, and support of a broad range of container handling and packaging equipment systems, including bottle unscramblers, bottle-puck handling systems, shrink bundlers, stretch banders, secondary bottle and 5th panel carton orienters, canister and pouch-style desiccant/oxygen absorber feeders, as well as coding, vision and packing modules supporting unit-level serialization. Omega Design Corporation operates from a fully integrated facility in Exton, Pennsylvania that provides product research and development, product line engineering, parts manufacture, machine assembly and testing. For more information, call 610-363-6555 or visit www.OmegaDesign.com. About LSI LSI, a brand of ID Technology, powered by Pro Mach, designs and manufactures heavy duty, pressure-sensitive labeling equipment. For more than 30 years, pharmaceutical, food, beverage and other consumer goods companies have relied on LSI's robust labelers for consistent quality and performance in nonstop, around-the-clock production environments. LSI by ID Technology offers complete turnkey, automatic labeling machines and systems. LSI's modular design approach allows easy packaging line integration and product changeover. Our extensive line of standard products and modular components provides solutions for most customer applications. However, LSI's commitment to engineering and manufacturing excellence has earned us a reputation as one of the leading designers of custom labeling solutions as well. All products and solutions are designed and rigorously tested by LSI's dedicated team in our Research and Development Electronics Laboratory and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. LSI stands behind our products with outstanding customer service, including in-house training, parts and professional service and repair. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Systech International Related Links http://systechone.com SAN DIEGO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SYSTRAN, a global leader in language translation technology, is set to present at the Association for Machine Translation in America (AMTA) conference in Austin this month. The talk, titled "Building Renewable Language Assets in Government Domains," includes insights from the company's latest efforts in Neural Machine Translation. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433248LOGO The presentation, given by Beth Flaherty, SYSTRAN's Director of Government Solutions, and Joshua Johanson, a computational linguist with SYSTRAN, will discuss the company's work in specific domains and languages of interest to the government. "SYSTRAN welcomes this opportunity to share our accomplishments to date with the government community," says Flaherty. "We will also reveal some of our plans to integrate neural network technology into our offerings to further serve the public sector with faster, smarter machine translation." As demand for multilingual content continues to increase, public-sector organizations struggle to produce content efficiently, reliably and cost-effectively. SYSTRAN's software driven by machine translation provides organizations the ability to automatically translate audio and text in more than 130 different language pairs. The software can also be leveraged to perform real-time translation on intranets and other tools. At any given moment, users can translate entire sites, blogs or document to find and understand foreign language information in real-time. The AMTA conference takes place in Austin, TX from October 28 through November 1. SYSTRAN's presentation is scheduled for October 31 from 5 5:30 p.m. on the Government track. The company will also be exhibiting at the Technology showcase on October 30 from 12:30 3:30 p.m. To learn more about SYSTRAN and its machine translation technology, visit http://www.systransoft.com/. Related Links About SYSTRAN This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Systran, Inc. Related Links http://www.systransoft.com TORONTO and CHERRY HILL, NJ, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - TD Bank Group (TSX andNYSE: TD) today announced that Mike Pedersen, President and Chief Executive Officer of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, has informed the Bank of his intention to retire in the summer of 2017. TD has named Greg Braca, current Head of Corporate and Specialty Banking, as Chief Operating Officer of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank effective November 1, 2016, reporting to Pedersen. TD also announced its intention that Braca will succeed Pedersen as President and CEO on June 1, 2017. Pedersen will remain an advisor to the Bank for a period of time following this date. "It has been an honor to lead a Bank that is so focused on taking care of its customers, communities and colleagues," Pedersen said. "Greg is an inspirational leader and I look forward to working with him during this seven-month transition period." Pedersen started his career with TD Bank Group in Toronto as Group Head, Corporate Operations, in 2007. He succeeded Bharat Masrani, as President and CEO of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank in 2013. Under his leadership, the US business has outgrown the competition and made excellent progress. "I want to thank Mike for leading the Bank through some of the most challenging economic conditions in US history. Through it all, he championed the customer experience, gave back to our communities and inspired our next generation of leaders," said Bharat Masrani, Group President and CEO, TD Bank Group. "Greg is emblematic of the deep bench we have at TD. He lives and breathes the TD brand and will continue to build on our momentum in the US." Braca joined TD in 2002, and has played a key leadership role in the Bank's growth, particularly in the Metro New York region. Prior to his role as Head of Corporate and Specialty Banking, he served as the Head of Retail and Commercial Banking in New York, and was instrumental in building out the Bank's Consumer and Small Business, Government Banking and Middle Market Lending businesses in this key growth market. "I look forward to working with Mike during the transition and partnering with the senior leadership team to deliver on our vision for the Bank," said Braca. "TD Bank's vibrant culture and commitment to customers have enabled us to become a top 10 bank in the United States. Our strong brand, differentiated customer experience and dedicated colleagues will help us build upon this success." About TD Bank Group The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves approximately 25 million customers in three key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Retail, including TD Canada Trust, TD Auto Finance Canada, TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in TD Ameritrade; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with approximately 10.8 million active online and mobile customers. TD had CDN$1.2 trillion in assets on July 31, 2016. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. SOURCE TD Bank Group Related Links http://www.td.com SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL), a world leader in connectivity and sensors, attends WE16, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) conference in Philadelphia, Pa. as a Corporate Partnership Council Member. SWE's mission is to stimulate women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity. As a Corporate Partnership Council member, TE Connectivity (TE) advances the mission of SWE by providing consultation with the society's leadership, sharing insight in industry trends and development, and supplying financial support for not only innovative projects, but the operations and infrastructure of the society. In addition to being a member of the council, TE will attend the conference and recruit with the largest career fair presence in the company's history with more than 40 representatives, including Tom Lynch, TE's chairman and chief executive officer; Karen Leggio, senior vice president and general manager in the company's Automotive business; and Erin Byrne, chief technology officer of TE's Fiber Optics, Data & Devices business. TE will partner with John Deere and Raytheon to welcome more than 1200 collegiate engineering students, as well as host exclusive breakout sessions and tech talks with executive leaders. To showcase TE's leading positions in connectivity and sensors, the company's booth will also feature its transparent car display, which highlights the wide range of TE technologies present in automobiles of today and the future. TE will be actively recruiting at the event, as the company seeks to add to its current cadre of more than 7,000 engineers a group with has logged over 13,000 patents worldwide. TE's commitment to engineering, technology and innovation is a key part of its business strategy, with more than $600 million invested in research and development in the last fiscal year and strong support of a variety of efforts aimed at increasing inclusion and diversity in the engineering field. For more information on job opportunities, and to participate in the conversation on social media, visit our SWE 2016 recruiting site and use the hashtags #WE and #TECareers. ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY TE Connectivity (NYSE: TEL) is a $12 billion global technology leader. Our connectivity and sensor solutions are essential in today's increasingly connected world. We collaborate with engineers to transform their concepts into creations redefining what's possible using intelligent, efficient and high-performing TE products and solutions proven in harsh environments. Our 72,000 people, including over 7,000 engineers, partner with customers in close to 150 countries across a wide range of industries. We believe EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS www.TE.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110310/PH62357LOGO SOURCE TE Connectivity Ltd. Related Links http://www.te.com Duterte's unorthodox style shows pragmatic diplomacy Updated: 2016-10-27 07:27 (China Daily) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures while delivering a speech during the 115th Police Service Anniversary at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Quezon city, metro Manila, Philippines August 17, 2016. [Photo/VCG] For many accustomed to orthodox statesmanship, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is proving to be perplexingly, if not annoyingly, offbeat. If the alleged extra-judicial approach of his anti-drug campaign has driven a wedge between himself and some traditional Philippine allies, most noticeably the United States, his foreign policy statements have left Washington nonplussed, trying to lip-read the intentions behind his explosive and often contradictory remarks. To such an extent that Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay has reportedly just assured Washington of Manila's continuous commitment to the Philippine-US alliance following Duterte's words in Beijing to "separate" from the latter. During his ongoing visit to Japan, Duterte will not be able to avoid explaining to his hosts his just-concluded state visit to China, a move decried as "cozying up" to Beijing by both Tokyo and Washington. Both wanted him to carry to Beijing his domestic tough-guy public persona and focus on the South China Sea issue and the recent arbitration that went in Manila's favor. But while the Philippine leader's informal, unorthodox style may be hard to navigate, particularly linguistically, it would be safe to bet that Duterte is a shrewd pragmatist. Despite Japan's high expectations that the Philippines remains unyielding against China on the South China Sea issue, Duterte is highlighting the business aspect of relations in Tokyo. Much as he did in Beijing. And in spite of the harsh words Duterte has uttered, all the way from Manila to Beijing to Tokyo, the Philippines is not cutting off its military or economic partnership with the US, as Yasay has just assured Washington. What Duterte has been doing via his sensational utterances is sending the simple message that he is "not a lapdog of any country", and his country is not "a dog on a leash". He wants diplomatic independence, because that is in his country's best interests. Tokyo and Washington do not have to worry too much about Duterte's "realignment" statements, because he is only seeking to maximize his country's gains from the turbulence. While confronting Beijing pleases Washington and Tokyo, it costs the Philippines dearly at least economically. Remember one remark that Duterte has not changed is war brings no benefit. At least at this point, neither Tokyo nor Washington seems ready to deliver to Manila what Beijing has come up with. Duterte's China visit has offered proof that shelving the disputes and concentrating on mutually beneficial development cooperation is the most rewarding choice. RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Airline Division and Local 1108 filed a motion for contempt and injunctive relief against Flexjet and Flight Options yesterday, following the company's continued failure to bargain in good faith with the Teamsters. The Teamsters represent over 600 pilots working for Flexjet and Flight Options, luxury jet carriers for the ultra-wealthy that operate under the umbrella of aviation conglomerate OneSky Flight, LLC. This latest court filing comes on the heels of a Teamsters federal court injunctive legal victory in May against the company, compelling it to come to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith with the union. But the company has failed to comply with that court order. The Teamsters won the right to represent the combined Flexjet and Flight Options pilot group in a National Mediation Board union election in December 2015. "The company's position in negotiations is untenable and unacceptable," said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. "We have won on the ballot and we have won in court because this company is denying our members of their rights in the workplace. The message to management is clear: come to the table and negotiate with the Teamsters." "We are standing together to tell Kenn Ricci that enough is enough," said Capt. Efrem Vojta, President of Local 1108. "We will hold individuals in management personally liable for their actions against our members. Justice is on our side and we will win this battle and get a fair contract for workers at Flexjet and Flight Options." The motion for contempt was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division. A date for a preliminary hearing will be determined soon. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Kara Deniz, (202) 624-6911 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO SOURCE Teamsters Local 1108 Related Links http://www.teamster.org MIAMI, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global communications and engagement firms, was selected by The Holmes Report as 2016 Global Digital Agency of the Year during the annual Global SABRE Awards ceremony in Miami. Prime, a Weber Shandwick Company, was also named 2016 Global Creative Agency of the Year. Three of The Holmes Report's top 40 campaigns of the year were driven by Weber Shandwick and Prime in partnership with clients, and all three were ranked in the top 15. The Holmes Report credited the firm's "inarguable leadership position in the PR industry" to its commitment to and investment in content, creative and digital capabilities. Given the agency's depth in expertise and expansive global network, The Holmes Report has described Weber Shandwick as "perhaps the most complete agency" in the world. "Digital and creative both play a critical role in marketing and communications today. Given our mobile, connected world, we've transformed our business to hold digital at our core, and we continue to push the boundaries on cutting-edge creative campaigns that help our clients break through with big ideas," said Andy Polansky, Chief Executive Officer, Weber Shandwick. "It's gratifying to be recognized for our dedication to expanding our expertise in both of these areas, and we owe these honors both to our people for their commitment and clients for their partnership in producing stand-out work day in and day out." Global Agency of the Year award honorees are selected by The Holmes Report editors based on the result of an extensive research process involving more than 400 submissions and face-to-face meetings with PR firms across North America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. Top 40 Global Campaigns Weber Shandwick and its clients were also proud to be recognized with three Global SABRE Awards for breakthrough work, including Prime and Hemnet's campaign for "House of Clicks" (ranked #5 best of the year), Nestle Purina Petcare's wearable technology campaign for "Follow Felix" (#2), and the public advocacy campaign for the documentary film "Daughters of Mother India" (#15). "These radically different campaigns showcase the depth and breadth of what our industry can do to drive engagement on every level whether that be through intertwining data and creativity to make the house of your dreams or rethinking how film can inspire people to think and behave differently in order to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges," said Gail Heimann, President, Weber Shandwick. "We're very proud of the campaigns we execute in partnership with our clients every day, and pleased to have been recognized for pushing the boundaries on what it means to do great work." The winning campaigns in The Holmes Report's Top 40 Campaigns of the Year were selected from the 300 best campaigns identified at SABRE Awards competitions in North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. More than 5,000 campaigns were entered across these regional competitions in 2016. Recognition from Around the World In addition to these global distinctions, The Holmes Report has recognized Weber Shandwick for excellence across regions in 2016. Weber Shandwick was named Digital Consultancy of the Year, Nordic Consultancy of the Year, and Iberian Consultancy of the Year at the EMEA SABRE Awards, as well as South East Asia Consultancy of the Year at the APAC SABRE Awards. Weber Shandwick CEO Andy Polansky was also recognized with an Individual Achievement Award at the North America SABRE Awards earlier this year. These distinctions are among several industry honors awarded to Weber Shandwick in 2016, including being named Global Agency of the Year by PRWeek, PR Agency of the Year by the German Stevie Awards, Communications Agency of the Year by the TOP Mega Brazil Awards, and a U.K. Business Superbrand Award for the 10th year in a row. Weber Shandwick was also the most awarded PR firm at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2016, winning in categories across Cyber, Health & Wellness, PR and Media. About Weber Shandwick Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and engagement firm in 79 cities across 34 countries with a network extending to 127 cities in 81 countries. The firm's diverse team of strategists, analysts, producers, designers, developers and campaign activators has won the most prestigious awards in the world for innovative, creative approaches and impactful work, including being honored as PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year in 2015 and 2016, an Ad Age A-List Agency in 2014 and 2015, and The Holmes Report's Global Agency of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Weber Shandwick and its Prime unit have won a combined 31 Cannes Lions since 2009 and are credited as PR agency on an additional 25 Lions. Weber Shandwick was also named a Best Place to Work by Ad Age in 2014 and 2015 and PRWeek in 2013 and 2014. The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate social responsibility, financial communications and crisis management, using proprietary social, digital and analytics methodologies. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com. Contact: Kimberly Dixon Company: Weber Shandwick Phone: 212.546.7876 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Weber Shandwick Related Links http://webershandwick.com Will was born and raised in Gilford, New Hampshire. He and his family are in the process of relocating from South Carolina to the Monadnock Region. Will received his undergraduate degree from University of New Hampshire, his Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, and holds the professional designation of being a Certified Public Accountant. On Will's induction, CEO Ray Pinard stated, "We are very happy to have Will Wescott on board as our CFO. Will's broad experience in manufacturing and financial acumen is a great addition to our team. The Mountain has significant growth plans and we look forward to Will being a part of our success." Regarding the new position, Will had the following to say, "I am very excited to join The Mountain as CFO. The company produces unique, high quality ArtWear apparel and is run by passionate and dedicated employees who have a vested interest in the products. The company is positioned for significant growth and I look forward to working with the team at The Mountain in harnessing these opportunities for profitable growth." The Mountain is a name brand, ecofriendly, manufacture of t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, and other apparel depicting large, lifelike images that appeal to a vast audience. The Mountain, who was recently acquired by Gladstone Investment Corporation, will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2017. The Mountain sells its products to retailers spanning into 58 countries through www.wholesale.themountain.com, as well as direct to customers on its website, www.themountain.com. CONTACT: Amanda Schillinger 1-877-686-8337 ext. 304 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433227 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433228LOGO SOURCE The Mountain Related Links http://www.themountain.com NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The M&A Advisor is proud to announce that Thomas "Tom" Farrell, Executive Vice President of Generational Equity is the recipient of the 2016 M&A Advisor Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Farrell is to be honored for his contribution to and accomplishments in mergers & acquisitions at the 15th Annual M&A Awards Gala on Wednesday November 9, 2016 in New York, NY. At this ceremony, he will also be formally inducted into The M&A Advisor Hall of Fame. Tom has been the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Generational Equity since joining the firm in 2005. He leads the business owner engagement and assessment process for Generational Equity's innovative m&a service. During Mr. Farrell's tenure, the firm has been consistently recognized as a leading lower middle-market M&A advisory firm, winning several industry awards and ranked #1 since 2009, for Small Cap completed transactions up to $25 million. The client acquisition team under Tom's leadership has helped the firm close over 500 transactions. "We are honored to present Mr. Farrell with The M&A Advisor Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the mergers and acquisitions industry," stated David Fergusson, President and Co-CEO of The M&A Advisor. "Tom has been a valued friend and ally to thousands of firms for their advancement and he enjoys the respect and appreciation of M&A professionals across the world for his tireless work." During his career, Mr. Farrell led his own firm serving private companies in their strategic development and participated in several M&A transactions for both public and private companies. Before joining Generational Equity, he held senior executive positions with worldwide responsibility for strategic development and executive education at Eastman Kodak Company and Smith Barney/Citigroup. Tom is a valued Faculty member of The M&A Advisor's Emerging Leaders program, an active industry speaker and spokesperson, a member of The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, and Board Advisor of the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Farrell earned a B.S. degree cum laude from Rochester Institute of Technology. The M&A Advisor was founded in 1998 to offer insights and intelligence on mergers and acquisitions through the industry's leading publication. Today, the firm is recognized as the world's premier "think tank" and leadership organization for m&a, restructuring and financing professionals, providing a range of integrated services including: M&A Advisor Forums and Summits; M&A Advisor Market Intelligence; M&A.TV.; M&A Advisor Live; M&A Advisor Awards; and M&A Advisor Connects. For additional information about The M&A Advisor's leadership services visit www.maadvisor.com To learn about the 15th Annual M&A Advisor Awards and 2016 M&A Advisor Summit, CLICK HERE. SOURCE The M&A Advisor Related Links http://www.maadvisor.com CLEVELAND, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TruWest announces the hiring of new Chief Financial Officer Brent R. Leslie. Mr. Leslie joins TruWest from the Port of Cleveland, where he oversaw $3.5 billion in real estate and financing activities for the past 13 years. He will manage all financial and administrative duties for TruWest and portfolio companies including Technology Recovery Group (TRG), River Capital, River SaaS Capital, Sibling Revelry Brewing, and MRK Technologies. "We are extremely excited to have Brent join the TruWest family of companies," TRG President Sean Kennedy says. "His prior professional financial experience will help us streamline business operations and maximize our revenue while maintaining our current growth. He's an incredible asset as we expand into new markets and diversify our product offerings." "We believe Brent is the perfect candidate for CFO," says Matt Kennedy, President of River Capital. "He has the financial experience to make a significant impact at TruWest. We are already seeing improvements in our business structure and budgets. He understands our culture as well, which is one of the unique aspects of our business. We are fortunate to have someone that can see our work hard, play hard attitude and make business decisions that support our culture." Mr. Leslie began his career at professional services firm PricewaterHouseCoopers LLP in Washington, DC. He holds a BS from Bowling Green State University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management. In addition, he is a 2013 American Marshall Memorial Fellow, a leadership program offered by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Mr. Leslie is also a licensed certified public accountant in the state of Ohio. The Chief Financial Officer position is a new TruWest management position born out of the ever increasing growth of TruWest's businesses. In addition to TRG's 30% growth rate, the new TruWest software-as-a-service funding firm River SaaS Capital and the bourgeoning craft brewery Sibling Revelry have called for an expanded management team. SOURCE TruWest BROOKLYN, N.Y., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Top university students in cybersecurity research and policy scholarship will present their papers at New York University Tandon School of Engineering's Cyber Security Awareness Week (CSAW), the largest student-run cybersecurity competition in the world, November 10-12, 2016. The Applied Research Competition is a prestigious contest for graduate and doctoral level security researchers who have published papers in the past year. The Policy Competition, in its third year, challenges students to propose public policy solutions to real-world computer security challenges. The CSAW Policy Competition is organized by the NYU Center for Cybersecurity. As CSAW expands this year to include on-site competition hubs in the United Arab Emirates and at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, finalists in the Applied Research Competition one of six CSAW contests will compete at NYU Tandon in Brooklyn and at NYU Abu Dhabi. Ten papers on the application of security technology, the implementation of security systems, or lessons learned made the final round in the United States. CSAW Applied Research finalists, listed with the student author presenting the work at CSAW, followed by other contributing authors are: Acing the IOC Game: Toward Automatic Discovery and Analysis of Open-Source Cyber Threat Intelligence Student Presenter: Kan Yuan (Indiana University, Bloomington) Xiaojing Liao and Raheem Beyah (Georgia Institute of Technology), Xiaofeng Wang and Luyi Xing (Indiana University, Bloomington), Zhou Li (ACM member) TrackMeOrNot: Enabling Flexible Control on Web Tracking Student Presenter: Wei Meng (Georgia Institute of Technology) Byoungyoung Lee and Wenke Lee (Georgia Institute of Technology), Xinyu Xing (Pennsylvania State University) Measuring and Mitigating AS-level Adversaries Against Tor Student Presenter: Oleksii Starov (Stony Brook University) Risah Nithyanand (Stony Brook University), Adva Zair and Michael Schapira (Hebrew University Jerusalem), and Phillipa Gill (University of Massachusetts) Trusted Browsers for Uncertain Times Student Presenter: David Kohlbrenner (University of California, San Diego) Hovav Shacham (University of California, San Diego) Towards SDN-Defined Programmable BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Security Student Presenter: Sungmin Hong (Texas A&M University) Robert Baykov, Lei Xu, Srinath Nadimpalli, and Guofei Gu (Texas A&M University) Hidden Voice Commands Student Presenter: Tavish Vaidya (Georgetown University) Nicholas Carlini, Pratyush Mishra, and David Wagner (University of California, Berkeley), Yuankai Zhang, Micah Sherr, Clay Shields, and Wenchao Zhou (Georgetown University) One Bit Flips, One Cloud Flops: Cross-VM Row Hammer Attacks and Privilege Escalation Student Presenter: Yuan Xiao (The Ohio State University) Xiaokuan Zhang, Yinqian Zhang, and Radu Teodorescu (The Ohio State University) APISan: Sanitizing API Usages through Semantic Cross-Checking Student Presenter: Insu Yun (Georgia Institute of Technology) Yeongjin Jang, Taesoo Kim, and Changwoo Min (Georgia Institute of Technology), Xujie Si and Mayur Naik (University of Pennsylvania) A Principled Approach for ROP Defense Student Presenter: Rui Qiao (Stony Brook University) R Sekar (Stony Brook University), Mingwei Zhang (Intel Labs) SPIFFY: Inducing Cost-Detectability Tradeoffs for Persistent Link-Flooding Attacks Student presenter: Min Suk Kang (Carnegie Mellon University) Virgil D. Gligor and Vyas Sekar (Carnegie Mellon University) "We chose research finalists based on innovative ideas that top industry security researchers thought might someday transform our approach to securing their systems," said Damon McCoy, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and CSAW Applied Research Competition faculty mentor. The five CSAW Policy Competition finalists are: George Mason University School of Law and George Washington University School of Law Expanding FTC Authority to Seek Consumer Redress for Intangible Privacy Harms Katie Morehead, Austin Mooney, and Julian Flamant The Pennsylvania State University Incentivizing the Free Market Protection of Consumer Information Nicholas Pisciotta University of Illinois College of Law Correcting Market Failure Through the Expansion of Federal Trade Commission Authority Magdala Boyer, Michael Burdi, Matthew Chang, Kathleen Kramer, Matthew Loar, Mark Nagel, and Bradley Williams University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Improving Enterprise Security via a Secure Software Toolkit Matthew Dyas, Ankur Sundara, Arianna Osar, Shao Yie Soh, Arshia Malkani, Eric Hennenfent, John Paul Smith, and Malachi Loviska United States Naval Academy Standardization, Certification, and Enforcement: Leveraging Market Effects to Incentivize Data Protection on a National Scale Dennis Devey and Sydney Frankenberg This year, students learned how market failures can lead to consumer data breaches, and responded with a government policy proposal to address these failures. "The rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape has raised questions about how much money companies should spend on data security," said Kevin Kirby, a third-year student at the NYU School of Law and student leader of the CSAW Policy Competition. "We asked our competitors for policy proposals that would ensure that the true costs of data insecurity are allocated appropriately." The University of Illinois and the United States Naval Academy will return as finalists once again this year after placing among the podium finishers in both 2014 and 2015. All finalists will present a revised and expanded version of their first-round proposal to a panel of experts who will evaluate the feasibility of the authors' proposals, the creativity of their ideas, and their understanding of the issues at play. Sponsors for CSAW 2016 are: Gold Level Palo Alto Networks, Trend Micro, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Silver Level Bridgewater, Google, IBM, and Kroll; Bronze Level Bank of America, Facebook, Jefferies, Navy Civilian Careers, NCC Group, Raytheon, Two Sigma; Supporting Level Bloomberg, Cubic, EY, Intel, National Security Agency, Optiv, The Ruth & Jerome A. Siegel Foundation, Sandia National Laboratories, and U.S. Secret Service; Contributing Level ACSA, Altera, Carnegie Mellon University and Cigital. For more information on CSAW, visit https://csaw.engineering.nyu.edu. Follow @CSAW_NYUTandon. About the NYU Tandon School of Engineering The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, when the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture as well as the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly) were founded. Their successor institutions merged in January 2014 to create a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention, and entrepreneurship and dedicated to furthering technology in service to society. In addition to its main location in Brooklyn, NYU Tandon collaborates with other schools within the country's largest private research university and is closely connected to engineering programs in NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. It operates business incubators in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and an award-winning online graduate program. For more information, visit http://engineering.nyu.edu. About the NYU Center for Cyber Security The NYU Center for Cybersecurity (CCS) is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to training the current and future generations of cybersecurity professionals and to shaping the public discourse and policy, legal, and technological landscape on issues of cybersecurity. NYU CCS is collaboration between NYU School of Law, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and other NYU schools and departments. For more information, visit http://cyber.nyu.edu. www.facebook.com/nyutandon @nyupoly Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151013/276541LOGO SOURCE NYU Tandon School of Engineering Related Links http://www.poly.edu "I mean, having it hit so close," she said as she let the thought hang in the air. "How can anybody live in a country where any minute something can come out of the sky and blow you up?" Only 22 at the time of her deployment, Jessica is one of many wounded warriors who endured physical and mental hardships to fulfill the Global War on Terrorism mission. "At Anaconda, we had one of the best medical facilities in the area of responsibility," Jessica said. "As a security forces airman, one of my responsibilities was to perform routine checks on the pharmacy while on patrol. To get to the pharmacy, my team had to walk through medical tents that housed severely injured patients. Many had wounds from improvised explosive devices some were Iraqi children. It was a horrific sight. Even if you closed your eyes, you still had to hear and smell the suffering." Jessica returned stateside a totally changed person. To address the growing mental health needs of warriors returning from war, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) created its Combat Stress Recovery Program (CSRP). Through the generous support of donors, WWP offers wounded veterans a range of specialized mental health programs and services all tailored to each veteran's specific needs and free of charge. WWP and its supporters believe warriors already paid their dues on the battlefield. Jessica's story is a reflection of other wounded warriors who are confronted with the same struggles once home from combat. Exposure to traumatic combat and operational experiences affects service members and veterans spiritually, psychologically, biologically, and socially. Unable to concentrate or sleep, the day came when Jessica was forced to accept her inward battle. "I eventually broke down and told my flight chief that I couldn't even remember how I got to work." Once she sought help, it didn't take long for military doctors to diagnose Jessica with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and more. Six years after her service, Jessica reached out to WWP and was soon at her first WWP mental health workshop with approximately 20 other female veterans from across the nation. Although challenging, WWP's multi-day mental health rehabilitative opportunities provide safe, private environments for warriors to express themselves and discuss their combat action. At the end of the program, injured veterans share lessons learned from the activities that impacted their personal struggles most and set achievable goals for their recoveries. "It's simply amazing," Jessica said. "Having the support of other lady warriors who are dealing with similar struggles it turned out to be the best tool we had at the event. There were a lot of emotions and anxiety, but the experience allowed us to come together and share our journeys. The workshop had an immediate effect on my recovery. I'm looking at things in a completely different light and am starting to see the person I want to be. I may be different, but I am stronger." About Wounded Warrior Project The mission of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. The WWP purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org. Video - https://youtu.be/q6CgyDYj-IA SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project Related Links http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org Vaultive 's Doug Lane, vice president, product and Yael Nishry, vice president, business development will co-present the webinar. Lane and Nishry have extensive backgrounds in risk management, enterprise security technology and cloud implementation best practices. Why: VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau, which founded and continues to organize the annual event, received feedback from a broad range of restaurants that Denver Restaurant Week remains strong, and that the 10-day, late-February timing work well for the industry. However, some evolution in the pricing was necessary to allow restaurants more flexibility in menu offerings, while making sure that consumers were still able to get a great deal. Now, restaurants whose base menu is at a lower price point, and who may not have participated in the past, can fill the week with excellent values, rather than stretching to reach the previous $30 per person price point; Denver's finest chef-owned restaurants and higher-end places will be able to offer the experience and signature dishes they are known for with the slightly elevated $35 or $45 options. "Denver Restaurant Week was originally designed to celebrate the city's amazing culinary scene," says Richard Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER. "We want it to be a true representation of the emerging hotspots, long-time favorites and everything in between throughout our diverse neighborhoods and across the entire metro area; and this new pricing structure will allow even more restaurants to find value for their business in participating, and make it easy for diners to experience more of everything that Denver has to offer." Restaurants will select just one price point to offer throughout the duration of Denver Restaurant Week; and DenverRestaurantWeek.com will make it easy for diners to search offerings by price point, as well as by cuisine and neighborhood. As in past years, VISIT DENVER will release the menus in advance of the 10-day event to entice foodies to book their reservations early, so they do not miss out on the great deals to be had at hundreds of the city's top restaurants. Menus for 2017 are expected to launch on January 25, 2017. VISIT DENVER's Denver Restaurant Week, presented by Lexus, would not be possible without the generous support of sponsors including: Lexus, Chateau Souverain, Edna Valley Vineyard, Louis M. Martini Winery, Talbott Vineyards, William Hill Estate Winery, Tundra Restaurant Supply, Johnson & Wales University, Open Table, Comcast, 5280 Magazine, Westword, the Colorado Restaurant Association and the Downtown Denver Partnership Business Improvement District. About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau Celebrating 107 years of promoting The Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. A record 16.4 million visitors stayed overnight in Denver in 2015, generating $5 billion in spending, while supporting nearly 54,000 jobs, making Tourism one of the largest industries in Denver. Learn more about Denver on the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER or by phone at 800 2 Denver. Follow Denver's social media channels for up-to-the-minute updates at: Facebook.com/visitdenver; Twitter.com/visitdenver; Instagram.com/visitdenver; and YouTube.com/visitdenver. With press or photo inquiries, please contact: Jesse Davis: (303) 571-9450 or [email protected] Ashley Taufen: (303) 571-9451 or [email protected] Rochelle Jones: (303) 571-9418 or [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/433103LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101210/DC15827LOGO-b SOURCE VISIT DENVER Related Links http://www.denver.org WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Students will gather at National Geographic's headquarters in Washington for an opportunity to speak with a NASA astronaut currently living and working aboard the International Space Station. at noon EDT Thursday, Nov. 3. The 20-minute, Earth-to-space call will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough will answer questions from the students. Kimbrough launched to the station on Oct. 19 and will return home in February. NASA's Robyn Gatens, deputy director of the International Space Station, and NASA scientist and astronomer Michelle Thaller also will share stories about their careers and NASA's Journey to Mars in a panel discussion before the downlink. The event is connected to National Geographic's six-part "MARS" television series. Media interested in covering the event should contact Kelsey Flora at [email protected]. National Geographic headquarters is located at 1145 17th Street N.W. This in-flight education downlink is an integral component of the NASA Office of Education's efforts to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning in the United States. Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station through the agency Office of Education's STEM on Station activity provides authentic, live experiences in space exploration, space study and the scientific components of space travel, while introducing the possibilities of life in space. For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv For more information, videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov China's tippling hub Updated: 2016-07-02 09:35 By Alywin Chew in Shanghai(China Daily) From hidden speakeasy bars to chic lounges and gastro joints, Shanghai's booming cocktail scene lays claim to being the best in China It is a manic night at The Union Trading Company and Yao Lu is constantly shuttling back and forth from the bar counter to the fridge to the liquor shelves. "I have a problem. The customers just don't stop coming," says Yao, the head mixologist and co-founder of the cocktail bar, during a quick breather from service. Award-winning bartender Yao Lu (third from left) helms The Union Trading Company, ranked ninth in the recent Asia's 50 Best Bar. Photos Provided to China Daily The drinks and food offerings at The Union Trading Company. Located near the Bund along East Beijing Road, The Nest is a sprawling F&B establishment with champion bartenders helming the drinks operations. "I guess it's a good problem to have, but it's so hard to find good help. My staff are overworked. Some of us haven't had day off for ages." It might have been a Tuesday, generally considered the quietest time of the week for bars and restaurants, but Union was nonetheless packed to the brim with a balanced mix of locals and expats. Situated along Middle Fuxing Road in the heart of the former French Concession in Shanghai, the bar offers a well-curated menu of expertly mixed cocktails and sophisticated renditions of comfort food fashioned by Chinese-American chef Austin Hu. But perhaps what makes it stand out from the competition is the one thing that Yao considers sacrosanct - service. Many of the regular customers agree. Mark Ng, who has patronized Union since its very beginning, is one of them. "I like Union because it isn't pretentious like some of the other bars in Shanghai. This place feels like home to me because the staff are very friendly and they're always ready to have that one last bourbon shot with you before you leave," says Ng. Ng is not the only person to sing Union's praises. In December 2014, just a few months after its official opening, Union won the Readers' Choice awards for Best Bar and Best Bartender from Time Out Shanghai. A year later, it won the awards for Best New Bar and Bar of the Year at the City Weekend Readers' Choice Awards. This run of achievements has inadvertently vindicated Yao's decision to move to Shanghai from his birthplace, the city of Plano in Texas. Born to Shanghainese parents, Yao first got into bartending during his sophomore year in college because he needed money to pay his tuition fees. But what started out purely as a means of survival soon developed into a passion and he found himself working at the acclaimed Anvil Bar& Refuge in Houston, Texas a few years later. Compelled by the urge to seek "a big adventure in a big city", the then 24-year-old packed his bags and headed to Shanghai, a city he was intrigued by during the four years he spent there as a child. He first got his feet wet in Shanghai's cocktail scene at the now defunct Alchemist bar. Yao later chanced upon Hu through some mutual friends, and with both of them being American Chinese who loved their food and drinks, the two instantly hit it off and decided to combine their expertise to start a bar. China's top cocktail city Earlier in April, Union received its biggest accolade yet when it was ranked ninth in the inaugural Asia's 50 Best Bars Awards by Drinks International. The rankings, which were determined by votes cast by 154 experts of the bar scene in Asia, also affirmed Shanghai's dominance of the cocktail scene in China. Three of the establishments which made the list - Speak Low, Union and Constellation - are from Shanghai, while the fourth, Janes & Hooch, is from Beijing. Speak Low, a speakeasy where the entrance is hidden behind a bookshelf, came out tops in China at second place on the regional rankings. Union was placed ninth, while Constellation, one of the veterans in the industry, came in at 42nd. "Shanghai is absolutely China's top cocktail city right now. The amount of talent, passion and support here is bar none compared to other cities in the country," says Yao. One of the talents he was probably referring to is Shingo Gokan, the acclaimed Japanese mixologist who runs Speak Low. Gokan also runs the famous Angel's Share bar in New York. "Speak Low is considered the master of the Asian speakeasy concept. Shingo is considered the best Japanese bartender working outside of Japan and is an international star who mixes Japanese and Western styles," says Hamish Smith, the editor of Asia's 50 Best Bars. "Yao Lu, on the other hand, has brought top notch, Western style hospitality to Shanghai. His drinks are great, but Academy members mostly enjoy his approach to service, the atmosphere and the way Union Trading makes them feel." Smith shares that the decision to launch Asia's 50 Best Bars, a spin-off of the annual World's 50 Best Bars rankings, is the dizzying pace of development in the region. While the Asian cocktail scene is still not as developed as its North American and European counterparts, Smith is confident that it will narrow the gap in the coming years. "Five years ago the Asian bar industry was dominated by Japan and Singapore, with Hong Kong just behind. In Asia's 50 Best Bars we have restaurant bars, tiki joints and grand hotel bars to rival anything in the world, and right now it feels like there are more speakeasies in Asia than there were during the Prohibition Era," adds Smith. Shanghai's affair with cocktails According to Vance Yeang, a sommelier who has opened two cocktail bars in Shanghai, the Shanghainese are no strangers to foreign spirits which cocktails are made of, thanks to the Western influences in the city since after the first Opium War in 1842. However, he notes that the cocktail culture in Shanghai only started around the early 1990s when expatriates opened a slew of bars and nightclubs in the former French Concession. Many industry experts say that Shanghai's cocktail renaissance took place in 2012, the year Yeang opened Yuan Cocktail and Oyster Lounge along North Xiangyang Road in Xuhui district. "In 2012, the cocktail scene had just begun to boom. There were only a handful of craft cocktail bars then but if you look at the situation now, you can find at least 20 good bars in the city. Some of them are run by famous global bartenders and national bartending champions," says Yeang. "In China, baijiu is still the most popular drink on the dinner table as it a tradition that has been passed down for generations. Cocktails still rank the lowest as most locals don't see as serious drinks. However, this will soon change as more cocktail bars open and provide people with greater exposure to this culture." Yao, the most recent winner of the Chivas Masters China competition, believes that the renaissance hit its peak in 2014, the year that Union, Speak Low and a host of other popular destinations like The Nest came into existence. Unlike Yao's cozy enclave or Gokan's secretive cocktail hideout, The Nest is a modern-chic, one-stop destination that serves cocktails and Nordic-inspired food created by award-winning bartenders and chefs. The place also ramps up the party atmosphere after 11pm with pulsating electronic music. The Nest is backed by Shanghai's MUSE Group and Vodka brand Grey Goose. "I think the success of The Nest has to do with it having a good mix of everything. It's got a great party atmosphere and you can have a meal and enjoy good cocktails at affordable prices. There are hardly any places near the Bund that sell cocktails for 68 yuan ($10) a glass," says Carson Xie, head bartender of The Nest and the winner of the 2014 Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition. Challenges to overcome When asked about the current problems in Shanghai's cocktail industry, the first thing that comes to the minds of bar operators is staffing. It may seem a rather strange phenomenon considering the size of China's labor force, but Xie is quick to highlight several factors that have contributed to this situation. One of them is the lack of a supply line of talent. While there are several bar-tending academies in the country, Xie says that many of them don't actually teach anything useful. "Some of the schools are just out to cheat people of their money. Many of these so-called bartending teachers have never been behind a bar counter. The best way to learn about crafting cocktails is through on-the-job training," says the 34-year-old. At the root of the problem, however, is the fact that most people don't regard bartending as a viable career option. "First, it's the odd working hours. This type of lifestyle can be really tiring and disruptive to one's social life," says Xie. "Also, bartenders in Shanghai don't get paid more than their peers in other industries. When you combine these two facts, there's really no motivation for people to want to join the industry." For Yao, another problem lies in the lack of confidence in many locals. He said that because individualism has never been strongly encouraged in Chinese culture, people often shy away from taking up responsibility and letting their personalities shine. To address this issue, Yao puts his staff through intensive training sessions which comprise bartending skills as well as confidence-building activities. He also makes it a point to rotate his bartenders between mixing drinks and service, ensuring that everyone is comfortable with customer interaction. To foster individualistic creativity, Yao challenges his staff every few months, usually before the change in season, to come up with new concoctions. The most outstanding creations are then included in the new seasonal menus, alongside the bartender's name. Yao's training methodology has seemingly worked wonders for talent retention. Only one of his bartenders has quit since Union's inception. One of them, Lucky Huang, has even gone on to emerge among the top three contestants in the Bacardi Legacy Shanghai competition this year. Another major issue that Yao highlights lies in the cultural stigma that age equates capability. For instance, he has received snubs from potential business partners because they deemed him too young - Yao turns 29 this year. "Many people think that you have not earned your stripes in society if you're young, and hence cannot be taken seriously," he says. "I've even heard remarks suggesting that if you're successful at a young age, you're either a one-hit wonder or you're backed by rich parents. Look, my dad is a journalist by day and a painter by night. He's no millionaire." alywin@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily 07/02/2016 page18) HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Whiteflash Inc., prominent e-tailer of ideal diamonds and designer engagement rings, announced today that they have just launched a state-of-the-art mobile first website with all new functionality and look and feel. It is the most ambitious advancement in the company's 16 year history of cutting edge e-commerce. Concurrent with development of the coding to make the site mobile first, Whiteflash has refreshed and updated the highly acclaimed educational content on the website. Navigation has been streamlined in order to provide easy access to the most relevant content on the site, and the shopping cart has been simplified making checkout more convenient all devices. According to Whiteflash COO Eliezer Eber, who was chief architect of the project, "The year-long development of the mobile first site has been an opportunity to improve all aspects of our e-commerce platform. We have transitioned our website look and feel to match our store colors for a more consistent omni-channel presence. But the real improvement is providing a much richer online experience for our customers who use multiple devices over time as they research our site." The project is the latest breakthrough for Whiteflash.com which launched in 2000 and now serves bridal shoppers all over the world on the strength of their A CUT ABOVE Hearts and Arrows diamonds. It involved the integration of multiple disciplines including coding, graphic design, content creation, and business logic to remodel the navigation. Mr. Eber added, "Improving the online experience by modernizing our site was the single biggest improvement we could make to continue to add real value to the market. We are excited to see that improvement reflected in the reactions of our customers." The launch of the enhanced website was hailed by CEO Debi Wexler who said about the project, "This achievement is a testament of the dedication of our entire team to the customer experience. Our prime demographic is the millennial shopper who will be now be able to shop for diamonds and designer engagement rings in exactly the way that is most effective for them." Whiteflash Vice-president Bryan Boyne, GG who manages education and communications for the company had this to say: "The website, which is our window to the world, has just taken an exciting leap into the future. Our educational content and key product and company information is now presented in inspiring ways that will make shopping for a top quality engagement ring easier and more enjoyable than ever before." About Whiteflash: Whiteflash is a top tier retail jeweler specializing in Ideal Diamonds, Designer Engagement Rings and Fine Bridal Jewelry. Their A CUT ABOVE Super Ideal Diamonds are considered by trade experts and diamond connoisseurs to be among the finest in the world. The award winning Whiteflash.com website, described by Kiplinger's Magazine as the "Lord of the Online Rings" enables shoppers the world over to view, compare and purchase top quality diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry in a convenient, secure and information rich environment. Whiteflash is the first jewelry retailer in the world to attain ISO 9001 certification for total quality management and welcome visitors to their Houston jewelry store located in Sugar Land Town Square. Whiteflash is a member of the American Gem Society and recipient of the 2016 BBB Winner of Distinction. For more information, log onto www.whiteflash.com or call toll free 877-612-6770 *PHOTO: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-1027s2p-whiteflash-300dpi.jpg This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE Whiteflash Inc. Related Links http://www.whiteflash.com MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ProQuest has joined forces with yet another major publisher group World Scientific to provide libraries with even more choices for purchasing ebooks though the OASIS system. This collaboration is the latest in a series between ProQuest and a number of sought-after publishers. The OASIS system provides end-to-end acquisition workflow support to the market's largest selection of ebooks. More than 1.7 million titles are available via the Ebook Central, EBL, ebrary, MyiLibrary, EBSCO, Wiley, IGI Global and Oxford University Press publisher platforms and now the World Scientific ebook platform. With the addition of the World Scientific platform, customers may choose from more than 6,000 titles from the largest international scientific publisher in the Asia-Pacific region. "Providing customers with the power to purchase ebooks from any platform or publisher is our priority," said Kevin Sayar, Senior Vice President and General Manager, ProQuest Books. "Through partnerships like this with World Scientific, we are able to offer more and more options for libraries to acquire ebooks according to their needs and preferences." "World Scientific is committed to publishing high-quality academic content for researchers, students and faculty in STM," said Max Phua, Managing Director of World Scientific. "Through this collaboration with our new channel partner, OASIS, we are furthering this commitment, to widen the options available for libraries so that they may more efficiently discover and source for our titles." About World Scientific (http://www.worldscientific.com) World Scientific Publishing Company employs more than 200 staff at its headquarters in Singapore and 450 globally. It has offices in New Jersey, London, Geneva, Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chennai. In about 3 decades, it has established itself as one of the leading scientific publishers in the world, and the largest international scientific publisher in the Asia-Pacific region. World Scientific publishes about 600 new titles a year and 130 journals in various fields. Many of its books are recommended texts adopted by renowned institutions such as Harvard University, California Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Princeton University. About ProQuest (http://www.proquest.com) ProQuest connects people with vetted, reliable information. Key to serious research, the company's products are a gateway to the world's knowledge including dissertations, governmental and cultural archives, news, historical collections, and ebooks. ProQuest technologies serve users across the critical points in research, helping them discover, access, share, create, and manage information. The company's cloud-based technologies offer flexible solutions for librarians, students and researchers through the ProQuest, Alexander Street, Bowker, Dialog, Ex Libris and SIPX businesses and notable research tools such as the RefWorks citation and reference management platform, the Pivot research development tool and the Ebook Central, ebrary, EBL and MyiLibrary ebook platforms. The company is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with offices around the world. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120620/DE27948LOGO-a SOURCE ProQuest Related Links http://www.proquest.com At Zimmerman, Damon's remit is to help drive growth within the retail automotive sector through the innovation of products, services and Zimmerman's unique, hyper-local platform, developed to serve all retailers most efficiently around their trade areas. Damon brings a healthy mix of leadership in automotive branding, media mix selection and sales analysis to Zimmerman, which will positively impact this division of the agency. Zimmerman was born and conditioned within the automotive sector, which was the catalyst to becoming the largest and fastest growing retail agency in the world. "We matured into the agency we are today because we cut our teeth in the uber-competitive and ROI-obsessed automotive sector, " said Founder and Chairman of Zimmerman Advertising, Jordan Zimmerman. "The early lessons -- the demand for results, the necessary speed and agility, the measurement imperative and even the thick skin -- will always be part of our core. The hyper-local demands of retailing create an unprecedented opportunity for dealers around the country, and Damon's mindset perfectly aligns with our approach for success in the automotive sector." Expressing enthusiasm and appreciation for Zimmerman's scale of success, Damon said, "I feel like I've finally found a team that could keep pace with my ambition and drive success in all forms for clients." About Zimmerman Advertising Zimmerman Advertising, an Omnicom Group company, is the leading integrated, retail agency in the country. Zimmerman's clients represent some of the most prominent retail brands in the country, including hhgregg, Nissan, Party City, Dunkin' Donuts, Tire Kingdom, AutoNation, Advance America, Five Below, Smokey Bones, Modell's and Michaels. Headquartered in South Florida, the agency has retail service offices throughout the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Nashville. For information on the agency, visit http://www.zadv.com. About Omnicom Group Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433328 SOURCE Zimmerman Advertising Related Links http://www.zadv.com On Saturday, October 29 from 11 a.m. 3 p.m. local time, New Orleans Uber users in the French Quarter / Marigny / CBD / Mid-City area can open the Uber app and when the car is available, select ZIPPO as a ride option. The Zippo Car will arrive to pick up lucky passengers for rides that will culminate at the Voodoo Uber Pickup Lot, located on Victory Avenue. Zippo Car riders will also be treated to custom Zippo swag, including limited-run lighters designed exclusively for riders in the Zippo Car, as well as Saturday Voodoo Fest tickets. Zippo Car rides are limited to two passengers per ride. Zippo Car rides will only be available for request until 3 p.m. local time at which point, Uber users heading to the festival can enter the promo code ZIPPORIDE for a discount of up to $10 while supplies last (limit 1,000 rides). All rides must end at the Voodoo Uber Pickup Lot on Victory Avenue in order to be eligible for the discount. Voodoo Fest attendees can also stop by the Zippo Encore booth throughout the weekend to purchase exclusive festival lighters and spin the Zippo wheel to win merchandise and VIP experiences. The Zippo Car will be on site at the Zippo Encore booth on Sunday, October 30 for photo ops. "The Zippo Windproof Lighter has long been a staple of the music festival experience, used to signal an encore or show appreciation for a band or musician," said Lucas Johnson, Zippo Global Brand Manager. "We're proud to partner with Uber to celebrate Voodoo Fest attendees and music fans around the world, continuing our commitment to offering truly one-of-a-kind experiences through our Zippo Encore program." Launched in 2009 by the Bradford, Pennsylvania-based Zippo Manufacturing Co., Zippo Encore provides music lovers with unique experiences and behind-the-scenes access at some of the top music tours and festivals around the world. Visit uber.com/info/zippo-voodoo to learn more about the Zippo/Uber partnership as well as uber.com/info/voodoo2016 to learn more about Uber at Voodoo Fest fans can also follow along on social media using #ZIPPORIDE. For more information about Zippo Encore, visit facebook.com/ZippoEncore, twitter.com/ZippoEncore, instagram.com/ZippoEncore and Snapchat (@OriginalZippo). About Zippo One of the most recognized brands in the world, Zippo was founded in the fall of 1932 by George G. Blaisdell in Bradford, Pennsylvania, where it has manufactured over 550 million windproof lighters. With the exception of improvements to the flint wheel and modifications in case finishes, the product remains unchanged and is backed by the company's famous lifetime guarantee "It works, or we fix it free." Zippo's diverse product line includes lighters and accessories; butane candle lighters; fragrance, and a robust line of heat and flame products for outdoor enthusiasts. Zippo markets in nearly 200 countries and also owns the Ronson brand of lighters and fuel and W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Company, both based in Bradford, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.Zippo.com or follow Zippo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@OriginalZippo). About Uber Uber's mission is to make transportation as reliable as running watereverywhere, for everyone. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get a ride at the touch of a button? Six years and over two billion trips later, we've started tackling an even greater challenge: reducing congestion and pollution in our cities by getting more people into fewer cars. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/433035 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361871LOGO SOURCE Zippo Related Links http://www.zippo.com CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ZirMed, a recognized leader in revenue cycle software and predictive analytics, today was named to Built In Chicago's 2016 Top 100 Digital Companies in Chicago list. The company, headquartered in Louisville, KY with offices in Chicago and Los Angeles, entered the list at #71 with 170 full-time employees in its Chicago office. This marks ZirMed's first appearance on the list, which ranks Chicago digital technology employers such as data analytics startups, eCommerce companies and digital agencies based on local, full-time employee count. ZirMed joins such well-known brands as Groupon, Morningstar, Careerbuilder, Motorola Solutions and Cars.com in receiving this recognition. The company was also recently named to Becker's Healthcare 2016 list of 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare. ZirMed has experienced explosive growth in the past year as a result of heightened interest in the ability of its cloud-based revenue cycle management (RCM) solutions to help healthcare providers recover reimbursements that might otherwise be lost. The company's data-mining and predictive modeling software identifies erroneous or missing charges as well as at-risk accounts, then brings those to the attention of the right person at the right time. In addition to serving as the center of R&D for ZirMed's data-science team, the Chicago office includes advanced clinical auditor expertise and business intelligence engineers. "We're thrilled to be included in this year's list," said Tom Butts, chief executive officer at ZirMed. "When we opened our office at 111 N. Canal in 2015, we said we'd grow from 65 employees in Chicago to 215 over time. A little more than a year later we're already creeping up on that number. It truly has been amazing to see the passion and talent in Chicago's tech and healthcare communities." ZirMed continues to grow in Chicago, Louisville, and Los Angeles. To view open positions and learn more about the company, visit careers.zirmed.com. Tweet This: [email protected] named to @BuiltInChicago Top 100 Digital Companies list. http://bit.ly/2fhjX5C #Healthcare About ZirMed ZirMed's comprehensive end-to-end platform of cloud-based revenue cycle management solutionsincluding patient access, charge integrity, claims management, AR management, patient responsibility, and population health managementempowers healthcare organizations of all sizes and types to optimize value-driven and fee-for-service reimbursements. By combining breakthrough predictive analytics technology with innovative software development and the industry's most advanced transactional network, ZirMed solutions extract actionable insights that improve our clients' revenue cycles while streamlining workflows, increasing operating efficiencies, and driving bottom-line results. ZirMed's technology and client support continue to be honored with top industry awards, including KLAS, Healthcare Informatics, Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS), and Black Book Rankings. To learn how ZirMed can help your healthcare organization boost its financial performance in an era of changing reimbursement models and rising operating costs, visit www.ZirMed.com. Media Contacts: Joy Dinaro Amendola Communications for ZirMed 847.809.0406 [email protected] Ingrid Korgemagi Director - Marketing Communications, ZirMed 502.599.5411 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131007/CL92866LOGO SOURCE ZirMed Related Links http://www.zirmed.com UK retailers catering for homesick Chinese Updated: 2016-10-27 17:29 By WANG MINGJIE(China Daily UK) Oriental food displayed on the shelves of a local supermarket in London. [Photo by Wang Mingjie/China Daily] With a growing number of Chinese people working and studying in Britain, local supermarkets and neighborhood stores have responded by stocking an increasingly large range of flavors from home. The trend toward retailers routinely stocking oriental food is evident in London's Canary Wharf, part of the capital's financial district where many international businesses are based. The recently-built residential developments in the area have attracted many Chinese buyers. Seizing on the opportunity presented by a growing Chinese customer base, the local branch of Tesco now offers a dedicated oriental food section. The store's workers said the decision to provide authentic Asian ingredients at the outlet was taken more than two years ago, after market research showed there was a major demand for the products in the area. Christof Backhaus, professor and chair of marketing at Aston Business School, said the new retail focus on oriental food was common sense. "In the quest for new measures to optimally address market needs, such adaptations in assortment are an innovative, and at the same time logical, step taken by retailers," he said. Chinese ingredients, such as Shaohsing rice wine, can now be seen far beyond the specialist Chinese stores they were once exclusively found within. Supermarket staff in Canary Wharf said oriental food was the top-seller among other international food, which include Caribbean, Indian and Polish products. "This can certainly be attributed to the rising Chinese population working and living in the area," said one local employee. Other businesses capitalizing on the growing number of Chinese in the UK include an independent Chinese store, ChinaArk Supermarket, which is near Queen Mary University of London. Zhou Fangzhou, who has run the store for more than eight years, said his business boomed in recent years, thanks to the influx of Chinese people into the area, most of them students. China has 89,540 students in the UK, the largest number of foreign students from any one country, according to the UK Higher Education Statistics Agency. Zhou said the increase in student numbers does not necessarily guarantee higher sales because he has seen rivals go out of business in the area. "You need to provide what the market wants," he said. The store offers aisles of staple cooking ingredients, including dozens of noodle options, a variety of oriental sauces, jumbo bags of sticky rice, fresh tofu, and easy-to-cook hot-pot ingredients, such as fi sh balls, frozen beef slices, and beancurd, which are all extremely popular among students. "Most students who shopped here told me they miss home and Chinese food when studying here, and being able to purchase authentic Chinese food on their doorstep is a great comfort," Zhou added. Guwahati, Oct 22 : As the entire world is closely observing the US Presidential debates and the possible fallouts of the polls, a team of students from Guwahati-based NPS International School are camping in the poll-bound US to get first-hand knowledge about the much talked-about elections. A team of 21 -- comprising 17 students and four faculty members -- from the school is in Florida, US, closely monitoring the entire process relating to the forthcoming Presidential Polls. Florida is the 'Tipping Point' of the November elections. "Apart from monitoring the electoral process, we have also got the opportunity to discuss various issues with the local populace," said Satabdi Gogoi, a Class XI (Science) NPS student, who is a member of the team. In the US Presidential elections, the voters do not cast their vote directly for an individual candidate. In reality, the voters cast their vote for a group of people known as "electors". The electors are the members of the Electoral College from the various US states and in turn they cast their vote for the preferred candidate. Once the general elections take place, the first phase of the election is completed. In the second phase, the 'presidential electors' cast the votes to choose a President and a Vice-President. The President is elected if he or she receives an absolute majority of the electoral votes cast. The NPS students have expressed surprise over the style of the election campaign process of the largest superpower of the globe. "Unlike India, we have not seen a single election-related banner or poster here. Everything takes place here in a disciplined and planned manner. People or party supporters throng the university auditoriums etc, to witness the election debate of candidates. General people also closely watch the debates on TV," Jyotirmoy Das of Class VI said. This is not the first time when the management of the school has sent its student abroad to get foreign exposure. It had sent its students to various front-ranking institutions of Spain, London, Germany, Dubai, Sri Lanka and USA over the years. "NPS International School is the first school from North East region to visit NASA as well as receive astronomy training there. The students went for a three-day astronaut training experience (ATX) in NASA whose mission is to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research," J.N. Das, Founder and Chairman of the school said. During their visit to NASA, students were taken to US Astronaut Hall of Fame where they got a taste of firsthand experience of astronauts for real missions. Students felt the pull of 4gs in the G - Force Simulator, sat in a mission control console, touched a Mars rock and landed the space shuttle. All of this provided a true experience of Space Flight to the students. NASA scientists also explained to the students about it's vision for space exploration. "In the year 2015 also, the school had sent its students to NASA's John F Kennedy Space Center, world's gateway to exploring, discovering and understanding our universe," Das added. New Delhi, Oct 24 : India on Monday curtly dismissed China's protest against US Ambassador Richard Verma's visit for the annual Tawang Festival in Arunachal Pradesh. "The US Ambassador visited Arunachal Pradesh, a state which is an integral part of the country to which he is accredited," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media. Verma visited Tawang along with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal last week. Beijing said visits like that of Verma would make the border dispute between India and China more "complicated" and "sabotage" peace in the region. "There is nothing unusual in (Verma's visit)," Swarup said. Hyderabad, Oct 25 : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Tuesday said the issue of triple talaq was an internal matter for Muslims but made it clear that the RSS was against gender bias. RSS General Secretary Suresh Joshi said the Muslim community was discussing the issue of triple talaq. Bhaiyyaji, as he is popularly known, was talking to reporters on the final day of a three-day all India executive council meeting here. He pointed that it was the Muslim women who moved the court seeking justice. "Any kind of gender based injustice is not good in this modern world. We wish they get justice. The courts must also consider this issue humanely," he said. On Uniform Civil Code, he said the issue had been debated for long and the RSS had taken a clear stand that the law must stop any kind of discrimination. "There can be issues of some traditions but if they are disturbing the cultural fabric of the society, then the law must interfere and end it," he said. Denying that the issue of Ram Mandir was being raised for electoral gains in Uttar Pradesh, Bhaiyyaji said the Hindu community desired a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. "But to do this first all legal issues have to be cleared." The RSS leader said that BJP President Amit Shah addressed the Sangh conclave. Without making a direct comment on the functioning of the Modi government, he said the RSS as a responsible organization in a democratic set-up had a right to review the functioning of the government. Calling for protection of Gourakshaks, Bhaiyyaji said cow protection was not just an emotional issue but related with the rural economy of the nation. "Cow must be protected, Gourakshaks must get protection and specifically there must be efforts to protect and save local cow breeds," he added. Asked about the ban on Pakistani artists in India, he said while the RSS believed that art had no boundaries, these were rare conditions and hence they welcome the ban. Kathmandu/New Delhi, Oct 26 : The fourth meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission began in New Delhi on Wednesday, setting the tone for the minister-level meeting scheduled for Thursday. At the Joint Commission talks, Foreign Secretaries Shankar Das Bairagi and S. Jaishankar are leading the Nepali and Indian delegations. The Nepal-India ministerial level meeting is expected to focus on implementing the past agreements and accords signed between the two countries. The Joint Commission, the highest level bilateral mechanism between Nepal and India that is mandated to review entire gamut of relations between the two countries, directs relevant officials to resolve the pending issues and chart out the future course of the ties. The meeting will focus on securing agreements on select points, and will seek understanding on those issues that require more time to settle. The agreed issues will be pushed for early implementation so that India-funded projects in Nepal will see tangible progress in near future. "The meeting will make a comprehensive review of the bilateral ties," said Foreign Minister Mahat ahead of his India visit, adding that those issues and agendas agreed in recent high-level visits between Nepal and India will be put for implementation. The Joint Commission was first formed in 1987. Its third and last meeting was held in Kathmandu in July 2014 after a hiatus of 23 years. The meeting will review progress on issues that featured during the last Joint Commission meeting two years ago and other high-level exchanges between the two sides. Sushma Swaraj is leading the Indian side at the ministerial level meeting comprising secretaries from various ministries. Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat said that bilateral matters like roads, cross-border connectivity (railways, roads and bridges), water resources, inundation, security matters, boundary adjustments, completing the detailed project of much touted Pancheshwor Development Authority that is executing 4,800 mw hydropower in Nepal are some key agendas. According to Mahat, issues like construction of integrated checkposts on Nepal-India border, power trade, implementation of Mahakali Treaty, connecting roads, construction of cross-border petroleum pipeline, compensation for various victims affected by inundation, trade, transit and fixing the modality of Indian reconstruction aid to Nepal. On boundary issues, Nepal and India will seek some changes on design of pillars located in river areas though the both sides have achieved progress in installing the boundary pillars. "The meeting will review the progress made by the technical level in installation of boundary pillars and clearing the no-man's land," said Mahat. Nepal will also call for the construction of the Sunkoshi Diversion, splitting from Sapta Koshi Multi Purpose Project. Kolkata, Oct 26 : Cigarettes-to-hotels conglomerate ITC Ltd on Wednesday reported a 10.5 percent rise in its standalone net profit to Rs 2,500.03 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 as compared to Rs 2,262.50 crore for the year-ago period. Total income from operations stood at Rs 13,616.61 crore in the quarter under review as compared to Rs 12,611.29 crore in the corresponding period last year. In the July-September quarter, revenue from cigarettes was Rs 8,528.47 crore, up 7.09 per cent from Rs 7,963.10 crore in the same quarter last year. "The performance of the cigarette business during the quarter remained subdued on account of continued pressure on the legal cigarette industry in India," a company statement said. Over the last four years, the incidence of excise duty and VAT (value added tax) on cigarettes, at a per unit level, has gone up cumulatively by 118 per cent and 142 per cent respectively, thereby exerting severe pressure on legal industry volumes even as illegal trade grows unabated, it said. Total revenue from its hotels, paperboards, paper and packaging and agri business stood at Rs 3,508.81 crore in the second quarter as compared to Rs 3,464.78 crore last year. The company said in the hotels business, segment revenue during the quarter was flattish in comparison to the previous year reflecting the subdued operating conditions in the Indian hospitality industry, which continues to be impacted by excessive room inventory in key domestic markets and sluggish macroeconomic environment both in India and major source markets. Elaborating on agri-business performance, the company said: "Segment revenue grew by 2 per cent over the corresponding period in the previous year on the back of higher agri-commodity sales in the domestic market offset by lower supplies to the company's FMCG businesses (mainly account timing differences in offtake). Steeper currency depreciation in competing geographies and lower wheat crop output in India constrained growth in exports." The FMCG major made "steady progress during the quarter" towards setting up state-of-the-art owned integrated consumer goods manufacturing facilities at Uluberia and Panchla in West Bengal, Kapurthala in Punjab and at Ambarnath in Maharashtra. "Currently, over 20 projects are underway and in various stages of development -- from land acquisition/site development to construction of buildings and other infrastructure," the statement said. The company also reported that its revenue from operations in the April to September period in the current fiscal grew by 8 percent to Rs 26,648.05 crore as compared to Rs 24,662.24 crore in the corresponding period last year. Its scrip closed at Rs 238.90 a piece, up 0.06 percent on the BSE from the previous close. The city-based firm on Wednesday appointed Zafir Alam as an Additional Non-Executive Director on the company's board, representing the General Insurers' (Public Sector) Association of India. BYD buses making Liverpool greener Updated: 2016-10-27 18:38 By WANG MINGJIE(China Daily UK) An artists impression of BYD's electric single-decker bus Enviro200 EV. [Photo/provided to China Daily] Chinese automotive manufacturer BYD and British bus maker Alexander Dennis won their first order together outside of the capital when they were asked to deliver electric single-decker vehicles to Liverpool, at a time when green technology buses are becoming more popular throughout the UK. The partnership will see them deliver a fleet of emissions-free buses to work routes around Liverpool city center. The order, which was placed by Merseyside operator Arriva North West, is for 12 Enviro200 EV 12-meter buses. They will work city-center routes by day and be recharged overnight. The buses are expected to cover between 240 km and more than 300 km each day and will also power integral USB chargers fitted inside the vehicles for the use of passengers. In line with all BYD-Alexander Dennis joint products, the vehicles have been designed to complete a full day's work on a single charge and will not need to be topped up during the day. Therefore, they will be able to take advantage of cheaper of-peak electricity when charged at night. Frank Thorpe, a senior manager with BYD's UK operations, said: "Merseyside is pointing the way for other British cities wishing to tackle their air-quality issues through pollution-free city center buses. We look forward to more such orders." Arthur Whiteside, head of UK sales for Alexander Dennis, said several other cities are watching. "It's the first joint order from outside London and opens the door to a range of provincial cities wishing to upgrade their bus fleet to pure electric, emissions-free standard," he said."The Enviro200EV provides a stylish, cost-effective and proven bus to meet their needs." Emissions-free transport is becoming increasing important in the UK as a result of policies promoting low-carbon use. Several other clean-energy buses have been ordered. Earlier in September, BYD started to provide 51 new single-decker electric buses for London, which it said will become Europe's largest electric fleet. The move should save London 700 metric tons of CO2 emissions a year. The partnership between the manufacturers is said to be "well advanced" in fulfilling the order, which was placed by operator Go-Ahead. Guwahati, Oct 26 : Several organisations in Assam on Wednesday appealed to the people to celebrate the October 30 Diwali festival on a low key to commemorate 88 civilians who died in serial blasts in the state eight years ago. The anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) had triggered nine blasts across Assam, leaving 88 persons dead, in 2008. "The state's people should remember how the worst-ever terrorist attack tore Assam apart on October 30, 2008. We must respect those who lost their lives due to terrorists," said All Assam Students Union Adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya. He said the celebrations should be in tune with the solemnity of the commemoration. All Assam Tribal Sangha also appealed to the people to avoid bursting of crackers to honour the terror victims. "Everyone can celebrate Diwali, but it should be restrained. We can pay tribute to the serial blasts victims by avoiding extravaganza like bursting of crackers," said Sangha General Secretary Aditya Khakhlary. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) spokesman Apurba Kumar Bhattacharyya expressed sorrow over the deaths in the 2008 serial blasts and said everyone should take a pledge on the day to fight terrorism. "One should not restrain people from celebrating the festival. However, it should also be an occasion to take a pledge to fight against all kinds of terrorism and violence," Bhattacharyya said. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26 : Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday said the Kerala Anti-Social (Prevention) Act (KAPA) should be used against those who kill stray dogs, and drew wide criticism in the state where stray dogs have become a major menace. The minister's comment also drew ire of people as it came on a day when a 90-year-old man succumbed here to his injuries he suffered when stray dogs mauled hiim. Speaking to Asianet TV channel in Delhi, Gandhi, the union Women and Child Development Minister, said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should not sit silent when people are killing stray dogs. She also said Kerala's Director General of Police should charge such people under Kerala Anti-Social (Prevention) Act. Hours after the minister's comments, there has been an all-round protest against her in Kerala. The first to react was leading businessman Kochuouseph Chittilapally, who said "those who speak like this should undergo a mental check-up". "I am fine and it's she (Gandhi) who has to undergo it. And rather than being so much concerned about dogs, she should be worried for her son," said Chittilapally, who has been in the forefront of the war against stray dogs in the state. Kerala Minister for Local Self Government K.T. Jaleel said Gandhi is not seeing anything as she is in Delhi. "Since she is not seeing or knowing anything, she can make such statements like KAPA and such things. We do not subscribe to such things," said Jaleel. State Congress President V.M. Sudheeran said that use of the KAPA is not a sensible solution at all. Soon after Gandhi's statement came the news that a 90-year-old man was mauled by stray dogs while he slept outside his home here on Wednesday and later succumbed in hospital, officials said. Raghavan, who stayed at tourist destination Varkala, on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, died of his severe injuries later in the evening. This is the second death in Kerala following a stray dog attack. In August, a 65-year-old woman was mauled to death near Kovalam, a popular tourist destination. All eyes are on Thursday's session of the Kerala assembly as public sentiments are overflowing against Gandhi and her statement on stray dogs. Los Angeles, Oct 27 : American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has described his first meeting with the late King of Pop Michael Jackson as "crazy". Hilfiger recalled meeting Jackson at his "deserted" Neverland home to discuss plans to collaborate on a clothing line, and he could not believe his eyes when he saw elephants and a giraffe in the grounds of the abode, reports pagesix.com. The designer delved on the music legend -- who died in 2009 -- in his memoir "American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion and Business". He wrote: "A choo-choo train, with a conductor and everything, picked us up. We were driving through Neverland, and no one was there. As we passed the Ferris wheel, it started up. Every seat was empty. We saw teacup rides and a racetrack and an amphitheater, all deserted. "We pulled up in front of the house, and a butler came out wearing white gloves. 'Hello,' he said. 'Michael will be coming; he is expecting you.' We were standing in front of this massive gingerbread-style house when a giraffe walked by, followed by a string of baby elephants. (Hilfiger's brother) Ally and (Hilfiger's daughter) Andy were looking at each other, like 'This is crazy!'" Hilfiger further described the experience: "Prince and Paris came barreling down the stairs dressed as characters from a Broadway show or 'The Sound of Music' - velveteen knickers, dirndl jumper, ruffled blouses, patent leather shoes, each in full make-up, their hair bleached blonde with dark roots. Blanket was an infant in nanny's arms." Caracas, Oct 27 : Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro activated the nation's Defense Council on a permanent basis to find a solution to the country's political, economic and social crisis. The Constitution's Article 323 says that the Defense Council is the highest advisory organ of the state to plan and assess matters related to the defense of the country. At a press conference, Maduro said the Council would attend "the end of 2016 with the best criteria and knowledge possible so that peace may reign", Xinhua news agency reported. The first meeting of this Council was attended by the executive vice-president, AristAbulo IstAriz, several ministers and representatives of the judiciary. However, National Assembly President and opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup did not attend, despite being invited. Noting that that Allup was going against the Constitution, Maduro said at the press conference that he wanted a "permanent social dialogue". Maduro also called on all actors to join the first phase of dialogue between the government and the opposition on October 30. Maduro stated that the Defense Council would seek to tackle the economic situation, which has risen to over 700 per cent this year. On Tuesday, the National Assembly, in majority controlled by the opposition, voted to open a political trial against Maduro for causing the economic crisis. Maduro responded to the vote by calling it a "parliamentary coup," and called the all emergency meeting in Caracas on Wednesday afternoon. Islamabad, Oct 27 : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) declined to commit funds for a $14 billion dam project in Pakistan, authorities said. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," ADB president Takehiko Nakao said on Wednesday at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. He said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the Diamer-Bhasha dam on the river Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that while it was a very important project for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, it called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, Dawn online reported. "We haven't decided (whether to fund) this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date. The ADB was originally seen by Pakistan as the lead financier of the strategic project, which would have a water storage capacity of over six million acre feet and a power output of 4,500MW. Repeated efforts to rope the World Bank in as a co-lender failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from India for the project. Instead, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha, saying the government would simultaneously go ahead with both projects. Washington, Oct 27 : US Defence Secretary Ash Carter announced that it will be only a matter of weeks before Washington and its allies are ready to drive the Islamic State (IS) terror group from Raqqa, its self-proclaimed capital in Syria. Carter told reporters at a NATO meeting in Brussels on Wednesday that getting troops in place for the siege of Raqqa would be undertaken within weeks but declined to offer more specifics, CNN reported. The plan "has us generating those forces in a matter of weeks ... generating them and positioning them for the isolation of Raqqa," Carter said. "That's what I'm going to say," he said, adding, "And not many weeks." It has been "long planned" that the US-backed assault on Mosul -- which started earlier this month -- Iraq and Raqqa would be overlapping, Carter said. The top US commander in Iraq, General Stephen Townsend, told reporters via satellite that it was "imperative to get isolation in place around Raqqa" because intelligence reports showed that there was "significant external operations attacks planning" taking place inside the city. "We actually aren't sure how pressing it is, and that's what's worrying," Townsend said. "We know they are up to something, and it's an external plot. We don't know exactly where; we don't know exactly when." Carter said the military has "the resources we need" to undertake the operations in both Mosul and Raqqa at the same time. "We're going to win this, and so if there's anything we need to do to accelerate, I'm prepared to ask for it," he said. Jammu, Oct 27 : Seven civilians were injured in heavy shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops on Thursday in Jammu district's R.S.Pura sector of the International Border (IB). "Seven persons including five women belonging to two families of Goparbasti village of R.S.Pura sector were injured overnight as Pakistan Rangers targeted civilian areas," the police said. Intermittent shelling and firing exchanges were still continuing in the sector that started late Wednesday night. "After Pakistan Rangers used 82 mm mortar shells to target civil and Border Security Forces (BSF) facilities in R.S.Pura, the BSF retaliated effectively using same calibre weapons," police sources added. "Shelling and firing exchanges took place in Korotana Kurd, Bidipur, Jattan, Abdullian, Chandu Chak, Shamka and Hansu Chak areas." New Delhi, Oct 27 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that he will immediately implement the Supreme Court direction saying wages of temporary staff should be on par with regular ones. He demanded that Punjab government should "immediately" implement the ruling as well. "Landmark judgment by Supreme Court. Will immediately implement it in Delhi and simultaneously expedite the process of their (temporary employees') regularisation," Kejriwal tweeted while quoting a media report on the Supreme Court judgment. The apex court on Wednesday said that temporary workers are entitled to wages at par with permanent employees. "This judgment is on a petition filed by Punjab employees. We demand that Punjab government should immediately implement it," Kejriwal added. The Delhi government last week asked all its departments to submit a finalised proposal before November 15 for giving permanent jobs to temporary employees. Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistan official in the High Commission, who was briefly detained and let off because of diplomatic immunity. Image Source: IANS News The two Indians, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Rajasthan, who are being questioned for working with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 27 : A Pakistani embassy official was questioned and two Indian nationals were arrested on alleged espionage charges and working for the ISI, a police officer said here on Thursday. Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistan official in the High Commission, was briefly detained and let off because of diplomatic immunity, the police officer told IANS on condition of anonymity. However, the two Indians, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Rajasthan, were still being questioned for working with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The arrests were made late Wednesday night by the interstate cell Crime Branch following a tip off from the Intelligence Bureau, sources said. This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India. Last years, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested. New Delhi, Oct 27 : Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan has joined the debate on the inclusion of Pakistani talent in Indian projects, saying that while music has no boundaries, it is time to stand with the Indian armed forces and respect the patriotic spirit. "I'm the first musician who visited Pakistan after 25 years of cultural silence at the time when Mr. Natwar Singh was the Ambassador and Mani Shankar Aiyar was the Consul General in Karachi. I received a lot of love and appreciation from music lovers of Pakistan. "I met many artistes who came to my concert, including Roshan Ara Begum and Farida Khanum. This was back in 1981. Though I believe that music has no boundaries, it's time to show solidarity towards our jawans and armed forces who are sacrificing their lives so that we can be safe." The 70-year-old musician, who became a part of Vision concerts in Mumbai and Delhi to mark the start of a new phase in the global campaign to eradicate cataract blindness, feels "today, terrorism and destructive activities are at their peak". Despite all the negativity around the world, he hopes for a brighter future. "There are certain countries that ruin the future of their younger generation by injecting hatred among them. A group of people is committed and dedicated to destroy the world. Today, the human being has become the symbol of arrogance, hatred and destruction," he said, adding he hoped and prayed that the younger generation "experiences peace, harmony and tranquility in the world". In general, Khan, who has performed internationally for over four decades, is happy to see the progress of young artistes. "They are very fortunate to get access to so much content today through YouTube. However, to be a professional, you must learn from a teacher," said the father of sarod players Amaan and Ayaan. Technology might have opened up many doors for young artistes, but Khan is concerned that the "future children of this world should not behave or look like robots". Talking about his association with the Vision concerts, held as a part of an India-US musical collaboration that brings together leading international musicians, he said: "It is an irresistible model for what is possible when different musical cultures and genres come together with a purpose." The target of the concerts -- presented by HelpMeSee and Music For Life International (MFLI) -- was to create 50 free surgical backlog-free districts in India's backward areas by 2020. George Mathew, a US-based music conductor and MFLI Artistic Director, and American violinist Elmira Darvarova, were also a part of the concert. (Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in) Taipei, Oct 27 : The fusion of two activities -- signalling against bandits and sending up wishes and prayers during the Chinese New Year -- has resulted in tourists flying lanterns to the Gods in Shifen village in Taiwan. Lined up along the narrow gauge railway track in the mountainous Shifen village in the Pingxi district near Taipei are shops selling huge single- or four-colour paper lanterns. Hundreds of tourists buy these lanterns (shaped like a big inverted basket) and pen down their wishes/requests to the Gods. A few moments later, after the shopkeeper lights up the lantern's fuel sheets (thick paper dipped in diesel), the tourists let go of the lanterns which slowly rise high up into the skies. "At night the lit lanterns look like big fireflies, with the mountains in the background," Francis Hu, a Taiwan Tourism Bureau authorised tourist guide, told IANS. According to tourist literature, in the 19th century, when the settlements first came up, life was relatively peaceful and prosperous A only occasionally disturbed by bandits who raided the villages soon after harvest. To avoid the bandits, the Shifen villagers retreated to the mountains with their farm produce. A few days later a scout would be sent to the village to survey the area for the presence of bandits. He would send up a lantern signalling that the area was safe and free of bandits for the villagers to return. As for the history of the sky lanterns, it is said that they were closely associated with Chinese statesman Zhuge Liang who apparently used to send up sky lanterns as military signals and also to confuse the enemy's readings of celestial bodies. Tourist guide Hu said that during the Chinese New Year, people used to write their wishes/prayers on a lantern at their homes. But this lantern was not sent up into the skies. "Over a period of time, the practice of writing down wishes on lanterns and sending them up got fused, which is now a great tourist attraction," Hu added. "Please let me ace my exams," a student sent her prayer to her God through a lantern. Now, the lantern festival forms a part of the New Year celebrations when several thousand people gather at Shifen village to send up their lanterns. "We sell around 20 lanterns per day. We make the lanterns ourselves while the paper is sourced from outside," lantern-seller Liad Jiahuei told IANS. She said tourists, irrespective of their nationality or religion, send up the paper lanterns, most of which burn for around 10 minutes. A four-colour lantern costs around Taiwan $200 (USD6.5) and a single-colour lantern is priced at Taiwan $150. Whenever a narrow gauge train passes through the region, the lantern activity comes to a standstill. "Every hour there will be a train" and we stop sending up the lanterns so that they do not hinder the rail transport or vice versa, Hu said. One other attraction of the Shifen village is the Shifen waterfall A Taiwan's largest such that can be reached by a short walk from the parking lot. Shaped somewhat like a horse shoe, it resembles a miniaturised Niagara Falls. The pool below the Shifen waterfall is called the Rainbow Pool as on clear days, the moisture above the pool is conducive for a rainbow's formation. (Venkatachari Jagannathan was in Taiwan at the invitation of Scoot Airlines and Taiwan Tourism Bureau. He can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in) New Delhi, Oct 27 : India on Thursday asked a Pakistan High Commission staffer here to leave the country immediately over his alleged involvement in a major espionage ring that was busted with the arrest of two Indians working for the ISI. Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted that Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit "to convey that (a) Pakistan High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities". Basit was summoned after Delhi Police said they detained the embassy official, Mehmood Akhtar, for questioning after he was found working for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and obtaining secret Indian defense related information for Pakistan's spy agency. Akhtar was let off because of diplomatic immunity, a police officer told IANS on condition of anonymity. Two Indian nationals, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, allegedly working for the ISI, have also been arrested, the officer said. Both are residents of Rajasthan. Police also released a picture of the two. The arrests were made late Wednesday night by the interstate cell Crime Branch of Delhi Police following a tip from the Intelligence Bureau, informed sources said. This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India. Last year, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27 : Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday called union minister Maneka Gandhi a "hypocrite" for opposing the killing of stray dogs in Kerala. "Maneka Gandhi is a hypocrite. Who does she think she is? Even the Chief Minister is not spared. Who gave her all this authority? This is in no way acceptable," Chennithala told the assembly. Chennithala spoke after question hour, highlighting the menace of stray dogs in the state. On Wednesday, there was uproar after Gandhi -- also an animal rights activist -- said the Kerala Anti-Social (Prevention) Act (KAPA) should be used against those who kill stray dogs and those who instigate people to kill them. Media reports say a 90-year-old man succumbed to his injuries when stray dogs attacked him while he was sleeping in the veranda of his house at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district. Guwahati, Oct 27 : Police in Assam's Dibrugarh district arrested an engineer on Thursday after they caught him red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh. The incident took place at the house of the engineer Naba Kumar Patir in Dibrugarh town. Police said that Patir promised a dentist in the district a government job through the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) and demanded Rs 15 lakh. "Patir contacted me after I applied for the vacancy advertised by APSC. He said that he would help me get through the selection process of the APSCA and claimed that he has good contacts in APSC," said the dentist. "However, I contacted the police and asked for their help in getting Patir arrested. Based on my complaint, police raided his house soon after I paid him Rs 10 lakh in cash at his house and caught him red handed." Patir is an assistant engineer in the Town and Country Planning Department of the government, posted in Dibrugarh. After taking over as the Chief Minister of Assam in May this year, the Sarbananda Sonowal-led Assam government has nabbed six senior government officials while accepting bribes. Most of them are in judicial custody now. New Delhi, Oct 27 : Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday stressed on India's need to urbanise rapidly in the next two decades in line with its present development in order to relieve the pressure on agriculture. "In the next two decades, India will have to go for rapid urbanisation, in line with what we see already -- the growth of satellite towns, of suburbanisation around metros, etc," Jaitley said. The Minister was addressing the ADB-Asian Think Tank Development Forum here on sustainable urbanisation organised by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, ADB and ICRIER. "Urbanisation is inevitable to relieve agriculture from the number of people still living off the land. Urban India is now 31 per cent of the country's population..urban centres have become engines of growth in the states," he added. Jaitley mentioned Bengaluru and Gurgaon as two rapidly developing centres in recent times. He noted the hitherto "unorganised construction" involved in this urbanisation process and stressed on the need for more "participation of organised construction to create organised townships." Asking, "Are we ready for this massive urbanisation in terms of infrastructure like water, transport, roads and sanitation," Jaitley said that more resources were likely to be given to the states under the Smart Cities initiative. "The Smart City initiative has prompted substantial competition among cities, themselves organised around the basis of objective criteria. More resources are soon likely to be given to the cities," Jaitley said. "The Swachch Bharat -- Clean India campaign will be integral to the urbanisation process," he added. New Delhi, Oct 27 : The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) on Thursday said it would continue to charge commuters toll tax for travelling on the Delhi-Noida-Direct Flyway (DND) till it receives an official communique to stop it, following orders of the Allahabad High Court. "We have not received any official communique to stop charging the toll," Anuj Sinha, Deputy CGM (Operations), DTC, told IANS. His reaction comes after several commuters taking DTC transport to Noida protested on having to pay the toll tax citing the Allahabad High Court judgment. The conductors on DTC buses said they had not received orders to stop charging the toll. On Wednesday, the Allahabad High Court scrapped the collection of toll from commuters on the DND. Mumbai, Oct 27 : Actress Deepika Padukone is heading to Bengaluru to celebrate Diwali with her family members. She says the festival has always been special to them. "Diwali is the festival of lights, joy and happiness and has always been a very special festival for all of us. So I decided to spend quality time with my family before I immerse myself in 'Padmavati'," Deepika said in a statement. Interestingly, the family members' names also signify light: father Prakash, mother Ujjala and sister Anisha. The meaning of Deepika's name is also light. After Diwali, Deepika will soon be starting the shoot for "Padmavati", helmed by director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. She has earlier worked in films like "Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela" and "Bajirao Mastani". "Padmavati" also features actors Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in key roles. New Delhi, Oct 27 : The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the establishment of a new Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) at Berhampur, Odisha. "The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved formation of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Berhampur Society, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860," an official release said. The IISERs have been declared as Institutes of National Importance under the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education & Research (NITSER) Act, 2012. These institutes are envisaged to carry out research in frontier areas of science and to provide quality science education at the under-graduate and post-graduate levels. Earlier, there were only five IISERs -- at Kolkata, Pune, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram. Later, the Modi government started an IISER at Tirupati in 2015. New Delhi, Oct 27 : Women have the highest status in Islam and the Muslim community must see things with a liberal interpretation now, former Chief Election Commissioner of India S.Y. Quraishi said on Thursday. Speaking in the backdrop of the ongoing debate about Triple Talaq, Quraishi said: "Muslim women have the highest status in Islam and no other religion has such concept of equality." Giving examples of property rights of women in Islam and right to education he said: "There is a perception that women are suppressed. The government must think that the laws are sacred within a community as they are seen with liberal interpretations now." "We all (Muslims) should also unite together and not give anyone a chance to interfere with our religious laws," Quraishi said. Speaking at a function on the 96th foundation day of Jamia Milia Islamia, Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmad said there is a need to focus on education of minority communities in the country, especially the Muslims, for them to progress in society. "The community will progress only when everyone receives education." "Given the circumstances, we do not have to let any community remain backward in any aspect," he added. University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Ved Prakash said the country needs to place its education system right. "We need to sit together and interpret in terms of curricular and ensure diversity there in," Prakash said. The function was held to inaugurate a "Talimi Mela" (educational fair) in the campus. Various other programmes, including Art and photography exhibitions, lectures by academicians, film screenings and cultural shows were also held at the campus in the ongoing three-day celebrations. Thiruvananthapuram, October 27 : Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala unit president V Muraleedharan has shot off a strongly-worded letter to union minister Maneka Gandhi condemning the latters call for invoking KAAPA (Kerala Anti-social Activities Prevention Act) against those killing or instigating people to kill stray dogs. Muraleedharan, in his letter, terms Ms. Gandhis remarks calling for slapping KAAPA on dog killers highly condemnable and reprehensible. At a time when packs of stray dogs were mauling people to death in Kerala, the statement calling for slapping KAAPA, a law used against anti-social elements, on people dispatching stray dogs in self-defence is highly condemnable and reprehensible, the BJP leader wrote. Such statements would only serve to lower the image of the BJP-led government at the centre and to alienate the people from the BJP, the letter said. Scores of children have been victims of dog bites. As minister for welfare for women and children, you should have called for a report on such incidents from the State government instead of asking KAAPA to be invoked against people killing stray dogs that maul children, Muraleedharan charged. Asking how people of the State would concur with her statements even as the stray dogs were turning more ferocious and attacking humans in packs like wolves, the BJP leader counsels Ms. Gandhi to think of how to tackle this social issue unitedly instead of making such statements. The letter also reminded the union minister that it was not for her to intervene in the issue since the stray dog issue did not come under the purview of her ministry. As a responsible citizen, you (Ms. Gandhi) have every right to express your opinion on the stray dog issue. However, you have no right as a union minister to ask the State DGP to invoke KAAPA on an issue that did not pertain to your ministry, the letter reads. Muraleedharan concludes the letter by exhorting the minister to refrain from making such erroneous statements, since as a member of the union cabinet, her words would be seen by the public as the official stance of the centre. This would pave the way for detractors of the party to misuse such words to malign the centre and the party, the letter cautions. Maneka Gandhi had called for invoking KAAPA against those killing stray dogs. Her comments could not have at a more inopportune time as the death of a nonagenarian in Varkala the other day after being mauled by stray dogs have swung public opinion in favour of calls for culling stray dogs. Around 90 stray dogs were killed in Varkala by a group of people on Thursday under the supervision of Jose Maveli, a social worker who is actively campaigning for culling stray dogs en masse. The police rushed to the spot to arrest Mr. Maveli but had to drop the plan in the face of stiff resistance from the local people who formed a cordon around him to prevent his arrest. Maneka Gandhis remarks also found echo in the Kerala assembly with opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala terming her a hypocrite, slamming her opposition to the culling of stray dogs. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27 : Kerala Animal Husbandry Minister K. Raju on Thursday informed the state assembly that there need be no panic over reports of the death of ducks due to avian flu (H5N1 virus) in certain areas of Alappuzha district. "It has been confirmed that the virus that caused the death of ducks will not affect human beings and hence there need be no panic at all," said Raju. In the past few days, ducks have been found dead in four Alappuzha villages. Bodies of 1,500 ducks were burnt on Thursday. "It has been decided to compensate the farmers for the loss they have suffered. They will be compensated Rs 200 for each affected duck more than two months old while Rs 100 will be given for those aged below. Rs 5 will be paid for each egg that had to be destroyed," added Raju. The Minister said that two years ago more than two lakh poultry birds were culled in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts following an outbreak of avian flu. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state government will take necessary steps to ensure that adequate testing facilities are set up in the state. Samples were sent to a laboratory in Bhopal. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has banned import of poultry and eggs from Kerala. Mumbai, Oct 27 : Mumbaikars in a hurry can now get instant information on upcoming suburban trains and jurisdiction areas of various police stations, in collaboration with Google maps and free Wi-Fi in the city. Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar unveiled the new features on m-Indicator App, currently used by over 10 million people, said its founder Sachin Teke on Thursday. Detailing its utility, he said m-Indicator App would be a boon to the eight million-plus Mumbai suburban commuters and long-distance travellers as it gives easy connectivity to wi-fi at some major railway stations. "As soon as the commuter enters the railway station, it gives notification of availability of free wi-fi, the station names and upcoming trains, so the commuter can immediately plan out his journey," Teke told IANS. The m-Indicator App is updated with the latest time-tables, long-distance trains from Mumbai and even the BEST public bus service routes, he added. While in the crowded trains, the commuters will be notified of the railway station where the train is passing/halting to help them deboard at their destined railway station. On the jurisdiction boundaries of the 93 police stations in Mumbai, Teke said most people are not aware which particular police station to approach to report an incident, which is simplified with m-Indicator App with Google maps. "It provides the location of the incident and its jurisdiction, the name, address and phone numbers for any emergency, how to reach there, how to report cyber crimes, officials social media accounts of the police department and its officials, etc," Teke said. Rome, Oct 27 : The two strong earthquakes that hit central Italy have left the village of Norcia in tatters. Several historic churches in the village were destroyed. The roof of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a 16th century church in the village that had been recently restored, completely caved in and its collapsed decorative ceiling could only be seen from outside, Efe news reported. Half of the marble plaques on the building's facade fell and lay crumbling in chunks and shards on the ground. Though its modest rose window and austere baroque door frame were saved, the metal cross that crowned the church collapsed during the earthquake on Wednesday night and lay twisted amid the debris. It was "miraculous" no deaths had been reported, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said. Two powerful earthquakes -- the first measuring 5.5 on the Richter and the second 6.1 -- on Wednesday struck central Italy about 50 miles north of the site of a deadly August quake that killed nearly 300 people. The San Salvatore church was hit even harder by the temblor. When asked where it was, residents simply said it did not exist anymore. The central nave and ceiling of the church collapsed and the only parts still standing are the facades of the lateral naves. The Archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia Renato Boccardo lamented the grave wound that the town's art and faith heritage had suffered. Mild aftershocks continued to hit the region, but residents bravely returned to their homes on Thursday morning to try and collect personal belongings and start rebuilding their lives. According to initial estimates by the mayors of the towns affected, thousands of people were forced to abandon their homes due to damages to buildings and fear of further tremors. The epicentre of both tremors was registered in the Valnerina valley, a mountainous area between the cities of Macerata and Perugia. Some were injured and one man reportedly died of a heart attack, while buildings sustained damages. People were already out on the streets when the second, a more powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit, limiting injuries. Kolkata, Oct 27 : Through deft strokes of the brush, 86-year-old lifer Srikanto Haldar is sketching his perception of goddess Kali in bright orange, yellow and blue, a skill symbolising his re-connect with society. Like Haldar, 15 other inmates - including two women - of various correctional homes in Kolkata, took to the canvas on Thursday to create works of art to launch the Kali Puja of 85 Block Puja Committee in the southern part of the eastern metropolis. The Kali Puja marquee transformed into a temporary studio for these 16 enthusiasts. Aged between 35 to 86 years, they swiftly etched out portraits of Kali, at ease with the easel and oil paints. "I never used a painting brush in my youth. My grandchildren are into art. Now, in my old age I have taken up art. This helps me to spend time and also gives me a sense of purpose," Haldar, who has been taking art classes for the last five years, told IANS. Beside him, septuagenarian B. Gayen intently fills up his portrait of Kali or Shakti in blue and green hues. "My favourite colours are green and blue. So my version of Kali is mostly in blue and green. It feels good to know that someone will purchase my painting," Gayen told IANS with a smile crinkling his whiskered visage. The paintings will be displayed in the puja pandal for auction and the money collected would go to the prisoners' welfare fund of the correctional homes. Compared to Gayen's and Haldar's expertise, Shilpa Lama's Kali seems a bit amateurish. "I have been learning to draw and paint only for the past five to six months. I hope I can be as good as the others," Shilpa Lama, Alipore Women's Correctional Home, said. Sculptor-painter Chitto Dey, who trains the convicts in art, says through the medium they maintain their connection with the outside world. "Through art, they get to feel they are part of society... the outside world which they are barred from accessing. Its effect is therapeutic," Dey said. New Delhi, Oct 27 : The Supreme Court will on Friday hear the plea of Noida Toll Bridge Company (NTBCL) to restart the toll collection operations at the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) Flyway but investors were spooked on Thursday a day after the Allahabad High Court ordered the company to stop collecting the toll. The company's scrip plunged to its lower circuit limit, a fall of almost 20 per cent to Rs 17.85 on Thursday from its previous close of Rs 22.30. The company was formed as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with equity participation from Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) Transportation Networks and NOIDA (New Okhla Industrial Development Authority). The company is also the only listed toll road in the country. It is listed on both the major domestic indices as well as the AIM exchange, London. The scrip of IL&FS Transportation Networks, dropped by 2.85 per cent at Rs 110.50. Even though the toll collection at the DND has ceased since Wednesday evening, state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation continued to collect the levy from its passengers. The passenger carrier said that the toll collection will continue till official communique on the matter is received. "We have not received any official communique to stop charging the toll," Anuj Sinha, Deputy CGM (Operations), DTC, told IANS. The DND flyway started operations in 2001. The 9.2-km stretch was built for Rs 407 crore and is believed to have already collected total Rs 2,000 crore in toll. The toll currently is Rs 12 for two-wheeler and Rs 28 for four-wheeler on a one-way trip. No authority from the NTBCL was available for comments over the issue even if approached repeatedly. Even if the Allahabad High Court order to stop the toll collection was hailed by the commuters, Delhi has witnessed heavy traffic congestion in many stretches since Wednesday evening. "No doubt it's a smooth passage through the DND as there is no wait for the toll but a new problem of the heavy traffic while entering Delhi has popped up. Cars and other vehicles zoom past through the DND but while entering Delhi they have to wait for hours. Yesterday it took two hours to reach Green Park," Sakshi Tanwar, a professor with Amity University, told IANS. Another daily commuter, Zohrab Hussain, told IANS: "I was stuck in the traffic snarl for three hours before reaching my office in Moolchand. The DND had some positive affect at least by regulating the movement of the vehicles." Experts have also said that the traffic situation in the city will deteriorate further as DND at least played a role in regulating the vehicles movement from Noida to Delhi or the other way. "The halt to toll collection is certainly in favour of people but government seriously needs to think about developing road infrastructure. The government also needs to promote public transport," Kamal Sai, Member National Road Safety Council, told IANS. According to Sai, the major reasons behind the increase in traffic also is that many commuters avoiding the DND due to its toll have now started using it. "Now the usage of cars will be more as there is no toll. People avoiding it till now due to it have started using the DND flyway as their is no toll now. Government should think of building various layers of roads, like flyovers abroad, which is the only solution to avoid traffic congestions. Public transport should be promoted," he said Experts pointed-out that Delhi has over 24,00,000 cars and 500,000 buses which should just be the opposite. Amit Khatri, a Road Safety Trainer and Consultant, told IANS that the removal of toll collection is certainly going to cause heavy traffic snarls, as now, all types of vehicles will use the DND. Questioning how the DND stretch will be maintained after the High court order, Khatri also said that the toll collected by DND till now was being used to maintain the stretch. Mumbai, Oct 27 : "Mango Dreams", an English language Indian film which delves into how the India-Pakistan partition affects a person's life, received a positive response at the Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star, says actor Pankaj Tripathi who features in a key role in the film. The film was screened earlier this week at the film festival, and Pankaj feels it's a pertinent tale to tell especially during times when India and Pakistan are having strained bilateral ties. "'Mango Dreams' is about India and Pakistan. It shows how people's lives got destroyed because of the partition. It received an excellent response during its screening at the MAMI Film Festival," Pankaj, who attended the film's screening on Tuesday night, told IANS. Directed by John Upchurch, the story of the film, set in today's times, follows a Partition survivor and a doctor named Amit (theatre veteran Ram Gopal Bajaj), who is suffering from dementia and fears that memories closest to him will fade away sooner or later. He decides to go on a road trip from Ahmedabad to the Pakistan border before dementia overpowers him completely. Joining him in the journey is Salim (Pankaj) -- a Muslim character -- who has a back story about losing his wife in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Pankaj says he was very hesitant about the film as Upchurch is not a filmmaker. "He is a software engineer. Even though I was a part of the making, I still cried after watching the film," Pankaj said. Pankaj feels that the film is "very relevant" in current times when relations between India and Pakistan are turning bitter. "The audience took the film positively. It was beyond my expectations. 'Mango Dreams' is a very low budget film. Upchurch bought a film camera through his savings in the US and made a few documentaries there. Then he came to India and presented this script to us," Pankaj said. "He even sold the camera for the post production of the film. We shot the film from Ahmedabad to Attari border. It was a guerrilla shoot. We were shooting without permission as we didn't have that much budget," he added. "Mango Dreams", which also features Samir Kochhar, received the Humanity Award at the Cebu International Film Festival in the Philippines earlier this year. New Delhi, Oct 27 : The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred hearing on a plea challenging the election of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to the Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli in May 2014 alleging that it was at her instance that the Shahi Imam of Delhi's historic Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari had sought votes for the Congress. The bench of Justice Anil R. Dave, Justice R.K. Agrawal and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said the issue raised in the petition was the one being examined by the seven-judge Constitution bench and its outcome should be awaited. The seven-judge Constitution bench is examining whether restriction on seeking votes in the name of religion, caste, community and language under Section 123(3) of the Representation of People's Act, 1951, is limited to the contesting candidates or includes his election agent and third parties as well. As counsel Hari Shankar Jain for petitioner Ramesh Singh -- a Rae Bareli voter -- urged the court to hear the plea, Justice Dave said let the Constitution bench decide the issue. Justice Dave said that seeking votes in the name of religion is one of the issues flagged by petitioner Singh in his plea. Jain said that besides raising the issue of Imam Bukhari's appeal, the petitioner has also raised the issue of Sonia Gandhi still retaining her Italian citizenship. Singh moved the top court challenging the July 12 verdict of the Allahabad High Court dismissing his plea on both counts. The high Court had ruled that the petitioner does not have sufficient grounds to sustain the petition and hence it was being dismissed. Telling the high court that she is a lawfully elected member of the Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi had denied that she had indulged in corrupt practice on the ground of religion. She also told the high court that she had duly granted citizenship of Italy, which she has renounced. Bhubaneswar, Oct 27 : Intensifying its protest relating to the Mahanadi water sharing dispute, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday announced it would form human chains from Hirakud to Paradip in 15 districts of Odisha to protest constructions by the Chhattisgarh government on the river. The party also decided to launch a signature campaign at the Panchayat-level from November. It will collect signatures from 86 lakh families across the state to protest unilateral constructions by the Chhattisgarh government. The signatures would be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee, said senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya. He said the date for holding the human chain would be declared on November 7. The party would also carry out various awareness programmes to save the Mahanadi, said party leader Surya Narayan Patro. "The BJD has proposed the state government to take legal help to resolve the matter. Besides, the party would launch a signature campaign at Panchayat level to collect signatures from 86 lakh families to protest the projects on Mahanadi," said Patro. The BJD said the Centre has not responded to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's letter urging for a halt to the projects on the upper catchment of the Mahanadi by the Chhattisgarh government. "The Centre is directly or indirectly cooperating with Chhattisgarh in expediting the projects. The Chief Minister had written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention in the matter. But no response has been received yet," he said. However, the BJP said the ruling party is trying to raise Mahanadi issue for political gain ahead of Panchayat elections scheduled to be held in 2017. "The BJD is only politicising the issue ahead of Panchayat elections. The party has no interest to resolve the issue," said state BJP President Basant Panda. Patna, Oct 27 : The Patna High Court on Thursday quashed a Bihar government notification to deny licences to manufacturers of ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines having alcoholic content. A bench of Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmad Ansari and Justice Samarendra Pratap Singh said the state government did not have the authority to deny issuance of licences for manufacturing medicines. The court was hearing two petitions that challenged the notification dated March 17, issued ahead of a total liquor ban imposed in Bihar in the first week of April. The court said it was wrong to deny licences to companies for manufacturing alternative medicines with alcoholic content. The government counsel told the court that there could be misuse if the state allowed the drug companies to use liquor for medicinal purposes. New Delhi, Oct 27 : The Rajasthan Police on Thursday arrested a visa agent, Sohaib Nagaur, who was allegedly working as a spy for Pakistan's ISI, police said. "Sohaib Nagaur was arrested on Thursday evening from a railway station in Jodhpur in Rajasthan. He is being brought to Delhi," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said. Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested two persons, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, and also detained Mehmood Akhtar, a visa officer at the Pakistan High Commission, the alleged 'kingpin' of the spy ring, near Delhi Zoo. Nagaur was the man who directly liaised with Akhtar and later introduced Jangir and Ramzan into the spy ring, Yadav said. New Delhi/Kathmandu, Oct 27 : India and Nepal on Thursday agreed to expedite implementation of the seven projects on infrastructure, cross-border connectivity and utilisation of Indian funds for Nepal's reconstruction following the April 2015 earthquake. An agreement in this regard was reached during the fourth meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting held at the Foreign Minister-level in New Delhi. According to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, a comprehensive review of all aspects of India-Nepal relations under five broad clusters was undertaken at the meeting. These clusters are political, security and boundary, economic cooperation and infrastructure, trade and transit, power and water resources and culture and education. The Joint Commission decided to convene within a month the first meeting of the 'joint oversight mechanism' comprising officials of both the countries to expedite the implementation of all ongoing bilateral cooperation projects, an official statement said. Both countries had agreed to set up such a mechanism to clear the bottlenecks in India-funded projects in the Himalayan country. The Foreign Secretary of Nepal and the Indian Ambassador to Nepal will lead their respective sides to help clear glitches in the projects funded by India. The statement said the two sides agreed to clear detailed project reports on roads, Mahakali Bridge and irrigation projects to be implemented through concessional loans provided by the Government of India in 2014. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal in August 2014, India announced an assistance of $1 billion to execute various projects in Nepal. Both sides also agreed for the expeditious completion of the first phase of the Terai roads in the southern plains. Discussions were also held on a new concessional loan for development of Terai roads in the second phase as well as some other projects. The statement said both sides agreed for the early completion of two cross-border rail link projects -- the Biratnagar-Jogbani and Bardibas-Bijalpura-Jaynagar projects -- and initiation of works for three other cross-border rail projects, namely the Nepalgunj-Nepalgunj Road, Kakarbhitta-New Jalpaiguri, and Bhairahawa-Nautanawa rail links. A consensus was arrived at on the early completion of works of integrated checkpost at Birgunj on the Nepali side and commencement of construction of ICP at Biratnagar in Nepal. India is constructing four ICPs at key trading points on both sides of the border. The meeting agreed for early implementation of the Hetauda Polytechnic project undertaken through Indian assistance and finalisation of the projects to utilise grant and loan components offered by India for reconstruction. On bilateral trade, the Nepali side requested India to take concrete measures to increase Nepal's exports to India by, inter alia, addressing the concerns related to additional duties and charges, quantitative restrictions and rules of origin. Both sides agreed to expedite the finalisation of a memorandum of understanding between the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology and the Bureau of Indian Standards. On Nepal's request for additional air routes, the Joint Commission directed the civil aviation authorities concerned to deal with the matter at the next meeting by the end of 2016. Nepal requested India to take supportive measures to promote tourism industry by including Nepal in its concessional leave scheme and by granting multiple entry visas to India-bound third-country tourists to enable them to visit Nepal, said the statement. The Fifth meeting of the Joint Commission will take place in Nepal at a mutually convenient date. Formed in 1987, the Joint Commission is a bilateral mechanism at the Foreign Ministers level with a mandate to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. The last meeting of the commission was held in Kathmandu in 2014. New Delhi, Oct 27 : President Pranab Mukherjee will pay a three-day state visit to Nepal from November 2 in the first presidential visit from India to the Himalayan neighbour in 18 years. Mukherjee is paying the visit on the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Bidhya Devi Bhandari, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said at a briefing here on Thursday. "A high-level delegation will accompany the President. This will be the first visit of the President of India to Nepal in 18 years," he said. President Mukherjee's visit to Nepal is expected to further cement bilateral ties, which saw an upswing during the India visit of new Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' last month. The talks between the two sides during Prachanda's visit, who chose India for his first overseas tour, helped dispel the unease that had crept into the bilateral ties over the earlier few months. During his visit, Mukherjee will hold meetings with the Nepali President, Prime Minister 'Prachanda' and other leaders of Nepal on a wide array of issues of mutual interest, said Swarup. President Mukherjee will also visit the holy town of Janakpur and the lake city of Pokhara during his stay in Nepal. The warming of India-Nepal ties comes amidst the backdrop of Chinese President Xi Jinping cancelling his maiden visit to Kathmandu, which was earlier scheduled for October. The cancellation came after Prachanda chose to visit India. China has been reportedly miffed with Nepal going slow on implementing some of the bilateral road and rail projects inked during the tenure of previous Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who markedly leaned towards Beijing. Mumbai, Oct 27 : The opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday demanded clarification from the Maharashtra government on the proposed $5 billion investment by Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group. State Congress President Ashok Chavan said the deal, signed on August 8, 2015, was billed as the single largest investment attracted by Maharashtra with a potential to create 50,000 jobs but came under the cloud from the very start. "During Foxconn's founder-chief Terry Gou's visit to India at that time, he announced that the company will make $2 billion investment across the country. However, just two days later, the Maharashtra government signed a $5 billion investment agreement with the company," Chavan said. The former Chief Minister pointed out that he had, at that time, expressed apprehensions that the MoU with the Taiwanese global electronics giant could turn out to be controversial and he was proved right after a year. "Despite tall claims and the Chief Minister's (Devendra Fadnavis) foreign tours, no real investments have come to Maharashtra. During the Congress rule, we secured more foreign investments without resorting to 'jumlas' of this kind," Chavan said. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said he was reiterating that most MoUs signed during the 'Make in Maharashtra' initiative of the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena government's rule are 'fake' since the state did not announce with whom these were inked. "Though Fadnavis is painting a glossy picture of the 'Make in Maharashtra' initiative, his and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream project of Foxconn itself has not taken off," Malik said. Though officials remain tightlipped, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., Taipei, or Foxconn, the world's biggest contract manufacturer of electronics, is believed to be having second thoughts on the mega project for which around 1,500 acres of land has already been cleared. The ostensible reason for Foxconn's backtracking is not getting enough customers to justify the huge investment, though state officials are optimistic that the company may only postpone the launch of its operations in Maharashtra. Officials in the Chief Minister's Office declined to comment on the developments that come as the alliance government prepares to celebrate on Monday (October 31) its two years in office in Maharashtra. After the 'Make in India' Week in Mumbai in February, the state announced signing of deals involving investment of Rs 800,000 crore, or nearly half of the total commitments made during that event. Later, Fadnavis set up a committee headed by Industry Minister Subhash Desai to ensure fructification of the MoUs signed. New Delhi, Oct 27 : Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Thursday broke his silence on the rift within the Samajwadi Party, saying he was hurt by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav calling him a 'dalal' (broker). "I am hurt by his words. There is no photograph of his wedding where this 'dalal' (Amar Singh) is not present," Amar Singh remarked, which were aired on several news channels. On Sunday, Akhilesh held a meeting with party legislators after sacking his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav and three other ministers from the Cabinet. Soon after the meeting ended, the legislators trooped out while denouncing Amar Singh as a 'dalal'. He was held responsible for infighting within the party. Singh said he will not attend Akhilesh's Rath Yatra from November 3, saying he was not invited. The Samajwadi Party leader, considered close to Mulayam Singh Yadav, said he was the only one who supported Akhilesh when his family was opposed to his marriage. He also clarified he never abused expelled SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav. Singh said it was not the first time he was blamed for party differences since he was blamed even when Akhilesh replaced Shivpal as the SP Uttar Pradesh unit President. Mumbai, Oct 27 : In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation has recorded the statements of DGP Rakesh Maria and two other senior IPS officers in connection with the ongoing probe into the sensational Sheena Bora murder case, official sources said on Thursday. Besides Maria -- who was the high profile Mumbai police commissioner when the case broke out in August 2015, the CBI recorded the statements of present Joint Commissioner of Police Deven Bharti and Deputy Commissioner of Police S.N. Chowdhury. The trio comprised the officials supervising the investigations into the case but the CBI has not indicated the outcome of the questioning. The development came a week after the CBI filed its second supplementary chargesheet before a CBI Special Court in the high-profile murder case last Friday (October 21). It had filed the first supplementary chargesheet in February. At the height of the investigations, Maria was abruptly transferred and promoted as DGP - Home Guards by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and later the case was yanked off Mumbai police and handed over to CBI. The investigating teams set up by the police for probing the case were disbanded and the CBI launched its own investigations. The case pertains to the murder of a 24-year old executive Sheena Bora and attempt to kill her brother Mikhail Bora, the children of former media tycoon Indrani Mukerjea from a previous liaison with a Kolkata-based man, Siddhartha Das. The Mumbai police had arrested three persons, including Indrani, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyamvar Rai in August last year. Later, in November, the CBI arrested former media tycoon Peter Mukerjea and he has now filed an application before Bombay High Court seeking bail. In June, in a major twist in the case, driver Rai turned approver in the case in return for a pardon by the CBI Special Court, and he submitted a detailed statement on the facts pertaining to the crime. At that time, Maria was personally supervising the investigations, and had interrogated the accused several times. The Mukerjeas were in touch with Bharti, who was Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) at the relevant time, concerning the 'disappearance' of Sheena in early 2012. Sheena Bora was allegedly strangulated on April 24, 2012, her body burnt and disposed off in a suitcase in the forests near Gagode village of adjoining Raigad district the following morning. Islamabad/United Nations, Oct 27 : The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday distanced itself from Sharbat Gula, Nat Geo's famed 'Afghan Girl' who has been detained by authorities in Pakistan for alleged forgery. The United Nation's refugee agency in Pakistan claimed that Sharbat Gula - known as Afghanistan's green-eyed Mona Lisa - is not a registered refugee. "We cannot extend any assistance to the detained Afghan woman as she is not registered refugee with UNHCR," Senior External Relations Officer UNHCR Pakistan Dan McNorton told Dawn.com. Sharbat Gula, who fled Afghanistan during Soviet occupation shot to fame after her photograph as a young refugee was published on the cover of National Geographic back in 1985 on her arrival to Peshawar. Gula was arrested a day earlier from her Peshawar residence by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged forgery of a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC). She faces seven to 14 years prison time and fine between $3,000 to $5,000 if convicted by court over fraud, a National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) official said Wednesday. Nadra's vigilance department and an official of the FIA rejected information provided on the Nadra form as fake, and the FIA official ordered cancellation of CNICs of Gula and her alleged sons. Details of the form had claimed that Sharbat Gula had two sons. The FIA official maintained that she has two daughters and a two-year-old son. According to the UN refugee agency, the first census of Afghan refugees in Pakistan started in 2006 and the refugees that turned out at registration offices got Proof of Registration (PoR) cards thus getting permission of their legitimate stay in Pakistan. "I think Sharbat Bibi missed that opportunity and could not register herself as refugee," Duniya Aslam Khan explained when asked as to why the refugee agency could not register her. The UNHCR was contacted by Afghan diplomats in Islamabad anticipating that she will be rescued by the refugee agency for being refugee. Expressing concern over the arrest of Sharbat Gula, the Afghan government has decided to take up the issue with Pakistani government, sources said Thursday. An official at the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar told DawnNews the Afghan government will pursue the case in a Pakistani court and provide a lawyer and legal assistance to Gula, who is an Afghan national. "She is an Afghan national and our embassy in Islamabad will take up the case with the Foreign Office for early release of Sharbat Gula," he said, requesting not to be named. Quoting family members, the official said Sharbat Bibi was not feeling well and they were also worried about her health. Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omer Zakhilwal tweeted in Pashto saying the Afghan government will help rescue the detained Afghan woman from police custody and will rehabilitate her in Afghanistan. Sharbat Gula became famously known as the 'Afghan Girl' when National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry captured her photograph at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp situated on the edge of Peshawar in 1984 and identified her as Sharbat Gula. She gained worldwide recognition when her image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine at a time when she was approximately 12 years old. That photo has been likened with Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. National Geographic also made a short documentary about her life and dubbed her the 'Mona Lisa of Afghan war'. She remained anonymous for years after her first photo made her an icon around the world and until she was discovered by National Geographic in 2002 Meanwhile the American photographer who took the iconic National Geographic image of Gula in 1985 has vowed to do "anything possible" to help after reports she has been arrested in Pakistan. Photographer Steve McCurry posted to Instagram that this was "an egregious violation of her human rights". He wrote: "We are doing everything we can to get the facts by contacting our colleagues and friends in the area. "I am committed to doing anything and everything possible to provide legal and financial support for her and her family. "I object to this action by the authorities in the strongest possible terms. She has suffered throughout her entire life." Badwani (Madhya Pradesh), Oct 27 : At least 13 persons have died in the past 12 days due to diarrhoea in Madhya Pradesh's Badwani district, police said on Thursday. The health department had written to experts about the outbreak but the reason behind the diarrhoea is not clear yet. The members of Adivasi Mukti Sangathan and Public Health Campaign on Thursday told reporters here that the deaths occurred between October 15 to 26. According to details, 13 persons lost their lives in the villages around Khetiya town. Adivasi Mukti Sangathan's Gajanand Brahmane said after visiting the victims' houses that they found that most had complaints of vomiting and diarrhoea and died in one or two days. According to Rakesh Kannauje of Adivasi Mukti Sangathan, the District Magistrate Tejaswi Nayak also went to the areas affected by the disease and said that contaminated food and water was the reason behind the deaths. Nayak also gave Rs 10,000 to one of the families of the deceased. "The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. We are waiting for the results," said Chief Medical Officer Dawar. Though he refused to say what led to the deaths, he said that two of the post-mortem reports came up with the cholera as the reason. Islamabad, Oct 27 : In a tit-for-tat measure, Pakistan on Thursday night declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non grata and asked that he leave the country by Saturday. In a statement, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry had summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale and conveyed the decision to this effect. The Foreign Secretary also expressed "deep concern" over the activities of the Indian official, which he said, was in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms. The Indian High Commission was asked to make necessary arrangements to make Surjeet Singh and his family leave Pakistan by October 29. The move comes hours after Indian authorities detained a Pakistani High Commission official, Mehmood Akhtar, in New Delhi on charges of running a spy network. The Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned the Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit and asked that Akhtar, a visa officer, be sent back within 48 hours. Jakarta, Oct 28 : An Indonesian woman has been given a sentence of 20 years in jail for murdering her college friend by poisoning her coffee, media reports said. Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, an Indonesian citizen and permanent resident of Australia, was accused of lacing her friend's coffee with cyanide in order to kill her. On Thursday, after months of hearings, a panel of three Jakarta judges ruled that she was guilty of premeditated murder, Daily Mail reported. The judges found that Wongso had personal problems in Australia and hence decided to return to Indonesia. Judge Binsar Gultom said Wongso was still hurting over her break-up with Australian man Patrick O'Connor in late 2014 and when she first met up with Mirna and her husband Arif Soemarko last December and saw them 'so happy' something was 'triggered'. 'I don't accept this decision because for me, it's not fair and very one-sided,' Wongso said after the verdict. On January 6, 2016, Wongso and her college friend Wayan Mirna Salihin were meeting at a Jakarta cafe when Salihin took a sip of a cyanide-laced drink, collapsed on the floor and went into convulsions. She died by the time she arrived at hospital. "Houston needed something new and exciting and Kirby Grove along with MidiCi will deliver. Keon Suber, Managing Partner of MidiCi MidiCi, a California-based Neapolitan pizza company, will introduce its first Houston location and second in Texas at Kirby Grove in the Upper Kirby District. Slated for opening early in the new year, MidiCi will occupy 3,868 square-feet of prime real estate featuring a patio at the corner of Richmond Avenue and Wakeforest Avenue. The restaurant will be adjacent to the new Kirans restaurant location on the ground floor of One Grove Street, Kirby Groves 16 story, Class-A office building. With a mission to bring friends together, to sit back and be social, MidiCi will offer an unparalleled selection of non-GMO, fresh and all-natural ingredients baked in a wood-fire oven. In addition, MidiCis menu will feature vegan-friendly selections, authentic Italian gelato, and happy hour. At MidiCi we are looking to provide our guest friends with an experience as opposed to a meal destination. The MidiCi concept was created with people and community in mind. Its classy decor and affordable gourmet food will make it your favorite spot for coffee, lunch, dinner and drinks. Houston needed something new and exciting and Kirby Grove along with MidiCi will deliver, said Keon Suber, Managing Partner of MidiCi. According to Suzanne Weatherall, Vice President, Asset Management with Midway, We are delighted to welcome MidiCi, The Neapolitan Pizza Company, to Kirby Grove and the Upper Kirby community. Their delicious food and special emphasis on local, fresh ingredients in a fun, attractive and friendly environment, was the perfect fit for Midway's mixed-use project built around a beautiful and lively park in the middle of the city." Kirby Grove http://www.kirbygrove.com/ is an exciting, community-focused, mixed-use environment within Houstons Upper Kirby District. Midways thoughtful integration of One Grove Streets Class-A office space and dining amenities, and Avenue Groves high-end lofts will create a transformative mixed-use environment. The combination of uses and world-class design will transform Kirby Grove into a regional destination at the center of the Upper Kirby District. Within Kirby Grove, The Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority is redeveloping Levy Park into a world-class urban public space that will serve as a community focal point and a venue to host events and district-centered programming. About Midway Houston-based Midway is a privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and development firm that has provided the highest level of quality, service and value to its clients and investors for more than 48 years. The Midway portfolio of projects completed and/or underway consists of approximately 45 million square feet of properties in 23 states and Northern Mexico ranging from office and industrial facilities, corporate headquarters, mixed-use centers, business and industrial parks, medical facilities, manufacturing facilities, and master-planned resort and residential communities. Since its inception in 1968, Midway has created projects of distinction, aesthetic relevance and enduring value for its investors, clients and local communities. For more information on Midway, visit midwaycompanies.com. About MidiCi MidiCi certified pizzaiolos (pizza makers) invite guests to select fresh, natural, non-GMO high quality ingredients to create their ideal Neapolitan Pizza in the open, center-staged bustling kitchen, also known as the heart." MidiCi had to meet rigorous gastronomic rules to serve authentic Neapolitan Pizza with its combination of a chewy and crisp dough topped with all-natural ingredients, all baked to perfection in 90 seconds. Staying true to its Neapolitan heritage, the dough is made with only four fine ingredients non-GMO double zero flour imported from Naples, pure water, sea salt and live yeast. The authentic and pure garnishes include crushed non-GMO Italian peeled tomatoes, white gold buffalo mozzarella, fresh whole mozzarella and organic, non-GMO, Italian extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil. MidiCi also serves personalized Neapolitan appetizers (antipasto), fresh artisan burrata, fresh salads, brunch specials on weekends, wood-fire roasted coffee, a sommelier selected collection of white and red wines on tap, draft imported beers, and desserts including authentic Italian gelato and a signature Nutella calzone, for a full experience. For more information, visit http://www.mymidici.com/ ID verification should not be an afterthought when creating various app innovations for end-users today. - Nathaniel J, Associate Tech Editor, Black Enterprise Driving Innovation is a resounding theme of companies large and small in various verticals around the globe. Fall 2016, New Orleans based software company IDScan.net decided to inspire millennial college students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to innovate by partnering with Black Enterprise as the exclusive Persona Verification Dev Box Partner of the BE Smart Hackathon sponsored by Toyota. October 9th through 11th, 40 students from 10 HBCUs arrived at the Black Enterprise TechConneXt Summit in Burlingame, CA (Silicon Valley) eager to receive their IDScan.net Web Service API keys to engulf their days and nights with developing and deploying a Minimum Value Product (MVP) based on this years theme, In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI). Andrey Stanovnov, CTO of IDScan.net, stated, IDScan.net is thrilled to provide their technology in the Driving Innovation Hackathon as it fosters growth and innovation in participants that will soon be our future leaders. Participating schools included Alabama A&M University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Johnson C. Smith University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Southern University and A&M College, and Tuskegee University. Each school was tasked to innovate an iOS app within the Ionic Cloud framework and utilized required APIs provided, which included IDScan.nets Web Service API. To build the verification component of the app, hackers used IDScan.nets ID scanning Web Services API. One of the goals of the development was to provide a verification in the app that went beyond just entering a username and password. Participants utilized the ID scanning API to verify the identity of the driver by scanning their ID. Nathaniel J., Associate Tech Editor-Silicon Valley of Black Enterprise and Founder & Chief Digital Architect of VUEmega Technologies, states, ID verification should not be an afterthought when creating various app innovations for end-users today. One of IDScan.net's goals is to build a trusted community of users that are verified. Because of this, IDScan.net is the best solution not only for this year's hackathon but also for companies that want to ensure a trusted community of users. This years winner was Aggie++ from North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T). NC A&Ts winning iOS IVI is Lets Go Black. Lets Go Black is an iOS application that helps discover a customized road trip adventure exploring Black history and culture, while supporting Black owned small businesses along the way. The app allows users to input parameters of the trip (i.e. theme, distance and starting location), then randomly generates a road trip with specially curated stops that are African American inspired attractions and landmarks. Additionally, the app alerts users when they are within the vicinity of Black owned small businesses, who are members of the Lets Go Black platform. The 2016 BE Smart Hackathon, sponsored by Toyota was judged by industry leading experts from companies such as Intel and AT&T. About IDScan.net IDScan.net helps businesses flourish with ID scanning solutions that automate data capture, streamline visitor management, increase security and optimize efficiency. IDScan.net was the first company to market for mobile ID scanning solutions and continues to deliver cutting-edge technology. For more information, please visit http://www.idscan.net. About Black Enterprise: Black Enterprise, your ultimate source to build Wealth for Life, is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every month, Black Enterprise magazine provides 6 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. A multimedia company, BE also produces television programming, business and lifestyle events, Web content, and digital media. Visit http://www.blackenterprise.com for more information. Since its founding by Andrew Carnegie a century ago, Carnegie Council has been one of the world's top creators of nonpartisan educational resources on international ethics used by professionals, journalists, educators, students, and the greater public. Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs announces its November current affairs programs, which are open to the public. All talks take place in the Council's headquarters in New York City and are streamed as live webcasts. To attend in person, please RSVP. Go to: http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/calendar/upcoming.html. Events take place at: 170 East 64 Street, New York, NY 10065. If not attending in person, watch them as live webcasts here: http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/live. November Events Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam Is Reshaping the World Tuesday, November 1, 2016 8:00-9:15 AM Shadi Hamid Islam, it can be argued, is "exceptional" in how it relates to politics, with profound implications for how we understand the future of the Middle East. Divides among citizens aren't just about power but are products of fundamental disagreements over the very nature and purpose of the modern nation stateand the vexing problem of religion's role in public life. How can this argument help us to understand the past and present of Islam? Techniques of the Body Thursday, November 3, 2016 6:00-7:30 PM Mark A. Mazower, Constantine Giannaris sold out. Please sign up for the wait list. No live webcast, as this is a film screening. "Techniques of the Body," a film made from the stories of historian Mark Mazower and the artistic perspective of filmmaker Constantine Giannaris, looks at the past and present of Greek society. It explores the memory of war, exile, and massive population movements and asks how we might respond to their impact in the present. Join us for a special screening of the film, followed by a Q&A with the two filmmakers. Perceptions of Muslims and Islam in the United States in Light of the Presidential Election Thursday, November 10, 2016 6:00-7:30 PM Juan Cole, Shibley Telhami Attitudes toward Muslims and Islam have been a front-and-center topic of the 2016 election campaign. Following just days after the election of a new president, two of our foremost scholars and expert commentators on Islam in America will discuss the likely fall-out of the election, discussing both public attitudes toward Muslims and perceptions of Muslims themselves as to how they and their faith are viewed in the United States. Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know Tuesday, November 29, 2016 6:00-7:30 PM Jerry Kaplan Over the coming decades, artificial intelligence will profoundly impact the way we live, work, wage war, educate our young, and care for our elderly. It is likely to greatly increase our aggregate wealth, but it will also upend our labor markets, reshuffle our social order, and strain our private and public institutions. Can a machine be held accountable for its actions? Should intelligent systems enjoy independent rights and responsibilities, or are they simple property? About Carnegie Council Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1914, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an educational, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that produces lectures, publications, and multimedia materials on the ethical challenges of living in a globalized world. Go to http://www.carnegiecouncil.org. SOE Bodhi Partnership Bodhi Health is enthusiastic about this strategic partnership which leverages the power of the SecondOpinionExpert technology platform and physicians to better serve our network of patients, doctors and hospitals. SecondOpinionExpert, Inc. (http://www.secondopinionexpert.com) and Bodhi Health Group (http://www.bodhihosp.com) announced today that they have formed a strategic partnership to transform clinical practice and deliver enhanced patient care to improve health outcomes and significantly reduce costs for patients across China who wish to have access to U.S standard of healthcare. This partnership leverages SecondOpinionExperts cutting edge information technology and network of 250+ top US medical experts and the Bodhi Health Cloud, which provides healthcare solutions to hospitals, physicians and related healthcare parties across China. SecondOpinionExpert has partnered with Castle Connolly who's Medical database is made up of over 47,000 Top Doctors comprising the nations outstanding physicians and surgeons representing every medical specialty. Bodhi Health Group, a privately owned comprehensive health system, utilizes leading hospital management concepts and an advanced health information system. The group established its foundation through investing and managing hospitals while heavily relying on contracted physicians as its core. Currently Bodhi Health System has signed contracts with more than 50,000 doctors in China. Bodhi Health is a subsidiary of Baheal Pharmaceutical Group, a major health care organization in China with annual revenue of over $600 million. We are excited about this partnership enabling SecondOpinionExpert to expand the delivery of its online healthcare services via Bodhi Healths vast reach of domestic patients across China. This is a powerful partnership that will reduce costs and save lives, said Dr. Mohan Ananda, SecondOpinionExpert Chief Executive Officer. Bodhi Health is enthusiastic about this strategic partnership which leverages the power of the SecondOpinionExpert technology platform and physicians to better serve our network of patients, doctors and hospitals, said Ms. Qing Song, CEO of Bodhi Health. Additional information is available at http://www.secondopinionexpert.com and http://www.bodhihosp.com. Contacts SecondOpinionExpert, Inc. Mohan Ananda, Ph.D., J.D., Chairman & CEO Office 800-638-4716 Ext 801 mohan.ananda(at)secondopinionexpert(dot)com Bodhi Health (U.S. office) Tony Li Office 805-379-5773 tony.li(at)bahealusa(dot)com Sete, France Costs for appendectomies, hip replacements, and heart bypass surgery average half or less of U.S. prices. In a recent report, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that in 2017 insurers will raise the premiums for plans sold through HealthCare.gov by an average of 22 percent about triple the 7.5 percent increase from 2015 to 2016. With the specter of increasingly more expensive healthcare looming, more Americans than ever are choosing to take action to lower their healthcare costs without sacrificing quality careby moving abroad. In the U.S., the costs for medical care and services are negotiated by insurance companies and can vary greatly from region to region, from market to market. The Affordable Care Act didnt change that. And in markets that have experienced a lot of hospital mergers, monopolistic pricing can raise costs even higher. Healthcare expenses in most of the rest of the world are established by the central government, but are typically set relative to the local cost of living. It just costs less to live in certain parts of Southeast Asia, Latin America, or Europe than it does to live in the U.S. In addition, laws and court systems dont allow for frivolous lawsuits. Suing someone can take years and judges have no incentive to dole out multimillion-dollar awards. So malpractice insurance is very low outside the U.S., as are doctors and health workers fees and hospital and clinic chargessavings that are passed along to customers. For these reasons, healthcare plans can cost a small fraction outside the U.S. than they would within U.S. borders. In Panama, Costa Rica, or Mexico, for example, a couple might spend $250 a monthdepending on age and other factorsfor comprehensive, low-deductible private health insurance. In Ecuador, a couple can join the IESS social security plan for about $80 a month and that would include prescription coverage. Despite the lower costs, quality of care is high, especially in the metropolitan areas recommended by the editors of InternationalLiving.com. In Malaysia, for example, private hospital-room charges start at $28, and $90 a day pays for an en-suite room with cable TV. The high-cholesterol medication Zocor (which can cost $3.50 and up per tablet in the U.S.) costs less than $22 a month in Malaysia, while the generic, simvastatin, costs less than $5.50 a month. A full dental cleaning in Ecuador costs just $30 to $45. Partial plates run about $325, and a complete set of dentures costs about $900, including office visits, fittings, lab work, and impressions. Teeth bleaching costs $25. A porcelain crown is just $250. France has one of the highest-ranked healthcare systems in the world. A recent survey reported that a single day in a hospital in the U.S. costs, on average, $1,514 (up to as much as $12,537), while in France it costs $853. A routine doctors visit in the U.S. costs an average $95 (up to as much as $176). In France, the cost is $30. Costs for appendectomies, hip replacements, and heart bypass surgery average half or less of U.S. prices. Its little wonder, then, that Americans are moving abroad for more affordable healthcare. Curt Noe, a retired traffic engineer from New Jersey, moved to Medellin, Colombia, in 2007. I arrived with a pre-existing condition of cancer. I expected to have a problem getting health insurance here and was pleasantly surprised that I was completely covered by the national health plan (EPS) after only a six-month waiting period. During his first few years in Medellin, Curt flew back to the U.S. for second opinions and follow-up appointments. I realized I didnt need to spend the money to do that, after my U.S. doctors said that the care I am receiving in Medellin is on par with what they would do. Healthcare costs are far lower in Colombia as well. In 2015 the cost of a hip replacement in the U.S. averaged just over $40,000. In Colombia, the same procedure averages only a little over $8,000. Roger Carter is one of a growing number of expats finding high-quality medical care in Southeast Asia. Not only were the meds I needed easily available, said Carter, but the low cost of healthcare literally saved my life. Roger and other expats in the region can see English-speaking doctors trained in Western hospitalsoften without an appointment. Hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International (the gold standard of healthcare accreditation) are common. Expats report receiving equal (or better) care in Southeast Asia than they did in the Statesat a small fraction of the cost. They report, for example, they can see a specialist for $20 or less, prescriptions often sell for as little as 5 percent of the U.S. costs, and complete hospital stays with top-of-the-range treatment costs a fifth or less of U.S. prices. International Living editor Jason Holland puts it this way: One of the most important reasons we moved to Costa Rica was the low-cost medical care. And not just that it's cheap but that it's good, essentially North American standard. My wife was pregnant, said Holland, and after being laid off in the U.S., the cost to have the baby there was astronomical. In Costa Rica, the total cost was $3,000the obstetrician, anesthesiologist, hospital costs...everything. And the care was excellent. After that we had plenty more opportunity to use both the public and private healthcare system. Through the Caja government-run system, we paid $180 a month for full coverage for our family of four. And when we visited private doctors it was $50 per visit, cash. The latest International Living report on healthcare abroad contains more interviews with U.S. expats and prices and information on the cost and quality of healthcare overseas. Find the latest International Living report at: Why Is Healthcare So Much Cheaper Outside The U.S.? Editors Note: Members of the media have permission to reproduce the article linked above once credit is given to InternationalLiving.com. For information about InternationalLiving.com content republishing, source material or to book an interview with one of our experts, contact Associate Editor Carol Barron, 772-678-0287 (US), CBarron(at)InternationalLiving.com or visit the Media Center. For more than 36 years, InternationalLiving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has more than 200 correspondents traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment. We believe this kind of dedication, collaboration and transparency is the best way to streamline the supply chain and is the ideal way for us to support customers like Rolls-Royce. Wayne Exton, CEO of AGC AeroComposites Today, Paul Fabrications, an AGC AeroComposites company and leading supplier of fabricated and precision machined components to the aerospace and nuclear industries, announced a long term, multi-million pound supply chain partnership with Rolls-Royce. Commenting on the agreement Craig Smith, Executive Vice President Installations for Rolls-Royce, stated we are pleased to have signed this agreement with AGC, it marks a key milestone in the development of our strategy and complements our existing agreements. This partnership is a key part of the ongoing transformation of Rolls-Royces supply chain for metallic fabrications and was signed based upon Paul Fabrications ability and commitment to provide a turnkey new product introduction (NPI) process. This innovative, integrated process will embed a Rolls-Royce team inside of Paul Fabrications Derby site, providing a new level of collaboration, transparency and risk reduction between the two organizations with the aim of significantly reducing Rolls-Royces time to market and risk levels through a consolidation of its mature and legacy products. This kind of integrated-team strategy will be the first of its kind for Paul Fabrications and Rolls-Royce, stated Wayne Exton, CEO of AGC AeroComposites. We believe this kind of dedication, collaboration and transparency is the best way to streamline the supply chain and is the ideal way for us to support customers like Rolls-Royce. "With more than 70 years of experience, I know our team is ready to support Rolls-Royce and their needs, said Kevin Brown, Vice President/Managing Director for Paul Fabrications. This is a tremendous opportunity for our Derby site and will provide job security and growth for many years to come." About Paul Fabrications Paul Fabrications, established in 1937, and located in Derby UK, is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of complex, high precision, fabricated and machined metal parts and assemblies. Paul Fabrications is an AGC AeroComposites company. About AGC AeroComposites AGC AeroComposites provides the aerospace, marine, medical, defense, nuclear and rail industries with composite and metallic structures and components that meet demanding and complex requirements. The companys growing global footprint is currently comprised of strategically located sites providing local and immediate support to customers. Integrated solutions range from early stage design, rate production, to full-term sustainment making AGC AeroComposites the industrys trusted lifecycle partner. He brings imagination, energy and creativity to a job that requires knowledge of technology, military culture and emerging communications. 1105 Public Sector Media Group announced the appointment of Kris Osborn as Editor in Chief of Defense Systems. Defense Systems, an 1105 Public Sector Media Group multi-platform media brand, is the resource of choice for the defense IT community, helping to facilitate an understanding of how networked technologies are being used across services, commands, agencies and programs to better enable the warfighter. We are delighted that Kris is joining Defense Systems and the Public Sector team at 1105 Media. He brings imagination, energy and creativity to a job that requires knowledge of technology, military culture and emerging communications. It is a rare blend of skills, and we are looking forward to his applying those skills to covering these exciting times and continuing to grow the Defense Systems audience, said Anne A. Armstrong, Co-President and Chief Content Officer at 1105 Public Sector Media Group. Osborns career spans 20 years as a print and TV media journalist, editor, researcher, communications and media specialist. He is a former CNN Headline News anchor, Fox News correspondent, senior level Army civilian, military analyst, speechwriter, media affairs official and military modernization and technology specialist. There are no limits to my enthusiasm about joining Defense Systems at this time of rapid technological change, said Osborn. The leadership at 1105 Public Sector Media Group has an impressive track record of knowing how to identify and generate relevant, added-value content to a substantial and growing readership. I am very grateful and excited about the opportunity to join this impressive team. I look forward to covering the many evolving nuances of various defense systems, such as developments with IT, C4ISR, networks, drones and larger platforms. Osborn is speaking at the Defense Systems Summit: JIE and the New Military Landscape on November 1 at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. More details available at https://defensesystems.com/summit About Defense Systems Defense Systems, an 1105 Public Sector Media Group brand, delivers independent insight, analysis and perspective for those in the defense IT world who develop, acquire and manage network-based technologies that facilitate situational awareness and enterprise agility. Editorial coverage includes communications, cyber defense, tactical IT, enterprise systems, satellites and GEOINT, sensors, UAS and mobile. https://defensesystems.com About 1105 Public Sector Media Group 1105 Public Sector Media Group, a division of 1105 Media, Inc., provides information, insight and analysis to the Government IT and Education IT (FED/SLED) sectors. Content platforms include print, digital, online, events and a broad spectrum of marketing services. http://1105publicsector.com ### Cecilia Montalvo, new Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer, Summit Medical Group/Summit Health Management, and President, Summit Select, LLC Ms. Montalvos leadership in market entry and expansion will help us achieve SMG's and SHM's commitment to best-in-class population health management. -- Jeffrey Le Benger, MD, chairman and chief executive officer of Summit Health Management. Summit Health Management (SHM), LLC, is pleased to announce Cecilia Montalvo has been appointed Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer and President of Summit Select, LLC, effective November 1, 2016. In this role, she will also serve as Chief of Strategy and Business Development for Summit Medical Group, P.A. ("SMG"), one of the largest physician-owned medical practices in the nation. This newly-created role is strategically and operationally aligned with SMG's and SHM's commitment to promoting major change in health care. Ms. Montalvo will play a key role in the development and implementation of corporate strategies and plans that ensure the success of SMG's and SHMs value-based care, population health and risk-based products and initiatives. Approved by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance for licensure as an organized delivery system (ODS), Summit Select will include New Jersey physicians and physician groups, including Summit Medical Group, who choose to align with Summit Select and benefit from a best-in-class medical practice model. Ms. Montalvos leadership in market entry and expansion will help us achieve SMG's and SHM's commitment to best-in-class population health management, said Jeffrey Le Benger, MD, chairman and chief executive officer of Summit Health Management. As we continue to focus on managing costs, increasing patient satisfaction, and improving quality, her knowledge and experience will be of great value in the changing health care landscape. We are pleased to welcome Ms. Montalvo to our organization. Most recently, Ms. Montalvo served as (Corporate) Vice President, Business Development for Kaiser Permanente. In this role she was responsible for developing and implementing strategies for the national geographic expansion of Kaiser. She led Kaiser's successful acquisition of Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, and Maui Memorial Medical Center, Wailuku, Hawaii. Prior to assuming her role at Kaiser, Ms. Montalvo was Chief Strategy Officer for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation ("PAMF") and Vice President, Strategy and Business Development for Sutter Healths Peninsula Coastal Region. PAMF has $4 billion in revenues and includes over 1,300 physicians and three hospitals in San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Alameda counties in California. At PAMF and Sutter Health, she was responsible for leading growth strategies for PAMF in the San Francisco Bay Area the organization grew from 400,000 to 1 million patient lives during her tenure. Prior to joining Sutter Health in 2003, Ms. Montalvo was an Investment Banker in the San Francisco office of Shattuck Hammond Partners LLC, focusing her client work in the areas of healthcare mergers and acquisitions. While working in the investment banking industry, Ms. Montalvo and her colleague Mark Harrison published several major pieces of research on the financial health of Californias hospital and skilled nursing industry, made possible by over $1.5 in grant funding from the California Healthcare Foundation. Ms. Montalvo has served on the executive management teams of Brown & Toland Physician Services Organization, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Sequoia Hospital, Stanford Medical Center; and Bay Pacific Health Plan (a regional health plan owned by local physicians and hospitals that was subsequently sold to Aetna). Ms. Montalvo started her career in Washington and worked within the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration) and was on the staff of the Health Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. She earned her bachelors degree in psychology and sociology from Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, and her masters in public policy and healthcare administration with honors from the University of Chicago in Chicago. She was honored in the Whos Who in California Healthcare, recognized as the Whiz Kid for accomplishments in the healthcare industry for professionals under the age of 40, and in 2013 by the Silicon Valley YMCA as a TWIN award winner recognizing outstanding women in leadership. She has served on numerous Boards of Directors, including the Corporate Board of the Dual Degree (MBA/MPH) program of the Haas School of Business and the UC-Berkeley School of Public Health, both in Berkeley, California; Sutter Maternity and Surgery Hospital in Santa Cruz, California; Pathways Home Care and Hospice (previously Mid-Peninsula Home Care and Hospice) in San Francisco, and Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, California. ABOUT SUMMIT HEALTH MANAGEMENT Emerging from the success of Summit Medical Group, Summit Health Management (SHM) provides innovative management services for Summit Medical Group and mid-to-large size physician practices. SHMs practice management services are focused in five discrete, but inter-related categories essential to running a successful, enterprise-scale medical group. For more information, visit http://www.summithealthmanagement.com. ABOUT SUMMIT MEDICAL GROUP Summit Medical Group (SMG) is among the largest physician owned multispecialty medical practices in the nation. SMG maintains a 42-acre healthcare campus in Berkeley Heights and more than 65 additional practice locations in central and northern New Jersey. As an East Coast premier multispecialty group, SMG has provided exceptional primary and specialty care since 1929. For more, visit http://www.summitmedicalgroup.com. # # # EV Connects deep experience in the management of the entire EV ecosystem will continue to provide an efficient, reliable and easy-to-use experience for the communities, utilities and drivers within New York State. EV Connect, a leading provider of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging solutions, including development of the industrys most innovative, robust and open cloud-based software platform for managing the EV charging ecosystem, today announced that it has been awarded a $4 million contract from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to install and manage approximately 300 additional Level 2 EV charging stations throughout New York State. This follows a contract that NYPA awarded to EV Connect three years ago for a public charging station pilot program within the State. In addition, this is the second contract EV Connect has been awarded within New York State within the past 30 days the other being from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). EV Connect will provide management of the charging ecosystem, which includes the charging stations, host locations, electric utility interaction and the driver experience. The NYPA contract supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomos Charge NY Initiative which aims to create a statewide network of up to 3,000 charging stations in New York State by 2018. In 2013, EV Connect was chosen to install and manage over 100 charging stations throughout New York State. For this expanded program, EV Connect will partner with GE and EV Box to provide the charging stations, and local contractors for installation work. EV Connect is honored to have been awarded this follow-on contract from the New York Power Authority, as it recognizes the success of the existing program and the value we bring to the entire EV ecosystem within New York State, said Jordan Ramer, EV Connect CEO. When combined with the recent program from NYSERDA, this award enables us to greatly expand our presence within the State, further utilize our utility demand response technologies, and enhance the EV charging solutions we provide to site hosts and drivers. EV Connects deep experience in the management of the entire EV ecosystem will continue to provide an efficient, reliable and easy-to-use experience for the communities, utilities and drivers. Central to NYPAs award is a requirement that the hardware and software be built on an open standards-based architecture. EV Connect is the nations largest and most successful provider of an open standards-based platform for EV charging. This contract award enables the New York Power Authority to continue its support of Governor Cuomos Charge New York Initiative to promote the adoption of electric vehicles for consumers and fleets, said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA President and CEO. We are looking forward to working with EV Connect again on this successful partnership to expand the number of charging stations throughout New York State. About EV Connect, Inc. EV Connect is a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for commercial, enterprise, hospitality, university and government facilities. EV Connect developed and operates the industrys most robust and flexible cloud-based platform for the management of charging stations and the drivers that use them. The EV Connect platform provides charge station-agnostic command & control; enterprise and energy systems integration via an open API; driver communications and support; and demand-response functionality across multiple charging networks. Established in 2009, EV Connect's customers include Yahoo!, Hilton Worldwide, Western Digital, ADP, the California Department of Transportation, Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York Power Authority, and numerous municipalities. For more information, please visit http://www.evconnect.com. Contact: Jordan Ramer EV Connect (310) 961-2096 jordan(at)evconnect(dot)com TLMI Chairman Dan Muenzer, Karen Moreland (RotoMetrics) and Tasha Ventimiglia (Tarsus Group) Im deeply honored to be recognized by TLMI for my contributions Karen Moreland of RotoMetrics was named 2016 Supplier of the Year at the Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL on October 18th. The prestigious Supplier of the Year Award recognizes the efforts, contributions, and leadership of key partners to the Tag & Label industry. RotoMetrics is a founding member of the organization. Moreland has been an active member of TLMI, chairing the 2011 Annual Meeting and co-chairing the 2014 Technical Conference. She has devoted the majority of her career to working with converters, OEMs and industry experts to support RotoMetrics development of products and services critical to the label, tag, and packaging markets. Her association with TLMI has only enhanced her ability to increase the support suppliers can provide to converters and OEMs as they leverage industry innovation, share it and scale it for more partners to use in their business. Upon receiving the award, Moreland said Im deeply honored to be recognized by TLMI for my contributions, but the praise really belongs to the entire RotoMetrics team of craftsman and service advisors who take care of our customers and partners every day. Im proud of the work Ive done and thankful for the support of the RotoMetrics team. A RotoMetrics employee since 1989, Karen's experience in customer service and international operations management were instrumental in driving RotoMetrics flexible die product development as well as expanding its global footprint by installing manufacturing and service facilities in Europe and Asia. As VP Global Marketing and Business Development, Karen was a key contributor in the development of the RD300 fully-hardened machine-finished rotary die to meet market demands for superior precision and longevity for medical and industrial applications. Since 2014, Karen has served as a consulting member of RotoMetrics senior executive team, supporting new business development initiatives and strategic marketing activities. During her 25 plus years of service Karen has continued to be actively involved in TLMI initiatives to grow the organization. Bob Spiller, CEO of RotoMetrics, in congratulating Karen said, "We are extremely proud of the contributions Karen has made to the industry, TMLI and RotoMetrics. Karen is an exceptional person who continues to be a thought leader in helping RotoMetrics continue to develop reliable converting solutions, provide unparalleled service support and ensure the fast delivery of our products to the places our customer do business so they can succeed. She is a champion of our customers and partners." About RotoMetrics: Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with manufacturing and service facilities on 5 continents, RotoMetrics is the worldwide leader in precision rotary tooling for the printing and converting industries, enabling the efficient conversions of substrates into individual labels and parts, through customized cutting solutions to help customers and partners Unlock the Power of Precision" For additional information, contact RotoMetrics World Headquarters at +1 800 325 3851 or +1 636 587 3600 or online at http://www.rotometrics.com. Yoga for Hope proudly showcases Arizonas premier yoga studios and wellness enthusiasts as they join together to raise funds for City of Hopes Natural Therapies Program, promote the benefits of yoga, and show support for City of Hope, one of the nations leading centers for cancer treatment and research. Seane Corn, Yoga for Hope ambassador, is an internationally renowned yoga instructor and personality. Im involved with Yoga for Hope because Im so grateful that there is a center that focuses on research, focuses on patient care, focuses on the community of disease and the impact that it has on so many people, she says. Its a small amount of time, energy and effort to really make a difference in many, many peoples lives. All you need is your mat, your breath, your heart. Media is invited to film and photograph from the field and elevated access for spectacular overhead shots. Interview opportunities include cancer survivors, yoga instructors and Teri Lane, director of Philanthropy, City of Hope. Contact telane(at)coh(dot)org. Event Details: Date: Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 Time: Yoga Class, 4 p.m.; Partner Fair, 5 to 7 p.m. Location: Chase Field 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 Registration Fee: Advance Registration: $30; Children 12 and under: $20 Website: yogaforhope.org/phx About City of Hope: City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 47 comprehensive cancer center, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with community clinics throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or Instagram. CaseBank Technologies Inc., the leading provider of integrated diagnostic and troubleshooting software solutions for equipment fault isolation and defect trend analysis, has announced that it will be demonstrating its SpotLight advanced troubleshooting system at Airshow China 2016, Canada Pavilion, Ontario Government, booth H5G6. CaseBanks SpotLight troubleshooting software applications will be paired to produce the worlds first federated troubleshooting system that allows diagnostic information to flow between separate diagnostic databases created by the aircraft and engine OEMs to quickly and accurately identify the cause of faults. Held in Zhuhai since 1996, Airshow China is the only international aerospace tradeshow in China that is endorsed by the Chinese central government. In addition to exhibiting at Airshow China, CaseBank, along with other established, innovative Canadian aerospace companies, will be participating at the Aerospace Mission to China, organized by the Ontario Ministry of International Trade, in cooperation with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service in China. The mission will include visits to Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenyang, key aerospace clusters in China. Advanced aircraft programs require innovative support tools and services, said Steve Downie, Vice President, International & Strategic Accounts of CaseBank Technologies. He added, CaseBank is very pleased to exhibit at the China Airshow in Zhuhai to demonstrate state-of-the-art support tools. 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the start of China's space exploration, and is also a very important year for aerospace development in China. Important milestones have been reached as the aviation sector continues to expand and CaseBank is pleased to participate in Mission to China as a way to explore opportunities for cooperation and partnership with various companies and organizations. About CaseBank Technologies CaseBanks software solutions improve fault isolation and defect analysis for complex equipment and systems, supporting customers in a variety of industries including aviation, aerospace & defense, automotive, heavy equipment, transportation and high tech. CaseBank Technologies products guide the troubleshooting process, combining diagnostic information with anticipated failure modes and actual field experience to minimize equipment downtime and cost, and to provide visibility into fleet-wide failure modes, recurring defects, and emerging faults. With CaseBank, organizations can increase equipment availability, reduce operating costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Douglas Hallstrom, Co-Founder at StudyAdvantage Authentic stories and testimonials from current and recent students is the most powerful type of content for influencing prospective students educational choices. Peer-to-peer really works. StudyAdvantage Group today announced the launch of its first venture an online storytelling platform for international students. The platform, freely accessible at StudyAdvantage.co, features inspiring stories from students at top universities abroad, for the benefit of prospective students. Douglas Hallstrom, co-founder of StudyAdvantage, said: Everyone involved with StudyAdvantage has personally gone through the process of applying to and choosing a university abroad. We all found that the missing ingredient in this process, much of which takes place online, was current students own and unbiased stories of life at their universities. Thats what inspired us to create StudyAdvantage. The platform is launching with over 50 student bloggers at universities like Yale, Columbia, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE and SciencesPo. The student blogs are complemented by editorial content in the StudyAdvantage online magazine, a university database, and application guides adapted to international applicants. The platform is principally marketed to high school students around the world, but Douglas comments, Our content is unique, so it also attracts visitors with a broader interest in global education, including parents, teachers and alumni. The student blogs contain a motley mix of education, lifestyle, and personal reflections. Singaporean Azfer Khan, a first year student at Cambridge, reflects on his studies in a recent blog post: Law isnt a fairy tale we lawyers use to mystify the world around us, it isnt the textbook we use when revising for our supervisions, and it definitely isnt what my mother thinks it is (her words) Ghanaian third year student at Yale, Nana Akua Mensah, describes a recent opportunity to meet idol Taiye Selasi on campus: Just over a week ago, I had the biggest moment of groupie fandom in my recent history She walked in and was everything I had hoped she would be. Douglas argues that it is these types of stories which really inspire prospective students. He says: Research shows that authentic stories and testimonials from current and recent students is the most powerful type of content for influencing prospective students educational choices. Peer-to-peer really works. StudyAdvantage will enable universities to use the portal as a brand-building channel towards international students, capturing the significant commercial value in the student-generated content and the growing audience of prospective international students using the platform. Douglas also comments that he is hugely driven by the social value in promoting global education: Especially in todays political environment, when protectionist undertones are gaining mindshare, I believe it is very important to continue to encourage global education for young, ambitious people. With its growing audience and strong backing, StudyAdvantage may well help achieve this objective. Partnering with Akademos enables us to bring down student costs by providing our students with an unmatched selection of affordable course materials in a wide variety of formats and purchase options Akademos, Inc., a leading provider of college bookstore solutions and integrated online marketplaces for educational institutions, announced today that Beaufort County Community College (http://www.beaufortccc.edu) has joined its fast-growing list of partner schools. Beaufort County Community College (BCCC), a public institution based in Washington, North Carolina, provides associate degree, diploma, certificate and continuing education programs for Arts and Sciences, Business/Industry and Allied Health. These programs are designed to help students transfer to a four-year college or go directly into the workforce, as well as serve individuals that simply wish to advance their skills. Starting Spring Term 2017, BCCC students can shop for textbooks in new, used, rental and eBook formats on any device using a custom-branded version of the mobile-optimized Akademos online bookstore. Students can save an average of 60% off the list price of their course materials using Akademos exclusive marketplace of over 18 million unique titles. The next-generation Akademos online shopping platform will be fully integrated with BCCCs student information system (SIS), enabling students to see a personalized listing of the textbooks required for their courses and order books for an entire term in less than five minutes. Students will also be able to seamlessly apply financial aid to their course material purchases. The high cost of course materials was making it increasingly difficult for us to fulfill our mission to provide our students with an accessible and affordable education, said Mark Nelson, vice president of administration, BCCC. Partnering with Akademos enables us to bring down student costs by providing our students with an unmatched selection of affordable course materials in a wide variety of formats and purchase options. Our unique marketplace and e-commerce platform will provide BCCC students with the choice, value and convenience they demand, said John Squires, chief executive officer, Akademos. Were looking forward to working with BCCC to provide their students with a highly personalized and intuitive course material ordering experience. To learn more about expanding affordable textbook options for students and online bookstore offerings for educational institutions, visit http://www.akademos.com. About Beaufort County Community College (BCCC) BCCC, based in Washington, North Carolina, began with the operation of a practical nursing program in 1949, under the direction of the State Vocational and Adult Education Department. Today, the public institution functions as a comprehensive community college offering continuing education and awarding associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates for just under 2,000 students. BCCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges About Akademos Akademos offers customized, online bookstore services and solutions that support what's most important to institutions - from full-service virtual bookstores to unique partnerships and products supporting on-campus shops. Akademos delivers cost savings on course materials for students while providing administrators and faculty with critical control over the textbook delivery process. Akademos offers an innovative textbook marketplace, best-in-class eCommerce platform, eLearning solutions, and a unique adoption and analytics portal. The companys comprehensive supply-chain solution and commitment to responsive personal service makes it the choice of leading institutions throughout the country. Akademos helps institutions deliver the right course materials, at affordable prices, on time. Learn more at http://www.akademos.com. Wolfgang Frey with other participants during the groundbreaking ceremony in Asias largest passive house settlement to date Asia's largest passive house settlement in Qingdao is a compelling role model for future construction endeavors in China. Along with working on the worlds largest passive house settlement in Heidelberg, Wolfgang Frey and his team at Frey Architekten are also involved in Asias largest passive house settlement. In September 2016 a groundbreaking ceremony for the nearly 200-acre construction site took place in Qingdao, Peoples Republic of China. Wolfgang Frey participated together with other distinguished guests and decision-makers. The German architect and urban developer Wolfgang Frey has been active in China since 2010 and acts as consultant to the Ministry for Construction in the Peoples Republic of China, providing his expertise in sustainable architecture. Wolfgang Frey works directly with Qiu Baoxing, former Vice Minister for Construction and current consultant for the State Councilor Li Kegiang, the Minister President of the Peoples Republic of China. Wolfgang Freys concepts for a socially sustainable and environmentally friendly future were reflected in a speech given by Xi Jinping that the Chinese President gave at the World Climate Conference in Paris in 2015. Numerous projects have been developed in China including a retail center in Taiyuan with about 216,535 square feet, a logistics center with about 3.05 million square feet and a residential district concept in Shanxi Jinzhong with about 328,000 square feet in size. The team at Frey Architekten has also focused on reconstructing the South Chinese city of Kunshan to reduce smog and develop the one-mile long waterfront in cooperation with EC-Link in Foshan in the province of Guangdong. Now Wolfgang Frey and Frey Architekten, together with their Chinese and German partners, are working on developing Asias largest passive house settlement located in the Sino-German Ecopark in Qingdao. Before the opening of the first Asian Passive House Conference, the celebratory groundbreaking ceremony for the passive house pilot project in the Sino-German Ecopark was held on September 22, 2016. It marked the beginning of construction for the residential area according to German passive house standards for the first time ever in Asia at this scale. Wolfgang Feist, founder and director of the German Passive House Institute (PHI) in Darmstadt was among the distinguished guests and speakers. The construction area encompasses nearly 200 acres (8.6 million square feet). Similar to Frey Architektens award-winning holistic living concept at Heidelberg Village, the passive house pilot project in the Sino-German Ecopark will provide various types of housing to accommodate a wide range of residents, including the disabled and the elderly. The residential area will reduce CO2 emissions by 2.376 tons and will save 7 million RMB in operational costs and 12.72 million kilowatt hours of electricity. Upon the projects completion, the houses will be certified by the German Passive House Institute. From the very beginning, this construction project will be seen as a flagship pilot project for future construction efforts in China. China Dailys report about the Sino-German Ecopark For further information about Heidelberg Village, located in the worlds largest passive house settlement.. The increased flammability of downy brome in the U.S. and its greater aboveground plant mass promote earlier, more frequent fires of low intensity Invasive Plant Science and Management - Research featured in the latest edition of the journal Invasive Plant Science and Management shows that the weed downy brome has developed fire-survival traits that are changing local growing conditions and making it impossible for native competitors to survive. Downy brome has invaded millions of acres of arid grasslands in the western United States. As a winter annual, it finishes its lifecycle by spring or early summer several weeks before native grass species. The dried downy brome offers a large horizontal mass that can fuel frequent fires and help them quickly spread. Researchers in the U.S. and Europe compared downy brome from the fire-prevalent U.S. Great Basin with populations of downy brome in Central Europe, where fires are rarely experienced. They discovered that U.S. populations of the weed produce seeds with a greater fire tolerance. The seedlings perform better in post-fire environments, produce more above-ground tissue and are more flammable than populations of downy brome in Central Europe. The increased flammability of downy brome in the U.S. and its greater aboveground plant mass promote earlier, more frequent fires of low intensity, says Annamaria Fenesi, a senior lecturer at Babes-Bolyai University in Romania. While downy brome thrives under those conditions, native species that have adapted to a much longer interval between fires are simply unable to recover. As a result, downy brome is able to thrive and spread, free of competition. Full text of the article Enhanced Fire-Related Traits May Contribute to the Invasiveness of Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum) Invasive Plant Science and Management Vol. 9, Issue 3, July-September, 2016 is now available at http://www.wssajournals.org/doi/full/10.1614/IPSM-D-16-00006.1. ### About Invasive Plant Science and Management Invasive Plant Science and Management is a journal of the Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society focused on weeds and their impact on the environment. The publication focuses on invasive plant species. To learn more, visit http://www.wssa.net. Axios Logo 250 Fusion 16 is a leading conference in North America for industry trailblazers and we are thrilled that Ms. Fiander Trask has been recognized as such and selected to present One of the worlds leading innovators of service management technology, Axios Systems, joins Fusion 2016 as an official sponsor. From November 1-6, 1,600 delegates will join 100 speakers and over 50 exhibitors in the most comprehensive annual conference for IT service management professionals held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Key industry trends such as IT4IT, Service Integration and Management (SIAM), Continual Service Improvement (CSI), Business Relationship Management (BRM) and Enterprise Service Management (ESM) will be among the hot topics in discussion. This year, conference presenters will include Axios Systems customer, Province of Nova Scotia. Tracy Fiander Trask, Program Director for the Province, will present a case study-driven session on IT Service Management (ITSM) as a shared service enabler. In this session, Ms. Fiander Trask will provide a behind-the-scenes view of the Provinces experience with ITSM, as well as the roadmap created to ensure a successful implementation. She will also discuss the role of ITSM in facilitating shared services, their vision of ESM, and the key success factors for maintaining stakeholder buy-in while adhering to standardized processes across multiple sectors. Markos Symeonides, Executive Vice President at Axios Systems, said: Fusion 16 is a leading conference in North America for industry trailblazers and we are thrilled that Ms. Fiander Trask has been recognized as such and selected to present. We look forward to supporting her during her session, as well as continuing to partner with the Province of Nova Scotia in their continued success. Visit the event website for more information >> http://www.servicemanagementfusion.com/ About Axios Systems For over 25 years, Axios Systems has been committed to delivering innovative IT Service Management (ITSM) and IT Asset Management (ITAM) solutions that help customers improve not only their infrastructure operations, but also to enhance service delivery across business functions, including HR, Facilities Management and Finance. Axios is recognized as a world leader by leading analysts and their global client base, with a 100% focus on service management technologies. Axioss enterprise ITSM software, assyst, is purpose-built to transform IT departments into profitable business-focused customer service teams. assyst adds tangible value to each clients organization by building on the ITIL framework to help solve their business challenges across the organization. assyst is accredited for all 16 PinkVERIFY ITIL processes, and Axios was the first technology vendor to achieve this within a single solution. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.axiossystems.com/ Press Contact: pr(at)axiossystems(dot)com cleverbridge, a provider of global subscription billing solutions, announces cleverbridge VP of Strategic Accounts Manuel Heilmann will present at How to Web Conference 2016 to be held November 1-2 at the National Theatre of Bucharest in Bucharest, Romania. Heilmann will participate in the The FinTech Landscape: Established Markets and Emerging Opportunities" panel discussion on November 1 from 3:00-3:30 p.m. on the Studio Stage. cleverbridge is also a sponsor of the event, which is dedicated to tech innovation and entrepreneurship in South Eastern Europe. Joining Heilmann on the panel will be Andra Sonea, Fellow at Anthemis Group; Anish Mohammed, Lead Security Architect at Lloyds Banking Group; Michael Mellinghoff, Managing Director of Techfluence; and moderator Adrian Seceleanu, Hi-Tech Editor of Ziarul Financiar. There has never been a better time to use technology in simplifying financial transactions, personal savings mechanisms or any structure which involves money. During the panel, the industry experts will discuss the fintech industry in Western Europe; how and why it has grown; the current challenges; and their views about how emergent markets, like the ones in Eastern Europe, can get their fair share of this market. Attendees will benefit from the lessons learned, trends and opportunities currently flowing in the fintech environment. Prior to joining cleverbridge, Manuel Heilmann was the CEO of Coinzone (acquired by Coinify in 2015), which enables businesses and individuals to easily conduct transactions with digital currencies. Prior to Coinzone, he held the position of Vice President & General Manager, MyCommerce at Digital River, where he led operations for the companys third largest vertical. Heilmann is an accomplished international sales and business development strategist with proven expertise in new product development, market expansion, international business leadership, strategic partnerships and global account management. Organized in partnership with IXIA, Bitdefender, Telekom Romania and Cyberghost, with the support of hub:raum and EIT Digital, the conference brings together startup founders, investors, accelerators, product managers, developers, online marketers and community leaders from all around Central and Eastern Europe. 1000+ tech professionals from 100+ global companies are expected to attend the seventh edition of the How to Web Conference. Attendees will get the opportunity to discuss business innovation with top stakeholders in the tech industry and to get inspired by the journey of 200+ startup founders who have built billion dollar companies from scratch. Schedule a meeting with cleverbridge at How to Web Conference 2016 to learn how we can help you maximize recurring revenue streams and provide the best possible customer experience by contacting inquiry(at)cleverbridge(dot)com. To learn more about cleverbridge, please visit http://www.cleverbridge.com. About cleverbridge cleverbridge provides global subscription billing solutions that help companies build long-term customer relationships and grow recurring revenue streams. With its flexible, cloud-based billing and monetization platform, cleverbridge integrates seamlessly with client systems, simplifies subscription business models and delivers an optimized online customer experience. Leveraging cleverbridge expertise, technology and services, clients monetize products and services more effectively, rapidly expand their global subscriber base and maximize customer lifetime value. Headquartered in Cologne, Germany, cleverbridge has offices in Chicago, San Francisco and Tokyo. For more information, visit http://www.cleverbridge.com. The County Executive of Macomb County, MI, Mark Hackel, will be serving as a guest speaker at Weldaloy on October 28th as the company celebrates their 70th anniversary with a private event for employees and their families. Weldaloy announced earlier this month that Mayor James Fouts of Warren, MI will also be speaking at the event. Im proud to support Weldaloy by speaking at their 70th anniversary celebration. Its always encouraging to see a local company investing in their business and the employees that work there. We share the vision of seeing Macomb County a county of prosperity and opportunity, said Executive Hackel. Prior to serving as County Executive of Macomb County, Executive Hackel was the Macomb County Sheriff for 10 years from 2001-2010, and with the sheriffs department since 1981. Im looking forward to celebrating 70 years of Weldaloy with all of our employees and their families, as well as welcoming prominent local guest speakers such as Executive Hackel and Mayor Fouts. Were honored to have them with us on this special day, said Rick Warren, President & CEO of Weldaloy. In September of 1994, Weldaloy was purchased by its current owner Rick Warren. Today, Weldaloy is a leading supplier of forged copper, aluminum, brass and other non-ferrous products to industries such as aerospace, oil and gas, power equipment, semiconductor, and material processing. About Weldaloy For 70 years, Weldaloy has been a leading provider of custom copper, aluminum, and other non-ferrous forgings serving a variety of industries such as Aerospace, Electronics, Oil and Gas, and more. Weldaloys goal is to create meaningful and lasting relationships with each customer by providing the highest level of service and quality. Weldaloys Vertical Integration Process offers its customers a single source for forged and machined non-ferrous metal products. For more information, visit weldaloy.com or follow us on Twitter at @Weldaloy. The 3D machine vision solutions from Coherix are the key technologies that the Chinese manufacturing industry needs. Coherix, Inc., a global leader in Three-Dimensional (3D) Machine Vision, today announced the appointment of Dr. Xihan Qian as its new General Manager in Coherix China. He will oversee the operation in China, formulate business plans and strategies, and report directly to the CEO of Coherix. Prior to joining Coherix, Dr. Qian successfully launched a subsidiary for a German machine vision company in Shanghai China, and served as General Manager for about four years. Within the first year, Dr. Qian managed to achieve rapid market penetration. Previously, Dr. Qian was the premier representative of the German Mechanical Engineering Federation in Shanghai, and a researcher at Fraunhofer in Germany, focusing on the application of data mining in intelligent maintenance. Dr. Qian received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. The 3D machine vision solutions from Coherix are the key technologies that the Chinese manufacturing industry needs. Especially in the automotive industry, Coherix provides the industry-leading 3D machine vision solutions to assembly verification, adhesive and sealant bead inspection, and precision manufacturing. said Dr. Qian, commenting on his new role. As the new General Manager, I will lead the team to help customers optimize their manufacturing process, improve quality, and increase production with lower cost. Were glad to have Dr. Qian on board. He has abundant first-class experience with the machine vision industry. His expertise and international experience will be an invaluable asset as Coherix is expanding its global footprint. said Dwight Carlson, CEO and Chairman of Coherix. Dr. Qian officially started his new job in September 2016. Dr. Zhenhua Huang, Dr. Qians predecessor who launched Coherix China in Dec 2015, was back in the companys headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and started his new role as Chief Technical Officer of Asia Pacific and Robust3D Product Manager in early October. About Coherix, Inc. Coherix, Inc. develops and manufactures high-speed, high-definition 3D machine vision products that enable our customers to manage high-volume precision manufacturing processes. Coherix products are designed for inspection and error-proofing in the automotive, semiconductor, and electronics industries. Coherix is committed to producing the highest performing 3D machine vision products at the lowest Total Cost of Ownership. Coherix customers and partners include global end users, system integrators, and distributors, who demand 100 percent reliability that Coherix products provide. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company has offices in the United States, China, Germany, Singapore, and Japan. UBCF's mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer. UBCFs PSAs message highlights early detection with a mash-up of the presidential candidates campaign slogans: MAKING AMERICAN BREASTS STRONGER TOGETHER. UBCF recently launched a new Public Service Announcement (PSA), 2016 Early Detection Saves Lives. The PSA is a play on the 2016 presidential campaign, airing on a prominent, 29 x 56 full HD screen billboard at 1500 Broadway and West 43rd Street in New York Citys Times Square now through Election Day, November 8, 2016. The spot is 10 seconds long and runs 3 times per hour, 20 hours a day. Neutron Media assisted with creative production. Times Square is the epicenter of New York City with its own visitor center and museum. It is also home to attractions such as NBC News and Saturday Night Live, Planet Hollywood, the TKTS Booth as well as numerous restaurants and hotels and of course the New Years celebration since 1903. The PSAs message highlights the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection with a mash-up of the presidential candidates campaign slogans: United Breast Cancer Foundation-MAKING AMERICAN BREASTS STRONGER TOGETHER. Per the National Cancer Institute (NCI), an estimated 40,450 women and 440 men will lose their lives to this deadly disease this year. Early detection of breast cancer helps saves lives. The 5-year survival rates have increased from 75.2% in 1975 to 90.6% in 2008 according to the latest numbers available from the NCI. UBCFs Breast Screening Program supports women and men with free or low-cost breast screenings to ensure that all people have access to proper medical care. UBCFs President and Executive Director, Ms. Stephanie Mastroianni stated, This is milestone for UBCF; having a branding opportunity in Times Square, which is truly the center of the world. Over 26 million people visit Times Square every year thats nearly 50,000 per day seeing UBCF's Early Detection PSA. Mastroianni continued with, UBCF's logo is synonymous with early detection and helping women and families with managing breast cancer without adding stress and red tape. The new PSA airing in Times Square is helping expand that message. About Neutron Media Neutron Media, Inc. has thrived for fourteen years by providing outstanding customer service and introducing business and non-profit organizations to the exciting, far-reaching possibilities of advertising through LED Outdoor Media. Neutron Medias current jewel in the crown is the stunning HD screen at the corner 1500 Broadway and West 43rd Street, in the heart of Times Square in New York City. http://www.neutron-media.com About UBCF UBCF is committed to offering breast health and wellness services focused on cancer prevention, screening, treatment and over-all wellness. UBCFs mission, to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer, is carried out every day through seven life-supporting patient and family programs available to women, men and families nation-wide. UBCF never denies services to anyone regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, income or medical insurance coverage. If you are in need of breast health services, please visit UBCF at http://www.ubcf.org or call toll-free, 877-822-4287. Tax-deductible contributions may be made towards UBCFs programs. UBCF accepts vehicle and property donations as well. Contributions may be mailed to UBCF, P.O. Box 2421, Huntington, NY 11743, or donate through the Combined Federal Campaign, #77934. The Maryland Transit Administration has announced a new way for riders to plan their next transit trip in Baltimore. MTA introduced the new BaltimoreLink Trip Planner, a web app that lets riders compare routes on the current MTA bus system with routes on the proposed BaltimoreLink system. MTAs BalitmoreLink initiative was created to deliver a more efficient and reliable bus network. This includes the CityLink, Express BusLink, Commuter Bus, and School Service transit systems. By spreading out the routes within the downtown core and creating a grid of high frequency routes serving more downtown locations, BaltimoreLinks goal is to provide a more unified, modern transit system. MTAs collaboration with leading mobile ticketing provider, Passport, will help riders compare MTA transits existing routes with the proposed BaltimoreLink system. This will help riders understand how their trips will be affected by the proposed changes and give them the opportunity to provide feedback in several workshops hosted by MTA. We hope that by offering this new BaltimoreLink Trip Planner web app, we will continue to encourage transit ridership and fulfill our vision of a modern transportation system for the Baltimore area, said Kevin Quinn, MTA Director of Planning and Capital Programming. Passports expertise in transit technology gave us confidence they would deliver on the unique project requirements within a short timeline. They worked closely with the MTA team, meeting weekly or more, to deliver the comparative trip planning tool, which has been well received by our riders. Passport has deployed mobile ticketing systems, which incorporate native route planning and vehicle tracking tools along with mobile purchases, for other agencies such as Cleveland RTA, Cincinnati Metro (SORTA), and will soon launch the mobile ticketing app for the City of Miami. To get started, passengers will access the trip planner web app on the BaltimoreLink web page. Riders can then click on the map to set their start and end points (or type in start and end addresses), enter a date and time, then select get trips. From here, users can compare transit trips on the current and proposed system using a side by side map comparison. The interactive trip planner will even incorporate any transfers necessary as well as time spent walking to and from the station. The web app will also provide detailed information on a users trip itinerary, specific bus route, and bus stop. About Passport Passport is North Americas leading mobile technology company specializing in enterprise business applications and payments for the public and private sector. Passport's product lines--parking payments, transit payments, enforcement and permit management--collectively serve to deliver dynamic tools for agencies to better connect with their communities. Its services have been adopted by over 20 of the top 50 cities in North America and over 2,000 locations including Chicago, Toronto, Boston, Miami, and Portland. Passports mission is to reduce operational complexity and deliver intelligent data to improve decision making for its clients. Passport is backed by a highly respected group of investors, including Grotech Ventures, Relevance Capital, and MK Capital. For more information, please visit http://www.passportinc.com. Aerial view of the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute We live within one of the worlds great biodiversity hotspots home to an underwater rainforest, said TNACI Director Dr. Anna George. There are as many fish species in the Cumberland, Mobile, and Tennessee River basins as ... the Amazon River." With the October 27 opening of the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institutes (TNACI) new flagship riverfront facility, the Southeasts rich but imperiled aquatic biodiversity is going to receive a much-needed shot in the arm. TNACIs facility sits at the heart of a region whose aquatic diversity is unrivaled in the temperate world. More than 1,400 aquatic species reside in waterways within a 500-mile radius of Chattanooga, including about three-quarters (73.1 percent) of all native fish species in the United States. More than 90 percent of all American mussels and crayfish species live within that same area, as do 80 percent of North Americas salamander species and half of its turtle species. Many people dont realize that we live within one of the worlds great biodiversity hotspots home to an underwater rainforest, said TNACI Director Dr. Anna George. There are as many fish species in the Cumberland, Mobile, and Tennessee River basins as there are in a similarly-sized part of the Amazon River. The increased research and outreach capabilities offered by the TNACI facility arrive at a critical time for these aquatic treasures, which increasingly are imperiled by human encroachment and a lack of federal funding. The Southeast has fewer protected lands than western states, and the absence of buffer zones and heavy development around local waterways place already-fragile and limited freshwater ecosystems at even greater risk. Habitat destruction in the region is exacerbating the withering experienced by all freshwater species, whose rate of extinction is two to five times higher than that of terrestrial and marine animals. Federal spending on research to protect the Southeasts freshwater species is pauper-poor and drastically out of proportion to the regions incredible ecological diversity. Between 2012 and 2014, total expenditure on programs to study freshwater fish species in the Southeast averaged $6.2 million. During the same period, just 12 species outside the region received a combined $636 million in funding, more than 100 times the average budget for the entire Southeast. With so much attention being focused on less biodiverse areas, TNACIs new home offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to raise the profile of southeastern rivers and streams, as well as lead the charge on conservation science in the region. And as an arm of a nonprofit aquarium, TNACI is ideally positioned to pursue this mission across the region, Dr. George said. We have a special ability to work across traditional borders on collaborative projects that bring people together to protect the exceptional aquatic life of the southeastern United States, she said. We can then share our scientific work with the Aquariums large and diverse audience to inspire others to join us in celebrating and protecting the animals living in the rivers and streams of our backyards. Located near a natural wetland along the banks of the Tennessee River just downstream from downtown Chattanooga, the 14,000-square-foot facility will serve as the headquarters for a newly bolstered staff of conservation scientists as well as visiting experts. Featuring an environmentally conscious design that informed every aspect of its construction, the building provides access to cutting-edge equipment, including genetics and morphology laboratories, and offers much-needed space for staff to centralize and streamline ongoing projects, initiate critical new research with partners across the country, and host educational programs. Were surrounded by amazing freshwater communities that are unparalleled for diversity and beauty, said TNACI director Dr. Anna George. Its why our region is so exciting to the scientific community and why we are committed to protecting our aquatic riches so they can continue to be enjoyed by all. This new science center will give us more capacity to expand our research, restoration and education programs. Since TNACIs foundation in 1996, its staff has pursued projects to study and, in some cases, restore some of the regions most imperiled species, including long-term captive propagation of Lake Sturgeon and Southern Appalachian Brook Trout. Previously, those programs were managed at separate off-site locations, some more than 45 minutes away from Chattanooga. They now will be housed on the first floor of the new building in a space specifically designed for the animals needs. Even with the newly relocated programs, additional square footage has been reserved at the site to expand TNACIs propagation efforts in the future. The buildings dedicated genetics laboratory will ease the research process and increase the capabilities of TNACI staff. Formerly, institute researchers conducting DNA testing worked at a makeshift station in a corner of the Aquariums Animal Care Facility. By bringing together formerly far-flung projects and offering access to lab equipment that can more effectively handle research needs on-site, the new facility eliminates many of the obstacles that previously hampered TNACIs conservation efforts, said Dr. Bernie Kuhajda, director of the facilitys science programs. The site also will serve as a nexus for conservation science beyond Chattanooga, with office and research space on the second floor specifically designated for use by visiting scientists. Just getting together to work collaboratively with our team was always logistically challenging since we were in separate buildings, he said. Now, we'll have all our field gear, all our labs and offices in one place. A huge part of the benefit is this new shared space, which not only helps us work together more closely, but also gives us space to bring together fellow scientists from across the country to discuss conservation solutions. Although it is just now officially opening its doors, the new facility already is the hub of numerous active conservation programs, including: An ongoing population analysis and newly funded genetic study led by Drs. Kuhajda & George of the Laurel Dace, an endangered fish whose habitat is restricted to a small system of waterways on Walden Ridge. A new study funded by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife grant to establish the population genetics of the Cumberland Darter, an endangered fish found in only a handful of tributaries of the Upper Cumberland River in Tennessee and Kentucky. A three-year project initiated earlier this summer by TNACI aquatic biologist Dr. Josh Ennen in partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Southeast Missouri State University to study and determine the conservation status of Alligator Snapping Turtles in Tennessee. A new on-site program utilizing artificial streams with controllable water temperatures to gauge the potential impact of climate change on salamanders and other small stream species. An ongoing survey initiated in September and lead by Dr. Kuhajda of six threatened and endangered fish species living in the Mobile Basin, including the Blue Shiner, the Cahaba Shiner, the Goldline Darter, the Rush Darter, the Vermillion Darter and the Watercress Darter. In addition to its scientific initiatives in the field, TNACIs new facility also will serve to bolster the institutes educational outreach. A large teaching lab on the first floor will target regional high school and college students who are pursuing a degree in a scientific field and connect them with freshwater scientists and educators. For more information about TNACI, its new facility and its conservational initiatives, visit http://www.tnaqua.org/protect-freshwater. Follow the institute on social media via http://www.facebook.com/TennesseeAquariumConservationInstitute or http://www.twitter.com/tnacigogreen. ### The Tennessee Aquarium inspires wonder, appreciation and protection of water and all life that it sustains. Admission is $29.95 per adult and $18.95 per child, ages 3-12. Each ticket purchased helps support Aquarium conservation programs. The IMAX 3D Theater is next door to the Aquarium. Ticket prices are $11.95 per adult and $9.95 per child. Aquarium/IMAX combo tickets are $37.95 for adults and $26.95 for children. Excursions aboard the new River Gorge Explorer depart daily into Tennessees Grand Canyon. Cruise tickets are $32.00 per adult and $24.50 per child (3-12). Advance tickets may be purchased online at http://www.tnaqua.org or by phone at 1-800-262-0695. The Aquarium, located on the banks of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, is a non-profit organization. Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Aquarium and IMAX are accessible to people with disabilities. High resolution images of the new science center and TNACI experts in the field are available for download: https://we.tl/1vsADkX1O2 Drone footage of the new science center: https://youtu.be/eqHAZqsB1yg (***Be sure to check full HD setting***) Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Freshwater Biodiversity video for embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcHca5yUZME PowWow Mobile Welcoming StarMobile into the PowWow Mobile family allows us to build upon our strong momentum in enterprise mobility to further accelerate growth. PowWow Mobile, the leading enterprise mobility platform that allows companies to deliver powerful, modern native mobile apps quickly, simply and economically, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire StarMobile, Inc. The deal will combine two leading companies designated by Gartner as Cool Vendors in Mobile App Development to present the most comprehensive enterprise mobility platform, based on the richest IP and patent portfolio, in the industry. Welcoming StarMobile into the PowWow family allows us to build upon our strong momentum in enterprise mobility to further accelerate growth, said Kia Behnia, Chief Executive Officer of PowWow Mobile. PowWow has amassed an impressive roster of customers and partners, and we are excited about the opportunity to work with StarMobile customers and partners moving forward. The addition of StarMobile solution capabilities will further enhance the PowWow SmartUX Platform. No other solution offers such broad capabilities to transform any existing application, or to create new, native apps, for use on any endpoint. Our respective technologies are complimentary, and our combined capabilities will allow all customers to leverage our unified platform to address a broader set of use cases in the future. The PowWow Mobile solution is based upon revolutionary technology that is disrupting the speed, complexity and economics commonly associated with delivering productivity enhancing apps to an increasingly mobile-first workforce. The PowWow SmartUX Platform accelerates mobile app development by transforming existing Windows and web applications and workflows into modern mobile experiences or; by creating net new apps that connect to any third-party data source, API or SQL. With PowWow Mobile, users can easily design and deploy personalized, intelligent and secure apps that run anywhere, on any device (PC, laptop, tablet, phone or watch) and any OS (iOS, Android, Windows 10, or HTML5). Four years ago, StarMobile started with a vision to enable companies to modernize and mobilize the applications they use to run their business faster, simpler and at a lower cost than any other approach, said Todd Fryburger, President and Chief Executive Officer of StarMobile. The company has set the pace for innovation in enterprise mobility ever since our core technology was conceived at the Georgia Tech Networks and Mobile Computing Research Group. We are excited by this combination with PowWow, as it takes that vision to a new level, leverages our respective strengths, and provides customers with a powerful platform to enable them to fulfill the explosive demand for digital transformation. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both PowWow Mobile and StarMobile. The deal is expected to close within the next thirty days and is subject to approval by the respective shareholders and other customary closing conditions. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. About PowWow Mobile PowWow Mobile allows enterprises to transform business applications into modern, mobile app experiences. PowWow Mobile eliminates business-IT friction as enterprises seek competitive advantage and increased productivity through mobile for todays digital workplace. SmartUX Platform accelerates enterprise application transformation by creating new, native mobile apps from any web or Windows app, quickly without sacrificing quality, and at a lower cost than custom solutions or other tools. PowWow Mobile works with customers across industries, including financial services, healthcare, telecom, software, consulting and public sector. PowWow Mobile is based in San Francisco. For more information visit http://www.powwowmobile.com and by following @PowWowMobile on Twitter. Contact Kristen H. Rachels PowWow Mobile 594 Howard Street, Suite 301 San Francisco, CA 94105 Telephone: +1.678.575.4167 Email: kristen.rachels(at)powwowmobile(dot)com Jackson Health System, Jose Milton Family Foundation, Robins & Morton, Perkins + Will and honored guests joined together to officially break ground on the new Jackson West Hospital located in Doral, Florida. In addition to celebrating the projects initial milestone, the groundbreaking also served as a dedication to the Jose Milton Family Foundation, recognizing their contribution to the facility. There, Jackson Health System announced that the hospital will be named the Jose Milton Memorial Hospital. After years of planning, Jackson Health System, the City of Doral and neighborhood residents are excited about the project and believe it will become and anchor in the community and also spur much needed redevelopment. The new facility is designed by Perkins + Will, an architecture firm that is renowned for creating regenerative designs that health their environments, enhancing the quality of life. The new 210,000-square-foot facility will include a primary and specialty childrens clinic, an adult specialty clinic, imaging/diagnostics, an emergency department and a childrens ambulatory pavilion. The new hospital is scheduled to open its doors in late 2019. ### Contact: Katy Klaproth, Division Marketing Director (407) 916-7235, kklaproth(at)robinsmorton(dot)com About Robins & Morton Founded in 1946, Robins & Morton is a privately held construction firm that consistently ranks among the 100 largest U.S. contractors in Engineering News-Record Magazine and Modern Healthcares top healthcare contractors. The company has also been named one of the best mid-sized companies to work for in America because of its worker-friendly and family-friendly practices. Robins & Morton is based in Birmingham, Alabama, with offices in Dallas, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; Orlando and Miami Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Charlotte, North Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.robinsmorton.com. Dr. Terry Beacham, research scientist for Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Dr. Yniv Palti, a research geneticist with the US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service Application of the amplicon panels to Coho and Chinook Salmon from hatchery populations in southern British Columbia has indicated substantial differentiation among populations, as well as differentiation among brood years and individuals within hatcheries. Amplicon sequencing will be the routine method of choice for Coho and Chinook Salmon stock identification in British Columbia in the near future, as high-resolution estimates of stock composition, age, and family structure will be available. This webinar will also describe the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) content of Axiom Trout Genotyping Array. Discussion will follow on various research applications, including the use of genomic selection for important economic traits like disease resistance; genome-wide association studies (GWAS); and the generation of a dense genetic linkage map for the trout reference genome. Thermo Fisher Scientific will sponsor a free webinar on the genetics of aquaculture, where researchers will share their analysis of trout and salmon using microarrays and genotyping by sequencing to advance their research and molecular and management programs. There will be two speakers for this webinar; Dr. Terry Beacham, research scientist for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Dr. Yniv Palti, a research geneticist with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service. Beacham holds a doctorate degree from the University of British Columbia and has been a research scientist in Fisheries and Oceans Canada for nearly 40 years. He currently serves as head of stock identification research within the Molecular Genetics Laboratory, and has examined genetic variation to evaluate population structure and associated stock identification applications across a range of Pacific salmon species. His current focus is to evaluate and apply parentage-based tagging and genetic stock identification techniques for Chinook and Coho Salmon in British Columbia, particularly for hatchery populations. Palti holds a doctorate in genetics and cell biology from Washington State University and currently holds the positions of a research geneticist and lead scientist of the Genetics, Physiology and Genomics unit at the National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture (NCCCWA), Agricultural Research Service, USDA. The major focus of Paltis current research is aimed at developing and evaluating strategies for genome-enabled selection in traits that cannot be measured directly on potential breeders in rainbow trout aquaculture. LabRoots with host the event November 8, 2016, beginning at 10:00 a.m. PT, 1:00 p.m. ET. For more details on this webinar or to register for free, click here. About Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $17 billion and more than 50,000 employees in 50 countries. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit http://www.thermofisher.com. About LabRoots LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website and producer of educational virtual events and webinars. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning, and is a primary source for current scientific news, webinars, virtual conferences, and more. LabRoots has grown into the worlds largest series of virtual events within the Life Sciences and Clinical Diagnostics community. Gourmet East Bay is a fantastic way to experience many of the best local bites all in one place. Diablo Publications announces the winners of its 2016 Food Awards in the November issue of Diablo magazine. From the dozens of East Bay restaurants that have opened since last years Food Awards, Nick Boer, Diablos senior food writer, selected five that are truly Best in Class: Quintessential Farm-to-Table: Farmer's Almanac; Danville CA First-rate Fusion: Gan; Pleasanton, CA So Sophisticated: Limewood Restaurant and Bar; Berkeley, CA Super Casual: Sideboard Neighborhood Kitchen and Coffee Bar; Lafayette, CA Fun Dining: Rooftop Restaurant and Bar; Walnut Creek, CA Taken separately, they show how dynamic todays dining scene is, Boer says. As a group its clear the standard of quality is higher than ever. Coinciding with the annual Food Issue, Diablo magazine and Broadway Plaza are hosting Gourmet East Bay sponsored by BiRite Food Services Group. This celebration of the East Bay food scene features more than 20 local restaurants, wineries, spirits makers and distilleries. Proceeds from the evenings raffle benefit the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County. Gourmet East Bay is a fantastic way to experience many of the best local bites all in one place, says Diablo editor-in-chief, Susan Safipour. And its super fun! More than 500 people are expected to attend the Gourmet East Bay celebration on Saturday, November 5, at the recently renovated Broadway Plaza. About Diablo Publications For 35 years, Diablo Publications has been creating award-winning publications, including Diablo magazine, Napa Sonoma magazine, Diablo Weddings, Diablo Arts, and the Tri-Valley California Visitors Guide. Covering travel, theater, lifestyle, and home design, Diablo Publications celebrates the people, places, and pleasures of the East Bay and North Bay. Diablo Publications custom content division, Diablo Custom Publishing (DCP), provides complete print and online marketing communications and customer publishing services for corporate clients nationwide. For more information, visit diablopublications.com. Diablo Publications is an employee-owned company. (L-R) Mohan Menon, Spectre Synergie; Encik Izman Izmi, Encik Indraa Iswaan Mohd. Yusof, Cik Rozilawati Haji Basir Nationwide Express; P.R Venketrama Raja, Virender Aggarwal, Amol Sawaikar Ramco Malaysia headquartered Nationwide Express Courier Services Berhad, leading providers of courier, freight forwarding and customised logistics services in Malaysia today announced that it will implement Ramco Systems Logistics ERP Software across 180+ locations. Ramcos partner Spectre Synergie, a Malaysia based IT Consulting company played a vital role in this engagement. Founded in 1985, Nationwide Express is one of the first few locally established companies in Malaysia, with its principal activity being that of a courier service provider. Supported by 1,400 dedicated employees, 300 fleet of NATWIDE mobiles and 500 motorbike couriers, it meets the demand for door-to-door fast, efficient and reliable service for speedy transfer of lightweight and high value goods between locations. To date, its network encompasses 180 nationwide locations across 3 ASEAN nations Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam; comprising branches, service centres and agents. Through its alliances with reputable international companies and agents, Nationwide Express delivers to over 200 countries worldwide. Taking into cognizance Nationwide Express comprehensive and extensive courier network, it needs to adopt and adapt the changing landscape of the courier industry to stay in the forefront of the industry. Nationwide Express will replace multiple legacy systems to bring Ramco solution as the single unified ERP to cover Express Cargo & Small Parcel Management, Fleet (Asset) Management, SCM (Procurement & Inventory Management), Finance & Accounting, Human Capital Management and Payroll along with Business Analytics. Speaking on this, Cik Rozilawati Haji Basir, Managing Director, Nationwide Express Courier Services Berhad, said, Nationwide Express has built a brand name which is trusted for fast, efficient and reliable service in Courier. In this day and age where businesses are getting challenged by nascent organizations, it is imperative for us to have complete visibility of operations and leverage technology to our advantage. Our legacy systems were unable to cope with the rapid change in demand. Ramco offered a comprehensive Logistics offering with integrated Finance and HR which addresses all our business needs. Their product vision and focus on Innovation to drive business results played a key role in our decision to move to Ramco. We look forward to working with Ramco and their partner, Spectre Synergie in enabling us to further strengthen our presence across all divisions of the Logistics chain. P R Venketrama Raja, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Ramco Systems, said, The win at Nationwide Express is a clear testament of how Ramco Logistics ERP as a postmodern and single integrated ERP platform can deliver significant innovation, cost savings, and superior business processes to organizations, globally. Ramcos focus on innovations in usability, context-awareness, mobility, overall flexibility, apart from comprehensive set of functionality has enabled smooth transitions possible for customers. Ramco Systems second largest operations outside India Malaysia has seen rapid growth over the years. Designed like a Silicon Valley set up with open seating and a vibrant workforce; Ramco has been strengthening its base in the region. Virender Aggarwal, CEO, Ramco Systems, added, To build a culture of Innovation, we have been hiring from top notch premier institutes like UM, IIUM, USM and many more International institutes. Today, we have a healthy mix of people from all nationalities Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Vietnam, Australia, France among others working towards building disruptive technologies from our Kuala Lumpur centre. We have also entered into partnership with leading Bumiputera players and Malaysia-based IT Consulting organizations to further expand and serve local businesses. Speaking on the partnership with Ramco, Mohan Menon, Director, Spectre Synergie, added, Malaysian businesses are on the threshold of breaking-free from legacy applications which were hindering their growth. We are witnessing good demand for disruptive and innovation-led technologies which are able to solve business pain points. With Ramco, we have a strategic principal who brings globally recognized new-age technology, strong domain expertise and a long-term commitment to the region. We look forward to taking this partnership forward in further supporting Malaysian organizations and their IT needs. Ramco Logistics Software is an integrated Cloud-based platform for Third Party Logistics, Freight Forwarders, and Parcel/ Courier service providers seeking a high-performance logistics software. An Integrated end-to-end solution that can link every stage of a logistics chain and bring all the functionalities under a single technology platform, which is flexible, scalable, cognitive, and ready to adapt to change is helping the solution attract customers, worldwide. About Ramco Systems: Ramco is a fast-growing enterprise software player disrupting the market with its multi-tenanted cloud and mobile-based enterprise software in the area of HCM and Global Payroll, ERP and M&E MRO for Aviation. Part of the USD 1 billion Ramco Group, Ramco Systems focuses on Innovation and Culture to differentiate itself in the marketplace. On the Innovation front, Ramco has been focusing on moving towards Cognitive and Robotic ERP with features such as Mail It a feature which enables users to transact with the application by just sending an email; HUB It - a one screen does it all concept built to address all activities of a user; Thumb It mobility where the system presents users with the option to choose rather than type values; and Prompt It a cognitive ability which will let the system complete the transaction and prompts the user for approval. With 1600+ employees spread across 21 offices globally, Ramco follows a flat and open culture where employees are encouraged to share knowledge and grow. No Hierarchies, Cabin-less Offices, Respect work and not titles, among others are what makes the team say, Thank God its Monday! Positioned as Achiever in Everest Group's Multi-country Payroll Platform Assessment; Winner of ISG Award for Innovation; Chosen as Preferred Next-Gen MRO IT Vendor by ARSA; Winner of HR Vendors of the Year Award 2015; Winner of CIO Choice Honor& Recognition 2016 For more information, please visit http://www.ramco.com/logistics Follow Ramco on Twitter @ramcosystems / @ramcologistics and stay tuned to http://blogs.ramco.com About Nationwide Express Since incorporation in 1985 and a successful listing on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, Nationwide Express Courier Services Berhad has grown both its network and revenue year on year to become one of the leading providers of courier, freight forwarding and customised logistics services in Malaysia. By harnessing its strategic network of 180 branches and agents in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam coupled with alliances with reputable international courier companies, Nationwide Express provides fast, reliable and efficient courier, mailroom outsourcing, pick, pack and ship, freight forwarding, supply chain management, e-commerce fulfilment, warehousing and distribution and related logistics services. Nationwide Express delivers over thousands of packages daily for both multinationals and local corporate companies in industries that include information technology, financial, telecommunications, retail, automotive, healthcare, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and hospitality. In striving towards its articulated vision and business objectives, Nationwide Express will continue to invest in information technology to improve operational visibility as well as service and operational integrations. Specific initiatives are also underway to expand on its existing courier and express delivery business and to serve new segments such as third party logistics, SCM and collaborative commerce, both in the countries currently served as well as in the region. For further information, contact: Nationwide Express Harani Khalid | harani@nationwide2u.com | +6019-325 3330 Mustaffa Abdul Razak | mustaffa@nationwide2u.com | +6019-256 3498 Ramco Systems Vinitha Ramani | vinitharamani@ramco.com | +91 44 3090 4204 Goodwill Community Foundation presents a check for $100,000 to the N.C. Baptist Men for Hurricane Matthew disaster relief. Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF) donated $100,000 toward disaster relief and recovery efforts for those in eastern North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Matthew. GCF partnered with N.C. Baptist Men/Baptists on Mission (NCBM), a ministry of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, to help victims of the hurricane. This generous donation by the Goodwill Community Foundation will go a long way in helping us serve those individuals and families who have been impacted by Hurricane Matthew, said Richard Brunson, executive director of N.C. Baptist Men/Baptists on Mission. The Goodwill Community Foundation has been a longtime supporter of our various ministries, and we are thankful that we can partner together once again during this time to assist many here in North Carolina who are in need as a result of the storm. Making this decision was easy based on our relationship established over the many years in partnership helping those in need during disasters, said Rev. Dennis McLain, president and CEO of Goodwill Community Foundation. N.C. Baptist Men are there, boots on the ground, with volunteers and focused attention on the communities while the disaster is happening and afterwards during the recovery. Thousands of homes and people were affected by the hurricane. This donation demonstrates GCFs mission to Create Opportunities for a Better Life for those in need of food, shelter and disaster relief over the time it will take for families and communities to recover. GCFs donation will help with recovery efforts in Fayetteville, Lumberton, Kinston and many other locations. All of the funds from the donation will go directly toward disaster relief and recovery efforts. Our relief and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Matthew will continue for weeks, months and even years, said Gaylon Moss, disaster relief coordinator for N.C. Baptist Men/Baptists on Mission. This gift from the Goodwill Community Foundation will help us continue to minister and serve well into the future in those communities that have been devastated by the storm. According to Rev. McLain, Universally, the difference between what they do and what other charities do is that they go in and empower the community. They shop locally. They make the opportunity for local communities to sustain themselves and build themselves and thats part of our criteria for giving. About Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF) Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF) continues to be a leader in an era of change by providing the training required for the emerging world where technology is integrated into everyday life. The GCF Community Foundation, a Durham-based tax-exempt organization, provides employment, fresh produce and volunteer opportunities, family services for parents with children with disabilities and free accounting services to youth programs across eastern North Carolina. All GCF programs are funded through revenue generated from the value of donated items to 40 Goodwill Community Foundation stores throughout eastern North Carolina. For more information on GCF, visit http://www.GCFGlobal.org. About N.C. Baptist Men/Baptists on Mission (NCBM) N.C. Baptist Men/Baptists on Mission (NCBM) is an auxiliary of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC). Disaster relief is one of 17 different ministries of NCBM, whose goal is to help churches involve their members in missions and ministry. For more information on NCBM, visit http://www.baptistsonmission.org. -###- FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephenie A. McLean Goodwill Community Foundation Director of Regional Community Development for GCF 919-451-5943 smclean(at)goodwillenc(dot)org In an effort to give back to the community, H&H Homes will donate $500 from the next 50 homes the company sells to the American Red Cross, with all donations earmarked for North and South Carolina hurricane relief. The company has also opened a GoFundMe account in response to the many requests it has received from employees or trade partners interested in giving. Although we were fortunate that our communities and employees were safe after Hurricane Matthew and had little to no damage to our properties, we have seen the significant devastation impacting so many in Fayetteville and our Coastal and Charleston markets, said Ralph Huff, founder, H&H Homes. Giving this money in the name of our new homeowners is the right thing to do. H&H Homes has long recognized the importance of service to the community having donated millions to various causes both large and small in the 25 years that the company has been in business. In addition, company employees have volunteered thousands of hours to local charities and plan to do so in the next few weeks with Habitat for Humanity to help those families get back into their homes. Even though the company has grown to more than 70 communities in 6 divisions, the culture of service has not changed, said Jack Rostetter, President. We started this company 25 years ago to provide high- quality affordable new homes to military families stationed at Fort Bragg. We are moved by their service which inspires our culture of service today. H&H Homes builds homes throughout Fayetteville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Charlotte, North Carolina and Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. To donate please visit https://www.gofundme.com/hhhomes. About H&H Homes For 25 years, H&H Homes has been providing homebuyers with energy-efficient, quality-built and affordably priced new homes. With more than 70 communities in North and South Carolina, H&H Homes is recognized as a Builder Magazine Top-100 homebuilder and is also the recipient of numerous local and regional awards including the NC Home Builders Association Stars Award for Best Website; the Pillar of the Industry Award from the Fayetteville Home Builders Association and Builder of the Year for 2015. For more information on H&H Homes, visit http://www.HHhomes.com. ### Contact: Kristie Allen 910-484-4864 kristiemeave(at)hhhomes(dot)com ConventionSouth Readers Choice Award ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau has been selected to receive our annual Readers Choice Award It is with honor that the publishers and editors of ConventionSouth, the national multimedia resource for planning events in the South, present Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau with a 2016 Readers Choice Award. ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau has been selected to receive our annual Readers Choice Award, said ConventionSouth Publisher J. Talty OConnor. The value in receiving this prestigious recognition is that it comes from the United States top meeting professionals who hold events in the South. These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have contributed in determining that Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau indeed displays the commitment to professionalism, creativity and service that they require. Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau is among 250 convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), meeting facilities and hotels located across the South to receive this years Readers Choice Award. Throughout the year, meeting professionals nominated the meeting sites they believe provide exemplary service for group events. The nominated sites are then compiled onto an online ballot where meeting professionals and fans are asked to vote for the best of the best. With over 4,000 voters participating in the selection process and the highest social media interaction to date, this has been the most successful and engaging year yet! Since creation in 2001, this is the first time that Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau has received the award, making it an even greater honor to present it with a 2016 Readers Choice Award. Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau will be featured as an award recipient in the December 2016 Awards Issue of ConventionSouth magazine. This exciting issue will also showcase some of the most talented meeting professionals in the nation as ConventionSouth also presents planners with its annual Meeting Professionals To Watch designation. Featuring peer advice and trade secrets from our Meeting Professionals to Watch in 2016, our Awards Issue is one of the most popular must-read resources within the meetings industry, OConnor said. Celebrating over 30 years as a leading meeting planning resource, ConventionSouth magazine is based in Gulf Shores, Ala., and is distributed to more than 18,000 meeting professionals located across the country who book meetings held within the South, according to OConnor. A complete list of award winners can be found online at: http://conventionsouth.com/readers-choice-award-winners-announced-for-2016/ The ConventionSouth Readers Choice Award logo is available for use at: http://conventionsouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Readers-Choice-Award.png Thirty years ago, NAF launched its second career-themed academy, expanding from Academies of Finance, to also offer Academies of Hospitality & Tourism to high schools across the country in order to serve the needs of one of the worlds largest industries. The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism was launched in both New York and Miami with support from Marriott International and the American Express Foundation. Today, there are 93 Academies of Hospitality & Tourism serving nearly 11,000 students annually across 20 states, including DC and the US Virgin Islands. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, 284 million people are currently employed in travel and tourism, which equates to 1 in 11 jobs in the world. Travel and tourism contributes $1.5 trillion to the US economy. In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that almost 1 million new leisure and hospitality jobs will be created between 2014-2024. NAF has been preparing the next generation of future ready hospitality and tourism employees for 30 years. This is something we are very proud of, and applaud the schools across the country for taking on the task of implementing NAFs educational design to make this possible. We are also extremely grateful to our founding partners, Marriott International and the American Express Foundation, whose vision and support made this possible. We are proud to say that their support still remains strong today, said JD Hoye, president of NAF. Miami Springs Senior High School was the first Academy of Hospitality & Tourism in Florida back in 1987 and is still in operation today. Ann Fields, who currently oversees 16 NAF Academies of Hospitality & Tourism in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, led the effort locally at Miami Springs. Its hard to believe its been 30 years. Joining NAF in this effort has transformed our educational system in so many ways. Weve seen the results. So many alumni are working in the booming hospitality and tourism market in Miami and across the country, and its all thanks to Miamis partnership with NAF, she said. For those graduates who did not pursue the hospitality & tourism industry directly, they transferred important life skills to become college, career, and future ready. Support for the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism continues to grow. In 2015, Courtyard launched the Success for Youth program, committing 30,000 volunteer hours supporting 10,000 NAF students and teachers over the next three years. Marriott has provided funding and employee engagement to NAF since its inception, and we wanted to take it one step further and make the Courtyard brand NAFs dedicated partner in providing real world opportunities to our industrys future leaders. The results so far have been impressive, and we cant wait to see what these students accomplish in the future, said Callette Nielsen, Vice President and Global Brand Manager of Courtyard at Marriott International. About NAF NAF is a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure high school students are college, career, and future ready. NAF works with high need communities to transform the high school experience through an educational design that includes industry-specific curricula, relationships with business professionals, and work-based learning experiences culminating in a paid internship. NAF academies fit within and enhance school systems, allowing NAF to become an integral part of a plan for higher achievement at a low cost. NAF academies focus on one of five career themes: finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. During the 2015-16 school year nearly 89,000 students attended 716 NAF academies across 36 states, including D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2015, NAF academies reported 98% of seniors graduated with 92% of graduates with post-secondary intentions. For more information, please visit http://naf.org/ ### Cybereason, developers of the worlds only military-grade, real-time detection and response platform, today announced it has moved its global headquarters from 222 Berkeley Street to 200 Clarendon Street, the renowned 62-story, 790-foot skyscraper formerly known as the John Hancock Building, a hallmark of Bostons vibrant economy. Securing 15,000 square feet of space in the famous skyscraper provides Cybereason with the room needed to support new hires and affirm its commitment to Boston as its international profile skyrockets. Cybereason will officially celebrate the move to its new location with an invite-only party tonight from 5:30-7:30 pm for employees and more than 100 innovators in the Boston technology community, investors and distinguished elected officials in city and state government. We see the new office as a way for Cybereason to plant deep roots into the business community and contribute to the local economy. Boston is not just Cybereasons home, its my home, and I could not think of a better place for my company and family to be. Im delighted to move Cybereasons headquarters into a building that is synonymous with Bostons economic prowess and aspire to have Cybereason become an equally iconic Boston institution, said Lior Div, co-founder and CEO of Cybereason. I am thrilled Cybereason has chosen to stay in the City of Boston and will continue to grow by taking advantage of our thriving economy, accessibility to capital, and wealth of local talent. Not only does Boston have a strong business connection with Israel, but the City is also becoming a leader in the cyber security and technology sectors. I wish Lior and the Cybereason team all the best as they continue to grow and break ground in the global cyber security industry, said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. Recognized as one of Bostons Fastest Growing Tech Companies by the Boston Business Journal in April 2015, Cybereason closed $90 million in funding in between May and October 2015, the 17th largest VC deal in Boston last year. In June 2016, the company was named One of the Best Places to Work by Boston Business Journal readers. Over the past 12 months, the company has grown more than 300 percent, from 40 to 175 employees worldwide. By years, end the company will employ more than 200 people. Cybereasons success is fueled by customer and industry response to its military-grade real time threat hunting solution, the Cybereason Detection and Response Platform. The Cybereason platform automatically detects attacker activities to better understand their actions and stop them from causing damage. It was built by a team that spent decades immersed in nation-state cyber offensive operations, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of hackers methodologies and mindset. Today, Cybereasons platform and services are used by the security operation centers and incident response teams of the worlds most targeted Fortune 500 companies. The company has received many awards and accolades since its founding. Most recently, Cybereason topped a Gartner list of endpoint detection and response vendors. Juniper Research named Cybereason one of the Top Three Disruptive Innovators to watch in 2016. SC Magazine named Cybereason the 2016 Rookie Security Company of the Year. Also, CEO Lior Div was a 2016 EY Entrepreneur of the Year New England Finalist. In addition, Infosecurity Products Guide named Div 2016 CEO of the Year and Computer Reseller News recognized Cybereason for having one of the 16 hottest products launched at Black Hat 2016. And Dark Reading named the company one of the 20 Cyber Security Startups to Watch in 2016. About Cybereason: Founded by members of the Israeli intelligence agencys elite cybersecurity Unit 8200, the Cybereason platform mirrors the founders expertise in managing some of worlds most complex hacking operations. The Cybereason Detection and Response Platform leverages big data, behavioral analytics and machine learning to uncover, in real-time, complex cyberattacks designed to evade traditional defenses. It automates the investigation process, connects isolated malicious events and visually presents a full malicious operation. The platform is available as an on-premise solution or a cloud-based service. Cybereason is privately held and headquartered in Boston with offices in Tel Aviv and Tokyo. For more information, please visit: Website: http://www.cybereason.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Cybereason Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cybereason LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/cybereason Media Contact: Bill Keeler Director, Public Relations Cybereason bill(dot)keeler(at)cybereason(dot)com (508) 414-7755 (cell) As technology advances and the world changes at breakneck speed, the IRF is tracking some radical changes to the incentives industry. The Incentive Research Foundation is pleased to announce that it will release its highly-anticipated 2017 Trends Study at Incentive Live on January 19, 2017, at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The study will present key trends that will affect organizations, their products and services, and the workforce in 2017. The IRF will also offer actionable suggestions so that business can leverage these trends to gain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing business landscape. As 2016 comes to a close, the IRF is reviewing and analyzing trends in such key areas as: Technology Responsive, Predictive, Transparent The Changing Role of Rewards & Recognition Changing and Challenging Regulatory Environment Safety Perceptions and Disruptions As technology advances and the world changes at breakneck speed, the IRF is tracking some radical changes to the industry, said IRF President Melissa Van Dyke. The IRF looks forward to releasing 2017 Trends Study and presenting our findings at Incentive Live in January. Were thrilled to announce this partnership with the IRF and share the release of their 2017 study at our inaugural Incentive Live event, said Northstar Meetings Group VP, Events & Tradeshows, Danielle Cirami-Gillis. Our influential audience of elite incentive buyers and global incentive travel suppliers will greatly appreciate and benefit from the insights and actionable suggestions that will be presented, and were looking forward to working with the IRF more closely on future initiatives. Incentive Live is the premier event for elite incentive buyers in North America who are booking global incentive travel programs, hosted by Northstar Meetings Group and Incentive Magazine, in partnership with ARIA Resort & Casino, AWG Destination Management, and Meetings Mean Business. The hosted-buyer event takes place from January 18-21, 2017 and features one-to-one appointments with the top incentive destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, and tourism offices, along with insightful educational presentations and unique experiential networking events. About Northstar Meetings Group: Northstar Meetings Group is the leading B-to-B information and marketing solutions company serving all segments of the business meetings, events, and incentives market, including full-time and part-time meeting planners, as well as senior corporate, association, and not-for-profit decision-makers, and incentive professionals, facilitating their professional development and achievement of business goals. Our influential brandsMeetings & Conventions, Successful Meetings, Meeting News, and Incentive and exclusive partnershipsMeetingMentor and MeetingLists.comcurrently serve over 200,000 active meeting planners and incentive professionals, across an integrated suite of data, digital, events, and print products. For more information, please visit northstarmeetingsgroup.com. About the IRF: The Incentive Research Foundation (TheIRF.org) funds and promotes research to advance the science and enhance the awareness and appropriate application of motivation and incentives in business and industry globally. The goal is to increase the understanding, effective use, and resultant benefits of incentives to businesses that currently use incentives and others interested in improved performance. Mike Mathews, CIO, ORU Chris Poe, SVP Technology & Engineering, Carousel Industries "Carousel's insights, leadership and corporate team of experts have propelled ORU into an elite category of student services through Wi-Fi," said Michael Mathews, ORU's CIO. Carousel Industries, a leader in communication and network technologies, professional and managed services and cloud solutions, today announced it has received the 2016 Eduventures Innovation of the Year Award along with its client, Oral Roberts University (ORU). This prestigious award was given to ORU and strategic technology partners on October 24 at a ceremony in Boston to recognize creative use of technology to enhance student success at colleges and universities. This program was created to showcase the achievements of individuals and organizations that share Eduventures' vision for generating improved outcomes through innovative programming that supports critical areas of an institution. Since 2014 Carousel has been a strategic partner to ORU with enterprise-wide networking, Wi-Fi, and educational technologies, leveraging new paradigms to reach the world with ORU's "whole person education." The result of this partnership led to ORU trademarking a new concept called ORU Geovision technologies, which have successfully delivered a global vision to reach the world with its award-winning "whole person education. Carousel has delivered campus-wide innovation to numerous colleges and universities in the past decade, but few have been more exciting and impactful than the development of this world-class initiative at ORU. ORU's Geovision technologies started with the concept of simplification and integration by using wearable watch technology, Wi-Fi analytics, telepresence robots with streaming media, state-of-the-art digital classrooms, and augmented and virtual reality. The outcome of this collaborative work produced a streamlined technology ecosystem that allows all global citizens to engage in ORU's digital networked campus as "One Campus," which can transfer education and people around the world at the speed of light through the integrated ORU Geovision technology design. Carousel has collaborated with ORU on this multi-faceted initiative and helped to ensure that students have access to some of most innovative technologies in the world. Among the most impressive achievements that Carousel has helped ORU to attain include an 80 percent retention of its freshman class, the greatest three years of student growth, and a 40 percent efficiency improvement across the university's IT department. "Without Carousel Industries working side-by-side with ORU during the last two years, it is clear we would have taken twice as long to accomplish this initiative," said Michael Mathews, overall designer of ORU's Geovision technologies and ORU's CIO. "Carousel's insights, leadership and corporate team of experts have propelled ORU into an elite category of student services through Wi-Fi. Without Carousel, our wearable watch integration into the education system, telepresence, and Global touch into all the world would not be possible. This prestigious award is evidence that we have picked winning partners like Carousel." "We are pleased and honored to receive Eduventures 2016 Innovation Award along with our long-time client, Oral Roberts University," said Jim Marsh, Chief Revenue Officer, Carousel. "The One Campus' vision developed and implemented by Mike Mathews and his team both locally and globally is truly impressive and has set the gold standard in distance learning. Seeing our services and technologies help expand ORU's reach to educate students globallyusing the most advanced tools, including virtual reality, advanced video, and mobile platformshas been particularly gratifying." About Eduventures Eduventures is the leading research and advisory firm focused exclusively on analyzing the forces that are transforming higher education. About Oral Roberts University (ORU) ORU offers more than 65 undergraduate majors, as well as 14 master's-level programs and two doctoral degrees. Faculty members educated at the nation's top graduate schools serve as academic, professional and spiritual mentors to students. ORU continues to redefine what it means to be a leading Christian university by embracing a globalized format at home and abroad. The Tulsa campus is home to students from all 50 U.S. states and 90 international countries. ORU and its students also deliver the Whole Person distinctive to all inhabited regions through distance learning, study abroad, educational partnerships, missions and outreach work, all anchored in a Christian worldview via http://www.oru.edu. About Carousel Industries Carousel Industries is a recognized leader in helping organizations evolve the way they communicate and orchestrate the flow of information throughout their networks. Carousel enables clients to connect and collaborate the way modern IT users demand and advance from their current network infrastructure to meet tomorrow's standards. With deep expertise across a vast portfolio of communication, network, and security technologies, Carousel is able to design, implement, and support solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each customer. By offering professional and managed services with flexible deployments in the cloud, Carousel ensures clients achieve agility and utilize technologies in the way most effective for their business. Founded in 1992, Carousel serves more than 6,000 customers, including 35 of the Fortune 100. Carousel has been recognized by multiple publications and industry consortiums as a top technology integrator, managed services and cloud solution provider including the Inc. 500/5000, Healthcare Informatics 100, and CRN MSP Elite 150. Headquartered in Exeter, RI, Carousel has more than 1,400 employees based in 27 offices - with three Network Operating Centers nationwide. This is a good day for people all around the world The regulation which was ratified today in London and will come into force in 2020 requires vessels to burn fuel with a Sulphur content of less than 0.5 percent. Alternatively, owners can install Sox scrubbers, such as those produced by Yara, which remove virtually all Sulphur from the exhaust. Head of Yaras Industrial business, Yves Bonte, said the decision is positive for society, the environment and the industry. This is a good day for people all around the world, he says. The severe health and environmental damage caused by ship emissions could no longer be ignored. The decision gives shipowners time to comply and although there is a short-term investment, it will make the maritime industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly in the long term, he said. Studies link Sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions from ship exhausts to the death of tens of thousands of people each year mainly from cancer and heart and lung diseases. This is why North America, and parts of Europe and China already demand that ships use fuel with a Sulphur content of 0.1 percent or less. Under the new rules, only vessels with scrubbers installed will be allowed to have heavy fuel oil in their fuel tanks. Dr. Thomas Koniordos, Head of Environmental Solutions at Yara said scrubbers are the most cost-effective option because they enable shipowners to continue operating on heavy fuel oil instead of more costly low-sulfur fuels. We estimate that the investment in a scrubber is repaid in two to five years, depending on fuel prices and consumption, due to lower operational costs. So any ship with a lifetime of five years or longer will always benefit from such an investment. Because they meet the strictest requirements, ships with scrubbers can operate anywhere. They also reduce owners exposure to an increased price spread between heavy fuel oil and low-sulfur fuels, he explained. Yara has installed over 100 scrubbers (as well as 1500 NOx abatement (SCR) systems) on ships and onshore factories and its system is certified in full compliance with regulatory requirements. The company offers both bespoke and standardized solutions. Yara is making scrubbers smaller, easier to install, cheaper to operate, and even offers the ability to combine SOx and NOx reductions technologies on a single vessel. Yaras system is suitable for any type of vessel and can be retrofitted or installed on newbuilds. Retrofits can be performed while a vessel is in operation in order to avoid downtime (assuming the vessel has multiple engines). Newbuild installations take a minimum of six months from signature to operation. Contact Kristin Nordal, Media Relations Mobile: (+47) 90 01 55 50 E-mail: kristin.nordal(at)yara(dot)com Dr. Thomas Koniordos, Head of Environmental Solutions Phone: (+49) 151 11120231 E-mail: thomas.koniordos(at)yara(dot)com About Yara Marine Technologies Yara Marine Technologies offers complete emission control systems for Sox and NOx to the marine market. The company was established in 2014 following the acquisition of Green Tech Marine, by global industrial chemical corporation Yara International. Green Tech Marine has since its origin in 2008 been a forerunner in the emission reduction technology industry being the first company offering the inline SOx scrubber to the marine segment. Yara is also the largest supplier of NOx abatement equipment Selective Catalytic Reduction Reactors (SCR) in the world, with more than 1500 SCR systems installed since 2000. Installing Yara SCR systems allow marine customers to easily achieve reduction in NOx emissions by up to 99%. Whether ferries, seismic vessels, fishing travelers or supply vessels or yachts, Yara designs and delivers efficient and compact SCR systems that fit any vessel type. About Yara Yaras knowledge, products and solutions grow farmers, distributors and industrial customers businesses profitably and responsibly, while nurturing and protecting the earths resources, food and environment. Our fertilizers, crop nutrition programs and technologies increase yields, improve product quality and reduce the environmental impact of agricultural practices. Our industrial and environmental solutions improve air quality by reducing emissions from industry and transportation, and serve as key ingredients in the production of a wide range of goods. We foster a culture that promotes the safety of our employees, contractors and societies. Founded in 1905 to solve emerging famine in Europe, today, Yara has a worldwide presence, with close to 13,000 employees and sales to more than 150 countries. http://www.yara.com RapidVisa's Las Vegas team. Las Vegas makes a lot of sense for us from a business perspective. RapidVisa, an online immigrant visa processor, has announced it has opened its new headquarters in Chinatown, Las Vegas. The new office is located on the first floor of 6145 Spring Mountain Road. The company relocated to Nevada from Colorado due to Nevadas favorable regulations in the document preparation industry. In addition to the employees who relocated to Las Vegas from Colorado Springs, the company has hired and is continuing to hire to fill positions in its assembly and sales departments. Las Vegas makes a lot of sense for us from a business perspective, says Ben Ives, the companys founder and president. In addition to the states sensible document preparation regulations and lack of state income tax, Vegas is a vibrant city with a large immigrant population and has reasonable airfare to just about anywhere we need to travel, says Ives. Over 50% of RapidVisas customer base are Filipinos, which is expected to lead to more business and networking opportunities among the over 100,000 Filipinos who call Las Vegas home. The new headquarters is over triple the size of its former Colorado Springs headquarters, to accommodate current and future growth. The company has grown each year since its founding, and was featured in the 2016 Inc 5000 list at #1413, with a growth rate of 271%. We always think we have enough space but this is the fourth time the company has relocated its headquarters, says Marketing Manager Kyle Marvin. It wouldnt surprise me if we need to take over the rest of this building in a couple years, says Marvin. People interested in RapidVisas services can go to rapidvisa.com or call 800-872-1458. Las Vegas locals interested in working for RapidVisa are encouraged to submit resumes to rapidvisa.com/careers. About RapidVisa, Inc. Since its founding in 2006, RapidVisa has helped over 23,000 people from over 170 countries file their visa and green card petitions. With offices in the United States, China and the Philippines, RapidVisa offers full-service phone, chat and walk-in support 7 days a week and boasts a 99.7% visa approval rate. Contact: Kyle Marvin, Marketing Manager, RapidVisa, Inc. kyle(at)rapidvisa.com 719.208.7033 H. Hamilton Hackney III, a shareholder in the Boston office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, will serve as program chair for the Environmental Business Councils (EBC) Water Resources Program, The Ongoing Saga of the Massachusetts Small MS4 Stormwater General Permit: Whats Next? Hackney and fellow presenters will discuss the Small MS4 General Permit and explore issues raised by recent appeals, including what the appeals may mean for those who are directly and indirectly affected by the permit. The seminar will take place on November 3, 2016, from 7:30 10:30 a.m. at Greenberg Traurigs Boston office. Hackney is a shareholder in Greenberg Traurigs Environmental Practice and has broad experience in the areas of environmental law and commercial real estate. He represents clients in permit and other administrative proceedings, compliance counseling and enforcement matters, and response cost recovery and property damage actions. Hackneys environmental experience includes matters arising under federal, state, and local laws relating to asbestos, air and water emissions, hazardous waste, toxic chemicals, wetlands, stormwater, endangered species, environmental impact review, underground storage tanks, solid waste, and land use matters. He regularly advises corporate, real estate, and private equity clients with respect to investigating and managing environmental liabilities arising from corporate and real estate transactions, including the purchase, sale, and redevelopment of contaminated real estate under state and federal Brownfields programs. About Greenberg Traurigs Boston Office Established in 1999, Greenberg Traurigs Boston office is home to more than 65 attorneys practicing in the areas of corporate, emerging technology, governmental affairs, intellectual property, labor and employment, life sciences and medical technology, litigation, public finance, and real estate. An important contributor to the firm's international platform, the Boston office includes a team of nationally recognized attorneys with both public and private sector experience. The team offers clients the value of decades of legal experience and hands-on knowledge of the local business community, supported by the firm's vast network of global resources. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 2,000 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No. 1 on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, third largest in the U.S. on the 2015 Law360 400, Top 20 on the 2015 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2015 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: http://www.gtlaw.com. James M. Nelson, shareholder in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Phoenix, Sacramento, and Los Angeles offices, and co-chair of the firms National Labor & Employment Practices ERISA Litigation Team, has accepted an invitation to join the Board of Visitors of the James E. Rogers College of Law at The University of Arizona. Members of the Board of Visitors serve as both advisors to, and ambassadors for, the James E. Rogers College of Law. Their leadership in the legal community lends valuable insight that can help shape the future of the college and provide the best opportunities to students. The Board meets once each year to discuss how to best prepare law students to enter the legal profession, with a targeted emphasis on how the school can adapt to the changes and evolving methods that members of the Board observe in their own practice. Nelson represents employers and ERISA plan fiduciaries in matters concerning ERISA compliance, fiduciary responsibility, collective bargaining, wage and hour, employee benefits, safety, discrimination, wrongful termination, and other labor and employment issues. His experience includes complex litigation, class action defense, administrative proceedings and appeals, as well as advice and counseling to ERISA plan fiduciaries of single-employer and multi-employer plans. Nelson has counseled clients in numerous industries, including construction, transportation, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, and publishing. About Greenberg Traurig - Phoenix In Arizona, Greenberg Traurig counsels clients on a wide range of critical issues, such as dispute resolution, securities, labor and employment, real estate, public finance, bankruptcy, and intellectual property matters. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 2,000 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No. 1 on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, second largest in the U.S. on the 2016 Law360 400, Top 20 on the 2015 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2015 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: http://www.gtlaw.com. The ninth annual Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) National Lift-off will be from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Friday, October 28, at St. Aloysius Catholic School in Yoder, Indiana. The ACE program is provided by Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to schools across the nation. The Air Force Association (AFA) is the presenting sponsor of the program. St. Aloysius, a K-8th grade school in Yoder, near Fort Wayne, was selected to host the 2016-2017 event as recognition for being named the 2016 National ACE School, and having both a 2016 National ACE Student and the 2016 National ACE Educator at the school, Tony Vining. Tina Voors, principal of St. Aloysius, is excited to host this free K-8th grade STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program, stating, Our school has been so blessed to have Commander Tony Vining, the Fort Wayne CAP squadron commander, as our volunteer ACE instructor each Monday for two years, teaching our students about STEM via the ACE program. To be honored as the national lift-off site this year is quite humbling and challenging, as we want to continue to make this program more beneficial to all of our students! Special guests attending the National Lift-off will be Sue Mercer and Susan Mallett, members of the ACE team from CAP National Headquarters, as well as dedicated volunteer members from Indianas CAP and AFA. Lt. Col. Sam Hornbuckle, the CAP Indiana Wing chief of staff, will represent CAPs Indiana Wing, along with the Indiana Wing director of aerospace education, Lt. Col. Frank Merrill. The local Fort Wayne CAP squadron will be represented by Vining, as well as Cadet Tech. Sgt. Robert RJ Anderson, who is currently taking his private pilot lessons as a CAP cadet. Cadet Airmen 1st Class Samuel Sharp and Thomas Baxter plan to join Anderson in trying to inform intermediate students about the benefits of CAP cadet programs with STEM career exploration, flying and scholarship opportunities. Another honored guest will be Capt. David Ehrman, a CAP pilot and leader of aerospace education and cadet programs in the Fort Wayne squadron. Ehrman is the 24th recipient of the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award, which is the highest honor achieved by CAP cadets. Representing the Air Force Association will be the AFAs Great Lakes Region president, Paul Lyons, and the Fort Wayne AFA Chapter 143 president, Brandon Monticue. Fort Wayne AFA Chapter 143 is the sponsor for St. Aloysius Catholic School, providing ACE shirts for each student. Lyons, who is also a member of Chapter 143, noted, The AFA in Indiana is very pleased to be able to provide financial and personnel support to the educators at St. Aloysius in an effort to fulfill the AFAs mission to spread interest in and preparation for STEM careers in both the civilian and military sectors. Working with young people, to help inspire them toward new ideas for their futures, is quite exciting to our AFA membership and we are proud to be a part of this relevant, free STEM program for schools. Fridays event will include a Lutheran Air helicopter landing and static display/tours on the school grounds, as well as several STEM speakers who hope to motivate students toward an interest in STEM subjects and careers. Starr Martin, the 5th-8th grade reading and science teacher at St. Aloysius who helps Vining conduct the schools ACE program, will be honored with a free CAP Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) flight over the school during the program. During Martins flyover, students and staff on the ground will stand in a cross formation to represent the school, and she will take aerial photographs of the activity. The students also will release red balloons for drug-free awareness. The balloons will be attached with tags to be returned to the school so the students can track where and how far they traveled. After the National Lift-off program, the students will be involved in STEM activities for the rest of the day. The ACE program is provided at no cost to schools across the nation by Civil Air Patrol and the Air Force Association. Aimed at grades K-6 (to grade 8), the grade-level specific program uses an aerospace theme to enhance all academic subjects (emphasis on STEM), as well as promote good character and physical fitness. Since the programs inception in 2007, more than 100,000 students in 38 states have been involved in the program that increases early interest in STEM careers. School contact: Principal Tina Voors 14607 Bluffton Road Yoder, IN 46798 260-622-7151 tvoors(at)saintaloysiusyoder(dot)info CAP/AFA contact: Susan Mallett afa(at)capnhq(dot)gov 334-201-5224 Dattos enhancements announced today build on our long history of making MSPs successful and delivering great value for their end customers. Datto, the leading provider of total data protection solutions for businesses around the world, today announced accelerated growth across EMEA during its record setting DattoCon EMEA partner conference. With partner attendance up a staggering 178 percent compared to last year, Datto unveiled several product updates designed to help Dattos MSP partners continue expanding their market opportunities by protecting business data, no matter where it lives. Over the course of 2016, Datto has experienced significant growth in EMEA resulting in unprecedented demand for Dattos solutions. Datto continues to expand and is currently supporting partners in 18 countries across the region. Dattos Reading, UK office increased headcount by 60 percent this year in addition to opening a new European headquarters to keep up with employee growth. With EMEA revenue up 50 percent compared to this time last year and expectations for continued growth, Datto is making additional investments in the region in 2017 and beyond. DattoCon EMEA has become the largest MSP channel event in Europe with more than 300 MSPs in attendance. With a security theme for the event, attendees will hear from featured luminaries such as Dame Stella Rimington, former general director of MI5, the UKs domestic counterintelligence and security agency, and Jamie Bartlett, Daily Telegraph journalist and author of The Dark Net. Dame Stella will highlight her work leading all three departments of MI5, including counter surveillance, counter subversion and counter terrorism, and Bartlett will discuss todays cybersecurity climate and online privacy, respectively. During the mornings conference keynote, Datto CEO Austin McChord launched several new software and hardware updates to support its fast growing MSP partner base in EMEA, including the worlds first Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solution to combat ransomware. Of particular interest to EMEA partners looking to store their customers data in region is the new release of geographical backup replication across Dattos EMEA data centers. In 2016, Datto opened several European data centers to offer EMEA partners more choice, including data centers in Iceland and Frankfurt, Germany. In order to support MSPs in EMEA and beyond, Datto announced the following new solutions and enhancements: Datto SIRIS 3, the fully integrated total data protection platform, now includes the industrys first ransomware detection capability. When ransomware is detected, SIRIS 3 notifies admins and allows them to roll back to a state before the ransomware hit, saving businesses from downtime and avoiding the ransom. Further, SIRIS 3 now includes advanced screenshot verification, providing script execution to ensure even the most complex backups are viable. A local instance of Dattos file sync and share solution, Datto Drive, as well as four new device options - the all flash 2 Terabyte (TB) S3X2, and new 80, 100 and 120 TB enterprise devices ensure SIRIS 3 sets a new benchmark for disaster recovery. Datto NAS 3, the cloud protected network storage solution, now offers Infinite Cloud Retention (ICR). ICR allows customers to save all of their data to the Datto Cloud indefinitely, regardless of capacity used. In addition, Datto NAS 3 is available with all new hardware, as well as block level deduplication for local shares. Two additional features, NAS Guard and Datto Drive local, make Datto NAS 3 the network storage appliance of choice for small and medium-sized businesses. NAS Guard allows Datto NAS to connect with, back up and protect in the cloud any data stored anywhere on local network storage. Datto Drive local brings all of the benefits of Datto Drive file sync and share to the local network device. Datto Backupify, the cloud-to-cloud data protection solution, added several features, including new pricing tiers and new seat management capabilities. EMEA MSPs can now individually select which cloud user accounts to back up in order to manage costs. Also unveiled was the new management panel, simplifying the management, monitoring and troubleshooting of customer accounts via the partner portal. Partners can now easily purchase and provision Datto Backupify licenses to protect their customers data in the cloud. Other announcements include 2 Factor Authentication for the Partner Portal and an updated Status 2.0 that makes monitoring and managing Datto Devices simpler with configurable alert thresholds. Datto Drive enhancements were also released, including user activity reporting, daily backups, management utilities, and custom theming. Our clients cant afford downtime or data loss as a result of a disaster or cyberattack, said Colin Blumenthal, Managing Director, Complete I.T. When a disaster does strike, we need products that we can rely on to save our clients businesses. Datto provides fully integrated products that help us demonstrate value and build trust by protecting their data, so that when the worst happens, we can quickly recover business services. Businesses around the world entrust their data and daily operations to Managed Service Providers, which is why our partners need every advantage to be heroes when their clients need them the most, said Austin McChord, founder and CEO of Datto. Dattos enhancements announced today build on our long history of making MSPs successful and delivering great value for their end customers. Andrew Stuart, Managing Director of Datto EMEA commented on the developments, Rapid, reliable data recovery is high on MSPs priority lists, especially given the growing number of risks to businesses. Partners at DattoCon were given a first glimpse of new additions to Dattos portfolio which serve as potent weapons to help our EMEA partner base protect critical business data for their customers. For a look at the new Datto features or information on how to become a Datto partner, visit http://www.datto.com/partners. Conventus to Host Live Webinar on Cyber Security and Disaster Planning for Medical Practices Conventus, New Jerseys premier professional liability insurer formed by and governed through an alliance of independent physicians, will host a live webinar, Protect Your Practice: Cyber Security & Disaster Planning, next month. This educational event, presented by Nelson Gomes, President and CEO of PriorityOne Group, will give physicians and medical practices a stronger understanding of how to prevent and recover from damaging cyber attacks. The webinar is scheduled for 12:00 PM 1:00 PM ET on November 16, 2016. With medical practices a main target for cyber attacks and ransomware, its critical to have IT security measures and a disaster plan in place. Attendees of the live webinar will learn how to correct common IT security mistakes and actionable tips for implementing security measures, complying with HIPAA requirements, and recovering if data is breached or compromised. Topics Covered Top patient privacy and security concerns Common compliance and security mistakes medical groups make Proper IT security and compliance Simple security measures your practice can implement now Strategies for preventing and recovering from a cyber attack Key disaster planning takeaways Thirteen years ago when Conventus was formed to address a medical professional liability insurance crisis in New Jersey, the focus was solely on helping physicians succeed and that fundamental concept has only grown stronger over the years. To register for the webinar, visit http://www.conventusnj.com/webinars/cyber-security.aspx About Conventus Inter-Insurance Exchange As New Jerseys premier professional liability insurer formed by and governed through an alliance of physicians, Conventus is devoted to serving the best interests of independent physician practices. Conventus members and their staff enjoy exclusive access to insurance products and highly personalized services, gaining the practical knowledge and expert resources they need to improve practice performance, better serve their patients, and remain independent. The Conventus team prides itself on being forward lookers and solution partners whose sole purpose is to help independent physician practices thrive in todays rapidly changing healthcare environment. Learn more at http://www.conventusnj.com. Follow Conventus on Twitter @ConventusNJ and LinkedIn at Conventus Inter-Insurance Exchange About PriorityOne Group Our clients say that our commitment to their success and our ability to deliver on our promise is what sets us apart. The combination of knowledge, experience and resources has made us successful. Technical proficiency, experience in the field, perseverance, and our commitment to excellence are the reasons why PriorityOne Group is the best choice as your technology solutions provider. Since our founding, PriorityOne Group has successfully managed, implemented, and provided, support for many clients large and small. We continue to provide services to a vast array of clients from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups starting up. Our strength is in our ability to adapt ourselves to the clients needs and provide customized solutions to meet their individual requirements. We measure our success by the success of our clients. As a result, we have earned more business from our clients over the years. Sibername - Perfect solutions for your web presence in the field of education. SiberName: Promoting education. Canadian Registrar SiberName announces that the new Top Level Domains: .courses ($63.45) and .study ($43.95) are now open to all registrants. Individuals, institutions and businesses involved in teaching or training are eligible to register .courses domains. This applies equally to onsite or online courses. Individuals, groups, and businesses involved in facilitating learning are eligible to register .study domains. This is effective immediately. Anyone can register. As always though, first-come, first-served. There is greater competition for courses being offered by educators in the public and private sectors. Students no longer limit their course searches to .edu institutions. Since the Internet is where students now shop for their learning or training needs, it pays to be found more easily using .courses domains. Registering domains with these extensions bumps up search engine rankings and shows commitment and focus to certain courses. The sponsoring organization is the Open Universities Australia Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia About SiberName: SiberName is a Canadian registrar and web-hosting company located in Ottawa, Canada. Since 2000 SiberName as been providing Internet consulting services to a wide range of companies and individuals requiring the implementation and hosting of new technologies for their online presence. SiberNames mission is to be the best host of Internet solutions that help increase the online sustainability and mobility of small businesses, individuals and re-sellers. For more information, email: support(at)sibername(dot)com Charles J. Kolin and Michael D. Robson, corporate & securities shareholders in the Chicago office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, will speak at the Private Placements Global Forum on Nov. 2 at the Grange St. Pauls Hotel in London. The event, sponsored by Greenberg Traurig, brings together experts speaking on the key issues for European corporations issuing in the private placement market and the key investment opportunities for global investors. Kolins panel, The Private Placement Market: Where are we Now? will review the global private placement market and developments in the European market at 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 2. Robsons panel, Cross Border Funding for Infrastructure & Projects, takes place Nov. 3 at 2:15 p.m. The event is presented by IIR & IBC Financial Events, which provides conferences and training courses in sectors including accounting, fund management, alternative investment, private equity, banking, corporate finance, audit, risk, private client, and corporate tax. Kolin focuses his practice on corporate, project, and facility finance transactions (both domestic and cross-border), with an emphasis on private placements of debt securities (traditional and Rule 144A), leasing, bilateral, and syndicated bank credit facilities, and other debt-styled investments. He represents insurance companies, pension funds, banks, finance companies, and other institutional investors. Kolin is currently the co-chair of the Transaction Process Management Committee of the ACIC and, in that capacity, is part of the group responsible for the continued development of the model form note purchase agreements which are used as the starting template to document for global debt private placement transactions. Robson focuses his practice on private placements of debt, both secured and unsecured; complex project and facility financings; lease finance; real estate transactions; and equipment financings and credit tenant loans. Additionally, Robson reviews leases and project-related agreements and negotiates and documents financing arrangements, and advises on NAIC-governed "Schedule D" bond transactions. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 2,000 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No. 1 on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, second largest in the U.S. on the 2016 Law360 400, Top 20 on the 2015 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2015 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: http://www.gtlaw.com. Lisa M. Nyuli: Candidate for ISBA 3rd VP "I'm happy to have the opportunity to continue to serve Illinois lawyers and the ISBA. I will focus on addressing the concerns of the profession as we face challenges from lack of jobs to competition from national companies," says Nyuli. Illinois Attorney Lisa M. Nyuli is pleased to announce her candidacy for the position of 3rd Vice President of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). Nyuli has served as an active member of the Association for over 25 years. She is currently an assembly member and holds a position on the Illinois Bar Foundations Board of Directors, where she also serves as vice chair and is a member of The Fellows Program. In 2014, she served as the Associations treasurer. Nyuli is also a frequent presenter for ISBA continuing legal education seminars and events across the state. Nyuli is a partner at the law firm of Ariano Hardy Ritt Nyuli Richmond Lytle & Goettel P.C. located in South Elgin, Illinois. Nyuli holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1986), and a J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law (1989). Her legal practice is primarily focused on family law, and she is a certified guardian ad litem. Nyuli is a past president of the Kane County Bar Association (KCBA) and Kane County Bar Foundation. In 2003, she received the Family Law Achievement Award from the Associations Family Law Committee. During her service with the KCBA, she was also fundamental in the establishment of the Childrens Waiting Room in the Kane County Judicial Center. Nyuli is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Additionally, she was named a 2016 Illinois Leading Lawyer, and she has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer for six consecutive years since 2012. Nyuli is also a Top Rated Divorce Attorney on AVVO based on exceptional peer endorsements and client reviews. In 2005, the Northern Illinois University College of Law Alumni Council named Nyuli, Alumnus of the Year. Beyond her legal practice, Nyuli contributes to the local community through numerous volunteer initiatives. She is a volunteer attorney for Administer Justice and Prairie State Legal Services. She also volunteers with Family Counseling Services, YWCA Legal Aid, and Joseph Corporation located in West Suburban Aurora, Illinois. In Kane County, Nyuli is a member of the St. Charles Breakfast Rotary Club. "I'm happy to have the opportunity to continue to serve Illinois lawyers and the ISBA. I will focus on addressing the concerns of the profession as we face challenges from lack of jobs to competition from national companies," says Nyuli. The ISBA election will be held during April 2017. Official voting instructions and e-ballots will be sent out to Association members upon the commencement of the election. To learn more about Lisa Nyuli and how to support her campaign visit her website at http://www.lisanyuli.com. Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn The rankings use a proprietary formula that takes into account academic strength and affordability in order to provide a list of colleges offering high quality online education at the best value. SR Education Group, an education publisher founded in 2004, has just announced a substantial update to its flagship website, Guide to Online Schools: the 2017 Top Online Colleges. The rankings use a proprietary formula that takes into account academic strength and affordability in order to provide a list of colleges offering high quality online education at the best value. All colleges on the lists have annual tuition rates of $15,000 or less. SR Education Group has named the the University of Maryland - College Park the #1 Top Online College. The University of Washington - Seattle and Cedarville University round out the top 3 on the overall ranking. The University of North Georgia is the #1 pick for online Associate Degrees; Fort Hays State University is #1 for online Bachelors degrees; Georgia Institute of Technology is #1 for online Masters degrees; and Montana State University is #1 for online Doctoral degrees. A lot of education publishers release rankings of the best colleges, but a list based solely on prestige is not always the most relevant resource for the vast majority of prospective students, says Sung Rhee, CEO of SR Education Group. Not everyone can get into Harvard or MIT. Most students want a college education that is both high quality and affordable. They care about value. Our ranking was designed to achieve that. SR Education Group has been researching and publishing content about online colleges since 2004, and has been publishing online college rankings since 2010. This years Top Online Colleges methodology employs manually researched, degree-specific tuition rates along with data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). For schools that met the criteria, academic strength factors and annual tuition rates were entered into a proprietary algorithm to determine value score and rank order. The result is a ranking that highlights schools with records of academic success and commitment to affordability. All schools that made the overall 2017 Top Online Colleges ranking offer at least 10 fully online degrees, and the average annual tuition rate of the ranked schools is just $9,020. The University of Maryland - College Park earned the #1 spot for providing stellar academics at affordable rates. Morningside College has the lowest annual tuition on the overall list, offering an online masters degree for just $4,320 per year. Fort Hays State University, which offers an online Bachelors degree for an annual tuition of $6,217, is ranked on 4 out of this years 5 lists: #1 for Bachelors degrees, #3 for Associate programs, #12 for Masters degrees, and #16 overall. Georgia Tech, known for its innovative, low-cost online graduate programs, tops the list of Top Online Masters Degrees and offers an annual tuition rate of $5,100. SR Education Group will be continuing their research into the cost and quality of online colleges and will be publishing over 100 program-specific Top Online Colleges rankings throughout 2017. The upcoming rankings will maintain an emphasis on value by providing lists of schools offering online programs with high academic standards and low annual tuition rates. About SR Education Group Headquartered in Kirkland, WA, SR Education Group was founded in 2004 by CEO Sung Rhee. The companys mission is to create authoritative online resources for students seeking an online education program that best suits their budget and career aspirations. SR Education Group is passionate about making quality education attainable for everyone and believes that objective information about education, careers, and educational financing should be free and easily accessible. For more information, please visit http://www.sreducationgroup.org/. RE/MAX Alliance Realtor Lenny Maiocco is proud to announce he will be participating in the Community Food Share 32nd annual Lets Bag Hunger Food Drive. In order to help Community Food Share meet its goal of 90,000 pounds of food, Maiocco will be volunteering at King Soopers grocery store, 1375 E. South Boulder Road, in Louisville, CO, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 13, as a greeter, encouraging and reminding shoppers to donate to Community Food Share. This is a great cause to help fight hunger in our community, said Maiocco. I strongly encourage everyone in the community to come down to King Soopers on November 13 and help support Community Food Share. Community Food Shares mission is to be a leader in its communitys effort to end hunger in Boulder and Broomfield Counties. It supplies food to local nonprofit organizations, that in turn distribute the food to their clients, free of charge. Approximately 45 local human service agencies rely on Community Food Share for free food to pass on to their clients. Community Food Shares 32nd annual Lets Bag Hunger Food Drive takes place from November 13-23. To volunteer as a grocery store greeter, encouraging and reminding shoppers to donate to Community Food Share, for a 2.5-hour shift at one of its participating grocery stores in Boulder, Broomfield, Louisville, Lafayette or Niwot, please visit http://communityfoodshare.org/get-involved/. About The Maiocco Group, RE/MAX Alliance on Walnut Lenny Maiocco, broker at The Maiocco Group, works with sellers, buyers, and investors. Go to eColoradoProperties.com for more info. They service the entire Front Range of Colorado including Boulder, Louisville, Superior, Lafayette, Broomfield, Longmont, Niwot, Erie, Westminster, Denver, Lakewood, Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Firestone/Frederick and everywhere in between. For more information, please call (720) 201-1114. The main office is located at 1911 11th St., Suite 107, Boulder, CO 80302. About the NALA The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361. If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. LG wouldn't have stopped implementation of 'Red Light on Gaadi off' campaign without instructions from BJP: Delhi minister Gopal Rai. News World news Lavrov: Russia Needs EU Guarantees to Extend Turkish Stream to Europe We will be ready to extend Turkish Stream to the territory of the European Union only after we received an unambiguous formal paper, Lavrov said AUTHOR: publics.bg Gazprom Moscow has become more wary about doing gas deals with Brussels after the EU blocked Russia's South Stream pipeline, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "After the failure of South Stream, we will be ready to extend Turkish Stream to the territory of the European Union only after we received an unambiguous formal paper that guarantees the implementation of this project," Lavrov said on Tuesday, speaking to European businessmen in Moscow, RT Reported. Lavrov stressed that, according to experts, "in the foreseeable future it will be very difficult for EU countries to live without Russian energy resources. An agreement to build the Turkish Stream pipeline was reached in December 2014. It was assumed the pipeline would replace South Stream that had been blocked by the EU. In October, Russia and Turkey signed the deal on the pipeline that can handle up to 32 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller said he expects the project will be completed by 2019. For Turkey, this means another natural gas pipeline that will promote the country as a global energy hub. For Russia, the project is important because it will bypass the territory of Ukraine as a transit country, which has repeatedly proven itself as unreliable partner, said economist Anna Glazova in an interview with Izvestia daily. On a blustery fall day, members of the childrens book community gathered for BookFest at Bank Street on Manhattans Upper West Side. The annual event, which featured panel discussions between illustrators, authors, educators, and critics, was held on October 22 at the Bank Street Center for Childrens Literature. The first panel of the day was titled Reading with Pictures: Visual Literacy Yesterday and Today. Speakers were Lindsey Wyckoff, archivist, Bank Street College of Education; Rudy Gutierrez, illustrator; Francoise Mouly, publisher, Toon Books and art editor, the New Yorker; and author-illustrator Raul Colon. Childrens literature historian Leonard S. Marcus kicked off the discussion by reflecting on how, as adults, individuals often seem to lose the ability to really see the visual world as an expressive medium, instead, exhibiting discomfort when it comes to looking at pictures in a meaningful way. In speaking briefly about the history of Bank Street and the recent exhibition he curated, The Picture Book Reimagined (for which Wyckoff worked as an archivist), Marcus reflected on the early days of Bank Street, when it was very much a community of illustrators and writers as well as educators. One question that the Bank Street community wrestled with was whether characters in books for very young children should have faces, because it was reasoned that faceless characters would allow children to more easily envision themselves in the books. Marcus asked the panelists to comment on the matter of faces in childrens books and how children are represented and seen in picture books today. As a child, I identified with everything, Colon said, noting that children do not always need concrete representations or images that reflect their own lives, because through their imaginations, they are able to relate to forge connections. Mouly agreed that picture books need not necessarily show readers mirror images of themselves or their realities; in fact, children can see characters in very abstract shapes. She added that gatekeepers can benefit by being trusting of what an artist can provide... let the artists tell the story, she said. Gutierrez (Spirit Seeker: John Coltranes Musical Journey) believes that childrens books can work to overcome borders, labels, and categories, and that child readers are the prime audience for such nonrestrictive ideas and representations. We underestimate kids, he said. He referenced a particular school visit, when a child asked him the rather unconventional question, Do you paint auras? While young readers have the imaginative capacity to embrace all sorts of representations of the world, abstract or concrete, its up to parents to buy these books that break down borders, he said. In terms of their own childhoods, Marcus asked the panelists to comment on the first images they recall making a lasting impact on them. Colon was more drawn toward his older sisters books than to his own. One image that especially stands out in his memory is that of the headless horseman in Washington Irvings The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Its hard to forget, Marcus commented. For Gutierrez, an image that is burned into his mind from a young age was one he saw while walking down the street in his neighborhood in the South Bronx: the drawing of a body, which he later learned was a police drawing demarcating where a victim had been. Despite the sobering connotations of the drawing, it helped Gutierrez to first realize that, from graffiti to hieroglyphics, drawing is communication, and that we remember visualizations. Mouly remembers that, in school, she worked hard to get the prizes awarded to students. One such prize was an illustrated book of fairy tales with images that stand out to her as being particularly formative. Lindsey Wyckoff, meanwhile, counts Crockett Johnson's "large, orange carrot" that appears in Ruth Krausss The Carrot Seed, as one of the first images that had an impact on her. For Marcus, some of the images that he recalls from childhood are those of the political cartoons that he used to cut out once his parents threw them away. As is the case with comics, the key to their power is perhaps as much about content as it is about what is left out. Turning back to the panelists, Marcus asked them to discuss what gets left out in pictures? In Colons wordless picture book, Draw!, the pictures tell the story by offering clues that lead from one visual to another. He believes that children provide the in-between content that falls between the words and the pictures. For school visits, he has even had children write their own words for the book. So, in a sense, what is left out of pictures is that component of the experience that is provided through a readers individual interpretation. Mouly commented that she believes there is a misconception that in an image, the meaning is spelled out for you but its not true. An image requires viewers to actively decipher its content. In some early readers, words are meant to reinforce and echo what appears in the pictures. To her, this is a waste of effort. In creating and designing books for very young readers, her belief is that you make sure that readers want to read the words because they are so intrigued by what they see in the images, that they want to learn more. Comics in particular offer layers of communication for readers through symbols, ciphers, and other tools, Mouly said. Gutierrez commented, I love the idea of an in-between that is the domain of the reader and viewer to interpret. He added that he believes there is also an underneath, and suggested that, as an illustrator, one of his most important roles is in opening windows and doors so that readers can discover for themselves. In closing out the conversation, Mouly added that we think children want fantasy from stories, but what they really get from books is a sense of structure, or architecture upon which they can build. Beyond Words: Storytelling Through Pictures Furthering the conversation about visual literacy were author and illustrators Herve Tullet, Angela Dominguez, Laurent Linn, Jason Chin, Brian Pinkney, and Christopher Myers. Susannah Richards, associate professor of education at Eastern Connecticut State University, moderated. Richards asked the panelists to reflect on the types of images that held an early influence on them. For Linn, the TV and film he watched as a child and teenager greatly informed the work he does today. As a result of these influences, he believes that he often thinks in a very cinematic way, and in terms of framing, scenes, and peak moments. Dominguez was very interested in fine art and art history growing up, though she also cut out pictures from a lot of popular magazines. For Pinkney, the first images I saw were of myself, he said. He was referring, of course, to how his father, Jerry Pinkney, often used him as a model for his picture books. This experience of literally seeing himself as characters stuck with him, and as a result, he still has an instinct to embody the characters that he himself creates. My dad didnt love me like that, kidded Myers. On a more serious note, Myers shared how his work has been influenced by other visualities beyond drawing and painting, to include art forms like quilt-making. He spoke about how the realities of artists early life can continue to play a role in their work, and that artists borrow from many different visual sources. He shared his experiences working with refugee children in Germany. While the children didnt have a lot of familiarity or experience with traditional modes of art-making, one thing that the kids knew a lot about were maps, which were instrumental in their own experiences of immigrating from their home countries to Germany. So he had the children all create their own, personal maps. Chin reported that he was heavily influenced by film as a kid and was especially captivated by Star Wars. He also remembered thinking that art museums were boring, until he encountered an image that changed his mind Howard Pyles painting Marooned. The panelists next discussed some of the more challenging aspects of doing the work that they do and whether collaborating with authors who have their own visions is ever an obstacle. On the topic of overcoming difficulties in art-making, for Pinkney, sometimes certain projects just take a while to find themselves. He had originally intended for his picture book On the Ball to be a graphic novel, and created over 1500 images for the story. He then tried to shape the story into a wordless chapter book. But neither of those formats was right for the story; eventually, he whittled down the illustrations to work as a standard-length picture book. For his book Water Is Water, Chin had difficulties determining what story the book was trying to tell and also struggled with images that he felt, intuitively, werent working. He credits his editor, Neal Porter, with talking me off the ledge when he was in crisis over the book. For Domiguez, she spoke about the difficulties she had in channeling and conveying nuanced, complicated emotions into the illustrations for Medinas Mango, Abuela, and Me. Linns novel Draw the Line involves a hate crime, and he said he struggled with creating the books scenes of brutality. Though Linn recognizes that teens can handle a lot and he intended the book to serve as a dark tunnel into light, it was still, as he describes exceedingly difficult. On the topic of creating images that depict violence, overwhelming emotions, or other difficult content, Myers observed that illustrations can serve a very powerful role for children. There is a lot that is unspeakable or that lies beyond words in their lives. Particularly for children experiencing trauma, illustrations provide a tremendous service to them by enabling them to think the unspeakable without necessarily having to say it. He added that visuality can bridge that unspeakable gap. Tullet added that there are many different ways of speaking within picture books that also lie beyond words and are universal we forget sounds, he said. There are so many ways with books to speak, he said. He added that, when he presents his books to groups of children, his translators are disappointed, because he doesnt need them. The panelists also spoke about the characteristics that define and set picture books apart from other art forms. Chin sees picture books as being a process of stringing images together.... I do a single image and it doesnt work for me. Linn agreed, saying that, while artists are traditionally taught to create portraits or still lifes, picture book art is different: picture books are more like film in the way they unfold, while Dominguez believes that successful picture books work in service of creating a good page turn. For Myers, the picture book is unique in that it functions as both a serial and an object.... Im interested in anything that can straddle these two forms, while Tullet sees readers experiences of his dots and scribbles as a critical piece of the book itself. Finally, the authors spoke about the timely matter of appropriation in childrens literature, with Myers saying that Im religious about the idea that I dont want anybody to tell me what to write. However, speaking of religion, he noted that childrens books are the only communal literature besides holy books and are ritual objects. As such, its critical that those who create childrens books take their roles on with care and integrity taking the time to do it right. Linn piped in, saying if every character in my book was me, it would be called therapy. But though writers and artists can and should have the freedom to tell the stories they feel personally driven to tell, we need creators of books from every walk of life, he said. Thinking About The Whole Book Taking the stage as a solo presenter was Megan Dowd Lambert, author of Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See. She spoke about her pioneering approach to reading to children, which she calls The Whole Book Approach. She described the approach as taking into account the in-between and the underneath that the previous panelists had discussed as existing within the world of a picture book. The approach also focuses on the book itself as a physical object. Lambert frequently reads to groups of children including at the Eric Carle Museum and puts to use the Whole Book Approach. At its core, the approach to reading stories purports that we learn better when we construct our own knowledge. Using a variety of images from books by many of the featured panelists, including spreads from Firebird, illustrated by Christopher Myers; Look Up! Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer, illustrated by Raul Colon; and Redwoods; and Coral Reefs, illustrated by Jason Chin, she demonstrated how trim size, frames, and layouts work in tandem with an images content for instance, picture book biographies often use portrait layout, while books about journeys often use landscape layout. A square layout can conjure feelings of either safety and security or claustrophobia and tension. Lambert demonstrated to the audience how a reading session might go, using the jacket cover image for Wings, illustrated by Christopher Myers. She invited attendees to share their impressions of the image of an African-American boy with wings flying over an urban landscape or, in other words, to read a picture. Lamberts presentations also include looking at a books front matter and end-papers. When presenting to readers, she even encourages them to use such book terminology as gutter when describing elements of a book. As far as shes concerned, if a child can identify every dinosaur in a book, why not learn a little vocabulary relating to the book itself? In terms of reading the pictures in a story, Lambert believes that kids, like all of us, are trying to make meaning. Looking at features of design like typography, speech balloons, knock-out type, and frames, she believes, gets kids thinking about process and problem-solving. Design is expressive, something to read as surely as words, she said. She related an anecdote about how looking closely at elements of a picture can help readers to see the story in whole new ways. During one story session, a little girl announced that she had already heard Where the Wild Things Are millions of times. To enliven and refresh her experience of the book, Lambert asked her to just watch the frames, which change throughout the story as Maxs bedroom transforms. After the reading, the little girl turned to her with an expression of awe on her face: My book at home doesnt do that, she said. And... Action! Graphic novelists then spoke on a panel called Capturing the Action: Graphic Novels and Visual Literacy. The speakers were authors and illustrators Jorge Aguirre, Deb Lucke, Raul Gonzalez III, and George OConnor. Jesse Karp, a professor at Pratt Institute, moderated. He kicked off the discussion by describing how graphic novels hold a vital and unique position in the landscape, and calling them the perfect engines of visual storytelling. The panelists spoke about how their artistic processes, how they go about embarking on new graphic novel projects, what they see as the characteristics of a successful graphic novel, and the experience of collaborating with authors or illustrators. For Aguirre, much of his process is really the process of rewriting. In order for a project to work for Aguirre, he sees the critical components being a clear emotional journey for characters, characters that kick butt, and a central idea that he likes enough to see through to its fruition. Gonzalez spoke about how he works in collaboration with Cathy Camper for the Lowriders in Space series. When he receives Cathys text, he focuses on making her script work very well visually, and on conceptually thinking about the artistry in the book. As Lowriders in Space features a cast of Latino characters and includes words in Spanish, Gonzalez was able to reference his own childhood growing up in Mexico when thinking about costuming and the characters environment. OConnor, who both writes and illustrates his graphic novels, spoke about the separation between the two mediums. For him, I cant really write a script and then illustrate. Instead, he engages in a back and forth process, creating key images and snippets of text. Images and words work in direct communication with one another, even throughout the process of creation. There are certain advantages to both writing and illustrating a book, in terms of having that cohesiveness of vision. Its clear when a writer and artist dont have the same vision, he said. For Lucke, who also writes and illustrates, she sees graphic novels as being akin to movies, and the act of creating them being more like crafting a screenplay. In terms of her roles as writer and illustrator, as the characters become more and more clear to her, I switch hats based on what I know. Whenever I get stuck, Ill draw, she said. Some of the devices that Lucke uses in her work include utilizing weather to convey emotional states, a device that can be trite in words, but works well visually, and showing characters as they react to other characters. In the case of her Lunch Witch, she conveys the characters emotions in a novel way with the bats that fly around her head. Karp asked the panelists how they go about effectively conveying emotion in their graphic novels and what elements add up to a successful comic book. For OConnor, facial features, body language, use of color, and pulling back on a shot for example, to show that a character is alone can all help to generate emotions. In terms of the overall impact of a comic book and what elements contribute to its success, OConnor typically has a visceral reaction to the artwork, saying that if the art doesnt invite him in right away, hes unlikely to read it. Ideally, the art and story complement each other to where Im not aware Im looking at art. He added that the best comic book reading experience is one in which the reader is subsumed in it. The panelists also talked about the differences between creating picture books and graphic novels, with OConnor describing what he feels is the tremendous challenge inherent in working in a format that is so succinct. Saying that a 32-page picture book can be such a perfect gem, he added that the difficulty lies in that you cant have any fat in a picture book, he said. The speakers also addressed the question of superheroes in the comics and graphic novels of today. This is the industry that Superman built, said Karp. What did superheroes give us? OConnor believes that we have in large part moved away from superheroes. However, the Greek Gods in his Olympians series owe a clear debt to the legacy of superheroes. Im a bit of an outlier because of the clear superhero influence, he said. Gonzalez credits superhero comics with playing a significant role in his own artistic development; he recalled, as a child, visiting the wonderful museum that happened to be right in his neighborhood the local 7-11 with its spinner rack of comics. Lucke said she came to comics through fine art.The only superhero I could really relate to was underdog. Partially lamenting what he sees as comic book superheroes fading from interest, Aguirre recalled that comics were huge for me.... My sons are not interested in super heroes. He noted that part of the reason behind the lessoning popularity of comic book superheroes may be that they have become much more expensive than they once were. Finally, the panelists shared some of the pivotal works or individuals that have most influenced their own careers. Gonzalez credits the librarians in Mexico who exposed him to so many books and encouraged his own development as a reader and illustrator, while OConnor sees Bill Watterson and Calvin and Hobbes as one of his primary influences. Coming across the work of Italian artist Lorenzo Mottotti was eye-opening for LuckeWHO?, and for Aguirre, one of the most profound influences on his development came from the encouragement of his fifth grade teacher. I blame her! he said. Turning to the audience, which was comprised of many educators and librarians, Karp noted how, when asked to name the forces that contributed most to their success, they say you! Keynote speaker Pam Munoz Ryan closed out the days events with a moving and lyrical speech about her career as an author and the significant role of childrens literature in her life both professionally and personally. She described her upbringing in a blue-collar family in Bakersfield, Calif. Early on, her half-Mexican heritage awakened in her a love for ghost stories and mystery, while Catholicism taught her to believe in the saints. Born on Christmas Day, she believed that she could talk to both spirits and animals. Stories held tremendous sway over her as a child: I suspended disbelief... I was the character. I believed the story was about me, she said. Her early exposure to books, however, came about through a desire to eat the candy she acquired from Green Frog Market in Bakersfield, without having to share it with her siblings. The library was the perfect place to hide out and eat sweets after school; a side benefit is that these visits led her to become a voracious reader. Munoz Ryan spoke about her early career as a teacher; about motherhood; and how the inescapable urge to write overtook her when she least expected it to. As a young mother and teacher, I felt that there was something yet to be discovered about myself, she explained. Writing gave her the license to be something, somebody Id never been before, she said. She listened to her instincts, and went on to create books that include Esperanza Rising, When Marian Sang, the Tony Baloney books, and Echo. Her books have been loved and embraced, as well as challenged. She noted how a watchdog group tried to ban Esperanza Rising, calling both her book and Rita Williams Garcias One Crazy Summer contentious, unacceptable, and dangerous, and about how there is a part of me that wants to be a little bit dangerous. She discussed how she has listened to her instincts when it comes to certain books, even if it meant taking chances. For example, for her book The Dreamer, about Pablo Neruda, she pushed to have the book written in green ink as Neruda used to write his own poetry. She also talked about failure... all the times I start over, and how in our hyped world of instant gratification, that fame and success isnt instantaneous, but truly comes down to hard work. Speaking directly to the readers, writers, illustrators, and educators in the audience, she asked them where they might be if you hadnt been fortunate enough to fail and start over? And in closing, she gave encouraging words to the audience, urging them to go forward with conviction, enterprise, and wide-eyed anticipation: What is left to discover about you? she said. New stores prep to open in Nebraska and Oregon; a bookstore in Colorado changes hands; Barnes & Noble to close a New Jersey location; and more. Francie & Finch Opening in Lincoln, Neb.: On November 4, Leslie Huerta will hold the soft opening for her 1,500 sq. ft. bookstore, which includes a large childrens room. The store, which is located near the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is named for two of Huertas favorite book characters: Francie in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. Roundabout Books to Open for Halloween: A new bookstore and cafe with a beer and wine bar in Northwest Crossing, a mixed use community on the west side of Bend, Ore., will hold an open house on Monday, October 31. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for November 8. Bookstore owner Cassie Clemans, a former school teacher, said, With Roundabout Books I hope to create a place that is comfortable and welcoming where people can gather, while filling my dream of owning a bookstore. Amalgam Owner a True Cover Girl: Ariell Johnson, the 33-year-old founder and president of Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, Inc. in Philadelphia, will appear on a variant cover of Invincible Iron Man #1. In the image Johnson shares a meal with new Marvel superhero RiRi Williams. Coyote Ridge Finds Its Way and Transitions to New Owner: The used bookstore, the only indie in Broomfield, Colo., was ready to close in October 2015. But days before its lease expired, bookstore owners Don and Jeannie Hartley were offered an affordable rent in a 2,000 sq. ft. space, two thirds the size of the old store. At the same time Coyote Ridge increased its web presence. In another change, store manager Matthew Johnson will begin transitioning to owner over the next three years. Coyote Ridge changed its name from Calico Books in 2011. North Brunswick, N.J., B&N to Close: Following attempts to reach an agreement for lease extensions, Barnes & Noble is closing its store in North Village Shopping Center at the end of the year. It will serve area customers at its nearby East Brunswick, Menlo Park Mall and Somerville stores, according to David Deason, v-p of development. ABA Adds 16 Members in Third Quarter: The American Booksellers Association continues to add new bookstore members. Between July and September, ABA added new stores from California to Texas and New Jersey. In addition three bookstores changed hands. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Utilizing advances in soil-mapping technology, Purdue University student Ryan Schroeder has confirmed the location of an unknown piece of endangered Indiana prairie known as gravel hill prairie. Gravel hill prairies are native grasslands on gravel deposits with relatively steep south, southwest or west facing slopes. There are less than 10 acres of gravel hill prairies remaining in the state. Conservation agencies are eager to identify them because they hold seven of the state's endangered plant species. Schroeder, a natural resources and environmental science major who is in the Honors College and College of Agriculture, made the discovery Oct. 13 while doing fieldwork in Tippecanoe County with Derek Luchik, a Purdue graduate who is now working for The Nature Conservancy. Under the guidance of Purdue agronomy professor Darrell Schulze and Songlin Fei, associate professor of forestry and natural resources, the senior from Greenfield, Indiana, has been using his skills with geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis to help The Nature Conservancy, NICHES Land Trust and other researchers map likely locations of gravel hill prairie. The last systematic search for this rare type of natural area was in the 1980s. "These newly discovered natural lands, which would not have been known without Ryan's work, are leading to NICHES outreach to the landowners," said Gus Nyberg, executive director of NICHES Land Trust. "We are hopeful this will create long-term protection of these lands through purchase or management agreements before these natural openings close and the prairie and open woodland species disappear." According to the Department of Natural Resources, prairies are a longtime symbol of the Midwest, part of both Indiana's natural heritage and natural history. Much of Indiana's prairie, however, has been lost to drainage, urbanization, agriculture and the lack of natural fire. Fire helped maintain natural prairies by keeping trees out and stimulating the growth of prairie plants. The newly discovered gravel hill prairie remnant is south of the Wabash River, near Evonik Corp.'s manufacturing facility. It sits on a steep bluff overlooking Wea Creek. There is a state-endangered plant species growing naturally there. Schroeder and his team will continue scouting potential gravel hill prairie locations this fall in Tippecanoe, Fountain and Warren counties. "This discovery helps validate that the spatial model I have developed can find these important locations in a more efficient and cost-effective manner than what was done back in the 1980s," Schroeder said. "This remnant gives me hope that there are other remnants out there that have resisted the encroachment of forest and invasive species after all this time without the historical disturbance of fire." Contact: Lindsay Perrault, Honors College communications manager, 765-427-1923, lindsayperrault@purdue.edu Sources: Gus Nyberg, 765-423-1605, gnyberg@nicheslandtrust.org Ryan Schroeder, 317-509-6401, schroe44@purdue.edu This month's Final Friday at Bucktown Center for the Arts includes kaleidoscopic mixed-media art, river-themed art for a 2017 calendar, a chili cook-off and beer tastings. Local artist Lisa Mahar exhibits her wildly colorful, creative works in the MidCoast Gallery, on the second floor at Bucktown Center, 225 E. 2nd St., Davenport. Combinations of recycled objects, painted furniture and paintings on canvas are among the 90-plus pieces on display. A reception with the artist takes place Friday during the free event from 6 to 9 p.m. My goal is to produce art that people can identify with. Each piece tells a story," Ms. Mahar said in a recent release. "Whimsical, functional and layered with bits and pieces of the past; all make my work one-of-a- kind. She started painting furniture about 20 years ago, preferring to paint on vintage items, the release said, noting she worked with found objects, everything from fringe to old shoes. While self-taught, Ms. Mahar said: I never run out of ideas. They come from nature, work, fabric, fashion, even from conversations with friends. I use a sketchbook and pretty much sketch everything out. For her painted furniture, she strips off old varnish or paint, then sands, primes everything white or black and she pencils in a rough design. The base colors go on first and later she fills in with smaller designs and colors, Ms. Mahar said. More recently, she's begun to paint on canvas. The theme of this Final Friday is "Artoberfest," and its festivities include a chili cook-off and craft beer tastings -- from nearby Front Street Brewery -- throughout the building (for a $10 ticket). That price includes a keepsake painted sampler glass. You also can buy a 2017 calendar filled with works inspired by local waterways, created by six Q-C artists. A portion of the calendars proceeds will benefit River Action, a nonprofit that strives to foster the environmental, economic and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront in the region. This is the second such calendar, and project coordinator and artist Heidi Brandt said local artwork is a natural fit for the fundraiser. Many local artists use our environment as inspiration, she said. Its a great opportunity for the community to support local artists as well as our local environment. In addition to Ms. Brandt (a photographer), contributing artists are Pat Bereskin, Brad Bisbey, Gene Brack, Dee Schricker and Robert Zeidler. More of their work can be found in the Boho Chic and Bereskin Fine Art Gallery at Bucktown. Original art used in the calendar will be at the Bereskin gallery through Nov. 12. An Iowa native living in Blue Grass, Ms. Schricker works in a variety of mediums including paint, clay and fiber. Her work is abstract and contemporary in style, giving free rein to the viewer's imagination, according to her bio. "I love having the artistic freedom to try new approaches. I often use new techniques in mixed media to achieve the look I want to express" Ms. Schricker said. "When someone purchases a piece of my art, I am truly honored." The "Art Meets the River" calendars ($11 each) will be available at Hy-Vee grocery stores, Boho Chic, Bereskin Fine Art Gallery; Midcoast Gallery West, Quad City Arts, Rock Island; and at Festival of Trees and Crafted Quad Cities, downtown Davenport. Expressing hope and faith through art Lori Roderick and Zaiga Thorson, both of Rock Island, use their art to express love, loss, faith and hope. Their new exhibit, "Transitions: Pottery and Paintings," is on display at Quad City Arts, 1715 2nd Ave., Rock Island. At some point in life, we all must deal with the loss of our parents," said Ms. Thorson, who recently lost both of her parents. She found comfort in confiding with Ms. Roderick, a longtime friend experiencing the emotional roller coaster of helping her aging parents. According to Quad City Arts, both artists realized they could work through their feelings at a deeper level, and share their art with others as a message of resilience and hope. Ms. Roderick displays stoneware and terra cotta sculptural vessels embellished with designs, glazes and surface treatments. Ms. Thorson exhibits paintings, some with oils or watercolors, and others with pen and ink. A public reception with the artists (with complimentary food and beverages) will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Quad City Arts. Have a frightfully fun time in The District The annual Fright Night in The District is today from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Rock Island. Attendees can parade in their costumes, participate in Halloween activities, dance to DJ music, see Metro Youth and dancing zombies, and meet local mascots. Admission is free. A costume parade will begin at 6 p.m., with judging taking place on 2nd Avenue from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Winners will be picked at random for prizes. Several community agencies and downtown businesses will host activities and/or trick or treating. Children can get a scavenger hunt sheet that includes a map of the trick-or-treat locations at businesses and other activities. For more information, visit ridistrict.com. Get some satisfaction at Stones tribute show Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse at 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island is welcoming back "Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Show," tonight for one performance only, at 7 p.m. The audience absolutely loved the show last year," said Brett Hitchcock, Circa '21's director of audience development. They put on a wonderful show." The touring tribute to the "world's greatest rock 'n' roll band" is entering its 15th year in production, with more than 2,500 performances around the world. In 2008, "Satisfaction" was picked by Paramount Pictures and IMAX to perform promotional concerts for the Rolling Stones concert film Shine a Light, by Martin Scorsese, throughout the U.S. Tickets for tonight's concert are $30, and are available at 309-786-7733, ext. 2. Have a killer day at a colorful Figge The annual El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) will explode with color Sunday at the Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport. The day features free admission to the museum, art projects, live performances, music and food. This traditional Mexican holiday is a "profoundly serious occasion celebrated with great joy, laughter, music and dance as the lives of lost loved ones are remembered," according to a museum news release. The event will run from noon to 5 p.m. Guests will be able to decorate sugar skulls to take home, make a pop-up Day of the Dead scene, create a calavera (a representation of a human skull) out of clay, make a marigold or butterfly to leave in memory at the community altar, share a memory of lost loved ones, watch films in the John Deere Auditorium, enjoy live performances by Ballet Folklorico and Glenview Mariachi Band, and try authentic Mexican food and other delicious treats. For more information, visit figgeartmuseum.org. WASHINGTON The Pentagon has agreed under pressure from Congress to suspend its demand that thousands of California National Guard veterans repay re-enlistment and retention bonuses given during the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bonuses were illegal, and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in a statement that while some soldiers knew or should have known they were ineligible for benefits they were claiming, many others did not. Carter said Wednesday that the Pentagon would put in place a new process that puts as little burden as possible on any soldier who received an improper payment through no fault of his or her own. The Sacramento Bee revealed the fraudulent payments in 2010. The California Guards incentive manager, retired Master Sgt. Toni Jaffe, pleaded guilty in 2011 to filing false claims. The Pentagon has been demanding repayment of the incentives, which tended to range from $15,000 to $20,000 per soldier. The debt is a major hardship for many veterans, who said they are being punished now for accepting bonuses recruiters offered as they eagerly sought to bolster the wartime ranks. Carter said efforts to reclaim the money will stop until a better process for soldiers to appeal is created by the beginning of the new year. He said the goal is to resolve all cases by July. Ultimately, we will provide for a process that puts as little burden as possible on any soldier who received an improper payment through no fault of his or her own, Carter said. At the same time, it will respect our important obligation to the taxpayer. He provided no details on how many soldiers might still be asked to repay their bonuses. Peter Levine, the acting undersecretary of defense, told reporters at the Pentagon that there would be no blanket forgiveness of repayment demands. He said each case will be resolved on its own merits. The $100 million in bonuses and tuition assistance were wrongly provided to the California National Guard soldiers from 2005 to 2010. Several officers pleaded guilty to misuse of funds. The Pentagon has been clawing the money back from soldiers for years while Congress ignored the issue. The Bee described the repayment demands in 2013, and in the past four years the Army collected $22 million from soldiers. Soldiers struggled with garnished checks and a broken appeals process. There were halfhearted efforts to help the soldiers, including a failed measure submitted to the national defense budget two years ago that would have more quickly resolved complaints from soldiers. Members of Congress nevertheless appeared surprised by a Los Angeles Times article last weekend about the effort to reclaim money from soldiers. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said on Fox News Channels Fox & Friends this week that he had no idea what was going on. That is outrageous. Ive met with individuals all the time never did I hear this come up. This is outrageous going forward. I cannot imagine anyone who knew about this in the House would not have acted upon this, McCarthy said. Members of Congress from both parties rushed this week to declare themselves appalled and pledge to stop the Pentagon. McCarthy and 24 of his colleagues sent a letter to the Defense Department on Monday asking that attempts to collect the debt from soldiers be halted. Almost 50 Illinois counties have filed lawsuits against Democratic Governor, JB Pritzker, and the ill crafted SAFE-T Act. Introduced in the General Assembly by the Illinois Black Caucus, the Act passed the Democratic-led General Assembly in the wee hours of Jan. 13, 2021. Amongst many of its weaknesses and deficiencies, the Act eliminates cash bail, emboldens criminals, and makes it even more difficult for law enforcement to keep offenders off our streets. Public Safety personnel and States Attorneys across our great State have decried the legislation, noting that it was drafted and written with very little constructive input from Public Safety leadership, from either party; potentially impacting every Illinois community with dangerous consequences. Allowing perpetrators to bail out of jail, based on their good word that they will be glad to return to court is laughable, at best, and both ludicrous and dangerous, at worst. Soon after the SAFE-T Act was passed at the State level, the Republican-led Henry County Board drafted a resolution, requesting that the General Assembly repeal and replace the SAFE-T Act with a new criminal justice bill, this time with input from professional law enforcement, States Attorneys from across the State, and other Public Safety officials. We unanimously passed our resolution on May 19, 2022, and encourage all County Boards in Illinois to follow our lead. Our Republican-led Board in Henry County believes we all, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, deserve effective and fair law enforcement in our communities. G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now! THE US Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a proposed consent decree with the US District Court in Washington D.C. approving the sale of Faiveley, conditional upon the disposal of certain US assets. Faiveley says terms of the sale have already been agreed with the buyer and approved by the DOJ. Faiveleys US subsidiary Ellcon National formed a joint subsidiary in September 2010 to supply equipment for the freight wagon market in North America. Earlier this month the European Commission approved the planned acquisition on the condition that Faiveley divest itself of its sintered brake material supplier Faiveley Transport Gennevilliers (FTG). Baden-Wurttemberg Ministry of Transport and Freiburg Regional Transport (ZRF) awarded DB Regio a 12.5 year contract last month to operate the Breisgau East - West regional network, comprising four lines in the Freiburg area which will form part of the Breisgau S-Bahn. The 15kV 16.7HZ ac EMUs will be built at Salzgitter and deliveries will be completed by December 2019, when DB Regios contract begins. Alstom will supply a mixture of three-car sets seating 164 passengers and four-car trains, which will seat 249. The trains will be equipped with multi-purpose areas for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bicycles, as well as passenger Wi-Fi, CCTV, power sockets, and real-time passenger information systems. Investors tend to be a fickle, knee-jerking lot, and when it comes to railroads or railroad suppliers, often clueless. Case in point: The Greenbrier Companies stock price taking a 6.52% hit after GBX posted a very solid fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year 2016. Ill turn it over to analyst Matt Elkott of Cowen and Company, a colleague of Jason Seidl, Managing Director and our Wall Street Contributing Editor, for his take: Reaction unwarranted; Greenbrier is a unique entry point for long-term investors. A slight quarterly miss in a lumpy industry thats in a down cycle should not have caused such a stock decline, in our opinion. More important, amidst challenging conditions, GBX reported solid orders and provided FY17 guidance largely in line with expectations, even excluding help from the recent acquisition. Payments for canceled cars support a real-backlog narrative, and do not undermine it. GBXs guidance is largely in line with expectations, so an upside cannot be ruled out. The $3.50 FY17 EPS guidance midpoint was in line with our estimate at the time of the release, which was slightly below the Street estimate, which had declined by about 5 cents over the last month to $3.55. The guidance midpoint for FY17 railcar deliveries was also in line with our model projection of 15,000 units. The revenue guidance midpoint of $2.2 billion was just above our $2.1 billion estimate. The company did not include in the guidance any accretion from the recent Astra Rail acquisition, pending regulatory approvals. We have no reason to believe the deal will face significant hurdles and expect it to be materially accretive, potentially as early as mid-FY17. However, the accretion is not reflected in our earnings forecast due to the lack of a definitive closing date. GBX received orders for 2,300 railcars in fiscal 4Q16, a solid level given the current environment and above our 1,900-unit estimate. Deliveries were 4,600 units, compared to our 4,900-unit estimate. This puts the railcar backlog at the end of August at 27,500 units, compared to our estimate at the time of the release of 28,200 units. Canceled railcars are not as alarming as some may fear. The settlement on 1,200 frac sand cars should not have come as a big surprise, as these units were part of the 5,000 homeless cars discussed by the company last quarter. Payments on these units are reflected in the companys FY17 guidance, underscoring the intrinsic value of the backlog during market volatility. The remaining 3,800 units do not appear to be at risk of cancellation at this point, although we would not rule out that other types of arrangements may have been reached. We are maintaining our FY17 EPS estimate of $3.50. Our $39 price target remains intact based on our unchanged Calendar Year 2017 EPS estimate of $3.47 and the same 11x multiple. We project that the ongoing North American railcar industry down cycle will be more prolonged, but less steep than previous ones, with a backlog trough in 2Q18. This underscores the importance of product and/or geographic diversification to soften the blow of industry contractions. GBX has focused on geographic diversification, embarking on investments in Mexico, South America, Europe and the Middle East. We believe this strategy will prove prudent over the long term, opening up new growth opportunities in emerging and frontier markets while potentially reducing cyclical risk. This could also broaden the companys shareholder base by bringing on board more international investors. Interestingly, Norfolk Southerns relatively solid third-quarter earnings elicited a similar response from Wall Streeta 3.47% drop from the prior-day closeand a similar reaction from our analyst-in-the-know, Jason SeidlWe view Norfolk Southerns results favorably and believe the negative reaction is unwarranted. As the late Tony Kruglinski was fond of saying when something of a financial nature didnt quite make sense, Whats going on here? The operative phrase in my mind is unique entry point for long-term investors. It seems as though most investors really dont grasp that railroads and the companies that supply them are long-term plays. Warren Buffett gets itthats why he acquired BNSF. Want sound investment advice? Listen to analysts like Jason Seidl, Matt Elkott, or Tony Hatch. These guys know our business, inside and out. Theyre part of it. They believe in it. They recognize its intrinsic long-term value. Im reminded of the time, many years ago, when I attended a CSX earnings presentation in New York City. It was around the time when the railroad renaissance was just getting under way. It was pre-Conrail split. CSXs CFO at the time gave a presentation that outlined a significant increase in capital investment, compared to prior years. He described a wide-ranging program of capacity improvements and equipment acquisitions. I remember feeling rather elated. This is wonderful, I blurted out loud enough for people sitting near me to hear. Its long overdue. Ill never forget the negative reaction I got from one guy sitting in front of me, whoprobably dressed in a $3,000 suit and hand-woven $700 silk tieturned around and said quite disdainfully, You must be a supplier. I didnt say what was in my heart: Screw you, you ignorant, greedy bastard (or what my dad, who never used profanity, would have said: Go jump in the lake, jackass). Instead, I said something to the effect, Railroads must invest if they are to live long and prosper. Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. Thats basically what railroading is all about. Apologies to Leonard Nimoy. Siemens has been chosen by The Metropolitan Council to manufacture 27 new light rail vehicles that will operate on the Twin Cities Metro Transit Southwest line expansion. Siemens will begin engineering the new vehicles which will feature improvements including a redesigned middle section to improve passenger flow including wheelchairs and bicycles, ice cutters to remove sleet from the overhead wires that provide the electrical current to power the vehicles, and preferred seating to meet Americans with Disabilities guidelines, among many others. The contract expands Siemens relationship with the Twin Cities, adding to the existing fleet of 59 Siemens S70 light rail vehicles operating on Metro Transits Green and Blue lines. Five additional S70s are currently in production in Sacramento and will add capacity to the existing system. Siemens is pleased to continue our successful relationship with Minnesota to provide the latest in light rail vehicle technology that improves the riding experience, said Michael Cahill, president of Siemens Rolling Stock. As the manufacturer of one out of every three light rail vehicles in North America, were confident that these new vehicles will help continue to enhance mobility for people in and around the Twin Cities. The S70s will be built at Siemens rail manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif. The plant, which has been in operation for almost 30 years, is powered in part by two megawatts of solar energy and currently employs nearly 1,000 people. Siemens is currently the leading supplier of light rail vehicles in North America. The first light rail vehicle is expected to arrive in Minnesota in 2019. The Acciona-Odebrecht construction consortium, building the first metro line in the Ecuadorian capital Quito has commissioned Siemens to electrify the line. The scope of the project includes 46km (29 miles) of rigid catenary, 6km (4 miles) of standard catenary, 11 traction power supply stations, 29 auxiliary power supply stations, and the supervisory control and data acquisition system for monitoring and controlling the traction power supply. Line 1 will connect El Labrador in the north of the city and Quitumbe in the south. The 20km (12.4 mile) line will be one of the highest metros in the world, and will have 15 stations. Passenger service is scheduled to begin in 2019, and the line is expected to transport more than 350,000 passengers per day. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK Recent reports from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of the Constabulary, as well as independent research, highlight a number of problems with the police practice of stop and search in England and Wales. These include their disproportionate use against minority communities, the relatively low hit rate (the proportion of searches where an illegal item is actually found), issues with the quality of records kept following searches, and tensions between police and communities resulting from overuse of the practice. Responding to these persistent concerns, the UK's Home Office commissioned the College of Policing in 2014 to develop a new training package and define a new standard of practice for the use of stop and search. Following pilots in six English police forces in 2015, the new national training package is ready to be rolled out. The aims of the stop-and-search practice going forward are that officers will undertake fairer, more effective searches and engage positively with members of the public, especially those they choose to search. In addition, the new practice is supposed to be consistently applied across all regions, whether it's urban Greater Manchester or rural Cambridgeshire. In partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Oxford, RAND Europe provided a process evaluation of the pilot phase of the College of Policing's stop-and-search training package. The evaluation examined how the ultimate goals of the training were translated into practice and applied across the pilot UK forces. The evaluation found changes in practice advocated by the new training package are achievable, if ambitious. However, the training is not related to a change in law meaning it is not strictly enforceable and instead promotes a different way of interacting with citizens. In turn, it became clear that a significant challenge of making this training work was developing consistent and persuasive communication about the reasons for, and importance of, the training. Three key factors were identified that make this consistent and persuasive communication difficult. Firstly, there are 43 different police forces within England and Wales, which may make it challenging to communicate a consistent message across all forces. Secondly, while national bodies such as the College of Policing, the Home Office and the Equality and Human Rights Commission are pushing for this change, we found differences in how relevant issues were articulated on the job. Finally, each police officer is autonomous and accountable primarily to his or her interpretation of the law a concept known as constabulary independence. While officers are, of course, answerable to a chain of command, the decision of whether and how to respond in a specific situation ultimately rests with each individual officer. The evaluation identified a number of communication issues during the implementation of the pilot stop-and-search training package. In some instances officers received unclear or contradictory messages regarding the purpose of the training, and supervising officers were not fully aware of the changes being suggested in the training course. The main messages of the training were not always clearly and consistently communicated from the national level to the local forces, which resulted in differences in both the content of the training and the messages surrounding the training in each pilot force. In some cases, this seemed to limit the willingness of officers to buy into the training programme being offered, especially where they were already sceptical about the need for such training or felt that the training was politically motivated. In short, while a great deal of effort was spent developing the training content, issues with the design and clarity of the communications plan hampered its implementation. This highlights the importance of getting the communications of training programmes correct from the outset, to ensure that the audience is as receptive as possible to its content. As the training is rolled out nationally, a good place for trainers to start would be to explain to supervising officers why the change of practice is important, as their buy-in may instil confidence in the police officers that they oversee. To achieve this aim, officers need to receive consistent and persuasive messages from all levels about the purpose and goals of the training. Exactly what messages will be communicated to police forces and officers at the nationwide roll-out of the training package remain to be seen, although the College of Policing plans to include training packages for senior leaders, supervisors and frontline officers, and also will include a more detailed Guidance for Trainers document. In any case, our evaluation has highlighted the important role of consistent and persuasive communications, not just in the training room, but within and between the organisations involved. This lesson will be relevant to any attempt at police reform, but especially one as widely discussed and debated as stop and search. Lucy Strang is an analyst and Chris Giacomantonio is a former senior analyst at RAND Europe. Both were involved in the evaluation of the UK College of Policing's new stop-and-search training. This commentary originally appeared on Police Oracle on October 27, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Volunteers set off to fight invasives at Warren State Park. Photo by Mark Wedel. From the towering glory of Sleeping Bear Dunes to more modest southern Lake Michigan beaches, perhaps nothing in our state represents "Pure Michigan" better than our iconic sand dunes. But as with so many of Michigan's fragile native ecosystems, invasive weeds threaten to strangle the dunes. Exotic fungi and invasive bugs are killing the trees that are part of the dune ecosystem, while invasive water plants are choking coastal marshes and interdunal wetlands. There are around 550 miles of coastline on the Mitten's west that are under siege from alien invaders. Luckily, the combined forces of the The dunes are alive Shaun Howard, Eastern Lake Michigan project manager of the Nature Conservancy, says that preserving Michigan's dunes is a no-brainer. "It is the world's largest freshwater dune system," says Howard. "It's globally rare; a very, unique place. And I think a lot of us, especially in West Michigan and around the Great Lakes in general, lose sight of that. We have a tendency to take that amazing shoreline for granted." But that beauty depends on a complex system that can turn chaotic when thrown off balance. "The dunes are almost alive. They are a dynamic shifting mosaic of sand and species," Howard says. New homes and developments on the coast can stress the dunes, creating unexpected erosion, he says. And if you build in the wrong spot, expect to see your investment eventually "crumbling into the water," he says. Invasive plants can also cause the same effect. "When you have one species that outcompetes everything and dominates an area, it may alter those sand moving processes as well," he says. "Dunes are such a unique system, in that there's a set of plants and animals and processes that live or happen there, and nowhere else." That beauty is also "a major economic driver in the Great Lakes," Howard says. People from around the country flock to beach towns and parks. "Ecotourism and the draw to those areas are huge," he says. The dunes and coasts were one of the attractions of 2016's thriving tourist season, which the Detroit News And Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has been full of sand-climbers since ABC's "Good Morning America" ran a 2011 poll choosing it as " "We can't forget that we're also managing them for people. We all benefit greatly from the dunes being healthy and intact, and people wanting to go out and see them and spend their money when they go there," Howard says. But it's taken a lot of work. The Nature Conservancy first took on 1,800 acres of As the Nature Conservancy managed to get the lovely weed cleared, they learned that they needed to implement an "EDR" strategy "If you can find the first invasive plant on the landscape and remove it, it sure is a lot easier than waiting for it to be everywhere," Howard says. They also learned they needed to be a part of a larger force of invasive-fighters. So in 2007, the Nature Conservancy joined the Michigan Dune Alliance and received funding from the federal Together, the Dune Alliance partners learned to use many tools, including pulling, herbicides, burning, digging. Howard finds that "the majority of these plant species need to be controlled with chemicals, herbicide. It shows how aggressive they are -- a lot of these species, even pulling them out of the ground won't get rid of them." Martha doesn't know best Another significant threat to dunes is Melanie Manion, Natural Resources Supervisor for Ottawa County Parks, suspects it's spread into Ottawa's parks from arts and crafts shows in the area. Bittersweet is suffocating dune vegetation in Indiana, but it's not spreading into Ottawa's dune areas yet, she says. The parks system employs a dedicated paid staff supported by volunteers to manage those properties, embracing the early detection and removal strategy. Her most important tool is a GPS unit in the hands of knowledgeable staff. They are constantly surveying and mapping-out where invasives pop up. Then they turn to volunteers to start pulling. Sometimes herbicide is best; Manion says, but other times that kills native plants, which leads to erosion. Her other big targets Spotted knapweed and garlic mustard, two invasives that crowd out native plants and ruin the nesting areas for birds such as piping plover, are regularly pulled by volunteers, she says. "We had over 10,000 hours of volunteer labor last year." Don't move firewood Heidi Frei, Michigan DNR natural resources steward of Southwest Michigan, list the same "usual suspects" of duneland invasives: garlic mustard, Japanese barberry, honeysuckle, autumn olive, etc. "They definitely have an impact on ecology," she says. But the DNR is also concerned about keeping the trees at the edges of the dunes alive and in-place. "When you talk about removing whole forests of one species, say, stands of oak trees, that has a potential to leave a dune absolutely barren, or open it up to invasive woody shrubs like Japanese barberry," she says. One bad spot is P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, a thickly wooded landscape bordering dunes on Lake Michigan between Muskegon and Grand Haven. Some of its woods have been thinned by The disease was brought to the park by campers bringing in infected firewood, she says. A recent survey of campers at Hoffmaster and Holland State Park revealed people bringing wood from up to 600 miles away, in violation of federal and state quarantines. "I'm sure a lot of people aren't aware of it," she says, but each load of wood could mean another "emerald ash borer on our hands" "I would say that the biggest threat to the dunes is firewood movement," she says. "It just takes one load of firewood with just one insect or fungus on it, and then things are out of control." How you can help In her Ottawa parks office, Manion says dealing with invasives is like "playing whack-a-mole." Just as one invasive is brought under control, something new pops up. She points out that big environmental threats like climate change or massive habitat destruction can make one feel powerless. But invasive species are a threat "we can actually do something about" as individuals. "Every day I can pull something, kill something, change my behavior to make a real impact. There are many chances for regular folks to volunteer to join the fight," she says. "You don't have to be a Ph.D. to go out and pull garlic mustard." Manion hopes for better public education on the topic, to get people to look at these invasives as a form of biological pollution. "Because that's what they are," she says. "That pretty purple flower is the equivalent of an oil spill." Frei recommends involved with the 2,500-2,700 volunteers throughout the year are in state parks helping the DNR find and remove invasives, on the dunes and elsewhere. You can find more detail on how to get involved "If it were not for volunteers, those places would be entirely different," she says. You can find out more about invasive species at the following websites: West Michigan may be the right place for manufacturing, but it's The Right Place, and the economic development organization's CEO, Birgit Klohs, that are helping the industry grow. West Michigan has long been a major seat of manufacturing and innovation in the Midwest. With an engine of talent and knowledge pushing us through each industrial revolution, our community has adapted to the needs of the global economy and forged its own destiny. In Grand Rapids, the manufacturing foundation was set with the furniture and automotive industries over a century ago. It's since grown to include biopharmaceuticals, metal manufacturing, and plastics. Names like Steelcase, Amway, Bissell, and Wolverine are just a few of those that have given the area international respect, but with about four out of every five manufacturers in West Michigan employing less than 250, small business is vital to the the area's commercial base as well. Sustainable and steady growth is the mission of The Right Place , the economic development organization that bolsters West Michigan's businesses with the appropriate supply lines, resources, incentives, and more. The organization's concentration on manufacturing is no small undertaking, as it accounts for more than 20 percent of all the jobs in the area today. That's about 150,000 jobs, and as the Right Place continues to lead the way in promoting local manufacturing, that number is rising. The Right Place has been in business as a partnership between private and public resources for 31 years. For 29 of those years, it's been under the guidance of president and CEO Birgit Klohs. Born and raised in Germany, Klohs graduated from Western Michigan University before spending a summer working for Manpower and the Economic Development Corporation. "I didn't even know what economic development was at the time, quite honestly," she says. But that soon changed. Klohs landed a job in Grand Rapids and soon after transitioned into her leadership role at The Right Place. Her work hasn't gone unnoticed, either. Along with several distinguished titles over the years, Klohs was even appointed a trustee of WMU by former Gov. John Engler. Certainly, a lot has changed in the manufacturing landscape since then, but The Right Place has remained steadfast in its support of what Klohs calls "core foundational jobs." "In other words, as much as we would like a new shoe store, we are supporting the kind of jobs that will allow you to go buy that pair of shoes," she says. Given the economic fluctuations of the last few decades, manufacturing hasn't always been attractive to investors. Those looking to capitalize on quick solutions proposed ambiguous innovation, while moving manufacturing jobs to countries where labor is cheaper. The Right Place has consistently swam against that current and, Klohs maintains, is proving to be headed in the right direction. "There's a manufacturing renaissance in a different kind of way than it was 30 years ago, but clearly manufacturing remains a core business not only in our region but in this country," she says. New approaches Innovation is tied closely to manufacturing in The Right Place's strategic plan. "Smart Manufacturing," as deemed by Klohs and The Right Place, is the new face of industry in West Michigan. It involves high-tech work and highly skilled workers in a constantly evolving marketplace. Where economic development has traditionally focused on the isolated brick-and-mortar side of business, ideas and realities have been changing. A collaborative economic environment promotes growth, and for decades, The Right Place has been fostering that spirit. "You build a new building, you add employees, you add machinery and equipment. That's great, obviously we look for that investment," Klohs says. "What if you're not doing something physical? How can we help you get better and stay competitive?" Answers to this question came from over a hundred different businesses The Right Place queried shortly after Klohs joined the team. "What arose from all of those interviews was that they wanted to collaborate with each other, they wanted to share best practices with each other, and they wanted to share the manufacturing story with the community," she says. While area businesses have incorporated new methods of cooperation to facilitate growth, nothing has changed the manufacturing landscape more than the implementation of new technologies. Bill Small "One of the biggest shifts that we've seen over the last few years is technology. It's helped the industry just explode," says The Right Place Vice President of Technical Services Bill Small. "It offers manufacturing all kinds of new options in automation and new materials and new ways of making products." Accelerating off innovations from the state's eastern automotive coast and western furniture manufacturers, Michigan businesses are experiencing record growth and low unemployment. But without the right guidance, that acceleration can be hard to direct. "Manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to balance how they get their production out the door and how they find good people," Small says. "They're looking for people with a good work ethic, who are able to learn and grow with the business, who want to learn and grow both on the technical side and the leadership side." From working directly with businesses, to effecting policies, to sharing the manufacturers' message with schools and regional youth, The Right Place is committed to seeding and improving these stories. Around 400 companies currently share talent and resources through The Right Place, providing diverse learning opportunities for anyone interested in the field. Centralized message The Right Place has earned its name as a regional partner of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center , overseeing economic development and strategic planning for small and medium manufacturing operations in the 13 county area of West Michigan. The MMTC is a federal program, sponsored by the state, functioning similar to a farm extension, Klohs says. Perhaps most the biggest similarity is a concentration on growth. "A lot of times this companies don't have the depth of employee management that a very big company has. How do you get six sigma into the company? Lean manufacturing processes? The Toyota production system? Strategic planning?" she asks. "As part of our retention strategy for manufacturers, we reach out to small and medium manufacturing companies and ask what other things they need to stay competitive and to stay in business, and then we find the resources for those companies. Whether its a new plant layout, updated equipment, or more workers, the Right Place can connect growing companies with those who can supply those resources. The foundation of this local network is largely thanks to the creation of The Right Place/MMTC-West Manufacturers Council in 1989. Managed and staffed by the Right Place, the 30-member body advocates for regional manufacturing success. "For over 27 years now, that is exactly what they have done," Klohs says of the council. "We have put out white papers on manufacturing with them. We have put out white papers on how to improve operations. The council really is the voice of manufacturing in our region. Often when bills are being discussed in Lansing or Washington, they weigh in on how it would effect them. The council really is one of our key legs of support for manufacturing." The MMTC-West Manufacturers Council is a trusted forum for manufacturers to get together and talk about their best practices, what's working for them, and how they're tackling different economic situations, like changing unemployment rates, Small says. Originally based in Kent County, there are similar manufacturers councils now set up in Montcalm, Ionia, Newaygo, Mason, and Barry Counties. Out of the Manufacturers Council grew a number of initiatives, many based on lean manufacturing practices and improving quality, Klohs says, but talent procurement stands out on its own. Working with Grand Rapids Community College and other local universities, The Right Place has been able to share the manufacturers' definition of a top-notch employee with students starting at the high school level. Finding talent Discover Manufacturing is a student-focused program and collaboration between the council and Michigan Works! aimed at expanding manufacturing talent in West Michigan. It's a field that doesn't always appeal to young people, but paired with educational incentives, the program is driving more and more toward manufacturing careers. "It's not too easy to convince a young person today that there are good jobs in the manufacturing sector," Klohs says. "A lot of people and a lot of parents thing the field goes through ups and downs, doesn't pay very well, and manufacturing is often perceived as dirty and unskilled. You will need a 2-year degree from a community college, but if you come and join us at one of our companies and change your mind and want to go to a 4-year college to become an engineer, we would support that." Students in the Discover Manufacturing program can take advantage of countless job shadowing and STEM education opportunities while pursuing an advanced engineering degree at one of several local schools. Michigan Works! and The Right Place collaborate yearly on MICareerQuest , a massive local job fair combining the areas of manufacturing, health care, and IT. The Right Place organizes manufacturing partners for the event, which has grown to see nearly 8,000 attendees since it began in 2015. "A lot of the manufacturing companies had brought in equipment to show the young people what manufacturing is like today," Klohs said of the last MICareerQuest, held in May. "They brought in 3D printers and other equipment to show the students that it is a really high-tech environment that requires high-tech skills." During Manufacturing Week, The Right Place and West Michigan manufacturers open their doors to students. During this year's event, over 50 of West Michigan largest companies welcomed their students to show them how modern manufacturing is done. And according to Small, when it comes to getting the job done, West Michigan has always been the right place. "Manufacturing in West Michigan has always been an anchor of the state," Small says. "The automotive industry has looked to us for tool and die facilities, plastic injection molding, and metal forming, stamping, and fabricating companies. It's a huge employer on the West side and it's really something that I would say is not as well known. Our manufacturers do what they do. They put their heads down and work hard." About This Site This website is an exploration into the rationalist approach to Judaism that was most famously presented by Maimonides. It also explores contemporary rationalist approaches, as well as being a forum for various other notes. Well-written comments in the spirit of this enterprise will be posted; please include a name (even a pseudonym). On Oct. 13, a federal court in Ft. Worth, Texas ruled that Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is subject to legal discovery by ExxonMobil. This turns the tables on the Attorney General (AG), who had demanded the companys records as part of an investigation into whether public statements about climate change and related policies rise to the level of lawbreaking. Key to this ruling was Healeys words and deeds as part of a climate change and energy coalition of state Attorneys General. The court is considering whether to enjoin (block) Healeys subpoena previously issued for decades of Exxons records. After this win ExxonMobil promptly sought to also enjoin New York AG Eric Schneidermans similar pursuit. The court cited public records obtained by myself and the Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal) from one of Healeys coalition partners. Since then, we have obtained many more records, affirming the courts concern that this coalition is pursuing a political, not a legal agenda. These records detail a public-private partnership with environmentalist pressure group lobbyists and contingency-fee lawyers looking to surmount the failure of the climate agenda through the proper democratic process. Since E&E Legal began extracting and publicizing these records, Schneiderman and Healeys erstwhile AG partners have all fled. One email shows the Delaware AG leaving the coalition in response to being informed of freedom of information requests. It seems that these AGs are aware of that details of their scheming will not play well. Healey has temporarily put her effort on hold, while Schneiderman continues to plow on, alone, abandoned by his wingmen and under pressure from three lawsuits filed by E&E Legal and some concerned New York citizens, all seeking more documentation of the affair. Despite Healey and Schneiderman refusing to let the public see the details, correspondence has flowed from other AG offices. Such progress has been unnecessarily delayed and expensive due to widespread foot-dragging among these AGs after the coalition signed a purported common interest agreement earlier this year promising cooperation against public record requests. As Vermonts Deputy AG noted in an email at the time, the signers of the agreement assume a default position of making requesters sue to get what the public owns. Indeed, E&E Legal has so far sued Vermonts AG twice for related public documents that it refuses to let the public see. Delays and other hurdles aside, the Schneiderman/Healey abuses will be brought to a halt if the discovery ordered by the court affirms the political vs. legal nature of their scheme. Consider: * The AGs recruiting letter admits their objectives of ensuring that the promises made in Paris become reality, referring to the non-binding Paris climate treaty, and to expand the availability and age of renewable energy. * The court focused on an email in which Schneidermans office asks activist lawyer Matt Pawa to mislead a reporter about his own role in briefing the AGs before announcing their campaign at a March 29 press conference along with Al Gore. Two more parts of that email thread, which Vermont somehow forgot to release, reveal Pawa agreeing that this makes good sense, and Vermonts Office of Attorney General thanking him for this willingness to stay mum. * The court also noted the advisory role of Peter Frumhoff of the environmental activist and lobby group Union of Concerned Scientists. Frumhoff appeared in a July 31, 2015 email I and the Competitive Enterprise Institute obtained earlier this year, in a public records lawsuit against George Mason University. In it, Frumhoff informs an activist academic -- months before any AG subpoenaed records that he was working on state (e.g. AG) action against fossil fuel companies. * Another voice from the faculty lounge pipes up in these documents. Harvard Law School clinical instructor Shaun Goho, previously of the green group Earth Justice, organized an April 2016 briefing for the AGs and their staff on going after Exxon specifically, and the fossil fuel industry generally. [W]e know that there will be people from at leastCalifornia, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York. * Naturally, Vermonts Deputy AG Scot Kline responded to Gohos invitation noting that Peter Frumhoff also mentioned it last week. Incredibly, Vermont is refusing to release the meetings agenda, drafted by a Harvard instructor/activist, claiming it is privileged. * And, damningly, before his role was exposed, Pawa himself admitted the campaigns political nature in an interview with The Nation magazine. Ive been hearing for twelve years or more that legislation is right around the corner thats going to solve the global-warming problem, and that litigation is too long, difficult, and arduous a path, said Matthew Pawa, a climate attorney. Legislation is going nowhere, so litigation could potentially play an important role. Voila. Much more AG correspondence and other documents weve obtained already affirm the AGs political campaign for an agenda frustrated by the proper democratic process. This supports the claim that Healey and Schneiderman have proceeded in bad faith in this crusade to silence and punish political opposition. Hopefully, now that the shoe is on the other foot and Healey must turn over (public) records, the court can put an end to these abuses. After which, it is the AGs who should be forced to answer for their actions. Absent an egregious abuse of civil rights, federal courts rarely intervene in state law enforcement prior to a conviction, and almost never step in prior to an arrest or indictment. Regular folks subject to a criminal investigation have to comply with subpoenas from prosecutors and grand juries unless they assert their right against self-incrimination. Not so for ExxonMobil, which last week amended a request to a federal court in Texas, asking that it kill a subpoena issued by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman just as had in the case of a similar subpoena served on ExxonMobil by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. The federal courts willingness to stop state law enforcement at ExxonMobils behest should be concerning to every American who expects major corporations to obey the law. The subpoenas at issue were sparked in part by independent investigations by InsideClimate News and the Los Angeles Times, showing that Exxons own scientists had confirmed as early as the Nixon Administration that carbon emissions from fossil fuel use are responsible for climate change, and that if unchecked, those emissions would be catastrophic. By 1978, ExxonMobils then Scientific Advisor J.F. Black was telling the corporation that [p]resent thinking holds that man has a time window of five to ten years before the need for hard decisions regarding changes in energy strategies might become critical Atmospheric scientists generally attribute this growth in CO2 to the combustion of fossil fuel. Internally, the corporation used its undisputed science to enhance its bottom line, hardening oil rigs and pursuing arctic oil fields once thought inhospitable to exploration. But externally, ExxonMobil spent hundreds of millions of dollars on lawyers, lobbyists, advertising, and deceptively named shills (the Global Climate Coalition, Frontiers of Freedom) to undermine the very climate science it had confirmed and was using internally, a pattern of deceit stretching from the Nixon era through the Obama Administration. Last year alone, according to Bloomberg News, ExxonMobil and three other corporations or front groups spent over $115 million to cast doubt on the current and largely undisputed scientific consensus on climate change. For most, the policy and political implications of this deceit are obvious. But the unlawfulness and possible criminality of this deceit may not be. Thats why the investigations by Eric Schneiderman, Maura Healey and over a dozen other state attorneys general working with them, as well as a separate investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are so important. And its why Exxon is so plainly desperate to put up roadblocks in their way roadblocks that would never be available to an ordinary citizen subject to a government investigation. How could ExxonMobils climate deceit break laws and result in crimes? In many possible ways: * Fraud on the markets: The U.S. has some of the strictest criminal laws in the world for misleading shareholders, and the certainty that fossil fuel use will be curbed has direct impact on the value of ExxonMobils fast fossil fuel holdings and the future viability of its business model. As the attorney general who polices Wall Street, Mr. Schneiderman has no choice but to investigate. * Fraud in consumers: Many states have strict laws in place imposing civil or criminal liability on companies that engage in deceptive advertising. Here again, attorneys general charged with enforcing those laws have a duty to investigate whether ExxonMobil crossed the line into criminality. * False statements to regulators: Exxons vast operations are extensively regulated, and most of that regulation depends on reporting by the company itself, on issues ranging from how they manage polluted water to what safeguards must be in place to protect surrounding communities. Like the federal government, states generally have laws making false statements to regulatory agencies a crime, and the attorneys general have a compelling basis to believe ExxonMobils climate deceit resulted in a myriad of criminal acts. In a recently filed civil lawsuit, the first in the nation holding Exxon accountable for its climate deceit, our organization has found that ExxonMobil routinely lied to regulators about the readiness of its Everett, Massachusetts facility to manage both existing and future climate conditions without a potentially catastrophic release of oil and hazardous substances in surrounding, densely populated communities. Those false statements alone justify Attorney General Healeys investigation, which the federal court in Texas has hobbled at the behest of the corporation. ExxonMobils decades-long climate deceit has poisoned our politics and brought us to the brink of a global crisis. Federal courts should not be giving the corporation unheard-of-protection from states probing ExxonMobils law-breaking in perpetrating that deceit. Nearly 10 years ago, Stratfor published a series on Russia's historical boom-and-bust cycle. At that time, Russia was clearly at the height of a boom, rebuilding itself into a stable and robust power. Today, the country is quickly descending into the next, less pleasant stage. The strategy that revitalized the country is becoming less effective, forcing Russia and its leaders to act more aggressively at home and abroad. Though still assertive, Russia is no longer acting from a position of strength. The country may maintain some semblance of strength for years to come, but its fragility will eventually become apparent, forcing it into the next phase of the cycle. Geography's Role in Russian History For nearly eight centuries, Russia has been trapped in a loose cycle: It rises from chaos, returns as a regional and sometimes even global power, grows aggressive as the system cracks, and then collapses before rising again. The cycle is less about political choice than it is about geographic constraints. Geographically speaking, Russia is operating from an inherently weak position. It is the largest country in the world, covering roughly 13 time zones (split now into four mega-zones). Yet 75 percent of the country is virtually uninhabitable frozen tundra that becomes marshland in the summer, making domestic trade extremely difficult. Maritime trade is also difficult for Russia, given that its only warm-water port, on the Black Sea, is blocked by rivals, including Turkey. Therefore, the country has struggled to develop economically. Furthermore, Russia's heartland which runs from St. Petersburg south through Moscow and into the Volga region lies on a series of plains, making it vulnerable from all sides. This has forced Russia to seek to expand its borders and influence outward to create a buffer zone between its heartland and rival regional powers. As Catherine the Great famously put it: "I have no way to defend my borders except to extend them." The longest sustained example of this expansion occurred during the Soviet period, when the Russian heartland was shielded by Siberia, 14 other Soviet republics and seven Eastern Bloc countries. null Expanding Russian influence comes at an immense financial, military, political and social cost. During the Soviet period, Moscow had to centralize control over the entire Soviet space, subsidizing most of the Soviet states' economies while managing their diverse populations. Moreover, Soviet gross domestic product was half of U.S. GDP, even though the two countries had roughly the same population. By the last decade of the Soviet Union, Western intelligence sources estimated that half of Soviet industrial output went toward building up the military, causing vast shortages of industrial goods. Thus the dilemma: Russia must expand to survive, but that expansion is unsustainable and has historically led to its collapse. null A Perpetual Cycle Russia's cycle can be divided into roughly three parts: collapse, resurrection and fragility. It starts with a catalyst that causes governance to break down and disrupts the social order, leading to collapse. Historically, this has taken many shapes. In the 13th century, it was the Mongol invasion; in the 17th century, the Time of Troubles; in the 20th century, the Russian Revolution, fall of the Soviet Union and the 1998 financial crisis. From collapse comes the next stage of Russia's cycle: resurrection. Typically the system that governed during the crisis is transformed into something new usually with a strong personality at the fore. This figure tends to create a stable system in which Russia can consolidate itself and its borderlands. This figure also fosters a sense of national identity, helping Russians and peripheral populations unite under a common patriotism. Examples include Ivan III, who threw off the Mongol yoke and united Russia; the first Romanov tsar, Mikhail I, who led Russia out of the civil wars of the 16th century; the "greats," Peter and Catherine, who transformed Russia into a global empire; Vladimir Lenin, who transformed Russia into the Soviet Union; and arguably, Vladimir Putin, who ushered in prosperity following the Soviet collapse. None, however, has been able to overcome Russia's geographic challenge. All have fallen into the problematic pattern of trying to consolidate the heartland while expanding Russian influence, practically ensuring their own collapse. When the inevitable stress points begin to emerge whether political, social, security or economic Moscow tends to tighten its grip and to act more aggressively within and along its borders. The leaders, who were once seen as the saviors of Russia, are either replaced with, or evolve into, more authoritarian (and often ruthless) leaders, who quash dissent and aggressively defend Russia's borders and borderlands. This is the age of fragility. Fragility leaders lack the stability their predecessors enjoyed and have less time to devote to consolidation and nation building, making them appear more erratic. Brutal leaders often emerge from crumbling systems. The most famous fragility leader was the Soviet Union's Josef Stalin. Similarly, when droughts and famines followed Ivan III's and his successor's successful tenures, Ivan IV aka "The Terrible" severely restricted freedom of movement and lashed out in a series of wars against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, eventually leading to civil war after his death. Throughout history, internal and external pressures first lead to political, economic, social and foreign policy stagnation before the cracks in the system force a complete transformation. At times, such transformations are simply political, such as the transition from Stalin to Nikita Khrushchev; at others, the entire system collapses into chaos, such as the fall of the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union. Then, the cycle begins anew. Putin's Edition of the Cycle The rise and endurance of Putin and his government fit within Russia's historical cycle. After the Soviet collapse, Russia lost direct control over its borderlands. The country devolved into chaos. Broken attempts to transition to a market economy through what was known as shock therapy only led to radical privatizations and the rise of oligarchs which in turn resulted in a 40 percent decline in GDP and a deep financial crisis by 1998. The political landscape wasn't much better. The government was made up of dozens of parties with vastly different agendas all attempting to agree on a new political system. The security services and military were further degraded by President Boris Yeltsin. The Russian people struggled to find a new identity to unite them as the Soviet Union had. Rumblings of secession arose in many of Russia's regions, with a brutal war erupting between Moscow and its Northern Caucasus republics, particularly Chechnya. A bureaucrat from St. Petersburg, Putin was appointed by Yeltsin to head the KGB's successor, the Federal Security Bureau, in 1998. The intelligence agency was charged with containing the chaos. Yeltsin assumed that Putin, a Moscow outsider, would not be able to challenge him. But Putin and his cadre of loyalists from St. Petersburg (many former KGB agents) took strong steps against the various problems facing Russia, and by the next year he was prime minister. Once in office, he continued to consolidate and rebuild the security services and military. He issued ultimatums to the Russian regions to support the government financially and politically and to cease talk of secession. Putin's efficiency began to convince many Moscow elites to support him, and he eventually supplanted Yeltsin as president. At the time, Putin was seen as a great reformer, consolidating the country economically, politically and socially. He cracked down on the oligarchs, seizing strategic assets for the state such as the highly coveted energy sector. He streamlined the political process, bolstering a single party under his control with the opposition parties built into a system he could manipulate. He reined in the unruly Northern Caucasus, dividing the region's militant groups and creating a broadly loyal Chechen force to help end the Second Chechen War. Perhaps most important, he made a social pact with the Russian people to stabilize and boost the country. Good luck also helped. Global energy prices began to rise sharply in 2004 and natural gas demand in Europe rose dramatically just as Russia got its energy production back up following the Soviet collapse. Flush with cash, Russian GDP rose tenfold between 2000 and 2009. Russians' standard of living increased fourfold, and real disposable income rose 160 percent. Unemployment and the poverty rate were reduced by half. But with more income came more military spending: Under Putin, spending on the military increased nearly fivefold. For most of Putin's leadership, the Russian economy and its financial position have been relatively stable. This enabled Moscow to focus on its borderlands and specifically to push back against what it perceived as persistent foreign encroachment following the Soviet collapse. NATO and the European Union had expanded into some of the former Warsaw Pact and Soviet states, either offering them membership or association agreements. But with the United States preoccupied with the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Moscow was able to gain traction against what it perceived as expanding foreign influence on its borders. Russia made its own security alliances to counter NATO with the creation of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in 2002. Moscow also used its energy resources to manipulate alliances on its borders. It used a series of energy cutoffs to Europe to ensure that Ukraine and Georgia would not be admitted into NATO. Then, Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, and NATO did not intervene. In 2010, Moscow pressured Ukraine to elect a more Russia-friendly leader. From 2010 to 2015, Russia expanded its economic union with Kazakhstan and Belarus to include Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. The West painted Putin as a thug and Russia as an aggressor, but the Russian people praised the man who helped their country return to being a regional, and even global, power. Putin fulfilled his social contract with the Russian public, and in return, the people loved him. Signs of Weakness Presage the Next Phase Despite Putin's popularity, his rule is beginning to show signs of weakness, and threats to Russia's stability and external influence are increasing. The cycle, it seems, has not been broken. In 2014, Russia experienced a series of blows to its power. First, the Russian-friendly government in Ukraine was overturned in another uprising, leading to a staunchly pro-Western government in Kiev. Moscow attempted to incite the country against what it deemed a Western-backed coup, but its attempts only revealed the limits of Russian power. Now, Russia has only limited influence in a sliver of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed rebels. Russian actions in eastern Ukraine united the European Union and the United States to exact a series of economic sanctions on the country and on several of its citizens. Meanwhile, oil prices crashed, falling from triple-digit prices per barrel in mid-2014 to the low $40s per barrel today. The combination of low oil prices and conflict with the West caused foreign investment into Russia to plummet by 50 percent in 2014. By 2015, foreign investment fell to nearly zero. The Russian ruble fell by 40 percent in 2014 and remained volatile the following year, and capital flew from the country, $160 billion in 2014 and another $85 billion in 2015. The Russian people are bearing the brunt of the economic pain. With the decline in the currency, 25 percent of Russians have had their salaries cut, and 15 percent have lost their jobs altogether. The average monthly wage has dropped to below $450 a month, less than in China, Romania and Serbia. On average, Russians have spent half their incomes on food this year. And more than half of Russians believe that their economic position will only worsen in the years to come. The current recession in Russia differs from the 2008-2009 economic crisis, which was part and parcel of the global financial crisis. Moreover, this recession is coupled with foreign policy shortcomings in Ukraine and in its standoff with the West. Russia is now seen as isolated on the international stage. The Kremlin has sporadically rallied national support over the past two years with its annexation of Crimea and with its intervention in Syria against the wishes of the West, but such acts have only momentarily increased patriotism. Instead, the economic and foreign crises are starting to burden Putin's government, forcing the Russian leader to become increasingly authoritarian, according to the cycle. Even Ivan the Terrible started out popular, carrying on his grandfather's push to transform Russia from a medieval regional state to a far-reaching empire. It was not until famines and failed wars began to threaten Russia that Ivan IV became the brutal leader he is now remembered as. Putin could meet the same fate. He faces similar dilemmas, and will soon have to make tough decisions on how to maintain power and stability and protect Russia's borders. As cash flows diminish, the political, security and business elite that make up the current Russian government are grasping for assets and power. Previously, Putin has been able to manage such power-grabs, but over the past two years the elite have pushed back, leading to the fall of some of the most powerful men in the country. Increasingly concerned that those fallen leaders will band against him, Putin is surrounding himself with loyalists who have no power of their own. Progressively uncertain of the loyalty of the Russian military and security services, the Russian leader has also created his own personal military, the National Guard, made up of 400,000 troops directly accountable to him. Putin has been able to rule Russia with an iron grip for 16 years because of his government's popularity, but this, too, is slipping. Approval ratings for the government have fallen from 66 to 26 percent, and Putin's personal approval rating has fallen from 88 percent to 74 percent over the past two years. In recent parliamentary elections in September, voter turnout was the lowest in post-Soviet history, revealing the lack of faith in the process and government. In those elections, Putin was able to massage the results enough to give his party, United Russia, a supermajority so he could push through the tough and unpopular legislation necessary to hold power. Under the increasingly authoritarian leader, the government passed a series of draconian laws to suppress the Russian people should dissent become instability. These domestic challenges come as pressures on the country's borders continue to mount. Russia's intervention in Ukraine has vacillated between a frozen and low-intensity conflict. The West maintains sanctions on Russia and is even discussing expanding those sanctions because of Moscow's intervention in Syria. NATO continues to build up its position along Russia's periphery, and Moscow's attempt to gain leverage in its talks with the West via Ukraine and Syria has fallen relatively flat in recent months. Russia could ramp up hostilities in the various theaters under negotiation with the West, but this risks isolating and over-extending Russia even more similar to what happened in the period between Leonid Brezhnev and Mikhail Gorbachev. This is not to say Russia is on the brink of collapse, only that the country is entering the next phase of its historical cycle, in which the state is highly vulnerable yet increasingly aggressive. Putin will therefore be acting from a position of survival instead of strength. Russia could muddle along in its compromised position for some time, but eventually the cycle must progress, and the next phase of transformation will begin. Property details: 500,000 Biennial Odd Wyndham Points At Bali Hai VillasAn RCI Silver Crown Resort The moment you arrive at Wyndham Bali Hai Villas you'll know that your dreams have given way to reality. This peaceful Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii resort is your perfect vacation home away from home. Spacious suites create a warm and friendly atmosphere where you can spread out and relax in style. Your family will enjoy a full kitchen so you can eat in and save big bucks on eating out. There's also a washer and dryer... Price: $ 2,551 Seller State of Residence: Pennsylvania (PA) State/Province: Hawaii City: Honolulu Type: Beach/Ocean Location: 180**, Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Beach/Ocean Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Athens police looking for person who hit and killed man with vehicle, pistol stolen and student barred from Sanford Stadium all between Sept. 26 and 30. Coffee and tweed jackets might be some of the things you would expect a professor to spend money on, but during election years, professors at the University of Georgia open up their wallets and checkbooks for political candidates. In the front of student section 109 at every home football game, there is a group of approximately 30 students who are painted head to toe in black paint and wearing spiked shoulder pads. Considering the pads, various props and head-turning facial paint, these students are hard to miss. They are one of UGAs most notorious student spirit organizations they are the Spike Squad. Im supposed to wear this hat so Im in character," said Jim Barksdale, the Democratic candidate for Georgias U.S. Senate Race. And throughout the race, he has proven to be just that a character. For many college students, education is more than just a campaign issue. The cost of college and high school curriculums and standards can have longstanding effects on students' well-being and overall success in life. In a Red & Black/GLOBIS survey, approximately 84 percent of students agreed or strongly agreed that loans would be a serious burden for currently-enrolled students. SHARE Donald Eugene Harrison Image provided by Jason Haver via Facebook Evergreen Union School in Cottonwood officials say this van was seen on surveillance video the three times the school's freezer was broken into. Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight The freezer that stores food for the students at Evergreen Elementary School has been broken into for a third time. Image courtesy of Jason Haver via Facebook Evergreen Union School officials say this pickup truck was spotted during a recent robbery and destruction of a freezer at the school. Tehama County officials have identified a man whose vehicles they say were involved in the burglaries of Evergreen Elementary School in Cottonwood, and now they're asking the public for help finding the man so they can question him. Detective Chad Dada said 40-year-old Donald Eugene Harrison's van, motorcycle and truck all were spotted on surveillance footage of the latest burglary at Evergreen, which is off Bowman Road. Evergreen Superintendent Brad Mendenhall said his employees looked into recent records to see whether Harrison may have a link to the school, but so far haven't found anything to indicate that. "He's never been an employee, for sure," Mendenhall said. "It doesn't mean that ... he wasn't associated with our school at some point in time through a friend, or who knows? But we can't find any connection at this point." The first two burglaries or attempted burglaries of the school's freezer involved Harrison's van only, Dada said. In the latest incident, which happened early Monday morning, the school suffered about $25,000 in damage and losses after at least three thieves pried open an outdoor freezer and stole its food. In addition to the connection between Harrison's vehicles and the incidents, Dada said reports have come into his office of Harrison trying to sell frozen food in bulk in the Anderson area. Meanwhile, they've seized about 90 pounds of frozen food from Harrison's home on Riverland Drive in south Redding, Dada said. The food matched the items reported stolen, Dada said. Harrison was not home when the search happened. Detectives have seized 300 or so more pounds of frozen food from two other homes, Dada said. Anyone with information on Harrison's whereabouts is asked to call the Tehama County Sheriff's Office's detective division at 530-529-7920. Mendenhall said he's heard from sheriff's detectives that they're "actively pursuing" leads about other people who may have been involved in the thefts. Jack Breiner in a booking photo from the Modoc County Sheriff's Office. SHARE Jack Hopkins A man accused of gunning down an on-duty Modoc County Sheriff's deputy and trying to kill the sheriff himself is set to have his first hearing in court Friday, the county's district attorney said Wednesday afternoon. Jack Lee Breiner allegedly shot and killed deputy Jack Hopkins Oct. 19 outside the county seat of Alturas as Hopkins was responding to a family disturbance, Undersheriff William "Tex" Dowdy has said. Sheriff Mike Poindexter later apprehended Breiner, who was shot in a gun fight that also caused minor wounds to the sheriff, Dowdy has said. In a statement, Modoc County District Attorney Jordan Funk said Breiner will be arraigned Friday. Breiner faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges also include several enhancements, including intentionally killing an on-duty officer possessing and assault weapon and fire a gun from a vehicle, according to a complaint filed in Modoc County Superior Court. "This is a death penalty case," he said. Hopkins' death prompted an outpouring of support and sorrow from all over Northern California when a procession brought his body to the Shasta County Coroner's Office. Read the criminal complaint against Breiner. Nathan Solis/ Record Searchlight California National Guard and Army Sgt. Bryan Strother, left, at home in Oroville with his lawyer, Daniel Willman. Strother is part of a class-action lawsuit against the federal government over re-enlistment bonuses. SHARE By Nathan Solis of the Redding Record Searchlight Army Sgt. Bryan Strother sifted through a stack of letters, pay stubs and other documents from the Pentagon and the federal government on his dining room table at his Oroville home Wednesday. They document a long road starting in 2007 when the National Guard asked him to re-enlist with the incentive of a bonus to do so. "Their numbers were down. They needed to retain people, qualified people," Strother said, especially those who had been in the Mideast. Strother jumped at the chance for the extra cash and a promise to pay off his student loans during the meeting at Fairfield Armory in Chico led by a one-star general and attended by 300 other veterans. But he and many others got quite the shock when they finished that tour of duty and the government wanted its bonus money back. In Strother's case, he was asked to pay back $25,000 for the bonus and his student loans. It turns out the California National Guard was not supposed to offer the money. On Wednesday, after national outcry about the practice, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the Pentagon to stand down and stop asking some 10,000 California National Guard troops to repay the bonuses. "Ultimately, we will provide for a process that puts as little burden as possible on any soldier who received an improper payment through no fault of his or her own," Carter said in his statement. Carter said all collection efforts have been suspended and military officials would work on streamlining the process. A day before several House Republican leaders in California signed a letter calling for the Pentagon to stop the collection of bonuses given out in error. The bonuses were offered to soldiers who would re-enlist for service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers were offered $15,000 bonuses, according to several National Guardsmen who were on active duty between 2003 and 2012. Former Army Master Sgt. Toni Jaffe, the California Guard's incentive manager during that time, pleaded guilty to filing false claims and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. While all that is good news to Strother, he says he still plans to pursue a federal lawsuit he filed in February of this year. "I was given that amount of money, then all of a sudden it became a matter of voiding my contract," he said. About six months after filing the suit, Strother received a letter from the government saying he fulfilled his contractual obligations but he still owed the government up to $5,000 for the student loans it had covered under the bonus program. Despite all the headache Strother endured, he recently re-enlisted for another six-year contract with the National Guard in order to avoid any penalties for the student loan payments hanging over his head. Daniel Willman, Strother's lawyer, said the recent decision from the Pentagon is "not a remedy for the problem, but more a suspension of their actions in going after money from these veterans." "The contractual obligations in question were followed in good faith," Willman said. "We want to trigger a class-action lawsuit." A representative for the California National Guard did not immediately return a call from the paper. Congressman Doug LaMalfa said the recent National Defense Authorization Act, which has not passed through the Senate, does address the matter of asking for soldiers to pay back bonuses. The fact the Pentagon went after veterans in the first place is wrong and unacceptable, LaMalfa said "This was a screw-up on a federal level," LaMalfa said. "What we have to make sure we do is get those veterans who have paid something back to get their money back." LaMalfa noted the National Guard did not have the authority to forgive the bonuses or to change the enlistment policies. Strother said his lawsuit is not about money, but about the policies in place that entice soldiers to enlist and then bill them later. "I risked my life for those payments," Strother said. "I had just returned from Middle East for deployment within the year before going back. I had a young daughter who couldn't even remember her last name when I came back. It was hard and I fulfilled that in good faith." SHARE Breiner Ronnie Lee Kyles Jr. Suspect due in court in deputy's killing A man accused of gunning down an on-duty Modoc County sheriff's deputy is set to have his first hearing in court Friday, the county's district attorney said Wednesday afternoon. Jack Lee Breiner allegedly shot and killed deputy Jack Hopkins Oct. 19 outside the county seat of Alturas as Hopkins was responding to a family disturbance, Undersheriff William "Tex" Dowdy has said. Sheriff Mike Poindexter later apprehended Breiner, who was shot in a gunfight that also caused minor wounds to the sheriff, Dowdy has said. In a statement, Modoc County District Attorney Jordan Funk said Breiner will be arraigned. Breiner faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges also include several enhancements, such as intentionally killing an on-duty officer. "This is a death penalty case," he said. Hopkins' death prompted an outpouring of support and sorrow from all over California and the nation. A procession of law enforcement vehicles brought his body to the Shasta County Coroner's Office last Thursday, and took his body to Yreka on Saturday for services on Nov. 5. Telephone scams target relatives Authorities are warning that scammers are targeting the North State by pretending to be kidnappers who are ransoming a relative over the phone. Since Tuesday, Red Bluff police officers have taken four reports of that scam, police say. The calls start with what sounds like a female screaming or asking for help, officers say. Then a man with a foreign accent tells the victim he's kidnapped their relative and demands money be wired to an account in Mexico to get the relative back, police say. The scam artists also keep the victims on the phone so they can't contact the relative and reveal the farce, officers say. None of those victims in Red Bluff transferred any money out of the country and none of their relatives was kidnapped. The scammers appear to be operating out of Mexico, police said. Anyone who fears for the safety of a loved one should contact law enforcement, officers say. Jury convicts man of domestic violence A 39-year-old Shasta County man is facing more than 11 years in prison next month after a jury convicted him Tuesday of choking his girlfriend and throwing a neighbor who tried to intervene down a flight of stairs. Ronnie Lee Kyles Jr., who was arrested in May by Redding police, was convicted of felony domestic violence, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and resisting arrest, prosecutors said. Shasta County Senior Deputy District Attorney Ben Hanna, who prosecuted the case, said police were called on May 27 to a Redding residence on a domestic violence call. Kyles choked his girlfriend, injuring her neck, and then threw a neighbor who came to the woman's defense down a flight of stairs, injuring him, Hanna wrote in a post on the district attorney's office Facebook page. When police arrived, Kyles violently resisted arrest before taken into custody, Hanna wrote. Kyles, who has two prior "strike" convictions, is facing 11 years, four months in prison when he's sentenced on Nov. 18. Worried woman on telephone SHARE Authorities are warning that scammers are targeting the North State by pretending to be kidnappers who are ransoming a relative over the phone. Since Tuesday, Red Bluff police officers have taken four reports of that scam, police say. The calls start with what sounds like a female screaming or asking for help, officers say. Then a man with a foreign accent tells the victim he's kidnapped their relative and demands money be wired to an account in Mexico to get the relative back, police say. The scam artists also keep the victims on the phone so they can't contact the relative and reveal the farce, officers say. None of those victims in Red Bluff transferred any money out of the country and none of their relatives were kidnapped. The scammers appear to be operating out of Mexico, police said. Anyone who fears for the safety of a loved one should contact law enforcement, officers say. A dessert crawl through Andersonville, a Halloween bash at Three Dots and a Dash and more things to do in Chicago this weekend, Oct. 28-30. EAT 'Sweet Sugar, Sultry Spice' Book Launch Party Advertisement Read It & Eat 2142 N. Halsted St. 773-661-6158 Advertisement Meet Top Chef: Just Desserts competitor Malika Ameen and try treats from her debut cookbook along with bubbly. 4-6 p.m. Saturday. Free. RSVP: eventbrite.com Mad Tea Party Freestyle Food & Drink 660 N. State St. 312-202-6050 The Queen of Hearts hosts an "Alice in Wonderland"-themed bash featuring cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches shaped like playing cards along with champagne and tea. 4-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $40. Andersonville Dessert Crawl Great Lakes Clinical Trials 5149 N. Ashland Ave. 773-728-2995 ext. 102 Grown-ups can go trick-or-treating by visiting local businesses serving sweets, coffee and Koval Distillery spirits at the annual benefit for the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. $25-$30. 2-5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: andersonville.org/events/dessert-crawl DRINK Field of Screams Headquarters Beercade Advertisement 213 W. Institute Place 312-291-8735 and 2833 N. Sheffield Ave. 773-665-5660 Watch the Cubs in the World Series and enter a costume contest awarding a $1,000 grand prize. Plus, enjoy baseball-themed food specials at both locations. 8 p.m. Saturday; doors open at 5:30 p.m. No cover. Cocktails From the Deep Three Dots and a Dash 435 N. Clark St. 312-610-4220 The costume party includes two drinks from the tiki bar's special Halloween menu, appetizers and music from DJ Fred Matters. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday. $30. Tickets: threedotschicago.com DO Disney-Themed Halloween Party at Duet Dance Studio. (Jeff Callen) Disney-Themed Halloween Party Advertisement Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Duet Dance Studio 2412 W. North Ave. 312-823-8199 Dress as your favorite Disney character for a 45-minute beginner's swing class, a costume contest and open dancing to Disney songs at this BYOB bash. 9-10:30 p.m. Friday. $20. Tickets: duetdancestudio.com Fair Child Launch (Free!) Macy's Water Tower 835 N. Michigan Ave. 312-335-7700 Karen Fairchild of the Grammy Award-winning country band Little Big Town signs autographs and poses for pictures with the 200 people who make a purchase from her fashion line. 5:30 p.m. Friday. Free. Randolph Street Market Randolph Street Market Beaux Arts Plumber's Hall Advertisement 1340 W. Washington Blvd. 877-319-2643 Shop for Halloween decor, party needs and costumes while enjoying taffy apples, cider and other fare. You can also get airbrush tattoos at a mobile shop from The Field Museum's "Tattoo" exhibit. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $5-$10. Tickets: randolphstreetmarket.com HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAY 'I cannot believe I was removed on grounds of non-performance,' an angry Cyrus Mistry wrote in his mail following his sudden ouster as Tata Sons chairman. But what do the facts say? Aslam Hunani looks at how key Tata group companies fared under Mistry's stewardship. IMAGE: Cyrus Mistry leaves Bombay House, the Tata group headquarters in Mumbai, October 26, 2016. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad/PTI Photo On October 24, 2016, in a corporate surgical strike, the board of directors of Tata Sons, the controlling entity of all the Tata group companies, sacked Cyrus Pallonji Mistry as group chairman after just four years in the job, and announced the return of Ratan Tata as interim chairman for four months, in which time a new chairman will be selected. The ostensible ground for Mistry's abrupt dismissal, which sent shockwaves through India Inc and rattled the stock markets enough to push down the share prices of group companies, was 'non-performance. Which Mistry has strongly rebutted in an internal email circulated to Tata group employees. Cyrus Mistry had taken over as chairman of Tata Sons on December 28, 2012, from Ratan Tata who retired after serving as group chairman for more than 21 years. Mistry was only the second non-Tata to become group chairman. His family's Shapoorji Pallonji group is the largest individual shareholder in Tata Sons, with 18.4% stock-holding (the largest collective shareholder are the Tata Trusts, with more than 66% holding, which enables it to push through any proposal). In his damning email, Mistry wrote: 'I had to take many tough decisions with sensitive care to the group's reputation as well as containing panic amidst internal and external stake-holders.' 'Despite bad press, impairments were taken to clean the books but substantial exposure remains. Dividends were reduced to conserve cash for needed investments in the teeth of shareholder fury. Apart from hotels, the group made several exits in the fertiliser business, UK steel operations...' 'I had to ease out hangers-on who are prone to flaunt their proximity to power...' Against the backdrop of the battle that has clearly broken out in the Tata board -- on which Mistry remains a director -- it is worthwhile to examine the performance of the Tata flagship companies in the last three years, with Mistry at the helm. Since there are more than a hundred companies under the Tata banner, we have picked the top seven group companies based on their sales turnover in the 2013-2016 period when Mistry was in charge. The parameters analysed are sales turnover, net profit, total debt, total assets and stock prices of these companies. Automobile major Tata Motors reported sales of Rs 280,097 crore in the financial year 2016, a surge of 44.6 per cent from the sales figures of Rs 193,698 crore in FY 2013. Similarly, the software arm, Tata Consultancy Services, reported an increase of 72.5 per cent in its sales turnover during the period FY13 to FY16. The main laggard in the sales was Tata Steel, which reported negative sales -- a decline of 12.4 per cent from FY13 to FY16. In his communication to Tata group, Mistry pointed out: 'The European steel business faced potential impairments in excess of USD 10 billion, only some of which has been taken as of date.' Under Mistry, the group had announced in March that it was reviewing its European steel operations, and has since been in negotiations with Germany firm Thyssenkrup over merging their European steel operations. The group has also been in talks with the UK government about financial aid for Tata Steel UK. Under Mistry, some of these group companies have reported decent profits. The embattled Tata Motors has reported a rise of 22.3 per cent in net profit from FY13 to FY16. On TaMo, Mistry writes: 'Historically, the company employed aggressive accounting to capitalise substantial portion of the product development expenses, creating a future liability.' 'Beyond this, the Nano product development concept called for a car below Rs 1 lakh, but the costs were always above this.' 'This product has consistently lost money, peaking at Rs 1000 crores. As there is no line of sight to profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company requires it to shut it down.' 'Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision.' 'Another challenge in shutting down the Nano is that it would stop the supply of the Nano gliders to an entity that makes electric cars and in which Mr Tata has a stake.' In the 2013-2016 period, TCS, the group's cash cow by a mile, recorded a jump of 72.3 per cent in its net profit, from Rs 13,836 crore to Rs 23,928 crore. Of the companies not listed here, Tata Elxsi leads group companies in terms of rise in net profit with a 388.9 per cent, from Rs 32 crore to Rs 154 crore, closely followed by Tata Capital Housing which recorded a surge of 303.9 per cent in its net profit, from Rs 28 crore to Rs 113 crore in the same period. This is the core area of concern for any corporation, and the Tata group companies were not lagging behind in this area in comparison to their peers. Tata Motors saw a rise of 31.2 per cent in its debt to Rs 70,468 crore from Rs 53,716 crore. Similarly, Tata Steel which reported negative sales numbers, also saw its debt increase by 25.8 per cent to Rs 86,204 crore from Rs 68,507 crore. Tata Teleservices Ltd also saw a great increase in its debt to Rs 35,204 crore from Rs 23,491 crore. On Tata Tele, Mistry writes: 'Of all the companies in the portfolio, the telecom business has been continuously haemorrhaging.' 'If we were to exit this business via fire sale or shut down, the cost would be USD 4-5 billion. This is in addition to any payout to DoCoMo of at least a billion plus dollars.' 'The original structure of the DoCoMo transaction raises several questions about its appropriateness from a commercial or prudential perspective within the then prevailing Indian legal framework.' 'In light of all this, our strategy over the past three years has been to increase the EBITDA from Rs 400 crores to Rs 2500 crores, in the hope of being a potential player in the consolidation of the industry.' Of the other companies, TCS, Tata Power Co, Tata Communications and Tata Chemicals saw a marginal rise in debt. Even though the liabilities of some group companies rose during Mistry's tenure, a few others reported a positive trend in their assets as well. Tata Motors reported a rise of 68.3 per cent in its assets, from Rs 10,3345 crore to Rs 17,3903 crore. Similarly, TCS reported a rise of 66 per cent in assets. Tata Steel's asset quality increased by 12.8 per cent in the interim period. Some other group companies like Tata Power and Tata Tele reported a marginal increase in their assets. On Tata Power, Mistry writes: 'Tata Power aggressively bid for the Mundhra project based on low-priced Indonesian coal. As regulations changed, the losses in 2013-14 alone amounted to Rs 1,500 crores.' 'Given that Mundhra constitutes Rs 18,000 crore of capital employed (40% of the overall company's capital employed), this substantially depresses the return on capital for Tata Power as well as carries the risk of considerable future impairment.' Return on Investment as reflected in the stock prices is the main gauge to find out if and how the companies have benefited the investors with Cyrus Mistry as chairman. As the end of trading on October 26, 2016, Tata Motors saw its share price rise to Rs 526.9 from Rs 310.05. Similarly, TCS' share value rose to Rs 2,383 from Rs 1,267.5. However, the beleaguered Tata Steel and Tata Power were not able to provide profits to the investors, with their share value actually seeing an erosion. Tata Communications and Tata Chemicals also gave good returns to shareholders when Mistry was leading the group. How does Mistry look back on his tenure? He writes: 'During my term, the operating cash flows of the group have grown at 31% compounded per annum.' 'The Tata group valuation from 2013 to 2016 increased by 14.9% per annum in rupee terms as against the BSE Sensex annual increase of 10.4% over the same period.' 'The Tata Sons net worth has increased from approximately Rs 26,000 crores to Rs 42,000 crores, after considering the impairments.' 'This has significantly strengthened our balance sheet, enhancing our ability to absorb further shocks from restructuring in the companies.' 'I cannot believe that I was removed on grounds of non-performance.' Data source: Capitalineplus Design: Reuben N V An English bibliotaph of fifty years residence in Wales pontificates about politics (slightly off-message), films and trivia. Acting secretary of Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats. Candidate for Neath in the Westminster elections of 1997 & 2017 and the Welsh general election of 2016. Hitting out at Cyrus Mistry for making 'unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations', Tata Sons on Thursday said the former chairman was fully empowered to lead the group and its companies but had "overwhelmingly" lost the confidence of board members. With the contents of Mistry's letter, which he wrote to its board members after being sacked, becoming public, Tata Sons regretted that "a communication marked confidential to Tata Sons board members has been made public in an unseemly and undignified manner". The promoter company of the major Tata group companies also alleged that Mistry's tenure was marked by repeated departures from the culture and ethos of the group. "The correspondence makes unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations, casting aspersions on the Tata group, the Tata Sons board and several Tata group companies and some respected individuals. These will be responded to in an appropriate manner," Tata Sons said in a statement. The company also rubbished Mistry's claims that he was made a 'lame duck' chairman. "As the executive chairman, he was fully empowered to lead the group and its companies. It is unfortunate that it is only on his removal that allegations and misrepresentation of facts are being made about business decisions that the former chairman was party to for over a decade in different capacities," the statement said. The Tata Sons board gives its chairman complete autonomy to manage opportunities and challenges. However, the tenure of the former chairman was marked by repeated departures from the culture and ethos of the group, it added. "It is unfortunate that Mr Mistry had overwhelmingly lost the confidence of the members of the board of directors for a combination of several factors," Tata Son said. Stating that Mistry has been on the board of the company since 2006 and was appointed deputy chairman in November 2011 and formally appointed chairman on December 28, 2012, Tata Sons said he would be fully familiar with the culture, ethos, governance structure, financial and operational imperatives of the group as well as its various companies. Reacting strongly to several allegations made by Mistry in his letter to the board members, Tata Sons said: "It is unforgivable that Mr Mistry has attempted to besmirch the image of the group in the eyes of the employees". Tata Sons described Mistry's letter as an effort to level accusations against individuals and company boards for "ignoring corporate governance norms" that were supposedly upheld by him while in office. It further asserted that there was a multitude of records to show that the allegations made by him were "unwarranted". "And these records will be duly disclosed before appropriate forums, if and when necessary, sufficiently justifying the decision made by responsible boards of directors, of Tata Sons and its group companies," the statement added. Giving an account on why Mistry was replaced, the company said: "The directors of the Tata Sons board had repeatedly raised queries and concerns on certain business issues, and trustees of the Tata Trusts were increasingly getting concerned with the growing trust deficit with Mr Mistry, but these were not being addressed." The Tata Sons board, in its collective wisdom, took the decision to replace its chairman in the manner undertaken, it added. Defending the decision of the board, the company said its directors were several eminent personalities from all walks of life. "This is not a group of people who one would expect to act without exercising proper judgement in the best interests of the entities they sit on the boards of," it said. On the issue of the group's debt burden that Mistry had highlighted, Tata Sons said its board members have in the past stressed on the need to be more decisively focused on bringing down debt, sharpening focus on both the portfolio and capital efficiency. Refusing to be drawn into a point by point clarification of Mistry's letter, the company said: "It will be beneath the dignity of Tata Sons to engage in a public spat with regard to the several unfounded allegations appearing in his leaked confidential statement. "These allegations are not based on facts or the true state of affairs. It is convenient to put selective information in the public domain to defend one's point of view...The Tata way is to not run away from problems, or constantly complain about them, but firmly deal with them and build a better tomorrow." Tata Sons further said the strength of the group was not just confined to its value system and ethics in the board room but to a very large extent by the adherence to the values by its 6 lakh plus employees "whose spirit and cooperation has built the group to where it is today". It said interim chairman Ratan Tata in his first interaction with senior leaders has stressed on the need to continue focusing on building great businesses while emphasising on delivering strong shareholder returns. Image: Ousted Chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry leaves the group headquarters, Bombay House in Mumbai, on October 26, 2016. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad/PTI Photo. iPhone will have to break Android's domination to make India the next China for Apple Tim Cook wants to turn India into Apple's next China, but rival Google headed by India-born Sundar Pichai, bottom, left, could spoil its plans with its new Pixel smartphones. Google might be a late entrant into the smartphone world, but is at a clear advantage in India where its Android OS runs on 94 per cent of all devices sold here. While Apple might boast that its sales in India grew by 50 per cent in the year that ended September, its base is still tiny at just 2.5 million units. Indian consumers bought close to 115 million smartphones in the year to September. "In India 94 per cent of smartphone users are on Android, so most of them will want to upgrade to the next best Android device. This has usually been the Note 7 of S7 from Samsung, but now there's the Google Pixel. With much more marketing behind the Pixel, Google could win significant mindshare," said Neil Shah, Partner at Counterpoint Research. With Google's entry into the high-end smartphone market, it could become harder for Apple to snatch away Android users who are looking to upgrade to a more premium device. The Pixel phones, priced at Rs 57,000 and above went on sale in India on Tuesday, almost competing with Apple's iPhone 7. Even today, Samsung continues to control a 55 per cent share of the around four million premium smartphone (Rs 30,000 and above) market in India. But with sales of the iPhone dropping globally, especially in markets such as the US and China, winning in India has become imperative for Apple. In its Q4 earnings call on Tuesday, Apple reported a 9 per cent drop in revenues to $46.8 billion from $51.5 billion in the corresponding quarter last year. Sales of the iPhone, Apple's flagship device which powers over half of its revenues, dropped by 5 per cent to 45.5 million units in the quarter from 48 million units in the same quarter last year. In China, Apple suffered its biggest loss, with revenues eroding by 30 per cent to $8.78 billion from $12.51 billion last year. In India, Apple shipped close to 2.5 million iPhones in the year that ended September, up from 1.6 million units in the previous 12 months, according to Counterpoint Research. These figures are largely in line with Apple's claimed 50 percent sales growth in year on year shipments in the country. Still, Cook believes that India can be as big a market for Apple in the next decade as China. During the Q4 earnings call with investors on Tuesday, he pointed out that while India's GDP might not rival that of China in the next 10 years, he said that the metric was "not critical for us to have a great success there". "There's going to be a lot of people there and a lot of people in the middle class that will really want a smartphone, and I think we can compete well for some percentage of those. And given our starting point, even though we've been growing a lot, there is a lot of headroom there," added Cook. As India kicks down barriers for premium smartphone usage such as lack of high-speed wireless connectivity, Apple thinks its iPhone sales will benefit. However, leapfrogs which Reliance Jio and other network providers bring to Internet speeds will boost the overall smartphone market, including Apple's rivals Google and Samsung. Shah says that it might still be "very difficult" to get people using the iPhone to switch to any other OS, making it hard for Google to steal customers from Apple. However, in India, with the iPhone controlling just 2.2 per cent of the overall market, if Google can defend its own turf it has nothing to worry about from Apple. Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Instead of isolation, India should respond militarily to every act of terrorism assessed to have come from across the border, unilaterally declare Pakistan a State that supports terrorism and cease all economic dealings with it, notes Vice Admiral Premvir Das. In recent weeks a great deal has been said about how, post the 'surgical strikes,' we have 'isolated' Pakistan. First, Bhutan and Bangladesh closed ranks with us in condemning the terrorist attack in Uri and supporting the retaliatory action across the Line of Control. Later, they were joined by Sri Lanka in regretting their inability, along with India, to attend the SAARC meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad later in the year. Nepal, not so forthcoming had, perforce, to back out as well. To some extent, therefore, it could be said that Pakistan stood isolated, at least, in the South Asian region though why Sri Lanka and then Nepal, did not join immediately in condemning the Uri attack or in supporting our action thereafter, remains a question unanswered. The fact is that few countries stood up to condemn the attack on our military base in Uri as a terrorist action aided by or from the Pakistani State; most merely voiced their opposition to all forms of terrorism. As for India's retaliatory military attack, the great majority have either not responded or treated it as another exchange of fire across the LOC, as propagated by Pakistan, some possibly to avoid taking sides and, thus, implicitly buying the Pakistan line. Of the five countries which are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, only Russia could be said to have directly supported India's response against the terrorist camps; yet, it did not consider it necessary to cancel or at least defer its two-week joint anti-terrorism exercise with Pakistan's military, thereby giving credence to the notion that the latter was itself the victim of such acts, let alone sponsor it against others. The United States merely supported our fight against terror and advised both countries to sit across the table and talk, as if those perpetrating crimes and those who are the victims have anything much to talk about. The United Kingdom and France have spoken against terrorism generally without referring to Pakistan. None of the above suggests that Pakistan has become a global untouchable as we seem to have convinced ourselves that it has. China falls in a different category; its relationship with Pakistan is something special. Leave aside the strategic determinants resulting from the latter's unique geostrategic location, its importance as leverage against India is also not something to be scoffed at. Apart from the ongoing defence engagement in which the bulk of Pakistan's military hardware has come or is coming from China, there is clear nuclear interface between the two countries, including in the field of nuclear weapon technology. This has a momentum of its own. These are not considerations that are likely to change anytime soon. One of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitions is his One Belt, One Road project which links China across Asia, both in terms of infrastructure connectivity and strategically. This vision is unachievable without the participation of Pakistan. It is in this context that one has to view the $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor envisaging development of infrastructure, including industries across a region which runs through Pakistan occupied Kashmir, a territory claimed by us as our own and recognised as disputed by China itself at some earlier time. This route ends at Gwadar port, thereby connecting the Chinese hinterland with the North Arabian Sea, through which flows all of China's West Asian oil. The significance of this project to China and, indeed, to Pakistan -- both for different reasons -- cannot be underestimated. Gwadar, and its purported development as a base which could, at some time, host permanent Chinese military facilities is yet another link in the China-Pakistan bonding. To think that this relationship can be altered by India's increasing interface with its giant neighbour is idealistic. It is not surprising that China has not allowed any reference to cross-border terrorism in the joint statement put out after the recent meeting of BRICS countries in Goa, despite the strong position taken by us. If anything, the engagement will strengthen, such is the dynamic of the emerging geopolitical environment as seen by Beijing. But this is not all. Pakistan is not some small insignificant country. With a population exceeding 170 million, it is not a trifling piece of real estate which can be ignored much less isolated. Let us not forget that we, ourselves, are not willing to brand it a rogue or terrorist State with which we will have no dealings. Banning participation of some of their actors in Indian television programmes or in our films is merely cosmetic and may satisfy our vanity, but does not isolate a country in the eyes of others who continue to deal with it. It is true that in recent years, Indian diplomacy has made significant strides in persuading some West Asian nations to be more proactive to our sensitivities, but that is more due to India's emergence as an economic powerhouse and its vast market potential and not because of any hostility, even coldness, towards Pakistan. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has consistently held positions adversarial to our interest and promoting those of Pakistan. It has remained silent on the provocations which led to our responding in the way we did. These are ground realities. The bottom line, therefore, is that none of the measures that we are taking or may be feeling smug about will alter, in any substantial way, that country's military strategy of dealing with India through non-State actor terrorism aided by the State, period. So, what should India do is the question. First, let us put aside any thoughts of isolating Pakistan even as we pursue diplomatic moves. Two, respond militarily to every act of terrorism which is assessed to have come from across the border. Three, unilaterally declare Pakistan as a State, that supports terrorism in our land and cease all economic dealings with it. Four, reduce the level of our diplomatic representation there and, consequently, theirs in ours. Five, do not enter into negotiations of any kind, unless Pakistan reiterates the commitment made by General Musharraf some years ago -- that it will not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against India. And to sweeten all this, allow its actors to be seen on our television screens and in our films; just to show that we will be friendly to the people, but not to the State. This also fits in with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion at the Bharatiya Janata Party convention in Kozhikode last month. Glib talk of isolating Pakistan does little credit to our awareness of global realities or of the compulsions of 'realpolitik.' Vice Admiral Premvir Das is a former Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. He has also been a member of the National Security Advisory Board. A full majority may be difficult, but Mayawati is in a commanding position this time round, says Nazarwala, who called right the 2007 and 2012 UP elections. Mayawati believes she will eat the 'whole Uttar Pradesh cake' on her 61st birthday in 2017. She confidently claims she will go it alone this time. UP's voters, willy-nilly, seem to be veering around to concede Mayawati's point. They are gearing up to support Behenji, as she is famously called. The Bahujan Samaj Party is a one-woman party where the supremo's wish is the final command. None dares to contradict or oppose her. Her deputy in the party, Satish Mishra, looks after her court cases and other interests. He is her Brahmin paw, as he helps her garner votes of the community as and when she grows into a 'power centre'. This Kanyakubja Brahmin is treated with disdain by other UP Brahmins in general, and the Saryuparins and Mathurias in particular. He has nowhere else to turn to, and hence he has stayed with her. In her shadow, his stature and importance are increasing. Besides Brahmins, Behenji needs the support of Muslims. But they are wary of her opportunistic politics. Her past links with the Bharatiya Janata Party are a cause for their concern. Just in case she falls short of a full majority, she may join hands with the BJP once again, they fear. In that case, their votes would be frittered away. Mayawati has perceived this. Sensing the Muslim sentiment, she has re-adjusted her sails. From time to time, she demonstrates that she is distancing herself from the saffron party. She also makes occasional critical remarks against the BJP, purely for the Muslim masses to take note of. The mullahs, nonetheless, are wary and suspicious. They take her BJP stance and remarks with a tonne of salt. Her frustration due to her failure in sorting out the disproportionate assets case against her with BJP support is the main cause of her opposition. A Capricorn never forgets, nor forgives. Although she is emerging as a strong contender this time -- the crisis in her main opponent, the Samajwadi Party, is the icing on the cake, for there is no other place for those Muslims deciding to abandon Mulayam Singh Yadav can go to but Mayawati. A clear, simple majority may still be difficult to manage, forcing her to rely on outside support. Therefore, she is arduously nursing and wooing the Muslim votebank. The Muslim masses are being persuaded to believe in her secular stance. On what basis? Because there was not a single communal riot during her strong five-year rule during 2007 and 2012. Keeping the Muslim votebank in mind, she may agree to accommodate and encourage All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi in his foray into UP. This, she hopes, will counter the 'Mulayam-Bukhari' understanding. She has also sent a strong signal to the Congress in Uttarakhand where she supported Chief Minister Harish Rawat, with her trusted hatchet man Naseemuddin Siddiqui doing the trick for her. Rahul Gandhi and Prashant Kishor are thrilled by Behenji's open support in Uttarakhand, and are ready to back her in UP on the condition that she accommodates a couple of Congress leaders in her cabinet. She smirks at their cheek, yet smiles like a politician. She is wary of ambitious Nitish Kumar and his Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) plans. Her hatred for Mulayam Singh Yadav, and the possibility of him joining this alliance, makes her cautious. Jats and Jatavs are known to vote against the wind in UP. However, their leaders -- Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh and Mayawati -- may see some advantage in wooing their combined votes. Ajit Singh, the Jat leader, is lurking in the wings, wooing Behenji for a share in power. And she wants to keep all her options open. The possibility of getting Brahmin, Muslim and Jat votes boosts Mayawati's morale. Topping it all is the struggling Congress, desperately pleading to ride piggyback on the BSP's elephant symbol. BJP chief Amit Shah's Dalit-dip gimmick in the Ujjain Kumbh cannot make a dent in her votebank. In fact, that strengthens the Dalits' resolve to support their Behenji. Strong governance and effective law and order during her regime are being fondly recalled by the public disgusted with the Yadavs' 'goonda raj'. Mayawati is in a commanding position this time. Getting a BSP ticket is seen as a sure-shot entry into the Vidhan Sabha. It even commands a hefty premium nowadays, it is said in Lucknow. What such talk represents is that Brand Mayawati and the BSP have re-surfaced in UP once again after 2007. The 'Gaja-Keshari Yoga' in her horoscope may still do wonders for this 'Dalit Ki Beti.' The armed forces continue to be upset with the government over a defence ministry circular regarding rank parity vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts at the Service headquarters even though the ministry issued a statement on Thursday, saying no downgradation had been done. Two days after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar promised to look into the concerns of the military personnel, the ministry issued a statement saying there has been no downgradation or any change in the existing equivalence of the Service ranks whatsoever. "The existing functional equivalence as clarified in 1991 and further reiterated in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2005 has only been re-affirmed," the statement said. It, however, failed to placate the armed forces, including some retired officers. "PM exhorts nation to send Diwali 'sandesh' to soldiers. B'crats reduce disability pension n lower status vis-a-vis civilians. Happy Diwali!," Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd) tweeted, a view echoed by serving officers in the three Services. Senior armed forces officers said an attempt at downgrading the status of military officers vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts had been resisted way back in 1992 by then Chiefs of Staff Committee. "But, babus prevailed by simply bulldozing their way and (because of) unwillingness and irresponsibility of political executive. "Issue is simple. There can be no more than one parameter for 'equivalence'. How can there be separate equivalence for 'Functionality', 'Warrant of Precedence'; and based on 'Pay Scales/ Grade Pay' ? Accepting such multiple regimes is a deliberate act of causing confusion and subverting status as per convenience," a senior officer said. The officers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it was important to scrutinise the mandate of AFHQ cadre. Noting that AFHQ officers were meant to provide only secretarial support and had no executive authority or powers, they said comparing them to armed forces officers who have executive powers, exercise command over men in peace and war, and also have substantial judicial powers, is insane -- like comparing "chalk and cheese". As per the circular issued on October 18, an army Major General (rear admiral in the navy and vice-marshal in the air force) was to be on par with a principal director in the Armed Force Headquarters (AFHQ) Civil Service. A Brigadier/Commodore/Air Commodore (with about 24 years of service) was to be equivalent in rank to a director (with about 14 years of service), and a Colonel/Captain/Group Captain to a joint director in the civil service, sources in the armed forces said. So far, a colonel was equated with a director. A Brigadier did not have a clearly defined equivalence in the civilian hierarchy. However, they were treated at par with a deputy director-general. A major general was treated as the equivalent of a joint secretary. In the letter of 1992, it was clearly mentioned that a Major General was equivalent to a Joint Secretary and equivalent ranked civil officers in the Service Headquarters. Defence ministry sources said that a Joint Secretary is equal to a Principal Director in the Services Headquarters in terms of pay band. However, sources in the Services say that the ministry should put it in writing that a Joint Secretary is equivalent to a Principal Director. Sources in the armed forces said that the Services had issued an order for "Redesignation of Appointments of AFHQ Civil Service Officers posted at Headquarters between 2003-08) under which a Director was re-designated as Principal Director and a Joint Director as Director. It was clearly brought out that designations were purely local and would be used for day-to-day purposes alone and not entail change in status, prevailing rank and equivalence, sources said. "It is further clarified that the present reiteration of rank equivalence is only for matters of assigning duties and functional responsibilities as is already existing in different offices of the respective Service HQrs of the Army, Navy and Air Force having component of Service personnel as well as civilian officers. "It has no bearing on civilian employees outside these offices of the Service HQrs. It is reiterated that there is no change in the rank structure or the status of the Armed Forces personnel," the statement said. However, sources alleged that Office of JS (Training) and Chief Administrative Officer has been issuing regular orders establishing protocol and status equivalence based on the redesignation. They fear that with the letter of October 18 a Joint Secretary in the MoD will go a notch higher than a Major General. The Pakistan High Commission staffer, who was detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage ring, belongs to the Baloch regiment of the Pakistani Army and was on deputation to the Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan's spy agency, since 2013. Investigators probing the case suspect more people from the mission may be involved in the espionage ring. Sources in Delhi Police also did not rule out possible involvement of some Border Security Force personnel in the racket as they believe the staffer Mehmood Akhtar and his accomplices could not have got hold of deployment details unless somebody in the BSF was leaking them. Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the Pakistani high commission, had procured sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border and shared them with the ISI. Two of Akhtar's accomplices were already arrested. Akhtar was detained but released after prolonged questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. He said that he is on deputation to ISI since January 2013 and is a serving Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army and native of village Kahuta of Rawalpindi district, said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police (Crime). During the interrogation, Akhtar said that he was posted in Pakistan high commission for last two-and-a-half years. It is also suspected that he lured many people into the spying ring by offering them good money and that there was a honey trap at play to lure people, said another officer in the probe team. Sources said more people in the Pakistani high commission may be involved in the case. On possible involvement of BSF personnel, they said, "The documents that were recovered from them couldn't have been procured without the help of someone privy to such sensitive information. We are suspecting that they were aided by some BSF personnel who leaked the information and documents to them. "We are investigating that aspect. We have identified some of the officers involved and we will be conducting a raid soon." The Delhi Police had been tracking the module for the last six months and received information on October 25 that Akhtar will be meeting Subhash Jangir and Maulana Ramzan at the Delhi Zoo on October 26 around 10 am, said the officer. A team of officers of Crime Branch led by ACP Sanjay Sherawat under the supervision of DCP Crime (South) Bhisham Singh laid a trap and caught the trio while they were in the process of exchanging documents. Akhtar initially showed an Aadhar card in the name of Mehboob Rajput. "He claimed to be a resident of Chandni Chowk but after sustained interrogation, he revealed his real name Mehmood Akhtar," said Yadav. He was carrying a forged Aadhar card to assume an Indian identity. "He is serving with Pakistan ISI and has got diplomatic immunity since he is posted in the Pakistan High Commission of Delhi. This was verified through MEA and after confirmation and as per the due procedures, he was handed over to the PHC diplomats in presence of MEA representative," Yadav said. Since Akhtar was working in the visa department, it gave easy access to him to identify people who could work for him as spies. "He would chat up with people about their family background and then start laying his trap. People who were financially weak would be lured by promise of getting big money," said a senior police officer. The officer said the honey trap angle was also being explored. "From initial investigation, it has been revealed that some girls were exploited after being promised good money and were used to lure men into the module. We are investigating this aspect," he added. Police has also recovered the mobile phones of Maulana and Jangir, who were sharing information and documents with Akhtar. "It has been found that they used to mostly communicate through whatsapp calls as they are not recorded. We cannot procure the call detail records of calls made through whatsapp. "On normal phone calls, their conversations would mostly happen through codewords and we were studying the pattern in the last six months," said a senior police officer. Akhtar would meet Maulana and Jangir once every month in Delhi where they would give documents to him and he would pay them a high amount in return. During interrogation, they didn't reveal the amount for leaking information but it is suspected to be in the range of Rs 30,000-Rs 50,000, said a senior police officer. Akhtar had come in contact with Maulana and Jangir through a Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent, identified as Shoaib. Maulana and Jangir are residents of Nagaur in Rajasthan. Maulana has been working as an Islamic preacher at a local mosque Qureshiyon ki Masjid there and Subhash had a small kirana shop near the mosque. Ramzan was in contact with Shoaib, who is yet to be arrested. Subhash incurred huge losses in business and Ramzan asked him to become a part of the module. Image: Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Photograph: Reuters The Congress on Thursday virtually ruled out any grand alliance in poll bound Uttar Pradesh including with Samajwadi Party insisting that Rahul Gandhi wanted to set things right in the state which is in bad shape for past 27 years in non-Congress rule. "Our stand is more than clear..We have been saying '27 saal, UP behal'. Rahul Gandhi's yatra .....is not founded on lust for power but to bring new paradigm of politics in the state", Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters in New Delhi. He said that the Congress has been holding the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party "squarely responsible" for shifting focus from the issue of development through politics of division of different kind. When told that Rahul Gandhi had described UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as a "good guy", he said that the Congress vice president has no personal enmity with any leader and that politics cannot be founded on likes and dislikes of individuals. Surjewala's remarks are significant as they came in the backdrop of reports that only on Wednesday 17 Congress MLAs from the state had a meeting with Rahul Gandhi in which they conveyed to him that he should look at forming an alliance with "secular forces" to fight the assembly elections. He also discounted suggestions that Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav's meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi two days back and with party General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday was indicative of a grand alliance. Yadav had also met UP SP chief Shivpal Yadav. Noting that the Congress has an alliance with the JD-U in Bihar, he said that it would be wrong to interpret the meetings in any other way. To a specific question whether he was ruling out the Congress tying up with any party in Uttar Pradesh in future, he said how could he say what would happen six months from now. Interestingly, Samajwadi Partys UP president Shivpal Yadav had on Wednesday hinted at a tie-up with the Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Congress to stop "communal forces" in the assembly polls scheduled early next year. The BSP is reluctant to go for any alliance and the possible options put forward by most of the MLAs were the RLD and SP, an unnamed MLA was quoted as saying after the meeting with Gandhi. Police on Thursday night stormed a youth convention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Islamabad and arrested scores of party workers, prompting party chief Imran Khan to announce nationwide protests on Friday, ahead of his rally next week seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ouster from power. "We told the government that we would remain peaceful if they had remained peaceful. Now the movement will take a different direction," he told media persons. The police crackdown came as authorities banned all public gatherings in Islamabad for two months. But Imran, giving a call for countrywide protests tomorrow, said the police can arrest him if they want "under Section 144". The decison for protests on Friday was made during an emergency meeting of senior party leaders. "Nothing can stop us now, nothing will ever stop this nation now, we'll rid Pakistan of Nawaz Sharif's dictatorship. ShameOnDictatorNawaz," it said on its official twitter handle. The PTI chief questioned the democratic setup, saying "What kind of a democracy is in Pakistan when we are jailed for practicing our democratic right". After Imran's press conference, PTI workers took to the streets in different cities of the country and held sit-ins at major thoroughfares, Dawn reported. Earlier on Thursday night, police thrashed PTI workers and detained them as party's vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was to address the youth convention in Islamabad, eyewitness said. Qureshi said the police raid manifested dictatorial tactics of the Nawaz Sharif-led government. He said his party workers neither had weapons nor they were protesting, Express Tribune reported. "On what basis they have arrested our party's members?" he asked, alleging that police tortured female party workers. "Hundreds of PTI workers were arrested and female workers were tortured by the police," Qureshi was quoted as saying by Dawn. "We will discuss the situation with IG Islamabad." The district administration in the national capital had imposed section 144, banning public gatherings and display of weapons for two months. According to a notification more than five people cannot gather at a location. Public rallies and mass gatherings have been banned, Radio Pakistan reported. The notification came ahead of the sit-in by Imran-led party planned for November 2. The party is protesting alleged money laundering by Sharif and his family in the wake of the Panama Papers leak and is demanding the Premier's resignation. Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court on Thursday ordered the opposition and government to abstain from shutting down the capital in the name of protest or maintaining law and order. The court heard petitions to outlaw a threat by Imran to impose gridlock on Islamabad on November 2. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said neither the opposition nor the government has any right under the law to shut down the city. He directed the government and city administration to ensure smooth running of daily business on November 2. Siddiqui ordered the city administration not to place any containers or block roads during the protest by PTI, while also restraining the opposition from imposing a lockdown. The judge also summoned Imran on October 31 to explain why in his speeches he had threatened to shut down the capital. "We will not let rights of citizens be violated," he said. He also asked the administration to inform PTI that it should restrict protests at a designated place. The court observed that "judiciary is the third umpire" and can decide on matters related to law and Constitution. The reference was made in the context of any possibility of intervention by army as Imran had earlier said that only Prime Minister Sharif will be responsible if democracy was derailed and a "third power" stepped in due to protests. Addressing the media in Islamabad after the court order, Imran had said that using force against peaceful protesters is unconstitutional. He warned that the government's attempt to stop the rally will only result in spreading chaos. "No power or deception can stop us from holding a sit-in in Islamabad," he said adding he will challenge the high court decision in the Supreme Court. Photograph: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters Pakistan on Thursday deplored India declaring its high commission staffer in New Delhi as persona non grata for espionage activities, terming charges against the diplomatic official as "false and unsubstantiated". Foreign Office in a statement said, "We condemn the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official". The Indian action has been accompanied by an "extremely negative and orchestrated media campaign", it said, adding the move "clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan high commission". "A staff member of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi was lifted by the Indian authorities yesterday (26th October 2016) on false and unsubstantiated charges. He was, however, released in about three hours on intervention by our high commission," the statement said. "We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which is indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere. "Pakistan high commission has always been working within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms," the statement claimed. It also alleged that India's attempts to escalate the tensions and divert the international attention from the "grave human rights violations" being perpetrated in Kashmir can never succeed. It urged the international community to "take notice of the Indian designs". India's decision to declare a Pakistan high commission staffer in Delhi as persona non grata was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan's envoy Abdul Basit. Delhi Police crime branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar in custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar.. According to a report, global populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles have already declined by 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012. IMAGE: A bird flies near the carcass of an elephant, which was killed after drinking from a poisoned water hole, in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. Photograph: Philimon Bulawayo/File Photo/Reuters As much as two-thirds of the global wildlife populations may be wiped out by the year 2020 due human activities, according to a new study published on Thursday which shows that, for the first time in Earths history, people are overpowering the planet. According to the World Wildlife Funds Living Planet Report 2016, global populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles have already declined by 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012, the most recent year with available data. At this trajectory, the decline could reach 67 per cent by 2020, according to the report which was produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London. The Earth is being pushed into uncharted territory, with humanity now violating planetary boundaries that act as safe thresholds for nine critical system processes that maintain life on Earth. Those already pushed past safe limits include climate, biosphere integrity, biogeochemical flows (nitrogen and phosphorous) and land-system change (such as conversion of forests to agricultural land). IMAGE: A wildlife ranger strokes a northern white rhino, only three of its kind left in the world. Photograph: Siegfried Modola/Reuters Some assessments suggest freshwater use has also passed a safe threshold. Wildlife are disappearing at an unprecedented rate, with a 38 per cent decline in land-based populations, 36 per cent decline in ocean-based populations and an 81 per cent decline in freshwater populations. According to the report, pollution, climate change and loss and degradation of habitat through agriculture, logging, and man-made changes to freshwater systems are among biggest threats to species. Take away species, and these ecosystems will collapse along with the clean air, water, food and climate services that they provide us, said Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International. We have the tools to fix this problem and we need to start using them now if we are serious about preserving a living planet for our own survival and prosperity, said Lambertini. Our consumption patterns and the way we look at our natural world are constantly shaping the future of our planet... The power to build a resilient planet for future generations lies in our understanding of how we are moving into this new epoch that scientists are calling Anthropocene and adopting sustainable practices that decrease humanitys impact on the planet. We need to come together as a global community and address the threats to biodiversity to protect our environment as well as our economic and social structures, said Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF-India. In 2020, commitments made under the Paris Climate deal will kick in and the first environmental actions under the globes new sustainable development plan are due that year. Wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate...Biodiversity forms the foundation of healthy forests, rivers and oceans. Take away species, and these ecosystems will collapse along with the clean air, water, food and climate services that they provide us, said Marco Lambertini, International Director General, WWF. The report recognises the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as an essential guide to decision-making that can ensure that the environment is valued alongside economic and social interests. Quoting factsheets about India based on reference material sources from public domains, it said 41 per cent of mammals, 7 per cent of birds, 46 per cent of reptiles, 57 per cent of amphibians and 70 per cent of freshwater fish of Indias wildlife is threatened with extinction while four of the 386 species of mammals evaluated are already extinct. Although India aims for 33 per cent forest cover, it currently has only 21.3 per cent of forest and tree cover which makes it one of the countries with the lowest per capita availability of forests in the world, according to the factsheets. Though India has about 4 per cent of the worlds freshwater resources, ranking it among the top ten water rich countries, it is still designated a water stressed region. Seventy per cent of its surface water is polluted and 60 per cent of groundwater sources are expected to be in a critical state within the next decade. According to the reference material, it is estimated that by 2020, food grain requirement will be almost 30-50 per cent more than the demand in 2000 and India could also see a 10-40 per cent loss in crop production by 2080-2100 due to global warming. Islamic Research Foundation, the non-government organisation promoted by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, will soon be banned under the anti-terror law, with the home ministry preparing a draft cabinet note for it. IRF will be declared an 'unlawful association' under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act after investigations by the home ministry found it to be allegedly having dubious links with Peace TV, an international Islamic channel accused of propagating terrorism, an official source said. According to the draft note, which is also based on the inputs from Maharashtra Police, Naik, who heads the IRF, has allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda. Maharashtra Police has also registered criminal cases against Naik for his alleged involvement in radicalisation of youths and luring them into terror activities, a source said. Naik also transferred IRF's foreign funds to Peace TV for making "objectionable" programmes. Most of the programmes, which were made in India, contained alleged hate speeches of Naik, who had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists" through Peace TV, sources claimed. Two educational trusts run by Naik have also come under the scanner of the Home Ministry and agencies are looking into their activities. The draft note will soon be placed before the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for its approval, sources said. Naik is accused of radicalising youths into terror and receiving foreign funds and spending those to lure young people into terrorism. He came under the scanner of the security agencies after Bangladeshi newspaper 'Daily Star' reported that one of the perpetrators of the July 1 terror attack in Dhaka, Rohan Imtiaz, ran propaganda on Facebook last year quoting Naik. Naik in a lecture, aired on Peace TV, had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists". The Islamic orator is banned in the UK and Canada for his hate speech aimed against other religions. He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia. He is popular in Bangladesh through his Peace TV, although his preachings often demean other religions and even other Muslim sects. The Mumbai-based preacher has not returned to India ever since the controversy came to light. Photograph: Sahil Salvi Cops revealed that the staffer Mehmood Akhtar was sharing sensitive defence documents and deployment details of the BSF along the Indo-Pak border to the ISI. In the midst of heightened Indo-Pak tensions, a Pakistan high commission staffer was detained by police for accessing sensitive defence documents while running a spy ring for Inter Service Intelligence, and was immediately declared persona non grata on Thursday. The staffer Mehmood Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the high commission and has diplomatic immunity, was procuring critical details including about deployment of the Border Securty Force personnel along the Indo-Pak border from two other accomplices who have been arrested in New Delhi, police said. Described as the kingpin of the spy ring, 35-year-old Akhtar belongs to the Baloch regiment of Pakistani Army and was on deputation to spy agency ISI since 2013, investigators said, adding they also probing possible involvement of more people from the Pakistani mission. Sources in Delhi Police also did not rule out possible involvement of some BSF personnel in the racket as they believe the staffer Mehmood Akhtar and his accomplices could not have got hold of deployment details unless somebody in BSF was leaking them. Akhtar and two others -- identified as Subhash Jangir and Maulana Ramzan-- were picked up from Delhi Zoo on Wednesday at around 10 am. Akhtar was released after around three hours of interrogation as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. A fourth person Shoaib, who is a Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent, was detained by Rajasthan police on Thursday evening and was being brought to Delhi. Shoaib was present at the meeting at the Delhi Zoo on Wednesday but had managed to give a slip to police. A Delhi court sent Jangir and Ramzan to 12-day custody of the police which said their custodial interrogation was needed to unearth the larger conspiracy. "The accused were involved in espionage activities for over a year-and-a-half. We were watching their activities for past six months. On a specific input, they were held yesterday. Akhtar is a kingpin of the spy ring," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav told a press conference. Shortly after the police disclosure, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to his office and conveyed to him that Akhtar has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities. Later, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Akhtar has been given 48-hours to leave the country. Police said that Akhtar initially showed an Aadhar card in the name of Mehboob Rajput. "He claimed to be a resident of Chandni Chowk but after sustained interrogation, he revealed his real name Mehmood Akhtar," said Yadav. "He is serving with Pakistan ISI and has got diplomatic immunity since he is posted in the Pakistan high commission of Delhi. This was verified through MEA and after confirmation and as per the due procedures, he was handed over to the PHC diplomats in presence of MEA representative," Yadav said. "The Pakistan high commission has been informed that Mehmood Akhtar and his family must return to Pakistan by October 29. The Foreign Secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pak high commissioner that the Pak high commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. He also rejected Pakistani allegations of "mishandling" Akhtar, saying he was treated with "utmost courtesy". "When he was handed over to the Pakistan high commission in the presence of a ministry official, Akhtar himself said he was treated well," he added. Asserting that terror has become the "central motive" in India's interactions with Pakistan, Swarup said it was important that Pakistan takes action to honour various commitments it has made, including at the highest level, that it will dismantle the terror infrastructure and will not allow its soil to be used for such activities against any country, including India. "The terrorist attack in Uri and continuing attacks with repeated frequency in parts of Jammu and Kashmir are being carried out with the support of Pakistan. It is a matter of great concern that instead of taking action against the cancer, Pakistan takes shelter under denial and abjuration. Lashkar-e-Taiyba, Jaish-e-Mohammed are active under various aegis and find support from state organs of Pakistan," Swarup said. Reacting strongly to Pakistan's denial of charges as "false and unsubstantiated" and that it was an attempt by India to divert attaention from Kashmir issue, Swarup said there was no "rationale" behind the claim as Akhtar was caught "red-handed" committing an illegal act. "We are happy that we nipped the ISI spy ring in the bud," he said, adding that "denial that has come out from Pakistan is something which has by now become quite characteristic (of that country)." On remarks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan that India was trying to "implode" Pakistan, the spokesperson said if today that country is feeling isolated, it is because of "misguided policies". Giving details of how Akhtar was caught, Swarup said following intelligence inputs for the last six months relating to espionage involving vital installations of army and paramilitary forces, Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi Police in the forenoon Wednesday while he was receiving sensitive documents pertaining to national security from two persons. Although initially Akhtar masqueraded as an Indian national and even produced a fake Aadhar card, he later admitted that he worked at the Pakistan high commission and requested that the mission be informed of the developments. IMAGE: Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistani high commission staffer. The Border Security Force on Thursday said it had killed a Pakistani paramilitary jawan and wounded another after a BSF jawan died and six civilians were injured in shelling and firing from across the International Border in R S Pura and Arnia sectors since Wednesday night. Pakistani troops also violated ceasefire along Line of Control in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district on Thursday. "At 1230 and 1315 hours today, BSF troops in Arnia and R S Pura sectors killed one Pakistani Ranger and seriously injured another in the retaliatory firing," a senior BSF officer said in Jammu. Pakistani Rangers somehow managed to evacuate their grievously injured colleague in the vehicle amidst exchange of fire, officer said. "Pakistani has resorted to very heavy firing which is being responded in the befitting manner," he said. Earlier, a BSF jawan died and six civilians were injured when Pakistani troops shelled over 15 Indian border outposts and 29 hamlets with mortar bombs and fired heavily from automatic weapons overnight in R S Pura and Arnia sectors along the International Border in Jammy district. "One BSF jawan was injured when he was hit by a bullet in R S Pura sector of Jammu district during the night," the BSF officer said. He died on his way to hospital. "There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BoPs and villages along IB in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till this morning," a police officer said. In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in R S Pura this morning, he said, adding the injured have been taken to hospital for treatment. Pakistani Rangers started firing heavy mortars and small arm fire towards the Indian side from 2035 hours Wednesday night, the BSF officer said. Pakistan troops also violated ceasefire on the LoC by resorting to firing in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district. "Pakistan troops have violated ceasefire and resorted to firing along LoC in Sunderbani sector today," a senior army officer said. Troops guarding the border retaliated, he added. On Wednesday, an Assistant Sub-Inspector of BSF was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him during overnight ceasefire violation in RS Pura sector along the International Border in Jammu. As many as 16 people mostly women have been injured in the cross border firing in the RS Pura sector in past two days. 8 civilians were injured shelling in R S Pura and Arnia on October 25. Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International Border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border. Border residents are migrating to safer locations in the wake of the heavy firing, Singh said. A six-year-old boy and a BSF Jawan were killed in the cross border shelling in the RS Pura sector on October 24. Over 55 ceasefire violations have taken place since surgical strikes by Indian Army against terror launch pads in PoK on September 29. IMAGE: A villager shows parts of mortar shell fired from across the LoC at India-Pakistan International border in Suchetgarh village of RS Pura sector. Photograph: PTI Photo Even as the race for White House is heating up as the 'D-Day' is coming closer, a burger joint in Tokyo is trying to cash-in on the big fight between Democratic Hilary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. Based on the hometowns of the United States Presidential candidates, J S Burger Cafe in Tokyo is offering Trump and Clinton inspired burgers, and is inviting patrons to vote on which one they like best. In this gastronomic contest which will last until the election, voters get to pick between a Mr Burger representing Trump, and a Mrs Burger representing Clinton. The Trump burger is inspired by the New York Reuben sandwich and features pastrami beef and beef patties stacked together and topped with coleslaw and homemade Russian dressing on a black bun, the colour of which signals Trump's "darker side", according to a restaurant spokesperson. Clintons burger created is given the flavour of the Chicago Dog with the inclusion of two sausages, yellow mustard and pickles on a poppy-seed bun. Patrons express their approval of either choice by dropping a vote into a ballot box near the cash register, and the winning burger will remain on the menu for a year, after being announced on November 9, just as the world wakes up to the new selection for US president. Photographs: Megumi Lim/Reuters Here's a recap of events that occurred in India in the past 24 hours. Porters carry an idol of Goddess Kali to the puja pandal for the upcoming Kali Puja and Diwali festival in Kolkata on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Students handover Diwali greetings cards to Major General KS Nijjar, General Officer Commanding, Karnataka and Kerala sub area, for the soldiers from various colleges at field marshal Manekshaw Parade ground in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members donating blood at a special blood camp organised for speedy recovery of party supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, in front of Apollo hospital in Chennai on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Members of Swadeshi Jagaran Manch stage a protest to boycott Chinese goods at Chanakya Puri in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Yeddyurappa speaks to media in Bengaluru after a CBI court cleared all charges against him mining scamon Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Villagers move towards a safer place to escape cross border firings at Abdulian village in RS Pura sector, 35km from Jammu on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Prime Minister Narendra Modi with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: Shirish Shete/PTI Photo Rajasthani artist shows his long moustache to entertain tourists welcoming them for season's 2nd trip of Maharaja Express train in Bikaner on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Women block the roads as they sit in protest against domestic violence in Kolkata on Wednesday. Photograph: Ashok Bhaumik/PTI Photo Children of Shishu Sarothi, Centre for Rehabilitation and Training for Multiple Disability, paint decorative earthen lamps ahead of Diwali in Guwahati on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo In a major thaw in their frosty relations, the ruling allies in Maharashtra -- the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday announced a tie-up for the elections to 212 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Announcing this at a hurriedly called press conference in Mumbai, senior Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, accompanied by state BJP president Raosaheb Danve-Patil, said the two parties will contest these elections together. "Sena president Uddhav Thackeray wanted an alliance from the very beginning," Raut claimed. The elections to 212 municipal councils and nagar panchayats would take place between November 2016 and January 2017. He clarified that this decision was only about 212 municipal council and nagar panchayat polls and added that the Sena president was not in favour of bits and pieces alliance (separate alliances at each place). "The pre-poll alliance will be stitched up from 'Chanda to Banda' (across Maharashtra)," Raut said. Danve said instructions were issued to local BJP units to hold alliance talks with local Sena leaders. "In case there is any dispute over seat-sharing the state level leaders would settle the issue amicably," he said. Earlier in the day, sources in the Sena said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Danve held preliminary talks over phone with Uddhav Thackeray today about alliance for the municipal corporation elections in Mumbai and elsewhere. Further talks will take place post-Diwali, another Sena leader said. Ahead of the crucial civic polls in Mumbai next year, local leaders of both parties were seen sparring in the recent months. The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the "width and scope" of an electoral law provision dealing with the issue whether seeking votes or asking electors not to vote on the ground of "religion, race, caste, community or language", amounted to "corrupt practice". A seven-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur, elaborating on the issues weighing on its mind, said "all that we wanted to know was that appeal for votes in the name of religion, means whose religion? Is it the religion of candidates or religion of agent or religion of the third party (seeking votes) or religion of voters or that of all of them?" It has been interpreted in an earlier verdict that the term 'his religion', used in section 123(3) of the Representation of the People (RP) Act which deals with 'corrupt practice', meant the faith of the candidates only. Significantly, the bench, also comprising Justices M B Lokur, S A Bobde, A K Goel, U U Lalit, D Y Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao, yet again reiterated that it would not revisit the famous 'Hindutva' verdict holding Hinduism as a 'way of life' as the issue did not find mention in the reference made to it by a five-judge bench. "Why are you referring to that (Hindutva judgement)? We are not examining that judgement. Let me make it clear that this has not been referred to us," the CJI clarified when senior advocate K K Venugopal said he would argue if the court is dealing with the 'Hindutva' verdict. The observation assumed significance as social activists Teesta Setalvad, Shamsul Islam and Dilip Mandal have recently filed an application to intervene in the ongoing hearing to seek de-linking of religion from politics. The bench, which heard various parties represented by top lawyers including Arvind Datar, Shyam Divan, Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid and Indira Jaising for six days, however said the Hindutva verdict, if needed, may be "debated upon" by a five judge bench. Some lawyers then sought the setting up of the bench immediately. Section 123(3) of the RP Act, which is being scrutinised, reads: "The appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language or the use of, or appeal to religious symbols or the use of, or appeal to, national symbols..., for furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate" would amount to corrupt practices. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India-Marxist became the first political party seeking to intervene in the ongoing hearing in the matter by filing an application for intervention in the apex court. Arguing for one of the respondents, senior advocate Salman Khurshid referred to various provisions of the RP Act dealing with powers of courts to pass orders in the event of a petition alleging "corrupt practice" in an election. He also dealt with the issue of religion and the State prevalent in various countries and said, "In some countries, there is a strong divide between the Church and the state. But no country is like ours. Secularism in India means equal treatment to all religions." The bench said there is freedom to "practice and propagate" the religion, but "can it (religion) be used for electoral purposes". The court further said the term "his religion" needed interpretation as it had been held that it meant the faith of candidates only and, as a result, the appeals for votes made by an agent and a third party, on the ground of others' faith, get excluded from the ambit of section 123(3) of the RP Act. Khurshid said the issue of seeking votes in the name of religion needed to be taken to its "logical conclusion" by the apex court. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Setalvad and other two activists, said the term "his religion" needed to be given "broad and wide" interpretation and sought revisiting of the Hindutva judgement. The issue as to when it can be said that a person has appealed for votes in the name of religion should be interpreted afresh and section 123(3) of the Act be read together with other sub-sections of the provision, she said. "This case is all about the political speech on the ground of religion. We vote as citizens and not as Hindus or Muslims," Jaising said adding that the interpretation that 'his religion' meant faith of candidates only is flawed. She referred to an earlier apex court verdict where the appeal by a Hindu seer asking Hindus in a temple to vote for Hindus was held to be bad in law and said this was the "ratio" (the point in a case that determines the judgment) and not the observation that Hindutva is a "way of life". Experts trace the reasons for the 26/11 attacks to the Pakistan's military interest in three key areas: Kashmir, Afghanistan and nuclear armaments. Political scientist and historian Dr Hein G Kiessling -- who lived in Pakistan from 1989 to 2002, including four years in Quetta and nine in Islamabad during which he forged close contacts with Pakistani political, military and intelligence elites -- looks at the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. IMAGE: Seven years after the 2008 terror attacks, a Mumbai police officer pays tribute to his slain colleagues. Photograph: Sahil Salvi What were the motives for the Mumbai attacks? Experts trace them back to the Pakistan's military interest in three key areas: Kashmir, Afghanistan and nuclear armaments. Regarding Kashmir, (then Pakistan president Asif) Zardari's statements about a cooperative relationship with India rang alarm bells in Rawalpindi; the military were afraid that Pakistan's presence in Kashmir would be diminished. In the case of Afghanistan, the traditionally warm relationship between New Delhi and Kabul fed their obsessions that India was a serious competitor in Afghanistan and a challenge to Pakistan's strategic interests and security. Indian assistance was also linked to the secessionist movements operating for many years in Balochistan, which is not totally untrue. And with regard to nuclear armaments, ultimately the military was afraid that Washington would receive access to all its sensitive data were the Pakistani government to cooperate with the US. All of the above was seen as counter-productive to Pakistan's interests. Thus, the Mumbai attack can be read as a strong hint, in fact a simultaneous warning to Islamabad, New Delhi and Washington. IMAGE: A protest in Mumbai, in 2015, against the release of Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, who masterminded the 2008 terror attacks. Photograph: Anindito Mukherje/Reuters Indian intelligence was able to obtain many details about the 26/11 attacks in a relatively short space of time. In December 2008 Indian officials accused the LeT's Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi of being involved in planning and executing the attacks. The evidence provided was so strong that Pakistan had no other choice but to arrest him and six of his co-conspirators in December 2008. However, on May 2, 2010, the high court in Islamabad ruled that there was not enough evidence against (LeT founder) Hafiz Saeed linking him to the Mumbai case and he was acquitted; this verdict confirmed the Lahore high court's ruling in June 2009. The proceedings against the other accused LeT members were similarly thwarted. Evidence was declared insufficient and the accumulated facts and intercepts sent by India dismissed as irrelevant. Nor did Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and his accomplices face any hardship during their time in jail. In Adyala prison in Rawalpindi they stayed in relative luxury A-class rooms with television, mobile phones and access to the Internet. They were able to welcome dozens of visitors every day, who were not even asked to identify themselves by the jail authorities. On the order of the Lahore high court, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi was finally released on bail on April 10, 2015. There can be little doubt that this happened according to the wishes of GHQ and the ISI Directorate. On the other hand, in New Delhi, the remaining terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab was convicted after a transparent court process, sentenced to death in May 2010 and hanged in November 2012. IMAGE: Then Pakistan prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and then army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Photograph: Reuters In January 2009, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani dismissed Mahmud Ali Durrani from his position as national security advisor, most obviously because of his comments on Mumbai. Durrani was asked on television whether Pakistani citizens 'might have been' involved, at a time when the terrorists' origins were no longer secret. He was relieved from his post soon afterwards. Imran Gardaizi, the prime minister's press spokesman, laconically justified his sacking to journalists by saying: 'He gave media interviews without consulting the prime minister.' In reality, Mahmud Durrani's dismissal was one of several attempts by Gilani to free himself from President Zardari's shadow. Durrani's appointment as national security advisor had been due to his previous advocacy of Benazir Bhutto's interests in Washington, as a result of which he was a close confidant of Zardari. Another reason for his dismissal was Mahmud Durrani's split loyalties after Mumbai. For years, the retired major general was seen as an 'American man' by GHQ and the ISI. He had been suspected of close ties to the CIA ever since his early military service. In fact, Durrani never made a secret of his pro-American stance; and this might have been why he was never given his third general's star. President Musharraf, heavily dependent on American assistance, exploited Durrani's reputation in the US and sent him as ambassador to Washington in 2005. When President Zardari, also strongly dependent on Washington, made Durrani the national security advisor with cabinet rank in February 2008, GHQ was discomforted. Then when America demanded that Pakistan's military be subordinated to the policymakers and the ISI subject to greater democratic oversight, Rawalpindi felt Durrani was in too risky a position. Prime Minister Gilani was aware of this and, in the aftermath of Mumbai, he felt secure in his dismissal of the national security advisor. On February 24, 2009, Gilani made a further drastic reform by instructing the minister of justice to prepare a bill to abolish the NSC. The national assembly then only needed a simple majority to erase this relic of the Musharraf era. Although formally the NSC carried out a purely consultative role, during periods of crisis their recommendations and resolutions were of great importance. The abolition of the NSC had already been suggested in the Pakistan Peoples Party's election manifesto for the February 2008 elections, with the objective of returning to the defence committee of the cabinet, which was managed by the PM and did not come under the president. Also, the military were in the minority in the defence committee. It is fair to ask whether the timing of the plan was meant to coincide with the absence of Kayani, who was on a one-week official visit to the US. As in the alleged abolition of the political wing of the ISI, the military were to lose very little; in fact they would continue to steer matters relating to national security. One example is the control mechanisms over nuclear weapons. Their supervision is the responsibility of the national command authority, headed by the president. The NCA is divided into employment control committee, development control committee and strategic plans division. The latter is the most important link in this chain of control. It is attached to the NCA secretariat in Rawalpindi and works closely with GHQ. More difficult still is the situation with the ISI. In this case, far stronger democratic oversight of the agency was being sought by the government and by Washington, against the wishes of the military. Compared to the experiences of the Musharraf years, voices calling for reform in the ISI have increased, and experts have put forward various possible changes. A columnist for the Daily Times, Shaukat Qadir, considers that the CJCSC (Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee) post should be re-valued: The position of a four-star general as chair of the joint chiefs of staff committee should become the interface between the government and the military. The ISI and the commanders of the army, air force and navy would thus be subordinate to the CJCSC and report to him. Also noteworthy are the proposals for direct reform of the ISI. The service collects information from politics, economics, industry, diplomacy and the like. In fact, the ISI functions far beyond the military framework, and its current name is misleading. A name change, for example to bureau of national intelligence, is preferable and would make it possible for the appointment of civilian specialists as head of the service. This would also be beneficial to the quality of its work. With the return to democracy in 2008, expectation of reform in the ISI were high. Excerpted from Faith, Unity, Discipline: The ISI Of Pakistan by Dr Hein G Kiessling, with the permission of the publishers, HarperCollins India. No more protests in China's rebel village, one month after crackdown Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 6 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, No more protests in China's rebel village, one month after crackdown, 6 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff0a27.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-06 Former Wukan resident Zhuang Liehong, who fled to the U.S. around the time of the 2011 protests in his village, stages a one-man demonstration in New York, in an undated photo. Zhuang Liehong Nearly one month after riot police fired tear-gas and rubber bullets in a crackdown on months of protests in the rebel village of Wukan, the village remains under tight security, with no more protests in sight, residents told RFA. Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong are keeping Wukan, a fishing village administered by Lufeng city, under a stranglehold, with security checks and patrols on the streets and many people still behind bars, they said. An employee who answered the phone at a restaurant in the village told RFA that while many local businesses have reopened following clashes with police last month, patrols are still frequent. "A lot more vehicles are coming in and out of the village now ... I think they have pretty much taken away all the checkpoints now," the employee said. Asked if the once-daily protest marches, calling for the release of jailed former village chief Lin Zuluan, had now stopped, the employee replied: "Yes." She said local residents are still concerned about further crackdowns, however. "Of course we worry about that, because it affects business," she said. "We lost about half of our [monthly] revenue because of it." A second local resident, who works at a different restaurant, declined to comment at all. "I don't know about any of this stuff," the resident said. Most Wukan villagers released Canada-based rights activist Yeung Hung said many local residents had already been released, but that police are still holding people who traveled to the village from elsewhere else at the height of the protests. "There are a few people who are from outside Wukan, who haven't been released yet," he said. "Vehicles are basically able to get in and out of Wukan now, but the police will still check on them and they have to explain why they are going there," Yeung said. "There are still large numbers of police in the village, too," he said. Former Wukan resident Zhuang Liehong, who fled to the U.S. around the time that two leaders of the 2011 land protests were jailed for "bribery," said he had been contacted by Chinese police to warn him not to speak out about events back home. Zhuang said his father, detained by police as a form of leverage on him, hasn't yet been released. He said he still has plans to continue to protest on behalf of the village, but declined to give details. "I don't want to make [my plans] public so soon, not for the time being," Zhuang told RFA on Thursday. Meanwhile, constitutional law expert and former local People's Congress deputy Yao Lifa said he expects protests will flare up again at some point in Wukan. "The current situation hasn't been resolved, and new tensions have been created," Yao said. "There are many ways of standing up for one's rights, and the use of protests and demonstrations has already caught on with the people of Wukan," he said. Powerful vested interests He called on the local authorities to return land sold out from under villagers' noses by former village chief Xue Chang, who was fired for corruption after an earlier round of protests and clashes in 2011, sparking fresh elections that saw Lin Zuluan take the helm. But even Lin and his newly-elected village committee found it hard to secure the return of the land amid powerful vested interests, political changes higher up, and a tangle of complex legal issues. Last month's raid by police on Wukan came after a court in Guangdong's Foshan city sentenced Lin to more than three years' imprisonment on "bribery" charges that local residents said were trumped up. Lin was denied permission to see lawyers hired by his family, while many believe that his televised "confession" to the charges was made under duress. Wukan, a fishing village of just 13,000 people, grabbed world headlines in 2011 following pitched battles between police and local residents that came after a long-running land dispute and the death of an activist in detention. The provincial government unexpectedly sided with the village, overriding officials in nearby Lufeng, in a move that observers said was likely linked to attempts by then provincial leader Wang Yang to gain promotion. The removal of Xue Chang and subsequent village elections were held up as a model of grassroots democracy in China at the time. But since provincial leader Hu Chunhua took over in Guangdong in 2012, several former protest leaders from Wukan have been jailed on alleged "bribery" charges. Pan-democratic lawmakers in Hong Kong recently protested in support of Wukan outside an official reception in the city marking the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. League of Social Democrats lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung told a rally in Hong Kong on Oct. 1 that there was little to celebrate about National Day. "The villagers of Wukan were protesting the wholesale takeover and sale of their land by corrupt officials, but they were recently subjected to a cruel crackdown," he said. "It became clear that there was going to be no universal suffrage [in Wukan], and that the so-called crackdown on corruption there was nothing more than the result of a factional power struggle," Leung said. Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Chen Pan for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Myanmar national human rights commissioners resign in maid abuse scandal Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 6 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Myanmar national human rights commissioners resign in maid abuse scandal, 6 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff0a4.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-06 Myanmar National Human Rights Commission members Than Nwet (L), Mya Mya (C) and Zaw Win (R) deliver a statement during a press conference in Yangon following the arrest of three suspects accused of abusing two girls, Sept. 21, 2016. AFP Four members of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) resigned in the wake of public protests over their actions settling a high-profile abuse case involving two teenage maids who were allegedly tortured by their employers. In a statement issued on Thursday, President Htin Kyaw announced that Zaw Win, Nyan Zaw, Than Than New and Daw Mya Mya were "allowed to leave" the human rights commission "according to their wishes" following the MNHRC's decision against pursuing a criminal case against the girls' employers. Ma San Kay Khaing, 17, and Ma Tha Zin, 16, say they endured five years of brutal physical abuse by a prominent family of tailors for whom they worked as maids in Kyauktada township in the commercial capital Yangon. They said the family members stabbed them with scissors and knives, and burned them with an iron. The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), which accepted the girls' case on Sept. 15, pressured their families to negotiate a monetary settlement with the alleged abusers rather than pursue legal action, according to local media reports. The MNHRC mediated a deal in which the shop owner and her children paid 4 million kyats (U.S. $3,150) to one girl and 1 million kyats (U.S. $790) to the other in order to avoid punishment. They did not express remorse for their actions and laid the blame on the girls, accusing them of disrespect while they were employed, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported. Rights activists protested against the MNHRC's actions outside its offices on Sept. 21, prompting the commission to hold a press conference during which it attempted to defend its actions. Civil society organizations pressed Htin Kyaw to take action, and the Lower House of Parliament on Sept. 22 voted in favor of action against the commission for failing to help the victims and violating their human rights. 'Our conscience is clear' At the time, MNHRC said it was only trying to get compensation for the two girls during its mediation and that legal recourse against the shop owner and her children was still a possibility. "Three MNHRC members made inquiries about the complaint letter filed by the girls' parents and arranged for a meeting with the home owners and the parents," Zaw Win told reporters during the press conference. "They were told they could solve the problem between themselves, and that there were two courses of action one is to go to court, and the other is to find a monetary solution," he told RFA's Myanmar Service in September. "After some deliberations, the two sides agreed to end the case with compensation for the girls," he said. "Our conscience is clear. We did our best with human rights basics and loving kindness." That didn't satisfy rights activists or President Htin Kyaw as his office launched an investigation into the decision. Yangon police have arrested four members of the family accused of the abuse. Owner Tin Thuzar, 57, was arrested on Tuesday, and Tin Min Latt, 37, Su Mon Latt, 27, and Ko Latt, 63, were arrested on Sept. 21, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported. Meanwhile, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the police force has filed charges against them for trafficking and abusing the two underage girls. Reported and translated by RFA's Myanmar Service. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Protesters in Myanmar seeking an end to armed conflict crowd Myitkyina's streets Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 6 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Protesters in Myanmar seeking an end to armed conflict crowd Myitkyina's streets, 6 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff0b13.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-06 Protesters seeking an end to armed conflict in Myanmar take to the streets in Kachin state's capital of Myitkyina, Oct. 6, 2016. RFA Demonstrators jammed the streets of Kachin state's capital Myitkyina on Thursday demanding a cease-fire between government forces and the Kachin Independence Army as armed conflict in Myanmar appears to drag on. By some estimates, tens of thousands of people from Myitkyina, Winemaw, Namti, internally displaced peoples and representatives from Kachin's political parties joined the latest of several recent protests over the fighting. "People, especially women and children, are having a difficult time surviving, getting education and health care, everything, because of the fighting," Winemaw resident Ywe Gyi told RFA's Myanmar Service. "We are left far behind," she said. "That's why we have been demanding a stop to the war by asking both the government army and the KIA to stop the fighting." While protests have broken out in Myitkyina during the week, it is unclear if they are having a moderating effect on the fighting. The government blamed the renewed fighting on the KIA's conscripts, saying they are extorting money from the local people and planting landmines to fight Myanmar's army. The KIA blames the government for the renewed fighting, saying the army attacked because it wants to clear land in the region. 'We want these offensives to stop' Residents of the area blamed both sides as they appealed for an end to the attacks. "As everybody knows, we are having ongoing offensive attacks in Kachin and Shan states," one demonstrator told RFA. "We want these offensives to stop." The protests may have little direct impact on the fighting, but members of Myanmar's parliament are petitioning for a new ceasefire in both the Kachin and Shan states. "We have more fighting after the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference," said Nang Moe the MP for Mangton Township. "We have planned to submit a petition on the people's difficulties and suffering in parliament." The Panglong meeting at the end of August represents Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's signature effort to end decades of civil wars pitting armed ethnic groups against the national military in many regions of the country. Fighting in the Shan State caused thousands of refugees to flee the Mong Kung township as fighting broke out there between government forces and the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) over the weekend. There has been off and on fighting between the Myanmar's military and the SSA-S since August. The KIA has yet to sign a nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) that many other groups including the SSA-S agreed to last year, although it sent leaders to the Panglong peace talks. The former military government and the KIA observed a 17-year cease-fire until 2011, when the army attacked the KIA's Laiza headquarters and nearby units. Since winning the 2015 election, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has made peace and national reconciliation a priority for her government. Aid groups want access According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs more than119,000 people are in need of umanitarian assistance, including over 98,000 people in Kachin and northern Shan States who have been displaced s a result of the conflict that erupted in June 2011 Civil society organizations in Kachin are urging the military to allow aid groups to reach the refugees. In September the provincial government told aid groups they have to gain its permission before the can visit the camps. "We want to urge the government not to block aid groups who are doing humanitarian work for the refugees," said the Kachin Peace Network's Esther Kaung Naw. Reported and translated by RFA's Myanmar Service. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Cambodia's CNRP again boycotts parliament Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Cambodia's CNRP again boycotts parliament, 7 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff0c13.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-07 CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann speaks to reporters in Phnom Penh, Oct. 7, 2016. RFA Less than two weeks after promising to end a months-long legislative boycott of Cambodia's National Assembly, the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) backed away from its pledge on Friday, citing unspecified threats to opposition lawmakers. "All CNRP lawmakers decided not to attend today's meeting," party spokesperson Yim Sovann told reporters in the capital Phnom Penh on Oct. 7 as the National Assembly, the country's parliament, convened its plenary session. "For meetings in the future, we will wait and assess the situation," Yim Sovann said. "If the meetings are important and the political situation is conducive, we will attend." "If not, we will reserve our right not to participate," he said. The announcement came as about 500 Cambodians living in Australia prepared to launch a protest against a visiting Cambodian government delegation and calling for the release of democracy activists and opposition party members jailed in Cambodia. The CNRP had said last week it would end its boycott of the National Assembly, and party members joined in preliminary meetings of parliament's Permanent Standing Committee and five separate commissions on Sept. 28. Pretext On Friday, ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) spokesperson Sok Eysan called the CNPR's move on Friday "a pretext" for resuming interference in the National Assembly's work. "They want to cause trouble in the parliament, and they want to hold it hostage [to party political demands]," Sok Eysan said. "This is not going to work." "This goes against decisions made by the Permanent Committee in two meetings last week that were attended by five of [the CNRP's] members, and it violates the parliament's own internal rules," he said. The two parties have now been locked for months in a political statement, with Cambodian authorities stripping several opposition lawmakers of their legislative immunity. Lawmakers have also been put on trial for a variety of offenses, many of which appear to be aimed at undercutting the CNRP before local elections in 2017 and national elections the following year. Cambodia's King Sihamoni meanwhile called on Friday for the CPP and CNRP to work together for the sake of national unity and the country's development of multiparty democracy and support for human rights. Speaking in a live interview at Radio Free Asia's Washington office on Friday, CNRP party leader Sam Rainsy said he welcomed the king's message, adding, "This is now a good time for us to go and see the king to ask him to intervene for the sake of national reconciliation." Reported by RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Richard Finney. Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China: Elderly Uyghur woman harassed, threatened by police Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Elderly Uyghur woman harassed, threatened by police, 7 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff0d10.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-07 Rabihan Musa is shown in an undated photo. RFA An elderly Uyghur woman living in Xinjiang is being threatened and harassed by police, who have warned her not to speak to foreign media after preventing her from traveling abroad to visit her son and grandchildren in Turkey, sources say. Rabihan Musa, 82 and a resident of Bortala city in Xinjiang's northwestern Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, had tried in February to leave Xinjiang to visit her family members, who had fled Xinjiang for a better life in Norway six years before, Rabihan told RFA's Uyghur Service. But police seized Rabihan's passport before she could purchase a ticket, she said. "Four policemen came rushing to my house in the evening on Feb. 1 and told me they had come for my passport," Rabihan said. "I was so scared." "They said they would give it back to me in three or four days, but after four days had passed they had still not returned it." Rabihan was then told by police that her passport had been taken because her son Kurbanjan Arip, 50, had met with exiled Uyghur leader Rebiya Kadeer while in Norway and was "a member of her organization," the Munich-based exile World Uyghur Congress, she said. "From February to April, I went to the police station almost every day," Rabihan said, adding, "I stood at the gate, but they would not let me in, even on the coldest days." Police officers turned away her calls, shouted at her in the street, and refused to let her use the station's restroom, Rabihan said. 'They laughed at me' "One day I could not control nature's call, and begged them to let me use the toilet. The guards were all Han Chinese, and they would not let me in." "In the end I had to wet my pants, and my legs were soaked. They laughed at me." "I was so embarrassed while walking down the street because my pants were frozen in the cold, and I even had to get on the bus in that condition," Rabihan said. "I briefly considered suicide, but stopped myself after thinking of my children," she said. "Now, I have stood at their office gate for the last eight months." Alarmed after Rabihan gave interviews by phone to RFA's Uyghur Service, police offered to return her passport if she would "end her petition," Rabihan said. "I said to them that they had told me to go over their heads with my complaints if I could find someone who would listen to me, and now I have," she said. Democratic rights Speaking to RFA from Norway, Rabihan's son Kurbanjan said that in supporting Rebiya Kadeer by taking part in protests and donating money to the Uyghur cause, he has done nothing more than exercise his democratic rights in a free country. "Besides, punishing my mother for my own so-called crime by taking away her passport only shows that China is a country ruled by lawlessness and terror." Bortala prefectural police department vice head Dilshat meanwhile acknowledged having seen Rabihan standing at his station's gate. "I've seen the woman waiting in front of the gate," Dilshat said. "I heard about her peeing on her pants from my colleagues, but I don't know what she wants." "We don't have the capacity to listen to everyone's needs." Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFA's Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Written in English by Richard Finney. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Kachin forces say Myanmar attacks base with fighter jets as conflict escalates Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Kachin forces say Myanmar attacks base with fighter jets as conflict escalates, 7 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff0f1e.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-07 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (L) and Myanmar State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi meet the media in Naypyidaw ahead of a peace conference, Aug. 30, 2016. AFP Kachin forces engaged in a month of fighting with the Myanmar army said on Friday that government troops used fighter jets to attack a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) base, causing an unknown number of casualties. The reported attack, about which the government army had no immediate comment, came as Myanmar's civil society groups and the European Union mission in the country called for a ceasefire to keep leader Aung San Suu Kyi's fledgling peace process on track. "We heard that four fighter jets attacked KIAs Gidon base at around 8 o'clock this morning. We have heard that there are some casualties, but haven't learned the exact number yet," said KIA spokesman Col. Naw Bu. The Irrawaddy news website quoted Naw Bu as saying the fighter jets attacked KIA Battalion No. 252 at Inkaren Hill in Waingmaw Township. The Kachins believe the Myanmar govrenment offensives are aimed at pressing the Kachin Independence Organization to sign a year-old National Ceseafire Agreement before a new round of peace talks, the website said. The 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference, which met at the end of August, Aung San Suu Kyi's signature effort to end decades of civil war pitting armed ethnic groups against the national military in many regions of the country. The wars have killed tens of thousands of people and held back economic development in the resource-rich country. "While we are dedicated to building peace through negotiation, it is not right to pressure us into political talks through military operations," The Irrawaddy quoted Naw Bu as saying. The fighting in Kachin State as well as Shan State to its immediate south has displaced thousands of local villagers and drawn street protests from civil society groups. On Thursday, the Organizing Committee for CSO Forum called for an immediate ceasefire in Kachin, an accounting of casualties from fighting and military spending in the conflict, and a plan to stop the flow of internally displaced persons. "We demand government and KIA to stop fighting. To stop ongoing fighting, government army must stop its offensive first," committee member Thwin Lin Aung said. The EU Delegation in Myanmar's commercial capital Yangon, meanwhile, issued a statement calling for "an immediate cessation of hostilities" and expressing concern that the renewed fighting would endanger the peace process of Aung San Suu Kyi's six-month-old government. "The escalation in fighting has resulted in casualties and the internal displacement of many civilians. At the same time, humanitarian access to conflict areas has been severely curtailed, preventing life-saving assistance from reaching affected communities," said the EU. "Continued fighting not only puts the lives of vulnerable communities at risk, but also undermines the trust that is essential for advancing Myanmar's peace process," said the statement. "We urge all parties to facilitate immediate humanitarian access to the affected communities in order to ensure that the most urgent needs of civilians can be catered for," it added. In Washington on Friday, President Barack Obama formally lifted U.S. economic sanctions on Myanmar, following up on a commitment made to Aung San Suu Kyi at the White House last month. Reported by Ye Htet and Thiri Min Zin for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Paul Eckert. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Hong Kong's freedoms 'eroding' as China extends its reach: Report Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Hong Kong's freedoms 'eroding' as China extends its reach: Report, 7 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff0f3.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-07 People fly Chinese and Hong Kong flags as they take part in a pro-government rally in Hong Kong, Aug. 17, 2014. AFP Hong Kong has seen continual erosions to the freedoms and autonomy it was promised by Beijing, which has also extended its repression of dissidents far beyond its borders, the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) said in an annual report. The ruling Chinese Communist Party under President Xi Jinping has "run roughshod" over human rights, with China extending its crackdown on dissent far beyond its national borders, the report said. CECC co-chairman Senator Marco Rubio said: "Beijing has become increasingly brazen in exerting its extraterritorial reach in the past year, as evidenced by the outrageous abductions of the Hong Kong booksellers." Causeway Bay Books store manager and British passport-holder Lee Bo, 65, went missing from his workplace in Hong Kong on Dec. 30, 2015, while publisher Gui Minhai was detained at his holiday home in Thailand several weeks earlier. The group's general manager Lui Bo (also spelled Lui Por), and colleagues Cheung Chi-ping and Lam Wing-kei were also all detained under opaque circumstances. The five, all of whom are permanent Hong Kong residents, were accused of selling "banned books" to customers across the internal border in mainland China. The CECC report also cited the barring of candidates in last month's Legislative Council (LegCo) elections if they were deemed to support the idea of independence for the former British colony, a notion that Chinese and Hong Kong government officials say is unconstitutional. 'Constant challenges' Political analyst Joseph Cheng of the campaign group Power for Democracy said the administration of Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying has also extended harsher and harsher treatment to its opponents in recent years. "There are constant challenges to the notion of 'one country, two systems,' and now the fear is that not only will Hong Kong not have full democracy, we are now seeing an attack on our core values," Cheng said. In August, a Hong Kong district court sentenced former student protest leader Joshua Wong to community service on a charge of unlawful assembly, alongside two other activists who were handed noncustodial sentences. The Hong Kong government later requested a jail sentence for Wong and two fellow activists, although the request was turned down by the judge. Cheng also said Beijing seems less and less willing to hear any criticism of its rights record from overseas. Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor director Law Yuk-kai said the Hong Kong government appears less and less interested in maintaining the fiction of "one country, two systems." "The invisible hand of China extends into every corner," Law said. "There is less and less room for Hong Kong's autonomy under 'one country, two systems' nowadays." "At least for political dissidents, the past year has been a nightmare." Law said most ordinary citizens in Hong Kong only have the city's traditional freedoms of speech, association and judicial independence to protect them. "If the 'one country, two systems' idea disintegrates, there will be no protection for ordinary people, no power upon which we can call to enforce it," he said. City's status at risk He said China has little to lose by allowing it to disintegrate, but that the changes could affect the city's status as a world financial and business hub. "Hong Kong will take the most harm ... because it's not just about our rights, but about the way we live our lives, our economy, our society," Law said. "All of that makes life easier for the international community." Earlier this week, Thai immigration police detained Joshua Wong at the airport for 12 hours, denying him entry in a move that was widely believed to be at the request of Beijing. Wong was told he was "blacklisted," and was escorted onto a plane back to Hong Kong, where he hit out at the Hong Kong government for its lack of response on his return. Wong's denial of entry follows the repatriation of a number of Chinese dissidents and rights activists from Thailand after they were granted political refugee status by the United Nations. The CECC meanwhile called for a stronger line from Washington on human rights. "President Xi Jinping has run roughshod over human rights and the U.S. government has only responded tepidly," it said in a statement on its website. "It is time to recognize that the economic engagement strategy has failed ... A new U.S. policy approach that champions individual liberties is owed to the thousands of suffering prisoners of conscience in China," it said. Reported by Lee Lai for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Six years on, China's jailed Nobel laureate, family face a bleak future Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Six years on, China's jailed Nobel laureate, family face a bleak future, 7 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1013.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-07 Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia in Beijing, Oct. 22, 2002. AFP Six years after winning the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo looks unlikely to be given the chance to 'seek medical parole' overseas like high-profile dissidents have done before him, a close associate told RFA. Liu, 60, is unlikely to qualify for parole, because he has never admitted to committing any crime. And since his Nobel prize was announced in 2010 to the fury of Beijing, Liu's wife Liu Xia has remained under strict house arrest and close police surveillance at the couple's home, denied contact with friends and fellow activists. "Liu Xia still visits Liu Xiaobo regularly, once a month, but in reality, we are in a situation of stalemate," Beijing-based activist Hu Jia, a close friend of the Lius, told RFA on Friday. Hu's own contact with Liu Xia has been severely limited since her brother Liu Hui, jailed for 11 years for "bribery" charges in 2013, was released on bail with strict conditions attached. Liu Xia has been warned that her brother could go back to jail if she has any contact with the outside world, including fellow rights activists, foreign diplomats or journalists, Hu said. Hu said he is now unable even to have a shouted conversation with Liu Xia from outside her window, because Liu Hui is effectively being held hostage to ensure Liu Xia remains silent. "Her cutting off of ties with [fellow activists] has now become a huge obstacle to our involvement and a lot of effort we could put in on her behalf," he said. Symbolic value of Nobel Prize Hu said he believes Liu Xiaobo is also unlikely to accept any deals offered to him by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. "For example, if he were to go into exile overseas, he would have his freedom and security, but his ability to have any impact on Chinese society would just fade away," Hu said. Activist Xu Qin, who works for the China Human Rights Observer group founded by detained veteran Wuhan activist Qin Yongmin, said Liu's Nobel prize still has symbolic value, however. "The name of a Nobel laureate in itself sends a message," Xu said. "It represents a whole group of people, ordinary Chinese people." "His prize is a symbol of the Chinese people's love of human rights," she said. Hubei-based rights group Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch said in a recent statement that the Chinese authorities are increasingly targeting the relatives of dissidents for persecution. Founder and spokesman Liu Feiyue said "guilt by association" is becoming more and more common as the government seeks to stamp out any hint of public opposition or dissenting opinions. "The harassment, threatening and terrorizing of family members is a particularly evil example of human rights violations," Liu said. "It is an evil that goes further than what is humanly acceptable." "Added to that is the fact that the authorities are using these evil tactics more and more frequently, and in more and more serious ways," he said. Reported by Goh Fung for RFA's Cantonese service, and by Yang Fan for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China: Sentencing of former Yunnan chief shows president's campaigns continue Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 10 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Sentencing of former Yunnan chief shows president's campaigns continue, 10 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1113.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-10 Former Yunnan provincial party secretary Bai Enpei, 70, received a suspended death sentence by the Anyang Intermediate People's Court for amassing U.S.$37 million in assets and other abuses of official power, Oct 19, 2016. Public domain. As a court in the central province of Henan handed a suspended death sentence to a former provincial chief, rights activists warned that President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign is unlikely to succeed in its aim of eradicating corruption under the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Former Yunnan provincial party secretary Bai Enpei, 70, was handed the sentence by the Anyang Intermediate People's Court on Sunday after being found guilty of amassing 247 million yuan (U.S.$37 million) in assets and other abuses of official power. The death sentence was suspended for two years after Bai pleaded guilty to the crimes and expressed remorse for his actions, and because the authorities were able to recover all of the money, the court said in a statement. Suspended death sentences in China are usually commuted to life jail terms after two years of good behavior. However, no further commutation or parole will be permitted, the court said. "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 social media account after sentencing Bai. But the case, however high profile, isn't necessarily a sign that Xi's anti-graft campaign targeting high-level "tigers" and low-ranking "flies" is working, analysts said. China completely lacks independent judiciary or free media to safeguard the process, meaning that Xi's campaign is largely driven by political factors, they said. Bai was close to disgraced Zhou According to U.S.-based rights activist Liu Qing, Bai was a close ally of former security chief Zhou Yongkang, who was jailed for life in June 2015 for corruption and disclosure of state secrets. "Bai Enpei was sentenced because he and Zhou Yongkang are closely linked, belonging to the same network of vested interests, and because Zhou is a political opponent of Xi Jinping," Liu said. "Currently, the party anti-corruption drive is really just a tool to exclude different political opinions, as opposed to a genuine attempt to rid the system of corruption," he said. But he said any reform to the system looked unlikely. "Xi Jinping ... is not willing to change the political system to fight corruption, because he wants to keep the Communist Party in power to protect vested interests," Liu said. Zhou was the highest-ranking party member, and the first former member of the all-powerful Politburo standing committee to be targeted by Xi. He once headed the powerful Politics and Law Commission which governs law enforcement, including the state security police, and was instrumental in developing a heavy-handed nationwide "stability maintenance" security regime. The Anyang court said Bai had accepted bribes in relation to lucrative property development and mining projects, as well as political promotions. 'No end to official resistance' Another key Zhou ally, former work safety czar Yang Dongliang, was charged with corruption after being fired in the wake of the massive Tianjin chemical warehouse explosions last August, the party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), said in a separate statement. It said it former Hebei provincial party chief Zhou Benshun also faces corruption charges. The graft-busting agency began investigating Bai, who had risen steadily through the party ranks under Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao, in 2015. Political analysts say that resistance to Xi's anti-corruption campaign is growing in party ranks, as the president takes aim at his political opponents a year ahead of the 19th Party Congress in Beijing. "Xi Jinping's problem is this: as long as he insists on the anti-corruption campaign, there will be no end to official resistance to it," political writer Hu Shaojiang said in a recent commentary broadcast on RFA's Cantonese Service. According to Hu Shaojiang, a rapid withdrawal from his commitment to fight corruption, which is popular with the public, would leave the president struggling to fill a power vacuum opened up by his attacks on rival factions. "And if he loses that public support, he is very likely to meet the fate of a failed faction within the party that is suddenly wiped out in a frenzy [by rival factions]," he said. "And Xi's internal political opponents could create opportunities to change the status quo," he concluded in a later commentary. Reported by Gao Shan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. USA: Protests in California over Communist Party's 'Long March' anniversary gala Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 10 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, USA: Protests in California over Communist Party's 'Long March' anniversary gala, 10 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1225.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-10 Chinese pupils dressed in "Red Army" costumes visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, to commemorate the Long March military retreat by the army of the Communist Party of China, Sept. 27, 2016. AFP A gala event in California commemorating the two-year "Long March" by the Chinese communist army that ended 80 years ago has sparked an outcry among the Chinese emigre community in the city, residents told RFA on Monday. The Oct. 8 gala event sparked protests outside the venue in San Gabriel, with protesters hitting out at the celebration of a brutal and dictatorial regime. Protesters held up placards that read "Don't Celebrate Communism" and "Stop Torture" outside the Mission Playhouse, local media reported. Campaigners also called on the city government, which owns the venue, to cancel the event, but its lawyers said such action would be illegal, and wasn't an option. A protester surnamed Wang said he is opposed to any celebration of "red culture" from the era of late supreme leader Mao Zedong. "I am against their red performance because I think that this is all a con," Wang said. "The Long March was a rout, but the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party makes it out to be a heroic tale." "The whole thing is a fake, all 12,500 kilometers of it," he said. "I have been in the U.S. a long time, so I know about this." "It's fake, evil, and totally at odds with the founding principles and the national values of the United States," he said. 'Running away' Beijing-based rights lawyer Yu Wensheng agreed. "Whichever way you look at it, they were running away on the Long March," Yu said. "The wound up running to [the northern province of] Shaanxi." "Now the Long March is made out to be this wonderful thing, but it shouldn't be," Yu said. "Chinese people living overseas probably know what proper freedom and democracy look like, and about the actual end result of the Long March, which was a dictatorial regime." "Perhaps they also still remember the fear, the pain and hardship they suffered during the past six decades, and maybe that's why they don't want this party to celebrate it." While they refused to cancel the even, the city council opted not to waive the rental fee for the venue, however, forcing the American Chinese Culture Association to pay U.S.$2,380 to rent the playhouse to stage the free event. The association had to pay a further U.S.$2,952 to cover additional policing on the night of the event, the Pasadena Star newspaper reported. Police had already been called to intervene in a heated discussion between a protester and an association member in a consultation meeting ahead of the performance last week, it said. The ruling Chinese Communist Party under President Xi Jinping is marking the anniversary with high-profile exhibits in national museums, displaying battered items of uniform worn by the Red Army's peasant soldiers and other memorabilia. "From 1934 to 1936, an 80,000-strong Red Army force took part in the epic trek, which laid an important foundation for the Communist victory in the war," ran the official media description. But it added that more than three quarters of the soldiers died or were reported missing during the march. Earlier this month, Hong Kong's Sunbeam Theater staged a Cantonese opera celebrating the life of Mao, in a production marking the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, sparking widespread criticism over the "glorification" of one of the bloodiest leaders in modern history. And last month, authorities in Australia's two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, canceled planned concerts commemorating Mao's death after Chinese Australians complained the content was insensitive. Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Exiled leader claims China is behind Turkey's decision to detain a Uyghur activist Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 10 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Exiled leader claims China is behind Turkey's decision to detain a Uyghur activist, 10 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff12a.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-10 Uyghur leader Rebiya Kadeer speaks during a press conference in Tokyo, June 20, 2013. AFP Ankara is bowing to Beijing's demands by keeping a prominent Uyghur activist imprisoned in Turkey as fears grow among the Uyghur diaspora that he will be sent back to China, an exiled Uyghur leader told RFA. Abduqadir Yapchan has been detained near Istanbul since Aug. 30 at the behest of the Chinese government, World Uyghur Congress President Rebiya Kadeer said in an interview with RFA's Uyghur Service. The 58-year-old Muslim religious teacher was born in China's Kashgar, but has lived since 2002 in Turkey, which is home to some 50,000 Uyghurs. Beijing blacklisted Yapchan in 2003 when it placed him on the country's first list of alleged terrorists and terrorist organizations. All of the 11 suspected terrorists and five organizations on the list were identified as "East Turkestan" terrorist organizations or individuals. Yapchan's detention comes even after a Turkish court in Istanbul acquitted him on charges related to China's terrorism accusations, Kadeer said. "This is a most disturbing and regretful incident," Kadeer told RFA. "Detention has not taken place in China which occupied our homeland, but it has taken place in Turkey, which is role model for many Muslim countries." 'Turkey is bowing to Chinese pressure' Kadeer said that many Uyghurs avoided speaking out against the Turkish government as Turkey is seen as a haven for the Uyghur people, but she told RFA she feared that Yapchan may be deported back to China. "After confirming his detention, I tried to reach out to all human rights organizations and governments that are concerned about the fate of the Uyghur expatriates in an effort to mobilize a voice for his release," she said. "It is really a challenge for me to criticize Turkey even though China is behind this detention with its political, diplomatic and economic clout." She added: "Unfortunately, with the arrest of Abdukadir Yapchan, Turkey is literally bowing to Chinese pressure." East Turkestan is the name some Uyghurs use for China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where they would like to re-establish the independent state that briefly existed before the founding of Communist China in 1949. China has vowed to crack down on what it calls religious extremism in Xinjiang, and regularly conducts "strike hard" campaigns including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people, including videos and other material. While China blames Uyghur extremists for terrorist attacks, experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from the Uyghurs and that repressive domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence there that has left hundreds dead since 2009. Yapchan spent 12 years in Chinese prisons as he was jailed on three separate occasions for taking a class at an underground religious school, spreading separatist ideology and illegally possessing a copy of the guilty verdict handed out by a Chinese court for another Uyghur activist. The verdict convicting Abdukerim Abduweli, chairman of the Islamic Reform Party, of counterrevolutionary propaganda, and incitement and leading a counterrevolutionary group is considered a state secret in China. Before settling in Turkey, Yapchan escaped from China in 1998 on a fake passport obtained in Qinghai province so he could travel to Saudi Arabia to participate in the Haj, a pilgrimage undertaken by devout Muslims. Evidence tainted by torture Kadeer told RFA that the Chinese charges that led to Yapchan's trial in Turkey are based on a 14-year-old claim that links Yapchan to alleged terrorist activities that are based largely on confessions or statements by prisoners or former prisoners In Uyghur region, who were most likely tortured. "All the 'evidence' on Mr. Yapchan was obtained by forceful confession through torture from prisoners," she said. "The U.N. has documented wide spread torture in the prisons of East Turkestan, and in many occasions China forced prisoners to show up on TV to repeat what was forced on them by authorities." In Turkey, Yapchan continued his calls for Uyghur independence and has talked about his experiences in Chinese custody. "Mr. Yapchan is exposing the real face of China and its treatment of Uyghurs by talking about his experiences," Kadeer said. "His real-life experiences in Chinese prison are appealing to more and more people. He is a symbolic and iconic figure both at home and to the exiled Uyghur people." The Chinese are anxious to bring Yapchan back to China so that Beijing can both silence him and use him as an example to dissuade other independence-minded Uyghurs. "If he is repatriated, then the Chinese authorities calculate that it would be great blow to the Uyghurs," Kadeer said. "I urge President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and the Turkish community to assess this dire situation more seriously and ensure earliest possible release of Mr .Yapchan." Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFA's Uyghur Service. Translated by by Memet Tohti. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. U.N. special rapporteur has a lot on her plate in Cambodia Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 10 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, U.N. special rapporteur has a lot on her plate in Cambodia, 10 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1313.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-10 LICHADO official Am Sam Ath is shown with land rights protestors before they were attacked by security forces, Oct. 10, 2016. RFA A court in Phnom Penh gave a Cambodian lawmaker a stiff sentence for on-line criticism of a border dispute and a human rights activists was severely beaten just as the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Rhona Smith visits the country. On Monday the Phnom Penh Municipal Court jailed opposition party lawmaker Um Sam An for two years and six months, while witnesses told RFA's Khmer Service that security forces attacked demonstrators protesting land grabs in Cambodia. Local media accounts reported that the protestors were attempting to deliver a petition to the Land Ministry in the capital Phnom Penh. At about 10 a.m. local time on Monday, Doun Penh district security forces attacked the demonstrators who carried lotus flowers, banged drums, waived the national flag and unfurled banners demanding a fair solution to the land-grab issue. Protestors and human rights observers told RFA's Khmer Service the attacks were a surprise. Am Sam Ath, a senior coordinator for the rights group LICADHO, was monitoring the event when he was severely beaten, suffering blows to the face, neck and head. 'Please don't use violence on the people' "I saw the Doun Penh security forces attack the people, and I said: 'Please don't use violence against the people,' and then they turned the violence on me as a human rights worker," he told RFA. The attack came as the victims of land grabs in nearly a dozen communities came celebrate World Habitat Day in the Dey Kraham community in Phnom Penh. Dey Kraham is land-grab symbol as more than 1500 families were evicted from the area near the National Assembly to make way for development. Seizure of land for development often without due process or fair compensation for displaced residents s a major cause of protests in Cambodia and other authoritarian Asian countries, including China and Laos. Phnom Penh city hall's administrator Meas Chanyada blamed the violence on the demonstrators, saying they failed to follow city hall's instructions by marching on Norodom Avenue, where the protest was prohibited. CNRP lawmaker convicted While the protestors were confronted by security forces, Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmaker Um Sam An was facing judicial authorities as the Cambodian-American dual citizen was sentenced to a two-year-and-six-month jail term and a 4 million riel (U.S. $976) fine for inciting discrimination and inciting social instability. The charges arose from Um Sam An's accusations that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) had failed to stop land encroachment by Vietnam and used improper maps to demarcate the border between the two former colonies of France. Um Sam An was jailed in April after Hun Sen ordered police to arrest anyone accusing the government of using "fake" maps to cede national territory to neighboring Vietnam. The CNRP lawmaker made his remarks as he was being led away from an appearance at the Appeals Court in Phnom Penh. His arrest and charges came even though lawmakers are guaranteed immunity by Cambodia's constitution unless two-thirds of the National Assembly vote to approve of the arrest. There is a loophole in the law, however, that allows lawmakers to be arrested if they are caught in the act of committing a crime. His case has been widely seen as another instance of the persecution of the political opposition by the ruling CPP. Choung Chou Ngy, a lawyer for Um Sam An, said the trial violated legal procedures because the lawmaker still has parliament immunity. The attorney didn't say whether he would appeal the conviction. A confluence of events While the two events are separate they are examples of some of the issues that Rhona Smith, the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, faces in her 10-day visit to the country to observe the situation in the country. Smith, a British academic, is scheduled to meet with NGOs, labor unions, the land-conflict communities and others who say the government is restricting the people's political rights. Reported by RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Sarada Taing. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Weekend attack on Myanmar border guards, response leave more than 20 dead Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 10 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Weekend attack on Myanmar border guards, response leave more than 20 dead, 10 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1413.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-10 Myanmar soldiers walk away from a helicopter that took them to Maungdaw in western Myanmar's Rakhine state to track down attackers who staged deadly raids on border posts, Oct. 10, 2016. AFP UPDATED at 9:43 A.M. EST on 2016-10-11 At least four Muslims died on Monday when government army and police forces conducted house-to-house searches for weapons in the township of Maungdaw in western Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state following a deadly weekend attack on border guards, according to residents. The clash occurred while police and soldiers were searching a Muslim quarter of the town near the border with Bangladesh following Sunday's bloody attack that left nine border guards and eight attackers dead, residents told RFA's Myanmar Service. The bodies of the four who died on Monday were taken to a hospital in Maungdaw, they said. RFA could not reach the town's administrative offices to confirm the deaths. "We have many soldiers in the town," said Maung Ohn, a lawmaker in the Rakhine state legislature and a resident of Maungdaw. "The Maungdaw market is closed, and all Muslim shops are closed. There are almost no people on the streets." The searches came after attacks by unknown assailants on three border guard posts in Rakhine state's Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships near the border with Bangladesh on Sunday killed nine guards, wounded five, and left one missing, according to national police chief Zaw Win. The attackers seized 51 weapons and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition in the initial attack, he said during a press conference in the capital Naypyidaw on Sunday. Eight attackers were killed, and two were captured on Sunday, he said. 'On the run' Tin Maung Swe, secretary of the Rakhine state government, told the online journal The Irrawaddy that the captured pair confessed to planning the attacks for more than three months with the help of local Muslims in Maungdaw, where the majority self-identify as Rohingya. Another 240 people involved in the attacks remain "on the run," he said. Authorities in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung townships have extended an existing curfew from 11 p.m.-4 a.m. to 7 p.m.-6 a.m. and prohibited groups of more than five people from gathering, The Irrawaddy reported. All of the roughly 400 government-run schools in Maungdaw district, which comprises Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships, were closed on Monday until further notice, said Aung Kyaw Tun, director of the Education Department in Rakhine state. "We closed all schools in the townships and sent teachers to safe places," he said. "These insurgents put landmines in the area, and we will bring the teachers back only after these landmines are cleared." Soldiers have been deployed in the area, and some streets have been closed off as both soldiers and police search Muslim villages for the weapons taken during the first border guard post attack, he said. State government spokesman Min Aung told The Irrawaddy that a police report alleges that local Muslims involved in the attack had links to the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), a small militant group active in the 1980s and the 1990s until the Myanmar government launched a counteroffensive to expel its insurgents from the border area with Bangladesh. Since then, the group has been believed to be defunct. Bangladesh connection Lt. Col. Abu Jar Al Zahid, commander of the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, bordering Teknaf region, said that Myanmar border police informed them on Sunday that "some miscreants" had attacked their outposts in Maungdaw. "We could hear the sound of firing from Bangladesh territory," he told RFA's sister news organization BenarNews. "Before the Myanmar border police informed us, we deployed our troops along the border so that the miscreants could not enter Bangladesh." The BGB commander also said his forces had no proof that people from Bangladesh had entered Myanmar to carry out the attack. But local authorities in Myanmar told BGB officers based in the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong that a terrorist group, including members of the RSO, had killed several border guard police along the frontier, said BGB Director General Maj. Gen. Aziz Ahmed. He told BenarNews that no members of the RSO or other extremist groups from Myanmar were inside Bangladesh, and that detained extremists had already been handed over to neighboring authorities. A senior officer in Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs who requested anonymity told BenarNews that the ministry was confident that the attack did not involve anyone who had crossed the border into Myanmar. Religious and ethnic tensions run high in Rakhine where 1.1 million stateless Rohingya suffer persecution because they are considered illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. Communal violence with Rakhine Buddhists in 2012 left 200 people dead and forced others into squalid internally displaced persons camps where they are denied basic rights, including that of citizenship. The deaths of the four Muslims in Maungdaw on Monday come nearly seven weeks after State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto national leader, formed a Rakhine advisory commission led by former United Nations chief Kofi Annan to review conflict resolution between Buddhists and Rohingya, humanitarian assistance, and development issues in the impoverished and divided state. Rakhine Buddhists and the Arakan National Party (ANP), which represents the interests of the Buddhist-majority Rakhine people, oppose the commission and have called for its disbandment. Reported by Min Thein Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service and by Kamran Reza Chowdhury for RFA's sister news organization BenarNews. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly identified Rakhine state lawmaker Maung Ohn as Maung Maung Ohn, former chief minister of Rakhine state. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Cambodian rights official tries the bait-and-switch with U.N. special rapporteur Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 11 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Cambodian rights official tries the bait-and-switch with U.N. special rapporteur, 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1513.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-11 LICADHO official Am Sam Ath (inside circle) is shown getting attacked by security forces as he observed a land-rights protest, Oct. 10, 2016. RFA Rhona Smith, the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, got an earful from the country's top human rights official on Tuesday, only he wasn't talking about the situation in Cambodia. Cambodian Human Rights Commission President Keo Remy said he told Smith that the U.N. needs to examine Syria instead of concerning itself with Cambodia. "We are strongly concerned about Syria," he told RFA's Khmer Service. "The Syrian people are waiting for the solution. However, the security council of the United Nations meeting was equal to zero, so we are really concerned about this matter." Smith's remit, however, is Cambodia, where critics of the government are often jailed, forced into exile, are beaten, or die under mysterious circumstances. She refused to be distracted by the bait-and-switch tactic of Keo Remy, who is a member of the ruling Cambodian People's Party and a secretary of state to the Council of Ministers. "We are concerned about a lot of things related to the human rights situation, and we continue to talk about this with ministers in our mission to Cambodia," she said. For examples Smith need look no further back than Monday when the Phnom Penh Municipal Court jailed opposition party lawmaker Um Sam An for two years and six months and security forces attacked demonstrators protesting land grabs in Cambodia. Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) lawmaker Um Sam An was sentenced to a two-year-and-six-month jail term and a 4 million riel (U.S. $976) fine for inciting discrimination and inciting social instability. The charges arose from Um Sam An's accusations that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) had failed to stop land encroachment by Vietnam and used improper maps to demarcate the border between the two former colonies of France. Um Sam An was jailed in April after Hun Sen ordered police to arrest anyone accusing the government of using "fake" maps to cede national territory to neighboring Vietnam. The CNRP lawmaker made his remarks as he was being led away from an appearance at the Appeals Court in Phnom Penh. Also on Monday, Doun Penh district security forces attacked the demonstrators who carried lotus flowers, banged drums, waived the national flag and unfurled banners demanding a fair solution to the land-grab issue. Protestors and human rights observers told RFA's Khmer Service the attacks were a surprise. Am Sam Ath, a senior coordinator for the rights group LICADHO, was monitoring the event when he was severely beaten, suffering blows to the face, neck and head. Smith began a 10-day visit to Cambodia on Monday to observe the situation in the country, where political tensions have been rising this year ahead of local commune elections in 2017 and parliamentary polls in 2018. Smith, a British academic, is scheduled to meet with NGOs, labor unions, the land-conflict communities and others who say the government is restricting the people's political rights. Reported by Leng Maly for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Taing Sarada. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China jails environmental activist for 'revealing state secrets' Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 11 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China jails environmental activist for 'revealing state secrets', 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff16a.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-11 Environmental activist Liu Shu is shown in an undated photo. Photo sent by an RFA listener Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Hunan have jailed a prominent environmentalist on charges of "revealing state secrets" in a move that activists said is likely a form of political revenge. Liu Shu was taken away from her home in the provincial capital Changsha on Sunday night and sentenced to 10 days' administrative detention for "revealing state secrets related to China's counterespionage work." Liu founded and runs the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Shuguang, which has campaigned for compensation and redress for victims of environmental pollution. A Shuguang volunteer who asked to remain anonymous appeared to suggest that Liu's detention had political implications. "This is a pretty sensitive topic, and it's not easy for us to give media interviews right now," the volunteer said. "As you can see from the online information, this involves matters of state security, and our lawyer is currently following up the matter." Asked what aspects of Liu's work had touched on matters of "national security," the volunteer said a number of environmental issues might be considered highly sensitive information by Chinese officials. "Issues to do with threats to public health, for example the investigation into levels of heavy metals in the waters of Dongting Lake," the volunteer said. Asked if Liu's computers and other possessions had been seized, the volunteer said: "In matters of state security, there are certain processes which must be followed, but unfortunately we can't discuss the details with you." Dubious charges Hunan-based rights lawyer Wen Donghai said the charges against Liu looked highly dubious. "This so-called counterespionage that they are talking about ought to indicate military matters, and people or organizations beyond China's borders spying on them," Wen said. "Environmental pollution is a globally recognized problem, and one that people are working hard to rectify," he said. "It is a social issue, and has nothing to do with the safety of the regime." "These charges are definitely trumped up, and the police are abusing their powers," he said. A source close to the situation told RFA that Liu stands accused of supplying data to an unidentified contact about environmental pollution. "If this proves to be true, then this is a serious violation of her rights," the source. "It's also a serious attack on the freedom of expression." A police-run committee can hand down administrative sentences of up to 15 days to perceived troublemakers without the need for a trial. However, such sentences may also be converted to criminal detention, resulting in a lengthy spell in a police-run detention center while investigations are carried out. Worsening levels of air and water pollution, as well as disputes over the effects of heavy metals from mining and industry, have forced ordinary Chinese to become increasingly involved in environmental protection and protest, according to a 2013 report from the Friends of Nature group. Many ordinary citizens have been prompted into action by China's environmental crisis, sparking a rise in "mass incidents" linked to pollution, while environmental groups have raised growing concerns over the falsification of pollution testing and environmental impact assessments. Campaigners say that China has an exemplary set of environmental protection legislation, but that close ties between business and officials mean that it is rarely enforced at a local level. Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Siu-san and Lam Lok-tung for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China: Jailed Uyghur scholar wins major human rights award, riling Beijing Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 11 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Jailed Uyghur scholar wins major human rights award, riling Beijing, 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1727.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-11 Ilham Tohti chats with students on June 12, 2010 after a lecture at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing. AFP Jailed Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti has won the Martin Ennals Award 2016, for those who "defend human rights with courage in the face of personal risk," in a move welcomed by rights activists but not by China. Tohti, a former professor at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing who has been dubbed "China's Nelson Mandela," was sentenced to life in prison following his conviction on a charge of "separatism" by the Urumqi Intermediate People's Court in Xinjiang on Sept. 23, 2014. The award, which is named for the founder of London-based rights group Amnesty International, is intended to "provide protection through international recognition," and will be presented in his absence at a ceremony in Geneva on Tuesday, the awarding body said in statement on its website. Ilham Tohti had worked for two decades to foster dialogue and understanding between the mostly Muslim, Turkic-speaking Uyghurs and the majority Han Chinese, the group said. "He has rejected separatism and violence, and sought reconciliation based on a respect for Uyghur culture, which has been subject to religious, cultural and political repression in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region," it said. However, the award drew an immediate rebuke from Beijing, who said Ilham Tohti was jailed amid "clear evidence of wrongdoing." "In his class, he hailed suspects who launched terrorist attacks as 'heroes'," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. "He has been convicted by Chinese justice for separatism. His case has nothing to do with human rights." China has been keen to portray its Uyghur population as potential terrorists after a wave of violent incidents hit the region following a crackdown on deadly ethnic riots in Urumqi in July 2009. Award could spark more repression But exile Uyghur groups say Beijing's long-running program of repression in Xinjiang targets Uyghurs, placing restrictions on their religious practices, their clothing, and their ability to travel freely, whether within China or overseas. World Uyghur Congress (WUC) spokesman Dilxat Raxit welcomed the award. "We were very pleased as soon as we heard about [this]," he said. "I think it will raise international awareness of Ilham Tohti's plight as someone who was imprisoned for using his freedom of expression." "This award is in itself a recognition of his work in promoting international values and freedom of expression," he told RFA. However, Raxit warned that the award could also spark a further round of persecution within China, which is keen to avoid any news of rights abuses from reaching the outside world. "They will step up the oppression, and after that, they will take further steps to suppress any news of it, to stop there from ever being a second Ilham Tohti," Raxit said. "It will get to the point where we have no way of knowing what has happened to some dissidents." But Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia said Tohti's award is unlikely to have much impact on China's overall human rights record. "The Chinese Communist Party isn't going to stop arresting [dissidents] just because this award was given to someone from China," Hu said. "But they are capable of thinking about their own interests, and perhaps this award might make them modify their methods." "They might not arrest quite so many, or they might give them lighter sentences." Hu said he doesn't expect Ilham Tohti to be released any time soon, however, because the authorities are likely to fear his raised profile. "But at the very least it might have a protective effect, guaranteeing him the basic minimum standards in terms of his physical and mental health so that ... he doesn't die in prison of some illness or come out a totally broken man," he said. Moderate voice eliminated Martin Ennals Foundation Chair Dick Oosting said the persecution of Ilham Tohti could spark further extremism among Uyghurs, laying the blame at Beijing's door. "The real shame of this situation is that by eliminating the moderate voice of Ilham Tohti the Chinese government is in fact laying the groundwork for the very extremism it says it wants to prevent," Oosting said in a statement. Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, said the choice of Tohti over vocal Chinese protests that he is a separatist represented the international community saying "we don't believe China's version of events." "The selection of Professor Tohti as this year's recipient recognizes the kind of threat the Chinese government presents to human rights defense inside and outside China," she told RFA's Uyghur Service. And Mary Lawlor, executive director of the rights group Front Line Defenders, one of the award's backers, said Ilham Tohti's work highlighted "feelings of alienation" among Uyghurs in a bid to broker ethnic harmony. "Ilham Tohti has always used his position as an academic and a well-networked Uighur to try to foster better relations between Uyghurs and Han Chinese," Lawlor said. "He has sought to address the root causes of dissatisfaction and feelings of alienation amongst some Uyghurs in an effort to guide better Chinese government policy." "That he was sentenced to life imprisonment for this is an absolute travesty," she added. The news of the award comes after Ilham Tohti was dropped from a final shortlist for the European Parliament's annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, in spite of a vocal campaign by rights activists and supporters of his work. He had been one of four finalists but didn't make the cut for the final three. The Martin Ennals prize is named after the first secretary general of Amnesty International and the prize is judged by the London-based rights group, along with Human Rights Watch and other rights groups. Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service, by Shi Shan and Tian Yi for the Mandarin Service, and by Kurban Niyaz for the Uyghur Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China offers cash rewards for departures from Larung Gar Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 11 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China offers cash rewards for departures from Larung Gar, 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff174.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-11 Map showing Serthar county in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan. RFA Chinese officials seeking to reduce the population of the large Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in Sichuan have begun offering cash inducements to some monks and nuns to leave amid the forced removals of thousands of others, sources in the region say. At the same time, many monks and nuns native to the Institute's Serthar (in Chinese, Seda) county, and who were formerly thought safe from eviction, are being told to leave, sources say. "Chinese workers going from door to door have been seen handing out flyers written in Chinese and Tibetan, encouraging monks to leave the complex by offering 20,000 yuan (U.S. $2,975) for voluntary departure," one local source told RFA's Tibetan Service. "A further 30,000 yuan (U.S. $4,463) is being offered if they give up their homes to be destroyed," RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. RFA was not immediately able to confirm the reports of monetary offers being made, and many of Larung Gar's residents have already been forced to leave and return to their family homes without compensation. Many thousands of Tibetans and Han Chinese study at the sprawling Larung Gar complex, which was founded in 1980 by the late religious teacher Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok and is one of the world's largest and most important centers for the study of Tibetan Buddhism. The order now to reduce the number of Larung Gar's residents by about half to a maximum level of 5,000 by Sept. 30 next year "comes from higher authorities," with China's president Xi Jinping taking a personal interest in the matter, sources told RFA in earlier reports. Thousands have already left, many with residents coming originally from areas outside the Institute's Serthar (in Chinese, Seda) county targeted first for eviction. "Many monks and nuns who came from the Tibet Autonomous Region and from Qinghai, Gansu, and Yunnan have already been ordered to leave," another local source told RFA, also speaking on condition of anonymity. "Now it is being said that some of the monks and nuns from Serthar and from Kardze [Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture] are also being forced out," the source said. "About 243 monks and nuns from Serthar have now been ordered to leave Larung Gar and to turn over their houses for destruction," he said. Hundreds of monastic dwellings many lying along lanes and roads marked for widening have already been torn down, with a goal set by authorities of 1,000 to be destroyed by the end of the year, sources say. Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China: Tibetan linked to self-immolation is detained after evading arrest for three years Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 11 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Tibetan linked to self-immolation is detained after evading arrest for three years, 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1813.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-11 Sangdak Kyab is shown in an undated photo. Photo sent by an RFA listener A Tibetan man accused of supporting a self-immolation protest in northwestern China's Gansu province has been taken into custody by police after evading arrest for three years, Tibetan sources say. Sangdak Kyab was detained at around 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 29 by 10 officers who arrived at his home in Sangchu (in Chinese, Xiahe) county's Sangkok township, a Tibetan monk living in India told RFA's Tibetan Service. "His wife Jamkyi asked police the reason for his arrest, to which the police replied that 'she knew the reason very well,'" RFA's source said, citing contacts in Sangchu. Following a self-immolation protest in 2013 in Gansu, Kyab and three others were accused of transporting the protester's remains to the man's home so that they would not be seized by police, the source said. Three who were caught Dorje Namgyal, Jinpa, and Dorje Tashi were sentenced to terms of from two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half years which they have now served, but Kyab escaped arrest and went into hiding. "This year, after seeing the others had been released, Kyab returned home thinking that the situation had been resolved, but the police then raided his house," RFA's source said. "He is now being held in detention," he said. On Oct. 6, police called Kyab's family to say they would be allowed to bring food to him in jail, but that the food should not be cooked at home, the source said. "Instead, the food should be prepared in a restaurant, they said. And they instructed further that while Kyab would be permitted to receive meat, that meat should contain no bones." Food brought by Kyab's wife the following day was taken inside the jail, but she was not allowed to visit, the source said. "So no information is available about Kyab's present state of health or whether he has been tortured in jail," he said. Sporadic demonstrations challenging Beijing's rule have continued in Tibetan-populated areas of China since widespread protests swept the region in 2008. A total of 145 Tibetans living in China have now set themselves ablaze in self-immolations since the wave of fiery protests began in 2009, with most protests featuring calls for Tibetan freedom and the Dalai Lama's return from India, where he has lived since escaping Tibet during a failed national uprising in 1959. Reported by Sonam Topgyal for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Driven by environmental protests, Vietnam tightens civil liberties Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 11 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Driven by environmental protests, Vietnam tightens civil liberties, 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1913.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-11 Vietnam Communist Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong at party headquarter in Hanoi, Oct. 6, 2016. AFP There are growing signs that the Vietnamese government is moving to smother dissent, as the one-party regime in recent days has labeled a pro-democracy group a terrorist organization, imprisoned a blogger critical of the government and blockaded a group of activists trying to conduct a civil society workshop. It is unclear why the Vietnamese government decided to make the moves at this time, but the ruling troika of President Tran Dai Quang, Communist Party Secretary-general Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc appear to be sending a message that they will tolerate little criticism. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement that Viet Tan, or the Vietnam Reform Party, has been carrying out terrorist activities to end communist rule in Vietnam and warned that anyone who might contact the organization will be dealt with harshly. "Viet Tan is a terrorist organization, therefore, anyone who joins, propagandizes, instigates others to join, sponsors, receives sponsorship from Viet Tan, participates in training courses arranged by Viet Tan, operates under instructions of Viet Tan will be an accomplice in terrorism ... and will be dealt with in accordance with Vietnamese law," the statement said. The Viet Tan is not listed as a terrorist entity under U.S. law and the U.N. has described the Viet Tan as "a peaceful organization advocating for democratic reform." Viet Tan was founded by exiles from the Saigon government in that was deposed in 1982 and says as its mission to "overcome dictatorship and build the foundation for a sustainable democracy." While the organization has been outlawed in Vietnam for years, the move is the first time the government has declared it a terrorist organization. The organization dismissed Vietnam's claims, accusing Hanoi of using "scare tactics" by "regurgitating baseless propaganda that they have routinely used against peaceful voices." "To justify its human rights abuses, Hanoi has often portrayed critics as engaging in terrorism, subversion and social unrest," Viet Tan wrote in a statement. The group pointed out that three of its members are "currently serving long prison terms for their blogging and community organizing." Mother Mushroom arrested In a separate move, Hanoi appeared to underscore the government's intention to throttle dissent as it arrested a popular blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, who writes under the pen name Mother Mushroom on Tuesday. Quynh co-founded the Network of Vietnamese Bloggers, one of the few independent writers' associations in a country where the news media and publishing industry are tightly controlled by the governing Communist Party. The network defended Quynh, writing in a statement that she is an "activist who has advocated for human rights, improved living conditions for people, and sovereignty for many years." She blogged extensively about the Formosa Plastics Group steel plant chemical spill in April that killed tons of marine life and left fishermen and tourism industry workers jobless in four provinces. In June, the company acknowledged it was responsible for the pollution that killed an estimated 115 tons of fish and pledged to pay $500 million to clean it up and compensate those affected by it. The spill sparked large protests across Vietnam, where public demonstrations are rarely tolerated. Hanoi's move looks to be aimed directly at criticism over the environmental disaster, the Network of Vietnamese Bloggers wrote in their statement. "Blogger Mother Mushroom has recently been focused on environmental protection, [criticizing] Formosa and other projects that have bad effects on the environment," the network wrote. "These activities have led to her urgent arrest." Freelance journalist Huynh Ngoc Chenh told RFA's Vietnamese Service that the "Formosa situation has become more tense and people think that is the 'death point' of the regime." "There will be more protests in the future, and it will be more tense, and more people will join the protests," he said. "That is why the government is looking for a way to clamp down on social activists." Freelance journalist Pham Chi Dung told RFA "this is a clamp-down campaign initiated with the recent announcement by the Ministry of Police about Viet Tan party. The crackdown will be harsher in the future." While Quynh's arrest looks like a stern signal, blogger Pham Thanh Nghien, a co-founder of the network of Vietnamese Bloggers, told RFA that the activists were unbowed. "This does not damage us in terms of worrying about being arrested or jailed," she said. "We are fighting for basic freedoms for ourselves, even though those freedoms might be paid for by our imprisonment." While activists are prepared to go to jail, the recent activity may only be aimed partially at them, said blogger Truong Duy Nhat. "It is possible that anybody can be arrested in the future," he said. "The way they behave, making laws and implementing those laws, means that any citizen can be alternate prisoners. Anybody can become Mother Mushroom." 'Hearing me shouting, four or five security policemen beat me' It's not just bloggers who have been harassed by the government as security forces in Vietnam's southern city of Vung Tau on Saturday detained a group of around 20 activists who attempted to conduct an informal workshop on civil society. The local police interrogated and beat the activists who had hoped to talk to young Vietnamese about the development of civil society. Instead they ran into squads of police who broke up the meeting, attorney Le Cong Dinh told RFA. "They shoved me into a car, and I shouted 'police' so others could hear, but they could not because many people were still inside a closed room while I was in the lobby at the time," said the attorney, who served a prison term for "propaganda against the state." "Hearing me shouting, four or five security policemen beat me," he added. "They grabbed my neck and twisted my arms. Four people took me to the car." The police drove him to the police station in Than Tam commune, where other activists had been rounded up, he said. Le Cong Dinh told RFA that the meeting was designed to be an informal one where people could stand up and speak about a topic although some had prepared material for the talk. He was prepared to talk about legal matters related to civil society in Vietnam. "We went to our meeting at Phan Chu Trinh Street," he said. "Upon our arrival, we saw that there were many policemen, including traffic police, fast reaction troops and security policemen. They had cameras to film our arrival." The activists were blocked from their original meeting place, and when they tried to go to another, the police pounced and arrested them. They were eventually released. "They drove all their victims out of Vung Tau," he said. "And dropped them on deserted streets." Reported for RFA's Vietnamese Service by Mac Lam. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Kem Sokha says Cambodia National Rescue Party is better with two united leaders Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 11 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Kem Sokha says Cambodia National Rescue Party is better with two united leaders, 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1ac.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-11 Leader of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam Rainsy (R), deputy of CNRP Kem Sokha (C) and workers march to mark the 11th anniversary of the death of labor leader Chea Vichea, in Phnom Penh, Jan. 22, 2015. AFP Embattled opposition leader Kem Sokha wants to put the Cambodia National Rescue Party's leadership team back together as he hinted that CNRP President Sam Rainsy should return to the country. "If Sam Rainsy is with me, it is better than if I am leading alone," he told NewsChannel Asia on Tuesday. "If he decides not to come we will still continue leading the party forward through the party mechanisms." Sam Rainsy has been living abroad off and on for years as Prime Minister Hun Sen's government has charged him with a number of offenses that observers inside and outside Cambodia see as politically motivated. On September 26th, Sam Rainsy told BBC News that he plans to go back to Cambodia two or three weeks before the 2018 national election even if he risks arrest. Even though he is living in the CNRP headquarters, acting party leader Kem Sokha said he wasn't going to follow Rainsy out of the country. "If they arrest me, the people will protest, so I trust the people," he said. "If they unjustly arrest me, Cambodia will have a big problem. People will disagree with the government, so there will be big chaos." Cambodian political science scholar So Chantha said the country would be better off if the two opposition politicians work together inside the country. "I want politicians to be able talk and negotiate with each other in order to solve problems," he said. "Politicians should gain trust from the people rather than let them get tired and hopeless or let them think that politics is dangerous." In 2013, King Norodom Sihamoni granted a royal pardon to Sam Rainsy. The pardon absolved Sam Rainsy of defamation charges allowing him to return to Cambodia without being put in jail Even though he was ineligible for candidacy in the 2013 general election, thousands of his supporters thronged the streets when he returned. The CNRP gained 55 seats in the National Assembly in that election, but the party and international observers found evidence of fraud and the CNRP boycotted parliament from September 2013 until July 2014. In November 2015, Sam Rainsy was again removed from parliament by the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) when a warrant was issued for his arrest after being convicted of defaming former Foreign Minister Hor Namhong with the claim that the CPP politician ran a prison in the 1970s for the bloody Khmer Rouge regime. Kem Sokha has been acting president of the CNRP since that time, but he has been under virtual house arrest since police attempted to arrest him in May for ignoring court orders to appear as a witness in a pair of defamation cases related to his alleged affair with a hairdresser. On Sept. 9 the Phnom Penh Municipal Court ruled that Kem Sokha was guilty of refusing to appear for questioning in a prostitution case against him, and he was sentenced to five months in prison and given a fine of 800,000 riel ($200). Kem Sokha is accused of procuring a prostitute in relation to his alleged affair with hairdresser Khom Chandaraty. Despite being summoned twice in May, he refused to appear in court to answer questions about the prostitution allegations. His legal problems are also seen as politically motivated. Reported by Leng Maly for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Taing Sarada. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Myanmar government ministers try to restore calm in Rakhine after border guard attacks Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 11 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Myanmar government ministers try to restore calm in Rakhine after border guard attacks, 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1ba.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-11 Myanmar government officials brief locals on the security situation following deadly attacks on border guard posts in Sittwe, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Oct. 11, 2016. RFA Myanmar's government on Tuesday sent a mission to the country's turbulent western Rakhine state in a bid to restore peace and stability following raids on three border posts that left more than 20 people dead and prompted searches of homes of Muslim residents near the border with Bangladesh. Nine border officers and eight assailants died in the attacks early Sunday in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships where many of the country's stateless Rohingya Muslim minority group live. Two men who were captured during the raids confessed to having planned the attacks for more than three months with the help of local Muslims in Maungdaw, authorities said. Some believe the attacks were carried out in response to state government plans to demolish mosques and other religious buildings constructed without permission in Maungdaw and neighboring Buthidaung townships. The group of government officials, including Information Minister Pe Myint, Labor, Immigration and Population Minister Thein Swe, deputy minister for the Office of the State Counselor Khin Maung Tin, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Soe Aung, and deputy chief of the Myanmar Police Force Brig. Gen. Aung Win Oo, briefed residents in the Rakhine capital Sittwe on the current security situation following the attacks. Nyi Pu, chief minister of Rakhine state, and other state government officials also participated in the conference. "Rakhine state's problem is Myanmar's problem," Pe Myint said. "We aren't dealing with this only as Rakhine's problem, especially because the Rakhine problem is related to some neighboring countries and the international community," he said. "We consider this problem a very important one." The government officials will spend four days meeting with local people and others in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung townships to clarify the situation so as to avoid public worry and panic, state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported. Kyaw Zeya, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met on Tuesday with Mohammad Sufiur Rahman, Bangladesh's ambassador to Myanmar, to discuss border security cooperation and joint efforts to find the attackers. 'Depressed and worried' But residents in the three townships continue to live in fear. Four Myanmar army soldiers were killed in Maungdaw on Tuesday during clashes with local forces who were presumably involved in the raids on the border posts, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported citing an anonymous high-ranking government official. RFA was unable to independently verify the report. "Local residents from Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung are getting depressed and worried," Maung Tha Sein, a community leader in Sittwe, told RFA's Myanmar Service. "We have heard they are not able to sleep at night because of fear and have planned to move out of their towns and into the Sittwe area," he said. "It is important that they heal their mental wounds." In the meantime, Nyi Pu said that authorities would take legal action against those involved in the attacks. Five military helicopters with more security forces have been deployed in the area, and security forces in Myanmar and Bangladesh are looking to apprehend the insurgents who attacked border guards and stole guns and bullets, said Brigadier Gen. Hla Mying Soe of the Sittwe region military headquarters. Soldiers were deployed in the area after the attacks occurred, and some streets were closed off as both soldiers and police searched Muslim villages for weapons and ammunition taken during the first border guard post raid. Four Muslims were killed on Monday during a police search of a Muslim quarter in Maungdaw, residents had told RFA. Fourteen Rohingya organizations in exile issued a statement the same day accusing government soldiers of killing not four, but seven unarmed residents of Myothugyi village, The Irrawaddy reported. That same day, authorities closed 400 government-run schools in Maungdaw district, which comprises Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships, and extended curfews there as well as in Rathedaung township. E.U. statement The European Union issued a statement on Tuesday expressing sympathy to the families of those killed in the attacks. The E.U. has called for a formal police investigation into the incident and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice according to the rule of law. "In the meantime, we call on all parties to act responsibly, exercise restraint and let the investigation run its course," the statement said. "The EU stands with Myanmar in these difficult moments." Religious and ethnic tensions run high in Rakhine where 1.1 million stateless Rohingya suffer persecution because they are considered illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. Communal violence with Rakhine Buddhists in 2012 left 200 people dead and forced others into squalid internally displaced persons camps where they are denied basic rights, including that of citizenship. Some authorities in Rakhine state believe local Muslims involved in the border post attacks have links to the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), a militant group active in the 1980s and the 1990s, but which is believed to now be defunct. But Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, said on Monday that no members of the RSO or another extremist groups from Myanmar were inside Bangladesh. In late August, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, appointed former United Nations chief Kofi Annan to chair an advisory panel on Rakhine state to review conflict resolution between Buddhists and Rohingya, humanitarian assistance, and development issues in the impoverished and divided state. Reported by Kyaw Zaw Win for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Hong Kong officials reject new lawmakers' protest oaths Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 12 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Hong Kong officials reject new lawmakers' protest oaths, 12 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1c2d.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-12 Sixtus Leung (L) and Yau Wai-ching (R), newly elected members of the Hong Kong "localist" group Youngspiration, referred to China by a historical slur, "Shina," at the Legislative Council swearing in ceremony, Oct. 12, 2016. RFA Authorities in Hong Kong on Wednesday refused to accept the oaths of three newly-elected lawmakers who deliberately changed the wording of their swearing-in statements in protest at Chinese rule in the former British colony. Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching, newly elected members of the "localist" group Youngspiration, carried flags saying "Hong Kong is not China" into the chamber for their oaths, during which they referred to China by a historical slur, "Shina." Using English, one of Hong Kong's official languages, both swore allegiance to the "Hong Kong Nation" rather than to the People's Republic of China. Yau also referred to the "People's Re-F**king of Shina" three times during her oath, while independent lawmaker Edward Yiu added lines to his, vowing to safeguard procedural justice, fight for sustainable development, and demand true universal suffrage for Hong Kong. The city's Legislative Council (LegCo) refused to accept the oaths of all three members and said they were ineligible to vote for the LegCo president. But former student protest leader and newly elected LegCo member Nathan Law said there were no valid grounds for refusing to allow them to take up their seats. Nathan Law, who heads the new-generation party Demosisto, took his oath correctly, before reading out a speech quoting Mahatma Gandhi. "You can chain me, you can torture me, but you will never imprison my mind," Law told assembled officials. Pan-democratic lawmakers then occupied the LegCo chamber in a bid to filibuster the vote for its president, which later returned pro-Beijing member Andrew Leung to the post. A number of pan-democrats shouted slogans during their oath-taking, but didn't vary the words at their swearing-in. Loyalty to Hong Kong people Long-time social activist Leung Kwok-hung shouted "Down with the Aug. 31 directive!" referring to a 2014 Chinese parliamentary decree ruling out fully democratic elections in Hong Kong. Land-rights activist Eddie Chu, who polled the largest-ever number of votes in LegCo elections last month, shouted out: "Democracy, freedom, and an end to brutal government!" Sixtus Leung, who is also known by the nickname Baggio, told reporters afterwards that the oath should have included a statement of loyalty to the people of Hong Kong, which was promised a "high degree of autonomy" and the continuation of its traditional freedoms under the terms of the 1997 handover. "It seems very strange to me that I, as an elected representative of the people, must be loyal to the People's Republic of China and to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Basic Law, but not to the people of Hong Kong or the Hong Kong nation." "That's why we wanted to add this in, to tell the people of Hong Kong that it is with them that our allegiance lies," he said. "That was the message we wanted to send out." Lawmaker Starry Lee, who chairs the pro-China Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), criticized the protest oaths. "The DAB regrets that some lawmakers chose to use the swearing-in ceremony as a platform to air their political views," Lee told reporters. "This is a serious ceremony which shouldn't be used for political performance." Jeffrey Lam, who represents the commercial sector in LegCo, said the protesters' version of their oaths was unacceptable. "Some of the words they used were very offensive to Chinese people," Lam said. "It's not just as LegCo members that we find it unacceptable; we find it unacceptable as Chinese people, too." 'Poor accent' at fault? But Yau blamed her "poor accent" in English. "I think perhaps they are discriminating against me for my accent, because it's not very good, to be honest," she said. "They thought I was trying to insult them, but they are discriminating against me." The Hong Kong government earlier warned that any lawmaker who changes the wording of the oath at swearing-in would lose their seat. "If a member swears his or her oath in a manner or form that is inconsistent with the Oaths and Declarations Ordinance, the oath will offend Article 104 of the Basic Law and will therefore be unlawful and of no legal effect," government broadcaster RTHK quoted a government spokesman as saying. The protests came as Britain expressed concern over the "integrity of Hong Kong's law enforcement" in the wake of the cross-border detentions of five booksellers, including U.K. national Lee Bo. "I call for the universal application of due process, respecting the distinct nature of the two jurisdictions in all cases," Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson wrote in the Oct. 12 Foreign and Commonwealth Office's six-monthly report on Hong Kong. Johnson said that academic freedom and freedom of expression had also "come under increasing pressure over the past two years." Hong Kong's government responded by saying there was "no evidence" of cross-border law enforcement in the case of the booksellers, and that press freedom was alive and kicking in the city. "We support that every endeavour should be made for journalists to report news professionally and accurately under the principle of editorial autonomy," it said. "Foreign governments should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of Hong Kong." Reported by Lam Kwok-lap for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Thousands of Chinese army veterans protest in Beijing Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 11 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Thousands of Chinese army veterans protest in Beijing, 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1c4.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-11 Thousands of former Chinese soldiers protest near the Communist Party Central Military Commission in Beijing, Oct. 11, 2016. RFA Thousands of People's Liberation Army (PLA) veterans staged a sit-in outside the military headquarters of the ruling Chinese Communist Party on Tuesday in protest at authorities' failure to deliver promised pension, medical and social security benefits. The protesters converged on Beijing from around a dozen cities and provinces in a concerted bid to air long-running grievances from a group that has been identified by the leadership as one of the most politically sensitive in China. Singing "In Unity is Our Strength" and other Chinese military choruses, the veterans sat outside the ruling party's military wing, the Central Military Commission (CMC), calling for basic pensions and healthcare in their old age. Eyewitnesses said police were preventing journalists and bystanders from taking photos of the scene, and had restrained some of the more agitated protesters. "There are people all along the street, from all over China," an anonymous eyewitness said. "It's so tragic, really sad." "These people are all members of the party, demobilized, but they were let go with just 400 yuan (U.S.$60) apiece," he said. "The government won't do anything for them." Many veterans say they joined the PLA on the promise of guaranteed civil service jobs after demobilization, but that the jobs never materialized. 'We were unfairly treated' Security was tight around the CMC compound, as the authorities sent in thousands of troops and armed police, although no clashes were reported. One protester estimated that as many as 30,000 veterans were gathered at the height of Tuesday's protest. "We had more than 20,000 here today, nearly 30,000," the protester, who gave only a surname Gao, said. "I saw this was happening so I came along. I have nothing to eat or drink. I don't know what to do." "I signed up to the army in 1976 in Beijing, and was demobilized in 1988," he said. "It wasn't too bad to start with, but then they started laying people off in the factories, and we were just given 400 yuan and told to leave." "That was never going to be enough. We have been unfairly treated," Gao said. "I gave my best years to the army, and I have nothing to show for it." A fellow protester surnamed Hu said many of the protesters were from very different eras in China's modern history. "There are many, multi-layered problems represented here," Hu told RFA. "Today we have here demobilized soldiers including lower-ranking officers, non-commissioned officers, and regular soldiers [as well as] soldiers who participated in nuclear tests, and the Vietnam War." Extreme hardship Many veterans of China's brief 1979 border war with Vietnam and the Korean War (1950-1953), live in extreme hardship in old age, they have told RFA. "They are from a very broad time-span, and there are are huge inequalities in the way they are treated [after leaving active service]," Hu said, adding that frequent personnel changes at the party's military arm, the Central Military Commission (CMC), have led to yawning inconsistencies in provision for the PLA's veterans. "The personnel at the CMC keep changing, and nobody lower down the ranks is willing to sort out the mess that they make," Hu said. "They just keep passing the buck lower and lower down ... until it's well-nigh impossible to get anything done." A second protester surnamed Wang, a veteran of the 1979 Vietnam border skirmish, said he hasn't received any of the benefits promised when he signed up. "It's pretty unfair right now, for all of us who took part in that campaign," Wang said. "They issued a directive in 2007 drawing a distinction between those of us who live in towns and those of us in rural areas." "They pretty much dropped us city-dwellers; we get nothing, and we have to try to get by on social subsistence payouts," he said. "You have to claim social subsistence before you become eligible for any care by the state at all." "We are very upset about this," Wang said, adding that he knows of a number of veterans who were prevented by local government officials from traveling to Beijing to take part in the protest . In September 2015, Beijing police detained more than 1,000 veterans who gathered outside government buildings in protest over similar issues. And thousands of disabled veterans staged a smaller protest outside the CMC last February, ahead of the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC). Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Pan Jiaqing for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Xin Lin for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Jailed former head of China's rebel village retracts 'confession' Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 12 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Jailed former head of China's rebel village retracts 'confession', 12 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1d13.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-12 Villagers confront riot police during a clash in Wukan village in southern China's Guangdong province, Sept. 13, 2016. EyePress News The former head of a rebel village in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong has retracted a televised "confession" to bribery and lodged an appeal against his three-year jail term. Lin Zuluan, former ruling Chinese Communist Party secretary for Guangdong's Wukan village, was handed a 37-month jail term and a U.S.$60,000 fine after a court in Foshan city found him guilty of taking bribes and of other charges last month. Lin, 72, who took office after leading a grassroots land protest campaign over the unauthorized sale of Wukan's farmland by his predecessor in 2011, had appeared on local television admitting to taking bribes, but few in Wukan believed it to be genuine. His arrest prompted weeks of daily protests by thousands of residents of Wukan, who said the charges against him were a form of political retaliation by officials in nearby Lufeng city. Lin, who has been denied access to lawyers hired by his family since his detention, lodged an appeal with the Foshan Intermediate People's Court on Wednesday, and three of his relatives were granted passes to attend, sources close to the family told RFA. While appeals in China are rarely successful, and he will continue to be represented by a police-backed lawyer, the move seems to be a symbolic rejection of the televised "confession" Lin made earlier, and comes amid growing concern over the practice, which is becoming widespread in China's judicial system. Anhui-based former prosecutor-turned-dissident Shen Liangqing said Lin has definitely been targeted for political revenge following the street protests and pitched battles at the barricades that caught world media attention in 2011. Forced confession "He was arrested on trumped-up charges, and then they used the reprehensible method of hostage-taking to force him to confess by using his grandson," Shen said. "Given the circumstances, it is unsurprising that he has refused to play along and now wishes to appeal." Back in 2011, the provincial government unexpectedly sided with Wukan, overriding officials in nearby Lufeng, in a move that observers said was likely linked to attempts by then provincial leader Wang Yang to gain promotion. The removal of Xue Chang and subsequent village elections were held up as a model of grassroots democracy in China at the time. But since provincial leader Hu Chunhua took over in Guangdong in 2012, several former protest leaders from Wukan have been jailed on alleged "bribery" charges. Shen said Hu is now jockeying for promotion on his own account, and is likely the author of last month's crackdown by armed riot police in the village. "I think that Guangdong chief Hu Chunhua is behind the current security crackdown, so as to win himself a promotion," he said. "They won't release Lin Zuluan on appeal: I think the court will uphold the original verdict." "The [2012] village elections fueled this fantasy that China would be ruled by law, and could be changed by voting," Shen said. "But this was never going to work under a one-party dictatorship." 'They lied to Lin Zuluan' Former Wukan resident Zhuang Liehong, who fled to the U.S. around the time of the 2011 protests, said he supports Lin's appeal, even though he is unlikely to win. "It won't work, but I think he's still got to do it," Zhuang said. "It was very clear from the start that there were two main factors behind the confession: they had his grandson, and also they lied to Lin Zuluan, saying he'd only be in jail for a month or more if he pled guilty." "They said they'd release him on bail, which may have seemed like a small detail to them, but clearly it wasn't to Lin Zuluan," he said. After Lin was made party secretary and several of the 2011 protest leaders were elected in March 2012 elections, very little was done to retrieve Wukan's lost farmland. Then, in July 2014, former protest leaders Hong Ruichao and Yang Semao, who had both served on the newly elected village committee, were jailed for four and two years respectively for "accepting bribes." Zhuang said Yang and Hong were similarly targeted for political revenge on trumped-up charges. "They used the same methods on [them], sending people to their homes and telling them everything was fine, and that they were doing it for show, and that they would release them soon," he said. "They lied to them, too." Last June, villagers persuaded Lin to mastermind a new land petition campaign, but he was detained before he could launch it, setting more than 80 days of consecutive street protests in motion. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Myanmar says it will handle Rakhine attacks 'fairly' once culprits are found Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 12 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Myanmar says it will handle Rakhine attacks 'fairly' once culprits are found, 12 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1e10.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-12 Myanmar State Counselor and Foreign Affairs Minister Aung San Suu Kyi holds a joint press conference with visiting Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Bert Koenders in Naypyidaw, Oct. 12, 2016. RFA Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday said the government will handle the turbulent situation in the country's western Rakhine state fairly and according to the rule of law following violent raids on border guard posts earlier this week and ensuing clashes between security forces and armed men. "We are not going to accuse anybody until we know clearly [who is behind the attack] and have solid evidence," she said during a joint press conference with visiting Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Bert Koenders. Nine border officers and eight assailants died in the raids by unknown assailants early Sunday in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships, where many of the country's stateless Rohingya Muslim minority group live. Myanmar army troops and local border guards have been deployed in the area to search homes in Muslim villages for the assailants and weapons that were stolen from the border posts during the attacks. This has led to clashes between armed men and security forces that have forced schools to close and prompted residents fearing worse violence to flee to safety. In all, nearly 40 people, including military soldiers, attackers and the border guards killed in Sunday's raids, died as of Wednesday, according to state media reports and other official sources. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, sent a mission of Union government officials to Rakhine's capital Sittwe on Tuesday to inform people about the situation and instill calm after the border post attacks. At the joint press conference, she said that the members of the mission set out by boat on Tuesday morning to reach the areas where the attacks occurred because they could not go there by helicopter. She also said the officials would return by Saturday and report their findings to government leaders, but until then she would decline to comment on the current situation. "We can't decide what the effects are going to be until we know what has been happening," she said. As to whether the situation will affect Muslims in Rakhine, also known as Arakan state, Aung San Suu Kyi said it will have an impact on them to a certain extent because some of them are now engaged in clashes between armed groups of Muslims and national army troops. Despite this, she said that the government hopes "that out of all this will emerge something better and stronger, and a greater dedication to peace and stability." 'People are worried' Ethnic tension runs high in Rakhine state where 1.1 stateless Muslim Rohingya suffer persecution because they are considered illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh and referred to as "Bengalis." Communal violence between the Rohingya and Rakhine Buddhists in 2012 left 200 people dead and forced tens of thousands of Rohingya into squalid refugee camps where they are denied basic rights, including that of citizenship. In late August, Aung San Suu Kyi appointed former United Nations chief Kofi Annan to lead a Rakhine advisory commssion tasked with reviewing conflict resolution between Buddhists and Rohingya, humanitarian assistance, and development issues in the impoverished and divided state. Koenders, who is on a three-day trip to Myanmar to open the new Dutch embassy in Yangon and meet with representatives of Dutch businesses and Myanmar government leaders, visited refugee camps in Sittwe on Tuesday. In the meantime, the team of government officials, including Information Minister Pe Myint and Labor, Immigrations and Population Minister Thein Swe, has met with residents of Maungdaw township to try to allay their fears. "Of course, people are worried, especially this time," said Rakhine chief minister Nyi Pu, who is accompanying the ministers. "But, I want to urge you not to worry too much. It would be dangerous if people did or said something that they shouldn't out of fear and worry." Army and local police forces are continuing their manhunt for those involved in the attacks by searching homes in Muslim villages in Maungdaw. "We hear women's shouting from Bengali villages, but our village is OK because we have a border guard group in the village," Maungdaw resident Kyaw Soe Moe told RFA's Myanmar Service on Tuesday. "Almost all the women and children have moved to safer places in Maungdaw or Sittwe, but the men have stayed in their villages," he said. "Security forces said that they are providing security for the villages although the residents haven't seen them." Kyaw Soe Moe also said that residents cannot go anywhere or do anything, so they are eating what food they have on hand. "It's OK for a little while, but we will be in trouble if it takes too long," he said. "We can't say how long this situation will last." Protection for ethnic Rakhine people The Arakan National Party (ANP) a political party that represents the interests of the ethnic Rakhine people asked government ministers to protect ethnic Rakhine villages in Maungdaw and provide residents with food. "We asked the Union ministers to protect ethnic Rakhine villages in Maungdaw because local residents are afraid for their safety," said Tha Htun Hla, secretary of the ANP's central executive committee. The ANP said additional security guards should be deployed in the area because the attack on the border posts constituted a threat to the state's sovereignty, he said. The ANP and Rakhine Buddhists have denounced the government's Rakhine advisory commission and called for its disbandment because they believe that the three foreign members on the nine-member panel will side with the Rohingya and turn the issue into an international one. Muslim civil society organizations in Myanmar issued a statement on Wednesday denouncing the attacks in Maungdaw and expressed their condolences for the border guards who were killed. They also said in the statement that they stand behind the Myanmar government and people. "We are not talking about religion; a terrorist is a terrorist," said Dali Myint, a member of the aid group Social Alliance. "Their actions make people in Myanmar worried and have ruined peace in the country. That's why we have denounced what they did in the statement." Reported by Win Naung Toe, Kyaw Soe Lin, Min Thein Aung and Waiyan Moe Myint for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Cambodia National Rescue Party leaders see an opening Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 13 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Cambodia National Rescue Party leaders see an opening, 13 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1f27.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-13 Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni delivers a speech during the opening day of the World Climate Change Conference 2015, Nov. 30, 2015. AFP Opposition party leaders are holding on to the small hope that Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni will grant their request to pardon rights activists and political officials who have been the subject of Prime Minister Hun Sen's legal campaigns. "We wrote a letter to the king because we fully support and follow the king's advice in his Oct. 7 letter calling the two parties to work together to solve the national issues for and reconciliation in the country," Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) President Sam Rainsy told RFA's Khmer Service during a TV broadcast on Thursday. "The king's letter reflected the will of the Cambodian people," he said. Sam Rainsy and CNRP deputy leader Kem Sokha both signed onto the latest letter that is part of a flurry of correspondence between Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen and CNRP leaders. In Sihamoni's Oct. 7 letter he urged the two political parties to work together after the CNRP decided to extend its boycott of Cambodia's National Assembly. Sihamoni forwarded the CNRP's request for consideration by the Cambodian government that is dominated by Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party (CPP). The prime minister urged rejection of the request. "Who acts against the law is responsible for the acting against the law," Hun Sen responded in his own missive. "Strict implementation of the law is the key to helping Cambodia to thrive and proceed with multi-party democracy." Sam Rainsy told RFA that the decision was up to the Sihamoni and not Hun Sen. "Kem Sokha and I wrote the letter to the king, and only for the king," he said. "If there is anyone who comes out and gives a response before the King, as if to represent the king, that person is humiliating and devaluing the king." The law and the reality While Hun Sen wants Sihamoni to reject the request, Cambodian constitutional scholars say the king has the sole power to decide the amnesty question. Sok Sam Oeun, head of the Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP), said Article 27 of the constitution gives the king the unconditional right to grant amnesty. "In the constitution, it did not state that there should be any agreement from anyone," he told RFA. "If he [the King] can grant the amnesty only with someone's approval, then who is the person granting the amnesty?" Political science scholar Heng Sreang gave a similar answer, but said that in reality the king's amnesty has always been initiated by the prime minister. "In the constitution, the King does not need to consult with anyone or the Prime Minister," he said. "The King can use his royal role and responsibilities to consider [the amnesty]. By reading that letter, it seems that he asked the prime minister to kindly consider it. Heng Sreang cast doubt that the CNRP's slim hopes will become a reality anytime soon. "As long as the CNRP and the ruling party do not have trust in each other, there is no hope that there will be [amnesty] consideration from the king," he said. As of Thursday, there is no official decision from the king on the issue. The CNRP wants the amnesty because several of the party's top officials including Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha have been convicted by Cambodia's courts of different crimes. While they face arrest, the convictions are seen by observers inside and outside the country as part of Hun Sen's effort to weaken his strongest opposition before the upcoming Cambodian elections. Local elections are set for 2017 and national elections are scheduled for 2018. Of pardons past In 2013, King Sihamoni granted a royal pardon to Sam Rainsy. At the time Hun Sen had signed off on the Royal Pardon, which absolved Sam Rainsy of defamation charges, allowing him to return to Cambodia without being put in jail. Even though he was ineligible for candidacy in the 2013 general election, thousands of his supporters thronged the streets when he returned. The CNRP gained 55 seats in the National Assembly in that election, but the party and international observers found evidence of fraud and the CNRP boycotted parliament from September 2013 until July 2014. In November 2015, Sam Rainsy was again removed from parliament by the ruling CPP when a warrant was issued for his arrest after being convicted of defaming former Foreign Minister Hor Namhong with the claim that the CPP politician ran a prison in the 1970s for the bloody Khmer Rouge regime. Kem Sokha has been acting president of the CNRP since that time, but he has been under virtual house arrest since police attempted to arrest him in May for ignoring court orders to appear as a witness in a pair of defamation cases related to his alleged affair with a hairdresser. On Sept. 9 the Phnom Penh Municipal Court ruled that Kem Sokha was guilty of refusing to appear for questioning in a prostitution case against him that is largely seen as politically motivated. Reported by Heng Sun for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia expresses equal treatment concerns Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 12 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia expresses equal treatment concerns, 12 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff1f4.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-12 The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia Rhona Smith (L) meeting with Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Kem Sokha at the party headquarters, Oct. 12, 2016. RFA / Phann Yasy The U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia on Wednesday urged the country's leaders to apply the law equally, following a meeting with opposition leader Kem Sokha, whose supporters say he is a frequent target of politicized legal action. "There are many issues that need to be discussed to make sure that Cambodia's constitution and law are implemented fairly and equally by the government," Rhona Smith told reporters after the meeting at Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) headquarter in Phnom Penh. On a fact-finding mission in the country, Smith met with the acting CNRP president Kem Sokha, who has been holed up in the party headquarters since police attempted to arrest him in May for ignoring court orders to appear as a witness in a pair of defamation cases related to his alleged affair with a hairdresser. Application of the law has become a big issue in Cambodia as Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People's Party have been accused of using the courts to go after opposition politicians and government critics. CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan told RFA that he did not yet know if Smith would meet Hun Sen on behalf of the government or the party. He dismissed the complaints of the opposition lawmakers and government critics saying the oppositions problems are legal matters, not political ones. While Smith was concerned about possible abuses in the legal system, she also expressed concern about the CNRP's stance regarding ethnic minorities like the Vietnamese living in Cambodia. "We did not focus just on the Vietnamese, but on immigrants in general," said senior CNRP official Eng Chhai Eang. "When we lead the country we will have a clear stance on principles," he added. "We will implement in accordance with the Cambodian laws on nationality and immigration to ensure that all nationals who live in Cambodia are legal." The two countries have had a difficult relationship for centuries, and Hun Sen's relationship with the Vietnamese has been a source of tension. Hun Sen emerged as a major force in Cambodia during the period when the Vietnamese ousted the Khmer Rouge. When the Khmer Rouge regime was defeated, Hun Sen was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Vietnamese-installed People's Republic of Kampuchea/State of Cambodia (PRK/SOC) in 1979. As Cambodian foreign minister and then prime minister, Hun Sen played an important role in the 1991 Paris Peace Talks that brokered peace among Cambodia's warring factions. In recent times, the CNRP has used that relationship as a political foil with opposition leaders often accusing Hun Sen of ceding territory to the Vietnamese. Smith also met with Minister of Social Affairs Vong Soth and the representative of the U.N. High Commissioner on Refugees Wan-Hea Lee. That two-hour meeting covered various issues including children, the disabled, homelessness and the Prey Speu detention center that has long been denounced by rights groups for abuses. In 2015 two people died at the center that serves as a holding facility for homeless drug addicts and others detained in the capital. She told the press that she wants to see changes in this center, but did not release the details. "We must make sure that they have a safe living environment and all their rights are protected, especially the rights to receive safety, food, water and hygiene," she told reporters. Reported by Zakariya Tin and Heng Sun for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China slaps website with two-month suspension from media 'whitelist' Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 13 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China slaps website with two-month suspension from media 'whitelist', 13 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff2013.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-13 Screenshot of Caixin media's website, which has been accused by China's censors of "repeatedly violating news and propaganda discipline" during the past year. Public Domain. The ruling Chinese Communist Party has issued a sharp rebuke to the cutting-edge Caixin media group, ordering a two-month ban on republishing its content. Censorship instructions issued to the media by the accused Caixin Online "repeatedly violating news and propaganda discipline" during the past year. The website had also published "problematic reports" that had caused "seriously negative" repercussions when republished elsewhere, an Oct. 11 directive reposted by the China Digital Times website said. Caixin is being punished with two months' suspension from the party's list of news outlets whose content may be freely syndicated and reposted online, it said. "During that period, other websites are forbidden to repost its content," the directive said. Employees who answered the phone at Caixin Online and the state news agency Xinhua declined to comment, saying they didn't know about the matter. An media source who requested anonymity told RFA that the directive came from the Cyberspace Administration, which administers the media whitelist, but said that it is still unclear which report had caused the offense. "They have stopped them from syndicating copy for two months," the source said. "They didn't say why exactly, and there has been no announcement; the news is just circulating on chat groups." Opposition to new lawyer regulations The directive comes after Caixin Online covered the opposition by a large group of Chinese rights lawyers to a set of new regulations from the ministry of justice threatening them with the loss of their jobs if they speak to the media or take protest actions on behalf of their client. Under the new rules, law firms are required not to "indulge or condone" any form of protest against injustice, including forced confessions or torture of their clients, even in the form of signature campaigns, open letter, or via social media. Caixin had reported that some 168 Chinese lawyers had written to the State Council complaining that the regulations violate the Constitution. The report has now been deleted, however. China's internet regulator in August ordered all websites to start round-the-clock monitoring of content, holding editors personally responsible for "problem" content not in line with official narratives. Media regulators have already banned the country's internet portals like Tencent and Sina from conducting any independent journalism of their own, requiring them to post syndicated content from organizations on the approved list. Media organizations not on the approved list of content providers for syndication are limited to income gained from their website alone. The move comes after a long string of attacks from President Xi Jinping's administration on freedom of speech that have included management takeover at the reform-minded political journal Yanhuang Chunqiu and the closure of outspoken analysis website ConsensusNet, or Gongshiwang. Political infighting? Chongqing-based political analyst Zhang Qi said the move could be linked to behind-the-scenes political maneuvering at the highest echelons of the party leadership ahead of the forthcoming sixth plenum of the 18th Party Congress. "The sixth plenum is likely to cover the issue of who will be the next-generation leaders-in-waiting," Zhang said. "This could mean that there will be some last-minute in-fighting between President Xi's faction and that of [former president] Jiang Zemin." But he added: "It also shows that there is a lack of good faith in dealings between the government and the rest of society." Anhui-based rights activist and former prosecutor Shen Liangqing said the Communist Party is now close to achieving a monopoly on all domestic media outlets. "The party has monopolized all the media, because it wants to force them to act as its mouthpieces," Shen said. "The party may relax at times, and tighten up at others, and the media will have to follow suit." "The Propaganda Department has now taken Caixin off the media whitelist, because they offended somebody." He said major political in-fighting is likely behind the decision. "The fact that [Caixin] has been sanctioned shows that we have a power struggle in which the rule of law is irrelevant, and a media with no press freedom," Shen said. Caixin on Thursday carried an article from the official Xinhua news agency quoting President Xi as calling for "strengthened governance" across all areas of national life. "We should continue to strengthen and innovate social governance, and working on improving a social governance system with Chinese characteristics," the agency quoted Xi as saying. Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Qiao Long for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China: Provincial leaders summoned as Beijing sends PLA veterans home with promises Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 13 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Provincial leaders summoned as Beijing sends PLA veterans home with promises, 13 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff2113.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-13 Military veterans from many provinces of China protest outside military headquarters demanding unpaid pensions and benefits, Oct. 11, 2016. Photo courtesy of an RFA listener. Provincial-level officials of the ruling Chinese Communist Party were ordered to Beijing to begin escorting thousands of disgruntled People's Liberation Army (PLA) veterans back to their hometowns on Thursday following mass protests outside military headquarters earlier in the week. Thousands of veterans lined the streets on Tuesday and Wednesday outside the party's military arm in protest at the authorities' failure to deliver promised pension, medical and social security benefits. The protests appear to have sent shockwaves through the leadership, which responded by sending officials from the Central Military Commission (CMC) to speak with protesters, and by ordering provincial and city leaders to Beijing to address the crisis. The demonstrations have been ongoing, but this week's protests were among the largest organized protests seen in the Chinese capital in years, and come from a group regarded as highly politically sensitive by the government. The veterans, most of whom are protesting local governments' failure to deliver on promises of jobs, pensions and healthcare after demobilization, wore camouflage uniforms, sang army songs and held banners from cities and regions across China. Some were veterans of the Korean War (1950-1953) and of a brief 1979 border war with Vietnam, while others were involved in nuclear testing. They came from all ranks of the military, protesters said. By Thursday, many were already en route home, or had already arrived, sources told RFA. "All of the veterans I know have already gone home," a protester surnamed Yang said. "The deputy chiefs of nine provinces were ordered to Beijing, to escort the veterans from their provinces back home." "I think there are still some comrades from Sichuan, Shandong and Jiangsu still in Beijing," he said. Full response by New Year The veterans agreed to leave after departments responsible for their welfare promised a full response to their complaints by New Year's Day, they said. "The Central Military Commission (CMC) has told us that they'll get back to us by Jan. 1, 2017," a protester surnamed Gao told RFA. "But if they don't get back to us by then, I would like to go back." Gao, who hails from the eastern province of Shandong, said a deputy provincial leader had been called in to speak to the veterans in person in Beijing. "He told us that all of the issues we raised would be entered into the provincial government's work agenda," Gao said. "They also said they'd respond by Jan. 1. so clearly they are all singing from the same hymn-sheet." Gao said they had received a similar pledge from their municipal leaders in their hometown, too. Fellow protester Liu Dejun said the highest-ranking leaders were ordered to Beijing, including provincial governors and mayors. "We will now wait patiently," Liu said. "It's a few months yet." Gao said considerable skepticism remains about the authorities' willingness to act, however. "I think maybe it's 50 percent lies and 50 percent truth, but we should at least wait to see what they say," he said. Years of stonewalling He said the resolution of one-third of the issues raised would be considered a success, after years of stonewalling and buck-passing to lower, less powerful levels of government. "If the central government doesn't give the order, nobody dares do anything further down, so it's clearly rubbish to say that it's the job of local governments to deal with this," Gao said. Many veterans say they joined the PLA on the promise of guaranteed civil service jobs after demobilization, but that the jobs never materialized. But they also say they aren't against the party or the current administration under President Xi Jinping. "PLA veterans from all over China went specially [to Beijing] ... we were all in military service, and we understand the law," a third protester surnamed Sun told RFA. "The main issue here is how we are supposed to live, and how we are being treated [by the government]," he said. "We are not anti-party, or anti-government." "We support Xi Jinping, and he knows that, because he sent provincial leaders from all over China to sort out the problem," Sun said. Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wu Yitung for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Myanmar army evacuates villagers, teachers from hostilities in Maungdaw Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 13 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Myanmar army evacuates villagers, teachers from hostilities in Maungdaw, 13 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff22c.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-13 Myanmar teachers and civil servants fleeing armed clashes in Maungdaw township crowd onto a river jetty in Sittwe, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Oct. 13, 2016. AFP Clashes between armed assailants and Myanmar security forces in Rakhine state's volatile Maungdaw township on Thursday forced about 180 villagers, teachers and civil servants to flee and seek refuge in neighboring Buthidaung township, residents said. "They are worried for their safety because security guards are not always in their villages," said Ashin Thagara, a Buddhist abbot in Buthidaung. "That's why they have come to Buthidaung." Local civil society organizations in Buthidaung are proving food to the villagers and others, he said. Army helicopters are evacuating teachers, civil servants, and residents from villages affected by the hostilities, said Khin Aung, an education administrator in Maungdaw township. "Authorities are now using helicopters to take teachers to safe places," he said. "Teachers who were staying in ethnic Rakhine villages have been taken to Buthidaung and [the state capital] Sittwe first. They will go to Sittwe, [and the towns of] Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw by boat." Maungdaw township has more than 180 schools with 90,000-plus students and more than 1,400 teachers, he said. The clashes began soon after nine border officers and eight attackers died during raids on three Myanmar border guard posts early early Sunday in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships, where many of the country's stateless Rohingya Muslim minority group live. The attackers seized 51 weapons and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition. The raids have triggered subsequent violent hostilities as military soldiers and police hunt for the attackers and conduct searches of Muslim homes in Maungdaw, where they have been met by hundreds of men armed with guns, swords and knives, according to local media reports. As of Thursday, the death toll stood at 40-48, according to local media reports and official sources. On Wednesday, insurgents fired on a border guard station in the township's Kyikanpyin village the site of one of Sunday's attacks. In another incident the same day, the military blamed assailants for burning down 25 houses in Wapate village, according the government media. Blame the Rohingya Some believe that the Rohingya Muslims planned Sunday's attacks in response to state government plans to demolish mosques and other religious buildings constructed without permission in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships. Earlier this week, authorities closed government-run schools in Maungtaw, extended local curfews, and put the Rohingya under lockdown. Neighboring Bangladesh has sealed off all border entries in an effort to prevent attackers and their accomplices from fleeing Myanmar. Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said on Wednesday that a group of ministers and other government officials sent to Rakhine to instill calm will return to the capital Naypyidaw on Saturday and report its findings. The government will deal with the attacks in Rakhine, also known as Arakan state, fairly and according to the rule of law, she said. Reported by Min Thein Aung and Kyaw Thu for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China: Tibetan scholars gather in Kardze to debate Buddhist teachings, teach local people Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 14 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Tibetan scholars gather in Kardze to debate Buddhist teachings, teach local people, 14 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff24d.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-14 A senior Tibetan teacher instructs laypeople in the Buddhist religion in Kardze, Sichuan, October 2016. Photo sent by an RFA listener Over a hundred senior Tibetan Buddhist scholars gathered this week at Kardze monastery in southwestern China's Sichuan province to hold formal debates on a core subject of Buddhist philosophy, the Middle Way, and to instruct laypeople in the fundamentals of their religion, sources in the region said. The senior teachers, or Geshes many of whom had received advanced religious degrees in monasteries in India and then returned to Tibet came from about 50 other monasteries in Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) county and nearby areas for the discussions, a resident of the area told RFA's Tibetan Service. "They joined many other monks, reincarnated lamas, and other scholars, so that about 500-700 were in attendance altogether," RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Their debates are on the texts of the Madhyamaka, the Middle Way of Buddhist philosophy," he said. Over a thousand laypersons also gathered to hear the debates, "and the scholars took the opportunity to give them basic Buddhist teachings and speak on the need to preserve the Tibetan culture and language," the source said. "They also emphasized the importance of mental peace for the overall health of the Tibetan community," he said. Many had trained in India The monastery's original plan was to invite over 500 Geshes from across Tibetan-populated areas of China, but only around a hundred arrived to take part in the debates, RFA's source said. "Many of those who participated are returnees from Buddhist monasteries in India who are now enrolled in different monasteries in Tibet," the source said. Apart from Kardze monastery, other monasteries in the county sending representatives included Dargye, Tonggo, Koma, Draggo, La, Yarga, Jowo, Dza Sershul, and Aga, he added. The debates, which began on Oct. 10, were scheduled to run all week and end on Friday, Oct. 14, he said. Public assemblies at monasteries in Tibetan regions of China have greatly increased in size in recent years, observers and participants say, as tens of thousands of Tibetans gather to assert their national and cultural identity in the face of Chinese domination. Chinese security forces, fearful of sudden protests by Tibetans opposed to Beijing's rule, often monitor and sometimes close down events involving large crowds, sources say. Reported by Sonam Wangdu for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Former Masanjia labor camp whistleblower flees China for Thailand Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 14 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Former Masanjia labor camp whistleblower flees China for Thailand, 14 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff2515.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-14 Former detainees of the Masanjia Women's RTL camp in an undated photo. Photo courtesy of CHRD A Chinese woman who helped to expose the abuse of women inmates at the infamous Masanjia labor camp has fled China to seek political asylum in Thailand, she told RFA in a recent interview. Hao Wei, who hails from the northeastern province of Liaoning, arrived in Bangkok earlier this month, and has applied for refugee status with the United Nations, she said. "I got here on Oct. 10, and went to fill out the forms at the U.N. High Commission For Refugees (UNHCR) [on Thursday]," she said. "They have already called me with an appointment for me to submit all of my evidence." Late-stage cancer patient Hao, who is in Thailand with her daughter, said her case is based on 10 years of persecution at the hands of the authorities after she persisted in complaints about local government officials. "I am arguing that I was detained, sent to labor camp and illegally locked up in a black jail in a hotel basement," she said. "After I got out of the labor camp I discovered I had cancer, and now it's already at an advanced stage." She said she had received nothing but stonewalling and abuse back home in China. "Not only did they not address or resolve my complaint; they even filed a report to the central government claiming that my case was resolved and closed," she said. Daily torture and abuse Hao's petitioning activities resulted in her incarceration in Masanjia labor camp for nearly a year, during which time she was forced to work at least nine hours a day. "I was locked up in a labor camp on Jan. 9, 2012, and released on Dec. 30 the same year," Hao told RFA. "In the winters we would have to get up before dawn and start work, and come back in the evening by moon and starlight." Former inmates have detailed a regime of daily torture and abuse, failure of medical care, and grueling overtime at Masanjia, a police-run facility where women regarded as troublemakers by the authorities were sent without trial for up to four years at a time. China's National People's Congress (NPC) voted on Dec. 28, 2013, to end the system of administrative punishments known in Chinese as "re-education through labor," or laojiao, but lawyers and inmates' families say many of the camps are still in operation under a different name. In 2014, former Masanjia inmate Liu Hua was criminally detained after she took part in a harrowing documentary that exposed widespread abuses at the camp. In the film, titled "Above the Ghosts' Heads: The Women of Masanjia Labor Camp" and directed by Du Bin, Liu described how camp guards beat the female detainees, used electric batons to shock their breasts, inserted the batons and poured chilli peppers into their vaginas and put them into various torture devices such as "the Death Bed" and "the Tiger's Bench." Hao is now living with a cancer diagnosis, while many of her former fellow inmates at Masanjia have already died of various cancers, according to Beijing-based rights activist Li Wei. "[Hao] used to talk about wanting to leave the country, partly because the standard of medical care was higher," Li said. "She also hoped she'd be able to do some human rights work." Under pressure in Thailand Chinese political asylum-seekers are continuing to flee to military junta-ruled Thailand in spite of a growing willingness by authorities there to detain and repatriate refugees, who now feel increasingly vulnerable. Last November, Chongqing-based activists Dong Guangping and Jiang Yefei were handed back to Chinese authorities in a move that drew strong criticism from the U.N., which had already classified them as genuine political refugees. They are now in criminal detention in Chongqing, where they face subversion charges, while their families have been resettled in Canada. In a further indication that the country is no longer the safe haven it once was for Chinese dissidents, Tianjin democracy activist Liu Xiaoying was beaten up on the streets of Bangkok on Oct. 3 by unidentified men, he told RFA. "I think this was planned; they'd prepared for it," Liu told RFA on Friday. "I think it was intended as some kind of warning." Fellow Thailand-based asylum-seeker Li Minwei said he was subjected to a similar attack outside a 7-11 convenience store in Bangkok on Wednesday by two unidentified men riding electric bicycles who tried to talk to him and them punched him when he gestured to show he didn't understand. "We feel very helpless and afraid here," Li told RFA. "We dare not fight back; we just have to walk away." Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Hai Nan for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Chinese loans to Cambodia spark sharp words between government, opposition Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 14 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Chinese loans to Cambodia spark sharp words between government, opposition, 14 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff253.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-14 Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh, Oct. 13, 2016. AFP Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Cambodia that wrapped up on Friday brought millions of dollars in soft loans and debt forgiveness for Phnom Penh, but triggered a fresh war of words between the ruling party and an opposition wary of Beijing's largesse. Xi's two-day visit to a country that has been the strongest Southeast Asian supporter of Chinese policies in the disputed South China Sea produced 31 economic agreements covering at least $60 million in new loans and forgivess of $90 million in Cambodian debts to China from 2015. Sam Rainsy, exiled leader of the opposition Cambodia National Renewal Party, told RFA'S Khmer Service in Thursday he was worried about the "enormous money" the government was borrowing from China. "Hun Sen's government is borrowing enormous money from China, billions of dollars. I am very concerned about this loan because [we] do not know what the loans have been used for, and there is no monitoring," he told an RFA live televsion show. "It is the Cambodian people who will have this burden, not the Hun Sen government," he added. Sok Eysan, spokesman for Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party, dismissed the complaints the noise of a "mad dog." "This opposition leader always does things for his power and ambition only, without considering national interests and society," Sok Eysan told RFA. "The opposition leaders are all incitement ring-leaders. Their acts are to defame the current legitimate government while praising themselves. Now, his words sound just like a mad dog, biting anything in its way," the spokesman added. Opposition politicians and human rights groups, who have been the target of an intensify crackdown by Hun Sen's government that has seen politicians and activists beaten or jailed, have been concerned about Cambodia's increasingly cozy ties with authoritarian China. They say Chinese funding and political support help make Hun Sen immune to human rights criticism from Western countries that have been traditional aid donors. In a speech in June after his crackdown was criticized by the European Union and the United Nations, Hun Sen slammed his critics and praised China. "China also has never threatened us like this. Cambodia has its own political independence," he said. "China also never advised Cambodia to do this and that." Development researcher Meas Ny told RFA, however, that Cambodians often pay a steep price for money from China. "With the new economic reforms in Cambodia through development projects, we only see endless problems, especially crises resulting from land disputes where there are Chinese projects," he said. "We travel to various areas with problems, especially the areas where there is investment from China," said Meas Ny. Reported by Moniroth Morm for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Paul Eckert. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Myanmar says Islamic terrorist organization behind deadly border raids in Rakhine state Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 14 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Myanmar says Islamic terrorist organization behind deadly border raids in Rakhine state, 14 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff2613.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-14 A Myanmar soldier holds a banner with Arabic writing and pouches containing bullets and documents seized inside a house during a search for attackers in Maungdaw township, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Oct. 14, 2016. AFP/Myanmar Armed Forces The Myanmar government said Friday that an extremist Islamic terrorist organization whose leader was trained by the Taliban in Pakistan carried out violent weekend attacks on three border guard posts near the border of Bangladesh in restive Rakhine state's Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships. More than 40 border guards, attackers, and soldiers have died since the initial raids on the border posts on Sunday, and hundreds of residents have fled to neighboring townships such as Buthidaung to escape subsequent clashes between security forces and armed men. Army soldiers and border police have conducted security sweeps of villages in Maungdaw, searching the homes of Rohingya Muslims for the attackers and stolen weapons. Interrogations of two attackers who were caught and another two who were handed over to Myanmar security forces by Bangladesh have revealed that the attacks were carried out by Aqa Mul Mujahidin, an Islamic organization active in Maungdaw, a statement issued by President Htin Kyaw's office said. "According to the findings of the interrogations, the attacks in Maungdaw were intended to promote extremist violent ideology among the majority Muslim population in the area," the statement said. "Using Maungdaw as a foothold, this was an attempt to take over the areas of Maungdaw and [nearby] Buthidaung [township]." The organization's leader Havistoohar is a "religious and social extremist' believed to be about 45 years old from Kyaukpyinseik village in Maungdaw, who previously participated in a six-month Taliban training course in Pakistan, it said. He pretended to be a refugee and frequently went to a village near Teknef in Bangladesh, where he received funding from organizations and extremist individuals in the Middle East, it said. "The funding was not provided by particular organizations, but was provided secretly through contacts between individuals," the statement said. Havistoohar worked with a Pakistani named Kalis who had also participated in terrorist training at a camp in Pakistan. About five month ago, he had arranged for Kalis to go to Maungdaw to conduct armed training classes for local extremist youth whom Havistoohar had mobilized, the statement said. Linked to the RSO Aqa Mul Mujahidin has links to the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), a small militant group active in the 1980s and the 1990s until the Myanmar government launched a counteroffensive to expel its insurgents from the border area with Bangladesh. The group was believed to be defunct. "They secretly ran weapons training and self-defense training in remote locations in the hills and forests, as well as in the compound of Abdul Rahman in the Middle Nga Ku Ra village, and in the forest near Kyauk Pyin Seik village," the statement said. "Following this, plans were drawn up to carry out violent attacks." Havistoohar planned for about 400 attackers to simultaneously attack six border guard posts and local police offices, it said. Meanwhile, Myanmar's top leaders held a special meeting on Friday in the capital Naypyidaw to discuss the backgrounds of the terrorists, current actions of security forces in the area, and procedures for dealing with the culprits. President Htin Kyaw, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, military commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, deputy commander-in-chief Vice Senior General Soe Win, Minister for Home Affairs Lt. Gen. Kyaw Swe, Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Sein Win, and Minister for Office of the State Counsellor Kyaw Tint Swe also discussed armed conflicts in other areas of the country and management procedures to enhance the capacity and abilities of the Myanmar police force. Government ministers, representatives of political parties, and officials from nongovernmental organizations also met on Friday in Rakhine's capital Sittwe to discuss the Maungdaw attacks. Reported by Min Thein Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. USA: New U.N. effort to protect refugees not seen as helping vulnerable internally displaced persons Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 14 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, USA: New U.N. effort to protect refugees not seen as helping vulnerable internally displaced persons, 14 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff27a.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-14 By Roseanne Gerin Rohingya Muslims gather inside the Thet Kay Pyin internally displaced persons camp during a visit by former U.N. chief Kofi Annan (not pictured) in Sittwe, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Sept. 7, 2016. AFP The United Nations' newest effort to address large-scale refugee flows and migration, adopted last month in New York, has left out at least one highly vulnerable group internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Southeast Asia, say disappointed human rights experts and activists. The adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants on Sept. 19, in which U.N. member states agreed to protect the rights of refugees and migrants and share responsibility for large movements on a global scale, will have little or no effect on IDPs in Southeast Asia, especially Muslim Rohingyas forced into camps in their native Myanmar and scattered across the region. The stateless Rohingya have been called the most persecuted minority in the world, and some rights groups contend they are the victims of state-sponsored genocide because of the intense persecution by majority Buddhists and officials of a military government long known for brutality that was replaced by a civilian administration only six months ago. Rights groups point out that while the declaration is intended to address the millions fleeing recent wars, especially the raging conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, it has failed to grasp an opportunity to include concrete measures to help IDPs such as the 1.1 million Rohingya who mostly live in the Southeast Asian country's coastal Rakhine state, also known as Arakan state. "The declaration was, frankly speaking, a response to political pressure emanating from the ongoing/proxy war in Syria rather than the long-running problems in Myanmar, which since the start of the Syrian civil war, have failed to make headlines in the West," wrote said Steven Kiersons, team lead for Myanmar at The Sentinel Project, in an email. "If it has any effect on the situation in Myanmar and Southeast Asia in general, it is at the very least an acknowledgement that the current system for handling migrants and refugees is systematically dysfunctional and relies more on stemming the flow of people than addressing the root causes of migrations," said Kiersons, whose Canada-based nonprofit organization focuses on the prevention of genocide. The Rohingya, victims of an obscure conflict in a country that had largely shut itself off from the world for decades, briefly grabbed world news headlines in 2012, after an outbreak of communal violence killed hundreds and led many thousands to become refugees within Myanmar or take dangerous boat trips to other Southeast Asian countries. Four years on, their fate remains precarious, amid renewed tensions in the wake of an armed attack on Oct. 9 on Myanmar guards on the country's border with Bangladesh that has sparked retaliatory violence, leaving more than 40 people dead and sending thousands of frightened villagers fleeing their homes for cities. Rafendi Djamin, director of Amnesty International's South East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office based in Bangkok, calls the New York Declaration a "token gesture" that will have little impact on the lives of refugees fleeing conflict and persecution in Southeast Asia or elsewhere. "Instead of announcing clear and concrete steps towards ending the refugee crisis, world leaders chose to abscond any real responsibility towards reaching a solution," he told RFA. Djamin noted that U.N. members states had discussed including internally displaced communities in the declaration, but in the end decided not to because they thought that it would make the document's scope too broad. While the main responsibility for protecting IDPs lies with national authorities, U.N. member states must push the Myanmar government to ensure that the Rohingya and other displaced people have full and unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance and that efforts to resettle them are conducted voluntarily, safely and with dignity, he said. "It is also important for the international community to address the root causes which include discrimination and violence that have forced both Rohingya refugees and IDPs to flee their homes," he said. Tangible programs necessary The declaration, which was adopted during the U.N.'s first-ever high-level summit on the issue of migrants and refugees by heads of state and government, U.N. leaders, and representatives from civil society, the private sector, international organizations, and academia, mentions IDPs three times in general terms. But they are not addressed in the section on commitments, human rights advocates pointed out. Myra Dahgaypaw, acting executive director of the Washington-based U.S. Campaign for Burma, said she sees no positive impact from the declaration as written on paper and notes that not only the Rohingya, but other people in Myanmar are routinely displaced and become refugees due to fighting or the confiscation of their land by the national army and conflicts with the country's numerous armed ethnic groups. "[Unless] the U.N. and the stakeholders are willing to implement some tangible programs specifically for the affected communities, the declaration will only be a gesture," she wrote in an email. "If the U.N. would like to see tangible results, the U.N. and its stakeholders must create specific programs that are measurable, work with local community leaders by going on the ground, speaking with the affected community, collecting information and conducting need assessments directly," she said. Daniel Sullivan, senior advocate at Washington-based Refugees International who focuses on Myanmar, agrees that the New York Declaration will have little immediate impact on migrants and refugees in Southeast Asia because of its lack of accountability. "If there is one major disappointment with the New York Declaration, it is that it does not provide for accountability for states that do not live up to their commitments." "It is good that IDPs are mentioned in the declaration, even if not being addressed in the commitments, but if it does not lead to future efforts to explicitly address the challenges of IDPs, then it will be a massive shortcoming that will undermine not only the security of IDPs, but the commitments to addressing refugees as well," Sullivan told RFA from Bangkok where he is completing a research mission on Rohingya in Malaysia and Thailand. It's necessary for actual reform to be implemented to have an impact on IDPs like the Rohingya as the Malaysian government and UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, have done to tackle complex migration and refugee resettlement issues, he said. "If put into effect, it could lead to implementation of ideas like granting work permits to refugees, providing education, and better access to health care," Sullivan said. "These would lead to substantive improvement for refugees in Malaysia, including at least 50,000 Rohingya now living there" he said. "Ideally, the commitments in the New York Declaration will help add pressure for such ideas to move forward." 'Blatant restrictions on human rights' Most of Myanmar's Buddhist majority considers the Rohingya to be illegal migrants from neighboring Bangladesh, though many have lived in the country for generations. The country's 1982 Citizenship Law effectively renders the Rohingya stateless by prohibiting them from holding Myanmar citizenship. This policy denies them basic rights, freedom of movement, and access to social services and education. "In the case of the Rohingya in Myanmar, we are talking about blatant restrictions on human rights," Sullivan said. "There is a need for freedom of movement, unrestricted humanitarian access, and, in the longer term, addressing the status of Rohingya as stateless due to Myanmar's citizenship laws." "Addressing statelessness is included among the New York Declaration's commitments, so, in theory, should cover the Rohingya." Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, also cast doubt on the impact of the New York Declaration. "The declaration has welcome aspirations but no mechanisms for monitoring and implementation," he told RFA. "There should be a binding convention on the rights and treatment of IDPs, with monitoring and public annual reports naming and shaming countries which don't comply, including those who haven't signed the convention," Farmaner said. Tens of thousands of Rohingya were displaced following communal violence with Rakhine Buddhists in 2012 that left more than 200 people dead. Afterwards, about 140,000 Rohingya were forced into dozens of IDP camps, where about 120,000 remain today in a state of limbo. Since 2012, more than 170,000 mostly Rohingya have fled Myanmar and the border areas of Bangladesh by sea to escape ongoing abuses. But many have fallen into the hands of human traffickers in other Asian countries, according to Fortify Rights, a Southeast Asia-based group that seeks to prevent and remedy human rights violations. The declaration also alludes to obligations under international law when it comes to IDPs, said Djamin. It says: "While some commitments are mainly applicable to one group, they must also be applicable to the other." Farmaner noted that Myanmar's new civilian-led government has retained restrictions on humanitarian aid to Rohingya IDPs that were put in place by the military junta that ruled the country for 50 years until 2011. "People are dying as a result," he said. "Rohingya IDPs need international protection in their own country just as much as refugees who flee abroad." Slow-moving and stagnant Likewise, Wakar Uddin, director general of the Arakan Rohingya Union, believes that the New York Declaration will have little or no impact on refugees and migrants in and from Myanmar, saying that such efforts are slow-moving at best. The nonprofit umbrella organization represents various Rohingya groups worldwide and seeks to find a political solution to the issues they face, including human rights violations and the denial of citizenship. He calls the Rohingya issue a "truly humanitarian disaster" and laments that it was not included in the New York Declaration. "Absolutely, it should have been included," he wrote via email. "Most countries in this declaration are preoccupied with the issues in Syria, Iraq, and Palestine, which involve several millions refugees and IDPs. "These have apparently overshadowed the smaller groups elsewhere in the world, but it shouldn't have happened that way." Uddin also believes the Rohingya issue was left out of the declaration for political reasons, because many of the countries that have spoken out against their treatment in the past have now stopped because they trust the new civilian government, led by state counselor and de facto national leader Aung San Suu Kyi, to address the matter. The UNHCR has maintained limited operations with small units in the northern part of Rakhine state but cannot deliver necessary assistance to the people because of its limited presence and restrictions that were first put in place by the junta-led government. The UNHCR's handing of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh has been much better than its dealings with IDPs in Rakhine, said Uddin. "Nonetheless, there may be some improvement of these issues in Myanmar not because of the New York Declaration, but due to the emerging unilateral efforts by Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD-led government to address the root causes of the migrants, refugees, and IDP issues in and from Myanmar," Uddin said. Firm and full engagement In late August, Aung San Suu Kyi formed a nine-member Rakhine Advisory Commission tasked with examining humanitarian and development issues, access to basic services, the assurance of basic rights, and the security of all who live in Rakhine. However, her appointment of former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan and two other foreign dignitaries to the panel triggered opposition from Rakhine Buddhists and the state's Arakan National Party, which has called for the commission's disbandment. These groups, which have led the hostility against the Muslim Rohingya, say they believe the foreign members will automatically side with the Rohingya and turn a domestic issue into an international one. "Regardless of the Rohingya citizenship argument from either side, the Rohingya victims in the IDP camps must be returned to their original homes in their respective townships," Uddin wrote. "The United Nations must engage fully and firmly with the government of Myanmar for the immediate repatriation of the Rohingya IDPs," he said. U.N. officials said more must be done collectively by the organization's member states to deal with the forced displacement of people. "The New York Declaration represents a global recognition that no one state can address this issue on its own. We must share responsibilities," U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told reporters on the sidelines of the summit for refugees and migrants. "Migration must be a choice, not a necessity," he said. "We must address the root causes of forced displacement." Helen Clark, head of the United Nations Development Programme, which seeks to wipe out poverty in the world, told journalists on the sidelines of the annual Social Good Summit in New York on Sept. 18, the day before the New York Declaration was adopted, that the international community needs to give more voice to IDPs. Global leaders and grassroots activists discussed the impact of technology and new media on social initiatives worldwide at the two-day conference held annually during U.N. General Assembly week. Clark, a former prime minister of New Zealand, noted that the summit's outcomes would not "go anywhere near" a rewriting of the U.N. Refugee Convention of 1951 or address the issue of IDPs, but she hoped that it would raise awareness among leaders and ideally lead to more practical support for refugees in terms of funding. "This summit isn't dealing with the internally displaced, but they are a significant proportion of those who are forcibly displaced, so that tells us that there's work to expand this conversation to deal with that specific group of people," she said. Most Southeast Asian nations, including Myanmar, are not signatories to the U.N. Refugee Convention of 1951, which defines the term "refugee," outlines the rights of the displaced, and sets out the legal obligations of U.N. member states to protect them. "It's great that there's the convention on refugees ... but the internally displaced they need voices, they need attention as well, so that's a conversation that must happen," said Clark. Three days later, Clark and others issued an open letter to U.N. member states, calling on governments and world leaders to do more to support IDPs alongside refugees and migrants. Research for this story was supported by a fellowship from the International Center for Journalists and the United Nations Foundation. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China: Xian under security alert after thousands protest incinerator plant Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 17 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Xian under security alert after thousands protest incinerator plant, 17 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff2821.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-17 Gaoling district residents protest against a planned waste incinerator in Xian in an undated photo. Photo sent by an RFA listener Authorities in the northern Chinese city of Xian have issued a security alert after thousands took to the streets this week at the weekend over a waste incinerator plant planned for their neighborhood. "The authorities have issued a level 2 security alert in order to prevent some local people from taking their complaint to the provincial government," an order faxed to the police and other security services in Shaanxi's provincial capital on Monday said. Signed by the city's "stability maintenance working group," the order came after thousands of residents of Xian's Gaoling district gathered outside the offices of the district government on Sunday after several days of mass protests, local residents said. "The police have closed all of the roads around here," a Gaoling resident surnamed Chen told RFA on Monday. "There's no way to get through the roadblocks right now." A resident surnamed Zhang said an estimated 10,000 people had gathered outside government offices on Sunday, clashing with police. "They were beating people up yesterday and they also detained a lot of people," Zhang said. "They attacked them because they thought the people were taking part in the demonstrations." "The shops are all closed; they're not allowed to open for business," she said. "The street has been closed outside the government offices, and nobody is protesting there today, but there are a lot of plainclothes police officers patrolling it." Streets 'full of police' A local resident surnamed Lu said the streets were "full of riot police and armed police." "I think some people got overexcited during the protests and they were dragged away in police vehicles, or carried away," she said. Local sources said the incinerator is to be located in Liangcun, on the site of a former pharmaceutical factory, sparking fears of carcinogenic pollutants like dioxins. A Liangcun resident who declined to be named said people are afraid that the incinerator could cause deaths among the local population. "The smoke that comes from those plants is toxic, and there would definitely be a lot of cancer cases," she said. "A lot of the people who get sick around here can't afford to get medical treatment," she said. "They just wait to die." Protest banners carried Video of Sunday's demonstrations shot by eyewitnesses showed a march headed by motorized pedicabs with banners in support of the ruling Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping, which read: "Long Live the Communist Party! Long Live Chairman Xi!" Others read: "No to the Waste Incinerator!" But most people stayed home on Monday, as the authorities appeared to pull the plug on access to social media for local residents. "There are patrols everywhere outside, so we can't go out," a protester surnamed Zhao told RFA. "We also can't send out any tweets on social media today. Any chat group that mentions this topic will just be closed." "There is a very tight domestic media blackout, too, a complete blackout," he said. "They're just not letting people get the news out." A duty officer who answered the phone at the mayor's office in Xian declined to comment on the protests, however. "We haven't received any notification on this matter, so there's no way I can update you," the officer said. An employee who answered the phone at the Xian municipal police department gave a similar response, while calls to the Gaoling district government offices rang unanswered during office hours on Monday. Drinking water at risk Xian-based rights activist Ma Xiaoming said local residents are particularly angry because the proposed location for the incinerator is in a drinking-water priority protection area. "The protests, which involved 10,000 people in Gaoling district, went on for four days straight," Ma said. "For 10,000 people to be mobilized in a single county shows the deep popular anger there is about this issue." "Many, many people are concerned about environmental issues, and the government's attitude has sparked a very strong angry backlash," he said. He said the authorities had prevented local news organizations from covering the protests. "The government doesn't allow reporting in these types of situations, because the incinerator is to be located in Gaoling county right on the banks of the Wei river, where the water pollution would be extremely serious," Ma said. "The Wei river is an important tributary of the Yellow River, so we could see huge pollution and harm to the entire downstream ecosystem," he added. Reported by Xin Lin and Qiao Long for the Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. China: No news of last Tiananmen prisoner after expected release date Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 17 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: No news of last Tiananmen prisoner after expected release date, 17 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff284.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-17 An armored personnel carrier is shown in flames near Tiananmen Square during unprecedented democracy protests that were met with a government crackdown that killed an unknown number of demonstrators, June 4, 1989. AFP The last prisoner still serving time in a Chinese jail for involvement in the 1989 student-led democracy movement that ended with a bloody military crackdown is incommunicado after reportedly being released on Saturday. Miao Deshun was to have been released from Beijing's Yanqing Prison on Oct. 15 after being granted an 11-month sentence reduction, a U.S.-based human rights group has said. The former worker from the northern province of Hebei, which borders Beijing, was handed a suspended death sentence on Aug. 7, 1989 for "arson" after he allegedly threw a basket at a burning tank amid popular resistance to the People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s crackdown on the protests. Sentenced alongside four colleagues, Miao was just 25 at the time, and never appealed the jail term. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1991 and further reduced in 2012 and 2016, according to the Dui Hua Foundation. But fellow activists said they had no idea of his whereabouts on Monday. Beijing-based dissident Zhang Baocheng, who was recently detained for carrying out a memorial event for the June 4, 1989 massacre, said everyone is trying to find out what has happened to Miao, who is believed to be physically frail and suffering from severe mental health problems. "Everyone is very concerned about him, because he was locked up in Yanqing Prison, in Beijing, 28 years ago, and there has been a tight blackout on any news of him that whole time," Zhang told RFA. He said Miao's actions in 1989 should be "respected." "I think what he did was worthy of support and respect," Zhang said. "And life will be very hard for him when he gets out, we can be sure of that." "It's going to be very hard for him to get by, so everyone wants to do the best they can to help him out." Hepatitis B and schizophrenia According to the Dui Hua Foundation, Miao had refused to admit any wrongdoing, and suffers from hepatitis B and schizophrenia, and had spent time in a ward for sick, elderly and disabled prisoners. The group cited an official record as saying that a total of 1,602 people were jailed across China for their part in the 1989 protests and subsequent crackdown, which weren't confined to Beijing. "Many more were held in detention centers for long periods, or sentenced to re-education through labor," the group said in a statement on its website in May. "The foundation continues to seek information on individuals who were sentenced to death with two-year reprieve who remain unaccounted for," it said. China has yet to make any official statement regarding Miao's fate. Reported by Wong Siu-san and Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Xin Lin for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Chinese police closely monitor event honoring exile Tibetan abbot Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 17 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Chinese police closely monitor event honoring exile Tibetan abbot, 17 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff2913.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-17 A lavish new residence built for the abbot of Kirti monastery is shown on Oct. 15, 2016. Photo sent by an RFA listener Police in southwestern China's Sichuan province closely monitored the opening of a lavish new residence for the abbot of restive Kirti monastery on Saturday, watching the gathered monks and forbidding any mention on printed invitations of the monastery's exiled leader, sources said. The four-day event beginning Oct. 15 marks completion of the residence of Kirti Rinpoche, who lives in Dharamsala, India, seat of Tibet's government in exile, and drew hundreds of participants, a local source told RFA's Tibetan Service. "However, Chinese police in uniform and plain clothes arrived at the monastery to watch the activities," RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Moreover, Chinese authorities ordered the monastery not to send out invitation cards mentioning Kirti Rinpoche's residence," the source said. "Instead, they had to say they were inaugurating a library built next door," he said. Repeated protests Kirti monastery in Sichuan's Ngaba (in Chinese, Aba) prefecture has been the scene of repeated self-immolations and other protests by monks, former monks, and nuns opposed to Chinese rule in Tibetan areas. Authorities raided the institution in 2011, taking away hundreds of monks and sending them for "political re-education," while local Tibetans who sought to protect the monks were beaten and detained, sources said in earlier reports. Despite Chinese efforts to reduce attendance at the event, representatives from other area monasteries and from Ngaba's Muslim community arrived at Kirti on Saturday to take part in the festivities, a second local source said, also speaking on condition he not be named. "And many who could not participate sent greetings in writing," he said. No cultural events or songs and dances were performed at the opening, though, RFA's source said. "It is a tradition at Kirti monastery not to organize cultural performances during such celebrations," he said. Reported by Kunsang Tenzin and Lhuboom for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Thirty insurgents killed in Rakhine clashes, Myanmar police chief says Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 17 October 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Thirty insurgents killed in Rakhine clashes, Myanmar police chief says, 17 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5811ff2a13.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 2016-10-17 Myanmar's national police chief Zaw Win speaks to reporters in Naypyidaw, Oct. 17, 2016. RFA Clashes between government forces and members of an Islamic terror group in northwestern Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state over the last week have left at least 30 fighters dead, the country's top police officer said on Monday. "We now have 30 insurgents dead and 29 captured alive," national police chief Zaw Win told reporters in the former capital Naypyidaw on Oct. 17. It was not immediately clear how many of that number were killed in initial attacks by Muslim fighters on three Myanmar border posts near Bangladesh on Oct. 9, and how many were killed in follow-up operations as police conducted house-to-house security sweeps. Last week's raids, in which nine border officers and eight attackers died, later triggered further clashes as soldiers and police carried out searches of Muslim neighborhoods in Maungdaw township, where they were confronted by residents armed with guns, swords, and knives. At least four Muslims were killed during security operations on Oct. 10, according to earlier reports. Also speaking to reporters on Monday, Myanmar Information Minister Pe Myint said that anyone found to have taken part in the fighting would be dealt with "according to law." "We will take action against anyone involved in these attacks according to Myanmar's laws and international law," he said. "All villages in the area of the attacks should enjoy rule of law and be governed by regular administrative mechanisms. We should also have more money in the [national] budget go toward building a more secure fence between Myanmar and Bangladesh," he said. 'Extremist, violent ideology' Interrogations of captured attackers have revealed that the Oct. 9 attacks were carried out by Aqa Mul Mujahidin, an Islamic organization active in Muslim-majority Maungdaw, according to a statement issued last week by the office of Myanmar's president Htin Kyaw. "The attacks in Maungdaw were intended to promote extremist violent ideology among the majority Muslim population in the area," the statement said. The government of Bangladesh is now in regular contact with Myanmar authorities, U Kyaw Tint Swe, a representative of Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters on Monday. "They have said they will support us in whatever we need [regarding security on the border]," he said. Civil society organizations in Myanmar have meanwhile urged authorities in Rakhine state to set up safe housing for the more than 2,000 Rakhine residents displaced by the fighting in Maungdaw. Over 600 are now staying in the state capital Sittwe, with another 500 camped outside Maungdaw and over a thousand in Buthidaung township. "If they are now so far away from their homes, it will be difficult for them to return," CSO representative Than Tun told RFA's Myanmar Service on Monday. "That is why we have urged that camps be set up near Maungdaw for all IDPs [internally displaced persons]." Also speaking to RFA, Saw Nu Phyu, a resident of Aungmingalar Village in Maungdaw, voiced reluctance to return. "If there is danger in our village, we will not go home," he said. Reported by Win Naung Toe and Min Thein Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Richard Finney. Link to original story on RFA website Copyright notice: Copyright 2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. Title Report by Nils Muiznieks Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Following His Visit to Croatia From 25 to 29 April 2016 Publication Date 5 October 2016 Country Croatia Citation / Document Symbol CommDH(2016)31 Cite as Council of Europe: Commissioner for Human Rights, Report by Nils Muiznieks Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Following His Visit to Croatia From 25 to 29 April 2016, 5 October 2016, CommDH(2016)31, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58120c974.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Title Response of the Maltese Government to the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) on its visit to Malta from 3 to 10 September 2015 Publication Date 25 October 2016 Country Malta Citation / Document Symbol CPT/Inf (2016) 26 Cite as Council of Europe: Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Response of the Maltese Government to the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) on its visit to Malta from 3 to 10 September 2015 , 25 October 2016, CPT/Inf (2016) 26, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/581219974.html [accessed 1 November 2022] Leander, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/27/2016 --Crime Tech Solutions, a fast-growing and vibrant investigation software company based in Austin, TX, today announced a migration path for software users affected by the recent failure of New Zealand based Wynyard Group. Wynyard had positioned itself as a 'leader in crime fighting software', but never did find traction in the markets they coveted. Per Wynyard Group officials, the company has placed itself in voluntary administration as it battles crippling losses and missed revenue forecasts, leaving customers in the dark as to the future of their investment in the crime fighting technology. For users of the Wynyard Group case management software, Crime Tech Solutions (www.crimetechsolutions.com) has introduced a comprehensive 'path forward' that includes, in some cases, a license-cost-free replacement of the Wynyard Group system with the popular and robust Case Closed investigative case management solution for law enforcement and commercial investigation agencies. Case Closed Software was developed by investigation professionals and for investigation professionals, and is widely used by investigative agencies across North America. "The objective", said Crime Tech Solutions' CTO Keith Weigand, "is to provide Case Closed software licenses to interested customers in exchange for the monies they already pay in annual maintenance and support." Tyler Wood, Operations Manager at Crime Tech Solutions, added "In essence, it's a way to put what we think is better case management software into customers' hands without the need to pay for expensive new software licenses." While Wood acknowledges that there are internal costs associated with converting to any new solution, he feels that the intuitive and flexible nature of Case Closed is designed to mitigate those costs as much as possible. The company says it encourages former Wynyard Group customers to review the functionality of Case Closed Software at www.caseclosedsoftware.com and to contact Crime Tech Solutions for more information. About Crime Tech Solutions Crime Tech Solutions is a low price / high performance innovator in crime analytics and law enforcement crime-fighting software. The clear price/performance leader for crime fighting software, the company's offerings include Case Closed investigative case management and major case management, GangBuster gang intelligence software, powerful Sentinel Visualizer link analysis software, evidence management, mobile applications for law enforcement, comprehensive crime analytics with mapping and predictive policing, and 28 CFR Part 23 compliant criminal intelligence database management systems. Providence, RI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/27/2016 --The Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts Honda Dealers recently announced that they will hold a third annual food drive to benefit area residents at risk of hunger. The Honda Against Hunger Food and Fund Drive will be held from November 7 to December 12. Many people in Rhode Island and the southern part of Massachusetts don't have access to sufficient amounts of food, and hunger is a particularly acute issue for area children. The Honda Dealers hope that the food drive will raise substantial quantities of food and monetary donations, as well as improve awareness of this pressing concern. "We've been so fortunate these past two years to have had success with our food drive," said Scott Birtles, President of the Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts Honda Dealers. "Our hope this year is to once again harness the spirit of giving that thrives during the holiday season, and be able to provide our neighbors with the food they need to sustain them through the difficult winter months." The 2014 and 2015 food drives resulted in the collection of 3,760 pounds of food from residents and businesses in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. As they have done in the past, the Honda Dealers are partnering with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, which works with agencies throughout the state to provide needy residents with food items. The organization serves approximately 60,000 people each month, and distributed 9.7 million pounds of food in 2015. Those who are interested in donating non-perishable food items, cash or checks may do so at any of the following six participating Honda dealers: - Balise Honda of West Warwick, 509 Quaker Ln., West Warwick, RI 02893 - Colonial Honda of Dartmouth, 225 State Rd., Dartmouth, MA 02747 - Grieco Honda, 1880 Hartford Ave., Johnston, RI 02919 - Herb Chambers Honda of Seekonk, 185 Taunton Ave., Seekonk, MA 02271 - Majestic Honda, 1300 Eddie Dowling Hwy, Lincoln, RI 02865 - Saccucci Honda, 1350 West Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842 "It's gratifying to see our friends and fellow community members come together to support our neighbors in need," said Birtles. "We look forward to helping the Rhode Island Community Food Bank again this year thanks to the generosity of our community." For more information about the food drive, visit www.RISMAHondaDealers.com. Richard Allen, suspect in Delphi teen slayings, led unassuming life Five and a half years after two teen girls were slain, Delphi, Indiana resident Richard Allen has been arrested in the case. His community is shocked. J.T. Smith, former longtime agriculture editor at the Reporter-News, gave Herman Propst the strongest compliment he could. 'Herman was to the cotton industry what Watt Matthews was to the beef and cattle industry,' Smith said Wednesday, just after hearing that the retired Jones County cotton farmer had died in Abilene. Propst was 90. Matthews, the Albany native who headed the historic Lambshead Ranch, made national news when he died at 98 in 1997. The New York Times, in its story, called Matthews a 'wiry wrangler who spent more than half a century presiding over his family's showcase Texas cattle spread.' Smith put Propst, the son of longtime Jones County cotton farmers, on a similar plain. Propst chaired regional, state, national and international cotton organizations. He was president (1980) and chairman (1981) of the National Cotton Council and held severak offices, including president and board chairman, of the Cotton Council International. Charlie Stenholm, the longtime cotton-farming U.S. representative from Ericksdahl in Jones County, hailed Propst as an ally and adviser. 'Herman was recognized nationally and internationally as a spokesman for cotton a stature that was earned by his commonsense approach to policymaking in government as well as industry. As congressman from the 17th Congressional District, I was a beneficiary of Herman's advice on many matters of importance to cotton and government in general. It was always appreciated.' Said Woody Anderson, who, like Propst, once the president of the national cotton organization, 'Herman was a leader, friend and mentor in the U.S. cotton industry. Always ahead of his time, Herman was especially close to those of us in the Rolling Plains of Texas. Our sincerest sympathy to Helen and the Propst family.' Added Karin Kuykendall, executive of the 31-county Rolling Plains Cotton Growers and 12-county Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, 'Herman was a pinnacle in the cotton industry, serving this region well for decades. He was always encouraging and shared his wisdom and past experience with (his) leadership. His influence is still felt to this day. Herman was an honor to know and work with in the ag industry.' Smith, of course, wrote many ag stories related to cotton. He became well acquainted with the man who farmed just north of Abilene. Smith knew the impact Propst had regionally and globally. 'Herman participated in trade negotiations throughout the world on behalf of the U.S. cotton industry from Peru to Switzerland and Canada to Western Europe. He realized fully the global competition the United States was up against from both foreign cotton and also synthetic fiber production,' Smith said. Smith recalled a statement Propst made at the 1981 annual meeting of the national council. 'Herman said, 'During this difficult period, we in the cotton industry must resolve to be good citizens. We believe in the future of this country, just as deeply as we believe in the future on this industry.' Herman's words then would be just as appropriate today if not more so.' Though certainly devoted to the Big Country, Propst was well traveled, comfortable with testifying in Washington, D.C., or, in 1974m flying to Japan with 19 other producers to talk up cotton with leaders there and also in Hong Kong and Taiwan. He was dedicated to boll weevil research in hopes of eradicating enemy No. 1 of cotton plants. He supported paying cotton farmers who voluntarily enter a crop diversion program. He was an advocate of greater farmer income. A 1978 story in the Reporter-News noted a comment once made by staff writer Geraldine Satterwhite, who, after interviewing Propst, called him 'a man of many hats most of them cotton.' Some of the hats he wore were as board member of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center and Chisholm Trail Council of Boy Scouts of America. That story appeared when Propst was serving as chairman of the NCI's Producers Steering Committee, which represented producers in 14 states. Lindy Patton, executive director of Abilene-based Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Program, said Propst saw the benefit of at least attempting to rid Texas of these woesome weevils. Patton said Propst still was involved in cotton industry when Patton went to work for the Rolling Plains organization in 1991. He once heard this story about Propst. Weevils were winning the war against farmers and their cash crop when a trial eradication program was developed in Mississippi in the 1970s. The plan was offered for review in Texas but only 'Herman A.,' as Patton said he was called, from the Rolling Plains region was for it. The experts, including those at Texas A&M, said it would not work and other regional leaders backed off supporting it. 'They said he yelled and beat on the table, begged and pleaded that Texas growers to try it,' Patton said. The program was launched in 1978 on the East Coast and worked its way west, finally coming to Texas in the early 1990s. Legislation was approved in 1993 to launch eradication program the next year. 'Texas was the last place,' Patton said. 'Not doing it at the start probably cost Texas $1 billion.' Despite that emotional pleas on behalf of cotton, Patton called Propst a 'soft-spoken gentleman farmer.' Smith recalled a lighter side to Propst, who once took one of Smith's fine Foard County watermelons, sliced it into bite-size pieces, inserted a toothpick into each and served them as a backyard hors d'oeurves at a party. 'My dad grew thousands of watermelons,' Smith said, 'but never had I seen one treated with so much respect.' Nine people submitted their information by Friday's deadline to be considered for the seat on the Abilene Independent School District board that may become available after Nov. 8, district officials said. Superintendent David Young confirmed the number Wednesday, saying his job has been to collect the information for the trustees to use as they see fit. A seat on the seven-member board will become open if Place 6 trustee Stan Lambert emerges victorious in the race for Texas House District 71 representative against Democrat Pierce LoPachin. If Lambert is elected Nov. 8, he will be required to step down from the school board before taking the oath of office in Austin. Young said the board would have 180 days to fill the vacancy, which it could do either by appointing a replacement to fill Lambert's remaining term, which expires in 2018, or by holding a special election. Originally, the school board asked interested individuals to submit a resume detailing their community involvement and interest in Abilene ISD. A letter, with information describing why the individual is interested in becoming a member of the school board, also was requested. Young said only a few requirements beyond these were stipulated, mainly those governing any regular candidate for the school board. Under election law, those seeking a seat on the school board must live within the district's boundaries and be registered to vote. He said that if the seat does become open, the school board could choose to use a committee to narrow down its field of candidates for appointment before sending finalists before the entire board for an interview. Twitter: @TimothyChippARN Standing on a scissor lift high above the ground, Pedro Rivera worked Wednesday to give a particular painted tank a bit of a retread. Rivera is touching up the mural that adorns the back of Abilene's 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum as part of Palette of Purpose's Art Bomb Mural Project. 'This technically isn't a total restoration,' Rivera said, taking a break from painting. 'This is more of a refurbishment. It's going to have a little more pop to it, it's going to look a little more graphic than the original.' The mural originally was painted in 2001 for the museum's opening by the brother of John Critzas, a 12th Armored Division veteran, said Jennifer Lenches, project coordinator for the museum. The mural's revitalization comes as part of a desire from the 12th Armored museum to 'make our outside just as appealing as our inside,' Lenches said. She sat down with Stephanie Prosser of Palette of Purpose to talk about giving the tank renewed life. 'We got to work with the 12th Armored Division through a Downtown Association meeting,' Prosser said. 'We were doing a presentation there, and they reached out to us.' Prosser was looking for a project just like the museum's mural, she said, and eventually wants to use Palette of Purpose to revitalize vintage signs throughout the downtown area. A self-described 'military brat,' Prosser said the 'unique take' on history offered by the 12th Armored museum is something to be proud of locally. And she said the mural project and the goals of Palette of Purpose blend well. 'We're not only about creating things (that are) beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but I really want the community to get more involved with (the) art and the history of Abilene itself,' she said. 'And so I think tying these two things together will do that.' Lenches ideally wanted the work done by July. Rivera said he expects to have things wrapped up by Monday. 'Pedro was ready to go and wanted to get it done before he started another project,' Lenches said. Abilene's Templeton Equipment Co. loaned the museum the scissor lift, a gesture that Lenches said helped greatly with expenses. A transplanted Chicago native, Rivera already has made his mark on Abilene through crafting dioramas for Frontier Texas!, an illuminated Man in the Moon sculpture located downtown, and a life-size bronze bull for the Enterprise Building. Rivera noted that he's never served in the armed forces himself. But like a bronze wreath he made for the Medal of Honor Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, he regards working on the 12th Armored museum's mural to be a badge of honor. 'It's kind of my way of saying thank you,' he said, a gift to those who have served. The museum plans to put up some backyard lighting to both enhance safety and better highlight the soon-to-be refurbished mural, Lenches said. Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Attendees learn about services to older adults during a lightning round presentation Wednesday at the 23rd annual meeting of the Texas Midwest Community Network at the Abilene Civic Center. SHARE Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Jeannette Gist, from Texas State Technical College, starts off her lightning round presentation by giving out business cards at the 23rd annual meeting of the Texas Midwest Community Network on Wednesday at the Abilene Civic Center. Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Matt Wolski (right) talks about wine bottle labels created by Found Media Group during a lightning round presentation Wednesday at the 23rd annual meeting of the Texas Midwest Community Network at the Abilene Civic Center. By Loretta Fulton, Special to the Reporter-News Laura Cox Kaplan didn't leave her small-town values at home when she packed up and left, first for the University of Texas at Austin and later to Washington, D.C., where she lives now. Instead, she started seeing opportunities to use those values wherever she went. Growing up in Rising Star, where she was class president all four years of high school and valedictorian in 1987, Kaplan learned the value of living in rural America. She learned that farmers pitch in to help their neighbors and that relationships formed with others in the community are invaluable. When she first went to Washington as an intern during her junior year of college, Kaplan remembered the value of developing relationships and did the same with colleagues. "Never overlook the value of those relationships," Kaplan said. "I learned those lessons right here." Kaplan was the keynote speaker Wednesday at the 23rd annual meeting of the Texas Midwest Community Network at the Abilene Civic Center. The organization was founded in 1994 to promote a regional approach to achieving economic and community growth. The network provides resources and raises awareness of rural issues. The daylong conference started with Kaplan's address, followed by breakout sessions, an awards luncheon and afternoon sessions. The 350 registered guests no doubt were impressed with Kaplan, a "hometown girl who made good." In July, Kaplan left a high-profile job with PricewaterhouseCoopers, a global professional services and accounting firm, in Washington, D.C., to work with nonprofits and corporations to develop leadership potential in young women. She began her career as a college intern in the office of then U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm, doing unexciting things like making coffee and sorting mail. "I absolutely loved it," Kaplan said. After earning a degree in journalism and government from the University of Texas in 1992, Kaplan returned to Washington, where she quickly made a name for herself. She rose through the ranks in government, eventually joining the Treasury Department during George W. Bush's administration and helping to rewrite securities laws. "I felt like I was making a difference," she said. Before long, she was recruited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she was in charge of government, regulatory affairs and public policy. The decision to leave the firm came after she was asked to write her personal story for a book and realized in the process that something was missing. She was worried that she wasn't creating a legacy for her two children to admire and began seeing a new way to have a bigger impact on others. Today, she is focused on mentoring young women in high school and college on how to live a life of service, either in the community or in the political realm. Among the guests listening to Kaplan's talk was a group of Miles High School students and sponsors who hoped to pick up some tips on community involvement. The five students, all juniors who were selected for their leadership potential, hope to develop a project that will capture a scholarship award at next year's TMCN annual meeting. "We hope this motivates them to want to do it," said Cherry Kasberg, with the Miles Economic Development Corp. "It's a positive way to get students involved in the community." Marial Kalina said she and the other students are looking at a project to clean up and improve the road and entranceway to the high school. A new elementary school opened this year, which necessitated moving the original main road to the high school. Now, the main entrance is behind the school, is overgrown with grass and weeds, and is cluttered. Only a small sign, which is hard to see, points people to the school, Kalina said. One of their teachers, Carol Granzin, said that even if the students don't win an award next year, they will learn valuable skills by creating the project and getting it accomplished. "I feel like it's going to teach them some life skills," Granzin said. "That's one of our goals." AWARDS Awards announced Wednesday at the 23rd annual conference of the Texas Midwest Community Network: Community of Achievement Awards: Jacksboro, Haskell All Star Community: Menard Student Leadership-Community Projects: First ($1,000 cash scholarship for each student): Zakk Ottmers and Kenzie Arrott, of Ballinger. The Pioneer Plaza Project encompassed renovations to the plazas gazebo and reflecting pond, including the addition of new benches and trash cans. Second ($750 scholarships): Kayce Dodds and Mayra Ramirez, of Gorman. The ZJs Park Project took what was left of the former Blackwell Clinic, a downtown legacy, and turned it into a colorful and vibrant community venue. Third ($500 scholarships): Maggie Yantis and Danie Contreras, of Early. Project Remember established a music therapy program for Alzheimers patients. Conservative independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin and his running mate, Mindy Finn, are not going to be the next president and vice president. The ticket may, however, outstrip expectations and thereby lift the hopes of despondent Republicans looking for a message and messengers in the post-Trump era. Since the 'Access Hollywood' tape of Donald Trump bragging about sexual assault surfaced, McMullin has climbed into contention in Utah. CBS reports: 'Matthew Burbank, an associate professor of political science at the University of Utah, predicts Trump will narrowly win the state, making McMullin mainly an interesting historical footnote similar to Ross Perot's 1992 showing in Utah when he finished second to George H.W. Bush but ahead of Bill Clinton. 'But he's among those impressed by how well McMullin has maneuvered this year's bizarre political landscape to earn widespread attention. McMullin's strategy to stake out general, conservative ideas seems to be working because most voters aren't looking for detailed plans about what he would do as president because they know that's not realistic.' McMullin also has spoken extensively on public character and public service where Trump falls far short. As a frequent guest on cable TV news, he eloquently eviscerates Trump from the conservative point of view. In a CNN interview with S.E. Cupp, he provided in-depth analysis of the Syria situation, ending with this exchange: 'Cupp: Trump said in the last debate that Iran, Russia and Assad are killing ISIS, essentially repeating Syrian and Russian propaganda. We know this isn't true is he uninformed or in bed with our enemies? 'McMullin: He is absolutely aligning himself with our enemies. He is an authoritarian. He has no respect for any check on his power. He has not experienced those checks in his own life. Or when he does experience it, he reacts violently to it. He would leverage our executive authority to deprive us of our own civil rights. He is absolutely one of them. 'Cupp: What about Trump's plan to steal Iraqi oil? Why wouldn't that work to starve ISIS? 'McMullin: It's hard to know where to start. First, it's a silly idea. It's a violation of the sovereignty of Iraq. We've had this international system since World War I and World War II based on the idea of sovereignty, that borders cannot be changed by force, resources cannot be taken by force. It's the basic framework for the international system since the two great wars. Some people like Trump would say, what's that gotten us? Well, it's a period of time since the two great wars during which there haven't been further (great) wars. It's facilitated the spread of democracy around the world. At the time of World War I there were about 14 democracies, now there are about 100. It's led to the lifting out of poverty of 900 million people. What Trump proposes is a degradation of that order. There are still conflicts around the world, but the absence of great wars Trump proposes to dismantle that. And that is exactly what Vladimir Putin wants, this would advance the interests of Putin and other expansionist authoritarians around the world ...' That's about the smartest, most coherent and interesting thing you've heard from the center-right since Jeb Bush left the race. Perhaps his appeal to fundamental decency attracts voters looking for an alternative to two ethically compromised candidates. The Associated Press reports on his Friday appearance: 'McMullin drew loud applause when he said, 'A real conservative, when they see somebody else being attacked for their religion or because of their race, a real conservative will stand up and protect other people.' 'Some supporters said they were drawn to McMullin because they couldn't stomach voting for Trump or Clinton. ''It was my ticket out of the circus,' said Leslie Reinhold about her support for McMullin.' McMullin's campaign tells me there are plenty of signs his message is catching on. There was a 2,000 percent increase in online activity relating to him last week. More people were searching online for McMullin in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming than Hillary Clinton or Trump. The campaign also claims a 'dramatic spike' in online searches for 'write-in,' with McMullin as the No. 1 accompanying search. He has held events in multiple states, including California, Utah, Idaho, Georgia and Minnesota. Once in the dozens, his crowds now are in the hundreds and in some cases top 1,000. As the race's outcome becomes a foregone conclusion, McMullin's appeal may increase. From his point of view, it's the beginning of something better on the right, a new conservative movement, after arguably the most distressing election ever for the GOP. In Utah on Friday, before 700 people, he declared, 'I believe, no matter what happens on Nov. 8, if we can send a strong message here from Utah and from the broader Mountain West, it will change the discussion in Washington. It very well may change the direction of this country.' Yes, a vote for McMullin would be a protest vote of sorts, but his supporters argue that in a year in which our politics has sunk far lower than any imagined, there's a lot to be said for voting on and for principle. Jennifer Rubin wrote this for The Washington Post. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... Review of Tips for Photographing Water after Dark In past articles I have discussed photographing at night and photographing water falls. In this post I will be combining the two. In September we stayed overnight at Niagara Falls in New York and I was able to photograph the beautiful falls at night. The photograph above shows the American Falls in the foreground, the Bridal falls in the mid section and a glimpse of Horseshoe Falls in the background. The building you see in the back are the Canadian side of the falls. In order to capture the smooth look to the water I used a tripod and a remote shutter release. Here are my tips for shooting smooth waterfalls at night. It helps when they are lit up in beautiful colors like Niagara Falls. Always use a tripod for best results Use a remote shutter release for extra stability Use a slow shutter speed...the photo above was shot at .4 sec This gives you the smooth look of the water. If you want a less smooth look than increase your shutter speed. In the photo above and the one below I was using a wide angle 24mm setting and an ISO of 3200 along with an aperture of f11. Rapids Leading to the Falls Another great photo at Niagara Falls is shooting the rapids leading up to the falls. In the photo above I was able to capture the rapids and a beautiful full moon in the sky. For this photo I held my camera open for 2 seconds and got the bursts of light from the moon and the lights on the bridge along with the smooth look to the rapids. For another view of Niagara Falls see the mug below. On this photo I shot during the daytime without a tripod an used a faster shutter speed. Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. As an Amazon Associate I (we) earn from qualifying purchases. Daniel R. Russel (L), the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs shakes hands with Cambodia's opposition party deputy leader Kem Sokha (R), Oct. 27, 2016. As a U.S. diplomat pushed Cambodias warring political parties to reopen talks, the countrys top trial court added six-months to the pretrial detention of five people charged in connection with the governments case against opposition leader Kem Sokha. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court said it had extended the detention of the four employees of the human rights group ADHOC and the deputy secretary-general of the National Election Commission as it attempts to find more witnesses and evidence in the government's case agaisnt the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader. An attorney for the accused decried the extra prison time, telling RFAs Khmer Service the additional detention violates their constitutional rights. The legal proceedings are flawed, said attorney Sam Sokong. The investigating judge should have exercised his due diligence efficiently during the six months while my clients had been under provisional detention to find additional witnesses and evidence against them. On May 2, Cambodian authorities arrested Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) staffers Ny Sokha, Nay Vanda, Yi Soksan, and Lim Mony and National Election Committee (NEC) Deputy Secretary-General Ny Chakrya in a wide-ranging probe into a sex scandal involving Kem Sokha. Drop all charges and release them Sam Sokong urged investigating Judge Theam Chanpisith to release the defendants as no new evidence has come to light. Now that the period has lapsed and no new evidence has been established, he ought to use his discretion to drop all charges and release them, he said. On Sept. 9 the Phnom Penh Municipal Court ruled that Kem Sokha was guilty of refusing to appear for questioning in the governments case against him, and he was sentenced to five months in prison and given a fine of 800,000 riel ($200). Kem Sokha is accused of procuring a prostitute in relation to his alleged affair with hairdresser Khom Chandaraty. Despite being summoned twice in May, he refused to appear in court to answer questions about the allegations and has remained holed up in CNRP headquarters. The ADHOC employees and Ny Chakrya are charged with bribery or being an accessory to bribery for allegedly attempting to pay Khom Chandaraty hush money. The charges are viewed by many as an attempt by Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to smear the opposition before local elections in 2017 and national elections in 2018. Hun Sen and the CPP have ruled the country for more than three decades, but Cambodias ruling party suffered a dramatic drop in support during the countrys last election in 2013, and could see even more erosion in the upcoming elections. On Sept. 9 Kem Sokha was convicted failing to appear before the court in the case and sentenced to five months in prison and fined 800,000- riel (U.S. $200). A diplomats appeal While the court was keeping the Kem Sokha five in jail, Daniel Russel, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, was appealing to party leaders to resume talks. Russel received assurances from both Kem Sokha and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn that the two sides could work things out. Daniel Russel stated very clearly that there can be no free and fair elections if leaders of the opposition party and the opposition party in general cannot take part due to intimidation and restrictions, CNRP spokesman Yem Ponhearith told RFA. Prak Sokhonn meanwhile informed Russel of positive developments in the political situation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Chum Sounry told reporters after the meeting, according to the Associated Press. Addressing a group of reporters, Russel said the U.S. wants to play a conciliatory role in the escalating war of words between the two opposing political factions. Rather than pass judgment, we are here to consult and put heads together with our Cambodian counterparts on how we can advance the goals of due process, rule of law and economic growth, he said, according to a report in the Khmer Times. Reported by Thai Tha and Sanmang Rann for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Xi Jinping was endorsed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party as a "core" leader, Oct 27, 2016. A top-level meeting of the ruling Chinese Communist Party has endorsed President Xi Jinping as a "core" leader, giving him equal billing with late supreme leaders Deng Xiaoping and Mao Zedong, official media reported on Thursday. Members were urged in a communique issued at the end of a plenary session of the party's powerful Central Committee to "closely unite around the ... Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core," state news agency Xinhua reported. It also called for stricter party discipline amid reports that one million officials have been punished for corruption since Xi came to power. "Together we must build a clean and righteous political environment, and ensure that the party unites and leads the people to continuously open up new prospects for socialism with Chinese characteristics," the communique said. The development is noteworthy because Xi's main political rival, former president Jiang Zemin, was also described as a "core" leader by Deng. But the move also represents an attempt to boost Xi's flagging authority following months of factional strife, analysts said. "This is the doing of Xi Jinping's own faction, who are actually trying to establish his authority," U.S.-based China scholar and former journal editor Li Hongkuan told RFA. "But the more the Chinese Communist Party does things like this, the more it suggests that his authority is under threat; it's possible that some people at the level of the Politburo [standing committee] don't recognize it," he said. "Actually I think he has already lost his authority, because people are protecting each other, and they're already lying down on the job," Li said. "He no longer has the ability to motivate people." Does Xi measure up? Wu Fan, editor in chief of the overseas Chinese-language magazine Chinese Affairs, said the reason Xi needs to boost his authority by referring to himself as 'core' in order to overcome strong opposition within party ranks. "The most important goal for the ... plenary session was to make Xi Jinping a core leader, installing him as the supreme leader over all of the Politburo standing committee," Wu told RFA. But he questioned whether the claim would stick, as Xi's record is less impressive than those of Mao or Deng. "Mao Zedong was the ruler of all he surveyed, and he was a core leader," Wu said. "Deng Xiaoping stopped the Cultural Revolution and launched economic reforms, so he deserved core status." "But does Xi Jinping deserve? China is much worse off now than it was four years ago." According to Li Hongkuan, Xi's new designation suggests he may seek a third term in office when his second term ends in 2022. "He wants to stay in office for more than 10 years," Li said. "That may not be possible, given how many problems China is facing right now." But he said Xi could still have a fight on his hands to change rules set down in 1980 aimed at preventing personality cults around a single leader. "Not only has he failed to solve them through hard work, but he has been messing around with the system [with the anti-graft campaigns], to the point where none of the officials around him are doing their jobs properly." 'Rectification' returns under Xi An anonymous political source said much of the opposition comes from the fact that Xi's anti-corruption campaign is seen as highly selective. "He seems to be bringing back into the party the idea of targeting people for rectification," the source said. "I don't expect to see much change coming out of the sixth plenum." And Beijing-based political activist Zha Jianguo said it is still hard to predict what will happen at next year's 19th Party Congress. "On the surface of things, what we see is a consistent policy by Xi to rein in political activity, rein in ideology, and rein in the party membership," Zha said. Reported by Lin Ping and Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. A government-ordered crackdown on petty crime in North Korea is failing to gain effect, with suspects offering bribes to escape punishment and ordinary citizens increasingly mistrusting the courts, sources in the country say. Arrests on charges ranging from drug use and robbery to disorderly conduct are now filling the jails, a source in North Hamgyong province told RFAs Korean Service. But the crime rate continues to rise, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Each police station waiting room is filled to capacity with people under arrest, and visitors wait in long lines each day to see those who have been taken into custody, he said. The Sunam area of North Hamgyongs Chongjin city is especially well-known for its levels of crime, RFAs source said. And because suspects there are sent by police either into labor camps called jipgyeolso, set up for people not yet convicted of any crime, or into regular prisons or places of reeducation called gyohwaso, bribes to the police or judicial authorities are freely offered, he said. Residents know very well that criminals will not be punished by the courts according to the gravity of their offense, another source in North Hamgyong told RFA. Even if a person has committed a serious crime, he can avoid punishment by paying a large amount of money, he said. On the other hand, those who are poor or powerless are sent to a place of reeducation, or at worst they may be sentenced to death by firing squad. The bribes that are paid are offered in amounts corresponding to the severity of the crimes for which the arrests were made, the source said. And people who are sentenced to a place of reeducation will be released immediately if they pay the officials 1,000 to 2,000 Chinese yuan [U.S. $147 to $295, approx.], he said. This corruption in the courts has only made attempts to control crime more difficult, with criminals involved even in smuggling or trafficking in drugs now easily escaping punishment, sources say. Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Hyosun Kim. Written in English by Richard Finney. The Myanmar government said Thursday that photos showing alleged rights violations in Rakhine states Maungdaw township are fake, despite reports by the United Nations and rights groups that security forces there have killed unarmed residents, burned down villages, and made arbitrary arrests. The U.N. and rights groups have accused soldiers and police of violating the rights of civilians during their sweep of the Muslim-majority area in northern Rakhine state following deadly raids earlier this month on border patrol posts and ensuing clashes between soldiers and police and groups of armed men. Some say the death toll from the violence has been greater that what has been reported. The government has accused an extremist Muslim terrorist organization funded by Islamists abroad for the attack, and have locked down the area to search for the perpetrators. Rohingya Muslim groups have asserted that security forces deployed in Maungdaw have committed rape and other forms of violence under the cover of the antiterrorism campaign. Government spokesman Zaw Htay, who is also deputy director-general of the Presidents Office, told RFAs Myanmar Service that people in other countries sent old photos and videos to the U.N., rights groups and international news organizations of communal violence that took place four years ago between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, trying to pass the images off as current. The 2012 clashes left more than 200 people dead and displaced 140,000 Muslims who ended up in internal refugee camps. Some also posted them on social networks like Twitter as if they were [images of] the problems right now in Rakhine state, he said. And because they did this, the media might think they are current photos and videos of Rakhine state. We will explain to the media and organizations that these photos and videos are not from the problem in Rakhine state right now, he said. They are not real. I asked relevant officials and organizations in Rakhine state, and I know there are no cases like this in Rakhine, he said. After the attacks on the border guard posts on Oct. 9, the government mobilized army soldiers and border police in Maungdaw to conduct a sweep of the area for 400 other people, believed to be local Muslims, thought to have been involved in the attacks. From the beginning, we ordered relevant organizations and departments to do the security sweep operation very carefully in Rakhine state after the Maungdaw attack, Zaw Htay said. Soldiers and border police have also prohibited the media and the U.N.'s World Food Programme from accessing Maungdaw for security purposes. There are many people who support terrorists, he said. They make big media campaigns, and it seems they get a lot of funding. As we already know about this, we are always warning relevant organizations to do things very carefully. Middle East connection Security forces have killed about 30 alleged terrorists and captured more than 50 others, but only regained 10 of the roughly 50 guns that the terrorists stole during the attacks on the border patrol stations, he said. Zaw Htay said there is a connection between the group accused of plotting and carrying out the attacks and an international terrorist network based in the Middle East. The Maungdaw attackers received military training from a terrorist organization and received funds from individuals who support terrorists, he said. We are coordinating with neighboring countries such as India and Bangladesh to work on this case, Zaw Htay said. We are also exchanging information with international antiterrorism agencies. The thousands of residents who fled their homes in Maungdaw out of concern for their safety have been returning to the area during the last week. The military and police are working together to ensure their safety and security, Zaw Htay said. We must protect them. They cant live in peace without our protection. We have long- and short-term plans to work for their safety and security. On Monday, U.N. experts urged the Myanmar government to address the growing number of reports of summary executions of civilians, including children, during the searches and raids, and of the burning of homes and mosques. Yanghee Lee, the U.N.s special envoy on the human rights situation in Myanmar, said that experts had received repeated allegations of arbitrary arrests as well as extrajudicial killings occurring within the context of the security operations conducted by the authorities in search of the alleged attackers. What troubles me most is the lack of access for a proper assessment of the true picture of the situation there at the present moment, she said in a statement. The blanket security operations have restricted access for humanitarian actors with concerning consequences for communities ability to secure food and conduct livelihood activities. Reported by Kyaw Thu for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. A wealthy businessman who founded the Prosperous Armenia Party but who quit politics under government pressure in 2015 is hinting at making a political comeback Speaking to media on October 26, Gagik Tsarukian said he ceased his political activities last year to avoid bloodshed that he implied would be inevitable if he and his loyalists continued to push for a regime change. But he said that he might "reopen the page" that he had turned, "even if he does not need it today." President Serzh Sarkisian in February 2015 called Tsarukian evil and said he should not have a place in Armenian politics. Sarkisan also threatened to prosecute him for alleged tax evasion. Tsarukian initially responded by calling for Sarkisian's ouster but eventually backed off, resigning as party leader and announcing that he was quitting politics altogether despite retaining a seat in parliament. The two men subsequently made peace, repeatedly making joint public appearances, including most recently at the Summer Olympic Games in Brazil, where Tsarukian was head of Armenia's National Olympic Committee. Party leaders, including Naira Zohrabian, have been calling for Tsarukian's return to politics ahead of parliamentary elections in April. Zohrabian described it as a "public demand." More than 1,000 Tsarukian supporters staged a rally on October 24 outside the tycoons sprawling mansion in Abovian, a town some 20 kilometers northeast of Yerevan, urging the former political heavyweight to return to politics. But Tsarukian told the sympathetic crowd through his security staff not to gather near his house again, saying he would personally announce any change of plans. Two days later, he signaled he had a change of heart, saying, without elaborating: "Having turned the page of my political activities, for two years I stayed with my state and with my people and have done everything for my people. I am from this country and have invested all my money in this country. If there is a need for that, if prominent political figures fail in making headway, if there is a demand for that, even if I dont need it now...it is possible that the closed page will be reopened," he said. Tsarukian also praised the current prime minister, Karen Karapetian. "I know our prime minister very well. I have a high regard for him," he said. Tsarukian previously has been critical of the government's handling of economic affairs. This essay appears in today's edition of the Fortune Brainstorm Healthy Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it delivered to your inbox. "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler," said Albert Einstein, who managed to distill the relationship between mass, energy, and light into an equation so brief it could be text slang. The idea that nature, for all its complexity and variability, can be boiled down to simple rules, tools, and shortcuts has long been an appealing one--to scientists, especially. And so it is no surprise that a four-year-old gene-editing tool called CRISPR-Cas-9 has been hailed as the biotech breakthrough of the century. CRISPR (Nature has a great overview here) builds ever-so-slightly off a strategy used by bacteria to fend off repeat attacks from viruses. In the human version, scientists use an RNA guide to direct an enzyme, Cas-9, to a specific point in any organism's DNA--where, like an eagle-eyed copy editor, the enzyme snips out an errant letter or sequence as if it were expunging a typo. Just as effortlessly, a new genetic sequence can be inserted in its place. Researchers trumpet how quick, cheap, efficient, and easily learned the technique is. Already, scientists have made progress--in animal models and human cells, at least--in correcting the genetic flaws that lead to diseases like cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, disabling viruses such as HIV, and rewriting the DNA of mosquitoes so that they can no longer transmit malaria. Yesterday, NIH director Dr. Francis Collins devoted a blog post to CRISPR's potential to treat, and maybe even cure, sickle cell disease, a debilitating blood condition caused by a single genetic mistake. The procedure can do everything from make animal organs safe for transplant to genetically engineering larger fish or fowl to feed the planet to supercharge T cells against cancer. Three rival companies, founded by scientific pioneers in this field--Editas Medicine, Intellia Therapeutics, and CRISPR Therapeutics--have gone public this year, and together command a market cap of nearly $1.7 billion. And that's where the simple ends. Humans and an array of mighty institutions--University of California, MIT, and Harvard, among them--have managed to turn the straightforward defensive reflex of a prokaryote into a bitter dispute about who owns it. For the intrepid and diehard curious, the dispute at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is an extraordinary lesson in the complexity of academic science. For a shorter version, check out IPStudies's remarkable portrait of the CRISPR patent landscape. Story continues And at last returning to dear Einstein's aphorism, there is some strong evidence that CRISPR may be too simple at that. The wonderful Sharon Begley at STAT has a nice piece on the possible danger of this technique--beyond, of course, the obvious risks and ethical dilemmas of bioterrorism, embryo engineering, and mucking with the human germline for an eternity. It turns out that this incredibly precise molecular scissors may occasionally snip at the wrong address. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com Dozens of Czech institutions and civic groups have rushed to present an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor and remembrance activist with awards of their own after President Milos Zeman withdrew the offer of a state honor for George Brady in an apparent concession to China. Brady, a Canadian Jew of Czech extraction who survived the Nazi Auschwitz death camp, told Czech media that he has received so many invitations following the president's last-minute reversal ahead of an annual state awards ceremony on October 28 that he is not sure he can attend all the events. He has also said he no longer wants to receive the state award for public service, which Zeman's office had previously invited him to come to Prague to receive and which was to have been presented by Zeman personally. "I'm no longer interested. I have other plans. I'm not available anymore," he told Czech Radiozurnal on October 24. But he said he was enormously proud of the awards that others were granting him, saying it showed a Czech awareness of the horrors of the Holocaust. The adopted Torontan is well-known for his efforts to support global campaigns for Holocaust remembrance. In the past, Brady has been honored for his work by Britain's Queen Elizabeth and the German government, among others. Tibet Connection Zeman's U-turn on Brady, ahead of Czech national day on October 28, has angered many Czechs because it appears to be connected to a presidential feud with Brady's nephew, Czech Culture Minister Daniel Herman. Herman met with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in Prague last week against the wishes of Zeman, who has sought to boost trade with China, which considers the Dalai Lama a violent separatist. Herman told Czech Television on October 22 that "the president directly told me that if I meet the Dalai Lama, my uncle will be taken out of the list [for awards], and that is what happened." Leading figures in the Czech Republic who have stepped forward to recognize Brady following Zeman's surprise reversal include the mayor of Prague, the mayor of Czech second city Brno, and the rector of Palacky University in Olomouc. "I'm ashamed of what's going on regarding the award for Mr. Brady," Prague Mayor Adriana Krnacova said in a statement on her personal website. "That's why I've decided to use the authority I have to give him the official Key to Prague as an expression of gratitude." The rector of Palacky University in Olomouc, Jaroslav Miller, expressed similar feelings. "If the [president] really removed him from the honors list for meaningless reasons, Palacky University Olomouc would be honored to have Mr. Jiri [George] Brady accept our academic award," Miller wrote on his Facebook page. "At least we would save the honor of the Czech Republic and pay tribute to a man who did something for his country." Reversing Havel Czech Finance Minister Andrej Babis has denied that there was any connection between the events. But he confirmed that the president had asked Herman not to meet with the Dalai Lama. Zeman has pushed hard for closer economic ties with Beijing during his presidency, despite opposition from human rights group in the Czech Republic over China's repressive policies in Tibet, which it annexed in 1951. Beijing discourages foreign states from receiving the Dalai Lama, who is Tibet's spiritual leader and heads Tibet's government-in-exile in India. Zeman and predecessor Vaclav Klaus's attitudes toward the Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, contrast sharply with that of the late Czechoslovak dissident playwright and Czech president, Vaclav Havel, who was an internationally revered promoter of human rights and a friend of the Tibetan Buddhist monk. Four government ministers and several other Czech politicians have vowed to boycott the October 28 ceremony at Prague Castle, the seat of the president. Instead, they plan to hold an alternative gathering in Prague's Old Town Square to protest Zeman's decision and celebrate the national day. George Brady was born in Nove Mesto, a small town in the former Czechoslovakia, in 1928. His family, reportedly the only Jewish family in town, had a comfortable middle-class life until Nazi Germany invaded the country in 1939. Brady's parents were deported early in the war and reportedly died at Auschwitz. Aged 13, George and his younger sister were first sent to live with a Catholic uncle elsewhere in Czechoslovakia but in 1944 were sent to Auschwitz. Assigned to the labor force in Auschwitz, George survived the camp. But his sister, Hana, died in a gas chamber there at age 13. He then returned to his uncle's home, finished his schooling, and fled communist Czechoslovakia in 1951. After becoming a Canadian citizen, he set up a plumbing company in Toronto. The experiences of the Brady family are the subject of a nonfiction children's book published in 2002, Hana's Suitcase, by Karen Levine. The book has been translated from English into some 20 languages. The mayor of Kyiv says electricity and water supplies have been restored after a day of Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities, including hydroelectric power stations, that caused blackouts, mobile phone outages, and reductions in water supplies. 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, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. "The water supply to the homes of Kyiv residents has been fully restored. Thank you to the experts of Kyivvodokanal and DTEK, who worked for almost a day to restore water and electricity [supplies] to the residents of the capital," Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram early on November 1. Klitschko said that the electricity supply in the Ukrainian capital had also been restored but that blackouts are inevitable because of the extensive damage to the power system after the Russian attacks. In Mykolayiv, regional military administration chief Vitaliy Kim said on November 1 that Russia fired four S-300 missiles overnight, demolishing half an apartment building in the city and killing one person. Russia has been targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure and other civilian buildings with missile, drone, and artillery attacks for weeks amid a Ukrainian counteroffensive that has driven Russian troops out of the northeast and pushed them back in the east and southeast. In his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine's air defenses did a good job shooting down most of the missiles, but that strengthening the country's air-defense capabilities remains a top priority. "Our air force and everyone involved in protecting the sky did a very good job today," Zelenskiy said late on October 31. "Most of the objectives that the terrorists identified as targets were saved. This morning alone, terrorists used 55 cruise missiles for a massive attack. Forty-five of them were shot down. We will continue to strengthen our air defense." Zelenskiy added that restoration work was still ongoing in regions targeted by Russian missiles. Russia launched missiles into several Ukrainian cities on October 31, including the nations capital, Kyiv, as the Kremlin continues its relentless assault on critical Ukrainian infrastructure in the hopes of wearing down the populations will to resist. With its eight-month invasion failing and the prospects of a defeat rising, the Kremlin is seeking to terrorize and demoralize the Ukrainian population in an attempt to break it, Western and Ukrainian officials have said. Russia has destroyed more than 40 percent of Ukraine's energy infrastructure in a few weeks, causing electricity cuts in Kyiv and other places as winter approaches. Separately, in eastern Ukraine, the military command said there were fierce battles near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region and that Ukrainian forces had held back Russian assaults on two other areas in the region, around Avdiyivka and Uhledar. Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement on November 1 that Russia struck more than 50 settlements in the Donetsk region. Russia is also expanding the forced evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from occupied Kherson as its forces seek to hold the region. Vladimir Saldo, the Russia-appointed head of Kherson, announced on October 31 that citizens will be evacuated from another seven districts. Just three days earlier, the Russia-installed officials had announced that the evacuation process in the Kherson region had ended. The Ukrainian military reported that Russian troops are mining evacuated residential areas in the Kakhovka settlement. In Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said all military mobilization activities, including summons delivery, have been suspended. The ministry said in a statement that all activities related to conscription for military service have been stopped. According to the statement, military units will only be accepting volunteers and contractors from now on. However, the announcement does not amount to an official end to the partial mobilization decreed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in September. That can only be done with an official decree from Putin. Hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled Russia since Putin declared the partial military mobilization. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has pardoned 168 prisoners. State Commission on Clemency Chairman Zviad Koridze told journalists in Tbilisi on October 27 that 114 of the pardoned prisoners will walk free today, and the rest will have their prison terms reduced. Koridze added that six of the pardoned convicts were women. Koridze's commission proposed the amnesties after its October 15-18 session. The 10-member commission meets regularly to consider appeals for clemency from prisoners. Those convicted of premeditated murder are not eligible for pardons. In March, Margvelashvili pardoned 155 prisoners on the commission's recommendation. Based on reporting by Apsny.ge and Interfax 7 Helicopters and fighter jets on the flight deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov. The carrier is capable of deploying with 52 aircraft aboard. The vessel's air wing, however, is limited by its lack of an aircraft catapult. Most modern aircraft carriers are fitted with a steam-powered catapult that flings aircraft along the deck runway. U.S. President Barack Obama has personally intervened in a dispute between Turkey and Iraq involving the battle against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, asking Turkey's leader to coordinate his actions with both Washington and Baghdad. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to join the battle to liberate the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from IS, despite protests from Baghdad that Turkish troops don't belong on the ground there. In his first move to mediate the conflict between the two key neighbors and U.S. allies, Obama in a phone call with Erdogan on October 26 pointed out the need for close coordination between Ankara and both U.S. and Iraqi forces that are pressing the Mosul battle, to ensure the success of the campaign, the White House said. Appearing to take Baghdad's side in the spat, Obama also called for "continued dialogue" between Turkey and Iraq to "determine the appropriate level and form of Turkey's participation" in the anti-IS campaign. The White House said Obama and Erdogan "affirmed their strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq," touching on a particularly sore point for Baghdad, which has accused Turkey of violating its borders. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters A Polish court opened proceedings against four Chechen men on charges of terrorism and trying to raise money for Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. The court in the northeastern city of Bialystok identified the defendants only as Taus G., Zaur G., Alvi Y., and Shamkhan A. The four, all Russian citizens living legally in Poland, faces charges of participation in a criminal organization and illegal fundraising to support the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq. Investigators say that the four helped a wounded militant get illegal medical assistance and collected nonlethal military equipment to be shipped to Islamic State fighters in the Middle East. The group faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. On October 25, authorities in Germany announced raids in five regions targeting 14 Russian citizens from Chechnya who were suspected of financing terrorism. Also, a young Syrian man has been charged in Germany with terrorism on suspicion that he was scouting possible attack targets for the IS group. Police in Berlin said on October 27 that the 19-year-old, whose name was not released because of local privacy laws, was charged with belonging to a terrorist organization and violating a law on transporting weapons. He was arrested in March. Prosecutors said the man joined IS in 2013 and participated in fighting in Syria. He traveled to Germany in 2015, allegedly posing as a Syrian refugee. Officials said the man was planning to carry out terrorist attacks himself. Based on reporting by Bialystok.wyborcza.pl, dpa, AP, Reuters, and TASS President Vladimir Putin has again dismissed allegations that Russia has been meddling in the U.S. presidential election, saying those claims were just an effort to distract the attention of the U.S. electorate from real issues. In a wide-ranging speech in which he also defended Russia's actions in Syria, Putin told an annual meeting of foreign academics and analysts on October 27 that allegations of Russian interference in the election were "mythical and fictitious." He said the United States was using the claims to distract from issues like the federal debt and police violence and it was absurd to say the country could be susceptible to Russia's influence. "Does anyone seriously think Russia can somehow influence the choice of the American people? Is the U.S. some kind of banana republic? The United States is a great power. Please correct me if I'm wrong," Putin said, triggering laughter in the audience. The allegations of Russian meddling have become a prominent issue in the campaign between Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival, Donald Trump. U.S. intelligence officials recently accused Russia publicly of coordinating the hacks of Clinton's campaign emails. Putin's comments came during a meeting of the Valdai Club, an invitation-only, government-sponsored gathering that brings together foreign academics and experts on Russia for closed-door discussions with Russian leaders and officials. Praise For Trump Putin also gave subtle praise to Republican candidate Donald Trump, saying he had behaved "extravagantly" during the campaign because he represented ordinary voters and wanted to get his message across. "He has chosen a method to get through to voters' hearts," Putin was quoted as saying. Clinton has accused Putin of personally ordering the cyberattacks targeting her campaign and prominent current and former U.S. officials in what she characterizes as a Kremlin operation to tilt the election in Trump's favor. Trump, who has advocated repairing ties with Moscow battered over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, has called this claim absurd and cast doubt on the U.S. intelligence community's allegation of Russia's complicity in the cyberattacks. The Russian leader told the October 27 meeting that claims that Moscow is favoring Trump are "complete nonsense." 'Thwarted' Syrian Peace Turning to Syria, Putin claimed that his efforts to reach a deal with U.S. President Barack Obama on ending the civil war in Syria have been thwarted by "forces" in Washington. "A united front to defeat terrorism has in fact not been created," he said. "In Washington there were forces that did their best to ensure our agreements did not take off." Putin did not elaborate on who in Washington has allegedly scuttled the efforts to end the bloodshed in Syria. But he told the audience that "my personal agreements with the U.S. president" on the matter "did not work either." "It seemed that -- after long negotiations, enormous efforts and complicated compromises -- a united front for the struggle against terrorism started taking shape," Putin said. "However, that did not happen." The Obama administration has accused Moscow of stoking the conflict with ongoing operations in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his war against Islamic State militants and more moderate groups seeking his ouster. Putin defended Moscow's support for the siege of the rebel-held eastern districts of the city of Aleppo by Assad's army, calling it a necessary move in order to defeat militant forces there. He said there is choice between "keeping a terrorist nest there or crushing that nest while minimizing civilian casualties." Russia's aerial campaign to support the offensive by Assad's forces on Aleppo has triggered international condemnation, including accusations of repeatedly striking civilian targets. With reporting by AP, Reuters, Interfax, and RIA Novosti MOSCOW -- Russian opposition activist Aleksei Gaskarov has been freed after completing a 3 1/2-year jail term for his involvement in a mass anti-Kremlin demonstration against alleged election rigging that spiraled into clashes with police. Gaskarov, a 31-year-old left-wing activist, was greeted on his release outside a prison in Tula Oblast on October 27 by family members as well as by two activists who were also prosecuted over the rally. The prosecutions emerged from what has been dubbed the "Bolotnaya case," after the Moscow square where a so-called March Of Millions was staged in 2012, which became a symbol of President Vladimir Putins crackdown on the opposition. "In personal terms, everyone who has done [prison] time has lost a lot, Gaskarov told Dozhd TV after his release, "but if we compare this with the public's interests, then someone had to go through this, someone had to have this fate." The violence on Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012, one day before Putin was inaugurated for his third term as president, dealt a major blow to the opposition, which had held a series of unprecedented antigovernment rallies earlier that year. Riot police detained more than 400 people at the rally. More than 30 were prosecuted in connection with the clashes, and over 20 of those received jail sentences or otherwise spent time in custody. Sergei Davidis, an activist who monitors the jailed activists' fates, told RFE/RL that six of them remain in custody. Gaskarov was arrested in April 2013, almost a year after the protest. He was convicted in 2014 of taking part in mass riots and using violence against police officers. He has denied the charges. International rights watchdog Amnesty International has described all the Bolotnaya defendants as prisoners of conscience. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has in the past two months ordered Russia to pay compensation to at least four of those prosecuted in the case for violations of their rights. Earlier this month, the ECHR agreed to hear a case filed by Gaskarov and another jailed activist, Ilya Gushchin. Officials say a judge in Russia's long-troubled North Caucasus region has been shot and killed. A regional spokesman for the Investigative Committee said Judge Ruslan Botashev was attacked on October 27 as he was driving his car in Pervomayskoye, a village in the region of Karachayevo-Cherkesia. The spokesman, Sergei Shuvayev, said a gunman shot Botashev five times before fleeing. Karachayevo-Cherkesia is one of several republics making up Russia's North Caucasus, which has been long plagued by joblessness and criminal violence, as well as Islamic radicals. The republic also faces tensions among rival ethnic groups. With reporting by Interfax and RIA (Adds context in paragraphs 3-6) SAO PAULO, Oct 26 (Reuters) - BNDESPar, the equity arm of Brazil's state lender BNDES, vetoed a proposed reorganization of meatpacking company JBS claiming "it is not in the best interest of the company and its shareholders," according to a statement Wednesday. BNDESPar said the reorganization would transfer about 85 percent of the company's cash generating capability to a foreign entity, "substantially altering the rights and duties of all of the company's shareholders." The veto, unveiled earlier in the day by Sao Paulo-based JBS, sent shares of the world's biggest beef exporter tumbling as it dealt a blow to plans to become a global food processing powerhouse headquartered in Ireland. BNDESPar, which owns 20.36 of JBS's capital stock, started to invest in the company in 2007. As a party to the company's shareholder agreement, BNDESPar has veto rights over corporate reorganizations, the statement said. "BNDESPar is observing its fiduciary duties, and is acting to protect the interests of the company it invested in," the government agency said in the statement. JBS shares plunged nearly 18 percent on Wednesday, the most in eight years, indicating frustration with the end of a plan aimed at accelerating growth, reducing fundraising costs, optimizing taxes and attracting a wider investor base. (Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Bernard Orr) Russia has been confronted with sharp accusations at the United Nations of killing dozens of children and other civilians in Syria, provoking an angry response from Moscow's UN ambassador. The UN's Children's Fund, UNICEF, and monitoring groups reported on October 26 that air strikes by Syrian or Russian warplanes killed 35 people, including at least 22 children and six schoolteachers in rebel-held Idlib Province. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," UNICEF director Anthony Lake said. Lake said the school compound in the village of Haas was "repeatedly attacked," in what may have been the deadliest attack on a school since the Syrian civil war began more than five years ago. A photograph circulated on social media showed a child's arm, seared off above the elbow, still clutching the strap of a dusty black rucksack. "When will the world's revulsion at such barbarity be matched by insistence that this must stop?" Lake asked. Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, apparently taken aback by the charges, said: "It's horrible, horrible. I hope we were not involved." Churkin said he was consulting with the Russian Defense Ministry to determine who was responsible. The Russian Defense Ministry on October 27 issued a statement saying that neither Russian nor Syrian government aircraft had conducted any air strikes in the Aleppo area over the last nine days. Aleppo's 'Apocalyptic Horror' Later, in a tumultuous meeting of the UN Security Council on the siege of Aleppo, UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien accused Russia and Syria of using starvation tactics and turning the city into a "kill zone." Describing what he called an "apocalyptic horror" in the city, where 400 people have been killed in less than a month, O'Brien accused Syria and Russia of waging a deliberate campaign to "make life intolerable, make death likely." O'Brien said leaflets dropped on rebel-held areas of Aleppo by Syrian and Russian aircraft made their intentions "chillingly clear." "This is your last hope.... Save yourselves," the leaflets read, according to O'Brien. "If you do not leave these areas urgently you will be annihilated." O'Brien said he was "incandescent with rage" over the UN council's failure to stop the suffering. "The buck stops with you," he told members of the powerful panel. That provoked an angry response from Churkin, who said it was "outrageous" that the UN had refused to acknowledge the humanitarian cease-fire that Russia says it has unilaterally imposed in Aleppo in the last week to allow delivery of humanitarian aid. Churkin, who said that "terrorist" groups in Aleppo had prevented the delivery of the aid, accused O'Brien of "arrogance" for making such strong accusations against Moscow. "If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church," said Churkin, who is chairing the UN council this month. "Please leave this kind of report to a novel that you might write one day." U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power assailed Russia for the latest violence, saying Moscow never worked cooperatively with the UN during its supposed pauses in fighting to ensure the delivery of humanitarian relief. "You don't get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week," she said. Power insisted the goal of the Russian and Syrian bombing campaign was to "make civilians relent and cry uncle," and again challenged Moscow's claim that it is only fighting terrorists. "Does Russia believe that all of the children in eastern Aleppo are Al-Qaeda members?" she asked. After being upbraided before the council by Churkin, the UN's O'Brien said he would not "retract, qualify, or disclaim any fact or part of my earlier statement." Turning to address Moscow's ambassador directly, O'Brien said: "I am prompted to state the age-old truth: Don't shoot the messenger. Stand up for the beleaguered people of Syria and...stop the war now." With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa A Moscow court has sentenced a former Defense Ministry official to 12 years in prison for treason, the latest in a string of treason cases heard by Russian courts. The Moscow City Court on October 27 also stripped Andrei Belyayev, a retired colonel, of his rank. Belyayev was arrested on October last year, though no information was ever released as to the allegations he faced, and the trial was held behind closed doors. He was identified only as being a former employee of the Defense Ministry. Russian media said he possessed a Swedish residency permit and a Swedish driver's license. The case is one of a growing number brought by Russian authorities in recent years, often targeting people for disseminating sensitive information that is already publicly available. Last year, a scientist named Gennady Kravtsov was sentenced to 14 years in prison after he applied for a job in Sweden and included on his resume information about a new military satellite. Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS Tensions between Russia and the European Union have been running high, with deep disagreements over the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, economic sanctions against Moscow, and military buildups along both sides of their borders. RFE/RL's Russian Service asked people in Moscow what they would say if their country had the opportunity to join the European Union. Unknown assailants threw Molotov cocktails in an office building in St. Petersburg known for housing a notorious "troll factory," a paid group of Internet users helping the Kremlin shape public opinion on social networks. Russian media reported on October 27 that security cameras filmed two masked men throwing at least three Molotov cocktails into the windows of the building the previous day. No injuries were reported and damage was minimized by an employee of a newspaper whose offices are in the same building. It's the second time that the building has been targeted by activists. In July, a group of people burned a tire and a Soviet-style jackets outside the entrance to the building. They said they were protesting the online activities of the "trolls" disseminating anti-Ukraine and pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation. The "troll factory" is widely believed to be funded by local businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin. Some activists also believe that Prigozhin's group organized and conducted attacks against several opposition bloggers and activists in St. Petersburg. Based on reporting by Fontanka, Grani.ru, and Rosbalt The United Nations' chief has suggested that an air strike against a school in western Syria which killed 28 people, including 22 children, may amount to a war crime, as Syrian activists and Western diplomats blamed Russian or Syrian forces. Russia's Foreign Ministry denied that neither Russian nor Syrian government aircraft were involved in the attack, which occurred on October 26 in Idlib Province, southwest of Aleppo. Russian and Syrian jets have been pounding parts of Aleppo, trying to dislodge rebel forces and extremist fighters there, and both countries are claiming a major strategic victory in a civil war that has lasted nearly six years. Syria is a key ally of Moscow, which supplies it with major weaponry and technical support while also flying sorties against opposition fighters. Russia Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told journalists on October 27 that allegations Russian forces were involved in the strike on the school were "a lie." The Defense Ministry also insisted that neither Russia nor Syria had carried out any strikes in the Aleppo area over the last nine days. "The Russian Federation has nothing to do with this terrible tragedy, with this attack," Zakharova said. The White House, however, rejected those denials. "We don't know yet that it was the Assad regime or the Russians that carried out the air strike, but we know it was one of the two," spokesman Josh Earnest said on October 27. "Even if it was the Assad regime that carried it out, the Assad regime is only in a position to carry out those kind of attacks because they are supported by the Russian government," he said. Russia Claims U.S. 'Destabilization' Zakharova also blamed the actions of the U.S.-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Syria for destabilizing the situation. She said Russia had documented "instances of supplies of U.S.-made antitank systems and portable air-defense systems to militants" fighting against the Syrian government." U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, meanwhile, condemned the attack on the school, saying in a statement that, if the attack was "deliberate," it "may amount to a war crime." Speaking at an annual meeting of Russia experts, President Vladimir Putin complained that his efforts to reach a deal with U.S. President Barack Obama on ending the civil war in Syria have been thwarted by "forces" in Washington. "A united front to defeat terrorism has in fact not been created," Putin said. "In Washington there were forces that did their best to ensure our agreements did not take off." "It seemed that after long negotiations, enormous efforts and complicated compromises, a united front for the struggle against terrorism started taking shape," he said. "However, that did not happen." The Obama administration has accused Moscow of stoking the conflict in Syria with ongoing operations in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his war against Islamic State militants and more moderate groups seeking his ouster. With reporting by Reuters, TASS, and AP A Russian arms trader who is serving a 25-year prison term in the United States after being convicted illegally selling weapons to a Colombian terrorist group has been transferred out of solitary confinement. The detention of Viktor Bout, who was convicted in 2011, has been the focus of persistent criticism by Russian authorities, who have complained he was arrested illegally by U.S. agents in Thailand. Moscow has repeatedly sought to have Bout extradited to Russia, but Washington has refused. Bout has been serving his sentence in a federal prison in Illinois, in a facility that holds inmates convicted on terrorism and other serious crimes. But Bout's wife told Russian news media on October 26 that his lawyer had arranged his transfer to a new facility where conditions are less stringent. "This is the first encouraging news, Alla Bout was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency. For the first time in four years, he will see skies over his head, will have an opportunity to communicate with others." Bout, a former Soviet Air Force officer, became known popularly as the Merchant of Death for running what U.S. officials described as an international arms-trafficking network. He was the inspiration for a 2005 Hollywood movie called Lord of War. Bouts arrest, in a sting operation in Thailand, also prompted Russian authorities to warn citizens traveling abroad about what they said was the danger of being kidnapped by U.S. law enforcement agencies. Based on reporting by TASS and RIA Novosti The first DNA testing system in Tajikistan is doing a brisk business in paternity tests. Technicians at the Dushanbe clinic says most of their clients are migrant workers who have doubts about their partners' fidelity after long stretches apart. (RFE/RL's Tajik Service) The United States has targeted two of Al-Qaeda's most senior leaders in Afghanistan in drone strikes in remote areas of Kunar Province, the Pentagon has said. While the U.S. military is still assessing the results of the weekend strikes, AFP reported that Pentagon officials privately believe they were successful in killing the operatives. AFP also reported witnesses in Kunar saying 15 insurgents were killed in the strikes, including two Arabs and a number of Pakistani Taliban fighters. One of the targets was Faruq al-Qatani, a Qatari national who is Al-Qaeda's leader for northeastern Afghanistan and who was assigned to reestablish safe havens in the country, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said. The other, Bilal al-Utabi, also was involved in reestablishing safe havens from which the militants could threaten the West while recruiting and training foreign fighters, he said. "If these strikes are determined to be successful, eliminating these core leaders of Al-Qaeda will disrupt efforts to plot against the United States and our allies and partners around the world, reduce the threat to our Afghan partners, and assist their efforts to deny Al-Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan," Cook said. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Altria Group Inc., the parent company of cigarette maker Philip Morris USA, will close manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania and Illinois by early 2018, affecting about 580 workers. The Henrico County-based company will move some of the operations of the two plants to South Richmond, where the company operates a nearly 2 million-square-foot manufacturing center that makes half of all the cigarettes consumed in the U.S. Some production also will move to a plant in Nashville, Tenn. The company said about 200 jobs in Richmond and Nashville will be available for the affected workers, if they choose to transfer. One of the closing facilities, in Limerick, Pa., has 280 workers and makes Black & Mild cigars, Middletons Cherry Blend pipe tobacco and other products. Production from that factory will be moved to the companys manufacturing plant in South Richmond. With the relocation, the company expects it will need to fill about 100 positions in Richmond, Altria spokesman Steve Callahan said. It is unclear now how many employees will transfer from the Pennsylvania plant, he said. The facility in Franklin Park, Ill., has 300 workers and makes Copenhagen, Skoal and other smokeless tobacco products. Operations at those facilities will be moved to manufacturing sites in Richmond and to another facility in Nashville. About 100 jobs will be filled at the Nashville plant. Employees without union representation will be eligible for outplacement services and at least six months of severance and benefits, Callahan said. The Illinois plant has union representation, so severance will be negotiated. Workers were told about the closures Thursday morning. The closures are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2018 and would save Altria about $50 million by the end of that year. A New York man suspected of stealing large quantities of cigarettes from convenience stores in the Richmond region was arrested Thursday at a Wawa store in Goochland County after clerks recognized him from two earlier thefts at the store, authorities said. Goochland Sheriff James Agnew said Maurice V. Brunson, 50, of Liverpool, N.Y., was apprehended by Goochland deputy Scott Leabough about 4:30 a.m. Alert clerks at the Wawa, located on U.S. 250 just east of state Route 288, recognized Brunson, who was lingering near the gas pumps, from surveillance photos. Agnew said Brunson was a suspect in the March 21 theft of 60 cartons of cigarettes from the store valued at $3,033, along with an additional 30 cartons of cigarettes on June 26 valued at $1,539. Brunson allegedly would rush into the store and grab a box containing multiple cartons of cigarettes as employees were restocking shelves early in the morning, Agnew said. Video surveillance cameras captured clear photos of the cigarette thief and an accomplice during the March 21 theft, the sheriff said. However, deputies were unable to identify him. The same suspects struck again on June 26, and fingerprints were recovered from the scene. They were identified as belonging to Brunson, and authorities obtained warrants and they were submitted into the National Criminal Information Center computer network, Agnew said. So far, Goochland authorities have charged Brunson with one of the thefts, and Chesterfield police have charged him in two others. He also is a suspect in similar thefts in Goochland and possibly others in the region. Goochland investigators believe that Brunson and his accomplice may have been responsible for numerous other thefts in the Richmond area, Agnew said. County deputies are working to identify the accomplice and expect to charge him once they make a positive identification, Agnew said. Agnew said he believes Brunson and his accomplice were stealing cigarettes here and then driving back to New York and selling them for substantial profit. Cigarette prices are significantly higher in New York, as well as taxes on those goods. Virginia imposes a tax of $3 per carton, the second-lowest in the U.S., while New York state and New York City impose a combined tax of $58.50 a carton, the second-highest in the country. Chesterfield Countys new Midlothian-area elementary school, designed to relieve overcrowding at Watkins and Bettie Weaver Elementary schools, got one step closer to reality Wednesday. Supervisors effectively rubber-stamped the project Wednesday, allowing school officials to close on the 80-acre parcel off Old Hundred Road in the northwestern part of the county. School officials faced the most pushback when it came to the schools size. Watkins Elementary sat at 114 percent capacity last year, and just over 100 more students enrolled this year compared with last year. School leaders want to build a facility designed for 900 students to relieve pressure there and at Bettie Weaver; the countys Comprehensive Plan calls for new elementary schools to be designed for 650 to 700 students. Superintendent James Lane has said the decision came about after the principal of another Chesterfield school noted an overcapacity issue and officials realized that a similar situation could occur at this new school, which will be fed by growing neighborhoods. The additional classroom space will allow the district to keep class sizes smaller, he has said. Supervisors expressed a desire Wednesday that they didnt want to see a bigger school overcrowded or trailers on the site after the school is built. Supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle said after the meeting that a number of factors affect the quality of education, including pupil-teacher ratios and the number of classrooms, that dont necessarily have to do with the schools size. Before the Planning Commission voted to green-light the project last week and advance it to supervisors, Planning Commissioner Michael Jackson said he believed building a bigger school was a way for the School Board to avoid the often-controversial process of redistricting. Roughly 50 people who attended a recent community meeting at Midlothian Middle School got a glimpse of the prototype for the new facility. The project, which was recently accelerated by three years, is one of four new elementary schools to be constructed in the next several years. It was approved in a 2013 bond referendum and is expected to cost $33.4 million, according to the school divisions capital improvement plan. The layout includes a main space with administrative offices, a cafeteria and media center. Three wings of classrooms and smaller common spaces branch off that common space. Its expected to take up about 20 acres of the lot across from the Hallsley subdivision. Lane has said the owners wouldnt consider selling only a portion of their property and that the school system would consider a variety of options for the future of the remaining acreage, including selling it. Lane has declined to say what price has been negotiated. There are two candidates for City Council in the citys 7th District: Cynthia I. Newbille, the current 7th District council representative, who declined to give her age and works as a program officer and medical home coordinator at Richmond Memorial Health Foundation; and Josh Williams, a 29-year-old business owner and member of the National Guard. Heres where they stand on the election and the issues facing the city. What prior government/civic experience do you have? Newbille: East End/7th District City Council Representative (Elected 2009 to present); and last local government position held Chief of Staff, City Managers Office, City of Richmond Williams: Have held no elected positions. What do you believe is the biggest difference between you and your opponents? Newbille: No answer. Williams: I am a leader that will listen to all of the people and groups within the East End. I will involve the East End in development plans and will communicate progress. I will not conduct back door deals and most importantly, I am accessible. I live in the district and am your neighbor. Name one way you plan to improve city schools. Newbille: I will continue to work with the School Board, City Council, the City Administration, the community, and other cross sector partners to identify and codify dedicated City and other funding sources/strategies to support schools new building construction, academic programming, and personnel. Williams: Treat our school funding as a non-negotiable core service that is funded before any other projects. Right the ship for teachers pay to attract and retain the best. Collaborate with all offices to strengthen the RPS administration. Name one way you plan to improve delivery of a basic city service. Newbille: I am meeting with the City administration this month to discuss a plan of action to address current public safety (police and fire) and public works personnel, equipment and facility needs necessary to adequately serve the city, including the identification of funding to address both. Williams: Finally hold accountable the people who are charge and are ineffective and are wasting our tax dollars. We will not accept excuses for wasting the hard earned money of our neighbors. This also goes hand in hand with a non-negotiable funding of our basic services to better our foundation. Describe an ordinance or resolution you hope to pass in your first term on the council. Newbille: An ordinance which identifies and codifies dedicated funding sources, strategies and/or funding formulas for the annual City funding allocation to Richmond Public Schools. Williams: I will seek to present and sponsor actions that will provide and support a true opportunity to decreasing poverty. It will focus on sponsoring people who are unable to gain employment due to a lack of transportation or drivers licenses, education and many other factors. Outside of citywide concerns about schools and basic services, what is the biggest issue facing your district? How do you hope to address it? Newbille: I successfully advocated for and will continue to seek funding and other resources to address our districts 5 major challenges public education, public safety, economic/community development (i.e. transportation, housing, job creation, family services), health and infrastructure enhancements. Williams: Poverty, employment opportunities and home ownership. Sponsor and advocate for the workforce, better GRTC to provide effective transportation, family assistance such as daycare, and provide a path to home ownership instead of perpetuating reduced rent with no hope of ownership. What initiatives/actions of the current mayor and City Council do you support? Newbille: I have and will continue to advocate and support funding for initiatives to address poverty and unemployment holistically, such as the Citys Office of Community Wealth Building which focuses on workforce development, early childhood education, out of school time, college and career planning. Williams: That they have been talking about housing redevelopments for decades. I am glad they are talking about it but it is time to stop kicking the can and start doing it. Our city can make it happen, it will be hard but we will succeed, if we make it a priority. What initiatives/actions of the current mayor and City Council do you oppose? Newbille: No answer. Williams: The inability of council and the city to look ahead and plan our growth. The inability of council and the city to fund our basic services. The inability of council to respond to and represent our neighborhoods. We are tired excuses, being told we dont understand the whole picture or simply ignored. Do you support any of the candidates for mayor? Newbille: No answer. Williams: No answer. Do you oppose any of the candidates for mayor? Newbille: No answer. A Goochland County man was found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday in the June 2015 death of his girlfriend inside her Rockville home. The jury recommended that Lamare Shiron Jennings, 39, be sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder, plus a $100,000 fine, in the slaying of his girlfriend, 44-year-old Leaudrey Salmon. Jurors also recommended life in prison for abduction with the intent to defile and 10 years in prison for robbery, in connection with the murder. A judge will formally sentence Jennings at 11 a.m. on Jan. 9 in Hanover County Circuit Court. In Virginia, judges typically sentence in line with jury recommendations, but they can give shorter terms. In a 911 phone recording played for the jury during a three-day trial, Jennings told Salmon that he didnt believe she loved him and that he was going to kill her. While she screamed loudly, moaned and begged for her life, saying she needed to live for the sake of her children, Jennings gave her demands and continued torturing her. It was during that approximately 20-minute encounter captured on a 911 recording that Jennings expressed anger over his belief that Salmon, a Hanover County school bus driver, had become romantically involved with another man. After having knocked her to the ground, he demanded she get up and walk to various rooms, ultimately toward her bedroom. In the drawn-out brutality, according to evidence in the case, Jennings choked her repeatedly using his hands and a rope, which was left bloodied and covered with Salmons hair. Hanover County prosecutor Mackenzie Babichenko said that after Salmon had been strangled and left limp, Jennings used a knife to slit her throat three times from one end of her neck to the other. This entire case is about jealousy and control and power, Babichenko told the jury, adding that Jennings had premeditated her death, ultimately killing her in a deliberate fashion. He wasnt letting her go anywhere. He was calling the shots, Babichenko said. After a 911 phone call was placed from a wireless landline phone inside Salmons home, the dispatcher was greeted with Salmon screaming and Jennings in the background demanding: Get up! Get up! The Sheriffs Office called back. Prosecutors believe it was then that Salmon answered the phone unbeknownst to Jennings, who confiscated the phone and put it in his pocket as he brutalized Salmon from room to room. Jennings had taken both Salmons landline and cellphones, according to authorities. After the murder, he used Salmons cellphone to call his longtime friend and ex-girlfriend, Kristina Smith of Midlothian, who referred to Jennings as a friend and lover in an email to Jennings weeks ago while he awaited his trial, according to prosecutors. Jennings murdered Salmon at about 11:30 p.m. on June 5, 2015, inside her home in the 11400 block of Pinhook Road in Rockville, according to authorities. Salmons body was left in a pool of her own blood in her bedroom. The lights were off when deputies arrived, the doors to her bedroom and home were shut, and Jennings had fled in his truck just as deputies were nearing the crime scene, according to authorities. Jennings, who testified that he drank alcohol during much of the evening, wrecked his truck while fleeing and then managed to get to the ATV of a former employer on a horse breeding farm. Jennings took the ATV and used it as his new getaway vehicle, authorities said. During the 2 days when Jennings was wanted for Salmons murder, he got rid of Salmons cellphone, burned his clothes and stayed overnight with Smith, according to evidence presented in court. He also spent time with other friends. Smith testified that she questioned Jennings about what he had done pertaining to Salmon but that Jennings wouldnt detail exactly what had transpired. Jennings testified Wednesday that he was enraged, hurt and intoxicated the night of his girlfriends death. He said they had dated for about eight months. Jennings, who has a long rap sheet of felony convictions, said his memory of exactly what he did to Salmon the night of her death was spotty. It was really bad. It was horrible, and I still dont understand it, Jennings said of his actions. Yes, I do remember choking her. He added that everything was just a blur that night. The Hanover County Sheriffs Office quickly identified Jennings as a suspect and searched for him with the assistance of state police and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, ultimately finding him more than two days later at the Red Roof Inn on Commerce Road in South Richmond. Hanover sheriffs investigator Frank Wayne said that after Jennings was caught, he asked: How did yall find me? After the jury recommended the lengthy sentences, family members gathered on the courthouse stairs and expressed gratitude for the jury and the thorough work done by investigators. They described Salmon as a loving woman who constantly thought about her family members. Harold Salmon, Leaudrey Salmons estranged husband, testified that she was a caring woman who volunteered in the community, including for Habitat for Humanity. He said that her family has been devastated by her death. There appeared to be little disagreement among the 130 people at the Richmond Times-Dispatchs 68th Public Square: Poverty is the root of some of societys biggest problems, especially in Richmond. From there, opinions diverged. Can concentrated poverty be blamed for the rash of police shootings in America, as columnist Mark Holmberg has suggested several times in The Times-Dispatch? Or are the shootings a function of long-standing racial prejudice against African-Americans? Will Holmbergs Act Right Movement, which encourages respectful behavior, help solve the problem? A diverse audience debated the topic with a panel of four speakers, including Holmberg, on Thursday afternoon at The Times-Dispatchs office in downtown Richmond. Police shootings are not the problem, Holmberg said. They are a problem, but theyre a symptom that we havent dealt with for generations. Fellow panelist Osita Iroegbu, an educator and activist who grew up in Hillside Court in South Richmond, said police shootings are the symptom of widespread racial bias and she encouraged the audience to step out of the comfort zone of white privilege. Citing a recent study of life expectancy in Richmond, she wondered how fair it would be to tell a child raised in a public housing complex that he would likely die 20 years earlier than a child born on the West End because he wasnt behaving properly. What did that child do to deserve my telling them or you telling them hes going to die quicker because he didnt act right? Iroegbu said. It has nothing to do with the individual in that case. Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham, a panelist, said his officers have better relationships with the citys residents than officers have in cities such as Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore sites of high-profile police officer-involved deaths of African-Americans. Still, its incumbent on everyone officers and residents alike to act right, Durham said. Stewart Morris, an African-American audience member who lives in Richmond, said he worried about what would happen if he got pulled over by police officers and divulged having a concealed weapons permit. He asked Durham if his officers are trained on what to do if they pull over a black man with a legally concealed weapon. I dont want to be shot, man, Morris said. Durham said from May 28 through Aug. 31, the police department confiscated 176 guns during a roundup of fugitives and firearms. About 24,000 people were contacted by the police during the roundup. Guess how many were shot. None, Durham said. Were doing something right here, ladies and gentlemen, and thats why I refuse for folks to come and talk about beating up my police department, your police department. It was the most rancorous part of a conversation that had the potential to become explosive but remained civil. One person was escorted out for violating the rules by live-streaming the discussion. Midlothian resident Eddy Johnston, a member of the audience, said Holmbergs Act Right Movement makes perfect sense, but he attended Thursdays discussion because he realizes there are other points of view and he wanted to learn more. Communitywide discussions are a critical step in solving the problem, he said. Audience member Carolyn Loftin of Richmond said the nations history of racial discrimination has so traumatized African-Americans that some people are incapable of acting right during their encounters with police officers. If Im in a fight-or-flight mode, acting right is going to be the last thing on my mind, Loftin said. Yes, in a perfect world, we will act right, but we live in a society that has disincentivized black and impoverished people from being able to act accordingly. Jacquelyn Small Thomas of Richmond, another audience member, said she shouldnt have to worry about her 12- and 13-year-old grandsons walking down the street with a toy gun. After a day of tug of war over conflicting testimony and interpretations of evidence, both the prosecution and defense rested Wednesday in the trial of a Henrico County police officer accused of shooting into a car and injuring a passenger last December. Joel D. Greenway, of Sandston, is charged with malicious wounding, shooting into an occupied vehicle and use of a firearm in a felony. Greenway took the stand Wednesday, the third day of what was expected to be a week-long trial, repeating and even re-enacting parts of an interview he had given two days after the incident with police that jurors previously watched on video. Greenway told the jury that even though the interview began with the detectives reciting his Miranda rights, he believed he was helping them investigate drug activity and attempted capital murder of a police officer, rather than his actions that night. It wasnt until weeks later that he realized he was the suspect. At about 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 15, Greenway approached the passenger side of a car idling in the reserved spots a nickname cops gave the parking spaces beside an Exxon station on Nine Mile Road, an area known for drug activity. The driver, Robert Davis, and passenger, Kimberly McNeil, who was dating Davis at the time, both admitted to getting high on cocaine and heroin earlier that day evidence of the drugs were found in their systems and in the car, but neither were charged. Both testified earlier that the man never identified himself as a police officer and opened fire on the car before it pulled away. McNeil was struck four times including once in the back of the head. She is still recovering, walks with a cane and has a traumatic brain injury. Greenway, who was in uniform that night, said he didnt start shooting until Davis drove the car into him. Upon cross-examination, Greenway admitted that he shouldnt have stood in front of the car, that he should have called for backup and activated his body camera violations of police policies and procedures proving malice, prosecutors said; but he did not break criminal laws, according to the defense. Officer Parke Smith, who accompanied McNeil to VCU Medical Center, said at the hospital McNeil and Davis, also accompanied by an officer, were placed in neighboring beds separated by a curtain. He overheard a conversation the couple had and testified on behalf of the defense. Reading from his notes from about 12:45 a.m. on Dec. 16, Smith said he heard McNeil say, I told you he was the police. Prosecutors rebutted the testimony with their own evidence: body-worn camera footage from the officer accompanying Davis. The video showed Davis lying on a hospital bed with his head in a vise. In the background, a woman could be heard moaning and screaming, My head hurts. Davis called out to Kim. She responded in affirmation. I knew it was (inaudible pause) I told you no dont and you took off, McNeil said from the other side of the curtain. He shot me up. He shot me up. If you wouldnt have pulled off, he wouldnt have shot us. The officer with Davis testified that he did not hear McNeil say police during a pause in the conversation. That was the last piece of evidence the jury heard. The panel is made up of seven men and seven women, including two alternates who will be excused before the jury begins deliberations this morning. At least seven guns were discharged and 70 shots were fired at an illegal mansion party last month at which two partygoers were killed inside a home under construction in an upscale Chesterfield County neighborhood, a prosecutor disclosed Thursday during bond hearings for two of the seven young men charged in the case. The seven defendants allegedly were members of a gang known as STG, and at least two of the defendants Dijon Bowles and Kendric R. Hill, both 20 were seen in a photograph obtained by police leaving the scene of a July 24 killing in Richmond, the prosecutor said in Chesterfield General District Court during arguments that bail should not be set for either defendant. The specific Richmond homicide was not mentioned in court, but it matches a fatal shooting that occurred that day at an apartment building near Virginia Commonwealth University that killed one person and wounded two others. Erick R. McCorkle, 24, of Henrico County was killed in the July shooting. About a month later, Richmond police arrested Tavario E. Gates, 20, of Chester and charged him with conspiracy to commit murder, felony possession of a firearm and possession of a concealed weapon in the slaying. Kenneth Nickels, deputy Chesterfield commonwealths attorney, also disclosed during Thursdays bond hearings for Bowles and Hill that police have obtained a photograph of Bowles holding an AK-47-style rifle and that he has a prior conviction in Richmond for carrying a concealed weapon. Court records show that Bowles was convicted Oct. 14, 2015, and given a 12-month suspended jail term. A second charge of buying or receiving a stolen firearm was withdrawn by prosecutors. In seeking bail for their clients, attorneys for Bowles and Hill told the court that neither of the young men participated in the fatal shootings of Duval Turner, 22, of Richmond and Marc Starkes, 24, of Amelia County. The men were shot Sept. 4 during a party where hundreds of young people had gathered inside a home in the 15000 block of Chesdin Green Way in the community of Chesdin Landing. The party had been promoted on Instagram and other social media and drew up to 300 young people from across the region, according to police. It wasnt clear how many of the partygoers were armed. Nickels said police have so far recovered 10 firearms as a result of search warrants served on the defendants homes, but they have not yet been matched forensically with the 70-some shell casings found at the scene. Police believe at least seven firearms were discharged during the party, the prosecutor said. Attorney Russell Bowles, who was appointed to represent Dijon Bowles, acknowledged that his client was at the party and had given a friend who drove him there his 9 mm Glock to temporarily hold in lieu of gas money. Dijon Bowles, the driver and another defendant, Devontrey Harris, arrived at the party about 10:30 p.m. and stayed late, Russell Bowles who is not related to his client told the court. Russell Bowles said his client observed a confrontation break out between two young men during the party before hearing a gun owned by one of the men go off. Dijon Bowles and Harris fled to their car and waited until the driver arrived and they heard other gunshots ring out before they all drove off together. They ended up at a fast food restaurant on West Broad Street. Bowles said his client had not consumed any alcohol or marijuana at the party and emphasized that he didnt have anything to do with shooting anybody. Bowles told the court that his client is a 2015 graduate of Huguenot High School and now works in a body shop. Judge Keith N. Hurley denied setting bond even a high bond for either of the two defendants. After the hearing, Nickels said he didnt know what the gang name STG signified or whether it was a subset of the Gangster Disciples, as some have suggested. One of the defendants has said STG stands for Stain life and describes a collection or group of friends rather than a formal gang, according to one legal source. STG also can refer to a formal or informal group of inmates who form prison gangs that law enforcement officials have labeled Security Threat Group, which authorities used to de-emphasize the term gang. Luis Franco, an 82-year-old Henrico man, was hit by a car and killed while walking along Quioccasin Road near the intersection with Westridge Road Thursday morning. According to police, Franco was hit shortly before 7 a.m. while walking near Quioccasin Middle School. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Roanoke police released the identities of the four FreightCar America employees shot Tuesday morning. Daniel Wesley Brown, 56, of Montvale, died after an ex-employee shot and killed him inside the paint shop at the Campbell Avenue plant shortly after 6 a.m., police said. Browns girlfriend, Vickie Hawkins, said Brown worked at FreightCar America for eight years, most recently as a fitter. He liked his job, she said. He liked the people he worked with. From what I gather, he didnt seem to have any issues with anybody there. Keith Dwayne Law, 31, of Rocky Mount; Gary David Koran, 32, of Roanoke; and Travis Jose Valderrama, 31, of Catawba were wounded in the shooting. The victims were treated at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. One person was discharged Tuesday afternoon, and hospital spokesman Chris Turnbull said that as of Wednesday morning, the remaining two are listed in fair condition. Valderramas mother, Doris Valderrama of Martinsville, said Wednesday that her son had been released from the hospital. He was the one who was grazed, Doris Valderrama said. He got out yesterday. Police identified Getachew Fekede, 53, as the shooter. He is believed to have killed himself. Fekede, who was from Kenya and lived in Roanoke, worked at FreightCar America through March. He did not show up for work for three days, and the company terminated him, police said. The shooting unfolded shortly after 6 a.m. at the location known as Norfolk Southerns East End Shops along Campbell Avenue Southeast. Roanoke police Chief Tim Jones said Fekede rode a bike to the plant, although its unclear how he got onto the property. Jones said he was not sure what security measures were in place at the facility. Police responded to the plant for reports of gunfire at 6:02 a.m. Jones said the gunman fired 10 rounds from a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Police are still working to determine the motivation for the shooting, but Jones has said it appears to have been workplace-related. Police are also still trying to determine if Fekede targeted the victims. Hawkins said Brown, who was a welder, knew who Fekede was but he never talked about him. We talked work all the time and he never expressed concerns about safety, Hawkins said. One employee who worked at FreightCar America with Brown said he said had a really good heart. The employee spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern for violating company policy against speaking to the media. Daniel always had a lot to say and he was never shy about telling you how he felt or what he thought, even if it wasnt complimentary, he said. The employee said he worked with Brown in the paint shop before the employee got promoted. Im sure he would have been a great supervisor or foreman, but he didnt want the headache of it, Im sure, he said. LORAIN, OHIO Former Saturday Night Live comedian Al Franken is in his second term as a U.S. senator and, to paraphrase one of his SNL bits, doggone it, people like him. So it made sense, even just for comic relief, for the Minnesota Democrat to join Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, for campaign events Thursday in battleground Ohio. Kaine began his Ohio stay Wednesday night in Cleveland, attending Game 2 of the Indians-Cubs World Series with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. On Thursday morning, Kaine and Franken stopped by a Service Employees International Union hall in Cleveland to encourage union members to support the Democratic ticket. Franken, who during his days as a comedian famously could draw the entire map of the United States, with state borders, knows what everyone else does Ohio is a crucial state for Democrats and Republicans in the Nov. 8 presidential election. Polls show the presidential candidates essentially deadlocked in the Buckeye State. And with an ongoing down-ticket battle between U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and his Democratic challenger, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, the next 12 days also could determine control of Senate. Its going to be a close one in Ohio, Franken said. GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has campaigned in the Buckeye State more than any other 12 times. He had three stops scheduled in Ohio on Thursday. In remarks prepared for delivery in Ohio, Trump planned to focus on the Affordable Care Act, saying: Obamacare is a catastrophe for Ohio workers. At the union hall in Cleveland, Franken urged supporters of Kaine and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to work hard until Election Day. I know many of you have jobs, many of you have families, he told the 75 or so union members, many of them wearing purple SEIU shirts. Ignore them. Continuing in tongue-in-cheek mode, Franken said, Kids love it when their parents arent home, and noted that an 8-year-old can operate a microwave and teach a 4-year-old to operate a microwave. Its a scientific fact, he said. And we Democrats believe in science. Kaine urged the workers to rally behind Clinton, calling Ohio a checkmate state for Democrats. Win here, he says, and its impossible to lose the White House. If we win Ohio, the race is over, he said. He even let Franken play straight man, when the Minnesota senator explained how Kaine had been a mayor, lieutenant governor, governor and U.S. senator. I cant keep a job, Kaine quipped. The union presented Kaine with a T-shirt that read, Were kicking ass, for the working class. Kaine looked at the size and said, Extra large? He remarked that he has lost weight on the campaign trail. Shari Farrar, 60, enjoyed the Franken-Kaine show, but wasnt joking when she said she would support Kaine. I think he is an all-around good guy, she said, adding that Kaines background as a civil rights attorney and missionary made her vote matter. His history makes me feel like he will go there and listen to the things that are important to me. No laughing matter Kaine and Franken continued their Happy Warrior tour with a lunchtime stop in a small, struggling city hit hard by the loss of auto and steel jobs. Franken pointed out that Lorain, in northeastern Ohio, is the home of his former Saturday Night Live colleague Don Novello, known for portraying the character Father Guido Sarducci on the hit show. Kaine also remarked that it was the first rally where he has been greeted by a high school marching band. Im going to demand that my staff have a high school band at every rally from this point forward, he said. Its so much more fun. But both portrayed what has happened to Lorain, and the stakes in the presidential election, as no laughing matter. Located about 30 miles west of Cleveland on the shores of Lake Erie, Lorain was home to a Ford Motor Co. plant that shuttered in 2005. In his remarks, Kaine also went after Trump for using steel imported from China in some of his building projects. He could buy steel from Ohio or Pennsylvania, but he is buying steel from China, Kaine told a modest crowd of roughly 350 students, local officials and community supporters gathered in the Lorain High School gymnasium. He is going to tell you how tough he is going to be on China ... and how great he is going to be for jobs, but hes had chances to help American jobs his whole life. Nobody knows this better than you guys. Illegal steel dumping from China has cost 1,200 jobs here in Lorain. In the campaigns final two weeks, Kaine and Democratic surrogates pivot in each speech to the importance of getting out the vote and not taking the polls for granted. I am the poster boy for every vote mattering, said Franken, who won his first U.S. Senate race by 312 votes in 2008. Kenyon College Kaine wrapped up his day at Kenyon College in rural Gambier, Ohio, about an hour northeast of Columbus. The rally before an enthusiastic crowd of more than 1,100 students and community supporters was Kaines third stop at a college in a battleground state in the last two days. My high school grades wouldnt have gotten me into Kenyon, but I made it to Kenyon! I made it to Kenyon! Kaine told the crowd. This is so cool. But it was at Kenyon where the candidate encountered his first protesters of the swing a handful of students who want the Clinton-Kaine ticket to register opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline, which would stretch for 1,172 miles across four states from North Dakota to Illinois. The pipeline would come close to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Opponents say it could result in water contamination and could threaten sites the tribe considers sacred. The students interrupted Kaines remarks and raised a banner in the crowd that read in part, What side of history will you be on? We support the campaign, said sophomore Teahelahn Keithrafferty, noting that she and the several other protesters had already voted for the Clinton-Kaine ticket. We want them to support us. Virginia has begun using the money it saves by imprisoning fewer juveniles to provide services to troubled youths in communities across the state. The state has signed contracts with two companies one based in Tampa, Fla., and the other in Arlington County to coordinate services for youths in the juvenile justice system in their communities instead of Virginias shrinking youth prisons. AMIkids, based in Tampa, will coordinate services in the eastern and southern regions, including Richmond and Henrico and Chesterfield counties and points south, while Evidence Based Associates will act as service coordinator for the northern, central and western regions. They will begin providing services Jan. 1 under two-year contracts signed this month. The initiative aims to keep kids closer to home and provide service where they need it and when they need it, Valerie Boykin, deputy director for community services at the Department of Juvenile Justice, told a state task force Thursday. The plan to transform the juvenile justice system depends on using savings from the scheduled closing of Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center in Powhatan County next June and the eventual replacement of the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center with smaller facilities for youths who are required by their court sentences and offenses to be kept in secure settings. The General Assembly agreed this year to allow the department to close Beaumont and build a 64-bed secure correctional facility in Chesapeake to house youths from Hampton Roads and eastern Virginia, and reinvest the savings in alternative programs to house some juveniles in local detention centers or other, less confined settings. The state also wants to build a second, 88-bed facility in the Richmond area, most likely at Bon Air or the site of a former youth prison in Hanover County. The state already has committed more than $6.4 million in savings from declining prison populations in alternatives, primarily community placement programs to house state-controlled youth in local detention homes in Chesterfield and seven other jurisdictions. Advocates continue to argue for smaller prisons than the state plans for youths who require secure confinement because of their crimes, but they praise the awarding of the contracts to coordinate community services that Virginia hopes to expand with the money it saves from closing big prisons. The most critical state of the transformation is that those supports and services are in place and that they are in place statewide, said Amy Woolard, attorney for the JustKids Program at the Legal Aid Justice Center and a member of the RISE Coalition for Youth. Woolard and other advocates cite a new study by the Harvard Kennedy School and National Institute of Justice that calls for closing every youth prison in the country and replacing them with community-based programs and small facilities near the youths communities. Juvenile Justice Director Andrew K. Block Jr. said the report largely adopts our framework for reform and spotlights Virginias plan to reduce, reform, replace, reinvest in the system. If we are able to see through the development of the statewide continuum (of services), it will help more kids and more families to be successful in their communities, which is everybodys goal, Block said in an interview. The new regional service coordinators will help the state develop those services across the state, including regions that have few options now. Unfortunately, now many kids get services by where they live, said Boykin, former director of the Norfolk Court Services Unit. The coordinators will provide a single point of access for referring youths to services and paying for them, ensure consistent service quality, and measure the results for the state. It seems to me the outcome measurement piece is going to be absolutely critical, said task force member Jeffrey Aaron, a clinical psychologist for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The state will have to rebuild its menu of services, including residential options such as group homes and halfway houses, which were slashed because of budget cuts during the recession and recovery. Services include cognitive skills training to help youths understand and change how they make decisions, clinical services such as substance abuse and sex offender treatment, assessments of mental health and other disorders, and monitoring of youths in less confined settings. Developing those services will take one to two years to ensure they are distributed evenly across the state, Block told the task force. Were making sure we have services for every court and every community. WASHINGTON The system is rigged and the polls are phony. As E-Day draws nigh, Donald Trump and his spokesvolken have contrived every possible excuse for the Republican candidates likely defeat. Unless, of course, lying has caught on big league and voters have followed their leaders cue and given pollsters incorrect answers. Multiple poll results released in the final days, most of which indicate a consistent trend of Hillary Clinton winning, are suddenly suspect, in Trumps mind. Obviously, everyone has a favorite polling group, usually corresponding to ones preference at the top. But enough reputable polls show similar results to lend heft to mere probability. Even so, it aint over till it is, one is wise to say. Trump may be spinning polls for other reasons, too. Knowing how malleable people can be, he may hope to shift perceptions lest potential supporters be swayed by polls tilting Clinton-ward. If Trump hates losers, his comrades in arms (and thats no joke) probably do, too. Perhaps the strongest indicator that Trump will lose is his own premature distribution of blame. As far as he is concerned, defeat couldnt be his fault. The obvious truth is that Trump never should have been the Republican nominee, as even Trump probably would admit. When he descended the escalator to announce his candidacy, he was at just 1 percent a barely perceptible speck on the continuum of Republican candidates. He was ignored or at least not taken seriously by nearly everyone for good reason. And when he started spouting hot rhetoric, few in in the GOP leadership worried much since hed surely be moving along any day. This was not to be, in part because, as Trump commented laughing to a friend, who told me: I had no idea it would be so easy. Translation: Once he realized he was dealing with a bunch of suckers, he continued to play them. What fun and, voila. The suckers of whom he was speaking are the party leadership, specifically: Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and RNC communications director Sean Spicer. If these names dont ring a bell, congratulations, you dont watch TV. Because Priebus, when not jetting around with Trump on his gold-plated private plane, and Spicer are on one talk show or another nearly every time you look at a cable news screen. Theyve worn more makeup the past year than most women do in a lifetime. Theyre having the time of their lives, as one tenured-Washington Republican put it. Theyre the elephants in the Green Room, in other words. Everyone sees them clearly but manages to avoid speaking openly of the obvious that Priebus has presided over the ruin of the Republican Party. Why isnt he being held accountable? Why isnt he being called to the mat for allowing Trumps rise, which might not have been possible had the party chair done his job? Why was everyone willing to stand by and watch this reality-TV character take charge? Because [Priebus] is their boy, a disgruntled top Republican told me. Hes given them what they wanted. Hes kept the money flowing. Where the money flows, the love goes. In politics, it seems, principle really means principal. The RNC gang sold out. When Trump launched his campaign by ranting about undocumented Mexicans as murderers and rapists, the party leadership should have shouted him down. Priebus should have summoned Trump to Washington and explained how things were going to go. He might have handed Trump the GOPs autopsy report from the 2012 election and referred him to the Hispanics section of the chapter on cultivating Demographic Partners, saying: This is what youre going to do from now on. Would Trump have agreed? Probably not. But then Priebus should have said: Well, then, Ill have to break you down during the primaries. At every opportunity, Priebus should have made the case that Trump, who eventually alienated not just Hispanics but also African-Americans and women, doesnt represent the Republican Party. Instead, Priebus and others feared a base that hadnt formed around Trump yet and, by their inaction, contributed to Trumps success. By letting Trump rise to the top, as oil slicks tend to, Priebus has left the party in such a gelatinous mess, Republicans will need a hazmat team to clean it up. And for this, hed like to serve a third term? Once youve seen the lights, smelled the greasepaint and been the celebritys apprentice, it must be hard to go back to Jersey. So what was it they were trying to kill? After all, the sign standing near the Tallahatchie River is cratered by dozens of bullet holes. More than idle target practice, it suggests a frenzy of gunfire, an attempt to kill something. And the something is not really that hard to name. Memory. They sought to assassinate memory. The damaged sign, discovered last week and posted to Facebook by student filmmaker Kevin Wilson Jr., marks the spot where the body of Emmett Till, barbed wire around his neck tying him to a 75-pound fan from a cotton gin, surfaced 61 years ago. He had traveled to the nothing town of Money, Miss., to visit family for the summer. Emmett, a 14-year-old black boy from Chicago unschooled in the ways of the Jim Crow South, accepted a schoolboy dare: Bet you wont whistle at that white woman in the store. He carried out the challenge, wolf-whistling at 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant. Four days later, her husband, Roy Bryant, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, came for him in the dark of night. The body that was pulled from the Tallahatchie River three days afterward barely resembled a human being, much less a prankish boy. It was bloated to the point of shapelessness and had been savagely beaten. An eye had been gouged out. There was a bullet hole in the skull. The brothers freely admitted the kidnapping. A witness placed Milam at a barn inside of which he said he heard a child being tortured. Yet jurors acquitted them in under an hour. One said it took that long only because they stopped to drink pop. Emmetts mother, Mamie Till Mobley, insisted on an open casket funeral. She said she wanted the world to see what had happened to her child in America. The world saw and was horrified. African-Americans saw and seethed with a familiar outrage that was old even then. Four months later, an Alabama seamstress named Rosa Parks refused a bus drivers demand for her seat. There are those who say the two events were not unrelated. And here, perhaps the reader looks to the writer for assurance that while you can vandalize a sign you cannot, in fact, murder memory. The writer has no such assurance to give. Whoever destroyed that sign represents, albeit crudely, an emerging American consensus. It says that things which give us pain are better off forgotten, some memories better off dead. So you get Cal Thomas and Snoop Dogg complaining that Roots has been remade. And textbooks teaching slavery as immigration. And Margaret Biser, a docent on a Southern plantation, writing of being scolded once that talking about slave life is bringing down America. Forget about it, they say. Forget Rubin Stacy and Mary Turner. Forget Trayvon Martin. Forget Emmett Till. Wed never say, Forget Anne Frank. That would be like killing her all over again. But then, America bears no conscience scars there. In its intransigence and hatred it did, however, kill Emmett. Nor is this the first time the marker of that tragedy has been damaged. In Mississippi such markers are often vandalized. With spray paint and guns or just refusal and denial, some of us seek to murder memory. But others of us stand stubbornly in memorys defense. One is glad to hear money is being raised to replace the sign. Besides, even if you kill memory, you do not escape the past. America is shaped by Emmett Tills death and always will be, even if we no longer know his name. We make history. But history makes us, too. Decorum matters, but theres a line between decorum and pearl-clutching. State election officials crossed it this week when they suspended a registrar from an email list. Cameron Sasnett, the registrar for Fairfax, was quite properly outraged to find absentee voter applications from August and September had been sent from the state to his system only recently. Where in the hell were these?!?! he asked in a message to the listserv, a group email list. Elizabeth Howard, a deputy commissioner for the Virginia Department of Elections, suspended his posting privileges over his unprofessional and discourteous communication. After the story broke Tuesday evening, Commissioner of Elections Edgar Cortes said Sasnett would be reinstated Wednesday morning. Couple of points: First, if Sasnetts message went too far, then the standards of conduct for the listserv look positively Victorian. We know churchgoing little old ladies who use saltier language, for Petes sake. (Note to election officials: Where do you stand on Petes sake?) The bigger issue is that the controversy ignores the bigger issue namely, the failure to ensure that absentee voter applications promptly get where they need to be. Sasnett had every reason to use strong language. Its telling that Cortes says Sasnett was not suspended simply for criticizing the state operation: If that was the case, wed probably have half the registrars at this point not able to send to the list. Really? Thats not exactly a ringing endorsement of the states performance, is it? SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China is still testing a scheme to include off-balance sheet financing in assessing the health of commercial banks before rolling it out more widely, an influential newspaper quoted the central bank's top economist as saying. The scheme is designed to give the authorities a better sense of, and control over, the country's growing debt problem and underscores worries among analysts that unsustainable credit could hit an already-slowing economy hard. "The central bank is collecting relevant data and doing tests at the moment," Ma Jun, chief economist of the central bank's research bureau, said in an interview with China Business Network published on Thursday. "The central bank will continue to study the timing and the plan, and will guide commercial banks to strengthen the risk management of their off-balance sheet businesses," Ma said, adding that it would ultimately be implemented in a smooth way. Sources told Reuters this week that the People's Bank of China would make changes to its so-called Macro Prudential Assessment (MPA) risk tool to broaden its regulatory oversight to include wealth management products often sold by banks and not counted on their balance sheets. By mid-year, the total amount of wealth management products, or WMPs, at banks was 26.3 trillion yuan (3 trillion pounds) - equal to about a third of GDP last year - and up 12 percent from the beginning of the year, according to the latest report by the banking sector's WMP registration and custodian centre. Banks' WMPs are mainly invested in bonds, deposits, and so-called "non-standard assets", which are mainly credit-like financial products. Zhou Hao, senior emerging market economist at Commerzbank AG in Singapore, wrote in a note that the new rules would apparently require banks to reserve more capital. "This is part of the 'risk control' policy package as shadow banking activities have picked up strongly due to monetary easing," Zhou wrote, adding that Chinese authorities have also become wary of a property bubble. Story continues Reuters reported in July that China's banking regulator was drafting new rules to tighten control over the sprawling WMP industry. "The most important indications are that WMP yields will continue to fall and the phrase of rapid expansion of WMPs will be over. But the slowing growth of bank WMPs will be good news for other types of asset management products," said Ma Kunpeng, chief financial sector analyst at China Merchants Securities. The central bank introduced the macro-prudential regime at the beginning of this year. The new assessment system has also been used to monitor banks' interest pricing to prevent them from engaging in "vicious competition". (Reporting by John Ruwitch and Winni Zhou in Shanghai and Zhang Shu in Beijing; Editing by Eric Meijer) Longwood University would absorb New College Institute in Martinsville as an affiliate location and eventually take over its assets under the latest recommendation for the higher-education center. NCIs board of directors is scheduled Thursday to consider the plan recommended by Peter Blake, director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, that would establish an 18-month timeline for bringing the institute under Longwoods control. Longwood President Taylor Reveley said Wednesday that the plan is still very early in gestation, and though his board has been briefed on the proposal, no vote has been taken. Ultimately, this is really a decision for the General Assembly and the governor, he said, and not something to be decided solely by NCI and Longwood. On SCHEVs recommendation, NCI asked Longwood to explore the possibility, he said. Its a natural fit, Reveley said, given that Longwood is NCIs longest-running partner. NCI provides access to bachelors degree completion programs, masters degrees, teacher recertification courses and other certification programs through partnerships with colleges and universities. Leanna Blevins, NCIs acting executive director, said Longwood was the centers first academic partner when it opened in 2006 and has remained committed to growing programs at NCI and in the region through technology to off-campus sites. Blevins said the board has explored other options recently, such as keeping NCI as a higher education center; partnering with area community colleges and private colleges; and affiliating with the Virginia Community College System if it is authorized to offer baccalaureate degrees. Longwood which is located in Farmville, about two hours from Martinsville was not one of the options five years ago when NCI explored becoming a branch campus of a public university. At that time, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia State, Old Dominion, Radford and George Mason universities were under consideration as part of a search led by retired VCU President Eugene Trani. In September 2011, NCIs board backed away from the search, citing the uncertain economic climate, but said establishing a branch campus would remain the ultimate goal. Reveley said that if the new plan is approved, NCI would become administratively a part of Longwood, similar to how the university offers classes at off-campus locations, rather than a branch campus. Branch campus is a technical term of art from an accreditation standpoint, he said. Establishing a true branch campus would require a duplication of administrative functions he does not foresee immediately. But he noted that many of Virginias public universities got their start as administrative parts of a home university, mainly either the University of Virginia or the College of William and Mary. Its still genuinely very early in the whole realm of considerations, he said. Blake said he recommended Longwood because of its commitment to educational partnerships, not just in the Martinsville region but throughout southern Virginia. This approach is fully aligned with its mission for regional prosperity and advancement, he said by email. Longwood also has the leadership needed to make this a successful endeavor. Under SCHEVs proposal, Longwood would retain NCIs partnership with Patrick Henry and Danville community colleges. The plan also envisions unifying all or parts of the educational assets in the region under a single-governance unit. NCI was established to offer educational opportunities in a region economically devastated by the collapse of manufacturing. It is state-supported but received a $50 million commitment from the Harvest Foundation, a nonprofit organization established using proceeds from the sale of Martinsvilles Memorial Hospital. I see this as part of our public mission to increase baccalaureate opportunities in Southside Virginia, Reveley said. With the arrival of ghouls and ghosties right around the corner, you may be scrambling to make some last-minute plans. Whether its a romantic spooky date for two, or somewhere to take the kids for safe trick or treating, The Roanoke Times Halloween calendar has you covered. From Edgar Allan Poe-inspired live theater to Twilight Zone-inspired art to classic Trunk or Treat events to pumpkins galore, you certainly wont come up short for things to do this weekend. So get dressed up as your favorite presidential candidate or as Eleven from Stranger Things and head on out for some Halloween fun. Just remember to stay safe and have a spook-tacular holiday. THURSDAY & FRIDAY Poe Dark Genius, Troubled Life Inventor of the detective story genre, considered by many to be Americas first professional writer and an undisputed influence on countless artists since his time, Edgar Allan Poes short life was marked by tragedy and loss that often overshadowed his artistic legacy. Journey into the mind of this American genius. For more information, visit radford.edu. 7:30 p.m. Pridemore Playhouse, Radford University, Radford. $10 general; $6 seniors. 831-5420. FRIDAY & SATURDAY Poe: A Theatrical Exploration of the Mysterious and Macabre The 40-minute new work, adapted and directed by Mill Mountain Theatres Alicia Varcoe, brings to the stage some of Edgar Allan Poes most beloved works, including The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart and The Bells. The cast and crew features middle and high school students from the Mill Mountain Theatre Conservancys pre-professional training program. Visit millmountain.org for more information. Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 1 and 3 p.m. Mill Mountain Theatre, Waldron Stage, 20 Church Ave. S.E., Roanoke. Pay what you wish. 342-5740. 17th Annual Haunted House Appropriate for kids 12 and younger. Benefiting the areas fallen firefighters. 5 to 10 p.m. Putt-Putt Fun Center, 6801 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke. $6. 353-4390. Twilight Gallery A surreal tribute to the timeless classic The Twilight Zone. The Twilight Gallery will feature eerie, thought-provoking and even playful works from local playwrights that will lead guests on a journey through the dimension of imagination. 8 to 9:30 p.m. June McBroom Theatre, 302 Campbell Ave. S.E., Roanoke. $10. 804-539-1061. FRIDAY >>> SUNDAY A Mourning Hollow A romantic comedy set in the town of Plains Hollow, Missouri, on Halloween night. A Mourning Hollow is a collection of eight vignettes exploring the process of grief in a small town. For more information, call or visit showtimers.org. Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Showtimers Theatre, 2067 McVitty Road, Roanoke. $14. 774-2660. FRIDAY >>> MONDAY Into the Woods All of your favorite characters Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and his beanstalk and the Witch meet and interact in this whimsical fairy tale about wishes, family and the choices we make. Visit historicmasonictheatre.com to purchase tickets. 7 to 9:30 p.m. Historic Masonic Theatre, 510 Main St., Clifton Forge. Prices vary. 862-5655. FRIDAY >>> NOV. 5 Operation Troop Treats Every child who donates 25 pieces of unopened Halloween candy in its original packaging at a Kool Smiles office will receive one toy. The collected candy will be sent in care packages to U.S. service members stationed overseas via Operation Gratitude. All day. Kool Smiles Roanoke, 5002 Airport Road N.W., Unit 130, Roanoke. Free. 362-5437. FRIDAY Halloween Party With music from Five Dollar Shake, a costume contest, snacks, dancing and more. 8 p.m. to midnight. Clam Diggers Seafood, 109 S. Bridge St., Bedford. Free. 587-6727. SATURDAY Halloween and Pumpkin Festival Activities include a kids zone, trunk-or-treating, a pumpkin carving contest, civic organization exhibits, face painting, bat crafts, a costume contest, a photo booth, a dance with a DJ and a cash bar. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rockbridge County High School, 143 Greenhouse Road, Lexington. Free. 291-2121. Devils Backbone Outpost Halloween Party Marla Palma Band will provide live music as patrons compete in a costume contest. Feel free to pack a picnic or bring takeout from your favorite local restaurant. 5:30 p.m. Devils Backbone Outpost Brewery & Tap Room, 50 Northwind Lane, Lexington. Free. 462-6200. Devils Backbone Family Carnival An offering of games, arts and crafts, smores, trivia and a beer pong tournament. All ages are invited. 3 p.m. Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows, 200 Mosbys Run, Roseland. Free. 434-361-1001. Pumpkin Hunter Halloween and Costume Party With music from Mississippi Leg Hound and Devils Backbone gift certificates for best costumes. This is an adult-only event. 7 p.m. Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows, 200 Mosbys Run, Roseland. Free. 434-361-1001. Pumpkinfest Activities include trick or treating with local merchants, a costume contest, a pumpkin carving auction, and more. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Salem Farmers Market, 14 Main St., Salem. Free. 375-3057. West End Centers 6th Annual Spooky Sprint There will be a costume contest held before the race, with awards for the best and most creative costumes. After the race, runners will gather at the Wasena City Tap Room for free beer, pizza and live music. Medals for the male and female winners of each age group will also be announced and given out, and awards for the costume contest will be announced at the after-party. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Roanoke River Greenway, behind the Roanoke River House, Roanoke. $25 adults; $20 children. 342-0902. Pumpkin Carving Carving tools and pumpkins are provided. Registration required. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Big Island Library, 1111 Schooldays Road, Big Island. Free. 425-7000. Zoo Boo Activities include trick-or-treating, costume contests, performances and spooktacular art activities. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mill Mountain Zoo, 2404 Prospect Road S.E., Roanoke. Regular zoo admission of $9 adults; $7 children. 343-3241. Dublin WOTM Kids Halloween Party Food, crafts, games, treats and more. The Dublin Police Department will be providing fingerprint ID kits. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Donations of canned food for the holiday food drive will be accepted. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dublin Moose Lodge, 5700 Bagging Plant Road, Dublin. Free. 674-6580. Fall Festival 2016 Featuring live animals, bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, kids games, a toddler zone, a pumpkin patch, kettle corn, cake walks, a chili cook-off, door prizes and more. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Church at Grandin Village, 1701 Memorial Ave. S.W., Roanoke. Free. 342-1420. Movie Screening: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Learn all about Lincolns crusade against vampires fighting to destroy the United States. The afternoon will conclude with a Historic Halloween costume contest. Wear your history-themed costumes and compete for prizes. Visit thelyric.com for more information. 1 to 3:30 p.m. The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave., Blacksburg. Free. pquigley@vt.edu. Tractor Treat With candy, a bounce house for kids, a pork chop dinner and more. Kids are encouraged to wear their costumes. 2 to 6 p.m. Wheatland Lutheran Church, 1560 Wheatland Road, Buchanan. Donations encouraged. 254-1605. Salem Red Sox Trick or Treat Event This event is intended for children to come to a safe environment, grab some Halloween candy and have an evening of fun. Includes multiple booths dispensing Halloween candy, various attractions, including bounce houses, mascot appearances, face painting, a costume contest with a prize and more. 4 to 6 p.m. LewisGale Field, Salem. $5 for all-you-can-play bounce houses. 389-3333. Thriller Night 2016 Featuring vendors and pre-show acts with the Thriller Dance being showcased at 8 p.m. with street dancing for all attendees to follow. 6 p.m. The Lawson Building, 401 Gainsboro Road N.W., Roanoke. Free. 278-4656. HalloWINE Live music by bluegrass band Blue Connection, food from Blue Gate Bistro Fall Menu and award-winning wines. Costumes are encouraged. Cover charge includes a glass of wine. 7 to 10 p.m. Beliveau Estate Winery, 5415 Gallion Ridge Road, Blacksburg. $10. 961-0505. Murder & Mayhem True tales of killing, ghosts and intrigue in the town of Rocky Mount. Meet characters after the show for photos and refreshments. 7 to 10 p.m. Franklin County Historical Society, 460 S. Main St., Rocky Mount. $14. 483-1890. Halloween Costume Party Live music from the Jackie Treehorn Five with the Fabulous NightCrawlers. Prizes will be awarded for best costume. 9 p.m. Fork in the Alley, 2123 Crystal Spring Ave. S.W., Roanoke. Free. 982-3675. SUNDAY Trunk-or-Treat Potluck chili dinner and family activities to follow. 4 to 6 p.m. Cave Spring United Methodist Church, 4505 Hazel Drive, Roanoke. Free. 989-3673. MONDAY Trick or Treating in Vinton Children are invited to trick or treat at over 40 businesses in costume. For ages 12 and younger. Dont forget to bring your candy bucket. 3 to 5:30 p.m. Downton Vinton, Pollard Street, Walnut Avenue, Jackson Avenue and Cleveland Avenue, Vinton. Free. 983-0613. Downtown Blacksburg Halloween For ages 12 and younger. This event features trick or treating, a costume contest and other fun activities for the kids. 4 to 6:30 p.m. Downtown Blacksburg, 149 College Ave, Blacksburg. Free. dbi@downtownblacksburg.com. Trunk or Treat There will be games and refreshments in the fellowship hall. Show up in your best costume for some trick-or-treating fun. 6 to 7 p.m. Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 2922 Corbieshaw Road, Roanoke. Free. 774-8126. Trunk or Treat Children can trick or treat in a safe environment, with church members handing out candy from the trunk of their cars. 6 to 8 p.m. Community Church, 1923 E. Main St., Salem. Free. 8715339. Trunk or Treat Rain or shine. Free candy, games and other Halloween fun. 7 to 8 p.m. Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 3000 Pitzer Road, Roanoke. Free. 427-5494. Should Fredericksburg City Council change the name of the stretch of U.S. 1 that runs through Fredericksburg or let it remain Jefferson Davis Highway? Petitioners on both sides presented their views during the public comment period at the councils meeting Tuesday. Eric Bonds of the University of Mary Washington and two students in his political sociology class said the highway should be renamed because it honors the president of the Confederate States of America, a slaveowner and defender of the institution long after the Civl War ended. Bonds said the request evolved out a community involvement project that would help students develop citizenship skills . The class overwhelming voted on this project after researching Davis and the history of the highways name. We have a choice, Bonds said. We can recognize something that I recognize is not something that everyone feels similarly about. ... One way is to create a task force to look into this issue. Others who spoke during the comment period asked the council not to change the highways name because it would erase a piece of the citys history. They also pointed out that Mary Washington, for whom UMW is named, owned slaves, as did her son, George Washington. History is a vital resource more than a many-faceted diamond. History should not be erased. The Taliban and ISL destroy history, said John Johnson of Spotsylvania County. He said that the highway signs bearing Jefferson Davis name are not an endorsement of his views but recognition by the city that at one time he had an importance influence on what happened in the Fredericksburg area and the nation. Chris Ezelle, who lives in Locust Grove, also questioned who would pay the public and private costs of changing the name, which would range from signs, business cards and changing addresses on retirement checks. James Stoddard of Fredericksburg, who didnt attend the meeting, sent an email to The Free Lance-Star saying that he was against changing the name. President Lincoln, had he lived, wanted a reconstruction that healed rather than further divide. The reconstruction continues today, Stoddard wrote. Fredericksburg should be a leader in that healing, rather than a follower to the area, and the United States by saying, No, the hate stops here and we learn to live with our history, not try to rewrite it or whitewash it with new street signs. The origin of Jefferson Davis Highway date from the early 20th century, when cars were gaining popularity and a system of roads known as auto trails were being developed. The so-called Lincoln Highway, was constructed during that period through 14 northern-tier states from New York City to San Francisco and named for the U.S. Civil War-era president. Alternatively, a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy came up with the idea of naming a southern highway route after Davis . Virginias General Assembly voted in 1922 to designate U.S. 1 in Virginia as Jefferson Davis Highway . Other southern states along the East Coast highway took similar honorary steps. The name, due to its associations with the Confederacy and slavery, has come under fire in other localities, including Alexandria, where the city council voted last month to remove Davis name from its stretch of U.S. 1. RICHMOND Virginia has begun using the money it saves by imprisoning fewer juveniles to provide services to troubled youths in communities across the state. The state has signed contracts with two companies one based in Tampa, Florida, and the other in Arlington County to coordinate services for youths in the juvenile justice system in their communities instead of in Virginias shrinking youth prisons. AMIkids, based in Tampa, will coordinate services in the eastern and southern regions, including Richmond and Henrico and Chesterfield counties and points south, while Evidence Based Associates will act as service coordinator for the northern, central and western regions. The two-year contract will begin Jan. 1. The initiative aims to keep kids closer to home and provide service where they need it and when they need it, Valerie Boykin, deputy director for community services at the Department of Juvenile Justice, told a state task force Thursday. The plan to transform the juvenile justice system depends on using savings from the scheduled closing of Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center in Powhatan County next June and the eventual replacement of the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center with smaller facilities for youths who are required by their court sentences and offenses to be kept in secure settings. The General Assembly agreed this year to allow the department to close Beaumont and build a 64-bed secure correctional facility in Chesapeake to house youths from Hampton Roads and eastern Virginia, and reinvest the savings in alternative programs to house some juveniles in local detention centers or other, less confined settings. The state also wants to build a second, 88-bed facility in the Richmond area, most likely at Bon Air or the site of a former youth prison in Hanover County. The state already has committed more than $6.4 million in savings from declining prison populations in alternatives, primarily community placement programs to house state-controlled youth in local detention homes in Chesterfield and seven other jurisdictions. Advocates continue to argue for smaller prisons than the state plans for youths who require secure confinement because of their crimes, but they praise the awarding of the contracts to coordinate community services that Virginia hopes to expand with the money it saves from closing big prisons. The most critical state of the transformation is that those supports and services are in place and that they are in place statewide, said Amy Woolard, attorney for the JustKids Program at the Legal Aid Justice Center and a member of the Rise Coalition for Youth. Woolard and other advocates cite a new study by the Harvard Kennedy School and National Institute of Justice that calls for closing every youth prison in the country and replacing them with community-based programs and small facilities near the youths communities. Juvenile Justice Director Andrew Block said the report largely adopts our framework for reform and spotlights Virginias plan to reduce, reform, replace, reinvest in the system. If we are able to see through the development of the statewide continuum [of services], it will help more kids and more families to be successful in their communities, which is everybodys goal, Block said . The new regional service coordinators will help the state develop those services across the state, including regions that have few options now. The coordinators will provide a single point of access for referring youths to services and paying for them, ensure consistent service quality, and measure the results for the state. It seems to me the outcome measurement piece is going to be absolutely critical, said task force member Jeffrey Aaron, a clinical psychologist for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The state will have to rebuild its menu of services, including residential options such as group homes and halfway houses, which were slashed because of budget cuts during the recession and recovery. Services include cognitive skills training to help youths understand and change how they make decisions, clinical services such as substance abuse and sex offender treatment, assessments of mental health and other disorders, and monitoring of youths in less confined settings. Developing those services will take one to two years to ensure they are distributed evenly across the state, Block told the task force. Were making sure we have services for every court and every community. Sherin Khankan is one of five female imams-in- training at the Mariam Mosque in Copenhagen (AFP Photo/Betina Garcia) (Scanpix Denmark/AFP) Copenhagen (AFP) - The founder of Scandinavia's first female-led mosque is a soft-spoken "imama" who has riled conservatives with her views on marriage but others say her project is not progressive enough. The Mariam Mosque opened in March and held its first Friday prayer in August, when Danish-born imam Saliha Marie Fetteh spoke to around 60 women -- just over half of them Muslim -- about female scholars in Islam and women's rights. "It was fantastic and very moving," said Ozlem Cekic, a Turkey-born Danish commentator and former lawmaker, who attended the sermon. "I believe it will strengthen Islam." Christian and Jewish community leaders also attended the prayer. "Talking about women's rights is not a Western phenomenon, it's an Islamic ideal," Sherin Khankan -- one of the five female imams-in-training -- told AFP in a sparsely furnished room where the weekly prayers are held. Arabic calligraphy and Islamic literature adorn its white walls, but the sounds of a bustling Copenhagen street permeate into the apartment. An "anonymous donor" is paying the lease of the mosque, located in a building in an area that is one of the most expensive in Copenhagen. The 42-year-old mother of four was born in Denmark. She describes her father, a Syrian political refugee who married a Finnish woman, as "a feminist icon". Her Christian mother would fast during Ramadan with the rest of the family, while Muslim family members would join her in church on special occasions. Inter-faith dialogue has always been vital to Khankan who earlier this year publicly met with French female rabbi Delphine Horvilleur in Copenhagen. In 2001 she founded "Critical Muslims", a group promoting "a democratic and pluralistic approach to Islam." One month later, the 9/11 attacks in New York had a dramatic impact on how Muslims were viewed around the world, and she found herself spending more time defending Islam. Story continues The role of Islam in Denmark came under renewed focus last year after a Danish-Palestinian gunman killed a filmmaker and a Jewish security guard in twin attacks in Copenhagen. - Changing power balance - Not everyone is a fan. Khankan said she had received threats from right-wing extremists on social media. Public reaction from conservative Muslims has been muted, possibly because of the fear of wading into Denmark's high-pitched debate on Muslim immigration, which has often dominated political debate over the past 15 years. "When you are changing structures in religious institutions, you are changing the power balance. You are challenging men's monopoly," Khankan said. "Of course you will meet resistance, that's obvious and we were aware of that. But I think the opposition we have met has been quite moderate," she added. Representatives from some of Copenhagen's major mosques did not respond to requests for comment. After the opening of the Mariam Mosque, Waseem Hussein, an imam from one of the city's biggest mosques, suggested there was no need for it. "Should we also make a mosque only for men? Then there would certainly be an outcry among the Danish population," he told the Politiken daily. "According to the Koran, men and women are equal spiritual partners," said Khankan, wearing a long, white skirt and a long-sleeved top but no veil, which she said she only wears while praying. "We are re-reading the Koran according to our times and our society," she added. The mosque is inspired by Sufism, a mystic form of Islam, and mostly caters to Sunni Muslims, although "everyone is welcome". Female imams have existed in China since the 19th century, and are currently active in a handful of countries including Germany, Belgium, Canada and the United States, where The Women's Mosque of America opened in Los Angeles last year. Denmark is home to around 284,000 Muslims, according to an estimate by Brian Arly Jacobsen, an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen specialising in religion. - Islamic feminism - Islamic feminism is at the heart of the Copenhagen project, and a concrete example of that was the mosque's marriage contract, Khankan said. The marriage agreement states that women have the right to divorce, polygamy is prohibited, men and women have equal rights to their children in case of a divorce, and that the marriage is annulled in the event of mental or physical violence. Five couples have been married at the mosque, of which two were inter-faith unions. Another three ceremonies are in the pipeline. Khankan admits that she had to compromise on some of her initial plans to avoid "burning bridges" with the rest of the Muslim community. Both men and women are allowed to take part in the mosque's activities, but Friday prayers have been reserved for women, as having a mixed audience would have been more controversial. "Burning bridges" would only "create chaos," she said. Syria-born Danish lawmaker Naser Khader told Danish media that in a country like Denmark, with its high level of gender equality, barring women from preaching to a mixed crowd was simply not "good enough". But Khankan said the mosque will appeal to "a new generation of young Muslims who feel homeless and who do not feel at home in the existing traditional mosque communities." A GANG of eight men on quad bikes robbed a man out walking with his wife. The 61-year-old was rushed to hospital with injuries after gang members kicked him. Now, police are urgently appealing for witnesses to track down his attackers. The man and his wife were walking along the fields at the back of Quarry Field Lane, Wickersley, at about 3.30pm on Tuesday when a group of about eight men, who were riding off-road bikes, approached them. Acting Det Sgt Richard Gladwin said: We believe two members of the group demanded that the man hand over his mobile phone. When he refused to, it is said that the group assaulted him, kicking him repeatedly before taking his phone. The victim was taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs and a punctured lung. He currently remains in hospital in a stable condition. This was an extremely nasty assault and Id like to ask anyone who was in the area at the time and who saw what happened to contact us. An investigation is now underway to identify those involved and a thorough review of CCTV footage of the area is already underway. Anyone with any information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 778 of October 25. Scientists determine the composition of rock fragments in the Popigai crater in Yakutia Scientists of the V.S.Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have clarified the chemical composition of rocks of the Popigai crater in Yakutia - the largest deposit of impact diamonds (lonsdailites)... Christies Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on 8 November Christies Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on 8 November 2022 presents the very best in outstanding gemstones, alongside historic and modern jewels, led by The Fortune Pink (estimate: CHF25,000,000-35,000,000), an exceptional fancy vivid pink... SUNLIGHT opens flagship in the legendary place of Old Arbat Jewelry chain No. 1 SUNLIGHT revives jewelry traditions by opening the doors of its flagship store in Old Arbat on the site of the elite boutique "Gems", known for having a separate entrance and a secret VIP room for the "Soviet nobility"... Call for KPCS to commit to serious reforms The Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition (KPCSC) has called on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) to come to terms with the shortcomings of the certification scheme and to commit to serious reforms. A KPCS plenary... Lucapa Diamond and its partners will conduct two diamond sales before the end of the year as they continue to find large specials at the Lulo diamond mine in Angola. The ASX-listed diamond company said the first diamond sale, set for mid-November, would include the 172-carat and 104-carat Type IIa D-color diamonds recovered last month at Lulo. It also said that the second sale was penciled for mid-December and would include a 72-carat Type IIa D-color diamond. Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo, a joint venture between Lucapa and its Angolan partners, produced a record 8,853 carats from their alluvial diamond mining operations in the September quarter. The average size of the diamonds produced of 1.9 carats was also a quarterly record, as was the average diamond grade of 13.7 carats per 100 cubic metres. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Last year, Helzberg Diamonds experimented with stocking lab-grown diamonds. It was the largest jewelry retailer to do so. But since then, the company has changed its mind. We tested loose lab-grown diamonds [last year] with moderate results and decided not to move forward at this time, said a company statement. Helzberg still sells lab-grown colored stones. And one can still apparently find lab-grown diamonds at other notable retailers, including Sams Club, Rogers & Hollands, and Robbins Brothers. Botswana Diamonds said a diamond was found in the early stage of the re-analysis by Alrosa specialists of concentrate from large diameter drilling on kimberlite pipe AK21 on PL 260 in Orapa, Botswana. The stone was a 1mm octahedron-shaped diamond, it said. The discovery of a 1mm diamond in the first 20kg of material is a positive development as we now know there are diamonds in the pipe, said company chairperson John Teeling. We have more work to do on the material. A further 60kg of sample was currently being analysed. Teeling said the Alrosa/Botswana Diamonds joint venture identified licence PL 260 in Orapa as having strong potential. It had already identified anomalies which deserved attention. Moreover, historical drilling had found several diamonds, albeit not yet enough to be commercial grade, he said. Teelingsaid they now believe that there was commercial potential and would undertake both a core hole and a large diameter drillholes (LDD) programme. Two large diameter drillholes (LDD) were completed on AK21 on Licence PL 260 last April. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished DMCC, the Government Authority on trade, enterprise and commodities in Dubai, today announced its participation as official partner of Dubai Week in China: Shanghai a Falcon and Associates initiative supported by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (SMCC). The event takes place from 27-29 October in Shanghai. Gautam Sashittal, Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said: China is Dubais No.1 trading partner and with a strong representation of Chinese businesses in DMCC already, the Dubai Week in China partnership further underpins DMCCs drive to boosting commodities trade along the West to East corridor connecting directly into Chinas One Belt One Road initiative, by collaborating with Dubais leading entities as well as Government entities and businesses in China. There are over 150 thriving Chinese businesses including Hisense (multi-national white goods and electronics manufacturer), Sinopec (China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation) and CSCEC (China State Construction Engineering Corporation) in the DMCC Free Zone today; DMCC announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the China Silver Group, Chinas largest silver producer earlier this year; and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zhongwei Ningxia Municipal Peoples Government in China; whilst Bank of China also announced it has become a settlement bank on the DGCX (Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange) in the first quarter of 2016. We have several partnerships with China to be announced in the coming weeks that will positively impact the flow of commodities trade through the Region, and we see Dubai Week in China as the perfect platform to do so as we prepare for future growth, concluded Mr. Sashittal. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished Addressing the opening session of the CIBJO Congress, which began yesterday in Yerevan, Armenia, the organisations President, Gaetano Cavalieri, thanked President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan for taking part in this event, saying, This is not something that we take for granted, and we consider it a sign of honour not only for our organisation and the jewellery industry, but also for our host, Gagik Gevorkyan, and the men and women of the Armenian Jewellers Association. Speaking further to the gathering, he greeted the heads of various international industry and industry-related associations attending the CIBJO Congress, among them Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Kimberley Process, Andrey Polyakov, President of the World Diamond Council and Andrew Bone, CEO of the Responsible Jewellery Council. In his speech, Gaetano Cavalieri stressed the independence of the World Jewellery Confederation, and its commitment to serve the interests of all players in the greater gemstone and jewellery industries, regardless of size. CIBJO is the only organisation operating in the industry that considers its area of interest and responsibility to include the entire chain of distribution, from the mine to the consumer outlet, in every country and region where jewellery and gemstones are produced, manufactured and sold. There are no size restrictions in terms of the individuals or organisations we serve, meaning that our commitment to the wellbeing of the smaller player is as solid and absolute, as is our commitment to the larger players in the business, he said. Our job in CIBJO is to develop the standards, terminology, strategies and systems that will enable all individuals and companies to operate fairly and responsibly. These change over time, are influenced by economics and geopolitics, and particularly by technological developments. That is why the work of our sectors and commission is never done, Gaetano Cavalieri continued. We are a business community, meaning that we most definitely have a profit motive. But we believe that profits can be produced fairly, with mutual benefit. It is possible to strive for universal profitability as long as we produce a product that our consumer wants, and we are able to do it in a way that the consumer considers fair and ethical. Theodor Lisovoy, Rough&Polished, Moscow New Jersey Transit has executed a lease agreement with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the last component of radio spectrum needed for its Positive Train Control (PTC) system, and has set its FY2017 operating and capital budgets. NJT will lease the 218MHz radio frequency spectrum from the MTA for a period of 50 years, at a total cost not to exceed $725,000. The authorization will allow for the acquisition of the needed spectrum for the northern and eastern portions of NJTs state-wide regional/commuter passenger rail system. In April 2016, the NJT Board of Directors authorized the purchase of radio frequency spectrum from PTC-220 LLC for the southern, central and western portions of the system. NJT is also in the process of securing PTC hardware and software components, including thousands of in-track transponders and 124 radio towers along 326 route-miles, in addition to the radios and antenna equipment for 440 locomotives, cab cars and EMUs. NJTs PTC system is transponder-based technology known as ASES (Advanced Speed Enforcement System). It is similar to, and interoperable with, Amtraks ACSES (Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System) deployed on the Northeast Corridor. (PTC-220 LLC is a consortium of the Big Seven Class I railroadsBNSF, CN, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacificformed to secure spectrum to support interoperable PTC. NJTs PTC system must maintain interoperability among commuter rail, freight and Amtrak trains and their associated wayside components.) The PTC radio spectrum, also referred to as bandwidth, provides the wireless data link between on-board and wayside equipment, ensuring that the onboard PTC system is receiving safety-critical information in real time. NJT must have its own radio spectrum so that PTC transmissions do not overlap or interfere with any others in the region. This is another milestone in our commitment to upgrading our current safety systems to Positive Train Control by the federal deadline at the end of 2018, said NJTs newly appointed Executive Director, Steve Santoro. We are aggressively tackling the challenges posed as PTC is being designed, developed and deployed simultaneously. Acquiring the needed radio spectrum was one of the larger hurdles we have now crossed. NJT adopted a $2.11 billion operating budget and a $1.68 billion capital program for Fiscal Year 2017. Both support continued investments in infrastructure and equipment to maintain the system in a state of good repair and enhance the overall customer experience, said Steve Santoro. They represent balanced, fiscally-sound spending plans that keep fares stable and allow for the critical investments needed as we continue our commitment to safety. Our capital program funds continued state-of-good-repair investments in transit stations and infrastructure, supports an ongoing fleet modernization program and advances service reliability, safety and technology initiatives. Nearly half of NJTs FY 2017 operating revenues are projected to come from fares. The remaining amount will be derived from a combination of state and federal reimbursements and state resources of $427 million, comprised of $140.9 million in state operating assistance, $82.1 million in state Clean Energy Funding and $204 million from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. These resources are $36.7 million higher than FY 2016. NJT said approximately 60% of the operating budget is dedicated to labor and fringe benefits costs. Other significant expenses include contracted transportation services, fuel and power and materials, which together comprise approximately 25% of the operating budget. The FY 2017 capital budget includes $72 million for NJ Ts ongoing efforts to install PTC. In addition, approximately $125 million will fund track and bridge improvements and system-wide improvements. The program continues investment in upgrades to the Northeast Corridor (NEC), the agencys most utilized rail line. The NEC is allocated $64 million in FY 2017 as part of NJs ten-year, $1 billion Northeast Corridor investment program, which is a collaborative effort with Amtrak, through Joint Facilities agreements. Among the NEC programs is the New Jersey High Speed Rail Improvement Program, to upgrade track, catenary and signals/train control on the so-called Raceway between New Brunswick and Trenton. Highlights of the capital program include approximately $64 million in rail station improvements ($11 million for Elizabeth Station, $2 million for Bloomfield Station, $3 million for Perth Amboy Station, $3 million for Cranford Station, and $44 million for other station and terminal improvements, inspections and repairs. The capital program also supports continued investment in rolling stock renewal, with $105 million invested in rail rolling stock improvements and $186 million invested in bus and light rail infrastructure improvements, among which are $99 million for replacement vehicles and $12 million in Capital Asset Replacement Program funds for the Newark Light Rail and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail systems. In addition, the program includes approximately $422 million in major capital projects that will help advance NJs resilience to extreme weather events. NJ TRANSITGRID, described as an electrical micro-grid capable of supplying highly reliable power when the centralized power grid is compromised, is being funded through this effort, as well as other projects including Delco Lead Train Safe Haven Storage and Service Restoration, Hoboken Long Slip Fill and Rail Enhancement, Train Control Resiliency, and Raritan River Drawbridge Replacement. Funding is also provided to augment security, in addition to railroad bridge rehabilitation, track replacement, signal upgrades, repairs to catenary and bus shelter upgrades. Approximately 23% of NJTs capital budget comes from Federal Transit Administration Sandy Resiliency funds, with the balance coming from federal and other sources, including 33% from the New Jerseys state Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) and 30% from the FTA. The TTF, whose revenues are derived from state motor fuels taxes, has just been reauthorized, and bolstered with a long-overdue hike in the fuel tax of 23 cents per gallon. Canadian stocks fell for a third day in a row Wednesday, as crude oil prices tumbled and authorities warned of problems in the housing sector. "Housing construction is expected to decline slightly in 2016 and 2017 to levels more consistent with economic and demographic fundamentals, before stabilizing in 2018," CMHC said in a release. The S&P/TSX Composite slipped 63.07 points, or 0.42 percent, to 14,807.56 falling further from last week's 16-month peak. Gold stocks were hammered, energy shares crept lower, but financial stocks managed modest gains. In corporate news, CIBC (CM.TO) has reached a settlement deal with the Ontario Securities Commission on overcharging client fees. DH Corp (DH.TO) plunged 43 percent after its earnings missed expectations. Canadian Utilities LTD(CU.TO) announced third quarter adjusted earnings for 2016 of $96 million compared to $99 million in 2015. Premier Gold Mines Ltd.(PG.TO) signed acquisition deals with Goldcorp (G.TO) and Kinross (K.TO). Osisko Mining Corp.(OSK.TO) has divested its stock in Kilo Goldmines. ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (PLI.TO) plasminogen met primary and secondary end points in a pivotal phase 2/3 trial. Dec. WTI oil settled at $49.18/bbl, down 78 cents, or 1.6%. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that domestic crude supplies unexpectedly fell by 588,000 barrels in the week ended Oct. 21. Analysts expected a small build. The EIA data stands in stark contrast to yesterday's American Petroleum Institute (API) report showing that U.S. crude stocks rose by 4.8 million barrel. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Ford has announced a voluntary recall of about 412,000 SUVs worldwide to fix fuel leaks that increases risk of fire. The recall covers certain 2010 to 2012 Ford Escapes and 2010 to 2011 Mercury Mariners with 3-liter flex-fuel V6 engines. According to Ford, a fuel supply part can develop a crack and leak gasoline that could catch fire. The company said it is not aware of any accidents, fires or injuries caused by the problem. Most of the recalled SUVs are in North America. Dealers will contact customers and replace the fuel delivery module flange assembly at no cost to owners. Ford says customers will be notified by the week of December 12. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Old Republic International Corp. (ORI) Thursday reported a decline in third quarter net income to $110.9 million from $125 million in the prior year. On a per share basis, earnings declined to $0.39 from $0.44 in the previous year. On average, 3 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $0.35 per share. Analysts estimates usually exclude special items. Revenue for the quarter declined to $1.488 billion from $1.504 billion a year ago. General Insurance revenue declined to $836.5 million. Wall Street expected $1.57 billion. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Want to exchange links?Click here By SA Commercial Prop News The South African Women in Property Awards seeks to recognise an exceptional woman within the property industry. At a glittering event held at the Monte Casino Ballroom last night, the Womens Property Network (WPN) celebrated the 2016 South African Women in Property Awards. These awards recognize women who have excelled in the sector and had a remarkable year. More than 300 guests celebrated the winners, with special guests the First Lady Masina and Ms Phindile Mbanjwa, Head of Department Gauteng Department of Economic Development, as well as many prominent industry leaders. ALSO SEE DEVELOPMENT: Mon Tresor Industrial Freeport Zone In Mauritius This is the second year that the awards have been held recognizing outstanding achievement by women in the Property Industry. Genevieve Naidoo, the Womens Property Network (WPN) outgoing Chairwoman, says that not only are we recognizing great women who have gone beyond their call of duty, but we also are able to raise funds towards the Education Trust which provides bursaries to female students in tertiary environments pursuing property related degrees. ALSO: Watch Video: Highlights of the 2016 SA Womens Leadership Property Conference In the last few years the sector has seen several women appointed as the CEOs of property companies, as well as the key appointment of the third female president (since1966) of the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), Ms Nomzamo Radebe. ALSO READ: 2015 Top Women in Property Industry honored at WPN Awards The SA Women in Property Awards is a collaborative platform dedicated to recognising outstanding leadership, inspiration, vision, and innovation in organisations that have stepped up and shaped womens roles within the private and public sectors, says Sandi Mbutuma, WPN incoming Chairlady. The awards categories reflect a wide spectrum of work these deserving women from the public and private sectors are involved in. This includes CEOs, executives and leaders in corporate South Africa, SMMEs, government departments and agencies, as well as entrepreneurs, she said. ALSO READ: Women make waves in South African Property Industry The following nominees were recognized in their respective award categories: YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD (under 35 years old) Gauteng: Marianka Victor, Managing Director, Finlay Mall Leasing Western Cape: Kirsten Sloth-Nielsen, Project and Programme Director, Greater Tygerberg Partnership KZN: Sanam Shree, Chief Strategy and Investment Officer, Shree Property Holdings The winner in this category was Sanam Shree, who was recognized for the significant role that she plays within Shree Property Holdings, who in a short space of time has moved through the ranks and is active in many industry and youth initiatives. BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR: ENTREPRENEUR AWARD Gauteng: Monalisa Sam, Founding Managing Director, Tungwa Retail Holdings Western Cape: Busi Nzo, Partner, Lakhanya Quantity Surveyors The winner in this category was Monalisa Sam. PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR: CORPORATE / PRIVATE SECTOR AWARD Gauteng: Madeleine Truter, Legal Counsel, Pivotal Fund and Noluthando Molao, Associate Director, Turner and Townsend Western Cape: Liezel Conradie, Regional Director, JHI Properties KZN: Karen Petersen, Development Director, Tongaat Hulett Developments The nominations in this category were cause for much healthy debate amongst the judges, as the women nominated were all strong candidates from varied backgrounds that have made a contribution to the industry. The final consensus was that Noluthando Molao of Turner and Townsend be recognized as the winner as a result of her incredible achievements contribution to the built environment. PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR: PUBLIC SECTOR AWARD Gauteng: Helen Botes, CEO, City of Joburg Property Company Western Cape: Ruby Gelderbloem, Director Property Management, City of Cape Town KZN: Subulele Diko, Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent Provincial Project Manager, Province of KZN The 2016 winner in this category was Helen Botes, acknowledged for her phenomenal work for the City. Also at the gala dinner, The Lisa Blane Award was introduced this year, in recognition of Lisa Blane and her significant contribution to the WPN and property industry. Lisa was a founding member of the WPN and an originator of the Five Star and Rising Star Awards such that women from the industry could be acknowledged for their significant contribution. Lisa was also a staunch supporter of education and thus the WPN Educational Trust such that young women can be well educated and adequately equipped to fulfill roles within the industry. Ipeleng Mkhari, CEO, Motseng Investment Holdings was acknowledged for her significant contribution to the industry and for giving tirelessly of herself. The awards were adjudicated by a panel of judges, which was represented by a broad spectrum of disciplines from the industry and included: TC Chetty Country Manager: RICS South Africa and Chief Executive, TC Chetty and Associates (TCAA). Gary Garrett Head of Real Estate Finance, Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking. Genevieve Naidoo Head of Credit Risk Real Estate, Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking and WPN Chair. Peter Levett Managing Director, Old Mutual Property and President elect for SAPOA 2017. The event was proudly sponsored by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). By SA Commercial Prop News Dire shortage of student accommodation demand creating excellent investment opportunities in SA As the student population increases, demand also rises for student housing which so far is experiencing a critical shortage, creating excellent investment opportunities in South Africa. Universities throughout the country are faced with an ever-increasing problem as their students struggle to find suitable accommodation and many institutions have now reached student accommodation crisis levels. Students come from all over the country to attend universities in the main centres and in Gauteng in particular, students are faced with a chronic shortage of safe, secure and affordable accommodation. Academic institutions have identified the problem as being one of great concern. Appeals for assistance to the Department of Higher Education, citing the effect of inappropriate or no accommodation near educational institutions on academic performance, resulted in various research projects that clearly indicated that many students are forced to live in appalling conditions. They are often far away from their universities, whilst many others tolerate unsafe, overcrowded, unhygienic accommodation which is not conducive to studying. In addition, it was clear that there was a fair amount of exploitation taking place where students were over-charged for living in bad or slum conditions with corrupt landlords taking their rentals, then disappearing, leaving students without basic amenities. Disadvantaged students in particular are finding that monthly rental costs are using up the bulk of their monthly budgets. In 2009, the Department of Higher Education confirmed that the shortage was chronic and that the lack of supply of student housing was one of the primary causes for poor performance and the high dropout rates at some universities. Despite the increased allocations towards upgrading and new residences at some universities, rising maintenance costs, ageing residences and other problems have limited the growth options for on campus student housing. Many universities simply do not have sufficient space. Some universities have resorted to outsourcing their accommodation needs to private developers and building managers. With university budgets facing major constraints and cutbacks from national government, many have prioritised academic and teaching facilities ahead of upgrading or building new university residences. According to statistics from the Department of Higher Education, out of a student population of 530 000, there is currently only enough student accommodation for 100 000 students this barely meets 18 percent of the demand. Thus, as the demand for student accommodation far outweighs the supply, there are excellent investment opportunities available in this market. Although the buy-to-let market is currently depressed, student accommodation is one section of this market that is proving to be an excellent buy-to-let option, usually for a relatively small capital outlay. A number of visionary property developers are rejuvenating city centres across the country by turning old office blocks into modern one-bedroom or studio apartments for rental to university students. Buildings are within walking distance of the universities and are safe, clean, well controlled in terms of management, noise and respect for property, and they provide excellent accommodation for students at a reasonable price. On average, in the Braamfontein area, a small studio or one-bedroom flat costs a rental of just R2 500 per month. Private investors are also buying properties near the universities, particularly near UJ, Wits and Tukkies. They are buying these either for their own children while they study at university or to let to other students. Parents who buy to accommodate their children during their studies have found that appreciation is excellent, often selling the properties at almost double the price they paid for them (dependent on the number of years they owned the property). Many students prefer to reside off-campus or in sectional title units with more privacy than the residences. In recent years, astute parents have realized that rather than merely paying rent for their childrens accommodation, they can invest in an asset that can yield good rental returns given the current ongoing demand. Braamfontein, near Johannesburgs inner city, is rapidly emerging as a vibrant growth node and is experiencing an overall surge in the demand for property. This trend towards revitalisation comes on the back of demand and supply of student accommodation. It has been and is still being driven by the enormous ongoing demand for accommodation from students attending Wits University and the University of Johannesburg as well as other educational institutions in the area such as Damelin and Lyceum College. The demand for properties suitable for student accommodation in the nearby Westdene, Melville and Auckland Park areas is also high, with particular emphasis on the Sectional Title sector. Properties purchased which are suitable for this kind of usage are showing a higher than average return on investment plus higher capital returns for the investor, says Pat Evans sales manager at Seeff Randburg. Although the rate of new development has slowed dramatically in most parts of the country on the back of the economic downturn, Hatfield in Pretoria remains relatively busy in terms of residential and corporate property activity. This has been partially driven by the ceaseless demand for student accommodation and partly by the areas popularity as amongst international embassies and trade missions. Hatfield's growth has also been boosted by its proximity to a Gautrain station. Here too, a trend has developed whereby old buildings are being demolished or renovated and replaced with blocks of flats or offices. The buy-to-let to student apartments are proving to be excellent investments. Due to the rapid expansion of the University of Pretoria and the acute shortage of vacant land for student housing development in the Hatfield precinct there has been of late, a marked increase in the demand for student accommodation near or around the University, says Pieter Bezuidenhout, property consultant, Seeff Pretoria East. With most of the old houses in the Arcadia and Hatfield already converted into student communes and with the present new developments targeting student rental accommodation only coming onto stream later in the year or next year the shortage for student accommodation has become dire. The situation has been further aggravated by the fact that the development of Hatfield as Pretorias new CBD and the opening of the Hatfield Gautrain station have led to young professionals competing with the students for sectional title units either to rent or to purchase. As a result, residential property prices and rentals in Hatfield remain high and will do so in the future, if compared to the rest of Pretoria. As a result both purchase and rental prices in the Hatfield area are predicted to increase even further in future. Misleading texts claim to show your polling place. Here's how to vote. A batch of texts that claim to show a voter's polling place were sent Monday to Kansans, despite appearing to show inaccurate information. The quality of teaching at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S) has received a tremendous boost with the return of eight staff members who have graduated with higher qualifications. The staff members include: Kuinileti Faamatuainu- Masters of Education, University of West Indies Sekotilani Aloi Masters of Science in Chemistry with Distinction from the University of Otago Lenara Tuipoloa-Utuva Masters in Tourism with Distinction from the University of Otago Vaisualua Okesene- Masters of Computer Technology from the University of South Queensland Tuileva Tuileva Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of West Indies Jyothi Abraham Masters in Applying Practice in Health Science from the Institute of Technology in Auckland Seve Folototo Seve- Doctor of Philosophy in Accounting from the Australian National University Orana Senara- Masters of Social Science in Geography from the University of Otago During a press conference yesterday, Vice Chancellor, Professor Fui Asofou Soo said the ultimate goal of the programme through which the lecturers benefitted from is to improve the standard of teaching at the University. This is a very important programme which aims at enhancing and expanding the knowledge of our staff so they can improve and lift up the standard of education here at N.U.S, he said. At the National University of Samoa, a part of the quality of qualification awarded to our student is the quality of our staff. Professor Fui said the programme is fitting, given one of the policies at the University. We have a policy for our staff where they will at least have a Masters Qualification to teach, especially our degree programmes. So every year, we send away our staff to improve their qualifications. This year, we have these staff members who have now returned with their qualifications. The eight staff here has all returned with their Masters Qualifications, except one who is graduating in the end of the year with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree. How are lecturers chosen? One part of the criteria includes looking at those who have been here longest, said Professor Fui. So if there are four people in the faculty, then the first person that will come here without a Masters Degree will most likely to go. Sometimes, it depends on whether or not our staff are admitted to the programmes that they want to study. Sometimes, its their turn, they are admitted, but there is no funding. Those are some of the things that come into place when we select who should or not. But they go through a normal process. They apply into the University and into the programme that you want to study in, and the lecturers at the University think that youve got the grade to admit you into their programme then they will admit you. If not, you try into another University or another Institution. The Vice Chancellor said the programme is costly but it is all worth it. The main challenge for us is in terms of finance. The university is paying someone who is not here, and also have to look for someone to fill in for the teachers who are away for studies. He commended and congratulated the returning staff members. There are a lot of sacrifices that had to be made For example, its not easy leaving their families and kids behind to obtain a higher qualification for one year. Businesswoman Moe Lei Sam has rubbished Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaois comments about the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital at Motootua. Ms. Lei Sam said the Prime Minister has totally missed the point. To be honest he did that on purpose, Ms. Lei Sam told the Samoa Observer. He ignored the fact that he refuses to pay doctors and nurses more money. Without the hospital we will have a population of sick people and as far as Im concerned, the hospital should be paradise to us (sick people). Last month, Tuilaepa dismissed criticisms of the service at the hospital, telling the media the health facilities at Motootua is not supposed to be a paradise. He said there would always be people unhappy about the service, accusing them of lacking the patience to wait in line to see the doctors. The complaints are coming from the people who want to see the doctor after a two minute wait, he said. If we go to hospitals overseas, there are complaints about having to wait for hours compared to here. Ours is way better. The only suggestion I have is to be patient or else there are private practitioners you can go and see. But Ms. Lei Sam said the Prime Ministers response is arrogant, coming from someone who easily has access to overseas medical treatment. She also dismissed suggestions from Tuilaepa that the complaints are coming from people who dont want to wait. (When) Prime Minister gets a sore toe or ear he quickly books a first class flight to New Zealand to get a checkup, said Ms. Lei Sam. Not everyone can afford to go see a private doctor. Oh my God Prime Minister! If a person comes all the way from Lepa where hes from its about $10tala for a bus fare. When you add the cost of a private doctor and medicine that is even worse. People will end up having to spend $100 tala a day. Ms. Lei Sam said if the Prime Minister was an ordinary citizen struggling with money, he could never do what he is telling people to do. He is not worried because hes got our money (to do that). He said its not paradise then its a morgue because every time people go there they will say goodbye to them. According to Ms. Lei Sam when she raised questions about the hospital she was merely voicing her experience about the shortage of beds. Come on elderly people have to wait up to two hours for a doctor, she reiterated. He doesnt feel anything because he is in a desperate stage. What I mean by that is there are so many debts to pay that we dont know where to get revenue for it. People dont have jobs, lots of crime, suicide you name it. At the moment I feel worried and sad because this is not Samoaits very sad and Im worried and scared to death about it. Ms. Lei Sam also raised questions about what the Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr. Talalelei Tuitama is doing. She also turned on the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi. All of these things are happening in Samoa and I never hear the Head of State making any comments about it, she said. Where is he? This is Samoa for Samoa and even his ancestor died for a better Samoa but I havent heard a single advice or word from the Head of State. Where are you Head of State this is your time. Samoa is crying out for your help. The Minister of Health was contacted for a comment but his secretary asked to refer questions to the National Health Services as the Minister was busy and has just returned from Manila. The office of the Head of State was also contacted for a comment and Mary Lou said His Highness had appointments and will let his secretary, Ulugia Mareko, know about the request. The outspoken businesswoman added that although her relatives have tried to discourage her from speaking against the government, she will not stop. I am not going to sit back and do nothing about this, she said. SYDNEY (AP) Australian police flew to Rome to interview a top Vatican cardinal about allegations of sexual assault dating back decades, officials said Wednesday. Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis' top financial adviser who runs the Vatican's economy ministry, has long been dogged by allegations he mishandled cases of clergy abuse when he was archbishop of Melbourne and later Sydney. In recent months, Pell has faced accusations of child abuse himself when he was a young priest in the 1970s. On Wednesday, police in Australia's Victoria state confirmed that they had interviewed Pell over the allegations. "Three members of Victoria police traveled to Rome last week where Cardinal George Pell voluntarily participated in an interview regarding allegations of sexual assault," police spokeswoman Amara Bostock said. "As a result of the interview, further investigations are continuing. We are not prepared to comment further at this time." The allegations involve two men, now in their 40s, who say Pell touched them inappropriately at a swimming pool in the late 1970s. Separately, a man told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that he saw Pell exposing himself to three young boys in a surf club changing room in the late 1980s. Pell was at the time a senior priest in Melbourne. Pell has repeatedly denied the allegations and did so again on Wednesday. "The Cardinal repeats his previous rejection of all and every allegation of sexual abuse and will continue to cooperate with Victoria Police until the investigation is finalized," Pell's office said in a statement. In August, Pope Francis declined to address the accusations against Pell, saying he wanted to wait until the investigation was complete before commenting. "We must wait for justice and not make judgments ahead of time," the pope said in response to an Associated Press reporter aboard the papal plane. Asked Wednesday, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said he believed the pope was aware of the latest developments but declined further comment. The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (A.D.B.), and the Australian government have renewed their commitment to support Pacific island countries. Following talks in Canberra, the parties have agreed to address many of the key challenges facing the regionincluding gender inequality, situations of fragility, economic and environmental vulnerabilityand promote greater resilience throughout the region. They pledged strong collaboration across development projects and analytical work, as well as an increased presence throughout the Pacific islands region. The World Bank, A.D.B. and the Australian Government have, for many years, had a strong partnership built on shared values and a track record of results-oriented, outcome-driven work in the Pacific Islands, said Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific. This renewed commitment to collaboration and cross-partner support will bring together the collective resources of our three institutions to support the key challenges and development objectives of Pacific Island countries. A.D.B, the World Bank, and the Australian Government have established a solid foundation of cooperation built on a shared interest and vision which provides the basis for a strong and lasting collaboration for future development work, said Stephen P. Groff, A.D.B. Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. By working together, we can use our comparative strengths and reduce vulnerabilities to help Asia and the Pacific reduce poverty and work toward the Sustainable Development Goals. The strengthened partnerships between Australia and the development banks will benefit Pacific countries by ensuring that the resources and specialist expertise available to the region is focused on countries highest development priorities, said Australian Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Australias Minister for International Development and the Pacific. Australia will continue to seek opportunities for collaborating on and financing of development programs in the Pacific to promote sustainable development and economic growth. As part of the commitment, each partner acknowledged the importance of supporting the priorities under the Framework for Pacific Regionalism approved in the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in 2014, which articulates the vision, values, and objectives of enhanced Pacific regionalism, and adopts the good principles and practice of international development. They also agreed to meet annually to review their portfolio of projects and programs, country situations, and plan future activities to ensure alignment with the Pacific island country priorities. An inferno that burnt a baby to death at Laulii last week is suspected to have started from a mosquito coil lit by his older brother. Police Spokesperson, Sua Muliaga Tiumalu revealed the details of the incident that killed the one-year-old boy during the Police weekly press conference yesterday. Sua said the older brother, 11-years-old, was instructed by his mother to light the mosquito coil once his baby brother goes to sleep. The mother went to do shopping in Apia and left the baby with her elderly father about 74 years old on Friday last week, said Sua. Before the mother left she had instructed a boy to light up the mosquito coil when the baby goes to sleeps while the elderly father had gone to do some chores at the back. However the boy lit the mosquito coil and placed the matches in the bowl where the coil was placed and the matches caught fire. The fire spread to pillowcases, bed sheets and the entire house. Its confirmed that the babys cause of death is from severe burns. According to Sua, police is awaiting advice from doctor whether to release the body of the baby or be referred to a post mortem. He added the matter will be dealt with by the Coroner to decide if a person will be charged in relation to the death of the baby based on the evidence presented to Court. Police is continuing their investigation. A relative said the incident was tragic and the family is mourning the death of the baby. We are not sure how the fire started but the baby was sleeping inside the house while we were at the other house at the back preparing some things for an event. Theft continues to be a major problem, hitting many companies hard. The items taken range from alcohol, food to building materials and much, much more. For instance, three staff members working for one of the international hotels in Apia are under investigation in relation to stealing and drinking bottles of wine from the resort. During the Police Press conference yesterday, Spokesperson, Sua Muliaga Tiumalu said a complaint of theft as a servant against the Taumeasina Resort workers was filed last Friday. Sua said no one has been charged yet but the Police are investigating. On a separate matter, three workers at the Asian Taste Limited in Faleata are also being investigated for theft. The Police Spokesperson said the materials have a value of $3,328. The Manager of the company reported the matter last week Saturday when he found out the recorded stock and sales money did not match, said Sua. It is suspected the three workers are involved in the alleged theft as a servant. They are under investigation. In Vailoa Faleata, Zing Construction company also reported the theft of 60 different size timbers. Sua explained the timber was transported from Vailoa to the companys headquarter at Vailima on the 17th October. However, two days later the timber disappeared. No one is charged pending police investigation. Local civil engineering and media firm, O.S.M Investments, officially opened the doors of its new office premises, O.S.M Headquarters, at Lotopa, yesterday. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi declared the office opened with the ribbon jointly cut by Lottie Fata, Laufaleaina Toafa Eli, Luamanuvae Taylor and Tutaitaga Mariner. O.S.M Investments, which trades under its two Divisions, O.S.M Consultants and OneLook Communications, was established in 2002 from humble beginnings within the owners home. Then it moved to Nia Mall, and then for the last 10 years at the Tavita Chan Tung Building, Pesega. But now, it finally has a $2 million building and a acre property to call its own. We praise God for bringing us this far and that weve been able to have our own building. It has not been without its challenges but it has all been worth it in the end, said Vui Sebastian Mariner, Managing Director of O.S.M. This building is a testament of Gods love and faithfulness. The company is owned by the husband and wife team of Vui and Shorley Mariner. O.S.M is an acronym for the couples two daughters names, Olisana and Okalani, along with their first and last names. The new office building boasts a range of unique features. This includes glass from the old Fale Fono or Parliament House, obtained from demolition sales, which have been cut from the original glass sheets to form glass paneled walls for the conference rooms. Surplus glass panels were also used to build a long working glass table in the internet cafeteria with working glass tables for OneLook Communications production staff. The building also uses 3D wall art decoration tiles all throughout. These tiles are made from Bargasse, a residue of sugarcane production, and the product is 100% recyclable. In 2009, O.S.M branched out into OneLook Communications, a media, communications and language company headed by former journalist, Laufaleaina Lesa. The new building houses a state-of-the-art production studio that OneLook plans to use to full capacity in terms of sound recording and other types of production. O.S.M HQ was designed by O.S.M Consultants and constructed over a period of 12 months by Schwalger Design Build Limited. We are so grateful for the help and support of all our families, friends, business partners and clients. We would not be where we are today as a business, and celebrating this milestone, without their patronage whether it be financial, moral or through their prayers. Thank you so much, said Shorley Mariner, Co-Director of O.S.M. O.S.M, which employs 10 permanent staff and other subcontractors from time to time, is proud to be a wholly owned and operated Samoan company. One of the worlds fastest growing airlines, Emirates Airlines, is set to land at the Faleolo International Airport once a partnership with the government is signed. The plan is part of the governments push to have more international airlines to utilise the soon to be completed $40million tala Faleolo International Airport. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi revealed the plan yesterday, saying the idea is to develop the tourism industry to the point where locals benefit from employment opportunities and other flow on benefits. Tuilaepa said the partnership is one of several agreements the government is looking at with regards to air service. Our goal is to give these airlines the license to fly to Samoa, Tuilaepa said. So at the moment the government is looking at this. Tuilaepa also said a special Committee is reviewing the future of the joint venture with Virgin Australia, looking at the options of extending the deal or ending it. Such negotiations are complex matters, he said. Looking at the future, the Prime Minister said one of the options is to have our own airline that services key global routes. The only reason why such an airline will go out of business is when we service routes that we dont get any benefits from. Tuilaepa added that there are ways we can partner with other airlines, to avoid the need to buy a new airplane. There is a proposal to partner with Fiji Airways in terms of servicing the route to America, he said. He insisted the route to New Zealand and Australia is not a problem since the flights are always full. But the government is looking at new markets. That is why we signed an agreement (Air Service Agreement) with China because we want flights from China to fly here. The flight from China to Samoa is four hours less than flights from China going to New Zealand. The flights can also go through to South America before it lands here for transit and continue on to its destination. Furthermore, Tuilaepa said that is the governments plan after it opens the new airport is to promote its facilities to other airlines to use it. We are aiming at signing an agreement with other airlines like Emirates if its easier for them (to travel through), he said. We are looking for more airlines to transit here especially long flights like from China and going to South America. The biggest benefit for us is people eating here and using our hotels as well as work for our people. On Monday this week, the Minister of Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Papaliitele Niko Lee Hang and Ambassador of China to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng signed the Air Service Agreement to allow flights from China to Samoa and vice versa. The deal opens the door for any carrier interested in servicing the route. The government is also looking at Singapore to add on the list. Bird Rock Bio has asked for regulatory permission to begin a Phase 1 (early stage) clinical trial of a drug to treat fibrotic and metabolic diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetic nephropathy. The biopharmaceutical company in La Jolla seeks to test the medication, namacizumab, in patients with the liver disease. Serious forms of this illness can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, a condition that can lead to cirrhosis and eventually liver failure. This would be the second drug that privately held Bird Rock Bio has placed in clinical trials, the company said Thursday. Advertisement The first, gerilimzumab, has successfully completed two safety trials for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, the company said in March. Its being positioned as a lower-cost alternative than existing monoclonal antibody treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. Fatty liver disease and NASH have received increasing recognition in recent years as underestimated health threats. A number of companies are developing drugs for fatty liver disease. For example, San Diegos Conatus is testing a medication called emricasan for liver diseases including NASH. The companys ultimate goal is to demonstrate that emricasan not only stops liver degeneration, but also stabilizes the liver enough to allow its natural regenerative power to repair previous damage. And in February, UC San Diego established a center to research and fight nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Bird Rock Bios namacizumab targets cannabinoid receptor 1, which is activated by the bodys own neuromodulators and by the active ingredient in cannabis. It can also play a role in metabolic and fibrotic diseases. Previous attempts to target the receptor with so-called small molecule drugs have mostly been abandoned because of their effects on the central nervous system, Bird Rock Bio said. As a large protein molecule, namacizumab would theoretically avoid these effects because it isnt expected to cross the blood-brain barrier, which keeps various substances from reaching the brain. If the double-blinded placebo controlled safety trial is approved, Bird Rock Bio said results are expected by the end of 2017. The company said it discovered namacizumab through its own internal research program. Its clinical advisory board includes Dr. Rohit Loomba, who heads UC San Diegos center for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The new filing represents the culmination of four years of extraordinary efforts by our scientific and development team, Paul Grayson, Bird Rock Bios chief executive, said in a statement. Formerly known as RuiYi, the company changed its name at the start of 2016. Breaking News bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1020 Most Airbnb and other short-term rentals would be banned in San Diego under a proposal released Wednesday by outgoing Councilwoman Sherri Lightner. The City Council is expected to take up the measure at a special meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Golden Hill next to City Hall downtown. The proposal, which would need five votes to pass, comes in a simple definition change in the city municipal code. Visitors and tourists would be reclassified as transients if they rented a home for less than 30 days. Advertisement Its been an issue for quite a long time, said Lightner, who scheduled the item in her capacity as council president, and to clarify the situation, the purpose and intent of the residential zone is for residents. And to make sure that the single-family zones retain their quality of life. If Lightners rule change goes into effect, the municipal code appears to levy a $2,500 fine per violation and a maximum of $250,000 per parcel of land for violations. Currently in San Diego there is nothing in the municipal code that clearly defines a short-term rental, although there are regulations that govern bed-and-breakfast inns, along with board-and-lodging establishments. Under Lightners proposal, a home could not be rented to transients for less than 30 days in most single-family zones of the city. In a multifamily zone, renters would have to stay at least seven days, she said. In addition, renters or owners of single-family homes could not rent out a room or space for less than seven days. Areas that allow visitor accommodations would be permitted to have short-term rentals. Lightner said owners or renters who dont know what zone they live in could get the answer by calling the citys Development Services Department at (619) 446-5000 or send an email to dsdweb@sandiego.gov. Airbnb, the largest service that books rentals in San Diego, says it has 4,900 hosts within the city limits, 67 percent of whom rent an entire home, 30 percent a private space and 3 percent a shared space. Lightner said she acted after other committees and groups had weighed in on the issue, and she wanted to bring it to the full council and public. She retires from the council in December. Reaction from the business community came at a news conference held a few hours before Lightners proposal went public. Aimee Faucett, chief operating officer of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, called on the council to reject the proposal and wait for stakeholders to reach a consensus on the best course to take. From a business community standpoint, at the end of the day, we all agree it needs to be regulated, Faucett said. You cant have irresponsible operators in neighborhoods. Councilman Chris Cate said Lightners measure will push short-term rentals underground, further complicating any regulation and enforcement by the city. This proposal will have a detrimental effect on residents of the city, he said at the noontime press conference. Cate said he would release a proposal by Monday that would institute fees, fines and permits to regulate short-term rentals. Councilman Scott Sherman, who prefers strict enforcement of the current rules before passing a new law, said he will ask Mayor Kevin Faulconer to veto the measure if it reaches his desk. A spokeswoman for Faulconer said he will make that decision if the Lightner proposal passes. Other speakers said banning short-term rentals could hurt small business and make housing less affordable. I depend on Airbnb to help me live in my place, said Alicia Sacks, 70, who rents out a futon for about $40 per night in her home in the Home/Fairmount Avenue area. She said she survives on about $620 per month from Social Security and pays more than $800 in rent. Airbnb says it collected $7.5 million in transient occupancy taxes within the city in the fiscal 2016 year. Airbnb hosts must register with the city and obtain a city tax number to join the Airbnb network. A group called Save San Diego Neighborhoods sent out a notice to urge the public to attend the Tuesday council meeting. We said the change was coming. Here it is, the notice said. We need you NOW to stand up for the tens of thousands of San Diego homeowners who bought their homes based on a simple promise from the city that they were buying their home in a residential zone. Over the last decade, residents have complained that investors were buying up houses and renting them out on a short-term basis to people who held loud parties and disrupted the neighborhood. Lightner said she believed the short-term rentals have been illegal all along. But city enforcement code enforcement officers have been stymied in taking action because of conflicting rules and definitions. City Attorney Jan Goldsmith and his predecessor, Mike Aguirre, have urged the council to take action. But Lightner did not run her proposal past Goldsmiths office before releasing it. We gave input consistent with our (memorandum of law reports) and President Lightners office decided to take a direction with one they felt comfortable with, said spokesman Gerry Braun. David Moty, chairman of the Community Planners Committee, said Lightner spoke to his group Tuesday night and outlined her plans in general. About five minutes of comments followed from some of the 100 pro-rental advocates present. We have not taken a position on this idea, he said of Lightners plan. However, he said the planners, who represent some 40 neighborhood planning groups citywide, had previously expressed their views in September 2015 on what should be done. The Planning Commission heard testimony in December and returned it for staff evaluation. Various regulatory ideas were debated the next month. The councils Smart Growth and Land Use Committee also debated the issue in May 2015 and directed staff to draft a measure that would go straight to the council. The mayor said earlier this year that he, too, would submit a new ordinance sometime this year. Other cities have tried to regulate short-term rentals with limited success. Coronado generally prohibits such rentals of less than 25 days, but they apparently continue in business. Airbnb lists more than 300 hosts on its website. The California Coastal Commission had allowed Coronados law to go into effect, but in recent years it has generally opposed such measures because they eliminate low-cost rental units in the coastal zone. Lightner said her measure will not require coastal commission endorsement, but that has yet to be verified. roger.showley@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-1286; Twitter: @rogershowley Qualcomm said Thursday that it is buying NXP Semiconductors in a massive deal valued at $47 billion that aims to diversify its business in the wake of a slowing smartphone market. The acquisition is believed to be the largest ever in the semiconductor industry, which is facing tepid growth in once-strong markets such as smartphones and personal computers. It clearly is the biggest deal ever for San Diego smartphone chip maker Qualcomm, dwarfing its previous acquisitions of Atheros Communications and CSR, which were in the $3 billion range. Advertisement Its the type of transformational acquisition that some investors have been clamoring for the company to pursue amid sluggish smartphone sales and increased competition. The bottom line is we love this deal for Qualcomm and have been suggesting it for almost a year, said Tim Arcuri, research analyst with Cowen & Co. The move beefs up Qualcomms product offerings, particularly in the automotive, security, payment processing and the Internet of Things markets. If you look at the next two decades, we view the car and the Internet of Things to be very similar to how I looked at the handset in the 2000 time frame, said Qualcomm Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf in a conference call with analysts. The technology and the pace of innovation in auto and the Internet of Things will increase dramatically. Qualcomm plans to pay $110 a share, or $38 billion, for NXP, which is based in The Netherlands. The acquisition also includes paying off or assuming debt, which pushed the total cost to $47 billion. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of next year, with the delay stemming in part from required regulatory approvals. The combined company would have annual revenues of more than $30 billion. There are risks, however, starting with the price. At $47 billion, the deal uses all of Qualcomms $30 billion in cash on its balance sheet much of which is trapped offshore and cant be returned to the U.S. without tax consequences. The big picture is Qualcomm has a lot of excess cash outside the U.S. that is earning very little money, so this puts that money to work in a productive enterprise that is profitable, said Tavis McCourt, managing director of equity research at Raymond James Financial. Qualcomm will have to take on additional debt to fund the transaction. But executives said the company can pay it off in roughly two years from the cash flows from the combined businesses. The price is high, but that is the reality in this day and age, said Handel Jones, head of semiconductor research firm International Business Strategies. Overall, its a very smart move by Qualcomm, and financial returns long term should be positive, provided management is effective. NXP has 44,000 employees, significantly more than Qualcomms approximately 30,000 workers. Many of NXPs workers are in Europe, where labor laws make it difficult to reduce a workforce. Executives with both companies say there is little product overlap in the two businesses, so they dont think the combination will result in major job cuts. Most of the $500 million in anticipated annual savings come from being bigger, which gives the company more clout to negotiate better prices from suppliers. My guess is, if they are smart they wont go after much cost synergies because the point of this is not cost synergies, said McCourt of Raymond James. The point of this is diversification. The things that NXP does Qualcomm fundamentally does not do. In September 2015, Qualcomm announced cuts of 1,314 full-time jobs in San Diego. Executives have said they have no plans for further layoffs. Qualcomm has been under pressure for more than a year in its core mobile market. Not only have smartphone sales slowed globally, but there is also more competition from Intel, MediaTek and others. Moreover, some of Qualcomms largest smartphone customers Samsung, Apple and Huawei are designing more smartphone chips themselves instead of buying them from Qualcomm. NXP makes a slew of semiconductors for the automotive market, ranging from safety sensors and keyless entry chips to in-vehicle infotainment systems and advanced driver-assistance systems. It also provides micro-controllers, secure identification chips, near-field communications mobile payment semiconductors, payment card chips and network processing technology. Qualcomm estimates that the acquisition will boost its addressable market by 40 percent to $138 billion by 2020. The deal creates a potential juggernaut supplier for the Internet of Things where billions of gadgets are wirelessly connected to the Internet. Qualcomm adds top-notch cellular and computer processing capabilities to NXPs already strong product portfolio of sensors, micro-controllers and other Internet of Things technologies. The Internet of Things is all about your sensors, your connectivity and your processing, said Jim McGregor, principal analyst with Tirias Research. Those are all things that NXP already has. The only thing they dont have is that cellular part. So now you have a company that has all those categories covered. Qualcomm will submit a tender offer for all of NXP shares at $110 per share. It is not clear whether shareholders will view Qualcomms offer as adequate given NXPs growth prospects. The pending transaction has been rumored for a few weeks, leading to substantial stock gains for both companies. Qualcomms shares ended trading Thursday at $70.09, while NXPs shares rose 42 cents to $99.08. NXP Chief Executive Rick Clemmer said Qualcomms offer represented a 34 percent premium to NXPs share price before rumors of the transaction showed up in the press. When you think about a transaction of this magnitude, a 34 percent premium at least as we have been advised is pushing the limit, he said. mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 UPDATES: 4:52 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details. Zodiac Pool Solutions, a maker of residential pool and spa cleaning/automation equipment that employs 340 workers in Vista, is being acquired by French investment firm Rhone for an undisclosed price. Private equity firm The Carlyle Group is selling the company, subject to regulatory approvals. Carlyle bought Zodiacs pool and marine divisions in 2007, shepherding the businesses through the 2008 recession when new pool construction dipped by roughly 70 percent. Best known for inflatable boats, Zodiacs global headquarters are in France. Carlyle spun off the boat business in 2012. It retained the pool business, which has its operational headquarters in Vista and was formerly Polaris Pool Systems. Advertisement In an interview, Zodiac Chief Executive Bruce Brooks said the new owner will help fund continued rebound for the company following cutbacks during the recession. The exciting thing for us is we have been on a strong recovery path the last several years, Brooks said. I think this actually gives us a new capital structure to continue to invest and grow and keep the momentum that we have going. Zodiac has 1,300 employees worldwide, with brands including Zodiac Pool, Jandy Pro Series, Polaris, iAquaLink, Cover-Pools, MagnaPool and others. It employs 540 workers in the U.S. Rhone is a global asset management firm with investments in a wide range of industries, including chemicals, consumer products, food, packaging and transportation. We are proud of our achievements working with Carlyle, and we are excited about building on our accomplishments with Rhone, said Brooks. Rhone is great partner for Zodiac, and this is excellent news for our employees, customers, vendors and the pool and spa industry. mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 As a youth, I was interested in all things automotive and as I read about the classic marques, one name kept coming up as an example of grace, reliability and value: Packard. The brand was held in high regard, known for uncompromising quality and innovation the norm rather than the exception. As an automotive photographer and author for 30 years, Ive been able to spend time around the beautiful machines built by the Packard brothers. Yet recently was the first time I was able to experience the Packard brand in an immersive environment, and it was one of the highlights of my career. One of the biggest stars at the Mecum Auction at Monterey in August was a stunning 1936 Packard Boat-Tail Speedster designed by Howard Dutch Darrin in Paris, France. I was tasked with flying to Dayton, Ohio, to spend a day photographing this landmark vehicle. Advertisement On a crisp, sunny morning, I pulled up to the address, a stately two-story brick building in downtown Dayton. A tall vintage Packard sign anchored one outside corner, and inside, a bevy of vintage Packard automobiles were displayed on a checkerboard floor behind tall windows. I had to look around to make sure that I hadnt been whisked back to 1936! Stepping into the expansive showroom, I was met by Daniel Badger, managing director of Americas Packard Museum. As I would soon discover, he is a walking encyclopedia of all things Packard. My gaze around the showroom caught period banners extolling the virtues of Packard ownership. Side tables displayed Packard sculptures that would have impressed the potential buyer of the period. It really felt as if I had walked into an active Packard showroom because this building had been a Packard dealership in its day. In one corner was an office that looked as if the sales manager had just stepped out to check on some paperwork. A small but efficient gift shop was tucked into an area that looked like it had been there since the 1930s. Continuing onto a concrete floor, it was clear that I was now in the former service department. A lineup of luscious Packards ran the length of the room, noses facing the broad windows, taking in the afternoon sun. Another office, clearly the domain of the service manager, was ready for another day of writing repair orders; a black dial phone and a pile of customer requests was on the desk. Working lifts held a Packard in the air, ready for service. Throughout the museum, cases held Packard items, large and small, valuable today, ordinary in the day. A knowledgeable docent was a respectful distance away, willing and able to answer my questions. I was impressed with the breadth of artifacts that were on display, and many were a first to me. It was clear to me that hours were going to be needed to scratch the surface. At that point, Badger asked if I had seen the other building and guided me through a door into an adjoining building. This structure was as large as the first building and it was chock-full of more Packards. On my left was a pair of Brass Era cars, including a 1903. In a corner was a limousine and in the middle of the room were a line of Caribbeans. I stepped around a Hawk, and then made my way to a towering display, a World War I Liberty aircraft engine. Hanging from the ceiling was a large model of a North American P-51 fighter from World War II, and beneath the aircraft was a Packard-built Merlin V-12 engine. Packard built thousands of these powerplants under license from Rolls-Royce to supply the war effort. A few feet away was a Packard 4M-2500 V-12 PT boat engine. A video shows the history of the engine as well as great footage from the assembly plant. General Douglas MacArthurs staff car sits next to the PT boat engine, fitting in rather well. In this structure is a world-class reference library, complete with documents that exist nowhere else. The history of Packard is rich with twists and turns worthy of a Hollywood production. As you read the informational placards in front of each display and walk around each item, you get a sense that this company prided itself on its designs and workmanship. The museum is in a building that was designed by Albert Kahn and erected in 1917, and was a Packard dealership. Known as The Citizens Motorcar Co., it offered the affluent Dayton area an opportunity to acquire one of Americas finest motorcars. However, in the 1950s, Packard succumbed to financial pressures and closed for good. Dayton attorney Bob Signom, a longtime automotive enthusiast, bought the building in 1992, and has transformed it into an award-winning museum. When you visit the museum (americaspackardmuseum.com), youll have open access to the cars. They are not sequestered behind velvet ropes and it is possible to get on your hands and knees to look at the suspensions and huge engine crankcases. Peer into the richly upholstered interiors and marvel at the exquisite detail work that hundreds of skilled craftsmen created in an era when that level of workmanship was possible. Be sure to examine the Packard engines on display; the company prided itself on its smooth, rugged powerplants. When it was time to shoot the 1936 Packard Boat-Tail Speedster, museum director Badger fired it up, and we drove it a few miles for the photography session. It kept up effortlessly with current cars, and when the shoot was over, he treated me to a ride around Daytons downtown, the long hood cleaving the air and the silken V-12 hurling us down the road. I was smitten once again with that magic marque from my childhood. The museum (at 420 S. Ludlow St.) is a significant history lesson for fans of Packard or any automotive enthusiast. Besides being open to the public, its often used for private events. When you visit, you might think that you were transported to another era, when good taste was respected and Packard had products to satisfy the most discerning buyer. The Mecum Auction Co. has been a world leader in staging collector car, vintage and antique motorcycle and road art sales throughout the U.S. for 28 years. Averaging one auction a month, the family-run business, headquartered in Walworth, Wisc., offers more than 15,000 vehicles per year. Info: Mecum.com, (262) 275-5050 and #Mecum. World-traveling conservation biologist Bill Toone, founder of Escondido-based ECOLIFE, will share stories and photographs from his work in remote corners of the globe Oct. 30 at the Village Church in Rancho Santa Fe as part of the Village Viewpoints series. Toone, who at one time managed the San Diego Zoos captive breeding program for the California Condor, recently traveled to Mexico and joined the Mazahua and Purepecha people who live by the ancient Oyamel Fir Forest, a winter site for monarch butterflies. Toone serves as director of the nonprofit ECOLIFE, which integrates community health and environmental sustainability through adaptive approaches, so people and nature prosper together. The nonprofit, for example, teaches sustainable farming practices such as aquaponics for watering crops and provides fuel efficient stoves to replace open fires. Advertisement Over the course of his travels and studies,Toone has come to realize the importance of taking strategic action to protect indigenous cultures which can be hurt by conservation efforts. Toone works to create balance between human life and wildlife in global communities. The event begins 6 p.m. in the churchs fellowship center with wine and light hors doeuvres followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased online at www.villageviewpoints.com. Visit ecolifeconservation.org and villagechurch.org The Village Church in Rancho Santa Fe hosts a blood drive for the San Diego Blood Bank 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 30 at the church campus, 6226 Paseo Delicias. Donors receive a gift card for a free sandwich from Chick-fil-A. The San Diego blood bank uses about 10,000 units of blood each month. Among the thousands of San Diego area patients who need blood is 5-year-old Micah Bernstein who was diagnosed with high risk neuroblastoma when he was a little over a year old. To save his life, Micah has been treated with high dose chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and experimental treatments that made it necessary for him to have frequent blood and platelet transfusions. Advertisement To schedule an appointment online, visit sandiegobloodbank.org, click Donate Now; the sponsor code is VCPC. For more information, call (800) 469-7322. Acrimony and accusations filled the air Wednesday night as the Encinitas City Council debated and ultimately decided to do nothing about a letter alleging that two council members violated state public meeting laws by discussing city business in a hallway last month. Supporters of councilwomen Catherine Blakespear and Lisa Shaffer, including former mayors Teresa Barth and Sheila Cameron, described the accusations as baseless and said placing the issue on the agenda was a last-minute political stunt by Mayor Kristin Gaspar. Gaspar is running for county supervisor in the Nov. 8th election, and her husband, Paul, is running against Blakespear for the mayors spot. Barth said the mayor was making trumped up and absolutely false charges that were defaming and demeaning to her two female colleagues. Advertisement Gaspar said Barth was making offensive comments that were hard to listen to, but shes entitled to her opinion. The item was placed on Wednesday nights agenda, Gaspar said, because the alleged violation was a recent event the conversation occurred just after a Sept. 21st subcommittee meeting on the future of the former Pacific View School property. The mayor said Blakespear and Shaffers hallway conversation was a serious violation of state law, that the two women should have known better and now owe the public an apology. She said the issue had to be discussed at the meeting because the council might need to seek outside legal help. The citys attorney, Glenn Sabine, stayed out of Wednesday nights debate, saying only that a memo he recently sent to the council regarding the states public meeting law regulations wasnt on the evenings agenda and therefore the council couldnt vote to release it as Shaffer had requested. The meeting agenda stated that the council would consider and possibly given direction to city staff members regarding a cease and desist letter submitted by David Hutchinson, a former city traffic commissioner who lives in Cardiff. In his letter, Hutchinson who has supported Gaspar in her previous elections wrote that he believed Shaffer and Blakespear had violated the states Ralph M. Brown Act by engaging in an illegal serial meeting in a City Hall hallway just after the city subcommittee meeting ended. The committee meeting, which Shaffer and Councilman Tony Kranz attended, was about plans to lease the Pacific View School property to a community arts group, and Blakespears conversation with Shaffer shortly afterward drummed up support for the proposed lease, Hutchinson wrote. Shaffer said Wednesday night that she did greet Blakespear in the hallway after the subcommittee meeting, but that they didnt discuss anything about the still-proposed lease, which she said wasnt even in draft form at that point and still isnt ready to come before the council. Since there was no draft lease and the council has made no decision on the proposed lease in the days since then, Hutchinsons complaint is completely without legal substance, she said. Marco Gonzalez, an attorney with Coast Law Group, agreed. He said his firm has done legal work for a decade for the open public meetings advocacy group CaliforniansAware and the alleged Encinitas public meeting violation wouldnt be worthy of his groups consideration. In fact, he said, it really belittles what we all stand for. Blakespear and Councilman Tony Kranz didnt speak out during the council debate. Councilman Mark Muir, who is supporting Gaspars husbands bid to become the citys next mayor, said he believed the council should drop the matter that night. I dont believe this needs to go any further, he said, mentioning that he didnt think Blakespear and Shaffer were acting with malicious intent when they had their hallway conversation. The councils debate on the allegations came toward the end of an evening that already had been marked by extensive election-related conflict. Just before the meeting began, people opposed to Measure T a city-sponsored housing plan on the November ballot staged a rally in the City Hall parking lot and used big balloons to demonstrate what they said would be the height of future downtown construction if the measure passes. As rally participants concluded their event and flowed into City Hall to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting, they were joined by a crowd of people whod come voice their opinions about the councils decision to participate in President Obamas welcoming communities initiative, a campaign that aims to ease refugees adjustment into the United States. The welcoming initiative wasnt on the agenda Wednesday night the council voted months ago to participate in the program but a wave of fresh publicity and political campaign fliers declaring that the city was about to become a haven for illegal immigrants with criminal tendencies drew people to City Hall. In the council chambers, those initiative opponents and proponents traded barbs and disputed which was side could be considered truly racist and which was truly lacking in Christian charity. Kranz, who originally suggested joining the national initiative and is up for re-election in November, came under fire from initiative opponents who said it would destroy the town. He encouraged voters to visit a city web page on the issue www.encinitasca.gov/index.aspx?page=537 and reach their own conclusions Henry is a freelance writer in Encinitas A state appellate court ruled this week that the Oceanside City Council did not violate open meeting laws when it approved a $13.6 million subsidy two years ago for a luxury beachfront resort that would overlook the citys iconic pier. Developer S.D. Malkin plans to build a four star, full-service resort with 225 rooms on a lot along Pacific Street and a boutique hotel with at least 135 rooms on a lot across the street north of Mission Avenue. The city approved the subsidy on Sept. 10, 2014, as part of its ongoing effort to redevelop the area and attract more tourism. Two months later, a group called San Diegans for Open Government filed a lawsuit alleging Oceanside failed to give the public proper notice about the subsidy because no dollar amount was specified on the council agenda for the Sept. 10 meeting. The suit claimed that was a violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act, Californias open-meeting law. Advertisement In its ruling Tuesday, the three judge appellate court disagreed. The City Council met the requirements of the Brown Act, Justice Patricia Benke wrote in the ruling. The language of the agenda, considered as a whole, gave the public and press more than a clue the city planned to provide the project developer with a substantial and ongoing financial subsidy for the resort project. Oceanside City Attorney John Mullen said he was pleased with the courts decision. This project has endured several challenges, including the Great Recession, the elimination of redevelopment agencies, and this unfortunate lawsuit, Mullen said. We look forward to closing escrow and getting this project built. Cory Briggs, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, said Wednesday he may appeal the decision. The client will evaluate the ruling and, I suspect, may seek review by the California Supreme Court, Briggs said. San Diego Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Stern had issued a similar ruling last year saying the agenda description met the requirements under state law. Stern also denied several other claims in the lawsuit, including that the subsidy would amount to a debt the city owes to the developer and that such a debt must be approved by voters in the city. She said the subsidy was not a debt because the developer will have to meet specific criteria in order to get the money. The resort must also generate hotel tax revenue in order to receive the payment. The proposed Malkin resort has long been considered a cornerstone to the transformation of downtown Oceanside. An early version was approved in 2009, before financing hurdles forced the company to go back to the drawing board. The plans approved in 2014 include include public open space, commercial space, a large ballroom and underground parking. Under the companys agreement with the city, Oceansides subsidy of the project will come primarily in the form of $11.3 million in transient occupancy tax rebates over 15 years. The developer will keep all hotel tax revenues the first three years of operation, but the city will get a share in subsequent years and the city will retain all hotel tax revenues after 15 years. edward.sifuentes@sduniontribune.com @EdwardSifuentes Kings of beer To every beer, there is a season. Were now in Treasure Chest (5.7 percent alcohol by volume) season, which was known as autumn until 2011. Thats when Green Flash first issued Treasure Chest as a fundraiser for breast cancer research. That worthy cause is honored by a worthy tropical IPA, one of the better examples of this fruit-forward beer style. Mosaic hops provide an earthy counterweight to the sweet-tart grapefruit and prickly pear juice in this Chest, which is identical to the 2015 version. (The 2011, 12 and 13 editions were Belgian-style pale ales; in 14, the Chest was a saison.) Advertisement This weeks King of Beer is personal to Green Flashs founders, the husband and wife team of Mike and Lisa Hinkley; shes a breast cancer survivor. To date, sales of Treasure Chest have raised more than $220,000 for breast cancer research and treatment. Treasure Chest dethrones The Hop Concept IPA Mosaic & Eureka (8 percent). The latter is delicious, true, but change is in the air. On Nov. 11, Encinitas Regal Seagull, 996 N. Coast Highway, will host a Treasure Chest party from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Good beer, good reason, good season. Holy beer critic! Now the head of the Diocese of San Diego, Bishop Robert McElroy spent decades as a Catholic priest in the Bay Area. When Pope John Paul II visited San Francisco in 1987, McElroy recalled, prelates prepared a reception with fine California wines. When the pontiff arrived, though, he requested a beer. Only one brew was available, a Budweiser, which the pope quaffed without comment. On his next stop, John Paul II was asked about the Bay Area. San Francisco is a very beautiful city, he said, but they dont have good beer. Travelocity: Bringing the hate? Did you see Travelocitys recent list of craft beer tourisms Top 20 U.S. Cities? Wouldnt be my view, but a reasonable person could argue for the top three: Portland, Ore.; Denver and Seattle. But how the helles did San Diego rank eighth, trailing such destinations as Portland-Biddeford, Maine (fourth), and Colorado Springs, Colo. (fifth)? Is a certain website itching for a fight with the Capital of Craft? NOOOO! insisted Jennifer Ngyuen, a publicist for Travelocity. We all know San Diego has a ton of breweries, but we looked at breweries per capita and San Diego has a lot of residents. Also dragging us down: High hotel rates. Its a beer tourism index, so its not just beer rankings. It looks at everything that makes it easy for travelers to visit, she added. Its still a top 10 destination! Best of the week, local Monday is Halloween, which means Saturday is All Suds Day. Mission Brewery, 1441 L St., will host Nightmare on L Street from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets start at $15 and can be secured at missionbrewery.com. Earlier that day, at 11 a.m., Green Flashs Shrieky Saturday Haunted Bus Tour will begin a five-hour tour of that Miramar brewery, its Poway operation, Cellar 3, and its East County star, Alpine Beer. Tickets are $50 and include transportation, beer flights at each location, lunch at Alpine and haunted brewery tours. Sign up at greenflashbrew.com. Best of the week, local/international The highlight of Tijuanas Baja Culinary Fest is Fridays Night of 1,000 Flavors, featuring unlimited samples from 20 restaurants, food trucks, wineries and breweries for $44. It starts at 7 p.m. at the Centro Cultural, 9950 Paseo de los Heroes, in the Rio district. Did you know? While far from Mexicos capital, Tijuana may be the capital of Mexican craft beer. Home to some of the countrys best breweries, it also hosted a major festival last spring, Expo Cerveza Artesanal. RELATED Beer Basics with Peter Rowe Beer Basics:"Its the water Twitter: @peterroweut peter.rowe@sduniontribune.com A couple of years ago, at a shop where posters for the Arab Film Festival in San Diego were being printed, a worker was overheard commenting: Who would have thought? Arabs make films? Now in its fifth year, the festival has left no doubt that Arabs make films. The Arab world is a creative, humane culture and people, said Larry Christian, a festival board member. We want to make clear our existence as a dynamic part of artistic life. There is such a thing as Arab films. Advertisement The San Diego festival, held annually at Balboa Parks Museum of Photographic Arts, will take place Oct. 27-30. It is co-sponsored by Karama, a local nonprofit, and the San Francisco Arab Film Festival, now in its 20th year. San Diego Arab Film Festival When: Various times, Oct. 27-30 Where: Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park Tickets: $5 to $10 for individual films; $50 for a festival pass Phone: (619) 243-0827 Online: sandiegoaff.org In San Diego, there will be screenings of six full-length movies. Of those, four are official submissions to the 2017 Academy Awards from Tunisia, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. Jordans entry, 3000 Nights, was written, directed and produced by Mai Masri, an acclaimed Palestinian documentary filmmaker. Now based in Jordan, she studied film at the University of California Berkeley and San Francisco State University. Masri will be in San Diego on Friday night to introduce 3000 Nights, her first dramatic feature. A group of us from Karama saw it at the Palm Springs Film Festival last January, Christian recalled. We were so taken by it, we contacted the San Francisco group and asked them to keep an eye out for it. The movie follows Layal, a young, pregnant, Palestinian newlywed who is falsely accused and imprisoned. While raising her child, she forms strong bonds with her fellow prisoners. This year, the volunteer-run festival has a modern, urban flavor, Christian noted. Yallah! Underground is a documentary about young Arab artists and musicians from Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. The drama As I Open My Eyes explores the life of Farah, an 18-year-old Tunisian whos in a rock band against the wishes of her family. The Palestinian film Arab Idol is also music-related. Its based on a true story of a young man from Gaza who sneaked across the border to Egypt to compete in the regional version of the Idol franchise. Christian describes the Lebanese selection Very Big Shot as a political satire wrapped in a crime drama. Another film, Iraqi Odyssey, will screen tonight. One issue covered in the festival is the Arab diaspora, Christian explained. Iraqi Odyssey traces three generations of a family who have left Iraq. It explores why that happened. San Diego has a large population of Iraqis, so we are hoping they come. Were trying to attract a mix of the Arab community here. Theyll get strong support and validation from the films. Some can show their kids where they come from. We also want to reach out to people who are open-minded and interested in culture and learning about Arab art and cinema. A new short-film program represents several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Syria and Switzerland. Christian said the shorts include animation, drama and even a comedy. The festivals mission is to present realistic depictions or visions of the culture and people of the Arab world, he said. These films challenge the negative stereotypes that are so commonplace and show the human, creative side of our people. Cinema is a good medium to be able to do that. Wood is a San Diego freelance writer. Halloween is lurking right around the corner, which means its time to start planning for the holiday. When it comes to Halloween events, San Diego offers many choices, including Balboa Parks Family Day. Now in its eighth year, Balboa Parks free annual Family Day has grown to become a Halloween tradition for hundreds of San Diego families, said Sue Varga, director of marketing for the Balboa Park Conservancy. Its a real treat to watch all the adorable kids in costumes having fun with the many free hands-on activities going on both inside and outside the participating museum. More than two dozen museums, cultural attractions and community partners will be participating, offering free craft projects for the kids, costume parades and other fa-boo-lous surprises. Advertisement Given the events size, scale and historic setting, there really isnt anything else like it in San Diego, Varga said. Throughout the day, costumed children and their families will be greeted at the Balboa Park Visitors Center with free candy or gifts and a chance to win tickets to park events and other family-friendly activities in San Diego. Halloween Family Day When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Where: Throughout Balboa Park. Cost: Free. Participating museums will offer free admission to children 12 and under with a paid adult admission. Online: balboapark.org/visit/halloween Here are some highlights: Fleet Science Center: Stop by the Tinkering Studio to explore The Science of Sugar Skulls where youll learn about the Day of the Dead by making your own sugar skulls. Decorate them with traditional Mexican designs or create a design of your own. Cost is $5 per project. Mingei International Museum: Enter if you dare! Visitors will discover ancient secrets of the museum during an interactive, spooky treasure hunt. Theres also a hands-on art project, docent tour and prizes. Cost is $5 per family. Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater: A free puppet-making activity for children, with an accompanying adult, will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Palisades area on the south side of park. San Diego Air & Space Museum: Watch what happens when two pumpkins are dropped from the museums roof one with a parachute and one without. Will they survive? The pumpkin drop starts at 2:30 p.m. Kid-friendly short films will be screened in the 3D/4D movie theater (simulators not included). Special admission price of $5 to see Da Vinci: The Ultimate Innovator. San Diego Natural History Museum: Have a fang-tastic time with bats and other nocturnal creatures. Fans of the nocturnal creature can visit the Critter Cave, get a tattoo, and make a bat craft to take home. Other activities include: Doggie costume contest, a Thriller flash mob dance, live zoo animals, free activities on the Prado and Plaza de Panama and 11 gourmet food trucks located at Village Place. DID YOU KNOW? More than 10,000 visitors attended last years Halloween Family Day. RELATED Therapy dogs dressed up in their favorite costumes and visited cancer patients at Sharp Grossmont Hospital during the annual Halloween pet parade. carolina.gusman@sduniontribune.com In a bid to clear the air over the dismissals of two popular San Diego Junior Theatre staffers, the organizations board has issued a more detailed statement on the September firings. While the board, citing privacy concerns, still wont say precisely why artistic director Rayme Sciaroni and production manager Tony Cucuzzella were let go, the statement seeks to rebut speculation on social media that they were fired for reporting problems at Junior Theatre. It also is meant to assure supporters of Junior Theatre that these departures are in no way related to any safety issues or inappropriate behavior related to the children under our care. Advertisement A group of parents and other supporters has been rallying on behalf of Sciaroni and Cucuzzella since they left Junior Theatre in late September. The group recently delivered a petition whose signers (numbering more than 300) urged the board to reconsider the dismissals and at the very least provide more transparency into their decision process. Cucuzzella had been with JT (as the organization is affectionately known) for 21 of its 68 years. Sciaroni joined as artistic chief in 2014, and had worked on numerous shows there before that. The shortage of information surrounding Sciaroni and Cucuzzellas exit has fed speculation on social media and elsewhere that they were fired for reporting an incident that occurred in June. In that incident, during rehearsals for a production of Goodnight Moon, executive director James Saba placed his hands on the shoulders of a cast member while urging students to quiet down. According to the board statement, Saba later went back and apologized. But after a staff member the statement doesnt specify who reported the incident to the board as well as to law enforcement (which resulted in no action), Junior Theatre commissioned an independent investigation led by the law firm Duane Morris. That probe eventually determined Saba did not act inappropriately, relying in part on responses from the students father. (The U-T corroborated those comments with the father.) Saba, who has been executive director since 2013 (and is himself a Junior Theatre alumnus), said in an interview Wednesday that the incident unfolded because he was trying to redirect students attention, and that he was the first to report his own part in it to other staffers. Our job is to keep our kids focused backstage, Saba said. After hearing loud singing backstage before rehearsal, I went back to speak to the cast about keeping focused for the rehearsal ahead. It was when a student continued with what he termed disrespectful behavior that he turned and placed his hands on the teen-agers shoulders, an action he called a reflex. Afterward, I self-reported the incident because I was disappointed in myself, because I was trying to figure out the best solution in the moment for the students, Saba said. I was disappointed by the example I set, not my fear of hurting a child. I went back in the room and apologized to the kids in an attempt to make good. Where backstage the group was gathered is not specified in the statement; parents have said it was a dressing room, although the room apparently was not being used for the purpose at that time. A separate Junior Theatre inquiry is what later led to the dismissals of Sciaroni and Cucuzzella, although the statement says the organization cannot legally provide any further information concerning these terminations. But Gil Cabrera the former chairman of the San Diego Ethics Commission who is representing Junior Theatre pro bono stressed in an interview that the firings had nothing to do with the fact that an employee reported the incident, nor with any kind of inappropriate behavior toward students on the part of the dismissed employees. (Cabrera, a recent candidate for city attorney, is married to Junior Theatre board member and alumna Krista Cabrera; the couple have two children whove been involved with the program.) The board also announced it plans to make a representative available in person at 5 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 27) at Cabreras law offices, 600 W. Broadway, Suite 700 in downtown San Diego. (See the full text of the boards statement below.) Sciaroni has declined to comment on his departure; Cucuzzella could not be reached. Junior Theatre, founded in 1948 as a program of the Old Globe, bills itself as the oldest continuously operated youth theater in the country. Many of its alumni have gone on to significant theater careers, including such Tony Award-winners as Christian Hoff, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Casey Nicholaw. The organizations annual budget is a little over $1.2 million; its overall revenues fell about 10 percent in the year ending Sept. 30, 2015, according to tax records (the most recent available), with an operating deficit of about $75,000. The ex-staffers backers have been pleading for more transparency about the firings on social media, and recently organized a gathering in support of Sciaroni and Cucuzzella. Some have announced they are parting ways with the organization. Junior Theatre parent Cristina Wallace said the two staffers were well-liked and respected, and that the shows Sciaroni directed were the ones that students really want to be in. If you get cast in one of those shows, its a big deal. Her daughter, Wallace said, calls Junior Theatre Tonys Theater. If any parent has a question, everyone says, Ask Tony. Of both ex-staffers, Wallace said: Ive only seen positive interactions between them and kids. Saba is likewise a respected figure, and a youth-theater veteran. Hoff, a Tony Award-winner for Jersey Boys and a friend of Sabas since their childhood days at Junior Theatre, said in 2013: We always dreamed of making theater and being a part of something bigger than us. Thats something that hes taking to heart in his career, both as an entertainer and an administrator of great programs all over the country for kids. FULL TEXT OF JUNIOR THEATRE STATEMENT Parents, Supporters and Friends of Junior Theatre, Over the last several weeks there have been a number of rumors spread related to recent employee departures. Unfortunately, as part of these discussions individuals that do not have firsthand knowledge of events at Junior Theatre have taken it upon themselves to spread rumors concerning the safety and well being of students at Junior Theatre. Although Junior Theatre is legally restrained from discussing the circumstances surrounding employment decision, we cannot let these false rumors concerning the safety of students stand and therefore provide the following information to assure supporters of Junior Theatre that these departures are in no way related to any safety issues or inappropriate behavior related to the children under our care. The following are the facts related to an incident being discussed on message boards: During the rehearsals for Goodnight Moon, a number of students were making noise in the backstage area that was disruptive to ongoing rehearsals. A Junior Theatre employee went to ask the students to quiet down. One of the students was mocking the hand gestures of the employee. The employee placed their hand on the shoulder of the student while speaking with the student and stated you need to stop that or words to that effect. When the employee was done with this discussion, they were personally disappointed with themself for becoming upset with the students and told three other staff members about the encounter. The employee later went back and apologized to all of the students. One of the three employees that were told of the incident then went to check on the students, noted that no one was upset and that nothing seemed out of the ordinary. This same employee later reported the incident to law enforcement and law enforcement took no further action. The same employee reported the incident verbally to one board member of the board of trustees for Junior Theatre and then later in writing to the chair of the board. The Board responded to the complaint made by a Junior Theatre staff member concerning this incident. There were no complaints made by any students or members of the public, including parents of Junior Theatre students. The Board initiated an internal investigation of the incident. With the knowledge that law enforcement had already been notified by Junior Theatre staff, the board of trustees then engaged a national law firm, Duane Morris (on a pro bono basis), to do a complete and independent investigation of the incident to ensure they understood what occurred and whether any further actions needed to be taken. The attorney that conducted the review interviewed all of the employees that had witnessed or heard about the incident and spoke to the students father asking permission to speak with the student. The students father indicated that he had picked up the student that day, the student had not raised any issues with him and that he doubted [the student] considered it a big deal. Based on the review of all the facts and interviews with all parties involved, the independent investigator concluded that the Junior Theatre employee did not act inappropriately. The subsequent employment decisions made by Junior Theatre were not based on the report of this incident to the board of trustees. Because of the privacy rights of these employees, Junior Theatre cannot legally provide any further information concerning these terminations. It is important for you to know that the board of trustees is made up of all volunteers, a number of whom are themselves alumni of Junior Theatre and some of whom currently have children in Junior Theatre. As such, all of these individuals take their responsibilities to ensure a vibrant arts education and the care and protection of the students involved very seriously. In the interests of attempting to answer any remaining questions, a representative of Junior Theatre will be available on Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. at 600 W. Broadway, Suite 700, San Diego. Please understand that Junior Theatre will attempt to answer as many questions as possible within the restrictions of California law and the privacy rights of all those involved. Sincerely, The Board of Trustees of San Diego Junior Theatre Twitter: @jimhebert jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com A police officer shot and killed a man Tuesday after he allegedly pointed a knife and advanced toward him outside a McDonalds restaurant northeast of Sacramento. The deadly shooting occurred just after 11:20 a.m. at 3rd Street and Lincoln Boulevard in the city of Lincoln, said city spokeswoman Jill Thompson. A resident called police to report a man with a gun and described the suspect in detail, she said. Advertisement When officers arrived at the scene, the suspect identified as 37-year-old Brandon Wayne Millard was gone. Due to witnesses descriptions, officers were able to identify Millard, who was known to them, as the suspect, Thompson said. Officers searched for his car and found it in the McDonalds parking lot. After spotting the car, Lincoln police Officer Peter French got out of his patrol cruiser and encountered Millard, she said. Millard pulled out a knife and pointed it at French, Thompson said. French reportedly ordered him to drop the knife, but Millard ignored commands and advanced toward the officer, she said. French then shot him. Millard was pronounced dead at the scene. The Placer County Sheriffs Department is investigating the shooting. The department does not have body cameras for its officers. French is an 11-year veteran of the Police Department. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Honking car stops man from kidnapping 13-year-old girl, police say Someone took a sledgehammer to Donald Trumps Walk of Fame star Man shot by LAPD near Sunset Boulevard bar is charged with assault Under pressure to shrink its carbon footprint, San Diego this week rolled out proposals aimed at encouraging commuters to curb their driving from eliminating parking spaces to getting businesses to offer incentives for employees to walk, bike and take mass transit. The move comes as the city continues to largely avoid changes to the allowable housing density of urban neighborhoods amid controversy. Homeowners and merchants often object to what they see as too much density while environmentalists argue that taller and more tightly packed development is needed to encourage less driving. The citys planning staff unveiled the transportation strategies Tuesday just hours before the council approved updates to the long-range community plans for North Park and Golden Hill two neighborhoods currently projected to fall short of the citys climate-change goals for reducing car trips. Advertisement There are many, many tools available to this council and this city to make sure that we hit the mark, Councilman Todd Gloria, whose District 3 includes the two neighborhoods, said at the meeting, expressing support for the new proposals. Of all residents who live within a half-mile of a major transit stop, the citys Climate Action Plan calls for half to drive to work by 2035, down from about 89% today. The zoning blueprints for North Park and Golden Hill are the first to be updated since the city approved its climate document in December. That overarching vision calls for combating global warming by slashing the citys greenhouse-gas emissions in half during the next two decades through steps such as greening up the local electrical grid, embracing federal and state clean-car programs and planting more trees. Environmental groups and developers argue that the community-plan overhauls should dictate denser development to promote walking, biking and busing, while some residents, specifically in North Park, said future growth could ruin their neighborhoods aesthetic character as well as worsen noise and traffic. Nationwide, other cities are grappling with the density debate. Some, including Seattle and Portland, have spent decades considering the tradeoffs and benefits of tighter neighborhoods, while others like San Diego are intensifying their discussion because of growing attention to climate change. I believe well meet our transportation targets by 2035 by using a variety of methods that include but arent limited to updating community plans, Mayor Kevin Faulconer said in an email Tuesday. These neighborhood blueprints are one piece of the puzzle, and they are one of many things well be doing to meet the main objective of improving air quality and the environment by reducing greenhouse gases. These additional strategies call for encouraging businesses to explore ways to encourage workers to take alternative modes of transportation, including charging employees for parking or paying people to forgo driving. In its memo, the citys planning department also proposed removing on-street parking spaces to beef up bike lanes. The memo states that such a move may become more politically palatable as commercial fleets of self-driving cars reduce consumers need to have their own cars thus reducing overall demand for parking. Bruce Appleyard, a professor of city planning and urban design at San Diego State University, said cities need to try a wide variety of ways to get commuters out of their cars and into buses, trolleys, vanpools and the like. That includes at least a moderate amount of housing density coupled with greater investments in transit, as well as measures to dissuade residents from driving, he said. Parking strategies can be hugely effective at encouraging people to take [transportation] modes that are the most appropriate for their travel needs, he said. One of the things that weve found is that parking has been hugely subsidized, and its a huge determinative of your mode choice. Joshua Emerson Smith writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune A person was arrested Wednesday in connection with a shooting near Banning High School that left one teen dead and two others injured, police said. The suspect was described as a juvenile, but other details of the arrest were not available, said Officer Tony Im, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department. The shooting was reported about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 1500 block of Lakme Avenue in Wilmington near Banning High School, according to LAPD Officer Sal Ramirez. Advertisement A gunman got out of a gray vehicle and fired multiple rounds at the teenagers, police said. He was last seen running west on Pacific Coast Highway toward Avalon Boulevard, Ramirez said. The teens were taken to area hospitals, where one later died. Its unclear what motivated the shooting and whether the victims were connected to the school. Los Angeles Unified School District officials said they had no comment about the shooting. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. A close aide to Bill Clinton said he arranged for $50 million in payments for the former president, part of a complicated mingling of lucrative business deals and charity work of the Clinton Foundation mapped out in a memo released by WikiLeaks on Wednesday. The report was written by Doug Band, who has transitioned from his job as a Clinton aide to a partner in Teneo Consulting, a firm whose client roster now includes some of the biggest companies in the world. Along the way, Band wrote, he also pushed his clients and contacts to donate millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation, and to help win business deals for Bill Clinton. Band wrote the memo in November 2011 to John Podesta, now chairman of the Hillary Clinton campaign, and sent copies to other key Clinton aides, apparently to explain and justify his work in the face of criticism from others in the Clinton orbit notably Chelsea Clinton. Advertisement WikiLeaks has been releasing thousands of hacked emails from Podestas account in recent weeks, revealing the rivalries and controversies roiling inside the Clinton family network as Hillary Clinton prepared to run for president. Earlier that month, another hacked email shows, Chelsea Clinton had written Podesta, saying it was time to professionalize the foundations operations and complaining that her father had heard of multiple examples of Teneo hustling business at Clinton Global Initiative meetings. In the memo, Band depicts himself as the indispensable linchpin of the Clinton familys finances even as he acknowledges that the arrangement is unusual: We appreciate the unorthodox nature of our roles, Band wrote. A spokesman for the Clinton campaign declined to comment; the campaign has refused to confirm whether the emails are authentic. Band did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the November 2011 memo, Band lays out how he founded Teneo five months earlier with Declan Kelly, one of Hillary Clintons top fundraisers during her 2008 presidential campaign. When Clinton became secretary of State, Kelly was named an envoy to Northern Ireland, holding the post even as he continued to represent several clients. Rightly or wrongly, Band said, because other fundraisers couldnt deliver, he and Kelly pushed their clients to donate to the foundation; he also lined up speaking and consulting deals for Bill Clinton. In some cases, it worked the other way, with Teneo winning consulting contracts from foundation donors. One example, he said, was Laureate International University, the for-profit international school that donated more than $1.4 million to the Clinton Foundation and was paying Bill Clinton $3.5 million a year to serve as honorary chancellor. The company paid Clinton more than $17 million before the relationship ended last year, as Hillary Clinton was launching her presidential bid. Band said handling the Laureate relationship was very time-consuming, not to mention all the other tasks he handled for Bill Clinton. We have in effect served as agents, lawyers, managers and implementers, he said, hauling in $50 million in personal work for Clinton and lining up $66 million more. Neither Justin nor I are separately compensated for these activities, he wrote, referring to Justin Cooper, another Clinton aide who had joined him in Teneo. The disputes continued through that year, emails show, with Band carping about Chelsea Clintons involvement at one point he called her a spoiled brat and pushing back against proposals to separate the foundations activities from business dealings. Band finally resigned from the foundation last year. joseph.tanfani@latimes.com Twitter: @jtanfani No, there is no evidence that thousands of noncitizens are illegally voting and swinging elections Obamas campaign mission: Protect his legacy, pummel Republicans oh, and elect Hillary Clinton Meet the man responsible for making sure Hillary Clintons election strategy works It was another day on the campaign trail and at a luxury hotel. Im Christina Bellantoni. Welcome to Essential Politics. As Donald Trumps new hotel in Washington, D.C., celebrated its grand opening, the Republican nominee took a bit of a pause from traditional politicking. Advertisement Trump was criticized by some for taking time off the campaign trail, and he responded by blasting rival Hillary Clinton for attending an Adele concert the previous night. Seema Mehta reports that Trump also highlighted his many happy Latino employees when asked why Latinos should feel safe voting for him. We examined the art of the brand as Trump mixed business and politics. While Trump was touting his new hotel, Clinton was looking for ways to rain on his parade. On her flight from Florida to New York on Wednesday evening, she told reporters she was struck that Trump is actually paying more attention to his business than to the campaign, Chris Megerian reports. Earlier in the day she pointed to a report the hotel project was completed with the help of undocumented workers. And she invited Jose Andres, the Spanish American celebrity chef who decided against opening a restaurant in Trumps hotel, to introduce her at an event in Tampa. Meanwhile, Trumps running mate warned that a vote for a third-party candidate is a vote for Clinton. Mike Pence made the remarks while campaigning in Utah, which is traditionally a Republican stronghold but is in play this year thanks in part to independent candidate Evan McMullin. And Sen. Tim Kaine, Clintons running mate, tried to court Utahs Mormon voters by writing about his time as a missionary. CLINTON SAYS TRUMP IS ANTI-DEMOCRACY In a blistering attack unleashed over the course of two days in Florida, Clinton said Trump was nothing less than a threat to American democracy itself. She repeatedly mentioned Trumps refusal to unreservedly accept the results of the election, and said his rhetoric risked harming a political system that has been envied around the world. THE LATEST FROM WIKILEAKS A close aide to Bill Clinton said he arranged for $50 million in payments for the former president, part of a complicated mingling of lucrative business deals and charity work of the Clinton Foundation mapped out in a memo released by WikiLeaks on Wednesday. The report was written by Doug Band, who has transitioned from his job as a Clinton aide to a partner in Teneo Consulting, a firm whose client roster now includes some of the biggest companies in the world. Along the way, Band wrote, he also pushed his clients and contacts to donate millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation, and to help win business deals for Bill Clinton. Band wrote the memo in November 2011 to John Podesta, now chairman of the Hillary Clinton campaign, and sent copies to other key Clinton aides, apparently to explain and justify his work in the face of criticism from others in the Clinton orbit notably Chelsea Clinton. ANOTHER GLASS CEILING? Clinton has sometimes talked about breaking the ultimate glass ceiling by becoming the first female president. On election night, shell be hosting a party at the Javits Center in Manhattan, underneath a literal glass ceiling. Get the latest from the campaign trail on Trail Guide and follow @latimespolitics. Check our daily USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times tracking poll at the top of the politics page. ITS THE GOVERNOR VS. PROSECUTORS IN PROP. 57 Of the 17 propositions on Californias Nov. 8 ballot, few could have a greater effect than Proposition 57, a sweeping overhaul of prison parole rules championed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Its a battle over the fairness of prison sentences for those convicted of all but the states most violent crimes, one pitting Brown against many of Californias elected district attorneys. As John Myers reports, both sides are painting the choice for voters in stark terms one of safety versus second chances. Dont miss The Times ballot box guide to Californias 17 propositions and track the latest on the propositions and California politics on our Essential Politics news feed. HARRIS WITH A STRONG LEAD Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris lead in Californias U.S. Senate race took a sizable jump, according to a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. Phil Willon reports that the survey showed 42% of likely voters supported Harris, compared to 20% who favored Rep. Loretta Sanchez. A PPIC poll just a month ago showed Harris led by only seven percentage points. And voters favor Proposition 64 to legalize recreational marijuana. CHARLES MUNGER JR.S BIG BET Republican mega-donor Charles Munger. Jr. has poured $1.4 million into a single Assembly race between Democrat Al Muratsuchi and Assemblyman David Hadley (R-Manhattan Beach). Nearly all of that $1.1 million in the last two weeks has been spent on a negative mailer and TV ad campaign against Muratsuchi. One TV ad titled Crumbles features a cockroach crawling on a stack of cookies, evoking images from the Miramonte teacher sex abuse scandal that rocked LAUSD. The ads accuse Muratsuchi of supporting a bill that detractors said didnt go far enough in speeding up teacher dismissal cases. Mungers spending has surpassed the $1.1 million he spent in 2014 to oppose Muratsuchi and help elect Hadley, and is more than hes spending in all other races combined this cycle. SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS CLOUD ASSEMBLY RACE With just two weeks to go before election day, one GOP Assembly candidate in the Santa Clarita Valley is facing allegations of sexual harassment that could touch two other races on the ballot there. Christine Mai-Duc and Javier Panzar report that the controversy began Tuesday, when a local blog published a partially redacted private email sent by Jennifer Van Laar, a local Republican political consultant, to Vanessa Wilk, a legislative staff member and wife to Assemblyman Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita). In the email, Van Laar accused Republican candidate Dante Acosta of propositioning her at a meeting in Washington, D.C., and of continuing to send her inappropriate text messages after she rebuffed him. Both Scott Wilk, whose seat Acosta is seeking, and Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster) were copied on the email. Democratic candidates in all three races wasted no time seizing on the issue, with Democrat Christy Smith calling the accusations against her opponent shocking, horrifying and utterly disqualifying. A statement from Acostas campaign said his accuser had encouraged Acosta to run for office and aggressively pursued him as a client, and that the accusations were retaliation for his decision not to hire her. REMEMBERING TOM HAYDEN Tom Hayden was a public policy junkie who was passionate about fighting for liberal causes. As an activist, he protested Southern segregation. Later, in the California Legislature, he was an early voice in the fight against climate change. What set Hayden apart from other political minds was his willingness to jump in and be a part of the process rather than comment from the sidelines, George Skelton writes in a column about the former legislator, who died this week at 76. WHATS IN YOUR MAILBOX? Have you received a barrage of campaign mailers this election season? Are you bombarded with information about local races and propositions? We want to hear from you. Send images of campaign mailers and door-hangers, mp3 recordings of robo calls or links to web ads to politics@latimes.com. Include your name, city, state and age, and tell us about the material youre sharing. Your submissions may be featured on our site. TODAYS ESSENTIALS Alex De Leon, a 30-year-old immigrant from Guatemala, was among more than 400 people who became U.S. citizens at a ceremony in Sacramento on Wednesday. After the program concluded, he walked outside and filled out his voter registration papers. The voter registration deadline for most Californians was Monday. But an obscure state law allows people like De Leon who became citizens after the deadline to register late. Californias congressional delegation held a call with Department of Defense officials Wednesday about how the department plans to fix the National Guard bonus repayment program, and some were still skeptical of the plan afterward. They will decide on whether to file legislation to forgive at least some of the erroneously paid bonuses after meeting with the department again in mid-November when Congress returns to Washington. With an additional $3.5-million donation this week, billionaire Tom Steyer has become the largest contributor to passing Proposition 56, the $2-per-pack cigarette tax increase. Steyers $11.3 million in favor of Proposition 56 is more than the entire campaign to increase tobacco taxes raised four years ago in a losing effort. Were tracking voting irregularities as things tick closer to the big day. If Clinton secures a historic victory in the presidential race, Marlon Marshall can be credited with implementing the plan that got her there. Mike Memoli profiles the 37-year-old Obama alumnus who oversees the largest division of her campaign and interacts with just about every other aspect of it, noting that a common refrain is to say hes in charge of everything from the grass roots to the grass tops. Some of Trumps supporters in Israel gathered on a restaurant rooftop overlooking the walls of Jerusalems Old City on Wednesday and heard a brief message from the Republican nominee. The event was organized by the Israel chapter of Republicans Overseas, which has spent the last two months touting its campaign to register American expatriates in Israel and in the Jewish settlements of the West Bank. Joshua Mitnick was there. A man dressed as a construction worker smashed Trumps Hollywood Walk of Fame star using a sledgehammer and pickax. It will cost $2,500 to fix. Clinton promised to fix problems with Obamacare that led to average rate hikes of 25% next year for mid-level health plans before subsidies. But a quick fix, or any fix, seems unlikely given that it would probably require congressional action, Noah Bierman reports. Clinton is not saying much on the AT&T-Time Warner deal. Clinton is on track to win the millennial vote. Who will win the November election? Give our Electoral College map a spin. Learn more about the propositions on the ballot at the SeePolitical BallotCon event at the end of the month. Its free. Sign up here. LOGISTICS Miss yesterdays newsletter? Here you go. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox daily. And keep an eye on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com. Retired Marine Dennis Eskie, Mary Brown of Victorville and Curtis Merritt of Ontario, from left to right. Merritts father was killed in Korea. When she heard the story of Reckless, she had found a connection to the war and her father. Mounted Marines are from a Barstow unit. (John Gibbins/San Diego Union-Tribune) (John Gibbins/San Diego Union-Tribune) Reckless wasnt just a horse. She was a Marine. The hero horse who shed blood alongside fellow U.S. Marines in the Korean War was honored with a statue at Camp Pendleton on Wednesday. The mare known as Staff Sgt. Reckless was famous during the Korean War era, equal to Lassie or Rin Tin Tin. But her story has largely faded from popular memory. A Los Angeles-area screenwriter is trying to revive it with a 2014 book and a now-successful campaign to erect a larger-than-life bronze likeness at Camp Pendleton, where Reckless lived out her retirement years. I thought this is the greatest horse story I had never heard about, said Robin Hutton, who wrote Sgt. Reckless, Americas War Horse and led a three-year effort to raise funds for the Camp Pendleton statue. Shes shopping the concept to movie studios as well. Hutton sees Reckless as a way to teach the history of the Korean War often called the forgotten war whose veterans are now dwindling in number. Sgt. Harold Wadley served with Staff Sgt. Reckless during the Korean War. A few dozen white-haired Marine survivors of Korea gathered at Camp Pendleton this week to honor their comrade in arms or, actually, hooves. Horses and Marines are a lot alike, said Harold Wadley, who served with Reckless and traveled to Wednesdays ceremony from his home in Idaho. They both are herd animals requiring leadership, Wadley said. The main difference is that horses instinctively flee from danger, and Marines run toward it. It was an unlikely war story. In late 1952, a young lieutenant with the 5th Marine Regiment received permission to buy a pack animal maybe a mule, maybe a horse to carry heavy ammunition to his Marines on the firing line. 1st Lt. Eric Pedersen returned with a small Mongolian mare, bought for $250 at a racetrack from a South Korean youth who needed the money for his sisters medical care. The horse, named Reckless after the recoil-less rifle platoon she was attached to, proved her worth beyond price. She learned to duck beneath barbed wire, lay flat if caught under fire on open ground and run for her bunker whenever artillery or mortars came flying. Historical photo of Staff Sgt. Reckless (U.S. Marine Corps photo) (U.S. Marine Corps photo ) A horse without a herd, she bonded with those Marine grunts. Cold winter nights, youd find her nestled among her Marines by the oil stove, Wadley said. Reckless main job was transporting shells for the 75 mm rifle, a big weapon more like todays mortars. Each one weighed more than 20 pounds. The Marines tied four to six rounds to her back. With a slap on the flank, she was off to the front line, often solo. In March 1953, the enemy overran the companys location, Outpost Vegas. During pitched battle, Reckless is credited with making 51 trips to resupply the guns. She carried 386 rounds totaling more than 9,000 pounds and trekked over 35 miles up and down steep ridges. The horse also transported wounded Marines back from the front. Wadley remembers the scene. It was like the sky was falling. I didnt have near enough stretchers, he said. Reckless didnt shy from her mission. She knew where her Marines were. I looked back at the eastern skyline through all the smoke and could hardly believe my eyes, Wadley recalled for the audience Wednesday. The silhouette of a heavily laden horse came in and out of view along the ridge. It was Reckless. All alone, scrambling in the torn earth to keep her footing. The mare was wounded twice, on the forehead and in the hindquarter, receiving the Purple Heart. Wadley said he sees more than a horse carrying ammunition when he looks at the new statue, in front of the bases Pacific Views Events Center. To me, she represents a whole lot more than herself. When I see her, I know thats our 5th Marine Regiment, and all the guys we lost, Wadley said after the ceremony. There are just a lot of ghosts. Michael Mason, a corporal during Korea, remembers lighter moments, too. Reckless was as hardheaded as any Marine. At 6 a.m. every morning, Reckless would stick her nose in his tent. His bunkmate was one of the units cooks. The mare yanked at the blanket on the cooks bed until he got up and fed her. We treated her as though she was another Marine. She was one of us, Mason, who lives in Maryland, said after the ceremony. After all, she outranked most of us. That kind of horse deserves a statue. Or two. The first was erected in 2013 at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Va. The Camp Pendleton version by the same artist, Jocelyn Russell stands about 12 feet high. The cost was $185,000, mostly raised through donations to the Camp Pendleton Historical Society and Huttons Angels Without Wings nonprofit. The U.S. military has a long record of using animals for their strength and superior senses. The Marines have employed donkeys as pack animals as recently as the post-9/11 wars. However, horses largely stopped being used in combat after World War II, according to Hutton making Reckless an anomaly of history. American troops continue to work with dogs for bomb detection, and even fighting. Famous dogs in Marine Corps lore include Sgt. Soochow, a terrier mix who fought alongside the Marines in the Philippines during World War II. The Navy SEALs who killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 reportedly took a dog on that mission. Reckless story almost didnt have a happy ending, according to Hutton. The mare stayed behind in Korea after the fighting ended again a horse without a herd, now a Marine without her brothers. It took an article in the Saturday Evening Post to generate enough public sentiment to bring her to the United States via civilian ship. Eventually, Reckless was billeted at Camp Pendletons stables. She lived a life full of carrots and parades. The mare gave birth to three colts. They were named Fearless, Dauntless and Chesty -- the last an homage to Marine Corps icon Chesty Puller, a fellow Korean War veteran. Reckless died in May 1968. She was buried at the base stables with full military honors. Her obituary made the front page of the San Diego Union newspaper. Her memorial plaque reads, Reckless. Pride of the Marines. jen.steele@sduniontribune.com Facebook: U-T Military Twitter: @jensteeley New data shows federal judges in San Diego have granted all but one request in recent years to cut prison terms from inmates serving time for drug crimes. The data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission shows that since 2014, when a new sentencing rule went into effect that changed the calculation judges make when handing out sentences in certain drug cases, San Diego federal judges have granted 317 out of 318 requests for a reduced sentence. Thats a 99.7 percent rate, the highest of any federal district in California and one of the highest of all federal courts in the nation. Seven other courts granted all requests submitted. Advertisement The data contained in a report released Wednesday covers reductions reported to the commission through Sept. 30. It also comes with a caveat that some districts may not have reported all denials of requests that they have made. The report does not specify which districts may have submitted incomplete data. The average cut in sentences granted by San Diego judges was 16 months. That was the lowest average of any of the four federal districts in California, which are based in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento. The new sentencing rules change one factor the base offense level that judges use to calculate the total sentence for defendants in most drug cases. Adopted in 2014, the commission also made the rule retroactive, meaning people serving sentences calculated under the old rules could seek a lower term. The new data shows 43,491 petitions to reduce sentences were submitted to courts nationwide, and 29,391 were granted about 67 percent. Cases involving methamphetamine accounted for 31 percent of all reductions, the highest percentage of any drug, followed by cases involving powder cocaine (28 percent) and crack cocaine (19.9 percent). Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com Protesters and the NAACP are asking a federal judge to ban law enforcement from arresting people who have been gathering at an El Cajon shopping center, where police fatally shot an unarmed black man last month. U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino heard arguments on the issue Wednesday and will rule on the matter in the coming days. Ever since Alfred Olango was killed by an El Cajon police officer at the Broadway Village Shopping Center on Sept. 27, the parking lot has been the site of frequent protests and vigils. Olango was shot after he pointed a cylindrical object at the officer; the object turned out to be a vaping device. Advertisement Several times, sheriffs deputies in riot gear have broken up the protests after El Cajon police officers have declared them unlawful assemblies. Protesters who did not disband were arrested. The San Diego branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, along with 11 protesters and three children, filed a request for the injunction in San Diego federal court. They contend the Sheriffs Department and police violated the protesters right to free speech and assembly and their right protecting them from search and seizure without probable cause. They point to an incident on Oct. 1, when about 200 people had gathered at the shooting site, near Los Panchos taco shop, according to the lawsuit. By midnight, about 80 people remained. Police said a fight broke out among a few of the protesters and an officer heard someone say he was going to get a gun. Sensing this shift in the demeanor of the crowd, and out of concern for community safety, officers declared an unlawful assembly and ordered the group to disperse, " police Lt. Rob Ransweiler said in a statement on Oct. 2. Two lines of deputies in riot gear, some with dogs, blocked two of three exits in the parking lot, telling the crowd to disperse, witnesses said. About half of the demonstrators left. The others refused to leave, including several who were praying, and they were arrested. According to California law, an unlawful assembly is when two or more people gather to do an unlawful act, or do a lawful act in a violent, boisterous or tumultuous manner. Anyone who takes part in this activity, or who does not leave when ordered to do so, is guilty of a misdemeanor. More arrests occurred on Oct. 16 as law enforcement tried to break up what they declared was an unlawful assembly, according to the lawsuit. Earlier that evening at a nearby location, protesters had blocked traffic and someone slashed a vehicles tires, authorities said. Attorney Bryan Pease questioned why police didnt just arrest the people causing the problems instead of making everyone leave. He said the law should be interpreted to mean that once the unlawful conduct is taken care of, the assembly should be allowed to continue. Chief Deputy County Counsel George Brewster said the idea that deputies can cherrypick agitators while leaving everyone else alone is a very difficult test for law enforcement. How do you decide? Its an impossible task. Pease also accused law enforcement of arbitrarily declaring unlawful assemblies after midnight so the officers can go home. It almost seems like theres a defacto midnight curfew on these assemblies, Pease said. Attorney Steven Boehmer, who is representing the city of El Cajon, told the judge the police were following the law, and that the protesters want to rewrite the law. He pointed to other peaceful protests at the site and around the city that were not declared unlawful assemblies. There is no pattern or practice by officers to quell peaceful protests, Boehmer said. El Cajon police said the shopping centers business owners and property manager complained the demonstrations were hurting business, and police asked people on Oct. 15 to stop gathering there. At the order of police, demonstrators removed the memorial that included a shade tent, chairs, photographs, mementos, candles and barbecues that had been erected at the spot. Police cars continue to stake out the area and anyone who is not a patron is threatened with arrest, Pease said. Pease said that according to the state constitution, shopping centers open to the general public must allow free speech under reasonable guidelines. Carl Box, who was arrested on Oct. 17 after he and a friend went to pay their respects at the shooting site, accused police of using intimidation tactics. He said hed like to see the police and community come together. There is stigma on both sides. Sometimes they look at us one way, and we only see the badge. We just want to be treated as humans, Box said. The protesters are asking the Sheriffs Department and El Cajon police to pay damages to plaintiffs in an amount to make them whole, as well as punitive damages of $1 million or an amount sufficient to make an example of them and discourage similar arrests. El Cajon Shooting On Now Dumanis rules El Cajon police shooting of Alfred Olango justified 2:09 On Now Justice for Alfred Olango 1:33 On Now Video: Protests in the weeks following Olango shooting 1:43 On Now El Cajon City Council Meeting 10.11.2016 1:49 On Now Protest still present after El Cajon Shooting 2:49 On Now Video: Faith leaders, demonstrators rally in El Cajon 3:32 On Now Video: Rally after El Cajon shooting 1:45 On Now Video: Prayer vigil draws crowd in El Cajon 1:12 On Now RAW: Full video of Alfred Olango officer involved shooting 1:46 On Now Angry crowd grows after man is shot by police in El Cajon 1:15 kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis Voters in North, South and East County will decide on whether property owners should pay for hundreds of million of dollars in campus improvements at three community college districts on Nov. 8. In all, the bond measures total more than $1.2 billion The largest, Measure MM, would provide $455 million for North Countys MiraCosta Community College District to upgrade classrooms, add parking spaces and construct a new building, among other projects. Advertisement Property owners would pay an extra $15 per $100,000 of the assessed value of their property if the measure passes, meaning $75 would be added to the annual tax on a house valued at $500,000. In East County, Measure X would raise $348 million for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District to repair classrooms and labs, build a workforce training center, remove asbestos and lead paint and make other infrastructure repairs. The measure would increase property taxes $25 per $100,000 of assessed property value. In South County, Measure Z would provide $400 million for the Southwestern Community College District to fix roofs, improve energy efficiency, improve campus safety and security and make other infrastructure repairs. Property owners would see their taxes increase $25 per $100,000 of the assessed valued of their property. All three measures require support from 55 percent of voters. Measure MM is endorsed by San Diego County Taxpayers Association Chairman Gregory Stein, Biocom President and CEO Joe Panetta and others. It is opposed by Stop Taxing Us co-founder Gary Gonsalves, former Encinitas Mayor Sheila Cameron, Cardiff Taxpayers Association President Jerry Peters and Encinitas Taxpayers Association President Robert Bonde. Sunny Cooke, president and superintendent of MiraCosta College, said the district has not had a new bond in 50 years, and its campuses are long overdue for an upgrade. Projects would benefit the districts main Oceanside campus, its San Elijo campus in Encinitas and its Community Learning Center on Mission Avenue in Oceanside. Work would include 415 new parking spaces for the Oceanside campus and 160 new spaces at the Community Learning Center. The bond money would pay for a new comprehensive student services building, upgrade career training facilities for science,nursing, healthcare, engineering, technology and skilled trades, and improve facilities for veterans job training training, counseling and support services. Cooke described the veterans center on campus as a trailer that should have been demolished years ago. The argument against the bond measure states that half of buildings on campus were constructed in the past 40 years, and the district is planning to tear down fully functioning buildings. Measure X in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District is endorsed by Jim Mahler, president of the American Federation of Teachers; Linda Legerrette of the Middle Class Taxpayers Association and others. Its opposed by Haney Hong, president and CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association; former Grossmont-Cuyamaca Bond Oversight Committee member George Hawkins and Santee Mayor Randy Voepel. The ballot argument against the proposal says it asks for too much money and comes too soon after the $398 bond measure Proposition V, which was passed in 2012. District Chancellor Cindy Miles said that the proposition will pay for projects identified but not included in Proposition V after the district adopted its facilities master plan. Proposition V left about $200 million needs unmet, and since then the district has identified need needs after it refocused its direction to create more programs that will help the local workforce.. The measure also will build a new child development center at Grossmont College and renovate the child development center at Cuyamaca College. Measure Z at Southwestern College is endorsed by Mahler of the American Federation of Teachers, Legerrette of the Middle Class Taxpayers Association and Southwestern College Citizens Bond Oversight Committee member Bob Muff. Opponents include M. Kevin ONeill of the California Taxpayers Action Network, and arguments against the measure question why it needs a bond so soon after its last one. The district passed Proposition R in 2008, a $389 million bond measure that funded projects that include a new math, science and engineering building under construction. The district cant sell the remaining bonds from that proposition, however, until assessed property values in the area increase. Interim District Superintendent/President Robert Deegan said the bond will fund a new computer science building and a new classroom building at its San Ysidro center, which will allow students to take lab classes there without commuting to the Chula Vista campus. The new bonds also will fund the construction of performing arts and cultural center, which will replace the one that was built in the early 1960s. Deegan said the old theater doesnt have space to build sets, and the new one will be used by the college, local high schools and community groups. The people in these communities deserve first-class facilities, he said. RELATED Mesa College has begun a new valet service and is adding Uber stops on campus as a way of improving the parking at the school. The cost of college gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 An elderly woman who was killed during a robbery in her National City apartment over the weekend was a fixture of her tight-knit community, family members said Wednesday. Maria Consuelo Rivera, 92, was found dead when her daughter returned home from work about 6 a.m. Saturday. The two shared the apartment on D Street near East Plaza Boulevard. Its unthinkable. Can you fathom it? daughter Cecilia Rivera Aguilar said. I scream about it while Im here alone. She could have gone, she was 92, but not this way. Advertisement Investigators have remained tight-lipped about the killing. They havent said how the woman died or whether a weapon was used. Items were stolen from the home, but they didnt say what. Were still following up on a bunch of different leads, said National City police Lt. Robert Rounds. As were going through the physical evidence, we are also having to track down rumors (circulating in the community) to try and refute or confirm them. On Monday, police released a sketch of a man who neighbors saw near the apartment early Saturday. His identity is not known. Hes being called a person of interest in the case. Rivera, who was from the Philippines, raised her children in the city of Baguio. She launched several successful business ventures there, including a beauty parlor and a laundering service, and used the proceeds to send all five kids to college. When she immigrated to the United States about 40 years ago, she didnt have the capital to start a new business. But she valued a strong work ethic, so she took a job as a housekeeper at a nearby hotel. She moved into her apartment shortly after arriving in the country. She was a very sweet old lady, her daughter said. My mother was very beautiful, inside and out. She was kind. She never had a quarrel with anyone. She always had a smile for everyone. For many years, Rivera was active in Filipino-American senior organizations in National City. She was a fashionable lady, and won a number of beauty contests the organization put together. She was a noted chef as well. When one of her groups would host a banquet or celebration, Rivera would open her home to a group of seniors and they would cook up a storm. They would cook enough food to feed hundreds, the daughter said. In her later years, Rivera enjoyed visiting Viejas Casino, taking daily bus trips to do a bit of gambling and spend time with friends. She walked to the bus stop every morning at 10 a.m., with a packed lunch tucked under her arm. She sold the idea to her children by characterizing the outings as exercise, her daughter said with a laugh. When Rivera Aguilar told her mothers friends about her death, they wept. It came as a shock to us, her family, and the whole community, she said. They loved her. We loved her. She is survived by five children, two who are military veterans, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com Two violent fugitives from North Carolina were arrested at the Harrahs casino in Valley Center Wednesday, authorities said. Jonathan Richardson, 27, and Erin Hogsed, 20, were taken into custody without a struggle. The two were wanted on suspicion of kidnapping, armed robbery and vehicle theft. Richardson was considered armed and dangerous, authorities said. Transylvania County sheriffs officials collected information that led them to advise local authorities that the pair may have headed to San Diego County, sheriffs officials in San Diego said. Advertisement A San Diego sheriffs deputy spotted a stolen vehicle tied to the East Coast fugitives in a parking structure at the Harrahs Resort Southern California off Valley Center Road about 10:30 a.m. Valley Center deputies and members of the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force, along with casino security personnel, arrested the couple. They were booked into Vista jail on the warrants from North Carolina. Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez Authorities on Wednesday released surveillance footage of two men suspected of committing a string of robberies earlier this week in San Diego, Spring Valley and Lemon Grove. The thieves targeted Shell gas stations and 7-Eleven stores between 11 p.m. Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday, authorities said. During each of the five robberies, one man pointed a handgun a clerk and demanded money while the other stashed the cash in a backpack. Advertisement The thefts occurred at: The Shell gas station on Torrey Pines Road near La Jolla Shores Drive in La Jolla. The Shell gas station on Health Center Drive off Genesee Avenue east of state Route 163 in San Diegos Birdland neighborhood. The 7-Eleven on Worthington Street near Paradise Valley Road in Spring Valley. The Shell gas station on Washington Street near Third Avenue in Hillcrest. The 7-Eleven on Broadway near Buena Vista Avenue in Lemon Grove. The thieves were described as Latino men, between 20 to 25 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and about 160 pounds. The gunman was wearing a black hat with the letter D inscribed on the front, a blue hoodie with a Chargers bolt logo on the front, blue jeans and a black bandana with a skull design over his lower face. The other man was clad in a black hat with the Padres SD log on the front, a dark gray T-shirt, blue jeans and a black T-shirt partially covering the bottom of his face. In the robberies that occurred in San Diego, the suspects were seen driving away in a 1990-2000, white Ford Mustang with damage to the drivers front quarter panel. Anyone with information about the robberies was asked to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez Activists and City Council members alike expressed disappointment Wednesday with limited information provided by authors of a long-delayed report on racial profiling in San Diego police traffic stops. Joshua Chanin, a San Diego State University researcher hired by the city, outlined key findings of the report, which has been submitted to the Mayors Office but not released publicly or to the council. San Diegans packed the room for Chanins presentation. Many walked out partway through. Advertisement Im truly disappointed in what we have here, Councilwoman Myrtle Cole said. Im trying to find actual numbers that I can grab onto and discuss with my staff, and I didnt see that. Chanins presentation spelled out for the councils public safety committee four of the 10 recommendations in the upcoming report. At the urging of Councilwoman Marti Emerald, he read the other six at Wednesdays committee meeting. View the slideshow presentation He called on police to acknowledge the existence of bias and to do more to enhance officer training. He suggested officers change the way traffic stops are used at the department. He recommended that police work to improve community relations and transparency. And he made another five recommendations concerning future data collection relating to traffic stops, pedestrian stops and bicycle stops. Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said that the department has already made strides in the past two years, including officer training and transparency. We want every citizen to feel safe in their community, feel valued in their opinion and feel listened to by their police department, Zimmerman said. Chanin also released some numbers on potential profiling that did not appear in the presentation. He said: In 2014, black drivers were 20 percent more likely to be stopped than white drivers. In 2014, black drivers under the age of 25 were 45 percent more likely to be stopped than white drivers of similar age. The researchers did not find similar disparities in 2015 data or in the treatment of Hispanic drivers compared to white drivers, he said. They used a statistical method called the veil of darkness to measure police actions during the day compared to at night with the idea that officers are less likely to pull people over based on race with low visibility. An Emerald Hills resident, Rev. Lee Hill Jr. of the Christian Fellowship Congregational Church, told researchers that his experiences went against that assumption. He said hed been profiled on his way home at night when an officer saw him driving and actually did a U-turn in the middle of the street to follow him before realizing that he lived in the neighborhood. This idea that police officers are unable to see at night is not true, Hill said. Councilman Todd Gloria also took issue with the technique. Based on what Im reading, somehow Im invisible after the sun sets, and thats an issue, Gloria said. At the beginning of the meeting, San Diego resident Martha Sullivan, whose father was an assistant director with the FBI out of the Los Angeles office, urged city officials to heed a public apology for the historical mistreatment of racial minorities, issued by the president of the countrys largest police chief organization at a recent conference in San Diego. What you do from here forward can make that apology real or at can make it empty, Sullivan said. Norma Chavez-Peterson, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union in San Diego, emphasized the importance of the data analysis. When concerns are raised about racial bias in local policing, the response is often that San Diego is not Ferguson or Baltimore meaning that there is no need to improve on police practices and relations in the region because massive numbers of people havent taken to the streets in protest, Chavez-Peterson said. San Diego has not experienced civil unrest at the levels seen in other cities. Even so, there have been intimidating, brutal, and sometimes deadly encounters between law enforcement and people of color that leave some San Diegans feeling deeply distrustful and others feeling targeted and attacked. Chavez-Peterson raised several questions to clarify the researchers presentation and called on city officials to use this report as an opportunity to move on preparations for Assembly Bill 953, which will require deeper reporting of all stops made by police officers, whether car, pedestrian or bicycle, in the coming years. Several residents echoed her desire for San Diego to be a leader in implementing the new law before the deadline. After the city commissioned the $62,500 report from SDSU, it was originally supposed to be released in November 2015. The deadline moved to June 2016 and then October 2016. So far, only the researchers presentation for Wednesdays meeting has been released. The Mayors Office says the report is pending further meetings between researchers and city officials. They say it will be released before Thanksgiving. The father of Alfred Olango, a Ugandan refugee who was recently killed by El Cajon police, was among the residents concerned with the reports continued delay. Im here to oppose in the strongest terms the delay in releasing the report on racial profiling because thats exactly why my son was killed one month ago, Richard Olango said. kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate You probably dont know his name, but you likely know what he did. In 2001, Eric ONeill arrested fellow FBI agent Robert Hanssen for spying on the U.S. on behalf of the Soviet Union and Russian Federation. It was one of the most sensational espionage cases in FBI history, with Hanssen getting convicted and currently serving a life sentence in prison. The real-life story was the subject of the 2007 Hollywood thriller Breach, which brought ONeill a degree of fame. Advertisement He hasnt disappeared from the public eye. ONeill left the FBI and became a national strategist for the security company Carbon Black. As part of his job, he frequently gives talks about the state of cybersecurity. He did just that on Thursday at the CyberFest 2016 conference in La Jolla. At that gathering, ONeill also spent time talking with The San Diego Union-Tribune about Russias suspected hacking of computers used by the Democratic National Committee and presidential candidate Hillary Clintons campaign, as well as Chinas theft of millions of records from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Here is a portion of the interview, which was edited for clarity and continuity. Q: The American public largely ignores data breaches against retailers and financial institutions, and the public isnt pounding on tables about the Russian hacks against the Democratic National Committee. Why arent more people concerned or outraged? A: It boggles my mind that they havent cared about these breaches. John Q. Public doesnt seem to care unless it affects them personally. Even identity theft. (People say), Yeah, so my credit card was hacked or stolen in the Target scam. But what happened? Maybe I spotted something I didnt charge and I just reported it to fraud and it wasnt my problem. Target had to deal with it. (But) people are starting to care now (due to the hacks against the DNC). If you can steal my vote, if you can corrupt my vote, if you can rig an election, well, as an American, that is a problem. Is that likely to happen? Absolutely not. Its almost impossible. Each voting system is run by the states. If you wanted to (interfere), you would literally have to find a way to break into polling places and install malware on each polling station. They are generally not networked. Q: How will voters sort through whats true and whats false? A: Theyre not. Thats the problem. This fear that the election could be rigged by Russia is an unfounded fear, but its one that many people share. (The security company) Carbon Black did a study that found that 15 million people might not vote (because of this issue). Q: What does that say about what Russia did, or didnt, achieve in any of this? A: Well, I think they achieved what they wanted to achieve. Spies dont just steal information to provide a benefit for their particular state or country. Spies also sabotage, they disrupt. Theyre the most effective part of any kind of war machine. Wars are won by espionage. If were in a battle with them for maybe in Russias mind, world supremacy then using these tactics can really throw the U.S. into chaos. Q: You spoke about Chinas attack on the Office of Personnel Management. Is this a case where theres a lot of impact occurring thats not highly visible to the public even in a community like San Diego, where so many people have government security clearances? A: Yes. You have hit the nail right on the head. The impact is occurring now, but we wont see it until we start catching these spies. Theres the old way of recruiting (spies) ideology, blackmail or greed. (Its the idea that) Ive learned all about you because Ive stolen all of your information from the Office of Personnel Management. Ive got your entire background. I know your vulnerabilities. I know where I can blackmail you. I know whether youre greedy, whether you really need money. Ive taken what Ive stolen and compared it to everything youve put on social media and in the public-records searches you can do here in the U.S., and Ive learned youve got a couple of mortgages on your home, and Ive learned that youre getting into fights with your wife, and youre really stretched for money. And what do you have? Security clearance, access. What do I have? Unlimited money. And now I can recruit you. Q: Russia, China, North Korea, Iran these countries and others are hacking us. What are we to make of it? A: We go after other governments all of the time to take information, to find out what defense departments are going to do, to find out what militaries are going to do, what their political strategies are on the world stage. They do it to us. We do it to them. The great game of espionage. The other side of it is that the attacks can be disruptive. Im worried about an attack on critical infrastructure. We have a very weak power grid, we have a weak and poorly defended and poorly designed system of controls for our power structure. If you want to compare what ours actually looks like, take a look at Ukraines (power grid) and everything that happened when Russia shut them down (in 2015). They could do the same thing to us. Were bigger; they probably couldnt get the whole country. But if there was an orchestrated attack, they could probably shut down the West Coast. Q: Is this the kind of thing that could escalate into cyber war and kinetic war between countries? A: Cyber espionage isnt the sort of thing thats going to escalate into warfare. Its seems to be more of a Cold War. (The U.S. doesnt) seem to be willing to attack back. At least that hasnt happened yet, with the exception of possibly what maybe we, maybe Israel, maybe the two of us together did to Iran in setting back their nuclear industry with Stuxnet (a computer worm). I kind of wish that we would do a little bit more of that, but we dont. I think part of it is that we dont want to escalate things. Q: How does anyone in American society know what is happening in this space? A: If youre doing all this correctly, you dont want people to know. The best espionage happens in the shadows without anyone realizing that it has happened. Years later, someone retires and writes a book and it gets uncovered. Q: OK, but the Obama administration said were going to do a proportional retaliation for what Russia did to the DNC ... A: They said a covert retaliation. Why announce that if youre going to do it? Q: The government is asking the public to trust them on this issue. But there is a lot of mistrust of the government by the American people, so does this just go in one ear and out the other? A: I think it goes in one ear and out the other. I dont think our government is very trusted right now. The future looks grim for any change to that. But it is important. When a population feels threatened (they need) to be able to trust their government to be able to handle it. gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com If encryption is so unbreakable, why do businesses and governments keep getting hacked? This will make you cringe, but in some cases, security experts installed the encryption software wrong. So says Yaron Guez, co-founder of Crypteron, a San Diego cybersecurity company. Advertisement Guez wrote a fascinating, easy-to-read blog post that at least partly explains why there are so many data breaches. Some of those breaches involve your data. So you may want to read 6 Encryption Mistakes That Lead To Data Breaches. Tip of the hat to Guez for sharing this. gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com The La Jolla-based Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute has failed in its bid to transfer its financially troubled campus in Orlando to the University of Florida. The university said in a statement that it is unclear how (we) can help in a timely manner, given the likely need for legislative approval. As such, (University of Florida) is unable to proceed at this time. Advertisement The university had been eager to take over the Orlando center, which specializes in the study of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. But its interest waned as the proposed deal languished in the Florida Legislature. Sanford Burnham Prebys in La Jolla has enough money to continue operating the Orlando campus, which it created a decade ago as the anchor for a medical and life sciences park. But the universitys unexpected announcement represents a major blow for the institute, which has been unable to secure Orlandos long-term success despite $300 million in investments from Florida. Institute officials said they werent able to secure enough funding from the National Institutes of Health and secure sufficient donations to make their Orlando branch flourish. The money problems led the institute to propose that the University of Florida take over the entire operation. During an interview in August, Sanford Burnham Prebys chief executive Perry Nisen said: The original projections were for continued expansion of NIH money and the ability to recruit and retain faculty at a certain rate. We would be able to attract grant support to a much larger degree. I think there were (also) projections for more philanthropic growth. No one anticipated the flattening and diminution of the NIH budget. No one anticipated the sequester (of funds by Congress). And no one anticipated the national recession in terms of its impact on philanthropy. The University of Florida wanted to step in as Orlandos financial savior. The school said it has a deep pool of potential collaborators that reside two hours away by car versus 2,100 miles by plane, as is the case for the SPB main campus in La Jolla. The remark reflected resentment that the University of Florida felt more than a decade ago when then-Gov.Jeb Bush bypassed the school and asked Sanford Burnham Prebys to come to Orlando and help create the medical-life sciences park. On Thursday, Sanford Burnham Prebys said its CEO and president werent available for comment. It released this statement: For the past year, SBP has diligently pursued efforts to implement its first choice to make an asset transfer to (the University of Florida) to assure long-term sustainability of the biomedical research facilities and programs at Lake Nona. SBP and (the university) both concluded that such a transaction was in the best interests of all stakeholders, including the research scientists, university, Lake Nona community, city, county and state of Florida. We recently learned that (the university) has no plans to proceed with the asset transfer at this time. Thus, SBP is now faced with the need to find another viable alternative. gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com David MacKinnon thought he had an understanding with his electric company. For years he kept the trees ringing his University Heights house neatly trimmed and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. let him know if the looming palms ever grew too close to its overhead wires. Things changed a few years back after SDG&E hired a new tree-trimming contractor, said the broadcasting engineer. Advertisement More than once, MacKinnon says now, work crews showed up unannounced and slashed away at the prince palms even though SDG&E had no formal easement allowing access to the property. One day in early 2013, contractors arrived without notice and set to work removing part of the fence to make room for a commercial tree grinder, an industrial tool used to pare down stumps. MacKinnons mother, who was babysitting her grandchildren at the time, confronted the workers and stopped them from chopping down three trees. In a complaint to the California Public Utilities Commission, MacKinnon claimed SDG&E entered his property without an easement and trimmed his trees more than was necessary. They would just show up whenever they wanted and come onto our property, he said in an interview. As we kept pushing it, they kept threatening more. They were basically just punishing us. SDG&E says that its contractors can enter property and cut or remove trees as needed under state regulations requiring utilities to keep power lines clear of vegetation. Pruning of the palm fronds on your property is a purpose connected with furnishing electric service, a utility lawyer wrote to MacKinnon. In particular, your palm fronds are growing toward SDG&Es conductors and if left unchecked and unmanaged may create a safety risk to you, your guests and the public. The complaint, which remains legally unsettled, raises questions about when utility workers may enter private property and remove trees and other obstacles without the owners permission. Should the commission allow utilities with no easement to encroach on private property to clear power lines by 10 feet when the rules require just 18 inches of clearance? And, does the commission have the authority to sidestep state and federal condemnation laws to benefit a regulated utility? The homeowner valued the trees in question at up to $20,000. They also provide shade for his children who play in the yard, and the utility tended to trim in the spring, he said. MacKinnon said in his complaint that the rule SDG&E cited to defend its practice regards what are known as service lines -- not the distribution lines closer to his house. He suggested SDG&E trim the trees more than once a year to avoid having to enter his property, or burying the power lines like the company has planned to do for decades. They have multiple options, MacKinnon testified at a commission hearing late last year. They can trim more often, they can move their lines, they can underground their lines. Utility officials say commission rules are clear: They are permitted to enter private property for any service- or reliability-related reason, including vegetation management. Tariff Rule 16 allows SDG&E to trim palm fronds and take other steps in order to protect SDG&Es primary conductors, the company said in a statement. These conductors are located on distribution lines. The statement also said work crews exceed the 18-inch clearance requirement to accommodate their maintenance schedule. The amount of trimming takes into account the expected growth of the vegetation, wind and other factors in order to keep people safe until the next trim, it said. After the complaint was filed, SDG&E replaced the pole near MacKinnons home and reconfigured the wiring along Madison Avenue to create more space between the trees and power lines. The company then argued the complaint was moot because no more trimming was expected at the property for up to 10 years . In August, Administrative Law Judge W. Anthony Colbert dismissed the complaint, agreeing with SDG&E that the problem had been addressed. The primary issue in Mr. MacKinnons complaint is resolved, Colbert ruled. The complaint against the defendant should be dismissed, effective immediately. The dismissal did not answer the more difficult questions raised in MacKinnons complaint and he wants clarity. Last month he requested a new hearing on the grounds that moving the wires only avoided the conflict for the near term. He received a subsequent notice from SDG&E saying it may cut his trees in the future and wants the commission to rule on whether the utility can do so. MacKinnon also included research showing that the vast majority of complaints against regulated utilities are denied or dismissed. He singled out Colbert for ruling in favor of utilities in each of 17 complaints before him. The disparate impact cannot be ignored and clearly shows bias in favor of regulated utilities, MacKinnon wrote. Commission spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said judges do not favor utilities over consumers or others in their decision-making. Our administrative law judges base their decisions on the record that is developed in the case, and they consider each case individually and impartially, she said. Further, our administrative law judges are bound by the California Code of Judicial Ethics. Last month, SDG&E filed a response to MacKinnons request for a new hearing. Company lawyers said the case is still moot because of the upgrades along Madison Avenue. They also said a rehearing would call for an advisory opinion, contrary to commission policy. SDG&E made changes to its facilities that could mean SDG&E never has to trim complainants trees, the utility argued. It also may mean that any trimming will occur eight to 10 years in the future. The commission has a longstanding policy against issuing advisory opinions in the absence of a case or controversy. Prosper said MacKinnons hearing request will be evaluated by the commissions legal team, and if any legal error is determined the case could be reopened all or in part. It is not clear when the commission will rule on the rehearing request. jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald A New York woman filed a $20 million lawsuit against KFC accusing the restaurant chain of false advertising because the bucket of chicken she bought was not overflowing like the one shown in the companys television ads. In her suit filed Oct. 19, Anna Wurtzburger says she bought a $20 eight-piece bucket in July and was shocked to find the container was not full. I came home and said, Wheres the chicken? I thought I was going to have a couple of meals, Wurtzburger said in an interview with the New York Post. Advertisement They say it feeds the whole family, she continued. Theyre showing a bucket thats overflowing with chicken. You get half a bucket! Thats false advertising, and it doesnt feed the whole family. Theyre small pieces! The suit claims the chicken maker is violating the law by engaging in false advertising and misleading trade practices. It further alleges that the company admitted the practice. Plaintiff thereafter spoke with a representative of defendant in Georgia who stated that defendant intentionally showed the false, deceptive advertisement of an overflowing bucket of chicken on a television commercial so that the public could see the chicken, the lawsuit states. If you want the public to look at your chicken, put it in a dish, she said to the Post. Its a lot of BS. I expect to get what youre telling me. The suit goes on to state, without elaborating, that Wurtzburger was injured as a result of the deceptive act, and it asked for $20,000,000 in damages. That amount was later reduced to $9,999,000.00, according to the Wall Street Journal. An attorney for KFC told the WSJs law blog that Wurtzburgers claims are without merit. 619-293-1710 debbi.baker@sduniontribune.com twitter.com/Debbi_Baker Fallen San Diego police Officer Jonathan J.D. De Guzmans name was added to Chula Vistas police memorial on Thursday, becoming the 86th name etched onto the monument honoring the regions officers killed in the line of duty. De Guzman, a gang suppression officer who lived in Chula Vista, was shot and killed July 28, and his fellow Officer Wade Irwin was wounded. They had stopped a pedestrian in Southcrest who opened fire on them at point-blank range. De Guzmans name was sandblasted into the stone in letters five-eighths of an inch tall. Advertisement It follows that of San Diego police Officer Jeremy Henwood who was killed in an ambush in August 2011, and it joins the names of fellow San Diego County law enforcement men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice beginning with the first recorded death in 1889. The man who has etched all the names onto the smooth black granite is Bill Haleen, a stone artisan who works for the Seamon-Poe Monument Company. Haleen, 39, has etched thousands of other commemorations from gravestones to war memorials to glass walls, including most of those honoring the countys fallen officers. Hes been doing it for 20 years. Its humbling, he said. Haleen said he did not know De Guzman, but that he had several police officers as friends. I really respect what they do, he said. They have one of the toughest jobs out there. And his work, which is literally written in stone, is exacting. Theres no room for error when doing this, especially to a monument like this thats so important, Haleen said. He said that every time he works on a monument, he treats it like its one for his own family. First, he placed a rubber, adhesive-backed stencil on the rock, positioning it just so. He then carefully removed the cut-out portions of the letters with a knife. Up next was the sandblasting. As Haleen worked over the monument, the fine red sand looked like mist in the air before it settled on the ground around him. Less than a minute later, De Guzmans name had its permanent place of honor. Chula Vista Capt. Lon Turner said the official unveiling of De Guzmans name will be held in May during the national Peace Officer Memorial Week. 619-293-1710 debbi.baker@sduniontribune.com twitter.com/Debbi_Baker I am often asked about my strong opposition to plastic bag bans. Wont it reduce litter? Cant people just bring reusable bags? With San Diego having passed a plastic bag ban ordinance in July and other nearby cities considering the issue, I want to share what happened when I was mayor of Huntington Beach in 2013 and 2014. We saw firsthand how the bag ban provided no benefits to the environment and only taxed residents on bags that used to be free. That is why the City Council rightfully voted to end the two-year ordinance that banned plastic bags. Advertisement ANOTHER VIEW: Yes on Prop. 67: Protect Californias bag ban from out-of-state profiteers However, thanks to an alliance of environmental activists, grocers and labor unions who struck a backroom deal with legislators in August 2014, the whole state may very soon be subject to a bag ban if Senate Bill 270 is not overturned by voters in November. If I had been in the Assembly at the time this bill was passed, I would have strongly opposed this legislation. One reason is that SB 270 threatens jobs. Bag ban supporters claim that this bill provides enough money to retool and retrain workers to make a different product. But the measly $2 million allocated for this purpose is barely enough money to cover one-half of a new production line in one factory. Lets discuss the effect plastic bags have on the environment. The misguided special interests who support SB 270 argue that plastic shopping bags end up on streets and beaches and are harmful to wildlife. However, these claims are not supported by science. The truth is, according to Environmental Resources Planning, a professional firm that conducts litter studies, plastic retail bags typically represent less than 1 percent of litter and 0.3 percent of waste collected in the United States, so the environmental benefits of banning them will be negligible. American-made plastic retail bags are 100 percent recyclable and reused by 90 percent of people. Under SB 270, the reusable bags that retailers will be forced to sell are five times thicker versions of the banned bags and studies have shown that most people reuse bags without cleaning them, making them a health hazard. So SB 270 means more plastic, more bacteria and more money coming out of consumers pockets to pay bag taxes that would give corporate grocers huge profits. The reality is a statewide bag ban wont solve any of the problems proponents say it will. Huntington Beach was no better because of the bag ban. Instead, the proposed bag ban and tax scam will cost hardworking California taxpayers millions of dollars and threaten thousands of jobs, without any environmental benefit. At the same time, grocers will be charging consumers a minimum 10 cents for every bag sold. If grocers in California had decided to implement this charge on their own, it would be price fixing, but because it happened at the state government level, its legal. I believe California voters deserve the opportunity to learn the truth about this flawed legislation. However, in the event that SB 270 goes into law, voters will also have the opportunity to vote on another ballot measure, Proposition 65, which would require all money generated or collected for the sale of carryout bags be directed to a fund to pay for projects that will actually benefit the environment. The measure also allows those local governments who already have a ban in place to redirect bag fees to the same state environmental fund. Voters have the chance to stand up to bad policy and repeal the bag ban with a no vote on Proposition 67, while also making it clear that bag fees should go toward a public purpose with a yes vote on Prop 65. Otherwise, Californians will quite literally pay and corporate grocers will be the only ones to benefit. Harper, a Republican who represents the 74th Assembly District in the Legislature, is the former mayor of Huntington Beach. Last month, a federal jury in San Diego convicted Mexican multimillionaire Jose Susumo Azano Matsura for a series of campaign finance crimes, including contributions by a foreign national. Today, the case lumbers along in its post-trial phase, destined for the inevitable appeal. While the guilty verdicts brought closure to a case that has fascinated local political circles, it should also be recognized for what it says about two current issues of national importance: election integrity and border security. First, the Azano case shows that questions of campaign finance are not legal technicalities but are instead about the integrity of our electoral system. Our elections the debates we have and the votes we cast are an exercise in the self-determination and self-governance of a closed political community. They are meant to be free from the influence of foreign actors who might not always have our countrys best interests at heart. When writing about this topic, I used to illustrate the point by asking, Can you imagine a Vladimir Putin super PAC? And up until a year ago, the question was mostly rhetorical good enough to make a point, but not a clear and present danger. Now, however, the issue feels very present indeed. Earlier this month, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and the Department of Homeland Security accused Russia of intentionally interfer[ing] with the US election process by stealing and leaking emails via WikiLeaks and other sites. Less often quoted but equally chilling, their joint statement went on to say: Some states have also recently seen scanning and probing of their election-related systems, originating from servers operated by a Russian company. Advertisement Of course, Putin didnt register a super PAC in his name. But Russias actions threaten the same kind of harm that Azano could have visited upon elections in San Diego, even though his methods and goals were much different. Like Russias forays in cyberspace, Azanos donations raised the specter of secret, outside influence in elections that were made by, and for, a closed, self-governing community. In short, both Azano and Russia threatened the integrity of our electoral process the centerpiece of American democracy that, in times like these, can sometimes seem all too delicate. Second, the Azano case illustrates an underappreciated point about border security. To fight crimes of a transnational character, law enforcement agencies cannot rely just on the security of our ports of entry and other physical barriers separating us from the rest of the world important though those barriers might be. Instead, investigators, prosecutors and regulators must leverage a broad range of other tools designed to catch the illicit money, communications and data that freely cross our borders every day. In the Azano case, prosecutors claimed that Azano wired money from bank accounts in Mexico to the U.S. to finance in-kind donations to San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis 2012 mayoral primary campaign. Azano didnt even need to be within U.S. borders to commit this crime and, according to in-court statements by his attorneys often was not. Importantly, this type of cross-border transaction cannot be stopped by building a taller border fence or conducting stricter inspections at our ports of entry. Instead, it can only be identified through the hunch of a smart special agent or, increasingly, caught in the algorithmic net of a banking institution legally obliged to capture and report suspicious activity. Campaign finance crimes are not the only context in which this principle applies. Russia weaponized the information it stole from U.S.-based accounts by disseminating it online. The leak clearly had an effect within our borders, even though it was perpetrated within the borderless terrain of cyberspace. It is important, of course, that we remain vigilant to bad actors sneaking across our borders, but as the Azano case illustrates in a very concrete and local way, that cannot be the only front in our battle against external threats. The Azano trial is now firmly in the rearview mirror a relief, Im sure, to many. But, as we near the end of a very consequential presidential election, it is worth reflecting on the case for the broader lessons it might teach us. Perry, a former federal prosecutor and attorney at WilmerHale, led the investigation of Jose Susumo Azano Matsura and brought the first indictment against him. Republican challenger Kristin Gaspar faces incumbent Democrat Dave Roberts in the race to represent the Third District which includes Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, northern San Diego and Escondido on the county Board of Supervisors. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board emailed questions to each candidate. Here are the responses from Kristin Gaspar. QUESTION: Where do you stand on Measure A, SANDAGs sales tax increase, and why? GASPAR: I oppose the SANDAG sales tax increase. Despite generating billions of dollars through a new tax, the plan falls short of providing a balance between traditional and alternative transportation modes in District 3, and ignores the trend of technological innovation. This is evidenced by the strong opposition from interest groups on both sides and many elected officials throughout the region. I encourage voters to closely examine the projects that are guaranteed in the proposition versus available through a competitive grant process. The plan puts taxpayers desperate for traffic relief on the hook for a period of 40 years on investments that will likely be outpaced by technology. Traffic congestion is a pressing issue that impacts daily quality of life, requiring proactive solutions and effective leadership. I will continue to be supportive of a full complement of traditional and alternative transportation modes that protect our taxpayers and local economy while improving the flow of traffic in our county. Unfortunately, this plan needs to go back to the drawing board. Advertisement SEE ALSO: County Supervisor Dave Roberts: The Union-Tribune interview Q: How will you vote on Measure B, the Lilac Hills Ranch development, and why? GASPAR: It is important to understand that I will serve in a quasi-judicial role on the board tasked with implementation should the voters approve Measure B and therefore cant take a position on Lilac Hills. Speaking more generally, San Diego County has both an affordable housing crisis and a dwindling amount of precious open space. I will support quality development projects that balance the need for diverse housing and services while protecting the environment and community character. I will continue to bring an open mind to land use, making informed decisions on a case-by-case basis. Q: What should the county do to address the current housing crisis? GASPAR: San Diego is suffering from a housing affordability crisis. Sadly, the likelihood of our children being able to stay in San Diego is dwindling. Our regions ability to attract young entrepreneurs and start-up businesses critical to economic vitality is declining. Additionally, diversity in housing options for our aging population is extremely limited. Addressing this issue will take a multi-prong approach. We must increase the housing stock through the construction of high quality housing throughout the county that protects the character of existing communities. Our policies need to focus on economic growth as a means to provide stable, good paying jobs throughout the region. Lastly, 47 percent of the cost to build a house in the city of San Diego is government bureaucracy which leads to higher housing prices and inferior projects. Q: Whats the county doing right and wrong in terms of social services, especially mental health services? GASPAR: AB 109 and Prop. 47 have placed criminals back onto our streets creating a tremendous new burden on our local law enforcement absent funding from Sacramento. In addition, voters could further intensify the problem through the passage of Prop. 57 this November. We need to work closely with law enforcement to understand the rising impacts on our county and ensure they have the resources needed to keep our residents safe and that our mental health services are adequate. As a result of these legislative changes, I have significant concerns that the county is getting behind on addressing our growing homeless population, putting accountable plans in place, and deploying resources efficiently given the changing dynamics. That is why I have introduced a 0-1-2-3 homeless recovery plan for San Diego County. Zero nights on the streets for children, women, families or veterans. They are on the streets, they get a clean, safe room, immediately. Support for a homeless coordinator to centralize overlapping city, county and private programs to save money and improve services. Two yearly outside, public audits of the books and performance of the programs to hold them accountable. Three services under one roof: addiction treatment, job placement and safe shelter with bathing and cleaning facilities. Q: This year, the countys pension fund finished its worse investment year since the financial crisis of 2008. How would you improve the health of the fund? GASPAR: The county of San Diego needs effective leadership on the SDCERA board to ensure a strong financial future. Unfunded pension liabilities pose the largest threat to long-term stability of any organization. I support the recent decision to hire a new internal investment team to navigate this challenging issue. SDCERAs return to a traditional public fund investment and governance structure will reduce risk and provide additional accountability. As council member and mayor of Encinitas, I was able to initiate pension reforms that outpaced the state of California, kept employee relations strong and provided additional bulk payments to the citys unfunded pension liabilities. Q: Why should people vote for you? GASPAR: My leadership style is one of collaboration, treating others with the respect and autonomy they deserve. As a result, I have been able to earn the respect of my colleagues, employees and the community alike. I am particularly proud of the cross-party support I have gained as a result of my leadership style. The incumbent Dave Roberts leadership style led him to scandal which cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. His abuse of power and treatment of his staff resulted in eight of 11 staff members walking out on him with accusations of bribery, inappropriate behavior and misuse of taxpayer funds to follow. This kind of behavior shouldnt be acceptable in any elected official, Republican or Democrat. What do adult film performers, the California Democratic Party and the California Republican Party all agree on? That California voters should oppose Proposition 60. Theyve been joined by the editorial boards of many of the states largest newspapers including the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle. More than 100 other groups have also opposed the measure, including HIV/AIDS organizations, political groups and civil rights advocates. Proposition 60 is downright dangerous, and widely opposed by the performers it seeks to regulate. I, and other adult performers, have tried to explain that the seemingly progressive measure would open us up to harassment, profiteering, and nearly unlimited lawsuits. Thats because the proposition is not about condoms in adult film, but about one mans attempt to control adult film performers. Advertisement ANOTHER VIEW: Yes on Prop 60: Aids health, safety of adult film performers Michael Weinstein, the sole proponent and funder behind Proposition 60, has written a ballot measure that financially incentivizes the private policing of adult film. Proposition 60 gives any California resident the right to sue a performer if a condom isnt visible in a production. That means anyone with a laptop can sue me and collect 25 percent of any penalties against me and Id have to pay their legal fees. This isnt public health policy, its legalized harassment. Weinstein likes to paint the picture that all performers are victims but doesnt acknowledge that we are consenting adults working in a legitimate industry. Our industry is far more diverse than the proponent would like to highlight. We work on studio sets, sure, but we also produce our own content, perform on our own webcams, and profit-share through affiliate links. All of these leave us empowered and under Proposition 60 liable. A husband and wife who perform solely together must use condoms when shooting or face legal action and fines. Instead of protecting performers, Proposition 60 further marginalizes an already marginalized community, and plays on the stigma and fear that surrounds adult film performers. A measure that passes because of prejudice is not progress. Not in adult film. Not in any industry or community. The fact is there has not been an on-set transmission of HIV on a regulated set in over a decade thanks to the 14-day testing protocols developed by performers and medical experts. The industry has never been anti-safe sex, but always pro-option and pro-performer safety. Performers should have the option to use condoms, but it shouldnt be enforced under threat of a legal action. The true purpose of Proposition 60 is clear in its language once you look past the guise of safe sex. There is a section in the proposition that shows it is guaranteed to serve one individual the sole proponent of Proposition 60, Michael Weinstein. It would give him a job as state porn czar, and the power to go after performers himself. For those of us who know Weinstein, this is frightening. He has a long history of going after adult performers, of filing complaints and lawsuits about the movies we make. Proposition 60 would give him power to overrule state health officials even the attorney general in enforcing his proposition. Most telling, Weinstein has refused to meet with adult film performers about the measure, or even to discuss it with us. Weve tried to tell him that the proposition will only push the business underground, and out-of-state, where well have fewer protections. Weve tried to tell him that the enforcement scheme leaves us vulnerable to stalkers and profiteers. Over 1,000 performers recently signed a petition demanding that he defend the measure publicly, by debating an adult performer. He refused, saying he didnt need to, since we lacked any semblance of a real or professional No on 60 ballot opposition. It was not only dismissive, it was offensive. By speaking out on our own behalf, performers have racked up nearly every opposition endorsement there is. Weinstein, on the other hand, has so few that his campaign has been sued multiple times for padding false endorsements. Performers and the No on 60 campaign, on the other hand, have secured the opposition of major state political parties, over two dozen state papers, and countless other advocates. If those endorsements are not real or professional, I ask that you use your vote to convince him. Join me and thousands of other performers this November and vote No on Proposition 60. Li is an adult film performer. Perhaps the most high-profile measure on the Nov. 8 ballot, Proposition 64 wouldnt just legalize recreational use of marijuana by adults in California. It would set up a regulatory framework that governed licensing, advertising, labeling and testing for a multibillion-dollar industry. It would also launch a mass social experiment. No state anywhere near this large has ever legalized marijuana. If approved, the ballot measure championed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom would allow those 21 and older to grow up to six plants at home, so long as the plants are not readily visible to the public, and to buy and possess an ounce or less of marijuana and 8 grams or less of concentrated cannabis products. It would remain illegal to smoke or otherwise consume marijuana in public, and to smoke pot anywhere tobacco smoking is banned. Marijuana could, however, be used at licensed cafes. Marijuana sales would have a 15 percent state tax, and growers would be taxed based on the weight of their harvest. Annual state revenue of about $1 billion is expected, according to the Legislative Analysts Office. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board supports Proposition 64. We get why many worry about giving a de facto seal of acceptability to casual drug use. But the state already is inundated with pot use because of Proposition 215, a lax 1996 medical marijuana law used by tens of thousands of Californians and sometimes gamed. The argument that it makes sense to regulate and tax the drug rather than accept a status quo of little regulation and taxation is powerful and persuasive. Advertisement Local governments can also add their own marijuana sales taxes, and the San Diego City Council put Measure N on the ballot in anticipation of Proposition 64s passage. San Diego would start with a 5 percent levy that would increase to 8 percent in 2019, and could eventually go as high as 15 percent. RELATED OP-EDS Yes on 64: Prop. 64 legalizes recreational marijuana the right way No on 64: Legalizing recreational marijuana hurts youth, families On the issue of drugged driving, the lack of an adequate DUI test for THC, marijuanas primary active ingredient, has been a major concern. Hopes that an oral swab saliva test could be a quick, cheap police tool have faded after field tests showed it wasnt good at measuring actual driver impairment, as opposed to THCs presence in the body. But as Newsom emphasized in a telephone interview with two Union-Tribune editorial writers, the state pot tax would provide millions of dollars to efforts to develop a pot DUI test, among other constructive uses. Meanwhile, a 2015 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration overview of drugged driving research concluded that marijuana impairment isnt nearly the problem that alcohol impairment is: Some of these studies have suggested that marijuana use has minimal or no effect on the likelihood of crash involvement, while others have estimated a small increase in the risk. Whats more, claims of big problems in Washington and Colorado after those states allowed the use of recreational marijuana look weak when carefully reviewed. The recent increases in those states of the number of people in fatal accidents found to have THC in their systems may reflect a greater emphasis on drug testing instead of a spike in stoned motorists. Marijuana use has barely increased among Washington teenagers and somewhat increased among Colorado teens, reflecting a trend in the Rocky Mountain State that predated adult legalization. Its telling that polls show residents support of legal recreational use of marijuana has grown since those states laws took effect. Proposition 64 is a policy gamble, but the downside decreases the more one looks at its basics and at how similar laws have played out elsewhere. As for Measure N, no matter how San Diego voters feel about Proposition 64, they should vote yes. If marijuana is going to be legalized in California, as looks likely, San Diego should share in the tax bonanza that will result. Vote yes on Measure N even if you oppose legalizing marijuana Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: UTOpinion Looking for an authentic New York pizza experience? Visit Coney Island Pizzeria at 12233 Poway Road in the Oak Knoll Plaza. The pizzeria opened about 15 years ago but has been in the hands of Elmer and Christina Rodriguez for about three and a half years. The husband-wife team, along with their business partner, Daniel Ramos, reopened the pizzeria about four months ago in its new location. Weve really turned it around, said Elmer Rodriguez. Weve been voted one of the top five pizzas in the county three years in a row and voted the best pizza in Poway. The pizzerias dedication to making authentic New York-style pizza draws in customers who are originally from the East Coast and miss the pizza from there, said Rodriguez. Rodriguez said that they make fresh dough every day and use a New York brand of cheese for authenticity. They also import tomatoes from Italy. We use the best ingredients around, through local distributors so we can help support local businesses, he said. The pizzas are cooked in stone ovens, just like it is done back east, Rodriguez said. Pizza is made on a wooden board, not on a screen, he said. The pizzeria offers a variety of red and white pizzas as well as garlic knots and two salads, a house salad and an antipasto. Some of the most popular pizzas are the Titan, which is the house pie with pepperoni, meatballs, mushrooms, ricotta cheese and garlic, named after the Poway High School Titans; The Truth, a white pie with spinach, pepperoni, bacon, garlic and feta cheese; and the Chicken Loco, with chicken, bacon, pineapple, jalapenos and barbecue sauce. Rodriguez said that the pizzerias plain cheese pizza is also a big hit. Theres nothing like our cheese pizza, he said. Sometimes putting less (on a pizza) brings out the textures and flavors more. The Sicilian Cheese Pie is also a big hit that people are willing to wait for, as it has a cooking time of at least an hour. We have the best Sicilian in the county, said Rodriguez. The pizzeria will also soon be offering local craft beer. In addition to carry-out and dining in, the pizzeria offers delivery within five miles and also is open for lunch, where customers can choose from up to 12 pizzas by the slice. The pizzeria also does catering. It offers cash-only deals in the middle of the week, with two small pizzas for $10 on Tuesday, a three-topping extra-large pizza for $15 on Wednesday and a $12 cheese pizza on Thursday. The pizzeria is very busy on the weekends, so Rodriguez suggested putting your order in early. Walk-in orders are prioritized over phone orders, which can take up to 45 minutes, he said. Let your family give us a try, he said. It only takes one time and youll be a fan. Let our family serve your family. Coney Island Pizzeria is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It is closed Mondays. To place an order, call 858-513-3000. For a full menu, visit coneyislandpizzeria.com. Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/27/2016 -- The mining industry is expected to witness growth with a single digit CAGR over the next six years on account of the further expanding demand for metal and mineral commodities. Latin America accounted for about 8% of the global mining equipment demand in 2013 and its contribution towards global mining equipment sales was registered at 15% for the same year. The region serves as the prime destination for mining exploration and investment at a global level. The key reason which has accelerated the growth of the Latin American mining equipment market is the enhanced demand for the consumption of natural resources. Presently, the region produces about 45% of the global copper, 21% of the global zinc, 50% of the global silver and 26% of the global molybdenumproduction. In addition, foreign investment, especially from China, US, Canada and Australia, plays a significant role in the growth of the Latin American mining equipment market. Further, other operations such as the Panama Stock Operation (PSO), CSR activities, and introduction of next generation mining equipment such as Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) also serve as driving factors for the growth of the mining equipment market in Latin America. Among these, CSR activities primarily focus on rehabilitation and support programmes, promotion of healthy lifestyle and awareness programmes for the adoption of green technology. However, in the past few years, the mining industry and hence the mining equipment industry has been facing an economic crisis on account of the requirement for budget allocation in the maintenance of the mining industry and equipment, etc. Illegal mining operations at some locations and the risk associated with the mining industry serve as further constraints for the Latin American mining equipment industry.Surging demand and abundant availability of natural resources(including the world's top three metal and mineral reserves of copper, zinc and silver rapid technological advancement, modernization of mining plants, stable legislations with a motivating legal environment, and the efficient budget allocation with aftermarket revenue generation will serve as opportunities for the development of the Latin America mining equipment market. Request Free Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-la-68 Market segmentation of Latin American mining equipment can be done on the basis of equipment, application and countries. On the basis of equipment, the Latin American mining equipment market includes mineral processing equipment, surface mining equipment, underground mining equipment, mining drills and breakers, crushing and screening equipment, etc. On the basis of applications, the Latin American mining equipment market segmentation includes metal ore mining, coal mining and mineral mining. Chile, being the largest producer of copper, serves as a lucrative market for copper-based mining equipment. Colombia is an active exporter,and is the first Latin American coal-producing country alongwith the production of metals such as gold, silver and platinum and hence is the opportunistic market for the associated mining equipment market. On the basis of countries, the Latin American mining equipment market includes Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Venezuela. Chile is known for the adoption and introduction of advanced technologies such as autonomous haulage system. Peru is the reserve of key minerals and has been witnessing a surging demand for copper and hence the expansion of the associated mining equipment market. Brazil has an integrated approach for the production and sale of mining equipment. Panama has an active stock operation (PSO) for the support of the mining industry. In line with the positive future of the Latin American mining equipment industry, Peru and Chile are expected to receive double digit foreign investment in $ Bn in the next six years. Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-la-68 Some of the prominent players of the global mining equipment market include Sandvik AB, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Komatsu Limited, Atlas Copco Ab Joy Global Inc. Breaker Technology, Astec Industries, Bucyrus International, Caterpillar Incorporated, China Coal Energy Company Limited, Tecpalsa, Tecmap, Tiesa and Igaretta. Among these, Komatsu Limited in the whole of Latin America, Tecpalsa in Colombia, Tecmap and Tiesa in Panama and Igaretta in Argentina are active players in the Latin American mining equipment market. Vilnius, Lithuania -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/27/2016 -- Rhinoplasty, more commonly referred to as a nose job, is a plastic surgery that attracts an increasing number of patients each year. Being significantly less expensive than in the UK, it attracts even more people who are considering rhinoplasty surgery abroad. Rhinoplasty is a choice of many who want to have the size or shape of their nose changed. Because of very attractive prices and a rather simple recovery period, many people in Europe and the UK choose rhinoplasty surgery abroad. Being amongst the five most popular plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States, rhinoplasty is quickly gaining popularity in Europe as well. "We definitely see an increase in patient enquiries for rhinoplasty, as well as the number of international patients who choose to go abroad for rhinoplasty." - says Andrius Jonutis, the General Deputy Manager at Kardiolita Hospital in Vilnius, Lithuania. David Myers, a patient from the UK who chose to go abroad for rhinoplasty surgery, says: "The surgeon and everyone at the hospital made me feel like staying in one of the finest hospitals, the surgeon was very professional and nice, staff very helpful, the recovery was easy and I am happy I could save quite a big amount, including all the travel expenses and even a couple days in Vilnius prior to the surgery". Rhinoplasty surgery price starts at 1990 Eur at Kardiolita hospital for the full package: hospital stay, surgery, medications, doctor consultations, transportation and full medical assistance. For more information on Rhinoplasty surgery options at Kardiolita Hospital, visit: http://www.treatmentinlithuania.co.uk/plastic-surgery To schedule an appointment or with any questions, send a message to: http://www.treatmentinlithuania.co.uk/send-message Alternatively, please call +44 (0) 203 290 0070 to get all your questions answered. About Kardiolita Hospital Kardiolita Hospital is the leading private general hospital in Lithuania, accredited by the JCI and working by the highest industry standards. Established in 1998 Kardiolita Hospital provides full range of medical services from comprehensive diagnostics to various surgical treatments within many medical areas. Kardiolita Hospital employs 200+ highly qualified Lithuanian doctors with extensive international experience and treatment performance of more than 45+ medical areas. The hospital has long-term experience in treating international patients. Contact Information: Contact person: Andrius Jonutis Deputy CEO Kardiolita Hospital Phone: +44 (0) 203 290 0070 Laisves Av. 64a, Vilnius, Lithuania http://TreatmentInLithuania.co.uk http://www.kardiolita.lt Watertown, SD -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/27/2016 -- The South Dakota Supreme Court has reversed a circuit court's dismissal of a worker's lawsuit that claims the termination of his workers' compensation benefits by Dakota Truck Underwriters and Risk Administration Services was bad faith insurance conduct. The opinion, filed on September 28, 2016, concluded that an insurer cannot assume the truthfulness of a consulting medical expert's report when deciding whether to deny coverage. The Supreme Court's ruling revolves around a contested medical report concerning injuries James Mordhorst sustained while working for Fischer Furniture in Rapid City, South Dakota, in 2011. While Mordhorst was making a delivery, a 275-pound sofa fell from the back of a truck and struck him on his head and shoulders, rendering him unconscious. When Mordhorst received medical treatment the following day, an MRI revealed a herniated disc in his back. At the insurer's request, Mordhorst was later examined by an "independent" medical examiner (IME), who concluded that the only injury sustained was a "strain" that had resolved 18 days after the accident. The insurer used the IME's report as its basis for terminating Mordhorst's workers' compensation benefits on October 16, 2012. When challenged by the worker's lawyer, the IME eventually abandoned his position about the injury being so short-lived, but the insurer continued to deny benefits. The South Dakota Department of Labor disagreed with the insurer, ordering the company to pay his past medical bills, interest, and future medical expenses. "Workers' compensation and auto insurers both often hire 'independent' doctors to examine injured people," explained Nancy Turbak Berry, a veteran personal injury lawyer. "Typically, those doctors are nowhere near 'independent,' as they are selected and paid by the insurance company and usually are chosen because of a reputation for telling insurers what they want to hear. Their reports often are at odds with the opinions of treating physicians, yet many insurers like to rely on them to try to avoid paying benefits." Mordhorst subsequently sued the insurer for bad faith, alleging it had been unreasonable in denying him benefits. The circuit court granted the insurer's motion to dismiss because it concluded that the insurer necessarily was justified in relying on the IME report to deny benefits. Reversing the circuit court, the Supreme Court noted that jurors are routinely expected to evaluate expert opinions and weigh them against countervailing evidence, saying insurers can be expected to do the same. The Court found that "an insurer's basis for denial is not necessarily reasonable simply because the insurer relies on the opinion of a medical practitioner." "When an insurance company fails to consider all the relevant evidence before denying coverage, it can leave injured workers with little access to the medical care they deserve," said Seamus Culhane, attorney at Turbak Law Office, PC. "The Supreme Court's decision to reverse the dismissal of James Mordhorst's lawsuit should compel other injured workers who have received conflicting medical reports to question whether they have legal grounds for a bad faith denial by an insurance company." If you believe your insurance company acted in bad faith when denying your claim, contact the experienced attorneys at Turbak Law Office. We can help you navigate the legal process and ensure you are protected both personally and professionally. About Turbak Law Office, P.C. A plaintiff's only personal injury law firm in Watertown, South Dakota, Turbak Law Office advocates for people across South Dakota, never the insurance companies. Our cases cover a wide range of situations: people who experience unreasonable delays, discounts, or denial of their policy holder's claims for compensation by insurance companies, families grieving the wrongful death of a loved one, workers left disabled by a catastrophic on-the-job injury, individuals hurt in a car crash by the carelessness of another, and whistleblowers coming forward with evidence of fraud, waste, or abuse. For more information, visit TurbakLaw.com or call 877-380-8517. Media Contact: Company Name: Turbak Law Office Contact Person: Liam Culhane Phone: 877-380-8517 Address: Watertown, South Dakota, United States Website: http://turbaklaw.com/supreme-court-reverses-dismissal-of-bad-faith-lawsuit/ Long-flight astronauts have atrophy of the muscles supporting the spine and they dont return to normal even after several weeks back on Earth, a NASA study shows. Among many space-related health changes, NASA astronauts frequently report back pain while in orbit and when they return to Earth, which physicians believe is related to changes in the astronauts intervertebral discs. The discs create a cushion between vertebrae in a persons spine, and changes to their shape and size can affect the spinal column and back. NASA crewmembers have a 4.3 times higher risk of herniated intervertebral discs, compared to the general and military aviator populations, explained lead author Dr. Douglas Chang, from the University of California, San Diego, and co-authors. The highest risk occurs during the first year after a mission. Microgravity exposure during long-duration spaceflights results in about 2 inches (5 cm) lengthening of body height, spinal pain, and skeletal deconditioning. Six NASA astronauts were studied before and after spending four to seven months in microgravity conditions on the International Space Station. Each astronaut had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the spine before their mission, immediately post-flight and then 33 to 67 days after landing. The goal was to understand factors affecting lumbar spine strength and low back pain during long-duration spaceflight, as well as the spines response after returning to Earth gravity. Dr. Chang and his colleagues used an image thresh-holding technique to estimate lean muscle separated from non-lean muscle components. The MRI scans indicated significant atrophy of the paraspinal lean muscle mass which plays a critical role in spinal support and movement during the astronauts time in space. The lean muscle, or functional, cross-sectional area of the lumbar paraspinal muscles decreased by an average of 19% from preflight to immediate postflight scans. A month or two later, only about two-thirds of the reduction had recovered. There was an even more dramatic reduction in the functional cross-sectional area of the paraspinal muscles relative to total paraspinal cross-sectional area. The ratio of lean muscle decreased from 86% preflight to 72% immediately postflight. At follow-up, the ratio recovered to 81%, but was still less than the preflight value. In contrast, there was no consistent change in the height of the spinal intervertebral discs. These measurements run counter to previous hypotheses about the effects of microgravity on disc swelling, the study authors said. Further studies will be needed to clarify the effects on disc height, and whether they contribute to the increase in body height during space missions, and to the increased risk of herniated disc disease. Meanwhile, the finding of paraspinal muscle atrophy suggests possible preventive steps to reduce the spinal effects of spaceflight. For instance, core-strengthening exercises, like those recommended for patients with back pain on Earth, might be a useful addition to the astronaut exercise training program. Yoga might be another promising approach, especially for addressing spinal stiffness and reduced mobility. The findings were published online this week in the journal Spine. _____ D.G. Chang et al. Lumbar Spine Paraspinal Muscle and Intervertebral Disc Height Changes in Astronauts after Long-duration Spaceflight on the International Space Station. Spine, published online October 25, 2016; doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001873 New polio cases in Nigeria have prompted the use of unusual ways to eradicate the disease, writes Julia Makinde. Borno state, located in north-eastern Nigeria, was previously known for its wealth of livestock and fishery products. But the Nigerian state that shares boundaries with Cameroon, Chad and Niger is now the unlikely battle ground for Nigerias fight against two formidable enemies: Borno state, located in north-eastern Nigeria, was previously known for its wealth of livestock and fishery products. But the Nigerian state that shares boundaries with Cameroon, Chad and Niger is now the unlikely battle ground for Nigerias fight against two formidable enemies: polio and Boko Haram. Major polio eradication setback Considering that there were no reported cases of Polio in Nigeria from July 2014 to July 2016 the discovery of four new cases of wild polio in August this year has been regarded as a major setback in Nigerias attempt to become polio-free. [1] This development places the country back on the list of three countries that are still attempting to eradicate the virus, the others being Afghanistan and Pakistan. Spanning about 93,000 square kilometres and 27 local government areas, Borno State is also the epicentre of the humanitarian crisis precipitated by the activities of the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria. Attaining complete eradication against the backdrop of dire security and humanitarian conditions will be particularly challenging. Gbenga Olayiwole Assessments by both the International Organisation for Migration, Nigeria and the National Emergency Management Agency indicate that over 2 million people have been displaced since the onset of the insurgency, including 700,000 people being displaced in 2015 alone.[2] It is worth noting that the Nigerian internally displaced persons (IDP) population is skewed towards women and children, many of whom were born in captivity or during the Boko Haram crises. Husbands and fathers have either been killed or drafted to join the sectarian army. Polio eradication challenges and efforts The recent discovery of polio cases in territories occupied by displaced persons can hardly be considered a coincidence. Monguno, Gwoza and Jere local government areas located in the north, south and central districts of Borno state respectively have only recently been recaptured by government troops after years of being occupied by members of the Boko Haram sect. Residents of these local government areas have been subjected to severe rationing of meagre supplies of food and water whilst in captivity. The military-led liberation of these areas have enabled access, heralding the discovery of these new wild-type polio cases and the subsequent public health campaign to bring the country back on track towards achieving its polio eradication goals. Attaining complete eradication against the backdrop of dire security and humanitarian conditions will be particularly challenging, says Gbenga Olayiwole, a public health and polio communications consultant based in Nigeria who has worked on the frontline of the countrys polio eradication initiative for over four years. The unique circumstance around the re-emergence of polio is forcing a rethink of approaches to surveillance and the strategies deployed to ensure adequate vaccine coverage. Coded mapping of local government areas in territories affected by the Boko Haram crises in the order of accessibility has so far helped stratify the immunisation drive. According to Olayiwole, Borno state, in September, set a target to immunise 3.2 million children under the age of five. The first phase of this effort targeting 14 of the 27 local government areas has already commenced with the deployment of over 1,500 vaccination personnel. The risk of access poses a major challenge to this effort. A second zoning approach further identifies regions that cannot be accessed by healthcare personnel without armed security operatives drafted from the army or the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to administer the vaccine. Although liberated, these areas are still considered to be in a relatively fragile state of security. Chibok local government area is home to the school that had 21 girls recently released from Boko Haram captivity. Attaining complete eradication against the backdrop of dire security and humanitarian conditions will be particularly challenging. Gbenga Olayiwole Several of the schools wards are currently only accessible with assistance from the CJTF. A significant strategy has been to merge streams of expertise in order to get the vaccines where they need to be. The largest civilian clinic in Bama local government area is currently run by the Nigerian Air Force, enabling them to double as security and immunisation agents. Members of the CJTF have also been trained through an informal knowledge transfer process to carry out immunisations. Getting the vaccines and personnel to the field locations is only a part of the exercise, says Gbenga. It is easy to assume that personnel are welcomed with open arms once in the field. This is simply not the case. Recently liberated communities are now shells of their previous selves as the individuals live within protected camps in fear of reprisal attacks or in rundown structures in their old communities. The Muna IDP camp in Borno state. Source: Gbenga Olayiwole Understandably, the arrival of the field agents can be viewed with suspicion. To circumvent this agents usually arrive armed with the polio vaccines and sugar packets relief supplies containing items for basic personal care and some food, to endear trust and encourage vaccine uptake. The relief materials are always welcomed and are rationed by administering ink stamps on the fingers of children who have received them along with the vaccines. Where security is a major concern, field agents can employ a hit and run approach in which agents aim to arrive and deliver the vaccines to as many children as they can within a short time before rapidly exiting the community. Admittedly the latter approach may not always allow for adequate assessment of numbers, as such it is usually only deployed where absolutely necessary. Children at an Islamiya school in Borno where field agents adopted a hit and run approach to vaccination. Source: Gbenga Olayiwole Understanding dynamics of migration The journey towards achieving the complete eradication of polio requires a critical understanding of the dynamics of IDP migration. Although it sits at the epicentre of the current crises, Borno is not the only Nigerian state affected by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents. Most IDPs resulting from Boko Haram insurgency currently reside in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Also, some Nigerians have reportedly sought refuge in neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Chad and Niger, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Integrated mapping of IDP camps and known refugee settlements against the zonal coding information on the security states of the various local government areas will allow for the prediction of the migratory routes that these individuals are likely to take in event of an insurgent attack. This information will enable adequate distribution of resources and population monitoring. Figure 1: Estimated numbers of individuals displaced by the insurgency in Nigeria. Source: IDMC 2016 Figure 2: Estimated numbers of refugees in neighbouring countries. Source: UNHCR, October 2016 It has been about two months since the first of the four new cases of Polio was uncovered. There appears to be an enormous effort on the part of all concerned to bring the country back on track towards its goal to attain complete eradication of polio. The unconventional methods being deployed to achieve this are a testament to the unique situation that the country faces. Dealing decisively with the insurgency will bring considerable resolution to some of the problems associated with access and adequate surveillance. Until this happens, continuing with due vigilance might be the only way that meaningful progress can be made. Julia Makinde is a research scientist in the Department of Virology at Imperial College London. She tweets at @quixotic_me This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk. Scientists discovered the Great Barrier Reef has become a coral graveyard. This means that much of the ecosystem is now dead. The scientists from Australia's ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies made an examination again and went back to observe the strip of reefs that lie along the stretch of the Great Barrier Reef. In March, they surveyed 83 reefs. Most of the coral reefs were crushed by a period of prolonged heat that turned them into ghostly white. The scientists then expected mass casualties, according to Huffington Post. The bleaching of the coral reef happens when there is a rise in temperature by as little as 1 degree Celsius or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit. When heat touches the coral, it will then expel colorful algae and will turn it into white. It will recover when the water temperature cools down and if the algae called zooxanthellae recolonize. If not, the coral will die, according to New York Times. The expectation of the scientists has come to fruition. Gergely Torda, a researcher with the National Coral Bleaching Taskforce said that it confirms what their predictions were for the portion of the reef that would eventually die. He further said that the reef around Lizard Island, which is an epicenter of coral research off Far North Queensland, have no coral left. The researchers have seen about 50 of the initial 83 reefs at this stage. Most in the healthier and somewhat bleached regions near the middle and lower sectors of the Great barrier. On the other hand, the mortality is high enough that would most likely have disastrous results. Andrew Hoey, a task force researcher said that in March, they gauged a lot of heavily bleached branching corals that were still alive, but this week they didn't see many survivors. He further said that a lot of the survivors are in poor shape. Meanwhile, Professor Terry Hughes, the lead author of the study said the Great Barrier Reef must be saved as it supports 70,000 jobs in reef tourism. He further said that large sections of it escaped from the 2016 bleaching and are in good shape. He added that the message should be that it isn't too late for Australia to lift its game and better protect the Great Barrier Reef, not they should all give up because the Great Barrier Reef is supposedly dead. Recently, two scientists claimed that they have found the evidence regarding the presence of aliens out there in the space and this has generated a wide concern among many astronomers. According to a report published in Fox News, the two scientists stated in the journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of Pacific that 234 stars have received signals in the form of light pulses. After examining the cause of the signals, the study revealed that the signals are caused by the light pulses which are generated to make the humans aware of the existence of the aliens. The scientists consider these aliens to be extraterrestrial intelligence. According to the study, these signals have given a shape which the scientists would expect to see from the aliens. Sometimes, an extraordinary claim requires extraordinary evidence. As per Yahoo News, the Berkeley SETI Research Center says that they will observe some of the stars in question using an optical telescope of 8-foot, named Automated Planet Finder. The organization is looking forward to consulting with the scientists regarding the controversial claim, which according to them does not seem to be convincing. Seth Shostak, a senior astronomer at the SETI Institute told the Astronomy magazine that he was 'quite skeptical' of the hypothesis. He further added that there are several - nearly three or four referees who have been disinclined to see this published. The controversy seems to end on the edge of new data about an unusual star that has been dimming in the past few years, leading to a speculation about an 'alien mega structure'. The most interesting fact is that half of the scientists disagree with the evidence regarding the existence of the aliens whereas the other half believes that it has already been proven. It is said that alien civilizations have been visiting earth since many years and it is still continued. It looks like consumer reports are not impressed with Tesla anymore. New rank list for the "10 most unreliable cars" is out and Tesla Model X is one of the cars present on the list. Others on the list comprise of the Fiat 500L and the Ford Fiesta. Looks like Elon Musk is not happy about it. It should not be a surprise for the ones who keep a close check on the reviews of Tesla's latest luxury SUV. The vehicle already got infamous for its unsteady tech and defective doors. In other words, Tesla Model X left a really bad image on the consumers. Consumer Reports Ranks Tesla Model X Near Bottom For Reliability https://t.co/86IQeZqXg9 Slashdot (@slashdot) October 25, 2016 Elon Musk's Tesla Model X: Not Practical Enough Consumer Reports called the Model X as "more showy than practical." They further noted that the vehicle had problems with its "Falcon-wing doors, power equipment, locks and latches, climate system, and in-car electronics." That may problems with the components list is not something easily forgettable, especially when the price tag is at $85,000. Tesla's Model X dropped down on the "29 most reliable car brands" list to number 25 as per Consumer Reports. At no. 24 and 26 being GMC and Dodge respectively. For those who would love to know the top 5 position holders, they are - Toyota, Lexus,Kia, Buick, and Audi (not specifically in that order). But, Model X is not the only targeted vehicle by CR. Tesla Model S is also mentioned with negative criticism. The publication had already cited the reliability of the Model S last year. "The main problem areas," the report mentioned last year, "involved the drivetrain, power equipment, charging equipment, giant iPad-like center console, and body and sunroof squeaks, rattles, and leaks." And, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, had contradicted such allegations back then. It is true that Consumer Reports could be a little judgemental at times, but the Model X did have faulty variations in the early models leading to such a fuss. And, the commotion started due to Tesla's claimed 'standard of excellence'. What Tesla has to say about it? Tesla stated that they were committed to create the world's most reliable cars. While they do have some issues with the early models of Tesla Model X, this is not a global defect. And, the company is communicating with all the dealers to get reports on defects if any. The company also promised to continue with the improvements until every customer shows full satisfaction. And, accoding to them, 98 per cent customers still look forward to purchasing a Tesla car. This motivates them to produce more cars for the people worldwide. Tesla Model X owners might be satisfied with their purchased SUVs. But, that does not change the fact as reported by Consumer Reports. What do you think about Tesla's brand image now? Would you still go for it? FLORENCE, S.C. Three K-9 handlers assigned to the Florence County Sheriff's Office Criminal Enforcement Unit were acknowledged as some of the best in the nation at the American Police Canine Association (APCA) national conference last month. The team was awarded the United States Large Level Department Narcotics Interdiction Team of the Year for 2016 at the conference held Sept. 25 - 29 in Bloomington, Indiana. The award is given based on the agency's size, seizures of narcotics, illegal currency, apprehension and article finds such as weapons over the past year. The awards were presented to Corporal Shane Keith, Corporal Jamie Renfroe and Sergeant Austin T. Spell along with their respective canines Ruger, Roby and Una. From Sept. 2015 to Sept. 2016, the sheriff's office Criminal Enforcement Unit had combined seizures of 111 pounds of cocaine, 1655 grams of heroin, 109 grams of methamphetamine, 34 pounds of marijuana, and 319 doses of other controlled substances. The combined street value of the seizures totals upwards of $5.8 million. The unit also seized more than $123,000 in illegal currency, three illegal firearms and made 13 felony arrests. Sheriff Kenney Boone commended his deputies for their achievements. "These highly trained and dedicated members of the FCSO Criminal Enforcement Unit deal with some of the most violent criminals who come through our county," Boone said. "This national award recognizes them as the best in the country at what they do and that is what we strive to be every day. Congratulations to Austin, Shane and Jamie for a job well done." naham 3 hostage photo The pirates were finally ready to make a deal. After holding 26 sailors from the Naham 3 hostage for nearly five years, the Somali criminals agreed in August to hand them over to charity Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) in exchange for relatively small compensation. As a first step, they sent the photo above, which shows each hostage holding up a specified code word. As a second step, they signed a contract. "We got a final proof of life to prove that the crew were alive ... then we basically issued them a contract," said John Steed, who heads the Hostage Support Partners program for OBP. On October 22, all 26 hostages were released, ending the second-longest captivity ever by Somali pirates. Steed walked us through the harrowing story of the Naham 3 and the tense process that led to their release. "Weve basically pulled off something that a special forces from a government would be pretty proud of doing," he said. naham 3 hostages Somali pirates held more than 700 hostages back in 2011, during a period when they dramatically disrupted global shipping. Back then, hostage-taking was a steady source of income for local pirates. "The insurance and shipping industry were quite capable of looking after their seafarers and their ships, paying huge ransoms funded by the insurance and based on the value of the ship and the cargo and the crew, and everybody was happy," Steed said. But some ransoms werent paid. "Where it didnt work was where the ship got wrecked or for some reason the crew got taken ashore," Steed said. "Suddenly, youve got no asset of any value, youve got no insurance, and these poor bloody crewmen are stuck in Somalia, and the pirates are thinking theyre just kidnap victims, somebodys going to pay a ransom on them as well, and thats what they held out for." The Naham 3, a Taiwan-owned fishing vessel with a crew of 29, was hijacked south of the Seychelles in March 2012. The boats captain, Chung Hui-teh, reportedly tried to fight off pirates with a chair but was gunned down. Story continues The rest of the crew, who came from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam were held aboard the damaged ship, which was tied to another hijacked and damaged ship, the Albedo. When the Albedo sank, the crew of the Naham 3 helped save some of the other hostages from drowning. In August 2013, the pirates abandoned the Naham 3 and moved the crew to a holding spot on land. At some point, two more hostages died from illness. NAHAM 3 By then, there was little hope that the ship ownerwho in fact couldnt be foundor insurance would pay for the hostages. OBP has freed hostages in similar situations, including 14 sailors from the MV Albedo in 2014 and four from the Prantalay 12 in 2015. But the pirates holding the crew of the Naham 3 were "expecting some grand payout," Steed said. Steed, a retired British colonel, started working with a negotiator for the pirates about three years ago. During this time, he convinced them to let a doctor visit the hostages. He also started working with "tribal elders, religious leaders, the local community, and the regional government" to pressure the pirates to take a deal. In an August 2015 statement, Steed said "negotiations have stalled due to unreasonable demands made by the pirates." By August 2016, however, the pirates appeared to be open to negotiations. They provided proof of life for the hostages and then they signed a contract. "We basically issued them a contract, and the pirate leaders signed," Steed said. "It was witnessed by one hostage from each country, it was witnessed by the religious leaders, and so on. Though it obviously was not a binding contract, it does tie everybody into the deal and makes them, in our view, behave honorably." Steed himself wasnt at the contract signing. In fact, he never met the pirates. "I communicated with the pirates on many occasions but not face to face," Steed said. "They wouldnt come anywhere near us." After the deal was signed came a tense few weeks of arranging the handoff and worrying about complications. "Thats the most nerve-racking part, because youre almost there, youre nearly there, but youre not sure if something will go wrong at the last minute," Steed said. The pirates agreed to transfer the hostages at an airport in the contested city of Galkayo, where heavy fighting was going on between the regional states of Puntland and Galmadug. "It was quite a risky operation even to go there and get them, but we did it," Steed said. "We used a UN aircraft and flew into Galkayo South, which is not somewhere normally the UN would fly to." "Also, this is Somalia: anybody could have raided the airstrip," Steed added. "It doesnt have any wire, it doesnt have any defenses. It is just an airstrip in the middle of nowhere." When Steed and his team arrived, they were met by a community leader, a sheikh, and the chief of police, who led them to a small building at the edge of the airstrip. All 26 hostages were safely inside. "It was a pretty emotional meeting," Steed said. "It made me cry. I dont cry easily." SAM_0099.JPG Steed describes a joyful plane ride out of the country: "There were lots of smiles, but the biggest cheer we got was when the pilots announced that we were leaving Somalia and entering Kenya." naham 3 And then a whirlwind of activity. After a stop in Wajir, Kenya, the group flew to Nairobi, where they were met by ambassadors representing some of the crew and a bunch of journalists, who were alerted to the news after a leak on Twitter. "The Chinese crew were taken away by the Chinese government right away," Steed said. Other freed hostages returned to their home countries in the next few days. Stories about how they had suffered during imprisonment started trickling out. There were "mock executions, beatings, various forms of torture, and mistreatment," Steed said. Hostages said they were given little food and had to eat rats and bugs to survive. A medical examiner diagnosed one of the hostages with diabetes, said one had had a stroke and that two had stomach problems. Even so, "the doctor said they were pretty good, not bad for people who had been in captivity for four and a half years," Steed said. Some of the hostages might suffer post traumatic stress disorder. "This affects people in different ways. Some people cope, some people dont cope," Steed said. "When we brought out the crew of Prantalay 12 three were actually perfectly OK and ones mind had gone completely. I understand he still hasnt really recovered." Somali pirates still hold at least 15 hostages: ten sailors from an Iranian fishing vessel, the Sirage, and 5 kidnap victims, who are being held by pirates. Steed is careful to avoid any comments or actions that might jeopardize negotiations for them. "Ive got another 20 odd hostages, so the pirates need to trust me that Im not going to double cross them," he said. 1280px Somalian_Piracy_Threat_Map_2010 Somali pirate attacks have declined drastically in recent years, from 176 major attacks in 2011 to only a dozen or so smaller incidents in 2015. This shift is credited to the rise of foreign naval patrols in the area as well as the adoption of recommendations in the shipping industry to move faster, follow certain routes, and post armed guards when passing through dangerous areas. In the past year, however, experts have warned that waning precautions and political factors in Somalia could lead to a resurgence of piracy. "If the navies start to go away because of the refugee crisis or boredom or if the ships started going slowly or cutting in close to the shore in order to get to Mombasa more quickly, then these guys could easily have another go," Steed said. "They havent gone away." NOW WATCH: Startling facts about World War II More From Business Insider Versa Networks Talks SD-WAN at ONUG Event By Paula Bernier , Executive Editor, TMC SD-WAN is an important new technology that is helping businesses more affordably and efficiency architect and operate their wide area networks. In an effort to promote itself and this technology, Versa Networks was at the Open Networking User Group this week in New York talking about the Open SD-WAN Exchange and software-defined security services. ONUGs Open SD-WAN Exchange is an open framework for interoperability between SD-WAN vendors. And Versa has been active in this ONUG effort. In other Versa SD-WAN news, the company just last month introduced the Open SD-WAN Ecosystem in an effort to build an open approach to SD-WAN that eliminates the need for proprietary hardware. Initial members of the ecosystem are Advantech, Lanner Electronics, and Silicom Ltd. According to IDC (News - Alert), the total SD-WAN market is poised to reach $6 billion by 2020. SD-WAN is interesting because it enables businesses to leverage any combination of broadband (cable modem-based or DSL), MPLS, or wireless (LTE (News - Alert) or microwave) connectivity to interconnect their various locations and have control, reliability, and visibility across all of the above. In some cases, SD-WAN suppliers sell direct to business customers. At the same time, SD-WAN technology is beginning to be adopted by communications service providers, which are leveraging it to offer new managed services for their business customers. For example, Versas SD-WAN technology is being used today but Colt Technology Services to offer managed SD-WAN services in 13 European countries. Putting it simply, the customer wants secure, guaranteed delivery with quality of service for their data network, said Peter Coppens, Colts director of network portfolio. But they dont want increasing data capacity requirements to mean more expensive bandwidth circuits. The solution is to use the public internet for those apps which are not latency critical like email or web surfing, while reserving your data networks for the mission critical, high bandwidth applications. Data over the internet is still secured by using IPSec tunnels; and the customer is free to use their existing internet service provider if they so wish. Edited by Maurice Nagle The State Administration of Taxation uncovered the fraud that involved RMB1.85m ($273,120) worth of export tax rebate, and the case has been handed over to the public prosecutors office. Mingde had clinched a deal to build a bulk carrier for an unnamed Greek shipowner and obtained export tax rebate for the vessel to be sold to the foreign buyer. When the shipbuilding contract was terminated by the Greek owner, Mingde continued to declare false information in order to keep the tax rebate. The taxation office said a main culprit Ji Moumou and three others were arrested and detained. The local media reported that the minimum sentence for the crime would be five years imprisonment. The Chinese shipbuilder Mingde declared bankrupt in July 2015 after it failed in its restructuring plan. The award covers the first 14 vessels operated by the company including ro-ros, ropax, cruise and pure car and truck carriers, which have had carbon emissions reduced and independently verified by the Gold Standard Foundation. The emission cuts have been achieved as a result of upgrading hull coatings from biocide-based products to the AkzoNobel subsidiarys premium foul release coatings range, Intersleek, which are do not contain biocides. In a London celebration yesterday timed to coincide with the IMOs MEPC 70 meeting, Akzo Nobels Director of Sustainability Andre Veneman presented Dario Bocchetti, Manager of Grimaldis Technical Department in charge of energy saving, with a plaque to celebrate the award of the credits. These are likely to be reinvested by the ship operator as it continues its coatings upgrade programme, according to Bocchetti. This now includes 48 ships in Grimaldis 120-vessel fleet and the company has other carbon credit claims in progress. A carbon credit is awarded for every tonne of carbon dioxide saved by applying latest generation hull coatings. Altogether, nearly 127,000 credits have been awarded so far this year. Some 50 vessels are enrolled in the programme although International Paint representatives expect this number to increase sharply as more owners switch to its latest Intersleek 1100SR hull coating, formulated specifically to counter the effects of slime and with close to 1,000 applications already completed. AkzoNobels Veneman declared that shipping needs to see a greater uptake of clean technology to improve its sustainability. Our carbon credits programme proves that by making the investment, ship owners can benefit from both increased efficiency gains and lower fuel costs, he said. They also reap the additional financial benefits of the credits, based on the amount of carbon that is reduced, he added. The award comes at a critical time for shipping as delegates at the MEPC 70 meeting seek to thrash out a strategy whereby shipping can play its part in cutting carbon emissions as all energy consumers are bound to do under the Paris Agreement. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2016-228 The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a Los-Angeles based investment advisory firm and its owner with fraudulently overbilling clients and stealing assets from their trusts to pay such personal expenses as his home mortgage, overseas trips, and leases on two Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The SECs complaint alleges that Marc D. Broidy and his firm Broidy Wealth Advisors obtained more than $1.4 million in ill-gotten gains since February 2011. Broidy allegedly billed clients approximately $643,000 in excess fees and covered it up by altering the amount of management fees recorded on forms issued by brokerage firms before sending the forms to his clients. The SEC further alleges that Broidy fraudulently obtained additional funds to pay his personal expenses by misappropriating approximately $865,000 in assets from clients trusts for which he was trustee. According to the SECs complaint, Broidy also misled advisory clients about some investments they made in privately-held companies when he didnt inform them he was affiliated with those companies. As alleged in our complaint, Broidy fell well short of his fiduciary obligations as an investment adviser by misappropriating money and failing to disclose important conflicts of interest to his clients, said Andrew M. Calamari, Director of the SECs New York Regional Office. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York today announced criminal charges against Broidy. The SECs complaint charges Broidy and his firm with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 as well as Sections 206(1) and (2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The SEC seeks permanent injunctions and penalties against Broidy and his firm and an officer-and-director bar against Broidy. The SECs investigation was conducted by Lindsay S. Moilanen, Andrew Dean, Kerri Palen, and Sandeep Satwalekar, and the case was supervised by Lara Shalov Mehraban of the New York office. The litigation will be led by Alexander Janghorbani, Ms. Moilanen, and Mr. Dean. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A favorite bakery is expanding with the opening of a second location in Oakland County. Love & Buttercream, the Royal Oak bakery that opened in 2012, will be opening in Birmingham as Love & Buttercream Too.At 6,300 sq. ft., the new Love & Buttercream is more than five times the size of the Royal Oak location. Like the original location, Love & Buttercream Too will feature hand-crafted treats made on-site and always from scratch.There will be some differences, however, as the abundance of space allows owner Brooke Wilson Vitale the opportunity to try some new things. The Birmingham location will have a retail and seating area, including breakfast options, coffee service, and WiFi. A private events space will allow for wedding cake tastings, event planning meetings, children birthday parties, girls' night outs, bridal showers, corporate events, and baking and decorating classes.The Birmingham location's daily offerings include five to eight varieties of cupcakes, French macarons, cake pops, sugar cookies, cakes, mini pies, whoopie pies, scones, mini donuts, and more."We set ourselves apart by using fresh, high-quality ingredients, and try to source organically and locally whenever possible," says Wilson Vitale. "No shortenings, preservatives, oils, or any of the fake stuff here."Though Wilson Vitale opened Love & Buttercream in 2012, she has been baking for much longer than that. She grew up baking with her grandmother, eventually working out of her parents' basement. By 2010, she was taking cake orders and baking from home.The Royal Oak Love & Buttercream location remains open. It's located at 3202 Crooks Rd.Love & Buttercream Too celebrates its grand opening Wednesday, Nov. 9 and will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It's located at 746 E Maple Rd. in Birmingham.Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith On Nov. 12, Urban Democracy Feast (UDF) will have their next dinner and direct democracy opportunity. November's dinner will feature three applicants seeking your vote (and funds) for their projects. Kalamazoo 4 Justice (K4J), The Hispanic American Council, and ISAAC are seeking support to fund their various social justice-related projects.Urban Democracy Feast takes place a couple of times a year. Attendees donate $10 at the door for dinner to receive a voting ballot (though no one is turned away and people may donate more if they wish). During the event, candidates have five minutes each to present their project to the attendees over dinner. Each project will walk away with funds, which are distributed based on the percentage of votes received during the dinner.Five minutes isn't a lot of time to present a project, especially considering the core issues they must cover in that allotted time. Presentations are short for a couple of reasons. One is that organizers want ample time for attendees to ask questions of the presenters, and another is to allow past recipients to update attendees on how their acquired funds were used and the progress of their projects.I sat down with Feast organizers and next month's contenders at a planning meeting, where Santiago Valles, one of the Feast founders and lead organizers facilitated a discussion on successful pitches. He named five issues that need to be addressed during each presentation: A public policy that is an obstacle to the proposed project's efforts Evidence that supports the claim that a project is a shared concern in Kalamazoo Causes and context that explain the problem How a project will collaborate with other organizations to meet their goal Criteria and evidence that the organization will collect to demonstrate the impact of their interventionValles says that the Feast event isn't just about funding projects. "What you do," he says, "must be a learning exchange with attendees." Specifically, organizers hope that attendees and presenters, alike, will grow in their understanding of social justice, direct democracy, and accountability.Urban Democracy Feast's website calls these events a "face-to-face crowd funding process." They say that this kind of direct democracy (which essentially means community decision-making) is bigger than just throwing money at projects and problems. UDF wants applicants and attendees to take a critical look at the community's shared problems and common obstacles in order to collectively address ways to overcome them. Each project presented will prove that they are tackling problems and obstacles and offering sustainable solutions more than band-aid fixes. Kalamazoo 4 Justice (K4J) formed in 2015 to act in solidarity with the national Black Lives Matter movement. The group advocates for people that are oppressed in Kalamazoo - predominantly people of color, and especially victims of police brutality.Annie Sprague presented K4J's project to the planning committee last week. She says, "One of our biggest barriers pretty much the only barrier that we've had, I'd say, is in the expensive request for documents that could help us advocate for somebody." Sprague says that FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests have variable price tags that can swing upward of $300 for just a scrap of information. K4J's current investigation centers around James Dunigan, who died while in police custody earlier this year. K4J is seeking funds that will aid in the expenses associated with FOIA requests and obtaining documents for their advocacy efforts. The Hispanic American Council is getting ready to present their initiative, which is called, "The Circle of Trust." According to Adrian Vazquez, "The goal of these groups is to share the strength, their stories, and the resourcefulness of community members." Vasquez says, "Our Hispanic community issues have not been spoken so much and we think that is because our community still has not shared their whole story; they have not been able to work on being a part of the story and make it their own."Vasquez says that in addition to a space for sharing stories, the groups will encourage group members' support of one another, and act as a springboard for collaborating on issues with other organizations, like ISAAC and the NAACP. The Hispanic American Council is asking for funds to launch the Circle of Trust group. ISAAC (Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community) discussed their project, "Future Leaders for Peace Program." Dr. Charlae Davis, ISAAC's representative, says that program was birthed out of the Youth Violence Prevention Task Force, which held Bullying Round Tables for Kalamazoo County earlier this year that she says, went very well."We had high numbers of parents and also students that came, and they not only learned how to facilitate a round table but they also learned how to engage in the dialogue about violence or about bullying in Kalamazoo County," says Davis. From those round-tables, ISAAC organizers say that parents and participants said they wanted to see more of that type of program."When we're thinking about future leaders we want students not to feel as if they're silenced. Just as with any community organizing network, we want adults to understand that their voices have power, but we want youth and students to know that as well," says Davis. ISAAC is seeking funds to launch Future Leaders for Peace.The UDF Feast will be held at 1st Congregational Church located at 345 W. Michigan Avenue. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $10, or in advance via the UDF website for $11.Kathi Valeii is a freelance writer, living in Kalamazoo. You can find her at her website, kathivaleii.com From the towering glory of Sleeping Bear Dunes to more modest southern Lake Michigan beaches, perhaps nothing in our state represents "Pure Michigan" better than our iconic sand dunes.But as with so many of Michigan's fragile native ecosystems, invasive weeds threaten to strangle the dunes. Exotic fungi and invasive bugs are killing the trees that are part of the dune ecosystem, while invasive water plants are choking coastal marshes and interdunal wetlands.There are around 550 miles of coastline on the Mitten's west that are under siege from alien invaders. Luckily, the combined forces of the Michigan Dune Alliance are on a search-and-destroy mission throughout that long stretch of sand.Shaun Howard, Eastern Lake Michigan project manager of the Nature Conservancy, says that preserving Michigan's dunes is a no-brainer."It is the world's largest freshwater dune system," says Howard. "It's globally rare; a very, unique place. And I think a lot of us, especially in West Michigan and around the Great Lakes in general, lose sight of that. We have a tendency to take that amazing shoreline for granted."But that beauty depends on a complex system that can turn chaotic when thrown off balance."The dunes are almost alive. They are a dynamic shifting mosaic of sand and species," Howard says.New homes and developments on the coast can stress the dunes, creating unexpected erosion, he says. And if you build in the wrong spot, expect to see your investment eventually "crumbling into the water," he says.Invasive plants can also cause the same effect."When you have one species that outcompetes everything and dominates an area, it may alter those sand moving processes as well," he says. "Dunes are such a unique system, in that there's a set of plants and animals and processes that live or happen there, and nowhere else."That beauty is also "a major economic driver in the Great Lakes," Howard says. People from around the country flock to beach towns and parks."Ecotourism and the draw to those areas are huge," he says.The dunes and coasts were one of the attractions of 2016's thriving tourist season, which the Detroit News reports may surpass the $20 billion spent by tourists in the state in 2015. And Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has been full of sand-climbers since ABC's "Good Morning America" ran a 2011 poll choosing it as " The Most Beautiful Place in America .""We can't forget that we're also managing them for people. We all benefit greatly from the dunes being healthy and intact, and people wanting to go out and see them and spend their money when they go there," Howard says. The Nature Conservancy first got to work surveying over 50,000 acres of Michigan dunes and shoreline. Howard reports that 75 percent of the invasive species on those surveyed acres, "have been removed or are under current management towards removal."But it's taken a lot of work. The Nature Conservancy first took on 1,800 acres of baby's breath around Sleeping Bear Dunes. The seemingly innocuous and pretty flowering weed, commonly used in floral arrangements, is a tenacious Russian invader. Pull it, and it grows again from a long tap root.As the Nature Conservancy managed to get the lovely weed cleared, they learned that they needed to implement an "EDR" strategyearly detection and removal."If you can find the first invasive plant on the landscape and remove it, it sure is a lot easier than waiting for it to be everywhere," Howard says.They also learned they needed to be a part of a larger force of invasive-fighters. So in 2007, the Nature Conservancy joined the Michigan Dune Alliance and received funding from the federal Sustain Our Great Lakes grant program.Together, the Dune Alliance partners learned to use many tools, including pulling, herbicides, burning, digging.Howard finds that "the majority of these plant species need to be controlled with chemicals, herbicide. It shows how aggressive they are -- a lot of these species, even pulling them out of the ground won't get rid of them."Another significant threat to dunes is Oriental bittersweet a smothering vine with red/orange berries that was introduced to the country for use in ornamental holiday wreaths and promoted by the likes of Martha Stewart Melanie Manion, Natural Resources Supervisor for Ottawa County Parks, suspects it's spread into Ottawa's parks from arts and crafts shows in the area.Bittersweet is suffocating dune vegetation in Indiana, but it's not spreading into Ottawa's dune areas yet, she says.The parks system employs a dedicated paid staff supported by volunteers to manage those properties, embracing the early detection and removal strategy.Her most important tool is a GPS unit in the hands of knowledgeable staff. They are constantly surveying and mapping-out where invasives pop up. Then they turn to volunteers to start pulling. Sometimes herbicide is best; Manion says, but other times that kills native plants, which leads to erosion.Her other big targetsnot only on the dunes but in all of the county's parksinclude autumn olive, honeysuckle, tree-of-heaven, phragmites, dame's rocket, multiflora rose and narrow leaf bittercress. Some have gotten out of hand and are no longer in the early detection stage, such as Oriental bittersweet and the ornamental shrub, Japanese barberry.Spotted knapweed and garlic mustard, two invasives that crowd out native plants and ruin the nesting areas for birds such as piping plover, are regularly pulled by volunteers, she says. "We had over 10,000 hours of volunteer labor last year."Heidi Frei, Michigan DNR natural resources steward of Southwest Michigan, list the same "usual suspects" of duneland invasives: garlic mustard, Japanese barberry, honeysuckle, autumn olive, etc."They definitely have an impact on ecology," she says.But the DNR is also concerned about keeping the trees at the edges of the dunes alive and in-place."When you talk about removing whole forests of one species, say, stands of oak trees, that has a potential to leave a dune absolutely barren, or open it up to invasive woody shrubs like Japanese barberry," she says.One bad spot is P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, a thickly wooded landscape bordering dunes on Lake Michigan between Muskegon and Grand Haven. Some of its woods have been thinned by oak wilt , an exotic fungus spread by sap beetles. The DNR has been fighting the disease since 2011, but this involves removing infected oaks before the disease spreads and cutting roots five feet underground between infected and healthy trees. Both the disease and the cure are destructive to the dunes when it spreads to the sand/woods border, Frei says.The disease was brought to the park by campers bringing in infected firewood, she says. A recent survey of campers at Hoffmaster and Holland State Park revealed people bringing wood from up to 600 miles away, in violation of federal and state quarantines."I'm sure a lot of people aren't aware of it," she says, but each load of wood could mean another "emerald ash borer on our hands"such as the Asian longhorn beetle, now infecting parts of Ohio, that could destroy the maple trees of Michigan just as the borer wiped-out most of the ash trees."I would say that the biggest threat to the dunes is firewood movement," she says. "It just takes one load of firewood with just one insect or fungus on it, and then things are out of control."In her Ottawa parks office, Manion says dealing with invasives is like "playing whack-a-mole." Just as one invasive is brought under control, something new pops up.She points out that big environmental threats like climate change or massive habitat destruction can make one feel powerless.But invasive species are a threat "we can actually do something about" as individuals."Every day I can pull something, kill something, change my behavior to make a real impact. There are many chances for regular folks to volunteer to join the fight," she says. "You don't have to be a Ph.D. to go out and pull garlic mustard."Manion hopes for better public education on the topic, to get people to look at these invasives as a form of biological pollution."Because that's what they are," she says. "That pretty purple flower is the equivalent of an oil spill."Frei recommends involved with the 2,500-2,700 volunteers throughout the year are in state parks helping the DNR find and remove invasives, on the dunes and elsewhere. You can find more detail on how to get involved here "If it were not for volunteers, those places would be entirely different," she says.You can find out more about invasive species at the following websites:Mark Wedel is a southwest Michigan freelance journalist who's covered a wide variety of topics. He's also visited Lake Michigan's shores every summer since he was in diapers.Author Mark Wedel and his sister Kathy Wedel at Sleeping Bear Dunes, sometime in the early 1970s. In memory of Kathy Wedel Peltier, who passed away Sept. 16, 2016. Scattered across our solar system are small celestial bodies packed with water ice. Yes, our planet is covered in the stuff, but water is heavy and therefore expensive to launch into space. Therefore, to supply humans in space, where you have to bring everything you need with you, it makes sense to not use a terrestrial supply and utilize the water that's already out there. Fortunately, as our technologies become more sophisticated, the trend these days is to envision exploiting in-situ resources if we are to establish a colony. That means that you live "off the land," so to speak, extracting the resources you need to survive. In the case of water, it is abundant in asteroids and comets across the solar system and researchers say asteroids could be the answer to the future of space exploration. At the Asteroid Science Intersections with In-Space Mine Engineering, or ASIME 2016, that was held in Luxembourg in late September space mining startups were brought together for the first time with the scientists who actually study asteroids. The workshop aimed to answer science and engineering questions about asteroid mining and soon a white paper will be created to discuss the meeting's main talking points. RELATED: Looting Asteroids' Water Will Make Launches Cheaper According to Phil Metzger, an associate in planetary science research with the Florida State Institute, past mining conferences have been focused on advocacy. With this one, however, the community was "organizing the process of getting it started," he told Seeker. "It wasn't a bunch of people saying we ought to do it; that wasn't discussed because we are doing it now," he said. "We were focused on how do we do the job? The mining companies had come up with a list of questions for planetary scientists to understand the geology and the physics of asteroids, so that they can make their mining plans more specific and concrete." Part of the spur in the community's side is Luxembourg's funding of several space mining companies, which Metzger says is likely due to their heritage in communications satellite investments. To save on fuel, there are proposals to have a space tug bring communications satellites into high Earth orbit - rather than using a rocket stage or other means - while the space tug is on its way to pick up the resources from a mined asteroid stored at an in-space propellant depot. But this is all in a very early stage. The space mining startups in attendance at the conference were Planetary Resources, Deep Space Industries and TransAstra, which all made presentations on what they are working on today. "Being a planetary geologist by training, it was exciting to interact with other planetary scientists to get outside perspectives on the types of data that would be necessary in a prospecting mission to sufficiently characterize an asteroid for later mining," Elizabeth Frank, who is at Planetary Resources, told Seeker. RELATED: Asteroid Mining: Booming 21st Century Gold Rush? Earlier this year, the company raised $21.1 million in Series A funding to implement an Earth observation program, which will use similar sensors to what will be used for asteroid mining. Planetary Resources is also launching demonstration satellites to test avionics, software and other items in space, close to home, before venturing out in the solar system. Luxembourg and Planetary Resources have also signed a memorandum of agreement to co-operate on work such as space hardware development and space services. Similarly, Luxembourg is supporting the privately-funded Deep Space Industries as the company develops its own suite of spacecraft for prospecting asteroids. The company plans to launch an experimental small satellite called Prospector-X next year. It's also developing a spacecraft lander called Prospector-1, which could launch between 2019 and 2022 if the schedule holds. TransAstra - whose CEO, Joel Sercel, receives some funding from NASA for various projects - discussed its optical mining asteroid resource extraction technology. Essentially, the way this mining would work is to enclose an asteroid in a large bag. Then, a solar concentrator would direct energy from the sun onto the asteroid. This would boil off water from the surface, which would be trapped inside the bag. This could later be collected and stored as ice. Also, the company presented a rocket engine concept called Omnivore, which is designed to use almost any volatile gas or liquid as propellant, Sercel said in an e-mail to Seeker. RELATED: Mining Asteroids: Not Mankind's Silver Bullet Testing the technology is one challenge, but the conference participants were also focused on figuring out the "to-do list" to define what is needed to make asteroid mining a reality, said conference participant Andy Rivkin, a scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Research Laboratory who focuses on near-infrared spectroscopy of asteroids. Streamlined birds known as common swifts have just broken the world's record for longest time spent airborne in nature without any support. The birds spend at least 10 months out of every year in the air, according to new research that could inspire new unmanned aerial vehicle designs. Previously it was known that frigate birds and alpine swifts remained in flight for periods of months. Scientists suspected that common swifts did this too, since no roost sites were ever found for the birds in their African wintering areas. "Hence, there was a suspicion that this species may actually forego roosts involving landing and actually spend its nights in the airspace," Anders Hedenstrom of Lund University's Department of Biology told Seeker. Hedenstrom authored a study about the findings in Current Biology. RELATED: Tiny Dragonfly Sets Distance Travel Record Hedenstrom and his team developed a new type of micro data logger to track the birds' movements. The little gadgets record acceleration to monitor the birds' flight activity, and also document geolocation via added light sensors. The researchers attached the data loggers to 19 common swifts that were later recaptured. The data revealed that the birds spent more than 99 percent of their time during the 10-month non-breeding period in flight. "A few individuals in our study literally never landed during this period," Hedenstrom said, adding that he thinks the birds somehow sleep in the air. How they may manage this, though, remains a mystery. Israeli authorities displayed on Wednesday a rare papyrus fragment, older than the Dead Sea Scrolls, which features the earliest known Hebrew reference to Jerusalem outside the Bible. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) recovered the fragile document after it was plundered from a cave in the Judean Desert cave by a band of antiquity robbers. Radiocarbon dating has determined it dates back to the 7th century BC. This is the time of the First Temple, which, according to the Hebrew Bible, was constructed by King Solomon in 957 B.C. and then destroyed 400 years later by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, who exiled many Jews. Two lines of ancient Hebrew script are clearly visible on the 4-by-1 inch fragment. "From the king's maidservant, from Naarat [a place near Jericho], jars of wine, to Jerusalem," the 2,700 year papyrus reads. According to experts at the IAA, the fragment was part of a shipping document which detailed the payment of taxes or transfer of goods to storehouses in Jerusalem, the capital city of the kingdom of Judea at that time. "It's the first time we encounter the name Jerusalem on a papyrus, which was probably written by a woman. That's very exciting, said Pnina Shor, curator and director of the Dead Sea Scroll Project at IAA. RELATED: Stone Toilet Suggests Biblical Tale Is True She noted the woman had an unusually high status in the administration of the Kingdom of Judah. The ancient document is now wrapped in bitter controversy and politics. Israeli authorities showed it as evidence of the Jewish connection to the holy city on the same day UNESCO, the UN's world heritage organization, approved a resolution that, according to Israel, ignores Jewish ties to Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site. Sacred to the three great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - Temple Mount is one of the most disputed plots of land on Earth. A revered site to Christians, Temple Mount is venerated by Jews as the location where Solomon's temple once stood and later Herod's temple. It abuts the Western Wall - the only remainder of the Roman sacking of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. But it's also the third-holiest site in Islam. Known to Arabs as Haram Sharif, it includes the Al Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, a massive golden dome that houses the rock where the Prophet Mohammed is said to have ascended to heaven. UNESCO's document refers to the disputed plot of land only as a "Muslim holy site of worship." According to MK Miri Regev, Israel's Minister of Culture and Sport, the recovered papyrus proves beyond doubt the historic connection between Jews and Jerusalem. RELATED: Mysterious 2,000-Year-Old Podium Found in Jerusalem "The discovery of the papyrus on which the name of our capital Jerusalem is written is further tangible evidence that Jerusalem was and will remain the eternal capital of the Jewish people," Regev said in a statement. "The Temple Mount, the very heart of Jerusalem and Israel, will remain the holiest place for the Jewish people, even if UNESCO ratifies the false and unfortunate decision another 10 times," he said. On its side Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, released a statement accusing Israel of "using archeological claims and distortion of facts." "Contrary to what the Israeli government claims, the resolution that was voted by UNESCO aims at reaffirming the importance of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam," Erekat said. He added the resolution calls for respecting the religious sites, "including the Al-Aqsa mosque compound." WATCH: Jerusalem's Underground City of the Dead A pebble-sized object found in 2004 by a U.K. fossil hunter has just been confirmed as the first known fossilized brain tissue from a dinosaur. The remarkable discovery, dating to the Cretaceous Period 133 million years ago, offers insight into dinosaur evolution, behavior, intelligence and brain structure. Scanning electron microscope analysis of the fossil reveals it is a fossilized portion of a brain that belonged to an Iguanodon-like dinosaur. Iguanodon, meaning "Iguana Tooth," was a large, plant-eating dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous. It could grow up to 43 feet long and possibly more, according to some estimates. David Norman, a University of Cambridge paleontologist, described the fossil's surface as showing "areas of encrusted material that has, under microscopic examination, a curious and highly unusual texture, rather like wrinkled fabric to the naked eye." Norman said that "wrinkled fabric" is made up of several layers that appear very similar to the meninges - tissue that surround the brain in the brain cavity. The layers of the meninges protect and support the brain's softer tissues. Animation of the fossilized dinosaur brain tissue (Credit: University of Manchester): Norman and his team believe that the fossil contains some of the meninges that surrounded the dinosaur's brain, as well as strands of collagen and blood vessels. Structures that could represent tissues from the brain cortex - its outer layer of neural tissue - interwoven with delicate capillaries, also appear to be present. The brain segment has similarities with the brains of modern-day descendants of dinosaurs, namely birds and crocodiles, strengthening the case that all of these animals are related. The fossil suggests that the brain was "not a tight fit" in the animal's braincase, Norman said, explaining that, unlike birds, the dinosaur's brain only took up about 50 percent of its braincase's volume. RELATED: Pregnant T. rex Found, May Contain DNA At first some of the researchers suspected the dinosaur's brain was quite large, since it looks as though the upper brain membranes were pressed against the braincase wall at the top of the animal's skull. "But, in fact, the only way this specimen could have been preserved was if the head was upside down and the brain has 'flopped' down onto the braincase roof as it started to decay," Norman said. Co-author Alex Liu of Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences added, "The chances of preserving brain tissue are incredibly small, so the discovery of this specimen is astonishing." The team believes the piece of brain was essentially pickled in a highly acidic and low oxygen body of water shortly after the dinosaur's death. The enormous animal might have keeled over near a bog or swamp. Its cause of death is unknown, but Liu said that "the soft tissues of the brain were likely preserved and cast before the rest of its body was buried in the sediment." While it's fortunate that where the dinosaur fell allowed part of its brain to be pickled for posterity, Norman points out that the "acidic 'pickling' process would have denatured any of the biological molecules." That means no DNA can now be extracted from the fossil. Nevertheless, "Any time we get soft tissue preservation in a dinosaur it's cause for celebration since it gives us such a unique window into the biology of these animals," Lawrence Witmer, a professor of anatomy and paleontology at Ohio University who did not work on the research, told Seeker. RELATED: 80-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Blood Vessels Never Fossilized Vertebrate paleontologist Darren Naish of the University of Southampton was not too shocked when he first learned of the fossil's discovery. Naish said: "The idea that a dinosaur's brain might be preserved as a fossil perhaps seems improbable, but a large number of recent discoveries have shown that soft structures of virtually any kind can be preserved in the fossil record when the conditions are right" While the Iguanodon-like dinosaur's full brain was probably not as large as first theorized, Naish pointed out that "size isn't everything when it comes to brain organization and function." Honeybees, for example, have very small brains, but are extremely intelligent. It is, however, possible that this particular dinosaur wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Norman said that the dinosaurs on the evolutionary line leading to birds likely had larger brains. They managed to survive the mass extinction event around 65 million years ago. The ocean is fundamental to all life on Earth. It covers 70% of our planet, dictates weather, regulates temperature, and takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. On the ocean floor lies one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world: coral reefs. "There's no other ecosystem on this planet that occupies such a small geographic area, but has more forms of life than coral reef ecosystems. They're unprecedented," Dr. Jamie Gove, a research oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told Seeker's correspondent, Kyle Thiermann. "One in four of all marine organisms live in association with coral reefs, but they occupy less than one-tenth of 1% of the seafloor." Although known for their beautiful appearance, the reefs are vital to humans and marine life alike. Life without coral reefs would likely mean millions of species dying. It would also mean losing reefs as a new source for medical research, which in the past has led to new medications that treat cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer's, and many other conditions. RELATED: Hawaii Coral Reefs Reveal Species Found Nowhere Else As much as coral reefs provide for the planet, they are very delicate, and reefs around the world are currently dying off at an alarming rate. Coral bleaching occurs in high water temperatures and affects the coral's zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae are photosynthetic algae that live within the issue of coral polyp and give healthy coral a bright color, as well as nutrients. When the water becomes too hot, the coral expel the zooxanthellae. At this point, the coral are not dead, but they're vulnerable. There have been many incidents recently that have decimated coral, like in 1998 when El Nino triggered a bleaching event that killed 16% of coral reefs around the world. A similar event happened during La Nina of 2010, and again in October of 2015. This event is ongoing and has become the longest bleaching event in recorded history. With time and reduced climate intensity, bleached reefs can come back to life, but it's much harder when they are additionally stressed by land based activities. RELATED: Deadly Sponges Snuffing-Out Coral Colonies "I think we have seen declines in reef ecosystems for decades now and so I think that we're slowly reaching a tipping point which once we reach that point, reefs will be on a negative trajectory that there's no turning back," said Dr. Gove. "The only way that we can promote reef ecosystem resilience is by changing what we're doing on land, that currently impacts reef ecosystem health." One of these factors are the feral pigs and goats in Hawaii. Chad Wiggins, Marine Program Director at The Nature Conservancy Hawaii, is working towards solutions to manage the hoofed animals' growing population numbers, and in effect, hopefully provide relief for coral to survive the effects of climate change. Feral pigs and goats cause damage for coral as they dig up grounds in search for worms and snails in Hawaii's forests, and that's where the problem begins."Once the rains come intermittently and flood these streams, that's when they get a big bolster of sediment onto the reef," explained Wiggins. "If it's smothered, it can't get sunlight, it can't get oxygen, it can't get nutrients and it's dead. If the coral manages to survive, every time the waves come, it gets re-suspended and the sediment continues to do damage, sometimes for decades." RELATED: Bleached Corals May Have Herpes Native residents of Hawaii, like Pono Hiu, feel very protective of both coral and feral pigs. Approximately 500 million people depend on reefs for food to feed their families. Reefs also support livelihoods by contributing $30 billion to the global economy each year through fishing, recreation, and tourism. "It would be a sad day to jump into this ocean and not see any coral for me. I take my son out here and I dive all the time and poke fish to feed my family. This ocean provides food for a lot of us here in Hawaii," Hiu told Seeker. Hiu and his family have lived in Hawaii for generations, and are also eager to find solutions where pigs and coral can coexist. "Pigs play a major role in our life. Pretty much all my friends and family hunt or utilize these pigs from these mountains to feed their families either on a daily or weekly basis. Pigs have been here since man has been here." "What needs to happen is management," said Wiggins. "If we want to have a healthy native forest, there have to be some areas that don't have pigs in them and finding where those areas are is something where conservationists and hunters have to work together." Since the 1970s, and President Nixon's infamous "War on Drugs," many substances that are recreationally used (and abused) have been banned outright in the United States. That means drug users can't get to them, legally but neither can scientists. Among those drugs is the class of substances known as psychedelics LSD and mescaline, for instance. In today's DNews report, Jules Suzdaltsev examines the question of whether psychedelics should be legalized for medicinal and scientific purposes. It's a catch-22: Lawmakers cite a lack of scientific evidence on the benefits of these drugs, but scientists can't provide any evidence because it's illegal to research the drugs. The little evidence that has been generated suggests psychedelics may be useful for treating addiction, anxiety disorders, PTSD and even schizophrenia. Check out Discovery GO! Read More: Scientific American: Do Psychedelics Expand the Mind by Reducing Brain Activity? LiveScience: Drugs in Early Americas Included 'Magic' Mushrooms and Toad Skins The New Yorker: The Drug of Choice for the Age of Kale Oct 27 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. The Times GlaxoSmithKline Plc has collected a 1 billion pound windfall from the collapse in sterling, making it one of the biggest winners since the EU referendum. http://bit.ly/2fhamM1 Lloyds Banking Group Plc has set aside a further 1 billion pounds to cover payment protection insurance mis-selling as it hopes to draw a line under the scandal. http://bit.ly/2fhaMlz The Guardian Dong Energy, the biggest windfarm operator in the UK, is considering selling its oil and gas business, four decades after it was set up to manage Denmark's North Sea oilfields. http://bit.ly/2fh6M4y City regulator Financial Conduct Authority has said it is keeping a close watch on algorithmic traders of the type that may have been connected with the flash crash in the pound earlier this month. http://bit.ly/2fh92IS The Telegraph Metro Bank Plc has shrugged off the Brexit vote to win more customers and boost lending, taking it to the cusp of reporting its first profit. http://bit.ly/2fhcfbz British Airways has agreed to a new deal to close the 2.8 billion pound pension gap by 2027. The company signed a deal with the trustees of its pension scheme which will allow for dividend payments to IAG. http://bit.ly/2fh9Dur Sky News RBS Bank of Scotland Group Plc has held fresh discussions with a group of institutional investors aimed at settling one of several outstanding cases against the bank that in total could cost it well over 4 billion pounds. http://bit.ly/2fhcBPx Ofcom has fined Vodafone Group Plc 4.6 million pounds over a series of failures in its UK business, including its handling of customer complaints. The Independent The boss of Tesco Plc has warned customers to brace themselves for prices rises as Britain negotiates its way out of the EU. http://ind.pn/2fhbCyH The CBI is urging the Chancellor to ratchet up government infrastructure spending by 6 billion pounds in next month's Autumn Statement to help the UK through the economic turbulence created by June's Brexit vote. http://ind.pn/2fhdOpX (Compiled by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler) Press Release October 26, 2016 Sen. Grace Poe calls for transparency amid gov't deal with Chinese firms In all cases where the use of public funds is involved, the principles of transparency and accountability should be upheld. Allegations of corruption by contractors are red flags that should caution us in our dealings with them. It is imperative that all infrastructure project contracts being contemplated by the government should be scrutinized before they are consummated, to ensure that they are not disadvantageous to the country. Executive Order No. 2 on Freedom of Information includes in its definition of "information" any contract in connection with the government. With this, we can and should demand for transparency from the DPWH and require them to upload this on their website. Ultimately, the Filipino taxpayers will have to shoulder the contractual obligations undertaken by government. Hence, it is only fair that we give the people the opportunity to look into the details of these contracts prior to their consummation. Sen. Gatchalian Calls on Duterte to Certify Firecracker Ban as Urgent On Thursday, Senator Win Gatchalian made a push to promote public order and personal safety during the upcoming holiday season by calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent a measure prohibiting the recreational use of firecrackers and fireworks. Gatchalian's Senate Bill No. 1140, known as the "Firecrackers Prohibition Act of 2016", prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices for recreational purposes. "If President Duterte certifies this bill as urgent, Congress would be able to pass this important public safety measure in time to minimize, or even eliminate, firecracker-related injuries during the 2016 Christmas season," said Gatchalian. Gatchalian pointed out that a nationwide ban on firecrackers, similar to the one instituted by Duterte during his tenure as Mayor of Davao City, was one of the campaign promises made by the President during his campaign. Earlier this month, Duterte said that he was still consulting his cabinet on the matter. Gatchalian also reiterated that his proposal would not affect authorized large-scale pyrotechnic shows, which are especially common during the holiday season, since commercial and industrial users which use fireworks for this purpose would be exempt from the general prohibition. "Ensuring festive but safe holiday celebrations through the passage of this bill would be a good early Christmas present from the government to the People," said Gatchalian. Press Release October 27, 2016 Senator Loren Legarda's Keynote Speech 2016 Philippine Local Governance Congress Sofitel Philippine Plaza Allow me first to recognize the champions and advocates of local autonomy from the national and local governments, civil society, business, academe, media and international development partners, who are present to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Local Government Code (LGC). Congratulations to the Department of Interior and Local Government, under the leadership of Secretary Ismael "Mike" Sueno, for convening the 2016 Local Governance Congress in partnership with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), led by Governor Al Francis Bichara. The future communities in the Philippines will vastly differ from the ones we live in today. As we witness the 21st century unfold, our nation faces a new set of technological, socioeconomic and global challenges that are more complex than any of us have ever experienced in our shared history. They dramatically alter the way we live in our communities, and at stake is the quality of life, not only of ours, but of our children. It is the responsibility of the government, especially local government units (LGUs), to understand these challenges and to take proactive measures that will optimize our nation's future - to plan, build and support sustainable communities. We are a nation of over 7,000 islands with diverse culture from more than a hundred ethnolinguistic groups speaking different languages. How does the State provide the services appropriate to the needs of its diverse population? How can the State effectively utilize its people's varied talents and skills to contribute to national growth? This is precisely why the LGC has been an important tool for the State not only to devolve the responsibility of governance to LGUs but also to ensure the participation of all Filipinos in nation building. I take note that we are recognizing today's awardees of the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award (LTIA) and the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLC). I commend the lupong tagapamayapa for promoting the katarungang pambarangay system and settling disputes amicably in the barangays. This has saved millions of pesos that would have been spent for litigation. I likewise commend the awardees of the Seal of Good Local Governance, which has increased from 254 last year to 306 this year, marking an improvement in the performance of LGUs in the core and essential performance areas. I understand it is not easy to get the Seal of Good Local Governance because an LGU needs to pass the three core components-financial administration, disaster preparedness, and social protection-plus one of the essential areas-business friendliness/ competitiveness, peace and order, and environmental management. But I would like to take the challenge further. Allow me first to ask the following questions to our LGUs: are the people in your respective towns and provinces happy? Is the ecological integrity in your jurisdiction intact? Do you have programs to preserve and sustain your traditional arts, crafts and industries? Are your communities resilient and sustainable to ensure that future generations would still enjoy the benefits of abundant ecosystems? Why do I ask these questions? Because if we look around us, this is the unfortunate reality: for every percentage rise in our economic activity, hectares of wondrous and thriving biodiversity are extracted from our natural environment. Economic gains from exploiting and extracting through unsustainable mining, illegal logging, overfishing and unabated industrial production enter into statistical columns for gain and growth. In contrast, irreparable harm and lasting damage are not made part of the gain/loss equation. The skewed emphasis on the gains has caused government to fail on a policy imperative-to provide the necessary measures to enhance the restorative capacity of our ecosystems. To nurture nature, to bring our soil, seas, forests and mountains back to health and vibrancy. To heal Mother Earth. It seems we have forgotten that we are not the only children of the Earth. Our flora and fauna are our brothers and sisters too and the planet is our home. We are merely stewards tasked to look over all creation because we are supposedly the most intelligent of all species. Sadly, we have used knowledge without wisdom. The other day, Dr. Saamdu Chetri, Executive Director of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness (GNH) Centre, lectured on how Bhutan has successfully incorporated the GNH in its national development policies and programs. The thought behind GNH is simple: incorporate the status of the environment, good governance, equitable and sustainable socio-economic growth, and the promotion and preservation of culture when measuring the growth of countries. The quality of life is just as important as the growth rates that we have been working so hard to increase. I have been urging our government to adopt the GNH concept and I think this is possible if we start in our communities. My challenge, therefore, is for the DILG to look into the four pillars of GNH and see how it can be incorporated in the criteria for the Seal of Local Good Governance. To our LGUs, my challenge is to ensure the implementation of our laws, especially our environmental laws that are essential as we tread on the path of resilient, inclusive and sustainable development. I hope all LGUs present here have already submitted their Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAP), have permanent Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO), and are fully implementing the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Law. It has been 15 years since the ESWM law was enacted but we have not achieved even a 50% compliance rate among LGUs. In the face of the climate crisis-which affects food, water, settlement, jobs, livelihood, human welfare, safety and security, poverty reduction, and economic growth-we cannot and should not stick to 'business as usual' in the way we pursue development. We need to revisit and rethink conventional frameworks and strategies for socioeconomic development. We should examine our respective development approaches and ask these questions: How can we further develop our societies without compromising the welfare of generations to come? How can we advance our socioeconomic standards without putting our people at risk? How can we realize our shared goals on increasing the quality of life and achieving sustainable development with greater certainty of success? Our answers to these questions will redefine for us the meaning of development. As national and local government leaders, we have the moral responsibility to achieve genuine development for the country and our communities. Closest to the people, local government leaders have the privilege to translate national policies, plans and programs into concrete and visible actions for the people. Much is expected from you by the people. The people expect good governance. The people expect a better life, a brighter future. Let me assure you that there is no better way to realize that aspiration than planning rightly and pursuing development that promotes equitable and sustainable growth and good care of the environment. Delivering well in these expectations are legacies that you could certainly be proud of and for which the people will surely appreciate and long remember your service to them. Thank you. Press Release October 27, 2016 POE: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS PROBE? Senator Grace Poe today asked the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to relentlessly pursue the investigations of policemen linked to illegal activities in a drive that would cleanse the police force. Poe, in seeking for an update on the probe of policemen, said appropriate charges should be filed against scalawags in the police service. "We must ensure that we have a highly efficient and competent police force with the primary duty to protect the people. Rogue policemen have no place in the PNP in that full public trust to the police must be upheld," said Poe, who earlier emphasized the necessity of appointing a civilian IAS Head. The PNP has so far conducted 1,261 investigations on deaths during the government's anti-narcotics operations that led to the killing of drug suspects. Of this number, 547 policemen have been charged with administrative complaints, 356 investigations are still pending, 27 policemen have so far been terminated, 302 cases dropped and closed, 28 submitted for summary hearing proceedings, and one submitted to disciplinary authorities following the resolution of the case by IAS. As for the more than 159,000 policemen tested for illegal drugs, 164 tested positive for illegal drug use. Chief Supt. Leo Angelo Leuterio, head of IAS, said last month they cannot provide a timeline on when such cases against policemen will be resolved. However, Interior Sec. Ismael Sueno on Tuesday urged speedy investigation to rid the agency of scalawags and address irregularities within the force. Under Section 39 of Republic Act 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, the IAS shall conduct, motu proprio, automatic investigation of incidents where death, serious physical injury or any violation of human rights occurred in the conduct of a police operation. PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa earlier said he was open to the suggestion of Poe to appoint a civilian head of IAS, as mandated by law. Poe had filed Senate Bill No. 868 or the proposed PNP-IAS Reform Act that seeks to form an independent institutional watchdog for the police service and Senate Resolution No. 70 to look into the continued non-implementation of RA 8551 as regards the PNP-IAS. Press Release October 27, 2016 DSWD, DOF reminded: Magpa-Pasko na, wala pa ring implementing rules ang PWD law? Magpa-Pasko na, wala pa ring implementing rules? Seven months after it was signed into law, Republic Act 10754, which grants persons with disabilities (PWDs) goods discounts and tax breaks, remains in limbo after the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) has yet to be issued by a multi-agency body drafting it. Despite the delay, one of the bill's authors, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto, said he is not yet giving in to "conspiracy theory" that the IRR is being deliberately withheld due to the plan of the government's economic managers to repeal all tax discounts of PWDs. "I cling to the belief that the better angels of man's nature will prevail in the end. That compassion would triumph over cold fiscal numbers," Recto said. "I appeal once again to our friends in the executive that the IRR of Republic Act 10754 will be released soon. It's the missing link in its full implementation," Recto said. Signed by President Aquino on March 23, the law grants "a raft of tax breaks and other benefits for PWDs and their caregivers," Recto said. But without the IRR, which defines how its provisions will be "implemented, availed of, executed,"RA 10754 "is like a new car which sits in the garage but can't be driven out yet," the senator noted. Under the said law, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will lead the drafting of the IRR, a task the Aquino administration failed to do in its last months in office. Other agencies in the drafting body are Department of Health (DOH), Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) to formulate the law's IRR. The release of the IRR is seen by affected entities, like drug stores, as a requisite before they can carry out the provision of the law discounting purchases made by PWDs. Recto, however, countered that "there ought to be no delay because there is an existing template, the one granted to senior citizens, insofar as discounts on purchases are made." The law, he explained, merely grants to PWDs benefits already enjoyed by seniors, "so we're not starting from scratch. There is a tried system already in place. From points of sale sa stores, may sistema na." Although the law contains the provision "that failure of the concerned agencies to promulgate the IRR shall not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity," Recto said "for purposes of clear implementation, there is still no substitute for a set of written implementing rules." "The automatic implementation clause kicks in only when there is deliberate move to deny or delay the release of the IRR," Recto said. "Unless I have seen a written obituary from the DOF and the DSWD that they're burying it, I am not giving up. No civil servant would like to be remembered as undertakers of this measure," he said. RA 10754 exempts PWDs from all sales taxes on certain goods and services, like transport fares, medicines, medical and dental services and laboratory fees, raising the discount to 32 percent. It also grants a P25,000 annual income tax deduction to relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, who are caring for and living with a PWD. IBK et Macky Sall Les gouvernements du Senegal et du Mali ont donne les ordres de virements de la somme de 4 milliards de francs CFA au profit de Dakar-Bamako ferroviaire. Ce montant representant le reliquat des 7,5 milliards destines a la societe qui gere la circulation ferroviaire entre les capitales malienne et senegalaise. Les deux Etats navaient verse que 3 milliards. Dou les tensions de tresorerie de la societe, qui narrivait pas a faire fonctionner toutes ses locomotives, faute de pieces de rechange et dautres materiels. Cheikh Diop, le secretaire general de la Cnts/Fc a salue cette mesure du Mali et du Senegal. Il a toujours denonce labsence de reaction des autorites des deux pays face aux difficultes de Dakar-Bamako ferroviaire. (Source : LAS) Guediawaye : Le maire Aliou Sall interpelle a propos de lotissements suspects Lex-adjoint au maire de Wakhinane-Nimzat Diadji Ngom, affirmant parler au nom des populations de Guediawaye, se dit inquiet et s'en ouvre au maire de Guediawaye, Aliou Sall. La raison ? Il a note des amenagements sur une surface de six hectares aux abords des sites prevus pour les cimetieres musulmans et chretiens de la commune. Nous demandons des eclaircissements a Aliou Sall sur ces lotissements suspects aux abords des cimetieres, tonne lex-adjoint au maire. Nous voulons etre edifies sur ces six hectares. Apres le scandale du petrole dont nous attendons encores des reponses concretes, lEtat est en train de vouloir laisser faire Aliou Sall avec ce foncier. Nous nous battrons jusquau bout pour que la verite triomphe. Les lotissements suspects ne sont pas la seule inquietude de Diadji Ngom. Un incessant ballet de camions pres des memes cimetieres le taraude aussi. Il dit : Il y a une centaine de camions qui viennent ici chaque jour prendre du sable aupres dun promoteur moyennant de largent. Nous avons vu que le promoteur detient une autorisation en bonne et due forme. Mais notre inquietude, cest de savoir ce que Guediawaye y gagne, avec les consequences nefastes sur lenvironnement. Puisque jusque-la, nous navons trouve aucun agent des services fiscaux pour le recouvrement ni meme un agent de la mairie. Nous voulons que le maire Aliou Sall nous fournisse encore des explications claires et nettes car Guediawaye en a besoin. (Source : Wal fadjri) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate James F. Colaianni, a Catholic lay theologian, Bay Area political activist and religious reformer, died at his home in Galloway, N.J., on Oct. 5. He was 94 and had been in declining health for some years. Mr. Colaianni was a man of many parts. Trained as a lawyer, he became a theologian, then a magazine editor and writer with San Franciscos Ramparts magazine. He was an activist who campaigned against napalm manufacturing in his then-hometown of Redwood City, an executive with an ecumenical religious group and later a businessman who provided research for the clergy. He also was an accomplished jazz pianist and dabbled in producing musical shows. His two books, Married Priests & Married Nuns, which raised questions about celibacy in the Catholic clergy, and The Catholic Left: The Crisis of Radicalism in the Church, produced considerable critical comment. Mr. Colaianni was born in Paterson, N.J, in 1922 and went to local schools. He served in the Army in North Africa and Europe during World War II. After the war, he graduated from Seton Hall University and earned a law degree from John Marshall Law School in New Jersey. However, his conscience would not let him practice the law, said his son Louis. He thought the law corrupt. He moved to the West Coast with his family to attend the Institute of Lay Theology at the University of San Francisco. He served as a religious education director at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Redwood City, but his liberal views of Catholic theology got him into difficulties with his more conservative religious superiors. Mr. Colaianni then went to work as religion editor of Ramparts magazine, and he later became managing editor and assistant publisher. His article Napalm: A Small Town Diary, published in Ramparts in 1966, drew attention to a plan by United Technology Center to produce 100 million pounds of napalm at the Port of Redwood City. He described the use of napalm in Vietnam as a military adventure that includes roasting babies alive. It was the first major piece on the use of napalm and drew national media attention. Mr. Colaianni appeared on network television as a spokesman for antiwar and antinapalm activism. He went to court in an attempt to stop construction of United Technologys napalm plant, but the efforts failed. Mr. Colaianni rose to managing editor of Ramparts, but left after an editorial dispute between Edward Keating, the magazines founder, and Warren Hinckle, who became editor. He left the Bay Area in 1967 to return to the East Coast as director of the Liturgical Conference, a religious ecumenical organization in Washington, D.C. 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. He kind of went in a different direction, Louis Colaianni said. Starting in 1970, Mr. Colaianni was publisher and the main writer at Sunday Sermons, which supplied resource material for the clergy. He wrote more than 2,000 sermons on assorted topics enough sermons for 400 years of Sundays. He also published books on clinical nutrition and other subjects. He was passionate about music, played jazz piano and produced two successful musical shows. Mr. Colaianni is survived by Patricia, his wife of 66 years, and by children Karen Johnson of Galloway, N.J.; Janice Sosebee of Washington, D.C.; James F. Colaianni Jr. of Ventnor, N.J.; Louis Colaianni of Chicago; and John Colanni, a jazz pianist in New York, who spells his last name differently. Services have been held. Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carlnoltesf John Murnin calls me from time to time. Usually he wants to talk about rats. He lives in North Beach and was shocked to discover that packs of rats, perhaps disturbed by the Central Subway construction, have been swarming Washington Square. But this was different. Youre gonna love this story, he said. He was right. At about 9 p.m. Monday, Murnin was riding the 47-Van Ness when the bus stopped at the corner of Sutter and Van Ness. There was a woman on the corner, looking down Van Ness, he said. She said shed left her purse on the 49, just ahead of us, and she was afraid it was gone. The woman asked the driver if he could try to catch up to the 49 carrying her purse with the hope of recovering it. The driver said, I cant. (Muni officials) wont let me do it, Murnin said. And that, it seemed, was that. Except it wasnt. Murnin said the bus was full of mostly middle-aged passengers, as ethnically diverse as San Francisco I was the only white guy, Murnin said rising up to call for help for a woman theyd never met. Usually on Muni everybody clams up, he said. They put their nose in their phones, pretending to be busy. But the passengers went ballistic. They said, Cmon, help her. You can catch them. Although initially reluctant, the driver got into it, Murnin says. But everyone quickly realized that it was going to be tough to catch the other bus, which was far ahead. But theres a quirk in the route that the 47 and 49 take. The buses run down to Fishermans Wharf, make a short stop, then turn around and come back up Van Ness. So there was a second chance. The driver stopped his bus and ran across the intersection to stop all the buses coming back up to see if it was the one, Murnin said. It wasnt. So everybodys getting ready to give up. But there was yet another chance. Murnin had his bike on the bus, so he volunteered to pedal down and try to catch the 49. Meanwhile, the driver radioed in to see if the driver whose bus was carrying the purse could look for the purse. Sure enough, Murnin said. I get down there and the driver was standing there with a big smile on his face, holding the purse. They waited for the bus Murnin had been riding on. The woman was asked to answer some questions to make sure it was really her purse. She passed the test, the purse was handed over and everyone shared a moment. We had such a good time, we were talking about taking the bus to Las Vegas, Murnin said. Its a nice little story, but Id submit that these random acts of kindness and care happen more often than we think. You may have seen Chronicle reporter Sarah Ravanis story Wednesday about an incident on Market Street near Fifth. The basics are that there was an argument between a man driving a truck and a pedestrian. The fight escalated and the truck driver ended up getting stabbed in the neck. A terrible story of violence right in the center of the city? Sure, but what happened next restores faith in humanity. First, a passing bicyclist dropped his bike and ran to the injured man, applying pressure on the wound. Ravani and I happened to walk by the scene soon after it happened, and the Good Samaritans bike and a backpack were still in the street, abandoned for more important concerns. 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. Obviously, when he left his house that day, the cyclist had no idea hed be in the middle of a life-and-death situation. Not everyone would be inclined to touch a blood-splattered victim. But this cyclist didnt hesitate to get involved. But wait, theres more. The suspect with the knife attempted to run away, but as Ravani reported, five bystanders, including San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency engineer Frank Shreve, grabbed him and pinned him down until the police arrived. This guy was going to be killed by this other individual, Shreve told Ravani. And my reaction was, I have to do something. It was instinct on my part. I wanted to make sure we were helping this individual. Unfortunately, many of those who deserve credit cant be identified. The bicyclist and other heroes on Market Street faded into the crowd. And SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose said the bus driver was Kyle Quach, but we could not reach him for comment. We complain a lot about conditions in the city. Theres a lot of anger and frustration. We all understand that. But its also still a city with heart. Which, Murnin said, is why he called after his experience on the bus. It made me proud to be a San Franciscan, he said. C.W. Nevius is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. His columns appear Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Email: cwnevius@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @cwnevius This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate If George Lucas indeed builds his vanity museum in Chicago, San Francisco's contribution may be that we helped nudge the "Star Wars" creator out of his aesthetic comfort zone for the first time since he started making sequels to his sequels and re-releasing his re-releases. That's the intriguing twist to last week's announcement of a design team for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on the shores of Lake Michigan. The lead designer will be MAD Architects, a Chinese firm whose lone North American project is a pair of curvaceous residential towers in metropolitan Toronto that could be squeezed metallic toothpaste tubes. It's hard to imagine a style less like the theme-park classicism that Lucas offered up last fall when seeking to erect and endow a home for his collection of illustrative art at Crissy Field in the Presidio. When decision-makers turned him down after a combustive public competition, Lucas and his $700 million collection were lured to Chicago. Because of this, some observers in the design world speculate that Lucas is an architectural agnostic. Metropolis Magazine's executive editor, Martin Pedersen, used the word "situational" in a blog post last week to describe the filmmaker's "remarkably flexible taste." Possible motivation Instead, Pedersen suggested, "He just wants to get the damn thing approved. In architecture-adverse San Francisco - especially in the Presidio - that meant classical architecture." When I sought to discuss the design shift with Lucas' press team Tuesday, the response via e-mail was a polite, "We decline to comment at this time and will let you know when that changes." My guess, though, is that the creative vision pursued at Crissy Field is the one dear to Lucas' heart. The evidence is in the structures that Lucas built for his cinematic empire before selling Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012 for $4 billion. The Marin resident billed himself as "primary conceptual designer" in press materials for the 2005 opening of his Letterman Digital Arts Center at the Presidio - a 23-acre complex that includes four oversize but immensely tasteful office buildings clad in red brick and white stucco, earnest updates of the military architecture nearby. Skywalker Ranch and Big Rock Ranch in Marin are detailed evocations of a genteel rural West, inflated to studio size. Defending replication "There's nothing wrong with replicating old architecture," Lucas told the New York Times in September as he prepared to release his Crissy Field design. "Basically, all of Washington is a mimic of the past." Crissy Field turned replication to caricature: a big box festooned with columns and domes supposedly inspired by the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition and its "architectural lexicon ... intended to be understood by and appeal to persons from every walk of life," according to the competition submission. The architect was Dallas-based Urban Design Group, which also did the Mission-flavored School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California - a project made possible by a $175 million gift from Lucas, who at the 2006 groundbreaking described himself as an "amateur architect." He later hired Urban Design Group for a digital arts complex in Marin's Lucas Valley (no relation) that never was built, but was attacked by critics as looking like a Hearst Castle knock-off. Now Lucas has a young firm as contemporary as they come. There's no hint of the crowd-pleasing populist art of such Lucas favorites as Norman Rockwell, though MAD's Ordos Museum in the Gobi Desert is a metal orb that from some angles could be a soft-focus take on a Tatooine Sandcrawler from "Star Wars." 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 design team also includes Chicago's Jeanne Gang, who will focus on the 17-acre site's landscape. Her firm has a San Francisco project as well, a proposed 400-foot tower near the Embarcadero with shallow bays that would ripple across the slender shaft. Chicago modernism The best bet is that Lucas - who was courted tenaciously by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel - accepts the need to craft a museum that wouldn't reflect his personal tastes so much as the love for brawny modernism that is part of Chicago's DNA. This is doubly important because the museum proposal is coming under fire for its proximity to the lake. Beyond the political expediency it might also be that, deep down, Lucas wants to prove himself - again. Not for the money, Lord knows. Instead, the 70-year-old billionaire might want to show that he's still in the creative game. That he's still open to innovative design, and taking chances on such younger talents as Gang and MAD's Ma Yansong, whose buildings are inconceivable without the use of digital tools. Just like Lucas' special-effects breakthroughs with Industrial Light & Magic. Who knows? Maybe something will emerge that is worth a round trip to Chicago - and a round of regrets that Lucas didn't take architecture as seriously in his own backyard. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced in June that it would close Californias last nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, the utility said the move wouldnt raise rates. That turns out to be not quite correct. PG&E now says its proposal to shut down Diablo Canyon by 2025 will cost $1.77 billion over eight years and add $1.54 to a typical residential customers monthly bill. The utility detailed the costs in a mailer that was included in bills sent to its 5.4 million customers in September. The extra money would pay for retaining some of Diablos 1,500 employees while retraining others and compensating San Luis Obispo County for the loss of property tax revenue when the plant closes. It would also cover costs that PG&E incurred while pursuing an extension of the plants federal operating licenses, an effort the company abandoned in June. Both the closure and the rate hike need the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission. Its not the only new cost associated with Diablo Canyon that PG&E customers could face. The utility has already asked the commission to increase by 51 cents per month the amount that customers pay into a decades-old fund to cover the costs of decommissioning the plant. PG&E decided to close Diablo after concluding that the plant would soon become uneconomical to run, its steady output of electricity no longer needed as California expands its use of renewable power. And in its June 21 press release announcing the decision, the company said, PG&E does not believe customer rates will increase as a result. PG&E spokesman Blair Jones said Thursday that while the company expects a short-range increase in costs from closing Diablo Canyon, the move will eventually save customers money. Extending the plants licenses and keeping it online would cost more than replacing its output with renewable power and energy efficiency measures, he said. Those savings, Jones said, would recoup the money PG&E customers would spend on the 8-year rate hike described in the mailer. We anticipate the short-term rate increase will be offset in the long term, Jones said in an email. So overall, we do not believe customer rates will increase as a result of the (proposal). This is consistent with what we have said. Nuclear power advocates, who have mobilized to save the plant, accused PG&E of deceiving the public when it introduced the proposal in June. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes It looks to me like an outright lie, said Michael Shellenberger, president of the advocacy group Environmental Progress. Shellenberger and other supporters of nuclear power have been sharply critical of the closure proposal, which PG&E negotiated in secret with several environmental groups and labor unions. They have argued that, contrary to PG&Es assurances, shutting down the plant will raise Californias greenhouse gas emissions. They have also asked Gov. Jerry Brown and state legislators to take the decision about the plants fate out of the hands of the utilities commission, which has been rocked by accusations that it has grown too close to companies it regulates. I hope this is one more chink in the armor of this thing, because its a dirty deal, Shellenberger said. David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF When Google co-founder Larry Page created Alphabet, he gave three primary reasons: free up the main Internet business from its costly moonshot projects; turn those audacious experiments into real businesses; and keep entrepreneurial leaders from leaving. Fifteen months later, that third pillar looks like its crumbling. On Tuesday, Craig Barratt, chief executive officer of Alphabets Access unit, which runs Google Fiber, announced his departure along with a wave of staff cuts and significant changes to the broadband services strategy. Barratt is the third Alphabet CEO to leave since June, and other senior executives have gone too. Google Fiber is the latest Alphabet new business dubbed Other Bets to be overhauled. It comes as Page and Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat try to control costs while putting nascent businesses, in sectors such as biotech and robotics, on surer footing. Google, the core digital ads juggernaut, is flourishing, and turbulence at Other Bets may reflect the arrival of fiscal discipline under Porat, who has won praise on Wall Street for her work. Former employees have described how expense and revenue expectations, once rare at the experimental units, have become common since the Alphabet reorganization in August 2015. The turbulence may also highlight deeper problems creating sustainable business models. Google Fiber was one of the two chief contributors to Other Bets, according to the company. (Alphabet does not break out financial metrics for each new business.) The second is Nest, manufacturer of Internet-connected home devices. It has had an even rougher year. In June, Nest co-founder and CEO Tony Fadell left after internal disputes that partly focused on a spending crackdown. Soon after, some Nest employees moved to Google to work in its new hardware division. That included Ana Corrales, Nests chief financial officer, who now runs supply chain operations for the hardware division. (A Nest spokeswoman said Corrales continues to be a shared resource between the two companies.) The other Alphabet CEO departure was Bill Maris, who stepped down in August from GV, the companys venture capital arm. Google Fibers recast business plan narrowing its markets to select cities and focusing on wireless technology to deliver broadband is a retreat from the strategy of two years ago, a former executive said. A person familiar with the companys plans said that Google Fiber will lay off about 9 percent of its staff and that efforts to bring the service to some cities, including San Jose, would be suspended. Analysts said mounting costs were probably behind the decision. At some point, Alphabet took a look at this and said, Does the (return on investment) make sense? said Mark Hung, a research vice president with Gartner. Capital expenditure for Other Bets hit $280 million in the second quarter, primarily reflecting investment in Google Fiber, Porat told analysts. Its billions of dollars a year just to maintain this stuff, and Google doesnt want to spend that kind of money on just being another player in that market, said Jan Dawson, an analyst with Jackdaw Research. Part of the challenge for Fiber was that it couldnt differentiate itself from its competitors, Hung said. In June, Google Fiber said it would acquire Webpass, which provides high-speed Internet through radio connections that can be cheaper than fiber-optic lines, which often must be laid under city streets. Hung said this type of acquisition could allow Google Fiber to create a unique product, rather than just installing the same fiber-optic technology as others. With some of Alphabets more experimental projects, its unclear whether there even is a market. Alphabet has drastically pulled back from once-ambitious robotics efforts trying to sell Boston Dynamics and killing other projects. Its autonomous car project, while a pioneer in the field, has lost key leaders while automakers and startups catch up. And when the business strategy changes, that can cause executives to leave. If it isnt what they signed up for, they are going to go where their interests take them, Nick Parham, a San Francisco career counselor. Those Alphabet executives are highly coveted among companies because they have a remarkable global perspective on business, Parham said. They are extremely attractive on the open market because of the skill set they have developed, and more importantly the experience that they have. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes In the past two months, Alphabets X research lab, which incubates potential Alphabet companies, lost two other leaders. The latest, Dave Vos, ran Project Wing, a drone delivery service that competes with a similar effort at Amazon.com Inc. Vos departure was sudden, and X did not immediately name a replacement. Recent departures may indicate a sharper focus at Alphabet, which investors have demanded in recent years. Now, just as any competitive business must, we have to continue not only to grow, but also stay ahead of the curve, Barratt wrote in a blog Tuesday about Google Fiber. He said this was the right juncture for him to step down as CEO. Alphabet did not name a replacement. Alphabet relies heavily on Google, which brought in 99 percent of the companys revenue in 2015. Google, which includes Search, YouTube and Maps, continues to show growth in revenue, and as long its advertising business remains strong, investors are willing to stick with the experiments, analysts said. I dont think shareholders would have any problems with Google looking further ahead, said Ali Mogharabi, an equity analyst with Morningstar. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Wendy Lee contributed to this report. Mark Bergen is a Bloomberg writer. Email: mbergen10@bloomberg.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Feeding a bottle to their 8-month-old son, Ana and Adriano Lopes lounged on a couch in an airy, modern space with the hipster vibe of a coffee bar. They took turns getting up to speak to staff members who perched on stools at long tables equipped with laptops. The two were signing up to be Lyft drivers at the new Lyft Hub in Potrero Hill. Lyfts first in-person support center for drivers, which it plans to replicate nationwide, offers face-to-face problem solving, vehicle inspections, driver appreciation events, a lost and found, orientation and training for new drivers and really good coffee. The espresso is much better here than next door in my office, said Mihir Gandhi, Lyft general manager for Northern California. That touch, as well as frequent snacks and jars of candy in Lyfts signature pink hue, are designed to help drivers feel at home. A sense of camaraderie is central to our ethos, Gandhi said. This is a cool way to take care of drivers and get closer to them to understand who they are. Everyone on his operations team spends an hour a week working at Lyft Hub to answer driver questions and, more importantly, hear their views. Lyft runs product ideas past the drivers, both informally and in focus groups. Michael Macor/The Chronicle The center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and eventually will expand its hours and days. Drivers come to chill between rides, get new airport placards, get to know each other, said Courtney West, operations lead for San Francisco. Its invaluable to have a place where they can speak to someone live, and we have really nice bathrooms. The 7,000-square-foot building at 2300 26th Street formerly housed Bell Plumbing. A white van sitting atop a 25-foot pole in the parking lot made it a local landmark. In a no-brainer, Lyft had the van painted pink and hopes it will retain its emblematic status thanks to its visibility to drivers on Highway 101. Uber pioneered in-person driver support centers, also in San Francisco, starting 2 years ago and now has dozens in the U.S. and globally. Its Bay Area center moved in May to a bigger location at 950 John Daly Blvd. in Daly City. Drivers dont need an appointment at Lyft Hub. Were an on-demand company, so we want to help drivers on demand also, said Gandhi, noting that it tries for wait times of less than 10 minutes to meet with one of the dozen or so staffers. Support questions include topics like using Lyfts ExpressPay instant payout system, understanding paychecks and how to use the app. Michael Macor/The Chronicle There are thornier problems, too. A driver who had been permanently deactivated Lyft parlance for being banned from driving anxiously asked Victoria Gomez what had happened in broken English. Although she also speaks Spanish, that wasnt a language he spoke, and she communicated deliberately, having him write his email address so customer support could send an explanation. Hed previously given Lyft an incorrect email address. Its definitely difficult, especially when theres a severe language barrier, she said. I hope he gets an email with clarification. Reps at the center arent privy to reasons for deactivation, and cannot intercede, she said: The trust and safety team makes that decision. Lyft said it has Hub reps who speak English, Spanish and Cantonese and hopes to add some Portuguese speakers soon. Email support is available in English and Spanish. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The space includes a 30-person classroom where new drivers get an hour-long tutorial on tips and tricks of the road, or ways to optimize the driver experience, as Gandhi put it. He hopes to add free classes on topics such as ESL, Microsoft Excel and tax preparation. In the parking lot outside, workers from YourMechanic perform the 23-point vehicle inspection required by California regulators before a driver can start working. Theyre on site from 4 to 7 p.m. daily, on Lyfts dime, to do a largely visual look-over of seat belts, emergency brakes, tire tread depth, lights and other things. It doesnt involve getting under the hood or under the car. It takes just seven or eight minutes, said Kirk Harter, an inspector. Yesterday I did 65; today, 40 so far. About 15 percent of cars fail the inspections for problems such as burnt-out lightbulbs or worn tires; car owners fix them and return within a few days, he said. (Lyft, like Uber, also has inspection sites around the Bay Area.) Ubers in-person support centers are popular with drivers, and its likely that Lyfts will be too, said Harry Campbell, a driver who writes the Rideshare Guy blog. Since they are manned by actual employees, you can usually get most problems resolved, especially the more complex ones, he said. The flip side is that drivers say both companies email support is not that great, he said. Angel Velarde, a Lyft driver for three years, doesnt need help, but he frequents the center anyway. Hes active in online driver groups, and says that its been great to meet folks he knew only through their Facebook photos. I come for the tangible sense of community, he said. And sometimes theres new helpful information. San Francisco is not the easiest place to drive. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid Fidelity Charitable overtook longtime leader United Way last year to become the nations largest nonprofit based on annual contributions, according to a survey released Thursday by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. It was the first time a charity focused on donor-advised funds topped the publications annual list of the 400 largest charities. These funds give donors a tax deduction up front while allowing them to retain some control over the money. It is remarkable because Fidelity Charitable is only 25 years old. You never have that kind of a huge vault in the charity world, where a young charity does so well, said Chronicle of Philanthropy editor Stacy Palmer. Schwab Charitable of San Francisco, which also sponsors donor-advised funds, ranked fourth. Two other Bay Area charities, Stanford University and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, also made the top 10. A donor-advised fund is an individual account set up at a public charity, such as Schwab Charitable or Fidelity Charitable. Donors get a tax deduction when they put an irrevocable gift of cash, stock, real estate or other assets into the account. The sponsoring charity typically sells the asset and the donor can decide, within limits, how the money is invested. The donor can make grants from the account to operating charities eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. But there is no deadline for distributing the funds, which angers critics who would like that money be put to good use more quickly. There is a potential problem with so much money going to donor-advised funds and delaying when it actually reaches charities that are helping families and communities, said Aaron Dorfman, chief executive of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. Fidelity Charitable raised $4.6 billion in fiscal 2015, up 19.7 percent from the year before. United Way had been No. 1 on the Chronicle of Philanthropys list every year since it started in 1991, except in 2006, when the Salvation Army was No. 1. Schwab Charitable reported $2.1 billion in contributions last year, up 16.2 percent from 2014, when it ranked eighth. Stanford University ranked eighth, with $1.6 billion in contributions, up 75 percent from 2014. Its 2015 donations included $622 million worth of artwork, primarily 121 postwar paintings and sculptures donated by Harry and Mary Margaret Anderson and their daughter Mary Patricia Anderson Pence (known respectively as Hunk, Moo and Putter). Harry Anderson co-founded dorm-food giant Saga Corp. The Anderson collection is housed in a free public gallery at Stanford. The university also raised $201 million for its two hospitals in 2015. The Silicon Valley Community Foundation of Mountain View recorded $1.2 billion in contributions in fiscal 2015, down 37.6 percent from the previous year. In addition to sponsoring donor-advised funds, the foundation also acts as a traditional charity, with its staff and board making grant decisions. About 79 percent of its $7.3 billion in assets are in donor-advised funds. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The foundations donations in 2015 couldnt quite compare to 2014, when it received about $556 million from WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum and about $500 million from GoPro founder Nicholas Woodman and his wife, Jill. Both were placed into donor-advised funds. The 2014 year was an extraordinary one by all accounts, supported by a very robust IPO, merger and acquisition market in which generous donors were able to support the community foundation, its chief executive, Emmett Carson, said in an email. Although IPOs and mergers were relatively flat in 2015, we had a terrific fundraising year, and we are optimistic that we will have a similarly strong year this year. UCSF ranked 32nd on the list with $609 million in donations, up 37 percent from fiscal 2014. It received a number of large gifts, including $100 million to support its Mission Bay hospitals from Charles Chuck Feeney, who co-founded Duty Free Shoppers Group. Overall, the nations 400 largest charities raised 7 percent more in 2015 than the year before, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported. That could include some double counting because when people put money in a donor-advised fund, its recorded as a contribution. When the fund makes a grant to a charity, it could be counted again. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Its a very little bit of double counting. Not enough is going out of these donor-advised funds to have a large impact on the total, Palmer said. Therein lies the controversy. Brokerage firms such as Fidelity Investments, Charles Schwab and Vanguard, whose donor-advised fund charity ranked No. 11, say they established charities to help their clients and others who want a simple, more efficient way to give. Suppose a donor has $50,000 worth of stock, for which he paid $10,000. If he puts it in his donor-advised fund, he would get an immediate $50,000 tax deduction and could decide later how to distribute the money. If he sold the stock instead and paid tax on the $40,000 profit, hed have less cash to donate, and a smaller tax deduction. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Most charities would gladly accept publicly traded stock, but if the donor wanted to divide a large block among several charities, it could get complicated. And if the donation was something harder to sell, such as real estate or partnership interests, not all charities would be equipped to liquidate it efficiently. Those set up by brokerage firms say they can. Although most of its donations are publicly traded securities, we take restricted stock, private-company stock, real estate, collectibles, artwork, almost any asset that has appreciated. We handle the liquidation. In some cases we have specialized partners we work with, said Kim Laughton, president of Schwab Charitable. The brokerage firms earn money by providing record-keeping, investment management and other services to the charities they established. They also provide marketing dollars. To compete, some traditional charities, including United Way, have begun offering donor-advised funds. Unlike private foundations, which are required to distribute at least 5 percent of their assets each year, donor-advised funds have no minimum distribution requirement. These things afford tremendous tax benefits to donors and financial benefits to the sponsoring organizations, said Boston College law Professor Ray Madoff. The problem is, this isnt why we have charitable tax benefits. The reason we have them is to encourage the flow of dollars to organizations engaged in charitable work. Schwab and Fidelity Charitable say their donors, as a group, distribute 20 percent or more per year. The money is not sitting in these accounts, said Pam Norley, president of Fidelity Charitable. However, there is no standard way of calculating payout rates. Schwab Charitable said its 20 percent rate for 2015 was derived by dividing grants made by donors in 2015 by average assets under management over the past five years. Fidelity said its rate was over 20 percent, if you take the $2.8 billion in grants made in fiscal 2015 divided by $13.2 billion, the combined balance in all accounts at the end of 2014. Madoff said the preferred method would be dividing grants made in 2015 by the combined account balances at the end of 2015 plus grants made during 2015. By this method, Fidelitys rate would have been about 16 percent. Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A police chase that started just outside Rohnert Park Thursday ended in less than 10 minutes when a man suspected of several carjackings and petty theft crashed into multiple vehicles, authorities said. The suspect, who was identified as 38-year-old James Gallagher, had stolen a vehicle that looked like a patrol car earlier Thursday in Petaluma and police were on the lookout for him, said Lt. Bill French of the Cotati Police Department. We were hoping the guy would come back into our city so we could apprehend him, said French. And he did. Shortly after the carjacking in Petaluma, police received a report that a petty theft occurred in the parking lot of a Lowes Home Improvement store on the 7900 block of Redwood Drive. Surveillance video showed Gallagher in the same car that was stolen from Petaluma, French said. Cotati police spotted Gallagher, a transient, just after 11 a.m. outside Rohnert Park, but he fled when they tried to pull him over. Cotati police then asked for help from the California Highway Patrol. Gallagher fled toward Santa Rosa and ended up on Hearn Avenue going westbound. He crashed into six or seven vehicles on the Hearn Avenue overpass at Highway 101, said Officer Jonathan Sloat, a CHP spokesman. Following the crash, Gallagher jumped out of the stolen car and tried to carjack two of the vehicles he crashed into on the overpass by pulling on the door handles before officers caught up to him and arrested him, Sloat said. He wasnt running very fast, but he tried to run up and carjack some other cars on the freeway, French added. Once apprehended, officers realized he may have been under the influence of methamphetamine and found evidence of the drug in the car he stole, French said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Gallagher and one other person were injured during the crash. Gallagher was taken to a hospital and treated for a back injury he suffered in the the wreck on Hearn Avenue, French said. He was later booked at the main jail in Santa Rosa on suspicion of attempted carjacking, possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence and causing an injury, resisting and obstructing a police officer, possession of stolen property, evading a peace officer and hit-and-run. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Oakland police officers arrested someone suspected of killing a 26-year-old city resident Monday during a domestic dispute, officials said Wednesday. The man shot to death was identified as Jamad Jenkins. Police did not release details of the shooting or the suspects name. Soon after officers got to the scene of the shooting on the 2500 block of 35th Avenue, a drunk driver rammed into five parked vehicles three of which were police cruisers. A civilian in the front passenger seat of one of the cars died. He was identified as 27-year-old Marcello Lopez of Hayward, according to the Alameda County coroners office. Four other people in the car were injured. Police went to the 2200 block of 24th Avenue on Tuesday afternoon and negotiated with the shooting suspect for about an hour before the suspect surrendered and was taken into custody, officials said. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate There were hundreds of them running around Ocean Beach on Saturday, Oct. 22. Literally hundreds. Costumed in tulle and sequins, they soon became entangled in the leashes and legs of strangers. Grains of sand became embedded in their hair, probably forever. The adorable corgis and their legions of devoted fans had once again converged at San Franciscos biggest single-breed beach party. I feel like dog breeds kinda come in fads, said Serena Poon, before listing the various kinds of dogs that have enjoyed recent popularity. Poon and her wife were up from San Jose just for CorgiCon, the semiannual Ocean Beach meet-up for corgis, their owners and their many, many admirers. Poon looked down as Charlotte, her part-corgi rescue dog, sniffed some new friends. Corgis are winning peoples hearts, I guess. CorgiCon is so popular it happens twice a year. This past summer, a staggering 1,500 people (and 800 dogs) took over the north end of Ocean Beach. Saturdays CorgiCon was on track to surpass those numbers. Corgi races and corgi costume contests draw the biggest crowds, but the corgi swag booth offering CorgiCon fleece vests and CorgiCon water bottles was jammed too. Beth Spotswood Throughout the CorgiCon section of the beach, various canine photo opportunities were set up. A small wooden pirate ship had a few sandy pirate hats for posing purposes, and a cardboard cutout of Queen Elizabeth II proudly beamed for photos with Her Majestys favorite breed. To get to any CorgiCon attraction required navigation through hundreds of thrilled dog lovers as they maxed out iPhone storage taking photos of other peoples pets. The Internet really loves corgis, said CorgiCon founder Cynthia Lee, who described herself as the events chief execucorg officer. Theyre all on Instagram. Saturday was San Franciscos fifth corgi convention. Next week, Southern California hosts a beachside CorgiCon of its own. Nearly half the dogs were wrangled into some sort of costume, from the traditional condiment-covered hot dog to an array of Star Wars characters. Cuddles, a 9-year-old corgi, garnered lots of attention dressed as an autumnal princess in rust-colored headdress. She posed for photos like a seasoned professional. Lee popped out from the CorgiCon swag booth to answer repeated questions from the media, stepping over a handful of cute corgis on her way. She smiled, This is all for our passion and fun. Any money raised by CorgiCon goes to two local animal rescue organizations. Lee has no interest in making any money from her corgis or anyone elses. A marketing director for a skin care line, Lee has two corgis Maki and Bubba both of whom have their own Instagram accounts. After the hotly anticipated corgi races, a small hush fell across the southwest corner of CorgiCon. Beams of rare Ocean Beach sunshine fought for attention as Gatsby, a celebrity corgi, nonchalantly greeted his adoring public. Hes YouTube famous, announced Shawn Ardalan of San Jose. Ardalan was holding a pole bearing a giant photo of Gatsbys head, as if to announce the dogs presence to anyone within squinting distance. Hes really funny and cute, said 15-year-old Anthony Mestas. Gatsby appeared bemused by the proceedings. Up in the Ocean Beach parking lot, corgi drama was afoot. The events popularity had left little room for corgi owners and their giant cars to get in or out of parking spaces. Extensive delays also were caused by several people who were pushing their corgis in strollers, each of which required an arduous and time-consuming display to fold and stow. This isnt as easy as it looks! yelled one woman to an angry collection of honkers as she navigated her SUV against one-way traffic. An embarrassed corgi sat in her front seat, averting its eyes. Back near the corgi sign-in booth, Poon and her wife quietly played with their dogs, sorry to have missed the corgi races. Behind her, a man in a CorgiCon T-shirt handed off a happy pup to a relieved owner. Dog is found! he shouted across the beach with great authority. All is well. Poon looked up from Charlotte on her leash and confessed, I like dogs better than I like people. Beth Spotswoods column appears Thursdays in Datebook. Email: datebook@sfchronicle.com Several prominent Republicans cannot bring themselves to publicly endorse Donald Trump, but have said they will still vote for him anyway. These Republican members of the U.S. Congress from both the Senate and the House of Representatives have strongly condemned Trump for his statements about women and some publicly withdrew their support. Nevertheless, they say they will still vote for the reality television star because they fear that a Hillary Clinton presidency would be even worse. Here are some of the Republicans appearing to struggle with their Nov. 8 vote. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah Late Wednesday night, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz became the latest GOP politician to say that Trump still has his vote even though he cannot condone the Republican presidential candidates behavior. I will not defend or endorse @realDonaldTrump, but I am voting for him. HRC is that bad. HRC is bad for the USA. Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) October 27, 2016 Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, had publicly endorsed Trumps bid for the White House but withdrew it earlier this month when a recently released video from 2005 revealed the reality TV star boasting about how his celebrity status allows him to grab women by the p****. Shortly after the audio was uncovered, Chaffetz told CNN that he would no longer he able to endorse Trump. My wife, Julia and I, we have a 15-year-old daughter, Chaffetz said. Do you think I can look her in the eye and tell her that I endorsed Donald Trump for president when he acts like this and his apology? That was no apology, that was an apology for getting caught. So Im not going to put my good name and reputation and my family behind Donald Trump for president when he acts like this, I just cant do it, he continued. Story continues And hes not the only one to rescind his endorsement. Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho On Oct. 8, Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho released a statement saying that Trumps repeated actions and comments about women have been disrespectful and demeaning. 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, he said in a statement. Crapo said that he spent more than two decades working on preventing domestic violence, and that Trumps locker-room talk excuse is unacceptable. Make no mistake. We need conservative leadership in the White House, he continued. 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. On Monday, Crapo released a statement saying that he will vote for Trump anyway. The choice we still have today and the choice we will have is between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, Crapo said. In that context, I have to tell you, though I thought and felt we needed a different choice, thats not what were going to get, and we cannot elect Hillary Clinton for many reasons. Given that choice, I will vote for the Republican ticket: Trump and [vice presidential nominee Mike] Pence. Crapo said the U.S. must elect a president who will appoint Supreme Court justices who will interpret the Constitution as it was written and lead Americans to a stronger free market and a more limited government. In that context, he continued, I dont think the choice is that hard when we realize the decision this country must make. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska publicly condemned Trumps Access Hollywood comments as disgusting and totally unacceptable on Oct. 8. The comments made by Mr. Trump were disgusting and totally unacceptable under any circumstance. () Deb Fischer (@DebFischerNE) October 8, 2016 It would be wise for him to step aside and allow Mike Pence to serve as our partys nominee. (2/2) Deb Fischer (@DebFischerNE) October 8, 2016 Three days later, however, Fischer clarified on local Nebraska station KLIN that even though she found Trumps comments about women unacceptable she still intended to vote for him. I plan to vote for Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence on November 8, she said, according to Politico. I put out a statement with regard to Mr. Trumps comments. I felt they were disgusting. I felt they were unacceptable and I never said I was not voting for our Republican ticket. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota A day after the controversial 2005 tape appeared, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota called for Trump to withdraw and Pence to take his place as the presidential nominee. Donald Trump should withdraw and Mike Pence should be our nominee effective immediately. Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) October 8, 2016 But Thune later told local South Dakota station KOTA-TV that he still intended to cast his vote for Trump. Its really all about winning the election and defeating Hillary Clinton. He said. Hillary Clinton I think would be very harmful to South Dakota. She is somebody who talks about Donald Trump and his character issues, there is no one like I said before, there is no one that can claim character in this debate. Rep. Scott Garrett of New Jersey New Jersey Rep. Scott Garrett released a statement denouncing Trumps lewd remarks about groping women. Donald Trumps comments are inexcusable. I am appalled that he would brag about violating a womans physical boundaries, he said. 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. Nevertheless, he is still on the Trump train. Garretts campaign manager Sarah Neibart released a statement to the New York Observer saying his top priority in this election is stopping Clintons agenda. Donald Trump remains the nominee of the Republican Party, and Rep. Garrett has always said he will vote for the Republican Party nominee, she said. Rep. Bradley Byrne of Alabama Alabama Rep. Bradley Byrne called on Trump to step down from the presidential ticket, saying that he is unfit to be the commander in chief and unable to defeat Clinton in the general election. Donald Trumps 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, he said. 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. Again, despite vehemently denouncing Trump, he vowed to vote for the Republican ticket. @Tideguy11 @DavidHudson04 I pledged to support the Republican ticket, and that has not changed. Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) October 10, 2016 Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk said Wednesday that he doesnt know for whom he will vote on election day but suggested that he might write in former CIA Director David Petraeus. A man who has such a good military record would be able to inspire many of us, Kirk said of Petraeus to Chicagos WBEZ. Trump does not inspire me about anything at all. Neither does Hillary. Im in one of those neither one categories. HIV likely landed in the United States a full decade before the first AIDS reports made headlines, according to a report released Wednesday that also strongly dismisses the long-held myth that a single man, a flight attendant notoriously known as Patient Zero, was responsible for the domestic epidemic. The report, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, traces the lineage of HIV from Africa to Haiti to New York and, finally, San Francisco. The virus seems to have arrived in New York around 1971, and in San Francisco five years later. By the time doctors were reporting the first AIDS cases in 1981, the virus would have been deeply embedded in cities all over the country. The fact that HIV predated those first AIDS reports and that the so-called Patient Zero could not have been responsible for the epidemic has long been known by AIDS researchers. But the new paper, which relies on evidence drawn from some of the earliest known samples of HIV in human blood, provides perhaps the most detailed genetic history of the virus geographic movement. Its a great example of the latest science technology being applied to answer questions from so long ago, said Dr. Paul Volberding, director of the AIDS Research Institute at UCSF, who treated patients in the earliest years of the epidemic. Were still gaining insight into how this epidemic spread how rapidly it spread, where it spread even now, 35 and apparently a whole lot more years later. For their research, scientists used blood samples taken from men in New York and San Francisco who participated in a hepatitis B vaccine study in the late 1970s. About 6 percent of the New York samples and 3 percent of the San Francisco ones were found to be positive for HIV at the time. Because the blood had been in storage for decades, the samples were badly degraded. Scientists doing the new research used novel lab techniques and computer sequencing to essentially reconstruct the virus found in the samples, determine the genetic makeup and map the spread of the disease. Genetic strains that are similar are closely related and share a recent, common ancestor; those that are less alike have a more distant ancestor. Applying mathematical models, the scientists were able to determine where the virus had come from and when it likely had landed in the community from which the samples were drawn. You can really come up with a rich model of how a virus moves through space and time, said Satish Pillai, a UCSF scientist who studies HIV taken from samples in the same hepatitis B studies. The new study, when coupled with previous work, gives a fairly clear picture of HIVs global travel, said co-author Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona at Tucson. He said studies suggest the virus moved from chimpanzees to humans in the early 20th century, but languished in rural villages for decades before passing into Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. From Kinshasa it may have spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and finally moved to the Caribbean, including Haiti, in the mid-1960s. There, HIV may have caused small outbreaks that would have escaped the attention of public health authorities. How the virus traveled from Haiti to New York isnt clear, Worobey said. It could have been spread by an individual or from a blood product like plasma. But New York was certainly a crossroads: HIV arrived during a sexual revolution among young gay men, a perfect environment for a sexually transmitted virus to flourish. Just as Kinshasa was a key turning point for the virus as a whole, New York City acts as this hub from which it moves to the West Coast, and eventually to Western Europe and Australia and Japan and South America and all sorts of other places, Worobey said. Noting these geographic patterns is not the same as assigning blame, Worobey and other scientists stressed. Just as New York cant be blamed for spreading the virus to San Francisco, Haiti shouldnt be blamed for what happened in New York. Moreover, Patient Zero shouldnt have been blamed at all. In the same paper, Worobey and his colleagues analyzed the blood of Gaetan Dugas, the flight attendant named by former Chronicle journalist Randy Shilts as Patient Zero in his acclaimed 1987 book And the Band Played On. 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. Shilts, who died of AIDS in 1994, never blamed Dugas entirely for the epidemic, but in his book he placed Dugas as a central figure, going so far as to cast him as a villain, a man purposefully infecting others during wildly promiscuous years in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The labeling of Dugas happened by mistake, historians of the epidemic now believe. Shilts latched on to the Patient Zero idea based on a misreading of a study in which Dugas, at the time an unidentified man, was labeled Patient O as in the letter O. In that study, Dugas, a Canadian, was the lone patient from outside the country, thus the O designation. In his reporting, Shilts figured out that Dugas was the patient, but he, along with some scientists at the time, got the numeral 0 and letter O mixed up. An ambiguous oval cast an urban legend that persists to this day, said Richard McKay, a historian at the University of Cambridge in England who co-authored the new Nature paper. Dugas died of AIDS in 1984. Its not known when exactly he was infected. But in studying his blood, McKay and his colleagues determined that he contracted HIV long after it was first introduced to North America. He was the only person whos ever mentioned to blame for the spread of this virus. And it was an invention, said Volberding, who once treated Dugas during an emergency room visit at San Francisco General Hospital. Its a long time ago and all that, but its nice to clear somebodys name. I knew Randy (Shilts) reasonably well, added Volberding. His book was fantastic. But it seems this was clearly a journalistic device. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday The fragility and preciousness of the spirit, the odds that are stacked against sensitivity, the distortions that can be inflicted on the soul these are familiar subjects and sources of passion in literature and film. In Moonlight, the story of a young man who grows up in a terrible place, they find fresh and renewed expression. This is the second film from writer-director Barry Jenkins, and its time to get excited. Jenkins first film, Medicine for Melancholy, about a man and a woman in the 24 hours after a one-night stand, showed a rare ability to convey a directorial consciousness through external means. There was a feeling of suppressed romanticism, a sense of life and possibility alive in the world that the characters were missing. Moonlight is in most ways a completely different film. It tells a sprawling story from Americas depths, and it deals with a young man who comes to understand that hes gay. His sexuality, like every other aspect of soul or hint of gentleness in his life, is under a rock, suffocated by the environment. Theres no hint of hope here except in the filmmaking itself, which is restless and energetic and, in that way, exudes a kind of belief. Its saying, This is worth it. This is important. Moonlight comes at you in three distinct waves and is very much a full meal. It has a comparatively modest running time of 110 minutes, but the movie feels more as though it were three hours long, and for once thats a good thing. It takes audiences to a new place and renders it in such detail that theres the sense of having traveled somewhere. Jenkins gives you so much to take in that he slows down time. In the first installment, we meet Chiron as a child (Alex R. Hibbert). We encounter him first in an empty crack den and have no idea why hes there. Only later, thinking about it, does the answer come. He was probably looking for his mother. Fortunately, Chiron is rescued and befriended by an appealing and powerful man, Juan (Mahershala Ali), who works in the city but has a beautiful home in the suburbs. But like everything else in Chirons world, Juan is compromised. Hes a crack dealer. Crack is inescapable. Naomie Harris, who plays Chirons crack-addicted mother, offers us the terrifying spectacle of a small-scale monster, someone worse for not being entirely evil and thus not dismissable. Chiron comes home from school each day to a mother who is domineering, charming, selfish, sometimes maudlin and affectionate, then suddenly brow-beating or enraged. Shes altogether too much for a sensitive 9-year-old child to contend with, and hes a captive audience, forced to witness her pathetic drama at every stage. In one scene, Jenkins films the mother yelling at her son with the words completely submerged under the soundtrack. Its a silent-film effect, and the sense it conveys is of something ongoing and mythic, a condition of life more than a specific circumstance. It doesnt matter what shes saying, because everything she says is nonsense. What matters is the fact that shes saying it, that she is daily doing damage over the course of years. These little touches, these unexpected and innovative uses of the camera or the soundtrack, never seem intended to impress. Rather they seem instinctive, the result of Jenkins intuitive understanding of some extra thing each moment can express. At one point, we see the high school bully in a long shot that follows him, from the waist up, as he quickly walks through the schoolyard and the cafeteria. Its the kind of shot youd see of a lion in a nature documentary, the exuberant search for prey. And, of course, this brings an unsettling feeling, because Moonlight is not the story of the lion. Its the story of the zebra. The two other waves of Moonlight show Chiron as a high school student and as a young adult. The young mans transformations are best discovered in the experience, but one thing is worth noting and looking for in advance. The high school Chiron (Ashton Sanders) and the adult Chiron (Trevante Rhodes) look nothing alike. That might have been a problem in another movie, but here its a virtue that underscores the extent of the spiritual transformation. It emphasizes how vulnerable children are to outside influence, and it also forces us to look at the adult Chiron through searching eyes. We look for traces of Sanders in Rhodes, as though they were the same actor. And then, through a semi-miracle, we end up finding Sanders in Rhodes eyes. Moonlight is based on a story by Tarell McCraney, based on his own experience of growing up gay in a tough Florida neighborhood. Jenkins adapted the story, injecting some of his own experience of growing up with a drug-addicted mother. The meld is seamless. Every year, we get only a few of these, movies that come out of nowhere, that are different, unexpected and wonderfully right. Moonlight is that kind of movie, one of the gems of 2016. Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com.Twitter: @MickLaSalle Moonlight Drama. Starring Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes and Naomie Harris. Directed by Barry Jenkins. (R. 110 minutes.) To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJj12tJzqc A man who was killed this week inside the home of San Francisco filmmaker Kevin Epps was shot in self-defense after he intruded in the home and made serious threats, Epps and his attorney said Wednesday. Epps, 48, who lives on the 100 block of Addison Street in Glen Park, was arrested on suspicion of murder after Mondays shooting. But the district attorneys office decided Tuesday not to file charges, at least for the time being, suggesting that evidence of self-defense was a consideration. Police officials have not elaborated on what preceded the 1:30 p.m. killing of 45-year-old Marcus Polk, who was homeless and knew Epps and his family. Epps said the shooting was self-defense but would not describe what happened or even confirm if he had pulled the trigger on the advice of his attorney, Mark Webb. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle / / Im just thankful to get back to my kids and family, Epps said. Im trying to be a beacon of hope and light. He said he hadnt slept since the shooting, saying, Its been a traumatic whirlwind of emotional events. Its heavy stuff. I just try to be strong and know what I stand on. Its about being part of the solution. Webb said he did not want his client to make any statements that could be used against him. There was a shooting, and there was a death and it was in self-defense, the attorney said. The person who was killed was an unwanted intruder making serious threats of death. Legal analyst Steve Clark, a former Santa Clara County prosecutor who now works as a defense attorney and is not involved in the San Francisco case, said people have a heightened right to self-defense if someone comes into your home rather than if you are outside your home. The law respects the sanctity of the home to a degree where you are allowed to use deadly force where elsewhere you wouldnt, Clark said. Family members and friends of the two men said Polk a registered sex offender with a criminal history including domestic battery and attempted robbery would often show up, unwelcome, at the home on Addison Street. Authorities booked Epps on suspicion of murder as well as being a convicted felon in possession of a gun. But he was released from San Francisco County Jail just before 1 a.m. Wednesday after prosecutors declined to file charges. There is insufficient evidence to charge the case at this time, said district attorneys office spokesman Alex Bastian. However, the case remains under investigation. San Francisco police officials said the decision by prosecutors to request additional investigation on a case is not uncommon. SFPD investigators work closely with the D.A.s office, and the SFPD homicide detail will be continuing the investigation into this matter, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a department spokesman. News of Epps arrest shocked many in San Franciscos arts community, where the filmmaker has been a visible presence since releasing Straight Outta Hunters Point in 2003. The film documented a turf war between rival gangs, providing a bleak picture of the violent and neglected neighborhood where Epps grew up. Epps, a street hustler in his younger years, eventually escaped the trappings of the neighborhood by picking up a camera. 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. I took it upon myself to try to turn a negative situation into something positive, he told The Chronicle in a 2007 profile. Epps has been an outspoken voice against police brutality and has worked with nonprofit organizations to help San Franciscos impoverished neighborhoods. In 2011, he was named an artist fellow at the de Young Museum. But Epps has also had brushes with the law. He was charged in 2002 with penetration with a foreign object in Santa Cruz County, though his attorney, Ken Azevedo, said Wednesday that the charges were dismissed in 2005 after a hung jury trial. Court papers in that case show Epps had a prior felony strike on his record; details were not available. On Wednesday, Epps would only say, To be a black man, its always trials and convictions. Ive been subject to that. Being a convicted felon doesnt mean Epps would be legally barred from using a gun to defend himself if his life was in danger, experts said. Even if youre a felon, you can still defend yourself, Clark said. You dont lose the right to use deadly force for self-defense. Another factor in the case may be Polks history of being accused of threatening behavior. He was served with a restraining order in September, filed by a tenant at the Vista Del Monte apartments on Goldmine Drive in Diamond Heights, half a mile from Epps home. The tenant wrote that Polk moved in with him, refused to leave when asked, and once put out a cigarette on his collarbone. Polk has threatened to do bodily harm to me, the tenant told the courts, and declared were at war and youre going to pay. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky If California is going to transition successfully to full legalization of cannabis, our state is going to need its own cartel. For the record, I am not smoking anything. And Im not suggesting that California encourage a criminal syndicate like the Zetas. The California cartel would need to be a legal corporate oligopoly with the size and resources necessary to control the distribution of cannabis so that our state can properly track, regulate, price and tax Americas largest marijuana market. Without a powerful force to wrangle the many motley cannabis players who operate in remote corners of the state, California marijuana could quickly spawn yet another of the convoluted regulatory messes for which our state is famous. Early attempts to design regulation around cannabis are worrying. Instead of designing one system to cover all forms of cannabis, regulation is moving right now on two separate tracts. Work is under way on a new regulatory system for medical marijuana. At the same time, voters are considering whether to approve Proposition 64, which legalizes, and proposes regulation of, marijuanas recreational use. Hopefully, medical and recreational marijuana would be combined into a single regulatory system. But even then, Prop. 64, at 62 pages, is the longest initiative on the November ballot and outlines so many different priorities that a regulatory system based on them would be highly complicated. How to bring order to the potential chaos? A cartel is by far the best answer. For one thing, its proven. Alcohol has long had this sort of three-tier system, with a middle tier of powerful distributors connecting a diverse array of brewers with all the various places that sell beer. For another, a powerful distributing cartel allows for ownership and accountability in the system. The cartel must buy the product from the growers, thus providing a check on supplies and quality and licensing. And the cartel must sell to the retailer, tracking the amounts of sales and the quality of product sold. And by tying together the system, distributors provide the natural vehicle for regulating and taxing cannabis. The cartel has another important role: keeping the price high enough to protect small players. Without a choke point in the industry, legalization of recreational cannabis in California will probably produce a big drop in price. Thats because demand is unlikely to spike after legalization; most of those who use cannabis in large amounts already have access to it, via medical marijuana and the ubiquity of the black market. But legalization is all but certain to increase supplies significantly, as growers move out of the shadows and make their once illegal businesses vastly more productive. That combination a big increase in supply, while demand stays relatively flat could produce a dangerous drop in prices and encourage more people to use marijuana. Distributors, as middlemen, would by their existence keep prices higher. So, what sort of person could assemble such a cartel? My own choice would be someone like Eric Spitz, who has already publicly raised his hand as a person interested in shaping the future of pot in California. Spitz, who has an MBA from MITs Sloan School of Management, ran a brewing company and founded a fast-casual food chain. He talks messianically about how those experiences, along with the investment in the Orange County Register that brought him to California a few years ago, make him the right man to help the state design a new regulatory regime and structure for the industry. Spitzs goal? To help shape the system and eventually become a distributor. Spitz is now advising local governments about how to regulate cannabis businesses, and hes been talking with former state Attorney General Bill Lockyer. Its great fun to see how he thinks, says Lockyer. Spitz says the question is not whether a consortium of distributors arises, but how its structured. Will it have only a couple of distributors or many? And will such a distribution system be divided up into regions, or be truly statewide? We have a responsibility to do it right, not only to make sure our system works, but because we know how California is going to tilt the scales for the rest of the country, Spitz says. And how will you know if the system is working? My view: when people in the marijuana business stop complaining about the chaos in their emerging industry and start complaining about the decisions of the cartel in charge. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Its hard to know if Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is half kidding or serious. After ridiculing American policy and cozying up to China, he now wants U.S. troops gone from his nation within maybe two years. Hes the same leader who called President Obama a son of a whore and compared himself to Adolf Hitler, two remarks he later pulled back. Now hes entering the upper atmosphere of foreign policy where pop-off remarks cant be so easily shrugged off. His rhetoric is leaving his audience inside and outside of his country guessing about his intentions and reliability. His pattern of reckless words tidied up by spin doctor assistants who offer tamer explanations isnt good enough. His latest words delivered on a trip to Japan are the strongest yet on military matters. Duterte is suggesting that five U.S. bases be closed, though their operations were authorized in a treaty negotiated by his predecessor and his military works closely with American counterparts. If the facilities shut down, the change would sever ties with one of Washingtons oldest allies in the region and disrupt a powerful alliance. It also could upset Obamas pivot to Asia, a policy shift that brings economic and military attention to a fast-growing part of the globe in the shadow of China. Along with goading the U.S. with talk of a separation, Duterte is warming up relations with Beijing, a challenge to the pivot concept. One example is his disavowal of Philippine protests over Chinas muscling into a string of disputed islands that lie between the two countries. Dutertes motivations arent easy to grasp. Hes a law-and-order populist best known as a local mayor linked to hundreds of killings of alleged criminals and drug dealers in his city. He won easy election to lead the country this year and remains overwhelmingly popular even as some 1,400 people have died in police drug operations and hundreds more have been slain by vigilantes. The deaths brought condemnation by human rights groups and U.S. diplomats, a response that infuriated Duterte. His new allies in China arent likely to bring the same criticism about lawless behavior or abridged civil liberties. There are historical tensions with the U.S., which colonized the Philippines over a century ago. But there are also deep ties that include immigration, finances and security, giving the U.S. a heightened status in the Philippines. Daly City has one of the largest Filipino communities outside of the home country. Dutertes utterances throw Washingtons leaders into a quandary. Confronting him over his words may make the divide even deeper. But letting him ramble on isnt a solution. For weeks, U.S. officials said little beyond stock phrases about long-standing ties. That patience may be close to snapping as the provocative remarks pile up. Duterte may feel righteous and strong for now, but his outbursts serve his country badly. Andrew Harnik/Associated Press The FBIs reputation has sunk so low under the Obama administration that its initials seem to stand for: The Fix Be In. The bureaus no-hurry investigation into Hillary Clintons deleted State Department emails seemed engineered to see no evil. Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that Attorney General Loretta Lynch is replacing FBI agents and prosecutors who oppose charging New York police in the choke-hold death of Eric Garner (because they arent sure the police committed a crime and dont think they can get a conviction) with staff who want to throw the book at the NYPD. Pundits have voiced their fear that Trump would use the Justice Department to go after his political enemies and rightly so after Trump said he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Clinton and send her to jail. (So much for the presumption of innocence.) How can these same critics not see how the Obama Department of Justice has turned into a political arm of the Democratic Party? Being charged with voter fraud doesnt prevent one from being a poll worker. Political eccentric Donald Dewsnup will work as a poll worker on Nov. 8 he also worked in the June election despite facing two felony counts of false voter registration. In April, District Attorney George Gascon charged Dewsnup with registering to vote using a false address, which Gascon said allowed him to vote in a supervisorial district where he didnt live. It also allowed him to infiltrate the influential Telegraph Hill Dwellers neighborhood association to advance his political agenda, Gascon said. Last fall, Dewsnup led a failed effort to take over the San Francisco chapter of the Sierra Club and make it more development friendly. He said he used a false address because he was homeless. A preliminary hearing in the mater is scheduled for Nov. 7. San Francisco Elections Director John Arntz, director said under state law even convicted felons can work as poll workers, as long as they are not in prison or on parole. The city Elections Department doesnt ask people whether they have been charged with a crime. The only thing that matters is an actual determination by a court, Arntz said. Dewsnup declined to discuss the voter fraud charges filed against him. He said he was excited to work on Election Day. Its really intense. You are working from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. And at the end of the day, we have to certify the ballots that were collected, Dewsnup said. Arntz clarified that poll workers count the number of ballots cast in the voting equipment, but that the voting equipment tallies the votes, not the poll workers. Emily Green Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen @sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen Mayor Ed Lee vetoed legislation Wednesday requiring the San Francisco Police Department to create special units to combat property crime, criticizing it for being motivated by politics and not public safety. The legislation by Supervisor Norman Yee passed by the Board of Supervisors 7-4 on Tuesday, mandated the creation of a unit at every district station. The units would have been responsible for investigating property crime, enforcing laws to deter property crime, and assisting with 911 and 311 calls related to property crime. Lee said the ordinance restricts the (Police) Departments ability to coordinate internally and with other city departments to address property crime. He also criticized the ordinance for being too narrow in its focus purely on property crime. The mayor, however, supports a November ballot measure that has similar goals to Yees legislation. The measure, Proposition R, was placed on the ballot by four moderate supervisors who tend to ally with Lee Scott Wiener, Malia Cohen, Mark Farrell and Katy Tang. Those supervisors voted against Yees legislation. Prop. R would require the Police Department to create a special neighborhood crime unit that would focus on auto break-ins, property theft, vandalism, and aggressive and harassing behavior. The measure wouldnt take effect until the Police Department meets the City Charters mandate of 1,971 officers, which could happen next year. At that point, the department would have to dedicate 3 percent of its officers to the neighborhood crime unit. The ballot measure is also more binding than the legislation. It could only be changed by a future ballot measure, while the Board of Supervisors can change or do away with the ordinance. Yee said he was disappointed, although not surprised, by Lees veto. I was actually motivated by public policy and not politics, Yee said. If the mayor wants to call it politics, I call it trying to have good governance. Emily Green Powering up: After more than a decade of political gridlock and opposition, CleanPowerSF finally launched in May. The energy program has since picked up 7,300 customers, and another 75,000 will be added after Nov. 1. We consciously chose to start with a smaller number to work out all the kinks and make sure our systems were prepared and ready, said Barbara Hale, assistant general manager for power at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Anyone in San Francisco can be part of the program. Supervisorial Districts Five, Eight and 10 were the first to be enrolled, and only 1.9 percent opted out of the program. Residents and businesses who want to enroll can register online at http://sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=748. The service is 0.25 percent less expensive than that of Pacific Gas and Electric, though residents probably wont notice a difference on their electricity bill. The standard option, green, is composed of 35 percent renewable energy. For about $6 to $15 more, residents can purchase the 100 percent renewable SuperGreen option. The entire city should be enrolled in the program by 2021. Lizzie Johnson Email: cityinsider@sfchronicle.com, egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen, @LizzieJohnsonnn First thing: Dont call them abductees. They prefer experiencers. They would be members of Starcrossed, a support group for residents of the upstate New York town of Beacon who have been abducted by aliens. Ozzie Graham has been dispatched to write a story about them for a website called Glint and ends up wondering if perhaps hes an experiencer too. Thats the premise of David Jenkins engaging new comedy People of Earth, premiering Halloween night on TBS and starring Wyatt Cenac (The Daily Show With Jon Stewart) as Ozzie. From the get-go, Jenkins seems to understand that the shows basic conceit is relatively narrow. One false move and he could end up with another The Neighbors, the thin, pointless comedy that, for reasons only aliens could explain, managed to eke out two seasons on ABC. If Ozzie were just the only person with all his marbles in the support group circle, People of Earth wouldnt have much going for it. But Jenkins wisely adds layers of plot and character possibilities to provide additional points of entry for viewers. To begin with, there are the experiencers, who range from a disenchanted shrink named Gina Morrison (Ana Gasteyer, Suburgatory), who has formed the support group and written the handbook for neophyte experiencers, to Richard Shenk (Brian Huskey, Veep), who believes his wife was permanently abducted, which is why she hasnt come home in months, to Gerry Johnson (Luka Jones, Up All Night), a toll booth collector who has turned his booth into an excessively compact alien research facility. Ozzies visit to Beacon is not without incident. Just as he crosses the town line, he hits a deer in the road, or does he? Well, the deer itself says so, every time it shows up in the passenger seat of Ozzies car or pops up in the medicine cabinet mirror in Ozzies motel room. Among the other intriguing characters are a trio of aliens, Jeff the Grey (Ken Hall, Straight Man), Don the White (Bjorn Gustaffson, Spy) and Kurt the Reptilian (Drew Nelson, The Girlfriend Experience), who are clearly the Larry, Moe and Curly Joe of outer space. Then there are Ozzies super-pumped, ever-sunny boss at Glint, Jonathan Walsh (Michael Kennedy, Men at Work), and Father Doug (Oscar Nunez, The Office), who is getting nervous about the experiencers support group using his church for their meetings. The four episodes sent to critics show more than enough ways for People of Earth to keep the ball rolling, but the performances seal the deal. Cenacs ability to convey unimpeachable normalcy made him one of the more memorable correspondents on The Daily Show until his little dust-up with the boss. He makes great use of that skill to ground and at the same time unsettle the comedic action of People of Earth. We could easily dismiss the Starcrossed members, who mostly cling to the idea that they were abducted by aliens because they cant deal with the real problems in their lives, except Jenkins has fun playing with what is or isnt real. After all, if the experiencers have concocted the notion that they were abducted to mask other problems in their lives, what would Ozzies reason be? He seems the most normal person in the world. If youre going to keep an audience guessing, its often a good idea to keep them laughing in the meantime. David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle and co-host of The Do List every Friday morning at 6:22 and 8:22 on KQED FM, 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento. Follow him on Facebook. Email: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV People of Earth: Sitcom. Back-to-back episodes 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, on TBS. I'd sincerely like to thank my school for putting up this sign A poster featuring Brock Turner's smirking face and the words "Don't be that person" popped up at California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo to warn students of sexual predators. Twitter who says she's a Cal Poly student posted an image of the poster with the infamous Stanford sexual assailant on the social media network on Monday, writing "I'd sincerely like to thank my school for putting up this sign." The tweet had been liked nearly 3,000 times and shared more than 1,100 times, as of Thursday afternoon. The poster came from the university's Safer program that's described on its website as "a confidential advocacy, education and support resource for addressing sexual misconduct." Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier said the poster was part of a student-driven campaign on campus "aimed at urging students to look out for one another and increase their awareness of sexual assault and related issues." VIDEO: Ex-Stanford swimmer Brock Turner registers as sex offender Only one poster featuring Turner was displayed on campus and it was removed earlier in the week, according to Lazier. The overall ad campaign remains in place, he says, "sending messages to students about awareness and prevention of sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking." Turner became what SFist aptly calls "the literal poster child of sexual assault" when a huge controversy erupted over a judge giving the ex-Stanford student a sentence of six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. When Turner, an all-American swimmer, was convicted in Santa Clara County Superior Court of three counts of sexual assault in late March, he faced up to 14 years of prison, as reported in a previous SFGATE story. Judge Aaron Persky opted for a lighter penalty, saying a stiffer sentence would have a "severe impact" on the 20-year-old. Persky's sentence also included three years of probation with alcohol and sex-offender treatment as well as lifetime registration on the sex-offender list. National outrage against Turner continued when he was released from jail in San Jose in September after serving only three months due to good behavior. Today there are many ways to get from Oakland to San Francisco. Theres driving, of course. Theres also BART. You could take a bus. Or you could even hop on a boat. But the fastest commute ever executed between the two cities began in 1914 when the Bay Area got its first-ever seaplane ferry. At 10 cents per passenger, the Airy Ferry cheekily named by a San Francisco Chronicle reader promised a six-minute ride between Oakland and San Francisco. It was billed as the ideal solution for busy commuters who had neither the time nor the inclination for a 30-minute ferry ride, often blighted by bad weather and choppy waters. The Curtiss flying boat had two propellers and a 100-horsepower engine that flew commuters at a rate of 70 miles per hour. It was equipped with searchlights for the oft-foggy weather and called unsinkable by the Chronicle. The first flight took off on May 14, 1914 at 3 p.m. from the Mission St. dock with a famous passenger in tow: legendary San Francisco mayor James Rolph. The flight went off without a hitch, but two days later, the Airy Ferry suffered its first accident. Halfway across the bay, the planes engine died. The pilot was able to safely land in the water, but a rescue boat had to tow the plane back to its dock. Luckily, adventurous Californians were the perfect group of citizens to take on the new thrill of air travel. It took a little bit of fortitude, SFO Museum Assistant Director of Aviation John H. Hill says. It was statistically not as safe as it was to fly today. It was very, very expensive but to even know someone who had been in an airplane was very exciting. So to be on one must have been very exciting to certain types of people. For nervous nellies, commuters could rest assured their pilot was one of the best in the business. Though just 24 years old, Silas Christofferson was one of the most famous airmen in the state. In July 1914, he set an American record by flying over Mt. Whitney, topping an altitude of 15,728 feet. While flying the air ferry, Christofferson also became famous for his photography, snapping stunning images of San Francisco from the sky. It is the best and most perfect photograph ever taken from an airship, the Chronicle proclaimed when it ran his image of the Ferry Building. The Chronicle But as was often in the case in early aviation, Christoffersons glory was short-lived. In Nov. 1915, while piloting a new type of biplane, the plane turned turtle, as the Chronicle so flippantly put it, and crashed. The crash came down to operator error: The new plane used foot controls instead of the usual shoulder controls. Out of habit, Christofferson went to control the plane with his shoulder, and the plane buckled sharply and crashed to earth, nose down. Although conscious when he was removed from the wreckage, Christofferson died later that day due to internal injuries. Perhaps the Airy Ferry was just a bit ahead of its time, because when the concept was revived in the 1930s, it was a sensational success. In 1930, three seaplanes operated by Air Ferries Ltd., took off from the Ferry Building for their first commute trip to the East Bay. The $1.50 service took off every 15 minutes and used the Loening Amphibian biplane. Within the first 60 days, the Air Ferries Ltd., service had flown over 21,000 passengers the same number as all commercial airlines in the United States in 1929. It was one business that was just taking off, Hill says. The company added a $3.50 fare to and from Vallejo and a route to Alameda. Adding to the companys popularity was its proximity to business centers. The Oakland flight left from Jack London Square and landed at Pier 5, allowing busy commuters to disembark by the Ferry Building and walk right to work. For a while, Air Ferries Ltd., claimed to be the busiest air transit line in the world. But again, death swiftly curtailed air ferry service. In 1933, a plane operated by Air Ferries Ltd.s parent company, Varney Speed Lines, was near the end of a flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco. It was well past sunset and pouring rain, and the pilot somehow lost his bearings. He went plunging into a home at 1205 144th Avenue in present-day San Leandro. The plane struck the Arisa residence, exploded and dove into an orchard, after striking a tree, an outhouse and a residence adjoining the Chronicle reported. Thirteen people died, including the pilot and two passengers aboard the plane. Although the accident didnt involve a seaplane, it spelled the end of Varney Speed Lines in the Bay Area. When they officially ended service in August 1933, they said that competition was too keen to permit continued profitable operation. The deadliest air crash in Northern California history certainly didnt help. The crash didnt mark the end of Varney, though. In 1930, it was bought by United Aircraft and Transport Corporation. Today, you probably know it better simply as United Airlines. The real decline of the air ferry came with the opening of the Bay Bridge in 1936. It was cheaper and easier to drive, and with the advent of the car commute, the air ferry service permanently shuttered. The romance and convenience of a short haul across the bay on a seaplane still holds its appeal, however. But could San Francisco ever revive the Airy Ferry? Putting a business model together to succeed on that would probably be a challenge, Hill admits with a laugh. Maybe someday well get those flying cars theyve been promising us and do it that way. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The familiar sound of a dial tone is getting closer for Muni Metro riders. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a plan the Municipal Transportation Agency and BART worked out a month ago to bring cell phone service to the Muni Metro subways by tagging onto the BART network, BART has an underground cellular network, the first in the nation shared by competing carriers, is used in its subterranean stretches. Its used by AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and Metro PCS. Plans calls for Muni Metro to tie into the BART system about 12 to 18 months after a deal can be negotiated with the carriers. The boards approval allows the negotiations to begin. But Metro riders shouldnt get too excited. While the arrangement will bring mobile phone service to Munis nether regions, it will remain a Wi-Fi-free zone. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It was a scene reminiscent of a middle school dance, with boys on one side of the room and girls on the other, waiting for a brave interloper to get the party started. A news conference Thursday at the Hilton in San Franciscos Financial District brought together two groups that disagree on most everything when it comes to marijuana save their opposition to Proposition 64, which would legalize retail sale and adult use of recreational pot if passed by California voters Nov. 8. Taking stage right were marijuana foes whose opposition is rooted in calls for morality and public safety. On the left: cannabis advocates who warn that Prop. 64 will allow corporate interests to crush mom-and-pop players in the current medical marijuana industry. A demilitarized zone was marked by a No on 64 sign, a nod to the sponsor of the event, Public and Mental Health Advocates Against 64. The two sides hope their coalition will once again defeat legalization, but that doesnt mean theyre arm in arm. Kevin Sabet, the founder of the antilegalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, broke the uneasy ice, saying he would have thought you were smoking something to suggest the two groups would share the same stage as recently as a year ago. But together, Sabet and the members of the medical marijuana industry he often butts heads with outlined their case that Prop. 64 would allow big business to monopolize profits, while pervading California with reefer billboards and other marketing pitches. It would make Colorado look like Saudi Arabia, Sabet said, referring to changes in Colorado since that state legalized recreational weed in 2012. Conspicuously absent was Dennis Peron, the driving force behind Californias Proposition 215, which became the nations first medical marijuana law in 1996. He had planned to attend, but organizers said he got tied up volunteering at a soup kitchen, and the cannabis activist did not immediately respond to calls and emails seeking comment. Supporters of Prop. 64, which would implement a 15 percent tax on all marijuana sales, said Thursday that opponents of the measure are getting desperate as they run out of time and polls show strong support for legalization. They said assertions that the law would be a death blow to small growers and dispensary operators were unfounded. The scare tactics ... are distortions of potential truths, and theres a lot we dont know about commercial cannabis regulation, and making these huge claims is oversimplifying what is a very unknown and nuanced situation, said Lynne Lyman, state director for the Drug Policy Alliance, which supports Prop. 64. The legalization push comes six years after a similar ballot measure, Proposition 19, was defeated in 2010. It, too, splintered the medical marijuana industry. Traditionally pot-friendly counties like San Francisco and Marin gave it nearly two-thirds support, but voters in all three counties in the weed-growing Emerald Triangle rejected it. Jamie Kerr, the owner of a Shasta County medical marijuana dispensary and member of a local planning board, was among those at the San Francisco news conference. She said Prop. 64 removes local control by not having municipal governments license new marijuana businesses. Lets face it, the marijuana business doesnt have the best reputation, said Kerr, who conceded that new recreational competition could harm her business. There are a lot of problems with rushing through recreational before we have answers to a lot of the questions we have now. Opponents argued that Prop. 64 will allow one individual to pursue multiple licenses, such as a cultivation site, a production facility and a storefront, and will thus create Walmarts of weed, as Sabet put it. Prop. 64 does include a five-year restriction limiting the size of cultivation sites an attempt to appease current growers and leaves a good deal of discretion to state regulators when it comes to issuing licenses. But people on both sides of the debate agree the business landscape would change quickly. Theres a lot of people out there who have been making a little money on the side with modest home grows, and thats going to be a thing of the past, said Dale Gieringer, the state coordinator of California NORML, which supports Prop. 64. Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate With new competition surfacing from Microsoft, Apple on Thursday refreshed its flagship MacBook Pro laptops by adding touch-screen controls that analysts say reflects the different philosophies between the two companies. The biggest change in two new MacBook Pro models is the Touch Bar, a thin display screen that replaces the decades-old row of physical function keys above a standard computer keyboard. The laptops are also thinner and lighter than past versions. Introduced 25 years to the week after Apple released its first laptop, the new models will include biometric fingerprint identification, a feature that, like aspects of the Touch Bar, was brought over over from iPhones. We think you are going to love this new MacBook Pro, and we cant wait to see all of the amazing things people are going to do with it, CEO Tim Cook said during a press conference at Apples Cupertino headquarters. The MacBook lineup was overdue for an overhaul, especially the top-of-the-line MacBook Pro. It will face an immediate challenge from Microsoft, which on Wednesday introduced a $3,000 Surface Studio PC thats aimed at the MacBook Pros core market of professional designers, artists and other creators. The Touch Bar on the Apple laptops is a thin display screen that imports the same type of customizable controls including shortcuts for emoji, video editing tools and navigating within browsers found in iPhones and iPads, but without having to take up space on the main screen. That also means that third-party app developers can use the bar to create custom controls, said analyst Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies of San Jose. Theyll become much more innovative, he said. Apple just fundamentally does not believe you need to touch the (main) screen. This is not just a compromise, its a better version of bringing touch to the masses. More for you The Microsoft-Apple rivalry is alive and well So while Microsoft is trying to extend the success of its Surface tablet lineup, Apple decided to maintain separation between its mobile products and computers, said longtime Apple observer Jason Snell, former Macworld editor. I dont think theres one answer, said Snell, now editor of the tech site Six Colors. For some people, having a computer thats also a touch-screen may make sense. Apple thinks that if youre working on Photoshop, the last thing you want to do is lift your hands up off the keyboard and touch the screen. Is one of these companies right and one of them totally wrong, I dont know. Well see what people think. Analst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray said the updates were a solid evolution of the line, although not ones that will immediately move the needle on revenue growth. The MacBook Pro comes with a 13-inch ($1,799) or 15-inch ($2,339) screen. Another 13-inch version comes without Touch Bar; it costs $1,499. Both 13-inch versions will be very slim thinner than comparable laptops from Apples lightweight MacBook Air line. The laptops can be ordered now, although the Touch Bar wont ship for two to three weeks. Apple also said it has created an app for the Apple TV, simply called TV. We want Apple TV to be the one place to access all of your television, Cook said. Microsofts fresh push put more attention on Apples news, said Neil Cybart, an analyst for Above Avalon. However, he said he is skeptical that the new Surface announcements will alter Apples long-term strategy related to the Mac and its position within the Apple product line. The announcements came two days after Apple reported that annual sales declined for the first time since 2001. That was the year the company introduced the iPod, which helped Apple break away from its reliance on personal computer sales. Apple still posted annual sales of $215.6 billion, but sales of iPhones, now Apples most popular product, declined by 5 percent in terms of units and 13 percent in terms of revenue. Thursdays announcements were a needed boost for Apples lineup of foundational Macintosh computers. Revenue from Mac sales dropped by 17 percent from a year ago, and the company sold 14 percent fewer computers. Benny Evangelista is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bevangelista@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChronicleBenny After getting busted himself, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes says its time for Americans to have an overdue conversation about marijuana in the workplace. On July 8, 2014, the first day that retail stores began selling marijuana in Washington state, Holmes went to Cannabis City in Seattle and plopped down $80 for two 2-gram bags of weed. Then he went back to his office and put the drugs on his desk, not realizing that even though his purchase was legal under state law he had just violated the citys drug-free workplace policy. It was a completely inadvertent violation, but it was a violation nonetheless, said Holmes, who apologized and fined himself $3,000, donating the money to Seattles downtown emergency services. If prosecutors cant keep up with the maze of competing marijuana laws these days, one might forgive regular folks who feel a little hazy about them. And workplace attorneys say the issue promises to become even more puzzling for employers and employees alike on Nov. 8, when voters will decide whether to allow or expand legal access to marijuana in California and eight other states. Pot backers hope that all or most of the ballot measures pass, making 2016 the point of no return in the long drive to end federal marijuana prohibition. If they all pass, recreational marijuana would be legal in states that represent nearly a quarter of the U.S. population. As a result, larger companies with multistate operations will have the most homework, scrambling to figure out how to deal with employees who work in jurisdictions with differing marijuana laws. The labyrinth of laws are going to become even more complicated and complex, said Tad Devlin, a professional liability partner at Kaufman Dolowich and Voluck in San Francisco who counsels employers and insurers on marijuana issues in the workplace. What its going to do is create more uncertainly and potential for dispute claims and even litigation. Tom Angell, chairman of the Marijuana Majority, which backs legalization, said the debate highlights the ongoing stigma and discrimination that marijuana users still face, despite the success of pot backers in voting booths across the nation. If a workers cannabis use doesnt negatively affect how they do their jobs, it really shouldnt be an employers business, just like how your boss cant tell you not to have a glass of wine with dinner, Angell said. If someone isnt doing their job, fire them, but I cant fathom why any company would want to get rid of an otherwise good employee just because they happen to smoke a joint every now and then. While both Congress and President Obama have opposed the full-scale legalization of marijuana, popular approval of the drug has soared. A Gallup Poll this month found that a record 60 percent of Americans support an end to pot prohibition. As the drug grows in popularity, pot use in the workplace has jumped dramatically, driving failure rates on employee drug tests to a 10-year high in 2015. Thats according to a study of 9.5 million urine samples and 200,000 hair samples, released last month by Quest Diagnostics, one of the nations largest drug-testing firms. While workplace safety remains a top priority, many employers worry that it will be harder to recruit younger workers if they put too much emphasis on the drug tests. Richard Meneghello, who works with businesses in Washington and Oregon on marijuana issues as managing partner of Fisher Phillips in Portland, said the most common questions from employers used to focus on how to enforce zero-tolerance policies for pot, but that has changed. In the last two years, its slowly shifted, he said. Now the more frequent phone call is, Gee, if we really prohibit anyone from having marijuana in their system in the workplace, we might not have many employees. And this especially comes in the hospitality industry and retail industry and other industries where apparently people have the feeling that a lot of their hourly workers are using recreational marijuana. So far, courts have given employers the upper hand in dealing with pot users, ruling that they can rely on federal law to dismiss workers who fail drug tests, even if the employees have recommendations from their doctors to use marijuana and theyre using it while not at work. Courts could have much to sort out in the future: While federal law says that marijuana has absolutely no medical value, 10 states that have legalized medical marijuana have included antidiscrimination provisions that require employers to accommodate workers who use medical marijuana. The 10 states Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island have also made it illegal for an employer to not hire or to discriminate against either a job applicant or employee who uses medical marijuana. On Nov. 8, voters in five states California, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada will decide whether to fully legalize and regulate marijuana. They would join four states that already allow using the drug for recreational purposes: Washington, Colorado, Alaska and Oregon. Voters in Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas will decide whether to approve marijuana for medical use, while Montana residents will vote on whether to loosen its medical marijuana laws. Twenty-five states have approved medical marijuana. Meneghello said he advises companies to keep zero-tolerance policies, citing the nightmare scenario of the employee taking the company car for a delivery and mowing somebody down and testing positive for marijuana. But he said that attitudes have changed: What I say to them is to tell your employees youre not going to ... try to determine what they were doing in their off-hours youre only going to care about it if they demonstrate signs that theyre impaired at work. Holmes, the Seattle city attorney, said hed decided to buy the marijuana to show support for Washington states new marijuana sales law, standing in line in his suit and tie on a hot summer day, a member of the bar knowingly violating the federal law that bans all marijuana sales and possession. He said hed put the two small bags of marijuana on his desk and rushed off to a meeting. There was no intent to even open them, let alone consume them, on the work premises or during the workday, Holmes said. It was just one of those things. But he said his mistake prompted a review of all of the citys drug-free workplace rules. Among other things, he said, he realized that managers cant keep liquor in their offices, even for after-hours use, and that employees cant buy bottles of wine during their lunch hour and take them to the office, even if theyre planning to not open them until they get home for dinner. Holmes is still trying to figure out what to do with his marijuana. I dont know, maybe Ill put it in a safe deposit box or something and violate federal banking rules, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Hashtag this #RIPVine Twitters announcement that it will discontinue Vine the app whose six-second videos sometimes gave people 15 minutes of fame led lots of users to express their anguish on (where else?) Twitter, posting some of their favorite clips from years past. The San Francisco company is emphasizing more live video with Periscope, and people can still record videos to go along with their tweets. Let me take a ballot selfie A federal lawsuit is challenging a New York law that makes it a misdemeanor to take a ballot selfie, showing a marked election ballot to others. The suit said publishing a voted ballot on social media can be a powerful form of political expression. The issue drew lots of attention this week when Justin Timberlake posted an Instagram photo after he voted early in Tennessee, which also bans taking photos while voting. No, he is not being prosecuted. Perfect storm soaks DMV Officials blame a perfect storm of simultaneous hard-drive failures for a computer outage that hit two-thirds of California DMV offices this week. The departments disaster recovery systems were not designed to handle such severe failures over a short period of time, spokesman Jaime Garza said in an email. The DMV said Thursday morning that most of its 188 offices were back to offering full services, and online services remain functional. The Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techbriefing A state appeals court overturned the murder conviction of a homeless man Wednesday for a fatal stabbing in Santa Rosa, saying jurors might have believed his claim of self-defense if they had been allowed to hear evidence of frequent violence against the homeless. Testimony explaining why a chronically homeless person might live in fear of assault could have helped jurors decide whether Vladimir Sotelo-Urena actually believed he was in danger when he killed Nicholas Bloom, said the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco. Such a finding by the jury would have made him guilty of no more than voluntary manslaughter, the court said. Jurors could have acquitted him of all charges if they found his fears were reasonable, the court said. The killing occurred on Christmas Eve 2013 after an angry encounter that started when Bloom, 22, another homeless man, approached Sotelo-Urena in a dark alley and asked for a cigarette. Sotelo-Urena, 31, who had been homeless for more than two years, told police that Bloom was loud and aggressive and that he thought, wrongly, that he recognized Bloom as someone who had stabbed him several weeks earlier. He also said he thought Bloom was reaching for a knife. Sotelo-Urena pulled out his own knife and, after a struggle, stabbed Bloom repeatedly in the throat. His lawyer argued that Sotelo-Urena had believed he was in danger, but a Sonoma County jury convicted him of premeditated first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. In Wednesdays ruling, the appeals court said the trial judge should have allowed an expert witness to testify for the defense that someone in Sotelo-Urenas situation would have been fearful because homeless people face a high risk of violence. For example, the court said, a 2010 survey of homeless adults in five U.S. cities found that 49 percent of them reported being victims of violence, compared with 2 percent of the general population. A 2013 study by the National Coalition for the Homeless documented 109 attacks on homeless people, 18 of them fatal, and many in which the attacker was looking for a homeless victim, the court said. In refusing to allow the testimony, Superior Court Judge Rene Chouteau said homelessness had nothing to do with the issues in the case. Everyone is subject to the same risks, he said. But the appeals court said expert testimony might have given the jury a different perspective. The realities of being homeless for a long period of time are beyond the understanding and life experience of the average juror, Justice James Richman said in the 3-0 ruling. He noted that courts often allow someone who kills a spouse or domestic partner to offer evidence of the trauma suffered by victims of domestic abuse. The ruling, if it stands, will entitle Sotelo-Urena to a new trial. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko When Jeff Smith presented his Stanford Ph.D. dissertation in 2013, he couldn't have predicted the type of work he'd one day do with it. In the thesis, the grad, who holds a doctorate in Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, looked at how music genres spread across cultures and what that can tell us about those respective populations' other values and norms. Now, three years later, Smith and his Smule colleague Mark Dunning put that methodology to work again in a cheeky way, using data from his app Smule, which allows users to sing along to existing audio. By being able to observe which songs and genres are most popular in each state, Smith argues, we can infer other things about their beliefs and values, which may help us predict how each undecided state will vote in the upcoming election. Using data from Smule to help him figure out which genres are most popular among users in each of the 50 states, Smith was able to derive pseudo-scientific data of which way some of the undecided states will swing this November 8. "We're not claiming it's a Gallup poll," Smith tells SFGATE. "But what's interesting is the country is quite divided by culture and one way of measuring those lines and having insight is to look at music preferences, and we are able to see that in the data." To find out which genres tended to be telling of the Republican "redness" or Democratic "blueness" of a state, Smith and Dunning looked at 100 million performances called "sings" on Smule over the past few months. They then graphed those performances by genre, by state, and determined what the "normative" behavior was in each state. For example, people in states already determined to be "blue" tended to favor genres like musical theater, 80s and 90s hits, and Latin. Those in "red" states often liked Christian and country. (Some genres, like R&B and hip hop, were not strong enough indicators for political stance one way or another.) Then, the researchers examined each of the swing states to see if there was a stronger correlation to the normal genre preferences of the red or blue states. As they found, there was at least for some. Smith found that people in Iowa, Pennsylvania and Virginia tended towards the songs popular in typically blue Democratic states, and citizens in Nevada and Florida often liked songs big in red Republican states. Some states were still too close to call including Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin but Smith was able to make guesses based on the data. For example, the popularity of Christian and country music in North Carolina suggests it might trend towards red, whereas Ohioans very much enjoy musicals (though country ranks high too), making them a possibly narrowly blue state. "We found confirmation that Ohio is very much a swing state," says Smith. "If you look at some of our analysis, you have a diverse population there that's embracing different cultures and different musical genres." With everything considered, Smith predicts a win for Clinton, but not a landslide. In his prediction using the data, he bets that Clinton only wins with 276 electoral votes (270 is the minimum required to win). "We're measuring culture, and there is a vast cultural divide," he says. "Trump has been almost confined to operating within that cultural divide versus Clinton seems to be able to bring other constituents of other cultures into her camp." NEW YORK Every month or two, the young woman would type her fathers name Bruce Hanson into an Internet search field, hoping for any sign that he was dead or alive. She still remembered him as the hardworking man who taught her to ride a bicycle, before he spiraled down and out on drugs and alcohol. Her parents divorced when she was 6, and by the time she was 9 he had disappeared from her life. Kimberly Hanson Bradshaw, now 32, saw her father only once more, when she was 16, for a single bittersweet day on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J. After that, no word at all. Not upon her high school graduation, not on her wedding day and not early this year, when she again searched online in vain for any trace of her father. In fact, he had died March 25, 2013, at a hospital in the Bronx, which sent his body to a New York City morgue. While he was difficult to find, his ex-wife and daughter would have been easy to locate. But no one contacted them. Instead, the citys medical examiners office lent his unclaimed body to the Albert Einstein School of Medicine for use as a cadaver. Long after the last dissection in a medical class, nearly three years after his death, his corpse was one of 22 such borrowed cadavers still stranded in cold storage at the school, all of them waiting for the city to provide what the unclaimed dead are owed by law: a decent burial. Privately donated cadavers used in the same anatomy classes had long since been cremated after a ceremony of thanks, their ashes carefully preserved for relatives. But the group of so-called city bodies was left in a bureaucratic limbo when the medical examiners office, after a series of scandals and lawsuits involving mishandled corpses, grew reluctant to take them back. Those 22 cadavers may turn out to be the last unclaimed bodies ever used for dissection in New York City without consent. But tracing their long, bizarre journey from death to burial underscores broader, more enduring problems with the citys mortuary system, particularly its recurring failure to contact relatives before bodies are dispatched to mass graves on Hart Island, the citys potters field. A new law forbids the city from using unclaimed bodies as educational cadavers without the written consent of the next of kin, unless the deceased was already a registered body donor. But that law, enacted soon after an investigation by the Times into the trench burials on Hart Island in May, does not address the way bodies come to be considered unclaimed in the first place, or whether adequate measures are being taken to identify survivors. On Hart Island, Bradshaw found her fathers trench number and saw five or six sunflowers growing there the only ones she had seen on the island. The flowers seemed almost a sign from her father. NEWARK, N.J. The judge presiding over the trial of two former aides to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the George Washington Bridge lane closing case abruptly sent the jury home and adjourned court on Thursday morning just as lawyers were about to begin their closing arguments. The sudden adjournment raised the possibility of a major hiccup at the end of a six-week trial. WASHINGTON The vast majority of U.S. students still lack a solid grasp of science despite some modest gains by fourth- and eighth-graders, especially girls and minorities. The problem is particularly acute among the nations high school seniors. The 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the Nations Report Card, released Thursday shows only about one-third of fourth- and eighth-graders demonstrated strong academic performance in the sciences. Among 12th graders, just 1 in 5 was proficient or above in science. We still are not at a place as a country where we are preparing the future STEM workforce that we need, Education Secretary John B. King Jr. said referring to science, technology, engineering and math courses. We think theres significant work still to do, but we are heartened by the progress that we see in these results. Average scores on the science exam were up four points in grades four and eight, and unchanged for 12th grade, compared with 2009. The results also show that fourth-grade girls had closed the gender gap and were now performing as well as boys. In eighth grade, that gender gap had tightened. Achievement gaps among white, black and Hispanic students narrowed, too, at grades four and eight, as minority students made greater gains, said Peggy Carr, acting commissioner at the National Center for Education Statistics. Susan German, an eighth-grade science teacher at Hallsville Middle School in Missouri, welcomed the gains, saying improvement is always good even if its in small bits. German says she engages her class with lots of hands-on projects. In one, her students had to design and build models for a water treatment facility. They tested their designs and made adjustments for any leaks, but German says its not just the science shes trying to teach. Nationally, the test results showed that 38 percent of fourth-grade students were considered proficient or above in science. In eighth grade, 34 percent were proficient or above. Only 22 percent of 12th-graders scored proficient or above. The rest were at or below the basic level. The Nations Report Card is the largest nationally representative continuing assessment of what American students know and dont know in various subjects. The science test measures students knowledge of physical science, life science, and Earth and space sciences. In fourth grade, the overall average score was 154 on a scale of 300 total points. The average score also was 154 for eighth grade. For high school seniors, the average score was 150. WASHINGTON Donald Trump says he hand-picked only the best to teach success at Trump University. But dozens of those hired by the company had checkered pasts including serious financial problems and even convictions for cocaine trafficking or child molestation, an Associated Press investigation has found. The AP identified 107 people listed as speakers and staff on more than 21,000 pages of customer-satisfaction surveys the Republican presidential nominee has released as part of his defense against three lawsuits. Trump and his attorneys have said repeatedly that the surveys show the overwhelming majority of participants were satisfied. However, the suits allege his namesake real estate seminars were a massive fraud designed to upsell students into buying course packages costing as much as $35,000. As a candidate, Trump has said he will run the U.S. government like he runs his businesses. So his past hiring practices could offer insight into how a President Trump might fill scores of key federal positions. Some names from the surveys were too common to narrow down to individuals, but AP was able to use online resumes, court filings and other public records to piece together detailed background checks on 68 former Trump staffers. The results could complicate Trumps legal defense that his Trump University apprentices got the top-flight instructors and mentors they paid for. Half the 68 former faculty and staff identified by AP had personal bankruptcies, foreclosures, credit card defaults, tax liens or other indicators of significant money troubles prior to teaching Trump University courses promoting wealth building and how to invest like a billionaire, according to APs review. Many of those hired to teach did not have college degrees and were not licensed to broker real estate. At least four had been convicted of felonies. They include: Ron P. Broussard Jr., 48, who was hired to the Trump University staff in 2007 after years serving as a motivational speaker at get-rich-quick seminars taught in hotel conference rooms. Broussard is listed as staff or coordinator for at least five Trump courses. Records show the former Army sergeant was convicted at court-martial in 1994 of sodomy and indecent acts with a child. He served five years in the military prison at Leavenworth, Kan. Those were trumped-up charges, Broussard told the AP. Timothy C. Gorsline, 57, who taught at least eight Trump University seminars in 2008, pleaded no contest a decade earlier to felony cocaine possession, according to an electronic database of Florida court records. Damian D. Pell, 35. who helped teach at least 23 Trump University seminars from 2008 to 2010, pleaded guilty in Florida to a felony charge of trafficking cocaine. After cooperating with law enforcement against other drug dealers, he was sentenced to three years in state prison and a $50,000 fine, according to records. Spencer Raffel, 52, who staffed a Trump University event in 2008, has a felony conviction in Florida for grand theft, court records show. He was sentenced tothree years of probation in 1989. The As claimed left-handed pitcher Giovanni Soto off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Soto was designated for assignment Saturday to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Kyle Schwarber, who was activated from the 60-day disabled list for the World Series after knee surgery in April. Soto was traded to the Cubs from Cleveland on April 11 and was 1-3 with a 5.14 ERA in 33 relief appearances for Triple-A Iowa. He made his big-league debut with the Indians in 2015 and appeared in six games totaling 31/3 innings. Similarly named catcher Geovany Soto played for the As in 2014. Fernandez investigation: A search warrant affidavit says the bodies of Miami pitcher Jose Fernandez, 24, and two of his friends had a strong odor of alcohol when they were recovered by divers following a boat crash off Miami Beach. The warrant released by the Miami-Dade state attorneys office also said investigators found evidence that the boat was speeding when it slammed into a jetty Sept. 25. Fernandez, 27-year-old Emilio Jesus Macias and 25-year-old Eduardo Rivero died. Three-man rotation: Cleveland manager Terry Franconas said he plans to use his top three starters on three days rest for the duration of the World Series. Corey Kluber, who dominated the Cubs in a 6-0 victory in Game 1, will start Game 4 on Saturday in Wrigley Field. Barring any setbacks, including travel days lost to rainouts, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin will make their second starts in Games 5 and 6, if necessary, with Kluber potentially available for Game 7. Back at work: San Diego general manager A.J. Preller says 10 teams have inquired about players since his 30-day suspension by MLB ended, a signal that his ability to deal with other teams wasnt damaged by the unprecedented punishment. Preller was suspended Sept. 15 for failing to disclose medical information when All-Star left-hander Drew Pomeranz was traded to the Red Sox in July. Federal authorities announced the arrest of 20 alleged fraudsters Thursday who they say were part of a transnational phone scam that bilked hundreds of millions of dollars from unwitting people, including hefty sums from several Bay Area victims. The individuals, including Oakland resident Jerry Norris, were among 61 people charged in a federal indictment unsealed Thursday, detailing the complex scheme involving call centers in India that worked with runners and payment processors in the United States. Thirty-two of the suspects named in the indictment are in India, U.S. Department of Justice officials said. This is a transnational problem, and demonstrates that modern criminals target Americans both from inside our borders and from abroad, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell said in a statement announcing the charges. Phone scams are nothing new in the United States, but criminals in recent years have developed a sophisticated strategy of targeting vulnerable victims, including senior citizens and immigrants, Department of Justice officials said. The criminal network busted Thursday had contacted at least 2 million people in recent years, 10,000 of whom fell for the scam and lost a combined $250 million, officials said. This network, though, likely only represents a small fraction of the swindlers still out there stalking potential victims. This indictment will serve to not only seek the conviction of those involved, but will send a message around the world that no one is safe from prosecution for participating in such pervasive transnational fraud schemes, Caldwell said. Many of the conspirators indicted Thursday worked out of a network of call centers in Ahmedabad, India, where operators phoned potential victims and impersonated officials with the Internal Revenue Service or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The callers would threaten the victims with arrest, fines or deportation if they balked at paying up on bogus taxes or penalties to the government. Victims who fall for the scam are told to send money through prepaid debit cards or to wire money through complex overseas transfers. Runners, managers and processors in the United States would facilitate laundering the extorted money back to India through various accounts. One of the hardest-hit victims was a Hayward resident identified in the indictment as Suresh M., who over a 20-day period paid $136,000 to the fraudsters, who claimed to be collecting penalties for tax violations. A San Francisco resident, identified only as Mamta S., paid the scammers $43,000 when they demanded money for false immigration and tax violations. Constantine F., another San Francisco resident, paid $1,588. Sarika C. of Santa Clara was fleeced out of $16,000 by people demanding money for immigration violations. In San Jose, Kimsea S. fell victim to the crooks, who threatened to arrest her and her husband. She paid up $6,500 in bogus tax violations. Gokul T., another San Jose resident, paid $10,154 to the connivers. The crooks threatened to deport Sunnyvale resident Priyankaben S., who eventually paid the con artists $7,600. The Bay Area folks were among scores of others from around the United States who fell prey to the criminal enterprise. Officials on Thursday urged residents to be aware of similar scams and stressed that the government does not make the types of calls demanding payment through wire transfers or prepaid cards. Do not let your guard down, said J. Russell George, the U.S. Treasury inspector general for tax administration. My advice is to just hang up. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky * Fiocruz tie-up follows partnership deal with U.S. Army * Drugmakers in race to defeat mosquito-borne virus (Adds executive quote, details on rival vaccine efforts) By Ben Hirschler Oct 27 (Reuters) - Sanofi has struck a collaboration deal with a leading Brazilian research institute to speed development of a Zika vaccine, consolidating the French drugmaker's position in the race to defeat the mosquito-borne virus. The deal with the Fiocruz public health centre follows a tie-up in July between Sanofi and a U.S. Army research institute, which gave the drugmaker access to one of the furthest advanced vaccines in development. Sanofi said on Thursday that all three research organisations would now work together to "increase the likelihood of successfully developing and licensing a safe and effective Zika vaccine as quickly as possible". The French company has taken pole position among major drugmakers in Zika vaccine research, reflecting its expertise in developing shots against other so-called flaviviruses, such as yellow fever, dengue and Japanese encephalitis. In February, the World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency because of Zika's apparent link to microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small heads and serious developmental problems. That has galvanized efforts to speed up vaccine development. If all goes well, some experts believe a vaccine could come to market in as little as two years. "It only makes sense for the pursuit of public health that we combine our expertise and resources on Zika with Fiocruz, which is ideally based in Brazil where the heart of the current Zika experience lies," said John Shiver, senior vice president for research at Sanofi's vaccines unit. Fiocruz scientists are expected to help in areas such as pre-clinical and clinical studies, as well as vaccine process development and other technical matters. Even if the current outbreaks in Latin America and the Caribbean burn out by the time a vaccine is ready for deployment, people living in those regions are expected to want protection against a return of Zika. Story continues Tens of millions of travellers from the United States and other wealthy nations could also be in line to get vaccines before visiting areas at risk. Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical announced last month it was also joining the effort to develop a Zika vaccine, after receiving funding from BARDA, a U.S. government agency that is also backing Sanofi's efforts. In addition, several smaller biotech companies are working in the area, including U.S.-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals , which has started human testing of a vaccine candidate in Puerto Rico. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Susan Fenton and Alexander Smith) Last week Twitter's most enthusiastic and likely buyer ---Salesforce -- punctured the hopes of many Twitter users, and tech bods, when they formally declined to buy the social media business, saying Twitter is not the right fit for them. To make matters worse, and of course to be expected, Twitter shares took a beating following the announcement and interestingly, Salesforce shares rose. Chatter on the topic has been nothing short of epic, with reports Twitter is on the market, and talking with Microsoft, Google, Disney and Salesforce. The impact played out as a profound positive boost to the company's stock as investors began dreaming about the cash to be made from a sale. Related: 4 Keys to Marketing on Twitter Despite all of these apparent discussions, and some public statements made by a handful of companies confirming their lack of interest in an acquisition, the question must be asked -- why doesn't anyone want to buy Twitter? The social network has over 300 million active users, has been what some would term as the number one platform for the 2016 U.S. election, and retains its gong as the go-to property for anyone who has to say anything online. Unfortunately there is a straight forward, extremely boring answer. Twitter simply doesn't make enough money from its near cult like users. Further to this, Twitter has shown a distinct lack of ability in understanding how to keep growing its network to build new revenue. If we take a look at a number of the most recent earnings reports, we see a clear pattern that both revenue and user growth have been lower than expected when the company first went public. Being unique simply is not enough, prospective buyers are very likely wondering how much investment it will take to turn that uniqueness into actual value and returns. We must also consider this notion: Is Twitter a great candidate for acquisition if it were to lose its independence? One of Twitter's biggest issues has been its ongoing struggle with harassment, abuse and just general bad behavior on its platform. There's two camps of thought on this issue: There are those who say Twitter needs to police content on its network more stringently and remove inappropriate posts. On the other hand, there are those who say any attempts at cleaning up the platform is outright censorship. For Twitter, moving too far in either direction means alienating a lot of users. Related: Can Twitter Censor Terrorists and Trolls Without Silencing Free Speech? The fact that Twitter's users even get to debate over the soul of the network underscores the platform's devotion to free expression, and makes one wonder about how that value would jell with another company. Another possible buyer was Disney, a company known for strict personal appearance expectations of its staff. With this in mind, it would have been interesting to see how they coped with a company that encourages debate as much as Twitter does. So, just who is a good fit for Twitter then? A name that has been thrown around more recently is the well-known, professional behemoth we all know as Salesforce. An extremely unlikely match. And whilst a better cultural fit, Google may not be a great match for Twitter users considering fears of how the search giant may leverage Twitter's data and in the process alienate users. I suspect that the two issues of image and weak financials present a difficult challenge for a potential sale. There is however good news out of all of this for Twitter, and its investors. As a result of this very public round of possible sales talks, the Twitter management team has shown shareholders desperate for an acquisition that it has seriously considered a sale. Keep in mind however, this process also piles on more pressure to chief executive Jack Dorsey -- whose 2015 return to the company he founded drew comparisons to Steve Jobs's return to Apple -- to take Twitter into its successful next stage. Jack has not yet shown investors there's a strong future ahead. Related: Is Twitter Dead? Not So Fast My Friends. The steep trajectory Facebook is experiencing doesn't help Twitter, by seemingly moving from strength to strength. A key point of pain must be that Twitter investors are likely always asking for more information about where the firm is heading, whereas Facebook's investors have been supplied a 10-year plan. While we can't compare the two side by side, this is an important note in Twitter's story. Considering Twitter has now teased the market and its investors with a possible sale, it may be able to focus more closely on its central problem: turning enthusiasm for live events and for its general product into consistent growth and profit. In essence, making money from its enormous and unique base. Either way, Twitter will have to act fast, and decisively if it wants to achieve the greatness its aiming for. Related: Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved A 53-year-old man was convicted Wednesday of multiple felony counts for masturbating and exposing himself on BART trains on at least three separate occasions, San Mateo County prosecutors said. A San Mateo County Superior Court jury deliberated for 90 minutes before finding Jerome Dion Dawkins guilty of felony stalking, false imprisonment, making threats, lewd acts on children and indecent exposure for the incidents in April and May of 2015, prosecutors said. Dawkins, a transient and registered sex offender, faces the possibility of life in prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 8. He was accused during the 10-day trial of blocking a 24-year-old woman in a seat on a BART train in Daly City on April 22, 2015, then staring at her while masturbating, according to the district attorney's office. On May 5, 2015, a female victim was on a train at the San Francisco International Airport BART station when Dawkins called for her to look at him as he masturbated, prosecutors said. The victim started to cry and Dawkins moved to sit next to her. She then got up and moved to another seat in the train car but Dawkins followed her, touched her leg and told her to stop crying and that he was going to make her pregnant, prosecutors said. The victim got off the train and reported the incident to police. A day later, Dawkins was on another BART train and exposed himself to a 24-year-old woman. Police soon arrived and arrested him after the victim identified him, prosecutors said. Prior to the verdict, defense attorney John May filed a motion for a mistrial after learning that a court staff worker had mistakenly included a document listing Dawkins' prior convictions with other court exhibits provided to the jurors, who had not been told of the defendant's prior record during the trial. However, Judge Barbara Mallach denied the motion after speaking with the jury. Ten of the 12 jurors said they did not review the document, while the two who said they saw it said they didn't understand it and didn't consider it during deliberations, prosecutors said. May said today that he plans to file a motion for a new trial, calling the accidental disclosure of the document to jurors "troubling," particularly in a case with a possible sentence of life in prison. tasr axon 23_large Taser, the maker of the ubiquitous electrical weapons and body cameras, is in the midst of an ugly lawsuit. The company is being sued over anticompetitive behavior and patent infringement in part of what has become one of the fiercest fights in American business over who will outfit the hopefully more transparent and less lethal future of American policing. This fight was intensified after the death in 2014 of 18-year-old Michael Brown at the hands of police in Ferguson, Missouri. After that, President Barack Obama proposed giving police departments across the country $75 million over three years to buy body cameras. In its suit against Taser, Digital Ally, a body-camera maker based in Kansas, says Taser not only copied its camera design to make its successful Axon line of body cameras, but has also paid off current and former law enforcement and government officials to win contracts and box Digital Ally out of the market. "Taser's own statements, press releases and website make clear that it used Digital Ally's pioneering patented technology for its Axon Signal product," says the complaint, which was filed in February. "For example, Taser recently admitted that its system 'built upon the old technology described in the Digital Ally patent ...' Taser is now using Digital Ally's patented technology to unfairly and improperly compete against Digital Ally in the marketplace." The cameras The technology Digital Ally is talking about is called the VuLink. It solved the problem of police officers having to manually turn on multiple recording devices while in the field, and created a "fully integrated event capturing ecosystem for officer's multiple recording devices," according to the complaint. As for the Axon line of cameras, there's no question its made a difference for Taser. It generated $13 million of the company's $104 million in revenue in the first six months of this year. The year before, it generated $10 million of the company's $86 million in revenue. Story continues taser deferred revenue The market has noticed Axon's impact. Last year, after the City of London Police Department ordered 178 Axon body cameras in the first quarter, Taser's stock jumped 8%. Taser uses Axon cameras to feed its other business video and audio evidence management by subsidizing cameras if clients agree to use its evidence suite as well. Taser said it believes the complaint is "meritless, that its Axon Signal technology does not infringe, and that the asserted patents are invalid." "The Company is vigorously defending the litigation," it said in an email to Business Insider. "On July 15, Taser filed counterclaims against Digital Ally alleging inequitable conduct (i.e., nondisclosure) in the patent office concerning the asserted patents. The Company has also filed a motion to dismiss the antitrust claims, which was fully briefed and under advisement with the Court since May." The camera users But that's only one aspect of this case. What's more chilling than patent infringement is Digital Ally's allegations that Taser has been buying the support of law enforcement and political officials across the country specifically in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Fort Worth, Texas; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans; San Francisco; San Diego; Spokane, Washington; Salt Lake City; and Wichita, Kansas. According to Digital Ally's complaint and multiple reports, one of the more common ways Taser does this is by hiring retired officers as consultants, paying them speaking fees and taking care of their travel bills. The Associated Press has been all over this. After reviewing Fort Worth Police Department emails released under Texas' open records law, it reported that after Fort Worth's police chief pushed through a contract before its quarterly earnings report, the chief quipped to Taser in an email "Someone should give me a raise." The same chief said that he could convince the police department in San Antonio, Texas, to buy products from Taser as well, "But my fee is not cheap! LOL," he wrote in emails obtained by the AP. cops wear digital ally body cameras In Salt Lake City, the police department bypassed the city council to purchase 295 body cameras and part of Taser's evidence storing suite, Evidence.com, according to the AP. The city's police chief, Chris Burbank, is paid to travel to speak on Taser's behalf at company-sponsored conferences and events. He has also recorded an Evidence.com promotional video. Albuquerque's city council demanded an investigation after its police chief, Ray Schultz, became a Taser consultant after stepping down, according to the AP. He had supported a $1.9 million contract for Taser cameras. For its part, Digital Ally says that it and other competitors were promised a chance to compete for the Wichita police department contract in 2014, but that it never happened. The department never tested Digital Ally's cameras, or anyone else's, according to the lawsuit, and Taser was given the contract. "By its act and conduct, Taser has contracted, combined or conspired with procurement officials or their agents in Wichita, Kansas, to sell its products to the City of Wichita, Kansas, without opportunities for competing bids, without competitive testing, and with the intended effect and for the purpose of excluding competition, whether by Digital or by other suppliers of body cameras," the complaint says. It's clear the judge in this case believes there's more to be said about all that. Despite Taser's efforts to get this suit dismissed, earlier this month Digital Ally was granted permission to proceed with discovery in the case. So we'll know more about this soon enough. NOW WATCH: Heres what happens when interest rates go negative More From Business Insider Amy Osborne/Special To The Chronicle While more than 70 percent of San Franciscos voters are expected to vote for president on Nov. 8 (Spoiler: Its not looking good for Donald Trump in the city), that enthusiasm ebbs when it comes to the mayors race, a new study by Portland State University finds. Less than a third of San Franciscos eligible voters, or 32.1 percent, cast ballots in 2015 and they skewed way older than the city as a whole. While about 62 percent of registered voters over the age of 65 voted for mayor, that dropped to 28 percent for those ages 18 to 34. The media age of San Franciscos voters is 52, the study found, compared to 43 for all voting age residents. Portsmouth, the famed home of Britains Royal Navy, is pumping up its tourism as it watches Britains military shrink. The city is a major port on Englands south coast, and busy with ferries heading for Frances Brittany and the many travelers who pass through have plenty of excuses to stop here. Portsmouth has done a fantastic job putting its amazing maritime history on display, and comes with enough candy-floss-on-the-beach fun to save you a visit to more touristy seaside towns like Brighton or Blackpool. In London, I passed a billboard advertising an exotic harbor skyline with the question: Dreaming of Dubai? Then the billboards tagline breaks it to me: Its a photo of Portsmouth, 90 minutes away by train. Comparing Dubai and Portsmouth is a stretch, but Portsmouths iconic Spinnaker Tower is a sail-shaped monolith reminiscent of a Dubai skyscraper. It stands like an exclamation mark above a once run-down military port that is morphing into a pleasant people zone as the city undergoes an impressive gentrification. Like Seattles vaguely futuristic Space Needle, the 560-foot-tall Spinnaker Tower has become an icon of its city. In 2015, the Dubai-based Emirates airline paid 3.5 million pounds to change the Spinnakers name to the Emirates Spinnaker Tower but I just cant get comfortable calling it that. Visitors can ride up the tower for a panoramic view, or court acrophobia with a stroll across a glass floor. Portsmouth works well as a day trip from London. Almost all of its visit-worthy sights line up along a two-mile stretch of waterfront, from the Historic Dockyard in the north to the Southsea neighborhood, with the citys D-Day Museum, in the south. The top sights in the walkable core can be seen in a few hours. But with its bustling shopping complex and Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays, the D-Day Museum, and seafaring atmosphere, you can easily fill a whole day. The highlight of Portsmouth is its Historic Dockyard, home to Britains great warships, dubbed the Wooden Walls of England. Here, visitors can marvel at both the modern-day warships anchored on the docks and visit several historical warships, as well as an entertaining collection of model ships, paintings, uniforms, and other artifacts at theNational Museum of the Royal Navy. Britannias HMS Warrior was the first iron-hulled warship a huge technological advance in the late 1800s. The Warriors very existence was sufficient to keep the peace, so it never saw combat and is still in ship shape today. Perhaps the most consequential battle in British naval history was the Battle of Trafalgar, where Admiral Nelson and the British fleet defeated Napoleons fleet, and thereby saved England from so many uninvited French guests back in 1805. Nelsons flagship, the majestic HMS Victory, is the main attraction here, and for Brits, a visit here is a patriotic pilgrimage. Henry VIIIs much older warship, the Mary Rose, is less well-preserved but just as interesting. In 1545, it capsized just two miles offshore on its way to engage a French enemy fleet. Of the 400 sailors onboard, only about 30 survived. The wreckage with all sorts of Tudor-era items was raised from the mud in 1982, and today it is beautifully displayed in the newly renovated Mary Rose Museum. As a major military target, Portsmouth was flattened by WWII bombs (ironically, the Historic Dockyard was relatively unscathed). Postwar reconstruction was hasty and poorly planned, and the city became infamous for its bad architecture. But thats changed. Besides the waterfront shopping complex and Spinnaker Tower, efforts to rejuvenate have included refurbishing the old historic district. From the Old Portsmouth promenade, you can watch a procession of 21st-century ferries as they navigate into and out of port. Its an enjoyable place to stroll around and imagine how different this district was in centuries past, when it was filled with salty fishermen and sailors who told tall tales and sang sea shanties in the once rough-and-tumble and now trendy pubs. While exploring Old Portsmouth, look for the stylized chain-link pattern in the sidewalk, marking the Millennium Promenade. The chain symbol recalls the great steel chain that once spanned the mouth of the harbor and was raised to block invading warships. For a pleasant stroll, I like to follow the portion of the trail south of Old Portsmouth along the oceanfront. Interpretive panels along the way give insight into Portsmouths fascinating evolution, from its stone towers and fortifications to Clarence Pier, a Coney Island-type beach-party zone. While many areas of Portsmouth are becoming gentrified, deep down its still a hardworking port town with plenty of touristic value. The blustery beaches may not be as warm and sandy as Dubais, but the citys fascinating military presence and modern attractions make Portsmouth a fun and educational stop on a trip to southern England. Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com 1 Refugee deaths: The U.N. refugee agency said Wednesday that at least 3,800 refugees have died in the Mediterranean Sea this year in an attempt to reach Europe, making 2016 the deadliest year on record. The Geneva agency had warned this years death toll was likely to exceed the 3,771 deaths reported in 2015. Scores of refugees have been drowning each week as fragile and overcrowded boats they travel on capsize or sink, the U.N. agency said. It blamed bad weather, flimsy boats and the fact that refugees fleeing war and poverty are increasingly taking the hazardous central Mediterranean route from Libya to Italy in an attempt to reach Europe. 2 NATO uproar: Russia on Wednesday withdrew a request to refuel a fleet of Russian warships in Spain, as Britain and NATO allies piled pressure on Madrid over concerns that the ships could be used to ramp up air attacks in Syria. The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and a task group of support vessels have steamed through the North Sea and English Channel in recent days heading to the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the ships had been due to take on supplies and fuel in Spains North African enclave of Cueta. BEIRUT Air strikes in Syria killed up to 22 people, mostly children, on Wednesday when warplanes struck a residential area housing a school complex in the northern rebel-held province of Idlib, activists and rescue workers said. A team of first responders, the Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib, said 22 people were killed and at least 50 wounded in the raids on the village of Hass. Most of those killed were children, the group said in a posting on its Facebook page. Another activist group, Britains Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, gave the same death toll and said 14 children and a woman were among those killed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Associated Press Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Pool/Getty Images Show More Show Less 5 of 5 The activist-operated Idlib News network, which gave a lower toll of 17 people killed, said the strikes hit as the children were gathered outside the school complex. It said the death toll could rise as some of the wounded were reported to be in critical condition, the network added. Idlib is the main Syrian opposition stronghold, though radical groups also have a large presence there. It has regularly been hit by Syrian and Russian warplanes as well as the U.S.-led coalition targeting Islamic State militants. Footage posted by activists online shows a huge plume of smoke rising from the area of the strikes and rescuers rushing casualties away along a dusty road lined with destroyed buildings. A womans body is seen being carried on a stretcher while other bodies, covered in cloth and one with only a hat, lie under shrubs and other casualties are ferried away in pick-up trucks. An activist at the scene, Muaz al-Shami, said as many as 10 air strikes were believed to have hit the residential area. Earlier in the day, the northern Aleppo province saw a new escalation as a helicopter believed to belong to Syrian government forces dropped barrel bombs in a deadly attack on Turkey-backed opposition forces in the border area, Turkish officials said. A statement attributed to the field commander of Syrias pro-government troops said any Turkish advances in northern Syria under the pretext of fighting Islamic State militants would be dealt with forcefully and appropriately. The barrel bombing was said to have occurred in the village of Tal Madiq, in a part of northern Aleppo where rival groups have been operating, mostly to rout Islamic State militants. If confirmed, it would be the first attack by Syrian government forces on the Turkish-backed fighters. Turkeys state-run news agency didnt say when the attack occurred and said at least two Syrian opposition fighters were killed and five others wounded. Syrias military threatened last week to shoot down any Turkish warplane that enters Syrian air space, after Turkish jets raided villages in northern Syria in an offensive against Kurdish fighters. BEIRUT U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Thursday for an immediate investigation of an attack on a school in Syrias Idlib province that the U.N.s childrens agency is calling one of the deadliest of its kind in the countrys six-year war. UNICEF raised its toll for Wednesdays attack to 28 dead, among them 22 children and six teachers. Ban said in a statement that the attack, carried out against rebel-held territory, may amount to a war crime if found to be deliberate. If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice. They must be proved wrong, he said. Witnesses said overhead jets targeted the school in the town of Hass as many as 10 times around midday Wednesday. Opposition activists blamed the strikes on Russian and government planes. Idlib is the main Syrian opposition stronghold, though radical militant groups also have a large presence there. It has regularly been hit by Syrian and Russian warplanes as well as the U.S.-led coalition targeting Islamic State militants. The Russian military denied responsibility, calling the accusations a sham. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said a Russian drone flew over the school building on Thursday and found its roof intact and no bomb craters around it. Russian warplanes didnt fly over the area the previous day, Konashenkov said. A team of first responders, the Syrian Civil Defense, said on Thursday that the air strikes killed at least 35 people, mostly children. Britains Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 15 students were killed, as well as four teachers and three other women. It was not immediately possible to reconcile the separate figures, but divergent death tolls are not uncommon in a conflict-torn Syria that has been largely inaccessible to international media for over two years. UNICEF and the Syrian Civil Defense said the death toll is likely to rise as rescue efforts continue. Juliette Touma, regional UNICEF chief of communication, said Wednesdays attack was the deadliest attack on a school in 2016, bringing the overall death toll of children killed in such attacks in 2016 to 54. According to Touma, 591 children were killed in 2015 in Syria. Students Underperform in Science Proficiency New Mexico fourth- and eighth-graders continue to when it comes to science proficiency exams, according to the latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Campaign News Stories Ann Holton, the wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine, is in Albuquerque and at a early voting center in Santa Fe on Friday. Joey Peters reports that pro-choice and anti-abortion groups are to New Mexico campaign accounts. Meanwhile, Justin Horwath reports that a Catholic priest at St. Anne parish in Santa Fe might have for a tax-exempt organization by tacitly urging his flock to vote against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. By now, youve probably are tired of seeing all this years candidates yard signs. Well, an Albuquerque jeweler is trying to with a few signs of his own. Check them out on KOAT. ACLU Opposes New Prison Contract in Cibola County While the US Bureau of Prisons cancelled its contract with a private facility in Cibola County, now it appears Immigration and Customs Enforcement will detain immigrants there. The American Civil Liberties Union is . Arpaio Charged with Contempt Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is often criticized for his hardline approach to immigration enforcement, is for failing to end immigration patrols in the state despite a judges orders. Attorney Supports More Criminal Justice Reforms Criminal defense attorney Johnny Osborn takes if voters approve a constitutional amendment to reform the states bail system, and suggests even more criminal justice reforms are needed, in a thoughtful essay at NMPolitico.com. Cubs Pick Up Important Road Win After being shut out in the first game of the World Series, the Chicago and are on the way to picking up a big win, winning 5-1 last night in Cleveland. Now theyll have home field advantage when the series with the Indians continues at Wrigley Field on Friday. Santa Fe Reporter Simon Lawrence Wood Turnbull, who fled the country facing mortgage fraud charges, has pleaded guilty to 16 charges under the Crimes Act at Auckland District Court. Turnbull was involved in a scheme whereby false loan applications were submitted to a funds management company to enable the purchase of 16 properties in and around New Zealand's largest city between September 2006 and August 2007, the Serious Fraud Office said in a statement. Property developer Malcolm Mayer was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the fraud, valued at $47 million, in February 2014. An appeal by Mayer failed in May. Mortgage fraud is taken seriously by the SFO. In a housing market which has enough challenges for the honest buyer, further costs to borrowing because of other peoples dishonesty is not acceptable. The SFO welcomes the guilty plea today, SFO director Julie Read said. Charges were first laid against Turnbull in November 2014 but he failed to appear in court. In the course of Mayer's two trials, prosecutors received tip-offs that Turnbull was in Singapore, London and Texas. Turnbull was finally arrested when he returned to New Zealand in June this year. He's to reappear for sentencing on Nov. 18. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: AIA - Auckland Airport announces executive team change South Port NZ Ltd - 2022 Annual Meeting ENS - Rights Issue Offer Document NZK - Resignation of NZKS Chief Executive SML - Executive Leadership Team appointment SCL - Meateor and Fayman Settlement & Market Update November 1st Morning Report NZME Investor Day 2022 Virtual Event SPG - Changes to Executive Team HGH - Details for the Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting Some 400,000 internet users in New Zealand are on a slower form of internet connection than is available, with almost no cost involved in changing to the faster version, says Patrick Strange, the chairman of telecommunications infrastructure provider, Chorus. In the latest poke from Chorus at telecommunications retailers, Strange said there some 179,000 customers on the fast copper line-based VDSL broadband service versus around 400,000 subscribers to the slower ADSL service, for which Chorus charges retailers the same price as VDSL. Asked why retailers, such as Spark and Vodafone, weren't offering VDSL actively to the ADSL customer base, Strange said: "Good question." VDSL provides online speeds of between 50-and-60 megabits per second, compared with speeds of up to 24MBs on ADSL, with most users experiencing much slower speeds. Fibre connections, which are becoming increasingly available nationwide, offer 100MBs as a standard, with demand for 1 gigabIt per second not far off, Strange said. Strange's comments follow guarded criticism by Chorus chief executive Mark Ratcliffe last week of Spark's promotion of wireless broadband rather than fixed line services, as the retailer seeks to carve out defensible market positions in the fast-developing telecommunications market. "Mobile has its place," Strange told BusinessDesk. "But they are always going to be constrained by capex (capital expenditure) and how much data they can put through their cellsites", with speeds falling off for home users if several different devices were drawing on large amounts of data at once, such as watching several TV programmes. "My view is that fixed line will always win out" and that while data caps were almost a thing of the past for fixed line connections, they would continue to be a feature of mobile broadband packages. "The retail market is still a little immature in New Zealand," Strange said, with exponential growth in data usage likely to continue for the foreseeable future, especially as consumers start experiencing the speeds available from fibre-optic cable connections that are now becoming widespread because of the government's accelerated roll-out programme for ultra-fast broadband. "The one thing Chorus can do is to take more of a role to champion broadband," said Strange, an electricity industry veteran who has chaired the regulated, NZX-listed provider of the country's telecommunications backbone for almost a year. "You will hear a lot more from us about what's available to you." Strange said that while a long period of regulatory uncertainty was now behind the sector, it was vital that the current review of the post-2020 telecommunications environment did not create a new source of uncertainty because New Zealand would be punished for it by international investors. "They hate uncertainty and arbitrariness," said Strange, referring to the capital flight from Chorus shares that occurred during the Commerce Commission's see-sawing decision-making process over several years about where to draw the line between regulated prices for services provided by the existing, ageing copper-line network and the new fibre network. "A second strike will turn them right off." Strange said the hunt for a chief executive to replace Ratcliffe, who has announced he will leave by mid-2017, was advancing, with New Zealand rating as an increasingly attractive location for Australian, international and expatriate New Zealanders. "I'm sure we'll make an announcement in the New Year." BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: AIA - Auckland Airport announces executive team change South Port NZ Ltd - 2022 Annual Meeting ENS - Rights Issue Offer Document NZK - Resignation of NZKS Chief Executive SML - Executive Leadership Team appointment SCL - Meateor and Fayman Settlement & Market Update November 1st Morning Report NZME Investor Day 2022 Virtual Event SPG - Changes to Executive Team HGH - Details for the Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting New Zealand shares bounced back from yesterday's 1.5 percent drop, led by Port of Tauranga and Scales Corporation while Comvita continued to fall. The S&P/NZX50 Index rose 45.75 points, or 0.7 percent, to 6,941.95. Within the index, 29 stocks rose, 12 were unchanged and nine fell. Turnover was $124.8 million. "There's a little bit of a bounce - the market was obviously very weak yesterday, but it's made back about a third of that today, so maybe people are doing a bit of bargain hunting," said James Smalley, director at Hamilton Hindin Greene. "It's really broad-based but volumes aren't particularly massive. When foreign investors decide to reduce their weighting at the same time as domestic ones, you can get get relatively large movements on low volumes." Port of Tauranga led the index, up 2.7 percent to $3.75. Scales Corporation rose 2.4 percent to $2.09, while Kathmandu Holdings gained 2 percent to $2.01 and Meridian Energy was up 2 percent to $2.60. Comvita dropped 1 percent to $9.35. The shares slumped 11.4 percent yesterday after the manuka honey and health products maker warned a first-half loss was on the cards, which chief executive Scott Coulter described as a blip. "Maybe a little bit of the gloss is coming off the wellness products selling into China - it has been a very very good place to be invested in but there's a bit of profit taking on that end of the market," Smalley said. Chorus was the worst performer on the index, down 1.3 percent to $3.70, while Orion Health Group declined 0.9 percent to $3.20. Fonterra Shareholders Fund gained 0.2 percent to $5.91. The cooperative's Australian business has raised its average farmgate milk price to A$5.10 per kilogram of milk solids and increased its forecast closing price due to strengthening global dairy prices. Outside the benchmark index, Wellington Drive Technologies gained 3.5 percent to 15 cents. The company, which makes energy-efficient motors for commercial refrigerators, lifted third-quarter revenue 25 percent to $6.3 million and is still targeting positive earnings for the year. Freightways advanced 0.2 percent to $6.37. The courier and information management company, seen as a bellwether for the New Zealand economy, has reported an upbeat start to the 2017 financial year. In a first quarter update at the companys annual meeting in Auckland today, Freightways reported a 5.6 percent rise in operating revenue to $133 million for the three months ended Sept. 30, while net profit rose 9.9 percent to $14.8 million. New Zealand Oil & Gas was unchanged at 52 cents. The Wellington-based explorer and producer is likely to make an announcement soon over its senior leadership, chairman Rodger Finlay told shareholders at today's annual meeting in the capital. In other developments, the organiser of a proposed class action against the directors of failed intelligence software company Wynyard said there has been a rash of shareholders sign up this week since the board appointed voluntary administrators on Tuesday. The Auckland-based company had burned through cash and struggled to deliver on revenue guidance. Its shares had plunged to 21.5 cents when trading was halted earlier this month. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: AIA - Auckland Airport announces executive team change South Port NZ Ltd - 2022 Annual Meeting ENS - Rights Issue Offer Document NZK - Resignation of NZKS Chief Executive SML - Executive Leadership Team appointment SCL - Meateor and Fayman Settlement & Market Update November 1st Morning Report NZME Investor Day 2022 Virtual Event SPG - Changes to Executive Team HGH - Details for the Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting The organiser of a proposed class action against the directors of failed intelligence software company Wynyard said there has been a rash of shareholders sign up this week since the board appointed voluntary administrators. Logic Funds manager Greg Marshall said more than 1,000 Wynyard shareholders have put their names forward to join the proposed class action, including 200 yesterday alone. KordaMenthas Neale Jackson and Grant Graham have been appointed administrators to explore options to retain value in the business after the board gave up on drawing a $10 million loan from major shareholder Skipton Building Society or trying to raise new capital. The Auckland-based company had burned through cash and struggled to deliver on revenue guidance, and its shares had plunged to 21.5 cents when trading in them was halted this month. Marshall, who successfully waged a campaign that led to a $60 million settlement for Credit Sails investors, said the appointment of administrators is helpful to the planned action which will still go ahead against the companys current and former directors. If anything, the move buttresses our claims that this company has misled investors and potentially employees, he said. Wynyard, which develops software used by governments and companies to fight crime and corruption, listed on the NZX in July 2013 selling shares in an initial public offering at $1.15 each. The potential claim by investors has been extended to cover the period from the IPO to today instead of the originally proposed period of Aug. 1, 2015, to Feb. 16, 2016. The claim will centre on Wynyard having misled investors over statements relating to the $26 million reported revenue for 2015 falling well short of its guidance of $40 million-to-$45 million and director comments on the status of the deeply-discounted $30 million capital raising in March at $2 per share. Zane Kennedy of Minter Ellison Rudd Watts was originally appointed as a legal adviser but has had to stand down due to a conflict within the firm. Marshall, a Wanaka-based funds manager, said he was talking to several other legal advisers prepared to take on the case and hoped to appoint one in the near future. International litigation funder Vannin Capital is said to be lined up to provide funding for the action though the percentage fee charged for a successful outcome will rest on how complex the extended case now turns out to be, Marshall said. Due to the extended period the class action will cover, different groups of shareholders have suffered varying losses. Marshall said the current discussions hes having with aggressive legal minds in Australia is how to run parallel cases for each shareholder group under one umbrella class action. Shareholders will not be asked to pay anything towards the proposed action. Marshall said he hopes to have a more solid legal plan together by the end of this year and for the legal action to start rolling out next March. It will take time. Credit Sails took three-and-a-half years and this one will take two-to-three years is my guess, he said. We want to step out with the most impressive claim and Rolls Royce advisers so we can force a settlement rather than have to slug it out. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: AIA - Auckland Airport announces executive team change South Port NZ Ltd - 2022 Annual Meeting ENS - Rights Issue Offer Document NZK - Resignation of NZKS Chief Executive SML - Executive Leadership Team appointment SCL - Meateor and Fayman Settlement & Market Update November 1st Morning Report NZME Investor Day 2022 Virtual Event SPG - Changes to Executive Team HGH - Details for the Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting (Adds details from SEC meeting) By Ross Kerber BOSTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators on Wednesday voted two to one to propose new rules that would allow investors to pick directors from a single ballot, the latest move to open up the governance process of large corporations. If eventually approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the new rules would require shareholders to receive so-called "universal" proxy cards listing both management and dissident nominees to a company's board. The change would make it easier for shareholders to split their votes between candidates put forward by the two sides, an idea pushed by large investors. The idea has proven controversial, however, with business groups worried it would empower disruptive activists. Speaking at an agency meeting in Washington, which was webcast, SEC chair Mary Jo White on Wednesday said the proposals would "strike the appropriate balance" between the rights of corporations and activists while improving the process overall. Some details would still have to be worked out, such as ballot formats. The dissenting vote was cast by Republican SEC commissioner Michael Piwowar, who said the changes would increase the likelihood of proxy fights. "The ultimate losers in these fights will be the public shareholders of these companies," he said. The SEC will now seek public comments on the proposals, for 60 days. Just how much influence to give shareholders has been a hot topic since the financial crisis. The SEC has already made it easier for groups of small shareholders to run their own candidate for corporate boards, known as "proxy access." Investors who want to split their votes between different slates currently must attend company meetings in person, a time-consuming process. Ken Bertsch, executive director of the Council of Institutional Investors, which backed the change and whose members include large pension funds and endowments, said the rules outlined on Wednesday amount to "a strong proposal that would create a much stronger practice" in contested elections. Story continues The proposed new rules also would require proxy cards to include options for investors to vote "against" or "abstain" on certain directors. Those options could clarify shareholders' voting rights, Bertsch said in a telephone interview. Tom Quaadman, a leader of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a business lobbying group opposed to the universal proxies, said in an e-mailed statement the changes would "turn director elections into annual political-style campaigns" and give companies a reason to avoid public financial markets, hurting their competitiveness. (Reporting by Ross Kerber in Boston; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Andrea Ricci) Meridian chief executive Mark Binns says the South Island electricity generator and retailer wants to see the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter stay, but not at any cost. At todays annual general meeting in Christchurch, Binns told shareholders that he had recently returned from seeing investors in the UK and US where the smelter is always the first issue for discussion. That was not surprising, given the smelter uses 12 percent of New Zealands electricity and its future has implications for the whole sector, he said. From Jan. 1 next year, Meridian gets a price increase under the refreshed contract it negotiated last year with the smelters owners, New Zealand Aluminium Smelters which is majority-owned by Rio Tinto. The deal was a blend of the old price for 400 megawatts of supply and 172MW at a higher price. The contract still runs to 2030 but the owners have an annual option to close or partially close the facility with Jan. 1 being the first date it can make that decision. They also gained a right to cut the smelter's electricity demand to 400MW from April 30 with one years notice. Binns said investors views on the smelter vary. Some investors are concerned, though these tend to be those who have not invested in the sector but probably would if the smelter left and the uncertainty was removed, he said. Others think the smelter economics, although still difficult, dont justify closure and its associated costs. His own views havent changed. I believe the smelter will stay for the foreseeable future and hope that they do so. However, the owners have to form their own views based on the reality of the world aluminium market and their view of the future, he said. The only thing we can manage is the energy price, which even with the 1 January increase, will remain the cheapest electricity price to any New Zealand customer. If the smelter closed, the excess power in the lower South Island would flow north and the supply and demand side of the markets would need to adjust to the new normal, he said. On Meridians modelling, over a medium term horizon of five years, the company could be in an even stronger strategic position than it is today, he said, with the caveat that modelled outcomes are always dependent on assumptions and there will always be uncertainty. Meridian was last year unable to convince any of its rival electricity suppliers to take up the slack on the Tiwai Point contract and remains the sole electricity supplier, although it achieved financial hedging contracts with other power companies. Board chairman Chris Moller also praised the Electricity Authoritys proposals for transmission pricing which he called a fairer and more durable option. The proposals, which the authority is now undertaking another round of submissions on, is users pay, a concept introduced to New Zealand many decades ago, Moller said. Despite some misinformation in the public domain, the fact remains that households in most areas of New Zealand will see a decrease in their bills, he said. However, the proposals have drawn widespread criticism and sparked a campaign led by major electricity users in the Upper North Island to overturn them. They would raise the price of electricity for Auckland, Northland and the South Islands west coast by changing the way the national grid is paid for. The main beneficiaries of the long-debated reforms would be Meridian and other South Island electricity generators and the Bluff aluminium smelter. The EA has delayed a final decision on the pricing methodology until mid-April. Moller said he hopes at their next annual meeting, they can outline a timeframe for implementing a resolution of the long-standing issue. Changes in the supply-demand dynamics in the market with the retirement of around 800 megawatts of thermal generation capacity have spurred Meridian to revise its view on when new renewable generation will be required, with planning brought forward to potentially as soon as 2019. Its our intention to be ready with the lowest cost renewable option when the market requires it, Moller said. Meridians directors also sought a near 12 percent increase in their fee pool to $1.1 million from $986,000 over two years. The shares slipped 0.4 percent to $2.59, having gained 8.8 percent so far this year. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: AIA - Auckland Airport announces executive team change South Port NZ Ltd - 2022 Annual Meeting ENS - Rights Issue Offer Document NZK - Resignation of NZKS Chief Executive SML - Executive Leadership Team appointment SCL - Meateor and Fayman Settlement & Market Update November 1st Morning Report NZME Investor Day 2022 Virtual Event SPG - Changes to Executive Team HGH - Details for the Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser U.S. government debt prices were lower on Thursday as investors digested the release of several pieces of data and a bond auction. Prior to the auction, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note (U.S.:US10Y), which moves inversely to its price, was higher at 1.84 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond (U.S.:US30Y) was also higher, near 2.5973 percent. The benchmark yield also hit 1.87 percent, its highest intraday level since May 31. Earlier, the yield on the two-year Treasury note briefly hit 0.9 percent in midday trading. It last traded near 0.8759 percent. The Treasury Department auctioned $28 billion of seven-year notes at a high yield of 1.653 percent, its highest level since January. The bid-to-cover ratio, an indicator of demand, was 2.49, in-line with its recent average. Indirect bidders, which include major central banks, were awarded 61.5 percent, slightly above a recent average of 61 percent. Direct bidders, which include domestic money managers, bought 13.2 percent, also above a recent average of 13 percent. On the data front, initial jobless claims fell 3,000 to 258,000, while durable goods for September unexpectedly fell. Pending home sales rose 1.5 percent in September, above expectations for an increase of 1.2 percent, according to economists polled by Reuters. The Treasury Department is also set to auction $28 billion in seven-year notes later on Thursday. U.S. Treasury yields were tracking other sovereign yields across the globe, including UK Gilts and German Bunds. The yield on the UK 10-year Gilt (United Kingdom: UK10Y-GB) was higher near 1.15 percent, while the 10-year German Bund (Germany:DE10Y-DE) yield sat near 0.17 percent. Yields received a boost from stronger-than-expected GDP data from the UK and from comments made by Haruhiko Kuroda, governor of the Bank of Japan . He said the BOJ may not increase its quantitative easing program. Oil prices drew support from indicators that OPEC's Gulf members are willing to cut their output by 4 percent as well as a drop in U.S. crude inventories. U.S. crude futures settled up 1.1 percent at $49.72, snapping a three-day losing streak. Story continues CNBC's Gina Francolla and Christopher Hayes, and Reuters contributed to this report. More From CNBC The biggest IPO of the year prices tonight, but how much are investors are willing to pay up for access to the elusive Chinese consumer? Chinese delivery service ZTO Express (ZTO) prices Wednesday for trading Thursday at the NYSE, seeking to raise 72.1 million shares at $16.50 to $18.50 or roughly $1.3 billion. It's not just the biggest IPO of the year, it' s the biggest IPO by a Chinese company in the U.S. since Alibaba in 2014. "Our mission is to bring happiness to more people through our services." ZTO Express You know you're dealing with a slightly different mindset than Western companies when Chinese delivery service ZTO Express says right at the top of its F-1 registration statement that their mission is to "bring happiness to more people." Bring happiness. Wouldn't that be great if that was a line item on a corporate income statement? Somewhere after "interest expense" but before "earnings before income taxes"? They go on to state several other goals,including "to provide timely and reliable express delivery services to consumers" and concluding by saying what they want is to "ultimately help ordinary people accomplish their goals." That would be another great line item. Maybe right after "discontinued operations", but before "net earnings." Interest is strong, and with good reason: China is the world's largest market for delivery services, with total parcel volume of 20.7 billion in 2015, approximately 1.5 times the total parcel volume of the United States; Much of the business is derived from e-commerce, which is still under-penetrated in China. Gross merchandise volume (GMV) has reached $609 billion in 2015 and is expected to increase to $1.465 trillion in 2020; ZTO is the second biggest delivery provider with 14 percent of the market; The company is profitable, with strong operating cash flow, a projected $1.5 billion in sales by the end of 2016, according to Renaissance Capital; Several well regarded investors are backing them, including Sequoia Capital and Warburg Pincus. Story continues Still, there's plenty of reasons to be cautious before bidding the stock up on its first day of trading: 75 percent of their volume comes from Alibaba. "We have experienced, and may continue to experience, significant reliance on the Alibaba ecosystem," the company states. "Although we plan to expand and diversify our customer base, we still expect to be reliant on the Alibaba ecosystem for the foreseeable future." The company also notes that Alibaba has invested in competitors and as a result "may encourage merchants on its platforms to choose their investees' services over ours." Even worse, "Alibaba may also build in-house delivery network to serve its e-commerce platforms in the future." Competition is fierce. They have had to cut prices, and "may face downward pricing pressure again." They also acknowledge it may be difficult to control costs. While growth metrics have been strong recently, that may not last. Their growth, for the moment, is highly dependent on the growth of the e-commerce industry in China, and "e-commerce spending tends to decline during recessionary periods." While they are seeking to diversify their service offerings and expand their customer base, they make it clear these initiatives may or may not succeed. Regardless, interest in the stock is high. There's talk it may price above its range. Why? The company represents the intersection of two powerful trends. "There are very few stocks that allow access to the Chinese consumer, and this is one of them," Cindi Profaca at IPOfinancial.com told me. "And industry trends in e-commerce are all pointing upward, at least for the moment." There are the two magic phrases: Chinese consumer and e-commerce. The two are a strong combination. More From CNBC Internet shutdowns cost India $968 million ( 6,485 crore) in 2015-16, the largest loss among 19 countries surveyed and the result of 22 shutdowns, the same as war-torn Iraq, according to a report by Brookings Institution indicating the negative effect of these shutdowns on the economy. Internet services in India are shut down to prevent unrest; in Kashmir, mobile internet services have been shut as the state has been witnessing unrest for more than three months. This has rendered its information technology sector "dysfunctional" resulting in job-cuts and shifting of operations by several firms to outside the state. The Brookings study analysed 81 short-term shutdowns across 19 countries between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, and estimated that these shutdowns cost the global economy at least $2.4 billion ( 16,080 crore). The maximum loss was incurred by India ($968 million), followed by Saudi Arabia ($465 million) and Morocco ($320 million). Globally, the shutdowns across 19 countries lasted 753 days, with Syria (in areas controlled by the Islamic State) having the maximum number of shutdown days at 348, followed by Morocco (182) and India (70). India equals Iraq in number of disruptions There were a total of 81 disruptions across 19 countries during the surveyed period. The maximum number of disruptions was in India at 22, equivalent to Iraq, followed by eight in Syria and six in Pakistan. The report noted that in 2016, India joined the ranks of countries such as Uganda, Algeria and Iraq that have disrupted internet services in response to concerns over students cheating in exams. The Gujarat government had banned mobile internet for four hours to prevent misuse of cell phones during revenue talatis (accountants) recruitment exam in March 2016, The Times of India reported. " "Considering the sensitive nature of the exam for recruitment of talatis, internet service providers have been asked to shut down all internet-based social media services from 9 am to 1 pm to prevent the misuse of mobiles during the exam," the report said, quoting the government notification. National internet services witnessed maximum shutdowns The Brookings report classified internet shutdowns into six categories of disruptions: National internet, sub-national internet, national mobile internet, sub-national mobile internet, national app/service, and sub-national app/service (including VoIP). The most frequent shutdowns were in national internet (36), followed by sub-national mobile internet (22) and national app/service (14). Brookins' figures are underestimates The estimates by Brookings, however, may be an under-estimate; in September 2015, an internet shutdown for six days caused a loss of more than 7,000 crore for banks in Gujarat alone, according to K.V. Barot, general secretary, Maha Gujarat Bank Employees Association (MGBEA), who was quoted in a September 2015 report by Times of India. As many as 11 Indian states shut down the internet 37 times since 2015, with 22 of those instances in the first nine months of 2016, according to data compiled by Centre for Communication Governance, National Law University, Delhi, which indicates that the Brookings report may not have covered all shutdowns. The Brookings report clarified that the actual losses may be much more as its analysis only looked at the economic impact on GDP. It did not include estimates for lost tax revenues associated with blocked digital access, impact on worker productivity, barriers to business expansion connected with these shutdowns, or the loss of investor, consumer, and business confidence resulting from such disruptions. Internet shutdowns have less impact in developing countries The documented shutdowns were in developing countries. The report observes that the economic damage in a developed economy would be more than developing countries. "For instance, the United States currently has a GDP of $18.438 trillion ( 1,235 lakh crore), 6 pct of which is derived from the internet sector," the report said. "If there were a national internet outage for one week (or 1.9 pct of the year), that would reduce economic activity by at least $54.1 billion ( 3.62 lakh crore). And if that outage lasted an entire year, the economic costs would be at least $2.8 trillion ( 187.6 lakh crore)." India's economy would rise by $1 trillion ( 67 lakh crore) by 2020 if all Indians go online, IndiaSpend reported in May 2016. The Brookings report further cautioned about the rising costs of internet bans in the future. "As the digital economy expands, it will become even more expensive for nations to shut down the internet," the report said. "Without coordinated action by the international community, this damage is likely to accelerate in the future and further weaken global economic development." Read Also: Some Cool Gifting Ideas for this Diwali Russia to Soon Unleash the Destroyer-Satan 2 NEW DELHI: India and New Zealand today decided to amend the bilateral tax treaty and expressed commitment to work towards a comprehensive free trade agreement with a view to boost economic ties. The two sides also vowed to press for successful negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), said the joint statement issued after the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with New Zealand counterpart John Key. The two-way trade between the countries stood at USD 1.8 billion, showing an increase of 42 pct in the past five years. "The Prime Ministers expressed their wish for greater bilateral trade and investment," said the joint statement. The two countries also agreed to amend "the bilateral Double Taxation Agreement to bring its tax cooperation provisions into line with international best-practice". India has been revising double taxation avoidance pacts with countries with a view to check tax evasion and bring them in line with OECD norms. As regards the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the statement said both sides committed to work towards a "high-quality, comprehensive and balanced bilateral FTA which would deliver meaningful commercial outcomes to both sides. They vowed to ensure that India and New Zealand contribute to a high-quality, comprehensive outcome to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations, of which both countries are parties. The RCEP talks started in Phnom Penh in November 2012. The 16 countries account for over a quarter of the world's economy, estimated to be more than USD 75 trillion. The 16-member bloc RCEP comprises 10 Asean members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners -- India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. At their meeting today, the two countries also announced conclusion of a Food Safety Cooperation Arrangement to encourage greater coordination between New Zealand and Indian food safety authorities, and supporting more efficient trade in food products, the statement said. (REOPENS DCM 54) At the business meet, Key also touched upon the emergence of Asia as the powerhouse of economic growth saying India was an enormous part of it. "Technology is changing the world, your government wants to go paperless. The purpose of your government in what is going around GST is to get rid of paper and to make life easier for businesses," he said. According to Meghwal, among the areas discussed between the two Prime Ministers for enhancing bilateral cooperation are agricultural research, dairy farming, water and waste management, animal husbandry, food processing, Swacch Bharat, smart cities, tourism and student education. He said the government has taken many initiatives towards improving the ease of doing business in the country. "We are hopeful that GST will be applicable from 1 April 2017, that is also a very good measure for ease of doing business," the Minister said, adding that the government was "very much concerned" about the ease of doing business in the country. "I am hopeful that in the coming months in ease of doing business India will also grow," Meghwal said. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said India "will try to emulate" New Zealand's example on the ease of doing business. In the World Bank's latest 'Doing Business' report, India's place remained unchanged from last year's original ranking of 130 among the 190 economies that were assessed on various parameters. However, the last year's ranking has been now revised to 131 from which the country has improved its place by one spot. The list of countries in the Doing Business 2017 is topped by New Zealand while Singapore is ranked second. Kant said that by 2020, India will be the only country in the world having a billion smartphones which presents a possibility of India becoming a cashless economy by 2024-25. REOPEN DCM 87 Five MoUs were also signed in the presence of the New Zealand Prime Minister. These include an agreement between Zindia Ltd and Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd; InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) and CTC Aviation Group Limited; Media Design School with Pearl Academy; Ara Institute of Canterbury and Kumaraguru College of Technology; and an agreement between University of Otago and BSE Institute Ltd. Read Also: Some Cool Gifting Ideas for this Diwali Russia to Soon Unleash the Destroyer-Satan 2 BENGALURU: According to the startup policy approved by the state cabinet on September 6, Bihars state industrial department recently launched a websitebiharstartupyatra.com that supports people planning to set up startups in the state. As a response to the initiative, the government received more than 30 proposals from individuals across the state. So far, the state received requests for supporting ideas such as audiovisual editing, pearl-farming and food packaging. S Siddharth, Principal Secretary of the Industries Department revealed that the proposals have come from individuals with +2 and PhD degrees. He further added that the governments main motive is to encourage entrepreneurs from every level. According to Siddharth, the first lot of startup support requests will be selected after Chhath. Selected individuals will be offered with a common office space, a mentor and an amount of 10 lakh each as the initial investment to start the business. Furthermore, the state government has also promised to offer an amount of 500 crore as a venture capital under Chief Minister Nitish Kumars seven resolves. Venture capital is a type financing which is offered to small and emerging organizations with high growth potential. The startup policy also proposes to create a startup trust that houses a committee of bureaucrats and business experts. The committee will be responsible for effectively screening and selecting the best among a vivid range of business ideas. Revealing further about the governments initiative, Siddharth says "We are soon going to ask information technology department to hand over its office space at Biscomaun Bhawan to us, so that we could develop an incubation centre for budding entrepreneurs. The idea behind incubation centre is to provide the minimum office infrastructure, including office space, the internet facility and other forms of support." Currently, there is a functional incubation centre formed at the Bihar Industries Association (BIA) office in Patna. The centre started operating in November 2015 and has managed to enroll five startups; also providing them with the required office space. Read Also: JLL Invests In Tech Start-Up Foyr.Com Intel Mentors 17 Start-Ups To Innovate Products In India WASHINGTON: US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumpsaid on Friday at a rally in Fletcher, North Carolina, that he will spend $100 million of his own money on this election, though he will continue to trail his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in campaign spending. Trump spoke on Friday to his followers in the key state of North Carolina and asked them to go out and vote now to take advantage of the early voting possibility, EFEnews reported. "We have to work," he told the crowd, "You have to get everybody you know out there." The Republican candidate, who is behind his rival in the polls, said "we have a bunch of babies running our country, a bunch of losers", and again spoke of his business experience as one of his strong points. In that regard, he said he would close his campaign spending at $100 million of his own money, something that shows, he said, that he is not being influenced by lobbyists as is so often the case in Washington. Trump promised that if he makes it to the White House he will "drain the swamp" in Washington with a reform that will include banning public officials from working as lobbyists for five years after leaving office, and a constitutional amendment limiting the number of terms a lawmaker may serve in Congress. The Trump campaign spent in September some $70 million (not out of his own pocket), collected $54.7 million (including $2 million of his own money) and at the end of that month had $34.8 million in the bank, according to figures of the Federal Election Commission. For its part, the Clinton campaign had at the end of the month close to $60 million in the bank, having spent more than $82 million after collecting close to $74 million. The campaign's home stretch is when most of the funds are spent on getting people out to vote and trying to convince the undecided to make up their minds, especially in the swing states, EFEnews reported. Trump has the added difficulty that the Republican Party has decided to focus its campaign funds on saving its seats in the Senate and not on the race for the White House, given the available voter preference data. Read Also: Trump's Campaign Says Raised $9 Mn Through Live Facebook Event Clinton Leads Donald Trump By 5 Points In Latest Poll Source: PTI A legendary rock and roll photographer (and father of Skidmore student Erica Blakesberg '18), Jay Blakesberg has spent 35 years documenting Americas top bands, and now he has a new coffee-table book. Hell be on campus to present "Chasing the Light," a storytelling and slide show, followed by a Q&A and book-signing Tuesday, Nov. 1, starting at 7 p.m. in Davis Auditorium of Palamountain Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Blakesberg has photographed the likes of the Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, and Jefferson Airplane, as well as more contemporary artists such as My Morning Jacket and Mumford and Sons. His recent Hippie Chick: A Tale of Love, Devotion & Surrender is a fine-art coffee-table book featuring 445 images. With three short essays by journalist Edith Johnson (known on social media since 2012 as Festival Girl), the book celebrates the free-spirited women who are inspired by, and help to inspire, live music. What the authors call "earth mamas and fairy princesses, hula-hoopers and whirling dervishes, front-row regulars and flower-crown makers" are all presented, alongside anecdotes from scores of women whom Johnson interviewed for the book. Iconic rocker Grace Slick provides the book's foreword, discussing women in the original hippie-era music scene. In the afterword, Grace Potter mentions those "rebel ancestors" and says her generation is "the living, breathing manifestation of every path they blazed, every war they protested, every song they loved." "I have felt for a long time that what I was doing is visual anthropology," Blakesberg says, and "this is a unique tribe whose story should be told. These women have . . . forever changed the face of women in pop culture." Based in San Francisco, Blakesberg regularly contributes to Rolling Stone, Guitar Player, Relix, and other magazines. Hippie Chick is his tenth book of music photography. His visit to Skidmore is sponsored by the Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative. By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me." (goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated! Katewerk Art Support SDA I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts. Reconnaissance Man Economics for the Disinterested ...a fast-paced polar bear attack thriller! Want lies? Hire a regular consultant. Want truth? Hire an asshole. Weather Shop Click to inquire about rates. Dow Jones What They Say About SDA "Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert "I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick "The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle "Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs "You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella "Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky Intelliweather Seismic Map Comments Policy Read this Best Of SDA Hide The Decline The Bottle Genie (ClimateGate links) You Might Be A Liberal Uncrossing The Line Bob Fife: Knuckledragger A Modest Proposal (NP) Settled Science Series Y2Kyoto Series SDA: Reader Occupation Survey Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop Flakes On A Plane All Your Weather Are Belong To Us Song Of The Sled The Raise A Flag Debacle (Now on Youtube!) (.mwv Video) Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl Trudeaupiate Kleptocrat Jeans Child Labour I Concede Small Dead Feminist Protein Hoser: THK Interview The Werewolf Extinction Dear Laura (VRWC) We Wait Blogging The Oscars Jackson Converts To Islam Just Shut The HELL Up Manipulating Condi Gay Equality Rights System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f013de00)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0254400)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f013de00)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0254400)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f00eada8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0254400)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0254400)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e71c2840)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f024b988)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f024b988)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0111288)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01cdf60)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0111288)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01cdf60)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f021d208)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01cdf60)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01cdf60)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e71c2fe8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02199d0)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02199d0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0ace220)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f05a5d10)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0ace220)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f05a5d10)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0a85090)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f05a5d10)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f05a5d10)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e71c1420)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0a7ce58)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0a7ce58)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Gambling expert Charles Livingstone has urged Labor and the Greens to get serious on gambling reform, including a scheme where where gamblers must decide upfront how much they're prepared to lose on the pokies. "If you want to get serious about protecting people from poker machines and giving them a really good system to manage their money then a precommitment system is a really good way to go," Dr Livingstone said. Pokies: Poker machine reform is the target of negotiations between Labor and the Greens. Credit:Peter Braig No Australian jurisdiction has compulsory precommitment, but Victoria has a voluntary system, whereby gamblers can nominate an amount before they start gambling. Victoria has a range of more stringent measures than Canberra, including a cap of 10 machines for every 1000 adults (Canberra has 16.5 machines but no cap, although a ratio of 15 machines to 1000 adults is to take effect in mid 2018), a cap of 105 machines per club or hotel (at least six Canberra clubs have more than 200), maximum $5 spins (Canberra allows $10), a ban on ATM machines in venues (which Canberra allows, and also allows cash-out machines) and a $200 limit on eftpos withdraws (Canberra has no limit). The Asbestos Taskforce provided no information on Thursday about what might be the discovery of another asbestos-contaminated house in Downer, the suburb where another house missed on the clean-up of the 1980s sparked the mass demolition scheme. When a homeowner in Bradfield St, Downer, discovered loose asbestos insulation in his ceiling in 2011, he set off a train of events that led to the $2 million demolition of his house in 2013, and the mass buyback that began at the end of 2014. Workers preparing homes in Kambah for Mr Fluffy asbestos removal in April. Credit:Rohan Thomson The Bradfield St house was missed in the Commonwealth clean-up of homes in the late 1980s. It now appears a second Downer house has come to light, possibly also missed in the clean-up. No details have been released by taskforce head Andrew Kefford, who said the home was still being tested. He did not confirm a suburb. A 16-year-old apprentice is "lucky to be alive" after falling seven metres at an Amaroo work site on Thursday morning, the building union has said. WorkSafe ACT commissioner Greg Jones confirmed an investigation had been launched into how the teenage boy fell up to seven metres at the site of the new Coles supermarket on Horse Park Drive. The apprentice who fell seven metres was two days into the job, the building union has said. An ACT Emergency Agency Services spokeswoman said paramedics transported a 16-year-old with back pain to the Canberra Hospital after they were called out at 9.43am. Mr Jones said the boy was in a stable condition in hospital and the site owners were fully cooperating with the investigation. Justice Elkaim found there were errors on the certificates, critical to their admissibility in court. His decision centred on several evidence certificates relied on by the prosecution, designed to prove that Clark was unauthorised to possess the weapons. But the 30-year-old's convictions were on Thursday overturned in the ACT Supreme Court by a "reluctant" Justice Michael Elkaim, who cited "fatal" errors in documents key to the Crown case. Canberra Nomads bikie Michael Wayne Clark was convicted on June 17 of the unauthorised possession of a shotgun, ammunition, knuckle dusters and an extendable baton. For example, certificates for the knuckle duster and baton charges, referred to s17(a) of the Prohibited Weapons Act, and in fact should have read 17(1)(a). The document in effect referred to a section that "doesn't exist", the prosecutor conceded. The magistrate corrected the certificate at the time, however, Justice Elkaim agreed with Clark's barrister Jack Pappas that this was beyond her power. The documents needed to be amended by the person who issued them, he said. On the shotgun and ammunition charges, Justice Elkaim noted the relevant certificates needed to be signed by the firearms registrar, or a delegate of the registrar. The certificates in this case were signed by a police officer, and it was argued that there was no evidence of the officer's delegation. During the appeal hearing, the prosecutor had conceded there "was not evidence" of the chain of authority, but if there were a transgression, it might be characterised as "accidental non-compliance." Justice Elkaim replied, "But so what? We're talking about a criminal ... people are convicted of beyond reasonable doubt, not 'it seems like he is guilty'." Matthews believes it is a feat that can not only be met, but surpassed - the club are aiming for a sell-out in all three games. Almost 40,000 fans watched the Giants' three premiership matches in Canberra this year, with their round 19 clash against Richmond breaking Manuka Oval's attendance record. North Melbourne looks set to rekindle its old relationship with Canberra with the Kangaroos firming as the Giants' NAB Challenge opposition at Manuka Oval. The Bulldogs match will be sandwiched by two Saturday afternoon matches against Port Adelaide in round four and the Melbourne Demons in round 20. "We'll be putting plans in place now that we've got the fixture, we'll be working with Melbourne, Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs to maximise the promotion and see how we go." Matthews said drawing the reigning premiers to Canberra on a Friday night was crucial to the ongoing success of the Giants and the partnership with the nation's capital. The Giants boss said the opponent is "fortuitous" for everyone involved given the burgeoning rivalry between the two clubs, but the timeslot is the major carrot. "The truth of the matter is that the opponent doesn't matter anywhere near as much as the timeslot so for the Giants and Canberra to be on Friday night is just enormous," Matthews said. "We've said a few times that as we continue to build, we're hoping that the games will sell-out off the back of the fact that the Giants have established a great connection with Canberra and a great presence in terms of membership and other things. Click here for the full AFL fixture for next season AFL considers twilight grand final in 2017 We delve into the detail of the fixture for the 2017 season, released by the AFL on Thursday morning, and uncover some of the more unusual points of interest in next year's schedule. Round one First time since 2010 that North Melbourne and West Coast play each other in Melbourne. The only previous time the Bulldogs have played the Swans in a Friday night match was the 2008 second semi-final. Credit:John Donegan Round two First time ever that the Western Bulldogs and Sydney play each other in a home-and-away Friday night match. The only time they have played each other in that timeslot was when they faced off in the 2008 second semi-final. This round will also host the first Thursday night game between Richmond and Collingwood since 2002. The only other Thursday meeting between the two clubs took place during the afternoon in 1911. Round three First time that Geelong and Melbourne play each other at Etihad Stadium. Xavier Richards remains hopeful of finding a new AFL club as a delisted free agent after his bizarre fortnight took another turn on Thursday when he was delisted by Sydney. Richards, 23, requested a trade early last week after knocking back a two-year contract extension with the Swans. The young forward - who breathed life into his career by playing the last 10 games of Sydney's 2016 campaign including the grand final - wanted to move back to Melbourne, with his agent Phil Mullen claiming the decision was based around the cost of living in Sydney. Xavier Richards is looking for a new home Credit:Getty Images However the former rookie attracted little interest in the final days of the trade period, and was left in limbo. Mullen spoke to the Swans earlier this week, with Fairfax Media reporting that Richards had changed his mind and wanted to return to the club where his recently-retired brother Ted was a premiership player in 2012. But any hopes Richards had of staying in Sydney were extinguished on Thursday when the Swans announced that he had been cut, along with fringe youngsters Jack Hiscox and Abaina Davis. The big banks and AMP will be forced to refund more than $178 million to 175,000 financial advice customers after being found to have charged customers for advice services they never received. The Commonwealth Bank faces the biggest compensation bill, owing customers a total of $105 million for charging them for advice annual reviews that never occurred. The requirement to report misconduct by rogue financial advisers to ASIC will be beefed up. Credit:Jim Rice In a major report that has once again shone a light on the problems of the banks' vertically integrated model, the corporate watchdog found customers had been short-changed millions over years for a "fee for service" for financial advice services that were never provided. The failures include charging customers a fee to have a dedicated financial adviser, and then never providing one, as well as using unanswered phone calls to justify an attempt at providing "advice". Hard on the heels of the disclosure that a number of senior BHP Billiton staff are to face criminal charges over the Samarco dam failure late last year, the group's chief commercial officer, Dean Dalla Valle is to leave the company. https://99.fairfax.com.au/cf#/etc/author-util.html?assetId=gs7fl8 Mr Dalla Valle has taken personal control of the group's response to the Samarco disaster since late last year. He had assumed day-to-day responsibility at the group management committee level for BHP Billiton's response to the dam breach. BHP Billiton's commercial director Dean Dalla Valle, who is to quit the company in early 2017. Credit:Glenn Hunt BHP chief executive Andrew Mackenzie said Mr Dalla Valle had made an "outstanding contribution" to the group. "Dean Dalla Valle is one of the longest serving and most respected leaders at BHP Billiton," Mr Mackenzie said. "Most recently Dean led BHP Billiton's response in Brazil to the Samarco dam failure." Nearly 3 million Australians are at risk of credit default which could see their all-important credit score fall in the next 12 months, according to new figures. A default occurs when, for example, you haven't paid a mobile phone bill of $150 that is 60 days overdue. A low score could stop you from getting a credit card or a mortgage. The average credit score this year is 757, down 14 points on last year's figure but still considered "very good", according to the largest credit bureau Veda. Scores can range from zero to 1200. The highest average score was in NSW's Sutherland region, while the lowest was in Queensland's Logan-Beaudesert region, south of Brisbane. Chairman Neil Balnaves: "In hindsight there are a lot of things I would have done differently." Credit:Christopher Pearce Earlier she had said it was not the right time for the board to be discussing executive remuneration and bonuses. "We are all shattered by this... I don't want to discuss transactions at this point. I don't think it's appropriate under the circumstances," she said. Floral tributes outside Dreamworld where the deaths of four people have raised questions about workplace laws in Queensland and prompted a safety review of the state's theme parks. Credit:Glenn Hunt Mr Balnaves said he appreciated that the meeting did not "turn into an argument about cash". "This is all about grief, it's all about dealing with something that's shattering to everybody," he said. Votes on the issue of performance rights worth almost $843,000 to Ms Thomas and the re-election of directors passed, however the chairman denied one shareholder's request that votes be re-run because they had been collected on Tuesday morning, before the accident. Mr Balnaves said it would be "nigh impossible" to re-run those votes because under law the company would be unable to operate. Mr Balnaves also said the horrific accident wouldn't impact the company's expansion into the US under its Main Event branding. He said funding for the expansion would mostly come from the sale of the Ardent's gym and marina businesses rather than its theme park revenue. Mr Balnaves said he would still be retiring as previously announced, but promised he wouldn't just "disappear" and would be available to consult the board as it deals with the accident. "I will be in touch and available to the board," he said. Ms Thomas warned in her speech the fatal accident at Dreamworld theme park will have a significant impact on the company's earnings this year. "Revenue lost as a result of this tragic event will have a significant impact on EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) for the remainder of the year, due to the high level of fixed costs required to operate the business," Ms Thomas said. So far in the 2016/17 financial year, Ardent's Gold Coast theme parks - Dreamworld and neighbouring WhiteWater World - have already made about 34 per cent of the total revenue recorded by the parks last financial year, Ms Thomas said. Dreamworld will reopen on Friday to hold a memorial for the people who died on Tuesday: Luke Dorsett, 35, and Kate Goodchild, 32, Roozi Araghi, 38, and Sydney mother Cindy Low, 42. The theme park operator issued a statement on Thursday reassuring the public that safety was its priority. "Prior to Tuesday, there has never been a death at the park due to a ride incident, despite Dreamworld hosting more than 30 million visitors since it opened in 1981," it said. Warnings over revenue Ms Thomas said it was too early to say exactly how the deaths would impact the company's earnings. On the day of the accident, about 34 per cent of total revenue generated by the company's theme parks in 2015/16 had already been earned for the current financial year started in July 1, she said. "However, revenue lost as a result of this tragic event will have a significant impact on EBITDA [operating earnings] for the remainder of the year, due to the high level of fixed costs required to operate the business." "It is not possible for me to provide any further guidance at this time, however we will provide regular updates to the market," she said. In his address, outgoing chairman Neil Balnaves said it was unfortunate the AGM could not be delayed in the wake of this week's tragedy - but it was "a statutory meeting, and in accordance with the constitution of the company we are required to convene the meeting as planned". 'We are shattered' Ms Thomas expressed "deepest and most heartfelt condolences" on behalf of the company to the families and friends of the four people who died on the Thunder River Rapids ride. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them, particularly their children," she told shareholders. Her statement had been released to the stock exchange before the overcrowded meeting started. "As the incident is the subject of a coronial investigation, there is very little I can say at the present time, except that we are fully cooperating and working closely with authorities to establish exactly how this has happened. "I understand the intense interest in this catastrophic event and appreciate there are many questions to be answered. But I ask for your patience as we work with those authorities to first establish the facts." Mr Balnaves said the company would do "everything" to support the grieving families. A reporter who had been in contact with Karen Dorsett, mother of two of the victims, said the family was angry that no one from Ardent had contacted them directly. Ms Thomas, told that Mrs Dorsett was watching the press conference, addressed the family. "I would like to say to Mrs Dorsett my sincere sympathies for what you must be going through, and on behalf of the staff and management at Ardent and Dreamworld, that our hearts and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time," she said. "I will be calling you to see what assistance we can offer you." Support offered to all staff Ardent said reopening the theme park, just days after the deaths on Tuesday, would help staff dealing with a difficult situation. "That has been a subject with a lot of deliberation over the last 24 hours," Mr Balnaves told reporters. "After discussion with counsellors and a lot to do with the issues of people grieving, the decision was taken to turn tomorrow (Friday) into a fundraising event to support the Red Cross." All admission fees will be donated to the charity. "It is better that people get back to work and basically get together with their comrades and talk and deal with this issue rather than ... sitting at home in isolation," Mr Balnaves said. "It's driven by the utmost respect for the families and the deaths." The theme park will open for normal business on Saturday. However, the Thunder River Rapids Ride where the four died will be closed at least until the end of the coronial inquiry. Ardent has sought legal advice, although its executives stress it is aware of its responsibilities. Loading It also has "adequate" insurance in place. Chief executive of Dreamworld operators Ardent Leisure, Deborah Thomas, has been forced to defend her actions on live TV after two of the victims' family interrupted a press conference with a furious text message. Ms Thomas fronted media in Sydney with other Ardent executives after the theme park owner's annual general meeting, where she said the company was making contact with the families affected by Tuesday's tragedy. She said Ardent had made contact with the family of Kim Dorsett, whose two children Kate Goodchild, 32, and Luke Dorsett, 35, were among the four killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride. "We've reached out to the families and we've finally made contact with the Dorsett family and we are talking with them today about how we may assist," Ms Thomas said. Queensland's Liberal National Party opposition has accused the state government of jeopardising the multi-billion dollar Carmichael coal mine by "opening the door" to further environmental legal challenges. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed on ABC Radio on Thursday that the government would require Adani to comply with Labor's new groundwater approval laws. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed on ABC Radio on Thursday that the government would require Adani to comply with Labor's new groundwater approval laws. Shadow Minister for Mines and Northern Development Andrew Cripps said that would expose Adani, which has already faced numerous legal challenges, to likely further court action. "Annastacia Palaszczuk has opened the door to green activists and third parties launching further rounds of legal challenges and appeals that will jeopardise the delivery of much-needed jobs and investment to the region," he said. At its opening session, the newly-elected ACT legislative assembly should invite Canberra science communicator Julian Cribb to speak to it about his new book, Surviving the 21st Century. During the recent election campaign, Cribb wrote an article in The Canberra Times about the book, which has been very positively endorsed by its reviewers, but the profound issues he raised barely caused a ripple in the torrent of discussions about rates, trams, town planning and property development. In the book, Cribb explores the changes we can and must urgently make to deal with 10 imminent and interlinked threats to the survival of the human species. He lists these as ecological collapse, resource depletion, weapons of mass destruction, global warming, global poisoning, food insecurity, population and urban expansion, pandemic disease, dangerous new technologies and self-delusion. As part of government-led efforts to keep food on Venezuelans' tables, the Ministry of Urban Agriculture offers city dwellers training and funding to grow their own crops. Credit:Manaure Quintero Cribb says that we tend to think of these as separate issues but that in reality, they are intertwined and each affects the others. They cannot be dealt with one by one, but must be solved in conjunction and ultimately must involve everyone in a a new type of thinking. Last year, Pope Francis issued a remarkable encyclical that challenged humans everywhere to radically and urgently change direction. His letter highlighted the collapsing ecosystems and galloping extinctions of species on which human life depends: the looming dangers of human induced climate change, the obscene inequality experienced by vast numbers of humans, the unsustainability of our consumerist throwaway culture, and the inappropriateness of the economic model that underpins modern civilisation including its commitment to unending growth. Last month, the entire state of South Australia was blacked out for 24 hours because wind turbines shut down and the interconnector to Victoria's electricity grid broke down. People were stuck in lifts, traffic lights stopped working, and businesses closed because renewable energy is inherently unreliable and back-up systems couldn't cope. Unfortunately, much more expensive and much less reliable power is Australia's future under the Labor Party's renewable energy policy at state and federal levels. Given the current state of technology, Labor's commitment to a national 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030 is absurd. Mind you, the Coalition's commitment to a 23 per cent target by 2020 is also problematic only much less so. The problem with renewable energy is that it's only there when the wind blows and the sun shines. When the wind doesn't blow or when it blows too hard as it did in South Australia an alternative source of power is instantly required. Police direct traffic around the CBD in Adelaide during the blackout. Credit:AAP The day may come when large-scale, low-cost battery technology means that renewable energy can be stored for later use. But without much better batteries, the notion that renewables should supply a very large proportion of our energy is barmy. It's a genuflection to the Greens that will drive up the cost of living and make jobs less secure. It's typical that state, territory and federal Labor leaders insisted that the lights going out in South Australia had nothing to do with their renewable energy obsessions. It was a classic illustration of not letting facts interfere with ideology. In the aftermath, large employers such as the Whyalla steel plant and Port Pirie zinc smelter have sought guarantees of power reliability that the state government is in no position to give. Almost certainly, the lights will again go out for what's left of the state's heavy industry, as long-suffering consumers continue to pay more than they should for electricity. Is C8 trying to run at least two contributions per day for the one geographical area? asks Allan Gibson, of Cherrybrook. "Today (October 27) there are two from correspondents in Orange; two from Wollongong and two from the Blue Mountains. I had thought of ringing up a neighbour around the corner to submit something today. I would hate to think, like the Donald, that C8 was being rigged." (C8: A ridiculous notion, Allan.) Garth Clarke, of North Sydney, writes: "I suspect that Halloween is even bigger in Tokyo than it is in Fuzhou [C8]. I visit Japan often and never fail to be impressed by the inventiveness of the Halloween displays. The Japanese also celebrate Christmas although sometimes the spirit of it gets lost in translation as with the Christmas card which featured a picture of Santa nailed to a cross." Edward Loong, of Milsons Point, observes: "On Wednesday there were two lunchtime concerts in the city, one at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the other, violinist (Benjamin Adler) and pianist (Will Cesta) at St James Church, King Street. Both complimentary performances were breathtaking yet the numbers were disappointing. Although such concerts are regular events, few seem to know about them. A free plug would help." (C8: We very rarely give free plugs.) From Harry Bell, of Bowral: "Why was Mia David [C8] 'on' the quiet carriage? Weren't there any seats inside?" Nola Tucker of Kiama says: "I suggest, Bill Atkinson, that you avoid working gratis for the supermarket [C8] and revert to the old-fashioned checkout chicks when shopping at Woolies or suchlike. A cheery greeting, patience while I fumble in my purse, all my purchases neatly bagged and a friendly farewell. I tell you it works for me." Ardent Leisure, the company that owns Dreamworld, had an opportunity on Thursday to show how a good corporate citizen should respond to a major tragedy. Unfortunately, they failed, and failed dismally. Speaking at the company's annual general meeting, 48 hours after the death of four people at their theme park, Ardent Leisure chairman Neil Balnaves was forced into defending a $843,000 bonus to CEO Deborah Thomas. Deborah Thomas said the losses from the closure would be ''significant''. Credit:Getty Images All he could meekly argue was that it was too soon "to talk about commercial matters at this time". Which is a strange thing to say at an AGM, especially as he then went on to talk about the earnings hit the company would now take. And it was a quite frankly pathetic attempt to avoid a question that I along with perhaps everyone else in Australia was asking: surely that enormous corporate bonus should be immediately given to the families of the victims, to do what it can to at least lift financial pressures in the awful weeks and months that lie ahead for them. Surely that would be simply the right thing to do? Anyone who observed Mr Duterte before his election victory in May should not be surprised at his brazen approach. Fairfax Media's South-East Asia correspondent, Lindsay Murdoch, warned then that the provincial mayor with no experience in complex foreign policy issues "will alarm the Philippines' closest allies, including the US and Australia" and "threatens to shatter what little hope there was" of the region standing up to Beijing over disputed islands in the South China Sea. In barely five months the former mayor of Davao city in the nation's south has reshaped the Philippines' relations with the US, China, Japan and, by proxy, Australia not to mention earning global condemnation for a war on drugs that has left many innocent people dead. For the controversial freshman President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, money talks far louder than diplomatic niceties especially when it comes to courting Beijing as he pivots away from Washington towards what he calls an "independent foreign policy". Many had thought the Philippines' victory in an arbitration case over the islands in July would shift the balance away from China in the region. However, Mr Duterte had already rejected the import of that ruling. In an interview with state-owned Chinese media in March this year Mr Duterte suggested he would drop the case launched by former president Benigno Aquino in 2013 if he had the power. "If we cannot enforce [the ruling] what are we supposed to do?" Mr Duterte said. "Just sit there and wait for somebody to take our cudgels and go to war or demand obedience from China? For what?" He declined to use the ruling as a springboard for a stronger regional alliance against Beijing. Instead of visiting Washington first, as his predecessors have, Mr Duterte agreed to visit China this month for bilateral talks. Ahead of his trip Mr Duterte stressed that "there is no sense in going to war just fighting over a body of water". While he was not seeking money from Beijing, he said, "if we can have the things that you have given to other countries, your assistance, we also would like to be a part of it and to be a part of the greater plans of China about the whole of Asia, particularly South-East Asia". Beijing has provided soft loans and more. This week came news that the state-owned China Communications Construction Co, which helped build the disputed man-made islands, signed a contract with the Philippines to reclaim land in Davao harbour. On Wednesday Mr Duterte told businesspeople in Tokyo that America wanted him to be "a dog barking for the crumbs of their favour". He vowed to have US military forces out of five bases in the Philippines within two years, adding that "we will survive without the assistance of America". The annual increase for Victoria was about 8.4 per cent higher than the decade average. The state is now gaining the equivalent of more than 2200 people a week, or 114,900 over the year. Overseas migration made the biggest contribution, adding 62,800 people. The rest came from natural increase (births minus deaths), which added 37,600 new residents, and net interstate migration, which added 14,500. By 2024 in just eight years Victoria is on track to grow by another million people to pass the 7 million mark. Whether you think this is a good thing or not is a matter of perspective. In one sense, population growth is a symptom of success. People are attracted by job opportunities and lifestyle. But in another sense, it carries enormous costs. For now, the Andrews government, perhaps a little unsure how to respond, is treating the population surge as a political virtue, albeit one that must be managed. I'm not so sure. These days the concept of the "lived experience" is all the rage in political circles. The theory is that if a political narrative and corresponding policies dovetail with voters' actual daily experience, it will cut through incisively. For many in Melbourne, the lived experience is one of increasing frustration. Frustration over traffic snarls, over long hours spent travelling to and from work, over heavily stretched health and education services, over surging housing costs, over rising crime rates and trains full to bursting point. I suspect many voters are starting to single out Victoria's population surge as a common denominator to their frustrations. The state opposition is preparing to tap into this (presumably focus group-tested) sentiment, with the energetic member for Kew, Tim Smith, preparing a population policy expected to focus on shifting more people to Victoria's regional towns and cities. Economic growth is all very well and yes something to crow about politically but if the spoils are being carved up among a growing number of people, the question of whether or not we are better off becomes murky, particularly after you factor in intangible costs. In 2014-15, Victoria grew by a mere 0.7 per cent in per capita terms (equal second-worst state result in the nation). In the two years prior to that, growth per person went backwards. The outpouring of public anger over a brazen decision by property developers to raze the historic Corkman pub in Carlton with no planning permits was perhaps a reflection of a bigger concern that has lodged in the public collective consciousness. It is the idea that cowboy developers are riding roughshod over Melbourne and its planning rules to enrich themselves, rather than the city more broadly. I suspect voters are also starting to join the dots when it comes to the link between population growth and housing affordability. Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison this week attempted to blame the states for the problem, warning he will push the states to overhaul planning rules he says have been preventing or delaying new houses being built. But for Melbourne at least, a lack of land for new houses does not seem to be the main problem. It is building the infrastructure needed to cope with growing numbers of people flung to Melbourne's fringes who spend hours each day travelling to and from work, while struggling to access basic services. Population growth may mean more retail activity, more construction work and more investment and more tax revenue, but if governments fail to provide the extra infrastructure and services, what is the ultimate point? Thanks to the saga of the future of the greyhound industry and related questions over Nationals leader Troy Grant's leadership there has been plenty of focus on the forthcoming Orange byelection. So much so that another important contest has been largely overlooked. On the same day, November 12, voters will line up in the seat of Wollongong for what is shaping as a difficult byelection test for NSW Labor and Opposition Leader Luke Foley. As unlikely as it might seem, the Wollongong byelection could hold serious lessons not just for Labor but also for the NSW Liberals and their manoeuvring over party reform between Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott. Indeed, that's how we ended up with IS in the first place. The story is well rehearsed by now: a predominantly Sunni city, whose residents were frequently besieged by Shiite militias unrestrained by the Iraqi government, prepared to let IS stroll in and claim the city because at least they'd defend the Sunni population. It was, in short, a story of a city whose politics were so dysfunctional in a country so dysfunctional that Mosul's people even those in the Iraqi army - were hostile to the government in Baghdad. Inevitably, that will happen in Mosul, too. Already coalition forces are converging on its outskirts. We're probably talking months rather than the weeks that applied in Fallujah's case, but there's little doubt that, after enormous bloodshed, IS will lose the city. The question is: what then? For everyone. What for Islamic State, for Mosul, for Iraq? Because if we've learned anything over the past 13 years, it is surely that the mission is not usually accomplished when we say it is. Winning on the battlefield is often when the problems start. But eventually the facts on the ground outpace them, like they did in Fallujah in June. Back then, the propaganda pretty quickly dried up. Or more precisely, it shifted to spin this as part of some divine plan, presaging a triumphant return. Even Islamic State can't pretend forever. For now it's trying to convince the world, its cheerleaders, perhaps itself, that the present battle for Mosul is going swimmingly. While American officials were telling us the siege was ahead of schedule, and Kurdish forces were tallying hundreds of square kilometres in reclaimed territory, IS was boasting of "absorb[ing] the momentum" of coalition forces, and even "repelling" them, turning their "offence to defence". A boy pauses on his bike as he passes an oil field that was set on fire by retreating IS fighters ahead of the Mosul offensive in Qayyarah, Iraq. Credit:Getty It's different now, of course. Two years living under one of the world's most nihilistic, fascistic groups tends to change your perspective on things. Iraqi and Kurdish forces are far more likely to be received as liberators this time, as they have been in other IS-held cities. The current Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi is striking far less sectarian (especially anti-Sunni) poses than his predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki. But that doesn't mean the politics of this aren't still devilishly complex, or consequential. For now, the Kurdish forces and the Iraqi army are united through a common enemy. But beyond that, they hardly have a common vision. The Kurds want what they've always wanted, and what both Iraq and Turkey have always fiercely denied them: an autonomous homeland. For the Iraqi government, vanquishing IS is a way to reunify the country under Baghdad's control; to bring Iraq back into meaningful existence. But once Mosul falls, there will simply be no denying the Kurds' contribution. Not when they've seized villages and recaptured vast lands. What, exactly, is the plan for the land the Kurds have taken? They're already running a de facto state in northern Iraq, financed partly by oil exports. Is the Iraqi government planning to take all this back? Or does it now accept a divided Iraq? Meanwhile, Turkey is desperate to get involved about as desperate as the Iraqis are to keep them out of the fighting. That's because Turkey's main fight here is with the Kurds, whose independent state would, if fully realised, take chunks out of Turkey as well. Turkey has already been prepared to bomb Kurdish fighters in Syria for example. But it might also be because Iraq fears that the Turks might want to claim parts of northern Iraq for itself. Already it is behaving in violation of Iraq's sovereignty, having troops stationed near Mosul in defiance of Iraq's wishes, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started speaking cryptically about how Turkey "did not voluntarily accept the borders of [its] country" after the Ottoman Empire fell. Then there are the Shiite militias who caused so many of Mosul's problems last time and who the coalition will want to ensure stay as far away as possible. Then we read reports of those militias' flags being seen on the outskirts of the conflict. This, in turn, makes Turkey even more eager to join the fight, to help resist growing Shiite (read Iranian) influence. If this were to happen, the whole offensive against IS would become not so much the work of a team of rivals as a team of enemies. Greg Tannos nearly fell off his mountain bike when he saw the size of a goanna beside a trail in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney. "It was as least 1.5 metres long, and probably closer to two metres," Mr Tannos said. He then watched on in awe as the monster lizard climbed a tree, seeking to raid a currawong's nest. During the next half hour, he recorded an "absorbing video" of the battle between the goanna and the currawong. The Turnbull government will release further details of a $100 million domestic violence package in Brisbane on Friday. About $30 million in funding for front-line legal assistance and family law services will be detailed at a Council of Australian Governments national summit to reduce violence against women and children. The money will include $18.5 million for duty lawyers and social support services in family law courts; $6.2 million for a pilot program of enhanced family dispute resolution for vulnerable families; $5 million for an extra year of legal assistance pilots under the Women's Safety Package; and $300,000 for data analysis in the legal assistance sector. But ahead of the summit, Labor pointed out the Abbott-Turnbull governments had cut a combined $52 million from community legal centres, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services and legal aid services. The NSW government has signalled a "move away" from lengthy confinements of children in detention centres after Fairfax Media revealed teenage boys were being locked up alone for 23 hours a day. Corrections Minister David Elliott announced on Thursday he had asked for a review to examine the use of confinement "for lengthy periods of time in rooms". The announcement came a month after Mr Elliott told a parliamentary estimates committee hearing "there is no practice or provision of isolation of young people in custody". It came on the same day an Ombudsman's report highlighted complaints alleging "many boys were being kept isolated for lengthy periods". A Fairfax Media investigation based on leaked documents showed boys were handcuffed in their one hour of "recreation" per day and held in isolation for 10 days or more under "detainee risk management plans". Labor says it cannot properly consider legislation allowing the ongoing detention of "high-risk terrorist offenders" until the government guarantees that outgoing Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson provided advice on the final version. Following an allegedly ignored request to Attorney-General George Brandis, shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus has written to the chairman of the parliamentary committee considering the legislation, "seeking clarification that the Solicitor-General had been given the opportunity to advise" on its constitutionality. Mr Gleeson resigned on Monday, describing his relationship with Senator Brandis as "irretrievably broken" amid an ongoing dispute over a legal directive issued by the Attorney-General giving him control over ministerial and departmental access to the Solicitor-General's independent advice. "While Senator Brandis has stated that the Solicitor-General advised on an 'original draft' of the bill, I believe the committee needs absolute clarity on a matter of this magnitude," Mr Dreyfus wrote to the chairman of the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security, Michael Sukkar. I bought my first piece by Milanese artist and decorator Piero Fornasetti in Camden Market in the 1980s. I was studying Art History at the time and was drawn to his surrealist aesthetic, albeit expressed in a simple, monochromatic plate. It was a purchase driven by intuition rather than knowledge and later I learnt that the image of his muse, the Italian soprano Lina Cavalieri, played out in 500 different ways in his 'Themes and Variations' series. He had immense fun with her wide-eyed visage as he imposed a Charlie Chaplin moustache, metamorphosed her into a butterfly, gave her wild Medusa hair and showed her cross-eyed with a trompe d'oeil fly on her nose. Fornasetti, (1913-88) whose creative output was described as 'volcanic', designed more than 13000 pieces over his career, ranging from furniture to wallpaper, ceramics to tiles, screens, plates, trays and scarves. He collaborated with architect Gio Ponti on the interior of a casino in San Remo and a transatlantic liner, the Andrea Doria, creating fantastical interiors driven by a surrealist spirit, a rigorous approach to craft and a joy in decoration. The image (shown left) is of his four-storey house in the Citta Studi district of Milan where his son, Barnaba Fornasetti, continues his legacy. It is an ancestral residence originally owned by Barnaba's grandfather and is now workshop, archive, home and museum in one. Steeped in the aesthetic of Fornasetti, namely, his signature, painted monochromatic furniture, it is nonetheless the hunter green wall and the expressive collection of mirrors that steal the show. Australian interior designer Jason Mowem admires the random group of mirrors for their lovely kaleidoscopic effect. "It's magical and very romantic, and it's not everyday we see magic and romance in interiors", he says. Australian interior designer Jason Mowem admires the random group of mirrors for their lovely kaleidoscopic effect. Credit:Richard Powers There is certainly decorative strength in a collection of any kind, as Mowem, well-known for his ability to place seemingly discounted objects together explains. "If collected with love, I think anything en masse can make a statement. I collect tribal sculpture, classical bronzes, engravings and books if they're hung or placed and illuminated in the right way, it's a wonderful way of creating impact and drama." This quintessentially European look is gaining popularity on our Antipodean shores. Director of AP Design House, Alexandra Ponting, believes that access to global design has never been more immediate. "With a constant stream of imagery, be it a beautiful Parisian apartment or an exciting hospitality project, there is a clear shift from the predominance of Scandinavian minimalism towards a more decorative, layered interior', she says. Fornasetti would be contentissimo. After the fact, when I am editing, I try to take a step back and ethically consider how the images will be seem, what response they will get, how will they impact a viewer to think about the issue. Ultimately I want the images I shoot to be truthful to the events and have an outcome, an impact that leaves the viewer in a different place. It is always challenging working with people in crisis. Photographing people in moments like this comes with great responsibility, I don't take it lightly. Take chances and follow your passion. Shoot work that you feel strongly about, if you are interested in a story, get out and shoot it, don't wait for someone to call and assign you. You need to have a level of tenacity and dedication to create work that you will be proud of. Refugees are forced to survive in dreadful conditions, such is their plight. Credit:David Maurice Smith/Oculi There is one photo of a child looking directly at the camera on the shoulders of a parent in the midst of some sort of demonstration or clash with police. Tell me about the moments leading up to this. It's a very powerful frame that stays with the viewer. This was taken at the border between Serbia and Hungary where thousands of refugees were stranded after Hungary sealed its border. The refugees were desperate, you have to understand that most of these people would have been through horrendous situations leading up to this and were exhausted and desperate. Eventually frustrations boiled over and some water bottles got thrown over the fence by refugees, and the Hungarian police, patient up this point responded with force: water cannons, tear gas, pepper spray, and riot police swinging full force with batons. Many refugees who were not involved in the rioting were caught in the crossfire and assaulted by the police. This was not the first safety incident to occur at one of Australia's premier theme parks. Credit:Getty Images Canberra mother Kate Goodchild, 32, her brother Luke Dorsett, 35, Luke's partner Roozi Araghi, 38 and a separate holidayer, Sydney mother Cindy Low, 42, were killed. Ms Goodchild's 12-year-old daughter Ebony and Ms Low's 10-year-old son Kieran were both thrown clear of the water or machinery and survived by "providence of God," police said. Three of the Dreamworld victims: partners Roozi Araghi and Luke Dorsett and Luke's sister Kate Goodchild all Canberrans. Credit:Facebook Police believe something in the ride malfunctioned, causing the empty raft to stop moving forward. When the second raft came to the top of an uphill conveyor belt, it bumped into the first raft. As it continued to push forward, the pressure forced it upwards against the first raft before it flipped over entirely, causing the wooden seats to smash and sending the occupants into the wooden conveyor belt and surrounding water. Emergency services workers and police at the scene of the incident at Dreamworld. Credit:Nine News With their eight-month-old daughter too young to ride, Ms Goodchild's husband, David Turner, was waiting at a nearby viewing spot with their baby in her pram. It's believed Ms Low's partner Mathew and six-year-old daughter Isla were also waiting elsewhere near the ride's finish. Cindy Low, top right, was one of four people killed in a tragic accident at Dreamworld. As he saw the raft flip, Mr Turner immediately threw his wallet and phone from his pockets, jumped a fence and dove into the muddy water. His mother revealed on Thursday that Ms Goodchild died in the arms of her husband and high-school sweetheart. Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said police would not rule out prosecutions for negligence. Credit:Glenn Hunt "My son managed to reach his partner, who died in his arms while his 12-year-old daughter looked on screaming in the background," Mr Turner's mother Gillian told reporters on Tuesday. "I would like to believe that my 12-year-old granddaughter was saved so she could tell her little sister what a wonderful mum Kate was." As news filtered through the park, it was eventually closed and people ushered outside. Mr Turner, covered in mud, was ushered to a nearby police station. Mr Low rushed to hospital alongside his son Kieran, who was released on Wednesday. As they left Dreamworld, patrons jumped on their phones to see the news of four people trapped, believed to be dead. Only then, other riders began to question their experiences on the River Rapids earlier that day. Ms O'Brien, who had ridden the ride with her family once already on Tuesday, said when they hit the conveyer belt to go up at the end of the ride, there was a louder than normal bang. "My son said that was unusual, but didn't think much of it at the time," she said. Another park patron, Joelle, said her family rode the ride once last week and once on Tuesday morning. "The ride today was faster than last week and the water levels higher," she said. "I actually made mention to my husband that I was glad that our three-year-old wasn't on it as he would have freaked out." The ride broke down for about 30 minutes earlier in the day. It also broke down on Saturday and Sunday and was closed for about 15 minutes on both occasions. South Australian father Lucas Morgante told Fairfax Media he was stuck on the ride's conveyor belt with his partner and three children for 15 minutes on Sunday until engineers came. Ride attendants told him some of the ride's sensors weren't working. However, other park-goers said they rode the rapids on Tuesday afternoon with no issue. "It was the highlight of our day," Vanessa Cloud, who was on it at around 2pm, posted online. "Today the same ride is the lowest part of many people's lives." Maintenance logs, machine components, ride engineering and the theme park's policies and procedures will now form central parts of the police's long and complex brief for the coroner. As engineers and scientific police continued to comb the site on Wednesday, Queensland Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said they wouldn't rule out prosecutions for negligence. "We owe it to the deceased and their families, we owe it to the community of Queensland to get to the bottom of what caused this, to hold accountable any person that needs to be held accountable for this occurring," he said. Dreamworld management has released lengthy statements outlining their safety record and confirming the River Rapids ride passed its annual mechanical and structural safety engineering inspection - done by an independent engineering firm - just four weeks ago on September 29. "All our procedures and systems are constantly benchmarked against international best practice and ride manufacturer specifications," a statement said. Several NSW schools have banned students from wearing "creepy clown" outfits for Halloween celebrations in the wake of the phenomenon sweeping the United States and copy-cat pranksters appearing closer to home. People dressed as creepy clowns have been seen lurking around a school, running into cars and stalking parks in NSW since September, spawning Facebook clown hunting groups and police warnings to would-be clowns that they are putting the public in danger. "There's the potential for retaliation or people could be seriously hurt or could die by trying to get away," Campbelltown Police Inspector Tara Norton said. Now the phenomenon has reached the increasingly popular Halloween celebration in NSW schools, with principals asking students to leave the scary mask at home. Hours after he allegedly murdered his wife, Sydney GP Brian Crickitt sat in a grey interview room with police where he cried, laughed and at one point, lied. Dr Crickitt told police that on the night of his wife's death the pair had squabbled in bed about 1am on New Year's Day, 2010. "The last month things have been very difficult and I've been very unhappy. I've been in two minds about what to do frequently wanted to leave," Dr Crickitt said in an electronically recorded interview which was played to the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday. Dr Crickitt is accused of murdering his wife with a fatal dose of insulin in their home in Sydney's south-west sometime between December 31, 2009 and January 1, 2010. The family of two Dreamworld ride victims say they are facing financial difficulties and are struggling to stop blaming themselves for the tragedy on the Thunder River Rapids on Tuesday. Sandra Brookfield, a close friend of Kim Dorsett's for 58 years, set up a MyCause fundraising page on Thursday to help the devastated family following the deaths of Ms Dorsett's children Kate Goodchild, 32, and Luke Dorsett, 35, as well as Mr Dorsett's partner, Roozi Araghi, 38, and Sydney mother Cindy Low, 42. Ms Goodchild's 13-year-old daughter Ebony survived the accident but watched on, screaming, as her father tried to save his wife. David Turner had been watching the ride from nearby with the couple's eight-month-old daughter, Evie, and jumped in the water as soon as he saw his wife's raft crash into another raft and flip over backwards onto a wooden conveyor belt. Police are searching for a boy reported missing near Airlie Beach on Wednesday. The boy, 12, was last seen attending his school at Cannonvale, however he failed to return home. The boy, 12, is missing from Cannonvale, near Airlie Beach. Credit:Queensland Police Service Police are concerned for his welfare due to his age. He is described as caucasian in appearance, around 150 cm tall with a slight build, fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. Two police officers have been injured while attempting to pull over a speeding ute in far north Queensland. The two male officers were in a police vehicle that crashed into a cement barrier as they tried to intercept the white 2012 Holden Commodore on the Bruce Highway near Cairns around 7.20pm on Wednesday. Two Cairns officers were taken to hospital after a crash on Wednesday night. Both officers were taken to Cairns Hospital with minor injuries, but have been released. AAP Metro Trains suspects a group of disgruntled train drivers is out to sabotage the spring racing carnival, the busiest time of the year for Melbourne's rail operator, by pressuring staff to refuse overtime and call in sick. The company is investigating claims some of its staff are waging a campaign of "bullying and harassment" against drivers who work overtime, including targeting them with "inappropriate graffiti on notice boards". The Spring carnival is the busiest time of the year for Metro Trains. Credit:Penny Stephens The company has written to drivers to warn them it will pursue staff involved in an "illegal" industrial campaign to reduce its pool of available drivers, which could force it to cancel trains and leave passengers stranded. Metro has been hit by an unusually high service cancellation rate in recent days. Had development reached such a fever pitch in Melbourne that, on a quiet Saturday afternoon, an owner of a historic Carlton building could just truck in their Komatsu excavator and tear it down? Developers in this town didn't have a good reputation before the 159-year-old pub was illegally pulled down on October 15 but this seemed to be pulling it down to a whole new level. It's a question that many Melburnians have asked themselves over the past fortnight, as they watched footage of the Shaq Demolition bulldozer pulling down the walls of Carlton's Corkman Irish Pub. The Corkman Irish pub in Carlton, built in 1857 and demolished illegally this month. Credit:James Bowering The man who half-owns the land the pub stood on was Raman Shaqiri. Raman, who goes by the name Ray, also half-owns Shaq Demolitions and Excavations. So the firm that paid a surprisingly high $4.76 million for the pub last August was, in part, the same company that pulled it down. The act appeared particularly brazen because Mr Shaqiri holds both a valid demolition license and a current building license, via the Victorian Building Authority. He might have known what he was doing. You can look him up on the authority's website. You can even find his mobile phone number there, as required by law. Ring it often enough and eventually he'll pick up. "You must have the wrong guy," the man on the other end of the phone assured me when I rang it this week, before hanging up. If the man who drove Shaq Demolition's excavator had thought to cover with gaffer tape the huge logos emblazoned on the side of the equipment and trucks, it would have been hard to ever categorically say who knocked over the pub. A truck driver jailed for 10 years for killing a couple and two of their children in a road crash has appealed against his conviction, and argued the lies he told police should never have been put to a jury. Jobandeep Singh Gill, 29, was last year found guilty of four counts of culpable driving causing death over a 2014 smash in Catani, about 80 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, which claimed the lives of Stephen Beckett, 37, his wife Jade, 33, and children Ella, six, and two-year-old William. The Beckett family were on their way to their children's school. The couple's eldest son survived the crash. The County Court heard last year he suffered nightmares and health problems from stress. Gill was in November jailed for at least six-and-a-half years, after the court heard he failed to stop at an intersection. More than $2.7 million worth of cash, as well as kilos of ice and cocaine has been seized after a series of police raids in Melbourne's south-east last week. In the culmination of a six-month investigation into cocaine trafficking, police executed warrants at homes in Caulfield North, Mulgrave and Hughesdale last Wednesday. Two men were arrested and more than $4.5 million worth of cash drugs and other assets seized in last week's drug bust. Credit:Paul Rovere Detectives have since confiscated more than $2.7 million worth of cash and several kilograms of ice and cocaine. In total, more than $7 million worth of assets have been seized as a result of the drug bust. Melbourne Cup Carnival racegoers will be able to queue for Uber rides for the first time after the Victorian Racing Club agreed to work with the ride-share operator. Mark Davies, for the Victorian Racing Club, said dedicated Uber drop-off and pick-up zones at Flemington Racecourse would operate over the four days of the carnival. "We want racegoers to get to and from Flemington safely and with ease," Mr Davies said in a statement. "These dedicated Uber zones will provide them with an additional transport option this Melbourne Cup Carnival." Victoria's prisoner reoffending rate has dropped for the first time in four years. While the drop in prisoners reoffending after their release last year is yet to be reflected in the ballooning crime rate, the reduction is an indication rehabilitation programs could be working. Victorian prisoner reoffending rate has dropped for first time in four years Credit:File/iStock In 2014-15, Victoria reached a 10-year high for recidivism of 44.1 per cent of prisoners returning to custody within two years of their release, but that figure dropped marginally to 42.8 per cent in the past year. It is unclear exactly how many less inmates are returning to prison within two years of their release, as raw numbers on recidivism are not released. A photo of wads of cash spelling out the name of teenage gang "APEX" was found during a police investigation into two home invasions in south-east Melbourne, a court has heard. A group of up to seven children and young adults broke into two homes while their occupants a family with two children, and a group of overseas students were sleeping in Brighton East and Ormond one night in April, the County Court heard on Thursday. Bill Tang joined five other youths in a home invasion in East Brighton. The photo was one of a series police found on one of the offenders' phone, which also included a photo of one of two stolen cars taken from the houses. This emerged in a pre-sentence hearing for two of the co-offenders, Peter Paulino, 18, and Bill Tang, 19. For the past thirty years this sprawling complex has been Perth's electronic link to the world - but the crowd gathered there is looking much further ahead, and looking to strengthen that connection using new kinds of technology. The Perth International Telecommunications Centre near the pine plantations at Gnangara houses antennas and satellite dishes that support the city's internet and even helps the European and Japanese space agencies conduct missions. The Perth International Telecommunications Centre has been connecting Perth to the world for 30 years. Credit:Tammy Zorde Motors whirr and gears click as the dishes swivel in their arcs, linking up the invisible connections that keep Perth online. Products like smart fridges are part of the Internet of Things - but what else will be thought up in the future? Credit:Bloomberg "The Internet of Things is where you have devices that have sensors and they collect information and send it up to the cloud - and the Internet of Everything is another layer on top of that, where you find ways to actually use the data that's been collected." Tom Zorde is the co-founder of the Internet of Everything Community in Perth, a group of people from all walks of life who are interested in developing and using new technologies they reckon will drive the future economy of Australia. As the internet gets bigger, faster and smarter, concepts like the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Internet of Everything (IoE) are gaining traction as businesses seek new ways to collect information and use it smartly. This could have huge implications for WA's sliding economy, helping create new kinds of technology that could generate the jobs of the future. A judge has reserved her decision on whether a man who stabbed a 57-year-old former neighbour to death at a Perth high-rise is not guilty on insanity grounds. Noor Mohammad Siddique has admitted stabbing Aboriginal man Cedric Lionel Roe 31 times in the head, trunk and left leg after inviting him into his South Perth apartment on May 26 last year. Forensic officers at South Perth apartments where body was found. Credit:ABC News But his defence lawyer Mark Trowell argues his client was highly psychotic at the time and unable to control himself. Mr Trowell told the judge-alone, WA Supreme Court trial on Wednesday his client was suffering from schizophrenia and was plagued by constant auditory hallucinations. The Bunbury couple at the centre of the baby Gammy surrogacy scandal have escaped facing perjury charges for lying under oath about the genetic makeup of Gammy and his twin sister Pipah. The Director of Public Prosecutions on Tuesday confirmed the state "did not consider it in the public interest" to pursue the charges against David and Wendy Farnell, who were in April awarded care of their two-year-old daughter Pipah, subject to strict supervision conditions. David and Wendy Farnell have avoided facing perjury charges for lying under oath. Credit:Channel Nine Pipah's twin, Gammy, who has Down syndrome, is being raised by his surrogate mother, Pattaramon Chanbua in Thailand. Ms Chanbua, 22, in April unsuccessfully fought to claim custody of Pipah after learning Mr Farnell was a convicted paedophile. New York: In the tortuous mythology of the AIDS epidemic, one legend never seems to die: Patient Zero, aka Gaetan Dugas, a globe-trotting, sexually insatiable French Canadian flight attendant who supposedly picked up HIV in Haiti or Africa and spread it to dozens, even hundreds, of other men before his death in 1984. Dugas was once blamed for sparking the entire US AIDS epidemic, which traumatised the nation and the world in the 1980s. The New York Post even ran a picture of him under the headline "The Man Who Gave Us AIDS". But after a new genetic analysis of stored blood samples, bolstered by some intriguing historical detective work, scientists on Wednesday declared him innocent. The strain of HIV responsible for almost all AIDS cases in the United States, which was carried from Zaire to Haiti around 1967, spread from there to New York City around 1971, researchers concluded in the journal Nature. From New York, it spread to San Francisco around 1976. Beijing: China's ruling Communist Party has elevated Xi Jinping to the "core" of its leadership, a move designed to convey unquestioned authority on the back of the president's bruising campaign against corruption, factionalism and dissent. The pronouncement was made at the conclusion of a key four-day meeting of top-level party officials in Beijing which has focused on party discipline and undivided loyalty, with party members called on to rally around "Comrade Xi Jinping as the core", according to a communique released by the official Xinhua news agency. Having the title enshrined in official party doctrine strengthens Mr Xi's hand ahead of a major leadership reshuffle late next year, where he will seek to further consolidate his base through the promotion of trusted allies, and where contenders will jostle for position to be considered an eventual successor. Past leaders, including Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, were given the title of "core" leader, but not Mr Xi's immediate predecessor Hu Jintao. Calais: Bulldozers cleared mounds of debris and continued tearing down makeshift shelters at the 'Jungle' migrant camp in Calais on Thursday as authorities said 6000 people had been evacuated from the squalid site. Charities working there, however, said hundreds of migrants might have fled the camp rather than take part in a government programme to rehouse them across the country. Some of the last remaining migrants in the Calais Jungle on Thursday. Credit:Getty Images The Jungle, a ramshackle, overcrowded shanty town near northern France's most important port, came to symbolise Europe's difficulty in dealing with record inflows of migrants from impoverished and war-torn regions of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, many of them bent on crossing the Channel to Britain. President Francois Hollande, facing an election in six months, caved to local pressure to close the Jungle and relocate its inhabitants in towns and villages throughout the country pending examination of their cases. Madrid: Women are going to get pay equality - they'll just have to wait for another 170 years. That's according to an estimate by the World Economic Forum assessing gender gaps when it comes to economic opportunities, political empowerment, education and health between men and women. A woman looks from above hundreds of protesters with umbrellas during a massive demonstration against gender violence, at Plaza de Mayo square in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last week. Credit:AP While international figures from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and UK Prime Minister Theresa May have placed greater focus on women in leadership roles, the outlook for the average female worker remains grim. In fact, it has deteriorated. In the past 12 months, the target for when men and women would get equal pay moved 52 years into the future - to 2186.The economic divergence, which measures the participation rate in the workforce, job opportunities and pay, has widened to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis, according to the WEF, reversing a trend of progress and highlighting the challenges for female workers. Brussels: While Russian warships head to Syria; the US, Germany, Britain, Canada flesh out troop deployment plans for Poland and Romania. Britain said on Wednesday it would send fighter jets to Romania next year and the United States promised troops, tanks and artillery to Poland in NATO's biggest military build-up on Russia's borders since the Cold War. The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov passes through the English Channel last week. Credit:Getty Images Germany, Canada and other NATO allies also pledged forces at a defence ministers meeting in Brussels on the same day two Russian warships armed with cruise missiles entered the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Denmark, underscoring East-West tensions. In Madrid, the foreign ministry said Russia had withdrawn a request to refuel three warships in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta after NATO allies said they could be used to target civilians in Syria. Emails hacked: John Podesta. Credit:Getty Images But they do show pronounced worries among the Clintons' closest advisers about the millions of dollars coming into the foundation, and to Bill Clinton personally, and how they could inoculate Hillary Clinton from criticism over it. "Do they plan to do big events next year?" her campaign manager, Robby Mook, asked about the foundation last year, shortly after Hillary Clinton kicked off her presidential campaign. "Possible for those to be smaller and lower key in 16?" Founded in 1997, when Bill Clinton was still president, the foundation has raised roughly $US2 billion to fund more than 3500 projects around the world, helping African farmers improve their yields, Haitians recover from a devastating 2010 earthquake and millions of people gain access to cheaper HIV/AIDS medication, among other accomplishments. Some of the former president's assistants followed him from the White House to the foundation, and the emails provide an extraordinary look at the soap opera that unfolded years later as people close to the couple felt their power threatened. "This is the 3rd time this week where she has gone to daddy to change a decision or interject herself," Band, the longtime aide to Bill Clinton, wrote about Chelsea Clinton in 2011. Chelsea Clinton speaks during a campaign rally in Wisconsin. Credit:Jacob Byk At the time, she was beginning to exert influence at the foundation, expressing concerns that Band and others were trying to use the charity to make money for themselves, and accusing another aide in her father's personal office of installing spyware. Emails released on Tuesday contained a memo from Band essentially defending his work for the foundation, and for Bill Clinton personally, even as Band was building up his political consulting firm, Teneo. The memo noted that some foundation donors had indeed been clients of Teneo, but also that Band and Teneo had helped raise tens of millions of dollars for the foundation from individual, foreign and corporate donors, without taking a commission. Band also noted how some of those donors he had cultivated were paying Bill Clinton privately to make speeches or to do other work. One such donor, Laureate International Universities, a for-profit education company based in Baltimore, was paying Bill Clinton $3.5 million annually "to provide advice" and serve as its honorary chairman, Band wrote. In another email, Band wrote that Bill Clinton had even received gifts from some donors. The tensions came to a head when Chelsea Clinton helped enlist an outside law firm to audit the Clinton Foundation's practices. Some interviewees told the audit team that the donors "may have an expectation of quid pro quo benefits in return for gift." The audit suggested the foundation "ensure that all donors are properly vetted and that no inappropriate quid pro quos are offered to donors in return for contributions." The advice proved prescient as Hillary Clinton faced intense scrutiny about whether donors to the Clinton Foundation had received special access to her State Department or other rewards. In August, the foundation said it would no longer accept foreign donations should Hillary Clinton win the White House. Hillary Clinton has dismissed criticism of the charity as politically motivated. A spokesman for the Clinton campaign, Glen Caplin, declined to verify the authenticity of the emails, but said the hack was part of the Russian government's efforts to use cyberattacks to influence the election in favour of the Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Band declined to comment, but his firm released a statement saying: "Teneo worked to encourage clients, where appropriate, to support the Clinton Foundation because of the good work that it does around the world. It also clearly shows that Teneo never received any financial benefit or benefit of any kind from doing so." Behind the scenes, Hillary Clinton's aides grappled with how to sever her from the problematic optics of some of the philanthropy's fundraising practices. In an October 2014 email, Mook asked whether Hillary Clinton's name would remain on what was then called the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation. "It will invite press scrutiny and she'll be held accountable for what happens there," he wrote. The next year, when Hillary Clinton was on the verge of declaring her candidacy, Cheryl D. Mills, a lawyer and top aide, said she discussed with Hillary Clinton various "steps" to take to adjust her relationship with the foundation, including her resignation from the foundation's board. Top Clinton aide: Cheryl Mills. Credit:AP By fall 2015, Hillary Clinton's aides had fine-tuned her response to questions about foreign donors. "As president, I won't permit any conflicts between my work for the American people and the Foundation's good work," aides advised Hillary Clinton to say in a coming debate. The emails give insight into the periodic fires that Hillary Clinton's advisers thought they had to put out. Hillary Clinton ultimately did not attend the foundation event in Morocco that Abedin had complained about; her husband and daughter did go. It is unclear if the king had given the $US12 million he was said to have pledged; he is not listed among the foundation's donors. In March 2015, Victor Pinchuk, a Ukrainian steel magnate who had given more than $US10 million to the foundation, was "relentlessly" requesting a meeting with Bill Clinton, according to an aide, Amitabh Desai. If the former president declined, the relationship would be damaged, Desai wrote in an email. "No is better. Is that viable?" wrote Podesta, who by then was the chairman of Hillary Clinton's campaign. It is unclear if the meeting took place. That same year, during a discussion over a potential meeting between Bill Clinton and the Saudi king, Podesta replied, using the former president's initials, "Not something that would be on our top 10 list of WJC requests." Podesta took a leadership role at the charity when Bruce R. Lindsey, a former White House counsel and longtime friend of Bill Clinton who had been chief executive of the foundation, had a stroke in 2011. His role at the foundation, coupled with his later capacity as the chairman of Hillary Clinton's campaign, put Podesta in the middle of internal workings of both operations and, by default, the delicate battles unfolding between Chelsea Clinton and her father's top aides. The day Hillary Clinton's mother, Dorothy Rodham, died in 2011, Chelsea Clinton emailed Podesta. "Doug called and yelled and screamed at my Dad about how could he do this," she said, an apparent reference to the internal scrutiny going on at the foundation. "My mother is exhausted, we are all heartbroken but we need a strategy and my father needs advice/counsel." Band, who helped Bill Clinton build the foundation, clearly felt irritated by Chelsea Clinton's stream of implications that he had padded his own pockets from his work for her father. When Chelsea Clinton, using a pseudonym "Diane Reynolds," that she also sometimes used to check into hotels, sent Band a complimentary email in January 2012, he forwarded it to Podesta and Mills. "As they say, the apple doesn't fall far," he wrote. "A kiss on the cheek while she is sticking the knife in the back, and front." Krasnaya Polyana, Russia: President Vladimir Putin has accused American politicians of whipping up hysteria about a mythical Russian threat as a ploy to distract voters from their own failings in the run-up to the US presidential election. Putin, addressing an audience of foreign policy experts gathered in southern Russia on Thursday, repeatedly lashed out at the Obama administration, saying it did not keep its word on Syria, did not honour deals, and had falsely accused Moscow of all manner of sins. The US government has formally accused Russia of a campaign of cyber attacks against Democratic Party organisations, while Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has accused Republican rival Donald Trump of being a Putin "puppet". Putin said he found it hard to believe that anyone seriously thought Moscow was capable of influencing the November 8 election. Showdown: Newt Gingrich and Megyn Kelly. Gingrich once had a fascination of his own with Bill Clinton's sex life, as he was a driving force behind the movement to impeach Clinton following a consensual sexual relationship he had with a young intern. Clinton became the second president in American history to be impeached by the House, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Voters, meanwhile, punished the Republicans for what they saw as an overreach: The GOP lost five House seats in the 1998 midterm elections, which led to Gingrich's resignation as speaker. Trump and his supporters deemed Gingrich's interview a victory, with the campaign's director of social media tweeting that Kelly is "not very smart" and telling his followers: "Watch what happens to her after this election is over." "Congratulations, Newt, on last night. That was an amazing interview," Trump said at a ribbon-cutting at his new hotel in Washington on Wednesday. "We don't play games, Newt, right?" Two of the women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct piled on. Juanita Broaddrick tweeted: "Beauty is only skin deep. Megyn Kelly is ugly as hell on the inside." Paula Jones wrote in a tweet that has since been deleted: "Woohoo, he slammed this nasty heifer!" The tweet from Paula Jones. But many other Republican women have concluded in recent weeks that this is not the party they know. "Looks like Newt Gingrich just proved my point again," tweeted Amanda Carpenter, a conservative commentator and former communications director for Senator Ted Cruz's presidential campaign. Carpenter wrote this week in The Washington Post about how her party has left women like her behind by ignoring Trump's chauvinism that was "well-documented in decades' worth of publicly available smutty television, radio and print interviews long before he became the nominee." "If the GOP has truly convinced itself that openly engaging in sexual assault fantasies is something normal that men do among one another, I have a suggestion. Relocate the Republican National Committee headquarters into a men's-only locker room," Carpenter wrote. "Eliminate all pretenses of wanting to let women in." Christine Matthews, a Republican pollster, said in an interview that Democrats no longer have to push a "war on women" narrative because it's playing out on its own thanks to Trump - and comments like those that Gingrich made on Tuesday. "It's just one more clueless middle-age-to-older white guy taking to task a woman," Matthews said. "It's so unhelpful on every level." Nicolle Wallace, former communications chief for George W. Bush who is now a political commentator, tweeted that Republicans are now "engaged in a hot war against women that will end badly" for the party. "Men like @newtgingrich are a big reason the GOP has lost women," Packer wrote in another tweet. "Men like him don't make women like me want to share a 'tent' w/them." Earlier this week, Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager and the first woman to lead a GOP presidential nominee's campaign, seemed to struggle when asked by CNN's Dana Bash if she believes the women who have accused Trump of sexual assault. "I believe - Donald Trump has told me and his family, and the rest of America now, that none of this is true," Conway said. "These are lies and fabrications. They're all made up. And I think that it's not for me to judge what those women believe. I've not talked to them, I've talked to him." Campaign manager for Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway (R). Credit:Bloomberg Trump has repeatedly denied allegations of abuse or sexism and has bragged about empowering female employees in his businesses. "Nobody has more respect for women than I do," Trump said during the last presidential debate when asked about his accusers, prompting laughter from the crowd in Las Vegas. Carrie Almond, president of the National Federation of Republican Women, has travelled to 39 states in an RV this year, talking with thousands of women who enthusiastically support Trump and believe the party speaks for them. "It's very important to not put all women into the same basket because not everyone sees everything the same way," said Almond, who is from Missouri. When confronted with criticism, Trump tends to go after women in much more personal and demeaning ways than men, even though he insists he is an equal-opportunity counterpuncher. Trump's attacks on female journalists, accusers and rivals over the past year have been heavy with criticism of their looks, their intelligence and their mental health. Following the first debate during the Republican primary - which featured three moderators, two men and one woman, who all peppered him with uncomfortable questions - Trump zeroed in on the woman, Kelly, for asking him about comments he makes about women. After the debate, Trump said that Kelly had "blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever." When the Muslim American parents of a soldier killed in Iraq in 2004 appeared at the Democratic National Convention in July in opposition to Trump's candidacy, Trump zeroed in on the mother, Ghazala Khan, saying in an ABC News interview: "She had nothing to say. She probably - maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say." Khan later said it is still too difficult for her to talk about her son's death. In early September, when the hosts of MSNBC's Morning Joe were critical of Trump, he zeroed in on the female host, Mika Brzezinski, tweeting: "Just heard that crazy and very dumb @morningmika had a mental breakdown while talking about me on the low ratings @Morning_Joe. Joe a mess!" Trump has told NBC's Katy Tur to "be quiet" when she pressed him during a news conference, and snapped at CNN's Dana Bash on Wednesday that she was "rude" to ask about the propriety of holding an event boosting his new Washington hotel. He urged his millions of Twitter followers to search for a seemingly nonexistent "sex tape" of a former Miss Universe whom he had criticised as fat. And he has accused Hillary Clinton of lacking "a presidential look." When Trump made a similar critique of Fiorina during the primaries, she responded: "I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said." Trump's rallies have also been hotbeds of incendiary rhetoric around gender, including popular anti-Clinton T-shirts in many locales proclaiming, "Trump that b----!" John Weaver, a GOP consultant who worked on the presidential campaigns of Senator John McCain from Arizona, and Ohio Governor John Kasich, said he is stunned by "the misogyny, the lack of understanding of where this country is now" coming from Trump's campaign. "If you have a gender gap the size of the Snake River Canyon, why do you trot out Newt Gingrich, and [former New York mayor] Rudy Giuliani and your nominee to talk about it and further make it worse?" said Weaver, noting that all three men have been married three times. "The only ones I can see who seem to be obsessed about sex in this campaign are those three people." PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The House of Parliament will sit in a plenary public session on Friday, October 28, 2018. The plenary public meeting is scheduled for 10.00 am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The agenda point is Examination of credentials and admission of Members of Parliament. Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com and via www.sxmparliament.org. POINTE BLANCHE:--- Port St. Maarten and the destination opened the 2016-2017 cruise season with the inaugural call of the Viking Star, one of Viking Ocean Cruises vessels. On hand for the occasion was outgoing Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Ingrid Arrindell and incoming Minister Theo Heyliger as well as representatives from Port St. Maarten, Maduro & Sons, the St. Maarten Tourist Office and some other stakeholders. During the plaque exchange, Captain Rune Lokling stated that he was very pleased to call at Port St. Maarten and thanked the port for a warm welcome on behalf of the crew, passengers, and Viking Ocean Cruises. Lokling added that Port St. Maarten is the most prominent of ports above all others coming in as #1 due to what the destination has to offer is terms of history, shopping. and beaches which are the top areas for cruise passengers. Minister Ingrid Arrindell welcomed Captain Lokling to the destination on behalf of the Council of Ministers, and the people of Sint Maarten. Minister Arrindell added, We are very excited to share this special moment with you on your inaugural voyage to our beautiful island. Just like the original word Viking, you sailed into our Great Bay, as a true Viking, now in the 21st century, this time around confident in your pursuit of happiness for your passengers. Hector Peters, Acting Human Resources Manager, on behalf of Port St. Maarten management, welcomed the Captain, his crew and passengers to the destination, and wished them a wonderful stay. Plaques were then exchanged as is customary. The dignitaries and stakeholders were escorted to the ship with the Mighty Dow Steel Pan crew in the lead. Cruise passengers were delighted to the local steel pan music display. The welcoming of the Viking Star on its inaugural visit signaling the opening of the 2016-2017 cruise season was also one of Minister Arrindells last official activities. Our harbor where your journey begins and ends is arguably one of the best in the Caribbean. Kudos to our team for being proactive and persistent in its pursuit of providing safety, quality and a diverse product to our customers. It is my sincerest desire that the cooperation between the stakeholders which is the cruise industry, St. Maarten Economic Cruise Association, Government and the Harbour Group of Companies, continues in a true partnership offering only the best in quality for our clients, on and offshore. I take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone with whom I have had the opportunity and pleasure to work with during this past year. As I leave office and look back at our achievements during this period, humbled and proud at the same time of having the chance to welcome with Port St. Maarten some of the most exciting commercial vessels to Sint Maarten. Again, congratulations to the Captain and crew of Viking Star. Wishing you much success and Bon Voyage, Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Ingrid Arrindell concluded. Viking Cruises offers both river cruises and ocean cruises through two product lines, Viking River Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises. The global corporation headquartered in the United States with main operational headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, was established in 1997 by a Scandinavian and Dutch consortium led by Torstein Hagen. In May 2013, the company announced the launch of a new small-ship ocean cruising division, Viking Ocean Cruises, which began with the maiden season of Viking Star in spring of 2015, and features Baltic and Mediterranean itineraries. In 2016 and 2017, Viking Star will be joined by two equally elegant sister ships, Viking Sea and Viking Sky. The Viking Star carries 930 guests. Classified by Cruise Critic as a small ship, Viking Star features understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design. In its debut season, Viking Star was awarded the cruise industrys highest honors, including being named Best New Ocean Ship and scoring a 5-star rating by the editors of Cruise Critic, as well as receiving the highest rating in the mid-size ship category in Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2016. The Viking Star made its first transatlantic crossing and arrived in New York en route to the Caribbean to start its winter sailings as part of its 11-day West Indies Explorer itinerary. On October 11 the vessel officially commemorated its first United States port of call in Boston. Viking Cruises is a small growing cruise line which places emphasis on new ways to bring the lines unique destination-focused approach to more regions of the world. The lines Caribbean itineraries are inspired by iconic 18th-century navigation routes and were developed to highlight the rich history and culture of the region that includes destination Sint Maarten. Viking Star will homeport out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The vessel will return to Europe in February 2017. Secucloud protects IoT devices from botnet threats in telecommunication networks Posted by Publisher Telecommunication Hamburg, Germany. 27 October 2016 The botnet is a popular tool with cyber-criminals as it enables them to distribute malicious software or bring websites down with DDoS attacks. Botnets comprise multiple infected systems and can be controlled remotely for malicious purposes. Smart devices within the internet of things (IoT) are increasingly becoming a target for online fraudsters. For example, a French website hosting firm was the victim of the biggest DDoS attack of all time at the end of September. The attack included security cameras as well as video recorders. The growing threat situation has also prompted Germanys Federal Network Agency to enforce compliance with the new IT security regulations by increasing checks. Its goal is to verify whether telcos are really fulfilling requirements concerning information and protection. To help telcos implement these measures effectively, the German security specialist Secucloud is now providing an IoT Anti-Bot Package. This automatically detects suspicious bot activity and blocks it immediately, even for smart IoT devices. The goal of Germanys new IT security law is to better support the police working to block criminal botnets. Since July 2015, telecommunication providers have been required to inform their customers of suspicious activity that could indicate malware attacks on their users systems. They must also suggest appropriate, effective and accessible technical means of detecting and ideally blocking these malicious attacks. With its IoT Anti-Bot Package, Secucloud enables telcos to meet the Federal Network Agencys requirements and protect customers effectively from botnets. To achieve this, the companys high-performance OEM Cloud Framework uses tools like IDS and IPS systems within its packet analyser module in the Intelligent Algorithm Based Steering Engine (IABS Engine) to detect and immediately block botnet activity. The on-premise cloud system includes highly elastic scaling that can protect large numbers of users up to 100 million effectively. A director node (DiNO) load balancer forms part of the network and automatically distributes traffic directed to it across a sufficient number of filter nodes (SAN). This is controlled by an overarching management instance, the Secucloud Cloud Operations Controller (CLOC). The framework can be optimally integrated into providers networks using the Secucloud systems APIs. Efficient security in the cloud Secucloud specialises in providing security for the internet of things. It offers a comprehensive, completely cloud-based enterprise-class security system for telcos and mobile phone operators that they can install directly into their network infrastructure. This enables them to protect their customers from all cyber-threats on the internet in a centralised way. Customers do not need to install any software on their devices, so no setup or maintenance is required. The Secucloud solution scales elastically and can protect up to 100 million users effectively and in real time. Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER Vitality publishes the second Thursday of each month. To have an event published, it must be sent at least three weeks prior to the monthly publication date. To submit information for the calendar, email jgray@medianewsgroup.com. We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Areas of fog early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 78F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Police released this surveillance image Sunday, Oct. 23, during their search for a man involved in three alleged armed robberies that day. Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea Although planets surround stars in the galaxy, how they form remains a subject of debate. Despite the wealth of worlds in our own solar system, scientists still aren't certain how planets are built. Currently, two theories are duking it out for the role of champion. The first and most widely accepted theory, core accretion, works well with the formation of the terrestrial planets like Venus but has problems with giant planets. The second, the disk instability method, may account for the creation of these giant planets. Scientists are continuing to study planets in and out of the solar system in an effort to better understand which of these methods is most accurate. The core accretion model Approximately 4.6 billion years ago, the solar system was a cloud of dust and gas known as a solar nebula. Gravity collapsed the material in on itself as it began to spin, forming the sun in the center of the nebula. With the rise of the sun, the remaining material began to clump up. Small particles drew together, bound by the force of gravity, into larger particles. The solar wind swept away lighter elements, such as hydrogen and helium, from the closer regions, leaving only heavy, rocky materials to create smaller terrestrial worlds like Venus. But farther away, the solar winds had less impact on lighter elements, allowing them to coalesce into gas giants. In this way, asteroids, comets, planets, and moons were created. Like Earth, the rocky core of Venus formed first, and then gathered lighter elements around it to form its crust and mantle. Venus, like other planets, likely collected the more nebulous pieces that would form its atmosphere. Early in its life, Venus may have had an atmosphere much like Earth holds today. Studies have shown that if water on a young Venus evaporated billions of years ago, the greenhouse levels in the atmosphere would have escalated, giving rise to a runaway greenhouse effect that significantly increased the planet's temperature. Today, thanks to the excess of carbon dioxide and traces of nitrogen, the surface of Venus is hot enough to melt lead. Exoplanet observations seem to confirm core accretion as the dominant formation process. Stars with more "metals" a term astronomers use for elements other than hydrogen and helium in their cores have more giant planets than their metal-poor cousins. According to NASA, core accretion suggests that small, rocky worlds should be more common than the more massive gas giants. The 2005 discovery of a giant planet with a massive core orbiting the sun-like star HD 149026 is an example of an exoplanet that helped strengthen the case for core accretion. "This is a confirmation of the core accretion theory for planet formation and evidence that planets of this kind should exist in abundance," said Greg Henry in a press release. Henry, an astronomer at Tennessee State University, Nashville, detected the dimming of the star. In 2017, the European Space Agency plans to launch the CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS), which will study exoplanets ranging in sizes from super-Earths to Neptune. Studying these distant worlds may help determine how planets in the solar system formed. "In the core accretion scenario, the core of a planet must reach a critical mass before it is able to accrete gas in a runaway fashion," said the CHEOPS team. "This critical mass depends upon many physical variables, among the most important of which is the rate of planetesimals accretion." By studying how growing planets accrete material, CHEOPS will provide insight into how worlds grow. The disk instability model Although the core accretion model works fine for terrestrial planets, gas giants would have needed to evolve rapidly to grab hold of the significant mass of lighter gases they contain. But simulations have not been able to account for this rapid formation. According to models, the process takes several million years, longer than the light gases were available in the early solar system. At the same time, the core accretion model faces a migration issue, as the baby planets are likely to spiral into the sun in a short amount of time. According to a relatively new theory, disk instability, clumps of dust and gas are bound together early in the life of the solar system. Over time, these clumps slowly compact into a giant planet. These planets can form faster than their core accretion rivals, sometimes in as little as a thousand years, allowing them to trap the rapidly-vanishing lighter gases. They also quickly reach an orbit-stabilizing mass that keeps them from death-marching into the sun. According to exoplanetary astronomer Paul Wilson, if disk instability dominates the formation of planets, it should produce a wide number of worlds at large orders. The four giant planets orbiting at significant distances around the star HD 9799 provides observational evidence for disk instability. Fomalhaut b, an exoplanet with a 2,000-year orbit around its star, could also be an example of a world formed through disk instability, though the planet could also have been ejected due to interactions with its neighbors. Pebble accretion The biggest challenge to core accretion is time building massive gas giants fast enough to grab the lighter components of their atmosphere. Recent research on how smaller, pebble-sized objects fused together to build giant planets up to 1000 times faster than earlier studies. "This is the first model that we know about that you start out with a pretty simple structure for the solar nebula from which planets form, and end up with the giant-planet system that we see," study lead author Harold Levison, an astronomer at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Colorado, told Space.com in 2015. In 2012, researchers Michiel Lambrechts and Anders Johansen from Lund University in Sweden proposed that tiny pebbles, once written off, held the key to rapidly building giant planets. "They showed that the leftover pebbles from this formation process, which previously were thought to be unimportant, could actually be a huge solution to the planet-forming problem," Levison said. Levison and his team built on that research to model more precisely how the tiny pebbles could form planets seen in the galaxy today. While previous simulations, both large and medium-sized objects consumed their pebble-sized cousins at a relatively constant rate, Levison's simulations suggest that the larger objects acted more like bullies, snatching away pebbles from the mid-sized masses to grow at a far faster rate. "The larger objects now tend to scatter the smaller ones more than the smaller ones scatter them back, so the smaller ones end up getting scattered out of the pebble disk," study co-author Katherine Kretke, also from SwRI, told Space.com. "The bigger guy basically bullies the smaller one so they can eat all the pebbles themselves, and they can continue to grow up to form the cores of the giant planets." As scientists continue to study planets inside of the solar system, as well as around other stars, they will better understand how Venus and its siblings formed. Follow Nola Taylor Redd on Twitter @NolaTRedd, Facebook or Google+. Follow us at @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Weather on Earth is often a hazard for travelers; after all, snowstorms, hurricanes, floods and other events can make it dangerous to drive or fly. Space travelers have a similar problem when dealing with space weather. As NASA plans to send humans to Mars in the 2030s, work is underway to study how the space weather environment will impact their journey. Explosive "storms" that erupt from the surface of the sun regularly create showers of harmful radiation. Part of NASA's plan for a trip to the Red Planet will have to include space weather forecasting, monitoring and safety measures. Forecasting space weather is also beneficial to people on Earth, especially as humans become more and more dependent on satellites for things like GPS and telecommunications. During a public event hosted at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., yesterday (Oct. 25), scientists discussed current efforts to help all Earthlings cope with space weather events. [Sun In 3D Presented By NASA's STEREO Mission | Video] A coronal mass ejection erupts from the sun, sending powerful particles toward the STEREO probe on July 23, 2012. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/STEREO) The weather on Mars Humans traveling beyond the protection of Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field risk radiation-caused cancers and other diseases. See how space radiation threatens astronauts in this full infographic (Image credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Infographics Artist) Space weather, also known as solar weather, refers to the light, energy and particles that stream off of the sun. The so-called solar wind is a constant stream of particles that stretches all the way beyond Pluto, creating an envelope around the solar system. The sun also releases sporadic, intense bursts of light (solar flares) and eruptions of charged particles (coronal mass ejections, or CMEs). When these particles strike Earth's magnetic field, they can create the natural light show known as the auroras. The particles released by the sun are a type of radiation, and can cause physical harm to humans. People on Earth are protected by Earth's atmosphere and its magnetic field, but without proper shielding, astronauts are exposed to these harsh weather events. Scientists are interested in finding out exactly how much radiation astronauts will be exposed to during a trip to the Red Planet and once they get there, John Grunsfeld, a former astronaut who now serves as associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said at the event. (Mars doesn't have a magnetic field that protects it from space radiation, and its atmosphere is much thinner than Earth's.) Specific questions need to be answered about when astronauts are most vulnerable to space radiation, how that dose will affect the human body over long periods of time, and how to mitigate the health risks of space radiation, he said. (Some of those questions were answered by the rovers that NASA has sent to Mars.) On most days, astronauts in space receive a steady dose of radiation from the solar weather and from radiation coming from outside the solar system. The International Space Station is equipped with shielding to keep that dose as low as possible, but astronauts are more vulnerable during spacewalks, when they are protected only by their suits. Solar flares and CMEs from the sun could deliver potentially devastating doses of radiation to space travelers. Sections of the space station have additional radiation shielding to protect occupants during these solar events. According to Grunsfeld, a solar storm peppered the lunar surface with a radiation shower between the Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 missions to the moon in the early 1970s. If astronauts had been on the moon at the time, they might have received a radiation dose high enough to require immediate medical attention, he said. Humans traveling to Mars will have to deal with these threats as well. "We have a plan that looks at all of the risks of going to Mars, and a big part of it is environmental modeling, monitoring and prediction of solar flares and solar events," Grunsfeld said. "It's not quite as advanced as terrestrial weather [monitoring] now, where we can see a hurricane and try to predict its path and see where it will go. The sun is much more complicated, so there's a lot of knowledge that we still need to gain." That knowledge is coming from many different places. NASA has a fleet of satellites studying the sun, including the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), which has been in operation for 10 years. STEREO consists of two satellites that orbit on opposite sides of the sun, which essentially provides the satellites with depth perception, and the ability to determine where solar eruptions are coming from and where they are heading. STEREO can let people on Earth know when a CME or solar flare is headed their way. This artist's illustration show the position of the twin STEREO satellites and a solar eruption. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center) Close to home Space weather monitoring can also deeply impact people on Earth. CMEs can damage satellites in orbit, including those used for GPS and communications. Very powerful CMEs can even cause surges in power grids on the ground. It can take a CME many hours or days to reach Earth, so it is possible for satellites to go into "safe mode" during these events. This safe mode protects them from damage, as long as a warning system is in place. Just as local weather forecasts can alert people to hazards that may affect their day, solar weather forecasts and announcements could become increasingly relevant to people on the ground as well as people in space, according to Tamitha Skov, a research scientist for The Aerospace Corporation. Skov, who spoke at the event, is also a "space weather broadcaster" who creates videos that provide a picture of current space weather. Currently, the Curiosity Mars rover goes into safe mode when a large burst of radiation is headed toward the Red Planet. In the future, these types of broadcasts would warn astronauts on Mars to seek shelter from solar storms, Skov said. Back on Earth, the forecasts could be just as valuable. In 1986, a massive solar storm hit the Earth and caused a power outage for 6 million people for 9 hours. In addition, Skov said, there were major problems for satellites, leading to the loss of weather satellite images for hours and a shutdown of the Toronto stock market. The Space Shuttle Discovery's fuel sensor also failed, Skov said. Storms that size come around only every 25 to 50 years, Skov said, but smaller storms can still have big impacts. And the space business is growing there are companies that want to offer trips to space for members of the general public, and companies that are using GPS and communications satellites for new technologies such as delivery drones and self-driving cars, Skov said. It appears the need for space weather forecasting is only growing. Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. A satellite-imaging startup wants to make global change transparent, by capturing every part of the planet every day and sharing those images with the world. The company, known as Planet, is aiming to make global change visible, accessible, and actionable for everyone, Will Marshall, the startup's co-founder and CEO, said during an address to the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on Sept. 27, 2015. The company has deployed large fleets of small, inexpensive satellites designed solely to capture images of the planet. "We miniaturized these little satellites, and we put them up [in space] in large fleets in order to image the planet, with their little cameras going around the Earth," Marshall said during a talk at the Bloomberg Technology Conference in June. "We've put up 133 of these satellites. It's the largest fleet of satellites doing Earth imaging in history, and the goal is to image every single point on the Earth's surface every day." [Earth from Above: 101 Stunning Images from Orbit] The satellites are indeed miniaturized. During the Bloomberg talk, Marshall showed off one of the satellites, which was about the size of a loaf of bread. In comparison, Marshall said, most commercial satellites are about the size of a double-decker bus. Those large satellites are also expensive, and they typically target larger areas or focus on certain projects. Planets satellites currently capture about 9.8 feet (3 meters) of resolution per pixel, and can be refined to be so precise that they track every tree on the planet each day to monitor deforestation in real-time, Marshall said. Planet's network of tiny satellites is currently photographing half of Earth's landmass every day. The company told Quartz that in September 2016 alone, the satellites imaged 91 percent of the planet's landmass. Planet has already begun sharing its data with organizations such as Amnesty International, which used the company's imagery to track refugee camps in Syria. The Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project used Planet's images to locate illegal mining and deforestation in Peru. Planet's imagery is also being used to develop new technologies, such as Descartes Labs' project on machine-learning technology that is used to forecast land-use trends for farmers. Recently, Planet signed an agreement with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the U.S. government's source of geospatial intelligence, the company announced on its blog last week. "As the resurgence of commercial space continues, we're eager to help commercial companies, humanitarian organizations and organized governments around the world harness the power of space for the benefit of life down here on Earth," Jen Marcus, director of U.S. Government Strategic Partnerships for Planet, wrote in a blog post on the Planet website. Original article on Live Science. The space shuttle was NASA's primary option for transporting astronauts to Earth orbit between 1981 and 2011. The five shuttles that went into space flew 135 missions. Crews deployed satellites, conducted experiments and studied the Earth. A handful of the missions were classified, and little is known about these secret missions, even 30 years after the fact. Joint operations In the early days of the space shuttle program, some of the missions were run jointly by NASA and the military. This was in part because the National Reconnaissance Office had successfully requested the shuttle's payload bay the part of the shuttle that carried satellites be carried into space be enlarged to accommodate large military satellites, according to Air & Space Magazine. NRO also wanted polar shuttle missions, since polar missions make it possible to see the Earth's entire surface below (as opposed to equatorial missions, which are limited.) The Air Force went so far as to create a launch pad in Vandenberg, California for polar-orbiting space shuttle missions, but after the Challenger incident, plans to use the pad were permanently mothballed. After the Challenger disaster on Jan. 28, 1986, U.S. policy changed to allow the Department of Defense to use expendable, uncrewed rockets again. Classified shuttle flights continued with payloads that could not be shifted to the Titan IV rocket, the magazine added. The astronauts encountered considerable challenges in keeping information secret since the shuttle did not have secure information channels, and their movements and training operations had to be somehow kept separate in a normally open public agency. Here is some of what we know about the missions with DOD. STS-4 Columbia (Launched June 27, 1982) The classified payload was known as Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrument for Shuttle (CIRRIS), which was supposed to test infrared sensors for a future surveillance satellite called Teal Ruby, according to America Space. The lens cap on CIRRIS failed to open, and the experiment failed. America Space added that Teal Ruby ended up being cancelled after the Challenger incident, which delayed shuttle flights by several years. "Teal Ruby was first shifted onto STS-39 and finally cancelled," the publication said. "By the time STS-39 lifted off in April 1991, it carried not Teal Ruby but an updated version of CIRRIS. Apparently, by the time it would have been ready to launch, the Teal Ruby technology considered 'advanced' in the late 1970s would be virtually obsolete, because sensor technology was advancing rapidly." STS-51C Discovery (Launched Jan. 24, 1985) Little is known about STS-51C's payload officially besides this terse line on the NASA website: "The U.S. Air Force Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster was deployed and met the mission objectives." Multiple sources suggest that the satellite deployed was called Magnum/ORION ELINT, a signals intelligence program about which little is known. Before launch, no pre-flight commentary was available until nine minutes before liftoff a first in the shuttle program. STS-51J Atlantis (Launched Oct. 3, 1985) Two Defense Satellite Communications System satellites were released on this mission, according to NASA. The system is intended to support secure data and voice transmissions for military users from across the globe. STS-62A Discovery (Cancelled) This mission was supposed to be the first one using the Air Force pad in Vandenberg, Calif., but it was cancelled after the Challenger explosion. Its main mission was to put Teal Ruby into orbit, according to NASASpaceflight.com. STS-27 Atlantis (Launched Dec. 2, 1988) It's probable that the crew released a satellite called ONYX, which had radar on board capable of observing targets on the ground through any kind of weather or cloud cover. According to Air&Space Magazine, one of the satellite's antenna dishes did not open and the crew possibly although it's not confirmed officially did a spacewalk to fix the issue. STS-28 Columbia (Launched Aug. 8, 1989) Air&Space Magazine reports that STS-28 hauled the Satellite Data System spacecraft into orbit; SDS was supposed to relay imagery from other military satellites. The magazine got confirmation on this from an Air Force officer, who was not named in the story. STS-33 Discovery (Launched Nov. 22, 1989) NASA's website simply says this was a Department of Defense mission. The payload has not been confirmed. STS-36 Atlantis (Launched Feb. 28, 1990) There are many theories as to what STS-36 carried, but nothing has been officially confirmed. The shuttle's ground track took it as high as 62 degrees, which is a record for the shuttle program. STS-38 Atlantis (Launched Nov. 15, 1990) NASA's website only says that this was a Department of Defense mission. No confirmed information about the payload is available. STS-39 Discovery (Launched April 28, 1991) The Air Force partially declassified this mission before launch. The unclassified payload was known as Air Force Program-675 (AFP-675), which was an updated version of CIRRIS. According to NASA, the classified payload "consisted of Multi-Purpose Release Canister (MPEC)," but no further information appears to be available. STS-53 Discovery (Launched Dec. 2, 1992) The main payload for this mission remains classified, with little information about what it could be. A computer-assisted model of the Mars 2020 rover, which is expected to look for signs of habitable environments on the Red Planet. It also will cache samples for possible return to Earth by another mission. Single-celled microbes are considered a living example of the kind of life that might exist elsewhere in the universe, as they are able to survive some of the extreme conditions that exist on other worlds. New research on the bacterium Tepidibacillus decaturensis shows that it could be a model organism for what might live on Mars, should any creature inhabit the Red Planet. This microorganism, found in water more than a mile underground in the Illinois Basin in a formation known as Mount Simon Sandstone, has been shown to be moderately tolerant of heat and salt and able to persist in an anoxic environment. Mars itself is believed to harbor similarly briny surface water without the presence of oxygen. A paper based on this research, entitled "Tepidibacillus decaturensissp. nov.: a microaerophilic, moderately thermophilic iron-reducing bacterium isolated from a depth of 1.7 km in the Illinois Basin, USA," was published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. [The Life on Mars Search: Photo Timeline] The research was led by Yiran Dong, a research scientist at the Carl R. Woese Institute of Genomic Biology, Robert Sanford, a geomicrobiologist and research associate professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and Bruce W. Fouke, a professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and was co-funded by the NASA Astrobiology Institute and the National Energy Technology Laboratory. Drilling for CO 2 sequestration The research team piggybacked on drilling activity completed by the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC), which includes the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). Supported by the Department of Energy, this project is evaluating locations for storing carbon underground to sequester the enormous volume of CO 2 emissions being produced by ADM industrial food production, Sanford explained. An image of recurring slope lineae on Mars, which are believed to represent the movement of briny water on the Red Planet's surface. These areas may be hospitable to microbes. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona) The research team participated in two drill sessions that were completed on the grounds of the ADM facility in Decatur, Illinois. Both wells are within 1,000 feet of one another and clean deep, subsurface groundwater was collected at a variety of depths. The target lithology of the Mount Simon sandstone in this central portion of the Illinois Basin ranges from 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) to 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) in burial depth. This habitat also happens to have iron oxide minerals coating the sandstone grains, which is also true of much of the surface of Mars. There have been some iron-reducers [bacteria] found at deep subsurface environments, Sanford said. These organisms have respiratory functions for reducing iron; they are reducing iron like we use oxygen. They use ferric iron to breathe. The bacterium they were studying, however, is a fermentative organism. Another example of this kind of organism is yeast, a fungus that converts sugar to alcohol through enzymes. Tepidibacillus decaturensis does not use iron to breathe, but it uses iron to sustain its metabolism in a very similar fashion to how yeast produce ethanol to sustain theirs. Further research The team is analyzing the genomic composition of Tepidibacillus decaturensis. Luckily, they have found another, separate iron-reducing bacterium from the same geological formation called Orenia metallireducens, the first known bacterial species in genus Orenia that reduces ferric to ferrous iron. (A study based on this finding was recently accepted in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.) The combination of these two iron-reducing bacteria will allow the scientists to conduct comparative studies of their metabolisms and ecology, permitting them to further explore these novel metal-reducing mechanisms. Two iron-dependent organisms in a similar environment provide valuable comparisons to understand how life behaves in these deep, hostile environments. Aqua satellite image of the states of Illinois and Missouri. The Illinois Basin underlies much of the area. (Image credit: LANCE MODIS Rapid Response) In previous work published in the journal Genome Announcements earlier in 2016, the team presented the first sequenced genome of Tepidibacillus decaturensis. They found nearly 3,000 protein-coding genes and 52 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes; tRNA is used to decode messenger RNA sequences into proteins. "We are trying to see whether there are some new [gene] features to set up experiments to test them, and thus explore for the first time the deep evolutionary history of these organisms on Earth and potentially Mars," Dong said of the ongoing work. NEW YORK The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Rocket Lab plays a direct and extensive role in advancing rocket propulsion technology but you'd never see its sticker on the finished engines. Rather, the lab does fundamental research into solid, liquid and in-space propulsion, and tests out the futuristic technology on the small and extremely large scale at the Edwards Air Force Base in California before passing the results on to aerospace companies. Space.com talked with Rocket Lab Director Shawn Phillips recently aboard the floating Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City, to get the scoop on what Rocket Lab engineers do, how to replace Russia's widely used RD-180 rocket engine and what's in store for the future of rocket propulsion. [Amazing Rocket Launch Photos (Gallery)] Shawn Phillips, director of the Air Force Research Laboratory Rocket Lab. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory) Space.com: What does the AFRL Rocket Lab do? Shawn Phillips: A lot of people would hear about NASA, the engineering marvels they do. You hear about Aerojet Rocketdyne, you'll hear about SpaceX, you'll hear about Blue [Origin]. But no one's ever heard about where that technology comes from; who's doing the fundamental research; who's doing the demonstrators, the component-level research; and who's really paving the way of what's the next liquid-rocket engine, solid-rocket motor or satellite propulsion system that's out there. That's us. Space.com: So you do fundamental research, build components and demonstrate new rocket technology? Phillips: Yes and at that point, we don't do the next step. We take things to that level, kind of like a demonstrator level, and then we hand it off to each and every industrial company that's interested in it. So even if we have a contract with an Orbital ATK, an Aerojet Rocketdyne, all of [the] industry gets the technology that the Air Force developed so the transitions are successful and everybody's on the same page. Our researchers will publish in top-rated fundamental journals. But then, at the same time, we also have the testing capabilities to do everything. We do things from nano-newton thrusters for in-space, that basically couldn't lift a piece of paper, all the way to we have the capability to test up to 10 million lbs. [4.5 million kilograms] of thrust, which really is equivalent to about 123 Hoover Dams going at once. Space.com: What would a test site for that even look like? Phillips: The way our test site is, we probably have the most unique whole-house rocket propulsion test capability in the world. We do everything from satellites, which are those small thrusters and we have chambers for that that can do duration testings from six months to two years or so for the satellite thrusters that need to last that long [to] solid motor tests that actually can be quite big, like, for example, the strap-ons for the [United Launch Alliance] Atlas V [rocket]. And then we do the big ones [that] can handle about 3 million lbs. [1.4 million kg] of thrust. To give you a feel for that, the space shuttle main engine, when you have those three engines going at once in the center core of liquid engines each one of those [is] about 450,000 lbs. [200,000 kg] of thrust. This thing can handle multiple engines of that size. [Space History Photo: Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Test Firing] We're out in the middle of the Mojave Desert, so there's good and bad. We're in the middle of nowhere, so human encroachment is not an issue [and] the test stands we used in the 1960s and '70s are still good because we don't have rust. There's no humidity, there's no moisture buildup usually, and so those test stands can last for that long. And these test stands can take, these days, upwards and past a quarter of a billion dollars to build. An AFRL Rocket Lab sub-scale oxygen-rich preburner test, as part of their effort to replace Russia's RD-180 rocket engine, used in the Atlas V launch vehicle's first stage. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory) Space.com: And that can accelerate the development of new tech? Phillips: A lot of times, companies and even the rest of the government will be constrained by timelines. And so our job is to have everything prepped for them so that when they're ready to go to the next thing like when they have to go demonstrate a launch vehicle, demonstrate a new liquid rocket engine that we can transition all the technology we have to them, reduce the risk for them so they can actually go forward and develop that component. Because the companies are not going to want to invest five years and anywhere upward of $15 million on addressing combustion stability, which is really when you put your fuel and oxidizer together, they react. Only you're doing this at thousands of degrees and also thousands of pounds per square inch. If they react badly, you detonate. So you really want to understand the physics first, and what's going on and how the mixing phenomenon happens. That's what we do. Space.com: That requires predicting what everyone's going to get to next, right? Phillips: What we are successful at, really, is predicting the future or having the crystal ball. It looks like it's something magical, it looks like something that you just stare in to see how you get from Point A to Point B, but there's a lot of work that goes into that. How we predict the future, really, is we develop the trade space, not the point design. A lot of people look and say, "I want this," but in 17 years, "this" is no longer valid. So we say, "OK, you want these set of things; let's pull it down to requirements." You can pick from a suite of technologies we tested and decide what you really want. Right now, we're trying, as a nation, to come up with a way to not be reliant on the RD-180, the Russian engine. Our job is to say "OK, we have developed this component, and all the understanding of the technology for you for that one." But there may be something else, like reusability, where we say, "That's not really important for the Air Force right now, so we're not going to demonstrate a lot of reusability goals for right now." But we carry things along in the trade space until we get to the final point where it looks like it'd be a nice transition for our customer, which, in this case, is the [Air Force's] Space and Missile [Systems] Center. Space.com: Are you working on something to use in U.S. rockets besides that Russian engine? Phillips: Our program, the Hydrocarbon Boost program, really is to replace the RD-180. The way I can liken this to you is, the U.S. has an industrial base of building something like a semitruck engine. The Russians have a Lamborghini. There's no way to deny that. That is a beautiful system, that engine, the RD-180. So we have experts on how to build truck engines, not Lamborghinis. We have to retool the entire industrial base and our knowledge to be able to work on this ox[idizer]-rich staged combustion engine, which is really to work on Lamborghinis. I love the semitruck. This thing is big, powerful; it's got us to the moon. It's got us to space with the [United Launch Alliance] Delta IV [rocket], with the RS-68 engine that's in there. But we do have the fundamental issue that we want to move to that higher-performance engine. Hydrocarbon Boost is doing all the development work so that we have an industrial base that understands how to do ox-rich staged combustion, and how to test out every one of those components to show that they work and then work in an integrated system. And then we hand that to every industrial partner, and they get to use that in their designs as they go forward. Each one will take some parts, [and] they can decide what they want to use as they develop theirs. Space.com: When might we see some of this showing up in actual rockets? Phillips: We have a need by 2022, where the U.S. wants to launch a vehicle with an engine to replace the RD-180 and/or the Atlas V. SpaceX, as you are aware, is looking at a completely new vehicle, the Falcon 9 Heavy, whereas ULA [United Launch Alliance] is looking at the Vulcan to replace it. But they may use either Blue Origin's engine, the BE-4, or they may use Aerojet Rocketdyne's AR-1. You could see the technology any time in that 2022 time frame. This is what we'd typically see with liquid rocket engines we typically have a changeover in launch vehicles for the nation about every 20 years. It's like 17.5, 18 years. You're not going to see rapid transitions, because technology takes that long in developing rockets. [For] solid rocket motors, it's about 10 to 15 years, and for in-space propulsion, satellite propulsion, you can see transitions at 5- to 10-year marks. A laboratory-scale liquid rocket engine test at AFRL Rocket Lab. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory) Space.com: So what's the future of rocket propulsion? Phillips: If we say we have a "crystal ball," then we have to actually come out and say "Here's what it is." Modeling and simulation have done a complete paradigm shift in how we do rocket development, [and so has] additive manufacturing [aka 3D printing]. We know that with rockets, we're doing one-off designs. We need to take advantage of additive manufacturing we're going to what we want to call "modular rocket engines." We can't afford rocket tests that can cost over a billion dollars anymore, so we need to take advantage of modularity. We don't want to just cluster engines; we want to build the components, test them out at the smaller level, because it's lower-cost, and then put them together in an integrated system and fire them. On that also, there's something called "rotating detonating engines," and basically, what happens is, you have a detonation wave as opposed to combustion. You're basically detonating things, and it's a lot more energy-efficient. The nice thing about that, that's lower-pressure, too. When we say we're going lower-pressure, we're looking at both these RDEs [Russian RD engines]. And the Russians have been talking about that, and we're looking at these modular rocket engines as where the future is for space access. [Gallery: Future Visions of Human Spaceflight] Space.com: What about in-space propulsion, like satellites? Phillips: That's a fun one to predict. We developed one of only two green propellants for in-space chemical propulsion. Right now, we use something called monomethylhydrazine, and the good news about that is that if you inhale it, it could kill you in a matter of minutes. We developed a green propellant that actually has better performance, but also goes from having one of these what they call Class A scuba suits, which basically are fully encased breathing apparatuses, to where all you need is a face shield, latex gloves and a regular splash guard and that's it; you're good. That's the future. And we're actually flying that with a NASA mission called GPIM, the Green Propellant Infusion Mission, in 2017 on a Falcon 9 Heavy, by the way. It's going to launch us up there. That's where the future is we're getting away from the toxic propellants for in-space chemical. For electro-propulsion, we're looking at taking advantage of what a lot of [the] industry has done, but also academia: what's called electrosprays. These things are very low-thrust, but there's a lot of reasons the Air Force may need them, so we're learning how to optimize that thrust fundamental science to explore the physics behind the generation of those particles, and how you actually eject them out of the thruster. Ideally, in the future, you'd want a system that has both [electrical and chemical propulsion], and that's the beauty of what we're trying to work toward here. Space.com: How do you fit in with the new private spaceflight companies? Phillips: The new entrants really don't want traditional government contracts, so when we have something out, they're not going to be interested in that. What we had to do is change our mindset on how we deal with technology transition to them. And so we work a lot on joint research cooperative research and development agreements. Those are called CRADAs. Basically, we have agreements that are more [like] sharing technology, exchanging it as opposed to them having to be on a government contract. Some of the companies don't like us to even though we work with them, they want to keep kind of hush; it's the competitive edge. Other companies are very open. But I can tell you right now, almost all the companies work with us, whether through an official contract or through these cooperative research agreements. Space.com: Any final thoughts? Phillips: People need to understand that there actually is this organization out there that is doing this work and addressing these issues. You may never see us; you may never know what's going on with us. But we are at the forefront of technology to develop the things that will keep our nation ahead of our foreign competitors, our foreign adversaries. This interview has been edited for length. Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Zoomed-in view of an Oct. 25, 2016, image from the HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter showing the crater gauged out by the impact of Europe's Schiaparelli lander on Oct. 19, 2016 (center). The inset at upper right shows the vehicles front heat shield. Europe's ExoMars lander gouged out a crater 1.6 feet (0.5 meters) deep and nearly 8 feet (2.4 m) wide when it crashed into the Red Planet's surface last week, a new photo by a NASA Mars orbiter reveals. The lander, known as Schiaparelli, apparently deployed its parachute prematurely and didn't fire its thrusters nearly long enough to pull off a soft landing as planned on Oct. 19, European Space Agency (ESA) officials have said. The new image, which was captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) on Tuesday (Oct. 25), shows the aftermath of Schiaparelli's violent impact. [In Photos: Europe's Schiaparelli Mars Landing Day] This Oct. 25, 2016, image from the HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the area where Europe's Schiaparelli lander struck Mars. The inset at center shows where the main lander hit; at bottom is Schiaparellis parachute and back heat shield, while the inset at upper right shows the front heat shield. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona) First of all, there's the main crater, which the lander blasted out when it hit the surface at a speed of about 180 mph (300 km/h). The fuzzy dark smudges around the central crater are difficult to interpret at the moment, ESA officials said: These markings are asymmetrical, which suggests that the impactor was traveling at a low angle to the ground, but Schiaparelli should have been descending pretty much perpendicular to the surface when it hit. "It is possible the hydrazine propellant tanks in the module exploded preferentially in one direction upon impact, throwing debris from the planets surface in the direction of the blast, but more analysis is needed to explore this idea further," ESA officials wrote in an update today (Oct. 27). "An additional long, dark arc is seen to the upper right of the dark patch but is currently unexplained," they added. "It may also be linked to the impact and possible explosion." About 0.9 miles (1.4 kilometers) south of this crater is a bright feature above a smaller gray disk, which are almost certainly Schiaparelli's 39-foot-wide (12 m) parachute and its attached rear heat shield, respectively, ESA officials said. Another bright feature 0.9 miles (1.4 km) east of the Schiaparelli crater is probably the lander's front heat shield, they added. "The mottled bright and dark appearance of this feature is interpreted as reflections from the multilayered thermal insulation that covers the inside of the front heatshield. Further imaging from different angles should be able to confirm this interpretation," ESA officials wrote in the update. "The dark features around the front heatshield are likely from surface dust disturbed during impact." Schiaparelli launched in March 2016 along with the Trace Gas Orbiter. Together, the two spacecraft make up the ExoMars 2016 mission the first part of the two-phase ExoMars program, which ESA leads with assistance from its chief partner, the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos. The second phase of ExoMars aims to land a life-hunting rover on the Red Planet's surface in 2021. Schiaparelli's main goal was to test out the technologies needed to get this rover down safely, and the data gathered during the lander's Oct. 19 descent should be helpful in this regard, ESA officials have said. The ExoMars team expects to wrap up its investigation into what exactly happened during Schiaparelli's descent by mid-November, ESA officials added. The landing site of ExoMars Schiaparelli lander within the predicted landing ellipse (top), along with zoomed-in, before-and-after views (bottom left and bottom right, respectively) showing evidence of the landers crash on Oct. 19, 2016. (Image credit: Main image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS, Arizona State University; inserts: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS) TGO, for its part, aced a crucial orbit-insertion burn on Oct. 19 and is in good shape as it loops around Mars on a highly elliptical, four-day-long orbit, mission team members said. Early next year, the spacecraft will begin moving into its final science orbit, a circular path with an altitude of 250 miles (400 km). TGO should reach that orbit by March 2018, at which point the spacecraft will begin hunting for buried water ice and sniffing the Martian atmosphere for methane and other gases that could be signs of life. This science mission will last for about two years. TGO will also serve as a communications relay for the ExoMars rover and other surface craft before ending operations in 2022. MRO took the new photo with its supersharp High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera. The Schiaparelli crash site was first identified last week in images captured by MRO's lower-resolution CTX camera. Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. London, October 26, 2016 (SPS) - The British organization for human rights defence in Western Sahara, Adala UK, has denounced Wednesday Morocco's continuing strategy for the isolation of Sahrawi people by denying entry to international observers, journalists and pro-Sahrawi activists. Adala UK said that dozens of activists, journalists and international observers who attempted to enter the occupied city of Al Ayun in response to calls from the Sahrawi NGO community to lift the blockade imposed by Morocco on the region "were expelled." Human rights activists who wanted to participate in non-violent resistance activities against the Moroccan occupation were also expelled or denied entry by the Makhzen forces, in order to hide the daily human rights abuses in the region from the international opinion, added the British NGO. Adala UK said that in September, the Moroccan security forces expelled the French Le Monde journalist Camille Larco upon her arrival at the international airport of Dahkla. Two activists of the Spanish National Youth Council, Julia Prieto and Ruben Campos, were also expelled, added the British NGO. The Moroccan government attempts to justify those unacceptable behaviours by denouncing the visitors as "pro-Sahrawi radicals" and accusing them of wanting to disturb the peace, said the NGO, adding that 83 people have been denied entry to the occupied territories since the beginning of the year. Other European activists managed to enter the Occupied Territories but were later expelled and sent to Moroccan cities. "Through these manoeuvres, the Moroccan authorities attempt to prevent all forms of investigation and criticism of the crimes committed against the Sahrawi population by Morocco in the occupied territories of Western Sahara," said Adala UK. The British NGO also "strongly" condemned the imposed blockade on the occupied Sahrawi territories and urged the United Nations to assume their responsibilities regarding the Western Sahara conflict, calling for the lifting of the blockade. (SPS) 062/090/700 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD The entrepreneurs who gathered Wednesday in Stamford to pitch their businesses to potential investors were not looking to take over a room; they had to command the backseat. In a new spin on business meet-ups, the 27 business leaders made their cases during 15-minute rides in Uber vehicles. The mobile meetings make up a key part of Fueling the Growth with UberPitch, a new nationwide pitch competition for technology-focused and women-led companies organized by Westport-based business accelerator The Refinery, with support from Uber and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Together, the three organizations have created a purse of $120,000 in grants. The competition aims to tackle a persistent lack of access to funding for women entrepreneurs. Women-led startups received less than 3 percent of venture capital from 2011 to 2013, according to The Refinery co-founder Janis Collins. Women are not getting access to venture capital, said Jennifer Gabler, The Refinerys other co-founder. And the reason theyre not doing that is because they dont have the connections to get in the door to meet with venture investors. The whole point here was to put a woman entrepreneur in real time, face to face, with an investor and make those connections happen very immediately, right there, in that car. Some of the entrepreneurs said they were initially skeptical about the premise of pitching their businesses in an Uber vehicle, but that they realized its value after participating. The investor is totally focused on you, said Ashwini Anburajan, founder and CEO of OpenUp, a New York City startup that recruits customers to share data with brands in exchange for rewards and incentives. She is not looking at her email at the same time, not looking at what else is going on, which is what often can happen in a meeting. I think that focused attention was a positive thing. Anbujaran landed a follow-up meeting with the investor with whom she met. Fellow New York City-based entrepreneur Jeanne Pinder said that she also struck up a rapport with the investor in her meeting. Its a great opportunity to expand your network, said Pinder, founder and CEO of Clear Health Costs, a New York City firm that aims to make the health care market more transparent by sharing prices for medical procedures and items. I always figure you should talk to as many people as possible. Investors said they were impressed by the quality of the pitches. Once the entrepreneur gets rolling, their enthusiasm really comes out, and I was zoning right in, said Tracey Killoren Chadwell, partner at the Greenwich-based 1843 Capital. I hardly noticed I was in a car because you get so enrapt by their enthusiasm and their story and what theyre doing. Fueling the Growth attracted almost 300 applications for 150 pitch slots. In addition, Fueling the Growth also organized Uber meetings Wednesday in New Haven; Providence, R.I.; Washington, D.C. and Kansas City, Mo. Uber officials said that the competition aligned with their companys values. The technology firm had already established a tradition of entrepreneur-investor meetings in their vehicles in cities around the world. You often hear these days that if youre able to pitch your company in the amount of time of an Uber ride, then youre good to go, said Britta Mulderrig, Uber Connecticuts head of marketing. We really wanted to partner with The Refinery because its important to highlight female empowerment. Were trying to get females in leadership positions and help companies that have females leading them. Twenty semifinalists who participated in this weeks pitches will be chosen to present Nov. 16 at the Stamford Innovation Center. A pitch-off featuring that group will determine the final 10. Three or four winners will share the $120,000 purse. The Innovation Center also served as the competitions base of operations on Wednesday. I think this is a great format because it forces the entrepreneur to be concise and direct, said Stamford Innovation Center Managing Partner Barry Schwimmer, one of the Stamford investors. I like the relaxed atmosphere. ... Its great that theyre locating it here. A all-women team of drivers chauffeured the pitch sessions around the city. They said they gleaned a number of business insights from listening to the meetings. I was amazed by the fact that it was actually comprehensible in that time frame, said Soraya Nims-Berry, who drove Chadwell during the pitches. Quite a few of them had multiple aspects of their businesses, but they were able to touch on everything. It didnt sound like a crazy, mismatched puzzle. Everything fit together. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County needs to fill its freezers with turkeys before Thanksgiving. Kathleen Lombardo, director of the Food Bank, said she will need about 15,000 birds to get through the holiday, when the nonprofit supplies turkeys to 97 agencies and programs in Stamford, Norwalk, Wilton, Darien, New Canaan and Greenwich. We provide to these agencies who in turn provide food and resources to constituents, Lombardo said. Hunger is a symptom of a larger issue, and that underlying issue needs to be taken care of. We just provide the food a family needs until it can be stabilized. Lombardo said the Food Bank prefers to have donations dropped off at their facility at 461 Glenbrook Rd. Turkeys or monetary contributions to purchase them, are welcome. The facility is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but representatives are often around as late as 7 p.m. during the month of November to collect Thanksgiving donations. To schedule a donation drop off, call the food banks main office at (203) 358-8898 or call Lombardo directly at (203) 918-9615. The Food Bank also benefits from several local turkey drives, the first of which will be hosted by the Rotary Club on Nov. 19 at the Ridgeway Stop and Shop supermarket. We are asking the community to please donate in any way you can through local food drives or through us directly. We need turkeys and we need them badly, Lombardo said. Thanksgiving is a time when children arent getting subsidized lunches or parents arent working to make money. These families need food in their homes. nora.naughton@scni.com; twitter.com/noranaughton BRIDGEPORT A former home improvement contractor, convicted of ripping off more than a dozen homeowners across the state, will be home by Thanksgiving. Recently denied parole after serving seven years of a 12-year prison sentence, Gary Girasulo has done enough time, a judge ruled Thursday. By law, you are not entitled to have your sentence reduced, but Im going to do it anyway, Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin told Girasulo during a brief hearing. In the overall interests of justice, you have served enough time. The judge ordered Girasulo released from prison on Nov. 15. He will then serve 980 days of probation. Thank you, your honor, Girasulo responded, shaking hands with his lawyer, Ira Grudberg. He told the judge that once he is released, he will be living in Orange. States Attorney John Smriga declined comment. In January 2009, the now 54-year-old Girasulo was sentenced to 12 years in prison believed to be the highest prison term ever imposed on a home-improvement contractor in Connecticut for fleecing homeowners, violating his probation and then fleeing on the day he was originally supposed to be sentenced. Girasulo was accused of fraud totaling more than $201,000 from more than a dozen homeowners in Fairfield, Easton, Ansonia, Stratford, Redding, Derby, Ridgefield, Norwalk, New Haven and Guilford since April 1999. In the case of an Easton woman, Girasulo took apart her kitchen, shut off the electricity and cut a huge hole in the side of the house for a bay window, but never returned to finish the job, police said. It cost the woman and her husband $40,000 to repair the damage. Girasulo defrauded a Stamford couple, wrote bad checks to a Woodbury lumber company and defrauded a Ridgefield woman of more than $10,000 for a project that was not completed. Girasulo who had no home-improvement license but advertised himself as a home remodeler would agree to do a job, but then tell the client he would need a substantial down payment to buy materials, according to police. Once Girasulo got the money, the client would never see him again, prosecutors said. In November 2002, Girasulo was been placed on probation after pleading guilty to 10 counts of home-improvement fraud, seven counts of first-degree larceny and a number of other larceny charges. A condition of his probation was that Girasulo make restitution to all his victims. However, Girasulo instead used the restitution money to gamble in Atlantic City and the Mohegan Sun casino, according to court records. In September 2008, Girasulo pleaded guilty to 16 counts of violating the terms of his earlier probation but then skipped town before sentencing was imposed and had to be tracked down in Manhattan by the U.S. Marshal Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force. He also previously pleaded guilty to attempted assault on an officer for nearly running down a State Police detective who tried to arrest him on Oct. 26, 2001, outside a New Haven restaurant. STAMFORD There was a celebration, of sorts, on Wood Ridge Drive South in October 2011, when the city confirmed what residents had known for nearly two decades. Their neighbor was running an illegal rooming house. The revelation in Long Ridge came at about the same time residents of Haig Avenue began complaining about a rooming house in their Springdale neighborhood. That was five years ago. But action may come quicker in Springdale. Its because city officials have newly discovered an old tool in the States Attorneys Office the administrative search warrant. Such a warrant, issued by a judge, allows city officials to inspect a home when they have reason to suspect a public-health nuisance. It means health, zoning, fire and other officials may enter a home even when the owner has refused them. It could mean that residents complaints about illegal rooming houses will no longer languish, as they have, for years. When we knock on the door and are not allowed in, when we send a notice to inspect and still cant get in, when we have to go back again and again, it gives the owner or the tenants time to correct situations, said Ronald Miller, director of environmental inspection for the Stamford Health Department. They clean everything up, then let us in. So we dont see any violations. Its frustrating. But now they have administrative search warrants. Weve known about the warrants but weve used them only twice in the past, as far as I know, said Miller, who organizes the inspection teams, made up of health, zoning, fire, police and social services officials. The assistant states attorney who prosecutes housing matters would leave or get transferred, then wed have to wait for a new one, Miller said. But now we have a permanent person who works with us. Its true that there has not consistently been a housing prosecutor in the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District, said Judith Dicine, supervisory assistant states attorney for housing matters in Connecticut. The last person to have the job full time retired eight years ago. There have been staffing constraints statewide, Dicine said. It hasnt been the best situation for the locals who rely on our office, but there has always been a prosecutor they could call. Warrants were available. I cant speak to why Stamford didnt know they could work with someone else in our office. Stamford wasnt alone, Dicine said. There are definitely other municipalities that didnt seem to know they had this remedy, and there are definitely some municipal leaders who are hesitant to have code officers employ these tools because they think they are invasive, she said. Thats why a judge decides. Help warranted Whatever the cause for the gap, Stamford now has Assistant States Attorney Donna Krusinski Parker to help investigate reports of illegal rooming houses. Parker also handles the Fairfield Judicial District, Dicine said. Stamford officials now apply for search warrants as needed, Miller said. Besides the one for Haig Avenue, we just got another warrant for a house on High Ridge Road, Miller said. People will see things move a little faster because we can get inside. Health, zoning, fire and other officials first must make a reasonable attempt to get the homeowner to let them in, Dicine said. The owner has a right to refuse, but the code officials still have an obligation to do an inspection, so they can ask a judge to override the refusal. The states attorneys office also is obligated to protect the rights of the homeowner, Dicine said. The public has the very important right of privacy, so we use warrants cautiously, Dicine said. But there is no reason for code officials to walk away from their obligation to inspect. They just have to prove to a judge that they have a statutory or regulatory requirement to do the inspection and they cant get in. Inspectors often make repeated visits from early in the morning to late at night asking again and again to be allowed in, Miller said. It cant cross over into harassment, he said. We have to tread lightly. We cant keep going back and not find anything wrong, Miller said. City officials have cited that as a reason for long delays in resolving what appear to be clear cases of illegal rooming houses in neighborhoods. Neighbors know In 2011 Zoning Enforcement Officer James Lunney said the city was not able to act on reports from Wood Ridge Drive South residents even though inspectors had visited the house several times. Inspectors were not able to gather enough evidence to make a case, Lunney said at the time. Residents were surprised. Theyd repeatedly reported seeing many different people coming and going, cars parked everywhere, a makeshift garage on the lawn, piles of garbage, rats, and recurring advertisements touting rooms for rent. The Advocate published residents efforts, and officials shut the rooming house down after that. Inside the 2,500-square-foot raised ranch, officials found nine makeshift bedrooms, six bathrooms and two kitchens. There were 12 tenants, including an infant, a toddler, and a registered sex offender. The homeowner was charging $625 a month per room. There were overloaded electrical outlets and extension cords everywhere, two bedrooms beside the boiler in the basement, large piles of combustible material such as clothing, insufficient ventilation, and other violations. Other residents have similarly complained about a 2,950-square-foot ranch on Haig Avenue. But they may not have to wait as long for action. Using an administrative search warrant, city inspectors entered the Haig Avenue house this month and found seven tenants and a keylock on a bedroom door, Miller said. Keylocks and padlocks on bedroom doors violate health and fire codes. Clean it up Miller said the homeowner agreed to remove the keylock; reduce the number of tenants to four, in accordance with zoning regulations; allow city officials access without another warrant; stop parking cars on the lawn and restore the grass. Inspectors attempted to revisit the house to see whether the homeowner has complied with the orders, but no one was home to let them in, a health official said, and they will try again. Stamford, like other cities nationwide, fields many complaints about suspected illegal apartments and rooming houses, said Elizabeth Carlson, spokeswoman for Mayor David Martin. Rising housing costs (have) made it easier for unscrupulous landlords to take advantage of residents looking for affordable apartments, Carlson said in an email. In the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, Millers office issued 12 orders on illegal rooming houses, he said. Since July 1, he has issued orders on four houses, he said. His staff tries to educate residents about what constitutes a violation, Miller said. In some cases a house may appear to be overcrowded but the people are all family members. We cant tell anyone what to do with family, he said. angela.carella@scni.com; 203-964-2296; stamfordadvocate.com/angelacarella. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 PAUL J. RICHARDS / AFP /Getty Images Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Contributed Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Show More Show Less 5 of 5 Its not typical for a presidential race to be compared to a divorce or a terrorist attack. But thats how mental health professionals in the state are describing the scathing political contest between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. And, they said, its causing the American people no small amount of anxiety. O ne day way back in January 1985, the then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher was pictured leaving Downing Street with a rolled up copy of that days Evening Standard under her arm. The clearly visible headline, was The pound perks up. It needed to. Earlier that day sterling had sunk to $1.03 (yes, one dollar and thee cents) in what is still its all-time low against the US currency. The headline celebrated a well-timed and co-ordinated intervention from the Bank of England and other central banks which routed the speculators and bounced it back up to $1.10. That day marked the turning point and from there it slowly recovered in succeeding weeks to settle at a little over $1.20. The fall was the more dramatic because, just four years earlier, sterling had soared above $2.40 in celebration of the UKs then new status as an oil producing nation. And the picture was staged for PR purposes: Thatcher wanted to show that she understood the value of the currency mattered and that it was a reflection of what the international community thought of Britains economic prospects and the ability of her government to deal with the challenges it faced. The picture was not borne of a desire to promote this paper, though we did use it for years afterwards in advertisements. Rather it was to signal to the world that the halving of the currency in four years was not a good thing and she was on the case. People today seem to have forgotten that Britains economic record since the Second World War has been a succession of sterling crises forcing governments into humiliating U-turns. As well as this incident in the Eighties, there were the spectacular devaluations of 1948 and 1967 and our forced ejection from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992. Most humiliatingly, there was 1976 when a collapse of confidence in the financial markets meant the government could no longer sell gilts and was forced instead to borrow the money it needed from the International Monetary Fund. A condition of the loan was that it put in place fundamentally different economic policies dictated to it by IMF officials. The fear of this happening meant that respect for the Bank of England was hardwired into politicians. They might not always like the governor who does like being lectured and told to be less profligate by a well-heeled bank manager? but any thoughts they had they kept private, and arguments were kept behind closed doors. Every politician understood that there would be a heavy price to pay if divisions ever appeared in public because it would instantly make it harder for government to borrow the money it needed. Politicians knew too that if the markets sensed that the Bank of England and government were not singing from the same hymn sheet, not only would they become reluctant to lend, but they would assume it was the Bank, not the government, which was right. Today all this seems to have been forgotten. The Prime Minister herself no doubt guided by advisers whose understanding of the world is based on past experience in the Home Office used her platform at the Conservative Party Conference to deliver a populist attack on the policies of the Bank. This was followed by Michael Gove this generations nearest thing to Norman Tebbit who made the attack personal against Mark Carney. Then came William Hague, whose criticisms were the more telling because he ranks higher than Gove or another critic Jacob Rees-Mogg in the credibility rankings and is said to be close to the Prime Minister. Even The Spectator, the house journal of Brexiteers (Matthew Parriss articles notwithstanding), has just published an article saying Carney must go. His de-fenestration is justified, it said, because he has made a series of forecasts which turned out to be wrong a criterion which, if applied to journalists, would put us all out of work. Now it is one thing to have doubts about the present direction of monetary policy but it is quite another to blame the Bank for being the Bank and Carney, personally, for implementing the policies which follow from its mandate. It is stupid to call the bank manager a fool in the same breath as you ask him for money. It indicates a serious level of ignorance and lack of judgement at the top of the Government, neither of which is comforting. What should really frighten the advisers surrounding Theresa May is that, of all the past crises, it is 1976 which most resonates, because the five key ingredients then echo strongly with today. First, in both cases there was a major deficit in the balance of payments with the country exporting too little and importing too much. Second, both governments had a programme they were determined to put in place, regardless of warnings from all sides that it risked making the nation poorer and doing serious long-term damage. Third, both governments did not see the consequent slide in sterling as a warning sign that markets were getting nervous but seemed instead to welcome it as an easy way to make Britains exports more competitive. Fourth, both governments were spending massively more than they raised in taxes. And finally, in both cases the Government was supported by backbench MPs who seemed completely disconnected from the realities of life outside the Westminster bubble and totally unaware that people from around the world were watching their behaviour with mounting incredulity. The only difference, in fact, is that last time it was the Labour party in the driving seat. This time it is the Conservatives. T he boss of Bloomsbury Publishing has revealed Harry Potter is still working his magic for the business, and said a new book from Pope Benedict XVI would boost second-half sales. Nigel Newton told the Standard there has been huge pre-order numbers for the retired Popes autobiography Last Testament, released next week. Kindle and hard-copy demand has been strong in the UK, Ireland, America and Australia. The release follows a buoyant period for the firm in six months to August 31, helped by customers buy illustrated Harry Potter books. Newton praised the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, launched in the West End in the summer. It has been fantastic, boosting sales, he said. Revenue soared 19% to 62.7 million. Digital sales rose 8% and print revenues jumped 25%. Pre-tax profit dropped to 100,000 from 300,000 after losing a key contract. P anicked commuters were forced to smash windows to escape from a smoke filled train in Boston as fumes engulfed the carriages. The 5pm rush turned into a nightmare when a train on Bostons orange metro line filled with toxic fumes and the doors failed to open. Three people were taken to hospital but their injuries are not thought to be life threatening. The Boston transport authority said the smoke was caused by an overheated engine yesterday. In video footage posted on social media passengers can be seen climbing out of broken windows. The transport authority said doors did not open because the train was ready to leave the platform. Twitter users described lots of smoke and said people were coughing. Police officers and the fire brigade arrived on the scene at around 5 pm forcing open the doors to the smoke-filled carriages. I ts hard to imagine now, but prior to its absorption into the United States, Texas was an independent country that included sections of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. Fearful of a possible Mexican invasion, and keen to court the British and French Empires as a counterweight to the far larger United States, President Houston of Texas opened diplomatic missions in both London and Paris. Houston picked a pleasant spot in St Jamess, Mayfair, specifically the first floor of 3, St Jamess Street, owned by the wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd. Known as the Texas Legation, the building that served as the embassy for the Republic of Texas in London for three years still stands to this day, at Pickering Place, one of the most enchanting and under-appreciated nooks of Central London. The embassy of the short-lived Republic of Texas, at Pickering Place, Mayfair. / Image: a_marga The brass Lone Star plaque on its wall reads: Texas Legation. In this building was the legation for the ministers from the Republic of Texas to the Court of St James 1842-1845. Erected by the Anglo-Texan Society. When Texas bid to become part of the United States in 1845, Britain tried to block the move, viewing the fledgling republic as a tactical ally against the US. But Texas had become financially unsustainable. It joined the US that year and the embassy at Pickering Place was closed. The Texas Legation is one of a number of little-known and hard-to-find physical reminders of Americas history in the capital. Not all of these connections are this hidden. One of the more obvious sites that harks back to its American ties is The Mayflower pub at Rotherhithe Village. The Mayflower pub, Rotherhithe Village, named after the pioneering vessel that carried the Pilgrim Fathers to the New World. / Image: Bob Walker Originally named the Spread Eagle, there has been a pub on this corner of Southwark for over 400 years. The reason for the name change was the nearby mooring of a 160 tonne Dutch cargo flyt, better known as the Mayflower, the ship that would carry the first English Separatists to the New World. Captain Christopher Jones tied-up the ship at a jetty near the inn periodically until it left for America in 1620 with 102 Pilgrims on board. The local rumour goes that Captain Jones moored the ship directly alongside the Thames-side Mayflower pub and had the first batch of pioneers enter the ship via the pub itself in order to avoid mooring fees. Today the Mayflower is widely recognised as having some of the best views of the River Thames, and serves British gastro-pub and European fusion-food to its Rotherhithe clientele. Captain Jones is not the only adventurer to have embarked on voyages to America from London. Head out on the DLR towards Jamestown Way and you may happen across a poorly-known London memorial on the edge of the Thames and surrounded by flats, the Virginia Quay First Settlers Monument. It was from this spot in 1606 that three small ships (Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant) sailed to the New World in a journey that would result in the foundation of the first British permenant settlement in North America, Jamestown. Virginia Quay First Settlers Monument, East India. On a murky night in 1606, three small ships set sail from this spot and went on to land at what would become Jamestown. / Image: Matt Brown Considered by some historians to be the beginning of the British Empire, the fort at Jamestown established by the Virginia Company of London was an important milestone in the development of colonial America. One of the founders of Jamestown, Captain John Smith, would later be buried at St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate Church in Holborn. Smith is best known as the first Governor of Virginia but is perhaps even more widely recognised amongst children who grew up in the 90s, for his liaisons with the Native American, Pocahontas. Londons churches are home to their fair share of American history. One of the most dramatic locations is to be found behind the High Altar at St Pauls Cathedral. This corner of St Pauls was destroyed on the night of 1940 by a bomb dropped by the Luftwaffe. When the chapel was rebuilt in the 1950s, it was furnished as the American Memorial Chapel in Apse and Roll of Honor, to commemorate the 28,000 Americans stationed in the UK during WWII. St George's at Hanover Square, the site of Theodore Roosevelt's marriage and many a fellow American. / Image: Nigel Cox In 1886, Theodore Roosevelt took up residency at Browns Hotel in Mayfair, in order to meet the residency requirements of marriage in England and marry his childhood sweetheart Edith Kermit Carow at St Georges, Hanover Square. This sparked an ongoing fashion amongst Americans with the means to marry in London to get married at the 18th Century church. Westminster Abbey houses a memorial to his nephew, President Franklin Roosevelt, as well as a Congressional Medal of Honor on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Not surprisingly, there are plenty of blue plaques in London commemorating great Americans and their contribution to world history. John Adams lived at a house in Marylebone, where Brook and Duke Streets join, during his time as US Ambassador to Britain. Nine years later in 1797, he became the second President of the United States. But easily the most interesting plaque adorns the home of Benedict Arnold at 62 Gloucester Place in Marylebone. Benedict Arnold's Oath of Allegiance, May 30, 1778. / Image: Public Domain Largely unknown in British history, Arnold is infamous in the United States as a traitor who left American lines to support the British during the American Revolutionary Wars. Up until the time of his treachery, Major General Arnold had been a tremendously successful combatant, masterminding the defeat of the red coats at New England, thwarting a British invasion of New York in 1776, and was instrumental in the surrender of General John Burgoynes and his army at Saratoga. In the most high-profile betrayal of the American cause, he defected and escaped to London, having fallen out of love with American politics and promised money and command within the British army. In a final twist to the tale, the plaque on his Marylebone house still reads Major General Benedict Arnold, American patriot. Infamy: the house of Benedict Arnold in Marylebone. / Image: Matt Brown Despite one of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklins only remaining house is at 26 Craven Street, near Trafalgar Square. Today Benjamin Franklin House is open as a museum to Franklin, a philosopher, diplomat and inventor as well as a politician. Amongst his many achievements, Franklin is also on the $100 note, hence the phrase rolling in the Benjamins. He lived at the house for sixteen years. Benjamin Franklin's London home in WC2. A Grade I listed building dating from the 1730s, it is now open as a museum. / Image: Elliott Brown No article on American culture in London would be complete without mentioning some of the outstanding American bars in the capital, and particularly the American Bar at the Stafford Hotel. Hidden behind St Jamess Street and resplendent in historical artefacts, model planes and sporting memorabilia, the bar feels more like a clubhouse than a hotel. It is believed that the unique decor was the result of an intervening American visitor, who decided the walls of the bar were too plain, so he donated a carving of an American eagle. Other visitors followed, and now the room is packed with trinkets. American Bar at the Stafford Hotel, Mayfair / Image: Ashley Coates American bars came about as a result of a growing interesting in American drinks during the late 19th and early 20th century. These drinking dens were instrumental in bringing American drinks, now more commonly known as cocktails, into the British drinking scene. The most influential of these bars was the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, still serving some of Londons best cocktails to the sound of live jazz, 125 years after its founding. Today the bar is the oldest of its kind in London and one of the best known bars in the world. So if youre looking for a place to celebrate, or commiserate, the results of the US election on 8th November, it may be worth heading out to one of Londons iconic American bars. But if youre after a truly historical experience, get on to the Overground and head down to the 400-year-old Mayflower to drink with the ghosts of the Pilgrim Fathers. C hef Nobu Matsuhisa says he has the edge over his friend and business partner Robert De Niro because he can cook as well as act unlike the Oscar winner. The Japanese chef, 67, met De Niro in the Eighties when the Raging Bull star became a regular at his Matsuhisa restaurant in Beverly Hills. In 1994 they opened their first restaurant together, in New York City, and they now own 32 Nobu restaurants worldwide. In a rare interview, Matsuhisa told the Standard: We meet every two or three months. We have a very good relationship. Beside the business, we do a dinner and a drink together. 'The people say De Niro is quiet, but he understands my sense of humour and we have a joke. For us, for me, he is a great personality and we bounce.' He is a good partner and he understands my philosophy. It means good team work. Matsuhisa has appeared in several films including Austin Powers In Goldmember, Memoirs Of A Geisha and Casino, alongside De Niro, 73. Asked if it was fun working with a close friend, he said: Well. Erm, you know. The people say he is quiet, but he understands my sense of humour and we have a joke. For us, for me, he is a great personality and we bounce. Sometimes we fight together, we can fight but we are old friends. He doesnt cook. You know, I have been in four movies with him. I know how to play the movie, I know how to cook. So you know, I do both. He eats good food all over the world, he understands the amount of work that goes in to the kitchen. Nobu London, in Mayfairs Metropolitan Hotel, will celebrate its 20-year anniversary next year and its sister restaurant in Berkeley Street marked a decade last year. Matsuhisa said he was happy to have reached the milestones, adding that the trend for health foods had boosted business. I am still alive, he said. Our appeal and for our customers, [is that] we have a lot of different dishes. Japanese food is very popular now as it is low-calorie. It is very healthy. And it is very trendy. Not only trendy but tasty. Every day we have to try our best, even after 20 years. There are now Nobu restaurants in Dubai, Hong Kong, Cape Town, Melbourne and Mexico but the constant travelling takes its toll. Matsuhisa said: I travel 10 months a year. It used to be more fun. Now, I dont have a choice. Still the restaurants open. I like to go to the locations and talk to the chefs as much as possible. Ten months a year of travelling, not easy but no choice. I am lucky, I am still healthy. I love to see guests smiles on their faces. His latest project, opening next year, is Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch, which will have more than 150 rooms as well as a Nobu restaurant. It will be competing with other leading hotels in the area including Shoreditch House from the Soho House group and the soon-to-be-opened The Curtain from the Gansevoort Hotel Group. Matsuhisa said: They better be worried. We are coming to town. For me, competition is good. The more competition there is, the more serious people take it. More is better. Customers are spoilt, and quickly decide which is better. Thats why we cannot play games. We are always serious. It is healthy. Visit standard.co.uk/restaurants for the latest news and reviews from Londons food scene. Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout I n the winter of 1942-43 Norwegian and British special forces launched a series of daring missions to prevent the Nazis from acquiring the heavy water needed to make nuclear weapons. Had they not succeeded, wrote Winston Churchills spymaster, the Germans would have had the opportunity to devastate the civilised world. We would either be dead or living under Hitlers zealots. The famous mission to destroy the heavy water generating plant at Vermork in Norway codenamed Operation Gunnerside was depicted in the 1965 Hollywood film, The Heroes of Telemark. It rightly forms the centrepiece to Damien Lewiss gripping new history of Second World War derring-do but the story would not be complete without the other four lesser-known but no less extraordinary operations that bookended Gunnerside: Musketoon, Grouse, Freshman and the sinking of the SF Hydro ferry. Musketoon was directed at the Glomfjord hydroelectric power plant in Norway which enabled the Germans to make aluminium. It involved eight British Commandos and two Norwegian Special Operations Executive operatives landing by submarine and then trekking across the forbidding Black Glacier before locating, entering and blowing up the plant. Six would not return and German reprisals against local villagers were typically brutal. But Musketoon demonstrated what could be done by determined raiders, and would form the template for the subsequent missions to destroy the larger Vermork plant nearby. Lewis provides excellent pen-portraits of the varied cast of eccentric characters at the centre of his story. Odd Starheim, Agent Cheese, one of the first SOE operatives to be inserted into occupied Europe, had a shock of wild sandy hair above pronounced brows and a prominent brow, but it was his steely gaze that marked him out as something rather extraordinary. Major John Wilson, the head of the SOE Norwegian Section, was a grey-haired, balding, fiftysomething former scoutmaster who was known as Baghmara (the leopard killer) from his time as a colonial policeman. And Joachim Ronneburg, the tall and steely-eyed Norwegian commander of Operation Gunnerside, was one of those rare beasts: a soft-spoken, modest individual but also a born leader of men. More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review The unsung heroes of the book are the four Norwegians led by Einar Skinnarland who were parachuted into the snow-bound Hardangervidda Plateau as part of Operation Grouse. For more than three months they survived largely on lichen and reindeer as they prepared the ground for the Vermork missions. The first Freshman ended disastrously when two Horsa gliders carrying British sappers and their equipment crash-landed. The few survivors were tortured and executed. But Gunnerside succeeded gloriously when Ronneburg and his eight intrepid comrades all Norwegian scaled an almost vertical 600-feet gorge to enter the plant and set their explosives. All survived and one of them, Bonzo Haukelid, would also be responsible for the sinking of the Hydro ferry as the Germans tried to transport their remaining barrels of heavy water. You couldnt make these stories up: yet theyre true, and Lewis does the memory of these extraordinary men full justice in a tale that is both heart-stopping and moving. When asked what kept him going, Ronneburg replied: You have to fight for your freedom. And for peace. You have to fight for it every day. Its a lesson we forget at our peril. L ondon in 1949 was dingy. Food was scarce. But for 18-year-old Lenny Lynskey and his twin sister Miriam it is a place of excitement, infinitely preferable to rural Wales, where they had been banished during the Second World War. Lenny is part of a gang of boisterous Jewish lads who thought they were on top of the world. Miriam, or Mimi as her boss rebrands her to sound less Hebrew, is a florist. Life is good until they both contract tuberculosis. Thanks to the advent of the NHS, the pair are sent to a Kent sanatorium, the Gwendolyn Downie Memorial Hospital. This is the starting point for The Dark Circle, Linda Grants latest novel. A Grant novel is always a treat packed with I wish I had said that observations but The Dark Circle feels personal to me. Both my fathers father and my mothers mother had TB. My mother didnt see her mother who underwent a lobectomy for two years and didnt recognise her when she returned. Grant meticulously conveys the horrors of the disease, a losing game. When the twins arrive they note: Everyone looked half-dead, skeletons in pyjamas and slippers. Lenny initially threatens to return home but when he sees the ghost of his consumptive lungs, his swagger evaporates. All that unites the Gwendos patients is their rotten lungs, and the hope of receiving the antibiotic streptomycin. But being there forces the twins into wider company. Grant has created an enthralling cast. Theres Valerie, who was used to arguing about French philosophy and socialist town-planning. Hannah Spiegel, a German music teacher whom the Nazis forced into slave labour because she was gay shes already broken and thus a perfect patient. And a late arrival gothic-looking American Arthur Persky, who believes the Gwendo is a kind of experimental station for what could be done to tear down the individual self. More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review For a novel set amid such sterility, The Dark Circle is remarkably lively and well-paced. My one tiny niggle is the beginning, where Miriam implausibly rescues Lenny, who has thrown a sandwich at the fascist Jeffrey Hamm. This does, however, set up an exploration of the prejudice Jews suffered, which seems timely given our current treatment of refugees. They were Hebrews, one character says of the Lynskeys, you had to keep an eye on them, they were swarming these days like bees. Grant captures the stigma that surrounded TB perfectly. When Lennys girlfriend Gina arrives to see him she is horrified to find him a grandpa not a boy. Grant also describes the misery of a scrofulous death coughing, wasting, haemorrhaging and the smell. With the rise of multi-drug-resistant TB, the white plague hasnt quite left us. The Dark Circle shows us why it was once so feared. P atrick Drake knows how to do mornings. Its 10.30am but the 37-year-old entrepreneur has already squeezed in an hours yoga and meditation, and has meticulously mapped out his day ahead: a power brunch at Shoreditch House, hosting a live-stream cook-along at the HelloFresh Shoreditch HQ (Patrick is co-founder of the delivery box service), and a motivational speech to new employees. Drake partly credits his environment with his enviable productivity levels. The Shoreditch loft apartment where he lives alone is a stimulating space, all open-plan and whitewashed brickwork. Crucially, his domestic realm is private, which means no small talk to be made as he gets his Warrior II on or edits video footage for his recent online cooking venture, The 60 Second Chef. I made a deliberate choice to live by myself, he explains. My home is where I work, create and relax. Its my haven. Downtime for Drake extends to holidaying solo last Christmas, he spent two weeks at a yoga retreat on Koh Samui and this year its a surfing retreat in Bali. But the entrepreneur insists hes not an introvert. His days typically involve back-to-back meetings and media interviews. Drake is single, though you get the sense his relationship status is immaterial. He is simply a guy who relishes his own company: If you have a hectic lifestyle, you need to have time by yourself to counterbalance it or youll burn out. Drakes not the only one taking me time to extremes. More of us live alone: according to the last census figures, more than a third of London households are now occupied by one person almost double the number in 1971. Islington tops the charts for solo living, with a staggering 71 per cent of its residents unattached. We travel alone in order to indulge our introspection. According to an analysis of 100,000 holiday bookings by travel inspiration website 101 Holidays, companies that run group tours in the UK and abroad are reporting that 35 per cent of their clients are single travellers. A company called The Holistic Health Project has just launched retreats for London women in their 20s and 30s, inviting them to travel to remote Spain in order to focus on self-development. Demand for places is high. Credit: Jess Ronham / Jess Ronham We also eat alone: according to booking site OpenTable, reservations for dinner-for-one have increased by 110 per cent over the past two years. The rise of the no-bookings culture has been good for solo diners: its easier to get a table at Bao if theres only one of you looking. And many restaurants now have stools for single customers to dine bar-side: Coin Laundry in Exmouth Market has a generous arrangement of stools, and The Palomar provides a coveted birds-eye view into the kitchen. Its not taboo any more, though if handling the waiters patter on your own makes you feel uncomfortable, other places such Inamo which has two restaurants in central London and a third opening in Camden soon let diners order by iPad so you dont even have to pretend that your friend is held up. Solo custom is the London restaurant scenes big growth area. Dining alone is one of the most normal things in the world in New York and Im pleased to see London has gone this way, says Russell Norman, the restaurateur behind the Polpo eateries, as well as the Brooklyn-style diner Spuntino, where nearly all 27 covers are located around a large dining bar ideal for those without company. Many places love customers on their own. Theyre almost always extremely polite, restaurant-savvy, sophisticated and educated and tend to want a reasonably fast meal Solo dining has become an efficient way of combining sustenance, an enjoyable experience and, quite often, a chance to meet new people. I still correspond with a 75-year-old lawyer I met at the bar of Gramercy Tavern in New York over 15 years ago. Meanwhile, solo living is already changing the architecture of the city. Tom Hawkins, who works for London-based property consultancy Knight Frank, has noticed a rise in the number of developments thinking more carefully about how single occupation now works. Theres a more thoughtful approach being taken to catering for single homeowners, he explains. In London, there are a number of new luxury developments which feature designated social spaces, like bars that you can hire out when you feel like entertaining. Take Goodmans Fields in Aldgate: the seven-acre development features a 28-seat cinema exclusively for residents, while The Collective, the newly opened Acton luxe commune, boasts a games room and even a disco laundrette. Suzanne Bearne shares a flat in Islington with a friend, but would love to live alone despite being happily coupled up. As its not financially viable right now, she seeks solitude in other ways, from solo travelling around the world to hot dates with her favourite city. I have a wide and active social circle but I crave time on my own, things like jogging around Clissold Park on a Saturday and soaking up the sun at London Fields lido, says the 34-year-old freelance journalist. I try to ensure, no matter how busy I am, I make time to do my own thing. Im not lonely; Im just very independent and doing stuff by yourself means you get to call the shots. It is not just single people who sometimes like to fly solo. Couples are also recognising the value in time apart. Ive been happily married for almost four years, yet frequently enjoy dedicated me time, whether thats an Airbnb in Cornwall or kicking back in an Italian piazza, with nothing but Chianti and church bells for company. You end up having encounters with people in a way you never would if you had company, says Juliet Kinsman, 42, founder of Mr & Mrs Smith. In Miami, I met a wonderful retired guy, who became a mentor of sorts, simply because we got chatting at breakfast. I once skulked in the back row of my local Cineworld, mortified at the possibility of being discovered companionless. (I neednt have worried even a stellar performance from Patrick Dempsey failed to pull in the punters for the Tuesday matinee of Made of Honour.) These days, catching a film alone is the ultimate marker of self-assuredness, with insouciant cinema geeks filling multiplexes across the capital. Marketing director Abi Taylor, from Southfields, is a regular solo cinema-goer. Youre not meant to talk when youre watching a film, so the idea that it has to be a social experience confuses me, says the 25-year-old. Catching a film isnt the only activity suited to independent types solo socialising has never been cooler, with sites such as meetup.com facilitating group hangs for everything from rock climbing to poetry recitals. Whats going on? When did we become such solitary creatures? The best apps for Londoners 1 /16 The best apps for Londoners Zip car Join, reserve, unlock and drive it really is that simple. The capitals preferred car clubs app gives 24/7 access to cars and vans in your neighbourhood and lets you extend or cancel reservations on the go. Free Uncover Sick of being stuck on waiting lists? You need Uncover, which redistributes cancelled reservations at some of the capitals top restaurants, including The River Cafe and Nobu. Not for planning freaks, though tables typically become free at 40 minutes notice. Free Uber So popular its become a verb, this private driver service has revolutionised travel in the capital. Its speedy and affordable, making it a welcome alternative to the night bus. Free Santander Cycles Launched this summer, the official app for Boris fifth child can be used to search for nearby docking stations and check bike availability. Theres also a journey planner featuring easy, moderate and fast routes to satisfy all cycling tribes. Free Plume Air Report This new app has been downloaded by 3,000 Londoners. Sensors gathering air pollution data submit updates every hour, resulting in a scale that ranges from fresh to extremely polluted. Free Nightcapp Heres an app that will have booze hounds raising their glasses. NightCapp is a map that pinpoints more than 1,500 London watering holes that stay open past 11.30pm. It also shows users when a bar is about to close by highlighting it in orange. Better get moving. Free Money Dashboard An award-winning budget planner, this helps you keep track of personal spending across multiple accounts, pay off credit cards and even makes suggestions on how to manage your finances better. Free Her Promising to introduce women to a lesbian that hasnt slept with any of your friends, this revamped dating app includes queer-themed news and blogs, upcoming event notices and an improved algorithm-matching system. Free FoodMood This new startup, which reckons its Tinder for food, pledges to narrow down your choice of lunchbreak destinations. Hit yum or yuk on photos of dishes in your area. Juvenile, but strangely addictive. Free Daily Yoga This offers more than 50 yoga sessions, as well as a database of 500 yoga poses. Suitable for all levels, programmes include yoga aimed at specific areas of the body and weight loss. Namaste to that. Free Coffee Meets Bagel Billed as the anti-Tinder, this new kid on the block delivers just a single match to users once a day. Coffee Meets Bagel uses Facebook profile information to recommend suitors based on friends of friends. Neither coffee nor bagels are included. Free. Bristlr Do you have a beard? Perhaps youd like to stroke one on a regular basis? This can be arranged. Unlike other dating apps, Bristlr is unashamedly all about hooking up the hairy with the hairless. Theres even a beard-rating option for aficionados. Free According to Bella DePaulo, author of How We Live Now: Redefining Home and Family in the 21st Century and Singled Out: How Singles Are Stereotyped, Stigmatised and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After, the trend towards living alone has been ongoing for decades. Developments in communication technologies also mean that we can be home alone, yet still be connected to friends and family and total strangers all around the world. In a sense, were not really alone. And I think that perhaps the pace of modern life adds an extra allure to having time and space to yourself. DePaulo suggests the destigmatisation of single life might also be a contributing factor. The number of people who are single continues to grow in many places around the world. When millions of people are single, how can others continue to insist that they are all miserable and lonely? It makes no sense. Theres not only less stigma attached to being single, theres more to do. Fridays at Mantra Lounge are filled with young Londoners getting their kirtan on, while sitting at home alone has become much more appealing since Netflix and Deliveroo came on the scene. Having an active social life no longer necessarily requires being sociable. My friend Kate lives alone in east London with her dog, Jeffery loads of my single friends have dogs. Great company and less sad than getting a cat and has no qualms about being unattached. Single has become the new default setting. A few years ago, people would feel sorry for you if were in your 30s and not in a relationship, but now, its more or less the norm. DePaulo agrees. As we see others dining and travelling alone, doing so ourselves seems less unusual and more people are emboldened to try it. The cycle is self-perpetuating. But what are the repercussions of solo culture? Humans are social creatures can spending so much time alone have a negative impact on wellbeing? Theres a lot of legitimate concern these days about loneliness, says DePaulo. Often people who worry about loneliness are especially concerned about those who live alone. But many people live alone because they choose to live that way. They savour their solitude. Thats really important. What matters isnt so much the amount of time you spend alone but whether youre getting both the time with other people and the time to yourself that you need and want. There you have it, people as with everything in life, meaningful me time is more about quality than quantity. So, next time you book that table for one, make it a Michelin-starred meal. Youre worth it. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @EsMagOfficial H ome is New York City. Where do you stay in London? Claridges. Im very sentimental and its romantic and traditional. Earliest London memory? I first came to London when I was 11 and rehearsing for a play directed by Harold Pinter. Id watch the Changing of the Guard with my father and one day, I took my cardigan off because it was so warm and draped it over the gate of Buckingham Palace. I went back the next day and it was still there. My dad exclaimed: Look how civilised the people of London are theyre so honest and honour-bound! Then I said: Some day when Im a grown-up, Ill live in London because thats where grown-ups live. Best place for a first date? Beiteddine, an incredible Lebanese restaurant on Harriet Street. My husband [Matthew Broderick] and I stumbled upon it many years before we had kids. Its patronised by Lebanese so its the real deal. Last play you saw? It was a beautiful, exquisite Conor McPherson play at the Donmar Warehouse called The Night Alive. It would be an honour to appear on the West End stage. People have made lovely offers but its hard to schedule around work and family commitments. What do you collect? I collect old sinks Im dead serious. I particularly love Belfast sinks, if I can find them. I keep them in my basement and have quite a decent collection. Ever had a run-in with a policeman? In 1979, my mother and I were taking the train to the airport and somebody told us we had missed our stop. My mom pulled the emergency cord, the train came to a screeching halt and she jumped off. A police officer told my mother that not in the history of British rail had this ever happened. Who do you call when you want to have fun? I always try to see Mr Hugh Grant when Im in town. We usually have spaghetti bolognese with mutual friends at Claridges. What are you up to at the moment? Ive just launched my new fragrance, Stash. I feel such gratitude towards my customers here in London. If you could buy any building in London, which would it be? This apartment block called Moscow Mansions [on Cromwell Road]. I die for them just the way the numbers are painted on the front and the font of the M. Its like a scene from every book Ive ever read set in London. What would you do as Mayor for the day? Im so thrilled with your new Mayor especially in this particular climate, so I wouldnt even want to think of taking the job. His election was not only a great comfort to a lot of us who are in the midst of a very complicated election season but it also told a great story of this city Im very excited about him. First thing you do when you arrive here? Tate Modern is traditionally my first stop. Its such a special museum and Im always excited to see a new exhibit or just to visit the permanent collection again. Stash by Sarah Jessica Parker, priced 2060, is available at Superdrug. P rincess Marie-Chantal of Greece is holding court at Londons Ham Yard Hotel dressed in J Brand jeans, a tailored Saint Laurent jacket, Chloe blouse and Jimmy Choo flats. A star-studded ear cuff, a gift from designer Rosa de la Cruz, climbs one lobe. It looks like I have five piercings, she laughs. Its not exactly what youd expect from a member of one of Europes most glamorous and wealthiest families (she ranked no. 10 on The Sunday Times 2016 Rich List of Britains wealthiest women with an estimated 1.58billion fortune). But then MC, as her friends call her, is hardly your average princess. She forgoes a stylist in favour of online shopping before bed, dabbles in the high street (she owns Uniqlos puffers in every colour), does her own grocery run (M&S or Waitrose), and has an addiction to Netflix (more on which later). And then theres her demeanour. Upper-class airs and graces are conspicuous by their absence; in fact, the 48-year-old mother-of-five is as warm as her sunny shade of blonde. The middle daughter of self-made billionaire businessman Robert Miller and Ecuadorian beauty Marie Chantal Pesantes, she married Crown Prince Pavlos, heir to the Greek throne, in 1995, joining the European royal family but remaining void of official duties thanks to a military coup that deposed Pavlos father King Constantine II in 1973 a move later given democratic approval in a referendum. Instead, the Princess preface is, for now, largely symbolic, and it quickly becomes evident that the title resonating the strongest alongside mother is businesswoman. We are here to discuss the launch of her new childrenswear collaboration with M&S. The 33-piece, five-part collection offers a similar elegance to her phenomenally successful luxury kids brand Marie-Chantal as worn by Harper Beckham, North West and silver-spoon tots the world over at commoner prices (ranging from 6 for a two-pack sock set, to 60 for a cashmere shawl). Retail is so difficult, but Ive loved every minute of it, so when Marks & Spencer came to me, I felt like I was finally validated as a designer, she says, modestly. Ones always, you know, questioning So its great. The line is the result of 18 months worth of talks and planning. Its a great opportunity for me because I get to have a broader reach. Credit: Josh Shinner / Josh Shinner A third-culture child, she was born in Hampstead, but raised in Hong Kong, where her father co-founded DFS (Duty Free Shops) in 1960, and educated in Europe and the States at a coterie of prestigious institutions (among them the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland, a favourite among European royalty). Like all good fairy tales, the union with Crown Prince Pavlos was love at first sight, initiated by a mutual friend who set them up at the 40th birthday of Philip Niarchos, the eldest son of the Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos. Their lavish London wedding at St Sophias Cathedral in Bayswater drew the largest congregation of royals to the city since the marriage of Queen Elizabeth to Prince Philip in 1947. The rather ridiculously good-looking pair initially settled in the States. Along with sisters, Pia, 50, who married Christopher Getty, and Alexandra, 44, former wife of Prince Alexander von Furstenberg (both have since divorced), Marie-Chantal became one third of the original sibling socialite triptych. Karl Lagerfeld, Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, her daughter Princess Maria Olympia of Greece and her mother Miss Robert W. Miller attend the Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week - Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014-2015 / Getty Images After a 2002 European Court ruling decreed that the Greek government had wrongly seized the Crown Princes familys property, his parents returned to Porto Heli, and Pavlos and Marie-Chantal took up residence in London to be nearby. Now they visit Greece twice a year. Its so important for the kids to understand that theres a whole part to their story, she says of their brood that ranges in age from 8 to 20. Her eldest daughter, 20-year-old Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark, has already been falsely linked to Prince Harry, and has a jealousy-inducing Insta account with a 94k following (@olympiagreece). Does she ever worry about the pressures such exposure brings? They have their own sense of I know how to do this, you dont know, this is our generation, she smiles. Its tricky. I just say: Look, once its out there its forever everybody can see it. Just to try to be objective. Think, how would you perceive yourself if you were looking at somebody like you? And just try and keep it under control. Just as Marie-Chantal interned at Andy Warhols Factory in New York, Maria-Olympia, who studies photography at Parsons School of Design in New York, has assisted in the couture department of Dior in Paris. She has also already graced the pages of Vanity Fair, Teen Vogue, W, Tatler and Town & Country, stepping into the eye of the society storm. I think Olympia has learnt by posting certain things and then magazines or newspapers have taken her shots. Its a lesson. As long as it hasnt been she pauses. Nothing negative. Silk dress 36, Marie-Chantal for Marks & Spencer While Marie-Chantal was once a FROW regular herself, the media circus that now surrounds the shows has curbed her attendance. To me its so intimidating, daunting almost. Going to a fashion show with my mother years ago, it was simple, you had maybe one or two photographers that would come around and take picture. Now, its like: Waaah, rush in, rush out, onto the next. How does Maria-Olympia feel about the whirl? She loves it. At that age how could you not? Its a different pace for her. She says she doesnt identify with the style-icon tag, in spite of the fact that she was setting the royal sartorial agenda with her faultless ability to fuse fashion and propriety long before Kate or Mary came onto the scene. On the subject of the royal style stage, she says: I think Mary (Crown Princess of Denmark) looks amazing. All of them: Mette-Marit (Crown Princess of Norway), Kate (Duchess of Cambridge), everyone is looking so polished, its beautiful. For the latters 2011 wedding, she wore Chanel couture, the same brand that she borrowed from her mothers wardrobe for her first meeting with her prince. The idea for creating her own line came about when she was pregnant with her third child: I remember sitting with a friend who is older and a designer, and she said: What are you going to call it? I said: Marie-Chantal, and she said: No, no, you need something else, like Felix and Marie-Chantal, or put the Princess before. And I was like: No. Its just me, nothing before and nothing after. I really want to be able to validate myself through something that I have achieved and done. And I really mean that. Around two years ago, she launched a Goop-style blog to accompany her online store. It was a savvy move; recognising that in this day and age, a successful business needs a face. The platforms stories are often shot in her home and chronicle everything from how to meticulously organise your pantry (hers looks more like Harvey Nichols food court and leaves no doubt that shes a perfectionist) to the perils of toothpaste toxins. She personally responds to comments, whether positive or negative. I wanted to curate something thats approachable and fun, but tongue-in-cheek, not take myself too seriously, and really share. She has embraced social media in a similar way, wracking up 94.6k followers on Instagram: Its a whole different world, its so transparent Im learning as we bump along, seeing what is smart and what isnt. Bear jumper 28, Marie-Chantal for Marks & Spencer When shes not at her offices in Notting Hill, she and the family split their time between their palatial home in Chelsea, and their country retreat in Yorkshire. I really try not to schedule too much. Ill be out at most twice a week. The weekends are sacred and its really important that I keep a really focused routine. Im on my fourth Harry Potter book, and I read to the little ones every night. Its so important to keep home-based, because you can get carried away For a quiet meal with her financier husband, its Chinese restaurant Yauatcha in Soho, or Mayfairs Kiku for shabu-shabu with the kids, and she says she zips around London in taxis. Having trained at the Escoffier cooking school at the Paris Ritz, she also does a mean roast at home. Her real guilty pleasure? Im a series addict. Weve just finished Stranger Things, and Im onto Bloodline, which Im obsessed with. But for someone who could quite easily sit out her days on the back of a superyacht, she is clearly driven by an entrepreneurial spirit. I think it was growing up with a great role model in my father, she says of the 83-year-old, who set up shop in every airport around the globe. He built a great career. He was a great family man. It was being able to see that. He was always happy, she smiles. He is always happy. She is the only other Miller, aside from her father, to sit on the DFS board. (DFS is now partly owned by LVMH.) Its board meetings and just being aware of whats going on, she says of her involvement. You get the sense that she will increasingly switch from tiara to business hat in the coming years. What does the title Princess mean in 2016 anyway? Its so hard to answer that, she smiles. I work, I do other things. Yes I married Pavlos but I just see myself as a working mother. Thats what I set out to do. The Marie-Chantal collection is exclusively available in selected M&S stores and online at marksandspencer.com from 1 November Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @EsMagOfficial T heres a good chance you are reading this on the London Underground. I hope you appreciate it. Its not only the oldest in the world, but also one of the most visually distinctive. The red, white and blue roundel, the Johnston typeface and the iconic Tube map are widely recognised as beacons of great design and symbols of our city. They are also the brainchild of one man below-the-radar visionary, Frank Pick. Pick started his career at the Underground Group in 1906. He quickly rose through the ranks to become head of the London Underground in the 1910s and 1920s, and led the newly merged London Transport in the 1930s. Though without any design training himself, Pick had a clear idea of how a modern 20th-century brand should look. He commissioned Marion Dorn to create upholstery fabrics, the likes of Paul Nash and Man Ray to design posters, and modernist architect Charles Holden to build more than 40 stations. Picks success was such that he was invited to advise foreign governments on their underground networks, including the Moscow Metro. The Soviets, under Joseph Stalin, offered Pick an Honorary Badge of Merit in 1932, which Winston Churchill allegedly asked him to decline. Pick accepted the badge anyway. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of his death on 7 November, Art on the Underground and the London Transport Museum have commissioned artists Langlands & Bell to create a permanent memorial. Titled Beauty < Immortality, it will be installed at Piccadilly Circus station, one of Picks Holden commissions. Crafted from vitreous enamel, bronze and travertine marble, and backlit by LEDs, the memorial will feature a roundel with Picks name as well as four lines of text which Langlands & Bell discovered in Picks personal papers: Beauty < Immortality Utility < Perfection Goodness < Righteousness Truth < Wisdom These words articulate a design philosophy that resonates to this day and will be seen and admired by the 40 million visitors, including you, who pass through the station every year. Deservedly, this will elevate Pick to his place among Londons household names. (ltmuseum.co.uk) Photo by Mark Douet The experience Twenty-five years after its debut at the National Theatre, Stephen Daldrys production of An Inspector Calls returns to the West End for a three-month run from 4 November. Ian MacNeils award-winning set design, featuring a house balanced precariously on stilts, remains compelling as ever as does playwright J B Priestleys tale of capitalisms ills. (aninspectorcalls.com) The person Bangladeshi-British artist Rana Begum is famed for her exquisite geometric works that draw inspiration from Islamic art and architecture. Developers Argent, which have transformed Kings Cross from a no-go zone to one of Londons finest postcodes, have commissioned Begum to install a new work at Lewis Cubitt Square on 9 November. Titled No.700 Reflectors, the 50m piece will comprise 35,000 reflective elements in varying colours and forms. (kingscross.co.uk) The tech Bang & Olufsens new wireless speakers are a triumph in acoustics and minimalist design. The BeoSound 1 and 2 have conical, aluminium forms that incorporate a full-range driver in the top section and a powerful bass driver at the bottom, both producing 360-degree sound. The speakers can be controlled via the BeoMusic smartphone app, though its hard to resist the tactility of the elegant volume wheel. (bang-olufsen.com) The building After an ambitious overhaul by Foster + Partners, Apples flagship on Regent Street (left) has opened its doors once again. The store features a town square layout, with 12 Ficus alii trees towering over its double-height, generously lit grand hall. Design highlights include staircases with railings of hand-carved Castagna stone, and what Apple calls the longest luminous ceiling panels in the world. (apple.com/uk) T wo 14-year-old boys have been arrested at school for suspected firearms offences during a seven-day crackdown on gangs in which hundreds of Londoners were caught carrying or concealing weapons. The pupils were held for possessing part of a handgun after it was detected by a knife arch at their Barnet secondary. They have been placed on bail. Although the component was not in itself capable of firing, officers working with Scotland Yards Central Gangs Crime Command are investigating its origin and the whereabouts of any other parts. The arrests formed part of Operation Sceptre, a crackdown ending last Sunday, in which 242 offensive weapons including 158 knives were seized and 355 people arrested. In the operation, which marks an escalation in the Yards war on weapons, officers searched public spaces on estates and areas known to be gang strongholds. Among the seized haul was a claw hammer stashed next to a childrens play area at Central Hill Estate and two rows of knives embedded in soil next to a public bench. Officers say gangs stash weapons in a range of open spaces so they can return and arm themselves quickly in the event of turf wars or other confrontations. The figures give an insight into the number of weapons being hidden in public spaces. The majority of blades confiscated are standard kitchen knives but larger hunting knives and claw hammers were also found. Officers say Londoners as young as 11 are carrying knives, often after being bullied by senior gang members. The operation involved teams from across the Met conducting more than four sweeps every day in different boroughs. The Standard accompanied one sweep on the Tulse Hill Estate, where the TN1 (Tell No one), 81 and 86 gangs are known to operate. Officers probed bushes, drain covers, high ledges, grassy verges, trees, dustbins at the foot of rubbish chutes in housing blocks, public benches and a childrens play area. Search dogs and specialist equipment, including camera probes attached to the end of a flexible wire able to be inserted into cavities of buildings, were employed. Among the tactics used by gangs is to plant the blade of a knife in soil, within the bark of a tree or foliage in a hedge with only the handle protruding, so no light is reflected. They are also known to mark trees or other natural landmarks to let fellow gang members know where weapons are stashed. Inspector Jack Rowlands, from the Central Gangs Crime Command, part of the Mets Trident gangs unit, said Operation Sceptre was about saving lives. He added: If they go to a place they thought a weapon was stashed and its not there, it takes away that opportunity to use it in that moment. A knife we have taken off the street has the potential to save a life. Officers say many gangs are organised, mafia-style organisations with proper structures and hierarchies where hundreds of thousands of pounds are at stake in drug money and other illegal activities. Figures show 3,870 people suffered knife injuries in the capital in the 12 months to August this year, a rise of 4.3 per cent on the previous 12-month period. But Home Office minister Sarah Newton, who accompanied the Standard, said Office for National Statistics figures released last week showed overall knife crime which can include blade offences without injury had dropped two per cent in London. Officers say most young knife carriers do so because they feel the need to protect themselves or because they are bullied into holding them for leading gang members. T he parents of a business student left fighting for life after being stabbed today released a shocking image of him in intensive care in a bid to urge witnesses to come forward. Jamel Boyces parents released the image of their 17-year-old son critically ill in hospital to show the "devastating impact that carrying and using a knife can have." The St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College student was stabbed multiple times in the chest and legs when he was ambushed by a gang behind a Sainsburys supermarket in Clapham at 7.10pm on October 14. Police believe the teenager was involved in a spat in a branch of McDonald's on Clapham High Street at 3pm the same day. Police and mother of son on Clapham stabbing Pansy and Patrick Boyce today made an emotional plea for anyone with any information to speak to police and put a stop to devastating knife crime. Jamel Boyce, 17, is fighting for life after being stabbed in the chest and legs Mrs Boyce said: "It is impossible to describe the pain our family is suffering at this time as our son lies in hospital fighting for his life. "It breaks my heart to release this picture of Jamel but it shows plainly the devastating impact that carrying and using a knife can have. Seven people aged between 16 and 20 - have so far been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over the attack but police believe up to ten young men were in the area at the time of the stabbing. "I would hate for any other mother or family to go through what we are going through right now; if you know what happened, and who did this to my son, please look into your conscience and speak to police." Detective Sergeant Paul Graves said: "The incident in which Jamel received his injuries would have appeared innocuous at first glance and people may not have realised he had been stabbed. "It may be that people have witnessed what appeared to be a minor scuffle and dismissed it as a trivial event. "However, Jamel has received injuries that have left him critically ill and I would appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity at around 7pm that evening to come forward and speak to police. "Our enquiries have also established that Jamel was also with a group of people in McDonald's earlier on 14 October. "It appears there was a dispute involving this group and it is vital that anyone who was there and who can shed light on what happened comes forward and speak to us. All seven arrested on suspicion of attempted murder were bailed to return to a south London police station in January 2017 pending further enquiries. Police are also looking to speak to anyone who helped give first aid to Jamel. Anyone with any information or anyone who recognises the individuals in the images is asked to contact Lambeth CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A youth staggered into a supermarket covered in blood after being stabbed several times in a busy high street. The young man was taken to hospital in a serious condition following the attack in Dalston on Thursday at about 10.45am. It was the latest of four stabbings in less than a week in the area, the Hackney Gazette reported. Tesco manager Maz Mohamed said a number of people were shopping for groceries at the Kingsland Road supermarket in Dalston when the wounded youth came in. Stabbing: The young man is in a "potentially life-threatening' condition / Dominic Sutton He told the Standard: "It looks like something happened in the alleyway nextdoor. "A lady told me she saw him running and suggested to him that he came into our store for safety." Mr Mohamed said people at first didn't see the blood but then rushed to help the injured youth, who appeared to have been stabbed in three different places. He said: "We didn't even know he was bleeding until someone spotted the blood on the floor. "The lady was screaming 'he's the one bleeding'. He was trying to cover his back where he was hurt." Cordon: The victim staggered to a Tesco supermarket for help / Dominic Sutton "Our staff provided clothing and things to warm him up," he went on. "We had a few customers and some people who were outside come and knew first aid helped him while we waited for an ambulance. "We couldn't stop the bleeding because it was so heavy. "We tried to do everything we could but it looked very serious." "Afterwards we provided coffee for all the customers," Mr Mohamed said. "They were quite shocked. "My people said they'd never seen that kind of blood before. I've never seen it in my life before." He added: "I couldn't believe it because he looked about 18 or 19. He was too young. "We were shocked because it was daylight, around 11 in the morning." A spokesman for the Met Police confirmed they were called to Kingsland Road to reports of an injured man and his next of kin had been informed. His condition is no longer thought to be life-threatening. There have been no arrests and part of the street and Balls Pond Road were cordoned off. Anyone with information can call Hackney CID on 101 or 0800 500 111. A n armed police officer with Scotland Yards elite firearms unit who lied about his training was patrolling London's streets while suffering post traumatic stress order, a court heard today. PC Ryan McGowan, 35, from West Sussex, was sentenced to a six month suspended jail sentence at Southwark Crown Court. He pleaded guilty to a count of misconduct by falsifying a form about his training record and health screening last month. A judge at a previous hearing ordered a fraud charge to be left on file. McGowan worked as a top firearms officer from 1 April 2013 to 6 January 2015. The court had heard that for a 21 month period he had been operating without the required training to draw or use weapons. McGowan, who the court was told suffered from post traumatic stress disorder triggered by an incident connected with work, appeared at Southwark today wearing a blue suit and grey tie. He wiped tears away with a white handkerchief after he entered the dock. Sentencing him at Southwark today Judge Alistair McCreath said the officer had put the public at risk by carrying firearms while suffering with PTSD. Of the incident that triggered the PTSD, which was not detailed in court, the judge said: "I have no doubt at all was for you terrifying and shocking and led you to suffering PTSD. You did know something was not right and you should have told so." On the officer carrying out his duties with a mental illness he said: "A police officer who is armed with a lethal weapon who is not in a fit mental state poses some risk to public safety. "If he he misused the the weapon, not deliberately, it could hurt someone and the public could lose confidence in the police." The judge said he did not blame the police service for not picking up on the officer's mental health problems earlier and that McGowan should have approached more senior officers to tell them. The court heard that he had suffered PTSD after an incident at work but it had only been officially diagnosed this year. Before the diagnosis he failed to ensure his training record required for him to carry a blue card 6590 permit held by firearms officers. He at one stage failed to attend training on how to use three types of weapons. Neil Saunders, defending, said the officer was of previously "impeccable character". He said: "What is clear is his remorse, contrition and embarrassment. He had brought the police service into disrepute. " He added that he was a capable officer despite his training record adding "This was not to cover up his own known deficiencies." The barrister said that the officer had joined the Met and become a firearms officer in just two and a half years which was "a record as far as I know." Prosecutor Paul Raudnitz said: "If the true position had been known he would have been disqualified from serving." He said despite not having been to all the weapons training, he had been working as an armed officer. McGowan, who serves with the specialist firearms command (SC&O19), has been suspended from duty since January last year. He was also ordered to pay more than 600 on costs. A 19-year-old man was stabbed to death after 60 young people flooded a street in east London last night, screaming and arguing, according to witnesses. The teenager was found by police near Goodmayes train station suffering from stab wounds to his stomach just before 1am. Witnesses reported seeing him carried out of a shisha bar on a stretcher as he was rushed to hospital. He was pronounced dead an hour later. A man whose home overlooks Goodmayes Road, told the Ilford Recorder there was an unusual gathering of teenagers in the road at about midnight. He said: People kept coming. I heard men arguing and it kept getting louder, then there was a girl screaming. Emergency services on the scene of Goodmayes murder I think it was something over a girl. A 32-year-old woman said she saw a man being taken out of a shisha bar on a stretcher. She told the newspaper: When I looked outside, there were loads of police cars and an ambulance and they were carrying a young boy out on a stretcher. He had an oxygen mask on and a white sheet up to his neck. It looked bad. Kamram Nayyer, 29, who lives in a flat above the scene, told the Standard: I was watching TV and then there were some boys and girls shouting at each other and a lot of commotion out in the street. Goodmayes Road has remained closed off all day / David Churchill When I looked outside there were ambulances everywhere and police cars and then a stretcher came into view and they were carrying someone on it into the ambulance. Another resident, a 28-year-old woman, added: I came out of my flat and there was just a huge crowd of people outside the Shisha bar. Then I saw them wheel the boy into the ambulance. He looked very young and just a teenager. He had an oxygen mask over his face and he wasnt moving in the stretcher. He had a sheet over him up to his neck, so it looked pretty bad. Police have now launched a murder investigation and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course. A Met spokesman confirmed that no arrests have been made and enquiries continue. P olice have today launched a murder investigation after a 19-year-old man has been stabbed to death near a train station in east London. Police were called to Goodmayes Road, close to Goodmayes train station, at just before 1am today to reports of a stabbing. The man was taken to an east London hospital by paramedics where he was pronounced dead at 1.45am. Witnesses described "a lot of commotion" outside a Shisha bar on the road. Kamram Nayyer, 29, who lives in a flat above the scene, told the Standard: I was watching TV and then there were some boys and girls shouting at each other and a lot of commotion out in the street. Fatal stabbing: Police have cordoned off a road close to Goodmayes station / Twitter/HarryCPain Police cordon: Officer have sealed off Goodmayes Road When I looked outside there were ambulances everywhere and police cars and then a stretcher came into view and they were carrying someone on it into the ambulance. Another resident, a 28-year-old woman, added: I came out of my flat and there was just a huge crowd of people outside the Shisha bar. Then I saw them wheel the boy into the ambulance. He looked very young and just a teenager. He had an oxygen mask over his face and he wasnt moving in the stretcher. He had a sheet over him up to his neck, so it looked pretty bad. Passers-by described police everywhere following the incident. One man, who lives nearby, said: Ive heard there were an unusual amount of youths in the area last night. Police spokeswoman said: A post-mortem examination will take place in due course. Next of kin are aware. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue. A City worker tearfully admitted chopping up a police officer's body and trying to dissolve parts in an acid bath but told the Old Bailey he did not "deliberately kill" the PC. Breaking Bad-obsessed Stefano Brizzi, 50, is accused of murdering 58-year-old PC Gordon Semple during a chemsex party at his flat, then sawing the body into pieces in a bid to get rid of the evidence. When neighbours reported a revolting smell from his flat, police found human flesh in a blue-green acid mixture in the bath and body parts in buckets on the bathroom floor. It is also claimed Brizzi, who used to work for financial giant Morgan Stanley, cooked part of the Met Police officers body and ate it. Giving evidence this afternoon, the Italian-born web designer said he immediately admitted trying to dispose of the body but denies murdering the officer. Victim: Met police officer Gordon Semple / Metropolitan Police "Did you deliberately kill Gordon Semple?" asked defence barrister Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC. Brizzi replied firmly: "No", and asked if he intend to cause him harm, he added: "None whatsoever." Ms Bennett-Jenkins asked: "Do you accept you did act to dismember and destroy the body?" Brizzi replied in a broken voice: "yes", and wiped away tears from his eyes. Born into a Catholic family in Tuscany, Italy, Brizzi moved to the UK in 2010 and joined Morgan Stanley in 2012 as a web developer. However, he told the court he quit the job partly because of complications with his HIV medication, and because he was hooked on crystal meth. "I was addicted to crystal meth and this was ultimately the reason why I chose to resign from Morgan Stanley," he said. Stefano Brizzi, 50, is accused of strangling PC Gordon Semple "I was responsible for people, I was supposed to carry on with work and my responsibilities, but my addiction had got out of control and I needed to take steps and break my addiction." Brizzi quit in February 2015, joining a Crystal Meth Anonymous group, taking up Buddhist meditation, and staging "funerals" for the drug to try to kick the habit. He told jurors he started taking crystal meth in July 2013 after being introduced to the drug on the chemsex scene, and found it made him sexually aroused. "The first time I took it, I kind of knew it was addictive and a dangerous drug, it was just a tiny bit and I said I just want to take a tiny bit, but I must admit I liked it," he said. The court has heard Brizzi turned up at rehab meetings wearing a Breaking Bad t-shirt and was "obsessed" with talking about the show, which features teacher-turned-crystal-meth dealer Walter Whites descent into the criminal underworld. The TV series also includes a plot line where a man is strangled and his body dissolved in a bath of acid. Remains found: Forensics officers at the Peabody Estate / Jonathan Brady/PA Wire But Brizzi told the court he started watching Breaking Bad as a way of kicking his crystal meth habit. "You substitute your dangerous addiction with a much more tolerable one which is what I was trying to do," he said. PC Semple was bunking off work on April 1 when he arranged through gay dating app Grindr to meet Brizzi for sado-masochistic sex. He died that afternoon at Brizzis one-bedroom flat in Southwark Street, Bermondsey, and the defendant spent the next six days trying to dispose of the body. Jurors have heard PC Semples DNA was found on the inside of a black rubber mask he had been wearing, and there was also evidence he was put in a collar and leash during the sex party. Brizzi and the officer had exchanged sexually explicit messages prior to meeting, discussing the types of bondage sex they enjoyed. The court has also been told that when police made the grisly discovery of the remains of PC Semple, they also found evidence that Brizzi may have cooked his flesh and tried to eat it. PC Semples DNA was in a pool of grease in the oven, as well as on a chopping board and the inside of a pan, and there was blood stains on the oven door handle and a pair of chopsticks. Brizzi, who has admitted obstructing a coroner, denies murder. He claimed in police interview that Satan told him to kill the PC, and also argues that PC Semple died accidentally in a sex game gone wrong. The trial continues and Brizzi's evidence continues. C rime reporter Anthony France the only journalist to be successfully tried in the wake of a police investigation into payments to public officials has won an appeal against his conviction. France, 42, of Watford, was accused during his trial at the Old Bailey of cultivating a corrupt relationship with a police officer over four years. In May last year he was given a jail sentence of 18 months, suspended for two years. Today he was at the Court of Appeal in London as three judges backed his case. The Sun reporter was convicted following Operation Elveden, launched in 2011 in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal. He was alleged to have aided and abetted Pc Timothy Edwards to commit misconduct in public office between 2008 and 2011. The judge who sentenced him called him a decent man of solid integrity. Today France said: I am delighted this serious miscarriage of justice has ended, allowing me to rebuild my life after 1,379 days of hell. A teenager appeared in court today accused of causing the North Greenwich terror alert by planting a viable home-made ball-bearing bomb on the Tube. The Jubilee line was shut and the station evacuated last Thursday after two members of the public found a black Adidas rucksack left on a train. Student Damon Joseph Smith, 19 charged with having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury, between October 18 and 21 suffers from mild Aspergers syndrome, the court heard. He lives with his mother, who called out in distress from the public gallery as the case against him was outlined. Her son, in grey prison clothes, waved to her and gave his lawyer the thumbs-up as he sat grinning in the dock. Westminster magistrates court heard that the bag contained a suspect viable device made up of a silver flask, grey powder, glue containing ball bearings, wires, a modified clock, two batteries, plastic balls and an initiator. A prosecution summary said forensic officers found it was a viable improvised explosive device with live power supply and explosive charge and would have caused injury if the initiator had functioned correctly. Officers also found: The ball bearings around the device would have had an additional anti-personnel effect (maximise injury). They said the bomb only failed to explode because the initiator did not work. Smith, originally from Newton Abbot in Devon, moved to the capital this summer to study forensic science at London Metropolitan University. He was arrested the day after the suspicious package was discovered. Armed police Tasered him when they swooped dramatically as he walked along Holloway Road to classes. Prosecutor Kathryn Selby said the case should be handled under the terrorism protocol, adding that the police investigation is ongoing. She said about 12 people were in the tube carriage at the time the rucksack was discovered. The court heard that the bag was initially passed to the driver, who thought it was lost property but called police once he looked inside and found the improvised explosive. Smith, of South Bermondsey, app- eared in custody at the court after being charged last night. He has not yet entered a plea but his lawyer Simon Eastwood indicated to the court that his client would plead not guilty to the charge of possession with intent. Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot remanded Smith in custody until a hearing at the Old Bailey on November 17. C elebrities including Mo Farah and Olly Murs are backing a campaign for more research into brain tumours after a six-year-old girl was diagnosed with cancer and given two years to live. BBC newsreader Huw Edwards and Alex Jones and Matt Baker of The One Show have also given support to the family of Kaleigh Lau, who has a rare and inoperable tumour. Her family want to attract 100,000 signatures to a parliamentary petition by December 3 to force MPs to debate the issue. Kaleighs father Scott, 40, of Woodford, said: This petition will not help my daughter one ounce. Its about kids having a different outlook if we can manage to get it to Parliament. Kaleigh was diagnosed in April after experiencing double vision. Sad diagnosis: Kaleigh Lau has a rare and inoperable brain tumour Mr Lau, whose wife is called Yang, said: We were just about to take her to Chinese [language] school and she said: Daddy, I can see two of you. Because the good and bad nerves are intertwined, you cant go in and take the tumour out. Kaleigh, who has a four-year-old brother Carson, started radiotherapy within weeks and is under active surveillance at Great Ormond Street. Her family are pinning their hopes on the tumour being much slower-growing than normal, and on a Bristol hospital restarting a specialist procedure. About 40 UK children a year are diagnosed with a DIPG tumour. Mr Lau said treatment had not changed in 50 years, adding: Hopefully the Government can find more money for research in this area and stop other parents from hearing the same words we did: Sorry, this has no cure in the world. A n unprecedented alliance of London business leaders and politicians has demanded an urgent rethink of the unnecessary economic blow of swingeing business rate rises. Almost 40 business bodies have combined forces with Mayor Sadiq Khan and town halls to warn that next Aprils proposed increases will hit London hard. In an open letter to Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, published today in the Standard, they ask for the extra 885 million-a-year burden to be phased in over a long period. They also ask for a fundamental review of the entire business rates system to prevent London being hit so hard again. The letter is published the day after the closure of the Governments consultation on the transitional relief arrangements for the introduction of the new rateable values. It is proposed that the first year in-crease will be capped at 45 per cent, compared with just 12.5 per cent for previous revaluations. Rajesh Agrawal, deputy mayor for business, said: It is unacceptable that thousands of firms in the capital are, in effect, facing 50 per cent increases in their business rate bills with barely six months notice. In total, 43 organisations signed the letter, including 32 local Business Improvement Districts; pan-London bodies such as the London Chamber of Commerce; and London Councils, which represents all 33 authorities. Businesses in the West End which will be one of the worst affected areas warned of the devastating impact of the first business rate revaluation for seven years. Agent Gerald Eve said the collective business rates bill on Bond Street alone is 40 million. But under new rates valuations coming into effect in April, that figure will jump to 60.1 million in 2017, before surging to 86.8 million in 2021. Dino DAuria, co-founder of New Bond Street jewellers Frost of London, said: I am facing rises of 50 per cent to 100 per cent in the coming years. I would love to know where they spend the money. If it was going to put CCTV all over the street and visual security I wouldnt mind so much. He said the extra taxes meant there was a less than zero chance of him opening another shop in London. Ray Clacher, the boss behind several Savile Row tailoring brands including Gieves & Hawkes, warned that the timing couldnt be worse. He said he was expecting a rate rise of 20 per cent for the groups West End shops: With Brexit still a complete unknown, and costs of buying raw materials such as luxury fabrics in dollar or euro costing upwards of 20 per cent more than a year ago, we are finding it hard as it is. These rate increases only compound the pressure. Michael Wainwright, managing director of diamond jewellery specialist Boodles, which counts Dame Helen Mirren as a fan, said: We are also facing a rent review in Bond Street in November, which will be equally eye-watering. There is no doubt that property costs in the West End are becoming a huge concern to tenants. Sir Peter Rogers, chairman of the New West End Company, which represents traders in Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, said: This should be the last time a 20th-century system is inflicted on businesses across London. This year has seen the Government deliver a series of setbacks to the West End retail sector beginning with the rejection of crucial proposals to modernise the law on Sunday trading in March, and now with this crippling revaluation of business rates. We are urging the Chancellor to kick-start an overhaul of the revaluation system and seriously consider measures such as annual revaluations and the possibility of separating London from the national system to ensure our capital is protected for the future. G loomy-faced mourners gathered outside the home of the BBC to pay their respects to the Great British Bake Off. Last nights final marked the end of the last series of the show to be aired on the BBC before it makes a controversial move to Channel 4 next year. London Dungeon's resident baker Mrs Lovett led a group of distraught fans behind a hearse and laid a flower wreath spelling out 'RIP GBBO' in a bizarre stunt outside Broadcasting House in west London. The controversial move comes after the BBC revealed it wasnt able to afford to keep the baking show. Gloomy fans: Mourners staged a bizarre funeral for the Great British Bake Off / Rex Programme-makers Love Productions signed a new three-year deal with Channel 4 last month. Following the announcement hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins and judge Mary Berry quit the show. Twitter reacts: Candice wins The Great British Bake Off final An average of 14 million TV fans tuned in to watch as Candice Brown, a 31-year-old PE teacher, was crowned the winner of the BBCs final series. Charlotte Moore, director of BBC Content, said: "BBC One brought over half of the British viewing public together to watch the final of The Great British Bake Off, delivering the highest ever ratings." Candice Brown: BBC'S Final Great British Bake Off Winner 1 /16 Candice Brown: BBC'S Final Great British Bake Off Winner Jane Beedle (right), Andrew Smyth and Candice Brown, who has been crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/BBC Mary Berry with Candice Brown, who was crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Paul Hollywood hugging Candice Brown, who has been crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Candice Brown won the Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Mary Berry shaking hands with Candice Brown, who has been crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday October 26, 2016. The PE teacher, 31, took the title ahead of rivals Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth and said it was the biggest moment of her life so far Love Productions/BBC Mary Berry with Candice Brown, who was crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Candice Brown, who has been crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Candice is embraced by her proud boyfriend Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/BBC Candice in action during her Showstopper Tom Graham/Love Productions/BBC Candice decorating and piping Love Productions/BBC Candice in action during her Showstopper Joseph Cavaciuti/Love Productions/BBC Candice in action during her technical challenge Tom Graham/Love Productions/BBC She congratulated the Bake Off team and thanked the "loyal fans over the last seven series" before adding that there will be two Bake Off specials at Christmas ahead of its move to Channel 4 next year. Are these the best Great British Bake Off innuendos ever? Richard McKerrow, Love Productions creative director said at the time of the announcement: "We believe we've found the perfect new home for Bake Off. Candice Brown's top five Bake Off creations 1 /8 Candice Brown's top five Bake Off creations Winner Candice Brown won the Great British Bake Off 2016 - but what were her top five creations? BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon Cheesy cheeky fish pies Candice didnt receive 100% praise from the judges for her Tudor Week pies and was marked down slightly for the fact that the juicy filling had leaked and crusted onto the outside. But as we all know, away from the Bake Off tent those are the best bits to eat we would have wolfed them down with absolutely no complaints. BBC Sausage, black pudding and apple round, and banoffee whiskey cups Candice got her second nod for Star Baker in Pastry Week and its easy to see why with her showstopper creations. Her sausage rounds looked supremely crispy (thats spot on, that, declared Paul Hollywood), while those banoffee cups are likely to come to a canape party near you soon. BBC Royal picnic In the final week, Mary and Paul asked a huge amount of the three remaining competitors creating a 49-piece picnic hamper. Andrew and Jane ultimately struggled, but Candice received better comments and, come on, she made a four-tier chocolate cake, 12 puff pastry sausage rolls, 12 mini quiches, 12 savoury scones, and 12 fruit and custard tarts in five hours. An amazing effort. BBC The gingerbread pub After a moderately disastrous first week, Candice bounced back in Biscuit Week with her incredible showstopper. She recreated the pub she grew up in entirely out of gingerbread, and it looked absolutely stunning. Whats more, it apparently tasted great, and was full of personal touches. Top of the class. BBC The peacock Making an edible peacock must be a good omen Nadiya Hussain triumphed with one in 2015, and Candice won Star Baker in Tudor Week with hers. She created four coloured sponges to make up a cake for the body, a marshmallow head and neck, and a full marzipane tail covered in edible glitter. Oh, and she outed herself as a big Game of Thrones fan which is always a plus in our book. BBC "It's a public service, free-to-air broadcaster for whom Love Productions have produced high quality and highly successful programmes for more than a decade. "It's tremendously exciting to have found a broadcaster who we know will protect and nurture The Great British Bake Off for many years to come." A clumsy waiter knocked the thumb off a priceless Roman sculpture at the British Museum. The member of staff, from a contracted firm, was preparing to serve guests at a corporate event in one of the museums galleries when the damage occurred. They bent down directly underneath the Townley Venus sculpture and knocked into its right hand as they got up, the Art Newspaper reported. The thumb was knocked clean off the naked figure of the goddess of love and dropped to the floor, but it is understood the broken piece was not damaged further. A spokesman for the museum in Bloomsbury told the newspaper it had taken the incident "seriously2, and the statue had been "fully restored" by conservators. The damage to the marble copy of the artefact took place last December but was not made public at the time. Officials at the museum only made reference to the incident in minutes of the trustees meetings. The sculpture stands just over two metres tall and dates from the first or second centuries AD. It was excavated at Ostia, Italy, in 1775 and bought by the distinguished English collector Charles Townley in Rome. Damaged sculpture: The staute was damaged by a member of outside catering staff / British Museum In 1805 his descendants sold it to the museum, where it is now prominently displayed in the Greek and Roman galleries. A British Museum spokeswoman said: This was an unfortunate incident. The preservation of the collection is of fundamental importance. Our expert conservators have been able to fully restore the object and it has remained on public display. We have taken the incident seriously and have retrained all individuals responsible for events. She added: Any staff who are involved in managing or invigilating events have gone through retraining on the protection of objects before and during events. T HE Notting Hill set is slowly disbanding, but are their Chipping Norton counterparts following suit? The Cornbury Music Festival, affectionately known as Poshstock, will close its gates next summer after 14 years. Locals David and Samantha Cameron have attended the event at least three times, in 2004, 2008 and 2013, both on its former Cornbury Estate site and again after its move to the nearby Great Tew Estate. Organiser Hugh Phillimore is aiming for one last hurrah. Were hoping David and Jeremy Clarkson and all our mates will turn up for this last one, he told The Londoner yesterday. Now David has more time on his hands he can fit it in between speaking engagements, I hope. The end of the festival is the latest sign that the areas status is on the wane. Earlier this year Lord and Lady Rotherwick put their neighbouring Cornbury Park Estate on the market. It hosts the Wilderness Festival, a favourite of Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, who is related to the couple by marriage. David Cameron is said to have used the Rotherwickss swimming pool the local private baths for his former parliamentary seat in Witney. Also gone is Elisabeth Murdoch since her divorce from another local, Matthew Freud. Brexit, it seems, was simply the last straw. This summer there was relentlessly bad weather and everyone got a bit depressed after Brexit, Phillimore adds. Were a small independent festival and its a lovely event but there was a lot of pressure. Now power has shifted, will the Sonning Regatta, round Theresa Mays way, become the new rock n roll? Or will the PM be seen dropping in at the Reading Festival? --- Belated birthday greetings to Hillary Clinton, who turned 69 yesterday. She was presented with an original suffragette sash by daughter Chelsea and serenaded by Stevie Wonder. Over in London, Americans Abroad, which hosted a voter registration drive for US citizens at the Stair Sainty Gallery on Dover Street, held a birthday party in absentia with cake and champagne. How better to engage people with politics than to offer them chocolate sponge? A suitably grand party for Everyman Corks popped last night for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Everymans Library at Spencer House, with Londoner of the Decade Prince Charles in attendance. But it was a mistake to ask publisher David Campbell if he would consider publishing Jilly Coopers racy tomes. We only publish the classics, he replied tersely. Elsewhere, Lord Maude lamented to The Londoner how his current challenge, after his retreat from frontline politics into the Lords, is relevance deprivation. Does the same fate await David Cameron: I think hell be in a lot of demand. I think history will judge him well. Nice to have someone being optimistic for him. Will.i.am and Bill.i.am talk innovation An enlightening night at the Science Museum, where Bill Gates and Will.i.am took part in the the Evening Standards Progress Conversation about innovation and global health. Kids shouldnt aspire to be Will.i.am, the musician and entrepreneur said, they should aspire to be Bill.i.am.Microsoft founder Gates demurred to suggestions that he should run for President, as his philanthropy obliges him to be apolitical. He did, however, exercise great diplomacy at the post-event reception. A throng encircled him but journalist Rachel Johnson and Lord Willetts parked themselves in front of him and took over the conversation. I used to be science minister, Willetts boasted.My brother is the current one, Johnson interjected, referring to Jo. After trying to get a word in edgeways, The Londoner gave up and got a Tube to Baker Street for the launch of Inside Vogue, a diary of the 100th year of the magazine by editor Alexandra Shulman at Fucina. Who should be propping up the bar, as if teleported, but the ubiquitous Rachel. She apologised for dominating Gates or cock-blocking the other guests, as she put it but claimed she couldnt find her way out of the crowd. --- Is it time for the humble pizza to be elevated from hearty Italian fare to Michelin star-rated? This weekend Kensington pizzeria Pizzicotto launches its Gourmet Pizza Challenge. The restaurants chefs will face off against Michelin-starred foodies such as Robin Gill of The Manor and Jun Tanaka of The Ninth, in a heated contest to come up with the publics favourite pizza. Their creations, debuting at a launch event on Saturday, will be sold throughout November, with 1 per sale going towards Action Against Hunger. Go on, get a pizza the action. Is Trump modelling himself on the Kaiser? A public figure who is boastful, arrogant and impetuous and a leader who has made fantastical geopolitical speculations, crackpot plans, sarcastic asides and off-colour jokes. It would be easy to assume that these quotes refer to Donald Trump but they are descriptions of Wilhelm II, the last Kaiser. In this weeks New Statesman, Christopher Clark and Andrew Preston find shockingly similar comparisons between the Republican nominee and Kaiser Bill. He showed an unhealthy interest in the sexual behaviour of his royal colleagues. They also note that Wilhelm cared as assiduously for his erect moustache as Trump does for the pillow of golden fibres on the top of his head. Sadly Clark and Preston can find no record of Wilhelm boasting about the size of his genitalia. Sandi almost slips up Halloween festivities were put on hold as The Londoner celebrated the switching on of the Christmas tree lights and the opening of the ice rink at the Natural History Museum last night.Pirouetting on the ice we noticed Sandi Bogle of Gogglebox struggling to keep her balance. The Londoner went over and observed that she had the poise of fellow Streatham resident Naomi Campbell. Shes family. Every time she sees me she says, Im proud of you, cuz. Who knew? Were close but I just do me. If I do a bit of fashion and stuff like that I dont want it to come off like Im trying to cash in I dont need to do that. So is she a diva like her cousin? No, I dont do diva I just do me, she said as she wobbled off on her skates. T ransport Secretary Chris Grayling faces a grilling by MPs over whether a Heathrow third runway will cause more air pollution over London. The Commons environmental audit committee is also to question the Cabinet minister over the methods used to conclude that expansion of the west London airport can be done without breaching legal air quality rules. Committee chairwoman and Labour MP Mary Creagh said: We will be looking carefully at the Department for Transports analysis on Heathrows air quality impact. We will be pressing the Government for assurances that they have used the latest methodologies in the coming weeks. Mr Grayling has insisted a third runway could be operated without breaking legal limits on air pollution and stressed this would be a condition of gaining planning consent. Expanding: Heathrow Airport / Jack Taylor/Getty Images A report for the Department for Transport, though, admitted that the re-examination of the air pollution impact of a third runway had not used key new analysis showing emissions from some diesel vehicles are worse than previously claimed. Professor Dame Julia King, a member of the Airports Commission who also sits on the Committee on Climate Change, defended the decision on Heathrow. She said: The main contributor to poor air quality around Heathrow is not the aircraft but the road traffic. Similar air quality problems already exist in major roads in central London, so this problem we have to address in any case. However, the DfT document also suggested that under the Airports Commissions proposals, breaches of air pollution levels in central London would have got worse if Heathrow expanded. Mitigation measures in west London would have prevented worse breaches around the airport. The Government now says its 2015 Air Quality Plan means a third runway is possible within pollution limits. But the proposals also faced fresh controversy today over whether they would deliver a significantly bigger economic boost than expanding Gatwick and over a plan for the third runway to be on a small slope and to go over the M25 rather than tunnelling the motorway. G ermans have been advised not to speak their native language in London following the Brexit vote. Lawyer Carmen Prem, who has lived in the capital for 13 years, offered the advice for an article in German newspaper Die Welt. The piece claimed foreigners were feeling "stronger xeonophobia" since the referendum. According to the article, there is now "a new bitterness, an anger which hardly any of the countless non-British on the island expected". And Carmen Prem, a mother-of-two, told the paper: "If you are out with the children, maybe dont speak German too loudly at the moment. Ms Prem claimed a bus driver had recently ordered passengers to "kindly speak English" on her way home from work and that London's mood had altered since the Leave vote. She claimed: "The tone has changed. "No Briton would ever say 'we do not want you here'. "But it is now 'we and you'." In the same article, German professor Mischa Dohler, who works at King's College London, said he was seriously considering moving abroad. Rise in racist and homophobic incidents reported following Brexit result The academic said he had received countless job offers but had turned down a role in Cambridge because of uncertainty following the Brexit vote. He said: "Many non-British academics simply see no future here." J ohn McDonnell has denied a rift has opened up with Sadiq Khan over a Brexit deal for the City. The shadow chancellor has railed against a "Bankers' Brexit", but Mr Khan warned about not securing the best possible deal for the financial services sector following withdrawal from the EU. Mr McDonnell has previously claimed ministers are planning to slant negotiations in favour of elite bankers. But he denied his stance put him on a collision course with the London mayor as he wanted to protect jobs in financial services. However, he said he was opposed to "special deals behind closed doors". Mr Khan told a City of London Corporation dinner: "If we fail to get a good Brexit deal, businesses are more likely to move to New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong, than to other cities in Europe. Something that would not just be bad for us, but for our European neighbours too. Hard Brexit really is a zero-sum game for Europe. So now it's time to stop the bluster and to start working towards a deal that can work for everyone - for Britain and for Europe. "If the Government continues with a reckless hard-headed, hard-nosed, hard Brexit approach - and we end up losing access to the single market that helps make our financial services industry a world leader - the impact would ripple out far and wide. "If the proper agreements aren't negotiated, there will be serious knock-on impacts with jobs and billions of revenue lost - something that would hit the entire country, not just London. My motivation is not about protecting old City institutions just for the sake of it or presenting a London-centric approach. It's about protecting our country's economy - protecting jobs, promoting growth and safeguarding prosperity for the next generation. A bisexual Church of England vicar has reportedly been banned from the ministry after his wife revealed he led a secret life as a sex addict with a taste for hardcore pornography. At a tribunal in London, Reverend James Meredith Day was accused of seeking sex with a prostitute, assaulting his wife at their home and amassing a collection of indecent images. His estranged wife Birte Day told the hearing she discovered a series of pornographic scenes on his computer, including images of orgies and naked young men, alongside 100 sketches of naked women being tortured and burned. Mrs Day also claimed to have found a number of cards from several gay saunas, plus an email alluding to her husband taking part in a gangbang. She told the tribunal: He often said that the most important elements in his life were God and sex. There were also times he turned violent, she said, including spanking her and one occasion where he grasped her neck scarf in a strong, powerful and menacing way before beginning to tighten it. She said: He tried to pull the end close together to the point where I had difficulties breathing. While he was holding the ends of the scarf he pulled me close and spat in my face. Mr Day, originally from America, moved to Cambridge in 2001 before becoming a deacon and moving to Brussels. The father-of-three, who did not attend his hearing, claimed in an email he had numerous letters that would cast doubt on his wifes evidence. But the tribunal banned from the ministry for life after finding his sexual behaviour to be unbecoming and inappropriate. The panel also concluded the assaults alleged by Mrs Day had taken place. A 62-storey skyscraper will become the tallest building in the City of London after the green light was given to press ahead with building work despite market jitters sparked by Brexit. The building, known as 22 Bishopsgate, will be developed on land previously earmarked for the Pinnacle tower, otherwise referred to as "Helter Skelter". It will become the tallest building in the capital's financial district at 278 metres tall when completed near Liverpool Street Station and is being developed by AXA Investment Managers Real Assets. The decision to give the go-ahead on construction was delayed in the run-up to the EU referendum. Impression: How the tower could look / Riverfilm/Martin Richardson AXA IMs chief executive Pierre Vaquier told Bloomberg the company would await the outcome of the vote before making a final decision. However, he confirmed on Wednesday the project had received the green light. He told The Guardian: The decision to proceed underscores our confidence in the progressive and attractive development that we will deliver at 22, coupled with the anticipated breadth of demand from local and global occupiers for easily accessible space in a prime location in the City of London, as one of the leading global centres for international business, that will respond to their future business needs. Chris Hayward, chairman of planning and transport at the City of London Corporation told the newspaper the decision reflected the confidence of investing in London. He said: This decision to continue with what is a key development in the City of Londons eastern cluster demonstrates the high level of investor confidence in Londons future growth. 'She's doing it for the right reasons'; Brothel-living 20-year-old auctions virginity after parents' home burns downPostmedia NetworkFirst posted: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 01:57 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 04:25 PM EDTA young Seattle woman says she is auctioning off her virginity to provide for her family.Katherine Stone, 20, made her unusual offer after her familys uninsured home was destroyed by a fire in 2014.She reached out to Dennis Hof, who owns several legal brothels in Nevada.He admits he was skeptical at first.I originally didnt like (the idea) because I dont like people to have to do things when theyre desperate, Hof told Inside Edition . Shes doing it for the right reasons - to help her parents.Stone even got her mothers blessing.The whole time, the only thing I could think about was that its time for a change and hopefully this will be a good thing, Stone said.Shes in no hurry, however. Stone has been living in the brothel for more than a year now, and the highest bid has reached $400,000.She hasnt found the right situation, Hof said in the Inside Edition interview. Shes had guys that shes liked that didnt have enough money and shes had guys that had enough but she didnt like them.Stone is sure its only a matter of time.The whole time Ive been here, Ive come to terms with what Im doing, she said. Im definitely ready.Due to the circumstances, Hof says he wont take any of the profits.Katherine Stone. (YouTube screenshot) A letter written by John Lennon addressed to the The Queen which was valued at 60,000 was inadvertently picked up at a car boot sale for just 10. Its anonymous owner took the document to a valuation day at The Beatles Story in Liverpool on Wednesday. He recently found it tucked in the sleeve of a record he bought 20 years ago which had been sitting in his attic, the BBC said. It was described as an "incredible find" by music memorabilia expert Darren Julien. The iconic Beatle wrote to the monarch in the 1960s to explain why he was returning his MBE which included Britain's stance on the US war in Vietnam. It reads: "I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts." The letter has been valued at 60,000 / Beatles Story The text could be a draft of a letter Lennon sent in 1969 which remains in the Royal archives. Lennon, along with the other members of The Beatles, was awarded an MBE in the Queen's 1965 birthday honours and initially accepted, but returned it in 1969. J eremy Corbyn today called for an immediate ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia until an investigation can determine whether bombs have been dropped illegally in neighbouring Yemen. Amnesty International says banned British cluster bombs have been found in Yemen close to the Saudi border and last night ITV reported that UK bombs are believed to have claimed the lives of three members of a United Nations-funded mine clearance team. The Labour leader told the Evening Standard: It seems very disturbing that there appears to be evidence British weaponry has been used in Yemen. We put a motion to the House of Commons demanding a UN investigation into whats happened in Yemen and I absolutely stand by the resolution we put. My own view is that they should suspend supplies until such time as we have had the investigation. Famine has swept through Yemen, potentially affecting up to 14 million people, since a Saudi-led coalition began a bombing campaign against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Saudi is defending the countrys UN-backed government but there are concerns that British weapons, including prohibited cluster bombs, have been dropped in the country. Theresa May has said Britain has a strong and important relationship with Saudi Arabia and has pressed the government for an investigation into the allegations. However, Mr Corbyn maintains an immediate ban on licences for arms sales is imperative. He said: We need human rights everywhere and if we cant say to people who are allies that your human rights record is simply not acceptable then who can we say it to? The leaders stance on Yemen is causing a divide in his party, however, and last night a motion calling for the UK Government to suspend support for the Saudi-led coalition was defeated when 100 of his own MPs abstained. Mike Gapes, MP for Ilford South and a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said: Im not minimising the terrible things that are happening there but simply saying we are not going to arm the Saudis wont stop the conflict. "We should also condemn the Houthi-Iranian rebellion. A number of Labour MPs did not vote with the whip because they believe this issue is more complex than simplistic slogans. Labours former Parliamentary Under-Secretary for defence, Kevan Jones, told shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry she was concentrating on only part of the story, adding which she does quite a lot when it comes to this conflict. M ichelle Obama made her first appearance on the campaign trail alongside her friend Hillary Clinton as she backed her to succeed her husband into the White House. The First Lady joined the Democratic nominee on the stump in North Carolina less than two weeks before the US election on November 8. The women are not known to have a personal closeness but Mrs Obama told the crowd: "Yes, Hillary Clinton is my friend. She said she has come out as a strong defender of Mrs Clinton because this election is "unprecedented" before a gibe apparently directed at her opponent Donald Trump. Friends: The First Lady backed the former First Lady to win the race for the White House / AP She said she wants to see someone in the Oval Office who will unify Americans and "who values and honours women". Mrs Obama's aides said the remarks were her "closing argument" for Mrs Clinton. TODO: define component type apester She also accused Mr Trump's campaign of trying to depress voter turnout by deriding the election as "rigged". She told supporters that presidential races are decided on a "razor's edge". "If Hillary doesn't win this election, that will be on us," she said. With a steady lead in the race for weeks, Mrs Clinton's campaign is concerned that her advantage could prompt some of her backers to stay home on election day or cast protest votes for a third-party candidate. A new Associated Press-GfK poll released on Wednesday found Mrs Clinton on the cusp of a potentially commanding victory. Loading.... The survey shows her leading Mr Trump nationally by a staggering 14 percentage points among likely voters, 51-37. That margin is the largest national lead for Mrs Clinton among recent surveys. But other polls generally have shown her ahead of Trump for the past several weeks. I celandic women have left work 14 per cent early in protest at the 14 per cent gender pay gap in the country. Thousands of women protested against the pay gap by leaving work at 2:38 pm on Monday, after which point rights organisations argue women effectively work for free. For the past eight years Iceland has topped the World Economic Forums gender gap index. But data shows that should the gender pay gap continue to close at the current rate it would still take 52 years before Icelandic men and women were paid the same. The country has a strong history of womens rights campaigning. In 1975 90 per cent of Icelandic women refused to work, cook, or even look after their children, temporarily paralysing Icelands economy. The next year parliament passed a law guaranteeing equal pay for women. Gylfi Arnbjornsson, president of the Icelandic Confederation of Labor told the New York Times. "It doesnt matter whether its a gender pay gap or any other pay gap. Its just unacceptable to say well correct this in 50 years. Thats a lifetime. Thousands of women from across the world took to social media to show their support with many demanding that similar protests be held in their home countries. No country in the world has closed the gender pay gap. T he world is on the verge of the first mass extinction since the age of the dinosaurs, according to the most comprehensive survey of wildlife ever carried out. The 2016 Living Planet Report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) found that around 70 per cent of the words mammals, fish, reptiles, birds and amphibians are on course to be wiped out over the fifty year period ending in 2020. This is an average decline of 2 per cent each year and there is no sign that the pace will slow. The report documents how human activities such as deforestation, overfishing and pollution are pushing species into rapid decline as humans take over the world. The report highlighted several wildlife groups which have been significantly impacted by human activity in recent years including African elephants in Tanzania, maned wolves in Brazil and US salamanders. The report which is published every two years monitors the state of global wildlife. Mike Barrett, Director of Science and Policy at WWF-UK said: In the four-and-half-billion-year history of our planet there have been five mass extinction events - when around 90 per cent of species are made extinct. But this is the first time this is being entirely driven by one species humans. Mr Barrett urged the international community to redouble its efforts to stop species decline. He said: In 2010 the international community pledged to have halted the loss of biological diversity by 2020 so were clearly off track. But the key point here is that none of this is inevitable we have the solutions and we have the understanding to stop the decline. K ate Beckinsale got her 17-year-old daughter into trouble at school by drawing a rather risque doodle on her homework. The British actress, 43, who filed for divorce from husband Len Wiseman this week, accidently drew a penis on one of Lilys school assignments and her teacher was not impressed. Speaking on Late Night with Seth Myers, Beckinsale told the host that her daughter had been scolded for not being appropriate. The teenager was then forced to tell her teacher that it was her mother who had inked the incriminating picture. It's like my bat sign. People know I've been there if there fruit bowl has been rearranged, she added. Beckinsale famously dressed up in a huge inflatable penis costume for a hilarious social media snap earlier this year. She captioned the picture: Just a girl trying to make it in a mans world. Director Wiseman filed for divorce from Beckinsale this week, citing irreconcilable differences in court documents. Beckinsale and Wiseman met in 2003 when he was directing her in the first Underworld film. The actress was previously married to Welsh actor Michael Sheen and they welcomed daughter Lily into the world in 1999. S t Vincent has made her red carpet debut with Kristen Stewart just one month after her split from Cara Delevingne. The US musician, 34, and the Hollywood star, 26, arrived together at the Vogue party in LA on Wednesday night, going public with their romance for the first time. Vincent and Stewart are rumoured to have been dating for the last few weeks and have been spotted out and about together on a number of occasions. But the Hollywood fashion event marked the first time that they had attended a public event together, putting the rumours to rest. St. Vincent, Kristen Stewart, Emma Stone and Katy Perry (Jeff Vespa/Getty Images for CFDA/Vogue) / Getty Images Vincent real name Annie Clark is only thought to have split from British model Delevingne last month, after nearly a year together. A source told The Sun: The cracks were beginning to show on Cara's birthday in August when Annie wasn't there for her party.' They decided to call it a day but remain pals and are hoping they can work things out as its no doubt they really love each other. Stewart only recently spoke out about her relationship with former PA Alicia Cargile for the first time, telling Elle Magazine: Ex-factor: Cara Delevingne and St Vincent dated for a year / Dave Benett I think ... right now Im just really in love with my girlfriend. Weve broken up a couple of times and gotten back together, and this time I was like, Finally, I can feel again. The actress, who dated her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson for many years, also revealed that she now felt more comfortable about discussing her private life. When I was dating a guy I was hiding everything that I did because everything personal felt like it was immediately trivialised, so I didnt like it, she said. C andice Brown is the seventh winner of the Great British Bake Off and while the show has no cash prize, shes expected to come into some highly lucrative deals. According to celebrity agent Jonathan Shalit, Brown could be set to earn big money as the winner of the show. Candice is the most immediately accessible Bake Off winner middle class, well spoken. I can imagine her doing a column for a paper or releasing a cookbook, he told the Daily Mail. She is like a vintage, young Nigella Lawson. Adds a bit of sex appeal to baking. Im confident she can earn 1 million. Candice Brown: BBC'S Final Great British Bake Off Winner 1 /16 Candice Brown: BBC'S Final Great British Bake Off Winner Jane Beedle (right), Andrew Smyth and Candice Brown, who has been crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/BBC Mary Berry with Candice Brown, who was crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Paul Hollywood hugging Candice Brown, who has been crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Candice Brown won the Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Mary Berry shaking hands with Candice Brown, who has been crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday October 26, 2016. The PE teacher, 31, took the title ahead of rivals Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth and said it was the biggest moment of her life so far Love Productions/BBC Mary Berry with Candice Brown, who was crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Candice Brown, who has been crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off Love Productions/BBC Candice is embraced by her proud boyfriend Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/BBC Candice in action during her Showstopper Tom Graham/Love Productions/BBC Candice decorating and piping Love Productions/BBC Candice in action during her Showstopper Joseph Cavaciuti/Love Productions/BBC Candice in action during her technical challenge Tom Graham/Love Productions/BBC The 31 year-old PE teacher came out on top in the Series 7 final, edging ahead of competitors Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth. She impressed Paul and Mary with her showstopper picnic comprising of sausage rolls, mini quiches, cream tarts, scones, and a four-tier chocolate cake. Never ever, ever thought Id ever even get on this, and Im standing here now with this, Brown said after winning. They said my name, and that means more to me than I think anyone will ever, ever realise. It really, really does. Twitter reacts: Candice wins The Great British Bake Off final Judge Mary Berry lauded Browns passion as she took the top prize. Her determination and passion, she really has excelled," she said. "Wonderful flavours, and everything always looked gorgeous. Paul Hollywood added: Candice is very much all or nothing, when you look back on some of her bakes theyve been beautiful. When she nails it, shes one of the best. Brown will be the last Bake Off winner from the BBC series, which is due to move to Channel 4 in 2017. BBC One Tecumsehsbones said: I accept that Britain held a referendum, and the majority of voters in that referendum voted for Britain to leave the EU. I also accept that, as I understand British law and government, referenda are not binding on Parliament. Click to expand... The referendum result is binding The legal power to invoke Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union is in law a prerogative power vested in the Crown, which may be exercised by government ministers without the need for authorisation or consent from Parliament. There is no credible legal argument supporting the legal challenge being advertised by law firm Mishcon de Reya. Constitutionally the referendum result was decisive and binding and not just advisory. The referendum result not merely authorises but positively mandates the government to exercise its legal power to give notice under Article 50. As a matter of democratic politics it is astonishing that so many people should apparently regard it as legitimate to engage in activities designed to frustrate the expressed will of the British people. Sadly, this is a symptom of the serious damage which 40 years of membership has done to our sense of national cohesion. This damage can begin to heal once we leave. We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60% based on a turnout less than 75%, there should be another referendum. 1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements. 2. A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention. ... We believe in letting the people decide: so we will hold an in-out referendum on our membership of the EU before the end of 2017. "This is a simple, but vital, piece of legislation. It has one clear purpose: to deliver on our promise to give the British people the final say on our EU membership in an in/out referendum by the end of 2017." (emphasis added) "Few subjects ignite as much passion in the House or indeed in the country as our membership of the European Union. The debate in the run-up to the referendum will be hard fought on both sides of the argument. But whether we favour Britain being in or out, we surely should all be able to agree on the simple principle that the decision about our membership should be taken by the British people, not by Whitehall bureaucrats, certainly not by Brussels Eurocrats; not even by Government Ministers or parliamentarians in this Chamber. The decision must be for the common sense of the British people. That is what we pledged, and that is what we have a mandate to deliver. For too long, the people of Britain have been denied their say. For too long, powers have been handed to Brussels over their heads. For too long, their voice on Europe has not been heard. This Bill puts that right. It delivers the simple in/out referendum that we promised, and I commend it to the House." (emphasis added) The referendum on Thursday 23rd June is your chance to decide if we should remain in the European Union. This is your decision. The Government will implement what you decide. This referendum's binding.This is what it said in those leaflets - which cost 9 million in total of taxpayers' money - that the government sent out to millions of homes across the country to try and persuade us to vote Remain (notice also thebit at the top):Since the result of the Brexit referendum was announced on 24 June 2016, it has become clear that there are significant forces in this country who do not accept the democratic result. There have been both legal and political moves in certain quarters to seek to delay, frustrate, re-run or somehow ultimately reverse the decision taken by the people of the United Kingdom.One of those moves has been a legal action bugun by the law firm Mishcon de Reya on behalf of undisclosed clients, whose stated aim is . Mishcons website The stated aim of this legal action is to . But there can be little question that its true aim is an attempt to block the implementation of the referendum result through using a pro-Remain majority in Parliament - particularly in the House of Lords - to frustrate the expressed will of the people. Indeed, the whole action is breath-takingly hypocritical: invoking professed concern for the sovereignty of Parliament in order to fetter and ultimately extinguish that sovereignty through continued membership of the EU.Another move on the political front has been as online petition calling for a retrospective nullification of the referendum result and a re-run which states that:It has been reported that that petition attracted 4 million signatures, but on 10 July 2016 it was formally rejected by the government.A third move, this time a mixture of legal and political, has been a letter to the Prime Minister which claims to be signed by over 1,000 barristers. This calls for an Act of Parliament before the procedure is triggered under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union for the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, and for a Royal Commission to examine the consequences and report back before the vote is taken on such an Act. Again, there can be little doubt that this is not a serious attempt to enhance the workings of Parliamentary democracy, but rather an attempt to delay and frustrate the implementation of the decision of the British people for years in the hope that it can somehow be reversed.This series of attacks on democracy raise a number of legal, constitutional and political issues, which will be addressed in depth in this article.Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union was inserted into that Treaty by the 2007 Lisbon Treaty. It is often (inaccurately) referred to as Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon. It entitles any Member State to withdraw from the European Union and sets out (in broad outline) the procedure to be followed. Article 50(1) and the first sentence of Article 50(2) set out in very simple terms how the process of withdrawal is begun:As paragraph 1 above confirms, the constitutional law of each Member State governs how that State shall take a decision to withdraw and who, under its national law, has power to take such a decision. The procedure by which this will done will vary from State to State. For example, where, as in the case of some States, membership of the EU has been embedded into the national constitution, it might be necessary to amend that constitution by some special procedure in order for the State to make a valid decision to withdraw.The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution which spells out who has the power to take a decision to withdraw from the EU and communicate that decision to the European Council. Therefore, one starts by looking at the general law on who has the power to conclude and withdraw from international treaties. And the general rule is quite clear. Under the UKs constitution, it is the Crown (the Queen acting under the Royal Prerogative in practice on the advice of government ministers) which has the power to enter into and withdraw from international treaties.Before 2010, there was no legal requirement for Parliament to approve the ratification of treaties or even to be consulted, although there was a constitutional convention (the Ponsonby rule) under which the government undertook to lay treaties in front of Parliament 21 days before ratification. The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, sections 20 to 25, put the Ponsonby rule on a statutory footing and empowers the House of Commons (but not the House of Lords) to block the ratification of a treaty by passing a resolution against it.Many international treaties contain provisions similar to Article 50 which allow notice to be given withdrawing from or terminating the treaty. The 2010 Act applies to the initial ratification of a treaty, but does not apply to the giving of a notice withdrawing from it or terminating it, or indeed to measures or decisions made under it (as made clear by section 25(2)). Accordingly, the giving of a notice of termination or withdrawal remains part of the prerogative powers of the Crown untrammelled by any legal requirement for the approval of Parliament.Although the Crown has extensive powers over international treaties which as a matter of law can be exercised without reference to Parliament, it has no power to alter the internal laws of the United Kingdom. This can only be done by Parliament, or under specific powers granted by Parliament. This means that the Crown is in practice unable to ratify international treaties which contain obligations to alter the internal law of the United Kingdom without Parliament first having made the necessary changes in the law, or at least being very confident that Parliament will make the required changes, or it would end up in breach of its international treaty obligations.It is sometimes loosely said that Parliament has ratified a treaty when it passes an Act which gives effect to a treaty in the UKs internal law. But this is inaccurate - Parliament enacts the necessary changes in the law and the Crown then ratifies the treaty under its prerogative powers. They are separate acts, one by Parliament the law-maker, and the other by the Crown exercising its international treaty powers.Parliament has made the necessary changes in the UKs internal laws to give effect to the European Union treaties, mainly through the European Communities Act 1972. This was passed in 1972 in order to give effect to the Treaty of Rome which applied to the United Kingdom from 1 January 1973. Whenever the Treaty of Rome has been amended, Parliament has passed another Act amending the 1972 Act in order to give the necessary effect in the UKs internal law to the European treaties as amended.But the fact that the European Communities Act 1972 gives effect to the European treaties in UK internal law does not exclude the prerogative powers of the Crown in relation to the operation of those treaties on the international plane. And actions taken by the Crown on the international plane will have consequential effects of altering the law within the UK. For example, if a Minister votes in the Council of Ministers in favour of a Regulation which is directly applicable inside Member States, that Regulation will then alter internal UK law.The giving of notice under Article 50(2) of the Treaty of European Union is an act on the international plane, which alters or affects the UKs international treaty obligations by bringing the UKs adherence to the EU treaties to an end after a maximum 2 year period. Clearly this will then produce a consequential effect in UK domestic law since once we leave the EU, its various laws and rules will cease to apply internally in the UK. But the primary effect is on the international plane, and the subsequent effect on domestic law is consequential.Insofar as it is possible to understand the arguments put forward by Mishcons in their intended legal action, it would appear that they wish to argue that Parliament by enacting the 1972 Act has (by implication) restricted the exercise of the royal prerogative to prevent the Crown from giving notice under Article 50 without the consent of Parliament. The argument has to be based on implication because there is nothing in the express words of the 1972 Act or any Acts of Parliament which follow it which restrict the Crowns right to exercise this international treaty power.There are however three answers to this argument.First, there is no coherent or logical basis for arguing that Parliament has not impliedly restricted the exercise of the prerogative where a Minister of the Crown takes an action which increases EU powers, for example by voting for a new Regulation in the Council of Ministers, but arguing that Parliament has impliedly restricted the exercise of the prerogative power in case where (under Article 50) the exercise of the power results in a reduction EU powers. Such a claimed distinction appears to arise solely from the prejudices of those who seek to advance this argument rather than from any coherent logic or legal principle.Secondly, the proposition that Parliament has impliedly restricted the exercise of prerogative powers under the European treaties has been rejected by the courts. In[1994] QB 552 (Lord Rees-Moggs unsuccessful challenge against the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty), Lord Lloyd giving the judgment of the Queens Bench Divisional Court rejected an argument that the European Communities Act 1972 impliedly restricted the exercise of the Royal prerogative under the European treaties. He said: Thirdly and conclusively, the argument that Parliament has impliedly restricted the prerogative power of the Crown under Article 50 is impossible to reconcile with the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008. That Act was passed to enable the UK to adhere to the Lisbon Treaty by adding it into the list of European treaties in section 1 of the European Communities Act 1972. As pointed out above, the Lisbon Treaty amended the Treaty on European Union by inserting Article 50 into it, as well as making a large number of other amendments to that Treaty and to the Treaty of Rome (which it renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or TFEU).But nowhere in the 2008 Act in there any restriction upon the exercise of the Royal prerogative to give notice under Article 50. By contrast, section 5 of the 2008 Act imposed an explicit restriction on the Royal prerogative by requiring that any amendment of the founding treaties under the Ordinary Revision Procedure of Article 48(2) to (5) of the Treaty on European Union cannot be ratified unless approved by Act of Parliament. In addition, section 6 imposed a requirement of Parliamentary approval (by resolution of both Houses) on a number of prerogative actions by Ministers of the Crown under certain other Articles of the Treaty on European Union and of the TFEU.So Parliament in the 2008 Act created a detailed scheme under which prerogative actions under certain specified Articles of the Treaties were explicitly made subject to Parliamentary control, either by a requirement for an Act of Parliament or for resolutions of both Houses. Since Parliament did NOT include Article 50 among the Treaty provisions where the acts of the Crown or of Ministers require Parliamentary approval, it is quite impossible to argue that such a restriction of the Royal prerogative arises by implication in the case of Article 50 and of other Treaty articles where Parliament has chosen to impose no such restriction.In conclusion, the power in law to give a notification under Article 50 is a prerogative power of the Crown which may be exercised by the government without the need for Parliamentary consent or approval. Mishcons legal challenge is quite hopeless and is bound to fail.So far, we have considered the question of who has theauthority to trigger Article 50, and it is the government exercising Royal prerogative powers.However, under the UKs unwritten constitution, the question of who hasauthority to do something is not always the same as who hasauthority to do it according to the practice and conventions of the constitution. There are many instances where the holder of a legal power is constrained by constitutional practice to exercise it or not to exercise it in a certain way.A famous and well known example is the constitutional convention under which the House of Commons alone is responsible for taxation. When the House of Lords broke that constitutional convention by exercising its legal power to vote down Lloyd Georges 1909 budget, it provoked a constitutional crisis which ended with the curtailment of the powers of the House of Lords under the Parliament Act 1911.The legal power to trigger Article 50 rests in the Crown (i.e. the government) as explained above. However it is clear that as a matter of constitutional practice, that government legal power must be exercised to give effect to the declared result of the referendum.First, the Conservative General Election Manifesto of 2015 promised a referendum on membership of the EU in the following terms:It should be noted that the election promise was to . It was not a promise to hold an advisory referendum, with the final decision being left to Parliament. Nor was there any mention of minimum thresholds of percentage of vote or of turnout before the referendum would be binding. Therefore the British people were given a politically and constitutionally binding promise in the election manifesto of the successful party that they would be given the final and deciding say in a referendum in which the majority would prevail.As a matter of constitutional practice, the inclusion of a policy in the election manifesto of a political party which achieves a majority at a general election gives rise to a constitutional mandate to implement that policy.Secondly, Parliament enacted the European Union Referendum Act 2015, whose formal title stated that its purpose was . That Act authorised the holding of the referendum, regulated who would be legally entitled to vote in it and other matters about the conduct of the campaign, and specified that the question would be: Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?The Act does not contain any provision saying that its result is subject to a minimum turnout threshold or a mininum percentage vote in favour of either remain or leave. Such thresholds can be imposed, for example a 40% of the electorate threshold was specified by Parliament in the 1979 Scottish devolution referendum. What would be unprecedented would be restrospectively imposing a threshold after the vote has taken place, as proposed by the petition mentioned above.The letter from 1,000 barristers claims that the result of the referendum is advisory because that Act . Clearly there is something seriously wrong with legal education today if 1,000 barristers can be found with such deep ignorance of the British constitution. It is true that the Act does not contain a section at the end expressly saying that the government is under a legal duty to proceed to implement the result of the vote.But that does not mean that the referendum result is advisory. The Act itself does not say that it is advisory. At no point did ministers in their public statements either to Parliament or outside say that the referendum result would only be advisory. On the contrary, they repeatedly said that the referendum would allow the British people tothe question of whether we remain or leave.In opening the second reading debate ( Hansard ) on the Referendum Bill on 9 June 2015, the Foreign Secretary said:-And he concluded that speech as follows:Thirdly, in the course of the referendum campaign the government spent 9.5million of taxpayers money on printing a leaflet and distributing it to all households in the United Kingdom. That leaflet attracted widespread (and deserved) criticism for its gross bias in favour of remaining in the EU. However, on the consequences of the referendum it could not have been clearer. On the page headed A once in a generation decision it stated that:It did not say it is your chance towhether we should remain,.But it went on to be even clearer and more emphatic:It is therefore clear that the referendum was not merely advisory, but was constitutionally. The clear, repeated and unequivocal promise made to the British people was that their vote in the referendum would finally decide the course which our country takes. Treating the result as merely advisory would be a flagrant breach of the repeated and unequivocal promises made to the British people. There should be no second guessing or reversal of the result by Parliament or by anybody else.The government is therefore constitutionally mandated to exercise its legal power under the Royal prerogative to trigger the Article 50 process.What is astonishing about these various moves to frustrate the result of the referendum is that the people involved have so little respect for democracy, and so little self-awareness. They arrogantly believe that their minority views should prevail in the face of the clear majority decision of the British people. Many of them seem coloured by the view that people who voted to Leave are stupid, uneducated, xenophobic, racist and live outside London, and accordingly their votes are worth less than their own educated and enlightened votes cast by people such as them in London or (even better) in Hampstead.It is deeply disturbing that any citizens of this country should be so dismissive of the democratic rights of millions of their decent and intelligent fellow countrymen and countrywomen, who cast their votes in the poll with the highest national turnout for 24 years. The 17,410,000 people who voted to leave the European Union were the highest number ever to have voted in the history of the United Kingdom for a proposition or for a political party.The astonishing arrogance, petulance, and desperate plotting to negate the democratic decision of the British people which has been displayed since the referendum result was announced is a deeply worrying symptom of the great damage which 40 years of EU membership has done to our sense of national and civic cohesion. The EU has persistently pursued policies which at every level are designed to weaken the bonds which bind us together as a nation. Its technique is to recruit an elite inside each Member State which regards its primary allegiance as being to the EU and not the country, and which is rewarded with power and influence in return for keeping the serfs under control.It is by leaving the European Union that we can begin the long term process of healing our nation from this disease, and re-unify our people once again as a proud independent self-governing nation. Justice Tom Parker Continues Constitutional Challenge Contact: Liberty Counsel, 800-671-1776, Media@LC.org, Press Kit ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- Following the Judicial Inquiry Commission's (JIC) dismissal of the complaint against Alabama Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker, he has asked the federal courts to rule on the merits of his constitutional challenge to the speech restrictive Judicial Canon 3(A)(6) and the automatic removal provision. The lower court abstained from deciding the legal merits because the complaint was pending in the JIC. Parker appealed his challenge to the Federal Court of Appeals. Now that the JIC complaint has been dismissed, he has asked the Federal Court of Appeals to send the case back to the lower federal court to rule on the merits of his constitutional challenge. The JIC recently dismissed the complaint filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) against Justice Tom Parker. The SPLC complained that Justice Parker was interviewed on the American Family Radio talk show regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's marriage opinion, claiming that any comment on any case anywhere in the country violated Canon 3(A)(6) of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics. Canon 3(A)(6) purports to prohibit Alabama judges from making "any public comment about a pending or impending proceeding in any court," even if such a proceeding is not pending before the judge making the comments, and even if the judges comments do not have a reasonable likelihood of affecting the outcome or impairing the fairness of that proceeding. The American Bar Association has stated this broad speech restriction violates the First Amendment. Parker was not charged by the JIC, but, if charged, he would have been suspended pending a hearing. Liberty Counsel filed a federal lawsuit challenging Canon 3 and the automatic removal provision. Parker's federal lawsuit alleges that the speech restrictive judicial canon violates the First Amendment and the automatic removal violates due process and other constitutional provisions. Alabama is the only state to have this automatic removal provision that removes a judge for any charge. "We are pleased that the complaint against Justice Tom Parker has been dismissed," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "Now we will focus on challenging the unconstitutional speech restriction in the judicial canon. This provision is so broad and such a clear violation of the First Amendment that no one can defend it. We will continue to challenge the automatic removal provision because it gives too much power to the JIC and that power has often been abused. This provision turns our justice system of 'innocent until proven guilty' on its head," said Staver. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. Queen Mother statue unveiled at Poundbury estate Poundbury Designed by Prince Charles Construction on the urban extension on the edge of Dorchester, Dorset, began in 1993 Built on Duchy of Cornwall land, it is already home to about 3,000 people in a mix of private and affordable housing It provides jobs for 2,100 people and is home to 185 businesses It is set to be complete by 2025 when it will house about 5,000 people Queen Mother Square is the newly completed central hub of classically designed commercial and residential buildings most of which are named after The Queen Mother's favourite racehorses Designed by Prince CharlesConstruction on the urban extension on the edge of Dorchester, Dorset, began in 1993Built on Duchy of Cornwall land, it is already home to about 3,000 people in a mix of private and affordable housingIt provides jobs for 2,100 people and is home to 185 businessesIt is set to be complete by 2025 when it will house about 5,000 peopleQueen Mother Square is the newly completed central hub of classically designed commercial and residential buildings most of which are named after The Queen Mother's favourite racehorses BBC News27th October 2016A statue of the Queen Mother has been unveiled by the Queen at the Prince of Wales' model town in Dorset.The 9ft 6in (3m) bronze statue by sculptor Philip Jackson stands in the square of the Poundbury urban development on the edge of Dorchester.It is a second casting of a sculpture which stands in The Mall in London, depicting the Queen Mother at the age of 51.The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh also toured Poundbury during their visit.The royal party arrived in Dorchester by train before driving to Queen Mother Square in the centre of Poundbury.The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, visited its Jubilee Hall and Royal Pavilion as well as a local supermarket.Prince Charles designed the village on the outskirts of Dorchester after outlining his plan in his 1989 book 'A Vision of Britain'.Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the prince said the project had been a "mere dream" at the time."It is with immense pride and in loving memory of my darling grandmother that I invite your Majesty to unveil the statue of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and thus to declare open her square," he said. California is one of the 30 states where the death penalty is still legal. Proposition 62 seeks to repeal the legality of the death penalty. Four years ago, Proposition 34 tried and failed to do the same thing.Those who wish to see Proposition 62 be defeated offer three arguments against it:1. Proposition 62 would protect the worst criminals while diminishing protection of victim's rights.2. Proposition 62 would cost taxpayers millions of dollars.3. Proposition 62 would end the death penalty system when it should be mended.The 2nd argument is ridiculous. Since the death penalty became law once again in 1978 there have been 13 executions in California. They cost the taxpayers an average of $384 million each according to the official ballot argument in favor of Proposition 62. The legislative analyst estimates the annual fiscal savings to be around $150 million. There is no logical reason to argue that keeping the death penalty saves money. It does not. This is the primary reason I will vote YES on Prop 62.The first argument is specious. The only protection that murderers would receive from a repeal of the death penalty is living with the uncertainty of waiting years, possibly decades, to see if they would ever reach the death chamber for that lethal injection. Taking the life of a murderer does nothing to protect the rights of their victim or of other potential victims. The argument that the death penalty acts as a deterrent is as silly as the idea that continuing the costly process of pursuing executions would somehow "save" moneyh.The final argument is nothing more than an admission that the death penalty system currently in use is flawed now. It cannot be fixed.There is one certainty to argue in favor of Prop 62 aside from the fiscal prudence it represents. Ending the death penalty eliminates the small, but finite risk that an innocent person would be put to death. The finality of the death penalty is perhaps the strongest argument against its existence. April Leedom had her share of scares. However, longtime friend Jennifer Tricker treats her. Tricker, an Omaha attorney, has known Leedom since kindergarten. She was even the maid of honor in Leedoms wedding. So with attorney Sarah Johnson Auchterlonie of Denver, Colo., Tricker vowed to plan an adventure to remember. We took April to Mexicoto Cabo in May, Tricker said from her office. Nowadays, Leedom is waiting for breast cancer to retreat. The young Fremont wife and mother found out in 2012. It was scary, Leedom said. Leedoms daughter, Allison, was just 16 months old. My mom and April were diagnosed within three months of each other, Tricker noted. Dr. Janet Grange did my biopsy on March 19, 2012, Leedom noted. Leedoms birthday was one week laterthus no party. That day I spent in a CT having a bone scan, she said. The good news was there no involvement in organs or bonesthe best birthday present ever, she added. Leedom had a mastectomy in April that year. Then chemotherapy from May through August. She recalled a Saturday in July 2012 when her husband, Russ, was working overtime. I was alone at home with my daughterso weak from treatments that I couldnt even lift her out of the high chair, Leedom said. I had to call my mom to help me. It was a rock-bottom moment for sure, Leedom added. But by late August, there was a reason to celebrate. My last chemo was on my husbands birthdayAug. 29, 2012, Leedom said. She endured radiation treatments almost daily through October. It was like a bad sunburn, she said. You get so tired. It wears you down, Leedom added. I worked full time and had a baby to take care of. Leedom was then working for Natura Pet Products. Her family and co-workers pitched in. Work friends presented her with a quilt to honor her struggle. Rounds of genetic testing followed. They havent found any genetic links as of yet, Leedom said. Meanwhile Tricker is still by Leedoms side. Just talking and doing friend stuff, Leedom said with a smile. She would come to appointments with me and help me. There have been a few other bumps in the road. During an MRI, she had an allergic reaction to the gadolinium contrast agent. In March 2015, we discovered my cancer had metastasized to my chest wall, Leedom said. I was admitted to the hospital for five days. (Now) after a PET scan, my oncologist told me they were detecting a very small growth again in my chest cavity, Leedom added. These days, she receives intravenous infusions every three weeks. Leedom has continued working full time as a licensed veterinary technician at Animal Medical Clinic in Fremont for over two years. She participates in events supporting cancer awareness including Locks of Love, Relay for Life and the Komen Walk. Melissa Baron of Omaha is the mission advancement officer for Susan G. Komen Nebraska. Its difficult to see anyone struggle with breast cancerbut its challenging when you see patients so youngwith young children, Baron said from her Omaha office. For the organizations Race for the Cure, Leedom and her team of 15 raised over $4500 for research and aid. Tricker serves on the board. Its such a horrible diseaseits real, its happening and we need to find a cure, Tricker emphasized. So my daughter and Aprils daughter dont have to worry about breast cancer, Tricker said. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are numerous ways to donate to Komen Nebraska. Organizations that hold a campaign provide a venue, Baron noted. Komen Nebraska is one of the premier charities for Community Health Charities of Nebraska. Gives employees a chance to support local health charities through payroll deductions, Baron added. Twenty-four Nebraskans are diagnosed with breast cancer each week, Baron said. On a broader scale, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life, she added. To find a cure within my lifetime would be the most amazing thing I could hope for, Leedom said. But that cant happen unless we support researchand support each other. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is one of the most important bills Congress needs to pass. This year, in the middle of the night, a rider was attached to the bill, which is now threatening its passage and the ability to defend our nation. The NDAA is considered a must pass bill and the rider was passed with no review or discussion in the House of Representatives. Known as the Russell Amendment after Rep. Steve Russell of Oklahoma, who claims the amendment is about religious liberty, it allows discrimination based on gender identity, religious identity, sexual orientation or reproductive and other health care decisions. Rep. Adrian Smith voted in favor of the bill. If the amendment were passed and became law, it would allow taxpayer-funded discrimination for any federal contract and grant, not just those that are defense-related. The amendment isnt currently in the senate version of the bill and 42 senators, including vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine, signed a petition urging the Senate Armed Forces Committee to keep it that way. Senators Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer are not on that list. In the petition, the senators said, No one should be disqualified from a taxpayer-funded job based on their religion. This provision would be an affront to religious freedom for all Americans. Allowing Section 1094 to be included in the NDAA would essentially sanction federally-funded religious discrimination, contradicting the First Amendment, which prohibits religious exemptions like this that result in harm to others. This discrimination erodes the freedoms that our military has fought for generations to protect. The petition goes on to say the amendment would permit hiring and firing of Americans based on personal choices that were different from an employers religious beliefs. It would adversely affect women because they could be hired or fired based on their decisions on reproductive health. Take birth control? Well, you dont need to work here anymore. The amendment would also permit an employer to prevent gays and lesbians from adding their spouse to health insurance. The amendment would allow religiously-affiliated federal contractors to ask about all current and potential employees religion, gender and sexual identity. That means a Christian could say they arent hiring a Muslim, but it also means a Muslim could say they arent hiring a Christian and it would be legal. More than 90 religious, education, civil rights, labor and womens organizations have voiced their opposition to the amendment. Nearly 90 members of the House attempted, and failed, to get the provision stripped when it came to the floor of the House. President Obama has threatened to veto the bill. This provision is terrible policy created by an even worse process it was adopted in the dark of night despite bipartisan opposition and never having had a hearing, said David Stacy, the Human Rights Campaigns government affairs director, in a statement to Roll Call. This has no place in the annual defense bill. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told NBCNews the Russell Amendment, would essentially sanction federally funded religious discrimination, contradicting the First Amendment which prohibits religious exemptions like this that result in harm to others. Blumenthal also said if the amendment was in the final bill, all options to stop it would be considered, including a filibuster. Religious freedom is essential to America, but it is not a right to discriminate, and not with taxpayer dollars. You should never be disqualified for a job because you think or believe differently from your employer. To allow such a thing to happen would diminish the greatness of this nation. Reddit user Scots asked, What exactly does misogyny, bigotry and persecution have to do with paying military salaries, equipment purchases and maintenance? Oh wait, absolutely nothing. Indeed. Its time to stop sneaking in riders and amendments to important bills that must be passed to keep the country functioning. Because of the amendment, we dont yet know what will happen with defense spending. The bill will likely fail with the amendment attached and the process of passing a defense bill will have to begin again. This page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable. To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe After a very tight primary race, Ward 2 City Council candidates Dev Sookram and Susan Jacobus are touting their governmental and work experience as the Nov. 8 general election nears. Both candidates are familiar with public service. Sookram has served on the Fremont Planning Commission since 2009 and became chairman a couple years thereafter. The commission just completed work on the unified development codes. He believes old city codes made it difficult for people to get work done. Sookram said hopefully the new codes will make it easier for people to repair older homes, and will help across the board. Were seeing how the new codes will be more effective compared to what weve been dealing with, he said. Sookram said he understands how government works and has been doing his best to help with the economic development of Fremont as part of the planning commission. I feel like I have the experience from the planning commission to be a very good councilman and I have the ability to listen to people as to what they want, he said. Im a pretty straightforward person. I dont dance around the issues. The council candidate also has management experience. He is the service manager at Johnson Cycle in Fremont and previously was in middle management at Valmont Industries. Ive been managing people for some time, he said. He also has worked with budgets in both of those positions. Jacobus served eight years on the Schuyler city council, which put in a levy along its northeast area. She learned much during her time on the council. That gave me a better understanding of city government and I got involved in the side of planning and zoning, she said, later adding, I think I could be an asset when it comes to discussion on levies and flood plains. Jacobus said she has education and years of experience in construction and flood plain management. Jacobus said she is certified in flood plain management from the State of Nebraska, Department of Natural Resources. She worked for a firm that built commercial and industrial structures and traveled the Midwest working on various projects from churches to manufacturing sites to ethanol plants. She also is trained in emergency medical services and is an EMT, and served with the Schuyler Volunteer Fire Department. Jacobus is adjunct faculty for EMS and trauma at McCook Community College and Western Community College in Scottsbluff. Jacobus said she is part of the First Responder Research Group, which develops guidelines and basic requirements for developing products ranging from a flexible firefighter glove to drones to facial recognition programs. Both candidates talked about the importance of public safety. Jacobus spoke of concerns with the increased population the city will see once Costco is in operation and of making sure there are more trained personnel such as police and firefighters, and that their needs are addressed as the community continues to grow. Sookram talked about the need to get more police officers and for updated facilities. Weve been kicking the can down the road with the police department for a long time, he said. We need a real plan in place to get everything up to speed. Public safety is our first thing as elected officials. Protecting our citizens is No. 1. He added: We have been looking at a second fire station, because the city is growing and firefighters are getting more calls. Sookram also spoke of the importance of being fiscally responsible, while accomplishing goals. Candidates addressed the significance of infrastructure. Sookram said the 1- and 5-year plan on the streets needs to be pursued and to continue working on maintaining and upgrading infrastructure. Jacobus stressed the importance of looking at flood plain issues, and a levy that will better protect Fremont and land values. She sees the importance of affordable housing in the 80,000- to 120,000 range and possibly more apartments. With that available land, there are flood plain concerns, she said, in the northwest and eastern and toward the south of the city. You have a large part of Fremont that takes on water and holds it, she said. Sookram talked about a community symposium years ago at which Fremonters talked about what they wanted. He estimated that about 1,000 people attended. Weve done all these studies, but no ones actually asked the people what they wanted to do, he said, adding that attendees said they wanted economic growth. One of the reasons Im running is economic development. I want a responsibly grown community and city codes that work with the people to get what they want done. Both candidates talked about the advantages they see that the Costco/Lincoln Premium Poultry Chicken Processing Plant would bring to the city. Im a proponent, Jacobus said. I see a very strong exponential, positive effect. This business will lead to other business, but will also enhance existing businesses. I see it as a financial boon for the community of Fremont and the county itself. Sookram noted: With Costco coming in youre going to get support companies coming in with it, to support Costco and its manufacturing. Thats going to be something I dont think people are really accounting for, he said. Sookram said the planning commission vetted the company very hard. It seems like theyre very committed to drawing their labor pool from around here, first, he said, adding that he believes the company will strive to be ecologically responsible. An undercover operation by the Iredell County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Investigation Unit culminated Wednesday in the arrest of more than a dozen accused drug dealers, Sheriff Darren Campbell said. Deputies arrived at multiple locations across the county in the early morning hours to serve warrants on 23 people, Campbell said. By Wednesday evening, 13 were in custody, and deputies continued to search for the remainder. The operation, named Autumn Harvest, targeted the sale of opiates and other prescription drugs, mainly oxycodone, Campbell said. Investigations began around two months ago, he said, and as many as 13 deputies were involved with the operation on Wednesday. We made an effort to target the sellers of these drugs to help reduce the number of pills which reach our community here in Iredell County, Campbell said. If these drug dealers will sell to an undercover investigator they dont know, I am sure they would have no problems selling them to children or young people as well. The 23 suspects, ranging in age from 19 to 68, are all alleged to have sold or trafficked in various controlled substances. Campbell said the suspects are not drug users themselves. Deputies began to make arrests around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday hoping to catch suspects asleep, according to Capt. Bill Hamby, who oversees the narcotics division. We knocked on a lot of doors this morning, Hamby said. Among those who remain at-large, one, Jonathan Bruce Shires, 26, is considered armed and dangerous. Campbell said Shires allegedly made threats to deputies, and civilians should not approach Shires if seen. Because opiate overdoses continue to rise, Campbell said, it is important to remove these drugs from the community. He said opiate addicts are often responsible for other crimes, including break-ins and thefts in an attempt to sustain their drug habit. We want to cut the head off the snake, and thats one of the things were trying to do here, Campbell said. Prescription opioid pain medications are responsible for more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined, Campbell said, citing figures from the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. He said unintentional overdose deaths are expected to surpass motor vehicle deaths as the leading cause of injury death in North Carolina next year. Campbell also called on doctors to limit the prescription of opiates for pain relief. The deputies and I will continue to do the best we can to eliminate these types of drugs here, but if doctors and pharmacists would more often utilize the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, it would certainly assist us in our efforts. According to the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, a prescription drug monitoring program is an electronic database, which helps officials ensure controlled substances are used for their intended medical purpose. The following suspects were charged on Wednesday: Norman Andrew Batz, 29, of 202 Barbary Drive, Statesville; possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia; $2,500 secured bond. Billy Ray Eagle Jr., 30, of 116 Sweetwater Drive, Statesville; three counts of felony trafficking in opium or heroin; $300,000 secured bond. Ryan Michael Forcier, 28, of 1003 Foxcroft Lane, Apartment 1, Statesville; two counts of felony trafficking in opium or heroin, felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, felony selling and delivering a schedule II controlled substance; $20,000 secured bond. Kayla Busbey Hilton, 33, of 3505 Virgil Hodges Lane, Jonesville; conspire to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance; conspire to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance, possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, selling and delivering a schedule II controlled substance; $50,000 secured bond. Timmy Lee Hudnall, 53, of 117 Babson Lane, Statesville; three counts of felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance, three counts of felony selling and delivering a schedule III controlled substance; $50,000 secured bond. Melissa Rhea Malone, 44, of 526 River Hill Road, Statesville; nine counts of trafficking in heroin or ppium; $500,000 secured bond. Jody Wiley Mullins, 53, of 109 Fink Road, Statesville; felony possession with Intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, felony selling and delivering a schedule II controlled substance; $25,000 secured bond. Lisa Ann Spencer, 42, of 115 Pigeon Lane, Olin; felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule IV Controlled substance, felony sell and delivering a schedule IV controlled substance; $15,000 secured bond. Terry Lee Waller, 59, of 3505 Virgil Hodges Lane, Jonesville; conspire to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, conspire to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance, two felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance, two felony counts of selling and delivering a schedule III controlled substance; $20,000 secured bond on Iredell Warrants. Gregory Devon Wilson, 45, of 120 Stillmeadow Lane, Troutman; two felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, two felony counts of selling and delivering a schedule II controlled substance; $50,000 secured bond. Rebecca Lynn Hayworth, 25, of 142 Branchwood Road, Statesville; felony possession of methamphetamine; $10,000 secured bond. Mary Goodson Redden, 68, of 175 Chantilly Lane, Statesville; six felony counts to trafficking opioids or heroin; $10,000 secured bond. Patricia Barnes Keene, 56, of 189 Ashley Brook Lane, Statesville; felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule IV controlled substance, felony selling and delivering a schedule IV controlled substance; $16,200 secured bond. The sheriffs office is still seeking the following suspects: Kayla Dawn Caudill, 25, of 475 Turnersburg Highway, Statesville; felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, felony selling and delivering a schedule II controlled substance. Julius Cordell French, 22, of 115 Zircon Road, Statesville; felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule VI controlled substance, felony selling and delivering a schedule VI controlled substance. Austin Lee Hector, 19, of 1264 Prince St., Hickory; felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule VI controlled substance, felony Sell and Deliver Schedule VI controlled substance. Christine Elizabeth Lankford, 22, of 136 Windy Knoll Lane, Mooresville; four felony counts of trafficking in opium or heroin. Tracy Marie Lynch, 39, of 144 Lockhart Farm Road, Statesville; two felony counts of trafficking in opium or heroin. Kenneth Guy Miller Jr., 26, of 1118 King St., Statesville; two felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, two felony counts of selling and delivering cocaine. Danielle Corrine Redfield, 23, of 167 Longview Road, Statesville; two felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, two felony counts of selling and delivering a schedule II controlled substance. Randall Todd Poole, 28, of 1318 4th St., Statesville; two felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, two felony counts of selling and delivering schedule II controlled substances. Jonathan Bruce Shires, 26, of 1323 River Hill Road, Statesville; felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance. Christina Jean Norman, 19, of 402 Somers School Road, Hamptonville; felony possession of methamphetamine. Anyone with information on the wanted suspects is asked to call the Iredell County Sheriffs Office at 704-878-3100 or Iredell Crime Stoppers at 704-662-1340. National Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc had a meeting with his Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan and on this occasion he underlined the recent decision to contribute with general staff personnel to the effort of making operational the Multinational Brigade in Craiova, mentioning the intention of continuing to deploy F-18 fight aircraft detachments and Canadian frigates to the territory of Romania and in the Black Sea, the National Defence Ministry (MApN) informs. According to the quoted source the two officials stressed out during the discussions the necessity to continue and intensify the bilateral cooperation in the defence area, in the current regional and international security context, characterized by particularly complex and concerning evolutions. At the same time, the importance of coordinating positions on an allied level was underlined, in order to implement the decisions adopted at the Warsaw Summit with an emphasis on the ones which targeted advanced presence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the eastern flank. "The Romanian National Defence Minister express his gratitude for Canada's solidarity and commitment in strengthening NATO's deterrence capacity on the eastern flank, mentioning the constant presence of Canadian armed forces in exercises carried out on the territory of our country and in the Black Sea region, on all three operational dimensions- air, land and sea. He especially noted the Canadian air detachment deployment, with F-18 aircraft in Romania both in 2014 to Campia Turzii and in 2016 to Mihail Kogalniceanu, as well as the presence of the Canadian frigates in the Black Sea," the release mentions. The Canadian official highlighted that the Ottawa authorities are unitary approaching the entire allied eastern flank, and as a result they are participating in the efforts of strengthening the deterrence position both on the Northern and Southern segment. The bilateral meeting between the two ministers took place on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Defence Ministers' Meetings of the NATO's member states. agerpres. Iasi-born director Cristian Mungiu, the initiator of the Les Films de Cannes a Bucarest festival, one of the most expected cultural events in the Capital, will officially open the first edition of the pilot event Les Films de Cannes a Iasi. According to a press release, the event will be carried out October 28 - 29, at the Tatarasi Athenaeum of Iasi. "Cristian Mungiu will meet the public on Friday, at 16:30, at the projection of Maren Ade's "Toni Edrman" comedy, the favourite of the international press in Cannes and Germany's proposal for the Oscar. Also taking the event stage will be film critic Irina Margareta Nistor, who will introduce the films in the programme, and journalist Andrei Giurgia. Moreover, the director will participate in the "Bacalaureat" ("Graduation") projection on Saturday, at 12:30, a film signed by Mungiu having won the Award for Best Director ex-aequo in Cannes," the cited release mentions. According to the document, the people of Iasi will have the opportunity to spend the weekend in a special atmosphere, with a highly-expected film selection from the Cannes 2016 official competition. Premiering in Iasi will be Palme d'Or Award winning film "I, Daniel Blake" (directed by Ken Loach), winner of the Grand Prix and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the International Cannes Film Festival 2016 - "Juste la fin du monde" ("It's Only The End of the World") - directed by Xavier Dolan, Pedro Almodovar's most recent film and Spain's proposal for the Oscar "Julieta", the only film in the official competition in Cannes which won two trophies: the Award for Best Actor and the Award for Best Screenplay - "The Salesman" - directed by Asghar Farhadi, and "The Neon Demon" - directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and starring Elle Fanning. agerpres. The burn patients will be sent abroad in case of a tragedy resembling that occurred last year in the Colectiv club, Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu said on Thursday, pointing out that hospitals in Romania can optimally treat 10 - 20 such injured people. Attending a healthcare debate, the minister was asked what measures are to be taken in case of a tragedy like the one at Colectiv club. "We do what it should have been done last year. Send the patients abroad. We count on treating 10 - 20 patients in Romania at present," the Health Minister told the debate. agerpres. One person died in a two-alarm overnight house fire, Lincoln Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Jim Bopp said. Crews were called to 4217 Y St., a few blocks south of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus, just after 1 Thursday morning. Officials didn't immediately know who called 911, but the caller indicated that someone was still inside. Neighbors said the person who lived at the home was a disabled man, but Assistant Chief Pat Borer was unable to confirm a gender or age of the victim. An autopsy will be performed. When the first truck arrived, crews saw fire coming from the roof of the one-story house, Borer said. He didn't know long it had been burning but said the fire had a significant head start before the 911 call was made. "It's always challenging when a fire has a head start because it has a chance to build up an enormous amount of heat," he said. "It also has a chance to do an enormous amount of damage to a building, which is what happened this morning." Firefighters also had to avoid an electrical service box that had caught fire and was lying in the yard when they arrived. "Where the electrical power comes into the home, that was the part of the home where the fire was located and it burned through that," he said. "... Normally they're attached to the roof or near the roof." About 30 minutes after firefighters arrived, Borer said, they had to pull everyone out of the house for fear of a collapse. Part of the roof in the back of the house eventually fell in, he said. Investigator Ken Hilger said the house is a total loss. According to the Lancaster County Assessor's website, the estimated value of the rental property is $54,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Only one person was in the home at the time of the fire. President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday signed the decree appointing Dragos Cristian Dinu as European Funds Minister, the Presidential Administration informs. At the same time, the head of state signed the decree taking note of Cristian Ghinea's resignation from the same office. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Cotroceni Palace on Thursday, at 18:30. agerpres. The Romanian Post unionists ceased activity in several offices in Bucharest and all over the country after the negotiations on Wednesday night with the company's representatives failed, General Secretary of the Postal Workers Union of Romania (SLPR) Ionel Otelea stated on Thursday for agerpres.. According to him currently a centralization of the unionists' number attending this form of protest is being made, but the current available information are indicating that the activity has been ceased in at least 20 large post offices in Bucharest. Ionel Otelea also mentioned that the unionists will be attending possible negotiations with the company's representatives if they were to be invited. The Romanian Post unionists picketed on Wednesday morning, starting 10: 00 hrs the company's central headquarters because they were unsatisfied with the propositions which came from the company board that is conditioning the increasing of wages with lay-offs. Subsequently on Wednesday the unionists started negotiations with the company's Director, Alexandru Petrescu. In context, Petrescu stated on Wednesday night for agerpres. that the negotiations which took place on Wednesday with the unionists were carried out in a "realistic note" compared with the company's capacity to support salary raises, and "several economic options and hypotheses" were presented. The Romanian Post, a national company founded in accordance with the Law no. 31/1990, not being a public institution is owned both by the Romanian state through the Ministry of Communications and Information Society (MCSI) in proportion of 75 percent and by the Fondul Proprietatea (FP) in proportion of 25 percent. The company owns the largest distribution network on a national level meaning over 80 percent of the overall postal subunits that are currently functioning in Romania. Over 19 million inhabitants benefit from the Romanian Post services and over 7.5 million addresses are covered by its own postal network. The Romanian Post remains the company with the highest turnover of this branch, but also the largest employer in Romania with little over 25,000 employees. RICHMOND, Va. Altria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, said Thursday that it will close two of its manufacturing facilities by early 2018, affecting about 580 workers. The company did not say how many workers may be laid off, but said workers will be offered a chance to move to jobs at other facilities. Those that don't move will be laid off and offered separation benefits. The company said the closures are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2018 and would save Altria about $50 million by the end of that year. One of the facilities, in Limerick, Pa., has 280 workers and makes Black & Mild cigars, Middleton's Cherry Blend pipe tobacco and other products. The other facility, in Franklin Park, Ill., has 300 workers and makes Copenhagen, Skoal and other smokeless tobacco products. Operations at the facilities will be moved to manufacturing sites in Richmond, Va., where Altria is headquartered, or another facility in Nashville, Tenn. Workers are being told about the closures Thursday morning, an Altria spokesman said. The announcement came as Altria, which also makes Virginia Slims and Parliament cigarettes, reported a 29 percent drop in profit for its most recent quarter, but its adjusted earnings still beat expectations. It reported net income of $1.09 billion, or 56 cents per share, in the three months ending Sept. 30, compared with $1.53 billion, or 78 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 82 cents per share, beating the 81 cents per share Wall Street analysts expected, according to Zacks Investment Research. Revenue rose 4 percent to $5.19 billion in the period. Altria said it expects full-year earnings in the range of $2.98 per share and $3.04 per share. Analysts expected earnings of $3.03 per share for the year, according to FactSet. Shares of Altria Group Inc. added 53 cents to $65.05 in morning trading Thursday. Its shares are up more than 6 percent in the last 12 months. Missouris top insurance regulator has scheduled a public hearing to review another mega-insurance tie-up, this time between Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp. The public will have an opportunity to listen to Missouri Department of Insurance officials explain the reasoning behind the merger. And it will give the department the opportunity to question the insurance representatives and opponents about the merger and its effects. The public hearing will be held Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. at the Harry S Truman State Office Building, at 301 West High Street in Jefferson City. The U.S. Department of Justice has already filed suit to block the Anthem and Cigna merger, as well as the separate combination of Aetna Inc. and Humana Inc. The Missouri insurance department also held a public hearing when it previously reviewed the Aetna and Humana deal. In that instance, the department went on to rule against the Aetna-Humana merger, saying if the two were to complete their proposed deal, theyd be barred from selling certain plans in the state. A preliminary order dated May 24 directed the two companies to stop selling comprehensive individual, comprehensive small group and certain Medicare Advantage plans in Missouri if they proceeded with the merger. Q: I know you have offered tips on parent-teacher conferences before but now my kids are in high school. They do not share much with me about exactly what goes on. How can I ask each one of their teachers about what takes place in each class and other things I would like to know about in such a short time? Also, can I ask them to keep our conversation between us and not bring it up to the kids? A: My husband and I find that it simply takes both of us to see each one of the high school teachers for our two kids. Assign each other a different area and go early. We find that the earlier we are there, the sooner we get to speak with each one. Andy and Char Richardson in Dallas FROM JODIE: There are a lot of teachers to see and talk with about many things pertaining to your child in high school as well as in middle school. And you are right, there's not very much time to do so. Basically, the same rules apply: know how much time you are allowed with each teacher and try to stick with it. Organize your time by trying to visit each one in the same building and on the same floor, if possible. I know sometimes there will be a line that seems to go on forever for certain teachers. You'll have to make a choice to either stay and wait in line or leave and go to others and come back. Have your questions written down as this makes better sense when going to various rooms on different floors, some of which can be difficult to find which also cuts into your time. If you can get a map or diagram of the classroom of where you will need to go in the school and study it before you go, you will not get nearly as lost as you might if you do not. If you have something personal to share with the teacher, tell him/her that it is private info and that you would appreciate it if it stays between the two of you. If there's a specific problem that a teacher points out about your child, ask for suggestions on what you may be able to do to help. Follow up in an email a few days after the conference. Try to have a time each week to email the teachers on a specific day for regular communication throughout the year. CAN YOU HELP? My 20-month-old son goes to a mom's day out program twice a week. Many of the moms volunteer a couple of times a month in the classroom. I've noticed that during free time some of the kids have iPads and seem to really enjoy various types of educational games and material on them. My son loves to play and touch the screen on my phone and computer. Could you recommend apps that are fun but also teach our kids? To share parenting tips or submit questions, write to: Parent to Parent, 2464 Taylor Road, Suite 131, Wildwood, MO 63040. Email direct2contact@parenttoparent.com,or go to parenttoparent.com which provides a secure and easy way to submit tips or questions. All tips must have city, state and first and last name or initials to be included in the column. In some neighborhoods in St. Louis, the pop, pop, pop of guns blasting is the rhythm beneath the soundtrack of the city. Sit on a back porch on a cool fall evening south of Cherokee Street or north of Cass Avenue, and the gunfire often fast, and nearly always furious is the white noise in the background, often just distant enough not to cause a momentary flinch to those who hear it. There is so much gunfire in St. Louis, said Alderman Antonio French of the citys 21st Ward, that people dont even call 911 anymore. Were it not for a technology called ShotSpotter that is used in the citys most violence-plagued neighborhoods, that might be a problem for police. Since 2008, the citys police department has used the ShotSpotter technology to pinpoint gunshots when they happen, providing dispatchers and police nearly instant information so they can react quickly and find victims, collect evidence, and stop crimes before they escalate. Nearly all of the nations largest cities use the technology in key neighborhoods as a crime-fighting tool. But for the past three months, the place often identified as the most dangerous city in America hasnt been one of them. Since early August, the St. Louis Police Department has had what Chief Sam Dotson terms limited use of the ShotSpotter technology because the citys contract with SST Inc. ended in July. The situation has frustrated members of the police force who have come to rely on ShotSpotter to help them quickly identify crime scenes. Sometimes we can locate victims of shootings with just ShotSpotter, said Sgt. Heather Taylor, a night watch homicide sergeant who is also president of the Ethical Society of Police, an organization made up mostly of black police officers that has been critical of Dotsons leadership. She said police were advised by administrators that ShotSpotter wasnt working because the bill hadnt been paid. Since the system has been down, police officers brought their complaints to their local aldermen, including French on the north side, and the south sides Alderman Cara Spencer of the 20th Ward, both of whom live in neighborhoods where gunfire is a nearly nightly occurrence. Theres been no communication about the system being down, said French, the vice chairman of the boards public safety committee. Asked about the condition of the ShotSpotter technology, the office of Mayor Francis Slay referred questions to the police chief. On Wednesday, Dotson confirmed the system has been available for only limited use since August. While the ShotSpotter system wasnt available for real-time use, he said officers could still get forensic data out of the program to help with investigations. Dotson said the problem was that money was cut out of the budget, but that he expected the contract will be resolved this week. People could still call 911, the chief said. But thats not how things work in many of the neighborhoods that need the system most. Unfortunately, not everyone calls the police when they hear gunshots, Taylor said. Thats definitely the case in the Gravois Park and Dutchtown neighborhoods in Spencers ward, she said. And while some people do call, they often do so in their homes, away from the windows, so their descriptions of what they hear and where they heard it are nearly always less accurate than ShotSpotter, which has embedded microphones that can pinpoint gunfire to within a few feet. Residents and police in our neighborhoods have come to rely on the ShotSpotter information, Spencer said. It can also help public officials identify nuisance properties in a neighborhood, she said, and pressure landlords to clean up their act or get rid of tenants causing trouble. Its a crucial part of triangulating ongoing activities in a neighborhood, Spencer said. Police officials nationwide have praised ShotSpotter as a key crime-fighting tool in a high-tech world. So has Dotson. Last year, in opening the citys Real Time Crime Center, which includes the use of ShotSpotter and a series of cameras providing up-to-date information to analysts, Dotson said: Today is a great day for law enforcement and a bad day for criminals in the city of St. Louis. So is the opposite true during the three months ShotSpotter wasnt fully functioning? Absolutely, said Spencer, who said there is no doubt in my mind that the technology keeps the city safer. French would like to see its use expanded to more neighborhoods, and coordinated more fully with the citys network of cameras. French, who like Dotson has announced his intention to run for mayor in 2017, disputes the chiefs contention that there was a budget problem related to ShotSpotter. The money is there, French said. Its just a matter of the police department paying the bill. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy ST. LOUIS George Tex Allen Jr. had a journal with just one two-page entry dated a couple of weeks before his death. He wrote, in part: Jail has stolen away my dreams ... the truth is hard to swallow ... with all the ferocious fighting in prison, your everyday dreams become far and few in between which is a low-down dirty shame... Allen, 60, was laid to rest Wednesday after his family found him dead of natural causes in his bedroom Oct. 16. It was his refuge for the four years of freedom since the reversal of St. Louis murder and rape convictions that had been based on thin evidence. He spent almost three decades in prison. Coming back to the University City home of his childhood was, of course, a fresh start for Allen. But it also began a sometimes reclusive walk toward his demise. I prayed and cried for 29 years for God to let me see my son walk out of that prison, said his mother, Lonzetta Taylor, 85. I thought I would pass before him. I never dreamed he would pass first. Walking while black Allen was released from prison on Nov. 14, 2012, after a judge reversed his murder conviction in the rape and fatal stabbing of 31-year-old court reporter Mary Bell in her LaSalle Park neighborhood apartment in St. Louis. She was found on Feb. 4, 1982, stabbed 14 times in the back, with her throat cut, just after one of the worst snowstorms in the citys history. Neither physical evidence nor eyewitness testimony linked Allen to the crime. The judge who threw out his conviction said Allen had been denied a fair trial, blaming St. Louis police for withholding evidence that favored his innocence and coercing a confession from the mentally ill man. Allen had been walking in Bells neighborhood more than a month after the killing when police arrested him because he resembled a convicted sex offender they suspected of the crime. Investigators pursued him despite test results that said semen at the scene did not come from him, Bells boyfriend or her estranged husband. Also, a police technician erroneously testified that seven fingerprints found in key places at the scene did not have enough detail to be identified. A hung jury voted 10-2 for Allens acquittal in 1983; a second jury convicted him in a retrial three months later. He was sentenced to 95 years in prison and could have received the death penalty had a juror not needed to leave during the trials penalty phase. The man was picked up six weeks after the crime, walking while black that was his only crime, said Tom Block, 76, of Webster Groves, a death penalty opponent who counseled prisoners and helped bring Allens case to the attention of the Innocence Project. Theres no question about his innocence. 'He wanted to be somebody' For a man whose legal fight and release were widely reported, little has been said about Allens home life, before or after prison. His mother said Allen was the middle of three siblings and graduated from University City High School in 1974, where he ran track. At some point, he picked up the nickname Tex, because he was bowlegged and walked as though he had just gotten off a horse. He was a happy child. He wanted to be somebody, to do something special, Taylor said. They just took his life away. Why did my son have to suffer like that? After high school, he worked as a laborer for a neighbors construction business. She said he was single and was briefly in the Army. Allens family believes his mental illness set in during his late teens or early 20s. But he wasnt diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia until prison, said his sister, Roslyn Dehorney, 58, of Grand Prairie, Texas. She said he was quiet and loved going on long walks by himself, which is what he was doing when police picked him up for Bells murder. He was a gentle person with a very good heart, Dehorney said. I think that maybe back then if we had known he had had the mental illness, it would have been different. We just didnt know. Returning home After winning his release, Allen connected with Places for People, a St. Louis nonprofit that provides services to homeless people with addictions or mental illness. Tim McKay, an occupational therapist, said Allen marveled at how much the world had changed while he was in prison. His newfound freedom meant rediscovering the town. McKay said Allen was particularly dumbfounded by the array of gadgetry inside an Apple Store. Allen became a creature of routine, McKay said, parking himself at a corner table of Places for Peoples meeting hall to read newspapers, taking long walks as he did in his 20s and riding the bus to Chesterfield Mall to drink fancy coffee, watch people and collect free cologne samples. You could always tell when he had been to the department store by the colognes, McKay said. Allen was a fan of country music and had a stack of cowboy hats in his room. The death hit McKay and his colleagues hard because Allen did not seem to have health problems. There was no autopsy; doctors said he apparently died of liver disease and hypertension. It hurt a lot, McKay said. He had only been out four years and had so much more life to live. He was such a strong person to go through what he did and to have the attitude that he did. I hope he realized that we all cared about him. Allen wore a patch over his right eye, which he lost in a prison fight. But he kept tales from prison largely locked inside. He spent his days out walking or riding the bus and nights alone in his locked bedroom. His mother said they rarely shared meals together. He didnt talk to me, Taylor said. Dehorney, his sister, gave him a journal last month because she wanted him to write down his life story. I should have done it sooner, she said. Allen received just $300 per month in Social Security, which his mother said he wasted on junk such as cigarettes, cheap jewelry, daily trips to White Castle and an occasional beer. He wanted to be independent, she said. George took a stand Even in death, Allen and his mother continue to fight the St. Louis Police Department in a federal civil lawsuit seeking compensation for unfair treatment. With little savings, Taylor has set up a fundraising website seeking donations from the public to help cover funeral costs. On Wednesday, at least 60 people attended Allens memorial service at the William C. Harris Funeral Home to honor a man said to have carried a gentle spirit through adversity without ever giving up his fight for freedom. George took a stand and he kept that stand, said the Rev. Bradley Jones. And he said, Ill wait. Ill wait. University City Councilman Rod Jennings read a proclamation declaring Oct. 26, 2016, Mr. George Allen Day, symbolic of a system that takes away the productive years of many black men but that could not break George Allen or take away his dignity. His mother and sisters said that while Allen didnt have long to enjoy his triumph, they thank God he was given at least that much. Were not promised anything in this life, said his sister Elfrieda Allen, 62. We have to be thankful that we did get four years with him. Im thankful that he survived through it all and walked out of there alive. CHESTERFIELD An audit ordered by the Monarch Fire Protection District of its chiefs expenses found no evidence he defrauded the district, as he allegedly did a former employer, district officials said Wednesday night. In August, Wayne Chuck Marsonette, of OFallon, Mo., was arrested on four felony theft charges and accused of misusing a business credit card while working for Reliant Care Management Co. in Maryland Heights from 2012 to 2015. Police allege Marsonette used the companys credit card to buy guns, meals and trips to Italy, Las Vegas and California, among other misuses. The fire district placed Marsonette on unpaid leave in August and ordered a forensic audit of the districts credit card expenses, employee reimbursement and educational conference benefits from Jan. 1, 2014, to July 31. The audit of district expenses revealed Marsonette made a personal purchase at New Orleans Harley-Davidson for $428.92 on July 13, 2015, using a credit card issued by the fire district but reimbursed the district for the purchase almost two weeks before the credit card payment was due. Marsonette made a purchase of $1,011.21 with the districts credit card in May at Waves and Wheels Marina, this time paying the amount on the date the card payment was due in July. I consider it to be an honest mistake made by someone we have no reason to believe is dishonest and I accept the reimbursement of the credit card charges made in error, which were made prior to the due date of the credit card, board President Rick Gans said after the meeting. Gans added later that he, too, had made similar mistakes with credit cards that looked alike and dismissed the amount of the items as not that large. Other purchases made by Marsonette ranged from $3.25 for parking to thousands of dollars for employee licenses, supplies and training. The audit identified three kinds of transactions: expenses paid with the districts credit card, employee expense reimbursements and disbursements from the districts petty cash bank account to Marsonette. During the period audited, there were 160 bank transactions totaling $30,176.62, 11 reimbursement transactions amounting to $23,343.29 and one petty cash transaction of $1,400, which auditors said appeared to be a district payroll error. Gans said while he is pleased with the results of the audit he had been prepared to ask the board to act if the audit had shown evidence of fraud by Marsonette. He said Marsonette could return to work for the district if he is exonerated on the criminal charges he faces or if those charges are dropped. Marsonette has been chief since 2014, at first on an interim basis. His salary this year is $148,269, with total earnings of $156,046, according to the district. Police say Conley was found at about 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 4500 block of St. Louis Avenue. Her death is being classified as a homicide. She was found on the ground with a puncture wound to the back. She was dead at the scene. EAST ST. LOUIS A St. Louis man who helped steal more than 15 guns from a Swansea Rural King was sentenced Thursday to 19 years and seven months in federal prison, his lawyer said. Rodney A. Mathes, 49, was convicted by a jury in U.S. District Court in April of charges of stealing firearms from a federal licensee and being a felon in possession a firearm. Mathes and Michael J. Khoury, 43, of Cahokia, broke into the Rural King, 2801 North Illinois in Swansea, on Jan. 19, 2015 and stole the guns, according to prosecutors and court documents. Khoury later sold one of the stolen guns to a confidential informer. Khoury pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon in May of 2015 and was sentenced that December to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison. Defense lawyer Preston Humphrey Jr. said that Mathes faced 188 to 235 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. ST. LOUIS A controversial posting on Snapchat from two Washington University students has administrators hopeful for an open dialogue about cultural sensitivity on campus. The post showed two Asian-American students wearing cleansing facial masks. The words on the screen read, Were in the zulu tribe, referring to the largest ethnic group in Africa. The Snapchat post prompted another Washington University student to share it on Facebook, expressing her concern as an African-American woman and student about the photo. Her post has been shared more than 250 times. Anti-Blackness in the Asian community is just as violent and just as disgusting as it is coming from anyone else, the student wrote in her post. Several other students on social media are describing the Snapchat post as blackface. Campus leaders were quick to respond as the post spread. Lori White, the schools vice chancellor for student affairs, sent an email to students Sunday night calling the situation an important reminder that we need to do everything we can to understand each other and to be tuned in to the way our words and actions may affect others. That is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week endeavor. I ask you to commit yourself to that goal. White said that her office was looking into the situation and that it had been reported to Washington Universitys Bias Report and Support System. The campus also hosted an open meeting for students to talk about the photo. One of the students in the photo shared a public apology on her personal Facebook page, calling her post reckless. In the apology, the student said she and her friend were wearing facial masks that looked like tribal face paintings, which sparked the comment she added to the photo. She said the post wasnt intended to be derogatory. We never intended to attack, mock, or refer to any race or ethnicity in a particular way, the student wrote. We didnt know much about the Zulu tribe when this picture was posted, and we certainly did not intend to mock them. Last night we were putting face masks on our faces, and we just simply thought the shapes and patterns resembled tribal art. We know we were being very ignorant and inconsiderate, and we would really like to apologize for our immaturity, especially to make sure something like this does not happen again. At least three other campuses have dealt with blackface images on social media in recent weeks some of which included students making more direct racial references than in the Washington University incident. At Albright College in Pennsylvania, a student mocked African-American stereotypes and the Black Lives Matters movement while wearing blackface. Two students were suspended because of the incident. Another student at Prairie View A&M University in Texas shared a photo of herself in blackface, saying she was trying to fit in at the Historically Black College and University institution. Three more students were going through a campus discipline process at Columbia College in South Carolina for a blackface photo. A new name for the airport is a step closer to becoming official come January, its expected that well be flying in and out of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved the name change on Oct. 14, and Mayor Francis Slay signed the bill late Tuesday that renames whats now Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Such approvals were needed to swap Lambert and St. Louis in the airports name. A recent study found that the airports name should emphasize St. Louis, because the airport is marketing itself nationally and internationally for passenger, cargo and other business, and that St. Louis should be the primary focus to give global audiences an instant geographic marker for the region. Slay said Wednesday in a statement that the new name emphasizes the important link between the city and airport, and better markets St. Louis to regional, national and international visitors while maintaining a connection to our rich aviation past. Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, the airports director, said the airport is beginning the formal process to submit the name change to the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport has been Lambert-St. Louis International Airport since 1971. It is named for Albert Bond Lambert, an aviation pioneer whose list of accomplishments includes getting St. Louis to host the 1923 International Air Races, an event that brought Charles Lindbergh here. Lambert was one of Lindberghs first financial backers for his nonstop flight from New York to Paris in 1927. Without Lambert, who sold his land at a discount to the city, the airport wouldnt be where it is today. That proposal met with opposition from Lambert descendants and others who didnt want the Lambert name moved to the end of the airports name. So last month, the airport commission opted to keep the Lambert name closer to the front hence, St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Hamm-Niebruegge has said costs associated with the name change would be absorbed into its ongoing operational budget and that airport employees could phase in some of the changes, such as re-doing signs. JEFFERSON CITY Tobacco companies have funneled more than $18 million into dueling campaigns to raise Missouris lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax. And most of the money pouring into the state isnt being spent to kill the proposed tax increases. Rather, in a twist for an industry typically averse to tax increases on its products, the makers of cigarette brands such as Camel, Newport, Decade and Exeter are the primary funding sources in support the initiatives on the Nov. 8 ballot. By contrast, for example, Philip Morris USA and the parent company of RJ Reynolds have contributed more than $71 million to fight a proposed cigarette tax increase on the ballot in California, according figures compiled by the California secretary of states office. In all, four states have measures on their ballots asking voters to increase taxes on cigarettes. Ron Leone, executive director of the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, said the money flow in the Show-Me State was unlikely to stop with less than two weeks to go before voters head to the polls. I wouldnt be surprised if that amount goes up even higher, Leone told the Post-Dispatch. Both tax increase measures have been opposed by groups including the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association, which say neither increase is big enough. One of the proposals, known as Proposition A, would increase the states 17-cents-a-pack tax by 23 cents, with the proceeds going to pay for transportation improvements. It is supported by Leones group. The two big players financing that effort are North Carolina-based Cheyenne International and XCaliber International of Oklahoma. Cheyenne has sent $2.8 million to the fight, while XCaliber has contributed $2.9 million. The other proposal, known as Amendment 3, would phase in a 60-cents-per-pack tax over four years to pay for early childhood programs. Reynolds American Inc., the parent company of tobacco giant RJ Reynolds, has contributed $12.5 million to the cause. RAI spokesman Bryan Hatchell said it was the first time the company had backed a tax increase. We believe Amendment 3 is both fair to our consumers and clearly in the best interests of the people of Missouri, Hatchell said in an email. But there also is a dispute within the dispute. Large tobacco companies such as Reynolds want to change Missouri laws that allow smaller tobacco companies to avoid making payments imposed by a 1998 court settlement. Amendment 3, if approved by voters, would close that loophole and require retailers to impose an additional 67-cents-a-pack tax on small makers such as XCaliber International and Cheyenne International. That would result in the tax on their brands rising by $1.27 per pack. Hatchell said closing the loophole ensures that Missouri will finally receive the millions in revenue that these cigarette companies have evaded paying for years. Proposition A contains no such clause. In essence, money being contributed by the companies has as much to do with supporting their chosen initiative as with killing the one they dont like. Petroleum marketers and convenience store operators, which are being bankrolled largely by the smaller tobacco companies, have enlisted member stores to urge customers to defeat Amendment 3. Along with yard signs, the campaign is relying on TV and radio ads and in-store appeals arguing that the increase sought for early childhood is too high, Leone said. Were hoping to have the resources to educate the voters, Leone said. Big Tobacco is taking Amendment 3 very seriously. Ultimately it crushes their competition. It helps to cement their market share. The largest recipient of money from Reynolds has been the Vote Yes on 3 for Kids campaign committee. During the most recent fundraising quarter, the campaign reported spending $100,000 on digital advertising and $104,000 on ad production. If approved, the 60-cent increase would generate an estimated $300 million for early childhood programs. If the lower, 23-cents-per-pack increase is approved, it would raise an estimated $100 million for transportation improvements. If both are approved by voters, both could go into effect, increasing Missouris tobacco tax by 83 cents a pack. Even with that increase, Missouris tobacco tax would still be lower than that in at least 34 other states. A spokesman for RAI did not immediately return a request for comment. Walker Moskop of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. CLAYTON A judge on Thursday refused to block Sunset Hills effort to close a motel that has been the scene of numerous police calls. A follow-up hearing was set for Nov. 9. The motel, the Econo Lodge at 3730 South Lindbergh Boulevard, apparently continues to operate. The Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday to revoke its business license, without which the Econo Lodge cannot legally operate. The owner, Shaiq Amir, filed suit in St. Louis County Circuit Court to block the move. Amir, who identified himself as a Muslim from Pakistan, alleges the citys effort was based, in whole or in part, on the ethnic origin or the religion of the owner City Administrator Eric Sturman said the aldermen revoked the business license because police frequently are called to the motel for narcotics, prostitution, fights and other incidents. Police said they wrote 349 reports on activities at the motel over a recent 12-month period. Amir was in the courthouse Thursday but declined to comment. Sunset Hills city attorney Robert E. Jones said the motel remains open at its peril, but he declined to respond to Amirs allegation about religion and ethnicity. Jones provided reporters a copy of Siwaks order, which refused to block the revocation and set a hearing for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 9 on a preliminary injunction. Thursdays legal discussions lasted more than an hour but were conducted entirely in Siwaks chambers, and she never entered the courtroom, where Amir and reporters waited. Thats up to the judge, Jones said of the discussion in chamber. Michael K. Daming, Amirs attorney, said afterward that he cannot discuss pending litigation. He and Amir declined to say whether the motel will remain open, but a motel clerk who answered the phone later Thursday said it was open for business. A police spokeswoman said the department is monitoring the motels continuing operation for possible future action. The Pentagon has inflicted unnecessary financial upheaval upon thousands of California National Guard veterans who sacrificed years of their lives to serve their country in wartime. Congress needs to take quick action to permanently halt an aggressive debt collection program aimed at recouping bonus payments for troops who re-enlisted during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Amid growing outcry from Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary Ash Carter acknowledged Wednesday that the debt collection program was unacceptable and ordered it suspended. A 2010 Sacramento Bee report first exposed irregularities in the re-enlistment incentive program. A Pentagon audit confirmed massive overpayments, which federal law requires the recipients to repay. The incentive program came at a time when the military was under recruitment duress while fighting two costly and debilitating wars. To avoid losing valuable expertise and encourage soldiers to re-enlist, recruiters began offering substantial financial incentives, but some recruiters overstepped their legal limits. One recruitment chief, former Master Sgt. Toni Jaffe, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for making $15 million in false claims related to the re-enlistment program. The Los Angeles Times reported last week that around 10,000 former National Guard troops are being required to repay bonuses and government tuition payments. Some were forced to take out second mortgages on their houses to meet rigorous federal schedules. Some had their paychecks garnished. Others face repayment schedules that effectively cut their household incomes by a quarter or more. Perhaps more to the point, the financial-aid recipients did nothing wrong, even though Carter said some of them should have known they didnt qualify for the amounts of money they were given. The soldiers agreed to an up-front deal: Stay in service and receive extra compensation. They lived up to their end of the bargain, which included serving out re-enlistment periods of three to six years each. It wasnt their fault that the government didnt check the legality of the promises military recruiters were making. California wasnt the only state where such incentives were being offered, so its important that troops in other states arent put through the same ordeal if audits reveal additional financial abnormalities. Carters decision to suspend the debt-collection program doesnt necessarily let the affected soldiers off the hook for good. Canceling the debt would take legislation from Congress; House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., already is suggesting ways to address it. The bottom line here is the governments trustworthiness. You dont make an agreement that requires people to put their lives on the line in service to their country and then, after theyve held up their end of the bargain, tell them that the deal is off. It doesnt get any more unfair than this. The real harm comes to the nations reputation if we renege on our promises. (Updated - October 27, 2016 11:36 AM EDT) Stifel downgraded Boston Properties Inc. (NYSE: BXP) from Buy to Hold with a price target of $120 (from $140). John W. Guinee expressed concerns about several markets. "As we become increasingly concerned about 1) the Manhattan office market, particularly the higher end, 2) the stagnant Washington, D.C. area market, 3) office REITs we cover that appear fairly valued on real estate valuation metrics, but fully valued on stock valuation metrics, and 4) REIT valuations overall in the current stock market environment, we are downgrading Boston Properties to Hold from Buy," said Guinee. The analyst continued, "Additionally, we believe that Net Asset Value oriented valuation metrics have much more relevance in a rising market." For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on Boston Properties Inc. click here. For more ratings news on Boston Properties Inc. click here. Shares of Boston Properties Inc. closed at $122.89 yesterday. Teekay Offshore GP LLC, the general partner of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. (Teekay Offshore or the Partnership) (NYSE: TOO), announced the following changes to its Board and management team: -- Peter Evensen, CEO, CFO and a Director of Teekay Offshore GP LLC, has informed the Partnership of his intention to retire from these positions effective January 31, 2017, after 10 years with the Partnership. In addition, Mr. Evensen will also retire from his positions as President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Teekay Corporation (Teekay), CEO, CFO and a Director of Teekay LNG Partners L.P.'s general partner, and a Director of Teekay Tankers Ltd. -- Kenneth Hvid, the current President and CEO of Teekay Offshore Group Ltd. and a Director of Teekay Offshore, has been appointed to succeed Mr. Evensen as President and CEO of Teekay upon Mr. Evensen's retirement on January 31, 2017. -- Ingvild Saether (48), will take over Mr. Hvid's position as President and CEO of Teekay Offshore Group Ltd., a management services company that will assume Mr. Evensen's operational and strategic roles by providing services to the Partnership's subsidiaries (together with the Partnership, the Teekay Offshore Group). Ms. Saether currently is an Executive Committee Member and President, Teekay Offshore Logistics of Teekay Offshore Group Ltd., overseeing Teekay's global shuttle tanker business as well as initiatives in the floating storage offtake business and related offshore activities. Ms. Saether joined Teekay in 2002 as a result of Teekay's acquisition of Navion AS from Statoil ASA. Since joining Teekay, Ms. Saether has held management positions in Teekay's conventional tanker business until 2007, when she assumed the commercial responsibility for Teekay's shuttle tanker activities in the North Sea and in 2011, Ms. Saether assumed the position of President, Teekay Offshore Logistics. Ms. Saether has over 25 years of experience in the shipping and offshore sector, and has been engaged in a number of boards and associations related to the industry. "It has been an honor and a privilege to lead the Teekay Offshore Group, and I am confident that Ingvild Saether will continue that success," commented Mr. Evensen. "Ingvild has led a team that has consistently improved the results from our shuttle tanker business as well as strategically positioned us well for future opportunities within this segment. As a highly experienced leader, I am confident that Ingvild in this broader role will enable the teams to continue to create strong results." "On behalf of the entire Teekay Offshore GP LLC Board, I would like to thank Mr. Evensen for the significant contributions he has made in growing Teekay Offshore to become one of the world's largest shuttle tanker and FPSO owners and operators since its initial public offering 10 years ago," commented Mr. Sean Day, Chairman of Teekay Offshore GP LLC's Board of Directors. "Ms. Saether's extensive experience in the industry will be instrumental as the Teekay Offshore Group continues to execute on its existing growth initiatives." "I am honored to take on this new opportunity and continue building on the Teekay Offshore Group's success," commented Ms. Saether. "The Teekay Offshore Group is well-positioned with our market-leading businesses in the offshore oil production sector. We will continue to focus on providing strong operational performance, building our customer relationships, strengthening our balance sheet, and delivering our conversion and newbuilding projects, which are expected to provide significant cash flow growth in the future." XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO) announced that it has completed the sale of its truckload business to TransForce Inc. (TSX: TFI) for approximately $558 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments. XPO will use the proceeds from the transaction to pay down debt. The divested truckload operation encompasses approximately 3,000 tractors, 7,500 trailers and 29 locations that were part of the October 2015 acquisition of Con-way Inc. XPO will continue to offer full truckload services to customers in the United States, Mexico and Canada through its extensive brokerage network. XPO is the second largest freight brokerage provider in the world. Bradley Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of XPO Logistics, said, "TransForce is getting the 19th largest asset-based truckload carrier in the U.S., a highly experienced workforce, and a presence in the cross-border Mexico freight corridor. We divested these assets to concentrate on growing our value to customers in the areas where we're leaders in the industry: contract logistics, truck brokerage, less-than-truckload, last mile, intermodal, drayage, expedite and managed transportation." Jacobs continued: "This transaction strengthens our balance sheet and improves our long-term growth profile. In addition to deleveraging, the sale reduces our annual capex requirements, increases our return on capital, and lessens the cyclicality of our operations." The divested operations, which have been reported as part of XPO's Transportation segment, were expected to generate approximately $10 million of operating income for the remaining two months of 2016, and depreciation and amortization of approximately $10 million. The company will update its financial targets to reflect the transaction when it reports its third quarter results on November 2, 2016. J.P. Morgan served as financial advisor to XPO Logistics, and Scudder Law Firm, P.C. acted as legal advisor. HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Wolf's signature on legislation that will allow licensed physicians in one state to treat patients in other states via telehealth technologies was praised today by AARP Pennsylvania. The enactment of HB 1619 makes Pennsylvania the 18th state to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which encourages physicians to provide care both in-person or through telehealth technologies in multiple states. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Jesse Topper (R-78). AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh said improving the availability of telehealth services is especially important in Pennsylvania, which includes both the nation's third-largest rural population and fourth-oldest population. "This new law will help older adults and those living in rural or underserved areas use telehealth technologies to access an expanded network of physicians when those providers are unavailable in their area or when getting out of the house is difficult," he said. Johnston-Walsh added the new law will also greatly benefit Pennsylvania's 1.6 million family caregivers. "Approval of HB 1619 will help older adults remain at home longer by providing access to home and community-based services (HCBS) in new ways, making it easier for family caregivers to provide care for their loved ones," he said. "Broader adoption of telehealth technologies holds tremendous promise for older Pennsylvanians and their family caregivers." AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. Follow AARP Pennsylvania on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AARPPA and on Twitter @AARPPA. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into "Real Possibilities" by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine, and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @aarp on Twitter. Contact: Steve Gardner, AARP PA (717) 237-6481 or [email protected] or Jacklyn Isasi, AARP PA (267) 825-9928 or [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aarp-pennsylvania-hails-governors-signature-on-bill-expanding-telehealth-options-for-state-residents-300352119.html SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania Quali-Fill Chemical Management Systems for Wafer Level Packaging NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ECI Technology, Inc. announced it has received a multi-million dollar order from a major OSAT in Taiwan for Quali-Fill Chemical Management Systems. ECIs Quali-Fill systems provide fully automated online chemical metrology and smart dosing capabilities for manufacturing of advanced Wafer Level Packaging (WLP). Quali-Fill systems incorporate newly developed metrology techniques to target the needs of the advanced packaging market for exacting analytical performance with significant savings and yield improvements. Based on a modular design, the system is capable of supporting multiple plating tools and all known chemistries for Cu, SnAg, Sn, Ni, and Au. Quali-Fill provides a universal chemical monitoring and control solution with supplemental capabilities for analyzing contaminants and by-products, delivering superior process control and significantly reduced cost of ownership. We are extremely pleased that ECIs latest generation of Quali-Fill has been selected and qualified by one of the largest OSATs in Taiwan for 300 mm WLP manufacturing, said Marianna Rabinovitch, CEO of ECI Technology, Inc. About ECI Technology, Inc. Established in 1987, ECI Technology, Inc. is the leading global provider of chemical management systems for electrochemical deposition, surface preparation, and etch for the semiconductor industry. The company is driving chemical metrology innovations, empowering customers with improved control and monitoring of their manufacturing. ECI Technology has worldwide representation and local offices in Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. For more information, visit http://www.ecitechnology.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005040/en/ Kia Low, Ph.D. Marketing Director ECI Technology, Inc. 1-973-774-4472 [email protected] Source: ECI Technology, Inc. PLYMOUTH, Mich., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To satisfy the future emission reduction demands of the off-highway industry, wider application of existing technologies and the development of innovative, new, cost-effective technologies is required. Advanced emissions solutions, like those found in Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies' Low Emission Sealing Solutions (LESS) portfolio, help reduce weight and friction while improving the overall efficiency of today's industrial powertrains. They must play a larger role in efforts to manufacture more sustainable vehicles and equipment. Freudenberg-NOK's Joel Johnson, global vice president of the company's Mobile Machinery Sector, discussed these topics and more during today's SAE "Advanced Emissions Strategies" technical webinar. Johnson joined two off-highway technical experts: David McShane, executive vice president, business development and strategy, and general manager of Chicago Technical Center, Ricardo; and Duncan Riding, senior technical steward, business development engineering, Perkins. Together, the group discussed the advanced emissions solutions currently available to the off-highway industry, as well as future technical product solutions, requirements and development strategies. Topics ranged from the latest in advanced combustion and emissions control, to alternative power solutions, to advances in materials, simulation tools and sealing technologies. A recording of the webinar can be accessed for up to 12 months via this link: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1117503 or on the SAE website at: www.sae.org/webcasts According to Johnson, it's difficult to separate fuel efficiency from engine emissions and, as such, off-highway suppliers' advanced emissions strategies must meet both of these criteria, while also addressing the market trends of downsizing and exhaust gas after treatment. For Freudenberg-NOK, this means optimizing the following areas: engine (for size reductions); direct injection; exhaust gas recirculation; friction reduction; improved transmission technologies; and selective catalytic reduction. Freudenberg-NOK's efforts have coalesced in development of its LESS product portfolio of comprehensive solutions that influence energy consumption and emissions. For its off-highway customers, Johnson focused on the following LESS technologies: Valve Stem Modification for Diesel Emissions: a "double-lip" lip seal that offers the advantages of oil metering and blow-by control; Levitex: a next-generation seal technology that reduces friction by up to 90 percent; Improved Transmission Efficiencies: by leveraging its material development and process expertise, as well as optimizing designs and molding to help use oil flow and oil pressure to minimize power loss; Improved Hot Joint Gaskets: multi- and single-layer steel gaskets compatible with exhaust gas and urea additives; and AdBlue Resistant Materials for High Temperatures: ongoing development of materials that can handle AdBlue, an aqueous urea solution, while reaching a continuous upper temperature limit of 200C and a volume swell of 15 percent after 168H at 140C. According to Johnson, using and refining the technology of today, there is an opportunity to reduce emissions significantly even as much as the reductions generated in the past 10 years. Through its LESS portfolio, Freudenberg-NOK is doing its part to make that statement a reality. About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing TechnologiesFreudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies runs the business operations for Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) in the Americas. Being part of the global Freudenberg Group, the company is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for a variety of markets including: aerospace; agriculture; appliance; automotive; construction; diesel engine; energy; food and beverage; heavy industry; and pharmaceutical. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a joint venture between FST and NOK Corp. in Japan, is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich. and operates more than 20 facilities across the Americas. For additional information, please visit: www.fst.com. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/freudenberg-noks-johnson-discusses-advanced-off-highway-emission-strategies-300352626.html SOURCE Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies TEL-AVIV, Israel, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gazit-Globe (NYSE: GZT) (TSX: GZT) (TASE: GZT), one of the world's leading multi-national real estate companies focused on the management, acquisition, development and redevelopment of supermarket-anchored shopping centers in major urban markets, announced today that it has increased and extended its credit facility agreement with Citibank by $150 million to $360 million, maturing in October 2019. The Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries have entered into the loan agreement with Citibank for a term of three years. The credit facility bears interest at the rate of LIBOR plus a fixed margin. The facility is secured by a pledge over shares held indirectly by the Company in certain of its consolidated subsidiaries, and is guaranteed by certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries through whom the pledged shares are held. The loan agreement includes standard terms for transactions of this type including limitation on the number of shares which may be pledged, covenants and events which trigger mandatory repayment or an event of default. Rachel Lavine, CEO of Gazit-Globe: "We welcome the opportunity to increase and extend our existing credit facility with Citibank. This allows us greater flexibility to diversify our sources of credit and funding in the international markets. We view this agreement as evidence of the Company's leading position in the international market and a further step towards implementing our strategic plans." FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In the United States, these statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks detailed in our public filings with the SEC and the Canadian Securities Administrators. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Gazit-Globe Gazit-Globe is one of the largest owners, developers and operators of predominantly supermarket-anchored shopping centers in major urban markets around the world. Gazit-Globe is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: GZT), the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: GZT) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: GZT) and is included in the TA-25 and Real-Estate 15 indices in Israel. As of June 30, 2016 Gazit-Globe owns and operates 429 properties in more than 20 countries, with a gross leasable area of approximately 6.5 million square meters and a total value of approximately US$ 21.5 billion. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Investors Contact: [email protected], Media Contact: [email protected] Source: GAZIT-GLOBE LTD GSMA Names 26-Member Board to Serve from January 2017 through December 2018; Mittal Leads GSMA Board Delegation in Meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi NEW DELHI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The GSMA today announced that it has elected new members of the GSMA Board for the two-year period from January 2017 through December 2018. The GSMA Board has also elected Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises as Chair, and re-elected Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere, Executive Vice President, Innovation, Orange Group as Deputy Chair. As GSMA Chair, Mittal will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation, which represents nearly 800 of the worlds mobile operators, as well as more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026007062/en/ GSMA Elects New Board Members and Elects Sunil Bharti Mittal as Chair (Photo: Business Wire) I am delighted to be elected as Chairman of the GSMA, and look forward to working closely with the rest of the Board, the GSMA leadership team and our entire membership to address the critical issues facing our industry and our customers, said Mittal. In a relatively brief period of time, mobile has had a transformational impact on individuals, businesses, industries and societies, contributing significantly to local economies and improving the lives of billions around the world. Mittal continued: I am excited about what the next chapter holds for us, as we work to connect everyone and everything to a better future. In my new global role, I am also excited to support the ongoing mobile broadband revolution in India to boost the Governments Digital India Program and its vision of broadband access for all. The first Indian to be elected as Chair of the GSMA, Mittal took over as Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) early this year. He also serves on the boards and councils of several reputed international bodies and think-tanks like the World Economic Forum (WEF), Telecom Board of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Broadband Commission, Harvard Universitys Global Advisory Council - Board of Deans Advisors at HBS, International Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Prime Minister of Singapores Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council. He is also a Trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and on the Board of Qatar Foundation Endowment. Bharti Airtel was the host of the inaugural GSMA Mobile 360 India event in New Delhi this week, as well as a meeting of the GSMA Board. A highlight of the week, GSMA Chair-elect Mittal led the GSMA Board delegation at a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday afternoon. In a broad-ranging discussion, the meeting highlighted the pivotal role of mobile in delivering the government's Digital India vision of broadband as a utility for every citizen, bringing digital and financial inclusion to every corner of the country. GSMA Board Members for the 2017-2018 Term The GSMA Board has 26 members, including 25 operator representatives from the worlds largest operator groups as well as smaller, independent operators with global representation. The GSMAs Director General Mats Granryd also serves on the GSMA Board. The GSMA Board for the 2017-2018 term comprises: Juan Carlos Archila, Executive Vice President, International Relationships, America Movil Bill Hague, Executive Vice President-Global Connection Management, AT&T Mobility Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises Sha Yuejia, Executive Director and Vice President, China Mobile Sun Kangmin, Executive Director and Executive Vice President, China Telecom Lu Yimin, President and Vice Chairman, China Unicom Wolfgang Kopf, Senior Vice President, Public and Regulatory Affairs, Deutsche Telekom Hatem Dowidar, CEO International, Etisalat Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA Christian Salbaing, Deputy Chairman, Europe, Hutchison Takashi Tanaka, President, KDDI Eelco Blok, CEO, KPN Chang-Gyu Hwang, Chairman and CEO, KT Corporation Mauricio Ramos, CEO, Millicom Phuthuma Nhleko, Chairman and Acting CEO, MTN Group Andrei Dubovskov, President, MTS Kazuhiro Yoshizawa, President and CEO, NTT DOCOMO Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere, Executive Vice President, Innovation, Orange Group Dong-Hyun Jang, President and CEO, SK Telecom Julio Linares Lopez, Vice President of the Board, Telefoinica Sigve Brekke, President and CEO, Telenor Group Johan Dennelind, President and CEO, Telia Company Kaan Terzioglu, CEO, Turkcell Roy Chestnutt, Chief Strategy Officer, Verizon Serpil Timuray, Group Chief Commercial Operations and Strategy Officer, Vodafone Scott Gegenheimer, CEO, Zain Group GSMA Chair Jon Fredrik Baksaas will step down from the Board at the end of 2016, after holding this position for the past three years. Baksaas was elected as a member of the GSMA Board in 2008. With nearly 4.8 billion individuals around the world subscribing to mobile services, it is the most pervasive and fast-growing platform of users ever built. It is now accessible to billions in both developing and developed markets, providing life-enhancing services and enabling new socio-economic opportunities for all, commented Baksaas. The mobile industry is at the very heart of the worlds digital transformation, driving efforts to make the world a better place, in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It has been a true privilege to serve on the GSMA Board for eight years, the last three as Chair. I wish the new Board and Chair, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, the very best of luck as the GSMA focuses on extending global platform capabilities, such as GSMA Mobile Connect, to billions of users around the globe. -ENDS- About the GSMA The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with almost 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences. For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026007062/en/ Media Contacts: Charlie Meredith-Hardy +44 7917 298428 [email protected] or GSMA Press Office [email protected] Source: GSMA TSX: JAG TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX: JAG) is pleased to announce that it has commenced an expanded and accelerated growth exploration initiative at its operating underground gold mines Turmalina, Pilar and Roca Grande located in the Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This initiative will be focused on brownfield exploration targets to expand and discover new mineral resources located in and around existing mine infrastructure that have a strong potential to further grow sustainable production, lower unit costs, increase cash flows and extend expected mine life. The Company's current ongoing exploration programs will continue to focus on increasing resources at its core assets through the upgrading of current Measured and Indicated Mineral ("M&I") Resources to Mineral Reserves. Over the next 12 months, the Company expects to invest up to US$8 million in exploration and growth initiatives. Approximately 75% of the investment will be on underground work at the Company's core operating mines for drilling of step-out and down-dip extensions and targets. The remaining growth exploration investment is expected to be on the high priority targets Pacheca and Cubas located near Pilar Gold Mine. Rodney Lamond, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar, stated: "Considering our sizable footprint in the prolific greenstone belt of the Iron Quadrangle in Brazil, and the significant exploration potential across all of our operating mines, this accelerated growth exploration initiative is an exciting step towards assisting us in increasing our resources and extending our operating mine life. This program will also allow for the potential discovery of new resources to support our goal of growing our sustainable production profile. To date, we have made excellent progress with our infill resource drilling programs, however we now have the immediate means, to accelerate our resource growth objectives and to execute exploration programs on the numerous target areas that could potentially add significant new resources to the current mineral base." Growth Exploration Highlights Major growth capital investment primarily focused on increasing mineral resources at its core assets, and discovery of new resources near existing infrastructure at its operating mines. Expanded growth exploration program includes approximately 31,000 metres ("m") of diamond drilling, including approximately 15,000 m deep down-plunge continuities of the ore bodies A and C at Turmalina and BFII and BF at the Pilar Gold Mine. 8,500 m of surface diamond drilling will be dedicated to test the high priority Pacheca and Cubas targets in the vicinities of the Pilar Gold Mine and other advanced targets. Exploration targets generated, as a result of extensive compilation work from previous exploration campaigns, in and around the current mine sites will be followed up by geophysical surveys and diamond drilling. Subject to the results, an additional 7,750 m of surface drilling will be dedicated to test those targets. Geophysics, soil geochemistry, trenching, plus prospecting and mapping will also be conducted to advance additional target areas for future drilling. Field work has already commenced at the Pacheca and Cubas targets, located near Pilar Gold Mine. Turmalina Gold Mine An underground drilling campaign of approximately 9,600 m will be dedicated to the test the down-plunge extension and continuity of ore bodies A and C. Ore Body ADeep diamond drilling of ore body A will be performed after the development of a new exploration horizon is positioned in the hanging wall of the mine. The proposed drilling is intended to reach the 12, 13 and 14 levels, up to 240 vertical m below current development and 160 m below the current inferred resources. Ore Body CDown-dip extension drilling of the South Eastern portion of Ore Body C is expected to generate new mineral resources that are near surface and to contribute in the near term to the Turmalina throughput profile. IP Geophysics will test the hanging wall of Orebody C and eastern continuity of Orebody A. Following the IP work, an estimated 6,000 m surface diamond drilling program is expected to take place. Pilar Gold Mine An underground drilling campaign of approximately 5,100 m will be dedicated to test the down-plunge extension and continuity of ore bodies BFII, BF and BA. Deep diamond drilling will be performed after the development of a new exploration horizon is positioned in the hanging wall of the mine. The proposed drilling is intended to reach the 12, 13 and 14 levels, up to 250 vertical metres below current development and 200 metres below the current inferred resources. Approximately 3,500 m of surface diamond drilling on the Pacheca Target is planned. The Pacheca target is located three km NE of the Pilar mine and is characterized by a series of extensive open pit excavations made by Portuguese explorers during the 18th century. Similarly hosted in the Banded Iron Formation (BIF) encompassing most of the Iron Quadrangle, the Pacheca target is strongly delineated by soil Au geochemistry. Surface diamond drilling on the Cubas Target of approximately 2,500 m is planned. The Cubas Target is identified by a number of deep IP anomalies situated on the southern continuity of the shear zone, which hosts the main Pilar ore bodies. Roca Grande (RG) Gold Mine During 2016, the Company undertook a compilation program of the available surface information. In light of the revised geological model, a review of the diamond drill-hole information will be carried out to consolidate the geological model. Soil geochemistry and a total of 1,750 m of drilling follow-up is expected to test the ore bodies' open continuities. The Iron QuadrangleThe Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration for centuries, dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of black gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba and Sao Bento. Jaguar holds the second largest gold land position in the Iron Quadrangle with just over 25,000 hectares. About Jaguar Mining Inc.Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes, and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims covering an area of approximately 191,000 hectares. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex ("Mineracao Turmalina Ltda" or "MTL") and Caete Gold Mine Complex ("Mineracao Serras do OesteLtda" or "MSOL") which combined produce more than 90,000 ounces of gold annually. The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected", "is forecast", "is targeted", "approximately", "plans", "anticipates" "projects", "anticipates", "continue", "estimate", "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the development and production activities and the intended use and allocation of capital on its growth exploration initiatives; the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; and general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others the uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labor disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations, uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent annual information form and management's discussion and analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE Jaguar Mining Inc. (All dollar figures are in Australian dollars unless otherwise indicated) TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold") (TSX: NGD) (NYSE MKT: NGD) today announces that the company has entered into an Earn-in Agreement (the "Agreement") with Rimfire Pacific Mining NL ("Rimfire"). The Agreement relates to Rimfire's Fifield Project ("Fifield" or the "Project"), located in central New South Wales, Australia. Pursuant to the Agreement, New Gold will have the option to earn up to a 70% interest in the Fifield Project by incurring a total of A$12 million of exploration expenditures on the Project over a five-year period. "The Fifield earn-in fits New Gold's strategy of disciplined growth in stable jurisdictions," stated Hannes Portmann, Executive Vice President, Business Development. "The Project offers excellent potential for significant new discoveries and resource growth, while the earn-in structure maximizes our company's flexibility as exploration is advanced." The Fifield Project, located approximately 300 kilometres southeast of New Gold's Peak Mines, includes a 673 square kilometre land package. The Project is strategically positioned along the prolific Lachlan Transverse Zone, host to several established mining operations including the Cadia and North Parkes copper-gold mines, both of which share strong geologic characteristics with New Gold's New Afton copper-gold mine in Kamloops, British Columbia. The Fifield Project encompasses an area of highly prospective geology that offers excellent potential for both gold-silver and copper-gold discoveries. In addition to hosting multiple exploration targets, the Project already includes an established mineral resource at the Sorpresa gold and silver deposit, a zone of near-surface mineralization discovered by Rimfire in 2010, that remains open along strike and at depth. "We are excited to work with the Rimfire team as the Fifield Project demonstrates large-scale, world-class discovery potential in a geologic setting very familiar to us," stated Mark Petersen, Vice President, Exploration. New Gold's rights and obligations relating to the earn-in are subject to customary conditions precedent, including approval of the Australian Government Foreign Investment Review Board. When those conditions are satisfied (the "Effective Date"), New Gold will be committed to incur a minimum of A$2 million of exploration expenditures on the Project on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date. Thereafter, New Gold has the option to earn an initial 51% interest in the Project by incurring an additional A$5 million of exploration expenditures, for an aggregate A$7 million, on or before the third anniversary of the Effective Date ("First Earn-in Period"). In the two years following the First Earn-in Period, New Gold will have the option to increase its ownership interest by 19% to 70% by incurring an additional A$5 million of exploration expenditures. In conjunction with the execution of the Agreement, New Gold completed a A$500,000 private placement for approximately 23.8 million Rimfire common shares at a price of A$0.021 per share, which represents approximately a 2.5% pro forma ownership interest. ABOUT NEW GOLD INC.New Gold is an intermediate gold mining company. The company has a portfolio of four producing assets and two significant development projects. The New Afton Mine in Canada, the Mesquite Mine in the United States, the Peak Mines in Australia and the Cerro San Pedro Mine in Mexico, provide the company with its current production base. In addition, New Gold owns 100% of the Rainy River and Blackwater projects, both in Canada, as well as a 4% gold stream on the El Morro project located in Chile. New Gold's objective is to be the leading intermediate gold producer, focused on the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the company, please visit www.newgold.com. CAUTIONARY LANGUAGECertain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to New Gold's future financial or operating performance are "forward looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that New Gold expects to occur are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "targeted", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "projects", "potential", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements with respect to closing of the earn-in agreement, the satisfaction of the conditions precedent, the geologic potential of the Project and its similarity to the New Afton deposit. All forward-looking statements in this news release are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond New Gold's ability to control or predict. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this news release, and, as applicable, New Gold's Annual Information Form filed at www.sedar.com. In addition to, and subject to, such assumptions discussed in more detail elsewhere, the forward-looking statements in this news release are also subject to political and legal developments in Australia being consistent with New Gold's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources; changes in national and local government legislation; regulations and political or economic developments in Australia; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining and maintaining the validity and enforceability of the necessary licenses and permits and complying with the permitting requirements of Australia with respect to the Project. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. New Gold expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE New Gold Inc. NASSAU, Bahamas, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE) is pleased to announce that it has entered into negotiations in connection with the ownership of Baha Mar. CTFE, a world-class developer with immense experience in global hospitality and mixed-use development, has applied to the Government of The Bahamas for approval as a proposed investor and acquirer of the Baha Mar Resort, by way of acquisition of Perfect Luck Assets Limited (Perfect Luck), the company to which certain assets of the Baha Mar Resort have been transferred. Not only does CTFE have a vast and diverse portfolio of global business operations, but one of the company's subsidiaries, Rosewood Hotel Group, has had a relationship with Baha Mar since 2011. CTFE has significant experience in tourism/hospitality, in part, through Rosewood Hotel Group, which manages 55 hotels in 18 countries under three different brands. Some of CTFE's most iconic owned properties include The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (New York); Rosewood London; The Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel (Beverly Hills); and the Grand Hyatt (Hong Kong). Rosewood Hotel Group also operates three resorts in the Caribbean: Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort in Antigua, Rosewood Tucker's Point in Bermuda, and Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands (re-opening 2017). CTFE also has extensive experience with large-scale integrated developments. For example, one of the largest investments in London's history, the over US$10 Billion Greenwich Peninsula development project, as well as the Queen's Wharf Brisbane, a US$2.3 Billion integrated resort development project in Australia, are both CTFE and affiliated company projects. "CTFE is looking forward to having Baha Mar join its portfolio of world-class integrated resort development projects," said Dr. Henry Cheng, Chairman of CTFE. "We are fully committed to this project and plan to hire as many Bahamians as possible to work at the property." CTFE is dedicated to the successful opening of Baha Mar and will work with the Government to achieve the goal of a phased opening. As part of the company's commitment to the project and The Bahamas in the immediate term, CTFE will invest millions ahead of the official deal completion through pre-opening activities and employment which has already commenced and will be expanded in the coming weeks and months. Graeme Davis, the President of CTFE's Bahamas subsidiary added, "CTFE is a company that embraces and champions the culture and values of the communities where it does business around the globe. We are excited to create an experience in The Bahamas that showcases what we collectively have to offer the world. We are confident that Baha Mar will be a property that Bahamians can be proud of." As part of the remobilization efforts, CTFE is already in discussions with hotel brands previously involved in the Baha Mar project, including Hyatt and SLS Hotels. CTFE also intends to re-engage its subsidiary, Rosewood Hotel Group, as a luxury hotel operator at Baha Mar. Given the non-disclosure agreement in place, the stakeholders involved are unable to discuss specific terms of the transaction or the negotiations at this time. However, we look forward to keeping the public informed on pre-opening activities. About Chow Tai Fook Enterprises LimitedChow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE) is a leading Hong Kong-based conglomerate owned and controlled by the Cheng Family with a diversified business portfolio spanning across the globe. Principal activities of CTFE and the Cheng family include property holding and development, hotel investment and management, jewelry retailing, department stores, transportation and infrastructure investment. Major listed companies controlled by CTFE and the Cheng Family include New World Development Company Limited (HKEx Code: 17), a property developer with a market capitalization of over US$11 billion, NWS Holdings Ltd (HKEx Code: 659), an infrastructure and transportation company with a market capitalization of over US$6 billion, and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (HKEx Code: 1929), one of the largest jewelry retailers in the world with a market capitalization of over US$7 billion. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/opening-baha-mar--another-step-closer-300353164.html SOURCE Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE) SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sedgwick proudly announced that Senior Vice President Azurely Kerr has been selected by Business Insurance magazine as one of its 2016 Women to Watch. The annual Women to Watch program recognizes 25 women for exceptional work in commercial insurance and related fields. Honorees are nominated by Business Insurance readers and selected by a panel of the publication's editors based on four criteria: recent professional accomplishments, expertise, leadership and future career prospects. Based in Southfield, Michigan, Kerr oversees a growing business unit comprising more than 450 colleagues and serving the workers' compensation, disability and leave management needs of 22 high-profile customers. She joined the company after college in 1999 as a claims examiner and quickly ascended the ranks due to her penchant for leadership, business savvy and commitment to customer service. Her outstanding track record in operational and program management success earned her a 2014 promotion to become one of Sedgwick's youngest senior VPs. Kerr also played a pivotal role in establishing the Michigan chapter of Kids' Chance, a non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities for the children of workers seriously injured or killed on the job, and serves on its executive committee. "Azurely's passion for serving customers, developing people, and giving back is infectious," said David A. North, Sedgwick president and CEO. "She is a natural born leader, and her unique ability to build relationships and get the best out of her colleagues has propelled her career. She is also an innovative self-starter who has played a critical role in developing many of our market-leading customer solutions. Azurely is a terrific example of balancing work and family, growing personally and professionally, leading effective teams, and inspiring others to make a difference." Kerr and her fellow honorees will be profiled in the December issue of Business Insurance and recognized at the 2016 Women to Watch Conference & Awards Gala Dec. 12-13 in New York City. About Sedgwick Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc., is a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk and benefits solutions. At Sedgwick, caring countsSM; the company takes care of people and organizations by delivering cost-effective claims, productivity, managed care, risk consulting and other services through the dedication and expertise of more than 14,000 colleagues in some 275 offices located in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland. Sedgwick facilitates financial and personal health and helps customers and consumers navigate complexity by designing and implementing customized programs based on proven practices and advanced technology that exceed expectations. Sedgwick's majority shareholder is KKR; Stone Point Capital LLC, La Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and other management investors are minority shareholders. For more, see www.sedgwick.com. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/433075Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120813/CL56657LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sedgwicks-azurely-kerr-named-to-business-insurance-2016-women-to-watch-300352279.html SOURCE Sedgwick Billionaire activist-investor Carl Icahn gives an interview on FOX Business Network's Neil Cavuto show in New York February 11, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York state appeals court on Thursday cleared the way for billionaire investor Carl Icahn to pursue an unusual malpractice lawsuit against the powerful law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz over his 2012 hostile takeover of CVR Energy Inc (NYSE: CVI). The 5-0 decision by the Appellate Division in Manhattan frees CVR to contest whether Wachtell should have revealed how Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) and Deutsche Bank AG , which were helping it defend against Icahn's tender offer, stood to earn far higher fees if the takeover bid actually succeeded. In effect, CVR, and thus Icahn, claimed to have overpaid for the process that left the activist investor with a now 82 percent stake in the Sugar Land, Texas-based petroleum refiner and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturer. The tender offer had valued CVR at about $2.6 billion at the time. Icahn is now worth $15.6 billion, Forbes magazine said. Wachtell did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In dismissing the malpractice claim, Justice O. Peter Sherwood of the state supreme court in Manhattan affirmed in February 2015 that CVR was contractually bound to pay the banks more than $36 million because it failed to object fast enough. U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan in Manhattan dismissed a similar federal case in March of this year, saying he was bound by Sherwood's ruling on the case's merits. But the appeals court said Sherwood's ruling did not bar CVR from pursuing a malpractice claim for "conduct that allegedly caused and/or contributed" to CVR's acceptance of the contracts, and its inability to extricate itself from them. Herbert Beigel, a lawyer for CVR and Icahn, said Thursday's decision means Sullivan is no longer bound by Sherwood's ruling. "CVR is gratified by the court's decision," Beigel said in a phone interview. "We expect our federal case on the malpractice claim to proceed." Goldman and Deutsche Bank had separately sued CVR to recoup unpaid fees. That litigation was settled last October. The case is Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz et al vs CVR Energy Inc et al, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 1st Department, No. 654343/2013. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives plan a vote as soon as mid-November on a 10-year reauthorization of the Iran Sanctions Act, congressional aides told Reuters on Tuesday, setting up a potential showdown with the White House and Senate. The Iran Sanctions Act, or ISA, which expires on Dec. 31, allows trade, energy, defense and banking industry sanctions over Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile tests. Its fate is one of the major pieces of unfinished business facing lawmakers when they return to Washington on Nov. 14 for the first time after the Nov. 8 elections. U.S. Representative Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is expected to introduce the 10-year renewal as soon as Congress gets back, aides said. Congressional aides said a "clean" renewal, meaning unchanged from the current legislation, was likely to pass the House. Its fate in the Senate was much less certain, and a White House spokesman would not say whether President Barack Obama would sign it into law. Republicans control majorities in both the House and Senate, and every Republican in Congress opposed the international nuclear deal announced in July 2015, in which Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions. Republicans have since tried repeatedly to pass legislation to clamp down on Iran, accusing Obama of being so eager to burnish his foreign policy legacy that he conceded too much to Tehran in the nuclear talks. Some Senate Republicans want more than a clean renewal of the ISA. They are trying to build support for legislation that would renew it but also do more to punish individual Iranians and businesses over the country's ballistic missile tests and what they see as its support for terrorism. Some senators have also pushed for a law that would eliminate the president's right to waive sanctions for security reasons. IRANIAN FRUSTRATION Obama's administration had asked Congress to hold off on renewing the ISA, saying it has enough power to reimpose economic sanctions if Iran violates the nuclear agreement even if it expires. White House spokesman Josh Earnest declined to say how Obama would respond to the bill if it passed both houses of Congress and reached his desk. "I won't prejudge at this point whether or not the president would sign that bill," Earnest told reporters traveling with the president in Los Angeles. "The president and the Treasury Department retain significant sanctions authority that already has been used to impose costs on Iran for their flagrant violation of their international obligations," he said. White House opposition to the bill could generate resistance from Democrats in the Senate, making it more difficult for any legislation to garner the 60 votes needed to move ahead. Because Republicans hold only 54 seats in the 100-member chamber, they would need Democratic support to move any bill. Renewing the sanctions bill could also increase frustrations in Iran. Iranian officials have been complaining for months that remaining U.S. sanctions have frightened away trade partners and robbed it of too many benefits it was promised under the nuclear deal. A House Foreign Affairs Committee aide said addressing the ISA before it expires is a "top priority" for Royce. "The Iran Sanctions Act was enacted to curb Tehrans support for terrorism and its very dangerous weapons proliferation. It should remain in place until the regime stops exporting terror and threatening us and our allies with deadly weapons," Royce said in a statement sent to Reuters. "That's why I'll be introducing a bipartisan, long-term extension of these important sanctions," he said. (Additional reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Lisa Shumaker) The Ford logo is seen at their plant in Cuatitlan Izcalli, Mexico October 18, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso By Bernie Woodall and Joseph White DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F) reported a more than 50 percent drop in third-quarter net income on Thursday, saying its North American business suffered from lower sales, higher recall costs and a complicated introduction of a new pickup truck. The profit exceeded Wall Street expectations, however. The automaker said it still expected full-year earnings of $10.2 billion and a return to positive cash flow after burning through $2 billion in the third quarter. Net income dropped to $961 million, or 24 cents a share, from $2.2 billion, or 55 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, Ford said earnings were 26 cents a share, beating the analysts' average estimate of 20 cents compiled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Third quarter revenue was $35.9 billion, down 6 percent, and North American operations revenue was $21.8 billion, down 8 percent. Ford had signaled most of the major numbers at a September investors presentation, and the results released on Thursday were little changed. The company's shares were down about 1.4 percent at $11.76 in afternoon trading. Ford's pretax operating margins were down by about half at 5.8 percent in North America and 3.3 percent worldwide. Whats happening to the company is whats happening in North America, Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks told reporters on Thursday. Shanks said three factors accounted for a $1.6 billion decline in Fords North American pretax profit: costs of ramping up the new Super Duty pickup truck, which has an average price of about $62,000; a door-latch recall charge of $600 million recall; and lower profits from the companys F-150 pickup truck. Ford is cutting production of the F-150 in the fourth quarter and, in a new action, will idle one shift for a week at a plant in Kansas City, Missouri, to reduce inventories of the truck, Shanks said. The F-150 is Fords best-selling vehicle and one of its most profitable models. The company said pretax profit in Europe jumped to $138 million from $9 million. However, Shanks said the falling value of the British pound would cost Ford $140 million in the second half of 2015 and $600 million next year. Ford is 80 percent hedged against the currency for 2017, he said. Income from Ford's Chinese joint ventures rose 26 percent to $320 million. "China is very, very strong," Shanks said. (Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 22, 2016 The Sherwin-Williams Company (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) Ohio 1-04851 34-0526850 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 101 West Prospect Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (216) 566-2000 (Registrants telephone number, including area code) N/A (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers . Appointment of Allen J. Mistysyn as Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer On October 25, 2016, The Sherwin-Williams Company (Sherwin-Williams) announced that its Board of Directors (the Board) has elected Allen J. Mistysyn as Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2017. Mr. Mistysyn, age 47, has been employed with Sherwin-Williams since June 1990. He has served as Senior Vice President Corporate Controller since October 2014 and served as Vice President Corporate Controller from May 2010 to October 2014. Mr. Mistysyn also served as Vice President Assistant Corporate Controller from August 2009 to May 2010, Vice President Controller, Paint and Coatings Division from November 2006 to August 2009, and Vice President Controller, Consumer Division from February 2003 to November 2006. Additionally, Mr. Mistysyn served in various roles in Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores Group and Product Finishes Division. Mr. Mistysyns annual base salary has been increased to $600,000. He will participate in Sherwin-Williams annual cash incentive compensation program with a target award level equal to 80% of his annual base salary and a maximum award level equal to 160% of his annual base salary. He will also participate in Sherwin-Williams long-term equity incentive compensation program commensurate with his new position. Mr. Mistysyn received a grant of 10,200 stock options with an exercise price equal to the average of the highest and lowest sale prices of Sherwin-Williams common stock on the grant date. This stock option grant vests over a three-year period and has a ten-year term. Mr. Mistysyn will continue to participate in the other components of Sherwin-Williams executive compensation program, including various retirement and savings plans, health and welfare programs and other benefits, which are described in Sherwin-Williams 2016 Proxy Statement. Appointment of Sean P. Hennessy as Senior Vice President Corporate Planning, Development and Administration On October 25, 2016, Sherwin-Williams announced that, effective January 1, 2017, Sean P. Hennessy will step down from his position as Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and that the Board has elected him to the position of Senior Vice President Corporate Planning, Development and Administration. Mr. Hennessys annual base salary, annual cash incentive compensation opportunity and long-term equity incentive compensation opportunity will not change as a result of his new position. Mr. Hennessy will continue to participate in the other components of Sherwin-Williams executive compensation program, including various retirement and savings plans, health and welfare programs and other benefits, which are described in Sherwin-Williams 2016 Proxy Statement. 2 Appointment of Jane M. Cronin as Principal Accounting Officer On October 25, 2016, Sherwin-Williams announced that, effective October 25, 2016, the Board elected Jane M. Cronin as Senior Vice President Corporate Controller succeeding Mr. Mistysyn. Mr. Mistysyn will serve in the role of Senior Vice President Finance until assuming the role of Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer on January 1, 2017. Ms. Cronin, age 49, has been employed with Sherwin-Williams since September 1989. She has served as Vice President Corporate Audit and Loss Prevention since September 2013. She served as Vice President Controller, Diversified Brands Division, Consumer Group from July 2005 to September 2013, prior to which she served as Director of Accounting, Consumer Group from August 2003 to July 2005. There are no family relationships between Mr. Hennessy, Mr. Mistysyn and Ms. Cronin and any director or executive officer of Sherwin-Williams. There are no related party transactions involving Mr. Hennessy, Mr. Mistysyn and Ms. Cronin that are reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. A copy of Sherwin-Williams press release, dated October 25, 2016, announcing these management changes is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits . (d) Exhibits. The following Exhibit is filed with this Report: Exhibit No. Exhibit Description 99 Press Release of The Sherwin-Williams Company, dated October 25, 2016. 3 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY October 26, 2016 By: /s/ Catherine M. Kilbane Catherine M. Kilbane Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary 4 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Exhibit Description 99 Press Release of The Sherwin-Williams Company, dated October 25, 2016. 5 Exhibit 99 NEWS: The Sherwin-Williams Company 101 West Prospect Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115 (216) 566-2140 Sherwin-Williams Board Elects Al Mistysyn CFO Effective January 2017 Sean Hennessy will transition to Senior Vice President Corporate Planning, Development and Administration CLEVELAND, OHIO, October 25, 2016 - The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Allen J. Mistysyn to serve as Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2017. Mr. Mistysyn, 47, has served as Sherwin-Williams Senior Vice President Corporate Controller since October 2014 and will assume the CFO duties currently held by Sean P. Hennessy. Mr. Hennessy will remain with the Company in the role of Senior Vice President Corporate Planning, Development and Administration where he will provide support for the Valspar acquisition integration planning process and assist Mr. Mistysyn with his new role to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. This appointment is the result of the Boards multi-year succession planning process to identify the absolute best candidate to assume leadership of the Companys financial and risk management operations, said John Morikis, President and Chief Executive Officer. Al has served as an important member of our senior leadership team for many years and exemplifies the right combination of financial, strategic and accounting leadership experience to support the Companys continued growth and success. Mr. Mistysyn has held a variety of operational and corporate finance leadership positions since joining Sherwin-Williams in June 1990. Prior to his appointment as Senior Vice President Corporate Controller, he served as Vice President Corporate Controller from May 2010 to October 2014. Mr. Mistysyn also served as Vice President Assistant Corporate Controller from August 2009 to May 2010, Vice President Controller, Paint and Coatings Division from November 2006 to August 2009, and Vice President Controller, Consumer Division from February 2003 to November 2006. Additionally, Mr. Mistysyn served in various roles in our Paint Stores Group and Product Finishes Division. Mr. Mistysyn holds a Bachelors degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University. 1 We are fortunate to have such a strong internal candidate in Al Mistysyn for the role of CFO, a reflection of our ongoing commitment to management development and succession, said John Stropki, Sherwin-Williams Lead Director. The Board is also pleased that Sean Hennessy will continue to provide support and guidance as we transition to a new CFO and close the acquisition of Valspar. Seans extraordinary vision, insight and execution during his 15 years as CFO have been instrumental in contributing to the Companys strong operating results, responsible and disciplined financial management and significant returns for our shareholders. Sherwin-Williams also announced that, effective October 25, 2016, the Board elected Jane M. Cronin as Senior Vice President Corporate Controller. Mr. Mistysyn will serve in the role of Senior Vice President Finance until assuming the role of Senior Vice President Finance and CFO on January 1, 2017. Ms. Cronin, age 49, has been employed with Sherwin-Williams since September 1989. She has served as Vice President Corporate Audit and Loss Prevention since September 2013. She served as Vice President Controller, Diversified Brands Division, Consumer Group from July 2005 to September 2013, prior to which she served as Director of Accounting, Consumer Group from August 2003 to July 2005. Ms. Cronin holds a Bachelors degree in Accounting from Miami University (Ohio). Jane is a highly effective leader and a skilled accountant, said Mr. Morikis. This appointment reflects our recognition of her success with the Company and our confidence in her skills and experience to lead the Companys global accounting operations and financial reporting functions. The Sherwin-Williams Company, founded in 1866, is one of the worlds leading companies engaged in the manufacture, distribution and sale of coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. Investor Relations Contact: Bob Wells Senior Vice President Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Sherwin-Williams Direct: 216.566.2244 [email protected] Media Contact: Mike Conway Director Corporate Communications Sherwin-Williams Direct: 216.515.4393 Pager: 216.422.3751 [email protected] 2 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 1)* Mechanical Technology, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 583538202 (CUSIP Number) October 21, 2016 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: Rule 13d-1(b) Rule 13d-1(c) Rule 13d-1(d) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No. 583538202 1. Names of Reporting Persons: Zeff Capital, LP 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power: 273,400 6. Shared Voting Power:0 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 273,400 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 273,400 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares: Not applicable. 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 3.0 % [1] 12. Type of Reporting Person: PN [1] Based on 8,998,482 shares of Common Stock issued and oustanding as of October 21, 2016. -2- CUSIP No. 583538202 1. Names of Reporting Persons: Zeff Holding Company, LLC 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power: 0 6. Shared Voting Power:0 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 0 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 0 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares: Not applicable. 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 0 % [2] 12. Type of Reporting Person: OO [ 2] Based on 8,998,482 shares of Common Stock issued and oustanding as of October 21, 2016. -3- CUSIP No. 583538202 1. Names of Reporting Persons: Daniel Zeff 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: United States of America Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power: 0 6. Shared Voting Power:0 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 0 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 0 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares: Not applicable. 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 0 % [3] 12. Type of Reporting Person: IN [3] Based on 8,998,482 shares of Common Stock issued and oustanding as of October 21, 2016. -4- Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer : Mechanical Technology, Inc. (b) Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices : 325 Washington Avenue Extension Albany, NY 12205 Item 2. (a) Name of Person Filing : Zeff Capital, LP Zeff Holding Company, LLC Daniel Zeff (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence : The address of the principal place of business and principal office of each of the Reporting Persons is: 885 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10001 (c) Citizenship : Zeff Capital, LP and Zeff Holding Company, LLC are organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Daniel Zeff is a United States citizen. (d) Title of Class of Securities : Common Stock, par value $0.01 (e) CUSIP Number : 583538202 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: Not applicable. (a) Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); (b) Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (c) Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (d) Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C80a8); (e) An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with 240.13d1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) A parent holding company or control person in accordance with 240.13d1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a3); (j) A non-U.S. institution in accordance with 240.13d1(b)(1)(ii)(J); (k) Group, in accordance with 240.13d1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with 240.13d1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: ____ -5- Item 4. Ownership Zeff Capital, LP (a) Amount beneficially owned: 273,400 (b) Percent of class: 3.0 % (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 273,400 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 273,400 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of : 0 Zeff Holding Company, LLC (a) Amount beneficially owned: 0 (b) Percent of class: 0.0% (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 Daniel Zeff (a) Amount beneficially owned: 0 (b) Percent of class: 0.0% (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of : 0 -6- Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following . Not applicable. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person Not applicable. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person Not applicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group Please see Exhibit A, Joint Filing Agreement. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group Not applicable. Item 10. Certification Not applicable. -7- SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: October 27 , 2016 Zeff Capital, LP /s/ Daniel Zeff By: Daniel Zeff Title: President Zeff Holding Company, LLC /s/ Daniel Zeff By: Daniel Zeff Title: President Daniel Zeff /s/ Daniel Zeff -8- Exhibit A Joint Filing Agreement In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k)(1) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each of the undersigned hereby agrees that the statement on Schedule 13G (including amendments thereto) filed herewith shall be jointly filed on behalf of each of the undersigned. This Joint Filing Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. [Remainder of this page has been left intentionally blank.] -9- Signature Page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby execute this Joint Filing Agreement as of October 27, 2016. Zeff Capital, LP /s/ Daniel Zeff By: Daniel Zeff Title: President Zeff Holding Company, LLC /s/ Daniel Zeff By: Daniel Zeff Title: President Daniel Zeff /s/ Daniel Zeff Pakistan on Wednesday conveyed to the United States that Indias Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Afghanistans National Directorate of Security (NDS) are patronising terrorists groups to attack soft targets in the country. National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua conveyed the message to US ambassador David Hale in a meeting today, said the statement released by the office of the NSA. The meeting was held to discuss the terrorist attack on Police Training College Quetta, counter-terrorism operations and cross-border attacks. Janjua also emphasised on the need to break the nexus between terrorists groups operation under the supervision of NDS and RAW. The NSA informed the ambassador that the terrorists who attacked the police training college were constantly in contact with their leadership and handlers in Afghanistan. The American ambassador was also briefed by the NSA on Pakistans efforts to improve the current security situation in the country through implementation of the National Action Plan. Hale, on the occasion, condemned the attack in Quetta and offered his regrets. He also offered American support for the same. Quetta tragedy Heavily-armed militants wearing suicide vests stormed a police academy in Quetta, killing at least 61 people and wounding at least 117, in the deadliest attack on a security installation in the country's history. Three gunmen burst into the sprawling academy, targeting sleeping quarters home to some 700 recruits, and sent terrified young men aged between 15 and 25 fleeing. Communication intercepts showed the attack was carried out by Al-Alimi faction of the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ) militant group, IG Frontier Corps (FC) Major General Sher Afgan said. Separately, the militant IS group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the group's Amaq news agency. The training centre houses at least 600 cadets. AP Most of the deaths were caused when two of the attackers blew themselves up. The third was shot dead by Frontier Corps (FC) troops. Minister of State of Defence Affairs Qatar, Dr Khalid Bin Muhammad Al Attiyah, called on General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) at General Headquarters. Matters of mutual interest including defence and security cooperation came under discussion during the meeting. Minister of State of Def Affairs Qatar, Dr Khalid Bin Muhammad Al Attiyah, called on General Raheel Sharif, Chief... https://t.co/PohPWRG5vZ ISPR (@ISPR_Official) October 27, 2016 The visiting dignitary acknowledged Pakistans successes in fight against terrorism and efforts for regional peace and stability, the ISPR said. Earlier on arrival at GHQ, Defence Minister Qatar, laid floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army presented the guard of honour to the visiting dignitary. Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Pakistan Suh Dong-gu has said that the 'saemaul' movement for rural development of Korea was recognised by United Nations and now his country was supporting various projects in Pakistan for the uplift of rural areas. He was speaking on Tuesday here on the topic of Saemaul Undong, which literally means new village movement. Ambassador of Korea to Pakistan Suh Dong-gu said that Saemaul movement is frequently cited by many international experts as one of the most effective initiatives to eliminate rural poverty, thus increasing the productivity and income of the rural areas. He took glimpses from the history of economic development in Korea from independence on August 15th 1945 up to the end of the 1950s; the Korean economy was left desolate after years of colonial exploitation and the Korean War in 1950. "We were able to accomplish full-fledged economic development in the 1960s and 1970s" he said. He said that it was mainly thanks to the harmonious combination of the top-to-bottom approach in the form of a 5-year economic plan and the bottom-to-top approach in the form of Saemaul movement. "If you ask me what the keys of the movement are, I can tell you three elements: first, 'can-do spirit,' second, 'mobilisation of all members of the rural community,' third, 'incentives based on performance." He said that due to these efforts, Korea was able to achieve economic stabilisation and globalisation in the 1980s and 1990s. In September last year, a special high-level event on the Saemaul movement was held at the United Nations. At the event, Korean President Park Geun-hye welcomed the initiatives of OECD and UNDP to draw on the Saemaul Movement in creating a new paradigm of rural development for the developing countries. "I am very happy to note that since 2009 Korea has made serious efforts to transfer the spirits and methodology of the movement to about 20 developing countries around the world," he added. Professor Dr. Un-sung Jeon of Kangwon University said that Korea's economy in the 1950's was in the less redeveloped countries of the world, but after focusing on rural development, it is now the 12th economy of the world. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Rural Support Program (NRSP) Rashid Bajwa said that Pakistan also tried to use the Korean model of rural development, but had not yet fully succeeded into it. He said the Korean model is the only way to reduce rural poverty in Pakistan. Vice Chancellor of Arid Agricultural University Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmed and Dr. Yong Yoon of Chulalongkorn University also spoke on the occasion. Public consultation opens today on a new rate of levy on fire insurance contracts, to help fund the future of New Zealands fire services. The New Zealand Fire Service Commission is currently funded from a levy on fire and motor vehicle insurance contracts, which hasnt increased since 2008. Under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill currently before Parliament, the NZ Fire Service, National Rural Fire Authority, and 38 other rural fire authorities will merge to become one organisation known as FENZ from July 1, 2017. NZFS Commission Board chair Paul Swain says to successfully transition to the new organisation while maintaining the high service delivery standards, the board expects the levy will need to increase by about $36 per year for the average homeowner, or 70 cents per week. We know every dollar counts for New Zealanders. However, this proposed increase would ensure firefighters are properly funded to provide services to communities, which include firefighting, and responding to medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, and natural disasters. Bringing 626 operational units and over 14,000 firefighters and support staff together is not a simple or quick task, so we need to invest the right amount of time and money to ensure we get it right. The end result will be a unified fire service that can adapt as the risks and needs across our communities change. Minister of Internal Affairs Peter Dunne says the Government is committed to building a 21st century fire service that is fairly and adequately funded to support its career and volunteer workforce, and its rural and urban communities. The result of this consultation would be implemented around mid-2017, and from 2018-19 Cabinet has agreed to an updated levy arrangement collected on insurance for all property damage, and extending the levy on motor vehicles to include third-party insurance, explains Peter. Kiwis rightly place an extraordinary level of trust in our firefighters, and I think everyone would agree they do an outstanding job. This proposed increase would make sure our hardworking firefighters are receiving the most complete support from a properly funded, fit-for-purpose organisation into the future. The New Zealand Fire Service Commission is taking public submissions on this proposed levy increase until 5pm, Wednesday, November 30. Submissions can be made online at www.firelevy.co.nz Many of New Zealands native marine birds and mammals are being threatened with extinction, and our coasts are the most degraded of all marine areas due to sediment and nutrients washed off the land, introduced marine pests, and seabed trawling and dredging. New Zealands oceans, coasts, and marine wildlife are also under growing pressure, and global greenhouse gas emissions are causing ocean acidification and warming changes predicted to continue for generations is a third item of major concern. These harrowing findings are contained in the Our marine environment 2016 report the first national report of its kind which has been jointly released by the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand today. Were a maritime nation. Having healthy and resilient oceans is important for all New Zealanders and for our economy. Todays marine environment report shows that our marine environment is facing a number of serious challenges, says Government Statistician Liz MacPherson. Secretary for the Environment Vicky Robertson says our oceans are facing multiple and cumulative pressures that have been building over generations. They are pressures from both land and sea-based human activities. The report shows that one of the biggest challenges for our oceans comes from global greenhouse gas emissions, says Vicky. Our waters have become more acidic from absorbing excess CO2. This affects the creatures that live there. Among other things, ocean acidification makes it more difficult for shellfish, like paua and mussels, to form shells. Climate change is also warming the ocean and causing sea-level rises, which impact not only on fish but also other wildlife and our own coastal communities. Some marine wildlife and coastal habitats are in a fragile state. Ninety per cent of our native seabirds and shorebirds are threatened with or at risk of extinction, says Vicky. More than a quarter of our native marine mammals are threatened with extinction. Fishing bycatch, introduced predators, and habitat change are among a raft of reasons for the poor state of much marine wildlife. New Zealands marine environment at a glance. Click on the infographic above to view a larger version. Image: MRF/SNZ Where challenges have been identified and issues addressed they are seeing results. For example, changes in fishing practices in recent years have eased some pressures on the marine environment. The number of seabirds caught by commercial fishing bycatch almost halved from around 9000 in 2003 to 5000 in 2013. The improvements are likely to be helped by mitigation measures, such as bird-scaring and sea lion exclusion devices, says Vicky. By shining a light on the issues through this report we are able to focus on the most pressing and urgent areas to address. It also gives us a better understanding of the size of the challenges ahead. We now have to come together to focus on what each of us can do to protect its future. National data on many marine issues are limited, but the report also draws on scientific literature and expert opinion, says Vicky. Another theme that came through in producing this report is how much we dont know about our marine environment. The environmental reporting programme is working to improve our data over time. However, New Zealanders need to consider the costs of delaying action in the absence of perfect information. The report is the first since the Environmental Reporting Act was enacted in June 2016. The next report about fresh water will be out in April 2017. Statistics NZs companion report, New Zealands marine economy: 200713 which was also released today, shows the marine economy contributed 1.9 per cent, or $4 billion, to the NZ gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013, about the same as the 2 per cent contribution in 2007. Offshore minerals mainly oil and gas were the largest contributor to the marine economy, at $2 billion in 2013. Shipping contributed $980 million and fisheries and aquaculture contributed $896 million. The marine economy provided 102,400 jobs, mostly in shipping, fishing and aquaculture. To read the Our marine environment 2016 report in full visit the Ministry for the Environment website. Brookfields Sydenham Botanic Park has 24 new nikau palms thanks to a kind donation from Nikau Grove Nursery. The young trees have been planted at the Jonathon Street end of the park, where in the coming decades they will grow up to 15 metres in height. Members of the Sydenham Botanic Park Advisory Group were present for the erection of a sign containing details about the palms and an acknowledgement of their donor. Brian Hodge has been involved with the park since 2012 and says hes very pleased with the new nikau, which are New Zealands only native palms. Our plan is to develop the southern end of the park and grow native plants and trees there. He explains there is a lot of living history in the trees populating the park. Many of our trees are Gondwanaland specimens, which means they existed at the time of the dinosaurs. Nikau Grove Nurserys Brian Miller is the man responsible for donating the 24 native palms. His passion for the tree is part of his motivation, and he hopes councils will consider them for more parks. We came out and had a look at the site, and decided to donate a couple thousand dollars worth of nikau. Ive been growing them for about 40 years, 20 of them commercially. He says theyre very popular with birds, particularly when they start to develop fruit. He admits cost can sometimes be a factor in deterring people from nikau, as they are a slow-growing tree. But they end up being a beautiful palm, he says. The Sydenham Botanic Park was as gifted to Tauranga residents in 2003 by the late Frank Sydenham, one of the first ever Massey University students to graduate with a masters degree in Horticulture. More information on Sydenham Botanic Park can be found at: sydenhampark.wordpress.com Yes, we need to keep it under control No, we need to learn to live with it Two Mount Maunganui eateries have been named in the Travellers Choice top 10 cheap eateries. They are the Turkish Delight Cafe, which came in at number three, and Pronto at number eight. The Top 10 lists are the product of the Travellers Choice Awards, and announced this week on the popular travel website TripAdvisor. The winning cheap eatery was Ali Babas Tunisian Takeaways in Rotorua. One reviewer said Ali Babas provided huge portions of delicious food, the staff is friendly and they really care about the food they make. Another said it was interesting they had to go to Rotorua to eat Tunisian for the first time. The winner in the Travellers Choice Top 10 Fine Dining Restaurants was The French cafe in Auckland. Chief executive of the Restaurant Association, Marisa says the awards help to communicate to the rest of the world the strength of New Zealands food culture. Travellers Choice top 10 cheap eats: Ali Babas Tunisian Takeaways, Rotorua Sri Pinang, Auckland Turkish Delight Cafe, Mount Maunganui. Little Penang, Wellington. Cinema Paradiso Bar & Cafe, Wanaka. Aunty Menas Vegetarian Cafe, Wellington. KK Malaysian Restaurant, Wellington. Pronto, Mount Maunganui. Midnight Espresso Bar, Wellington. Johnny Barrs, Queenstown. AVOCO is taking its longstanding community commitments on to the water by becoming a proud new partner of the Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard just in time for summer. AVOCO has teamed up with the Western Bay of Plenty Coastguard unit, agreeing to an ongoing partnership and pledging an annual sponsorship contribution of $20,000 for three years. This will go towards coastguards yearly operational costs of $110,000 as well as the running costs of a new rescue vessel to be named AVOCO Rescue, to hit the water in November. AVOCO Rescue will replace Search Two. Launched in 2003, 5.5m long Search Two has since clocked up more than 1000 hours on the water. The new $197,000 vessel is a 5.8m Naiad designed Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat powered by twin 115hp Yamaha outboards. Keen boaties AVOCO director Alistair Young says teaming up with the coastguard is a natural fit for AVOCO, given its unwavering commitment to the community and a number of its members being keen boaties. We are proud to be backing Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard and the amazing efforts they contribute year-round to keep the community safe, usually through countless hours of voluntary service, on and off the water. Volunteers are the lifeblood of this community and every dollar counts when it comes to helping support these fantastic efforts. Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard spokesperson Jim Pooley says the new rescue boat will enhance coastguards overall capabilities in keeping a community which swells from 2700 permanent residents to an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 during summer safe on the water. Rescue mission It is very exciting for us. The addition of AVOCO Rescue means we have the capability to cover two completely different areas with Gallagher Rescue overseeing the Bowentown Bar, one of the most notorious in New Zealand, and AVOCO Rescue the channels and shallow areas of the northern Tauranga Harbour. In the last three years coastguard responded to 83 calls for assistance and returned 201 people to land. While in 2015 alone, they provided 7800 volunteer hours and logged 10,792 radio calls with boaties. Here they assisted Police on search and rescue missions, worked with the volunteer fire brigade on shoreline scrub fires and assisted the Tauranga harbour master in locating and towing floating trees and other significant hazards back to shore. Jim believes with these figures increasing annually this partnership will usher in a new era for the volunteer organisation, with AVOCO Rescue providing essential resources previously unattainable with Search Two. In comparison to Search Two, this vessel is a walk-through design enabling two extra crew on-board and can accommodate the transportation of medical and search and rescue equipment and a stretchered patient. It will also have radar capabilities, which will aid in safety at night and limited visibility and performing search and rescue missions for a missing person or vessel. AVOCO Rescue is expected to be operational by the end of the year. The USA is a key market for Monte Carlo Yachts, said Carla Demaria, president of Monte Carlo Yachts. We see a significant and growing interest in our MCY collection both North and South America, and this MCY 105, alongside our strong presence at the yachting capital of the worlds boat show is sure to fuel curiosity towards both our yachts and the Monte Carlo Yachts brand. The MCY 105 allows owners to personalise their yacht to match a unique lifestyle, with custom designs incorporate all the decks, with three, four or five cabin layout options. At 32 meters, this flagship yacht is the largest in the collection to date, and the unveiling of the range in 2015 celebrated Monte Carlo Yachts 5th year anniversary with a boat represents timeless style and flexible arrangements for all owners. Alongside the MCY 105 will be a collection of three of Monte Carlo Yachts iconic MCY models (MCY 65, MCY 70, MCY 76) to further the Italian brands reach into the American market, as well as a second debut of the brand-new MCY 80. Remember the old saying: The family that plays together stays together. Meet the Donovan family, Ted, Chris and Joe. They definitely play together and they're definitely staying together. What's the glue that holds them together? Well, you'd have to say love of course, but beyond that it's old cars, four to be exact, a 1957 Thunderbird, a 1950 Mercury, a 1937 Plymouth street rod, and a 1950 Chevy half-ton pickup. The '57 T-Bird, the last year of the three Baby Birds, has been in the family, are you ready for this, for more than four decades. Ted Donovan bought it in 1972 from the second owner. The car was driven for a few years but then, as Ted explains, "things began to change in the family and the car was parked in the garage." What he means is the Bird was for all purposes forgotten, covered with blankets as is so often the case and used as a platform for storage. "During the holidays things would be piled on the car and it was sort of forgotten," he said. This happened even though Ted had the car painted soon after he bought it, and not just any paint job, but a first-class finish by Jim Radford, of North Syracuse. "It had a few nicks and scratches so I decided to have it painted. I did the body work and stripped the paint and turned it over to Jim Radford, for painting," he said. Radford put 15 coats of factory correct Raven (black) lacquer on the T-Bird bringing it to a finish that is light years beyond the Raven finish it had when it rolled out of the factory. And speaking of the black paint it turns out that black on a '57 T-Bird, while not exactly rare, isn't the most popular color. Colonial White. Flame Red and Torch Red lead the list but Raven Black did come in before colors like Dusk Rose or Thunderbird Bronze. Torch Red, by the way, was added late in the 1957 production run. Even with its extreme finish the car went into hibernation where it remained for a long time. But because this is a car-loving family, Ted and his wife, Chris, decided that if the Bird was going to be brought back to life and enjoyed, their son, Joe, was the person to do it. They turned ownership of the car over to him and Joe took it from there. "He brought the car back to life to what you see today," Ted said. And what you see today is magnificent considering that everything on the car is original with the exception of the paint, making the car something of a time capsule. Joe Donovan, explained that the T-Bird is a Plain Jane since it has a three-speed standard transmission with the only option being power steering. Like all T-Birds of the day it has a convertible top, in this case the top is white, and it has a hardtop too, but the hardtop is porthole delete. In 1956 Ford gave its second and third-year T-Birds a hardtop with optional side portholes. The original buyer of Joe Donovan's car apparently didn't want to spend the extra money on portholes so they were deleted on the order form. Also a part of the family is a 1950 Mercury Eight, or as Ted Donovan calls it, a 'skunk car." He says that's because the Mercury is blue with a white top, giving it a skunk-like appearance. The Mercury Eight was Mercury's only model from 1939 through 1951. For 1952 Mercury introduced the Monterey trim line and expanded the number of models it offered. Another gem in the Donovan fleet is a 1950 Chevy 3100 five-window pickup. With its so-called 'Advance-Design' concept the Chevy pickup entered the model year with a five window cab. Chevrolet called the cab design 'Nu-Vue' because there are rear quarter windows, a window on each side of the cab between the door window and rear window. Ted said the truck was treated to a frame-off restoration about 10 years ago, but then it was put in a museum somewhere in Texas where it remained for several years. "An individual bought it from the museum collection and I bought it from him," he said. "This man sold only elite vehicles. I saw it for the first time online but I knew right away the cars he sold were special." The Chevy is another Plain Jane, with a six-cylinder engine and a three speed standard transmission. When Ted got the truck it had bias ply tires which he discarded in favor of modern radials that provide improved handling and safety. So that leaves Chris Donovan, matriarch of the clan, and guess what? She isn't a big fan of cars that are original and restored. No sir, she favors street rods, hot rods, cars that are loud and bold, and believe you me, her '37 Plymouth coupe is all of those things and then some. For starters it's candy red and the body has been extensively modified to include 'suicide doors,' or doors that open from the front instead of the rear. The old Plymouth six-cylinder engine the car came with is long gone in favor of a big block Chevy V-8 spooling up a healthy 480 horsepower, all put to the ground through an automatic transmission. Like many street rods the Plymouth, which, by the way, is an all steel car, has power steering and a complete set of proper gauges. The Plymouth rides on modern suspension and related components and it has a high-performance exhaust system. "I'm not sure why I love cars like this, but I do," Chris Donovan said. Ted said "I support her and what she wants, it's not my thing, but she loves hot rods and street rods." So here are four cars that couldn't be more diverse, one a classic roadster, one the first of its kind lead sled, a truck that most likely earned its keep decades ago working on a farm or in industry, and a street rod, a car from the imagination and creativity of a builder somewhere in America. Specs on the Donovan family's cars 1957 Ford Thunderbird Wheelbase: 102 inches Length: 181.4 inches Weight: 3,134 pounds Engine: 312 C.I., 245 hp V-8 1937 Plymouth coupe street rod Engine: GM 400 C.I., 480 hp V-8 1950 Chevrolet five-window pickup Wheelbase: 116 inches Length: 196.9 inches Weight: 3,175 pounds Engine: 235 C.I., inline 6-cylinder, 92 hp 1950 Mercury coupe Engine: 255 C.I., 110 hp Flathead V-8 Wheelbase: 118 inches Length: 206.8 inches Weight: 3,500 pounds Know a car you'd like featured? Contact Kenn Peters: kpeters@twcny.rr.com. Previously from Kenn: Nancy Clark owns two iconic cars, a 1965 Pontiac GTO hardtop and a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad. More great cars and news about cars. FAYETTE, N.Y. -- One woman was pronounced dead at the scene and two other people were hospitalized after a car collided with a tractor-trailer Wednesday afternoon in Seneca County, the Seneca County Sheriff's Office announced today. Deputies responded at approximately 5 p.m. Wednesday to an accident involving a tractor-trailer and a car in Fayette, deputies said. The accident happened on West River Road, west of Knauss Road, according to the sheriff's office. A 1994 GMC tractor-trailer was pulling out of a bean field on the north side of the road heading east when it was hit by a 2009 Dodge Caliber heading west, deputies said. The front driver's side of the Dodge collided with the trailer's rear tire and axle, deputies said. The tractor-trailer was driven by Fredrick Jensen, 72, of Waterloo, and the Dodge was driven by Floyd Jones, 87, of Seneca Falls, according to the sheriff's office. The front passenger in the Dodge, Catherine Olmstead, 55, of Seneca Falls, was not wearing a seatbelt and was killed on impact, deputies said. Jones was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for face and head injuries. The Dodge's backseat passenger, Samuel Santiago, 33, of Seneca Falls, was also taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for a hip injury, deputies said. They are both currently in satisfactory condition, according to hospital officials. Jensen was uninjured, according to the sheriff's office. The investigation into the accident is ongoing. Reporter Kira Maddox covers crime and safety for Syracuse.com. She can be reached anytime: Email | Facebook | Twitter Destiny USA exterior 2013.0.JPG Exterior of Destiny USA shopping mall in Syracuse. Picture shot from Hiawatha Boulevard. (Rick Moriarty / The Post-Standar) Richard Darwish Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse man accused of robbing a woman and two children at knifepoint in the Destiny USA parking lot came to court today with a jovial greeting. "Good morning, your honor, how are you?" Richard Darwish, 36, asked County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller. The judge acknowledged the greeting, then got down to business. Darwish is facing eight charges in connection with the Aug. 24 robbery outside the mall. Police said Darwish approached the woman and two children, ages 12 and 14, with a knife. He then stole the woman's car and drove off, police said. Officers found the vehicle about 2 miles away on Apple Street, on the city's West Side. Darwish was walking away when he was arrested without incident, police said. But he later attempted to escape while being brought into the downtown jail, police said. He was not successful. The eight charges from the Destiny USA incident are not the only things keeping Darwish in jail. He's facing a total of two dozen charges -- from burglary to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle -- spanning at least three separate cases in Syracuse and Solvay, according to jail records. And he's not going quietly. Darwish filed a grievance against his previous lawyer and the judge assigned a new one today. (The judge didn't say the grievance had any merit, only that it was early enough in the case to make a switch.) Defense lawyer Ben Coffin took over the case today. "This is the last attorney I'm going to assign," Miller told the defendant. "Yes sir, thank you," Darwish said. He was then officially arraigned on the charges in court. Darwish remains in jail with no bail. He's due back to court on the mall robbery case Nov. 3. 110700 PATROL DL.JPG Ed Taggart operates ham radio equipment at his home on Parkway Drive in Syracuse in 2000. Taggart was helping the Pumpkin Patrol monitor Thruway overpasses for pranksters tossing pumpkins. (The Post-Standard archives) The Pumpkin Patrol has a message for aspiring Halloween pranksters: We'll be watching. On Oct. 30 and Halloween, more than 300 volunteers armed with radios will monitor overpasses above the New York State Thruway. The volunteers are part of the Pumpkin Patrol, a group of citizen band radio clubs and amateur radio operators who team up with the New York State Police every Halloween. The volunteers help troopers keep an eye out for suspicious activity -- including people trying to lob pumpkins and other objects off of bridges. The Pumpkin Patrol was formed in 1976. Katherine St. Jacques, the group's founder, was talking to a truck driver on her citizen's band radio in Montgomery County when an object thrown from an overpass struck the driver's window, troopers said. The truck's windshield cracked, injuring the driver. After the accident, St. Jacques and two friends stood on three overpasses above the Thruway to watch for similar pranks. The Pumpkin Patrol is now organized by state police. More than 300 volunteers hailing from 16 organizations that span 20 counties will participate in this year's Halloween patrol. The volunteers won't be alone. Troopers will be on the Thruway "in full force," said Major Joseph W. Dodd, commander of the troop that monitors the Thruway. Troopers will patrol roads and bridges while keeping watch for "unusual" activity. In particular, troopers will be looking out for drunken drivers, people ignoring the "Move-Over" law and other traffic violators. judge thomas miller.JPG Judge Thomas Miller in his courtroom. (David Lassman | dlassman@syracuse.com) Syracuse, NY -- A 14-year-old boy who grew up amid violence in the Somali civil war apologized in court today, suggesting his difficult childhood led him to rob three teen girls at knifepoint on Butternut Street. But one of the 15-year-old victims said in court that she no longer feels safe after the May 14 attack, in which the boy held a knife to her and stole her cell phone. And prosecutor Jordan McNamara said another victim was a 17-year-old girl who emigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She had just gotten off the bus May 15 from her job cleaning tables at Empire Brewing Co. when she was robbed. The robbery shed light on two immigrant experiences: a 14-year-old boy from war-torn Somalia who had been sucked into marijuana and violence and a 17-year-old girl from the war-torn Congo who was making the best of her chances in America. Judge Thomas J. Miller admitted it was hard to decide what to do with the 14-year-old perpetrator. Should the boy get prison or probation? Should his record be sealed? He was being sentenced in adult court -- not Family Court -- because first-degree robbery is considered such a serious crime that juveniles face possible prison. The boy's defense lawyer, Tylyn Bozeman, pointed out that a pre-sentence report recommended probation. On the one hand, the boy had committed three violent acts -- using a knife to rob all three girls of cell phones -- and had bragged about planning to kill people, the prosecutor said. On the other hand, he had apologized and taken full responsibility, was only 14 years old and had endured an "unimaginable" childhood, Miller said. The boy was born into the bloody Somali civil war and then spent time in an Ethiopian refugee camp before his family was resettled to the United States. "It's sort of an unimaginable upbringing. I understand that," Miller said. "But I have to say to you that unimaginable upbringing doesn't give you a license to do what you did to those kids. You didn't have a license to do that due to your very difficult start to your life." Miller noted that the boy had admitted to using marijuana for two years -- since he was 12 years old -- and had already talked about turning his life around. "A lot of kids are playing Little League," the judge said. "You're out smoking pot." The boy had also threatened his own family and destroyed their property, the judge said. "Not many people talk about turning their life around (at age 14), because it hasn't even started yet," Miller remarked. Meanwhile, the victims were just walking down the street with their cell phones when they were attacked. "I keep thinking of you in the refugee camp," Miller told the boy. "You get here, to the greatest country in the world, from Somalia, from Ethiopia, and the (girls are) walking down street with cell phones being teenage girls. Then there's a knife at their throat, and the fear of death." For his part, the boy, speaking through a translator, said: "I would like to change my life. I would like to go to school. So give me one more chance judge." Miller ultimately ordered a prison sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years. But he ordered the boy's record sealed as a youthful offender. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Samsung Pay is already pretty ubiquitous thanks to its compatibility with NFC and MST point of sales systems, as well as the 500+ banks and credit agencies partners. Soon, users around the world will be able to make online payments too, as Samsung has announced a deal with MasterCard to integrate Samsung Pay with its Masterpass online payment service. The digital payment system is supported by hundreds of thousands of online retailers in 33 countries. Starting early next year, Samsung Pay users who also own a MasterCard can skip the usual form-filling and authenticate purchases with a fingerprint. This integration with Masterpass comes just a day after Google announced a similar deal for for online payments using Android Pay. The search giant also secured a partnership with Visa Checkout, however, covering even more potential customers. In addition to the deal with MasterCard, Samsung is also expanding support for in-app payments in the US, and introduced a new "deals" feature that will reportedly help users find and redeem discounts instantly at nearby stores. Lastly, Samsung also expanded the number of countries that Samsung Pay works in to ten, with the addition of support in Malaysia, Russia and Thailand. OSAGE During the Monday, Oct. 17 meeting of the Osage Schools Board of Education, members voted to offer early retirement to its qualified certified staff members. Citing declining enrollment and continued inadequate state funding, board members stated offering early retirement was an option to help with the districts general fund balance. The districts offer states any certified staff member, who has been with the district 15 years and meets the IPERS qualifying age of 55, would be paid their single medical insurance until they reach the age of Medicare. According to Osage Superintendent Barb Schwamman, the payout, for an individual, could range from $25,000 to $75,000, depending on their age. The employee would be locked in at the current cost of single coverage, $693.65. Any rate increases would be at the expense of the retired employee. Schwamman said the board looked at two other options paying a percentage of the base pay of both certified and non-certified staff members, or half of the certified staff members last years salary. Ultimately, the board chose paying for health insurance. We, Helen Burrington and I, researched several area school districts as to what they were planning to offer or had offered for early retirements, said Schwamman. We hate to lose any outstanding teachers; they do an outstanding job for us and our students. Schwamman stated there were approximately 12 certified staff members eligible for early retirement. If or when the retiring teachers are replaced with new teachers, theres the potential for $25,000 to $35,000 cost savings from the general fund, where salaries are paid. Funds to pay for the early retirement packages come the districts management fund, which has specific guidelines for usage, including paying for early retirements. The deadline for a certified employee to declare early retirement is Friday, Dec. 9. In other action: LIBRARY RENOVATION: The board approved a proposal to renovate the middle school/high school library at an estimated cost of $50,000. The library renovation will help bring the space, equal in size to three classrooms, up to a 21st Century Learning space. Tables in the library are from 1968 and shelving was donated to the school many years ago, said librarian Kelley Moliter. The plan is to have the renovation completed over Christmas Break. ROOF REPAIRS: The board approved repairing the roof over the entrance to the high school weight room and over the boys north locker room area. During the recent heavy rain, water was reported running from a light fixture in the locker room. This is a serious safety hazard, said high school principal Tim Hejhal. It needs immediate attention. The board awarded the contract of $67,900 to Midwest Roofing. Repairs are expected to be completed this fall. Schwamman stated both of these projects were discussed outside of the proposed school bond referendum projects. If a bond referendum is passed, these roof areas would not be affected or changed, said Schwamman. An appeals court in the United States has declared on Oct. 24 that federal authorities may list species as "threatened" under Endangered Species Act based on climate change models. The state of Alaska, groups of oil company and Alaskan natives have challenged the federal government's decision to list bearded seals under threatened species and to offer the deserving protection. The challengers argued that the bearded seal species' population was currently healthy and the climate change projections were speculative and not solid. On the contrary, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that heard the case noted that National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) has sensibly determined that the climate change could deplete the Arctic ice on shallow waters and thereby endanger the seal species in the long run, say 2050 through 2100. The three-judge panel of the San Francisco appeals court unanimously agreed that the climate projections are not "arbitrary and capricious." Meanwhile, Kristen Monsell, attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity that filed the petition regarding the issue in 2008, said the appeals court verdict is a "huge victory" for protecting the bearded seal as well as species that are likely to be included in the endangered species list as a result of climate change. Monsell also noted that while the seals strive to re-establish their population, the officials will work to contain the greenhouse gas emissions and preserve the ice floes from melting. On the other hand, Brad Meyen, Alaska's senior assistant attorney general said that such an opinion may in turn help NMFS to list any species present in large numbers as threatened species based on the climate projection made for next 100 years or so. The oil companies are concerned about the federal government's decision to protect bearded seals because it might affect their offshore drilling activities. "Bearded seals have a shot at survival thanks to the powerful protections of the Endangered Species Act, but only if we take swift and meaningful action to address climate change," Monsell said. "If we don't, amazing creatures like these whiskered ice seals and other animals living in the Arctic could be doomed to extinction." The bearded seals assemble on the ice floes on shallow waters to reproduce and nurse their offspring. While on floes the seals are safe from predators as well as have an easy access to food sources. The young ones also learn to swim, dive and forage in shallow waters. If the climate change results in melting of ice floes, the seals would be forced to give birth on the shores and are likely to become easy prey for walruses and polar bears, which would result is huge loss of seal population. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a review published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, scientists underscored that nicotine makes smokers less likely to overeat, and suggested e-cigarettes with nicotine and no tobacco can help in preventing them from eating too much during the quitting process. Researchers from Britain and New Zealand have suggested this new potential use of e-cigarettes in adults, who strive to give up the habit of smoking. Tobacco can lead to fatal illnesses, according to all scientific studies; it is also known as a means to suppress appetite, which is why it is associated with keeping yourself in shape; consequently, people who try quitting very often quit this idea because of weight gain. "Weight gain prevents some smokers from quitting, so we need to explore alternative ways of helping these (people) control their weight while removing the risks of tobacco," noted Linda Bauld, a Stirling University health policy professor and deputy director of the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies. Additionally, some public health specialists believe that vaping poses a smaller risk than smoking, although long-term consumption can cause similar health issues. The vaping industry was estimated to $7 billion in 2015. Obesity is a national issue in the U.S., affecting more people by the year. Due to the cigarettes' effect on metabolism, tobacco mitigates weight gain, according to the study. At the same time, one of the paper's premises is that smoking is, indeed, associated with premature death, and electronic cigarettes could suppress appetite delivering the same results in people who wish to quit smoking and experience weight gain issues. What the study brings on the table is an analysis of the influence of nicotine on the body, along with the results of interaction between aroma, taste and flavor and the sensation of fullness. Paul Aveyard, professor of behavioral medicine at the University of Oxford, also concluded that it is scientifically plausible that e-cigarettes would have a positive weight effect on people who are trying to quit smoking, but that there is no such known effect associated with non-smokers who are in the process of losing weight. Electronic cigarettes usually contain propylene glycol and flavoring agents, and nicotine can be added to the mix or not, depending on the case. However, the opinions around the healthiness of vaping are divided among health experts. "We must make sure that e-cigarettes don't become a kind of snake oil, distracting ex-smokers from other established and effective weight loss interventions," warned Theresa Marteau, a Cambridge University professor. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Samsung Galaxy S8 will reportedly make its debut at the Mobile World Congress 2017 in February as originally planned, and not earlier as some rumors recently suggested. Samsung's disastrous Galaxy Note 7 release that ended up with two recalls sparked speculation that the company may be trying to make up for lost time, money, reputation and customers by releasing the Galaxy S8 early. However, a new report now refutes such speculation and claims the Samsung Galaxy S8 will not be released early nor late: it will launch as originally planned, which means a February release at the MWC. We wouldn't even be hearing so many rumors about the Galaxy S8 this time of year if it weren't for the whole Note 7 fiasco, but Samsung is reportedly unfazed and will not change its Galaxy S8 plans in any way. Korean publication ETNews claims to have learned from Samsung itself that the Galaxy S8 stays the course, uninfluenced by the Note 7 recalls. "Currently we do not have any plans to release Galaxy S8 early," the company reportedly told ETNews. If Samsung does indeed plan to deliver its Galaxy S8 at the MWC 2017, it means we'll be seeing the smartphone in late February in Barcelona. Truth be told, after the whole Galaxy Note 7 mess with exploding batteries, it's best that Samsung takes its time with the Galaxy S8 rather than rushing it up for an early release. Keep in mind, however, that this report holds no guarantee that the information is accurate, so it's best to treat this news as an unconfirmed rumor for now. In related news, a Weibo report (via SamMobile) adds more tidbits of information regarding the Galaxy S8's purported specs. More specifically, the latest news out of China claim the Galaxy S8 will sport a 5.5-inch 4K display and a hefty 6 GB of RAM. This is not the first time that a 4K display is rumored for the Galaxy S8, especially considering that it would go great with the VR trend, and this new report seems to bolster such claims. The Samsung Galaxy S8 may also pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 or Samsung Exynos 8895 processor, depending on market, with both processing options using the next-generation 10 nanometer process. The Galaxy S8 might also borrow some Note 7 technology such as the iris scanner and dual-lens rear camera system. If Samsung formally introduces its Galaxy S8 at MWC in February, the smartphone could hit store shelves sometime in March. As always with rumors and leaks, however, take everything with a grain of salt until official confirmation. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Many customers who preordered their Google Pixel or Pixel XL from the U.S. Google Store have started receiving their phones already, but shipments are now falling behind. The latest Google Pixel and Pixel XL are currently among the hottest smartphones on the market, and they're in high demand despite their hefty price tags. Further attesting to high demand, it seems that quite a few orders are starting to miss delivery estimates, with many customers still seeing their order status as "pending" even if it should be ready by now. Initial preorder demand has exceeded Google's expectations and the company is now having trouble keeping up to ship all units on time. Some early preorder customers were even told that their devices won't ship until mid-November due to overwhelming demand. Buyers who preordered the Google Pixel or Pixel XL can check their order history on the Google Store, and many are currently listed either as "Pre-ordered" or "Pending," both of which mean the device is not ready to ship just yet. Google Store support representatives can only offer limited information at the moment, but many users report that customer service reps said the devices will ship by the estimated date despite the current status. Some representatives even advised users to ignore the online status page and wait for their device on the estimated date. At this rate, it's anyone's guess whether the devices will ship on time or with a few weeks' delay stretching to November, as some representatives say they're still on track while others note a significant delay. Google-centric publication 9to5Google has contacted the company and learned that the shipping department has indeed fallen three weeks behind. Consequently, the estimated shipping date for the device they ordered is now Nov. 18 instead of the previously estimated Oct. 27 to 31 timeframe. "We're thrilled to see the excitement for our new Pixel phones, and frankly preorder demand has exceeded our expectations," Google told the publication. "We're working to restock our inventory as soon as possible." However, the company offered no explanation for the discrepancy between the Order history status and what different support representatives are telling customers. At the same time, high demand also means that some versions are currently sold out and no longer available for purchase at this time. The Google Pixel is still available in black and silver, estimated to ship in three or four weeks, while the Pixel XL is available only in the 32 GB silver model, with the same shipping estimate. Other variants are out of stock and it will likely take a while for Google to clear the order backlog and put all models back on sale. Long story short, there's a good chance that if you haven't received your Google Pixel or Pixel XL already, shipping will stretch well into November. Did you order one of the new Pixels? If so, drop by our comment section below and tell us about your experience so far. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In China, the number of young Chinese people infected with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, continues to swell. In an attempt to bring awareness into the fold, a Chinese university in a high-risk area has started setting up vending machines that spew out HIV testing kits. The kits cost less than $5 and are sold alongside snacks and beverages inside vending machines at the Southwest Petroleum University in China's Sichuan Province. The province has been found (PDF) to have a high prevalence of HIV, among the top three provinces in China to account for the country's 501,000 cases of HIV and AIDS by the end of 2014, according to the report. The kits take the urine samples of the testees, to be sent back to a lab. The process is thoroughly anonymous, and the test results can be delivered online for immediacy and accessibility. The inexpensive testing kits offer a low-cost solution for those who want to make sure that they're not infected with the virus. Other testing kits hover around $45, and can be purchased online at Chinese ecommerce site Taobao. The cost of the testing kits was subsidized with the help of a charity, according to Huaxi Daily, a Chinese newspaper. China's HIV and AIDS infection rate among young people are growing at an alarming pace. In just four years starting 2011, the infection rose to 35 percent in the 15 to 24 age group. About 1.6 percent of Chinese HIV and AIDS cases were accounted for by students by the time 2015 closed. The Sichuan Province university marks the first time that inexpensive and self-administered HIV testing kits are offered to university students. By the end of 2016, the test run will halt, according to Shen Jie, China Association of AIDS Prevention and Control's deputy president. HIV is a virus transmitted via bodily fluids such as blood and semen, and can worsen into AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a crucial weakening of the body's immune system that renders it unable to fight off viruses. China's growing rate of HIV/AIDS cases seems to be rooted in lack of sufficient sex education in the curriculum, most experts infer. In China, numbers of both male heterosexual and homosexual transmissions show a consistent uptick. The percentage of of sexually transmitted cases rose from 33.1 percent in 2006 to 92.2 percent eight years later in 2014. The male homosexual transmission rate, in the same period, rose from 2.5 percent to 25.8 percent. HIV remains progressively a growing concern, since medical research still hasn't gotten to the point where it could be remedied entirely. However, inroads do continue to occur, as with the recent feat by Emory Researchers who were able to achieve sustained HIV remission in testing rhesus macaque monkeys. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple will reportedly launch not two, but three iPhone 8 models in 2017, and all three will feature glass backs. This is not the first time that rumors of three iPhone 8 models emerge, but previous reports indicated that only one model would feature a glass back, while the other two would retain the current aluminum build. Nevertheless, a new report from Japanese publication Nikkei now claims that Apple is working on three glass-backed iPhone 8 models with different screen sizes, set to hit the market in 2017. Nikkei says that it has learned from a supply chain source that the upcoming iPhone 8 will come in 4.7-inch, 5-inch and 5.5-inch sizes. The latest iPhones launched in two sizes - 4.7 and 5.5 inches - so the next generation will add another 5-inch option to bridge the gap between the existing models. "Apple has tentatively decided that all the 5.5-inch, 5-inch and 4.7-inch models will have glass backs, departing from metal casings adopted by current iPhones, and Biel and Lens are likely to be providing all the glass backs for the new iPhones next year," Nikkei cites its source. In fact, Biel and Lens will apparently make the glass for both the front and back of the iPhone 8. Long-time Apple partner Foxconn has also been working on glass backs, but Biel is reportedly ahead with its technology. The Japanese publication further expects Apple to launch one premium iPhone 8 model with a curved edge-to-edge OLED display, while the other two models would feature standard LCD screens. We're still a good while away from the iPhone 8's debut in the fall of 2017, so a lot of things could change until then. Nikkei itself points out that Apple is still early in the development process, which means that it could change its plans or ultimately ditch plans for three iPhone 8 models. The iPhone 7 was also initially rumored to come in three models, which obviously did not materialize. Apple reportedly scrapped plans for a single-camera 5.5-inch model roughly six months before the iPhone 7 hit the scene. Recent rumors also hinted at a revolutionary iPhone 8 design to mark the iPhone's 10th anniversary, but the futuristic design mentioned seems highly unlikely. Nevertheless, Apple is still expected to come up with something special for the iPhone 8 to celebrate a decade of iPhones. It remains to be seen just what design, features and specs the iPhone 8 will sport, as it's too early to tell at this point. We'll keep you up to date as soon as more details hit the scene, but take all reports with a grain of salt. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. AT&T is reportedly making millions in paid metadata, spying on its customers and charging the government for access to user data. According to digital rights advocates, AT&T's profitable surveillance program is even bigger than the NSA spying revelations from 2013, when former NSA contractor Edward Snowden blew the whistle. The Daily Beast reports that AT&T is not simply handing over data to authorities when required to do so, it actually charges the U.S. government between $100,000 and $1 million or more per year to give law enforcement agencies access to its metadata. This means that user data collection is a real cash cow for AT&T, if the carrier is selling to the government for profit. Project Hemisphere According to the report, this AT&T project is called "Hemisphere." "Hemisphere is a secretive program run by AT&T that searches trillions of call records and analyzes cellular data to determine where a target is located, with whom he speaks, and potentially why," reveals the Daily Beast. The New York Times reported on Hemisphere back in 2013, but described it as a partnership between the U.S. government and AT&T, which the Department of Justice said was essential in its war on drugs. The Daily Beast's report, however, reveals a much wider scope for AT&T's Hemisphere program that went well beyond drug busts, turning into a profitable business for the carrier. "Hemisphere isn't a 'partnership' but rather a product AT&T developed, marketed and sold at a cost of millions of dollars per year to taxpayers," adds the report. Furthermore, AT&T reportedly sold the data without even requiring a warrant. Law enforcement agencies simply had to pay up and promise not to disclose details about Hemisphere in case an investigation that used the program went public. This means that authorities cannot use Hemisphere data as evidence. Why This Is Disturbing The issue here is not that AT&T turned over user data to law enforcement agencies to aid in their investigations. Telecommunications operators are legally required to do so. The issue is that AT&T gave authorities access to data even if they didn't have a warrant, as long as they had money. And for that money, AT&T reportedly went above and beyond to collect customers' personal data. The Project Hemisphere revelations surface at a critical time for AT&T, as the company wants to acquire Time Warner but faces some serious opposition. Donald Trump said he would block the deal if he's elected president, arguing that it would be bad for consumers and it would give AT&T too much power. The other candidate in the race for presidency, Hillary Clinton, asked regulators to thoroughly scrutinize the deal. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Microsoft Showcases Windows 10 Creators Update | TechTree.com Microsoft is all set to launch the next big update the most popular desktop operating system. Come 2017, the software giant will roll out Windows 10 Creators Update. The update focuses on helping people access 3D creation tools and mixed reality with ease. Microsoft's Paint software receives a biggest overhaul, as the simple computer graphics app as we know it gets a 3D twist. Using the new Paint software, users can create and manipulate 3D objects. You can share these creations using Microsoft's new Remix 3D community, which will host models shared from Paint 3D and Minecraft. One of the major emphases of the new release is a focus on creating 3D content. Developer Trimble has also joined Microsoft's 3D bandwagon with its 3D modelling programme SketchUp. Microsoft also demonstrated an affordable way to capture real world objects in 3D using a Windows 10 smartphone. The integration goes beyond photo editing apps, as the Redmond based company's productivity apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will be fully compatible with 3D objects. Microsoft is integrating Beam broadcasting service right into Windows. This will enable gamers to directly from their Live account. The company will also roll out the much requested Dolby Atmos support to Xbox Blue-ray playback. To make computers more personal, Microsoft will be adding a People Bar to the taskbar. The People Bar, you can quickly contact or share files with your friends using Skype and Outlook. The Windows 10 Creators update will roll be free for all the existing Windows 10 users. Those who cannot wait can test the new features by joining the Windows Insider Program at insider.Windows.com. TAGS: Microsoft, Windows 10 WATERLOO Vandals hit the home of an openly-gay candidate for a Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors Wednesday night. Candidate Chris Schwartz said the damage which includes slurs painted on campaign signs in his yard is a targeted hate crime. They hit my signs and our front door, which is more concerning. Its basically a death threat, Schwartz said. In black paint across his door reads Lev 20:13, a likely reference to Leviticus 20:13, a Bible verse about a man lying with another man being an abomination. The verse ends with They shall surely be put to death. The slur fag was painted on a blue Schwartz campaign sign, and Trmp was painted on a Clinton-Kane sign. Other candidate signs in his yard had black lines sprayed across them. A Schwartz sign in a neighbors yard some 20 feet from the damaged signs was untouched. This isnt from the neighborhood. We have lots of respect in this neighborhood because weve lived here a long time and have done a lot of work here, Schwartz said. Waterloo Police photographed the vandalism Thursday morning, but no arrests have been made. Schwartz said the attack came in the midst of a heated social media battle after Cedar Valley Patriots for Christ took aim at his campaign and Schwartzs background as an organizer of PrideFest, an annual gay-rights event in Waterloo. The Patriots Facebook page on Sunday called PrideFest a celebration of sin and called Schwartz a pro-gay socialist who will increase the minimum wage, hurt businesses and bring debauchery to the community. Christians in our community better start stepping up and put a stop to this! the post continues. Several online exchanges continued throughout the week, and Judd Saul, leader of Cedar Valley Patriots for Christ, said Schwartz politicized the matter by calling Patriots a hate group. On Thursday morning, Saul said he thinks the vandalism is a hoax. This is right out of the socialism playbook in politics, to create phony crises and try to capitalize on it, Saul said. I think they did it themselves. Even so, Saul, who admitted theres a chance someone else was behind the damage, said his group will contribute funds to the cleanup of Schwartzs property. We will contribute to the cleanup cost of Chris Schwartzs house, Saul said. Saul said Patriots is not a hate group. None of anyone who attends Patriots for Christ, and not myself, condone any kind of violence against anybody for their personal stances or beliefs, Saul said. As Christians, we are supposed to preach and proclaim the gospel, and its up to them to accept or reject the gospel. We dont force it on anybody. Prior to the vandalism, Schwartz had criticized the Republican supervisor candidates John Dodge, Chad Folken and Terry Scheffert for remaining silent as the Facebook battle waged. He also noted Saul donated to Dodges campaign. Dodge said he chooses to avoid engaging in online bickering, adding that someone making a donation to his campaign does not speak for him. Social media can be a tool for instigation and not a medium for polite discourse of opinions, Dodge said. When I have been heckled online I have chosen to not engage as it benefits no one. Scheffert said Schwartz was out of line for dragging him into the debate and attacking him on my beliefs or what he thinks my beliefs are. Scheffert said he hasnt said anything about PrideFest. Folken said he found it troubling that Chris Schwartz is attacking a local religious group for expressing their First Amendment right to free speech over the Facebook posts. Black Hawk County Democrats issued a statement through Chairwoman Pat Sass in which they strongly condemn vandalism of property in conjunction with the election campaign, including defacing, destroying or stealing campaign yard signs, and especially the hate crime at Schwartzs home. The victim of this act is not only Mr. Schwartz, but also our entire democratic election process, the statement said. CHARLES CITY A man accused of stealing a police badge from a plaque in the lobby of the Charles City Police Department has been arrested. Isaia Weber, 33, of Charles City, was arrested Wednesday for misdemeanor theft and criminal mischief. Charles City Police Chief Hugh Anderson said Weber is suspected of taking the badge from the Shelley Trefz Award plaque sometime last week. He said the award is given out periodically to those who have exemplified behavior that would greatly be advantageous to law enforcement. A member of the Charles City Council from 1982 to 1991, Trefz was known for her strong support of law enforcement. Officers recovered the badge from the Trefz plaque Wednesday afternoon while searching a home in the 200 block of First Avenue. Weber was arrested earlier Wednesday at a residence on 10th Avenue. Police served four search warrants at the two residences as a result of the case. In addition to the badge, police say they also recovered guns, drugs and drug-related items. Anderson wouldnt say why Weber was at the police department, but said it wasnt for a police-related matter. He also wouldnt say what kind of drugs were found during the searches, but though he did note officers had been conducting an investigation prior to theft of the badge. Multiple people are expected to face charges as a result of the search warrants. Weber was released from the Floyd County Jail on Thursday with a promise to appear at his initial court appearance on Friday, a jail official said. VENTURA | A woman police say left the scene of a car crash near Ventura earlier this week has been cited. Allison Jo McGee, 26, of Mason City, was charged with misdemeanor driving under suspension, driving without required court-ordered insurance and leaving the scene of a personal injury crash. The crash was reported about 1:13 a.m. Sunday on Fir Avenue just north of 275th Street in rural Clear Lake. Cerro Gordo County sheriffs deputies say the only person left at the scene when deputies arrived was Nichole Thoe, 20, whose car was in a creek. Two other people, McGhee, who deputies say was the driver, and passenger Brook Starbuck, 19, of Mason City, had allegedly left the scene before law enforcement officers arrived. All three had minor injuries. McGhee was later cited. Molly Montag MASON CITY | A man shot last week in downtown Mason City is no longer in critical condition, police say. Police say the victim was shot in the buttocks and arm about 2 a.m. Sunday in the plaza outside the north entrance of Southbridge Mall. The man was taken to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, where he was initially listed in critical condition. Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said the condition of victim had stabilized and he is no longer in critical condition. Police have not released the man's name. The alleged shooter, Revell Toney, 19, of Mason City, has been charged with attempted murder. On Wednesday, police also said a woman shot in the arm in an unrelated incident Oct. 18 has been released from the hospital. Police dispatchers received reports of multiple gunshots about 7:25 p.m. near North Washington Avenue and Ninth Street Northwest. The incident remains under investigation. No arrests have been made. -- Molly Montag Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced Monday that he agreed with Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to resume the cooperation agenda between both nations. | Read More BELMOND: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. BRITT: Treats on the Street is set for 9-11 a.m. Saturday. ... Trunk or Treating is set for 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday at the Crossroads Ministries Britt Christian Reformed Church. ... Trick-or-treating will take place from 5-7 p.m. Monday. CHARLES CITY: Trick-or-treat 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday. CLEAR LAKE: Trick-or-treat 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday; Clear Lake Parks and Recreation Halloween Parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall, followed by an arts activity sponsored by the Lions Club at the arts center. ... D&D Ranch, 2532 South. Shore Drive features a Zombie Paintball bus and Haunted Hike from 7-11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday. CORWITH: Corwith Community Club will host Trunk-or-Treat on 5:30-7 p.m. Sunday. CRYSTAL LAKE: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. The Kluver Community Center will host a childrens Halloween party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday followed by Trunk or Treating from 1-2 p.m. at the Kluver Community Centers parking lot. DOUGHERTY: S.T.P.A.T.S. is sponsoring a Halloween party in the school gym from 6-8 p.m. Friday. Admission is a bag of candy per family to be made into treat bags for children. DUMONT: Trunk-or-Treat will be from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, at the Dumont Reformed Church parking lot. FLOYD: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. FOREST CITY: Waldorf College Theatre Department will present a haunted hospital from 7-10 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Smith Theatre on the Waldorf University campus. ... Halloween costume fun run/walk set is at 10 a.m. Saturday (registration begins at 9 a.m. at Salveson Hall on the Waldorf University campus. ... Halloween party for ages 3-8 at public library from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday. ... Forest City Police Department will serve free hot dogs and treats 4:30-7 p.m., Monday, at the Police Department. ... United Methodist Church hosts trunk-or-treat party 5-7 p.m. Monday in the church parking lot. ... Forest City trick-or-treating will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday... The Waldorf University Paranormal Society is sponsoring a haunted hike from 8-10 p.m. Monday at East Woods Park. GARNER: Trick-or-treat hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, ... Garner Chamber of Commerce Treats on the Street will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday. A free movie, Hotel Transylvania, will be shown at 10:15 a.m. at the Avery Theater. ... Children (infants to fourth-graders) are invited to Concord Care Center, Garner, for its annual Halloween Party from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday. GOODELL: Halloween Trick or treat hours are from 5-7 p.m. Monday. A Halloween party at the Goodell Community Hall will follow until 8 p.m. GRAFTON: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. HAMPTON: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. KANAWHA: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. KLEMME: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday LAKE MILLS: Trick-or-treat 5-8 p.m. Monday. LATIMER: 5-7 p.m. Monday. LUVERNE: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday MANLY: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. MASON CITY: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday; Trick-or-treat will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, at Southbridge Mall. MESERVEY: The Meservey Library will hold a Halloween party from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday. NORA SPRINGS: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. NORTHWOOD: Trick or treat will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday. The annual parade of costumed children will begin at 5 p.m. Monday. Prior to the parade, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., trick-or-treaters are invited to visit residents of the Lutheran Retirement Home and Northwood Pines Assisted Living. OSAGE: Trick-or-Treat will be 5-7 p.m. Monday, in the city of Osage, as well as the United Church of Christ. PLYMOUTH: Trunk or treat 6-8 p.m. Monday, Old School Park. RICEVILLE: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. ROCKFORD: Trick-or-treat from 5-7 p.m. Sunday. The Halloween parade starts at 5 p.m. just west of the Main Street bridge. ROCKWELL: Trick-or-treat will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday. The Rockwell Legion Auxiliary will host a Halloween costume contest 2 p.m. Sunday at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home, 707 Elm St. E. ROWAN: Trick-or-treat 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday. RUDD: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday ... Rudd Haunted House, 205 Floyd St., is open from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. SHEFFIELD: Trick-or-treat 5-7 p.m. Monday. ST. ANSGAR: Trick-or-treat 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, in the city of St. Ansgar, and 6-7 p.m. downtown businesses. STACYVILLE: 5-7 p.m. Monday. VENTURA: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday. WESLEY: Trick or treat hours are 5-7 p.m. Monday ... A Community Halloween Night begins at 5 p.m. Sunday with a maid rite supper, coloring contest, mystery boxes, costume contest and scary hayride. WODEN: Trick-or-treat from 5-7 p.m. Monday. ... The Woden Community Club will host a costume contest for children beginning at 7 p.m. at the Community Center. In a solemn moment at the Al Smith dinner, Hillary Clinton said, (W)e need to get better at finding ways to disagree on matters of policy while agreeing on questions of decency and civility how we talk to each other, treat each other, respect each other. And shes right. She absolutely needs to salute that flag. The dinner, we know, is mostly a joke fest. Every four years, with some exceptions, the two principal presidential candidates show up in formal dress. Each has self-deprecating humorous moments, slinging just a few funny lines at the other side, and everyone is happy. The Catholic Church, sponsoring the affair, gets lots of money to help needy children, and people leave with good feelings. This year was different. Donald Trump told some great jokes on himself and Clinton and then seriously hit Clinton, rightly earning boos. Clinton then did much the same, going after him with some pretty tough zingers, getting a few boos, too, and then, at the end getting preachy in a semi-disguised diatribe. It may have sounded to some like a general statement of ideals, but it was clearly meant to smear Trump as she discussed those who appeal to fear and division in contrast to the godly command of loving ones neighbors. To underline Trumps position on immigration, she talked about Catholics as the descendants of immigrants who had to fight their way up. She pointed to all the prejudice Catholics have faced as a way of knocking his once calling for a ban on Muslims coming here. She talked about a need to build bridges, not walls, as a not so hidden reference to you know what. She cited Pope Francis as warning against a mindset of hostility, meaning Trumps hostility, of course. So here is question one. Is it civil, reflecting a mindset of love, to spend a fortune on TV ads depicting Trump as a woman hater, a vulgar and rotten human scarring children with his talk, a Ku Klux Klan sympathizer, and falsely as someone who would nuke our allies in Western Europe? Thats just for starters, because there are scads of other such ads, plus Cher calling Trump Hitler at a Clinton rally. Well, you say, he deserves it, but isnt that a way of saying two wrongs make a right? And what about the millions of his followers Clinton described as racists, sexists, xenophobes, homophobes and otherwise deplorable? Is that what she thinks of as building bridges? Is that her idea of how to end division? In the discussion about police shooting blacks, Clinton has also said that cops are racist, at least implicitly, which merely means their actions show as much. Thats no way to bring people together, and, when pushed on it, she said, well, the whole country is racist. In other words, it is not just the cops and half of Trumps supporters but all of us, apparently including Hillary herself. Clintons campaign honchos have also discussed Catholicism in a dismissive way, leading one archbishop, first describing her as a scheming, robotic liar, to add that she has an entourage riddled with anti-Catholic bigots. He was not warm-hearted about Trump, either, it should be said. Trump did once say a protester should be punched in the face. Some of Clintons supporters, including Vice President Joe Biden, have talked about punching him. It bears repeating by me and others that, as secretary of state, Clinton once said that a drone should be used to take out Julian Assange. Our Democratic candidate, who appears almost sure to win the election, is also known as being rude to the point of slinging curse words at Secret Service agents and others trying to serve her. Trump is unquestionably indecent and uncivil, but Clinton is no sweetheart, either, despite her deceptions to the contrary. Heads up to prevent injury from falls Morning walks in my neighborhood are one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. I love the coolness of daybreak and the special sightings of the stag and two does that frequent our open space. I also enjoy my walk because each day at... Signs that point to the best time for retirement Ive been thinking a lot about retirement lately. One of our amazing staff members, who has been with Senior Concerns for the last 13 years, retired last month. It just doesnt seem real. I always thought of Dana as young. Certainly not the person to... Rethinking the mandatory retirement age How old is too old for working at a job? Last week a news story hit my inbox and it really got me to thinking about age and retirement. The article noted that Target Corp. abandoned its mandatory retirement age of 65 for its CEO,... Tips to promoting a healthy nights sleep for children Question: Help, please. My daughter is almost 2 years old and has been an easy child to put into her own bed. Yet in the past few weeks she is purposefully stretching out the bedtime routine longer and longer. She wants more: more stories, more... CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month draws to a close, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Florida is calling on the FDA to investigate the heavy drugging of children under the misdiagnosis of ADHD. CCHR Florida is pointing to statistics from the first independent source of information about the pharmaceutical industry, QuintilesIMS, which showed that in the United States alone, 8.4 million children are being prescribed psychiatric drugs and more than 1 million of these children are under the age of five. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2eb9d0e-e925-4dc5-911b-692ee0c65a5c "Parents are being told that their child has a 'mental disorder' yet there is no independent, valid test for ADHD," stated Diane Stein, President of CCHR Florida. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that in 2011, approximately 11% of children 6.4 million - ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD and that the percentage being diagnosed continues to increase. CCHR Florida points out that the psychiatrists attitude of quieting a child's movements leads to the dispensing of Ritalin or Adderall. These drugs carry Black Box Warnings including agitation, aggression, depression, thoughts of suicide, seizures, and confusion. "Dangerous psychiatric drugs are even being given to infants and toddlers despite the known side effects of death, homicides and suicides that are reported in older children and adults taking these medications," stated Diane Stein. "A psychiatrist prescribing drugs can make up to four times as much as one who doesn't and drugs prescribed for ADHD alone make billions every year. It is all about the money," Ms. Stein concluded. Individuals are invited to CCHR Floridas center, located at 109 N. Fort Harrison Avenue in downtown Clearwater, call 727-442-8820 or visit www.cchrflorida.org to learn more about the dangers associated with psychiatric drugs as well as alternatives to medication. About CCHR: Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHR's mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. It was L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who brought the terror of psychiatric imprisonment to the notice of the world. In March 1969, he said, "Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the 'free world' tortured, castrated, killed. All in the name of 'mental health.'" Relatives of a 6-year-old autistic boy who was shot and killed during a traffic stop filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the central Louisiana town where two deputy city marshals opened fire on his father's car. The 96-page suit claims Marksville city officials failed to properly train the deputies on the use of deadly force before the shooting that killed Jeremy Mardis and critically wounded his father, Christopher Few, last year. The suit also says the officers involved in the shooting did nothing to stop the boy's bleeding or alleviate his suffering, even after one of them found a pulse on the child. "Sadly, Jeremy was left to suffer - and die - while the officers casually searched for gloves," the suit adds. The deputies, Derrick Stafford and Norris Greenhouse Jr., await separate trials on charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. The Nov. 3, 2015, shooting was captured on video by a police officer's body camera. Defense attorneys claim Stafford and Greenhouse acted in self-defense, but prosecutors say the video shows the deputies firing on Few's car from a safe distance while his hands were raised inside the vehicle. Not seeing the video below? Click here. Stafford, a Marksville police lieutenant, and Greenhouse, a former Marksville police officer, were moonlighting as deputy marshals on the night of the shooting. The deputies' lawyers claim Few drove recklessly while leading officers on a 2-mile chase and then rammed into Greenhouse's vehicle as he was getting out of it, before he and Stafford opened fire. However, state District Court Judge William Bennett said the video from Marksville Police Sgt. Kenneth Parnell's body camera doesn't show Few's car posing a threat to the officers as they fired. The family's lawsuit calls the shooting a "barbaric and excessive use of deadly force" that fit a pattern of behavior unpunished by town officials who supervised the two deputies. "Proper use of deadly force training would have enabled Stafford and Greenhouse to recognize that neither Christopher nor Jeremy presented an imminent risk of death or great bodily harm to anyone at or near the scene," the suit says. During a news conference last year, Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said the video was the most disturbing thing he has ever seen. It shows the bloody but eerily calm aftermath of the shooting, with Few collapsed and bleeding on the pavement while his son's lifeless body is strapped into the front seat. Marksville's deputy city marshals part-timers who normally serve court papers had been stopping cars and writing traffic tickets for months before the shooting. City Marshal Floyd Voinche Sr. began dispatching his deputies on patrols after the City Council slashed the city court's budget at the recommendation of Mayor John Lemoine. The court, which presides over traffic citations, sued the city over the deep cuts in July 2015, saying Marksville had stopped paying the salaries of Voinche, Judge Angelo Piazza III and the court's clerks. The mayor asked the attorney general to review the authority of the marshal's office to issue tickets. During an interview last year, Judge Piazza said his court only keeps a modest cut of ticket revenues and called it a "misguided notion" that his court had a financial incentive for deputy marshals to begin writing tickets. Voinche, Marksville's city court, Avoyelles Parish and the officers involved in the shooting also are named as defendants in the suit, which seeks unspecified damages. Before the shooting, Stafford and Greenhouse both had been sued over claims that they had used excessive force or neglected their duties as police officers. In addition, Stafford was suspended from the Marksville Police Department after he was indicted on rape charges in 2011, but reinstated after prosecutors dismissed the charges in May 2012. Stafford's murder trial is scheduled to start Nov. 28; Greenhouse has a March 13, 2017, trial date. Prosecutors showed the video of the shooting during a hearing last month to support their claim that it was part of Stafford's pattern of hurting people he's arresting. Audio is lacking for the first 27 seconds of the video, then begins after deputies start shooting. Stafford's attorneys argue that the segment without audio makes it impossible to determine if he started shooting before or after Few raised his hands. Defense attorneys also have suggested that investigators rushed to judgment. George Higgins, one of Greenhouse's attorneys, said investigators have no evidence that any of the bullets fired by Greenhouse struck Few or his son. Investigators traced 14 shell casings to Stafford's semi-automatic handgun and determined four other shell casings recovered at the scene came from Greenhouse's gun. Of the four bullet fragments recovered from the boy's body, three matched Stafford's weapon and another couldn't be matched to either deputy. Two months, $30 million and 1.6 million cubic yards of trash later, debris cleanup from the August flood is beginning to wind down, but East Baton Rouge leaders are worried the parish's garbage contractor won't be able to keep up with demand as people rebuild their homes. Wednesday, city staff reported that 90 to 95 percent of flood debris has been collected and they reminded the Metro Council that the final sweep will start Nov. 7 and that anyone who still needs to have their refuse hauled away needs to call authorities at (888) 721-4372. Last chance for East Baton Rouge residents to have debris collected Time is running out for East Baton Rouge residents who haven't put their flood debris out fo Councilwomen Donna Collins-Lewis and Erika Green, who represent areas around the geographic center of the parish, said they are still seeing a lot of debris in their districts. "District 5 is still in serious need," Green remarked. EBR mayoral candidates confront unknowns as they propose flood recovery, prevention plans Even as the people of East Baton Rouge Parish focus on rebuilding what was destroyed by the Some families haven't been able to return to their flooded homes until recently, Collins-Lewis added. What will happen if they miss the deadline, she asked. In such a situation, the burden will probably fall to Republic Services, the company contracted to collect trash in East Baton Rouge, said Adam Smith, the city-parish's interim environmental services director. That arrangement is for typical garbage disposal and is separate from the flood debris pickup. Republic would likely have to truck in special equipment to collect waste material related to the flood, Smith said. Council members also pointed out there will be additional trash as people undertake rebuilding construction projects, refurnish their homes and replace the temporary amenities provided through the Shelter at Home program. Some of that refuse should probably be hauled off by contractors, but as a practical matter, much will fall to the trash company, city staff said. Republic representatives did not attend Wednesday's meeting. City-parish officials have already begun to gird their loins for a battle with the company. Councilman Joel Boe commended the debris contractors and told city-parish staff to remind Republic of their obligations to the city-parish as they prepare for "a monumental task in front of them." William Daniel, the mayor's chief administrative officer, told the council he will be having a meeting with Republic representatives soon to review their contract. "I think if it's on the curb, it's Republic's responsibility," he said. Councilman Scott Wilson asked to be invited to the meeting so he could remind the company that if its performance is unsatisfactory the city-parish can look for new trash service. "When I get heat from my constituents, I've got to pass it on," he said. Despite the lengthy discussion of waste disposal, Daniel warned that the issue will be "small potatoes" compared to the problems created when flooded properties are simply abandoned and allowed to turn to blight. Though it wasn't discussed, the Metro Council also passed another significant ordinance that will make it easier for people to place trailers on their properties. The Federal Emergency Management Agency prefers flood victims employ the Shelter at Home or Rental Assistance programs, but in some cases, FEMA trailers are the only reasonable solution. Earlier this month, FEMA representatives said approximately 2,300 people in East Baton Rouge had qualified for one of the units. However, hundreds of people can't put a trailer at their home, either because they rent or because the unit won't fit on their property. Those families may need to move to a FEMA trailer park. Council members have accepted the parks as a necessity but have also tried to limit their implementation. The city-parish passed an ordinance Wednesday allowing people to petition the local government to place a FEMA trailer on their property even if the trailer juts onto the public right of way, including a sidewalk or alley. The new ordinance is intended only as an emergency measure and will expire at the end of two years. In other flood-related business, contractors are no longer hauling debris to temporary staging areas such as the one on North Sherwood Forest Drive. It is being taken directly to Ronaldson Field, according to a report delivered to the Metro Council. Contractors closely monitoring flood debris staging sites after blaze erupts at one Contractors say they are working around the clock to ensure there won't be any further fires While the federal government has agreed to pay 90 percent of all the flood-related costs incurred by local governments, Smith said that they've gotten a slightly better deal on the first three months' worth of debris cleanup. The cost to date to the federal government is approximately $27.9 million, and the local government will have to pay about $2.4 million. City staff have said that amount can be paid out of the local government's rainy day fund. The Metro Council also agreed to execute an agreement with a company to repair or replace certain public equipment, such as sewage collection generators, damaged in the flood. An exact amount was not determined, but the deal has a $2 million ceiling. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO -- Southeastern School of Nursing students Seth Crnko and Morgan Mincey, both of Denham Springs, were recipients of $500 disaster scholarships funded by the University of Alabama Capstone School of Nursing following the recent floods in Livingston Parish. Pictured are, from left, Ann Carruth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Crnko, Mincey, and Eileen Creel, head of the School of Nursing. French English Health Care Services Corporation Operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - October 27, 2016 - MDxHealth SA (Euronext: MDXH.BR) today announced that Health Care Services Corporation (HCSC) has issued coverage for patients meeting the eligibility criteria established under the positive medical policy on the ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer test. HCSC, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest customer-owned health insurer in the United States and fourth largest overall, operating through HCSC's Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The company, founded in 1936, serves more than 15 million members across five states and employs more than 22,000 people in over 60 local offices. MDxHealth continues to gain positive medical policies and coverage with PPO, commercial payors and other specialized networks; facilitating timely reimbursement for ConfirmMDx testing. "This is the third Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Association licensee to establish a positive coverage policy and adds five more BCBS plans to the growing list of payers covering ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer," stated Dr. Jan Groen, CEO of MDxHealth. "We believe HCSC's decision is a significant step in providing national access to ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer, further expanding the impact on patient outcomes and reduction in cost to the US healthcare system. " About ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer is the first epigenetic, and only tissue-based test in the 2016 NCCN Guidelines for early detection of prostate cancer which addresses false negative biopsy concerns. It is the only molecular diagnostic test that provides a very high negative predictive value (NPV) of 96% for clinically significant prostate cancers, and 90% NPV for all prostate cancers, as well as prostate mapping of the test results to help guide repeat biopsies. Each year, more than 1 million American men undergo an invasive prostate biopsy with a negative result, however approximately 30% of those men actually have prostate cancer. The current standard of care for prostate biopsy procedures samples less than 1% of the prostate, leaving men at risk for undetected cancer and leading to a high rate of repeat biopsies, even on cancer-free men. ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer helps urologists identify low-risk men who may forego an unnecessary repeat biopsy and high-risk men who may benefit from intervention. To date more than 3,000 urologists have ordered ConfirmMDx on more than 45,000 patients. ConfirmMDx has qualified for Medicare reimbursement and covered by numerous private health insurance plans. About MDxHealth MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company's tests are based on proprietary gene methylation (epigenetic) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of cancer, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. For more information, visit mdxhealth.com and follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/mdxhealth. For more information: Dr. Jan Groen, CEO MDxHealth US: +1 949 812 6979 BE: +32 4 364 20 70 info@mdxhealth.com Jonathan Birt, Chris Welsh, Hendrik Thys (PR & IR) Consilium Strategic Communications UK: +44 20 3709 5701 US: + 1 917 322 2571 (Rx Communications Group LLC) mdxhealth@consilium-comms.com This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company's control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of MDxHealth in any jurisdiction. No securities of MDxHealth may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws. NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx and PredictMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. A Baton Rouge man was indicted Wednesday in the 2015 slaying of a 34-year-old woman found partially nude and shot to death in a parking lot ne 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. A new group that stemmed from the Democratic presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders is urging his Louisiana backers to oppose a constitutional amendment that would allow colleges and universities to raise tuition rates, officials said Thursday. The issue surfaced during a meeting of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, which like other higher education groups backs the Nov. 8 proposal Constitutional Amendment 2. Rachel Kincaid, vice president of external affairs, told the board that Sanders and his team are urging defeat of the measure. "We just know that he sent out a message to his constituents to vote against it," Kincaid said after the meeting. Hours later a spokesman for the Vermont senator said Sanders himself has not weighed in on the topic. However, a Sanders-inspired group called Our Revolution opposed the tuition plan on its list of ballot measures nationwide. "Louisiana voters fund the state's public college and university system with their tax dollars, and like residents of every other state, they deserve to have a say in tuition and fee costs," the group said in a position paper. "At a time when public colleges are increasingly unaffordable, it makes no sense to allow college boards to raise tuition and fee amounts with no accountability to Louisiana residents," according to the organization. The disclosure of opposition from a group tied to a former presidential candidate was a surprise to board members. "Bernie Sanders?" asked Jimmie Martin Jr., who lives in Cut Off and is chairman of the panel. The board of Our Revolution said it is "committed to Bernie's bold progressive agenda." Free tuition at public colleges and universities was one of Sanders' key themes in his losing bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, and his bid sparked widespread support from young voters. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won the Louisiana Democratic primary on March 5. Senate Education Committee Chairman Dan Morrish, R-Jennings, sponsor of the legislation that paved the way for the amendment, laughed Thursday when he heard of Thursday's developments. Morrish also noted that, under his plan, colleges and universities could raise, lower or even abolish tuition. "If he likes free tuition he can come down and lobby the universities to offer free tuition," he said. "Bernie Sanders should be supporting No. 2 because it gives the universities authority to offer free tuition if they so choose." The UL System board oversees nine colleges and universities, including the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Southeastern Louisiana University. Louisiana is one of two states that require legislative approval to boost tuition. The requirement here is two-thirds of the Legislature. The only other state with such a rule is Florida, which requires majority approval from state lawmakers. Backers say the proposal would allow higher education leaders to balance budgets, especially amid years of reductions in state aid for colleges and universities. Higher education leaders promise 'bold' changes, which could include mergers, closures Higher education leaders with the Board of Regents promised they would deliver a plan of "bo Opponents contend current rules ensure that tuition rates remain affordable. Kincaid said two polls done by Southern Media & Opinion Research show the measure winning support from about 60 percent of voters, who will decide the issue on Nov. 8. For that reason, Kincaid said political consultants have urged supporters to delay high-profile efforts for the amendment until the final days before the election. Billboards, social media and advertising are in the plans. "We are optimistic but we don't want to be overly confident," she told the board. State aid for colleges and universities has dropped 55 percent since 2008. Those dollars have been mostly replaced by increases in tuition and fees, which remain among the lowest in the nation. A group called Excellence in Higher Education is the key support organization. Martin said higher education officials need to be reminded that the issue is on next month's ballot, especially since early voting is underway. "The voting started on Tuesday," he said. "Now is the time to let our campuses know." Perhaps this is fitting for a campaign that has basically failed to develop a strong story line, but it looks as if the contest for Louisiana's open U.S. Senate seat could end up basically where it started: with state Treasurer John Kennedy most likely but not guaranteed to claim one of two runoff slots, and the rest of the major candidates scrambling for a ticket to the second round. Just as in the race's early polls, Kennedy, the only statewide official on the ballot, has opened up something of lead over his four closest competitors in two recent surveys, one by Southern Opinion & Media Research for a group of business leaders and one by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research for Raycom Media. In the SMOR poll, Kennedy, a Republican, scored 22 percent, followed by Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell with 16 percent, Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany with 14 percent, Democratic lawyer Caroline Fayard with 12 percent, and Republican U.S. Rep. John Fleming with 9 percent. Another good sign for Kennedy here is that his approval rating is an enviable 65 percent, which suggests that voters aren't necessarily looking for an alternative. The poll did not measure the popularity of the other candidates. The Raycom poll, which was used to determine which candidates will participate in next week's final televised debate, had Kennedy at 24 percent, Campbell at 19, and Fayard, Boustany and Fleming bunched around 11 percent. A third independent poll tells a somewhat different story. This one, by Market Research Insight for a different business group, has Kennedy and Boustany nearly tied with 17 and 16 percent, respectively. Campbell, Fayard and Fleming round out the top tier with 14, 12 and 7 percent. This one is closer to polls we were seeing earlier this fall, when Boustany and Fleming were advertising on television and Kennedy was holding back. He's since started advertising heavily, and his affiliated Super PAC, funded largely by money from money raised for his treasurer campaign account, has been pounding the other Republicans. The other news out of the polls is that Boustany has settled in as Kennedy's biggest threat. He's got some momentum, having picked up the main newspaper endorsements, run some of the best ads in the race, and made an explicit pitch to voters who are focused on policy and productivity. Kennedy has run as more of a throw-the-bums-out outsider, and has campaigned in mostly hokey generalities about drinking weed killer and such. The big question is whether Boustany can finally knock Kennedy out of that top perch. When you get kicked in the rear, it usually means youre out front, Kennedy said at the first televised debate last week, in response to attacks from fellow candidates. That's where he stood when this whole race started. And it looks like that's where he'll be as the clock ticks down toward Election Day. Witchcraft in Mid-City? A sinkhole that gets its own holiday? And, um, Baby Cakes? Yeah, New Orleans had its fair share of eyebrow-raising new The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the city of Slidell over an ordinance passed this year requiring that panhandlers have permits, sa The prevention of inmate suicides was one of the major challenges identified by Gary Maynard when he was chosen to show Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman how to run a prison. Maynard sure got that right. Just two weeks after federal judge Lance Africk confirmed his appointment, 15-year-old Jaquin Thomas killed himself while awaiting trial last week. New Orleans City Council committee to hold hearing on jail suicide of 15-year-old Jaquin Thomas Sheriff Marlin Gusman has been silent so far about the suicide last week of a 15-year-old bo It is more than three years since Gusman signed a consent decree to settle a lawsuit alleging that his prisoners are confined in unconstitutionally harsh and dangerous conditions. Africk, whose frustration over Gusman's failure to abide by the decree has long been evident, might now wish he had despaired and brought in a more competent administrator earlier. By the time Maynard took over as compliance director, Thomas had been in jail for three months, and presumably in the grip of the depression that would lead him to suicide. Perhaps he would have managed to kill himself even if Maynard had had more time to fix the joint, but it was still surely a mistake to leave Gusman in charge so long after he proved he wasn't up to the job. +2 Family members hold memorial for 15-year-old who committed suicide in Orleans jail Family members of Jaquin Thomas and dozens of supporters gathered on the steps of the Orlean Now the task is to ensure that no more juvenile suspects commit suicide in New Orleans' adult jail. The only foolproof way to do that is not to confine them there in the first place, and reformers have campaigned for years to that end. New Orleans, after all, does have a juvenile jail, although you would never know that by its title the Youth Study Center. Thomas was not assigned to the Youth Study Center, because, vulnerable child as he was, he was also accused of second-degree murder. Under Louisiana law, minors accused of crimes carrying a life sentence are tried in adult court and have always been held in the adult prison awaiting trial. The Legislature last year amended the statute to give judges the discretion to put them in a juvenile jail, but that did not happen in time for Thomas to receive the softer option of the Youth Study Center. Had he lived and been convicted, his future lay among veteran criminals in a hellhole anyway. Pending that, however, juvenile jail evidently would have been a much softer option. A University of Texas study found that juvenile inmates are 36 times more likely to kill themselves if they are locked up in an adult jail. They are also 19 times more suicide-prone than the other prisoners there. Even though Thomas was housed in a youth pod at the parish jail, he did tell one of his attorneys, Andrew Bevinetto, that he had been assaulted there, and his death inevitably led to renewed demands that all minors who don't make bail be detained in the Youth Study Center. Thomas and his uncle, Tyrance Chancellor, allegedly forced their way into Hasahn Shawl's apartment at 3:30 a.m. During the ensuing scuffle, Chancellor told police, Thomas shot Shawl. A gun-toting kid roaming the streets in the middle of the night with a felonious uncle has clearly been denied the tutelage and guidance that families traditionally provide. Thomas was raised by his grandmother in Ville Platte after Katrina drove him out of New Orleans. He had returned to take a summertime job when the Shawl homicide occurred. Thomas, according to another of his attorneys, Martin Regan, would not have been in jail but for Chancellor's baleful influence. It is easy enough to believe that Chancellor led Thomas astray, and his family and acquaintances spoke of him in glowing terms at a vigil. Of course, every kid who meets an early and violent death seems to become a choirboy to his kin, but the grief-stricken are surely entitled to that comfort. Moreover, for all we know, Thomas in different circumstances could have led a full and worthwhile life. But that possibility evaporated the minute he pulled the trigger, if indeed his uncle's version of events is truthful, and jail was where Thomas belonged. Guards making their rounds found that Thomas had apparently asphyxiated himself with a mattress cover in his cell. He was the second inmate to kill himself this year. Given that incarcerated juveniles are such a suicide risk, Thomas needed the careful evaluation and monitoring that everyone knew Gusman's administration was incapable of providing. Any teen suicide is ineffably sad, but this one shouldn't have come as a surprise. Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke talks on a cell phone as he arrives at the Louisiana Secretary of State's office in Baton Rouge, La., on Friday, March 22, 2016, to register to run for the U.S. Senate, saying "the climate of this country has moved in my direction." Duke's candidacy comes one day after Donald Trump accepted the GOP nomination for president, and Duke said he's espoused principles for years that are similar to the themes Republicans are now supporting in Trump's campaign, on issues such as immigration and trade. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Swedish English Organic growth of around 50 percent in core business July 1-September 30, 2016 Net sales decreased by 8 % to SEK 68.3 million (74.5) Currency-adjusted growth for the quarter was -9% (47). Operating profit was SEK 19.5 million (30.3). The operating margin was 28.5% (40.6). Earnings per share were SEK 0.64 (1.02) Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 8.6 million (34.5) January 1- September 30, 2016 Net sales increased by 8 % to SEK 192.3 million (177.8). Currency-adjusted growth was 6.1% (13). Operating profit increased to SEK 52.5 million (49.0). The operating margin was 27.3 % (27.6). Earnings per share were SEK 1.76 (1.58) Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 41.6 million (75.7) Significant events after the period close CellaVision signed an agreement with one more distribution partner in EMEA, Horiba CEOs comments Very strong quarter for sales to human laboratories Sales to laboratories in the human healthcare market grew at a very strong rate in the third quarter, with organic growth of around 50 percent. The net sales nonetheless fell by eight percent from SEK 74.5 million to SEK 68.3 million because we invoiced about SEK 30 million to laboratories for veterinary medicine in North America in the third quarter of 2015. Growth is eight percent for the three first quarters of the year, though we have not made any sales to the veterinary market. If we only look at sales to the human healthcare market, growth for the first three quarters of the year amounts to about 30 percent. Exchange rate effects in the quarter were limited and had a positive impact on sales of about one percent. The operating profit was SEK 19.5 million (30.3), equivalent to an operating margin of 28.5 percent (40.6). The lower operating profit and lower operating margin are explained by the challenging comparative figures from the third quarter of 2015 reflecting the high invoicing to veterinary laboratories. Continued positive development in the Americas and APAC Sales to the human healthcare market in the Americas showed strong development in the quarter, with growth in excess of 80 percent. In the USA we noted a quarter with a record number of customer installations of CellaVision analyzers. The Americas' approximate invoicing total of SEK 30 million to the veterinary market in the third quarter of 2015 makes the aggregate comparative figures challenging and altogether sales decreased by 26 percent to SEK 35.3 million (47.8). Our perception is that the Americas will continue positive development. APAC also reported strong sales in the third quarter of the year. Sales more than tripled to SEK 20.9 million (6.3) after strong development in the Chinese market. APAC has now reported sound growth for four quarters in a row, but sales in the region are still volatile and we continue to expect major fluctuations between individual quarters. In EMEA progress was weaker than in other regions. Sales in the quarter were SEK 12.2 million (20.4), representing a decrease of 40 percent. Our assessment of future development in the region continues to be positive, which is emphasized by the initiatives for a local presence we are now implementing. Continued market initiatives CellaVision is continuing the geographical expansion of local organizations for market support. Earlier in 2016 we established a direct presence in the Middle East and South Korea and in the year's third quarter expansion continued to Australia and France, where we see good growth opportunities. We are also planning for continued expansion of our support organization to other interesting markets next year. Local market support resources are a crucial factor in driving CellaVision's continued growth. Apart from this, Horiba has been added as a distribution partner in EMEA. The Horiba group is a worldwide company in several branches of which one is hematology within the in-vitro diagnostics division. The veterinary market & Product development CellaVision continues to address large reference laboratories in the veterinary market. We aim to sell our products to this market segment indirectly via distributors, just as in human healthcare. Development of the new technology platform for small and mid-sized human and veterinary laboratories continued according to plan during the quarter. Launch of the new products is expected to be in markets that accept CE marking in 2018. Cash flow was impacted by high trade receivables that were settled after the close of the period as well as by a slightly larger buffer inventory to secure customer demand. Zlatko Rihter, President and Chief Executive Officer Key Ratio (MSEK) Jul-Sep 2016 Jul-Sep 2015 Jan-Sep 2016 Jan-Sep 2015 Jan-Dec 2015 Net sales 68,3 74,5 192,3 177,8 239,4 Gross profit 47,9 54,8 136,2 127,8 174,2 Operating profit 19,5 30,3 52,5 49,0 65,5 Operating margin, % 28,5 40,6 27,3 27,6 27,3 Profit/loss before tax 19,8 30,3 55,0 48,7 65,6 Cash flow for the period 7,4 32,4 -1,6 46,7 54,8 Equity ratio, % 79,9 80,5 79,9 80,5 83,3 Questions concerning the report can be addressed to: Zlatko Rihter, VD, CellaVision AB Tel: 0733-62 11 06. E-post: zlatko.rihter@cellavision.se Magnus Blixt, CFO, CellaVision AB Tel: 0708-33 81 68. E-post: magnus.blixt@cellavision.se Link text: CellaVision AB Interim report January-September 2016 Ginninderra School House Gallery: The World Around Us. An exhibition of paintings in oils, pastels and watercolour, portraying many aspects of our world by artists Eva Henry, Stuart Marshall and Isla Patterson. Until Sunday. Open Thursday and Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday 8.30am-4pm. Sweet Copper, Ginninderra School House Gallery, Old Ginninderra Village, 3/11 O'Hanlon Place, Nicholls. See: sweetcopper.com.au or ph: 6230 9007. Form Studio and Gallery: Finding the Essence. An exhibition of selected works by Trish Yates featuring semi-abstract woodblock and monotype prints inspired by trees and the broader landscape. Until Sunday. Open Monday to Friday 9.30am-2.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. 1/30 Aurora Avenue, Queanbeyan. See: formstudioandgallery.com.au. Canberra Glassworks: Fresh Glass. Drawing inspiration from spring and Floriade, this exhibition pairs studio glass vessels and sculpture with botanical installations. Until Sunday. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm. 11 Wentworth Ave, Kingston. See: www.canberraglassworks.com M16 Artspace: Made in New York. An exhibition of tapestry and embroidery by Carmel D'Ambrosio, expressing the lyrical interaction between the fine detail of New York City's parks and the robust grid-like patterns of the metropolis. Gallery 1b.Until Sunday, November 6. Open Wednesday to Sunday, noon-5pm. 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith. Ph: 6295 9438 or see: m16artspace.com.au. Nancy Sever Gallery: Michael Taylor | New Paintings. An exhibition of new paintings by one of Australia's most important major contemporary painters, who lives in the Monaro where he draws his inspiration from the natural world around him. Until November 20. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-6pm. 4/6 Kennedy Street, Kingston. See: nancysevergallery.com.au. Nishi Gallery: Mutable Realities. An exhibition drawing together artists who use their work to explore the intangible realms where meaning is found and reason lost. Until Sunday. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-3pm. New Acton Precinct, Cnr of Edinburgh Ave & Marcus Clarke Street, New Acton. See: newacton.com.au The Q- Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre: Come to our House. An exhibition featuring pieces created by ACT Textile Arts Association members, many as the result of a workshop. The emphasis is on textiles which includes felting, dyeing, printing, beading, stitching, and embellishments. There will also be a bazaar with a stock of interesting clothing, homewares and accessories for sale. Until November 5. Open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-3pm. 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Ph: 6285 6290 or see: http://theq.net.au. Belconnen Community Theatre: Tempo Theatre presents The Vicar of Dibley, adapted from the classic BBC TV series. October 28-30 and November 2-5. Tickets $30-$35. Belconnen Community Theatre, 26 Chandler Street, Belconnen. Ph: 6275 2700 or see: canberraticketing.com.au. Trish Ghirardello admits she wasn't the best of students. "Put it this way, I was one of the stronger women at my school." She laughs, remembering her time at St Clare's College in the 1970s, and a teacher who encouraged a rebellious student to think about teaching as a career. Amelia Ghirardello, left, her mother Trish Ghirardello, celebrating World Teachers' Day, with Mawson Primary School students Jye Parsons, 8, and Sari Bridgeman, 8. Credit:Karen Hardy "I didn't want to be a teacher, but Mrs Stewart kept at me," Trish says. "It was the last thing in the world I wanted to do." But now, 35 years since she first stood in front of a classroom, she wouldn't change a thing. As one of about 6000 ACT school teachers celebrating World Teachers' Day on Friday, Trish reflected on the most important things about her profession. Sydney motorcyclist Joe Ciantar has avoided jail time after he pulled into the opposite lane on the Monaro Highway at Royalla last year and caused a fatal accident. It was the afternoon of November 28, 2015 and the 67-year-old, who had pulled out and accelerated to come up beside his friends, did not see the family travelling in convoy ahead. Scene of the fatal crash on the Monaro Highway. Credit:Jay Cronan Fairfax Media An oncoming driver was forced to swerve to avoid Ciantar, who wore a "look of horror", and he collided with a 40-year-old motorcyclist and his teenage daughter riding pillion, who were behind the car. Behind the man and his daughter was Raymond Solway, 65, who died when he veered off the road in an effort to avoid the accident ahead, and was thrown from his motorbike after hitting a ditch. A teenage boy found with a clown mask and two knives in a south Canberra shop was arrested by police on Wednesday. Police were called to the shop in Jenke Circuit, Kambah about 11am after a witness saw a 14-year-old boy walking into the store concealing a knife. A clown photographed on public transport in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. Police pulled the boy out of the store and conducted a search, which turned up a spring-loaded folding knife, a large hunting knife and clown mask. The boy was also found to be carrying a balaclava and drug paraphernalia in his backpack. Sydney has an immediate shot at grand final revenge next year with a blockbuster rematch against the Western Bulldogs scheduled for round two at Etihad Stadium. It's one of eight Friday night games for the Swans while the GWS Giants have been strongly rewarded for this season's fourth-placed finish earning three games in the AFL's premier timeslot. Crowd-pleasers: The Swans have eight Friday night games, the most of any side in the competition Credit:Getty Images One of those will be against the Bulldogs at Manuka Oval in Canberra, a tantalising rematch of the preliminary final which GWS lost by a solitary goal at Spotless Stadium last month. The two teams will clash again on Friday night in round 21. Both Sydney clubs will play two regular-season matches against the Bulldogs in 2017. Queensland's resources industry contributed $55.7 billion to the state's economy in the 2015-16 financial year, a report released by the Queensland Resources Council on Thursday showed. But direct spending by the sector had decreased 16.1 per cent in a year to $26.77 billion, $13.32 billion of which was in the Brisbane region. Queensland's coal industry accounted for 58.1 per cent of resource sector spending in 2015-16. Credit:Glenn Hunt Coal was the driver of resource spending, accounting for 58.1 per cent, with $2.7 billion in staff remuneration, $11.3 billion in goods and services purchases and $1.5 billion in state government payments. The gas industry contributed 23 per cent ($6.2 billion) and metals 14.5 per cent ($3.9 billion). Employers in the scandal-plagued labour hire industry will face new rules banning anyone with criminal convictions, previous workplace breaches or links to collapsed businesses from operating in Victoria. A sweeping inquiry into the unregulated labour hire market has found a licensing system is crucial to stopping the abuse of vulnerable workers, particularly in low-paid sectors such as horticulture and contract cleaning. Casual boilermaker Harry Marshall was often hired out to unfamiliar factories and workshops Credit:Justin McManus The Andrews government on Thursday said it was alarmed at widespread exploitation at the hands of rogue labour hire operators, and committed to setting up a state-based licensing scheme. Victoria is now the second state in less than a month that has had an inquiry call for state-specific labour hire licensing. In the absence of a national response, a South Australian parliamentary committee has also recommended proceeding with its own licensing arrangements for labour hire operators. Cavotec will publish its 3Q16 report on Thursday, 3 November, 2016 at approximately 12:00 CET. A conference call for shareholders, analysts and media will be held at 13:00 CET. Participating on the conference call from Cavotec will be CEO Ottonel Popesco and Kristiina Leppanen, CFO and IR. The meeting will start with some background on the 3Q16 results and will be followed by a Q&A session. To ensure a prompt start to the meeting we kindly ask you to dial in 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Conference call details: Dial-in number: +46 8 503 364 34 Conference ID number: 81 37 037 We look forward to your participation. ENDS Investor Relations contact: Kristiina Leppanen Group Chief Financial Officer & Investor Relations kristiina.leppanen@cavotec.com The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of Cavotec SA under the Swedish Securities Market Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. This information was publicly communicated on 27 October 2016, 10:15 CEST. This puts us second worst in the world, behind everyone except the US. Typically, countries offer much longer periods of paid leave and at higher rates. None of this includes top-ups from employers, presently the subject of debate in Australia. Indeed, the OECD data only underscores the importance of such top ups, given we have the second-most stingy government program in the developed world. Other countries are moving forward with paid leave, while we go backwards. Worse, there seems now to exist some genuine confusion about the purpose of paid parental leave in the first place. Is it to keep women at home with their babies? Or is to get them back to work? Let's be clear: it's both. We want women to have enough time at home to recuperate from the physical requirements of child birth and to get up to speed on their new life with a newborn. Paying women a salary alleviates the financial pressure to go back to work before they are ready. But make no mistake. We also want women to go back to work. Yes, because it helps pay the bills. But also heaven forbid she admit it many women actually enjoy their work. Gasp! Providing paid leave actually acts as an incentive for mothers to maintain their link to the workforce because to get it, you have to be in a job in the first place. Mothers contemplating more children must return to work so they can receive the payment again. But let's dig deeper into the conservative backlash against paid leave. Why should taxpayers help parents at all? Why make those without rug-rats share the burden of breeders? Some economists view the decision to have kids as a private consumption decision. We have them because we like them and therefore we should bear the entire burden of that choice. But for women, the choice is somewhat of an illusion. Sure, families might choose whether or not to have children. But women can't choose if they'll be the parent to actually bear them. Science currently presents no suitable gestational alternative to women growing babies inside their own bodies. Getting them out is an inherently messy business, from which some period of recuperation is necessary, although exact times can vary. Being possessed of milk-producing mammary glands, women are also commonly called upon to provide babies with a nutrient-rich source of sustenance throughout the day and night although more families rely upon infant formula as an entirely suitable alternative than feel comfortable admitting it. After all, only 17.6 per cent of Australian babies are exclusively breastfed to the World Health Organisations six-month recommendation, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. So, at its heart, paid parental leave is a remedy for a fundamental inequality that women face. The physical burden of childbirth is unavoidable, but women should not also have to shoulder the financial burden of lost income and superannuation following the birth of a child, which can add up to many tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. But it's not just about women. Men suffer, too, from our present system of parental leave, which denies fathers sufficient time at home with their children. The main failing of our current system aside from its generosity is that it still presupposes the existence of a primary caregiver and by default a secondary carer and not the existence of two co-caregivers with equal responsibility. Or, better yet, two equal carers, supported by a team of highly qualified, professional child carers to replace the village of unpaid carers we have lost in our modern lives. Australia chose in the 1990s to adopt the language of "parental leave", rather than maternity and paternity leave, to promote gender neutrality. But women remain by far the overwhelming recipients of parental leave, given the need to decide upfront, often while still in hospital fumbling around with breast feeding, which partner should be nominated as the primary carer. Loading Other countries have maintained the maternity and paternity distinction, and shaped each leave entitlement to recognise the high upfront burden on women's bodies of child birth and then a greater role for dads, or partners, in following months. A system that normalised a situation in which mothers received three months paid leave, followed by three months for dad, for example, would neutralise the discrimination women face in the workforce and give both parents a more equal stake in child-rearing. The government has announced that the Australian Law Reform Commission will investigate the Indigenous incarceration crisis, which Attorney-General George Brandis has described as a "national tragedy". Senator Brandis and Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion said on Thursday the government would refer an inquiry on alarmingly high incarceration rates to the commission, which will consider possible reforms. "The degree of civilisation in any society can, among other things, be judged by looking at the condition of its prisons," Senator Brandis said in Melbourne. "It is a sad reflection on Australia that our first peoples are so grossly over-represented in our nation's prisons." Since the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody in 1991, the proportion of Indigenous Australians in the prison population has risen from 14 per cent to 27 per cent. With a long-ish weekend upon us (hello, sickie Monday!), the sales front is a little quiet, but there are still bargains to be had including a shoe warehouse sale and an international designer clearance. If you've never heard of shoe company Marcus B, it's about time you did. If you shop at shoe mecca Zomp, there's a good chance you have seen or bought a pair from Marcus B. Heck, you may be wearing them right now. Anyway, the Richmond business is opening its doors for its twice-yearly warehouse sale. Shoes are up to 50 per cent off, with nothing over $70. If that's not a good enough reason to set your GPS to Richmond, then double down with brunch or coffee and your morning is sorted. 45 Cubitt Street, Richmond. Thursday 8am-6pm, Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 10am-2pm. The deaths of four people on a Dreamworld ride has turned into a full-blown corporate disaster for parent company Ardent Leisure with executives under fire for not contacting victims' families and for re-opening the park after just three days. Chief executive Deborah Thomas faced brutal questioning at the company's annual general meeting on Thursday and was confronted on live TV when the furious mother of two victims sent a text message to a reporter disputing claims she had reached out to the family. It came as the embattled company was forced to cancel its planned "memorial day" re-opening on Friday after consulting with police on Thursday, who feared it would jeopardise their delicate investigation. Ms Thomas also announced late on Thursday that she would donate her $167,500 cash bonus to the Red Cross. Dreamworld's management had announced on Wednesday that they would re-open just three days after the tragedy although the lethal Thunder River Rapids ride would remain closed. Australian students' slide in the international benchmarks for reading and numeracy may not be the fault of the students, the teachers, or even the school system, says Finnish education expert Pasi Sahlberg. He argues there is a key factor being overlooked, a shift so profound and complete we've almost forgotten life without it: the rise of the smartphone. And Professor Sahlberg predicts a tobacco and big sugar-style marketing war between edutech-company-backed research and independent research in the next five years, over whether more technology in the classroom is beneficial or harmful to kids. "We are not paying attention to the very rapidly increased use of screen technology," he said. "The first three PISAs were in 2000, 2003 and 2006, this thing didn't exist. There were no iPads or smartphones. Dr Katelaris, who also has a PhD, worked as a surgeon on Sydney's north shore until 2005 when he was struck off the medical register for supplying cannabis to friends and relatives. He has lately been practising at a "wellness clinic" in Newcastle run by the Church of Ubuntu, where he prescribes cannabis oil for children with epilepsy and adults with cancer, and advocates for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis. His treatment of the two women, who were both aged 56, was an experiment in what would happen if he injected cannabis oil straight into the abdominal cavity and targeted the cancer cells directly, and had never been performed in humans. One of the women, Ms K, had stage three ovarian cancer and had met Dr Katelaris through a naturopath, while the other, Ms M, met him at a medical cannabis symposium in Nimbin. He told the HCCC he had obtained the cannabis samples on the black market but noting that some of the suppliers were "shady customers", he had planned to test it before using it in the experiment. But some hold-ups with the Ministry of Health and Customs meant he could not test it until a week after he had administered it to the women, when he realised it was far more potent than he had anticipated. Had he known, he would never have proceeded, he said. "We didn't want to get the ladies out of their tree. We wanted to impact their ovarian cancer," he told the commission. Dr Katelaris told Fairfax Media that Ms K had advanced ovarian cancer and would probably have died anyway, but the experiment had improved her markers. The HCCC heard that Ms K had concerns about how he knew an intraperitoneal injection of cannabis would be safe if it had never been tried and wanted her oncologist to be informed about the experiment. But Dr Katelaris persuaded her not to tell the oncologist and assured her: "Cannabinoids are intrinsically safe in any dose." Ms K stayed in hospital for several weeks and suffered complications including weight loss and a lung infection and she was unable to have chemotherapy for two months. Ms M stayed in hospital for several days but refused treatment and stands by Dr Katelaris. She told the HCCC he should be allowed to continue the trial. The HCCC found this week that Dr Katelaris had failed to accept that the outcome of his experiment was "catastrophic" for the women. "Dr Katelaris's clinical trial was completely lacking in scientific legitimacy and clinical rigour at every stage of its inception and execution and was unauthorised and unregulated," the HCCC found. "He has blamed everyone but himself for what went wrong." It prohibited him from injecting cannabis or its derivatives to any person or supplying or administering cannabis or its derivatives for any treatment. However, Dr Katelaris told Fairfax Media he would continue to administer cannabis to his patients because it was so effective, but would not perform the experiment he had done on the two women because of the side-effects. "Will I bother to go and appeal the decision? Hardly. It's easier to simply ignore it. I answer to a higher moral authority than the HCCC. My own conscience." The commission also referred the matter to the police. Angry fuel retailers are accusing the NSW government of doing the bidding of a political donor and putting motorists at risk of higher fuel prices over plans to boost the sale of E10 petrol. Better Regulation Minister Victor Dominello has outlined the rules to determine which retailers will have to sell the E10 blend of ethanol and regular unleaded for the first time and an exemption regime to shield small businesses who cannot afford to comply. "These prices will have to be recovered through increased fuel prices": ACPMA's Mark McKenzie. In a regulation to be published on Friday, Mr Dominello states that only retailers who sell at least 900,000 litres of petrol each quarter 3.6 million litres a year will need to start selling E10 for the first time. This is significantly higher than the 250,000 litres each quarter 1 million litres a year proposed by Australia's largest ethanol producer, Manildra, and means small retailers will not be caught in the net. Affordable housing will be mandated in new housing developments on rezoned land across Sydney, in a major change to the city's planning laws poised to be introduced by the state government. The requirement will be included in six draft 'district plans' to be released next month by the Greater Sydney Commission, the new planning agency headed by Lucy Turnbull. The plans mean that when land is rezoned for higher densities, 5-10 per cent of the extra floor space will be slated for low income housing managed by community providers. The affordable housing targets would apply to land owned both by private property holders and the state government, Fairfax Media has learned. Queensland's police commissioner will meet with Dreamworld about the timing of the theme park's reopening for Friday. Dreamworld issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon announcing it would open the theme park for a memorial day three days after four people died on the Thunder River Rapids ride. Dreamworld said it hoped the memorial day would be considered as "the start of the healing process for all concerned", and planned to reopen from Friday with activities limited to smaller rides, animal attractions and the water park. However on Thursday morning, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Police Commissioner Ian Stewart and Dreamworld would later that day discuss the timing of the park's reopening. A Gold Coast man is fighting for life after an alleged "coward punch" while trying to break up a fight in the tourist strip's nightlife hotspot. The 23-year-old was trying to separate two groups of people fighting in Surfers Paradise's Orchid Avenue about 3am, police said. A man is in critical condition after a fight broke out at Surfers Paradise's Orchid Avenue. Credit:Jess Millward/Nine News A police spokesman said it appeared another man had run up behind the victim, punched him to the back of the head and knocked him to the ground. "Then he's gotten up and then he's fallen to the ground again," he said. : 9 2013 . 9 . . In the third quarter, we continued to report better results compared with last year, and all business areas reported improved results in 2016. Business area Engineering Services Nordic noted continued strong demand from the automotive industry, while the energy sector was relatively weak. In business area Engineering Services Germany, a reorganisation was initiated at the end of last year and a new organisation is now in place to achieve improved productivity with an even greater customer focus. During the autumn, construction will also commence of a new facility for engineering services and advanced testing in Ingolstadt with the aim of strengthening Semcons role as premium partner to the German automotive industry. In business area Engineering Services International, we are increasing our deliveries in projects for Europe, such as in autonomous vehicles. The Groups higher number of project commitments also means that we have greater possibilities to use the expertise available in Semcons international organisation, which generates distinct added value for our customers. The interest in Business Area Product Informations customers aftermarket business offering remains strong. More companies are seeing the benefits of employing a partner whose core business is to create, digitalize and distribute product information. The new partnership agreements signed earlier this year are clear evidence of this. During the third quarter, we launched our new communication strategy and it is positive to see the attention and spread that the launch of the Smiling Car concept has had globally. In addition, a new graphic profile and new website were launched. With our new communication strategy, we are increasing our visibility and becoming even more distinct in our communication in relation to our position and our customer offering. We have a clear ambition to increase Semcons market share and further strengthen the brand. Our international expertise in product development in several industries is a key element in contributing to our customers success. Our mission, to develop products that make life simpler for the end-user, is becoming increasingly important now that the next generation of smart products is being launched. Third quarter The operating income amounted to SEK 591 million (611) and organic growth was -3% The operating profit amounted to SEK 23 million (13), yielding an operating margin of 3.8% (2.2) The profit after tax amounted to SEK 16 million (9) Earnings per share (EPS) after dilution amounted to SEK 0.89 (0.51) JanuarySeptember The operating income amounted to SEK 1,957 million (1,920) and organic growth was 2% The operating profit amounted to SEK 77 million (19), yielding an operating margin of 3.9% (1.0) The profit after tax amounted to SEK 55 million (12) Earnings per share (EPS) after dilution amounted to SEK 3.05 (0.66) The equity/assets ratio amounted to 51% (47) Income and result Third quarter Operating income amounted to SEK 591 million (611). Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions, income decreased by 3%. The business areas Engineering Services Nordic and Engineering Services International showed growth, while the business areas Engineering Services Germany and Product Information had reduced sales. Operating profit amounted to SEK 23 million (13), yielding an operating margin of 3.8% (2.2). In particular, it was the business areas Engineering Services Nordic and Product Information that reported improved operating profit compared with the preceding year. Net financial items amounted to SEK -1 million (-1), yielding profit before tax of SEK 22 million (12). The tax expense amounted to SEK 5 million (3). Profit after tax was SEK 16 million (9) and EPS after dilution was SEK 0.89 (0.51). January-September Operating income amounted to SEK 1,957 million (1,920). Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions, income increased by 2%. Operating profit was SEK 77 million (19), yielding an operating margin of 3.9% (1.0). All business areas reported improved operating profit compared with the preceding year. Last year, the business area Engineering Services Germanys operating profit was affected by SEK 20 million in restructuring costs. Business area Product Informations operating profit was positively affected this year by recovered write-downs of accounts receivable of SEK 7 million. Net financial items amounted to SEK -3 million (-3), yielding profit before tax of SEK 74 million (16). The tax expense amounted to SEK 18 million (4). Profit after tax was SEK 55 million (12) and EPS after dilution was SEK 3.05 (0.66). Financial position Operating cash flow from current activities was SEK 8 million (-107). Cash flow is seasonally weak in the first three quarters. Investments in hardware, licenses, office supplies and equipment amounted to SEK 30 million (29). The Groups cash and cash equivalents amounted to SEK 56 million (43), with additional non-utilised credit of SEK 257 million (179) as per September 30. Shareholders equity amounted to SEK 638 million (617) and the equity/assets ratio was 51% (47). During the second quarter, a dividend of SEK 22 million (45) was paid to shareholders. The Groups net debt amounted to SEK 133 million (214). Excluding pension commitments, net debt amounted to SEK 60 million (146). The debt/equity ratio was 0.2 times (0.3). Employees The head count on September 30 was 2,858 (2,864) and the number of employees in active service was 2,699 (2,783). In the respective business areas the head count is as follows: Engineering Services Nordic 1,092 (1,011), Engineering Services Germany 822 (980), Engineering Services International 363 (345) and Product Information 581 (528). A restructuring has taken place over the past year in business area Engineering Services Germany resulting in a fall of number of employees. For more information, contact Bjorn Stromberg, CFO Semcon AB, +46 31-721 03 06 www.semcon.com Semcon is an international technology company that develops products based on human needs and behaviours. We strengthen our customers competitiveness by always starting from the end user, because the person who knows most about the users needs creates the best products and the clearest benefits to humans. Semcon collaborates mainly with companies in the automotive, industry, energy and life science sectors. With almost 3,000 specialised employees, Semcon has the ability to take care of the entire product development cycle, from strategy and technology development to design and product information. Semcon was founded in Sweden in 1980 and has offices in over 40 locations in nine different countries. In 2015, the Group reported annual sales of SEK 2.6 billion. Read more on semcon.com. BlackBerry has showed off the last phone it will market itself before completely outsourcing design, production and distribution to partners: a 5.5-inch touchscreen device that rivals the size of the iPhone 7 Plus and Google Pixel XL, but at a lower price. The DTEK60 isn't exactly a full BlackBerry phone. Like the DTEK50, which BlackBerry released in July, it was partly designed and manufactured by Chinese electronics company TCL and uses BlackBerry's version of Android. It's geared toward companies and government departments that don't want their employees using personal phones for sensitive work business. BlackBerry has been winding down its shrinking smartphone unit ever since CEO John Chen took over three years ago and began focusing more on software. Last month, BlackBerry said it would completely stop designing its phones and instead license out the BlackBerry brand to other manufacturers. "This phone is somewhat of a bridge to that world," COO Marty Beard said in a phone interview. With future phones, BlackBerry won't hold inventory or sell the devices itself. The DTEK60 is available now in the US, retailing for $US499. Aside from the larger screen, other upgrades from the DTEK50 include a higher-megapixel camera, new fingerprint sensor and a memory card slot. Dramatic footage has emerged of the moment two police officers shot a man in a suburban street after he allegedly tried to carjack a BMW in Melbourne's south-east. The CCTV footage shows the 26-year-old man falling to the ground outside a house on Stud Road in Dandenong on Wednesday. Moments earlier, another camera captured the police officers chasing the man across the busy road, with one of them holding his gun. The man had been a passenger in a car stopped by police just after 4pm. Police said they chased him when he jumped out of the car and ran away. A man and woman have been charged after allegedly firing shots at police during a drug raid in Melbourne's south-east on Wednesday morning. Police were executing a search warrant at a house in Ascot Place, Keysborough, when they came under fire from one of the home's occupants. Police say officers returned fire after number of shots were fired by an occupant of the Keysborough home. Credit:Joe Armao A police officer fired a number of shots in return before his fellow officers managed to overpower a 33-year-old woman. She has been charged with attempted murder and using a firearm to resist arrest. Photographers in Perth's south have captured some crystal clear images of the Aurora Australis - one of the rarest sights in the night sky. Also known as the Southern Lights, the Aurora Australis occur when the sun releases a huge burst of solar wind and magnetic fields into space, which then reaches the earth's magnetic fields and produces energy discharges in the form of a bright display of light. The Aurora Australis occur when the sun releases a huge burst of solar wind and magnetic fields into space. Credit:Sara Nesteriak Sara Nesteriak's pictures were taken at South Yunderup on Tuesday night and show the light display burning across the horizon above the Mandurah estuary. It seems that was the best vantage point - photographer Steve Brooks said that when he heard the southern lights had been switched on he knew where to go. Western Australians have been issued a measles alert, after an infected Singapore Airlines passenger disembarked in Perth on October 21. The passenger was infected whilst on holiday in Japan, and was contagious for the duration of the flight. The plane arrived at 5.15am on Friday October 21. Credit:Jay Cronan Passengers who were travelling on Singapore Airline flights SQ 633 from Tokyo to Singapore and SQ 225 Singapore to Perth were potentially exposed to the disease. The alert has also been issued for those who were in the arrival area of the Perth Airport International terminal at the time of the flight landing, and visitors to Forrestfield's Mead Medical Centre and St John of God Pathology on Friday October 21. Jessica Wongso at Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday. Credit:Danta Zikry Ms Salihin, 27, died on January 6 after drinking a Vietnamese iced coffee that Wongso had bought for her at the glitzy restaurant Olivier in a central Jakarta shopping mall. The prosecution said the emotionally unstable Wongso poisoned her friend to avenge her pain over Ms Salihin's criticism of Wongso's Australian ex-boyfriend. Wayan Mirna Salihin, who was found by an Indonesian court to have been poisoned with cyanide in Jakarta. Credit:Facebook The two friends had studied together at Billy Blue College of Design in Sydney. The judges said aggravating factors were that she had never admitted her crime and had killed her own friend. Jessica Wongso hears judges deliver their verdict at Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday. Credit:Danta Zikry However on her side were her youth, the fact she had never committed a crime before and could change. The crowd cheered as Ms Salihin's father, Edi Dermawan Salihin, said: "I can't say anything other than Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest)". Jessica Wongso speaks with her lawyer, Otto Hasibuan at Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday. Credit:Danta Zikry "Allah is everything, Allah can show who is cruel, who is evil, all has been proven today," Mr Salihin said. "She sadistically poisoned Mirna." Mr Salihin said Wongso may have been given the death penalty if Indonesia had not given a guarantee to the Australian Federal Police that it would not be imposed. Jessica Wongso, right, takes part in a police-organised re-enactment at the Olivier Cafe, where the poisoning was found to have taken place. Credit:Twitter "A promise was made. Indonesia is a nation that keeps its promises to Australia. What can we do? The important thing is that it has been proven that Jessica was the perpetrator, that is all." The trial, which provided a ratings boost for the TV networks, had all the plot points of a soap opera: beauty, youth, revenge, jealousy, murder, intrigue, inconclusive evidence and a murky motive. Jessica Wongso studied with the victim in Sydney. Credit:AP Talk shows dissected Wongso's inscrutable demeanour during the trial, which many interpreted as evidence of a cold heart, and Vietnamese iced coffees became the ghoulish drink du jour at cafes throughout Jakarta. It was speculated that Wongso was jealous of her beautiful friend, who had recently married. Wongso insisted to the end she was innocent. "I swear I am not a murderer," she told the court during the trial. "Mirna knows I never poisoned her." She said there was "nothing left in me" after the trial, which had been filled with bitterness. A nadir was the re-enactment of Ms Salihin's death at Olivier restaurant, during which people screamed "murderer" at her. "Only God knows what has happened," Wongso said. Mr Hasibuan had argued there was no motive for the murder. He said it didn't make sense that Wongso would travel all the way from Sydney to Jakarta to murder her friend merely because Ms Salihin had advised her to break up with her ex-boyfriend. Mr Hasibuan also pointed to the testimonies of three Australian experts who said there was no proof cyanide was the cause of death. Toxicology reports tested negative to cyanide in gastric fluid, bile, liver and urine 70 minutes after her death and only a small amount of cyanide was found in her stomach several days later. "These [toxicology] results show there is no evidence of cyanide ingestion," Australian forensic toxicologist Michael Robertson told the court. Defence expert witnesses were also critical that a full autopsy had never been conducted, saying death by natural disease could not be ruled out. Australia took a keen interest in the trial. The Australian Federal Police provided assistance after receiving an undertaking the death penalty would not be imposed. Death is the maximum punishment for premeditated murder in Indonesia. NSW police provided an insight into Wongso's tumultuous life in Australia. Multiple police reports were read to the court, mostly relating to Wongso threatening self-harm. It was also revealed that her Australian ex-boyfriend, Patrick O'Connor, had obtained an interim restraining order against Wongso, fearing she would become violent after their split. Wongso's ex-boss at the NSW Ambulance service, Kristie Carter, painted a picture of a manipulative, scheming and emotionally unstable person who had "two different personalities". Wongso had said "you must die and your mum must die" when Ms Carter had refused to help her. She had also told Ms Carter at one point: "If I wanted to kill someone I surely know how, I can get a pistol and I know the right dose". Ms Salihin's supporters, who wore white T-shirts saying "Justice for Mirna", were told by police to enter the court through the right door, while Wongso's supporters entered through the left. The United States' political slugfest is now crossing new frontiers. Less than two weeks before the presidential election, Donald Trump's campaign has released an ad airing on TV channels aimed at Indian Americans in which he not only speaks Hindi (albeit roughly), but adopts the main campaign slogan of India's current prime minister, Narendra Modi. "Ab ki baar Modi sarkaar." Those were the words Modi used to fuel his landslide victory in May 2014. They mean: "This time, a Modi government." In the ad, Trump switches Modi's name out for his own. The ad comes on the heels of Trump's address to the Indian-American community at a convention centre in Edison, New Jersey, on October 15. Featured in the ad are clips from his speech, which he used to assure Indian Americans that the United States and India would be "best friends." Trump supporters in Tampa, Florida. Credit:AP "I think it could get ugly," said Caleb Zufall of Tallahassee, Florida, who works in law enforcement. "My biggest concern is with the media. If Trump wins, I'm afraid they're going to absolutely refuse to get behind him, refuse to report it. They're going to incite violence." Trump backers are quick to dismiss polls showing Clinton with a consistent lead in enough states to win her the presidency. Forecasters rate Clinton's odds of victory at 86 per cent or higher. A Trump supporter wears a 'Crooked Hillary for prison' T-shirt at a rally at Regent University, Virginia Beach. Credit:AP "I think it's a bunch of bullsh-- propaganda," said Fred Jones, 71, of Atlanta, Georgia. "I don't believe it." "You just can't believe that crap," said Russell Taylor of Thomasville, Georgia, a Trump campaign co-chair. The Confederate flag is held aloft at a Trump rally in Tampa, Florida. Credit:AP "Trump's gonna win. He's gonna blow her out," he said, citing enthusiasm for Trump in his personal conversations. "You get a feel for things." At an outdoor rally on a chilly Tuesday evening in Tallahassee, Trump fed his fans the red meat they find so exhilarating. His first mention of Clinton prompted "lock her up!" chants a now-consistent feature at his rallies. Donald Trump greets supporters at Sanford Orlando International Airport in Florida. Credit:AP "We have a nasty, nasty election. But we have the facts on our side," he said to cheers. "We're leading a movement the likes of which has never ever been seen in this country." Trump soon turned his attention to the assembled press, who were fenced-off from the crowd and protected by security guards, accusing them of colluding with Democrats and stacking the deck against his candidacy. "There is nothing more corrupt than those people," said Trump, who has called for changing US libel laws to make it easier to win lawsuits against news organisations. "Lock 'em up!" one man nearby yelled, before letting out a chuckle. A recent Morning Consult poll found that 81 per cent of Trump supporters believe the election could be stolen from them as a result of pervasive voter fraud, even though studies find examples of it to be extremely rare. Trump has fanned the flames by becoming the first major party nominee in the modern era to refuse to commit to conceding the election if Clinton is deemed the winner. "The Marxists in this country have taken over our mainstream media," said Ron Childress, 76, from the Atlanta area said at the Tallahassee rally. "They've infiltrated our education and institutions to the point where, if we don't win now, we become either a banana republic or a Marxist regime." Nearby, a middle-aged women waved a sign that read, "Hillary Sucks, But Not Like Monica." A man near her pointed and told her in a gentle tone, "I like the sign." Childress believes Obama is helping Clinton steal the election, and sees the president's Christian faith as a cover. "He's closet Muslim, and I think that'll come out when he's out of office," he said, adding that Clinton is a "sympathiser" of Muslims who also wants to force Americans to give up their guns. Either that or "she will make it almost impossible to buy a gun" by raising taxes on ammunition, he said, eciting proposals that have never been in Clinton's platform. Given that 41 per cent of Republicans in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday said they thought Clinton would win the election versus 40 per cent who said Trump, the voices heard at the candidate's rallies may not be reflective of the average party member or even the average Trump voter come Election Day. But they've proven to be larger, angrier and more dedicated to him than the party's consultant class imagined, making him invincible in the Republican primary. Now they're turning some of their anger toward party leaders like House Speaker Paul Ryan, whose support of Trump has come with caveats of biting criticism. "Paul Ryan he was my guy. I think now he's just a lot of talk. I want him out," said 19-year-old Gus Wollaeger, a student at Florida State University. Ryan "needs to go to jail. He's basically a traitor," said Craig Boyd, 47, of Tallahassee. "He has sold us out. He's a backstabber. He's bought and sold by the left." And Clinton? "Hillary's trying to steal it," Boyd said. How? "Rigging voting machines, rigging polls, tearing up Trump ballots," he said all unsubstantiated assertions that Trump has legitimised among followers. Joe Fogleman, of New Bern, North Carolina sees mischief of another kind. "It's rigged in the sense that there's no doubt there's a lot of collusion between the Democrats and the White House and the press to push charges against Trump that are baseless," he said. Clinton, for her part, labelled Trump's conspiracy theories about a fixed election "disturbing, dark, dangerous, divisive" during a Wednesday campaign stop in Lake Worth, Florida. Some of Trump's supporters, however, recognise he's the underdog. Rachel Henderson, a 25-year-old receptionist in Tallahassee, confessed that she believes Clinton "has an advantage" in the race. Two-thirds of American voters expect Clinton to win the election, and a similar number say they have confidence the votes will be accurately tallied, according to a CNN poll released on Tuesday. SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Opiant) (OTCQB:OPNT), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for substance use, addictive and eating disorders, announced today that its patent for NARCAN Nasal Spray (NARCAN) is now listed in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publication, Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book, patent number 9468747. The patent for naloxone hydrochloride metered 4 milligram nasal spray, N208411, offers product exclusivity for NARCAN until 2035. The issuance of this patent and subsequent Orange Book listing significantly strengthens our intellectual property, said Roger Crystal, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Opiant. An Orange Book listing requires an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) applicant seeking FDA approval of a generic version of NARCAN Nasal Spray to notify us and our partner Adapt Pharma before it can obtain FDA approval. This would be subject to a 30-month stay of marketing approval and potentially longer if notification occurs and a patent infringement suit is successful. Opiant successfully developed NARCAN, marketed by its partner and licensee, Adapt Pharma Limited (Adapt). In November 2015, NARCAN was approved by the FDA for emergency reversal of opioid overdose. There are now two Orange Book listed patents that cover NARCAN Nasal Spray. This recent one also has broader applicability across Opiants portfolio, said Dr. Crystal. We expect to continue generating more intellectual property relevant for both NARCAN Nasal Spray and our development pipeline. In December 2014, Opiant announced a licensing deal with respect to NARCAN with Adapt. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Opiant could receive total potential milestone payments of more than $55 million, plus up to double-digit percentage royalties on net sales. About Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for substance use, addictive and eating disorders. Over 45 million people in the U.S. have one of these disorders. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describes these disorders as chronic relapsing brain diseases which burden society at both the individual and community levels. With its innovative opioid antagonist nasal delivery technology, Opiant is positioned to become a leader in these treatment markets. Its first product, NARCAN Nasal Spray, is marketed in the U.S. by the companys partner, Adapt Pharma Limited. Currently, Opiant is developing opioid antagonists for the treatment of substance use, addictive and eating disorders, with a near term focus on eating disorders and cocaine use disorder. For more information please visit: www.opiant.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industrys actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed, implied or inferred by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, will, should, could, would, expects, plans, intends, anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, projects, potential, or continue or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider various factors. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. We undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform those statements to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi... Robotics upper and lower body development and commercial product line focused on stroke rehabilitation and mobility solutions Development and commercialization strategy designed to provide robotic rehabilitation product solutions from hospital to home; representing $11 billion addressable market Product launch of next generation upper body commercial product line planned in Q2 2017 expected to drive revenue growth Compelling clinical data expected to significantly differentiate product portfolio and support marketing and reimbursement Robust business development strategy to identify strategic partners to expand into key markets TORONTO and BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (OTCQX:BNKL) (Bionik or the "Company"), a global pioneering robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and mobility solutions to individuals with neurological disorders, today provided a corporate overview and business outlook including the Companys development and commercial strategy. The Company also summarized anticipated events and key near-term corporate, development, clinical and regulatory milestones. Peter Bloch, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, stated, 2016 has been a transformative year for Bionik with the significant expansion of our product portfolio with the acquisition of Interactive Motion Technologies (IMT) in April. Our product portfolio now includes both lower and upper body robotic rehabilitation products, including three FDA-cleared commercial products and four development-stage products. Following the completion of this transaction, the Bionik team conducted an in-depth strategic review including a comprehensive market analysis, product pipeline development prioritization, business development and growth focus and marketing and commercial planning. It is clear that opportunities to unlock tremendous value for Bionik lie ahead with our focus on addressing the stroke market, a large, well-established and growing opportunity, and this clear and deliberate strategic pivot underscores our vision of becoming a leading robotic medical technology Company offering complete rehabilitation and mobility solutions for the neurologically impaired from hospital to home. In the United States, stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Stroke costs are estimated at $34 billion each year, including services, medications and missed workdays. Approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke each year of which 650,000 people survive. The Company believes that over 400,000 of those survivors are sufficiently impaired to benefit from interactive robotic therapy. There are over 6.5 million stroke survivors in the U.S. alone, and in Europe, the numbers are roughly 20-25% larger than in the U.S. and in China approximately 3 times larger, across similar measures and with the same trending. The number of people worldwide affected by stroke has been growing rapidly, especially in younger age groups and in low-to-middle-income countries. It is estimated that the number of stroke patients are expected to double by 2030 and double again by 2050. These numbers are absolutely staggering, but importantly, obviate the need for innovative solutions for rehabilitation and recovery for stroke patients worldwide to address the shortcomings of traditional treatment in addition to the socioeconomic impact that exists globally. We plan to offer complete product solutions that treat the patients through the continuum of care to ensure that every patient achieves their mobility goals, added Mr. Bloch. Bionik provided an overview of its three U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared commercial products and its four development stage programs expected to be advanced towards commercialization. Upper Extremity Commercial-Stage Rehabilitation Robots InMotion ARM Interactive Therapy System The InMotion ARM robot is designed to rehabilitate stroke patients with upper body neurological limitations. The product is evidence based, intelligent, interactive technology capable of continuously adapting to and challenging the patient's ability. This allows the clinician to efficiently deliver personalized intensive sensorimotor therapy to neurologic patients. The InMotion ARM is the most thoroughly researched robotic device for upper extremity neurorehabilitation. InMotion WRIST Interactive Therapy System The InMotion WRIST robot is capable of lifting even a severely neurologically impaired patient's hand against gravity, overcoming most forms of hypertonicity. The InMotion WRIST robot accommodates the range of motion of a normal wrist in everyday tasks and can be used by clinicians as a stand-alone treatment option or in addition to the InMotion ARM to offer progressive modular robotic neurorehabilitation. InMotion HAND Interactive Therapy System The InMotion HAND robot is an add-on option to the InMotion ARM. The InMotion HAND is capable of continuously adapting to the needs of each patient delivering customizable therapy. This module provides assist-as-needed grasp and release training with flexible positioning. It may be used in neutral (vertical) or pronation mode for patients with limited range due to developmental or tone impairments. The InMotion HAND can be used to train grasp and release separately or in combination with the reaching movements of the InMotion ARM. Upper Extremity Development-Stage Rehabilitation Robots InMotion ARM/WRIST/HAND Version 2 (AWH V2) The InMotion AWH V2 is a current priority development project geared towards advancing the existing InMotion products to improve the user experience and product design. No additional regulatory or clinical data is required, and Bionik plans to launch this next generation product line in the second quarter of 2017. InMotion LIGHT InMotion LIGHT is an upper extremity product that allows the patient to extend their therapy for as long as needed while rehabilitating at home and is being developed on the same design platform as the InMotion clinical products. The InMotion LIGHT is currently in development and the Company expects to release it commercially in 2018. Stroke is a lifelong condition and nearly 70% of stroke patients requiring therapy are still impaired enough to justify ongoing treatment beyond the initial phase of recovery and we believe, would benefit significantly from home robotic therapy. This underserved patient population, combined with the millions of people living with chronic neurological impairment, is our justification for developing the InMotion LIGHT product and why we believe the market opportunity is so large, commented Hermano I. Krebs, Ph.D., M.S., the Companys Chief Science Officer. Lower Body Development-Stage Product Pipeline ARKE Lower Body Exoskeleton The ARKE lower body exoskeleton is designed to allow paraplegics and other wheelchair bound individuals to walk and rehabilitate. ARKE has sensors throughout the device, which sense body movement and trigger motion and is fully customizable to fit most patients with different heights and weights. It includes a tablet interface which allows the therapist to easily adjust all parameters of rehabilitation. Validation testing is expected to continue through 2016. The Company then anticipates the completion of clinical testing of ARKE 2.1 in the first quarter of 2017 and the completion of clinical testing of ARKE 2.5 in the first quarter of 2018. InMotion AnkleBot The InMotion AnkleBot is an exoskeletal robotic ankle system using the same design principles in upper extremity rehabilitation. The InMotion AnkleBot is based on a design developed at the Newman Laboratory for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation at MIT and is currently available in multiple clinics for research in the U.S. The Company expects to file for FDA clearance in the third quarter of 2017 with planned market introduction in the first quarter of 2018. In addition, Bionik has a new product candidate for gait assistance for rehabilitation based on a design being developed by Dr. Krebs. The Company expects to further advance the development of this product in 2017. InMotion Products are Evidenced Based and Clinically Proven There has been an extensive pool of research conducted that demonstrates the clinical efficacy of the InMotion products in independent, randomized, controlled studies. Over 200 papers have been published and presented at prestigious scientific congresses and in peer-reviewed journals. There have been more than 1,000 patients studied in clinical trials with outcomes demonstrating clinical and economically significant results compared to conventional therapy. The Companys clinical studies meet the highest standard of scientific rigor. In addition to improved health outcomes, a randomized clinical trial demonstrated a 25% reduction in total health care expenses over a 36-week period, as compared to a matching intensity therapist delivered intervention. The 2010 and 2016 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for stroke care, as well as the 2010 Department of Veterans Affairs post-stroke rehabilitation guidelines recommended robot assisted therapy for upper extremity motor rehabilitation. The Company previously announced its ongoing Robot Assisted Training for the Upper Limb after Stroke (RATULS) study being led by Newcastle University under the auspices of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) HTA Programme. This landmark study is the largest ever conducted with robotics rehabilitation. This three-arm randomized clinical trial enrolling 720 subjects across four study centers in the United Kingdom is designed to determine whether robot assisted training improves upper limb function post stroke using InMotion therapy products compared to enhanced upper limb therapy or conventional therapy. The investigating team expects to complete the study in 2018 and publish the results in 2019. The Company believes the outcome of this study is expected to significantly impact reimbursement for Bionik products as well as international market expansion. Timothy A. McCarthy, Chief Commercialization Officer of Bionik commented, The commercial plan that we have put in place emphasizes Bioniks competitive advantage, which includes clinical evidence supporting improved outcomes and reduced overall cost with robotic treatment when compared to conventional treatment. The Companys commercial plan is a potentially game-changing strategy to take control of the channel by delivering clinically and economically proven robotic solutions throughout the continuum of care for the neurologically impaired, which we believe will build enormous value to shareholders. Growth Strategy Focused on Further Pipeline Expansion Bioniks growth strategy is designed to leverage its current product portfolio and internal development programs. Its newly formed commercialization team is expected to build out a robust sales and distribution channel. This includes leveraging sales models for the product pipeline with revenue sharing, leasing and rental strategies. Bioniks management team expects to further leverage its in-depth research and development relationships including those with professors at MIT to identify additional synergistic robotic technologies. Over time, the Company expects to expand its product pipeline through strategic partnering and acquisitions. Due to the huge market opportunity that exists, we plan to launch financing model options for customers requiring flexibility, while we establish strategic partnerships with companies who can support our efforts to build a comprehensive distribution network to access key markets globally. Given our position in the market as the only evidence-based solution and our robust product portfolio, we believe that with the right partners and people, we have the right plan in place that will propel Bionik forward in a meaningful way, ultimately enabling us to achieve our stated goal of becoming the leading robotic medical technology company by offering complete rehabilitation solutions from hospital to home for the neurologically impaired, added Mr. McCarthy. We fully intend to build upon the groundwork and momentum we have created this year and will continue to focus on operational excellence as we drive the development and commercialization of our product portfolio forward. This is just the beginning for Bionik with the many growth and value driving opportunities that exist for the Company in the near and long term. I believe we have firmly positioned Bionik to become a leader in this transformative shift from conventional to robotic treatment for neuro rehabilitation and most importantly, significantly impact the lives of millions of individuals recovering from those impairments, most notably stroke, and ultimately unlocking significant value for our shareholders, Mr. Bloch concluded. About Bionik Laboratories Bionik Laboratories (OTCQX:BNKL), is a global, pioneering robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and mobility solutions to individuals with neurological disorders. The Company has a portfolio of products focused on upper and lower extremity rehabilitation for stroke and paraplegic patients, including three products on the market and four products in varying stages of development. The InMotion Systems - the InMotion ARM, InMotionWrist, InMotion Hand and InMotion AnkleBot, are designed to provide intelligent, patient-adaptive therapy in a manner that has been clinically verified to maximize neuro-recovery. Bionik is also developing a lower-body exoskeleton, ARKE, designed to allow paraplegics as well as other wheelchair users the ability to rehabilitate through walking. ARKE is expected to be designed to continually adapt to a patients ability and provide real time feedback to the physiotherapist. For more information, please visit www.bioniklabs.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the design, development and commercialization of human exoskeletons and other rehabilitation products, (ii) a projection of income (including income/loss), earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items, (iii) the Company's future financial performance, (iv) the successful integration of IMT with Bionik, (v) the successful integration of the Companys new commercialization team and (vi) the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in points (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events or circumstances and may not be realized because they are based upon the Company's current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences, many of which the Company has no control over. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the inaccuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, the Company's inability to obtain additional financing, the significant length of time and resources associated with the development of our products and related insufficient cash flows and resulting illiquidity, the Company's inability to expand the Company's business, significant government regulation of medical devices and the healthcare industry, lack of product diversification, volatility in the price of the Company's raw materials, and the Company's failure to implement the Company's business plans or strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company's filings with the SEC. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. For Dogs, its Trick and Treat Its almost Halloween, a great time to teach your dog a trick and give him a treat. Most trainers are fans of trick training. Its not as silly as it... Muzzle is not a bad word If you see a dog in a muzzle, you immediately think the dog is aggressive. Right? Well, this is not always true. Unfortunately, seeing a dog in a muzzle carries... Sales at 14.0 billion (minus 20%) Good volumes growth, lower prices, significantly negative portfolio effects EBIT before special items at 1.5 billion (minus 5%) Earnings rise in chemicals business due to considerable growth in Performance Products and Functional Materials & Solutions segments Outlook 2016 confirmed: Considerable sales decline due to divestiture of gas trading business EBIT before special items expected at level slightly below 2015 LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany and FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the third quarter of 2016, BASF increased its earnings and volumes in the chemicals business. Demand from the automotive and construction industries in particular remained robust worldwide. In Europe, we saw moderate growth across all sectors. The summer lull in July and August was less pronounced than in prior years. In Asia, the upward trend continued in the third quarter. Growth in China was slightly higher than we had expected at the beginning of the year. Demand in North America developed modestly; however, we experienced continued positive momentum in the automotive and construction industries. Economic development in South America remained weak and business confidence low. Volumes decreased, especially in Brazil, our largest market in the region, said Dr. Hans-Ulrich Engel, Chief Financial Officer of BASF SE. The BASF Groups sales decreased by 20% in the third quarter of 2016 to 14.0 billion, mainly as a result of the divestiture of the gas trading and storage business as part of the asset swap with Gazprom at the end of September 2015. This business had contributed 2.9 billion to sales in the third quarter of 2015. Portfolio effects were, in total, responsible for 18 percentage points of the decline in sales. Moreover, sales prices were reduced (minus 5%) by lower raw material prices. The volumes increase (plus 4%) was primarily supported by the Functional Materials & Solutions and Chemicals segments. Income from operations (EBIT) before special items declined by 87 million to 1.5 billion, primarily as a result of smaller contributions from the Oil & Gas segment and from Other. In the chemicals business and the Agricultural Solutions segment, however, EBIT before special items increased. Net income fell from 1.2 billion to 888 million. Earnings per share were 0.97 in the third quarter of 2016, compared with 1.31 in the same quarter of 2015. Adjusted for special items and amortization of intangible assets, earnings per share amounted to 1.10 (third quarter of 2015: 1.07). North America In North America, sales declined by 6% in both local currency and euro terms compared with the previous third quarter. This was mostly due to the price declines following a drop in raw material prices. Sales were furthermore dampened by lower volumes in the Chemicals and Performance Products segments. At 260 million, income from operations was up by 2 million compared with the same quarter of the previous year. BASF experienced modest demand in North America and continued positive momentum in the automotive and construction industries, said Wayne T. Smith, Chairman and CEO, BASF Corporation. The region remains an attractive market due to its anticipated economic growth over the next decade, its standing as the second largest chemical market in the world, and lower feedstock costs. Outlook for 2016 BASFs expectations for the global economic environment in 2016 have only been adjusted in terms of the oil price (previous forecast in parentheses): Growth in gross domestic product: 2.3% (2.3%) Growth in industrial production: 2.0% (2.0%) Growth in chemical production: 3.4% (3.4%) Average euro/dollar exchange rate: $1.10 per euro ($1.10 per euro) ($1.10 per euro) Annualized average price of a barrel of oil: $45 ($40 per barrel) BASF assumes that the logistic and supply bottlenecks resulting from the fire at the North Harbor in Ludwigshafen will negatively impact earnings for the business year. They have not, however, resulted in a change in the BASF Group outlook for 2016. The company confirms its forecast for sales and EBIT before special items of the BASF Group: Sales will decrease considerably in 2016. As a consequence of the asset swap with Gazprom, contributions to the Oil & Gas segment ceased from the gas trading and storage business in particular. In the first three quarters of 2015, these activities had contributed a total of around 10.1 billion to sales. Sales will be furthermore reduced by lower prices for oil and gas. BASF wants to increase sales volumes, excluding the effects of acquisitions and divestitures. We continue to expect EBIT before special items to be slightly below the level of 2015. This remains an ambitious goal in the current volatile and challenging environment, and in light of the fire of October 17 and its consequences, said Engel. Development in the segments Sales in the Chemicals segment declined by 7% to 3.4 billion compared with the third quarter of 2015. This was essentially due to lower prices on account of decreased raw material prices, especially in the Petrochemicals and Intermediates divisions. Volumes were raised overall. At 497 million, EBIT before special items was 136 million below the level of the previous third quarter, mostly due to reduced margins in the Petrochemicals and Intermediates divisions. Margins increased in the Monomers division, however. Fixed costs rose as a particular result of the startup of new production facilities. Sales amounted to 3.8 billion in the Performance Products segment, 3% below the previous third quarters level. Prices fell, owing primarily to the oil-price-related reduction in raw material costs, as well as ongoing pressure on prices in the hygiene business. The 2015 divestiture of parts of the pharmaceutical ingredients and services business and sale of the paper hydrous kaolin business also dampened sales development. All divisions raised their sales volumes. As a result of this and of significantly reduced fixed costs, as well as improved margins overall, income from operations (EBIT) before special items grew by 145 million to 464 million. In the Functional Materials & Solutions segment, increased volumes led to sales growth of 3%, to 4.7 billion. Volumes especially rose in business with the automotive industry. Demand from the construction industry remained at an overall high level. Lower prices, negative currency effects and the divestiture of the global polyolefin catalysts business slightly dampened sales. As a result of the higher volumes and reduced fixed costs, income from operations (EBIT) before special items grew by 126 million to 497 million. Sales in the Agricultural Solutions segment declined by 3% year-on-year to 1.0 billion. Positive currency effects were unable to compensate for lower volumes. Prices matched the level of the previous third quarter. EBIT before special items rose by 90 million to 97 million compared with the third quarter of 2015. This was mainly an effect of improved margins through a more favorable product mix in Europe, Asia and South America, as well as reduced fixed costs. At 618 million, sales in the Oil & Gas segment were 83% lower than in the same quarter of the previous year, primarily as a result of the divestiture of the gas trading and storage business. In the continuing oil and gas business, production rose by 13% year-on-year, whereas price and currency effects were minus 15%. EBIT before special items fell by 177 million to 194 million. This was mainly attributable to the lower price levels, along with the divestiture of the gas trading and storage business. Other saw a sales decrease of 21% to 538 million. EBIT before special items fell by 135 million to minus 233 million, primarily because of valuation effects for the long-term incentive (LTI) program. The third quarter of 2016 included additions to provisions for the LTI program, whereas provisions had been released in the same quarter of the previous year. About BASF BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.4 billion in 2015. For more information about BASFs North American operations, visit www.basf.us. At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of more than 70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information at www.basf.com. You can obtain further information from the internet at the following addresses: Quarterly statement basf.com/pcon Photos basf.com/pressphotos Forward-looking statements This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current estimates and projections of BASF management and currently available information. They are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not be accurate. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of BASF to be materially different from those that may be expressed or implied by such statements. BASF does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release. How do you get Donald Trump to talk to you with less than two weeks to go before Election Day? Tell him exactly what he wants to hear. Thats been the approach by Fox News Sean Hannity and radio host Rush Limbaugh. And now we can add Mark Halperin to that list. The co-host of Bloomberg Politics With All Due Respect (which also airs on MSNBC) and Showtimes The Circus approached Trump after he delivered a ribbon-cutting speech to open his new Washington, D.C. hotel on Wednesday and asked some truly laughable questions of the Republican nominee. For instance, People who say this was a great Trump speech, as far as youre concerned, do you think theyre all great? Yes, he does, but this one wasnt enough in the Make America Great Again spirit to rile up his rally crowds. Then there was this one: Youve redefined how candidates talk about polls. Some polls youre winning, some youre behind. We have a new poll where you are up in Florida. Whats your general sense of where you are in the battleground states? Trump thinks hes winning in Iowa and Ohio, as well as in Florida by much more than the new Bloomberg poll, which has him up by two points in that must-win state (though hes still not favored to win it overall). The real-estate mogul also thinks hes winning in North Carolina and will soon be winning in New Hampshire. Halperin did not disagree with these assessments despite the fact that all polling aggregators say otherwise. Do you think youre going to get 270 electoral votes? Halperin asked. Yes, Trump replied, I think were going to win. And with that, Halperin took a sharp turn to talk about WikiLeaks, asking Trump what aspect of the email hack has been undercovered by the mediathe same question he asked Julian Assange on The Circus this past Sunday. The mocking from political Twitter was swift. Halperins soft treatment of Trump in Washington on Wednesday was not an isolated incident. Just this week, he was singled out by the Washington Posts Dana Milbank as being one of the lap dogs of democracy who didnt bark at Trump. This has especially come across on Morning Joe, where Halperin is a frequent guest. When the rest of the media was up in arms over Trumps refusal to say if he would accept the results of the election, Halperin joined Joe Scarborough in framing the issue as one that only matters to elites, adding, normal people wont care about that answer. Again, Halperin might want to take a peek at scientific polling before he weighs in on issues like these. One poll immediately following the debate showed that 65% of Americans disapproved of Trumps answer on that particular question. Yet somehow, the word rigged did not come up during his interview with Trump today. During the 13th season of The Apprentice, Donald Trump infamously told celebrity contestant and Playboy Playmate Brande Roderick that it must be a pretty picture, you dropping to your knees. That was the oral-sex joke that made it to air on NBC; what didnt was two seasons worth of Trump telling Roderick he wanted to marry her and talking about how badly he wanted to fuck the Playboy model with the perfect body and gorgeous tits, three former Apprentice employees tell The Daily Beast. [Trump] kept proposing to her and telling her how beautiful she was. I think he was trying to be charming, said one Apprentice staffer, recalling Trumps words with Roderick during The Apprentices eighth seasonthe second edition of Celebrity Apprentice. The staffer spoke on the condition of anonymity due to strict nondisclosure agreements those working on the TV production had to sign. When he invited her back for another season [of The Apprentice], he kept asking repeatedly again, saying he wanted her as his wife. It was typical Donald [and] creepy. At the time of both seasons, which aired respectively in 2009 and 2013, Trump was married to wife Melania, a former model who got hitched to the mogul in 2005. Trumps reign during the Celebrity Apprentice era of the show is already marred by multiple accounts of scandal, questionable management, and Trumps own offensive remarks and obscenities. Rodericks stint on the 2013 season of Celebrity Apprentice made political news two years later, when Fox News host Megyn Kelly asked Trump during the first Republican primary debate about an incident broadcasted on his NBC series. The remark came after contestant Bret Michaels described how Roderick had gotten down on her knees and begged not to be fired. Trump, seated across the table from them in the shows boardroom, quickly zeroed in on that image and cut in by asking, Excuse me, you dropped to your knees? Yes, Roderick answered. Must be a pretty picture, you dropping to your knees, Trump lasciviously replied, making a blowjob joke that less than three years after the shows initial airing would become political news. (Trump buddy Piers Morgan, a judge on that episode, chuckled along with the host in response.) When the cameras werent rolling, Trumps language and comments on the Playboy model would get more graphic. I would fuck her, take her now, another source recalls Trump saying during production, saying that the marriage/flirting stuff was also a recurring thing. He would say really gross shit about her all the time, sometimes in the boardroomthat he said these things about her was the least surprising thing, really, the ex-staffer continued. He would comment all the time saying how incredibly beautiful she was, with this gorgeous and perfect body. He kept leering after her the whole time she was on for [that 13th] season. She definitely became something of a sexual obsession to him, and everyone could see it Again, that wasnt shocking to anyone on the show. At that point, after many years, it was just him being Trump. The former staffer commented that Trumps observations of Rodericks backside and breasts seemed almost pervasive, a point that was corroborated by colleagues. He definitely said crude, awful things about her fairly frequently, no doubt, another Apprentice alumnus told The Daily Beast. I cant remember exact [full] comments he made, but fuck and tits came up a fair amount. Whenever tape was rolling, wed have to tell [Trump]every dayyou cant say that, you cant say this, another former Apprentice staffer said. Itd be fuck this, how do you think youd want to fuck her that, what do you think about her ass [that], what do you think about her tits. It was a daily thing! It was like nothing was on his mind except for sex. Roderick, for her part, didnt appear to hold a grudge against her pal Donald, at least as of last year. In August 2015, following the Republican debate where her story came up, Roderick quickly defended Trump, telling Inside Edition, I kind of let it go in one ear and out the other because Ive never had a negative experience with Donald. Roderick also claimed to have no memory of Trumps lewd comments. I actually didnt even remember him saying that, Roderick said on MSNBC last year. Hes never been disrespectful to me, Roderick claimed. I dont condone men being derogatory, but I think he was justhes on television, hes trying to be funny. I dont think that he meant anything horrible by it. On Thursday afternoon, the day after this story published, the Trump campaign responded, emailing The Daily Beast Roderick's statement. "I want to address the article that came out this morning in the daily beast and many others that have now circulated regarding my relationship with Mr. Donald Trump," the statement reads. "The story is a complete lie. While on the celebrity apprentice Mr. Trump never approached me or asked me out, was never inappropriate in any way let alone ask me to marry him. This whole story is laughable...My experience on The Apprentice was that of professionalism and respect. With that said, I completely rebuke this story." "Your article is completely false and without merit," Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung emailed The Daily Beast. "The 'sources' you spoke with either do not exist or are misinformed. Did you even speak with Brande?" (Note: The Daily Beast attempted to do so. We reached out to her publicist multiples times before posting the story. We got no response.) "You need to retract your article because the reporting is way off base," Cheung continued. "This is a complete disgrace to your profession." In recent weeks, there has been plenty of reporting on derogatory comments Trump has made over the yearssome on The Apprentice, some off. (To say nothing of the flood of fresh sexual assault and harassment allegations following the release of the Republican presidential nominees now-infamous videotaped boast that he could grab [women] by the pussy and get away with it due to his celebrity status.) Earlier this month, dozens of former Apprentice staff told the Associated Press about Trumps sexually explicit comments on the shows boardroom set. We were in the boardroom one time figuring out who to blame for the task, and [Trump] just stopped in the middle and pointed to someone and said, Youd fuck her, wouldnt you? Id fuck her. Come on, wouldnt you? a former crew member said. Everyone is trying to make him stop talking, and the [female contestant] is shrinking in her seat. And Roderick is hardly the only celebrity apprentice at whom Trump apparently hurled demeaning or insulting language. Three Apprentice staffers told The Daily Beast that Trump repeatedly demeaned Marlee Matlin, an Oscar-winning actress who competed on the shows 11th season, as being mentally retardedall because she was deaf. In the 2013 season (the same one that featured the on your knees comment), Trump repeatedly referred to rapper and contestant Lil Jon as an Uncle Tomeven after several producers begged him to stop, three staffers told The Daily Beast. Trump also condoned some horrific behavior on the set, multiple former staffers told The Daily Beast. When actor Gary Busey allegedly sexually assaulted someone on The Apprentice, Trump laughed it off. Earlier this month, Summer Zervos, a former contestant on Season 5 of The Apprentice, accused Trump of sexual assault, claiming that he thrusted his genitals on her. On Saturday, American porn star and sex educator Jessica Drake came forward as the 14th woman in recent weeks to accuse Trump of sexual harassment or assault. At the time of the alleged encounter and subsequent sexual misconduct, Trump had been married to Melania Trump for less than a year. Editors note: This story was updated with Roderick's statement and comment from the Trump campaign on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 2:50 p.m. ET. Latvian English Riga, 2016-10-27 15:05 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SAF Tehnika JSC publishes its audited consolidated and non-consolidated financial statements for financial year 2015/2016 (from July 1, 2015- June 30, 2016) according to Section 56th, 5th paragraph of Law on the Financial Instruments Market of the Republic of Latvia. SAF Tehnika Group consists of SAF Tehnika JSC (hereinafter the Parent) operating from Riga, Latvia, a wholly owned subsidiaries registered in USA - SAF North America LLC and SAF Services LLC. Net turnover of the Group in the 2015/ 2016 financial year was EUR 13.71 million, which is EUR 854 thousand or 6.6% more than in the previous FY 2014/ 2015. In the reporting year, the Group continued to work at the research and identification of customer-specific needs by developing and improving the offer of niche products. Additional revenue was drawn from the development of specific customer required functionality of JSC SAF Tehnika products. Throughout the world there remains an increased demand for radio systems that provide enhanced data transmission rate and can be enhanced and updated in order to improve data usage. This tendency increasingly determines the direction of new product development both for JSC SAF Tehnika and across the markets. Exports made 99.14% of the turnover and amounted to EUR 13.6 million. During the reporting year the Group exported its products to 76 countries worldwide. At the end of the year the Groups net cash funds balance was EUR 5.91 million. The Groups net cash flow was EUR 1 591 thousand for the period of 12 months of the reporting year. During the reporting year, the Group invested EUR 456 thousand into IT infrastructure, production and research equipment, purchase of software and licenses, as well as product certification. The Group's financial result for the reporting year 2015/2016 was a profit of EUR 926 thousand. The Parent companys financial result for FY 2015/2016 was a profit 889 thousand EUR. The Board of the Company suggests that dividends in the amount of EUR 1 million be distributed to shareholders. Attachments: After her dust-up with Newt Gingrich on her show Tuesday night, the headlines spoke as one. Reluctantly, liberals have conceded that Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly is a feministeven if, as she has said, she does not see herself as one. Imagine, then, her mix of satisfaction and maybe ennui as she scrolled across some of the praise-ridden screeds out today: How Megyn Kelly Became an Improbable Feminist Icon (Vanity Fair); Megyn Kelly Has Become The Biggest Example of White Feminism At Work (Pajiba); and Aw CrapHeres Proof That Megyn Kelly Is Kind of a Feminist Role Model Now (The Stir). Note the grudging headlines. Because of Kellys employer, and because she has not fought the good feminist fight in a conventional, left-wing context throughout her career to date, the F-word mantle is being conferred upon her with something of a scowl. This, in itself, reveals a kind of blinkeredness on the part of Kellys critics: It is perfectly possible to work for a right-facing institution and not be 100 percent right wing yourself, or spout the prevailing dogma of the TV station you work for. (Full disclosure: I worked for The Times of London, a British, Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper, for over 13 years.) In a way, the question of Kellys feminism is a canard because the extreme cycle of the presidential campaign hasin the excitable, quick-to-define lens of the mediamade her into a feminist, symbolically at least, whether she likes it or not. This fame means she herself has become news, as evidenced in the widespread reporting of her contract negotiations Wednesday night. In a highly unusual response to these contract negotiations being played out, highly unusually, in public, Murdoch told the Wall Street Journal that he hoped Kelly's contract--she wants 'north' of $20 million a year--would be resolved soon. He added, pointedly, that others "would give their right arm" for her primetime slot. The hardly subtextual meaning that, much as Murdoch values her, nobody in his eyes--including Kelly--is bigger than Fox News. But he and the network would not like to lose her. Kelly is one of the few women on screen strongly standing up for women and womens related issues before a vast audience, and on a network not known for its feminist leanings. CNN and ABC are said to be keen to hire her should she leave Fox; the day after the presidential election she will be Kelly Ripa's co-host for that morning's Live With Kelly on ABC. At the first Republican primary debate, Kelly asked the question of Donald Trump that has ultimatelycrystallized in the multiple accusations of sexual assault leveled against himcome to define his soiled candidacy: Youve called women you dont like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president? This of course, led to Trumps infamous imagining of blood coming out of her whatever. Last night, Kelly called time on Gingrich, as he pivotedas wildly as viewers have come to expect from Trump surrogatesaway from discussing Trumps sexual assault accusers to blathering on about Bill Clinton. Gingrich foolishly accused Kelly of being too focused on sex; she corrected him that she was talking about sexual assault. (His incorrect conflation is depressingly telling for its own reasons.) Kelly told Gingrich that Bill Clinton wasnt running for president, and that voters were more focused on who wasDonald Trump. Were going to have to leave it at that, she said, and you can take your anger issues and spend some time working on them, Mr. Speaker. It was a brilliant broadside, because Kelly had correctly identified, and called him out, for his intemperate tone. But it also received plaudits because her repudiation mirrors ours watching the intemperate daily shouting chamber of voicesalmost always Trump supportersas they filibuster and avoid answering the Trump-related questions being asked of them. You can take your anger issues and spend time working on them, honestly should be printed on a T-shirt, and given to every one of the bug-eyed, shrill Trump surrogates squalling on cable TV. Gingrich was hit square-on by Kellys zinger. You too, he muttered weakly. A day later, he was still trying, weakly, to muster up a comeback after she had put him in his place. The bias criticism seems especially absurd because Kelly broadcasts on Fox News, known for the very opposite of liberal biasand Kelly herself has behaved, as The Daily Beast has reported, around a number of stories, like the prototype Fox News anchor. And while Kelly may have become the most publicly visible victim of Trumps misogyny, she has indicated she does not see herself as a feminist or like the word. Well, I dont like that word: feminist, Kelly told Stephen Colbert earlier in the year. I think its alienating. The reason I think that is because its been co-opted by some people who dont want you in their club unless you see certain womens issues the way they see them. I think thats alienating. I like more of the Sheryl Sandberg approach, where its take the most divisive issues and table those and see what we can agree on as women. Kelly continued that her own brand of feminism, if thats what it is, was to follow a Steve Martin motto, which is: Be so good they cant ignore you. I was never lined up outside of my bosss office saying give me an opportunity, theres not a woman in primetime I was just trying to be so good they couldnt ignore me. The best answer and the best way forward to young women out there who want to get ahead is work your tail off. Work harder than everybody. Be better than everybody else. Do better. Try harder. Many may say, sure, she can say that because she already possesses a lot of power and occupies an exalted professional position. But, even taking into account that privilege (which she has worked hard to achieve), Kelly has certainly transformed this theory into practice in recent months. Kelly, like any anchor who blurs newsgathering with polemicizing, is most certainly is pugnacious. You challenge her at your peril. She wants eyeballs on her show, and on the column inches that follow. She knows how to generate publicity, and to parlay her own image and PR from that. The presidential election has transformed her professional fortunes and power, mostly for the positivethe only misstep was the yukfest she and Trump shared when he finally spoke with her again after the first debate, after the fallout from his vicious verbal and tweeted assault of her had abated. Why was she making so nice, after he had targeted her? The media talks about their feud, but a feud requires two people actively engaging in hostilities; Kelly has not said anything intemperate about Trump. If asked about him, and what unfolded after the first Republican primary debate, she is measured in her responses. The feud is all one-wayTrumpsand his ugly campaign against her was launched because she had criticized him. His response to Kelly became the template for anyone who did the samefrom Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of gold star veteran Capt. Humayun Khan to the women accusing him of sexual assault, to any journalist or journalistic outlet that does the same. The bully immediately assumes the aggrieved position of the bullied. Kellys memoir Settle For More, to be published on Nov. 15, the week after the election, will address Kellys experience of being engulfed by the Trump hurricane, revealing never-before-heard details about the first Republican debate, its difficult aftermath, and how she persevered through it all. That may well be true, but observers have noted that Kelly is no fading flower either: Strong and ambitious, she now knows her increased professional worth in Trumps wake. Not only that, in the wake of Gretchen Carlsons allegations of the same, she also let it be known she also reportedly told investigators she had been sexually harassed by Roger Ailes at Fox News (after facing criticism for not speaking up sooner). For others targeted by Trump, and female voters revolted by him and his words and deeds, Kelly stands as the most vocal and visible of public interrogators of him, and someone who weathered all that he threw at her afterward. The moral victory is hers. Trumps image continues to be sullied; Kellys only becomes more buffed. Whether Kelly stays with Fox News in 2017 when her contract expires is unknown; but rather than the network holding the key cards she currently does. Behind the putdown she leveled at Gingrich on Tuesday night lay not just a smart journalist outflanking a surly interviewee, but a journalist who knows her own worth. If she is a feminist, she is not only one because of how she has dealt with Trump and Gingrich, but also in remaining calmly, unflappably insistent in the face of both mens blustering that those who have power should answer questions relating to alleged past abuses and misogyny. Personally, in capitalizing on the furor that followed such incidents, she has revealed a steeliness and self-possession in taking charge of her own career and future. If Kelly isnt a feminist, she has certainly set a powerful feminist exampleand that may ultimately be more powerful than owning or rejecting the word itself. As a 54-year-old action hero, Tom Cruise has a few tricks up his sleeves: elevator shoes, and a snazzy little spiritual practice known as Scientology. Much like Motorola Sidekicks and Juicy Couture zip-ups, L. Ron Hubbards controversial church appeared to peak in the 2000s, thanks to a star-studded roster of worshippers. Despite boasting a theological doctrine that is at odds with both modern science and human reason, the house that Hubbard built has welcomed such luminaries as John Travolta, Christopher Reeve, and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. Unfortunately, like a celebrity marriage arranged by church officials, these relationships have almost unanimously led to messy breakups. In 2015, King of Queens actress and ex-church member Leah Remini went public about her own Scientology separation. Remini, whose Operating Thetan 3 level in the institution allowed her access to secret L. Ron Hubbard documents, described his writings as some crazy shit, and started to cool off on the religion after Katie Holmes and Tom Cruises uncomfortable wedding. But since Scientology prohibits members from talking to those of little faith, Remini feared the personal fallout caused by her departure. These fears came to fruition when Remini was quickly smeared by the Church of Scientology, which hand-delivered a packet of anti-Remini materials to 20/20 in preparation for the actresss big tell-all interview. Remini was forced to pick up the pieces of her reputation without the help of her newly estranged friends, many of whom chose to mirror the churchs cold shoulder. But among all of Reminis allegations, the most fascinating concerned Scientologys golden boy, Tom Cruise. Being critical of Tom Cruise is being critical of Scientology itself, she told 20/20 last year. You are a person who is anti the aims and goals of Scientology. You are evil. As countless fellow stars have jumped from Scientologys creepy, sinking ship, Cruise has stood by the religion, arguably to his own personal and professional detriment. Tom Cruise is the Kellyanne Conway of Scientology. While Cruise is inarguably the celebrity face of the declining brand, hes mostly remained mum about all that thetan mumbo jumbo. Rare exceptions include a YouTube video of Cruise proselytizing among converts, which was shown at a 2004 International Association of Scientologists meeting. Over the course of the nine-minute video, Cruise reveals his cult-like dedication to the cause. I think its a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist, and its something you have to earn, because a Scientologist does, says a committed Cruise. He or she has the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions. He adds, Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident, its not like anyone else. When you drive past, you know you have to do something about it because you know youre the only one that can really help. Cruises reticence about publicly discussing his not-so-private faith is most likely due to the fact that talking about Scientology makes him sound like a raving narcissist. Given the clear and present threat to his public image, its hard to say why the actor was recently driven to break his silence. On the red carpet for his latest film, Jack Reacher 2: Never Go Back, Cruise opened up about Scientology. And unfortunately for both the star and his publicist, Cruise can never go back. The actors remarks, from calling Scientology a beautiful religion to boasting about being a member of the faith for over 30 years, can be most accurately characterized as glowing. It's something that has helped me incredibly in my life, he declared. Its something, you know, without it, I wouldnt be where I am Im incredibly proud. Unlike his Jack Reacher sequel, Cruises relationship with Scientology has been closely watched and widely discussed. In the past, a more open, jumpier Cruise credited Hubbards methods with helping him overcome his dyslexia. In return for this off-brand method of treatment, Cruise has apparently allowed the church to basically run his life. According to the incendiary Scientology documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, the Church has continuously over-reached its non-existent boundaries with celebrity clientele. When Cruises second wife, Nicole Kidman, attempted to distance her husband from the faith, she was allegedly labeled a Suppressive Person by Scientology head David Miscavige. The documentary claims that the religion proceeded to wage an all-out war against Kidman, tapping her phones and attempting to turn her children against her. Miscavige allegedly tasked Marty Rathbun, formerly the second-highest-ranking official in the Church of Scientology, with the crucial task of dismantling the celebrity marriage. I was to facilitate the breakup with Nicole Kidman, Rathbun says in the film. After Cruise and Kidman divorced in 2001, the star and his Church continued their search for a more compliant, and even more height-inappropriate partner. Cruise ultimately landed on Katie Holmes, his soon to be third ex-wife. Once Cruise and Holmes started going steady, the actress was assigned a Scientology handler to accompany her on press tours and monitor her interviews. The made-for-propaganda TV couple married in 2006 in a Scientologist wedding, with matchmaker extraordinaire Miscavige serving as Cruises best man. Like so many women attempting to ignore a glaring red flag, Holmes gave her husbands religion a shot but was reportedly overwhelmed by the intensity of both Cruise and his church buddies. When Cruise and Holmes split in 2012, it was amidst rumors that the star feared her husband was planning to ship their daughter Suri off to Sea Organ elite training division of the Church that requires its members to sign a billion-year contract. According to the ensuing divorce deposition, when lawyers asked Cruise if Holmes left him in part to protect Suri from Scientology, Cruise first said he found the question offensive and that there is no reason to protect my daughter from my religion, before admitting, Did [Holmes] say that? That was one of my assertions, yes. But while Holmes and Cruise ultimately agreed to disagree about the age of the universe and the legitimacy of psychiatry, Scientology has continued to differentiate their parenting styles to disastrous effect. While Holmes prefers a hands-on approach, including such adventures as picking Suri up from school and taking her outside, Cruise appears to parent exclusively from within the confines of his own home. The last time Cruise was photographed with his daughter Suri was around three years ago, when he took her to Disneys Typhoon Lagoon Water Park in Florida. Cruise might have an original excuse for spurning his spawn, but his divorced daddy takes you to Disney World routine is downright cliche. According to an InTouch update from early June 2015, Cruise hasnt seen his ten-year-old daughter IRL since she was seven. They used to Skype and text, but that trailed off drastically, a source told the gossip mag. In other words, Cruise has more contact with Siri than Suri. Disconnectionor the severing of all ties between a Scientologist and an antagonistic personis a common theme within Scientology. According to the official Scientology website, this extreme practice is defined as when all spiritual advancement gained from Scientology may well be lost because one is continually invalidated by an antagonistic person who wants nothing more than to do harm to the person. In order to resolve this situation, one either handles the other persons antagonism with true data about Scientology and the Church or, as a last resort, when all attempts to handle have failed, one disconnects from or stops communicating with the person. In other words, Cruise may be under direct orders not to associate with Holmes and Suri, two well-known ex-members of the Church of Scientology. While we do not know whether Cruise has entirely disconnected from his daughter, the InTouch report concluded with the frightening observation that Tom eats, breathes and sleeps Scientologya notion that his latest comments seem to corroborate. Given Cruises inability to make any statement about Scientology that doesnt sound like Stockholm Syndrome, its difficult to suss out just how deeply his ties to the church go. Then again, if Holmess rumored five-year divorce clause against publicly discussing Cruise or Scientology is actually a thing, theres still hope for an upcoming tell-all. It might be too late for Tom Cruise, but Katie Holmess explosive memoir could very well save 2016. LONDON Barring some unfortunate mitigating circumstancea Paris-style terror attack, a more serious bout of pneumonia, or a particularly egregious polenta recipe contained within John Podestas emails there is an excellent chance that Hillary Clinton will be the next president of the United States. However, one place where this contingency is not viewed with quite as much Nate-Silverish equanimity is post-Brexit England. Here, I found, the weary liberal has come to do more than doubt every poll and every reassurance of the opinion writer. He now doubts his own ability to decipher what kind of country he is living in and what it is really thinking. Donald Trump, he fears, can still snatch victory from the jaws of choke artistry, and so the liberals warning to his transatlantic cousins is this: Be afraid. Be very afraid. The reasoning, though somewhat tinged with the bitterness of recent experience, is sound. First there was the all-but-ruled-out defeat of the Labour Party in the 2015 general election, which, under even the awkward leadership of Ed Miliband, was guaranteed every success owing to the perceived resentment toward an austerity economy, a depressed job market and overflowing food banks. Well, that vote returned David Cameron to 10 Downing Street, albeit briefly, and certified the ill-fated referendum on Britains membership in the European Union the following year, the result of which was equally jarring to those who might have known better. The elites got it wrong twice in a row. Now theyre left sniffing the exhalation of their own herd. My friend Ben Judah, author of an incredible book on how contemporary London no longer resembles the city in which he grew up (because now that citys fault-lines zig-zag through class, race and nationality) told me that if it can happen here in the U.K., it can happen there in the USA. Both times, Judah said over lunch in Notting Hill, almost a self-parody of a Remain precinct, pundits and journalists found themselves stunned at the end of the campaign: all the way along they were commenting on what the polls said, a neck-and-neck liberal advantage. Not what they saw, heard, and felt on the ground, which was a conservative surge. Now in the States I am seeing way too much polls commentary and not enough ground commentary to be comfortable. Theres a famous photograph of the morning after Brexit which ran on the front page of the Guardian. It shows a bearded man in Remain HQ whod clearly been up all night, cradling a bottle of beer at around 5 oclock in the morning as the Leave camp came in ahead. That man is Michael Harris, the publisher of the left-wing journal Little Atoms. Over a decidedly more felicitous pint at a pub in Whitehall, Harris told me his theory for how Trump wins. Its the inverse of the American liberal mantra that high voter turnout usually lands a progressive in the White House (or Congress) because now, he says, crowd-sourcing turns back the clock. Brexit is a wake-up call for those who still put their faith in pollsters, he said. For the first time in a generation, a group of people angry at the pace of globalization went to the polls en masse to stick it to the political class. Many of these people had not voted for decades. Turnout in the EU referendum was 72.2% the highest turnout in any U.K.-wide election since the general election of 1992. Quite apart from the referendum being driven by IMF and World Bank statistics, it was driven by an ardor to do in one stroke what the vital center could not do with decades of policy: deliver a future based on nostalgia. A virtual wall on immigration should go up; money spent on Brussels (or not actually spent, as the case may be) should be spent on the National Health Service and domestic needs; England should be returned to its former independent and sovereign glory, whatever that was before the Poles and Romanians and Pakistanis started arriving in droves. England had been here before, 100 years ago, when the Liberal Party under H.H. Asquith and Lloyd George committed suicide by, among other things, wedding its electoral fortune to Irish Home Rule, thereby prompting a cynical Tory and Unionist backlash that nearly took the country from constitutional crisis to civil war (it was only rescued from that eventuality by world war). That backlash, as recounted by George Dangerfield, author of the finest book on that vertiginous period, The Strange Death of Liberal England, took the form of a nervous breakdown. It was the unconscious rejection of an established security. For nearly a century men had discovered in the cautious phrase, in the respectable gesture, in the considered display of reasonable emotions, a haven against those irrational storms which threatened to sweep through them. And gradually the haven lost its charms; worse still, it lost its peace. Its waters, no longer unruffled by the wind, ceased to reflect, with complacent ease, the settled skies, and untangled stars of accepted behavior and sensible conviction; and men, with a defiance they could not hope to understand, began to put forth upon little excursions into the vast, the dark, the driven seas beyond. Since World War II, the vast, dark, and driven seas have been kept more or less at a distance by liberal institutions which, if never quite the havens of prewar imagining, were at least guarantors against drowning. Until they werent. The inheritors of their slow-motion collapse are once more varied radical and reactionary movements, from Spains Podemos to Jeremy Corbyns Labour party (a patchwork of Stalinist and Trotskyist influences, whose chances of a general election success even the poll-leery liberal is certain are slim and none) to Andrzej Dudas Law and Justice Party in Poland to Marine Le Pens Front National in France to, indeed, The Donalds GOP. All of these forces do have one salient point: their success owes to the great ignored, those who feel cheated by their countries establishments and worse, arrogantly dismissed as not having the capacity ever to exact revenge. Perhaps unwittingly, said Padraig Reidy, an Irishman living in London and the editor of Harriss Little Atoms, we had bought into [Francis] Fukayama's End of History shtick, at least domestically. But very few people watching the U.S. election from here feel confident or complacent about the result. Weve seen what can happen when you drop your guard. If Trump does somehow pull it off, it will be the comeuppance of liberalisms hubris. One of two Michigan brothers arrested in Tunisia this week on suspicion of terror says he is the Islamic messiah foretold to bring about Judgment Day, according to social media posts discovered by The Daily Beast. NBC News identified one of the brothers as Patrick Alan Lawwill, 31, based on a passport shown to them by Tunisian officials Wednesday morning. Public records show Patrick has one brother who matches the age of the other suspect arrested in Tunisia, 32-year-old Nathan Wells Lawwill. Nathan posts on Facebook under a pseudonym where he says he is a convert to Islam who does not speak much Arabic and recently married in Tunisia. The day before his arrest, Nathan wrote he is a divine being. I am two in one. Mahdi to Muslims and Messiah to the Jews, he wrote. Christians hate me because they know Jesus when they see him. But not Jesus when I am hidden in plain sight. Did you not read all the parable and see the signs when I was still yet with you and now too? 3 signs confirm me, Nathan added later that day. Jesus was hung not crucified. I was held down by the police in America. I was sent to protect Tunisia from the US. Tunisian authorities told Tunisia Live that the brothers were found unwashed with long beards on Oct. 25 and that they had radical content on their computers. They were reportedly living near a university campus in Jendouba, close to Tunisias border with Algeria. Initial reports said the brothers were planning an attack on the Algerian border, but Tunisian news site Kapitalis reports they may have since been released pending further investigation. Nathan posted about men attacking him a day later. I was attacked by 6 men one specifically intent on stealing my phone. I held on tight and cursed them. Than I screamed one word by natural instinct: Allah! he wrote in the early morning of Oct. 26. And suddenly all went away quickly and 2 men came to me swiftly and took me swiftly to two more who took me to my home. Many think Im a hypocrite or Satan. Im not. Im the rarest gift to Muslims. I dont look like much. I am small lamb and the mightiest lion. I dont lie but I frequently misunderstand because Im highly intellectually intelligent. On the Facebook page, Nathan says he was born in Okemos, Michigan, and spent his formative years in Lansing. He writes that he was homeless for parts of his early life, and then spent time in foster care, as did his brother Patrick. He said the brothers were put into foster care with some really sick and twisted people who abused them, Nathan said. He fled at one point, but the foster parents tried to stop him. (The foster parents named in the post are deceased, according to public records. Efforts to reach their immediate relatives were unsuccessful.) The locations identified by Nathan match the locations of the brothers in public records. For many years he was a Christian, and he spent time in Florida. There, he married a woman who later divorced him. She did not return a request for comment. He wrote of his time as a Christian in 2007 as the source of trials that led him to Allah. He also recently wrote about divorce from a Tunisian woman, and then cryptically about another potential marriage. Authorities say one of the brothers had a religious marriage to a Tunisian woman who was also detained. Nathan has a lengthy criminal history in the U.S., and served time in Florida for domestic violence charges. He was on awaiting trial in Michigan on criminal sexual conduct, stalking, and domestic violence charges when he suddenly disappeared last fall. He appeared for a few court dates, and at one point he just failed to appear for a date in circuit court, attorney Michael Van Huysse told The Daily Beast. Eventually, Van Huysse asked to be removed as his attorney. It was at that time, around a year ago, that he may have moved to Tunisia. Today, Nathan Lawwills religious ramblings on Facebook look more like self-important rants than typical jihadist screeds, sometimes reaching more than a dozen posts a day. I hope Facebook expands things because I am going to be the center of the world very quickly and it is already getting to be HUGE!!! he wrote in one October post. In one post on Oct. 18, he condemned jihadists by urging European Muslims to treat returning ones after the battle of Mosul kindly, but not to trust them. [InshaAllah] Allah will heal their hearts and restore to us our brothers and sisters mothers and fathers our people will be whole again, he wrote. At other times, he posted about a vague plan to help Tunisia that involved Saudi and Tunisian business partners. Other times, he wrote positively about President Barack Obama, praising him in a way that individuals with ties to extremist groups do not. President Obama you really are a very good man, he wrote. If Russia and China will side with the US than you 3 will be the best in the world in all things. From you will the world be able to colonize Mars and Venus. The brothers have not been charged and its unclear whether they will be sent back to the United States. But in one October post, Nathan wrote that taking him back to America would be destroying the US and this is not what I want either. I seek to destroy no one, he added. Just this week, news reports out of Beijing, Chinaor Chy-na, if youre Donald Trumppainted a grim portrait of the countrys future: that the Chinese government, in their infinite wisdom, are in the process of constructing an elaborate social credit system to rate each citizens trustworthiness. Right now, eight companies are issuing these social credit scores to people as part of a series of state-backed trial runsincluding Sesame Credit, the financial arm of Chinese web shopping giant Alibaba, which boasts 400 millions users, as well as Baihe, Chinas premier matchmaking service, that will endorse high-ranking customers on its sitewith the aim of making the system mandatory in four years. By 2020, everyone in China will be enrolled in a vast national database that compiles fiscal and government information, including minor traffic violations, and distills it into a single number ranking each citizen, reported BBC News. This ranking will subsequently affect each persons social mobilityfor example, punishments for low social credit ratings may include not being able to travel freely abroad or be provided first-class accommodations; getting denied loans; and being barred from sending your children to the finest schools. It is, simply put, Orwellian. And, as many keen-eyed viewers have pointed out, the system bears a striking resemblance to that in Nosedive, the first episode in Black Mirrors critically acclaimed third season. The episode centers on Lacie Pound (Bryce Dallas Howard), a woman who lives in a future society where everyone is given a ranking out of five stars, and every interaction is rated on smartphones. Lacie is a 4.2, and needs to up her approval rating to a 4.5 in order to move into a fancy new apartment complex. As luck would have it, shes given the opportunity to up her score when Naomi (Alice Eve), a beautiful old friend (and an enviable 4.8) invites her to be the maid of honor at her wedding. With many high-ranking people in attendance, Lacie believes that if she knocks her wedding speech out of the park, shell get the boost she needs. I did see that! exclaims Charlie Brooker, the creator of Black Mirror whos credited with writing (or co-writing) every episode of the show. Theyre going to do the system from Nosedive for citizens! Its incredibly sinister. Am I right in thinking that your ranking is affected by your friends, so if you hang with the wrong crowd, your social ranking will go down? Wow. Its completely mental. Brookers series has become televisions Magic 8 Ball, with many of its Twilight Zone-esque high-tech plots becoming a realitythe most notorious of these, of course, being The National Anthem, wherein Britains prime minister is blackmailed into fucking a pig on live television. The episode first aired in December 2011 and nearly four years later, in September 2015, a new book alleged that then Prime Minister David Cameron had inserted his penis into the mouth of a dead pig as part of an initiation rite whilst attending the University of Oxford. And like the China-Nosedive parallels, nobody was more surprised than Brooker. I promise you we didnt sell the idea to the Chinese government! he laughs. That was not our intention. It was quite trippy, though. Im kind of getting used to it, because it seems like its quite often that there are things that are in the stories that come true. The David Cameron one was the most bracing and still the most unexpected. Right before that, I was reading an article that was listing things that have come true in Black Mirror and they went, well, well just pass over The National Anthem episode because obviously thats not going to happen, and then the next day the rumor breaks about Cameron. In a September interview with The Daily Beast, Brooker predicted that Donald Trump would be elected President of the United States. Hello, we just went through Brexit! Of course Trumps going to win, he said, adding that he found the prospect fucking terrifying. But now that Trump is dwindling in the polls, thanks in large part to the release of a disgusting tape of him bragging about sexually assaulting women, followed by 11 women (and counting) accusing him of sexual assault or harassment, hes sort of changing his tune. I thought he would, at that point! I still wouldnt rule it out, says Brooker. When I said that it was the day after Hillarys stumble [due to walking pneumonia], and Trump was coming back in the polls. You cant rule it out, though. There are two main candidates, and he could still win. It could still happen. The former TV presenter and Guardian columnist also sees similarities between the rise of Trump and his 2013 Black Mirror episode The Waldo Moment, which saw a blue cartoon bear named Waldo (operated by a male comic via performance capture) nearly win a political election due to his no-bullshit approach. Theres an anti-political movement thats risen up around the globe and youre seeing these vibrant, almost cult figures rising up all over the place. Waldo himself was kind of based on Boris Johnson, whos a quasi Trump with crazy hair whos fucking up the country, says Brooker. Hes one of the guys who was backing Brexit and the morning when he found out it won and he was actually going to have to go through with this shit, he was put in a photo looking like he was going to fucking shatter his breakfast table; like hed been given a turd for Christmas.He shakes his head. Boris was a character who made appearances on comedy panel shows in the U.K. and became a lovable pet oaf to a lot of the population, and that meant he was immune to criticism, in many ways. What people are craving is a sense of authenticity, and we got so used to identikit politicians parroting the same sound bites, so people are thirsting for something else. You have characters like Jeremy Corbyn in the U.K., who is like the Belle and Sebastian of politics, and a certain subset of people really love him. So its something thats happening across the political spectrum and around the world. It worries me. The self-effacing Brooker, a delightfully witty man in person, also seems to view these recent political developments as a form of karmic retribution for his mocking colorless politicians in columns and on various TV programs over the years. Ive done topical comedy shows in the U.K. and we relentlessly took the piss out of all sorts of identikit politicians, and I now think, whoops, am I partially responsible for fucking things up? he offers, chuckling. I miss boring! Its our curse, isnt it? May you live in interesting times. I worry that we do. Alec Cook kept an index page of womens names at the front of a black leather notebook, prosecutors say. Next to the names were descriptions of the women, and what he wanted to do to them. And at the top of the page, there is a box marked, Kill, prosecutor Colette Sampson said during a Monday court appearance. Cook, a 20-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was charged with 14 felonies and one misdemeanor on Thursday, for what prosecutors describe as a series of sexual assaults against four women. Cooks defense team said last week that their client had nothing to hide, and questioned why his first accuser waited four days to file a police report. But after dozens of women came forward to accuse Cook of misconduct, some of the most damning evidence was found hiding among his belongings. When police searched Cooks property last week, they found a series of over 20 notebooks, which allegedly mirrored the allegations against him. The books described how Cook groomed and stalked multiple women, Sampson said Monday. The pages individually documented a different female in a very systematic way, reads a search warrant obtained by The Daily Beast. Further entries went on to document what he wanted to do with the females. Disturbingly enough there were statements of kill and statements of sexual desires. The notebook, presented as evidence in a Thursday trial revealed a handwritten form with information about women including Where met, interesting facts/commonalities, present goal, next step, last step, and an ominous check box labeled killed? Cooks attorney Chris Van Wagner suggested a faint line through the the word killed lessened its importance. It says killed, crossed out, question mark, box, he told reporters on Thursday. Van Wagner cautioned against reading murderous intent into the journals. I was an English literature major, he told WKOW when the Wisconsin station first reported on Cook's notebooks. Every single short story could be interpreted in twelve ways. Thats my response. Van Wagner also blamed political correctness for the rage against his client. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this propagandizing is that people commit this sort of character assassination under the nobler (and politically correct) guise of supporting and believing accusereven before they know if they are actual victims, Van Wagner and co-counsel Jessa Nicholson wrote in a Wednesday statement. When we embrace this politically correct blind acceptance, we do not help women. They likened the allegations against Cook to rape allegations against the Duke lacrosse team and a University of Virginia fraternity that were not substantiated. But Cook isnt facing one accuser: hes facing four. Cook met his first accuser after she nearly hit him with her bike on campus, according to a police report obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal. They stayed in touch on Facebook, eventually agreeing to dinner and a library study session on Oct 12. But when they headed to Cooks apartment, the date allegedly turned violent. The woman said she laid out her boundaries: She was looking for a long-term relationship, not a casual hook-up. Cook told her he wouldnt do anything to make her uncomfortable. But Cook allegedly grew aggressive when kissing, ignoring multiple requests to stop. When the woman asked to leave, Cook sexually assaulted her multiple times, over the course of two and a half hours, "strangling her to the point of near unconsciousness" the search warrant obtained by The Daily Beast reads. After she escaped, the woman texted her brother, trying to make sense of the encounter, the Journal reports. She couldnt leave Cooks apartment or call for help during the attack, as Cook had held her in a death grip, she told her brother, adding I dont feel like I was assaulted I dont think. But I feel very weird. She allegedly told Cook she didnt want to see him again, which didnt stop him from texting for a second date. The woman contacted police several days later. Cook was arrested on sexual assault charges, and freed on bond shortly after. But news of his arrest prompted other women to come forward with similar stories. I saw the news story and was empowered by another girl being able to tell what happened to her, that I thought I could now finally tell, Cooks second accuser told a detective, according to a police report. The second woman, another UW-Madison student, told police she believed Cook had drugged her during a February date, the search warrant says. The woman told police she had smoked marijuana and drank a shot of alcohol, before Cook gave her an unknown substance. After drinking the substance the woman "began feeling abnormal and losing control of her bodily abilities," the search warrant reads. The woman allegedly rebuffed Cook's advances, then felt bad, she told police. She has a memory of telling Cook, okay, lets just have sex, the search warrant says, noting that she began feeling "fuzzy," and allegedly blacked out while Cook was putting on a condom. When the woman woke late the next morning, Cook allegedly assaulted her despite her vocal objections. Cook turned himself in on two new counts of second-degree sexual assault, and one count of third-degree sexual assault. The next day, third accuser came forward, telling police Cook had sexually assaulted her the previous year at an off-campus apartment. Cooks fourth accuser, a dance instructor, told authorities Cook had sexually assaulted her during a ballroom dance class, the prosecutor Colette Sampson said during a Monday hearing. The woman allegedly asked supervisors to no longer pair her with Cook during classes. Dozens of other women have come forward to offer their accounts of Cooks misconduct, police testified Monday. Authorities have encouraged other potential victims to speak up. Our detectives had a sense there might be more victims, Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain told The Daily Beast last week. Were encouraging anyone with information to continue to contact [police]. But during Cooks Thursday trial, his attorneys asked authorities to stop seeking new victims. Tell [University of Wisconsin communications director Marc Lovicott] to stop urging people to come forward, Van Wagner said, according to a student reporter. Cooks defense also sought to characterize the alleged assaults as consensual. Attorney Jessa Nicholson testified that one of Cooks alleged victims had faked an orgasm to end the encounter, which Nicholson said suggested consent. The notebooks seized from Cooks property suggest he was groomed and stalked specific women since March 2015, Sampson said. But Cooks defense cautioned against condemning himor believing his alleged victimsbefore his trial. We also ignore our bedrock principles while we disempower young women, by stereotyping them into victimhood without evidence, they wrote Wednesday. We urge you to wait for the facts before condemning Alec Cook. You would do the same for your own. Was that really Michael Moore I saw on Hardball Wednesday night saying hes been in love with Hillary Clinton for 23 years? It sure looked like him. The hair. The ball cap. The jowls. Sounded like him too, that accent thick as a Lake Huron fog. So yesit was him. I was driving somewhere and listening to the show in my car, and I about had to pull over to the side of the road. On and on he gushed and re-gushed: I am serious. In 1993, this woman decided to risk everything and put it all out there so that we could all have universal health care. And she went for it. And she was attacked and humiliated...she was the first one out there trying to do that...I have felt for a long time that she was a force for good, that what she believed in and the things and people she cared about... He did note that hes had his disagreements with Clinton and backed Bernie Sanders in the primary, but he wouldnt even say when Chris Matthews asked that hed prefer that Bernie be the candidate. No, Moore shot back. He lost! Well. Whats going on here? I dont know exactly, but I have a guess. Its called sanity. And a proper sense of historical responsibility. And I wish it were a more common commodity on the dead-end left. There is one priority in this election that pulverizes every other one to bits. Stop Trump. Trumpism is American fascism and, increasingly, a white supremacist movement or at the very least a movement that is mainstreaming white supremacist activism in a shocking way. It is clear now that Trump and Steve Bannon and the rest of the crew are exploiting and abusing the institutions of democracy to build something very anti-democratic. If you need fresh evidence, read this Joshua Green and Sasha Issenberg piece at Bloomberg Businessweek. Its frightening. The campaign, as we know, has no real get-out-the-vote effort to speak of. Instead, its running three separate voter suppression efforts. Or read Sarah Posner and David Neiwerts article about how the Trump campaign is bringing the alt-right into the mainstream. This is something that has never happened in this country. The overwhelmingly most important responsibility of anyone who is involved in political discoursewhether intellectual or journalist or citizen or whateveris to oppose this. Anyone who doesnt see this is being...well, is being what? Thats an interesting question. An idiot? Sure, lets start with idiot. But its not merely idiocy, because idiocy is a condition that in some sense cant be helped. Its worse. In the case of leftists who refuse to oppose Trump, theres a malicious form of mischief at work in the weird psycho-political malarial swamps of peoples brains, like whatever they can do to upset establishment liberals, theyll do, even if it means making excuses for Trumpism. Grow up and get over it. Trumps a racist fascist anti-democrat. Hillary Clinton might be secretive, she might be ethically challenged, she might be entitled, she might be too close to bankers, but this isnt remotely close. Michael Moore knows this. Hes not an idiot, and hes not being malicious. Hes being sane. But hes also going a lot farther that opposing Trump. He spoke to Matthews Wednesday night about the historic nature of a possible Clinton win. First of all, on a macro level, it isnt being said enough that were going to elect our first woman president. This is huge. For the country, for the world, for the future, for our daughters, our granddaughters. This is a very different tune from the one he was singing back in the spring, when he wrote a broadside extolling the historic potential of a Sanders win (i.e., the first democratic socialist president) without even mentioning that a Clinton win would be a historic first. I dinged him over that, so Im glad to see hes come around. And speaking of Sanders, dead-end left, youve lost him, too, you know. Hes been a total mensch this fall. His recent statement about these Wikileaks hacks that hes sure that if his staffers private emails were released, wed see some pretty tough language about Clinton in there was a) certainly true and b) grown up. I dont even want to say admirable, although in the debased context of our times it was; but it was just what a grown-up person says. We all say things in private that we wouldnt say in public, Sanders was suggesting, and we have a right to have those private conversations. Moore and Sanders understand whats important this year. They also understandsomething that isnt said enough and that many people have forgottenthat Clinton is running on the most progressive platform of a Democratic candidate in like ever. And that virtually every point on which it was predicted that she would sell progressivism out, shes stood firmnotably not taking Chris Wallaces bait on possible Social Security cuts, for example. Yes, well see what she does in office, and life will be complicated and disappointing as life inevitably is. But as a candidate, shes been pretty stalwart. Its never enough for some people. I can understand that when, say, its Bill Clinton vs. Bob Dole. But if people who want to put their own anger and self-righteousness ahead of, oh, the extremely real threat that families will be broken up by President Trumps immigration police forcewell, lets just hope it doesnt happen so were spared their rationalizations about how it wasnt their fault. Im glad Michael Moore doesnt want to be one of them. Two friends of Jackiethe University of Virginia student who may have falsely recounted a brutal gang rape in a 2014 Rolling Stone magazine articlesaid in federal court this week that they believe the storys author, Sabrina Erdely, acted in good faith when reporting the story. I understand what its like to be lied to by Jackie, Kathryn Hendley, known as Cindy in the now-retracted article, A Rape on Campus, said in a video deposition played on Tuesday, the eighth day of former UVA dean Nicole Eramos defamation lawsuit against Rolling Stone. The suit claims that the magazine intentionally smeared Eramo as uncaring and indifferent to rape survivors on campus at a time when she was in charge of the schools sexual assault prevention program. Eramos attorneys, who did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast, have to prove that Erdely and Rolling Stone acted with actual malice, meaning that they either knew what they were printing about Eramo was false or should have known it was false. On Wednesday, the court heard the testimonies of UVAs dean of students, Allen Groves, and of Alexandria Pinkleton, a student activist who helped Erdely with the article and who was quoted in her story. In previous court filings, Eramos attorney quoted a deposition given by Pinkleton saying Erdely basically admitted she should have completely rewritten [the story] and regrets that she didnt when the two spoke the day Rolling Stone apologized for factual errors in the piece. In court this week, Pinkleton reportedly testified that she was very upset by how Erdely portrayed her in the story and that she participated because she wanted to effect change around campus sexual assault at UVA. Eramo, she said, was not a barrier to change. Groves reportedly said he was frustrated by Jackies refusal to name her alleged attackers at a UVA fraternity and that he had every intention of putting these people in jail and shutting down the frat. A $25 million defamation suit filed against Rolling Stone by Phi Kappa Psi, the fraternity where Jackie alleged she was assaulted, is scheduled to go to trial next year. Prior to Wednesdays testimony, a number of witnessesincluding Jackie herselfsuggested that Erdely did not act with actual malice. In her video deposition on Tuesday, Kathryn Hendley said that when she finally spoke to Erdely, who contacted her a week after Rolling Stone issued an apology, she felt sorry for the reporter. Jackies other friend Ryan Duffin, who was named Randall in the story, also sympathized with Erdely, who he said was very genuinely apologetic for failing to contact both him and Hendley before publishing the article, according to local reports from the trial. He also said Erdely acted in good faith when she wrote the article, based on the information she had. Erdely herself testified last week that she didnt contact any of the three friends frequently referenced in the story because Jackie asked her not to do so, with Jackie stressing that Duffin had declined on the strongest possible terms to speak with her. Erdely also admitted it was a mistake to rely on someone who was intent to deceive me. During her video deposition, Hendley said none of the quotes attributed to her in Erdelys story were true and that reading parts of the article where she was named Cindya self-described hookup queen who, according the article, told Jackie she would be the girl who cried rape if Jackie reported her alleged assault to authoritieswas like reading a fictionalized version of [her] life. Hendley said Jackie never told her she was assaulted on the night of Sept. 28, 2012, and that she didnt understand why shed told two other friends in their close circle, Duffin and Alex Stock, instead. Hendley claimed she was no longer friends with Jackie by the end of the next semester. When she read the Rolling Stone article in 2014, she said it was shocking to see Jackies allegations written up as a national news storyin part because the storys version of events were markedly different from what Duffin and Stock recalled from the night of Jackies alleged assault. In his deposition, Duffin said Jackie called him on the night of Sept. 28, 2012, and asked that he meet her near UVAs freshman dormsroughly a mile away from the Phi Kappa Psi house where the Rolling Stone article said Jackies best friends Randall, Cindy, and Andy met her after she was allegedly gang rapedbecause something had happened. When he arrived at the dorms, Duffin said Jackie seemed a little shaken but not physically battered or otherwise harmed, contrary to the dramatic and bloody scene in the article. Duffin said Jackie told him and Stock that shed been on a date with Haven Monahan, whom theyd never met and knew only from Jackie. She'd previously said he was a junior on campus who was trying to court her. On September 12, Jackie told Duffin and Stock that shed gone with him to his room at the Phi Kappa Psi house, where five men forced her to give them oral sex. Duffin said in his deposition that he and Stock encouraged Jackie to contact police but that she refused. The quotes in the article attributed to her friends and the description of them discussing the social price of reporting her rape were all false, he said. Jackies claim to Erdely that he had refused to speak to the journalist was also false, Duffin said. Indeed, Jackies account to her friends differed vastly from the sensational Rolling Stone story, which described how seven men took turns raping her while her date Drew (aka Haven Monahan) and another man egged them on; how one man had barreled into her when she first walked into the room, sending them both crashing through a low glass table; how another man was on top of her, spreading her thighs, and another person kneeling on her hair, hands pinning down her arms, sharp shards digging into her back; how the last thing she remembered was being penetrated by a beer bottle. Duffin said in his deposition that, before the alleged assault, Jackie had encouraged him and Stock to exchange text messages with Haven Monahan. It felt kind of weird, but we saw it as a strange way to help out a friend, Duffin said, adding that it became clear to him in the weeks following Jackies alleged assault that she'd invented Monahan as part of a catfishing scheme to win Duffin over romantically. (Two days after the alleged attack, Jackie told Duffin that Monahan had apologized for what happened and that shed forgiven him.) Eramos attorneys have also referenced the scheme and cited messages exchanged between Duffin and Monahan (PDF) in court filings, calling Monahan a fake suitor fabricated by Jackie in a strange bid to earn the affections of [Duffin]. When Duffin confronted Jackie shortly after the alleged assault about inventing Monahan, she denied it and accused Duffin of calling her a liar, according to their text messages. Duffin broke off their friendship and didnt communicate with her again until after the Rolling Stone story came out. Why did you tell us before the date happened that his name wasHaven Monahan? he asked Jackie in a text message. A name that belongs to no UVA student ever? Why has the name changed since then? Jackies response was convoluted: His last name was Monahan, she said, and he called himself Haven, she wrote in their final text exchanges. His first name was John or jake or something. She claimed he was there that night but he was a bystander. He wasnt involved. Not really. A fact-checker who worked with Erdely on the Rolling Stone story (and had worked with the magazine since 2010) also testified on Tuesday about the 80 hours she spent fact checking the article, confirming details through countless sources and documents, Rolling Stone said in a statement to The Daily Beast, adding: In more than 4 hours of fact checking conversations with Ms. [Elisabeth] Garber-Paul and over 20 hours of interviews with Sabrina Rubin Erdely, Jackie told the exact same account of her sexual assault. On Monday, the court heard a recorded deposition from Jackie, who occasionally contradicted herself in her own testimony, according to The Washington Post. At one point she suggested that the Rolling Stone story was inaccuratethat she felt like my interpretation was different than what was written and recalled reading the story and thinking I probably would not have written it that way. Later, she said the story was accurate: I stand by the account I gave Rolling Stone and I believed it to be true at the time. Asked whether she still believed her story to be true, Jackie said she had memory issues as a result of trauma from her alleged assault (I believed it was true but some details of my assaultI have PTSD and its foggy). When asked in the deposition about allegedly inventing evidence to support her accusationslike fake text messages from other women who, she claimed, were also sexually assaulted at the same fraternityJackie responded: I just dont remember any of this. Its all very foggy. I dont know. I dont know. She claimed she didnt remember whether she told Erdely that she was bloody when she left the fraternity house, and likened Erdelys attempts to identify her alleged assailant to a witch hunt. Yet she also said she thought that Erdely had done her best to recount what Id told her in the story and that she felt bad about how Eramo and her friends were portrayed in it. She said she wouldnt use the word indifferent at all to describe Eramo and, contrary to what the article suggested (If Dean Eramo was surprised at Jackies story of gang rape, it didnt show), believed Eramo cared very much about sexual assault and rape survivors. The trial is expected to continue through the end of the week. Before they could talk about his new animated film Trolls, Justin Timberlake had to address the elephant in the room with his friend Jimmy Fallon. What have you been up to? the Tonight Show host asked, innocently. We never talk. I recently voted, Timberlake said to cheers from the audience. Super quiet, under the radar. He was referring to the selfie he posted to Instagram from a Tennessee voting booth this week that briefly caused a national meltdown in the world of celebrity media. As it turns out, using your phone to record any imagery within a polling place is illegal in Timberlakes home state, with a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $50 fine. In a statement to the press, the Shelby County District Attorneys Office initially said the incident was under review. I didnt hear that, you voted early? Fallon joked. In Tennessee? Yeah, yeah, yeah, went home to Tennessee and voted. Super quiet, in and out, Timberlake said. No one even knew. With that, Timberlake turned to the camera and gave some advice to all of his fans watching at home. Get out and vote, he told them. Damn straight. But dont take a picture of yourself in there. I had no idea! he added. I thought, this is going to be great! Inspire people to vote! Nope. Earlier in the day Wednesday, authorities clarified that they had no intention to hold Timberlake accountable for sharing the image online. No one in our office is currently investigating this matter nor will we be using our limited resources to do so, the statement read. Timberlake has since deleted the photo from his Instagram account. NORFOLK, Va. Khizr Khan is on the verge of tears. Ive prepared some remarks, in writing, but I dont think this occasion calls for that, he begins, putting aside his notes and stepping away from the podium. Let me speak, heart to heart. Khan is in this swing region of Virginia to appeal to independent voters, emphasizing Donald Trumps flaws by appearing at a mosque and a veterans meet-and-greet in this military-heavy townreminding locals of Trumps suggestion that Muslims be banned and of his insults to a Gold Star family. Khans son, Army Captain Humayun Khan, was killed by an explosion during the Iraq War and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.. Twelve years later, he and his wife, Ghazala, took his grief to the stage of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to challenge a man that he felt his maligned his faith and his war hero son. We grieved for 12 years in privacy, in the dignity of our family at home, until Trumps anti-Muslim rhetoric encouraged him to finally speak out, Khan said. There comes a time in an ordinary citizens life, where you gather up all the courage that you have and you speak against tyranny, against un-American hate. His remarks in Norfolk leave the impression that he is not interested in being a partisan figurebut a voice for reconciliation after the elections are over. Khan himself has been shaken up many times since he challenged Trumps knowledge of the Constitution at the July Democratic conventionand was promptly attacked for it by the GOP nominee himself. The choice of locale strikes to the heart of the Republican Partys problems this election cyclean inability to connect with the swing voters that will ultimately decide the election. In 2012, Mitt Romney announced Paul Ryan as his running mate in Norfolk, hoping that the young Wisconsin lawmaker would give a boost to his campaign, both locally and across the country. Norfolk is part of a larger metropolitan area, including Virginia Beach and Newport Newsall areas with large military and veteran populations. Close to two-thirds of Newport News and three-quarters of Norfolk supported Obama in the 2012 presidential election, while just over 50 percent of Virginia Beach went for Romney. In this cycle, while Norfolk remains competitive, the state of Virginia is all but lost for the GOPReal Clear Politics has Clinton up by 8 percentage points. By sending him to Virginia, the Clinton campaign is padding its lead and trying to appeal to those military service members and veterans who oppose Trumps Muslim ban, and agree that cooperation with patriotic American Muslims is critical to defeating the challenge of Islamic terrorism. He should continue what hes doing because it empowers peoplehe wont be kicked down by a bully, said Tom Bazar, a 17-year veteran of the Navy, at the veteran meet-and-greet Khan attended. The fact is that America is diverse. It will always be diverse. People who fight for the country is diverse. It shouldnt matter what you look like or where you come from. The metropolitan area has the second highest percentage of veterans of any region in the country. Naval Station Norfolk, near where Khan spoke, holds the largest Navy base in the world. Donald Trump, as a candidate, has proven himself temperamentally unfit to be commander in chief of this great nation, Khan said, in a small mosque. The reason I emphasize this issue in this city, is because this city bears the treasure of this nation. Khan, a lawyer, gesticulates casually with his hands, but also has a grandfatherly habit of rocking back and forth from his toes to heels when speaking passionately. He does not smile when he talks. In fact, an entire afternoon goes by without a smile at all, even when people come up excitedly to take his picture. He nods graciously and casts his eyes to the floor, almost embarrassed by the attention. His humility is a match for this mosque, a small room that has been serving Muslims in the area for more than 20 years. The modest room holds a replica of the door on the Kaaba, Islams most sacred mosque and gold paint on the wallsa symbol, perhaps, of their aspirations to one day be grander. Its not real gold, the Imam said. And the small stand which holds the Quran, the Muslim holy book, is made from supplies rigged together from The Home Depot. Even during a relentless criticism of Trump, Khan keeps a calm, humble demeanor as he stumps. It echoes a recent pro-Clinton advertisement put out by the campaign, in which Khan challenges Trump: I want to ask Mr. Trump: Would my son have a place in your America? But Khan doesnt sound so much like a Clinton surrogate as much as he sounds like an anti-Trump figure. In fact, he only mentions Clinton twice during his entire speech at the mosque.Standing beside, not behind, a podium with Clintons Stronger Together slogan, he takes the unusual step of praising Republicans as being patriotic Americanshardly the language of a typical partisan stump speech. "Patriotism is not the property of one group, he insists. Republicans are as patriotic as anyone else. He pauses again to compose himself when telling the story of four children who wrote to him, asking for help, because they were worried their Muslim friend might be kicked out of the country. She is our friend, we love her, he recalls the letter reading. Would you make sure she is not thrown out? I have saved that email to show to the rest of the world how damaging that political rhetoric has been for the children of this country, for the Muslims of this country, for other honorable citizens of this country. In many ways, he is campaigning primarily not for any candidate, but for the future of the country his son died forin the fear of what happens if the election ends and the rancor does not subside. Immediately after the election, regardless of the results the healing ought to start, he said. The division that has been created by this candidate, by Donald Trump ought to cease coming together must begin. And that starts with forgiveness, with understanding of each other. Of course we have different political opinions, but we are not enemies. Its a message that resounds with the two dozen attendees at his speech at the mosque, about half of whom are not even Muslim. Dr. Lenora Thompson, a counselor from Virginia Beach, said that she was there to promote the idea that Muslims love America that their ideas are integral to the idea of America, to the point that his son gave his life. Khans speech ends, and he moves towards the side of the room. As if to hammer Khans point about patriotism home, a man in a Navy camouflage uniform walks to the front of the room and, facing Mecca, begins singing the Islamic call to prayer. Allahu akbar the sailor begins. Led by the imam, Khan gets on his knees, and lowers his forehead towards the earth to pray. Sarasota, FL, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Research has published a new report titled Blenders and Juicers Market for Bakery, Dairy, Beverage, Confectionery, and Other Applications - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast 2015-2021. According to the report, global demand for blenders and juicers market was valued at USD 2,334.5 million in 2015, is expected to reach USD 3,320.8 million in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% between 2016 and 2021. Blenders are used both in the home and commercial kitchens for various purposes such as milkshakes, smoothies, Emulsify mixtures, and among others. Different blenders have different functions and features. Blenders also have a variety of applications in microbiology labs and food science. In addition to standard food-type blenders, there is a variety of other configurations of blender for laboratories. A juice extractor is a device that is used to extract juice from fruits, vegetables, and even from nuts, seeds, and meat. There are mainly three types of juice extractors: centrifugal, masticating, and triturating. Of these, the centrifugal juice extractor is the most common among end-users. Browse through 8 Market Tables and 19 Figures spread over 110 Pages and in-depth TOC on Global Blenders and Juicers Market: By Application, Type, Industry Size, Share, Trends, Segment, Analysis and Forecast 2015-2021. Request free Sample of this Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/blenders-and-juicers-market North America dominated the overall blenders and juicers market in terms of revenue in 2015 owing to increased consumption of food products such as bakery, confectionary, and dairy products in the U.S. and Canada. North America region is expected to show moderate growth in the forecast period. The U.S. is the largest regional market in North America. Europe is one of the leading markets in blenders and juicers market in 2015. European countries demonstrate higher growth rate in the forecast period. Rising consumption of food products such as bakery, confectionary and dairy products, and possible market opportunities in developing countries of Eastern Europe contribute to market growth. Consumption of different types of bread in meals and breakfast led to high growth of bakery market. This in turn is expected to drive the demand for the blenders market due to high use of blenders in the bakery industry. Germany, U.K., and Italy are some of the important markets for blenders and juicers in Europe. Browse the full "Blenders and Juicers Market for Bakery, Dairy, Beverage, Confectionery, and Other Applications - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2015 2021" report at https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/blenders-and-juicers-market Asia is anticipated to grow at a faster rate as compared to markets in developed regions. In Asia Pacific region, the rise in the disposable income, people adopting the western culture, health awareness and import of fruits are among the most important factors that are expected to drive the juice business in Asia Pacific region which in turn increase the demand for juicer and blender products in the region. In Asia Pacific, India is presently growing at a faster rate and is expected to report a significant growth rate in the near future. Latin America shows promising growth in blenders and juicer market. Increasing demand for blenders and juicers from the processed food & beverage industry in Brazil is expected to propel market growth in Latin America. Changing consumer preference towards the healthy lifestyle in the region is positively impact juicers and blenders market in coming years. Inquire more about this report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/blenders-and-juicers-market The key players of blender and juicer market include Phillips, Omega, Panasonic, Kuvings, Cuisinart, Braun, Breville, Gaungdong Xinbao Electrical Appliances Holdings Co. Ltd., Foshan Shunde Ouke Electrical Appliances Holdings Co. Ltd., and Oster. Request a customize report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/285 This report segments the global blenders and juicers market as follows: Blenders and Juicers Market: Application Segment Analysis Bakery Dairy Beverage Confectionery Others (sauces, ice crush, etc.) Blenders and Juicers Market: Regional Segment Analysis North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America The Middle East and Africa More Related Reports: Food safety testing Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/food-safety-testing-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/food-safety-testing-market Flavors Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/flavors-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/flavors-market Beverage Packaging market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/beverage-packaging-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/beverage-packaging-market Baby Food Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/baby-food-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/baby-food-market Whey Protein Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/whey-protein-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/whey-protein-market Dietary Fibers Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/dietary-fibers-market About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, the company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Follow Us LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zion-market-research Follow Us Twitter: https://twitter.com/zion_research Donald Trump predictably misplayed his best political hand yet this week, according to Late Night host Seth Meyers. News that Affordable Care Act premiums are set to rise significantly in 2017 should be helping the Republican presidential candidate in these final days of the campaign. If only he could figure out how to focus. As Trump tries to appeal to voters beyond his base, Meyers said the bad Obamacare news should be the perfect tool to do so. But the Trump campaign never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity, he added, saying it shows just how incompetent Team Trump is that they have managed to squander this type of political gift. Obviously, Obamacare is a nuanced, complicated issue that requires sober analysis and discussion, he said. But the best argument Trump could come up with is that the law is killing both small businesses and people. And when Trump wasnt advertising his Florida resort during a campaign rally Tuesday, he was telling the crowd, All of my employees are having a tremendous problem with Obamacare. What are you talking about? Meyers asked incredulously. Obamacare is for people who dont have health insurance, but your employees do get health insurance through you. After the event Tuesday, the general manager of Trumps resort told reporters that 99 percent of workers there are insured through the company. In the end, Meyers described Obamacare as a huge improvement to the nations health-care system, but admittedly an imperfect law. It has problems and we need serious ideas about how to make it better, he said. But the reason Republicans havent proposed any real plans to fix or replace Obamacare is because they dont have any. And the guy they nominated for president doesnt even seem to know what it is, he continued. Unfortunately for the Republican Party, its too late to repeal or replace him with something better. Two women overdosed hours apart last week in a seedy Florida home billed as a sober living house linked to a convicted conman getting rich off Americas opioid crisis. Alison Flory, 25, died of an apparent heroin overdose at approximately 8 a.m. last Friday. Nicole De La Pena, 22, overdosed just hours later, but survived and was hospitalized for a week. Both were living at a place called Open Arms. The supposed sober living house has no website and does no advertising of any kind. Inside were carpets stained with dried blood, bare mattresses, and trash was strewn throughout, an eyewitness told The Daily Beast. There was also no staff at hand to help Nicole when she overdosed, according to her mother Johanna De La Pena. The two spoke hours before she collapsed. She was slurring her words and not making any sense, De La Pena told The Daily Beast. Fearing the worst and living in El Paso, Texas, De La Pena asked a friend in Florida to go and check on Nicole. What she saw was a disturbing yet all-too-common scene in South Floridas booming addiction treatment industry. Everyone there was high, said the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, describing the interior as that of a flophouse. Mountains of cigarette butts formed on the front porch where she said Jordan Braaten, said to be Alisons boyfriend, was glued to a couch, in and out of a nod with a lit cigarette in hand. Braaten also lived in Open Arms, as the house was a co-ed. Mixing gender in these homes is traditionally frowned upon. De La Penas friend found Nicole unresponsive and dialed 911. The same Broward County EMTs who responded to Alisons fatal overdose arrived at the house once again. Nicole was taken by ambulance to Florida Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale. She had no idea how she wound up in the hospital, said De La Pena, adding she landed in Florida the next day and went straight to her daughters bedside. There, the doctors told her that Nicole may suffer from memory loss after being unconscious for too long. It looked like her brain suffered mini strokes, they added. Nicole and Alison never paid Open Arms to live there. Instead, their families insurance providers were billed by a nearby intensive outpatient program called Reflections. De La Penas Blue Cross Blue Shield was billed for over $4,000 for drug tests by Reflections while Nicole lived in Open Arms. De La Pena also said she saw numerous charges for allergy tests and said that Nicole has no history of allergies. Jennifer Flory said her daughter was enrolled in Reflections at the time of her overdose. Vans from Reflections would pick up residents at Open Arms and bus them to Reflections for the day, she said. Alisons ex-boyfriend at the time of her overdose, Braaten, said he also received $350 a week to be a house manager while living at Open Arms and enrolled at Reflections. When asked who was paying him at a sober-living house with no staff, he answered, Reflections did, through our insurance. Ted Padich, an investigator with the Florida State attorneys office, was described what Refelections is allegedly doing and said it sounds illegal. Thats inducement, he said. When a facility offers free rent, cigarettes, gift cardsits all illegal under the patient brokering statute. It should come as no surprise that this apparently illegal scheme is run by Reflections, a strip-mall operation founded by its three-piece suit donning founder Kenneth Kenny Chatman. Hes a controversial player in South Floridas addiction game, and no stranger to bad press. Chatman was arrested in 2008 for stealing credit card information and served seven months in prison. Court files obtained by The Palm Beach Post show Chatman asked a waitress to steal credit card information using a swiping device he gave to her. The Palm Beach Post also uncovered documents that show Chatman is the subject of an ongoing 2015 investigation alleging human trafficking, overseeing prostitution, and health care fraud. The report alleged Chatman actively pimped out women, gave them drugs, and enlisted them on a local prostitution site. One of the women in Chatmans alleged scheme, according to the police report, was kept against her will. He denies all allegations as mere rumor. There is no regulating body in Florida that bars a person with a history of fraud and numerous pending allegations from running a treatment center. While police and the FBI investigate Chatman, Reflections flourishes. The company, registered in his wifes name, Laura Chatman, recently paid $1.1 million for an opulent home in a gated community with views of an equestrian center. Hes also expanded his operation to a larger location and recently purchased a $505,000 home that neighbors say is being used as a sober home, according to The Palm Beach Post. Chatman denied ever hearing of Open Arms during a brief phone conversation with The Daily Beast. He said he had no knowledge of the two women who overdosed. He also denies any connection to sober houses. But Flory said she saw Chatman drop off residents of Open Arms at her daughters memorial on Wednesday night. He drove a van load of kids to the memorial, she said. They all know Kenny. The Daily Beast found the owner of the home that calls itself Open Arms to be one Dulcy Riddick, a 64-year-old woman who is a live-in nurse. Riddick said she rents her home to her neighbors son, Jordan Brooks. Jordan told me a few people who he said are in recovery live there, she said, not thinking much of it at the time. Both De La Pena and Flory said they had briefly spoken with Brooks over the phone to discuss Open Arms. Riddick was unaware that Brooks dubbed her house Open Arms. She was also unaware that two young women overdosed at the house. Upon learning that one of the women died in her home she said, In my house? Oh mercy! Prior to learning of the overdose incident, Riddick said she saw Brooks to collect rent. She said that Brooks told her everything was fine. He told me had to kick a few people out who were giving him trouble, Riddick said, then quoted Brooks telling her, Everything is fine, I just need to pick my clients this time and not just who they give me. While Riddick said she didnt have a clue what he meant, it appears Brooks was saying he receives clients from a facility like Reflections that in turn bills the insurance of the residents at Open Arms. Brooks declined to comment on his business after several requests. Riddick said Brooks is still renting her house and has clients there. South Floridas addiction treatment industry operates far outside the bounds of mainstream medicine, ran by shady operators in Wild West fashion. The opioid crisis killing an estimated 78 people everyday sends a steady stream of young clients like Nicole and Alison to South Florida. While most tend to be dependent on heroin, more important for treatment operators is dependence on their parents insurance. Palm Beach County has hundreds of rehab facilities and thousands of unregulated sober homes within our communities, said state attorney David Aronberg, at a press conference on Tuesday to announce the arrest of two treatment operators charged with patient brokering like offering inducements to get clients. This practice is rampant among the hundreds of treatment facilities and sober homes competing with one another throughout Florida. The arrangement with the best perks and fewest rules attracts the most clients. Word of what perks a facility offers spreads at self-help meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Bussing clients to AA or NA meetings is common practice among treatment facilities. But as the opioid crisis swells, and frantic parents are sold on sunshine and clean living, more and more young people from around the country will wind up in the unregulated and deadly South Florida treatment industry. Its unlikely this scheme would have come to light had it not been for Alisons death and Nicoles overdose. But this is just one house, and there is no tally of how many private residences are converted to sober houses paid off with insurance money. Investigator Padich said investigations are ongoing but could not specify whether or not he has Chatman in his crosshairs. Chatman has not been arrested or charged with any crime. But he is breaking ground on a new treatment center in Lake Worth. Just last week, Floridas Department of Children and Family granted Chatmans new set up, Journey to Recovery, a license to operate. You cant blame Jim Barksdale for trying. The political novice volunteered to run against Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson when better-known Democrats took a pass and has pumped more than $3 million of his own money into the campaign since then. But with less than two weeks left until Election Day, Barksdale is trailing Isakson by double digits and may be the largest single reason Georgia isnt perceived by national Democrats as truly competitive in 2016. Barksdale wasnt Georgia Democrats first choice when he jumped into the race. They wanted Dr. Raphael Warnock, the pastor at Martin Luther Kings famous Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Warnock said he was this close to getting into the Senate race but ultimately decided he couldnt tend to the pulpit and a Senate race at the same time. Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams said that she, too, spoke with Democrats about taking on Isakson, as did state Rep. Stacey Evans and a half-dozen other potential candidates. They all decided against challenging the popular incumbent who, in a normal year, would be a shoo-in for reelection. But who could have known that Donald Trump would make 2016 anything but a normal year? When Barksdale finally got in, Georgia Republicans congratulated Democrats for finding a warm body to prop up. He had never run for office, but he told The Daily Beast in an interview, I felt like somebody needed to stand up and change things. Barksdales politics are a little bit Bernie Sanders and a little bit Donald Trump, an unusual combination in a state where Sanders won just 28 percent of the Democratic presidential primary vote and Trump is struggling to pull away from Clinton. The self-made millionaire and Wharton MBA (he has his own investment firm) is an anti-trade, pro-immigration political outsider who is deeply involved in social-justice issues. With virtually no name ID at the beginning of the race, he has now become best known for a flat-brimmed driving hat he wears on the trail, a spiritual cousin of Rick Santorums red sweater vest gimmick that has gotten the Democrat attention but not an outpouring of support. Although hes never cracked 40 percent in a poll, Barksdale insists the race is winnable. I think people are fed up and know somethings wrong, he said. The reception has been very good. But the reception hasnt been great, especially from some of the states best-known Democrats. Former Gov. Roy Barnes and former Sen. Sam Nunn have both donated to Isakson. Rep. David Scott, a leading African-American voice in the state, said hed vote for Isakson instead of Barksdale. Ive always voted for Johnny Isakson. Hes my friend. Hes my partner, Scott said in August. And I always look out for my partners. The latest Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll showed the Democrats-for-Isakson phenomenon isnt unique to elected officials. Among Hillary Clinton supporters, 18 percent said theyll split their ticket and vote for Isakson, too. That poll shows Clinton trailing Trump by just 2 percentage points but Isakson ahead of Barksdale by 15. Barksdales failure to launch has kept outside money largely absent from the Senate race. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has invested no money in the state, while overall outside spending in the race is less than $2 million, all for Isakson, compared to $6.8 million of outside spending in John McCains race in Arizona, $30 million in Richard Burrs race in North Carolina, and $90 million in the race to unseat Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania. The departure of three of Barksdales top aides since August hasnt helped. Although Democrats have fielded a significant ground operation in Georgia, Clinton has not traveled to the state since February and has committed just five figures to a TV ad buy. For the final two weeks, Democrats say a state like North Carolina or Arizona thats competitive up and down the ticket will likely get the Clinton campaigns time and resources. Clearly theyre going places they think they can win Senate seats, and its unfortunate the Barksdale race isnt seen as more competitive, said Jeff DiSantis, a Democratic operative and campaign manager for Michelle Nunns Senate race in 2014. A national Democratic strategist with knowledge of the Clinton campaign added, Georgia is more expensive to compete in than a state like Arizona, and theyre far further behind, so I would assume theyre making decisions based on where they have the best shot. But Barksdale doesnt seem fazed by the lack of support. The DSCC made it clear from the start that they have to make their decisions based on where they see their best chances, and I think they are running a race thats most important, to make sure Secretary Clinton gets elected, he said. As the battleground states have expanded and Georgia is now being discussed in that regard, were looking forward to having more support from the national effort. Andra Gillespie, associate professor of political science at Emory University, said the fundamentals of the state still favor the Republicans, but Trump has made the race closer for himself and Isakson than it ever should have been. The two most likely scenarios are that Trump wins by a narrow margin, or Clinton wins decisively throughout the country and Georgia is part of that Democratic groundswell, she said. If Georgia goes blue, it is going to be because there are a cluster of traditionally Republican states that also go blue. One advantage Barksdale will have over Clinton on Election Day is the fact that he doesnt need to win to stay alive, he just needs to keep Isakson under 50 percent to force a runoff, a benchmark Isakson has reached in just one poll so far. Gillespie said the Jan. 10 runoff would favor whichever candidate has the best campaign operation, which at the moment appears to be Isakson. There will be a drop-off in participation, and peoples minds are in other places in January, she said. But without other Democrats in other states competing for attention and resources, Barksdale might at least win over his own party in his effort to win a Senate seat for them in 2017, especially if control of the Senate is on the line. Stranger things have happened this election cycle. After U.S. intelligence agencies and the Homeland Security Department publicly blamed Russia for a campaign of cyber espionage designed to interfere with the presidential election, the Obama administration promised a response to protect [the countrys] interests at a time and place of our choosing. But that response seems unlikely to come before Election Day. The question of how to retaliate for Russias unprecedented meddling in the U.S. political system has been the subject of meetings among national security officials, but as of now those plans are still being worked out, according to four officials knowledgeable about the deliberations. Rather, the administration is likely to work in concert with the president-elect to fashion a response, one official said, like the others speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal deliberations. It would, after all, fall to that new commander in chief to deal with the repercussions or retaliating against Russia. If polls are predictive, that person is likely to be Hillary Clinton, who is sure to have her own thoughts on how to respond to an espionage campaign that was partly designed to undermine her candidacy. Handing her a cyber campaign in progresswithout her inputwouldnt be that wise. Nor would dumping a cyberwar in President Donald Trumps lap be the brightest idea, considering he has consistently denied any link between the hackers and the Kremlin, despite 17 intelligence agencies claims to the contrary. In an interview, Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said that he was not aware of the administrations plans for responding to Russia or how it might coordinate with the president-elect. But he urged the White House to hold its fire until after Nov. 8. I wouldnt want to take any step that might provoke [Russia] into a further escalation, Schiff told The Daily Beast. That escalation, he said, would likely consist of Russia posting forged emails or documents online that couldnt be easily refuted in the runup to the vote. I dont think we want to take any steps in the next two weeks to provoke that response, said Schiff, who added that the ultimate decision should be made soon after the elections are decided. Its not something I would want to see drag out too long. With Trump alleging that the election has been rigged against him, officials and experts fear that voters could be misled by false information. This so-called disinformation campaign may have already begun. Earlier this month, the person, or people, going by the name Guccifer 2.0 posted documents said to have been stolen from the Clinton Foundation, but officials there said the files werent theirs. And Clinton campaign staff have refused to verify the authenticity of some emails purportedly stolen from the account of John Podesta, the campaign chairman. In an interview with NBC News, Vice President Joe Biden said the U.S. is sending a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that there will be consequences for his countrys actions. Hell know it, Biden said. And it will be at the time of our choosing. And under the circumstances that have the greatest impact. But there are no indications that the United States has taken any response, overt or covert. Officials emphasized that Obama is not checking out early or shoving his problems off on his successor. Rather he is giving the next president a chance to gradually adjust to the role of commander-in-chief, at a time when the world that doesnt stop for a peaceful transfer of power. For the candidates part, Trump has said he would seek to repair deteriorating relations with Russia. And given that he doesnt share the intelligence communitys view about the hacks, he would be unlikely to pursue punitive sanctions or other measures. Clinton, on the other hand, has signaled a far tougher stance toward the Kremlin. Earlier this week, one of her advisers wrote a column spelling out a more aggressive Russia policy. It is neither unprecedented nor particularly unusual for a serving president to consult with his successor. And that doesnt shield him from the political implications of any decision. If the policy doesnt turn out well, Obama would still be responsible, said Lawrence Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a senior adviser to the Center for Defense Information, who has worked on political transition teams. Past U.S. presidents have maneuvered the murky period between the election to Inauguration Day with mixed results. One month after the 1992 election, George H.W. Bush ordered 28,000 troops into Somalia as part of a humanitarian mission, even as he left the exit strategy to his successor, Bill Clinton. Nine months after Clinton took office, 19 U.S. troops died during the Battle of Mogadishu, and with that U.S. support of the effort there quickly became unpopular. Clinton ordered U.S. troops to withdraw in March 1994. Four months before the end of the Clinton administration, the USS Cole was attacked, killing 17 sailors. Some critics charged that the lack of a forceful response by Clinton, and subsequently by the George W. Bush administration, emboldened al Qaeda, which attacked the United States less than a year later, on Sept. 11, 2001. President Carter communicated with his successor, President Reagan, about efforts to free U.S. hostages from Iran, which notably happened the moment Reagan took the oath of office Jan. 20, 1981. More recently, both presidential candidates in the 2008 race said they supported President George W. Bush and economic bailout plan in October of that year. The effects of the bailout, and the economic crisis that emerged from that period, fell to Obama to address throughout much of his presidency. Addressing the question of what to do about Russian hacking, Schiff, the intelligence committee member, said decisions of such great consequence ought not to be made without regard to who has to deal with them. It makes all the sense in the world to coordinate that response with the president whos not only going to have to see it though but deal with the repercussions, Schiff said. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catholic Textbook Project founder and president, Michael Van Hecke, M.Ed., today announced the appointment of Bishop Robert Barron to the board of Ventura-based Catholic Textbook Project, the nonprofit publisher of fresh, engaging, accurate history textbooks for Catholic students. Catholic Textbook Project history textbooks are now in use in schools in more than 60 dioceses nationwide. The new board appointment was made by the Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles. We are very pleased to welcome Bishop Barron to our board, says Van Hecke. Bishop Barron speaks with refreshing clarity and conviction to us educators, calling us to serve students according to their innate dignity by teaching them with the best that our Catholic intellectual tradition has bequeathed us. We are grateful to have his knowledge and clear teaching, as well as his passion, guide our work for the New Evangelization. For more information, visit www.CatholicTextbookProject.com. CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leonard B. Kobren, DDS, was honored with the Founders Society Award by the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) Education Foundation. This award is presented to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the growth and future of the ACP Education Foundation (ACPEF). Dr. Kobren has played a significant role in the development of the Foundation for over 15 years serving as one of the first Chairs of the Annual Appeal, an active supporter, and a member of the Foundation Board for nine years. Dr. Kobren was recognized during the 46th Annual Session of the ACP held in San Diego from Oct. 5-8, 2016. Dr. Kobren is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and earned his DDS degree from Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry. He then went on to serve as a rotating dental resident at the Westchester County Medical Center. Dr. Kobren received his certificate in prosthodontics from the New York University College of Dentistry. Currently he teaches and serves on the Advisory Board of the New York City College of Technology. He also maintains a private group practice in White Plains, New York founded by his late father, Abraham, a past president of the American Dental Association. He is the chair of the ACP Task Force for Graduate Medical Education Funding, the former chair of the ACP Educational Foundation and is a fellow and past president of the Northeastern Gnathological Society. He is a Fellow and serves on the Council of the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics, and chairs the Ninth District Dental Association's Annual Restorative Conference. A Digital Dentistry Minute video of Dr. Kobren appears on the College's YouTube Channel, which also has two short yet powerful ACPEF news videos about how an unrestricted grant from Colgate-Palmolive funded ACP's Clinical Practice Guidelines on Restored Teeth Care to Avoid Do-It-Again Dentistry as well as a $1.25 million grant from Henry Schein to the ACPEF for Prosthodontists to Develop Digital Dentistry Curriculum for Dental Schools. Prosthodontists are specialized dentists with advanced training in oral health issues, who are committed to improving patient outcomes. From implants, crowns, veneers, and tooth whitening, to full-mouth reconstruction, prosthodontists specialize in digital dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and sleep apnea solutions. The ACP is the only prosthodontic specialty organization whose membership is based solely on education credentials. ACP members must be in or have completed an ADA-accredited advanced education program in prosthodontics. #### About the ACP The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) is the official sponsoring organization for the specialty of prosthodontics, which is one of only nine recognized specialties of the American Dental Association. Founded in 1970, ACP is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing patient care, advancing the art and science of prosthodontics, promoting the specialty of prosthodontics to the public and other dentists and healthcare professionals, ensuring the quality of prosthodontic education, and providing professional services to its membership. For more consumer information visit GoToAPro.org, professionals can visit Prosthodontics.org. About the ACPEF The American College of Prosthodontists Education Foundation (ACPEF) seeks to secure and steward resources with the aim of advancing prosthodontics. The ACPEF provides funding to support education, research, and other opportunities for growth. The ACPEF is aligned with the ACP to advance the specialty and discipline of prosthodontics through education reform and innovative technological solutions. A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=41756 Press Promotion Croxsons create bottle for House of Elrick Leading glass packaging company Croxsons, has produced a distinctive new bottle product for the House of Elrick, a newcomer to the premium spirits market. Producing just 600 bottles per batch, the House of Elrick is located on an historical estate in Aberdeenshire and is the only artisan small batch gin producer that uses fresh, filtered water straight from Loch Ness. In creating the primary packaging, Croxsons used the luxurious look and feel of their 700ml Little Pasha bottle design with a stopper cork, sprayed in a matt blue finish and screen printed with silver ink to communicate a unique and distinctive appeal. The result is both simple and bold in its execution, providing the House of Elrick with shelf stand-out and, according to brand owner Stuart Ingram: a final glass product that matches our own exceptional liquid and heritage. In addition to the 700ml version, which is due to be released prior to Christmas, Croxsons are also working on a miniature 50ml and a 350ml version of the same artwork. There is also the possibility of a 3L version due in the new year. Ingram adds: As a new entrant to the industry, having partners in business that understand the clients requirements is key to any working relationship, Croxsons have managed to address all concerns during the course of our product development. A family owned business, Croxsons has been supplying glass packaging and closure solutions for nearly 145 years. Their faultless commitment to quality continues to provide leading brands with unique packaging solutions - from collaboration, design and configuration, to closures, decoration and logistics, their customer journey seeks to ensure clients get their product in the right bottle, with the right closure. Croxsons Tim Croxson says: The fantastic packaging for the House of Elrick speaks volumes about what can be achieved irrespective of whether you are a large or small producer. There should be no compromise in aiming to create maximum impact on shelf and, as a packaging partner, Croxsons will always encourage that. The company recently underwent a complete brand refresh including a new logo, website and associated collateral. The makeover was undertaken to provide a fresh and contemporary insight into the companys product and service capabilities. 27 October 2016 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, editorial assistant Margaret Boemer first sensed something was wrong when her ultrasound technician stayed unusually quiet during a routine 16-week prenatal checkup. It had already been an arduous road to get to that point. Months earlier, Boemer had suffered a miscarriage. When she conceived again, she and her husband were delighted to discover it was with twins - but they lost one of the babies about six weeks into the pregnancy. Soon, doctors would approach Boemer with more grim news: The child she was carrying had sacrococcygeal teratoma, a rare tumor that appeared at the base of baby's tailbone. It is estimated these types of tumors occur in about one of 40,000 pregnancies. If left unchecked, the tumor could continue taking her baby's blood supply and eventually cause heart failure. Boemer and her husband were crushed. Only two weeks ago, they had learned the baby would be a girl, and were excited about the possibility of naming her Lynlee, after both of her grandmothers. Now doctors were advising the couple from Lewisville, Texas, about 25 miles northwest of Dallas, to visit two more specialized hospitals in Houston for additional opinions. "[My prenatal doctor] was very concerned about it because of the size of the tumor being that early along," Boemer said. "She felt like that there was a strong possibility that Lynlee would not make it to term." In Houston, one hospital "strongly recommended" the Boemers terminate the pregnancy. Performing open fetal surgery - essentially removing the baby before term in order to operate on the fetus - was too risky, doctors there said. But without such a surgery, Lynlee would likely die. Meanwhile, doctors at Texas Children's Hospital examined the tumor with cautious optimism. They agreed that in utero surgery would be required, and as it happened, two doctors there, Darrell Cass and Oluyinka Olutoye, had successfully done such a procedure seven years before. They explained to Boemer that it would indeed be extremely risky. But at 20 weeks into the pregnancy, the tumor was already almost as big as the fetus -- and about four times larger than what would be considered the threshold for surgical intervention, Olutoye said. "[The tumor] was putting such strain on Lynlee's heart," Boemer said. According to Cass and Olutoye, "it wasn't really a matter of if I needed in utero surgery. It was kind of a matter of when. The goal was to get me to 24 weeks." Boemer returned to her Dallas-area home and waited. Day by day, the tumor increased in size, until it appeared that Lynlee was sitting on a large balloon inside the womb. Unlike Boemer's first two pregnancies, she hardly felt Lynlee kicking or moving inside her, and she knew it was because the tumor was encroaching on her daughter's space. At 23 weeks, the tumor had grown large enough that doctors sent Boemer back to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. "I went down there thinking: 'I'll be here for checkups all week,' " Boemer said. Instead, doctors told her Lynlee might not survive two more days without intervention. "I went into surgery that night." Before the procedure, Boemer and her husband met in a boardroom with more than a dozen doctors. They outlined the options, risks and possible outcomes of the surgery. Boemer was 23 weeks and 5 days into her pregnancy - if the surgery failed and Lynlee needed to be delivered, the baby would be just on the edge of viability, doctors said. They handed the Boemers a form. "If she's born, do you want us to do resuscitate if needed?" Boemer remembers them asking. "If she's not doing well, do you want us to allow her to pass?" Boemer had been doing okay up until that point, but it was then that she burst into tears. "To think we had come so far, to try to save her," she said. "I was very nervous and scared. . . . but my husband and I were focused on whatever we needed to do to try to save our baby." It took Cass, Olutoye and a team of about 20 others to perform the surgery itself. The majority of the time was spent making meticulous incisions into the uterus, then carefully pulling out the lower half of Lynlee's body. In the middle of the procedure, Lynlee's heart stopped and needed to be restarted; she required a blood transfusion, as well. "These are babies that are essentially dying," Olutoye said. "You have a child who's already sick, and the operation itself can make her sicker." After removing about 90 percent of the tumor, surgeons placed Lynlee back into the womb. Closing the uterus proved tricky, as well. The doctors needed to seal the membrane to the uterus, doing it in a watertight fashion that - even after 23 weeks - would continue stretching as the pregnancy progressed. After about five hours, the surgery was complete. "And then the real work really starts," Olutoye said, referring to the challenge of carrying the baby to term with a now-increased risk of the uterus rupturing. Boemer was ordered to stay in Houston, on bed rest, for the remainder of her pregnancy. To doctors' relief and surprise, Lynlee continued to grow. "Her heart got much better, now that it didn't have to work as hard pumping through this huge tumor," Olutoye noted. On June 6 - nearly 36 weeks into her pregnancy - Boemer underwent a C-section. The newborn infant who emerged "singing," weighing 5 pounds and 5 ounces, was nothing like the "small, little gelatinous baby" Olutoye had operated on weeks earlier, he said. "Watching Lynlee come out crying and kicking . . . was really very exciting to see," he said. "Her whole leg [during the surgery] was barely the size of my finger. They grow so much over such a short period of time." "You can say she's seen the world twice," he added. Filling out her birth certificate, the Boemers officially gave Lynlee her middle name: Hope. At eight days old, Lynlee underwent another surgery to remove the rest of the tumor from her tailbone. She may require an operation in the future to reconstruct some pelvic muscles but is otherwise recovering well. Lynlee will need to continue to return to Texas Children's Hospital for regular checkups. "We're going to get very close," Olutoye tells all his patients, whom he says he often knows from "before they are born . . . all the way up into adulthood." The baby is nearing her five-month birthday and "hitting all her milestones," Boemer said. She giggles easily and enjoys being near her older sisters, she said. "It's been kind of overwhelming, how much attention her story's gotten, but we're very thankful," Boemer said. "I can tell you when we were told this very long name, we were scared and didn't know what that was and had never heard of it. So I'm glad that it's getting attention so that others who are diagnosed can know that they're not alone." ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) were honored Wednesday in recognition of their commitment to excellence in the Native CDFI industry at the 2016 Native CDFI Awards Ceremony, part of the 13th Annual Native CDFI Convening hosted by Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) and First Nations Oweesta Corporation (Oweesta). The Circle of Honor Award recognizes a Native CDFI that is successfully increasing access to capital and financial resources in Native communities by developing innovative loan products, promoting community development and overcoming challenges. The 2016 Circle of Honor Award winner is Taala Fund, a Native CDFI located in Pacific Beach, Washington, serving tribal members of the Quinault Indian Nation. Taala Fund demonstrates outstanding leadership within the industry by overcoming adversity in a challenging rural economic climate, while meeting community needs for individual asset development and capitalization options for entrepreneurship efforts. Under the direction of Natalie Charley, Taala Fund has made rapid progress since their inception, cultivating strong relationships with the Quinault Indian Nation leadership, community programs, peers, mentors, and partners. Taala Fund has also developed innovative loan products to build their local economic engines in the ocean and fishing arenas. Taala Fund was selected from a highly competitive group of Native CDFI nominees and was awarded for building and retaining strong partners and enhancing the quality of life and asset building opportunities for tribal members within their community. Taala Fund is led by Natalie Charley, Executive Director, who accepted the award on behalf of the organization. The Visionary Leader Award for Outstanding Achievement recognizes a person who has made a long term contribution to the Native CDFI industry and whose local financing and asset building efforts make them an inspiration for others. Sheila Herrera, Executive Director of Tiwa Lending Services, has been an instrumental visionary leader exemplifying a level of commitment to Tiwa Lending Services since her tenure with the organization. Under her direction, Tiwa Lending Services has tripled their loan portfolio from 1 MM to over 4.5MM, providing tribal members first time mortgage opportunities, new home construction as well remodeling options for tribal homeowners. She has also forged partnerships with local, state, and governmental entities to propel economic development efforts benefiting tribal members located on the Isleta Pueblo Indian Reservation in New Mexico. Taala Fund, our Circle of Honor award recipient, is a great example of what Native CDFIs can be for their community in creating and expanding economic opportunity which otherwise would not be available to tribal members. Were extremely excited to be able to honor Taala Fund, and we know that they will continue to be a beacon of opportunity and hope to their tribal members. We were also very proud to honor Sheila Herrera with the Visionary Leader award. Under Sheilas leadership, Tiwa Lending Services has developed homeownership options and strong partnerships to build long lasting assets for tribal members within their community, said Chrystel Cornelius, Executive Director, First Nations Oweesta Corporation. We appreciate the opportunity to give earned recognition to both award winners. We would also like to thank OFN for recognizing the achievements of these two recipients. Congratulations to this years two award winners. OFN values the opportunity to recognize Taala Fund and Shelia Herrera and all their hard work. Their dedication to Native communities is inspiring, said Fran Lutz, Interim President and CEO of Opportunity Finance Network. Every single year we are impressed by the Circle of Honor and Visionary Leader award recipients and the Native economic development opportunities they create. This year is no exception. Taala Fund and Sheila are great assets to their respective communities. The awards ceremony capped off the 13th Annual Native Convening in conjunction with the 32st Annual OFN Conference where Native economic development practitioners and tribal representatives from across the country joined hundreds of other opportunity finance experts to share and learn about new ideas, strategies for change, and innovations from the field. For more information on Taala Fund, please visit www.taalafund.org. For more information on Sheila Herrera and Tiwa Lending Services, please visit www.tiwalending.org. First Nations Oweesta Corporation provides opportunities for Native people to develop assets and create wealth by assisting in the establishment of strong, permanent institutions and programs, leading to economic independence and strengthening sovereignty for all Native communities. Based on First Nations Oweesta Corporations Integrated Asset Building Model, our programs and services help build local capacity and provide powerful tools for Native community development. For more information, visit www.oweesta.org. Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the leading national network of private financial institutions, creates growth that is good for communities, investors, individuals, and the economy. Members of OFN are community development financial institutions (CDFIs) that deliver responsible lending to help low-wealth and low-income communities join the economic mainstream. Through 2015 OFN's network originated $48 billion in financing in urban, rural, and Native American communities. This financing has helped to create or maintain more than 1,044,000 jobs, start or expand nearly 191,000 businesses and microenterprises, and support the development or rehabilitation of nearly 1.5 million housing units and 9,800 community facility projects. For more information, visit ofn.org. Brenham police are investigating the death of a 20-year-old Blinn College student found dead in the roadway Thursday night. Officers found the body of Trey Alan Kurtz, a first-year general liberal arts major from Houston, at the intersection of Seelhorst Street and Dark Street at 11:21 p.m. after receiving reports of a body lying on the curb near the road. Kurtz was found alone with at least one gunshot wound. His body was taken to the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy, said Angela Hahn, Brenham police spokesperson. Investigators found a witness Thursday night who remembered hearing what sounded like a gunshot between 9 and 10 p.m. before a dark-colored vehicle left the area. No arrests had been made late Friday. Blinn College District President Harold Nolte released a statement via email Friday afternoon informing faculty, students and staff about the incident. "The Blinn College family is saddened to learn today that a student enrolled on our Brenham campus has passed away," reads the message. "The college extends its heartfelt condolences to the student's family and friends during this difficult time, and advising & counseling services will be available to all students to provide support as they grieve the loss of their friend and classmate." The intersection where Kurtz' body was found sits south of the Stanpac factory and the railroad tracks. Nearby is Thyme Day Spa and Salon, which closed at least one hour before the shooting is believed to have happened. Molly McCracken, a receptionist at the spa and a Brenham native, said she did not see or hear anything out of the ordinary Thursday night but described the area as one that is not well-traveled. "It's a quiet town," she said. "The most noise we get is from the train tracks." Setting the record straight on candidate's business record In response to Kevin Collins's shameful letter (Eagle, Oct. 26), I am writing to share my direct experience working for Bryan mayoral candidate Andrew Nelson. It is obvious to me that Kevin Collins does not know Andrew personally nor understand any of what he writes or he would not have misrepresented Andrew so carelessly. I did not know Andrew before working four years for him at TomorrowNow, but it didn't take long to notice something very special about the company and culture he created with core values of honesty, integrity, service and fun. Andrew taught his employees to care for each other, enjoy their jobs, and always do the right thing. Andrew became a wonderful mentor in my life. Many of the best things in my life, such my marriage, my kids, and my family, are the result of his advice and living example of what "morally right" looks like. My wife and I teach Sunday school, work with youth and positively impact many families in large part due to his leadership by example. More than two years after Andrew sold and gave 100 percent control of TomorrowNow to software giant SAP, another software giant, Oracle, sued SAP and SAP-controlled TomorrowNow. None of these three companies sued Andrew, and none of the lawsuit allegations involved Andrew's personal conduct or actions, or even company activities during the time he owned and controlled the company. I feel Collins is confused or misinformed by implying otherwise. Andrew is a Godly man, an excellent leader, and exceptional family man, and above all, an honest, moral person who constantly strives to do what is right, no matter the difficulty. I feel truly blessed to have spent time working for him. I hope this helps others to see the real Andrew Nelson, not the mischaracterization portrayed by a partisan. JOSH TESTONE Liberty Hill Bryan mayoral candidate has compassion and is willing to help others I had the opportunity to work for Andrew Nelson, former CEO and founder of TomorrowNow Inc., from May 2005 to May 2008. When I joined TomorrowNow, there were not yet 20 total employees, and when I left, the company had grown to more than 300. My experience while working under Andrew is one that I continue to look fondly on and reminisce about. Nelson, along with his wife and brother, lead with a heart of compassion. When hurricane Katrina hit, he responded by opening doors to those negatively impacted by the storm. Neither he, nor his fervor to lead the company, was put aside for his desire to help others. TomorrowNow was more than a job to me. It became a home, it gave me a purpose and an instilled in me leadership qualities that help me today. While working for Nelson, my mother became sick and was distraught due to a lengthy divorce. I, a 21 year old with no completed degree yet, was no worthwhile investment, and yet, Andrew and his brother Greg gave me an opportunity to work from home in El Paso, continue my collegiate work, and take care of my mother. I forever am thankful for what they did for me. There is no doubt in my mind that what is needed this upcoming election is a man who is devoted to the betterment of his community and a willingness to serve others. The very embodiment of Andrew Nelson is at its heart, a commitment to the service of those most in need. I wholeheartedly endorse and stand behind the character of the compassionate man, Andrew Nelson. Andrew is exactly what Bryan needs, DIMITRI D. GARCIA Presidio How could The Eagle recommend a woman such as Hillary Clinton? Shame on The Eagle for endorsing a woman for president who supports murdering babies, selling baby parts for profit, who supports same sex marriage, who does not support our police, who does not support our religious freedom. What is the Editorial Board thinking? SUSAN KEMP College Station Don't forget to go to the bottom of the ballot to vote in city races It's come to my attention that if you vote a straight ticket and don't know to scroll down the page, you may not see the non-partisan city council candidates at the bottom of the ballot. Thank you for your attention. ROBERT ROSE Bryan Hopeful is thoughtful and has a heart for service College Station is a growing and changing city, and such development requires thoughtful and analytical leadership. We recognize these characteristics -- as well as others -- in Jeremy Osborne and enthusiastically endorse his candidacy for College Station City Council, Place 3. We have known Jeremy for five years and have been impressed by his heart of service. He has served as a Bible class teacher in our congregation -- including committing the time to teach the teenage boys' class for an entire quarter. Participating in some of his classes, it was evident that Jeremy was prepared extensively; his attentiveness to comments and quick analysis of the topics also readily were apparent. We also have witnessed Jeremy sacrificing his time to help others with their needs: advice, friendship, and even manual labor. Jeremy is committed to and invested in College Station. He has been involved in starting and managing several businesses, and chose College Station as the home for his new business venture, Pegasus Optimization Managers, bringing jobs into our city. He is involved in multiple community organizations. In a political season filled with bitterness, we especially appreciate the example that Jeremy has provided throughout this campaign, concentrating on a positive message that is focused on the issues that are facing College Station. He has demonstrated the capability to be constructive and controlled when faced with negativity and misinformation during this campaign. The ability to be dispassionate is crucial when working with parties that have rivalling interests. This demeanor would be invaluable to the College Station City Council, as it faces issues that are can be controversial and stir emotions. Jeremy Osborne is the type of leader required to address the growth and changes facing our city in a responsible and reasonable fashion. Please join us in supporting Jeremy Osborne for College Station City Council, Place 3. BRANDON and REBECCA LEWIS College Station Student ghetto off Rock Prairie Road is not 'progress' We have a serious issue about quality of life. Please drive along Rock Prairie Road west of the College Station Medical Center, turn right, and you see the student ghetto in full bloom. It is disgusting, with trash everywhere. The development lobby, exemplified by Jeremy Osborne, thinks this is progress. He is a tool of the real estate lobby, and should not be elected for anything. RAYMOND CARROLL College Station Look at the candidates' records when voting All the College Station council and mayoral candidates are good people. So, for me, the distinguishing feature comes down to what skills they bring to city government to help us all build a strong future. Both Joe Guerra and Linda Harvell have lived in College Station longer and have been engaged more with city governance and/or civic activities than their opponents. Joe Guerra's Texas Department of Transportation experience is unique. He understands traffic systems, corresponding regulations, and funding avenues; he knows the players and how to navigate related bureaucracies. His voice on the council would provide an essential skill set we do not currently have. While both Harvell and her opponent say they support neighborhood integrity, only Harvell has an historic track record of caring about neighborhoods and wise growth so that traditional neighborhoods are respected while new, needed development continues. She also brings an interesting perspective: not only significant resident engagement in city projects, committees, and neighborhood issues. She has worked in a variety of industries. There is a balance in her perspective that is also needed. I have been torn about the mayoral candidates because I know and respect both. My decision finally rested with a city council vote over the Shenandoah subdivision fight to prevent rezoning for an apartment complex to be built abutting this neighborhood. Despite hundreds of residents from across the city arguing against the rezoning and city staff acknowledging increased traffic problems, the apartment complex will be built. John Nichols voted in favor; Karl Mooney voted against it. Mooney saw the original zoning as a promise between the city and families who invested in their homes. I will be voting for Karl Mooney because I need to trust that elected officials will hold faith with property owners when the city makes decisions that impact long-standing promises to landowners. SUSAN DROLESKY College Station Council candidate has years of experience I am supporting Linda Harvell for Place 3 on the College Station City Council. I got to know Linda before she ever ran for city council, as we are both in the College Station Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association and Citizen's Fire Academy Alumni Association. Neither of these organizations are endorsing any candidate, so I am not speaking for them. People have asked me how it was possible for the College Station Professional Firefighter Association to endorse a candidate who has no record of service to either the fire department or any other civic organizations, while anyone who knows Linda knows she supports the fire department, both financially and through her service in recent years. I am not a member of the Professional Firefighter Association, nor do I know anyone in this organization, so I cannot speak for them. But I do know that this is the same organization that supported her opponent in the last election without even interviewing Linda. Nor did this organization reach out in the same election, to the other council member running for re-election against an opponent, to interview her and offer their endorsement of her. I am disappointed in their decision to become involved in city politics, but it is their right to spend their money as they choose, as long as it is not funded by taxpayers. While walking through neighborhoods and knocking on doors, I've been very excited with the support Linda has received. When residents hear about the experience Linda has and what she's done to support this city already, they feel confident in voting for her. Please join me in voting for Linda Harvell for College Station City Council, Place 3. KATHLEEN BRICK College Station Life's exquisite electro-physiology is still being discovered. Researchers at Bristol University reported in May that bees' hairs are highly sensitive to flowers' delicate EMFs. In controlled trials in Switzerland, bees reacted to mobile-phone signals with high-pitched 'piping': a cue to desert a hive. Other studies show that mitochondria, the tiny power houses in our cells, are at risk from our new EMFs. And that even DNA, in its delicate antenna-like structure, may be frequency-sensitive. The long-term, ecological implications of our new, anthropogenic radiation are not known. But peer-reviewed studies revealing harm to birds, tadpoles, trees, other plants, insects, rodents and livestock, offer clues. Biology professor Lukas Margaritis, at Athens University, for example, uncovered harm to fruit flies from just a few minutes' exposure to our everyday wireless devices, including cordless phones, Bluetooth, and even digital baby monitors. Reviewing research, India's Ministry of Environment and Forests warned that sensitive habitats may need some protection. The UK's Digital Economy Bill, about to receive its final seal, has sensible proposals for increasing country-wide access to fibre broadband: a technology that does not, in itself, stoke microwave pollution, though wireless add-ons do so. But probe beyond the bill to Ofcom's 5G consultations, and new EMF exposures emerge: part of global trend. The worldwide rush towards 5G or 'fifth generation' wireless rollouts is set to raise our pulsing pollution to new levels. Untested, high microwave frequencies are being lined up to increase bandwidth, automation, and usage - at great profit to the industry. These millimetre and centimetre waves, though too weak to heat us, may pose possible risks to our skin, and deeper surface tissue, including that of plants. High-density transmitters are envisaged. A troubling prospect for the many hundreds of patients seen by professor Dominique Belpomme's clinic in Paris: patients whose disabling symptoms from wireless technologies are supported by new brain scans and blood tests. A delegation of scientists have petitioned for such electrosensitivity to be recognised as an environmentally-induced illness, with an International Disease Code (2015). Rip-tides: when profits outpace caution Pushing for fast rollouts, the wireless industry is also in conflict with the Internatonal EMF Scientists' Appeal to the United Nations. Signed by 223 scientists from 41 nations, it calls for remedial action - such as new safety limits, wave-free zones, and education of doctors - to protect our DNA, fertility, and nervous systems, plus children and pregnant women, from growing wireless exposure. And from rising, mains-electricity fields. Signs that such caution may be needed are growing. The pulsed, polarized, microwaves used by wireless technologies pose more biological risks than smooth or natural waves. Weak millimetre waves have a known potential to increase antibiotic resistance: what ecological effects might they risk, perhaps, if used universally? Studies also reveal a risk to skin pain receptors. Published associations between radio-masts and skin cancers, though at lower frequencies, plus mobile-phone masts and EMF-sensitive cancers (Adilza Dode, Minas Gerais University 2013), raise further questions. In his summer press conference, Tom Wheeler - former head of the CTIA, the vast telecoms lobby- group, and controversial chair of the Federal Communications Commission - proposed unbridled "massive deployment" of commercial 5G transmitters, taking off in 2020. Anticipating "tens of billions of dollars" of economic growth, with US telecoms "first out of the gate", he warned "Stay out of the way of technological development! Turning innovation loose is far preferable to expecting ... regulators to define the future". With no mention of health-testing, carbon costs, or corporate responsibility, the FCC voted unaminously to go ahead by releasing swathes of untested high frequencies for private sector exploitation - so setting a trend. To questionable ends: added to other issues, how will our communities be affected by addiction to 5G multi-stream videos? How will it impact our spiritual communion with Nature? Many American health activists, and cautioning scientists, are aghast. Dr Joel Moskowitz, director of community health studies at the University of California, warns "precaution is warranted before 5G is unleashed on the world". Former government physicist Dr Ron Powell points out the plans "would irradiate everyone, including the most vulnerable to harm from radiofrequency radiation: pregnant women, unborn children, young children...the elderly, the disabled, and the chronically ill... It would set a goal of irradiating all environments". Fracking the air? Fault-lines in safety This drive to mine the electromagnetic spectrum come-what-may has echoes of fracking, and other headlong trends. In Captured Agency, the Harvard ethics report on the FCC, and the wider wireless industry, Norm Alster exposes ruthless "hardball tactics", supported by "armies of lawyers", at expense to our health. Microwaves, Science and Lies (2014), filmed by Jean Heches across Europe, exposes similar patterns that are driving our pulsed radiation to risky levels. Western "safety limits", based only on high levels that heat tissue, far exceed those of Russia, China, and some other nations. Professor Yuri Grigoriev, long-serving chair of Russia's non-ionising radiation protection body (RNCNIRP), warned the UK's Radiation Research Trust "ionising radiation is monitored...[but] levels of non-ionising radiation are constantly increasing and ubiquitous: it is out of control ... Urgent action is needed". Stealthy pollution-raisers, such as the 5G Internet of Things - with 30 billion tiny transmitters forecast for 2020 - and also, sadly, wireless smart-meters [1, 2*], vetoed by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, may run counter to a cherished Green goal: that of nurturing healthy environments. Can we manage our energy, perhaps, in more bio-sensitive ways? Court claims for wireless-meter health harm, supported by medical testimonies - including by neurology professor Andrew Marino (Louisiana) - are sweeping America. Professor Pall explains such meters' "high intensity" microwave pulses may be more toxic than we realise: "We know from the nanosecond studies these can be very damaging". Data obtained by a judge revealed all-hour, house-piercing pulses every few seconds. New data-over-wiring innovations (if free of "dirty electricity") may offer inspiring, alternative ways forward. Chrysalis: a paradigm in waiting To create - in Wheeler's phrase - a global '5G ecosystem' of wireless super-saturated environments, at insidious risk, over time, to living ecosystems, not least our own bodies, is dysfunctional. And spiritually disturbing. It suggests a mindset deeply at odds with the orchid-like beauty of the Earth. But cleaner innovations, such as LiFi, 'eco-dect-plus' phones, and the latest fibre-optics, suggest a wiser course. A new paradigm - safer connectivity, plus more balanced use - is emerging. And reminds of other step-changes in awareness. From pesticides to organic, from smoke-filled to smoke-free. We can accede, if we wish, to our rising, planetary smog. To safety limits as high as the moon, in many scientists' eyes. And to wireless rollouts' growing carbon costs. Or taking pause, we may begin to call the industry to account - plus governments lulled by it. We may air helpful new findings, such as risks from tablet-like exposures (Alexander Lerchl, Jacob Bremens University, 2015). And stark risks from passive exposure, bared by Leif Salford, medical professor at Lund University. We may defend DNA, if we wish, from ionizing and published non-ionizing risks, just as we defend our planet. And alongside French Green Party MPs Laurence Abeille and Michele Rivasi, plus the interntional Baubiologie movement, we can explore electromagnetic hygiene. Uplifting possibilities for a safer, cleaner world. Lynne Wycherley is a nature poet with six published collections. Working in parallel with pioneering doctors, she has been investigating non-ionising radiation for 5 years. Notes Dr Mae-Wan Ho It seems fitting to begin with her voice, so well known in Green / holistic circles (inc. Ecologist), following the sad news of her death earlier this year. industry funding / manufacturing doubt 'product defence' strategies to delay reform, as in Dr D Michaels' 'Doubt is their Product', OUP, 2008 Council of Europe (all 41 member states) Resolution 1815 WiFi was also found to reduce growth/thyroid hormones in animals, and trigger aggression/a racing heartbeat, and cordless phones to retard root-growth, harm bee-hives, alter gene expression, and disturb the human heartbeat in blind tests (their stands produce harsh, all-hour microwave readings). Mitochondria emerging as unusually vulnerable to microwaves (many papers), including low-intensity (damaged mitochondria are a risk factor for many chronic health conditions) Centimeter/millimetre waves penetrate less far, as you know, but with more energy. The pulse will increase bio-risks (re: 25 years' data on pulsed v. pure sine waves). 5G will be additional to 2G,3G, 4G. Antibiotic resistance And other changes, found by other researchers, in e.g. yeast / E Coli (Belyaev) EMF-sensitive cancers e.g. prostrate, breast, liver, lungs, skin... (Adilza Dode, now professor, Minas Gerais University, reviewing research prior to her peer-reviewed research on mobile-phone masts) the CTIA International umbrella group now known only by its acronym; originally 'Cellular Telephone Industries Association' (Figures vary, but telecoms revenue is catching up with fossil fuels', it seems). Wheeler: "Everything that can connected will be connected" - blanket electro-smog. Smart meters (overlap with 5G). I continue to realise, sadly, under-acknowledged toxic risks need to be aired for ethical reasons. Professor Martin Pall: "'Smart meters' should be abolished because they use short high-intensity pulses [3, 4 ]1 of microwave radiation. We know from the nanosecond studies these can be very damaging and act via VGCC activation [his research] with activation continuing long after the pulse has ceased". Dr Andrew Goldsworthy, EMF biologist (to Parliament): "To carry out compulsory mass exposure to pulsed microwave radiation [smart meters] without the fully informed consent of the people affected is in contravention of the Nuremberg code." This testimony, from journalist Amy Worthington (here) typifies so many known to me (even UK): "Cindy deBac (Arizona, new meter)...' I've never been so sick in my life', she says. 'Nausea, a crushing migraine headache, and painful heart palpitations laid me low right away'. Healthy and exuberant before the installation, deBac...struggled with rashes and a chronically racing heart. For respite she spent nights away in her car". Australian GP Federica Lamech's peer-reviewed paper relates 92 such cases, herself included (sensitivity seems to vary, re: allergies). dirty electricity kilohertz transients, creating complex EMFs with emerging bio-risks Eco-dect-plus (cordless phones): emit microwaves at full power only during calls, saving energy Professor Leif Salford (neurosurgery).Work on blood-brain barrier 1988-2010. Discovered passive exposure to other people's mobile phones might risk serious, delayed damage. "Those who might normally have got Alzheimer's dementia in old age could get it much earlier" Industry moves to fund diluting research were exposed in, e.g., Microwaves, Science & Lies. Hancock, MD, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hancock, MD - Innovative veterinary health company, PetLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC QB: PTLF), announced today a partnership with Lumleian, LLC, a life sciences advisory firm based in Boston, MA. Working together, PetLife and Lumleian will seek to advance PetLife's clinical and commercial pipeline in the United States, including securing capital to develop its lead product, Vitalzul, for the treatment of various veterinary oncology indications. Dr. Salvagno, CEO of PetLife Pharmaceuticals, noted, Biopharmaceutical companies like PetLife need an experienced partner to assist in the optimization of our development strategy and enhancement of shareholder value by market identification and capital acquisition. After evaluating several potential partners, we are confident that our choice of Lumleian will serve the company well. Lumleians experience and track record with similar companies gives us the additional firepower we need to move our company forward. Lumleian has a strong track record of working with companies and investors to identify synergies and facilitate the development and commercialization of innovative life sciences technologies. "We are excited to work closely with the PetLife team to bring to market therapies and products that serve a significant unmet need and that have the potential to change the treatment paradigm for cancer in pets," said Jason Greenberg, a Director of Lumleian. "We see a largely untapped opportunity in the veterinary space to deliver safe and effective treatments for pets and their owners. We believe PetLife can be a leader in this space, and with the right strategic relationships, it can seize this opportunity as a first mover," said Greenberg. We evaluate development-stage companies all the time. PetLife's unique value proposition, in our view, is driven by the relatively clear path to technical and regulatory success. With the strong human data and preclinical animal work generated to date, Vitalzul offers a compelling investment thesis, continued Greenberg. PetLifes 506 Private Placement Memorandum is available only to accredited investors. About PetLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc. PetLife Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB: PTLF) (http://www.PetLifePharma.com) is a registered US Veterinary Pharmaceutical company, incorporated in 2012. PetLife's mission is to bring its new, scientifically proven, non-toxic, potentiated bioactive nutraceuticals and prescription medication, Vitalzul, to the world of veterinary oncology -- with the ultimate goal of preventing cancer and extending the life of pets suffering from cancer while improving their quality of life. In the US alone, consumer spending on domestic companion animals reached over $60 billion in 2015 with over $29 billion spent on veterinary care and medications. About Lumleian, LLC Lumleian is a Boston based life sciences consultancy serving the biopharmaceutical industry by providing strategic advisory services across the gamut of the life sciences. Lumleian has successfully facilitated numerous investments by working closely with companies it determines offer a strong value proposition and which serve a significant unmet need. For more information, please visit http://www.lumleian.com Safe Harbor Safe Harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: PetLife encourages those interested in our Company to rely only on information included in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission which can be found at www.sec.gov. Statements released by the Company, that are not purely historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the company's expectations, hopes, intentions, and strategies for the future. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business prospects and performance. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risk factors include but are not limited to general economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors as discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K. The Company does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Cyber incubator graduates first international cyber startup, nurturing innovative ideas from small companies in the U.S., U.K. and Australia BALTIMORE, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the bwtech@UMBC Cyber Incubator announced today that two more cyber startups one representing the first international company to participate have graduated from the Northrop Grumman Cync program. iWebGate of Perth, Australia and Light Point Security of Baltimore have completed the Cync scholarship program. Cync is a global cyber startup initiative created by Northrop Grumman and bwtech@UMBC to cultivate the brightest ideas in cybersecurity and commercialize these innovations for use in the federal marketspace. Formed in 2011, this partnership has created pathways for technology-driven startups to speed advanced solutions to customers, while providing extensive business incubation expertise and access to capital and talent to help companies thrive. The newest Cync occupants include London-based Silobreaker; Baltimore-based Leverege, OptioLabs, and Huntress Labs; New York-based GuardX, Inc; and ParaTools, of the University of Oregon. The technology emerging from the Cync program is truly leading-edge, said Chris Valentino, program director, Cyber and Intelligence Mission Solutions, Northrop Grumman. Thats why we launched it; to get these ideas out of the proverbial garage, cultivated and making a difference for our customer. I continue to be amazed at the endless stream of innovation and pleased that we can help these companies nurture their technology and business plans to make a difference in global security. Cync graduates include DB Networks, KoolSpan, AccelerEyes (ArrayFire), Five Directions, Oculis Labs and Ayasdi. bwtech@UMBC's Cync partnership with Northrop Grumman continues to attract and develop promising cyber security product companies domestically and abroad, said Ellen Hemmerly, executive director, bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park. Both Light Point Security and iWebGate have developed innovative technologies to fill existing gaps in cyber security and add to the thriving cyber security ecosystem in Maryland. About iWebGate and Light Point Security: iWebGate has developed a patented technology providing a flexible, efficient, secure, and cost effective Software Defined Wide Area Network solution enabling connectivity to any site or device, on any network, anywhere in the world. This revolutionary network capability deploys a multi-tenant, security-tested on-demand network zone for provisioning services between private networks and the Internet. Light Point Security was founded by two former NSA cybersecurity experts with decades of experience in national security. They found that Web browsers are the most serious threat to network security, and that traditional, detection-based security products could never keep up. The company invented the concept of using a remote, isolated web browser to address these issues. Their innovations have made it possible to click on any website without threat to your network. Customers include Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, health care organizations and the federal government. Cync is taking applications: The Cync program is currently taking applications, looking for companies that address critical market needs in the areas of cyber, data sciences, big data, secure mobility and cyber physical systems/critical infrastructure protection. For information about applying to this scholarship program, go to www.bwtechumbc.com. bwtech@UMBC is a 71-acre research and technology community at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). With more than 500,000 square feet of office and laboratory space, it is home to more than 120 technology and life science companies at all stages of development. bwtech@UMBC offers collaboration with university faculty and students, and enjoys a strategic and convenient location, close to downtown Baltimore, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and Washington, D.C. Its annual economic impact on the state is estimated to be more than $500 million. Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information. Grab a homebrew with these Burlington Makers of Beer The Burlington M.O.B. Makers of Beer meets nearly every month to discuss and sample each other's beers. CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Tuesday October 25th, 2016, Cub Scout Pack 313, chartered by the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, got together at Camp Soule in Clearwater for their Ichabod Crane Night. It is the night when the pack reviews recent rank advancements and enter their hand-carved jack-o-lanterns for a contest in which everyone wins. On Tuesday night, nine Cub Scouts also received their Bobcat badge, demonstrating their knowledge of the basics of scouting. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31027768-11ec-4c74-aa62-e520be08cafb The Ichabod Crane Night tradition was started 20 years ago by Scoutmaster Tom Wright. Since then, over 200 Scouts have received awards acknowledging them for their hard work on their pumpkins. The meeting on October 25th was no different. One Scout received the award for the Rock Star Pumpkin while others received awards such as the Scariest Pumpkin and the Pumpkin that Most Resembles the Cub Master. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, was an Eagle Scout himself and looked highly upon Scouting, said Dylan Pires, the Community Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology and Eagle Scout. He accredited many of his life skills to the Boy Scout program. Pack and Troop 313 are open to boys of any faith, as is any troop. Boys in the Scouting program are encouraged to be faithful and loyal, as laid out in the Scout Oath and Law. About the Church of Scientology: The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and has expanded to more than 11,000 churches, missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 165 nations. Scientologists are optimistic about life and believe there is hope for a saner world and better civilization, and actively do all they can to help achieve this. The Church of Scientology regularly engages in many humanitarian programs, such as anti-drug campaigns, human rights campaigns and global education programs. To learn more, visit www.scientology.org This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate My Model Maid just launched last Friday and owner Josh Dailey, 31, has already been interviewed by several news outlets. He was even asked to come back for a second radio segment on "Chaz & AJ in the Morning." Why all the attention? Dailey's Bristol, Conn.-based cleaning service doesn't hire regular house cleaners. The maids are actually models aged 19-30 who clean people's houses in costume. After a 40 or 50-hour work-week, the last thing Dailey, a Bristol resident, wanted to do was clean his house. That's how the idea was born. "I wanted a fun alternative to housecleaning," he said. The My Model Maid website allows customers to choose from 10 models (and counting), four costumes (French maid, cheerleader, school girl or Wonder Woman) and hourly, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cleaning services. An hour session is $79. The maids make about $30 an hour, Dailey said. Taglines on the website include: "Our exquisite model maids will roll out the red carpet for you (after vacuuming it)." "Hate housecleaning? Start loving it today." "One visit from one of our lovely ladies and youll be looking for ways to make a mess." "Choose one or have them bring a friend." Customers pick their top choices for maid and costume, and the final decision is based on which maid lives closest to the house and if she is comfortable wearing the costume selection. Dailey said he picked costumes based on "universal appeal," and the maids have a say in the matter. He hopes to add more soon, especially in the cosplay vein. Model Maid Katie Weinstein, a 29-year-old actress from Stratford, Conn., is experienced in the cosplay world having worked various ComicCons. She actually has her own closet full of costumes. She saw a Google ad for the position and applied to the job. "I'm a costume fanatic. I thought it would be fun to cosplay a maid," she said. For her, the cleaning aspect was not an issue. An idea like this does not come without backlash. Fox 61 did a story on My Model Maid and reports that one Facebook user wrote "Sick and perverted. What kinda creep would go for this and what kinda woman would lower herself to this?" "This is demeaning to Women," another user wrote. Weinstein said she finds the reaction humorous. "I find it a little funny. In Connecticut, it's a little conservative," she said. "This would be wonderful to have in Manhattan." Dailey said his business, which is a member of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, is a professional environment, and hopes any criticism is directed at him personally and not the maids. "I have a mother just like everybody else. Despite the business model, I have tremendous respect for everyone I work with. The girls are like family," he said. All the maids are from Connecticut. Most of them are professional models that Dailey found on modeling sites and some are just "beautiful women." He has 12 women on board and is interviewing more. Preliminary interviews are conducted via phone or email; from there the women go on to a series of group interviews. "While cleaning can be taught to most anyone, there was a huge focus on hiring the right personalities for the job. I truly couldn't ask for a better group of ladies to work with," he said. Weinstein has already done three cleaning appointments: a retired couple in which the wife bought her husband a gift certificate, a retired single man, and a middle-aged man who has a girlfriend. Dailey says he will only accept unmarried people unless the spouse is on board. "There's potential for a wife to be jealous; I want to avoid that," he said. She said when she first arrives at appointment, the customers ask her about herself and want to get to know her. She wore the maid outfit to her appointments. "They're like 'Oh my God, I can't believe you're here,'" she said. "People just love costumes. It's a novelty; it's no different than a singing telegram. It's similar to having a clown at a children's birthday party." From there, she goes on to clean the house and says the customer did not watch her the whole time. Every customer that books a maid is required to complete a background check and sign a contract stating that if at any time during a session, the maid feels uncomfortable or unsafe, she is allowed to leave. The maids also wear life alert watches. Weinstein said there is no physical contact allowed and if anyone touched her or tried to touch her she would leave. So far, she has not had an issue at her appointments. "Safety always comes before profit," Dailey said. Weinstein, who travels around for acting jobs, including a recent role as a showgirl in the Netflix series, "The Get Down," likes the flexibility of the job; there is no minimum requirement for appointments and the maids can take on gigs at their availability. As for the actual house cleaning, Dailey said it's no joke. All the maids get hands-on training on how to clean every room in the house and take video courses from "industry standard" cleaning companies. They also have a 300-page manual and use eco-friendly products and commercial-grade appliances, including a $400 vacuum. "It's not just some novelty concept having people just come in and push dust around," he said. "At the end of the day, people pay good money and expect the house to be cleaned." My Model Maid completed seven appointments in its first week and has five more booked. Dailey said six of the seven customers requested repeat sessions. The maids are also available for private parties and game-day viewing parties where they will serve drinks and food as well as clean up after the party. As of now, My Model Maid serves all of Connecticut (and one customer in Massachusetts), but with the help of some of his more "business savvy" maids who have connections, Dailey said he hopes to expand to New York City and Boston. Dailey, who works in sales, hopes to make My Model Maid a full-time job in the coming months. 27 October 2016 16:50 ASTRAZENECA HEAD AND NECK CANCER TRIALS Following the recent update on clinicaltrials.gov, AstraZeneca confirms that the US FDA has placed a partial clinical hold on the enrolment of new patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in clinical trials of durvalumab as monotherapy and in combination with tremelimumab or other potential medicines. All trials are continuing with existing patients. The partial clinical hold on new patient enrolment relates only to head and neck cancer. Trials for durvalumab in different cancer types, as monotherapy or in combination with tremelimumab or other potential medicines, are progressing as planned, with pivotal data in lung cancer anticipated in the first half of 2017. The FDA's decision follows voluntary action by AstraZeneca to pause enrolment of new HNSCC patients while a detailed analysis is conducted of adverse events related to bleeding that were observed as part of routine safety monitoring of the Phase III KESTREL and EAGLE trials. Bleeding is a known complication in treatments of head and neck cancers primarily due to the nature of the underlying disease, the proximity of tumours to major blood vessels and use of prior cancer therapies, which may involve surgery and radiation. AstraZeneca has submitted its analysis of the observed bleeding events to the FDA for review and is working closely with the Agency, providing the required information to resume new patient enrolment as soon as possible. About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three main therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases and Respiratory. The Company also is selectively active in the areas of autoimmunity, neuroscience and infection. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZeneca. Media Enquiries Esra Erkal-Paler UK/Global +44 203 749 5638 Neil Burrows UK/Global +44 203 749 5637 Vanessa Rhodes UK/Global +44 203 749 5736 Karen Birmingham UK/Global +44 203 749 5634 Rob Skelding UK/Global +44 203 749 5821 Jacob Lund Sweden +46 8 553 260 20 Michele Meixell US +1 302 885 2677 Investor Relations Thomas Kudsk Larsen +44 203 749 5712 Craig Marks Finance, Fixed Income, M&A +44 7881 615 764 Henry Wheeler Oncology +44 203 749 5797 Mitchell Chan Oncology +1 240 477 3771 Lindsey Trickett Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases +1 240 543 7970 Nick Stone Respiratory +44 203 749 5716 Christer Gruvris Autoimmunity, neuroscience & infection +44 203 749 5711 US toll free +1 866 381 7277 Adrian Kemp Company Secretary, AstraZeneca PLC This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Over 100 people from across the city filled the gym of the former Nathaniel Ely School Wednesday night to hear the Norwalk school districts plans to deal with overcrowding. Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski, along with members of the Board of Education, presented the audience with two options for a neighborhood school in South Norwalk, along with plans for renovations and expansions to other district schools. The first option for South Norwalk included building a K-8 school next to the existing building at the Nathaniel Ely site and then moving Columbus Magnet School to that location. The school would hold up to 450 students and could be completed by the 2020-21 school year. Columbus Magnet Schools current building would then be renovated into a pre-K-5 South Norwalk neighborhood school that would hold up to 450 students and could be completed by the 2023-24 school year. The second option would be to build a 450-studeent, pre-K-5 South Norwalk neighborhood school at the Nathaniel Ely site that could be completed by the 2020-21 school year. That school would then be used as a swing space for students at Columbus Magnet School for two years, while that building would be renovated into a K-8 school that could hold 450 students. The neighborhood school would then be populated, and the Columbus Magnet students returned to their renovated building for the 2023-24 school year. All of this takes a lot of time, Adamowski said, which is why we dont have time to wait. Growing concern The school district is already short by roughly 750 seats, a figure that is expected to grow to over 1,000 by 2025. Nearly 400 kids are stationed in 15 portable trailers that are nearing the end of their designed life span. Adamowski said the district is on the verge of over-enrollment, which would affect not just South Norwalk, but every student in the district. However, the bulk of the district growth is focused in one area. Our enrollment growth is centered in South Norwalk, Adamowski said. Ironically, it is the fastest growing area of our city and the only existing part of our city that does not have a neighborhood school. Many of the estimated 1,375 pre-K to eighth-grade students who live in the area do not have an automatically assigned district school, and are bussed to eight schools across the city many riding the bus for close to an hour each way. A neighborhood school would cut down bus time, allow the students have assigned school and help with overall overcrowding, district officials say. But the plans for a neighborhood school have been somewhat mired in controversy. South Norwalk Community leaders held a discussion on Oct. 13, expressing concerns that community members didnt have a seat at the table in developing plans for a school, and that other options werent being explored. Obstacles and opportunities Some community members spoken about segregation issues, given that the South Norwalk neighborhood in question has mostly minority students. State racial standards say student populations in a school cannot vary by more than 20 percent from those of the overall district, officials said. At the meeting Wednesday night, South Norwalk residents brought up other issues ranging from whether kids in the area would be able to use the new schools recreational space to whether the school district could keep students safe in the neighborhood. Still, many in the audience saw the options for a new neighborhood school as a positive move. Monisha Gibson, director of the Maritime Odyssey Preschool, which operates in the existing former Nathaniel Ely School building, said there is nothing scary about the area. I assure you that this opportunity to improve and provide a high-quality school in this area is a fantastic idea, she said at the meeting. When you bring your resources together to promote quality education, we can do great things, Gibson said. This is not a black issue, this is not a white issue, this is not a rich issue or a poor issue. This is about providing quality education for our children. Other plans for the expanding of Norwalk schools included an estimated 26,000-square-foot addition to the east side of Ponus Ridge Middle School and a 7,000-square-foot expansion of Jefferson Magnet School. School district officials distributed a survey at the end of Wednesdays forum as way to receive input from the community. KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz NORWALK With slick suits, skinny ties and dominant personalities, the advertising executives of Madison Avenue in the 1950s and 60s the Mad Men are some of the most romanticized characters of the modern era. And theyre exactly the type of people who might have lived at 8 Dogwood Lane in Westport, at least in the imagination of architect and owner David Vynerib, principal at CCO Habitats in Westport. Somebody really cool would live here, Vynerib said. I would live here but Im not hip enough. It just has that feel. Vynerib, a veteran in real estate development and redesign, acquired the home from the estate of Susan Malloy, a beloved Westport artist and philanthropist who died in April 2015. As a Westporter himself, Vynerib never had any intention of living in the home, and instead purchased it specifically to renovate. It was really important to me to keep it and not knock it down so we could keep the character of the town, Vynerib said. The property is on the market for $2.2 million through listing agent Maryann Ross Levanti of Higgins Group Real Estate. Levanti said the home appeals to a growing pool of buyers who arent looking for a cookie-cutter house. So many of the houses in his area are similar or the same," Levanti said. We have really had an incredibly broad demographic for people expressing interest. It is a pool of buyers that wants something different. Everybody loves this house, but its a question of making it fit their lifestyle. The home was originally designed by Aaron Resnick, a student of famed mid-century architect Frank Lloyd Wright. With its quirky geometric shapes, hard lines, flat roof and unusual floor plan, the 1950s construction had hardly been updated since it was first built. Malloy purchased the home in the mid-1980s and added an indoor swimming pool, which she was known to swim in even in her later years, and kept her studio in what is now a home office. Though Malloy meticulously maintained the property, it was dated and at risk of becoming the latest victim in a string of mid-century teardowns. While most of the renovations revolved around resh coats of paint and modern appliances, Vynerib expanded the kitchen, added a modern master bedroom and moved a few walls around. The gray walls and stark white built-ins give the home a sleek feel reminiscent of something Don Draper might have called home. We tried to make it as Mad Men-esque as possible," Vynerib said. Vynerib made special efforts to preserve the original built-in cabinetry throughout the home, as well as a set of stained glass windows in the entryway. The indoor pool and spa was converted to salt water, and the updated master suite took advantage of the unusual original lighting and large windows to create a dramatic bedroom that overlooks the private yard. Vynerib got his start as one of three founders of Citi Habitats, the largest real estate sales and rental agency in New York City. After leaving the business, he opened CCO Habitats in Westport, and set to work renovating one-of-a-kind homes and building new ones. In 2015 the Home Builders and Remodlers Association of Connecticut awarded CCO the Best Antique Home Restoration/Historic Rehab for their preservation and reimagining of a circa-1802 property in Westport. And, although he has ample experience in renovations and new construction, Vynerib said the home at 8 Dogwood is his first mid-century modern renovation, and by far his favorite to date. I love doing renovations because it takes a different kind of creativity than new construction," Vynerib said. "I find this really interesting and I had a lot of fun doing it. Levanti said its important that more builders and buyers recognize the architectural significance of Westports shrinking pool of unusual homes, particularly those built in the middle of the century. In Westport I think its becoming more and more important because we have so few that get saved, Levanti said. Its always a bit of a tug-of-war because the seller wants the best price but as more and more get torn down, it leaves Westport with a dearth of architectural interest. If we can keep a little variety it can only add to the overall feel of the town ... thats one of the great things about working with David, he tries to save homes rather than tear them down. Located in one of Westports more architecturally diverse neighborhoods, just off Compo Beach Road, the home blends in with the landscape while still making a statement about the time it was constructed. I would live there in a heartbeat, Levanti said. Ive been in real estate since the late 90s, there are very few homes I would want to move into ... 8 Dogwood is one of those few homes. Its marvelous. David did a great service to the town in restoring it instead of having it knocked down. KKrasselt@scni.com; 203-354-1021; @kaitlynkrasselt WILTON A Chicago, Ill. man is facing drunken driving charges after crashing his car along Range Road, police said. Police responded to a reported motor vehicle accident around 1 a.m. on Thursday night where they found the driver, 49-year-old Thomas Chamberlain, who they reported appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Chamberlain was administered the sobriety test, which he failed, and he was placed under arrest. Chamberlain was charged with driving while under the influence and driving in the improper lane. He was held on a $500 bond, and appeared later that day in court. Both Les Seiler and Steve Halloran are campaigning for the District 33 seat in the Nebraska Legislature with the promise that they would be a conservative voice representing the district that includes Adams County and part of Hall County. We have no doubt that both of them would live up to that promise. But the difference between the two candidates is that Seiler has the experience of having already served in the Legislature during the last five sessions. He was appointed by Gov. Dave Heineman to complete Sen. Dennis Utters term after Utter died in December 2011 and then was elected in November 2012 to serve a full term representing District 33. He is chairman of the Judiciary Committee and has also served on the Education Committee and the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. Seiler said he believes the biggest issue in this race is property tax relief. I will continue working to lower property taxes, advocate for quality education, promote economic development and improve public safety, he told The Independent. All of these issues are important to keep our district moving forward. Seiler has provided an independent voice in the Legislature, standing up for his beliefs and for what will benefit his district. He has voted, along with most of the Legislature, to override Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoes on the death penalty repeal, drivers licenses for DREAMers and professional licenses for DREAMers. It is important that I study issues, listen to constituents concerns when voting on issues that affect them and all Nebraska taxpayers, he told The Independent. Seiler said he values honesty, integrity, loyalty and fairness. Fairness is an important word here because, in standing up for an override of the governors veto of the bill providing drivers licenses for DREAMers, he noted that a medical student had testified in favor of the bill and he said it was ridiculous to say that a well-educated immigrant who can qualify for a license to practice medicine in the state cant qualify to drive a car in the state. Ricketts is supporting Seilers opponent, Halloran, even though Seiler is a Republican, presumably because Seiler has voted several times to override his vetoes. But someone who will stand up for his beliefs and does not back down in the face of pressure from the governor just because they are both members of the same political party is exactly what District 33 needs. Seiler also voted for the gas tax increase that is making it possible to get road and bridge repairs done in his district and across the state. With the Legislature tasked with crafting a budget at a time of a revenue shortfall during the coming legislative session, as well as dealing with many other issues that are extremely important to the states residents, this is not the time to remove an experienced legislator from his seat. Seiler has already served as a committee chairman and he will presumably serve in a leadership role again during the next session if the voters re-elect him. That makes him the best candidate to represent District 33. English Icelandic Landsbankinn's after-tax outcome for the first nine months of 2016 was positive in the amount of ISK 16.4 billion, compared to an after-tax profit of ISK 24.4 billion for the same period in 2015. Net interest income amounted to ISK 26.2 billion, an increase of 4.7% between periods, while fees and commissions were ISK 5.9 billion, a YoY increase of 15%. Loan revaluations amounted to ISK 4.4 billion, compared to ISK 12.3 billion during this same period in Q1 2015. Other operating income amounted to ISK 4.7 billion, compared to ISK 8.4 billion a year earlier, with the decline due primarily to lower profit on equities. ROE for the period was 8.5% compared to 13.5% during the same period of 2015. Total 9M operating income amounted to ISK 41.2 billion, compared to ISK 50.9 billion for the same period in 2015. Operating expenses decreased by 0.4% YoY to ISK 17.6 billion, of which salary expense was ISK 10.4 billion and other operating expenses ISK 7.2 billion. Landsbankinn's total assets as of the end of September were around ISK 1,134 billion, compared to ISK 1,176 billion a year earlier; the bank's balance sheet has therefore contracted by just under 4% during the past 12 months. This year Landsbankinn has paid ISK 28.5 billion in dividends in two payments, in April and September. On 15 September 2016, Landsbankinn announced the bank would offer to purchase own shares from shareholders in accordance with a buy-back programme during three specified repurchase periods. During the first buy-back period the bank acquired 120 million shares, or the equivalent of 0.5% of its issued share capital, for a purchase price of ISK 1.2 billion. Buy-backs under the programme can amount to a maximum of 480 million shares, or the equivalent of 2% of issued share capital. At the end of September the bank's equity was ISK 251.1 billion and its capital adequacy ratio 29.1%, compared to 29.2% a year earlier. Landsbankinn's CEO Steinor Palsson: "Landsbankinn continues to reinforce its position as Iceland's leading financial undertaking: its market share this year is the highest ever. The quality of the bank's assets has increased and its funding terms have improved, thanks to a successful bond issue abroad this year. Considerable fluctuations still remain in one-off items, i.e. loan revaluations and equities. If these items are excluded the bank's performance has improved over that of the previous year, as other income has grown due to higher business volume while at the same time we have managed to reduce operating costs. The bank has also paid substantial dividends to its owners in 2016, higher than ever before. A new upgrade of Landsbankinn's Standard & Poor's rating in October attests to the bank's strong position. Landsbankinn's results for the first nine months of this year are very positive and exceed expectations. It is gratifying to see that customers find it to their advantage to direct their business to the bank to an increasing extent, and that investors' confidence in the bank is on the rise." Investor call: On 28 October at 10:00 local time, the bank will host an investor call in English covering the main Q3 results. Please register to the call by emailing ir@landsbankinn.is. For further information contact: Runar Palmason, Public Relations, pr@landsbankinn.is, tel: +354 410 6263 / 899 3745 Hanna Kristin Thoroddsen, Investor Relations, ir@landsbankinn.is, tel: +354 410 7272 Democrats saw a surge in new voters in Pennsylvania as midterms near NORCROSS, Ga., Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EasyCare is excited to welcome Carl Grane as their new Director of Training. Grane brings with him over 28 years of experience in consulting, training and management in both the automotive and financial industries. In his new role, Carl will spearhead the development and execution of new advanced finance, sales and service training programs in addition to refining the company's overall training strategy for EasyCare's internal employees, agents and dealers. Grane and his team are working on developing a blended learning approach, taking EasyCare's world-class training materials, comprehensively updating them and funneling them through a variety of learning channels, including group seminars, webinars, virtual video, and in dealership live training. "There is tremendous opportunity here EasyCare has a wealth of training platforms and a driven team that has execution down to a science," said Grane. "Our goal is to couple proven traditional methods with today's leading technology programs, based on individual client and dealer needs, so they can drive their business to its full potential. I am thrilled about the positive impact we'll have and that I get to be a part of it." Grane comes to EasyCare from American Financial & Automotive Services, where he served as Dealership Development Manager for three years. Prior positions include Director of Associate Development for World Class Automotive Group, and District Sales Manager and Manager of Training/Development for Gulf States Financial Services Group, among others. "With such a strong background and work ethic, we're thrilled to have Carl on the team," said Penn, Vice President, Business Performance, for EasyCare. "His expertise will further enhance our ability to help drive execution and performance at every dealership level." About EasyCare EasyCare's mission is to help dealers succeed at every customer touchpoint by creating passionate employees and customers. Whether it's protecting the dealerships' customers on their behalf or helping deliver the ultimate driving experience, EasyCare is fully engaged. Since 1984, the company has provided leading-edge benefits that have helped nationwide dealers deliver an outstanding ownership experience to over 7 million customers. EasyCare provides the industry's only "MOTOR TREND Recommended Best Buy" F&I benefits for franchised dealers, in addition to a full suite of training programs, management development and proprietary software. For more information, please visit easycare.com. A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=41765 Wood River attorney Leslie Wood was honored Tuesday for donating her legal expertise to residents of Madison County. The law firm of Simmons Hanly Conroy was also given the 2016 Pro Bono Firm of the Year. The annual Celebrate Pro Bono Luncheon was held at the Leclaire Room at Lewis & Clark Community Colleges N.O. Nelson complex in Edwardsville. Wood has handled a variety of pro bono work, including bankruptcies and divorces for the Land of Lincoln, and has provided legal consultations to low income individuals at the Legal Advice Clinic in the law library. She has also handled a pro bono case as part of the Veterans Pro Bono Project. In addition, Wood has served as a pro bono mediator and a guardian representing several wards appointed by the Third Judicial Circuit. Simmons Hanly Conroy hosted an Expungement Day recently at the Madison County Courthouse. The firm offered services of a dozen attorneys to help people petition the court to have their non-violent charges wiped from their record. The firm also offered free drug testing for clients who need to attach a clean test to their petition. Judges were also on hand at Expungement Day to approve fee waivers and sign orders. The Madison County States Attorneys Office and the Madison County Circuit Clerks Office also participated. The effort last week was a continuation of the first Expungement Day that took place in June at the firms Alton office. More than 100 expungement,/sealing requests were officially approved by the court during the projects first court date in September. A second court date will be scheduled early next year for the petitioners who received assistance recently. Both awards were presented by Chief Judge David Hylla. The event was held as part of a week-long National Pro Bono Celebration. In what appeared to be an oversight, the Maryville Board of Trustees recently passed a new ordinance making it illegal to fire or discharge any type of firearm or gun within the village limits. Maryville Police Chief Rob Carpenter said after responding to an incident recently, village officials noticed that there was no ordinance on the books regarding the discharge of a weapon. DAYTON, Ohio, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CareSource, a nonprofit health plan headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, plans to expand its footprint in downtown Dayton with the construction of a new, seven-story, office building, CareSource Center City. The new building will allow CareSource to create a walkable campus-like environment for employees within the core of downtown Dayton while accommodating the company's unprecedented growth. CareSource has experienced rapid growth in recent years due to the passing of the Affordable Care Act, the launch of the Ohio dual eligible program MyCare Ohio, and a continual increase in Medicaid business through expansion and opportunities in new states. The resulting exponential growth in the health plan's membership has led to an unprecedented rise in employment with CareSource welcoming more than 800 new employees, just in 2016. Located at the corner of First and Jefferson streets, the site of CareSource Center City is near the company's four existing Dayton offices. The structure will increase the CareSource footprint in downtown Dayton to more than 800,000 square feet. Construction on the new building is expected to begin early next year, contingent upon approvals for state and local supports. "More than 10 years ago we took a bold step in the height of the economic recession and invested in Dayton by building the CareSource headquarters at Main and Monument. We were confident then in the uniqueness of downtown and stepped up to lead the way in identifying underutilized land and reinvigorating it with new purpose. Since that time we have exceeded what I could have imagined for us," said Pamela Morris, President and CEO of CareSource. Quick Facts Location: Corner of First and Jefferson streets Size: Seven stories, 250,000 square feet Capacity: 900 employees Groundbreaking: First quarter 2017 Estimated completion: 2019 Current Dayton-based workforce: 2,200 employees CareSource total workforce: 3,100 employees CareSource Downtown Dayton Footprint Headquarters at 230 N. Main Ballpark Village at 220 E. Monument Kettering Tower, third and fourth floors Office at 40 W. Second Street About CareSource CareSource is a nonprofit health plan nationally recognized for leading the managed care industry in providing member-centric health care coverage. Founded in 1989, CareSource is one of the nation's largest Medicaid managed care plans. Today, CareSource offers a lifetime of health coverage to more than 1.5 million members across four states including offerings on the Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare Advantage plans. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, CareSource has a workforce of 3,100 employees. CareSource is living its mission to make a lasting difference in its members' lives by improving their health and well-being. CareSource understands the challenges consumers face navigating the health system and works to put health care in reach for those it serves. For more, visit caresource.com, follow @caresource on Twitter, or like CareSource on Facebook. A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=41767 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bahruddin (The Jakarta Post) Melbourne Thu, October 27, 2016 President Joko Jokowi Widodo has signed Presidential Regulation No. 87/2016, which stipulates the formation of a special task force to eradicatepungli (illegal levies), reflecting his seriousness in combating illegal levies as part of his law enforcement reform agenda. Law enforcement against the decades-old practice might step slowly into the light in response to public frustration over corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy in Indonesia. The phenomenon of illegal levies must be seen not only as the non-compliant behavior of bureaucrats but also as a crime that severely impacts peoples welfare. The World Economic Forum (WEF) identifies corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy as the biggest problem for business development in Indonesia. The WEF report also says market size is the only indicator that supports the countrys business competitiveness. In business calculations, corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy does not matter as long as demand for products remains huge. Any cost for illegal levies can be calculated as a part of the cost of production. Suffice it to say, Indonesian consumers have to pay more due to a corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy. Indonesians might have not been surprised when Jakarta Police arrested recently Transportation Ministry employees on allegations of asking for illegal levies. People here have been permissive to illegal levies since they have experienced the practice themselves when accessing public services. The government coined pungli in 1977 (see Wijayanto, 2010). At that time president Soeharto issued a presidential instruction that mandated the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry to coordinate an operation to fight the practice. It is clear that the first official response to illegal levies was developed within the organizational framework. Organizational theories tell us that illegal levies are an example of non-compliance behaviors of organizational members (Malloy, 2003). The lack of non-compliance detection is the root problem of compliance in an organization, such as bureaucracy. Therefore, establishing a body that deals with detection of non-compliance behaviors is essential. Inspectorates have been playing the most important role to ensure that organizational rules are obeyed by everyone in the bureaucracy. Today, most government bodies are equipped with an inspectorate to improve bureaucrats compliance. The organizational approach against illegal levies has been implemented for almost four decades. However, the recent arrest of Transportation Ministry employees shows the organizational approach to fight the practice has failed. Many bureaucrats simply disobey the rule at will despite the presence of the inspectorates. In other words the inspectorates fail to ensure the compliance behavior in government organizations. Transactional services rampantly occur within or beyond the inspectorates detection. In the words of Krawiec ( 2003 ), establishment of the inspectorate organization serves as cosmetic compliance, which means a new organization is formed to respond non-compliance behavior of members but it turns out to bring no changes. The unsuccessful organizational approach should therefore justify the use of a different approach. Some scholars have suggested that non-compliance, in particular pungli, must be understood not only as an organizational matter but also as part of institutional relationship, including political and civil society movements. Parker ( 2006 ) introduced the concept of compliance trap, which refers to the lack of political support for compliance enforcement. Using this perspective we can find the existence of regulatory compliance enforcement agencies such as the National Police, Attorney Generals Office and Law and Human Rights Ministry seem difficult to produce the compliance behavior if political actors have the reverse interests in the regulatory objectives. This argument might be appropriate to explain the current situation in Indonesia, in particular the failure to fight illegal levies. The institutional perspective argues that illegal levies reflect the relationship between bureaucrats and politicians. John Locke imagination on the trias politica or division of power between the executive, legislative and judiciary branches is not relevant for the Indonesian context. In this country, political actors are part of bureaucracy either within or outside the structure. The involvement of political actors in bureaucracy tends to influence professionalism and meritocracy in government decision-making processes. To make things worse, political activities follow the transactional model as evident in vote-buying practices. Transactional politics is an enabling factor for transactional bureaucracy. This kind of relationship explains that combating illegal levies is impossible if it only happens within organizational bureaucracy boundary. The fight against illegal levies needs collective movements of all stakeholders. The anti-illegal levy task force will be effective only for street-level bureaucrats. The efficacy of the task force to combat systematic illegal levies that receive strong backing from politicians remains a question mark. Mainstreaming the movement to fight transactional politics is not an easy task and requires patience because it is a process. The educated community should collaborate with the civil society to develop a mental model for voters. The mental model refers to the ability to understand the impact of individual behavior in the causalities relationship between systems such as politics and economics (Carroll and Markus, 1998). Within the mental model, society is educated to be aware of the impacts of certain political behaviors on their daily life. For example, the relationship between transactional politics and transactional bureaucracy tends to increase peoples expenditures both directly and indirectly. Without eradicating transactional politics, the task force mandated to combat illegal levies will only emulate the failure of the anti-illegal levy operation four decades ago. *** The writer, a PhD student at the University of Melbourne, lectures on social development and welfare at the School of Social and Political Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. For more information click here. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Following rumors of its plan to release a new Android-based smartphone, BlackBerry has finally introduced the DTEK60, a device that is said to be "the world's most secure Android smartphone". An improved version of its predecessor, the DTEK50, which was released in July, the smartphone features a 5.5-inch Quad HD display, a Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB RAM and 32GB in internal memory, an Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system, a 21 megapixel front camera, a USB-C port, a 3000 mAh battery and metal casing with dual glass panel finishing. In addition to a fingerprint scanner, the device also boasts other security-related software such as Secure Bootloader, Hardware Root of Trust and DTEK. BlackBerry has also said it will release security updates more quickly than any other Android-based phone brand. (Read also: BlackBerry, once a phone innovator, to stop making its own) As reported by kompas.com, information on the product's availability in Indonesia is not yet available. However, the company is said to be targeting business and government institutions in marketing the DTEK60, although retail consumers will also be able to purchase the phone priced at US$499. BlackBerry is currently transitioning from being a hardware company to solely focusing on software. The company will license its software rights to other firms. After the DTEK60, the company's products will be fully developed by other companies that own the brand license. (fmn/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Lenovo started marketing on Thursday the latest Motorola-branded phone in Indonesia that targets the middle- and high-end market. The Moto E3 Power will be marketed under the Lenovo brand as Motorola is now a subsidiary of the Beijing-based tech company following an acquisition in 2014. Lenovo Indonesia mobile business group country lead Adrie R. Suhadi told kompas.com Wednesday that the two brands would have different segmentation, with Lenovo targeting the middle and affordable market. (Read also: Lenovo rolling Motorola back into China market) Despite the higher target market, Moto E3 Power is priced at Rp 1,899,000 (US$146). Among its highlighted features is a 5-inch display, dual SIM, Android OS v6.0 Marshmallow, quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, 16 GB and 2GB RAM internal memory, 8MP front camera and removable Li-ion 3500 mAh battery. Regarding the possibility of other Motorola-branded phones entering the country, Lenovo Indonesia mobile business group 4P manager Anvid Erdian said the company might launch the more premium Moto Z. (kes) TheJakartaPost Please Update your browser Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Corry Elyda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, October 26 2016 If it were not for her friend who posted a picture of her bruised face on Twitter, which went viral in a matter of hours, she would have never seen her boyfriend, who allegedly assaulted her over dirty dishes, arrested by the police on battery charges. Her friend tweeted on Friday night, My best friend was beaten by her boyfriend and until now, the boy has not been detained although the evidence is strong. The tweet and the picture of her bloody and bruised face generated public outrage and drew media attention on Saturday afternoon. Many Twitter users, including former Constitutional Court chief Mahduf MD, called on the police to follow up on the assault case. Hours later, the police said they had detained the alleged perpetrator. Pancoran Police chief Comr. Aswin said the suspect had been detained after the victim reported the assault to the police on Friday morning. The police said the suspect could be charged with assault, which carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison. Dating violence is believed to be rampant in the country but many people are reluctant to press charges or even talk about it as it is thought that society tends to shame or even blame victims for their suffering. ___________________ Officials or law enforcers who are supposed to help oftentimes ask victims judgmental questions, The annual report of the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komas Perempuan) recorded 11,207 cases of violence last year, 60 percent of which happened in marital relationships while 24 percent occurred in dating relationships. The commission gathered the data from womens rights organizations and the police. That number is only the tip of the iceberg, Komnas Perempuan chair person Azriana said. Violence is usually categorized as when victims are locked in a room and severely abused or raped, she said. She added that society sometimes even blames the victims for what happened. Azriana said dating violence was not recognized in the countrys legal system as it often lacks physical evidence. When the legal system does not work well, it creates impunity for the perpetrators, so they will repeat their actions again, she said. Azriana said the violence in personal relationships was more complicated than domestic violence. In personal relationships, the violence is not only physical but also sexual and psychological, she said. She added that the violence ends up being intimidation and exploitation. Therefore, it can happen repeatedly, and the victims find it hard to leave their partners despite abuse, she said. She said the stigmatization of domestic abuse plays an important role. Officials or law enforcers who are supposed to help oftentimes ask victims judgmental questions, already having formed an opinion on the situation, she said. Azriana said Komnas Perempuan was now proposing a bill for protection against sexual violence to the House of Representative (DPR). We are now urging DPR to form a special committee to discuss the bill, she said. She said institutions, like the police or the Integrated Service Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children (P2TP2), should be sensitive toward victims, so those who suffer from violence could report their cases. We also have to guarantee effort to work to recover victims from trauma, she said, adding that those efforts were still lacking. She said the government should also educate the public on gender equality because most sexual violence cases occurred due to power inequality between men and women. A study conducted by womens crisis center Rifka Annisa in 2012-2013, showed that a mentality of entitlement was one of the main reasons for men raping their spouses. Out of 2,477 men between the ages of 18 and 49 in three cities, Jakarta, Purworejo and Jayapura, 75.7 percent, 56.9 percent and 74.7 percent, by respective city, said they had raped their wives because they felt entitled to do so. Other reasons stated in the study were intoxication and wanting to have fun. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrew Selsky (Associated Press) Salem, Ore., United States Thu, October 27, 2016 A South Korean man flown to the US 37 years ago and adopted by an American couple at age 3 has been ordered deported back to a country that is completely alien to him. "It is heartbreaking news," said Dae Joong (DJ) Yoon, executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, who had been in contact with Adam Crapser. Crapser remains confined in an immigration detention center in Tacoma, Washington, pending his deportation. Crapser waived an appeal during the hearing Monday because he is desperate to get out of detention, his Seattle attorney, Lori Walls, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "I'm sure he doesn't have any idea what he can do in Korea," Yoon said in a phone interview from his group's offices in Annandale, Va. Crapser's plight mirrors those of thousands of others. Yoon's group says an estimated 35,000 intercountry adoptees lack US citizenship. It is backing legislation in Congress to address that. Seven years after Crapser and his older sister were adopted, their parents abandoned them. The foster care system separated Crapser when he was 10 from his sister. He was housed at several foster and group homes. When Crapser was 12, he moved in with Thomas and Dolly Crapser, their biological son, two other adoptees and several foster children. There, he was physically abused, Crapser has said. In 1991, the couple was arrested on charges of physical child abuse, sexual abuse and rape. They denied the charges. Thomas Crapser's sentence included 90 days in jail, and Dolly Crasper's included three years of probation. Adam Crapser got into trouble with the law after he broke into his parents' home it was, he said, to retrieve the Korean Bible and rubber shoes that came with him from the orphanage and later it was for stealing cars and assaulting a roommate. Federal immigration officials say they became aware of Crapser after he applied for a green card. His criminal convictions made him deportable. Becky Belcore, who was adopted at age 1 and brought to the United States from South Korea, said she was with Crapser in the courtroom, located inside the detention center. She said the facility seems worse than jail because visitors cannot touch or hug detainees and must talk to them on a telephone. "He has been in detention for almost nine months," Belcore said in a phone interview from her home in Chicago. "He's been separated from his children. It is really hard for him." Walls said Crapser is married and has four children. Belcore said Crapser was wearing what looked like hospital scrubs, the uniform for detainees, and that Immigration Judge John C. O'Dell appeared matter-of-fact as he announced his deportation verdict. In an email, Walls said Adam was eligible for a deportation reprieve called "cancellation of removal," but the "judge decided he did not deserve this relief." "He will be deported as soon as Immigration and Customs Enforcement makes the necessary arrangements," Walls said. "Adam, his family, and advocates are heartbroken at the outcome." Kathryn Mattingly, a spokeswoman with the Executive Office for Immigration Review of the US Department of Justice, said in an email that she could not provide confirmation or details of the hearing without an alien registration number for Crapser and possibly a privacy waiver. Walls said she would seek permission from Crapser later to provide that information. Belcore said she feels lucky that her adoptive parents obtained her US citizenship. "A lot of times, parents simply didn't know that they were supposed to do it," she said. "It seems so wrong and so inhumane" for Crapser to be sent to South Korea, Belcore said. "Without knowing the language and the culture, it will be so difficult to survive." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rendi A. Witular (The Jakarta Post) Thu, October 27 2016 As Turkey seems to have had its plate full with a barrage of terrorist attacks perpetrated by the Islamic State (IS) movement and a Kurdish separatist group in the past couple of years, the recent rise of what the Turkish government named the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which it then blamed for launching the recent failed putsch, has authorities scrambling to fend off the new threat. While the IS attacks have been mostly aimed at civilians in touristy places, the Kurdish attacks have mainly targeted the police and military personnel on an almost daily basis for decades. The most notable one this year was the attack at Istanbuls Ataturk Airport on June 28, when more than 40 people were killed and more than 140 others were injured in a coordinated assault. Turkish officials have accused IS for orchestrating the attack. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willbros Group, Inc. (NYSE:WG) announced today plans to release its third quarter financial results on Friday, October 28, 2016 after the close of market. The Company will host a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the internet, on Monday, October 31, 2016 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (9 a.m. Central Time) to discuss its third quarter 2016 results. This schedule should avoid conference call overlap within our peer group and allow interested parties additional analysis time prior to the conference call. What: Willbros Third Quarter 2016 Earnings Conference Call When: Monday, October 31, 2016 - 10 a.m. Eastern Time How: Live via phone - By dialing 1-888-317-6016 (U.S. Toll Free), 1-855-669-9657 (Canada Toll Free) or 1-412-317-6016 (International) a few minutes prior to the start time and asking for the Willbros Group, Inc. call. Live over the internet - By logging on to the website at the following address: http://www.willbros.com. The webcast can be accessed from the investor relations home page. A replay will be available through November 8, 2016 and may be accessed by calling 1-877-344-7529 (U.S. Toll Free), 1-855-669-9658 (Canada Toll Free) or 1-412-317-0088 (International) using Replay Access Code 10095345. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call on www.willbros.com. Willbros is a specialty energy infrastructure contractor serving the oil and gas and power industries with offerings that primarily include construction, maintenance and facilities development services. For more information on Willbros, please visit our website at www.willbros.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 A fact-finding team has urged the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to file a case review on the controversial acquittal of former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono, who was accused of being involved in the murder of prominent rights defender Munir Said Thalib. Hendardi of the Setara Institute, a member of a government-commissioned fact-finding team (TPF) set up in 2004, said that even though the Criminal Law Procedures Code cited that a case review should be filed by defendants, prosecutors had set such a precedent before. He cited the example of the former Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, who was acquitted from murder charges but had his conviction reinstated by the Supreme Court in 2008, following a case review filed by then Attorney General Hendarman Supandji. "In principle, a case review is the right of defendants, but the law still gives room for the AGO to file one. This could be a chance for the Attorney General to solve Munir's murder," Hendardi told journalists on Thursday. The team's findings, submitted to then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2005, referred to Muchdi as one of the actors who had allegedly planned the murder, Hendardi said. Yet, Muchdi was acquitted in 2009. He further said reopening Muchdi's case could serve as a way to continue a pro-justitia process to resolve the mystery behind Munir's assassination. Munir died on board a Garuda Indonesia flight to Amsterdam on Sept. 7, 2004 (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas decision to run in the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial race means he may take no further part in the deliberation of the citys 2017 budget as the law requires him to take leave during the campaign period. Ahok, much praised by his supporters for his strong and brave policies on scrapping wasteful expenditure, must leave the job to the Home Ministrys Director General for Regional Autonomy Sumarsono, popularly known as Soni, who was inaugurated as acting governor on Wednesday. The 2016 Regional Elections Law requires Ahok and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, as incumbent candidates, to take leave during the campaign period from Oct. 28, 2015 to Feb. 11, 2017. Ahok and Djarot officially handed over leadership of the city administration temporarily to Soni at the Home Ministry. The latter will be in charge of the city administration and continue the deliberation of the 2017 city budget expected to be endorsed by the administration and the Jakarta City Council in November. Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo brushed off concerns suggesting Soni could change the course of deliberations of the budget and programs. [Soni] will not be the only one who will work on the budget drafting. There will also be the City Council and other officials in the administration, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician said. Tjahjo gave an assurance that Sumarsono would only continue the work already started by Ahok, Djarot and the citys officials, including when it came to drafting the budget. Soni echoed Tjahjos statement saying it was unlikely he would make any changes to the draft 2017 budget without the involvement of the citys officials. He also claimed he would not create any new programs for 2017 as there would be not be sufficient time. I will be the one authorized to sign the 2017 budget but it will certainly only be done with agreement from the Home Minister, he said. Ahok, who also attended the inauguration ceremony, meanwhile, expressed optimism that Soni would be able to carry out his tasks well. We hope everything will be fine and we still can cooperate together, he said during his speech. In 2015, Ahok faced a conflict with City Council members when he unilaterally submitted a draft budget to the Home Ministry. He claimed the budget drawn up by the City Council was full of questionable allocations. He also reported the alleged irregularities, as well as those found in the 2012 to 2014 budgets, to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The moved turned many city councillors against Ahok with some calling for an inquiry to investigate whether Ahok had breached regulations regarding the draft budget. The row eventually subsided after the Home Ministry stepped in to mediate between the city administration and the city council. Previously, Ahok filed a petition with the Constitutional Court in a bid to scrap the articles in the 2016 elections law requiring incumbent candidates to take leave during the campaign period. He insisted on being present in the administration to assist in the drafting of the 2017 budget until it was endorsed. As of Wednesday, the Court had yet to decide on his petition. Also on Wednesday, the Home Ministry inaugurated Director General for Village Administrations Nata Irawan as the acting governor of Banten, temporarily replacing incumbent Rano Karno, who will run in Bantens gubernatorial election next year. It is not the first time Soni has served as acting governor as substitute for an incumbent governor running in an election. Last year, he served as acting governor of North Sulawesi for five months. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Attorney General HM Prasetyo has insisted that he would look for the original documents of the investigation authored by a fact-finding team on the murder of prominent rights defender Munir Said Thalib, even though his office has been offered a copy of the investigation's findings. While Prasetyo praised former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's willingness to hand over a copy of the "lost" investigation document of Munir's death to the government, he, however, doubted the accuracy of the findings in the copy version. "A copy version is still doubtful. The most trustworthy document is the original version, of course. After we find it, we will begin to evaluate [the findings]," Prasetyo told the journalists on Wednesday. Prasetyo, however, did not give clear details on whether the AGO would conduct another pro-Justitia process to follow up the findings of the government-commissioned fact-finding team, set up by Yudhoyono's administration in 2004, saying that he would determine further measures later after the original document is finally located. Amid the fiasco over the unknown location of the original document, Yudhoyono finally spoke up and said he supported the government to continue its efforts to resolve the mystery behind Munir's murder and provide justice for all concerned parties. Yudhoyono further said he would hand over the copy of the documents, submitted to him by the fact-finding team in 2005, to the government through former State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, who served during his administration. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27 2016 The long distance between Austria and Indonesia does not seem to hamper efforts of the two countries to build their relationship. After bringing the famed Vienna Boys Choir to Jakarta, the embassy aims to facilitate more scholarships for Indonesians. Even though Indonesia and Austria are situated more than 10,000 kilometers apart from each other, our two countries enjoy excellent bilateral relations, the Austrian ambassador to Indonesia, Helene Steinshausl, said as she addressed guests at Austrian National Day celebrations on Tuesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya Thu, October 27, 2016 Bank Indonesia (BI) is pushing for the development of the waqf (Islamic endowment) system as a social welfare mechanism to support struggling commercial assets, as well as to help accelerate the sluggish economy. BI governor Agus Martowardojo said mortmain properties under waqf were traditionally used for school, orphanages, mosques, and cemeteries. But little was it known that it could also be used for clinics, medical centers, and even shopping complexes. "These large social-commercial projects financed through structured waqf are also important instruments to improve social well-being in a sustainable way," he said during the opening of the Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) in Surabaya. He added that along with zakat (compulsory Islamic charity), waqf could be an alternative cushion during bad economic conditions. BNI Syariah commissioner Risqullah said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) could fall into debt insolvency during an economic crisis as banks were reluctant to lend a hand because of the added risk of potentially taking on a non-performing loan (NPLs) and the increased profile associated with it. "Then [in such circumstances], we can use Islamic social funds to remedy insolvent SMEs until they become financially healthy again. After that, banks can take over the job. It is a win-win solution," he said. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 The panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court said CCTV footage at the Olivier restaurant in the Grand Indonesia mall was legal evidence that could be considered as a clue to determine the verdict against murder defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso. "Electronic evidence has been commonly used in court practice, so it can be used as an extension of Article 184 of the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP). Therefore, it can be used as a clue to see whether there is criminal conduct," judge Partahi Tulus Hutapea said during the reading of the verdict at the Court on Thursday. Judges dismissed a rejection from Jessica's lawyers regarding the footage. Previously, an expert witness from Jessica's camp, Rismon Sianipar, said the record had been tampered with to make Jessica seem guilty. Partahi said the digital experts summoned to the court, Muhammad Nuh and Christopher Hariman Rianto, had been sworn in. If some day the manipulation allegations could be proven, the lawyers and defendant could pursue further legal proceedings. He added that the footage was in accordance with the testimony given in court. Judges at the Central Jakarta District Court sentenced Jessica to 20 years in prison on Thursday after finding her guilty of murdering Wayan Mirna Salihin. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27 2016 The upcoming regional elections are a boon for Yose Rizal, director of PoliticaWave, one of the nations first social media-monitoring sites. With more Indonesians going online to talk about politics, political candidates are turning not only to political analysts but also social media analysts to gain insights into the profiles and interests of eligible voters, which are key to devising effective campaign strategies. In February 2017, voters in 101 regions across the country will elect their regional heads, and the resulting buzz has been reflected on social media. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 The Presidential Office announced on Thursday the passing of Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudis father, Moch Sidik. Bapak Moch Sidik, the father of Retno LP Marsudi, has passed away in Semarang, Central Java, on Thursday, the office said in a statement. The deceased is currently being laid for final respects at his private residence in Manyaran, Semarang. The news of his passing emerged only a day after Retno was occupied by talks with her visiting Australian counterpart, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Together with State Secretary Pratikno, the minister accompanied President Joko Jokowi Widodo, to meet with Bishop to discuss a range of Indonesia-Australia partnerships at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday. The bilateral meeting covered several areas, including terrorism prevention, law enforcement, and intelligence sharing, as well as trade and investment. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said stronger collaboration with creative industries in Indonesia, especially in the world of fashion, was important for the economies of both countries. Bishop had brought with her the Australian Fashion Chamber general manager, Courtney Miller, in an inaugural visit to the Jakarta Fashion Week on Wednesday. Miller is tasked with forging deeper collaboration across creative industries, especially in fashion, the minister said. "Australia and Indonesia are neighbors, we collaborate across a broad range of areas, but I think one of the most exciting, dynamic and innovative notions is our teamwork in the world of fashion," Bishop told reporters during a visit to several fashion stalls at the "Fashion Link" venue in Jakarta. In Australia, the creative industry contributes A$ 90 billion, while the fashion industry's share amounts to $12 billion, she said. It also provides about 220,000 jobs, Bishop said. In Indonesia, the fashion world contributes $15 billion to the economy, while employing four million people, she added. Jakarta Fashion Week has showcased Australian designers for the past three years, Bishop noted, adding that she looked forward to seeing more Indonesian designers featured in Australia fashion weeks in the future. Triawan Munaf, head of the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf), who accompanied Bishop to speak with several Indonesian designers, expressed enthusiasm that collaboration in the fashion industry between the two countries would only grow stronger moving forward. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 The government will soon begin the challenging duty of maintaining economic growth next year after securing on Wednesday the final approval from lawmakers for its 2017 state budget. President Joko Jokowi Widodo described earlier his proposed state budget for next year as realistic and more credible, with a mission of becoming a reliable fiscal instrument to support poverty eradication, reduce inequality and create more jobs. In a speech during the House of Representatives plenary session to pass the 2017 state budget bill into law, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said next years state budget was expected to support the countrys economic growth amid the sluggish global economy and geopolitical risks, dynamics in Chinas economy as well as sluggish international trade. Macroeconomic assumptions set in the budget reflect a realistic economic condition right now, based on global and national economic [situations], she said. In its 2017 budget, the government expects the economy to grow 5.1 percent, lower than its initial target of 5.3 percent, following recalculation during a series of hearings with members of House Commission XI overseeing financial affairs. Sri Mulyani, who was appointed finance minister in the second Cabinet reshuffle in July, said previously that she did not intend to repeat this years budgetary mistakes, which forced the government to carry out two rounds of budget cuts in anticipation of a massive tax revenue shortfall of Rp 219 trillion (US$16.8 billion). Southeast Asias largest economy is gradually recovering from a six-year low economic growth rate of 4.79 percent last year, with an earlier expectation of boosting growth to 5.3 percent in the 2016 state budget. However, after two rounds of budget cuts, Sri Mulyani has settled for between a 5 and 5.1 percent growth target for this year as a result of reduced government spending that could hinder its multiplier effect on the overall economy. Despite being realistic, the government expects state revenue of Rp 1.75 quadrillion, higher than the Rp 1.73 quadrillion proposed in the previous plan. Meanwhile, state expenditures are set at Rp 2.08 quadrillion, higher than the Rp 2.07 quadrillion proposed previously. The calculation will create a deficit at Rp 330.2 trillion next year, or equal to 2.41 percent of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). (-/-) We also hope the private sector plays a positive role in economic growth. Were trying to maximize domestic growth by improving fiscal and monetary policies to trigger confidence, she said after the plenary session. As many as 302 out of 560 lawmakers attended Wednesdays plenary session, with faction leaders conveying their political partys thoughts and criticism toward the 2017 budget. The Gerindra Party, as part of the opposition camp, said the government should work to increase state revenues, which should be utilized for more welfare programs, while also continuing to develop infrastructure, improving peoples purchasing power and production. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) stated in its recent Indonesia economic surveys that the countrys public spending and taxation were low, even compared with countries at similar levels of development. Increasing revenues is a priority, but there remains substantial scope to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending at all levels of government, it stated. Separately, Kenta Institute chief economist Eric Sugandi said the central government must also run tighter supervision of the use of budgets allocated for regional administrations, as many of them had failed to spend prudently to help stoke growth in the local economy. ____________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) (the Company) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with certain investors for the purchase of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the Series A Preferred Stock) of the Company in an aggregate amount of $38.6 million at a price of $4.85 per share. Such investors include affiliates of the Companys three largest shareholders as well as a number of other investors. The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $4.85 per share and will mandatorily convert into shares of the Companys common stock at a conversion price of $4.85 per share, subject to certain adjustments, upon receipt of approval of such conversion by the Companys shareholders. This sale of Series A Preferred Stock, coupled with the sale of Series A Preferred Stock to the Companys three largest shareholders as announced on October 6, 2016, is expected to fulfill a condition requiring the Company to raise equity under previously disclosed commitment letters for a new $400 million credit facility and certain amendments to the Companys existing $98 million credit facility, each of which are subject to customary conditions. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. The Series A Preferred Stock referenced in this press release has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements use words such as anticipate, budget, estimate, expect, project, intend, plan, believe, and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of potential future events, circumstances or future operating or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and observations and include factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Included among the important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking statements contained in this press release are the fulfillment of customary closing conditions in the agreements referenced above and other factors listed from time to time in the Companys filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. There can be no assurance that the foregoing conditions under such agreements will be met. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27 2016 Employee has died after the window-cleaning gondola he was in fell from the 23rd floor of the Intiland Tower on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday. The worker, identified only as AH, 30, worked for PT. Hitacindo, the contractor hired to install the gondola. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Muhammad Ardhi (The Jakarta Post) Moscow Thu, October 27 2016 It has been ascertained that the Arctic will be completely ice free during the summer of 2020, which carries many significant implications for world trade, energy security, as well as geopolitics. The melting ice in the Arctic is not only a serious problem for global sustainability and how it impacts countries and its citizens, because further behind its horror, global warming is affecting huge offshore demands as the Arctic region holds 13 percent of oil reserves and more than 30 percent of the worlds natural gas reserves, while additionally, Arctic ice melting evidently could reduce the shipping distance between Asia, North America and Europe by over thousands of miles. From three routes that will effectively open soon, the North Sea Route (NSR) is the most potential alternative route to Asia (also to Indonesia). The shipping route that starts from Europe through Eurasia to Asia is able to cut nine to 13 days off the normal shipping time and save 40 percent of the shipping cost (referring to the current conventional route, the Suez Canal route). to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Jessica Kumala Wongso will appeal the guilty verdict handed down by a panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court in her trial for the murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin on Thursday. "I don't accept this verdict because this is unfair and one-sided," she said after the verdict was read out. The judges found Jessica guilty and sentenced her to 20 years in prison, to include time served. Jessica's lawyer, Otto Hasibuan, expressed disappointment over the decision of the panel of judges, led by judge Kisworo, to not take into account several pieces of evidence presented during the trial. "We will file an appeal," Otto said at the court. Jessicas sentence is the same as demanded by prosecutors. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nani Afrida (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Immigration authorities at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport denied the departure of 12 Indonesians to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday evening because of the countrys moratorium on sending workers to Middle-Eastern countries. These people admitted that they were leaving to work as nurses and midwives in Riyadh, but they only had visiting visas, Heru Santoso, the Law and Human Rights Ministrys immigration directorate general spokesperson, told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Thursday. Besides visa problems, the migrants also didnt have the necessary documents from the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) and the Manpower Ministry. We have not allowed them to leave because there is still a moratorium on sending our workers to the Middle East, Heru said. The 12 Indonesians were scheduled to fly to Riyadh on Etihad Airways. Indonesia implements restrictions on migrants who want to work in 21 Middle-Eastern and African countries including Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, South Sudan, Syria and Jordan. The placement of Indonesian workers in these areas is considered a form of human trafficking, given the poor and brutal treatment they often receive in the Middle-East and North Africa. It has been reported that the bargaining position of Indonesian workers in those countries is weak, and they receive very low wages for long working hours. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Nusa Dua, Bali Thu, October 27 2016 Twenty-one nations bordering the Indian Ocean, comprising African, Asian and Oceanic states as part of an international organization, now have guidelines for maritime safety and security and five other priorities. The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Concord was completed at the ongoing senior officials meeting, almost two decades since the organization was first formed in 1997, under the chairmanship of Indonesia from 2015 to next year. South Africa takes over next year. The Concord will be signed during the first ever IORA Summit next year, to be held in Jakarta, to mark the organizations 20th anniversary. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27 2016 The Health Ministry will conduct a study on the worlds first dengue vaccine, named Dengvaxia (not Dengxavia as reported previously), before administering the vaccine through the national immunization program. The dengue vaccine has been developed by Sanofi [Pasteur]. If we [the Health Ministry] use it, of course we have to calculate the cost, which seems to be huge, Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek said in Bantul, Yogyakarta, on Wednesday, as quoted by Antara news agency. Mexico was the first country in the world to register the vaccine in December last year and was quickly followed by 11 other countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, all countries with a high endemic rate of dengue fever. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti and Hasyim Widhiarto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Indonesia is among the top-five most improved nations worldwide with regard to ease of doing business, but it is no time for complacency as President Joko Jokowi Widodos ambitious target remains unmet. The countrys ranking on the ease-of-doing-business index in the World Banks flagship annual report has jumped 15 places to 91st position, one of the best improvements among 190 countries in the survey, although Jokowi is looking for the country to achieve 40th position. The economies showing the most notable improvement in performance on the Doing Business indicators in 2015/2016 were Brunei Darussalam, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Belarus and Indonesia, reads the report, which also names New Zealand as the easiest country in which to do business, taking over the top spot from Singapore for the first time in a decade. The significant jump in Indonesias ranking is based on improvements made in starting a business, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, paying taxes, trading across borders and enforcing contracts. Jokowi in April issued the 12th economic stimulus package that specifically targeted a significant improvement in the World Banks index regarded as a parameter for investors around the world by scrapping many procedures and reducing both the time and cost involved in starting a business. In total, the deregulation package has seen 94 procedures slashed by almost half to 49. The time spent on procedures dropped from 1,566 days to 132 days. Costs have also dropped from Rp 92.8 million (US$7,036.10) to Rp 72.7 million, among other reforms. World Bank Indonesia country director Rodrigo Chaves said the government had done a lot to enhance the quality of the business environment for the private sector, particularly in the last three years. For one, it now takes 58 days for a business entity to connect to the power grid, compared with 79 days previously. Still, many areas remain wide open for improvement to achieve Jokowis ambitious target of securing the 40th place, including abolishing illegal levies and regulatory overkill by regional governments, as well as digitalization of the bureaucracy, economists say. Governments in other countries have utilized comprehensive IT systems to expedite processes, rather than relying on manual procedures, Bank Central Asia (BCA) chief economist David Sumual said, highlighting the pressing need for a more efficient bureaucracy to reduce costs for businesses. He lauded the governments recent efforts to fight illegal levies and implementing e-logistics, which is the digitalization of the logistics process that could help streamline bureaucracy. (-/-) Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) economist Latif Adam said his group had found in a 2010 study that there were many illegal levies charged for freight transportation on a route between Jakarta and Bandung, an example of a high cost of doing business. Another example of high logistics costs is the long dwell time in ports, particularly Jakartas Tanjung Priok Port, which has almost reached saturation level, said Gadjah Mada University economist Tony Prasetiantono. The governments efforts to boost the ease-of-doing-business ranking is part of a greater plan to make Indonesia more competitive in the international business community, as Southeast Asias largest economy grew the slowest in six years in 2015. Direct investment is among the top growth contributors for the economy even though it is expected to slow to 12 to 14 percent this year, compared with 19 percent in 2015, according to Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Thomas Lembong. The methods used to create the index have faced criticism, however. An independent panel appointed by World Bank president Jim Yong Kim found it used a narrow source of information and had the potential to be misinterpreted, according to a 2013 report. The ranking should not be used to apply a one-size-fits-all template for development, the panel found, as reported by Bloomberg. God willing, this will create confidence and instill greater faith among businesses, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said with reference to Indonesias improved performance. ________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Tokyo Thu, October 27, 2016 TOKYO (AP) Senior officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea have agreed to step up pressure on North Korea as they stick to their goal of persuading the communist state to abandon its nuclear weapons. Their pledge Thursday in Tokyo comes just two days after US National Intelligence Director James Clapper publicly called that goal a "lost cause." He said the best hope is capping its capability instead. The deputy foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo on Thursday made clear that North Korea now poses a new level of threat and requires broader international pressure and tougher sanctions. US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, says: "We will not accept North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, period." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Central Jakarta District Court judges found Jessica Kumala Wongso guilty for the murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin despite the lack of any eyewitnesses who saw her put cyanide into Mirnas coffee when they shared a table at Olivier cafe in Central Jakarta on Jan. 6. Judge Partahi Tulus Hutapea said the judges use of circumstantial evidences to determine Jessicas sentence was legitimate, such as the fact that Jessica had ordered the Vietnamese iced coffee and been the only one with access to it before the victim drank it. He added that the judges had also considered Jessicas suspicious gestures before making the decision. "Formally, to prove a criminal act, an eyewitness is unnecessary. If the defendant used poison, an eyewitness who saw her [pour it into the glass] is unnecessary," said Partahi when reading the judges verdict, which sentenced Jessica to 20 years in prison. The absence of eyewitnesses was a problem since the beginning of the police investigation into the case. The Jakarta Prosecutors Office returned the case dossier to the police four times before the prosecutors finally agreed that there was sufficient evidence to take the case to court. Presiding Judge Kisworo believed Jessica deserved the sentence because she had coldly killed her friend. "First, the defendants act caused the death of Mirna. Second, her act was cruel and sadistic as it was done to her best friend," Kisworo said. The fact that Jessica never showed regret for her wrongdoing nor admitted to the crime was a factor behind the length of the sentence, said Kisworo, adding that her young age was a mitigating factor. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 The head of Jessica Kumala Wongsos legal team has expressed his disappointment over the verdict handed down to his client at the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday, after judges found Jessica guilty of murder and sentenced her to 20 years in prison. The judges considerations behind Jessicas sentence were not based on the facts stated in court, Otto Hasibuan said after Thursdays hearing, adding that the judges had ignored testimonies made by defense witnesses. Otto referred to testimonies made by Australian forensic pathologist Beng Beng Ong and Djaja Surya Atmadja, who believed that Mirnas death was not caused by cyanide poisoning. Otto criticized Judge Binsar Gultom, saying that he was not allowed to show sentiment while reading the verdict. "Judge Binsar showed clear sentiment regarding Jessica while he read the verdict. Judges can't do that, they have to be wise and prudent," Otto said. Previously, Binsar said Jessica had pretended to cry while reading her defense. He also questioned why Jessica had been wearing eyeglasses in the last weeks of the trial. He also believed that Jessica had carefully planned the murder of Mirna on Jan. 6 at Olivier Cafe in the Grand Indonesia mall by putting cyanide into her coffee. Mirna died on her way to the hospital from the cafe. Jessica would have seen if anyone moved the glass [] she would have even seen a fly perch on that glass of coffee. This is why she was anxious while waiting for Mirna in the cafe, as can be seen in the CCTV footage," said Binsar. Binsar also accused Jessica of being a liar and said her crying during the defense statement was just a performance. The murder case received wide public attention since the beginning of the police investigation, particularly because investigators failed to find any eyewitnesses who had seen Jessica put the poison into the coffee. This was why prosecutors returned the case dossier to the police four times before finally accepting it. Throughout the trial the courtroom was packed with Mirnas relatives and members of the public curious about the case. Several television stations also broadcast live transmissions of the court hearings. (bbn) CHICAGO, ILL., Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa Chicagoland will be a key presenter at the The Cooperator Expo Chicagoland on November 15. Association board members, community managers, neighborhood service providers and homeowners are invited to attend the free seminar Top 10 Internal Controls to Protect Your Financial and Management Data. Top 10 Internal Controls to Protect Your Financial and Management Data November 15, 2016 11:45 a.m. 12:45 p.m. Navy Pier Convention Center 600 E Grand Avenue Chicago, IL 60611 The seminar will be hosted by Associa Chicagoland President Stephanie Vittas Skelly and Executive Vice President & CFO Daneen Reinke. As news reports from around the country demonstrate, condos and HOAs are inherently vulnerable to internal theft and fraud. This seminar will provide proven strategies and tips to ensure your board or association has the needed checks, balances and controls to safely protect your financial and management data. This seminar is part of the The Cooperator Expo Chiagoland. To register for the event and attend the seminar please go to https://fall.ilexpo.com/. For additional information, please contact Erica Horndasch at 847-882-8352 or erica.horndasch@associa.us. "It's vital for us, as a management company, to provide our board members with unparalleled training opportunities and educational resources to better serve the communities they represent." says Associa Chicagoland Director of Business Development Erica Horndasch. "I think this event is valuable to every homeowner who is part of an HOA or condo association and we are proud to provide seminars like this throughout the year for those who want to stay informed about the industry." Building and managing successful communities for more than 37 years, Associa is the leader in community management with over 10,000 employees operating more than 180 branch offices in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Based in Dallas, Texas, our industry expertise, financial strength, and innovation meet the unique needs of clients across the world with customized services and solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more about Associa and its charitable organization, Associa Cares, go to www.associaonline.com or www.associacares.com. Stay Connected: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/associa/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/associamarketing Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Associaonline/ Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans David Tampubolon (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27 2016 There has been growing enthusiasm among Indonesians of all ages for batik in recent years. A steady rise in enthusiasm for the traditional dyeing technique of batik began in 2009 when UNESCO declared it a world heritage. Indonesians eagerness to wear batik following UNESCOs decision was also triggered by nationalistic sentiment after neighboring country Malaysia claimed batik as its own. By intensely promoting and wearing batik, Indonesians have tried to take ownership of the dyeing technique. Karsam was among batik experts who actively pushed for the inclusion of batik on UNESCOs heritage list, which jump-started its popularity among contemporary Indonesians. Born in Tuban, East Java, in 1968, Karsam grew up in a society that practically lived off the art of batik. Everyone around me knew how to create batik. All of my neighbors also produced and sold batik for a living, Karsam told The Jakarta Post. The intense interaction with batik artists in Tuban increased the love in his heart for the art. After earning a diploma in arts from the Teachers Training Institute (IKIP) in Malang, also in East Java, he went on to earn a Bachelors degree from the same institute, specializing in the art of batik. I decided to take a specialization in batik for my Bachelors degree because working to produce the cloth has always given me a unique and fun experience, Karsam said. Karsam then got a Masters degree in wood sculpturing and completed his doctorate in batik in Malaysia. It was during this time in Malaysia that Karsam saw how Malaysians had more appreciation for batik than Indonesians. Before 2009, I could say that the batik industry in Indonesia was dying. It was like in a coma and there was not a lot of attention paid by Indonesians to their own traditional cloth, Karsam said. In the neighboring country, at that time, on the other hand, there was more commitment and interest toward batik, he said. It was shown by the large number of schools and universities in Malaysia that had opened batik workshops, which were the perfect breeding ground for future batik artists. Meanwhile, educational institutions in Indonesia hardly included batik in their curriculum. After UNESCO included batik on its worlds heritage list, suddenly Indonesians began to show more appreciation. The batik industry experienced a massive boom. In Tuban, my hometown, all of the school kids now wear batik tulis as their uniforms, he said. The reawakening of the dying batik industry in Indonesia also received support from the government and banks following UNESCOs inclusion. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung, West Java Thu, October 27 2016 The play takes the audience on a journey to experience and enjoy the world in darkness. Jessisca Fam couldnt hold back her tears when she was told to sit down and enjoy the general rehearsal of Margi Wuta in the dark at the Wyata Guna Auditorium in Bandung, West Java, on Oct. 3. Produced by Yogyakarta-based Teater Gardanalla, the show was indeed different from most other performances. Over a dozen members of the audience, including 37-year-old Jessisca, were blindfolded. Please eat when food is served, throw balls when told to do so and raise your hand when you want to go out, said a guide. The drama, using blind actors from the Bina Netra Wyata Guna Social Institution and blind members of the Distra Budaya ketoprak (Javanese history-based theater) troupe from Yogyakarta, invited spectators to experience the play as blind people do. The audience was disorientated and the guides assisted them to their seats. They [blind people] have to undergo this experience. We can see many things, how would it feel to be sightless? said Jessisca, explaining why she wept as she was seated. Joned Suryatmoko, the plays director, said the audience, while blindfolded, was also placed at the center of the stage. Three main elements served as space markers in the show: thin and transparent cloth served as the wall, a carpet indicated the floor and the voices of the speakers and actors indicated location. Part of Art Summit Indonesia 2016, Margi Wuta portrays the reality of daily life. Performed earlier this month, Margi Wuta is taken from Javanese and means because of blindness. The play opens with a dialogue in the house of Getir, who is visited by his old friend, Hardjito. They both are waiting for Suratmi, Getirs wife, after running out of coffee. When Suratmi returns, they go to the gas station to hang out there. Three youths are at the station, preparing songs for a village performance. Getir tells them to move and practice their music at another place. The three are training in a house and have to compete with the sound of a lawnmower. The simple story lasts for less than 20 minutes but the play manages to transmit an unusual experience to audience. Ratna Riantiarno, a senior member of Teater Koma, said the drama made the audience strive more fully for understanding because they were blindfolded. They must listen to and pay close attention to the dialogue, added Ratna. The attempt to let spectators participate by enjoying snacks and throwing balls offered its own impression. The balls were thrown by the audience simultaneously and the effect was definitely stronger and more exciting, said Ratna, referring to the scene when the youths hurl balls at the lawnmower. The whole experience became more meaningful when the blindfolded spectators were given the opportunity to observe the play without the blindfold. Their place in the theatre also changed from the stage-setting to an off-stage area in the second round. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 The Directorate General of Taxation said Thursday that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) had begun to dominate the tax amnesty in October, shown by the increasing number of people who submitted asset statement letters (SPHs) to tax offices. Hestu Yoga Saksama, the tax offices spokesman, said that in the second round until Oct. 26, 31,513 individuals had handed over SPHs with total redemption payments reaching around Rp 716 billion (US$ 54.9 million). More SMEs are joining the tax amnesty. From Rp 716 billion in redemption payments according to SPHs, personal SME taxpayers contributed the most [Rp 431 billion], he said during a press conference in Jakarta. Director general of taxation Ken Dwijugeasteadi, said the tax office continued to provide simpler services for SMEs in a bid to increase their participation. SPHs for SMEs can be handwritten and submitted collectively through associations. We are working together with the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to help them, he said. We will come to them, we will place tax officials at the center of SMEs activities, such as at the Tanah Abang market, shopping malls and other areas, he added. (win/dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Thu, October 27, 2016 The management office of Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) has said the volcanos trekking routes will remain closed to visitors until the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) issues further information on volcanic activity in Rinjanis sub-volcano, Mt. Barujari. Rinjani remains closed. We are still waiting for a recommendation from the PVMBG, the Geology Agency and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry on Mt. Barujaris status, TNGR head Agus Budi Santoso said after a meeting at the office of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) governor in Mataram on Wednesday. The TNGR closed two Rinjani trekking routes, namely Senaru-North Lombok and Sembalun-East Lombok, on Sept. 28, one day after the eruption of Mt. Barujari, which is located in the caldera, or crater, of Mt. Rinjani. The closure was conducted following the PVMBGs decision to increase Rinjanis status to waspada (cautious), or alert level 2. At that level, any activity within a 3 kilometer radius from the crater is prohibited. Some people have protested the closure, asking us to open up the trekking routes. Its not the TNGR but the Geology Agency that has the authority to determine a volcanos status. The closure is for the sake of their own safety, said Agus. He said he could understand the protests, which were mostly voiced by porters and tourist guides. Who can guarantee that the volcano will not erupt when they are climbing it? Once the Geology Agency says its condition is quite safe for trekking, we will open it up again, said Agus. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Lita Aruperes (The Jakarta Post) Manado, North Sulawesi Thu, October 27, 2016 Munirs widow Suciwati has expressed hope that a report containing the results of a fact-finding teams (TPF) investigation into the death of her late husband and prominent rights defender, can be immediately made public so there can be clarity on the case. She also conveyed her concerns on the ongoing polemics surrounding the reportedly missing report. Manado is the first area Im visiting after Jakarta. I hope the people there also call on the government to make the TPF report public, said Suciwati in Manado on Wednesday. She was alluding to a road show she was currently undertaking to push for the declassification of the report. Mohammad Abbas from the North Sulawesi Civil Society Network in Manado said the Central Information Commissions (KIP) decision to order the government to make the report public had triggered widespread speculation. We hope all civil society groups in Manado can convey their support for President Jokowi to disclose the TPF Munir report, said Abbas. He further said the network also had pushed the government to solve Munirs murder in 2004, which to this day remains questionable. We have conducted various activities to collect support from North Sulawesi residents, including the organization of a dialogue between ibu Suciwati and all societal elements in Manado, said Abbas. He said Suciwati was scheduled to attend a dialogue with journalists from the Manado chapter of the Alliance of Independence Journalists (AJI) and talk shows for several radio and television stations in the city during her three-day road show, which would end Friday. There also will be an open dialogue with Manado residents, said Abbas. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Peshawar, Pakistan Thu, October 27, 2016 A Pakistani investigator says the police have arrested National Geographic's famed green-eyed 'Afghan Girl' for having a fake Pakistani identity card. Shahid Ilyas from the Federal Investigation Agency, says the police arrested Sharbat Gulla during a raid on Wednesday at a home in Peshawar. Gulla was an Afghan refugee girl when she gained international fame in 1984 after war photographer Steve McCurry's photograph of her, with piercing green eyes, was published on the cover of National Geographic. McCurry found her again in 2002, in Afghanistan. Gulla surfaced again in Pakistan last year when authorities said she has a fake Pakistani ID card. Ilyas says some officials were later fired for providing Gulla with the fake ID and that she has since been living in hiding to avoid arrest. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Danica Coto (Associated Press) San Juan Thu, October 27, 2016 Wanda Serrano arrived at Puerto Rico's largest public hospital before dawn to take her 17-year-old son to an appointment. Six hours later, they were still in the packed waiting room hoping to see a doctor. They had gone to San Juan's Centro Medico to see one of the many kinds of specialists the teen needs for treatment of a genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis, which can cause tumors to grow on his brain, kidneys and other organs. But specialized medical expertise is increasingly difficult to find in the economically troubled U.S. island territory. Six hours in a waiting room is no longer the exception, but the norm. A pediatric neurologist recently told Serrano that her son, Cedrik, needed to wait 10 months for an appointment. "I live terrified every single day," Serrano said one recent morning as she clutched his medical records and peered anxiously down a fluorescent-lit hallway for a nurse or doctor. "You feel powerless. You can't do anything except wait for that date to arrive." Doctors have gradually left Puerto Rico during a decade-long recession that has gripped the island and driven more than 200,000 people to the U.S. mainland seeking better opportunities. Now, the steady departure of pediatricians, surgeons, orthopedists, neurologists and others has become a stampede as the economy shows no sign of improving and financial problems in the territorial health insurance program make it nearly impossible for doctors to stay in business. Up to 700 doctors are expected to leave Puerto Rico this year, double the number from two years ago, said Dr. Victor Ramos, president of the island's Association of Surgeons. The territory's number of doctors has dropped from 14,000 to 9,000 in the past decade, the majority leaving for higher salaries and lower living costs on the U.S. mainland. The island of 3.5 million people now has only two pediatric urologists, one orthopedist specializing in ankle and feet, one pediatric cardiologist, and a handful of geneticists and endocrinologists. It can take a year to see a specialist, Ramos said. "People are waiting much longer for appointments, including one that could be a matter of life or death because there is simply no room," he said. Dr. Hiram Luigi, an orthopedic surgeon, said he has to realign the bones of patients a couple of times each month because they did not see a specialist in time. "I have spent 30 years in orthopedics, and I have never seen something like this," Luigi said. The lack of specialists has adversely affected patients, whose health conditions often worsen before a doctor sees them. Many people like Serrano have moved to the U.S. specifically to get medical care. "I'm searching for quality of life," she said. Puerto Rico's financial woes are largely to blame. The government is behind on insurance payments as it scrambles to make payments on debts that have ballooned in recent years to nearly $70 billion. Doctors not only struggle with delayed reimbursements for services but receive less money through the government's Medicare and Medicaid programs as well as private health insurance than they would for the same services on the U.S. mainland. Many specialists no longer accept patients with Medicaid, which covers roughly half of Puerto Rico's population. The great majority of patients like Serrano's son now seek specialists at Puerto Rico's largest public hospital, lining up as early as 1 a.m. daily for medical care. "It's truly the final stop for many people," said Edgar Colon, dean of the University of Puerto Rico's School of Medicine. "We can't keep up." The hospital is buckling under a surge of patients as it operates with a dwindling budget, unable to buy certain medical supplies like it used to when the government could still borrow money. Jorge Vidal, president-elect of Puerto Rico's Radiology Association, said he cannot perform some procedures because he can't obtain two types of specialized needles. "There's a very simple reason they haven't bought them," he said. "They cost $300." Such problems pushed pediatrician Dr. Hector Nieves to move to Florida in February 2015. In his new office, the answering machine offers same-day appointments. "I don't regret leaving," Nieves said. "Puerto Rico's problems are much bigger than people think." Those who have stayed say it will only get worse. More than 20 percent of the island population is 60 years and older, and that percentage is expected to spike as not only doctors but all types of Puerto Ricans leave for the U.S. mainland. Serrano and her son will move soon to Orlando to join her husband, who found a job there. She is optimistic about finding specialists to provide the checkups her son needs every six months. "I'm leaving in peace," she said. "I feel like I've been born again." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Thu, October 27 2016 The military police and the Air Force have declared two airmen to be suspects in the attack on Sari Rejo residents and journalists in Medan, North Sumatra, but have not been able to identify the suspects. The failure of the military police to disclose the identity of the two suspects has triggered suspicion that there are no suspects and that this is just an effort to boost the Air Forces image. I dont know who the suspects are. Maybe, this is a ploy to make the Air Force look good, said Array Agus, a journalist who was attacked during the Sari Rejo riot in August. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Setiono Sugiharto (The Jakarta Post) Thu, October 27 2016 Educational technology will be for naught in supporting quality learning unless the professional development of teachers is taken into account. High-quality teaching, coupled with good supporting facilities and resources, without doubt has a beneficial effect on both teaching itself and student learningthe desired goal of any level of education. Thus, one of the central strategies to achieving this goal is to boost teachers professionalism in teaching. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27 2016 After sealing major cooperation agreements in various sectors, including infrastructure, Japan and Indonesia are bringing their business partnership to the next level by teaming up to boost relations between and the performances of their small and medium enterprises (SMEs). On Wednesday, business organizations representing the two countries set up the so-called Indonesia-Japan Business Matching Support Desk (IJ-BMSD), which is aimed at helping SMEs from the two countries to boost exports and imports. The desk is jointly managed by representatives from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and various Japanese business communities. It will help SMEs from the two countries to list and match demand through websites and database developed by the Japanese. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login DENVER, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DCP Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:DPM) (the Partnership) announced today that the board of directors of its general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.78 per common unit for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, or $3.12 per unit on an annualized basis. This distribution remains unchanged from the previous quarter. This quarterly cash distribution will be paid November 14, 2016, to unitholders of record at the close of business on November 8, 2016. MEDIA RELATIONS: Roz Elliott Phone: 303-605-1707 INVESTOR RELATIONS: Andrea Attel Phone: 303-605-1741 This serves as qualified notice to nominees and brokers as provided for under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Please note that 100 percent of the Partnership's distributions to foreign investors are attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, the Partnership's distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest effective tax rate. Nominees are treated as withholding agents responsible for withholding distributions received by them on behalf of foreign investors. ABOUT DCP MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP DCP Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:DPM) is a midstream master limited partnership engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting, storing and selling natural gas; producing, fractionating, transporting, storing and selling NGLs and recovering and selling condensate; and transporting, storing and selling propane in wholesale markets. DCP Midstream Partners, LP is managed by its general partner, DCP Midstream GP, LP, which in turn is managed by its general partner, DCP Midstream GP, LLC, which is 100% owned by DCP Midstream, LLC, a joint venture between Phillips 66 and Spectra Energy Corp. For more information, visit the DCP Midstream Partners, LP website at www.dcppartners.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ina Parlina and Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27 2016 As Indonesia and Australia seek to strengthen bilateral ties, their respective governments are moving to boost diplomacy in a range of fields of mutual interest. While President Joko Jokowi is planning to visit Australia next month, Canberra is sending its Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to ensure everything is on track. On Wednesday, Jokowi welcomed Bishop to the State Palace in a courtesy-call meeting mainly to discuss preparations for Jokowis visit, where he will meet Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tong-Hyung Kim (Associated Press) Seoul Thu, October 27, 2016 South Korea plans to restart talks with Japan over a military intelligence sharing agreement to better cope with threats from North Korea, an official said Thursday. Information from Japan's network of satellites and other intelligence-gathering systems would be critical in monitoring and preparing against North Korea's fast developing nuclear weapons and missile programs, the official from Seoul's Defense Ministry said. He didn't want to be named, citing office rules. The United States, South Korea and Japan signed a joint intelligence-sharing pact in 2014, but under the frame work Seoul and Tokyo only share intelligence about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs via Washington. A bilateral agreement between South Korea and Japan would enable a quicker transfer of information between the countries in urgent situations, said the South Korean official. South Korea and Japan nearly signed a bilateral intelligence sharing pact in 2012, but Seoul backed off at the last minute following political outcry at home. Many South Koreans hold resentment over Japan's brutal occupation of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II and express uneasiness about the country's military role in the region. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Stakeholders of the Mahakam block in East Kalimantan have pledged their commitment to ensuring a smooth transition in the operation of the gas-rich block, given its vital role in maintaining the countrys energy security. The commitment was reiterated as the government on Tuesday gave its approval for the revision of Mahakams production sharing contract (PSC) that will enable state-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina to conduct early investment in the block next year. The early investment is needed as a legal base before Pertamina officially takes over Mahakams operations on Jan. 1, 2018 from the current operator French oil and gas giant Total E&P Indonesie, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said. Total has a PSC that will end in late 2017. Under the contract, it holds a 50 percent stake in the block, while its Japanese partner Inpex controls the other 50 percent. Following the contracts expiration, Pertamina will own a 100 percent stake in the block. Jonan said the early investment was intended to prevent any sudden drops in oil production during the operator-transition period, as Mahakam remains the backbone of national gas production. Soon after the agreement is effective, the [transition] process will start. This is according to the Presidents instruction that the Mahakam transfer of management should be completed as soon as possible, said the newly appointed minister on Tuesday. Jonan said the contract revision would regard Pertaminas investment in the block as part of the states cost recovery after the effective due date in 2018. Mahakam is currently the biggest gas-producing block in the country, it first started operations in 1967. The block produced 1.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of natural gas in the first quarter of the year, significantly higher than its 1.5 bcfd target of 2016. Furthermore, oil production is in line with the target of 65,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd). Last year, Pertamina signed a PSC for the block after 2017. The Mahakam PSC will be operated under Pertaminas newly established arm, Pertamina Hulu Mahakam, starting on Jan. 1, 2018. Pertamina will operate Mahakam for 20 years until 2038. Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahar said Pertaminas work program and budget (WP&B) for the block would be carried out from Nov. 24 to 25 as all parties had already wrapped up a number of transition processes before the government gave its approval. Pertamina plans to invest US$180 million for drilling activities in 19 wells in the block before Jan. 1, 2018 with the help of Total as the current operator. With Pertaminas early investment, Mahakams gas production should be maintained at about 1.2 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd), with condensate at 20,000 barrels condensate per day (bcpd) in the period of 2018 to 2019. Total will also conduct drilling activities in the blocks six wells before the effective due date of the new management on Jan. 1, 2018 as part of the efforts to ease declining production. As of June 16, Mahakams gas production stood at 1,747 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd), while its oil and condensate reached 69,186 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), the ministrys data show. Pertamina president director Dwi Soetjipto said the company would use its internal cash to invest in the block. It will also work together with Total in the transition process in order to cushion the declining production rate. With our early investment, were doing our best so that the decline wont be too sharp in 2018, he said. Total president director Hardy Pramono said Mahakams production next year was expected to hover around 1.4 to 1.5 trillion cubic feet (tcf), a decrease from 1.7 tcf targeted this year, as a result of the rapidly declining production rate. However, he declined to discuss the talks on whether Total would continue participating in the new Mahakam contract. Although Pertamina is set to have a 100 percent share of the block, it is allowed to divest up to 30 percent of its ownership to partners. We are still discussing [the participation interest]. It is our last priority right now as we want to focus on managing the declining production rate, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kamia Handayani (The Jakarta Post) Enschede, The Netherlands Thu, October 27 2016 Indonesia celebrates National Electricity Day on Oct. 27, marking the date when President Sukarno established the Electricity and Gas Bureau soon after our independence. At that time, the power supply capacity was only 158 megawatts (MWs). After 70 years of independence, the supply capacity has reached 53,000 MWs. Yet more than 10 million Indonesian households still do not have access to electricity. The government takes this problem seriously. In 2006, then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonos administration launched phase one of the 10,000 MW fast-track program (FTP-1), followed by another 10,000 MW program (FTP-2) in 2010. Five years later, Jokowi set an even more ambitious target, to complete building 35,000 MWs worth of power plants by 2019. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Thu, October 27 2016 Turkey has launched waves of purges against members and sympathizers of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), blamed for launching the recent failed putsch. The Jakarta Posts Rendi A. Witular was invited by the Turkish government in early October to witness Turkeys recovery from the aftermath of the bloody coup. More than two months after a failed military coup in Turkey, Mesut Zeybek, 36, has suffered from irreversible trauma and through a grueling recovery from a life-threatening injury inflicted by gunshots fired by putschists attempting to overthrow a democratically elected government. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Thu, October 27 2016 If there is such a thing called the Indonesian civilization, Ubud has every right to claim to be its cradle. The internationally famed artist village in Bali again plays host this week to a festival that brings acclaimed Indonesian and international writers, as well as their readers and fans, together for a literary and cultural fiesta. Kudos to the organizers of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2016, which opens today, for making this one of the most important events in Asias annual literature agenda. Even more admirable is their determination to go ahead with the festival when other cultural events are being hacked or canceled this year because of government spending cuts. But this festival, while important to help Indonesian writers make their mark internationally, is as important for the betterment and progress of the country and its people. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Joseph Krauss and Qassim Abdul-Zahra (Associated Press) Baghdad Thu, October 27, 2016 The UN's public health agency said Thursday it has trained 90 Iraqi medics in "mass casualty management," with a special focus on chemical attacks, as part of its preparations for Iraq's operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group. The extremist group, which has ruled Iraq's second largest city for more than two years, is believed to have crude chemical weapons capabilities, and Iraqi forces say they are prepared to encounter them on the battlefield. The World Health Organization said Wednesday that of the 700,000 people expected to flee Mosul, some 200,000 will require emergency health services, including more than 90,000 children needing vaccinations and 8,000 pregnant women. The operation to retake Mosul began Oct. 17 and is expected to take weeks, if not months. The fighting has not yet reached the city itself, which is home to more than a million people. Iraq's special forces said Thursday they have completed their objectives east of Mosul and are waiting on other forces to advance from the south in order to further isolate the city before moving in. "The operation has not been stopped and is proceeding as planned," Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil said. Iraqi forces have been battling IS militants around the town of Shura, some 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Mosul, in recent days. Iraqi officials have said the offensive is proceeding according to plan and that some operations are ahead of schedule. The Mosul offensive is the largest Iraqi military operation since the 2003 US-led invasion, and involves more than 25,000 Iraqi soldiers, Federal Police, Kurdish forces, Sunni tribal fighters and state-sanctioned Shiite militias. Fighting units are approaching the city from the north, east and south, and the US-led coalition is carrying out airstrikes and providing ground support. The International Organization for Migration says around 9,000 people have fled so far, but aid groups are preparing to receive 200,000 displaced people in the coming weeks and fear many more could flee before the operation is over. The United Nations' refugee agency is shipping tents, blankets and other aid from the United Arab Emirates to northern Iraq to help those affected by the military campaign. The shipment, which left Dubai's International Humanitarian City on Thursday, is expected to reach those affected as soon as Friday. Soliman Mohamed Daud, a senior UNHCR supply officer, told The Associated Press that 7,000 units of the relief aid will be sent to northern Iraq. The UAE shipment that left Thursday includes some 1,500 kits. ___ Abdul-Zahra reported from Khazer, Iraq. Associated Press writers Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Severianus Endi (The Jakarta Post) Pontianak, West Kalimantan Thu, October 27, 2016 Security authorities in West Kalimantan have confiscated 40 scaly anteaters, locally known as trenggiling, from a suspect who attempted to smuggle them to China. The Pontianak Environment and Forestry Agencys security and law enforcement office revealed that the anteaters, weighing between 2 and 9.5 kilograms each, or around 200 kilograms in total, had been skinned. They were packed into plastic bags and stored at a cooler facility. During the raid on Wednesday, authorities also confiscated one living scaly anteater weighing around 2 kilograms and a mouse deer that had been skinned. The offices head, David Muhammad, said the smuggling attempt was committed by a wildlife trade syndicate. David said the syndicate was significant because it could collect animals from areas across West Kalimantan and sell them to customers in China either via Jakarta or Sarawak, Malaysia. Scaly anteaters sell at high prices because it is believed that their meat can strengthen vitality and the scales are used for raw materials in cosmetics and drugs, said David on Thursday. Authorities have named a 34-year-old woman, identified by the initials LN, a suspect, and a man, identified as AB, 50, as a witness. Scaly anteater meat is usually sold for around Rp 50,000 (US$3.84) per kilogram, and resold to customers abroad for Rp 300,000 per kilogram. For the scales, hunters can sell them for Rp 500,000 per kilogram domestically, and Rp 2 million per kilogram abroad. (ebf) Illegal trade Forestry rangers show off the confiscated goods in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Oct. 26. (JP/Severianus Endi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Jakartas wage council has submitted all its proposals for the 2017 provincial minimum wage (UMP) to Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama on Wednesday, leaving the final say up to the governor. "We have submitted all three proposals to the governor to be determined for the 2017 minimum wage," a council member representing employers, Sarman Simanjorang, said on Wednesday. The three proposals Sarman was referring to include a 23 percent wage increase of the current wage to Rp 3.83 million (US$294.3) as recommended by the labor union and two similar proposals each supported by representatives from employers and the administration of a 8.25 percent hike to Rp 3.35 million. Sarman hoped Ahok would have enough time to make a decision on the minimum wage before the latter takes his leave for the gubernatorial election campaign. According to Sarman, the council representatives failed to reach a consensus on the proposed new wage for 2017. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop met Wednesday to discuss counterterrorism and the strengthening of national security. We discussed [our bilateral partnerships on] national security and counterterrorism, which follows on from [our meeting in] August in Bali and how can we build on our efforts, Wiranto said as quoted by Antara news agency in Jakarta on Wednesday. Wiranto said Australia had helped Indonesia to combat radicalism and terrorism, such as on the eradication of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group led by Santoso. Taking out Santoso cannot be separated from the intelligence assistance given by Australia that helped a lot with its advanced technology, said Wiranto. The minister hoped there could be a transfer of technology between Australia and Indonesia so that each country could stand independently and cooperate more effectively in fighting terrorists, who were not bounded by territory. Meanwhile, Bishop said both parties wanted to continue enhancing their cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism. "Both countries will exchange information and intelligence data to protect each of our citizens from terrorism," she said. The two ministers also discussed the return of foreign fighters back into their respective countries in which the risks associated had to be anticipated to maintain national security. Wiranto said they had also discussed Indonesia's stance on the disputed South China Sea during the meeting. It is expected that in an upcoming "Two-plus-two" meeting between foreign and defense ministers from both countries, which is set to be held in Bali on Oct. 28, the South China Sea issue will be discussed further, of which neither country is a claimant. (liz/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Siswo Pramono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27 2016 The future of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) free trade for Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu lies in Asia. Indonesia, as an associate member of the MSG, would play a pivotal role for the Melanesian bridge to the fastest-growing Asian economy. As the MSGs total GDP is about US$23 billion, an understanding of the nature of the economies of scale would help the MSG rightly position itself in the APEC. How the MSG could benefit from the APEC, a forum for 21 economies with a combined GDP of more than $31 trillion, is a case in point. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jim Gomez (Associated Press) Manila Thu, October 27, 2016 Abu Sayyaf pocketed at least 353 million pesos (US$7.3 million) from ransom kidnappings in the first six months of the year and have turned to abductions of foreign tugboat crewmen as military offensives restricted the militants' mobility, a confidential Philippine government report said. The joint military and police threat assessment report seen by The Associated Press on Thursday said the offensives have reduced the number of Abu Sayyaf fighters slightly, although the group remains capable of launching terrorist attacks. Government offensives have reduced the number of militants to 481 in the first half of the year from 506 in the same period last year but they managed to carry out 32 bombings in that time a 68 percent increase in attempts to distract the military assaults, the report said. They wield at least 438 firearms and managed to conduct a number of terrorist trainings despite constant military assaults. President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office in June, has ordered troops to destroy Abu Sayyaf, known for its brutality, and he has ruled out the possibility of any peace talks with them. He has pursued talks with two other larger Muslim insurgent groups. Duterte's peace negotiations with communist rebels have led to cease-fire declarations that have halted years of fighting with Maoist guerrillas, which freed up the thousands of troops now redeployed to wage one of the largest offensives ever fought against the Abu Sayyaf in southern Sulu and Basilan provinces. "The ASG shifted in targeting vulnerable foreign-flagged tugboats and their crew due to the focused military operations against the group," the report said, adding the group was expected to intensify its kidnap-for-ransom assaults in the busy waterways around the southern Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Abu Sayyaf's attacks on tugboats this year and the kidnappings of their Malaysian and Indonesian crewmen have raised security alarms from those countries, whose officials have tried to map out a strategy to protect commercial and passenger ships. "Lucrative payoffs from KFR [kidnappings for ransom], the report said, "enabled the ASG to procure firearms as well as ammunitions." Of the estimated 353 million pesos in ransom received by the Abu Sayyaf from January to June, the bulk was paid in exchange for the releases of 14 Indonesian and 4 Malaysian crewmen who had been held at Abu Sayyaf jungle bases in Sulu province, the report said. The militants got 20 million pesos ($413,000) in ransom for freeing Marites Flor, a Filipino woman who was kidnapped last year with two Canadians and a Norwegian from a yacht-berthing resort on southern Samal island. Philippine officials have said they were unaware of any ransom paid for Flor or other hostages and added they continue to adopt a no-ransom policy. The militants beheaded the two Canadians after ransom deadlines lapsed. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged governments not to pay ransom to discourage similar abductions. The Norwegian hostage, Kjartan Sekkingstad, was freed last month after a year of horrific jungle captivity when he was constantly threatened with beheading. Prior to Sekkingstad's release, Duterte suggested at a news conference that 50 million pesos ($1 million) had been paid to the militants. The Philippine military has said the constant military assaults have forced the militants to release their hostages. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Phnom Penh Thu, October 27, 2016 Cambodia's foreign minister has assured the United States that the political deadlock in the country will ease soon since opposition lawmakers have agreed to end their boycott of the parliament and attend its upcoming plenary session. Foreign Minister Prak Sokonn made the statement Thursday when he met with US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel R. Russel. He said he hopes Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party will also resume talks soon to end political tensions. Amid deteriorating relations between the two sides last year, Hun Sen stepped up intimidation of the opposition party in the courts. Opposition lawmakers stopped attending parliamentary sessions about four months ago but on Wednesday the party said its members will rejoin the National Assembly. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Yomiuri Shimbun/ANN) Tokyo Thu, October 27, 2016 With an arbitration court rejecting in July Beijings claims in the South China Sea, Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte said he hoped to defend his countrys rights to the area peacefully based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks in Tokyo with visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, during which they confirmed their commitment to the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, after an arbitration court rejected in July Beijings claims in the area. I hope to make Japan-Philippines relations even more solid and develop them significantly, Abe told Duterte at the opening of their meeting. The Philippine president said he hoped to resolve the issues related to the South China Sea peacefully under the rule of law and based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Abe reiterated Japans readiness to help the Philippines improve its maritime security capabilities by providing Japanese patrol vessels and taking other measures. The leaders are also believed to have agreed to strengthen economic ties between their countries. In addition to his finance, trade and other economy-related ministers, Duterte is also accompanied by about 200 businesspeople on his first visit to Japan since assuming the presidency. By attracting more investment and economic support from Japan, he aims to further boost his countrys economy, which is already achieving high annual growth of 6 per cent on an average. Dutertes predecessor, Benigno Aquino, promoted economic ties with Japan and agreed to cooperate on large-scale projects, including building of railway networks. The Japanese government intends to maintain such ties and strengthen them with the new Philippine administration, and to prioritize assistance to the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, Dutertes home area. The Japanese governments willingness to offer economic assistance to the Southeast Asian nation comes against the backdrop of Chinas aggressive maritime advances in the South China Sea, among other issues. During the talks, Abe was expected to explain the United States role in security in the Asia-Pacific region, as Duterte has repeatedly criticized the US. The prime minister was also expected to call for the three countries to maintain cooperation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mari Yamaguchi (Associated Press) Tokyo Thu, October 27, 2016 The leaders of Japan and the Philippines agreed to cooperate in promoting regional peace and stability and acknowledged the importance of their alliances with the US, after the tough-talking Rodrigo Duterte said he wants his country to be free of visiting American troops possibly within two years. In a news conference, Duterte, after his first round of talks with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, said he expected Japan to continue being an important part of maritime security in the region, including the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have overlapping claims. In a statement, the two sides acknowledged the importance of "their network of friendship and alliances," particularly one between them. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Hagiuda told reporters that their alliances with the US were recognized, though not in writing. Duterete, in his second round of talks only among close aides, reassured Abe that he has no intention to sever diplomatic ties with the US, Hagiuda said. Since Duterte took office in June, Manila's relationship with Washington has quickly become strained. Japan is a staunch US ally and hosts 50,000 American troops, while Duterte has repeatedly spoken of distancing his country from Washington, often in crude terms. The presence of US troops in five Philippine military camps was established under a security deal signed under Duterte's predecessor as a counter to China's growing military assertiveness in the region. Earlier Wednesday, Duterte said that he wants his country to be free of foreign troops, possibly within two years. "I want them out," he said. "I want to be friends to China," he told an audience of businesspeople in Tokyo. "I do not need the arms. I do not want missiles established in my country. I do not need to have the airports to host the bombers." As president, Duterte has reached out to Beijing while criticizing US foreign policy. His approach has caused consternation in both the US and Japan. Still, Abe welcomed Duterte's recent efforts to improve ties with China. "The South China Sea issue is directly linked to the region's peace and stability and a matter of interest for the entire international society," he said. "In that regard, Japan welcomes the effort of President Duterte visiting China and endeavoring to improve the Philippine-China relations." Duterte has announced canceling planned joint military exercises with the United States, and preparatory meetings for next year's joint combat exercises between American and Filipino forces in the Philippines have been shrouded in uncertainty. Explaining his policy, Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay, also in Tokyo, said Duterte respects all bilateral security agreements with the US and that he has no intention to renege or breach them, but the exercises are not helpful in fostering Manila's friendly relations with Beijing. "It is in this context that we will not be undertaking [them] during [Duterte's] administration especially so that we are trying to resolve this disputes with China in a peaceful manner," Yasay told a separate news conference. Officials declined to provide details of their second round of talks, in which Abe was expected to ask Duterte specifically about his foreign policy. Their joint statement focused largely on Japan's contribution to Philippine maritime security and other projects totaling a 21 billion yen ($210 million) loan. Duterte is on a three-day visit to Japan. After two rounds of talks with Abe, he is attending a banquet hosted by the Japanese leader. On Thursday, he is set to meet Emperor Akihito. ___ Associated Press videojournalist Emily Wang in Tokyo and writer Jim Gomez in Manila, the Philippines, contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mari Yamaguchi (Associated Press) Tokyo Thu, October 27, 2016 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte left Japan on Thursday without meeting Emperor Akihito as the scheduled meeting had to be canceled because of the death of the emperor's uncle. Before ending his three-day visit, Duterte proposed joint military exercises with Japan, while reiterating that he will not conduct them with Americans in his presidency. Duterte made the proposal during his visit to a coast guard unit to observe an exercise from one of the patrol vessels Japan pledged to provide the Philippines to upgrade Manila's maritime security capabilities amid South China Sea disputes with Beijing. The president told reporters in an unscheduled interview that he discussed a possibility of the joint exercise "on general terms" when he held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN. But he reminded reporters that he will not take part in the proposed "war games" with the US. He did not elaborate on his comment, which could have mixed implications because of Japan also has tensions with China over East China Sea islands, history and other issues. Duterte has criticized Washington's foreign policy while reaching out to Beijing. His criticism to US and its military presence in the Philippines have raised concerns in Washington and Tokyo, a top American ally. He said Wednesday he wants foreign troops out of his country possibly within the next two years, referring to visiting US troops. Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of former Japanese Emperor Hirohito, died Thursday at the age of 100. Because of Duterte's informal style, Japanese officials had been worried if he may chew gum in front of the emperor. But during his visit in Japan, he was not seen doing that during his talks with Abe and other officials. "I'd like to express my deepest condolence," Duterte said. He told reporters that his protocol officer advised him not to proceed with the call on the emperor "because they are in mourning and I respect that because I would ask for the same, maybe request, if I were in his shoes." ___ Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila, the Philippines, contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Phnom Penh Thu, October 27, 2016 A Cambodian official says authorities are working on a request from Thailand's government to extradite three Thais accused of insulting the monarchy. Foreign Ministry spokesman Chum Sounary told reporters Thursday that the Thai junta recently told Cambodia that the three Thais are believed to be in hiding in Cambodia. He says the Cambodian government "is processing the extradition request." No details of their alleged offense were known. Since the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 13, the Thai government has reportedly asked several nations to extradite Thais to face charges of insulting the monarchy, which in Thailand is punishable by prison sentences. In recent days police have charged 20 people in Thailand for insulting the monarchy. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kenji Saito (The Japan News/Asia News Network) Thu, October 27, 2016 One ticket for 140 (US$1.3). Thats how little it can cost to make a 20-hour, 760-kilometer trip through Tokyo and six surrounding prefectures, including the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture. Did you know that the fare between two nearby stations doesnt change even if you take an extraordinarily roundabout route between them? The practice is widely known among railway enthusiasts and is approved by railway companies. Japan Railway companies have a special rule that allows passengers to travel through zones covering major urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka and their suburbs for the lowest fare, regardless of the routes taken. This rule is valid when using a traversal route, in which passengers meet conditions such as not passing the same station twice and not exiting ticket gates. Railway buffs call such railway trips omawari josha, literally meaning a grand roundabout ride. To draw up my own plan, I sought advice from Makoto Kurosawa of Chofu, Tokyo, who traveled 500 kilometers through Tokyo and six other prefectures in August last year. This is a pleasure ride for middle-aged and elderly people who have free time. Its cool on the train, and you have no trouble getting food and drinks as therere many shops inside stations like Omiya and Ueno, the 81-year-old Kurosawa said. The best part of this trip is obtaining a feeling of accomplishment. He recommended an easygoing trip to enjoy food, while proposing that good walkers might want to try trips focusing on long distances. Restroom concerns After choosing Ikebukuro as the departure station and the next stop, Mejiro, as the disembarkation point for my trip, I examined the train timetable. In late August, I set out on the journey, first spending three hours heading for Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture. I was worried about going to the restroom while on the 20-hour train trip. If I got off the train, I would have to wait for an hour to catch the next one, and that would throw off my initial plan. Apparently because of my ambitious plan, I was nervous and began suffering from an upset stomach when the train was traveling near Kinshicho. Fortunately, there was a bathroom on the train, and I survived. I moved to a window seat in a compartment after passing Kimitsu. From the window, Tokyo Bay was occasionally visible, while there were glimpses of the Miura Peninsula on the opposite shore. The building enclosing Tateyama Station has a tropical-themed design that excited me as a traveler. People surfing on the Pacific along the Sotobo Line between Ubara and Katsuura stations came into view. The sight of them trying to catch waves was dazzling for me. (Read also: Lost phone in commuter train sparks Jakarta-Tokyo friendship) I then headed for Choshi, and the sea disappeared from view as the railway tracks moved away from the Kujukurihama seaside area. While on the Narita Line, I saw an airplane soaring through the sky. The joy of station dining After arriving at Abiko Station, I went to Yayoi-ken, a soba shop on the train platform where the artist Kiyoshi Yamashita (1922-1971), known for gallivanting around Japan, worked for a time. I was stunned by the jumbo karaage soba, a noodle dish featuring huge pieces of deep-fried chicken, each weighing more than 200 grams. The tender and juicy chicken goes well with the mild soba soup. It took me only 10 minutes to eat it. After changing trains on the Joban, Mito and Ryomo lines, I reached my hometown of Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. In an attempt to make it feel like I was back home, I bought a Daruma Bento, a popular boxed meal at Takasaki Station. While traveling to Omiya Station, Saitama Prefecture, in a Green Car superior class seat, I opened the bento. As 15 hours had passed since I started this trip, the bento rich in mountain foods that I had not tasted in 30 years was particularly delicious. The basic fare is 140, but you can upgrade if you pay extra for super express trains and Green Car seats. While waiting for the next train, I had a glass of beer at a shop inside Omiya Station to prepare for the last stage of my journey. However, I felt the three hours it would take to reach my final destination from this location was especially long. Traveling on the train through busy urban areas suddenly increased my fatigue. I changed trains on the Saikyo, Musashino, Nanbu and Keihin-Tohoku lines, but fatigue and drowsiness made me feel sluggish. Changing trains was also tiring. My pleasure trip was turning into a journey of agony. After arriving at Shinagawa, I dragged myself with exhaustion onto a Yamanote Line train for the final leg. I now had my eyes closed and was anxious to arrive at Mejiro. I finally reached my destination at 12:15 a.m. I asked a station employee at the ticket gate if I could keep the train ticket as a memento from my roundabout trip. The employee then politely stamped it. I had traveled on 15 train lines and transferred 18 times. The distance traveled was 760.5 kilometers equivalent to the straight-line distance between Tokyo and Yamaguchi Prefecture. After this trip, which required almost 20 hours, it is no exaggeration to say that I had the sense of accomplishment that one might have after climbing Mt. Fuji. This article appeared on The Japan News newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, October 27, 2016 Despite being home to the world's largest Muslim population, Indonesia still needs to put more effort into promoting itself as a halal tourism destination. Being the largest Muslim population in the world is a strength. But it's also a weakness because we already take it for granted, [thinking] that everything is [already] halal, said the Tourism Ministry's halal tourism development acceleration team head Riyanto Sofyan in Jakarta on Tuesday. (Read also: Economic zone expected to boost halal tourism in NTB) According to a 2014 report by PT Sofyan Hospitality International, Indonesia only welcomed 1,854,292 Muslim visitors, while neighboring countries Singapore and Malaysia attracted 3,457,090 and 6,778,929, respectively, during the same period. The main issue is awareness. Maybe because Indonesia thinks that it's already a Muslim-majority country, that [all things are] already halal, what is there to be promoted, branded or conveyed to our market target? Riyanto said. (Read also: Tsunami monument draws tourists to West Aceh) Tourism Ministry's halal tourism development acceleration team head Riyanto Sofyan speaks at a press event in South Jakarta on Oct. 25.(JP/Masajeng Rahmiasri) He argued that the same case applied to industry players. They are still not yet aware that this is a huge market, bigger than the Chinese market. They are worried that [if a destination] is labeled halal, then [other tourists] will flee, he said. Previously, Riyanto noted that there were 1.6 billion Muslims in the world in 2016, while China, which has been regarded as the biggest market in the world, has only 1.3 billion people. Riyanto cited an example of when the government supported Lombok to be named as Worlds Best Halal Tourism Destination. He said some industry players were opposed to the idea because they were afraid Australian tourists would avoid the island if it was labeled as a halal destination. But in fact, after it was announced as a halal destination, it saw a 50 percent increase in tourists compared to last year." (Read also: Govt to promote Aceh, Jakarta as halal destinations) The government is currently focusing on developing 10 Muslim-friendly destinations in Indonesia, which include Aceh, West Sumatra, Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, West Java, Jakarta, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Riau and South Sulawesi. Among the development target aspects are attraction, accommodation, restaurants, tour operators, spas, training and events. Riyanto said that so far this year the country had welcomed 2,211,934 Muslim tourists from outside Indonesia and recorded 221,056,000 domestic Muslim tourists. We have to see it from the industry point of view. Its a business and it's a lifestyle market, he added. (kes) 1. This year, to celebrate the centennial of the great Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal, the University of Chicago Press published an early short-story collection previously unavailable in English. Rambling On: An Apprentices Guide to the Gift of Gab was written and published in the 1960s, a mid-career work bringing together some of his best short fiction, like The Feast and A Moonlit Night. In the final story, An Apprentices Guide to the Gift of Gab, written by Hrabal as part postscript, part manifesto, he writes, Im a corresponding member of the Academy of Rambling-on, a student at the Department of Euphoria, my god is Dionysos, a drunken, sensuous young man, jocundity given human form, my church father is the ironic Socrates, who patiently engages with anybody so as to lead them by the tongue and through language to the very threshold of nescience, my first-born son is Jaroslav Hasek, the inventor of the cock-and-bull story and a fertile genius and scribe who added human flesh to the firmament of prose and left writing to others, with unblinking lashes I gaze into the blue pupils of this Holy Trinity without attaining the acme of vacuity, intoxication without alcohol, education without knowledge, inter urinas et faeces nascimur.(We are born between urine and feces.) Bohumil Hrabal was born near the beginning of World War I in Brno, in the Austro-Hungarian empire. He was raised by a gallery of colorful relatives, including an uncle who served as an early model for the gregarious and unscrupulous type that populated his later novels. His legal studies at Charles University in Prague were interrupted by the Second World War. After the Communists took over, he worked as a stage hand and industrial worker. He published one book of poetry in the late 1940s, but didnt publish fiction until he was 42. When he did begin writing stories and novels, his methods for composing fiction were radical. According to David Short, one of his translators, the Czech writer was a prolific cut-and-paste stylist. The expansive tone and patient rhythms of Hrabals writing belies just how drastic his revisions were. According to Short, Hrabal uses words unknown to anyone; his cryptologisms still confound lexicographers. Married in 1956, Hrabal traveled between a co-op flat in a northern district of Prague and a chalet in the Kersko in central Czechoslovakia. He routinely fled the cramped Soviet-style apartment for the more idyllic countryside. A film adaptation of his novel Closely Watched Trains came out in 1967, and it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, a high point of the Czech New Wave. According to the film historian Philip Kerr, Hrabal preferred the movie over his novel. Less than two years after the high point of his success, the Soviets invaded, removed the reformer Alexander Dubcek, and initiated normalization. In post-normalization Czechoslovakia, his manuscripts were heavily censored by the publisher Ceskoslovensky Spisovatel. Nevertheless, Hrabal was being praised internationally as a prose master. He influenced Philip Roth and Louise Erdich. Roth, as the editor of the series Writers from the Other Europe, called Hrabal, in 1990, one of the greatest living European prose writers and its difficult to imagine the barbed mania of Sabbaths Theater or the absurd feast scene in American Pastoral without Hrabals earlier Dancing Lessons for the Advanced in Age or I Served the King of England. During the 1970s and 1980s, Hrabal was noticeably silent and did not sign Charter 77. In the cant of Soviet occupation, he released self-critical statements that made it possible for him to publish. He died in 1997, after falling out of a fifth-floor hospital window while feeding a cat. 2. Ambiguous and ambivalent are overworked terms in the critics vocabulary, and vague. The words are accurate for Hrabal, though: a writer engaged with how meaning can shift in the telling and understanding of a story. He dramatizes story-telling (anecdotes, confession, harangue) and he also dramatizes interpretation. Hrabal is preoccupied with how a story can seem to change with an alteration of mood or perspective. How, to pick up a concept from Ludwig Wittgenstein, understanding is deeply aspectual. In his posthumously published Philosophical Investigations, Wittgenstein explained this concept of seeing-as. First, you see a mans face. Then, you might see a resemblance between the face and another face, a familial resemblance. You havent seen the face differently, but an aspect of the face has dawned on you. You now see the face as resembling another face. Or take the picture of the duck-rabbit: Looking at the picture, you might see the duck, then see the rabbit. Theres a cognitive shift between seeing the one and seeing the other. Nothing has changed about the picture. Wittgenstein writes, I distinguish between the continuous seeing of an aspect and the dawning of an aspect. Wittgenstein writes: If you ask me what I saw, perhaps I shall be able to make a sketch which shows you; but I shall mostly have no recollection of the way my glance shifted in looking at it. Produced in the Academy of Rambling-on, at the Department of Euphoria, Hrabals fiction teases out these effects. His protagonists begin as typically superficial readers, who linger on those damaged surfaces or mordant anecdotes for a little longer than theyre comfortable with. They glimpse briefly past the equivocations and the evasions. Finally, their tone becomes urgent and fraught, and their perspective begins to disintegrate. Translated by Short, the story Friends takes up what seems like a hopelessly trite premise, two handicapped friends who teach a friend a deeper life lesson: And the two friends each had their own truth, their moral fibre was so awesome that all who knew Lothar and Pavel, however slightly, if ever they were a bit despondent, if ever they began to wonder if life was worth living under such-and-such conditions, theyd all, me too, when, at moments of such blasphemous thoughts, I think of Pavel and Lothar, I feel ashamed of myself compared to the moral compass that backs Pavel and Lothars view of the world. Drawing inspiration from the handicapped? A cliche, sure. Editors who draw a red line through each batted eyelash or on the horizon, though, would be well-advised to read Hrabal closely, because he understands how cliche eloquently obscures fatigue, despair, and tragedy writers who work under juntas and dictatorships are especially familiar with the sinister authority of cliches. Hrabal turns the cliche inside out toward the end of the story. The narrator accompanies them on a trip in which they are bizarrely hassled by a police officer who is interested in how well Lothar speaks Czech. He takes them home and then waits outside the house, watching the two men struggle up the stairs. I saw Lothar disappear from his wheelchair and then I saw him, like when soldiers crawl through hostile territory, haul himself up with his powerful arms one step at a time, dragging his powerless legs behind himand then Pavel the same, by his elbows and I saw how they both had to pause half-way, how though the trip to the pub hadnt got the better of them, those twelve stairs had, and they had to summon all their strength, turn and turn about, to haul themselves up to the top. The protagonist Ditie, of Hrabals masterpiece I Served the King of England, hides behind cliche, too. Ditie repeats the phrase, how the unbelievable came true, in the novel, by my count 12 times. But the narrators trite expressions seem to gloss over his own moral dubiousness. One of the finest novels of the 20th century, I Served the King of England was written in 1971, only a few years after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and the removal of President Dubcek from office. Shortly thereafter, Hrabal began working on the novel, a searing indictment of Czech complicity during World War II, with a protagonist that affects powerlessness and servility. After being inspected by Nazi doctors for his suitability to marry and procreate with a German woman, Ditie marries Lise. She brings him a suitcase full of stamps. At first I didnt realize how valuable the contents were, the narrator explains, because it was full of postage stamps, and I wondered how Lise had come by them. She explains to him that after the war they would be worth a fortune, enough to buy us any hotel we wanted. As the Nazis are losing battles, Ditie is mistaken for a resistance fighter according to his explanations, he is often mistaken for being much worse (a thief, a murderer) and much better than he actually is (an anti-Nazi fighter and activist several times). The interrogation becomes a happy accident, since his being targeted by the Nazis will gain him purchase as a subversive in post-war Prague. After being released, Ditie helps an elderly prisoner on a long journey to his home. I was doing this not out of any kindness, Ditie explains, while hesitating to return home, but to give myself as many alibis as possible once the war was over, and it would be over before we knew it. Though Ditie goes to great lengths to exculpate himself from the horrors of Nazism, his own alibi-forging strains credibility: how could he have married a woman like Lise and not recognized her involvement? Wouldnt the gaps and evasions in his story indicate a more significant crime? Is his confession more significant because of the large-scale omissions that seem implied? 3. Hrabal, following Joyce, offers up several instances of how mirrors and reflections can misapprehend our true selves, or how we can misapprehend ourselves in reflection. In Joyces Araby, the narrators reflection gives rise to misconceived feelings of piety and self-loathing. Hrabal picked up the theme in I Served the King of England. The main character becomes a waiter in a prominent hotel and becomes entranced by how pomp can elide ones own vulnerable identity: I saw myself in the mirror carrying the bright Pilsner beer, I seemed different somehow, I saw that Id have to stop thinking of myself as small and ugly. The tuxedo looked good on me here, and when I stood beside the headwaiter, who had curly gray hair that looked as though a hairdresser had done it, I could also see in the mirror that all I really wanted was to work right here at this station with this headwaiter, who radiated serenity, who knew everything there was to know Being a waiter requires Ditie to cultivate a kind of passive omniscience. The headwaiter, not Ditie, served the King of England. When a character asks how he knows that a couple is Bavarian, or how a customer likes his veal, the headwaiter simply says, I served the King of England. High Culture is another way Hrabals protagonists conceal their motives. Like By Night in Chiles priest-critic, Dities confession is gilded with references to literature, culture, sophistication, but in stark denial of any moral purpose. The narrator of Dancing Lessons for the Advanced in Age tells his employer, Like Goethe, I have a weak heart and was more inclined to poetry, which slowed them down for a while. Ditie is entranced by the rituals and culture of European decadence and hides behind them. After a lavish feast during which the exiled Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie honors him with a sash, the protagonist is accused of stealing a spoon. Devastated, he takes a taxi to a remote spot in the countryside. He laughs and tells the taxi driver he plans to hang himself. He says it impulsively, but saying the words propels him inextricably towards suicide. Seriously? The cab driver said, laughing. With what? He was right, I had nothing to do it with, so I said, My handkerchief. The driver got out of his cab, opened the trunk, rummaged around with a flashlight, then handed me a piece of rope. Still laughing, he made an eye in one end and ran the other end through it to make a noose and showed me the proper way to hang myself. Ditie stumbles into the stand of darkened woods. I made up my mind to hang myself. As I knelt there, I felt something touch my head, so I reached up and touched the toes of a pair of boots, and then I groped higher and felt two ankles, then socks covering a pair of cold legs. When I stood up, my nose was right up against the stomach of a hanged man. That reversal might seem familiar. Philip Roth re-imagined the scene in Sabbaths Theater, a novel deeply influenced by Hrabal. In that scene, the puppeteer Mickey Sabbath has gone to his mistresss grave to pay homage by writhing in the dirt and simulating sex. As hes approaching the grave, he sees another figure near the grave: When Sabbath saw Lewis bending over the grave to place the bouquet on the plot, he thought, But shes mine! She belongs to me! What Lewis did next was such an abomination that Sabbath reached crazily about in the dark for a rock or a stick with which to rush forward and beat the son of a bitch over the head. Lewis unzipped his fly Roth follows Hrabal in a mode of amplified realism never magical but wryly attuned to absurdity and featuring narrators and protagonists whose appetites match their verbosity. Hrabals palpable influence, acknowledged by writers such as Roth and Erdich, is a reminder of how vital his work has been to American contemporary fiction. 4. Months before the Velvet Revolution, at a time when the Czech Communist party was showing its frailty but its decline did not seem inevitable, Hrabal reported on Czech politics in early 1989, with excerpts appearing in the New York Review of Books. He wrote in direct, austere sentences, as if acknowledging that irony was giving way to deeper melancholy impulses: I walked down deserted Parizska Avenue. A police car quietly pulled up at the curb, a man got out and began quietly placing parking tickets on the windshields of illegally parked cars, then quietly the headlights turned toward Maison Oppelt, from the fifth floor of which Franz Kafka once wanted to jump, and then I stood all alone in the square. The place was deserted. I sat down on a bench and began to reflectIn front of me loomed the monument to Master Jan Hus. In his afterword to Rambling On, Vaclav Kadlec points out how Hrabal had begun to focus on longer fiction by the late 1960s, eventually leading to the triumph of I Served the King of England and Too Loud a Solitude. But Hrabal was a great short-story writer, whose works were strained with pathos, absurdity, and beauty. The stories in Rambling On also show a unique range, partly because in 1960s Czechoslovakia, he was able to experiment with theme and language more freely and partly because he is still deciding on a tone, a style, and a subject. Read the stories. Read the novels. Just read Hrabal. Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. Please check our main navigation pages for other content: Home Page Tentang Situs Slot Online Resmi MGS88 Nama Situs MGS88 Minimal Deposit Rp. 10.000,- (Sepuluh Ribu Rupiah) Proses Deposit 2 Menit Metode Deposit Bank Transfer, Pulsa, E-Wallet Judi Online Terbaik Slot Online, Judi Bola, Casino Online, Togel Online, Tembak Ikan Provider Slot Gacor Mudah Maxwin Pragmatic Play, PGSoft, MicroGaming, Habanero Slot Gacor Gampang Menang Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, Wild West Gold, Starlight Princess Win Rate 98% RTP Live Slot Gacor Tertinggi Hari Ini Terbaru Terlengkap Selamat datang di halaman RTP live dan informasi soal slot gacor hari ini dari situs MGS88 yang setiap hari selalu update. Berdasarkan RTP Live MGS88, Anda bisa mendapatkan informasi tentang slot online yang saat ini yang sedang Gacor atau onfire dengan persentase yang terbukti akurat, ini bisa menjadi rekomendasi anda sebelum memilih permainan slot online di situs MGS88. Cek RTP Slot sekarang juga bosku Klik Provider Slot Untuk Mengetahui RTP Slot Secara Real Time Selamat datang bagi kalian yang sedang mencari situs RTP Live terlengkap dan terkini hari ini. Sangat sesuai jika Anda mengunjungi website MGS88 RTP live untuk informasi tentang permainan slot yang lagi gacor dengan slot RTP yang terupdate. Persentase kemenangan yang kami berikan tentunya diambil dengan data yang sangat valid dan hanya untuk permainan slot yang tersedia di situs MGS88. RTP yang tersedia juga akan selalu diperbarui setiap hari berdasarkan level kemenangan yang diberikan kepada member kami. Memang sih untuk bermain slot itu tergantung hoki dari setiap pemain, Namun RTP live atau bocoran slot dari yang kami sediakan ini adalah data autentik dari banyaknya pemain yang telah bermain dan mencapai kemenangan tinggi. Sederhananya, kalau banyak pemain yang menang di dalam 1 permainan slot, karena itu permainan slot tersebut akan mempunyai persentase RTP yang sangat tinggi. Namun kami tegaskan sekali lagi, ini bukan sebuah paksaan kami situs MGS88 untuk anda bermain di game slot yang mana. Ini bisa dijadikan sebagai referensi atau tolok ukur, boleh dicoba kalau anda mempunyai feel yang kuat dalam memainkan permainan game slot. Anda dapat mengakses kapan saja dan di mana saja selama anda siap bermain. Jangan ragu untuk bertanya ya seputar pola putaran terhadap kami, sebab kami juga menyediakannya loh. Apa itu RTP Live? RTP Live ialah informasi mengenai persentase tertinggi saat ini dari hasil RTP Live dengan bocoran kemenangan pemain saat ini. RTP Live merupakan singkatan dari Return To Play atau bisa juga diartikan sebagai Return to Player. Karena itu, para pemain slot sekarang jika ingin mengetahui seberapa besar kemenangannya, bisa dengan memainkan permainan yang akan dimainkannya dan bisa untung dengan mudah dan tentunya maksimal. Apa itu RTP Slot? RTP Slot juga dikenal sebagai return to player atau pengembalian ke Pemain. RTP slot ialah persentase dari nilai pengembalian semua uang yang dipertaruhkan pemain dari waktu ke waktu. Dengan kata lain, RTP juga dianggap sebagai salah satu fitur slot yang mengembalikan uang pemain saat pemain kalah. Persentase digunakan untuk menghitung RTP dalam permainan slot. Misalnya, jika slot memiliki RTP 97%, itu berarti untuk setiap 100.000 koin yang hilang di slot, slot dapat mengembalikan 97.000. Jika Anda mengetahui RTP sebuah permainan slot, Anda dapat memutuskan permainan slot mana yang akan dimainkan tanpa kerugian besar. Apakah Angka Persentase RTP Slot Itu Penting? Biasanya pemain slot itu tidak memperhatikan RTP dalam permainan yang akan dimainkan, biasanya setelah anda mengisi saldo utama anda akan langsung buru-buru memainkannya. Yang terakhir 90-96% mempengaruhi jumlah kemenangan. Semakin tinggi jumlah RTP yang digunakan, semakin luas peluang untuk mendapatkan keuntungan. Akan namun itu segala tak secara 100% menjamin kemenangan kau dalam bermain, RTP itu cuma sebagai kalkulasi pengeluaran anda saja selama bermain slot.Dengan adanya RTP, kau dapat mengerjakan pengaturan atas uang yang akan kau pertaruhkan nanti pada ketika bermain.Untuk itu pada ketika kau bermain slot dan telah mengalami banyak kekalahan di satu permainan, direkomendasikan kau pindah ke permainan slot lainnya yang RTP nya lebih tinggi dari permainan yang tadi kau mainkan. Keuntungan Menggunakan Bocoran RTP Slot Hari Ini Situs MGS88 Akan dengan senang hati akan beberapa keuntungan yang didapatkan jika anda bermain slot dengan menggunakan RTP Live yang telah disediakan. Berikut Keuntungannya : Peluang Kemenangan Meningkat Tentu saja, saat bermain slot online, menang adalah hal yang paling penting. Di sinilah RTP berperan sebagai metode atau metode baru yang akan membantu Anda memilih permainan slot persentase tinggi. Mendapat variasi dalam Memainkan Game Slot Pastinya banyak pemain slot online yang hanya memainkan 3-5 permainan slot saja. Namun dengan RTP Live slot akan memberikan banyak game slot lain yang bisa anda coba. Tentunya semua permainan slot memiliki potensi kemenangan yang besar, jadi jangan hanya mengandalkan beberapa permainan saja. Menambah Pengalaman Dalam Bermain Slot Keuntungan terakhir adalah Anda tentu saja menambah pengalaman dan keahlian dalam permainan slot online. Dengan berbagai macam permainan slot yang dimainkan, Anda pasti mengetahui karakteristik dari setiap permainan slot yang Anda mainkan. Akibatnya, Anda pasti bisa dianggap sebagai pemain slot yang andal, yang pasti akan meningkatkan peluang Anda untuk menang besar menggunakan RTP. Daftar 8 Situs Dengan RTP Slot Live Tertinggi Hari Ini Ada banyak penyedia mesin slot online di internet. Tetapi tidak semuanya memiliki peluang tinggi atau RTP Live Slot yang sangat tinggi. Tapi jangan khawatir, berikut ini adalah situs slot gacor yang akan memberikan bocoran slot dengan RTP Live Tertinggi: RTP Live Slot Pragmatic Play (RTP Slot 97.85%) RTP Live Slot PG Soft (RTP Live 96.15%) RTP Live Slot Habanero (RTP Slot 95.89%) RTP Live Slot CQ9 (RTP Live 98.83%) RTP Live Slot Spade Gaming (RTP Live 94.99%) RTP Live Slot Micro Gaming (RTP Slot 95.39%) RTP Slot Live Top Trend Gaming (RTP Live 96.14%) RTP Slot Live JOKER123 (RTP Live 97.45%) Itulah Daftar 8 Provider Slot Gacor dengan RTP Live teratas diatas tentunya kami analisa terlebih dahulu. Anda bisa membuktikannya langsung dengan mengklik banner atau meprovider game slot yang sudah tersedia di atas. Saran kami yaitu Anda harus memainkan semua penyedia slot di atas untuk mencapai peluang kemenangan terbaik. Daftar Slot RTP Live Tertinggi Sering Kasih Jackpot Selain mempertimbangkan RTP Slot Gacor yang ada, sebenarnya ada banyak faktor penting untuk menang dalam permainan judi online. Sebab ada banyak game yang memiliki fitur dan mekanisme unik dan bisa membantu anda meraih Jackpot yang sangat besar. Berikut ini akan kami ulas daftar 5 game slot paling populer karena sering memberikan jackpot: RTP Live Gates of Olympus Gates of Olympus adalah game slot teraneh dan terbaik di Indonesia. Karena permainan mesin slot ini paling populer karena kakek Zeus dapat mengizinkan pengganda x500. Selain itu, fitur dan mekanik Gates of Olympus juga sangat menguntungkan untuk memenangkan Grand Jackpot. Secara teoritis, RTP slot langsung Gates of Olympus bernilai 96,50%, yang berarti peluang Anda untuk memenangkan MaxWin cukup tinggi. RTP live Sweet Bonanza Sweet Bonanza adalah permainan slot terpopuler kedua. Game slot bertema buah dan permen yang lezat ini sepertinya akan menarik banyak perhatian karena tergolong slot gacor yang mudah menang. Secara teoritis, slot Sweet Bonanza RTP bernilai 96,48%, yang berarti peluang Anda cukup tinggi untuk memenangkan jackpot. RTP Live Wild West Gold Wild West Gold adalah permainan slot bertema koboi yang juga populer di kalangan penggemar konspirasi. Permainan slot Wild West Gold sendiri kerap menawarkan kejutan jackpot bagi para pemainnya. Selain itu, nilai RTP Live Slot menunjukkan indeks tertinggi hari ini, yang berarti sangat layak dan sangat direkomendasikan. RTP Live Starlight Princess Slot Starlight Princess ini memiliki gaya dan fitur yang mirip dengan Gates of Olympus. Perbedaannya hanya pada desain dan karakter gamenya saja, karena memiliki fitur dan mekanik yang sama tentunya RTP slot teoritis pada game slot ini sama yaitu 96,50%. RTP Live Cash Elevator Mungkin sebagian dari Anda baru mengenal slot Cash Elevator. Namun dari data benchmark yang diungkap, ternyata banyak sekali yang menikmati permainan slot ini. Dengan fitur dan mekanisme unik seperti Lift up and down asli, slot ini juga memiliki slot RTP Live dasar 96,64% yang juga memiliki mekanisme yang sangat menguntungkan untuk memperlancar tingkat kemenangan besar. Bocoran Jam Main Slot Gacor Hari Ini Dalam bermain permainan slot online itu tidak bisa dilakukan dengan sembarangan yah. Jadi, Jika anda bermain pada waktu tertentu seperti yang akan kita bahas sesaat lagi, ada kemungkinan anda untuk mendapatkan kemenangan lebih tinggi. Jam RTP Slot Gacor merupakan bocoran jam main slot yang akan memberikan anda kapan waktu yang pas dalam bermain game slot. Tentu saja seluruh provider slot online memiliki jam tertentu dalam memberikan peluang kepada para pemainnya untuk mendapatkan kemenangan. Disini kami akan memberikan anda Bocoran Jam Slot Gacor yang Paling Akurat Hari ini: Jam Slot Gacor Pragmatic Play 02:30 WIB - Jam 05:25 WIB Jam Slot Gacor Habanero 14:26 WIB - Jam 17:38 WIB Jam Slot Gacor CQ9 00:45 WIB - Jam 05:53 WIB Jam Slot Gacor PG SOFT 14:25 WIB - Jam 17:35 WIB Jam Slot Gacor Joker123 17:41 WIB - Jam 20:42 WIB Jam Slot Gacor Microgaming 22:30 WIB - Jam 00:35 WIB MGS88: Situs Judi Slot Online Gacor Pay4D Resmi dan Terpercaya MGS88 adalah situs game slot online Gacor terbaru yang bermitra dengan Pay4D, Pay4D sendiri merupakan daftar situs game slot online terpercaya dengan berbagai macam permainan judi yang mudah dimenangkan seperti Game Bola, Casino Online, Slot Pay4D, Tembak Ikan dan Pay4D Online Permainan togel seperti Singapura, Hongkong, Sydney dan lain-lain. Tujuan utama kami adalah menjadi situs judi online Pay4D yang menyediakan layanan judi online terbaik di Indonesia. Kami juga salah satu situs resmi PAY4D di Indonesia yang pasti akan membayarkan semua kemenangan kepada semua member kami, karena kepercayaan dari semua member kami adalah prioritas utama kami sebagai mesin slot 4d Asia terbaik di Asia, khususnya di Indonesia. Dalam melakukan sistem transaksi sistem simpanan dapat dilakukan dengan mudah melalui mobile banking dan electronic banking berupa bank BCA, BSI, BRI, BNI, Cimb Niaga, Permata dan Mandiri. Selain itu, transaksi e-wallet juga tersedia melalui Dana, Gopay, LinkAja dan Ovo serta dapat digunakan untuk pulsa tanpa dipotong. Untuk mempermudah dan kenyamanan dalam melakukan registrasi atau melakukan setiap transaksi, MGS88 menyediakan layanan live chat dan Whatsapp terhubung langsung dengan customer service online 24 jam. Mengenal Istilah Dalam RTP SLOT Di slot RTP Live Anda akan melihat berbagai fitur yang mungkin tidak Anda pahami masing-masing. Namun jangan khawatir, disini sebagai situs slot gacor MGS88 kami akan memberikan penjelasan lengkap mengenai tentang istilah yang ada di RTP SLOT dibawah ini. Estimados amigos, Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia. Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro. Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras. There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen. You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out. No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca. Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt. Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos. Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada. History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. When Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Friday instating fines of $1,000 to $7,500 for New Yorkers who advertise their entire apartment on short-term rental websites, Airbnb jumped into action. The international home sharing platform valued at $30 billion employs a team of so-called "mobilizers" who contact platform hosts whenever Airbnb-related legislation passes at the city or state level. "Our mobilizing team is the first to reach out to hosts and make sure they know what's going on," Airbnb spokesman Christopher Nulty told us on Wednesday, during a protest against the new law outside Governor Cuomo's Manhattan office on Third Avenue. But Airbnb's interpretation of the new legislation differs significantly from that of the law's author, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal. In the wake of Friday's signing, Airbnb has argued that working class renters will bear the brunt of this latest regulationa now familiar argument. "New York law fails to distinguish between everyday New Yorkers who occasionally share their home and commercial operators who remove permanent housing from the market," Airbnb Spokesman Peter Schottenfels said in a statement. Renting out an entire apartment for a stay shorter than 30 days was against the law for most New York City hosts well before Cuomo signed legislation specifically banning the advertisement of such units last week. But the law has done little to dissuade New York City hosts from advertising short term staysa recent data dump from Airbnb revealed that over half of NYC Airbnb users advertise this way. There are 39,553 listings city-wide as of October 1st, according to Inside Airbnb. According to Rosenthal and State Senator Liz Krueger, the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) will primarily prosecute commercial operators who use Airbnb to convert multiple apartments into rotating short-stay rentals for tourists. Listings will be investigated on a complaint basis, according to the mayor's office, meaning the city will not comb through the site and weed out all offenders. "The Office of Special Enforcement understands what their goal is," Rosenthal said. "They weren't set up to pick off individual tenants." Standing alongside the pro-Airbnb group on Wednesday, a group of counter-protesters organized by Rosenthal attempted to drown out the opposition with chants of, "Houses are not hotels!" The OSE was founded in 2006 under then-mayor Bloomberg, to shut down brothels and illegal clubs as well as apartment buildings converted into illegal hotels. Vito Mustaciuolo, Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement at the NYC Housing Preservation and Development, testified last year that "the problem of illegal hotel rentals is not homogenous. We support the overarching goal to deter the most egregious offenders." Airbnb has been eager to paint the casual law-breakers as victims, Rosenthal and Krueger argue, to challenge regulations that threaten the company's bottom line. A recent FiveThirtyEight analysis found that a third of Airbnb's revenue between June 2015 and May 2016 came from the eight percent of hosts who rented entire apartments for more than 180 days out of the year, effectively removing them from the housing market. Airbnb has countered that it can self-regulate, having recently removed 2,223 listings from its platform over concerns they might be affiliated with illegal hotel operators. According to the company, 95% of NYC hosts have one listing on the platform. Pro-Airbnb protesters outside Cuomo's Manhattan office on Wednesday (Emma Whitford / Gothamist). Minister Kirsten John Foy of the National Action Network, Al Sharpton's civil rights advocacy group, roused the pro-Airbnb crowd with a chant of "No Justice, no peace!" on Wednesday, arguing that Airbnb regulations were having an outsized impact on working class communities of color. He predicted that the law would rob working-class New Yorkers of a crucial source of income. "The way forward is not binding the hand of the middle class and working class who stimulate economic activity and create jobs," he said. Later, Foy described the fear that has welled up since Cuomo signed the advertising law. "It's created confusion, it's created apprehension, it's created fear in people," he said. "To make communities of color fear severe fines for opening their homes to people, it's just unconscionable." A woman named Opal, one of the hosts to take the pro-Airbnb bullhorn on Wednesday, said she uses the platform to rent out an apartment in her Harlem brownstone. "I've lived in Harlem for decades. I share my home with guests from around the world," she said, adding, "Laws like this harm responsible people who are sharing their homes occasionally." "That is something Airbnb is ginning up," Rosenthal said. "I'd like to see how many tenants who do this illegally have been prosecuted for it. What we're after are the commercial operators." "We'd prefer that hosts didn't break the law," she added. But Opal was confused by the selective enforcement explanation. "I can't tell a judge, 'Oh I thought they weren't going to enforce it against people like me,'" she said. William Aronin, a housing attorney who represents landlords and tenants, was also skeptical. "The law is specifically written so they can go after any hosts," he said. "They may not go after everyone with a sledgehammer, but they have to go after everyone for it work." "We are taking the steps necessary to enforce the law," said City Hall Spokeswoman Melissa Grace. "We take on operators of illegal hotels who put people in unsafe conditions and displace affordable homes." Airbnb has filed a lawsuit against the city on the grounds that the latest regulation violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments and the federal Communications Decency Act, which can protect websites from legal accountability for third-party content published on their sites. NYC will not begin enforcing the new law until the judge decides on Airbnb's request for a preliminary injunction. Government tells mourners to behave appropriately BANGKOK: The government has advised mourners at Sanam Luang to conduct themselves strictly in keeping with the propriety and solemnity of the event. culturecrimedeath By Bangkok Post Thursday 27 October 2016, 08:52AM Mourners in black continue to place countless bunches of flowers at a photo of His Majesty the King at Sanam Luang opposite the Grand Palace, seen here in background. Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul Prime Ministers Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said yesterday (Oct 26) that people should observe etiquette and behave accordingly. He also warned against bogus volunteers who exploit mourners. Some people also turned up at Sanam Luang only for the photo opportunities and to get free meals, according to Mr Suwaphan. The minister said he believed most people wanted to sincerely show their love and mourn the late King. This is a time when many Thais are in deep sorrow and want to express their loyalty to the highly revered King. People should stop behaving in a way that diminishes the event, Mr Suwaphan said, adding it is hard for the authorities to ban improper behaviour. Mr Suwaphan said officials who inspect the area will issue warnings to people who misbehave. The authorities also claimed some street vendors had queued up to get a serving of free food and then move away to resell it, said deputy Army Region 1 chief Phongsawat Phannachit, who was assigned to maintain order and regulate traffic in the areas surrounding the Grand Palace. Thesakit (city inspectors) have been told to keep an eye out for the sale of donated food, he said. The government has set up a joint command at Sanam Luang to handle the large crowds of mourners and maintain law and order in the area. National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said police have received reports of mourners at Sanam Luang being deceived by motorcycle taxis who lied about providing free rides. To deal with the problem, the command will require volunteer motorcyclists to register with police so their backgrounds can be checked, Maj Gen Phongsawat said, adding people can report bogus volunteers to the 1197 police hotline. Volunteers helping out at Sanam Luang, including those who collect rubbish, are also advised to register with the police for the sake of visitors. Authorities are also boosting security around the Grand Palace by installing more closed-circuit cameras in and around Sanam Luang, Maj Gen Phongsawat said. Though police are currently not worried about security in the area, they have increased the number of patrol officers and set up more checkpoints. There are now nine such checkpoints, said Surachet Hakphan, acting chief of the Patrol and Special Operation Division. On Tuesday (Oct 25), police manning the checkpoints found more than 200 sharp and dangerous items including cutters, scissors and even knuckledusters as they scanned the belongings of people entering Sanam Luang. They confiscated the items. Its not necessary to carry them [for protection] because we already have a number of police and soldiers in place, city police chief Sanit Mahathavorn said. Read original story here. Major anti-drug and crime campaign ahead of Phuket high season PHUKET: More than 150 officers gathered at the Tha Chatchai checkpoint today (Oct 27) as it was announced that a major anti-drug and crime campaign would be carried out across the island until Monday (Oct 30). By Eakkapop Thongtub Thursday 27 October 2016, 06:09PM Thalang Police Chief Col Sompong Thiparpakul (left) and Deputy Commander of the Region 8 Police Lt Gen Chalit Thinthanee. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Deputy Commander of the Region 8 Police Lt Gen Chalit Thinthanee and Thalang Police Chief Col Sompong Thiparpakul were both present when the announcement was made at 4pm today, and more than 150 police officers from Thalang, Sakoo and Tha Chatchai police station were in attendance. Lt Gen Chalit said, I am pleased to preside over this ceremony and announce a campaign aimed at ridding the island of drugs and crime. Along with local police officers, officials from local administration offices will also be helping out during this campaign. It is now close to high season so many people will be visiting the island and there will be many activities lined up for this period so high security is a must. We have to be vigilant and provide tourists with maximum security. Every department must sacrifice and fully support this campaign. We must not neglect our responsibilities and must do our best for the safety of the public, he said. Col Sompong added, This is an on going campaign for us to prevent crime and rid the island of criminals so that safety of the people can be assured, especially during high season. This campaign is an order from the National Police. This time of the year does not only bring more tourists to Phuket, but also crime, other illegal activities and accidents on Phukets road. Today we have officers patrolling many areas to show people that we are ready to handle any situation, keep the public safe and keep up the countrys good tourism image, he said. Officials dispel Phuket beach oil spill fears PHUKET: The large swathe of dark water that stretched nearly a kilometre along Karon Beach over last weekend is the result of a yet another plankton bloom, and not an oil spill, say Phuket marine officials. pollutionmarineenvironmentnatural-resourcestourism By Eakkapop Thongtub Thursday 27 October 2016, 09:23AM The Facebook post said that the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) had found an oil spill at a Phuket beach on Sunday (Oct 23). The message said that officials from the Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC) had investigated the area and discovered that water pollution also came from the canal nearby. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The kilometre-long stretch of dark water at Karon Beach was only a plankton bloom, said Phuket officials. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The alarm was raised yesterday by a post on the popular Phuket Community Page Facebook group, with a message stating that the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) had found an oil spill at a Phuket beach on Sunday (Oct 23). The message said that officials from the Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC) had investigated the area and discovered that water pollution also came from the canal near by. Water samples were collected to undergo laboratory tests, said the post. (See Facebook post here.) However, Suchart Rattanariangsri, Director of the DMCRs Marine Resource Conservation Division at the Sixth Marine Coastal Resources Administration Office (Phuket), said the tests found no evidence of an oil spill. Regarding our report of suspected oil pollution at Karon spotted at 11am on October 23, our officials and officials from the PMBC investigated the area and discovered that the black-coloured water we saw was not from oil, as many thought, he told The Phuket News. The brown water spread out about 1,000 metres from north to south and was about 100 metres wide, Mr Suchart explained. The water had no foul smell and we were told that local fishermen caught many fish in the area. Residents said the water changing colour is normal for this time of the year. We collected some samples and took them back to the lab that day, he added. The culprit was no more than another plankton bloom, said PMBC fisheries expert Supasith Boonpeinpol. The test results are back and they confirm that the water contained no oil or other pollution, Mr Supasith said. The colour of the water is the result of a plankton bloom in the area, he added. We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today Police seek Interpol help in S112 hunt BANGKOK: Police are seeking cooperation from Interpol to prosecute lese majeste offenders who take shelter overseas. crimepolice By Bangkok Post Thursday 27 October 2016, 09:12AM Police Maj Gen Apichart Suriboonya, head of Interpol Thailand. Photo: Post Today National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said the police were working with Interpol on legal action against the lese majeste suspects living overseas. The operation will focus on those found to have produced content deemed in violation of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, from overseas and released it online. Gen Chakthip declined to provide further details about the operation. I have no idea what these lese majeste offenders are thinking, Gen Chakthip said. For those who are in Thailand, if they dont want to live here [because theyre dissatisfied with the monarchy] they can leave the country. If they dont have enough money to buy air tickets, Im willing to pay for them. The government has sought cooperation from seven foreign countries to which 19 lese majeste suspects are thought to have fled. It would like them extradited back to Thailand. Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya yesterday (Oct 26) claimed that the seven foreign countries have given a positive response, although he refused to give details. He said the embassies of the countries contacted him directly after he wrote to them last week, asking for their cooperation on the requests to extradite the 19 suspects. Gen Paiboon said the countries said they understood Thailands situation and problems the country was facing but the extradition process might hit snags in international law. The justice minister, however, said he was still hopeful about the chances of extradition, adding the government was reviewing laws relating to the issue. Gen Paiboon refused to disclose the names of the countries, saying it is a sensitive issue and could affect international relations. The minister said it was necessary to create understanding and cooperation with foreign countries. He added Thais should also refrain from sharing inappropriate posts and photos created by those suspects as attitude adjustment did not work on them. If we dont pay attention to content created by these people, they will gradually fade away from social media, he added. The governments efforts to seek the extradition of those lese majeste suspects had failed for years, even from the countries which with the Thai government has good relationships. Meanwhile, government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed state agencies to study which countries Thailand had agreements on extradition with and which countries had cooperated on such requests in the past. Lt Gen Sansern said the prime minister wanted all sides to acknowledge that Section 112 was a law designed to protect the royal institution. The institution has never sued anyone for defaming the monarchy or royal family. The law was enacted to help protect the beloved and respectful institution given that it would rarely seek recourse to the courts itself, he said. Read original story here. Two electrical fires keep Phuket firefighters busy in Thalang PHUKET: It took fire fighters 20 minutes to extinguish each of two electrical fires in Thalang yesterday night (Oct 26) and early this morning (Oct 27) and stop them from spreading to nearby buildings. By Eakkapop Thongtub Thursday 27 October 2016, 11:00AM Firefighters tackle the blaze in front of the Good Cars car dealership on Thepkrasattri Rd in Srisoonthorn yesterday night. Photo: Eakkapop Tongtub The first of the two fires started at around 8:30pm last night in front of the Good Cars car dealership on Thepkrasattri Rd in Srisoonthorn. Firefighters from Srisoonthorn Municipality and officials from PEA Thalang office arrived at the scene to find a fire from electrical wiring blazing on an electricity pylon. It took firefighters 20 minutes to extinguish the fire. Electricity in the area had to be temporarily cut so PEA officials could work on the damaged cables. The second fire, also on electrical cables on an electricity pylon, started at around 4:15am this morning on Soi Baan Bangla in Pa Khlok. Firefighters were called to the scene and they managed to get the fire extinguished in 20 minutes. Officials are now investigating to find the cause of both fires. Summit Carbon files lawsuits against Brown, Edmunds counties Two South Dakota counties are facing federal lawsuits from one of the companies planning a carbon capture and sequestration pipeline. The waits at Five Leaves in Greenpoint remain interminable, so instead, head over to Little King, where the former Five Leaves executive sous chef is now turning out upgraded bar food over in East Williamsburg. The barand owners Sam Esterman, John Moskowitz and Christina Salway are clear that, first and foremost, it's about getting "rowdy" and having funopened last night on Metropolitan Avenue just off the Graham Avenue L stop. And though it looks fancier than the average watering hole, you order everything at the bar and they'll sell you a can of Victoria Lager for $4. There aren't many (or any?) spots offering a side of roasted bone marrow ($6) to accompany a Brioche Grilled Cheese ($10) with cheddar, pickled heirloom tomato, and sprouts, nor do many bars offering Scallop Crudo ($13) with charred lemon ponzu, pickled chilies and sesame. Philip Vernier's menu aims to encapsulate "high-end bar food inspired by our American and Southeast Asian favorites" along with "what is coming out of Paris." Have the French adopted Le Burger? At least here they do. Cocktails run a reasonable-for-these-times $12 and most of the booze, even top shelf, even less than that. 749 Metropolitan Avenue; Facebook Little King Food Menu by Nell Casey on Scribd Little King Wine and Beer Menu by Nell Casey on Scribd Little King Cocktails and Liquor by Nell Casey on Scribd Trump leads Clinton 45% to 43% among likely Florida voters. Trump's comeback in the critical background state during the final weeks of the election suggests that independent voters and voters who had remained on the fence are now breaking for the Republican nominee. Trump leads among independent voters 44% to 37%, the poll found It is the best of times for some employees of HMT Ltd, when the cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved the budgetary support for payment of outstanding salary, wages and other employee related dues. The employees of tractor dvision based at Pinjore had not been paid salary since July 2014 and other statutory dues are also pending since November 2013. But it was also the worst of times, for the cabinet approval of VRS and VSS at 2007 notional pay scales brought down the curtains on the HMT tractor division. The cabinet decision will cost the government Rs. 718.72 crores for payment of outstanding salary, wages and statutory dues, VRS and VSS ex-gratia payments and clearance of Tractor division's liabilities towards banks and creditors. The Cabinet has also given its approval for transfer of selected HMT land parcels at Bangalore and Kochi to different Government entities for their use in larger public interest. The cabinet observed that continuation of tractor business with its insignificant market share in the sector may not be a financially viable or sustainable option for HMT. Hence it would be prudent to close the tractor business, make an exit from the segment and focus on the core sectors of machine tools. HMT Ltd, a Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, was established at Bangalore in 1953 with the objective of producing machine tools required for building the industrial edifice of a young nation. It played a key role in laying the foundation for evolution of engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the country. HMT Tractor Division was established in 1971 at Pinjore, Haryana with Russian collaboration. The tractors first made headlines for their powerful machines that drove the Green Revolution, and later for the the fact that H.L.Khera, who was the general manager of HMT was kidnapped and killed in 1990. Ace film director Mani Ratnam's film, Roja in Hindi and Tamil and set in the backdrop of militancy in Kashmir, is said to be loosely based on Khera's life. HMT is better known as the maker of watches, which in its heydays had a long queue of people waiting to procure one. The watches were made in collaboration with the 'Citizen' brand of Japanese watches. The watch company shut down a couple of years ago, though watches that remain are still being sold. Performance of the HMT tractor division started to decline in the '90s, in the post-liberalisation economic environment with rising costs, stiff competition from international players and availability of imported goods at cheaper rates. Several efforts were made to arrest the declining trend, but it could not be turned around. HMTL's profit-making tractor business was affected due to poor off-take, under-utilisation of capacity and working capital constraints, etc. The big fight over the arrest of the Pakistani spy has only just commenced. In a day which saw the diplomatic communities in both countries go on overdrive, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said India had nipped an ISI ring in the bud with the arrest of an official from the Pakistani high commission. Aadhar card of accused Pak high commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar | Namrata Biji Ahuja Investigations are on, said the MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup, in reply to a question on whether any more skeletons may tumble out of the Pakistan high commissions closet. India denied the charge leveled by the Pakistani high commission that Mehmood Akhtar was manhandled. He was treated with courtesy befitting his status, said Swarup. Akhtar was handed over to a Pakistani diplomat by an MEA official. When he was handed over, Akhtar himself said that he had been treated well, said Swarup. Akhtar and his family have 48 hours to leave India. The foreign secretary summoned the high commissioner of Pakistan, Abdul Basit, earlier in the day and informed him of the official in pursuit of espionage. The foreign secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pakistan high commissioner that none of its members should indulge in activities inimical to India or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status. Refuting the claim by Pakistan that Akhtar had been lifted by Indian authorities on false and unsubstantiated charges, and that this was Indias way of diverting attention from Kashmir, Swarup said that Akhtar had been literally caught red handed. I dont see the rationale behind bringing up Kashmir, he said. Denial by Pakistan has become characteristic, said Swarup. Coming out strongly against Pakistan, Swarup said that terror had become the central motif between the interaction between India and Pakistan. We hope that Pakistan will honour the promises it made about not letting its soil be used for terrorism. Blog Archive October (2) September (2) August (2) July (2) June (3) May (2) April (2) March (3) February (2) January (2) December (3) November (2) October (2) September (2) August (3) July (3) June (3) May (2) April (2) March (3) February (2) January (2) December (2) November (2) October (2) September (3) August (3) July (4) June (4) May (5) April (4) March (4) February (4) January (4) December (4) November (6) October (2) September (3) August (2) July (10) June (3) May (2) April (8) March (5) February (3) January (4) December (4) November (5) October (5) September (4) August (7) June (4) May (4) April (2) March (5) February (2) January (4) December (3) November (4) October (4) September (3) August (4) July (4) June (5) May (3) April (3) March (4) February (5) January (5) December (2) November (3) October (4) September (4) August (4) July (4) June (5) May (4) April (4) March (5) February (4) January (4) December (5) November (4) October (4) September (4) August (4) July (4) June (4) May (3) April (4) March (3) February (4) January (2) December (5) November (5) October (8) September (7) August (7) July (8) June (8) May (5) April (7) March (6) February (2) January (4) December (3) November (7) October (3) September (3) August (4) July (5) June (8) May (7) April (7) March (5) February (6) January (8) December (6) November (5) October (7) September (4) August (7) July (7) June (6) May (8) April (10) March (12) February (3) January (8) December (9) November (7) October (7) September (8) August (9) July (5) June (7) May (4) April (4) March (5) February (8) January (6) December (5) November (5) October (5) September (2) August (2) July (3) June (2) May (5) April (1) March (3) February (4) January (1) December (3) November (3) October (3) September (2) August (2) July (2) June (4) May (4) April (4) March (4) February (4) January (3) December (5) November (5) October (4) A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed and seven civilians were injured on Thursday during heavy shelling between Indian and Pakistani forces in Jammu district's R.S.Pura sector. Police said the trooper died after sustaining splinter injuries. The seven injured civilians, including five women belonging to two families of Goparbasti village, have been shifted to a hospital for treatment, the police added, Pakistani troopers also started indiscriminate shelling and firing on the International Border in the neighbouring Samba district. "Pakistan Rangers targeted BSF positions in S.M.Pur, Nanga and Chambyal villages of Samba district. People from shelling-affected villages of R.S.Pura and Akhnoor in Jammu district and areas of Samba district have started moving to safer locations," the police said. Intermittent shelling and firing exchanges continued in both Samba and R.S. Pura. India on Thursday asked a Pakistan High Commission staffer in New Delhi to leave the country immediately over his alleged involvement in a major espionage ring that was busted with the arrest of two Indians working for the ISI. Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted that Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to convey that (a) Pakistan High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities. Basit was summoned after Delhi Police said they detained the embassy official, Mehmood Akhtar, for questioning after he was found working for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and obtaining secret Indian defense related information for Pakistan's spy agency. Akhtar was let off because of diplomatic immunity, a police officer told IANS on condition of anonymity. Two Indian nationals, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, allegedly working for the ISI, have also been arrested, the officer said. Both are residents of Rajasthan. Police also released a picture of the two. The arrests were made late Wednesday night by the interstate cell Crime Branch of Delhi Police following a tip from the Intelligence Bureau, informed sources said. This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India. Last year, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested. Prominent Jat leaders from Rajasthan Subhash Maharia and Hari Singh joined the Congress on Thursday amidst great fanfare at a function at the AlCC headquarters in New Delhi. While Maharia is a three-time MP from Sikar and was Rural Development Minister in the Vajpayee government, it is home coming for Singh as he was earlier in the Congress and left the party in 2011, joining the BJP in 2013. The two leaders met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi before their formal induction into the party. The two leaders joined the Congress along with scores of their supporters. Present on the occasion were Rajasthan PCC president Sachin Pilot and Leader of Opposition Rameshwar Dudi. Addressing the media, Pilot said the entry of the two leaders, who have a strong grassroots association and have been taking up farmers' issues, would strengthen the Congress in the state, with 22 months to go for Assembly elections. "People had great expectations with the Vasundhara Raje government. But it has let them down. The people of the state are eager for elections to happen so that they can bring back the Congress," Pilot said. He said the gap in the vote percentage has shrunk from 26 per cent in the Lok Sabha elections to less than two per cent in the Panchayat elections. "Rajasthan is on the boil. People are extremely angry with the BJP government. It is because of this that thousands of my supporters are joining the Congress along with me," said Maharia. Singh said his decision to come back to the Congress was guided by his concern for the plight of the marginalised in Rajasthan such as dalits and women. Google on Thursday launched its travel guide application Google Trips making it easier for travellers to plan their vacation and get curated travel options as per their interest. The new app with added features will help travellers find everything that they needright from seeking suggestions on destinations and hotels to flight options with rates and recommendations on places to visitall at one place. For those planning a vacation, "Plan a trip" feature will help find trip prices for the selected destination for the next six months, helping them get competitive hotel and flight prices with just a few taps. Users can search for the continent, country, or city they would like to travel to and add the word destination or vacation to see an easy-to-browse collection of options. Destinations on Google integrates a deep understanding of all the places in the world with Google Flights and Hotel search. So, one can see available flight and hotel prices instantly, instead of jumping between a dozen links or tabs. Suggested itineraries, top sights, recommendations on when to visit, and videos are also available in the App to help you make the right choice for your next vacation. Users in India, Japan and Malaysia have the option to use the "Plan a trip" feature to see trip prices for the selected destination for the next six months, helping them get competitive hotel and flight prices. Flight prices and hotel rates get updated instantly as travellers change their travel details. It also links you to Google Flights and Hotel search where one can plan and book your travel. Google Trips essentially tries to make a travellers vacation simpler by doing things like bundling all their reservations in one place available offline saving users from having to dig through their emails at the check-in desk. A feature called Day Plans recommends places to visit based on the search items saved on their Google Maps. Users can also modify the itinerary based on the weather, the people they are traveling with and places they have visited. In addition, Trips provides details on how to get around, etiquette for tipping and other useful information all available offline. Google Trips is currently available globally, in English. Smartphone users can download it from the play store or the app store. In an interview with the Arab-language Jerusalem-based al-Quds newspaper, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman explained that Israel would be willing to end the siege on Gaza if Hamas halts its digging of tunnels into Israel and agrees to disarm. He once again spoke of investment into a new seaport, airport and new industrial zones to provide employment. He told the paper that Ham as must halt all tunnel activity, disarm and stop firing rockets and in exchange, Israel would end the siege as well as undertaking the building of the airport and seaport. He ended with a warning, that the next round of warfare with Israel would be Hamas last because Israel will eradicate Hamas if compelled to fight again. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Some former Members of Knesset were KGB agents, Yediot Achronot is reporting after obtaining documents from the Mitrokhin Archive. According to the report, the agents were successful in infiltrating the Knesset and other sensitive positions including the IDF General Staff. One name reported is Eliezer Granot, who was a member of the former Mapam party. Another KGB agent infiltrated the defense establishment, a member of the team involved in the development of Israels Lavi fighter plane and yet another was involved in the development of the Merkava tank. Yediot adds that an agent code-named Mekinka was operating in the Shin Bet and perhaps the most startling revelation is that in 1993, British authorities in possession of the Mitrokhin papers informed Israel a member of the General Staff was a KGB agent. Preferring not to have the name of the major-general publicized and to avoid a most embarrassing situation, criminal charges were not filed against the high-ranking officer/spy. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) MK (Likud) David Amsellem, in his capacity as head of the Knesset Environmental Protection Committee is planning to act to prevent the silent murder of Israelis caused by ferocious PA (Palestinian Authority) pollution. He refers to the common practice by PA residents to burn garbage as a means of disposal, which results in the production of charcoal as the trees cut down and used for the fires become charcoal. Amsellem laments the fact that to date, almost nothing has been done about this by Israel. Amsellem explains the matter is far from a local PA issue as many Israelis inhale the byproduct of the garbage fires, which produce a strong odor as well. In his Facebook post he calls on Israelis to stop breathing for a few minutes in an effort to try to understand what residents of Hader, Pardes Chana and the Menashe region feel like as they are compelled to address this issue daily as the charcoal smoke from PA areas infiltrates into the areas mentioned along with other areas. He adds that he is truly angered by the fact that the PA residents then sell the charcoal produced from the trees they cut down to Israeli farmers. He has been shouting over the problem for months to gain support for doing what must be done to end it. For comparison sake Amsellem speaks of what it would be like to inhale smoke generated by rockets fired into Israel on a regular basis, stating there is no Iron Dome [defense system] against the charcoal smoke that harms the heath of Israelis on a regular basis. Amsellems plan is to stop trucks which deliver charcoal from Yehuda and Shomron over the Green Line into Israel proper. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Jerusalem District Court Justice Rafi Carmel sentenced the terrorist charged with attempted murder in a stabbing attack to nine years imprisonment for wounded two Jews in Jerusalem. A brother of one of the victims told Walla News The courts are simply abandoning us. The attack occurred in Jerusalems Old City about 18 months ago. They family of the victims expressed anger after learning of the courts decision. Honenu attorney Menashe Yado was equally shocked by the courts ruling, pointing out the defendant, Jon Kakish, was convicted in the past of aggravated assault punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The parameters for the court in this case were sentencing between 8-16 years and Justice Carmel opted to make due with a nine-year sentence. Family members point out that with deal-making and good behavior, the terrorist who tried to murder their loved one will be released in a few short years. The attack was caught on surveillance video, adding to the frustration of the family, pointing out the defendant also admitted to his actions. The prosecutor has already informed family members the state plans to appeal, seeking a more stringent prison term. The state asked for a 13-year sentence. The attack took place on Shavua night. The terrorist was armed with a 30cm knife and targeted Yidden heading to the Kosel for Tikun Leil Shavuos. He targeted a group and managed to wound two of the intended victims. One of the victims has long-term medical issues as a result of his injuries. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Hebron District Security Officer Yoni Bleichberd on Wednesday, 24 Tishrei, testified for the defense in the ongoing manslaughter trial of Sgt. Elor Azariya. Bleichberd explained that While I am not the chief of staff, I have seen many such instances and I believe the soldier acted correctly in shooting the wounded terrorist. He told the court the scene was a big mess and added he did see the wounded terrorist moving, giving additional credibility to Azariyas statements that he feared the terrorist was trying to activate a bomb. Bleichberd told the court he was a meter and a half from Sgt. Elor when he fired at the terrorist and it was he, Bleichberd, who briefed the IDF Brigade Commander Colonel Yariv Ben-Ezra upon his arrival on the scene. He made a point of saying the first terrorist was killed immediately and the second, a few minutes later. Bleichberd explains they made a mess of things in his reference of the militarys handling of the attack scene. He added there was every reason to fear the wounded terrorist would try to detonate a bomb as if he knew he was dying he would do everything possible to take additional victims with him. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) [COMMUNICATED CONTENT] Save your place! Take a special Tour of Italys greatest Gems-Venice, Padua, Verona & beyond this Thanksgiving week November 23-28, 2016. Tour Italys greatest historical gems, ancient Jewish communities, and famous sites on this custom designed Kosher LMehadrin luxury touring experience with Nesivos/ Jewish Legacy Tours; inspiring Torah lectures, famous sites, beautiful hotels, and fresh gourmet meals! Spend a relaxing Shabbos in an Italian villa! Join world-renowned educator & speaker Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky and Rabbi Doniel Baron on this exciting, inspiring & powerful tour. Rabbi Orlofskys riveting Torah lectures, down-to- earth personality and humor is the perfect match for Rabbi Barons brilliant and entertaining historical insights. Youll experience Venices magnificent ancient shuls, the worlds first Ghetto, and take in the awesome sites and spectacular architecture of St. Marks square and the Rialto bridge. Enjoy a gondola ride and get lost through Venices labryinth of exciting sites. Visit one of Italys oldest shuls in Padua and the Ramchals home, and daven at the kever of Maharam MiPadua. Jewish history comes alive as you visit some of Italys oldest Jewish communties and enjoy learning about its fascinating history and how it plays an important role in our Jewish history & mesorah! HURRY SAVE YOUR PLACE! Contact Nesivos/Jewish Legacy Tour for more itinerary, costs & more details: CALL THANKSGIVING TOUR DIRECT US: Tel: 347-434- 9716 or 917-724- 2633 / Israel: 972- 54-654- 1991 / U.K. 44-203- 734-1193 / email: [email protected] / www.nesivos.com Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has unveiled a new drone for use by its naval units, suggesting it could be a suicide drone that would crash into ships. The unveiling comes as Iranian forces have had a series of tense encounters with the U.S. Navy. The semi-official Tasnim news agency published photos of the drone on Wednesday, saying it has a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and a flight time of four hours. Tasnim says the drone, powered by two small propellers, can collide with the target and destroy it, (whether) a vessel or an onshore command center. Irans Guard and the military already have drones but the announcement of a maritime suicide drone comes amid what the U.S. says is an uptick in provocative naval acts by Iran. (AP) [AUDIO OF POLICE RADIO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that left a man injured in Brooklyn Wednesday morning. The incident happened at Remsen and Ralph avenues at East Flatbush around 11 a.m. The NYPD gave the following statement to YWN: At approximately 10:52AM, NYPD Officers from the 67th Precinct in Brooklyn responded to several 911 calls for a male with a firearm and a knife in front of a Laundromat located at 842 Remsen Avenue. Upon arriving at the location the officers encountered a 23-year-old male identified as Davonte Pressley, armed with a knife in front of the Laundromat. The officers repeatedly ordered the armed male to drop the knife at which time the male lunged towards the officers with a knife still in his hand. One officer discharged his service weapon striking the male 3 times in the torso. EMS responded to the scene and transported the male to Brookdale Hospital where he is in critical condition. A knife has been recovered at the scene and the investigation is ongoing. A photo of the knife recovered is attached. (Chaim Shapiro YWN) Hillary Clinton appears on the cusp of a potentially commanding victory over Donald Trump, fueled by solid Democratic turnout in early voting, massive operational advantages and increasing enthusiasm among her supporters. A new Associated Press-GfK poll released Wednesday finds that Clinton has grabbed significant advantages over her Republican rival with just 12 days left before Election Day. Among them: consolidating the support of her party and even winning some Republicans. Im going to pick Hillary at the top and pick Republican straight down the line, said poll respondent William Goldstein, a 71-year-old from Long Island, New York, who voted for Mitt Romney in 2012. I cant vote for Trump. Overall, the poll shows Clinton leading Trump nationally by a staggering 14 percentage points among likely voters, 51-37. That margin is the largest national lead for Clinton among recent surveys. Most have generally shown her ahead of Trump for the past several weeks. The AP-GfK poll finds that Clinton has secured the support of 90 percent of likely Democratic voters, and also has the backing of 15 percent of more moderate Republicans. Just 79 percent of all Republicans surveyed say they are voting for their partys nominee. With voting already underway in 37 states, Trumps opportunities to overtake Clinton are quickly evaporating and voters appear to know it. The AP-GfK poll found that 74 percent of likely voters believe Clinton will win, up from 63 percent in September. Troubles with President Barack Obamas signature health care law have given Trump a late opening to warn voters against putting another Democrat in the White House. And the poll was taken before the government projected sharp cost increases. But even Republicans question whether the rising price of insurance premiums is enough to overcome the damage the businessman has done to his standing with women and minorities. Donald Trump has spent his entire campaign running against the groups he needs to expand his coalition, said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster who advised Florida Sen. Marco Rubios failed presidential campaign. Ayres called Trumps campaign strategically mindless. Even if Clintons support plummets in the contests closing days, or shes unable to motivate strong turnout in her favor, its not clear that Trump could marshal the resources to take advantage and collect enough states to win the 270 electoral votes needed to claim the White House. Clintons team has overwhelmed Trumps campaign in its effort to turn out voters. An Associated Press review of campaign finance filings finds that her campaign, the Democratic National Committee and Democratic parties in 12 states have more than three times as many paid employees as Trumps campaign and the main Republican organizations supporting him. Clinton and Democrats had about 4,900 people on payroll in September, while Trump and Republicans had about 1,500. Both sides benefit from legions of volunteers knocking on doors and making phone calls to voters, as well as outside forces such as unions and super PACs pitching in on voter turnout operations. But key Republican groups such as the ones funded by the conservative billionaire Koch brothers are sitting out the presidential race because of their distaste for Trump, further extending Clintons likely advantage at getting out the vote. The strength of the Democratic turnout effort appears to be paying dividends in states where voting is underway. Nationwide, more than 12 million voters have already cast ballots, according to data compiled by the AP, a pace far quicker than 2012. In North Carolina, a must-win state for Trump, Democrats lead Republicans in early ballots, 47 percent to 29 percent. The Democrats hold an advantage even though turnout among blacks, a crucial voting bloc for Clinton in the state, is down compared to this point in 2012. Strategists in both parties attribute the lower black turnout in part to an early reduction in polling stations, though more sites are to open in the days leading up to Nov. 8. In Florida, a perennial battleground, Democrats have drawn even to Republicans in votes cast, reaching that milestone faster than in 2012. Traditionally, Republicans do well initially with mail-in ballots. But Democrats were able to keep it close, putting Clinton in position to run up the score during in-person voting. Clinton also appears to hold an edge in Nevada and Colorado based on early returns. David Flaherty, a Republican pollster based in Colorado, said the data signal a Democrat wave in the making. Buoyed by support from white voters, Trump looks strong in Ohio, Iowa and Georgia, a Republican state where Clinton is trying to make inroads. But wins in those states would still leave him well short of the required 270 Electoral College votes. Trumps top advisers have conceded in recent days the businessman is trailing Clinton. But they point to his large rallies and enthusiastic supporters as an indication he could be poised for an upset. Clinton draws smaller crowds to her events and has been perceived by some voters as the lesser of two evils. We have a couple of different paths to get to 270 and were actively pursuing them, Kellyanne Conway, Trumps campaign manager, told MSNBC on Monday. The AP-GfK poll suggests Clintons advantage is about more than just voter dislike for Trump. Clinton supporters are more likely than his backers to list their candidates leadership, qualifications for the presidency and positions on issues as major factors in their support. Although voters are still more likely to have an unfavorable than a favorable view of Clinton, her ratings have improved slightly in the past month. Forty-six percent of likely voters now say they have a favorable view of the former secretary of state, up from 42 percent in September. Just 34 percent of all likely voters have a favorable view of Trump. Trumps unpopularity has opened surprising opportunities for Clinton as the White House race barrels toward its finish. Her campaign is actively competing for Arizona, a state that has voted for the Democrat in only one presidential race since 1952, and she is also spending money in Georgia, a reliably Republican state over the past two decades. Both states have been on Democrats wish lists in recent years given their increasingly favorable demographics, though the party had little expectation they might flip this year. Hispanics are a growing share of the Arizona electorate, while Georgia is on its way to becoming a majority-minority state. The real electoral map surprise this year is Utah, one of the most conservative states in the country. Utahs heavily Mormon population has turned its back on Trump, providing an opening for third-party candidate and Utah native Evan McMullin to carry the state. Stripping Trump of six Electoral College votes Republicans have never had to worry about would further narrow his already slim path to victory. With so much appearing to lean in their favor heading into Election Day, the Clinton campaigns biggest concern is that some supporters take victory for granted and dont show up to vote. Donald Trump said he could still win, and he could if our people get complacent, Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri said. (AP) Donald Trump wont commit to working with Hillary Clinton if shes elected president. The Republican presidential candidate said Thursday on ABCs Good Morning America that he will make the decision at a later date. He says: Im not saying that Im not or I am. Hopefully I wont have to make that decision. New Yorks archbishop, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, has said that in a warm private exchange at an otherwise testy charity dinner last week, Clinton had told Trump that whatever happens, we need to work together afterward. But Clinton sidestepped a question Wednesday about whether she will meet one-on-one with rival Donald Trump after the November election. She told journalists that she will reach out to Republicans and independents and the elected leadership of the Congress. (AP) In a joint Shin Bet/police operation, Jerusalem resident Muhammed Moussa Mohammed Abasi was taken into custody three weeks ago for conspiring to perpetrate a terrorist attack. The arrest was cleared for release on Thursday, 25 Tishrei, adding the suspect is a resident of Ras el-Amud (Maale Zeitim). The Shin Bet reports its investigation revealed that Abasi planned a shooting attack against both security personnel and civilians in the eastern capital and had already made an effort to purchase weaponry. Abasi is reportedly a supporter of Hamas and has been involved in firebomb attack as well as throwing rocks and fireworks. On his Facebook page, he openly expresses support for Hamas as well as praising the terrorist who perpetrated the attack on an Egged number 12 bus last April as well as other attacks. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) A discussion has resumed among elected officials if the ban against Members of Knesset and cabinet ministers visiting Har Habayis should be lifted. MK Moshe Gafne sent his opinion to PM Binyamin Netanyahu, explaining permitting them to return to the holy site would compromise security and he remains opposed. Gafne told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that while Israel Police may be capable of protecting Har Habayis, the police may not decide policy and that is what must be done here. He explained the decision to implement the ban was the result of damage done to Israel in the international community, adding We are all aware of what has occurred because of politicians visiting Har Habayis. Gafne added that due to the sanctity of the site we may not visit since this leads to transgressions that are most severe from a halachic perspective. The security issue and the political one have all done up in smoke as soon as I said not going to Har Habayis is tied to issues of sovereignty. In fact, it shows we the Jewish People attach the most importance to this site by not going. MK (Bayit Yehudi) Shuli Muallem feels that with MKs like Gafne, Israel neednt be concerned with UNESCO decisions. While we have MKs like Gafne to tell us that we compromise Islamic sites by going to Har Habayis we dont need UNESCO. We have a true halachic matter here and there are poskim that rule both ways. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) JP Morgan has blocked its 235,000 employees from accessing the Financial Times website. Staff have apparently been cutting and pasting from the FTs paid-for web content, which JP bosses fear breaches the newspaper sites copyright. Short cut: JP Morgan staff have apparently been cutting and pasting from the FTs paid-for web content Maybe it does. But wont the fact that the worlds biggest bank now regards the rabidly anti-Brexit FT.com as an unessential news source be of greater concern to the once mighty Pink Lady of City journalism? The Financial Conduct Authoritys bulky, 460,000-a-year chief Andrew Bailey is irritated by a recent critical report by Cass Business School, which claims all the dobbins go and work at the FCA. He says: Personally, I didnt think that was very funny, before noting wolfishly: Though the urban dictionary defines dobbin as someone very good looking, so perhaps thats what they meant. Besieged Deutsche Bank boss, Kojak-look-alike John Cryan, 55, is considering replacing staffs cash bonuses this year with stock options to appease investors. Following a string of misconduct issues including a recent 11.5bn fine from Americas Department of Justice over a mis-selling scandal Deutsche shares have plummeted 50 per cent this year. Staff might prefer magic beans for all the good the options will do them. Former BBC chairman Lord Grade has joined the board of r4e, which provides advertising for West End and Broadway shows. Old moneybags, 73, lists as many as ten other cushy, remunerated posts on the House of Lords register. That his successor and fellow establishment toady Lord Patten, 72, musters a mere seven doubtless tickles the waggish, red-socked impresario. One for the diary: For an undisclosed fee, wearisome ex-shadow chancellor Ed Balls heads a panel discussion on the US election next Wednesday in Westminster entitled Is the US Finally Ready for Hillary? Deep pockets: Chancellor Philip Hammond BUDGET PLEA Business leaders are calling for a 6bn increase in public investment to help companies cope with the uncertain economic outlook. The CBI urged the Government to use next months Autumn Statement to set out a pro-enterprise agenda to boost confidence following the EU referendum result. MIXED FORTUNES Airbus blamed weakness in the helicopter market and problems with parts for its A320 Neo short haul jet for a 21 per cent fall in third-quarter earnings. European safety regulators maintained a UK ban on flights using its Super Puma, despite clearing the helicopter to fly again after a crash. Rival Boeing beat forecasts posting a third-quarter profit of 1.9bn and boosted full-year sales guidance to between 76bn to 78bn. TATA ROW The ousted chairman of Indian giant Tata Group, which owns Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel, claims his dismissal was illegal and has done immeasurable harm to both his reputation and that of the firm. Cyrus Mistry, who was this week replaced by predecessor Ratan Tata, said the board has not covered itself in glory and warned of huge debts from many of its foreign investments. ERICSSON BOSS Ericsson has appointed long-time board member Borje Ekholm chief executive as the Swedish networks operator battles a slump in mobile broadband demand. Ekholm, executive head of Patricia Industries, has been a board member for ten years and held positions on several publicly listed companies. FALLING FLAT Coca-Cola said global sales fell 7 per cent in the three months to September as consumers shunned fizzy drinks. The fall to 8.67bn was the sixth consecutive quarterly decline in revenue for the worlds biggest soft drinks company. Net profit also fell 28 per cent to 859m. SECOND RATE The Ukip-backing boss of property company Panther Securities has launched a scathing attack on the Governments new business rates proposals. Andrew Perloff, a Ukip donor and chairman of Panther, said the new valuations will increase the rates due for some larger properties. GOOD CHEER Heineken reported a 2 per cent rise in beer sales in the third quarter of the year. Good weather in Europe boosted demand for beer while there was also strong trading in China, South Africa and Brazil. BOARD CHANGES Barclays has set aside an extra 600million to meet compensation claims for mis-selling of payment protection insurance, but still saw its third quarter profits jump. The PPI provision was bigger than the expected figure of 500million for the three months to September and brings the bank's total provision over the past two quarters alone to 1billion - after 400million was put aside in the second quarter. The banking industry's PPI bill already stands at more than 30billion and yesterday Lloyds was forced to set aside another 1billion to settle mis-selling complaints. Mixed: Barclays results were pretty decent, but once again PPI costs overshadowed progress The Financial Conduct Authority has set a June 2019 deadline for any further PPI claims in an effort to draw a line under what has been one of the biggest banking scandals in history. But provisions aside, Barclays' latest results actually beat expectations, with statutory pretax profit up 35 per cent on a year earlier at 837million in the third quarter. Although for the nine months pretax profit was 10 per cent lower on the same stage last year at 2.9billion. Richard Hunter, analyst at Wilson King, said: 'Generally positive - the disposal of non-core assets is ongoing, the fixed assets business performed well and the path ahead is becoming increasingly clear. 'As with Lloyds, the PPI provision is disappointing. Market consensus remains at a strong hold, with the banking sector's difficulties meaning that for the most part, only the steeliest of investors need apply.' Barclays chief executive Jes Staley said the bank was still focused on selling down and disposing of its non-core businesses as quickly as possible to focus on US and UK operations. Mr Staley added: 'The growing momentum in attaining our strategic goals means we can feel optimistic of our prospects of completing the restructuring. 'Our core businesses are performing well, non-core rundown is approaching the final lap toward closure, we are on top of costs, and our capital position is resilient with strong reasons for confidence in meeting our end state target.' Barclays earlier this month announced plans to sell its Egyptian business to Attijariwafa Bank for a price understood to be about $500million. The overhaul has also seen the lender sell its Barclaycard credit card operations in Spain and Portugal to Bancopopular-e and sell down its 62.3 per cent stake in Barclays Africa. UK GOVERNMENT FURTHER TRIMS LLOYDS STAKE The Government has reduced its stake in Lloyds Banking Group to less than 9 per cent following a share sale, raising over 340million for the Treasury. The sale takes the taxpayer's stake in the bank to 8.99 per cent, with more than 17billion being returned to Government coffers since the lender's bailout at teh height of the financial crisis. The Government has progressively sold down its original 43 per cent stake in Lloyds via market disposals but earlier this month it ditched plans for a share sale to the public, opting instead to offload the remaining holding to institutional investors. Finance minister Philip Hammond said: 'Selling our shares in Lloyds and making sure that we get back all the cash taxpayers injected into it during the financial crisis is one of my top priorities as Chancellor.' In August, the bank also sold its risk analytics and index unit to Bloomberg for about 615million. Laith Khalaf, Senior Analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown, said: Barclays third quarter results are a bit of a curates egg, the top line in its core business is growing, but profits have been pegged back by one-off items. However, in the banking world, those one-off items do have a tendency to recur over and over again. He added: Barclays still has work to do, but theres an increasing amount of light at the end of the tunnel. However despite the banks international exposure, it is still vulnerable to poor economic conditions in the UK, so if we do get a Brexit-induced slowdown, Barclays will feel the burn. In early morning trading, Barclays shares topped the FTSE 100 leaders board, up 2.5 per cent, or 4.6p at 186.4p. Barclays was not the only lender showing progress today. In Germany, under pressure Deutsche Bank reported a 2 per cent rise in its third quarter sales to 7.5billion, which was far better than expected. The bank also reported a surprise profit of 278million, after a 6billion loss in the same quarter of 2015. There has been concern over the strength of Germany's biggest bank ever since US authorities threatened to impose a $14billion fine on it over past misdeeds. Like Barclays, Deutsche Bank has been slashing costs and selling businesses to help reassure investors. The German bank's chief executive John Cryan said the threat of the fine had an 'unsettling effect' on business. He added: 'The bank is working hard on achieving a resolution of this issue as soon as possible.' TSB has seen a boom in customer numbers so far this year which has in turn helped yield bumper profits, the Spanish-owned lender revealed this morning. The high street bank spun off from Lloyds Banking Group in 2013 and then taken over by Banco de Sabadell in 2015 reported statutory profits before tax of 161.1million for the nine months to September, up from 49.1million in the same period the year before. This 229 per cent increase in profits comes as the high street bank attracted more current account customers. Nearly 7 per cent of people who have opened or swapped accounts so far this year have picked TSB. Challenger bank: Spanish-owned TSB has seen a sizeable rise in profits so far in 2016 Paul Pester, TSB chief executive, said its Spanish owners were 'absolutely not' concerned about the UK arm of the business following Britain's decision to quit the European Union, despite jitters across the financial sector. He said: 'Sabadell's investment in TSB, and actually the UK, is a long-term commitment to the UK and to the UK banking market. 'The real benefits of the acquisition of TSB will flow through for instance from our continuing growth.' Mr Pester highlighted that the bank's ability to clock a profit rise in the nine months to September 'is obviously great news for Sabadell.' TSB said that confidence managed to bounce back quickly after the EU referendum, after customers briefly 'paused for thought,' cancelling mortgage and loan positions in the wake of the vote. TSB boss: Paul Pester said its Spanish owners are not concerned by Brexit However, that dip in demand lasted just a matter of days, Mr Pester explained, with the bank's appointment book returning to normal a week later, followed by a significant increase in customers looking to remortgage their homes. Mr Pester said: 'Looking forward, these are, of course, uncertain times. And, whilst we saw customers pause for thought following the EU referendum, confidence quickly returned.' The bank said total lending to customers rose to 28.6billion, up 8.5 per cent from the end of December, while customer deposits reached 29billion, up nearly 12 per cent. The results come hot on the heels of those from fellow high street challenger Metro Bank yesterday. It managed to post its first quarterly underlying profit since being created in 2010. The company, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in March, reported a profit of 600,000 in its third quarter, compared with a loss of 3.4million in the second quarter. The high street bank, which offers retail, business and private banking, said lending jumped to 5.19billion, up 73 per cent from a year earlier, while total deposits rose 66 per cent to about 7.30billion. It also saw its number of customer accounts rise to 848,000 at the end of September, up from 780,000 at the end of June. However, neither of these banks are having to deal with the Payment Protection Insurance plague which has hit the bigger names hard. Lloyds Bank, the worst affected by the PPI scandal, said yesterday it has set aside a further 1billion for PPI complaints this week - on top of the 16billion it has already forked out. Andrew Bailey took over the reins at the Financial Conduct Authority in August and has kept silent on the state of the regulator until now. But last night at the Mansion House in London in front of the country's business leaders, he revealed his hope to make the regulator fitter for purpose. His plans include better protection for 'vulnerable customers' against a backdrop of multiple and gross mis-selling scandals - as well as a crackdown on financial firms and areas of the market the FCA doesn't currently regulate. Bailey's plans include better protection for 'vulnerable customers' against a backdrop of multiple and gross mis-selling scandals In a 'mission statement' published earlier in the day, he said the FCA wants to know how to deliver compensation or redress to customers where it's due and understand when it should and shouldn't intervene in company behaviour. He is giving financial firms and anyone else who's interested, three months to comment on these plans. This is a marked shift for the regulator. One of the first things former FCA boss Martin Wheatley told the City when he got the top job was that the FCA would 'shoot first and ask questions later'. It made for sometimes difficult relations. Industry trade body the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, for example, said recently: 'The industrys relations with the FCA are under strain the regulator fails to communicate with firms resulting in a sort of blind examination.' The FCA has also been accused of failing at times in its job of making sure that financial firms abide by the rules and don't take advantage of customers. Earlier this week Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, warned that regulators were running the risk that stricter rules imposed after the financial crisis in 2008 were 'already being watered down'. He threw his weight behind a report published on Tuesday by think tank New City Agenda which highlighted the need for change in regulatory culture at the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Admission of guilt Bailey condemned the regulator's inadequate supervision of firms, branding it 'a very sorry history'. He said: 'The FCA is responsible for financial conduct regulation in the UK. I have often observed that, sadly, we have suffered from two financial crises in the last decade. 'The first in terms of the timing of its peak was prudential in nature, affecting the safety and soundness of major banks and investment firms and calling into question our financial stability at the level of the whole system. 'The second crisis has involved the conduct of business by financial firms.' Reeling off a list of scandals including mis-selling of payment protection insurance to the tune of billions, Libor-rigging, mis-selling of complex hedging products to small businesses and money-laundering and fraud, Bailey drew a line in the sand for the FCA. 'This is a very sorry history, and the future needs to be radically different from the past,' he said. ' We owe this to the public who are the consumers of financial services.' Older savers have in the past been targeted by less scrupulous firms, with millions of pounds invested in highly risky products such as unregulated collective investment schemes Among the consumers deemed vulnerable by the regulator are pensioners, who have much greater access to their pension savings following the freedoms introduced last year. Many older savers have in the past been targeted by less scrupulous firms, with millions of pounds invested in highly risky products such as unregulated collective investment schemes, some of which have collapsed, taking pensioners' life savings with them. Bailey's mission seems to seek to address the lack of power held by the regulator to deal with the fallout of scenarios such as this. 'There are a range of factors which affect consumers, particularly vulnerable consumers, which lie outside our regulatory remit,' he said. 'We have to establish where financial conduct regulation has a role to play in overcoming these kinds of challenges and where our role ends and that of broader public policy-making takes over.' That said, Bailey is clear that consumers have to accept some responsibility for the decisions they take. He added: 'We believe that a market where consumers never make poor choices is not feasible. Our focus is on ensuring the appropriate degree of protection for consumers.' A new dawn? Bailey is not the first boss to come in and kitchen-sink the work done before. The FCA has been lacking in permanent leadership since former boss Martin Wheatley was given the heave-ho by the then Chancellor George Osborne more than a year ago. Former FCA boss Martin Wheatley, who has been replaced by Andrew Bailey Bailey is a different kettle of fish altogether. Formerly the deputy governor of the Bank of England, he has a track record of prudential regulation. His focus is likely to be supervision of firms - in ordinary English, he is going to make sure that they start behaving according to the rules. No more mis-selling, no more fleecing vulnerable customers, no more hiding behind the terms and conditions and 'sorry boss, we didn't realise our systems were overcharging our customers'. But rather than ramming this message down the throats of the banks, Bailey has not presented this as a fait accompli - he is 'consulting' with the industry bosses and has specifically asked for 'input from as many parties as possible' on his objectives. He wants, he says, to 'foster debate'. 'This Mission document is a very important part of that challenge, to create a clear understanding of the FCAs remit and ensure that it is well communicated and understood,' Bailey said. 'The FCA has clear objectives set by Parliament, principally to ensure that relevant markets function well. This is a helpfully broad objective which allows us the scope to deal with many issues, but its breadth emphasises that we must provide clear explanations of how we interpret our objectives.' Andrew Bailey, former deputy governor of the Bank of England, wants to 'foster debate' with the City's financial firms This has the potential to mark a new beginning for the FCA. They're unassuming little snacks that are mostly made of air. But 'posh' popcorn has proved a huge hit with the health-conscious public, who are eschewing crisps and nuts for lower fat comfort food. Cassandra Stavrou and Ryan Kohn have found themselves at the forefront of this revolution, selling 100 million bags of their 'Propercorn' in the past five years - enough to stretch end-to-end between London and Rome every week. Popcorn pairing: Cassandra says making Ryan her business partner was her best decision Unusual flavours such as Fiery Worcester Sauce and Sun Dried Tomato, and Sweet Coconut and Vanilla have helped their product stand out from the crowd, as have their Great Taste and Veuve Clicquot New Generation awards. The brand is on track to hit a turnover of 15million this year and sells in 10 different countries around Europe. But five years after launching, the duo are ready to take their business to the next level and have taken on a combined 7million of outside funding from JamJar Investments, the Innocent drinks founders' venture fund, and private equity firm Piper. Cassandra first met Innocent co-founder Richard Reed several years ago and he has proved to be an invaluable mentor. JamJar investments has backed other up and coming consumer start-ups such as Deliveroo, Graze and Popchips. She says: 'I met Rich when I was just starting out, through a friend of a friend of a friend! Its so important to meet as many people as possible in the early days and he was incredibly generous with his time. Cassandra: 'It's so important to meet as many people as possible in the early days' 'It was based on his advice and experience of launching innocent with two friends that Ryan joined as my business partner - it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.' The outside funding will bring with it changes to how the company is run, with JamJar's Adam Balon - another of Innocent's co-founders - coming in as Propercorn's chairman. Cassandra says: 'For us, when choosing the right partners to invest, we considered several factors like their experience, their appetite for growth, a shared vision in Propercorns future but most importantly trust and a balanced relationship. Ryan adds: 'Its only been a month since we completed the deal, but weve all hit the ground running and have learned so much from Adam already. We feel very lucky to have him on board and ultimately have a mutual respect for each other and the role we all play in pushing Propercorn forward. Thinking outside the box: The team trial flavours for 'twisted honeycomb' The cash injection will help the pair branch out with the launch of new product Crunch Corn, half-popped corn which is 'much crunchier and a bit like nuts'. It will also fuel their continued expansion overseas and help them to finance new flavours, something the team say they spend a lot of time getting right. 'Propercorn was built on a belief that snacks can and should be delicious and full of flavour but provide people with a healthier option,' says Ryan. He says that coming up with his favourite flavour, smooth peanut and almond was a 'labour of love'. 'We had to find a way of extracting nearly 88 per cent of the fat from our roasted peanuts so that we could keep the calorie and fat content down but retain the rich nutty flavour that everyone loves.' Cassandra turned her back on a promising career in advertising to move back in with her mother to save the money she needed to finance her dream of healthy, tasty popcorn. Nowadays, Propercorn employs 40 people at its London headquarters, and its brand pops up everywhere from Tesco to Whole Foods. The first stockist to take a chance on them was the cafe at Google's London headquarters, where it swiftly became the most popular snack against 48 alternatives. Labour of love: Ryan says keeping the smooth peanut and almond flavour healthy was difficult From cupcakes to cauliflower rice, food fads come and go - but the Propercorn team say popcorn is here to stay. Ryan says: 'I think we have weathered enough time now to feel confident that it is here to stay. Popcorn was the fastest growing category of the whole of grocery last year and it continues to thrive. I have been watching with much interest the various IR news articles that are appearing after the failed bond levy to fund a new detention facility. It appears that our good sheriff Leo Dutton is facing an almost insurmountable task in figuring out how to accommodate the glut of folks that have been jailed for various crimes. Might I suggest that much of the overcrowding situation could be alleviated by our court system? After doing some research, I have found that many of those being held in the county detention center are being held for nonviolent misdemeanor crimes. (DUIs, drug possessions, violations, etc.) I know of cases where a defendant has lost a good-paying job because a judge using sentencing guidelines and a jail time sentence was handed down instead of house arrest or community service. Why is it deemed better by a judge to impose jail time on an individual instead of community service of house arrest for minor crimes? I suggest that the judge(s) are taking an easy way out by not listening to or caring about what the defendants and their lawyers have to say about the long-term consequences of that person serving jail time. In my opinion the county would be much better served by community service type sentencing for those that are convicted of minor offenses. Wouldnt it be much more cost effective having our litter and graffiti removed from public places and other worthwhile community work projects tackled by misdemeanor offenders rather than jail time? By Sheriff Duttons own admission, jail costs are upwards of $120 per day per inmate. I have been tracking recent incarceration statistics and the number of inmates that have been charged with misdemeanors number on average about 10 per day. At the current rate/cost of incarceration, those 10 inmates charged with misdemeanors are costing us taxpayers $3,600 per month in revenue that would be better spent elsewhere. Scram bracelets and mandatory check-in times would ensure that those that are sentenced to house arrest and community service are where they are supposed to be, and doing what they have been required and sentenced to do. I know that our judges face daily overloads. The sheer volume of offenders is daunting, and probably quite depressing. Judges probably take every opportunity to speed justice. I just do not see the cost effectiveness (morally and monetarily) of sentencing a misdemeanor defendant to jail time. Lets take a look at reducing the number of incarcerations by implementing alternative sentencing rather than jail time. I would rather have a contributing (employed) person doing community service than a prisoner watching TV for 30, 60 or 90 days at the taxpayers expense; then, upon being released from jail they are unemployed and probably collecting unemployment and/or welfare benefits, inevitably costing taxpayers even more money. John Larson Helena BILLINGS -- The Montana Cannabis Industry Association was correctly set up to support the I-182 campaign, though it filed five late finance reports, according to the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices. This latest campaign decision is the fourth, and likely the last, from a string of complaints that were filed this fall by groups for and against the initiative that would amend the state's medical marijuana program. I-182 would amend the program to remove patient limits for providers while adding product testing and licensing provisions. The I-182 campaign is supported by an incidental committee, the Montana Cannabis Industry Association. In September, Safe Montana founder Steve Zabawa filed a complaint challenging the funding structure set up by the association. In his decision, Commisioner Jonathan Motl found that the MTCIA filed five late finance reports from May to September. A penalty, likely a fine, will be negotiated at a later date. Motl had previously dismissed claims that the I-182 groups used dark money to fund the campaign. In this latest decision, he ruled that the MTCIA's previous work meant that its campaign business was secondary, or incidental, for the organization. "The complainant's view would not afford the MTCIA a legitimate role in Montana policy determination," Motl wrote, "apparently discarding its four years of civic participation, including work on ballot issues, legislative proposals and litigation." MTCIA President Bob Devine said Wednesday that the organization was new to campaign finance reporting and accepted that some reports were late. He called the dark money allegations insulting and said that he expected them to be dismissed. "It's just a constant ploy to pull away from the legitimacy of our businesses," he said. The MTCIA is a trade association supported by Montana medical marijuana providers. The organization hired a consultant, M+R Strategies, to run the I-182 campaign. The campaign committee, Montana Citizens for I-182, first filed a complaint against Safe Montana in September. Safe Montana responded with two complaints of its own. In October, Motl ruled that Safe Montana was not properly registered to oppose I-182 and that Zabawa failed to report the contract for a series of billboards. Humana Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Group and Specialty, and Healthcare Services. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. In addition, the company provides commercial fully insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits comprising dental, vision, and other supplemental health benefits; and administrative services only products to individuals and employer groups, as well as military services, such as TRICARE T2017 East Region contract. Further, it offers pharmacy solutions, provider services, and home solutions services, such as home health and other services to its health plan members, as well as to third parties. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 17 million members in medical benefit plans, as well as approximately 5 million members in specialty products. Humana Inc. was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. 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. Ally Financial Inc., a digital financial-services company, provides various digital financial products and services to consumer, commercial, and corporate customers primarily in the United States and Canada. It operates through four segments: Automotive Finance Operations, Insurance Operations, Mortgage Finance Operations, and Corporate Finance Operations. The Automotive Finance Operations segment offers automotive financing services, including providing retail installment sales contracts, loans and operating leases, term loans to dealers, financing dealer floorplans and other lines of credit to dealers, warehouse lines to automotive retailers, and fleet financing. It also provides financing services to companies and municipalities for the purchase or lease of vehicles, and vehicle-remarketing services. The Insurance Operations segment offers consumer finance protection and insurance products through the automotive dealer channel, and commercial insurance products directly to dealers. This segment provides vehicle service and maintenance contract, and guaranteed asset protection products; and underwrites commercial insurance coverages, which primarily insure dealers' vehicle inventory. The Mortgage Finance Operations segment manages consumer mortgage loan portfolio that includes bulk purchases of jumbo and low-to-moderate income mortgage loans originated by third parties, as well as direct-to-consumer mortgage offerings. The Corporate Finance Operations segment provides senior secured leveraged cash flow and asset-based loans to middle market companies; leveraged loans; and commercial real estate product to serve companies in the healthcare industry. The company also offers commercial banking products and services. In addition, it provides securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company was formerly known as GMAC Inc. and changed its name to Ally Financial Inc. in May 2010. Ally Financial Inc. was founded in 1919 and is based in Detroit, Michigan. MDA Ltd. designs, manufactures, and services space robotics, satellite systems and components, and intelligence systems in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and internationally. It offers geointelligence solutions that provide satellite-generated imagery and analytic services to deliver critical and value-added insights in the areas of national security, climate change monitoring, and maritime surveillance. The company also provides robotics and space operations that enable humanity's exploration by providing autonomous robotics and vision sensors that operate in space and on the surfaces of the moon and mars. In addition, it offers satellite systems and spacecraft to enable space-based services, including space-based broadband internet connectivity from low earth orbit satellite constellations. Further, the company provides products and services of defense intelligence systems. It serves government agencies, prime contractors, and space companies. The company was formerly known as Neptune Acquisition Holdings Inc. and changed its name to MDA Ltd. in March 2021. MDA Ltd. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Brampton, Canada. BILLINGS -- A woman died Monday night after she was pulled from the Yellowstone River following a police chase. The 34-year-old Billings woman was taken to St. Vincent Healthcare and pronounced dead. Her name was not released Tuesday morning while authorities notify family members, said Lt. Bill Jones, Yellowstone County Coroner. Authorities pulled the unconscious woman from the Yellowstone River on Monday night after she drove a pickup pulling a stolen trailer into the river while being chased by police. The woman was not breathing when authorities searching the river by boat pulled her out about 25 minutes after the pickup was reported entering the river in the area of Riverside Park. The chase started when a trailer was reported stolen to Laurel police. Officers attempted to pull over a pickup pulling the trailer on 1st Avenue near the north end of Laurel, but the driver fled. After a chase of about 15 minutes, the pickup entered the water. Authorities saw a woman leave the pickup and begin swimming downstream. After about 400 yards she went under and officers never saw her come up. The pickup came to a stop near the river's south bank with water coming in just over its windows. The trailer stopped further downstream. When the boat docked at Riverside Park, authorities swiftly pulled the woman up the boat launch into a waiting ambulance, where medical personnel "were exhausting all means to save her life," Laurel Police Department Captain Mark Guy said. Police were also searching for a 29-year-old white man who may have been involved with the trailer theft, although police did not see him leave the vehicle. He is 5-feet 11-inches tall with dark hair and hazel eyes. It's unclear if drugs or alcohol were involved. Parker-Hannifin Corporation manufactures and sells motion and control technologies and systems for various mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Diversified Industrial and Aerospace Systems. The Diversified Industrial segment offers sealing, shielding, thermal products and systems, adhesives, coatings, and noise vibration and harshness solutions; filters, systems, and diagnostics solutions to monitor and remove contaminants from fuel, air, oil, water, and other liquids and gases; connectors, which control, transmit, and contain fluid; control solutions for extreme corrosion resistance, temperatures, pressures, and precise flow; and hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical components and systems for builders and users of mobile and industrial machinery and equipment. This segment sells its products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and distributors who serve the replacement markets in manufacturing, packaging, processing, transportation, construction, refrigeration and air conditioning, agricultural, and military machinery and equipment industries. The Aerospace Systems segment offers products for use in commercial and military airframe and engine programs, such as control actuation systems and components, engine build-up ducting, engine exhaust nozzles and assemblies, engine systems and components, fluid conveyance systems and components, fuel systems and components, fuel tank inerting systems, hydraulic systems and components, lubrication components, pilot controls, pneumatic control components, thermal management products, and wheels and brakes, as well as fluid metering, delivery, and atomization devices. This segment markets its products directly to OEMs and end users. The company markets its products through direct-sales employees, independent distributors, and sales representatives. The company was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its advice centers, RBC insurance stores, and mobile advisors; digital, mobile, and social platforms; independent brokers; and travel partners. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset servicing, custody, payments, and treasury services to financial and other investors; and fund and investment administration, shareholder, private capital, performance measurement and compliance monitoring, distribution, transaction banking, cash and liquidity management, foreign exchange, and global securities finance services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, advisory services, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface. Read More Genpact Limited provides business process outsourcing and information technology (IT) services in India, rest of Asia, North and Latin America, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Banking, Capital Markets and Insurance; Consumer Goods, Retail, Life Sciences and Healthcare; and High Tech, Manufacturing and Services. The company offers CFO advisory services; and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) services, such as data management, carbon accounting, human rights assessment, sustainability diligence, and ESG reporting. It also provides finance and accounting services, which include accounts payable, such as document management, invoice processing, approval and resolution management, and travel and expense processing; invoice-to-cash services, including customer master data management, credit and contract management, fulfillment, billing, collections, and dispute management services; record to report services comprising accounting, treasury, tax, product cost accounting, and closing and reporting services; financial planning and analysis consisting of budgeting, forecasting, and business performance reporting; and enterprise risk and compliance services, including operational risks and controls. In addition, the company provides supply chain advisory services, and after-sales services; sourcing and procurement services comprising direct and indirect strategic sourcing, category management, spend analytics, procurement operation, and master data management; and sales and commercial services, including campaign, order, and dispute management, lead generation, pricing, and promotion optimization. Further, it offers IT services, which comprise end-user computing support, infrastructure management, application production support, and database management services; and transformation services that include digital solutions, consulting services, and analytics services and solutions. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda. Telecom Argentina S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Argentina and internationally. The company offers telephone services, including local, domestic, and international long-distance telephone services, as well as public telephone services; and other related supplementary services, such as call waiting, call forwarding, conference calls, caller ID, voice mail, itemized billing, and maintenance services. It also provides interconnection services, such as traffic and interconnection resource, dedicated Internet access, video signals transportation in standard and high definitions, audio and video streaming, dedicated links, backhaul links for mobile operators, data center hosting/housing services, dedicated links, layer 2 and layer 3 transport networks, video links, value-added services, and other services. In addition, the company offers mobile telecommunications services, including voice communications, high-speed mobile Internet content and applications download, online streaming, and other services; and sells mobile communication devices, such as handsets, Modems MiFi and wingles, and smart watches under the Personal brand. Further, it provides internet connectivity products, including virtual private network services, traditional Internet protocol links, and other products; data services; and programming and other cable television services. The company was formerly known as Cablevision S.A. and changed its name to Telecom Argentina S.A. in January 2018. Telecom Argentina S.A. was founded in 1979 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The following companies are subsidiares of Becton, Dickinson and: Accuri Cytometers, Accuri Cytometers Inc., Alverix Inc, Alverix Inc., Atto Bioscience Inc, BD Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., BD Infection Prevention BV, BD Kiestra BV, BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation, BD Rapid Diagnostic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., BD San Luis Potosi S.A. de C.V., BD Switzerland Sarl, BD Ventures LLC, BD West Africa Limited, BDX INO LLC, Bard (Thailand) Limited, Bard ASDI Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc., Bard Acquisition Sub Inc., Bard Australia Pty. Limited, Bard Benelux N.V., Bard Brachytherapy Inc., Bard Brasil Industria e Comercio de Produtos Para a Saude Ltda., Bard Canada Inc., Bard Chile S.p.A., Bard Czech Republic s.r.o., Bard Devices Inc., Bard Dublin ITC Limited, Bard EMEA Finance Center Sp.z o.o., Bard European Distribution Center N.V., Bard Finance B.V. & Co. KG., Bard Financial Services Ltd., Bard Finland OY, Bard France S.A.S., Bard Global Holdings I LLC, Bard Global Holdings II LLC, Bard Global Holdings III LLC, Bard Healthcare Inc., Bard Healthcare Science (Shanghai) Limited, Bard Hellas S.A., Bard Holding SAS, Bard Holdings Limited, Bard Holdings Netherlands B.V., Bard Hong Kong Limited, Bard IP Holdings Inc., Bard India Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Bard International Holdings B.V., Bard International Inc., Bard Istanbul Healthcare Limited Company, Bard Korea Ltd., Bard Limited, Bard MRL Acquisition Corp., Bard Malaysia Healthcare Sdn. Bhd., Bard Medica SA, Bard Medical Devices (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical SA (Proprietary) Limited, Bard Mexico Realty S. de R.L. de C.V., Bard Norden AB, Bard Norway AS, Bard Pacific Health Care Company Ltd., Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc., Bard Poland Sp. z.o.o., Bard Productos Plasticos e Medicos Ltda., Bard Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Bard S.r.l., Bard Sdn. Bhd., Bard Shannon Limited, Bard Singapore Private Limited, Bard Sourcing Office Singapore Pte. Ltd., Bard Sweden AB, Bard UK Newco Limited, Bard de Espana S.A., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Management Limited, Becton Dickinson (Mauritius) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Pty) Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Thailand) Limited, Becton Dickinson A.G., Becton Dickinson A/S, Becton Dickinson Argentina S.R.L., Becton Dickinson Asia Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Asia Limited, Becton Dickinson Austria GmbH, Becton Dickinson Austria Holdings GmbH, Becton Dickinson B.V., Becton Dickinson B.V. Saudi Limited Company, Becton Dickinson Benelux N.V., Becton Dickinson Biosciences Systems and Reagents Inc., Becton Dickinson Canada Inc., Becton Dickinson Caribe Ltd., Becton Dickinson Croatia d.o.o., Becton Dickinson Czechia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Dispensing Belgium BVBA, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Denmark A/S, Becton Dickinson Dispensing France SAS, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Norway, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Spain S.L.U., Becton Dickinson Dispensing UK Ltd., Becton Dickinson Distribution Center N.V., Becton Dickinson East Africa Ltd., Becton Dickinson Euro Finance Sarl, Becton Dickinson Europe Holdings S.A.S., Becton Dickinson France S.A.S., Becton Dickinson GSA Beteilgungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings I Inc., Becton Dickinson Global Holdings II LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings IV LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings V LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VIII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Services Centre Sdn. Bhd, Becton Dickinson GmbH, Becton Dickinson Guatemala S.A., Becton Dickinson Hellas S.A., Becton Dickinson Holdings Limited, Becton Dickinson Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Hungary Kft., Becton Dickinson India Private Limited, Becton Dickinson Industrias Cirurgicas Ltda., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy AB, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Holdings UK Limited, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc. S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy UK, Becton Dickinson Insulin Syringe Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings II Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings III Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Israel Ltd., Becton Dickinson Italia S.p.A., Becton Dickinson Ithalat Ihracat Limited Sirketi, Becton Dickinson Korea Holding Inc., Becton Dickinson Korea Ltd., Becton Dickinson Ltd., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Global Holdings Sarl, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings II S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings III S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings V S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Malaysia Inc., Becton Dickinson Management GmbH & Co. KG, Becton Dickinson Matrex Holdings Inc., Becton Dickinson Medical (S) Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Products Pte. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Technology (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Global Holdings II C.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings B.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings II B.V., Becton Dickinson Norway AS, Becton Dickinson O.Y., Becton Dickinson Overseas Services Ltd., Becton Dickinson Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., Becton Dickinson Penel Limited, Becton Dickinson Philippines Inc., Becton Dickinson Polska Sp.z.o.o., Becton Dickinson Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Becton Dickinson Pty. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Research Centre Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH, Becton Dickinson Rowa Italy Srl, Becton Dickinson S.A., Becton Dickinson Sample Collection GmbH, Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.L.P., Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.P., Becton Dickinson Sdn. Bhd., Becton Dickinson Slovakia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Sweden AB, Becton Dickinson Sweden Holdings AB, Becton Dickinson Switzerland Global Holdings SarL, Becton Dickinson Technology Campus India, Becton Dickinson U.K. Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing I Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing II Limited, Becton Dickinson Venezuela C.A., Becton Dickinson Venture LLC, Becton Dickinson Verwaltungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Vostok LLC, Becton Dickinson Worldwide Investments Sa.r.L., Becton Dickinson Zambia Limited, Becton Dickinson and Company Ltd., Becton Dickinson de Colombia Ltda., Becton Dickinson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson del Uruguay S.A., Bee IT Solutions, Benex Ltd., Biometric Imaging, Bridger Biomed Inc., C. R. Bard (Portugal) - Produtos e Artigos Medicos e Farmaceuticos, C. R. Bard Do Brasil Productos Medicos Ltda., C. R. Bard GmbH, C. R. Bard Inc., C. R. Bard Netherlands Sales B.V., C.R. Bard Inc, CME America LLC, CME Ltd., CME Medical (UK) Limited, CME UK (Holdings) Limited, CRISI Medical Systems, CRISI Medical Systems Inc., Caesarea Medical Electronics, Cardal II LLC, Care Fusion Development Private Limited, CareFusion (Barbados) SrL, CareFusion (Shanghai) Commercial and Trading Co. Limited, CareFusion 213 LLC, CareFusion 2200 Inc., CareFusion 2201 Inc., CareFusion 302 LLC, CareFusion 303 Inc., CareFusion Asia (HK) Limited, CareFusion Corporation, CareFusion Corporation., CareFusion D.R. 203 Ltd., CareFusion France 309 S.A.S., CareFusion Israel 330 Ltd., CareFusion Italy 312 S.p.A., CareFusion Manufacturing LLC, CareFusion Mexico 215 S.A. de C.V., CareFusion Netherlands 328 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 503 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 504 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands Financing 283 C.V., CareFusion Resources LLC, CareFusion S.A. 319 (Proprietary) Limited, CareFusion Solutions LLC, CareFusion U.K. 244 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 305 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 306 Limited, Carmel Pharma AB, Carmel Pharma Inc, Cato Software Solutions, Cell Analysis Systems Inc, Cellular Research, Cellular Research Inc., Clearstream Technologies Group Limited, Clearstream Technologies Limited, Clontech Laboratories Inc, Corporativo BD de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Critical Device Corporation, Cubex, Cytognos, Cytopeia Inc, DLD (Bermuda) Ltd., DVL Acquisition Sub Inc., Davol Inc., Davol International Limited, Davol Surgical Innovations S.A. de C.V., Difco Laboratories Incorporated, Distribuidora BD Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dutch American Manufacturers (D.A.M.) B.V., Dymax Corporation, Embo Medical Limited, Enturia de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Enturican Inc., FJ International Inc., FlowCardia Inc., FlowCardia LLC, FlowJo LLC, Franklin Lakes Enterprises L.L.C., GSL Solutions, Gamer Lasertechnik GmbH, GenCell Biosystems, GenCell Biosystems Ltd., GeneOhm Sciences Canada ULC, GeneOhm Sciences Inc, Gentest Corporation, Gesco International Inc., Gesco International LLC, Glentech Inc, HandyLab Inc, HandyLab Inc., IBD Holdings LLC, Iontophoretics Corporation, JoHome LLC, Kabushiki Kaisha Medicon (Medicon Inc.), Liberator Health and Education Services Inc., Liberator Health and Wellness Inc., Liberator Medical Holdings Inc., Liberator Medical Supply Inc., Limited Liability Company Bard Rus, Loma Vista Medical Inc., Loma Vista Medical LLC, Luther Medical Products Inc, Lutonix Inc., Med-Design Corporation, Med-Design Investment Holdings Inc., Med-Safe Systems Inc, Med-Safe Systems Inc., MedChem Products Inc., Medafor Inc., Medegen LLC, Medinservice.com Inc., Medivance Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NOW Medical Distribution Inc., NOW Medical Distribution LLC, Navarre Biomedical LLC, Navarre Biomedical Ltd., Neomend Inc., Nippon Becton Dickinson Company Ltd., Omega Biosystems Incorporated, P.R.C. (Isialys) Societe a responsabilitie limitee, PT Becton Dickinson Indonesia, PharMingen, PharMingen., Plasso Technology Ltd, PreAnalytiX GmbH, Pristine Access Technologies Inc., ProSeed Inc., Procesos para Esterilizacion S.A. de C.V., Productos Bard de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Productos Para el Cuidado de la Salud S.A. de C.V., Puls Medical Devices AS LC, PureWick Corporation, Roberts Laboratories Inc., Rochester Medical Corporation, Rochester Medical Ltd., Saf-T-Med Inc, Safety Syringes Inc., Scanwell Health Inc., Sendal S.L.U., SenoRx Inc., SenoRx LLC, Shield Healthcare Centers Inc., Sirigen Group Limited, Sirigen II Limited, Sirigen Inc., Sistemas Medicos ALARIS S.A. de C.V., Specialized Cooperative Corporation, Specialized Health Products Inc., Specialized Health Products International Inc., Specialized Health Products International LLC, Staged Diabetes Management LLC, Straub Medical AG, Straub Medical AG, Surgical Site Solutions Inc., TVA Medical Inc, TVA Medical Inc., Tepha Inc, Tepha Inc., Tissuemed Ltd., Tri-County Medical & Ostomy Supplies Inc., TriPath Imaging Inc., Tru-Fit Marketing Corporation, Vas-Cath Incorporated, Vascular Pathways Inc., Velano Vascular, Velano Vascular Inc., Venclose Inc., Venetec International Inc., Venetec International LLC, Visitec, Y-Med Inc., Y-Med LLC, and ZebraSci Inc.. Read More Addressing fire safety Living in San Diego County, the threat of fires is constant, that is why I have made fire safety one... Supporting animals As a trained Project Wildlife Native Songbird Rehabilitator, my experience raising orphaned and injured songbirds and returning them to the... BILLINGS -- In July 2015, state social workers showed up at Lavonne Bermes' home in Billings to let her know she'd have to take care of her 11-month-old grandson. The boy, Paxton, had been removed from the home of his parents, Bermes' son and his girlfriend. Both parents had used methamphetamine and alcohol before and during the pregnancy, and the child was born with a host of disabilities as a result, Bermes said. "You instantly start to prioritize," said the 69-year-old. "I haven't raised any kids in a long time, and I had to figure out how to go back to being a mother to a baby full time." Bermes' life had changed unexpectedly. She'd lost her job after a neck surgery limited her mobility, so she had little income when she agreed to take in Paxton. She worked hard to raise her grandson, and sought disability and foster care payments to help make ends meet. "Every child needs to be loved, and he's been a gift from God," she said. But a child with his needs and disabilities requires a lot of attention, and the stress from managing it all began to wear on her. Earlier this year, statewide program Lifespan Respite, which helps caregivers take a break, gave Bermes $400 so she could take a quick vacation to Washington to see other family. It's a gift that has stuck with her. "All that I can say is Respite saved me," Bermes said. "I hadn't been able to leave the house, or leave Paxton, for almost two years. And I was exhausted. That $400 I know it doesn't seem like much what it did for me, that's what made it a million-dollar vacation." Respite care In August 2017, the three-year federal grant that funds the program's efforts across Montana will run out. Officials hope to find other ways to provide much-needed help to caregivers like Bermes throughout the state. "The problem with federal grants is that they're always time-limited," said Vickie Clear, Lifespan Respite program coordinator for the Developmental Educational Assistance Program, the Miles City-based not-for-profit group contracted by the state to administer the respite program. "They're not a permanent source, so that's why we're looking for more sources. That's the whole goal. We do not want to start a program that's very successful and meeting needs only to have it close up." In Montana, an estimated 118,000 caregivers provide roughly 110 million hours of unpaid care that's worth about $1.4 billion each year, according to DEAP. Lifespan Respite provides eligible caregivers to take the place of another qualified caregiver. That gives them a small amount of time to take a break or tend to other matters without worrying about providing care. The money comes from a three-year federal grant, authorized by Congress in 2006 and provided through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living, to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. With oversight from the 100-member Lifespan Respite Coalition, made up of stakeholders from caregiver, provider and state organizations across Montana, the program has given out vouchers to 127 people in 30 counties since August 2015. Sylvia Danforth, DEAP director, said the program also allows people receiving care to stay in their own homes. With Montana's aging population and geographic diversity, that's increasingly important, she said. There are other programs in Montana that provide respite care, although they're not funded through the same grant and often focus on a specific population group or region, Danforth said. "The whole concept is that it's for all ages, all populations, anyone that might have special needs," Clear said. The program seeks to help a wide range of caregivers, from people taking care of elderly parents with dementia to a parents raising children with special needs. "It's to give them a break," Clear said. "We find that if they take breaks, they stay healthier and give better care." Each respite care recipient fills out a survey afterward, and the comments show the wide effect the program has, Clear said. For one woman, who had been taking care of her husband since 1995, this was the first break she got, Clear said. Another woman shared her relief at getting to sleep in her own bed alone. Its little things that just mean a lot to people, she said. Dwindling funding In its first year, the program received just $3,000 for direct service, while year two brought $24,500 and the third year, which began in August, has $25,500 to provide. Also for the third year, it received an additional $114,000 in federal funds to provide more direct service, which includes a pledge to provide 200 more vouchers and reach an additional 15 Montana counties. But, while extensions could be available in some circumstances, it's not clear where continued funding for the program will come from when the grant runs out. With that in mind, organizers hope to find money to keep the program going as soon as the 2017 Montana legislative session, Clear said. "We dont know if there would be another (federal) grant that we could apply for, but our goal is to get into the governors budget or get funding that would be continuing on that we can sustain over a long period of time," she said. Both gubernatorial candidates have expressed support for the program. Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, speaking Sept. 29 at the South Side Community Center, said he would include an unspecified amount of funding for the program in his state budget, citing the long-term care system's dependence on family caregivers and the importance of giving them a breather. "It's the right thing to do for future generations, as well," he said. Caring for Montana's elderly and vulnerable populations is also important to Republican challenger Greg Gianforte, who would look at the respite issue if elected, said campaign spokesman Aaron Flint. "Greg believes we need to help care for those who cannot care for themselves," he said. "In addition to considering state funding, Greg will work with our congressional delegation to identify support for programs such as these." Help at the right time For Bermes, the help from Lifespan Respite came at the most opportune of times, and she wants it to be something others will benefit from for years. Nearly two years before she connected with them, she underwent surgery to replace the discs in her neck and, as a result, could no longer continue working as a property manager of low-income housing, a job she'd had for 16 years. Months later, while laid up on the couch of her Billings mobile home and still recovering from the surgery, she learned that her grandson, Paxton, had been removed from his parents' custody by the state. That's when she agreed to take care of the boy. Paxton, who has vision and hearing problems and can present emotional and behavioral challenges, requires extra and constant care. Initially, and especially since she was on a severely reduced income and was waiting for disability and foster care benefits to kick in, Bermes struggled with the adjustment. "I have always been pretty self-sufficient," she said. "I didn't even know there was such a thing as help." She eventually became Paxton's legal kinship guardian and, in what Bermes described as a "very humbling" experience, began to seek out assistance. She got a case manager through the Mental Health Center, got help from Court Appointed Special Advocates of Yellowstone County, and found other resources. Because it was difficult to find somebody else qualified and able to care for Paxton, Bermes didn't spend much time with other family members during that time. She hoped to take a trip to Washington to visit another son and two granddaughters. She soon found she couldn't afford the trip, even though she'd already set a date for it. She heard about the respite program from CASA and applied for a voucher. Initially, a program representative said they couldn't meet her request at the time. Most applicants hear back on approval within a few weeks of applying, Clear said. That way, caregivers can arrange the respite care "on their own terms," she said. Caregivers then pay the temporary caregivers and receive a reimbursement voucher from Lifespan Respite. Three weeks before Bermes' scheduled trip, she received a call. She had been approved for $400. "I just started bawling, because it got me where I needed to go," she said. "I call it my million-dollar vacation. (Paxton) needed me to get away, I needed to get away. We both learned a lot, and I came home energized." I'm about to become the first person in history to talk about Zebulon Pike and Gheorghe Zamfir in the same newspaper column. Impressed, you must be. Confused, you also must be: Why is he doing this to us, when we have so many other things we could be doing with our time? Their connection is existentially tangential: They are significant men whose names start with Z. They're figuring in Smarty Pants quizzes, which you find each Sunday by casting aside the first three sections of the Herald & Review. Zebulon Pike's fame towers over Zamfir's, but that's understandable, because his namesake's peak stands 14,115 feet into the clear Colorado air. Pike, himself, had a somewhat checkered career. As a 26-year-old Army lieutenant, he led an exploring party to the headwaters of the Mississippi River with instructions to discover the rivers source, negotiate peace treaties with Indian tribes, and assert the legal claim of the United States to the area. He and his men traveled 2,000 miles by boat and on foot from St. Louis to Leech and Sandy lakes, in northern Minnesota. However, he erroneously identified Leech Lake as the rivers source. OK, that was less than heroic. But, although geographically unfulfilling, Pike's account of the journey caught the fancy of many people curious about the promise of the West. The next year, he was sent to explore the Arkansas and Red rivers and to obtain information about the adjacent Spanish territory in the Southwest. Pike set up an outpost near the site of present-day Pueblo, Colo., and then led his party to the Front Range of the Rockies. His party couldn't make it to the mountain top that later would be named for him. Some histories say his group grossly underestimated the height of the mountain and were dressed nowhere warmly enough for the climb. Undaunted (or at least, not completely daunted), they forged on to northern New Mexico, where they were managed to be caught by Spanish officials on the charge of illegal entry into New Mexico. They were led back to the SpanishAmerican border and dropped off in Louisiana. Well, some good came of this, in that Pike's reports about the rich promise of the overland trade with Mexico, stoked the fires of the expansion movement into Texas. Six years later, Pike found himself in the War of 1812, working his way up to the rank of brigadier general. Unfortunately, he died in action during an attack on York at what is now Toronto, Canada. He was just 34. Gheorghe Zamfir missed meeting Zebulon Pike by 128 years (and a few continents). Those of us of a certain age once endured many TV commercials (or maybe it was the same commercial, over and over and over again) featuring "The master of the pan flute." We weren't about to question that, because most of us had never thought anything about that music maker. The pan flute: Picture several tubes, each producing one note, fastened side by side. It'd be hard to "jam" on such an instrument, so you found Zamfir tooting out "easy listening" tunes. He was Romanian born and started out on the accordion. His parents got him into a music academy, but he switched to the nearly forgotten folk instrument. Zamfir showed early skill in improvising and bending out new kinds of notes. Success on British television during the mid-1970s sparked his recording career that must have burgeoned into the millions of sales they talked in those commercials (they couldn't have exaggerated, could they?) But wait Zamfir was exiled from his native Romania in 1982 for declaring his music was dedicated to God, a decidedly un-Communist thing to do back then. He set up shop in America. Besides ringing up all those records, he produced music that was featured in the score for the "Karate Kid" film. The "master" (at least in pan flute circles) does get credit for vastly expanding the range and value of the instrument by increasing the number of pipes from 20 to 30. At 75, his website still listed concerts for 2016. Couldn't find out much from his Facebook page my Romanian is a little rusty. DECATUR Making a difference in your community doesn't require grand gestures. Sometimes, it's making the chili for a fundraiser, or handing out newsletters, or mowing grass for someone who can't. Often, the simple act of showing up goes a long way. Those gestures were celebrated at the annual Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations awards banquet Tuesday at St. Thomas Church. It's the one night when unsung heroes are recognized for the ways, large and small, that they work to strengthen and beautify Decatur. We have so many good people that try to make our city better, said Richelle Irons, the city's director of neighborhood services. Individually, you guys make our jobs so much easier just because of all the work you do. Irons wanted to recognize a special winner, Francie Johnson, who received the Stella Stewart Doing Good in the Neighborhood Award at a recent regional neighborhood conference. Johnson worked closely with all of the neighborhood groups for years through her job as community services director at Dove Inc. But after a lack of state funding cut her position, she continued to volunteer and serve on the CONO board. In nominating Johnson, the city listed ways she has helped over the years, from picking up trash to providing clerical support for the neighborhoods. As a government entity, if we had 1,000 Francies, there would be no need for departments that assist with neighborhood issues, the letter said. Shed have it all taken care of. Johnson was shocked when she received the award at the conference. She said she's always felt a need to help, not for recognition but to aid her community. If we don't teach our young people how to volunteer, how are they going to know? she said. There's so many kids who don't know the art of volunteering. They want to get paid for everything they do. There's certain things that you (do for) just a sense of belonging and a sense of leadership in a neighborhood. Among the honorees were Nate and Trudy Reed of the Park City group. The Reeds died several months apart earlier this year, leaving a void in the neighborhood where they had helped to organize fundraisers and events, down to cooking the chili. One of their daughters, Leisa Shaffer of Pekin, accepted the awards on the Reeds' behalf. She planned to give one of the plaques to her sister, Michelle Torres of New Jersey. Shaffer said she thought her parents would be smiling down at the honor. It was comforting to hear that other people thought so well of them, she said. They were very, very generous, she said. I was lucky that God chose me to be their daughter. Democrats saw a surge in new voters in Pennsylvania as midterms near politics This photo of part of the HealthCare.gov website is photographed in Washington, in this Nov. 29, 2013 file photo. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick, File) SHARE By John Ingle of the Times Record News "The individual health insurance market is imploding right before our eyes," a local health underwriter said Wednesday morning, less than one week before thousands of Americans with Obamacare policies will be able to sign up for coverage, but at a steeper cost. President Barack Obama and his administration recently admitted that premium prices for a midlevel plan will jump an average of 25 percent. But that's not the case in Wichita Falls where insurance seekers on the federally run exchange have one carrier and plan type from which to choose Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas' Health Maintenance Organization plans. For the basic BCBS HMO bronze plan for a person in their mid-30s, the premium price jumps from about $289 per month in 2016 to $411 monthly an increase of about 59 percent. The basic silver plan would increase 45 percent from about $359 to $525 monthly. Kelly Fristoe, owner of Financial Partners in Wichita Falls and Region VI vice president for the Nation Association of Health Underwriters, said those increases are examples of individual HMO plans for people who would not qualify for federal subsidies to help pay the premium costs. Those who earn 100 to 250 percent of the federal poverty level will likely have most of their premium paid for except a small monthly payment, and those at 300 to 400 percent will receive some relief. But those above the 400-percent mark will represent the new uninsured in the country. Despite claims by the president that suggest Obamacare is working although premium prices are increasing, those in the industry aren't buying it. Fristoe has often likened the president's signature legislation to the Titanic the unsinkable passenger ship that sunk on its maiden voyage in April 1912 and that it would be too big to steer away from an iceberg. "This year, just like the Titanic, we've hit an iceberg. When the Titanic hit an iceberg, what did they do? They tried to say, 'Everybody, it's going to be OK. This is the biggest ship ever built. It's not going to sink. It's all right. Everybody go back to your rooms,'" he said. "We've the iceberg right here. For everybody, it's OK. It's working; go back to your rooms. "This ship is sinking right now. You had better start making your way to the lifeboats because there's not enough lifeboats to save all these people." Luann Yarberry, a health underwriter with Higginbotham, said she ran numbers for a 64-year-old client Wednesday morning and was shocked to see relatively the same plan jump about 65 percent from $488 to $805. A lot of the phone calls she receives from clients has more to do with what 2017 is going to look like. She said while people can go to healthcare.gov and see what the premium rates are going to be, BCBS of Texas will open its website to consumers Thursday evening. People should also be getting letters from the insurance carrier. Unfortunately, Yarberry said, there aren't many options for area residents. Although Obamacare, officially called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, did bring some good things to Americans, especially those who couldn't get coverage beforehand for a variety of reasons, it has still hurt more than it has helped. "Do you remember that 'you can keep the same plan you had, you can keep the same doctor and it's going to cost you less?' " she said. "Did any of those things happen?" U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, in a letter to constituents urged people to meet with health insurance professionals for help signing up for plans. A list of agents can be found at nahu.org and the Texas Association of Health Underwriters' website tahu.org. The congressman also lashed out at Obamacare in a statement to the Times Record News, saying the legislation has driven up rates, hurt small businesses and lowered health care quality and access to care. "Those of us who have opposed this law at every step have known that Americans would end up paying more for less coverage," he said. "House Republicans will be ready in 2017 to push our 'A Better Way,' which includes real solutions to fix our health care system." Open enrollment for 2017 begins Tuesday and continues through Dec. 15. The chips are starting to fall in anticipation of the planned shutdown of the Exelon nuclear power plant in Clinton and the first significant victim is the DeWitt County jail. As reported last week by Kevin Barlow, jail inmates have been transferred to the Piatt County jail in Monticello as part of a new arrangement designed to save DeWitt County money. We are realigning operations to meet our current needs, said Sheriff Jered Shofner, noting the jail will continue to process and house inmates on work release and weekend incarceration programs. Its going to be beneficial to both counties." In addition to preparing for a substantial loss of tax dollars if the Exelon plant closes, Shofner said the county also is making a lot less money on its longtime program of housing federal inmates. When Shofner took over in 2010, the DeWitt County jail took in more than $1 million in revenue for housing federal prisoners and had a staff of 16. Today, that revenue is about $180,000 per year and the staff has dropped to 12 people. The current DeWitt County jail opened in April 1994 at a cost of about $7 million. It was designed to house 60 prisoners. Last week, the jail reported only 19 prisoners on site. The DeWitt jail will remain in business, just with fewer staff and fewer inmates. On the flip side, that should mean the county could provide more officers for street patrol. But the change is just the first of many if Exelon moves forward with its closure plans. The nuclear power plant is the county's No. 1 employer and source of property tax revenue. The plant employs 700 people and pays $15 million in property taxes annually. That means any government entity that receives property tax revenue county and city governments, libraries, school districts, etc. will get less money. And, that means fewer services and fewer employees and that employee loss will be a shadow of the number of out-of-work employees from Exelon. Fewer people will have money to spend on necessities (much less luxuries), and likely means workers moving out of the Clinton area to find other jobs. Exelon, which also wants to close its Quad Cities nuclear plant, says it has lost a combined $800 million on the two plants over the past seven years. The two plants together support about 4,200 direct and indirect jobs and produce more than $1.2 billion in economic activity, according to previous Exelon estimates. There's an outside chance that Springfield lawmakers will get involved. State Sen. Donne Trotter, a suburban Democrat, has pitched a bill that could revive discussions about state subsidies for nuclear energy. The jail changes are a loud warning bell for lawmakers and others. As long as there is time to sway Exelon's decision, Illinois leaders owe it to us to make that happen. SHARE A candidate forum for Wichita Falls military veterans is set for 7 p.m. today at 1008 Burnett St., the location of the Meals on Wheels program. Disabled American Veterans commander Joel Jimenez said the purpose is to inform area veterans about issues concerning the community in advance of the Nov. 8 general elections. For more information, call 636-7577. College night set for high schoolers Students from all area high schools are invited to attend the Texoma Regional College Night 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3. The event will be held at Region 9 Education Service Center at 301 Loop 11 in Wichita Falls. About 50 colleges, universities and trade schools will be represented. Students in grades 8-12 and their parents are encouraged to attend. Crime seminar Saturday The public is invited to attend a crime prevention seminar 10 a.m. Saturday at the Wichita Falls Police Department Training Center, 710 Flood St. The event is hosted by the Eastside Community Coalition and will cover Crime Stoppers, police recruiting, social media, Citizen Police Academy and crime prevention tips. SHARE By The Washington Post As Venezuela's political and humanitarian crisis has escalated, the government of Nicolas Maduro made clear that it was prepared to shred what remained of the country's constitutional order to stop a growing opposition movement. It stripped the opposition-controlled national assembly of its powers, imprisoned several top leaders and tried to slow a campaign to trigger a constitutionally authorized recall referendum on Maduro. But the opposition drive continued, so last week the regime took definitive action: It formally suspended the referendum process, postponed local and gubernatorial elections, and banned eight senior opposition leaders from leaving the country. On Sunday, the congress issued a declaration saying Maduro had staged a coup. That is accurate and it ought to provoke a consequential reaction from the United States and Venezuela's Latin-American neighbors. The recall referendum the opposition was pursuing offered a democratic way out of what has become one of the worst political and humanitarian crises in Latin America's modern history. An oil producer of 30 million people that was once South America's richest country, Venezuela now suffers from severe shortages of food and medicine, one of the world's highest murder rates and chronic power shortages, the result of the populist regime's disastrous economic mismanagement. A new report by Human Rights Watch cites official figures showing a 79 percent increase in maternal mortality this year compared with 2009, and a 45 percent increase in infant mortality compared with 2013. The vast majority of low-income families say they are having trouble obtaining food. Yet rather than seek humanitarian assistance, the regime denies there is a crisis and punishes health professionals, human rights defenders and ordinary Venezuelans who speak out about the shortages, Human Rights Watch said. The government blames the opposition for what it calls an "economic war," and it blocks the referendum that might give the country's angry and hungry people a peaceful outlet. Polls show that about 80 percent would vote to recall Maduro if they had the chance. The resort to crude repression may provoke disorder: The opposition has called rallies for Wednesday and appealed to the military not to intervene against them. But the regime may be calculating that it can crush street protests, as it has in the past. What it may fear more is concerted action by its neighbors, such as Brazil and Colombia, as well as by the United States which under a regional treaty called the Inter- American Democratic Charter have not just the authority but also the duty to isolate and punish the regime for its breach of constitutional order. Until now the Obama administration has offered lip service to a recall referendum while centering its strategy on promoting negotiations between the government and opposition. But the dialogue initiative led by leftist former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is going nowhere, despite the announcement Monday of another meeting next weekend; Maduro is simply using it to screen his denial of democracy. The regime won't change course unless it comes under far greater pressure, from the streets or from external sanctions. If it wishes to head off still greater turmoil in Venezuela, the United States should be coordinating tough international action. SHARE On October 23, 1956, Hungarians began Eastern Europe's only Cold War armed rebellion against Communism. Unfortunately, their attempt to free themselves would falter and fail, defeated by Russian tanks. But we took the risk; 21st century Hungarians remind our forgetful world. We put lives on the line in a fight for basic freedoms -- free speech, freedom from fear of a totalitarian government and its savage secret police. On October 22, 1956, students in Budapest announced they would rally the next day to protest government injustices. The next day, 100,000 people showed up to cheer as students read a document with 16 demands addressing political and economic issues. "The 16 Point Program" was unrealistic, but its goals were popular. The students called for the withdrawal of Soviet troops. The Kremlin had violated its own peace treaty, the one it had imposed after WWII. The students demanded a just government. Matyas Rakosi's Communist regime was a Russian puppet and a criminal enterprise. After securing absolute power in 1950, Rakosi and his State Protection Authority had imprisoned or murdered over 200,000 Hungarians. In July 1956, the "de-Stalinizing" Kremlin had removed Rakosi. The Russians knew Rakosi was despised. Imre Nagy replaced him. Rakosi's AVH, however, wasn't replaced. The plucky Nagy began investigating Rakosi's crimes, with the goal of righting past wrongs. Righting wrongs, however, would implicate the Soviets, so the Kremlin fired Nagy. A Rakosi ally, Andras Hegedus, became prime minister. One of the 16 points explicitly demanded that the courageous Nagy lead a free Hungarian government. The students marched on the national radio station. Along the way several hundred protestors decided to topple a statue of the hated Soviet dictator, Josef Stalin. At the radio station protestors demanded they be allowed to read the 16 Points on the air. Scuffles broke out. An AVH security force at the station fired on the unarmed students. The night of the 23rd was a busy one in Budapest. A group of armed freedom fighters seized the radio station. Imre Nagy became the revolutionary prime minister. Sometime after midnight, a Russian tank unit rolled into the city. On October 24, clashes between Russians and Hungarians were minimal, in part because Nagy said to avoid confrontations. On the 25th, however, Russian soldiers shot and killed 800 demonstrators in Budapest. Nagy declared a free, multi-party Hungarian state. Fighting between Hungarian freedom fighters and Russian forces erupted throughout Hungary. In Budapest an ad hoc Hungarian National Guard led by General Bela Kiraly attacked pro-Communist Hungarian forces and battled the Russians. A WWII hero, the communists had sentenced Kiraly to life in prison. His release was recent. At one time, both Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin had ordered Kiraly's execution. The dictators' enmity spoke volumes about Kiraly's political liberalism and his Hungarian nationalist credentials. Kiraly's ad hoc army dealt the Russians an initial defeat. Russian counter-attacks produced a stalemate -- an astonishing outcome given the presence of Russian armor. On October 28, Nagy announced a ceasefire. Fighting lapsed from October 28 to November 4. The Kremlin wasn't sure what to do. Russian WWII hero, General Georgy Zhukov, thought Russian forces should withdraw. But on October 30, armed protestors attacked a Communist Party office in Budapest and killed 20 AVH secret policemen. On November 1, Moscow began reinforcing its units in Hungary. On November 4, the Kremlin launched an all-out attack on the Hungarian revolution. By November 9, the revolution was shattered and over. Nagy was arrested November 22 and later executed. 2,500 Hungarians died in the revolt, and an estimated 20,000 were wounded. Officially, Russia lost 699 soldiers killed in combat. Over 200,000 Hungarians refugees fled the country. That figure includes Kiraly and some 3,000 fighters who evading pursuing Russian tanks and escaped into neutral Austria. Why didn't the U.S. and NATO intervene? In President Dwight Eisenhower's opinion, military intervention was impossible. NATO would have to enter Austria or Yugoslavia to reach Hungary. Given the circumstances, it was the best decision Ike could make. Still, his decision embitters some Hungarians. Ike praised the Hungarians' courage. 60 years later it deserves celebration. Austin Bay is a commentator on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," covering foreign affairs and addressing issues in Texas that have a national interest. New York Microsoft wants to bring life to common computing experiences by adding a third dimension to widely used software such as Windows and Office. The new tools, part of a free "Creators Update" to Windows 10 early next year, promise to make it easy for people to create and share photos, drawings and other images in 3-D. Microsoft also announced a high-end desktop called Surface Studio. Costing about $3,000, the Studio will be targeted at creators such as architects, artists and engineers, many of whom have long used Apple's Mac computers. The Studio's 28-inch display is on a flexible hinge, so users can view it straight on, or tilt it to as low as 20 degrees for drafting. Wednesday's announcements in New York come a day before Apple is expected to refresh its Mac lineup. Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, said innovations over the past decade have been focused on "helping us consume more information and media in different formats." He said the next decade will be defined by technology that empowers people to create. Jan Dawson, an analyst with Jackdaw Research, said Microsoft has been pushing business products and services lately. Dawson said the company "has needed a rallying point for a set of efforts around consumer use cases, and it appears to have decided on creativity as the catchphrase for this push." Dawson said that Microsoft seems to be challenging not just Apple's success with professional creators, but wants to embrace a broader base of consumers, too. While the Studio will likely be a niche product, the Windows update will have broader reach. With the 3-D tools, for instance, instead of taking a regular photo of a sand castle in two dimensions a beach-goer will be able to scan all sides of the castle with a phone. Microsoft's tools will convert that into 3-D; viewers can rotate the virtual sand castle on the screen with their fingers. Microsoft plans to make it easy to share that on social media and even send to 3-D printers. Business presentations can be enhanced as 3-D support comes to PowerPoint; you can rotate an object to focus on a particular angle. Microsoft's image-editing software Paint will also enable people to create 3-D artworks by combining existing 2-D images with newly scanned objects in three dimensions. Microsoft is launching a service called Remix 3D for people to share and showcase their 3-D creations. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy Denise St. John stood up three times Thursday in Rensselaer County Court to deliver an emotional statement about the impact three defendants had when they set a fire that led to her 82-year-old mother's death. It was a rare occurrence to hear a victim's impact statement repeated three times. St. John portrayed how loving her mother, Grace Halpin, was and how senseless was the arson that killed her. Abbey Slaga, Tyler Smith and David C. Stanley were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 2 to 22 years by Judge Andrew Ceresia. Beforehand, each stood silently listening to St. John's speech, which began quietly and grew in emotion when she described her mother and her absence since May 23, 2015. "If it were up to me, you would be in jail forever without the possibility of parole. It doesn't make it better or right, but it gives me some kind of closure to know at least that justice was served for my mom," St. John said. District Attorney Joel Abelove stood by St. John's side each time. He said he found new meaning and nuances every time he heard her emotional account. "It's the little things I miss. I miss her calling me several times a day even it if wasn't important. I miss her yelling at me for something stupid I did or said. I miss our weekly outings," St. John said. "Truly, I am lost without her." Slaga, Smith and Stanley struck plea deals with Abelove's office. They admitted their roles in setting the May 1, 2015, fire at 520 Second Ave. in Lansingburgh where Halpin lived in a first-floor apartment "I would just like to apologize to the family," Slaga, 21, of North Carolina said. Ceresia sentenced her to 2 to seven years in prison for her guilty plea to reckless endangerment. Slaga didn't set the fire, but waited nearby for Smith and Stanley to return. The motive for setting the fire was revenge for another fire the three believed was set by David Dubois, a tenant at 520 Second Ave. At his July guilty plea, Smith said Slaga and Stanley lived in 809 Second Ave. at one time and were storing their possessions in the building at the time of the fire they believed was set by Dubois. Smith and Stanley set a fire outside Dubois' second-floor apartment and fled, Smith said during his guilty plea. Halpin suffered a heart attack during the fire. Troy firefighters revived her but she died in a Massachusetts rehabilitation center 22 days later. "Our attempt was not to hurt anyone else," Smith, 25, of Castleton said. "Our minds were clouded with hate." Ceresia sentenced Smith to 20 years in prison and 5 years post- release supervision for his guilty plea to second-degree arson and second-degree manslaughter. Stanley, 23, of North Carolina didn't address the court. Ceresia sentenced Stanley to 22 years in prison and 5 years post-release supervision. "The pain this defendant has caused is immeasurable," Abelove said. kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454-5084 @KennethCrowe Schenectady Homeowners in the Electric City will be getting a 4 percent property tax reduction next year even as some on the City Council sounded the alarm about the fiscal health of the city. Some members of the governing body had all but guaranteed a 5 percent reduction. "I feel like there is absolutely room for another 1 percent, but we don't always get what we want," Council President Leesa Perazzo, chairwoman of the finance committee, said. After meeting for about three hours Wednesday to discuss Mayor Gary McCarthy's proposed $84 million spending plan for 2017, the majority of the council settled on a 4 percent tax cut. McCarthy's proposal carried a 3.26 percent tax cut. City leaders will vote on the budget on Friday. Perazzo acknowledged some of her colleagues expressed anxieties that the city's financial picture is not as rosy as it may seem, even with millions of dollars in fees and projected revenue from the casino being built off Erie Boulevard. Some of that uncertainty is in part because of upcoming contract negotiations with employee unions and the expected settlement with the company that handled the city's foreclosures before the city took it over. Other notable proposed budget amendments include hiring a $47,000-a-year full-time affirmative action officer. Currently, the city shares a position with the county. The budget would eliminate several positions, generally described as information technology jobs, the mayor put in his 2017 spending plan. Councilman Vince Riggi said he was shocked that the city isn't in better fiscal health. "We're not in as great a financial shape as we're being led to believe," he said. "My reaction is that I'm really surprised. I thought it would be fairly easy to get to 5 percent." He warned his colleagues about being overly dependent on casino cash and wants to see a hiring freeze. "We shouldn't be counting on that every year to fund our daily operations. That should just be a windfall that we should be grateful for, and use it prudently, but just to spend it by creating positions, I don't think that's the way to go," Riggi said. He noted McCarthy wants to rehire former Finance Commissioner Deborah DeGenova. On Thursday, council member John Polimeni declined comment and John Mootooveren could not be immediately reached for comment. Besides Riggi and Perazzo, council members Ed Kosiur and Marion Porterfield are expected to provide the four votes needed for the revised budget to be adopted during Friday's special meeting. It is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. pnelson@timesunion.com 518-454-5347 @apaulnelson CHICAGO Illinois was once billed as one of November's most competitive U.S. Senate races. Now, Democrats are counting on U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth to defeat Illinois Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk as the party looks to reclaim the majority in the chamber. Duckworth is expected to benefit from what's historically been high Democratic turnout during presidential election years, and the most recent polls show she has a comfortable lead. But Kirk warns that counting him out would be a mistake. The former congressman and first-term senator said a recent internal poll showed him trailing Duckworth by just two points. "News of my political death has been way too early," Kirk said, noting he has exceeded expectations on Election Day. "Always Kirk has closed strongly." In a state where Democrats typically win statewide, Kirk has worked to distance himself from Republicans, especially this year, when he's been one of the most vocal critics of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, calling him "delusional" and "too bigoted and racist for Illinois." Kirk, of Highland Park, also frequently notes his "F'' rating from the National Rifle Association and that he called for the Senate to hold hearings on President Barack Obama's pick for the Supreme Court. And former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney praised Kirk's independence Wednesday, adding that the GOP must hold on to the Senate to "keep America from going off the rails." But Duckworth has had her own high-profile endorsements. Obama appeared at a fundraiser with her this month, and the campaign launched a new radio ad in which Obama notes Duckworth's father worked in a factory and that she worked her way through college with the help of student loans and grants. "Tammy knows what's important to our families. That's because she's walked in our shoes," Obama says, calling the Hoffman Estates resident "a terrific leader who will never stop fighting for all of us." Both candidates also offer compelling personal stories. Duckworth lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down in Iraq, while Kirk suffered a stroke in 2012 and went through grueling rehabilitation before returning to work in Washington. The second-term congresswoman brought in more than three times the cash Kirk did during the final fundraising quarter before the Nov. 8 election, leaving her with more than $4 million to Kirk's roughly $1.4 million. Kirk has criticized Duckworth's time as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and in a leadership post at the federal VA, running television ads featuring women who say Duckworth ignored problems they reported or retaliated against them. Duckworth has denied the claims, says she was unaware of problems with waiting lists at Illinois veterans' homes and blames the failure of a program to increase veteran access to health care on imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Kirk said this week he isn't buying those explanations "I'm sure she'll say the dog ate my homework or something." Duckworth has blasted Kirk in campaign ads for exaggerating his own military record, including his assertion that he came under enemy fire while flying reconnaissance missions in Iraq. The former Navy intelligence officer has apologized for the misstatements. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had scheduled additional TV ads in the final weeks of the race, but recently cut back on the order and diverted the money to states with more competitive Senate races. Kirk and Duckworth are scheduled to meet for two televised debates before Nov. 8: today in Springfield and Nov. 4 in Chicago. Libertarian Kent McMillen and Scott Summers of the Green Party also are running. Lake Worth, Fla. On her 69th birthday Wednesday, Hillary Clinton didn't stop campaigning, telling a crowd of supporters in Lake Worth that "We can't afford to take our foot off the gas for even one second." The presidential race between Clinton and Donald Trump remains close in Florida, a pair of conflicting polls released Wednesday show. A Florida Atlantic University showed Clinton ahead by 3 points, and a Bloomberg poll showed Trump in the lead by 2. The FAU poll showed Clinton ahead 46 percent to 43 percent with 6 percent undecided. Trump led by 17 points among white voters, while Clinton had a 49-point lead among both Hispanic and African-American voters. The poll was taken Oct. 21-23 among 500 likely voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 points. Among those who had already voted at that point by mail-in ballot, Clinton led by 26 points. Until the Bloomberg poll, every poll of Florida released this week showed Clinton with a 3- or 4-point lead. The Bloomberg poll has Trump leading 45 percent to 43 percent, largely due to a 2-point lead among independents. The poll was conducted Oct. 21-24 among 953 likely voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 points. Clinton's rally, held at Palm Beach State College's Lake Worth campus, was about getting out the vote in the middle of the first week of early voting. Clinton asked the crowd to vote for Democratic candidates for Senate and Congress, including U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who is running against U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. "Ten million people have already voted, and 2 million of them right here in Florida. That means Florida has already cast 20 percent of the votes that are in the ballot box," she said. "Don't let anyone tell you they don't have time to vote." Clinton shifted her attention to attacking Trump. "Among the many things he has said that are deeply troubling and disturbing, he said something truly horrifying in that last debate," Clinton said. "He said he would not necessarily respect the results of this election. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. This is a guy who thinks the Emmys are rigged against him." After listing groups that have been the butt of Trump's insults, Clinton added, "Now his final target is democracy itself." She went on to highlight her desire to increase solar power, make college tuition free for those earning less than $125,000 a year, and expand aid for child care. Much of these programs would be paid by increasing taxes on the wealthy. "We're going to raise taxes on the wealthy because they've gotten most of the gains in the economy," Clinton said. "I don't think it's right that a guy like Donald Trump should pay zero in federal taxes." She finished her speech by telling the crowd that change is coming, but what that change is, is up to them. "On Jan. 20, we're going to have a new president. Thing are going to change no matter what, the question is what kind of change we're going to have," Clinton said. "If you will work with me between now and Nov. 8 when the polls close, we will have the kind of change we want and we will prove once and for all that love trumps hate." U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson spoke, saying, "We are so divided, more so than I've ever seen in my political life. Do we want somebody who's constantly going around insulting other people, or do we want a president who will respect others?" Rome A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy late Wednesday, crumbling churches and buildings, knocking out power and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. But hours after the temblors hit, there were no reports of serious injuries or signs of people trapped in rubble, said the head of Italy's civil protection agency, Fabrizio Curcio. A handful of people were treated for slight injuries or anxiety at area hospitals in the most affected regions of Umbria and Le Marche, he said. "All told, the information so far is that it's not as catastrophic" as it could have been, Curcio said. The temblors were actually aftershocks to the Aug. 24 quake that struck a broad swath of central Italy, demolishing buildings in three towns and their hamlets, seismologists said. Several towns this time around also suffered serious damage, with homes in the epicenter of Visso spilling out into the street. The first struck at 7:10 p.m. and carried a magnitude of 5.4. But the second one was eight times stronger at 6.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Because many residents had already left their homes with plans to spend the night in their cars or elsewhere, they weren't home when the second aftershock hit two hours later, possibly saving lives, officials said. ''It was an unheard-of violence. Many houses collapsed," the mayor of hard-hit Ussita, Marco Rinaldi, told Sky TG24. "The facade of the church collapsed. By now I have felt many earthquakes. This is the strongest of my life. It was something terrible." Rinaldi said two elderly people were rescued from their home, where they were trapped, and appeared to be in good condition. Some 200 people in Ussita were planning to sleep in the streets, given the impossibility of putting up tents so late at night. Calling it "apocalyptic," he said the town and its hamlets were "finished." A church crumbled in the ancient Perugian town of Norcia, famed for its Benedictine monastery and its cured meats. A bell-tower damaged on Aug. 24 fell and crushed a building in Camerino, the ANSA news agency said. Elsewhere, buildings were damaged, though many were in zones that were declared off-limits after the Aug. 24 quake that flattened parts of three towns. "We're without power, waiting for emergency crews," said Mauro Falcucci, the mayor of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, near the epicenter. Speaking to Sky TG24, he said: "We can't see anything. It's tough. Really tough." He said some buildings had collapsed, but that there were no immediate reports of injuries in his community. He added that darkness and a downpour were impeding a full accounting. Schools were closed in several towns Thursday as a precaution and a handful of hospitals were evacuated after suffering damage. Premier Matteo Renzi, who cut short a visit to southern Italy to monitor the quake response, tweeted "all of Italy is embracing those hit once again." Italy's national vulcanology center said the first quake had an epicenter in the Macerata area, near Perugia in the quake-prone Apennine Mountain chain. The U.S. Geological Survey put the epicenter near Visso, 170 kilometers northeast of Rome, and said it had a depth of some six miles. The second aftershock struck two hours later at 9:18 p.m. with a similar depth. Experts say even relatively modest quakes that have shallow depths can cause significant damage because the seismic waves are closer to the surface. But seismologist Gianluca Valensise said a 10-kilometer depth is within the norm for an Apennine temblor. The Aug. 24 quake that destroyed the hilltop village of Amatrice and other nearby towns had a depth of about 10 kilometers. Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said residents felt Wednesday's aftershocks but ''We are thanking God that there are no dead and no injured." The original Aug. 24, 6.2-magnitude quake was still 41 percent stronger than even the second aftershock. Wednesday's temblors were felt from Perugia in Umbria to the capital Rome and as far north as Veneto. It also shook the central Italian city of L'Aquila, which was struck by a deadly quake in 2009. Energy giant ExxonMobil lost a bid in state court Wednesday to deny climate change-related records being demanded in a probe by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. A state Supreme Court judge in Manhattan rejected Exxon's effort to hold back records from its accountant PricewaterhouseCoopers revealing how Exxon values reserves of oil and natural gas currently in the ground in light of potential climate-change regulations to limit fossil fuel use. After Schneiderman subpoenaed the records in August, Exxon lawyers argued they were protected under the laws of Texas, where Exxon is headquartered. State Supreme Court Justice Barry Ostrager rejected the argument, writing that Texas law does not give Exxon legal cover to deny Schneiderman the records he wants and that state's law does not trump the law in New York, where there is no accountant-client privilege. "We are pleased with the court's order and look forward to moving full steam ahead with our fraud investigation of Exxon," said Schneiderman. "Exxon had no legal basis to interfere with PwC's production, and I hope that today's order serves as a wake-up call to Exxon that the best thing they can do is cooperate with, rather than resist, our investigation." Exxon issued this statement: "We respectfully disagree with the court's ruling and intend to take an immediate appeal." Schneiderman's probe into accounting records is part of a larger, multistate legal investigation into whether Exxon has misled investors on risks that reserves valued this spring at $800 billion could be devalued through potential regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing fossil fuel use. Meanwhile, a challenge by Exxon in federal court in Texas to block the accounting probe remains in front of a judge there. Other states supporting the Exxon investigation include Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, California, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The group is also defending proposed federal rules over power plant greenhouse gas emissions from a court challenge by states aligned with fossil fuel interests. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. This month, Exxon filed a lawsuit in federal court in Texas claiming Schneiderman is part of a conspiracy to silence climate change dissenters. That lawsuit cites emails obtained by a conservative legal think tank linked to fossil fuel interests and Kansas petrochemical billionaires Charles and David Koch. In New York, another Koch-supported group, Americans for Prosperity, lost a legal challenge in 2012 to undo the state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which limits power plant emissions. Schneiderman successfully defended the state in that case. bnearing@timesunion.com 518-454-5094 @Bnearing10 The village of Chatham has changed. The mere presence of man buns on Main Street confirms it. Storefronts are infused with the soft furnishings and dove-gray linens common to Hudson. But proof is in the reincarnation of Peint o Gwrw, the cozy local Welsh pub that closed this past May, as the People's Pub, a hipster haven of locavore love. The new owners are Angus Van Beusichem, ex-manager of the City Beer Hall in Albany, and Gray and Thomas Ballinger, of the Ballingers behind the City Beer Hall building and deceased Ballingers nightclub. Their locavore focus ("locally sourced food, the way it was meant to be") is underscored by the vaguely populist name. Fed by the hyperlocal farms and popular farm stands named on the menu, prices with no entree currently exceeding $23 are astonishingly keen. It's food grown by the people, priced for the people. More Information The People's Pub 36 Main St. Chatham Phone: 392-2337 Web: www.thepeoplespub.com Cuisine: Locally sourced and farm-focused with flavorful twists on pub standards (Bolognese, burger) and shareable plates (salads, charcuterie and cheese boards). Vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Ambiance: Eclectic vintage bistro-pub environment with live jazz several nights a week. Price: $ to $$$ Hours: Bar hours: 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Kitchen hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday. Credit cards: All major. Parking: Street parking. Handicapped accessible: Yes. Price ratings for inexpensive eateries based on average of entree costs: $: $9.95 and less $$: $9.95-$15.95 $$$: $15.95 and higher See More Collapse Inside, little has changed. Not the ochre adobe straw-and-plaster earth wall, tin ceiling or solid vintage mirrored bar. Not the copper-topped tables and taxidermied bear. And why would they? Peint o Gwrw was already brilliantly eclectic. We enter to the strains of weeknight jazz plucked and strummed by fresh-faced musicians in skinny jeans (not the gray-haired rockers to which locals used to bump and grind), ushered to our seats by a lovely young thing. You know youth is in charge because it's newly dim, punctuated by caged filament bulbs offering droplets of high-beam light. Gone are the Welsh flags, tins of laver bread and Tom Hope's suits of armor. Wall shelves jostle shiny pickle jars put up for winter store. And in place of the squat enclosed kitchen that once proudly sent out frozen and fried fare, a multiseat counter contains the open kitchen, if not its sizzling smoke. Toiling within it are the man bun hair knots, plaid shirts, beards and black-rimmed glasses of CIA-trained chef Kouri Killmeier and his team. When our waiter wants to point out Eliah Gardner, owner of Heart Spring Farms and the forager behind the "foraged edibles and herbs," he's forced to expand on "that guy with the man bun" and go for distinction by height. Menus, printed and chef-signed daily, frolic around the Hudson Valley with Kinderhook beef, Lovers Leap pork and Hudson Valley duck posited into the dozen beginners and mains. Handmade fettucine ribbons are frilly, rustic and toothsomely thick; fries hand-cut and triple-fried, artisanal bread heaven-sent by neighboring bakery Our Daily Bread. I suspect enthusiasm in the scratch kitchen is spurred on by Killmeier's pedigree that includes apprenticeships at Nobu and Tribeca Grill and a TV spot on "Beat Bobby Flay." For all the effort, dishes hover at pleasant without quickening the pulse. (They effectively heft the strongman hammer without striking the bell.) The surprise winner is a sparingly sauced lamb Bolognese ($16) with nubules of tender ground lamb simply cooked with tomato, garlic, onion and exploding with flavors. It's a perfect reinvention with lamb in the hot seat. Lovers Leap pork belly buns ($11) derive a clever upgrade from sweet clover honey hoisin, kimchi and a cooling crush of tangled pea shoots. A few plates are stronger on presentation than taste: Ancho-chili rubbed chicken wings dusted with tiny lemon zest curls arrive on a cross-section of wood, but the skin is too flabby to happily gnaw, and tiny yellow flower petals scattered over local field greens ($8) prettily match hand-cut corn and a lemon-confit-feta vinaigrette with an oddly sour edge. I fork-wind long stems, pouting at grit in the underwashed leaves. We're baffled by the presentation of a cider-brined pork chop ($23), overcooked and fanned to resemble a bear claw pastry. And though caramelized Brussels sprouts and crisp curls of prosciutto are irresistibly salty, they amplify the intensely salted squash puree beneath. The People's Beer list globe-trots around Europe and across the U.S. (try Confliction by Sloop Brewing from Elizaville and Sawtooth Ale Nitro by Left Hand Brewing of Longmont, Colo.), though we marvel at the absence of Chatham Brewing, located down the block. (A week later they sell out a fantastic four-course beer pairing in collaboration with the brewery.) The People's Cocktails hit all the mixology tropes oversized ice cubes, local liquors and house-pressed ginger elixir but it's clear the pub's long-term bartender is more comfortable pulling drafts. A Pencillin is bested by the candied ginger on its rim, and the New York Fall Ass, a three-part mix of vodka, cider and ginger beer, is a tame Moscow Mule. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Young staff are valiantly helpful. Ours a cross between Vince from "Entourage" and Kevin Arnold of the "Wonder Years" wades into an explanation of the pho special ("Vietnamese broth with vegetables you can interact with") and overshoots the mark but stays on task, promoting an unfiltered natural wine (Brendan Tracey Rue de la Soif, $8) and the sole dessert, a mattress-sized spiced honey and dark chocolate bread pudding ($8). It's too drily crusty to be unctuously proper pudding, though it's a happy ending alongside a personal French press of coffee. The vintage pub ambiance, jazz and hip staff add integral layers to the mix. While I'm not convinced cocktails and some plates all stand on their own, I'm smitten, taken in by nostalgia, draft beers and a firm appreciation of the scratch kitchen's youthful intent. Dinner for two including three appetizers, two entrees, one dessert, two cocktails, two beers, one wine and coffee came to $153.60, including tax and 20 percent tip. Susie Davidson Powell is a freelance writer from East Greenbush. Follow her on Twitter, @SusieDP. To comment on this review, visit the Table Hopping blog, blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping. Albany "Vertigo 20," a 20th-anniversary work by the Israeli troupe Vertigo Dance Company, is like film noir crossed with a roller coaster. It's mysterious and elegant, and also explosive and unpredictable. It refracts the whole spectrum of human emotion, from tenderness to violence. It keeps you wondering, and it makes your heart beat a little faster. The company typically performs the piece in large theaters, and will do so in Boston, Germany and China over the next few weeks. It was a fortunate audience indeed that had the opportunity Wednesday evening to see these 12 riveting dancers up close, in the intimate setting of the University at Albany Performing Arts Center's "In the Raw" series. Created in 2013, the work weaves together selections from a repertoire built since 1992 by choreographer Noa Wertheim, who co-directs the company with her partner, Adi Sha'al. Wertheim trains the dancers in four techniques: contact improvisation, ballet, martial arts (including tai chi and qigong) and release technique, in which the dance is guided by the natural flow of weight and breath. All of this is evident onstage in the dancers' sharply defined isolations, in the intensity of their presence, in their endurance and precision and in the sparking, vibrating connections that run between them. Wertheim's choreography is breathtaking. Nothing is expected, and every moment suggests multiple layers and interpretations. A loving embrace at one side of the stage is balanced on the other side by a fraught trio, in which two men attempt to anchor an outraged woman between them. Simultaneously, a group advances with hands held over their ears. In another section, the dancers hurl themselves through space and across the floor rolling, running, jumping returning again and again to a single powerful, enigmatic gesture: one arm slicing downward like an ultimatum. Communion and communication are constant, in clusters and circles and in impassioned duets. This is no anniversary party, but Wertheim evokes celebration in her own way. In one section, the dancers navigate around half a dozen white balloons floating a foot or two off the floor. Rakefet Levy's intriguing costumes riff on harlequins and circus performers, and Ran Bagno's electronic score, which morphs in perfect attunement to the dance, is flavored with dashes of klezmer. There's even a family photo shoot of sorts (one of the few humorous bits in the piece). Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. In "Vertigo 20," humanity is the driving force, glowing like fire and illuminating each dancer from within. Tresca Weinstein is a frequent contributor to the Times Union. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. For months, state officials and local stakeholders have wrestled with issues during negotiations to close an approximately 1-mile gap in the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail in Oil Creek State Park. The Herald recently learned that those talks have failed, and efforts have been taken back to the drawing board. [October 27, 2016] City of Snowmass, Colorado to Improve Customer Engagement With FATHOM Software FATHOM Water Management, Inc. ("FATHOM"), the largest Software-as-a-Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) provider for water utilities, today announced that the Water and Sanitation District for Snowmass, Colorado ("Snowmass" or "SWSD") has selected FATHOM Prime and U2You products to allow customers to manage their bills and provide them with access to water consumption data to improve conservation efforts and customer service. These products will integrate seamlessly with Snowmass' existing smart meter infrastructure from Neptune, a pioneering advanced metering infrastructure developer. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005058/en/ A small ski town located just eight miles from Aspen, Snowmass sees significant seasonal population changes. With the FATHOM system, homeowners can now get early detection of water leaks, insights into water use of their homes and rental properties, and access the FATHOM mobile platform to view account activity and pay bills. Working together, FATHOM and Neptune enable residents to gain more insight into and control over their water consumption. "We immediately saw the benefits of accessing real-time meter data for both our customers and our staff," said Christie Duckett, billing manager of SWSD. "With th new platform, our team can view meter data and water usage in many different ways, from an individual account to city trends, and identify consumption trends. We are also thrilled to provide our customers access to their individual consumption data and alerts to empower them to proactively manage their water usage." In just five months, SWSD has seen a significant reduction in customer calls asking for billing information and a breakdown of individual water consumption. "Information is the key to success for water utilities and helping customers manage their usage is quickly become an obligation in the water sector," said Trevor Hill, CEO of FATHOM. "As we move toward a world of connected devices, like smart water meters, and the massive amount of data they generate, it is increasingly important to empower water utilities and their customers with FATHOM's cutting-edge technologies and services." The FATHOM software was deployed in March, 2016 and included 1,300 meters. About FATHOM FATHOM is a software-as-a-service company helping water utilities do more with declining resources. With rapidly deployable, risk-free, cloud-based solutions that address all aspects of the meter-to-cash verticals for water utilities, FATHOM increases revenue, decreases costs and delights customers. FATHOM was built by a water utility, for water utilities and delivers a risk-free solution to more than 140 organizations around the world. There is strength in numbers. To learn more, visit www.gwfathom.com. FATHOM is one of Neptune's Premier Partners which represents the highest level of utility integration available with Neptune's AMR and AMI Systems. The Neptune/FATHOM integrated solution helps utilities increase revenue and decrease costs by providing interoperability across an array of utility applications and functionality to multiple departments. About Neptune Neptune Technology Group Inc. is a pioneer in the development of automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technologies for more than 50 years. Since 1892 Neptune has continually focused on the evolving needs of utilities - revenue optimization, operational efficiencies, and improved customer service. The company offers a fully integrated migration path for its utility customers to meet their needs now and in the future. For additional information, please visit the company website at www.neptunetg.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005058/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 26, 2016] Indonesia Cards and Payments Market - Size, Share, Development, Growth and Forecast to 2020 LONDON, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Coverage Historical market size for the period 2012-2014 and forecast for the period 2015-2020. Number of cards in cirulation, and value and volume of transactions. Number of terminal, and value and volume of transactions. Industry trends, drivers, and opportunities. Competitive landscape of card issuers for both, debit cards and credit cards. Major schemes, debit and credit cards by customer segments. Research methodology The study is based on extensive secondary and primary research. The various sources studied during the secondary research include websites of payment/ banking/ industry associations, industry regulatory bodies, banks, and card issuers. The primary research included in-depth interviews with industry experts and key opinion leaders. Indonesia cards and payments market overview In terms of number of cards in circulation, the Indonesian payment cards market grew at a CAGR of 10.3% during the period 2012 -2014. The pay now cards are the dominant payment cards in Indonesia. Growth in the Indonesian pay now card market has been relatively strong in terms of number of cards in issue, witnessing a CAGR of 11.9% during 2012-2014. The percentage of the urban population in total population of the country grew from 51.3% in 2012 to 53% in 2014 and is expected to grow further over the forecast period, to reach 58% in 2020. The increase in urbanization is expected to lead to increase in card usage n the country. The total number of credit cards in Indonesia increased at a CAGR of 2% during the period 2012-2014. The transaction value of credit cards reported at POS terminals was greater than at ATMs. The credit card turnover witnessed a CAGR of 7.2%, growing from IDR 13.9 in 2012 to IDR 16.0 in 2014. In January 2016 , UOB Indonesia announced the launch of travel-focused PRVI Miles credit card which caters to well-travelled Indonesians. In 2015, UOBI cardholders spent around IDR 800 billion abroad, an increase of 5% y-o-y. During their travels, cardholders spent the most on accommodation and fashion. Singapore and Thailand were among the top 5 destinations favoured by Indonesians travelling abroad. Card offers travel privileges across Southeast Asia which includes discounts with travel merchants such as Agoda, Expedia, as well as fashion, dining and hotel benefits at merchants across Singapore , Malaysia and Thailand . In May 2015 , Bank Mandiri signed an agreement with a Japan based international credit card payment services provider "JCB", to allow acceptance of credit cards with JCB logo at the Bank's ATMs and EDC machines. This alliance will allow JCB credit card holders to make withdrawals, transfer money and make purchases through Bank Mandiri's EDC machines and ATMs. Also the bank foresees to issue JCB logo bearing credit cards as well. Key players in the Indonesian cards and payments market: Bank Rakyat Indonesia Bank Central Asia Bank Negara Indonesia Bank Mandiri HSBC Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3861593/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indonesia-cards-and-payments-market--size-share-development-growth-and-forecast-to-2020-300352209.html SOURCE ReportBuyer [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 26, 2016] Girls Inc. of Worcester kicks-off "With You in Her Corner" 100th Anniversary Capital Campaign Girls Inc. of Worcester today announced at its CentenniGIRL event plans for a multi-year $5.5 million capital campaign to ensure thousands of local girls have access to an innovative, dynamic and environmentally-sustainable building facility. The facility, located at 125 Providence Street in Worcester, will provide girls age five to 18 access to critical cutting-edge programs which strengthen the Girls Inc. mission of empowering all girls to be STRONG, SMART and BOLD. The "With You in Her Corner" Capital Campaign already raised nearly 60 percent of its goal during the silent phase of the campaign, which began in June 2015, with funding through corporate, private and local foundations. "It takes all of us, working together, to ensure girls succeed and grow up to become leaders and positive contributors to the community," said Victoria Waterman, CEO, Girls Inc. of Worcester. "With the generosity of our 'With You in Her Corner' supporters, we are able to champion for today's girls to become tomorrow's women leaders." Chairing the "With You in Her Corner" Capital Campaign are Mary Ellen and Ken Atchue, and Diane and Doug Meystre. "We know continued support by staff and programs at Girls Inc. of Worcester are essential to ensure all girls successfully complete their high school education and have the best opportunity to succeed in a career path of their choice," said Mr. Atchue. "We believe this campaign offers friends of Girls Inc. of Worcester the opportunity to support the growth and development of our girls in a safe, welcoming and thoughtfully modernized building. This will allow Girls Inc. of Worcester to continue to be an anchr in one of Worcester's most challenging and important neighborhoods," added Mrs. Meystre. Since the beginning of the silent phase, renovation of the Girls Inc. of Worcester pool and locker rooms were completed, allowing participants to swim and participate in water safety classes. Additionally, heating and cooling system improvements in the gymnasium and auditorium will be completed shortly to double capacity of year-round programs. Over the next 3 years, the facility will open newly-designed computer, innovation and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) centers as well as renovate its existing entrance and lobby to provide girls a flexible, safe and functional space to explore, grow and receive critical academic and mentoring support. The campaign will continue through 2017. About Girls Inc. of Worcester For 100 years, Girls Inc. of Worcester continues to inspire all girls to be strong (healthy), smart (educated), and bold (independent). We put our mission into practice through the Girls Inc. Experience- consisting of the people, place and programming that together, empower girls to succeed. As the oldest and only facility-based, girl-centered organization in Central Massachusetts, the Girls Inc. Experience is what makes us unique among youth serving organizations. Girls Inc. provides more than 1,400 girls in Greater Worcester with life-changing experiences and real solutions to the unique challenges girls face. By offering researched-based programming, girls learn to set and achieve goals, overcome obstacles, resist peer pressure, see college as attainable, and explore nontraditional fields such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). For more information about Girls Inc. of Worcester, visit our website www.girlsincworcester.org; or for regular updates, visit Twitter (News - Alert) https://twitter.com/girlsincworc and Facebook (News - Alert) https://www.facebook.com/girlsincofworcester. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026006422/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 26, 2016] Enea Acquires Network Intelligence Software Specialist Qosmos STOCKHOLM, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Enea has signed an agreement to acquire Qosmos, a privately held company with leading positions in IP traffic classification and network intelligence. The total consideration amounts to approximately 52.7 MEUR and will be financed through cash and bank loans. Qosmos is headquartered in Paris and is estimated to generate sales of approximately 14.2 MEUR in 2016. Closing of the transaction is subject to approvals from French government authorities and is expected to be completed beginning December 2016. "I am proud to announce this highly complementary acquisition, which provides a significant and attractive extension of our portfolio. The combination of our companies will benefit the joint customer base, open up new market segments, and accelerate Enea's growth going forward while maintaining a healthy profit margin," says Anders Lidbeck, President and CEO of Enea. Qosmos is a supplier of Network Intelligence software based on Deep Packet Inspection ("DPI") and commands a dominating share of its market. The company's software provides detailed real-time traffic visibility, which is a critical component for applications such as mobile traffic management, cyber security, and network analytics. More than 100 telecom networks worldwide use solutions powered by Qosmos. Network intelligence and IP traffic classification will aso play a central role in next generation virtualized network nodes and functions. As an example, Qosmos has successfully shown how telecom operators can leverage real-time traffic classification to automatically create any type of service combination in an open, virtualized architecture. Together, Enea and Qosmos are building a stronger offering in the area of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV). "I am very happy to join forces with Enea, a larger and well-established organization with a strong reputation in our adjacent markets," says Thibaut Bechetoille, CEO of Qosmos. "In the new virtualized networks, application awareness is key for operators to deliver new, more personalized and more secure services to their customers. The combined entity is well positioned to deliver products and services in this significant industry transition." Key figures and facts regarding Qosmos Qosmos is a leading software supplier in the market for IP traffic classification and network intelligence technology. The company supplies software to vendors who embed real-time application visibility in their products for traffic optimization, service chaining, quality of service, analytics, cyber security and more. 90 employees Founded in 2000 and a leader in the network intelligence software market since 2006 Headquartered in Paris , regional offices in Silicon Valley and Singapore , regional offices in Silicon Valley and Revenues: 14.2 MEUR in 2016 (est .) .) Main product: ixEngine, the market's most deployed DPI engine Customer types: vendors in the telecom, networking and security industries Qosmos is a privately held company backed by venture capital firms Alven Capital and Draper Esprit, the GfK Group, one of the world's largest market research companies, and the public investment bank, Bpifrance. For more information about Qosmos, see www.qosmos.com Further financial information Of the total purchase price of approximately 52.7 MEUR, approximately 16.3 MEUR is related to net cash and cash equivalents, leaving approximately 36.4 MEUR as the enterprise value. The acquisition will be financed by cash-on-hand and a 165 MSEK bank loan. The parties have agreed that 10.0 MEUR of the purchase price is a deferred payment to be paid 24 months after closing. For 2017, Enea estimates that the acquisition will be EPS positive, while slightly dilutive to the EBIT margin. Pending government approval, the acquisition is estimated to close and be consolidated into Enea Group accounts beginning of December 2016, and hence, will have limited effect on revenue and earnings for the full year 2016. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 26, 2016] Mitsubishi Electric to Launch over 200 FA Devices Compatible with CC-Link IE Field Network Basic Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today that it would sequentially release more than 200 factory automation (FA) devices for the company's CC-Link IE Field Network products beginning October 31. The devices, including programmable controllers, servo amplifiers, human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and inverters, will be compatible with CC-Link IE Field Network Basic, an open field network utilizing 100Mbps general-purpose Ethernet communication to connect controllers and devices. The new lineup will expand the scope of [email protected] solutions, which incorporate FA and IT technologies to reduce total costs, from development to production and maintenance. Mitsubishi (News - Alert) Electric expects its new FA devices to help users better visualize production site/facility operations, enhance efficiency and advance IoT manufacturing. Strengths of CC-Link IE Field Network Basic-compatible FA device 1) Build systems quickly and without special expertise Compatible with devices and small-scale equipment that conventionally lack network All products inherit the features of CC-Link IE Field Network and batch parameter settings ensure easy network setup without technical knowledge of Ethernet Number of linked devices and addresses are set automatically, helping to reduce system construction time by 40 percent* * Based on Mitsubishi Electric (News - Alert) engineering tool's parameter setting comparison between CC-Link and CC-Link IE Field Network Basic. 2) Highly flexible network construction General-purpose Ethernet helps to save costs by using a single network wiring from high-order IT systems to production-floor devices Wide range of FA devices compatible with CC-Link IE Field Network Basic Background Production environments of all sizes are being upgraded through the utilization of IT and the Internet of Things (IoT) to meet increasingly diversified and sophisticated needs in manufacturing. Specific advancements include enhanced productivity through the visualization of factory operations, traceability and preventive maintenance to avoid equipment failure. Mitsubishi Electric's new FA devices, all compatible with CC-Link IE Field Network Basic, will help to further these advancements by expanding the scope of [email protected] solutions. For the full text, please visit: http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026007041/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 26, 2016] BCCL backed IndianMoney.com Released its Second Personal Finance Guide 'Retire With Pride' BANGALORE, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IndianMoney.com - India's largest unbiased financial education company - released its second personal finance education series 'Retire with Pride'. It is a follow on series to its widely accepted 'Money Trap' series. With these personal finance education series, IndianMoney.com aims to educate the mass on 'the must know' of personal finance. While the first series aimed to ensure that people do not fall prey to money traps, the second series aims to ensure that they get the right guidance to plan their retirement better and better, throughout their career. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160721/10150972 ) IndianMoney.com has been the pioneer in launching innovative initiatives, to ensure that the common man is rightly equipped with crisp and precise money matters. It has been found that a good majority of young and mid-aged people, often tend to procrastinate retirement planning, leading to increased pressure during the twilight days of their career. USP of IndianMoney.com's educational series is articulating complicated personal finance concepts in simple English. We have collated all of them for the easy and quick reference of the people here. The company has already launched its next intriguing series 'Mom and Money'. Retire With Pride 1: Retire from working not from earning https://goo.gl/C4bo9g Retire With Pride 2: Plan for your retirement on the day one of your working life https://goo.gl/jZ1zQV Retire With Pride 3: Deserve it, do not just desire about it https://goo.gl/DLaJSv Retire With Pride 4: Three things to be done when you are completely broke after retirement https://goo.gl/cDu63s Retire With Pride 5: Is it must to buy a retirement plan https://goo.gl/NlZtI9 Retire With Pride 6: Four ways to plan for retirementhttps://goo.gl/Qzd9uZ Retire With Pride 7: Can you retire from your responsibilities when you retire from work https://goo.gl/GWGoQX Retire With Pride 8: If you want to retire with pride you may have to kill your ego sometimes https://goo.gl/1ylCvl Retire With Pride 9: Four Things to be done once you retire https://goo.gl/AxzpQ6 Retire With Pride 10: Do not kill your learning with you if those are worth sharing https://goo.gl/C6Gxor About IndianMoney.com: Started in 2008 by Mr. C S Sudheer, the vision IndianMoney.com is to create a financially literate India by providing free financial advice/consultation to anyone looking for an expert opinion on matters related to finance. In the process, IndianMoney.com also educates the consumers on how not to get cheated by unscrupulous agents while buying financial products. Media conglomerate Bennett Coleman and Company Ltd. backed IndianMoney.com is supported by well-known Angel Investors: - Mr. Ravindra Krishnappa (founder of VertExperts Consulting LLP) - Mr. Shekhar Kirani (Partner at Accel Partners) - Mr. Pradeep Mittal (Founder of Magna Infotech) - Mr. Srini Koppolu (Former MD at Microsoft Development Center, India) It also has financial and technology industry veterans Mr. Ramanand Baliga (Former Director of IBM), Mr. G Narayanan (Chairman of Vijaya Bank) and Mr. T V Rao (Former Director of EXIM Bank) on its advisory board. For further details: - Leave a missed call on 022-61816111 or visit http://www.IndianMoney.com for free financial education - Download Lead Market app here: https:// goo.gl/MW3cr9 - Visit www.leadmarket.in Media Contact: Narasimha B VP - Corporate Finance & Investor Relations IndianMoney.com [email protected] +91-8095476355 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] ABB: Continued Margin Growth in Tough Markets "We delivered the eighth consecutive quarter of margin accretion through our continued focus on execution," said CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. "In the third quarter, we experienced significant macro uncertainties around Brexit and the US elections as reflected in the low order pattern. Orders in Power Grids were additionally dampened by the hesitation of customers prior to the Capital Markets Day. However, the Power Grids transformation is on track as clearly demonstrated by the 170 basis points margin accretion," he said. "With our enhanced cash culture, we have delivered more than 30 percent higher cash flow so far this year with a much steadier cash generation profile." "We continue to run the company with discipline, realizing growth opportunities where possible whilst driving earnings and cash growth. We are committed to unlocking value for all shareholders as a more focused, agile company building on our industry-leading digital offering." Key figures CHANGE CHANGE ($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated) Q3 2016 Q3 2015 US$ Compar- able1 9M 2016 9M 2015 US$ Compar- able1 Orders 7,533 8,767 -14% -13% 25,102 28,167 -11% -8% Revenues 8,255 8,519 -3% 0% 24,835 26,239 -5% -1% Operational EBITA1 1,046 1,081 -3% -2%3 3,095 3,088 0% +3%3 as % of operational revenues1 12.6% 12.5% +0.1pts 12.4% 11.8% +0.6pts Net income 568 577 -2% 1,474 1,729 -15% Basic EPS ($) 0.27 0.26 +2% 0.68 0.77 -12%4 Operational EPS1 ($) 0.32 0.32 -1%4 0%4 0.95 0.90 +5%4 +7%4 Cash flow from operating activities 1,081 1,173 -8% 2,415 1,824 +32% Short-term outlook Macroeconomic and geopolitical developments are signaling a mixed picture with continued uncertainty. Some macroeconomic signs in the US remain positive and growth in China is expected to continue, although at a slower pace than in 2015. The market remains impacted by modest growth and increased uncertainties, e.g., Brexit in Europe and geopolitical tensions in various parts of the world. Oil prices and foreign exchange translation effects are expected to continue to influence the company's results. Q3 2016 Group results Orders Total orders declined 13 percent (14 percent in US dollars) compared with the third quarter of 2015, reflecting timing of large order awards and lower short cycle volumes. Base orders (below $15 million) decreased 6 percent (7 percent in US dollars), while large orders ($15 million and above) were lower in all divisions and represented 11 percent of total orders compared with 17 percent a year earlier. Orders for services and software were 3 percent lower (5 percent in US dollars) and represented 17 percent of total orders compared with 16 percent a year ago. Market overview Demand patterns in ABB's three regions: Demand in Europe was subdued primarily due to moderate overall growth, uncertainties in the UK following Brexit and political events in Turkey. Total orders declined 18 percent (20 percent in US dollars) while base orders were stable (2 percent lower in US dollars). Base order demand was positive in Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland, and weak in the UK and Norway. The Americas was weaker due to considerable investment delays triggered by the US election and lagging industrial demand. Total orders declined 16 percent (17 percent in US dollars) on weaker large orders; base orders were 8 percent lower (9 percent in US dollars) on weak demand in the US, Canada and Brazil. Demand in Asia, the Middle East and Africa (AMEA) was mixed. India continued to grow and China continued its investment activities in power transmission and robotics. Total orders for the region were down 5 percent (7 percent in US dollars) as strong order development in India could not offset declines in China and the UAE. Base orders declined 9 percent (10 percent in US dollars). Demand patterns in ABB's three major customer sectors: Utilities continued their investment activities to integrate renewable energy and foster grid reliability and efficiency. In industry: investments in discrete and hybrid industries such as automotive, food and beverage and machinery remained positive while demand from the process industries, specifically mining and oil and gas remain subdued. Transport and infrastructure demand has been mixed. Demand for specialty vessels solutions remained strong as well as solutions involving energy efficiency for rail transport. Construction has been mixed. The book-to-bill1 ratio in the third quarter decreased to 0.91x from 1.03x in the same quarter a year earlier. For the first nine months, book-to-bill1 is 1.01x. The order backlog at the end of September 2016 amounted to $24,554 million, a decrease of 2 percent (3 percent in US dollars) compared with the end of the third quarter in 2015. Revenues Revenues were flat (3 percent lower in US dollars) in the third quarter. Revenues were steady in the Electrification Products and Discrete Automation and Motion divisions and increased slightly in Power Grids, which offset a decline in Process Automation. Total services and software revenues increased 5 percent (4 percent in US dollars) and represented 18 percent of total revenues compared with 17 percent a year ago. Operational EBITA Operational EBITA decreased 2 percent in local currencies (3 percent in US dollars) to $1,046 million and included the impact of negative mix. Operational EBITA margin improved 10 basis points to 12.6 percent compared with the same quarter a year ago, reflecting margin accretion in Electrification Products, Process Automation and Power Grids as well as ongoing productivity and cost savings measures, such as the white collar productivity program. Operational EPS and net income Operational EPS was steady at $0.32 in constant currency compared with the same period a year earlier. The reduction in the weighted-average number of shares outstanding compensated for a slightly lower operational EBITA, higher interest expense and higher tax rate. Net income decreased 2 percent to $568 million and basic earnings per share was $0.27 compared with $0.26 for the same quarter of 2015, an increase of 2 percent. Cash flow from operating activities Cash flow from operating activities was $1,081 million, $92 million lower compared with the third quarter of 2015, mainly due to lower net income. In the first nine months of 2016, cash flow from operating activities increased 32 percent compared with the same period a year ago, primarily due to stronger working capital management and timing of income tax payments. Shareholder returns On September 30, 2016, ABB announced the completion of the share buyback program that was introduced in September 2014. During the buyback program, ABB repurchased a total of 171.3 million registered shares (equivalent to 7.4 percent of its issued share capital at the launch of the buyback program) for a total amount of approximately $3.5 billion. At its Capital Markets Day on October 4, 2016, ABB announced its plans for a new share buyback program of up to $3 billion from 2017 through 2019. This reflects the company's confidence and the continued strength of ABB's cash generation and financial position. Divestitures In line with its strategy to continuously optimize the portfolio, ABB announced in September the planned sale of its global high-voltage cables systems business to NKT Cables. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017 subject to regulatory clearances. ABB and NKT also signed an agreement for a long-term strategic partnership that will serve future projects globally. Management changes Today, ABB announced the appointment of Timo Ihamuotila as Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Committee, effective April 1, 2017. Ihamuotila succeeds current CFO Eric Elzvik in an orderly transition process, who will pursue career opportunities outside of ABB after a thorough handover in the second quarter of 2017. Ihamuotila joins ABB from Nokia (News - Alert), "a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things," where he has been the Chief Financial Officer for the last seven years. Ihamuotila is a proven CFO with deep experience in communications, software and services industries, active portfolio management and operational performance improvement. He brings a deep understanding of corporate transformation and digital business models. "Timo is a seasoned CFO with an impressive global track record," said CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. "He has extensive and deep experience in all aspects of finance as well as in transforming businesses in times of industrial digitalization. With his wide expertise, ranging from financial to commercial to general management, he is the ideal person to lead our finance organization and partner to drive ABB's ongoing transformation as a leader in the digital industry. I am delighted to welcome Timo to our Executive Committee in these exciting times, as we focus on unlocking maximum value for all shareholders," Spiesshofer said. "At the same time I would like to warmly thank Eric Elzvik already now for his long, outstanding commitment and many valuable contributions to ABB over more than three decades. During Eric's CFO tenure, a new cash culture together with a significant improvement of our Net Working Capital, a fundamental productivity improvement of the finance function and many portfolio actions were successfully established and delivered. We wish Eric all the best for the next step of his professional career which he will pursue after the orderly handover process is completed in Q2 2017." Q3 divisional performance ($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated) Orders Change Revenues Change Operational EBITA % Change US$ Compara- ble1 US$ Compara- ble1 Electrification Products 2,223 -6% -4% 2,308 -2% 0% 17.8% +0.4pts Discrete Automation & Motion 2,123 -5% -4% 2,203 -1% 0% 14.1% -0.7pts Process Automation 1,193 -22% -21% 1,523 -8% -7% 12.2% +1.5pts Power Grids 2,391 -22% -21% 2,636 -6% +1% 9.5% +1.7pts Corporate & other (incl. inter-division elimination) -397 -415 ABB Group 7,533 -14% -13% 8,255 -3% 0% 12.6% +0.1pts Electrification Products Total orders were down as positive order development in Europe could not offset a decline in the Americas and AMEA. In particular, markets including China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Turkey were challenging, while Italy, Switzerland and India were stronger. Revenues were steady, and operational EBITA margin improved 40 basis points to 17.8 percent, due to additional cost savings, capacity adjustments and supply chain management. Discrete Automation and Motion Continued strong demand patterns in robotics and in food and beverage could not offset the capex declines in process industries such as oil and gas, which negatively impacted order development. Revenues were steady, reflecting strong order execution. Operational EBITA margin declined 70 basis points compared with the same quarter a year ago primarily due to unfavorable mix and lower capacity utilization. Continued capacity adjustments and productivity improvements are underway. Process Automation Total orders were 21 percent lower (22 percent in US dollars) as reduced capital expenditure and cautious discretionary spending in process industries continued to impact large as well as base orders (13 percent lower, 13 percent in US dollars). Revenues declined 7 percent (8 percent in US dollars) as steady demand for specialty vessels could not compensate for declines in such segments as mining and oil and gas. Operational EBITA margin increased 150 basis points to 12.2 percent due to successful project execution and implemented cost reduction and productivity measures. Power Grids Total orders were lower compared with the same quarter a year ago primarily due to the timing of large order awards. Lower base orders reflected sluggishness in some markets such as the US, Saudi Arabia and Brazil while Europe remained supportive. Revenues were slightly higher due to steady execution of a healthy order backlog. Operational EBITA margin increased by 170 basis points to 9.5 percent. This solid performance was driven by sustained project execution, improved productivity and continued cost savings. Next Level strategy - Stage 3 On October 4, 2016, ABB launched Stage 3 of its Next Level strategy to unlock value for customers and shareholders. The core elements of this include: shaping ABB's divisions into four market-leading, entrepreneurial units; realizing ABB's full digital potential; accelerating momentum in operational excellence; and strengthening ABB's brand. Driving growth in four market-leading entrepreneurial divisions ABB is shaping and focusing its divisional structure into four market-leading divisions: Electrification Products, Robotics and Motion, Industrial Automation and Power Grids, effective January 1, 2017. The divisions will be empowered as entrepreneurial units within ABB, reflected in an enhancement of ABB's performance and compensation model focusing on individual accountability and responsibility. They will benefit from sales collaboration orchestrated by regions and countries as well as from the group-wide digital offering, ABB's leading G&A structure and costs, common supply chain management, and corporate research centers. ABB announced two important partnerships in line with transforming the Power Grids offering. The agreements with Fluor and Aibel are examples in which ABB will bring its leading technology in power transmission and distribution. Fluor and Aibel provide execution of turnkey Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) responsibilities for substations and offshore wind connections, respectively. A quantum leap in digital with ABB AbilityTM ABB is a hidden digital champion today. It is ideally positioned to win in the digital space with new and existing end-to-end digital solutions. The newly launched ABB Ability offering combines ABB's portfolio of digital solutions and services across all customer segments, cementing the group's leading position in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (News - Alert) and supporting the competitiveness of ABB's four entrepreneurial divisions. The company has announced a far-reaching strategic partnership with Microsoft (News - Alert), the world's largest software company, to develop next-generation digital solutions on an integrated open cloud platform. Customers will benefit from the unique combination of ABB's deep domain knowledge and extensive portfolio of industrial solutions and Microsoft's Azure intelligent cloud as well as B2B engineering competence. Together, the partners will drive digital transformation in customer segments across ABB's businesses in utilities, industry and transport and infrastructure. Accelerating momentum in operational excellence ABB continues to build on its existing momentum and is further accelerating its operational excellence. The company's White-Collar Productivity savings program has outperformed expectations since its launch last year. As a result, ABB has increased the program's cost reduction target by 30 percent to $1.3 billion. ABB will achieve these additional savings within the initially announced timeframe and for $100 million lower of total combined restructuring program and implementation costs. ABB is continuing its regular cost-savings programs, leveraging operational excellence and world-class supply chain management to achieve savings equivalent to 3-5 percent of cost of sales each year. ABB reaffirms the target of its Net Working Capital program to free up approximately $2 billion by the end of 2017. The program is well on track and focuses on improving inventory management by optimizing the entire value chain, from product design to manufacturing, and by optimizing other net working capital measures. Strengthening the global ABB brand ABB will adopt a single corporate brand, consolidating all its brands around the world under one umbrella. ABB's portfolio of companies will be unified, showcasing the full breadth and depth of the company's global offering under one master brand. This transition is expected to take up to two years. ABB reaffirmed its Group 2015-2020 financial targets. Outlook Macroeconomic and geopolitical developments are signaling a mixed picture with continued uncertainty. Some macroeconomic signs in the US remain positive and growth in China is expected to continue, although at a slower pace than in 2015. The market remains impacted by modest growth and increased uncertainties relating to Brexit in Europe and geopolitical tensions in various parts of the world. Oil prices and foreign exchange translation effects are expected to continue to influence the company's results. The attractive long-term demand outlook in ABB's three major customer sectors - utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure - is driven by the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB is well-positioned to tap into these opportunities for long-term profitable growth with its strong market presence, broad geographic and business scope, technology leadership and financial strength. More information The Q3 2016 results press release and presentation slides are available on the ABB News Center at www.abb.com/news and on the Investor Relations homepage at www.abb.com/investorrelations. ABB will host a press conference today starting at 9:00 a.m. Central European Time (CET) (8:00 a.m. BST, 3:00 a.m. EDT). The event will be accessible by conference call. Callers from the UK should dial +44 203 059 58 62. From Sweden, the number to dial is +46 85 051 00 31, and from the rest of Europe, +41 58 310 50 00. Callers from the US and Canada should dial +1 866 291 41 66 (toll-free) or +1 631 570 56 13 (long-distance charges apply). Lines will be open 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the conference. A podcast of the media conference will be available for one week afterwards. The podcast will be accessible at: http://new.abb.com/media/events A conference call for analysts and investors is scheduled to begin today at 2:00 p.m. CET (1:00 p.m. BST, 8:00 a.m. EDT). Callers from the UK should dial +44 203 059 58 62. From Sweden, the number to dial is +46 85 051 00 31, and from the rest of Europe, +41 58 310 50 00. Callers from the US and Canada should dial +1 866 291 41 66 (toll free) or +1 631 570 56 13 (long-distance charges apply). Callers are requested to phone in 10 minutes before the start of the call. The call will also be accessible on the ABB website and a recorded session will be available as a podcast one hour after the end of the conference call and can be downloaded from our website www.abb.com. ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 135,000 employees. www.abb.com Investor calendar 2016/2017 Fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 results February 8, 2017 Annual General Meeting (Zurich) April 13, 2017 First quarter 2017 results April 20, 2017 Second quarter 2017 results July 20, 2017 Third quarter 2017 results October 26, 2017 Important notice about forward-looking information This press release includes forward-looking information and statements as well as other statements concerning the outlook for our business, including those in the sections of this release titled "Short-term outlook", "Outlook", "Shareholder Returns", "Divestitures", "Management Changes" and "Next Level strategy - Stage 3". These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the factors that may affect our future performance, including global economic conditions, the economic conditions of the regions and industries that are major markets for ABB Ltd. These expectations, estimates and projections are generally identifiable by statements containing words such as "expects," "believes," "estimates," "targets," "plans," "is likely", "intends" or similar expressions. However, there are many risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information and statements made in this press release and which could affect our ability to achieve any or all of our stated targets. The important factors that could cause such differences include, among others, business risks associated with the volatile global economic environment and political conditions, costs associated with compliance activities, market acceptance of new products and services, changes in governmental regulations and currency exchange rates and such other factors as may be discussed from time to time in ABB Ltd's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 20-F. Although ABB Ltd believes that its expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statement are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that those expectations will be achieved. Zurich, October 27, 2016 Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO 1 For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures, see "Supplemental Reconciliations and Definitions" in the attached Q3 2016 Financial Information 2 Growth rates for orders, revenues and order backlog are on a comparable basis (local currency adjusted for acquisitions and divestitures), previously referred to as 'like-for-like'. US$ growth rates are presented in Key Figures table 3 Constant currency (not adjusted for portfolio changes) 4 EPS growth rates are computed using unrounded amounts. Comparable operational earnings per share is in constant currency (2014 exchange rates and not adjusted for changes in the business portfolio View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026007066/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] ERYTECH Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Appointments of Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Business Officer Regulatory News: ERYTECH Pharma (Paris:ERYP) (ADR:EYRYY) (Euronext Paris: ERYP), the French biopharmaceutical company developing 'tumor starvation' treatments for acute leukemia and other oncology indications with unmet medical needs, today announced the appointments of Dr. Alexander Scheer, Ph.D. as the company's Chief Scientific Officer and Jean-Sebastien Cleiftie, as Chief Business Officer. "We are delighted to welcome Alexander and Jean-Sebastien to the Erytech leadership team as they both bring invaluable experience from cross-functional areas of the life science industry," commented Gil Beyen, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of ERYTECH Pharma. "Alexander brings a wealth of knowledge in leading global R&D and drug discovery across multiple disciplines and several therapeutic areas, while Jean-Sebastien's deep expertise in biopharmaceutical business development and financial valuation will be instrumental to Erytech as we continue to diversify our programs and address unmet medical needs of patients." Dr. Scheer said, "Erytech's ERYCAPS technology represents a novel approach to anti-cancer tumor starvation treatment. The company has demonstrated exceptional progress in preclinical and clinical development of multiple pipeline programs and I look forward to leading the development of these promising therapies." Mr. Cleiftie added, "I believe Erytech is very well positioned to be a successful biopharmaceutical company. I am eager to direct the strategic initiatives necessary for continued growth of the company and its operations as it enters the next phase of development." Dr. Scheer has over 15 years of experience in R&D and the life science industry. Prior to joining ERYTECH, he served as the Head of Research at Pierre Fabre in France, focused primarily on oncology and central nervous system research, and also served as a Deputy Head of Research at Pierre Fabre. Prior to joining Pierre Fabre, Dr. Scheer served as a Director, Global Research Informatics (News - Alert) & Knowledge Management R&D and Project Leader, Neglected Diseases at Merck Serono in Switzerland where, among other responsibilities, he led Merck's program to develop drugs for neglected diseases in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). He also served as Head of Molecular Screening and Cellular Pharmacology Department, Group Leader of Biochemical Pharmacology and Research Scientist at Serono. Dr. Scheer holds a B.Sc in Natural Sciences and M.Sc. in Chemistry, both from the University of Gottingen, and a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the German Cancer Research Center. Mr. Cleiftie brings 15 years of experience in drug development, life science venture capital, and business development and licensing within the U.S. and European biopharmaceutical ecosystem. Prior to joining ERYTECH, he served as Associate Vice-President, Global Business Development & Licensing at Sanofi in Paris, France, where he led licensing transactions across multiple therapeutic areas, financial valuation activities, and other strategic projects. Prior to joining Sanofi, Mr. Cleiftie was a Principal at Innoven Partners, a venture capital firm active as lead investor in healthcare and IT in Europe and the U.S. He was responsible for healthcare investment opportunity assessment, transaction exeution, and active portfolio management, and led equity investments in a number of biotech and medtech companies which achieved successful exits. He started his career in drug development in the U.S. as a research scientist with Aventis (now Sanofi) in the fields of immunotherapy and gene therapy for cancer. Mr. Cleiftie earned a M.S. in Biological & Medical Sciences and a M.S. in Immunology from the University of Paris V, and received his M.B.A from Cornell University. About ERYTECH and eryaspase (eryasp/GRASPA): www.erytech.com Founded in Lyon, France in 2004, ERYTECH is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for rare forms of cancer and orphan diseases. Leveraging its proprietary ERYCAPS platform, which uses a novel technology to encapsulate therapeutic drug substances inside red blood cells, ERYTECH has developed a pipeline of product candidates targeting markets with high unmet medical needs. ERYTECH's initial focus is on the treatment of blood cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), by depriving tumors of nutrients necessary for their survival. ERYTECH has recently filed for European Marketing Authorization for its lead product candidate, eryaspase, also known as ERY-ASP or under the trade name GRASPA, following positive efficacy and safety results from its completed Phase 2/3 pivotal clinical trial in Europe in children and adults with relapsed or refractory ALL. ERYTECH also has an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of eryaspase in the United States in adults with newly diagnosed ALL, and a Phase 2b clinical trial in Europe in elderly patients with newly diagnosed AML, each in combination with chemotherapy. ERYTECH believes that eryaspase also has the potential as a treatment approach in solid tumors and is conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial in Europe in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Eryaspase consists of an enzyme, L-asparaginase, encapsulated inside donor-derived red blood cells. L-asparaginase depletes asparagine, a naturally occurring amino acid essential for the survival and proliferation of cancer cells, from circulating blood plasma. ERYTECH produces eryaspase at its own GMP-approved and operational manufacturing site in Lyon (France), and at a site for clinical production in Philadelphia (USA). ERYTECH has entered into licensing and distribution partnership agreements for eryaspase for ALL and AML in Europe with Orphan Europe (Recordati Group), and for ALL in Israel with TEVA, which will market the product under the GRASPA brand name. The EMA (News - Alert) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have granted orphan drug designations for eryaspase for the treatment of ALL, AML and pancreatic cancer. In addition to eryaspase, ERYTECH is developing two other product candidates that focus on using encapsulated enzymes to induce tumor starvation. The company is also exploring the use of its ERYCAPS platform for developing cancer immunotherapies and enzyme replacement therapies. ERYTECH is listed on Euronext regulated market in Paris (ISIN code: FR0011471135, ticker: ERYP) and is part of the CAC Healthcare, CAC Pharma & Bio, CAC Mid & Small, CAC All Tradable, EnterNext PEA-PME 150 and Next Biotech indexes. ERYTECH is also listed in the U.S. under an ADR level 1 program (OTC, ticker EYRYY). Forward-looking information This document may contain forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the financial position, results of operations, business strategy, plans, objectives and anticipated future performance of ERYTECH and of the market in which it operates. Certain of these statements, forecasts and estimates can be recognized by the use of words such as, without limitation, "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "estimates", "may", "will" and "continue" and similar expressions. They include all matters that are not historical facts. Such statements, forecasts and estimates are based on various assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable when made but may or may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict and may depend upon factors that are beyond ERYTECH's control. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline product candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. Therefore, actual results may turn out to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements, forecasts and estimates. Documents filed by ERYTECH Pharma with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (www.amf-france.org), also available on ERYTECH's website (www.erytech.com) describe such risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, no representations are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates only speak as of the date of the publication of this document. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. ERYTECH disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statement, forecast or estimates to reflect any change in ERYTECH's expectations with regard thereto, or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement, forecast or estimate is based, except to the extent required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026006283/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 75F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low 59F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. [October 27, 2016] GE Reaches Agreement to Acquire a 75% Stake in Concept Laser GmbH of Germany GE (NYSE: GE), the world's leading digital industrial company, has reached an agreement to acquire a 75% stake in Concept Laser GmbH for $599 million (549 million). The agreement allows for GE to take full ownership in a number of years. Privately-held Concept Laser has more than 200 employees and is headquartered in Lichtenfels, Germany, with significant operations in the United States (Grapevine, Texas), China, and a global network of more than 35 distributors and agents. Concept Laser is a pioneer in the field of metal additive manufacturing. Concept Laser designs and manufacturers powder bed-based laser additive manufacturing machines. Its customer base is focused on the aerospace, medical and dental industries, with a meaningful presence in automotive and jewelry. Concept Laser's machine range incorporates both the largest and smallest build envelopes currently available on the market and are capable of processing various powder materials including titanium, nickel-base, cobalt-chromium and precious metal alloys, as well as hot-work and high-grade steels and aluminum. "Concept Laser founder Frank Herzog and his team are true pioneers in metal laser melting technology," said David Joyce, GE Vice Chairman and President & CEO of GE Aviation. "We are committed to enhancing Concept Laser's technologies and product offerings across a well-established customer base." Herzog commented, "GE shares our vision regarding the potential for additive manufacturing to lead the digital transformation of industrial production. We are delighted that together we will be able to accelerate development of the technology to the benefit of our customers. We have some exciting new product offerings due to come to market, including our innovative AM Factory of Tomorrow modular concepts, and with GE's support we will be at the center of Industrie 4.0." Herzog will continue as CEO of Concept Laser and will also assume a senior leadership position within GE. In order to support the growth potential of the business, GE has committed to invest significantly into Lichtenfels, which will continue to be Concept Laser's headquarters and will become a new German center for GE. GE will retain Concept Laser's management and employees. In addition, the close partnership that exists between Concept Laser and Hofmann Tool Manufacturing will continue. Concept Laser sets the stage for GE to sell additive manufacturing equipment across several industries. Mr. and Mrs. Herzog founded Concept Laser in 2000 and commercialized the first metal additive manufacturing machine in 2001. Over the past 16 years, Concept Laser has industrialized the technology with its patented LaserCUSING process and remains at the forefront of the industry. Concept Laser has a comprehensive product offering ranging from small machines up to the machine with the world's largest build envelope. The company's machines with multi-laser technology are among the fastest and highest-quality laser melting machines in the world. Concept Laser has won multiple awards for innovation excellence in recent years and continues to invest heavily in customer centric technologies, including real time monitoring of the process through its QMmeltpool offering. At the forthcoming Formnext trade fair, Concept Laser will announce the sales launch of the new machine concept with fully modular machine technology along with the series production offering of the AM Factory of Tomorrow. "Concept Laser machines are being used by leading manufacturers of medical, aerospace and dental components in series production as well as for prototyping and design. We are hitting an inflection point in demand as customers increasingly understand the possibilities that additive manufacturing presents and the technology advances to be able to turn these possibilities into reality. With GE's broader investment into additive manufacturing, we believe that this process will only accelerate," said Herzog. Additive manufacturing (also called 3Dprinting) involves taking digital designs from computer aided design (CAD) software, and laying horizontal cross-sections to manufacture the part. Additive components are typically lighter and more durable than traditional forged parts because they require less welding and machining. Because additive parts are essentially "grown" from the ground up, they generate far less scrap material. Freed of traditional manufacturing restrictions, additive manufacturing dramatically expands the design possibilities for engineers. GE is a leading end user and innovator in the additive manufacturing space. GE has invested approximately $1.5 billion in manufacturing and additive technologies at GE's Global Research Center (GRC), developed additive applications across six GE businesses and are pioneering services applications across the company. GE Aviation introduced into airline service this year its first additive jet engine component - complex fuel nozzle interiors - with the LEAP jet engine. The LEAP engine is the new, best-selling engine from CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of GE and Safran Aircraft Engines of France. More than 11,000 LEAP engines are on order with 20 fuel nozzles in every engine, thus setting the stage for sustainably high and long-term additive production at GE Aviation's Auburn, Alabama, manufacturing plant. Production will ramp up to more than 40,000 fuel nozzles using additive by 2020. GE Aviation is also using additive manufacturing to produce components in its most advanced military engines. In the general aviation world, GE is developing the Advanced Turboprop Engine (ATP (News - Alert)) for a new Cessna aircraft with a significant portion of the entire engine produced using additive manufacturing. The deal is subject to customary regulatory reviews. Concept Laser is being advised by PJT Partners, Lacore, Allen & Overy and Ernst & Young. About GE GE (NYSE: GE) is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE, is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.geaviation.com. About Concept Laser Concept Laser GmbH, which was founded in 2000 by Frank and Kerstin Herzog, is one of the world's leading providers of technology to support the 3D printing of metal components. The patented LaserCUSING process - powder-bed-based laser melting of metals - frees designers and engineers from the constraints of more traditional manufacturing methods, allowing tool-free manufacturing of highly complex parts. The company's customers come from many different sectors, including the aerospace, medical, dental, automotive and jewelry industries. Forward-looking information This communication includes "forward-looking statements" - that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address GE Group's expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," or "target." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond GE Group's control and all of which are based on GE Group management's current beliefs and expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. These or other uncertainties may cause GE Group's actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in GE Group's forward-looking statements. GE Group does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, satisfaction of the minimum acceptance condition for each offer, the ability of GE to obtain the requisite regulatory approvals required to complete the offers to purchase, the satisfaction of the other conditions to the consummation of the proposed transactions, the timing of completion of the proposed offers to purchase, and the impact of the announcement or consummation of the proposed transactions on the relationships of GE Group and Arcam or SLM Solutions, including with employees, suppliers and customers. In addition, there can be no assurance that the offers to purchase will result in the consummation of an acquisition of Arcam or SLM Solutions. These and other important factors, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" included in GE Group's Consolidated Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, may cause GE Group's actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. Such forward-looking statements contained in this communication speak only as of the date of this communication. GE Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update these forward-looking statements contained in this communication to reflect any change in GE Group's expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law. More detailed information about these and other factors is set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K which is available on the GE Group Investor Relations website at http://www.ge.com/investor and has also been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026007070/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] Orange Business Services Extends Contract with Philip Morris International Through 2021 Orange (News - Alert) Business Services has strengthened its partnership with Philip Morris International (PMI) to provide global communications services until the end of 2021. Headquartered in New York, PMI is the world's leading international tobacco company, with six of the world's top 15 international brands and products sold in more than 180 markets. PMI is also making significant investments in the development and commercialization of a range of products with the potential to reduce individual risk and population harm in comparison to smoking cigarettes. Its ambition is that all smokers switch from cigarettes to less harmful alternatives as soon as possible. As part of this latest contract extension, Orange Business Services (News - Alert) will deliver a range of managed services to 40,000 users worldwide, including a hybrid network and unified communications in more than 400 sites across four continents. PMI will continue to leverage the capabilities the two companies have created together, including the deployment of Microsoft Skype (News - Alert) for Business. Today's solutions help empower staff and facilitate flexible work arrangements at home, in the office or on the go. Orange is also deploying a hybrid network for PMI to handle the insatiable bandwidth demands from video, connected devices and rich media. The hybrid network is a key enabler of PMI, to access real time and rich media content both on private or public clouds, with the necessary security and reliability. "We believe that hybrid networks are the glue to make digital components come together as digital reality, and we are looking forward to our future projects with Orange Business Services,"said Terry Coates, Vice President, Global Technology (News - Alert) Services, Philip Morris International. "We are proud to be a key business partner of PMI since 2001 and welcome the extension of our contract. We are fully on board to further support PMI's digital transformation with our next-generation networks and commitment to provide an unmatched experience for our long-standing customer," said Anne-Sophie Lotgering, Senior Vice President Europe, Russia & CIS, Orange Business Services. About Orange Business Services Orange Business Services, the Orange branch dedicated to B2B services, is not only a telecom operator, but also an IT solutions integrator and applications developer in France and around the world. Its 20,000 employees support companies in all areas of their digital transformation: mobile and collaborative workspaces; IT/cloud infrastructure; fixed and mobile connectivity; private and hybrid networks; applications for Internet of Things, 360 customer experience and Big Data analytics; and cybersecurity thanks to dedicated experts and infrastructure to protect information systems. More than 3,000 multinational organizations and 2 million SOHOs, enterprises and local authorities in France rely on Orange Business Services as their trusted partner. Learn more at www.orange-business.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and our blogs. Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with annual sales of 40 billion euros in 2015 and has 154,000 employees worldwide at 30 June 2016. Orange is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN). Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005228/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] Eutelsat Puts Africa Broadband Programme Back on Track with Multi-Year Capacity Agreement with Yahsat Regulatory News: Eutelsat (News - Alert) Communications (Paris:ETL) and Yahsat, the Abu Dhabi-based international satellite operator, have signed a multi-year capacity agreement giving Broadband for Africa, Eutelsat's African broadband venture, access to high-performance commercial Ka-band capacity for broadband services across Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the terms of the agreement Broadband for Africa will use capacity on up to 16 Ka-band spotbeams on the Yahsat 1B satellite in order to roll out broadband services during the first half of 2017. Further expansion will be supported later in the year using capacity on 18 spotbeams on Yahsat's Al Yah 3 satellite, scheduled for launch in early 2017. Both Yahsat 1B and Al Yah 3 are equipped with high power spotbeams with Sub-Saharan African coverage, ideal for community and Direct-to-User Internet access using affordable, off-the-shelf customer premises equipment. For Eutelsat, this capacity will replace the payload previously contracted on the Amos-6 satellite which was lost in September following a launchpad explosion. The African Broadband service will be launched during the first four months of 2017, thereby enabling Eutelsat to revert to its initial business plan of a revenue contribution of 15 million in FY 2017-18 and 25-30 million in FY 2018-19. Laurent Grimaldi, Chief Executive Officer of Broadband for Africa, said: "We are delighted to initiate this relationship with Yahsat and to put our Africa broadband programme back on track. We fully share Yahsat's conviction in the long-term role satellites will play in wireless connectivity and in the need for high-quality infrastructure to transform Africa's broadband landscape." Amit Somani, Chief Strategy Officer of Yahsat, said, "We believe it is important for us to collaborate with our industry peers to drive our common goal of connecting individuals, businesses and governments around the world with affordable and reliable broadband services. We are delighted to have Broadband for Africa as a long-term customer on our satellites, laying yet another cornerstone in our expansion strategy and reinforcing the global trend towards higher efficiency Ka-band solutions." ****** About Broadband for Africa: Set up by Eutelsat in 2015, Broadband for Africa will develop the vast untapped market for consumer and enterprise connectivity and address community networks connected to Wi-Fi hotspots as well as mobile phone backhauling and rural connectivity. The venture has also invested in a standalone high-capacity broadband satellite for launch in 2019 that will boost and complement the services to be supplied through the agreement with Yahsat. Broadband for Africa aims to be the leading player in providing state-of-the-art satellite broadband solutions to its partners. Working hand-in-hand with local African partners Broadband for Africa will help reduce the digital divide by offering high-quality and high-availability broadband solutions for consumers, enterprises and the public sector. About Eutelsat Communications: Established in 1977, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the world's leading and most experienced operators of communications satellites. The company provides capacity on 38 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations, pay-TV operators, video, data and Internet service providers, enterprises and government agencies. Eutelsat's satellites provide ubiquitous coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, data, broadband and government communications to be established irrespective of a user's location. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1,000 men and women from 37 countries who are experts in their fields and work with clients to deliver the highest quality of service. For more about Eutelsat please visit www.eutelsat.com About Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJSC, "Yahsat" Yahsat provides multipurpose satellite solutions (government and commercial) for broadband, broadcast, government, and communications use across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe in addition to Central and South West Asia. Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and wholly owned by Mubadala Development Company, the investment vehicle of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Yahsat is the first company in the Middle East and Africa to offer multi-purpose Ka-band satellite services including: YahClick - Satellite broadband solutions for Consumers, SMEs and Corporations YahService - Managed solutions and government capacity for governments and corporations YahLink - IP trunking and backhauling solutions for telecom operators, ISPs and corporate networks Yahlive - A joint venture between Yahsat and SES (News - Alert) providing broadcasting services to communities across MENA, South West Asia, and Europe Yahsat's first satellite Y1A was successfully launched in April 2011, and the company's second satellite Y1B was successfully launched in April 2012. Yahsat has announced the manufacturing of its third satellite, Al Yah 3, planned for launch in early 2017, extending their commercial Ka-band coverage to an additional 20 markets reaching 60% of Africa's population and over 95% of Brazil's population, marking the company's first entry in to Brazil. For more information visit www.yahsat.ae or www.mubadala.ae www.eutelsat.com - Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @Eutelsat_SA and Facebook (News - Alert) Eutelsat.SA View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005670/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] American Tower Corporation and PGGM Announce Creation of European Joint Venture American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT (News - Alert)) and Dutch pension fund manager PGGM today announced entry into a definitive agreement to form a joint venture ("ATC Europe"), which will focus on pursuing telecommunications real estate investment opportunities in select countries on the continent. At closing, AMT will contribute its German assets into ATC Europe and PGGM will acquire a 49% interest in ATC Europe. American Tower will retain operational control and day-to-day oversight of ATC Europe. "We are pleased to be able to enter into this partnership with PGGM," said James D. Taiclet, Jr., American Tower's (News - Alert) Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that the combination of PGGM's long-term investment philosophy and extensive knowledge of the European landscape with American Tower's proven track record of investing in and operating telecommunications real estate assets will establish a compelling platform for future investment opportunities. Further, the transaction supports our objective to continue to drive double digit total shareholder return by selectively pursuing growth across Europe, while at the same time reinvesting the proceeds from this transaction into higher growth assets around the world by utilizing our disciplined capital allocation process." Commenting on the transaction, PGGM's Chief Investment Officer Private Markets, Frank Roeters van Lennep said, "We are proud to partner with American Tower. Telecommunication real estate assets provide an essential infrastructure to support the mobile communication ecosystem. As a long-term investor in the infrastructure asset class, we are keen on investing in the European eal economy, targeting stable long-term returns for the participants of the pension funds for whom we invest. The joint venture with American Tower provides PGGM with a unique opportunity to join forces with a global market leader in the sector and to benefit from their extensive experience." Bank of America Merrill Lynch is acting as financial advisor to American Tower. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close before the end of 2016. About American Tower American Tower, one of the largest global REITs, is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate with a portfolio of over 144,000 communications sites. For more information about American Tower, please visit www.americantower.com. About PGGM PGGM is a cooperative Dutch pension fund service provider. Institutional clients are offered: asset management, pension fund management, policy advice and management support. On June 30, 2016, PGGM had EUR 200.2 billion in assets under management. Either alone or together with strategic partners, PGGM develops future solutions by linking together pension, care, housing and work. www.pggm.nl Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements about future events and expectations, or "forward-looking statements," all of which are inherently uncertain. We have based those forward looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed closing of the transaction described above and the future investment activities of the joint venture. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the information contained in Item 1A of American Tower's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 under the caption "Risk Factors" and in other filings it makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005485/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] Salesforce Announces Timing of its Third Quarter Fiscal 2017 Financial Results Conference Call SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the Customer Success Platform and world's #1 CRM company, today announced that its third quarter fiscal 2017 results will be released on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, after the close of the market. The company will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. (PT) / 5:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss its financial results with the investment community. A live web broadcast of the event will be available on the Salesforce Investor Relations website at www.salesforce.com/investor. A live dial-in is available domestically at 866-901-SFDC or 866-901-7332 and internationally at 706-902-1764, passcode 6538283. A replaywill be available at (800) 585-8367 or (855) 859-2056 until midnight (ET) Dec. 17, 2016. About Salesforce Salesforce, the Customer Success Platform and world's #1 CRM company, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information about Salesforce, visit: www.salesforce.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130612/SF30598LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/salesforce-announces-timing-of-its-third-quarter-fiscal-2017-financial-results-conference-call-300352182.html SOURCE Salesforce [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] QRA Selected as Top 10 Tech Firm to Pilot Lazaridis Institute Program HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lazaridis Institute has selected QRA Corp as one of Canada's most promising emerging technology companies to participate in its inaugural Canadian Scale-Up Program. QRA is based in Halifax, NS, making it the only company to be selected outside of Ontario and Quebec. The highly anticipated program will bring high-potential firms together with an elite group of experts, all of whom have experience in scaling globally competitive enterprises. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/432767 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/432768LOGO "The QRA team is at a critical point for growth; we need to scale now in order to operationally handle the many incoming clients, countries, and industries," said Jordan Kyriakidis, CEO & Co-founder of QRA. "We're really very happy, honoured, and excited to have been chosen to pilot the Lazaridis Institute Canadian Scale-Up program." Canada is home to thousands of startups, but a recent survey from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) found that only one in 1,000 Canadian small businesses grew beyond the 100-employee mark in 2013, a 40-per cent drop from 2001. Last year, only four Canadian technology companies went to IPO. These numbers do not bode well for the long term development of the tech ecosystem in Canada. The Lazaridis Institute Canadian Scale-Up Program is part of a broader effort to create conditions in Canada that will enable tech startups to thrive and grow without being bought, winding down prematurely or moving elsewhere. The 10 technology scale-ups in the first cohort of the Canadian Scale-Up Program are: ARC4DIA ( Montreal ) ) Dozr ( Waterloo ) ) Intellitix ( Chatham ) ) Noviflow ( Montreal ) ) Oculys ( Waterloo ) ) Postbeyond ( Toronto ) ) QRA Corp ( Halifax ) ) StackAdapt ( Toronto ) ) The Better Software Company ( Ottawa ) ) Tulip Retail ( Toronto ) here. "The quality of technology companies in Canada is extraordinary, and that was reflected in the many compelling applications we received," said Carlo Chiarello, CEO, Lazaridis Institute. "Our collective challenge is to continue to keep more companies growing in Canada by helping them as they transition into the scale-up phase. We can't wait to start working with the 10 firms we've chosen for our first year, companies who are at that critical inflection point in their evolution. We're confident that members of this cohort will take their places among the next generation of globally recognized Canadian companies." More information on the Lazaridis Institute Canadian Scale-Up Program can be found at www.scaleupprogram.com. About QRA Corp QRA Corp, an emerging developer of systems and requirements engineering technology based in Halifax, NS, is accelerating the design process across industries tackling the most complex, mission and safety critical systems. By committing to solve the complexity issues in engineering that hinder innovation, QRA's tools help engineers build tomorrow's safe, secure, and incredibly powerful products. For more information, visit qracorp.com About the Lazaridis Institute The Lazaridis Institute for the Management of Technology Enterprises was created to support growth-oriented Canadian technology companies. Developed through investments by Mike Lazaridis and the Government of Ontario, the Lazaridis Institute helps current and emerging technology firms to scale rapidly into globally competitive enterprises. The Lazaridis Institute is based in the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, part of the Toronto-Waterloo Region Tech Corridor. We're building knowledge and networks to strengthen Canada's tech ecosystem, its current leaders and the students who'll be the leaders of tomorrow. Media contacts: Trevor Bradley Marketing Manager QRA Corp 902-817-5233 (cell) [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qra-selected-as-top-10-tech-firm-to-pilot-lazaridis-institute-program-300352434.html SOURCE QRA Corp [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] Sunovion Announces Positive Clinical Study Results for Latuda (lurasidone HCl) in Adolescents with Schizophrenia Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion) today announced the results of a study evaluating Latuda (lurasidone HCI) for the treatment of schizophrenia in adolescents ages 13 to 17 years. Patients taking fixed doses of LATUDA 40 mg/day or 80 mg/day in the 6-week study showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in symptoms of schizophrenia compared to placebo treatment. LATUDA was also generally well tolerated, with limited effects on weight and metabolic parameters. The study results will be presented today at a medical conference in New York, New York. "Early onset schizophrenia can be devastating, and we need treatment options that balance efficacy with a tolerable side effect profile, particularly when it comes to weight gain and metabolic changes," said Robert Findling, M.D., M.B.A., Vice President of Psychiatric Services and Research at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins and one of the study authors. "These results show that LATUDA may address an unmet need for adolescents and families faced with this complex lifelong illness." These data support the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA), which has been accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Acceptance of the sNDA does not mean that LATUDA will be approved by the FDA for the treatment of adolescents with schizophrenia. LATUDA is currently indicated in the U.S. for the treatment of major depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate and for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled six-week study, adolescent patients were randomized to receive fixed doses of LATUDA 40 mg/day, LATUDA 80 mg/day or placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score at Week 6, and the key secondary endpoint was change from baseline in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI (News - Alert)-S) scale at Week 6, which assessed global severity of illness. LATUDA was associated with a statistically significant reduction in PANSS total scores and CGI-S scores at Week 6 compared to placebo for both dose groups, with a placebo-adjusted, least-squares (LS) mean improvement as follows: LATUDA 40 mg/day: improvement of -8.0 (adjusted p-value<0.001, effect size=0.51) in PANSS total scores; improvement of -0.47 (adjusted p-value<0.001, effect size=0.49) in CGI-S scores. improvement of -8.0 (adjusted p-value<0.001, effect size=0.51) in PANSS total scores; improvement of -0.47 (adjusted p-value<0.001, effect size=0.49) in CGI-S scores. LATUDA 80 mg/day: improvement of -7.7 (adjusted p-value<0.001, effect size=0.48) in PANSS total scores; improvement of -0.42 (adjusted p-value=0.002, effect size=0.45) in CGI-S scores. LATUDA was generally well tolerated in both dose groups. The rate of study discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs) was higher in the placebo vs. LATUDA group at 8.0 percent vs 3.7 percent, respectively. The most common AEs with an incidence = 5 percent in either LATUDA group and at least twice the rate of placebo for LATUDA 40 mg/day, 80 mg/day and placebo, respectively, were somnolence* (15.5 percent, 13.5 percent, 7.1 percent), nausea (12.7 percent, 14.4 percent, 2.7 percent), akathisia (9.1 percent, 8.7 percent, 1.8 percent) and vomiting (8.2 percent, 6.7 percent, 1.8 percent). "We are pleased that the efficacy and tolerability profile of LATUDA for patients with schizophrenia was similar in adolescents to that previously seen in adults across multiple studies," said Antony Loebel, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Sunovion. "We believe that LATUDA, if approved, will be an important new therapeutic option for adolescents with schizophrenia." Additional data from this study will also be presented, showing that LATUDA was associated with minimal changes in weight and metabolic parameters. Specific results included: Weight : +0.17 kg for LATUDA 40 mg/day, +0.49 kg for LATUDA 80 mg/day and +0.05 kg for placebo. +0.17 kg for LATUDA 40 mg/day, +0.49 kg for LATUDA 80 mg/day and +0.05 kg for placebo. Cholesterol : -4.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 40 mg/day, -2.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 80 mg/day and -7.0 mg/dL for placebo. -4.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 40 mg/day, -2.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 80 mg/day and -7.0 mg/dL for placebo. Triglycerides : -2.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 40 mg/day, +7.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 80 mg/day and -2.0 mg/dL for placebo. -2.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 40 mg/day, +7.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 80 mg/day and -2.0 mg/dL for placebo. Glucose : 0.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 40 mg/day, +1.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 80 mg/day and 0.0 mg/dL for placebo. : 0.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 40 mg/day, +1.0 mg/dL for LATUDA 80 mg/day and 0.0 mg/dL for placebo. Prolactin: In male patients was +0.8 ng/mL for LATUDA 40 mg/day, +1.0 ng/mL for LATUDA 80 mg/day and 0.0 ng/mL for placebo; in female patients was +0.6 ng/mL for LATUDA 40 mg/day, +4.4 ng/mL for LATUDA 80 mg/day and +0.7 ng/mL for placebo * Somnolence includes adverse event terms: hypersomnia, sedation, somnolence and hypersomnolence LS mean change at Week 6 Median change at Week 6 last observation carried forward (LOCF) endpoint About Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a chronic, serious and often severely disabling brain disorder. Symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions usually start between ages 16 and 30.1 It can be difficult to diagnose schizophrenia in adolescents. A combination of factors can predict schizophrenia in up to 80 percent of youth who are at high risk of developing the illness. These factors include isolating oneself and withdrawing from others, an increase in unusual thoughts and suspicions, and a family history of psychosis.2 Concerns related to antipsychotic treatment tolerability also appear to be greater for children and adolescents compared to adults.3 Adolescent patients seem particularly vulnerable to antipsychotic-induced weight gain, metabolic disturbance and endocrine changes.3,4 About LATUDA LATUDA is FDA-approved to treat adult patients with: Major depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression) when used alone or with lithium or valproate Schizophrenia The efficacy of LATUDA was established in a 6-week monotherapy study and a 6-week adjunctive therapy study with lithium or valproate in adult patients with bipolar depression. The efficacy of LATUDA in the treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia was established in five 6-week controlled studies. The effectiveness of LATUDA for longer-term use, that is, for more than 6 weks, has not been established in controlled studies. Therefore, the physician who elects to use LATUDA for extended periods should periodically re-evaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient. The efficacy of LATUDA in the treatment of mania associated with bipolar disorder has not been established. The most common side effects of LATUDA include sleepiness or drowsiness; restlessness or feeling like you need to move around (akathisia); difficulty moving, slow movements, muscle stiffness or tremor; and nausea. LATUDA is available in five tablet strengths: 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg and 120 mg. Please see Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warnings, below and full Prescribing Information at www.LATUDA.com. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATIONS FOR LATUDA INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (having lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss) treated with this type of medicine are at an increased risk of death compared to patients receiving placebo (sugar pill). LATUDA is not approved for treating elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Antidepressants have increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults. Patients of all ages starting treatment should be watched closely for worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, unusual changes in behavior, agitation, and irritability. Patients, families, and caregivers should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed. Report any change in these symptoms immediately to the doctor. LATUDA is not approved for patients under the age of 18 years. LATUDA can cause serious side effects, including stroke that can lead to death, which can happen in elderly people with dementia who take medicines like LATUDA. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but very serious condition that can happen in people who take antipsychotic medicines, including LATUDA. NMS can cause death and must be treated in a hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms: high fever, excessive sweating, rigid muscles, confusion, or changes in your breathing, heartbeat, or blood pressure. Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious and sometimes permanent side effect reported with LATUDA and similar medicines. Tell your doctor about any movements you cannot control in your face, tongue, or other body parts, as they may be signs of TD. TD may not go away, even if you stop taking LATUDA. TD may also start after you stop taking LATUDA. Increases in blood sugar can happen in some people who take LATUDA. Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. If you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes (such as being overweight or a family history of diabetes), your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you start LATUDA and during therapy. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) while taking LATUDA: feel very thirsty, need to urinate more than usual, feel very hungry, feel weak or tired, feel sick to your stomach, feel confused, or your breath smells fruity. Increases in triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol and decreases in HDL (good) cholesterol have been reported with LATUDA. You may not have any symptoms, so your healthcare provider may decide to check your cholesterol and triglycerides during your treatment with LATUDA. Some patients may gain weight while taking LATUDA. Your doctor should check your weight regularly. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these: feeling dizzy or light-headed upon standing, decreases in white blood cells (which can be fatal), trouble swallowing. LATUDA and medicines like it may raise the level of prolactin. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience a lack of menstrual periods, leaking or enlarged breasts, or impotence. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a seizure disorder, have had seizures in the past, or have conditions that increase your risk for seizures. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience prolonged, abnormal muscle spasms or contractions, which may be a sign of a condition called dystonia. LATUDA can affect your judgment, thinking, and motor skills. You should not drive or operate hazardous machinery until you know how LATUDA affects you. LATUDA may make you more sensitive to heat. You may have trouble cooling off. Be careful when exercising or when doing things likely to cause dehydration or make you warm. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while you take LATUDA since these can affect the amount of LATUDA in the blood. Tell your healthcare provider about all prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are taking or plan to take, since there are some risks for drug interactions with LATUDA. Tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of LATUDA or take certain medications called CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medications. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking LATUDA. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or if you are planning to get pregnant. Avoid breastfeeding while taking LATUDA. The most common side effects of LATUDA include sleepiness or drowsiness; restlessness or feeling like you need to move around (akathisia); difficulty moving, slow movements, muscle stiffness, or tremor; and nausea. These are not all the possible side effects of LATUDA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. About Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion) Sunovion is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the innovative application of science and medicine to help people with serious medical conditions. Sunovion's vision is to lead the way to a healthier world. The Company's spirit of innovation is driven by the conviction that scientific excellence paired with meaningful advocacy and relevant education can improve lives. With patients at the center of everything it does, the Company has charted new paths to life-transforming treatments that reflect ongoing investments in research and development and an unwavering commitment to support people with psychiatric, neurological and respiratory conditions. Sunovion's track record of discovery, development and commercialization of important therapies has included Brovana (arformoterol tartrate), Latuda (lurasidone HCI), and most recently Aptiom (eslicarbazepine acetate). Headquartered in Marlborough, Mass. Sunovion is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Europe Ltd., based in London, England, and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., based in Mississauga, Ontario, are wholly-owned direct subsidiaries of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Additional information can be found on the Company's web sites: www.sunovion.com, www.sunovion.eu and www.sunovion.ca. Connect with Sunovion on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. About Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is among the top-ten listed pharmaceutical companies in Japan operating globally in major pharmaceutical markets, including Japan, the United States, China and the European Union. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma aims to create innovative pharmaceutical products in the Psychiatry & Neurology area and the Oncology area, which have been designated as the focus therapeutic areas. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is based on the merger in 2005 between Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Today, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma has about 7,000 employees worldwide. Additional information about Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is available through its corporate website at www.ds-pharma.com. BROVANA is a registered trademark of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. LATUDA is a registered trademark of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. APTIOM is used under license from BIAL. Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a U.S. subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. 2016 Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. For a copy of this release, visit Sunovion's web site at www.sunovion.com References 1 National Institute of Mental Health. Schizophrenia. [Internet]. Available from: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml. Accessed August 2016. 2 National Institute of Mental Health. Schizophrenia. [Internet]. Available from: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml. Accessed August 2016. 3 Vitiello B, et al. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2009;19(9):629-635. 4 Correll CU, Carlson HE. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006;45(7):771-791. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005861/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] Quorum Expands Software Portfolio with Land Management for Canadian Oil and Gas The latest software release is designed to address the specific needs of upstream oil and gas companies in Canada. CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 27, 2016 /CNW/ -- Quorum, the industry leader in software for hydrocarbon and energy business management, today announced the release of its new land management software for the Canadian market. Based on Quorum's flagship land system for the U.S. market, Quorum Land Canada builds on a proven foundation with new functionality that addresses the specific needs of Canadian oil and gas companies. Quorum Land Canada is the result of a joint development effort between Quorum and an upstream oil and gas company with operations in Western Canada. "Quorum is committed to innovation that ensures our customers have a competitive edge," said Olivier Thierry, Chief Marketing Officer at Quorum. "And we are dedicated to fostering our customer community in Canada, growing the market by partnering with Canadian customers to create solutions specifically for Canadian oil and gas companies." Trusted by 13 of the top 17 oil and gas companies in the United States, Quorum leads the market in land management software. Quorum Land experienced exponential growt upon its introduction in the United States, multiplying its customer base a factor of 10 over a 10-year period. Quorum plans to build on this success by expanding its software portfolio in Canada. "Our success is based on our customers' success, and we have a proven track record in Canada to build from," explained Thierry. "Today, more than 25 percent of gas processed in Alberta and British Columbia is accounted for using Quorum software. And a Canadian company, TransGas, was the first of our customers to go live with our new myQuorum platform. Our Canadian customers are truly at the forefront of innovation, and we are committed to investing in new technology for the Canadian oil and gas market." Quorum previewed its latest solution for land management to a select group of industry leaders in Calgary last month. The company will officially unveil Quorum Land Canada with a live demonstration at the Glenbow Museum. For details and to register for the event, visit our registration page. To learn more about Quorum software solutions for Canadian oil and gas, visit www.qbsol.com/canada. About Quorum. Quorum makes innovative software for hydrocarbon and energy business management. Our platform of integrated solutions is designed with deep industry expertise using next-generation technology. It delivers advanced functionality, improved efficiency, and enhanced regulatory compliance. And it is proven to maximize profit throughout the energy value chain to drive customer success. For more information, visit www.qbsol.com. Contact: Louisa Glinski DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE MARKETING Quorum Business Solutions Office: 713.430.8668 Mobile: 832.216.1920 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325793LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quorum-expands-software-portfolio-with-land-management-for-canadian-oil-and-gas-300352555.html SOURCE Quorum [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] The 100th Annual Meeting of The Optical Society and FiO Celebrated with 2,300 Attendees For 100 years, the optical science community has been gathering to discuss the latest advances in all areas of the field of optics and photonics at The Optical Society's Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO), co-located with Laser Science, the 32nd Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Laser Science (DLS). The meeting has grown from its start as a local conference focused on topics such as photography and vision to new scientific thrusts of today such as developments in nonlinear spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography. The annual program was held 17-20 October 2016 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center with an attendance of 2,300. "This meeting was 100 years in the making," said Elizabeth Rogan, CEO, The Optical Society. "From our centennial celebrations to the technical programming, FiO engaged scientists, engineers, business leaders and students from around the world to share the latest advances in optics. This premier conference program reflects the best in class of volunteers that developed the program." In addition to the acclaimed research, attendees benefited from a wealth of special events and programming. To name a few, technical division chairs gave an overview of the hot topics in optics today in virtually every sub-field of optics, seven special symposia were held on topics ranging from integrated photonic manufacturing to quantum photonics, and women leaders in the field came together for a day-long program on current issues and trends facing women and minorities in science. Centennial Programming OSA created a Century of Optics exhibit that showcases 100 iconic, forward-thinking moments in the science of light and The Optical Society's history. The anchor and traveling exhibits were displayed at more than 25 global optics conferences and OSA meetings throughout 2016. At the conclusion of FiO, the anchor exhibit moved to the Rochester Museum and Science Center where it will be displayed in the lobby of the Strasenburgh Planetarium through 30 April 2017. The exhibit also is on permanent display at 16 university partners in Australia, China, Columbia, Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition to sharing a century of optics in pictures, OSA's Centennial celebrations connected its members through increased involvement and recognition. The "Write the Future" contest produced 39 submissions of short stories from 14 countries. Honorable mentions were awarded at FiO to Edward Chen, a hD candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States; Sourabh Kumar, a student at University of Calgary, Canada; and Nicolas Wong a post-graduate researcher at University of Southampton, United Kingdom. The winning submission called "Abby's Morning" was written by Kristian Buchwald, Vice President at Ibsen Photonics, Denmark. He generously donated the $500 prize to the OSA Foundation. All four submissions will be published in the November OPN Magazine. Theoretical physicist and futurist Dr. Michio Kaku, City College of New York (CUNY), NY, USA, hosted the latest in The Optical Society's (OSA) Light the Future series. Kaku spoke on the next 100 years in optics, gravitational waves, optical telescopes and using optics to map the brain. Joining Kaku on the stage were seven Nobel (News - Alert) Laureates - Nicolaas Bloembergen, Robert F. Curl, Roy Glauber, John L. Hall, W.E. Moerner, William D. Phillips and David J. Wineland. Video will be available at osa.org/lightthefuture. Hot Topics in Optics and Laser Science This year's exhibit floor and conference featured multinational corporations and local Rochester-based companies, diverse programming, interactive workshops and unique technical sessions. Attendees could choose from more than 800 technical presentations this year, on topics as diverse as digital holography and optical microfabrication to optical signal processing and metamaterials. FiO research generated plenty of buzz including coverage in the CBS, NPR (News - Alert), Yahoo! News and GizMag, among others. Researchers from around the world presented industry leading technical peer-reviewed papers on topics including: Researchers Demonstrate Hyperspectral Imaging for Multiphoton Microscopy - Researchers at Cornell University have discovered an innovation to extend the current capabilities of this technology New Laser Provides Ultra-Precise Tool for Scientists Probing the Secrets of the Universe - Researchers have developed a new laser that makes it possible to measure electron transition energies in small atoms and molecules with unprecedented precision. The instrument will help scientists test one of the bedrock theories of modern physics to new limits, and may help resolve an unexplained discrepancy in measurements of the size of the proton. A Swift, Economical Technique for Imaging Multicore Fibers in Real Time - Multicore fibers (MCF) have attracted much attention in the fields of telecommunications, fiber lasers and medical endoscopes. MCF-based optical imaging techniques, which use a fiber bundle (each fiber acting like a discrete pixel to form the final pixelated image), are useful for investigating inside the human body in a minimally invasive way. FiO/LS 2016 provided attendees from around the world with the opportunity to network, present, learn, and connect. The 2017 conference will be held 17-21 September at the Washington Hilton, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. About FiO/LS Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2016 is The Optical Society's (OSA) 100th Annual Meeting and held together with Laser Science, the 32th annual meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Laser Science (DLS). The two meetings unite the OSA and APS communities for five days of quality, cutting-edge presentations, in-demand invited speakers and a variety of special events spanning a broad range of topics in optics and photonics-the science of light-across the disciplines of physics, biology and chemistry. The exhibit floor will feature leading optics companies, technology products and programs. More information at: FrontiersinOptics.org. About The Optical Society Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and entrepreneurs who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit: osa.org/100. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027006110/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan told those attending a World Jewellery Confederation conference in Yerevan that his government has proclaimed jewellery making and stone processing a strategic priority and has been taking steps to foster the development of these sectors. President Sargsyan kicked off the conference, which has attracted 80 participants from 25 countries, by welcoming the guests and afterwards awarding President of the CIBJO Gaetano Cavalieri with the Medal of Gratitude for the activities of the World Jewellery Confederation in Armenia, as well as for making Armenian jewellery and stone processing traditions known throughout the world. In his address, Sargsyan noted that Armenian jewellers have given a boost to the entire industry, establishingjewellery production and jewellery stores in New York and Paris, Moscow and London, Constantinople and Beirut, Cairo and many other places. Saddling up to help children What gave rise to the Ventura County Sheriffs Posses latest initiative to help kids with disabilities? Just a man and his horse. Somis resident Russell... CRPD to dedicate latest neighborhood park near Janss/23 The newest installation in the Conejo Rec and Park District system is now open to the public. On Oct. 21, CRPD crews took down the... The best birthday gift ever As Kerri Braemer-Castro looked down at the mountains and valleys of Camarillo from the cockpit of a World War II B-25 bomber earlier this month,... Break out the costumes HISTORIC FUNTop, Layla Sayegh, 8, of West Hills tries her hand at roping on Oct. 22 during Leonis Adobe Museums annual Pumpkin Party. Above, Lisa... It appears that sometimes, in Armenia, it pays to complain to the top powers that be. Armen Buniatyan was more than displeased when the Ministry of Nature Protection demanded that his company, Father and Son Buniatyans Ltd., pay 610 million AMD ($1.282 million) for damages to the environment. The company, founded in 2008, is in the fish farming business. Mr. Buniatyan lodged a complaint with Armenias president and prime minister. The ministry then received an order from Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan to review the complaint and the fine. As a result, the demand that the company pay the 610 million AMD was declared void. The decision to fine the company 300,000 AMD ($630) remained unchanged. The government of Armenia will allocate 20 million AMD ($42,000) to cover the 2016-2017 academic year tuition costs of Syrian-Armenians studying at universities and primary/mid-level trade schools in Armenia. The money will first go to the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs for eventual distribution. The government has been allocating funds for this purpose since 2012. In 2014, 26.1 million AMD was allocated; 24.6 million in 2015. The government reports that 400 of the 500 Syrian-Armenians studying in Armenia need tuition assistance. For the 2016-2017 academic year, the AGBU and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation will allocate US$125,000 each to partially cover such tuition expenses. The 20 million AMD provided by the government will make up the difference. Hetq has written about the attraction that the Czech real estate market holds for many Armenian government officials. Weve written about the property holdings and dealings of Armen Gevorgyan (a former Armenian deputy prime minister and now chief of the presidential staff). Hetq has also delved into the Czech real estate business interests of Yervand Zakharyan and his children. Zakharyan, a member of Armenias ruling Republican Party, is a longtime government official who has served as Armenias Minister of Transport and Communications (1998-2000), Minister of State Revenues ((2001-2002), Yerevan Mayor (2003-2009), Minister of Energy and Natural Resources (2014-2016), among other top posts. Lets now look at MP Karo Karapetyan, from the Prosperous Armenia faction who sits on the Standing Committee for Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs. Per the Czech constitution, foreigners wishing to acquire property must first set up a company in the country. This is the reason why Hetq can examine the Czech corporate registry and see what Armenian nationals are up to. MP Karapetyan, along with his wife and two sons, are registered, for residency purposes, in the village of Shahumyan, in Armenias Ararat Province. Vilik Karapetyan, the MPs youngest son, declared zero income or property from 2012-2014. This was the period when he was registered as a dependent and living with the family. Surprisingly, on September 7, 2015, Vilik, who hadnt declared any income, founded a company called ViloKaro Ltd. in the Czech Republic. Charter capital amounted to 100,000 Czech Koruna ($4,040). Vilik owned 50% of the shares. The remaining half was owned by Zaven Baghdasaryan, registered as living in a Prague house (Jirsakova 133/33, Treboradice) owned by his parents registered in Yerevan. Per Czech law, a foreign national wishing to register a company in the country must either be a Czech citizen or have residency status. Three months after ViloKaro was founded, Baghdasaryan handed over his shares to Vilik Karapetyan. Thus, we can assume that Baghdasaryan was brought into the deal just to satisfy the residency requirement of the law. ViloKaro, unlike most companies founded by individuals from Armenia, isnt in the real estate business. It sells food and alcohol. Per the Czech state real estate registry, neither the company nor Vilik Karapetyan own any property in the country. The company is registered at Trojicka 1910/7, Nove Mesto, in Prague. The building has 14 tenants 3 companies and 11 individuals. The name of ViloKara doesnt appear on the directory in the buildings foyer. Maybe its an oversight, or maybe the company is registered under the name of one of the other tenants. In the same building, Zaven Baghdasaryan has registered a company called ALTAYKA Ltd., which he founded in May 2015 with Yerevan resident Vahram Vardanyan. ALTAYKA is in the same business at ViloKaro. In August of this year, Baghdasaryan left the company and gave his shares to Vardanyan. The registration address of ALTAYKA was then changed to the Czech city of Hradec Kralove. Zaven Baghdasaryan, because he enjoys Czech residency status, is probably hiring out his services to people from Armenia who want to set-up companies in the Czech Republic. Today, when Hetq asked MP Karo Karapetyan about ViloKaro Ltd. and why the company was founded in the Czech Republic, the legislator replied that he would respond after leaving the parliament session. We waited outside. He never showed. With support of Pavla Holcova (Czech Republic) Photos: Saro Baghdasaryan Prague-Yerevan While 2022 has already begun, it's not too late to order one of the best photo calendars. A personalized photo calendar filled with pictures of you and your loved ones not only makes for a great gift, but is something that you'll look at every day as you fill it with appointments, recitals, birthdays, and other reminders. Because you'll have your photo calendar on your desk or refrigerator or kitchen wall all year long, you'll want to make sure it looks good, too. That's why we tested the top photo calendar services to see how easy it is to make a calendar just the way you want, and to see which was the best when it came to the printed product. What are the best photo calendar services? After testing all of the top services, Printique came out on top as the best photo calendar. Not only did its calendar have the best and most consistent photo reproduction of all the services we tested, but it also offered the greatest flexibility with its calendar-creation software. However, it was in a virtual tie with Mixbook, which has nearly as good print quality and software, but is slightly less expensive. Be sure to check out our Printique vs. Mixbook comparison to see which service is best for you. Many of these services often offer promotions and deals for calendars and other photo products as much as 50% off, in some cases so be sure to compare their discounted rates before choosing one for your needs. And be sure to check out our picks for the best photo books and best photo cards. Here are the best photo calendar services (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 1. Printique Excellent quality and an excellent experience Specifications Calendar price (10 x 10 inches): $24.49 Calendar sizes: 8.27 x 3.74, 6 x 6, 8 x 8, 10 x 10, 12 x 18, 12 x 5.43 Today's Best Deals Printique - Photo Calendars from (opens in new tab) $14.99 (opens in new tab) Visit Site (opens in new tab) at Printique (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Lovely photo calendar + Powerful, creative, flexible software + Intelligent content organization + Large selection of great cutout shapes Reasons to avoid - No opacity/transparency controls, borders or text drop shadow Printique wins the top prize for the best photo calendar. Printiques calendar interface isnt simply an add-on to its powerful, versatile, creative software. The developers put some thought into what you might want and need when customizing a calendar, which means you can do more with the grid page than usual. Like Mixbook, all of Printiques excellent editing and creating tools are available for the grid page. In addition, you can edit the grid itself. Printiques printed calendar has excellent photo reproduction and professional print quality. While we highly recommend Printique for the very best customized photo calendar, be sure to check out our second favorite: Mixbooks calendar. Read our full Printique review. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 2. Mixbook Still one of the best photo calendar services around. Specifications Calendar price (11 x 8.5 inches): $24.99 Calendar sizes: 11 x 8.5, 14 x 11, 12 x 12 Today's Best Deals Mixbook photo calendars from (opens in new tab) $18.84 (opens in new tab) Visit Site (opens in new tab) at Mixbook (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Versatile, flexible, easy to use, creative software + Attractive fully editable templates + Generous searchable libraries of great backgrounds, templates, layouts and clip art + Lovely printed calendar Reasons to avoid - No drop shadow for text - Weak calendar event box editing This year, Mixbooks calendar came in second place, after Printique. Mixbooks software gives you the versatile, flexible tools you want and need to have fun creating a calendar youll be proud of all year. That includes being able to easily upload your own photos and graphics to use as backgrounds or clip art; Printique doesnt offer that in its interface. While Mixbooks calendar software doesnt have as many options as Printiques, you can be as creative with Mixbooks date grid pages as you can with the photo pages. Unfortunately, Mixbooks calendar software has weak event management, but then again, Printique doesnt have an event manager at all. Mixbooks printed calendars photos are warm, bright and lively, and the type is clean and well-formed. And because we could design both the photo pages and the date grid page, it has a polished, professional look. Still, Printiques print job is a notch above in quality compared to Mixbooks. Read our full Mixbook review. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 3. Shutterfly Good but not great software and photo quality keep Shutterfly from being a top contender. Specifications Calendar price (11 x 8 inches): $24.99 Calendar sizes: 8 x 11, 12 x 11 Reasons to buy + Powerful, flexible software + Fully editable calendar templates + Large libraries of clip art and backgrounds Reasons to avoid - Borders have fixed width and colors - Cumbersome multi-step event date box creation Shutterflys calendar software has all the great versatility and flexibility of its photo book interface, as well as the same limitations. Add to that the workflow problems particular to creating a calendar. These include a convoluted multi-step event date box creation, and the inability to span a photo or clip art across the two pages of a calendar months spread. Shutterflys printed calendar has too many flaws to make it our top pick among the best photo calendars. The photos have an orange shift that is generally more pronounced in dark skintones. While the pictures have a good balance between shadows, midtones and highlights, shadows tend to be harsh. And focus isnt great. But the final nail in its coffin is that the Shutterfly calendar is more expensive than our top winners: Printique and Mixbook. Read our full Shutterfly review. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 4. Costco Photo Center Lowest priced, but low-rated software and print quality. Specifications Calendar price (8 x 11.5 inches): $9.89 Calendar sizes: 8.5 x 11, 11.5 x 14 Today's Best Deals View at Costco PhotoCenter (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Simple and quick calendar creation + Inexpensive Reasons to avoid - Restrictive software - Severely limited options - Below average print quality Costcos photo calendar is really inexpensive. However, look twice at whats being offered. Its calendar-creation software has few options and little opportunity for personal customization. It has no clip art or drop shadows, and the selection of fonts, text colors and backgrounds is miniscule. The one feature that was nicely implemented was how easy it was to create a graphic date box event. The photo quality on our Costco calendar is uneven. Some pictures have decent color; others are too orange. But the most noticeable issues relates to inaccurate exposure in which the shadows tend to be over pronounced, which renders some colors as muddy. Any other company in this roundup offers better quality calendars. Read our full Costco Photo Center review. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 5. Vistaprint Limited software, but good photos Specifications Calendar price (8 x 11.5 inches): $9.89 Calendar sizes: 8.5 x 11, 11.5 x 14 Reasons to buy + Calendar has good quality photos Reasons to avoid - Physical products are average or below average - Limited software Vistaprints calendar software is frustratingly restrictive. It has no photo edit tools, background options, clip art, masks or cutout shapes. Layouts are limited and uneditable. You cant add a photo to a date grid page, and if you want the icon you place (such as a birthday cake) to display in color, youll have to pay extra. On the other hand, the print quality of our Vistaprint calendar was surprisingly good with rich, lush colors, so that it came in third after Printique and Mixbook. But given that Vistaprints calendar is priced similarly to Printique and Mixbook, and certainly doesnt have their fun, creative software, we cant imagine why you would want to choose Vistaprint for your calendar. Read our full Vistaprint review. Photo calendar shipping deadlines If you want to order a photo calendar as a gift, you need to order it well in advance so it arrives in time especially if you're ordering one around the holidays. All of the best photo calendar services provide shipping deadlines, which vary on the product you order as well as the shipping method. Below are quick links to each of the services' shipping deadlines. How we test and rate photo calendar services This year, we tested five photo calendar-creation services: Mixbook, Printique, Shutterfly, Costco, and Vistaprint. However, if you want to see how other services fared in years past, here are links to our older reviews: Mpix review Artifact Uprising review Walmart Photo review CVS Photo review Snapfish review In rating the calendar-creation software, we used the following criteria: Ease of use User interface & workflow Functionality Creative flexibility Quality of templates, clip art, layouts and backgrounds When we had all our printed calendars, we gathered a jury of print and photography experts as well as everyday consumers to rate the products based on the following criteria: Overall appeal and quality of the physical calendar Photo quality Color and skin tones Dynamic range and exposure Focus and clarity Balancing of the diverse pictures Text quality Paper quality If a calendar exhibited obvious, unexpected flaws in print quality, we ordered a reprint to see if the errors were a one-time event. To keep the jury's judging blind, each calendar was identified by a number rather than the company's name. However, some calendars had the vendors' names printed on the last page. So we discouraged the jury from looking on the back of the calendars until after the judging. We rated the software separately from the printed calendar, then averaged the software and calendar scores for an overall book rating. We also took cost into consideration in our overall rating. In our print ratings, we gave the greatest weight to the quality of the services' photo reproduction, because that's the entire purpose of a photo calendar. Microsoft is preparing to roll out the Windows 10 Creator Edition update and is finally talking about what you can expect. The new version of Windows 10 embraces creativity and gives you all the tools you need to work in three dimensions. Microsofts Windows 10 Creator Edition is rolling out to Windows Insiders this week and focuses heavily on creativity. Weve long had tools for 2D creation, but 3D creation isnt as easy to pick up. 3D animation requires specialty software and training, and 3D scans require specialized hardware that isnt readily available. Microsoft wants to change that, and Windows 10 Creator Edition is a big step towards democratizing 3D content creation. 3D All The Things Putting the tools to create 3D objects and environments in people's hands is the first step to democratizing 3D creation, and Windows 10 Creator Edition does just that. Win10 Creator Edition includes a new version of Microsofts basic art program, Paint. The latest edition, dubbed Paint 3D, adds tools that let you manipulate 3D objects. Paint 3D lets you import objects that youve scanned with a 3D scanner, or downloaded from the internet. Microsoft launched a remix3D.com website that allows you to share your creations with others, or you can download others' creations to import into your drawings. Microsoft also partnered with Trimble to give you access to the entire library of 3D models in the Sketchup 3D Warehouse. Oh, and remember how Microsoft dropped billions of dollars on Minecraft? The company is leveraging that investment for more than just gaming. Now you can export your Minecraft creations directly to the remix3D catalog so that other people can use it in their art. The remix3d.com website also lets you order 3D prints of the exported Minecraft models. Once you have a 3D model inside Paint 3D, you are free to do anything with it that you would with older versions of Paint. Microsoft redesigned every brush tool to work seamlessly with 3D objects, so you can doodle on their surface or change their color. Paint 3D also includes a stamp tool that lets you paste any 2D image to a 3D object the same way that textures are applied to 3D models. The new Paint treats 3D images as 3D models. After saving a creation from Paint 3D, you can import it into other software that can take advantage of 3D. For example, you can upload the 3D file to Facebook to share it with your friends. Facebook can play an animation to showcase the depth of the 3D scene. You can also import 3D images from Paint 3D into AR and VR environments. With a Microsoft Hololens HMD, you can view the 3D images in the real world and treat them as objects in your space. The 3D models are accessible in full VR, as well. Microsoft demonstrated a full VR environment with a large TV screen on one wall and a shelf full of 3D apps on the opposite side of the room. The 3D image that it built on stage for the demo is seen sitting on the shelf next to the application icons. Paint 3D isnt the only application that Microsoft is updating for the 3D world. The Microsoft Edge browser can access 3D content through Hololens and allows you to bring objects into the real world from a website. Microsoft showed an example of shopping for furniture with Hololens, which allows you to preview furniture in your home before buying it. Microsoft said it plans to integrate 3D into [its] most popular applications. As an example, the company showed a preview of what you can do with PowerPoint in 3D. Imagine having a slideshow with a 3D object that you can position at any angle to get just the right vantage point. Now imagine being able to animate that image if you rotate it or zoom in. PowerPoint 3D lets you automatically create fancy animations like that with simple transitions, and the software does all the animation for you. Hardware Too? VR HMDs Microsoft talked a lot about the software updates we can expect with the Windows 10 Creator Edition update, but it also mentioned some exciting new hardware that it designed to interact with the 3D tools that come with Win10 Creator Edition. Microsoft revealed five partners that are building affordable VR HMDs. Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo will all launch VR HMDs that connect to your PC, like the Rift and Vive. Microsoft didnt reveal the hardware specifications, but the company did say that these HMDs feature inside-out tracking that allows for 6-degrees of freedom (6DoF) movement. We cant say for sure, but we wonder if these HMDs are the product of Intel and Microsofts collaboration, which we affectionately dubbed Wintel VR. Microsoft didnt say when the unnamed VR HMDs would hit the market, but the company indicated that they would be more affordable than current VR HMD options. Today, you can purchase a Rift for $599 or a Vive for $799 to enjoy high-end VR. Or, you can purchase a GearVR (and soon Google Daydream) for under $100 to experience mobile VR. Microsoft is slipping its tethered, inside-out tracking HMD right in the middle of the price range. For as little at $299, youll be able to buy a VR HMD from one of Microsofts five partners. Faster Than Lightning The VR industry is moving at a mind-numbing pace, and things are just getting started. The HTC Vive and Oculus Rift started to trickle into consumer's hands half a year ago. In April, if you wanted a VR HMD, you had two options. Today you can add PSVR to the list of choices, but it wont be long before that list is nearly a dozen. We dont yet know if Microsofts HMD design supports OpenVR, OSVR, or a proprietary VR standard. Microsoft already has a partnership with Oculus, so perhaps the Oculus Store will support these HMDs. Microsoft could even make a play towards console VR with these headsets. Project Scorpio, which is supposed to launch next year, has specifications capable of VR, and the Xbox.com website (opens in new tab) boasts that Project Scorpio is the first and only console to enable true 4K gaming and hi-fidelity VR. If we asked you to name some Australian music festivals, we have no doubt youd be able to throw names at us all day. But what you may not be as familiar with is just how your favourite festivals, even iconic Australian cultural events, actually come into being. Sure, youre probably aware that Big Day Out actually started life as a Nirvana concert, but its rare that you actually get to witness the birth of a game-changing new Australian music festival the way previous generations got to seemingly every couple of years. Meet The Lost Lands, a new venture from Simon Daly (Falls Festival founder) and David Strong (The Peninsula Picnic Creative Director & former St Kilda Festival Director), which aims to bring a taste of the European festival market to the Australian scene. Aimed at engaging the whole family (the parents and the kids), The Lost Lands sets itself apart from other festivals in the country. We recently caught up with Simon to find out how a music festival comes to life and how he hopes Lost Lands will foster a new generation of Aussie festival-goers. See a ground-breaking new Australian music festival come to life this weekend when The Lost Lands launches its inaugural event at Werribee Mansion check below for details or head to The Lost Lands website for more details and tickets! Ch-ch-changes The market has changed significantly since I helped start Falls. Big Day Out I think was one year older than Falls and Meredith maybe the same, and that was probably the landscape at that time. And I guess Woodford. It just went into being a huge market, a really significant market through the 2000s and its been well documented how that shrunk. But interestingly, in Europe festivals havent gone through quite that shrinkage. There hasnt been any significant events falling over, that Im aware of anyway. I think in Europe theres been a festival culture over many decades, whereas in Australia that was a lot younger. Theyve been part of the fabric in Europe for longer than in Australia. Hopefully with Lost Lands and things like that, younger generations, as in kids five to 12 and 14, will grow up in a really great festival culture and embrace it from a younger age and itll become a rite of passage. From Falls to The Lost Lands The key is that youre curating for a demographic thats from two to 62 and doing that opens up so many different worlds and so many different places you can take the event. Not just this year, but into the future. There just isnt those constraints like with Falls, where youre talking to an audience thats an 18 30-year-old audience or a Meredith, maybe a 20 35-year-old audience, or something thereabouts. Its a little but more constrained, I think. With Lost Lands you really are wanting to program for parents and for kids, but youre also wanting to program a music lineup thats geared towards someone who may not necessarily be going with their kids or is just going with friends so they can have a great time. The Spark Since departing Falls three years ago, Ive spent a fair bit of time contemplating and Ive also got two kids who are now three and weve got this space down on a river, about two hours south of Lorne, a really beautiful spot, and its just a place where we always go camping. We started inviting a whole bunch of families camping and its just amazing. Wed end up with probably around 100 families all up and youd sit down at the end exhausted and over the Melbourne Cup weekend youd count about 18 activities that wed all engaged in. It was just for parents and kids, just a really engaging time, and each year that seemed to get stronger and stronger. And I thought this would be something great to share with a lot of families and I could add the music and arts element to it because of my festival time. Step One The first steps are very much just talking to a bunch of friends. Every family that has been on our little camping adventures are guests of the Lost Lands for life, especially since weve replaced that date with Lost Lands. Its just incredible how many people all said its a no-brainer, just as an idea its something that hasnt been done in that way, where kids and parents are treated in equal measure. Theres certainly some great festivals around where theres some kids programming existing but not one where its at least 50-50 if not more. So it was very much workshopping with lots and lots people to make sure its the right one and then the next thing is securing the venue. Securing The Venue Harvest Festival was my first experience at the Werribee Mansion and I was just jaw-dropped at the beauty of the venue and there was some great music in that first Harvest Festival. It just left a really good impression on me and to me it was perfect for this. Families can easily access the mansion, they can camp, which has never been done before, and especially so close to Melbourne, where they can go out on a limb and camp. And if they feel its not working for them theyre never that far from home. And just the beauty of the grounds and the mansion and the Werribee Zoo surrounding, it really is just the perfect place. So that was probably the first thing, reaching out to Parks Victoria and working with them and all the stakeholders there, a lot was involved in that. So once we secured that element of it, it was about sourcing the artists and working with all the people youve worked with in the past, suppliers, to get it to the point where its an event that you can deliver for a price that its affordable for parents and kids to access, but also be a really strong event. The Lost Lands Festival The Waifs The Grates Mariachi El Bronx Missy Higgins Ozomatli Harts Architecture in Helsinki The Bamboos with Tim Rogers Tash Sultana Little Stevies Alex Lahey Ali Barter Olympia Saturday, 29th October Sunday, 30th October 2016 Werribee Mansion, Werribee VIC Tickets: The Lost Lands Russian artist Pavel Dovgal is getting set to unleash his newest album The Aura, on November 25th, and has dropped a gorgeous video/album trailer in anticipation. Pavel has been making a name for himself worldwide since the release of his first solo album, Cassiopeia, back in 2010, with Australian fans starting to notice him after an enthralling split EP he released with Ta-ku in 2011. His new record is a continuation of the downtempo, jazz-influenced trip-hop sounds that Pavel Dovgal has been making over the years. The albums trailer encapsulates the chilled out atmosphere by mixing in intimate black and white shots of natural landscapes and cityscapes from around the world, showcasing the organic and constructed elements that he manages to work into his music. The Aura is set for release on November 25th, but in the meantime, get yourself excited by checking out the album trailer below. St Kilda Festival organisers are getting ready to celebrate the festivals 37th year as Australias largest free music festival and as one of Melbournes favourite celebrations of live music, culture, arts, and community. Festival Sunday will take place on 12th February, the culmination of a weeks worth of events and attractions. Organisers are expecting another record year, with the festival attracting more than 440,000 visitors in 2016. Recent years have seen performances from the likes of The Living End, The Hoodoo Gurus, Client Liaison, Bad//Dreems, Hot Dub Time Machine, DMAs, and more, as well as a mix of dance, carnival rides, sports, stalls, and activities. The full program for St Kilda Festival 2017 is set to drop later in the year. You can head on over to the official St Kilda Festival website for more details or keep an eye on Tone Deaf and well have the full lineup as soon as it drops. If you havent checked your Facebook feed this week, Australias musicians are standing arm in arm with the creative community to hold up a great big middle finger aimed at Education Minister Simon Birmingham for dismissing creative careers as lifestyle choices. Birminghams comments came as the government axes hundreds of courses from VET student loan eligibility. Its not an entirely dimwitted move, as its part of a bigger push towards penalising dodgy private colleges that bilk their students and taxpayers out of money. But many, including prominent musicians like rappers Illy and Tuka, have taken to social media to savage the Education Minister over his condescending attitude towards working in the creative fields, which he claimed is a lifestyle choice that wont lead to a job. Now more musicians have come forward with criticism of Birminghams quotes, including Gang of Youths, Skegss, and Peking Duk. Absolutely, it is a lifestyle choice in every way. To say that its not a lifestyle choice would be nuts, Peking Duks Reuben Styles told SBS2s The Feed. However, as Styles and bandmate Adam Hyde explained, so too is being a politician and indeed any career one chooses. Its the same as if someone wanted to study science at the tertiary level. I dont see how thats not a lifestyle choice, said Hyde. If your work is not your lifestyle choice then youre not in the right field, Styles added. Every politician is there because they love bickering. They love it, its everything they want to be. And to say that they dont love their job and theyre just doing it for the bread and butter, its ridiculous. Birminghams comments come as the government slashes funding to Sounds Australia, who help export Australias vibrant music scene overseas. Despite the cuts, Tone Deaf recently reported on a government report which recommended injecting an extra $24 million into Australian opera. Love Skegss? Get the latest Skegss news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more JOIN When asked where we could cut costs to fund Australias creative scene, Hyde said, Well, the government puts $13 billion towards defence. If they were to not pay for one more plane, [they could] give some of that money towards creative stuff. Speaking to Music Feeds, Gangs of Youths commented, Everything is a lifestyle choice, Simon. Becoming a member of parliament is no more or less part of the cultural capitalist hegemony than deciding to utilise ones skill in commerce to sell fruit by the side of the road. Yet one is done in earnest as a transaction between consumer and merchant and the other is predicated on obscure and theoretical constructions and power structures. The guy selling fruit is the former. You are the latter. Skegss, meanwhile, added, What a f***ing dog. So the minister has no paintings in his house and doesnt listen to any music? Nice one to the education minister. Check out Peking Duks appearance on The Feed below. New-Zealand artist Nadia Reid has released a lovely new video for single Reaching Through, taken from her 2015 record Listen To Formation, Look For The Signs. The beautifully-shot clip shows Nadia wandering through the rooms of the British Hotel in Christchurch, still showing damage from the effects of the 2011 earthquakes. With a new album planned for next year, shell will be stopping by our shores to showcase some new material very soon (dates below) so be sure to head along and see why Nadia Reid is becoming a fast favourite of ours. Nadia Reid Tour Dates Friday, November 18th Newtown Social Club, Sydney NSW (Supporting Laura Jean) Saturday, November 19th Finbox Boardstore, Wollongong NSW (Supporting Laura Jean) Saturday, November 19th The Front Gallery, Canberra ACT (Supporting Laura Jean) Sunday, November 20th Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC The 2016 Presidential election put a spotlight on immigration, and from the Republican side, a very negative light. If you are dependent on an immigrant labor force, which many dairy operations throughout the country are, it is time to determine how you are going to generate support in 2017 for sensible, logical, and socially acceptable immigration reform in your community. There are three basic immigration policy positions that must be addressed: First, a path to legalization for any employees that currently lack proper documentation. Second, visas for future workforce needs. Third, border security. Border security can only be accomplished if a well-designed immigration policy is in place addressing the first two points. For success to occur there must be a unified effort by our national and state associations, along with the inclusion of all agribusiness, whose financial success is deeply dependent on immigration reform. Yet for the most part, agribusiness has stayed on the sidelines. Agribusiness, as defined by the University of Idaho, is the vertically integrated industrial complex engaged in the production and processing of agricultural products. The study looks exclusively at agribusiness impacts in Idaho. The executive summary states, Using base analysis, which takes into account economic activity generated in other sectors by agribusiness exports, agribusiness contributed over $27 billion (20 percent) of total state sales, over $10 billion (16 percent) of the state's Gross State Product (GSP) and over 126,000 (14 percent) jobs. Agribusiness is Idahos largest base industry as ranked by sales, the third largest ranked by base value added, and the fourth largest as ranked by base jobs. For the Idaho dairy industry, we account for $6.6 billion of total sales, $2.2 billion in gross domestic product, $72 million in state tax revenue, 23,000 jobs, and labor income of $680 million. Of those 23,000 jobs, roughly 8,400 are on the dairy operations, and the vast majority of those are hardworking, dedicated immigrants. To say the least, many upward bound jobs stand on the shoulders of foreign-born labor and it is time for our legislative leaders to value their contributions. Immigration reform will always be a heavy lift! It is time for all of agribusiness to become invested, both financially and individually, in securing sound, sensible, logical, and socially responsible immigration reform. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2016 Record fairs are becoming more and more popular in recent times as vinyl itself has also made a comeback, with music fans always looking to buy, sell, or just plain peruse music they could use to fatten up their record collections. The Crate Digger Record Fair has been going on for a while now, with numerous events being held each year, and on November 5th theyll be holding another edition at The Hood at the Preston Markets, as part of the Darebin Music Feast. Looking forward to skimming some vinyl, we chatted with Andy Moore, the organiser of Crate Diggers record fair to get his thoughts and advice on the joys of collecting vinyl, his best record bin finds, and the importance of vinyl in todays increasingly digital age. Talking Vinyl With Andy Moore The Crate Digger Record Fair has been running for a long time now how has the interest grown over the years? The fairs have been running since 2010, with the first one going completely bonkers as Bruce Milne, former owner of the Tote, called me up a week beforehand asking if he could sell his collection at it. We had a queue out the door just to get in, and then another queue to get into the room with all of his stock. Weve never returned to that level, but its fair to say that interest has grown considerably since the fairs that immediately followed that first one. The resurgence of records as a format in recent years has also helped. Apparently some people head to the fair to sell their collections in bulk. How often do you see this, and what are the reasons people give? Love The Beatles? Get the latest The Beatles news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more JOIN A few times each year people will book a stall to sell an entire collection, which I always find particularly interesting as you get to see exactly what they have bought over the years, rather than the crap that they no longer want. Sometimes it is the result of a sad event such as a death of a family member or friend, whereas other times it is a fire sale before relocating interstate or overseas, a distribution or shop that has gone bust, those sort of situations. There have been a few sellers over the years who have decided to convert their collection to a digital format using a USB turntable and then sell everything they have. The reasons are generally pretty varied. The Recording Industry Association of America reports that sales of vinyl in the US have seen a decline for the first time in the decade, having just hit their highest peak since 1988. Do you see the vinyl resurgence slowing down? Thats an interesting statistic. I havent seen any evidence of vinyl sales slowing especially given that Melbourne has seen the number of vinyl retailers rapidly increase over the past two years, not to mention the number of fairs and pop-ups that happen around town. When we began it was pretty much just the big ones at Essendon and Box Hill (formerly Camberwell), and with all of these extra opportunities to buy records, people still seem to lap it up. Maybe it has reached its ceiling, but I am guessing it will remain strong for years to come. You can argue that it is the most relevant physical format these days, it has beaten down all technological advances that threatened its existence and is still standing. A lot of companies have begun repressing old records to capitalise on the boom. What sort of impact have they had on the industry, vinyl collectors, or those who enjoy crate digging? As a collector myself, I prefer to buy older pressings of records rather than reissues, but the bottom line is that a lot of stuff is really difficult to find and expensive in its original form, so a repressing makes it easier to have the records you want on the vinyl format. Then there is that period through the 1990s and early this decade where a lot of releases were only issued on CD, so the recent vinyl pressings of these releases is the first time they have been available on wax. Repressings have also impacted on the value of records, although it seems that the laws of economics seem to not always apply. Youd expect reissuing a record would increase the supply of a title and thus forcing the price of the original pressings down as potential customers buy the reissues at a more affordable price, but in some instances, it actually causes a price jump in the old versions. I guess that this is from the added publicity a release gets when it is reissued, generating more demand, but it is hard to tell. All of that aside, it really comes down to the individual. Is ordering a new pressing of an old album somewhat defeating the purpose of enjoying vinyl? To me, not necessarily, but to many, yes it would be. It goes back to the individual. Many repressings of old records come with bonus tracks and extended liner notes, gatefold pressings, a whole host of things that set it apart from the original. That said, there are certain types of records that I like to hear a bit of noise on, which is something that you cant get with a new record. I bought an original UK pressing of the first Rolling Stones record in Glasgow for 1 and boy is it a beaten up record. Theres a lot of crackle going on when I play it, but it doesnt skip once. The cover is water damaged and tattered at the edges, yet I wouldnt have it any other way. That record is more than 50 years old and has been flogged at parties for 50 years. Its just a cracking record and I often wonder how many owners there have been and where it has travelled over the years. Oh well, it lives in Melbourne now, and its a record that, in my opinion, deserves to be owned in such condition. Ringo Starrs mint condition copy of The Beatles (number 0000001) went for $920,000 at auction recently. A fair price? How much is too much for a record? Wow, I hadnt heard that. Its a lot of money but that record is a piece of history and you could even argue its worth more than that. I wonder if it has ever been played or has always lived in its sleeve? A fair price is whatever someone is willing to pay for a record, but so many records have far more significant meaning and value than the music that they contain. Whats the most expensive record youve bought? And your most prized? Oooooh, tough question. I couldnt say the most Ive paid for a record, but itd be somewhere around about $100 or so Im a bit of a tight arse. One of the most expensive records that I own would be an original pressing of The Cleans first single, Tally Ho/Platypus. Theres 300 copies of it and I found it for $1 in a cafe in New York years ago. Theres currently a copy of it listed on Discogs for1,000, so I think that was my best score ever. Id never sell that record, I just love it too much. Its one that I certainly play, I even used to take it out DJing with me. I have some really prized records that mean a lot to me, but may not have much value to others. Things like signed records by Mudhoney, Reigning Sound, Jay Reatard and other acts that I love. Does your own collection have some sort of theme tying it together? Not especially but there are certain record labels and bands that I have collected as much as I can from. That is when the real addiction kicks in, when you are buying records of bands that you dont really like, just because you want to collect the whole set. I dont do that as much these days, but I must say that I am still a sucker for anything with that Flying Nun label, even though Ive sold a lot of my Kiwi records. I have some friends in Europe with pretty crazy collections, where they only collect rockabilly records and nothing but. Or a friend who has his collection in drawers labelled by record label, and you pull them out and he has every original release on that label in order Sub Pop, Amphetamine Reptile, SST, Sympathy For The Record Industry, Crypt, etc. His collection would be worth more than his house. What are some tips youd give to people looking to get into record collecting? My main tip is if you find a record that you really want, buy it, even if it is a little too expensive. It pains me to think about the number of times that I found a record I was chasing, held it in my hands as I kept looking through a shop or a stall, then decided against buying it and have never seen it since or only found it for twice that price. Youre best to buy it when you see it, and if you find a better copy that is cheaper at a later stage, you can always buy that and sell your other copy. I think record fairs are the best place to start buying for a collection as you have everything you need in the one spot records of all genres and price points. Write lists for yourself, talk to stallholders and ask after specific records. Any suggestions for a starter turntable? Turntables, my other growing collection. It is harder to find cheap used turntables these days but if you are gunning for one, I recommend garage sales, Gumtree and eBay, or the Mill Markets and other antique and collectable stores generally have a good range of great looking, older style stock. Some of the record stores in the inner north like Goldmine Records and Thornbury Records have good stuff too. If youre after something new in the budget range, there are brands like Crosley that take a vintage look and have a variety of options with built in speakers or as a stereo component. What are your views on the cassette craze thats threatening to kick off which format reigns supreme? Personally, Im not into cassettes but I do love the DIY aesthetic of bands dubbing their own copies and making up their own covers for a limited run. I love the fact that people obsess over what is largely considered an obsolete format, but for me, Ill always be a lover of records, although I do love my copy of Joy Divisions Closer cassette in a box. Its a beautiful piece of packaging. Vive la vinyl! The Crate Digger Record Fair will be held at The Hood at the Preston Market on November 5th, check out the Facebook event page for more info. Statement On Recall Effort From Lee's Summit Councilman Chris Moreno: "I am focused on issues facing the 4th District, not the gutter politics of this small group of people that has been trashing me and my family since I decided to run for office. Their claims of "misconduct" have been rejected by the Ethics Commission. After being rejected there, they filed a complaint with the Attorney General, who ruled that my one email (which failed to copy the clerk) was not a violation of state law. I can assure you, I am not going to resign because I have done nothing wrong. More voters elected me to City Council in April than any contested candidate in Lee's Summit. I look forward to the opportunity to talk with voters about my accomplishments in just 6 short months. There are many." A political fight in the suburbs continues and we reached out the Councilman for comment regarding his detractors . . .. Here's his response:#######Developing . . . When many people think of dangerous places, they often just think of nothing more than violent crime, and the cities where it occurs frequently. While some of these cities are quite dangerous, and will appear below, there are many other dangers one can live with. Extreme weather conditions, hostile wildlife, potentially fatal daily commutes, and other dangerous conditions are just some of the worst ways your day, or your life, can be ruined. 10. The Anomalous Lake Maracaibo In Venezuela While there are other lightning activity hotspots in the world, they tend to be more spread out, or only during certain seasons. By far the highest concentration of lightning in one place in the world, goes to the bizarre lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. In this spot, on most nights, you can essentially see lightning flashing over and over again. In the area around the lake, there are roughly 250 lightning flashes per square kilometer a year. During the right time of year, when a storm is really going, you can see up to 28 lightning flashes per minute. When the lightning flashes are going they can be seen as far as 250 miles away, and some say sailors from long ago used it as a navigational beacon. Interestingly, experts are unsure as to why this particular area is a hotspot for lightning. Some suggested uranium in the bedrock, others suggested wind patterns or other similar ideas. Right now, there is no solid theory to explain what is happening that anyone is willing to stake their reputation on. 9. The Coldest Inhabited Village In The World The village of Oymyakon, in Russia, is the coldest known inhabited city in the world, and is easily one of the most extreme environments you can choose to live. The temperature averages -58F during the winter, something most of us cannot even imagine dealing with. When asked how they deal with the cold, the locals responded with typical Russian humor, and credited vodka to their ability to deal with the cold. Walking outside for a few minutes, even when properly equipped, can cause glasses to become stuck to your face, and cars that are turned off in the cold will not turn back on. Being outside for just a few minutes without the proper gear could quickly lead to frostbite or death, depending on how little gear you have. Indoor plumbing is pretty much nonexistent due to the frozen ground, so people use outhouses. Locals mainly consume raw meat and fish, washed down with liberal amounts of vodka of course. 8. The Colombian Village Where Children Zipline Across A Canyon To Get To School Some young people will complain about taking the bus to school, and how annoying it can be to sit with the other children. Some parents will half-joke about walking uphill both ways to get to school when they were a small child. However, in some places in the world, getting to school is actually quite a real chore. In some poorer countries, kids walk miles every morning so they can learn, but one small village in Colombia has them all beat. As seen in the video above, these children are actually ziplining across a canyon every morning so they can get to their school quickly from their village. While it may look kind of fun, the average child or adult would be absolutely terrified, especially at how little safety equipment they are using. It just goes to show that if you truly want something, you will brave almost anything to get it. 7. Honduras, The Murder Capital Of The World When most people hear about immigrants coming to the United States to seek shelter, whether they do so illegally, or attempt to seek asylum officially at our borders, they think of people coming from Mexico. However, there are many other South American countries from which people are fleeing to the United States. One of the chief of these is Honduras, often called the murder capital of the world. Honduras is plagued by the worst kind of gang activity. Those who do have money live in extremely tightly secured houses, with private security, that may as well be fortresses. Most people live in fear, and many people have to join the gangs in some way or simply be killed. Many young people end up killed by gang violence regardless of what choices they make. Hundreds of young people die in the gang wars every year, and less than ten percent of the cases are even investigated at all the resources simply arent there. This allows the murders to continue unabated. 6. Flint, Michigan Known For Lead Contaminated Water And Sky High Murder Rates Flint, Michigan has been in the news recently because of the lead contaminated water. The governor appointed emergency city managers, and the one in Flint forced through a water change to a cheaper source that hadnt been properly vetted. Even though the governor and the manager were warned by the EPA and others, they did not listen and went ahead. The water was not only contaminated and poor quality, but the change caused corrosion damage to the already old infrastructure, worsening the contamination. However, this was only the most recent of Flints problems. Even before the water crisis, Flint was starting to fall apart in terms of wealth, infrastructure and pretty much everything else. They were once a bustling manufacturing town, but once the industry left, the jobs were gone and most who were stuck there fell into extreme poverty. In recent years Flint has either been the murder capital of the USA, or been in the top three to five. With gang activity ramping up, jobs continuing to disappear and the water problem not going anywhere, Flint may be the most dangerous city in America. 5. Life In A Submarine Is Definitely Not Fun Many movies have romanticized submarines, especially classics like The Hunt For Red October. However, in truth submarines are an absolutely wretched place to live in, and those who work in them often do essentially live in them long term. If severely damaged during wartime, submarines may have some survivors, but in many cases it would be the end. More to the point though, even in times of relative peace, living in a submarine is a terrible prospect. They are incredibly cramped spaces with no view, no fresh air, and no variation in meals. There is nothing to talk about, no up to date television or news and nothing from the surface apart from occasional command updates. Many people start to go insane due to the extreme feeling of isolation and loss of personal space, as everyone has to sleep in tiny communal areas, and no one has their own personal bed except the command staff. While it is unlikely in peacetime for you to die on a submarine, having a bout of temporary insanity is not at all uncommon. 4. Astronauts Always Come Back From Space With Numerous Health Problems Being an astronaut and going up into space sounds like an incredibly cool job to have. Some people spend their entire lives aspiring to it and never get there. To even be considered, you have to have a masters degree or higher in a relevant field, have several years of experience, be of near perfect physical fitness, have the right height and weight range, and preferably have military experience, especially if you want to be considered for a command position. If you are interested in being a pilot, you also require a lot of experience flying. Even then, they will only select a handful of people to consider when they are looking for more, and only a few of those people will be trained. However, the truth is that all of this stringent selection is done because being in space is incredibly taxing on the human body. Just being up for a few months will eat away at the structure of your bones. The general rule of thumb is that for every month in space you are going to need two months to recover your bone density. It can also give returning astronauts serious low blood pressure for some time, and can cause permanent damage to vision due to the strange way low gravity effects pressure on the eyes, among other effects. 3. Working And Living On An Oil Rig Is Incredibly Dangerous When people hear about a disaster like Deepwater Horizon, they think of the horrible environmental impact. As the oil continued to flow into the ocean unabated, and it took what felt like way too long to stop it, the loss of life was mostly forgotten in the media. The loss of marine life was talked about, but not much went into the fact that eleven oil rig workers went missing that day and were presumed dead they were never found. Working on an oil rig is an incredibly dangerous job, and when safety precautions are ignored and they have been many times in the past it is the workers who suffer first. Life isnt much safer for oil field workers either, and especially in North Dakotas oil fields, things are not in good shape. The federal authorities are investigating safety standards, after reports that there is roughly one accidental death every six weeks. 2. Any Of The Alleged Cancer Villages That Are Spread All Over The Country Of China If you ask the Chinese government, there is no such thing as a cancer village. For the longest time, they even denied the pollution clouds surrounding their major cities, until the international visits during the Olympics made it impossible to deny to the entire world any longer. Anything that may make them look bad, or pressure them to tamp down on industry, is swept under the rug. Unfortunately, this is causing great harm to many Chinese citizens. All over China, the country is dotted with what some call cancer villages. They are so dubbed because within these villages, generally everyone knows a minimum of one person who has serious cancer. These villages are always way too close to industrial plants, and often have strange particles very visible in the air. Even living there for years, the citizens never get used to it. One journalist who risked going to these villages to talk to people found himself coughing up strange brown sediment after being there only a short time and people were angry about it. Despite the Chinese governments policy of crackdown against dissent, these people were upset enough that they were willing to speak out about it to outsiders. 1. The Island That Is So Overrun By Snakes Hardly Anyone Dares Set Foot The island known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, is owned by Brazil and within close enough distance that it would normally be put to more use. However, the issue is that the island is overrun by golden lancehead vipers, an insanely venomous variety of lancehead only found on this particular island. They evolved with too many other snakes, and too little of their regular prey, forcing them to evolve incredibly strong venom to take out more difficult foes. This venom can kill a human in under an hour, and that is from just one good bite. Some reports estimate that this island has as many as one snake per square meter. This essentially means that in any given part of the island, you could look in any direction, and see at least one snake a few feet away. Legends say the lighthouse was once manned by a small family, who died when the snakes slipped through the cracks and murdered them. While that particular story is hard to verify, there is an old lighthouse on the island, that is now automated and is maintained once a year by the Brazilian Navy hopefully they bring flamethrowers when they visit. Other Articles you Might Like Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, on Wednesday evening, agreed to continue their Cyprus Problem talks in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, on Wednesday evening, agreed to continue their Cyprus Problem talks in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland from November 7 to 11. According to an official press release issued by the UN after the two leaders talks, UN Special Advisor on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide will also attend the meetings held on foreign soil. The meeting will concentrate on the chapter of territory as well as all other outstanding issues interdependently, read the press release. The leaders expressed their hope that their meeting in Switzerland will pave the way for the last phase of the talks in line with their shared commitment to do their utmost in order to reach a settlement within 2016, it continued. Since the leaders have completed their discussions in advance of the meeting in Switzerland, they have instructed the negotiators to meet instead of their own planned meeting on October 31. GRATITUDE TO SWISS GOVERNMENT The UN press release added: The two leaders wish to express their gratitude to the Government of Switzerland for its generosity in offering to host this event. The leaders will be accompanied in Switzerland by their negotiating teams and relevant subject matter experts. A tweet posted by Anastasiades, added: "A long, but in a friendly atmosphere, this evening's meeting with Akinci. In Switzerland at Mont Pelerin we will debate on the territory issue." ANASTASIADES CAUTIOUS WITH MEDIA Anastasiades, speaking to journalists upon his return to the Presidential Palace following Wednesday nights meeting, said: "I dont think public announcements and many statements help, after he was asked to give further details not mentioned within the UN press release. When questioned on Akincis statement earlier on Wednesday that he should decide whether he wishes to become the leader of a reunified Cyprus or whether he would negotiate while keeping an eye on future elections, Anastasiades replied, I have not heard that comment, reported CNA English. The President added: I have proven that all I am interested in is to see my country reunified and free from the occupation army. "I have never taken into consideration presidential or any other elections. I have proven this, and it should not be questioned by Akinci, when in 2004 I dared, swimming against the current, to support the then UN proposed solution plan. In a tweet posted by Anastasiades added: "A long, but in a friendly atmosphere, this evening's meeting with Akinci. In Switzerland at Mont Pelerin we will debate on the territory issue." DONT QUESTION MY MOTIVES Anastasiades further underlined: "I do not accept that Akinci or anyone else should question my motives." Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and illegally occupied its northern third. UN-led talks resumed in May 2015 aiming to reunify the island under a federal roof. 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 Two Yazidi women will be this years joint winners of the European Parliaments Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the EU Parliament announced Two Yazidi women will be this years joint winners of the European Parliaments Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the EU Parliament announced on Thursday. The award ceremony will be held on December 14 to honour Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar. EU Parliament President Martin Schulz said on Thursday, after the decision made by himself and the political group leaders: We are demonstrating that their fight has not been in vain and that we are prepared to step up to the plate to help them in their fight against the hardship and brutality perpetrated by this so-called Islamic state to which so many people are still exposed to. They were able to flee, to escape to Europe and find sanctuary here. Survivors story Murad and Aji Bashar were able to survive sexual enslavement by the so called Islamic State (IS). Since their escape, both women have become spokesperson for women afflicted by ISs campaign of sexual violence against Yazidis. They are both from Kocho, one of the villages near Sinjar, Iraq. On August 3, 2014, Islamic State militants slaughtered all the males in the village. Young women, including Aji Bashar, Murad, and their sisters, were abducted by the militants and forced into sex slavery. Murad had escaped in November 2014 with the help of a neighbouring family, who smuggle her out of the IS-controlled area. She was then able to reach a refugee camp in northern Iraq and later Germany. A year later in December 2015, Murad addressed the UN Security Councils first-ever session on human trafficking with a powerful speech about her experience. In September 2016, she became the first UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking, participating in global and local advocacy initiatives to raise awareness around the plight of the countless victims of trafficking. Aji Bashar tried to flee several times before finally escaping in April 2016 with the help of her family, who paid local smugglers. While fleeing, a landmine exploded, killing two of her acquaintances while leaving her injured and almost blind. She managed to escape and was eventually sent for medical treatment in Germany, where she was reunited with her surviving siblings. Since her recovery Aji Bashar has been active in raising awareness of the plight of the Yazidi community and continues to help women and children who were victims of IS enslavement and atrocities. The finalists Murad and Aji Bashar were among the three finalists for the 2016 Sakharov Prize. Find out more about the other finalists Can Dundar and the defenders of freedom of thought and expression in Turkey as well as Mustafa Dzhemilev here. More on the Sakharov Prize The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. The prize is accompanied by an award of 50,000. Last year the prize was awarded to Raif Badawi. Yazidis Yazidis are an ethno-religious group in present-day Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. Their religion is monotheistic and they believe that god sent seven angels to protect the world. Since IS has seized control of many areas that are predominantly Yazidi, many women have been forced into sexual slavery. An Economist report in 2015, said that since the invasion of the militant group a number of Yazidi women began receiving training and fighting back against the militants. 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 Turkey is seeking an end to NATOs counter-migration mission in the Aegean Sea, telling the US-led alliance that the sharp drop in refugees trying to get to Greece means there is no longer a need for warships to patrol its coast Turkey is seeking an end to NATOs counter-migration mission in the Aegean Sea, telling the US-led alliance that the sharp drop in refugees trying to get to Greece means there is no longer a need for warships to patrol its coast. Turkeys Defense Minister Fikri Isik told his NATO colleagues at a dinner on Wednesday that Ankara no longer saw a need for the mission to continue beyond the end of December, according to two people briefed on the exchanges. On Thursday, Isik told reporters in Brussels: This was a temporary mission, and the goal has been reached in this temporary mission. There is no need to extend it further. Germanys defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, whose country currently leads the maritime mission, said the Aegean mission was secure until December 31. Asked what could happen in 2017, she said: We will have to see then. An end to the NATO mission, agreed in February, would alarm the European Union, which is facing its worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II, driven by the five-and-a-half-year year war in Syria that has displaced some 11 million people. An EU deal with Turkey remains in place and is providing Ankara with billions of euros so long as Turkey keeps refugees on its territory and stops people smugglers moving them across the Aegean to Greece. There, thousands of refugees are already in camps, waiting to be granted asylum or returned home. Refugees down by 98% According to a European Commission report in September, only 85 people are arriving on the Greek coast every day, compared with over 10,000 arriving in a single day in October last year. Unlike the EUs mission off the Italian coast, which brings rescued migrants to Europes shores, migrants are returned to Turkey even if they are picked up in Greek waters. Germany and Britain, with US support, see the presence of NATO ships patrolling the waters between historic rivals Greece and Turkey as a way to uphold the EU agreement with Turkey. NATO ships pass reconnaissance to Turkish and Greek coastguards and to the European Union border agency, Frontex. However, diplomats say Turkey is unhappy with NATO ships moving about in waters that it contests, worried that Greece could gain the upper hand in a dispute about a group of islets in the Aegean Sea. Turkeys ability to block the mission next year comes down to a technicality. Under NATO rules about standing maritime forces, Turkey is due to take over its leadership of the so-called Standing Maritime Group Two used in the Aegean from January. But under the terms of the Aegean mission agreement, neither Greece nor Turkey can lead it. Turkey could block an extension of the mission from January on that basis, as NATO needs consensus, although diplomats say other nations could come forward to lead the mission. Source: Reuters Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Greece will defend its rights as a nation, without retreating or making concessions, President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos said in Thessaloniki on Wednesday Greece will defend its rights as a nation, without retreating or making concessions, President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos said in Thessaloniki on Wednesday, in a message aimed at Greece's neighbours but also the European Union and the international community. Speaking at a dinner given in his honour at the Thessaloniki Officers' Mess by Lieutenant General Alkiviadis Stefanis, Commanding General, C Army Corps/NRDC-GR, Pavlopoulos made clear that the crisis will not affect the way Greece defends its rights and territory. "We say to our neighbours and to everyone, that in spite of the crisis for us Greeks there can be no concessions when it comes to defending our history, our present and our future. We claim nothing that does not belong to us but we also do not intend to give away the things that do belong to us, based on our history and the legal order that governs the global community and the EU," he said. Anyone imagining that the crisis would undermine the morale of the Greeks and the Greek armed forces would be making a great mistake, as others had done in the past, he added. In a message to Skopje, Pavlopoulos underlined that "Macedonia is one and it is Greek," and that history was based on facts, not fantasies. "Claims on territories and names violate European law. As long as they continue to make such claims, they will never join the EU and other international organisations," he said. Addressing Ankara, he noted that the Lausanne Treaty was similarly part of international law and that there were sanctions for any failure to implement and adhere to it. "Greece will not tolerate either direct or indirect dispute of its national sovereignty," Pavlopoulos said. Regarding the Cyprus issue, the president said that the continued presence of Turkish occupation troops on Cyprus was a source of shame for the EU and international community. "Cyprus and Greece will not allow a repetition of the adventure with the Annan plan.... they say no to the solution of a confederation, because a confederation within the EU is inconceivable. The Cyprus issue can only be solved on the following terms: a single international personality, single nationality, full sovereignty, no occupation armies and no guarantees," Pavlopoulos said. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Greeces Union of Judges and Prosecutors on Thursday issued a terse statement slamming comments made the previous night by government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili in response to a ruling by the countrys highest administrative court deeming a recent TV license auction unconstitutional. Justice working in any another direction would be dangerous for our democracy and the rule of law, the union said in its announcement, responding to comments by Gerovassili that nothing will stand in the way of the governments determination to bring some order to the radio and television landscape. The announcement also took issue with a comment made by Alternate Health Minister Pavlos Polakis, who said on his Facebook page that the Council of States ruling was tantamount to a judicial coup, saying that the union cannot understand the purpose of the governments reaction to the ruling or why it is questioning the courts institutional authority to judge whether laws are in line with the Greek Constitution. Yesterdays verdict by the Council of State has once more prompted unprovoked attacks by the government against the justice system, but this is the first time they have been so intense and such a clear effort to involve the justice system and its officials in a political controversy, the unions statement reads. It is the basic and fundamental duty of the judges to weigh cases on the basis of the Constitution without taking specific interests and political ambitions into consideration. Justice working in any another direction would be dangerous for our democracy and for the rule of law, the union added. 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 As an out-of-state college student, I rarely have the opportunity to travel home. Growing up with a tight-knit family, I spent most of my days working alongside my parents and younger sisters on the farm. However, once I made the decision to attend a four-year university located nearly 300 miles from home, it became more and more difficult to travel back to our family farm as the school year progressed. Being a full-time college student, working a part-time job, and staying involved in various extra-curricular activities left little time for me to make the five-hour drive home to visit on the weekends. As badly as I wanted to work alongside my parents, sisters, and cattle once again, I knew that there would be few visits home within the next few years during my college career. Many college students in the dairy industry share my dilemma. There is one way, however, some of us are able to visit with our families. Cattle shows have the ability to serve as family reunions. Though I am unable to travel home on the weekends, I do have the opportunity to connect with my family a few times each semester. Since I grew up with a love of showing cattle, I made the decision to miss a few days of school to attend cattle shows and visit with family members during college. Whether traveling by plane, car, or catching a ride with a family friend, I have been able to stay in touch and work with my cattle by exhibiting at shows across the nation. These shows offer the ability to reconnect with family members, usually for a week, before returning to school. Though this is not the most ideal way to stay in touch, I have enjoyed the precious memories made traveling hundreds of miles for our family reunions. During the shows, I find myself once again working alongside my sisters during early morning chores and late nights spent on the wash rack. Though we are usually exhausted by the end of the week, we still find time to laugh and smile at the end of each day. While our time together is brief, I am grateful that showing cattle has given me the opportunity to stay in touch with my family members throughout college. At the end of each show, after the cattle have been loaded and the suitcases have been packed, I give my goodbyes and say Love you! Ill see you at the next show! The Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) has signed agreements with Germanys Hermes insurance firm and Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV) to provide cover for transactions with Europe, a report said. Under the agreement, the Iranian and European sides will cooperate on "exchange of economic, trade and banking information, reinsurance coverage, coinsurance, and training", reported Iran Daily, citing Irna. "Given our good track record in repayment of finance instalments and Iran's foreign exchange reserves and the nonexistence of outstanding debts, these institutions are interested in the Iranian financing market despite the problems created by the US Treasury," EGFI managing director Kamal Seyyed-Ali was quoted as saying in the report. Leminar Air Conditioning, a leading heating, ventilation and air- conditioning (HVAC) distribution company in the Gulf region, organised a key seminar in Kuwait to introduce its innovative solutions to the market. The seminar on New Developments and Innovative Solutions for Building Services was organised in collaboration with Swiss manufacturer Georg Fischer Piping Systems. The event, held at JW Marriott in Kuwait City, was part of Leminars ongoing efforts in advancing knowledge and serving the best interest of both customers and the industry by providing a platform for information sharing and networking. The key speakers at the seminar included Sven Erlandsen, the regional manager of Georg Fischer, Philip Schoch, the product manager of GF Piping Systems, Mark Jarett, the regional sales manager for GF Piping Systems, and Navin Valrani, the chief executive of Leminar Air Conditioning Company. Urban Nilsson, the director of international sales at Georg Fischer, Pramodh Idicheria, the general manager of Leminar Air Conditioning Company along with several government officials, HVAC consultants, contractors and clients took part. Speaking at the event, Nilsson said: "Innovation is an important focus of our core strategy. Our products and solutions are born out of years of research and development and we take great pride in them." "The seminar was a good opportunity for us to share product and brand insights with industry professionals," he stated. Idicheria said Leminar was quite overwhelmed by the response it had received from the industry for the event. "The addition of GF Piping Systems to Leminar's portfolio was a feather in our cap and we are working towards taking the brand to a totally new level in the region. There are exciting opportunities for the two companies to leverage shared synergies for delivering on our brand promises to our customers," he added. In April 2016, Leminar signed a distribution agreement with GF Piping Systems for the supply of their full range of piping systems in Kuwait, while the latter got access to Leminars comprehensive distribution network in the country.-TradeArabia News Service In a shocking move, Tata Group, a $108 billion business house, has removed Cyrus Mistry from the chairman's post and appointed Ratan Tata as the interim chief. Mistry, born in Ireland, was the sixth chairman of the 150-year-old group. He had been in the post of the chairman since 2012, reported the Financial Express. He was the first one to be appointed from outside the family for 70 years, it added. Mistry is the youngest son of Pallonji Mistry, who heads the Shapoorji Pallonji group (a construction, real estate major), which is the biggest shareholder in Tata Sons with an 18 per cent stake. The decision was taken at a board meeting on Monday. A Tata Sons spokesperson said: The companys board and the principal shareholders took this decision, which they thought may be appropriate in the long term interest of Tata Sons and the Tata Group. With this move, Ratan Tata will come out of retirement to helm the company he ran for decades again, said the report. A new selection committee has been constituted by the company comprising Ratan N Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Amit Chandra, Ronen Sen and Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya to choose the new chairman, it stated. The committee has been mandated to complete the selection process in four months. The move has sent shock waves to India inc as there was absolutely no hint about this development from recent events. This is perhaps the biggest upheaval that corporate India has seen in recent years. It's a sudden move from a company that is usually very private and conscious of its public image, reported BBC. Tata Sons owns Jaguar Land Rover, as well as Tetley Tea. It is one of India's oldest conglomerates and is made up of more than 100 companies, including Tata Motors, Tata Power and the IT giant, Tata Consultancy Services, said the report. Tata employs almost 7,000 workers around Wales, including more than 4,000 at its troubled plant in Port Talbot, south Wales, it added. Omans Sohar Freezone has been recognised for an award by fDi Magazine, a part of the UKs Financial Times newspaper group, in its annual search for the best free zones. Sohar Freezone won the New Investments Award in the 2016 fDi Magazine Free Zones of The Year Awards, said a statement. Sohar is the only winner in this category in the Middle East region, it said. Editor Courtney Fingar congratulated the freezone on this significant achievement as she presented the award to Sohars executive commercial manager Marc Evertse, it added. Sohar Freezone CEO Jamal T Aziz, said: Despite the currently low oil prices and all the global economic volatility, interest in our freezone has not declined and we have seen some significant new investments signed over the past year. For example, Chinese investors from the Jiangsu Changbao Steel Tube Company are building a greenfield steel mill to produce seamless steel pipes for a broad range of industries, including oil and gas extraction, chemicals, automobiles and machinery manufacturing, he said. The prospects for continued strong growth at Sohar Freezone look positive, with its prime location next door to one of the worlds fastest growing ports, handling over 2,500 ships a year and an abundant supply of feedstock, said a statement. Combined with excellent landside connectivity, boasting new and uncongested highways to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States, reasonable energy rates and a supportive legal and regulatory framework, the freezone is well on track for more success in the years ahead as planning commences to develop phase two, it stated. Sohar Port CEO Mark Geilenkirchen, said: Oman is concentrating on the logistics and transportation sector through a consolidated and long-term logistics strategy. The plan is to improve soft infrastructure, support mechanisms and national institutions, to catapult the Sultanate into the top ten of the worlds most logistics-friendly economies by 2040, he said. As one of the regions prime logistical hubs, Sohar will play a critical role in these plans. We envisage developing the freezone as a hub for innovation, especially in the logistics sector, he added. TradeArabia News Service Egypt is discussing with global shipping firms plans to rework the way it charges vessels to pass through the Suez Canal, offering discounts for advance payments as it seeks to raise much-needed hard currency from a struggling industry, said a report. Denmarks AP Moller-Maersk, which runs the worlds biggest container shipping line, noted that it was considering proposals from the Suez Canal Authority for a new toll system, added the Reuters report. The Suez Canal is one of the main sources of foreign currency for a country that has struggled to overcome a crippling dollar shortage since an uprising in 2011 caused an exodus of foreign investors and tourists. Indonesian company Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) said that it showcased its Golden Coin product ranges at the recently concluded Paper Middle East exhibition in Cairo, Egypt. APP is the trade name for a group of pulp and paper manufacturing companies in Indonesia and China. The eighth international exhibition for the paper, board, tissue and packaging industry, Paper Middle East, is the leading event for global businesses looking to develop within the region. And despite some challenging economic conditions in the region, the paper and packaging sector is experiencing rapid growth. The event was the first occasion that APP attended the exhibition, and it followed a number of notable roadshows held by the company in Cairo earlier this year and reflects the huge increase in growth opportunities within the Middle East region, said a statement. In keeping with this, APP will also be exhibiting at this years Gulfood Manufacturing event from November 7 to 9, it said. Andika Roemin, senior vice president, Middle East and Africa (MEA) at Asia Pulp and Paper Group, said: We are excited to be attending this premiere event for the region pulp, paper, tissue, paper board making and products industries. The event provides a timely opportunity for us to showcase our offerings in speciality paper products including the recently launched ones, she said. The Middle East and Africa is a strategic market for APP and represents a fantastic growth opportunity for international businesses to work together to meet the needs of consumers and build long-lasting trade relations, Roemin added. TradeArabia News Service Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) has signed a partnership deal with Kuwait Energy for the Seba gas field located in southeast Basra, Iraq, a report said. The Seba project, in which EGPC will own 15 per cent of the field, is the second partnership agreement between EGPC and Kuwait Energy, after the Fayhaa petroleum field in Basra, where EGPC owns 10 per cent of the field, added the Daily News Egypt report. the field will begin production in 2017 with initial rates of 70 million cu ft of gas per day and this is expected to increase to a range of 100-150 million cubic feet of gas per day, Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla was quoted as saying in the report. The projects general contractor is Petrojet, which will carry out the engineering and executive works worth $200 million. The project paves the way for more expansions by EGPC in Iraq, allowing it to utilise the distinctive opportunities present in the country, while benefiting from the experience of Egyptian companies like Petrojet in the implementation of gas production projects in Iraq, said Sara Akbar, CEO of Kuwait Energy. Nearly 85 per cent of businesses in the UAE and Saudi Arabia believe that digital start-ups will pose a threat to their organisation, either now or in the future, according to new research. Dell Technologies Digital Transformation Index supplements the research and rates companies based on respondents perceived performance about their firms digital transformation. This phenomenon is propelling innovative companies forward and accelerating the demise of others, said almost half (45 per cent) of businesses surveyed fear they may become obsolete in the next three to five years due to competition from digital-born start-ups. Some companies are feeling badly bruised by the pace of change. More than half (54 per cent) of business leaders have experienced significant disruption in their industries over the past three years as a result of digital technologies and the Internet of Everything, and 44 per cent of businesses dont know what their industry will look like in three years time. The findings result from an independent survey by Vanson Bourne of 4,000 business leaders -- from mid-size to large enterprises -- across 16 countries and12 industries including UAE and Saudi Arabia. Patchy progress or digital crisis looming? Some companies have barely started their digital transformation. Many have taken a piecemeal approach. Only a small minority have almost completed their digital transformation. Only 7 per cent of businesses surveyed are performing critical digital business attributes well. While only parts of many businesses are thinking and acting digitally, the vast majority (71 per cent) admits digital transformation could be more widespread throughout their organization. Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) confess to not acting on intelligence in real-time. Only 41 per cent of businesses reported to meet customers top demand for better security, while only 46 per cent of businesses said they can meet the demand for 24/7 faster access to services and information According to the benchmark, only 4 per cent of businesses in UAE and Saudi Arabia have catapulted themselves into the Digital Leaders group. 1. Digital Leaders: 4 per cent - digital transformation, in its various forms, is ingrained in the DNA of the business 2. Digital Adopters: 13 per cent - have a mature digital plan, investments and innovations in place 3. Digital Evaluators: 35 per cent - cautiously and gradually embracing digital transformation, planning and investing for the future 4. Digital Followers: 37 per cent - very few digital investments; tentatively starting to plan for the future 5. Digital Laggards: 11 per cent - do not have a digital plan, limited initiatives and investments in place Digital rescue plan Given the acute threat of disruption, businesses are starting to escalate a remedy. To advance their digital transformation: 73 per cent agree they need to prioritize a centralized technology strategy for their business 64 per cent are planning to invest in IT infrastructure and digital skills leadership 69 per cent are expanding their software development capabilities In order of priority according to respondents, the top planned IT investments over the next three years are: Internet of Things technologies - 43 per cent Ultra-high performance technologies (Example: Flash) 42 per cent Analytics, big data and data processing (Example: Data Lakes) 42 per cent Next Generate Mobile Apps - 41 per cent Were in the midst of the next industrial revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another, said Mohammed Amin, senior vice president, Turkey, Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle East at Dell EMC. This shift will transform the way every business in every industry operates. We are already witnessing a transformation of business priorities as both public and private sector entities across this vast region continue to invest in advanced new technologies to better meet changing customer needs and expectations. In the near future, almost every business will have software development expertise at its core. Many of these companies will be brand new; others having not written a line of code in 20 years will have been on a momentous journey. New digital products and services will drive the transformation of IT infrastructure as businesses struggle to manage 1000x more users and 1000x more data. We believe that this monumental change is rich with opportunity, and we see ourselves as the transformational catalyst, and partner, for our customers, he added. TradeArabia News Service The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) recently hosted a reception for representatives from the tourism offices located around the globe at the Capital Club Bahrain. The reception was held under the patronage of the chief executive of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, HE Shaikh Khalid Bin Humood Al Khalifa, and also included the British Ambassador Simon Martin, the Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, and the Indian Ambassador, Alok Kumar Sinha. The reception was held as a part of the activities held by the Authority to further introduce the representative offices to the various elements of the kingdom in order to better understand the tourism sector. We are pleased to meet with representatives of the tourism offices. We will soon launch offices in seven countries. The aim is to develop the bilateral tourism ties and increase the number of travelers visiting the Kingdom, said the CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, Shaikh Khalid Bin Humood Al Khalifa. Our strategy primarily focuses on positioning the tourism sector as an important economic driver to achieve sustainable growth and development for the kingdom, he added. The reception was held with the imminent opening of seven representative offices in Saudi Arabia, UK, Germany, France, India, China, and Russia. Members of the representative offices also held meetings with hotels, travel agencies, and the national carrier Gulf Air, in order to develop integrated travel packages which fit the requirements and needs of tourists from their respective countries. The launch of the offices is in line with the BETAs marketing campaign held under the identity of (Ours.Yours) which was developed in collaboration with the Economic Development Board and other government entities. The aim of the marketing campaign is to further promote Bahrains tourism offering on a regional and global scale and positively contribute to GDP in line with the kingdoms economic vision 2030. - TradeArabia News Service UAE national carrier Etihad Airways has announced the expansion of services between Abu Dhabi and India as strategic partner Jet Airways unveiled new routes and additional frequencies to further strengthen their partnership in one of the worlds fastest growing aviation markets. From early 2017, the two airlines will expand their services between the United Arab Emirates and India by adding 28 weekly flights and three further Indian cities. These will enhance connections between India and the rest of the world though Etihad Airways convenient Abu Dhabi hub, and complement Jet Airways non-stop services to other cities. Etihad Airways currently operates 175 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 11 Indian cities. Together, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways offer 252 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities across India. With the newly-announced flights, the airlines cooperative services will cover 18 Indian cities with 280 flights each week. Etihad Airways will launch a fourth daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Kozhikode on 26 March 2017, capitalising on the strong traffic flows between the state of Kerala and the UAE, and beyond. The additional capacity will allow the partnership to better serve the important southern India market. Etihad Airways will also double its frequency between Abu Dhabi and Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat, from 1 February 2017 with the launch of a new daily service. Earlier today, Jet Airways announced a number of changes to its operations between India and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. These include the launch of daily flights between Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), in the state of Tamil Nadu, and Abu Dhabi on 1 February 2017, offering travellers another option from southern India. Jet Airways will also introduce daily services from Kannur, the fourth Kerala gateway to Abu Dhabi. It also plans daily services from the northern Indian city of Chandigarh to Abu Dhabi, which will benefit travellers to and from the state of Punjab. The two routes are due to begin in the second half of 2017, subject to the completion of operational readiness at these airports. From 15 January 2017, Jet Airways will introduce a second daily service between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. With Etihad Airways already operating three flights a day between the two capital cities, the enhanced operation will give guests a wider choice of departure times. In 2015, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways together carried a record 3.3 million passengers between Abu Dhabi and India a 63 per cent increase over the 2 million passengers flown in 2014. The combined operation enjoys the biggest share of passenger traffic to and from India, one of the worlds biggest economies. Etihad Airways contributed 717,966 guests to Jet Airways flights for the 12 months to August 2016, a 57 per cent increase on the same period last year. And Jet Airways contributed 396,288 guests to Etihad Airways flights over the same period, a 33 per cent increase on the corresponding period last year. James Hogan, Etihad Aviation Group president and chief executive officer, said: Todays announcement reflects how we have been working together to enhance our services to give the travelling public more and better choices by using each other's networks. Our partnership with Jet Airways has gone from strength to strength. Sharing resources and reaching decisions together are key to our success. Jet Airways is Etihad Airways leading equity partner in terms of revenue and passenger contribution, and this expansion is indicative of the years of friendship, strong bilateral relationship, and economic, trade and cultural ties enjoyed between India and the UAE. Since launching flights from Abu Dhabi to India in September 2004 with services to Mumbai, Etihad Airways rapidly increased its presence across India by introducing 10 cities and increasing frequency on many routes, including thrice-daily flights on six routes, and deploying its flagship Airbus A380 to Mumbai in May 2016. The airlines current Indian destinations from Abu Dhabi are: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. Jet Airways offers the additional Indian cities of Pune, Lucknow, Goa and Mangalore, as well as numerous domestic connections. Etihad Airways hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport serves as a convenient air bridge between India and rest of the world, offering consumers ease of transfer and more travel options through multiple frequencies from across India to Abu Dhabi and beyond to destinations in Europe, Middle East, Africa, North and South America. In India, the strength of Jet Airways domestic network, offers a wide choice of connections across the country. The cargo market to and from India will also be enhanced through the additional capacity, supporting the 14 weekly freighters operated by Etihad Airways Cargo to five cities across the country New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. TradeArabia News Service The cabin crew of Eurowings, a subsidiary of German airline Lufthansa, are taking part in a 24 hour strike, which has pushed for hundreds of flights to be cancelled, said a report. Some 400 flights have been cancelled on Thursday, affecting close to 40,000 passengers, said a report in The Daily Mail UK, Many of its European flights have also been cancelled but long-distance flights and those from Frankfurt and Munich aren't affected. The UFO union, Germany's Independent Flight Attendant Organisation, called the 24-hour strike starting at midnight after arbitration proceedings failed to achieve an agreement late Wednesday. Members are seeking concessions on issues including pay, working conditions and pensions. The strike started at 00.00 on Thursday and is expected to end at 24.00 on the same day. There may be more strikes in the coming days. UFO representative Daniel Flohr told Reuters that the cabin crew union will call for two more days of strikes at Lufthansa units next week if managers fail to change their behaviour. The United Nation has been in hot water for appointing a comic book character Wonder Woman on its 75th birthday as an honorary ambassador for empowerment of women and girls, which didn't receive a warm embrace from both the organization and the public around the world. Shouldn't the position be given to a real existing woman? The decision made by U.N. sparked controversy leading to an online petition signed by more than 1,000 of its own staff members, is asking the secretary-general to reconsider the appointment, noting that the character is too sexualized and is not an appropriate choice, The Jakarta Post published. During the ceremony, U.N. staff members silently turned their backs to the stage with some of them holding their fists in the air as a sign of protest. Cass Durant, U.N. staffer, held a sign saying "Real Women Deserve a Real Ambassador. We don't think that a fictitious comic book character wearing basically what looks like a Playboy-type bunny outfit is really the right message we need to send to girls or even boys for that matter," the site added. While the online petition reads as, "It is alarming that the United Nations would consider using a character with an overtly sexualized image at a time when the headline news in United States and the world is the objectification of women and girls." Adding, "The reality is that the character's current iteration is that of a large breasted, white woman of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a shimmery, thigh-baring body suit with an American flag motif and knee high boots-the epitome of a 'pin-up' girl." The organization is set to launch a social media campaign promoting women empowerment and gender-equality, which is aiming to reach the youngsters of today. According to U.N. official Maher Nasser, Wonder Woman has long been considered a feminist icon, stating, "The focus [of the UN] was on her feminist background, being the first female superhero in a world of male superheroes and that basically she always fought for fairness, justice and peace," BBC detailed. Honorary ambassadors are appointed to fictional characters such as Winnie the Pooh, who was awarded as Honorary Ambassador of Friendship in 1998, and Tinker Bell as Honorary Ambassador of Green in 2009. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Those who are skeptical about tiny house living often point to the potential challenges of having kids when it comes to living in such a small space. While it's true that living tiny isn't for everyone, there are intrepid people who do enjoy it, and yes, there are even those who do it with a child (or two, or three). Samantha and Robert of Shedsistence are one couple that took the plunge into tiny living a couple of years ago, by designing and constructing their own small dream home. They've since welcomed a baby daughter into their modern 204-square-foot abode, and have made some modifications to make their space more baby-friendly. Shedsistence Shedsistence ShedsistenceThe biggest change was obviously making that minimalist sleeping loft safer, with the addition of a sturdy net and DIY safety gate (plus a slim opening for kitty) that permits the same view, without the tumbling-down factor. More privacy and darkness for naptime is afforded with a blackout curtain that can be hung up. A lot of thought went into its design and installation, balancing the desire to keep the space open without sacrificing security. Shedsistence Shedsistence In addition, the couple made this awesome DIY baby loft crib that allows for co-sleeping, and it looks like they have now upgraded into something even bigger that functions as a safe space for the little one to play. Downstairs, an extra crib has been added. Those open stairs might be a bit harrowing though when baby starts to walk, but it seems that the couple does have solutions later in mind. Shedsistence Shedsistence Shedsistence The young family's first month together was a restful one, made all the better by both mom and dad being able to really spend time with their daughter in the formative first six months, thanks to the financial freedom (and therefore parental leave) afforded to them by owning and living in a small home. Most importantly, this new development in the couple's life has brought not only new joys, but also reflections on the future, especially when people ask them: "What about when your daughter gets older or you have more children? How will you make the tiny house work?" Here's their thoughtful and honest response, which I think applies to anyone already living in or considering tiny houses: We are here to openly admit that our tiny house journey is not forever; at least not from a full-time living perspective. With that said, it is one of the best decisions of our lives and has already gifted us so much more in return than any sum of money could provide. It has been an incredibly fulfilling experience that is far from over. Our tiny house has been and continues to be an incredible tool and experience for this stage in our lives. It has allowed us to own our home outright while refinancing student loan debt to a very aggressive five year repayment plan and simultaneously building a financial safety net that would allow us to live comfortably for a year even if our sources of income completely stopped. Most importantly we have been able to take extended parental leave. [..] None of this was possible for us three years ago but we took intentional steps (including the tiny house) to design the life we wanted. Shedsistence And finally, some practical thoughts on what to do once they do cross that bridge of upsizing: We will utilize the tiny house as long as it works for us and then re-purpose it. The best part about this project is it has the ability to serve our family in a multitude of ways. Should we choose to design and build a small home on a foundation to raise a growing family, the tiny house can serve as a back yard studio, or guesthouse, or AirBnb rental or even be turned into an off grid retreat in the mountains. Its value and positive contribution to our lives will far outlive its use as a full-time residence. We like that inspiring, non-dogmatic way of looking at life -- regardless of the size of one's home. To see more, visit Shedsistence. [Via: Tiny House Talk] When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Harish Khare A young Cyrus Mistry finds himself hustled out of the coveted gaddi at Bombay House, the iconic headquarters from where the Tata empire has supposedly been controlled and expanded. A young Akhilesh Yadav, similarly, finds himself harassed and humiliated despite occupying the chief ministerial gaddi in Lucknow. And, in Delhi, a not-so-young Rahul Gandhi finds himself scorned and jeered, despite being firmly in control of the Congress mother-ship. All these three snapshots give us a clue to difficulties of sitting on a gaddi. Because we live in exacting times and in a cynical age, it may well be easy to ascend or inherit a gaddi, but it does not necessarily ensure emerging as the rightful heir to a mantle. There was a time when the King is dead, long live the King kicked in automatically in all its efficient operational manifestations, with clear-cut expectations of command, obedience, and allegiance between the monarch and the subject. The monarchical leadership was anyway deemed to be a divinely-blessed arrangement. In due course democracies devised their own rites of succession. Today, the occupancy in a modern office itself does not garner nor guarantee instant respect or legitimacy. Leadership has to be constantly renewed and earned by performance. On the other hand, in the quasi-religious settings like the deras, religious or spiritual or both, gaddi itself becomes a powerful totem. The occupant guru or baba or mahant commands (almost) total allegiance from the followers in the congregation. The sect desperately wants to perceive in the new "leader" shamanistic qualities; the devotees instinctively transfer their allegiance from the deceased mahant to his successor because they very much want to believe in his ability to cure them of their physical and spiritual ailments. Still, some dera chiefs find themselves having to protect their gaddi with the help of the equivalent of a praetorian guard. In the democratic setting of a political party or a government or even a big business house, the retention and consolidation of gaddi is a substantially different proposition. Those who sit on a gaddi can crib that they are not allowed the requisite elbow room to demonstrate their potential and talent, but the very nature of modern organisation demands a constant tug-of-war against both friends and foes. A modern gaddi has to be constantly justified; and, if a Cyrus Mistry is not able to deliver or is perceived as not making the cut, some kind of course correction would inevitably get put in place. In the public arena, there can be no guarantee that the gaddi-nasheen will remain unchallenged. The contestation is in the nature of things in the modern democratic office. The best protection for a gaddi in a democratic setting can only be a robust renewal of the leadership brief. That means an ability to reinterpret and enlarge the charge, a skill to explain and define what works and what does not work and what needs to be changed and how that change is to be brought about. A successful re-calibration of grammar of change itself can enhance the gaddi and its brand value, to use the modern jargon. In the case of Cyrus Mistry, no one has been told how he proposed to minimise the harmful radiation from the "legacy hotspots". In the case of Akhilesh Yadav, it is not very clear on what issues he differs from his uncle, Shivpal Yadav or his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav. In the case of Rahul Gandhi, no Congressman can say with any degree of confidence as to how the heir-apparent has re-worked the Nehru-Gandhi legacy to suit and appeal to the nation's changed sensibilities. In Rahul Gandhi's case, it is not even clear that he understands that India has changed its preferences and sensibilities rather dramatically since 1984. The Cyrus-Akhilesh-Rahul tableau tells us that a mantle can be inherited by virtue of birth or by appointment, but it does not automatically bestow potency or even effectiveness. Perhaps the best and most effective passing of the mantle took place from Mahatma Gandhi to Jawaharlal Nehru. It could work because Jawaharlal was not an innocuous lightweight. Historian BR Nanda comes close to getting to the heart of this relationship: "Nehru owed his position in the party and the country to a great measure to his own qualities: his high idealism and dynamism, tireless energy and robust optimism, infectious faith in the destiny of his party and his country, his glamour for youth and charisma for the masses. Nevertheless, it is doubtful if he could have reached the apex of party leadership so early and decisively, if Gandhi had not catapulted him into it at critical junctures in 1929 and 1936." Still, this relationship worked because the Mahatma was convinced that despite all his weakness for impetuosity and radicalism Nehru was "humble enough and practical enough not to force the pace to the breaking point." In the gaddi-centric turmoil in Mumbai, Lucknow and Delhi nobody need mourn the failure of the young because being young cannot be a sufficient qualification in itself. In the world of politics, which pivots around leaders with inspiring ideas and ideals, succession does not mean instant success. A political leader needs to have the ability to unite a party behind him, just as he has to propose some kind of a road map, based on political principles and beliefs. Neither Akhilesh Yadav nor Rahul Gandhi has yet cared to do any value addition to the brand their respective parties represent. Even though "family" remains the only raison d'etre for Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, both appear keen to move away from the mixed "legacy" they have inherited. Gaddi represents an incongruity in the democratic temper of our times. No heir can succeed without charting out a new beginning because of the requirement of leadership remains unchanged. Margaret Thatcher noted that throughout her leadership days she had to stress continually that, however, difficult the road might be and however long it took us to reach our destination, we intended to achieve a fundamental change of direction. Despite the Mahatma's mentorship, Nehru blueprinted the new India on a very different footing; Indira Gandhi succeeded only when she could cut loose from Nehru's ideas. And, it needs to be noticed that Narendra Modi, too, has given a quiet burial to the Vajpayee legacy, whatever it meant. We are unapologetically into the age of meritocracy and those who inherit a gaddi will do well to remember that the [family] past makes a very ineffective armour against requirements of performance and leadership in the political arena. Family lineage does not cement the mantle nor ensures democratic legitimacy. Owen Bennett-Jones JUST two years ago, it was said the jihadis could conquer Baghdad. Today they are on the run. When it began its assault on Mosul, the Iraqi army said it hoped to liberate the city within two months. Even if that turns out to be somewhat optimistic, few doubt the city will fall. And the battle for Mosul comes shortly after the militant Islamic State group's defeat in the Syrian city of Dabiq where, needless to say, the prediction of a final, apocalyptic showdown between the forces of good and evil failed to materialise. Not so long ago, the IS attracted international recruits. Today the flow of people out of IS areas is much greater than the flow in. However, assessments of its strength depend on the timescale you are using. The violent jihadist ideologues have the advantage of thinking not in terms of five-year electoral cycles but as far as a century ahead. They may be on the back foot right now but, taking a longer-term perspective, the establishment of the caliphate has shown that restoration of Muslim power is possible. Before 9/11, the idea of establishing a caliphate would have been almost universally written off as the stuff of fantasy. Today, there are many places where Westerners dare not tread. All over the world people are transfixed by the jihadis' capacity to reach their cities. It's not just New York, Paris and London. The Chechens attack Moscow, the Uighurs bomb Beijing and the Pakistani Punjabis mount their raids on Delhi and Mumbai. So, even if the IS is facing setbacks, it is perhaps unsurprising that the caliph and his supporters believe that time is on their side. Who is to say, for example, that in the decades ahead the Saudi royal family might not fall? How different would things look then? The West is struggling to adjust to a sense of relative powerlessness. At the moment, it is just firefighting. Even then its campaigns are disjointed. Russia and the US are trying to achieve broadly similar objectives in Aleppo and Mosul restoring the sovereignty of controllable, authoritarian, central governments. But with their historic Cold War rivalries coming to the surface, they are failing to confront their common enemy in a coordinated or united manner. Their problems go deeper. The US failure in Iraq has rendered the big powers reluctant to use their armies. Instead, they back local proxies and deploy less visible special forces and air power to confront Al-Qaida and the IS on the frontlines of the jihadists' choosing. Western generals admit this process could go on for decades. In other words, there's no end in sight. Some Western strategists propose possible solutions. The former US special envoy to the global coalition against IS, Gen John Allen, has recently been reflecting on how the Arab Spring's failure laid bare the illegitimacy of various Middle Eastern governments. He suggested that, to avoid interminable conflict, the West needs to mount a massive aid programme to help these governments address economic, political, social and religious undercurrents, thereby reducing the jihadists' appeal. There are, however, reasons to doubt such an approach will work. First, economic pressures and the growth of nationalism (and a rejection of internationalism) in Washington, Moscow and Beijing make it ever less likely that funds will be available for such grandiose schemes. Second, it is not clear that such expenditure would work. By some estimates, the US has already spent more on Afghanistan than the Marshall Plan made available to Europe after World War II. But the US has little to show for it. The West tends to see the Middle East's most important division as being between civil society activists and authoritarian leaders. But, for many, democracy is not the key issue. Jobs are. And numerous people living in the Middle East are engaged in a fissure the West barely sees: sectarianism. Whilst Al-Qaida's leaders were always alert to the dangers of sectarianism, the IS has a different attitude. Deeply rooted in Iraq's embittered Sunni communities, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has fostered Sunni resentments of Shia power. It means that, as his foreign supporters slink back to their home countries, the IS could be reduced from its current, global status to a regional outfit not unlike the Shia militias now arraigned against it. The IS's sectarianism is a weakness that presents its enemies with an opportunity. Given their lack of viable policy options, the great power politicians in the West, Russia, China and India may be tempted to rely on a highly cynical strategy: reduce the violent jihadist threats to New York, London, Moscow, Beijing and Delhi by allowing or even encouraging the Middle East to become a battleground on which sectarian ideologues fight each other to a standstill. As those who recall the Iran- Iraq war may say, it wouldn't be the first time. The writer has authored Pakistan: Eye of the Storm. By arrangement with the Dawn. S. Subramanian The journalist and historian Thomas Frank has recently written an extraordinarily thoughtful essay, for the November 2016 issue of Harper's Magazine (http://harpers.org/archive/2016/11/swat-team-2/), on how the liberal journalistic establishment ganged up against Senator Bernie Sanders in the on-going US Presidential campaigns. The means to the end of putting paid to Sanders' relatively radical ideas consisted of a series of demands and characterisations. These included "constant calls for civility"; the representation of Sanders' progressivism as "atavism"; "defining the boundaries of legitimacy(by) defining Sanders out"; declaring that "Sanders' ideas weren't practical"; alleging that Sanders suffered from "three delusions" - those of "abandon(ing) the centre, believ(ing) that things were bad in the United States, and perceive(ing) an epidemic of corruption; bemoaning that instead of encouraging the lowly to work hardthe senator was merely offering them goodies; accusing him of failure to recognise that the systemdoesnt permit a president to achieve anything more than incremental change; and pointing to his failure to defer to the dictates of realism which automatically prioritises the thoughts and observations of the realism experts. Much of this is strongly evocative of the commentary and advice on aspects of India's socio-economic development that emanates from the liberal community of the country's professional economics experts and official intellectuals. I speak here of a general tendency, which obviously excludes a few honourable exceptions, and is intended to capture a broadly prevailing approach to description and evaluation, without resort to the citation of specific chapters and verses and authors. In this spirit, one could consider an assortment of issues, as dealt with below (and in no particular order of presumed importance or priority). The pernicious role of caste in India's development experience is a major case in point. The liberal establishment of Indian academic experts (both in India and abroad) will speak at length of gender inequality, while having little time for caste inequality. The one practice is as commendable as the other is inexplicable except, perhaps, in terms of the vastly differential returns to the reputation of sensitive progressivism which the former secures in relation to the latter. More bluntly, one is speaking here of being equipped with a fine sense of what is fashionable and trendy. There is also the question of what Frank calls civility: it could just be in plain bad taste to remind ourselves of Khairlanji as an indicator that things are bad in India: the liberal Indian intellectual would rather expend his energy arguing that caste is not race. And caste seldom tickles the liberal sensibility into awakening as effectively as when it is invoked in the context of affirmative action (read reservations in education and employment). A bizarre liberal Indian view of the matter seems to be that if one is opposed to Mandir one should also be opposed to Mandal, on the grounds that both sentiments should be predicated on the similar and equal grounds of opposition to a politics of resentment that advocates the contemporary righting of historical wrongs. And then, of course, there is the liberal need to defer to the constraints of practicality and realism. Caste, from any perspective, is an immutable reality of Indian social structure, and is not about to depart the scene anytime soon, so why go on and on about it? Apart from this, and as Frank says of the American liberal establishment, we are speaking of a way of thinking that comes from a place of economic security and takes a view of the common people that is distinctly patrician. It is this distinctly patrician view which the Indian liberal manifests when he expresses horror over the caste-consciousness that Census data on caste-related socio-economic indicators might unleash (when I was in school, it never even occurred to me ask what my class-mates caste backgrounds were) ; or when he speaks disappointedly of the divisiveness of identity politics, and exhorts citizens to make their own identities instead of being tied to identity by caste or religion (an exhortation that apparently takes no notice of the fact that caste is not voluntarily chosen, nor voluntarily jettisoned). A similar mix of considerations relating to civility, realism, atavism, and the authority of experts presides over the liberal response to poverty and inequality in India. In this view, while reductions in poverty are compatible with unacceptably high prevailing rates, it would be civil to underline the first phenomenon and uncivil to mention the second. Given the path of reform-oriented growth to which the Indian economy is committed, realism dictates that the best way of dealing with rising inequality is to deny the fact by employing protocols of measurement that emphasise relative rather than absolute (or even intermediate) indices of inequality. To revisit long-forgotten policy discussions on such phenomena as land-reform, progressive direct taxation, institutional credit to agriculture, public investment, or enhanced social spending, would be to flog horses that are well and truly dead an act of atavism which compounds the ill-manneredness of seeing a bottle as half-empty when it might equally be seen as half-full. Apart from which, why would we wish to question the authority of experts in the Indian Planning Commission or the World Bank who repeatedly assure us that, both nationally and globally, things are brightening on the poverty front every day in every way? These are our liberal friends and colleagues whose feelings we offend only at the cost of agreeable etiquette (and at peril to our own interests as experts and professionals who may be called upon any time to serve on committees and commissions and panels). And so, as good liberals, we endorse either explicitly or by silence relaxed labour laws, relaxed environmental laws, business-friendly land-acquisition laws, infringements of tribal rights to natural resources, and a view of development that prioritises progress over natural rights; and we desist from making old-fashioned, not to say impolite, judgements on the increasing financialisation of our economy or lawlessness of multinational corporations. The late S. Guhan, a civil servant and academic, was a commentator who also worked tirelessly on the possibilities of social security provisioning by the state in India. At one seminar, where he presented a concrete agenda of measures aimed at alleviating poverty, he was met by a familiar and predictable response of feasibility constraints from the audience of assembled experts. Guhan's response was both simple and instructive: Someone has to do something for the silent poor. We are not talking about what the politicians are likely to do. It is obviously because they are not likely to do it that I thought it was the responsibility of academics to press for it. The community of liberal Indian commentators on India's social and economic development rightly represents neither the right nor the party-based left. However, there are strong indications of its increasingly rightward-slanting evolution, couched in a language of moderation and reasonableness. By invoking practicality, good manners, and the ill-advisedness of atavistic impulses, this community has succeeded in discouraging humane scepticism about the present as being nihilistic, even as it has succeeded in discouraging humane optimism about a certain kind of future as being unrealistic for all but those that Thomas Frank describes as belonging to its familiar precincts of comfort and exclusivity. The writer is an economist. Reports indicate that the government is embarking on a new blacklisting policy for defence companies that have allegedly crossed the Lakshman Rekha of ethical propriety. The Manohar Parrikar-headed Defence Acquisition Council is tipped to approve this policy for penalising firms suspected of bribing to win defence orders. Under the existing policy, an entire military-industrial complex is blackballed if one of its many companies or employees is suspected of unlawful activity. Under the new policy, the axe will fall only on the subsidiary company or the employee directly involved in bribery and not on the entire group. This is common sense. The need for a realistic and level-headed policy has long been recognised by sober and experienced administrators. The time has come to undo the damage when AK Antony headed the Defence Ministry and institutionalised a populist streak. Indiscriminate blacklisting helped Saint Antony to hold on to his pristine image. But his trigger-happy approach left everyone displeased. Indias defence acquisition schedule went haywire and probe agencies dragged on with the cases. The new system of blacklisting proposes a product-specific ban instead of Antonys blanket bans. In other words, if a company making bullets is banned, its sister company that manufactures rifles wont be blacklisted just because it belongs to the same group. The proposed policy is eminently realisable. But it will remain prone to misuse because the investigating agencies seem to lack the competence to probe cases with cross-border ramifications. It is also no secret that military-industrial complexes are highly resourceful and influential. They may be encouraged to take the risk of bribing decision-makers. If caught, only one company will be barred while the rest of the group firms can carry on with business. And even if a company is blacklisted, the probe will lead to nowhere. Changes in blacklisting norms may at best let some favourites off the hook. Investigating agencies need to be invested with the capability and confidence to go after the corrupt. No policy on blacklisting can be successful unless the fear of the law is instilled in the shady and the crooked. Tribune News Service Kurukshetra, October 27 Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today met the family of BSF constable Sushil Kumar, martyred in Jammu district on October 24, and announced a government job for a member of his family. He also announced Rs50 lakh ex-gratia for the family. Khattar, who went to the martyrs house at Pehowa near here, said help would be provided to the family. The Chief Minister said sacrifice of Sushil Kumar would not be allowed to go waste. He consoled martyrs widow, Sunita, and other members of the family. Later, Khattar told the media Kumars sacrifice will give new energy to the youth to protect the nation. The remains of Kumar (47) were consigned to flames with full military honours in Pehowa on Tuesday. Kumar was killed in a heavy shelling and firing by Pakistani troops along the International Border in Jammu district. Tribune News Service Karnal, October 27 On the completion of two years of BJP government in Haryana, the Congress will launch a door-to-door campaign on November 1 in Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattars constituency Karnal. Former district president (rural) Surinder Narwal and former district president (urban) Suresh Bhardwaj gave the information to the media here today. The two leaders alleged rampant corruption in the government. We will apprise residents of governments failure on all fronts. Karnal MP Ashwini Chopra had accused his party MLAs and MPs of being corrupt, said Narwal. BJPs Shashipal Mehta, former Industries Minister, said the government had been working on the mantra of inclusive development. Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College and Hospital will be completed in two months. The project was hanging in fire for several years during the Congress regime. Besides, construction of the western bypass has started. It was a distant dream in the previous government, he said. Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 27 Cotton ginners across Haryana have decided to end their 10-day-old strike after government's assurance on reduction of market fees. Sushil Mittal, president of Haryana Cotton Ginners Association, said their members would start purchase of cotton from farmers from today itself. He said Chief Minister's political aide Jagdish Chopra had conveyed government's decision to them. He said the government had also assured them to look into their demand of VAT refund after state's golden jubilee function. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 27 Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leaders today demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should gift Haryana Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal on November 1, the day he kicks off Swarna Jayanti celebrations from Gurugram. The SYL Canal is a lifeline for Haryana. Nothing will be a better gift to the state than this on Swarna Jayanti. As the BJP is in alliance with the SAD in Punjab, the Prime Minister can get it done. He must get it done to show that he cares for Haryana, Abhay Chautala, Leader of Opposition, told the media here. He said he had received invitation for the November 1 function. I will attend the function, if it remains restricted to celebrations. If the BJP tries to politicise it, I will not be part of it. Abhay alleged the BJP government was a failure. He circulated a brochure and alleged both the fiscal health and the law and order had taken a hit ever since the BJP formed the government. In 2014-15, the state had Rs 82,305-crore debt. In 2016-17, it likely to jump to Rs 1,41,000 crore. Contrast this with Rs 23,400-crore debt during 1966-2004. Debt is mounting, while crime against women and Dalits is on the rise. But the government is going to waste crores of rupees on the golden jubilee celebrations. It is not taking concrete steps to curb crime, the INLD leader alleged. Before coming to power, the BJP had promised lucrative prices of crops to farmers, he said, adding after forming the government, it forgot its promise. A few crops are covered under the Pardhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The government has delayed releasing Rs2,500 crore to farmers on account of land acquisition, the Leader of Opposition claimed. He alleged the BJP had failed to improve the state of health, education, industry, power. All claims have remained on paper, Abhay added. Cong to celebrate separately Chandigarh: The Haryana Congress on Thursday announced separate Swarna Jayanti function. It will celebrate 50 years of the state's formation in Panchkula on November 1, the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicks off year-long celebrations from Gurugram. Congress leaders alleged the name of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had been missing from publicity material pertaining to the celebrations. "Indira Gandhi played a key role in the formation of Haryana. But the BJP government has been playing politics by not using her photo in the publicity material. It's unacceptable and we will convey our resentment to the government," said Sumitra Chouhan, president, Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress. She alleged the government was biased and it playing politics on the pretext of celebrations. The state Mahila Congress, Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress and Haryana Krishak Samaj would organise the celebrations on November 1, Chouhan said. TNS Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. Parvesh Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 27 INLD leader Abhay Chautala on Thursday attacked the BJP government in the state alleging that fiscal health and law and order had taken a worse turn since the BJP came into power. Abhay said government employees were still waiting for the fulfilment of promises made by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Demanding resignation of Health Minister Anil Vij, he said he had failed to improve health facilities in the state. Happening Haryana summit failed. We challenge the government to show us new investments.Industrialists are leaving Haryana, he said. He said unemployment allowance was being given only 1100 persons. I suspect that all 1100 selected are having RSS connection, he alleged. Many panchayats are waiting for elections.Many sarpanches wrote to me that government has been pressurising them to use their funds as per the recommendations of officers, he said. Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, October 27 The hopes of Himachal to capitalise on the popularity and acting acumen of national award winning actress Kangana Ranaut have been dashed as it has been decided to drop the proposal to make her the brand ambassador of Himachal Tourism for which several rounds of formal meetings and talks had been held in the past two years. The decision to drop the proposal to make Kangana, who hails from Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh, as the brand ambassador was taken at the meeting of the State Tourism Development Board held here today. Even though the issue was discussed in the presence of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, it was a fuming vice chairman of the board, Vijai Singh Mankotia, who insisted that the matter had become victim of bureaucratic apathy and now there was no need to push it any further. Despite several rounds of talks and a meeting with Kangana in Mumbai, the proposal awaited government nod for the last over one-and-a-half years and now it has died its natural death, remarked a visibly upset Mankotia at the meeting. He added that being from Himachal, she too was very keen to popularise her home state, but probably the bureaucracy was not too keen on it. Mankotia confirmed the dropping of the proposal and said that he would now be personally writing to Kangana to apologise for the delay and the proposal not working out. The Gujarat Tourism Minister told me that the tourist arrivals to their state had gone up by 60 per cent ever since Amitabh Bacchan was made brand ambassador and we too could have done the same, he lamented. He also made known his displeasure over the delay in approval for the holding of the Himachal Travel Mart next year. The Himachal Travel mart was held in April earlier this year and was to be made an annual affair. Efforts of Himachal Tourism to rope in a successful Himachali as its brand ambassador have not yielded results. During the tenure of the last government, talks were held with Preity Zinta who hails from Rohru but they did not fructify. Efforts were made about two years to capitalize on the fame and niche carved by Kangana in Bollywood on the basis of her acting prowess. In fact, Mohan Chauhan, Commissioner, Tourism and Civil Aviation along with other officials had met Kangana in Mumbai and her sister Rangoli, who held detailed talks and the modalities of the shoot. The terms and conditions laid down by Kangana were to be placed before the Tourism Development Board which met today after one a half year though it is supposed to meet twice a year. Though tourist arrivals to the state have been increasing but it was marginal and in 2015 a total of 1.75 lakh tourists visited Himachal. Tribune News Service Mandi, October 27 The district administration has made all security arrangements ahead of Diwali. To avoid any untoward incident, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kadam has asked cracker sellers to set up stall outside the town. Officials have earmarked a site at the Paddal ground for the sellers. Around this time, shopkeepers sell adulterated sweets, risking the lives of a number of people. In the absence of any check, the sellers make hay. On this, the Deputy Commissioner said health officials had been asked to collects samples from sweetmeat shops on a regular basis. Kadam said: I have asked the Fire Department to engage fire tenders to deal with emergencies. We have already banned the sale of firecrackers in the town. Strict action will be taken against offenders, he added. The Deputy Commissioner urged the people to celebrate Diwali cautiously, adding that negligence could prove fatal. In the past, many fatal mishaps have taken place on the festival. Elders should not let children burst crackers on their own. Tribune News Service Jammu, October 26 Border Security Force Assistant Sub-Inspector AK Upadhyay and 12 civilians, including seven women members of a family, sustained injuries during heavy shelling in Arnia and Abdullian villages along the International Border over the night. The ASI, posted in RS Pura, suffered a splinter injury. The injured are undergoing treatment at the GMCH here. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Sources said the shelling stopped at 8 am, resumed at 10 am and continued till 12.30 pm. Violating the ceasefire, Pakistan has been targeting Indias civilian population across the LoC. Simrandeep Singh, Jammu DC, said several houses have suffered damage. A horse, two cows and a buffalo had been hurt. Heavy firing, meanwhile, has triggered mass migration. An estimated 12,000 villages have moved to safer places. Though relief camps have been set up, only 250-300 persons have taken refuge there. We have not officially asked the people to migrate but have advised them to take precautions, the DC said. The border residents have been pressing for more community bunkers to be used as hideouts during shelling. We thought it (shelling) would stop, but it hasnt. So we decided to shift to a safer place, said a resident of Korotana Khurd village. It is not the first time that his family has had to move out. Vikram Singh of Budhipur village said they were staying back to feed their cattle, despite the risk to their life. Each time there is a ceasefire violation, we have to migrate. Had we be given the promised plots at safer places, we would be living there, said Chuni Lal from Abdullian village. Amir Tantray Tribune News Service Jammu, October 27 A Border Security Force jawan was killed and six civilians were injured when Pakistani troops shelled over 15 BOPs and 29 hamlets with mortar bombs and fired heavily from automatic weapons overnight in RS Pura and Arnia sectors along the International Border in Jammu district. BSF troops guarding the border line retaliated to the Pakistani firing. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The BSF jawan was identified as head constable Jitender kumar, who hailed from Raxaul village in Motihari district of Bihar. He was injured in Abdulian area of RS Pura and succumbed to injuries on his way to hospital. There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BOPs and villages along the IB in RS Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till Thursday morning, a police officer said. Pakistani Army also resorted to unprovoked truce violation in Krishna Ghat sector in Poonch on LoC later on Thursday evening. Pakistani troops pounded over 20 civilian hamlets along the IB in Arnia and RS Pura overnight, he said. Over 15 BOPs were also targeted. In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in RS Pura on Thursday morning, he said, adding that the injured had been evacuated to hospital for treatment. Pakistani posts started firing heavy mortars towards the Indian side at 8.35 pm, a BSF officer said. Heavy mortar shells were fired towards Arnia on Wednesday night, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said. On Wednesday, an officer of the Border Security Force was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him in RS Pura sector. As many as 16 people, mostly women, have been injured in the cross border firing in the RS Pura sector in the past two days. BSF Assistant Sub-Inspector AK Upadhayay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He received splinter injures in his hand. Eight civilians were injured in shelling in RS Pura and Arnia on October 25. Singh said the government had issued an advisory and all educational institutes near the border had been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border. People have been migrating to safer locations. In the wake of the heavy firing, border residents are migrating to safer locations. Whenever there is lull, they leave their houses to shift to either safe camps or to their relatives houses at safer locations, Singh said. A six-year-old boy and a BSF jawan were killed in the cross-border shelling in RS Pura sector on October 24. Over 55 ceasefire violations have taken place since the surgical strikes carried out by the Army on terror launch pads in PoK, in which four people, including three security personnel, have died and over 25 injured. With PTI Amir Karim Tantray Tribune News Service Jammu, October 27 Hours after a Border Security Force head constable was killed in firing by Pakistan in the RS Pura sector this morning, the BSF killed one Pakistan Ranger and injured another in retaliatory fire. As shelling and firing from the Pakistani side continued this morning, BSF Head Constable Jitender Kumar of Raxual village in Bihar received a splinter injury at the Abdullian border outpost in the RS Pura sector. On way to hospital, Kumar succumbed to his injures taking the death toll of BSF personnel killed in Pakistani shelling to three in the past one week. Constable Gurnam Singh had succumbed to his injuries on October 22 and Constable Sushil Kumar died on October 24. In retaliatory firing by the BSF, one Pakistan Ranger was killed and another seriously injured. At 12.30 pm and 1.15 pm, BSF troops in the Arnia and RS Pura sectors of Jammu killed one Pakistan Ranger and seriously injured another in retaliatory fire. Pakistan troops managed to evacuate the grievously injured soldier in the vehicle amid the exchange of fire. Pakistan has resorted to heavy firing which is being responded to in a befitting manner, said Dharmendra Kumar Parekh, BSF DIG, Jammu Frontiers. This is the second incident in a week that the BSF has killed Pakistan Rangers. On October 21, seven Pakistan Rangers and one militant were killed in retaliatory fire when Constable Gurnam Singh was injured in sniper fire. Meanwhile, seven civilians were also injured in fresh Pakistani shelling on Nai Basti Raipur village in RS Pura this morning. The injured have been identified as Jyoti Sharma, Raj Rani, Shano Devi, Lucky Sharma, Abhi Sharma, Uday Sharma and Thoru Ram. The injured are being treated at Government Medical College, Jammu, where condition Jyoti Sharma is critical. She received a splinter injury in her abdomen. As shelling and firing has escalated over the past few days, over 12,000 border dwellers have already migrated to safer places. Meanwhile, Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling along the International Border this evening. Two persons received splinter injuries in the Hiranagar sector. Amir Tantray and Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Jammu/ Srinagar, October 27 A Border Security Force jawan was killed and six civilians were injured in heavy cross-border shelling in Jammu while a soldier was killed and another was injured when the Army thwarted an infiltration attempt in north Kashmirs Kupwara district on Thursday. Pakistani troops shelled over 15 BOPs and 29 hamlets with mortar bombs and fired heavily from automatic weapons overnight in RS Pura and Arnia sectors along the International Border in Jammu district. BSF troops guarding the border retaliated to the Pakistani firing. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The BSF jawan was identified as head constable Jitender kumar, who hailed from Raxaul village in Motihari district of Bihar. He was injured in Abdulian area of RS Pura and succumbed to injuries on his way to hospital. There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BOPs and villages along the IB in RS Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till Thursday morning, a police officer said. Pakistani Army also resorted to unprovoked truce violation in Krishna Ghat sector in Poonch on LoC later on Thursday evening. Pakistani troops pounded over 20 civilian hamlets along the IB in Arnia and RS Pura overnight, he said. Over 15 BOPs were also targeted. In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in RS Pura on Thursday morning, he said, adding that the injured had been evacuated to hospital for treatment. Pakistani posts started firing heavy mortars towards the Indian side at 8.35 pm, a BSF officer said. Heavy mortar shells were fired towards Arnia on Wednesday night, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said. On Wednesday, an officer of the Border Security Force was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him in RS Pura sector. As many as 16 people, mostly women, have been injured in the cross border firing in the RS Pura sector in the past two days. BSF Assistant Sub-Inspector AK Upadhayay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He received splinter injures in his hand. Eight civilians were injured in shelling in RS Pura and Arnia on October 25. Singh said the government had issued an advisory and all educational institutes near the border had been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border. People have been migrating to safer locations. In the wake of the heavy firing, border residents are migrating to safer locations. Whenever there is lull, they leave their houses to shift to either safe camps or to their relatives houses at safer locations, Singh said. A six-year-old boy and a BSF jawan were killed in the cross-border shelling in RS Pura sector on October 24. Over 55 ceasefire violations have taken place since the surgical strikes carried out by the Army on terror launch pads in PoK, in which four people, including three security personnel, have died and over 25 injured. Infiltration foiled A soldier was killed and another was injured as the army foiled an infiltration attempt in Kupwara's Tangdhar sector some 140 km from Srinagar on Thursday. The Army said that soldiers manning the Line of Control intercepted a group of militants trying to infiltrate into Kashmir. As the group was challenged, a gunfight erupted. In ensuing gunfight, one soldier was martyred and another was injured and evacuated, an Army officer said. The gunfight continues in the area. The identity of the soldier could not be established immediately. The latest infiltration bid was foiled at a time when there is an escalation of cross border shelling in Jammu region. In last one week, three BSF jawans and a civilian were killed and scores were injured in the border shelling. Defence sources said that militants from across are making desperate attempts to sneak into the Valley before snow closes off mountain passes in the region along the LoC for the next 5-6 months. This year this has been a spike in the infiltration from across. The Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) figures have revealed that 87 militants have infiltrated into Kashmir from across this year till ending September. Last year the 33 militants had managed to infiltrate. (With inputs from PTI) Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, October 27 At a time when there is an escalation in cross-border shelling in the Jammu region, a soldier was killed and another injured as the Army foiled an infiltration attempt in north Kashmirs Kupwara district on Thursday. The infiltration bid was foiled in Tangdhar sector, some 140 km from Srinagar, when the Army intercepted a group of heavily armed militants along the Line of Control. As the group was challenged, a gunfight erupted. In the ensuing gunfight, one soldier was martyred and another got injured and was evacuated, an Army officer said. The operation is continuing in the area. More soldiers have been deployed to comb the forest area in the sector. There is a possibility that militants might have returned to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The identity of the slain soldier could not be established immediately. Defence sources said militants from across were making desperate attempts to sneak into the Valley as the snow would close the mountain passes along the LoC in the region for the next six months. Intelligence reports said over 300 militants were waiting at nearly two dozen launch pads in PoK to infiltrate into Kashmir. Muzaffarabad, October 27 Massive demonstrations were held across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on October 22 to mark Black Day. Despite use of brute force and heavy crackdown by Pakistani security forces, hundreds of agitated people took to the streets in Bhimber, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and other parts of PoK. Anguished by Pakistans oppression, angry members of the Jammu and Kashmir National Students Federation even attempted to cross over into the Indian territory. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Mass arrests were made, batons charged and teargas shells unleashed on peaceful protesters; besides, press was gagged and all attempts were made to muzzle the widespread protests. On this day in 1947, Pakistan had violated all international norms and had sent tribals to invade Kashmir; since then the day has been marked as Black Day every year. PoK residents, who continue to live under Pakistans occupation, often use this day to highlight miseries and oppression they are undergoing under Pakistans occupation. Pakistan talks about Srinagar and Delhi, but look what they have done here. There is no pond of milk and honey here in PoK, said a leader of the National Student Federation here. Venting anger against Islamabad, he said, We dont believe in this kind of Azadi; Pakistan failed to resolve its own issues and it should first deal with terrorists, which it gave birth to. Look at Nawaz Sharif (Prime Minister) wherever he goes in the world, Raheel Sharif (Army Chief) follows him. Protestors used the occasion for drawing attention to the plight of people and sorry state of democracy and freedom in PoK. ANI Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, October 27 A school was set ablaze in central Kashmirs Budgam on Thursday the 24th such incident in the Valley so far as mysterious fires in educational institutions continue to puzzle authorities. A government middle school was set afire in Habbar Khag, more than 60 kms from Srinagar, on Thursday evening, damaging the school building, police said. This is the first such incident in Budgam. Several schools have been set ablaze in the Valley since violence erupted over the death of a militant commander on July 8. The fires have caused concern in the Valley, as police have so far failed to track down the culprits. Amit Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, October 27 The campaigns launched against Chinese products on the social media have badly affected their sale both in Jammu and Kashmir regions. Shoppers are looking for Indian goods this festive season unlike the previous years. Indian markets were flooded with Chinese goods in the past some years as people preferred them over Indian goods because of their wide range, affordable rates and smart look. But in the past few months, boycott campaigns launched on the social media like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter against Chinese products, with information trickling in that China is supporting Pakistan and funding its terror-related activities, the products are being replaced by Indian goods. The boycott campaign has changed the mindset of people and the pinch is being felt by the dealers of the Chinese products in the country. It has become difficult to sell Chinese item these days. Customer straightway refuses to buy Chinese products and asks for the Indian products, said Ramesh Gupta, owner of a toy shop in Pakka Danga in Jammu. As most of the toys are China made, our business is down by 60 per cent, he added. Seeing the market trend, some of the shopkeepers have stopped selling Chinese products. They are proudly advertising their policy against the Chinese products and getting good response from customers. Saugaat Store at Main Chowk, Janipur, is one of the stores which is offering 99 per cent Indian products this Diwali and getting an overwhelming response from customers. The sale of Chinese lights, candles and other decorative products has slashed this year and people are instead demanding earthen lamps, said Nikhil Khajuria, another shopkeeper at Janipur. I think the trend is good. Not only will this demoralise China but will also boost the Indian economy and culture, he added. Samaan Lateef Tribune News Service Srinagar, October 27 The five-member delegation led by the former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha concluded its three-day visit to Kashmir on Thursday after successfully breaking the logjam over talks with separatists. Before leaving for New Delhi, the delegation revisited hardline separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani again for some clarification on Thursday and took up the issue of reopening of educational institutions, which have been shut for the past 111 days due to the ongoing unrest. The delegates told Geelani that they were concerned about the students of Kashmir and their academic year should not be lost to the ongoing protests. Geelani, however, stuck to his demand that the government should withdraw cases against students and release them. Examinations can be deferred so that students can get time to prepare and prove their worth on their own, Geelani said, making it clear that separatists were not in favour of opening schools till the situation was normal. The three members who met Geelani included Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak (retd), veteran journalist Bharat Bhushan and executive director of the New Delhi-based Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation Sushobha Barve. We had a word with Geelani Saheb to clarify certain things which had caused some confusion, said the retired Air Vice Marshal. In a major breakthrough, the delegation held talks in a positive atmosphere with senior separatist leaders, including Geelani, on Tuesday after a failed attempt by members of the all-party delegation led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on September 4. Geelani, who is under house arrest, said talks with New Delhi would continue only after the government withdrew cases against separatists and students and released them. The five-member delegation, including former Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibuillah left for New Delhi this evening after meeting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Governor NN Vohra. The visit was aimed at breaking the ice between separatist groups and New Delhi and pave the way for dialogue as Kashmir is still reeling under tension due to the ongoing unrest. Tribune News Service Srinagar, October 27 Unidentified persons lobbed a petrol bomb in Sopore and set ablaze an autorickshaw here today for defying a bandh call as shutdown and restrictions continued to paralyse normal life on the 111th day of the unrest across Kashmir today. The petrol bomb was lobbed on some handcarts carrying garments near Government Hospital in Sopore town of Baramulla district in north Kashmir. Though the garments were damaged, no one was injured in the incident, reports said. This was the first incident of use of a petrol bomb in the Valley for enforcing shutdown since the unrest started. Miscreants continued to set ablaze academic institutes in the Valley. A school building was gutted in the Pattan area of Baramulla district today. So far nearly two dozen schools have been set ablaze during the over three-month long unrest. Most schools have been torched in south Kashmirs Kulgam. In Srinagar, an autorickshaw was set ablaze by unidentified persons in the Saida Kadal area. In recent days, there has been a rise in incidents of burning of vehicles. At least 13 vehicles have been damaged in these incidents in the central Kashmir districts of Srinagar and Budgam. Even as the normal life continues to remain paralysed due to shutdown called by separatists and the restrictions with heavy deployment of police personnel in sensitive areas, there has been an increased movement of pedestrians and vehicles here and other major towns of the Valley. Shops and business establishments are closed and the public transport is off the roads, while roadside vendors have been dotting the main market places. The separatists, jointly issuing weekly shutdown and protest calendars, had called for a complete shutdown on Thursday against the landing of the Army in Jammu and Kashmir on this day in 1947. Srinagar, October 27 The five-member civil society delegation led by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Thursday completed its three-day visit to Kashmir during which it met various stakeholders to understand the situation and share the pain of the people here. The delegation will now discuss the future course of action after meeting in Delhi. We came here to understand the situation and share the pain of the people. We will sit down (after going back to Delhi) and see how we can proceed further, Sinha told reporters after completing meetings with various sections in the Valley, including separatists. Sinha said the delegation, which does not have any official status, met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday and Governor N N Vohra today. Since its arrival here on Tuesday, the delegation met hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat and representatives of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industrythe apex trade body of Kashmir. Sinha, former External Affairs Minister, disagreed when asked whether the meeting with the separatists could be seen as a breakthrough since they opened their doors to the delegation members unlike the members of all-party delegation who were turned away by Geelani earlier in September. It was good on their part they decided to meet us. We had extensive discussions with various stakeholders here, he said. The other delegation membersWajahat Habibullah, the former chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Kapil Kak, former Air Vice-Marshall, Journalist Bharat Bhushan and Sushoba Barve of Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliationmet Geelani again today. PTI Bubbu Tir AROUND this time of the year, the roads become maddening. The entire town seems to be charged with festive spirit, hence roads groan beneath an unending traffic train. Every year, we hear about an economic slowdown dampening the festivities, yet every time, we witness Diwali in all its splendour, followed by a sparkling wedding season. City Beautiful, once proudly thought of as a bureaucratic hostel, is now clearly a re-peopled abode, what with a gamut crop of businessmen, technocrats, artists, politicians, mediapersons, students and a sizeable floating population turning it into a favoured address. So you see, the Page 3 culture tip-toed in quietly from the glitzy Mumbai and the power-packed Delhi in no time. We can boast of the prettiest socialites, getting off either Papajis red beacon or Kakajis. The landed gentry of Punjab and Haryana came here to educate their children, never to go back to their simple yet meaningful existence in the villages. Like all metropolises, Chandigarh too is a melting pot of sorts. One can converse with a Gorkha in chaste Punjabi and be responded to in the same, with his added accent. A bearded turbaned Sikh gentleman can surprise you with his grip over the Bengali language, as he probably descended from Kolkata in search of greener pastures. In the last few decades, people have begun to experiment anew with opportunities in places that have little to offer besides jobs. Trade has elbowed in, in this laidback sleepy town. One does miss the the old spirit of the festival though. Cleaning up would begin months in advance. New clothes were much awaited. Nowadays, the swollen wardrobe leaves people with no genuine excitement. Diwali, for most movers and shakers of a well-heeled section of society, is the time to lend legitimacy to bribes and get things moving. An expensive gift might get circulated in half the town before it makes its way back to the original house, unopened and unappreciated. Glittering fingers shuffle through card-packs as many a privileged home turn into a gambling den. People are out to outsmart, impress, intimidate rather than win over their fellow beings. The fakeness that has seeped into our lives has dampened the spirit far more than any economic recession could have possibly done. As I give my maid her Diwali allowance, she gently pushes the money back into my hand saying, Could you deposit it in my daughters saving account? Her college fee is due next month. She is the lamp of our house. We wish to keep it fuelled. That is our Diwali. Wiping my moist eyes, I silently pray for her little world, wishing it the best of sparkle now and forever. Happy Diwali to the spirit of diligence! Bhanu P Lohumi Tribune News Service Shimla, October 26 The union was touching, tinged with joy and pain. They took their babies into a warm embrace, their faces stained with tears of relief. For it had been a tortuous five-month wait since their infants, a boy and a girl, born at the state-run Kamla Nehru Hospital on the night of May 26, were swapped. As Sheetal, carrying baby girl Amanat, arrived at the residence of Anjna and Jitender Thakur (child's biological parents), both mothers looked downcast. They turned to their kin for solace. "The children are lucky to have two mothers and two homes," consoled an elderly woman. The Thakur family had organised a dham (community lunch) to celebrate the child's homecoming. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Humare ghar to Laxmi aayi hai. I have two grandsons and always wanted a granddaughter. This Diwali, we have been blessed with Goddess Laxmi," said an excited Kala, Anjna's mother-in-law. Turning her gaze at little Nitansh, she turned pensive. "We do not know how we will overcome the pain of parting with him," she remarked. A heart-broken Anjna moaned: How will I live without my son Nitansh." Anjna, who had at first refused to accept she had given birth to a baby girl until she was shown the DNA report, looked dazed at the turn of events. Sheetal looked calm, unflustered. She said her joy would have been more had the boy been handed over to her at the time of his birth. Achar Singh, her father, said the hospital authorities must pay compensation for mental agony and harassment. We suffered owing to their negligence," he maintained. The police. meanwhile, have arrested staff nurse Pushpa Devi and midwife Rupa Devi for child-swapping. They have been booked for cheating and kidnapping. New Delhi, October 27 China warned that a boycott of its products would negatively impact Chinese investments in India and hit bilateral cooperation between the two countries. China also asserted that any such boycott would not have much impact on its exports, but "without proper substitutes, the biggest losers of the boycott of Chinese goods will be Indian traders and consumers". In a statement issued here, the Chinese embassy said China is the world's largest trading nation in goods, with its exports in 2015 amounted to USD 2276.5 billion. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) "The exports to India accounted for only 2 per cent of China's total exports and India's boycott of Chinese goods will not have much impact on China's exports. "China is more concerned that the boycott will negatively affect Chinese enterprises to invest in India and the bilateral cooperation, which both Chinese and Indian people are not willing to see." The development comes as calls to boycott Chinese goods grow on social media amid tension between India and Pakistan. Apex traders body CAIT (Confederation of All India Traders) recently said the sale of Chinese products might decline by 30 per cent this Diwali. India is a big market for Chinese products and over the years import of toys, furniture, building hardware, crackers, lighting and electric fittings, furnishing fabric, office stationary, electronic appliances, consumer electronics, kitchen equipment & appliances, gift items, watches etc from China has increased to a great extent. Chinese products are generally low-priced which is the root cause of infiltration of Chinese goods in the Indian market, CAIT had said. In its statement, Chinese embassy referred to reports that local sellers in Sadar Bazaar, the largest wholesale market of household items in India, have complained about their Chinese goods sale dropping by at least 20 per cent. "The boycott effect will not limit to Diwali related products, but extended to other Chinese products that are not related to the festival. In the long-run, boycott will not only hurt Chinese goods sale, but also cause negative effects to consumers in India," it said. There has lately been an increase in the number of Chinese enterprises showing an interest in investing in India. PTI Simran Sodhi and Mukesh Ranjan Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 27 The recent India-Pakistan straining of relations on Thursday took a nosedive with Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoning Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit here. Delhi Police had detained an official of the Pakistan High Commission on charges of espionage. He has been identified as Mehmood Akhtar and was in possession of sensitive documents. But since he enjoys diplomatic immunity, the police released him. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Meanwhile, Jaishankar told Basit that the staffer had been declared persona non grata. According to sources, Basit protested against the treatment meted out to the official saying his detention was in violation of the Vienna Convention. Sources said the High Commissioner rejected all allegations saying the Pakistan High Commission never engaged in any activity that is incompatible with its diplomatic status. Delhi Police had been tailing Akhtar for the past few months and arrested him from near the Delhi Zoo. Two Indian nationals, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, have also been arrested. They were in possession of sensitive defence-related documents and information and allegedly handed them to the official. A fourth person, Shoaib, who is a Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent, was detained by Rajasthan police this evening and was being brought to Delhi. Shoaib was present at the meeting at the Delhi Zoo yesterday but had managed to give a slip to police. Sources in Delhi Police said they did not rule out possible involvement of some BSF troopers in the racket as they believethat Akhtar and his accomplices could not have got hold of deployment details unless somebody in BSF was leaking them. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement in which they have alleged that this act by India reflected Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission. It claimed that these were attempts by India to deflect international attention from the human rights violations being conducted by the Indian army in Jammu and Kashmir. Since the Uri attack last month, the bilateral relationship has gone from bad to worse. After India responded with surgical strikes against terrorist launch pads in Pakistan, Thursdays busting of the spy racket being run from the Pakistan High Commission is expected to further strain the relations. Meanwhile, according to sources in the security agencies, Mehmood Akhtar used to Rs 2,000 to Rs 2 lakh to identified agents who used to provide sensitive information and documents. These agents were identified and hired by Pakistans ISI, they said. Sources said Akhtars favourite place for meeting the Indian agents was Delhi Zoo. A Delhi court remanded Jangir and Ramzan to 12 days in police custody. The Ministry of External Affairs has said that Mehmood Akhtar and his family have been given 48 hours time to return to Pakistan. In a statement issued on Thursday evening, India also denied Pakistans accusations that they were Indias attempts to divert attention from rights abuses in Kashmir. Today morning Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and informed him that India had intercepted an official of the Pakistan High Commission in the pursuit of espionage and that he was being declared persona non-grata," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. "The Pakistan High Commission has been informed that Mehmood Akhtar and his family must return to Pakistan by October 29. The Foreign Secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pak High Commissioner that the Pak High Commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status," Swarup said. He also rejected Pakistani allegations of "mishandling" Akhtar, saying he was treated with "utmost courtesy". "When he was handed over to the Pakistan High Commission in the presence of a ministry official, Akhtar himself said he was treated well," he added. Swarup said Akhtar told the police that he had joined the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1997 and came on deputation to the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) in 2013 and posted in September 2013 to the Pakistan High Commission where he is presently working as Assistant to Farukh Habib, Counsellor (Trade). Recently, Akhtar provided details on the Indian Army unit movement in Kashmir to his masters in Pakistan. The details provided were so specific that it is feared that if ISI passed them on to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul terror groups, they could target Indian Army convoys and camps. Pakistan called the charges false and unsubstantiated and said it was in violation of the Vienna Convention. (With inputs from PTI) Islamabad, October 28 Hours after India accused an official of the Pakistan High Commission of spying, Pakistan declared an Indian High Commission official persona non-grata, giving him 48 hours time to leave the country. Foreign Office said in a statement that the decision was conveyed to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale who was summoned to foreign ministry. "The Foreign Secretary (Aizaz Chaudhry) summoned the Indian High Commissioner today and conveyed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to declare Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non-grata," the statement said. The Foreign Secretary voiced concerns over the activities of the Indian official that he claimed were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms, it said, although there were no details pf what they were. The Indian High Commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by October 29. This comes within hours of India declaring a Pakistan High Commission staffer in New Delhi as persona non-grata on charges of spying after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. PTI R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, October 27 A 7-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday made it clear that it was impossible to define the parameters for determining the violations of the ban on seeking votes in the name of religion, caste, race or language and as such it would not be issuing any guidelines on the issue. We will restrict ourselves to the question of whether the candidate should not seek vote in the name of only his religion or in the name of any religion and those coming within the ambit of the ban, the Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur clarified. The other members of the Bench are Justices MB Lokur, SA Bobde, AK Goel, UU Lalit, DY Chandrachud and LN Rao. The Bench made the remark while hearing arguments by senior counsel Indira Jaisingh for three interveners, including social activist Teesta Setalvad. The Bench also said the contesting candidates could not be disqualified for merely making a reference to a religion. The permissible limit would depend on what was said, the context and the tone and tenor. These aspects could be gone into only on a case-to-case basis, it explained. It said it did not want to expand the scope of the references made to it by smaller Benches by venturing into areas that were difficult to be dealt with. Jaisingh pleaded that she was also against a blanket ban on reference to any religion in poll campaign. But the court should draw a line between what was permissible and what would amount to exceeding the limit. Sonia Gandhi Lok Sabha case: Hearing deferred Meanwhile, another Bench headed by Justice Anil Dave deferred hearing of a petition challenging the election of Congress President to Lok Sabha in 2014 from Rae Bareli for allegedly holding two citizenships and playing the communal card to get Muslim votes. The petitioner Ramesh Singh has approached the Supreme Court following the dismissal of his PIL by the Allahabad High Court on July 11. The Bench said it would await the ruling by the 7-member Constitution Bench, which was hearing a batch of petitions pertaining to disqualification or non-disqualification of MPs and MLAs on the charge of seeking votes in the name of subjects banned under the Representation of People Act 1951. Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 27 Indicating a shift from public perception of having turned pro-US, New Delhi has told Moscow it will remain its foremost defence partner and has shared a future vision of a relationship that could very well mirror the past. At a meeting between Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Russian counterpart General Sergey Shoigu here yesterday, New Delhi proposed a greater military-to-military contact and setting up of Indo-Russia joint ventures in producing spares for military equipment. Military contact and not trade will be the guiding force in the Indo-Russian ties, a source said. New Delhi in its internal assessment has decided to recapture the dynamism of the military-to-military interaction as it was earlier the days of the erstwhile Soviet Union (it disintegrated in 1991) when Indian officers, troops, sailors and pilots frequently trained with the Russians. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) However, this does not mean India would return to the Cold War-era (1945-1991) relationship when it was seen in the Soviet bloc despite its non-aligned status. We have told the visiting Russian delegation, lets focus on increasing our relationship higher. The India-Russia relationship is massive and should not be seen through the India-US relationship. Both are separate and will grow separately, a source told The Tribune, adding the Russian delegation did not raise the issue of the logistics supply agreement inked between India-US some two months ago. A non-paper diplomatic word for informal suggestions put in written format was exchanged with the Russian delegation yesterday and it suggests a greater complexity of military exercises; an increased frequency in exercises and institutionalised interaction at all senior levels of the two militaries. The existing 16-year-old annual military-technical agenda shall have an additional aspect to it i.e. military-cooperation, sources said. More than 70 per cent of the Indian military equipment is of Soviet/Russian origin, including the sea-borne aircraft carrier, nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra, BrahMos missiles, Mi-17 helicopters, Sukhoi-30 fighter jets, among others. London, October 27 British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that the UKs stand on Kashmir remains unchanged and it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan to address. The issue was raised in the House of Commons during the weekly Prime Ministers questions session on Wednesday by Pakistani-born Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi, who asked if the Kashmir issue would form part of Mays discussions during her visit to India next month. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) I take the same view as this government has since it came into power, and indeed previously, which is that the issue of Kashmir is a matter for India and Pakistan to deal with and sort out, the British PM said in Parliament, clearly indicating that Kashmir was unlikely to be on the agenda during her bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she visits India between November 6 and 8. Qureshi, who represents a heavily Pakistani-origin constituency of Bolton in north-west England, had questioned in the Commons: Will the Prime Minister meet with me and cross-party colleagues to discuss the human rights abuses and the issue of self-determination for Kashmiri people, as was set out in the resolution of the UN in 1948 and can she raise this issue with the Indian Prime Minister. May, while dismissing any meeting herself, said: The foreign secretary [Boris Johnson] has heard her representations and I am sure will be interested in taking those issues up with her. The British PM is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on November 6 for her first overseas bilateral visit outside Europe. Besides inaugurating the India-UK Tech Summit alongside Modi, she will be holding talks with her Indian counterpart before heading to Bengaluru. May will be accompanied by a business delegation comprising small and medium enterprises from across the UK and her international trade minister, Liam Fox. PTI Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, October 27 Despite complaints of suffocation and congestion from commuters, the Railways has decided to press ahead with automatic closing doors in Mumbais local trains. Sources say the first phase will see womens compartments on 10 trains in the Central Railway fitted with automatic doors. These doors will remain shut when the train is in motion and open only when it comes to a halt at the station. Each train will require 20 sets of automatic doors for the womens compartments alone, officials said. The Railways has drawn criticism over footage of commuters falling off running trains on the social media. Apart from Members of Parliament, the World Bank, which is funding the Mumbai Urban Transport Project, is also insisting on automatic doors as a condition for financial assistance to revamp Mumbais train network. As an experiment, the railways had installed automatic doors in the womens compartment of a train on Western Railway. However, commuters complained of suffocation and the system malfunctioned from surging crowds, officials said. Technical experts from the railways have zeroed in on improved technology for automatic doors to be introduced in Central Railways trains. Sources say the compartment will have to be fitted with ventilation equipment to ensure passengers are not suffocated once the doors are closed. Deaths on tracks The Railways has been under fire ever since footage in the social media showed commuters falling off running trains. In 2015, more than 700 persons died after falling off trains, while over 3,000 persons lose their lives on Mumbais train tracks every year Simran Sodhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 26 New Zealand today said it would adopt a constructive approach towards Indias application for the membership of the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). New Zealand was among the handful of nations that opposed Indias entry into the NSG on the pretext that India is a non-signatory to the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Todays statement by visiting Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key looks guarded one and stops short of a full hearted agreement on Indias candidature. However, sources in the government viewed Keys comments with optimism and said India was encouraged by the discussion on the NSG issue and that New Zealand showed understanding of Indias clean energy needs. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) In his remarks to the media after holding delegation-level talks with PM Narendra Modi, Key said, We held detailed discussion on India becoming an NSG member in a process that New Zealand will continue to contribute constructively. New Zealand will work with NSG members on the issue and reach a decision as soon as possible. Key expressed support for India to become a member of the reformed United Nations Security Council, something that India has been lobbying hard for many years now. Both sides also decided to work together for an early conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. The talks between the two leaders also focused on terrorism and threat to cyber security. The joint statement issued at the end of the talks called for eliminating terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupting terrorist networks and their financing, and stopping cross-border terrorism. There was no mention of Masood Azhar and Indias efforts to get him designated an international terrorist at the UN in the statement. Simran Sodhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 27 In the midst of heightened India-Pakistan tension, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar today summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and informed him that an official of the Pakistan High Commission had been declared persona non grata after being caught by the Delhi Police in an espionage case. In tit-for-tat move, Pakistan later declared an official of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Surjeet Singh, as persona non grata and asked him and his family to leave the country by October 29. Pakistan said his activities were in violation of the Vienna Convention and established diplomatic norms. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The Delhi Police had earlier detained Mehmood Akhtar, a junior officer with the commission. He was in possession of sensitive defence documents, but because he enjoyed diplomatic immunity, the police later released him. The Ministry of External Affairs said Akhtar and his family had been asked to leave India within 48 hours. Sources said Basit protested the treatment meted out to the official and said his detention was in violation of the Vienna Convention. He rejected all allegations, saying the Pakistan High Commission never engaged in any activity incompatible with its diplomatic status. Delhi Police had been tailing Akhtar for the past few months and arrested him near the Delhi Zoo. Three Indians, Maulana Ramzan, Subhash Jangir and Shoaib belonging to Rajasthan, have also been detained. A Delhi court has remanded Ramzan and Jangir in 12-day police custody. Meanwhile, the Pakistan ministry of foreign affairs issued a statement alleging this act was a reflection of Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission. It said these were attempts by India to deflect international attention from human rights violations being conducted by the Indian Army in J&K Sources in the security agencies said Akhtar used to pay Rs 2,000 to Rs 2 lakh to identified agents to obtain information and papers from them. These agents were identified and hired by Pakistans ISI, they said. Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 27 The RSS is hopeful that the Supreme Court will give an early verdict to pave the way for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya amid a renewed focus on the issue in the run-up to the UP polls. Amid the prevailing tension along the borders, the BJP's ideological fountainhead also favours a ban on Pakistani artistes. But it feels that issues such as prohibiting import of Chinese products should be left to society. Briefing the media on the RSS meeting, Delhi state general secretary Bharat Bhushan said, The Ram Temple is central to our faith and a temple should come up at the Ram Janmabhoomi site, which has been made clear by the Allahabad High Court verdict. It is a matter of few days, months or years. People of the country want a grand temple at Ayodhya. The matter is before the Supreme Court and we expect that the court gives an early verdict. We expect this issue should be resolved early, Bhushan said. On demand by some for day-to-day hearing, he said, It has nothing to do with the UP elections. Regarding the ban on Pakistani artistes, the RSS leader said though art is a universal subject, artistes coming here and not condemning terror and criticising those who raised the issue should be banned. Asked if Chinese products should be banned, he said, Some things are best left to society and the issue of Chinese products should also be decided by the society and not by us. New Delhi, October 26 The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has begun looking into the high-profile Tata-Mistry case for any possible breach of corporate governance norms and listing regulations at various listed companies of the over $100 billion conglomerate. We (SEBI) are taking note of each and every development and will act immediately, if there is any hint of possible violation of corporate governance and listing norms or any other regulation under our jurisdiction, a senior official said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Besides, stock exchanges, late evening, sought clarification from many of the groups listed companies on the purported disclosure by ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry about Rs 1.18 lakh crore possible writedown at the group firms. The companies, including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Indian Hotels, Tata Teleservices and Tata Power, have been asked to explain whether such event/negotiations/article stated in published news were taking place? If so, you are advised to provide the said information along with the sequence of events in a chronological order and the material impact of this article on the company, the bourses said. The market regulator is also looking into the alleged disclosure made in the letter purportedly written by ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry to Tata Sons board members about financial and other irregularities as also lapses on the corporate governance front, sources said. The stock exchanges and the regulator are also keeping a close watch on the price movement and trading activities of over 24 listed companies of Tata Group, which have seen an erosion in value in the last two trading sessions after the surprise ouster of Mistry in less than four years of being made chairman of Tata Sons, the main holding company of the Group firms. The price movement and trading volumes for a few days prior to the surprise announcement will also being look into. PTI London, October 27 Hailing the contribution of British-Indians, Prime Minister Theresa May has said she would highlight their success during her first official visit to India next month. May praised British-Indians in her message at the annual Diwali celebrations in the House of Commons on Wednesday. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) In Britains Indian communities, we can see the good that can be done when peoples talents are unleashed. I think of all those running their own businesses, taking risks and working hard so that they can provide for their families and take on staff, May said in her message, read out by Bob Blackman, the parliamentary host of the annual Diwali event organised by the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB). She said she would be highlighting this success when she visited India next month on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I will be so proud to highlight the achievements of British-Indians next month when I make my first official visit to India as Prime Minister at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, May said. The event organised on the House of Commons Terrace Pavilion overlooking the Thames began with the reciting of mantras and was attended by leading Indian-origin parliamentarians, including Lord Swraj Paul, Lord Dolar Popat, Lord Jitesh Gadhia and Shailesh Vara. I am incredibly proud, as a British-Indian and a British Hindu to see this event go from strength to strength. It is a celebration for all of us from all backgrounds, said Priti Patel, the UKs International Development Minister and the senior-most Indian-origin minister in Mays Cabinet. The event this time coincided with a Jammu and Kashmir delegations visit led by Maharaja Kumar Ajatshatru Singh, the grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh, who signed the accession treaty for J&K to become a part of India on October 26, 1947. Blackman declared that October 26 would now be marked as J&K Day every year in the UK Parliament. PTI KV Prasad Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 27 The Union Cabinet on Thursday announced an instalment of Dearness Allowance for central government employees and dearness relief for pensioners at 2 per cent with effect from July this year. This was announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was addressing the media after the cabinet meeting. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The cabinet also cleared Rs 500 crore for horticulture under the PM package for Jammu and Kashmir. It also announced a package for apple-growers. Indirect benefits were approved for allied sectors. The cabinet also approved setting up of a National Academic Depository as envisioned under Digital India, he said. New Delhi, October 27 The US Justice Department charged 61 people and entities on Thursday with taking part in a scam involving India-based call centers where agents impersonated Internal Revenue Service, immigration and other federal officials and demanded payments for non-existent debts. The scam, which had operated since 2013, targeted at least 15,000 people who lost more than $300 million, the department said in a statement. The defendants, who were indicted by a grand jury in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas on October 19, included 32 people and five call centers in India and 24 people in nine US states, the statement said. The indictment said the operators of the call centers in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, "threatened potential victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay taxes or penalties to the government." Payments by victims were laundered by a US network of co-conspirators using prepaid debit cards or wire transfers, often using stolen or fake identities, the statement said. The call centers also ran scams in which victims were offered short-term loans or grants on condition of providing good-faith deposits or payment of a processing fee, it said. The investigation involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Treasury, Homeland Security, US Secret Service and police officials, the Justice Department said. Reuters Washington, October 27 The US Justice Department charged 61 persons and entities on Thursday with taking part in a scam involving India-based call centres where agents impersonated Internal Revenue Service, immigration and other federal officials and demanded payments for non-existent debts. The scam, which going on since 2013, targeted at least 15,000 persons who lost more than $300 million. Twenty people were arrested in the US on Thursday, while 32 individuals and five call centres in India have been charged, the department said in a statement. The defendants, including 24 persons across nine US states, were indicted by a grand jury in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas. US Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said the US would be seeking extradition of those based in India and warned others engaged in similar schemes. Its important for the scammers in India to know that the US is looking at this, is watching them and they could, if they engage in that activity, be extradited to the US and could sit in jail ... for several years, she said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The indictment alleges that the defendants were involved in a sophisticated fraudulent scheme organised by conspirators in India, including a network of call centres in Ahmedabad, the Department of Justice said. It said the operators of the call centres in Ahmedabad threatened potential victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation, if they did not pay taxes or penalties to the government. Payments by victims were laundered by a US network of co-conspirators using prepaid debit cards or wire transfers, often using stolen or fake identities, the statement said. The call centre racket made use of informal money transfer businesses known as hawalas to move the money. Many of those businesses did not know the money being transferred was part of an extortion scheme, it said. The call centres also ran scams in which victims were offered short-term loans or grants on condition of providing good-faith deposits or payment of a processing fee. The investigation involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Treasury, Homeland Security, US Secret Service and police officials. The Mumbai police had unearthed the scam after raiding seven call centres on Mira Road. The daily transactions of the call centres stood at around Rs 1.5 crore. Agencies Praise for Delhi The US on Thursday commended India for helping it in unearthing a multi-million dollars transnational scam that cheated thousands of American citizens into paying fictitious debts. We want to commend Indians for having done that because we think its important that they come in addition to our enforcement efforts, and now, we have do to the extradition process, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R Caldwell. PTI Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, October 27 Liquor smuggling is high in Moga district. As many as 200 cases have been registered by the police under the Excise Act in the current year at various police stations. Liquor contractors said that due to the rise in smuggling in the current fiscal year, they were running into huge losses. The Excise Department has hardly made any effort to curb the illegal sale of liquor, they alleged. On October 26, the police seized 30 bottles of illegally smuggled country made liquor at Kussa village and arrested a person. On October 25, the local police seized 20 bottles of illegally smuggled liquor at Dharamkot town and arrested two persons. On October 24, 18 bottles of smuggled liquor was seized from a person and 16 bottles of vodka were seized from another person at Baghapurana town in two separate incidents. Two persons were arrested the same day from a dhaba in Ajitwal for illegally serving liquor to customers without valid permission from the Excise Department. On October 23, the local police seized two canters loaded with illegally smuggled country made liquor worth Rs 30 lakh from the outskirts of Moga city. A driver was arrested while the kingpin of the liquor mafia is still at large. Sunny Gill, a liquor contractor, said that he was facing huge losses due to smuggling and illegal sale of liquor in Moga city and its adjoining areas. On an average, the contractors were losing Rs 5 lakh a day. SSP Sneh Deep Sharma claimed that the police were regularly checking all suspicious vehicles entering the district headquarters. The police have also increased night patrolling across the district including rural areas. Against the 200 cases registered by the police this year, the Excise and Taxation Department has hardly made any efforts to curb liquor smuggling. It has pursued only 10 cases which include issuing challans to few liquor vends. The high rate of liquor at government authorised vends has increased smuggling in this area. The rate of liquor in the nearby districts Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Barnala, Faridkot and Ludhiana is much less than in Moga district. Amritsar, October 27 A day after the Supreme Court directed Navjot Singh Sidhu to face trial in a case filed by his opponent, OP Soni, during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, his wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu said today that the complaint was baseless. Dr Sidhu said the process of transferring government officials prior to the elections or during the MPs tenure was a routine affair. The SC verdict wont impact our talks with the Congress as the case pertained to a petition filed seven years ago and that too is frivolous, she said. Soni, Congress MLA from Amritsar Central, welcomed the SCs decision and said he had started exploring legal options to proceed against Sidhu. TNS Tribune News Service Dehradun, October 27 Nepalese Ambassador designate Deep Kumar Upadhyay today launched a book titled GorkhaSociety and Politics, brought out by the Centre for Reforms, Development and Justice (CRDJ), New Delhi. The book is authored by Brig CS Thapa (retd). Upadhyay hoped that by re-visiting the Indo-Nepal treaty of 1950, the long-standing irrigation and power concerns of Nepal would be addressed. He called for redress of all issues between India and Nepal in a positive manner. He said an expert group would discuss on the 1950 treaty and give its recommendations within three years after holding consultations with stakeholders. He said 70 per cent of trade in the Himalayan nation was dependent on India due to geographical reasons. Centre for Reforms, Development and Justice, president and senior journalist Siddharth Mishra said the book Gorkha Society and Politics, highlighted a community that was not only known for courage and chivalry but were sweet by nature. He said book intends to reach out to the people and seek their opinion. He said the book was the first assignment on part of CRDJ and it looks forward for many more such ventures. Author Brig CS Thapa said the book refers to three brothers from Nepal, first who joined the Nepalese army, the second one who joined the British army and the third, who went to India and joined the Indian Army. He called for protection of Gorkha identity and stressed for looking beyond the proposed demand of Gorkhaland. A large number of people from Dehradun attended the launch ceremony. Baghdad, October 27 A US general said on Thursday that between 800 and 900 Islamic State group fighters had been killed since the Iraqi-led operation to recapture Mosul from the jihadists began. Just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate theyve probably killed about 800-900 Islamic State fighters, General Joseph Votel, who heads the US militarys Central Command, said in an interview with AFP, speaking from an undisclosed location. Iraqi security forces and Kurdish peshmerga fighters are pushing toward Mosul along several axes and have made relatively quick progress as they approach Mosul, Iraqs second city. The offensive, which began 10 days ago, has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, and resistance may get heavier as Iraqi forces break through IS defences and enter the city itself. Earlier US estimates had put the population of IS fighters in Mosul itself at between 3,500 and 5,000. Up to another 2,000 were thought to be in the broader Mosul region. Votel cautioned it was hard to provide precise numbers as IS fighters move around the city and blend in with the local population. IS has lost the ability to move in large convoys, making it more difficult to replace fighters if it loses them in significant numbers. But the US-led coalition against IS has said that the jihadists can still travel in smaller groups. The coalition has previously said that it does not use a casualty count as a measure of effectiveness in the campaign to ultimately defeat (IS) in Iraq and Syria. Despite this assertion, such figures are periodically announced. AFP Islamabad, October 27 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has refused to commit funds for Pakistan's $14 billion dam project on the Indus river in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), two years after the World Bank declined to fund the project following Islamabad's refusal to seek an NoC from India. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project, ADB president Takehiko Nakao said at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. Underlining that the project on the Indus river in Gilgit- Baltistan in PoK was very important for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, Nakao called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, expected to generate a power output of 4,500 MW. Islamabad has consistently failed to attract foreign lenders for the project. Repeated efforts to rope in the World Bank as a co-lender had failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No-objection Certificate from India for the project. Instead, Pakistan accepted funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu project, downstream Diamer-Bhasha. PTI Washington, October 27 Donald Trump has made America a laughing stock of the world, the father of a Pakistani-American soldier who was killed in the line of duty has said and pledged to stand up against the Republican nominees hatred, bigotry and political rhetoric. Hitting the campaign trail for the first time in support of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Khizr Khan, said, There comes a time in an ordinary citizens life when you stand up against tyranny, against un-American hate. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Would I do it all over again? A million times again, again, again, again, up until this hatred, bigotry and political rhetoric in the United States is wiped away, Khan said in his speech at a mosque in Norfolk Virginia, which is home to the largest naval base. Khan, the father of slain US Army Capt Humayun Khan who died while serving in the 2004 Iraq War, had captivated the nation three months ago when he denounced 70-year-old Trump for his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country. He has made us the laughing stock of the world, Khan said. This is the most appropriate city to utter these words. I say it with complete comprehension: Donald Trump as a candidate has proven himself temperamentally unfit to be the commander of chief of this great nation, said Khan, who is also appearing in a 60-second ad released by the Clinton Campaign. There are no second chances, he said. Khan, who voted a day earlier, slammed Trump for his rhetoric. Once a rocket is launched you cannot take it back, Khan said. [Trump is] unable to understand, unable to learn the consequences of such a mistake. This person has shown he is apprentice of the nuclear arsenal, he said. I urge all independents. All Republicans. All Republicans are as patriotic as anyone else...to vote for Hillary Clinton, he said. PTI Christine Knorr of Madison fills out her ballot for the Nov. 8 general election Sept. 26 while taking advantage of the first day of in-person early voting during a visit to the Madison Central Library. United Nations, October 27 Marking a significant shift in stance, the US for the first time abstained from voting on a UN resolution that underlined the need to end the trade embargo imposed by America against Cuba, a move welcomed by India and other nations. In a near unanimous action, the General Assembly yesterday adopted the resolution in which India along with 190 other countries voted in favour while the US, which had been opposing it for 25 years, cast an abstention along with Israel. For more than 50 years, the United States had a policy aimed at isolating the government of Cuba. For roughly half of those years, UN member states have voted overwhelmingly for a General Assembly resolution that condemns the US embargo and calls for it to be ended. The United States has always voted against this resolution. Today, the US will abstain, said US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power at the meeting of the Cuba embargo. She said the US policy of isolation toward Cuba was not working and instead of isolating Cuba, our policy isolated the United States. Including right here at the United Nations. Power, however, added that abstaining on the resolution did not mean the US agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government. PTI London, October 27 The world's most famous fictional spy, James Bond, would never have been hired by Britain's security services in the real world due to his 'morally dubious character', the boss of MI6 has said. In a rare interview with Black History Month website, Alex Younger said: "We know that if we undermine British values, even in the name of defending them, then we have failed. Our staff is not from another planet. They are ordinary men and women operating in the face of complex moral, ethical and physical challenges, often in the most forbidding environments on earth. Bond's 'morally dubious character' would rule him out as a real-life MI6 spy despite his tenacity and patriotism, he added. Younger said: "In contrast to James Bond, MI6 officers are not for taking moral shortcuts. In fact, a strong ethical core is one of the first qualities we look for in our staff. "It's safe to say that James Bond wouldn't get through our recruitment process and, whilst we share his qualities of patriotism, energy and tenacity, an intelligence officer in the real MI6 has a high degree of emotional intelligence, values teamwork and always has respect for the law... unlike Mr Bond." The chief of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, which is referred to as MI6, also used the interview to appeal to the youth to join the ranks. "My ultimate goal is for more people to consider a career in MI6 and to get rid of the myth that it's all about having studied at Oxford or Cambridge or having advanced hand-to-hand combat skills. That stereotype really couldn't be further from the truth," he said. "What is true is that our work at MI6 is exciting, intellectually challenging and it matters. We are Britain's secret frontline, operating upstream in the shadows to keep our friends, families and fellow countrymen and women safe," Younger added. Bond's character, created by Ian Fleming, has proved the most enduring image of British spies around the world. However, it seems the promiscuous vodka martini enthusiast made famous in a series of film adaptations has very little to do with the real world. PTI Chicago, October 27 A Muslim woman has sued a security company in the US for discrimination, alleging that the firm rejected her for employment because of her faith and her hijab. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Zahraa-Imani Ali, from St Louis County, Missouri, alleging that a nationwide security firm discriminated against prospective Muslim employees. Securitas Security Services refused to hire Ali, at least in part, but likely entirely, on the fact that Ms Ali wears the hijab as part of her adherence to the Islamic faith, lawyer Robert West was quoted as saying by St. Louis Post- Dispatch. The suit, filed on October 21, seeks monetary damages, costs and attorneys fees and seeks class-action status to represent other applicants. The lawsuit said that Ali, a former correctional officer, applied for a job with Securitas in September 2015. During a phone screening that October, she asked whether wearing a hijab would be an issue, the suit said. The recruitment specialist said that there should not be a problem, but in a series of emails, a regional compliance manager recommended that the specialist side step and pass on Ali, according to the suit. The mainstreaming of Islamophobia has made it much harder for American Muslims to gain employment because of religious discrimination, Faizan Syed, executive director of the councils Missouri chapter, said in a statement. We hope this lawsuit will send a clear message to all employers to follow the law and not engage in discriminatory hiring practices, he said. PTI A man imprisoned for assaulting a college student and burglarizing his apartment filed a federal lawsuit against a former La Crosse police officer accusing him of excessive force and two jail medical staff members of negligence. Anthony Lee argues Heath Parshall in 2012 struck him in the face with a stun gun without justification during an arrest and that his injury went untreated in the La Crosse County Jail, according to his suit filed in U.S. District Court. Lee seeks unspecified damages. The incident unfolded early July 15 when Parshall found Lee and co-defendant Bret Clark trying to break into an apartment near the Taco Bell on West Avenue. The men earlier that morning broke into a college students apartment at 518 N. 11th St. and threw rocks at him before Clark drove a knife through his cheek. The victims injury required three layers of stitches. He suffered permanent damage to his jaw and face. According to Lees suit, Parshall approached at gunpoint and ordered the men not to flee. Clark fled, while Lee complied before the officer jumped on him, forced him to his stomach and struck his face with a Taser. Clark claims he was not resisting. Parshall in his report stated Lee ran as he approached, and then immediately fought with the officer. He refused orders to comply before Parshall lost his radio during the struggle, leaving him unable to call for more officers. Lee punched Parshall in the groin as the officer summoned a passing student for help with the arrest, according to the report. The men took Lee to the ground as Parshall instructed two women to call 911 for backup. Clark returned and tried to kick the officer in the head before trying to flee. The student held Clark to the ground until additional officers arrived. Parshall, who left the agency last year, received a citation award from the department. The student who assisted, Cole Amundson, was given a citizens merit award. Clark is serving 17 years in prison after he failed on probation initially ordered in the case. Lee, 28, is serving nine years in prison. Lee argues he suffered extreme facial swelling and bruising and damage to his left eye after the confrontation with the officer. He also is suing two unnamed members of the jail medical staff after they refused treatment beyond an ice pack. Lee states he suffers from permanent loss of vision, headaches and sensitivity to light. No court date is set on the case. A former Tulsa police officer facing a first-degree murder trial scheduled to start Monday wants the judge overseeing the case removed from the proceedings. District Judge Sharon Holmes, during a Wednesday hearing, emphatically rejected the recusal request by defense attorney Richard OCarroll on behalf of Shannon James Kepler. It is denied, Holmes replied three times in quick succession to repeated requests by OCarroll that she step aside and halt the proceedings, five days before the trial is set to begin. Kepler is accused of the Aug. 5, 2014, shooting death of his daughters boyfriend, 19-year-old Jeremey Lake. Kepler, 56, is additionally charged with two counts of shooting with intent to kill related to his daughter, Lisa Kepler, and Lakes now 15-year-old brother, Michael Hamilton. The recusal request throws some doubt on whether the case, which has seen several delays, will proceed to trial on Monday if the matter is fought at the appellate level. At issue is Holmes scheduled attendance at the annual Freedom Fund Dinner, sponsored by the Christian Ministers Alliance and the Tulsa chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The event is billed as a fundraiser for a youth center in north Tulsa. Holmes is a featured speaker at the event, to be held Nov. 5 at a downtown hotel. OCarroll said Holmes was violating the law by speaking at an event that is a fundraiser, because it will have the effect of aligning her with the state. It is a political event, OCarroll said, noting that Sheriff Vic Regalado, who is facing re-election, will be master of ceremonies. This is not just a small thing; it is a choice that you made, OCarroll said, addressing Holmes. Judge Holmes behavior raises the appearance that she views Mr. Keplers trial as a political show calculated to ameliorate the egregious racial aliment in Tulsa, OCarroll wrote in his motion for recusal. OCarroll was expected to pursue the recusal request by asking a superior judge in Tulsa County District Court to remove Holmes from the case. If he is denied again, OCarroll could then pursue the matter in appellate court, raising doubts as to whether the trial will go off as scheduled on Monday. Holmes said she researched the matter after it was brought to her attention by OCarroll on Monday. Theres nothing inappropriate about me speaking at an event, Holmes said. In fact, she said judges are encouraged to take part in educational, religious, charitable, or civic extrajudicial activities. But they are not fundraisers, OCarroll interjected. Holmes replied that she runs a very evenhanded court. Mr. Kepler will get a fair trial. The state will get a fair trial, Holmes said, before adding, I appreciate your concern about what I do in the community and whether it is right or wrong. Assistant District Attorney Kevin Gray said afterwards that the request was not unexpected, saying it has been a part of the defense trial strategy from the get-go. In other matters, Holmes ruled that Kepler was not entitled to keep a jury from hearing statements related to a handgun that OCarroll gave to police following the shooting. OCarroll contended, in a motion filed Oct. 3, that disclosing the evidence related to the firearm would violate Keplers Sixth Amendment right to counsel, because it was a privileged communication. Revealing the source of the revolver would also be confusing and misleading to a jury, OCarroll contended. Gray said the state has the right to inform the jury how police came to possess a .357-caliber revolver with five spent casings and one live round. Holmes also ruled that the defense would not be able to elicit trial testimony regarding a handgun found in a trash bin at the police station following the shooting of Lake. Police have been unable to trace the source of the so-called trash can gun. Kepler, who has been free on $825,000 bond since Aug. 22, 2014, is retired from the Tulsa Police Department after nearly 25 years with the agency. Twitter: @loucardfan61 The Minister of Local Government.. says when the local government legislation comes into effect.. regional corporations can better service their communities. He made the remark.. during the San Juan Laventille Corporation's interfaith service and military parade.. as the corporation turns 30 years. A woman wanted in connection with the battery and robbery of a man at a local casino told authorities she suffers from blackouts, has previously been sent to a mental institution, and does not remember the night in question. Prosecutors have charged 27-year-old Chia Chang of Milwaukee with felony aggravated battery and robbery with the use of force in relation to a Sept. 12 incident that occurred at the Ho-Chunk Casino near Baraboo. A judge has granted a warrant for her arrest. According to the criminal complaint, authorities were called to the casino in the middle of the night and met with a 61-year-old Minnesota man who was bleeding from his left eye and left arm. The man told investigators that he met a woman in her mid-20s at the blackjack table earlier that night. The woman asked him to borrow money at one point, but he did not give her any. Later in the evening, the man told investigators, the woman said she was out of money and had to drive back to Milwaukee, but could barely keep her eyes open. The man agreed to let her sleep in his room for the night. He told investigators he was not under the impression that the woman was a prostitute or that there was any expectation of sex. In the middle of the night, the man said, he woke up to see the woman going through his things. When he tried to stop her, she allegedly attacked him with a coat hanger. The man told a detective that the woman was surprisingly strong, but after a long struggle he was able to force her out of the room and into the hall. She was scratching and biting him as he attempted to hold her arms down, the complaint states. Authorities say the man suffered a torn retina in the attack, which required laser surgery to repair. Chang became a suspect when a Sauk County Sheriffs Department detective connected images of her taken from casino security footage to a separate incident involving suspected identity theft at a local bank. The complaint states Chang had entered the Wells Fargo Bank, showed an expired identification under the name Dia Yang, and attempted to cash a check from Thor Chang using that identity. When bank employees refused to cash the check, she allegedly returned the next day with a print out of a new ID. Authorities later learned her real name was Chia Chang, according to the complaint. When a detective contacted Chang to ask her about the incident at the casino, she allegedly said she did not remember being in Baraboo. And when the detective told her that there was video evidence of her being in Baraboo, she said there may be a reason she doesnt remember. Chia told me this was not the first time someone has told her that she did something she did not remember, the detective reported. Chia told me police had previously sent her to a mental institution. Chang allegedly told authorities she suffers from blackouts. Although she told the detective she would come to Baraboo for an interview, she never did, the complaint states. Authorities issued a warrant for her arrest after she did not return several follow up phone calls. If convicted of attempted robbery with the use of force, Chang could face up to 7 years in prison and $25,000 in fines. A court appearance date has not yet been set. Georgia Love has chosen Lee Elliott in the finale of The Bachelorette, leaving a heartbroken Matty Johnson as the series runner-up. The series finale, filmed in Singapore, saw Georgia Love, 28, reunited with her father Chris and sister Katie, with two final dates before the final decision. But she later told 30 year old Johnson she had fallen for someone else. Once again social media reacted badly to the final decision, echoing Bachelor Richies unpopular choice of Alex Nation over Nikki Gogan. Georgia expressed her true affections to the 35 year old plumber from Melbourne. From the very first night . . . there was that indescribable something that I just wanted to explore, she told Lee. Ive fallen so madly in love with you, I love you so much. Despite the fairytale candle-lit ending for Georgia and Lee, he has since told Fairfax Media that producers down-played his connection with the former WIN News presenter or it would have been obvious it was a one-horse race. They really downplayed me, Elliott said. Yes it hurts, but the only person it matters to is (Georgia), she knows it, and she was there to hear it. But I understand it, I get it. Aggrieved Team Matty fans are already consoling him on social media and gunning for him as the 2017 Bachelor. https://twitter.com/Samantha5SOS/status/791599841591762944 I hope Matty J is taking comfort in the fact that the whole of Australia fell in love with him #BacheloretteAU jess (@_jeloise) October 27, 2016 https://twitter.com/atlanticebony/status/791610808165740544 https://twitter.com/RikkiLeeOswald/status/791607115085262848 Britains Channel 5 is celebrating 30 years of Neighbours broadcasts, where it began on the BBC in 1986. Since 2008 the show has screened on Channel 5, where it has been running same day as Australia since January. To mark the occasion a super-special episode is airing as part of a contest offering a trip for 2 to Australia, asking fans to count the number of Union Jacks they spy on screen. Channel 5 Commissioner Greg Barnett said: The UK has a special affection for Neighbours, and the opportunity to mark the 30th birthday of its first transmission with an exclusive competition, feels like a really special thing to do. The prize is as great as the storylines are currently, so I very much hope those people taking part in the competition have fun and become avid fans! Neighbours Executive Producer Jason Herbison added: We couldnt allow the 30th anniversary of our first transmission in the UK to pass by without some sort of celebration. We hope all our viewers on Channel 5 will join in the fun and enter the competition. We certainly had a great time planting the Union Jacks throughout the episode how many can you find? Source: Digital Spy TOWN OF WATERFORD A village of Waterford man is facing up to four years in prison for allegedly stealing and pawning the wedding ring of a woman who tried to help him. According to the criminal complaint, the theft allegedly occurred July 15. A Waterford Police officer was called to the home after the victim found her $6,000 wedding ring was taken from a ring holder above her kitchen sink. She said she was washing dishes that morning when she removed the ring. About 30 minutes later, she saw the defendant, Michael Churchija, 39, of the 500 block of East Main Street in the village of Waterford, dash out of the home, the complaint states. Churchija was a drug addict and homeless, the woman reportedly told the officer, and she and her husband let him stay with them because they felt sorry for him. Two days later the officer received a call from the defendants girlfriend, who said Churchija pawned the ring in Waukegan, Illinois, according to the complaint. The officer recovered the ring, the complaint states, and the pawn shop's records indicated that it was sold by Churchija. Although the complaint was filed in August, Churchija didnt appear in court to face the charge of felony theft until Wednesday. He remained in the Racine County Jail on Wednesday night without bail, according to online records. Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). One Ukrainian serviceman was killed, three were wounded in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine over the last day, Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesman for ATO issues, Colonel Oleksandr Motuzniak has said. Over the past day as a result of combat actions, one Ukrainian serviceman was killed, another three were wounded, Motuzniak said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. iy Representatives of the world's leading companies, specializing in healthcare, agricultural, energy, processing, manufacturing and information technology sectors, have arrived in Paris to attend the French-Ukrainian Business Forum. Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade - Trade Representative of Ukraine Nataliya Mykolska has stated this on her Facebook page. In cooperation with French business representatives, we will discuss Ukraine's progress in economic reforms, the French best practices in the banking sector and the projects of international financial organizations. In addition, the forum will be attended by investors, exporters, representatives of the world's leading companies, specializing in healthcare, agricultural, energy, processing, manufacturing and information technology sectors, Mykolska wrote. The French side will be represented by Finance Minister Michel Sapin, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Jose Angel Gurria, Secretary of State for Industry Christophe Sirugue, Treasury Director General Odile Renaud-Basso and others. mk Mark Feygin, the lawyer of Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko, has stated that his client may be freed only through exchange. The lawyer said this in an exclusive commentary to an Ukrinform correspondent. "Let's be honest. There is no chance of acquittal in the case of Sushchenko, as well as in the cases of other Ukrainian political prisoners. Exchange is the only possible prospect for his release. Whom can he be exchanged for? He can be exchanged for a person who has been detained in Ukraine and is of interest for the Kremlin," Feygin said. Early next week, the lawyer plans to go to Kyiv to hold a series of meetings, including with the media. "Roman Sushchenko now needs support of colleagues and journalists. I have been saying this not for the first time. I hope I will be heard and understood," the lawyer said. ol Ukraine and France will resume the work of bilateral intergovernmental commission in 2017. This agreement has been achieved during a meeting of Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman and Prime Minister of the French Republic Manuel Valls in Paris, the governments press service reports. The sides agreed to step up the trade and economic cooperation between the countries, in particular to renew the work of the Ukrainian-French joint intergovernmental commission in 2017, as well as the work of relative special groups, reads the report. At present there is a rise in our international trade by 25%. But I believe that we have huge opportunities for our cooperation in the energy sector, aircraft construction, agrarian sector and education. This is very beneficial for the two economies of Ukraine and France, Prime Minister Groysman stated, when commenting on the results of the meeting. He also recalled that the French-Ukrainian Business Forum will be launched on October 28, during which the issue of raising efficiency of cooperation between the countries will be discussed. Also, Prime Minister Groysman informed his counterpart on the process of reforms being carried out in Ukraine and on the situation in Donbas. Volodymyr Groysman stressed that there is no alternative to the Minsk Agreements. iy Kyiv authorities will allocate UAH 200 million for hosting Eurovision Song Contest in 2017. Chairman of the Kyiv City Councils standing committee for budget issues and the socio-economic development Andriy Strannikov said this at the briefing in the Kyiv City Council, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "UAH 50 million is planned to be allocated for hosting Eurovision this year. Our commitment to the Government and international partners is guaranteed allocation of approximately UAH 200 million from the city budget. UAH 50 million is planned to be allocated this year and UAH 150 million is to be allocated next year," Strannikov added. ol | By Patricia Fanning The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is once again playing a role in civic affairs by hosting an early voting site for the 2016 general election. Residents of Baltimore City are able to vote and to register to vote at the Community Engagement Center (CEC) through Nov. 3. The general election takes place on Nov. 8. A number of student groups are collaborating to hold an election night watch party. Earlier this fall, the election was the subject of attention for both UMB students, who held a panel and invited speakers, and for UMBs neighbors who participate in CEC activities. Early voting began Oct. 27 at the CEC, located at 1 N. Poppleton St., which is part of the University of Maryland BioPark complex. The hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day during that period including Saturday, Oct. 29, and Sunday, Oct. 30. A space at 870 W. Baltimore St. has been designated for handicapped parking. Voters in Baltimore City have begun casting ballots for offices including mayor, City Council president, City Council members, and judges, and for the next president of the United States. The State Board of Elections conducts early voting at five other sites in Baltimore City and at various locations in other jurisdictions. A poster made by University of Maryland, Baltimore neighbors who participate in programs at the Community Engagement Center is on view at the early voting site for Baltimore residents. At the CEC, many West Baltimore residents, including boys and girls, helped get ready by making signs to raise awareness ahead of time, and dozens of adults signed a poster pledging to vote. For one family, the 2016 election has a multi-generational aspect. Nine-year-old Brooke Adair had a hand in making the greeting adorning the CEC front window. Decorated cutouts spell VOTE. Her father, Richard Adair, is an election judge. Brooke and other children, many of them from UMB partner James McHenry Elementary/Middle School, come to the CEC on Thursdays to attend an after-school program conducted by students at the School of Nursing. This is one of many activities ranging from yoga to a food market that the CEC offers to UMBs neighbors in West Baltimore. During the early voting period, some events ordinarily held at the CEC are being moved to other sites such as the BioPark. (Call the CEC at 410-706-8260 for details.) Leading up to the election, the Office of Student Development and Leadership (OSDL) has conducted several events, including an appearance in September by Linda Rittelmann, president of the Baltimore City League of Women Voters. In October, the OSDL joined with students from the School of Social Work and the interdisciplinary University Student Government Association to sponsor a panel discussion. Panelists included Kory Boone, chair of the Maryland Young Republicans, and Joseph Kitchen, president of Young Democrats of Maryland. The election night watch party is being supported by OSDL and planned by the USGA and at least eight other student groups including three from Maryland Carey Law, where the event is expected to take place in the Comcast Dining Room. CUNA Mutual Group has formed a venture capital arm, CMFG Ventures, the Madison credit union insurer said Wednesday, and one of its first investments is in ForeverCar, a Chicago startup with an online marketplace to compare extended service auto protection plans. CMFG Ventures was established in February but only disclosed its existence this week with the announcement that it is leading an investment in ForeverCar. According to ForeverCars website, the venture round is for $10 million. The website also says CUNA Mutual has a strategic partnership with ForeverCar, and a co-branded website and marketing platform released this month. Other investors in the round include KDWC Ventures and SAP Fieldglass founder Jai Shekhawat, also of Chicago. Its not the first investment for CMFG Ventures. The company said it also has put funds into SpringboardAuto.com, an auto loan platform based in Irvine, California; Cumulus Funding, Chicago, a loan firm with customized payment plans; and SmartAsset, a New York-based financial information website. We look to partner with companies that help us provide simple and accessible financial services and insurance products to credit unions and their members, Brian Kaas, managing director of CMFG Ventures, said in a news release. Our investments will directly infuse new alternatives to help the next generation of credit unions and consumers grow and secure their financial future. CMFG Ventures says it focuses on banking, financial services and insurance technology startups, with investments generally ranging from $1 million to $5 million. Our investments (so far) have been on the higher end of that scale, Kaas said in an interview. He said $20 million to $25 million has been allocated to date. Kaas said CMFG Ventures is a subsidiary of and is funded by CUNA Mutual. He said the amount invested may vary from year to year, but the target is around $25 million a year. When we see investment opportunities that are a good strategic fit, thats when we make the investment, he said. Kaas said partnerships are being established with ForeverCar and SpringboardAuto so their services can be extended to credit unions and their members. Were able to introduce these technologies into the credit union system, he said. CUNA Mutual, founded in 1935, has more than 3,600 employees worldwide, including about 1,900 at its Madison headquarters, 5910 Mineral Point Road. It provides insurance and financial services to credit unions and their members. Makonde Chairman Thomas Nguli has his finger prints taken during the launch of the naturalization and registration drive in Kenya. UNHCR/Wanja Munaita NAIROBI, Kenya Amina Kassim would like to register to vote in the next elections in Kenya, where she was born and has lived all her life, but is unable to do so. Descended from an ethnic group from southeast Tanzania and northern Mozambique who had come to work as field labourers in the 1930s, she has no nationality. That means she has no Kenyan Identity Card to make her eligible for many things, including voting. When I get an ID card, I would like to vote like any other Kenyan, that is my joy, says Amina. She is among some 6,000 Makonde people whose parents and grandparents arrived in Kenya as early as 1936 to work as labourers in the sisal and sugarcane farms on the East African coast. Most never returned home. "They say you are not from Kenya' and yet I was born here, grew up here, I went to school here, everything I did in this country." While they settled and formed families, their descendants have long been ineligible for citizenship, denying them access to a full range of vital services that most Kenyans take for granted, including even basic healthcare, higher education. Without ID papers registering for financial services, obtaining loans, and even getting a mobile phone card can be problematical. In Kenya, the Makonde and their descendants cannot legally marry, or even acquire registration documents including birth certificates. Those who applied for naturalization found they are unable to obtain the documents needed to support their applications. It is very difficult to get an ID because when you go for vetting, they say you are not from Kenya' and yet I was born here, grew up here, I went to school here, everything I did in this country, says Costa, a young Makonde who spent almost six years trying unsuccessfully to obtain a birth certificate. Worldwide there are at least 10 million people in Amina and Costas situation. UNHCR is working to help them obtain citizenship. The UN Refugee Agency works with governments around the world to identify, prevent, and resolve stateless situations. To advance this goal, UNHCR launched a global push two years ago to end statelessness in ten years. The #IBelong Campaign is commemorated yearly and through the Campaign countries working on statelessness can track their achievements. Marking its second anniversary, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi renewed a call for a concerted international push to end the phenomenon. Being without a nationality is frequently compared to being invisible, a situation that is particularly tough for children, Grandi said. For stateless children and youth, being invisible can mean missing out on educational opportunities, being marginalized in the playground, being ignored by healthcare providers, being overlooked when it comes to employment opportunities, and being silenced if they question the status quo, Grandi said, stressing that: All children should have a nationality. All children should belong. Fortunately, for the Makonde a resolution to their decades-long plight is finally on the way. Through the Kwale County Legal and Justice Assembly Committee, they successfully petitioned Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta last year to review their case. In response, he called for the formation of a taskforce to look into statelessness in the country. For stateless children and youth, being invisible can mean missing out on educational opportunities, being marginalized. The multi-agency taskforce, which includes the Directorate of Immigration and Registration of Persons, the National Registration Bureau, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the Department of Refugee Affairs and the National Intelligence Services, began gathering case data and information about the Makonde and other stateless groups in Kenya. A report with recommendations was completed last November. The recommendations formed the basis for a drive to register and naturalize the Makonde, as well as members of the Pemba and Rundi communities the descendants of migrant farm labourers from Rwanda many of whom are also stateless. Frustrated by delays, Makonde activists sought backing this year from the Kenya Human Rights Commission, and finally resolved to set out on a four-day walk from Kwale County to the Statehouse in Nairobi to meet with President Kenyatta. At a meeting with the President, the groups chairman Thomas Nguli expressed their feelings. We have come here because we seek ID cards, without IDs we cannot do anything in this country, he said. Determined to resolve their case, Kenyatta then issued a directive for their naturalization and registration as citizens of Kenya by December 2016. I apologize that it took too long to give you justice as fellow Kenyans, Kenyatta told them, adding: Today is the last day you will be called visitors. For Lucas, a Makonde who has no paid work but farms to feed his family, it is very welcome news: When the government gives us ID cards, we will be happy because we have children, and we will get an opportunity to be able to fend for them. Campaign to end Statelessness marks its second year noting progress and challenges ahead. Significant progress has been made to eradicate statelessness around the world, but ongoing conflicts are putting those advances at risk. Marking the second anniversary of the global #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi, renewed the call for a concerted effort by the international community to put an end to statelessness- a human rights injustice that affects at least 10 million people globally. Since the #IBelong Campaign was launched in 2014 with the ambition of wiping out statelessness by 2024, ten additional States have become Parties to the UN Statelessness Conventions- treaties that contain measures to help prevent and reduce statelessness. In addition, countries such as Cote dIvoire, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia and Thailand have made significant strides to reduce the number of stateless persons in their respective territories. Thailand, for example, has confirmed Thai nationality for some 23,000 formerly stateless persons over the last three and a half years. In Kenya, the Government has recently promised to grant citizenship to the Makonde, an ethnic minority group of approximately 6,000 people with origins in Mozambique, many of whom have lived in Kenya since the States independence more than half a century ago At todays event at UNHCRs headquarters in Geneva,the High Commissioner also highlighted the link between the proliferation of conflicts and the risk of statelessness, especially for children. UNHCRs report In Search of Solutions: Addressing Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa highlights that Syrian children are at particular risk. Since Syrian law prohibits women from transferring their nationality to their children and since one fourth of Syrian refugee households have no father present, theres a danger that some of the 300,000 children born in exile during the war will end up stateless. The UN High Commissioner noted that the effects of statelessness, especially for children, are acute. Invisible is the word most commonly used to describe what it is like to be without a nationality, said Mr. Grandi. For stateless children and youth, being invisible can mean missing out on educational opportunities, being marginalised in the playground, being ignored by healthcare providers, being overlooked when it comes to employment opportunities, and being silenced if they question the status quo. In the coming year, one of the key activities of UNHCRs #IBelong Campaign will be to encourage States to remove all forms of discrimination, including gender discrimination, from nationality laws in order to prevent similar situations from arising in the future. To find out more about what UNHCR is doing to end global statelessness, please consult the UNHCR/IBelong site. Media contacts Chris Rickert | Wisconsin State Journal Urban affairs, investigations, consumer help ("SOS") Follow Chris Rickert | Wisconsin State Journal Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Its common for people running for office to make all kinds of fact-challenged, context-free statements about the issues of the day: Hillary Clinton blames the Great Recession on tax cuts for the wealthy. Former-and-probably-future U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold exaggerates the negative impacts of trade deals. Sen. Ted Cruz claims a Democratic senator wants to confiscate Americans guns. Usually, their assertions have at least some basis in reality, and usually candidates skip any mention of their more outlandish positions as the election nears and they seek to attract a broader swath of voters usually by ditching policy altogether and spending more time attacking their opponents. Not so with U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, who in a radio interview on Monday, again dipped his toes into climate change denial. Johnson, who trails in the polls in his race against Feingold, was asked whether he thought increases in atmospheric carbon cause climate change. He responded, in part, that When the rise of civilizations in Mexico and Greece were occurring, it was 4.4 degrees hotter, kind of the zenith of the Roman empire it was 2.9 degrees warmer, so actually civilization thrives. Johnson spokesman Patrick McIlheran said the senator was referring to several warm periods over the course of the last 7,000 years, and he pointed to data that purportedly found temperatures during those past warm periods were higher than they are now. I ran Johnsons assertion past Jonathan Martin, a professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at UW-Madison, who told me: I have found no studies that suggest anything other than the climate of ancient Greece and Rome were the same as they are now. In fact, look online and you can find news coverage of studies that suggest the earth hasnt been this warm in 4,000 or 9,000 or even 115,000 years. More important than the exact fluctuations in temperature over the course of millennia, though, is the spike in average temperature over the course of the last 100-plus years. Here just about every climate scientist agrees that its gotten very warm, very quickly. Johnson did not answer the callers question about whether carbon caused climate change, other than to say obviously, man affects the environment. He also suggested that in the end, maybe higher temperatures wouldnt be so bad. How many people are moving up toward the Antarctica, or the Arctic? he said. Most people move down to Texas and Florida, where its a little bit warmer. That sounds like a reasonable take if youre from Wisconsin, where it sometimes feels like the Arctic. But not if youre from Bangladesh, New Orleans or other low-lying areas most at risk of climate-related weather catastrophes. I dont think most climate-change deniers believe the science behind the climate change is bunk just that the costs of stabilizing the climate in the long-term are too high to bear in the short term. And that once climate changes most devastating effects come to pass, theyll all be long dead anyway. Which I guess is one way to maintain civilization although maybe not a civilization that thrives. Maher,* 14, has been in Debaga camp for just 15 days. Maher described how he and his little sister Zahra and his parents walked for over 15 hours to reach this camp. He pointed to his feet and his pair of worn out plastic slippers. We walked from the time of the morning call to prayer to the evening call to prayer. I walked in these shoes. We walked from the time of the morning call to prayer to the evening call to prayer. I walked in these shoes. Haitham,* 12, said he had not been in school for almost two years. The only school I could go to was a Daesh school, he said, using the local term for the so-called Islamic State. They only wanted to teach us how to use guns, he continued, pretending to shoot with his hands. But I didnt want to. I dont want to use guns, I dont like guns. All he wanted, Haitham said, was to go back to a normal school. They only wanted to teach us how to use guns. But I didnt want to. Hassan,* a feisty 9-year-old, pushed himself into the crowd of children. He was determined to have his say, and explained how his family had ran out of money and food. Poverty was what pushed his family out. All we had to eat was eggplants. Zahra jumped into the conversation we had bulgur too! I walked for hours on end, carrying my two baby girls. Sana* looked like she was only about 18 years old. Her face covered, she also wanted to talk. She said she had three children. I walked for hours on end, carrying my two baby girls, she said. She did not mention her third child again. UNICEF/UN029875/Al-Issa NEW YORK/AMMAN, 26 October 2016 Twenty-two children and six teachers were reportedly murdered today when their school compound was repeatedly attacked in Idlib, Syria. This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime. This latest atrocity may be the deadliest attack on a school since the war began more than five years ago. Children lost forever to their families teachers lost forever to their students one more scar on Syrias future. When will the worlds revulsion at such barbarity be matched by insistence that this must stop? ### NEW YORK, 27 October 2016 Yesterday, when a school compound in Syria was repeatedly attacked, killing dozens of children and teachers, we thought we had seen the depths of depravity. Todays reports of attacks on schools in Douma and western Aleppo should deepen our disgust and outrage. This brings the toll to five schools hit since October 11. Attacking schools killing children is simply inhuman. If the perpetrators cannot find their own sense of humanity, they should heed the condemnation of the world." ### UNICEF/UN021490/Geai2016 PARIS/LONDON, 27 October, 2016 - UNICEF is deeply troubled that last night, with the camp on fire, many children were forced to sleep out in exposed and cold conditions. And reports today from volunteers in Calais that some children have been escorted away by police for not having a wristband are shocking. The UK and French governments promised to keep children safe throughout the demolition. Yet right now, the situation for some children in Calais is more dangerous than ever. Despite queuing for hours yesterday, dozens of children were reportedly unable to register and get their official wristbands from the authorities before the registration closed. This kind of situation is exactly what exposes children to traffickers and smugglers, and puts them in dangerous situations without food, shelter and any support. Today, and moving forwards, the authorities must guarantee the protection and best interests of every child. After so much progress has been made to bring them to safety, it would be unacceptable for children to now slip through the cracks. ### VIENNA, 27 October International cooperation and partnerships are essential to accelerate universal access, renewable energy and energy efficiency development in Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), said participants at a high-level seminar held in Vienna this week. The event, held from 24 to 25 October, was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the UN Office of High Representative for Least Developed Countries Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, and the Government of Austria. This seminar provided participants with an opportunity to exchange on experiences and best practices, and to find solutions to achieving the goals of Sustainable Energy for All by 2030 in LLDCs, said Taizo Nishikawa, the Deputy to the Director General of UNIDO. Because of geographical factors, the level of development in the LLDCs is, on average, 20 per cent lower than what it would be if the countries were not landlocked. This affects their capability to structurally transform toward green circular economies and to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Senior representatives from the 32 LLDCs, international organizations, financial institutions, academia, NGOs and the private sector discussed the potential contribution of innovative South-South and North-South partnerships and regional cooperation to develop energy infrastructure, scale-up energy access, promote renewable energy and improve energy efficiency in the LLDCs. LLDC delegates encouraged UNIDO to consolidate and expand the global network of regional sustainable energy centres and the network for resource efficient and cleaner production to all LLDCs; promote sustainable energy entrepreneurship, industrial development and innovation in LLDCs in line with the recent G20 Initiative on Supporting Industrialization in Africa and Least Developed Countries; and to expand the programme on energy management standards for industries and small and medium enterprises to all LLDCs. They also suggested further strengthening the function of the biennial Vienna Energy Forum as a North-South and South-South exchange platform for sustainable energy entrepreneurs, start-ups and manufacturing and service companies from developed and LLDCs. You can find more information about the seminar here. For more information, please contact: Martin Lugmayr UNIDO Sustainable Energy Expert email An Edgerton man pulled over for speeding on the Interstate early Thursday morning was arrested for his alleged sixth drunken driving offense. Matthew Moran, 57, was stopped by a State Patrol trooper near mile marker 146 in the southbound lanes of I-39/90 at about 1:15 a.m., after getting clocked at 81 mph in a 70 mph speed limit zone. "Upon approach, the trooper smelled the odor of intoxicants and administered field sobriety tests to the driver, who was subsequently arrested for OWI sixth offense," the news release said. A former owner of a Fitchburg nail salon was sentenced to seven years in prison in absentia on Wednesday after being convicted of fraud in 2012. Sang Danh, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb in federal court in Madison. Danh fled the area after being released from jail pending sentencing, never appeared for the hearing, and is considered a fugitive. Danh and his girlfriend and business partner Dung Thi ran Le Nails on McKee Road in Fitchburg in 2010, and were convicted of fraud after using card skimming devices at the salon to steal financial information from customers. According to court documents, customers were encouraged to pay with debit cards, the numbers of which were stolen. Additionally, the couple used a hidden video camera to record customers typing their personal identification numbers into a keypad. Thi was sentenced to three years in prison in 2011. More than $77,000 was stolen from salon customers debit card accounts, with over $30,000 of that money deposited to Danhs bank account, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office news release. The accounts were accessed by confederates in California, who were sent the account information by Danh. Both Danh and Thi are from San Bernardino, California. Once he is arrested, Danh will begin serving the seven-year prison term, the release said. Recognition to exceptional people who contribute to the improvement of their trade must be continued. This will entice individuals to push through their limits and encourage others to follow suit. If Julia Roberts received an Academy Award for playing Erin Brockovich, how much more the real-life heroes? Erin was the environmental activist who was vital in winning the community case against the energy firm that pollutes the air in California sometime in the 1990s. This year, 10 most outstanding teachers are recognized for their innovative work and bagged golden awards from Pearson. The Pearson Teaching Awards celebration is conducted annually and dubbed as 'Oscars of the teaching world'. Actor Hugh Dennis hosted the event at Guildhall in London. The students' and parents' councils plus their friends voted for the finalists. The winners are chosen by an expert panel in the education sector. They bring home with them the Plato Award for teaching excellence. Nothing can make Dennis proud and honored in hosting the event this year. He owes his success today from his teachers in the past. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Team's real-time radio encounter with Tim Peake, the astronaut from the International Space Station also garnered the award for inspiring people. Wide broadcast coverage of the awards ceremony reaches 18 million viewers around the U.K. which leads the St. Albans-based group to get the Outstanding School Team of the Year award. BBC2 is scheduled to broadcast the event on October 30, 2016, at 6 p.m., during the airing of the show "Britain's Classroom Heroes". Strictly Come Dancing Star, Brendan Cole is expected to grace the airing. Rod Bristow, Pearson UK President warmly congratulates the 2016 Teaching Award winners. A child's education relies greatly on effective teaching methods. Pearson is happy to be a main part of the celebration; he implies. The recognition is for educational establishments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Lord Puttnam CBE initiated the Pearson Teaching Awards in 1998, duly manned by the Teaching Awards Trust. It is a charity organization and independent from the government. Indeed a wonderful project for motivating brilliant educators. In Donald Trumps' campaign today, David Feder, the general manager of his Doral property discloses that 99% of their staff including part-timers who work 30 hours weekly enjoy the hotel's healthcare insurance. Only very few are under the Obamacare. This issue is very timely with Nordstrom's announcement that the retail chain needs 11,400 seasonal employees for their stores. It did not mention if the group's private insurance covers seasonal workers as well. Trump hinted that there's deception with the federal government's health insurance premium increases. He's not convinced with the 25% figure. He believes that the Obama administration made it look like the increase is limited to 25% when in reality it's up to 80% in increases, as per CNN . Seasonal workers do matter with Obamacare. It is likely the ultimate reason why few of Donald Trump's employees are still with the affordable health care plan. Seasonal workers working 120 days or lower are not mandated to be included in the work place's group health insurance coverage - like in Trump's businesses and Nordstrom. They can be covered only when they qualify in the eligible employee category. Of the 11,400 seasonal employees hired by Nordstrom, 1,900 will be assigned to the fulfillment and distribution centers. Online shopping.is one of Nordstrom's many commercial ventures. The fulfillment process is essential. The sorting process is in San Bernardino whereas distribution centers are in Ontario and Newark. Get the form to apply here careers.nordstrom.com. Nordstrom is hiring 11,400 seasonal employees, at its traditional retail stores, rack stores, fulfillment and distribution centers, 1,200 positions of that will be for the traditional retail stores situated in Southern California. 1,900 new hires are expected to be stationed at the fulfillment and distribution centers to assist with the increasing online shopping demands during the holidays. Nordstrom's fulfillment center is in San Bernardino and the distribution centers are in Ontario and Newark. Looking for a job this season? This is for you and avail of the 20 to 33% employee discounts applicable in all Nordstrom retail stores. A sorority group from the University of Alabama has decided to forego their longstanding homecoming tradition this year. They will be raising money to help prevent suicide in college instead. USA Today College reported that University of Alabama's Kappa Alpha Theta chapter usually saves about $2,500 from its budget to create a "pomp" or a decoration made from tissue paper every year. This decor is set to be displayed on campus during the week-long celebration of homecoming. This tradition is also popular at other large state universities such as the University of Missouri and Oklahoma State. "The theme for homecoming this year was 'leaving a legacy'," Elizabeth Aune said. "We wanted to find a way to leave one we're proud of." The cause is close to the women of Kappa Alpha Theta since one of their own sorority sisters, Megan Rondini, committed suicide last February. Rondini was a passionate animal activist and aspiring veterinarian. "Girls I didn't even know had ever talked to her had a story to share about her," Aune said. She was one of Rondini's best friends. "She made me laugh like no one else could." The University of Alabama sorority wanted to honor the life of Rondini as well as the over 1,000 college students who commit suicide every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged between 15 to 24 years old. This is why the women of Alabama's Theta chapter aim to make other students aware of the issue and how to prevent it. The group donated their pomp fund to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). They also created a giant chalkboard display that is dedicated to suicide awareness where students could write the names of the people they lost. According to Psychiatric Times, alcohol use often leads to suicidal behaviors. A study has found that there is a strong association between alcohol use and increased suicidal attempts. Loneliness and social hopelessness have also been determined as an additional risk factor. 2016 is a tough year for Samsung as a result of the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco and the South Korean company is rumored to realease the Galaxy S8 before the holiday season to catch up for their great lost. Could it be possible that Samsung is willing to risk the quality again just to get ahead of time? Truth about Galaxy S8 Release Date Though it seems possible that Samsung is likely to release their newest phablet before Christmas, the South Korean company has set its record straight and ruled out the rumors about the Galaxy S8's early release, according to Sam Mobile. Furthermore, it was previously announced by Samsung's high-ranking official that they have separate plans for Galaxy S8 even before the Note 7 fiasco, and having an early release is "realistically impossible". Apparently, Samsung has finally learned their lessons brought about the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco for not pushing an early release for Galaxy S8. Besides, early release of Galaxy S8 is not a good measure for Samsung to contain the damages left by Note 7, as its early release makes no sense, Value Walk reported. In conclusion, Samsung will follow its original plan for Galaxy S8 release date. Since the South Korean company usually introduces new Galaxy S smartphones in Mobile World Congress, the company is likely to reveal the new flagship during the MWC in February 2017. Samsung Galaxy S8 Features and Specs Rumors suggesting that Samsung Galaxy S8 will feature an optical fingerprint scanner embedded in the screen display. If this is going to happen, Galaxy S8 will be the first smartphone with such kind of feature. Furthermore, Galaxy S8 is rumored to feature a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 3840 x 2160 resolution and 506 ppi pixel density. However, it is not yet confirmed whether Galaxy S8 will use Exynos 8895 chipset or Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 for the processor as well as its memory between 6GB or 8GB. At Oxfordshire, thousands of visitors from all over flocked to attend the sixth annual Wantage (Not Just) Betjeman Literary Festival. This year, the event holds celebrity scientists and historians as their special guests. A few notable ones are novellist Victoria Hislop, historian Dr. Janina Ramirez, and Dr. Helen Pilcher, a stem cell biologist. The event, according to reports, is considered as a major boost for Wantage's profile, cites Herald Series. The marketing manager of the event, Stevie Barratt, says that it was a "wonderful occasion." He explains that the talks lined up, in addition to the workshops and performances from the program is going to intrigue Oxfordshire visitors. The event invites people from all over and history lovers, to boot. The talk led by University professor Janina Ramirez on the history of the Dark Ages was even sold out. But the event is not only focused on history. Notable writers such as Top Gear writer Paul Kerensa attended the event to hold a stand up comedy show. BBC Coast presenter Nicholas Crane also introduced a poetry performance at the museum. The poetry was based on his new book "The Making of the British Landscape." Young students and professionals who are budding writers can also get the chance to pitch ideas to literary agents at the event. These celebrity scientists, historians, writers and more came from notable schools and universities. And with their help, they are putting Wantage on the map for more visitors. It also enables the locals to enjoy history. The goal of Wantage (Not Just) Betjeman Literary Festival is to connect people to different events and venues around the town. The original thought of the festival was to celebrate the town's literary connections. Wantage is the home of Poet Laureate John Betjeman. But through the years, the festival has become so much more. It has become a venue for ideas and culture. A program's aim to diversify schools in New York City is getting bigger and bigger. These schools are a mix of elementary, middle and high schools. Will colleges and universities join the initiative next? The New York Times reported that several elementary schools were allowed to change their admissions policies last year. With this, they gave disadvantaged students priority for a number of seats in the school. Some of them reserved seats for students who are qualified for a free or reduced-price lunch while others gave it to students who are learning English. One school prioritized students in the child welfare system while another focused on helping students with family members who are in prison. The publication noted that 12 other schools will be joining the program and have initiated their own admissions proposals. The new admissions priority is expected to reverse a shift in demographics among New York City schools. An example would be the East Village Community School which is a nonzoned elementary school in Manhattan that uses the lottery for admitting students. It gives priority to kids living in District 1 and it will also be giving half of its prekindergarten and kindergarten seats to children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch or to those who are learning English. The school has become popular in the area and its students have become wealthier recently. The proportion of students who qualified for free lunch or reduced-price lunch have decreased from 36 percent to 21 percent while those learning English decreased from 3 percent to 1 percent. Central Park East High School, also in Manhattan, has confirmed that it plans to reserve 64 percent of seats for students who qualify for free lunch. Principal Bennett Lieberman added that, currently, 76 percent of students in the school qualify for free lunch. "It's vitally important to me that the school maintain its current level of diversity," he told the publication in a phone call. The City College of New York came in second place on WSJ's ranking for schools with the most diversity. More than half of its undergraduates received Pell Grants, a government subsidy for low-income students. Bullies can affect their victims even after they have gone their separate ways. Its effects can still be felt by victims even during their college years. USA Today College reported that data by the National Center for Education Statistics found that about one in four K-12 students will experience bullying. While it becomes slightly lesser in college, at 15 percent, its effects still affect victims. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, victims of bullying suffer from anxiety, depression and a low sense of self-worth. Bullies are also affected later in life as they are at higher risks of academic problems, substance use and violent behavior. "It really started to impact me," Amie Kurtz, now a sophomore at Grand Valley State University, shared about her experience in high school. "I would not go to school, or get a text from them and leave class and go to the bathroom and cry. Since I stopped going to school, my grades dropped. It was awful." Kurtz added that her self-esteem was affected the most. While she admits that "it sucked," she revealed that it did make her stronger. Dr. Marlene Seltzer, the head of a bullying mediation and education center out of Beaumont Children's Hospital in Michigan, noted that bullying is a mental health issue. "Unfortunately we know the impact of bullying on a student's physical and mental health has been shown into their young adult phase," she said. She recommended that universities should have a solid counseling center as well as plenty of national resources to help its students deal with bullied students. Consequences of bullying can range from depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and depending on the individual's role, PTSD, eating disorders and obesity. This could be one of the factors that sparked the debate on whether there should be trigger warnings and safe spaces in colleges. The University of Chicago stirred up controversy when Dean John Ellison revealed that their students should not expect trigger warnings at the institution. The idea of innovation is defying what's common and normal in order to find a better way. The same goes when it comes to education where innovation can mean going on field trips, integrating a new teaching method to traditional ones, or simply partnering with the local community. Here are five schools which embody innovation because they defy what is normal and common. Summit Sierra (Seattle , Washington) Self-guided learning: That's what Summit Sierra innovative. Here, children guide their own learning and teachers become mentors guiding the student assigned to him or her for all four years. A typical school day in this school includes 30 minutes each for reading and math problem solving. In addition to that, kids takes online courses, talk to their teacher/mentor about their goals, and engage in Community Time where they can talk and share their feelings with other students. Teachers monitor their students' progress by using an in-house software. restad Gymnasium (Copenhagen, Denmark) restad is a giant classroom where 358 secondary school students collaborate in a wide-open setting. The gymnasium (what some European countries call secondary schools) hopes that through this kind of setting, students will be able to think more flexibly as they take a more active role in how they learn. Students can assemble in small groups and form a makeshift classroom by themselves or with a teacher in any of the spacious 'drums' or learning spaces inside the gymnasium. Big Picture Learning (Providence, Rhode Island) Big Picture Learning allow students to have an early taste of the working world by allowing them to pursue what they want in the future whether it be fixing cars or desiring to be a lawyer. They are then paired with a mentor which will help develop their skills in their area of interest. Rodney Davis, the communication director of the institution said that the most important element at a Big Picture Learning school is that students learn the reality. Egalia Preschool (Stockholm, Sweden) What makes Egalia innovative is its rejection of gender discrimination. The school promotes gender equality by refraining from using pronouns that are gender-based when addressing their students. Thus, instead of 'he' or 'she,' they call students by their first names or use the collective 'they.' This fight against discrimination is not limited to gender alone but also includes sexual orientation, disability, race, religion, age, class, and gender expression. Sra Pou Vocational School (Sra Pou Village, Cambodia) The all-ages vocational school in Cambodia was designed by the Finnish architecture group Rudanko + Kankkunen. Its goal is to teach villagers how to make turn their passion into a profitable enterprise. Teachers are provided by the local NGO and guide the villagers in the step-by-step process of entrepreneurship. The learning includes practical steps on how to price and market their goods. The Finnish architecture firm said that the school provides a way out for people who wants to get out of their low-paying jobs. Science and technology has always been dominated by men. However, it is not surprising to see women making waves and innovating to bring science and technology to a new level. In the field of virtual reality, there are also women, whose names might not ring a bell like Mark Zuckerberg does, who pushed the technology into a higher level to become what it is now. Char Davies Char Davies interest in computer graphics only started in the mid-80s where she joined a 3D animation software company called Softimage where she became the vice president of its virtual research department. During her stint there, she created the Interior Body Series, which utilized 3D images and shown in lightboxes to demonstrate that computer images can achieve a real-life painting quality to it. In 1993, she created Osmose, which gave users a virtual reality experience as they navigate a landscape using breathing and balance. She developed the technique even further by creating Ephemere where she integrated the principles of Osmose with interactive gaze to explore what's inside the human body. Her work broadened the use of virtual reality. Nicole Stenger Nicole Stenger created the first immersive virtual reality movie called 'Angels' while she was just a research fellow at MIT between the late 90s and early 90s. To watch the movie, participants had to wear a head-mounted display and a VPL data glove in order to get into a virtual world filled with angels. Stenger followed this with two more VR movies to create a trilogy. Aside from the 'Angels' trilogy, she also wrote some notable books that have become authorities in the subject of virtual reality. At the moment, she is working to bring her works to different VR headsets which include the Oculus Rift. Carolina Cruz-Neira Carolina Cruz-Neira graduated from the Universidad Metropolitana in Venezuela. Then she came to the United States to pursue her master's degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. While most innovations focused on mounted headsets, Cruz-Neira focused on room sized virtual reality. While working on her PhD dissertation, she worked with a team to design the first CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) in 1995. As opposed to the mainstream virtual technology nowadays, this type of VR technology does not require the person to wear a headset. Instead, the rooms are fitted with various kinds of devices, sensors, and projectors. This is also the type of VR technology that most researchers use to test different kinds of simulations. Attorney General Brad Schimel has asked the state Supreme Court to appoint a court official to investigate the leak to a newspaper of records from a halted John Doe investigation into Gov. Scott Walkers recall campaign. In a letter Thursday provided by his office, Schimel also asked that the official, known as a special master, oversee the transfer of evidence collected by the Milwaukee County District Attorney and former John Doe special prosecutor Francis Schmitz to the state Supreme Court. Schimel offered to provide investigatory support and legal advice to whomever the court appoints. He also asked that the official be given authority to compel attendance and testimony of witnesses through subpoena, and to require complete and full cooperation of those individuals already bound by the secrecy orders. Schmitz declined to comment on the filing, but said it was not filed under seal, as other documents in the case have been filed, and included information that has not been released by the court. For some reason the AG did not follow the protocol of filing documents in this matter under seal and he refers to matters under seal with the court, Schmitz said, declining to elaborate. Schimel spokesman Johnny Koremenos said there was nothing legally requiring DOJ to file the letter under seal. Asked whether the investigation should include previous leaks and potential violations of the secrecy order, Koremenos said the Attorney General will investigate any possible breaches of the secrecy order that would constitute a violation of current law. The Department of Justice will not comment on who, when or how it will investigate certain criminal cases. Koremenos said DOJ conducted an internal investigation into the leak and determined the court-appointed special master is the best next step because the attorney general doesnt have subpoena power. The secretive John Doe investigation was looking into Walkers raising millions of dollars for a supposedly independent group to help win the 2011 and 2012 recalls. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ended the investigation last year, saying the special prosecutors legal theory had no basis in law. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the case last month. Shortly before that decision, the Guardian US, an arm of the British newspaper, published hundreds of leaked documents from the investigation. In response to the Guardian report, Democrats have called for an investigation into Walkers fundraising activities, while Republicans have called for an investigation into the leak. Two political operatives who were under investigation also have asked the court to investigate the leak. For some reason the AG did not follow the protocol of filing documents in this matter under seal and he refers to matters under seal with the court. Francis Schmitz, John Doe special prosecutor The Military Police Corps has a legacy that stretches beyond its 75 years, and today's MPs continue to pass down lessons taught since the founding of the Continental Army in 1775, the provost marshal general of the Army said Sept. 22, 2016 during the MP Corps Regiment's 75th Anniversary Regimental Review at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. When I think of what you have ahead of you, I want you to know that the trust you're going to experience ... reaches back to the founding of our Army, Maj. Gen. Mark Inch told the U.S. Army Military Police School (USAMPS) students representing the Army's MP units in the formation. The demonstrated character, competence and commitment in which military police throughout history have served the force. Sept. 22, 2016 - Maj. Gen. Mark Inch, provost marshal general of the Army, reviews soldiers in formation during a Regimental Review marking the Military Police Corps Regiment's 75th anniversary at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. MPs attended events throughout the week to mark the anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Boyer) The review was a high note in a week of events held at Leonard Wood to mark the regiment's 75the anniversary. A crowd of hundreds watched as Soldiers being trained at every level of MP skills performed precise movements under the glaring sun. Inch, who serves as the U.S. Army's provost marshal general, said those MPs were learning from battle-hardened leaders who have deployed multiple times over the past 15 years. When we look at the mid-grade NCOs and field-grade officers today who've done two, three and four deployments and been called upon again and again because of the need for their unique skill sets, we recognize our value to commanders continues, he said. Brig. Gen Kevin Vereen, chief of the MP Corp Regiment and USAMPS, said the school will continue preparing MPs for the unknown challenges ahead. We must continue to ensure that we understand the varied threats our Soldiers face today and in the future, he said. We must maintain the edge on our adversaries. We're here to innovate, right here in the heart of America. MPs continue to show their value to commanders, Vereen said. I don't care where you go, name me an Army installation, name me an operation the Army is conducting right now, and you will find military police professionals. In addition to the review, USAMPS and the MP Regimental Association held a variety of events Sept. 19-25. The week started with a memorial ceremony at the Regimental Memorial Grove on Leonard Wood. Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Woodring, senior enlisted leader of the MP Corps Regiment and USAMPS, shared stories of MPs killed in the line of duty throughout the years. He noted that the year between ceremony and the last was the first in a long time during which no MP had fallen. I'm pleased to say that this year we will not hear roll call, as no member of our corps has been lost in the line of duty, he said. I'm proud of what we do to remember our fallen, and I truly believe it gives us an advantage in combat. There is not a U.S. Soldier alive today who doesn't know how much we honor our fallen comrades. I believe it gives them the additional courage, if necessary, to make the ultimate sacrifice, knowing that they will never, ever be forgotten. The ceremony was preceded by the dedication of a statue of a dragoon on horseback, honoring MPs all the way back to the Continental Army, which employed Troops of the Marechaussee in an MP-like role. Sept. 19, 2016 - Brig. Gen. Kevin Vereen, chief of the Military Police Corps Regiment, speaks at the dedication of a Dragoon statue at the Military Police Regimental Grove at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. MPs attended events throughout the week to mark the regiment's 75th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Boyer) The MP Corps Regiment also inducted five new members into its hall of fame. Maj. Gen. Alfonso Lenhardt, Col. James Harrison, Lt. Col Rex Smith, Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Davis and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Lambert represented the hall's 2016 class. Harrison and Smith were inducted posthumously. Vereen said they represented a wide range of MP experiences. A former commandant and Vietnam veteran; a former brigade commander who made the ultimate sacrifice in support of the Global War on Terror; a great leader who landed on Utah Beach on D Day; a former POW who was held captive for 1,832 days; a senior noncommissioned officer who served in leadership positions in garrison and in combat each in their own way has contributed to solidifying the 75-year existence of the Military Police Corps, he said. Davis said he was successful because he worked for officers who let him lead as a noncommissioned officer. He talked about his time as a brigade command sergeant major, and what his commander told him. 'Here's what I want you to do,' he said. Do your sergeant major thing, just keep me informed occasionally,' Davis said. He let me do my job. That's important. An MP Spouses Challenge, a dining out, and an MP Corps Regimental Run rounded out a week of celebration for the regiment. Vereen said this celebration of the past was a spark for the future. These Soldiers and leaders on the field are our future, he said during the Regimental Review. Our future starts here, right in the heart of America. By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Boyer Provided through DVIDS Copyright 2016 Comment on this article Race is the most important factor in explaining evictions in Dane County, with most non-white neighborhoods showing rates well above the county average, according to a new UW-Madison study. As neighborhoods become less white, evictions increase, often dramatically, said Revel Sims, an assistant professor of urban and regional planning and lead author of the study. Six of the neighborhoods with the most eviction cases also are among the top 10 with the largest percentages of residents of color, the study found. Now, do I think theres a conspiracy out there by evil, racist landlords to constantly evict residents of color? Sims said. No, I dont think you need that to have racism in housing. But because of the way the housing market is structured, along with discrimination in the labor market and the disproportionate contact people of color have with police and the court system, this can be a result. Sims and several students in a graduate-level class analyzed eviction records in Dane County Circuit Court from 2000 through 2015. The study was a partnership between the UW-Madison Department of Urban and Regional Planning and the local nonprofit Tenant Resource Center, which provided guidance and the database of eviction cases. During the period studied, an average of 2,527 eviction court cases were initiated per year in the county. The number represents filings only the beginning of the eviction process. The research did not look at how many cases ended in actual evictions. The number of court filings increased slightly from 2000 to 2011, then declined from 2011 to 2015. Sims and his co-authors suspect two factors are behind the decline: Landlords are choosing to non-renew leases as an alternative to eviction, and tenants are deciding to move out before they are evicted to avoid tarnishing their rental histories. The average neighborhood had 127 eviction cases during the 16-year time span. Yet as neighborhoods became majority non-white, the number of evictions typically surged toward 1,000 or more, Sims said. The idea that the housing system is racist doesnt surprise me, he said. We have a long history of racism in housing in this country. Some of our most important legislation emerged to prevent it. To think it has gone away because of the 1968 Fair Housing Act is ludicrous. The researchers did not look at the reasons why landlords initiated eviction filings, such as late rent, behavior problems or suspected criminal activity. The study found that while there is a correlation between low-income neighborhoods and the number of evictions, the neighborhoods with the lowest median household income are only slightly above the average among all neighborhoods in the county for evictions. This would seem to contradict much of the literature on evictions, Sims said, yet the presence of so many university students in Madison likely throws off the data, he said. Advantage to landlords The study says the legal landscape governing landlord-tenant relations and the eviction process has shifted heavily in favor of landlords. Eviction proceedings are happening faster, tenants have fewer options for recourse, and municipalities have fewer opportunities for local regulation of the rental market, the study says. At a campus panel discussion on the report Thursday, Heidi Wegleitner said the state court systems online database, known as CCAP, is a huge problem for many people trying to find housing because landlords often use the information to screen potential tenants. The ramifications can fall hard on people of color because of racial disparities within the criminal justice system, said Wegleitner, a Dane County supervisor and a housing attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin. Eviction filings can be problematic because they stay in the database even if the case ultimately is thrown out or the tenant and landlord reach a settlement, she said. There are many landlords in this community, including our public housing landlords, that will use the mere filing of an eviction, without any further investigation into the merit of that eviction, as an indicator of negative rental history and deny you housing based on that, she said. Another panelist said that even if eviction filings were to come off CCAP sooner, private companies archive the information and sell the records back to landlords. You cant put the information back in a bottle, said Mitch, a clinical associate professor and director of the Neighborhood Law Clinic at UW Law School. He has just the one name. He said the fix for that is a return to local legislation that prevents a mere eviction allegation from being counted against a potential tenant. The problem is that the Legislature has taken away the ability of local municipalities cities and counties to pass prohibitions on screening, he said. Landlords not involved During the question-and-answer period, audience member Heiner Giese, an attorney who represents the Milwaukee-based Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, defended landlords, saying the challenges they face often are not well understood. This is where I found fault with you guys, Giese said. Why didnt you get more private landlords involved in your study? Why isnt there a private landlord up on the stage talking about these issues, because part of the problem is that if youre going to be successful, youve got to find out if its really going to be profitable to rent to low-income tenants in poor neighborhoods. Thats a very valid question. Sims said the Madison-based Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin declined an invitation to meet with researchers. Two panelists Mitch and Rob Dicke, executive director of the Dane County Housing Authority said that in addition to their day jobs, they are landlords in the private rental market. The study arrives as many community members are reading Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond. The book, which tells the story of eight Milwaukee families faced with losing their homes, was selected by UW as this years community read through the Go Big Read program. Desmond is scheduled to speak on campus Tuesday. Church News October 20, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Needing Answers We want God to be like FedEx and deliver overnight. Things dont happen that way, but in... Church News October 13, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Natures Therapy The pine tree with its solemn dignity lifts its branches to the sky as if to give... Listening to our U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, explain how he dislikes some of Donald Trump's irresponsible statements on major issues, it remains obvious he supports many of Trump's positions. I am amazed that Russ Feingold has not been savaging Sen. Johnson for his continued opposition to "considering" the nomination of Merrick Garland for the U.S. Supreme Court, his continued support for deporting millions of Mexicans, and his support for "eliminating" the Affordable Care Act. Sen. Johnson has also been complicit with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, in refusing to consider President Barack Obama's legislative proposals in his second term. Monday Night Raw has been struggling to compete against SmackDown Live on a week-for-week basis but they looked to blow away their competition just six days before Hell in a Cell. With stars Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Chris Jericho all present surely it would be a hit, right? More people make the list According to Michael Cole, RAW was supposed to kick off with a singles match between Enzo Amore and Karl Anderson but instead (thankfully) Chris Jericho came out to ignite the crowd. Y2J informed the Minneapolis crowd that someone had stolen the 'List of Jericho' prompting Kevin Owens to make his presence known, although it was obvious he was not the man with the list. Stephanie McMahon then came out to inform everyone that she will do her best to find the list but Jericho informed her that unless the list is found, he will not compete in tonight's scheduled main event against Owens and Seth Rollins. The Architect came out with one arm behind his week as he was holding the list, he then suggested Owens and McMahon were present on the list and issued a challenge for The G.O.A.T to come get the list if he wants it so bad. After searching in multiple backstage segments, the list was found in the hands of Braun Strowman who showed his anger at not seeing Sami Zayn's name on the list (although it was) but the penalty for even touching the LOJ was to be put on the list itself. Maybe they can get along The whole scenario between Sheamus and Cesaro and the best of seven series resulted in the pair forming a tag-team, much to the annoyance of many in the WWE Universe. The New Day came out and mocked The Irishman but to everyone's surprise both teams had a great match and the winner's were even more shocking. Big E hurled Kofi Kingston over top rope - hoping to land on The Celtic Warrior but he was met with a European Uppercut from Cesaro. Then Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick on the big man to pick up an unlikely victory over the tag-team champions ahead of their title match this Sunday at Hell in a Cell. The Woman are ready A contract signing took place between Sasha Banks and Charlotte to make their match inside Hell in a Cell official, but Mick Foley was keen to get through to the pair what they will be stepping into. The RAW General Manager could a series of impassioned stories about how the cell changed him and how it has a mind of its own, saying it destroyed his life. He tried to make the women understand the decision they are making and he may have gotten through to them although the chance to make history was too much for the duo to throw away and they signed anyway. Charlotte said to Sasha "See you on Sunday" to which the champion replied "I'll see you in Hell." Vince McMahon is not God Following Goldberg's passionate promo last week, during which he spoke about how much it meant to him to be there for the kids and be a superhero, he immediately become a babyface. So Vince McMahon decided to attempt to turn the Minneapolis crowd against Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar... this is The Beast's former residence as he attended the University of Minnesota. The fans were firmly on Lesnar's side although it was obvious that his advocate was trying to start a Goldberg chant, what instead happened was a 'Goldberg - Sucks' chant. The music hit once more for The Conqueror who was supposed to address the former WCW legend's challenge acceptance - now we are left with more questions than answers. Seth Rollins can overcome the odds Earlier in the night as Rollins hid the LOJ around various places it was looking increasingly unlikely that we would even see a main event take place. We did however, and The Architect managed to catch both Owens and Jericho at the opportune moment and pin both men at the same time. The WWE Universal Champion showed his anger and his best friend Y2J helped out to as they both beat-down the former Shield member until hoards of officials came out to halt the attack. As Owens made his way to the back he was chased down by Rollins who wanted more of K.O. as the pair brawled but maybe The Architect should have stayed down. It would be the champion standing tall ahead of their meeting at Hell in a Cell as he power bombed his Sunday opponent onto the side of the apron, leaving him in a mess. It is likely that Rollins will not be at 100% heading into the cage and that suits Owens very nicely. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out anew at the United States on Tuesday and said it could forget a bilateral defense deal if he stayed in power long enough, in the latest jarring statement from Manila about the future of the alliance. The fresh broadside from Duterte came as he was about to board a plane for an official visit to fellow U.S. ally Japan, a big investor in the Philippines that is becoming nervous about its apparent pivot towards rival power China. The volatile, crime-busting Duterte had on the eve of the visit softened his remarks last week about a "separation" from Washington, telling Japanese media he wasn't planning to change alliances and was only seeking to build trade and commerce with China. But he pulled no punches on Tuesday when he said he hated having foreign troops in the Philippines and told the United States not to treat his country "like a dog with a leash". Commenting on a visit to Manila on Monday by Daniel Russel, an assistant secretary of state, Duterte said Washington should forget about an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the Philippines if he were to stay in charge longer. He did not elaborate on what staying longer meant. In the Philippines, a president is allowed only one six-year term in office. The remarks were another perplexing swing from Duterte, who last week announced in China his "separation" from the United States, before assuring that ties were not being severed and he was merely pursuing an independent foreign policy. His latest swipe at Washington could rattle Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wants to keep ties with the Philippines tight. In a composed reading of a statement prior to departure for Tokyo, Duterte described Japan as a true friend that had played a "preeminent and peerless role" as a big investor and Philippine development partner. The+Source hosted a grand opening celebration with an open house event on Saturday at its second location at 9480 S. Eastern Ave Suite 185, along with a ribbon cutting ceremony held at 9:45 a.m. (Pictured: Steve Byrne, Shawna Ballman and Andrew Jolley Photo credit: Ira Kuzma Photos / www.IraKuzmaPhotos.com). Photo credit: Ira Kuzma Photos / www.IraKuzmaPhotos.com. Joined by senator Tick Segerblom, co-owner Steve Byrne, general manager Shawna Ballman and director of medical education Dr. William Troutt, CEO of The+Source Andrew Jolley cut a green ribbon in celebration of the dispensarys much-anticipated grand opening. Photo credit: Ira Kuzma Photos / www.IraKuzmaPhotos.com. The+Sources resident director of medical education, Dr. William Troutt was on site to answer questions and provide medical information to new and existing patients. Guests also had the opportunity to grab a bite from FUKU Burger food truck, which was on-site for the duration of the event. Photo credit: Ira Kuzma Photos / www.IraKuzmaPhotos.com. Additionally, representatives from the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol campaign were present to discuss Nevadas ballot question two, which would make marijuana legal for adults over the age of 21. Photo credit: Ira Kuzma Photos / www.IraKuzmaPhotos.com. We were thrilled to invite members of the community to our grand opening ahead of such an important election, said Andrew Jolley, CEO of The+Source and president of the Nevada Dispensary Association. Our intention with this grand opening was not only to welcome new and existing patients but also to dispel some of the myths about medical marijuana. With this kind of transparency, we hope to beat the inaccurate stigmas of the past and ultimately encourage voters to say yes on ballot question two on election day. Photo credit: Ira Kuzma Photos / www.IraKuzmaPhotos.com. The+Source currently offers more than 15 different strains, as well as a variety of concentrates and edibles. Each strain is labeled to include the amount of THC and other cannabinoids. Their first location at 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd opened this January and holds monthly patient orientations with director of medical education, Dr. William Troutt. Photo credit: Ira Kuzma Photos / www.IraKuzmaPhotos.com. Photo credit: Jeff Regazzo www.j3photo.net. I have learned the hard way not to put my personal life on the Internet. But suffice it to say that, God willing, things should be pretty much back to norm... 2 weeks ago Under this deal, which will take effect at the end of this year, Cambodia will charge Vietnam 0 per cent import tax on 29 items such as milk and ice cream, cassava starch, meat products, rice-based products, confectionery, plastic products, paper, porcelain and ceramic, steel and steel-based products. Through mutual incentives, enterprises on both sides of the border will have more visible access to the two markets, Sorasak said. In particular, the priorities that Cambodia gives to Vietnam are rather special and more sweeping than what most regional partners get. This will make Vietnamese goods more competitive than competing exported goods in Cambodia. Meanwhile, Vietnam will also waive import tax on 39 items imported from Cambodia, such as meat, lemon, rice, unhusked rice, gateau cakes, tobacco (under quotas), plastic products, books and notebooks, textile cloth, and motorbikes. This will facilitate Vietnamese exporters to have more raw materials to perform export orders landed from other countries, Tuan Anh said. According to the Vietnamese government, the deal will help further the implementation of the Joint Statement inked between the two countries during the state visit by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang to Cambodias Phnom Penh city in mid-June 2016. The Joint Statement is aimed to lift bilateral trade turnover to $5 billion over the next few years. Dang Huy Dong The MPI is drafting a law regulating future revisions of business and investment laws. What are the highlights of the draft? In the draft, we review Appendix 4 of the Investment Law, which lists business areas where enterprises must satisfy specific conditions. There are 267 such areas. We plan to cut this number to around 50 to create a more advantegeous investment environment for enterprises. We will revise around 12 laws related to business and investment conditions: Investment Law and Enterprises Law are the main two among them. We will also change the way of managing businesses to supervise enterprises in post-licensing phases, instead of controlling their establishment with conditions set in advance. The draft law will provide sufficient directions and measures to improve the business climate, enhance the competitiveness of enterprises and support their development in accordance with Government Resolutions No 19/NQ-CP and No 35/N-CP, which pertain to assisting and developing enterprises until 2020. Is there a precedent of using a law to revise other laws in Viet Nam? Using a law to modify different laws is not something new in Viet Nam. We already have experience in doing this. Law No 38 was issued in 2009 to supplement laws involved in basic construction and investment. Later, there were Law No 71/2014/QH13 - revising taxation laws - and Law No 106/2016/QH13 - supplementing value-added, special consumption and taxation management laws. As far as we know, a law to modify different laws is suitable for urgent revision of regulations - or for revision of regulations with a similar content which is stipulated in different laws. This aims at comprehensiveness and consistency of the regulations. There are opinions saying that laws related to business and investment remain inconsistent and incomprehensive. What do you think? This is true and it reflects the current practice. In fact, some legal documents involved in business and investment activities have become outdated and have not been updated in a timely way to catch up with modification of the Investment Law. This has led to conflicting regulations and caused difficulties for businesses and investors. Now is the time for us to coordinate with ministries and sectors to review regulations for the sake of investors and enterprises. Does the MPI hear opposite opinions from professional agencies while drafting the new law? We hear some different points of view. But there is a high consensus among ministries and sectors, which put national interests and business development above all. Eliminating business conditions in some areas may loosen the role of State management. What can be done to create the best business and investment environment, while maintaining proper management of enterprises? As a matter of principle: we do not relax management. Administrators just change the way of managing firms. If the authorities do not find any risks of an enterprise harming security and national defence, they will only supervise it in the post-licensing phase. Compiling the new law, which will modify many other laws, is a complicated project. Is it feasible for the National Assembly to adopt the law in an upcoming session, as the Government expects? This complex project has been carried out in a short period of time. But the MPI has actively coordinated with ministries, sectors and associations, especially the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to scrutinise related contents. We guaranteed careful consideration of State manangement agencies, experts and the business community with regard to the contents. I expect high consent of policymakers for the growth of businesses and national development. I am Kerry Burgess. This is what I think. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (R) talks with US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter during a meeting as part of a two-day NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Oct 26, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) NATO leaders endorsed plans at their Warsaw summit in July to rotate troops into the three Baltic states and Poland to reassure them they would not be left in the lurch if Russia was tempted to repeat its Ukraine intervention. "I am actually very inspired by the meeting today because so many nations made very, very firm and concrete decisions and announcements of their contributions to the four battalions," Stoltenberg told reporters at a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels. Such commitments were "a transatlantic demonstration of rock solid support for our allies," he said. At this rate, deployment was on track for early next year, as planned, he added. Britain, Canada, Germany and the United States agreed in July to lead the battalions of some 1,000 troops each, with the other 24 NATO allies expected to provide different components - transport, communications and medical units. Stoltenberg said Albania, Italy, Poland and Slovenia would contribute to the Canadian battalion deployed in Latvia. Germany's battalion in Lithuania will be supported by Belgium, Croatia, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway. Denmark and France will help Britain's unit in Estonia, while Romania and Britain again will contribute to the US-led battalion in Poland. Stoltenberg said this showed that the battalions will be "robust, multinational and combat ready." Their deployment will send "an unmistakable message - NATO stands as one. An attack on one ally will be considered an attack on all," he said. The secretary general, a former Norwegian premier, noted that the allies were also meeting commitments on a Romanian-led unit which will help bolster security in the Black Sea region in the same way as in the Baltics. He repeated that NATO was responding in a measured fashion to a Russian military build-up and increased activity around NATO's borders. The alliance would take all the measures it deemed necessary but also remained open to dialogue with Moscow, which was especially important at times of tensions, he said. The Quang Binh Peoples Committee and the Quang Binh Economic Zone Management Authority had plans to develop the second phase of Hon La Port, aiming to relieve the overload of the existing facility. However, instead of authorising PTSC to develop the project as per the deal the two parties signed in 2009, the province entrusted another domestic firm operating in the province to study the project. The name of the contender has yet to be disclosed. PTSC director Hoang Tuan told VIR that in August 2009, the provinces leadership signed a deal to transfer Hon La Port to PTSC. Under the contract, PTSC will take over the port to continue operations, exploit and invest in the following phases. PTSC will take over the rights and duties of the former owner and benefit from local preferential polices to develop the port under the governments sea port development plan. However, at present, the province has broken the commitment and refused PTSC to develop the second phase. The company will hold a working session with the province to work out a solution to this debacle. Arranging capital to develop Hon La Port is not a challenge for PTSC, thus, if the company receives the provinces approval, it will be determined to implement the project, Tuan added. Belying the importance of the Hon La Port extension, the Quang Binh Peoples Committee and the Quang Binh Economic Zone Management Authority issued numerous incentives, including land lease fee and enterprise income tax, and other incentives in the Law on Investment to call for investors to join developing the second phase of Hon La Port. According to Pham Van Nam, director of the Quang Binh Economic Zone Management Authority, Hon La Port is located in the economic zone (EZ), thus investors in the extension project will be accorded the highest incentives the EZ can legally provide. These benefits extend to discounts on the land lease fee and the corporate income tax, among others. A representative of the Quang Binh Economic Zone Management Authority stated that extending Hon La Port is becoming vital because it has been operating way beyond its designed capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of cargo per year in recent years. Notably, in 2015, the port handled 1.5 million tonnes of cargo. In addition, the port is located on a strategic point along the North-South sea transport route, at a crossroads to Central Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. The authority plans to increase the ports capacity to five million tonnes and extend the harbour area to receive up to 50,000 deadweight tonnage vessels. The authority estimated that the total investment capital for enhancing the port would be about VND300-400 billion ($13.2-17.6 million). Mari Ferrari is one of top ten hottest female DJs selected by DJ Storm. Her real name is Maria Roganova. She is also a model and music producer. She has performed in more than 50 countries in the world over the last decade and been a special guest at many international music events like Spain Sensation White, Hed Kandi festival in Miami and Vip Belgium Yacht in Cannes, France. Mari Ferrari was in Vietnam in January this year as a guest judge at The Remix show and received warm welcome from Vietnam fans. Ferrari said she really wants to return to Vietnam to present latest pieces of music to electronic music fans. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at St. Augustine University in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo: AFP/Robyn BECK) With less than two weeks before polling day, and with early voting underway in several states, the Democratic nominee remains comfortably on course to become America's first female president. And Wednesday's headlines told a telling tale of two buildings: Clinton revealed where she will hold her likely victory party and Trump unveiled an alternative Washington address - just in case the White House eludes him. The latest rolling poll average compiled by tracker RealClearPolitics showed Clinton extending her national lead in a four-way race against Trump and two outsiders to 5.9 percentage points - pointing to a clear electoral college victory. But the former secretary of state's rival, a 70-year-old Manhattan real estate mogul, took heart from a separate new survey that shows him with a two-point lead in early-voting Florida, a state where races are often won and lost. "We are going to have, I think, a tremendous victory," Trump told CNN. Pressed on whether he'll open his own wallet to match an onslaught of Clinton ads, Trump said he will have spent US$100 million of his own money by election day, a sum which would imply him digging much deeper than he has so far. Trump was to speak in the swing state of North Carolina later on Wednesday, but first he set aside precious time for the grand opening of his new hotel in Washington, the Trump International. Hundreds of journalists covered the grandiose re-opening of the former post office, a stone's throw from the White House, but many mocked Trump for focusing on his business so close to polling. Clinton's camp, meanwhile, announced that she would await the results on Nov 8 at the vast Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, which has a literal "glass ceiling" to match the metaphorical barrier she plans to shatter on behalf of women. ALL EYES ON FLORIDA Underlining her confident determination, Clinton marked her 69th birthday campaigning in Florida, speaking to a capacity crowd in Lake Worth before flying to Tampa on the Gulf Coast. A Bloomberg poll out Wednesday put Trump 45 to 43 per cent among likely voters in Florida, a close margin in what is simply a must-win state for him. The RealClearPolitics poll average still puts Clinton ahead in the state by 1.5 percentage points. But Bloomberg's survey shows Trump doing somewhat better than Clinton with independents, who may hold the key to victory in a state that was famously deadlocked in 2000, when the Supreme Court decided the outcome, giving the win to George W. Bush. "We're the ones with the momentum," Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said on CBS's "This Morning" show. To a Hispanic audience on Miami-based Univision's National Radio, Clinton trumpeted her promises to introduce comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship "as soon as I get there." President Barack Obama - who will campaign for Clinton in Florida on Friday - has said he wants an overwhelming Democratic victory in order to send the message that Americans reject Trump's divisive rhetoric. Florida is the country's third most populous state, and one with a wide mix of constituencies, including retirees, Hispanics and Bible Belt whites. GROPING ALLEGATIONS North Carolina voted for Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012, but the conservative southern state has been leaning Democratic in the current White House race. Clinton holds a two per cent lead there and the state's Republican leaders worry that controversies that have dogged Trump throughout the campaign will hurt them in congressional races. North Carolina's Republican Senator Richard Burr is in a tight re-election contest against Democrat Deborah Ross. A Burr loss could tip control of the US Senate to Democrats. Trump's standing has been hit hard, particularly among female voters, since this month's release of a 2005 video in which he boasts that his celebrity allows him to grope women with impunity. Since then, approximately a dozen women have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations - charges he has angrily denied, but which appear to have hurt his poll numbers. Nguyen Hong Hien SCICs intention was announced by deputy director Nguyen Hong Hien at the October 25 conference on state-owned capital divestment and listing on the stock exchanges. Thereby, both the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and SCIC refute Vietnam Association of Finance Investors (VAFI)s proposal for an alternative plan for the Vinamilk divestment. Accordingly, VAFI proposed the MoF and SCIC to sell the entire state-owned stake in a single bulk instead of dividing it into several smaller pieces as planned by SCIC. According to VAFI, foreign strategic investors will not be interested in buying minority stakes in stated-owned enterprises because it prevents them from joining management boards. In case these investors join the sales, they will not pay very high prices for minority stakes in Vinamilk. VAFI added that by selling Vinamilk stakes in small pieces at a time the state may earn $1 billion less than by pouring the whole 45 per cent on the market at once. The government currently holds a 45.1 per cent stake in Vinamilk (HoSE: VNM). The company is one of the country's most sought-after equities and foreign investors have long been interested in Vinamilk thanks to its strong prospects and expansion plans. Vinamilks board of directors formally approved the removal of the 49 per cent foreign ownership cap in late June, paving the way for an expected surge of interest from overseas investors in the local company. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Cambodians at home and abroad commemorated 25 years since the signing of the Paris Peace Accords earlier this week, expressing concerns that the pledges made were not fully implemented decades later. In Arlington, VA, Cambodian-American community leaders gathered to mark the anniversary of the official end of the civil war. Yem Rithipol, president of the Our Mutual National Interests group, told the conference, which was held at George Mason University, that Cambodians had hoped the agreement would help us have independence, integrity, [and] sovereignty but all kinds of freedom have not been realized. The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) was created as part of the agreements and tasked with disarming all factions, repatriating 35,000 refugees, and organizing a national election in 1993. The Paris Peace Agreements have been violated by the Vietnamese and pro-Vietnamese regime of Hun Sen, said Dy Kareth, vice president of the Cambodian Borders Committee. Theyve violated territorial integrity, democratic principles, freedom of all the people. Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in power for more than 30 years and has been accused of using the military and judicial system to subdue his opponents. There seems to be stable now, but this is only superficial. Deep down its like boiling water. There could be instability in the future, said Yap Kimtung, president of Cambodian Americans for Human Rights and Democracy. Other participants raised concerns that the political situation could further deteriorate ahead of the next general election in 2018. What really concerns me now is that the ruling party doesnt seem to have [the] will to organize a fair election, Kimtung said. This really worries me because Cambodia would not have true democracy. Prom Saonora, a Cambodian-American who has been lobbying the U.S. Congress to take action against Hun Sens regime, said holding a free and fair election and respect for human rights could be achieved by creating a Cambodia contact group of countries, including the United States and Japan, which would monitor the elections. However, veteran journalist Nate Thayer said recent calls to reconvene the Paris conference were unrealistic, adding that Cambodians should not blame foreign powers for their homegrown problems. You talk about selling off your country? And the Vietnamese invading and taking over parts of Cambodia? That is not the Vietnamese, Thayer said. That is Cambodians, who are lining their personal pockets because they have access to political power, guns, and money. And they use it to sell off the country to foreign interests. That is what is happening with the Chinese, that is what is happening with the Vietnamese, and, frankly, that is what is happening with whoever can come in and get a piece of the pie. That is not Hun Sen's fault. That is the fault of all the Cambodian leaders in the last generation, he added. The Paris Peace Agreements were a failure. However, Chum Bunrong, Cambodias ambassador to the United States, said the agreement had been well implemented. Theres nothing bad or unsatisfactory. [Its] only the opposition and those who want to benefit from it who find it not good. In Cambodia, government officials agreed, with Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon saying the accords were a roadmap, a program that we need to implement step by step because of our constrained situation. An advisor to Sokhon said the accords no longer have any legal bearing and attempts to request intervention from signatory countries would be interference that would be in breach of the agreement. Claude Martin, a former French ambassador, told VOA in a recent interview that the implementation of the agreements was flawed from the beginning. Meanwhile, the opposition held its own event at its headquarters in Phnom Penh, where its deputy leader, Kem Sokha, said, The rule of law should apply to everyone regardless of the status or political party. Mu Sochua, Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmaker for Battambang, pointed to the killing of political and land rights activists, environmentalists and union leaders as examples of the lack of implementation of democratic principles of democracy and the rule of law. Central African heads of state meeting Wednesday in Luanda, Angola, endorsed the deal signed last week in the Democratic Republic of Congo that delays that country's elections by nearly two years. But the regional stamp of approval has not diminished tensions in the country itself. The African Union-mediated agreement pushes elections in the DRC from next month to April 2018. President Joseph Kabila will stay on until then at the head of a new power-sharing government, though his elected mandate expires in December. Angolas president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, himself in power since 1979, said Wednesday the accord will help put an end to the climate of contestation and destabilization. Violent protests over the delayed elections killed more than 50 people in September, according to rights groups and the United Nations. The regional summits closing statement congratulated Kabila for convening what was billed as the national dialogue that produced the agreement. Dos Santos urged those in the DRC who did not participate in negotiations to sign up to the deal. Not all on board However, that does not appear likely. The endorsement of regional leaders has done little to dampen the anger the agreement has aroused among Kabilas opponents. The countrys main opposition coalition, known as the Rassemblement, or the Assembly, boycotted national dialogue talks. Franck Diongo, a leading Rassemblement figure, told VOA the African Union and the regional blocs are showing a negative solidarity. He said the Luanda summit was a syndicate of dictators who feel a need to stick together. But he added that the Congolese people will have the last word. The Rassemblement has called for a public meeting November 5 in which Diongo said veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi will lay out their plan of action. La Lucha, a prominent civil society group, has also denounced the agreement and the role of the African Union, which it accused of displaying arrogance, disdain and condescension during the negotiations. Activists arrested In the eastern city of Goma, at least 17 members of La Lucha were arrested this week while protesting the accord. In Kinshasa, authorities banned a sit-in in front of AU headquarters. Under the DRCs constitution, Kabila is not eligible to stand in the next elections, having served his two-term limit. The Congo Research Group, part of New York University, polled nearly 8,000 people nationwide and found that less than eight percent of Congolese would vote for Kabila if an election were held this year. The survey also found that more than 80 percent of respondents oppose a constitutional revision to allow Kabila to run for a third term and 74 percent say he should step down this year. This is one of those stories we have to write from time to time. Over the past week, the internet has been alive with stories like this: "Either Stars are Strange, or There Are 234 Aliens Trying to Contact Us," and "Astronomers Detect Strange Star Signals That Are 'Probably' Aliens Making Contact." There have also been about the same number of articles telling everyone to settle down, like this one from Nature World News: "No, Space Aliens are Not Communicating Through Strange Signals From Stars." So what's the truth? The truth as is often the case is somewhere in between, and to get to it, VOA spoke with one of the authors of the article that is the genesis of all these headlines. So where did all this alien talk come from? Ermanno Borra and E. Trottier from Laval University in Quebec, Canada, released a paper for peer review on October 14. The title, on its face, isn't likely to stop the presses: "Discovery of peculiar periodic spectral modulations in a small fraction of solar type stars." To get an understanding for what that means, we asked Borra to explain. He says the whole goal of his research was to search the universe for rhythmic modulations in the light spectrum of stars. Think of these rhythmic modulations as pulses, like the boom-boom bursts of energy that come from pulsars, or as the dots and dashes of Morse code. He said they would look like "two pulses of light, separated by very short times ... 10-12 seconds." These pulses, he says, don't have to come routinely, or very often at all. The key is that the pulses "be separated by the same time." His theory is that if highly advanced civilizations wanted to talk to us, sending these kinds of timed pulses would be the way to do it. Borra says that since it's next to impossible to look for signals coming from an individual planet, sending the signal by changing a sun's spectrum would be an easily detectable way to send an interstellar calling card. Armed with that theory, Borra and his team turned to data contained in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which has been mapping the universe for over a decade. They looked for any stars that exhibited evidence of these kinds of spectral shifts. What they found or didn't find surprised them. Borra says they found "the spectra we predicted in only 235 stars." That's right, of the 2.5 million stars they surveyed, they found just 235 that show this kind of change in their spectrum. Now here's where things get a bit weird. It turns out that almost exclusively, the only kinds of stars in the universe that are shifting periodically are ones similar to our good old sun, which is a G2 Yellow Dwarf. Almost all the stars Borra identified are in this comfortable F through K range. Beyond that though, the stars don't have much in common. They are scattered all over the sky, so if it is indeed aliens, it's unlikely they know each other. Borra himself isn't completely convinced that these shifts are an interstellar signal. "After thorough analysis," he says, "we concluded that it is probably a real signal, but at this stage we must be very, very careful because its not certain." He added that more research and better telescopes are needed to get to the real truth. "Right now," he says, "Im basically waiting to see the reaction of the scientific community." A second opinion While we wait to get that reaction, VOA spoke with the scientists at SETI, The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. This seemed right up their alley, since they think of themselves as an "exploratory science that seeks evidence of life in the universe by looking for some signature of its technology." SETI Senior Astronomer Seth Shostak walked us through the science with a fair and critical eye. He mentioned the concept of bias in the report, something which Borra mentioned as well. One of the issues they both noted was that astronomers can't look at every star, so of course astronomers have tended to pick ones like our own. The sun, after all, is the only star we know for sure has given rise to life. That makes it more likely that the stars Borra found would be similar to ours. Another point Shostak made is that in general, "if you look at millions of things, very slight problems with your instrumentation will show up in your data." So, it's not a surprise that out of the millions of stars surveyed, a few would show some unusual characteristics. But Shostak says that doesn't necessarily mean it's aliens. Borra and his team may have found "something unusual" out in space, he says. That "is the whole goal" of astronomy, but no reason to presume it's aliens. Unfortunately, he says, "Aliens are the first suspects in any crime." Another, more practical point that Shostak made was that it seems a bit too coincidental that 200-plus stars, separated by tens, hundreds, or thousands of light years, would be broadcasting at the same time. "Not only is one of them doing it," he says, "but there are hundreds and they are more or less at the same level of intelligence?" Finally, he says it seems an awfully big waste of energy, when you can send a similar signal into outer space just by turning on a radio. We've been sending radio waves into space for almost a century, but as to altering a star's spectrum? "It doesnt sound like a great way to communicate," Shostak says. "...all of that is not to say it isnt happening, but it does make you think that this is truly an extraordinary claim." And it's important to note that Shostak isn't dismissing anything. This, he says, may be "incredibly important." But Shostak and Borra are both emphatic when they say that only time and research will tell. So, if aliens are always the first suspect, this case is still wide open. But don't be discouraged, sky watchers. Shostak says he has plenty of bets with fellow astronomers that we'll find definitive proof that E.T. is out there in his lifetime. He calls it a three-way horse race. The first race is to find evidence of life in our solar system. That, he says, "is where the money is," with NASA looking at moons like Europa and Enceladus, as well as next door on Mars. The second race is to prove that there is life beyond our solar system. And finally, he says, there is the dream of finding Intelligent life out there. Shostak is betting we see that in the next few decades. Maybe Borra and his team have found it, maybe not, but everyone VOA has spoken to is emphatic in their belief that it's coming ... just stay tuned. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is leaving Japan without meeting Emperor Akihito as the scheduled meeting had to be canceled because of the death of the emperor's uncle. Duterte earlier Thursday proposed joint military exercises with Japan, while reiterating that he will not conduct them with Americans in his presidency. Duterte made the proposal during his visit to a coast guard unit to observe an exercise from one of the patrol vessels Japan pledged to provide the Philippines to upgrade Manila's maritime security capabilities amid South China Sea disputes with Beijing. Duterte has criticized U.S. foreign policy while cozying up to Beijing to calm the dispute. He said Wednesday he wants foreign troops out of his country possibly within the next two years, referring to visiting U.S. troops. Burundi has presented its letter of intent to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. I can tell you that that has been done, Burundian Foreign Minister Alain Nyamitwe told VOA Daybreak Africa. There is no going back. African nations have criticized the ICC for focusing almost exclusively on Africa since the treaty creating the tribunal, the Rome Statute, entered into force in 2002. I believe that there are some other politically motivated reasons which have pushed the ICC to act on African cases. How many times have you heard about the ICC investigating crimes committed in Iraq? How many times have you heard the ICC investigating crimes committed in Afghanistan? Or let me go further, which group has been under investigation for crimes committed in Libya? Nyamitwe said. Burundis parliament passed legislation earlier this month to withdraw from the ICC. Two other African nations, South Africa and Gambia, have since announced they will also withdraw. South Africa notified the U.N. of its decision October 19. Huge blow This is really a huge blow to victims of atrocity crimes, said Elise Keppler, the associate director of the international justice program for Human Rights Watch. HRW is one of 24 African and international human rights groups that have come together to call on African states to reaffirm their support for the ICC. Burundis decision to withdraw from the court may be related to allegations of ongoing abuses in the country since President Pierre Nkrunzizas controversial bid for a third term last year, Keppler said. There has been a spiraling of abuses in Burundis political situation and the issue of term limit and its president," Keppler told VOA. "In fact, there was a commission of inquiry there and investigators, as I understand it, who were expelled from the country after documenting abuses. So, I think we can see Burundi clearly has a kind of callous interest in trying to remove itself from the International Criminal Court." Under investigation ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced in April she was opening a preliminary investigation into Burundi after receiving information detailing acts of killing, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence. Burundis government says it is exercising its right as a sovereign nation to withdraw from the Rome Statute. We believe that it is too much fabrication to say that the government of Burundi has withdrawn from the ICC because it was accused of crimes against humanity," Foreign Minister Nyamitwe said. "I challenge you and I challenge that lawyer. I think one has to be clear that the ICC has not indicted anybody in Burundi of crimes against human humanity, of genocide or any other crimes that fall within the courts jurisdiction." The Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC will meet November 16-24. The assemblys president and Senegals justice minister, Sidiki Kaba, has called for dialogue on the issue of states withdrawing from the court. For the first time in U.S. political history, two Cambodian-born candidates are facing off in a state legislative election. The candidates are running to represent the 18th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The district's incumbent representative, Democrat Rady Mom, is being challenged by Republican Kamara Kay. Despite their differing opinions on how to resolve local issues, both naturalized U.S. citizens followed strikingly similar paths to the campaign trail. As child survivors of the Cambodian genocide in the 1970s, both escaped their war-torn country for refugee camps in the early 1980s. After becoming naturalized U.S. citizens in the early 1990s, both men came to call Lowell, a former mill town on the Merrimack River, home. Lowell's estimated 30,000 Cambodians the second-largest Khmer diaspora community in the United States, after Long Beach, California have seen gang violence on the rise. Education, jobs, crime While Mom and Kay have similar campaign platforms, pledging to work for improved education, expanded economic opportunities and increased public safety, their respective approaches to addressing these issues diverge widely. Mom, 46 and a father of four, said his first priority if re-elected would be to secure ratification of a bill he sponsored to make firing a gun at a dwelling a felony. "We have a lot of problems with drive-by shootings," Mom told VOA Khmer in a recent interview. "This is why I work with the chief of police, the city councilors, the mayor and also the city manager." But Kay said the bill would only duplicate existing laws. "It is a waste of time," Kay, 44, a father of three who has also positioned himself as tough on crime, told VOA Khmer. "The bill will not go anywhere." Kay, a senior analyst in IT disaster recovery, said municipal-level education reform would be his first priority if elected. "We need to pass a comprehensive education bill, which expands the charter schools," he said, emphasizing his opposition to elimination of public schools. A member of the House Education Committee, Mom, a licensed acupuncture therapist who was first elected in 2014, said the most important education issue for public officials to address is the "lack of proper oversight" of charter schools, and not a new education bill. Need for jobs Both candidates agree on the need to expand local job opportunities. "There are a lot of immigrants who want to succeed," Kay said. "In order for them to be successful, we need to get them into vocational training to give them necessary skills, so that they can compete for a good-paying job." Mom wants to build solid infrastructure that would trigger an "economic boom" that creates more jobs inside and outside the city. Among his accomplishments as the 18th District's representative, Mom cites a new energy-efficient, $200 million courtroom, along with expansion of the Cupples Square business hub. Criticizing Mom's track record in office, Kay said his rival played no important role in Lowell's recent improvements. "He just attached his name with the things that have already been in motion," Kay said. But in a state lawmaking body dominated by Democrats, who hold 126 of 160 seats, Mom said it would be difficult for Kay, a Republican, to get anything done. "Imagine as a Republican trying to do anything. You have zero chance. That is the reality," Mom said during last week's public debate hosted by the Lowell Sun. Regardless, Kay said his decision to run was the result of calls from disgruntled voters asking him to challenge Mom. Shadow of Phnom Penh While both candidates are proud of their Cambodian heritage, discussion of Prime Minister Hun Sen's four-decade rule in Phnom Penh reveals another fissure. "I am running for the issues at hand, which is right here," said Mom, who was once accused of sympathizing with Sen's regime after a 2015 trip to Cambodia, during which he met with the prime minister. "That is why I don't spend my focus on the politics that is in Cambodia." During their recent debate, Kay focused on Mom's absence from protests over a March 2016 visit by the prime minister's eldest son, Hun Manet, a top Cambodian military official who was faced with demonstrations over grave human rights abuses and subversion of the democratic process at the hands of his father's ruling party. "He was nowhere to be found," Kay said of a protest organized at Lowell City Hall. "He didn't want to do any of that." With less than two weeks until Election Day, both Mom and Kay said they would do what was best for Lowell if successful in the election. This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Khmer service. Belgian politicians agreed to a deal Thursday to support a free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada after overcoming opposition from one region in Belgium, paving the way for the signing of a landmark deal within days. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters the agreement was reached after the Socialist-controlled, French-speaking region of Wallonia decided to join Belgium's other regional parliaments and give its approval. Wallonia agreed to support the trans-Atlantic trade deal after guarantees were provided for farmers and on a corporate dispute settlement system. The revised deal will go through Belgium's regional legislatures by Friday night. The agreement is a big relief to EU leaders, who have been negotiating the pact with Canada for seven years What happens next ? All 28 EU members must sign off on the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement for it to take effect. The members are expected to formally approve the agreement in coming days. The collapse of the deal would be yet another negative signal to world leaders trying to open trade borders. Like others around the world, Wallonia politicians previously said the agreement would undermine labor and environment and consumer standards. Wallonia was also concerned the local meat industry would be hurt by a surge in Canadian pork and beef imports. Wallonia leader Paul Magnette said Thursday the deal was worth fighting for and would set a strong precedent for other trade negotiations between Europe and other trading partners like the U.S. or Japan. "Wallonia is extremely happy that it's demands were heard. We always fought for treaties that strengthen social, environmental norms and protect public services," Magnette said. Similar fears have threatened to derail the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which has been agreed to but not yet ratified by the U.S., Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru. U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has called the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada one of the worst deals ever signed, says he would never back the TPP. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who initially supported TPP, said she opposed it once she learned the full terms of the deal. The failure of the Canadian-European trade deal would also complicate similar negotiations with the U.S., Japan and other countries as a wave of populist parties around the world challenges the perceived benefits of free trade. Final demolition work began at the jungle refugee shelter in Calais, France, Thursday morning after authorities declared the camp empty a day earlier. Workers used large construction equipment and machines to rip down the make-shift shelters, some of which had been badly burned by refugees setting fires Wednesday before they were forced to leave. Firefighters put out blazes set by departing migrants who acted in keeping with a tradition of burning their tents, despite being told not to do so. French authorities conducted the operation to clear what had become a symbol of Europe's refugee crisis and resettle migrants who had lived in dire conditions in the camp. A spokesman for regional authorities said one migrant was hospitalized with minor injuries. About 100 migrants were evacuated Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Thousands transferred out French authorities say about 4,000 people have been transported to reception centers across France since dismantling of the Calais camp began Monday. Calais Prefect Fabienne Buccio told reporters Thursday new migrants at the camp will not be resettled by local authorities and an on-site resettlement center that had been sending refugees to reception centers across the country was now closed. It is not Calaiss role to receive all the migrants of Europe, he said. We do not want to create a vacuum. We have asked (those newly arrived) migrants to disperse. The camp, which was used to temporarily house 6,000 to 8,000 migrants, will be completely cleared by Monday morning, Buccio said. Notorious Calais gained notoriety in the past two years as one of Europe's biggest slums for migrants and refugees, mainly Afghans, Sudanese and Eritreans, arriving there in hopes of reaching Britain a short distance across the sea. There have been various refugee camps around Calais since 1999, when The French Red Cross opened and administered a reception facility named Sangatte, which quickly become overcrowded. Since then, migrants set up makeshift shelters on unoccupied land and kept moving to new locations when camps were closed by the French authorities. The 2016 U.S. presidential race, now in the homestretch, has been full of insults, rumors and name-calling so many that some people are beginning to have doubts about the integrity of American democracy. But for a small group of refugees, North Koreans who have come a long way to reach the U.S., the divisive discourse and outright hostilities come as a pleasant shock, giving them a taste of what real democracy is like. "It is hilarious to see how [the two presidential nominees] go after each other," said Charles Kim, a North Korean refugee who entered the U.S. in 2008. "It seems very distasteful and inappropriate on the surface, but if you look at it in depth, you'll see how good democracy is," the Virginia resident added. "You can say whatever you want to say, as the freedom of speech is guaranteed, and the people can point their fingers at the president without any restraint." Kim, owner of a small dry-cleaning business who has been paying close attention to the U.S. election from primaries to conventions and debates says the American voting system stands in stark contrast to the one in his homeland. Eye-opening experience Ruled by a despotic dynasty for more than 65 years, North Korea is a de facto one-party state in which elections are a mere formality, Kim says, to legitimize the dominance of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. Local elections take place every five years to select deputies at provincial, city and county-assembly levels, with only one approved candidate standing for each of the 687 electoral districts. Last year, the hermit regime saw a 99.7 percent voter turnout and achieved a 100 percent approval rating. Rejecting one's right to vote often results in bloodshed, incarceration in prison camps or even death, says Kim, adding, "There's no place on Earth like North Korea." Another North Korean refugee, David Shin of Washington state on the U.S. Pacific coast, says he appreciates the transparency and freedom of expression in American elections important democratic values that do not exist in North Korea. "I like how the candidates are transparent about their past, present, their achievements and even their flaws," Shin said. "People here are also granted freedom to select a candidate whose views align with their own." Heading into the final two weeks of the presidential election, a number of North Koreans living in the U.S. seem to be highly interested, with many closely following the election and keenly awaiting the results. Tight race Based on interviews conducted by VOA last week, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her Republican opponent Donald Trump are running neck and neck among North Korean voters, whose preferences appear to be largely determined by the two nominees' positions on how to deal with the North's nuclear program and the lack of human rights there. Deborah Choi, who entered the U.S. in 2006, says she will vote for Clinton, who she believes can put the brakes on escalating human rights violations in the communist country, because of her extensive knowledge and experience in politics. "Of all the candidates, I heard Hillary has the most comprehensive knowledge about North Korean human rights issues and North Korea in general," said Choi, who runs a seafood restaurant in Virginia. "I would like to see her devising policies that would be of help in checking violations of human rights." Also a Clinton supporter, Shin says the anti-immigrant, anti-refugee rhetoric of the Trump campaign is spurring him to give his vote to the former senator from New York. "I hope the new president of the United States is someone who cares about the world peace," Shin said. "I've become worried that a war would break out, after hearing Trump's hate speech against Muslim countries and about building a wall [along the U.S.-Mexico border]." Dismissing the real estate mogul's incendiary comments, some North Korean defectors said they intended to vote for Trump because they supported his pledge to put more pressure on China to rein in its North Korean ally. "The regime [in Pyongyang] didn't even budge, and now it's a huge threat," said Kim, referring to U.N. Security Council sanctions that, in his opinion, were utterly ineffective. "If Hillary pursues Obama's policies over the next four or maybe eight years, North Korea will likely complete their nuclear program." Clinton's controversial email scandal the mishandling of classified information through an unsecured email server during her tenure as U.S. secretary of state seems to have undercut support among some North Korean refugees. "It feels like Clinton is a well-decorated person but with a lot of things to hide," said Beth Lee, a California resident since 2009, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym. "We need to have someone who has a big mouth, although Trump says things that shouldn't be said in public places." Since enactment of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, the U.S. has been admitting a small number of refugees from North Korea. The first refugees arrived in 2006; as of this month, there were 203 North Koreans scattered throughout the U.S. India has expelled a staffer of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, accusing him of running a spy racket that accessed sensitive information about Indian security operations. Islamabad rejected the allegations saying he had been detained on false and unsubstantiated charges. The expulsion Thursday comes as relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have hit a low, following a militant attack last month on an Indian army camp in Kashmir that killed 20 soldiers. Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said the employee, Mehmod Akhtar, who worked in the Pakistani High Commission, had been detained outside the gates of Delhi Zoo, where he allegedly received documents pertaining to national security from two Indian associates. Alleging that he was an agent of Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence, Swarup said, We have definitely busted an espionage ring and the ringleader has been asked to return to Pakistan within 48 hours. Delhi Police earlier said the employee had been found with documents relating to the deployment of Indian troops on the Kashmir border. They said the official had been recruiting Indian nationals for the past two and a half years to spy for ISI. Rejecting the Indian charges, in a statement, the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi said we deplore the Indian action. It said the Pakistan High Commission never engages in any activity that is incompatible with its diplomatic status. Kashmir fighting The incident also comes as exchanges of artillery fire across the disputed Kashmir border continue to escalate with casualties reported on both sides. On Thursday, the Indian army said one solider was killed in the firing, the third to have died in the past week. The Kashmir border became volatile after the Indian army said it conducted cross border raids to take out terrorist camps. Pakistan denied any such strikes took place and said India is trying to take away attention from a spike in unrest in Indian Kashmir. Since the militant attack on the Indian army camp, New Delhi has led a campaign to diplomatically isolate Pakistan. It pulled out of a regional South Asian summit to be hosted by Pakistan last month, leading to its collapse. But Thursday the Indian Foreign Ministry said New Delhi would welcome Pakistans participation in an upcoming conference on Afghanistan due to be held in the Indian city of Amritsar in December in which foreign ministers of 14 countries are scheduled to take part. Pakistans adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaz Aziz, has said Islamabad would attend the meeting. Saying they have no official confirmation from Islamabad, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Swarup said, We certainly could welcome all countries to Amritsar because we are totally committed to peace and prosperity in Afghanistan ... so we would welcome of course participation from Pakistan. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Turkeys Kurds staged nationwide protests after Turkish authorities Tuesday detained the co-mayors of the predominantly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir in an alleged terror probe. Tan Cetin from Istanbul and Xecican Farqin from Diyarbakir report. When Labibah Abdo Saif was 9 years old, she stepped on a land mine while walking to school in Yemen. She lost her right leg and part of her right arm, and she had horrible facial injuries. Her family members were forced to sell all of their belongings to pay for her medical care. She was flown to Italy for treatment of her facial injuries. Refusing to give up and overcoming enormous obstacles, Labibah now works for the Yemeni Association of Landmine Survivors and the Ministry of Social Affairs to help others. Alvin Madjesty is not just a dog he is also a lifesaver. Since 2011, he and his handler, Lance Corporal Nawarathne, have cleared 70,000 square meters of mine-affected land in Sri Lanka. Labibah, Alvin and Lance were among those honored Wednesday by the Marshall Legacy Institute, a nonprofit organization that partners with the State Department to help war-torn countries and to eliminate destabilizing effect of land mines. Far fewer incidents As recently as 15 years ago, land mines and explosive remnants of war killed or injured nearly 10,000 men, women and children every year. But that figure has "dropped by more than 60 percent" after concerted efforts by nations and nongovernmental organizations, said David McKeeby, spokesman for the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. According to the State Department, the United States is the world's largest financial supporter of efforts to clear unexploded ordnance and land mines. It has contributed more than $2.6 billion to more than 95 countries since 1993 to reduce the harmful worldwide effects of at-risk, illicitly trafficked and indiscriminately used conventional weapons of war. While the U.S. stopped the export, production and acquisition of antipersonnel land mines, it still retains land mines for use on the Korean Peninsula, where Washington is required for the defense of South Korea against North Korea. But critics said Washington could do more to clean up land mines, cluster munitions and other highly explosive ordnance in many countries where its military inflicted damage. Quicker action sought The U.S. should "more quickly destroy its land mine stockpile and remove the last policy hurdles in order to allow U.S. accession to the Mine Ban Treaty," said Firoz Alizada of the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines-Cluster Munition Coalition in Geneva. The Mine Ban Treaty, adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 1999, is a legally binding international agreement that bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of antipersonnel mines. It also places obligations on countries to clear affected areas, assist victims and destroy stockpiles. The U.S. has participated as an observer in meetings of the Mine Ban Treaty for years, and it has pledged to eventually join the treaty. Advocates have called on President Barack Obama to insist that the Pentagon study into alternatives be completed swiftly so that the Korea exception can be removed before he leaves office. Alizada told VOA on Thursday that countries would gather to discuss progress and challenges in implementing the treaty next month in Chile, and to reaffirm the goal of completing mine clearance by 2025. Yemen is among the war-torn countries that have been contaminated with land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) because of various violent conflicts since 1962, including a civil war in 1994 and persistent clashes between tribal actors and the government. The current conflict between Houthi rebels and the Sunni-led government has also complicated de-mining efforts. Conflict in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's land mine and UXO contamination is a result of more than three decades of armed conflict between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which campaigned to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for the Tamil people. The government of Sri Lanka has announced its goal to be mine-impact-free by 2020. When Obama visited Laos in September, he announced $90 million in funding for a national survey of unexploded ordnance and for clearance efforts. The U.S. and Norway also raised $107 million for de-mining in Colombia during the margins of U.N. General Assembly meetings in September. Although it is still a long way off, an injectable male contraceptive is in development. It would join condoms, withdrawal and vasectomies as an option for men to use to prevent their partners from becoming pregnant. Currently, pregnancy prevention methods typically focus on the woman. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 40 percent of all pregnancies in 2012 were unintended. The injectable male contraceptive which is a reported 96 percent effective was developed and tested by a research arm of the World Health Organization and the East Virginia Medical School in the United States. A year-long study was carried out at ten centers in seven countries, including the U.S., Australia, Indonesia, Chile, Germany and India. News of the experimental drug is being reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Mario Festin, a medical officer with WHOs Department of Reproductive Health and Research in Geneva, said the male contraceptive trial was what scientists call a proof-of-concept. This hormonal combination of testosterone with the progestin or any other hormone that could facilitate the sustenance of the low sperm counts can actually lead to a level of sperm count that could be considered as contraceptive. And it could be done. The contraceptive drug for men is a combination of the male hormone testosterone, which significantly lowered the sperm count, and progestogen, a hormone in both sexes that in the men sustained the cessation of sperm production. The drug suppresses the production of sperm to the point where pregnancy is unlikely. It involves a series of injections over several months before the sperm count drops enough to prevent pregnancy. The shots have to be given every two months to remain effective. In the trial involving 320 healthy men between the ages of 18 and 45, the shots caused a variety of unpleasant side effects because of the high hormone levels required to prevent pregnancy. Those included acne, depression, increased libido and pain at the injection site. Festin said depression and increased libido in particular caused problems among partners. The WHOs review board, which monitored how the experiment was going, stopped the trial, but allowed researchers to continue to follow the men. Within one year, almost all of the mens sperm counts returned to normal. Festin says the male contraceptive injection has to be tweaked before it can go on the market. So there are other groups that are studying other hormone combinations or other hormone preparations which more or less follow the same study methodology and the same concept of a testosterone and a progestin. Jamin Brambhatt, a urologist at Orlando Health Regional Medical System in Florida, said its time for an injectable male contraceptive, like the one thats just been tested. Hopefully that will inspire someone to think of something or get a pharmaceutical company or researchers to think above and beyond and find something because theres definitely a need. You know ... a majority of the burden right now is on the female. So for us, as guys, to take a small share of that or more of a share of that onto us, I think would definitely help the overall system. Despite the side effects, researchers report 75 percent of men in the study said they would continue to use the new male contraceptive. A man was shot dead outside the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi after attempting to attack a paramilitary guard outside the building Thursday. "The pedestrian was passing along the U.N. avenue, attacked the officer, police officer, with a knife.," said Vitalis Otieno, Senior Superintendent Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Gigiri, told VOA. "After stabbing the police officer, my police officer was armed, he shot him and he died on the spot." The embassy confirmed that no American personnel were involved. Otieno said an investigation is underway and there is not enough information to determine whether this was a terrorist act. The embassy is closed for the evening, and the Ambassador and senior staff are reviewing operations for tomorrow. U.S. State Department Spokesman John Kirby said the situation will be closely monitored and information will be released as needed to help U.S. citizens make informed travel decisions. In Australia, the Chinese are the third biggest migrant group behind the British and those from New Zealand. But the pattern of new settlement has changed in past decades. In the 1970s and 80s there was an influx of those escaping Communism, while more recent arrivals are often wealthier, better skilled and are more sympathetic to the authorities back home. China is also Australias biggest trading partner. Chinese New Year has become a glittering part of Sydneys social calendar. There have never been more people of Chinese origin in Australia. They have a long history in this country, going back to the Gold Rush of the mid 1800s. These days Australia is actively recruiting wealthier business migrants from China, as well as tens of thousands of students. Wen Chen arrived in Australia three years ago and is a graduate from the University of Sydney, where she works as a special project officer at the China Studies Centre. She says she values her Chinese heritage. I am an advocate for Chinese culture and traditions and all kind of knowledge and I am a proud Chinese (person) because I have a very positive perspective about Australian-China relationship and I feel good to help more people around me to get better knowledge about my country, so, yes, I am proud of that, she said. The latest estimate suggests there are 1.2 million people of Chinese heritage in Australia, out of an overall population of 24 million. James Laurenceson from the University of Technology Sydney says the patterns of migration from China have changed in recent decades. Earlier on it was mainly a humanitarian program - lots of Chinese immigrants coming under a refugee program, for example, in the late 1980s. Now it is firmly targeted towards skilled migrants and business migrants. So for example, in Australia we have a significant investment visa program, which is to attract overseas high-net worth individuals. 90 per cent of the applicants coming into Australia through that program are from China, said Laurenceson. Multicultural Australia does have a racist underbelly and a survey last year found that more than a third of Chinese immigrants in Australia say they had faced discrimination. As well as prejudice, many older migrants from China had to overcome language problems and build new lives from scratch. John Zhang was a scientist when he arrived from Shanghai in 1989 seeking opportunity that he was lacking at home. He worked as a welder before starting an eyewear company that has close ties with China. We can be like a bridge. We understand China, we understand Australia and sometimes we can promote the cultural exchanges, promote the business. And for the moment, for example, a lot of Chinese business, they want to invest in Australia but they dont know how. They dont understand the local regulations and we can help, said Zhang. But Chinas growing influence in Australia does have its challenges. The government recently blocked the sale of key electricity assets to Chinese firms on national security grounds. Other areas of contention are prime farmland and real estate. Helen Sham-Ho, one of Australias first Chinese MPs, who served in the New South Wales parliament in the late 1980s, believes investors from China are making housing here increasingly unaffordable. This is bad influence and bad image for the Chinese though. They are not only just investors, some of them are residents or citizens admittedly, but they [have] got the money, they are so affluent, so they overbid all the locals. Of course, you get resentful because the market is no longer an Australian market, it becomes an investors market or really a Chinese market. It is not fair for the locals, said Sham-Ho. But Australia is increasingly a magnet for wealthier migrants from China wanting to be part of one of the worlds most stable and prosperous nations. Yei River Countys commissioner and other local officials defected this week to a SPLM-In Opposition faction loyal to former South Sudan First Vice President Riek Machar, according to Yei River State officials. Bidali Cosmas Wori-Kojo is the second Yei River State official to defect to the SPLM-IO in recent weeks. Last month, Abraham Wani, deputy governor of Yei River State, joined the same SPLM-IO faction. Yei River State Information Minister Steven Lodu Onseimo confirmed Thursday that Commissioner Kojo and three other officials disappeared from Yei town earlier this week. He said two of the commissioners body guards also defected. Lodu said the defectors took three government vehicles, but said state security agents recovered one of the cars. Lodu called the defections unacceptable. The government of Yei River State still believes in the presidential amnesty declared to all those who have taken up arms against the government to lay down their arms and join the government to rebuild the country, Lodu said. It is the second time in as many months that Yei River State officials apparently defected to the SPLM-IO. Lodu said the defections do not reflect the attitude of most residents. The defection of the four individuals is their personal decision and has nothing to do with any of their relatives or friends. So you can see a decision that was made by the commissioner himself. He just decided to one day take off, Lodu said. There have been dozens of reports of looting and killing by unknown gunmen in Yei River State over the past six months, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighboring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lodu called on armed groups operating in the area to lay down their weapons and join the national army. Report to the cantonment areas declared by the Transitional Government of National Unity under the wise leadership of his Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit in the greater Equatoria region or possibly reintegrate into the army, Lodu urged. Last week, President Kiir threatened to personally lead military operations against armed groups in Yei River State if armed opposition groups continued to cause insecurity. Lodu is calling on armed groups fighting government forces to peacefully air their grievances with officials and work toward restoring peace in Yei River. As a collection of forces moves toward the Iraqi city of Mosul, witnesses are reporting Islamic State fighters taking civilians from outlying villages and using them as human shields as they seek to defend the last major urban area they control in the country. So far, the Iraqi-led operation has involved retaking the villages on a march toward Mosul from the south, east and north. The United Nations says more than 10,000 civilians have fled their homes in and around Mosul, raising concern about their wellbeing and the availability of humanitarian resources. Human Rights Watch also expressed concern Thursday about Kurdish forces, who are playing a major role in the offensive, and what the group says is their arbitrary detention of men and teenage boys leaving Mosul. HRW says according to others who fled, the men and boys over the age of 15 are separated from their families for extra screening to make sure they are not linked to Islamic State. The process can take weeks. The group's report said Kurdish officials have emphasized "serious efforts" to abide by international standards in security screenings. Lama Fakih, HRW's Middle East and North Africa director, said the need for screening is understandable, but that detaining all males over the age of 15 because they were living in Islamic State-controlled territory is discriminatory. "Given what these men and boys have already endured, screening should be carried out quickly and in a way that respects individual rights," she said. Also Thursday, the World Health Organization said it and Iraqi health authorities are accelerating their response to the flow of people out of Mosul, including moving 46 mobile health clinics to areas of priority across Iraq. WHO said medicine and other health supplies for 350,000 people have already been prepositioned, and more are on the way. U.N. officials warned at the beginning of the Mosul offensive that as many as 200,000 people could be displaced in the first weeks, and that in a worst case scenario as many as 1 million people would end up leaving their homes. Islamic State militants seized Mosul in mid-2014 as they swept through large areas of northern and western Iraq. Altaf Musani, WHO representative in Iraq, said that since then more than 1.5 million people in Mosul have had little or no access to aid, and that a lack of safe water and sanitation as well as children missing out on vaccines have elevated the risk of disease outbreaks. "Humanitarian needs are expected to increase significantly, and the predicted exodus from Mosul over the coming days and weeks could spark yet another health crisis in Iraq," he said. As national parks traveler Mikah Meyer continues his adventures in the northeastern region of the United States, he had an opportunity to visit several national park sites in and around the historic Boston area. It was an optimal time for him to visit the region with its colorful autumn foliage and crisp fall air. Cradle of Liberty Boston is Massachusetts' capital and largest city. Founded in 1630, its one of the oldest cities in the U.S. and the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution. Its rich history is reflected in many historic sites and buildings, including churches, museums and meeting houses. Boston National Historical Park Boston National Historical Park sprawls across 17 hectares (43 acres) of the city, encompassing over 350 years of history. Many of the sites within it are associated with the beginnings of the American Revolution. Meyer said his visit there was one of the highlights of his trip. He enjoyed strolling along the red-brick path of the Freedom Trail, an almost four-kilometer (2.5-mile) walking route of 16 historic sites that tells the story of the nations founding. It was fascinating, Meyer said, in the sense that this was almost 250 years ago, to see the country that we live in now and how it came from those roots to see the ideals of the people that settled America and colonized it, and how those ideals reflect in the country today. American Patriots Visitors can also find a wealth of historic sites, structures, and landscapes associated with the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord. It essentially tells the story of Paul Revere and [William Dawes], who rode from downtown Boston all the way out to Concord, Massachusetts, to warn the local townspeople that the British were approaching and were going to come and try to confiscate a stockpile of arms that the colonists had, Meyer explained. But the focus of the park is an eight-kilometer stretch of road, where 11 houses that were around at the time of the battle still exist today. The shot heard around the world It was the people in those homes who witnessed what's been called the shot heard around the world. Not only was that the first official shot of the Revolutionary War, Meyer noted, it was the first official death for both the British and the Americans. Following that, the British retreated all the way back to Boston and by now all the town people from all around the area had heard that there was this fight going on, so they all grabbed their arms and basically were shooting at the British the entire time they were marched back to the city. Minutemen in Colonial America Those citizen soldiers came to be known as Minutemen. "One of the statues that I took a picture with apparently is now the symbol of the National Guard, Meyer said, which makes sense because Minuteman basically refers to these regular citizens they were farmers, they were businessmen who were called in the middle of the night at a minute's notice to wake up and come and take up arms to defend their colony to defend their people. "So it's this idea of the citizen soldier who started the American Revolutionary War." Visiting the many sites along the Freedom Trail was just a really great way to feel like you're literally walking the steps of history, Meyer said, because you are walking around downtown Boston and even though it's modern, it takes you to these sites that used to be the modern city for our early colonialists. USS Constitution Americas Ship of State The historic trail ends near Boston Harbor, where one of the U.S. Navys most famous warships is being restored. The wooden-hulled, three-masted USS Constitution was launched on Oct. 21, 1797. It was one of six frigates commissioned during President George Washingtons administration to protect the young nation's maritime commerce. Operated by the U.S. Navy in cooperation with the National Park Service, the USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Meyer got to see the ship where it's been in dry dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard since May 18, 2015 ,for a three-year restoration. So the [ship] right now is being refurbished there are original pieces still on it, but they basically have lifted it out of the water right now once they finish, they will put it back into the water, he said. Before restoration began, one of her cannons was fired twice a day as part of a demonstration to show visitors how the guns were loaded and fired during battle. Meyer had an opportunity to watch a similar demonstration on a wharf off Boston Harbor, a short distance from the Constitution. The morning and evening gunfire are salutes; part of the daily flag raising and lowering ceremonies that the U.S. Navy conducts on every ship and every naval base. I guess I was about eight to 10 feet away, and the wind blowback from that cannon, you could feel it across my entire body, he said. It was an interesting feeling because you realized how much power this ancient gun had. Old Ironsides The cannon's noise made Meyer think about his visit last month to Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial in Put-In-Bay, Ohio. That site commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie which took place near Ohio's South Bass Island during the War of 1812. It was here that Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry led an American fleet to victory against the British Royal Navy. It totally made the experience of being at Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial that much more poignant," Meyer said, because it was during that battle they said that basically anyone on any of the ships was deaf for an entire year from all the cannon noise so being that close and experiencing it, I can understand why. While she wasnt at Lake Erie, the USS Constitution played a huge role in another battle of the war. On Aug. 19, 1812, she went into action against the British frigate HMS Guerrier. Cannonballs bounced harmlessly off her side, reportedly causing a crewman to shout, Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron! The Constitution has been known as Old Ironsides ever since. After a fierce battle, the Guerrier surrendered, and the victory greatly boosted Americans' wartime morale. Meyer said his experiences in and around one of Americas oldest cities on the historic Freedom Trail, in the Minute Man National Historical Park, and at the side of the USS Constitution made history come alive for him. Follow Mikah To follow Mikah and learn more about the places hes traveling to, he invites you to visit him on his website. NATO allies on Wednesday pledged troops and military equipment to countries bordering Russia amid new signs of heightened tensions with Moscow. The contributions, made during a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, came amidst NATO's biggest military buildup since the Cold War. At a news conference, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described Moscow's latest actions two Russian warships with cruise missiles entering the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Denmark as another example of what he called a "pattern" that includes the use of military force against its neighbors and threatening rhetoric. "NATO has to respond to continue to deliver credible deterrence in a new security environment," he said. "And we have to remember that the reason why NATO is strong is not because we want to provoke a conflict, but we want to prevent the conflict." NATO plans to establish battle groups in Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, with forces and equipment including drones, warplanes and tanks. But Stoltenberg said along with the defense buildup, the alliance was signaling its desire for dialogue and cooperation with Russia. Meanwhile, separate tensions over whether Spain should refuel Russian warships bound for Syria were defused after Moscow withdrew its request. "It's up to each nation to decide whether they provide supplies and refuel naval ships," Stoltenberg said, but at the same time, "we are concerned about [Russia's] potential use of this carrier group to increase airstrikes on Aleppo, exaggerating the humanitarian disaster, [the] catastrophe we already see in Aleppo." Critics said refueling the ships would escalate indiscriminate bombing of civilians in the besieged Syrian city, where Russia was conducting airstrikes against rebel forces in support of Syria's government. New York City wants to be the next American tech powerhouse, and to get there it is tripling its investment in programs for computer science students. In the middle of the East River, on Roosevelt Island, one of the keys to the citys tech future is being built: Cornell Tech. When its complete, it will house 2,000 graduate students and hundreds of faculty and staff as well as an ecosystem of companies, researchers and entrepreneurs. Cornell Tech has also partnered with the City University of New York (CUNY) and other tech leaders to launch Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship in New York (WiTNY) to prepare young women for careers in technology and help fill the gender gap in Americas tech fields. Why not women? Thirty-five years ago, a third of computer science degrees went to women, according to Accenture, a leader in technology services. Now that number is 20 percent. Brittany Greve, a first year STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) student at Hunter College in New York City, says the expectation of young women when they are growing up isnt necessarily to do anything in STEM, no one pushes them in that direction. Greve is one of a handful of women at Hunter in a curriculum that is male-dominated. She says thats changing slowly. We know that this isnt going to happen in a year or two years, she said, it will probably take a decade to make the change. We have to keep pushing back when people say that women arent supposed to be in STEM. Accenture supports women in tech in New York and across the United States by making 40 percent of its new hires women. Lynn McMahon, Accentures managing director for the New York metro area, talked about her companys approach to getting more women interested in technology. One of the things our company is trying to understand is what works at the college level, pre-college level, high school, and even as far back as junior high, she said. We want to help women and girls envision that this is the place they want to be. Other industry partners, such as Kickstarter, Viacom, Genome, LearnVest, Bloomberg and Google, are committed to expanded training and job opportunities for both women and men. Plentiful jobs The U.S. Department of Labor estimates there will be 1.1 million computing-related job openings in the U.S. by 2024. The National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) believes only about 40 percent of these jobs will be filled by people with degrees from U.S. colleges and universities. In 2016 the federal government allowed U.S. companies to sponsor 65,000 foreigners with at least a bachelors degree from any university, and 20,000 more visas went to individuals with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions. NCWIT and other organizations want to help more Americans compete for these jobs, especially women. Terry Morreale, NCWIT associate director says educators need to do their part. Computer science is not offered in all high schools, Morreale said. In fact computer science is not even considered a part of a core curriculum in many high schools. And, there are definitely schools that have no computer science classes at all. She believes that the federal government could help solve this educational problem. At the very least, she said, everyone should have a fundamental understanding of computing. Incentives In the meantime, the organization Girls Who Code is stepping in. Noting that at age 13 to 17, girls lose interest in computing, Girls Who Code began offering a year-long program to teenage girls. It runs after-school clubs, monthly workshops, and special presentations by industry role models. NCWIT also has middle school programs for girls, including after-school programs, summer camps, clubs, and weekend conferences. One program, Aspiration in Computing, is involved in talent development, leadership opportunities, scholarships and internships for technically inclined young women. Many corporations also participate nationally in providing internships for young women. Over time, these programs hope to raise the number of female freshmen or university undergraduates who enroll in computing programs above the current national figure of 4 percent. In New York State, its worse: Dr. Carlos Medina, vice chancellor of diversity at the State University of New York (SUNY), says only 1 percent of women at the nations largest public university is prepared or wants to get involved in computers. Visibility matters Even with the incentives of good pay and interesting work, women, especially women of color, are essentially absent from technology innovation. According to Scientific American, African American women make up 3 percent of the computing workforce, female Hispanics are 1 percent, and Asian women are 5 percent. According to Googles Computer Science research, minority women wont embrace the field until they see more people like themselves, making them feel more welcome and less anxious. And, most important, all groups need to understand that opportunities await them. Oil prices have been bouncing up and down recently, as a sputtering global economy meant faltering demand for energy. The balance between crude oil supplies and energy demand has been rattled further by surging competition from wind and solar energy, a deal to limit production by members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and unrest in some key oil-producing nations. A U.S. government analyst says "global supply has far exceeded global consumption," for the past year and a half, but that gap is narrowing. Hanna Breul of the Energy Department's Energy Information Agency says that as the supply surplus diminishes, prices rise. Prices are likely to continue rising in the short term, she says, while demand for oil will grow well into the future. Weighing oil supply and demand is complicated. For example, U.S. oil output surged in recent years due to expanding shale oil production, contributing to a glut that hurt prices. Breul says shale oil production needs continued drilling and investment to be productive. Low oil prices dried up money for such oil operations, and that cut U.S. production. Faltering U.S. oil production made it necessary to bring more crude oil into the country, and oil imports reached a six-year high recently. OPEC deals These market gyrations come at the same time as members of the OPEC cartel say they have worked out a deal to cut oil production to boost prices. Prices fell from about $100 a barrel a couple of years ago to less than $30, which caused serious problems for oil companies and nations dependent on oil exports for revenue. OPEC pumps about one-third of the world's petroleum, and news that OPEC members and some other major oil producers might agree to limit output pushed prices back up to around $50 a barrel on global markets recently. The OPEC cartel is scheduled to meet in late November to work out details of their agreement to cut production, including the difficult negotiation on which nations will cut how much. Several OPEC nations, including war-torn Iraq, are asking for exemptions to quota cuts. Nevertheless, after a recent meeting with top OPEC officials, Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak said, "Ahead of OPEC taking its final decision, we are working out different options and mechanisms of OPEC and non-OPEC countries participation in finding out joint agreements." Saudi minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Falih said he is "optimistic" the oil market will "continue to improve." Surge in solar, wind While oil producers may be working out an agreement, their competitors are also very busy. The International Energy Agency says there was a surge in the number of solar energy installations with half a million solar panels going in each day in 2015. Wind energy facilities also increased with two wind turbines installed every hour during the year. The IEA says the cost of producing electricity from wind has fallen by one third since 2010, while solar electricity costs dropped even more. The IEA called the changes "transformational." Pakistan says military clashes with India are ongoing along the disputed Kashmir border, killing at least two Pakistani civilians and wounding 10 people Wednesday. According to a Pakistan military statement, the two fatalities occurred when Indian border forces launched unprovoked fire across the Shaprar Sector. It said Pakistani forces are befittingly responding to Indian firing. The military says border skirmishes this year have caused four civilian fatalities and wounded up to 25 others. There was no immediate reaction from India to Pakistani assertions. Pakistan's foreign ministry later said it summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad and a strong protest was lodged against what it alleged are unprovoked cease-fire violations by Indian forces. It was conveyed to the Indian side that it should investigate the incident and share the findings with Pakistan, instruct its troops to respect the cease-fire in letter and spirit, refrain from intentionally targeting the villages, it said. This was the second time this week that Pakistan summoned the diplomat over the issue. On Tuesday, New Delhi blamed Pakistani forces for violating the cease-fire by attacking Indian army positions with mortar and small arms fire. Independent sources have not been able to confirm either claim. Tensions between the archival nations have spiked since a militant raid on an Indian army camp in Kashmir on September 18 that left eight soldiers dead. New Delhi accused Islamabad of planning the deadly raid charges Pakistan has rejected. Days later, India announced that its troops had conducted a surgical strike on the Pakistani side of the divided Himalayan region, eliminating "a group of militants preparing to infiltrate the Kashmir Line of Control." Pakistan's military swiftly refuted the claim as fabricated and concocted, and warned any such act by India would be considered an act of war." Hundreds of Turkey's Kurds staged nationwide protests after Turkish authorities detained the co-mayors of the predominantly Kurdish southeastern city of Diyarbakir in an alleged terror probe. Gultan Kisanak, a former member of parliament before her election in Diyarbakr, and Firat Anli, her co-mayor and a member of the municipal council, were arrested Tuesday evening as part of an investigation into their alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. Protests erupted after two pro-Kurdish parties, the Peoples' Democratic Party and the Democratic Regions Party, called on their supporters to take to the streets. In Istanbul and Diyarbakir, police on Wednesday dispersed angry crowds with tear gas and water cannons. At least 26 protesters were arrested in Diyarbakir, according to Hatice Kamer, VOA's Kurdish service reporter in the city. Party leaders read a statement to protesters in Diyarbakir, a city of 1.7 million, saying the "detention of elected mayors was a blow to people's will." WATCH: Detention of Kurdish Co-mayors in Turkey Ignites Protests Accusations The prosecutor's office said in a written statement that the co-mayors were accused of making speeches in support of the PKK, allowing militants to use municipal resources, inciting violent protests, and attending illegal meetings and rallies. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the removal of elected officials accused of links to the PKK, designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, is an integral part of the battle against Kurdish militants. Kisanak, 55, is a well-known Kurdish political figure. Diyarbakr's first female mayor, she has been in office since 2014. The former journalist was previously imprisoned after a military coup in 1980. Kisanak was detained at the Diyarbakir airport Tuesday after returning from giving a speech to a parliamentary commission looking into Turkey's failed military coup in July. Anli, a community activist, was arrested at his residence. Thousands have been detained in Turkey under a presidential state of emergency following the failed coup. New administrators in two dozen Kurdish-run municipalities were appointed by the government after their mayors were detained in September. No contact with attorney VOA's Kamer said authorities did not allow the co-mayors to see their attorney, Mehmet Emin Aktar, who told VOA that he had not seen a document outlining the charges against his clients. "This is a political operation," Aktar said. "According to state-of-emergency rules, I will only be able to see them in five days. And they might stay detained up to a month without being brought to court." The European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in joint statement that the detentions were "very concerning." A pro-democracy group in Turkey, headed by Riza Turmen, a retired Turkish bureaucrat and a former judge of the European Court of Human Rights, also condemned the detentions, calling them "an attack to the foundation of parliamentarian democracy." The Washington representative of the Peoples' Democratic Party, Mehmet Yuksel, told VOA that the arrest of the co-mayors would further deepen the conflict in the region. "The state authorities have no valid reason to detain the co-mayors," he said. "Diyarbakir and Gultan Kisanak possess a deep, symbolic importance for the Kurds. It seems that they are telling Kurds that there is no place for Kurds in politics." The leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus' Greek and Turkish speaking communities have agreed to conduct a key phase of reunification talks in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland, next month, a United Nations spokesman said Wednesday. Aleem Siddique said Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will concentrate in talks set for November 7 to 11 on how much territory each side will administer under an envisioned federation. Other related issues may also be discussed. Shifting negotiations abroad is aimed at lowering the risk of leaks undercutting the talks' momentum amid concerns of a backlash by some Turkish Cypriots who may have to relocate. Goal is 'settlement within 2016' Siddique said in a statement that the leaders expressed hope that the Switzerland meeting "will pave the way for the last phase of talks in line with their shared commitment to do their utmost in order to reach a settlement within 2016." A 1974 Turkish invasion in response to a coup aiming to unite Cyprus with Greece resulted in the island's division into an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence and maintains more than 35,000 troops in the north. Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, but only the south enjoys full membership benefits. Anastasiades and Akinci have made significant headway since the U.N.-facilitated talks resumed nearly 18 months ago, but important differences remain. A key sticking point is Turkish military intervention rights that Turkish Cypriots see as vital to their security while Greek Cypriots view that as a threat. Talks at 'truly crucial juncture' The territory issue is considered pivotal to a peace deal. Greek Cypriots argue the more people are able to reclaim homes and property lost during the war, the greater the support a deal will receive from the majority Greek Cypriots when it's put to a vote in simultaneous referendums in both communities. Additionally, the projected cost of a settlement would drop substantially if more people reclaim homes and property and forego compensation for their loss. Anastasiades said Tuesday that negotiations are at a "truly crucial juncture" and that how talks fare will indicate whether or not an accord is within reach. A peace deal would help unlock energy cooperation on east Mediterranean gas deposits, lift obstacles to Turkey's troubled bid to join the European Union and usher in a degree of stability in a tumultuous region. South African President Jacob Zuma is leaving no stone unturned to stop the release of a report that implicates him in alleged corruption. It is the latest chapter in a series of corruption scandals in the past year that have eroded support for Zuma and his party, the African National Congress. Two weeks ago, Zuma halted the release of a report from South Africas former anti-corruption chief, Thuli Madonsela. Zuma intercepted the report October 13, a day before it was to be released. At the time, Zuma said he acted so the report would present his side of the story. I interdicted it because she (Madonsela) was going to issue a report, having not talked to me, or asked me questions, he said. In his latest affidavit to the courts, Zuma questions why he is portrayed in one of the affidavits as an implicated person instead of as a subject of investigation. He also argues that Madonsela, the former Public Protector who produced the report, made him believe he would be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations, but that did not happen. Gupta link In its current form, the report is likely to prove embarrassing to the South African president. It is said to contain allegations linking Zuma to the powerful Gupta family and showing the Guptas huge influence inside the Zuma administration. The Guptas are a family of Indian-born businessmen who moved to South Africa in the 1990s. The Guptas oversee a sprawling business empire in South Africa that includes interests in mining, energy, technology and media. According to local media, who were leaked elements of the report, Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas told investigators he was offered millions of dollars by the Guptas to take over former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nenes position and promote the familys business interests. Former ANC Member of Parliament Vytjie Mentor has also said she was promised a Cabinet post by the Gupta family and that is also part of the report. The claims about the Guptas have also attached to them claims regarding their proximity to the president and the presidents son. It is now up to the courts to decide if the report will be released. If released, it could be so damaging that Zuma could have no option but to step down. But not releasing the report is causing controversy within Zumas party. Mentor is one of party members concerned. If a president for instance is directly or indirectly implicated, l am sure the president can take leave, she said. The court is set to hear Zumas application Tuesday. Opposition parties have vowed to use every legal avenue to make sure the report is released. Nurses in Swaziland are threatening to embark on an indefinite strike next week after the government in Mbabane failed to meet their demands for better working conditions. Last week, leaders of the Swaziland Nurses Association presented a petition to Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini's office demanding better working conditions. They also issued an ultimatum that the group would strike if the administration failed to address their concerns within seven business days. The ultimatum expired Wednesday, but the government has yet to signal its intentions, according to Sibusiso Lushaba, national secretary of the Swaziland Nurses Association. He says the decision to demand better working conditions was taken at a national meeting of nurses in October 2015. Lushaba says there was a consensus at the meeting that the administration in Mbabane be lobbied to improve working conditions and create more opportunities for nurses across the country. "Nurses of the Kingdom of Swaziland are faced with a gross shortage of nurses in the country due to a plethora of reasons. Key among them is that government is not creating enough posts for nurses. nursing is not being prioritized in the country by the government," Lushaba said. "We have a nurse-to-people ratio of 1:1,000 and it is decreasing by the day because the government is not necessarily creating new posts for nurses, he said. Several attempts to reach the office of the prime minister were unsuccessful. Officials in the prime minister's office, however, assured the nursing groups leaders that they would get a response to their issues before the deadline passed. Lushaba says that has not happened. "We see that there is no political will to resolve this particular problem he said. It would be an unfortunate situation whereby we find ourselves with nothing else to do but going on strike. [But] that is a process that we are going to embark on next week." The government has often told striking public workers that it doesn't have the funds to meet their demands. But, Lushaba says, with no medical school to train doctors, the medical needs of citizens fall heavily on nurses, who he says could soon be overwhelmed. "Swaziland doesn't produce doctors, so we have nursing schools that are producing nurses, and our nurses are highly trained and can compete anywhere, he said. So most of the work and burden of the health care delivery of this country is done by nurses. If you continue to introduce new programs aimed at assisting the population making sure we have a healthy population it is also prudent that you also increase the number of staff, the number of nurses. The post-coup attempt fallout continued in Turkey Thursday as authorities ordered the detention of 73 air force pilots alleged to have been part of the failed July putsch. Turkish state media reported that 45 pilots were detained during police operations across the country, while the others, who had previously been detained, were formally arrested. Of those detained Thursday, 71 were lieutenants in Turkeys air force and two were colonels, according to the prosecutors office in Konya, the city where the warrants were issued. The officers are accused of having links to a group led by U.S.-based Muslim preacher Fetullah Gulen, who Turkish authorities say masterminded the coup attempt. He denies any involvement. Since the coup attempt, around 100,000 military, police, judiciary and education employees have been fired. Around 30,000 have been arrested for alleged links to the coup. Thousands of judges have been detained under emergency rule, including two members of the Constitutional Court. Gulen, according to experts, has hundreds of thousands of supporters in Turkey, who have built a wide network of businesses and private schools and supporters across the country. The government has said it is determined to break up this network, which it accuses of not only supporting the coup attempt, but running a parallel state that favors its supporters and crushes opponents. Western nations have expressed concern over the legality of the post-coup purge, though Turkey has maintained that its acting within the law while dealing with an unprecedented danger. Groundbreaking Zarok TV was a first in Turkey: a childrens channel broadcasting in the Kurdish language. Its mix of popular international and homegrown programs was an instant hit. But Zarok TV is now off the air, and has been for several weeks. Its studios are sealed under an emergency rule decree, on charges of supporting terrorism. Apo Oguz, Zarok's director, said there was no warning before the closure. "It was a big surprise for us," Oguz said, "because the content of this TV channel is neither political nor ideological. It is all about children, the culture, ways of life and language of the Kurds." In terms of content, the children's channel director added, "we were broadcasting cartoons that are watched everywhere in the world, dubbed into Kurdish. There is nothing else." Learning tool The shutdown shocked families who came to depend on the channel, not only to entertain their children, but also to help them learn the Kurdish language, after decades when it was banned and shunned. "It was midnight when my husband woke me up and told me about the closure of Zarok TV. I thought this was a joke. But unfortunately it was a sad reality," Cevahir Duzgun, whose children were avid fans of Zarok told VOA. "I was very sad and heartbroken," Duzgun said, "and I just thought, how I am going to tell the children?" Protests have spread across social media, as many Kurdish children refuse to give up Zarok TV without a fight. Government stance The government has dismissed accusations that it is rolling back its own previous reforms, which had given media access to Kurdish speakers and Kurdish-language programs. Muhammed Akar, who leads the ruling AKP Party in Diyarbakir, insisted the government remained committed to protecting Kurds' cultural rights. "There is no operation or banning against a language or a culture, because there are many Kurdish channels, and they continue broadcasting," Akar said. "There is the state TRT Kurdi and other channels," he added, "but I have voiced my concern and sensitivity for Zarok TV's closure to the authorities, and I follow this situation closely." Pro-Kurd stance More than a dozen Kurdish radio and TV channels have been shuttered under emergency rule. Kurdish cultural centers and theaters also have been closed. Those actions, and the closure of Zarok TV in particular, clearly signal that Kurdish cultural gains are under threat, said Idris Baluken of the pro-Kurdish HDP party. President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan sees Kurdish children watching cartoons in their own language as a threat to himself and to the Turkish state," Baluken said. His HDP People's Democratic Party, a pro Kurdish group, was founded in 2012 with a goal of challenging the divide between ethnic Kurds and Turks in Turkey. President Erdogan "thinks Kurds have no right to learn Kurdish," Baluken said. "This is cultural genocide." The European parliament has condemned Zarok's closure. For Diyarbakir's children, the TV channel cannot come back soon enough. It's a rare ray of sunlight in a war-torn region. The United Nations humanitarian chief said Wednesday that Syrias eastern Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone with more than 400 people slain and nearly 2,000 wounded in the past month. So many of them, too many of them, were children, Stephen OBrien told the U.N. Security Council in his monthly report on the organizations ability to get humanitarian assistance to residents of the war-torn country. At the very minimum, I call upon all council members who have operational military assets in Syria to take concrete steps to halt the aerial bombardment of civilian areas, OBrien said. He repeated accusations that the U.N. secretary-general and the high commissioner for human rights have made, that the Syrian government and Russia are responsible for the most sustained and intensive aerial bombardment campaign since the beginning of the conflict nearly six years ago. Last week, Syria and Russia began a brief unilateral pause in the bombing over eastern Aleppo for the evacuation of the critically ill and injured, and so aid workers could get humanitarian supplies into that part of the city, which has not had an aid delivery in nearly four months. It was extended for eight days, but because security was not guaranteed by all parties, the humanitarian teams could not carry out their mission. There will be complaints and accusations about who caused the failure of the medical evacuations, OBrien said. And yes, they will finger point at the U.N., the one party in all this not to blame, to attempt to divert blame from the perpetrators and refusers. Save yourselves The frustrated humanitarian chief said there are fewer than 30 doctors left in eastern Aleppo, which still has more than 250,000 residents, and only six partially functioning hospitals. He said only 11 working ambulances remain, and the shortage of blankets is so acute that patients are using body bags for warmth. Let me be clear: eastern Aleppo is besieged by the Syrian government, OBrien said. He criticized the medieval tactics of the regime and its Russian allies, such as dropping leaflets from aircraft over neighborhoods warning residents, This is your last hope save yourselves. The threat is that if the residents do not leave, they will be annihilated. Russias envoy, Vitaly Churkin, denied that his governments air force was responsible for dropping the leaflets, saying they had not been within 10 kilometers of eastern Aleppo in eight days. He suggested that U.S. aircraft might have been responsible, or that the save yourselves warning was from fake leaflets that circulated on the internet. Russia cant have it both ways: to pretend to care about the well-being of people of eastern Aleppo, and at the same time to threaten to annihilate those who remain in their homes, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said. Council members also expressed shock at the attack earlier Wednesday on a school in Idlib. Twenty-two children and six teachers were reportedly killed. If the school was deliberately targeted it would constitute a war crime. Bearing responsibility OBrien laid the blame for lack of action to stop the bloodletting in Syria at the door of the Security Council. This council has been charged with the responsibility for ending this horror, he said. The buck stops with you. Russia has used its veto five times to stop council action against its ally Syria during the course of the conflict. Last week the General Assembly discussed the possibility of invoking a rarely used mechanism that would allow it to circumvent the council if it is at a dangerous impasse. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an investigation Thursday into an airstrike on a school in Syria that killed 28 people, most of them children. "If deliberate, this attack may amount to a war crime," Ban's office said in a statement. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is the U.N. special envoy for education, also called for a war crimes investigation of the incident. "It really is now incumbent on the Security Council to investigate this, to prosecute if there is a war crime, to get the International Criminal Court on board for this, and to have an investigation," Brown told VOA in an interview. Warplanes carried out six strikes Wednesday on a village in rebel-held Idlib and hit a school complex, leaving six teachers and 22 of their students dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Both the observatory and the White House have said that either the Syrian or the Russian government was responsible for the attack. "We don't know yet that it was the [Bashar al-]Assad regime or the Russians that carried out the airstrike, but we know it was one of the two," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russian warplanes were not in the airspace over the school at the time in question. Russian news agencies also quoted him as saying that images of the damaged site photographed by an unmanned Russian aircraft indicated the damage was not due to an airstrike. Western diplomats at the United Nations backed calls for an independent investigation. "It's an appalling attack. We condemn it," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters. "It is a good idea to establish a proper investigation. I hope the whole of the Security Council would be able to support that, and I hope the whole the Security Council would also support proper accountability for whoever is deemed to have been responsible for such an outrageous attack." "If this is not a war crime, frankly, what is a war crime?" French Ambassador Francois Delattre asked reporters. "We must hold the perpetrators of those barbarian acts accountable. We will be firm on that. We will also keep up the pressure on the Syrian regime and its allies to stop the bombing." The United Nations says 2 million Syrian children are out of school and 52,000 teachers have left their jobs. Since January, there have been up to 40 attacks on schools in the war-torn country, and one-third of all schools are unusable because they have been damaged, destroyed or occupied. A U.S. drone strike this week targeted the top al-Qaida leader in Afghanistan and his deputy, the Pentagon said Wednesday. A U.S. official called Sunday's operation against Faruq al-Qatani and Bilal al-Utabi the most significant al-Qaida strike in Afghanistan in several years. The official said accounts from the ground described the two targets as having been "leveled," but that the results were still being assessed and the men's deaths could not yet be confirmed. Al-Qatani was hiding out in Kunar province. The official said the U.S. had been looking for him for four years. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said al-Qaida leaders ordered al-Qatani to re-establish al-Qaida safe havens in Afghanistan. He said al-Qatani was a senior planner for attacks against the United States and had a long history of targeting U.S. forces and their coalition allies. Cook said if al-Qatani and al-Utabi were dead, it would be a "significant blow" to al-Qaida and its efforts to plot against the United States and its partners. Federal regulators have given approval for U.S. clinical trials of a Cuban-developed lung cancer vaccine. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the Food and Drug Administrations decision Wednesday at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women, according to the American Cancer Society, which estimates nearly 160,000 Americans will die from the disease this year, with non-small cell cancer the most frequently diagnosed type, by far. The Cuban lung cancer vaccine, called CIMAvax, was developed by the Center of Molecular Immunology in Havana. It works as a form of immunotherapy. CIMAvax does not target and kill cancer cells directly, as many forms of chemotherapy do. Instead it targets a protein found naturally in the body, epidermal growth factor, that signals cells to grow and in the case of cancer cells, to grow uncontrollably. The vaccine stimulates the immune system, leading the body to produce antibodies that stop epidermal growth factor from attaching to cancer cells. The Roswell Park institutes chief executive, Candace Johnson, says the protein acts as food for the cells of non-small cell lung cancer, and they cannot survive without it. With the Cuban vaccine stimulating the patients own immune system, cancer cells are blocked from receiving the protein they need, and they die. And it works, that's the beauty of it, Johnson said. Roswell Park is the first center to receive permission to sponsor the U.S. testing of any Cuban medical therapy and bring Cuban science to the U.S., as Johnson said. She and Cuomo have been negotiating to win Cuban and U.S. approval for the landmark clinical trial for more than a year. The trial is expected to start within a month for 60 to 90 patients. CIMAvax will be tested in combination with an immunotherapy medication intended to strengthen the bodys built-in defenses against an array of disease-causing invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. The idea of using the immune system to attack cancer is not new, and two similar vaccines are in the early stages of development in the U.S. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday refuted the assessment made this week by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, in which he said that trying to persuade North Korea to denuclearize "is probably a lost cause. We will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state. We will not accept North Koreas possession of nuclear weapons, period, said Blinken. WATCH: Blinken on the North Korean nuclear threat The U.S Deputy Secretary of State was meeting in Tokyo with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama and South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung Nam to coordinate a unified strategy to deal with ongoing North Korean provocations that include two nuclear tests and the launches of 24 ballistic missiles this year. Washington and its allies, Blinken said, are focused like a laser to persuade the Kim Jong Un government to engage in credible talks to end its nuclear ambitions through increasing deterrence, diplomacy and pressure. However, at the independent Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, Clapper said the North Korean leadership, "Are not going to do that. That [nuclear program] is their ticket to survival." Military assets Blinken Thursday restated the U.S. commitment to provide extended nuclear deterrence to Japan or South Korea, a promise that the U.S. military would retaliate with overwhelming force against a nuclear attack by North Korea. Washington is also moving more conventional military assets, like warships and bombers into the region, and the allies are deploying missile shields like THAAD in South Korea. At the United Nations, the U.S. and China are negotiating additional North Korean sanctions that could further tighten restrictions on trade and overseas labor, and possibly close loopholes that continue to permit the lucrative coal and mineral trade to go on for humanitarian purposes. Skepticism However in Seoul this week South Korean regional analysts voiced skepticism over the viability of the current strategy, saying either that it is not strong enough to coerce the North to give up its nuclear weapons, or that it offers insufficient incentives for the Kim Jong Un government to comply. Speaking at a regional security conference at the Korea National Diplomat Academy, Chun Young-woo, who headed the South Korean delegation to the six party talks on North Korea denuclearization in 2008, said incrementally increasing sanctions will not work against the insulated leadership in Pyongyang. North Korea will not have any incentives to give up its nuclear (program) unless its existence is threatened, said Chun who currently the chairman of the Korean Peninsula Future Forum. Sanctioning China Chinas implementation of international sanctions is considered key to their effectiveness since 90 percent of all trade flows across the Sino-Korean border. Beijing is reluctant to strictly implement measures that could lead to instability on its border or the collapse of the Kim government, that would likely result in a unified Korea under the control of Seoul and in alliance with Washington. The U.S. recently imposed secondary sanctions against a Chinese conglomerate that allegedly sold North Korea banned materials that have potential military purposes, and was involved in illegal currency transfers. But Washington also wants to maintain a cooperative relationship with Beijing because both support the same goal of peacefully persuading the North to dismantle its nuclear program in exchange for economic aid and security guarantees. However China has also protested the increased military deterrence by the U.S. and its allies as being provocative, and has voiced concern that Washington is using the nuclear crisis as a justification to increase its military presence throughout the Asia Pacific region, interfering in what Beijing sees as its sphere of influence. Yoon Young-kwan a former chairman of South Koreas Committee on Unification said Washington must increase the pressure on Beijing to get tough on Pyongyang through secondary sanctions and the military buildup in the region. If China does not cooperate, the only option for the U.S. is deploying its strategic assets and military forces around the Korean peninsula, said Yoon who is also a Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University. Diplomacy Blinken said North Korea has shown no willingness to engage in dialogue on the nuclear issue. Washingtons diplomatic efforts have focused on engaging other nations to isolate North Korea and strictly implement the international sanctions. Moon Chung-in, who was a delegate at two inter-Korean summits in the last decade, has been critical of Washington and Seoul for not at least making counter proposals when North Korea offered to suspend nuclear tests in exchange for halting joint American/South Korean military drills or to work on a peace treaty. If we also propose back to North Korea and if North Korea accepts our suggestions, we may actually realize something towards denuclearization, said Moon, who is now Professor Emeritus at Yonsei University in Seoul. Ha Young-Sun, a member of South Koreas Presidential National Security Advisory Group, said if neither pressure nor dialogue cannot persuade the Kim government to give up its nuclear weapons, the only other option available to eliminate the threat would be the use of force, which could trigger mass instability, devastation or even plunge the region into a nuclear war. As neither ways work, we think of other options such as breaking the regime by entering in North Korea, or the collapse of the regime but we would have to pay a higher price for these two ways, said Ha who is also chairman of the board of trustees at the East Asia Institute. The Obama administration remains confident that Russia is hacking U.S. cyberspace to interfere with the November election, despite Russia's denial, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Thursday. Earnest told reporters that statements made earlier in the day by Russian President Vladimir Putin saying Russia had nothing to do with the hacks were "not surprising." But he added the denial "doesn't in any way undermine our confidence" that Russia is responsible. Earnest noted that the conclusion about Russia's involvement had been drawn by the U.S. intelligence community and the Department of Homeland Security. "It's something that is a source of serious concern here in the administration," Earnest said. "The president and his national security team are considering what sort of steps should be part of a proportional response." WATCH: James Clapper on Russian Interference in US Elections Clapper's testimony This week, U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Soviet Union (the former socialist state comprising Russia and a number of smaller republics) and now Russia had a history of interfering in elections. He said Moscow had interfered in other nations' elections as well as its own. WATCH: Clapper on Likelihood of Russia Successfully Hacking US Election Asked whether he thought Russia had succeeded in destabilizing confidence in U.S. democracy, Clapper said, "I don't believe so." He said the decentralized nature of the U.S. voting system, which places authority in the hands of state and local jurisdictions, makes it difficult for external meddling to occur. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also said this week that Washington had no doubts Russia was involved in the hacking of private email accounts of prominent U.S. Democrats. Putin: No preference Speaking to foreign policy experts earlier Thursday, Putin said the United States was using its allegations of Russian hacking to distract Americans from the country's problems with gun control and its national debt. Putin also said despite allegations that he supported Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, he supported no candidate in the U.S. election and looked forward to working with any new U.S. president about any issue. The Obama administration announced this month that it thought the Russian government was responsible for hacks into U.S. institutions in an attempt to influence the upcoming election. Hacked emails associated with the Democratic National Committee and released earlier this year led to the resignation of DNC leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz. In addition, the private email accounts of several people associated with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton have been hacked. Private correspondence from those accounts has been shared online, causing embarrassment to Clinton and her allies. South Africas opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) plans to petition the Constitutional Court Monday to challenge the governments decision to withdraw the countrys membership to the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC). This, after Justice Minister Michael Musutha said the government will present a motion to parliament for legislators to repeal the countrys signatory to the Rome Statute that established the ICC. On Friday, South Africa officially notified the United Nations that it wants to withdraw from the ICC. But parliamentarian James Selfe, a leading member of the DAs legal affairs group says President Jacob Zumas government constitutionally erred in its approach to the United Nations before seeking approval from the South African parliament. The Democratic Alliance is disgusted at this decision. We think it sends out an entirely incorrect message around our commitment to human rights and our abhorrence of human rights abuses and of genocide, and we believe that it would set back our foreign policy and the way in which South Africa is viewed in a very fundamental way, said Selfe. We also believe that the decision itself has been taken in a way which is unconstitutional, unlawful accordingly, we will we will be lodging papers in the constitutional court on Monday morning seeking the courts ruling seeking that it reviews and sets aside this decision by the South African government. You cannot inform the U.N. Secretary General that you are withdrawing before you have consulted the South African parliament who has ratified the treaty. Thats putting the cart before the horse. You first consult the South African parliament, you get parliaments approval and then you communicate with the Secretary General. But we all know why this is so, the South African government wants to come to parliament for the fait accompli, and say that unless members of parliament support that motion, we would be embarrassing the South African government in its dealings with the United Nations, Selfe added. The decision of South Africa to begin the process to withdraw from the ICC comes days after the Burundian parliament approved Bujumburas proposed motion to withdraw from the Hague-based court. The African Union - the continental body - has been critical of the ICC. It says the court targets Africans despite human rights abuses and crimes against humanity committed elsewhere around the world. The AU cited various instances, including the ICC issuing arrest warrants against Sudans President Omar Hassan al-Bashir after accusing him of rights abuses and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region. The successful prosecution of Pierre Bemba, former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo; the trial of Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto - among others - the AU says are proof the courts mainly target Africans. Supporters of the government says the administration in Pretoria is following signals from the AU, which has called on members not to cooperate with the ICC. There are several states that also disagree with that. For example Botswana has made it very clear that they are committed to remaining members of the ICC notwithstanding the resolution of the African Union, said Selfe. We believe the resolution of the African Union is spurious anyway, because it was based on the perception it was simply African heads of state and African rulers that were the subjects of ICC complaints, investigations and trials, but that is obviously not true. But even it were the perception, then the duty lies on the African Union to engage the ICC to point out in what respect it believes that there havent been complete even-handedness on the part of the ICC and to invite the ICC to take retroactive actions on those regard. Scientists in Zimbabwe say they have developed new heat- and drought-tolerant varieties of maize that may be ready for sale ahead of the next planting season. The seeds from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center were developed to combat drought-induced food insecurity that has affected millions in southern Africa over the past year. The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center better known by its Spanish acronym CIMMYT says the new varieties could play a significant role in reducing the problem of food insecurity in Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa. Cosmos Magorokosho is a senior scientist with CIMMYT responsible for coming up with climate-resilient maize strains. "I call them a game-changer, because farmers will be able to get some food security if they are able to adapt these varieties," said Magorokosho. "Food security in Africa will be partly addressed through these varieties, because in Africa, maize is life. A lot of seed companies in southern Africa, east Africa [and] north Africa have shown keen interest in adopting these hybrids because they know that they will be working in their environments." He said farmers in Algeria, South Africa, Egypt, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa, along with Zimbabwe, have shown interest in the new maize varieties CIMMYT developed with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Early this year, Zimbabwe declared a national disaster after about a third of its 13 million people struggled with food shortages, caused by El Nino-induced drought. The CIMMYT official said the effects of that drought could have been mitigated had the heat- and drought-tolerant maize varieties been on the commercial market. Apollonia Marutsvaka from Zaka district one of the driest regions in Zimbabwe planted one of the new seeds from CIMMYT last season. There is real hunger here this year," said Marutsvaka. "I am just lucky that I replanted the demo seed [from CIMMYT] after the first crop failed. Compared to other conventional seeds, the demo seed sustained the heat and dry conditions we experienced. Despite the heat and dryness, I got something, and I will only run out of food around February. Marutsvaka's neighbor, Amon Makonese, 66, also managed to harvest enough to look after his family after planting the new seeds. "It is a good seed because it is drought-resistant. The only thing is that it is not in the market. We look for it, and we do not get it when we want it. It should be put in the shops where we buy other seeds," said Makonese. "We end up buying other varieties because we do not find this variety in the shops." That is not good news, given that Zimbabwes next growing season is expected to begin soon. Zimbabwe Super Seeds one of the companies distributing the new varieties said it is working to meet farmers' demands. On 22 October 2016, the Iraqi Parliament surreptitiously adopted an amendment to its laws affecting communes which bans the sale, the import and the production of alcohol. The prohibition was adopted in order to satisfy the Islamists on the day before the liberation of Daesh-occupied Mosul. The law sets fines of between $8,000 and $20,000 per offence. Considering that the law is prejudicial to them, the Christians of Iraq (who use wine in the celebration of Mass) have decided to take legal action against the law before a federal tribunal. On 22 September 2016, while cleaning around an abandoned troglodyte refuge not far from the church of Saint-Florent on the outskirts of Saumur (France), a group of workers saw three men drive away hurriedly in a white van. Entering the cave, they discovered video equipment and a generator, as well as newspapers in the Arab language and Daesh flags. Wishing to calm not only the anxiety of the population, but also the police, the gendarmerie and the sub-prefect, General Arnaud Nicolazo de Barmon, commanding officer of the Military Schools in Saumur declared that the men were not terrorists, but students of a training exercise by the Inter-Army Centre for Nuclear, Biological, Chemical and Radiological defence (CIA NBCR). If such were the case, in the middle of the current state of emergency, the CIA NBCR would have violated the rules of notification for this exercise, which should have been transmitted to the different local authorities before the exercise began. Apart from this, it is not easy to discern how any of the equipment discovered might be in any way useful for exercises in nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical defence. In the same buildings as the CIA NBCR in Saumur are the schools specialised in Intelligence and Inter-Army Combat. The presence of French forces has been noted since the very beginning of the events in Syria, in 2011. In 2012, 19 French soldiers who had been taken prisoner were handed back, at the Lebanese border, to the Army Chief of Staff, Admiral Edouard Guillaud, with other soldiers supervising Baba Amrs Islamic Emirate. The death of French soldiers supervising the Islamist troops was certified in several places, particularly in Sannayeh in 2013. While France, in 2014, had supported Al-Qaida against Daesh, the presence of French officers within the Caliphate itself has been attested by several witnesses in 2016. In November 2014, the Pentagon declared that it had killed an agent of the DGSE (Direction Generale de la Securite Exterieure) in Samarda the agent, David Drugeon, was working within Al-Qaida, while the French Minister for Defence denied any link with the victim. Thereafter, the US Press confirmed that David Drugeon had trained Mohamed Mera (terrorist attacks in Toulouse and Montauban), and the Kouachi brothers (attack on Charlie Hebdo). France has never officially recognised that it has troops on the ground in Syria, although it has admitted that it shares common headquarters there with allied special forces . First, President Obama called upon the Italians to vote yes in the referendum, thus interfering in our national politics with the silent complicity of the parliamentary opposition. Then he went on to confirm to his good friend Matteo that the US has clear agreements, long friendship with Italy. Noone would question that these agreements were crystal clear, especially the Atlantic Treaty that places Italy in a position of subordination to the U.S.A. The US President always appoints the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and all the other key commands are in US hands. When the disintegration of the USSR brought the Cold War to an end, Washington declared the fundamental importance of preserving Nato as a channel of influence and US participation in European Affairs so as to prevent the creation of exclusively European structures that would threaten the Alliances chain of command, that is the US command. An idea reiterated by the NATO Secretary Stoltenberg during the recent round table on the Big Idea for Europe: We must ensure that building up Europes defense does not duplicate Natos defence and [Europe] does not become another Nato. Stoltenbergs idea is guaranteed by the fact that 22 of the 28 EU member states (21 of 27 following Great Britains departure) are part of the US-led Nato, which is recognized by the European Union as the foundation of collective defense. Thus the EU foreign and military policy is fundamentally subordinated to the US strategy and the European powers have aligned themselves to it. Their conflicting interests are ironed out when their fundamental interest is at stake: maintaining Western predominance, increasingly faltering when confronted by the emergence of new state and non-state subjects. All we need to do is to recall to our minds that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, created through a strategic China-Russia agreement, pools resources that makes it the biggest integrated economic area in the world. In the context of the US/Nato strategy reports the White House Italy stands out as a steadfast and active ally of the United States. This is demonstrated by the fact that Italy hosts more than 30,000 soldiers and civil officers of the US Defence Department in military establishments positioned all over the country. At the same time, Italy is a US partner for global security, supplying military forces and funding for a wide range of challenges: in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Baltic and elsewhere, that is, wherever the USA/Nato war machine has been and is deployed. A final fact to confirm the nature of the US-Italian relationship scheduled to arrive at the Amendola base (Puglia), probably on 8 November, are the first two of the 90 fighter planes supplied by Lockheed Martin (a US company), that Italy has undertaken to purchase. The cost of Italys participation in the F-35 programme as a second-tier partner is officially calculated in the Stability Law of 2016: 12 billion 356 million euro of public money, plus additional costs for the continual updates to the fighter plane that still is not fully operative and will require constant modernization. Despite this confirms Analisi Difesa Italy will have limited sovereignty over the F-35 planes that form part of its own Air Force. A US law prohibits that mission information (software for managing the fighting systems of the fighter planes) is communicated to others. Thus the US will control the Italian F-35 which have been fitted out to use the new nuclear bombs B61-12 that the Pentagon will deploy against Russia, substituting them for the existing B-61, on our national territory. Can the great war be prevented Russia and China are preparing for war right in front of Americas doorstep, by Niki Vogt / Alert Memorandum for Obama warned to defuse tensions with Russia, by Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity VIPS / US-Mayors warn against increasing danger of war / We are beaten to war, Interview with Willy Wimmer / Let us say with conviction: No to war! / Popular initiative for nuclear phase-out in Switzerland, by Ernst Pauli / A nuclear power plant in Bolivia using lithium instead of uranium? / Prima i nostri! Ticino population tackles ruling of immigration themselves, by Marianne Wuthrich / Defending the identity of France means saving our dairy farmers, by Natacha Polony / The absurdity of todays credit system, by Myret Zaki / In Great Britain, things are moving after the Brexit, by Karl Muller / Language teaching: Avoiding unnecessary quarrels, by Pierre-Gabriel Bieri. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security: Collective Security Treaty Organization, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Commonwealth of Independent States As a centrepiece of its presidency of the Security Council, the Russian Federation plans to hold a debate on 28 October 2016 on the topic: Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security: Collective Security Treaty Organization, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Commonwealth of Independent States. In view of the global nature of contemporary challenges and threats, the formulation of the collective approaches needed to tackle them effectively requires an enhancement of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of peace and security. In relation to the United Nations this is primarily a function of its universal nature, in terms of both the membership of the Organization and its work, and also of its internationally recognized legitimacy. Regional organizations, in turn, often have a better understanding of the situation in their areas of responsibility, and in many cases, they are equipped with preventive and peacekeeping mechanisms which are adapted to local realities. In this regard it is important for the activities of regional organizations to be directed towards seeking peaceful, political solutions to emerging conflicts. It is precisely in this context that regular coordination with the main regional partners of the United Nations on issues of the maintenance of international peace and security is highly relevant. For instance, the Security Council regularly holds meetings on cooperation with the African Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union. In recent years there have been reviews of cooperation with the League of Arab States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Union of South American Nations and other regional actors. As is well known, cooperation between the Organization and its regional partners covers an ever broader range of issues. Peacekeeping and peacebuilding goals have been complemented by efforts to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and illegal flows of small arms and light weapons and to combat cyberterrorism and illegal migration all of which are areas in which cooperation between the aforementioned organizations and the United Nations has been gaining momentum. This is of critical importance to the maintenance of peace and stability over the vast expanse of Eurasia, and especially in the Central Asian region. It is precisely in this sphere that three relatively young organizations are operating in the huge region from Eastern Europe to the Far East the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). These organizations are building their political influence in the world and making a significant contribution to strengthening regional and international security. The debates will focus on the contribution by CSTO, SCO and CIS to countering threats to peace and security in the region, including combating terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime. The event will also provide an opportunity to reconfirm the commitment of these three organizations to the development of practical cooperation with the United Nations, including its Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia. CSTO is a multifaceted structure which is capable of responding firmly to the wide range of contemporary challenges and threats that may be faced by its member States. In this regard, there is good potential for enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and CSTO in the area of peacekeeping. Within CSTO, intensive work is under way to develop its own peacekeeping capacity, including capacity that may be made available for United Nations peacekeeping operations. At the same time, CSTO is actively contributing to international efforts for post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan and for neutralizing the drug threat emanating from the territory of that country. Its relations with the United Nations are successfully developing in many areas: combating terrorism and drug trafficking, peacekeeping, and control of organized crime. CSTO maintains and develops productive contacts with specialized United Nations structures, including the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Every two years the General Assembly adopts a resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and CSTO. A resolution on that topic is scheduled for adoption at the seventy-first session in the context of the consideration of the agenda item entitled Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations. The legal framework for cooperation between the United Nations and SCO on issues of international peace and security in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations was created by the signing in 2010 of a joint declaration on cooperation between the secretariats of the two organizations. Currently SCO and the United Nations cooperate actively in such areas as conflict prevention and resolution, combating terrorism (for this purpose, a regional counter-terrorism structure is operating within SCO), non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, countering transnational crime and illicit drug trafficking and ensuring international information security. In this context SCO actively supports efforts by the international community and United Nations bodies to restore peace in Afghanistan and consistently advocates maintaining the central coordinating role of the Organization in the Afghan settlement process. Cooperation in ensuring security and countering contemporary challenges and threats has always been and will remain one of the priority areas of integrated cooperation among member States of CIS. Constructive cooperation with international organizations is also a key factor in actively countering emerging threats. The CIS States are parties to all the most important international instruments governing cooperation in ensuring security, promoting disarmament, and countering contemporary challenges and threats and are making a significant contribution to their implementation. Joint measures are being carried out taking into account the leading role of the United Nations and the need to develop constructive partnerships with other international bodies and their specialized structures, such as the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the International Organization for Migration, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF). The further strengthening and deepening of cooperation between the United Nations and CSTO, SCO and CIS on the basis of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations is playing a constructive role in promoting the goals of the Organization, including tackling contemporary challenges and threats. These regional organizations must actively position themselves in terms of using their potential in the interests of the United Nations. At the same time, the United Nations itself should continue to pay the necessary attention to increasing coordination and cooperation with those organizations, in strict observance of the prerogatives of the Organization and its Security Council. In this context we should like to suggest that Member States present their own vision of ways to strengthen security in the Eurasia region using existing regional mechanisms. It is obvious that stability in this macro-region will be the basis for economic growth and nation-building of the Eurasian countries and we would therefore welcome the views of delegations, including on linking security and development. We are convinced that here, in the United Nations, which has universal legitimacy, we will be able collectively to propose innovative approaches to issues of stabilizing vulnerable regions which may subsequently be applied to other parts of the world which are a focus of the Security Council. The debate will feature remarks by Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. N.N. Bordyuzha, Secretary-General of CSTO, Mr. R.K. Alimov, Secretary-General of SCO, and Mr. S.I. Ivanov, Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of CIS. Member States of the aforementioned regional organizations and representatives of other interested States are also invited to take part in the meeting. Photo: Getty Images Over the weekend, Drakes ongoing smarm offensive reignited with the unveiling of three new songs scheduled to appear on a forthcoming project titled More Life. The scathing Two Birds, One Stone has been the source of some controversy; in it, Drake finally responds to five years of needling from Pusha T, and he sends a ruthless shot at Kid Cudi. You were the Man on the Moon, and now you just go through your phases, Drake says, referencing Cudis 2009 debut album. You stay xanned and percd up so when reality set in, you dont gotta face it. Response to the lines was split among fans who feel like Cudi got what he deserved for firing at Drake from nowhere on Twitter last month and others who see jokes about mood swings and self-medication as a furtherance of stigmas facing people of color struggling with mental illness. Longtime rap aficionados took the dialogue a step further: The idea that Drake went too far speaks to how sawf [sic] our current state of existence is Hot 97 program director turned morning host Ebro Darden tweeted. Rap battles arent even fun anymore thanks to social media, Fake Shore Drive founder Andrew Barber said. You guys all want kid gloves nowadays. Rap battles are not supposed to be PC. Its true that we currently have a deeper sensitivity to social justice as a society than ever before, and its very likely that this Drake conversation might have barely registered in the past. This is, to a certain kind of thinker, evidence that people are posturing now to look woke. Power 105.1 radio host Charlamagne tha God said: If you think Drake went too far against Cudi and you a 2pac fan, you are a hypocrite to the highest power, and we dont respect you. Hes speaking tacitly of 2pacs summer 1996 Biggie and Mobb Deep diss Hit Em Up, which opens with Thats why I fucked your bitch, you fat motherfucker, and goes on to invite Mobb Deeps Prodigy to die from his sickle-cell anemia. The unsubtle insinuation is that a culture that didnt have a problem with Hit Em Up is full of shit for taking umbrage with Two Birds. The problem is the assumption that everyone loved the Pac record at the time. Now, there was no Twitter in 1996, but there were internet forums. A telling thread in the seminal Rec.Music.Hip-Hop forum from the week of the Hit Em Up release found members split between applauding Pacs recklessness, accusing him of posturing for attention, and praying he came to his senses before the streets paid a visit. Sounds familiar. Lifting up 2pac and Biggies tiff as a memorable time rappers threw caution to the wind tap dances conveniently and irresponsibly around the subject of repercussions. Speech is free, but words can come with a price, as 2pac learned cursing every East Coast rapper who stepped toward, while swearing it was all for sport. (I dont want it to be about violence, he told Vibes Kevin Powell in the spring of 1996. I want it to be about money.) Biggie publicly swore off a direct response and depending on whom you believe either kept his word or served Pac a chilling subliminal diss record in The Long Kiss Goodnight, a song neither rapper would live to see unleashed. It is a terrible example of the good old days of real beef: Two great friends and black figureheads cut down midway through their 20s because everyone else was too keen on what theyd say next to notice everything spinning out of control. Another skirmish its important to discuss here is the dispute between Jay Z and Nas. Imagine if Twitter was around when Nas and Jigga were literally at war, Complex staff writer Angel Diaz mused. Yet Twitter probably would have been pretty happy with the final outcome of one of raps biggest scraps. After Nas responded to Takeover with the cold, rude Ether on Jay Zs birthday, Jay went gloves-off on the savage Super Ugly, a freestyle over Nass Got Ur Self a Gun in which he says he left condoms on the baby seat after sex with the mother of his rivals child. Super Ugly not only lost to Ether in a Hot 97 listener poll Jay was present for (former host Angie Martinez: I can see him sitting there like it was yesterday defeated), Jays mom chastised him for the song, prompting an on-air apology to the women his lyrics offended. The next spring Nas told Vibe, I feel disgusting, like I got some nasty mud on me when asked to reflect on the back and forth. Rap beef rarely goes off without consequence or restraint. Its a misrepresentation of history to suggest that the diss record is, by rules, an anything-goes medium. And its whitewashing history to forget that most of the dirtiest low blows short-circuited on the perpetrators. The only two rappers in recent memory who have gotten over on saying whatever they want are 50 Cent and Eminem who have always been friends, naturally. 50 spent his time on top bullying the nearest competition with such inspired cruelty that when it all folded up for him in a spat with Rick Ross where it turned out no one cared about the Miami drug rap impresarios corrections-officer past there wasnt anyone left pulling for him. Eminem has retained a large core audience but disappeared so far up his own ass that he thinks vivid rape jokes in a Donald Trump takedown is good album promo. Nobody wants to be those guys anymore. There is a certain degree of personal cruelty you can exact on your peers that begins to cost you favor. Ever wonder why rappers love gangster flicks? Theyre master classes in how not to squander everything on top. Theres a moment in each film where the boss finally conquers all the opposition and begins to treat everyone poorly. Its never long after that moment that they crumble. Drake has carried out his career with a keen awareness of this balance. He is judicious and careful. He never lashes out first. When checked, he responds with a swift, considered put-down, if he says anything at all. He is a tactician whose primary weapon is the court of public opinion. But clowning Kid Cudi in rehab isnt the work of the Drake who cautiously juggles professional relationships and collaborates with hot young talent to keep abreast of every wave. Riding on everyone who offers up a negative word is late-second-act Tony Montana behavior. Maybe thats why Two Birds, One Stone hasnt yet made it to the streaming services along with the other More Life cuts. Kevin Gates has been found guilty of battery for a 2015 incident wherein he kicked a female fan at a concert, WFLA reports. The battery occurred at a show in Lakeland, Florida, last September when 18-year-old Miranda Dixon tugged on Gates to get his attention and Gates forcefully kicked her in response. The Louisiana-based rapper previously admitted to kicking a fan, arguing during an unsuccessful hearing that the charges should be dropped as per Floridas controversial Stand Your Ground law. With video of the encounter surfacing in the wake of the attack, Gates had a one-day trial and was convicted of battery on Wednesday. A judge has sentenced him to 180 days in jail, with credit for any time served, as well as fines and court costs. Photo: Courtesy of NONAME I know everyone thinks its, like, poetry. But I thought I was rapping my ass off. Im sitting across the table from 25-year-old rapper Noname at an Original Pancake House in the Kenwood neighborhood of her hometown of Chicago, and after half an hour of pleasant, shy conversation with a very polite woman who still seems uncomfortable with the idea of giving an interview, she finally lets one fly a self-assured boast followed by a half-embarrassed giggle. Over coffee and omelettes, wed been discussing Bobs Burgers, Rick and Morty, and whether cartoons are getting smarter or were just regressing, but as talk turned to her first mixtape, Julys Telefone, her nervousness disappeared. I always had an idea about how I wanted the music to sound, says the poet turned rapper, of the ten-track project, but I was never able to get that, so I just waited. She planned the project for three years before recording it this June, in Los Angeles. The result is one of 2016s strongest releases and the best kind of debut, one on which an artist clearly doesnt care what she or he is supposed to be doing theyre just doing. Telefones breezy, optimistic-sounding beats belie the dark themes in its lyrics, stories of life and love and friendship and death, told by someone stuck straddling the utopia of carefree blackness and the reality of hardship, pain, and having to stay strong for those around her. The sunniness of the production was because [it was recorded in] L.A., says Noname. But the content Im Chicago. For a rapper, its a good time to be from Chicago. Hip-hops biggest breakout star this year has been Chicagoan Chance the Rapper, whom Nonames known since they were teens and on whose last two solo projects 2013s Acid Rap and this years Coloring Book shes appeared. Chances success has opened the doors for other Chicago rappers, but when a city gets hot like Atlanta, New Orleans, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Houston, and even Chicago a decade ago a young artist might be tempted to get famous first and sort out the rest later. Everyone wanted me to put out a project after the Chance features, she says. Heres the platform, so now drop your project so you can blow up. Most rappers would relish the opportunity to capitalize on having one of pop cultures most Teflon stars at their disposal, musically and promotionally any Noname song featuring Chance would be heard by the growing army of Chance stans. Instead, she made an album without Chance, and even without Mick Jenkins, another big young Chicago rapper of the moment shes known for years. With the features I chose to get on [Telefone], they are very much my friends or just people who arent crazy famous but are talented and match the sound of the tape. I wasnt like, let me just go ahead and throw all of my famous-ass rapper friends on my tape because I really wanted to prove to myself that people do like Noname. *** Noname was born Fatimah Warner in 1991 and grew up on Chicagos South Side. She lived in her grandparents home on 82nd Street and Jefferey in Avalon Park, and, when she was 13, moved to her mothers house in the Bronzeville neighborhood. She attended De La Salle Institute in Bridgeport. Its actually damn near across the street from U.S. Cellular where Chances [Magnificent Coloring Day festival] was yesterday, Noname says. Thats crazy. As a student, she became active at Young Chicago Authors (YCA), an open-mic night, and YOUmedia, an arts program at Chicagos Harold Washington Library designed to keep teens safe and occupied after school, with access to performance space and digital-media tools. Between these two programs, Noname met and honed her skills alongside such Chicago performers as Chance, Saba, Malcolm London, Mick Jenkins, Vic Mensa, and Donnie Trumpet. Throughout my junior and senior years of high school, I was very stagnant and hated my life and school, and I didnt really have an outlet, Noname says. I found out about YOUmedia randomly. I was obsessively watching Def Poetry Jam on YouTube and was like, this shit is amazing, and I wanted to find a space where I could do that. And YOUmedia was that space. She loved poetry, which evolved into a love for rapping. I was not thinking about rapping at all, and then I just got really inspired by everyone who was around me. We would freestyle, we would cipher after every open mic. So it didnt matter if you did poetry or if you were a dancer, you were going to hop in the cipher. Plus, I was smoking a shit ton of weed, so it was hella fun to do that shit. If Noname and her fellow up-and-coming Chicagoan rappers seem like a tight-knit group, thats because they are. If you were talented and other people thought you were dope and you had something really interesting to say, then you became friends, she says. It was always very collaborative, thats why were all over each others projects. We havent grown out of this community mentality. Noname also hasnt grown out of dense wordplay, which is why some consider her more of a poet than a rapper. I feel like when they call it poetry they remove me from the conversation of hip-hop, she says. And then they remove poetic rap from the conversation of hip-hop. Lil Uzi can be a rapper but I cant? Thats petty to me. Theres people who have broke the mold of what rap can be, sonically. Like Future, that whole wave of stretching what rap looks like sonically they do it and still get to be rappers. So why cant I just put more words into a smaller amount of time and still be a rapper? She giggles again. I think all that shits dope, and its all rap. We leave the Pancake House and outside, Chicago is being a caricature of itself, windy and autumn on one side of the street, humid and spring on the other. Like she says on her song Sunny Duet (Cigarettes over blunts now), Noname has given up weed for Marlboro 27s. We bounce around Kenwood Park a few blocks away, looking for a spot that has some shade but isnt too cold, and has seats but isnt next to a trash can. On the walk, I tell her about my weekend of Chicago music, seeing the citys own Jamila Woods and Joey Purp perform in Wicker Park on Friday, followed by Chances daylong festival at U.S. Cellular, featuring the likes of Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Tyler, The Creator, Alicia Keys, Lil Uzi Vert, and, in a pandemonium-filled surprise appearance, Kanye West. During Chances set, as he introduced his song Drown, he said, This is for my girl Noname, and proceeded to do her entire verse. You know whats crazy, she tells me in between drags, looking slightly embarrassed. I did not see that I left. She had to leave halfway through Chances set to take her little sister home. I saw a video of it the next day, and I was like, Oh shit, he really did it, the whole verse. And it sounded good, too. Goddamn, he sounded like me. Sounded kind of crazy. That was really dope. Walking with her back to her mothers house, she asks about the Brooklyn venue, Williamsburgs Babys All Right, where shell perform her first New York headlining show two weeks later. She mentions a release party she had for Telefone in Chicago, and how pleased she was with the turnout, but she modestly qualifies that by noting that the event was free. People love free, she says. And they got two free-drink tickets, and we had cupcakes. Mostly, she wants to know whether shes good or not, and if people actually like her art or just like her for who she knows, or where shes from. She cant handle false adoration and would rather be a true nothing than a fake something. If people on the internet are going to praise her work, she needs to know its praiseworthy. For the longest [time], it seemed like people liked anything that Chance co-signed. I didnt want to put out something just because. But once I got the music, I was like, Yeah, lets put it out. This feels like a cohesive thought. It felt honest and it felt good. *** On October 12, I walk into Babys All Right for Nonames show. Im on time, which is clearly too late, because I have to do some serious maneuvering just to squeeze into the overflowing rooms back row. Theres free beer, but thats the furthest thing on the crowds mind as they hang on every word, singing and rapping along with every song from Telefone. The last song she performs is the tapes best, Yesterday, written about the death of her grandmother. Its a rap song, but it hits you like a hymn, especially with scenes from The Preachers Wife and Sister Act being projected behind her band. It feels like the part of a black funeral where someone reminds the grief-stricken room that this is not a sad day, but a celebration of life, a homegoing. Nobody can stand still, not the two women rows ahead of me proudly rapping each word, nor my row of jaded internet people, nor J. Cole, who has suddenly materialized in the DJ booth to watch the end of Nonames set. She has everyone in the room, a rare feat in cool-ass New York. When its time for the lyric fuck they clubs, the room screams fuck they clubs with middle fingers up. And as the song comes to an end, and the room sings the final hook, she asks us to sing it again. So we do. Noname: One more time, just for me Crowd: When the sun is going down Noname: Yall so fucking pretty Crowd: When the dark is out to stay Noname: Yall sound so fucking beautiful Crowd: I picture your smile Noname: Youre so interracial Crowd: Like it was yesterday And then, there it was, one more giggle. Shes living her life, privately and publicly, against conventions, always with painstaking honesty. And shes thriving, not by following the rules or breaking them, but by ignoring them altogether and just being Noname. If theres a major weather event on a television show, you can be sure itll be paired with big revelations. Where With All is no exception to this trend: As a hurricane approaches the Gulf Coast, another storm is brewing among the Bordelon family. Reunions and new beginnings form, while a particular relationship grows more distant. Tropical Storm Peter gathers strength, quickly becoming Hurricane Peter, and Violet focuses on getting the family all together for safety. Nova keeps ignoring her calls as she takes her neighbor to a shelter, and Violet cant help but think the worst. During Hurricane Katrina, Nova had to chop through her roof to escape the flooding waters; she was stranded for a day before being rescued. In the present, Nova tries to remain calm but shes clearly nervous about the possibility of reliving that terror. Violets worries make her a jittery mess, and its a reminder that the trauma of Hurricane Katrina lives on. Charley goes to the farm and refuses to let the workers leave early. She wants them to finish planting the remaining ten acres of seed cane, despite their obvious disapproval. Even Remy and Ralph Angel tell her to let everyone go home for their own safety, but Charley seems to think she knows better than the men whove been doing farm work all their lives. It doesnt endear her to the workers and its sure to come back to haunt her later. She doesnt trust the people who make a living tending the land, but because shes the money, they have to do as she says. I wouldnt be surprised if the workers dont come back after the storm, giving the Bordelon farm yet another setback. Darla arrives with a late birthday present for Blue, feeling hopeful about the chance to seek shelter with Ralph Angel. The family, including Remy, Hollywood, and Darla, all end up at Violets, who is not pleased with the latter two guests. She hasnt forgiven Hollywood or Darla for their respective betrayals. Meanwhile, Charley and Nova are still snapping at each other. After a spades game full of liquor and laughs, tensions explode between the two sisters. They trade ugly names before the fight boils down to its essence: Charley hates that Nova had an affair with a married man and she thinks shes the only one who knows how to keep promises and fidelity. Now thats all well and good, but Charley has been crushing on Remy since the moment she laid eyes on him, even before she knew the extent of Daviss infidelity. She hangs on Remys every word and laughs at all his jokes. Charley may be shaming Nova (and Hollywood), but shes not as perfect as her high horse would indicate. She never even let Nova explain her situation with Calvin; she just assumes that her sister is still seeing him. It would be nice if she had given Nova the same benefit of the doubt she gave her husband, but the wound is too fresh for Charley to be compassionate to anyone else. And so, Charley and Nova remain distant. At the end of the night, Charley hides her wedding rings in a sock and searches for Remy, and the two share a kiss. Her marriage is just a technicality now, much like Hollywoods marriage to LeeAnne was. The only difference is Remy is fully aware of her situation. And what does it say about Remy that hes willing to kiss a married woman? Will Charleys judgment rain down on him or is it okay since this is about her needs? Charley has a right to be an emotional mess, but its not okay for her to cast judgment on others without knowing their stories. (Remember how she didnt know the full story with Melina?) She keeps making the same mistake and its an annoying character flaw. Violet talks to Nova about her affair, and we learn that Ernest had an affair with Charleys mother. Infidelity keeps moving through the Bordelon family. Ernest cheated. Nova was Calvins mistress. Charley was the betrayed wife; Violet, a betrayed lover. Even Micah felt the sting in his own teenage relationship when his girlfriend exchanged racy pictures with someone else. The idea of generational curses may be too biblical, but maybe all this cheating exists to reveal how common and painful it is. As Violet and Hollywood start talking out their issues, Violet says his betrayal reminded her of her ex-husband, Jimmy Dale. Hollywood cant stand the comparison, though: Jimmy Dale was physically abusive and Ernest ran him out of town. Hollywood assures Violet hed never lay a hand on her, but she tells him, You never hit me, but you sure knocked the hell out of me. Violets plain language is southern poetry. After LeeAnnes miscarriage, her bipolar disorder began to present itself more fully and Hollywood didnt have the heart to walk away. His Big Mama didnt raise him to leave someone in such pain behind. The ice thaws between Violet and Hollywood. He still ends the night sleeping on the couch and not sharing Violets bed, but the mending has begun. Meanwhile, Darla works to heal her relationship with Ralph Angel and Violet. Ralph Angel tries to remain cautious, but he sees how much Blue loves having Darla around. She certainly looks better, and says shes been clean for 18 months. When the power goes out, Violet pulls Ralph Angel into the dining area, with just a lantern lighting their conversation. She warns him against trusting Darla, who overhears and approaches her. Hollywood soon joins them, and Darla thanks Violet and him for saving Blue. She wants to make amends for the discord she brought to the family, and says shes grateful for everything Violet and Hollywood did to protect Blue from her self-destructive ways. Its a powerful, emotional scene that leaves Violet with a rare case of speechlessness. Expressing gratitude goes a long way in helping people move past rifts, and its obvious Violet wasnt expecting this. After Violet leaves, Hollywood walks over to Darla and smiles at her, a sign that hes willing to give her a chance and more proof of the big heart that refused to let LeeAnne suffer. When Hollywood leaves, that single lantern shines on Darla, throwing a large shadow against the wall behind her. It symbolizes her past, how it looms over her, never far away. Despite that past, though, Ralph Angel and Darla share Blues bed, united by a desire to protect their son. Blues sensitivity is marked by his love for Kenya, his Barbie doll. The detail is unusual enough, but its not the only thing that makes Blue such a unique character. Most small children on television shows crack wise well beyond their years, their smart-aleck comments supposedly cute in a kids say the darndest things kind of way. Think of Olivia on The Cosby Show, Michelle on Full House, or Nicky on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Blue is not like that. Hes a very sweet child who doesnt say adult sentences to make himself seem precocious. Its very clear that Blue is allowed to be a child, not a plot device. If he says something that brings a laugh, its from joy, not scandalized surprise. Blue is the purest character on Queen Sugar and it makes him shine all the more. Queen Sugar reminds me of Ntozake Shanges for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf. Shanges poetic monologues exposed overlooked issues of being a black woman in America, like domestic abuse, lost love, abortion, learning how to love yourself, and so much more. Shange calls the piece a choreopoem because a large portion of the production relies on the physical movement of each character. Eight episodes in, its old hat to keep mentioning the obvious beauty of Queen Sugar, but the all-female directorial staff has worked to create something truly stunning. At this point, the audience should know to pay attention to each characters presence onscreen. Who is lurking in the shadows? Who is hidden in the corner of the frame? Just like watching the women move across the stage in for colored girls, the big fight between Nova and Charley, the uncomfortable discussions about cheating, and Violets ex-husband all expose family ugliness in ways black television dramas tend to avoid. For quite some time, many of those shows have indulged the idea that black Americans dont want white people to see anything bad for fear of being called a stereotype. Queen Sugar reveals the error of that approach, exposing its characters flaws in remarkably compelling ways. The Bordelon family secrets can be anyones family secrets. And these issues arent resolved neatly. They rise to the surface, make a gigantic mess, and everyone has to participate in the clean-up. Were past the halfway mark of the first season, and now were left to wonder which of the Bordelons messy issues will leave a permanent stain. Ray McKinnon. Photo: Laura Cavanaugh/WireImage SundanceTVs Rectify has spent three seasons following ex-con Daniel Holden (Aden Young) and his struggle to adjust to the outside world after 19 years of being imprisoned on death row in solitary confinement. Now that the show is about to premiere its fourth and final season, it may or may not give viewers the satisfaction of an answer about whether or not Daniel committed the crime that initially sent him to prison (Youll have to stay tuned, Rectify creator Ray McKinnon said). But rather than get caught up in the did he, didnt he, McKinnon would like audiences to understand the shows essence. During a panel at SundanceTVs Rectify event at the New York Television Festival on Tuesday night, McKinnon explained that the show at its core is about a mans search for meaning and how Daniels incarceration (wrongful or not) colors that search. In telling this story, I didnt want to preach or overstate a point of view. I wanted to experience through these human beings and their lives the death penalty, the prison-industrial complex, all of that are around the story. The core of the story is a mans search for meaning. In Daniels case, the search for meaning is much more challenging than it would be for others because of everything thats happened to him, says McKinnon, who was inspired by real-life stories of men who were on death row and then found to be innocent through DNA evidence. Its a journey everyone experiences, he says, trying to make sense of their world. Most posts here will be stuff I've found or friends have sent to me from around the internet that I find interesting in one way or another. It will be an outlet for my political views, sense of humor, musical interests, etc., etc.. Also on occasion stories of my own from my everyday life, doing what ever the hell it is i do, see, or may be working on. Not content with taking on grizzly bears and Antarctica or eating his own shoe Werner Herzog has moved on to his latest extreme subject: volcanoes. In his new documentary, Into the Inferno (out on Netflix and in select theaters Friday), Herzog and volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer travel around the world looking for eruptions, interviewing locals who hold volcanoes in mythical regard, and constantly wondering if the volcanoes theyre shooting could erupt at any moment. Earlier this fall, Vulture spoke to Herzog at the Toronto Film Festival, where he was also debuting a very weird narrative feature, Salt and Fire, about a U.N. scientific delegation kidnapped by a rogue businessman (Michael Shannon) and taken to the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, where one of them (Veronica Ferres) is stranded. Typical Werner! Heres Herzog on lava, death, and Donald Trump. Just try not to read it in his voice. Why decide to release Into the Inferno on Netflix? Traditional forms of distribution do not absorb my output quickly enough, and this is the great advantage of doing something with Netflix. At the end of October, they will press a button and it will be available in 190 countries and I think 17 languages. You dont long for people to see that beautiful imagery on a big screen? There will be a theatrical release simultaneously, but of course the vast majority of people are going to see it on Netflix. You can download it to your smartphone, but you will connect your smartphone to your plasma screen at home. I do think that sound in this case is quite important this deep rumbling under you and you feel there is something exploding! You feel it coming! So there are certain things that are still better in the theater. But its good that we have new forms of distribution out there, and I got to use technologies that we didnt have 20 years ago. Drones, for example. And I diminish the risk. You do not fly a helicopter over it. You do not get a cinematographer that close to things. Were there points you felt your life was in danger? No, when you do a film, you do a film. You just do your work. Does that mean that you dont sense danger? I do. And Im very, very prudent and well-prepared, and so is Clive Oppenheimer, who is the volcanologist. Im rumored in the media to be some sort of a daredevil. Ive done unusual things, but I have never jeopardized the lives of anyone. My proof is that in 70 films not a single actor or extra has ever gotten hurt. You use a lot of footage from French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft, who were killed in a 1991 eruption in Japan. Was that just a freak accident? No, not a freak accident. In general they went too close to the events. Dangerously too close. However the effect was they captured footage that no one else has ever captured. And tragically they perished within a second in pyroclastic flow, meaning gasses coming at you, a dust cloud coming at you, rolling at you, thats 850 Fahrenheit. You cant run away. But they deliberately took the risk and they didnt drag anyone else into the zone of risks. We discussed it quite often. Thats why I wanted to show them and their footage, and also that we are very, very cautious in what we are doing. Theres also a part where you go to a volcano thats overdue for an eruption, and days later, it erupts, killing farmers who were standing right where your crew was. Was that predictable? Nothing is completely predictable. Not like the weather report: Tomorrow, well have heavy rains rolling in. That volcano hadnt had a serious eruption in five, six years. But Clive, who kept an eye on the summit, saw that huge boulders came loose and kept rolling down. And he knew that there were some tremors inside, and because of that we turned our car around. And 60 seconds after we filmed this eruption that didnt do harm to anyone, he ordered everyone, Get in the car and out! Sixty seconds later we were out. And we never came back, and a few days later we learned that there was a more massive eruption that killed at least seven people who were exactly where we were with our camera. Did you feel something spiritual or mystical at these volcanoes? No, I do my film. But of course Im completely in awe to see North Korea and how the volcano becomes a myth and is incorporated in daily propaganda, to see emerging new gods. Its just fantastic. The footage you shoot in North Korea of students worshiping a volcano is amazing. How did you get permission to film there? Clive Oppenheimer had been there three times or four times before in an exchange program between Cambridge University and North Korean scientists, and thats the only scientific cooperation with the West. So he was able to persuade them to pack on top of it a documentation on film. Of course we had very clear limits of what we could do. But once I was there, I persuaded them to do a lot of things that were not within our program, such as [filming] a kindergarten or the subway. Now that youve been there, do you think theyre a dangerous country to the rest of the world? Well, lets not go too much into politics. They have developed their own nuclear weapons, fairly small in size so far, and of course its the main sticking point. But I do believe that what you see in the media in the West quite often is that its a regime of mad men. And now I think it is not. There is a very coherent worldview. And I do believe that more and more strict isolation and things like this will potentially radicalize the North Korean politics. So its good that there is a program of opening up and having a discourse on a scientific level. And its the only program so far. Where do you want to go that you havent filmed yet? The more films I make the bigger the pile of things where I should be and what I should do. Its the same with reading. The more I read, the bigger the pile of unread literature appears to be. The more films I make, the bigger the pile of unmade films is somehow looming. Youre doing Netflix now, but you had a huge theatrical success with Cave of Forgotten Dreams in 3-D. Is that something you still want to go back into? The 3-D in Cave of Forgotten Dreams was literally mandatory. Its the only film I know so far that you really had to have 3-D, because the paintings were not just on flat walls. It was wildly undulating and little side caverns and pending rocks and the dynamic of the walls was incorporated in the art. The bulging piece of rock was part of the neck of a bison coming at you! So it was a unique opportunity to film in there. But so far I have not seen the need, neither before nor after, to do a film in 3-D. What do you want to film next? I always somehow do the project that comes with the most vehemence at me. Vehemence? Its like when you are walking the street at night and all of a sudden five men come after you and one is swinging an axe. It comes vehemently at you. You had better deal with that one first. And you cant say exactly what that is? I havent written the screenplay yet. Give me 20 minutes and Ill tell you whats going to happen. Im not going to do it here. You had a feature film, Salt and Fire, here. I was interested in the tone of it. Its almost stiff and absurdist. Its a narrative form that doesnt really regard the conventional forms of telling a movie story. You never know whats coming next. It starts as a mysterious hostage taking, and then a woman in the second half of the film being stranded deliberately in the salt desert with two blind local boys, and you never know, will she be rescued at the end and can she make her way out? You never have a clue. What was the vehement vision that that arose from? In a way it was triggered by a short story of a very talented young American writer, Tom Bissell, called Aral. Its about a man-made disaster, a gigantic lake that dried out, but it didnt look very interesting there, so I decided I had to shoot in these salt flats in Bolivia, which is the most gigantic on our planet. Michael Shannons character says so many bizarre things. Where did the discussion on alien abduction come from? You wouldnt expect a hostage taker to be talking about encounters with aliens of Americans, that 3 million had encounters and 300,000 women claim they were gang raped by aliens. What is at the source of it? And why has it never happened to a woman in Ethiopia, for example. I think its a good question! And its in the film. [Laughs.] Speaking of surrealism, have you been watching the rise of Donald Trump? Of course! Its different than what we have seen before, but I do remember, Id like to remind you, that friends of mine were appalled when Richard Nixon was elected president. Tricky Dick and his cast of characters I mean, it was like in a gangster movie! And yet I insisted, Keep a look at what hes doing as a president. And he turned out to be an important president. Not likable at all, but an important president. And my friends were appalled that a B-actor from Hollywood became president of the United States, allegedly now acting the role of American president. Im speaking of Ronald Reagan, and I was never a friend of Reagan, but Reagan left a distinct mark as a communicator, and of course he was not just a B-actor. He had decades of experience as a union leader. And I said, Just see it from that side. Donald Trump, similar sort. Let him be who he is. Im not worried. You see the opinion polls, and I do believe in the collective intelligence and responsibilities of voters that are always more intelligent than opinion polls. Unfortunately, I cannot vote. Im not a citizen. I wish I could vote in this particular election. You have such a good eye for characters and absurdity. How does he look to you? Oh, lets not go into that. But its an unusual situation. Are you American? Youd better go and vote! Cast your ballot! Too many Americans do not go to cast their ballots. It should be much higher and then we would have probably much less worries as a nation. This interview has been edited and condensed. Stevens grew up in Hyde Park and his father built the Stevens Hotel at 725 S. Michigan Avenue that is now the Chicago Hilton Hotel - and Justice Stevens was there the day Babe Ruth called and then hit a home run in Wrigley Field. On Aug. 29 this year, I went to Wrigley Field with my family to see the Cubs defeat the Pirates in 13 innings. Two days later, I boarded a flight from O'Hare to Washington, DC and I was surprised to see retired U.S Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens and his daughter one row in front of my sister and me on the same plane, so we had a chance for a short conversation. Stevens earned his BA degree at the University of Chicago and his law degree at Northwestern University School of Law. I first met Stevens 42 years ago when he lived near me in Burr Ridge, Illinois and was not yet on the Court. He was famous then as a law professor who worked with legal researcher Sherman Skulnick to expose the corruption of two justices on the Illinois Supreme Court. I also met him several times in more recent years to interview him for a book I wrote on Illinois history. Although he was appointed to the Court by President Gerald Ford in 1975, his opinions were usually aligned with the liberal wing. But my interest in Stevens did not have to do with his record on the Court but rather with his role in Illinois history. The first story he told me was about his youth is timely this week because of the location. Stevens told me that when he was 12 years old in 1932, he attended Game 3 of the World Series at Wrigley Field. He actually saw Babe Ruth call his shot in that game. The Cubs bench had heckled Ruth and Ruth got mad at Cubs pitcher Charlie Root on the mound. Stevens said he saw Ruth point his bat just above Root to the Center Field bleachers and his next hit was a home run. The Cubs lost that Series to the Yankees. During World War II, Stevens served as an intelligence officer in the Navy and his unit broke the Japanese code that enabled U.S. planes to shoot down the plane of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who had planned the attack on Pearl Harbor. Stevens is now 96 years old and he looked in very good health when I saw him on August 31. Just two weeks ago I sent him a copy of my book and his daughter tells me he is still rooting for the Cubs in this World Series, 84 years after the one where he saw Babe Ruth play. The tragic footnote is that also in the box seats over the Cubs dugout that same day were Mayor Anton Cermak and New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt who was running for President. The next February Cermak was shaking hands with FDR at Bayfront Park in Miami when Giuseppe Zangara tried to assassinate the president-elect with a gun but missed FDR and mortally wounded Cermak instead. Cermak's daughter married Otto Kerner, Jr. who served as governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968. Baylor Universitys Mayborn Museum, 1300 S. University Parks Drive, will have a Halloween in Design Den event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. In the Mayborns new Design Den, visitors can create a haunted house or creepy character to add to the museums Spooky City, conduct a scary symphony using Makey Makey, and design a paper mask with LED lights. For more information, visit www.baylor.edu/mayborn. Dewey carnival Dewey Community Center, 925 N. Ninth St., will host a Halloween carnival from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The free event is open to all ages and will include games, a cakewalk and lots of candy. Concessions will be available to purchase. For more information, call 750-8677. Anthropology book talk Linda Pelon, McLennan Community College anthropology professor and co-author of the new book Comanche Marker Trees of Texas, will discuss her book from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday in Room 111 of MCCs Michaelis Academic Center. The free event will be preceded by an Archaeology Information Fair from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the MAC Student Commons with representatives from the Central Texas Archaeological Society, McLennan County Historical Commission, Waco Hispanic Museum Association and the anthropology departments from MCC and Baylor University. For more information, email lpelon@mclennan.edu or call 299-8917. Apple Tree Bazaar Meals and Wheels is having its annual Apple Tree Bazaar from noon to 5 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd. The craft fair features the handmade works of older adult artists. Admission costs $5. For more information, call 752-0316 or visit www.mealsandwheelswaco.org. Womens handgun class The nonprofit Central Texas Rifle and Pistol Club will have a handgun class for women from 8:45 a.m. to noon Saturday. Handguns, ammo, eye protection and ear protection will be available, but participants are welcome to bring their own. Cost is $20. Reservations are required. For more information, including location, call 836-9657. Make-a-Wish concert Baylor Universitys Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Chi Omega Sorority are having a concert and chili cook-off event to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation at 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at Waco Hall. Judah and the Lion will play the concert after the chili cook-off. Tickets cost $15, $30 for VIP early entry tickets and $45 for VIP meet-and-greet tickets. Tickets are available online at www.baylor.edu/tickets. Stilwell book sale The Stilwell Residence Council will have a book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Stilwell Retirement Residence, 5400 Laurel Lake Drive. The sale will include hundreds of large and regular-print books and a selection of used jigsaw puzzles. For more information, call 772-4644. Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com at least one week before an event. A Fort Worth firm has won Waco Plan Commission approval for a 106-bed residential drug treatment center at an East Waco property that was in the cross hairs of a permitting battle two years ago. By a Plan Commission vote of 8-2 on Tuesday, ABODE Treatment Inc. won a special permit for a transitional shelter II at 1916 Seley Ave. The firm would spend more than $1 million renovating the former nursing home and offer a 90-day treatment program for men, mostly parolees, ABODE President McKinley Knox Jr. said. Were not talking about bringing in something trashy, Knox said to the commission. It will be an asset to the community. ABODE, which runs state-contracted treatment facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, has a contract to buy the property from Snugg Harbor Inc. That firm ran into widespread community opposition in 2014 when it sought a transitional shelter permit for a 90-bed youth rehabilitation center. The Plan Commission and Waco City Council unanimously voted down Snugg Harbors permit after Waco police and La Vega school officials joined neighbors in raising security and management concerns. On Tuesday, a single opponent spoke against the ABODE application. James E. Lee Jr., president of the Carver Park Neighborhood Association, told the commission the association discussed the permit Tuesday, and the majority of the 14 members who attended oppose it. We dont really have a full grasp of how this is going to impact our neighborhood, Lee said. We are in the process of trying to rebuild our neighborhood. Lee said he appreciates what Knox is trying to do for drug and alcohol addicts, but a treatment center would depress property values in the neighborhood. When someone wants to retire and move out of their house, how is a real estate agent going to market that house? he said. Plan Commission members asked questions about who would be accepted for treatment and what kind of supervision and security would be in place. ABODE officials said they have a contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the majority of clients would be ex-offenders who have already gone through a six- to nine-month drug rehabilitation program while behind bars. Those with sexual or aggravated violent offenses would not be accepted, Knox said. The facility also would accept residents through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, as well as Medicaid and self-pay clients. Knox said most clients would come from McLennan and surrounding counties. The people who would come to us from the criminal justice system, theyre going to come back to this area anyway, Knox said in an interview Wednesday. The residents would not be locked down but would have to get permission to leave to go to work or other approved locations, officials said. The facility would be staffed 24 hours a day, and the staff of 30 to 50 would include licensed drug counselors. Knox said ABODE has operated drug rehabilitation facilities since 1994 and has a track record of success. He said the other residential facilities in White Settlement and Dallas have a success rate of 65 percent, which is higher than the state average. The success rate is based on state tracking of clients over five years, he said. Knox said most clients end up getting outpatient treatment with ABODE, meaning they will get about two years of help. If we can keep them in some kind of treatment environment for two years, we know those individuals are less likely to re-offend, he said. Commission members John Campbell and Norma Johnson were the dissenters in the 8-2 vote but did not speak during the meeting. In an interview Wednesday, Johnson said she agrees with Lee, the Carver Park Neighborhood Association leader, that the site is not appropriate for a drug rehabilitation center. The idea is wonderful, she said. We want people who are on drugs to rehabilitate themselves. . . . If you are on drugs, I want you to get better, but Id prefer you to be in an area away from a community where there are families and children. The permit will go to Waco City Council for approval Nov. 15. A Waco police officer who was fired last week and accused of assaulting a handcuffed prisoner was indicted Wednesday. George Neville, who was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge in August, was indicted by a McLennan County grand jury on misdemeanor official oppression and misdemeanor assault charges. Neville, an 11-year veteran with the Waco Police Department, was arrested after a criminal investigation alleged he grabbed Qualon Deshon Weaver, 35, by the throat while he was handcuffed during a traffic stop May 4. Interim Police Chief Frank Gentsch announced Nevilles firing Oct. 18. The internal investigation cleared of criminal wrongdoing two other officers involved in Weavers stop and arrest, but each received a five-day suspension, police officials said. Officers Kevin Spicer and Adam Beseda stopped a vehicle driven by Weaver on May 4 near the intersection of J.J. Flewellen Road and Herring Avenue, according to police records. During the stop, officers reported seeing Weaver moving in the car before he pulled over, appearing to conceal something before the stop. Police reported that Weaver stopped, then continued driving slowly multiple times before pulling over, according to records. Police found almost 10 grams of marijuana in his vehicle, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Neville arrived to assist the other officers. Police reports state Weaver was handcuffed when Neville grabbed Weaver around his neck after the two exchanged words with each other. Weavers attorney, Jason Darling, has said the other two officers at the scene watched as Neville assaulted Weaver. Weaver then was arrested on charges of evading arrest in a motor vehicle and possession of marijuana. He later filed a complaint against all three officers in June, prompting the departments inquiry, which led to Neville and Beseda being placed on administrative leave June 9. Spicer was placed on administrative leave June 16 as the investigation progressed. According to the Texas Penal Code, a public servant acting under color of his office or employment commits the offense of official oppression if he intentionally subjects another to mistreatment or to arrest, detention, search, seizure, dispossession, assessment or lien that he knows is unlawful or intentionally denies or impedes another in the exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power or immunity, knowing his conduct is unlawful. Both charges against Neville are Class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in the county jail and a $4,000 fine. An independent investigation of University High School released Wednesday reveals that school officials awarded course credit to some 2016 graduates who did not properly earn the credit. Administrators failed to follow proper procedures for credit recovery programs and for state end-of-course retesting, according to the report. Investigators discovered soon after starting work that the schools senior class did not have a 100 percent graduation rate, as the school reported at the time. This is unheard of, and there is no precedence of this here (in Waco ISD), Superintendent Bonny Cain said. Thats probably the biggest questions everyone is asking. Theres not an incentive for it, and theres not any pressure to do that. There were training and procedures, and I dont know if well ever know that. The district has not determined exactly how many students were impacted because of these issues, Waco ISD board President Pat Atkins said. By state law, though, no student formally certified as a graduate during commencement ceremonies will lose their diploma or status. If youve ever been to a graduation ceremony where the principal comes up to the podium and certifies to the superintendent theyve met the graduation requirements and the superintendent certifies to the board president and the board president finds they should be worthy of their diplomas, thats not just for show, Atkins said. As of that moment, those students were awarded their high school diploma, and nothing in this investigation will take those diplomas away. Three University High employees are on paid administrative leave until further notice, Atkins said. Principal Kendra Strange, Dean of Instruction Ronald Massey and counselor Mindy Place were put on leave in June. Cain said both Strange and Massey were in their first years with the district, and the counselor had not been in the position before. There was no indication of issues with school procedures before the employees were placed, both Cain and Atkins said. Universitys testing coordinator alerted Cain in March there were problems with absences recorded in the states Public Education Information Management System, Cain said. Until shortly before graduation June 4, the district was only investigating the testing issues, but when she heard the report that 100 percent of the senior class graduated, things began to click, Cain said. The school board was alerted to the allegations at a school board meeting June 21 and self-reported the situation to the Texas Education Agency, Atkins said. Six days later, the board hired Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Russo & Kyle P.C. to conduct the external investigation, and the districts internal investigation stopped. The law firm turned over its findings to the school board and the TEA on Oct. 18. Its a black mark and its very embarrassing, Cain said. As soon as we found out the problem, we went in and started looking into it. We didnt cover it up. We will make certain at every avenue we have checks and balances and we will put those in place. The district released a 16-page summary of the law firms investigation during a press conference Wednesday. The overall report totals more than 7,000 pages and includes interviews of 65 district and campus employees, plus the educational records of 149 students. Of the 149 student records investigated, 131 graduated from University High on June 4. The remaining 18 did not graduate or were students assigned to Brazos High School for credit recovery. The report reveals fatal errors in computerized grading and attendance reports June 3, one day before the schools graduation ceremony. Motive unknown But the report does not indicate the motive or reasoning behind the issues or whether the decisions made on the campus were intentional or were a result of a lack of training on proper procedures. The 16 pages were edited to protect student record information, attorney- client privilege and information evaluating the performance of district employees, which is protected by state law, district officials said. The TEA allows students who have failed end-of-course exams for no more than two classes to graduate if they participate in an individual graduation committee process to demonstrate proficiency in the subject. The 16 pages released Wednesday revealed University High did not have an English 1 and English 2 department chair on the committee, as required by state law. The report also states a University High teacher signed off on the English individual graduation committees, but the teacher later stated she did not know the students personally and taught sophomores during the 2015-16 school year. At least eight of the students under the age of 18 did not have a parent or guardian participate in the committee, as required by law, and virtually none of the U.S. history individual graduation committees had an individual teacher assigned, as required by law, the report states. Students graduating through the committee process also must complete a project related to the subject area or prepare a portfolio of work samples in the subject area of the course, demonstrating course proficiency, according to state law. University High employees changed the standards for passing for English projects related to the committee, and 11 projects were regraded for students to pass, the investigation documents showed. The law does not address whether redoing or rescoring projects is acceptable. Three students also engaged in plagiarism, but were allowed to redo portions of their English committee projects and received passing grades to graduate, the report states. A large number of students who were required by law to have the opportunity to retake state end-of-course exams were told they didnt have to take the test or could complete an individual graduation committee project instead, the investigation found. Other students present on campus were marked absent on their testing instruments, but marked present in the district attendance system, which indicated the students did not retest as required by state law, the TEA and specifically directed by the superintendent, the report states. About 70 percent of students who participated in the committee graduation process did not take the summer or fall 2015 assessments to retest, but every student attempted the exam at least once, the report states. External investigators said they were unable to determine whether there was a concerted effort not to test students, the document states. Recent TEA scrutiny Recently, Waco ISD as a whole has been under scrutiny by the TEA and parents for its failing schools. When preliminary state accountability ratings were released in August, seven Waco ISD schools were on the TEAs improvement-required list, but University High was not among them. In fact, University High has met the state standard for STAAR accountability for at least the past four years, according to TEA documents. Texas schools typically offer credit recovery programs for students who miss too many days and for students who dont meet academic requirements. The report found questionable practices in Universitys programs. At University, the investigation revealed campus employees didnt distinguish between students who attended more than 75 percent of the days of a certain class and students who attended less than 75 percent of the days, as required by state law and district policy. It appears as if all attendance-based credit issues were treated as if the student had attended at least 75 percent of the days the class was offered, which was not the case, the report states. Of 108 students with attendance issues reviewed by the law firm, 41 students attended at least one class less than the required 75 percent. However, there is no evidence the attendance review committee considered extenuating circumstances or agreed to sign off on the credit given to those students, and there appears to be no guidance or documentation given by the district to guide campuses on attendance-based recovery, the report states. For the 2015-2016 school year, University High did not address the seniors attendance issues from the fall semester until the spring semester began. This was a departure from the prior practice at University High. Previously, students worked on regaining credit in an ongoing fashion, the document states. The University High attendance committee did not address seniors spring attendance issues until May 27, eight days before graduation. Students even went from failing grades to passing after only a few hours of work in a program called Top Lab, the document states. Retaking partial courses Instead of retaking the entire needed course, students also were allowed to retake only the parts of the course they failed, the document states. Examples of this ranged from students earning half a credit for forensic science in an hour and 40 minutes to a full credit of Algebra I in 22 hours. There was even a student who earned half a credit for one semester of chemistry in about 21/2 hours and half a credit the second semester in about two hours during a two- day period in June, the report states. Findings like this indicate, though, there was abuse of the system, Atkins said. We have not gone through and tried to evaluate every assignment every student did on the Top Lab to see which ones were earned correctly. The report states there has been no comprehensive review of all 2016 University High graduates. As such, neither the external investigators nor the district can conclusively establish at this time that the other University High students who graduated, but whose records were not provided to external investigators, met all state and local graduation requirements, the report states. From here, the district will ensure a culture of communication and openness between campus and district testing coordinators; designate a district-level coordinator to oversee the individual graduation committee process; and develop, regulate and change passing standards, retesting and credit recovery, according to a press release. The district still is sorting through who may have intentionally acted improperly and who may have been uninformed on procedure and practice, Atkins said. It is unclear whether more employees will be placed on leave. After the press conference, Cain said information revealed Wednesday is a subset of a much larger picture, and she will hold everyone accountable who needs to be. I know trustees are disappointed in the actions of those responsible for this violation of the publics trust, Atkins said. We have more than 2,000 employees who work hard every day to earn that trust, to provide our students a good education and a diploma they can be proud of. Unfortunately, there are a few people that made poor decisions, and theyve damaged that integrity. Were doing all we can to make sure this doesnt happen again. October is a time to celebrate breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment that helped create more than 3 million survivors in the United States. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, but the average five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 89 percent. When cancer is located only in the breast, the survival rate is 99 percent. Thats progress worthy of all the pink everywhere that occurs each October. Telling patients they are cancer-free is the best part of my job. While more breast cancer patients than ever will reach this milestone, its important to recognize that some will not. Three in 10 breast cancer patients will see their disease metastasize or spread far from its original site. Many of these brave fighters will endure and survive additional rounds of treatment. Metastatic breast cancer usually occurs several years after a patients first diagnosis and is sometimes called distant recurrence. Metastases may include cells that are very different from the original cancer cells and may be resistant to previously used forms of treatment. Today, there are several options for managing metastatic breast cancer. Some women live for many years with this disease. But on average, women survive three years. Its understandable that people are not eager to talk about recurrence risk, but this pink elephant in the room is a profound challenge for patients and the oncology community. Its critical that the courageous women surviving with metastatic breast cancer have strong communities to support and surround them. With quality care delivered in small and large communities across the state, Texas Oncology patients dont have to choose between being near their support networks and being near their treatments. There is reason for tremendous hope. Cancer research is advancing. With more discoveries about how cancer cells work, researchers are developing new ways to target them, interrupting the signals they send and receive to control their growth and harnessing a patients own immune system to fight cancer with fewer side effects. The innovations of a few years ago are already saving lives. Through Texas Oncologys clinical trial programs, women in Waco are benefiting from some of the most promising trials underway right now, without having to leave their supporters. While researchers continue the work to find new treatment breakthroughs, its important to do all we can to support the women living with metastatic breast cancer now. In addition to enabling patients to stay near their communities of support, Texas Oncology helps patients address personal and emotional needs beyond their cancer. This includes providing information about the importance of nutrition and exercise, and working with community organizations, volunteers and support groups. We also help patients connect with counselors and other resources that can help make fighting metastatic breast cancer less difficult. Our metastatic breast cancer patients are a source of inspiration and challenge for my colleagues and me. Nationally, 155,000 women are surviving this type of cancer. On their behalf, we are committed to pursuing new and better treatment options, so that more of them also can receive the good news that they are cancer-free. Carl Chakmakjian, D.O., is a medical oncologist at Texas OncologyWaco, 1700 W. State Highway 6. The sharp spike in reported allegations of rape at Baylor University between 2014 and 2015 might seem to work against efforts to draw more students and reassure them of their safety, but the latest Clery Act numbers should reassure all in one regard: Experts in sexual violence say the institutions of higher learning that should especially concern us are those that report few or no allegations of sexual violence. After all, that could mean student victims of sexual violence are being discouraged from reporting such crimes or a university is using subterfuge to hide such incidents from public view. While the scourge of sexual violence will probably long be with us, the fact that reports of rape at Baylor nearly quadrupled in 2015 from the previous year could suggest Baylors hiring of a full-time Title IX coordinator in late 2014 has yielded dividends. Such officials encourage victims claiming sexual violence to come forward to report allegations. As Tribune-Herald higher-education staff writer Phillip Ericksen reported in Wednesdays paper, the federal Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report yearly crime statistics, including incidents of sexual violence. The tally for 2015 shows 23 rapes reported at Baylor in 2015, up from six rapes reported there in 2014, five forcible sex offenses in 2013, two in 2012 and, astonishingly, none between 2009 and 2011. In fact, these latter numbers helped contribute to some skepticism about how Baylor interpreted and reported its crime statistics even a few years ago. None of this explains exactly what happened this month when Baylor Title IX Coordinator Patty Crawford resigned her post amid claims she encountered resistance in her efforts from senior Baylor leadership over the summer. But the numbers do suggest students increasingly know something of Title IX protections and safeguards, including ensuring that victims of sexual violence can continue their education without such hurdles as, say, landing in the same class with their alleged perpetrators. Clery Act numbers are only part of a far more complicated story. Complaints of sexual assault are just that complaints, allegations, and not legally resolved matters of guilt or innocence. This raises yet another glaring issue: colleges and universities trying to adjudicate such matters in a manner that offers compassionate respect to the accuser while maintaining strict due-process rights for the accused. Underlining it all: the looming question of how to truly prevent rapes. When you think of the United States Marines several phrases come to mind: First to Fight. The Few. The Proud. Even the term Leathernecks. Not only are the Marines the first on the ground in a crisis situation anywhere in the world, but there is a local chapter of the Marine Corps League in Waco that also strives to be one of the first to help locals in time of need. Wacos Heart of Texas Detachment 975 has more than 75 local members. There is also a Marine Corps League auxiliary with 14 members that consists of wives, sisters and even mothers of Marines. Between the Marine Corps League and the auxiliary, members spend countless hours throughout the year giving to the community. They work at the Veterans Affairs Hospital, host ice cream socials, work with Operation Little Angel and make themselves available when Marines come back from deployment, according to auxiliary president Dorcas Simpson, married to George Simpson, the detachments past president. Group members also help the Salvation Army ring the bell each year during the holiday season. We are also all about children, Simpson said. We are here for servicemen, whatever their needs might be. November is a time when the community can give back and get involved with the Marine Corps League, too. The detachments biggest fundraiser, the Leatherneck Run, is moving into its 15th year and will take place on Nov. 5, beginning at 7:45 a.m. at the Waco Suspension Bridge. The course runs through Cameron Park and comes back to the Suspension Bridge. The run benefits Toys for Tots and a number of the additional Marine Corps League charities. Waco native Ralph Getman, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1971 to 1975 and has been in the league since 1985 as a lifetime member, is also the race director for the Leatherneck Run. Over the last 15 years the Leatherneck Run has been embraced by the community, Getman said. It has also given them the opportunity to experience some of the Marine Corps traditions and be around Marines that are serving our country today. He pointed out the Leatherneck Run is indebted to the contribution from the Waco Striders Running Club, who provides the race-day logistics from the start and finish line at the bridge to the timing and results. Auxiliary paymaster Johnnie Lopez, whose husband Luis is the current Heart of Texas Detachment 975 commandant, said there about 125 runners took part last year and nearly $5,300 was raised. Johnnie Lopez, who is the current president of the state auxiliary, said that year organizers are hoping for at least 200 runners. While the Leatherneck Run is an important fundraiser for Heart of Texas Detachment 975, there are some participants who might be attempting to meet their own personal bests. Getman recalled a particularly heartwarming story from last years run about a young lady paralyzed from the neck down. She so desperately wanted to participate in her first 5K, Getman said. She chose the Leatherneck Run and it was a cold rainy morning, but she braved the elements and showed up despite the conditions. In a very moving scene, the platoon of Marines running in formation took over and pushed her wheelchair the entire race. Getman said the determined woman won a medal that day that she still proudly wears. She also plans to compete in this years run in November, he said. How It Started Wacos Marine Corps League Heart of Texas Detachment 975 began in 1991, according to Benjamin C. Johnson Sr., a Marine Corps sergeant who was the leagues historian for 12 years. Johnson said some of the organizers were Justice of the Peace Judge Joe Sanders and his wife, along with Jesse Torres, Kenneth Bates, Sgt. Maj. Joe Martinez (retired), Ralph Getman, Kurt Mauphin and Master Sgt. Henry Gonzales (retired). It was those individuals and several others, along with a core group of former and retired Marines, who requested a charter from Marine Corps League headquarters and the State of Texas Marine Corps League. The charter was received in 1991 and Johnson has been a part since the beginning. He joined the league upon retirement from the Marines in June 1991 after serving two combat tours in Vietnam and receiving a variety of awards, ribbons and metals. Young Marines While the Leatherneck Run is a big deal for the Marine Corps League in Waco, Johnson said he also favors the Young Marines Program of Waco-Heart of Texas Young Marines. It was started by Martinez and Gonzales, along with a few others. I had the privilege of serving within the capacity of historian, Johnson said. My job description included teaching Marine Corps history to the Young Marine during their recruit boot camp. Johnson said the program provides a positive alternative for youth, and seeks to instill a sense of pride in themselves, in their community, and in their country. Gonzales said the Young Marines boot camp is held once a year for kids ages 8 to 18 years. It sends the kids into leadership roles, he said. Martinez, who has been a member of the Marine Corps League since the 90s, said he helped start the Young Marines program in Waco because he wanted to do something. We put Young Marines through a 12-week boot camp, he said. It instills the same traits as anyone going through boot camp. The Young Marines was founded nationally in 1958 by members of the Marine Corps League. The goal of the Young Marines is to educate and inspire the youth within the community by promoting a healthy and drug-free lifestyle through instructional and adventurous activities. Some of the youth who successfully graduated went on to such places as West Point Military Academy, various colleges and universities, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, to mention but a few, Johnson said. Membership To become a member of the Marine Corps League a person must be a former/retired Marine to be approved for membership. Former/retired Navy corpsmen are also eligible for full membership. Memberships include levels from regular to auxiliary and lifetime members. Martinez said he believes the Marine Corps League is good for Marines to get together whether they are active-dut or retired. Johnnie Lopez agrees. My husband is a Vietnam vet, so it makes it personal for me, she said. Also, the faces of the veterans we help make it worth it. This is important work because the vets need to be remembered. ----- Leatherneck Run What: The Leatherneck Run is a 5K race that benefits Toys for Tots and several HOT Marine Corps League charities. When, where: Ceremony at 7:45 a.m. Nov. 5 at the Waco Suspension Bridge. The run starts at 8 a.m Cost: $35 through Nov. 3; then $40. Information: Register at runsignup.com/Race/TX/Waco/Leatherneck Two Woodway volunteer firefighters have a fire in their souls for their young counterparts in the African nation of Uganda. Ben Selman and Beau Crosby have traveled to that country several times most recently in August to help train and equip local volunteers, most under the age of 25. They do this in partnership with the Dayspring Community Fire Safety Initiative, a recognized Ugandan NGO (non-governmental organization), whose people fight fires primarily in the low-income urban housing areas of the capital city, Kampala. The challenges in those locales are daunting for public safety. The government district is beautiful, and its streets, buildings and city services are akin to those in America. However, outside of that area, Ben said, You can drive a mile and not find electricity and find several families living in a 100-square-foot area. Additionally, the houses are primarily constructed of whatever supplies the people can pick up in the streets. Even the everyday living requirements can put residents at great risk. Cooking is done over open charcoal fires in thin plywood, cardboard or tar-paper shelters, Beau said. When a home in the area does catch ablaze, the professional national fire brigade finds it difficult to maneuver its large equipment through the narrow pathways and streets, which are in a constant state of disrepair. Thats where the DCFI kicks in. It is the brainchild of Ugandans Gracious and Becky Orombi. Becky is now deceased, but Gracious is still the chief of the volunteers. Because of the relative lack of funding for the agency, its only fire truck is a small, obsolete Japanese model. But for that very reason it can get through the back roads and byways where the national firefighting equipment cannot go. Making Connections Ben, a lawyer with a Waco firm, began traveling to Uganda five years ago on mission with a local agency, Generations Adoptions. Though hed been a volunteer firefighter and public safety officer in Woodway since the late 90s, he did not go looking for a way to help fight fires in Africa. My purpose was to work with legal authorities in Uganda with regard to adoption issues, which I did and continue to do, he said. However, the CEO of Africa Renewal Ministries saw that Bens resume listed firefighting experience and quickly put him in touch with the Orombis, who desperately needed training and equipment for their young volunteer brigade. The couple turned out to be quite a force to be reckoned with. Becky was clearly on fire with regard to fire, and talking to (her) was like talking to the face of a hurricane, Ben said. She convinced him about the overwhelming need. Frequently as children of God, our ideas and what God wants us to do are two different things, Ben said. We wind up doing what God directs us to do. Thus, the partnership between the Texas man and DCFI began. He started taking donated equipment to Uganda and helped to train the eager young people. Ben credits various partners, Harris Creek Baptist Church, his law firm of Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee, and anonymous donors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for donations that have provided equipment. For some, you just reach in your back pocket, he said. Expanding the Team Beau Crosby, one of Bens fellow volunteer firefighters in Woodway and a retired Air Force colonel, soon caught the vision as well. Ben called me one night and said, Hey, what are you doing tomorrow? That seemingly innocuous question in 2014 initiated Beaus involvement in the Kampala project. The next day, the two men drove to Killeen, where they picked up a batch of donated personal fire equipment. They were able to put together 11 complete sets of bunker gear that included boots, helmets, pants, coats, gloves, hoods, suspenders and other small items. Some of it was brand-new, still in the package, Beau said. We got it ready to go and bought some (airline) tickets and went. It was that simple. The DCFI volunteers, meanwhile, were eager to attend training, even though the journey to get there each day would be arduous. The city of Kampala is 250 square miles in size, making the trip extremely difficult for the approximately 30 students. The kiddos we train will walk many miles at 3 oclock in the morning to come to training, Ben said. The training consists of three full, strenuous days, with the young men and women rotating among various stations first aid, fire streams, breaching, personal protective equipment and rescue. At each station, they go through an exercise several times, for instance, managing the water and the hoses. Beau describes the repetition as developing the muscle memory that is necessary for basic tasks and tactics essential to fighting fires. Both men admire the spirit and tenacity of the volunteers and see them as the future of the country. Beau said much progress has been made with the training, but, even more than the technical fire stuff is the idea that theyre becoming young leaders. It makes them proud. Theyve learned they can do it and be successful. The scarcity of resources in the country is an aspect that hinders firefighting but does not infect the souls of the Ugandans, Ben said. People on the street are kind, sweet and may not have a pair of shoes to their name. All they need is a hand, a word of encouragement, Ben said. And any time I get to work around young people its always uplifting. These kiddos were working with live in abject poverty, but they are pleasant polite and intelligent. He characterizes the overwhelming poverty as that of the pocketbook but not the soul. We say we offer them technical assistance, but they have a richness of spirit, Ben said. It teaches all of us how to be better people. Challenges Two of the biggest challenges the Ugandan volunteer firefighters face are the general lack of water in the country and a way to be self-sufficient in order to keep the DCFI going. In Kampala, for instance, water is a huge problem. Theres little to drink, Ben said, much less to put on a fire. Beau is concerned about the volunteer fire brigade sustaining itself. The key thing they have to figure out is how to be self-supporting a way they can eat and still do this as a night job. On their trips to Uganda, the two Woodway firefighters are not concerned only with public safety. They also work with Generations Adoptions Executive Director Cathy Sones and others in her organization. Mixed in with the firefighting equipment they carried in their luggage in August were 50 pounds of diapers for an orphanage. The group joked about how they would go about explaining their strange cargo to the Ugandan customs officials. The country is inundated with homeless children, and Ben uses an expected metaphor to describe the orphanages as trying to fight fire with no water. Many parents die young, leaving numerous orphans. Other families are so overwhelmed that they simply cant take care of their children. Though firefighting and orphan care may seem like disparate activities, all members on the August trip found their niche, Cathy said. My greatest joy is to see Christians in the U.S. connect with Christians overseas, each sharing their gifts and talents to help one another, she said. Traveling with Ben and Beau and seeing firsthand their great work equipping the Ugandans as volunteer firefighters enriched our experience. Beau credits the young trainees with sacrificing their time and perhaps their lives to serve the people in the low-income areas of Kampala, who have so little. These are your local first responders, he said. And theyre the same all over the world, going in harms way for someone else. Theyre ready to lay their lives on the line for their friends. The day before his 20th birthday in 1950 Jack Goodwin was captured by the North Korean Peoples Army along with 539 of his comrades. For Jack, it was the beginning of 38 months of captivity, one of the longest in the entire Korean War. I was one of the first ones captured and one of the last ones turned loose, Goodwin said during an interview at his home in Waco. This summer Goodwin, now 86, made his first visit to South Korea since he was released and sent home to Waco when he was 23. The UN Forces First Battle Memorial in Osan City, South Korea, honors the U.S. servicemen of Task Force Smith who put their lives on the line to fight North Korea in the Battle of Osan in 1950. It also sends the message to North Korea that the United States was militarily involved in the Korean War. Goodwin visited as a hero and a guest of the government. The annual five-day event in Osan City included diplomats, veterans and dignitaries to remember those who died and to thank those who survived. Its like July 4 in the United States because thats the day we saved their country, said Goodwin, who is one of seven Task Force Smith POW survivors remaining. Of the entire Task Force Smith, Goodwin remains in contact with the 51 who are still alive. Goodwins Service When he enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18, Goodwin had already developed a tough spirit. His mother died when he was only 4 months old and he left home at 14 to fend for himself working for a medicine show and a carnival for a few years. He learned to make do and that, he says, helped him endure and survive the harshest conditions, including starvation, bitter cold and an eight-day death march. Goodwin was stationed in Japan during his first two years in the Army. Then on June 28, 1950, North Korea captured South Koreas capital, Seoul, and the United Nations voted to send in military forces, an unprecedented move. The most combat-ready unit was the 21st Infantry Regiment stationed in Japan. Its 1st Battalion commander was Lt. Col. Charles Bradford Smith, an experienced World War II leading man. His orders were to stop the North Koreans from advancing. Task Force Smith, the first U.S. Army ground maneuver unit in South Korea, was poorly equipped and understaffed for the mission. They were a young lot, mostly teenagers with no combat experience. We werent equipped. We were using outdated World War II weapons. There were 540 of us and 5,000 of them. We didnt have much of a chance, Goodwin said. On July 5, 1950, the troops were dug in on two hills 25 miles south of Seoul. Heavy rain made air support impossible as the North Koreans advanced, led by Russian T-34 tanks. The Battle of Osan began. Task Force Smith held strong for three hours before withdrawing due to inadequate ammunition and a breakdown of communication. The force withdrew one unit at a time under the cover of the remaining force. The final platoon did not receive the withdrawal order and discovered it was standing alone, too late to move its wounded quickly enough, leaving survivors exposed to enemy fire. Casualties were high with 90 captured and 150 killed, Goodwin said, but they managed to delay the North Korean Army from advancing for several hours. Capture The Battle of Osan was devastating for Task Force Smith, and the survivors got off the hill and walked 15 or 20 miles to some houses. When we woke up, we were surrounded, he said. Goodwin was captured on July 6. He became part of a growing group of prisoners of war under North Korean, and then Chinese, rule. He spent the first weeks in Pyongyang, where B-29s were performing military assaults on North Korea. They were bombing Pyongyang. The whole ground was shaking, Goodwin recalled. On Nov. 1, 1950, the North Koreans drove their captives deeper into North Korean for eight days as American forces pushed forward from the south. If you couldnt catch up, they shot you or beat you, Goodwin said. At least 90 men were killed on the grueling journey led by a North Korean officer they nicknamed Tiger. We are still known as the Tiger Survivors, Goodwin said. His first 18 months in captivity was under North Korea, and during that time, he never changed clothes, showered, brushed his teeth or shaved. He weighed only 63 pounds. The POWs ate only small amounts of millet and maze and were infested with lice and tapeworms. More than 400 POWs perished due to starvation or the extreme cold temperatures. All the city boys died first, Goodwin said. People like me who had had it rough survived longer. Then the Chinese came in and took over the POWs and moved them to a camp in the apex area of North Korea. These camps were the farthest north of all the POW camps and housed only Tiger Death March prisoners. The Chinese fattened us up and sent us to school and tried to make Communists out of us, Goodwin said. We were half-dead. They tried to brainwash us, but after two or three months, they realized it wasnt going to work. The harsh temperatures made surviving even more miserable as the prisoners were still wearing their summer clothes. The worst part about it was waking up and the buddy beside me was dead, Goodwin said. That happened to me two or three times. At least 10 or 12 people died every day, so some days you didnt know if it was going to be you. The ground was frozen so the dead were not buried. We were right across the river from Manchuria, he said, on the border between China and North Korea. Goodwin was released on Aug. 29, 1953, when North Korea exchanged 7,000 POWs for 100,000 Chinese in captivity in South Korea. Some 20,000 Chinese stayed behind as they did not want to return to China. They were treated better as POWs than they were in their own country, he said. Among the other POWs held by North Korea and the Chinese were civilians, including priests and nuns who were serving as missionaries, as well as British and Turk military members. The American POWs were interrogated aboard a ship for about two weeks after their release. We were told to never discuss anything about our experience with anyone, not even our immediate family, Goodwin said. We werent released from that until 1993. He held true to his word. The men were taken to San Francisco and released into a barracks where an abundance of food was served. I was sitting there eating, and a guy on the PA called my name. They said we have a ticket for you to Waco, Texas. I thought it was an emergency and someone in my family had died. It turned out that Goodwin was one of the first of the released POWs to make his way home. Special Tribute As part of the UN Forces First Battle Memorial, a pine tree is being planted in honor of each of the members of Task Force Smith. The memorial includes exhibits, weaponry displays and a monument depicting battle scenes of Task Force Smith. Goodwin said he plans to go back next year, to be sure they are watering my tree, he joked. Joined by his daughter, Sue Goodwin, he got to see the country that was scarred by conflict but boasts a rich culture and natural beauty. The trip took him back to those long-ago memories that are still embedded in his mind. A night to the opera featured a beautiful Korean folk song, Arirang, that Goodwin had not heard in 63 years. Sue noticed him spontaneously singing the words in Korean and asked him how he knew the song. The North Korean officers would sing that song when we were marching, he told her. That song is the only thing North Korea and South Korea has in common. Violet It is only fitting that a love song was played for Goodwin during his trip. His wife of 61 years, Violet, died only a couple of years ago, and their story is one to remember. Violet had a stroke 22 years before her death, leaving her unable to speak. She was Jacks constant companion from that point forward as he took her everywhere with him. But thats not where their story begins. Before Jack enlisted, he was dating Violet and left behind his sweetheart when he shipped out to Japan. Upon his capture, Jack was listed as missing in action. His family and Violet presumed he was dead. Time passed, and then on May 11, 1953, Violets parents were killed in the deadly Waco tornado that destroyed the heart of the city and killed 114 people. An only child, Violet was alone. She married another man, but only a few months later learned Jack was alive when he was allowed to write letters home upon his release. She immediately divorced her husband of only a few months and married Jack as soon as he got home. Violet and Jack had one daughter, Sue, who has taken over ownership of her parents business, North Waco Tropical Fish, with her husband, Neal Libak. When I was young, I didnt know dad was a POW because it wasnt talked about around the house, Sue said. Goodwin worked for and retired from the U.S. Postal Service as he and Violet operated the tropical fish business from their garage. They took the business full-scale in 1964 and it still operates today at 1521 N. 15th St. The Forgotten War Goodwin still reminisces about his time in service. We were known as a police action, but we became the Forgotten War, he said. His office is a tribute to the men with whom he served. He has compiled a notebook with photos of almost all of the 540 members of Task Force Smith. His bookshelf reflects his desire to preserve the memory of the war in which he served, the one where he sacrificed more than three years of his freedom. WAHOO Voters in Saunders County and across the state continue to be active this election year. Saunders County Election Commissioner Patti Lindgren said her office mailed out 952 early voter ballots and have already gotten 468 back as of Monday. Thats already 65 percent of what was returned in 2008, also a presidential election. She believes they will exceed that number as there were 11 days left for early voters when Lindgren provided the figures. On the state level, 41,938 ballots have been returned or cast in person at county election offices through Oct. 14. Secretary of State John Gale said voter registration has reached 1,198,546, which far exceeded his expectations. Initially, I was hoping for around 1,185,000 registered voters. When the number gets that high, you hope that turnout increases as well. That would be a tremendous milestone in the history of Nebraska elections, Gale said. Lindgren said her office employees put in extra time last weekend, as the Secretary of States office sent in 206 changes or additions from the recent online registration deadline of Oct. 21. Of those 206, most were changes of party or address, but the number was more than theyve had to do with in the past, Lindgren said. It was a lot more changes than anything, but both employees worked six good hours a piece on Saturday getting those processed, she said. The additions will come to an end soon, with the last day voters can request and early ballot be mailed to them is the close of business hours on Oct. 28. That is also the last day new voters can register in person or registered voters can update information like address and party affiliation, Lindgren said. Their office wont know the total number of registered voters for the county until after this weekend, but will have to have that number reported to the Secretary of States office on Monday, Oct. 31. Early voters will not be able to leave the Election Commissioners office with ballots after Nov. 4, Lindgren said. The exception to that would be those acting as an agent for voters. Those will be taken until up to 7 p.m. on election day, she added. All early voting ballots must be received by the county election officials by the close of polls on Nov. 8, whether dropped off in person or by mail. That means voters shouldnt wait if they plan to mail their ballot back, Gale said. During the primary election, the U.S. Postal Service cautioned that the volume of mail might cause delays prior to the election. Thats certainly to be a factor this time as well. WAHOO The two candidates vying to be the representative from Legislative District 23 continue to campaign hard in the final weeks leading up to Nov. 8. Incumbent Jerry Johnson of Wahoo faces Bruce Bostelman of rural Brainard on the General Election ballot. Bostelman said his top issues in this campaign are property taxes and rural economic and ag development. Johnsons top issues in the campaign are similar. Tax reform of property tax is the main item, Johnson said. To enhance or protect agriculture in Nebraska, Johnson also sees tax reform as integral. Agriculture in Nebraska can be enhanced through regulations and incentive programs that bring young farmers back, as many farmers are aging out, Johnson said. The Right to Farm bill is one of the points of debate that has come up in this race. As it was proposed, the Right to Farm bill introduced in the legislature was not supported in the ag community, said Johnson, who serves as the chairman of the Legislatures Ag Committee. Bostelman said the Right to Farm bill introduced could be moved in the right direction, but that enhancing agriculture in Nebraska would be to look at it through a global lens. We do have a product thats wanted and needed worldwide, Bostelman said. Bostelman said that through his ag experience with the University of Nebraska LEAD program, he hopes to look at how to impact not only the country, but have an impact throughout the world. Bostelman said he would like to serve on education and natural resources committees in the legislature. Education is important and one of the reasons why we (his family) moved back to Nebraska after retirement, he said. Nebraska has a good education system. State funding for schools is something both candidates agree needs an overhaul. If money is being given to schools, a look needs to be given to how a district is spending it and how the funds are applied, Bostelman said. If they get a little in state aid, then property tax makes up the difference, Bostelman said, referring to his home East Butler School District. Its not going to change the need for the money, but we need to find a little better formula. He said there are a couple of different plans being talked about that will take a serious look at it and will have an impact on property tax. Johnson also said the state aid formula needs an overhaul. The formula has been tweaked so many times, Johnson said. Small changes in the formula have a large affect, which ultimately go back to property taxes and the many components of the state aid formula, Johnson said. Johnson said the formula for state aid needs to be completely redone. The state aid formula is only one example both candidates cited as interconnecting every entity with property tax reform. Its the responsibility of all taxing authorities to protect the safety and quality of education. All taxing authorities need to show fiscal restraint, Bostelman said. Johnson said the ag economy hit the perfect storm in a negative way with families not coming back to farms, prices down and taxes still up. Specifically, Johnson said tax reform could come in a different way to assess a commoditys worth, which would be similar to how property is appraised, using many variables. Johnson said he has been an advocate for changes in property appraisals over the years. Bostelman said he has been encouraging area farmers to attend board meetings and ask those boards to take hard looks at budgets and budget efficiency. Funding for campaign material has also been discussed in the district this election. Bostelman said he is offering a grass roots campaign, is focused on his campaign and cannot control what third parties do on his behalf. Bostelman said Johnson is heavily funded by lobbyists and special interests groups, but admitted there is no difference between third parties and special interest groups. Johnson said there are two sides to outside sources injected campaign material. Some supporters that had written positive advertisements on his behalf have still not been identified, he said. But, the source of funding for mailers against him is disturbing, Johnson said. There is evidence out there, Jonson said, of Governor Pete Ricketts involvement and contribution to Bostelmans campaign. But despite an endorsement from the governor, Bostelman said he would definitely vote to override the governors veto, if he didnt agree with it. He said it depends on the bill, the issue and what the people want. Im accountable to the people in my district. I would have no problem doing that, Bostelman said. Johnson, who has voted against as well as abstained to vote on a governors veto, said the he feels he made the right decisions from the standpoint of the district and the state. I published my vote and reasons why in letters to constituents, Johnson said. Bostelman said hes most proud of his endorsements from Ricketts, former Nebraska Governor Kay Orr and the group Nebraskans United for Life. He is also endorsed by the National Rife Association. Bostelman said hes got a diverse background. A career in the U.S. Air Force has taken him around the world and taught him to build relationships with individuals. He said he can now take that viewpoint to state boards to address growing economies. Bostelman said he wants to be a consistent, conservative voice of the people. Just talking to people in general, they feel theyre not being represented in the district, Bostelman said. Johnson said hes most proud of endorsements from the Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, former congressman Doug Bereuter. Johnson is also endorsed by the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star. Johnson said hes been honored to work as a state senator for the last four years and has listened to the needs in the district and the state. Johnson added he is currently serving on the board of Main Street, a national program funded partially through the legislature and private funding to enhance the viability of downtown areas. WAHOO A small crowd gathered on the trail near the northwest corner of Cook Park in Wahoo last week. The ribbon cutting sponsored by the City of Wahoo Oct. 19 officially dedicated the Wanahoo Phase II Trail. The much awaited trail opened to walkers and bikers earlier in the month, but city officials wanted a special ceremony for the trail that connects the town to Lake Wanahoo Sate Recreation Area north of Wahoo. This is a big win for Wahoo to get to the lake, Wahoo Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Stuhr told the crowd that included members of the Wahoo Chamber of Commerce, project engineers JEO and contractors M.E. Collins. Everybody I have talked to that have been out here really like it. The Wanahoo trail not only ties into the trail system at Lake Wanahoo, but it also connects to the trail system currently under construction in Wahoo. Stuhr gave credit to the donors that helped to create the amenities, such as shelters, trash cans and benches, along the Wanahoo trail. Theres a lot of space for folks to get off the trail and take a break, he said. City Administrator Melissa Harrell also gave credit to the Lower Platte North Natural Resource District, who provided some funding for the trail that was constructed on the north side of the Lake Wanahoo dam and the Cerniks who provided the easement for the trail through their property. Harrell said the nearly $700,000 trail was made possible because of a grant program from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. A match of 80 percent Commission dollars and 20 percent local dollars provided the funding. Some of the local funding came from both the city and the Wahoo Community Foundation. WAVERLY As the Nov. 8 General Election approaches, both candidates for Legislative District 25 have busy schedules courting voters. Suzanne Geist and Jim Gordon are both vying to replace term-limited Kathy Campbell in Nebraskas Unicameral. Geist said her experience as a wife, mother and grandmother has made her more aware of problems the state faces. Geist has more than 15 years of experience in sales, mostly in the pharmaceutical and telecommunication fields. She said that experience makes her a better communicator and listener. It requires that I understand a variety of businesses, how they operate and how to assist in making the process more effective and efficient, she said in an interview earlier this year. It also requires continuous follow-up and good communication. I will bring this type of thinking and action into the Legislature. Geist said she would focus on reducing government spending. I would like to look at government spending, she said last week. Im really interested in easing the growth of government and returning that money back to the people. Shes not looking for extreme changes to the fiscal system. Id like to see that slowly ratcheted down, she said. I dont want to just drastically cut across the board. I just think we need to gradually diminish the rate of spending. Geist said she supports the death penalty for first-degree murder with aggravated circumstances. Since Ive been knocking on doors, I have talked to a number of police officers who have told me face-to-face that the death penalty is something that saves their life, Geist said. That has just made me even more firm on my position. Should the public vote to retain last years death penalty bill, however, Geist said she would honor that decision. If the citizens of our state decide to retain the repeal, I will abide by that, she said. The candidate is against the expansion of Medicaid in the state, and instead would look at other options. I am for alternative methods of making sure healthcare is provided and accessible to everyone, she said. One such option would be a new direct-pay system that allows residents to pay physicians directly to receive treatment. She would also look into the establishment of volunteer clinics composed of a rotating set of doctors. Employing methods like that that go around the taxpayer and make sure our citizens are able to access healthcare, she said. She is against the legalization of medical marijuana in the state as well. For the time being, at least. At this point I am not a proponent of medical marijuana, she said. I think more study needs to be done. That is not something I am in favor of at this time. The public school funding formula could also use some tweaking to ease the burden on rural landowners. In the rural districts, its putting stress on property owners, Geist said. I would absolutely be in favor in seeing how we can equalize that more. She also said shell be her constituents representative. One of the main issues Ive heard while visiting with voters at their front doors is that they are tired of electing someone who says they will represent the voters values, then they legislate in a completely different way, she said prior to the primary election. I am the person who I represent, and I am committed to being that person as a Legislator. I will serve with openness and honesty, hard work and dedication. Jim Gordon of Walton said he joined the race because he wants to avoid partisan gridlock, like Americans see in federal government. Gordon has ties to the legislature. His mother, Sally Gordon, served two Nebraska governors and also spent time as the Unicamerals assistant sergeant-at-arms for 27 years. After returning from Vietnam, where he served in the U.S. Armys First Air Cavalry Division, Gordon attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Law. Since then, hes worked in a private practice. Hes also been a longtime member of the Nebraska Bar Associations Legislation Committee. I am a trained mediator, he said. I know how to listen, to bring people together, and to help them to find solutions to problems so that litigation can be avoided. If elected, Gordon also said he would seek ways to reduce government spending. I think what we need to do is look for ways to reduce spending across the board, the big picture, he said last week. One way he would reduce taxation is by working to eliminate the social security income tax. Why should they be taxed again, he said. Gordon supports the death penalty, but will adhere to the voters decision. Personally, Ive always maintained that we need something to deal with the worst of the worst, he said, adding that the voters have the say in the matter. I would be a fool to say I would not follow what that decision is, and I am not fool. The referendum deserves my deference and my respect. Gordon is in favor of Medicaid expansion, as long as the costs are reined in properly. Both candidates said repairing and enhancing transportation infrastructure should be an ongoing priority for the state, with funds being consistently stockpiled to keep roads and bridges in shape. When we begin to ignore infrastructure were looking at bigger costs, Gordon said. Fix me now or pay me later. You dont wait until your roof collapses to fix your shingles. Gordon is reluctant on medical marijuana in the state. When you add chronic illness, I begin to lean in favor of it, he said. I think if we can do it and control it, why wouldnt we? He added that he is opposed to recreational marijuana use or illegal use of drugs. Gordon also shared the opinion that public school funding could use some inspection. We are 49th in the nation in state aid and thats why are property taxes are so high, he said. I believe the goal should be to reform the state aid away from property taxes. WAVERLY Two candidates made it through the May primary election for the District 21 seat in the Nebraska Legislature. Last week, both Mike Hilgers and Larry Scherer were still working to bring voters into the fold before the Nov. 8 General Election. Hilgers entered the race with one main goal in mind. The biggest reason Im running and my biggest area of focus is giving people in this district more money to spend, he said. Just about every tax we have is higher than it should be. If elected, he would look at the state budget and work with other senators to reduce the tax burden on citizens, he said. His business experience would give him an edge. I decided to run because we need leaders who are focused on the issues that will make a real difference in the lives of Nebraskans cutting taxes, strengthening our economic foundation, and improving our community, he said. I have built a small business and created jobs in Nebraska and believe my background and experience will best serve the families and small businesses of District 21 Hilgers is in favor of the death penalty in limited circumstances and for the worst of the worst, he said. Should voters decide to retain the repeal, however, he would follow their wishes. Oh absolutely, he said. The people of Nebraska are going to speak on this issue, and it will be their decision. The candidate is not in favor of expanding Medicaid, and he expressed concerns that doing so would bog residents down in more taxes. He would look to alternative ways to expand access to care, such as direct primary care. That system allows residents to pay doctors directly without insurance middlemen. Those are the types of innovations to try and tackle costs here in Nebraska, he said. Those are the types of things I would look at. He would also ensure that Medicaid, as it exists currently, continues to serve those who need it. There are a lot of people in this district who rely on Medicaid, he said. We should make sure it runs well. Hilgers said that infrastructure should be a priority for the state. He supports the transportation infrastructure bank, as well as the Build Nebraska Act. Lets see how those shake out, he said. Im very supportive of making sure our infrastructure has the needed funding for our continued growth. Hes on the fence regarding giving medical marijuana the green light. He would like to see more research on the subject, but its classification as a Schedule 1 drug inhibits such study. That really limits the ability to study in clinical trials, he said. Id like to wait and see until we have more info on clinical side. As it stands now, he opposes legalization. If elected, he would work to improve the school funding model to work better for landowners in rural school districts. He would like to see agricultural land valuations more closely match commodity prices, which would make for more equitable property taxes in rural areas. When corn goes down, the value of that land doesnt go down to the same degree as quickly, he said. As a senator, Hilgers said he would aim to balance the needs of constituents in both the city and in rural parts of the district. Ive always seen this district as a unique responsibility for whoever is the senator from the district, he said. I view that as a very serious responsibility, which I take very seriously. Larry Scherer said his top fiscal priority if elected would be to balance the states budget. He would like to eliminate income taxes on social security, military income and retirement income. He would also like to lower the tax rate at lower income levels. At $28,000 you start paying the same marginal tax rate as Warren Buffett, he said. I think that it should gradually get up to the top rate. Scherer breaks away from Hilgers on the death penalty. Because our death penalty law is so broken it takes so many years and so many dollars to execute anybody, Im going to vote to retain the law legislature passed which is life imprisonment, he said. If the voters decision this fall is opposite his own, Scherer said he would honor their vote while working to make the death penalty more efficient. Totally respecting the vote of the people, if it comes back in I think we have to look at the appeal process, were going to have to fix that, he said. There just has to be some way to do it more expeditiously. Its terrible all the victims families wait that long. Theres so many things that need to be done to fix it. He supports the expansion of Medicaid, as long as its affordable for the state. I need to have a bill that has the ability to pay for it included, he said. If the federal money doesnt pay for the cost, than we need to have a non-tax funds. Ideally, the state could provide more access to care. Yeah we should do it, he said. But its like anything you do to help people, youve got to be able to afford it. Living in rural Lancaster County, Scherer is familiar with states aging infrastructure. He would aim to improve how the state cares for roads and bridges. Roads are the lifeblood of the state and the county, he said. Im extremely supportive of that. Scherer supports the legalization of medical marijuana for chronic illnesses. Theres more and more proof that shows that its effective for specific illnesses or medical problems, he said. Its been shown to work. Why wouldnt we do that when we allow opioids to go out to all sorts of things that are less than that kind of pain level? If you can help someone with a relatively inexpensive proven medication, then I dont see why not. He would also aim to reform the public school funding formula to better serve rural school district patrons. We measure the wealth of a school district totally based on the valuation of property, he said of the current situation. We dont have a measurement of the income of people in that area and how much they can afford to pay. He would like to use a portion of existing income taxes to fund school districts. Valentines Day is a time to reflect and appreciate the relationships in our lives. However, it can also be a time to reflect on... DESPITE the pressing need to do so, over half of all Irish people say they could not afford an average cost of 56,000 to... WATERFORD is the most sunny city in Ireland and the county is second in the sunshine league, being pipped to first place by our... Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins has described the progress which has been made on the purchase of the former Waterford Crystal site for... Experts discuss causes, triggers and relief tips for potential New Years Brain Fog Most of us will be familiar with that feeling right after Christmas... Waterford native, Elaine Doheny, has launched an app that allows you to be literally pampered in your own home. Elaine, from Portlaw, has been based... Seven jobs at a Waterford charity look set to be lost after it was announced that it is to be wound down. The U-Casadh... Carlton, who picked up Jarrod Pickett and Caleb Marchbank, were key players in the O'Meara trade. Credit:Chris Hyde Secondly, clubs that have chosen to trade out a future first-round selection are not permitted to trade any other picks from the same draft unless they have brought in a replacement. As the AFL reiterated on Wednesday, it's about the net result. This brings us, first of all, to Geelong, who sought clarification midway through the trade period that they were allowed to trade their 2017 first-round pick to Carlton as part of the deal for Zach Tuohy. Geelong were allowed to trade their 2017 first-round pick to Carlton as part of the deal for Zach Tuohy. Credit:AFL Media/Getty Images The Cats had already traded their 2015 first rounder to Adelaide, in the Patrick Dangerfield trade. They had also moved their first pick in this year's draft to Carlton, for Lachie Henderson. The Tuohy trade makes it three in a row. But if the Cats are (somehow) able to trade two first-round picks back in next year, and use them, they will have made the necessarily two first-round selections. They also have their 2018 first-rounder to come. If they're not able to take those two picks in the next two years, they'll be prevented from trading any further first rounders. But given it is not yet impossible for them to do that, they could not have been prevented from trading a third. The O'Meara trade would not have been possible without the involvement of Carlton, who had just done a deal with the Giants for Caleb Marchbank and Jarrod Pickett. The Blues received the Giants' 2017 second-round pick in that trade, in exchange for two third-round picks (45 and 58) and the 2017 first rounder they had received from Geelong in the Tuohy trade. They then moved the GWS second-rounder to Hawthorn, swapping it for picks 48, 66 and 70 in this year's draft. Why would they do that, people wondered. Were they just helping the Hawks out, making sure they could get the O'Meara deal done? They did help, but clubs aren't charity organisations and the benefit for Carlton became clear on Tuesday when they further trimmed their list, with Andrejs Everitt one of four new delistings. Marchbank, Pickett, Rhys Palmer and Billie Smedts have come in, but that the club has ripped a large chunk from their squad in as many years means they need to replace those players with draftees. Clubs are confident in the depth of this year's draft and taking those picks from Hawthorn means they are better placed in the coming draft than they would have been had they not replaced the picks they sent to the Giants. Had they not got them, their first three picks would have been 5, 25 and 63. Now they have 5, 25, 48, 63, 66 and 70. The third trade that has come under scrutiny has been the Hawthorn-St Kilda pick swap, which was absolutely lopsided but driven by the Hawks' desperation to get their hands on the Saints' pick 10. They had promised O'Meara they would get him, and with their own first-rounder used already used to secure Tom Mitchell from Sydney, needed to get that deal done. Loading According to the Draft Value Index, which assigns a points value to every draft pick, that trade is undoubtedly one-sided. But picks and points are very different things. BBC presenter Dame Jenni Murray recently sparked a furore in Britain when she suggested British schoolchildren should watch porn as part of their sex education. In the classroom, I hasten to add. It's a clarification worth stressing because outside the classroom, for the most part, they're already watching it in droves. Murray isn't the first to make this provocative suggestion sexologist Christian Graugaard last year called for pornography to be shown, under controlled conditions, to high school students in Denmark. In Britain, though where even basic sex education remains woefully inadequate the proposal went down like a lead balloon. Illustration: Matt Davidson When it comes to the broad demographics of exposure to porn, in case you're wondering, British children are no different to ours. The harm being done to children through access to online pornography is currently the subject of a parliamentary inquiry in Australia, where, according to the Australian Medical Association, the average age of exposure to sexually explicit material is around 12 years old. If that's not worrying enough, the most easily accessible content the stuff our children are most likely to source for free is also the worst. "Teenagers," says Murray, "will always be drawn to the raunchier aspects of whatever culture is available to them" and it's always been thus. But natural youthful curiosity in the Internet Age, where a smorgasbord of unsavoury content is just a click away, presents a pretty unique challenge. I had my own unsettling reminder at my son's primary school earlier this year when a group of children with a clutch of Wi-Fi enabled iPads and poorly configured security settings were left unattended for a brief period not brief enough, it turned out. Leaked government talking points suggest Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull remain at "war", despite the two "working in the same direction" on reforming the NSW Liberal Party. A list of daily media messages prepared for an unnamed Coalition MP and obtained by Sky News on Thursday tells the MP to say that there is "no sign of any conflict" between the leadership rivals. But the section of the document that says the pair are "working in the same direction" on controversial internal Liberal Party reform plans is embarrassingly headed "Abbott-Turnbull war". A reform plan proposed by Mr Turnbull and NSW Premier Mike Baird won support at the party's state conference in Sydney on the weekend, beating out a rival push by Mr Abbott. Malcolm Turnbull has signalled he is prepared to negotiate with Senate crossbenchers to secure a crackdown on paid-parental leave, with the government's controversial start date expected to be dropped. A day after independent Nick Xenophon said the proposed January 1, 2017 start date would be "manifestly unfair", Mr Turnbull said the Coalition was sympathetic to women who were already pregnant and faced a retrospective change to their leave entitlements. Currently new mothers have access to 18 weeks' paid leave at the minimum wage, plus any additional entitlements paid for by their employer. The government wants to end the practice, or so-called "double-dipping". The three Xenophon party senators will be crucial to the plan passing Parliament, as Labor and the Greens have indicated they will vote against it. The looming closure of the Hazelwood Power Station has been canvassed in high-level talks between the Australian and French governments. Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg met with his French counterpart Segolene Royal on Thursday to discuss the imminent closure of the ageing Latrobe Valley brown-coal-fired plant. The meeting comes after confirmation from Hazelwood's majority owner, French energy giant Engie, that the company was unlikely to find a buyer for the plant, meaning it will be shut down entirely. That followed revelations by Fairfax Media that Hazelwood is likely to shut down permanently as early as next April, potentially costing the Latrobe Valley up to 1000 jobs. The teenage daughter of missing Esperance campers, Jeremy and Marama Sim, says she is distraught police have called off their search for the couple who have been missing for 10 days. Police suspended looking for the husband and wife on Wednesday afternoon after a three-day aerial search failed to find any sign of them or the Nissan Patrol they were travelling in. The Sims left Esperance on a camping trip on October 18, and were last seen at Lake King Tavern Motel later that day. One of their mobile phone signals was detected five days later on the coast line from Esperance to Hopetoun. In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, one of the couple's three daughters, who WAtoday has chosen not to name, thanked the community for their efforts to find her parents. A Perth woman says she is disgusted after receiving a racially charged message from a stranger ridiculing her relationship with her partner of one year. Cynthia said the message appeared in her Facebook inbox on Tuesday morning, and left her feeling surprised and saddened. Cynthia and her partner - and the message she received. Credit:Facebook "I just want to say one thing. You and your boyfriend do not deserve happiness. You are black and he is white," the message read. "How could you fall for someone with a different race than you. This is disrespectful and disgusting. I cannot believe he went for you when he could have gone for any other white girl in Australia. Kelly has jousted with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the past. Credit:AP Kelly, clearly mindful of four years ago, when so many Fox News hosts doubted polls showing an Obama re-election, challenged him. "He's been behind in virtually every one of the last 40 polls that we've seen over the past month; that's the reality," she said of Trump. But what really set Gingrich off was when Kelly said the sexual assault accusations against Trump were clearly taking a toll, raising questions about whether the candidate was "a sexual predator." Gingrich asked why Bill Clinton's accusers weren't getting covered, and Kelly replied by saying that on her show they were. The exchange became edgier, and more personal. Gingrich told her she was "fascinated with sex," and she told him she was "fascinated by the protection of women." She signed off by telling him, "You can take your anger issues and spend some time working on them," and he more or less said back atcha. (Trump provided his assessment of the exchange Wednesday, saying "Congratulations, Newt, on last night. That was an amazing interview.") Although the pattern was typical, the rancour was not, especially given that Gingrich is a longtime "Friend of Fox News" and onetime paid contributor. And it represented a bigger split at Fox News. By all accounts, in the absence of Ailes, Kelly has been freer to pursue her show on her own terms, which are certainly not in line with those of either Hillary Clinton or Trump and therefore not in line with many in the Fox News core audience (let alone those of her old boss Ailes, who informally advised Trump before the debates). The same has held true for the Fox contributors who have not embraced Trump's candidacy - like Dana Perino, the Republican co-host of The Five, and the Weekly Standard writer Stephen F. Hayes. They have been free to call it as they see it in ways that were not as obviously apparent earlier this year. In that vein, the Fox News host Chris Wallace emerged as an exceptional debate moderator in the third presidential debate, holding firm with both candidates and asking tough questions of each. Kelly, with Chris Wallace and Bret Baier, during the infamous Republican primary debate in August last year. Credit:AP But there's a flip side. In this "Free(er) to Be You And Me" environment at Fox, pro-Trump network personalities have become even pro-Trumpier, none more than Sean Hannity, the host whose show follows Kelly's. An informal adviser to Trump, his rhetoric has grown as incendiary as that of his candidate. After Kelly's confrontation with Gingrich on Tuesday, Hannity announced on his radio show that if Trump won, he would personally pay to fly Obama to Canada or, for that matter, Kenya or Indonesia. It was a nod to the fake, old "birther" conspiracy that even Trump has eschewed after promoting it for years. So there, Tuesday night, were the two futures of Fox. Rupert Murdoch, whose family controls Fox News' parent company, 21st Century Fox, has so far mostly kept it in its Ailesian mode, which, after all, has made Fox News a major profit driver for its corporate parent and kept it atop the cable news ratings. And Murdoch's son Lachlan recently said it would be "foolish of us" to depart from "a winning strategy." But CNN is nipping at Fox News' heels, managing to beat it in the news demographic that advertisers care most about - people between the ages of 25 and 54 - over the past four weeks, the first such sustained victory in 15 years. Still, nothing forces decisions in television news like the hard deadlines of talent contracts. Kelly's comes up later next year, followed by that of O'Reilly. Every rival network has expressed interest in picking her up, and Tuesday night's Megyn moment can only help her in that regard. The Murdochs have made it clear they would like Kelly to stay, which they showed with the $US6 million advance their book imprint HarperCollins paid for her coming memoir, Settle for More. As Sarah Ellison of Vanity Fair noted at the magazine's New Establishment Summit in San Francisco last week, they would like to get the contract nailed down before she goes on her book tour next month. But if they persuade her to stay, will there be room for her, Hannity and O'Reilly? Both O'Reilly and Hannity have openly feuded with Kelly, although Hannity's fights have been more bitter and more recent. If Kelly stays, will they? Who knows if Trump will pursue some sort of television news-style venture (he says he has no interest). But if he does, he could conceivably hire O'Reilly and Hannity, who has a contract provision that would allow him to follow Ailes out the door (although the window is tight and it would presumably have to happen in relatively short order). Loading A Trump venture raises the prospect of a more moderate - if still plenty conservative-friendly - Fox News combating not just CNN and MSNBC but also a challenger from the right. Television news would never be the same. Patrick Norman Pat Chapman is a 34-year-old, Caucasian male who was last known to be in Piedmont which is near the area of Greenville, Missouri on May 10, 2020. Pat had stayed the night with a friend and his wife at their home. In the early morning when the friend woke to go to work. Pat was gone in his own Burgundy color 1995 Ford Escort. That is the last anyone was known to have seen him. The vehicle was later recovered on May 29, 2020 in Mill Spring, Missouri. The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California Inc., AHN Accountable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASC Operators-East Bay LLC, ASC Operators-San Francisco LLC, ASC Operators-San Luis Obispo LLC, ASC Operators-Santa Rosa LLC, ASC Operators-South Bay LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Cornerstone LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Florida LLC, AbleTo Behavioral Health Services P.C., AbleTo Inc., Accurate Rx Pharmacy Consulting LLC, Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A.S., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Center LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Allina Health Heart and Vascular Surgery Center LLC, Allina Health Surgery Center-Brooklyn Park LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Holdings Inc., AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Kentucky LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, American Physicians Inc., Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Angiografia e Hemodinamica Madre Theodora Ltda., Anne Arundel-SCA Holdings LLC, Anne Arundel-SCA Surgicenter LLC, Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arcadia JV Holdings LLC, Arcadia Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., ArchWell Health LLC, ArchWell Health MSO LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services Holding Co., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Alabama LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services of North Carolina P.C., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Oklahoma LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Arizona LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Nebraska LLC, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., Arlington Surgery Center LLC, Aspectus Inc., Associacao Lusiadas Knowledge Center Health Education and Research, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Aurora Hospitalist P.C., Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Aventura Medical Tower Surgery Center LLC, Avery Parent Holdings Inc., Aveta Inc., AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, BOSC Holdings LLC, BSC Holdings LLC, Ball Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Banmedica Colombia S.A.S., Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Barranca Surgery Center LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings II LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings LLC, Beaver Medical Group P.C., Bedford Physicians Risk Retention Group Inc., Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Beltway Surgery Centers L.L.C., Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Bergan Mercy Surgery Center LLC, Bergen-Passaic Cataract Laser and Surgery Center LLC, Bessler MD PLLC, Bind Benefits Inc., Bind LH Holdings Inc., Bind Re Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Bloomfield ASC LLC, Blue Ridge Day Surgery Center L.P., Blue Ridge GP LLC, Blue Ridge Properties LLC, Boca Raton Outpatient Surgery & Laser Center LTD., Bordeaux Barbados Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings III S.r.l., Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, CCEC Anesthesia Management LLC, CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos Ltda., COI Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill Ambulatory Centers, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardinal Holding Company LLC, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Care Logistics LLC, CareMount Dental Member LLC, CareMount Health Solutions ACO LLC, CareMount Health Solutions Employer LLC, CareMount Health Solutions LLC, CareMount Holding LLC, CareMount Medical Foundation Inc., CareMount Value Partners IPA LLC, Carr PLLC, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Castle Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran 2 Unlimited Company, Catamaran Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Cedar Park JV Partners LLC, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Center for Quality Improvement LLC, Center for Restorative Surgery at Maple Grove LLC, Center for Surgery of North Coast L.P., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, CentriHealth Corporation, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro de Entrenamiento Capacitacion en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada, Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica SpA, Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centura-SCA Holdings LLC, Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Surgery Properties LTD., Charlotte-SC LLC, Chatham Orthopaedic ASC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Claims Management Systems Inc., Cleburne Surgical Center LLC, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinton Partners LLC, Clinica Alameda SpA, Clinica Bio Bio SpA, Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.p.A., Clinica Iquique S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica Portoazul S.A., Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.p.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A.S., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Cobranzas Banmedica SpA, Cogent Healthcare IPA of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare Inc., Cogent Healthcare Management of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Arizona P.C., Cogent Healthcare of California Prof. Corp., Cogent Healthcare of Georgia P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Illinois LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Iowa P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Jackson MS LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Jacksonville LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Missouri Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Montana P.C., Cogent Healthcare of New Jersey P.C., Cogent Healthcare of North Carolina P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Oregon P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Pensacola L.L.C., Cogent Healthcare of Tennessee P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Washington P.C., Cogent Medical Care P.C., Cogent Patient Safety Organization Inc., Cogent/Endion Medical Care of New York P.C., Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada S.A., Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Comprehensive Hospital Physicians of Florida Inc., ConnectYourCare Inc., ConnectYourCare LLC, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Consorcio Regenero S.A., Constructora Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Continuum Physicians Group Inc., Continuum Physicians Group of Washington PLLC, Cornell Surgicenter LLC, Cornerstone Surgery Center LLC, Cornerstone Surgicare LLC, Corpus Christi Endoscopy Center L.L.P., Country Scan Ltda., Critical Care Physician of New York P.C., Critical Care Physicians of Illinois LLC, Critical Care Physicians of New Jersey PC, Critical Care Physicians of Pennsylvania P.C., Cross Timbers Surgery Center LLC, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DSP Flint Real Estate LLC, DSP-Building C LLC, DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., Dallas Inpatient Specialist PLLC, Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Denton Endoscopy Surgery Center LLC, Denton Surgery Center LLC, Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Digestive Disease Center L.P., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Blocker LLC, Diplomat Corporate Properties LLC, Diplomat Pharmacy, Diplomat Pharmacy Inc., Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Great Lakes Distribution Center LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Chicago LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Los Angeles County LLC, Distance Learning Network Inc., Divisadero Holdings LLC, DocASAP Inc., DocASAP India Technologies Private Limited, DocASAP US LLC, Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duluth Surgical Suites LLC, Durable Medical Equipment Inc., E Street Endoscopy LLC, EM Orange Tree LLC, EP Campus I LLC, EPIC Health Plan, EPIC Management Services LLC, East Bay Endoscopy Center L.P., East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Echo Locum Tenens Inc., Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Emerald Coast Surgery Center L.P., Emisar Pharma Services LLC, Emmaus Holdings LLC, Emmaus Surgical Center LLC, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Empremedica S. A., Endion Hospitalist North P.C., Endion Hospitalist of Western New York P.C., Endion Medical Healthcare P.C., Endion Medical Services P.C., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Everett MSO Inc., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center L.L.C., Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., Eye Specialists Surgery Centers LLC, FMG Holdings LLC, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice Inc., Ferrell Physician Services P.C., Fideicomiso Clinica Barranquilla Portoazul FA-517, First Coast Orthopedic Center LLC, First Family Insurance LLC, Florence Surgery Center L.P., For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fort Sutter Medical Building a California Limited Partnership, Fort Worth Endoscopy Centers LLC, Fortified Provider Network Inc., Foundation Surgery Affiliate General of Huntingdon Valley LLC, Foundation Surgery Affiliate of Huntingdon Valley L.P., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GLBESC LLC, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology Canada Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Gladiolus Surgery Center L.L.C., Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Global One Ventures LLC, Golden Gate Endoscopy Center LLC, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grandview Surgery Center LTD., Greater New Haven ASC LLC, Greensboro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Greenville Surgery Center LLC, Greenway Surgical Suites LLC, Grossmont Surgery Center L.P., Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., H&W Indemnity SPC Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HFHS-SCA Holdings LLC, HMG Holding Corporation, HMG Holdings LLC, HMP of Baltimore USH P.C., Harken Health Insurance Company, Harrison Endo Surgical Center LLC, Hawthorn Place Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hays JV Partners LLC, Hays Surgery Center LLC, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Affiliates Medical Group, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthEast Surgery Center-Maplewood LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Healthplex America LLC, Healthplex Dental Services Inc., Healthplex I.P.A. Inc., Healthplex Inc., Healthplex Insurance Company, Healthplex of CT Inc., Healthplex of DC Inc., Healthplex of MD Inc., Healthplex of ME Inc., Healthplex of NC Inc., Healthplex of NJ Inc., Healthplex of TX Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help Seguros de Vida S.A., Help Service S.A., Help SpA, Hemonefro Hemodialise e Nefrologia Ltda, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Medical S.A., Honodav SpA, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of Broome County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Binghamton P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Buffalo P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Newburgh P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Nyack P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Patchogue P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Goodyear Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Nogales Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Sierra Vista Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Buncombe County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Apple Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Bakersfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Camarillo PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Crescent City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fairfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fremont PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Grass Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Jackson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oceanside PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oxnard PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Salinas PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Leandro PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Sonoma PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Thousand Oaks PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Vacaville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Brighton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Denver PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Manchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Rockville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Wallingford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Palm Coast LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Fredericksburg LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Atlanta PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - East Point PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Lavonia PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Savannah PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii - Kealakekua Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho - Nampa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Downers Grove LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Elmhurst LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Rockford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Winfield LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Clinton LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Mishawaka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Terre Haute LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Cedar Rapids PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Mason City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Topeka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Alexandria Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Bossier City Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Lake Charles Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Shreveport Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Bangor PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Lewiston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cheverly PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cumberland PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Frederick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Laurel PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Rockville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Brockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Dorchester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Framingham PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Holyoke PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Natick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Norwood PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Springfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Stoughton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Taunton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Worcester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Alpena PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Dowagiac PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Escanaba PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grand Blanc PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grayling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Kalamazoo PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Plainwell PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Port Huron PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Saginaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Tawas City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Bridgeton Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Richmond Heights Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Billings PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Butte PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Miles City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Missoula PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Multiple Practice Sites LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada TCG Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada TCS Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Hackensack PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Paterson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Clovis LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Rio Rancho LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New York PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Burlington PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Clyde PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Elizabeth City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Jacksonville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - New Bern PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Rocky Mount PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Akron Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Batavia Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Canton Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati III Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Circleville Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Dover Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - East Liverpool Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Fairfield Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Martins Ferry Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Westerville Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Youngstown Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio TCG Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio TCS Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oklahoma - Oklahoma City LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oklahoma TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oklahoma TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oregon - Portland PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oregon TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oregon TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Pennsylvania P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Pennsylvania TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Pennsylvania TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Rhode Island TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Rhode Island TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Richland County Ltd., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of San Luis Obispo County Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina - Aiken LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina - Rock Hill LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Dakota TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Dakota TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee Columbia PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee Franklin PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Amarillo PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Atlanta PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Austin II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Austin PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Bryan PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Burnet PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Corpus Christi II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Corpus Christi PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Cypress PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Dallas PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - El Paso II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - El Paso III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - El Paso PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Fort Worth II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Fort Worth PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Fredericksburg PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Houston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Humble PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Kerrville PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Kyle PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Livingston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Lubbock PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Lufkin PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Mount Pleasant PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Plainview PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Rockwall PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Round Rock PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio IV PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio V PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio VI PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio VII PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Marcos PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Texarkana PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Tyler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Utah TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Utah TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Vermont TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Vermont TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Alexandria LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Mechanicsville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Midlothian LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Winchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Arlington PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Auburn PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bellingham PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bremerton PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Burien PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Coupeville PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Enumclaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Federal Way PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Gig Harbor PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Lakewood PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Mount Vernon PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Puyallup PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Vancouver PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington County LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia Martinsburg PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia South Charleston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia Wheeling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wisconsin Ltd., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming - Casper LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming TCS LLC, Hospitalists Management Group LLC, Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation Ontario, IEC Holdings LLC, IHD Holdings LLC, INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, Illinois Independent Care Network LLC, Imagen Technologies Inc., Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., InTouch Pharmacy LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Indiana Endoscopy Centers LLC, Inland Surgery Center L.P., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inpatient Services P.C., Inpatient Specialists of California P.C., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Instituto Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, Inter-Hospital Physicians Association Inc., International Healthcare Services Inc., Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria SpA, Ironman Holdco Inc., Ironman Intermediate Holdco LLC, Isapre Banmedica S.A., JPM Healthcare LLC, Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Jordan Ridge Family Medicine LLC, Joyable Inc., Kansal Inc. A Professional Corporation, Knox Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Kokomo Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, LDI Holding Company LLC, LDI Management Services LLC, LGH-A/Golf ASTC L.L.C., LHC Group, La Esperanza del Peru S.A., Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Landmark Group Holdings LLC, Landmark Health Holdings LLC, Landmark Health LLC, Landmark Health NY IPA LLC, Landmark Health NY PO LLC, Landmark Health Technologies Private Limited, Landmark Health of California LLC, Landmark Health of Massachusetts LLC, Landmark Health of North Carolina LLC, Landmark Health of Oregon LLC, Landmark Health of Pennsylvania LLC, Landmark Health of Washington LLC, Landmark India LLC, Landmark Intermediate Holdings LLC, Landmark MSO LLC, Landmark Medical of Idaho PC, Landmark Medical of Massachusetts PLLC, Landmark Medical of Tennessee PC, Landmark Primary Care LLC, Laser Acquisition Holdings III LLC, Leehar Distributors LLC, Lemhi Ventures Fund I LP, Lemhi Ventures Fund II LP, Level2 Medical Services P.C. Alaska, Lexington Surgery Center Ltd., Liberty Anesthesia Services LLC, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeWell. Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Limestone Medical Center LLC, Litomedica S.A., Logan Surgical Suites LLC, Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook L.P., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas Algarve S.A., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., Lutheran Campus ASC LLC, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MCNA Health Care Holdings LLC, MCNA Insurance Company, MCNA Systems Corp., MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, Main Line Spine Surgery Center LLC, Managed Care of North America Inc., Managed Physical Network Inc., Mansfield Endoscopy Center LLC, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care IPA Inc., March Vision Care Inc., March Vision Care of Texas Inc., Marin Health Ventures LLC, Marin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Marlin Holding Company LLC, Maryland Ambulatory Centers LLC, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, McKenzie Surgery Center L.P., MedExpress Primary Care West Virginia Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services LLC, Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memorial Houston Surgery Center LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Orange Coast LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Saddleback LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management Ltd., Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midlands Orthopaedics Surgery Center LLC, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Medical Plaza L.C., Mobile Medical Services of New Jersey PC, Mobile-SC LTD., Modality Accountable Care Organisation Limited, Moen M.D. P.C., Mohawk Surgery Center LLC, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Monument Health LLC, Moore Orthopaedic Clinic Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Morris County Surgical Center LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Murrells Inlet ASC LLC, Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings Inc., NPN IPA Washington PLLC, NSC Channel Islands LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Greensboro West LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Naperville Surgical Centre LLC, National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Navigator Health Inc., Nebraska Spine Hospital LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., New York Proton Management LLC, Newton Holdings LLC, Niagara Hospitalist P.C., Nomad Buyer Inc., North American Medical Management California Inc., North Coast Surgery Center Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, North Dallas Surgical Center LLC, North Kitsap Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgery Center L.P., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northern Utah Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Hills JV Partners LLC, Northwest Medical Group Alliance LLC, Northwest Spine and Laser Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OCC MSO LLC, OSB Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Lda., Omesa SpA, OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., One World Surgery, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Dallas LLC, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Networks Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Care of New York Management Inc., Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Compounding Services LLC, Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Direct To Consumer Inc., Optum Financial Inc., Optum Frontier Therapies Holdings LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies II LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies LLC, Optum Genomics Inc., Optum Global Solutions Colombia S.A.S., Optum Global Solutions India Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Global Solutions Philippines Inc., Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners Holdings Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings US Inc., Optum Health & Technology Hong Kong Limited, Optum Health & Technology India Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health & Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology US LLC, Optum Health Plan of California, Optum Health Services Canada Ltd., Optum Health Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions UK Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 200 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 204 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 209 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 305 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 402 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 500 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 550 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 551 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 553 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 554 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs LLC, Optum Life Sciences Canada Inc., Optum Management Consulting Shanghai Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Operations Ireland Unlimited Company, Optum Oregon MSO LLC, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharma Services Holdings Inc., Optum Pharmacy 601 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 700 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 704 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 706 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 707 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 800 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 803 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 805 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 806 Inc., Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket LLC, Optum SCA CS JV Holdings LLC, Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Services Ireland Limited, Optum Services Puerto Rico LLC, Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Venture Global Partners II LP, Optum Venture Global Partners LP, Optum Venture Partners II LP, Optum Venture Partners III LP, Optum Venture Partners LP, Optum Washington Network LLC, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare ACO West LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare Portland LLC, OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumCare Specialty Practices LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Oregon Healthcare Resources LLC, Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the South Inc., OrthoWest MSO LLC, Orthology Inc., Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopedic Surgery Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopro Management LLC, Ovations Inc., Owensboro Ambulatory Surgical Facility Ltd., Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans CT Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, Oxford Health Plans NJ Inc., Oxford Health Plans NY Inc., P2P Link LLC, PCCCV Inc., PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PPH Management Company L.L.C., PPH-Columbia Inc., PPH-Gardendale Inc., PS Center LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., Pacific Cardiovascular Associates Medical Group Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Panama City Surgery Center LLC, Park Hill Surgery Center LLC, Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Patient Care Associates L.L.C., PatientsLikeMe, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peninsula Eye Surgery Center LLC, Penzo Enterprises LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Perham Physical Therapy LTD, Perimeter Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Pharmaceutical Technologies LLC, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians' Surgery Center of Downey LLC, Pinnacle III LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings Inc., Pocono Ambulatory Surgery Center Limited, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Post-Acute Care Center for Research LLC, Practice Partners in Healthcare LLC, Preferred Care Network Inc., Preferred Care Network of Florida Inc., Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., PreferredOne, PreferredOne Administrative Services Inc., PreferredOne Insurance Company, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Premiere Medical Resources LLC, Presidio Surgery Center LLC, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., PrimeDoc St. Francis P.C., PrimeDoc of Richmond P.C., ProHEALTH Care Associates L.L.P., ProHEALTH Care Associates of New Jersey LLP, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, ProHealth/CareMount Dental Management LLC, Procura Management Inc., Professional Coverage Services PLLC, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical LLC, Promotora Country S.A., Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Benefits Management LLC, Prospero Care Management LLC, Prospero Management Services LLC, Providence & SCA Development LLC, Providence & SCA Off-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA On-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA Outreach Markets Holdings LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., R Cubed Inc., RABessler M.D. P.C., ROC Surgery LLC, ROCS Holdings LLC, RX Ricardo Campos Ltda., Rally Health Inc., ReMedics LLC, Real Appeal Inc., Redding Surgery Center LLC, Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Reliant Medical Group Inc., Reliant Medical Group The Endoscopy Center LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, Resonancia Magnetica de Colombia Ltda., Resonancia Magnetica del Country S.A., RightCare Solutions Inc., River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Corporate Wellness LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Robert A. Bessler MD PLLC, Rockville Eye Surgery Center LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rush Oak Brook Surgery Center LLC, SC Affiliates LLC, SCA AHN JV Holdings LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA Austin Medical Center Holdings LLC, SCA Aventura Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA Bloomfield Holdings LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Colorado Springs Holdings LLC, SCA Community Service Foundation, SCA Cottonwood Holdings LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Denver Holdings LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA Duluth Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville MSO LLC, SCA ESSC Holdings LLC, SCA Englewood Holdings LLC, SCA Global One Holdings LLC, SCA Greenway Holdings LLC, SCA Grove Creek Holdings LLC, SCA Guilford Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Health Value Enterprise LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA High Point Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Lutheran Holdings LLC, SCA Maple Grove Holdings LLC, SCA Mohawk Holdings LLC, SCA Murrells Inlet LLC, SCA Northern Utah Holdings LLC, SCA Northwest Holdings LLC, SCA Outside New Jersey LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pacific Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Palisades Holdings LLC, SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Pinnacle Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA Providence Holdings LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA Rush Oak Brook Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA San Diego Holdings LLC, SCA Skyway Holdings LLC, SCA South Ogden Holdings LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Specialty Holdings of Connecticut LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA West Health Holdings LLC, SCA Westgreen Holdings LLC, SCA Woodbury Holdings LLC, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colonial Partners LLC, SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Glenwood Holdings LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Memorial LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Morris Avenue LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Panama City Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-VLR Holdings Company LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCLHS-SCA Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SJ East Campus ASC LLC, SRPS LLC, SSSC Holdings LLC, SVHS-SCA Florida JV LLC, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Sage Medical Prof. LLC, Salem JV Holdings LLC, Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., San Diego Endoscopy Center, San Diego Sports and Minimally Invasive Surgery Center LLC, San Francisco Endoscopy Center LLC, San Luis Obispo Surgery Center a California Limited Partnership, Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Barbara Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santa Rosa Surgery Center L.P., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Sanvello Health Holdings LLC, Sanvello Health Inc., Sanvello Health Limited, Scanner Centromed S.A., Seashore Surgical Institute L.L.C., Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Serquinox Holdings LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Ltda., Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Ltda., Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., Serviclinica Inmobiliaria S.A., Serviclinica S.A. Ex Los Leones La Calera, Servisalud Inmobiliaria S.A., Servisalud S.A. Ex Los Carrera Quilpue, Shark Holdings P.C., Sierra Dental Plan Inc., Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria SpA, Solstice Administration Services Inc., Solstice Administrators Inc., Solstice Administrators of Alabama Inc., Solstice Administrators of Arizona Inc., Solstice Administrators of Missouri Inc., Solstice Administrators of North Carolina Inc., Solstice Administrators of Texas Inc., Solstice Benefit Services Inc., Solstice Benefits Inc., Solstice Health Insurance Company, Solstice Healthplans Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Arizona Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Colorado Inc., Solstice Healthplans of New Jersey Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Ohio Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Tennessee Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Texas Inc., Solstice of Illinois Inc., Solstice of Minnesota Inc., Solstice of New York Inc., Solutran LLC, Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Sound Inpatient Physicians Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Medical Group Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians of Ohio LLC, Sound Inpatient Physicians of Texas I Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Michigan PLLC, Sound Intensivists of Nevada RBessler M.D. PLLC, Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati Inc., Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati LLC, Sound Physicians Advisory Services Inc., Sound Physicians Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, Sound Physicians Anesthesiology of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Georgia P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kansas LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kentucky PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Louisiana Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Michigan PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Nevada Bessler PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Southern California P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of West Virginia PLLC, Sound Physicians Holdings LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Intensivists of Georgia PC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Virginia LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Palliative Care of Maryland P.C., Sound Physicians Telemedicine Inc., Sound Physicians of Florida IV LLC, Sound Physicians of Georgia III P.C., Sound Physicians of Hawaii Inc., Sound Physicians of Idaho PLLC, Sound Physicians of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Indiana LLC, Sound Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Sound Physicians of Kankakee Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Massachusetts II P.C., Sound Physicians of Massachusetts Inc., Sound Physicians of New Jersey LLC, Sound Physicians of New York PLLC, Sound Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Sound Physicians of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians of Wyoming LLC, South Arlington Surgical Providers LLC, South County Surgical Center LLC, South Sound Inpatient Physicians PLLC, Southern California Medical Practice Concepts LLC, Southland Hospitalists P.C., Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center LLC, Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Spartanburg Surgery Center LLC, Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits LLC, Specialty Billing Solutions LLC, Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Sports and Spinal Physical Therapy Inc., St. Cloud Outpatient Surgery Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Cardiovascular Institute LLC, St. Louis Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Stonegate JV Partners LLC, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Summer Street ASC LLC, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Cottonwood LLC, Surgery Center at Grove Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center at South Ogden LLC, Surgery Center at St. Vincent LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Fairfield County LLC, Surgery Center of Fort Collins LLC, Surgery Center of Lexington LLC, Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Mt. Scott LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Caregivers of Fort Worth LLC, Surgical Center of Greensboro LLC, Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Eye Experts LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgical Management Solutions LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Central Jersey LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Jackson Ltd. a Mississippi Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Minneapolis Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Mobile Ltd., Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, T.M. Carr M.D. P.C., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., THR-SCA Holdings LLC, TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologia de Informacion en Salud S.A., Texas Health Craig Ranch Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Flower Mound Orthopedic Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Orthopedic Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Bedford LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Chisholm Trail LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Irving LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Preston Plaza LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Rockwall LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Southwest Fort Worth LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Waxahachie LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Willow Park LLC, The Advisory Board Company, The Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Eye Surgery Center of the Carolinas L.P., The Intensivist Group of Langhorne LLC, The Lewin Group Inc., The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, The Surgery Center of Easton L.P., The Surgical Center of Connecticut LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Trauma Surgery Affiliates LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, Treasure Valley Emerald Properties LLC, Treasure Valley Hospital Limited Partnership, Tri-City Medical Center ASC Operators LLC, Tri-County Surgery Center LLC, Trinity Cardiovascular Care PLLC, Tufts Health Freedom Insurance Company, Tufts Health Freedom Plans Inc., Tuscaloosa Surgical Center L.P., U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UCSD Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, UCSD Center for Surgery of Encinitas L.P., UCSD Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings I LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings II LLC, UHC Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings Ireland Limited, UHCG Services Ireland Limited, UHCG FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHG Holdings UK IV Limited, UHG Holdings UK V Limited, UHG Holdings UK VI Limited, UHIC Holdings Inc., UMR Inc., UPHT-SCA Holdings LLC, USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors LLC, USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD ASC IV1 LLC, USMD ASC IV2 LLC, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Hospital at Arlington L.P., USMD Hospital at Fort Worth L.P., USMD Inc., USMD PPM LLC, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Medical Park ASC LLC, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., United in Advancing Health Equity Foundation, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Employee Assistance Fund, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group International Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service Beijing Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Medical UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Parekh Insurance TPA Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Rockies Inc., Unity Health Network LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, VPay Benefits Corporation, VPay Inc., VPay Intermediate Holdings LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vascular Labs of the Rockies ASC LLC, Vascular Labs of the Rockies PLLC, Via Vitae MSO LLC, Vida Integra S.p.A., Vida Tres S.A., Virtua-SCA Holdings II LLC, Virtua-SCA Holdings LLC, Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wake Forest Ambulatory Ventures LLC, Walnut Creek Endoscopy Center LLC, Walnut Hill Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center LLC, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., Waypoint Minnesota PC, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, WestHealth JV Holdings LLC, WestHealth Surgery Center LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, Westgreen Surgical Center LLC, Wilson Creek Surgical Center LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, Winter Park Surgery Center L.P., Woodbury Surgery Center LLC, XAS Infusion Suites Inc., XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, divvyDOSE, divvyMED LLC, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative Inc., naviHealth Care at Home LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care SC P.C., naviHealth Holdings LLC, naviHealth Inc., naviHealth Michigan HBPC P.C., and naviHealth SM Holdings Inc.. Read More Under Armour, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the developing, marketing, and distributing performance apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and youth. The company offers its apparel in compression, fitted, and loose fit types. It also provides footwear products for running, training, basketball, cleated sports, recovery, and outdoor applications. In addition, the company offers accessories, which include gloves, bags, headwear, and sports masks; and digital subscription and advertising services under the MapMyRun and MapMyRide platforms. It primarily offers its products under the UNDER ARMOUR, UA, HEATGEAR, COLDGEAR, HOVR, PROTECT THIS HOUSE, I WILL, UA Logo, ARMOUR FLEECE, and ARMOUR BRA brands. The company sells its products through wholesale channels, including national and regional sporting goods chains, independent and specialty retailers, department store chains, mono-branded Under Armour retail stores, institutional athletic departments, and leagues and teams, as well as independent distributors; and directly to consumers through a network of 422 brand and factory house stores, as well as through e-commerce websites. It operates in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Under Armour, Inc. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. WSU Hosts Health Care Case Competition October 26, 2016 OGDEN, Utah Weber State Universitys Department of Health Administrative Services, housed in the Dumke College of Health Professions, will host a health care case competition in the Weber State University Davis Building 3 Lobby on Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. During the competition, teams of graduate students, undergraduate students and high school students will offer solutions to real-world health care situations. Winners will be announced and presented their awards in the WSU Davis Building 3 Lobby at 2 p.m. Each member of the winning high school and undergraduate teams will be awarded a $500 scholarship to WSU. The winning graduate team will receive a sponsorship to a national case competition. The case competition provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate skills and knowledge relevant to careers in health administration, said Macey Buker, the health administrative services program director. In addition, students are able to interact with industry professionals and learn more about the potential career opportunities that exist within the health care industry. Nine teams, each consisting of three to four students, are competing in the case competition. The teams were presented their case scenarios on Oct. 14 and given two weeks to work on their presentations and solutions. Each team category was given a different case scenario. The teams of graduate students were asked to evaluate the organizations of a fictional hospital and provide suggestions to improve operational efficiency. Teams of undergraduate students analyzed the hospitals urgent care center, developed marketing strategies and prepared brochures or other marketing material. Teams of high school students developed a strategy to recruit nurses, including a proposed budget and examples of marketing strategies. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. WSU Hosts 11th Annual Native Symposium October 25, 2016 OGDEN, Utah Weber State University will host a series of events throughout November in honor of Native History Month, culminating with the 11th Annual Native Symposium on Nov. 10. The theme for this years Native Symposium is "Reconciliation After Appropriation: Healing Conversations with Indigenous People. The symposium will begin with a 7 a.m. sunrise ceremony near the flagpoles west of the Val A. Browning Center. Darryl Tonemah, a psychologist and full-blooded Native American of Kiowa, Comanche and Tuscarora heritage, will deliver the keynote speech in the Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater at 9 a.m. Following the keynote speech, a panel discussion will take place in the Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater at 10:30 a.m. A facilitated round-table discussion and luncheon in the Shepherd Union Ballroom will be held at noon. The luncheon is free and open to the public, but those attending are asked to RSVP at native-symposium-luncheon.eventbrite.com. We have a historical problem of not accepting responsibility for our actions in the moment and, to some extent, ever, said Adrienne Gillespie Andrews, WSU chief diversity officer. However, as we witness the increased turmoil around ethnic and racial identity in this nation, it becomes more critical than ever to admit the errors of our ways, to seek forgiveness and to reconcile in meaningful ways. I am hopeful that we can become a part of this national conversation with a particular focus on Native people. Native History Month events will begin on Nov. 1 with a film screening and discussion of Unspoken: Americas Native American Boarding Schools held at Weber State University Davis Building 2 Room 113 at 6 p.m. The movie tells the story of Native Americans stripped of their culture in boarding schools throughout the U.S. A panel discussion featuring John Howe, executive producer at KUED and Davina Spotted-Elk, the Title VII coordinator for the Salt Lake School District, will follow the screening. A discussion titled Does Persecution Still Exist in the Native Community? will be held in the Shepherd Union Room 232, Nov. 3 at noon. Detailed schedule: Nov. 1 Unspoken: Americas Native American Boarding Schools film viewing and discussion, 6 p.m., WSU Davis Building 2 Room 113 Nov. 3 Does Persecution Still Exist? discussion, noon, Shepherd Union Room 232 Nov. 10 Sunrise ceremony, 7 a.m., meet at the flags west of Val A. Browning Center Keynote speech by Darryl Tonemah, 9 a.m., Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater Panel discussion, 10:30 a.m., Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater Facilitated round-table discussion and luncheon, noon, Shepherd Union Ballroom Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Graves County Sheriff identifies and is looking for truck theft suspects Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By The Associated Press Oct. 26, 2016 | 09:41 PM | BENTON, IL A mayor of a city in southern Illinois says he wants to solve the problem of trains that too often block traffic, including sometimes emergency vehicles. Benton Mayor Fred Kondritz tells The Southern Illinoisan that trains can obstruct traffic in the community of 7,000 residents for up to two hours. He's lobbying lawmakers for help in building an overpass that would ensure one part of the community can't be cut off. Kondritz says a friend of his who suffered a heart attack died in an ambulance waiting to get across blocked tracks to a hospital. And he says there have been instances where firetrucks couldn't reach burning structures immediately because of trains. Overpasses can cost millions. But the Benton mayor says the project could end up saving lives. ___ Information from: Southern Illinoisan, http://www.southernillinoisan.com By The Associated Press Oct. 26, 2016 | 05:07 AM | LOUISVILLE, KY A new report says Kentucky's population is expected to increase more than 10 percent between 2015 and 2040, with Jefferson and Fayette counties projected to remain the most populous. The Kentucky State Data Center at the University of Louisville released the new population projections on Tuesday. The projections say 79 of the state's 120 counties are expected to see a decline in population in the 25-year period. Of 41 counties projected to exhibit population growth, 20 are within metropolitan statistical areas and 13 are within micropolitan statistical areas, or areas with smaller urban populations. The other eight are adjacent to either a metropolitan or micropolitan area. The data center says by 2040, Kenton County will drop in rank from third most populous to fifth, while Robertson County is projected to remain Kentucky's smallest county in population. Fulton County was the only county from the Jackson Purchase area to make the top 10 for growth or decline in the state. They rank first for percentage of population loss between 2015 and 2040, a decrease of 36.9 percent. LOCAL DATA from the report for selected counties: Calloway County's population is expected to steadily grow from a 2015 estimate of 38,343 to an estimated 43,503 in 2040. Graves County should also have a consistent population growth pattern, from a 2015 estimate of 37,421 to an estimate of 38,788 people in 24 years. Marshall County is predicted to have a slight population decline, from a 2015 estimate of 31,101 to an estimated 29,980 in 2040. McCracken County is also predicted to decline between now and 2040, but with a slight increase along the way. The 2015 estimate of 65,018 should increase to 65,487 in 2025, then decline to an estimate of 64,273 people. Click the link below to see the data for each county. On the Net: By The Associated Press Oct. 26, 2016 | 09:36 PM | FRANKFORT, KY The presidential race is not the only contest where hard-hitting political ads funded by independent groups are on the rise. Outside political organizations are paying for fliers and TV ads in state-level races across the country this fall, and there's likely to be more of it in the final weeks of the campaign. Liberal and conservative groups have been pumping big sums into the tightest races in states where control of a legislative chamber could flip, such as Kentucky and Washington state. The TV commercials and mailings are funded partially by national groups, and they are going on the offensive with accusations some candidates themselves may not make about their opponents. In most states, the groups behind the spending are barred from coordinating with campaigns. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Like summoning a vampire from the flames of hell, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet reincarnated one of the most enduring and popular ballets in its repertoire as it launched its 2016-17 season with Dracula. Last staged in 2010, Mark Goddens ballet is as fresh and vital as during its October 1998 premiere. Based on Bram Stokers 1897 tale of the notorious villain who wreaks havoc on Victorian society, first attacking Lucy and then Mina in his ultimate, bloodthirsty search for love, this compelling production also attests to the RWBs own phoenix-like ability to battle the vampires fiscal or otherwise lurking in the shadows of so many arts organizations today. One of the battles proved to be replacing principal dancer Liang Xing with soloist Josh Reynolds in the title role with one days notice, owing to a family illness. Now in his second year with the company, the Atlanta-born Reynolds proved his mettle with a brooding, subtly nuanced portrayal oozing with danger from his first sighting to final, sensual pas de deux with Mina. REJEAN BRANDT PHOTO Principal dancer Sophia Lee as Mina, who is seduced by Dracula. Its likely many in the mixed-generation audience went home Wednesday night fearful of things that go bump in the night even ballet dancers. Second soloist Elizabeth Lamont, one of the RWBs brightest, fastest-rising stars, cast her own captivating spell as Lucy, with her prismatic characterization spanning vulnerable innocent to wildcat banshee. Her flailing against Dr. Van Helsings (Thiago Dos Santos) garlic and crucifix also displayed her no-holds-barred bravura, as she hurled her body at her three suitors Jack Seward (Yosuke Mino), Arthur Holmwood (Dmitri Dovgoselets) and Quincy Morris (Tyler Carver) while dancing like a woman possessed. Equally strong is principal dancer Sophia Lee, who shone as the guileless Mina, betrothed to Jonathan Harker (Kostyantyn Keshyshev). Lees chameleonic acting skills and rock-solid technique also created palpable tension with the now smitten Dracula, first rejecting his kiss before becoming magnetized by his fatal charms. Her submission to him and her own perilous id as the vampire pulls her to his bloodied, bare chest near the end screamed with lust, as its own potent antidote to repressive Victorian society. Goddens inventive choreography staddles both contemporary and classical worlds with effective pattern symmetry: duets morph into quartets; quartets expand into ensembles of eight. Dracula shows the strong architectural sense also evidenced in his other ballets, including the critically acclaimed Going Home Star: Truth and Reconciliation, which premiered in 2014. His bag of tricks includes wisely pausing the fast-paced ballets driving narrative with Act IIs comical pantomime, featuring a condensed version of Stokers novel performed by the company in rapid fire. The Red Dance that follows pays homage to classical ballet tradition, in the spirit of a palate-cleansing divertissement. Dracula, now morphed into principal dancer Dmitri Dovgoselets Wolf, partners Yoshiko Kamikusas Red Girl with sky-high leaps and lifts, evoking a bacchanalian (albeit overly lengthy) dance between feral beast and blood itself. It also provides an opportunity for the corps de ballet members to perform as village townspeople; they are otherwise relegated to prim maids, twitchy gargoyles and funereal, black-habited nuns. Seeing Mina in her virginal white gown juxtaposed with the latter ensemble creates fascinating counterpoint and a visual metaphor for the warring forces of good and evil that run throughout the 131-minute (with intermission) show like a leitmotif. Goddens seamless, all-Mahler pastiche score, performed by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra led by Tadeusz Biernacki, is both brilliant and bold. Longtime Godden collaborator Paul Daigles sumptuous costumes range from period gowns and shaggy wigs to more fantastical, deconstructed costume pieces, including red nightshirts and tutus during the bacchanal. His tour-friendly set includes a breakaway four-poster bed, crypt and castle, as well as nightmare-inducing severed heads and flying bats. Lighting designer David Morrison works magic by creating murky shadows as well as eye-popping shards of light streaming into the Draculas Transylvanian crypt that heighten the drama while never obfuscating the dancers. Its a mystery why balletomanes have had to wait six long years to see this powerfully dramatic work, which has retained its death grip on viewers imaginations. Living in todays changing times, it is however both fitting and right for Canadas oldest ballet company to conjure its own ghosts from the past, as it fearlessly stares down demons and steps confidently into its 77th year. holly.harris@shaw.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. They say home is where the heart is but when youre the president of an outlaw biker gang, the courts say home is where the crime is. Former Manitoba Hells Angels leader Ernie Dew has lost his lengthy legal battle against the federal government, which he claimed stole his house by illegally seizing and selling it under proceeds-of-crime legislation. In a decision released earlier this month, the Manitoba Court of Appeal said there was sufficient evidence to conclude an evidentiary link between Dews residence and his criminal transgressions. So the government gets to keep the net mortgage sale proceeds, believed to be more than $100,000. Former Hells Angels president Ernie Dew His home was a shrine to the Hells Angels. He was found to be a Tier 1 drug dealer. He engaged in an unlawful common design to traffic in cocaine. He provided incidental assistance to a police agent to traffic drugs. He engaged in trafficking a vile and serious drug. He demonstrated a lack of clean hands, the court wrote in its decision. Dew, 57, was convicted of cocaine trafficking and possession of goods obtained by crime stemming from a 2006 arrest. He was given two additional years in custody in 2012. Dew was acquitted of another drug offence that involved his home at 189 Cessna Way in St. Andrews. The legal dispute focused on that. (Dews) participation was insufficient to attract criminal responsibility. However, he bears the onus, on a balance of probabilities, to satisfy the court that he is innocent of complicity and collusion. This, he has failed to do, the appeal court wrote. An order of forfeiture would not have a disproportionate effect on (Dew), particularly given the involvement of an organized crime element, (his) criminal record and the gravity of the drug involved. The civil forfeiture case went to trial in 2014, with Dew testifying and denying any criminal acts took place under his roof at least under his watch. That would be the last place Id do a drug deal, Dew said while being cross-examined. He claimed the federal government committed misfeasance of public office and was guilty of conversion, trespass to chattels, unjust enrichment, misfeasance of public office and negligence. The Crown argued Dew would often discuss drug deals inside his home with fellow bikers. We had many conversations, but not about drugs in my house, Dew said. He claims to have been aware of the proceeds-of-crime legislation and was extra careful to avoid linking any criminal acts to his home for that reason. Dew never denied getting involved in several illegal activities but offered a unique explanation for his actions at trial. He claimed he only agreed to sell drugs to his friend, Franco Atanasovic, because the man said he was deep in debt and desperate to pay back several people who were after him. Atanasovic was working as a police agent at the time and helped capture the deals on audio and video. Dew insists he never made a cent from the transactions and was acting as a middleman between Atanasovic and the drug supplier and a peacemaker between those looking to collect from Atanasovic. Dew said Atanasovic was in trouble and began pestering him at work, eventually convincing him to set up three drug deals. The deals were done at Dews workplace, while a fourth one allegedly happened at his home. Dew was later found not guilty in that incident. The judge found Dew was away hunting at the time a kilogram of cocaine was exchanged between Hells associate Jerome Labossiere and Dews wife, Vera Dew. Both Labossiere and Dews wife pleaded guilty for their roles in that transaction. mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It seemed the most obvious, and perhaps insightful, of stories still waiting to be told about Winnipegs next police chief. So, earlier this week, I emailed Danny Smyth with a question: could he arrange an interview for me with his retired police officer father, Stan Smyth? I had admired Danny since he was a rookie constable and the only officer responding to the historically pivotal 1988 shooting of J.J. Harper who resisted the culture of covering up for a fellow officer and simply did his job straight up. Thats one of those defining moments, Danny would tell me this week, thats so early in your career you dont even recognize it. Back then, his father, sergeant Stan Smyth, was an award-winning marksman nearing the end of a career on the firing range, teaching recruits how to safely handle their weapons. And how to shoot straight. On Tuesday, it didnt take the citys next police chief long to check with his widower father and email a response that concluded with a touch of teasing for his old-school dad. He generally is not at a loss for words, Danny wrote. However, when I shared the news with him, he was speechless. Hopefully he will recover and speak with you. Stan will be 84 on Remembrance Day. But when we met this week, what struck me most was how tall, handsome and joyful he remains. Particularly because of what he shouldered when Donna Yeo, the pistol-of-a-girl he met in high school and married, had a devastating stroke that left her unable to talk or walk . And because Stan dutifully and lovingly brought her home and became her primary caregiver; taking her for drives in the countryside every afternoon. He did all of that for the 11 years after Dannys mother had the stroke. For the last 13 years, since Donna has been gone, Stan has lived alone. But on Sundays, Danny and his wife, Cynthia, have him over for dinner, which is where he was last Sunday when they handed him a wine glass even though Stan rarely drinks alcohol. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS New WPS Chief Danny Smyth gets a warm hug from his proud dad, Stan Smyth who also was a police officer. Cynthia poured me some wine, Stan said, reaching his arm out as if he was still in that moment. Then, Danny said, Lets make a toast. We clinked glasses, and he said, I got the job. Well, Im standing, holding the glass, Stan said, his arm still outstretched, still frozen the way it was momentarily Sunday when he learned his son was the next police chief. Speechless, just as Danny joked in the email. Well, almost speechless. I just said, Jeez. Congratulations, Ive been waiting and waiting. Then Danny told his almost-speechless dad not to tell anyone. The public announcement wouldnt be made until Monday. Now it was Wednesday, and Stan was in the elevator at the new police headquarters with Danny, on his way up to the fifth floor where his son works, when someone along for the ride asked the dad if he was proud of his son. Yeah, definitely, Stan said. Then he added a disclaimer: I had nothing to do with it. He did, of course. Fate is lifes wild card. And it was that wild card that brought the child who would be police chief to Smyths door. Donna had already given birth to Debbie, who was six years old, when Danny arrived with a child-care worker. The Smyths had been having trouble conceiving, and the child-care worker asked if they would be interested in seeing a little boy who was just over a year old and walking. Stan had been against adopting. The arrival of the irresistible little guy in their home would change that. A soon as we saw him, Stan recalled, That was it. He didnt make strange or anything like that. So we knew he was the kid for us. Even if he had dark, curly hair, and they didnt. His birth father, it turned out, was Irish, like Stans family. His birth mother was Italian. Even at one year of age, hed give you that big smile. So we fell in love with him. Then Donna got pregnant almost immediately. And along came tall, blond-haired Stanley Smyth Jr. So what was Danny like as a kid? Very outgoing, Stan said. Self-reliant, hard-working, responsible and, of course, bright, too. By 10 or 11, Danny was hanging out at the Public Safety Building with his dad, changing the targets at shooting competitions and then competing as a junior shooter himself. Hes been dragging me around since I was a kid, is the way Danny described it. But even though young Danny might have been destined to be a cop even back then, he went to university thinking he would go into physiotherapy because, well, back then he didnt measure up as Winnipeg police officer He was 5-7, and the minimum height for recruits even as recently as the early 1980s was 5-10. But that was about to change. It has been 30 years since Danny Smyth joined the police service, which he did without telling his father or mother. He did everything on his own, Stan said. There was no push from me. Basically, after he was accepted, he came home and said, Dad, I applied with the police, and I got in. Holy moly, summed up Stans reaction. Danny had quietly signalled his interest in becoming a police officer by working in what amounted to a social worker role at Stony Mountain Institution while he waited for the next police class opening. Between Dannys hanging out at the Public Safety Building and his dad being a strong role model, Danny was destined to be a cop. But Stan wasnt only surprised Danny got in, he was worried. I was concerned because of his stature, you know. I mean, back then, you were hired for your brawn, not brains. I was concerned about his stature, that he would be picked on or beaten up, he said. As for being surprised, that was because Stan didnt know the minimum height had been dropped a year or two earlier. I wondered if Stan ever stopped worrying about Danny because he was far more brain than brawn. Not necessarily. As it turned out Dannys stature would make him the perfect choice of his superiors for undercover jobs. They seemed to think that because of his stature he would make a very good undercover officer. Nobody would believe that this guy here is a cop. Hes too small. His size didnt hurt, either, when Danny was selected for what was then known as the emergency response unit. In fact, it helped when they chose him to be the first officer through a door or even a window. Because Im relatively short, Danny said, its easy to get in and out. Either way, the role as the so-called down man required leading with courage, which Danny Smyth has demonstrated in various ways over his career; including facing the cameras and the barrage of media questions on high profile or controversial cases. Stan witnessed Dannys gift with public speaking much earlier, when his older son gave the eulogy at Donnas memorial service. It was at Chapel Lawn. Stan said Danny spoke so well, and with such presence, one of the staff there mistook him for a clergyman. Hes not a minister, Stan corrected him. Hes my son. Hes a policeman. Stan thinks his sons greatest gift, though, is his fairness. Plus his gift for relationships. I wondered if Stan ever imagined that one day the curly-haired little boy he loved on first sight would grow up to be Winnipegs police chief. No, I didnt, Stan said. I had no indication that he would end up where he is today. In part, thats because Stan remembered what getting to the top was like in his day. It was you pat my back, and Ill pat yours. It was an old boys club. And Stan didnt see Danny being anybodys boy. Except his. It was near the end of our time together that I told Stan, the old firing range instructor, what he has most in common with Danny, the soon-to-be leader of the citys police service. Youre both straight shooters. And, I told Stan, he doesnt have to worry about the stature of his police officer son anymore. It couldnt be any higher. gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/10/2016 (2197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The NDP intends to force the federal government to put its votes where its promises are for First Nations children Thursday. The House of Commons will debate a motion introduced by NDP indigenous affairs critic Charlie Angus calling on Ottawa to immediately invest $155 million more for child-welfare programs on reserves to fulfil the orders made earlier this year by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. I dont know what its going to take for the government to recognize they have to stop discriminating against children, Angus said in an interview with the Free Press. ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The House of Commons will debate a motion introduced by NDP indigenous affairs critic Charlie Angus calling on Ottawa to immediately invest $155 million more for child-welfare programs on reserves to fulfil the orders made earlier this year by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. In January, the tribunal ruled Canada has been discriminating against First Nations children for years by providing much less funding for child-welfare programs for indigenous kids on reserves. Kids receiving help from provincial programs received much better access to services and programs to help their families without forcing them into foster care, the tribunal ruled. In a legally binding decision, the tribunal ordered Ottawa to fix the program and ensure its comparable to services provided to children off-reserve by provincial governments. The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, the main complainant behind the human rights case, estimates it will take $155 million this year alone to bring the program up to par. The federal budget added $71 million to the child-welfare budget this year, part of $8.4 billion in investments for First Nations over the next five years. It is a substantial investment, but much of the funding is in the final two years of the promise, including some not scheduled to be spent until after the next election. The NDP motion also calls on the Liberal government to fulfil its promise on Jordans Principle, which the tribunal also said Ottawa must do. The principle is named after a Manitoba boy who died in hospital while the federal and provincial governments fought about who was responsible for paying for his care once he left the hospital. The motion says the government at the front of a childs case must pay and later sort out with the other level of government who is ultimately responsible. Angus said the government is still fighting against too many families in court who are asking for help for their kids. One case in Alberta, where two doctors have said a child needs dental surgery or she will stop being able to eat, has seen the government spend three times as much on legal fees fighting against funding the surgery as it would have to pay for the surgery in the first place. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Wednesday wouldnt commit to supporting the motion Wednesday, when asked about it by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair during question period. I dont know what its going to take for the government to recognize they have to stop discriminating against children NDP indigenous affairs critic Charlie Angus Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadian governments over the past years and, indeed, generations have failed indigenous people with not giving them the respect, the tools or the support needed to be able to be successful, he said. We know that is something that is going to take time to turn around. It is why we are investing a historic $8.4 billion over the next five years to begin to fix these terrible wrongs. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitobas public housing stock is sorely in need of repair, the provincial cabinet minister responsible said as he addressed a community meeting in Winnipeg on Thursday. Families Minister Scott Fielding said deferred maintenance on provincial public housing buildings is estimated to be more than $500 million, a situation he termed as not acceptable. Fielding said he will travel to Ottawa next week for a meeting of federal, provincial and territorial housing ministers to develop a 10-year national housing strategy. WAYNE GLOWACKI / FREE PRESS FILES Scott Fielding will travel to Ottawa next week for a meeting of federal, provincial and territorial housing ministers to develop a 10-year national housing strategy. At the same time, the provincial government has launched public consultations. The last such process was held six years ago. The province has received about 250 written submissions so far, and stakeholder meetings, such as one that took place Thursday at the Bourkevale Community Centre in Bruce Park, are being held across the province. The Pallister government increased operating funds for housing by $56 million in its spring budget. Tens of millions in federal dollars are expected to flow to Manitoba in the coming months. Manitoba and Ottawa are close to signing a bilateral housing agreement. Fielding acknowledged Manitoba is one of the last provinces to sign a deal, largely due to delays caused by the spring election. Ottawa has said its priorities include affordable housing, seniors housing and shelters for victims of domestic violence, Fielding said. Some elements call for matching provincial funds, and Manitoba will step up to the table, he pledged. We think that housing is a priority in the province here and were going to sign agreements with federal government in a number of areas, Fielding said. He said announcements are expected to made soon. Meanwhile, the provincial NDP challenged the ministers suggestion the Progressive Conservatives were left with a big public housing mess. From April 1, 2013, to Jan 31, 2016, we invested more than $358 million in renovations and repairs. The capital renovations of the past eight years represent the largest investment in social housing in Manitobas history, said NDP spokeswoman Rachel Morgan. Over the past seven years, Manitoba Housing has made significant investments within the provincially owned social housing portfolio, resulting in substantial improvements to many of its buildings, she said. The previous administration increased spending on housing maintenance and improvement by 900 per cent and housing repair and maintenance nearly tripled. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A patient arrived at a hospital emergency room late last year with swelling and redness to their foot and leg. The person stepped on a nail a week earlier and had been placed on antibiotics. Eighteen hours after arriving at the unnamed ER, the patient was found unresponsive. Resuscitation efforts failed. He (or she) died. There is no further explanation in a very brief synopsis of the case contained in a recently released Manitoba Health critical incident report, other than the patient had been receiving intravenous antibiotics as an outpatient and had missed two days of treatment for unknown reasons. JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES When the Free Press pressed the Health Department for further information, it would only say that during the persons final 18 hours in the hospital ER, the patient was assessed, had treatment initiated and received monitored care throughout. The event is one of 47 critical incidents in provincial hospitals and personal care homes reported by the department over a three-month period from Oct. 1 , 2015 to Dec. 31, 2015. Among the nearly four dozen incidents are 12 that resulted in death. The degree of injury in 31 other cases is listed as major. Because of provincial rules designed to encourage health staff to speak openly about adverse incidents, little information about these incidents is made public. The institution is not named, and neither is the region of the province where the incident occurred. No details that would identify the hospital or the patient is released. Even the gender of a patient is not revealed. The province does not release the recommendations that flow from critical incident investigations, a provincial Health Department spokeswoman said. But it may release a patient safety learning advisory report if it is deemed other health institutions could learn from a particular case. No such advisory was issued in the case involving the person who died from complications arising out of the foot infection, she added. Public reporting of critical incidents is minimal. Incident descriptions involving deaths can be as short as a couple of sentences. The language used to describe the incidents is often cryptic, laced with medical jargon and difficult for a layperson to decipher. Take this two-line description of a patient death from the most recent report: Patient diagnosed with cellulitis to their hands deteriorated rapidly over a 24-hour time period. Delay in recognition of signs and symptoms of systemic sepsis resulted in delay in transfer to a higher level of care. Or this description of a major injury in which the patient survived: Patient underwent endoscopy to resolve para-esophageal hernia hernia/volvulus. During the procedure, the stomach was perforated and the liver lacerated. Developed abdominal compartment syndrome. Delay in managing post procedure complications. Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen said some of the descriptions could be made clearer to avoid misinterpretations. Goertzen agreed someone reading the incident report about the person who stepped on the nail might have been left with the impression he or she languished in the ER for 18 hours without treatment. I would agree with you that the summary of that particular incident wasnt overly clear, he said. The critical incident reporting system in Manitoba, he said, attempts to strike a balance between public accountability and ensuring health professionals come forward to talk about incidents so the system can learn about them. They arent a naming-and-shaming exercise, he said. Goertzen said his department is constrained by various provincial laws on what it can reveal, including the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA), which is coming up for its mandated five-year review this fall. We want to ensure there isnt PHIA-noia within the health-care system so that people arent so scared of the PHIA legislation that they arent doing things that the legislation doesnt actually prevent them from doing, he said. The minister also said the rules dont prevent disciplinary action against health-care professionals if their actions go beyond the professional standards we would expect. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An art historian, a lawyer and human rights activist, and an internationally recognized expert in palliative care are Manitobas new appointees to the Canadian Senate. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a total of nine new, non-partisan appointees to the upper house on Thursday. The three new Manitobans named to the Senate Winnipeggers Patricia Bovey, Marilou McPhedran and Harvey Max Chochinov give the province a full complement of six members again for the first time since March 2013. The nine named from across Canada Thursday are the first senators to be chosen under an arms-length process that saw more than 2,700 Canadians apply to fill 21 vacancies in the Red Chamber. Manitobas other senators are Conservative Don Plett, appointed in 2009, and independents Murray Sinclair and Raymonde Gagne, both appointed earlier this year. Manitoba Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson welcomed the new senators: Its great to have more ambassadors for Manitoba, she told reporters. Stefanson said she has not met any of the three during her long political career, and has no idea if any has partisan ties. Asked about the process for appointing senators, Stefanson said, Ill defer to the federal government on that. Meanwhile, in a prepared statement, the provincial NDP said: Congratulations to newly appointed senators Patricia Bovey, Harvey Chochinov and Marilou McPhedran. While we believe that Canada should ultimately dissolve the senate, we recognize their continued contribution and willingness to serve Manitoba. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Pat Bovey, one of three Senate appointees from Manitoba, in her Winnipeg home Thursday afternoon. Marilou McPhedran McPhedran was heading home to the Exchange District on the #18 Main bus around 5 p.m. Tuesday when her cell phone rang. Hello, Marilou this is the prime minister speaking. Trudeau wanted her in Ottawa as soon as possible, but McPhedran was firm that shell first finish the human rights course shes currently teaching at Global College. I said, I will not let my students down, sir,, she told Trudeau. Her students gave her an ovation Thursday when she arrived for class, and McPhedran cried. Its going to be very difficult to give up students, said McPhedran, who already has checked with the Senate ethics commissioner and says shes been told she can teach a human rights course in Winnipeg each summer, without pay. McPhedran is a human rights lawyer and professor, currently the director of the Institute for International Womens Rights at Global College of the University of Winnipeg, where she was a founding director and has taught for eight years. In 2012 she was seconded to the Geneva office of the United Nations Population Fund as senior human rights specialist, and has taught in the masters program at the UN-affiliated University for Peace in Costa Rica. Advocating for womens rights in the Constitution, McPhedran in 1985 was the youngest lawyer ever named to the Order of Canada. Last year, McPhedran spent almost the entire year co-chairing an Ontario government inquiry into the sexual abuse of patients, flying four or five times a week while still carrying a full teaching load at the U of W. McPhedran said that the Liberals, New Democrats, Tories and Greens have all asked her to run for office over the years, and shes at times taken out memberships for several parties while supporting a friends candidacy. Shes held a Liberal Party card for two years and donates to the LIberals and NDP. Ive annoyed so many people over the years and has a very assertive nature, laughed McPhedran, so she figured shed never hold office. I come out of a fairly combative legal tradition. Her family persuaded her to apply to be a senator, said McPhedran, whos 65. They were very strong in believing this is something I should do. Of course, I want to be on the human rights committee. I have a very strong interest in foreign affairs, and in implementing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Senator Murray Sinclair will accompany McPhedran when shes sworn in as a senator. The time of reconciliation that is upon us absolutely requires the full-scale commitment of all of us, she declared. The courses shes taught at the University of Winnipeg for the past eight years all involved working in a collaborative style, she explained. Dialogue is a very specific skill we teach. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Marilou McPhedran is a Canadian lawyer and human rights advocate. Harvey Max Chochinov Chochinov, 58, a psychiatrist, is recognized internationally as a scholar, researcher and proponent of palliative care. He chaired a national committee that consulted with Canadians and recommended legislative options to the Trudeau administration on the thorny issue of medical assistance in dying. He was appointed to that position by the former Harper government. Born in Winnipeg, the longtime University of Manitoba professor of psychiatry, grew up in the North End and Garden City. He received most of his medical training at University of Manitoba and also studied in New York. In an interview Thursday, he said he was profoundly humbled and honoured by the appointment. Chochinov said he has no ties to the Liberal party, but he acknowledged a great admiration for retired Liberal Senator Sharon Carstairs, who worked tirelessly to promote improved palliative care in Canada. I think that the service that she provided to Canadians and certainly her role in palliative care in this country has been extraordinary, he said. Chochinov said that in a telephone conversation with Trudeau on Wednesday, the prime minister underscored that he would be serving in an independent, non-partisan fashion. Certainly he mentioned that there may be particular issues because of my affiliations with palliative care and issues pertaining to end-of-life care that would be of interest. And he hoped that I would be able to participate in that very important dialogue. Chochinov said his training as an academic and his ability to look at detailed information and provide a balanced view likely contributed to his selection. A biographical note supplied by the federal government said Chochinovs work has transformed his field and improved the care and compassion provided to dying patients in Canada and around the world. He has been a guest lecturer at universities across Canada, the United States and abroad. Between 1987 and 2010, he also served as an itinerant, fly-in psychiatric consultant to The Pas. Chochinov, who is married with two grown daughters, is a recipient of the Order of Canada. On Thursday, he said his long career in palliative care has taught him important lessons about humility, the importance of compassion, kindness and human vulnerability. I think all of those insights and wisdom that I hopefully gathered along the way will serve me well in the role as senator, he said. SUPPLIED Harvey Chochinov: 'I think all of those insights and wisdom that I hopefully gathered along the way will serve me well in the role as senator' Patricia Bovey Bovey, 68, is a longtime art historian, curator and former director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Shes taught at the university level and served on such boards as the National Gallery of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts. I feel very humbled. I feel very excited and looking forward to doing all I can to work on the issues we face as Canadians, she said in an interview. Bovey said she believes her extensive arts background was key to her appointment, although shes also held several administrative positions and, until recently, served as chair of the board of governors at the University of Manitoba. She got the call from Prime Minister Trudeau late Wednesday afternoon. We had a conversation about the changes hes making in the Senate, and he was very clear that he expects us to make significant contributions to the overall work of the Senate and help work on the challenges and opportunities that face the country, she said. We spoke about the role and importance of arts and culture. He also very much underlined the fact that I will be there sitting as an independent, absolutely non-partisan. Asked if she had ties to the Liberal party, Bovey said: No, Im absolutely apolitical. And over the years Ive had appointments by parties of all political stripes. Bovey grew up in Crescentwood and went to university in Toronto. She worked at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in the 1970s as curator of traditional art, spent 20 years working in British Columbia and returned to the WAG as director from 1999 to 2004. While in B.C.,she served as board chair of Emily Carr University of Art and Design. In her career, she has also served as a consultant for small arts organizations across the country. She clearly articulates the importance of art and culture to social and economic wellbeing, and has increased access to the arts through her leadership and innovative work, according to the biographical note that accompanied her appointment. She has facilitated the health of community arts organizations through governance stability and audience engagement, and given voice to artists work, including Indigenous creators, through research, publications, ground-breaking exhibitions and new public programs. Bovey has participated in federal and provincial cultural policy reviews as well as in the drafting of ethical guidelines for Canadian museums. She has two grown daughters. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Pat Bovey: 'I feel very humbled' Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Manitoba Conservative MP Ted Falk says the federal government is trying to fix a non-existent problem with legislation that protects gender identity and expression under the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code. During a justice committee meeting studying Bill C-16 Tuesday, Falk said instead of using studies and research to prove existing laws arent good enough, the government brought in the law because of people that have been effective in their advocacy. My point is I believe strongly that when we make decisions in government it should be evidence-(based) and fact-based, Falk said in a heated exchange with Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould. I see that missing here. FRED CHARTRAND / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Conservative MP Ted Falk (Provencher) He said the human rights law and the Criminal Code are adequate to prosecute cases of discrimination against transgender people even though they are not explicitly named in either. Deputy justice minister William Pentney said currently, someone would have to make a specific argument that gender identity and expression are included in the broad scope of the human rights law or under the Criminal Code, and it is possible both could be interpreted in a narrow fashion to exclude them. However, neither Wilson-Raybould nor Pentney could think of a case where that has happened. Falk demanded Wilson-Raybould produce a study that shows transgender Canadians cannot use existing laws to fight discrimination. When she struggled to remember the full name of one such study she had referenced earlier, and was given the name by committee chairman and Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, Falk scoffed. Thats wonderful, he said. Now we have the chairman helping you out. Wilson-Rayboulds voice was cold when she responded. Im answering your question, and I would ask for the respect to hear the response, she said. I dont understand where this acrimony is coming from. I was answering your question. Im sorry I didnt remember the name of the study off the top of my head. OK, I accept that, Falk replied. The Provencher MP maintains the Liberal government has been swayed by emotion rather than evidence. I want to state that Im against discrimination as well but there are many minority groups with a much larger representation than the trans group people that dont have that explicitly in legislation today, and why would you offer one group explicitly, like youre offering people on the basis of sexual orientation and expression, when there are many other minority groups which maybe perhaps also could benefit? he asked. Why would you offer one group explicitly, like youre offering people on the basis of sexual orientation and expression, when there are many other minority groups which maybe perhaps also could benefit? Manitoba Conservative MP Ted Falk Wilson-Raybould looked surprised and said she would love it if Falk could tell her what other groups he was talking about because she would like to ensure all groups feel protected. She said the size of a group needing protection is irrelevant. Human rights are human rights, and we need to ensure whether its a small group of people or a large group of people, that we provide protection for those individuals, she said. Falk did not offer Wilson-Raybould any examples of who he was referring to, and his office did not respond to a question about the matter Thursday. In July, Falk was criticized for refusing to attend the gay pride parade in Steinbach in his riding. He initially said he had a scheduling conflict but later said he wouldnt go even if he didnt have a conflict because his values and faith do not allow it. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg police officer has been charged with dangerous driving after a crash last winter that happened while he and a passenger, who is also a police officer, were off-duty. Andrew Stevenson, 27, has been charged with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after the March 12, 2016 collison that saw his vehicle crash into a parked car in a city residential neighbourhood around 3:20 a.m. At the time, a conflict of interest with the provinces Independent Investigation Unit led to Manitoba Justice asking the RCMP to step in and investigate. Saskatchewan RCMP announced the charge via a news release Thursday but didnt release more details. When asked whether Stevenson is a police officer, F Division RCMP Sgt. Jason Kerr would only say we do not release details of a persons employment. A WPS spokeswoman confirmed Stevenson is a member of the city police force but said the service cant comment because the case is now before the court. The crash caused extensive damage to both vehicles and a fire hydrant, according to a news release issued by Manitoba Justice in March. One of the off-duty officers was taken to hospital by ambulance and the other was treated at the scene. Stevenson is set to appear in court Dec. 15. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Winnipeg School Division is exploring how it could partner with a band school if the Kapyong land in River Heights becomes an urban reserve. Thats why (chief superintendent) Pauline Clarke and I went to Brokenhead First Nation, board chairwoman Sherri Rollins said Thursday. The bands involved in that all want multi-use residential, Rollins said. Im making sure Im working in partnership with (Liberal MP) Jim Carr about Kapyong. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The grass is mowed at the grounds of Kapyong Barracks Monday. Rollins said WSD schools in the area are crowded, but the division has placed a request for a new and much larger Sir William Osler School in its five-year capital forecast to accommodate both potential students from Kapyong housing projects and from the continued strong demand for French immersion and milieu programming. Rollins said the partnership between Waywayseecappo First Nation and Park West School Division could serve as a model for how WSD could work with children living on an urban reserve on Kenaston Boulevard. While some reserve schools have contracted out their schools operation to the Frontier School Division, Waywayseecappo became part of Park West in a formal partnership in which the reserve still operates its own school. Waywayseecappo has a trustee from the reserve, and there are non-indigenous students in Rossburn who go to the reserve for some classes. As part of the public school system, while still being a reserve school, with its teachers working under the terms of Park Wests collective agreement, Waywayseecappo receives funding from Ottawa at public-school levels rather than at the much lower rates most band schools receive. An aide to Education Minister Ian Wishart said its premature to speculate on what may happen at Kapyong, but, We look forward to working together with the federal government on ways to improve opportunities for Manitoba students. Rollins was surprised the Waywayseecappo and Park West partnership is the only one in Manitoba. Its been going on a decade that shouldnt be a pilot, she said. At what point do we get that? Its not an experiment, we know it works lets replicate it. Rollins repeated a message shes been delivering since taking over as chairwoman: public school divisions that receive First Nations students who come to the city to finish senior high school need far greater per-student funding from Ottawa. Those students are behind their peers because of federal underfunding and need significant help and resources to graduate, she said. Well continue to have (lost) generations if they dont pick up the ball already, Rollins said. Meanwhile, not only has WSD heard nothing from the Pallister government on its proposal for a new and larger Osler school, the division is still awaiting word whether its top priority approved by the former NDP government will go ahead with a new school in the Waterford Green development in the northwest corner of the city. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Four years ago, optimism was high that AIDS was in retreat and could ultimately be eradicated. Back then, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was boldly predicting the end of AIDS by 2030. Nobody is feeling that optimistic now. New HIV infections, after dropping steadily for the 10 years before 2005, more or less stabilized at two million a year in the last decade. The annual death toll from AIDS has also stabilized at about 1.5 million a year. But the future looks grimmer than the present. Two-thirds of all HIV-positive people (24 out of 36 million) are in Africa, and an even higher proportion of the AIDS deaths happen there. If it were not for Africa, the predictions of four years ago would still sound plausible. So whats wrong with Africa? Two things: its poor and there are cultural practices that facilitate the spread of the HIV virus. DOMINIC CHAVEZ / BOSTON GLOBE files A woman holds her niece who is HIV-positive. HIV and AIDS continue to be a problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The great achievement of the International AIDS Conference that was held in Durban 16 years ago was to break the grip of the big pharmaceutical companies on the key drugs that were already making HIV-positive status a lifelong nuisance rather than a death sentence in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, the drugs were so expensive that the vast majority of Africans could not afford them so they died instead. In a diplomatic and media battle that lasted for almost a decade in the late 1990s and early 2000s, African countries managed to shame the big pharmaceutical companies into accepting the importation of much cheaper, generic versions of the main anti-retroviral drugs mainly from Brazil, India and Thailand for use in poor African countries. The western drug companies not only dropped their collective lawsuit against the South African government in defence of their patents, some of them even began providing their own patent drugs to the African market at 1/10 or even 1/20 of the price they charged elsewhere. A widely used course of treatment that cost $10,000 a year in the U.S. at the time became available to Africans at a price of about US$100 a year. Many HIV-positive Africans could not even afford that amount, but western governments and private foundations also began providing major funding for anti-HIV programs in Africa including US$8.6 billion in 2014. (Eighty per cent of the money comes from the United States and the United Kingdom.) The continents death rate from AIDS went into a temporary steep decline, but it is now heading back up for a number of reasons. The main one is that resistance to the standard mix of drugs has grown into a major problem. The second-line treatment, using newer drugs and still available at the African discount, costs US$300 per person, per year and resistance is also apparent in 30 per cent of those cases. The third-line or salvage treatment costs US$1,900 a year, even in Africa. The governments cant afford it, and very few Africans have medical insurance. Drug resistance has been growing in the developed world too, of course, but the solution there is to move HIV-positive people onto newer combinations of drugs that are far more expensive. The cost of treatment in the U.S. today can be higher than $20,000 a year. Not one African in a thousand can afford that. African governments will probably have to wage another long diplomatic and media battle to access generic or cut-rate versions of the best new drugs. In the meantime, a great many people will die. And this is happening just as the amount of funding from western sources for anti-HIV programs in Africa has gone into decline: donations last year were down by almost US$1 billion. The other specific reason for sub-Saharan Africas much higher rate of HIV infections is cultural. What that means, in plain English, is that sexual traditions are different there: premarital and extra-marital sex is commonplace. Moreover, older men often exploit their relative wealth and power to have unprotected sex with many young women and girls. The situation in sub-Saharan Africa is almost bound to get worse, not better, because the 15-24 age group the most likely one to become infected is growing explosively fast. They number about 200 million now, but that will double to 400 million by 2040. Africa has long been the world capital of HIV and AIDS, and it is likely it will remain so for the foreseeable future. Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. HALIFAX Canadas new Liberal government is learning the hard way that in multilateral trade agreements, agriculture and food always create a recipe for contentious debates. Farmers in Belgium have stalled the European Unions ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) by voting against it. Many other factions within France, Poland, Spain, Bulgaria and Austria have reservations, but only the small French-speaking southern Belgian region of Wallonia rejected the agreement before its final approval. Despite the setback, the European Council continues to work toward signing CETA. But with 28 member states and divergent agricultural interests, finding common ground in the EU is challenging. Anyone who has travelled in Europe can appreciate how different regions have varying relationships with food. European food economies are largely regional, with a wide mix of local products. Opening Europe to foreign food products only creates more unease, since North America and Europe have very different agricultural economies. So the deal Canada and the EU signed a few years ago but that is just now being ratified is an enigma. Many Europeans argue that genetically modified crops and corporate farming define Canadian food systems. For them, the deal is toxic, surrendering to the dictatorship of corporations. They see CETA as a real threat to local agriculture, which is intertwined with centuries-old gastronomic cultures. In truth, Canada is just a footnote compared to the massive economic clout of the United States. So CETA is more of an inconvenience for farming in Europe than the real menace a deal with the U.S. would represent. And ratifying CETA could be a way for the EU to demonstrate it can survive Great Britains exit from the union and move beyond constitutional hiccups. For Canadas agricultural industries, a ratification of CETA would be celebrated. The deal would establish an animal protein and milk exchange between two continents. Canada could sell more pork and beef to Europe and the EU could ship more processed milk. This would be good for our cattle and hog sectors, which are in dire need of new markets. On the other hand, our dairy sector would receive a well-needed shakeup since more foreign cheese would enter our market exempt from tariffs. Canadian dairy processors would need to become more competitive, to the delight of Canadian consumers. Our dairy industry has certainly increased its competitiveness in recent years, with more mergers and acquisitions. And we should expect continued market movement beyond our prehistoric supply management approach, which treats the consumer as an afterthought. More broadly, CETA would also allow Canada to take a significant step toward becoming a recognized player in the global marketplace. We should applaud the former Conservative government for its foresight in initiating the CETA deal. In doing so, it beat the U.S. to the punch. Canada is pushing to the finish line on this deal while America has barely advanced in its quest to sign a similar pact with Europe. (It will be interesting to see how Americans proceed with a new tenant moving into the White House in just a few months.) A completed CETA would give Canada a significant trading advantage. We would become the only country in the world involved with two significant continental trade deals. With CETA and the North American Free Trade Agreement, Canada becomes the portal between two mega markets, the U.S. and Europe. But if CETA fails, it would be a gigantic missed opportunity. And we shouldnt get our hopes up. The world has become much more protectionist. A CETA deal is unlikely to survive a long, politically charged ratification process. That CETA is even on life-support is a miracle; its difficult to see how the Trans-Pacific Partnership of Pacific Rim countries can be completed now. We can hold out hope that CETA still happens because of Canadas relatively insignificant reputation in the trading world. If it fails, there is a decent consolation prize from an agricultural trade perspective on the horizon: the United Kingdom is looking for new trade partners now that it is preparing its withdrawal from the EU. Canada just may get the agricultural trade recipe right, after all. Sylvain Charlebois is dean of the Faculty of Management and professor in the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University. Troy Media Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/10/2016 (2197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Side hustle, gig economy, job hopping. Ive been hearing those buzzwords a lot lately, in almost always positive contexts. They have such a fun energy, dont they? So cool. So glamorous. So millennial. Were all such creative free-spirits, flitting from job to job like the unique butterflies we are, all out there hustling to achieve our goals. I know many people of my generation people born from 1981 to 2000 who prefer to do their own thing as opposed to work for the Man, or whatever millennials call the Man. Or they legitimately prefer to work contract to contract. Or they move around a lot. ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Minister of Finance Bill Morneau But I cant help but wonder if, for the most part, buzzwords such as side hustle and gig economy and job hopping are just a clever bit of marketing, one that sexes up a pretty grim reality. Theyre like Instagram filters. Side hustle sounds better than working three jobs to make rent. Gig economy sounds better than the places I work for will never hire me full time. Job hopping makes a choice out of what is often a circumstance. So, too, do terms such as encore career, which refers to a post-retirement gig that is supposed to fill your life with continued purpose and meaning, because everyone knows paid work is the only path to a full life. Also, encore career sounds better than you will work until the grave. Those terms are aspirational, of course. They conjure images of an ambitious, free-wheeling person who doesnt want to be tied to a desk or shackled by a mortgage. And you can never be rendered useless or irrelevant if you have an encore career. Everyone applauds an encore. Somehow it became accepted that all of this is OK, because millennials dont want outmoded things such as job security, advancement, steady paycheques and retirement funds anyway. Except, of course, that many of us do. Because many of us have things such as mortgages and kids and bills and debt. Look no further than the delegates who turned their backs on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a youth labour forum Tuesday. Some heckled and booed, expressing frustration with a host of issues, including pipelines, electoral reform and precarious work, responding to Finance Minister Bill Morneau saying Canadians should get used to job churn. We do not want to get used to job churn. For those trying to make a living in it, the gig economy isnt what its cracked up to be, and whats sold as freedom and flexibility can often be anything but. Temporary or contract employees often arent included in a companys benefit plan. Ask an underemployed 20-something the last time they saw a dentist. Going from contract to contract requires strict budgeting and, in many cases, a credit card to fill in the gaps. And those credit cards often carry balances, not because millennials are particularly obsessed with luxury goods but because they have bills to pay. Freelancers know all too well that sometimes the cheque is not, in fact, in the mail, and may not be in the mail for months. And Im not just talking about permalancers in creative jobs such as graphic design or writing. Job churn is happening in the trades, too. So why is a tough-to-sustain, not-for-everyone lifestyle being spun as the bright future of work? My generation is burned out and anxiety-ridden, and its little wonder. Its stressful to not know where your next paycheque is coming from. Were trying to find ways to do more with less, and to multitask which, as any psychologist can tell you, is not actually a thing human brains can do very well. And you cant ever unplug. If you do, you might miss out on the next contract, on the next hustle. My generation is also seeing firsthand just how possible it is to be underemployed and overworked. Some might claim their side hustles are about finding the creative fulfillment their soul-sucking cubicle farm job doesnt provide, but, guess what? Theyre still work in addition to a day job. Millennials are often admired for their plucky entrepreneurial spirit. But that spirit doesnt always translate into a new business. Its pretty hard to take a big financial risk if youre still paying off the student debt from the degree you were told you needed for a job that no longer exists. This conversation usually becomes an unproductive Which Generation Really Had It Worse? contest. Its not a contest. This is a reality young people deal with. They are boxed out of the housing market in many areas. Its getting more expensive to live, not less. So its galling that were assigning cutesy names to a system that exploits young, hungry workers by sending them the message they should be grateful for the scraps of employment theyve been given. So, millennials: get a side hustle, if you want to. Job hop, if you want to. Die at your desk, if you want to. But it should be because you want to, not because you have to. jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @JenZoratti Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The ghosts of health care past may be about to haunt the Pallister government. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has announced it is currently operating at a loss 30 times greater than what it lost last year. Meanwhile, theres been some sharp talk from the federal minister of health regarding health-care funding and whats viewed by the provincial ministers as cuts. All of this may make the premier already a bit of a Halloween skeptic want to hide under his bed until Nov. 1, lest he have to deal with opposition members moaning about the spectre of nurses fired from the Filmon past. No one can blame the government for being concerned about the cost of health care. It consumes more than 40 per cent of the provincial budget the largest percentage of all the departments. Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen is launching an innovation and sustainability review of health services and, at the same time, an overhaul of the provinces five regional health authority boards is expected soon. All this in a bid to find ways to cut costs without jeopardizing quality of care. Lets be fair. Its not just the Pallister government that is dealing with this reality. As the meeting last week with the federal health minister and her provincial counterparts, health-care funding remains a top-of-mind issue. During an election, it makes cheap fodder for political gain. Indeed, in the last provincial election, the NDP reminded Manitobans that the former Conservative government under Gary Filmon made serious cuts to health care. What they failed to mention is those cuts were occurring across Canada. It had little to do with ideology and more to do with necessity. ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS Health Minister Jane Philpott A decade ago, another federal Liberal government thought it had the solution to health-care disputes with its accord designed to fix medicare. But it hardly did that and now that this accord has ended, first ministers are negotiating a new one to replace it. Health Minister Jane Philpott has chastised the provinces for not transforming the system and cutting wait times, which was the intention behind the previous accord. Ms. Philpott is not far off the mark. While health care in the last decade has certainly made some significant gains in cutting wait times for fracture repair and radiation surgery, there are still ongoing concerns for elective procedures such as cataract surgery. According to a report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information released in March 2016, Manitoba has improved its performance in reaching the benchmark for wait times, but its still below 70 per cent for hip and knee replacements. Its below 50 per cent for cataract surgery. This despite the fact the former government increased spending in health care as a way of providing an edge against the opposition Conservatives. Now in power, Premier Brian Pallister and Mr. Goertzen are going to have to make some tough decisions about health care, funding and innovation. It will no doubt start with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority as it struggles to meet its funding objectives. It will end with an examination of overall health-care spending across the province. It wont have anything to do with ideology. It will have everything to do with stemming the money flow. And the NDP shouldnt say boo about that. There have been days when Nathan Franklin has looked up, sees where hes at in life, and can only be amazed and filled with wonder. I always did a little bit better than people thought I could, said Franklin, who works as a government relations representative with Dairyland Power Cooperative. When he started out working as a director of operations in the northwestern part of the state, he didnt know then his government work would lead him to a staff position in the Wisconsins Assembly, nor did he know hed work for Gov. Jim Doyle. Coming from the Midwest, he said, specifically from a rural background on a dairy farm, Franklin was never averse to hard work. I was kind of used to life being exhausted and tough, he said. Still, he kept plugging along, and the exhaustion and tough work eventually led him to become what he called a kind of organizational diplomat. Franklin works on communication, public relations, governmental relations, education and advocacy for Dairyland Power. I cover a pretty broad swath of topics, he said, almost as broad as Dairylands coverage area. His work includes everything from the expansion of pollinator habitats to local chamber strategic planning. But, his real motivation came when he got married and helped raise his two children. Its not about you anymore, Franklin said of his realization. Its more than you now. But, Franklins always focused on others. His focus, he said, has been how to bring people of different backgrounds together on a specific issue. The variety of experiences Ive had helps me empathize with different viewpoints, he said. I grew up in the country, but have spent a lot of time living and working in great Wisconsin cities. Not long after moving to La Crosse, Franklin said, the neighborhood association movement was really taking off. He worked with others to launch the Holy Trinity-Longfellow Neighborhood Association on La Crosses South Side, and he also engaged heavily in the discussion to preserve branch libraries. Although Franklin and his family have since moved into a more rural area, hes still dedicated to his work in the city, especially with the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. His boss, Brian Rude, noted Franklins many accomplishments when he nominated him for Rising Stars Under 40, which include his distinguished work on former Gov. Doyles staff, in the Wisconsin Assembly, his ability to build a bridge between those in Madison and Washington D.C., and his work in the greater La Crosse area, which itself chairing the Chambers government action committee. Franklin also chairs the Board of Customers First Coalition at the state level, which focuses on energy policy, as well as sits on the board of Trees for Tomorrow, among other advocacy work relating to transportation and renewable energy. Hes bright, hard-working, experienced, Rude said. And, hes likely to be a force in the industry and community in the future. For Franklin, his accomplishments are a vital part of his own story, but its a story he couldnt have written without the help of others. I just kept plugging along, Franklin said, and one day I looked and there I was. Two years ago, I was at the White House, taking part in energy policy discussions that included the presidents chief of staff and the secretary of energy. Literally the next day I was milking cows for my dad, so he could take a vacation. For Franklin, it reminded him how far hed come, but also how important it is for him to stay connected to his roots. Both of those narratives are vital to who I am and who I always will be, he said. Tyler Eldridge says he could never repay his mother for the time she got him arrested. Eldridge back then was on a major bender, using copious amounts of a synthetic drug called plant food and refusing altogether to leave his house out of fear the shadow people might finally get him. He had been released from jail two years earlier possession of methamphetamine and had told his mother that, if things ever got really bad, she should go ahead and call the authorities. I was in hell, Eldridge said Wednesday, speaking at the Summit on Substance Abuse hosted by the Winona County Justice Coordinating Council. I felt like I was beaten up. I threw in the white flag. The extent to which Eldridge was consumed by drugs is not uncommon not in Winona County or anywhere else. Addiction usually takes hold when people are young, and usually gets worse before it gets better. In the 2013 Minnesota Student Survey, 28 percent of high-school juniors in Winona County reported they had recently used alcohol. Twenty percent reported they had recently used marijuana. While most students who use drugs or alcohol are able to keep their consumption in check, there are a good many whose lives instead spin out of control. Eldridge, who says he has been clean for nearly two years, was joined by two other recovering drug abusers at the summit. The trio used to get high together, but they served together as panel members Wednesday, discussing the dark times in their lives and the forces that helped pull them someplace brighter. I had a surgery, Ashley Gore said. I got prescription pills. I was in a domestic abuse relationship, and they gave me an escape from everything. She continued to abuse pills until her doctor stopped writing her prescriptions, at which point she found her escape in plant food and methamphetamine. I lost everything thankfully, I didnt lose my kids completely, said Gore, who went in and out of treatment six or seven times. She says shes been clean for a year. I changed my thinking from negative to positive, she said. It just clicked. It worked for me. Im finishing my nursing assistant training, taking classes, transitioning toward getting my kids back. Wednesdays summit included taped messages from U.S. Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, who credited the prevention and treatment programs in Winona County and called for a collaborative approach in how communities handle addiction. They said many drug abusers should go through drug court and be kept out of the traditional justice system, that treatment programs should be made more accessible and that doctors should exercise greater caution when writing prescriptions. Melissa Adolfson, the summits keynote speaker and an epidemiologist from St. Paul, said addiction is strongly linked to mental illness, a connection that makes both issues harder to address. You need to treat both, she said. Max Ruff started using drugs when he was 10 and went to treatment for the first time when he was 15. He moved from marijuana to cocaine and binge-drank all the way through taking everything thats bad, he said. I wasnt just addicted to the drugs, he said. I was addicted to a fast life, committing crimes and making bad choices. In drug court, I had to humble myself and do things I didnt want to do. Now Im a member of society again. Im grateful for that. I wasnt just addicted to the drugs. I was addicted to a fast life, committing crimes and making bad choices. I had to humble myself and do things I didnt want to do. Now Im a member of society again. Im grateful for that. Max Ruff The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will host the ninth biennial Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party, Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Valencia Arts Center. This years Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party will feature two tea sittings at 1 and 4 p.m. Specialty teas and exquisite finger foods will be served. Additionally, the Land of the Sweets Gift Boutique, featuring holiday gifts and crafts, is available to the public from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for children and $18 for adults. All children attending the tea party will receive a complimentary photo with their favorite character from the Nutcracker Ballet. Tea attendees will enjoy the sounds of live music and a dance demonstration by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea party is the first big event of the Nutcracker production season for MCA and its performing group, the Dance Repertory Company. The company will present the full-length ballet Nov. 30 through Dec. 4 at Saint Marys Universitys Page Theatre. This years cast totals more than 90 members, including students from Saint Marys, Winona State University, and children and community members from the Winona area. For tickets to the production, participants can call 507-457-1715 or visit www.pagetheatre.org. Proceeds from the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party go toward the MCA Nutcracker production costs and student scholarship fund. Im sure many of you are eager to see the end of what has been one of the most vicious, divisive political campaigns in many decades. While the end is nearly in sight, it may be wishful thinking that the intense partisanship and division of the last 18 months will disappear in the wake of Nov. 8. I frequently urge audiences, particularly audiences of younger voters, to think about what the role of government should be. But it is also important that we reflect on the role of other institutions as we move ahead collectively as a country post-election. In a recent interview, David Brooks, a conservative columnist for the New York Times, observed, I happen to think we are now in a culture thats over-politicized and under-moralized. I think he means that we need to rely on our religious, educational, and philanthropic institutions to combat the political dialogue that makes it seem we have less in common than we do. It is often these nonpolitical, nongovernmental institutions that can help us find common ground. In one of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundations 30 interviews conducted for our 30th anniversary, former board chair Jean Burkhardt reflected, Someone once described foundations as societys passing lane. They are able to see things that need to be fixed or enhanced and can take immediate action. I think that is because these neutral, common sense-based entities help unite us. The world of politics is too often about division and disagreement. In the foundation world, our mantra is collaboration. We are about getting things done rather than pointing fingers and placing blame. This month, SMIF celebrated its 30th anniversary at our annual luncheon and open house. At the luncheon, I announced the foundations new brand, emphasizing something that has always been in SMIFs DNA: collaboration. Since 1986, SMIF has actively worked for regional vitality by relying on our regions innate understanding that more can happen together. Neighbors help neighbors, businesses invest in their communities and individuals give back to a place they love through time and money. At the board alumni gathering that was also part of our 30th celebration, founding board member Denis Warta of New Ulm stated, Weve been plowing the ground for 30 years, and the new logo makes sense to me showing that there is new growth in our region because of the work of SMIF and its partners. SMIF can point to many ways that this collaborative approach produces larger-scale outcomes. Last week, the Grow a Farmer Fund a partnership of the FEAST Local Food Network, Slow Money Minnesota, Renewing the Countryside and many others brought together more than 200 donors to raise $25,000. This fund will deepen SMIFs ability to invest in the regions local foods system by providing flexible, low-cost financing for small-scale farmers. With this latest fundraising effort, SMIF and partners now have roughly $85,000 in the Grow a Farmer Fund. Over the years, one of SMIFs most successful collaborative initiatives has been the seeding and supporting of new community foundations (now 26) to enable communities to retain philanthropic dollars at a local level and invest in new community projects. Another collaborative success is forming 23 Early Childhood Initiatives (ECI), which are cross-sector coalitions intended to address early childhood needs within communities. At the Annual Luncheon, I announced $300,000 in Community Collaboration Grants available to these community foundations and ECIs to either initiate or deepen a collaborative project. I do want to acknowledge that the work of collaboration is not always easy. But collaboration moves us toward solutions and progress by seeking common ground, leveraging resources and building on assets. That is why I am proud to announce SMIFs new tagline: Collaborating for Regional Vitality. In the vast universe, planet Earth is a mere speck of dust, but it has been able to richly bless us with all that is needed to provide and sustain life. Whether we believe that it was created by a higher power or that it naturally evolved, we must all have an abiding respect for our precious planet and place its preservation above our material wants. Donald Trump, speaking before a gathering of coal and oil industry executives, said, in his narcissistic fashion: You are going to love me. Im going to do away with all those regulations. In another speech he stated: We have all those atomic weapons; why dont we use them? Perhaps Donald still has the brain of a teenager, not yet fully developed. The part called the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, that part of the brain that affects decision making and understanding of future consequences. If elected, Donald could slowly destroy our planet environmentally or do it quickly by triggering a nuclear cataclysm. Donald has praised Vladimir Putin, a dictator who murders opponents and suppresses free speech and a free press. During a recent visit to Stockholm, Sweden, my wife and I had the privilege and pleasure of having breakfast with Stefan Lofren, the prime minister. We discussed the Swedish migration to Minnesota and also his concerns of a Trump presidency, because candidate Trump has indicated that he would take the U.S. out of NATO, the main deterrent to Russian expansionistic ambitions. The Democrats may be worried but the Europeans are scared to death. When I hear Donald saying he will make America great again, it reminds me of when Hitler was saying, We are going to make Germany great again. Donalds grandparents came from Kallstadt, Pfaiz, Germany near a village called Frankenstein coincidence? The GOP created the monster, now he is trying to destroy his creator! And Halloween is so close. Dale Lindstrom, Alma Matt Schmit asserts that he is a public policy consultant with his business P3 Strategies. Just what does a public policy consultant do? According to Schmit, one such activity of his business is to professionally consult with Minnesota cities and counties around broadband development. The conflict of interest is evident, as Schmit authored SF2447, appropriating our tax dollars for a broadband grant program. Schmits legislation provides $100 million of taxpayer money to Minnesota counties and cities engaged in paying for broadband development activities. Schmit the public policy consultant on broadband can now consume tax dollars that Schmit the senator appropriated through the bill he authored. While Schmit lives high on the hog taxpayers bought for him, Minnesotans are struggling to pay for the skyrocketing health insurance premiums that have resulted since he voted to create MNSure. We elect senators to serve the people, not themselves! Deb Roschen, Zumbro Falls CAMBRIA Residents in the Cambria-Friesland school district will see a significant increase in their school taxes after the district lost $144,000 in state aid. The district, which passed its final budget Monday, reported a school tax rate of $11.53 per $1,000 of equalized value, an increase of more than $1 from last years rate of $10.32. At a time when state aid bumps helped bring down school tax rates for rural districts like Portage and Pardeeville, Superintendent Timothy Raymond said his districts drop in aid raises questions with less-than-satisfying answers. When I first talked to the state (the explanation) was increased property value and losing kids, and that is one reason, he said. But we have neighboring districts in similar situations who saw significant increases in aid. Theres a discussion at DPI (Department of Public Instruction) about the rate of spending, and how you compare to the rest of state, which is an interesting concept, in that youre comparing us to Madison and Milwaukee. But thats not comparing apples to oranges thats a freight train and a thumbtack. Cambria-Friesland at 389 students again saw a slight decline in enrollment this year, losing nine students, while property value climbed 1.7 percent to $213 million. The districts total budget is balanced at $5,115,000 with a total tax levy of $2,460,000. The (states) reasoning is stretched, Raymond said of aid. Right now I dont have an explanation where a seventh-grader can understand it. What we are seeing is more and more of your small schools, your small rural schools, really being told to do more with less without going to referendum. The state legislators are saying you shouldnt be going to referendum so much. Well, number one, we live in a democracy, so let the people decide. Number two, create some different levers for us to pull for equal funding. Cambria-Friesland a single-building, K-12 school district is in its second year of a three-year operational referendum, allowing the district to exceed the revenue limit by $450,000 this year after using $350,000 last year. Next year it will use $650,000. Though the impact of the states expanded voucher program this year is minimal for Cambria-Friesland at only one student, Raymond said the issue deserves more attention statewide. State representatives have said vouchers are here to stay I certainly hope not, Raymond said. We cant support a two-tier system. Having attended a parochial school as a child, Raymond said he thinks the conversation about vouchers shouldnt be about which school is better which seems to be the unstated attitude of some legislators in Madison. Looking at what taxpayers in Wisconsin are paying, I think we really need to have the conversation with elected leaders: Is this really what the Constitution (allows)? Is joining church and state really a good idea? We deserve to have that conversation, and not just in the chambers in Madison. That should be a statewide discussion. Salaries Salary raises for teachers this year were limited to the Consumer Price Index of just 0.12 percent, but using stipends Cambria-Friesland was able to give a 1.36 percent increase to teachers across the board. Were very proud of that, Raymond said. We have a great staff at Cambria-Friesland. Support staff received a 2 percent raise. Raymond, as superintendent and K-5 principal, will make $110,000, up from last years salary of $107,100. Deb Torrison, in her first year as the 6-12 building principal, will make $88,000. Playing hits by trumpet masters like Al Hirt and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass seems to be having an effect that reaches beyond the here and now. Youll say, Oh yeah, I remember that one, said Bob Jacobson, trumpet player for the Madison group, Hirt Alpert, set to perform at Portage Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The name of his group honors two hugely popular artists from the 1960s but they had the kind of hits you dont hear on the radio anymore. After jumping at the idea among members to form a band that would honor these somewhat-forgotten legends, the group didnt know what to expect. Less than a year later, Hirt Alpert is resonating with a lot of folks. Whenever I mention to somebody what kind of music we play, 90 percent of the time their response is, My dad had all those records, Jacobson said. So it taps into that happy, nostalgic vibe. Its music that when you sit there, it just puts a smile on your face. Hirt Alpert is a seven-member group featuring the trumpet, French horn, bass trombone, guitar, bass, drums and the appealing vibraphone an instrument like a xylophone with metal keys that you hear in a lot of jazz. Members played their first show in Madison in December 2015. Portage will be their first gig outside of Madison. We dont plan to go too far afield, but were willing to play within a couple hours of Madison, Jacobson said, noting the group might soon play some gigs in Milwaukee. Thats a solid trajectory for a band that didnt have any goals when it formed, and its the result of a group that seems to be enjoying one of those right-place-at-the-right-time things. The appeal, Jacobson added, seems to at least be aided by the fact there arent any other bands playing this kind of music. Everybody in the band is a veteran of the music scene, some in multiple bands, some with big followings, some just for fun, said Jacobson, 53, a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines and in communications consulting for nonprofits. We got together without any expectations, but that first show just struck a nerve and people just dug it. As music veterans, Jacobson and other members of the group know what its like to spend so much time hustling for gigs, something that makes the quick success of Hirt Alpert so satisfying. This time people are coming to us and its word of mouth, Jacobson said. Weve had no conversations about where we want to be a year from now, but if were still drawing crowds, thatd be fine. Hirt Alpert members understand the music is very popular for older crowds, so theyve been performing in senior centers and in apartment complexes with nice auditoriums, among other venues. Positive feedback has exceeded expectations. I think theres a demand for this, Jacobson said. Portage residents considering attending Saturdays show can, at a minimum, bank on the uplifting nature of the performance, he said. People tend to leave happier than when they came in, and thats a product of tapping into the nostalgic nerve that Jacobson said cannot be underestimated. Even if they dont remember this music directly, they remember seeing it in their parents collections, Jacobson said of Al Hirt and Herb Alpert records. Hirt Alpert is horn-driven music with captivating interplay between its three horns, and the vibraphone is a rare treat for most audiences, he added. A little more than half of Hirt Alperts repertoire is Al Hirt and Herb Alpert tunes, but the band does lay a lot of other horn-oriented hits from the 1960s. Perhaps the best indicator of what to expect Saturday is to know how the group sounded in its very first rehearsal last year. We worked on three tunes, Jacobson said, and I knew right away it just clicked. I knew we were on to something. Absa bank donates R10 million towards supporting Wits' missing middle The University will allocate the funds towards supporting a minimum of 250 students. Absa Bank made a R10 million donation to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), to support the so-called missing middle undergraduate students who face financial obstacles and challenges. Absa Banks Dr Theunie Lategan, non-executive Deputy Chairman, Barclays Africa Corporate and Investment Banking division and Steven Seaka, Head of Public Sector, Absa Group-SA, handed over a letter confirming the banks commitment towards the funds to Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Adam Habib and Council Chairman Dr Randall Carolissen on Friday afternoon. Maria Ramos, CEO of Absa, says: As part of our commitment to building a more equitable and prosperous Africa for the next generation, we earlier this year launched our Shared Growth Strategy. One of its pillars is Education and Skills Development, for which we have put aside funding to support young talented people. The University will allocate the funds towards supporting a minimum of 250 students. The funding is in addition to the annual R2 million, 10-year sponsorship of 20 Wits University bursary students who are contracted to join the employ of Absa on completion of their studies. We feel a responsibility to make a contribution while long-term solutions to higher education funding are being developed. We trust that this contribution will assist Wits University to make quality education more accessible to the youth of South Africa, says Ramos. Habib says Wits University is particularly appreciative of the additional contribution from Absa. This will go a long way in assisting poor, talented students at Wits University to complete their programme, says Habib. Wits University and many of the other universities offer quality degrees that are well recognized in the world, and we produce world-class professionals, and if we are going to keep our universities functional and retain the quality, then we need to ensure that we get all the stakeholders participating in the university system and the private sector is one such participant. Habib adds that the private sector plays a pivotal role in the ongoing success of universities in South Africa. There are three very distinctive partnerships that can emerge between universities and the private sector. The first is as a donor to support scholarship, the second is as partners where they support research by establishing research Chairs and having corporate research arms established at universities, and third, and very importantly, working with us in rethinking our curriculum. Clearly, what is required of the professional in 2016 is profoundly different to what was required in 2000. We need to constantly innovate in our curriculum, and having private sector engagement in our curriculum committees is absolutely important in facilitating a curriculum that speaks to the realities of the economy, of the corporates and to the skillsets that our students require. The following companies are subsidiares of Tenet Healthcare: 45th Street MOB LLC, 601 N 30th Street I L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street II L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street III Inc., AHM Acquisition Co. Inc., AIG Holdings LLC, AIGB Global LLC, AIGB Group Inc., AIGB Holdings Inc., AIGB Management Services LLC, AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #3 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #4 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #5 L.L.C., AMI Information Systems Group Inc., AMI/HTI Tarzana Encino Joint Venture, APN, ARC Worcester Center L.P., ASC Old Co. LP, ASC of New Jersey LLC, ASJH Joint Venture LLC, Abrazo Health Network EP Clinical Services LLC, Abrazo Surgical Outpatient Center LLC, Advanced Ambulatory Surgical Care L.P., Advanced Center for Surgery Vero Beach LLC, Advanced Regional Surgery Center LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Bethesda LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Metairie LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Northern Louisiana LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Sarasota LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Tampa LLC, Advanced Surgical Care of Lutz LLC, Advanced Surgical Care of St Louis LLC, Advanced Surgical Concepts LLC, Advantage Health Care Management Company LLC, Advantage Health Network Inc., AdventHealth Surgery Center Celebration LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Mills Park LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Wellswood LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Winter Garden LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers Central Florida LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers West Florida LLC, Alabama Cardiovascular Associates L.L.C., Alabama Digestive Health Endoscopy Center L.L.C., Alabama Hand and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Alamo Heights Surgicare L.P., Alliance Surgery Birmingham LLC, Alliance Surgery Inc., Alvarado Hospital Medical Center Inc., Ambulatory Surgical Associates LLC, Ambulatory Surgical Center of Somerville LLC, American Institute of Gastric Banding Ltd., American Institute of Gastric Banding Phoenix Limited Partnership, American Medical Inc., Amisub Inc., Amisub Inc., Amisub of California Inc., Amisub of North Carolina Inc., Amisub of South Carolina Inc., Amisub of Texas Inc., Anaheim Hills Medical Imaging L.L.C., Anaheim MRI Holding Inc., Anesthesia Partners of Gallatin LLC, Arizona Care Network Next L.L.C., Arizona Health Partners LLC, Arizona Spine and Joint Hospital LLC, Ascension Saint Thomas Lebanon Surgery Center LLC, Asia Outsourcing US Inc., Aspen Healthcare, Atlanta Medical Center Inc., Atlanta Medical Center Interventional Neurology Associates L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Physician Group L.L.C., Atlantic Coast Surgical Suites LLC, Atlantic Health-USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Audubon Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Avita/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., BBH BMC LLC, BBH CBMC LLC, BBH DevelopmentCo LLC, BBH NP Clinicians Inc., BBH PBMC LLC, BBH SBMC LLC, BBH WBMC LLC, BCDC EmployeeCO LLC, BHC-Talladega Pediatrics LLC, BHS Accountable Care LLC, BHS Affinity LLC, BHS Integrated Physician Partners LLC, BHS Physician Performance Network LLC, BHS Physicians Alliance for ACE LLC, BHS Physicians Network Inc., BHS Specialty Network Inc., BT East Dallas JV LLP, BW Cardiology LLC, BW Cyberknife LLC, BW Hand Practice LLC, BW Office Buildings LLC, BW Parking Decks LLC, BW Physician Practices LLC, BW Retail Pharmacy LLC, BW Sports Practice LLC, Baptist Accountable Care LLC, Baptist Diagnostics LLC, Baptist Health Centers LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance ACO LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance LLC, Baptist Plaza Surgicare L.P., Baptist Surgery Center L.P., Baptist Womens Health Center LLC, Baptist/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Bartlett ASC LLC, Beaumont Surgical Affiliates Ltd., Berkshire Eye LLC, Bloomington ASC LLC, Blue Ridge/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Bluffton Okatie Primary Care L.L.C., Bluffton Okatie Surgery Center L.L.C., Braselton Endoscopy Center LLC, Briarcliff Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Bristol Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Broad River Primary Care L.L.C., Brookwood Ancillary Holdings Inc., Brookwood Baptist Health 1 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 2 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 3 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Imaging LLC, Brookwood Center Development Corporation, Brookwood Development Inc., Brookwood Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Brookwood Garages L.L.C., Brookwood Health Services Inc., Brookwood Home Health LLC, Brookwood Occupational Health Clinic L.L.C., Brookwood Parking Associates Ltd., Brookwood Primary Care Cahaba Heights L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Hoover L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care The Narrows L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Homewood L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Inverness L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Mountain Brook L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Oak Mountain L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Vestavia L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Network Care Inc., Brookwood Specialty Care Endocrinology L.L.C., Brookwood Sports and Orthopedics L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Care L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Diagnostic Center LLC, Brookwood Maternal Fetal Medicine L.L.C., Brownsville Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, C7 Technologies LLC, CGH GP Inc., CGH Hospital Ltd., CHIC/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CHN Holdings LLC, CHVI Tucson Holdings LLC, CML-Chicago Market Labs Inc., CRNAs of Michigan, CS/USP General Partner LLC, CS/USP Surgery Centers LP, Camp Creek Urgent Care L.L.C., Camp Lowell Surgery Center L.L.C., Cardiology Physicians Associates L.L.C., Cardiology Physicians Corporation L.L.C., Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Associates L.L.C., Cardiovascular Clinical Excellence at Sierra Providence LLC, CareSpot of Austin LLC, CareSpot of Memphis LLC, Carmel Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Castle Rock Surgery Center LLC, Catawba-Piedmont Cardiothoracic Surgery L.L.C., Cedar Hill Primary Care L.L.C., Cedar Park Surgery Center L.L.P., Center for Advanced Research Excellence L.L.C., Center for the Urban Child Inc., Central Carolina Physicians Sandhills L.L.C., Central Carolina-IMA L.L.C., Central Jersey Surgery Center LLC, Central Texas Corridor Hospital Company LLC, Central Valley Quality Alliance LLC, Central Virginia Surgi-Center L.P., Centura Ventures Surgery Centers LLC, Centura/USP Colorado Springs Surgery Centers L.L.C., Chalon Living Inc., Chandler Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Endoscopic Surgery Center LLC, Chattanooga Pain Management Center LLC, Chesterfield Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Chico Surgery Center L.P., Clarksville Surgery Center LLC, Coast Healthcare Management LLC, Coast Surgery Center L.P., Coastal Carolina Medical Center, Coastal Carolina Medical Center Inc., Coastal Carolina Physician Practices LLC, Coastal Carolina Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Colorado GI Centers LLC, Commonwealth Continental Health Care Inc., Community Connection Health Plan Inc., Community Hospital of Los Gatos Inc., Compass Surgical Partners Holdings of Asheville LLC, Compass Surgical Partners Holdings of Odessa LLC, Compass Surgical Partners Holdings of Raleigh LLC, Compass Surgical Partners Holdings of St. Petersburg LLC, Compass Surgical Partners Holdings of Tampa LLC, Compass Surgical Partners Holdings of Waco LLC, Compass Surgical Partners Holdings of Winston-Salem LLC, Conifer Care Continuum Solutions LLC, Conifer Ethics and Compliance Inc., Conifer Global Business Center Inc., Conifer Global Holdings Inc., Conifer Health Solutions LLC, Conifer Holdings Inc., Conifer Patient Communications LLC, Conifer Physician Services Holdings Inc., Conifer Physician Services Inc., Conifer Revenue Cycle Solutions LLC, Conifer Value-Based Care LLC, Conroe Surgery Center 2 LLC, Coral Ridge Outpatient Center LLC, Corpus Christi Surgicare Ltd., Covenant/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CreAtiv Management Company Inc., Creekwood Surgery Center L.P., Crown Point Surgery Center LLC, DH/USP SJOSC Investment Company L.L.C., DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Education & Research, DMC Harper University Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, DMC Imaging L.L.C., DeTar/USP Surgery Center LLC, Delray Beach ASC LLC, Delray Medical Center Inc., Delray Medical Physician Services L.L.C., Denville Surgery Center LLC, Des Peres Physician Network LLC, Desert Regional Medical Center Inc., Desert Ridge Outpatient Surgery LLC, Desoto Surgicare Partners Ltd., Destin Surgery Center LLC, Detroit Education & Research, DigitalMed Inc., Dignity/Abrazo Health Network LLC, Dignity/USP Phoenix Surgery Centers II LLC, Doctors Hospital of Manteca Inc., Doctors Medical Center Neurosciences Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center Orthopedics Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center of Modesto Inc., Doctors Outpatient Surgery Center of Jupiter L.L.C., EPHC Inc., EPIC ASC LLC, East Atlanta Endoscopy Centers LLC, East Cobb Urgent Care LLC, East Cooper Coastal Family Physicians L.L.C., East Cooper Community Hospital Inc., East Cooper Hyperbarics L.L.C., East Cooper OB/GYN L.L.C., East Cooper Physician Network LLC, East Cooper Primary Care Physicians L.L.C., East West Surgery Center L.P., Eastgate Building Center L.L.C., El Mirador Surgery Center L.L.C., El Paso Center for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy LLC, El Paso Day Surgery LLC, El Paso Urology Surgery Center Curie LLC, Emanate/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Emanuel Medical Center, Emerus BHS/SA NW Military LLC, Emerus BHS/SA Southside LLC, Emerus/BHS SA Hausman LLC, Emerus/BHS SA Kelly LLC, Emerus/BHS SA LLC, Emerus/BHS SA Overlook Parkway LLC, Emerus/BHS SA Schertz LLC, Emerus/BHS SA Thousand Oaks LLC, Emerus/BHS SA Westover Hills LLC, Encinitas Endoscopy Center LLC, Endoscopy Consultants LLC, Enterprise Research Solutions LLC, European Surgical Partners Ltd., Eye Center of Nashville UAP LLC, Eye Surgery Center of Nashville LLC, FMC Medical Inc., FMCC Network Contracting L.L.C., FREH Real Estate L.L.C., FRS Imaging Services L.L.C., First Choice Physician Partners, Flatirons Surgery Center LLC, Fort Bend Clinical Services Inc., Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate LP, Foundation Bariatric Hospital of San Antonio LLC, Foundation San Antonio Borrower Sub LLC, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, Fountain Valley Surgery Center LLC, Franklin Endo UAP LLC, Franklin Endoscopy Center LLC, Frontenac Ambulatory Surgery & Spine Care Center L.P., Frye Regional Medical Center Inc., FryeCare Boone L.L.C., FryeCare Morganton L.L.C., FryeCare Physicians L.L.C., FryeCare Valdese L.L.C., FryeCare Watauga L.L.C., FryeCare Womens Services L.L.C., GAB Endoscopy Center LLC, GCSA Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, GIA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Gainesville Endoscopy ASC LLC, Gainesville Endoscopy Center LLC, Gamma Surgery Center LLC, Gardendale Surgical Associates LLC, Gastric Health Institute L.L.C., Georgia Endoscopy Center LLC, Georgia Gifts From Grace L.L.C., Georgia Musculoskeletal Network Inc., Georgia North Fulton Healthcare Associates L.L.C., Georgia Northside Ear Nose and Throat L.L.C., Georgia Physicians of Cardiology L.L.C., Georgia Spectrum Neurosurgical Specialists L.L.C., Glen Echo Surgery Center LLC, Golden Ridge ASC LLC, Good Samaritan Medical Center Inc., Good Samaritan Surgery L.L.C., Graystone Family Healthcare Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Great Lakes Surgical Suites LLC, Greater Dallas Healthcare Enterprises, Greater Northwest Houston Enterprises, Greenville Physicians Surgery Center LLP, Greenwood ASC LLC, Greystone Internal Medicine Brookwood L.L.C., Gulf Coast Community Hospital Inc., HC Hialeah Holdings Inc., HCH Tucson Holdings LLC, HCN EP Horizon City LLC, HCN EP Lee Trevino LLC, HCN EP Northeast LLC, HCN EP Sunland Park LLC, HCN Emerus El Paso LLC, HCN Emerus Management Sub LLC, HCN Emerus Texas LLC, HCN Laboratories Inc., HCN Physicians Inc., HCN Surgery Center Holdings Inc., HDMC Holdings L.L.C., HKRI Holdings LLC, HMHP/USP Surgery Centers LLC, HNMC Inc., HNW GP Inc., HNW LP Inc., HSRM International Inc., HSS Palm Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, HSS/USP Surgery Center LLC, Hagerstown Surgery Center LLC, Harbor Heights Surgery Center LLC, Hardeeville Medical Group L.L.C., Hardeeville Primary Care L.L.C., Harlingen Physician Network Inc., Harper-Hutzel AHP Services Inc., Harvard Park Surgery Center LLC, Haymarket Surgery Center LLC, Health & Wellness Surgery Center L.P., Health Horizons of Kansas City Inc., Health Horizons of Murfreesboro Inc., Health Horizons/Piedmont Joint Venture LLC, Health Services CFMC Inc., Health Services HNMC Inc., Health Services Network Care Inc., Health Services Network Hospitals Inc., Health Services Network Texas Inc., HealthCorp Network Inc., Healthcare Compliance LLC, Healthcare Network Alabama Inc., Healthcare Network CFMC Inc., Healthcare Network DPH Inc., Healthcare Network Georgia Inc., Healthcare Network Holdings Inc., Healthcare Network Hospitals Inc., Healthcare Network Louisiana Inc., Healthcare Network Missouri Inc., Healthcare Network North Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network South Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network Tennessee Inc., Healthcare Network Texas Inc., Healthcare SMG I L.L.C., Healthcare SMG II L.L.C., Healthcare SMG IV L.L.C., Healthcare UC Holdings Inc., Healthmark Partners Inc., Healthpoint of North Carolina L.L.C., Heart and Vascular Institute of Michigan, Hialeah Real Properties Inc., Hickory Family Practice Associates - Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Hill Country ASC Partners LLC, Hill Country Surgery Center LLC, Hilton Head Health System L.P., Hilton Head Regional Healthcare L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional OB/GYN Partners L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional Physician Network LLC, Hilton Head Regional Physician Network Georgia L.L.C., Hitchcock State Street Real Estate Inc., Holston Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Holy Cross Hospital Inc., Home Health Partners of San Antonio LLC, Hoover Doctors Group Inc., Hoover Land LLC, Hospital Development of West Phoenix Inc., Hospital RCM Services LLC, Houston Northwest Partners Ltd., Houston PSC L.P., Houston Specialty Hospital Inc., Houston Sunrise Investors Inc., Hyde Park Surgery Center LLC, Imaging Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., InforMed Insurance Services LLC, International Health and Wellness Inc., Intracoastal Surgery Center LLC, JFK Memorial Hospital Inc., Jacksonville Endoscopy Centers LLC, Journey Home Healthcare of San Antonio LLC, KHS Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, KHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Kingsport Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Laguna Medical Systems Inc., Lake Endoscopy Center LLC, Lake Health Care Facilities Inc., LakeFront Medical Associates LLC, Lakewood Regional Medical Center Inc., Lancaster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Lebanon Endoscopy Center LLC, Legacy Warren Partners L.P., Leonardtown Surgery Center LLC, Lifemark Hospitals Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Florida Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Louisiana Inc., Longleaf Surgery Center LLC, Los Alamitos Medical Center Inc., Lubbock ASC Holding Co LLC, MASC Partners LLC, MH/USP Bay Area LLC, MH/USP Brazoria LLC, MH/USP Kingsland LLC, MH/USP Kingwood LLC, MH/USP Kirby LLC, MH/USP Main Street LLC, MH/USP North Freeway LLC, MH/USP North Houston LLC, MH/USP Richmond LLC, MH/USP Sugar Land LLC, MH/USP TMC Endoscopy LLC, MH/USP West Houston L.L.C., MH/USP Woodlands Parkway LLC, MSV Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MVH/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MacNeal Management Services Inc., MacNeal Medical Records Inc., MacNeal Physicians Group LLC, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of San Luis Obispo Inc., Magnolia Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Manchester Ambulatory Surgery Center LP, Maple Lawn Surgery Center LLC, Marion Surgery Center LLC, Mason Ridge Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., McLaren ASC of Flint LLC, Meadowcrest Hospital LLC, Medical House Staffing LLC, Medplex Outpatient Medical Centers Inc., Medplex Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Memorial Hermann Bay Area Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann Endoscopy & Surgery Center North Houston L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Endoscopy Center North Freeway LLC, Memorial Hermann Specialty Hospital Kingwood L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Surgical Hospital L.L.P., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Brazoria LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Cypress LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kingsland L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kirby LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Main Street LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Pinecroft LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Preston Road Ltd., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Richmond LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Woodlands Parkway LLC, Memorial Hermann Texas International Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann West Houston Surgery Center LLC, Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers II L.P., Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers IV LLP, Memorial Surgery Center LLC, Memphis Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., Memphis Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., Metro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Metro Surgery Center LLC, MetroWest HomeCare & Hospice LLC, Metropolitan Medical Partners LLC, Miami Surgical Suites LLC, Michigan Pioneer ACO LLC, Michigan Regional Imaging LLC, Mid Rivers Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Mid State Endo UAP LLC, Mid-State Endoscopy Center LLC, Middle Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Midland Memorial/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Midland Texas Surgical Center LLC, Midwest Digestive Health Center LLC, Midwest Pharmacies Inc., Midwest Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Millennium Surgical Center LLC, Minimally Invasive Surgicenter LLC, Minimally Invasive Surgicenter of Delray LLC, Mobile Imaging Management LLC, Mobile Technology Management LLC, Modesto Radiology Imaging Inc., Monocacy Surgery Center LLC, Mountain Empire Surgery Center L.P., Munster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Murdock Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, NICH GP Holdings LLC, NKCH/USP Briarcliff GP LLC, NKCH/USP Liberty GP LLC, NKCH/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., NMC Lessor L.P., NMC Surgery Center L.P., NME Headquarters Inc., NME Properties Corp., NME Properties Inc., NME Property Holding Co. Inc., NME Psychiatric Hospitals Inc., NME Rehabilitation Properties Inc., NS Medical Billing Center L.L.C., NSCH GP Holdings LLC, NSCH/USP Desert Surgery Centers L.L.C., NSMC Holdings Inc., NSN Revenue Resources LLC, NUCH of Georgia L.L.C., NUCH of Massachusetts LLC, NUCH of Michigan Inc., Nacogdoches ASC-LP Inc., National ASC Inc., National Ancillary Inc., National Diagnostic Imaging Centers Inc., National HHC Inc., National Home Health Holdings Inc., National ICN Inc., National Imaging Center Holdings Inc., National Medical Services II Inc., National Outpatient Services Holdings Inc., National Surgery Center Holdings Inc., National Urgent Care Inc., Network Management Associates Inc., New Dimensions LLC, New England Physician Performance Network LLC, New H Acute Inc., New Horizons Surgery Center LLC, New Medical Horizons II Ltd., Newhope Imaging Center Inc., North Anaheim Surgery Center LLC, North Atlantic Surgical Suites LLC, North Campus Surgery Center LLC, North Carolina Community Family Medicine L.L.C., North Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, North Fulton Cardiovascular Medicine L.L.C., North Fulton Hospitalist Group L.L.C., North Fulton Medical Center Inc., North Fulton Primary Care - Willeo Rd. L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Windward Parkway L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Wylie Bridge L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care Associates L.L.C., North Fulton Pulmonary Specialists L.L.C., North Fulton Womens Consultants L.L.C., North Haven Surgery Center LLC, North Miami Medical Center Ltd., North Shore Same Day Surgery L.L.C., North Shore Surgical Suites LLC, NorthPointe Surgical Suites LLC, NorthShore/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Northridge Surgery Center L.P., Northwest Georgia Orthopaedic Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Regional ASC LLC, Northwest Regional Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgery Center Ltd., Novant Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Novant/UVA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Okatie Surgical Partners L.L.C., Old Tesson Surgery Center L.P., Olive Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Olive Branch Urgent Care #1 LLC, Ophthalmology Anesthesia Services LLC, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Orlando LLC, Optimum Spine Center LLC, OrNda Healthcorp, OrNda Hospital Corporation, Orlando Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., OrthoArizona Surgery Center Gilbert LLC, OrthoLink ASC Corporation, OrthoLink Physicians Corporation, OrthoLink Radiology Services Corporation, OrthoLink/ Georgia ASC Inc., OrthoLink/New Mexico ASC Inc., Orthopedic Associates of the Lowcountry L.L.C., Oxford Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, PAHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, PDN L.L.C., PHPS Inc., PHPS-CHM Acquisition Inc., PM CyFair Land Partners LLC, PMC Physician Network L.L.C., PSS Patient Solution Services LLC, Pacific Endo-Surgical Center L.P., Pacific Endoscopy and Surgery Center LLC, Paley Institute Global LLC, Palm Beach Gardens Community Hospital Inc., Palm Beach International Surgery Center LLC, Park Plaza Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., ParkCreek ASC LLC, Parkwest Surgery Center L.P., Patient Partners LLC, Peak Gastroenterology ASC LLC, Pediatric Surgery Center Odessa LLC, Pediatric Surgery Centers LLC, Physician Performance Network L.L.C., Physician Performance Network of Arizona LLC, Physician Performance Network of South Carolina LLC, Physician Performance Network of Tucson LLC, Physicians Performance Network of Houston, Physicians Performance Network of North Texas, Physicians Surgery Center of Tempe LLC, Physicians Surgery Center of Chattanooga L.L.C., Physicians Surgery Center of Knoxville LLC, Piccard Surgery Center LLC, Piedmont ASC LLC, Piedmont Behavioral Medicine Associates LLC, Piedmont Cardiovascular Physicians L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina OB/GYN of York County L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina Vascular Surgery L.L.C., Piedmont East Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Piedmont Express Care at Sutton Road L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Rock Hill L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Tega Cay L.L.C., Piedmont General Surgery Associates L.L.C., Piedmont Internal Medicine at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Physician Network LLC, Piedmont Pulmonology L.L.C., Piedmont Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care and Industrial Health Centers Inc., Piedmont/Carolinas Radiation Therapy LLC, Placentia-Linda Hospital Inc., Pleasanton Diagnostic Imaging Inc., Point of Rocks Surgery Center LLC, Porter Musculoskeletal Surgery Center LLC, Potomac View Surgery Center LLC, Practice Partners Management L.P., Premier ACO Physicians Network LLC, Premier ASC LLC, Premier Adult and Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Premier Endoscopy ASC LLC, Premier Health Plan Services Inc., Premier Medical Specialists L.L.C., Prince William Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Professional Anesthesia Services LLC, Pros Temporary Staffing Inc., Providence/UCLA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Providence/USP Santa Clarita GP LLC, Providence/USP South Bay Surgery Centers L.L.C., Providence/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Pueblo Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, R.H.S.C. El Paso Inc., RE Plano Med Inc., RHC Parkway Inc., RLC LLC, Reading Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Reading Endoscopy Center LLC, Reagan Street Surgery Center LLC, Red Cedar Surgery Center LLC, Redmond Surgery Center LLC, Republic Health Corporation of Rockwall County, Resolute Health Physicians Network Inc., Resolute Hospital Company LLC, Resurgens Surgery Center LLC, Rheumatology Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Rio Grande Valley Indigent Health Care Corporation, Riva Road Surgery Center LLC, River North Same Day Surgery L.L.C., Riverside Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Rock Bridge Surgical Institute L.L.C., Rock Hill Surgery Center LLC, Rockville Surgical Suites LLC, Rocky Mountain Endoscopy Centers LLC, Roswell Surgery Center L.L.C., SCNRE LLC, SFMP Inc., SFMPE - Crittenden L.L.C., SL-HLC Inc., SLH Physicians L.L.C., SLH Vista Inc., SLPA ACO LLC, SLUH Anesthesia Physicians L.L.C., SMSJ Imaging Company LLC, SMSJ Tucson Holdings LLC, SRRMC Management Inc., SSI Holdings Inc., Safety Harbor ASC Company LLC, Saint Francis Cardiology Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis Cardiovascular Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Center for Surgical Weight Loss L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Medicare ACO LLC, Saint Francis Hospital Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett Inc., Saint Francis Medical Partners East L.L.C., Saint Francis Medical Partners General Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis Quality Alliance LLC, Saint Francis Surgery Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Surgical Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis-Arkansas Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis-Bartlett Physician Network LLC, Saint Thomas Campus Surgicare L.P., Saint Thomas Surgery Center New Salem LLC, Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP Baptist Plaza L.L.C., Saint Vincent Physician Services Inc., Salmon Surgery Center LLC, Same Day Management L.L.C., Same Day Surgery L.L.C., San Antonio Endoscopy L.P., San Fernando Valley Surgery Center L.P., San Gabriel Valley Surgical Center L.P., San Ramon ASC L. P., San Ramon Ambulatory Care LLC, San Ramon Network Joint Venture LLC, San Ramon Regional Medical Center LLC, Santa Barbara Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Santa Clarita Surgery Center L.P., Savannah Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Schertz Surgery Center LLC, Scottsdale Endoscopy ASC LLC, Scripps/USP Surgery Centers 2 LLC, Seaside Surgery Center LLC, Shelby Baptist Affinity LLC, Shelby Baptist Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Shore Outpatient Surgicenter L.L.C., Shoreline Real Estate Partnership LLP, Shoreline Surgery Center LLP, Sierra Providence Health Network Inc., Sierra Providence Healthcare Enterprises, Sierra Vista Hospital Inc., Sierra Vista Surgery Center LLC, Silver Cross Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Silver Cross/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Sinai-Grace Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, Solantic Development LLC, Solantic Holdings Corporation, South Carolina East Cooper Surgical Specialists L.L.C., South Carolina Health Services LLC, South Carolina SeWee Family Medicine L.L.C., South County Outpatient Endoscopy Services L.P., South Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, South Florida Ambulatory Surgical Center LLC, South Fulton Health Care Centers Inc., South Plains Endoscopy Associates LLC, SouthCare Physicians Group Neurology L.L.C., SouthCare Physicians Group Obstetrics & Gynecology L.L.C., Southeast Ohio Surgical Suites LLC, Southern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Southern States Physician Operations Inc., Southwest Childrens Hospital LLC, Southwest Endoscopy LLC, Southwestern Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Spalding Regional Medical Center Inc., Spalding Regional OB/GYN L.L.C., Spalding Regional Physician Services L.L.C., Specialty Surgicenters Inc., Springfield Service Holding Corporation, St. Augustine Endoscopy Center LLC, St. Christophers Pediatric Urgent Care Center - Allentown L.L.C, St. Josephs Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Josephs Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, St. Louis Physician Alliance LLC, St. Louis Surgical Center LC, St. Louis Urology Center LLC, St. Lukes/USP Surgery Centers LLC, St. Marys Hospital Cardiovascular Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Levee Company LLC, St. Marys Medical Center Inc., St. Vincent Health/USP LLC, St. Vincent/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Suburban Endoscopy Center LLC, Summit View Surgery Center LLC, Sun View Imaging L.L.C., SurgCenter Camelback LLC, SurgCenter Clearwater LLC, SurgCenter Development, SurgCenter Northeast LLC, SurgCenter Pinellas LLC, SurgCenter Tucson LLC, SurgCenter at Paradise Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Deer Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Glen Burnie LLC, SurgCenter of Greater Dallas LLC, SurgCenter of Greater Jacksonville LLC, SurgCenter of Northern Baltimore LLC, SurgCenter of Palm Beach Gardens LLC, SurgCenter of Pine Ridge LLC, SurgCenter of Silver Spring LLC, SurgCenter of Southern Maryland LLC, SurgCenter of St. Lucie LLC, SurgCenter of White Marsh LLC, SurgCenter of the Potomac LLC, Surgery Affiliate of El Paso LLC, Surgery Center at Mount Pleasant LLC, Surgery Center at University Park LLC, Surgery Center of Columbia L.P., Surgery Center of Coral Gables LLC, Surgery Center of Okeechobee LLC, Surgery Center of Pembroke Pines L.L.C., Surgery Center of Peoria L.L.C., Surgery Center of Santa Barbara LLC, Surgery Center of Scottsdale LLC, Surgery Centers of America II L.L.C., Surgery Centre of SW Florida LLC, Surgical & Bariatric Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Surgical Center Development #3 LLC, Surgical Center Development #4 LLC, Surgical Clinical Excellence at Desert Regional LLC, Surgical Elite of Avondale L.L.C., Surgical Health Partners LLC, Surgical Institute Management LLC, Surgical Institute of Reading LLC, Surgicare of Miramar L.L.C., Surginet Inc., Surgis Inc., Surgis Management Services Inc., Surgis of Chico Inc., Surgis of Phoenix Inc., Surgis of Redding Inc., Surgis of Victoria Inc., Sutton Road Pediatrics L.L.C., Sylvan Grove Hospital Inc., T1 Security LLC, TENN SM LLC, TFPS IV L.L.C., TH Healthcare Ltd., TH International Services Florida LLC, TLC ASC LLC, TOPS Specialty Hospital Ltd., TOSCA ASC Holdings LLC, TPR Practice Management LLC, TPS VI of PA L.L.C., TSPE LLC, Tamarac Surgery Center LLC, Tampa Bay Joint and Spine LLC, Tempe New Day Surgery Center LP, Templeton Imaging Inc., Tenet Business Services Corporation, Tenet California Inc., Tenet Central Carolina Physicians Inc., Tenet EKG Inc., Tenet El Paso Ltd., Tenet Employment Inc., Tenet Finance Corp., Tenet Florida Inc., Tenet Florida Physician Services II L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services III L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services L.L.C., Tenet Fort Mill Inc., Tenet Global Business Center Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Bucks County L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Graduate L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Hahnemann L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Medical Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Nacogdoches ASC GP Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Philadelphia Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Roxborough LLC, Tenet HealthSystem St. Christophers Hospital for Children L.L.C., Tenet Hilton Head Heart L.L.C., Tenet Hospitals Limited, Tenet Network Management Inc., Tenet Patient Safety Organization LLC, Tenet Physician Resources LLC, Tenet Physician Services - Hilton Head Inc., Tenet Rehab Piedmont Inc., Tenet Relocation Services L.L.C., Tenet SC East Cooper Hospitalists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Gastrointestinal Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Island Medical L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Lowcountry OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Mt. Pleasant OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet Unifour Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Tenet Ventures Inc., TenetCare Frisco Inc., Terre Haute Surgical Center LLC, Teton Outpatient Services LLC, Texan Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Texas Orthopedics Surgery Center LLC, Texas Regional Medical in Sunnyvale, The 6300 West Roosevelt Partnership, The Healthcare Insurance Corporation, The Healthcare Underwriting Company a Risk Retention Group, The Huron Corporation, The Old Bridge Surgery Center LLC, The Outpatient Center LLC, The Southeastern Spine Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., The Surgery Center at Jensen Beach LLC, The Tresanti Surgical Center LLC, Theda Oaks Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center LLC, Three Springs ASC LLC, Timonium Surgery Center LLC, Titan Health Corporation, Titan Health of Chattanooga Inc., Titan Health of Hershey Inc., Titan Health of Mount Laurel LLC, Titan Health of North Haven Inc., Titan Health of Pittsburgh Inc., Titan Health of Pleasant Hills Inc., Titan Health of Princeton Inc., Titan Health of Sacramento Inc., Titan Health of Saginaw Inc., Titan Health of Titusville Inc., Titan Health of West Penn Inc., Titan Health of Westminster Inc., Titan Management Corporation, Titusville Center for Surgical Excellence LLC, Treasure Coast ASC LLC, Trinity Health of New England/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., True Medical Weight Loss L.P., True Medical Wellness LP, True Results Georgia Inc., True Results HoldCo LLC, True Results Missouri LLC, Tucson Digestive Institute LLC, Tucson Hospital Holdings Inc., Tucson Physician Group Holdings LLC, Turlock Imaging Services LLC, Turlock Land Company LLC, Twin Cities Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Twin Cities Community Hospital Inc., UAP Lebanon Endo LLC, UAP Nashville Endoscopy LLC, UAP Scopes LLC, UAP of Arizona Inc., UAP of California Inc., UAP of Missouri Inc., UAP of New Jersey Inc., UAP of Oklahoma Inc., UAP of Tennessee Inc., UAP of Texas Inc., UCC Tucson Holdings LLC, UMC Surgery Center Lubbock LLC, UMC-USP Surgery Centers LLC, USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, USP 12th Ave Real Estate Inc., USP Acquisition Corporation, USP Alexandria Inc., USP Assurance Company, USP Athens Inc., USP Atlanta Inc., USP Austin Inc., USP Bariatric LLC, USP Beaumont Inc., USP Bergen Inc., USP Bloomington Inc., USP Bridgeton Inc., USP Cedar Park Inc., USP Chesterfield Inc., USP Chicago Inc., USP Cincinnati Inc., USP Coast Inc., USP Columbia Inc., USP Connecticut Inc., USP Corpus Christi Inc., USP Creve Coeur Inc., USP Denver Inc., USP Des Peres Inc., USP Destin Inc., USP Domestic Holdings Inc., USP Effingham Inc., USP Encinitas Endoscopy Inc., USP Fenton Inc., USP Festus Inc., USP Florissant Inc., USP Fort Lauderdale Inc., USP Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate Inc., USP Fredericksburg Inc., USP Fresno Inc., USP Frontenac Inc., USP Gateway Inc., USP HMH Surgery Center at Shore LLC, USP Harbour View Inc., USP Houston Inc., USP Indiana Inc., USP International Holdings Inc., USP Jacksonville Inc., USP Jersey City Inc., USP Kansas City Inc., USP Knoxville Inc., USP Little Rock Inc., USP Long Island Inc., USP Louisiana Inc., USP Lubbock Inc., USP Maryland Inc., USP Mason Ridge Inc., USP Mattis Inc., USP Michigan Inc., USP Midland Inc., USP Midland Real Estate Inc., USP Midwest Inc., USP Mission Hills Inc., USP Montana Inc., USP Morris Inc., USP Mt. Vernon Inc., USP Nevada Holdings LLC, USP Nevada Inc., USP New Hampshire Inc., USP New Jersey Inc., USP Newport News Inc., USP North Carolina Inc., USP North Kansas City Inc., USP North Texas Inc., USP Northwest Arkansas Inc., USP OKC Inc., USP OKC Manager Inc., USP Office Parkway Inc., USP Ohio RE Inc., USP Oklahoma Inc., USP Olive Inc., USP Orlando Inc., USP Philadelphia Inc., USP Phoenix Inc., USP Portland Inc., USP Reading Inc., USP Richmond II Inc., USP Richmond Inc., USP Sacramento Inc., USP San Antonio Inc., USP Santa Barbara Surgery Centers Inc., USP Securities Corporation , USP Silver Cross Inc., USP Siouxland Inc., USP Somerset Inc., USP South Carolina Inc., USP Southlake RE Inc., USP St. Louis Inc., USP St. Louis Urology Inc., USP St. Peters Inc., USP Sunset Hills Inc., USP TJ STL Inc., USP Tennessee Inc., USP Texas Air L.L.C., USP Texas L.P., USP Torrance Inc., USP Tucson Inc., USP Turnersville Inc., USP Virginia Beach Inc., USP Washington Inc., USP Waxahachie Management L.L.C., USP Webster Groves Inc., USP West Covina Inc., USP Westwood Inc., USP Winter Park Inc., USP Wisconsin Inc., USP-HMH Surgery Center at Central Jersey LLC, USP/Carondelet Tucson Surgery Centers LLC, USP/SOS Joint Venture LLC, USPI Group Holdings Inc., USPI Holding Company Inc.1, USPI Holdings Inc., USPI Physician Strategy Group LLC, USPI San Diego Inc., USPI Stockton Inc., USPI Surgical Services Inc., Underwood Surgery Center LLC, United Anesthesia Partners Inc., United Real Estate Development Inc., United Real Estate Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners International, United Surgical Partners International Inc., Universal Medical Care Center L.L.C., University Surgery Center Ltd., Upper Bay Surgery Center LLC, Utica/USP Tulsa L.L.C., VB Brownsville LTACH LLC, VBOA ASC GP LLC, VBOA ASC Partners L.L.C., VHM Services Inc., VHS Acquisition Corporation, VHS Acquisition Partnership Number 1 L.P, VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 1 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 11 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 12 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 3 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 4 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 5 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 6 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 7 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 8 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 9 Inc., VHS Arizona Heart Institute Inc., VHS Brownsville Hospital Company LLC, VHS Chicago Market Procurement LLC, VHS Childrens Hospital of Michigan Inc., VHS Detroit Businesses Inc., VHS Detroit Receiving Hospital Inc., VHS Detroit Ventures Inc., VHS Harlingen Hospital Company LLC, VHS Harper-Hutzel Hospital Inc., VHS Holding Company Inc., VHS Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Inc., VHS Imaging Centers Inc., VHS New England Holding Company I Inc., VHS Outpatient Clinics Inc., VHS Phoenix Health Plan Inc., VHS Physicians of Michigan, VHS Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Inc., VHS San Antonio Imaging Partners L.P., VHS San Antonio Partners LLC, VHS Sinai-Grace Hospital Inc., VHS University Laboratories Inc., VHS Valley Health System LLC, VHS Valley Holdings LLC, VHS Valley Management Company Inc., VHS West Suburban Medical Center Inc., VHS Westlake Hospital Inc., VHS of Anaheim Inc., VHS of Arrowhead Inc., VHS of Huntington Beach Inc., VHS of Illinois Inc., VHS of Michigan Inc., VHS of Michigan Staffing Inc., VHS of Orange County Inc., VHS of Phoenix Inc., VHS of South Phoenix Inc., Valley Baptist Lab Services LLC, Valley Baptist Physician Performance Network, Valley Baptist Realty Company LLC, Valley Baptist Surgery Center LLC, Valley Baptist Surgery Center Real Estate LLC, Valley Baptist Wellness Center LLC, Valley Health Care Network, Vanguard Health Financial Company LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company I LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company II LLC, Vanguard Health Management Inc., Vanguard Health Systems, Vanguard Health Systems Inc., Vanguard Holding Company I Inc., Vanguard Holding Company II Inc., Vanguard Medical Specialists LLC, Vanguard Physician Services LLC, Ventana Surgical Center LLC, Veroscan Inc., Victoria Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., WHASA L.C., Walker Baptist Affinity LLC, Walker Street Imaging Care Inc., Warner Park Surgery Center LLC, Watermark Physician Services Inc., Webster Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Wellington Endo LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture I LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture II LLC, West Boca Health Services L.L.C., West Boca Medical Center Inc., West Bozeman Surgery Center LLC, West Palm Healthcare Real Estate Inc., West Suburban Radiation Therapy Center LLC, Westgate Surgery Center LLC, Westlake Hospital LLC, Westlawn Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Centers LLC, White Fence Surgical Suites LLC, Wilmington Endoscopy Center LLC, Wilshire Rental Corp., Windsor Mill Surgery Center LLC, Winter Haven Ambulatory Surgical Center L.L.C., Wisconsin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, and Wymark Surgery Center LLC. Read More The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers workers' compensation, property, automobile, liability, umbrella, bond, marine, livestock, and reinsurance; and customized insurance products and risk management services, including professional liability, bond, surety, and specialty casualty coverages through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers. The company's Personal Lines segment provides automobile, homeowners, and personal umbrella coverages through direct-to-consumer channel and independent agents. Its Property & Casualty Other Operations segment offers coverage for asbestos and environmental exposures. The company's Group Benefits segment provides group life, disability, and other group coverages to members of employer groups, associations, and affinity groups through direct insurance policies; reinsurance to other insurance companies; employer paid and voluntary product coverages; disability underwriting, administration, and claims processing to self-funded employer plans; and a single-company leave management solution. This segment distributes its group insurance products and services through brokers, consultants, third-party administrators, trade associations, and private exchanges. Its Hartford Funds segment offers investment products for retail and retirement accounts; exchange-traded products through broker-dealer organizations, independent financial advisers, defined contribution plans, financial consultants, bank trust groups, and registered investment advisers; and investment management and administrative services, such as product design, implementation, and oversight. The company was founded in 1810 and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. provides automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and light and heavy duty trucks. The company offers battery accessories; belts and hoses; brakes and brake pads; chassis and climate control parts; clutches and drive shafts; engines and engine parts; exhaust systems and parts; hub assemblies; ignition components and wires; radiators and cooling parts; starters and alternators; and steering and alignment parts. It also offers air conditioning chemicals and accessories; air fresheners; antifreeze and washer fluids; electrical wires and fuses; electronics; floor mats, seat covers, and interior accessories; hand and specialty tools; lighting products; performance parts; sealants, adhesives and compounds; tire repair accessories; vent shades, mirrors and exterior accessories; washes, waxes and cleaning supplies; and wiper blades. In addition, the company offers air filters; fuel and oil additives; fuel filters; grease and lubricants; motor oils; oil filters, part cleaners and treatments; and transmission fluids for engine maintenance. Further, it offers battery and wiper installation; engine light scanning and checking; electrical system testing; video clinic; oil and battery recycling; and loaner tool program services. Additionally, the company sells its products through its website. It serves professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. The company operates stores under the Advance Auto Parts, Autopart International, and Carquest brands, as well as branches under the Worldpac name. As of April 23, 2022, it operated 4,687 stores and 311 branches in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada; and served 1,318 independently owned Carquest branded stores in Mexico, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the British Virgin Islands. The company was founded in 1929 and is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The following companies are subsidiares of Caterpillar: Advanced Tri-Gen Power Systems LLC, Anchor Coupling Inc., Asia Power Systems (Tianjin) Ltd., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd., Banco Caterpillar S.A., Berg Propulsion International Pte Ltd., Bucyrus, Bucyrus Australia Surface Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Holdings Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Limited, Bucyrus International (Chile) Limitada, Bucyrus International (Peru) S.A., Bucyrus Mining Australia Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Mining China LLC, Bucyrus UK Limited, Cat Rental Kyushu LLC, Caterpillar (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar (China) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Machinery Components Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (HK) Limited, Caterpillar (Huainan) Machinery Service Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Langfang) Mining Equipment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Luxembourg) Investment Co. S.a r.l., Caterpillar (NI) Limited, Caterpillar (Newberry) LLC, Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Logistics Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar (U.K.) Limited, Caterpillar (Wujiang) Ltd., Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Zhengzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar Acquisition Holding Corp., Caterpillar Americas C.V., Caterpillar Americas Co., Caterpillar Americas Funding Inc., Caterpillar Americas Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Asia Limited, Caterpillar Asia Pacific L.P., Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Asset Intelligence LLC, Caterpillar Belgium S.A., Caterpillar Brasil Comercio de Maquinas e Pecas Ltda., Caterpillar Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Brazil LLC, Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH, Caterpillar Centro de Formacion S.L., Caterpillar China Limited, Caterpillar Commercial Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Commercial LLC, Caterpillar Commercial Northern Europe Limited, Caterpillar Commercial S.A., Caterpillar Commercial S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Commercial Services S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Communications LLC, Caterpillar Corporativo Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Cote DIvoire, Caterpillar Credito S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., Caterpillar DC Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Digital Services & Solutions SARL, Caterpillar Distribution International LLC, Caterpillar Distribution Services Europe B.V.B.A., Caterpillar East Real Estate Holding Ltd., Caterpillar Emissions Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, Caterpillar Energy Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions S.A., Caterpillar Energy System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Engine Systems Inc., Caterpillar Equipos Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Eurasia LLC, Caterpillar FS (QFC) LLC, Caterpillar Finance France S.A., Caterpillar Finance Kabushiki Kaisha, Caterpillar Financial Acquisition Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Aftermarket Solutions Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Australia Leasing Pty Limited, Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited, Caterpillar Financial Commercial Account Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Corporacion Financiera S.A. E.F.C., Caterpillar Financial Dealer Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Funding Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Caterpillar Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial New Zealand Limited, Caterpillar Financial Nordic Services AB, Caterpillar Financial Nova Scotia Corporation, Caterpillar Financial OOO, Caterpillar Financial Receivables Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Renting S.A., Caterpillar Financial SARL, Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services (Ireland) plc, Caterpillar Financial Services (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Argentina S.A., Caterpillar Financial Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Financial Services CR s.r.o., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Services GmbH, Caterpillar Financial Services India Private Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Leasing ULC, Caterpillar Financial Services Limited Les Services Financiers Caterpillar Limitee, Caterpillar Financial Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Caterpillar Financial Services Netherlands B.V., Caterpillar Financial Services Norway AS, Caterpillar Financial Services Philippines Inc., Caterpillar Financial Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, Caterpillar Financial UK Acquisition Funding Partners, Caterpillar Financial Ukraine LLC, Caterpillar Fluid Systems S.r.l., Caterpillar Fomento Comercial Ltda., Caterpillar Forest Products Inc., Caterpillar France S.A.S., Caterpillar GB L.L.C., Caterpillar Global Investments S.a r.l., Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Equipamentos De Mineracao do Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Expanded Products Pty Ltd, Caterpillar Global Mining Germany Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong AFC Manufacturing Holding Co. Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Global Mining SARL, Caterpillar Global Mining U.S. Parts LLC, Caterpillar Global Services LLC, Caterpillar Group Services S.A., Caterpillar Holding (France) S.A.S., Caterpillar Holding Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Hungary Components Manufacturing Ltd., Caterpillar Hydraulics Italia S.r.l., Caterpillar IPX LLC, Caterpillar IRB LLC, Caterpillar Impact Products Limited, Caterpillar India Private Limited, Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Caterpillar Industrias Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Industries (Pty) Ltd, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Insurance Company, Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Finance Designated Activity Company, Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg I S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg II S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Product SARL, Caterpillar International Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Services del Peru S.A., Caterpillar Investment Limited, Caterpillar Investment One SARL, Caterpillar Investment Two SARL, Caterpillar Investments, Caterpillar Japan LLC, Caterpillar Latin America Services S.R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Panama S. de R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Servicios de Chile Limitada, Caterpillar Latin America Support Services S. DE R.L., Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar Leasing Chile S.A., Caterpillar Leasing GmbH (Leipzig), Caterpillar Leasing Operativo Limitada, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, Caterpillar Logistics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Logistics (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Logistics Inc., Caterpillar Logistics ML Services France S.A.S., Caterpillar Logistics Services China Limited, Caterpillar Luxembourg Group S.ar.l., Caterpillar Luxembourg LLC, Caterpillar Luxembourg S.a r.l., Caterpillar Machinery Nantong Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence, Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited, Caterpillar Marine Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Maroc SARL, Caterpillar Materiels Routiers SAS, Caterpillar Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Mining Canada ULC, Caterpillar Mining Chile Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, Caterpillar Motoren Henstedt-Ulzburg GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Verwaltungs-GmbH, Caterpillar Netherlands Holding B.V., Caterpillar North America C.V., Caterpillar Operator Training Ltd., Caterpillar Overseas Credit Corporation SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Investment Holding SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Limited, Caterpillar Overseas SARL, Caterpillar Panama Services S.A., Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Paving Products Xuzhou Ltd., Caterpillar Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Limited, Caterpillar Power Generation Systems L.L.C., Caterpillar Power Systems Inc., Caterpillar Power Ventures International Ltd., Caterpillar Precision Seals Korea, Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.l., Caterpillar Product Services Corporation, Caterpillar Propulsion AB, Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Italy S.R.L., Caterpillar Propulsion Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Singapore Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar R&D Center (China) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe LLC, Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe Servicios S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Reman Powertrain Indiana LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Drivetrain LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Renting France S.A.S., Caterpillar Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar SARL, Caterpillar Services Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Servizi Italia Srl, Caterpillar Shrewsbury Limited, Caterpillar Skinningrove Limited, Caterpillar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd., Caterpillar Special Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Switchgear Americas LLC, Caterpillar Switchgear Holding Inc., Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd., Caterpillar Torreon S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Tosno L.L.C., Caterpillar Transmissions France S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Holdings Ltd., Caterpillar Tunnelling Canada Corporation, Caterpillar Tunnelling Europe Limited, Caterpillar UK Employee Trust Limited, Caterpillar UK Engines Company Limited, Caterpillar UK Group Limited, Caterpillar UK Holdings Limited, Caterpillar Undercarriage (Xuzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc., Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Caterpillar Work Tools B.V., Caterpillar Work Tools Inc., Caterpillar World Trading Corporation, Caterpillar Xuzhou, Caterpillar of Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar of Canada Corporation, Caterpillar of Delaware Inc., Centre de Distribution de Wallonie SPRL, CleanAir Systems, Downer Freight Rail, ECM Railway Evolution Romania s.r.l., ECM S.p.A., EDC European Excavator Design Center GmbH, EMC Holding Corp., EMD International Holdings Inc., ERA Information & Entertainment (BVI) Limited, ERA Mining Machinery Limited, Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, Electro-Motive Locomotive Technologies LLC, Electro-Motive Technical Consulting Co. (Beijing) Ltd., Energy Services International Limited, Equipos de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Eurenov S.A.S., F. G. Wilson (Proprietary) Limited, F. Perkins Limited, FG Wilson (Engineering) Limited, GB Holdco (China) Inc., GFCM Comercial Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., GFCM Servicios S.A. de C.V., Gremada Industries - Assets, Hong Kong Siwei Holdings Limited, Inmobiliaria Conek S.A. de C.V., JCS Co., Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp., Leo Inc., Locomotive Demand Power Pty Ltd., Locomotoras Progress Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lovat, M2M Data Corporation, MGE Equipamentos & Servicos Ferroviarios, MWM, MWM Austria GmbH, MWM Benelux B.V., MWM Energy Australia Pty Ltd, MWM France S.A.S, MWM Real Estate GmbH, MaK Americas Inc., MaK Americas Inc. (Canada), Magnum Power Products LLC, Marble, Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, Mec-Track S.r.l., Metalmark Financial Services Limited, Motoren Steffens GmbH, Nippon Caterpillar LLC, P. T. Solar Services Indonesia, PT Caterpillar Finance Indonesia, PT. Bucyrus Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia Batam, PT. Caterpillar Remanufacturing Indonesia, Perkins Engines, Perkins Engines (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Perkins Engines Group Limited, Perkins Engines Inc., Perkins Group Limited, Perkins Holdings Limited LLC, Perkins India Private Limited, Perkins International Inc., Perkins Japan LLC, Perkins Limited, Perkins Machinery (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Perkins Motores do Brasil Ltda., Perkins Power Systems Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines LLC, Perkins Small Engines Limited, Perkins Technology Inc., Progress Metal Reclamation Company, Progress Rail Arabia Limited Company, Progress Rail Australia Pty Ltd, Progress Rail Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Equipamentos e Servicos Ferroviarios do Brasil Ltda., Progress Rail Equipment Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Holdings Inc., Progress Rail Innovations Private Limited, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems GmbH, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems S.r.l., Progress Rail International Corp., Progress Rail Leasing Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Progress Rail Locomotivas (do Brasil) Ltda., Progress Rail Locomotive Canada Co., Progress Rail Locomotive Chile SpA, Progress Rail Locomotive Inc., Progress Rail Maintenance de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Progress Rail Manufacturing Corporation, Progress Rail Raceland Corporation, Progress Rail Rocklin Corporation, Progress Rail SA Proprietary Limited, Progress Rail Services Corporation, Progress Rail Services Holdings Corp., Progress Rail Services LLC, Progress Rail Services UK Limited, Progress Rail Switching Services LLC, Progress Rail Transcanada Corporation, Progress Rail Welding Corporation, Progress Rail Wildwood LLC, Progress Rail de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pyroban Group, Pyroban Group, Pyrrha Investments B.V., Pyrrha Investments Limited, S&L Railroad LLC, SCM Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., SPL Software Alliance LLC, Sabre Engines, Servicios de Turbinas Solar S. de R.L. de C.V., Shandong SEM Machinery Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines (Beijing) Trading Services Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines (Thailand) Ltd., Solar Turbines CIS Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Canada Ltd./Ltee., Solar Turbines Central Asia Limited Liability Partnership, Solar Turbines EAME s.r.o., Solar Turbines Egypt Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Europe S.A., Solar Turbines India Private Limited, Solar Turbines International Company, Solar Turbines Italy S.R.L., Solar Turbines Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Solar Turbines Middle East Limited, Solar Turbines New Zealand Limited, Solar Turbines Saudi Arabia Limited, Solar Turbines Services Company, Solar Turbines Services Nigeria Limited, Solar Turbines Services of Argentina S.R.L., Solar Turbines Switzerland Sagl, Solar Turbines Trinidad & Tobago Limited, Solar Turbines West-Africa SARL, Tangshan DBT Machinery Co. Ltd., Tecnologia Modificada S.A. de C.V., Towmotor Corporation, Traction & Mining Motor Repairs Pty Ltd, Turbinas Solar S.A. de C.V., Turbinas Solar de Colombia S.A., Turbinas Solar de Venezuela C.A., Turbo Tecnologia de Reparaciones S.A. de C.V., Turbomach, Turbomach Endustriyel Gaz Turbinleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited, Turbomach France SARL, Turbomach GmbH, Turbomach Netherlands B.V., Turbomach Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbomach S.A. Unipersonal, Turbomach Sp. Z o.o., Turner Powertrain Systems Limited, UK Hose Assembly Limited, Underground Imaging Technologies Inc, United Industries LLC, VALA Inc., Vasky Energy Ltd., Wealdstone Engineering, Weir - Oil & Gas Division, West Virginia Auto Shredding Inc., Western Gear Machinery LLC, Wetland Sustainability Fund I LLC, Williams Technologies, Yard Club, Zhengzhou Siwei Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Sales Co. Ltd., and okyo Rental Ltd.. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Better Financial Services GmbH, Better Payment Germany GmbH, Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., Chapel Funding, China Recovery Fund LLC, Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Cartera de lnmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Impact Investment Fund I. LP., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Limited, DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Jersey) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios lnteractivos Agrupacicm de lnteres Econemico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB Print GmbH, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services (Jersey) Limited, DB Services Americas. Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB US Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a. r.l., DB Value S.a.r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita SA., DB lmmobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG i.L., DB lo LP, DBAH Capital. LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management 18 Ltd., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a. r.l., DBX Advisers LLC, DEBEKO lmmobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK AS., DI Deutsche lmmobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Shanghai Private Equity Fund Management Limited, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anenima lnstitucien Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico. S.A., Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank Polska Spelka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Societe per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche Bank. Sociedad Anenima Espanola, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur lmmobilien-Leasing mit beschrenkter Haftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.El r.l., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche India Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a. r.|., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities SA. de C.V.. Casla de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Services (Cl) Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. SA., Deutsche lmmobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsches lnstitut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.l., Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, European Value Added I (Alternate GP.) LLP, Fiduciaria Sant Andrea S.r.l., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., German American Capital Corporation, Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer LandstraBe GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Miesbaden LuisenstraBe/Kirchgasse GbR, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF l Manager S.a.r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul lnkasso GmbH, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo lll Initial GP Limited, MEF I Manager. S. a r.|., MIT Holdings Inc., Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgagelT Inc., MortgagelT Securities Corp., OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentIe", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, PADUS Grundstcks-VermietungsgeseIlschaft mbH, PB Factoring GmbH, PB Spezial-lnvestmentaktiengesellschatt mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Plantation Bay. Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank lmmobilien GmbH, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, RREEF, RREEF America LLC., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisers Private Limited, RREEF Management LLC., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables. LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermielungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sharps SP l LLC, Stelvio lmmobiliare S.r.l., Suddeutsche Vermeigensvewvaitung Gesellschaft mit beschrenkter Haftung, TELO Beleiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Umited, VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., lmmobilienfonds BuroCenter Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, lmmobilienfonds Wohn- und Gescheftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, and norisbank GmbH. Read More Freeport-McMoRan Inc. engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. The company primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals, as well as oil and gas. Its assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Tyrone and Chino in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. The company also operates a portfolio of oil and gas properties primarily located in offshore California and the Gulf of Mexico. As of December 31, 2021, it operated approximately 135 wells. The company was formerly known as Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. and changed its name to Freeport-McMoRan Inc. in July 2014. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Community Bank System, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Community Bank, N.A. that provides various banking and other financial services to retail, commercial, and municipal customers. It operates through three segments: Banking, Employee Benefit Services, and All Other. The company offers various deposits products, such as checking, savings, and money market deposit accounts, as well as time deposits. It also provides loans, including consumer mortgages; general purpose commercial and industrial loans, and mortgages on commercial properties; paycheck protection program loans; installment loans that are originated through selected dealerships and are secured by automobiles, marine, and other recreational vehicles; personal installment loans and lines of credit for consumers; and home equity products. In addition, the company offers broker-dealer and investment advisory; cash management, investment, and treasury services; asset management; and employee benefit services, as well as operates as a full-service insurance agency that offers personal and commercial lines of insurance, and other risk management products and services. Further, it provides contribution plan administration, employee benefit trust, collective investment fund, retirement plan administration, fund administration, transfer agency, actuarial and benefit consulting, VEBA/HRA, and health and welfare consulting services. Additionally, the company offers wealth management, retirement planning, higher educational planning, fiduciary, risk management, trust, and personal financial planning services; and investment alternatives, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and advisory products, as well as master recordkeeping services. As of January 24, 2022, it operated approximately 215 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts. Community Bank System, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in DeWitt, New York. ONEOK, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas in the United States. It operates through Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids, and Natural Gas Pipelines segments. The company owns natural gas gathering pipelines and processing plants in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions. It also gathers, treats, fractionates, and transports natural gas liquids (NGL), as well as stores, markets, and distributes NGL products. The company owns NGL gathering and distribution pipelines in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado; terminal and storage facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois; and NGL distribution and refined petroleum products pipelines in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, as well as owns and operates truck- and rail-loading, and -unloading facilities connected to NGL fractionation, storage, and pipeline assets. In addition, it operates regulated interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines and natural gas storage facilities. Further, the company owns and operates a parking garage in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma; and leases excess office space. It operates 17,500 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines; 1,500 miles of FERC-regulated interstate natural gas pipelines; 5,100 miles of state-regulated intrastate transmission pipeline; six NGL storage facilities; and eight NGL product terminals. It serves integrated and independent exploration and production companies; NGL and natural gas gathering and processing companies; crude oil and natural gas production companies; propane distributors; municipalities; ethanol producers; and petrochemical, refining, and NGL marketing companies, as well as natural gas distribution and electric generation companies, producers, processors, and marketing companies. The company was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The following companies are subsidiares of Stanley Black & Decker: 2315708 Ontario Inc., 3-V Fastener Co. Inc., 3xLOGIC Dalian Technology Company Limited, 3xLogic Florida LLC, 3xLogic Inc., 3xLogic Indiana LLC, 8 Commerce Drive LLC, ADT France, ASIA FASTENING (US) INC., Advanced Turf Technologies LTD, AeroFit LLC, AeroScout (US) LLC, AeroScout Industrial, AeroScout LLC, AeroScout Ltd., Aeroscout (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Al Khaja Pimex LLC, Allan Brothers, Automatic Doors Systems, Automatic Entrances of Colorado, Avdel Holding Limited, Avdel Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, Avdel UK Limited, Aven Tools Limited, B&D Holdings Inc., B.B.W. BAYRISCHE BOHRERWERKE GmbH, BD Precision (Hong Kong) Limited, BD Suzhou (Hong Kong) Limited, BD Suzhou Power Tools (Hong Kong) Limited, BD Xiamen (Hong Kong) Limited, BDB Ferramentas do Brasil Ltda, BDC International Limited, BDK FAUCET HOLDINGS INC., BLACK & DECKER (SUZHOU) CO. LTD., BLACK & DECKER (SUZHOU) POWER TOOLS CO. LTD., BLACK & DECKER (SUZHOU) PRECISION MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., BLACK & DECKER ASIA MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS 1 S.a.r.l., BLACK & DECKER ASIA MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS 2 S.a.r.l., BLACK & DECKER DE REYNOSA S. DE R.L. DE C.V., BLACK & DECKER GLOBAL HOLDINGS S.a.r.l., BLACK & DECKER GROUP LLC, BLACK & DECKER HOLDINGS LLC, BLACK & DECKER INC, BLACK & DECKER INDIA INC., BLACK & DECKER INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS S.A.R.L., BLACK & DECKER INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC, BLACK & DECKER SHELBYVILLE LLC, BLACK & DECKER SSC CO. LTD., BLACK & DECKER TRANSASIA S.a.r.l., BLACK AND DECKER S.A. de C.V., Bagley Road LLC, Baltimore Financial Services Company Unlimited Company, Baltimore Insurance Designated Activity Company, Bandhart, Bandhart Overseas, Bed-Check, Belco Investments Company Unlimited Company, Besco Investment Group Co. Ltd., Besco Investment Holdings Ltd., Besco Pneumatic Corporation, Besco Pneumatic Corporation, Best Lock Corporation, Black & Decker, Black & Decker (Czech) s.r.o., Black & Decker (Ireland) Inc., Black & Decker (OVERSEAS) GmbH, Black & Decker (Thailand) Limited, Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., Black & Decker Argentina S.A., Black & Decker Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Black & Decker Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Black & Decker Distribution Pty. Ltd, Black & Decker Europe, Black & Decker Far East Holdings B.V., Black & Decker Finance, Black & Decker Finance (Australia) Ltd., Black & Decker Finance SAS, Black & Decker Funding Corporation, Black & Decker Hardware Holdings B.V., Black & Decker Healthcare Management Inc., Black & Decker Holdings (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Black & Decker Holdings B.V., Black & Decker Inc., Black & Decker International, Black & Decker International Finance (UK) Limited, Black & Decker International Finance 1 Unlimited Company, Black & Decker International Finance 3 Designated Activity Company, Black & Decker International Finance Holdings (UK) Limited, Black & Decker International Holdings B.V. & CO. KG, Black & Decker Investments (Australia) Limited, Black & Decker Investments LLC, Black & Decker Limited BV, Black & Decker Luxembourg S.A.R.L., Black & Decker Mexfin LLC, Black & Decker No. 4 Pty. Ltd., Black & Decker Puerto Rico Inc., Black & Decker de Colombia S.A.S., Black & Decker de Panama LLC, Black & Decker del Ecuador S.A., Black & Decker del Peru S.A., Black & Decker do Brasil Ltda., Black and Decker de Costa Rica Limitada, Blick Plc, Bostitch-Holding L.L.C., Bristol Industries LLC, Bulldog Barrels LLC, C&C Enterprise Co. Ltd., CAM International Holdings Inc., CAMACC Systems Inc., CONNEXCENTER SA, CPE Acquisition Co., CRC-EVANS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., CRC-EVANS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, CRC-EVANS WELDING SERVICES INC., CRC-Evans B.V., CRC-Evans Canada LTD., CRC-Evans International LLC, CRC-Evans Offshore Limited, CRC-Evans PIH Servios De Tubulao do Brasil Ltda, CRC-Evans Pipeline International Inc., CRC-Evans Pipeline International Sdn Bhd, CWS Industries (Mfg.) Corp., Chesapeake Falls Holdings Company Unlimited Company, Chesapeake Investments Company S.A.R.L., Chicago Steel Tape, Chiro Tools Holdings B.V., Christie Intruder Alarms Limited, Clarke Security Services Incorporated, Columbia Manufacturing Company Incorporated, Compass Corporation, Compass II Co. Ltd., Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing, Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing LLC, Constellation (Luxembourg) Holdings S.a r.l., Contact East, Craftman, Cub Cadet LLC, DADO Inc., DEVILBISS AIR POWER COMPANY, DIYZ LLC, DeWalt Industrial Tools S.p.A., Dewalt Industrial Power Tool Company LTD., Doncasters US Holdings Inc., Dubuis et Cie SAS, E.A. Patten Co. LLC, ELU B.V., ELU Power Tools LTD, EMHART TEKNOLOGIES LLC, Eastern Vault & Security, Emhart Guangzhou (Hong Kong) Limited, Emhart Harttung A/S, Emhart Harttung Inc., Emhart International Holdings Limited, Emhart International Limited, Emhart Teknologies (Thailand) LTD., Excel Industries, Excel Industries Inc., F. Robotics Acquisitions Ltd., Facom, Facom Belgie BV, Fastener Jamher Taiwan Inc., First National AlarmCap LP/Premiere Societe en Commandite Nationale Alarmcap, First National AlarmCap. Trust, Frisco Bay Industries, GDX Technologies, GMT China, GRUPO BLACK & DECKER MEXICO S. DE R.L. DE C.V., GUANGZHOU EMHART FASTENING SYSTEM CO. LTD., Gamrie Designated Activity Company, Garden Way LLC, Generale de Protection, HSM Electronic Protection Systems, Hangtech Limited, Hardware City Associates Limited Partnership, Hefei INTACA Science & Technology Development Co. Ltd., Herramientas Stanley S.A. de c.v., Horst Sprenger GmbH Recycling-tools, Hustler Turf Equipment Inc., I.D.L. Techni-Edge LLC, INFASTECH CAMCAR MALAYSIA SDN BHD, INFASTECH DECORAH LLC, ISR Solutions, IguanaFix, Infastech (China) Limited, Infastech (Korea) Limited, Infastech (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Infastech (Mauritius) Limited, Infastech (Shenzhen) Limited, Infastech (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, Infastech Company Limited, Infastech Fastening Systems (Wuxi) Limited, Infastech Holdings (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Infastech Intellectual Properties Pte. Ltd., Infastech Receivables Company Pte. Ltd., Infastech/Tri-Star Limited, InfoLogix, InfoLogix Systems Corporation, Infologix - DDMS Inc., Infologix Inc., Innerspace Products, Interfast B.V., Irwin Industrial Tool Ferramentas do Brasil Ltda., JAFFORD LLC, JRB Attachments LLC, JennCo1 Inc., Jewel Attachments LLC, Jiangsu Guoqiang Tools Co., Jiangus Guopiang Tools Co. Ltd., Jointech Corporation LTD., K.And.M. Holdco Products Ltd., Kodiak Mfg. Inc., Lista International Corporation, Lux Star International S.a r.l., M. HART DO BRASIL LTDA., M.P.N. HOLDINGS LIMITED, M.T.D. France SAS, MTD Asia Hong Kong Limited, MTD Austria Handelsgesellschaft m.b.H., MTD Consumer Group Inc., MTD Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, MTD Deutschland Verwaltungsgeschellschaft mbH, MTD Europe Holding GmbH, MTD Holdings, MTD Hungaria Kft., MTD International Operations Inc., MTD Investments Australia Pty Ltd., MTD LLC, MTD PRODUCTS ITALIA S.R.L., MTD Poland Sp. z.o.o., MTD Products AG, MTD Products Australia Party LTD, MTD Products Benelux B.V., MTD Products Company, MTD Products Czech Spol. s.r.o., MTD Products Denmark ApS, MTD Products Inc., MTD Products India Private India Limited, MTD Products Limited, MTD Products New Zealand Limited, MTD Products Nordic AB, MTD Products S.A. de C.V., MTD Products Singapore, MTD Schweiz AG, MTD Southwest Inc., Mac Tools Canada Inc., Maquinas y Herramientas Black & Decker de Chile S.A., Microalloying International Inc., Microtec Enterprises, Moeller Manufacturing & Supply LLC, Monarch Mirror Door Co., NEWFREY LLC, NFASTECH COMPANY LIMITED, NIscayah, NSW Fabristeel Netherlands B.V., National Manufacturing, Nelson Bolzenschwei-Technik GmbH & Co. KG, Nelson Bolzenschwei-Technik GmbH Verwaltungs GmbH, Nelson Fastener Systems, Nelson Fastener Systems de Mexico SA de CV, Nelson Saldatura Perni S.r.l., Nelson Soudage de Goujons SAS, Nelson Stud Welding (Tianjin) Company Ltd., Nelson Stud Welding Canada Inc., Nelson Stud Welding Inc., Nelson Stud Welding India Private Limited, Nelson Stud Welding International LLC, New FEP Co. LLC, Newell Brands - Tools Business, Nippon Pop Rivets & Fasteners LTD., Niscayah Asia Limited, Niscayah Group AB, Niscayah Holdings Limited, Niscayah Investments Limited, Niscayah Teknik AB, Novia SWK SAS, OSI Security Devices, Onglin International Limited, P I H Holdings Limited, P&B Re Holdings LLC, PIH Services Limited, PIH Services ME LLC, PIH Services ME Ltd., PIH Services ME W.L.L., PIH U.S. LLC, PIPELINE EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES SARL, PORTER-CABLE ARGENTINA LLC, PT Stanley Black & Decker, Pacom Group AB, Pacom Systems (North America) Inc., Pacom Systems Espana S.L., Pacom Systems Pty Limited, Paladin Brands Group Inc., Paladin Brands Holdings Inc., Paladin Brands International Holdings Inc., Panalok Limited, Pengo Corporation, Pillo Health, Pinnacle Electronic Systems, Pipeline Induction Heat Limited, Pipeline Induction Heat Limited, Powers Fasteners Australasia Pty Limited, Powers Fasteners Inc., Powers Fasteners Inc. (Panama), Powers Rawl Pty. Ltd., Powers Shanghai Trading Ltd., Precision Hardware, Prikos & Becker LLC, Pro One Finance SAS, QRP Inc, RCTENN LLC, RIGHTCO II LLC, Rawl Australasia Pty. Ltd., Rawlplug Unit Trust, Refal Industria e Comercio de Rebites e Rebitadeiras Ltda., Remington LLC, SBD Cayman LLC, SBD European Investment Unlimited Company, SBD European Security Holdings S.a r.l., SBD European Security International Unlimited Company, SBD European Security Investment Unlimited Company, SBD Holding AB, SBD Insurance Inc., SBD MDGP Partnership Holdings LLC, SBD MDGP Partnership Holdings S.a r.l., SBD Manufacturing Distribution & Global Purchasing Holdings L.P., SBD Niscayah S.a r.l., SBD Property Holdings LLC, SBD UK Canada Holdings Inc., SPIRALOCK GLOBAL VENTURES LIMITED, STANLEY BLACK & DECKER HUNGARY KORALTOLT FELELOSSEGU TARSASAG, STANLEY BLACK & DECKER IBERICA S.L., STANLEY BLACK & DECKER MOROCCO SARL, STANLEY BLACK AND DECKER CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LTD, STANLEY BLACK AND DECKER CYPRUS ONE HOLDINGS LTD, STANLEY BLACK AND DECKER CYPRUS S1 HOLDINGS LTD, STANLEY BLACK AND DECKER CYPRUS S2 HOLDINGS LTD, STANLEY ENGINEERED FASTENING EASTERN EUROPE SP.Z O.O., SWK (U.K.) Holding Limited, SWK (UK) Limited, SWK Utensilerie S.r.l., Scan Modul, Security Group, SecurityCo Solutions Inc., Shanghai Emhart Fastening System Co. Ltd., Sidchrome Tool, Sielox Security Systems, Societe Miniere et Commerciale SAS, Sonitrol, Sonitrol Distribution Canada Inc., Sonitrol Security Systems of Buffalo Inc., Southern Monitoring Services Limited, Specialty Bar Products Company, Spiegelberg Manufacturing Inc., Spiralock Corporation, Stanley Access Technologies LLC, Stanley Atlantic Inc., Stanley Black & Decker (Barbados) SRL, Stanley Black & Decker (Hellas) EPE, Stanley Black & Decker Asia Holdings LLC, Stanley Black & Decker Asian Holdings B.V., Stanley Black & Decker Australia Pty Ltd., Stanley Black & Decker Austria GmbH, Stanley Black & Decker Belgium BV, Stanley Black & Decker CCA S. de R.L., Stanley Black & Decker Canada Corporation, Stanley Black & Decker Cayman Holdings Inc., Stanley Black & Decker Cayman International Financing LLC, Stanley Black & Decker Centroamerica S. de R.L., Stanley Black & Decker Chile L.L.C., Stanley Black & Decker Colombia Services S.A.S., Stanley Black & Decker Czech Republic s.r.o., Stanley Black & Decker Deutschland GmbH, Stanley Black & Decker Distribution SAS, Stanley Black & Decker Finance 1 LLC, Stanley Black & Decker Finance 2 LLC, Stanley Black & Decker Finance Limited, Stanley Black & Decker Finance Unlimited Company, Stanley Black & Decker Finland Oy, Stanley Black & Decker France SAS, Stanley Black & Decker France Services SAS, Stanley Black & Decker Hermosillo S. de R.L. de C.V., Stanley Black & Decker Holdings Australia Pty Ltd, Stanley Black & Decker Holdings S.a r.l., Stanley Black & Decker IP Holdings Limited, Stanley Black & Decker India Private Limited, Stanley Black & Decker International FZE, Stanley Black & Decker International Fiance 2 Unlimited Company, Stanley Black & Decker International Finance 1 Limited, Stanley Black & Decker International Finance 2 Limited, Stanley Black & Decker International Finance 3 Limited, Stanley Black & Decker International Finance 3 Unlimited Company, Stanley Black & Decker International Finance 4 Limited, Stanley Black & Decker International Finance 4 Unlimited Company, Stanley Black & Decker International Finance 5 Unlimited Company, Stanley Black & Decker International Finance L.P., Stanley Black & Decker Ireland Unlimited Company, Stanley Black & Decker Italia S.r.l., Stanley Black & Decker Latin American Holding BV, Stanley Black & Decker Latin American Investment Unlimited Company, Stanley Black & Decker Limited, Stanley Black & Decker Limited Liability Company, Stanley Black & Decker Logistics BV, Stanley Black & Decker MEA FZE, Stanley Black & Decker Manufacturing SAS, Stanley Black & Decker Middle East Trading FZE, Stanley Black & Decker NZ Limited, Stanley Black & Decker Netherlands B.V., Stanley Black & Decker Norway AS, Stanley Black & Decker Partnership Japan, Stanley Black & Decker Partnership Japan Holdings S.a r.l., Stanley Black & Decker Polska Sp. z o.o., Stanley Black & Decker Precision Manufacturing (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stanley Black & Decker Romania SRL, Stanley Black & Decker Slovakia s.r.o., Stanley Black & Decker Sweden AB, Stanley Black & Decker Turkey Alet Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Stanley Black & Decker UK Group Limited, Stanley Black & Decker UK Limited, Stanley Black & Decker de Monterrey S. de R.L. de C.V., Stanley Black and Decker Commercial Private India, Stanley Black and Decker Security Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V. (fka DEWALT INDUSTRIAL TOOLS S.A. DE C.V.), Stanley CLP3, Stanley Canada Holdings L.L.C., Stanley Chiro International Ltd, Stanley Convergent Security Solutions Inc., Stanley Engineered Fastening Benelux B.V., Stanley Engineered Fastening France SAS, Stanley Engineered Fastening India Private Limited, Stanley Engineered Fastening Industrial Deutschland GmbH, Stanley Engineered Fastening Italy S.r.l., Stanley Engineered Fastening Spain S.L.U., Stanley Europe BV, Stanley European Holdings B.V., Stanley European Holdings II B.V., Stanley Fastening Systems Investment (Taiwan) Co., Stanley Fastening Systems L.P., Stanley Fastening Systems Poland Sp. z o.o., Stanley Feinwerktechnik GmbH, Stanley Grundstuecksverwaltungs GmbH, Stanley Healthcare Solutions France Sarl, Stanley Housing Fund Inc., Stanley Industrial & Automotive LLC, Stanley Infrastructure LLC Formerly f/k/a International Equipment Solutions ("IES"), Stanley Inspection L.L.C., Stanley Inspection US L.L.C., Stanley International Holdings Inc., Stanley Israel Investments B.V., Stanley Logistics L.L.C., Stanley Pipeline Inspection L.L.C., Stanley Safety Corporation LLC, Stanley Security AS, Stanley Security Alarmcentrale B.V., Stanley Security B.V., Stanley Security Belgium BV, Stanley Security Canada ULC (fka 3xLogic Holdings Inc.), Stanley Security Denmark ApS, Stanley Security Europe BV, Stanley Security Federal Systema LLC, Stanley Security Holding AS, Stanley Security Limited, Stanley Security Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Stanley Security Nederland B.V., Stanley Security Oy, Stanley Security Singapore Pte. Ltd., Stanley Security Solutions (NI) Limited, Stanley Security Solutions - Europe Limited, Stanley Security Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Stanley Security Solutions Inc., Stanley Security Solutions India Private Limited, Stanley Security Solutions Limited, Stanley Security Sverige AB, Stanley Technical Services Ltd., Stanley Tools SAS, Stanley U.K. Holdings Ltd., Stanley UK Acquisition Company Limited, Stanley UK Services Limited, Stanley Works (Europe) GmbH, Stanley Works (India) Private Limited, Stanley Works (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Stanley Works (Wendeng) Tools Co. Ltd., Stanley Works Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Stanley Works China Investments Limited, Stanley Works Holdings B.V., Stanley Works Limited, Stanley-Bostitch S.A. de c.v., Stanley-Bostitch Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Stichting Beheer Intellectuele Eigendomsrechten Blick Benelux B.V., SureHand Inc. f.k.a. SBD Aura Inc., Sweepster Attachments LLC, THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION, TOG Holdings Inc., TOG Manufacturing Company Inc., TSI Monitoring LLC, TSI Sales & Installation LLC, The EAP Acquisition Co. LLC, The Farmington River Power Company, The Ferry Cap & Set Screw Company, The Stanley Works (Langfang) Fastening Systems Co. Ltd., The Stanley Works (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., The Stanley Works (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., The Stanley Works (Zhongshan) Tool Co. Ltd., The Stanley Works Israel Ltd., The Stanley Works Limited, The Stanley Works Pty. Ltd., Tong Lung Metal Industry, Troy-Bilt LLC, Tucker Fasteners Limited, Tucker GmbH, Tucker S.R.O., Universal Inspection Systems Limited, Venus Enterprise Co. Ltd., Visiocom International Pte Ltd, Voss Industries Inc., Wintech Corporation Limited, XMARK Corporation, XMARK Corporation., Yong Ru Plastics Industry (Suzhou) Co. Ltd, and Zag USA Inc.. Read More Zendesk, Inc., a software development company, provides software as a service solutions for organizations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. Its flagship product is Zendesk Support, a system for tracking, prioritizing, and solving customer support tickets across various channels. The company also offers Zendesk Chat, a live chat and messaging software to connect with customers on websites and mobile devices applications; Zendesk Talk, a cloud-based call center software; Zendesk Guide, a knowledge base that powers customer self-service and support agent productivity; Zendesk Gather, a community forum software that allows customer end-users to connect and collaborate; Zendesk Explore, which provides analytics for organizations to measure and enhance the customer experience; and Zendesk Sell, a sales customer relationship management (CRM) product solution to enhance productivity, processes, and pipeline visibility. In addition, it provides Zendesk Sunshine, a CRM platform; Sunshine Conversations, a messaging platform solution; Zendesk Developer Tools, a combination of application programming interfaces, web widget, and mobile software development kits; Zendesk APIs that allow users to build custom integrations and interact with Zendesk data; and Zendesk Apps that enable organizations to customize Zendesk product and platform solution interfaces and optimize workflow through plug-ins, as well as Zendesk Suite, an omnichannel offering, which combines its solutions. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Russia's Novovoronezh 6 operating at full power 27 October 2016 Share Unit 1 of the Novovoronezh II nuclear power plant is now operating at full power. Russia's first VVER-1200 reactor was connected to the grid on 4 August and Rosatom announced the latest milestone today, following its new director general's working visit to the plant yesterday. Novovoronezh units 6 and 7 (Image: Rosenergoatom) Also known as Novovoronezh 6, the unit is a VVER 1200/392M pressurised water reactor (PWR) unit with a design net capacity of 1114 MWe. It is the first of two such units at Novovoronezh II - the lead project for the deployment of the AES-2006 design incorporating a Gidropress-designed PWR, an evolutionary development from the VVER-1000. Likhachov, formerly deputy minister of economic development and trade, took over from Rosatom director general Sergey Kirienko earlier this month after Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Kirienko as first deputy head of the Presidential Administration with immediate effect. Kirienko had been in charge of Rosatom since December 2007. In today's statement, Rosatom said Likhachov had told local reporters it was "not accidental" that the Novovoronezh plant was chosen for his first official visit to a Russian nuclear facility. Unit 6 is particularly important for Rosatom, he said, because it is the world's first 'Generation III+' design to be launched and because it will serve as a reference point for VVER-1200 projects in several other countries, with whom the corporation has construction contracts. The design of unit 6 features "improved technical and economic indicators that ensure absolute safety during operation and fully comply with the IAEA's post-Fukushima requirements," Rosatom said. The "main feature" of the technology is the use of additional passive safety systems that do not require the intervention of nuclear power plant personnel, it added. "Unique and globally unparalleled systems have been applied, including passive heat removal from the reactor, hydrogen recombiners and a core catcher," it said. Construction of Novovoronezh II units 1 and 2 - or Novovoronezh units 6 and 7 - began in June 2008 and July 2009, respectively. In June, Rosatom announced installation of the outer shell of the containment building dome at Novovoronezh 7. The dome, which was installed in November 2014, forms part of the unit's double-walled containment structure - a major component for protecting the reactor and preventing the release of radioactive materials into the environment in the event of a serious accident. It is a key feature of the AES-2006 design. The original Novovoronezh site nearby already hosts three operating reactors and two that are being decommissioned. Representatives of Rosenergoatom, Rosatom's nuclear power plant operator subsidiary, informed Likhachov that the Novovoronezh plant had already reached 108% of its planned generation output for this year. Likhachov was also familiarized with progress of the units being decommissioned as well as upgrade work taking place at unit 5. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) Evon Peter pushed his way through hostility and overt racism in Alaska public schools to succeed in academia. He now directs one of the Fairbanks institutions best equipped to expand opportunities in education. Since 2014, Peter has been vice chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Rural and Community Development. The college encompasses five rural Alaska campuses as well as the universitys Native Studies program. He was scheduled Oct. 20 to moderate an education panel during the Alaska Federation of Natives annual conference at the Ca... North Wales PCC Calls For Support in Legalising Medicinal Cannabis This article is old - Published: Thursday, Oct 27th, 2016 North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner has called for support in the legalising of medicinal cannabis. In a letter sent to politicians Plaid Cymrus Arfon Jones requested backing for an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform who are leading a drive to legalise medicinal cannabis. Currently cannabis is listed as a Class B drug and is illegal to use for medicinal purposes. Recently a report published by the cross party group concluded that there is good evidence that medical cannabis helps alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain. However the move has been criticised by Welsh Conservatives and described as reckless by Clwyd West AM Darren Millar. Mr Millar said: As Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Arfon Jones knows first-hand the damaging effects drugs is having on our communities, so it was with some surprise and disappointment that I received his letter. Cannabis, whether used for medicinal or recreational purposes, is a dangerous substance and would have catastrophic consequence to health and society if it was ever legalised. We already have problems with addiction to and the illegal trading of prescription drugs, legalising cannabis would make matters even worse. He added: The commissioners calls are as reckless as they are misguided, and serve only to cultivate a ruinous laissez faire attitude to drugs, which are already taking their toll on public services and families affected by their use. The letter sent out by Mr Jones references the legalisation of medicinal cannabis to help alleviate pain of those across the country who are living in pain. Within the letter Mr Jones writes: I enclose for your information a letter I received recently from Mr Ron Hogg, Police, Crime and Victims Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington and who also sits on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Reform. The group recently launched their inquiry report calling on the UK government to legalise medicinal cannabis based on the results of their seven month inquiry into the issue and on the findings of an independent review. The inquiry has produced strong evidence that policy reform in this field is long overdue. In his letter Mr Jones adds: Can I ask that you support this call to legalise medicinal cannabis and help to alleviate the pain and suffering of at least 30,000 people across the UK. UPDATE 9:41pm We have just had the following sent through from the PR Consultants employed by the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner: Heres a response from North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones on the issue of legalising cannabis for medicinal use. North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones said: I issued the letter in support of a call by my colleague, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham, Ron Hogg, a former deputy chief constable, for the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal use only. The debate around drug policy has moved on considerably in recent years and the view that cannabis for medicinal purposes should be legalised is not only held by me but is shared by many Commissioners of all political hues. My stance on drugs is a matter of record and was a part of my manifesto when I was seeking election as Commissioner, an election that I won with a significant majority. An All Party Parliamentary group has called for the drugs legalisation for medicinal use and there is significant research that signposts that its use is of considerable benefit to sufferers from MS and other forms of illness and that at least 30,000 people use it daily. Illness can be an isolating experience, especially if your medicine is illegal, and it surely wrong that people seeking relief from suffering should be criminalised for using cannabis to treat their illnesses. Welsh Ambulance Service Achieve Best Response Time Figures Since Launch of Pilot Scheme This article is old - Published: Thursday, Oct 27th, 2016 The Welsh Ambulance Service have recorded their best response times since the launch of a pilot scheme last year with half of emergency calls in September receiving a response in just over four and a half minutes. Figures released by the Welsh Government show that 79.5% of immediately life-threatening calls during September were attended within the eight minute target. This is above the target of 65% and up ever so slightly on the 78.1% in August 2016. Across Wales the 65% response time target was reached in all seven Welsh health boards for the fourth time during the trial. In October 2015 a piloted clinical trial was launched across Wales, with ambulance response time targets for all 999 calls scrapped. Instead it was announced that calls to the service would be categorised into a traffic light system with red calls classed as immediately life-threatening. Response time targets of attending 65% of category red calls within eight minutes are now in place as part of the trial. Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said: These are extremely positive figures. The new clinical response model is prioritising the most urgent calls and ensuring a rapid response where its needed. The Scottish Ambulance Service recently announced they would pilot a response system very similar to the Welsh model because they can see that this approach improves the quality of patient care. We have also had international interest in our approach. Ambulance service staff have worked extremely hard to deliver a service that ensures that every person who calls receives an appropriate response and I want to thank them for their hard work. In north Wales Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board remained one of the top performers with response times, attending 79.2% of category red calls within eight minutes. Throughout September the health board received a total of 9,707 calls. 338 of this were classed as red, 5,971 were amber and 3,398 were green. Richard Lee, the Welsh Ambulance Services Director of Operations said: This months performance for our RED immediately life threatening calls is the best we have achieved since our new model launched last October. More importantly we have for the fourth month achieved this important target in every area of Wales. We are preparing for winter and looking at how we can provide a better response to patients with less serious injuries and illnesses. To this end we have established a team of nurses and paramedics in North Wales to replicate our successful clinical contact centre secondary triage team. These staff are able to provide advanced assessment of callers to 999 to ensure we send the right resource. He added: We will continue to work hard to improve the service we provide to patients across Wales, but I am really proud of the work of my staff both on ambulances and in the clinical contact centres day in day out responding to the needs of patients. The latest ambulance quality indicator information shows the average response time to amber patients, those with serious, but not immediately life threatening injuries or conditions was just 13 minutes and 23 seconds. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union (EU) and Canada, which was to have been signed today in Brussels, is in limbo and could soon fall apart after two of Belgiums four regional administrations demanded changes. On October 14, the regional parliament in French-speaking Wallonia voted against granting the federal Belgian government the right to approve the deal. It has since been joined in its rejection of CETA by the Brussels region. Wallonia objected to the deals impact on its agriculture if it has to compete against imports from Canada, one of the worlds leading agricultural exporters. Other issues are involved, however, including the deep-rooted frictions between Belgiums French and Flemish-speaking ruling elites, and concerns that CETA will bolster corporate power at the expense of the capitalist nation-state. On Monday, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel announced his government could not sign the deal. This followed last-ditch talks over the weekend, as EU officials tried to cajole the Belgians to sign the deal, while urging Canada not to prematurely abandon efforts to secure CETAs ratification. Last Friday, Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland walked out of the negotiations, declaring that the EU could not secure the requisite unanimous support of its member states. Before departing for Canada on Saturday after talks with the head of the EU Parliament, Martin Schulz, Freeland tempered her remarks, saying Canada had done all it could and the ball was now in Europes court. Yesterday, EU Council President Donald Tusk held out hope that the signing ceremony could proceed, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would travel to Brussels today regardless. However, as of late Wednesday evening, talks between the regional and federal Belgian governments had failed to secure an endorsement of CETA, though the parties had reportedly agreed to a formula under which Belgium or any of its regions could sign the deal with reservations leaving them free to leave CETA at any time. CETA, like the free trade deal being pursued between the EU and United States, is a reactionary plan to boost corporate profits by eliminating trade tariffs and giving corporations unprecedented powers to take legal action against states that implement policies counter to their interests. These trade and investment deals would also go a long way to eliminating what little remains of labour protection, wage guarantees, environmental regulations and consumer protection rights. Whether or not the deal is finalised, conflicts over CETA have once again starkly exposed the advanced state of decomposition of the EU. Leading EU politicians view the present impasse as intolerable. Bernd Lange, the Social Democrat chair of the European Parliaments trade committee, told Spiegel Online that the failure to conclude CETA is a further step in the destruction of the EU. Manfred Weber, chairman of the conservative European Peoples Party group in the European Parliament and a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, called for limiting the powers of national states on foreign trade, stating Tuesday that the right of regional and national parliaments to block such deals had nothing to do with more democracy. Their concern is not merely CETA, but the impact the delay will have on the EUs ability to conclude larger trade agreements with the United States (the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP) and China. The progress of TTIP already appears highly doubtful, as leading politicians, including French President Francois Hollande and German Deputy Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, have declared the talks to have failed due to deepening transatlantic divisions. As a series of official papers published since the Brexit vote make clear, France and above all Germany are determined to more aggressively assert their interests through the EU, both by concluding trade deals and by carrying out an autonomous foreign policy from Washington. Merkel said the issue was how to assert our interestseconomic, social, ecological, foreign and security policyagainst global competition. This agenda was summed up by Tusk at the European Parliament yesterday. He warned that Europes global position would be damaged if it could not reach a trade deal with Canada, the most European country outside Europe and a close friend and ally. Similarly, Germanys Spiegel Online described the blockade of CETA by Wallonia as possibly the greatest debacle in the history of its foreign trade policy. Trudeau made similar warnings earlier this month. Falsely casting CETA as progressive, he stated in a joint press conference with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls : In this post-Brexit situation where there are a great many questions about Europes usefulness. If Europe cannot manage to sign this agreement, then that sends a very clear message not just to Europe, but to the whole world. The failure of CETA would also be a major setback for Canadas ruling elite, which is anxious to expand economic ties with Europe and Asia. Canadas economy is among the most trade-dependent in the world, but both of the major trade deals being pursued by OttawaCETA and the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)are in jeopardy. As ruling classes worldwide turn towards protectionist policies, the Canadian bourgeoisie also faces the prospect of a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) after the US presidential election. While Republican Donald Trump has led the way in attacks on NAFTA, Democrat Hillary Clinton has also expressed reservations about it. The former Conservative government of Stephen Harper launched negotiations on CETA, hoping to make Europe a major export market for Canadian agricultural products and oil. This goal became more tangible with the sanctions imposed on Russia following the February 2014 Western-backed coup in Ukraine and the rise of explosive geopolitical tensions between Moscow and NATO. Trudeaus Liberals endorsed CETA, giving it a higher priority, at least publicly, than the TPP. After last Junes Brexit vote, sections of Canadian big business argued that implementing CETA was all the more important as Britain would no longer be a reliable gateway to European markets. For their part, British ruling circles are viewing the crisis of the CETA deal with mounting concern. Supporters of Brexit previously pointed to the Canada-EU trade deal as a possible model for the future British-EU relationship, but CETA talks took seven years and could potentially now end in failure. The Financial Times noted on Tuesday that increased pressure from national parliaments for a say on trade deals meant that a country like Britain trying to seal an agreement with the EU would face a very difficult challenge. James Moore wrote in the Independent on the potential pitfalls in Britain-EU trade talks: Perhaps the Spanish will decide to throw a spanner into the works unless theres some movement on the question of Gibraltar. You could hardly blame the Poles for digging their heels in given the way Britain has treated the citizens of that country who live here. Maybe the French will decide its time for some payback for past British obstructionism. Earlier this month the Chinese government announced that the economy had advanced at an annual rate of 6.7 percent in the third quarter, putting it well on track to meet the official target of above 6.5 percent. But concerns are being expressed, even from official sources, about how long this will continue. Releasing the data, the National Bureau of Statistics said: We must be aware that economic development is still in a critical period of transformation, with old growth drivers to be replaced by new ones. With unstable and uncertain domestic and external factors, the foundation for continued economic growth is not solid enough. The official scenario is that the transformation will see a shift from debt-fuelled investment spending to increased consumption, supposedly providing a more stable base for economic expansion. But that is not taking place. Real estate continues to be a key economic driver with property prices increasing by as much as 25 percent in Beijing and Shanghai over the past year. It is estimated that when the flow on effects are considered, such as demand for concrete, steel and household goods, real estate accounts for at least half of all investment. Overall real estate investment expanded by 7.1 percent in the year to September and the services sector by 7.6 percent. Both of these sectors, however, were outstripped by infrastructure investment which rose by 19.4 percent. The continued reliance on debt-financed infrastructure and real estate is giving rise to concerns that a financial crisis is in the making. The fear is that Chinese authorities will not be able to balance the push for continued growth and bring down debt growth at the same time. In order to head off one of the potential sources of a financial crisis, the Chinese government earlier this month approved a plan to allow companies struggling to repay debt to swap it for equity. Chinese firms are estimated to have about $18 trillion worth of debt, equivalent to 170 percent of the countrys gross domestic product. The measure was controversial because critics said banks could simply swap bad loans in return for shares and lead to the creation of zombie companies. The government has insisted that the debt-for-equity swaps will be market-oriented and there will be no free lunch. A spokesman said the government takes no responsibility for bailing out losses. Global financial authorities see two interconnected problems associated with Chinese debt: it is rising very rapidly and the increase is producing less economic growth than it did in the past. Last month, the Bank for International Settlements said while it was not yet concerned with the absolute size of the debt, the speed of the increase could create conditions for a financial crisis. At the end of 2008, Chinese debt was equivalent to 147 percent of GDP. That figure has risen to more than 255 percent of GDP. No other country that has experienced such a rapid rise has managed to escape a financial crisis. Moreover, the increased borrowing is losing the impact it once had. Eight years ago a 1.5 percent increase in credit generated 1 percentage point of additional growth. Today more than a 3 percent increase is needed to achieve the same result, according to the IMF. Given the increased dependence of the Australian economy on Chinathe proportion of its merchandise exports going to China has risen from 10 percent a decade ago to more than 30 percent todaythe Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) drew attention to China in its latest semi-annual financial stability report. Issued earlier this month, the report warned of the possibility of a disruptive adjustment. Australia is not only reliant on China for merchandise exports, such as iron ore, coal and natural gas, but increasingly for other exports. China is currently Australias largest market for services and accounts for 15 percent of the countrys exports in that sector, up from 3 percent in the past 15 years. The RBA report pointed to the problems confronting the Chinese government as it tried to support economic growth and maintain financial stability in the near term. It said the continued reliance on debt-financed growth and bank forbearance, along with official actions that reinforce perceptions of implicit government guarantees, add to existing vulnerabilities. While Chinese authorities recognised these risks and had often expressed concern about them, implementing the necessary wide sweep of financial reforms within an increasingly large and complex financial system, will remain a key policy challenge. To underscore these risks the RBA published a graph showing the rapid escalation of Chinese debt since the global financial crisis of 2008, an increase far outstripping that of other emerging markets. Recent policy stimulus, the RBA said, has helped stabilise parts of the economy, but has also helped to further fuel the rapid pace of credit growth. The interaction between high and rising debt, slower growth and excess capacity in some areas is raising the chance of widespread loan defaults and economic disruption. Authorities were taking steps to address the growth of the shadow banking sector but the financial system was becoming increasingly large, opaque and interconnected. This raised concerns about asset quality and the funding positions of some of the fast-growing parts of the system, and increased the risk of financial contagion. The RBA warned that the risk of contagion was a major concern, not only for China but for the global financial system as a whole because China was the second largest economy after the US. The main connections between China and other economies that would be relevant in a negative scenario are trade volumes and commodity prices, as well as sentiment in global financial markets. While some may take comfort that the Chinese financial system is still relatively closed and that a crisis could be contained, the RBA noted that there are close linkages to other financial centres in Asia and some banks in Hong Kong and Singapore that have large exposures to China which could transmit financial stress. Housing charity Shelter has marked the 50th anniversary of its founding by issuing a report on the standard of housing in Britain today. In the introduction to The Living Home Standard, Campbell Robb, Shelter chief executive, writes: [T]he housing crisis facing this country is as challenging and as far from fixed as it was in 1966. Fewer houses are being built, there are too many families in temporary accommodation, house prices continue to rise and conditions in parts of the private rented sector are as bad as we have seen in decades. These are just some of the consequences of decades of failure by successive governments to address the root of these problems, to build more truly affordable homes and to provide a comprehensive housing safety net. At the beginning of the year, Shelter, working with British Gas, set out to define what attributes should be taken into consideration to establish an adequate housing standard, known as the Living Home Standard. The market research company Ipsos MORI was commissioned to survey a cross-section of people to ask them what should constitute a good standard of housing. They did this through discussion groups, surveys and workshops over a period of nine months. They came up with five basic parameters or dimensions: affordability, decent conditions, space, stability and neighbourhood. The five dimensions were then subdivided into a total of 39 attributes, some classed as essential and some as tradable. For example, under affordability, an essential attribute was that the occupant would not have to worry that the rent or mortgage payments would rise to a level that would be difficult to pay. Included in the definition of decent conditions were that the house could be heated safely and effectively and was free of mould or damp. Regarding space, it was considered essential for all members of the household to be able to have privacy. Under the heading of stability, the people surveyed considered it essential that those living in the house had control over how long they could live in it. It was also felt essential that people should feel reasonably safe and secure in the local neighbourhood. Shelter described the result as a standard, split between essentials that all homes must meet and tradables which take account of differing needs and priorities between households. It is a standard that applies to all homes, irrespective of their tenure, size or age. Using these definitions of a good standard of housing, Shelter set out to measure how the housing stock in Britain measured up. It surveyed nearly 2,000 people across the country to see how their homes compared to the Living Home Standard. Its conclusion was that 43 percent of people in Britain did not live in a home that matched up to the Living Home Standard. Commenting on the number of homes not meeting the standard, Shelters director, Roger Harding, writing in iNews said: Although these seem like not much to ask for, the huge number of homes that fail to this Standard is a sad reflection of just how widespread our housing problem has become. The highest proportion of homes failing to meet the standard were in London, where nearly three quarters of residents classed their home as being below it, followed by Wales and the East Midlands, where just below half said their homes did not match the standard. The criteria most mentioned by respondents was that of affordability, with just under 30 percent citing it, followed by decent conditions, which was cited by nearly 20 percent. For those owning their homes but paying a mortgage, the figure was nearly 40 percent. Among those renting their homeswhether from the local authority, privately or from a housing associationaround two-thirds considered their homes below the standard. Speaking to the Metro newspaper, Shelter executive Robb explained, Every day we hear from young people and families who scrape by each month in a struggle to meet their rents, living from one short-term contract to the next, and often coping with poor conditions. With our ever-growing housing crisis forcing millions into private renting, its simply not right that so many of these are failing to meet their needs. A home should be a place where you can build a foundation for your life. BBCs Newsnight programme featured an item marking the 50th anniversary of the showing of the play Cathy Come Home on the channels then Wednesday Play slot. It was written by Jeremy Sandford, produced by Tony Garnett and directed by Ken Loach. The play highlighted the plight of families facing eviction and homelessness and the devastating impact on their family lives. It had a huge impact on public consciousness. The housing charity Shelter was founded shortly afterwards, reflecting the concerns of much of the population towards the issue of homelessness. Newsnight noted the enormous decline in the supply of social housing provision over the last 60 years. In 1954, the provision of social housing peaked with nearly 208,000 homes built. In 1966when Cathy Come Home was first broadcast and Shelter foundedsome 140,000 social housing homes were built. By 2015, the figure had fallen to a mere 24,610. Speaking to Newsnight, Jon Sparkes, the chief executive of homeless charity Crisis, highlighted the figures on homelessness for England, explaining 73,000 households are in temporary accommodation and an average of 3,500 sleep on the streets each night. Writing in the architecture and design online magazine Dezeen, on September 30, Phineas Harper, deputy director of the Architecture Foundation, wrote, The housing crisis isnt a crisis. Crisis suggests a natural disaster, something beyond human control that serves nobodys interests. The housing crisis is none of these thingsit has been carefully planned, orchestrated over several decades, and is now delivering exactly the economic and social conditions it was intended to, making some people a lot of money in the process. London has become an urban basket case in which the average rent can gobble up three quarters of the average post-tax salary. The housing shortage has been created and sustained by a political strategy unfolding over nearly 40 years. It is no more unseen than a hangover after a wild night of drinking. To call it a crisis misses the point: we have created a monster, now we must kill it. Four decades of inflating property prices while failing to build significant numbers of new homes has delivered exactly what is was designed toinequality. Access to decent affordable housing is a basic human right, but under capitalism it is becoming increasingly unavailable. The austerity programme, which has plunged millions into poverty over the last decade, exacerbating the housing crisis, must be reversed and billions poured into the economy to provide decent-paying jobs, free and high-quality health care, housing, education and social services for all. The wealth must be taken from the billionaires and used to meet essential social needs. Only a socialist reorganisation of society can satisfy the desperate and growing need for decent housing for all. Michael Moore in TrumpLand is a bare-bones documentary, essentially the recording of a one-man show presented by the American filmmaker in Wilmington, Ohio earlier this month and released just days later, three weeks before the presidential election. Moore, who previously backed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and then became a reluctant supporter of Hillary Clinton after she won the Democratic presidential nomination, has now gone all-out to portray the former First Lady and Secretary of State as our Pope Francis, a positive standard bearer for the left. The man who occasionally used satire and a comic flair to scandalize the corporate and political establishment (Roger and Me, Bowling for Columbine) has come forward as the defender of the favored candidate of that establishment. With the message that Hillary Clinton will be the second coming of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Moore has made a movie whose laugh lines fall flat and whose peroration in praise of the voice of Wall Street and the Pentagon is both politically appalling and pathetic. The premise of TrumpLand is that Mr. Moore, the fearless stand-up comic, has ventured into the lions den. Wilmington, a town of some 12,500 in southwestern Ohio, is typical of cities and towns throughout the US where the fascistic candidate of the Republican Party has won support by appealing to the anger and frustration of working class voters who have seen their jobs and living standards decimated in the years since the 2008 financial crash and the decades of deindustrialization leading up to it. Showing somewhat more flexibility than Clinton exhibited with her notorious comment about Trump voters as a basket of deplorables, Moore welcomes both Trump and Clinton supporters, as well as those planning to vote for third-party candidates, to Wilmingtons Murphy Theater. After some lame and reactionary gibes at Trump partisansreferring to angry white guys whose days are numberedMoore declares his sympathy with the legitimate concerns of the Trump backers. He warns, however, that while a vote for Trump will be a human Molotov cocktail, the biggest Fuck you! ever recorded in human history, it will only feel good for possibly a month. Comparing the US election to the Brexit vote in Britain, he warns that using the ballot as an anger management tool will leave working people even worse off than before. Cant we start saying something nice about her? says Moore. He proceeds to poke fun at right-wing critics on such issues as the 2012 Benghazi attack in Libya, but says nothing about Clintons actual record as US Senator and Secretary of State: her notorious gloating about the murder of Muammar Gaddafi, the WikiLeaks revelations of her Wall Street speeches, her appeals for the prosecution of Edward Snowden, and her calls for aggressive military preparations or actual escalation of US intervention in Iran, Syria, China and Russia. Advocating a vote for Clinton, Moore goes much further in TrumpLand than the bankrupt lesser-evil argument advanced in some quarters. He rhapsodizes about a first 100 days of a Hillary Clinton administration, filled with executive orders that will usher in a new era of social reform. Clinton will stop the deportation of immigrants, rescue the residents of lead-poisoned Flint, release all non-violent offenders from prison and prosecute all police who shoot unarmed black men. Clinton will supposedly kick ass in Congressnever mind her constant appeals for Republican support and promises to seek compromise. Qualifying his praise slightly, Moore goes on to explain that his dream of Clinton as a reformer isnt going to happen without a revolution behind her. Repeating the argument of Sanders, who shifted quickly from denouncing Clinton as the candidate of Wall Street to boosting her as a progressive champion, Moore calls for mobilizing support to get behind Clinton and hold her to the promises of the Democratic Party platform. If for some reason Clinton does not deliver, Moore promises, tongue planted firmly in cheek, to run for president himself in 2020. Moore goes beyond attempting, a la Sanders, to sell Clinton as a progressive alternative. The climax of the filmmakers plea on behalf of Clinton in TrumpLand is entirely within the deplorable framework of identity politics. Running through Moores 70-minute show is the theme of Clinton as the first woman US president, and the supposedly earthshaking significance of gender. Hillary is genuinely the first feminist of the modern era, he proclaims, after screening a clip of her graduation speech from Wellesley College. Like the current Pope, Moore says, Clinton has bided her time. She endured all the attacks as First Lady, the failure of her attempts, supposedly, to secure universal healthcare. Now, however, the majority gender has the chance to run this world. There are millions of young women and men, of course, firmly committed to equal rights, but unimpressed with Clinton or the claims that a woman president will reverse inequality or change the nature of the capitalist system. Moore does not mention Margaret Thatcher, one of the most significant figures in the social counterrevolution that has been waged by global capitalism for the past 40 years. Nor does he allude to the current or recent female prime ministers or heads of state in Britain, Germany, Finland, Norway, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Argentina and elsewhere. It is not an accident that the prominence of female leaders coincides with this period of reaction. The politics of identity, based on gender, race and sexual orientation, has been used to cultivate an upper middle class constituency that directly benefits from austerity and inequality, while the vast majority of the population, of all races and genders, suffers the consequences. Moore is now the proud spokesperson for this brand of politics. His right-wing trajectory is one that has been followed by many others. There is some continuity, however, between his current love affair with Clinton and his earlier middle class radical posture. Even at his best, Moore depicted the working class as victims. Today his assigned task is to convince angry millennial voters who are justifiably disgusted with the two-party system to give Clinton a mandate, not for social reform, but for austerity and war. NATO defense ministers convened a two-day meeting in Brussels Wednesday to thrash out final plans for the deployment of some 4,000 combat troops organized in four battle groups within striking distance of Russias border. These front-line forces are to be backed by a 40,000-strong rapid reaction force capable of going into battle within days. The plan represents the largest military escalation in the region since the height of the Cold War between the US and the former Soviet Union and carries with it the heightened threat of an armed confrontation between Washington and Moscow, the worlds two largest nuclear powers. At the end of Wednesdays session, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that the United States, Britain, Germany and Canada had agreed to provide the leading elements of the battle groups to be deployed respectively in Poland and the three former Soviet Baltic republics: Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Stoltenberg added that other NATO member states would contribute soldiers and armaments to the buildup. Describing the deployment as multinational, he stressed that it underscored that [a]n attack on any ally will be considered an attack on us all. US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said that Washington would send a battle-ready battalion task force of approximately 900 solders into eastern Poland. The troops are to be drawn from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, named for the Stryker armored fighting vehicle. The unit was sent repeatedly into the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, the Pentagon is sending the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, replete with battle tanks and heavy artillery, which will be based in Poland, but operate in the general periphery of ex-Soviet republics and former Warsaw Pact nations on Russias western flank. Also being sent is the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, equipped with Black Hawk attack helicopters. Washington has also announced it is dispatching 330 Marines to a base in Norway after the Norwegian government approved the deployment Monday. We expect a sustained challenge from the East, from Russia, by way of its military activity, Douglas Lute, the US ambassador to NATO, said in explaining the move. Britain, meanwhile, spelled out its plans to deploy 800 troops to Estonia, equipped with battle tanks, armored infantry fighting vehicles and drones. It is to be joined by units from France and Denmark. British warplanes are also being sent to Romania. Germany will deploy a battalion of between 400 and 600 troops to Lithuania, marking the first entry of the German military into the country since its occupation by the Nazis, who carried out the murder of close to a quarter of a million Jews there. The German deployment will be backed by units from Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Croatia and Luxembourg. Canada is reportedly sending 450 troops to Latvia, to be joined by 140 Italian military personnel. Defending the deployments in an interview with the German broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, the outgoing American deputy secretary general of NATO, Alexander Vershbow, claimed the US-led alliance had no choice. Russia changed the whole paradigm in 2014 with its aggression against Ukraine, its illegal annexation of Crimea, said Vershbow. This is a barefaced lie. The crisis in Ukraine was triggered not by aggression on the part of the Kremlin oligarchy, but rather the conspiracy of Washington and Berlin to overthrow the elected government in Kiev through the mobilization of violent fascist and right-wing nationalist forces. The US openly associated itself with this coup, with Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland bragging that the US had spent $5 billion to further Ukrainian regime change. The reintegration of Crimea into Russia--it was only placed under Ukrainian administration in 1956, when both Russia and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union--was overwhelmingly supported by the territorys population in a popular referendum. From Moscows standpoint, this was a defensive measure taken to safeguard the historic base of Russias Black Sea fleet. The coup in Ukraine was the culmination of the relentless military encirclement of Russia, which has seen NATO shift its borders 800 miles eastward. Now, the deployments announced Wednesday have turned into a dead letter the agreement negotiated between NATO and Moscow not to send substantial numbers of Western troops into these areas. In the wake of the Ukrainian coup, US President Barack Obama flew to Estonia to declare Washingtons eternal commitment to defend it and the other two Baltic states with American boots on the ground, thereby committing the US to war in defense of three tiny territories ruled by right-wing and fanatically anti-Russian governments eager for confrontation. Further justifying the current NATO buildup, Stoltenberg declared Wednesday, Close to our borders, Russia continues its assertive military posturing. Given that NATO has expanded its reach to Russias own borders, this effectively means that Russia is a threat because it maintains armed forces on its own soil. Tensions with Russia, as well as within the NATO alliance itself, have been further ratcheted up over Moscows dispatch of an eight-vessel flotilla led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov to the eastern Mediterranean to support Russian operations in support of the Syrian government. After reports that this Russian flotilla would stop in Ceuta, the Spanish-ruled port city on the north coast of Africa, for refueling, the NATO powers exerted immense pressure on the Spanish government to refuse to allow the Russian warships to dock there. British Defense Secretary Michel Fallon declared that his government would be extremely concerned if a NATO member should consider assisting a Russian carrier group that might end up bombing Syria. Spain has reportedly allowed nearly 60 Russian warships to take on fuel and supplies in Ceuta since 2011. The practice led to denunciations in the US Congress and an amendment being attached last May to the US military spending bill requiring the Pentagon to report to Congress on countries hosting Russian vessels. The Russian media reported Wednesday that Moscow rescinded its request to refuel at the port, while Russian government sources said the ships had adequate fuel and supplies to reach their destination. The controversy reflects the widening divisions that have opened up within the NATO alliance under the pressure of the escalating confrontation with Russia. The countries of southern Europe, particularly Spain, Italy and Greece, have grown increasingly hostile to the regime of sanctions against Russia that has only deepened their own economic crises. Meanwhile, Germany and France have floated plans for turning the European Union into an independent military alliance, reflecting the growing conflict between US and European interests. NATO officials have couched the issue of the Russian flotilla in alleged humanitarian concerns over the situation in Syria, with warnings that the fighter jets onboard the Kuznetsov will join in air strikes against eastern Aleppo and other areas controlled by the Al Qaeda-linked Islamist militias supported by Washington and its allies. Undoubtedly a more fundamental concern is that the Russian naval buildup in the eastern Mediterranean, coupled with Russias deployment of fighter jets and advanced mobile S-400 and S-300 missile defense systems in Syria itself, is challenging the control of the area historically exercised by the US Sixth Fleet, which has been sorely depleted by the US pivot to Asia. The Russian firepower in and around Syria has also effectively precluded the imposition of a no-fly zone, a policy promoted by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and much of the US foreign policy establishment, outside of a direct military confrontation with Russia. This was acknowledged Tuesday by US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper in remarks to the Council on Foreign Relations. I wouldnt put it past them to shoot down an American aircraft if they felt that was threatening to their forces on the ground, Clapper said of the Russian military during a talk at the Council of Foreign Relations. The system they have there is very advanced, very capable, and I dont think theyd do it--deploy it--if they didnt have some intention to use it. Whether the flashpoint emerges in Eastern Europe or in Syria, the drive by US imperialism to achieve global hegemony is steadily escalating the threat of world war. Prime Minister John Key confirmed on October 18 that the United States navy guided missile destroyer USS Sampson will take part in the New Zealand navys 75th anniversary celebrations in Auckland in mid-November, along with vessels from 32 other countries including France, Britain, Australia, Russia and China. Naval exercises will be held off the Auckland coast, while a parade and other festivities surrounding the anniversary will glorify militarism and promote recruitment into the navy. The first visit by a US warship in more than three decades is intended to cement New Zealands alliance with the US. It follows the announcement in June of $20 billion in military spending to upgrade navy vessels and warplanes and improve the interoperability of New Zealands armed forces with its allies. This is needed to prepare NZ troops to join bloody US-led interventions in the Middle East and potentially all-out war against Russia and China. The anniversary celebrations have served to expose the reactionary and pro-war positions of a whole layer of middle class ex-protesters, who have shifted sharply to the right. The US navy visit has been warmly welcomed by the Green Party along with prominent ex-Green MP Keith Locke and Greenpeace leader Russel Norman; Nicky Hager, a former organiser of the Campaign Against Nuclear Warships (Canwar); and Rob Green and Kate Dewes from the Foundation for Peace Studies (FPS). Greenpeace, Canwar and the FPS organised numerous protests against US warship visits and nuclear weapons testing during the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, in line with similar groups internationally, their leaders have become integrated into the political establishment, academia, the media and the state and now openly defend New Zealands military alliance with the US. The Greens offer the spurious justification that Washington should be allowed to send a warship because it has accepted New Zealands ban on nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed vessels. In fact, US officials have repeatedly said, in line with longstanding policy, that the nuclear status of the USS Sampson will not be publicly revealed. One group that has received considerable media attention, which purports to oppose the NZ-US military alliance, is the pacifist organisation Peace Action Wellington (PAW) and its recently-formed offshoot Auckland Peace Action (APA). These outfits have criticised the US warship visit and a weapons manufacturers conference, sponsored by Lockheed Martin, taking place at the same time. The groups main spokesperson Valerie Morse wrote an article for the New Zealand Herald on June 14 opposing Hagers endorsement of the event. PAW and APA, however, are hostile to the development of a genuinely anti-war movement, based on a socialist program to unite the working class internationally against the capitalist system, the root cause of war. Under conditions where the old protest organisations have discredited themselves, Peace Action is seeking to steer workers and youth who are becoming radicalised by the drive to war into channels that pose no real threat to militarism and the capitalist order. PAW was founded in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It is a loose alliance of politically heterogeneous forces, united by their hostility to the fight for revolutionary socialist leadership and the political independence of the working class from all capitalist parties and organisations. It includes anarchists such as Morse, trade union officials, academics, and it collaborates with the pseudo-left groups, the International Socialist Organisation, Fightback and Redline. Like the Greens and the entire political establishment, PAW and APA are silent on the US encirclement and increasingly reckless threats of war against Russia and China, over the war in Syria and disputes in the South China Sea. Morses Herald article and an online petition by the APA criticise the NZ governments planning for war and glorification of the navy. But they do not mention the two nuclear-armed countries which are the main targets of US war plans. The reason for this silence is that Peace Action has no intention of carrying out a political fight against the Greens and its allies, the Labour Party, the Maori nationalist Mana Party, the anti-immigrant New Zealand First and the trade union bureaucracy. All these organisations have assisted New Zealands integration into the US build-up to war against China by whipping up anti-Chinese xenophobia, blaming Asian immigrants generally for the housing shortage and lack of jobs. Peace Actions entire perspective is summed up in its petition against the warship visit, which aims to bring pressure on the government to cut the Defence Force budget, fund social programs and support a strong stand for peace. It promotes the absurd notion that the government can be pressed to cut military ties with its main ally and adopt a peaceful national-isolationist policy. New Zealands alliance with US militarism, however, is not a misguided policy; it is bound up with New Zealands status as a minor imperialist power, whose ruling class profits from exploiting resources and labour in countries such as Samoa, Tonga, Nauru and the Solomon Islands. To secure support for its predatory neo-colonial interests, the NZ ruling elite has maintained alliances, first with Britain and, after World War II, with the United States. In her Herald article, Morse glorified and distorted the history of the anti-nuclear movement of the 1970s and 1980s, writing that it demanded a different kind of world one in which New Zealand set an example as a neutral, non-aligned, peacemaking country. She did not mention that organisations such as Canwar and Greenpeace limited their campaign to placing demands on the Labour Party, which was in office from 19841990. Labour exploited the anti-nuclear campaign to posture as pacifist to provide a progressive mask for its ruthless drive to privatise state assets and drive down workers living conditions. Labours anti-nuclear policy of 1985 caused a partial rift with Washington, but at the same time Prime Minister David Lange appeased the US by constructing the Waihopai spy base in the South Island, to boost New Zealands contribution to the US-led Five Eyes spy alliance. At no point did Labour pursue a neutral or non-aligned policy. The Labour governments of the 1970s and 1980s were not concerned about peacemaking. Their opposition to nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific was bound up with the determination of Australia and New Zealand to maintain hegemony in the region, particularly in opposition to France, which was conducting nuclear tests in the South Pacific, and other competing imperialist powers. The fraud of Peace Actions opposition to war is revealed most clearly in its embrace of the Greens. PAW worked closely with the Greens during the 2003 protests against the invasion of Iraq, helping it to pose as an anti-war party. The Greens opposed the Labour governments deployment of NZ troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. By 2010, however, the Greens had embraced the occupation of Afghanistan, describing the war as a peacekeeping operation. The party also supported New Zealands participation in the Australian-led interventions in the Solomon Islands and East Timor. The Greens ever more blatant support for imperialismincluding the US warship visit and the National Party governments massive military spendinghas not deterred PAW and APA from supporting the party. Green MP Marama Davidson has been invited to speak at APAs Peace Conference on November 5 about her recent attempt to enter Gaza by boat to protest against Israels blockade of the Palestinian enclave. The expedition, which ended with Davidson and 12 other protesters being briefly detained by Israeli forces, was heavily publicised in the media and by APA in order to paint the Greens in progressive colours. The aim of such aid flotillas is to bring pressure to bear on bourgeois governments to isolate Israela bankrupt perspective based on acceptance of the legitimacy of the Zionist state and calls for a two-state solution which would maintain the oppression of the Palestinian people by imperialism. A genuine anti-war movement must be built in a political struggle against Peace Action and its allies in the political establishment. Such a movement can only succeed if it is explicitly anti-capitalist, socialist and based on the unification of the international working class, and independent of and hostile to every party and organisation of the capitalist class. We urge readers who are seeking a genuine program to prevent a catastrophic world war to study the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals statement Socialism and the Fight Against War and make plans to attend the Socialist Equality Groups public meeting in Auckland on November 27. The author also recommends: New Zealand Greens celebrate US warship visit [28 July 2016] New Zealand public meetings: The US Navy visit and the drive to war [27 September 2016] Since 2011, the number of federal electronic surveillance requests by law officials has grown by nearly 500 percent in the Washington, D.C. region, according to recent court documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Court dockets indicate that the Alexandria division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia received 305 such surveillance requests in 2011 and the federal court for the District of Columbia 235 requests in 2012. By 2016, the requested number of federal intrusions into the privacy of individuals had climbed into the thousands; both courts received a total of nearly 5,000 requests to track communications between 2011 and 2016. According to the Washington Post, law officials requested sender and recipient information, in addition to the time, date, duration and size of calls, emails, instant messages and social-media messages, as well as device identification numbers and some website information of those targeted for surveillance. The large number of spying requests were first revealed in 2011, after three individuals represented by the EFF [Electronic Frontier Foundation] and ACLU challenged a secret government attempt to track their Twitter communications, connection records and account information. The request was made in connection with the witch-hunt against WikiLeaks The US government allowed Twitter to alert the users to their surveillance, which later led to revelation of the Virginia courts docketing information. Similarly, in D.C. last month a chief District judge ordered all docketing material to be released for the year 2012. Of the thousands of requests received by the two federal courts only a handful have been unsealed for the benefit of the public. The U.S. District Court for Eastern Virginia, which received over 4,100 of the requests, has unsealed only a single case. Similarly, the D.C. court has revealed only three cases to the public from a total of nearly 800 in 2012 and 2013 alone. Though the court dockets detail the dates of such requests, they do not state why surveillance was asked for, if the investigation was now closed, in what way targeted individuals were monitored or if the information resulted in an arrest or conviction. The exponential increase in surveillance is attributed to the expanded use of the 1986 federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act. By making use of the 1986 law, authorities merely have to assert to a judge that the surveillance is related to an ongoing investigation, rather than prove probable cause in relation to a specific criminal act, as is the case with a warrant. After such permission has been granted, the request is sealed by the court and service providers are barred from informing targets that they are under surveillance. Its hard to understand whether this surveillance is necessary or whether there is overreach without basic information about how often these orders are sought or granted, or who is granting them. Even judges themselves do not know, Brett Max Kaufman of the ACLUs Center for Democracy told the Post. Replying to the court docket revelations, Peter Carr, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice, commented that there are no broad generalizations or presumptions about when matters are sealed or not sealed, but that when courts grant disclosure of such requests to the public, the Department [of Justice] has worked with them [to protect] the integrity of ongoing investigations. In other words, the Department of Justice has sought to block the information from reaching the public. The targeting of individuals in the U.S. capital area for surveillance is further proof that the ever-expanding web of electronic spying conducted by the federal intelligence agencies is aimed at the population of the entire globe, regardless of geographic region. The Post notes that federal courts throughout the United States received roughly 42,000 requests in the year 2013, the last year comprehensive records are available for such information. It also notes that, as in D.C., few courts are compelled to reveal their spying to the public. The author also recommends: Virginias Democratic governor moves to expand police surveillance powers [4 April 2015] Baltimore police conducted privately-funded aerial surveillance of city for nine months [10 September 2016] TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - One Florida A&M University alumna is making a direct difference in Flint, Mich. by assisting as an expert adviser in the Flint Water Crisis. FAMU alumna Pamela Pugh has been appointed chief public health advisor to Flint, Mich Mayor Karen Warren. In her position, she will provide crucial insight to the mayor on how to assist Flint residents still struggling to gain access to clean water. I hope to work with the mayor to weave health into all aspects of our thinking, particularly around policy, Pugh said. I recognize how tremendous of an undertaking this is, and I really hope to be of service to the people of Flint. They deserve it. She also said her alma mater has helped prepare her for the task at hand. In addition to academics, FAMU was all about people and cultivating relationships, she said. As chief public health advisor, I will use what I learned at FAMU to rebuild the citys relationship with the residents of Flint. Pugh received a Doctorate of Public Health from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from FAMU. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Two-thirds of Florida voters support a proposed constitutional amendment that would broadly legalize medical marijuana, according to a Florida Atlantic University poll released Wednesday. The poll said 67 percent of voters support Amendment 2 on the Nov. 8 ballot, while about 30 percent oppose it. That would be enough support to top a 60 percent threshold for approving constitutional amendments. A similar ballot proposal failed in 2014, when it received 58 percent of the vote. The poll of 500 likely voters was conducted from Friday to Sunday and has a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points. You are the owner of this article. WAPATO, Wash. -- A Wapato police sergeant will receive a training update on the proper maintenance of his Taser, as suggested by a policy revi Submit An Obituary Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Go to form If it were not a sad, almost tragic story, the argument over how many houses will be evacuated and demolished in the Amona outpost upon the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling could have been defined as funny and even ridiculous: Nine houses? Perhaps 19? Or maybe 29? Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter This argument is unnecessary, because unfortunately, at the end of the day, not a single Jewish home will remain in Amona, or in the entire Judea and Samaria area. Because eventually we will likely be forced to return all the territories to the very last inch. We have been holding onto these territories for some 50 years now, and for Israelis thats a very long time. What are 50 or 70 or 100 years for the Arabs? A footnote in the history books. Four or five lines. Heres an example from the not-too-distant history: There used to be a prime minister in Israel who many people saw as strong, a Jew in his body and soul. His name was Menachem Begin. The man, who would fill city squares to the brim with an inflamed crowd, promised before traveling to the Camp David talks in the 1980s that should he be asked to return Sinai, he would pack his bags and come home. That same man, who was very firm in his words and statements, also declared his intention to build a home in the settlement of Neot Sinai. His supporters applauded him. Amona. American knows that Judea and Samaria will eventually fall into the Palestinians hands like ripe fruit, whether as part of a peace agreement or forcibly (Photo: Toomeriko) After returning all of Sinai to Egypt, Begin left the Taba area under Israeli control, to demonstrate that he had kept at least part of his promise and had not given back everything to the very last inch. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat came along, shook his head and said: Noooo, to the very last inch. We tried to deceive the Egyptians with landmarks, to play for time, to show them whos boss. After all, were the ones who occupied Sinai. But the Egyptian president said: Nooooo. What a bastard Judea and Samaria are not Sinai of course, and the basis for our ownership claim on the area is neither identical nor similar, although in this case too we are playing tug of war with the Palestinians. The problem is that these days, as we speak, nearly all nations of the world, including the great United States, dont support the Israeli stance. On the contrary. Even the US believes that 50 or 60 or 70 years are not eternity. It has patience. It knows that Judea and Samaria will eventually fall into the Palestinians hands like ripe fruit, whether as part of a peace agreement or forcibly. It will be painful and sad to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. Some will do it acquiescently and in return for a decent payment. The others will fight for their home. In the Yamit region, this battle took several days, and we eventually handed more than 20 communities over to the Egyptians. In Gush Katif, the evacuation took almost a week. The Americans are secretly laughing at the number of settlers in Judea and Samaria, which are multiplying themselves every two days in order to deter them from carrying out a forced evacuation. The US has experience with such mega operations. The main question right now is who will issue the order: Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? Do you think that's impossible? That US is going out of its way to honor Israel? That may be the situation during election time, but after the elections the deluge will arrive. We also thought Bill Clinton was Theodor Herzls brother and George W. Bush was an honorary member of the World Zionist Organization. We were also wrong then. If only this article proves to be wrong too, and Amona does not serve as a model for what will follow. Thirty days after the Israels ninth President Shimon Peres was laid to rest among Israels national heroes in Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, a ceremony will take place on Friday to mark the unveiling of his tombstone. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The traditional Jewish ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 10:00am, will be attended by president Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with family and friends of the Peres family. Shimon Peres's tombstone (Photo: Galit Etzion) Engraved on the austere, black tombstone to be unveiled are a few words which were requested by the family. One side displays a quote by Israels first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion who nurtured the young Peres and placed in him tremendous belief. In the future, Israel's spiritual character and inner resilience will constitute the main factor in our safety and international stature. Shimon Peres The quote is an extract taken from the book Like Stars and Dust,a compilation of articles written by Ben-Gurion. The other side of the tombstone bears a verse taken from the book of Isaiah 2:4 which represented Peress beliefs and which were manifested through his actions, personified through his efforts. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Words paying tribute to Peres: 'one of the founding fathers of Israel' Also appearing on another spot on the tombstone is an excerpt from the poem After my Death by the Hebrew and Yiddish poet Hayim Nahman Bialik: For one more song he had...And see now, the song has perished, His song is lost, gone for good. Peres is described on the gravestone as one of the founding fathers of the state which he served his entire life. Words written by David Ben-Gurion engraved on the tombstone (Photo: Galit Etzion) His most distinguished political positions also appear, including president of Israel, prime minister, defense minister, foreign minister and finance minister. Finally, the epitaph on the tombstone also pays tribute to some of his most significant contributions, particularly those revolving around Israels security establishment including his notable achievement in bringing to fruition the creation of the Dimona reactor. Isaiah 2:4 quote Moreover, it pays homage to his contribution to Israel's defense industry and the painstaking efforts he undertook for the advancement of peace between Israel and her neighbors. To encapsulate his character in just a few words, his family chose the following: a statesman, a lover of books, poetry and art, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, a visionary and a pragmatist. Robbers looting from the caves of the Judean Desert is a phenomenon with which the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has been contending for years. But in a successful investigative operation, the IAA was able to recover an illicitly plundered extra-biblical document from the hands of a band of antiquities robbers. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The IAAs Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery, established in 1985, engaged in a complex enforcement operation that managed to seize an ancient papyrus document with Hebrew writing from Palestinian looters excavating without a license in the Judean Desert caves. The looters, who came from the south Hebron Hills, were subsequently arrested and jailed. Examining the scroll (Photo: Shai Halevi, Courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority) The IAA obtained information about the stolen papyrus and we were able to track the document down before it disappeared into some private collection, explained Antiquities Robbery Prevention Unit Director Amir Ganor. It was a long operation that took place both in the Judean Desert and in the antiquities market, he said. The rare, discovered scroll (Photo: Shai Halevi, Courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority) I am glad that we were fortunate to have a role in saving the papyrus, which is an important and special find that bears witness to the historical relationship between the Land of Israel and Jerusalem, and the Jewish people, said Ganor. Photo: Shai Halevi, Courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority Ganor added that At this time, the State of Israel is beginning a five-year process to crack down on the looters and to protect the ancient treasures of the Judean Desert that have yet to be uncovered. Earlier in the year, the IAA, the Heritage Project of the Jerusalem Affairs Ministry and Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev (Likud) began promoting a national plan for comprehensive archeological excavations in the Judean Desert caves, including the Dead Sea scrolls. I will work to increase the punishment against those who rob our countrys antiquities, Regev had stated. It is our duty to protect these unique treasures, which belong to the Jewish people and the entire world. Regev made the case that such findings add to the absurdity of the recent UNESCO decisions that overlooked Jewish connections to holy sites in Jerusalem "The discovery of the papyrus on which the name of our capital Jerusalem is written is further tangible evidence that Jerusalem was and will remain the eternal capital of the Jewish people. It is our duty to take care of the plundering of antiquities that occurs in the Judean Desert, and no less important than this is exposing the deceit of false propaganda as is once again happening today in UNESCO, said Regev on Wednesday, in response to attaining the ancient document. The Temple Mount, the very heart of Jerusalem and Israel, will remain the holiest place for the Jewish people, even if UNESCO ratifies the false and unfortunate decision another ten times. It is our duty to take care of the plundering of antiquities that occurs in the Judean Desert, and no less important is exposing the deceit of false propaganda as is once again happening today in UNESCO, added Regev. According to Israel Hasson, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The discovery of the papyrus shows that there are other artifacts of tremendous importance to our heritage that are waiting to be found in the Judean Desert caves. The worlds heritage assets are being plundered on a daily basis by antiquities robbers solely for greed. The state has to mobilize and allocate the necessary resources in order to embark upon a historic operation together with the public, and carry out systematic excavations in all of the Judean Desert caves. Dr. Eitan Klein, the Deputy Director of the Antiquities Robbery Prevention Unit, said that the document is the earliest extra-biblical source found to mention the city of Jerusalem in Hebrew writing. Most of the letters on it are clearly legible. The document represents an extremely rare piece of evidence of the existence of an organized administration in the Kingdom of Judah and highlights the centrality of Jerusalem as the economic capital of this kingdom, Klein told reporters on Wednesday. In light of the recent UNESCO resolution, Professor Shimon Ahituv from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev commented that the shipping document gives the international community a factual piece of evidence. Its not just that this papyrus is the earliest extra-biblical source to mention Jerusalem in Hebrew writing; it is the fact that to date no other documents written on papyrus dating to the First Temple period have been discovered in Israel, except one from Wadi Murabbahat, he said. Its just a little note attached to two jars of wine from Nahartah in the Jordan Valley sent to Jerusalem by a lady. But it is one of three papyri we have from the period of the First Temple, elaborated Ahituv. The wines did not get to their intended recipients, as something must have happened along the way, somewhere around Jericho. The UNESCO resolutions have nothing to do with reality. There was a Jewish monarchy here and that is what this ancient wine shipment document shows, said Ahituv. One should hope that all eyes of the Israeli intelligence and operations officials are on the battles in the Mosul area in Iraq, as Mosul is an allegory of the city of Gaza: An experimental field of technologies, tactics and Western weapons vis-a-vis the resistance of a fanatic guerilla organization, which is fighting for its life in a large, crowded urban area. How can we defeat it without getting stuck in the mud for years? Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter When Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman tells the Al-Quds newspaper that the next conflict with Hamas will be the last, he is talking about destroying the government in Gaza. Such a statement should be backed by a military plan, otherwise it is worthless. In order to get rid of Hamas, the army must present plans for conquering Gaza City the beating heart of the strip and of Hamas and remaining there until the regime change, and Mosul is a practical model to learn from. Hamas gunmen. If the IDF is indeed preparing to occupy Gaza, it must be updated on the effectiveness of the advanced means used by the Americans in Mosul (Photo: AP) While the IDF did reoccupy Palestinian cities in the West Bank in 2002 as part of Operation Defensive Shield, and has gained experience in fighting semi-military and jihadist organizations, it has not dealt with the occupation of a city as large as Gaza City. The city has of thousands of gunmen driven by a jihadist ideology and defense systems which were prepared for years in accordance with the combat perceptions of the moqawama (the resistance movement) used by ISIS on Mosul. The idea of the moqawama, which talks about a total sacrifice in the battle against the heretics and those who cooperate with them, developed in Khomeinistic Iran and captured not only the radical Shiites but also extreme Sunni movements such as ISIS and Hamas. Israels ground warfare in Gaza in the past decade focused on the margins of the urban area. It is clear to the IDF that the strategic traps and killing zones prepared by Hamas are not necessarily the offensive tunnels but the big cities, and mainly the underground cities established beneath them. In all the major conflicts, Hamas expected the IDF to enter the big cities, but defense ministers like Ehud Barak and Moshe Yaalon, and the chiefs of staff under them, did not let that happen despite political pressure. Mosul has been in a blackout for a month now. A black cloud of smoke and soot has been covering the city since ISIS set fire to oil wells in order to disrupt the UAVs activity. The Tigris river and its tributaries, which cross Mosul, have been flooded with fuel which will be ignited as soon as the Iraqi army enters the city. There are fuel reserves in Gaza as well, and Hamas will set fire to them in the last battle in order to disrupt the Israel Air Forces activity. In the suburbs of Mosul, the fighting forces have already encountered different types of tunnels from booby-trapped tunnels, abduction tunnels and offensive tunnels to tunnels for intelligence purposes alongside suicide bombers, car bombs, roadside charges, mines, remote-control bombs and snipers firing from mosques. The Americans cannon fodder is the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army units. Israel doesnt have Kurds and Iraqis to send to Gaza (Photo: Reuters) There are about one million people in Mosul right now, including 5,000-6,000 ISIS fighters. In Gaza, which has 700,000 residents, there are more than 10,000 gunmen today. Hamas defense perception in Gaza is quite similar to the ISIS defense perception in Mosul. In both cases, the goal is to claim unreasonable prices from the attacking side. In both cases, their weak spots are dealing with the accurate guided weapons and the airstrikes. The Americans are operating special forces in the Mosul area to secretly tackle the weak points of ISIS and provide the Iraqi army and the Kurdish forces with aerial covering fire and fire accurate rockets from the ground. At the same time, they are using extremely advanced means to deal with obstacles through teleprocessing, robotics and electronic and psychological warfare. If the IDF is indeed preparing to occupy Gaza, it must be updated on the effectiveness of these means. The Americans have been preparing the Iraqis for this battle for nearly two years, and they have time. Granted, they would rather see the occupation of Mosul completed before the US presidential elections, but that wont happen. The cannon fodder in the fighting is the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army units, and thats what makes the whole difference between Gaza and Mosul. Israel doesnt have Kurds and Iraqis to send to Gaza. The cannon fodder is ours. When we think about pasteurization, we tend to imagine a method that kills bacteria and mold in milk. But it's actually one of the most common processes in the entire beverage industry, carried out all over the world using an outdated and wasteful technology. To enhance its efficiency, AseptoRay, an Israeli company located in Maalot, developed a technological solution to pasteurize liquids without any application of heat. The revolutionary method saves about 75 percent of the energy costs and also preserves the nutritional value of the drink. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Pasteurization is actually one of the most energy-intensive processes in the food industry, says Motti Koren, director of the Business Unit at AseptoRay. Almost every beverage in the world undergoes pasteurization, not just milk. This means grape juice, soft drinks, and even individual ingredients in Coca-Cola and Pepsi. In other words, its one of the most common processes in the industry, and its being carried out using technology that was invented 200 years ago. So what exactly is pasteurization? Pasteurization involves heating the product to a certain point at which the heat kills the bacteria inside. We pasteurize without applying heat. Instead, we use UV rays to kill the germs. Photo: Shutterstock According to Koren, AseptoRay did not invent the UV ray pasteurization technology. Its already in place in the bottled water industry. The technological innovation that AseptoRay created has to do with UV ray pasteurization of non-transparent beverages. The problem with UV rays is that the light must be able to penetrate the liquid. Therefore it only passes through see-through liquids, such as water, Koren explains. The light cant penetrate an opaque liquid and therefore cant kill the bacteria in it. Our technology, though, works with completely cloudy liquids, such as milk and orange juice, even though light cant penetrate them at all. This type of liquid represents the majority of beverages in the food industry, and we can pasteurize all of them with UV rays, thereby saving 75 percent of the energy costs. According to Koren, another advantage of the new technology is that it preserves the nutritional value of the beverages because they arent heated. In the old-fashioned pasteurization method, you heat the product to a very high temperature, almost to the boiling point. Once orange juice, for example, undergoes the process, it loses the taste it previously had, even if it is cooled down right away. In fact, the biggest advantage of heat-free pasteurization is that it doesnt compromise the original flavor or destroy its vitamins. The method saves on energy but mostly it preserves the taste and value of the product. Sales forecast: $1.3 million in 2017 AseptoRay was founded three years ago as part of MGT Industries, a company that has operated in the steel industry for 47 years, designing and making tanks and food containers. MGT is located in the Maalot-Tarshiha industrial zone, and employs 100 workers. AseptoRay employs three people in full-time positions and ten or so part-time engineering and other personnel. About a year ago, AseptoRay whose name was coined by pairing aseptic (germ-free) and ray took first place in Clean Tech Open, a worldwide competition, held in San Francisco. The company has registered several patents for the product, whose development required the investment of millions, from private investors, the company itself, and the Israeli Chief Scientists Bureau. The 2017 forecast is for sales to the tune of $1.3 million. Whats interesting about us is that were embedded in a low-tech industry, which discovered how tough it is to survive in the world of traditional industry in Israel, says Koren. Were located in Maalot, in the north, not in Herzliya or somewhere in the center, and the company realized that as a traditional institution thats been around for almost 50 years it has to forge a new path if it wants to stay alive. How did you come up with the notion of heat-free pasteurization? The need arose from the dairy industry and the treatment of milk because the company has been involved with dairies for some time. The company started dairy companies in Africa, saw the types of bacteria there, and decided to look for a solution. Then it turned out that the entire beverage industry was clueless when it came to treating cloudy liquids and that the standard pasteurization method still relied on heat. With the help of the Chief Scientists Bureau, the company started a small-scale project to investigate alternatives, and the rest is history. Motti Koren and Amir Tripman, CEO of MGT Industries (PR photo) Where do you operate at present? Were a pre-sales startup. Were running several pilots around the world, and the first sales are actually being finalized as we speak. An industrial system isnt like a new app that you download. You have to visit factories, hook the system up, and so forth; these are lengthy processes. Were a high-tech company in the industrial field. Thats what sets us apart: were selling a high-tech product to a low-tech industry. Furthermore, our product isnt a piece of software but a steel-and-wires one, and intended for a traditional industry. Our newest pilot is being run at PepsiCos development center in Chicago. We also have pilot systems in place at a large juice manufacturing plant in Spain and at several Israeli companies. Weve also worked with Coca-Cola Israel and Tempo, Israels largest brewer and second-largest beverage company. Our first actual sale is being concluded in Japan, with a giant beverage company. Its the first customer to buy a machine. The Japanese carried out very thorough and extensive testing, so it took a long time, but things are finally moving with them. Other machines are in use in Israel and abroad but they have yet to been bought, only installed as pilots. According to Koren, another sale can be expected in the near future, this time to a Canadian buyer. Who are your competitors? There are all kinds. The first is traditional, heat-based pasteurization, but thats not really competition. Other competitors offer alternatives to pasteurization, but they tend to involve very expensive technologies, costing in the $1-1.5 million range per machine. Therefore, manufacturers arent rushing to buy, even though its a very strong market trend, especially in the United States. By contrast, one of our machines costs only $100,000-$200,000. AseptoRays pasteurization machine There are other competitors offering UV ray pasteurization systems for water, in Israel too. But the point is that those systems can only treat completely clear water and cannot be used on any opaque or cloudy liquid. Were the only ones who can handle cloudy liquids in the food industry. What are your main export markets? Our major export markets are Canada and the United States, because our machine has already been approved for use by the regulatory bodies there, making North America our first target. In the United States, there are already UV ray pasteurization systems for semi-cloudy beverages, such as apple juice, and this is the reason the United States has already approved our process. Aging farmers worldwide need technologies AseptoRays is one of a line of high-tech outfits providing technological solution to companies working in agriculture and traditional industries. Gilad Peled, director of the Agro-technology Department at the Israel Export Center, explains: Agro-technology is the field that provides technologies to agriculture smart products such as sensors, drips, pesticides, hothouses, and products for chicken coops, hatcheries products, cow sheds, and so on. How important are technological developments for agriculture, other than showing off developments such as polka-dot tomatoes at agricultural expos? Today, the younger generation overwhelmingly wants to go into the high-tech sector, and very few young people want to become farmers. The result is that the farming population of the world is getting older. In Japan, the average age of farmers is 67; in China, too, young people all want to get into high-tech. Someone has to replace the working hands with technologies. To grow tomatoes, you need water, fertilizers, and so on. The smarter and more efficient the ancillary technologies are, the less money the farmer has to spend on energy and manpower. The worlds population is growing and there isnt enough food for everyone. There is also a growing demand for higher-quality produce. The new technologies can help provide more food in smaller spaces; they enhance efficiency, reduce the use of expensive resources, and help farmers survive. Gilad Peled (Photo: Ronen Ackerman) Israels agriculture is in the midst of a profound crisis. From a business perspective, can tech companies rely on Israels farmers? Were looking at the global potential. We want to export our developments and sell them worldwide. Chinas population is 1.3 billion, and the Chinese are becoming health-conscious about their food. Somebody has to provide them with technologies. We view this field as having enormous potential to strengthen the Israeli economy and the countrys exports. The purpose of the Export Institutes Agro-technology Department is to support companies by providing professional services, identifying business partners, and providing information about international tenders and projects. My own objective is to become familiar with the companies, to know what they do and what they need, and to create business opportunities for them by finding leads bringing them the relevant individuals so that they can increase their exports and exposure. One way is by showcasing them at expos. Can this also help Israels own agriculture? Absolutely. Here, too, agriculture must become more efficient in order to survive. These changes are happening all over the world. Israeli agriculture serves as a sort of laboratory for experimenting with and assimilating new technologies. It is admired all over the world. All of these innovations are already in use in Israel. It is therefore important that the government push for the integration of these technologies. Technologies are born of a need, and that is the root of Israels innovation in agriculture, for example the various developments created to handle the water shortage. They say that necessity is the mother of invention. While thats true, its not enough. You can invest millions in the development of a product, but if the farmers are wary of using it, the entire process will have been a waste. That is why government support is needed: the government must help the farmers assimilate the new technologies and eliminate the risk the farmers would otherwise be taking. At the end of the day, the government will benefit, because if the company can prove that the technology works, it will be easier to sell it abroad, and the government will benefit from the export taxes. An Israeli resident living in the Ras al-Amud neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem was arrested three weeks ago on suspicion of planning to carry out multiple acts of terrorism in Israel, it was cleared for publication Thursday afternoon. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The resident, identified as Muhammad Mussa Muhammad Abassi, was arrested as part of a joint operation between the Shin Bet and the Police Central Unit, said a press release issued by the Shin Bet. Ras al-Amud neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem (Photo: Amit Shabi) The intelligence organizations investigation revealed that during recent months, Abassi planned to carry out a shooting attack against Israeli security forces and civilians in east Jerusalem and attempted to acquire a weapon to that end. It also emerged during questioning that Abassi supported Hamas and was involved in a number of rock and Molotov Cocktail-throwing incidents, as well as being responsible for aiming fireworks at security forces and Israeli vehicles. Interrogators further discovered that the suspect tried to gather information on how to assemble a pipe bomb. Abassis Facebook profile alone provided convincing evidence that he supported Hamas with numerous posts expressing as such in addition to uploading posts of incitement to violence and terrorism against Israel. One case in point was the support Abassi expressed for a terrorist who committed a suicide bombing attack on the number 12 Egged bus in Jerusalem last April in which 21 people were wounded. He also praised the terrorists who carried out a lethal shooting attack in Tel Avivs popular Sarona Market in June, which left four dead and 16 wounded. The arrest of Abassi who, as a resident, had access to the entire city, prevented a serious attack in the city of Jerusalem, the Shin Bet statement read. Two Eritrean pilots have defected with their fighter jets to neighboring Ethiopia, an Eritrean opposition group confirmed Thursday, in a dramatic exit from one of the world's most closed-off states. "The two pilots flew their small-sized fighter jets to Mekelle on Wednesday morning," said Nasredin Ahmed Ali, spokesman for the Ethiopia-based Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization. The spokesman identified the pilots as Afeworki Fisehaye and Mebrahtu Tesfamariam and described them as being very experienced with Eritrea's air force. He said Ethiopian fighter jets accompanied them upon their entry into the country's air space. The Chinese airline, Hainan Airlines, which began operating in Israel half a year ago has come under scrutiny for marking Israel on its multimedia flight system as Palestinian Territories. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Israeli passengers aboard the Tel-Aviv-bound plane from Beijing were shocked to discover that the word Israel was nowhere to be seen on the map. The screens, which were photographed on a flight which landed on Tuesday in Ben Gurion Airport, display Syria, Cyprus and Lebanon but only Tel Aviv and Jerusalem appear on the map while Israel is clearly omitted Israel marked as 'Palestinian Territories.' The Chinese airline conducts multiple flights in the Middle East but only to Ben Gurion Airport, making the decision to remove the word Israel from the map all the more bewildering. The flight was wonderful with great service. The aircraft is new and its crew were extremely professional, Ynet heard from Lior Peleg, the CEO of a tourism company and the former director general of the Nazareth Municipality, who returned to Israel on the Hainan flight. Much to my dismay and surprise, I realized that on the multimedia screens on the plane, the State of Israel was not there. There is a feeling that this is a blow to Israeli sovereignty as the destination of the plane is Tel Aviv. Peleg, who frequently travels to China, noted that failure to feature Israel on the map also offends Chinese tourists who land in the Palestinian Territories on a flight headed for Israel. Hainan Chinese Airline plane An official from the airline said that the incident occurred as a result of a technical error and that when the plane flew over Israeli territory, the map updated itself with the appropriate correction. The airline released a statement apologizing for the embarrassment and for any offence caused to Israelis and Chinese tourists alike. We are grateful that this technical error was brought to our attention. The airline is working to correct the map...It should be noted that Israel clearly appears on the close-up map. We will continue to work to promote Israel as tourist destination in China as we have proudly done so the whole time, the statement read. At the end of last April, the first Hainan Airlines commercial flight landed in Ben Gurion Airport which was accompanied by a welcoming ceremony attended by Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Transport Minister Yisrael Katz and the Israeli Ambassador to China Matan Vilnai. The airline currently operates three Tel Aviv-Beijing flights per week which will soon be increased to four. The airline is also considering introducing other flights from Israel in the future. The Jerusalem District Attorney has asked that the court sentence a 17-year-old girl to 15 years in prison for carrying out the Jerusalem "scissors" terrorist attack in 2015. The girl, originally from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Kafr Aqab, agreed to a plea bargain of attempted murder, but both parties did not agree on a punishment. Her lawyer asked for leniency, citing that she did not carry out the stabbing, and because she has expressed regret. Joining the US and Europe, Israel steps up its fight against HIV/AIDS. To counter the illness, the Health Ministry will begin a pilot in which it will distribute preventative medication to members of at-risk populations in one months time. The effectiveness of the pilot will determine whether the medication will permanently be given to those belonging to at-risk populations via the subsidized, national health program. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The brand name drug for PrEP that has undergone the most trials is Truvada, which combines the tenofovir and emtricitabine drugs. This combination acts to prevent the HIV virus from multiplying and spreading throughout the body. It is administered through several different protocols, at times taken once a day, and at time three times a week. An educational video published by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention on taking PrEP (CDC) X PrEP has been covered by all US health insurance companies for all individuals belonging to at-risk populations since 2012. Canada, France, Norway and South Africa have also all approved it, and several other European countries are planning to approve it soon. Truvada, an HIV preventative drug Currently, any at-risk individual in Israel can request a PrEP prescription from an AIDS physician and purchase it privately, for NIS 3,000 a month. The medication is also given at emergency rooms in cases where there is concern of HIV infection from unprotected sexual relations. The current pilot will focus on several at-risk groups; namely, it will sample homosexual men having unprotected sex with multiple partners, couples where one of the partners is HIV positive, drug addicts and prostitutes. The Health Ministry will monitor the progress of the pilot, and based on its prevention of infection rate, will decide whether to provide it to at-risk individuals at large by adding it to the national health basket. The treatment was found to be highly efficient Kaplan Hospital AIDS Treatment and Research Center Head Prof. Zeev Steger sees a social dilemma in deciding whether to add the medication to the health basket. Theres an ethical and philosophical question here: should a society spend money because someone did not use a condom and was subsequently infected with HIV? However, he notes, You could ask the same question regarding smokers who came down with lung cancer, where we do not lay responsibility for preventing illness, but rather try to prevent it from happening. He stated that In addition to education and using a condom, PrEP was found to be highly efficient. In fact, said Steger, It has been proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that those who persisted in preventative HIV medication were protected from the illness. The (preventative) treatment is expensive and can reach thousands of shekels a month, but treating HIV could reach millions of shekels over the course of a carrier and patients lifetime. So in terms of cost, the preventative measures are undoubtedly preferable. Watch: an educational video published by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention on taking PrEP. One small detail was left out of the criticism against the hostile UN Security Council session and the outrageous participation of a BTselem representative : That Egypt was one of the initiators of the discussion. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Thats quite unpleasant. After all, we are talking about a member of the regional club, the new hope for peace in the absence of a Palestinian partner. Yet as we whisper signs of intimate intelligence- security-related experiences, the new partner hits us with a huge gob of spit - in the worlds town square of all places. Officially, Israel reacted as if it had rained, and so even now, Israel remains the region's punching bag. Temple Mount. The main proof that Jews have no rights in Jerusalem is Israels conduct (Photo: Reuters) Israel also held back when it received a slap in the face from Jordan, another important member of the regional club. Jordan is one of the countries which suggested that UNESCO adopt the resolution denying the Jewish connection to Jerusalem, and its spokesman, Mohammad al-Momani, stated that if Israel fails to obey international law, Jordan will make a diplomatic effort to prove Jerusalems historical status. In other words, it will prove that the Jews have no historical past in the city. Israel did not respond to this grotesque threat either, maintaining the illusion of the regional idyll. Israels entire conduct in Jerusalem allegedly confirms the Arab historical fraud. Otherwise, how can an Arab explain to himself the special status that the state has given Jordan on the Temple Mount? Why has it granted the Jordanian Waqf sovereign powers, and why do its police turn a blind eye when the waqf people degrade and humiliate Jews visiting the Mount? And why did it let them destroy every antiquity preceding the Muslim occupation on the Mount? Would any other government do that if its ancient temples were really buried there? And how did Israel allow the construction of one of the worlds biggest mosques under the Mount, while Jews holding holy books or mumbling a prayer are banished from the place or arrested? Is that the conduct of a state which really has national treasures there? And the veto right it gave the Jordanians to prevent the reconstruction of the Mughrabi Gate and any construction in the Western Wall plaza in general would Israel, the military power, have agreed to all of this had it believed that it really had historical rights there? We can see for ourselves that Jordan has a basis for al-Momanis threat to prove that the Jews have no rights in Jerusalem, and the main proof is Israels conduct. The Israeli self-deprecation vis-a-vis Jordan is as old as the state. When Jordans leaders, from the late Hussein onwards, allowed themselves to reprimand Israel over alleged violations of international law, our state failed to remind them, for example, of the bombing and destruction of all the synagogues in the Old City, of the displacement of gravestones on the Mount of Olives in favor of building toilets and paving roads, and of the ban on Jewish access to any place that is holy to them, including the Western Wall, in violation of their international commitment. Official Israel has never responded with the question: Who are you to preach us? Even worse, for Jordans sake we waived the justice claim, keeping only the lame security excuse, although the large majority in Jordan sees itself as Palestinian and its state as part of Palestine. The Brits already divided Palestine and allotted three-quarters of the land of the Jewish national home in favor of the new Arab nationalism in other words, the Palestinian state. Nonetheless, we are silencing the injustice argument against the intention to trim the one-quarter left for the Jews in favor of a second Palestine, for the sake of a real or imaginary affair, which is being held as always solely under the table. Furthermore, due to his attempt to nurture a good relationship with China and Russia, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didnt even dare submit a polite diplomatic protest following their disgraceful vote in favor of a despicable UNESCO resolution, both historically and culturally. We have yet to learn that a ghetto-like acceptance of insults does not appease, but rather undermines our national existence. Slovenia is reburying some 800 victims from a mass grave containing the remains of thousands of people believed killed in the aftermath of World War II by the communist authorities. The remains will be laid to rest in a memorial park in Maribor, northeastern Slovenia, alongside other victims of post-WWII summary executions. The victims are believed to be mostly Croats and Slovenes from WWII pro-Nazi groups killed by the victorious communists. Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic laid a wreath as part of commemoration ceremonies Thursday. "Historic truth must be established because it presents a basis for a better future," she said. Discussions were held Thursday afternoon regarding the sentencing of Norhin Awad, a 17-year-old Palestinian girl who committed a terror attack last year near Jerusalems popular Mahane Yehuda Market using a pair of scissors. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The girl, originally from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Kafr Aqab, agreed to a plea bargain of attempted murder. Norhin Awad (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum) However, the Jerusalem District Attorney asked that the court impose a 15-year prison despite a request made by the defense for leniency, arguing that that she did not actually carry out the stabbing, and because she has expressed regret. CCTV footage of the attack While failing to actually stab anyone, Nohrin, who was 16 at the time, participated in the attack at the initiative of her 14-year-old cousin Hadil Wajiya Awad from the Qalandiya refugee camp, who said she wished to avenge the death of her brother who was killed during riots in 2013. The incident for which Norhin was indicted took place on November 23, 2015 when the two terrorists left their homes with their school bags so as to avoid arousing their families' suspicion. After praying at al-Aqsa mosque and then making their way by bus to a Jerusalem light rail station on Jaffa Streeta central area in downtown JerusalemHadil and Norhin each pulled out a pair of scissors and stabbed a 70-year-old Palestinian man from Bethlehem and another woman. Police officer shoots the two terrorists Norhin, who brandished the scissors but never actually stabbed anyone, later said that her biggest regret was that she did not attempt to dissuade her younger cousin from committing the attack. Nevertheless, she was charged with attempted murder and one count of possession of a knife. The incident was eventually brought to a close when a police officer nearby arrived on the scene and shot the two terrorists, killing Hadil and wounding Nohrin. ABUJA, Oct 27 () - Ending the insurgency in Nigeria's Delta region that has hobbled oil production is the first goal of a seven-point plan for the petroleum industry, the country's oil minister said on Thursday. The government is launching a $10 billion infrastructure programme in the restive region that produces most of Nigeria's oil, and President Muhammadu Buhari will meet representatives of militant groups and community leaders from the Niger Delta in Abuja next week in a bid to end the attacks. "Our target is to ensure zero militancy in the area," oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu told a forum in Abuja aimed at outlining strategy for the petroleum industry. "This planned meeting shows the level of interest the president has to ensure peace in the area." Kachikwu said the $10 billion investment is "not necessarily" going to come from the federal government, but rather from "oil companies, investors, individuals". Wednesday's cross-border shooting incident , which is still being investigated by the Northern Command as an attack by another terrorist group, has exposed one of Israel's weak points in a sensitive sector, the border line separating roads, orchards and Israeli settlements, mainly in the Galilee panhandle. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The IDF believes that Hezbollah will seek to exploit this weak point and attempt to infiltrate its Radwan special forces troops into Israeli territory in the next Lebanon war. The Radwan companies are comprised of dozens of heavily armed, select men who will attempt to quickly enter Israeli territory, capture an outpost or settlement near the border, raise the Hezbollah flag and present it as a symbol of victory. Border fence near Lebanon (Photo: Avihu Shapira) As part of preparations against this scenario, the IDF is completing a 30-kilometer long border defense project that is part of a larger three-year project that has gained momentum in recent months. The project consists of a series of engineered barriers that do not exist in any other part of the country. It consists of reinforced concrete panels dozens of meters high, concrete blocks, fortified towers and upgrades to existing fences that were put in place in the 80s. The project is eventually expected to encompass the entire 120km Lebanese border, stretching from Rosh Hanikra to Mount Dov and Mount Hermon. However, the project is of relatively low priority in terms of resource allocation by the IDF General Staff and the government, so it will only be completed within a few years. The majority of resources and attention are currently focused on the Gaza border to guard against Hamas tunneling attempts. Photo: Avihu Shapira In the meantime, the Northern Command has found alternative solutions, such as training programs for engineering battalions, which are being conducted in the north. As a result, the Galilee division has prioritized 30 kilometers of territory as "more threatened," and has erected barriers and other obstacles. During a Ynet tour of the border, officials demonstrated the troubling ease with which forces in Lebanon can open fire at any moment towards Israel, especially near the international barrier, as was the case with the shooting Wednesday. Col. Zaky Yeffet of the Northern Command explained, "We can't dig everywhere, so we found other solutions such as reinforcing the border fence and we placed large boulders near Hanita to act as an obstacle against possible infiltration. The concrete panels we also placed in the areas guard against small arms fire and anti-tank missiles. Additionally, we cleared brush wherever we could along the border to allow us to see approaching threats easier." Another obstacle that has been taken into account are mine fields. There are currently more than a million and a half landmines spread out over 4,000 different fields. The majority of the mines are anti-personnel, but there are a few anti-tank mines also mixed in. The IDF periodically replenishes these mine fields, but the goal is to thin them out as much as possible due to the risks associated with them. President Vladimir Putin slammed claims on Thursday that Russia has attempted to interfere in the upcoming US presidential election by hacking American political institutions as "hysteria." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "The number of mythical, dreamt-up problems includes the hysteria -- I can't think of another word -- that has broken out in the United States about the influence of Russia on the current elections for the US president," Putin said at a Valdai Discussion Club meeting of political scientists in Sochi. Putin speaking at the Valdai forum (Photo: EPA) "Does anyone seriously think Russia can somehow influence the choice of the US people? Is the US some kind of banana republic? The United States is a great power. Please correct me if I'm wrong," Putin said to laughter in the audience. Washington last week formally accused the Russian government of trying to "interfere" in the 2016 White House race by hacking US political institutions, charges the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed. Putin has vehemently rejected the accusations, saying they are meant to divert American voters from domestic problems. "It's a lot easier to distract people's attention towards Russia's so-called hackers, spies, agents of influence and so on," Putin said Thursday. Photo: EPA Putin did however adopt a hard line against cyber attacks, saying these are "unacceptable". Russian authorities have slammed Washington for "unprecedented" threats after US Vice President Joe Biden told NBC this month that Putin would receive a "message" in response to the alleged hacking. NBC later reported that the CIA was preparing a retaliatory cyber attack "designed to harass and embarrass the Kremlin leadership." Russia's foreign ministry at the weekend said that an old version of its website had apparently been attacked after a US hacker claimed he broke in and posted a mocking message. 'Absolute nonsense' The Kremlin was propelled to the heart of US politics in July after Hillary Clinton's campaign blamed Moscow for a damaging leak of emails from the Democratic National Committee. Russia has also been accused of favoring Republican candidate Donald Trump -- who has praised Putin and called for better relations with Moscow -- over the more hawkish Clinton. Photo: EPA Putin has offered what appears to be veiled support for Trump, but he said Thursday that claims the Kremlin would like to see the Republican candidate win were "absolute nonsense." "This is just a method of political struggle, a way to manipulate public opinion on the eve of the US elections," he said. Putin nonetheless praised Trump for appealing to disenchanted American electors. "He represents the views of a significant part of society in the United States that is tired of those elites who have been in power for decades," he said. Russia not attacking anyone Putin accused the West of building up a "mythical and made-up" threat of Russian aggression to justify increasing military spending and bolstering NATO forces in countries neighboring Russia. "It's very pleasant and profitable to make yourself out to be defendants of civilization from some new barbarians, but the thing is Russia doesn't plan to attack anyone," he said. "It's unthinkable -- simply stupid and unrealistic," he added. "It's just funny to talk about it." Putin also took a jab at the West for its "mistakes" in its military interventions in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and now, Syria. Airstrikes in Aleppo (Photo: AFP) "The fight against terrorism has not yielded a global result while the threats are only growing," he warned, complaining that Russia's calls to unite forces against terrorism have been ignored. He pointed the finger of blame at the United States for the ongoing violence in Syria, saying that "stopping bloodshed and launching a political process (in Syria) has not been possible." "Our personal agreements with the US President did not work," Putin added, accusing forces in Washington of "doing everything for these not to be implemented." MOSCOW -- Russian warplanes did not enter the airspace over a school at the time of an attack that killed more than 20 people, mostly children, on Oct. 26, a defence ministry spokesman said on Thursday, according to Russian agencies. The spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, also said that footage of the school made by a Russian drone showed that the damage was not consistent with an air strike. WASHINGTON -- The White House said on Thursday that either the Syrian government or Russia was responsible for a deadly air strike in Syria that hit a school and led to the deaths of 26 civilians. "We don't know yet that it was the Assad regime or the Russians that carried out the air strike, but we know it was one of the two," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. "Even if it was the Assad regime that carried it out, the Assad regime is only in a position to carry out those kind of attacks because they are supported by the Russian government." Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas headed for the Qatari capital of Doha for a meeting with Hamas Chief Khaled Mashal and Hamas leader in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday. The meeting was held during an official visit by Abbas to the Gulf state. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The three held a business lunch together under the auspices of the Qatari Foreign Minister. The meeting took place despite repeated denials by high ranking Fatah officials that it would happen. The officials also said that there would be no renewal of Hamas-Fatah reconciliation talks. The Palestinian Presidents Office sent a very carefully worded announcement regarding the meeting. The statement said that Abbas spoke in a meeting in which both Mashal and Haniyeh were present, and that the meeting was held under the framework of a business luncheon held by the Qatari Foreign Minister. Mahmoud Abbas meets with the Hamas leadership in Qatar The message continued by saying that the meeting was conducted to the chagrin of Mahmoud Abbas, and insinuated that the meeting was held due to pressure put upon him by the Qatari government. Abbas didnt say anything groundbreaking in the meeting, but said that the reconciliation process between the two Palestinian groups, and the need to eliminate the divisions between Gaza and the West Bank. The two sides agreed that they must restart reconciliation talks, and that the talks should be mediated by Qatar. Despite the lofty words, the chance that there will be a breakthrough in reconciliation talks is slim at best, primarily because Abbas has little to no interest in reconciling. The tensions between the two Palestinian political parties are at a peak, especially after Abbas cancelled the municipal elections which were to be held in the West Bank. Hamas was due to participate in the elections for the first time in a decade, and was slated to win nearly all of the local council elections. Fatah is also furious that Hamas took it upon itself to reject the lists of Fatah officials who were to run in the Gaza Strip. BEIRUT -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Thursday for an immediate investigation of an attack on a school in Syria's Idlib province that the U.N.'s children's agency is calling one of the deadliest of its kind in the country's six-year war. UNICEF raised its toll for Wednesday's attack to 28 dead, among them 22 children and six teachers. Ban said in a statement that the attack, carried out against rebel-held territory, may amount to a war crime if found to be deliberate. "If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice. They must be proved wrong," he said. Witnesses said overhead jets targeted the school in the town of Hass as many as 10 times, around midday Wednesday. Opposition activists blamed the strikes on Russian and government planes. Latest News Washington, DC - Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Evan Ryan will travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and London, United Kingdom, October 2631, to promote and strengthen the Department of States cross-cultural and educational diplomacy efforts. In Jeddah, October 2628, Assistant Secretary Ryan will meet with exchange program participants, including those who visited the United States on recent International Visitor Leadership Program projects focused on entrepreneurship and connecting communities through social media. She will also meet with students and faculty at a local college. Assistant Secretary Ryan will then travel to London, October 2831, where she will meet with officials, engage with youth and exchange program alumni, discuss initiatives led by Fulbrighters, and promote the State Departments cultural diplomacy efforts. Stiri pe aceeasi tema - The plenum of the Chamber of Deputies on Monday passed the draft budget of the Chamber of Deputies for the year 2023, after the same forum's standing bureau approved the draft earlier in the day, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook - The government approved, on Friday, the draft law that establishes in Romania a pan-European personal pension product, which targets Romanians who have employment contracts in several EU states and who will be able to opt for a personal pension product, under the same conditions and with the same - The European Central Bank raised interest rates by 75 basis points and signaled further tightening ahead as it fights record inflation that is rapidly eroding consumer spending power across the region, according to Politico. The interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates - Romanian banks received 7,872 requests to suspension payment obligations of rates, interest rates and commissions, from natural and legal person clients alike, until August 29, 2022, according to the provisions of Ordinance 90/2022 regarding the granting of facilities for loans granted by banks and - Un barbat din Drobeta Turnu Severin a fost retinut de procurorii mehedinteni dupa ce si-a ucis fiul, lovindu-l cu toporul in cap si cu cutitul in zona gatului. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro NEWSLETTER - Revenues of the general consolidated budget will increase, on balance, by the amount of 29.941 billion lei, expenditures by 32.591 billion lei, while the deficit of the general consolidated budget in cash terms will increase by the amount of 2.649 billion lei, according to the draft Ordinance on - The European Commission has approved a Romanian scheme of up to E358mln to support companies in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework, according to Universul.net. The measure will be open to micro, small and medium-sized companies affected - On Wednesday, the government will approve the draft law on the establishment and maintenance of minimum reserves of oil and petroleum products, by modifying Law No. 85/2018, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook LIVE-2 Inning |01-5 TANZANIA VS RWANDA TAN 130/6 VS 28/2 RWA Rwanda need 103 runs in 90 balls at 6.86 rpo Tokyo: A prominent Nigerian asylum seeker and activist is being held in solitary at a Tokyo detention centre, a case that has highlighted a growing crackdown on foreigners living in Japan without visas and prompted demands for her release. Elizabeth Aruoriwo Obueza was detained two weeks ago after authorities turned down an appeal against her asylum rejection, Obueza and her lawyer told Reuters. Obueza, 48, campaigns for asylum seekers and the 4,700 people on "provisional release" from immigration detention - a status that lets foreigners out from detention but bars them from working and travelling freely. Obueza`s arrest is part of a wider campaign by the Justice Ministry, which in September 2015 said it would take steps to reduce the 60,000 foreigners living in Japan without visas. People on provisional release, many of whom have lived in Japan for decades, have been among those targeted, activists and lawyers say. "Elizabeth was targeted and detained for being an activist," said immigration lawyer Shoichi Ibusuki. "I want her released immediately." The crackdown on people like Obueza comes even as people on provisional release, despite being legally unable to work, power Japan`s construction and manufacturing sectors as companies scramble to find workers in the worst labour shortage in decades. "Elizabeth is held in solitary because she`s an activist and immigration officials don`t want her causing trouble," said Mitsuru Miyasako, head of the Provisional Release Association in Japan, a group representing refugees and immigrants. "Locking someone up alone in a tiny room is to ruin them psychologically." Naoaki Torisu, a senior Justice Ministry official overseeing immigration detention, declined to comment on Obueza`s situation, saying he could not discuss individual cases. Obueza, an evangelical Christian, said she fled Nigeria for Japan in 1991 to escape female genital mutilation and applied for asylum in 2011. Obueza told Reuters she was locked up for more than 22 hours a day. Typically, detainees at the Tokyo Immigration Bureau, where she is held, are locked up for 18 hours a day, according to the Justice Ministry. "I want to help people," Obueza told Reuters from across a security divide in a small meeting room at the detention centre. "Give me the right to help people - don`t put me in here." During her previous 10-month arrest in 2011 at a different centre, Obueza organised detainees to write a petition to immigration authorities calling for better medical care, Miyasako said. For more than a decade, Obueza has visited immigration detention centres across Japan, helping detainees navigate the asylum system and find legal help, said rights groups, lawyers and former detainees. "She has supported so many people as an activist and that`s a nuisance for the immigration authorities," said Miyasako, who has worked with Obueza, adding that she had helped hundreds. Former detainees and people on provisional release visit her in detention every day, sometimes waiting for hours, he said. Solitary cells, usually for detainees who are ill, unruly or have tried to harm themselves, are about five square metres, detainees say. In 2014, a Sri Lankan man died in a solitary cell at the same centre, highlighting problems with medical care. Isolation has not stopped Obueza from fighting for detainees` rights. "When I go outside my room, I go around the windows and talk to the others," Obueza said. "I advise them." Obueza said of the immigration officials who locked her up: "You might think you arrested me, but I think God wants me here to help some other people." Colombia City: The Colombian government is due to open talks Thursday with the country`s second-largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), but a down-to-the-wire hostage dispute has kept the nation in suspense. The talks -- if they happen -- will open a new front in President Juan Manuel Santos`s efforts to bury an armed conflict that has burned for more than half a century and killed more than 260,000 people. Santos, the winner of this year`s Nobel Peace Prize, has already signed a peace deal with the larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). But voters rejected it in a referendum on October 2, sending the two sides back to the drawing board. That has only complicated the peace process with the ELN, a more intransigent negotiating partner. The ELN had promised to free its hostages before the talks opened in the Ecuadorian capital Quito -- as the FARC did before starting negotiations in Cuba in 2012. But the ELN bristled last week when the government`s chief negotiator issued an ultimatum to do so. Since then, there has been no news on the fate of the hostage -- or hostages, according to some sources -- still being held by the leftist guerrillas. That has cast uncertainty on the talks, even as the ELN said its peace negotiators were on their way to Quito. "Have a good trip," the rebel group wished them on Twitter Wednesday, announcing the delegation would be led by commander Pablo Beltran. The talks -- the fifth attempt to make peace with the ELN -- are due to open at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT).Like the FARC, the ELN formed in 1964 and is blamed for killings and kidnappings during a messy, multi-sided civil war. The ELN is still holding at least one hostage, former congressman Odin Sanchez. Colombia has "reasonable confidence" that the guerrilla group will release Sanchez, according to Juan Camilo Restrepo, the government`s chief negotiator. "We have reasonable confidence because it is the spirit and good faith that encourages the government to start these dialogues," Restrepo said Wednesday on an evening news program. If Sanchez is not released, the process "cannot open because the government`s condition has been very clear and we do not see why it cannot be fulfilled appropriately." Sources in the Catholic Church, which has played a part in preliminary negotiations, say the rebels are also holding a doctor named Edgar Torres. A church spokesman said Tuesday that moves were underway to free Sanchez in time. "All the protocol is being observed and the proceedings are on track," said Dario de Jesus Monsalve, the Catholic archbishop of the city of Cali. But the Red Cross, which usually facilitates hostage handovers in Colombia, said Wednesday that no such operation was under way.Analyst Camilo Echandia of Colombia`s Externado University said the ELN was reluctant to accept the release of hostages as a condition for talks. "That is the big difference between the ELN and the FARC," he told AFP. "These negotiations are going to be very complicated." Incidents involving ELN forces have kept tensions high in recent months. The Colombian army blamed the ELN for a non-fatal explosion at an oil pipeline near the Venezuelan border on Sunday. "The ELN guerrilla group comes strengthened to the negotiations with the government. Over the past three years this group has increased its level of violence," Colombia`s Conflict Analysis Resource Center (CERAC) said in a report this month. Colombian authorities estimate the ELN currently has some 1,500 members. The army says hundreds have deserted or been captured in recent months. Its activities are restricted mainly to parts of the north and west of the country, according to CERAC. Like the FARC, the ELN funds itself largely through drug trafficking and ransom kidnappings. Colombia`s territorial and ideological conflict has drawn in various guerrilla and paramilitary groups, drug gangs and state forces over the decades. The conflict has forced nearly seven million people to flee their homes, according to Colombian authorities. Washington: With less than two weeks to go, the race for the White House has narrowed as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton now has a three-point advantage over Republican rival Donald Trump, according to a new Fox News poll. The poll, released on Wednesday, showed Clinton leading 49-44 per cent in the head-to-head matchup. That 5-point advantage is at the edge of the error margin. She was up seven a week ago (49-42 per cent). Trump was helped by increased backing among independents and greater strength of support: 68 per cent of those backing the real-estate mogul support him "strongly", compared to 61 per cent for Clinton. Independents favoured Trump over Clinton by 13 points (41-28 per cent). He had a seven-point advantage last week, and two weeks ago they were tied at 35 per cent each. Trump leads among whites (+14 points) and men (+5), although his best groups remain white evangelical Christians (+56) and whites without a college degree (+28), the poll showed. Clinton has commanding leads among blacks (+77 points), unmarried women (+27), voters under 30 (+18), and women (+10). First-time voters are also more likely to back her (+16). The candidates garner almost equal backing among the party faithful: 83 per cent of Democrats back Clinton, while 81 per cent of Republicans support Trump. All in all, likely voters do not think Trump was up to the task of being President: less than half think he was qualified (46 per cent) and even fewer feel he has the temperament to serve effectively (36 per cent). Over half lack confidence in his judgment in a crisis (56 per cent). Clinton trounces Trump on each of those measures: 64 per cent believe she was qualified, 62 per cent has said she has the temperament, and 56 per cent are confident in her judgment. However, there were a couple of areas where the two are about evenly matched. First, 52 per cent feel Clinton "stands up" for people like them, and 49 per cent feel that way about Trump, the poll revealed. Also on their honesty -- or lack thereof: a record-low 30 per cent of likely voters think Clinton is honest and trustworthy, while 34 per cent said Trump is. The Fox News Poll is based on landline and cellphone interviews with 1,309 randomly chosen registered voters nationwide and was conducted from October 22-25. The survey includes results among 1,221 likely voters. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points for results among both registered and likely voters. New York: America's youngest voters are overwhelmingly supporting Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for president but a majority of them say they are "fearful" about the country's future and do not feel hope, a Harvard poll has said. The national poll of America's 18 to 29 year olds by Harvard's Institute of Politics (IOP), at the prestigious John Kennedy School of Government found Clinton leading Donald Trump by 28 percent. Hillary captured 49 percent of likely young voters' support while Trump received 21 percent in a four-way race. In a two-way match-up between Hillary and Trump, the former Secretary of State received 59 percent to Trump's 25 percent among likely voters. Hillary is also polling ahead of President Obama's 2012 polling numbers among key groups within this demographic. The poll also shows that a majority of 18 to 29 year olds are fearful about the future of America, with 51 percent of young Americans saying that feel "fearful" and only 20 percent "hopeful". Every demographic surveyed felt more fearful, with white women (60 percent) and white men (54 percent) exhibiting the most anxiety. The poll said these concerns about the future of America are focused on the attainability of the "American Dream". Less than 32 percent white females believe they will be better off financially than their parents. When asked why they were fearful, one young respondent said, "Everything seems out of control, and our politicians care more about themselves than doing the right thing for all Americans. We're extremely divided, and very few seem to have any interest in trying to unite us." Harvard Institute of Politics Polling Director John Della Volpe said "young voters are fearful about the future of America, and that is moving them to action. I am hopeful that the next president and leaders in Congress will empower and engage them after the election to move our country forward." The survey found that 49 percent of the young millennials surveyed indicated they will "definitely be voting" in this election, one point higher than the 48 percent who indicated the same in 2012. Notably, 51 percent of young females indicated they will definitely vote, up from 45 percent in 2012, while 47 percent of young males indicated the same, down from 51 percent four years ago. Hillary is performing better among woman, white and non-college voters, while Trump is under-performing by 17 percentage points among young Republicans. The poll also found that an overwhelming majority of young people of color believe they are "under attack" in the US. Nearly nine in ten young African Americans and 72 percent of Hispanics believe that "people of [their] own racial background are under attack in America". While there is little confidence that race relations will improve dramatically under a potential Hillary administration, there was a significant concern it could worsen under a potential Trump administration, the poll said. Kabul: The US Department of Defence said that it conducted military strikes against two senior Al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan, the results of which are still being assessed. The bombings targeting Faruq al-Qatani and Bilal al-Utabi took place on Sunday on Al Qaeda`s command-and-control locations in Kunar province, 230 kilometers east of Kabul, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. According to the Pentagon, al-Qatani served as Al Qaeda`s emit in the northeastern region of Afghanistan and was assigned to "re-establish Al Qaeda safe havens" in the country. The other senior figure, al-Utabi, worked with al-Qatani to regain control of the area as well as recruiting and training foreign fighters. "Their demise would represent a significant blow to the terrorist group`s presence in Afghanistan, which remains committed to facilitating attacks against the United States, our allies, and partners," the Pentagon said in a statement. "We are still assessing the results of the strikes," it added. New Delhi: A day after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced a crackdown against liquor consumption in the public, the Delhi government on Thursday launched inspection of city's liquor shops and got an FIR registered against a restaurant for illegal serving the drink. According to officials, seven teams of Excise Department conducted inspections at Nehru Place, Paharganj, Motipur, Rajendra Place, Rohini and Gujranwala Town. "An FIR was registered at the Alipur Police Station (Outer Delhi) against a restaurant under the Excise Act on the GT Karnal Road for illegally serving alcohol on its premises without a valid licence of running a bar," a senior government official said. The move comes a day after Sisodia announced a crackdown on consumption of liquor in the open area around alcohol shops from November 8. During the inspections it was found that liquor vends had installed CCTV cameras in accordance with directions issued to them and these were found to be functional. All liquor vends inspected today were directed to strictly report all cases of illegal consumption of liquor to the Excise Department control room immediately. "No major violation was found in the departmental stores during inspections. It was noticed that chillers in majority of departmental stores were found to be non-functional," official further said. Yesterday, the Delhi government announced it would strictly enforce the Excise Act post November 7 under which consuming alcohol at public places attracts a fine of Rs 5,000 and if the offender creates nuisance than the fine will be upto Rs 10,000 with a jail term of three months. Sisodia had said the government will run awareness campaign against public drinking near liquor shops till November 7 and women safety and law and order situation will remain focus during the practice. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the summons issued against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leader Kumar Vishvas by a court in Uttar Pradesh and issued notice to the state government. A bench headed by Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar stayed the summons issued by the Sultanpur court to Kejriwal and Vishvas, who have been accused of violating prohibitory orders by holding an unscheduled roadside meeting while going to Amethi and thereby obstructing the movement of traffic. The matter relates to 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Campi: Daylight revealed widespread damage in central Italy on Thursday after strong earthquakes overnight that caused panic and fear among residents just two months after a quake nearby killed hundreds. No one was killed this time, but dozens of people sustained minor injuries and about four others more serious ones, Italy`s Civil Protection Agency said. Many residents of Campi, a town of about 200, slept in their cars as aftershocks rocked the Umbria, Marche and Lazio regions throughout the night. The earthquake on Aug. 24 in the same area killed nearly 300 people and destroyed several towns. "I can`t shake off the fear," said Mauro Viola, 64, who said he had not sleep and had spent the night outside. Police had blocked off the road to his home with a park bench, and Viola said a chapel beyond his house had collapsed. The three quakes, about two hours apart, damaged several buildings, including Campi`s late 14th century church, San Salvatore a Campi di Norcia, whose rose-windowed facade was reduced to rubble. The quakes were probably a result of August`s seismic break, Massimiliano Cocco from Italy`s National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology told the Corriere della Sera newspaper. The first tremor measured magnitude 5.4, causing many people to flee their homes and the second was stronger at 6.1 magnitude. A 4.9 aftershock came a couple hours after that, and dozens of weaker ones followed. Rescue workers set up some 50 beds in a quake-proof building for people who could not sleep in their homes. "The first tremor damaged buildings, with the second one we had collapses," fire department official, Rosario Meduri, said. He had come from southern Italy before Wednesday`s tremors to help secure structures damaged by the August earthquake that hit some 50 km (30 miles) to the south. While massive boulders that tumbled down the valley had yet to be cleared from the roads, on the whole there was a sense of relief. The fact that the first earthquake was weaker than the second probably helped save lives because most people had already left their homes, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said on state radio. He also said that a decree now being voted on by parliament to pay for the immediate costs of the August tremor could be extended to cover the latest series of quakes. Pas-de-Calais: Major work began Thursday in the "Jungle" migrant camp to tear down the remaining makeshift shelters in the squalid settlement in Calais in northern France. A mechanical digger and other machines tore at structures in the camp, which was ravaged by fires after authorities moved in to clear the settlement London: Hailing the contribution of British-Indians, Prime Minister Theresa May has said she would highlight their success during her first official visit to India next month. May praised British-Indians in her message at the annual Diwali celebrations in the House of Commons yesterday. "In Britain's Indian communities, we can see the good that can be done when people's talents are unleashed. I think of all those running their own businesses, taking risks and working hard so that they can provide for their families and take on staff," May said in her message, read out by Bob Blackman, the parliamentary host of the annual Diwali event organised by the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB). She said that she would be highlighting this success when she visits India next month on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I will be so proud to highlight the achievements of British-Indians next month when I make my first official visit to India as Prime Minister at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," May said. The event organised on the House of Commons Terrace Pavilion overlooking the river Thames began with the reciting of mantras and was attended by leading Indian-origin parliamentarians including Lord Swraj Paul, Lord Dolar Popat, Lord Jitesh Gadhia and Shailesh Vara. "I am incredibly proud, as a British-Indian and a British Hindu to see this event go from strength to strength. It is a celebration for all of us from all backgrounds," said Priti Patel, the UK's International Development Minister and the senior-most Indian-origin minister in May's Cabinet. The event this time coincided with a Jammu and Kashmir delegation's visit led by Maharaja Kumar Ajatshatru Singh, the grandson of the Maharaja Hari Singh who signed the accession treaty for J&K to become a part of India on October 26, 1947. Blackman declared that October 26 would now be marked as J&K Day every year in the UK Parliament. Kurukshetra: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday met the family members of BSF constable Sushil Kumar, martyred in Jammu district on October 24, and announced a government job for a family member. Khattar, who went to the martyr's house at Pehowa near here, said all type of help would be provided to the family. The Chief Minister said sacrifice of Sushil Kumar would not be allowed to go waste. He consoled martyr's widow Sunita as well as other family members. Later, addressing media persons, the Chief Minister said Sushil Kumar's sacrifice will give new energy to the youths to protect nation. Mortal remains of Sushil Kumar (47) were consigned to flames with full military honours in his hometown Pehowa on Tuesday. Kumar was killed in heavy shelling and firing from automatic weapons by Pakistani troops along the International Border in Jammu district. Chandigarh: Haryana's main opposition party INLD Thursday attacked Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who completed two years in office yesterday, for failing to improve the state's fiscal health and law and order situation. "Law and order and fiscal health have taken a turn for the worse since the BJP came to power two years back," INLD senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala alleged today. Before the assembly polls in 2014 the BJP had made tall promises to the people, but failed to fulfill them once it came to power in the state, he told reporters here. "Like the previous Congress government, the Khattar government too have failed to take any concrete steps to improve the state's fiscal health, even as debt kept on mounting," he claimed. "The investor summits, such as Happening Haryana Summit held in Gurugram this year, has failed. We challenge the government to show us new investments," he said. Government employees are still waiting for Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to fulfill his promises. Taking a dig at the Khattar-led government on law and order, he alleged, "Law and order has broken down in the state. Each day three rape incidents are reported in Haryana while atrocities on Dalits and women have increased during the BJP rule". "The Khattar government had failed to control the Jat stir in February, which claimed 30 lives and resulted in massive damage to property at various places in the state," he said, adding all this happened because of the government's failure. Chautala said the BJP government had not taken concrete steps for farmers' welfare. "They went back on their promise to implement recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report," he said, alleging on the contrary the Fasal Bima Yojana was being "thrust" on farmers much "against their will". "Also, the government which calls itself farmer friendly has failed to appoint a chairman for the Kisan Aayog," he added. Jammu: Heavy shelling from the other side of the border is on in the Line of Control (LoC) area and some nearby sector for the past few hours. Exchange of fire is currently underway in the 190 km area which is said to be very sensitive. According to the latest report, some terrorists hurled a grenade at a police post in Handwara district in Jammu and Kashmir this evening. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is constantly monitoring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, ordered Border Security Force (BSF) to take appropriate action and give a befitting reply to firing by Pakistan on Indian posts. "There's heavy shelling from Pakistan side. We are ready but don't want any casualties. We have asked locals to stay indoors," SHO Mohd Younis Choudhary said. However, no casualties were reported so far. "This has never happened before. Such heavy firing has been taking place from Pakistan's side. Most of the people have left the village. Everyone is so scared," one of the locals from Rajouri told ANI. Locals take shelter as heavy shelling in Rajouri (J&K) by Pakistan continues, exchange of fire underway. pic.twitter.com/EcszesT28G ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 The development comes after Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) earlier today announced that Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar has been asked to leave India along with his family within 48 hours. Akhtar and three Pakistani spies were today detained by the Delhi and Rajasthan Police in separate incidents for their involvement in espionage activities. While all the spies arrested were brought to Delhi from Rajasthan, Akhtar was later let off by the police. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that while Akhtar was declared persona non grata by India, he along with his family will have to leave the country within next two days. Swarup added that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar asked Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to restrain Commissioner's staffer from indulging in anti-India activities. Lucknow: This Diwali, several fire crackers named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, politician Amar Singh, members of Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party and some popular Indian athletes have flooded the local market in UP and Delhi, adding a political colour to the festival. Interestingly, the fire cracker manufacturers seems to have taken inspiration from the ongoing power struggle in the Samajwadi Party and have offered 'Amar Singh phooljhari' and 'Ram Gopal mirchi' to burst this Diwali season. The labels of these crackers are eye catching as they narrate the ongoing Samajwadi family drama in a unique way. The label of 'Amar Singh phooljhari' also features Akhilesh Yadav, SP patriarch Mulayam and his brothers Ram Gopal and Shivpal. However, the picture clearly shows who is at the receiving end. Similarly, the 'Samajwadi tag war' is another interesting cracker which appears in the local market in UP's Allahabad district. It has Shivpal and Mulayam on one side and Akhilesh and Ram Gopal on the other. The local businessmen claim that these crackers have been designed in wake of growing public interest in recent events like surgical strikes and the turf war in Samajwadi Party. "There is a 'Modi bomb' and 'surgical strike rocket' as well, which are in great demand," said Qadir Bhai, who has put up a stall in Anglo Bengali College in Allahabad. While locals are enjoying this 'political diwali', such crackers have definitely added fun to the Diwali festivities. Significantly, the demand for Chinese crackers has seen a steep decline according to the whole sellers. New Delhi: India on Thursday declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer, detained earlier in the day for espionage activities, as persona non grata. Acting on inputs, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch detained the staffer, identified as Mehmood Akhtar, after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity, police said. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar, they said. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit, who was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs, that Akhtar has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities. It means Akhtar has been given 48 hours to leave the country. Pakistan`s High Commissioner Abdul Basit lodged a "strong protest" with the Indian Foreign Ministry and said the detention contravened diplomatic conventions, news agency AFP quoted a source as saying. "Pakistan never engages in activity that is incompatible with its diplomatic status," he said. The other two persons arrested on espionage charges are from Rajasthan. "The spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). The spies were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information," said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, he said. The arrests were reportedly made following a tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau. According to a report, crime branch officials have briefed Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on the matter. This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India. Last years, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested. New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Thursday gave details of how an espionage ring was busted in the national capital, which led to the detention of a Pakistan High Commission staffer and arrest of two ISI spies on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference, Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Ravindra Yadav, said that all the three, caught outside the gates to Delhi Zoo, were involved in espionage for over one-and-half years. The trio used to share information with Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI. On initial information after being caught red-handed, the Pakistan official showed a forged Aadhar card with which he tried to depose himself as Mehmood Rajput, the resident of India's Chandni Chowk. However, later he was identified by the Pakistan High Commission as its employee, Mehmood Akhtar. "He is serving with Pakistan ISI and has got diplomatic immunity since he is posted in the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) of Delhi. This was verified through MEA and after confirmation and as per the due procedures, he was handed over to the PHC diplomats in presence of MEA representative," Yadav said. The Delhi Police official further told reporters that documents recovered from the arrested were defence-related maps, deployment charts and lists of officers working along India`s border with Pakistan. "There was a high probability that the information passed on by these anti-national elements to PIO (Pakistan intelligence operative) is being used against the national interests and could be highly detrimental to national security," the police said, adding that they had been trying to bust the spy ring for six months. Yadav said, "Mehmood Akhtar was a Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army and native of village Kahuta, Rawalpindi district. He was hired by ISI three years back and was working in visa department in High Commission." Akhtar was placed in visa section purposely. He used to zero in on visa-applying Indians who could be potential recruits, said the Delhi Police official. "Since Akhtar was working in the visa department, it gave easy access to him to identify people who could work for him as spies. People who were financially weak would be lured by the promise of getting big money," said a senior police officer. The officer said the honey trap angle was also being explored. "From the initial investigation, it has been revealed that some girls were exploited after being promised good money and were used to lure men into the module. We are investigating this aspect," he added. "Maulana used to run a local Madrasa and used to lure needy people to work as a spy. Subhash Jangir is a small-time businessman who was in need of money," added Yadav. Maulana, a Rajasthan resident, is a school drop-out. About one-and-a-half-year back, he came in contact with a Jodhpur-based person identified as Shoaib, who lured him to join him in accruing vital information about the installations of Army and para-military forces in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Shoaib and Maulana met Mehmood Akhtar, who promised them a handsome amount in return of vital information or documents related to defence installments, informed the Delhi Police. Subhash Jangir, 35, is Nagaur resident. Jangir was under heavy debt and Maulana knew about his financial condition. The ISI agent then lured Jangir into his trap and convinced him to do anti-national activities. Maulana and Subhash have visited Delhi two-three times in the past to pass information to Akhtar, said Yadav. Shoaib will be arrested soon for his involvement in the espionage ring, added Yadav. India today declared the Pakistan High Commission staffer as a persona non grata. This was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to his office following a brief detention of the staffer who was later released. Jaipur: Hours after Delhi Police detained Pakistan High Commission official and arrested two other Indian spies on alleged espionage charges and working for Pakistan's ISI, a third spy was on Thursday arrested by the Rajasthan police. As per the report, Shoaib, a Jodhpur-based man, is said to be spy ring run by Pakistani high commission staffer, was absconding since two other spies were arrested early today. He will be brought to Delhi for further investigation. Earlier today, sensitive defence documents on the deployments and strength of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Indian Army along the India-Pakistan border, especially in Gujarat and the Sir Creek area were allegedly recovered from two arrested spies and a Pakistani diplomat. Mehmood Akhtar, a staff member at the Pakistani high commission, was held today on charges of running a spy network following an investigation. While Akhtar has been asked to return to Pakistan along with his family in 48 hours, the arrested spies were brought to Delhi for a probe. The Delhi Police said the documents recovered from the spies have serious implications on national security adding further that the interrogation of the three men revealed that Pakistan allegedly wants specific information on the military deployments on the Indian side of the border in Gujarat and Rajasthan. In another revelation, the Delhi Police said that the Pakistan High Commission (based in Delhi) was trying to get in touch with government officials in connection with today's arrests. Delhi: India on Thursday declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer 'persona non-grata' after he was caught receiving secret information about Indian military deployments from two Indians who were arrested. A third accomplice was caught later. What MEA said: "Today morning Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and informed him that India had intercepted an official of the Pakistan High Commission in the pursuit of espionage and that he was being declared persona non-grata," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. "The Pakistan High Commission has been informed that Mehmood Akhtar and his family must return to Pakistan by October 29. The Foreign Secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pak High Commissioner that the Pak High Commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status," Swarup said. Swarup said Akhtar told the police that he had joined the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1997 and came on deputation to the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) in 2013 and was posted in September 2013 to the Pakistan High Commission where he is presently working as Assistant to Farukh Habib, Counsellor (Trade). Asserting that terror has become the 'central motive' in India's interactions with Pakistan, Swarup said it was important that Pakistan takes action to honour various commitments it has made, including at the highest level, that it will dismantle the terror infrastructure and will not allow its soil to be used for such activities against any country, including India. "The terrorist attack in Uri and continuing attacks with repeated frequency in parts of Jammu and Kashmir are being carried out with the support of Pakistan. It is a matter of great concern that instead of taking action against the cancer, Pakistan takes shelter under denial and abjuration. LeT, JeM are active under various aegis and find support from state organs of Pakistan," Swarup said. Press briefing by police: Akhtar was detained by the police but later released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. "The accused were involved in espionage activities for over a year-and-a-half. We were watching their activities for past six months. On a specific input, they were held yesterday. Akhtar is a kingpin of the spy ring," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) RS Yadav told a press conference. He said Akhtar had forged Aadhaar card and used to obtain information from his accomplices paying hefty amount to them. Akhtar initially showed an Aadhar card in the name of Mehboob Rajput. "He claimed to be a resident of Chandni Chowk but after sustained interrogation, he revealed his real name Mehmood Akhtar," said Yadav. He was carrying a forged Aadhar card to assume an Indian identity. "He has got diplomatic immunity since he is posted in the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) of Delhi. This was verified through MEA and after confirmation and as per the due procedures, he was handed over to the PHC diplomats in presence of MEA representative," Yadav said. The officer said the honey trap angle was also being explored. "From initial investigation, it has been revealed that some girls were exploited after being promised good money and were used to lure men into the module. We are investigating this aspect," he added. The other three arrested are Maulana Ramzan, Subhash Jangir and Shoaib (residents of Rajasthan). More from Pak mission may be involved in spy racket: Sleuths Meanwhile, investigators probing the case suspect more people from the mission may be involved in the espionage ring. Also Read - Pakistan declares Indian High Commission official persona non grata, asks him to leave country Sources in Delhi Police also did not rule out possible involvement of some BSF personnel in the racket as they believe that Akhtar and his accomplices could not have got hold of deployment details unless somebody in BSF was leaking them, as per PTI. On possible involvement of BSF personnel, they said, "The documents that were recovered from them couldn't have been procured without the help of someone privy to such sensitive information. We are suspecting that they were aided by some BSF personnel who leaked the information and documents to them. We are investigating that aspect. We have identified some of the officers involved and we will be conducting a raid soon." Pakistan denies espionage charges On the other hand, Pakistan denied the espionage charges as "false and unsubstantiated", alleging that Indian police "manhandled" Akhtar. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry said the diplomat was detained for three hours before he was returned to the mission. "We condemn the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official," a statement said. "This act clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of the Pakistan High Commission," the statement. It noted that Akhtar's detention violated the Vienna Convention. However, Swarup rejected Pakistani allegations and said that he was treated with "utmost courtesy". "When he was handed over to the Pakistan High Commission in the presence of a ministry official, Akhtar himself said he was treated well," the MEA spokesperson added. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: India on Thursday issued a 48-hour deadline to a Pakistani diplomat to return home after he was caught running a spying network. Mehmood Akhtar, a staff member at the Pakistani high commission, was held on Thursday on charges of running a spy network following an investigation. Briefing the media, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Akhtar has been asked to return to Pakistan with his family in the next 48 hours. Also Read: Pakistan High Commission staffer, 2 ISI spies were caught red-handed outside Delhi Zoo, says police Also Read: Pakistan says espionage charges against its official 'false' Two of his aides, who are Indians and hail from Rajasthan, have been sent to 12 days of police remand by a Delhi Court on Thursday. India also rejected the charges of manhandling Akhtar labeled by Pakistan following his detention. Swarup said that there would be more arrests if the involvement of other people is uncovered in the spying racket. Also Read: BSF jawan killed, 6 injured as Pakistan targets BOPs, civilian hamlets in Jammu Also Read: Kashmir a matter for India, Pakistan to sort out: British PM If we uncover evidence of involvement of more people, they will be arrested, Swarup said. India on Thursday declared the Pakistan High Commission staffer persona non-grata for espionage activities. After the announcement of the high-profile arrests by the Delhi Police, the MEA also confirmed that an espionage ring, run by the ISI, has been busted. Mumbai: Top military officers paid homage to the infantry fraternity who died for the country in Jammu and Kashmir on the 70th Infantry Day celebrations here on Thursday. Major General Anuj Mathur, officiating General Officer Commanding - Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa areas - led all the officers of the Military Station in Colaba to lay wreaths. It was on October 27 and 70 years ago that the first and finest team of Indian infantry landed in Srinagar and defended Jammu and Kashmir from falling into Pakistani hands. That day, an Infantry Company of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Jammu and Kashmir from invading tribals supported by the Pakistan Army. The action was ordered by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru after the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession, acceding the state to India. The infantry has remained at the forefront in the entire spectrum of activities since then, from maintaining vigil along the border to combating insurgency. Besides, they help fellow citizens during natural calamities or help restore peace in foreign countries as part of UN peacekeeping missions. Thane: A compensation of Rs 3.27 crore has been awarded by an accidents claims tribunal jointly to the kin of the deceased as well as those injured in the 2014 Malshej Ghat bus mishap, which claimed 35 lives. Thane District Court judge and District Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) member K D Vadane in his recent order directed Sunil Meghrajmal Raheja from Ulhasnagar, the owner of the truck which collided with state-run bus, and Iffco Tokio General Insurance Co Ltd to make the payment to the claimants along with 8 per cent interest. Consequent upon this order, as many as 53 claimants including surviving widows, widowers, parents and children have been awarded the compensation which includes in most cases a sum of Rs 1 lakh each on account of loss of estate and loss of love and affection besides Rs 25,000 towards funeral expenses and last rites of the deceased. The Malshej Ghat ST bus accident killed 35 people including the bus driver and left seven injured after the vehicle plunged into a 150-feet deep gorge. Appearing for the claimants, advocate GA Vinod told the Tribunal, that on January 2, 2014 the victims were travelling by ST bus from Thane when it met with an accident at Malshej Ghat on Kalyan?Nagar Highway after a high-speeding truck came from opposite direction and collided with it. The accident happened due to the rash and negligent driving on the part of the truck driver, he submitted. Of the total award of Rs 3,27,46,167, the seven injured got an amount of Rs 30.90 lakhs collectively and the rest has been awarded to the kin of the deceased. The dead included as many as seven members of a family, the claims revealed. The maximum amount of claim awarded was Rs 31,61, 830 to a 47-year-old BPT employee who also lost his young daughter in the same accident. The family of the ST bus driver was given a compensation of Rs 16.07 lakhs. In his order, the judge noted that since there was contributory negligence to the extent of 30 per cent on his part, hence his family will get a reduced amount to that extent of the total eligible amount of Rs 22.95 lakhs. The family of another 43-year-old BEST driver who was also on board and died in the accident has been awarded a compensation of Rs 25.53 lakhs. Etawah: With ruling Samajwadi Party and Uttar Pradesh government pulling in different directions, BJP chief Amit Shah today said neither "bua" (aunt Mayawati) nor "bhatija" (nephew Akhilesh) can improve law and order in the state. He also lashed out at "chacha-bhatija" (state SP chief Shivpal and CM Akhilesh), saying a dispute between them over "sharing of booty" left the state deprived of funds for implementation of central government schemes. Shah was addressing "sankalp maharally" at exhibition ground here -- a Samajwadi Party pocket borough. Attacking both Samajwadi Party and BSP on the law and order front, he recalled that under the Kalyan Singh government, criminals were either behind the bars or were underground. He alleged during the SP and BSP rule, mafia elements flourished. Shah said neither Mayawati nor Akhilesh can improve law and order and, given a chance, BJP will show what law and order meant. "Mafia elements prosper under the Akhilesh and Mayawati governments, they cannot improve law and order...Akhilesh had recently said that till I am CM, Mukhtar Ansari's party cannot join SP...I want to ask if he is not the CM now...What happened to your promise...(even) if Mukhtar does not come ...What will you do with Atiq Ahmed, Afzal and Azam Khan...?" he said. "Behenji (Mayawati) ke yaha bhi (goonday) baithey hain (The anti-social elements are with her too," he said, seeking their names from the public only to remark "we don't have any in our party...This is the party of patriots and there is no place for goondas," he said. "Behenji says that she will impove law and order, but I want to remind her that rape cases had gone up by 161 per cent and 1,100 dalits were killed when she was in power," he said. "SP government too has made a mockery of law and order... had there not been government's patronage, Ram Vriksha Yadav would not have dared to encroach government land (in Mathura) ...The goondas of SP have encroached upon the land of poor in villages. "I want to assure you that if there is a BJP chief minister at the helm (after 2017 Assembly polls), then within 24 hours the mafia elements will themselves flee from Uttar Pradesh," he said. Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday deplored India declaring its High Commission staffer in New Delhi as persona non grata for espionage activities, terming charges against the diplomatic official as "false and unsubstantiated". Foreign Office in a statement said, "We condemn the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official". The Indian action has been accompanied by an "extremely negative and orchestrated media campaign", it said, adding the move "clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission". "A staff member of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was lifted by the Indian authorities yesterday (26 October 2016) on false and unsubstantiated charges. He was, however, released in about three hours on intervention by our High Commission," the statement said. "We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which is indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere. "Pakistan High Commission has always been working within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms," the statement claimed. It also alleged that India's attempts to escalate the tensions and divert the international attention from the "grave human rights violations" being perpetrated in Kashmir can never succeed. It urged the international community to "take notice of the Indian designs". India's decision to declare a Pakistan High Commission staffer in Delhi as persona non grata was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan's envoy Abdul Basit. The Delhi Police crime branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar in custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar. New Delhi: India on Thursday said it welcomed Pakistan's participation in the Heart of Asia conference to be held in December but the neighbouring country is yet to officially communicate its participation in the meet. "We have yet to receive the official confirmation and also the level of participation from Pakistan," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup, days after Sartaj Aziz, Adviser on Foreign Affairs to the Pakistan Prime Minister, confirmed Pakistan's participation to the conference during a press conference in Islamabad. About the possibility of bilateral talks with Pakistan, Swarup said: "We welcome participation from Pakistan. Whether any bilateral meeting will take place or not, lets not jump the gun. Lets get the official letter of participation." Following the September 18 attack on the Indian army camp in Uri town Jammu and Kashmir that left 18 soldiers dead and a retaliatory attack of Indian army across the line of Control in Pakistan administered Kashmir late on September 28, relations between two countries are tense. India declined to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit to be held in Islamabad on November 15-16. The summit was subsequently postponed as some other member nations like Afghanistan and Bangladesh also decided to skip it. A ministerial level meeting of the Heart of Asia Conference on Afghanistan will be held in Amritsar on December 4. Last year Islamabad hosted the conference, which was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The Amritsar conference is a ministerial level meeting to discuss peace, development and cooperation, economic cooperation in particular in Afghanistan, added Swarup. India is expecting more than 40 participants including countries and partner organisations. Heart of Asia or Istanbul Process places Afghanistan at its centre and engages its near and extended neighbouring countries in a result oriented cooperation for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. New Delhi: There can be no regulation of the media in a democracy, feels Information and Broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who says self-regulation is good. However, he says, there is a feeling that social media is "going haywire". "In a democracy, in a free society where freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution, you cannot have regulation of the media, this is my conviction," Naidu told PTI in an interview. He said self-regulation is good and what is required is not a new bill but political will and administrative skill. "That is lacking at some places," he added. The minister, however, added that if at the end of the day, there are violations, there are laws of the land which are available already. Freedom of expression is best utilised only when the value of such freedom is fully appreciated, he added. "When this freedom is not exercised is judiciously, our existing laws provide for necessary interventions. We are not thinking of any new restrictions on any media. But the government expects all stakeholders to be responsible in using different platforms." the I&B minister said. He said for the media, there are some regulations like it should not preach something which is anti-national, not propagate against the interest of the country aspects like obscenity, vulgarity, encouraging violence etc. "There are already broad guidelines and stipulations under the law also and they will take care of these aspects," he said. "For the mainstream journalists, there is some regulation by their organisations and management. But for social media there is no censorship, things go directly, he said. "There is slowly a growing feeling of social media going haywire. And we have to find ways and means to go about it. But at the same time if you start regulating media, the effect will not be positive. Keeping that in mind, regrading social media also there are enough laws to take care of social media also and those laws should be effectively and properly used," Naidu said Naidu said that politicians may at times may not have the will to apply these laws as they do not want to pick up quarrel with media which is quite powerful. "Media is so powerful and some of the politicians are so weak they don't want to use the law which is already available - Why should I quarrel with them? I say it is not a quarrel, as long as you are within line, you have every right, you must fight. "We have the great examples of Ram Nath Goenka, late C R Irani, Ramoji Rao. They have fought against the mighty," he said. Speaking about social media, Naidu said it is an area of concern because it is immensely popular. Naidu said that while there are concerns about the unregulated content on social media, he emphasised that regulation was unlikely to bring any positive results. On the role of media, he said that the duty of media is is to inform but stories should not be invented or created. "News should be news, views should be separate.... Of late, this tendency has erupted in certain sections of Indian media, which is creating distortion, of combining news and views," he added. He said that news organisations should never get identified with any party as it affects their credibility. Naidu also said that the media should avoid sensationalism as well as obscenity, vulgarity, violence should be reduced while terrorism, extremism and anti-social activities, they should not be highlighted as if they are heroic acts. Citing his own experience in Parliament, Naidu said that he once gave a comprehensive speech on agriculture which the media almost entirely ignored. "If Naidu had torn some papers or gone to the Well of the House, then it becomes news. This is a development of recent years, which is bad," he said. Media should try to support the constructive, he said. Srinagar: Summer capital Srinagar witnessed significant improvement in public transport on Thursday even as normal life elsewhere in the Valley remained affected due to the strike called by separatists. Many people have started defying the separatist-sponsored strike over the past week, as they are slowly picking up the threads of their lives affected by the nearly four-month-long strike, officials said. While there is increased movement of private traffic in the summer capital, the city has also witnessed a significant improvement in the public transport, except buses, they said. The officials said the inter-district transport has also improved as many cabs were plying on the routes connecting Srinagar with other districts like Anantnag and Baramulla. They said as the traffic in the city has significantly increased, additional traffic police personnel have been deployed at some intersections to ensure smooth flow of traffic. Many shops were also open in the civil lines and the outskirts of the city, while many street vendors set up stalls at many places around the commercial hub of Lal Chowk. However, normal life continued to remain affected in the rest of the Valley due to separatist-sponsored strike. While there were no curbs on the movement of people anywhere in Kashmir, the officials said restrictions on assembly of four or more people were in place throughout the Valley for maintaining law and order. They said security forces have been deployed in strength at vulnerable spots and along the main roads as a precautionary measure. Security forces have also been deployed at many market places to instill a sense of security among the public to carry out their day-to-day activities, the officials said. Shops, business establishments and fuel stations remained shut and are not expected to open this evening as separatists have not given any relaxation. The separatists, who are spearheading the agitation have been issuing weekly protest calendars since Hizbul Mujahideen Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. They have extended the strike till November 3. The ongoing unrest in Kashmir, apart from business and tourism, has also affected education as schools, colleges and other educational institutions continue to remain shut in the Valley. As many as 85 people, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the ongoing unrest in the Valley. Around 5000 security forces personnel have also been injured in the clashes. New Delhi: Women have the highest status in Islam and the Muslim community must see things with a liberal interpretation now, former Chief Election Commissioner of India S.Y. Quraishi said on Thursday. Speaking in the backdrop of the ongoing debate about Triple Talaq, Quraishi said: "Muslim women have the highest status in Islam and no other religion has such concept of equality." Giving examples of property rights of women in Islam and right to education he said: "There is a perception that women are suppressed. The government must think that the laws are sacred within a community as they are seen with liberal interpretations now." "We all (Muslims) should also unite together and not give anyone a chance to interfere with our religious laws," Quraishi said. Speaking at a function on the 96th foundation day of Jamia Milia Islamia, Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmad said there is a need to focus on education of minority communities in the country, especially the Muslims, for them to progress in society. "The community will progress only when everyone receives education." "Given the circumstances, we do not have to let any community remain backward in any aspect," he added. University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Ved Prakash said the country needs to place its education system right. "We need to sit together and interpret in terms of curricular and ensure diversity there in," Prakash said. The function was held to inaugurate a "Talimi Mela" (educational fair) in the campus. Various other programmes, including Art and photography exhibitions, lectures by academicians, film screenings and cultural shows were also held at the campus in the ongoing three-day celebrations. Srinagar: An army jawan, posted at the Srinagar headquarter of the force, allegedly committed suicide on Thursday by shooting himself with his service rifle, police said. Sepoy Sukhandar Singh of 7RR, who was on duty at the KM Gate, Gupkar Road of Badamibagh Cantonment, which houses the Chinar Corps, shot himself with his service rifle this evening, a police official said, adding he died on the spot. After completing all the legal formalities, the body has been handed over to his concerned unit, the official said, adding a case has been registered. Jammu: A BSF jawan was on Thursday killed while six civilians were injured in mortar shelling and heavy firing by Pakistani troops in RS Pura and Arnia Sectors along the International Border in Jammu district. The shelling along with firing exchanges between Indian and Pakistani troops started late Wednesday night, police added. "There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BoPs and villages along IB in RS Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till this morning", a police officer said. "The jawan, a head constable, received splinter injuries in the ceasefire violation and succumbed to his injuries," a senior BSF official said. The jawan identified as Jitendra Kumar was a native of Motihari district in Bihar. Pakistani troops pounded over 20 civilian hamlets along IB in Arnia and RS Pura in Jammu district overnight, he said. Over 15 Border Out Posts were also targeted. In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in RS Pura this morning, he said, adding the injured have been evacuated to a hospital for treatment. Pakistani posts started firing heavy mortars towards the Indian side at 2035 hours, a BSF officer said. "Heavy mortar shells were fired towards Arnia last night", Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said. Loud explosions could still be heard in these areas. Yesterday, an officer of the Border Security Force was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him during in RS Pura sector along the International Border in Jammu. As many as 16 people, mostly women, have been injured in the cross-border firing in the RS Pura sector in the past two days. Assistant Sub Inspector of BSF AK Upadhyay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He received splinter injuries in his hand yesterday. Eight civilians were injured in shelling in RS Pura and Arnia on October 25. Singh said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border. People have been migrating to safer locations. "In the wake of the heavy firing, border residents are migrating to safer locations. Whenever there is a lull, they leave their houses to shift to either safe camps or to their relatives' houses at safer locations", Singh said. A six-year-old boy and a BSF jawan were killed in the cross-border shelling in RS Pura sector on October 24. Over 55 ceasefire violations have taken place since the surgical strikes carried out by the Army on terror launch pads in PoK, in which four persons, including three security personnel, died and over 25 were injured. Srinagar: A primary school building and two vehicles were set ablaze by some persons in Kashmir in separate incidents of arson over the past 24 hours, police said here on Thursday. This was the 19th school building set on fire by unknown persons since the current unrest began in Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8. A police official said Government Primary School at Taaper in Pattan area of Baramulla district was set on fire by unknown persons late last night, a police official said. He said the three-room building was gutted in the fire. In another incident, miscreants set on fire an autorickshaw at Rainawari in the city for violating the strike call given by the separatists, who are spearheading the agitation. The autorickshaw was destroyed in the fire, the official said. Unconfirmed reports said a truck was set ablaze at Parimpora on the outskirts of the city this morning. However, police denied any such incident having taken place. Baramulla: Two Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla on Thursday. They were nabbed in a joint search operation by 46 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group. An AK-47, a pistol with ammunition, Under Barrel Grenade Launcher and UBGL grenades were recovered from them, as per ANI. Meanwhile, BSF today said that it had killed a Pakistani paramilitary jawan and wounded another after a BSF jawan died and six civilians were injured in shelling and firing from across the International Border in RS Pura and Arnia sectors since last night. Pakistani troops also violated ceasefire along LoC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district today. "At 1230 and 1315 hours today, BSF troops in Arnia and RS Pura sectors killed one Pakistani Ranger and seriously injured another in the retaliatory firing," a senior BSF officer said. Pakistani Rangers somehow managed to evacuate their grievously injured colleague in the vehicle amidst exchange of fire, officer said. "Pakistani has resorted to very heavy firing which is being responded in a befitting manner," he said, as per PTI. Earlier, a BSF jawan died and six civilians were injured when Pakistani troops shelled over 15 Indian border outposts and 29 hamlets with mortar bombs and fired heavily from automatic weapons overnight in R S Pura and Arnia sectors along the International Border (IB) in Jammy district. "One BSF jawan was injured when he was hit by a bullet in RS Pura sector of Jammu district during the night," the BSF officer said. He died on his way to hospital. "There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BoPs and villages along IB in RS Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till this morning," a police officer said. In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in RS Pura this morning, he said, adding the injured have been taken to hospital for treatment. Pakistani Rangers started firing heavy mortars and small arm fire towards the Indian side from 2035 hours last night, the BSF officer said. Pakistan troops also violated ceasefire on the LoC by resorting to firing in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district. "Pakistan troops have violated ceasefire and resorted to firing along LoC in Sunderbani sector today," a senior Army officer said. Troops guarding the border retaliated, he added. Yesterday, an Assistant Sub-Inspector of BSF was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him during overnight ceasefire violation in RS Pura sector along the International Border in Jammu. As many as 16 people mostly women have been injured in the cross-border firing in the RS Pura sector in past two days. 8 civilians were injured shelling in R S Pura and Arnia on October 25. Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International Border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border. Border residents are migrating to safer locations in the wake of the heavy firing, Singh said. A six-year-old boy and a BSF Jawan were killed in the cross border shelling in the RS Pura sector on October 24. Over 55 ceasefire violations have taken place since surgical strikes by Indian Army against terror launch pads in PoK on September 29. (With Agency inputs) Panaji: The Goa Police's Crime Branch on Thursday filed a supplementary charge-sheet against former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1.2 crore from Louis Berger India officials for securing contracts for a water and sewerage augmentation project funded by the Japan International Co-Operation Agency (JICA). Heading a Congress-led coalition government, Kamat, along with then state PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and other government officials have been accused of allegedly accepting a $976,630 bribe in 2010 from officials of US-based consultancy firm. While Alemao has already been arrested last year and charge-sheeted subsequently before a special court, Kamat has managed to evade arrest. However his anticipatory bail has been challenged by the Crime Branch in the apex court. Top officials linked to the JICA project as well as senior Louis Berger employees have been arrested by the Crime Branch. Kamat has been charged for sections relating to criminal conspiracy and tampering with evidence of the Indian Penal Code and other sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He is also being probed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the scam. The FIR was first filed after Louis Berger headquarters in the US, discovered during its internal audit that bribes had been paid to elected representatives and government officials in Goa for securing of contracts in the Rs 1,031 crore project. Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday held preliminary talks with Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray over phone about alliance for the upcoming elections to 10 municipal corporations including those in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane. State BJP chief Raosaheb Danve was also kept in the loop about the conversation, a senior Sena leader said. The talks come amid constant bickering between the two ruling alliance partners. Shiv Sena had set itself 'Mission 115' (target of winning 115 seats out of total 227) for 2017 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the leader said. A Mumbai BJP office-bearer said BJP has no problem if Sena has set itself a target of winning 115 seats. "All we want is Sena allows us to contest 100-odd seats as we will need some seats to accommodate our Maha Aghadi (grand alliance) partners," the BJP leader said. Sena source claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led party will retain its position as the single largest party after the civic polls in Mumbai. "BJP might come a distant second and we have reasons to believe that the third largest party will be the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Musalmeen (AIMIM) with Congress nowhere in the picture," the Sena leader said. He dismissed the prospects of Raj Thackeray-led MNS, saying it will be lucky to win even eight to nine seats. Meanwhile, another Sena leader said further alliance talks will happen only after Diwali and the final decision will be taken by Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray. Mumbai: CBI on Thursday examined three Mumbai Police officials, including former city police chief Rakesh Maria, in connection with Sheena Bora murder case. Besides Maria, the CBI also questioned Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) and Satya Narayan Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-X). CBI officials said that the three officers were 'examined' as they were part of the initial probe team which investigated the case and arrested Indrani Mukerjea. The spotlight had fallen on Maria and his crack team after CBI arrested media baron Peter Mukerjea last year. There were allegations that Maria, who was then the police commissioner, had not probed the property angle in the case and not quizzed Mukerjea. Maria, a 1981-batch IPS officer was removed as Mumbai police Commissioner and replaced by Ahmed Javed, a 1980-batch IPS officer. Maria was alleged to have taken 'unusual interest' in the Sheena Bora case and frequently visited Khar police station for questioning the accused including Indrani Mukerjea, the wife of Peter. As various theories floated about the reasons for Maria's transfer, the Maharashtra Home Department had said the changes were made taking into account the law and order factor ahead of the Ganapati festival, dismissing suggestions that had anything to do with the ongoing investigation in the case. However, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh, now a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, had told TV channels that one of the reasons for shifting Maria could be that he was close to Peter Mukerjea. Former Mumbai police commissioner Julio Ribeiro had said Maria was 'people friendly' but added that investigating a murder case is not the job of a police Commissioner. Earlier on October 21, CBI had filed its second supplementary chargesheet in the 2012 murder case in a special court and had stated that Sheena's mother and prime accused Indrani had kept her husband Peter Mukerjea updated on phone over the selection of spot for disposal of the body. The nearly 200-page chargesheet was filed before the court of special CBI judge HS Mahajan. As per the chargesheet, prime accused Indrani and her husband and former media baron Peter were against the 'intimate relationship' between Sheena, Indrani's daughter from earlier relationship, and Rahul, Peter's son from his first wife. Peter often used to quarrel with Rahul on the issue as he didn't approve of the relationship between Sheena and his son. As per the chargesheet, Peter always dissuaded his daughter Vidhi from having any contact with Rahul and Sheena. The chargesheet had also stated that a month after Sheena's death, Peter wrote an email to Rahul, which read, "Initially, I was okay with your relationship (with Sheena), as I figured that due to economic pressures it would break anyway as Sheena would want more from life and that she would tell you this and leave you if she didn't get it after a while," as per PTI. Sheena (24) was strangled in a car here in April 2012 allegedly by her mother Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyamvar Rai. Sheena's body was then dumped in a forest in neighbouring Raigad district. In its charge sheet filed on November 19 last year, the CBI had named Indrani, Khanna and Rai as accused in the case. The trio were arrested in August last year after the latter spilled the beans while he was being interrogated in a case pertaining to illegal possession of arms. He later turned approver in the case. The CBI had filed a chargesheet against Peter on February 16 for his alleged role in the murder plot. He was arrested on November 19 last year. According to investigators, Sheena's relationship with Rahul was the possible motive behind her murder apart from certain financial dealings. (With Agency inputs) Puducherry: Government staff here have been warned of disciplinary action if they meet senior officials at their residences with gifts during Diwali. A circular issued by Under Secretary to Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms M Kannan said it had been seen that government staff used to meet their senior officers at their homes during the festival occasion as a matter of courtesy. It said no government staff should meet the officers at their residences with gifts during celebration of Diwali and that any deviation of the instructions, would attract disciplinary action All Heads of Departments were asked to bring this to the notice of their subordinates. Guwahati: Claiming that Kalikho Pul, who allegedly committed suicide, left "explosive secret notes", Arunachal Pradesh ex-Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa has sought a CBI inquiry into the former chief minister's death. "Many eminent people have informed me that Pul has left behind explosive secret notes that can shake Indian politics," Rajkhowa was quoted as saying by the PTI. Pul's body was found hanging at his Itanagar chief minister's bungalow on August 9. Asked if he had seen the notes, Rajkhowa, who had demitted office last month, said, "I am not privy to the notes. I have been apprised of some of the things written there, but I wouldn't like to reveal them at this point of time." "No question of me as the Governor then interfering in the administration and calling for the notes," Rajkhowa said. "Many people have seen the notes. Pul's family read them. The contents have been mentioned in the social media, in the local news papers of Arunachal Pradesh and many renowned people have told me about the contents," he said. "That is why I had written to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to ask for an independent CBI inquiry. Khandu was very positive. But after I gave up my Governor's post, there is no response to that," he pointed out. "A CBI enquiry can of course be ordered by the Prime Minister or Home Minister," Rajkhowa said, adding that Pul was a five-time legislator and a very popular leader and he fought against corruption. Pul died under mysterious circumstances. "It was unthinkable that the investigation was handed over to a sub-inspector of police and not to the CBI," the former Governor regretted. "Only a court has to decide whether he committed suicide and not the police," Rajkhowa said, adding "I have been informed that IGP N Payeng, now investigating the case, has said the notes were sealed and handed over to a magistrate. I don't know whether to a judicial or executive magistrate," he said. He pointed out that Kalikho Pul's caretaker also had committed suicide two moths later in the same building. Pul had led a group of dissident Congress legislators against then chief minister Nabam Tuki before taking over the reins of the state on February 19. He had to give up his Chief Minister's post in July following the Supreme Court's reinstating the government of Nabam Tuki who made way for Pema Khandu as the 10th Chief Minister of the state. With PTI inputs Chandigarh: At least 12 dreaded terrorists belonging to the 'Babbar Khalsa' militant outfit have managed to enter Punjab to carry out terror attacks in the northern parts of India, intelligence agencies have warned on Thursday. According to News18, a high alert has been sounded and the Punjab Police have stepped up vigil in and around vital installations across the . The warning came following the interrogation of suspected terrorist Kamaldeep Singh, who was arrested on October 23 from Punjab. Kamaldeep, a resident of Kashmir, had revealed that 12 highly trained Babbar Khalsa terrorists have slipped into the Indian side for terror activities. He also claimed that all of them were trained in Pakistan and are heavily armed. Sources in the police department said that the terrorists entered to disrupt the poll related activities in the state. Meanwhile, the Punjab Director General of Police had an urgent meeting with the senior police officials and asked them to launch massive search operations in the state and bordering area. With Inputs from agencies Chennai: The Madras Bar Association has suggested setting a time frame for every stage of selection of judges, saying the process should be started at high courts at least nine months in advance of the expected vacancy caused by retirement. The names should be recommended seven months in advance, it said. Stated its views in a memorandum to be submitted by two senior lawyers who would appear on its behalf before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personal, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, New Delhi on November 2. It submitted the memorandum while referring to the 'inordinate delay' in filling up vacancies in high courts and the Supreme Court. It said vacancies should be earmarked respectively for the Bar and Service, taking into consideration the existing strength of judges representing the Bar and Service, so that the proportion of 3:1 from the Bar and Service is maintained. Any fraction of percentage should be counted in favour of service, lest eligible district judges may either retire or may not have a two-year minimum service as high court judge. The association suggested that the practice of returning the list of judges under consideration due to change of Chief Minister or Chief Justice should be discontinued. It also suggested that if an acting CJ holds office for 60 days and more, he should be permitted to commence the selection process and make recommendations of names for appointment as high court judges. Steps should be taken to cut off delay in appointment of judges for high courts and the Supreme Court. For this purpose, the Constitution should be amended by fixing a time limit to fill vacancy of judges, the association said. In this regard, the memorandum pointed out that in the case of the President, Article 62(1) says election to fill the vacancy caused by expiration of the term of office of the President shall be completed before expiration of the term. A similar time limit is in place for the Vice President, state legislatures and the local bodies. It noted that Chief Justices of high courts are always from other states, as a policy. Due to their transfers on some occasions, other judges in the Collegium too sometimes are from outside the state. In such a scenario, judges constituting the Collegium do not have clear personal knowledge of members of the Bar for being considered for elevation. So it was desirable if the second and third seniormost judges of a High Court Collegium are from outside the state, two senior most judges from the state are elevated from the Bar and subordinate judiciary be co-opted on the HC Collegium. Greater Noida: Two sharp shooters of Dujana gang who had kidnapped and killed a doctor in Hapur were arrested, police said today. Detailed interrogation of Kidhore Meerut resident Vikrant Gurjar alias Jony and Bisrakh resident Mohit Gurjar alias Chanpal revealed they had kidnapped the doctor D S Verma on October 13 and later shot him dead and threw his body in a river. "Last night, on a tip-off, two Dujana gang sharp shooters were arrested. On October 13, they had kidnapped Dr D S Verma from his farm house in Ghar area. They then took him to Mistripur village and shot him dead. They had taken contract money of Rs 20 lakh to kill the doctor," Bisrakh Kotwali in-charge Rashid Ali said. Land dispute was the cause of murder of doctor, he said. Jony and Chanpal are also involved in several cases of loot and murder, he added. Lucknow: BSP supremo Mayawati on Thursday sought an apology from BJP president Amit Shah for promising "Kalyan Singh-type" good governance in Uttar Pradesh, reminding the people that the former chief minister was dismissed for "poor law and order and contempt of court in 1992". "Amit Shah has humiliated 22 crore people of the state by promising a government similar to the one led by Kalyan Singh, who was dismissed for poor law and order and contempt of court...He needs to apologise for it," she said in a statement hours after Shah's remarks at a rally in Etawah. "Actually, the BJP has no example of good governance and its promise of a Kalyan Singh-type of government only exposes this fact...The BJP president should know that Kalyan Singh was dismissed in 1992 and President's Rule was imposed in the state," Mayawati recalled. The Bahujan Samaj Party chief said the situation in the state was not similar to the one prevailing in 2014 and claimed that the people were now "seeing the truth in the claims being made by the BJP". "Their claims about the security situation at the border is also wrong as firing is taking place on a daily basis there," she said. Mayawati also flayed Shah for "wrong publicity" on crime control and law and order during her party's rule in the state, claiming that "strict and prompt action" was taken in all cases which had often "surprised" her political opponents. Describing as "mischievous" Shah's allegations holding the BSP as much responsible for corruption during the UPA government, she said her party was never a part of the government but had only given outside support to "keep the communal forces at bay". "People have punished the UPA for its corruption and shortcomings, but the Modi government should also remain prepared for their 'burey din' (bad days) as their works and decisions have also been anti-people like that of the Congress," she alleged. Holding the BJP-led Central government responsible for the "bad state of affairs" in Uttar Pradesh, she asked what concrete steps were taken by it in the last two years and referred to the "exodus" of the youth to the other states for employment. "The situation was very different during the BSP rule when people from other states were coming here for employment...Amit Shah needs to check his facts before making any comment on the BSP," said Mayawati. Meanwhile, a minister in the Samajwadi Party (SP) government in the state described Shah's comments as "childish", claiming that after the setting up of Niti Ayog, Uttar Pradesh had lost Rs 9,000 crore of central grants. "The Centre is meting out stepmotherly treatment to Uttar Pradesh. Shah and the Prime Minister should tell what has the Centre done for the state which gave 73 MPs to the BJP (including two of the Apna Dal)," said Rajendra Chowdhury. "The Gujarat model, which the BJP used to publicise, has failed and the party is losing that state. Farmers there are in a miserable condition," he claimed, adding that "despite conspiracies against the SP government, the BJP would not succeed in the state". New Delhi: Congress, which is keeping a close watch on fast-paced events related to the Samajwadi Party, is inclined to forge an electoral alliance with the breakaway faction led by young UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in case of split in the regional party. Sources close to the Congress party said on Thursday that its vice president Rahul Gandhi, who shares a good rapport with Akhilesh, is positive about out an alliance with the latter in case there is a split in the Samajwadi Party. "It is an evolving situation in the Samajwadi Party. First, let the things settle down within that party. Then we'll come to it. Suppose there is a split, it is then a new situation," said the Congress source who indicated an alliance with any breakaway faction. Another Congress leader, however, dubbed the SP happenings an "orchestrated drama" for which he held the Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav responsible. "The whole drama has been produced, directed and acted by Mulayam Singh Yadav," said the leader. In view of the ongoing feud in the Samajwadi family, political observers feel that both Rahul and Akhilesh, who are seen as young Turks, have are intolerant and have much less reverence for the old guard, which relies on traditional support from muscle and money. Amid the bitter power struggle in Utar Pradesh's first family, a new axis - Rahul Gandhi joining hands with Akhilesh - appears to be emerging in the SP-ruled state. Such an alignment, if it becomes a reality, will throw a serious challenge to any aspirant of UP throne in the upcoming 2017 polls. An indication to this possibility came when hours after the scuffle between uncle Shivpal and nephew Akhilesh, a high-level meeting of top Congress leaders was presided over by none other than Priyanka Gandhi. During the meeting, the Congress leaders have repotedly agreed to lend support to Akhilesh in the event of a split in the SP and the subsequent floor test in state Assembly. Importantly, the party's CM face Sheila Dixit and state president Raj Babbar were also present in the meeting. Though, Congress officially denies such a possibility, there are intense speculations of the two sides coming together in the event of a split in the SP. While Rahul had become infamous in his party owing to this attitude, Akhilesh is the new entrant to the club who has finally chosen to come out from under the wings of his father. "Akhilesh wants to recast the party in a modern image as he is convinced that politics has changed and the party too must accordingly. But, this means shunning the old ragged ways of politics represented by Shivpal. The other camp is not ready to relinquish its power in turn," said a SP MLC who requested anonymity. The tables could be turned in the event of a Rahul-Akhilesh combination becoming a reality. The Congress, said observers, had always been in the good books of the Muslim community but due to their inability to defeat the BJP could not turn the goodwill into votes. A large chunk of the Muslim votebank could be attracted if Akhilesh forms a front with the Congress. Such a possible scenario, nonetheless, will see a tripartite division of the minority votes in UP giving the BJP a succour. Hitherto, the BJP has been wary of the 'Mahabharata' in SP as Muslims would gravitate towards the BSP giving it a formidable Dalit-Muslim combination. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday afternoon met Governor Ram Naik at the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow. Earlier, Akhilesh met party legislators, members of the Legislative Council and other leaders, including those expelled from the party. United Nations: Air strikes that hit a school in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province killed 22 children and six teachers, the UN children's agency UNICEF has said. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," UNICEF director Anthony Lake said yesterday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "warplanes -- either Russia or Syrian -- carried out six strikes" in the village of Hass, including on a school complex, killing 11 schoolchildren. Lake said the school compound was "repeatedly attacked," adding that it may be the deadliest attack on a school since the war began more than five years ago. A photograph circulated on social media showed a child's arm, seared off above the elbow, still clutching the strap of a dusty black rucksack. "When will the world's revulsion at such barbarity be matched by insistence that this must stop?" added the UNICEF director. Asked about the attack, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin responded: "It's horrible, horrible. I hope we were not involved." "It's easy for me to say 'no' but I'm a responsible person. I need to see what our minister of defense is going to say," he told reporters. Syrian government forces and their Russian ally have been accused by Western powers and rights groups of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure. More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria and over half of the country's population displaced since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. London: The Greek government said Thursday it would make a fresh push to reform the private TV sector, after a top court blocked its previous attempt in a major blow to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. On Wednesday, 14 of the State Council`s 24 judges said an October 2015 law limiting the number of private TV broadcasting licences to four -- half the current number operating -- was unconstitutional and should be overturned. "The prime minister has asked that a new draft law be ready by Monday so it can be put before parliament," government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili said Thursday. Last month, in the face of protests from the opposition and excluded broadcasters, the government auctioned off the four licences for a total of 246 million euros ($268 million). In its majority ruling on Wednesday, the administrative court said Greece`s independent broadcasting watchdog, not parliament, should have spearheaded the reforms. This was a major blow to the far-left Syriza government, which had announced the reforms to great fanfare, saying they would clean up a sector that has been dominated by powerful oligarchs and dogged by murky financing for a quarter of a century. "This is a binding but unjust decision," state minister Nikos Pappas, architect of the reform, told public TV Ert 1. Gerovassili said the ruling would "deprive the state budget of necessary funds, which society needs, and which will be returned to four wealthy businessmen", referring to the owners of channels that were auctioned off. "This decision takes the country back to a previous (media) regime that was also judged anti-constitutional," she said. "We will not allow this to happen."The opposition conservative New Democracy party hailed the verdict, saying "undemocratic machinations" have not succeeded and calling for early elections. "Very soon, certainly next week, we will put forward a counter-proposal to resolve this complex situation," the party`s leader, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, told reporters. "We would like to talk (to the government) but from what we hear, this is not the direction they are taking, because they want to come back again with another strange, unconstitutional proposal," he said. "The government must swallow its pride," he said. The government has insisted that Greece`s media and advertising market, depleted by the country`s six-year debt crisis, is limited and only viable TV stations should be allowed to continue broadcasting. Authorities have said they want to clean up an industry known for workforce exploitation and rumoured under-the-table deals between media moguls, bankers and influential politicians, while bringing an end to decades of chaotic licensing. Government officials noted that ever since private TV broadcasts began in Greece, channels have been allowed to operate on provisional licences renewed 15 times since 1995. But critics said the overhaul was merely a ploy by Tsipras to replace established TV barons -- who have opposed his Syriza party in the past -- with others more to his liking. Washington: Former president Bill Clinton took in more than 50 million dollars from "for profit" activities over the years as he led the Clinton family foundation, a close aide said in a hacked memo released by WikiLeaks. The aide, Douglas Band, detailed his own moneymaking efforts both on behalf of Bill Clinton personally and on that of the foundation, in a 2011 memo sent in response to complaints by the Clintons' daughter Chelsea. The latest disclosures have added to a drip-drip of WikiLeaks revelations plaguing Hillary Clinton in the final stretch of her run for the White House as the Democratic nominee. They come from a trove of email stolen from the account of John Podesta, who played a leading role in the foundation before becoming Clinton's campaign chairman. Podesta has refused to authenticate the emails, which US intelligence believes were stolen by Russian hackers to disrupt the US elections. But neither he nor the Clinton campaign has challenged their authenticity. They show the foundation had become a source of tension between aides to Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea, who accused them of taking "significant sums of money from my parents personally" and hustling clients for their own business at foundation events. In the memo, Band defends his use of his private consultancy Teneo to raise funds for the foundation, saying it brought in large corporate donations from Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, and Swiss bank UBS among others. "Independent of our fundraising and decision-making activities on behalf of the Foundation, we have dedicated ourselves to helping the President secure and engage in for-profit activities -- including speeches, books, and advisory service engagements," said. "In support of the President's for-profit activity, we also have solicited and obtained, as appropriate, in-kind services for the President and his family -- for personal travel, hospitality, vacation and the like." He said he had received no fees or percentages of "the more than USD 50 million in for-profit activity we have personally helped to secure for President Clinton to date or the USD 66 dollars in future contracts, should he choose to continue with those engagements." Beijing: Speeding up its efforts to acquire a second aircraft carrier, China on Thursday said the process of the installation of equipment and facilities was on for the nation's first domestically-built carrier after completion of construction of its hull. China's first home-built aircraft carrier is in the development stage, with the hull having already been assembled in a shipyard, Wu Qian a spokesman of China's Ministry of Defence told a media briefing here. "The over all design is completed and the main body has taken a shape in the dock. Equipment and facility installation is going on," he said. The carrier is reportedly being built at Dalian shipyard. Recent reports in the Chinese media said as the construction of the second aircraft carrier picked up pace China has stepped up preparations for the deployment of its first aircraft carrier force by putting in place a new batch of carrier-based fighter pilots. China commissioned its first aircraft carrier Liaoning in 2012 which was a former Soviet ship brought from Ukraine and later refurbished locally. It is reportedly being used mainly for training of landing and take off for its pilots specially flying the newly-built J-15 aircraft to operate from the decks of the carriers. With plans to build two more carriers, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has built up its largest carrier-based pilot team after more than three years of intensive training, official media reports said in August. After an effective ground-based training, a new batch of pilots got the aircraft carrier flight certification. In order to earn the certification, these pilots successfully handled the carrier based J-15 fighter planes to carry out interrupted landings, and also managed ski-jump take-offs using the Liaoning carrier. One of the pilots was killed when practicing the carrier landing during training this April. Speculation is rife that China may deploy one of the aircraft carriers in the disputed South China Sea. Florida: Donald Trump pledged to pour millions of his own dollars into his presidential bid on Wednesday, in defiance of the seemingly unstoppable momentum building behind Hillary Clinton. With less than two weeks before polling day, and with early voting underway in several states, the Democratic nominee remains comfortably on course to become America`s first female president. And Wednesday`s headlines told a telling tale of two buildings: Clinton revealed where she will hold her likely victory party and Trump unveiled an alternative Washington address -- just in case the White House eludes him. The latest rolling poll average compiled by tracker RealClearPolitics showed Clinton extending her national lead in a four-way race against Trump and two outsiders to 5.9 percentage points -- pointing to a clear electoral college victory. But the former secretary of state`s rival, a 70-year-old Manhattan real estate mogul, took heart from a separate new survey that shows him with a two-point lead in early-voting Florida, a state where races are often won and lost. "We are going to have, I think, a tremendous victory," Trump told CNN. Pressed on whether he`ll open his own wallet to match an onslaught of Clinton ads, Trump said he will have spent $100 million of his own money by election day, a sum which would imply him digging much deeper than he has so far. Trump was to speak in the swing state of North Carolina later Wednesday, but first he set aside precious time for the grand opening of his new hotel in Washington, the Trump International. Hundreds of journalists covered the grandiose re-opening of the former post office, a stone`s throw from the White House, but many mocked Trump for focusing on his business so close to polling. Clinton`s camp, meanwhile, announced that she would await the results on November 8 at the vast Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, which has a literal "glass ceiling" to match the metaphorical barrier she plans to shatter on behalf of women.Underlining her confident determination, Clinton marked her 69th birthday campaigning in Florida, speaking to a capacity crowd in Lake Worth before flying to Tampa on the Gulf Coast. A Bloomberg poll out Wednesday put Trump 45 to 43 percent among likely voters in Florida, a close margin in what is simply a must-win state for him. The RealClearPolitics poll average still puts Clinton ahead in the state by 1.5 percentage points. But Bloomberg`s survey shows Trump doing somewhat better than Clinton with independents, who may hold the key to victory in a state that was famously deadlocked in 2000, when the Supreme Court decided the outcome, giving the win to George W. Bush. "We`re the ones with the momentum," Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said on CBS`s "This Morning" show. To a Hispanic audience on Miami-based Univision`s National Radio, Clinton trumpeted her promises to introduce comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship "as soon as I get there." President Barack Obama -- who will campaign for Clinton in Florida on Friday -- has said he wants an overwhelming Democratic victory in order to send the message that Americans reject Trump`s divisive rhetoric. Florida is the country`s third most populous state, and one with a wide mix of constituencies, including retirees, Hispanics and Bible Belt whites.North Carolina voted for Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012, but the conservative southern state has been leaning Democratic in the current White House race. Clinton holds a two percent lead there and the state`s Republican leaders worry that controversies that have dogged Trump throughout the campaign will hurt them in congressional races. North Carolina`s Republican Senator Richard Burr is in a tight re-election contest against Democrat Deborah Ross. A Burr loss could tip control of the US Senate to Democrats. Trump`s standing has been hit hard, particularly among female voters, since this month`s release of a 2005 video in which he boasts that his celebrity allows him to grope women with impunity. Since then, approximately a dozen women have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations -- charges he has angrily denied, but which appear to have hurt his poll numbers. New York: Donald Trump may have insulted Mexicans, Muslims and women but to woo Indian American voters he`s even dabbling in Hindi for Diwali. The bombastic New York businessman is seen uttering Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar-- adapting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s 2014 vote-winning catchphrase as his own -- in a presidential campaign ad released Thursday. "This time Trump government," translates the ad on the screen. Trump may speak in a thick US accent, but the 30-second ad is the Republican nominee`s latest attempt to win votes among Indian Americans ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights which falls on the weekend. The video opens with the message "Happy Diwali" and borrows from footage of Trump speaking at a Hindu gathering in New Jersey this month, lighting an oil lamp and promising close US-Indian relations. "The Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House," he says in the ad. "We love the Hindus, we love India," he adds, saying that he looks forward to working with Modi. The candidate`s daughter-in-law Lara Trump visited a Hindu temple this week in Virginia, the home state of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton`s running mate Tim Kaine which is expected to vote blue on November 8. Trump trails 5.4 points in the latest poll average compiled by tracker RealClearPolitics in a national race against Clinton and two outsiders -- pointing to a likely electoral college victory for the Democrat. There are an estimated four million Indian Americans living in the United States according to 2015 census figures. They are among the most educated ethnic groups and generally well off, according to the Pew Research Center. Only about half are Hindu and 65 percent are Democrat, or Democrat-leaning, the think tank found in a 2014 report. BRUSSELS: The European Parliament has awarded its Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought and expression to two women from Iraq`s Yazidi community who suffered attack and persecution by Islamic State, according to the Liberals group in the parliament. The women, Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, were among thousands of women and girls abducted and held as sexual slaves by Islamic State fighters, who rounded up the Yazidi community in their village in northern Iraq in summer 2014. Murad has also promoted recognition of the massacre of many Yazidis as genocide. The announcement of the annual prize was due to take place in the parliament at 1200 CET (1000 GMT), but the ALDE group of liberal lawmakers issued an email ahead of that time. Mosul: The Iraqi army was trying on Thursday to reach a town south of Mosul where Islamic State has reportedly executed dozens to deter the population against any attempt to support the U.S.-led offensive on the jihadists` last major city stronghold in Iraq. Eleven days into what is expected to be the biggest ground offensive in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, army and federal police units were fighting off sniper fire and suicide car bombs south of Hammam al-Alil, the site of the reported executions, an Iraqi military spokesman said. The militants shot dead dozens of prisoners there, most of them former members of the Iraqi police and army, taken from villages the group has been forced to abandon as the troops advanced, officials in the region said on Wednesday. The executions were meant "to terrorise the others, those who are in Mosul in particular", and also to get rid of the prisoners, said Abdul Rahman al-Waggaa, a member of the Nineveh provincial council. Some of the families of those executed are also held in Hammam al-Alil, he said. U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville on Tuesday said Islamic State fighters had reportedly killed scores of people around Mosul in the last week. A Reuters correspondent met relatives of hostages south of Mosul. One of them was a police officer who had returned to see the family that he had left behind when his village fell under the militants` control two years ago. "Im afraid they will keep pulling them back from village to village until they get to Mosul. And then they will disappear," he said, asking not be identified to protect family members still in the hands of the fighters. Reuters also spoke to a woman and an elderly man who were part of group of families forced to march two to three days to reach Mosul from the villages of Safiya and Ellezaga, about 30 km (nearly 20 miles) and 50 km (30 miles) to the south. Children and the elderly were released when they arrived in Mosul, on Tuesday, and told to stay with relatives, they said, speaking on the phone from one of the few places where there is still telephone coverage, on the city`s edges. A resident of Mosul, Rayyan, said he saw the families when they arrived in the city, "their bare feet bleeding and covered with dust as if coming from under the rubble." "We cried when we saw them," he said. Islamic State fighters are keeping up their fierce defence of the southern approaches to Mosul, which has held up Iraqi troops there and forced an elite army unit east of the city to put a more rapid advance on hold. The fall of Mosul would mark Islamic State`s effective defeat in Iraq. The city is many times bigger than any other that the ultra-hardline militant group has ever captured, and it was from its Grand Mosque in 2014 that the group`s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a "caliphate" that also spans parts of Syria. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday an attack on Raqqa, Islamic State`s main stronghold in Syria, would start while the battle of Mosul is still unfolding. It was the first official suggestion that U.S.-backed forces in both countries could mount simultaneous operations to crush the caliphate. The front lines east and north of Mosul have moved much closer to the edges of the city than the southern front and the combat ahead is likely to get more deadly as 1.5 million residents remain in the city. Worst-case U.N. forecasts see up to a million people being uprooted. U.N. aid agencies said the fighting had so far forced about 16,000 people to flee. "Assessments have recorded a significant number of female-headed households, raising concerns around the detention or capture of men and boys," the office of the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq said on Wednesday. The coordinator, Lise Grande, told Reuters on Tuesday that a mass exodus could happen, maybe within the next few days. It was also possible that Islamic State fighters could resort to "rudimentary chemical weapons" to hold back the impending assault, she said. The militants are suspected of setting on fire a sulphur plant south of Mosul last week, filling the air with toxic gasses that caused breathing problems for hundreds of civilians. A senior U.S. official said about 50,000 Iraqi ground troops are taking part in the offensive, including a core force of 30,000 from the governments armed forces, 10,000 Kurdish fighters and the remaining 10,000 from police and local volunteers. About 5,000 to 6,000 jihadists are dug in, according to Iraqi military estimates. Roughly 5,000 U.S. troops are also in Iraq. More than 100 of them are embedded with Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces advising commanders and helping coalition air power to hit targets. They are not deployed on front lines. The warring sides are not giving casualty figures in their own ranks or among civilians, each claiming to have killed hundreds of enemy fighters. The Iraqi army said it killed 772 insurgents since the start of the offensive on Oct. 17, and captured 23. About 100 towns, villages and hamlets were taken back, it added in a statement. Bogota: The Colombian government reiterated Thursday it would not hold peace talks with the ELN rebels until they release an ex-lawmaker they are holding hostage, just hours from the scheduled start of negotiations. Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo said the government was prepared to postpone the talks until it was "certain" that former congressman Odin Sanchez had been freed. Visso: Officials in central Italy began early on Thursday to assess the damage caused by a pair of strong earthquakes in the same region of central Italy hit by a deadly quake in August, as an appeal went out for temporary housing adequate for the cold mountain temperatures. Thousands of people spent the night in their cars following the pair of quakes that struck late in the evening, sending residents into the streets in pouring rain, too late for authorities to come up with adequate shelter. A series of small shocks overnight, including two registering magnitudes above 4 before dawn, further unsettled residents. A series of small shocks overnight, including two registering magnitudes above 4 before dawn, further unsettled residents. The morning after the quakes, there remained no reports of serious injuries or signs of people trapped in rubble. The head of Italy's civil protection agency, Fabrizio Curcio, said it appeared that the situation "is not as catastrophic" as it could have been. A 73-year-old man died of a heart attack, possibly brought on by the quakes, local authorities told the ANSA news agency. Mayors of towns scattered in the mountain region spanning the Umbria and Marche regions say many more homes were rendered uninhabitable, on top of those damaged in the August quake, while historic structures that survived previous quakes had succumbed this time. Camerino Mayor Gianluca Pasqui said the town's historic bell tower had collapsed, but emphasised that reconstruction work after a 6.1 quake in 1997 appeared to have contributed to the absence of serious injury. "I can say that the city didn't have victims. That means that even if there is a lot of damage probably the reconstruction in the historic center was done in a correct and adequate manner. Because otherwise, we would be speaking of something else," Pasqui told Sky TG24. The president of Umbria region, Catiuscia Marini, told RAI state television that officials are scrambling to come up with temporary housing, mindful that with winter approaching and temperatures dropping, tents can't be deployed as they were after the August quake. The concern for the predominantly elderly population of the remote mountain region was repeated by other officials. Marini said that after the quakes many people will be fearful of staying even in hotels deemed safe, and that solutions like campers were being considered. "We don't have injured, we have people who are very afraid, who have anxiety, especially the elderly," she said. In Visso, Mayor Giuliano Passaglini said he was only able to provide shelter for a couple hundred residents overnight, and most people spent the night in their cars. About 800 people were without shelter in Visso. Firefighters were helping residents to retrieve objects from their homes in the red zone. Most were intact, showing only cracks. The first quake struck at 7:10 pm and carried a magnitude of 5.4. But the second one a little more than two hours later was eight times stronger at 6.1, according to the US Geological Survey. Officials said the fact that people had already left their homes when the second quake hit probably saved lives. Toronto: A bill to proclaim October as Hindu Heritage Month annually in Canada`s Ontario province has been introduced in the provincial assembly here. Ontario is home to more than 700,000 Indo-Canadians. Introducing the bill in the Ontario assembly here, Joe Dickson, who is a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP), said that by proclaiming the month of October as Hindu Heritage Month, Ontario will recognise the "important contributions that Hindu Canadians have made to Ontario`s social, economic, religious, political and cultural fabric." Dickson said the first Hindu immigrants began to arrive in Canada at the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, they have made big contribution in all fields - science, education, medicine, law, politics, business, culture and sports. "Right from the start, Ontario`s Hindu communities helped build our province into the greatest place to live, work and raise families. We`re all proud of the achievements of the Hindu community and how they have helped each other and enriched our province," the MPP said. Dickson said October held a special significance for Hindus. "Each year, three important festivals that members of the Hindu community celebrate occur in and around October. These festivals include Navratri and Durga Puja, which were celebrated earlier this month, and Diwali, the festival of lights, which will begin next week." He said if his bill is passed, the "Hindu Heritage Month would give all Ontarians an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Hindu Canadians and the important role that they have played to date and continue to play in communities across Ontario." Interestingly, the Ontario assembly has just passed another bill to proclaim October also as Islamic Heritage Month. April has already been proclaimed as Sikh Heritage Month in Ontario. In a bigger victory for Tamils, January has been proclaimed as Tamil Heritage Month across Canada. The Canadian parliament passed a motion in this regard earlier this month. There are over 1.2 million Indo-Canadians living in the country. Moscow: A news agency affiliated to the Islamic State group said today that one of the suspects in a weekend explosion in Russia that injured police was a member of the jihadist outfit. The Amaq news agency released a video saying that "one of those who carried out the attack on the military base in Nizhny Novgorod", a city around 400 kilometres east of Moscow, belonged to IS. The video referred to an explosion that reportedly injured two officers from the special police during an security operation on Sunday. An unnamed source told TASS news agency that law enforcement officers had stopped a car that contained explosives and shot dead two of its occupants who resisted arrest. A third suspect was detained alive, according to reports. The operation reportedly took place in a residential area of Nizhny Novgorod, an industrial city of more than one million people on the banks of the Volga River. The local branch of the FSB security service said Monday that it was investigating the incident and that it had opened a criminal case. Russia's NTV television quoted a source as saying the suspects were IS members who had come to Nizhny Novgorod to prepare a terror attack and were renting a flat in one of its suburbs. Such special security operations are frequent in Russia's volatile North Caucasus against Islamist insurgents but are rare in the central region. In March, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed a policeman in Russia's restive Dagestan region. And last year the group claimed responsibility for a shooting at an ancient citadel in Dagestan that killed one and injured 11. Beirut: Moscow on Thursday denied any involvement in bloody air strikes on a Syrian school as its relations with the West took another hit and the EU slapped more sanctions on its ally Damascus. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon demanded an immediate probe into Wednesday's attack on the school in rebel-held Idlib province that he said "may amount to a war crime". The tensions mounted a day after the United States and Britain said they expected an assault to drive the Islamic State jihadist group out of Raqa, its de facto capital in Syria, within the next few weeks. Syria's conflict broke out in March 2011 with peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government but has evolved into a complex war involving regional and international powers. One complication has been the involvement of Turkey, whose President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced today that his country's military operation supporting opposition fighters in Syria will also target Raqa. Russia, whose military intervened in Syria in September last year, denied having played any role in air strikes on the school that the UN children's agency UNICEF said killed 22 students and six teachers. "The Russian Federation has nothing to do with this terrible tragedy, with this attack," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, adding that Moscow demanded an immediate investigation. Zakharova said claims that Russian and Syrian warplanes had conducted the deadly air strikes in Idlib on Wednesday were "a lie". According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, "warplanes - either Russian or Syrian - had carried out six strikes" in the Idlib provincial village of Hass, including on a school complex. On a nearby front, Russia's defence ministry said today that Syrian and Russian warplanes had not bombed Aleppo in the past nine days. A ceasefire meant to allow civilians and armed combatants to leave rebel-held eastern Aleppo ended at the weekend, with Moscow on Monday ruling out an extension of the unilateral measure for the time being. Idlib province is controlled by the Army of Conquest, an alliance of rebel groups and jihadists including the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after breaking off ties with Al-Qaeda earlier this year. Syrian and Russian warplanes regularly bomb Idlib, but air strikes have intensified in recent weeks, according to the Observatory. Children were reportedly caught in the crossfire again on Thursday, with Syrian state media saying at six were killed and 15 wounded in rebel rocket attacks on the government-held west of Aleppo city. The rocket fire in Aleppo hit two neighbourhoods in the west of the divided northern city, with one of the attacks striking a school, said the SANA state news agency. United Nations: Russia angrily accused the United Nations' aid chief of bias and arrogance after he told the Security Council that Aleppo had become a "kill zone" under Russian and Syrian bombs. The accusations in turn drew sharp responses from the United States, Britain and France in one of the stormiest council sessions on Syria in weeks. Russia is facing pressure at the United Nations to rein in its Syrian ally and halt the air strikes in rebel-held east Aleppo, where 250,000 civilians have been living under siege since July. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien yesterday said he was "incandescent with rage" over the council's failure to take action, deploring that "nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering." With food growing scarce, "civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow," said O'Brien. "Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone." Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin shot back, accusing O'Brien of making "arrogant remarks" and failing to recognize that Russia had declared a humanitarian pause that he maintained had been holding for eight days. "If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church," Churkin quipped. The ambassador blamed opposition rebels and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists for the failure at the weekend of a UN plan to evacuate the wounded from Aleppo and charged that the UN official was not objectively presenting the facts. "Please leave this kind of report to a novel that you might write one day," said Churkin. The pause declared by Damascus and Moscow ran out at 1600 GMT on Saturday, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported there were air strikes afterwards against an opposition-controlled district in Aleppo. Yesterday, air strikes hit a school in rebel-held Idlib province, killing at least 35 civilians including many children, according to the observatory. US Ambassador Samantha Power took the floor to criticize Russia, saying it had never worked cooperatively with the United Nations during the pauses to ensure humanitarian relief. "You don't get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week," said Power. The US ambassador insisted the goal of the Russian and Syrian bombing campaign was to "make civilians relent and cry uncle" and again challenged Moscow's argument that it is fighting terrorists. United Nations: Russia has dismissed as "unconvincing" the findings of a UN-led investigation showing that Syrian forces had carried out three chemical attacks and said no sanctions should be imposed. "We believe that the proof is not there for any punitive action to be taken. It's simply not there," Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters following a closed-door Security Council meeting yesterday. The joint United Nations-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel has concluded that government forces carried out three chemical attacks on villages in 2014 and 2015. It was the first time an international probe pointed the finger of blame at President Bashar al-Assad's forces after years of denial from Damascus. But Churkin told the council that the findings were not strong enough to trigger sanctions. The ambassador said the conclusions "in most cases... Are not substantiated by sufficient testimonial basis, first of all material proof, they are full of contradictions and therefore unconvincing," according of a text of his remarks. Churkin said the conclusions were "not definitive, have no legally binding force and cannot serve as accusatory conclusions for taking legal decisions." But Britain and France have demanded sanctions. "Those responsible for using chemical weapons must be sanctioned. There is no other way," French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters. "There should be accountability for every single person involved in any use of chemical weapons in Syria or indeed anywhere else," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters ahead of the meeting. The latest report by the panel sent to the Security Council last Friday said government helicopters flew from two government controlled air bases to drop chlorine barrel-bombs on the villages of Qmenas, Talmenes and Sarmin, in rebel-held Idlib province. Previous reports from the OPCW had concluded that toxic gases have been used as weapons in Syria's five-year war, but stopped short of identifying the perpetrators. The report identified the 253 and 255 squadrons of the 63rd helicopter brigade, which flew from the Hama and Humaymim air bases, and the 628 squadron based in Humaymim as the perpetrators. The UN-OPCW panel also found that the Islamic State group used mustard gas as a weapon in August 2015. Caracas: Thousands of people took to streets here demanding a referendum against President Nicolas Maduro and to show support for the opposition leaders, media reports said. Dressed in white and waving banners and signs demanding Maduro`s resignation, they gathered at seven points across the city to march through the streets, converging in the east of the capital, the Telegraph reported. Protestors also blocked the main Francisco Fajardo highway, for the first time in many years chanting slogans against the President. "We are absolutely convinced of the need for change - peaceful, but profound change in the government," said Jesus Torrealba, a leader of the opposition. The protests come a day after Venezuela`s National Assembly voted to start legal proceedings to remove Maduro from power after his government indefinitely suspended an attempt by the opposition to remove him from power in a recall referendum. The legislature`s move was mostly symbolic, because the Supreme Court, which is allied with Maduro, has banned the congress from passing any laws or measures, Wall Street Journal reported. Maduro responded to Tuesday`s vote by calling it a "parliamentary coup," and has called all top public officials to an emergency meeting in Caracas on Wednesday afternoon. On October 19, after the National Assembly`s plan to hold a referendum to recall Maduro failed, the opposition coalition is now using its power base in congress to begin legal action against the President. Maduro made a trip to the Vatican on October 24, where Pope Francis attempted to reconcile the diametrically opposed factions in Venezuela, but even this seems to have failed as opposition supporters are rallying for "The Takeover of Venezuela". Istanbul: Turkish police detained 45 air force pilots and were to take in dozens more on Thursday in the latest in a stream of police operations relating to investigations into a failed coup by rogue military in July, the state-run news agency Anadolu said. The operation targeting suspected followers of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the putsch, focused on an air base in the central province of Konya and spread across 17 provinces, the agency said. Prosecutors issued detention warrants for a total of 71 lieutenants and two colonels, it said. Other media reports said more than 200 soldiers and civilians had been detained in coup-related operations on Thursday. Prosecutors could not immediately be reached for comment. The failed coup, in which rogue soldiers commandeered fighters jets and tanks in a bid to seize power, and the subsequent purges have shaken the Turkish armed forces, the second largest in NATO, as they fight Islamic State and Kurdish militants in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Turkey has arrested 35,000 people and sacked or suspended more than 100,000 others in the military, police, judiciary, civil service and elsewhere since the coup attempt. Gulen denies involvement in the plot. Those detained on Thursday were accused of "armed rebellion against the Turkish Republic" and membership of what Ankara calls the Gulenist Terror Organisation, the privately-owned Dogan news agency said. They bring to more than 300 the number of pilots dismissed or arrested in the coup investigation. The government is working on projects to cover the sudden shortage in air force pilot numbers and will seek to draw back pilots from civil aviation, the Haberturk newspaper said on Thursday. Police last week detained 47 soldiers in a similar operation focused on the Konya base, of which 29 were subsequently remanded in custody, Dogan said. On Wednesday, Ankara said it had replaced three quarters of provincial police heads as part of the crackdown. Turkish officials have said the interior ministry has ramped up efforts to purge the police and state institutions after the appointment at the end of August of a new minister, Suleyman Soylu, seen as close to President Tayyip Erdogan. The extent of the crackdown has worried rights groups and some Western allies, who fear Erdogan is using it to curtail dissent. The government says the actions are justified by the threat to the state on July 15, when more than 240 people died. Ankara: Turkish authorities ordered the detention of 73 Air Force pilots as part of the probe into the group blamed for July`s failed coup, state media reported Thursday. At least 45 had already been detained after police operations began on Thursday across the country including the central Konya province and the capital Ankara, the official Anadolu news agency said. The pilots are suspected of links to the group led by Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim preacher whom Turkey accuses of ordering the July 15 putsch attempt. Gulen, living in self-exile in Pennsylvania, strongly denies the allegations. The accusations listed in the warrants for the pilots include "violating the constitution", being part of "an armed rebellion against the Turkish Republic" as well as "acting on behalf of the (Gulen) organisation", Dogan news agency reported. Searches continued for some of the pilots at the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Command where dozens have been detained in connection with the group since July, Anadolu said. Last week, Turkish media said 47 military officers stationed at the base were detained for alleged links to the movement. Dogan reported 29 of the 47 officers were later placed under arrest. Over 35,000 people have been arrested since July as part of the investigation into the group while nearly 26,000 have been released into "judicial control". In total, Turkey says it has investigated 82,000 people in connection with the coup bid. Tens of thousands of people in the judiciary, military, education sector, and media have also been suspended or sacked for alleged links to the Gulen movement. The purges and arrests have caused concern in the West over their extent and speed, with many European leaders urging Ankara to act within the rule of law. Turkey insists it is doing so while stressing that it is dealing with an extraordinary threat which requires emergency measures. United Nations: A UN General Assembly committee on Thursday voted to launch negotiations on a new treaty banning nuclear weapons despite fierce opposition from the world`s nuclear powers. A resolution presented by Austria, Ireland, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa and Brazil was adopted by a vote of 123 to 38, with 16 abstentions, following weeks of lobbying by the nuclear powers for `no` votes. The non-binding resolution provides for negotiations to begin in March next year on the new treaty, citing deep concern over the "catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons." Four of the five UN Security Council nuclear powers -- Britain, France, Russia and the United States -- voted against the resolution while China abstained, as did India and Pakistan. Japan, which has long campaigned against the use of nuclear weapons, voted against it, as did South Korea, which is facing a nuclear threat from North Korea. Opponents argued that nuclear disarmament should be addressed within negotiations on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, described the vote as a "historic moment" in the decades-long drive for a nuclear-free world. "This treaty won`t eliminate nuclear weapons overnight. But it will establish a powerful, new international legal standard, stigmatizing nuclear weapons and compelling nations to take urgent action on disarmament." The measure is expected to go to the full General Assembly for a vote in late November or early December. Islamabad/United Nations: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday distanced itself from Sharbat Gula, Nat Geo's famed 'Afghan Girl' who has been detained by authorities in Pakistan for alleged forgery. The United Nation's refugee agency in Pakistan claimed that Sharbat Gula - known as Afghanistan's green-eyed Mona Lisa - is not a registered refugee. "We cannot extend any assistance to the detained Afghan woman as she is not registered refugee with UNHCR," Senior External Relations Officer UNHCR Pakistan Dan McNorton told Dawn.com. Sharbat Gula, who fled Afghanistan during Soviet occupation shot to fame after her photograph as a young refugee was published on the cover of National Geographic back in 1985 on her arrival to Peshawar. Gula was arrested a day earlier from her Peshawar residence by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged forgery of a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC). She faces seven to 14 years prison time and fine between $3,000 to $5,000 if convicted by court over fraud, a National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) official said Wednesday. Nadra's vigilance department and an official of the FIA rejected information provided on the Nadra form as fake, and the FIA official ordered cancellation of CNICs of Gula and her alleged sons. Details of the form had claimed that Sharbat Gula had two sons. The FIA official maintained that she has two daughters and a two-year-old son. According to the UN refugee agency, the first census of Afghan refugees in Pakistan started in 2006 and the refugees that turned out at registration offices got Proof of Registration (PoR) cards thus getting permission of their legitimate stay in Pakistan. "I think Sharbat Bibi missed that opportunity and could not register herself as refugee," Duniya Aslam Khan explained when asked as to why the refugee agency could not register her. The UNHCR was contacted by Afghan diplomats in Islamabad anticipating that she will be rescued by the refugee agency for being refugee. Expressing concern over the arrest of Sharbat Gula, the Afghan government has decided to take up the issue with Pakistani government, sources said Thursday. An official at the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar told DawnNews the Afghan government will pursue the case in a Pakistani court and provide a lawyer and legal assistance to Gula, who is an Afghan national. "She is an Afghan national and our embassy in Islamabad will take up the case with the Foreign Office for early release of Sharbat Gula," he said, requesting not to be named. Quoting family members, the official said Sharbat Bibi was not feeling well and they were also worried about her health. Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omer Zakhilwal tweeted in Pashto saying the Afghan government will help rescue the detained Afghan woman from police custody and will rehabilitate her in Afghanistan. Sharbat Gula became famously known as the 'Afghan Girl' when National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry captured her photograph at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp situated on the edge of Peshawar in 1984 and identified her as Sharbat Gula. She gained worldwide recognition when her image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine at a time when she was approximately 12 years old. That photo has been likened with Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. National Geographic also made a short documentary about her life and dubbed her the 'Mona Lisa of Afghan war'. She remained anonymous for years after her first photo made her an icon around the world and until she was discovered by National Geographic in 2002 Meanwhile the American photographer who took the iconic National Geographic image of Gula in 1985 has vowed to do "anything possible" to help after reports she has been arrested in Pakistan. Photographer Steve McCurry posted to Instagram that this was "an egregious violation of her human rights". He wrote: "We are doing everything we can to get the facts by contacting our colleagues and friends in the area. "I am committed to doing anything and everything possible to provide legal and financial support for her and her family. "I object to this action by the authorities in the strongest possible terms. She has suffered throughout her entire life." Arbil: The United States said Thursday that up to 900 Islamic State group jihadists have been killed in the offensive to retake Iraq`s Mosul, as camps around the city filled with fleeing civilians. Iraqis who fled their homes expressed joy at escaping IS`s brutal rule as they were given shelter and assistance, in some cases reuniting with relatives they had not seen in more than two years. The offensive, launched on October 17, is seeing tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north in a bid to retake the last major Iraqi city under IS control. Backed with air and ground support from a US-led coalition, federal forces allied with Kurdish peshmerga fighters have taken a string of towns and villages in a cautious but steady advance. General Joseph Votel, who heads the US military`s Central Command, told AFP on Thursday that the offensive was inflicting a heavy toll on the jihadists. "Just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate they`ve probably killed about 800-900 Islamic State fighters," Votel said in an interview. There are between 3,500 and 5,000 IS jihadists in Mosul and up to another 2,000 in the broader area, according to US estimates. The offensive has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, with Iraqi forces later expected to breach city limits and engage the jihadists in street-to-street fighting.Aid workers have warned of a major humanitarian crisis when fighting begins in earnest for Mosul, which is home to more than a million people, but thousands have already been fleeing surrounding areas. Iraq`s ministry of displacement and migration said Thursday that more than 11,700 people had been displaced since the operation began. "There`s been quite a dramatic upturn in the last few days. As the Iraqi troops get closer to Mosul, more people are getting displaced, there are more populated areas," said Karl Schembri, regional media adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council. At a camp in Khazir, about mid-way between Mosul and the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, Massud Ismail Hassan peered through a chainlink fence, looking for family members as peshmerga fighters registered the displaced. "Once all these procedures are finished we will be able to give them food and drink and blankets we brought with us," he said. Other families had already found each other, and tearful relatives clutched hands through the links of the fence. Saddam Dahham, who lived under IS control in a village near Mosul for more than two years, fled to Khazir with his wife and their three children. "We were not allowed to smoke, to use phones, not allowed to watch TV and we had to let our beards grow long," the 36-year-old said. One of the first things he did after arriving at the camp was joyfully shave the "heavy thing dangling from my chin," Dahham said. "I`m finally going to resume a normal life," the former truck driver said.Schembri said the Norwegian Refugee Council, other aid agencies and the United Nations were planning for 200,000 people to be displaced in the next few days, though it may not reach that figure. If anything close to 200,000 people are displaced in the immediate future, there will be a major shortage of places in camps. "In terms of... camp facilities, there are only spaces available for 60,000" people, Schembri said. Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Kurdish authorities of arbitrarily detaining fleeing men and boys over 15 for indefinite periods as they checked them for possible ties to IS. Kurdish authorities "are ignoring basic due process guarantees," said Lama Fakih, HRW`s deputy Middle East director. "No one should be detained unless there is reason to suspect them personally of criminal activity." After seizing control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in mid-2014, IS declared a cross-border "caliphate", imposed its harsh interpretation of Islamic law and committed widespread atrocities. Its rule was especially harsh for religious minorities and on Thursday two Yazidi women activists who survived a nightmare ordeal at the hands of IS won the European Parliament`s prestigious Sakharov human rights prize. Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar have become figureheads for the effort to protect the Yazidis, against whom IS pursued a brutal campaign of massacres as well as enslavement and rape. Washington: The United States carried out strikes in Afghanistan on Sunday targeting two of al Qaeda`s most senior leaders in the country, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. The US military is still assessing the results of the strikes against the two leaders who were targeted at command-and-control locations in remote areas of Kunar province, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement. US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the air strikes, carried out by drones, were the most significant attacks against the group in Afghanistan in several years. However, the need for a strike shows the resilience of the group more than 15 years after the US invasion of Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban government that harbored the al Qaeda network responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States. "There`s something depressing about the fact that the US is still trying to eliminate al Qaeda leaders and safe havens in Afghanistan," said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist at the Woodrow Wilson Center.One of the targets was Faruq al-Qatani, who served as al Qaeda`s leader for northeastern Afghanistan and had been assigned by the group`s leadership to re-establish safe havens in the country, Cook said in the statement. "He was a senior planner for attacks against the United States, and has a long history of directing deadly attacks against US forces and our coalition allies," Cook said. Al-Qatani, also known as Al-Nayf Salam Muhammad Ujaym al-Hababi, was named a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" by the US Treasury Department earlier this year for his role in al Qaeda. The other, Bilal al-Utabi, was involved in "efforts to re-establish a safe haven in Afghanistan from which to threaten the West, and in efforts to recruit and train foreign fighters," Cook added. A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the strikes were carried out simultaneously against two different compounds. Multiple Hellfire missiles were fired at each compound, the official said. The United States had been looking for al-Qatani for four years and tracking and targeting him involved multiple US agencies, the official added. The official described al-Qatani as the No 1 al Qaeda official in Afghanistan, while al-Utabi was No 2 or No 3 in the hierarchy. "If these strikes are determined to be successful, eliminating these core leaders of al Qaeda will disrupt efforts to plot against the United States and our allies and partners around the world, reduce the threat to our Afghan partners, and assist their efforts to deny al Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan," Cook said in his statement. American warplanes have conducted around 700 air strikes so far this year, compared with about 500 total last year, according to US military officials, signaling a deeper role for American forces that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. With no end in sight for one of America`s longest wars, any decisions on the future of the air strikes and nearly 9,000 US troops that will remain in Afghanistan will be up to the winner of the November 08 US Presidential Election. Barclays said additional funds to cover costs linked to a payment protection insurance scandal contributed to an almost flat third quarter net profit of 414 million British bank Barclays on Thursday set aside another 600 million ($733 million, 672 million euros) to compensate customers mis-sold insurance, one day after a similar move from rival Lloyds. Barclays revealed the extra funds needed to cover costs linked to the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal contributed to it posting almost flat net profit, or earnings after taxation, of 414 million for the third quarter. The lender's performance in the three months to the end of September was also hit by rising credit impairment charges, it added in a results statement. That was partly offset by favourable currency movements, as the pound tumbled after Britain's shock EU exit vote. Barclays added that pre-tax profit rallied 35 percent to 837 million, buoyed by a jump in fixed-income trading. "The banking sector has been given a welcome dose of optimism with Barclays shares rising," said XTB analyst David Cheetham. "Despite having to put aside an additional 600 million for PPI, the results overall have been warmly received."? Barclays shares soared 4.8 percent to close at 190.50 pence, topping the FTSE 100 risers' board. Chief executive Jes Staley -- tasked with restoring the bank's reputation after a series of scandals -- said Barclays was committed to offloading non-core assets as it switches focus to Britain and the United States. - Regulator deadline weighs - Britain's banking sector has been blighted by the long-running PPI scandal. In August, the nation's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulator slapped a June 2019 deadline on PPI claims. That was one year later than previously planned -- and sparked a raft of extra provisions. The worst affected bank was Lloyds, which revealed Wednesday it was setting aside another 1.0 billion for PPI claims, bringing its total cost to 17 billion -- far higher than any other lender. "Like Lloyds, Barclays has been hit by a big PPI charge as a result of the FCA's decision to call time on complaints in 2019, rather than 2018 as had been expected," added analyst Laith Khalaf at stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown. Story continues "Barclays has also seen a pick-up in credit impairments, though some of this comes from a more prudent approach to modelling bad loans." In 2011, British banks lost a high court appeal against tighter regulation of PPI, which provides insurance for consumers should they fail to meet repayments on a credit product such as consumer loans, mortgages or payment cards. PPI became controversial after it was revealed that many customers had been sold it without understanding that the cost was being added to their loan repayments. British authorities subsequently banned simultaneous sales of PPI and credit products. To date, British lenders have been forced to set aside around 31 billion to cover PPI compensation costs. The overall bill for Barclays now stands at 8.4 billion. The British pound rallied briefly Thursday on brighter-than-expected economic growth data, while eurozone stock markets sagged amid a dearth of news from the region. Sterling bounced after official data showed that Britain's economy grew by 0.5 percent in the three months following the country's referendum in favour of exiting the European Union. The currency shot as high as $1.2272 and strengthened to just above 89 pence against the euro in morning deals, before trimming gains. "The GDP data initially boosted the pound which had a negative impact on the FTSE and pushed it into the red," Oanda analyst Craig Erlam told AFP. "The FTSE appears to benefit more from declines in the pound as opposed to good economic data at the moment, as it has substantial exposure outside of the UK." A stronger pound weighs on exporters, making their goods more expensive for buyers using weaker currencies. After earlier losses, the London stock exchange reversed direction by mid afternoon, and was 0.1 percent higher in value compared with Wednesday's close. British housebuilder Barratt Developments slumped in London after its stock went ex-dividend, meaning that it no longer carries the right to the most recently declared shareholder payout. Barratt's share price tanked 4.2 percent to 432.30 pence, topping the fallers' board in London. In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 shed 0.2 percent and the Paris CAC 40 was 0.1 percent down. "Indices are looking quite vulnerable to downside moves at the moment... and what is lacking today is any catalyst that could provide the spark for such a move," Erlam added. - Deutsche Bank surprises - Despite Frankfurt being down overall, Deutsche Bank shares firmed 0.6 percent at 13.38 euros in mid afternoon trades after the troubled German lender posted a surprise third-quarter net profit. Deutsche's financial health has been in the spotlight ever since the US Department of Justice last month sought an unaffordable $14 billion fine over its role in the subprime mortgage crisis -- sparking fears it might have to raise fresh capital. Story continues "A surprise move into profit for Deutsche Bank has allayed some of the fears that sent shares in Germany?s biggest bank into freefall," noted IG analyst Joshua Mahony. US stocks opened higher following a plethora of mostly solid earnings, including from Tesla Motors and Twitter. In other corporate news, US semiconductor maker Qualcomm said it would buy Dutch rival NXP in a $47-billion megadeal, sending shares in both higher. Most Asian stock markets turned lower for a second day, with energy firms struggling after another sell-off in oil fuelled by concerns about a planned output cut. Crude prices are languishing at three-month lows after OPEC member Iraq and non-member Russia suggested this week they would not take part in any limitations, despite a painful global supply glut. Their comments have raised questions about the viability of last month's agreement by oil cartel OPEC to reduce output, which had sent prices soaring. While edging up slightly Thursday, oil prices have tumbled more than three percent this week and news that US stockpiles had fallen more than expected last week was unable to provide much support. - Key figures around 1355 GMT - Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2210 from $1.2242 Wednesday Euro/pound: UP to 89.36 pence from 89.09 pence Euro/dollar: UP to $1.0916 from $1.0907 Dollar/yen: UP to 104.89 yen from 104.51 yen London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 6,967.69 points Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.2 percent at 10,685.12 Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 percent at 4,530.59 EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,074.82 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 17,336.42 (close) New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent to 18,225.05 Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 18 cents at $49.36 per barrel Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 30 cents at $50.28 IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Thursday that Egypt is going through a currency "crisis," suggesting a quick devaluation to tackle a widening gap between the official and black market rates. Egypt has been struggling to shore up its foreign currency reserves in the political and economic turmoil following the January 2011 uprising that toppled former ruler Hosni Mubarak. The government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is rolling out an austerity programme and is seeking billions in support from abroad in order to meet conditions for a $12 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund and boost investor confidence. The country's foreign currency reserves stood at $19.6 billion in September, an increase from previous years but less than 50 percent of the level in early 2011. "In terms of exchange rate, there is currently a crisis, because if you look at the official price if you look at the grey market price, there is a 100 percent difference so that needs to be addressed," Lagarde said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Lagarde applauded the planned reforms, including the austerity programme, saying the IMF was ready to support the government if it takes the measures needed to meet the loan conditions. "If they decide to move forward we will certainly support that move, we will certainly accompany it, we'll put money on the table to help them along the way. But it's their call and it's their decision," she said. Responding to a question on whether a total free float or gradual devaluation might be the best, Lagarde said the right conditions were "going to be dictated entirely by the circumstances". "When you have very low reserves, when the difference between official and unofficial rate is very wide, historically we have seen rapid transitions being most efficient," said Lagarde, adding that "in other cases it has been gradual". Loans from Saudi Arabia and China would help Egypt gather the $5-$6 billion in additional financing required to complement the IMF lending, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters in Washington on Thursday. "I think they're very close and clearly the financing is one of the aspects that they need to lock in," Lagarde said, commenting on the loans. "Hopefully we'll be able to secure the IMF board approval in the next few weeks." German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Portugal had been "very successful" until the Socialists, on coming to power last year, declared they would not honor the former government's austerity plan The head of Portugal's ruling Socialists called German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble a "pyromaniac" Thursday after he criticised Lisbon for reversing course on austerity. Carlos Cesar's jibe came after Schaeuble said Portugal had been "very successful" until the Socialists, on coming to power last year, declared they would "not respect what the former government had agreed." "As everyone knows, the German finance minister is a pyromaniac who tries to present himself as a firefigher," Cesar told news radio TSF. "His compatriots do not think like him," he added, going on to cite examples of German firms that have made huge investments in Portugal. "They understand that the Portuguese economy has potential, that political and social stability is a factor that they value, and that Portugal is in a position to make progress with our policy," said the Socialist leader. Since coming to power the Socialists have reduced taxes for lower income earners and rolled back some austerity measures launched during the country's 2011-2014 78-billion-euro ($85 billion) bailout. They took office after teaming up with the Communists and the far-left Left Block to oust a centre-right administration which had embraced a German-led austerity push by raising taxes, cutting spending and reforming labour laws. Prime Minister Antonio Costa has vowed to "turn the page on austerity" with steps including a reversal of public-sector wage cuts and higher pensions, giving people and the economy more spending power. Costa dismissed Schaeuble's comment made on Wednesday, saying he "pays attention mainly to Germans who know Portugal, and as a result, know what they are talking about." "I usually only talk about what I know and I never talk about other countries about which I know nothing, based on prejudices," he added. The government's draft budget for 2017 forecasts the public deficit will fall to 1.6 percent of economic output next year from 2.4 percent in 2016, well below a European Union limit of 3.0 percent. Portugal posted a deficit of 4.4 percent of gross domestic product in 2015, the third highest in the EU after Greece and Spain. BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union's inability to complete a trade agreement with Canada is an embarrassment and could harm its ability to negotiate future deals, a European Parliament vice president said in a radio interview. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been seven years in the making and is backed by all 27 other EU governments but was rejected by the French-speaking south of Belgium, meaning Belgium as a whole cannot sign it. "The European Union has shown itself to be an impossible international negotiating partner with this wrong whole process," Alexander Lambsdorff told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. The German Liberal lawmaker said he hoped Belgium could work out its issues over CETA to enable it to be signed this year. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau canceled plans to travel to Brussels to sign CETA after Belgian politicians on Wednesday failed to break the deadlock over the deal. Two other German representatives in the European Parliament also criticized the EU over the CETA negotiations. Manfred Weber, head of a conservative bloc in parliament, told broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk that it was a mistake to allow all European parliaments to vote on the trade pact. "It cannot be that one small region can block all of Europe," he said. Bernd Lange, a Social Democrat, told broadcaster Suedwestrundfunk that the stalemate on the agreement should prompt serious discussion about the European decision-making processes and how to create more consensus. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said last week he did not expect CETA to fail, but it could take some time to answer questions raised by Belgium and other countries. (Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Louise Ireland) Distance Learning Columbus State U Holds Remote Master Class in Piano The Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University held its first ever remote piano master class on October 10. Undergraduate and graduate music students performed on the school's Yamaha Disklavier CFX concert grand piano located on the school's campus in Columbus, GA. Meanwhile, Boris Slutsky, chair of the Piano Department at Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory, evaluated the students' performances from Yamaha Artist Services in New York City. Slutsky sat at a similarly equipped Disklavier and could watch and listen as the instrument replicated the students' "actual key strokes and subtle gradations of pedal movement" in real-time, according to a news release. He then evaluated each student's performance and demonstrated some of his corrections on the Disklavier in New York. "Our students are now able to connect via performances, lectures and masterclasses with schools, colleagues and world-renowned pianists located anywhere in the world," said Alexander Kobrin, the L. Rexford Whiddon distinguished chair in piano and artist in residence at CSU, in a prepared statement. The Yamaha Disklavier CFX is an acoustic grand piano featuring an optical sensor system that captures nuanced movements of the keys, hammers and pedals and transmits them to a remote Disklavier. The piano also features DSP servo technology that use the optical sensor data during playback to monitor and verify precision of movement in real-time to reproduce the remote performance, according to information on Yamaha's site. Columbus State University supporter, Gail Greenblatt, gifted the piano to the Schwob School of Music in 2014. Since then the university has used the piano for numerous concerts. The event in October was the first of four planned master classes. Three subsequent remote lessons will be conducted by teaching artists on December 1, 2016; January 23, 2017; and March 27, 2016. Assets Under Management of $21.3 Billion; Assets Under Advisement Increase to $1.1 Billion Quarterly Dividend Increased 9%, Representing the 14th Consecutive Year of Increases DALLAS, Oct. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE:WHG) today reported third quarter 2016 revenues of $31.8 million compared to revenues of $32.5 million in the third quarter of 2015. Asset-based advisory fees decreased $1.5 million due to lower average assets under management ("AUM") as a result of net outflows, partially offset by market appreciation, over the last twelve months. While average AUM was lower in the current year quarter, end of period AUM grew 4% to $21.3 billion at September 30, 2016 compared to $20.4 billion at September 30, 2015. Additionally, assets under advisement ("AUA") totaled $1.1 billion at September 30, 2016, including approximately $800 million related to the Aviva Investors Global Convertibles Fund, a Luxembourg-domiciled long-only convertibles fund, for which Westwood was appointed as subadvisor in September 2016. Third quarter net income totaled $5.9 million compared with $7.0 million in the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to the decrease in asset-based advisory fees noted above. Diluted earnings per share of $0.72 compared to $0.87 for the third quarter of 2015. Non-GAAP Economic Earnings for the quarter of $10.6 million compared with $12.4 million in the prior year's third quarter. Non-GAAP Economic Earnings per share ("Economic EPS") of $1.30 compared with $1.55 in the third quarter of 2015. Highlights from the third quarter 2016 include: Continued strong performance of our Emerging Markets and Multi-Asset strategies. Appointed to sub-advise approximately $800 million in the Aviva Investors Global Convertibles Fund. Authorized an additional $5 million of repurchases of our outstanding common stock under our share repurchase program, bringing total authorized repurchases up to $15 million ($9.4 million available for repurchases at September 30, 2016). Repurchased 24,199 shares of our common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $1.2 million. Brian Casey, Westwoods President & CEO, commented, "We believe that many of the decisions we have made in recent years allow us to look forward to the future with confidence. We have increased our dividend for the 14th consecutive year, remain debt free and continue to generate strong cash flows. We are committed to further expand and diversify our global client base and were pleased to be appointed as a sub-advisor to the Aviva Global Convertibles Fund, which extends our long-term strategic partnership with Aviva Investors in the global convertibles asset class space. Approximately $800 million in assets under advisement will transition to assets under management upon approval by the Luxembourg fund regulator." Westwoods Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.62 per common share, an increase of 9% from the previous quarterly dividend rate, payable on January 3, 2017 to stockholders of record on December 9, 2016. At quarter-end, Westwood had $80.5 million in cash and investments, stockholders equity of $140.9 million, and no debt. Economic Earnings and Economic EPS are non-GAAP performance measures and are explained and reconciled with the most comparable GAAP numbers in the attached tables. Westwood will host a conference call to discuss third quarter 2016 results and other business matters at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time today. To join the conference call, dial 877-303-6235 (domestic and Canada) or 631-291-4837 (international). The conference call can also be accessed via our Investor Relations page at westwoodgroup.com and will be available for replay through November 2, 2016 by dialing 855-859-2056 (domestic and Canada) or 404-537-3406 (international) and then entering the passcode 76961886. About Westwood Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. provides investment management services to institutional investors, private wealth clients and financial intermediaries. With $21.3 billion in assets under management*, our firm offers a range of investment strategies including U.S. equities, Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), Multi-Asset, Global and Emerging Markets equities, and Global Convertible securities portfolios. Access to our strategies is available through separate accounts, commingled funds, the Westwood Funds family of mutual funds, and UCITS funds. Westwood benefits from significant, broad-based employee ownership and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WHG. Based in Dallas, Texas, Westwood also maintains offices in Toronto, Boston, Omaha and Houston. For more information on Westwood, please visit www.westwoodgroup.com. For more information on the Westwood Funds, please visit www.westwoodfunds.com. *As of September 30, 2016 Forward-looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts, including, without limitation, statements about our expected future financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as well as other statements including without limitation, words such as anticipate, forecast, believe, plan, estimate, expect, intend, should, could, goal, may, target, designed, on track, comfortable with, optimistic and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results and the timing of some events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: regulations adversely affecting the financial services industry; the composition and market value of our assets under management; competition in the investment management industry; our investments in foreign companies; our ability to develop and market new investment strategies successfully; our ability to pursue and properly integrate acquired businesses; litigation risks; our ability to retain qualified personnel; our relationships with current and potential customers; our ability to properly address conflicts of interest; our ability to maintain adequate insurance coverage; our ability to maintain effective information systems; our ability to maintain effective cyber security; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; our ability to maintain our fee structure in light of competitive fee pressures; our relationships with investment consulting firms; the significant concentration of our revenues in a small number of customers; and the other risks detailed from time to time in Westwoods Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, Westwood is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. (WHG-G) WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (in thousands, except per share and share amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 June 30, 2016 September 30, 2015 REVENUES: Advisory fees: Asset-based $ 23,447 $ 22,666 $ 24,940 Performance-based 226 409 Trust fees 7,690 7,643 7,973 Other, net 414 305 (462 ) Total revenues 31,777 31,023 32,451 EXPENSES: Employee compensation and benefits $ 15,637 $ 15,108 $ 15,686 Sales and marketing 408 687 419 Westwood mutual funds 755 831 865 Information technology 1,874 2,201 1,626 Professional services 1,903 1,158 1,178 General and administrative 2,147 2,526 2,175 Total expenses 22,724 22,511 21,949 Income before income taxes 9,053 8,512 10,502 Provision for income taxes 3,166 2,851 3,489 Net income $ 5,887 $ 5,661 $ 7,013 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation adjustments (453 ) 157 (1,386 ) Total comprehensive income $ 5,434 $ 5,818 $ 5,627 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.74 $ 0.71 $ 0.90 Diluted $ 0.72 $ 0.69 $ 0.87 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 7,995,680 8,000,214 7,808,239 Diluted 8,179,956 8,172,923 8,037,080 Economic Earnings $ 10,615 $ 10,387 $ 12,434 Economic EPS $ 1.30 $ 1.27 $ 1.55 Dividends declared per share $ 0.57 $ 0.57 $ 0.50 WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (in thousands, except per share and share amounts) (unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 REVENUES: Advisory fees: Asset-based $ 67,928 $ 76,327 Performance-based 635 2,206 Trust fees 22,798 21,044 Other, net 568 (207 ) Total revenues 91,929 99,370 EXPENSES: Employee compensation and benefits $ 47,239 $ 47,507 Sales and marketing 1,423 1,310 Westwood mutual funds 2,282 2,593 Information technology 6,039 4,085 Professional services 4,707 4,281 General and administrative 7,028 5,962 Total expenses 68,718 65,738 Income before income taxes 23,211 33,632 Provision for income taxes 8,141 11,214 Net income $ 15,070 $ 22,418 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation adjustments 1,007 (2,541 ) Total comprehensive income $ 16,077 $ 19,877 Earnings per share: Basic $ 1.89 $ 2.90 Diluted $ 1.84 $ 2.78 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 7,952,938 7,737,608 Diluted 8,212,468 8,076,055 Economic Earnings $ 29,094 $ 36,201 Economic EPS $ 3.54 $ 4.48 Dividends declared per share $ 1.71 $ 1.50 WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except par value and share amounts) (unaudited) September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 30,692 $ 22,740 Accounts receivable 22,810 19,618 Investments, at fair value 49,849 72,320 Other current assets 2,355 2,926 Total current assets 105,706 117,604 Goodwill 27,144 27,144 Deferred income taxes 10,950 11,042 Intangible assets, net 21,884 23,354 Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $4,365 and $3,687 4,014 2,192 Total assets $ 169,698 $ 181,336 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 3,498 $ 3,549 Dividends payable 6,146 5,749 Compensation and benefits payable 13,357 20,264 Contingent consideration 9,023 Income taxes payable 2,482 6,268 Total current liabilities 25,483 44,853 Accrued dividends 1,536 1,699 Deferred rent 1,827 817 Total liabilities 28,846 47,369 Stockholders Equity: Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 25,000,000 shares, issued 9,830,612 and outstanding 8,830,021 shares at September 30, 2016; issued 9,425,309 and outstanding 8,630,687 shares at December 31, 2015 99 94 Additional paid-in capital 159,615 143,797 Treasury stock, at cost - 1,000,591 shares at September 30, 2016; 794,622 shares at December 31, 2015 (44,863 ) (34,910 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,681 ) (4,688 ) Retained earnings 29,682 29,674 Total stockholders equity 140,852 133,967 Total liabilities and stockholders equity $ 169,698 $ 181,336 WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) (unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 15,070 $ 22,418 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 732 606 Amortization of intangible assets 1,470 951 Unrealized losses (gains) on trading investments (676 ) 484 Stock based compensation expense 12,164 12,560 Deferred income taxes 114 (1,923 ) Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation (165 ) (1,432 ) Net sales (purchases) of investments trading securities 23,147 22,679 Other non-cash, net 275 (3 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (2,711 ) (5,332 ) Other current assets 900 236 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (82 ) 537 Compensation and benefits payable (6,758 ) (2,052 ) Income taxes payable (4,637 ) 1,899 Other liabilities 154 (28 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 38,997 51,600 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of property and equipment (1,680 ) (704 ) Acquisition of Woodway, net of cash acquired (24,133 ) Net cash used in investing activities (1,680 ) (24,837 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of treasury stock (5,629 ) Purchase of treasury stock under employee stock plans (614 ) (1,327 ) Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes (3,710 ) (5,621 ) Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation 165 1,432 Payment of contingent consideration in acquisition (5,562 ) Cash dividends (14,827 ) (13,065 ) Net cash used in financing activities (30,177 ) (18,581 ) Effect of currency rate changes on cash 812 (2,430 ) NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 7,952 5,752 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 22,740 18,131 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 30,692 $ 23,883 Supplemental cash flow information: Cash paid during the period for income taxes $ 12,632 $ 11,664 Common stock issued for acquisition $ 3,734 $ 5,292 Non-cash accrued contingent consideration $ $ 9,102 Accrued dividends $ 7,682 $ 6,452 Tenant allowance included in Property and equipment $ 1,128 $ WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliation of Net Income to Economic Earnings (in thousands, except per share and share amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 June 30, 2016 September 30, 2015 Net Income $ 5,887 $ 5,661 $ 7,013 Add: Stock based compensation expense 4,082 4,080 4,865 Add: Intangible amortization 490 490 400 Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization 156 156 156 Economic Earnings $ 10,615 $ 10,387 $ 12,434 Diluted weighted average shares 8,179,956 8,172,923 8,037,080 Economic EPS $ 1.30 $ 1.27 $ 1.55 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 Net Income $ 15,070 $ 22,418 Add: Stock based compensation expense 12,164 12,560 Add: Intangible amortization 1,470 951 Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization 390 272 Economic Earnings $ 29,094 $ 36,201 Diluted weighted average shares 8,212,468 8,076,055 Economic EPS $ 3.54 $ 4.48 As supplemental information, we are providing non-GAAP performance measures that we refer to as Economic Earnings and Economic Earnings per share ("Economic EPS"). We provide these measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income and earnings per share, which are reported on a GAAP basis. Management reviews Economic Earnings and Economic EPS to evaluate Westwoods ongoing performance, allocate resources and review the dividend policy. We believe that these non-GAAP performance measures, while not substitutes for GAAP net income or earnings per share, are useful for management and investors when evaluating Westwoods underlying operating and financial performance and its available resources. We do not advocate that investors consider these non-GAAP measures without also considering financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. We define Economic Earnings as net income plus non-cash equity-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets and deferred taxes related to goodwill. Although depreciation on fixed assets is a non-cash expense, we do not add it back when calculating Economic Earnings because depreciation charges represent an allocation of the decline in the value of the related assets that will ultimately require replacement. In addition, we do not adjust Economic Earnings for tax deductions related to restricted stock expense or amortization of intangible assets. Economic EPS represents Economic Earnings divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding. ESPOO, Finland, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nokia announced today that Timo Ihamuotila, Chief Financial Officer of Nokia, resigns from the company to join ABB in Switzerland as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Executive committee. Ihamuotila will continue in his current role as Nokia CFO and as a member of the company's Group Leadership Team until December 31, 2016, and will remain as an advisor to the company until February 28, 2017. Kristian Pullola, who currently is Nokia's Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, is appointed as Chief Financial Officer and member of the Group Leadership Team as of January 1, 2017. As a result of this change, effective from January 1, 2017, the Nokia Group Leadership Team will consist of the following members: Rajeev Suri, Kristian Pullola, Samih Elhage, Federico Guillen, Basil Alwan, Bhaskar Gorti, Hans-Jurgen Bill, Kathrin Buvac, Ashish Chowdhary, Barry French, Marc Rouanne and Maria Varsellona. "Timo has helped make Nokia a stronger and better company, and he has my admiration," said Rajeev Suri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia. "He was instrumental in the purchase of the Siemens share of Nokia Siemens Networks; the sale of Nokia's Devices & Services business to Microsoft; the divestment of HERE, our former mapping business; the recent acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent, and more. He has also played an important role in driving the strong performance of Nokia in recent years. Timo will be missed, but given that he rejoined Nokia in 1999, and now has been in the CFO role for seven years, I understand and support his desire for a new challenge at this point in his career." Suri further adds: "I am delighted that we are able to appoint Kristian Pullola as Timo's successor, effective January 1, 2017. Kristian has been a strong contributor to the Nokia team since he joined us in 1999. He has expertise in all aspects of the CFO function, deep knowledge across our business in critical areas such as patent licensing and has been heavily involved in all key aspects of the Nokia transformation. Kristian's track record, plus his close collaboration with Timo over many years, makes me confident that his transition into the role will be smooth and effective. We are very excited to have Kristian join the Group Leadership Team as Timo's successor." Timo Ihamuotila said: "Nokia has been an important part of my life. After over 15 years with the company, it is time for me to take on a new challenge in a new company in a new industry. I am pleased to see a great long-time colleague taking over the role, and I leave knowing that the company is well-positioned for the future and focused on the right areas, with strong execution capabilities and a great team. Nokia will always have a place in my heart and I wish everyone in the company the very best for the coming years." Kristian Pullola said: "I am honored to have been selected as the new Chief Financial Officer of Nokia, and look forward to working with Rajeev and the rest of the Nokia team to create shareholder value in the years to come." About Nokia Nokia is a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things. Powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs and Nokia Technologies, the company is at the forefront of creating and licensing the technologies that are increasingly at the heart of our connected lives. With state-of-the-art software, hardware and services for any type of network, Nokia is uniquely positioned to help communication service providers, governments, and large enterprises deliver on the promise of 5G, the Cloud and the Internet of Things. www.nokia.com Media Enquiries: Nokia Communications Tel. +358 (0) 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Copperstone Resources (Coppertone or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Company is advancing the work on possible Cu-Au porphyry systems at Svartliden in northern Sweden. Under the supervision of Lead Exploration Geologist Christopher McKnight, the Company has assembled international geological expertise in order to expedite analysis and modelling of the target, including construction of a 3-D geological model and a drill design to interrogate the unique opportunity. The team is optimistic that from holistic geological analysis of large scale alteration patterns and mineralization styles this is a world class target for potential discovery of significant mineralization. Throughout the past year, exploration drilling and growth of geological knowledge at Svartliden has suggested that the occurrence of base and precious metal mineralization is intrusion-related within an island arc tectonic setting exposed north of the Skellefte-field trend. A comparison of such tectonic architecture can be aligned to more modern equivalents such as the Papua New Guinea, or the porphyry-style continental deposits found in North and South America. Today, mining of such deposits has turned Chile into one of the largest copper-gold producers in the world. The international team has previously worked together on a range of exploration projects and has specific knowledge in gold and copper. The team is stationed in Mala and are mapping and modelling the identified alteration zones, which are key indicators of porphyry-style systems. The initial plan for exploration is to drill three holes, each of about 800 meters, during the winter of 2017 but the final drill plan may be adjusted according to the findings of the team. For further information, please refer to Copperstone Resources webpage : www.copperstone.se, or contact Per Storm, CEO Copperstone Resources AB, 070594 90 24, e-mail: per.storm@copperstone.se. Copperstone Resources AB (publ) is an exploration company focusing on the Copperstone project in the vicinity of the Skellefte field. This project has the potential to become one of the biggest base- and precious metal deposits in the Nordic Region. Copperstone Resources has thirteen exploration tenements covering c:a 11 360 hectare and two mining concession and one applied concession covering a total of 82 hectare. G&W Fondkommission is the Certified Adviser for Copperstone Resources AB. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ According to a Rajya Sabha reply on March 9, 2016 Minister of State for Home said that the central and state governments' agencies arrested 46 Pakistani espionage agents between 2013-16. By India Today Web Desk: The Delhi Police today detained a staff of the Pakistan High Commission over allegations of spying and stealing defence-related documents. Two men from Rajasthan, who are suspected to be ISI spies, were also arrested for leaking sensitive defence documents to the Pakistan official. The official, identified as Mehmood Akhtar, was questioned by the police over the matter but was soon let off owing to the diplomatic immunity he holds. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over the matter. advertisement Five days ago on October 22 a Pakistani agent was arrested from Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector. Two SIM cards and a map showing deployment of security forces were recovered from the spy. Bodhraj is reportedly a resident of Arnia sector in Jammu district and he is being interrogated by the security forces to seize further details. Earlier on October 13 the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had arrested two persons allegedly working as spies for Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. 46 PAKISTANI AGENTS ARRESTED BETWEEN 2013-16 According to a Rajya Sabha reply on March 9, 2016 Minister of State for Home said that the central and state governments' agencies arrested 46 Pakistani espionage agents between 2013-16. RECENT INSTANCES OF PAKISTANI SPY ARRESTED IN INDIA OCTOBER 22, 2016: A Pakistani spy had been arrested near the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. OCTOBER 13, 2016: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had arrested two persons allegedly working as spies for Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. Both of them were arrested from Kutch district, which shares border with Pakistan AUGUST 18, 2016: An alleged Pakistani spy was arrested by the Rajasthan police from Jaisalmer and items containing information on India's defence institutions seized from him. Nandlal hailing from Sangad district in Pakistan, was arrested from a hotel in Jaisalmer. FEBRUARY 2, 2016: An Indian national by the name of Irshad was arrested in Pathankot by the Punjab Police based on a tip off provided by Indian intelligence agencies. Irshad was an ISI agent who had managed to find an undercover job inside Pathankot Cantonment. FEBRUARY 1, 2016: An ISI (Inter Service Intelligence) agent was arrested from Bhopal region. The operation was a joint effort of NIA officials and Bhopal Crime branch. FEBRUARY 1, 2016: Four postal department officials based out of Pokhran and Balotra in Jaisalmer were arrested for allegedly spying for ISI. They are said to be passing on Army-related letters and other documents to a Pakistani agent. DECEMBER 28, 2015: An airman in the Indian Air Force, who allegedly shared secret documents with intelligence operatives backed by ISI, was arrested from Punjab by the crime branch of Delhi Police. The accused has been identified as Ranjith KK. He had joined the service in year 2010 and was posted at Bhatinda Air Force Station. DECEMBER 27, 2015: The ex-Army man, identified as Gordhan Singh Rathore, a patwari in Khetolai, the village closest to the Pokhran nuclear test site was arrested. A map detailing Pokhran field firing range has been recovered from his house. DECEMBER 8, 2015: Two suspected ISI spies were arrested by the CID in Rola village of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. They reportedly sent information related to military exercises in India to Pakistan. DECEMBER 6, 2015: An Indian Army rifleman was apprehended from West Bengal's Siliguri by Delhi Police crime branch team in a case of espionage linked to Pakistan's ISI. This is the fifth arrest made in the case between November 26 and December 6 from Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Siliguri. The rifleman has been identified as Farid Khan. DECEMBER 5, 2015: The Delhi Police arrested another person from Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with the alleged spying racket working on behalf of ISI. DECEMBER 4, 2015: Retired Army havildar Munawwar Ahmad Mir was arrested. DECEMBER 2, 2015: STF of the Kolkata Police arrested another person on suspicion of carrying on espionage at the behest of Pakistan's ISI. According to the police the accused Sheikh Badal is a resident of Karaya police station area in the city and was arrested near the Regional Passport Office at Brabourne Road in Kolkata. NOVEMBER 29, 2015: Kafaitullah Khan alias Master Raja, a resident of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested and who worked as a library assistant in a senior secondary school in Rajouri district. NOVEMBER 29, 2015: Abdul Rasheed, Border Security Force (BSF) head constable, posted in the intelligence wing of the force in Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir was arrested. NOVEMBER 29, 2015: Contract labourer 51-year-old Irshad Ansari, his son Asfaq Ansari and another relative, Mohammed Jahangir were arrested in Kolkata. According to police sources, both Irshad and Jahangir have relatives in Karachi and they were hired by the ISI during their visit to the neighbouring country. They have been working as ISI agents for more than 10 years and had been trained by the ISI. NOVEMBER 27, 2015: Mohd Aijaz alias Mohd Kalam was arrested from a spot near Meerut cantonment railway station by a team of STF after carefully scrutinising input. --- ENDS --- The Service you requested is not available at this time Regret the inconvenience caused. Try again after sometime. Akshay Kumar along with his family left for Maldives to ring in Diwali. By India Today Web Desk: Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna are known to throw one of the best Diwali parties in B-Town. But this time around, the couple won't be in Mumbai to celebrate Diwali. Akshay and Twinkle along with their kids Aarav and Nitara have ditched the normal celebrations and have taken to travel abraod this Diwali. The family has already left for Maldives to ring in Diwali. advertisement ALSO READ: 15 years after marriage, Akshay still can't take his eyes off wife Twinkle ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar's romantic getaway with wife Twinkle Khanna The Rustom actor was spotted with wife and kids at Mumbai airport as he left for Maldives. Clad in denims, grey tee and a black jacket, Akshay made his way to the airport. He was accompanied by his 14-year-old son Aarav. His 4-year-old daughter Nitara looked adorable in a yellow dress and a denim jacket. The family has left for a week-long holiday and will return only post Diwali. Akshay, who has wrapped up Jolly LLB 2 and Naam Shabana, has taken a break from his hectic schedule to enjoy some time with his family abroad. On the work front, Akshay will be next seen in Jolly LLB. (Photos: Yogen Shah) --- ENDS --- Alia Bhatt rubbished rumours that she and Sidharth Malhotra were having a lovers' tiff and said that he is still very much a part of her life. By India Today Web Desk: Much has been written about Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra's alleged breakup. It was speculated that the two rumoured lovebirds had called it quits to concentrate on their careers. However, in a recent interview with Deccan Chronicle, the Udta Punjab actor opened up about her supposed split with Sidharth. "When were we dating to have broken up? Sid is still a part of my life and I do talk to him," she said. She had earlier said in an interview with Hindustan Times, "I have always taken the liberty to say that Sidharth will be an important part of my life because I am aware of that fact. Apart from that, I have never been secretive about my fondness for him." advertisement ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt has a fitting reply for all 'fight with boyfriend Sidharth Malhotra' questions ALSO READ: Did Sidharth Malhotra just confess his love for rumoured girlfriend Alia Bhatt? ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt 'loves' Sidharth Malhotra. Yes, that's exactly what she said The two were spotted at the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil screening on Tuesday, putting a rest to rumours of their falling out. Alia, who is a self-confessed die-hard romantic, talked about falling in love at the age of 8. "I dated him for two years. I was planning babies in my head and all of that. He was a little possessive and I learnt not to let anybody tell me what to do," the 23-year-old actor revealed. --- ENDS --- Lenovos Phab 2 Pro will be the first smartphone to support Googles Tango 3D camera system, which means youll be able to use it to make 3D maps of real-world environments that you can use for gaming, interior decorating, or other activities. The 6.4 inch is also noteworthy because it will be one of the first Lenovo-branded smartphones sold in the US market. Up until now, the only phones Lenovo has sold in North America have been Motorola devices (Lenovo acquired Motorola in 2014). But it turns out the Phab 2 Pro isnt the only Lenovo-branded phone coming to America. A cheaper Lenovo Phab 2 just went on sale at the Lenovo Shop for $200. The Phab 2 has a big screen and a big battery, but the rest of the specs are kind of unimpressive: 6.4 inch, 1280 x 720 pixel IPS display MediaTek MTK 8735 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor Mali-720 MP2 graphics 3GB RAM 32GB storage + microSD card slot 13MP rear camera with PDAF 5Mp front camera with 85 degree wide-angle lens 4,050 mAh battery 802.11b/g/n dual-band WiFi Bluetooth 4.0 The phone is available in gold or grey, features a micro SIM card slot, and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow software. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack and capacitive buttons below the screen. While it has a less powerful processor, a lower resolution display, and less RAM than the Phab 2 pro, it will be a lot cheaper than the Phab 2 Pro, which is expected to sell for about $499. A note on the Phab 2 web page says the Pro model should be available November 1st. via Android Police Gosh, if it were your last meal as President and First Family, wouldn't you invite your close friends and family over for one last dinner, prepared by a chef who knows your taste, at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave? I know I would. As for that return to civilian life, a booth at All-Purpose might be a nice place to find yourself after a day spent unpacking boxes. That or somewhere near Kalorama, where the Obamas have purchased a home: Lapis for Afghan cooking in a cozy dining room, or the trendy Tail Up Goat for a rustic pasta or roast chicken. Chatters, feel free to weigh in with other ideas. Happy Wednesday, everyone. Welcome to another hour of restaurant talk. If you haven't been in awhile, do yourself a favor and book a table at Central Michel Richard. It's the subject of my forthcoming Sunday review, now online, and newly interesting, thanks to a host of fall menu additions. For starters, chef David Deshaies's lamb bisteeya is like a trip to Morroco. Bring on the questions! Greetings, all, and welcome to today's chat! We've got tons to talk about today, including Maura Judkis's piece about robots making your food; Sam Fromartz's ode to Fuchsia Dunlop, a great writer/teacher on Chinese cooking; Whitney Pipkin's take on Sandy Lerner's new highway-fast-food venture; and more, more, more. (Of course, we're deep into Thanksgiving planning, so we can tease you about all that, too. And help, of course!) For you PostPoints members, here's today's code: FR3648 . Remember, you'll record and enter it into the PostPoints site under Claim My Points to earn points. The code expires at midnight, so be sure to enter the code by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to get credit for participating. To entice you today, we'll have giveaway books: A copy of of Fuchsia Dunlop's great new "Land of Fish and Rice" for one chatter, and something from her backlist for another! Let's get going, but before we do: Could the chatter who submitted the rockfish question do so again? Looks like it accidentally got blitzed! Ronald Reagan The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive. Albert Einstein If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. Winston Churchill It isnt so much that liberals are ignorant. Its just that they know so many things that arent so. With integrity nothing else counts; Without integrity nothing else counts. Winston Churchill Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself. Harvey S. Firestone It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office. H. L. Menken Referenda insure all have a voice in land use decisions. U.S. Supreme Court Listen carefully to first criticism of your work. Note just what it is about your work the critics don't like - then cultivate it. That's the only part of your work that's individual and worth keeping. Jean Cocteau Commercial Furniture Manufacturer Cited for 14 Serious Safety Violations CACO Manufacturing was cited after machinery crushed and killed a worker on May 6, 2016 After heavy machinery crushed and killed a worker at a CACO Manufacturing plant, OSHA has cited the commercial furniture manufacturer for 14 serious and six additional citations. An investigation into the May 6, 2016, incident determined the company failed to securely anchor or guard machines, did not properly identify lockout/tag out devices, lacked energy control procedures, and failed to train employees on hazardous chemicals present in the workplace. "A worker's life ended tragically because CACO Manufacturing failed to ensure proper safety procedures were followed," said Mark Briggs, OSHA's area director in Houston. "This employer must take responsibility for the safety and health of its employees, and take immediate steps to reduce the dangers of working with heavy machinery and hazardous chemicals." Today we have an occasion to talk with Mr.Geoff Ballotti, President and Chief Executive Offier of Wyndham Hotel Group about his business projects in Phuket, lets start 1) Wyndhams global strategic direction? Geoff Ballotti: Our success is a result of an unrelenting focus on quality growth, delivering best-in-class technology solutions and providing the very best sales, marketing and loyalty programs. Were laser-focused on improving the quality of our portfolio saying hello to owners who will deliver great experiences to our guests and goodbye to those who cant work with us to upgrade their quality to meet our standards. Were the first hotel company of this size to roll out a secure, cloud-based property management system with automated revenue management capabilities ensuring our hotels are offer the right prices at the right time. Our sales and marketing efforts include propelling greater loyalty and repeat business through our award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program and strategically transforming our iconic brands aimed at elevating the travel experience for millennials and the diverse global middle class. 2) What about the development plans in South East Asia and are there plans to introduce more new brands? Geoff Ballotti: Though the luxury space has grown exponentially throughout Southeast Asia, the increasingly travel curious middle class do not have the options they deserve. We are focused on transforming travel for the growing middle class who are travelling more than ever and ensuring guests at all price points have access to great quality experiences and value. This gives us the opportunity to introduce more new brands to more new places and plans are underway to introduce many of our brands which have not yet operated in this region. Our brands are more consistent than ever before and have generated greater demand today with higher customer satisfaction scores and indices which is very encouraging. South East Asia a few years ago had less than 5,000 rooms. By the end of this year, we will have nearly 15,000 rooms opened, and will soon have 20,000 rooms opened within the next 12 months. Our development in South East Asia has nearly quadrupled in a very short period of time which is a testament to our commitment in growing in this region. 3) How many hotels of Wyndham Hotel Group in Thailand and what are some of their locations? Geoff Ballotti: There are 7 hotels under the Wyndham Hotel and Resorts, Ramada and Days Inn brands in Bangkok, Phuket, and Khao Lak. We will be opening a Wyndham Grand by the end of this year in Kalim Bay, Phuket which we visited with the owners our second Wyndham managed resort in Phuket. 4) Is there a particular brand that Wyndham is focusing on expanding? Barry Robinson: We will continue developing Wyndham brands at all levels such as Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and Ramada, which already enjoy a strong presence, but we are also boosting our portfolio in countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan. Our economy brand, Days Inn has an opportunity to gain greater traction here in Southeast Asia catering to the growth in guests travelling intra-regionally looking for comfortable, pocket-friendly accommodation. We have seen good traction in Philippines and will look to leverage on this in other regions. TRYP Brisbane in Australia is a unique property featuring urban-styled accommodation, and were hoping to capitalize on the demand for fresh, edgy new concepts in Southeast Asia. 5) Do you have any new projects coming up in Thailand that well be able to share? Geoff Ballotti: We have several under development and spent much of this week meeting in Bangkok with owners who are very excited to expand their portfolios with us. 6) What is the mission of Wyndham Hotel Group in Phuket? Geoff Ballotti: We already have nice presence in Phuket with Wyndham Grand opening in Kalim Bay, Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort, a Ramada and Days Inn in Patong, and we will continue to grow our presence in other parts of Phuket. Our overarching mission is to provide quality accommodations at all segments in the economy, midscale and upscale, and soon the upper upscale segment with the opening of Wyndham Grand. Within a four km radius we have four brands catering to different segments of the market. 7) What do you think of tourism in Phuket and foreseeable future? Geoff Ballotti Airport arrivals are up 13% last year, which bodes very well for tourism onto the isle of Phuket. We are even hearing from owners acros Thailand on their bullishness for inbound arrivals and continued tourism growth. China, the worlds largest source market is continuing to see record growth and there are many new source markets appearing, like Russian tourists who are coming to Phuket in record numbers. Together with Phukets phenomenal new airport terminal, they will be able to handle more flights in and out of this great new South East Asian gateway. 8) How often visit Phuket and why do you think its a good place? Geoff Ballotti I have been coming to Phuket for years for our timeshare and hotel businesses and it has always been a resilient and strong market for tourism. Most importantly, there are few places in the world where associates deliver more sincere, heartfelt and caring service with a smile. All 3 of Wyndham Worldwide business units are represented here the worlds leading hotel group, worlds number one timeshare development company, and the worlds number one timeshare exchange company, have all been doing business here for many years and we look forward to many more years ahead. Epson, Cirra Systems Enable Easy Food Ordering at University of Utah Lassonde Studios Students Benefit from Convenient and Fast Food Service Though Kiosk Ordering LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 25, 2016 Today Epson America, Inc., a leading supplier of value-added Point of Sale (POS) solutions, and Cirra Systems, developer of the Tavlo restaurant management system (RMS), announced that Chartwells, a schoolfoodservice management contractor, has successfully installed Epson receipt printers to support kiosk ordering at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, an entrepreneurial studies program that houses 400 of the brightest students in a brand new housing/teaching/collaboration facility on the University of Utah campus. Along with Tavlos RMS, the installation includes Epsons OmniLink TM-T88V-DT intelligent printer and the TM-U220 receipt printer, both stationed in the kitchen, as well as three Epson TM-m30 receipt printersone for each of the three kiosks. The OmniLink TM-T88V-DT acts as the device hub and with its embedded PC with VGA output drives kiosk applications to communicate directly with the Epson slave/receipt printers. OmniLinks ePOS Print and Server Direct Print technology provides seamless communication between the receipt printers and mobile devices anywhere in the Lassonde studios. We wanted an ordering system that made it easier and faster for the students to order, said Dallas Balzly, Chartwells director of dining. We also feel that this system will speed up our service and increase accuracy. And since we already had great success in using Tavlo and Epson printers in another location at the University of Utahs campus, this was an easy choice. The Lassonde Studios building features a 24/7 cafe where the Tavlo POS runs three self-order kiosks. Food orders are sent to the Epson receipt printers in the kitchen for preparation. The students pick up their order when their name is called. Cirra Systems will also provide an app that will let students tie in to this system from their rooms. Sending the orders directly from the kiosks to the Epson Omnilink printer significantlly cuts down on errors, said Jim Ngo, president of Cirra Systems. Tavlos reliability, accuracy and ease of use allowed the Lassonde cafe to eliminate order takers altogether. Epson delivers the perfect receipt printers to make the food ordering process go smoothly. With Tavlos RMS, Cirra Systems makes students food ordering experience a lot easier, said Tom Kettell, director Commercial Channel Sales at Epson. Tavlo delivers managed services through a simple, browser-based interface, so the cafe staff can deliver the best and smoothest service possible. About Cirra Systems Headquartered in Park City, Utah, Cirra Systems has developed the cloud-based Tavlo Restaurant Management System to improve restaurant efficiency, reduce errors and drive revenue through online sales and marketing. The solution integrates a POS system, customizable website, online ordering, employee timekeeping and CRM tools in a single package. Its browser-based POS enables seamless access on tablets, laptops, kiosks and other mobile devices, ensuring fast and effective tableside ordering and kitchen order delivery. Tavlo is entirely cloud-based, written with HTML5, and runs from any browser on any device: Kiosk, laptop, tablet or even a phone. Tavlo is compatible across Windows, Mac, iOS or Android platforms. To find out more, please visit www.cirrasystems.com. About Epson America, Inc. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Long Beach, CA, Epson America, Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. For over 40 years, Epsons advanced technology has been at work in millions of POS systems around the world. Today Epsons Business Systems Division continues to bring industry-leading, open architecture, smart technologies to the point of service. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (http://twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/EpsonAmerica). Other Point of Sale blogs that may interest you: Singapore's StarHub says malicious DDoS attacks caused broadband disruptions Singapore telecommunications company StarHub has said the recent service outages affecting some of its home broadband customers were caused by cyberattacks. After inspecting the network logs of the internet connection disruptions, the company said on Wednesday (26 October) that it found evidence of intentional, possibly malicious distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on its domain name servers. The company noted that they did not find any evidence that their other services were affected by the two attacks that occurred on Monday (24 October) and Saturday (22 October). Customers' information was not compromised in the attack either, the company maintained. A DDoS occurs when an attacker floods a company's network with fake traffic or messages in an effort to take it down and render it useless to clients. "On both occasions, we mitigated the attacks by filtering unwanted traffic and increasing our DNS capacity, and restored service within two hours," StarHub said in a statement. The company said it was working closely with authorities to determine the source and intent of attacks that it described as "unprecedented in scale, nature and complexity". The latest DDoS attacks follow the massive cyberattacks that took down a portion of the internet in the US and parts of Europe and knocked multiple major websites offline including Twitter, Netflix, Amazon, Spotify and Reddit. In Friday's attack, hackers targeted major DNS provider Dyn, which handles the "address book" of the internet for many major companies. That outage involved attackers using a malware called Mirai to compromise hundreds of thousands of connected devices, such as webcams and digital recorders, and create a massive botnet of hacked IoT devices. The source code for the IoT botnet was released to the public earlier this month. StarHub told that it does not use Dyn's services. In a joint statement, the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) urged other telecom companies to bolster their own security against similar attacks. Both Singapore Telecommunications and M1, the top and third-ranked telecom operators in Singapore, said they did not observe any abnormal traffic trends on their own systems over the weekend, but noted they were aware of the incident and would be on alert. Colombia's ELN rebels have begun the process of releasing a hostage at the center of a dispute threatening planned peace talks with the government, a top official said Thursday. "We have been informed by the Red Cross that the operation to free (hostage ex-lawmaker Odin Sanchez) has begun," said Juan Camilo Restrepo, the government's chief negotiator for the talks. The negotiations had been due to formally open at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT) until President Juan Manuel Santos suspended them with just hours to go because of the dispute over Sanchez. Restrepo said he believed the hostage handover would be completed by November 3, when the first round of actual negotiations had been scheduled to begin. "The government celebrates this news, and notes this operation, which it hopes will come to a satisfactory conclusion," he said. The International Committee of the Red Cross often facilitates the handover of hostages from Colombian rebel groups after their release has been agreed. It was not immediately clear how long Sanchez's release would take. Santos earlier said the talks could not begin "until (the rebels) release Odin Sanchez safe and sound." The president, who won the Nobel Peace Prize this month, is working on two fronts to end a half-century conflict gripping Colombia. His government is also in talks with a larger rebel group, the FARC. The two sides are racing to save a peace deal that voters rejected in a referendum this month. Colombia's conflict has claimed more than 260,000 lives and left 45,000 missing. Credit cards a large part of our daily spending habits. In a society that is largely cashless, credit cards are with us all the time. But are we all really satisfied with our credit cards? J.D. Power Singapore conducted a credit card satisfaction study which was released in October 2016. It found that what affected customer satisfaction the most was poor customer service. 2,927 cardholders were surveyed in August and September this year. It was revealed that American Express ranked the highest in credit card customer satisfaction, while POSB and Citibank came in second and third respectively. The study, now in its second year, measures customer satisfaction with their credit card issuer by examining six key factors: interaction; credit card terms; billing and payment; rewards; benefits and services; and problem resolution. The following are highlights from the 2016 study: Mobile Wins Big : Mobile app usage has increased this year to 29%, up from 21% in 2015. Reward Programmes Are Confusing: 18% of cardholders surveyed perceive that card issuers are making their rewards programmes harder to understand. The changing conditions for cardholders to earn and redeem rewards, as well as limitations on offers and promotions, can make it difficult for cardholders to get the most out of their cards. Lack of Understanding of Credit Card Terms: Foreign currency and transaction fees are the most common areas in which customers lack understanding. Nearly half (47%) of all cardholders say they partially understand or completely do not understand foreign currency and transaction fees. Low Interest Rate Awareness: More than one-third (37%) of cardholders are not aware of their credit card interest rate. Even among customers who carry a balance on their credit card, and hence are affected more by an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on their outstanding balance, 40% say they partially or do not at all understand their interest rate. Problem Incidences Decline from Last Year: Only 10% of customers have experienced a problem with their card in the past 12 months, a decline of four percentage points from last year. Late or annual fees is the problem most commonly reported by customers (29%), followed by issues with rewards programmes (16%). Story continues Source: J.D. Power Source: J.D. Power Mobile Digital Wallets Off to a Promising Start The study also found that more than one-fourth (26%) of cardholders now use mobile digital wallet technology such as Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Wallet or Samsung Pay, which was launched earlier this year. The average satisfaction score among users of mobile digital wallets was higher than those who do not use digital wallets. It is encouraging to see mobile digital wallet technology not only gaining traction but also helping to increase customer satisfaction with their credit card issuer, said Gordon Shields, director at J.D. Power. Source: J.D. Power Source: J.D. Power (By Samantha Chiew) Related Articles - Tiger Street Food Support Fund: Preserving Singapores Culture - Singapores Fintech Push - 5 myths about saving money and what to do about them Three men were arrested by the police for trying to export the antique idols illegally. By Akshaya Nath: Tamil Nadu Police seized several antique idols, depicting Hindu gods, meant for illegal export. The Department of Revenue intelligence arrested three men, including a doctor, in relation to the case. There have been several incidents of idol smuggling in the city in the last couple of months. The investigators have said that the three arrested men have close links to already arrested Idol smuggler G Deenadayalan. The investigation agencies are now assessing the worth of the antiques with the help of experts. advertisement Tamil Nadu CID's idol wing, in May 2016, had seized antiques worth Rs 50 crore from 85-year-old Deenadayalan's residence in Chennai. The connection of the arrested smugglers with Deenadayalan is being investigated. The investigators are hopeful about busting more such smuggling cases. Also read: 10-year-old Chennai boy donates Rs 1,000 prize money for cleaning of Ganga, PMO writes back --- ENDS --- President Vladimir Putin slammed as "hysteria" Thursday claims that Russia has tried to interfere in the upcoming US presidential elections by hacking US political institutions including the Democrats behind frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Russia has been accused of favouring Republican candidate Donald Trump -- who has praised Putin and called for better relations with Moscow -- over the more hawkish Clinton. "The number of mythical, dreamt-up problems includes the hysteria -- I can't think of another word -- that has broken out in the United States about the influence of Russia on the current elections for the US president," Putin said at a meeting of political scientists in Sochi. "Does anyone seriously think Russia can somehow influence the choice of the US people? Is the US some kind of banana republic? The United States is a great power. Please correct me if I'm wrong," Putin said to laughter in the audience. Washington last week formally accused the Russian government of trying to "interfere" in the 2016 White House race by hacking US political institutions, charges the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed. Putin has vehemently rejected the accusations, saying they are meant to divert American voters from domestic problems. "It's a lot easier to distract people's attention towards Russia's so-called hackers, spies, agents of influence and so on," Putin said Thursday. The Kremlin strongman however adopted a hard line against cyber attacks, saying these are "unacceptable". Russian authorities have slammed Washington for "unprecedented" threats after US Vice President Joe Biden told NBC this month that Putin would receive a "message" in response to the alleged hacking. NBC later reported that the CIA was preparing a retaliatory cyber attack "designed to harass and embarrass the Kremlin leadership." Russia's foreign ministry at the weekend said that an old version of its website had apparently been attacked after a US hacker claimed he broke in and posted a mocking message. - 'Absolute nonsense' - The Kremlin was propelled to the heart of US politics in July after Clinton's campaign blamed Moscow for a damaging leak of emails from the Democratic National Committee. Putin has offered what appears to be veiled support for Trump, but he said Thursday that claims the Kremlin would like to see the Republican candidate win were "absolute nonsense." "This is just a method of political struggle, a way to manipulate public opinion on the eve of the US elections," he said. Putin nonetheless praised Trump for appealing to disenchanted American electors. "He represents the views of a significant part of society in the United States that is tired of those elites who have been in power for decades," he said. "He just represents the interests of such ordinary people, and he presents himself as an ordinary guy who criticises those who have already been in power for decades." - Russia not attacking anyone - He accused the West of building up a "mythical and made-up" threat of Russian aggression to justify increasing military spending and bolstering NATO forces in countries neighbouring Russia. "It's very pleasant and profitable to make yourself out to be defendants of civilisation from some new barbarians, but the thing is Russia doesn't plan to attack anyone," he said. "It's unthinkable -- simply stupid and unrealistic," he added. "It's just funny to talk about it." Putin also took a jab at the West for its "mistakes" in its military interventions in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and now, Syria. "The fight against terrorism has not yielded a global result while the threats are only growing," he warned, complaining that Russia's calls to unite forces against terrorism have been ignored. He pointed the finger of blame at the United States for the ongoing violence in Syria, saying that "stopping bloodshed and launching a political process (in Syria) has not been possible." "Our personal agreements with the US President did not work," Putin added, accusing forces in Washington of "doing everything for these not to be implemented." Putin said Russia had been comporting itself in a "composed" manner. "But our patience has its limits," he said, without elaborating. Investments in financial technology companies, or fintechs, are growing at a rapid pace across the world. One reason for this development is that in the aftermath of the 2007/08 financial crisis, regulators clamped down on traditional financial institutions. Consequently, fintechs emerged to take advantage of the market opportunity created by this development. According to a report by global consultancy Accenture, investments in fintechs in 2015 amounted to US$22 billion (S$30.64 billion), a 75% increase over the previous year. In the first quarter of 2016, US$5.3 billion (S$7.38 billion) had been pumped into fintech companies. This is a 67% increase over the same period last year. Singapore has recognised the immense potential that fintechs hold. A number of initiatives have been launched in the country to give new companies an opportunity to make their ideas a reality. Monetary Authority of Singapores regulatory sandbox The countrys financial regulator has taken a liberal approach and announced the creation of a regulatory sandbox. This will allow start-ups and existing companies in the financial sector or even those operating in non-financial areas to launch new products in a relaxed regulatory environment. How will the regulatory sandbox work? According to the procedure proposed by MAS, a fintech could initially offer a solution to a targeted group of customers and monitor the progress over a period of, say, six months. Of course, MAS concurrence would be required before the new service can be launched. If there are no glitches during the sandbox period, and both the fintech and MAS are satisfied with the performance of the product or service, then the company would be allowed to scale up. This infographic from MAS illustrates how the regulatory sandbox will work. Source: Monetary Authority of Singapore Source: Monetary Authority of Singapore FinTech & Innovation Group In another initiative, MAS has set up the FinTech & Innovation Group, which has been tasked with providing fintechs with regulatory policies and strategies to help them succeed in their chosen areas. The unit has identified three distinct sectors in which it will focus. Story continues Payments and technology solutions to facilitate the development of simple and secure payment solutions for financial services. Technology infrastructure to provide a boost to cloud computing, big data and distributed ledgers. Technology innovation lab to identify and nurture new technologies in the financial sector. The Singapore government and MAS have also committed to investing a sum of S$225 million in fintech projects over the next five years. Hong Kongs experience Source: Thinkstock/Getty Images Source: Thinkstock/Getty Images Fintechs in Hong Kong have not had a very successful start. A recent report by Reuters says that start-ups find it difficult to meet the stringent regulatory requirements imposed by Hong Kong. Approvals for starting operations are hard to come by. Take the example of Jimubox, a Chinese peer-to-peer lender. The company spent almost a year in setting itself up in Hong Kong, but finally withdrew from the market when it realised that it would be difficult to sign up customers because of the strict rules in force for account-opening. Because of the relatively inflexible approach of the regulatory authorities, Hong Kong has fewer than 100 fintechs. Contrast this with the situation in Singapore, where over 200 fintechs have set up shop in the last two years. Successful fintechs in Singapore Source: Thinkstock/Getty Images Source: Thinkstock/Getty Images A tech-savvy population, the availability of highly skilled manpower and conducive government policies have resulted in the launch of several fintechs that have gained a foothold in the market. Fastacash This start-up has developed a social payment platform that enables the transfer of money across any social or messaging channel. Its business model is built on the question: If I can send you a photo through WhatsApp, why cant I share money with you too?. The companys products already serve markets in India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore and Vietnam. Mesitis The company has developed several products aimed at the private wealth market. Its specialised platforms provide account aggregation facilities, access to global equity and fixed income markets, and robo-advisory services. Open Trade Docs Utilising blockchain technology, Open Trade Docs provides users with the ability to create digital trade finance documents. This allows clients to control their data themselves instead of having to rely on a third-party service provider. Fintechs can be Singapores next growth engine The exponential increase in the number of fintechs in Singapore in the recent past indicates that this sector could help to boost the nations economy in the years ahead. Southeast Asia has a population of 600 million, a majority of whom are not served by the formal banking system. Singapore is ideally positioned to take advantage of this massive business opportunity by becoming the regional hub for the financial technology companies that will be formed to address this market. (By Ravinder Kapur) Related Articles - Fintech investment in Asia: China leads Europe and the US 50% of global fintech investment is in China - Citibank Warning 30% of jobs at US and European banks at risk from the FinTech Boom - FinTech: Disruption in Banking The Asia Story We all grew up with hawker food from our favourite neighbourhood hawker centres. It was all part of growing up, watching the uncle or auntie swiftly prepare our bak chor mee or chicken rice. But this generation of uncles and aunties are starting to retire and the younger generation of hawkers are far and few between. This is something Tiger Beer hopes to change with their Tiger Street Food Support Fund. They want to preserve the unique heritage that Singapore has and prevent this trade from dying. Its a noble cause. Source: Tiger Beer Singapore Source: Tiger Beer Singapore That is why they are pumping in a whopping S$300,000 into this fund for aspiring or existing hawkers. The fund is open to first-time hawkers or those who have just opened up within the last three months (as at August 2016). Successful applicants will receive up to S$10,000 in funding or reimbursement. The money disbursed can be used to offset business costs with the exception of rent. The fund is calling out to applicants from now till 15 November 2016. A total of 30 applicants will be selected and the winners will be announced in January 2017. The fund is part of Tiger Beers street food movement with the goal of bringing Singaporeans together to preserve this street food culture. This started early in the year, in April, when the beer company made a commitment to reinvest S$0.20 into the fund for every 6-pack purchased. (By Samantha Chiew) Related Articles - Singapores Fintech Push - 5 myths about saving money and what to do about them Venezuela's opposition ratcheted up the pressure on President Nicolas Maduro at mass protests, announcing plans for a new march and general strike. Opposition leaders called a 12-hour general strike for Friday and vowed to use their legislative majority to issue a declaration holding the elected socialist accountable for his handling of a severe economic crisis. "We are going to notify Nicolas Maduro that the Venezuelan people declare that he has abandoned his post," the speaker of the National Assembly, Henry Ramos Allup, said to cheers from hordes of protesters in Caracas. He said his side would deliver that ruling in a march on November 3 to the presidential palace. Jesus Torrealba, secretary general of the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), also drew thunderous applause when he announced the general strike. "Everyone, stay home," he urged Venezuelans. Then, government number two Diosdado Cabello warned that any business that shuts for a general strike could be taken "by the workers, and by the Armed Forces." Opposition activists put the protest turnout at 1.2 million in the capital, the largest in a day of nationwide demonstrations. Maduro held his own rally with thousands of supporters outside the presidential palace. Clashes broke out at protests in other parts of the country. "Sadly we have a police officer in Miranda state who has died, Jose Alejandro Molina Ramirez, plus two more officers hurt," Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said on state television. Three people were shot in the northwestern city of Maracaibo, said Alfredo Romero, head of Venezuelan rights group Foro Penal. In all, at least 20 people were injured and 80 detained nationwide, the group said. - 'Coup' claims - Venezuela is home to the world's largest oil reserves but has plunged into a deep recession due to falling crude prices -- leading to shortages and ever louder calls for Maduro to go. His opponents accuse him of a "coup" after authorities last week halted a bid for a referendum on removing him from power. The president says it is the opposition that is trying to stage a coup. Analysts have warned of a risk of violence in the volatile country. Clashes at anti-government protests in 2014 left 43 people dead. The opposition's vow to march on the presidential palace next week raised the tone in the power struggle. The palace was the scene of a short-lived opposition coup attempt in 2002 against Maduro's late mentor, Hugo Chavez. The head of the armed forces, Vladimir Padrino, who is also Maduro's defense minister, declared "unconditional loyalty" to the president on Tuesday. Maduro held a meeting of his National Defense Council on Wednesday. In televised comments at the gathering, he called for "political dialogue and peace in Venezuela." - Presidential trial sought - Maduro calls the economic crisis a capitalist conspiracy. The opposition blames his gross economic management. A recent poll found that more than 75 percent of Venezuelans disapprove of Maduro. On Tuesday, lawmakers voted to stage a "political and criminal trial" against him. But the government maintains that since 1999 there has been no constitutional clause about dereliction of presidential duties, or about the legislature voting to launch what would amount to impeachment proceedings. The opposition disagrees. The Supreme Court has overruled the National Assembly's decisions ever since the opposition majority took control in January. Maduro's opponents say he controls the courts and the electoral authorities and has used them to block the referendum. "The MUD has the political capital, but the government has the power," political scientist Luis Salamanca told AFP. - Opposition divisions - The MUD says it will only agree to talks if the government respects the constitutional right to a referendum and frees its imprisoned activists and leaders, among other demands. The opposition says the authorities have jailed more than 100 "political prisoners," including Leopoldo Lopez, leader of the most hardline anti-Maduro movement. But the MUD, which tends to the center-right, is a fractious coalition united mainly by shared hatred of Maduro. Its divisions were clear at Wednesday's marches. Protesters heckled one top leader, Henrique Capriles, a state governor known as a moderate. "Coward! Get off the stage!" shouted some. Others called for an immediate march on the presidential palace. Capriles urged patience and strategy. One protester, Lucia Russo, a 33-year-old graphic designer, left in disgust when leaders declared a one-day general strike. She thought it should have been indefinite. "It's not worth marching for nothing," she said. Most small businesses are more likely to retain their temporary workers after the holidays, a new survey has found. According to Snagajobs Holiday Hiring 2016 Annual Report, 86 percent of employers are likely to hire temporary workers full time after the holidays. 2016 Holiday Hiring Trends Small Businesses to Hire More The survey found 90 percent of businesses are planning to hire this year. Thats up 10 percent from last year. Employers are planning to offer their workers an average 27 hours a week, up 8 percent from 2014 and 17 percent from 2015. Also worth noting is that employers are paying their workers more. The biggest change was in retail, which went up to $13.90 per hour in 2016 from $9.70 in 2015. What Businesses are Looking for in Seasonal Employees When it comes to recruiting seasonal employees, three things that matter the most to businesses are: Positive attitude/eagerness to have the job, Ability to work the daily schedule employers need and Commitment to work the entire holiday season. The retail space is increasingly competitive, Craig Rowley, global leader of Hay Groups retail practice told The Wall Street Journal. If Im hiring a seasonal employee, Im looking for someone who reflects my brand. Understanding the customer and why they are there makes you more effective. Tip on Hiring the Right Seasonal Employees Seasonal employees play an important role during the busiest time of the year. Its therefore essential to find the right people for the job. Experts recommend starting the recruitment process early. If youre a retailer whos not hiring in September, youre giving your competitors a lead on you, Daniel Butler, vice president of retail operations at the National Retail Federation told Inc.com. For the report, Snagajob surveyed over 1,000 hourly employers. Snagajob is a Virginia-based job search engine website. Heres a non-shocker: Millennial business owners depend on social media for brand promotion more than any other medium. Shocked, right? OK, probably not. But just how much Millennial business owners are using this relatively new media or how much they dont use traditional media may come as a surprise. New data (PDF) from Magisto shows that 68 percent of Millennial small business owners and entrepreneurs depend on social media channels for developing awareness of their own brands. Moreover, social media is relied upon by 60 percent of Millennial small business owners to generate revenue for their businesses. Just 27 percent of Baby Boomer business owners rely on social media as a revenue stream or for developing brand awareness. Millennials at small and medium sized businesses are defining a new world order for marketing that is digitally native, social-first and driven by video, Magisto CMO Reid Genauer says. They see the entire customer journey through a unified lens turning a system of fragmented consumer touch points into a holistic map that includes growing a brand and a business. Unlike more traditional predecessors, millennials drive all marketing functions via digital channels, with a focus on social media. Magisto finds that a majority (58 percent) of Millennial small business owners will spend most of their marketing budgets on digital channels. Baby Boomer business owners spend just 14 percent of their marketing budgets on digital ads. So, what does this mean for your business? If youre competing in a market dominated by Millennials, its important to understand where theyre generating leads and engaging with their audience. And its probably prudent to go there as well. It may not require completely tipping the scale from a marketing budget perspective, but it should prompt older business owners to take a look at social media and other digital marketing options. All the beer enthusiasts out there, here's some good news for you. By India Today Web Desk: Beer is healthier than milk. Yes, you read that right. People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is now out to claim that beer is better than milk. A PETA-sponsored billboard has been put up at Hilldale Mall, which is located just a mile away from the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The university has been ranked America's top party school, and thus, the ad campaign aims to target college students while urging them to consume beer instead of milk. advertisement Also read: Milk is nature's best wellness drink, here are 4 healthy reasons for you to slurp it The ad is just another version of the "Got milk?" advertisement and reads, "Got Beer? It's Official: Beer Is Better for You Than Milk". It also states scientific reasons behind the claim and suggests that beer, not milk, protects bone and heart health. This is not the first time that PETA has run its "Got Beer" campaign. The advertisement started in the year 2000 but was attacked by various groups including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). A donation of USD 500 was made to MADD by PETA out of goodwill after the "Got Beer?" campaign was pulled down in 2000. It was eventually stripped off in 2002 because of the backlash by MADD. "The verdict is in, and even beer beats milk hands down. Alcohol in moderation can be good for you, but there's no way to consume dairy foods responsibly when they harm our health and cause billions of cows to suffer," says PETA executive vice-president Tracy Reiman. PETA also went on to compare different health benefits of both the drinks, clearly outlining that beer is healthier than milk. "Consumption of dairy foods has been linked to serious health problems, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer -- as well as conditions such as acne, excess mucus, and symptoms of lactose intolerance, such as flatulence. There is even evidence that dairy foods cause osteoporosis -- rather than preventing it -- by depleting bone mass. Beer, on the other hand, has been shown to help keep bones from going brittle, among other health benefits.", PETA stated on its website. So, for all the beer-lovers out there, it's time to indulge in your favourite drink without guilt. --- ENDS --- - Uhuru Kenyatta turned 55 years on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 - Among those who wished a happy birthday is his deputy, William Ruto President Uhuru Kenyatta turned 55 years old on Wednesday, October 26, 2016. Uhuru and Ruto READ ALSO: Bungoma County politician beaten up for ditching Jubilee for CORD The president was born on October 26, 1961. Kenyans joined other leaders to wish the president a celebratory birthday, with many praying that he lives to celebrate many more. Among those who sent sweet messages to Uhuru on his big day was his deputy, William Ruto. Uhuru strolling in the streets of Mombasa at night. READ ALSO: Grace Makosewe wanted to eat this food before she died Ruto is in Angola for official duty, but he ensured that his message reached the president in time and in the right form. The DP took to his social media platforms, referring to Uhuru as 'my friend'. He also talked of the security issue that saw Uhuru cancel his trip to Angola after al-Shabaab militants brutally butchered 12 people in Mandera town. Uhuru Kenyatta goes to eat meat in the streets. READ ALSO: By-election results: ODM 3 - 1 Jubilee Party "My friend Rais wa Kenya, UK My very best wishes as you celebrate your birthday. I know matters security are your immediate concern now but God is in charge of all situations. Kenyans and I are confident of your ability as the Commander in Chief to keep our country out of danger. Without a doubt, you are ably represented here in Angola. Your loyal friend and Deputy ~ WSR" It is a wrap, Uhuru turned 55. READ ALSO: Kibra MP's life threatened by residents over 'Jubilee' affiliation Loyalty is key. See President Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto goofing around: Source: TUKO.co.ke RABAT, Oct (HKSE: 3366-OL.HK - news) 27 (Reuters) - Morocco's Attijariwafa Bank said it will sell 50 percent of OGM Holding, the parent company of Morocco's biggest insurance company Wafa Assurance, to the royal holding firm National Investment Co. (SNI) ahead of buying Barclays Egypt. Attijariwafa said it is looking to solidify its solvency ratios in order to get regulatory approval for buying Barclays (Swiss: BARC.SW - news) Egypt. SNI will buy the stake at 3,250 dirhams per share, against a closing price of 3,670 dirhams on Thursday, valuing Wafa Assurance at about 11.4 billion dirhams ($1.15 billion). OGM controls 79.29 percent of Wafa Assurance. SNI has a 47.83 percent stake in Attijariwafa Bank, while Wafa Assurance holds a minority stake of 6.61 percent. SNI, controlled by the Moroccan royal family, is the largest private stakeholder in the North African kingdom's economy. ($1 = 9.8897 Moroccan dirham) (Reporting By Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) Career fairs and talks are no longer effective, as millennials want a more immersive experience along with mentorship opportunities Eight months ago, Wilfred Wong attended a five-week talent development programme organised by Singapore-based mentorship software startup Protege. At the event, the 22-year-old chatted with industry professionals from companies like LinkedIn and Deloitte. Along the way, Wong, who is a second year major in Maritime Studies at Nanyang Technological University, also picked up a mentor at the bootcamp a human resource manager from Keppel Corporation. For job searching, the first step is to [typically] get through the interviews. But I still face the problem of not knowing what the interviewers want. With industry contacts, its very useful to get advice to plan your career, Wong shared. Also Read: 6 important things to remember about your millennial colleagues Increasingly, millennials like Wong are searching for mentors before job interviews. They are also looking for practical advice and realistic accounts of workplace cultures. Leveraging on this trend, Protege is launching an online community website, called TalentTribe Asia, next month. The portal will help connect millennials and employers, offering perspectives on workplace cultures and a sneak peek into a day of the work lives of employees across job functions. Millennials prefer having close contact and face-to-face interaction, such as through mentorship. They like having a visual, insiders look of the company through office tours and interactive activities, said cofounder Stephenie Pang, who added that career talks and fairs are passe these days. A millennial herself, Pang said career fairs do not provide a sufficient understanding of job requirements and company cultures. These days, young talents dont like to be told what to do; they want to see how their work fits into the bigger picture, she added. Through interviews and videos of workspaces, TalentTribe Asia will offer a 360-degree view of individual company profiles in a single website, said Pang. Users can also view short videos with sound bites from employees across different job functions, such as marketing or engineering. Story continues Also Read: A few thoughts on millennial flakiness and freelancing Also, a live chat section is in the pipeline, where online users can post questions to its moderators. Protege founders have been working closely with their advisor, Paul Lim, a lecturer of organisational behaviour & human resources at Singapore Management University. A research paper, published last year by Lim, found Millennials to be leaving their jobs faster and in greater numbers than those from other generational cohorts. Speaking over a phone interview, Lim said: Millennials are finding that they cant really apply what they learnt at school in the workplace. If they find something else that fits, theyll walk away. The startup said it has lined up at least six companies for the launch of TalentTribe Asia and is in talks with several others. Protege began as a software service for enterprises to start, manage and measure their mentorship programmes. Currently being bootstrapped by its founders, the startup also secured seed funding of S$50,000 from SPRING Singapore and about $15,000 through competitions. Proteges mentorship software offers a mobile application for mentors and mentees to interact, and a web dashboard for programme managers to analyse the progress of mentorship programmes. - The views expressed here are of the authors, and e27 may not necessarily subscribe to them. e27 invites members from Asias tech industry and startup community to share their honest opinions and expert knowledge with our readers. If you are interested in sharing your point of view, submit your post here. The post This Singapore startup knows what makes millennials tick when it comes to job hunting appeared first on e27. Bengaluru Police finally cracked the murder case of Rudresh who was hacked to death on October 16. By Rohini Swamy: The murder case of RSS worker, Rudresh has finally been cracked as the Bengaluru Police arrested four persons involved in the crime. The main accused, Wasim is the one who hacked Rudresh with a machete. The second is Mazhar who rode the bike during the attack. There were two others, Majeeb and Irfan, who acted as supporting team members for this murder. advertisement The motive behind Rudresh's murder, the police said, was the fact that Rudresh was getting popular among the locals in Shivajinagar and the accused persons could not accept his popularity. The police, however, did not clear the air on whether this was a political killing or a contract killing. Also read: Bengaluru man caught on camera exposing himself, chasing girls CCTV FOOTAGE The police managed to find clues based on the CCTV footages as well as the sketches based on eye-witness reports. "We were delayed in getting clues as the eye-witnesses were in shock and we lost on the golden hours of investigation due to protests in that area. We could have cracked this earlier, if we had not lost initial three days of investigation." said Bengaluru Police Commissioner, NS Megharikh. On October 16, Rudresh was hacked to death which proved to be a big challenge for the police. Wasim, Mazhar and Majeeb were arrested in the wee-hours of Thursday, and Irfan was apprehended later in the day. The police have seized two motorbikes and related evidence to prove their involvement in the murder case. Also read: This Diwali, there is an ATM that dispenses gold coins "We are very relieved that we have not only cracked the case but we have also lived up to our reputation," said the Bangalore commissioner. --- ENDS --- LAS CRUCES Las Cruces police arrested a couple suspected of switching bar codes in an attempt to fraudulently obtain merchandise from a local Walmart. Joshua Sean Nestle, 25, and Bonnie Kathryn Ligon, 24, are charged with one count each of shoplifting more than $500 and conspiracy. Nestle also faces one count of non-residential burglary. The charges are all fourth-degree felony counts. Additional charges are pending, according to an LCPD news release. Detectives learned that, at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, loss prevention personnel at the Walmart store on Rinconada Boulevard saw Nestle and Ligon transferring UPC bar codes from lower-priced merchandise to products that are more expensive, the release said. According to police, they then went to a self-checkout where $855 worth of merchandise rang up to $3. Before police arrived at the Walmart, Nestle and Ligon fled in a silver Honda sedan driven by Ligon, the release said. Officers found the vehicle before it left the Walmart parking lot. Nestle and Ligon were booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center. Nestle is initially being held without bond while bond for Ligon was set at $2,000. 2016 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ SANTA FE A State Police officer who survived a shot to the stomach from a suspect three years ago is now suing the Espanola apartments where the incident took place, saying the complex should not have allowed the shooter with a criminal record to be on the premises. Agent Joey Gallegos was shot by 22-year-old Rogelio Cisneros-Chavez at the Las Lomas apartments in Espanola on Oct. 24, 2013 when Gallegos and other officers went there to serve an arrest warrant on Cisneros-Chavez. He was wanted on a battery and criminal damage to property case out of Santa Fe Magistrate Court. Agent Gallegos fired 16 shots back at Cisneros-Chavez after Gallegos was hit. Cisneros-Chavez died at the scene. Gallegos was released from the hospital a little more than a week later. Gallegoss suit filed in Santa Fe District Court this week maintains the apartment complex should not have allowed Cisneros-Chavez to be on the property, saying Cisneros-Chavez was not an authorized resident and management knew about his violent nature and criminal record. The suit says the apartment where the shooting took place was leased to Cisneros-Chavezs mother, Angelica Romero. News reports at the time said the apartment belonged to Heather Romero, Cisneros-Chavezs girlfriend. A lawyer representing Gallegos could not be reached Wednesday. The lawsuit says the complex breached its duties to keep the premises safe by allowing Cisneros-Chavez on the property, allowing Ms. Romero and others to continue to live at the complex despite the danger they posed and for not having adequate security and failing to keep dangerous people out. As a result of this negligence, Gallegos was critically wounded and barely survived, according to the suit. Gallegos is asking for compensatory damages as well as punitive damages to punish the complex and deter other apartment complexes from similar conduct. The suit claims management had removed Cisneros-Chavez from the property before. A manager for the complex said Wednesday that the property came under new management in March, and no one working there was familiar with the situation. Then-District Attorney Angela Spence Pacheco announced in March 2014 that an investigative grand jury found the police shooting of Cisneros-Chavez justified. She said Cisneros-Chavez shot Gallegos with a 9-mm handgun he bought earlier that day, and Gallegos began shooting back. Cisneros-Chavez was hit more than once, Pacheco said. John Ryan, an Albuquerque-area Republican, has left the state Senate seat he held since 2005. Ryan resigned Oct. 14, 2 months short of the end of his third term. Ryan was one of Republican Gov. Susana Martinezs closest allies in the Democratic-run Senate and is the husband of Cultural Affairs Secretary Veronica Gonzales. He didnt run for re-election this year in Senate District 10, paving the way for a spirited contest for the open seat between the GOPs Candace Gould, an advocate for foster children, and Democrat Dave Simon, a former State Parks Division director. The winner would take office in January. The district includes parts of Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, and each county commission is supposed to nominate someone to fill the vacancy in the meantime, with the governor having the final say. Bernalillo County is soliciting resumes; Sandoval County hasnt announced its plans. HELPING CLINTON: The wife of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine will be in New Mexico today and Friday to campaign for Hillary Clinton and urge supporters to vote early. Anne Holton will host a roundtable on education, kids and families at 3 p.m. today at the Thomas Bell Community Center in Albuquerque, followed by a 4:15 p.m. stop at a women-to-women phone bank at Clintons Albuquerque headquarters. On Friday, shell be in Santa Fe to host an early vote event with supporters at 10:30 a.m. at a private residence. Holton is a lawyer and former judge who served as secretary of education in Virginia. Shes the daughter of former Virginia Gov. Linwood Holton, so she lived in the governors mansion as a child and an adult. Kaine, a U.S. senator, was the governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010. GOV. IN DALLAS: Gov. Martinez traveled to Dallas on Wednesday for meetings of the Republican Governors Association, according to her office. Shes due back this evening. The RGA is paying for the travel, a spokesman in her office said. The nations GOP governors chose Martinez as chairwoman of the organization in November 2015, and she has traveled out of state frequently in recent months for RGA business and to campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidates. Deborah Baker: dbaker@abqjournal.com The only socialist candidate for president appearing on the ballot in New Mexico, Gloria La Riva of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, says fear of her partys politics led APS officials to pull the plug on her Wednesday visit to Manzano High School her alma mater. Perhaps fear that parents will get upset, fear of an alternative party, or fear the Albuquerque Public Schools would appear to be supporting socialism, La Riva, a New Mexico native, said during a phone interview. APS spokeswoman Monica Armenta said fear of PSLs politics was not a factor; rather, the cancellation was because the visit, originally approved by Manzanos principal, would violate APS district policy. District officials only learned of the visit on Tuesday when someone from La Rivas campaign called the district office to inquire if the media would be present, Armenta said. The district immediately notified Manzano Principal Karen Webb that district policy prohibited the visit, and Webb subsequently contacted La Rivas campaign to cancel it. The school made a simple mistake and wasnt aware of the policy and didnt check in with the district, Armenta said. There was no malice. The APS policy says that during the campaign season, candidates can only appear on school campuses outside the instructional day except where they are invited by the district with the approval of the superintendent. La Riva was supposed to speak to a social studies class, but her visit had not been submitted to APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy for approval. Armenta said another concern was that La Rivas visit this close to the election would seem unfair without the presence of the other presidential candidates. An exception for La Riva places APS in the uncomfortable position of also offering exceptions to other candidates, and not just presidential candidates, Armenta said. The sheer volume and number of offices makes that problematic when youre trying to carry on an instructional day, she said. La Riva wasnt buying it. If Hillary Clinton wanted to come to the school she would be welcomed with open arms and theyd throw open the school auditorium for her, she said. Not so, said Armenta. Earlier in the campaign season someone from Hillary Clintons campaign reached out about having an event featuring Bill Clinton at Jimmy Carter Middle School or Albuquerque High School. That event, which would have occurred on an instructional school day, also was rejected by the district, she said. Activist and organizer La Riva, who now lives in San Francisco, has worked for decades as a community activist and labor organizer. She has been active in the anti-war movement since the 1970s. Her running mate, Dennis Banks, from the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota, is the co-founder of the American Indian Movement. The Party for Socialism and Liberation is also on the ballot in California, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, New Jersey, Vermont and Washington. The PSLs 10-point program includes making jobs, free health care, free education and affordable housing constitutional rights; closing U.S. military bases around the world; raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour; and support for unions, immigrants and the LGBT community. James Friedman, a member of the Albuquerque PSL chapter, said he helped set up the Manzano High School visit about a week ago. La Riva was expected to speak before the social studies class of teacher Andrew Houser. Neither Houser nor Principal Webb returned Journal calls seeking comment. Friedman agreed with La Rivas assessment that her invitation was canceled because she is a socialist, which for too many in the United States in 2016 is still a dirty word that carries a lot of baggage. PESHAWAR, Pakistan She has been called the Mona Lisa of Afghanistan, the emerald-eyed refugee girl who appeared on the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1985 in one of the most famous news photographs ever taken. On Wednesday, Sharbat Gula was jailed in Pakistan on charges of falsifying her identity papers. Gula appeared before a judge in the northwestern city of Peshawar after authorities arrested her on suspicion of possessing a forged national identity card. The judge ordered her held at Peshawars central prison pending trial. Hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan hold the computerized national identity cards, but Pakistan has launched investigations into suspected fraudulent documents as part of a drive to expel Afghans from the country. The Federal Investigation Agency said it was looking into allegedly fraudulent identity cards issued to Gula and two men identified on registration forms as her sons. The lady had obtained a Pakistani citizenship card in 2014 and also possessed an Afghan refugee identification card as well as an Afghan passport on which she had traveled to perform the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, said Shahid Ilyas, assistant director of the agency. If convicted, Gula faces up to 14 years in prison and a fine of $1,000. Gula has four children, including a 5-year-old son, whom authorities described as grief-stricken after their mothers arrest. Her husband, an Afghan baker, died about five years ago. Gula shot to fame when National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry captured her penetrating gaze, framed by a red shawl, in a refugee camp near Peshawar when she was 12. Like millions of Afghans, her family had fled a raging civil war when McCurry found her at a makeshift girls school in the camp. I noticed this one little girl with these incredible eyes, and I instantly knew that this was really the only picture I wanted to take, McCurry told NPR last year. Her image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 edition of National Geographic. It was the magazines best-selling cover. Gula remained anonymous for years after the photo was taken, until National Geographic found her in 2002. Her family granted her permission to meet McCurry, and Gula told the magazine that she recalled being angry with him for taking her picture because she had never been photographed before. Beginning with the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan has hosted 1.5 million Afghan refugees, along with an additional 1 million living in the country without documentation. But officials this year have cracked down on those suspected of living here illegally and increased pressure on refugees to return home despite continued violence in Afghanistan. The United Nations refugee agency said last week that 370,000 registered and undocumented Afghan refugees had returned from Pakistan in 2016. About 52,000 crossed in one week this month, the most in a seven-day period since 2009. Human rights groups accuse Pakistani authorities of raiding or destroying Afghans homes, carrying out arbitrary arrests and harassing or extorting from refugees to force them to leave. SHIPROCK, N.M. A northwestern New Mexico man who authorities said killed his brother with an ax has pleaded not guilty. The Gallup Independent reports (https://goo.gl/SlCn4v) that Charley Joe Jr., of Shiprock, entered his plea Wednesday before a federal magistrate judge in Albuquerque. According to investigators, Joe killed his brother with an ax in August following an argument over property. Authorities say Joe lived in a hogan next to the brothers home on the Navajo Nation. Joe was arrested at the Shiprock Chapter House where he was attending a meeting of family members discussing funeral arrangements for brother. No trial date has been scheduled. ___ Information from: Gallup Independent, http://www.gallupindependent.com Donald Trumps presidential campaign hasnt exactly enhanced his brand. Over the last year, bookings for Trump hotels in New York, Las Vegas and Chicago plummeted 58 percent. Foot traffic to Trump properties fell 17 percent year-over-year in March, April and June. The National Hispanic Media Coalition asked businesses in July to cut ties with the Republican presidential nominee. Protesters cried boycott outside the Wednesday grand opening of the new Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. But his eldest daughters retail ventures appeared to dodge the ire until the conversation shifted to his treatment of women. Now thousands of social media users are urging others to avoid stores that carry her namesake goods. Even some shoppers who havent seen the hashtags #GrabYourWallet, #BoyottIvanka say theyre spurning her office-wear. I just dont want that name in my closet, explained 31-year-old graphic designer Jessie Newman, as she shopped at T.J. Maxx in Washington, D.C. Ivanka Trump, 34, has painted herself a champion of bread-winning mothers and harnessed Trumps White House bid to buoy that image. As she rallied to close the gender pay gap during her speech at the Republican National Convention in July, she sported one of her own designs, a $157 pink dress. The next morning, she linked to the look on Twitter. This pairing of business and politics seemed to initially pay off. Google searches for her clothing brand spiked in the hours after her RNC debut and soared again following a September stump speech, in which she helped unveil the GOP nominees child-care plan. Then the Washington Post published a 2005 tape on Oct. 7, showing Trump bragging about kissing and grabbing women without their permission. Ivanka continued to support her dad after the White House labeled such behavior sexual assault, after 11 women accused the candidate of making unwanted advances on them, and after Trump suggested the accusers werent attractive enough for him to pursue. My fathers comments were clearly inappropriate and offensive, she said of the 2005 tape in an interview with Fast Company magazine, and Im glad that he acknowledged this fact with an immediate apology to my family and the American people . That wasnt good enough for Shannon Coulter, 45, who runs a marketing firm near San Francisco. A male boss had groped her once. Trumps remarks reminded her of the pain. She puts womens empowerment at the center of her brand, she said, and is still campaigning for someone who is an alleged serial assaulter. Coulter shared her thoughts with the Internet, and they sparked a trend that, by Wednesday, had reached the feeds of more than two million Twitter accounts: Boycott Ivanka. Ivanka Trump clothing generated roughly $100 million in revenue last fiscal year, according to G-III, the contractor that produces her apparel. Its too early to tell if the web call to reject her goods has hit her bottom line. Surveys suggest consumers have mixed feelings. A Brand Keys survey of 950 millennial woman, taken a week after the 2005 video was released, found that 51 percent of respondents were extremely or very willing to buy her office-wear. Ivankas brand does not appear to have suffered the same fate as her fathers, said Brand Keys President Robert Passikoff in a written statement. There may be an I Hate All Things Trump backlash going on at the moment, but as it regards Ivanka, were estimating that it will be relatively small and short-term. But in a national survey of 1,983 voters, conducted last week by polling firm Morning Consult , 57 percent of women said they would not purchase clothing from Ivankas namesake line, while less than a quarter said they would. The moguls presidential run made 35 percent of the survey respondents much less likely to buy or use a Trump-related product. Another 4 percent are somewhat less likely. Seventeen percent, meanwhile, said they are much more or somewhat more likely to buy or use Trump products in light of the campaign. That does not bode well for Ivankas clothing line. Brands are affected by what theyre associated with, said marketing strategist Karen Leland, author of The Brand Mapping Strategy, And most people who shop for womens clothing are women. Some shoppers, she said, appear to be associating Trump with casual disrespect toward women. Leland recalls shopping recently with a friend in New York who snatched a blouse out of her hand. I didnt realize what I was holding, she said, but my friend say, Thats Ivanka. Youre not allowed to buy that. On Wednesday afternoon, three blocks from Trumps new hotel in the nations capital, Candace Steele, 34, browsed through blouses at T.J. Maxx. She touched a black Ivanka Trump top with white butterflies, on sale for $19.99. I just cant do it, she said. I cant bring myself to buy it. Steele, who identifies as Republican and an undecided voter, saw nothing wrong with the shirt itself. She doesnt dislike Ivanka, either. I know she cant control her dad but. . . she trailed off. Ivankas in a hard position. ivanka Santa Fe police on Thursday morning closed off some roads near downtown in response to a possible explosive device. Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales tweeted at about 10:50 a.m. that the area was safe and streets were reopened. A suspicious device was investigated and removed from the scene, city spokesman Matt Ross said. Ross said police identified a vehicle with a possible explosive parked on Read Street early Thursday morning. A few businesses and homes in the vicinity of the vehicle were evacuated and a perimeter has been set up while police conducted the investigation. Santa Fe polices Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team responded, and the FBI and New Mexico State Police were also called in. MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. The Ramkumar family piled into their van early Saturday morning and drove five hours west from their home in the Washington suburbs into the American heartland. They passed cows and horses, church after church, Trump-Pence yard signs. And then they arrived at the Palace of Gold. They parked, took off their shoes and entered the temple. They lowered themselves all the way to the ground, foreheads touching the floor in obeisance. Then they took their seats and began to chant: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. The Palace of Gold ornate, lavish and completely unexpected on this remote hilltop was built by early devotees who taught themselves to cut marble and stained glass in order to pay homage to the traditions of India. Back then, members of the Hare Krishna faith more formally known as ISKCON or the International Society of Krishna Consciousness were mostly young, white hippies drawn to a new version of counterculture spirituality. They gave up their jobs and their homes and then gave up alcohol and drugs and extramarital sex. They went to live in remote communes and proselytized to strangers in airports. Today on the 50th anniversary of this homegrown religion, something remarkable has happened. After waves of migration to the United States from India over the past two decades, the vast majority of Hare Krishnas believers in America are no longer white Americans. Theyre Indian immigrants like the Ramkumars, who hold down regular jobs and drive to temples to worship, rather than live in communes. With its roots in centuries-old Hindu beliefs, the religion invented in 1966 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada reminded Ramkumar Manoharan and his wife, Jeyasree Jeyabalan, of the complex faith of their childhoods. We used to worship different forms of God, all the forms of God. . . . We were like a supermarket of gods, said Manoharan, an IT contractor for the Department of Homeland Security . Not long after Manoharan and Jeyabalan moved to the United States in the late 1990s, they were told by a relative about a palace in West Virginia built in the style of an Indian shrine. So they decided to take a sightseeing trip. And right in this place, Manoharan says, pointing at the ground in the West Virginia temple, he picked up his first copy of one of Prabhupadas many books. Now, standing in the same spot years later, he points out the book that changed his life to his 10-year-old daughter Hamsika. He came to believe what the book said, he tells Hamsika that there was only one God, Krishna, and that he should worship only the deities who are forms of Krishna. After that trip, Manoharan and Jeyabalan started chanting the Hare Krishna mantra at home. Now, they spend two hours every day repeating the three-word chant, praising Krishna over and over again. Hamsika makes an offering on the family altar each morning before skipping off to elementary school, and her 16-year-old sister, Sunethra, chants the Krishna mantra as a break from her SAT prep. Burke Rochford, a Middlebury College professor who has studied the Hare Krishna movement since 1975, said that like the Ramkumars, many of todays Hare Krishna believers started out looking for Hindu temples like those they left behind in India. They soon discovered that Hare Krishna temples and centers were often easier to find in American cities, Rochford said. As Hare Krishnas following has grown more mainstream, its profile on the American faith landscape has faded. In the 1960s and 70s, Hare Krishnas were a fixture in popular culture. George Harrison sang their mantra in his 1970 hit My Sweet Lord, and the mantra resounded on Broadway in the musical Hair. Hare Krishnas showed up in their orange robes and mostly-shaven heads as recurring characters in the 1980 comedy Airplane! and in almost every travelers experiences in real-life airports too. Twenty years ago, when Id walk into a class and ask people if they knew who the Hare Krishnas were, virtually everybody would raise their hands, Rochford said. There was hardly a middle-class person in America who ever went to an airport who didnt know the Hare Krishnas were in that airport. Today, Rochford said, about half his young students have never heard of the Hare Krishnas. Although the berobed men in the airports drummed up donations, the attention on the religion was largely negative. The communes where devotees gave all their earnings to the temple and raised their children communally were viewed as cults. Then far darker news came out ISKCON publicly confessed in 1998 to egregious physical and sexual abuse at the boarding schools where Hare Krishna parents often left their children while they traveled to solicit donations and souls for the movement. Nowhere are ISKCONs darkest moments better known than at New Vrindaban, the West Virginia spot where devotees originally set out to build a house for their revered founder, then turned the edifice into a palace dedicated to his memory when he died while it was still under construction. Kirtanananda Swami, the leader of New Vrindabans 400-member commune, inspired extreme devotion in his followers even when he was arrested and sent to prison on mail fraud and racketeering charges in connection with the murders of two followers who disobeyed him. The New Vrindaban community, which was once supposed to house the founder of the faith, was kicked out of ISKCON entirely. Today, five years since Kirtananandas death, New Vrindaban is back in the fold. In fact, ISKCON showcases the spectacular Palace of Gold in its worldwide marketing material. Although 150 followers are living communally here, the West Virginia attraction serves primarily as a beacon for thousands of Hare Krishna families on pilgrimages, like the Ramkumars, who typically make the drive from their Chantilly, Va., home a few times a year. Tourism from those outside the faith is picking up again, too. Theres even talk at New Vrindaban about adding a yoga center on the lush grounds, where cows and peacocks roam free. They may not be in airports anymore many airports banned them, and ISKCON lost a Supreme Court case claiming a constitutional right to proselytize in the terminals but the Hare Krishnas still believe in spreading the word about their faith far and wide. Manoharan has traveled with fellow members of the ISKCON temple in Potomac, Md., to distribute literature in cities including Baltimore, Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa. The religion has found another route to recruitment in the countrys current fascination with Eastern spiritual practices. After all, Hare Krishnas were doing yoga long before moms in America were wearing yoga pants. And meditation is at the core of their faith. The Hare Krishna mantra consists of three words praising Krishna that are repeated over and over in a precise pattern to clear the mind. Urukrama Das, a Hare Krishna devotee who was visiting the West Virginia temple the same weekend as the Ramkumar family, marvels at how mainstream culture seems to be moving closer to Hare Krishna culture in the years since he joined the faith in 1995. A native of Estonia, Das was a full-time religious worker in Denver and then in Kansas City. Now, if you want to join and be full time in the temple, they look at you like, Do you really want to do that? Finish your education first, Das said. Back then, the attitude was, Drop everything and come on in. At age 30, he took his first job outside the faith. He now drives a delivery truck for United Parcel Service in Columbus, Ohio. He spotted a poster in the UPS break room recently, advising employees about tips for healthy living. Get enough sleep and eat your vegetables, the poster said. And for stress relief, try meditation. What the hell is meditation? a fellow UPS driver grumbled upon seeing the sign. Another driver pointed to Das: Ask him. It was the perfect opening. Das found himself explaining his spiritual practice to his colleagues. Sitting in the temple at New Vrindaban, he looked around at his fellow devotees. They all get it they had come to this place this weekend to chant all day long Saturday. Under a stained-glass skylight, they sang the mantra to an ever-changing tune, taking breaks from their ecstatic worship to humbly offer food and candles to the deities sparkling on their altars. This is an age of the mind, Das said. Wow! Right there in the UPS hallway. Even UPS is preaching our way. harekrishnas The United States political slugfest is now crossing new frontiers. Less than two weeks before the presidential election, Donald Trumps campaign has released an ad airing on TV channels aimed at Indian Americans in which he not only speaks Hindi (albeit roughly), but adopts the main campaign slogan of Indias current prime minister, Narendra Modi. Ab ki baar Modi sarkaar. Those were the words Modi used to fuel his landslide victory in May 2014. They mean: This time, a Modi government. In the ad, Trump switches Modis name out for his own. The ad comes on the heels of Trumps address to the Indian-American community at a convention center in Edison, New Jersey, on Oct. 15. Featured in the ad are clips from his speech, which he used to assure Indian Americans that the United States and India would be best friends. In the speech, as in the ad, he expressed a deep admiration for Modi, who was denied a U.S. visa in 2005 over his alleged support for Hindu extremists during Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002. Modi has since rebuilt his reputation among U.S. officials and hosted President Barack Obama in New Delhi in 2015 and visited the Oval Office in June for talks. I will look forward to working with Prime Minister Modi, who has been very energetic in reforming Indias bureaucracy, said Trump at the rally in Edison. Great man! I applaud him for doing so. And I look forward to doing some serious bureaucratic trimming right here in the United States. Believe me, we need it also. Campaign outreach in various languages is not groundbreaking. Trumps Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, began running a Spanish-language TV ad last week, and has run radio ads in Florida in Creole for Haitian-American voters. In 1988, Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis often sprinkled his speeches with Greek. This may be the first time Hindi has made the list for a targeted ad. It also seems like a long shot. Trump severely lags behind his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in support from Indian Americans. Only 7 percent of likely Indian-American voters indicated in a recent survey that they intended to vote for him, as opposed to 70 percent who said they would vote for Clinton. Nevertheless, a group called the Republican Hindu Coalition, led by Indian-American electronics magnate Shalli Kumar, is hoping to persuade some in the community to vote Trump. Kumar and his immediate family have donated about $2 million to the Trump campaign, and he spent upward of $3 million of his own money on organizing the event in Edison, a city with a large Indian American population. Trumps perceived tough stance on radical Islamic terrorism is one issue Kumar thinks can swing the traditionally Democratic voting bloc Republican. In the new ad, Trump uses those three words while a picture of Mumbais iconic Taj Mahal hotel burns in the background. The hotel was attacked in 2008 by terrorists operating out of Pakistan who arrived in the port city by boat. Yet, with polls shaping up decidedly in Clintons favor in the lead-up to Novembers election, a Modi-esque landslide for Trump is unlikely. And given that Indian-American voters make up a minuscule percentage of the American voting public, the community was never going to tip that balance anyhow. trump-hindi Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is making his pitch to Catholics, many of whom could serve as important swing voters in states such as Florida and Pennsylvania. The latest poll from the Public Religion Research Institute showed a stark divide among white Catholics: 44 percent said they support Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton while another 44 percent said they support Trump. In a new interview with the global Catholic network EWTN scheduled to air Thursday at 8 p.m., Trump made his case, telling the global Catholic network what he prays for, his favorite saint and what sparked his evolution on abortion. He also blamed Clinton for leaked e-mails from her campaign that were widely circulated that appeared to show a staffer joking about Catholics and evangelicals. One of the key issues some Catholics will likely consider while voting is the importance of the Supreme Court. Trump has promised to appoint justices who would overturn a ban on abortion. Trump favored abortion rights for decades before beginning to describe himself as pro-life in 2011. In his interview with Raymond Arroyo, lead anchor and managing editor of EWTN News, Trump spoke of a couple he knew, describing one as pro-life and one as pro-choice. When the mother was pregnant, he said, they argued over whether to have abortion, and they ended up having the baby. And the baby is such a magnificent person, who I know, a magnificent person, Trump said, declining to go into more specifics. And, the person that was actually pro-choice is now pro-life because of it and it had a big effect on me. Trump noted Ronald Reagans shift on the issue before he became president. Many people have made the personal change, Trump said. I mean, some make the personal change the other way, also. During the interview, Arroyo also asked Trump about what he prays for. I dont want to talk to you about that, Trump replied. I mean, I pray. Its very personal to me. Im a person of belief, but I certainly, you know, I pray for my family. I pray for our country but I dont want to talk to you about that. I think thats very personal. The recent batch of documents published by WikiLeaks appeared to show Hillary Clintons campaign communications director joking with a colleague about Catholics and evangelicals in emails sent to John Podesta, chairman of Clintons campaign. The Washington Post reported earlier this year that Russian government hackers penetrated the computer network of the Democratic National Committee, gaining access to an entire database of opposition research. Podesta appeared to write in emails that the campaign had created Catholic groups to organize on issues like contraception. Trump questioned how any Catholics or evangelicals could vote for her after the emails were leaked. Its her. Its her, Trump said. She should apologize. I think she has to do more than apologize. You know, thats her thinking. Thats her staff. Trump said he feels religious liberty is in tremendous trouble. He said he spoke with religious leaders and asked them when they were going to endorse him. They told him they couldnt because they would risk losing their tax-exempt status. And I said, Why is that? And they told me about the Johnson Amendment 1954, Trump said. He was referring to a change in the U.S. tax code in 1954 championed by President Lyndon B. Johnson who introduced an amendment prohibiting certain tax-exempt organizations from endorsing and opposing political candidates. And, I thought about it for a month. And we had a meeting again. Fifty-six different pastors, ministers, etc., and I said Were going to get rid of the Johnson Amendment because our pastors and ministers should have the right to go out and speak their minds. The Johnson Amendment to the federal tax code bars churches and many other non-profit organizations from endorsing specific candidates. Getting rid of the Johnson Amendment would be one of the most important things that Ill be doing for the evangelicals and for religion, Trump said. Trump said Clintons call to open the U.S. to Syrian refugees is one of the dumbest things Ive ever heard. I would say to you its crazy to be doing this and I will stop it immediately, Trump said. We will not have radical Islamic terrorists coming into our country and some of them will be radical Islamic terrorists. Trump dismissed sexual assault accusations that women have made against him when asked about the lewd comments he made on Access Hollywood. The microphones, I mean to be honest should, you know, should never have been on, but that was locker room talk, Trump said, adding that he has made his apologies. Asked who his favorite saint is, Trump named Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II. On his comments on whether the election is rigged, Trump deflected, saying President Barack Obama has made similar comments before. And when Arroyo asked whether Trump was saying bigly or big league on Oct. 19 during the final presidential debate, Trump confirmed: he said big league. trump-catholic Clint Buffington discovered the bottle in 2011, when it was nestled in the sand. It was an overcast day in the Turks and Caicos, Buffington recalled. The ground was dotted with trash just a zillion empty bottles, Buffington wrote in an email and the glass bottle was flat on its side, partially buried in the dunes. Im kind of surprised I even saw it, Buffington said in an interview. But he did. And Buffington took a closer look. That, he says, is when he noticed what was written on the note inside the bottle: Look inside. That was when my heart started racing I guess, he said. Buffington eventually broke the bottle open, revealing the note, which had been scratched out in pencil and contained a few clues: an address (419 Ocean); a name (Tina); a . . . the name of something? (Beachcomber, spelled incorrectly). Was it a place? Was it an object? The words Return and reward eventually became more clear, too, Buffington noted in an email. In an email, Buffington said it basically reads: Return to . . . at 419 Ocean Boulevard and resieve a reward of $150 from Tina owner of Beachcomer. Using the information on the note, Buffington worked to figure out who sent the bottle adrift in the Atlantic Ocean decades ago. And, he succeeded tracing it to a woman whose family owned a New Hampshire motel called the Beachcomber. Now, years after his initial discovery, the note Buffington found in that bottle has been returned to the family of the man who cast it into the waters. This is special because it brings back a piece of him, a piece of her, a piece of my childhood, a piece of the Beachcomber, Paula Pierce, whose father sent out the bottle, told WMUR Manchester. All of these things are very hard to lose. This is not the only message in a bottle that Buffington has unearthed. Actually, this is kind of his thing. Buffington has a website about it, and, he noted in an email, dreams about maybe turning his hobby into something more a book, a show, whatever. The point is, hes an experienced message-in-a-bottle hunter, so he knows how to do this. That does not mean it was particularly easy. Buffington started his search the same way everyone does, probably. On the internet. I started Googling around, he said. And 419 Ocean Boulevard popped up in like, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Washington state, Oregon, California. Everybody has one. So he tossed the word Beachcomber into the search. That led him to New Hampshire, where a Beachcomber Motel appeared to be located in the town of Hampton. It wasnt a particularly conclusive search, though, so Buffington said he made a call to the local Chamber of Commerce. I told them the whole story, they patiently listened to it, he said. Then, he said, the Chamber of Commerce sent him to the County Clerks office. . . . Which sent him to the Tax Assessors office. . . . Which directed him to a website, where Buffington could search property deeds. And that website led him to the names of Tina and Paul, Paula Pierces parents. And that was when I knew I was on to something, he said. (See? This was not easy.) Buffington connected with Paula Pierce years ago, but never actually got to return the note. He didnt want to mail it, he said, in case catastrophe struck. Just imagine that was your parents that had been gone for 20, 30 years, and some guy, some stranger, shows up and says, you thought you were never going to hear from your parents again but here they are, and Ive got their last letter that anyones going to have, and yeah, Im just going to drop that in the mail and well see what happens, Buffington said. Can you imagine? Absolutely not. He kept the glass shards from the bottle in a box in his home and framed the note. Then, this month, he finally met Pierce and returned her fathers message. It was everything I hoped it would be and a lot more, to be honest, he said. What I hoped for going into that meeting, I think, is what I always hope for, which is to make a lifelong friend. And I think thats exactly what happened. Pierce in 2011 told CBS Boston that the note was like being contacted from the past. The station reported: Paulas parents passed away years ago. She misses them terribly and thinks there may be a bigger reason the bottle finally surfaced now. That gave me chills today. I actually started to cry, she said. I feel like theyre sending me a message somehow. According to the station, the message was written sometime between 1960 and 1980. The Beachcomber, the motel mentioned in the note, has since been sold, reported WMUR, an ABC affiliate. The note, which Pierce reportedly believes was written by her father as a joke, offered a reward for the person who returned it $150, which Pierce did give to Buffington. He has some big plans for that money, he said. Hes going to spend it to treat his new pal, Paula. I dont want to live in a world full of strangers, Buffington said, when asked what he hoped people took away from the story of the message. Its so easy, because of how busy life is, and because of how many of us there are, its so easy to just not care about whats going on around us. Its easy to let people be strangers and to let them not matter. Ive been really lucky that I have this thing that allows me to open the door and connect with people that I would never have any reason or right to connect with otherwise. Thats been really lucky for me. Website link: message-bottle Describing the three victims of a horrific DWI crash last November as the best society had, state District Judge Brett Loveless handed down a 16-year sentence to Jacob Jaramillo for killing the three young adults after driving drunk, speeding through a red light and slamming into their car. Jaramillo was going nearly 90 mph in the moments before he ran the red light and struck the other car, according to a prosecutor. Killed in the wreck were Roberto Mendez-Aguirre, 27; his girlfriend, Grace Sinfield, 20; and his brother, Sergio Mendez-Aguirre, 23, who had just graduated from the University of New Mexico with a chemistry degree. The couple met at High Finance Restaurant, where they both worked. Jaramillo, 24, wearing an orange MDC jumpsuit and shackled, apologized repeatedly for his stupid decision and asked for forgiveness from the victims families, who attended the emotional sentencing hearing Thursday. Im not here to make excuses, Jaramillo said. Im not going to play the victim. Im just going to face the consequences, and I hope that one day you can forgive me. Jaramillos attorney, Scott Wisniewski, said Jaramillo was a good candidate for rehabilitation and asked the judge to consider a nine-year sentence. He said his client is an infrequent drinker who made a serious mistake and took responsibility for his actions. He committed a reckless act, and he made a mistake, Wisniewski said. But he didnt intend the kind of terrible harm that happened here. But prosecutor Guinevere Ice urged Loveless to sentence Jaramillo to the full 18 years permitted under his plea agreement. The judge sentenced Jaramillo to 16 years in prison followed by two years of probation. Jaramillo pleaded guilty to three counts of vehicular homicide in August in connection with the crash. Loveless found the charges to be serious violent offenses, which means that Jaramillo is eligible for only 15 percent good time. Mike Lopez, Jaramillos childhood friend, told the court that Jaramillo had survived a difficult life. He said Jaramillos mother was a drug user and that Jaramillo sometimes lived on the streets. Jaramillo was picked on in high school, where he wore the same pair of shoes for three years. But he managed to stay positive, Lopez said, and in recent years was helping to care for his mother and siblings. A lot of our (childhood) friends now are all in gangs. All our older cousins are gang members; theyre all addicted to heroin, Lopez said. And we always promised each other that we would go the opposite way from them. We would go and live a good life and provide for our families and do the right thing. Friends and relatives of Sinfield and the Mendez-Aguirre brothers told the judge about their lost loved ones and about the impacts of their deaths. Maria Mendez-Aguirre said one of her sons wanted to become a doctor, the other a dentist. Its been almost a year (since the crash), she said through a translator, but it seems like its been thousands of years since Ive seen my children. William Sinfield, Graces father, who brought his family to Albuquerque last year to take the position of headmaster at Sandia Prep, said the pain of losing his daughter has only worsened with time. He said people have told him to feel grateful for the 20 years that he was able to spend with his child. And I know I should. I try to feel that way, he said. But I just feel cheated. I feel cheated out of a lifetime, my lifetime, with my beautiful, sweet, kind, loving child. Loveless also sentenced Jaramillo on Thursday to about 21 months in connection with another case involving an altercation between Jaramillo and an off-duty Bernalillo County sheriffs deputy in October 2014. Police said the deputy tipped off police when, at a Nob Hill nightclub, he saw one of Jaramillos friends who had an outstanding warrant. Police arrived and arrested the man. Jaramillo and another man beat up the deputy as he left the club, police said. Jaramillo pleaded no contest in that case to three charges, including DWI. WASHINGTON Californias Hass avocado growers would face new competition, but U.S. consumers could see some slightly lower prices, under a new Agriculture Department proposal to admit imports from Colombia. In its latest market-opening move, the Agriculture Department on Thursday published for public comment the proposal that Colombias Hass avocados be admitted into the United States so long as a number of phytosanitary requirements are met. A growing U.S. population and growing Hispanic share of the population, greater awareness of the avocados health benefits, year-round availability of fresh, affordable Hass avocados and greater disposable income have contributed to the increased demand, the department stated. Annual U.S. avocado production over the last decade averaged 206,368 tons, of which California accounted for 87.5 percent. Most of the 4,000-plus California avocado farms are in San Diego, Ventura, Riverside and Santa Barbara counties, although some commercial production remains in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Colombia is expected to export over 11,000 tons of Hass avocados annually to the United States, according to officials. The Agriculture Department further estimates that U.S. producer welfare losses are expected to be $4 million to $6 million, while consumer welfare gains range from $14 million to $22 million. The price of fresh Hass avocados is estimated to decline by less than 2 percent, the department stated. The Obama administration, in 2010, admitted Hass avocado imports from Peru despite some concerns raised by California growers, who said they feared pests and disease. Earlier this year, expanding on steps first taken in the George W. Bush administration, Agriculture Department officials opened up the doors to Hass avocado imports from all of Mexico. Mexico accounts for about one-third of the worlds Hass avocado production, while the United States holds 7 percent and Colombia about 4 percent of total production. 2016 McClatchy Washington Bureau Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau at www.mcclatchydc.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Thursday proposed a new $500 million federal grant program to fight bullying in schools, describing the problem as a crisis that threatens the academic progress and mental and emotional health of too many children. States could use the money for a range of efforts, from teacher training to suicide prevention programs to hiring more counselors and psychologists. But to be eligible, theyd have to invest more themselves: They would get $4 in federal funds for every $1 in new resources they expend. To qualify for the money, states also would have to pass comprehensive anti-bullying laws that address cyberbullying and verbal bullying, and that explicitly protect children from bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity the latter a lightning rod at a time of great division over the treatment of transgender children at school. We know that bullying is a real problem in our classrooms, our playgrounds and online. And teachers have reported that this election has made it worse, Clinton said at a campaign rally in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Thursday afternoon. Were going to launch a major new effort to help states and communities and schools and families end bullying wherever it takes place. Bullying rates have been on a downward trend during the past decade, a period in which schools, communities, nonprofit organizations and the Obama administration all worked to shine a light on the problem. But abusive behavior remains a problem both in person and online: In 2013, 22 percent of students between the ages of 12 and 18 said they had been victims of bullying, according to the latest federal data available. Victims of bullying are more likely to abuse drugs and struggle with academics and depression, researchers say, and cellphones and social media have helped transform bullying from a schoolyard phenomenon into a 24/7 problem. Clinton and her supporters argue that the problem of bullying has grown in the past year because of what theyve dubbed the Trump Effect, the result of Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trumps rhetoric about Muslims, immigrants, women and disabled people trickling down into schools. Clintons campaign claims that Trump has inspired children to hurl insults and threats more frequently. The campaign released a new television ad Thursday featuring Bryce, a young man with muscular dystrophy, watching a clip of Trump mocking a disabled reporter. His entire platform is hatred, Bryce says. I dont want bullies in my life, and I especially dont want one in the white House. Trumps campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Anne McQuade, a New Hampshire teacher of students learning English as a second language, said her students all immigrants and refugees have become afraid that their family members will be deported. McQuade said one Muslim student came to her in tears after being called a terrorist as she stepped off the school bus in her neighborhood. These beautiful, hopeful kids, they come to our country to find a better life and we say to them Welcome to America,' she told reporters on a conference call organized by the Clinton campaign. But they watch television and theyre exposed to angry social media and they hear a different message. Clintons proposed grant program would be administered by the U.S. Education Department, handing that agency more authority at a time when Congress has sought to scale back its power. The bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act, passed last year, shifts power over public schools back to the states after a broad backlash against an era of intensive federal intervention in education. That new law consolidated or eliminated many federal programs including some that addressed similar goals as Clintons Better than Bullying initiative in an effort to give states more latitude in how they spend federal dollars. Its not clear whether Congress would be eager to authorize a new federal program. Clinton campaign officials said they want to give states flexibility and resources to attack the bullying problem as they see fit, and that the program would be funding with the tax plan that Clinton has set forth. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Professor Susan Swearer, who studies bullying, said research has shown the most effective programs work to curb bad behavior before it starts by talking to all students about the importance of kindness and the detrimental effects of bullying. Its important for schools to have a clear plan and a system that impact all students and adults at the school, Swearer said. A whole-school assembly or one talk in the fall isnt going to alter bullying behavior. Swearer applauded Clintons focus on bullying and said it is noteworthy that the issue has now been raised during a presidential campaign. We really do need to have systematic and comprehensive federal support, Swearer said. Schools that are financially strapped dont have resources to implement programming that we know is effective. bullying Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union and Kirtland Federal Credit Union on Thursday announced plans to merge, creating the largest financial institution headquartered in New Mexico with a combined membership of 130,000 and over $3 billion in assets. Given the green light by their respective boards of directors, Albuquerque-based Sandia and Kirtland called the plan a merger of opportunity for their members and employees, with the deal expected to close in 18-24 months after a vote by Kirtland members and regulatory approval. The combined organizations will continue to operate as a not-for-profit under Sandias charter, so Sandia members will have no need to vote. The credit unions will unite under one brand but have no new name planned. All branches, ATMs, employees and managers are expected to stay in place following the proposed merger, officials said. Sandia was founded in 1948 and has 290 employees; Kirtland, founded in 1958, has 135 employees. It brings more capital to the table to invest in New Mexico businesses, said Robert Chavez, Sandia president and CEO. He said merging Kirtlands $760 million assets with Sandias $2.4 billion will enable the newly formed credit union to make an additional $90 million in business loans. It wont be overnight, but we will have that capacity, said Chavez. He said credit union loan portfolios are capped at 12.5 percent of total asset base. Kirtlands top executive said the credit unions current charter doesnt allow it to make business loans, so the merger with Sandia is a good move on that front. Well also see economies of scale by sharing compliance and regulatory costs, which is a growing expense, said Dave Seely, Kirtlands CEO and president. While consolidation is a growing trend in the credit union world, what drove the initial discussion of a merger was Seelys upcoming retirement. My board has been using a firm for succession planning, and was considering several options, he said. When they asked if a merger might ensure continuing strong leadership for Kirtland members, I had only one suggestion: Sandia, said Seeley. Sandia serves high-tech and professional communities in Albuquerque. Kirtland has members in all 50 states, including active duty and retired military and well as civilian contractors. Laguna Pueblo native Lee Francis IV told a packed audience that his new business, Native Realities, can help build personal and cultural pride among young Native Americans. His business, which produces pop literature and toys focused on indigenous people, is one of 10 companies graduating this week from the Creative Startups business accelerator in Albuquerque. The accelerator helps aspiring entrepreneurs in the creative fields learn new ways to build and grow their companies. Francis was among the accelerator participants who gave two-minute pitches about their companies Wednesday night during the programs Demo Day at Kosmos artist studio near Downtown. Francis said Native Realities is planning the worlds first indigenous comicon for Nov. 18-20 in Albuquerque. We produce high-quality, Native-centric comic books, novels and toys that inspire young people by satisfying a yearning and desire for diverse pop culture representation in the marketplace, Francis told the crowd. We show ourselves to the world as mature people not relegated to the past but as superheroes of our own stories. This is the third accelerator cohort in Albuquerque since Creative Startups began in 2014. The companies, including four from New Mexico and six from other states and countries, are in Albuquerque this week for the accelerators deep dive, an intensive, weeklong training and networking finale to the eight-week program. After this week, Creative Startups will have graduated 31 companies from its program in Albuquerque, plus 10 more that participated in August and September at a new Creative Startups program in Winston-Salem, N.C. The program helps creative entrepreneurs forge successful local businesses, said program co-founder Alice Loy. We want to keep them right here, not lose them to other places like San Francisco, Loy said. Artist Nico Salazar, for example, who created walls of art for Meow Wolfs House of Eternal Return exhibit in Santa Fe, has now launched Future Fantasy Delight with other Meow Wolf colleagues to turn his own designs into artistic products. Were turning Nicos artwork and designs into merchandise, including apparel and accessories, Corvas Brinkerhoff, Meow Wolf co-founder and Future Fantasy Delight CEO, told the Journal. Were incubating more companies from Meow Wolf, but this is the first one where were working with an individual artist to create a life-changing opportunity to bring his work to the world and build a sustainable future for himself. Other Demo Day startups pitched a range of new creative products and services, such as a Singapore-based business marketing artistic collars for pets and a Peruvian company selling hand-made clothes for women with all-natural fibers. Real market opportunities await many of these companies, Loy said. It was supposed to be a routine meeting of Marylands Democratic House caucus. But that all changed when Del. Charles Sydnor III, D-Baltimore County, brought up the sky-high approval ratings of Gov. Larry Hogan, R. When I go around my district, it seems Governor Hogan is gaining traction among my people, Sydnor said, according to several lawmakers who were at the closed-door meeting and spoke on the condition of anonymity. What were the states Democratic elected leaders planning to do about it, Sydnor asked. What was the strategy to take back the governors office in 2018? Thats not our job, replied ranking House member Del. Dereck Davis, D-Prince Georges, according to multiple delegates who were present.Our job is to protect the House. Several lawmakers who declined to be named because caucus discussions are supposed to be confidential later described themselves as stunned. There was almost an audible gasp, one said. More questions followed, sharper and more accusatory than is typical. The heated discussion highlights what many describe as a building frustration within the Democratic caucus over the House leaderships response to Hogan, who is nearing the midpoint of his first term and is highly popular across party lines in the heavily Democratic state. Some delegates say they are dismayed that Democrats, who hold a veto-proof majority in both houses of the legislature, have not been able to dent the moderate former businessmans approval ratings. They are worried that the governors success could mean Democratic losses in the legislature in 2018, when Hogan is favored to win a second term. Whatever we think were doing is not working, one delegate said in an interview. A recent Washington Post-University of Maryland poll placed Hogans approval rating at 71 percent, 10 points higher than last year. Just over half of Marylanders view the Democratic Party positively, about the same as last year. The governor appears to have benefited from his decision todisavow GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, who is trailing Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 30 points in Maryland. Hoganreceives high scores from voters even though they think less favorably of the Republican Party than they did a year ago. Some of the delegates who attended the caucusmeeting said in interviews that Democrats should try to create a progressivecontrast to Hogan during the upcoming law-making session in Annapolis, including passage of a paid sick-leave bill that failed to advance earlier this year. One delegate said lawmakers are in a difficult position, however, because Hogan has not introduced robust or far-reaching legislation since taking office. He prefers to take executive actions, like lowering tolls or changing the school calendar, which do not require lawmaker approval. How do you push against nothing? the delegate asked. Hes confrontational with rhetoric, but not with a legislative agenda. The Oct. 17 caucus meeting included about 55 of the 91 Democrats in the House of Delegates. Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, who has led the chamber for 13 years,was not feeling well after a flu shot and was absent, the delegates were told. Several committee chairs attended the meeting and provided updates on issues that could be taken up during the 2017 session, which begins in January. After some discussion about Hogan forcing schools to open after Labor Day, Sydnor raised the issue of the governors popularity. Alexandra Hughes, Buschs chief of staff, attended the meeting but declined in an interview to provide any specifics, saying such sessions are supposedto provide a forum to freely discuss issues. She said the legislature has moved a number of policies over the last two years that offer a clear contrast to Hogans agenda. For example, during the 2016 legislative session, the House pushed for a $290 million package to help revitalize struggling Baltimore neighborhoods and address some of the citys social ills; passed a bill that prohibits insurers from charging co-payments for contraceptives, eliminates the co-payment for vasectomies and requires insurance coverage for over-the-counter contraceptive medications; and fought for a transportation bill that creates a new process for prioritizing road projects. Democrats also have clashed with Hogan over how much school districts should receive in funding, among other things. The latest disagreement is over the school calendar. I think the House has drawn a clear difference with the governor on a number of policy issues, Hughes said. And I think those differences will speak for themselves moving forward. Davis, who also would not discuss the caucus meeting, reiterated in an interview thatHouse Democrats should not be focused on fighting Hogan. There will be plenty of times for the Republicans to get on one side and Democrats to get on the other side, he said. We need to put politics aside and be about legislating and governing. Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Marys College, agreed that delegates would be better off not to pick a fight with Hogan. People are tired of the vitriolic nature of politics, he said. Certainly the notion of the Maryland House of Delegates trying to go after or bring down a popular governor is not what people want in politics right now. Charles Connor, the executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party, said progressives in the House have been fighting tooth and nail for more left-leaning policies. That approach that stirs concern among centrists, who watched Hogan upset heavily favored Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, D, in 2014 by focusing on tax cuts and making Maryland more business-friendly. Young, recently elected lawmakers are impatient for change, Connor said, and less willing to move incrementally than others with more time in Annapolis, including Busch, 69. People around the state, publicly and privately, have said it is an interesting time for leadership who have to deal with lawmakers who are not of the same generation, Connor said. Eberly cautioned that pushing Maryland further left may not serve Democrats well. Maryland is already a pretty progressive state, he said. If they try to push it even further, they may end up strengthening the coalition of moderates and conservatives that elected Hogan. Two first-term delegates and one veteran said in interviews that progressive freshmen were not the only ones concerned about the response from leadership at the caucus meeting, or worried about losing House seats in vulnerable districts. It was not the usual caucus, said one delegate. Was there tension? Yes. The delegate said Davis seemed to be saying it was up to the Democrats who challenge Hogan in 2018 to make a strong case against him. Three potential contenders U.S. Rep. John Delaney, Prince Georges County Executive Rushern Baker III and Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz have been vocal critics of Hogan over the past year. Neither Delaney nor Kamenetz would comment for this story, and Baker could not be reached. Hogan is only the second Republican governor in Maryland in nearly half a century. The other, Robert Ehrlich, served only one term and was far less popular. Most elected officials in Maryland dont know what its like to have divided government, Eberly said. And they definitely dont know what its like to have a Republican governor with such high approval ratings. maryland-democrats The corporate successor to a 17th-century land grant is being sued for about $424,000 for failure to pay its insurance premiums and breach of contract, according to New Mexico state court documents filed earlier this month. Westland Development Co., Inc., also known as Westland DevCo, LLC, formed in 1967 to represent the Atrisco Land Grant heirs as stockholders. The land grant was established by Spain in 1692 and given to Spanish settlers, pueblo people who already occupied the land, and later, to Native American captives sold to the Spaniards as slaves. In the lawsuit, Insurance Company of the West alleges Westland failed to pay $12,574 in premiums on surety bonds. ICW also alleges Westland owes $353,414.52 for costs incurred as the result of a dispute with the city of Albuquerque over construction of a sidewalk, and ICWs resulting request for collateral from Westland. An attorney for ICW declined to comment on ongoing litigation. Westland could not be reached for comment. Westland was purchased in 2006 by the California-based developer SunCal in a controversial $250 million deal. In 2009, in the aftermath of the national real estate bust, creditors foreclosed on the property formerly owned by Westland to collect on millions of dollars of unpaid SunCal loans. Westland filed for bankruptcy the next year. The Journal could not determine the extent to which Westland still exists as an organization. The address listed for Westland on both the court filings and the state Secretary of States website is that of SunCal, which said it has not had any affiliation with Westland for several years. BJP appears to be gearing up to exploit the opportunity the infighting in the Samajwadi Party offers it ahead of UP polls next year. By Siraj Qureshi: With the family feud in the Samajwadi Party threatening to split up the biggest political family in India, the BJP appears to be gearing up to take full advantage of the opportunity the SP crisis offers it ahead of UP Assembly polls next year. While party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother Shivpal are blaming their cousin Ram Gopal Yadav as the main villain behind the entire episode, Ram Gopal and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav are blaming Shivpal and Amar Singh for breaking up the family. advertisement SHIVPAL EYEING UP CM'S CHAIR: RAM GOPAL Ramgopal and his MP son Akshay Yadav have openly accused Shivpal of having set his sights on the CM's chair after 2017 elections. This ongoing infighting in the party has made the BJP look to woo Ramgopal Yadav in its favour. Several senior BJP leaders in Agra have told India Today that SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is a mixed bag of emotions right now and is unable to decide whether he wants to support his son Akhilesh or his brother Shivpal. This situation is very dangerous for the state's politics and could give undue advantage to unwanted elements, who might enter the political arena at this point of time and create havoc in the state. NO CHANCE OF SHIVPAL, AKHILESH RECONCILING: BJP BJP's Agra unit President Vijay Shivhare told India Today that there was no chance of reconciliation between Shivpal and Akhilesh now and it was about time for Ramgopal Yadav to think where his true loyalties lay. Shivhare said a political leader of his caliber should not be dependent on anyone and have an independent stand. Senior citizen Rama Shanker Sharma said that the BJP appeared to be exploiting Ramgopal's differences with Mulayam and Shivpal, vindicating the age-old adage "enemy of my enemy is my friend". He said that the way BJP split up UP Congress by arranging the defection of Rita Bahuguna Joshi and her brother and former Uttarakhand CM Vijay Bahuguna, who were the Brahmin face of the Congress in this region until the induction of Sheila Dixit in UP, made it clear that the party had made poaching other parties for leaders its primary goal in the upcoming elections. In fact, he said, several BJP leaders could now be seen sympathising with Ram Gopal Yadav, claiming that he had been wronged by the SP chief. Shivhare added that SP state president Shivpal Yadav has already charged Ramgopal with colluding with the BJP and working against the interests of the Samajwadi Party. "So it may not be very surprising if Ramgopal and other Yadav family members join the BJP in the near future to fight against the Samajwadi Party." advertisement Although Ramgopal has been repeatedly claiming that he is with Akhilesh Yadav and will always be with him, it is a fact that in politics, what is said is not often what's done. AGRA MUSLIMS CONFUSED OVER WHO TO BACK However, the Muslims of Agra division are in a state of complete confusion over this issue and have decided to wait and watch before taking any decision on whom to side with. Hindustani Biradari secretary Ziauddin told India Today that whenever such a situation arises before Muslims of the country, they take it as a personal crisis and are quite disturbed over the issue. Bhartiya Muslim Vikas Parishad chairman Sami Aghai said that Muslims wanted stability in politics and considered secular parties as their only preference as these could alone fight the communal forces. But in a political crisis, such options are very limited. He said that the Congress was barely able to stand on its own in Uttar Pradesh and that the Samajwadi Party was busy trying to bring on the same page its warring factions, so the Muslims were left with only the BSP as a natural option in their fight against the communal BJP. advertisement Syed Irfan Salim of the All Party Muslim Action Committee told India Today that until now, the Muslim votes in UP were always divided between the SP and the BSP and the Congress and the RLD were getting a very small share of Muslim votes. "But this time, it is becoming apparent that the Muslims are finding the Samajwadi Party too weak to protect their interests after the current crisis and are turning towards the BSP for salvation", said Salim. Mohd. Akbar Qureshi, senior Samajwadi Party leader in Agra, said that the Rath Yatra being conducted by CM Akhilesh Yadav in the state would serve to rebuild the lost confidence of Muslims and that the polarisation of Muslim votes away from the party would stop after Akhilesh personally addressed them and made them aware of the plans he had for the Muslim community in the future. --- ENDS --- An undetermined number of absentee ballots have been returned to Albuquerque voters because of an error involving a U.S. Postal Service mail-sorting machine, officials said this week. A Postal Service spokesman said Thursday he did not know how many absentee ballots were returned to the sender rather than being delivered to Bernalillo County elections officials. Postal Service employees have been instructed to deliver all absentee ballots to the Bernalillo County Clerks Office, said John Friess, a Denver-based spokesman for the agency. Issues such as these are isolated and the vast majority of ballots are being delivered to elections officials without incident, Friess said in a written statement. We instruct our employees to make certain any ballots accidentally returned to the sender be expedited to county elections officials, he said. Leon Faubion of Albuquerque said he mailed three absentee ballots on Monday, and was startled that one of the ballots was returned Wednesday to his Northeast Heights home. Faubion said a supervisor at the Steve Schiff Post Office, 9719 Candelaria NE, explained that a bar-code reader had misread the return address on the ballot envelope as the delivery address. The supervisor said that the mistake had occurred with other absentee ballots, Faubion said. An employee at the Steve Schiff Post Office referred the Journal s questions to U.S. Postal Service media relations. Joey Keefe, a spokesman for the Bernalillo County Clerks Office, said Postal Services officials reported that they had received a few calls from voters who complained that their ballots had been returned undelivered. Postal Service officials provided assurances that all absentee ballots, or anything election-related, should be returned to the clerks office regardless of the issues, Keefe said. The clerks office has mailed out more than 26,000 absentee ballots, of which nearly half had been returned by Wednesday, Keefe said. Donald Trumps claim that the 2016 presidential election is rigged against him has become a central part of his closing argument to voters in the final days of the campaign, as the Republican nominee insists that a growing range of corrupt public institutions are to blame for his sharply narrowing path the White House. As he heads into a potential loss on Nov. 8, Trump has expanded the scale and scope of his accusations to include Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, the media, establishment leaders from both parties and unidentified global financial powers. When the people who control the political power in our society can rig investigations like [Clintons] investigation was rigged, can rig polls, you see the phony polls, and rig the media, they can wield absolute power over your life, your economy and your country and benefit big-time by it, Trump told a crowd this week in St. Augustine, Fla. They control what you hear and what you dont hear, what is covered, how its covered, even if its covered at all. The power structure he describes, according to a review of his speeches this week, includes banking institutions, the judiciary, media conglomerates, voting security experts, Democratic tricksters, scientific polling and also perhaps military leaders. He has also accused Clinton of meeting with international banks to plot the destruction of U.S. sovereignty to enrich these global financial powers, her special-interest friends and her donors. By emphasizing such rhetoric, the GOP nominee who has a history of circulating unsubstantiated accusations has sowed distrust in basic democratic institutions among his supporters. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll released this week found that more than two-thirds of Trump supporters think the election results could be manipulated, and 43 percent say corruption will be to blame if he loses. Its a rigged system like Donald says, it really is, Kelly Brooks of Mooresville, North Carolina, said at a Trump rally in her state this week. I think its intentionally rigged, 100 percent. They dont like Donald Trump. They dont like change, they want to do things the way theyve been doing them for a long time. Many critics are concerned by the extent to which Trump is relying on grand conspiracies to explain away his electoral troubles, including some who hear unnerving echoes of historically anti-Semitic rhetoric in Trumps references to global elites and nefarious bankers. Jonathan Greenblatt, director and chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, said Trumps references to the collusion of global banking elites sound as though they are straight out of the Protocols of Zion, an infamous anti-Semitic tract. Greenblatt said that he does not know whether Trump has used this language intentionally, but sees similar language and conspiracies circulated on anti-Semitic sites and blogs. Im not saying that the candidate is intentionally doing this, but whether its the speechwriters or his supporters, were seeing tropes and stereotypes about Jews dominating the global banking system, Greenblatt said. Its impossible for me to ascertain whats the intent, but what Im concerned about is the outcome. . . . We know that prejudice tends to flourish in these moments of uncertainty. Trumps candidacy has attracted enthusiastic support from white nationalists, neo-Nazi groups and vocal conspiracy theorists such as Alex Jones, a fringe conservative radio host who has interviewed Trump on his show and who railed this week against the Jewish mafia who are going to scam you. The Trump campaign declined to comment. The candidate has repeatedly dismissed accusations that his campaign has fostered or encouraged such messages and has said he condemns them. Much of Trumps conspiracy talk in recent weeks has focused on the polls, most of which show him trailing Clinton both nationally and in battleground states. Trump tells supporters that they should not believe polls that show him losing to Clinton and insists that he will win nearly every battleground state unless voter fraud is involved. What they do is they show these phony polls where they look at Democrats, and its heavily weighted with Democrats, and then theyll put on a poll where were not winning, and everybody says, Oh, theyre not winning, Trump said at a small produce farm in Boynton Beach, Florida, on Monday. Trump has long made a punching bag out of the media, and a large portion of his supporters deeply distrust fact checks of his claims. He alone, he has told supporters in the final days of the election, is speaking the truth. The media, the special interests, Wall Street, the career politicians the system is rigged, and Ive been saying it for a long time, Trump said at a campaign stop in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, last Saturday night. And, believe me, Im right. But with your help, we are going to beat the system and we are going to unrig the system. On Tuesday, Trump insisted that a hacked email revealed by WikiLeaks proved that President Barack Obama knew about Clintons use of a private email server as secretary of state, despite the president saying he learned about it through media reports. While the emails showed within Clintons orbit about the president knowing that she used a nongovernmental email address, they do not prove that Obama knew about the server while Clinton was using it. Trump has also repeatedly sought to undermine the Justice Department and the FBI in claiming that the investigation into Clintons use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state was unfair because it resulted in no charges against her. This is our country, in terms of justice, has never reached a lower point than what were witnessing today, he said in Tampa on Monday. He has also claimed, without proof, that donations to the wife of a top FBI official from the political organization of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) shows the federal probe was favorable to Clinton. She never had a chance of being convicted, even though everybody in this audience, and, boy, do we have a lot of people, everybody here knows that shes 100 percent guilty. Horrible, Trump said in Tampa. Trump has intensified his criticism of the media, telling his supporters that they are not just out to get him but are going after them, as well. The angry rhetoric has sometimes prompted even angrier outbursts from his supporters. F CNN! one man shouted at a rally in Sanford on Tuesday afternoon. When they interview the people standing on the line, and they say, Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump, they say, All right, lets get out of here, the GOP nominee said. Les Adams, a Vietnam War veteran from Tallahassee who attended the Sanford rally, agreed that the media has unfairly piled on Trump in recent weeks and said that skewed sampling by pollsters is the reason Trump isnt faring better in surveys. Adams also said he fears violence on the horizon if Clinton is elected. It starts with the average American saying, Hell, no, Im not going to take this anymore. And if Clinton gets elected? Ill buy more guns. Ill buy more guns. Theres going to be a revolution, Adams said. We cant get much more divided without violence happening. . . . I hope it doesnt [come to that]. I havent shot anybody since Vietnam; I dont want to start now. Video: Trump says hacked memo released by WikiLeaks exposes the corruption of the Clintons At a rally in Springfield, Ohio, Oct. 27, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said the release by WikiLeaks of a hacked memo written by a former Bill Clinton aide shows the lines all get blurred between the Clintons public and private activities. (The Washington Post) Short URL: http://wapo.st/2eRclnO Embed code: trump-conspiracies-1stld-writethru CHEYENNE, Wyo. Wyoming law enforcement officials are planning to search a northern Colorado landfill for the body of a 13-month-old Cheyenne boy whos been missing since Saturday, authorities say. Capt. Linda Gesell of the Laramie County Sheriffs Office said Thursday investigators interviewed someone at the boys home in the early morning hours Thursday who confirmed the boy was dead. Gesell said the person told investigators they had dumped the boys body into a trash container at a local community college. Gesell said investigators regard the case as a homicide and have been interviewing people throughout the day. She said no criminal charges have been filed yet. Investigators worked with a sanitation company to determine that trash from the container is taken to a landfill in Ault, Colorado, Gesell said. The latest is were still trying to work out logistics of us being able to get into the landfill to conduct searches, Gesell said. She said her agency has reached out to other agencies to muster a large number of people for the search. Weve determined where the three trucks from Cheyenne have dumped, and it happened to be somewhat of a new area in the landfill, Gesell said. So weve narrowed down a fairly smaller area where were hoping and thinking that this child might be located. Authorities arent releasing the boys name. The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle reported (http://bit.ly/2eLCFS8) that the boys grandfather called police on Wednesday after the boys mother said she hadnt seen the boy since Saturday. Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Bern, 27.10.2016 - On Wednesday, 2 November, President Johann N. Schneider-Ammann will travel to Germany on an official working visit. In Berlin talks will take place with President Joachim Gauck, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Education and Research Minister Johanna Wanka. On 3 November, the president, travelling with a business delegation, will be received as a state guest in Mexico. The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and the worlds fifteenth largest economy. The discussions between President Schneider-Ammann and Chancellor Merkel will focus on European policy issues, bilateral relations between Switzerland and Germany, and migration to Europe. In particular, Mr Schneider-Ammann will inform Ms Merkel of the state of deliberations in Parliament to implement Article 121a of the Federal Constitution on immigration. Further international political and economic issues will also be addressed; Germany assumes the chairmanship of the G20 on 1 December. The meeting with the education and research minister, Ms Wanka, will be dedicated to current developments in education, research and innovation. Mr Schneider-Ammann will also meet German President Joachim Gauck, following previous meetings at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos and the gathering of German-speaking heads of state in Brussels. Deepening of relations The president's visit to Mexico will serve to deepen relations with Switzerland's second largest trade partner in Latin America and implement the Joint Declaration of 2015. The invitation to pay a state visit - the second in the 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries - will strengthen the partnership in a number of areas. President Schneider-Ammann will be received by President Enrique Pena Nieto with military honours, after which the two presidents will hold official talks. Mr Schneider-Ammann will then attend the founding ceremony of the Swiss-Mexican Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the Secretary of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, in the Casa de Suiza. At the Colegio Suizo de Mexico, Mr Schneider-Ammann and the Secretary of Education, Aurelio Nuno Mayer, will launch the Alianza Suiza por la Educacion Dual' (Swiss Alliance for Vocational Education and Training). Further agreements between the two countries are also set to be signed. The agenda includes a number of further meetings with the Secretary of Finance, Jose Antonio Meade Kuribena, Miguel Angel Mancera, the mayor of Mexico City, and a meeting with the Swiss community. Switzerland and Mexico Over 5,400 Swiss nationals live in Mexico and around 2,800 Mexican nationals are currently living in Switzerland. Since the entry into force of a free trade agreement between EFTA and Mexico in 2001 economic relations have intensified significantly. Negotiations are currently under way to update the agreement. Switzerland and Mexico, a G20 member, also cooperate closely at multilateral level, particularly on climate change, human rights and in the Pacific Alliance, in which Switzerland is an observer. Address for enquiries Irene Harnischberg, EAER Press Spokesperson 058 462 20 34, irene.harnischberg@gs-wbf.admin.ch Publisher Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.wbf.admin.ch Tech and government investment specialist Veritas Capital has made another deal in the wake of its weighty $10.65bn Fund VIII close from earlier this month with the buyout of analytics provider Verisk's energy business. In NATO's biggest military build-up on Russia's borders since the Cold War, Britain, United States, Germany, Canada and NATO allies have pledged fighter jets, troops, tanks and artillery to Poland. By Reuters: Britain said on Wednesday it will send fighter jets to Romania next year and the United States promised troops, tanks and artillery to Poland in NATO's biggest military build-up on Russia's borders since the Cold War. Germany, Canada and other NATO allies also pledged forces at a defence ministers meeting in Brussels on the same day two Russian warships armed with cruise missiles entered the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Denmark, underscoring East-West tensions. advertisement In Madrid, the foreign ministry said Russia had withdrawn a request to refuel three warships in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta after NATO allies said they could be used to target civilians in Syria. READ| We are a friend, an ally who stood by India in darkest hours: Top Russian defense official The ships were part of an eight-ship carrier battle group - including Russia's sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov - that is expected to join around 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast, diplomats said. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the troop contributions to a new 4,000-strong force in the Baltics and eastern Europe were a measured response to what the alliance believes are some 330,000 Russian troops stationed on Russia's western flank near Moscow. "This month alone, Russia has deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad and suspended a weapons-grade plutonium agreement with the United States," Stoltenberg said, also accusing Russia of continued support for rebels in Ukraine. Typhoon fighter jet. Source: PTI Those ballistic missiles can hit targets across Poland and the Baltics, although NATO officials declined to say if Russia had moved nuclear warheads to Kaliningrad. NATO's aim is to make good on a July promise by NATO leaders to deter Russia in Europe's ex-Soviet states, after Moscow orchestrated the annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014. Read| Russia, India sign defence deals worth Rs 43,000 crore NATO's plan is to set up four battle groups with a total of some 4,000 troops from early next year, backed by a 40,000-strong rapid-reaction force, and if need be, follow-on forces. As part of that, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced a "battle-ready battalion task force" of about 900 soldiers would be sent to eastern Poland, as well as another, separate force equipped with tanks and other heavy equipment to move across eastern Europe. "It's a major sign of the US commitment to strengthening deterrence here," Carter said. Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Britain would send an 800-strong battalion to Estonia, supported by French and Danish troops, starting from May. The United States wants its troops in position by June. advertisement London is also sending Typhoon fighter aircraft to Romania to patrol around the Black Sea, partly in support of Turkey. "Although we are leaving the European Union, we will be doing more to help secure the eastern and southern flanks of NATO," Fallon said. SYRIAN SHADOW Others NATO allies joined the four battle groups led by the United States, Germany, Britain and Canada to go to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. Canada said it was sending 450 troops to Latvia, joined by 140 military personnel from Italy. F-16 fighter jet. Source: PTI Germany said it was sending between 400 and 600 troops to Lithuania, with additional forces from the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Croatia and Luxembourg. Stoltenberg said allies' commitments would be "a clear demonstration of our transatlantic bond." Diplomats said it would also send a message to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has complained that European allies do not pay their way in the alliance. READ| Up, up and away: Russian Su-34 jets conduct supersonic flights to stratosphere For the Kremlin, the US-led alliance's plans are already too much given Russia's grievances at NATO's expansion eastwards, although Stoltenberg denied going too far. advertisement But NATO's troop announcements in the Baltic states and Poland were partly overshadowed by the dispute about whether Spain should refuel the Russian warships, which was later resolved by Moscow's decision to withdraw its request. NATO's tensions with Russia have been building since Crimea and the West's decision to impose retaliatory sanctions. But the breakdown of a US-Russia brokered ceasefire in Syria on Oct. 3, followed by U.S. accusations that Russia has used cyber attacks to disrupt the presidential election, have signalled a worsening of ties. Even before the break down of the Syrian ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended a treaty with Washington on cleaning up weapons-grade plutonium, signalling he was willing to use nuclear disarmament as a new bargaining chip in disputes with the United States over Ukraine and Syria. WATCH VIDEO Also Read: India to acquire second Akula-class nuclear submarine from Russia for $2 billion India-Russia joint venture to end Army, IAF helicopter handicap India, Russia commit to boost bilateral tradeIndia to acquire second Akula-class nuclear submarine from Russia for $2 billion advertisement --- ENDS --- The Government has been accused of contradicting international commitments on climate change by stalling a proposed ban on fracking. Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment (pictured), has agreed to the reform but it has been put on hold for at least eight months. The legislation was put forward by Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael TD for Sligo Leitrim, one of the areas identified for potential shale gas exploration. It aims to ban energy companies from using high-pressure water and other additives to extract raw fuels from rocks, sands and coal seams. While Mr McLoughlin said it has been accepted by ministers, it will not come under committee scrutiny until after June 30 next year following an intervention by the Government, potentially delaying an outright ban until 2018. Oisin Coghlan, director of Friends of the Earth Ireland, said: "Our concern with the Government amendment is that it looks like an attempt to delay the progress of that bill by a year or more. There's no need for a delay that long." Fracking is banned in France, Germany and New York among others. Scotland has a moratorium on it and the Welsh parliament has voted against it while licences have been granted in England. The proposed legislation is being raised in the Dail on the same day as a debate is held to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change which aims to keep global temperature rises to 1.5C. Mr Coghlan said: "It really would be a positive symbol of Ireland's intention to act on climate change if, on the same day, it progressed without delay a bill to ban fracking. "But it would be an obvious contradiction if they ratified the Paris Agreement and on the other hand delayed a ban on fracking." Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, involves drilling into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is forced into rock to release gas. Three exploratory licences were granted in Ireland but no extraction has taken place. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commissioned a report on the impact of the controversial gas extraction on the environment and human health. It is due in the coming months. Mr McLoughlin explained the reasons for the eight-month delay. "I believe that this is in order to allow due process to take place with regard to the EPA research process and to allow the department time to consider its findings before the committee stage commences," he said. The largest shareholder in Irish telecoms firm eir, hedge fund Anchorage Capital Group, plans to acquire additional shares to secure control of the company, according to a regulatory filing published on Thursday. Anchorage held a 36.4% share of eir's parent company Eircom Holdco S.A., according to a filing in June. Ireland's competition watchdog, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, on Thursday said on its web site it had been informed of "the proposed acquisition by Anchorage Capital Group L.L.C. of sole control of Eircom Holdco S.A.". A spokesman for eir declined comment on whether Anchorage would require over 50% ownership to secure control over voting rights. The Irish Times reported an ownership stake of between 45 and 49% might be enough to give it control. eir said in a statement that Anchorage planed to purchase shares from an existing shareholder, but did not say how much or from whom. In June, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC controlled 16.3%, Davidson Kempner Capital had 11.8% and York Capital Management had 9.8%. A spokesman for Anchorage did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Anchorage bought a stake in eir in 2015 from Blackstone. The company was taken over by its senior lenders after it filed for creditor protection to restructure in 2012 with 3.75 billion euros of debt. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Credit unions have an edge over banks in the eyes of its members as a source of financial advice, according to a survey by a consumer analytics company. The online survey by Akron-based Segmint Inc. found 51% of members looked to their credit union for financial guidance, compared with 50% of big national bank customers, 42% of regional bank customers and 37% of community bank customers. Only 28% of credit union members agreed with the statement, I wish my bank better anticipated my financial needs and offered me more timely advice, compared with 38% of big bank customers, 35% of regionals and 30% of community banks. Credit unions are doing a terrific job compared with their peers, Segmint CEO Rob Heiser said Wednesday. For the past six years, small businesses have been given a big opportunity every November. The movement, otherwise known as Small Business Saturday, produces pride in shop owners and a sense of community in consumers. Small Business Saturday was started in 2010 by American Express, and was developed to raise awareness of the importance of small businesses to the American economy and support small business owners. Since then, the trend toward local consumption has gained traction, and Small Business Saturday has helped foster a feeling of dignity when it comes to buying and selling local goods. Despite consumers spending a total of $16.2 billion last year on Small Business Saturday (an increase of 14 percent from 2014), American Express has decided to eliminate its incentive programs for consumers on this day. What does this mean for credit unions? This presents an enormous opportunity to claim ownership of Small Business Saturday on November 26, and encourage credit union members to support their communities while making local purchases with their credit union cards. This year for the first time, PSCU is making it easy for credit unions to get involved in Small Business Saturday and leverage the important role they play in their communities. Credit unions can register for the Small Business Saturday Campaign that will deliver a steady stream of share-ready social media content, as well as financial updates and analytics directly to campaign managers. PSCU is offering this initiative to both Member-Owner credit unions and non-members across the country at no cost. With more than 95 million people taking part in Small Business Saturday in 2015, PSCU is eager to help credit unions benefit from the uptick in the shop small mentality. Small Business Saturday represents a tremendous opportunity for PSCU to help credit unions grow. Millennials have played a large role in the success of Small Business Saturday over the years, because of the importance they place on commitment to community. Shopping local means dollars stay in their local community, which aligns with credit unions focus on their communities. The first 25 credit unions to enroll in the Small Business Saturday Campaign will also receive a free 30-day trail of Engagement Builder, a suite of social media tools to help transform happy members into active brand advocates. Credit unions interested in signing up for PSCUs Small Business Saturday Campaign can register at engage.pscu.com/small-biz-sat.html between now and Oct. 28. Todays NCUA meeting contains several issues of high importance to credit unions, CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle said. Those items include a final field-of-membership rule, a board briefing on supplemental capital and later in the afternoon, the agencys first budget briefing since 2008. The board is expected to approve an important modernization of the definition of credit union membership. It will provide more Americans access to affordable, consumer-friendly financial services from credit unions. This rule, proposed in November 2015, includes a number of changes CUNA, leagues and credit unions requested on behalf of credit unions, Nussle said. Agency staff also will present a board briefing on supplemental capital and ways NCUA rules could incorporate supplemental capital as an option for credit unions as they grapple with NCUAs risk-based capital rule. The CUNA/league system supports such a move, as it would help offset risk-based capital requirements and ease their burden on credit unionsthe only financial institutions without access to supplemental capitalallowing them to better meet the needs of their members, he added. Also today, the NCUA will hold its first budget briefing since suspending the practice in 2008, thereby moving toward much-needed transparency in this process. Credit unions must have an informed voice in matters that involve spending their moneywhich is their members moneyon agency goals and priorities. CUNAs Vice President of Economics and Statistics Mike Schenk will deliver remarks on our tireless work to return transparency to the NCUA budgeting decisions and the agencys decision to more fully include credit unions in the process is a significant win for credit unions, Nussle said. This daily digest focuses on Yuan rates, major Chinese economic data, market sentiment, new developments in Chinas foreign exchange policies, changes in financial market regulations, as well as market news typically available only in Chinese-language sources. - Hong Kong Monetary Authority will publish the use of offshore Yuan liquidity beginning on November, 1st. - The PBOC told that off-balance sheet financing will be included in evaluation of banks health but has not yet. - Manufacturing and finance shares took up the largest proportions in government-led funds. To receive reports from this analyst, sign up for Renee Mu distribution list. Yuan Rates - The offshore Yuan set new record lows on Thursday, with the USD/CNH breaking above 6.79 for the first time since it was quoted. The onshore Yuan extended losses against the U.S. Dollar as well, with USD/CNY hitting 6.7819, a fresh six-year low. Earlier in the day, the PBOC weakened the Yuan by -31 pips to 6.7736 against the Greenback. Market News China Finance Information: a finance online media administrated by Xinhua Agency. - Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) designated Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of Communications as two new Primary Liquidity Providers (PLPs) for the offshore Yuan in Hong Kong on Thursday, effective immediately; the total PLPs increased from seven to nine. Also, in order to enhance the transparency of the Yuan market liquidity, the HKMA will publish information on the use of intraday and overnight RMB Liquidity Facility and the use of PLP facility beginning on November 1st. These arrangements will strengthen the liquidity and resilience of the CNH market and enhance the infrastructure of the offshore RMB market in Hong Kong, according to Norman Chan, Chief Executive of the HKMA. The full list of the nine PLPs can be found here. - The PBOC Chief Economist Ma Jun responded to reports from multiple media that the Central Bank will add off-balance sheet financing into the Macro Prudential Assessment (MPA). Mr. Ma told that in the third quarter, the regulator will use the same measures as it did in the first two quarters to evaluate the health of banks; the Central Bank has not included off-balance sheet financing into MPA, but is studying the timing and a plan for such inclusion. He also emphasized the necessity to strengthen oversight on the fast growing off-balance products. - Bank of China, the first Big-Four bank that released the third-quarter earnings report, shows its profits in the first nine months increased +2.48% to 134.8 billion Yuan on an annualized basis. The non-performing loans ratio increased to 1.48% from 1.47% in the second quarter, indicating slightly increased proportion of loans in default or close to default. In terms of the banks solvency, the capital adequacy ratio rose to 14.12% from 13.91% in the previous quarter. The Big Four refers to the four main Chinese banks: Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Construction Bank. Hexun News: Chinese leading online media of financial news. - All of the five Chinese government-led funds disclosed positive earnings in the third quarter, according to their 3Q reports released of recent. Last July, China Securities Finance, 100% state-owned, set up five funds worth 200 billion Yuan. In the third quarter of this year, earnings of the five funds totaled 5.2 billion Yuan. In terms of sectors that these funds invested, manufacturing and finance industries took up the largest portions. Chinese investors, especially individual investors, often look to government-led purchases as guidance before make their own investment decisions. - The Chinese Yuan was used in2.03% of global payments in Sepember, rising from 1.86% in the month prior, according to SWIFT. The Yuan held its position as the sixth-ranked global payments currency. In August 2015, the Yuan overtook the Yen as worlds fourth most-used currency, with a share of 2.79%. To receive reports from this analyst, sign up for Renee Mu distribution list. A new whole-genome analysis of chimpanzees and bonobos reveals that these two great ape species likely interbred several hundred thousand years ago. A better understanding of the genetic flow between humans' closest living relatives could shed light on processes that might have played a recurring role in great ape evolution. While chimpanzees and bonobos are known to interbreed in captivity, the historic genetic flow between the two species in the wild is less clear. To gain better insights into possible historical gene flow between them, Marc de Manuel et al. analyzed the complete genomes of 10 bonobos and 65 chimpanzees. Significantly, more chimpanzees were included in their analysis, and from various regions in Africa, because previous genetic studies have suggested that four distinct species of chimpanzee exist. Following their analysis, the researchers observed clear evidence for gene flow between the two species, occurring between 200 and 550 thousand years ago, they estimate. Central, eastern, and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees share significantly more genetic information with bonobos than do western chimpanzees, they report. What's more, similar to Neanderthal genetic patterns in humans, some background bonobo genetic information has been deleted in the chimpanzee genome, suggesting that some bonobo genes may have been disadvantageous for chimpanzees. The researchers also found that their genetic analysis could be used to determine from which country, and even which region, the various chimpanzees evaluated originated. Such information could be used to help identify hotspots for illegal trafficking of these animals, the authors say, and to improve conservation efforts. A Perspective by A. Rus Hoelzel provides more context. ### Global warming above 1.5Celsius, the ideal limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, will change the Mediterranean region, producing ecosystems never seen throughout the last 10,000 years, a new study reports. As temperatures around the world increase, some regions will feel the heat more than others. Already, regional temperatures in the Mediterranean basin are about 1.3C higher than they were between 1880 and 1920, compared with an increase of roughly 0.85C worldwide during the same period. Considering that Mediterranean basin ecosystems are a hotspot for the world's biodiversity and supply numerous services to people, including clean water, flood protection, carbon storage, and recreation, this extra increase in temperature is critical. Here, to further consider the effects of different Paris Agreement temperature thresholds on the Mediterranean basin, Joel Guiot and Wolfgang Cramer used pollen cores from sediments, which provide rich detail about Mediterranean climate and ecosystem variability over the past 10,000 years. They applied this data in models as a baseline to estimate future climate and vegetation scenarios based on different temperature increases. In both the "business as usual" simulations and a second set of simulations that reflected intended national goals proposed by the governments at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, the amount of ecological change that's predicted vastly exceeds that which has occurred during the Holocene. In the "business as usual" case, all of southern Spain turns into desert, deciduous forests invade most of the mountains, and shrubland vegetation replaces most of the deciduous forests in a large part of the Mediterranean basin. Only under the scenario where the global warming is limited to 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures do ecosystem shifts remain inside the limits experienced during the last 10,000 years. This analysis does not account for other human impacts on ecosystems, such as land-use change, urbanization, and soil degradation, many of which are more likely to increase in the future because of the expanding human population and economic activity, the authors note. ### The Science and Science Careers' 2016 annual Top Employers Survey polled employees in the biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, and related industries to determine the 20 best employers in these industries as well as their driving characteristics. Respondents to the web-based survey were asked to rate companies based on 23 characteristics, including financial strength, easy adaptation to change, and a research-driven environment. This year, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals of Tarrytown, New York, receives the top honor in a ranking of the world's most respected biopharmaceutical employers. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals tops this year's list, reinforcing its dominance as it has been ranked first or second place for the last six years. It received this accolade due to its focus on innovation, teamwork, and proper maintenance of a work-life balance. The rankings, determined from a study conducted by an independent research firm commissioned by the AAAS Office of Publishing, will appear in the 28 October 2016 issue of Science and online at ScienceCareers.org on October 27 at 2:00 p.m. US Eastern Time. Like Science and Science Careers' previous rankings of biopharma employers, the 2016 survey sought to identify the companies with the best reputations as employers, based on 5,984 survey responses from readers of Science and other survey invitees. Survey participants came from North America (56%), Europe (28%), and Asia/Pacific Rim (12%); 93% work in biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, and pharmaceutical companies. Survey responses were analyzed by The Brighton Consulting Group, which used a mathematical process to assign a unique score to rate each company's employer reputation. Each company received a ranking, for example, on the basis of whether it treats its employees with respect, whether its work-culture values align with employees' personal values, and other factors. For the complete feature along with individual company rankings, go to sciencecareers.org/TopEmployers2016, which will be live beginning 2:00 p.m. US Eastern Time on October 27, 2016. ### The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science as well as Science Translational Medicine, Science Signaling, a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances, Science Immunology, and - coming soon - Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes nearly 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world. The non-profit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS. See http://www.aaas.org. Schmallenberg virus is unlikely to be circulating in the south of England, but more needs to be done to warn vets and farmers of future disease outbreaks, write experts in the journal Veterinary Record. They say outbreaks may occur in years to come as herd immunity decreases. Schmallenberg is a midge-borne viral disease that was first identified among dairy cattle herds in Germany during 2011. The virus spread across Europe, including the UK, where all southern counties reported outbreaks between 2012 and 2013. Schmallenberg causes mild clinical signs in adult cattle such as fever, diarrhoea and loss of milk production. In pregnant females, it can damage the fetus, leading to abortions, stillbirths and congenital defects. High circulation of Schmallenberg virus between 2012 and 2013 in the UK was followed by a decline in 2014. Researchers at Liverpool wanted to know if this was a true decrease in circulation or a lack of reporting. So the team of researchers, led by Jessica Stokes, tested 1,444 samples from 6-12 months old sheep across 131 farms in 2015. Only 5 samples were found that tested positive, but were later confirmed by an external lab as negative by 'gold standard' test. All sampled sheep were born after October 2014 and were more than six months old to ensure animals with immunity following infection between 2012 and 2014 were excluded. However, the researchers warn that there may be future outbreaks of Schmallenberg virus following low circulation of the virus, similar to what has been seen with bluetongue virus in France. The country was declared disease free in 2012, only for the virus to re-emerge in 2015 - most probably from wildlife. They suggest more emphasis on surveillance of wildlife, as well as widespread trapping of midges to test large numbers of the insects, and across specific sites at high risk of possible wind transfer from Europe. "Regardless of the current status of Schmallenberg virus in Europe, this study has highlighted a large, naive population susceptible to future potential outbreaks, within the south of England," say the researchers. "Effective surveillance systems are therefore needed to warn vets and farmers of future disease risks." In an accompanying editorial, Nick de Regge, from the University of Ghent in Belgium, comments that the lack of significant Schmallenberg virus circulation and associated losses during the past few years means governments, veterinarians and farmers may have become less aware of this disease and might think or hope that Schmallenberg virus will disappear. However, data for similar viruses predict otherwise, he warns. No data are currently available on the level of immunity present against Schmallenberg virus in wild populations, but it's expected that the susceptible population will increase as herd immunity decreases. "Five years after its initial emergence, this could shape the ideal conditions for a renewed large scale re-emergence of Schmallenberg virus that would probably be followed by a new abortion storm," he warns. "It seems advisable to closely monitor the situation via different surveillance techniques to allow timely warnings to veterinarians and farmers and to remind them to remain alert," he concludes. ### About the journal: Veterinary Record, published weekly since 1888, is the official journal of the British Veterinary Association (BVA). It is published on behalf of the BVA by BMJ. http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com Common swifts are known for their impressive aerial abilities, capturing food and nest material while in flight. Now, by attaching data loggers to the birds, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 27 have confirmed what some had suspected: common swifts can go for most of the year (10 months!) without ever coming down. While there had been examples of birds remaining in flight for periods of months, including frigate birds and alpine swifts, the evidence on common swifts sets a new record, the researchers say. "When the common swifts leave their breeding site in August for a migration to the Central African rainforests via West Africa, they never touch ground until they return for the next breeding season 10 months later," says Anders Hedenstrom of Lund University in Sweden. "Some individuals may roost for brief periods, or even entire nights in mid-winter, but others literally never landed during this period." Hedenstrom says the birds likely save energy during the day by gliding in upward currents of warm air. But they also ascend to high altitudes each day at dawn and dusk. Scientists had long ago proposed that swifts might spend most of their lives in flight. To find out, Hedenstrom and colleagues developed a new type of micro data logger. The data loggers record acceleration to monitor the birds' flight activity. Later, the researchers added light sensors for use in geolocation. The researchers attached the data loggers to 19 common swifts that were later recaptured. The data showed that swifts spend more than 99 percent of their time during their 10-month non-breeding period in flight. While some individuals settled down at some point, others never did. The birds' flight activity often appeared lower during the day than at night, most likely because the birds spent their days soaring on warm air currents. Hedenstrom says the researchers don't yet know whether or how the birds sleep. But, "the fact that some individuals never landed during 10 months suggests they sleep on the wing." Perhaps they find time to nap during slow descents at dawn and dusk, he suggests. That's one possibility he and his colleagues hope to explore in future research. Despite the high energetic costs associated with all that flight, common swifts also manage to live surprisingly long lives, contrary to popular notions about living hard and dying young. There are documented cases of common swifts living to the age of 20. In that time, "the accumulated flight distance equals seven round-trip journeys to the moon," Hedenstrom says. And that, he says, means there are many more intriguing questions to ask and answer about the birds' physiology. ### The research received support from the Swedish Research Council, and the Centre for Animal Movement Research (CAnMove) was financed by a Linnaeus grant from the Swedish Research Council and Lund University. Current Biology, Hedenstrom et al.: "Annual 10-Month Aerial Life Phase in the Common Swift Apus apus" http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)31063-6 Current Biology (@CurrentBiology), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that features papers across all areas of biology. Current Biology strives to foster communication across fields of biology, both by publishing important findings of general interest and through highly accessible front matter for non-specialists. Visit: http://www.cell.com/current-biology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com. UPTON, NY - Sally Dawson, a theoretical physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, has been named a recipient of the 2017 J.J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics. The award, given by the American Physical Society (APS), recognizes Dawson and her three co-authors of The Higgs Hunter's Guide, a seminal book first published in 1989 on the physics of Higgs bosons-fundamental particles predicted by the accepted theory of particle physics as essential to generating the mass of fundamental particles, and discovered in experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2012. Dawson and her co-recipients-Gordon L. Kane of the University of Michigan, Howard E. Haber of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and John F. Gunion of the University of California, Davis-are long-term and ongoing colleagues. They were cited for their "instrumental contributions to the theory of the properties, reactions, and signatures of the Higgs boson." They will receive the award, which consists of $10,000 to be shared and certificates citing their achievements, at a ceremony during an APS meeting themed "Quarks 2 Cosmos" on Sunday, January 29, 2017, in Washington, D.C. "It's a great honor to receive this award with such distinguished scientists," said Dawson. She noted that she was just a postdoc when she first met Haber, recounted early discussions with Kane about the need to catalog what was then known about the Higgs as a way to guide future experiments, and pointed out Gunion's role as the first to calculate one of the signals by which the Higgs was eventually discovered. "This was all happening around the time the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC), and subsequently the LHC, were first proposed. We've known one another a long time." Dawson is best known for developing mathematical models to explain and predict the processes by which Higgs particles are produced. These precise theoretical calculations helped to guide searches for evidence of the Higgs at the LHC, located at the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN), which spans the Swiss/French border. The LHC's 2012 discovery of the Higgs contributed to the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics, which was awarded to the theoretical physicists who predicted the particle's existence nearly fifty years earlier. "You never would have found the Higgs if you didn't know what you were looking for," Dawson explained to further highlight the importance of the theory work. "The searches were based on years of calculations and the detectors were designed to find this thing based on that theoretical work, which is still ongoing," Dawson said. Today, Dawson and her colleagues are collaborating to more accurately predict the production and decay processes for Higgs particles at the LHC. "You can calculate things now that you could never imagine calculating 20 years ago," she said. "People have developed new ways of calculating. It's not just brute force. We are smarter and have more tools now," she added. Comparing experimental measurements with predictions calculated using different theoretical assumptions gives scientists a way to check the accuracy of their theories-including the long-standing Standard Model, which has, so far, been successful in describing all known particles and their interactions. Dawson is particularly interested in exploring the interactions of Higgs particles produced in pairs. "If the Standard Model is correct, we can predict these interactions, but we need to be able to test them," she said. "If the predictions don't come out as expected, the mechanism that gives other particles their mass is not the whole story. And that would be very, very interesting," she said. To accumulate enough events to be able to do these analyses, the LHC will run through 2035. But Dawson noted that to finish the story, and really be able to measure all the properties of the Higgs, "we are going to need an even higher energy machine." Dawson joined Brookhaven Lab's Physics Department in 1986 after earning a B.S. in physics and mathematics from Duke University in 1977 and a Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University in 1981. She was a research associate at Fermilab from 1981 to 1983 and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory from 1983 to 1986. After arriving at Brookhaven Lab, Dawson rose through the ranks, leading the High Energy Theory Group from 1998 to 2004 and the Physics Department as chair from 2005 to 2007 before returning to research in 2008. She has also been an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University's Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics since 2001. Additional honors include being named a fellow of the American Physical Society in 1995 and the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2006, and a recipient of the prestigious Humboldt Research Award in 2015. The J.J. Sakurai Prize was endowed by the family and friends of physicist Jun Sakurai, a well-known contributor in the field of quantum mechanics and particle physics, to encourage outstanding work in the field of particle theory. The award is given annually. Dawson's research at Brookhaven is supported by the DOE Office of Science. ### Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov. One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE's Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by the Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit applied science and technology organization. Media contacts: Karen McNulty Walsh, (631) 344-8350, kmcnulty@bnl.gov, or Peter Genzer, (631) 344-3174, genzer@bnl.gov A telescope located deep in the West Australian outback has shown what the Universe would look like if human eyes could see radio waves. Published today in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky MWA, or 'GLEAM' survey, has produced a catalogue of 300,000 galaxies observed by the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), a $50 million radio telescope located at a remote site northeast of Geraldton. Lead author Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, from Curtin University and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), said this is the first radio survey to image the sky in such amazing technicolour. "The human eye sees by comparing brightness in three different primary colours - red, green and blue," Dr Hurley-Walker said. "GLEAM does rather better than that, viewing the sky in 20 primary colours. "That's much better than we humans can manage, and it even beats the very best in the animal kingdom, the mantis shrimp, which can see 12 different primary colours," she said. GLEAM is a large-scale, high-resolution survey of the radio sky observed at frequencies from 70 to 230 MHz, observing radio waves that have been travelling through space--some for billions of years. "Our team are using this survey to find out what happens when clusters of galaxies collide," Dr Hurley-Walker said. "We're also able to see the remnants of explosions from the most ancient stars in our galaxy, and find the first and last gasps of supermassive black holes." MWA Director Associate Professor Randall Wayth, from Curtin University and ICRAR, said GLEAM is one of the biggest radio surveys of the sky ever assembled. "The area surveyed is enormous," he said. "Large sky surveys like this are extremely valuable to scientists and they're used across many areas of astrophysics, often in ways the original researchers could never have imagined," Associate Professor Wayth said. Completing the GLEAM survey with the MWA is a big step on the path to SKA-low, the low frequency part of the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope to be built in Australia in the coming years. "It's a significant achievement for the MWA telescope and the team of researchers that have worked on the GLEAM survey," Associate Professor Wayth said. "The survey gives us a glimpse of the Universe that SKA-low will be probing once it's built. By mapping the sky in this way we can help fine-tune the design for the SKA and prepare for even deeper observations into the distant Universe." ### PUBLICATION DETAILS 'GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky Murchison Widefield Array (GLEAM) survey I: A low-frequency extragalactic catalogue', published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society on October 27th, 2016. MORE INFORMATION The MWA: The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is a low frequency radio telescope located at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in Western Australia's Mid West. The MWA observes radio waves with frequencies between 70 and 320 MHz and was the first of the three Square Kilometre Array (SKA) precursors to be completed. A consortium of 13 partner institutions from four countries (Australia, USA, India and New Zealand) has financed the development, construction, commissioning and operations of the facility. Since commencing operations in mid 2013 the consortium has grown to include new partners from Canada and Japan. Key science for the MWA ranges from the search for redshifted HI signals from the Epoch of Reionisation to wide-field searches for transient and variable objects (including pulsars and Fast Radio Bursts), wide-field Galactic and extra-galactic surveys, and solar and heliospheric science. The SKA: The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is an international effort to build the world's largest radio telescope, led by SKA Organisation based at the Jodrell Bank Observatory near Manchester, England. Co-located primarily in South Africa and Western Australia, the SKA will be a collection of hundreds of thousands of radio antennas with a combined collecting area equivalent to approximately one million square metres, or one square kilometre. The SKA will conduct transformational science to improve our understanding of the Universe and the laws of fundamental physics, monitoring the sky in unprecedented detail and mapping it hundreds of times faster than any current facility. ICRAR: The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) is a joint venture between Curtin University and The University of Western Australia with support and funding from the State Government of Western Australia. MULTIMEDIA High-resolution videos and imagery are available from http://www.icrar.org/GLEAM (password = 'glimmer'). CONTACT INFORMATION Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker (Curtin University, ICRAR) E: nhw@icrar.org M: +61 426 192 677 Dr Randall Wayth (Curtin University, ICRAR, CAASTRO) E: randall.wayth@icrar.org M: +61 418 282 359 Pete Wheeler, Media Contact, ICRAR E: pete.wheeler@icrar.org M: +61 423 982 018 Tamara Hunter, Media Contact, Curtin University E: tamara.hunter@curtin.edu.au M: +61 (08) 9266 3353 INDIANAPOLIS -- Have a dental emergency? Your smartphone may be able to help you avoid an unnecessary trip to the hospital. A team mentored by Thankam Thyvalikakath, DMD, PhD, now of the Indiana University School of Dentistry and of the Regenstrief Institute, has developed and tested a novel mobile application enabling smartphones to capture and transmit images from inside the mouth, along with details on the dental emergency, to provide the information dentists need to make a decision on what -- and how urgently -- care is needed. Seeking to improve emergency dental care, the researchers developed DentaCom, a cell phone application that enables dentists to make decisions when they cannot see the patient. "A Prototype Mobile Application for Triaging Dental Emergencies" is published in the October 2016 issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association and is featured on the issue's cover. The authors were at the University of Pittsburgh at the time of the study. The new app guides individuals with real or suspected dental emergencies through a series of questions designed to capture clinically meaningful data via familiar smartphone functions. In the study, all participants were able to complete a guided report on their dental emergency and take photos of the problem region within four minutes. All clinical information was successfully entered by prospective patients via DentaCom. "There are many challenges here that our app can help with," said Thyvalikakath, the paper's senior author. "It is a challenge for the patient to get the dental emergency appropriately managed, and not just treated by painkillers in a busy hospital ER by a clinician who is not a dental specialist, It is also a challenge for the dentist to get details of the problem." Corey Stein, MS, first author of the study and now a dental student at Western University of Health Sciences in California, initially conceived the idea of an app when he experienced a dental emergency. He received the American Dental Association's 2016 Robert H. Ahlstrom New Investigator Award for his work on DentaCom. Dental emergencies frequently occur when dental offices are closed. Patients often turn to hospital emergency departments or urgent care centers. But most patients who go to these facilities are simply treated for their pain and referred to their dentist for proper care during office hours. Valuable time may be lost before actual treatment is received, and the patient is billed for the emergency or urgent care visit in addition to whatever dental fees will be incurred. In contrast to a physician's office, a dentist's office is hands-on and procedure based, and it can be difficult to add an emergent patient to the schedule. The DentaCom app provides the detailed guidance that the dentist needs to determine the urgency of, and appropriately treat, the problem. "We developed this app as a communication tool linking patients and dentists during emergency situations," said Thyvalikakath, associate professor and the director of Dental Informatics Core in the IU School of Dentistry. "But I see even more potential in nonemergency situations when individuals, particularly those who lack dental insurance, need guidance -- do I need to see a dentist or not? It can also be useful in enhancing access to routine dental care." ### In addition to Thyvalikakath and Stein, authors of the study are Xiang Xiao, BS; Steven Levine, DMD; Titus K.L. Schleyer, DMD, PhD and Harry Hochheiser, PhD. Schleyer is now a research scientist with the Center for Biomedical Informatics at the Regenstrief Institute and is the Clem McDonald Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Indiana University School of Medicine. Xiao, Levine and Hochheiser remain at Pittsburgh. The study was funded in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Lilly Endowment, the Indiana Physician Scientist Initiative and the National Library of Medicine. JADA is published by Elsevier. DOI 10.1016/j.adaj.2016.03.021 Research conducted at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University has shed new light on the structure of the nucleus, that tiny congregation of protons and neutrons found at the core of every atom Research conducted at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University has shed new light on the structure of the nucleus, that tiny congregation of protons and neutrons found at the core of every atom. Headed by a French research group, the work, detailed in the latest edition of the journal Nature Physics, found that the distribution of the protons in a nucleus known as silicon-34 has a bubble-like center, something scientists had suspected for some time, but hadn't been able to prove. "The finding is somewhat unexpected," said Alexandra Gade, chief scientist at MSU's NSCL, where the work took place. "We've confirmed something that has been suspected for about 40 years but hadn't been observed. This result furthers our understanding of how the nucleus is put together." Usually, the protons and neutrons that make up a nucleus are distributed evenly throughout. So the scientists, as well as the scientific world, took notice when this central depletion of protons was discovered. "What made the work so challenging is the silicon-34 nucleus is an unstable, radioactive isotope, which has a lifetime of just under three seconds," said Daniel Bazin, a member of the team and an NSCL researcher. "These nuclei are difficult to make and there are only a few facilities in the world that can produce them and use them in experiments," Gade said. "In North America, the NSCL is the only facility that could have done this experiment." ### NSCL is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Physics Division to operate a national user facility and for conducting research in nuclear science. Astronomers using observations from NASA's Kepler and Swift missions have discovered a batch of rapidly spinning stars that produce X-rays at more than 100 times the peak levels ever seen from the sun. The stars, which spin so fast they've been squashed into pumpkin-like shapes, are thought to be the result of close binary systems where two sun-like stars merge. "These 18 stars rotate in just a few days on average, while the sun takes nearly a month," said Steve Howell, a senior research scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, and leader of the team. "The rapid rotation amplifies the same kind of activity we see on the sun, such as sunspots and solar flares, and essentially sends it into overdrive." The most extreme member of the group, a K-type orange giant dubbed KSw 71, is more than 10 times larger than the sun, rotates in just 5.5 days, and produces X-ray emission 4,000 times greater than the sun does at solar maximum. These rare stars were found as part of an X-ray survey of the original Kepler field of view, a patch of the sky comprising parts of the constellations Cygnus and Lyra. From May 2009 to May 2013, Kepler measured the brightness of more than 150,000 stars in this region to detect the regular dimming from planets passing in front of their host stars. The mission was immensely successful, netting more than 2,300 confirmed exoplanets and nearly 5,000 candidates to date. An ongoing extended mission, called K2, continues this work in areas of the sky located along the ecliptic, the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun. "A side benefit of the Kepler mission is that its initial field of view is now one of the best-studied parts of the sky," said team member Padi Boyd, a researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who designed the Swift survey. For example, the entire area was observed in infrared light by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, and NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer observed many parts of it in the ultraviolet. "Our group was looking for variable X-ray sources with optical counterparts seen by Kepler, especially active galaxies, where a central black hole drives the emissions," she explained. Using the X-ray and ultraviolet/optical telescopes aboard Swift, the researchers conducted the Kepler-Swift Active Galaxies and Stars Survey (KSwAGS), imaging about six square degrees, or 12 times the apparent size of a full moon, in the Kepler field. "With KSwAGS we found 93 new X-ray sources, about evenly split between active galaxies and various types of X-ray stars," said team member Krista Lynne Smith, a graduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park who led the analysis of Swift data. "Many of these sources have never been observed before in X-rays or ultraviolet light." For the brightest sources, the team obtained spectra using the 200-inch telescope at Palomar Observatory in California. These spectra provide detailed chemical portraits of the stars and show clear evidence of enhanced stellar activity, particularly strong diagnostic lines of calcium and hydrogen. The researchers used Kepler measurements to determine the rotation periods and sizes for 10 of the stars, which range from 2.9 to 10.5 times larger than the sun. Their surface temperatures range from somewhat hotter to slightly cooler than the sun, mostly spanning spectral types F through K. Astronomers classify the stars as subgiants and giants, which are more advanced evolutionary phases than the sun's caused by greater depletion of their primary fuel source, hydrogen. All of them eventually will become much larger red giant stars. A paper detailing the findings will be published in the Nov. 1 edition of the Astrophysical Journal and is now available online. Forty years ago, Ronald Webbink at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign noted that close binary systems cannot survive once the fuel supply of one star dwindles and it starts to enlarge. The stars coalesce to form a single rapidly spinning star initially residing in a so-called "excretion" disk formed by gas thrown out during the merger. The disk dissipates over the next 100 million years, leaving behind a very active, rapidly spinning star. Howell and his colleagues suggest that their 18 KSwAGS stars formed by this scenario and have only recently dissipated their disks. To identify so many stars passing through such a cosmically brief phase of development is a real boon to stellar astronomers. "Webbink's model suggests we should find about 160 of these stars in the entire Kepler field," said co-author Elena Mason, a researcher at the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics Astronomical Observatory of Trieste. "What we have found is in line with theoretical expectations when we account for the small portion of the field we observed with Swift." The team has already extended their Swift observations to additional fields mapped by the K2 mission. Ames manages the Kepler and K2 missions for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, managed Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. operates the flight system with support from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Goddard manages the Swift mission in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University in University Park, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and Orbital Sciences Corp. in Dulles, Virginia. Other partners include the University of Leicester and Mullard Space Science Laboratory in the United Kingdom, Brera Observatory and the Italian Space Agency in Italy, with additional collaborators in Germany and Japan. ### A new study released Thursday by researchers at Portland State University -- part of its Who Votes for Mayor project -- detail the shockingly low voter turnout that is now typical in elections for mayor across the United States. For the most recent round of mayoral elections in America's 30 largest cities, turnout of eligible citizens in 10 of them -- including New York City, Baltimore, Dallas and Miami -- was less than 15 percent. In Las Vegas, Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, voter turnout was in the single digits. In addition to abysmally low voter turnout, the Who Votes for Mayor project revealed several additional findings: Younger voters aren't participating. In America's 30 largest cities, 46.7 percent of registered voters over the age of 65 voted in the last mayoral election, as compared to 9 percent of registered voters aged 18 to 34. As a result: Voters in mayoral elections trend older. The median age of those actually casting ballots -- 57 -- was nearly a full generation older than the median age of the eligible voting population. In eight cities, including Houston, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Dallas, the median voter age was above 60. Older residents have more "electoral clout," with residents 65 years and older up to 56 times more likely to vote than residents 18-34 years old. Certain neighborhoods have dramatically higher turnout than others, yielding an uneven distribution of voting "oases" and "deserts" within the same city. In Dallas, for example, nearly one in three residents live in voting deserts, which are neighborhoods where turnout was half (or less) than the citywide average. How cities ranked Across the country, cities varied greatly in how many people turned out and how representative of the population voters were. For a full comparison, visit http://www.whovotesformayor.org/compare Lowest voter turnout 1. Dallas, Texas, 6.1% 2. Fort Worth, Texas, 6.5% turnout 3. Las Vegas, Nev., 9.4% turnout Highest voter turnout 1. Portland, Ore., 59.4% 2. Louisville, Ky., 45.4% turnout 3. Seattle, Wash., 44.5% turnout Most Voting Deserts 1. Dallas, Texas, 31.9% who live in voting deserts 2. Fort Worth, Texas, 24.8% who live in voting deserts 3. Phoenix, Ariz., 19.7% who live in voting deserts "In the vast majority of local elections, young people are ceding decisions for the future to their grandparents," said Phil Keisling, Director of Portland State University's Center for Public Service. "There are a number of actions we can take to improve turnout, such as coupling local elections with national elections, increasing voter registration, changing where and how voters can receive and return their ballots, and reeling in the influence of money in politics." The Who Votes for Mayor project breaks important new ground in the world of electoral research by combining voting and U.S. Census data from 85 mayoral elections in the nation's 30 largest cities, as well as 20 other smaller communities across the U.S. Researchers analyzed more than 23 million voting records and extensive demographic data from more than 10,000 U.S. Census tracts. Interactive data on all 50 cities is available at http://www.whovotesformayor.org. Every day, over half a million local elected officials across the country are making important and influential decisions about core services like police and fire, drinking water, economic development and roads and public transportation for the more than 80 percent of Americans who live in cities. When voter turnout in local elections is low, a small percentage of residents can have outsize influence in policy choices that have far-reaching consequences across cities and regions. In three-quarters of the cities studied, mayors and other local officials are chosen in odd-number year elections (as opposed to Presidential elections and midterm elections), a remnant of decisions made over a century ago when these off-year elections were set up to give voters time to focus on local issues. Turnout is usually much higher during Presidential election years, and several cities have moved their local elections into alignment with the Presidential contest. "One person, one vote is a core principle of American democracy for a very good reason--when turnout is abysmally low, more attention is paid to the interests of small groups of people instead of community-wide issues of equity and good governance," said Benjamin de la Pena, Director for Community and National Strategy at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. "The danger of such low participation in local elections is the risk that elected leaders will not address serious and pressing issues that disproportionately affect historically disadvantaged communities." ### Who Votes for Mayor is a joint project of Portland State University and Knight Foundation. The study's research team was led by Dr. Jason Jurjevich and former Oregon Secretary of State Phil Keisling, and also included Kevin Rancik, Carson Gorecki, and Stephanie Hawke. City-by-city election data from the study is freely available for download on the Who Votes for Mayor website under a Creative Commons license. For more information, visit http://www.whovotesformayor.org. The apex court, which is hearing a contentious matter relating to electoral malpractices arising out of its 1995 judgement, said it will not re-consider the judgement and also not examine Hindutva. By Anindya Banerjee: CPM's Sitaram Yechury has filed a petition over Hindutva in the Supreme Court. Social activist Teesta Setalvad had earlier sought to intervene in the matter with an application stating that religion and politics should not be mixed and a direction be passed to de-link religion from politics. But the Supreme court ruled out re-visiting the famous 'Hindutva' verdict holding Hinduism as a "way of life' making it clear that it would not go into the "larger debate". advertisement "We will not go into the larger debate as to what is 'Hindutva' or what is its meaning. We will not re-consider the 1995 judgement and also not examine 'Hindutva' or religion at this stage," a seven-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur said. But since the court decided to look at a broader view of whether religion should be used to seek votes as a 'corrupt practices', CPIM filed this petition to be heard since it involved the representations of people's act. Now all eyes on what others do after this move of the grand old left party. --- ENDS --- Malicious websites promoting scams, distributing malware and collecting phished credentials pervade the web. As quickly as we block or blacklist them, criminals set up new domain names to support their activities. Now a research team including Princeton University computer science professor Nick Feamster and recently graduated Ph.D. student Shuang Hao has developed a technique to make it more difficult to register new domains for nefarious purposes. In a paper presented at the 2016 ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security on Oct. 27, the researchers describe a system called PREDATOR that distinguishes between legitimate and malicious purchasers of new websites. In doing so, the system yields important insights into how those two groups behave differently online even before the malicious users have done anything obviously bad or harmful. These early signs of likely evil-doers help security professionals take preemptive measures, instead of waiting for a security threat to surface. "The intuition has always been that the way that malicious actors use online resources somehow differs fundamentally from the way legitimate actors use them," Feamster explained. "We were looking for those signals: what is it about a domain name that makes it automatically identifiable as a bad domain name?" Once a website begins to be used for malicious purposes -- when it's linked to in spam email campaigns, for instance, or when it installs malicious code on visitors' machines -- then defenders can flag it as bad and start blocking it. But by then, the site has already been used for the very kinds of behavior that we want to prevent. PREDATOR, which stands for Proactive Recognition and Elimination of Domain Abuse at Time-Of-Registration, gets ahead of the curve. The researchers' techniques rely on the assumption that malicious users will exhibit registration behavior that differs from those of normal users, such as buying and registering lots of domains at once to take advantage of bulk discounts, so that they can quickly and cheaply adapt when their sites are noticed and blacklisted. Additionally, criminals will often register multiple sites using slight variations on names: changing words like "home" and "homes" or switching word orders in phrases. By identifying such patterns, Feamster and his collaborators were able to start sifting through the more than 80,000 new domains registered every day to preemptively identify which ones were most likely to be used for harm. Testing their results against known blacklisted websites, they found that PREDATOR detected 70 percent of malicious websites based solely on information known at the time those domains were first registered. The false positive rate of the PREDATOR system, or rate of legitimate sites that were incorrectly identified as malicious by the tool, was only 0.35 percent. Being able to detect malicious sites at the moment of registration, before they're being used, can have multiple security benefits, Feamster said. Those sites can be blocked sooner, making it difficult to use them to cause as much harm -- or, indeed, any harm at all if the operators are not permitted to purchase them. "PREDATOR can achieve early detection, often days or weeks before existing blacklists, which generally cannot detect domain abuse until an attack is already underway," the authors write in their paper. "The key advantage is to respond promptly for defense and limit the window during which miscreants might profitably use a domain." Additionally, existing blocking tools, which rely on detecting malicious activity from websites and then blocking them, allow criminals to continue purchasing new websites. Cutting off the operators of malicious websites at the moment of registration prevents this perpetual cat-and-mouse dynamic. This more permanent form of protection against online threats is a rarity in the field of computer security, where adversaries often evade new lines of defense easily, the researchers said. For the PREDATOR system to help everyday internet users, it will have to be used by existing domain blacklist services, like Spamhaus, that maintain lists of blocked websites, or by registrars, like GoDaddy.com, that sell new domain names. "Part of what we envision is if a registrar is trying to make a decision about whether to register a domain name, then if PREDATOR suggests that domain name might be used for malicious ends, the registrar can at least wait and do more due diligence before it moves forward," Feamster said. Although the registrars still must manually review domain registration attempts, PREDATOR offers them an effective tool to predict potential abuse. "Prior to work like this I don't think a registrar would have very easy go-to method for even figuring out if the domains they registered would turn out to be malicious," Feamster said. ### In addition to Feamster, the authors include: Shuang Hao, now at the University of California-Santa Barbara; Alex Kantchelian and Vern Paxson, University of California-Berkeley; and Brad Miller, Google. The work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation and Google. Researchers at QUT have warned about the rising popularity of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture after a steep rise in the number of people falling from ladders. The new study into ladder-related falls over a decade has shown a 47 percent increase in the number of people being admitted to hospital. The research published today in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health examined the trends in ladder-related injuries showing a rise from 3,374 hospitalisations in 2002/03 to 4,945 in 2011/12. Researchers at CARRS-Q, the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland, based at QUT, found men aged over 60 were the most at-risk group. Associate Professor Kirsten Vallmuur said injuries suffered by veteran television presenter Molly Meldrum, who fell while putting up Christmas decorations almost five years ago, shone a spotlight on the demographic and the severity of ladder injuries. "Men aged over 60 represented 43 per cent of the hospitalisations overall and this age group had the greatest increase in the number of admissions across the decade being examined," Professor Vallmuur said. "Older men just don't bounce back as well as younger men. They often have other existing health problems, including fragility, eye-sight and balance issues which potentially escalates their risk. "Given the more substantial injuries reported for those aged over 60 and the growth in D-IY, there was a need to update our estimates of the extent and patterns of ladder-related injuries." She said 226 patients had died as a result of a fall, 82 per cent of them were aged over 60. The data also indicated an annual increase in falls among women aged over 60 at a similar rate to that of men. "In the over 60s group, in terms of case numbers, there were 81 per cent more females and 73 per cent more males hospitalised in 2011/12 than in 2002/03. "This represented an age standardised rate increase of six per cent annually in the over 60s. "In comparison, for the under 60 year olds there was an increase in case numbers of about 30 per cent for both males and females in the same time period, and an age standardised rate increase of two per cent annually." Professor Vallmuur said two-thirds of the hospitalised injuries were fractures, mainly of the upper and lower extremities, torso and spine along with head injuries, with cases involving those aged over 60 generally more serious. "With fewer than 10 per cent of people aged under 60 had a length of stay in excess of one week, mroe than 20 per cent of those aged over 60 had a length of stay of longer than a week in hospital," she said. Early findings for a further study to understand the circumstances of ladder-related falls indicated issues such as over-reaching, inappropriate footwear and unsteady or unstable surfaces contributed to the risk of falls. Data collection had just been completed within two hospital emergency departments in Queensland and results from that study will be released in early 2017. Professor Vallmuur said the research highlighted the importance of focusing on injury prevention efforts to reduce the growing number of ladder-related falls, and she supports campaigns such as the national product safety campaign Ladder safety matters. ### A pdf of the journal article is available on request. Media contacts: Debra Nowland, QUT media officer (Mon/Wed/Thurs), + 61 7 3138 1150 or media@qut.edu.au As avian embryos develop, they draw needed calcium from the inner most layer of their eggshell, which in turn thins the eggshell and facilitates hatching. Yet, parasitic cuckoos, which lay their eggs in nests of other bird species (hosts), must maintain thick eggshells to avoid pecking and ejection by the sharp beaks of the foster parents. A new study in the Journal of Zoology shows that common cuckoo eggs undergo similar degrees of embryonic eggshell thinning as eggs of their host, thus maintaining thick-shelled eggs at all stages of development. The article, titled "Brood parasite and host eggshells undergo similar levels of decalcification during embryonic development," is the collaboration of an international team of researchers, including Mark Hauber, Professor of Psychology, Hunter College, and Interim University Vice Provost for Research, City University of New York. Common cuckoos are brood parasitic birds that lay their eggs in the nests of host species. Soon after hatching, the cuckoo chick evicts all other nestlings and eggs from the nest. Hosts combat this parasitism in part by puncturing and destroying cuckoo eggshells. In response, cuckoos have evolved thick-shelled eggs to protect their young. However, thicker shells require more time and energy for cuckoos to hatch than a host that lays eggs of similar size but with a thinner eggshell, the great reed warbler. Researchers therefore asked whether cuckoo eggshells might be specifically adapted to ease hatching from an initially thicker shell. They compared the thicknesses of unincubated and hatched cuckoo and warbler eggshells using scanning electron microscopy, and found that cuckoo and warbler eggshells experience similar amounts of decalcification during embryonic development. Principal author, Branislav Igic, Department of Biology, University of Akron (now at the Research School of Biology, Australian National University), said, "Contrary to our expectations, common cuckoo eggshells underwent similar degrees of embryonic eggshell thinning as warbler eggshells. Cuckoo eggs retained greater eggshell thicknesses than warbler eggs throughout embryonic development." Dr. Igic points out that cuckoo eggshells may still lose more tensile strength than their warbler counterparts during embryogenesis. Because the innermost layer of cuckoo eggshells is stronger than that of warbler eggshells, it is still possible that common cuckoo eggshells experience a greater reduction in overall breaking strength than warbler eggshells. However, this question requires further study. Steve Portugal, Senior Lecturer in Animal Behavior, Royal Holloway University of London, said, "This study firmly suggests that the extra thickness of the cuckoo eggshell is related to the risk of host bird puncture, and getting the egg safely into the host nest unharmed. Interestingly, it means that the extra shell thickness and the calcium it contains is not related to the increased rate of development of the cuckoo chick, or a requirement for bigger, stronger, bones that may assist in the eviction of host eggs and chicks." The investigators also point to the importance of comparing parasitic and non-parasitic cuckoo eggshells: Other than differences in size and eggshell thickness, little is known about how eggshells may vary among cuckoo species. ### The City University of New York is the nation's leading urban public university. Founded in New York City in 1847, the University comprises 24 institutions: 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, and additional professional schools. The University serves nearly 275,000 degree-credit students and 218,083 adult, continuing and professional education students. For more information, please contact Shante Booker (shante.booker@cuny.edu) or visit http://www.cuny.edu/research Washington, DC -- Men can take birth control shots to prevent pregnancy in their female partners, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Researchers are still working to perfect the combination of hormonal contraceptives to reduce the risk of mild to moderate side effects, including depression and other mood disorders. While women can choose from a number of birth control methods, men have few options to control their own fertility. Available methods for men include condoms, vasectomies and withdrawal. Better birth control options are needed for men. In 2012, 40 percent of all pregnancies worldwide were unintended, according to the Guttmacher Institute. "The study found it is possible to have a hormonal contraceptive for men that reduces the risk of unplanned pregnancies in the partners of men who use it," said one of the study's authors, Mario Philip Reyes Festin, MD, of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. "Our findings confirmed the efficacy of this contraceptive method previously seen in small studies." The prospective Phase II single arm, multi-center study tested the safety and effectiveness of injectable contraceptives in 320 healthy men ages 18 to 45. The participants had all been in monogamous relationships with female partners between the ages of 18 and 38 for at least a year. The men underwent testing to ensure they had a normal sperm count at the start of the study. The men received injections of 200 milligrams of a long-acting progestogen called norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) and 1,000 milligrams of a long-acting androgen called testosterone undecanoate (TU) for up to 26 weeks to suppress their sperm counts. Healthcare professionals gave the men two injections every eight weeks. Participants initially provided semen samples after eight and 12 weeks in the suppression phase and then every 2 weeks until they met the criteria for the next phase. During this time, the couples were instructed to use other non-hormonal birth control methods. Once a participant's sperm count was lowered to less than 1 million/ml in two consecutive tests, the couple was asked to rely on the injections for birth control. During this period known as the efficacy phase of the study, the men continued to receive injections every eight weeks for up to 56 weeks. Participants provided semen samples every eight weeks to ensure their sperm counts stayed low. Once the participants stopped receiving the injections, they were monitored to see how quickly their sperm counts recovered. The hormones were effective in reducing the sperm count to 1 million/ml or less within 24 weeks in 274 of the participants. The contraceptive method was effective in nearly 96 percent of continuing users. Only four pregnancies occurred among the men's partners during the efficacy phase of the study. Researchers stopped enrolling new participants in the study in 2011 due to the rate of adverse events, particularly depression and other mood disorders, reported by the participants. The men reported side effects including injection site pain, muscle pain, increased libido and acne. Twenty men dropped out of the study due to side effects. Despite the adverse effects, more than 75 percent of participants reported being willing to use this method of contraception at the conclusion of the trial. Of the 1,491 reported adverse events, nearly 39 percent were found to be unrelated to the contraceptive injections. These included one death by suicide which was assessed not to be related to the use of the drug. Serious adverse events that were assessed as probably or possibly related to the study included one case of depression, one intentional overdose of acetaminophen, and a man who experienced an abnormally fast and irregular heartbeat after he stopped receiving the injections. "More research is needed to advance this concept to the point that it can be made widely available to men as a method of contraception," Festin said. "Although the injections were effective in reducing the rate of pregnancy, the combination of hormones needs to be studied more to consider a good balance between efficacy and safety." ### The study, "Efficacy and Safety of an Injectable Combination Hormonal Contraceptive for Men," will be published online at http://press.endocrine.org/doi/10.1210/jc.2016-2141, ahead of print. Other authors of the study include: Hermann M. Behre of Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg in Halle, Germany; Michael Zitzmann of the University of Munster in Munster, Germany; Richard A. Anderson of The University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, United Kingdom; David J. Handelsman of the University of Sydney and Concord Hospital in Sydney, Australia; Silvia W. Lestari of the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia; Robert I. McLachlan of Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia; M. Cristina Meriggiola of the University of Bologna in Bologna, Italy; Man Mohan Misro of the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare in New Dehli, India; Gabriela Noe of the Instituto Chileno de Medicina Reproductiva in Santiago, Chile; Frederick C. W. Wu of Manchester Royal Infirmary in Manchester, U.K.; Ndema A. Habib and Kirsten M. Vogelsong of the World Health Organization of Geneva, Switzerland; and Marianne M. Callahan, Kim A. Linton and Doug S. Colvard of CONRAD, East Virginia Medical School, a reproductive health organization based in Arlington, VA. The research was co-sponsored and funded by UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Program of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction in Geneva, Switzerland, and CONRAD (using funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development). The injectable hormones were provided by Schering AG, which has since merged with Bayer Pharma AG. For more information on men's health, visit the Endocrine Society's centennial website. Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. The Society, which is celebrating its centennial in 2016, has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia. Among older women residing in nursing homes, administration of cranberry capsules compared with placebo resulted in no significant difference in presence of bacteriuria plus pyuria (presence of bacteria and white blood cells in the urine, a sign of urinary tract infection [UTI]), or in the number of episodes of UTIs over l year, according to a study published online by JAMA. The study is being released to coincide with its presentation at IDWeek 2016. Urinary tract infection is the most commonly diagnosed infection among nursing home residents. Bacteriuria is prevalent in 25 percent to 50 percent of women living in nursing homes, and pyuria is present in 90 percent of those with bacteriuria. Cranberry capsules are an understudied, nonantimicrobial prevention strategy used in this population. Manisha Juthani-Mehta, M.D., of the Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., and colleagues randomly assigned 185 women (average age, 86 years; with or without bacteriuria plus pyuria at study entry) residing in nursing homes to two oral cranberry capsules, each capsule containing 36 mg of the active ingredient proanthocyanidin (i.e., 72 mg total, equivalent to 20 ounces of cranberry juice) or placebo administered once a day. Of the 185 study participants (31 percent with bacteriuria plus pyuria at study entry), 147 completed the study. Overall adherence was 80 percent. After adjustment for various factors, there was no significant difference in the presence of bacteriuria plus pyuria between the treatment group vs the control group (29.1 percent vs 29.0 percent). There were also no significant differences in number of symptomatic UTIs (10 episodes in the treatment group vs 12 in the control group), rates of death (17 vs 16 deaths), hospitalization, antibiotics administered for suspected UTIs, or total antimicrobial utilization. "Many studies of cranberry products have been conducted over several decades with conflicting evidence of its utility for UTI prevention. The results have led to the recommendation that cranberry products do not prevent UTI overall but may be effective in older women. This trial did not show a benefit of cranberry capsules in terms of a lower presence of bacteriuria plus pyuria among older women living in nursing homes," the authors write. (doi:10.1001/jama.2016.16141; the study is available pre-embargo at the For the Media website) Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc. Editorial: Cranberry for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection? - Time to Move on "The continuing promotion of cranberry use to prevent recurrent UTI in the popular press or online advice seems inconsistent with the reality of repeated negative studies or positive studies compromised by methodological shortcomings. Any continued promotion of the use of cranberry products seems to go beyond available scientific evidence and rational reasoning," writes Lindsay E. Nicolle, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., of the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in an accompanying editorial. "Some of this conviction is likely an interest of individuals or groups to promote the use of natural health products for clinical benefits, allowing avoidance of medical interventions and, potentially, giving women who experience recurrent UTI an element of personal control in managing their problem. The current emphasis on antimicrobial stewardship and limiting antimicrobial use whenever possible also may have some influence in the continued endorsement of cranberry juice or tablets as a nonantimicrobial strategy for management of UTI." "Recurrent UTI is a common problem that is distressing to patients and because it is so frequent and costly for the health care system. It is time to identify other potential approaches for management. This certainly must include a wiser use of antimicrobial therapy for syndromes of recurrent UTI in women in long-term care facilities. Other possible interventions to explore in this and other populations may include, among other approaches, adherence inhibitors or immunologic interventions. Intellectual discussions and clinical trial activity should be redirected to identify and evaluate other innovative antimicrobial and nonantimicrobial approaches. It is time to move on from cranberries." (doi:10.1001/jama.2016.16140; the editorial is available pre-embargo at the For the Media website) Editor's Note: The author has completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none were reported. ### To place an electronic embedded link to these articles in your story These links will be live at the embargo time: http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2016.16141 http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2016.16140 Alison M. Goate, D.Phil, Professor of Neuroscience, Neurology and Genetic and Genomic Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Lynne D. Richardson, MD, FACEP, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Population Health Science and Policy, have been elected as two of 79 new members to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly known as The Institute of Medicine (IOM). "Election to the National Academy of Medicine is considered one of the highest honors in medicine," says Dennis S. Charney, MD, the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "The election of Drs. Goate and Richardson is a notable achievement and well-deserved recognition of each of their leadership efforts and important contributions to their particular fields of study." Dr. Goate is an internationally renowned neuropsychiatric researcher and the founding Director of The Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease at Mount Sinai. As a molecular geneticist, Dr. Goate has established an international reputation for her research to elucidate the genetic, molecular, and cellular basis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Goate has identified key gene mutations linked to the heritable risk for Alzheimer's disease, including her finding that a rare mutation of the PLD3 gene doubles the risk of developing late-onset AD. Prior to joining Mount Sinai, she led a team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis that performed the largest ever genome-wide association study of protein markers found in cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in the discovery of three genetic variants associated with an increased risk of developing AD. Dr. Richardson is Professor and Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine and Professor of Population Health Science and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is a practicing emergency physician and a nationally recognized expert in health services research. Dr. Richardson's areas of interest are access and barriers to care, improving effective utilization of health care resources, and health care disparities. She is principal investigator (PI) for an NIH-funded study which is seeking to improve effective methods for communicating with communities about emergency research. She is also PI of a trial focused on prevention and early treatment of acute lung injury and of the New York City Sickle Cell Implementation Science Consortium. With a strong track record of mentoring young investigators to successful research careers, Dr. Richardson directs a research career development program in emergency medicine and an emergency care research fellowship program. She also received a Health Care Innovation Award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement a new model of emergency care for older adults. New members are elected by current, active members through a selective process that recognizes people who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health. Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, NAM is a national resource that provides independent, objective analysis and advice on health issues. The new NAM members bring Mount Sinai's total membership in the prestigious group to 21. The distinguished Mount Sinai faculty members who Drs. Goate and Richardson join in earning this honor are: * Joseph D. Buxbaum, PhD * Dennis S. Charney, MD * Kenneth L. Davis, MD * Robert J. Desnick, MD, PhD * Kurt W. Deuschle, MD * Angela Diaz, MD, MPH * Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD * Bruce Gelb, MD * E. Cuyler Hammond * Kurt Hirschhorn, MD * Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc * Diane E. Meier, MD * Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD * Maria Iandolo New, MD * Peter Palese, PhD * Hugh A. Sampson, MD * Irving J. Selikoff, MD * Pamela Sklar, MD, PhD * Barbara G. Vickrey, MD, MPH. ### About the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services -- from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care. The System includes approximately 7,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 12 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is in the "Honor Roll" of best hospitals in America, ranked No. 15 nationally in the 2016-2017 "Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report. The Mount Sinai Hospital is also ranked as one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Geriatrics, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology/Neurosurgery, and Ear, Nose & Throat, and is in the top 50 in four other specialties. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked No. 10 nationally for Ophthalmology, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's, and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report in "Best Children's Hospitals. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube What happens in intestinal epithelial cells during a chronic illness? Basic research conducted at the Chair of Nutrition and Immunology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) addressed this question by generating a new model system. Functioning mitochondria play a decisive role in cellular homeostasis, but what happens when an important player of the anti-stress program in mitochondria is switched off? On the one hand, this leads to the loss of stem cells, but on the other, it sets healing processes in motion. The human intestinal system covers an area of approximately 300 to 500 square meters due to its many protrusions (villi). This inner intestinal wall full of tiny bumps renews itself completely once every four to five days, a process which is guided by stem cells. Mitochondria are the powerhouse of a cell and provide energy through respiration, and play a crucial part in this process. When the self-renewal of intestinal epithelial cells is interrupted, for example due to defective mitochondria, chronic inflammation may result under extreme conditions. "We then speak of cell stress," explains Professor Dirk Haller from the Chair of Nutrition and Immunology and Executive Director of the Institute for Food and Health (ZIEL) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). If cell stress occurs, then - to put it graphically - helpers so called chaperones are activated to ensure that the proteins involved in the renewal process fold properly in cells in order to maintain homeostasis of the intestinal mucosa. Heat shock protein (HSP) 60 is one of these regulators and is essential to maintain the status quo in mitochondria of intestinal epithelial cells. Study with deactivated heat shock proteins In a study just published in Nature Communications by Haller and his team, this protein HSP60 was examined more closely. It is deeply involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR), as scientists call it - it can be understood as a component of the anti-stress program in cells. What happens when precisely this crucial regulator HSP60 is deactivated in the gut? How do mitochondria react in the cells when it is absent? On one hand, the respiratory capacity and the cellular ATP levels were reduced, both key tasks of the mitochondrion, the powerhouse of the cell. At the same time, Professor Haller and his team observed that all cells without HSP60 presented changes. Stem cells lost their ability to self-regenerate, while surrounding epithelial cells initiated a growth program. Tissue regeneration due to the induction of a growth environment "But the reaction to the lack of HSP60 was startling", says Haller -- "because although stem cells lost their characteristic properties, the stressed cells in the surrounding intestinal mucus wall activated a growth program leading first to hyperproliferation that finally ended in tissue regeneration." The cells with disrupted mitochondrial functions send out growth factors as a "call for help". Using the stress response program, they ensure that the residing stem cells with intact mitochondria divide abundantly; these new, intact cells then replace the other stressed ones. The lack of HSP60 therefore led to the establishment of communications from one cell to another, triggering a previously unknown healing mechanism which could be of significance after injuries to or inflammation of the intestine. "This shows what a fundamental role functioning mitochondria have in regulating intestinal tissue renewal and how they might contribute to chronic intestinal diseases", says Haller about the findings. Consequently, when the intestine is in a permanent inflammatory or stressed state, the stem cells are permanently over-stimulated to self-renew and this could facilitate the development of tumors. ### Publication: Emanuel Berger, Eva Rath, Detian Yuan, Nadine Waldschmitt, Sevana Khaloian, Michael Allgauer, Ori Staszewski, Elena M Lobner, Theresa Schottl, Pieter Giesbertz, Olivia I Coleman, Marco Prinz, Achim Weber, Markus Gerhard, Martin Klingenspor, Klaus-Peter Janssen, Mathias Heikenwalder, and Dirk Haller: Mitochondrial function controls intestinal epithelial stemness and proliferation, Nature Communications 2016, DOI: 10.1038 ncomms13171. contact: Prof. Dr. Dirk Haller Technical University of Munich Chair of Nutrition and Immunology ZIEL - Institute for Food & Health (Director) Gregor-Mendel-Str. 2 85354 Freising http://www.nutrition-immonology.de dirk.haller@tum.de People with higher levels of psychopathic tendencies are more likely to assault their romantic partners. They are also more likely to drink alcohol, a UBC study has found. The study, which was conducted at UBC's Okanagan campus, involved looking at data and police reports involving 700 US civil psychiatric patients in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as 870 students at UBC's campus in Kelowna, BC. "In this research, we noted that having higher levels of psychopathic personality traits is an important predictor of how likely someone is to engage in intimate partner violence," says Zach Walsh, an associate professor of psychology and the study's principal investigator. "While we also found that people with psychopathic tendencies tended to drink more alcohol, the data tells us it is their personality traits more than substance use that is associated with violence. "With further investigation, this research may be able to assist policy makers and service providers in their efforts to both predict and reduce violence among couples." The research also found that association between psychopathic personality traits and violence was consistent across both students and psychiatric patients. Walsh's study, conducted with Jenifer Langille of UBC and Marisa Okano of McGill University, was recently published in the journal Law and Human Behaviour. ### Scientists have detected high levels of a toxin produced by freshwater algae in mussels from San Francisco Bay. Although shellfish harvested from California's coastal waters are monitored for toxins produced by marine algae, they are not routinely tested for this freshwater toxin, called microcystin. The toxin, which causes liver damage, is produced by a type of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) that thrives in warm, nutrient-rich water conditions. It has been found in many lakes and rivers in California, including the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, which flow into the San Francisco Bay Delta, and in several Bay Area lakes. Raphael Kudela, the Lynn Professor of Ocean Health at UC Santa Cruz, said his lab investigated the potential for microcystin to contaminate shellfish after detecting low levels of the toxin in water samples from San Francisco Bay. The researchers tested mussels collected from five sites in the Bay. They also did experiments with both mussels and oysters in tanks to determine how quickly the shellfish take up the toxin and how long it takes to clear it from their tissues. The results are published in the journal Harmful Algae. "We found that this freshwater toxin accumulates in shellfish, both mussels and oysters, and that in San Francisco Bay, the toxin levels in some mussels exceed the recommended guidelines for consumption by quite a bit," Kudela said. The researchers also detected low levels of the toxin in commercial oysters from Tomales Bay, although the levels were well below the guidelines for microcystin levels in fish. First author Corinne Gibble, who worked on the study as a UCSC graduate student and is now an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the findings suggest tests for microcystin should be added to existing shellfish monitoring programs. "There is monitoring of shellfish for marine-derived toxins, but because this is a freshwater toxin no one has been looking for it. Now it seems microcystin is something we should be monitoring as well," Gibble said. A state quarantine on harvesting of mussels for human consumption is usually in effect from May through October to prevent poisonings from marine toxins. Kudela said his lab has been working closely with state agencies, and they are continuing to conduct tests to determine the extent of the microcystin problem and the best way to address it. "The agencies have been very responsive," he said. "There is potential for this toxin to affect humans, but most of our samples are still below the recommended limits for human consumption, so people shouldn't panic and think they can't eat shellfish." A greater concern, he said, is the potential impact on marine mammals such as sea otters, which eat large amounts of shellfish. In 2010, Kudela and scientists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported that microcystin poisoning had killed several sea otters in Monterey Bay. "This really highlights the connectivity between what people do on land and what happens in the ocean," Kudela said. "A lot of shellfish farms are downstream from freshwater sources, so we want to raise awareness of this issue." Blooms of the cyanobacteria that produce microcystin are a growing problem throughout the United States and around the world due to warming temperatures and nutrient pollution. Microcystin from algal blooms in Lake Erie, for example, contaminated the water supply for Toledo, Ohio, in 2014. In the Bay Area, it has forced closures of public swimming areas at Lake Anza in Berkeley and Lake Temescal in Oakland. Kudela said he suspects the toxins detected in San Francisco Bay are coming from multiple sources, including the rivers that flow into the Delta as well as local sources. The drought appears to have exacerbated the problem throughout California, he said. "The rains help by flushing things out. Warm, dry conditions favor these blooms, so we've been seeing more of them lately than we would without the drought," Kudela said. ### Our Facebook status updates, 'likes' and even photos could help researchers better understand mental health disorders with the right ethical safeguards, argue researchers from the University of Cambridge, who suggest that social networks may even be used in future to provide support and interventions, particularly among young people. Over a billion people worldwide use Facebook daily - one in seven of the global population - and social media use is increasing at three times the rate of other internet use. Evidence suggests that 92% of adolescents use the site daily and disclose considerably more about themselves online than offline. Writing in today's edition of Lancet Psychiatry, researchers from the University of Cambridge discuss how social networking sites might be harnessed to provide data to help further our understanding of the onset and early years of mental illness. "Facebook is hugely popular and could provide us with a wealth of data to improve our knowledge of mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia," says Dr Becky Inkster, the study's lead-author, from the Department of Psychiatry. "Its reach is particularly broad, too, stretching across the digital divide to traditionally hard-to-reach groups including homeless youth, immigrants, people with mental health problems, and seniors." Dr Inkster and her colleagues argue that Facebook might be used to help improve the detection of mental health factors. Dr Michal Kosinski, co-author from Stanford Graduate Business School, adds that Facebook data tends to be more reliable than offline self-reported information, while still reflecting an individual's offline behaviours. It also enables researchers to measure content that is difficult to assess offline, such as conversation intensity, and to reach sample sizes previously unobtainable. Status updates, shares and likes can provide a wealth of information about users, they say. A previous study of 200 US college students over the age of 18 years found that one in four posted status updates showing depressive-like symptoms. By analysing the language, emotions and topics used in status updates, the researchers say that it may be possible to look for symptoms or early signs of mental illness. Even photographs might provide new insights; Facebook is the world's largest photo sharing website, with some 350 million photos uploaded daily, and automated picture analysis of emotional facial expressions might offer unique representations of offline behaviours. Studies have shown that social networks can have both positive and negative effects on user's emotions. Being 'unfriended' can elicit negative emotions, but even an individuals' News Feed, which reports what their friends are up to, can affect their mood: one study found that a reduction of the amount of positive content displayed by friends led to an increase in negative status updates by users, and vice-versa. Other research has shown that some people with mental health disorders report positive experiences of social media, suggesting that Facebook might be harnessed to offer people support. People with schizophrenia and psychosis, for example, have reported that social networking sites helped them socialise and did not worsen their symptoms. The researchers suggest that the use of therapies based on users' Facebook pictures and timelines could be trialled as possible ways to use online social networks to support individuals. This might assist with accessing autobiographical memories, which can be impaired in conditions such as depression, and for improving cognition and mood with older patients, similar to offline therapies for early dementia. "Facebook relationships may help those with reduced self-esteem and provide companionship for individuals who are socially isolated," says Dr Becky Inkster. "We know that socially isolated adolescents are more likely to suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts, so these online stepping stones could encourage patients to reform offline social connections." These online - potentially leading to offline - social connections can provide support for vulnerable individuals such as homeless youth, a population at increased risk of mental health problems. Research has shown that this support is associated with a reduction in their alcohol intake and a decrease in depression-like symptoms. Unlike virtual patient communities, an advantage of using social networking sites, especially Facebook, is that people naturally use them in their daily lives, which addresses concerns about the limited duration of participation in virtual communities. Early detection of digital warning signs could enhance mental health service contact and improve service provision, the researchers say. Facebook already allows users who are worried about a friend's risk of suicide to report the post, for example. However, the use of social networking sites in the context of mental health and young people raises potential ethical issues. Vulnerable individuals will need to fully understand what participation in psychiatry research and mental health-care practice involves and that consent is monitored throughout the various stages of their illness. "People are uneasy at the idea of having their social media monitored and their privacy infringed upon, so this is something that will need to be handled carefully," says co-author Dr David Stillwell from the Cambridge Judge Business School. "To see this, we only have to look at the recent furore that led to the abrupt suspension of the Samaritans' Radar Twitter app, which with the best of intentions enabled users to monitor their friends' Twitter activity for suicidal messages." Much of this research is still in its infancy and evidence is often anecdotal or insufficient, argue the team. Several issues need addressing, such as whether using social media might interfere with certain illnesses or symptoms more than others - such as digital surveillance-based paranoid themes - and to ensure confidentiality and data protection rights for vulnerable people. But they are optimistic about its potential uses. "Although it isn't clear yet how social networking sites might best be used to improve mental health care, they hold considerable promise for having profound implications that could revolutionise mental healthcare," says Dr Becky Inkster. ### Reference Becky Inkster, David Stillwell, Michal Kosinski, Peter Jones. A decade into Facebook: where is psychiatry in the digital age? Lancet Psychiatry; 28 Oct 2016 When University of Colorado Cancer Center researcher, Jing Hong Wang, MD, PhD, found more than 1,000 genetic translocations in her mouse model of B cell lymphoma, she assumed her lab had made a mistake. To rule out experimental technique as the cause of the way-more-than-expected genomic alterations, Wang's lab sequenced three different types of cells from "wildtype" mice - effectively the kind that might move into your garage in bad weather. Like the lymphoma cells before them, the cells from wildtype mice also had over a 1,000 translocations. "We thought 'let's just do another practice'," says Wang, also an associate professor in the CU School of Medicine Department of Immunology & Microbiology. For "practice", paper co-first author, Katherine Gowan, downloaded new mouse genomic data from the website of Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute outside Cambridge in the UK, one of the world's leading institutes for genetic research. Gowan is a researcher with the group of Kenneth Jones, PhD, co-director of the CU Cancer Center Bioinformatics Shared Resource. "When we mapped the genome of this particular mouse strain against the mouse reference genome published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, we found thousands of translocations, even more than our experimental model!" Wang says. The problem was not their experimental mouse. The problem was not the quality of their data nor the computational algorithm they used to discover translocations. The problem, as reported in an article in the journal BMC Genomics, was that reference genomes are different for various mouse strains. Not all mice have the same DNA sequences in the same locations on their chromosomes -- due to this genetic variation, the DNA sequences of one mouse strain may appear out of place when compared with the DNA sequences of any other mouse strain. The goal of this research was to discover new translocations that could be driving lymphoma. These translocations - accidental genetic rearrangements in which a gene is snipped from one location and pasted into another, sometimes creating a "fusion gene" made from both - have been implicated in a range of cancers, for example ALK-positive lung cancer, which is driven by the translocation of the ALK gene, which fuses with the gene EML4. The question was whether a similar translocation might be to blame for a subset of lymphomas. "Unfortunately, when we have so many events, the artifacts may mask our real events," says Wang, meaning that with thousands of translocations identified by next-generation sequencing, it was almost impossible to discover the "needle" of a potentially oncogenic translocation amid the "haystack" of identified translocations that were, in fact, only the unimportant, random differences between individual mouse genomes. "Then we started to think about all these human cancer genomic studies," Wang says. "People use all this sequencing data to show genomic changes in human cancers, but what if these studies have similar comparison problems?" First, Wang points out, this possible trap is irrelevant when analyzing a patient's cancer for any known genetic change. In the previous example of lung cancer, genomic testing (often using the technique of fluorescent in situ hybridization or FISH) can tell if a cell's chromosomes do or do not contain an ALK-EML4 fusion gene. But it is when searching for important differences between a human cancer cell and a healthy human cell that the genetic backgrounds of these cells may skew results - due to the randomness of repeats and gene polymorphisms and other unpredictable genetic variations, the differences between a cancerous and a healthy cell may be due to chance and not to the influence of the cancer at all. Part of the problem is the small size of genetic "snips" used by today's next-generation sequencing technology. In "next-gen seq" the machine reads a test genome as many snips, each made up of 100 to 150 base pairs. Then the computational biologist fits these snips like puzzle pieces against a reference genome. When there is a match, the system puts the piece in place and thus, because it knows the makeup of the reference genome, can come to know the makeup of the test genome. Unfortunately, with 3 billion base pairs in the human genome, there may be many false matches for short, 100 base-pair snips. Technology is on the way to solve this problem, sequencing the genome in much longer snips (1,000 or more base pairs). Until then, Wang suggests a possible fix: "We suggest considering not mapping your data to a reference genome, but to the genome of some cell from the same source that doesn't have cancer." The paper calls this process "de novo assembly" -- basically, instead of comparing a cancerous apple to a healthy orange, it is comparing a cancerous apple to a healthy apple. "People should be their own control. Instead of working with the published, generic reference genome, we should work with two samples (control vs. cancer) from the same person," Wang says. "Only then can you really figure out what's going on in your cancer cell genome." ### Since diversity and inclusion are hallmarks of the University of Houston, the University is honored to announce it has received three Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) awards from INSIGHT into Diversity Magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. This is the first time an institution has earned three HEED awards in a single year, which will be presented to the University of Houston, the UH Law Center and the UH School of Nursing. "I am overwhelmed by UH's recognition from INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine" said Paula Myrick Short, UH senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. "For UH to be the only institution to receive three awards in a single calendar year shows the dedication of this university to creating an environment in which our faculty, staff, and students are supported and encouraged to succeed." The only one of its kind, the HEED Award is given annually to U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. "The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees -- and best practices for both -- continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion," said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. "We take a holistic approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being accomplished every day across their campus." UH is recognized as the second-most diverse public research university in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. It is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) by the U. S. Department of Education. Students come to the University from nearly 140 nations. UH's multiethnic, multicultural demographics represent the future mosaic of America. The University is committed to diversity and inclusion, and many individuals and departments contribute to campus efforts to embrace the experiences of all campus constituents. This award is an opportunity to celebrate those accomplishments, while maintaining the commitment to the pursuit of inclusive excellence. ### HOUSTON, Oct. 26, 2016 - Answering the call for more high school math and science teachers, the University of Houston is using a $1.45 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to bolster its teachHOUSTON math and science teacher preparation program in a big way. Now in its ninth year, teachHOUSTON was awarded the five-year grant from the NSF's Robert Noyce Scholarship Program to further its mission of supporting future teachers in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as promote long-term teacher retention. The funds are being used to introduce a new program that offers scholarships, professional development and mentoring. A collaboration between the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) and the College of Education, the teachHOUSTON program addresses the shortage of qualified STEM teachers in secondary education. Students enrolled in this track participate in field-based teaching experiences throughout the four years they are working on their bachelor's degree, graduating not only with a math or science degree, but also a teaching certificate. "This track, which acts as a students' NSM capstone, offers hands-on teaching experience, develops effective communication skills and gives students the option of teaching after graduation," said Paige Evans, a clinical associate professor with teachHOUSTON and principal investigator (PI) for the grant. "This grant will help us provide our pre-service teachers and graduates with the support they need to be successful." Together with her co-PIs - associate professor of physics Donna Stokes, assistant professor of biology and biochemistry Steven Bark and associate professor in the College of Education Catherine Horne - Evans will establish UH-LIFE, which is short for University of Houston: Learning through Informal and Formal Experience, to augment existing teachHOUSTON activities. Specifically, this new program will provide scholarships for pre-service STEM teachers and support the creation of the Noyce Professional Development/Mentoring Institute, which will pair current students with teachHOUSTON graduates. "This institute will connect graduates with undergraduates, so that when students graduate and start teaching, they will already have a mentor in place to help them," Evans said. As part of this institute, teachHOUSTON will host undergraduates for a week in the summer to spend time with UH alumni who are working as teachers. Professional development activities will include the exchange of lesson plans and techniques for managing classrooms. Current teachHOUSTON students also will be given the opportunity to work as camp counselors in a summer STEM camp for middle school students. Facilitating STEM activities provides them with valuable hands-on experience, as well as teaches them how to pass along their own enthusiasm of STEM to their future students. "The teachHOUSTON program is great, because it advocates hands-on learning for students," said Jamie Lehnen, a current Noyce scholar with a major in biochemical and biophysical sciences and a minor in chemistry and education. "The program's long-term goal is not just to improve test scores and help students graduate. Rather, the program's largest goal is to make science and mathematics enjoyable to students by showing them how applicable STEM is. We want students to learn by experimentation, by active collaboration and by thoughtful inquiry, which will help them retain the concepts." Another component of the UH-LIFE program will be to establish a collaboration with Wharton County Junior College, with Wharton students being given the opportunity to enroll in this track and participate in summer institute activities at UH. "Students can take the first two courses while they are at Wharton, where they'll also be given opportunities to participate in internships at UH," Evans said. "Then, when they transfer to UH, they'll already have a sense of belonging." That sense of belonging is especially important when studying STEM, said Lehnen, noting that sometimes STEM education can be dismaying and a lot of hard work. "You need to find a community or network of people you feel encouraged by and have a support system that applauds your efforts, supports your failures and, ultimately, solidifies your passion for STEM and education," Lehnen said. "One community always willing to lend you support is teachHOUSTON. Over time, teachHOUSTON becomes your family." Jessica Itzep, a biochemistry and biophysics senior in the program and also a current Noyce scholar, echoes this sentiment. "TeachHOUSTON is a tight-knit community composed of other NSM students who share the same passion for science and, like me, also want to convey that passion to others," Itzep said. "This program offers a variety of unique opportunities for those who enjoy science and wish to reach out to others academically." The Noyce grant will fund 72 scholarships for students with junior or senior standing. Eight scholarships will be offered during the first year, with 16 scholarships per year being offered during years 2-5 of the grant. Seventeen percent of these scholarship funds will be designated for Wharton College students who have transferred to UH, while the remaining scholarships will be available to all teachHOUSTON students. "This grant will let us increase the level of support we can offer, both to pre-service teachers and to graduates of our program who are currently teaching," Evans said. "Our goal is for every student to have a scholarship during their semester as a student-teacher so that they have the financial support they need to focus on their teaching. The support from this grant is critical for the long-term retention and success of teachers." Lehnen and Itzep agree. "I am very grateful to have received the Noyce scholarship and have access to all of the wonderful professional development opportunities that came along with being a Noyce scholar," Itzep said. "It was a great financial relief and with it I have been able to attend a conference where I was able to expand my professional network and make friends from the Noyce community." Lehnen adds, "Getting this scholarship means I have more time to enjoy my education and to pursue occupations I love. I don't have to stress so much about tuition and book costs, which means instead of waiting tables or working full time, I can go into the local area and teach." ### Throughout the life of the grant, Cheryl Craig with Texas A&M University will serve as the program's external evaluator, conducting research on the grant to determine whether it effectively meets its goals. For more information on the teachHOUSTON program, visit http://teachhouston.uh.edu/ or call 713-743-8644. Twitter handles: @NSF * @uhcoe * @UHouston * @UH_News Facebook pages: TeachHOUSTON * National Science Foundation (NSF) * UH College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics (NSM) * University of Houston College of Education * University of Houston Hashtags: #STEM #teachers About the University of Houston The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 42,700 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country. For more information about UH, visit the university's newsroom at http://www.uh.edu/news-events/. To receive UH science news via email, sign up for UH-SciNews at http://www.uh.edu/news-events/mailing-lists/sciencelistserv/index.php. For additional news alerts about UH, follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UHNewsEvents and Twitter at http://twitter.com/UH_News. Research by bioscientists at the University of Kent and the University of Queensland is expected to pave the way for new approaches to kill bacteria that no longer respond to conventional antibiotics Research by bioscientists at the University of Kent and the University of Queensland is expected to pave the way for new approaches to kill bacteria that no longer respond to conventional antibiotics. In a paper published by Scientific Reports, Kent's Dr Mark Shepherd and colleagues demonstrate the importance of an enzyme, cytochrome bd-I, for survival of E. coli that is resistant to multiple antibiotics. E. coli causes serious conditions including sepsis, bladder infections, kidney failure, and dysentery. The human immune system produces nitric oxide to kill invading E. coli, and cytochrome bd-I is shown to provide significant resistance to nitric oxide during infection. Since cytochrome bd-I is absent in humans, drugs designed to target this enzyme are less likely to be toxic to human cells. In future, targeting cytochrome bd-I with new drugs will render antibiotic-resistant bacteria more susceptible to attack from the host immune system. Dr Shepherd is Lecturer in Microbial Biochemistry at Kent's School of Biosciences. ### 'The cytochrome bd-I respiratory oxidase augments survival of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli during infection' (Mark Shepherd, Maud E. S. Achard, Adi Idris, Makrina Totsika, Minh-Duy Phan, Kate M. Peters, Sohinee Sarkar, Claudia A. Ribeiro, Louise V. Holyoake, Dimitrios Ladakis, Glen C. Ulett, Matthew J. Sweet, Robert K Poole, Alastair G. McEwan & Mark A. Schembri) is published at http://www.nature.com/articles/srep35285 DOI:10.1038/srep35285 For further information or interview requests contact Sandy Fleming at the University of Kent Press Office. Tel: 01227 823581/01634 888879 Email: S.Fleming@kent.ac.uk News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent Note to editors Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome. It has been ranked: 23rd in the Guardian University Guide 2016; 23rd in the Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2016; and 22nd in the Complete University Guide 2015. In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2015-16, Kent is in the top 10% of the world's leading universities for international outlook and 66th in its table of the most international universities in the world. The THE also ranked the University as 20th in its 'Table of Tables' 2016. Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality. In the National Student Survey 2016, Kent achieved the fourth highest score for overall student satisfaction, out of all publicly funded, multi-faculty universities. Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium. The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals. In 2014, Kent received its second Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In the last few years, American hospitals have focused like hawks on how to keep patients from coming back within a few weeks of getting out. Driven by new Medicare penalties for such events, the effort has slowed a 'revolving door' of readmissions for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia patients that costs the nation billions of dollars. But a new analysis suggests that Medicare should focus more on how well hospitals do at actually keeping such patients alive during the same time. If hospitals got paid less when their patients died soon after a hospitalization, just like they get paid less when those patients end up back in the hospital, it would be a game-changer for one-third of hospitals, say researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System who published their findings in JAMA Cardiology. About 17 percent of hospitals are getting punished for excess readmissions, but are keeping patients alive more often than would be expected, they find. And another 16 percent of hospitals essentially get rewarded for low readmission rates, but their patients are more likely to die in the first month after leaving their hospital beds. In other words, some of the hospitals that get penalized for high readmissions are those that may actually do the best job at keeping patients alive - and vice versa. Preventive incentives If the penalties took both readmission and mortality into account, the Medicare system would save the same amount of money, but incentivize good outcomes more fairly, the researchers say. "Under most circumstances, hospital patients would much rather avoid death than readmission," says Scott Hummel, M.D., M.S., senior author of the new paper and a heart failure cardiologist. "But the incentive to prevent death in the first 30 days after a hospitalization is 10 times less than the incentive to prevent a return hospital visit." He and his colleagues hope their analysis will spark a conversation about how to fine-tune the Medicare system's effort to encourage better performance by America's hospitals. Their work is based on data from 2014, the first year when hospitals could both be penalized for readmission rates that were higher than expected, and earn a financial reward based on a mix of measures that include everything from 30-day death rates to how well patients rated the care they received and the hospital environment. Under the current policy, hospitals can lose up to three percent of condition-related payments from Medicare for excess readmissions, but can recoup only about 0.2 percent of such payments for having low mortality rates. First author Ahmad Abdul-Aziz, M.D., an internal medicine resident at U-M, helped coordinate the data analysis using publicly available data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, called CMS for short. Some of it was accessed via an online system created by Kaiser Health News, based on data from CMS. In all, data from 1,963 hospitals was included. The authors, who also include senior team members Rodney Hayward, M.D., and Keith Aaronson, M.D., M.S., calculated a ratio for each hospital based on observed and expected readmissions and mortality in the first 30 days for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia. Although other conditions were added to the readmission program in 2015 and 2016, they weren't included because these diagnoses are not yet included in the reward program for low mortality rates. All the data were adjusted for how sick each hospital's patients were when they started, using standard methods that allow an apples-to-apples comparison. The socioeconomic status of each hospital's patients, which can also affect patient outcomes but aren't in a hospital's control, wasn't included because CMS hadn't yet started taking it into account in 2014. The authors don't take issue with the idea of penalizing excess readmissions - though they do note that readmissions for any cause are included in the program, not just readmissions for the problem that sent the person to the hospital in the first place. Admissions to any hospital within 30 days of discharge count against the hospital that the patient was discharged from, which may work against large hospitals that patients travel to for advanced care before returning to their home area. Other researchers have shown there isn't a tight link between a hospital's 30-day readmission rate and the 30-day mortality rate for its patients with these conditions - suggesting that there's more to the story when thinking about using them as measures of hospital quality. The authors also call for continued improvement in risk models that will more precisely predict a patient's risk of readmission, just like current, well-tested models to predict their risk of death. Better tools would mean better ability to test a hospital's actual performance against what might be expected based on their entire patient population. The researchers also plan to examine what kinds of hospitals are most likely to win or lose financially if the balance shifts between penalties for reducing readmissions and those for reducing early mortality. "The misaligned incentives for preventing readmission and preventing death may help explain why some hospitals are doing really well on one, but not on the other," says Hummel. "It's important that we continue to reduce preventable readmissions, but we need to watch out for unintended consequences too. "Sometimes, a readmission might be a good thing - no one wants to see patients die because they should have been readmitted," he adds. "If financial penalties drive hospitals to figure out how to improve outcomes, increasing incentives to reduce early post-hospital deaths seems like a good place to start." ### Reference: JAMA Cardiology, doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2016.3704 PHILADELPHIA--A blood test that has shown promise in predicting how cancer will progress and what treatments will be most effective for a given patient may not be reliable for either, according to a new Penn Medicine study published this week in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Investigators have been looking for a biomarker in bladder cancer, and one emerging candidate is the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Previous studies have linked an elevated NLR with worse overall survival after radical cystectomy, a surgery in which the entire bladder and nearby lymph nodes are removed. Other studies suggest NLR correlates with the amount of cancer found during surgery, meaning the blood test might predict which patients will benefit from pre-surgery chemotherapy to shrink their tumors. But new research led by Eric Ojerholm, MD, a resident physician in the department of Radiation Oncology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, raises doubts about NLR as a biomarker. In contrast to previous studies, Dr. Ojerholm's team found NLR is not effective at predicting the overall survival of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Further, they found NLR was not helpful in determining which patients would benefit from chemotherapy before surgery. Ojerholm said the discrepancy between the findings of this study and previous work comes in the methodology. "Dozens of earlier studies reported NLR as a biomarker for bladder cancer, and we hoped that this would be true," Ojerholm said. "Yet extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. And all prior studies relied on observational datasets. Many also used statistical methods that can lead to false positive results. So we decided to rigorously put NLR to the test." Ojerholm's team analyzed data that was collected in real-time during a prospective clinical trial, making this the first study of NLR in bladder cancer not to rely on observational data. The study analyzed SWOG 8710, which was a randomized Phase III trial of 317 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. All patients were treated with radical cystectomies. Half had pre-surgery chemotherapy, while the other half did not. "The trial we used has a few big advantages to study NLR," Ojerholm said. "First, baseline blood samples were collected as part of the trial protocol. Second, the study's long-term follow-up gave us adequate 'statistical power,' meaning that if NLR really was a biomarker, then we should be able to detect it. Third, the trial randomly assigned some patients to receive pre-surgery chemotherapy. This allowed us to test NLR both as a prognostic and predictive biomarker." Of the 317 total patients, Ojerholm and his team identified 230 for a prognostic analysis to see if NLR could serve as a predictor of how long patients would live after curative treatment. They identified 263 others for a predictive analysis to see if NLR could tell which patients would respond to chemotherapy. There was a median follow-up of 18.6 years. For the prognostic analysis, NLR was not a significant factor in overall survival. The important factors were age and whether the patient received pre-surgery chemotherapy. For the predictive analysis, NLR did not predict which patients benefitted from chemotherapy. On the question of why most previous publications supported NLR as a biomarker, Ojerholm pointed to several factors beyond methodology and statistical design. "There's also the problem of publication bias," Ojerholm explained. "Sometimes authors won't submit negative results, and sometimes journals won't accept them. That could be a real issue as NLR research continues." Ojerholm stressed that no single study is definitive, and doctors must weigh results from the entire literature. "Yet this study does raise questions about NLR for bladder cancer," Ojerholm added, "and we need more evidence before using this biomarker in clinical practice." ### Additional Penn authors of this study include Andrew Smith, Wei-Ting Hwang, Brian Baumann, Kai Tucker, Ronac Mamtani, Ben Boursi, and John Christodouleas. This information is embargoed until Thursday, October 27th. Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $5.3 billion enterprise. The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 18 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $373 million awarded in the 2015 fiscal year. The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine. Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2015, Penn Medicine provided $253.3 million to benefit our community. PHILADELPHIA--An innovative, new, patient-driven natural history registry for the rare and poorly understood immune system disorder Castleman disease (CD) will propel care and research for CD through a collaborative research agreement between Janssen Research & Development, LLC; the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN); and the University of Pennsylvania. David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc, an assistant professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and associate director of patient impact at the Penn Orphan Disease Center, will lead ACCELERATE (Accelerating Castleman Care with an Electronic Longitudinal registry, E-Repository, And Treatment Effectiveness research), an international, observational, web-based registry that combines clinical data and patient-reported data to aid in the understanding of the disease and facilitate further research projects. Rather than needing physicians to enroll patients and enter patient data, ACCELERATE allows CD patients to enroll themselves into the registry and make their electronic and paper-based medical records available for research. Then, Fajgenbaum and his team will extract key data from patients' medical records--including diagnoses, treatments, and clinical outcomes--into the registry. This first-of-its-kind model gives patients the power to contribute their personal data and the opportunity to be a part of improving understanding and treatment of their disease. Fajgenbaum, who has battled the idiopathic multicentric (iMCD) subtype of CD as a patient since 2010, when he was a student in Penn's Perelman School of Medicine, will serve as the principal investigator for the project. Fajgenbaum spent over six months hospitalized in critical condition and even received Last Rites in November 2010, but after undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy, he rebounded. Since then, he has dedicated his life to advancing research and treatment of the disease. In 2012, Fajgenbaum co-founded the CDCN, a global network dedicated to accelerating research for CD. The CDCN will provide scientific expertise to ACCELERATE through its 28-member Scientific Advisory Board and will engage patients in the research process. "As a patient and researcher, I am very hopeful that this study will provide clues about iMCD and optimal patient care," Fajgenbaum said. "It has the potential to be transformative for the field and for patients." iMCD is one of three subtypes of CD, which involves multiple organ system dysfunction due to uncontrolled immune cell activation for an unknown cause. CD is diagnosed in approximately 6,500 to 7,700 Americans of all ages each year -- about the same incidence as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). About 35 percent of iMCD patients die within five years of diagnosis, which is approximately the same as the average across all forms of cancer. CD has a wide spectrum of symptoms, from mild flu-like symptoms to sepsis-like multiple organ failure. There is one U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for iMCD, siltuximab, which is an anti-Interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody developed by Janssen. The therapy demonstrated reduction in lymph node size and disease symptoms in a large portion of patients in its registrational trial. Still, many questions exist related to iMCD, particularly for those patients who do not respond to siltuximab. Research is urgently needed, Fajgenbaum said. ACCELERATE's aims are to elucidate the key clinical and laboratory outcomes related to iMCD, track real-world treatment use and safety profiles, and build an infrastructure for future translational research. The team aims to enroll over 1,000 patients within the first five years. Patients from all over the world are able to register. In Europe and other countries where medical records will be provided by healthcare professionals, ACCELERATE will work with clinical sites and medical institutions to collect patient data. The CDCN is also in the process of developing a biobank to streamline the collection, storage, and processing of blood and tissue samples from the CD community. Though this is an unprecedented project, it does reflect several important recent trends, Fajgenbaum said. "More and more patients with rare diseases are taking matters into their own hands to connect patient and physician-researcher communities, generate awareness, and drive scientific efforts. With ACCELERATE, patients power the research," Fajgenbaum said. "It's also reflective of the value that comes from collaborations between industry, research foundations, and academia to answer tough questions that could ultimately lead to better clinical care." Fajgenbaum and his colleagues have authored several key papers in the literature, including a case report on himself in JAMA Dermatology. His publication in the journal Blood initiated a paradigm shift in the iMCD disease model and classification system. He has also co-authored two recent papers, including a systematic literature review in The Lancet Haematology on iMCD and a commentary on CDCN's "Collaborative Network" approach, as well as the largest-ever series on the newly-described TAFRO Syndrome subtype of iMCD in the American Journal of Hematology. Reporting in the March 2016 issue of Lancet Haematology, Fajgenbaum and his co-authors, including Penn's Vera P. Krymskaya, PhD, present several key findings that have advanced the field's understanding of the disease. They found that the prevalence of cancer among iMCD patients was three times higher than people without the disease. Also, 88 percent of patients studied had a two-year survival rate, 22 percent died by the time of follow-up (median time of follow-up was 29 months), and 41 percent of patients did not respond to first-line treatment, the team found. "While studies like this provide much-needed data on this population, I believe ACCELERATE will be the seminal project that helps fill the knowledge gaps and propel research even further," Fajgenbaum said. "As a physician-scientist and patient with a deadly disease, I believe a more collaborative, strategic, and focused approach is necessary to accelerating research. We must work together to make every dollar and second count, because patients--like me--are waiting." ### Editor's note: Fajgenbaum participated in an unpaid capacity at two ad hoc advisory board meetings designed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals to gather stakeholder feedback. Dr. Fajgenbaum contributed both as a patient and researcher. A new study from The University of Texas at Dallas shows that firms are significantly more likely to trade with countries that have large resident populations living near the headquarters. Dr. Umit Gurun, professor of accounting and finance in the Naveen Jindal School of Management, is an author of the study recently published online in the Journal of Finance. He said the goal of the paper was to explore the potential value of local resident networks for firms located in a given city. "In cities like Dallas, we are endowed with a rich mix of ethnic backgrounds, and it impacts considerably more than the menus at restaurants," Gurun said. "When people immigrate to the U.S., their existing potential network is a hidden benefit -- having connections with people of different expertise, backgrounds and ways of thinking. Over 50 percent of the profits of S&P 500 firms come from overseas. Clearly, international relations are a critical source of competitive advantage. Any leg up firms can achieve -- such as through network connections of local residents to home countries -- could translate into the bottom line." The study used microlevel import and export data collected from customs and port authorities. Combined with census-tract demographic data, this information allowed the researchers to link individual firms' trade decisions to their local resident populations. In addition to significant increases in sales growth and profitability, firms also are more likely to acquire companies in mergers and acquisitions, and report increased segment sales, in countries with which they are connected. The researchers also found that connected board members represent a possible mechanism by which information is transferred along the resident network channel. Because residents' location decisions might be influenced by the same factors that impact corporate trade activities (i.e., locating in a West Coast city such as San Francisco, versus New York, to be closer to Asia), the researchers needed to find an ethnic population whose relocation was not related to those factors. They identified the mandatory relocation of Japanese and Japanese-Americans into internment camps during World War II as a forced shock in residence location. The study found that firms in metropolitan statistical areas surrounding historical internment camp locations import and export significantly more to Japan today -- 75 years later -- than other firms because of the impact of the Japanese populations in these areas. When the researchers began their project three years ago, they did not know that immigration would be the hot-button issue it is today. Gurun said he believes the research could be expanded to provide further evidence on the economic impact of immigration and ethnic diversity. "Researchers are trying to understand how immigrants create value in their new home countries," Gurun said. "An important corollary that follows, however, is what these new residents do with the value they create. Do they take that value and invest it here, or do they send it back overseas?" Worldwide, 244 million people live in a country other than where they were born, according to the UN, and, according to Pew Research Center, migrants sent more than $580 billion to relatives in their home countries in 2015. "And what are the implications of this?" Gurun said. "What makes this even trickier -- but perhaps more important -- is that immigration has long-lived, intergenerational implications. Like most investments a firm undertakes, the organization invests today for payoffs in the future. Similarly, immigration may necessitate outlays in the present that result in large positive payouts that unfold over the coming generations. These long-lived investments are often the most difficult to estimate the value of and to coalesce support around. However, they are equivalently often the most valuable." ### Dr. Lauren Cohen and Dr. Christopher Malloy, both of Harvard Business School, were co-authors of the study. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation. SALT LAKE CITY -- More than 4,000 children and teens are diagnosed with brain cancer each year and the disease kills more children than any other cancer. Writing this week in the journal Cell Reports, researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah report they have identified an existing group of drugs that appear to reduce or eliminate a certain subgroup of childhood brain cancers while sparing normal brain tissue. The research was conducted using a new zebrafish animal model system developed by the researchers, which closely resembles an aggressive subtype of pediatric brain tumors. "For many pediatric brain tumors no cell or animal model exist to test targeted, or personalized, medications that could significantly improve survival and alleviate the harmful side effects of conventional therapies," explains Rodney Stewart, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah and an HCI investigator. "Indeed, children with rare brain tumors have few options for life-saving treatment. Our hope is by creating this animal model we will be a step closer to finding effective therapies." The researchers studied a particularly aggressive pediatric brain tumor, known as primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the central nervous system (CNS-PNET) for which few animal or cell line models exist. Without an animal model or cell lines, Stewart explained, treatments could not be tested. Over the course of seven years, Stewart and his team worked to develop a model which, at the genomic level, closely modeled the human condition they hoped to study. "We spent a lot of time comparing brain tumors arising in fish with related human brain cancers at the molecular genetic level," Stewart says. "This is important because these childhood brain cancers are rare and as a result, there are few patient samples to study for comparisons." Human tissue samples were necessary, however, in order to construct a reliable model. "We needed to reach out to several groups," he explains, including Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Dr. Stewart credits discoveries announced by two other groups studying similar cancers that opened the way for his group to move forward. "They were able to re-classify CNS-PNET tumors into distinct subgroups at the molecular level. That opened up a new avenue for our team because that stratification made it possible for us to really nail down what the zebrafish brain tumor model represents." Using the model, Stewart's lab was able to test already existing compounds to see if they could find a targeted therapy that would work on one of the newly identified subgroups: the oligoneural or NB_FOXR2 CNS-PNET subgroup. Through work they had done to create the tumor model, they knew that a particular drug already in human clinical trials might work. "When we treated the fish with MEK inhibitors -- drugs that inhibit an enzyme -- they exhibited a remarkable response," says Stewart. "Not only was the tumor burden reduced, it completely eliminated the tumor in about 80% of the fish and those tumors have not come back. This is a durable response from a transient treatment. It's what we look for in cancer therapy, an effective drug that can be taken for a certain amount of time but, after the cancer is gone, patients can stop taking the drug and go on living their lives." Stewart is careful to emphasize that while the brain tumor type between fish and humans is similar, more studies are needed to determine if the results can be translated into the clinic. He would like to see his discovery in the hands of physicians as soon as possible. "Currently, the outcome for children with these cancers is deplorable. We don't want to wait much longer," he says. ### This study was done in partnership with collaborators at HCI including University of Utah faculty from the departments of pediatrics, pathology, neurosurgery, and oncological sciences; ARUP laboratories, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City; and the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. Funding for this work was provided by the Canadian Institute of Health Research, the American Cancer Society, National Institute of Health NIH P30 CA042014, and the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) is one of the world's top academic research and cancer treatment centers. HCI manages the Utah Population Database -- the largest genetic database in the world, with more than 16 million records linked to genealogies, health records, and vital statistics. Using this data, HCI researchers have identified several cancer-causing genes, including the genes responsible for melanoma, colon and breast cancer. HCI is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (a 27-member alliance of the world's leading cancer centers) and is a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. HCI treats patients with all forms of cancer and operates several high-risk clinics that focus on melanoma and breast, colon, and pancreas cancers. The HCI Cancer Learning Center for patient and public education contains one of the nation's largest collections of cancer-related publications. The institute is named after Jon M. Huntsman, a Utah philanthropist, industrialist, and cancer survivor. Many microorganisms produce secondary natural products, the potential antibiotic effects of which are extensively investigated. German scientists have now examined a class of quinone-like substances containing an additional epoxide functional group for their antibiotic activities. As they report in the journal Angewandte Chemie, the compounds can kill problematic Salmonella pathogens, probably by interfering with their bacterial stress response system. Multidrug resistance is one of the most urgent problems in clinical research. It particularly concerns the gram-negative bacteria strains, which possess an outer membrane largely impermeable for small molecules. Scientists are continually screening natural secondary products of various structural motifs to investigate their effects as possible antibiotics, which could enter in the microorganism and possibly inhibit essential enzymes. Stephan Sieber, Iris Antes and their colleagues at Technical University of Munich were particularly interested in a class of molecules with a structural scaffold present in various natural products. Its quinone-epoxide motif could be crucial for antibacterial bioactivity, they assumed. The scientists used click chemistry to label the molecular candidates with fluorescent dyes. Thus, in a proteomic approach, their--at this point unknown--protein targets within the microorganisms could be identified, once they interacted with the candidates. One of the candidates called FM233 was not only found to kill Salmonella, which is one of the most problematic pathogens, but its target proteins were identified as well. The scientists reported that two of the three proteins belonged to the cellular stress response machinery. "FM233 antibiotic activity stemmed to a large extend from downregulation of enzymatic stress response, and corresponding sensitization of cells to stress," they wrote. The function of the third of the three targeted proteins had been unknown before. However, after employing test systems on various possible activities, the scientists concluded "that this protein is not involved in the antibacterial mechanism of action." The notion that FM233 can intervene in the bacterial stress response system could be a good starting point for further research on the antibacterial activities of that particular molecular scaffold. As only small chemical changes can cause strong responses, the battle against resistance is ongoing. ### About the Author Dr. Iris Antes is Professor for Protein Modelling at the TU MAnchen, Germany. Her group is involved in drug and protein design, computational immunology, and development of functional algorithms. Dr. Stephan Sieber is Chair of Organic Chemistry at the TU MAnchen, Germany. His group uses synthetic chemistry, functional proteomics, microbiology and proteinbiochemistry techniques to address complex biological questions such as identifying the targets of bioactive natural products or biomolecule-inspired small molecules and understand their mechanism of action. http://www.oc2.ch.tum.de/index.php?id=329 Under this, at least 3,000 of its staff - ranking from Junior Engineers to Member (Water Secretary) - will walk the entire length of its pipeline network to check for leakages and point of contamination. By Baishali Adak: Delhi is all set to take a leaf out of the Philippine capital's book on water resources management. WHAT IS WALK-THE-LINE The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will soon replicate Manila's highly successful and world renowned 'Walk-the-line' campaign. Under this, at least 3,000 of its staff - ranking from Junior Engineers to Member (Water Secretary) - will walk the entire length of its pipeline network. advertisement Also read: Many areas in Delhi to face water crisis for 2 days Also read: Delhi: Inter-ministerial task force finalises agenda to tackle air pollution, waste disposal This amounts to no less than 14,000km from Narela in the north to Arjangarh in south Delhi. They will inspect it for leakages and points of contamination from mud and sewage, following which these will be plugged and old pipes will be replaced. Officials hope that this exercise will lead to a partial refurbishment of the whole network system resulting in smooth supply for Delhiites in the summer of 2017. Also read: IRCTC's Rail Neer now India's most trusted packaged drinking water brand At present, DJB supplies 903 million gallons per day (MGD) of treated water to the city's 9.8 million population. Of this, 40 per cent is lost in leakages due to old and corrosive pipes, and illegal pluggage points created by the city's poor and migrants who lack a water connection. In summers, the peak demand goes up to 1,080 MGD creating a water crisis situation. DJB CEO, Keshav Chandra, told Mail Today, "The city's raw water source is only Yamuna with few borewells. So water supply has reached a plateau at 903 MGD and we definitely needed ways to save what we get and augment our service. While looking for suitable models, we found the Manila Walk-the-Line campaign. It's a simple solution yet very effective." Also read: Yamuna riverfront to get a facelift In the year 1997, after suffering water issues for decades, Manila decided to corporatise its Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). The private company that took over, proposed the 'Walk-the-Line' campaign whereby its officials involved locals in creating a database for leakages and fixing them. The campaign was so successful that Manila's water loss reduced from a staggering 63 per cent in '97 to 14.2 per cent in 2010. Also read: Yamuna polluted beyond control: Even its treated water can kill you DELHI TO SAVE WATER Chandra informed, "We are actually a step ahead of Manila. We already have a Geographic Information System (GIS) Map of our entire water pipeline network with some leakage points identified. Our officials will update this map." "Further, we are clubbing this exercise with a hydraulic model of wrong dimension (meaning pipes of lesser capacity vis--vis the population it is catering to) are still in use. All old and defunct pipes made of galvanised iron will now be replaced with High Density Polyethylene (HDP) and Medium Density Polyethylene (MDP) pipes," he added. Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra said, "Though Delhi's water problem is age-old, unfortunately nothing has been done about it in the past decades. It is very important to restore public confidence now. I believe this 'Walk-the-Line' campaign would prove fruitful here. We will involve four citizen volunteers in each constituency to identify the leakages and plug them. The results of this exercise will be visible and it will make people feel like they are a part of the movement." advertisement Watch the video here --- ENDS --- Researchers have found that many teens and young adults with chronic liver conditions suffer from depression and anxiety, which can have considerable impacts on their emotional and physical health. The findings, which are published in Liver Transplantation, indicate that greater attention should be directed to the mental health of these young patients. Adolescence is a challenging time for young people in general, but even more so for those with medical conditions. Young people with chronic illness have higher rates of mental health problems than the general population, which can affect how well they take care of themselves. A team led by Marianne Samyn, MD, FRCPCH and Anna Hames, of King's College Hospital conducted a study to uncover the prevalence of anxiety and depression in young people with chronic liver diseases. They also sought to identify the factors that might cause distress in these young patients and how anxiety and depression might affect their beliefs about their illness and treatment. For the study, 187 patients aged 16 to 25 years who were attending an outpatient liver transition clinic in London completed an electronically-administered questionnaire. The clinic is a multidisciplinary service dedicated to young patients with a range of liver conditions that aims to provide developmentally appropriate care and a smooth transition between pediatric and adult services. Patients were divided in three groups: those who had undergone liver transplantation, those with autoimmune liver disease, and those with other chronic liver conditions. Based on the questionnaire, 17.7 percent of the patients in the study screened positive for anxiety or depression, which is significantly higher than the 4 percent to 6 percent prevalence in the general adolescent population. There were no significant differences between disease groups. Patients most frequently attributed their distress to fatigue, sleep difficulties, financial concerns, problems at work/school, worry, and low self-esteem. Depression and anxiety seemed to influence how patients felt their illness affected them emotionally, how concerned they were about their illness, how many symptoms they experienced, and how much impact they felt the illness had on their lives. Depression and anxiety did not have a significant relationship with patients' perceived understanding of their illness or their beliefs as to how much treatment can help. "Health care professionals should be aware of the high prevalence of mental health problems in young people with liver conditions and routinely inquire about young people's psychosocial circumstances as both can impact on their illness and outcome," said Dr. Samyn. "Interestingly, the most common concerns young people with liver conditions report--such as lethargy, problems with sleeping and money, and work- or school-related issues--are very similar to their peers and can be addressed by a multidisciplinary team looking after them." ### >Article: "Liver Transplantation and Adolescence: The Role of Mental Health." Anna Hames, Faith Matcham, Deepak Joshi, Michael Heneghan, Anil Dhawan, Nigel Heaton, and Marianne Samyn. Liver Transplantation; (DOI: 10.1002/lt.24629). URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lt.24629/abstract Author contact: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's Corporate Communications, at kch-tr.CorporateCommunications@nhs.net, kch-tr.mediateam@nhs.net or 0203 299 9000 x35935. About the Journal Liver Transplantation is published by Wiley on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society. Since the first application of liver transplantation in a clinical situation was reported more than twenty years ago, there has been a great deal of growth in this field and more is anticipated. As an official publication of the AASLD and the ILTS, Liver Transplantation delivers current, peer-reviewed articles on surgical techniques, clinical investigations and drug research -- the information necessary to keep abreast of this evolving specialty. For more information, please visit http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/lt. About Wiley Wiley, a global company, helps people and organizations develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Our online scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, combined with our digital learning, assessment and certification solutions help universities, learned societies, businesses, governments and individuals increase the academic and professional impact of their work. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to our stakeholders. The company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. An instrument that smokes cigarettes like a human, and delivers whole smoke to the air space of microfluidic human airway chips, enables new insights into how non-smokers and COPD patients respond to smoke (Boston) -- While it is well known that cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung disease, and a key exacerbating factor for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it has not been possible to effectively model its deleterious effects on human lungs under normal breathing conditions. In an article in Cell Systems, a multidisciplinary team at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering describes an instrument they engineered that can 'breathe' in and out, actively smoke regular and electronic cigarettes much like a human, and then deliver the smoke to microfluidic organs-on-chips lined by human lung small airway cells isolated from non-smokers or COPD patients. The integrated smoking system enables a better understanding of smoke-related pathological changes in individual smokers, and could facilitate the discovery of more accurate biomarkers and new therapeutic targets. Progress in figuring out how exactly cigarette smoke worsens COPD, a so far irreversible inflammatory disease of the small airways of the lung, has been glacial because researchers lack faithful models. Classical culture systems with human small airway cells are unable to reproduce the breathing motions of the lung and commonly used laboratory animals cannot reflect human smoking because they breathe through their noses, and their inflammatory responses differ from those in humans. In addition, human clinical studies have revealed great variability in the physiological and biochemical responses between patients, and they usually do not allow direct comparisons of smoke-exposure versus no-exposure in the same individual. Leveraging their previously developed human lung small airway-on-a-chip model [hyperlink] for inflammatory disorders including COPD and asthma, the Wyss Institute's team led by Founding Director Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D., designed a smoking instrument that integrates with the airway chips and faithfully recapitulates smoking behavior with cells derived from healthy people and patients with COPD. "The device enables us for the first time to compare responses of human small airway tissues, from both normal individuals and COPD patients, before and after they are exposed to cigarette smoke delivered through physiological breathing outside the human body. We can now begin to decipher which cell types, cellular functions and genes contribute to smoke-induced injury in normal lung, as well as during COPD exacerbations in individual patients, and thereby, identify common as well as patient-specific disease factors," said Ingber, who is also the Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, and Professor of Bioengineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. In the microfluidic small airway-on-a-chip, one hollow microchannel is lined by living human bronchiolar epithelium, obtained from COPD patients or healthy people, which is exposed to air delivered under normal breathing motions by the smoking instrument. Cell culture medium is continually flowed through a parallel running channel separated from the first by a porous membrane to support the epithelium for up to four weeks, and to create a so-called air-liquid interface similar to that present in actual lung airway. "In order to translate observed breathing patterns and smoking behavior into biological effects, we combined the small airway-on-a-chip with a smoking machine that burns cigarettes and a microrespirator that inhales and exhales small volumes of cigarette smoke and fresh air in and out of the epithelium-lined channel in programmable intervals mimicking true smoking behavior," said Richard Novak, Ph.D., a co-author of the study and a Senior Staff Engineer at the Wyss Institute who helped to design the smoking instrument. The integrated smoking system recapitulates the complex oxidant-induced biological responses of normal lung cells to toxic molecules present in cigarette smoke as well as COPD-specific inflammatory responses. "We identified a COPD-specific signature by comparing gene expression changes in COPD-derived chips exposed or not exposed to smoke and subtracting the changes that we see in chips made from healthy lung chips. This type of analysis could lead to future biomarkers, drug targets and possibly more personalized approaches to COPD in the future," said first author Kambez H. Benam, Ph.D., a Wyss Institute Technology Development Fellow. The team also demonstrated that they can use this approach to investigate potential toxicity profiles of emerging tobacco-related products including e-cigarettes. Benam was also able to analyze the behavior of mucus-transporting cilia protruding from the small airway cells into the smoke-exposed microfluidic channel in an automated high-throughput fashion working with Janna Nawroth, Ph.D., a past Wyss Technology Development Fellow with co-author Kevin Kit Parker, Ph.D., a Wyss Core Faculty member and the Tarr Family Professor of Bioengineering and Applied Physics at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). "We found that cilia beating becomes more heterogeneous and reaches lower frequencies in chips exposed to whole cigarette smoke," said Benam who recently also received a Baxter Young Investigator award for his work at the Wyss Institute. Ingber believes that "The power of the technology is that it allows us to directly analyze the effect of a stimulus, in this case smoke exposure, on lung in what might be thought of as an in vitro human 'pre-clinical' study. This is hard to do in a standard human clinical study where one compares patients with a history of smoking versus those who do not smoke because all of the patients have different histories, backgrounds and patterns of exposure to the stimulus". ### The study was also authored by Mariko Hirano-Kobayashi, a past Research Fellow with Ingber at the Wyss Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Wyss Research Assistants Youngjae Choe and Thomas Ferrante, present and former Wyss Senior Staff Scientists Rachelle Prantil-Braun and Anthony Bahinski, and James C. Weaver, a Wyss Institute Research Scientist. The project was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE PRESS CONTACT Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University Benjamin Boettner benjamin.boettner@wyss.harvard.edu 1-917-913-8051 MULTIMEDIA CONTACT Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University Seth Kroll seth.kroll@wyss.harvard.edu 1-617-432-7758 The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University uses Nature's design principles to develop bioinspired materials and devices that will transform medicine and create a more sustainable world. Wyss researchers are developing innovative new engineering solutions for healthcare, energy, architecture, robotics, and manufacturing that are translated into commercial products and therapies through collaborations with clinical investigators, corporate alliances, and formation of new startups. The Wyss Institute creates transformative technological breakthroughs by engaging in high risk research, and crosses disciplinary and institutional barriers, working as an alliance that includes Harvard's Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Arts & Sciences and Design, and in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston University, Tufts University, Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, University of Zurich and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Wellcome Trust is shifting the centre of gravity of its funding for African science from the UK to the continent itself by handing over two major research programmes to the African Academy of Sciences' Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AAS-AESA). The two programmes - DELTAS Africa and H3Africa - support cutting-edge research aimed at tackling some of Africa's most pressing health challenges, including infectious diseases, mental health and emerging diseases such as obesity and diabetes. There is also a strong focus on training and supporting the next generation of African researchers and research leaders. AESA, an initiative of the African Academy of Sciences and the New Partnership for Africa's Development Agency, is an agenda-setting and funding platform established to address Africa's science, technology, innovation and development challenges. It focuses on people, places, and programmes in Africa to accelerate world-class research, catalyse innovation and promote scientific excellence and leadership. AESA is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome, and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Over the last two years AESA has worked intensively with the support of the funders to develop robust and transparent grant management systems. AESA will now manage both DELTAS and H3Africa programmes in partnership with the funders, leading on decision making for African science, technology and innovation supported through the schemes. DELTAS Africa is a 60m research programme established to promote African-led development of research leaders and to support cutting-edge research aimed at tackling some of Africa's most pressing health challenges. These challenges include infectious diseases, mental health and cross-cutting disciplines such as biostatistics. Eleven consortia have been funded with an even distribution across East, West and Southern Africa (including three awards led from Francophone Africa). It is funded by Wellcome and DFID. H3Africa is a major genomics programme that was established in 2012 to apply cutting-edge genomics techniques to diseases that are a health burden in Africa. Wellcome has made a 9m grant to AESA to run a second phase of the programme in partnership with the US National Institutes of Health. AESA will release a call for proposals for this funding in January 2017. The handover of DELTAS Africa and the award to manage a second phase of H3Africa represents an important milestone for AAS-AESA and a significant change in the way Africa interacts with international funders. Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of Wellcome, said: "Wellcome has a long history of investing in world-class health research in Africa. But ultimately, the biggest improvements in health will be met through research that is Africa-led and locally relevant. We're delighted that AESA will now take the lead in shaping a world-class research agenda driven by the next generation of African research leaders." AESA Director Dr Tom Kariuki said the handover was a vote of confidence for AESA and African institutions' grant management capacities. "This represents a new era in defining partnerships between Africa and global organisations and furthers the momentum we are building for an Africa-led science and research agenda to transform this continent's future," said Dr Kariuki. "It's another step forward in our efforts to improve our research infrastructure, enhance our management and administration capabilities, expand our pool of world-class researchers and inspire African governments to increase R&D funding." Dr Alphonsus Neba, the Programme Manager for DELTAS Africa, said, "We are grateful to our partners at the Wellcome Trust for their commitment to shifting the centre of gravity to Africa. With this shift, funding decisions on Africa will be made in Nairobi, not London, and will help to not only ensure that science for Africa is led by Africa's researchers but also that it remains relevant to the needs of Africa." ### Media contacts Deborah-Fay Ndlovu d.ndlovu@aasciences.ac.ke +254 727 660 760 | +254 20 806 0674 Hannah Isom H.Isom@wellcome.ac.uk +44 20 7611 8899 Notes to editors About AESA The Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA), an initiative of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Agency, is an agenda setting and funding platform established to address Africa's STI and development challenges. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AESA focuses on people, places, and programmes in Africa to accelerate world-class research, foster innovation and promote scientific leadership. AESA also functions as a think tank, setting, aligning and ensuring an Africa-led, Africa-centred, and Africa-relevant science and technology agenda on the continent. AESA was launched in 2015 by the AAS and NEPAD Agency with the support of the Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK's Department for International Development (DFID). NIH previously created a Coordinating Centre housed at South Africa's University of Cape Town to manage internal and external communication and calls for proposals and scheduling meetings for the advisory and governance bodies for H3Africa. AESA will now be working with H3Africa's Coordinating Centre and the NIH to fulfil the functions. Join us on Facebook.com/aesaafrica and Twitter @AAS_AESA and learn more at http://www.aesa.ac.ke About Wellcome Trust Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. It is a global charitable foundation, both politically and financially independent that supports scientists and researchers, take on big problems, fuel imaginations and spark debate. COLUMBUS Members of Ohios food and farm community are invited to the 2016 Farm and Food Leadership Forum. The event is for those with a desire to build leadership ability, develop business skills and network with community professionals. The forum will take place Nov. 30 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus. The event, open to the public, is hosted by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and takes place the day prior to the organizations annual meeting. Reservations can be made through local county farm bureau offices. Those who will benefit from the conference include farmers, agribusiness professionals, animal breeders, agritainment operators and others with a connection to food and farming. Nationally recognized speakers include Michele Payn, of Cause Matters, who will talk about using social media to your advantage; Tim Hodges, the Gallup Education Practice, who will discuss developing individual strengths; and Mark Levin, an expert on building membership organizations. Other topics include identifying the best health care options for small employers, communicating agricultures message, and agribusiness insurance solutions. Along with educational sessions, a Community Showcase will feature exhibits from business partners. Ohio Farm Bureaus Young Ag Professionals group will also host two rounds of the Discussion Meet competition. Registration is $75 per person, which includes lunch. Reservations are due Nov. 16. Genetically modified crops will be grown across England after Britain withdraws from the European Union, according to farming minister George Eustice. Mr Eustice said in a parliamentary written answer that "as part of preparations for the EU exit, the Government is considering possible future arrangements for the regulation of genetically modified organisms. "The Governments general view remains that policy and regulation in this area should be science-based and proportionate," he said. Political opposition to the technology among other member states in Europe resulted in only one GM product being licensed since 1998. 'No risk' The government is considering possible future arrangements for the regulation of genetically modified organisms (Photo: George Eustice) But last year it was reported that GM crops could be grown commercially by farmers in England following approval of EU legislation. After 4 years of negotiations, the European Council, Commission and Parliament reached an agreement that gave Member States the ability to decide whether or not to cultivate GM crops once they have passed the safety assessment. According to results of a study, on average, GM technology adoption has reduced chemical pesticide use by 37%, increased crop yields by 22%, and increased farmer profits by 68%. Yield gains and pesticide reductions are larger for insect-resistant crops than for herbicide-tolerant crops. Yield and profit gains are higher in developing countries than in developed countries. In May, a major review of GM crops by scientists in the US tentatively concluded that they pose no risk to human health. 'Contamination' Despite rapid adoption by farmers in many countries, controversies about the technology remain. Even Pope Francis has criticised the use of GM technology in the past. Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, GeneWatch UK, GM Freeze and the Soil Association each expressed concerns that controversial Roundup Ready GM crops might be planted in England in Spring 2015. They said that would eventually harm the environment. "Monsanto and other GM companies are desperate to push their GM crops into other countries before the devastating impacts on wildlife and farming destroy existing markets," said Dr Helen Wallace, Director of GeneWatch UK. "The Government should not be caving in to commercial lobbying and putting British birds and butterflies at risk." Peter Melchett from the Soil Association said: "If GM crops spread, GM contamination will make organic farming impossible, and our growing organic market will have to be supplied with imported food." Liz O'Neill from GM Freeze said: "British consumers don't want to eat GM food and both Scottish and Welsh governments have made it clear they are opposed to GM crops. So why are our representatives in Westminster doing their level best to hand over control of our food and our natural environment to big business?" The National Investigation Agency probe on the 21 missing persons from Kerala has unearthed that more than 30 youths from the state had attended IS training camps in Afghanistan and many had returned to the state to run the sleeper cells. Kerala is shocked over the Islamic State (IS) terror module operating deep inside the state for long. The National Investigation Agency probe on the 21 missing persons from Kerala has unearthed that more than 30 youths from the state had attended IS training camps in Afghanistan and many had returned to the state to run the sleeper cells. What investigation revealed The investigations also revealed that many educated Muslim youths from the state who were working in Gulf countries had strong links with IS terror networks and were in close contact with the prophets of terror. And some of the NRI businessmen from Kerala funded their activities. The image of secular Kerala is a vanity. The state has been a breeding ground of terror networks. Many organisations and religious outfits were facilitating their activities, a senior police official told India Today. Its not limited to radical Muslim outfits. Even the so called religious groups which claim secular credentials promoted the prophets of terror, the officials added. According to him, the handlers of terror outfits have used social media effectively to recruit the youths from the state without alerting the police and intelligence agencies. Hell broke out when the state came to know about the 21 persons including four families that left the state to join Islamic State in May last year. Later NIA has taken over the investigation to track the terror network operating in the state. NIA arrested seven persons including Subahani Haja Moideen who fought for IS in Iraq. Details of the case 31-year-old Subahani who is a native of Thodupuzha in Idukki district was a major breakthrough as he had identified key persons in the network. NIA identified Sajeer Abdulla Mangalaseri as the chief of the IS network in Kerala. 35-year-old Sajeer, a Civil Engineer from National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode and a Salafist who hails from Moozhikal in Kozhikode has been recruiting people from Kerala in IS fold. His involvement in IS recruitment is a new revelation. He has no crime records and has been working in UAE since 2004. His family has no knowledge about his involvement with terror networks, a police official in Kozhikode revealed to India Today. Source: India Today We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts! Donate $ 415.00 donated in the past month Get Involved If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us. WorkWeek radio looks at the firing of Canadian professor Anthony Hall and the role of Facebook, the Israeli government and Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook. Next WorkWeek looks at the suspension of Berkeley Federation of Teacher executive board member Yvette Felarca who was suspended from her teaching position after attending a rally against the nazis in Sacramento. WW10-25-16 Facebook, Israel & The Suspension Of Lethbridge Professor Anthony Hall and The BFT Teacher Yvette Felarca Fights Discrimination and Targeting After Anti-Nazi RallyWorkWeek investigates the suspension of Canadian University Of Lethbridge Global Studies professor Anthony Hall. He is author of "Earth into Property" describing the disastrous effects of capitalism on indigenous peoples The University president without a hearing suspended professor Hall without pay after a national campaign was launched by supporters of Israel accusing him of being anti-semitic and a 9/11 conspiracy supporter.We interview David Robinson who is the executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers CAUT which represents 68,000 academic and general staff in over 120 universities and colleges throughout Canada about the case. He discusses the attack on tenure and how this and the corporatization of education is threatening academic freedom and educators in North America and around the world.We then interview Professor Anthony Hall who talks about how Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg were involved in a digital frame-up with his facebook page being used to put up an anti-semitic graphic by an operative which was then used by B'nai Brith supporters to charge that he was anti-semitic. This photo was grabbed by B'nai Brith supporters who launched a coordinated national online petition campaign to demand that he be fired from the University without a hearing."Investigation determined the post, while extremely offensive and inappropriate, does not meet the threshold for intent set out in the Criminal Code of Canada for advocating genocide or public incitement of hatred," the police said in a statement on Wednesday. According to the police, the image was posted to Hall's personal Facebook page by a third party.Zuckerberg had previously met personally with Israeli prime minister Netanyahu and signed a agreement to use Facebook to censure and target critics of Israel.WorkWeek next looks at the case of the suspension of Berkeley Federation of Teachers BFT Executive Board member Yvette Felarca who was removed from her job after she attended an anti-nazi rally in Sacramento on June 26. She as well was suspended without hearing and banned from her classes. The school board managers and lawyers also illegally interrogated her students without the permission of their parents. The BFT has filed a grievance to return her to the job and there have been rallies to support her return.Additional media:Production ofWorkWeek Radioworkweek(at)kpfa.org Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Pierre Moscovici, the commissioner for economic and financial affairs, taxation and customs, said Ireland was shaking off its previous reputation in the EU, where the tax regime has not always been viewed positively. The European Commission earlier this week provided more details of what it calls a common consolidated corporate tax base, a fundamental change to how company taxes are calculated and paid across the EU. While it does not affect the 12.5% corporate tax rate, there are fears it could eat into Irelands tax revenues and create a parallel regime for larger multinationals. I understand the sensitivity of the Irish Government but I think that we need to discuss that in a smooth way, a serene way, a constructive way, Mr Moscovici said in the interview. Ireland has made considerable progress towards a tax governance which is more transparent and tried to move away from a previous reputation, and is really in the right place, he said. The proposals come soon after the Commissions finding that Apple enjoyed illegal tax breaks amounting to 13bn in Ireland, largely by booking its sales through two Irish shell companies that were not tax resident in the country. What we want to do is create a framework which prevents future Apple cases, and its in the interest of all countries, including Ireland, to go in that direction, Mr Moscovici said. The EUs new proposals, if fully applied, would prevent so-called profit-shifting because corporate taxes would be due where companies have their sales, assets and labour. The definition of assets excludes intangibles such as intellectual property rights, which account for a big chunk of Irelands GDP. That means multinational profits that were once due in Ireland might, in future, be shifted elsewhere in Europe. Yes, our tax rate will remain untouched, but it is clear that tax sovereignty will be eroded, with member states handing over new powers to the Commission, said Independent MEP Marian Harkin. In an impact assessment, the Commission estimates Irelands multinational corporate tax revenues could be reduced by -0.14% of GDP once the new tax regime is fully implemented. My commitments to the Irish Government and to Michael Noonan are very clear and I repeat that, again, this proposal aims for more clarity, more transparency, more efficiency, more fairness, Mr Moscovici said. It doesnt aim to hurt the attractiveness or the competitiveness of any country, he added. However, that may not happen for some time, as the Commission plans to implement the new tax scheme into two stages. First, it will ask EU countries to agree on new rules to calculate corporate taxes, and only afterward discuss where those taxes should be paid. This element is known as consolidation. The two-step approach was suggested by Ireland in 2013, during talks on a previous draft of the CCCTB. Mr Moscovici believes it will give the scheme a greater chance of success this time around. The 2016 version is mandatory for all large companies with global revenues over 750m. The plan should therefore benefit smaller firms who felt they were shouldering massive tax burdens, while their large competitors could shop around the EU for the best deals. The Commission is also pointing to a new research and development (R&D) super-deduction of 50%. It says they say the R&D tax incentive makes the proposal more business-friendly. The rules require the unanimous approval of all 28 EU countries, several of whom are likely to raise objections alongside Ireland. I think there is a reasonable basis for consensus if there is not too much ideology in the reactions here or there, Mr Moscovici said. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said it wanted the radical transformation of the health service and believed that a progressive tax system could fund it. The INMO said the overhaul would result in all health service staff, including consultants and general practitioners, being directly employed and working on seven-day rosters. While current contracts should be honoured, all new contracts would be for direct public employment only. The 40,000-strong nurses representative body also called for a very significant expansion of the role of nurses and midwives, both in the hospital and community. It wants nurses and midwives to be empowered to prescribe drugs, order diagnostic tests, make referrals and take on other appropriate roles. INMO president Martina Harkin Kelly told members of the Oireachtas Health Committee on the Future of Health Care their job must lead to a seamless universal single tiered health service. Ms Harkin Kelly said public health funding in 2013 was 7.2% and admitted that meeting future health costs would be a challenge. The INMO said the health service should receive guaranteed public funding of a minimum of 10% of gross domestic product (GDP) and between 12 and 14% during the period of transition. However, additional funding would come from the phased abolition of all tax reliefs for private health insurance; ending any contracting for services to provide direct care, and the phased ending of subventions to private nursing homes. Later, when members of the Irish Medical Organisation met the committee, Labours Alan Kelly said the committee was aiming for a single-tiered health service so, over time, consultants would have to be paid salaries by the taxpayer to work exclusively in public hospitals. Mr Kelly said there was a belief held by many people and politicians that there was a double-tiered system among some consultants in how they dealt with private and public patients. I have had much experience of that myself to a degree which I actually think is frankly disgusting and unacceptable, he said. IT LOOKS as if the Dail will today debate banning fracking on Irish soil and in its internal waters prior to a vote next Thursday that will probably be a Yes. The Prohibiting of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016 is proposed by Fine Gael TD for Sligo/Leitrim, Tony Mc Loughlin. It has the support of most of the opposition and, it seems, most of the Government. Thats good. Hydraulic fracturing to extract oil and gas from shale rock, tight sands and coal seams, as the Bill says, is controversial for lots of reasons. It is ugly. It can be unsafe. It is not properly regulated. A new report commissioned by the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) from six independent expert consultants, argues strongly that fracking can contaminate our water in several ways. First, the fracturing of the rock to get at the shale layers may allow contaminant gas and fluids to leach towards our freshwater. This will occur less or more depending on the structure of the rock in a particular area, with limestone karst being a particular concern. It is estimated internationally that 6% of the wells the frackers bore through the rock will leak. The SWAN report points out that if only 1% of the possible 16,000 Irish wells leaked that would still be 160 wells. The wells are meant to be encased in cement so that leakage does not occur. But the sealing of the wells is frequently imperfect and indeed one in five US states does not requires the concrete casing of the wells to be tested before the fracturing process begins. Sometimes cement is not applied or is not applied properly and sometimes changes in pressure and temperature crack existing cement. The stuff that leaches through the walls of the wells includes the fluid used to assist the fracturing which includes acids, alcohols, and hydrocarbon mixtures some of which, according to the SWAN report, are hazardous to human and environmental health. Then there is the fluid which occurs naturally in the shale but needs to stay where it is because it can contain high concentrations of chlorine, bromide, sodium, strontium, arsenic, iron, and manganese as well as high concentrations of naturally occurring radiation. And theres the wastewater which is salty and has hydrocarbons, silts, clays and process additives in it. We simply do not know what we would do with this stuff which threatens the purity of our surface waters and ground waters. If it contaminated our freshwater rivers, lakes, and wetlands it would change their nature, making them less able to host plant and bird life. The freshwater might also become more acid in nature, meaning contaminant metals would dissolve in it more easily and nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon would be less available to aquatic life. Theres also whats left behind after the gas has been had. If the well sites arent properly plugged with cement theres a risk that methane and fracturing fluid will leach into local freshwater. You can get soil erosion which turns up as silt in local rivers and streams. In Pennsylvania there have been cases of abandoned wells which were sold off to smaller enterprises who declared bankruptcy, leaving no-one clearly responsible for picking up the tab after the goldrush. That wouldnt happen here, would it? Not with what the report calls the vast array of bodies which would be involved if the current moratorium on fracking were to be lifted: the Departments of Energy and Environment, the Commission for Energy Regulation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the relevant local authority and An Bord Pleanala, making a co-ordinated planning response all-but impossible. There is also an inadequate EU legal framework, which was constructed before fracking was envisaged and which therefore has gaps in relation to environmental assessment and requirements for monitoring. In plain terms it is unclear whether proposed fracking enterprises would be subject to mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment or Strategic Environmental Assessment, exposing the taxpayer to obvious risk. The SWAN report identifies environmental risks in both of the sites in which exploration licences were granted by the last government in 2011: the Northwest Carboniferous Basin (affecting Donegal/Leitrim/Sligo) and the Clare Basin. It points to possible degradation of freshwater systems in Co Clare such as Tullagher Lough and Bog, Farrihy Lough, Poulnasherry Bay, the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation, and the White Strand/Carrowmore Marsh. All this is very fine and well. Its great to see so much of Government and Opposition pulling together to protect the birds and the bees, not to mention us. But the truth is that banning fracking is relatively easy. There is no established industry and people tend to be frightened of new practices. An anti-fracking protest in the UK What we need to see in this country to protect our environment is the same coming-together of Government and Opposition to ban old practices. Tony Mc Loughlin, the very Fine Gael TD who has brought this anti-fracking Bill to the floor of the house recently described the burning of turf as a sustainable way to heat rural homes on the floor of the same house. He was advocating for rural turf-cutters to be allowed to continue to cut turf for their own use because their needs had to be balanced against the dictates of the EU Habitats Directive. NIMBY is easy. Whats hard is the radical change towards a low carbon economy to which this country is committed under the Paris Agreement. Clearly, individual turf-cutters are not responsible for environmental degradation on the scale of Bord na Mona. But I havent heard Tony Mc Loughlin denouncing the fact that the Government is allowing Bord na Mona to keep on industrially cutting away our bogs until 2030 when there will probably not be any bogs worth cutting. Even after Bord na Mona has stopped cutting away bogs to fire electricity stations and make briquettes, it is not clear that they have any plans to stop making horticultural peat, which has already been legally curtailed in the UK. Bogs grow by about one millimetre a year and we have bogs which are seven metres deep. They are natural sinks storing millennia of carbon and just cutting them away releases about as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as is released when we burn peat. It is an act of environmental sabotage. Yet Bord na Mona is still taking out full-colour advertisements featuring a hare on his hind legs with the slogan: This land is his land. We never forget that. And there isnt a peep in the Dail. Enough negativity. Todays debate may show us that this Dail can act to stop future environmental damage. Then lets see it act to stop the damage which is already happening, due to land over-stocked with cattle, vehicles emitting diesel particles which kill people, and power and transport systems which threaten life on this planet. Meet Chicago Scholar Lucy Sanchez Lucy Sanchez 17 My parents never for one second didnt believe I was going to college. Having never gone themselves, they didnt understand how to help or all of the aspects of the application process. Chicago Scholars helped me create a well-crafted application and helped me find the college that best fit me. That college was Illinois Wesleyan University. Lucy Sanchez 17 While Lucy Sanchez was a junior at Chicagos John F. Kennedy High School, her counselor recommended her for the Chicago Scholars Foundation, a nonprofit that helps high-performing, first-generation Chicago students navigate the college admission process. Chicago Scholars sponsors workshops on applications and financial aid, one-on-one mentoring, and networking. Dozens of colleges and universities recruit at the annual Chicago Scholars Onsite admission forum, where an Illinois Wesleyan admissions counselor requested a meeting with Sanchez. She helped me through every step of the process, said Sanchez. She made herself available to my family and me for questions, urged me to visit campus during Multicultural Weekend and Tu Universidad! And she helped me apply early. At Illinois Wesleyan, Sanchez has thrived as an art and business administration double major. She is president of Kappa Pi honorary art fraternity and a student programmer for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and she previously served as an officer in the Spanish and Latino Student Association (SALSA). Illinois Wesleyan offers opportunities to become who you want to be, and to fight for what you believe in. There are some great people here who constantly support students in their fights against injustices, not only on this campus but in the world. Career Immersion Excursion Will Head to Nations Capital Students will have the opportunity to connect with elected officials and alumni experienced in a variety of fields in Washington, D.C. Oct. 26, 2016 BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Illinois Wesleyan Universitys successful Career Immersion Excursion heads to Washington, D.C. for four days in mid-March 2017, and students are invited to apply for the trip. Sophomore, junior and senior students of all majors with an interest in government, public policy, advocacy, nonprofit, law, healthcare and the intersections of business and government should strongly consider applying, according to Laurie Diekhoff, associate director for career engagement at the Hart Career Center. A maximum of 20 students will be chosen from the applicant pool. Students who are selected are expected to contribute $250 per person toward the trip, which includes three nights hotel, air transportation, programs and most meals. A limited number of scholarship fee waivers are available for the excursion. The Career Immersion Excursion (CIE) program is designed to offer students an opportunity to get a close look at industries, companies and careers, and a chance to clarify career goals and aspirations. During the inaugural CIE to Chicago earlier this year, students visited several marketing or public relations firms and entrepreneurship sites and met with dozens of alumni and other business leaders. In a survey of students who participated in the 2016 CIE, 100 percent reported the trip met or exceeded their expectations and 100 percent would recommend it to a friend. The Washington, D.C. excursion will include site visits to the FBI, the Capitol, and a think tank. Four panels will feature D.C. alumni with varied work experience in government, business, law, nonprofits and public policy discussing the following topics: business and government, healthcare, education and international affairs. In addition, a networking social with Illinois elected officials, alumni and others will be held at the Capitol Hill Club. Small-group sessions with young alumni are also planned. Washington, D.C. is consistently on best places for new graduates lists and its also home to many successful Titan alumni, said Diekhoff. We are excited to introduce both the dynamic city and our amazing D.C. alumni to the student participants through site visits, alumni socials and professional networking events. The Career Immersion Excursion program is made possible through generous support from the Carswell family and kind contributions from participating alumni and employers. The deadline for application through Titan Career Link is Nov 14. For more information, contact Laurie Diekhoff, associate director for career engagement at the Hart Career Center, at (309) 556-3326. Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - PPX Mining Corp. (the "Company" or PPX) is pleased to announce that underground test mining and bulk sampling have commenced at Mina Callanquitas on its Igor Project in northern Peru. The Companys mining partner Proyectos La Patagonia S.A.C. (PLP) has received the Autorizacion Inicio de Actividades (AIA, Authorization to Begin Activities) from the regional authorities in the Department of La Libertad. Underground development to facilitate our previously announced bulk sampling program, has started with initial work focused on the 3390 level of Mina Callanquitas. PLP has begun excavating the 3390 level ramp and will immediately begin developing sublevel three for test mining and bulk sampling. The sub-vertical geometry of the Callanquitas structure combined with favorable topography will allow PLP to begin extracting gold and silver mineralized material rapidly in preparation for large-scale bulk sampling. Gold and silver mineralized material mined during the initial stages of development of the 3390 level will be stockpiled. PPX intends to process this preliminary bulk sample at a nearby toll processing facility in order to calibrate the facility and verify its operating parameters. The stockpiled development rock is mineralogically and metallurgically similar to the bulk of the Callanquitas resource and is therefore ideal for evaluating the suitability of the toll processing facility for testing bulk samples of Callanquitas-style gold and silver mineralization. It is anticipated that several thousand tonnes of stockpiled gold and silver mineralized material will be processed during this evaluation phase. The Company and PLP intend to accelerate mine development by starting an additional ramp on the 3440 level. Utilizing access from both levels, the Company expects to be able to extract up to 150 tonnes per day of bulk sample by Q1 2017. This will enable the extraction of large volume bulk samples from the gold and silver resource blocks outlined by surface diamond drilling. The bulk samples will be utilized to verify the resource model, generate real-life mining cost profiles, and validate previously completed bench-scale metallurgical testing. PPX plans to utilize the economic, engineering, and technical data generating during the test mining and bulk-sampling program as the basis for a Pre Feasibility Study (PFS) to evaluate the economics of potential future mining operations at Mina Callanquitas. Bulk sampling at Mina Callanquitas is scheduled to continue throughout 2017. All of the Companys capital requirements for test mining and bulk sampling program have been met by previously completed private placements with PLP or its affiliates. PLP will be providing the balance of the upfront and working capital required for mine development, therefore PPX will have no further capital commitments for test mining at Mina Callanquitas. Kimberly Ann Arntson, CFO and Vice President - Corporate Development of PPX Mining Corp commented: Today is an important day for our shareholders and for the history of our Company. With the commencement of underground bulk sampling at Mina Callanquitas, we begin a new phase in the growth of our Company and begin a corporate transition. Our capital commitments for test mining have been met and, with the completion of our recent financing with RIVI Capital, the company is poised to move forward with a strong balance sheet. Brian J. Maher, President and CEO of PPX Mining Corp further commented: We expect to begin shipping gold and silver mineralized bulk samples from Mina Callanquitas to a nearby processing facility very soon and we look forward to reporting the initial results of processing this rock. We will accelerate test mining, targeting 150 tonnes per day by Q1 2017 in order to facilitate large-scale bulk sampling throughout 2017. Coupled with a revitalized exploration program at Igor, the company is positioned to make major steps forward in realizing the full value of our Igor Project in 2017. About PPX Mining Corp.: PPX Mining Corp. (PPX: TSX.V; BVL) is currently exploring and evaluating mine development opportunities at its Igor Mine Project in Northern Peru. The Igor project explores several high grade, gold and silver mineralized high-angle structures that host significant gold and silver resources. The Callanquitas Structure at the Igor Project contains Inferred gold and silver resources of 7,189,000 tonnes grading 1.94 gpt gold and 71.8 gpt silver containing 448,500 ounces of gold and 16,600,000 ounces of silver at a cutoff grade of 1.5 gpt gold equivalent. Included within this resource estimate is a higher grade zone consisting of 2,730,000 tonnes grading 2.73 gpt gold and 119.1 gpt silver containing 239,400 ounces of gold and 10,500,000 ounces of silver using a 3.0 gpt gold equivalent cutoff grade (Please see Technical Report as amended on September 27, 2013 entitled Technical Report on the Callanquitas Structure, Igor Mine Project, Northern Peru, South America, available on the Companys web site or SEDAR). Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserves. The Company has begun work on its underground test mining and bulk sampling program which is designed to validate and upgrade the resource estimate, and generate data to evaluate the possibility of future mine development at Igor. The Company is accelerating its exploration program at Igor in order to fully evaluate the resource potential of the entire Igor project area. All scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Quentin J. Browne, P.Geo., Independent Consulting Geologist to Peruvian Precious Metals, who is a qualified person under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101. VANCOUVER, Oct. 27, 2016 - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX, NYSE-MKT: TMQ) ("Trilogy Metals" or the "Company"), formerly NovaCopper Inc., is pleased to announce drill results and provide a project update from its 2016 summer field program at the Arctic poly-metallic volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit, part of the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (UKMP) located in the Ambler mining district of Northwest Alaska. All amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated. The majority of this year's project budget of US$5.5 million was spent on a drilling program at the Arctic Project that included 3,058 meters of drilling for geotechnical, hydrological, waste rock characterization and metallurgical studies as well as further resource definition. In addition to the drilling program, a series of environmental studies were conducted over the UKMP. The LiDAR survey that was incomplete last year due to weather conditions was also completed during the summer. This site investigation work will form the basis for completing a future pre-feasibility study on the Arctic deposit. Highlights from the Drill Program Based on a cut-off grade of 0.7% copper, significant zones of high grade copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc mineralization were intersected including: AR16-0155 intersected three mineralized intervals, including 36.36 meters of 2.27% copper, 0.27 g/t gold, 25.3 g/t silver, 0.36% lead, and 2.54% zinc, and 8.48 meters of 6.14% copper, 1.32 g/t Au, 96.6 g/t silver, 1.93% lead, and 8.27% zinc; AR16-0148 intersected four mineralized intervals, including 21.22 meters of 3.79% copper, 0.85 g/t gold, 69.1 g/t silver, 0.99% lead, and 5.78% zinc; AR16-0150 intersected five mineralized intervals, including 16.60 meters of 5.40% copper, 0.20 g/t gold, 46.0 g/t silver, 1.23 % lead, and 6.69 % zinc; and AR16-0153 intersected 12.59 meters of 2.49% copper, 0.86 g/t gold, 56.6 g/t silver, 2.17 % lead, and 9.64 % zinc. "We are pleased to announce another highly successful and safe field season at our high grade Arctic deposit. We had Zero Loss Time Incidents, no environmental incidents and maintained a high percentage of local NANA shareholder hire. We continue to see exceptional high grades of copper, zinc and precious metals reported for all in-fill drill holes. The results demonstrate the continuity of multiple high grade zones of copper, zinc and precious metals," stated Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President and Chief Executive Officer for Trilogy Metals. "By completing an array of studies, including geotechnical for pit-slope stability, hydrology, waste rock characterization, environmental and metallurgy, we continue to advance Arctic towards a pre-feasibility level of study which will demonstrate that Arctic is one of the highest grade, open pitable copper deposits in the world. By having exposure to copper, zinc and precious metals, the Company maintains its flexibility as we advance this project up the value chain. Meanwhile, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) continues to advance permitting of the Ambler Mining District Industrial Access Project (AMDIAP) a road connecting the Ambler mining district to a year-round port at Port Mackenzie." Trilogy Metals completed thirteen diamond drill holes for a total of 3,058 meters of core. The 2016 drill program was designed to collect data for geotechnical, hydrological, waste rock characterization and metallurgical studies as well as further resource definition. Three drill holes representing 822 meters drilled were designed to collect geotechnical and hydrological data within the proposed Arctic open-pit as outlined in the Company's National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure technical report entitled "Preliminary Economic Assessment Report on the Arctic Project, Ambler Mining District, Northwest Alaska" dated effective September 12, 2013 (the "2013 PEA") (see press release dated September 12, 2013). Two of these drill holes encountered significant high grade mineralization, as reported in Table 1, and one drill hole (AR16-0147) was outside of the resource target area. Data collected from the geotechnical/hydrological drill program will be used to support future open-pit mine design, as well as waste rock characterization and resource definition. Four drill holes representing 1,030 meters drilled were designed to collect metallurgical samples to support a metallurgical test work program currently underway. As expected, all four metallurgical drill holes encountered significant high grade mineralized intercepts, as reported in Table 1. Data collected from the metallurgical drill program will also be used to support waste rock characerization and resource definition. Six drill holes representing 1,206 meters drilled were designed to evaluate vertical and lateral continuity of the high grade polymetallic copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc mineralization, and support upgrading and expanding inferred resources to measured and indicated resource classification within the area of the proposed Arctic open-pit. The Company is pleased to announce that all six infill holes encountered mineralized intervals consistent with previous drilling conducted within the resource area on the property. Significant mineralized intervals of high-grade mineralization are reported in Table 1. These drill results, along with ongoing engineering and environmental studies described below, will be used to support a pre-feasibility study on the Arctic deposit. Environmental Program Trilogy Metals conducted an aquatics survey, avian survey, habitat survey, archaeological survey, and wetlands delineation survey, and continued ongoing baseline environmental data collection in 2016. An aquatics survey of rivers and creeks over the UKMP included identification of fish species present and tissues metals testing. An avian survey over the UKMP was conducted in May to identify bird nest locations, with a follow-up survey in July to measure fledging success. A habitat survey was completed in conjunction with the wetlands survey and will be used to inform future biological surveys. Approximately 2,400 acres were surveyed for archaeological resources in or around the potential Arctic open-pit and facilities locations. Approximately 2,900 acres of wetlands were delineated using techniques approved by the Army Corps of Engineers. Table 1: Arctic Deposit Significant Drill Results Hole ID From (m) To (m) AI1 (m) Cu % Au g/t Ag g/t Pb % Zn % CuEq2 % AR16-0146 113.15 118.80 5.65 5.77 0.89 73.7 1.58 8.68 10.23 AR16-0146 140.40 143.25 2.85 3.19 0.88 51.5 0.33 1.66 4.94 AR16-0146 153.65 160.35 6.70 1.33 0.10 28.4 0.52 2.01 2.47 AR16-0146 200.75 212.10 11.35 2.19 0.18 15.6 0.20 3.08 3.45 AR16-0146 218.50 219.65 1.15 0.98 0.14 25.2 0.66 4.14 2.78 AR16-0148 120.00 141.22 21.22 3.79 0.85 69.1 0.99 5.78 7.14 AR16-0148 148.60 150.65 2.05 3.34 0.67 77.1 1.76 7.23 7.33 AR16-0148 161.58 169.77 8.19 1.03 0.06 9.5 0.20 1.34 1.63 AR16-0148 188.05 198.34 10.29 1.42 0.63 33.9 0.46 2.37 3.06 AR16-0149 153.70 162.15 8.45 5.70 1.66 63.3 0.88 8.23 10.19 AR16-0149 184.00 186.08 2.08 0.91 0.12 7.7 0.03 0.52 1.24 AR16-0150 121.15 130.71 9.56 2.34 0.33 41.0 0.63 3.10 4.13 AR16-0150 138.34 151.64 13.30 2.89 0.62 48.0 0.61 4.37 5.31 AR16-0150 163.00 179.60 16.60 5.40 0.20 46.0 1.23 6.69 8.40 AR16-0150 187.30 193.00 5.70 4.53 0.12 33.8 1.22 6.14 7.17 AR16-0150 204.45 219.60 15.15 1.67 0.37 24.4 0.25 2.53 3.01 AR16-0151 38.84 42.13 3.29 2.82 0.20 29.6 0.07 1.80 3.83 AR16-0151 53.05 59.85 6.80 0.81 0.11 6.3 0.03 0.31 1.05 AR16-0152 143.55 146.30 2.75 2.80 0.40 31.6 0.67 3.17 4.56 AR16-0152 173.10 179.88 6.78 0.90 0.04 11.1 0.16 1.84 1.64 AR16-0152 220.02 224.38 4.36 3.20 2.38 35.1 0.06 1.23 5.54 AR16-0152 241.75 249.59 7.84 2.70 0.48 50.5 0.40 2.04 4.31 AR16-0153 52.02 64.61 12.59 2.49 0.86 56.6 2.17 9.64 7.20 AR16-0154 237.30 239.10 1.80 1.69 0.07 11.0 0.14 1.10 2.22 AR16-0155 138.42 146.90 8.48 6.14 1.32 96.6 1.93 8.27 11.12 AR16-0155 153.45 155.41 1.96 1.62 0.24 26.2 0.64 2.52 3.01 AR16-0155 163.18 199.54 36.36 2.27 0.27 25.3 0.36 2.54 3.59 AR16-0156 180.86 189.47 8.61 5.05 0.42 76.3 1.01 5.66 8.17 AR16-0157 120.28 122.18 1.90 3.15 1.65 79.8 2.09 6.37 7.65 AR16-0158 52.85 56.93 4.08 0.85 0.08 18.0 0.64 3.05 2.20 AR16-0158 65.45 67.60 2.15 8.76 1.58 108.0 1.42 6.38 13.33 Footnotes to Drill Interval Table: 1. AI = Continuous Assayed Interval (meters). 2. Copper equivalent (CuEq) calculations use metal prices assumptions of $2.90/lb for copper, $1,300/oz for gold, $22.70/oz for silver, $0.90/lb for lead and $0.85/lb for zinc. Copper equivalent calculations reflect gross metal content and have not been adjusted for metallurgical recoveries. 3. Results are core intervals and not true thickness; true widths have not been determined for the above intercepts but are believed to be representative of actual drill thicknesses. 4. Significant interval defined as a minimum of 1.0 meter Cu interval with average grade >0.7% Cu. 5. Cutoff grade of 0.7% Cu. 6. Internal dilution up to five meters of <1.0% Cu. 7. Intervals of <1.0 meter not reported 8. Some rounding errors may occur. On-going baseline environmental data collection included maintenance of three hydrologic gauging stations and one meteorological station. Surface water quality samples were taken from sixteen surface water locations and analyzed for a full suite of parameters including total and dissolved metals. The Company continues to advance the acid-base-accounting static and kinetic test work at Arctic. Continuous down-hole samples were collected from this year's drill program to support static testing coverage over the Arctic deposit. On-site barrel sampling was successfully completed in the spring and fall of 2016 to support the kinetics program, and in August we achieved the 40-week milestone for the parallel laboratory humidy cells; maintenance and monitoring of all kinetic tests will continue into 2017. Quality Control and Data Verification The drill program, sampling protocol and data verification were managed and overseen by qualified persons employed by Trilogy Metals. Thirteen diamond drill holes were drilled at HQ and NQ diameter drill core by Boart Longyear of South Jordan, Utah. Samples in mineralized core were collected using a 0.2-meter minimum length, 5.0-meter maximum length and 1.4-meter average sample length. Samples in un-mineralized core were collected using 0.2-meter minimum length, 5.0-meter maximum length and 3.2-meter average sample length. Drill core recovery averaged 94% with overburden. Three quality control samples (one blank, one standard and one duplicate) were inserted into each batch of 20 samples. The drill core was either sawn or shipped as whole core, with samples sent to ALS Minerals, Fairbanks, Alaska for sample preparation and the sample pulps forwarded to ALS's North Vancouver facility for analysis. ALS Minerals in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada, is a facility certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada. Qualified Person Erin Workman, P.Geo, Director of Technical Services and an employee of Trilogy Metals, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Ms. Workman has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news release and approves the disclosure contained herein. Ms. Workman has reviewed the results of the drill program and confirmed that all procedures, protocols and methodologies used in the drill program conform to industry standards. About Trilogy Metals Trilogy Metals Inc., formerly NovaCopper Inc. is a metals exploration company focused on exploring and developing the Ambler mining district located in northwestern Alaska. It is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic VMS deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high grade copper mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within the Company's land package that spans approximately 143,000 hectares. The Company has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., a Regional Alaska Native Corporation, which provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a premier North American copper producer. The mineral resource estimate which forms the basis of the 2013 PEA considers diamond drill holes drilled by different operators during the period 1965 to 2011. The mineral resource for the Arctic Project is supported by 43 core holes (approximately 13,500 m) drilled by NovaCopper and its former parent company NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. ("NOVAGOLD") and 92 core holes (approximately 17,600 m) drilled by previous owners Kennecott, and/or a Kennecott subsidiary. The 2013 PEA was based on Indicated mineral resources totaling 23.8 million tonnes grading 3.26% copper, 0.71g/t gold, 53.2 g/t silver, 0.76% lead and 4.45% zinc, and Inferred resources totaling 3.4 million tonnes grading 3.22% copper, 0.59 g/t gold, 41.5 g/t silver, 0.58% lead and 3.84% zinc. The 2013 PEA is preliminary in nature, includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be characterized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. The 2013 PEA was prepared by Tetra Tech of Vancouver, Canada and the full technical report is available on SEDAR, EDGAR and on the Company's website. The 2013 PEA describes the potential technical and economic viability of establishing a conventional open-pit copper-zinc-lead-silver-gold mine-and-mill complex for the Project. The 2013 PEA, evaluated on a 100% basis, yielded a Net Present Value at 8% of $928 million and $537.2 million on a pre-tax and post-tax basis, respectively using base case metal price assumptions of $2.90/lb for copper, $1,300/oz for gold, $22.70/oz for silver, $0.90/lb for lead and $0.85/lb for zinc. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Source: Trilogy Metals TORONTO, ON--(October 27, 2016) - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (OTC: EXLLF) ("Excellon" or the "Company"), Mexico's highest grade silver producer, is pleased report third quarter operational and production results and results from ongoing exploration at the Platosa Mine in Durango, Mexico. Q3 2016 Highlights Preparation made for 150%+ increase in drawdown rate during Q4, with all material development now completed and the first primary booster array and wells coming online, as the Company's ongoing optimization program heads toward completion High grade diamond drill results from ongoing surface and underground exploration include: 662 g/t Ag, 4.9% Pb, 25.5% Zn and 0.57 g/t Au or 1,886 g/t Ag equivalent ("AgEq*") over 13.00 metres in EX16UG274, an extension of the high-grade Manto 623; 773 g/t Ag, 11.8% Pb and 6.3% Zn or 1,438 g/t AgEq over 2.77 metres in PH16-13, a the connector zone between the Guadalupe South and 623 mantos AgEq production of 255,760 ounces (Q3 2015 - 419,583 AgEq oz) Silver production of 153,783 ounces (Q3 2015 - 241,872 ounces) Lead production of 891,424 lb (Q3 2015 - 1.3 million lb) Zinc production of 1.2 million lb (Q3 2015 - 2.1 million lb) Continued mining of high-grade mineralization outside of the resource block model near the Rodilla Manto * AgEq in drill results assumes $17.50 Ag, $1,265 Au, $0.90 Pb and $1.01 Zn with 100% metallurgical recovery, while AgEq in production results reflects average metal prices during the period applied to the recovered metal content of concentrates. "This quarter marked an important turn in the Company's operations, with momentum now building towards the completion of our ongoing optimization program in the first quarter of 2017 and our goal of a completely dry Platosa by spring," stated Brendan Cahill, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Additionally, recent highigrade drill results immediately adjacent to existing resources and infrastructure are a promising early indicator of the opportunity to efficiently increase high-grade tonnage at Platosa. During Q3, we effectively completed all civil works required for the optimization program and developed into the next level of the Rodilla Manto. This increased development affected production during the quarter, but we are looking forward to the quarters ahead as mining conditions continue to improve. The first major return from the optimization program is scheduled for the coming weeks, with the primary booster pump array and an additional four wells coming online, which are expected to increase the mine- drying rate by over 150%." Optimization Program Update As further described in the Company's annual information form (the "AIF"), the Company has developed an optimization program to comprehensively manage water at Platosa through an enhanced pumping system. The optimization program aims to maintain and increase a localized "cone of depression" of the water table below mine workings, ultimately resulting in completely dry mining conditions at Platosa. Under dry mining conditions, the Company expects to achieve materially higher rates of production at materially lower costs relative to current and historical production at Platosa. Refer to the AIF for a summary of estimates on Platosa production rates and costs subsequent to the implementation of the optimization program. The optimization program consists of a pumping installation near each of the high-grade Guadalupe South and 623 mantos. At Guadalupe South, infrastructure will include eight wells and associated 250hp submersible pumps, the primary sump and four 600hp booster pumps, while 623 will include six wells and associated 250hp submersible pumps, a secondary sump and three 600hp booster pumps. During the quarter, the Company completed all material development required for this infrastructure, including the development of pumping stations, electrical and booster stations and both sumps. Drilling of wells continued during the quarter and accelerated materially in September. As noted, previously, the Company switched drill contractors early in Q3 and, after working through certain adjustments with the second contractor, began to see excellent performance in September. The Company has added an additional rig to the program with the aim of completing well drilling during Q1 2017. During Q4 2016, the Company expects to complete the installation of booster pumps in Guadalupe South and commence pumping from an additional four, and subsequently six, dewatering wells at this installation. These pumps are in addition to two temporary submersible pumps that now pump directly to surface (which pumps will be replaced with higher efficiency submersibles in due course). The activation of the additional four wells is estimated to increase drawdown (or drying) rates by approximately 150% (of the program's targeted 300% increase in drawdown rates) on a conservative basis. As noted previously, the Company has realized materially faster drawdown rates than forecast at higher pumping rates, so the initiation of these four wells will be an important initial indicator of the upside potential of the optimization program. The optimization program remains on budget and the Company and its consultants continue to identify opportunities to complete the project at costs below initial targets. Based on recently accelerated well drilling, the Company aims to complete the installation by the end of Q1 2017 and targets a completely dry Platosa Mine during Q2 2017. Further updates on the progress of this program will be provided regularly during the implementation period. Exploration Results The Company commenced a 25,000-metre diamond drilling exploration program during Q3 2016. This program encompasses drilling from surface and from underground and is currently focused on defining additional shallow mineralization located near existing infrastructure in mineable areas. To date, 2,090 metres have been completed accounting for 13 holes from surface and underground, as well as an additional 2,353 metres of drilling in underground drilling related to the dewatering program, which include probe and targeting holes for dewatering wells. Material intersections are summarized below: Hole ID Interval(1) Interval(2) Au Ag Pb Zn AgEq(3) From To meters g/t g/t % % g/t EX16UG274 23.00 36.00 13.00 0.57 662 4.92 25.53 1886 PH16-13 7.16 9.93 2.77 - 773 11.77 6.27 1438 PH15-03 23.23 23.60 0.37 - 2991 5.01 4.81 3357 PH15-04 29.47 29.80 0.33 - 2272 18.60 1.55 2992 PH16-19 A 22.12 22.54 0.42 - 1751 6.73 3.32 2132 EX16LP1100 90.75 92.90 2.15 - 167 1.18 1.92 276 EX16LP1101 94.66 96.49 1.83 - 115 1.01 1.90 226 From-to intervals are measured from the drill collar, with drill holes marked UG or PH drilled from underground stations. All intervals are reported as core length. Not enough information is known about the mineralization to determine true width at this time. AgEq in drill results assumes $17.50 Ag, $1,265 Au, $0.90 Pb and $1.01 Zn with 100% metallurgical recovery. Drilling from underground has yielded encouraging results with intersections bearing significant silver and zinc grades. UG16UG274 and PH-16-13, in particular, intersected high-grade mineralization extending the 623 Manto approximately 25 metres to the west. These holes were drilled along the upper extent of the manto and intersected mineralization offset by a fault in the area. Additional, underground drilling in PH16-19A, PH15-03 and PH15-04 intersected high grade mineralization near existing mine infrastructure, which will be followed up on to better define the continuity of mineralization intersected. EX16LP1100 and 1101 intersected disseminated mineralization in an upper part of the Platosa Mine adjacent to the previously mined, high-grade 4A Manto. The disseminated mineralization encountered adjacent to manto mineralization may be an indicator of additional manto mineralization nearby. Follow-up work is planned for this area in the ongoing drill program. Drilling for Q4 2016 will continue to focus on expanding the current footprint of manto mineralization at Platosa, with a second rig planned for surface drilling in the coming months. This rig will look to further define high-grade mantos at Platosa and structural targets in the NE-1 and 6A areas, both of which exhibit potential for vertical feeder zones. These targets are currently being evaluated and planned as part of a larger data compilation and integration effort with particular focus on mineral and metal zonation and structural indicators of feeder zones. As part of the program, the Company is also targeting regional, CRD/Source-style mineralization. Progress has been made in compiling and reinterpreting existing data with the aim of generating new CRD/Source- style targets, the most significant to date of which is the Rincon del Caido discovery, which encountered a number of skarn mineralized intersections in 2012/2013, including 132 g/t Ag, 3.1% Zn, 1.7% Pb and 0.075 g/t Au over 55.5 metres in LP1019, 146 g/t Ag, 2.8% Pb, 1.9% Zn and 0.22 g/t Au over 43.4 metres in LP 1023A and 13.1 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb and 3.6% Zn over 7.3 metres in LP 1038. Q3 2016 Production Results Q3 2016 Q3 2015 9-Mos 2016 9-Mos 2015 Tonnes Mined 11,207 13,711 37,914 41,339 Tonnes Milled 12,003 15,393 41,176 43,850 Grades Silver (g/t) 427 547 485 516 Lead (%) 4.14 4.75 4.71 4.83 Zinc (%) 5.49 7.66 6.01 7.76 Recoveries Silver (%) 90.4 90.9 90.7 89.0 Lead (%) 82.1 79.9 82.4 77.1 Zinc (%) 81.3 81.7 79.7 81.8 Metal Production* Silver (oz) 153,783 241,872 593,165 641,660 Lead (lb) 891,424 1,271,847 3,523,537 3,549,455 Zinc (lb) 1,169,029 2,117,874 4,333,038 6,101,866 AgEq (oz)** 255,760 419,583 987,880 1,169,654 * Subject to adjustment following settlement with concentrate purchaser. ** Silver equivalent ounces established using average metal prices during the period indicated applied to the recovered metal content of concentrates. Ore production during the third quarter was from the Rodilla Manto, where workings are currently located in one of the deepest parts of the mine and ore is below the water table. During the quarter, the Company continued development into lower levels of Rodilla, which limited productivity from the manto. The currently deepest areas of the mine, in Rodilla, Guadalupe South and 623, are at approximately the 960 elevation, with the water table at 975 elevation. Though these areas are effectively dry and water inflows are entirely under control, development and production conditions are not optimal. Mining conditions are expected to materially improve in the coming months as the pending increase in drawdown rate more rapidly closes the gap between the water table and operating elevations. The Company continues to encounter additional mineralization outside of the block model adjacent to the Rodilla Manto and existing infrastructure. As delineated in the Platosa resource block model, the upper levels of the Rodilla Manto host undiluted resources grading approximately 800 g/t Ag, 7% Pb and 10% Zn. As in previous quarters, the Company mined materially higher grades outside the block model and continues to identify new zones of "bonus" mineralization, most recently on the 674 and 731 headings in Rodilla. Though the deposit is tightly drilled at 15 metre centres, manto boundaries are generally erratic and additional mineralization is often encountered outside of the resource block model. Additionally, the Company has noted historically that in areas with high-grade silver and lead are underestimated as such mineralization may be washed out during the diamond drilling process. Approximately 750 tonnes of ore milled during the quarter were extracted from historic stockpiles and settling ponds at Platosa at minimal cost with grades of approximately 150 g/t Ag and 1-2% Pb and Zn. High-grade ore produced during the quarter was blended with this lower-grade material to improve recoveries and concentrate payability. The Company expects to release third quarter financial results prior to market open on November 2, 2016. Upcoming Conferences The Company will participate in the New Orleans Investment Conference from October 26-29, 2016 at the New Orleans Riverside Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. Company representatives will be available at booth 124. The Company will also participate in the International Precious Metals & Commodities Show from November 3-4, 2016. The Conference will be held at the MVG Museum in Munich, Germany. Brendan Cahill, President and CEO, will be presenting on Friday, November 4th at 4:50 PM (local time) on stage 1. Qualified Person Michael Verreault, Ing., has acted as a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 with respect to the disclosure of the technical information related to hydrogeology and the optimization project described in this release. Mr. Verreault has a Masters in Applied Science (Hydrogeology) and 16 years of relevant experience focused on hydrogeology. He is a certified professional engineer (OIQ 125243) by the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec and is President of Hydro-Ressources Inc. Mr. Verreault is independent of the Company and visited Platosa several times during the planning and implementation of the optimization program. Mr. Ben Pullinger, P. Geo, Vice-President Geology, has acted as the Qualified Person, as defined in NI 43- 101, with respect to the disclosure of the scientific and technical information relating to exploration results contained in this press release. About Excellon Excellon's 100%-owned La Platosa Mine in Durango is Mexico's highest grade silver mine, with lead and zinc by-products making it historically one of the lowest cash cost silver mines in the country. The Company is positioning itself to capitalize on undervalued projects by focusing on increasing La Platosa's profitable silver production and near-term mineable resources. Additional details on the La Platosa Mine and the rest of Excellon's exploration properties are available at www.excellonresources.com. Forward-Looking Statements The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this Press Release, which has been prepared by management. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 27E of the Exchange Act. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including potential property acquisitions, the timing, content, cost and results of proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, geological interpretations, proposed production rates, potential mineral recovery processes and rates, business and financing plans, business trends and future operating revenues. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, significant downward variations in the market price of any minerals produced [particularly silver], the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties, and particularly the July 9, 2015 NI 43-101-compliant technical report prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. with respect to the Platosa Property. This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB--(Marketwired - October 27, 2016) - ANGKOR GOLD CORP. (TSX VENTURE: ANK) ("ANGKOR") is pleased to announce that Delayne Weeks, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility will address the United Nation's Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development. She will be presenting on behalf of ANGKOR and will address the delegation about the Company's approach to building a sustainable mineral sector. Alberta-based ANGKOR incorporates Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as part of its "best practices" strategy in a fashion wholly unique to any other mining companies of its size. These benefits create a broad-spectrum of "shared value" across company operations. Local communities and staff at all levels benefit from training in English, advanced exploration methodologies, first aid training, computer applications and environmental preservation. In addition, through its multi-stakeholder approach, ANGKOR provides clean water solutions and improvements in education and agriculture alongside enhanced access to medical treatment and economic development. "ANGKOR helps transform Cambodia's rural communities within the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Speaking to the members of the forum, I will share our experiences to illustrate how our small, determined Grande Prairie firm implements its pioneering model to bring value to those who need it most through ethical mineral exploration," stated Delayne Weeks. "ANGKOR, its staff and management understand that the global mining industry urgently needs to improve community engagement to ensure the long-term sustainability of mining projects," noted Mike Weeks, CEO and Chairman of ANGKOR. He continued, "Our Company has undertaken the challenge by actively recruiting local talent and generating jobs. We have pushed the limits in organic agriculture for increased food security and have provided education and vocational training." Cambodia presents a welcome, clean slate to innovate from the very beginning, as an emerging market with extremely substantive poly-metallic mineralization and a government progressively seeking foreign investment. All of this enables Angkor Gold to undertake challenges while setting a precedent never before seen in Cambodia. ANGKOR GOLD CORP., a public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, is Cambodia's premier gold explorer with a significantly large land package and a first-mover advantage with excellent relationships at all levels of government in Cambodian (local and national). ABOUT ANGKOR GOLD CORP. Angkor's six exploration licenses in the Kingdom of Cambodia cover 1,352 km2, which the company has been actively exploring over the past 6 years. The company has now covered all tenements with stream sediment geochemical sampling and has flown low level aeromagnetic surveys over most of the ground. Angkor has diamond drilled 21,855 metres in 190 holes, augured 2643 metres over 728 holes, collected over 110,000 termite mound samples and 'B' and 'C' zone soil samples in over 20 centres of interest over a combined area of more than 140km2, in addition to numerous trenches, IP surveys and detailed geological field mapping. Exploration on all tenements is ongoing. Angkor Gold Corp. is a public company listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange and is Cambodia's premier mineral explorer with a significantly large land package and a first-mover advantage building strong relationships with all levels of government and stakeholders. Visit our website at: http://www.angkorgold.ca you can follow us @AngkorGold for all the latest updates. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information". In particular, there are references to the timing of filing and the expected content of the Corporation's 43-101 report. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The five-member delegation called on separatist leaders, including, the chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday. >Abdullah said, "NC feels that the delegation headed by Sinha is a welcome move because it is a first step that someone has made an attempt to take Kashmir out of this morass..." By Press Trust of India: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday welcomed the visit of a five-member delegation led by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha to Valley to break the nearly four-month-long impasse here and expressed hope the move would help in addressing Kashmir issue. "NC feels that the delegation headed by Sinha is a welcome move because it is a first step that someone has made an attempt to take Kashmir out of this morass. We all pray to God to make this attempt successful so that we come out of this difficult phase," Abdullah said here. advertisement Also read: Watch how Kashmiri youth rescued an army jawan trapped inside a mangled vehicle The five-member delegation called on separatist leaders, including, the chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday. Also read: Demands and reminders: Separatists leader Geelani meets Yashwant Sinha with list of concerns The former Union Minister expressed hope that such meetings with the separatists would continue to address the Kashmir issue. "I hope this is not just a one-off meeting. Rather, this should go on to try to resolve this (Kashmir) issue," he said. Also read: Mehbooba Mufti to Kashmir police: Take bullet instead of using pellet guns on protesters Meanwhile, NC organised a protest rally from its headquarter Nawai-Subh to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's residence at Gupkar against the state government's "deep slumber". "We have time and again warned the Government, in board meetings or rallies. We met the state governor, the prime minister, the president and time and again we mentioned some things that these things should stop," Party General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar told reporters. He said since the last nearly four months, "Everything is closed here, people are trapped in their houses, whole Kashmir has been turned into a jail-room". He claimed that "9,000 people have been arrested and around 850-900 have been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA). And, for the first time the small kids are being made victims of politics, it was announced to hold examinations in such a situation when it is impossible because these kids are unable to come out..." he said. Sagar said the government has now made employees victims of politics. "They are being arrested, dismissed, they are small fourth class, poor employees. For these two-three things (we are protesting) and we had said that those arrested should be released." "17 Fridays, and now 18th is coming, there have been no prayers at Jamia Masjid (in Srinagar). This is I think first government in whole India where there was curfew even on Eid and no prayers were offered in mosques and shrines. So, in this regard, we held a protest today," he said. advertisement Also read: Hurriyat leader Syed Geelani's son arrested, family barred from meeting ailing leader The NC leader said the party has already spoken about resolving Kashmir issue and "That's being carried forward. So, we hope that this government, which is in very deep slumber, will wake up". --- ENDS --- By Lee Han-soo Busan Metropolitan Police are investigating an international marriage scam ring that has swindled four Korean men. The scam was exposed when one of the victims got suspicious and told police. This led to the capture of the ring's alleged money collector from Cameroon. The alleged rings four criminals swindled more than 130 million won ($114,780) from the men after promising to marry them. The swindlers approached the men through chatting application Baboo and Facebook and said they were medical officers from the U.S. or the U.K. They sent purported pictures of themselves to the victims and said they had no families and wanted to settle in Korea. Police said that when the victims were hooked, the criminals asked the men to send money they said was needed to be deployed as a U.N. peacekeeper in Syria. The criminals also requested money so they could to wire to Korea a secret stash of cash found in Syria during a covert operation. The criminals also made up elaborate stories about how they needed money to bribe a French diplomat and a British transport company to send the money to the victims, police said. One of the men became suspicious after discovering that a safe sent by the criminals that was supposed to contain money was full of black paper about the size of $100 bills. Whenever the victims tried to call the swindlers, they told them they could not take the calls because they were inside a military base. After receiving a tip that the alleged French diplomat and British transport company employee are living in Korea, police opened an investigation to arrest them. "The scam ring sent numerous photos of beautiful medical officers through email or Facebook to the victims," a police official told News1, a Korean media outlet. "However, we have not verified if the con artists are actually women or not." By Jun Ji-hye The Ministry of National Defense said Thursday that it will resume negotiations with Japan to sign a bilateral agreement on sharing intelligence on North Korea. Four years ago, the two countries were very close to signing the so-called General Security of Military Intelligence Agreement (GSOMIA) under the Lee Myung-bak administration. However, the signing fell through at the last minute due to fierce public criticism here of the government's secretive handling of a sensitive military deal with the former colonial ruler. The timing of the announcement this time is also controversial. Some critics said that the ministry is deliberately pushing for the sensitive signing while public attention has been focused on news about President Park Geun-hye's scandal-ridden confidant, Choi Soon-sil. "This is obviously not an appropriate time for the announcement of such a sensitive issue," a source said. "This is when all the public attention is on the Choi scandal. The timing is obviously controversial." In explaining the reason for resuming the negotiations, the ministry cited ever-growing threats from North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile programs. Currently, Seoul and Tokyo are indirectly exchanging intelligence on the North's military activities through Washington under a trilateral sharing pact signed at the end of 2014. By PTI: Mumbai, Oct 27 (PTI) GMR Group today said it has won an international arbitration against the Maldives government and has been awarded USD 270 million as compensation from the island nation after its contract to build an international airport in Male was arbitrary cancelled. GMR Infrastructure, which owned GMR Male International Airport (GMIAL), said the arbitration award was given by a three-member international arbitral tribunal. advertisement The USD 270-million compensation covers the debt and equity invested in the project along with a return of 17 per cent and also termination payments and legal costs. The compensation is net of taxes that GMR Male may be required to pay in the Maldives, said a statement from the company. GMIAL had entered into a concession agreement with the Maldives government and Maldives Airport Company (MACL) in 2010 to modernise and operate the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in the national capital of Male. However, the concession agreement was wrongfully repudiated both by the Male government and Maldives Airport Company on November 29, 2012, it said, alleging that the same was void ab initio. This happened after a coup in the country that led to a change of government in the Indian Ocean nation. GMR challenged the cancellation at the Singapore international arbitration tribunal. "It has always been our firm belief that the cancellation of the concession agreement was wrongful. We are happy to note that the tribunal has unequivocally upheld our stand and closed the adjudication with a final award of compensation," the GMR Group said. Earlier in June 2014, the arbitration tribunal had held that Maldives and MACL had wrongfully repudiated the concession agreement and that they were jointly liable to pay damages to GMIAL for the losses caused. GMR Group operates Indias busiest and largest Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and the greenfield Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. It recently bagged rights to develop and operate Goas new greenfield international airport in Mopa. It is also developing the Mactan Cebu International Airport in the Philippines in partnership with Megawide Construction Corporation. PTI BEN ARS ABM SDM --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) A grey partridge bird has been found dead at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi, the committee constituted by the Environment Ministry to monitor the avial flu situation today said. The three-member committee constituted to oversee the outbreak of H5N8 avian influenza in its review today said that apart from the grey patridge, there was no other casualty at Deer Park in Hauz Khas and Gwalior zoo. advertisement "Mortality Status within 24 hours - National Zoological Park in New Delhi - one grey partridge an in-house bird, Deer Park in New Delhi - nil and Gwalior zoo - nil," an official statement said. The memorial of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Shakti Sthal, had to be closed yesterday as two more ducks had succumbed to suspected avian influenza there, taking the toll in the national capital to 66. Acting on reports of mortality among the birds, in the Delhi NCR region and other parts of the country due to H5 Avian Influenza Virus, Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave had constituted a monitoring committee. The committee comprises member secretary of Central Zoo Authority, director National Zoological Park and deputy Inspector General of Forest (Wildlife). A doctor today visited and examined exposed employees of the zoo and medication was provided to them while the samples from other birds of the Gandhi Zoological Park in Gwalior were sent to the National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal whose report is still awaited. A team of scientists from National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune have already visited the Delhi zoo and collected samples, sensitised and trained zoo staff about bio-security measures against avian influenza. The Union Health Ministry yesterday issued a health advisory to states, asking them to minimise bird-human interface to prevent an outbreak of bird flu. Birds in Delhi, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) and Kerala have tested positive avian influenza AH5N8, which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), is considered less risky of being transmitted to humans. But the government is taking precautions. PTI TDS UZM --- ENDS --- 27.10.2016 LISTEN Gospel musicians, The True Worshippers are set to launch their maiden album Onyame Ye Ohene on Sunday October 30 at the Gospel Light International Church, Nungua. Gospel artistes who will be supporting the 10 am album launch include Gifty Osei, Francis Amo, Emmanuel Arthur, Steve Jnr and Sam Quaye. Songs on the eight-track album are God Na Igwe, Higher, Who Are We, I Will Sing For You and All The Days Of My Life. Speaking in an with The True Worshippers made up of Pastor Ernest Addo, Pastor Thomas Addo and Patricia Kuffour, said they believe their album will touch many lives. We hope our album transform lives. There are very good songs on it and we want everyone to purchase a copy of it when the album is finally out they said. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia on Thursday denied a US news report it has allowed Washington to operate unmanned planes from its territory for missions in neighbouring Libya against the Islamic State group. "As part of Tunisian-US bilateral cooperation, we have acquired drones to train our military personnel to use this technology and to control out southeastern border with Libya and detect any suspicious movement" there, a defence ministry spokesman said. But "Tunisian soil has never been and never will be used to strike targets in Libya. The drones are used by Tunisians and no one else," Belhassen Oueslati said. The Washington Post on Wednesday reported that the Pentagon had "secretly expanded its global network of drone bases to North Africa, deploying unmanned aircraft and US military personnel to a facility in Tunisia to conduct spy missions in neighbouring Libya". The "drones began flying out of the Tunisian base in late June" and "played a key role in an extended US air offensive against an Islamic State (jihadist group) stronghold" in Libya, the newspaper said. Since August 1, the United States has carried out 351 air strikes in Libya in support of loyalist forces fighting to retake the coastal city of Sirte from IS, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on Thursday. Tunisia's Defence Minister Farhat Horchani told the Mosaique FM radio station on Thursday: "We were one of the few first countries to oppose a foreign military intervention in Libya." "We don't -- and won't -- have a foreign military base in Tunisia," he said. An AFRICOM spokesman did not deny that US drones had taken off from Tunisia but said: "There are no US bases in Tunisia." "There are US service members working with the Tunisian security forces for counter terrorism and they are sharing intelligence from various sources, to include unarmed aerial platforms," Colonel Mark R. Cheadle said. Tunisia "requested additional military equipment and training from Washington after deadly militant attacks last year in Tunisia and the US has provided more than $250 million in security assistance". Tunisia has suffered from a wave of jihadist violence since the 2011 revolt that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. IS claimed brazen attacks last year on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis and a beach resort that killed a total of 59 foreign tourists. In March, dozens of jihadists attacked security installations in the town of Ben Guerdane on the border with Libya. President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) James Asare Agyei has called on Minister of Trade and Industry to sanction all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA's) that fail to project and comply with the ministry's made in Ghana policy. According to him, the call if heeded to will lead to the promotion of local content in Ghana. The Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Ekow Spio- Garbrah early this month launched the made in Ghana campaign climaxing it with a policy. The policy will guide the promotion of local goods and services with a commitment to pursue the enactment of legislation to back its implementation. The policy is to encourage institutions, especially public ones to procure locally made products and services. Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah during the launch told Citi Business News the ministry is pushing to get a law passed to compel public institutions to comply, if the policy implementation does not receive the necessary support and goodwill from stakeholders. You start with a policy that is based on moral persuasion, on encouragement, on us trying to do the right thing, he said. Speaking at the 5th AGI local content and investment summit in Accra, the AGI President, James Asare Agyei said the Trade and Industry minister should roll out sanctions on those who fail to comply to ensure rapid turnaround of the economy. The Minister of Trade and Industry has indicated that if after a reasonable period of persuasion MDA's do not comply with the policy, then consideration will be given to enactive legislation that will make it mandatory for public institutions whenever possible to procure made in Ghana goods and services. I however want to make a request to the trade minister to enforce the policy now to compel departments and agencies to procure made in Ghana goods and services. This will enhance the competitiveness of products made in Ghana, he concluded. The Minister of Trade, Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah, earlier reiterated government's commitment to improve the country's local manufacturing sector in a bid to reduce the nation's increasing import bills. According to him, clinging on to our locally made products is the only way to stay competitive on the global markets. He further added that concerns being raised over Ghana's increasing balance of trade deficit due to increased imports compared to less export can cease if only Ghanaians adapt to made in Ghana products to promote the rich Ghanaian culture across the globe. By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu has announced that government will come out with a new policy that will offer some tax rebate for banks to allow them employ more youth. The move is aimed at providing young graduates with firsthand experience before they set up their own businesses. Haruna Iddrisu who made the announcement at the launch of the Barclays Shared Growth in Accra, said government intends to implement the move in conjunction with the Association of Ghana Industries. The private sector must lead the way and you must be supported to lead the way because government cannot offer the needed jobs to many enterprising young people who are getting out of university and out of college and I'm particularly happy that the AGI is part of this partnership and I'm happy to announce that President Mahama's government is happy to partner the private sector particularly the banking institution to offer tax rebates to those corporate institutions that will offer employment to young starters in the industry. The World Bank in its latest report on jobs in Ghana has revealed that about 48 percent of the youth in the country, who are between 15-24 years do not have jobs. The report dubbed the Landscape of Jobs in Ghana, explores the opportunities for youth inclusion in Ghana's labour market. In Ghana, youth are less likely than adults to be working: in 2012, about 52% of people aged 15-24 were employed (compared to about 90% for the 25-64 population), a third were in school, 14% were inactive and 4% were unemployed actively looking for job. Young women in the same age group are particularly disadvantaged and have much higher inactivity rates that men: 17% of young female are inactive as opposed to 11% of males, the report added. It recommended that government must work towards equipping the youth with relevant skills through the educational system. Unemployment high in urban centres The Ghana Living Standards Survey for the year 2012/2013 revealed that the unemployment rate in the country is marginally higher for females (2.0%) than males (1.6%) and higher in urban areas (3.5%) than in rural areas (0.8%). The survey estimates that 250,000 young men and women enter the Ghanaian labour market every year with only 2% absorbed in the formal sector whilst the 98% seek employment in the informal sector or remain unemployed. It adds that 98.1% of Ghana's working population 10, 517,394 are employed; putting unemployment at 1.9%. Among the age groups, the rate of unemployment is highest within the 15 to 24 age cohort (3.2%); males (3.3%), females (3.0%) and urban (7.2%). By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana Koforidua, Oct. 25, GNA - The Volta Region has the highest number of election hotspots in the country, says the Women's Situation Room-Ghana (WSR-Ghana), a non-governmental organisation. The Region reportedly has 14 hotspots, followed by Northern Region, 13, Western Region, 12, Greater Accra, 12, Ashanti Region, 11, and Upper East, 10. The rest are; Central Region, 09, Brong Ahafo Region, 06, Upper East Region, 06, and Eastern Region, 05. Madam Adjoa Pokua Bame, National Coordinator, WSR-Ghana said the increasing number of hotspots in the country meant more work for stakeholders for violence-free elections. She said WSR-Ghana was keeping an eye on the spots and placed focal persons at the communities for monitoring. Women's Situation Room is a women's peace-building mechanism to mitigate conflict before, during and after elections in African countries. The WSR concept was initiated by the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) and implemented in Liberia during its 2011 presidential and legislative elections. It was also implemented successfully in Senegal and Sierra Leone in 2012, Kenya in 2013, and Nigeria in 2015. GNA By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA Accra, Oct. 25, GNA - The Government has released GH 1.8 million to be disbursed to support projects and activities for members of the Tourism Industry Trade Associations. The release was in connection with President John Dramani Mahama's commitment towards tourism, culture and creative arts sectors. Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said injection of funds for the trade associations in the sector clearly demonstrated the ruling party's genuine commitment in the industry as a whole. Mrs Ofosu-Adjare announced the release of the Funds at a stakeholder's engagement on the Policy Framework for the Application of the Tourism Development fund, in Accra. The programme was to deliberate the progress made with the introduction of the Tourism Development Fund and its policy framework for its application. She said the Government, through the Ministry, had worked tirelessly with the major stakeholders and industry practitioners to stimulate economic development and enhance the industry's role as one of the leading sectors for employment creation; revenue generation; and national cohesion to improve the living conditions of people. She expressed the Government's appreciation for the resilience shown by the private sector in tourism development. 'With your unflinching support and commitment, Ghana's Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts sector has been raised to a higher level for three different but intertwined elements,' she stated. Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the sector had made significant contribution to national development in terms of investment in the stock of facilities and services, employment, as well as revenue and income for stakeholders. She said additionally, the sector was contributing largely to the value and supply chains through forward and backward linkages, with other sectors of the economy, such as the financial and insurance, agriculture, manufacturing and transportation sectors in the economy. She said whilst the Ministry and its agencies had worked tirelessly to make positive impacts in the national economy, the private sector, which drove the industry needed more logistical and financial support. She said to that effect, the Ministry had introduced a national training programme for the hospitality practitioners. The training, which is a joint programme by the Ghana Tourism Authority and other agencies, aims at addressing the capacity issues within the industry by offering practical training in frontline services, such as food and beverages and housekeeping services. She said as a result of the financial challenges facing the sector, the Government had developed and strengthened the regulatory framework by introducing the Tourism Act 817 and established the Tourism Development Fund. 'The Fund, as stipulated in section 21 and 23 of the Tourism Act, is to provide funding through the one per cent tourism levy by a patron of tourism establishments.' Mrs Ofosu-Adjare commended the industry players for their hard work and assured that the Ministry and its 14 agencies were poised to continue the interactions and engagements to ensure they enriched the policy formulation and implementation. 'We will also continue to use our monitoring and evaluation process as a positive feedback to improve upon performance management and quality assurance in the sector,' she added. GNA 26.10.2016 LISTEN By Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA Kumasi, Oct 26, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has urged healthy election campaign devoid of bitter and aggressive rhetoric as the political parties crisscrossed the country to woo voters. Mr. Samuel Asare Akuamoah, Deputy Director of the Commission in-charge of Operation, said the expectation was that the candidates and their supporters would tell voters about their highpoints and what they would be doing to bring progress - transform their living conditions. What the people wanted to hear was how the parties would tackle their felt needs if voted in, he added. He counseled against vilification of political opponents, outright lies and deception and said these were not the right things to do. He was addressing a day's sensitization workshop held in Kumasi for representatives of the various political parties, civil society organizations, women and youth groups. The goal was to assist deepen their understanding of the electoral laws and the need to pull together to safeguard the peace. Mr. Akuamoah reminded all to uphold the political parties' code of conduct and accept to use the appropriate channels to get grievances resolved. They should step back from anything, likely to create tension and undermine the unity and peace of the nation. He said given the crucial nature of the coming election, the NCCE was scaling up its collaboration with the Electoral Commission (EC) to assist everybody to have better understanding of the electoral process alongside the proper way to thumbprint the ballot paper. They were focusing more effort on reducing spoilt and rejected ballots in the December 07 election. Mr. Edmund Premoh, a member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC), advised the youth to avoid to be part of any evil agenda to cause confusion, before, during and after the general polls. GNA The lotus did all the talking as it was the highlight of the Gucci designed dress that actress Gwyneth Paltrow wore. By India Today Web Desk: India's national flower and the BJP's symbol--the lotus--found itself in an unlikely spot on Wednesday, as it was the centrepiece of actress Gwyneth Paltrow's dress. The 44-year-old actress wore the outfit when she attended Elle Spain's Style Awards in Madrid. Paltrow was honoured with the Icon award. The dress, by Gucci, got everyone talking. Mirror.co.uk called it "medieval inspired" while People.com said Paltrow was the "Flower of the Fashion Flock". Dailymail.uk said Paltrow "outshone her rivals with another dazzling red carpet display". advertisement The dress had a sheer panel covering the chest area and was embellished with the lotus motif in maroon and green. She wore Jimmy Choo sandals and accessorized her look with earrings and bracelets from Tous, a brand she endorses. Gwyneth Paltrow was accompanied by United States Ambassador to Spain, James Costos. Picture courtesy: Instagram/gwynethpaltrow The lotus has always found itself being used as inspiration in fashion circles, and the irony is that the beautiful flower takes root in and grows in the mud, in freshwater ponds and lakes. In eastern countries, it is seen as a metaphor for continuously wanting to improve yourself and better your lot. In Hindu religion and mythology, the goddess Saraswathi, the muse of learning, is shown as being seated on a lotus flower. --- ENDS --- The third edition of the Volta Heroes Awards has been slated for October 28 at the State Banquet Hall in Accra. The award which was initiated by the Volta Heroes Foundation is aimed at recognising and celebrating indigenes of the Volta Region who have made significant contributions towards its development. The 2016's award which would be held in Accra for the first time would witness the posthumous honoring of past Chairman of the Foundation and late Fiaga of Alakple Traditional area, Torgbui Kporku III. The late Torgbi Kporku III was the Chairman of the Awards Council from its inception until he stepped down. Chairman of the Awards Organising Committee, Rockson Dogbegah was full of praise that the former traditional ruler was going to be awarded at the function. He said Torgbui Kporku III dedicated his life and placed his expertise at the disposal of the region for its growth and development. Accoreding to him, despite his immense contribution towards the growth of Volta Region and Ghana as a whole, the late ruler did not want to be honoured by the Foundation. I have no doubt Torgbui was going to be nominated and honoured as a hero the moment he handed over as Chair of the Foundation, but sadly he passed on to glory before that could happen, Mr Dogbegah said. He said nominations were not opened for the 2016's Awards because the Foundation wants to use the occasion to celebrate a fallen son of Volta Region and Ghana. This arrangement, Mr Dogbegah who is also the Executive Chairman of Berock Ventures said would be changed in the 2017's edition of the Awards. The public would have the chance once more to nominate people to be honoured as Volta Heroes. Speaking about the event, Chair of the Foundation and Paramount Chief of the Likpe Traditional area, Nana Soglo Alloh IV, said this years awards would be unique. Though the Awards would be used to honour his predecessor, the traditional leader said the programme would nontheless go a long way to inculcate the attitude of selflessness and fortitude in residents of the region. Nana Alloh IV who also doubles as the Vice President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs challenged the youth to take volunteerism seriously and get involved in activities aimed at developing their communities. Previous award winners would be coming from different parts of the country including an Indian medical doctor to grace the occassion. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com The Electoral Commission has assured Ghanaians of transparent and credible elections in December. Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, is convinced reforms and mechanisms introduced in the electoral system, with support from stakeholders, will give citizens a well-conducted poll. She told the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs results of the results of the elections will be accepted by all, despite suspicions over the credibility of the voters register. With all that we have implemented, we believe that this year's elections are going to be more credible, more transparent and more inclusive," she said. She was speaking to traditional rulers of the Asanteman Traditional Council, Wednesday. Charlotte Osei said existing inclusion mechanisms will not be done away with, but would be improved to ensure an event-free election. "For instance, the political parties would be at the printing houses when the ballots are being printed. They would know when the ballots are being transferred by the security agencies," she explained. Mrs. Osei, says the Commission has worked with the Judiciary, political parties and other stakeholders to address concerns about the electoral roll. She cites implementation of 27 out of 29 recommendations of the Commissions Reform Committee as proof of commitment towards transparent presidential and parliamentary elections. She said there will be at least two Biometric Verification Machines at each polling station to prevent delays in the voting process as a result of a breakdown of the machines. " As soon as we switch to the second one, there is a back-up we will bring from the constituency level to support that Polling Station," he said. Mrs. Osei also said the increase the number of polling stations from 26,200 to 29,000 is aimed at reducing congestion at voting centers. "We have also increased the number of Polling Stations to 29,000. The reason being that; we want fewer people on the register of every Polling Station, so there's less pressure on the machines and there's less pressure on personnel," she said. The EC Chair told the Chiefs the Commission wants to avoid a repeat of the 2012 Presidential Election Petition, hence every effort is being made to ensure transparent and all-inclusive process. The Electoral Commission is doing our very best to make sure this election are peaceful, they are credible; they are transparent and the results are accepted by all the parties, she said. Meanwhile, Mrs. Osei indicates all is set for the elections as the Commission begins printing of parliamentary ballots on Thursday. She says about 98 percent of materials needed for the elections have been dispatched to regional offices. 27.10.2016 LISTEN Ghana's former Deputy Energy Minister, K.T Hammond has challenged the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to drag him to court over the role he played in the sale of Ghana's drill ship. He threw the challenge after the General Secretary of the NDC, Asiedu Nketia stated at the launch of a nationwide outreach programme for the NDC at Fumso in the Ashanti Region that the party would arrest K.T Hammond over the role he played in the drill ship saga. We now know K.T. Hammond's smoothness level. So he is about to go on retirement, there is no doubt about that. When he's on retirement, before he would have his peace of mind to enjoy his retirement, we will invite him to come and show us where the drill ship is, said Asiedu Nketia. But the Adansi Asokwa Legislator who was not enthused about Asiedku Nketia's comments, on Eyewitness News wondered why the NDC had not yet arrested or imprisoned him over the issue. If Asiedu Nketia believes that after eight years of government I am guilty of any issue relating to the drillship. I think they have done a disservice to the country not to have arrested, not to have prosecuted, not to have imprisoned me and wait till they are out of the do. It is political oblivion for him to have made such a disgusting statement. That is such a worthless piece of statement from Asiedu Nketia. It is as worthless as anything. It is not powerful at all, he said. NDC scheming to frustrate me He was convinced Asiedu Nketia's comment is indicative of the extent to which the NDC is willing to go to frustrate his political ambitions. What is the basis for this statement? I have difficulties with political propaganda trying to topple me from my constituency as Member of Parliament. We went through that in 2008 and we went through that in 2012. NDC was scheming to remove me from the platform from which I was operating. Drill ship saga: What happened under K.T Hammond's watch? K.T. Hammond,under whose watch the ship which belonged to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) was sold, was to be investigated by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) per government's directive after a Judgment Debt Commission's report indicted him and others. The then Deputy Energy Minister was to explain to EOCO, how an amount of US$900,000 which was left after the sale of the drill ship was disbursed under his jusrisdiction. Is K.T Hammond guilty? Speaking on Eyewitness News, a frustrated K.T Hammond wondered why he was indicted in the drillship saga when he was not even around when the said development occurred. I was not even in Ghana when the drillship matter took place.I was in England. It was only because I was the Deputy Minister and I was delegated by the government superintended over by the President and then the Cabinet to go and resolve the issues because of the incompetence of the NDC government. Justice Apau Committee cleared me He said the Justice Apau Committee subsequently even cleared him of any wrongdoing after he was indicted but was however quick to add that the vindictive NDC government subsequently asked EOCO to question him again over the disbursement of the said US$900,000- an exercise he believes will yield no results. By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana 27.10.2016 LISTEN A Non-governmental Organisation, Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption- MIIVOC has called on Rivers State Governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike to step in and resolve the difference between the Egi Community in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of the State and Total Oil Company in the area before it degenerates. Executive Director of MIIVOC, Dr. Walter Duru, who made the call in a Statement made available to newsmen, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, warned that the lingering disagreement between the two parties could worsen the already threatened security situation in the area. I read in the papers recently where a group that identified itself as Egi Freedom Fighters gave conditions for acceptance of the state governments amnesty. Among their demands are: the rebuilding of houses of members of the community, allegedly destroyed by the military at the instance of the Oil Company; employment and Scholarship opportunities, skills acquisition, capacity development, among others. I have not read any reaction from Total Oil Company, accepting that they sent the Military to destroy the peoples houses or denying it. It does not appear to me like a good strategy. Although they did not indict the state government, the governments response so far could be better. I am afraid that if the parties do not find a way to resolve the issues, the tension in the area could be further heightened. ONELGA LGA is already tensed. Omoku community is today a shadow of itself. Government must be strategic in its engagements, to ensure that the near culture of violence in the area is not sustained. The groups demands, apart from that of rebuilding of houses, are not different from the age-long issues and causes of agitation in the Niger Delta. The group has listed their demands. There has to be a way out. Let the government intervene. The State governor, as Chief Security Officer of the State must step in, reach out to the parties and, if possible, involve an independent Civil Society Organisation to broker peace among the parties. Whatever strategy to be adopted must be such that can stand the test of time and ensure sustainable peace in the area. Continuing, Duru, a Communication and Public Relations expert argued that it is easier to prevent the escalation of the issue, than to manage the crises when it eventually escalates, urging the government to act urgently. The state governments amnesty programme appears to be working. Many have embraced it. However, borrowing a leaf from the parable of the lost sheep in the Bible, Governor Wike, as father of the state should look into the matter dispassionately and ensure that justice is done. Let a platform be created for dialogue between the community and the company so the issues would be addressed. Applying force in the matter could backfire. Let dialogue be the instrument. Dr. Walter Duru is Chairman, Board of the Freedom of Information Coalition, Nigeria, as well as a member of the Federal Governments Steering Committee on the Open Government Partnership. In response to Gambias decision to withdraw from the treaty that established the International Criminal Court, Freedom House released the following statement: Gambias withdrawal from the ICC threatens human rights protection in the country, especially given the government's failure to protect the fundamental freedoms of its citizens," said Vukasin Petrovic, director of Central, West and East Africa programs. "The Gambian government has repeatedly deprived citizens of basic civil liberties by cracking down on public protests and jailing opposition and civil society figures, and withdrawal from the ICC removes a mechanism of protection. Background: The International Criminal Court ( https://www.icc-cpi.int/ ) was established under the Rome Statute to prosecute those who commit war crimes or crimes against humanity. With all cases in trial coming from the African Continent the ICC has faced backlash from African leaders despite the fact that five of the countries with cases before the Court came from state invitations to investigate. Once Sudans President was targeted however, leaders became less supportive of the Court. The Gambia is the third country to announce its withdraw in recent weeks following Burundi and South Africa. The African continent has more signatories to the Rome Statute than any other continent. The Gambia is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2016 , Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2016 , and Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2015 . As part of efforts to promote peaceful elections in Ghana, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) will on Friday, October 28, 2016 hold a Town Hall Meeting in Kumasi. The event will bring together leadership and representatives of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Ghana Police Service, Political Parties, Traditional and other Religious Leaders, National Commission for Civic Education, the Media, Civil Society Organisations and the general public. Participants will deliberate on issues of security, the election process and the maintenance of peace before, during and after the elections. The Electoral Commission, Political Parties and the Security Services will also highlight some of the interventions being put in place to ensure that activities leading up the 2016 elections and its outcome are peaceful, credible and acceptable to all. The Town Hall Meeting comes off at 7:30 pm at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi and will be telecast live on Ghana Television (GTV). The event will be chaired by the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Professor Emmanuel Asante. Meanwhile, the MFWA will on Thursday, October 27, 2016 hold a special Media Dialogue with Commissioners of the Electoral Commission on Ghanas 2016 general elections in Kumasi. The chairperson of the EC, Mrs. Charlotte Osei, and other Commissioners of the EC will address editors and senior journalists and respond to questions from the journalists on the electoral processes. This event comes off at 11:00 am prompt. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has observed that the country has reached a stage where it is moving from a crisis to a state of catastrophe. The NPP has also decried the move to collateralize the country's gas for a loan from China. Revealing some aspects of this intended agreement between Ghana and China at a media briefing in Accra yesterday, NPP's policy advisor, Boakye Agyarko, said, The Mahama Cabinet has recently given approval to a proposal which they hope will entice the China Development Bank to re-activate the remaining $2 billion of the $3 billion loan which the Chinese discontinued after disbursing $1 billion of it to Ghana. In the original Master Facility Agreement, he said, President Mahama committed Ghana to supplying, as collateral security, 13,000 barrels per day of crude oil up to 2027 to service the CDB facility. The Chinese eventually considered this as insufficient because of the slump in oil prices, refusing to release the remaining tranches. Mr. Boakye Agyarko said in the new offer to CDB, the Mahama government is proposing to export to the Chinese all the Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) to be processed by Ghana Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo from 2018, estimated at a value of $1.5 billion. Quoting from the 'Decisions Memorandum' on the facility drafted by the Mahama administration this year, Mr. Boakye Agyarko said, the government intends to release up to US$450 million from the revenue accruing from the sale of Lean Gas over 2016 to 2018 for purposes of resolving shortfalls in GoG payment obligations under the MFA for 2016 to 2021. Crisis The NPP policy advisor and head of the Manifesto Committee decried the extent to which the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration has run down the economy of Ghana. His reason was that The NDC government has plunged the country into a needless power crisis as a result of poor management and bad governance. That according to him, has significantly eroded the solid economic prospect of Ghana post 2008. In spite of these sad developments, the NDC government never saw the need to invest even one dollar to provide power for the people. Mr Agyarko revealed that All the megawatts of power generation claimed by the NDC are from projects implemented by the NPP, with a substantial portion of the projects funded with the Jubilee Bond of $750 million. He specifically mentioned the Bui Hydro Power (400MW), TT1PP (126 MW), TT2PP (49MW), additional 108MW to the Akosombo Hydro Power, Kpone Thermal Plant (220MW) and the Mine Reserve Plant (80MW), among others. He also talked of other private sector initiatives facilitated by the then NPP government such as the Asogli Power Plant (200 MW with an expansion plan) and the 126 MW Osonor Thermal Power Plant (now CENIT), saying, In all, the NPP invested and facilitated the addition of about 1,440MW of generation capacity. Mr Boakye Agyarko posited, Indeed, all the major achievements that the NDC boasts of in the energy sector today, including the discovery of oil, were done by the NPP and inherited by the NDC, citing the $344 million US Exim Bank facility which the NDC government used to extend nationwide coverage of electricity by an additional 30% under the Self Help Electrification (Shep IV) programme. He said it was approved by parliament on 16th September, 2008 whiles noting with emphasis, The only modification done by the NDC was to facilitate the procurement of luxury vehicles as part of the loan agreement. Justification It was for this and other reasons he said, Ghana is in crisis avoidable, needless, annoying Mahama-made crisis, describing it as a home-made crisis caused by a combination of mismanagement, incompetence, corruption, greed, visionlessness, recklessness, indecisive and insensitive leadership. Under John Dramani Mahama, Ghana has registered the biggest job losses ever on record. He added, Not even the PNDC retrenchments under the IMF structural adjustment programme of the 1980s recorded the kind of unemployment crisis Ghanaians have witnessed in the last three years alone. He indicated, Latest figures from the Ghana Statistical Service show that Ghana's economy (including oil) shrunk by $1.8 billion last year the largest annual decrease in dollar terms on record. In fact, it is even projected to get worse this year. The Third Review under the IMF bailout agreement, which was published this month, projects the economy to grow by a mere 3.3% this year, the worst in 22 years. Please note, 3.3% is worse than the terrible economic situation (registering 3.7% then) that inspired Ghanaians to vote out the NDC in December 2000 after two terms in office, to usher in Positive Change under the able leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor, he emphasized. He was therefore, sure that After their current two terms, the NDC will be leaving office at the end of this year by registering the worst economic performance over an entire generation. He queried, What future can this group of proven nation wreckers build for you and your children? By Charles Takyi-Boadu Last week I stated that the interdiction of St Augustines Headmaster was arbitrary, and in a manner that lacked due process. I have received a few reactions from some of my readers who think that it is because the interdiction has to do with St Augustines College, that is why people are screaming, that if it was a lesser known school, some of us would not have screamed as loud as we are doing presently. Well I will like to place on record that I do not support the action of St Augustines Headmaster. And I will like to say that I am not an old student of St Augustines. I went to Winneba Secondary School. I only did the story because I believed, and still believe that Mr. Connel is only one of many heads of schools who are charging unauthorized fees, and that the action of the Deputy Minister is not sustainable as it does not seem to have been grounded in a known procedure. In Ghana we turn to confuse the working of institutions with the blatant show of power. In a properly conducted institution, it is the rules and regulations of that institution, properly, fairly, predictably and universally applied that makes the institution independent. It is not when the Director feels the rule should apply, it is not when the appointing authority feels the rules must apply, it is when the rules says it must apply, and it applies, and it applies procedurally at all times, that is when we can say the system is working. So for instance in the political parties law, the political parties are supposed to file their financial statements with the Electoral Commission six months after the general elections. That is the law. If any political party does not comply with this rule the sanctions must apply. At the moment we know that the two big political parties, the NDC and the NPP did not comply with that provision in the law. So it is expected that the Electoral Commission, as per the rules, would have gone to court to enforce compliance, and if they fail to comply, the Commission would have cancelled their registration, and they would have ceased to exist as political parties, and it shall be said that the system has worked. Of course Mrs Charlotte Osei could not have, on her own accord, cancelled the licenses of those non compliant political parties without going through due process. In order words, the independence of the commission is grounded in rules, and the law prescribes what processes that need to be followed in order for any action to be taken. In my line of work, my organizations have encountered several instances, of strong men who tries to display their powers, some have deliberately put us through very difficult situations, just to show us how powerful they think they are, but I have always faced up to them. Leaders of our institutions get away with wrong actions because our citizens do not feel empowered to challenge their actions. So those leaders arrogate to themselves powers they do not have, and they act in the name of the institutions in wrong and unfair ways. The leaders fail to recognize that the institutions they work for are also the establishment of laws, and they are also governed by laws. And because of the ignorance of the ordinary citizens, the institutions themselves become the embodiment of corruption, discriminatory application of the rules, abuse of office, and arbitrariness. The institutions that are supposed to ensure the protection of the rights of the ordinary citizens, rather become the centers of abuse, oppression and capriciousness. One of the areas I am going to focus on in the next few months in this column, after the election, is the performance of our District Assemblies. In my view the District Assemblies have become convenient centers, not institutions, for large scale corruption, and sometimes I wonder why our society is always focused on Police corruption, and political corruption, when in fact the most corrupt public institutions are the District Assemblies. I will return to this subject in later publications, but for the purposes of this article let me give you just one specific example, and in order to avoid being wrongly accused, I will give you an example from my own district assembly, the Effutu Municipal Assembly. There is this illiterate woman who has lived in my village in her house, with her husband and children, for decades. She purchased her land from the traditional authorities in 1982, and built her house several years before the Town and Country Planning Department zoned that location. The house used to be a mud structure, and she gradually turned it into the current block structures, with permits (permit receipt numbers 913378, 0494719 and 0000612) from the Assembly. I was a very small boy when I knew this woman lived where she lives now. In June 2015, an officer of Town and Country Planning unit of the Effutu Municipal Assembly, under the guise of the Municipal Assembly, and with financial support from a private person, and with a police protection provided without any official processes from the Ghana Police Service, came to pull down a major part of this womans house, to pave way for this private person who wanted access road to his house. The Assembly came with no court order, and without notice. Unfortunately this action resulted in the woman suffering a major stroke relapse, and has since not recovered. She has lost a major part of her house, including what would have served as a toilet facility, and as a stroke patient, she currently struggles with toilet and bathroom issues. I have in the last one year supported this woman to seek redress. In my view, although the action was taken by a leader of the Assembly, you can clearly see that this is not an institutional action. It is strongmen at work. A Town and Country Planning officer who acted without following due process, but thought that because the woman was illiterate and ignorant of the law, could just, by presenting himself as a government agent, the woman will be afraid, and indeed the woman was afraid, to ask questions. And so this woman looked on helplessly and in tears as her house went down in rubbles. In a proper institutional framework, and in order not to allow arbitrary use of power, such a decision would have been grounded on a procedure, and informed by recommendations arising out of an objective report, in accordance with law, and possibly a court order since this is a complete house with families living in it, and since the woman holds a permit, she would have been compensated before the demolition took place. One person could not have just decided that someone (someone whose house was built only a couple of years ago) needs access to his house, and therefore a house built several decades ago with permits should be pulled down, without notice, and without compensation. This is impunity at work, this is power display, and this is an official misconduct, and it feels as though it might have been tainted with corruption. But of course these are some of the things that happen when you have a poorly run Municipal Assembly. How else do you expect things to happen correctly when you have an assembly where throughout the year the Statutory Planning Committee which is supposed to meet four times a year, to approve building permits, has never met, yet you have several new buildings springing up, and you have permits being granted to developers who need them? That is what happens when you have one person high-jacking the entire permitting process, doubling as the Municipal Planning Officer, and at the same time acting Regional Director, and he hoards application for building permits, and finds his own ways and means of having them signed without recourse to the appropriate statutory processes. So the only victims of such dysfunctional Municipal Assembly are people like myself who they know has a lot of information regarding wrong practices, people like us who will refuse to keep quiet over their mishandling of the assembly, we are those who will suffer under such official paralysis. So yes, the system needs to be allowed to work, and this is one of the things I have been advocating for in the last several years. But the working of the system within the institutions has nothing to do with the whims and caprices of the officers within the institutions. It has everything to do with the procedures, and the processes which are grounded in rules and regulations governing the institution, and the fair, equal and predictable applications of those rules. James Kofi Annan Let me be very frank, money has been one of the challenges; we just have to be frank, open and transparent with the people of Ghana and limit a bit of the politicking, John Jinapor, Deputy Minister of Power, has said about the energy challenges facing the country. It is instructive that the deputy minister is making what by all standards is confession of sorts: it is coming at the heels of countless diagnosis about our energy challenges, all of them shrouded in propaganda. We have been enmeshed in propaganda for far too long; the true picture deliberately overturned. Now that the 'fact' is out and the government generated fallacies demolished, those who were throwing dust into the eyes of their compatriots must bow their heads in shame and express sincere remorse for their expensive mischief. Whether the deputy minister would be bold to spill the rest of the facts would be determined by time and the circumstances that the country would find herself in, tomorrow. Special apologies must be rendered to those who saw things differently and stood their grounds even as they were verbally attacked. Those were the times when government appointees assigned propaganda duties were on rampage adducing different reasons for our predicament in their bids to save the face of their paymasters. They hopped from one radio station to another gleefully telling lies. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was the one who said the energy challenge the country is facing is the result of inadequacy of funds for the sector. Not enough money was earmarked for addressing the energy emergency, corruption, siphoning what should be earmarked for the sector. Indeed, it has often been said that the longer the challenge, the more money corrupt businessmen in politics make. Any situation that warrants the resort to ad hoc arrangements to, as it were, import crude oil or engage power barges and the like, opens ways for corrupt practices much to the detriment of the nation's interest. Dr. Bawumia, when he insisted that if sufficient money was directed at the base of the energy challenge we would be out of the quagmire was attacked by propaganda hounds on the payroll of government. They spewed an assortment of invectives against the gentleman in an attempt to rob him of any respect and dignity. Unfortunately, the more they stayed on that trajectory, the more the image of the man soared, even as the country sank deeper in the fallout of bad governance; propaganda and outright lies taking a toll on the nation. It has not abated. John Jinapor's admission has rendered foolish those who went on the useless trip of attacking Dr. Bawumia and presented an untrue picture of the cause of the energy ailment. It is instructive that John Jinapor has remarked that the repercussions of economic occurrences do spare others because of their political affiliations: after all, we all shop from similar markets; prices being uniform. John Jinapor would do well to tell his stable mates that in such critical issues, like energy, we should look at the subject without political lens. We are excited that John is waking up from slumber. He and his colleagues have all along been holed up in the abyss of political fantasy, the immeasurable pecks of office shielding them from the real Ghana. We would have rather, he counsels his stable mates about detaching governance from the mischievous politicking which has been the status quo since the present crop of persons assumed the reins of governance of the country. The whole truth about the energy situation, the confession of John Jinapor notwithstanding, is still not at hand. What emergency power arrangement with Ivory Coast is in place to create a semblance of normalcy as the elections beckon? The National Democratic Congress (NDC), a social democratic political wing of Ghana had, since 1992 unilateral declaration of multi-party democracy by Ghanaians, been locking horns in fearsome battles with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a liberal democratic Elephant of Ghana, in general elections. Struggle for political mandate between these two parties has been very competitive because both sides had over the years provided similar policies poised to move Ghana forward. In 2016, as the Country gears up to general election, the formidable and perfect competitive encounter that normally engulf the atmosphere is missing. Ghana, under the ruling NDC led by President John Dramani Mahama, has seen natural crises ranging from power outrages, market fires, unstable fuel prices in the world market, effects of global recession that hits developing economies, fall in Cocoa production due to over aged Cocoa trees, and many more. In the face of vast physical, social, political and economic challenges, President John Mahama led administration built a resilient and investor friendly economy that has whet the appetite of the IMF, World Bank and other economic partners of the Country to pledge their continuous commitment and support for Ghana. Nigeria, the economic giant of Africa, had in recent time expressed worries about how Ghana, under Present John Mahama, had become a major aviation hub in the sub-region, thus causing the Nigeria aviation industry to dwindle. Just recently, Air France had concluded an agreement with Ghana to commence direct flights between Accra and Paris. NDC had taken a solid ground in its visibly unprecedented developmental gain in the Country, as they launched an evidence based campaign captioned "Changing lives and transforming Ghana". NPP on the other hand, has failed to state its position clearly on the state of affairs in a way of providing Ghanaians a credible alternative as had been the case in the past. Instead, they have chosen to belittle Ghanaians by telling them CHANGE IS COMING. This is the myth NPP is propagating and they are living in it. The myth surrounding NPP is that, the party is preaching CHANGE while it does not itself believe in it. They dont because, Former President J.A. Kuffour warned them in 2007 about how divisive and ferocious Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo could be; he went ahead, therefore, to advise the party to look for a better alternative to lead the party but they failed to heed to the advice simply because they do not believe in "CHANGE". CHANGE is hard, so NPP maintained Akuffo-Addo for 2008 general election by slapping J.A. Kuffour in the face with a direct response to his warning, Y nim Akuffo-Addo fretiti (we knew Akuffo-Addo from ancient days). Even though there was a massive rejection of Akuffo-Addo by the electorates in the 2008 general election, NPP still maintained him in 2012 where he met another grave rejection. In 2016, some of the party faithful and analysts warned the party that NPP's fortune does not lie in Akuffo-Addo leading the party; many people expressed concerns about Akuffo-Addos age and health, which they prudently thought could be public apprehension that could amount to another rejection, therefore, the need for CHANGE in the flag bearer-ship of the party, but again the party demonstrated that they do not believe in "CHANGE". Akuffo-Addo and majority of party loyalists, including NPP-UK Chapter, prevented the wind of CHANGE in the NPP as Akuffo-Addo quickly produced a doctors report saying he was okay and fit. But today, whether Doctor's report or not, everyone has his or her own opinion about Akuffo-Addo's age and health, and that opinion will reflect in December 7th 2016 election. Three consecutive times, NPP vehemently refused to give CHANGE a chance to surface. And they are asking the good people of Ghana to accept CHANGE? Now that the NDC has become the epitome of hope? Lives are being changed positively, and our country being transformed absolutely? CHANGE is hard; that is the story NPP foretold, and CHANGE that may have the potential of marring our Country's fortune and beauty must be treated with the greatest disdain ever. Dont make mistake, NDC has affected Ghanaians in incredible measure, regardless of ones political affiliation, religion, cultural and gender. So, let the working team continue to work for you and Ghana. NDC shall lead from victory to victory. By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) India and Estonia will soon sign a pact on transfer of each others sentenced prisoners with the government giving its approval for it. A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing and ratification of an agreement between India and Estonia on the transfer of sentenced persons. advertisement Signing of the pact will facilitate the Indian prisoners imprisoned in Estonia or vice-versa to be near to their families, for serving remaining part of their sentence and shall facilitate their social rehabilitation, an official statement said. Prior to 2004, there was no domestic Legislation under which foreign prisoners could be transferred to the country of their origin to serve the remaining part of their sentence, nor was there a provision for the transfer of prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court to serve their sentence in India. Transfer of such prisoners to their own native countries shall facilitate their social rehabilitation. Hence, the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 was enacted for serving the above purpose. For achieving the objectives of the Act, a Treaty or Agreement is required to be signed with countries having mutual interest with India and later to the notified in the Official Gazette. India has so far signed pacts on transfer of sentenced persons with United Kingdom, Mauritius, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Brazil, Israel, Bosnia & Herzegovina, UAE, Italy, Turkey, Maldives, Thailand, Russian Federation, Kuwait, Vietnam, Australia, Hong Kong, Qatar, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Bahrain. So far total 65 prisoners have been exchanged, out of which 55 were Indians. PTI ACB RG --- ENDS --- Italy has allocated 6.3 million euros for emergency actions in the four countries of the Lake Chad Basin, namely Nigeria, Cameroun, Chad and Niger, which are facing the consequences of Boko Haram's radical and extremist violence. The actions will be carried out by Italian civil society organisations and other non-profit stakeholders working in the four Countries. Actions will especially focus on the most vulnerable segments of the community, large families, displaced people, refugees, women and children prey to malnutrition, with the aim of providing them immediate support and curb the migration flows headed towards Europe. The entire Lake Chad region has in fact become a place of extensive violence leading to the forced displacement of the population, which is very difficult to help because of their lack of access to humanitarian aid. A course on the Italian experience in peacekeeping has just wound up in Khartoum. The first course on Training Programme for Conflict Management was closed at the presence of the director of the Peace Research Institute of the University of Khartoum, the Italian Ambassador to Sudan and the coordinator of the international activities of the Scuola Superiore SantAnna of Pisa (SSSUP). It was the very first experience of this sort in Khartoum, explained Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Lobasso. He went on: It is an unprecedented initiative made possible thanks to the SSSUPs 20-year-old professional experience in peacekeeping and to the joint effort of the University of Khartoum and of the Italian Embassy, with the support of the Foreign Ministrys Directorate General for Globalisation and Global Affairs. The five-day course was aimed at providing participants with essential information on peace management in international scenarios. The nearly 40 Sudanese participants, mostly media and communication professionals and officials from international organisations, received in-depth training on peacekeeping and peace-building concepts and mechanisms at both regional and global level. 27.10.2016 LISTEN October 27, marks the "World Day for Audiovisual Heritage", a day set aside by UNESCO to commemorate the adoption, in 1980 by the 21st General Conference, of the Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images. The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage provides an occasion to acknowledge and to raise general awareness of audiovisual heritage and to take urgent measures to preserve it as an integral part of national identity. This year's theme is: "Its your Story - Don't lose it". The United Nations encourages all nations, people and Archival Institutions across the globe to organise programmes to commemorate the day through education and public awareness on issues related to audiovisual heritage. According to a UNESCO report, audiovisual heritage materials, such as sound, image and moving image recordings, which include private collections, recordings at broadcasting and television stations, Ministries of Tourism, Culture and Information, museums and academic institutions; contain the primary records of the 20th and 21st Centuries. These recordings have in recent times become the permanent complement to the traditional written record. Nonetheless, they are highly vulnerable. Already, much of this heritage has been permanently lost through poor storage conditions, lack of skills to effectively manage them, lack of institutional support, etc. According to a recent statement by the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, We have 10 to 15 years left to transfer available audiovisual recordings to digital media and prevent their loss .. Judith Opoku-Boateng, Archivist, Institute of African Studies University of Ghana Legon, Accra said: In Ghana, much of our heritage has been expensively captured on audiovisual formats and kept in our heritage institutions. Sadly, these priceless collections are in a state of neglect because the Archivists and the archival institutions face the unnerving task of managing them. She further notes that the preservation of endangered archives is not solely a technical, or even a financial issue; it also has a strong social component, which once again underlines the need for cross-disciplinary thinking. Ghana has told the United Nations that the proliferation and abuse of conventional weapons, particularly Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition continue to undermine world peace and security as well as sustainable development. It argued that the supplies of SALW to non-state actors in a volatile world which is experiencing significant fragility, organized crime and terrorism is not the route to take by those truly committed to sustainable peace and development. Ghanas Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Martha Ama Pobee, presented her countrys position during the thematic debate on Conventional Weapons at the UN headquarters in New York. Such acts breed instability and insecurity and they weaken our common quest for a world free from war, a world where human rights are guaranteed and a world dedicated to socio-economic development, she stated. To this end, the Ambassador said Ghana appeals to arms producing countries to ensure that the supply of SALW is limited to only governments and entities duly authorized by them, pointing out that our collective efforts to combat terrorism will not achieve the desired results, if we continue to supply arms to non-state actors. While acknowledging that all governments need conventional weapons to protect their citizens, she maintained that Ghana and 47 other like-minded states want a regulation and control of ammunition for SALW to be included in the implementation of the Programme of Action. ln this direction, she indicated that these states will pursue the issue at the appropriate multilateral forums since the real value of SALW depended on the availability of ammunition. Going forward, she said Ghana calls for the broadening of assistance and support for SALW control initiatives to include developing countries that have not emerged out of conflict. Aside these, the country called for increased technical and financial assistance for Civil Society Groups, to enable them to continue with their critical roles in the implementation of programmes in West Africa. Ghana was particularly happy that the implementation of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW, their ammunition and other related materials by the regional body has been able to preserve the peace and security in the area, the Ambassador stated. Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has asked chiefs in his kingdom who want to engage in partisan politics to first abdicate their stools before doing so. He warns no chief under his supervision would be allowed to dabble in politics to bring the revered chieftaincy institution into disrepute. Otumfuo was addressing the last session of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs for this year in Kumasi on Wednesday. The Asante Kings comments come on the heels of a recent open endorsement of NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo, by 58 chiefs in Atwima Kwanwoma District. He told the packed Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs that his intention is not to restrain chiefs from providing reception to politicians who visit their palaces. According to the Asantehene, chiefs must be guided by the honorable office they hold and live above reproach though there may be temptations, especially during the election campaign season. He however wants them not be over-excited by freebies that come with such visits and go overboard in their utterances. Otumfuo says his directive is to preserve the sanctity of the chieftaincy institution established by their fore-fathers. He says the directive is not restricted to chiefs in Ashanti but those in Volta, Easter, Bono Ahafo and other regions who owe allegiance to the Golden Stool. Chiefs who flout this warning risk severe sanctions, he warned. The Chief Fire Officer Dr. Albert Brown-Gaisie has re-echoed the need to appreciate and understand fire safety and observe necessary precautions to mitigate fire outbreaks in the country. Speaking at the launch of the Home Fire Safety Certification Project in Cape Coast, Dr. Brown-Gaisie urged citizens to welcome fire officers who would be deployed to educate households on fire safety and precautionary measures. The Ghana National Fire Service in August 2016 launched the nationwide Home Fire Safety Certification project to ensure that all home owners and individuals obtain fire certificates for their places of abode. Statistics at the GNFS indicate that domestic fires which occurred from 2012 to 2015 represented 41.02 per cent of the fire outbreaks recorded nationwide in the same period. In all, 24,500 fires occurred in the country in the last four years, out of which 10,051 were domestic fires. The Chief Fire Officer Dr Albert Brown-Gaisie mentioned that most household fires are as a result of nonconformity to fire safety precautions. He mentioned negligence, carelessness and ignorance as the underlying factors leading to domestic fires in Ghana, hence the need for massive awareness creation across the country. Touching on the Home Fire Safety Certification Project, Dr Gaisie said personnel of the service, as well as members of the community fire protection assistants (CFPAs), would go round households to educate occupants on fire safety and precautionary measures to be taken in case there was an outbreak of fire on their premises. He advised the citizenry to avail themselves for fire education in order to avoid preventable fires and ultimately protect lives and property. ACFO Fanny Simpson Central Regional Fire Officer explained that in collaboration with its partners the project will provide every home with one fire extinguisher as well as a smoke detector. She indicated that the Home fire safety certification project is to improve fire safety concerns of various homes through fire safety education, inspection and training. The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service DO Prince Billy-Anaglate said with the project fire officers includes risk assessment of homes to determine hazards and recommend mitigation factors. He said the Service is now focusing more on fire prevention as against fire fighting and called for increased public collaboration stressing that fire safety is a shared responsibility. At a similar launch in Takoradi, the Western Regional Fire Officer ACFO Obeng Dankwa Dwamena said the Ghana National Service has proactively made fire safety and prevention its primary focus. He explained that the service in recent years intensified public fire safety education to inculcate a culture of safety in the general public. He indicated that out of 243 fires reported in the Western region in 2014, 107 occurred in homes representing 44%. In 2015 a total of 401 fire incidents were reported in the Western region out of which 161 fires were domestic with 20 persons suffering injuries and 7 deaths. In the first quarter of 2016, 375 fires have been recorded with 104 being domestic fires. ACFO Dwamena stressed that these statistics highlight the need to intensify public education on fire safety and prevention. He therefore called on the general public in collaborate with the fire service to reduce the occurrence of undesired fires especially in homes. The Deputy Western Regional Minister Ekow Gyan assured of government's support to the Ghana National Fire Service. He mentioned that government had adequately resourced the fire service but there was the need for citizens participation in ensuring fire safety and prevention. He urged the general public to adhere to building codes as well as fire safety precautions to prevent avoidable fires and protect lives and properties. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com I have read with utmost disdain the wishy washy rejoinder written by Mr Joseph Weguri in response to my previous write up in which I exposed the Machiavellian machinations he was employing , in his futile attempt, to not only dent the unblemished reputation of Hon. Mark Woyongo but also to discredit his enormous development record. Permit me to state from the onset that after reading his rejoinder I am more convinced than ever before that he was the brain behind that anonymous write up which sought to undermine the unparalleled development record of Hon Mark Woyongo. For starters, there is an uncanny similarity in phraseology and diction between the anonymous write up, which he is denying , and his instant rejoinder - notwithstanding his painstaking efforts at changing the diction. This eery coincidence in similarity between the anonymous publication and his rejoinder is rivalled only by the similarity between the NPP's Manifesto and Hassan Ayariga's! It is also curious that after denying authorship of the anonymous write up in the first paragraph of his rejoinder,he attempts to defend all the lies and falsehoods perpetrated in that anonymous junk! In fact, he is almost immediately possessed by that selfsame demonic spirit that threw the anonymous writer into a frenzy of lies! It must be said that, at the time he was hatching this ruse he thought it was foolproof but he is only now denying being the mastermind because the said publication has not achieved its intended purpose and has thus backfired big time! It is crucial for me to inform Weguri Joseph that anonymous write ups used to be in vogue in the early 1970's but have become anachronistic or extinct in today's participant political culture ! Of course ,the people cannot be deceived through write ups ,with spurious claims ,that the writers themselves are not bold enough to authenticate with their names! I must add that we are fully aware of the fact that Mr Weguri Joseph has been bribed by Hon. Kofi Adda to ran a smear campaign ,a campaign of lies and deceit against Hon Mark Woyongo in order to give some advantage, so they think, to Kofi Adda. We are equally acquainted with the fact that Weguri Joseph has been put in charge of training the NPP communicators on how to lie with surgical precision against Hon. Mark and the NDC ! But I can assure Weguri and his ilk that we are not daunted by their evil plots and conspiracies and we are ever ready to meet them boot for boot. We also take consolation in the fact that good has always triumphed over evil. The works of Woyongo, by God's grace, would see him through At this juncture, I would like to delve into the accusations levelled against the NDC and yours truly in his listless rejoinder and to do justice to each of them. Just as in the anonymous write up, Mr Weguri Pwaowuvi makes the baseless and unfounded claim that he was told by NDC members that there were factions within Navrongo Central NDC. He claims he was told we have the Peter Kaba faction and Richard Aduah faction. He goes on to contradict himself in that same paragraph by saying he listened to a tape recording of it. In fact, he also claims that he listened to a tape recording in which Sabastian Achana was heard telling National executives that there were factions. To me ,an intellectual who is worth his salt would not depend lock, stock and barrel on the grapevine for his facts. Mr Joseph relies so much on the rumour mill for his information and that explains why he often errs so egregiously in his political decisions. He fails to provide the names of the NDC members who told him that there were factions and he also fails to produce any scintilla evidence of the tape recordings. Since he has not produced any mustard seed of evidence to support his claims, I consider it as idle talk. In any case, if there were factions in Navrongo NDC, it would have been so obvious that, it needn't have taken hearsay and a tape recording for it to be known! What I am unable to bring myself to understand is why Weguri and his anonymous friend are trying desperately to taint us with the brush of conflict? What do they stand to gain by imputing to us something which does not exist in our midst? Let me inform Weguri that all the people he has mentioned as belonging to factions made it their point of honour to grace Woyongo's Campaign launch with their presence. Mr Peter Kaba in particular played a very useful role in introducing our august guests in that phenomenal campaign Launch. Mr Joseph Weguri can keep lulling himself into a false sense of existence or reality ,that is his own palaver . He can keep on living under the false guise or delusion that he initiated the Navrongo Urban Water rehabilitation project. We don't care too hoots about that, it is his choice to live in a fool's Paradise ! He can languish in it! The petty argument he has been bandying about , is that, our failure to put up a spirited response to counter his load of lies regarding the project is ample proof of the fact that he initiated it. This reminds me of the saying that a lie, often told ,becomes the truth .This should be his motivation! In actual fact, we don't deem it worthwhile responding to his fabrications because we know the people of Navrongo are discerning enough to know that this project is the brainchild of the NDC government and it is part and parcel of an overarching government policy to provide potable water to meet the demands of urbanization and the increasing urban population. In fact, it has been captured vividly in the 2012 Manifesto of the NDC as well . Perhaps someone needs to assist Weguri with the definition of the word initiation! Besides, why Hon. Woyongo himself has conspicuously refused to respond to Weguri's lies is that, he is so much engrossed with matters concerning the development of the Constituency that, he cannot afford the luxury of being distracted by the hocus pocus emanating from Joseph Weguri. Trivialities and falsehoods cannot disengage the attention of the MP from his core mandate of developing Navrongo. Again, he makes the unsubstantiated and in deed puerile assertion that it was he who drew the attention of the MP to the problems besetting the Mortuary and the X ray departments of the War Memorial hospital , through a speech he was supposed to have delivered when he was elected as the PC of PNC. Of course someone needs to draw the attention of the MP to peculiar difficulties that may be affecting certain outfits before he could address them - but it definitely wasn't Joseph Weguri. The people of Navrongo would recall that at some point in time services at the Mortuary and the X ray departments of the WAR Memorial Hospital grounded to halt due to faulty and defective equipment: and it had to take the generosity and kindness of Hon. Woyongo for those departments to function again. He procured freezers and other accoutrements with his own resources to enable the Mortuary to work efficiently. His attention was drawn to this sorry predicament by workers of the hospital. I remember the people of Navrongo were so elated for his timely intervention. Weguri, however, wasn't . Instead of joining the good people of Navrongo to show appreciation to Woyongo for coming to their aid, he rather prefers to discredit Woyongo and lay claim to the credit. Mr Joseph Weguri claims that I admitted that we have problems with pump heads. Let me aver with all the emphasis at my command that I made no such admissions . The boreholes project is an ongoing capital intensive project ,so therefore , it is not strange to see a few boreholes without pump heads because they are at various stages of completion. However , 132 boreholes that are flowing with clean drinking water have been installed across the length and breath of the Constituency, thanks to the instrumentality of Hon Mark Owen Woyongo. It is also not true as alleged by Weguri that there was no community participation in the siting of the boreholes. The communities were involved along every inch of the road. It is also not the case that some boreholes have high mineral levels,as alleged by Weguri. In the history of Navrongo this is the first time an incumbent MP has deployed boreholes to the tune of 132 and still counting across the Constituency. Mr Weguri Joseph also makes the ludicrous claim that the dredging of the Yusi Dam, Doba Dam and other Dams that have been done by Woyongo have been pirated from his Manifesto. He maintains that Hon. Woyongo couldn't have come up with the idea of de-silting Dams , had it not been for his Manifesto. Readers should kindly help me out. I want to know if it is a crime for an incumbent MP to execute projects that may have been captured in an opponents Manifesto? It is high time Weguri realized that he has overstayed his welcome in Navrongo politics and for that matter nobody listens to him or reads anything that he writes any longer. He would do himself a good turn by bowing out , honourably. If there is any MP in the history of Navrongo who has shown keen interest in the development of the youth, then that MP is none other than Mark Woyongo! Many young men and women have been able to enrol at the Military Academy and Training School, join the various security apparatus or pursue their educational dreams through the support of Hon. Woyongo. Weguri Joseph wants to know the number of people Woyongo has assisted in landing jobs. According to Woyongo helping people must come naturally to everyone and he has never spared any opportunity at his disposal to help people. He doesn't also go to town on the number of people he has helped because he simply does not keep count! He would have lost count any way if he attempted. However, since Navrongo is a close knit society we are familiar with most of the hundreds of youth he has supported. An attempt has also been made by Mr Joseph to sully my hard earned reputation. He compares me to a flowing water that moves from one Party to another for private gain. This description of me is not only false and inaccurate but intended to throw dust into the eyes of the public. I joined the CPP in 2008 and in that same year I became its Parliamentary Candidate and in 2015 I decided to defect to the National Democratic Congress. Where is the opportunism or private gain coming from ? My defection is neither unusual nor illegal. In fact, my presidential Candidate in the 2008 elections Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has opted out of the CPP to form his own Party and, his running mate at the time , Dr Abu Sakara, has also decided to stay aloof from the CPP. The present National Chairman of the NPP among a host of others defected from the CPP . The list is endless. If none of them have been branded as opportunists or as people seeking private gain, then it is unfair for Weguri and his ilk to tag me as such! This is invidiousness of the highest order ! It is worth mentioning that in the 2008 runoff between Atta Mills and Nana Addo I boldly opted to rally behind professor Mills of the NDC, so, this is food for thought for those who are swift to label me as an opportunist merely because i have decided to now join the NDC. I played an instrumental role in their victory in 2008! Weguri Joseph on the other hand claims to be a member of the PNC yet he trades the Party during every election year to the highest bidder for private gain. The PNC has become his private property which he sells out to the other Parties depending on the amount of money or magnitude of contract in the offing. In effect Joseph Weguri has vicariously been a member of all the Parties that have held political power. This is opportunism and corruption at its exquisite best! I may be very young but I am privy to the fact that Weguri Joseph's estrangement with Hon. John Achuliwor of blessed memory began when he, Weguri, squandered the money Achuliwor gave him for the purpose of paying off his polling agents. Eventually, Hon. John Achuliwor had to find money elsewhere to settle the obviously peeved polling agents who besieged his residence. It is also a fact that Mr Weguri Joseph was chased out of the Rawlings Revolution for indulging in acts of corruption, venality and hoarding. In fact, he hoarded relief food items that were supposed to have been distributed to the needy and starving . Mr Weguri is also being economical with the truth when he opined that I am defending the NDC because they have bought me a bike which I couldn't buy. If you ask me, I felt it was beneath the dignity of a man above 60 years to be lying so shamelessly . Weguri is aware that long before joining the NDC I used to ride a Yamaha 100 to meet him at Nabiina FM for our morning political debate hosted by either Mr Alfred Kotajera or Scooby. He is equally aware of the fact that I presently own a Haojin Mapuka Motor Bike which i have parked in pristine condition in preference for my brand new Davidson Bike. I haven't the faintest idea where Weguri got the ridiculous idea that i have been given a Motor Bike? This issue is so trivial that I didn't expect it to issue forth from the mouth of a fully fledged adult let alone a man who is pretending to be contesting to be a Parliamentarian. He claims that I am impersonating, to my friends, as a law student at the Ghana Law School. He further claims that in his bid to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of that claim he asked Mr Peter Kaba, whom I claim to be my guarantor at the Law School, to confirm from the records of the Ghana Law School whether it was true that I was indeed a student. I thank Lawyer Kaba for doing me such honours! He concludes by saying that all his checks revealed that I was a quack . Yes, this certainly would be the result when ones life is driven by rumour! Readers would remember that I posited somewhere in this write up that Mr Weguri Joseph has virtually become a white elephant because he picks his facts from the gossip of rumour mongers and the idle talks of never- do -wells. And this is his bane! I would not even deign to fill him in on the issue that brought me into close contact with Mr Peter Kaba but I can assure the public that Weguri has mixed two issues together. And I am also sure Lawyer Kaba knows what I am talking about. What Lawyer Peter Kaba did for me is far different from the speculative conjectures of Mr Joseph Weguri. As to whether I am pursuing legal studies in any institution other than the Ghana Law school,time alone would tell. Of all the risible claims made by Mr Weguri Pwaowuvi, the one which takes the cake is his averment that the NDC has developed goose bumps because of his participation in this year's election. As far as we are concerned he is not a force to reckon with, not even his bank roller, kofi Adda. In conclusion, Hon.Mark Woyongo has done what is humanly possible within the spate of four years ,for Navrongo . His development record surpasses the collective efforts of all his predecessors. Let us all therefore rally behind him and John Mahama for a better Ghana and let us beware of the sinister designs of Weguri and the NPP ,who have vowed to pursue a Campaign of lies and deceit against Woyongo. No ababase. Woyongo Zuu, Mahama Zaa! Anuga Fortunate.0508704434. I tip my hat to a fellow internet Columnist going by the name Eric Bawah. A publication he put out on Modernghana on Wednesday 26 October 2016 titled, Of Mutum Banza And Incompetent President, has indeed exposed the mouthy toady Koku Anyidoho. In this publication, he questions on what grounds who born dog Koku Anyidoho could insult Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, one of the few shining academic stars, technocrats and men of integrity in present day Ghana, calling him mutum banza, a Hausa phrase meaning a nonentity? Folks, just read the publication yourself to better understand where I am coming from and how Koku Anyidohos credibility is now in tatters if at all he has ever had any credibility. https://www.modernghana.com/news/730389/of-mutum-banza-and-incompetent-president.html Dr Bawumia has cited 170 case by case instances covering a whole range of issues to question the competence, credibility and acceptability of President John Dramani Mahama as the President of Ghana. Failing to answer those or the majority of the posed questions, then President Mahama is not worth standing for re-election because he is incompetent. Instead of the NDC, especially Koku Anyidoho, the NDC Deputy General Secretary, countering the instances cited by Dr Bawumia on academic or professional level, he has rather chosen to insult him. This goes to tell that Koku Anyidoho, who has the mind of a midget but the huge mouth of the pig or hippopotamus, is academically deficient to engage Dr Bawumia in intellectual debate hence choosing the fools pathway of insults. Yes, he could insult him if he, Dr Bawumia, had done something silly but not when he has only thrown a tangible challenge to the President and the NDC, failure to live up to which challenge makes one clearly incompetent. The 170 economic claims yet to be challenged by the NDC and especially President Mahama, Vice President Arthur-Amissah and Koku Anyidoho are found in the web link below. https://www.modernghana.com/news/729277/my-170-economic-claims-yet-to-be-challenged-bawumia-remi.html Koku is being taken to the cleaners to be well laundered with bleach and hot water by Eric and when he comes out, he will learn to debate intelligently rather than displaying his folly through seeking to tarnish the reputation of a man of unique integrity, Dr Bawumia. The NPP should not give any attention to, or spend precious time on, these nonsensical diversionary tactics desperately being employed by the NDC to put brakes on the ferociously blowing wind that is going to sweep President Mahama out of the presidency. The NDC have determined to attack Dr Bawumia because they find his truthful revelations a ton of thorns piercing them from all angles. They will not succeed as the NPP are so specialised to have some people like Erica Bawah, Rockson Adofo, and K. Badu etc., to take care of such accusations while those campaigning on the ground do their job without distraction. Let us all look forward to NDC bigot Anyidoho publishing his CV for the public to judge between him and Dr Bawumia to determine who indeed is a mutum banza The wind of change is blowing so all discerning Ghanaians should get involved to give the wind the speed it needs to clean up the presidency of John Dramani Mahama come 7 December 2016. I want to see any Ghanaian that cares about his or her neighbour join the NPP to garner more votes able to kick out President Mahama from power because everybody or most people are suffering economically in Ghana as a result of the perpetration of corruption by the NDC government as supervised by President Me be dii be keke Yen ntie Obiaa John Dramani Mahama. Once again, I say, more grease to your elbows, fellow selfless Ghanaian, Mr Eric Bawah. Koku Anyidoho, a coward who probably cross-dresses in private and goes by the names Margaret Jackson and Nana Akua Tweneboa Kodua aye hot at the hands of Mr Eric Bawah. Rockson Adofo It is quite dismaying to find our school children speak and write all manner of English in the classroom and on our streets, especially in a technological age when these children have access to all the facilities and gadgets they need to enhance their acquisition of the language. Those of us with strong legs have already climbed the Atwea Mountains to question Heaven, all in a fervid attempt at finding out the forbidden fruit these children swallow from the womb, which takes a heavy toll on their Language Acquisition Device when they eventually land here. While we patiently wait for Heaven to serve us with answers, we may want to engage our heads with a careful diagnosis of the situation. Not to press the blame button and start pointing accusing fingers at people, I think the attitude of parents who still hold the view that the English Language be substituted with one of our local languages as a medium of instruction in our schools is one of the major causes of the falling standard of the language. Over the years, the actions of these local language preachers have been overlooked, but this, on a more serious note, has had a massive negative impact on our children's effective acquisition and use of the language. Children who pay attention to the ill-advice from these parents have already bought into their stance and are beginning to feel the English Language is an alien subject, hence their lackadaisical attitude towards it. Another serious issue we need to critically examine is the sort of teachers recruited by both public and private schools to handle the subject. The Ghana Education Service is the worst offender here. Is shortage of teachers in the system so acute that, teachers who are absolutely nescient of the English Language be deployed to handle the subject in our schools? Hitherto, private schools were not guilty of this offence, but in recent times, desperate quest for cheap labour has compelled owners of some private institutions to resort to the many graduates who, out of hunger, are parading themselves as English Language teachers on the labour market. Closely related to the above problem is our English teachers' approach to the teaching of the subject. I don't know when the English Language was reduced to dictation or comprehension at the expense of the other aspects. The nature of the Language requires that, a tutor devices pedagogical strategies to ensure all aspects of the language are given equal attention. But what do we see? A niece in a private school which I will not mention for fear of ending up in court, practically cries of getting tired of the incessant dictation exercises their English Language teacher pours on them anytime they have an English lesson. Some students, even as at form three, are yet to explore other areas as Grammar and Literature. It has been comprehension throughout. Then again, the 'mushroom' English Language pamphlets and textbooks that have flooded our bookshops also have a part of the blame to carry. The grave grammatical, spelling and factual errors in some of these books cannot be pardoned. The Ghana Education Service needs to take a second look at how some of these books get the approbation to be used in our classrooms. I can't conclude this story without descending heavily on social media and the shorthand curse it has brought on our school children. It's heartbreaking to see our children extend their shorthand skills to the classroom and display them in their exercise books. Someone needs to remind our children that, 'illegal' words such as 'luv', 'thnx', 'hrt', 'gud' and those have you, belong to social media and should remain there. And to those of us who still stand by our position that the English Language be shown the red card, it's high time we gave this illusion a befitting burial and encouraged our children to accord the language all the staidness and attention it deserves. Jet Alan. The overall impression of Warri, a popular city in the southern part of Nigeria, is that it is the most aggressive city in Nigeria, as it is dangerous and crime ridden and its inhabitants are mostly belligerent. According to the Vanguard Newspaper, that the oil city of Warri, Delta State is perhaps the most hazardous metropolis in Southern Nigeria, is doubtless. Some travel sites have even flagged the destination as a red zone as numerous travelers have complained and narrated cases of robbery and rip-offs. While the city might indeed have some security issues, it certainly is a wonderful place to visit and explore as it offers business opportunities as well as many sights for tourists, including the Delta Ports, Nana Living History Museum and Red Mangrove swamp. If you find you have to visit this destination and you are worried about being a victim of any of the many travel risks elaborated all over the internet, Jumia Travel offers 7 helpful ways to avoid travel rip-offs while visiting Warri. Ensure you have pre-arranged airport pick-up The airport is usually crammed with taxi cabs looking to drive you from the airport to your destination. The cabs, usually, are not metered and the taxi drivers charge you on their discretion. Most of them charge exorbitant prices if they look at you and feel you have no clue as to what the rates should be or you are dressed expensively. Again, some of the cab drivers are peddlers who pose as cab guys, and many people have been duped of money and belonging in this fashion. Always make arrangements for pickup before you arrive; there are a number of cab companies you can patronize online and most hotels will have their own cab services to offer. Alternatively, you can avoid being ripped off at the airport by taking public transport or asking a friend or family member for a ride. Do not indulge helpers at the airport Usually, when you arrive at the airport, a lot of people rush to offer some form of assistance either to carry your luggage or assist you with information. Most times, their offers are exceedingly cheap or enticing. Beware of these helpers as they could be culprits looking to rip you off. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Also, exchange all your money, if you need to, within the airport as there is a higher chance of being conned outside the airport. Lookout for tourist trap restaurants While visiting the city, you certainly will have certain iconic tourist destination in mind that you want to visit. If you are visiting a restaurant or attraction that has an online presence, try your best to Google it to see what the locals or past visitors have had to say about it. Again, you can check to see if there are coupons or discounts that could benefit you such as getting free breakfast or 15% off the total bill for doing a review on the hotel or restaurants, etc. Generally, the reviews will let you know if visiting the location would be a good idea or you would just be wasting your money. Avoid Organized Tours There are a number of fantastic tourist destinations in Warri and nearly every tourist agent or site will offer some sort of packages that bundle in several sites to be seen for a fee. These tours may not seem like a bad deal but a lot of times, they actually are. Many of the sites will have free entry but by paying for the package deal, you have now paid to get in. Again, while it may seem like these organized tours are providing you with cheap transport to these different tourist locations, a little research would reveal that transporting yourself is a cheaper option and might even be much more comfortable. Do not show off money and expensive jewelry Showing off money and expensive jewelry makes you a target for rip-off basically as it presents you as someone who has more than he/she needs. Any vendor who eyeballs you counting large sums of money or wearing very expensive jewelry will automatically offer their items or services at exaggerated prices. Unless you are a celebrity who has an assistant running errands for you, try your best to stay conservative. Review all bills carefully Most visitors to Warri often make the mistake of failing to go over their bills, especially the restaurant, and hotel bills when they get it, and they end up paying for a lot of stuff that they did not use or buy. Look through and ensure you remain accountable and not swindled in any form. In a case where you have reviewed the bill and found mistakes, though, ensure that you politely ask the staff to fix it. A polite request will go much further than an aggressive accusation in Warri. Be mindful of the hotel Wi-Fi. Most hotels in Warri do not come with complimentary Wifi, so you find that most hotels charge as much as NGN500 to NGN2000 per day for in-room Wi-Fi. These rates are a little pricey, considering you can easily just set up your own personal hotspot on your smartphone and use your cellular service to access Wi-Fi on other non-cellular devices. Doing this reduces the chance of you being ripped off in any way. IMAGE SOURCE: Google.com India reports 27 per cent of world's new TB cases and stats show that the killer disease is only strengthening its grip over the vast stretches of the country. Industrialist Ratan Tata, actor Amitabh Bachchan and US Ambassador to India Richard Verma at a function in Mumbai in 2015. By Indo-Asian News Service: India had doubled the number of estimated deaths by tuberculosis (TB) in 2015 -- 480,000 deaths, up from 220,000 deaths in 2014 -- because previous estimates were too low, according to the World Health Organisations Global Tuberculosis Report 2016. India has 27 per cent of the world's new TB cases -- one of the biggest infectious disease killers in India. The country had 2.8 million new TB cases in 2015, up from 2.2 million cases in 2014, according to the WHO report. advertisement As India accounts for a high number of worldwide TB cases, global estimates have also gone up from 9.6 million to 10.4 million, the report said. READ: Streptomycin, an anitibiotic against TB, was discovered today: Life before the discovery DRUG-RESISTANT TB PATIENTS India also had a higher estimated number of patients with drug-resistant TB in 2015 -- 79,000, 11 per cent more than the cases in 2014. About 2.5 per cent of new TB cases are resistant to rifampicin, or to both rifampicin and isoniazid -- the two most commonly used anti-TB drugs -- while 60 per cent of all previously treated TB cases were drug-resistant. READ: Contracted TB ahead of KBC launch in 2000: Amitabh Bachchan "The TB epidemic is larger than previously estimated, reflecting new surveillance and survey data from India," the WHO report said. Evidence of low previous estimates includes "household surveys, a state-wide TB prevalence survey, studies of anti-TB drug sales in the private sector, notification data and new analysis of mortality data", the report said. READ: Bachchan makes plea at global TB meet in UK WHY MORE CASES OF TB More and more TB cases diagnosed and treated in the private sector have been registered with the government over the last two years. Until 2012, when the government made it mandatory for private doctors to report cases to the government, no government or private agency nationwide tracked how many patients were diagnosed or treated successfully in the private sector. The notification of private sector patients has gone up by nearly four times. India's private sector notified 14.4 cases per 1 lakh people in 2015, up from 3.1 in 2013, according to data from India's national TB programme, the Revised National Tuberculosis Programme. WATCH: Slumdog Millionaire star Azhar Ismail's father died of Tuberculosis READ: Number of TB cases in India may be higher than current LANCET STUDY IMPACT The government also has a better estimate of the TB cases in the private sector because of a 2016 study published in the Lancet. advertisement The private sector in India treats an estimated 2.2 million TB cases, the study said, based on data from the sale of drugs containing rifampicin, the main anti-TB drug. The study further said that the cases in the private sector could be anything between 1.19 and 5.24 million cases in 2014. Tuberculosis is a treatable air-borne disease, but TB treatment reaches only 59 per cent of the estimated TB patients in India, the report said. READ: TB epidemic in India larger than what was previously DESPITE 'BETTER JOB' BY GOVERNMENT "The government's TB programme has done a better job than most other countries of the same size and scale of TB," said Puneet Dewan, a senior programme officer for TB at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a private foundation that also funds TB control programmes in India. "But lots of patients are not under the government's supervised programme," he added. The 2016 WHO report only calculates the number of new TB cases in 2015, and does not calculate the total number of TB cases (old cases and new), known as the prevalence of TB, because the WHO is awaiting results from the national TB prevalence survey scheduled for 2017-2018, the report said. advertisement Six countries -- India, Indonesia, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa -- accounted for 60 per cent of the new TB cases in the world. India, China and the Russian Federation accounted for 45 per cent of multi-drug resistant cases in the world. ALSO READ: Why HIV infection increases TB risk decoded --- ENDS --- Tegeta notes media reports regarding an application issued by Barloworld against Optimum Coal Mine (Pty) Ltd (Optimum). Following its purchase of Optimum in April this year, and whilst Optimum was still in business rescue, Tegeta inherited a disputed balance with Barloworld. Optimum has instructed its bankers to settle the balance (under protest) and insisted on delivery of all supporting documents and invoices to substantiate Barloworlds claim. Payment was made on 26 October 2016. Given the above, Tegeta and Optimum expect Barloworlds application to be withdrawn. An Accra Human Rights Court will on October 31 deliver its judgement in the case brought against the Electoral Commission (EC) by Jacob Osei Yeboah aka JOY an independent presidential candidate for the December 7 elections over the credibility of the register of voters. The court could earlier not deliver the judgement because the mandate of the judge presiding over the case had expired and as such a warrant was required from the Chief Justice (CJ). In the view of the judge, Justice Gifty Adjei Addo, the warrant would enable her to discharge that duty. The independent presidential aspirant and two other applicants Joint Alliance Youth Movement, a civil society organization and Macho Men for Good & Justice had hauled the EC to the court over the current register, doubting its credibility because it has names of dead persons on it. In an affidavit in support of the motion on notice for judicial review in the nature of an order of mandamus, Peter Kwaku Nti,, lawyer for JOY, said that the nation had spent or invested considerable resources in a biometric technology application to achieve a credible biometric voter register. He said that a credible biometric voter register (BVR) will ensure and positively reinforce the nation's declaration and belief in universal adult suffrage, adding that a credible BVR will ensure a safe situation of free and fair elections. 'Ghost' Names According to the lawyer, CI 91 the law intended to regulate the creation of credible biometric voter register in its present form is inadequate for the work it was designed for. He noted that what is found to be inadequate is the absence of a finger print identification of a voter. Mr Kwaku Nti further argued that CI 91 has no Regulations to challenge the participation of the dead/deceased in our electoral process; and require the deletion of same from the BVR. He noted that it is estimated from Ghana Statistical Services figures that the dead comprise approximately 4.5% of the voter population. Nti contended that with 4.5% of the voters being deceased and not removed from the BVR, there is the high probability that the dead voters have been deciding election results hence, the need to order their removal. Reliefs The applicants however want an order to compel the EC to delete the deceased, minors and any undesirables through Exhibition Verification process. JOY also seeks an order to compel Respondent to initiate steps to amend the CI 91, R23 (2a) within a reasonable time before the 7th December elections and an order to compel the Respondent to re-open/extend the Exhibition for another Seven (7) days to give opportunity for intended voters to verify their names in order to cast their votes on the day of the elections. By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson [email protected] The African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has stated that the energy sector outlook for 2017 presents significant levels of uncertainty, urging political parties to clearly demonstrate how they intend to confront the challenge ahead. Executive Director of ACEP, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who made this known on Tuesday at the ACEP's Citizens Energy Manifesto programme, said unfortunately beyond the projected oil production from the producing and development fields, Ghana is likely not to add significant levels of production for a long time even though most of its producing fields would have entered into their natural decline phase. Other factors that affect the oil outlook include the provisional ruling by the International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas on Ghana's maritime dispute and the average period of 7 years between oil discovery and production as we strive to make new significant discoveries. ACEP therefore urged Ghanaians to scrutinize the manifesto promises of the parties to determine which party has the best policies for managing and maximizing the use of Ghana's oil revenue. Again, ACEP asked Ghanaians to scrutinize how the political parties intend to attract investments, increase production and sustain the country's emerging oil and gas industry. Uncertainties According to Dr. Amin Adam, the power sector has its own uncertainties largely due to unreliable supply of gas from Nigeria, likely suspension of indigenous gas supply due to planned repairs on the turret, and the increasing indebtedness of the utility companies and lack of reserve margin. History has also shown that anytime we are told the power crisis is over, it returns some years later. Ladies and Gentlemen, we must interrogate the manifestoes of our parties on how they intend to fix the power challenges permanently. An official of the Kumasi Institute of Technology and Energy, Ismael Edgekumhene, contributing to panel discussion at the ACEP's Manifesto programme, said the various parties must be compelled to quantify their promises for the energy sector. Meanwhile, Kweku Awortwi, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Volta River Authority (VRA), disclosed that the manifestoes of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Convention People's Party (CPP) are all silent on the issue of inclusive growth within the energy sector. By Melvin Tarlue It has emerged that the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has not paid the mandatory 5% Tier Two Monthly deductions of public service workers since the scheme commenced in April 2016. According to the workers, the government was hampering the smooth operation of the 2nd Tier Occupational Pension Schemes in the public sector which has put the pensions of workers in danger. The workers have therefore vowed to start a strike action from November 15 if the NDC government fails to comply with the statutory obligation by paying the money into the custodian banks that were nominated by the government even against the wish of the workers. Mahama's Directive At the behest of President John Mahama, the leadership of the various workers group met the Attorney General and the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations in May 2015 to settle the case out-of-court which was initiated by the government against the workers over the Tier 2 scheme. In what turned out to be consent judgement, the government, as the employer, agreed to ensure that effective April 1, 2016 it would transfer the 5% Tier 2 monthly deductions made by the Controller and Accountant General and pay directly to the pension custodian banks duly appointed by the government itself. It was also agreed that the National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA) shall ensure that the transfer of funds currently held in the Temporary Pension Fund Account (TPFA) at the Bank of Ghana to custodian banks of the four schemes was completed by July 2, 2016. The government again promised to reimburse the defendant workers reasonable expenses incurred in setting up their trusts and schemes, as well as any reasonable legal fees incurred in the course of the litigation of the suit. Public Service Workers However, the forum, made up of the Health Service Workers Union (HSWU), Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA), Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA), Ghana Hospital and Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA), Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists (GACRA), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Teachers and Educational Workers' Union (TEWU) of TUC, National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), became incensed by the latest development and issued the strike notice at a news conference in Accra yesterday. Isaac Bampoe-Addo, Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, who doubles as chairman of the forum for the workers said, The delay in transferring the 5% Tier 2 monthly deductions to custodian banks nominated by the government itself is worrying. He said the leadership of the workers had made every effort to get the audited TPFA but the government has simply denied them, saying As we speak we don't know how much has accrued. The deafening silence on the part of the government concerning the transfer of funds is clearly in contravention of the court judgement. Mr. Bampoe-Addo said that the government with the promulgation of the National Pensions (Amendment) Act, 2014 (Act 883) postponed the implementation of the 2nd Tier Occupational Pension Scheme for five years and that cut out those who were 55 years as at January 1, 2015, but insisted that the workers will not accept any further amendment. The fact still remains that for those who fall under the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766), cumulative contributions from January 1, 2010 have not been transferred to the custodian banks of licensed schemes of the forum. He said the delay in the transfer of the funds to the various schemes for almost 7 years is going to affect adversely the level of lump sum or gratuity a retired officer is likely to receive in the 2nd Tier. The workers rubbished the recent directive by Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrissu to the Controller and Accountant General to release the fund to various custodian banks, saying that it was only the President or the Minister of Finance, who had that power over the Controller. It is a ploy. When they got intelligence that we were going to expose them, they quickly got the minister to issue the directive to the controller, the workers, who wore red bands, insisted. By William Yaw Owusu The Electoral Commission (EC) has reportedly identified 13 additional hotspots in the upcoming general elections. Chief Superintendent Dr Benjamin Agordzo, the Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, revealed this yesterday at a forum held at the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) Accra to express the preparedness of the police to ensure peaceful elections in the 2016. The forum formed part of the Institute of Democratic Governance and Civic Forum Initiative (IDEG-CFI) 'Peaceful Elections and Credible Outcomes in Ghana Project 2016.' According to him, the EC, which made the disclosure to the police service recently, was planning to inform the citizenry. Dr. Agordzo, who spoke on behalf of the National Elections Security Taskforce and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), said the 13 additional hotspots are spread across the 10 regions. In September this year, EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, speaking at a national colloquium organized by the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) on the security of the upcoming elections, disclosed that the electoral body had identified 81 hotspots in the 275 constituencies nationwide. We're ready Despite the high number of hotspots, Dr. Agordzo urged Ghanaians not to panic because, as he puts it, the police administration and other national security agencies were doing everything possible to ensure peace before, during and after the polls. According to him, the National Elections Security Taskforce, headed by the IGP, shall as part of measures, deploy trained security personnel to all 29,000 polling stations countrywide and zone some stations to enhance mobile patrol. He also pointed out that regional rapid response teams had been formed nationwide to ensure peaceful polls. He said the taskforce shall adopt a four-tier deployment approach for the elections and provide security at ballot paper printing houses and collation centres. Drone He announced that the National Elections Security Taskforce has acquired a drone to be used for monitoring the various polling stations, among others. More prosecution Dr. Agordzo explained that this year, the security forces shall intensify prosecution of people across the country. We shall intensify the capacity of our officers to understand the difference between assault/crimes and electoral offenses. Project To help make the elections peaceful with credible outcomes in the 2016 polls, IDEG and the CFI conceptualized the peaceful and credible elections Project 2016 with support from STAR-Ghana and the Ford Foundation. Executive Director of IDEG, Dr. Emmanuel O. Akwetey, in a statement, explained that IDEG and CFI intend to make the era of turbulence in elections in Ghana a thing of the past. He stated that Ghanaians should collectively work hard to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, noting that the electorate must be vigilant. By Melvin Tarlue The Head of the Political Science Department, University of Ghana, Legon, Dr. Bossman Asare, has said that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is likely to clinch a landslide victory in the forthcoming polls. This, he said, would be made possible because of the inability of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to manage the economy and other resources of the country as expected. He disclosed this while speaking at a roundtable conference themed, 'Expanding the frontiers of electoral politics in Ghana' yesterday hosted by the department. Many think-tanks and scholars were in attendance at the function. Speaking on the subject, the different political parties, presidential candidates and their political platforms, he observed that the two major political parties have maintained their candidates from the 2012 elections, adding that with the diminishing influence of the third parties, it is likely that Ghanaians would witness a first round victory. The NPP candidate is contesting for the third time and it appears with economic challenges the country has been experiencing in recent times, this candidate exudes so much confidence in the electorate to vote for him and a vice presidential candidate, who has persistently been a thorn in the flesh of the ruling government, he noted. He predicted that the 2016 election was definitely going to pull surprises for the first time since independence, adding that the 2016 election will have a divided government for the first time since independence. The academic described Alhaji Bawumia as a candidate who has brought lots of attraction to the NPP due to his knowledge about the economy, but expressed disappointment that he has become a figure for insults and all forms of attacks from government and the NDC. Dr. Bossman Asare further explained that incumbency advantage may not always be a winning ticket for government in power in every situation, especially when people feel dissatisfied with its performance. NDC has the President of the Republic as their candidate. No sitting President has lost election in Ghana's fourth republic; nonetheless the reality is that the environment now looks different, he noted. He mentioned that much as the ruling NDC during its tenure of office has embarked on a number of infrastructural projects, it was not enough to overturn the very high rate of unemployment, poor management of the economy, power crisis and the high incidence of corruption that has engulfed the country. The Director, Africa Region-International Initiative for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi, said that Africa has lost trail of the ideals of the founding fathers of the continent who made sacrifices to fight for independence from the colonial masters. He blamed the continent's present state on greed of its leaders who rather exploit their people. By Solomon Ofori An Accra high court yesterday suo motu, (on its own motion) abridged the time in the case in which Hassan Ayariga, presidential candidate of the All People's Congress (APC), is challenging his disqualification by the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of the December polls. The court, presided over by Justice Barbra Tetteh Charway, as a result, ordered both parties to file their statements of case by Friday. In the view of the court, the parties must also return on Monday, October 31, for any oral submissions, if any. At the court's sitting, the judge inquired from Maxwell Kobina Loghan if he had been served with the affidavit in opposition to the writ filed by the EC, which he answered in the affirmative. Mr Ayariga is asking the court to cause the EC, headed by Charlotte Osei, to reverse its decision of disqualifying him from the presidential race. He is also praying the court to declare that on a true and proper interpretation of the Regulation 9(1) of CI 94, the applicant stood nominated as a presidential candidate for the December 2016 presidential election from the moment of the respondent's acceptance of his deposit. Lawyers for the APC flag bearer, among other reliefs, are asking the court for a declaration that having regard to the facts and law, the EC has no power to reject their client's nomination in the alternative, even if the respondent have such powers, its failure to adhere to due process was so unjust and perverted as to deprive the commission of its power. The APC's flag bearer is further asking the court for an order of mandatory injunction compelling the respondent to accept his nomination forms and to include his name on the ballot for the presidential election. By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson [email protected] Charlotte Osei addressing the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs in Kumasi The chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Charlotte Osei, has dismissed claims that she is working to rig the polls for a particular party in the December elections, saying that she would need a 'superman powers' to do that. According to the EC boss, it will take the connivance of the field officers in the 29,000 polling stations to activate any rigging machinery. She said the commission was working to avoid the minefield that led to protracted electoral dispute after the 2012 elections. Ms Charlotte Osei also announced that 15.8 millon Ghanaians have been captured in the updated voter register for the December 7 polls. She said the EC would furnish all the political parties with the full list for their perusal, latest by next week. The EC chairperson stated that the commission was ready to conduct credible polls this year. According to her, ideally the full list should have been given to the political parties earlier but technical hitches caused the delay. Charlotte Osei said all the legal processes regarding the compilation of a credible register had been followed by the EC and so the album was ready. She was addressing the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, chaired by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in Kumasi on Wednesday. 29,000 Registrants Ms Charlotte Osei said about 29,000 people re-registered after the EC had deleted names of people who registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card. She noted that the commission went through all the required processes by law before reaching the total figure, which is now in the final register for the polls. 29,000 Polling Stations The EC chair said polling stations in the country have been increased from about 26,000 in 2012 to a little below 29,000 for the December polls. The increase, she explained, is to make the work of the EC officials easier as there would be fewer people voting at all the polling stations. According to her, each polling station would have a maximum of 850 voters, adding that that would lessen pressure on the EC staff and the biometric machines. She said the various political parties in the country would be provided with the full list of the about 29,000 polling stations latest by Friday. She indicated that the security agencies would also be furnished with the polling stations list soon to help them strategise. She pointed out that each polling station had been given a special code to avert confusion, adding that the full list would be posted on the EC's website. Biometric Machines The EC boss said each polling station would be provided with two biometric machines so that the original one could be immediately replaced in case it develops a fault. She disclosed that manual verification would also be considered alongside biometric verification to avert disenfranchisement of eligible voters. Proxy List Ms Charlotte Osei gave the assurance that the EC would also provide names of people on the proxy and voter transfer list to the political parties to ensure transparency. Special Voting Names She said names of security personnel, EC staff and journalists who would vote during the special voting on December 1, would be given to the political parties. According to the EC boss, all the political parties would be given a special seal, which would be used to lock the ballot boxes after the special voting. She said her outfit was considering re-designing the ballot papers for the December 7 polls so as to help reduce rejected ballots. She noted that the EC had started media education on proper voting and hoped that the move would help reduce the rejected ballot menace. Credible Polls Charlotte Osei stated that the EC is aware of the legal issues that arose after the 2012 polls so it is doing everything possible to make the polls credible. She assured the chiefs, especially Otumfuo, that the commission would conduct the upcoming polls in a transparent manner so as to ensure peace. The Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs invited the EC gurus to brief the House about what they are doing to make the polls free and fair. FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi Christopher Arko, GNA Cape Coast (C/R), Oct.26, GNA - Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has described as 'unrealistic' the NPP's Election 2016 Manifesto promise to reduce taxes on businesses. He said the NPP's prescription would be inimical to the growth of the economy and development. Vice President Amissah-Arthur was speaking at a lecture, organised by Students of Economics of the University of Cape Coast. The lecture, which is on the theme: 'The Economy, Strengthening, Teaching and Research of Economics for Nation Building' is a novelty by the Department of Economics of the University. It is to enable the students to have a practical understanding of the subject. Vice President Amissah-Arthur stated that a careful analysis by the NDC of the NPP's proposed tax breaks for businesses would amount to a6.2 billion, in additions to a21 billion in new expenditures for infrastructure. He said looking at the NPP's proposals and the way they intended to spend public finances on their unrealistic manifesto promises, it would come with dire consequences for the Ghanaian economy. Ghanaians, he said, must, therefore, help stop the NPP in their tracks before they unleashed their impracticable promises on the country. He said a look at the NPP Manifesto also showed there were no philosophical underpinnings in the policy, presented to Ghanaians as compared to that of the NDC. Vice President Amissah-Arthur also stated that the NDC had managed to reduce the country's budget deficit, which stood at of 12 per cent in 2012 to about six percent currently, meaning there had been fiscal consolidation. He said in the eight years of the Kufuor Regime, the country had 56 per cent growth in GDP, whereas in seven years of the NDC, the nation had 65 percent growth in GDP. He said the current NDC Manifesto sought to provide an environment that would help grow small and medium enterprises, as well as roll out policies to create direct employment opportunities for the youth. Vice President Amissah-Arthur said surprisingly, the NPP with their long history of political activism, the Danquah- Busia Tradition, were now borrowing ideas from a Social Democratic Party (NDC). He said the NPP implicitly accepted everything that the NDC had done in terms of the economic management, with the exception that the Government had not been able to restore macro-economic stability. He said though it was clear that the NPP had adopted the NDC's vision, the NPP was still denying these facts. He said the NPP's one constituency, one million-dollar policy was not well thought out since its implementation would render the district assemblies redundant. GNA 27.10.2016 LISTEN Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around Leo Buscaglia KALYPPO, my grandchild would shout. Nannies and grannies make sure to stock the children's school bags with the stuff. Some of them did not know they were missing something cool, juicy, succulent, and luscious when they gave the stuff to their grandchildren without tasting it. Until Until it became a new craze in the country after Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo had been 'caught' by a rogue who, with guttersnipe rashness had taken the snap in 2008 and had decided to 'float' it on the 'net' at this auspicious moment. And the NPP stalwarts gave support to their flagbearer by sucking the Kalyppo on the political platform. After sucking the Kalyppo, some people took the trouble to look closely at the container: it is prepared by Aquafresh Limited, KM8, Light Industrial Area. Spintex Road, P.O.Box 439, Accra, Ghana. It is the juice of: guava, strawberry, pineapple, banana, mango, sucrose, Citric acid, natural aroma, and Vitamin C. it is 250ml and it costs something cool. All the big men of the NDC: President, Vice-President, Chief of Staff, Ministers, Members of Parliament Party Officers name them have left their offices and are on the campaign trail. In Brong Ahafo, Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, who should be in his office, signing documents, or be out there trumpeting the achievements of his government, had turned nutritionist and medical doctor and proclaiming: There is a new disease called Kalyppolitis and if I come here, I need to speak to you adults here, if you take Kalyppo, the sugar content can leave you with some sickness, so please, don't take it. At an NDC campaign rally in Kumasi, Yaw Boateng Gyan, former national organiser of the party proclaimed: Now that he (Nana Addo) has started taking Kalyppo, a local product, he will soon be sucking breast which is meant for babies. Concerned Ghanaians for Local Products are demanding an apology from people attacking those patronizing Kalyppo, a local product. But Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) on Adom F.M.'s 'Dwaso Nsem' has something for the detractors: Why would Julius Debrah and his government collapse our businesses which are already suffering under Mahama. In fact, Kalyppo would have collapsed if Mahama were the one seen sipping it. They are just envious of businesses in the country. But let me tell them today that we will continue drinking Kalyppo because the symbolic aspect of it is that it will let our businesses grow under an Akufo Addo government. Those who are finding it difficult to sell their wares should pray that Nana Addo would advertise them for them! A boost for local industry, for local stuffquite unlike what the owner of the NDC did to 'Apino soap' some years gone by. Ghanaians are waiting with bated breath to listen to the new song entitled 'Kalyppo' by Golden Muzik of Samuel, Yung Eagle and Airmass. On the Kalyppo craze, Agya Kwaku Ogboro writes: Clearly the Chief of Staff reacted on impulse. He needs our prayers, not condemnation. Nana Addo acknowledges this fact that is why he did not condemn Efo Debrah. Nana Addo only expected the deficiencies in his ill conceived statement, Listen to him: If indeed, sugar was bad, why have they set up a Komenda Sugar Factory, a factory they have made so much noise about? To them, sugar is bad and yet, they spent so much money on Komenda Sugar Factory, which is not even working. This propaganda will not work. Kwaku Ogboro concludes: Indeed, the 'mutum banza' trait can be found in many zu za activists. They can be found at the Presidency, party headquarters and in the Council of State Whilst Nana Addo is concentrating on his Kalyppo sucking tour of the nation, President John Mahama is blaming a 'certain group' for blocking his transformation message. He rants: It is populism, a certain group has taken control of the media in Ghana and it makes it difficult for people to discern the truth. So as much as you are putting out the information, it is either being blocked or distracted What! (Note the use of only one exclamation mark! Never 2, 3, 4, et cetera). My brother and friend, I.K. Gyasi would exclaim: 'Haba!' How many journalists are in the Jubilee House, otherwise known as Flagstaff House? Is it a question of the message or the messenger? Can't government pay the government communicators? One would have thought the complaint was being made by the Opposition parties. Some media agents have used the word 'cabal' for the 'certain group' that President Mahama says is blocking his message. What is 'cabal'? It is a group of people united in some close design together, usually to promote their private views or interests in an ideology, state, or other community, often by intrigue usually unbeknown to persons outside their group. 'Cabal' carries with its definition strong connotations of shadowy corners, back rooms, and insidious influence. The word originates from the Jewish 'cabala' meaning 'reception' or 'tradition'. Another view is that it was formed from the first letters of the names of a group of ministers of King Charles II of England: Clifford (Sir Thomas), Arlington (Lord), Buckingham (Duke of), Ashley (Lord), and Lauderdale (Lord). They were signatories to the secret Treaty of Dover that allied England to France in a prospective war against the Netherlands. It is doubtful whether the opposition is so strong as, or has the wherewithal, to capture the information being churned out by the President and block it. The President! Well was it said by Cassius: The fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Some people have digested the innocuous saying by Bohdi Sanders: Never respond to an angry person with a fiery comeback, even if he deserves it Don't allow his anger to become your anger. The President may care to answer the question: if a story about President Mahama inaugurating a classroom block at Mempeasem is told and this story has to compete with another which says Koku Anyidoho calls Dr Mumuni Bawumia 'mutum banza' which one will get space in the newspapers, especially the private ones? Call it sensationalism. But which of the stories will be news -worthy in the present scheme of things? The first one will be a recipe for mediocrity just as President John Mahama said in 2008 in reply to NPP' s assertion that the 2008 election would be based on the records of the two parties in government. The second one will be an exercise in negative pedagogic language delivered in opprobrious cacophony. AFRICANUS OWUSU ANSAH [email protected] If you want to travel but not miss out on the fun of Diwali, head to these destinations. The streets of the Little India market in Singapore are transformed with stunning lights during Diwali. Picture courtesy: Mail Today By Mail Today: Diwali, one of the most celebrated festivals in the country, is finally here. A period marked by prosperity and bliss for all, Diwali is truly a gala affair. While worshipping the gods are an integral part of celebrating Diwali, there is much more to this festival. If you are not in India during this time of the year, don't fret as you can celebrate this festival in many other parts of the world. Here are some of the destinations around the world that celebrate Diwali in all its splendour. advertisement Singapore Diwali celebrations in this island nation are one of the best in the world. All the Hindu families residing in this country decorate their homes with bright lights, exchange gifts, offer prayers, and greet each other. To get the real feel of the festival when in Singapore, head towards Little India. The streets of this market are transformed into a paradise with stunning lights and colourful rangolis. Also, don't forget to take a ride on the Diwali-themed metro train started by the Singapore government this festive season. Venue: Little India; Date:October 29 (public holiday); Timings: 6 pm onwards; How to get there: Little India and Farrer Park are the nearest MRT stations. Bus services 23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 131, 139, 147, 857 & NR6 pass through Little India via Serangoon Road. Australia The Hindu Council of Australia, representing all Australian Hindus, has been celebrating Diwali - the festival of lights, for the past 15 years now. If you are in Australia, you will not fall short of places to visit for the celebrations. The most prominent celebrations are going to take place in Melbourne and Sydney. Venue: Parramatta Park; Date: October 23 (Parramatta); Timings: 11:30 am to 9 pm; How to get there: The nearest metro station to Parramatta Park is the Hawkesbury Road Metro Station. Dubai Yes, the City of Sheikhs also celebrates Diwali with much extravagance and fervour. There is a skylighting show of crackers and festive fanfare during Diwali. A cosmopolitan paradise for tourists, Dubai provides an all-embracing experience in terms of sightseeing and gastronomy. There are many events and experiences organised for the occasion of Diwali. Plus, Dubai is the right place for your shopping excursions on the eve of Dhanteras. Picture courtesy: Facebook/Land Transport Authority --We Keep Your World Moving Picture courtesy: Facebook/Land Transport Authority --We Keep Your World Moving Observe Diwali fanfare at: Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Emirates Tower London The United Kingdom celebrates the 'Festival of Light' with high energy and zeal. Visit the Trafalgar Square in London to attend the Annual Free Public Event organised every year. This year's festival celebration includes a number of stage performances, live music, beautiful decorations, funfilled activities, and food stalls serving delicious regional delicacies. Other than this, you can also celebrate Diwali at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Bhaktivedanta Manor. advertisement Observe Diwali Fanfare at: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, 105-119 Brentfield Road, Neasden, London, NW10 8LD Nepal Surrounded by the majestic Himalayas, Nepal is a landlocked country with an abundance of natural beauty. Be it honeymooners, adventurists, or spiritual seekers, Nepal has something to offer to everyone. Known as Tihar, Diwali is the second biggest festival in Nepal. A five-day long puja ceremony is organised on Diwali. It being one of the countries that provides visa free entry adds to the advantage of Indian travellers. Observe Diwali fanfare at: Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath, Nagarkot South Africa Akshay Kumar is spending #Diwali2016 in Cape Town, South Africa (according to the Internet birdie). Sounds idyllic, right? Having the largest community of Indians after the US, South Africa celebrates Diwali with grandeur. There are Diwali fests organised in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. Given a country as beautiful as South Africa, it would be a carnival to celebrate Diwali at a destination that offers everything at one place. Picture courtesy: Mail Today advertisement Observe Diwali fanfare at: Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town Indonesia What makes Indonesia an amazing place to celebrate Diwali is the motley of experiences it has to offer. Be it engaging in the water activities on the popular beaches or watching sunrise over the volcanic mountains, Indonesia is an exotic destination to celebrate Diwali. Observe Diwali fanfare at: Bali, Gili Islands --- ENDS --- Municipal Health Director Dr. Emmanuel Yaw Affrelkum receiving the items from the First Lady. Looking on is Kwame Dzokoto The First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama has called on chiefs, elders and community leaders to support the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Integration monthly in the national sanitation day clean up exercises by helping to sensitize residents about the need to improve public health. First Lady noted that health is a public concern since every individual needs to stay healthy in order to live a normal life so the surest way to get everybody involved in ensuring clean environment and healthy living is through regular clean up exercise. The first lady made the call when she interacted with the people of Nsuaem and supported the Tarkwa Nsueem Hospital in the Western Region with medical supplies. Mrs Mahama indicated that all over the world, preventive methods of promoting public health are being advocated instead of curative. In this regard, she believed it was important for the public to take an interest in improving their health by making sure their immediate surroundings were kept clean to promote healthy living. The First lady believed this had enhanced healthcare delivery and had improved Ghana's human development indicators significantly, placing Ghana only second to Cape Verde in West Africa. She was optimistic that health workers would support the effort government had embarked on. The Aspiring Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuem, Kwame Dzokoto explained that the donation to the hospital was due to a request made to the First Lady by him. According to him he realised that the hospital lacked some facilities hence his request to the First lady to support the hospital. These he indicated were some of the things he and the NDC government would do when voted into power come December 7. He expressed gratitude to the first lady for the donation saying the items indeed would be beneficial to all who visit the hospital. The Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Addo and the National Women Organiser of the NDC, Hajia Zaynab Mahama, accompanied her. An Accra High Court has struck out the suit brought before it by the flagbearer of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings who was challenging her disqualification by the Electoral Commission as a presidential candidate. According to the ruling delivered by Justice George K. Koomson, the decision was due to a wrong procedure used by Nana Konadu hence making the case incompetent. In his ruling the judge indicated that the applicants were wrong in including an application for judicial review and the enforcement of fundamental human rights in one writ. More soon. By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana In an audio which has gone viral on social media, a voice strikingly similar to that of Montie FM Presenter, Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, is heard lambasting leaders of the governing NDC. Salifu Maase is one of the three convicted by the Supreme Court for contempt some three months ago. President John Mahama remitted the remainder of the four months prison sentence after they served one month in jail. In the audio which was reportedly recorded during his show on Wednesday, October 26, he is heard panning leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and government appointees for neglecting him and the two others after their release. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com 27.10.2016 LISTEN Investors have identified opportunities to develop renewable energy in rural areas in several African countries, bringing power to small and medium-size businesses and the communities that surround them. Together with technical partners, consulting and advisory firm, Moore Stephens Africa Advisory (MSAA) has a strategy to help rural communities and private developers to own and operate their own renewable energy farms. MSSA has assessed the potential for developing market opportunities in rural areas and is seeking and developing financial partners to help develop Rural Community Energy farms across Africa. Though working with its global partner firms, Moore Stephens has identified opportunities for collaboration on funding models as well as new technologies. Gareth Pollit, Africa Technical Advisor at Moore Stephens Africa Advisory, said there was great potential to implement a variety of renewable technologies across Africa, from solar to biomass together with associated industries such as wood briquetting and pelleting. He said Moore Stephens was working on two market and technical surveys for US$ 30 million wood pelleting and solar projects in Southern Africa which would generate export opportunities as well as create jobs and local industrialization capabilities. Jeff Blackbeard, Africa Strategy Advisor for MSAA said theres a great need to develop renewable energy, particularly for small and medium-size enterprises in African countries. MSAA has undertaken a uniquely proactive approach in identifying project opportunities, technical partners and funders from its Africa and global network of clients, says Blackbeard. MSAA is able to tap into its global network, as it forms part of Moore Stephens International, one of the worlds major accounting and consulting networks, with 626 offices in 103 countries. Blackbeard has travelled to Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania to identify opportunities across the spectrum from solar, wind and bio-mass to mini-hydro schemes. These opportunities could dovetail with the projects their clients are involved in from real estate, agri-processing, retail and distribution to financial services and telecoms projects throughout Sub Saharan and West Africa. The approach has been developed to meet local and national development guidelines in South Africa and other African countries, said Pollit. Blackbeard said agricultural and energy security were key sectors of interest to MSSA. In respect of energy security we are not targeting supplementing the main grid, but rather working with anchor tenants in rural areas, whether it be a sawmill, a dairy or a tomato plantation where renewable energy provides just part of an holistic solution Blackbeard says he envisages the surrounding community would also be able to benefit from the development. We want to find cost effective renewable energy solutions that meet the demands of our clients. Weve also met with developers and local partners in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, who are involved in housing developments, factories, retail operations and small mines. There is potential for them to develop renewable energy projects around their existing businesses. MSAA can provide those linkages and solutions that assist in providing energy security. According to the World Bank, ten million small and medium-size enterprises in Africa have no access to electricity. Those that do pay three times as much as in the United States and Europe and routinely endure power outages that cost their countries between one and four percent in lost GDP every year. Written by Kim Cloete on behalf of Moore Stephens Africa Advisory. For more information, please contact Kim Cloete at +27 82 4150736 or [email protected] Kim Cloete Journalist & Media Specialist +27 82 4150736 Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, Internet Hall of Famer, is expected to open the third Ghana eCommerce Expo, scheduled for October 27-28, 2016, under the theme, Transforming Ghanas Online Businesses through Technology, Innovation and Opportunity. The Ghana eCommerce Expo is the largest gathering of companies and professionals from electronic commerce websites, Telecoms, Banks, Internet service providers, Software Designers, solution providers in the mobile commerce, e-banking, online payment, IT security, etc in the burgeoning ecommerce industry. The Ghana eCommerce Expo in its third year of success, will provide a unique platform for over 30 exhibitors, 100 conference delegates and nearly 2,000 exhibition visitors to share knowledge, learn from leading experts, update themselves with latest trends in ecommerce, build new business contacts offline, showcase latest technologies as well as network with major players in Ghanas fast growing online business market. According to Paul Asinor, speaking on behalf of the OML Africa, the organizers, The need for a high profile expo and conference solely focusing on online trade is very timely as the increased penetration of the internet and affordable telecommunications such as cheaper data and airtime bundles as well as smartphones have opened a massive market of millions of potential customers and buyers which hitherto, might have been almost impossible, to any modern business.. Furthermore, the changing demands of the modern consumer with a tablet or mobile phone in hand can no longer be under estimated. Todays buyer is online, seeking goods and services to buy with convenience and less hassle. Todays business must therefore repackage itself to be relevant to the modern buyer. Luckily, there has been a fast growing use and emergence of online payment platforms and mobile money solutions which is gradually eliminating the use of cash and actually evolving Ghana into a cash-lite society, a key feature of ecommerce. He added, Therefore the third Ghana eCommerce Expo and conference is designed to help boost the growth of secure online trade. The exhibition will be a display of the latest technologies and solutions in ecommerce, mobile commerce, eBanking, IT Security, cutting-edge software and mobile applications that are currently available in the country. Conference delegates will share knowledge and best practice through keynotes, roundtables, product presentations and speed networking sessions with experts and leaders in the industry. Speakers include Kazeem Oladepo(MainOne); Lionel Orishane(Spearhead Networks); Albert Biga (Zoobashop); Akua Nyame Mensah(Jumia Classifieds); Agastee Khante(Ringier Ghana); Stephen Nana Osei-Boadi (PZ Cussons); Albert Antwi-Bosiako (eCrime Bureau); Samer Hajjar(Aramex); Patrick Quantson (Stanbic Bank); Maximus Ametorgoh (PopOut) and many other experts in the field. Delegates from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain and UK are expected to attend. The exhibition, which is free to attend will have on display various Ghanaian online solutions and products with an impressive list of exhibitors notably: GCNet, MainOne, Interpay, SSpearhead Networks, Henson Geodata Technologies, Swifta Systems, MCari Systems, Delilah Secrets, Africakart, GhanaDotCom, Kazz Group of Companies, Blue Hub, Clydestone, CIMA, UniAfrica, Nespresso, Global Cloud Computing, Teledata ICT, Codlogic, Slydepay, National Express, Aramex, Viotech and many others. The third Ghana eCommerce Expo is sponsored by GCNet, MainOne, Spearhead Networks and Interpay. Over the years, our phones have become an important part of our lives. We can barely do without them. We feel lost or incomplete without our phones. The more phones become user-friendly, the more apps are being developed. These apps have become as essential as our phones because we must use them every day. Jumia Travel identifies 6 apps Nigerians are likely to use every day. WhatsApp There is no need to worry about calling or sending text messages to friends. You can simply call (video and voice) them or message them on WhatsApp. Interestingly, you can even hold virtual meetings on WhatsApp. You only need the contact number of whoever you want to chat with. Chrome Chrome owned by Google is one of the best apps out there used to access the World Wide Web. It is easy to use and very fast. More often than not, if you want to visit a particular website, you are likely to use Chrome. Facebook Besides being curious, you may want to get updates about the activities of your friends and significant others, Facebook is the page Nigerians visit. At the same time, you can share your posts. It is this same Facebook that has led some Nigerian women to become detectives by trolling their partners. BBM Blackberry Messenger is like WhatsApp. Despite this, most Nigerians have both of them on their phones. You can chat and make calls on BBM too. Pocket This app is for Nigerians who read news stories, reports and articles online and want to save them for later because you dont have time to look at them at the moment. Pocket helps you save all the stories you want to read. Twitter This app is mostly used by Nigerians who want to know what is trending and also want to read about the latest news. In fact, twitter has given some Nigerians the title of social media influencers because they are very active on twitter and their engagement is on the high side. Brussels (AFP) - The European Union has begun training the Libyan coast guard as part of efforts to curb the growing influx of irregular migrants from North Africa, EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini said Thursday. "Today we are starting the training of the Libyan coast guard in Operation Sophia which is a very important step," Mogherini said as she arrived for a meeting with NATO defence ministers in Brussels. "I think cooperation also in that respect with NATO would be important and we welcome that very much," she said. The EU and NATO have been discussing increased overall cooperation in the face of new security challenges, such as in Ukraine and Syria. "We are together here because a stronger Europe means a stronger NATO," alliance head Jens Stoltenberg said in opening remarks. Stoltenberg said NATO had just launched its own Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean to help support Operation Sophia. Mediterranean migrant deaths "Today we will discuss how to deepen NATO-EU cooperation and partnership further ... including in areas of countering hybrid threats, cyber defence, exercises," he added. The EU launched Operation Sophia last year after hundreds of migrants died when their rickety boats sank off southern Italy, sparking popular outrage at their plight. The central Mediterranean route has seen more migrants risk their lives in recent months after the EU reached an accord with Turkey in March to halt an influx of more than a million refugees who crossed the Aegean Sea to reach Europe last year. A separate NATO mission in the Aegean will meanwhile continue, at least until the end of the year, German Defence Minister Ursula Von der Leyen said. Diplomatic sources said the future of this operation was uncertain given that key ally Turkey was unhappy at seeing NATO in waters so close to home and which are in some cases disputed with traditional rival Greece. Operation Sophia is restricted to international waters in the Mediterranean so the engagement with the UN-backed administration in Libya represents an important step. Sophia currently comprises five vessels and three helicopters charged with intercepting smugglers' boats and destroying them. NDP Presidential candidate Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings' suit challenging her disqualification by the Electoral Commission has been thrown out. An Accra High Court presided over by Justic Goerge Koomson struck out the suit on procedural grounds. He explained that it is against procedures of court to file a joint application praying for the EC's decision to be reviewed and at the same time demand for the enforcement of the Presidential candidate's fundamental human right to vote and be voted for. The court has also fined the applicants 10,000 cedis . Ace Ankomah who is counsel for Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings told the press, he will file a fresh suit by close of the day. Expect updates Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) on Wednesday announced a partnership with Breast Care International (BCI) in Ghana. For the first time, Delta will provide year-long financial support to BCI's community outreach programme. The company sponsored the recent 'Walk For The Cure' event organised by the Breast Care International in Kumasi. With Delta's support, the outreach programme will be extended to rural communities throughout Ghana providing the opportunity for its women to be educated and clinically screened. Over the next 12 months, up to 50 trained specialists will travel to communities allowing over 10,000 previously unreachable women to be examined and taught how to detect irregularities in their breasts. BCI will work closely with local community leaders and church pastors to facilitate the participation in breast cancer awareness, education and screening. Announcing the partnership agreement at a short ceremony held in Accra, Delta's Senior Vice President-Europe, Middle East and Africa said the partnership forms part of their corporate social responsibility. Delta is committed to positively impacting the communities it serves and this new partnership with Breast Care International supports the early detection of this disease affording many women the greatest possibility for long term survival, added Nat Pieper. As Delta prepares to celebrate 10 years of service between Ghana and the United States later this year, this partnership highlights our continued commitment to this country. For her part, Dr. Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, The President of Breast Care International explained that the partnership will enable them extend their breast cancer awareness to more communities in Ghana. Breast Care International highly appreciates Delta Air Lines for their support and investment into our womenfolk. We are convinced, that the platform we both share will offer us the required visibility and mileage, she said. We believe in this partnership because breast cancer prevention is not only about educating, screening and empowering women, but also effecting attitudinal change, a primary consideration in all our awareness creation programs. We believe, that this collaboration is just the beginning of great things to happen between our two institutions. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month across the world and Delta is supporting the cause through fundraising events, serving refreshments, including pink lemonade and also flying the dedicated pink plane to various cities across Delta's network. The airline's employees and customers have raised $11 million for breast cancer charities since 2005, including last years efforts of $1.75 million. The collective contributions have funded the work of 44 different research projects. Delta has operated service to Ghana since December 2006 and this year will be celebrating ten years of flying to Africa. Delta operates service to four African cities in four countries namely Lagos, Nigeria; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa and Accra, Ghana. Through the hubs in Atlanta and New York-JFK, Delta offers an unsurpassed network of hundreds of convenient onward connections. Credit: Breast Care International African editors and the African Union Commission (AUC) have concluded a successful two-day working session under the theme: Deepening Africas Narrative and Capacities to Deliver Agenda 2063 from which has laid down concrete steps towards the strengthening of relations between the media on the continent and the African Union. AUC chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Jovial Rantao, Chairperson of the African Editors Forum (TAEF) led delegates in the two-day conference held in Pretoria, South Africa, which was a follow-up to a founding event held in Kigali three months ago. One of the major agreements is how the AUC and members of The African Editors Forum would, using their channels and, in particular, the ever-growing digital media, help popularize Agenda 2063, the bold plan being implemented by the AU and its member states to build the Africa of our dreams. Editors committed themselves to assist people across the length and breadth of the continent to understand Agenda 2063 but also highlighted to need for African governments to create space for the media generally, but digital journalists and bloggers specifically, to operate freely. TAEF and AU delegates at the meeting were brutally but constructively frank, identifying impediments to a vibrant Africa media and came up with proposed solutions to strengthen the media and AUCs communications capacity. A worksheet with identifiable targets as well as deadlines is being finalized and will be made public soon. Editors and the AU plan to meet again in January 2017 in a session dedicated towards the utilization of digital platforms such as twitter, facebook, Instagram, blogging etc to enhance the free exchange of information amongst African media practitioners with specific reference to the work of the AU. A separate special session is also being planned to look at women and the media. By India Today Web Desk: Naagin 2 star Karanvir Bohra is going to be one doting father for sure. The talented actor and new father is now a proud parent of twins, and he just can't contain his happiness. And who can blame him? After all, parenthood is an unparalleled joy. Also read:Congratulations! Karanvir Bohra, Teejay Sidhu have been blessed with twin daughters advertisement Karanvir recently posted a picture on his personal Instagram account of his beautiful twin daughters. He even wrote a sweet little message about it. Here is an excerpt I got the whole world in my hands, @bombaysunshine and me are still in a state of shock and disbelief that we have created 2 beautiful lives....I'm so thankful to God for sending these beautiful angels to us?They look at us with love and helplessness, when they cry, we know it is either for milk or they just want to be held, and once we pick them up, it's so difficult to put them down. You just want to hold them and look at them, and talk to them. When I put them on my chest to make them sleep, they hold me with such embrace that I want to leave everything in the world and just cater to their needs. I don't even know how I turned from a boy to a father...but this journey has just begun and I'm so looking fwd to these sleepless nights and daddy duty time. So my 2 princesses; you are twin angels sent from up above, when you were born he set free a dove, your endless love, a love so pure. It's all I want, I want no more. Hold my hand and I'll never let go, just hold my hand coz I love you so. Now isn't that the most adorable message ever? advertisement Congratulations, Karanvir and Teejay! --- ENDS --- Around April 2013, the Executive Board of International Monetary Fund (IMF) approves a $918-million loan support Ghanas ailing economy over the next three years. Observers are wondering how Ghana will be able to repay the loan and meet the strict conditions imposed by creditors. One of such hidden conditions is that Ghana needs to put in place sufficient safeguards to prevent discrimination against health care workers serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients in the country. The World Bank Group may be prohibited from interfering in countries internal politics, but that doesnt mean it cant build the economic case for stemming discrimination against sexual minorities, the Bretton Wood Institution has stated on its website. In 2014, the research arm of the global financial institution, took up a new project exploring a causal connection between discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals, and constraints to economic growth. Agreeing to protect LGBT is a hidden conditionality for the loan to be approved, top World Bank official who pleaded anonymity has stated, adding that, by accepting the loan, Ghana now agrees to be gay rights advocates. Consequently, the loan contracted by the ruling NDC government has attracted a number of homosexuals into the country, even though the countrys laws criminalizes unnatural canal knowledge. Ghana recorded over 30,000 homosexuals As at 2014, it was estimated that men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ghana are over 30,000 and they can be found in all 10 regions of the country. The figure is contained in a report titled integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) survey, which was commissioned by the Ghana AIDS Commission in 2011. According to the report, 17% of men who sleep with men (MSM) are living with HIV. In a highly religious country like Ghana, homosexuality is seen as an imported foreign lifestyle choice and a moral aberration. While churches and mosque have been at the forefront of leading a crusade against what they describe as a moral canker, some human right activist in the country including top officials in the ruling government consider the subject a human rights issue. Unlike in Western countries, where homosexuals practice their act in the open, gays and lesbians in Ghana maintain their relationship underground because of the social stigma associated with their sexual orientation. While politicians remain vocal on almost all issues, few in Ghana are willing to take the political risk of advocating tolerance for the rights of homosexuals. Ex- President Kufuor banned homosexual activities In 2006, the New Patriotic Party Government led by ex-President John Kufuor banned a conference for gay men and lesbians that were to be held in the country. In 2003, an Accra Circuit Court jailed four gay men for engaging in homosexual activities. Ex-President Mills frown on homosexuality In February 2012, the late President Atta Mills reiterated the government's stance on LGBT rights, saying: Ghanaian societies frown on homosexuality ... if the people's interest is that we do not legalize homosexuality, I don't see how any responsible leader will decide to go against the wishes of his people Nobody can say in Ghana we discriminate against homosexuality, there is no witch-hunting on homosexuality ... that is their own problem so we move on. Late President Mills during his term of office called the bluff of UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, over the latters threat to cut aid to countries with anti-gay legislation, adding that, Ghana will not accept aid with conditions which have the tendency to destroy the social fabric of the society. "Let me also say that whiles we acknowledge all the financial assistance and all the aid which has been given to us by our development partners, we will not accept any aid with strings attached if that aid will not inure to our interest," the late president talked tough. Equatorial Guinea President warned Mahama over homosexuality The President of Equatorial Guinea, three years ago, warned President John DramaniMahama and other African leaders not to tolerate, accept or allow the issue of homosexuality to get roots in their countries as it is an abomination before God. Addressing local and international journalists at a press conference held in Malabo (the capital city of Equatorial Guinea) recently, President ObiangNguemaMbasogo said, "Homosexuality is not God's will for His people and should not even be discussed in Africa including Ghana. We strongly believe that righteousness exalts nation and not homosexuality." He added, The Book of Leviticus Chapter 18 tells us that man is not supposed to get married to another man or they are not supposed to have sexual intercourse with another man, which means that God will punish the nation which tolerates this type of abomination. World Bank suspends loan to Uganda The World Bank, sometime ago, has suspended a planned $90m loan to Uganda meant to strengthen its health care system after its president signed into law a bill prescribing harsh jail terms for homosexual offences. The decision by the global lender comes days after homosexuality supporting countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway said they would also freeze or change aid programmes for Uganda because of the law. The Uganda anti-gay law will see those convicted of aggravated homosexuality defined as sex between gay men and minors or the disabled jailed for life. We have postponed the project for further review to ensure that the development objectives would not be adversely affected by the enactment of this new law, a World Bank spokesman said. World Banks first meeting with homosexuals The World Banks spring meetings in April 2014 saw the first official meeting between the Banks president, Jim Yong Kim and 15 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) leaders. The meeting took place just two months after the Bank postponed a $90 million loan to Ugandas health care sector following the governments introduction of an anti-homosexuality act which imposes lifetime imprisonment for homosexuality. The Bank said it wanted to ensure that the development outcomes of this loan would not be adversely affected by the enactment of this new law. The Banks involvement with LGBT rights has attracted controversy. UK magazine the Economist suggested in April that the Bank has to pick its battles and that setting up gay rights as a test of its lending decisions is likely to make the Bank less effective at what Mr Kim himself has emphasised is its core job: tackling extreme poverty. A response by a number of LGBT activists who attended the meetings in Washington argued that the loan demonstrated the need for the Bank to adopt a safeguard policy on sexual orientation and gender identity that would prevent exclusion and recognise these individuals as important stakeholders in its work, as part of its safeguards review. An April report submitted to the Bank by consultants reviewing the case is alleged to suggest that, despite the anti-homosexuality act, the Bank should proceed with the loan but ensure strict conditions that health care workers should not be prosecuted for serving LGBT patients. In an early May, six US-based NGOs, including Health Global Access Project, wrote to to Kim arguing that there have not yet been sufficient safeguards put in place to prevent discrimination in health service provision for LGBT patients for the loan to be approved. 27.10.2016 LISTEN The Coalition of Ga-Dangme have hit hard at the Chieftaincy Minister, Dr Seidu Danaa for allegedly aiding a subordinate to disrespect the Presidency. According to the youth, Dr Danaa has failed to enforce a transfer letter that was issued to the registrar of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Harry Attipoe. In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Emmanuel Okoe Thormy, said the Minister since he issued the directive has failed to enforce it. "We suspect the Minister, Dr Danaa for having a hand in the refusal of the registrar to leave for his new post despite orders from the Presidency. Is he trying to say Attipoe is bigger than him" They said "we knew the Minister to be a very strong willed and disciplined person who does not condone illegality but his posture in the Attipoe transfer saga gives room to doubt his integrity" "It is unfortunate Dr Danaa would allow Attipoe's transfer to dent his image" Mr Thormy noted that the coalition of Ga-Dangme believes Attipoe is allegedly involved in several corrupt acts at the House of Chiefs hence his refusal to leave for his new transfer base despite orders from the Presidency affirming his transfer. The group again questioned the Minister why he issued the transfer letter in the first place when he knew he was working at the whims and caprice of his subordinate Attipoe. "If you know you are in bed with Attipoe, why do you have to issue a transfer letter when you are unable to enforce it? they questioned "We believe the Minister must answer questions to the Presidency for allowing Attipoe to continue to be in office despite his own transfer letter for him to leave for the Volta region. Dr Danaa has surely been compromised in this transfer saga" The Coalition who have called off two demonstrations since the Attipoe transfer saga unfolded have threatened to hit the street soon to force Attipoe out of office. "We shall demonstrate against the Minister Dr Danaa and Attipoe in the coming days to ensure the right thing is done. We believe Dr Danaa must come clean." It is nebulous for an institution which has refused to respond to inquiries about the status of some very important matters to pick and choose who to investigate to soothe their convenience. The Economic and Organized Crimes Office (EOCO)s quest to investigate the sources of funding of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) and the All Peoples Congress (APC) is discriminatory, unfair and bias. EOCO as an institution lacks the moral right to commence inquiry into the activities of any other institution in relation mainly because of their selective attitude towards matters of national interest. EOCO Vs NDC: In August 2012, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) notified EOCO to investigate the source of funding of NDC in the acquisition of a multimillion dollar office complex that costs $20 million in Adabraka that is currently serving as the new headquarters. AFAGs view was for the source of funding of edifice to be made public. To date EOCO has never bothered to heed to this call. EOCO's MESS: Interestingly, the former executive director of EOCO Mr. Kwaku Martey who retired in May 2015, and later became a parliamentary aspirant for the governing NDC party in September 2015 was allegedly involved in economic sabotage thus, embezzling nearly Ghc400,000 and personalization of official residence including vehicles intended to have been used to investigate some agencies such as; Microfinance and Small Loan Center (MASLOC), Destination Inspection Companies (DICs) and Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) among others. This was submitted in a petition to the president through the chief of staff by a private citizen from Ho West and copied to the NDC vetting committee. EOCO is yet to up clean up its own mess. Simply put: the physician is yet to heal thyself. It is clear that certain persons in EOCO have political affiliations which is informing who and when they choose to investigate even in the face of compelling evidence.. AFAG wonders which political party the current boss may in future, and hopefully, actively participate in since precedence has been set by the immediate past boss. INVESTIGATE NDC & NPP: Furthermore, AFAG is of the view that inviting PPP and APC is an incomplete process if indeed they are genuinely interested in the issue of funding of political parties. We strongly believe that EOCO must investigate all other political parties, especially the NDC and NPP to reveal their source of funding as well. RESOLUTION: Our democratic process must be strengthened by the collective effort of every Ghanaian, including state institutions. The rule of equality before the law and the right to experience and enjoy equal political, social and economic rights must be upheld at all time. EOCO must purge itself to make it responsible enough to serve the best of Ghana, our motherland. Signed: Arnold Boateng Wesley Owusu Henry Haruna Asante Nana Ayew Afriye Davis Opoku The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has cautioned chiefs under his jurisdiction to desist from partisan politics as he says such acts denigrate the chieftaincy institution. Addressing the final 2016 session of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs in Kumasi, the Asantehene warned chiefs under his jurisdiction not to meddle in politics. His warning comes as more than 60 chiefs across the country have publicly endorsed the candidature of the governing National Democratic Congress' (NDC) John Mahama and the New Patriotic Party's (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo ahead of the polls. But the Asantehene has said, if you want to engage in politics then I will advise you to abdicate your stool. Leaders of the various political parties visit you at your various palaces and they give you gifts but do not be swayed by these gifts to start endorsing them because that is not you work as a chief. When they come with their gifts, collect them but do not engage in politics, the Asantehene advised his chiefs. 'Report Chiefs who endorse candidates Chieftaincy minister' The Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Henry Seidu Danaa, also urged persons concerned with Chiefs endorsing presidential aspirants, despite the act being unlawful, to report them to their respective Regional House of Chiefs to have the issues addressed. According to him, the constitution frowns on traditional rulers mounting political platforms or displaying party paraphernalia. 'Chiefs endorse Mahama, Nana Addo' Chiefs that have endorsed President Mahama include the Chief of Sunyani, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, Chief of Yeji, Nana Pemapin Yaw Kagbrese, the chief of Bassa, Nana Owusu Sekyi III and the Chief of Odumase No. 1, Nana Kwasi Yeboah. Some of those who have endorse Akufo Addo include the Chief of Garu, Naba Asuguru Akuntam Wini, Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigiri Azoka Abugrago II and Paramount Chief of the Tumu Traditional Area, Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton VI. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has described as unrealistic the NPPs Election 2016 Manifesto promise to reduce taxes on businesses. He said the NPPs prescription would be inimical to the growth of the economy and development. Vice President Amissah-Arthur was speaking at a lecture, organised by Students of Economics of the University of Cape Coast. The lecture, which is on the theme: The Economy, Strengthening, Teaching and Research of Economics for Nation Building is a novelty by the Department of Economics of the University. It is to enable the students to have a practical understanding of the subject. Vice President Amissah-Arthur stated that a careful analysis by the NDC of the NPPs proposed tax breaks for businesses would amount to a6.2 billion, in additions to a21 billion in new expenditures for infrastructure. He said looking at the NPPs proposals and the way they intended to spend public finances on their unrealistic manifesto promises, it would come with dire consequences for the Ghanaian economy. Ghanaians, he said, must, therefore, help stop the NPP in their tracks before they unleashed their impracticable promises on the country. He said a look at the NPP Manifesto also showed there were no philosophical underpinnings in the policy, presented to Ghanaians as compared to that of the NDC. Vice President Amissah-Arthur also stated that the NDC had managed to reduce the countrys budget deficit, which stood at of 12 per cent in 2012 to about six percent currently, meaning there had been fiscal consolidation. He said in the eight years of the Kufuor Regime, the country had 56 per cent growth in GDP, whereas in seven years of the NDC, the nation had 65 percent growth in GDP. He said the current NDC Manifesto sought to provide an environment that would help grow small and medium enterprises, as well as roll out policies to create direct employment opportunities for the youth. Vice President Amissah-Arthur said surprisingly, the NPP with their long history of political activism, the Danquah- Busia Tradition, were now borrowing ideas from a Social Democratic Party (NDC). He said the NPP implicitly accepted everything that the NDC had done in terms of the economic management, with the exception that the Government had not been able to restore macro-economic stability. He said though it was clear that the NPP had adopted the NDCs vision, the NPP was still denying these facts. He said the NPPs one constituency, one million-dollar policy was not well thought out since its implementation would render the district assemblies redundant. The Hague (AFP) - Complex diverse political agendas are driving African nations to quit the International Criminal Court, with leaders seeking to cloak the move by reigniting age-old anger at the West, analysts say. Gambia's announcement that it would be the third country to withdraw from the court is all the more frustrating as it comes at a time when the tribunal is beginning to probe some of the world's most intractable conflicts, in places such as the Palestinian territories and Afghanistan, experts say. Set up in 2002, the ICC's mission is to try the world's most heinous crimes which national governments are either unable or unwilling to prosecute. And most of the ICC prosecutions, such as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been requested by the countries themselves. But Gambian Information Minister Sheriff Bojang charged the ICC had been used "for the persecution of Africans and especially their leaders". "Not a single Western war criminal has been indicted," he said late Tuesday, as his country followed Burundi and continental heavyweight South Africa in announcing it intends to leave the tribunal. Shielding the powerful It is a "very worrying development," said analyst Mark Kersten, from the University of Toronto. The International Criminal Court "The ultimate effect of this will be to protect high-level senior perpetrators of mass atrocities." In his online blog, Kersten predicted while there would not be a mass exodus, as many as five to 10 nations could withdraw from the court based in The Hague, including Kenya, Namibia and Uganda. But he said ironically that showed the tribunal was more relevant than ever. "Why is the ICC in the African states as it is? If you look at all of them, I think what you'll see is that the ICC has justified investigation in all those situations," he told AFP. The three African nations involved so far have different reasons for trying to avoid any international spotlight on their domestic issues. Burundi, where ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened an initial probe in April, has been mired in 18 months of political violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his successful bid for a third term. Former ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo highlighted repeated fears from the United Nations and the African Union of "a possible genocide" in Burundi. "Who will defend the victims?" he asked. "Escaping the ICC is a way to come (with) free hands to commit genocide," Moreno-Ocampo told AFP, adding all "dictators are against" the court. Domino effect? It seems Bujumbura's decision sparked a kind of "withdrawal race," said Kersten, while insisting Pretoria's decision "was not made in solidarity with Burundi nor was it to protect or promote Nkurunziza." Set up in 2002, the ICC's mission is to try the world's most heinous crimes which national governments are either unable or unwilling to prosecute And Gambia, Bensouda's home country where President Yahya Jammeh is seeking a fifth term having ruled with an iron-fist for decades, may have tried a preemptive strike amid fears of an opposition crackdown. Experts warned of the "polarised debate" which has become symptomatic of everything that has gone wrong with the court. Of the 124 nations which have ratified the Rome Statute underpinning the court, 34 are currently African. But with the United States, Russia and China all absent from the ICC's signatories, real discussion is needed on boosting the tribunal's legitimacy. "There's a strong African lobby pro-ICC, in the sense that they want to improve the ICC. So they are critical...," said Marieke de Hoon, assistant professor in public international law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. "It's those voices that we need to assist by giving them a voice, rather than denying it," she said, highlighting Mali, Niger, Senegal and Gabon, which recently asked the ICC to open an investigation into election unrest. In part the ICC is hampered by its own rules. It can only investigate alleged crimes in states which have signed up to the Rome Statute, or if it is given a UN mandate. That has hamstrung its ability to bring to justice those involved in the wars in Iraq and Syria. "It's crucial to understand the political playing field the ICC is trying to operate in," said De Hoon. "It has limited resources, limited jurisdiction." South African Justice Minister Michael Masutha announced the country's decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court on October 21, 2016 She suggested the withdrawals could be part of an orchestrated strike -- coming only a few weeks before the members' annual meeting next month. But member states should take the criticism seriously and work to overcome the setback. "Because if they don't, then it is the dictators that are trying to run from justice" who will win, she warned. President John Mahama has purchased vehicles for certain 'senior journalists' in the country, host of Accra-based Montie FM, Salifu Maase, also known as Mugabe has revealed. The radio presenter who is sympathetic to the cause of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) claimed on the Wednesday October 26, 2016 edition of his show, Pampaso, that the President bought the vehicles for the unnamed senior journalists with the anticipation that they would help further the cause of the President and the NDC. You have been buying vehicles for the senior journalists, and even after driving in them, they still insult you, the so-called senior journalists, he claimed during a rant on his show. The revelation by the fire brand presenter adds to rumours that certain journalists in the country have been given vehicles, specifically V8s by the ruling party to do all in their power to shape public discourse to favour the NDC. However, Mugabe claimed that these 'so-called senior journalists' after taking delivery of the four wheeled gift from the presidency have refused to do the bidding of the President and the NDC but have instead gone to town lambasting the government. He added that the stations belonging to the Network Broadcasting Limited including Radio Gold, Gold TV and Muntie FM which have been doing the bidding of the NDC do not also receive adverts from the government to keep them running. Mugabe claimed elements in the government prefer to give government adverts to press houses perceived to be pro-opposition at the expense of Radio Gold, Montie FM and TV Gold. When the power leaves you then you will know the true power of the people, no radio adverts and no TV adverts for us .Keep giving adverts to the senior journalists, he shouted. President Mahama during a recent interview with the Ovation Magazine blamed a certain cabal in the media for failing to tout his achievements. Mugabe who was recently jailed for criminal contempt by the Supreme Court, also accused the NDC of neglecting him and the two others who were jailed for pursuing an NDC agenda. According to the presenter, he, Ako Gunn and Alistair Nelson have been neglected by the leadership of the ruling party after their return from prison. Some people think the Montie 3 upon our return from prison have been well taken care of and compensated, some even believe we have been given mansions, but I am telling you that we have not received anything from the government, he said. The man who is hailed by the NDC for always attacking the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its flagbearer on his show said the three ex-convicts are not the only ones who have been neglected by the NDC. He therefore warned that 'a day is coming that when you tune in to this station, you would not be hearing my voice againmy job is a risky one and you the ministers and the government appointees, you can't do it, he threatened. -Adomonline An Accra High Court has dismissed a suit against the Electoral Commission by the National Democratic Party over the disqualification of the party's flagbearer Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. At the last court hearing, lawyers of the EC argued that the NDPs application lacked merit and was not properly before the court. Delivering a ruling on the matter Thursday, the court described NDP's suit as incompetent. The applicants applied for judicial review and the enforcement of the fundamental human rights of the NDP flagbearer but according to Starr FMs Wilberforce Asare the court stated that the two issues are distinct and the rules of court do not allow an applicant to apply for both in a single application. The court has also fined the applicants GHC10,000. Nana Konadu was disqualified with 12 other presidential nominees because they failed to meet some requirements of the electoral laws ahead of the December polls. In explaining the NDP's disqualification, the EC explained that, The Commission is unable to accept Mrs. Rawlings' nomination because the number of subscribers to her forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94. One subscriber on page 89 of her nomination forms is not a validly registered voter, and illegally registered twice and so is on the Exclusion list of multiple voters. Details are Salifu Abdulai District: Nanumba South, Voter ID no: 6617004814 (28.3.2012), Voter ID no: 2126900022 (04.8.2014). -Starrfmonline The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has alleged that the government of Ghana (GoG) is offering Ghana's gas to China in what it termed as a "dangerous agreement" between the two states. The party revealed aspects of the intended agreement at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday. NPPs Policy Advisor Boakye Agyarko said: the Mahama Cabinet has recently given approval to a proposal which they hope will entice the China Development Bank to re-activate the remaining $2 billion of the $3 billion loan which the Chinese discontinued after disbursing $1 billion of it to Ghana. In the original Master Facility Agreement, he said, President Mahama committed Ghana to supplying, as collateral security, 13,000 barrels per day of crude oil up to 2027 to service the CDB facility. The Chinese eventually considered this as insufficient because of the slump in oil prices, refusing to release the remaining tranches, he said. Mr. Boakye Agyarko said, in the new offer to CDB, the Mahama government is proposing to export to the Chinese, all the Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) to be processed by the Ghana Gas processing plant at Atuabo from 2018, estimated at the value of $1.5 billion. Quoting from the Decisions Memorandum on the facility drafted by the Mahama administration this year, Mr. Boakye Agyarko said, the Mahama administration intends to release up to $450 million from the revenue accruing from the sale of Lean Gas over 2016 to 2018 for purposes of resolving shortfalls in GoG payment obligations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 2016 to 2021,. This means that the gas that we are hoping will power our industries, offices, hospitals and homes, will rather be used to service a commercial loan of highly questionable prudence, he stated. The NPPs Policy Advisor also revealed how the NDC is looking up to the Chinese to find an additional $1.9 billion for the Ghana Gas Processing Plant to build the export infrastructure to make it possible to export all the NLGs to the Chinese. To cap it all, the NDC brains, if I may stress, big brains putting this deal together, led by Ato Ahwoi and Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, are demanding $6 million to fund the work of the Task Force, which the President set up to unlock this wonderful gift from China. "And, that money is coming from the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund funds that Finance Minister, Seth Terpker went to the international money market to borrow at a very expensive rate, he added. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com The long threatened abandonment of the ICC by Africa is under way. Burundi, South Africa and Gambia have announced that they are leaving, with more departures expected. According to African leaders, the court has unfairly targeted African leaders and has not shown respect for the dignity of African leaders. They cite, amongst other things the fact that 9 of 10 current investigations are focused on Africa. Since it's formation, the court has prosecuted some of Africa's most notorious killers, including Charles Taylor and Joseph Kony. It has issued indictments against, amongst others, Sudan's Omar al Bashir and Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta. Do the African leaders have a point? Maybe. But their focus on dignity ignores the fundamental question of justice for the African people. Since the departure of the colonialism, African leaders have been killing Africans at an alarming rate. Indeed, one of these days, we will pass the point where Africa's post-independent leaders would have murdered more Africans than the colonialists-- if we have not already. The wall of shame has many names--- Amin, Mengistu, Nguema, the Interahamwe,Charles Taylor and Abacha, to mention just a few. Amidst all the outcry about dignity, where is the cry for justice? When Africa leaves the ICC, who will seek justice for the millions of Africans whose lives have been cut short by men of violence and impunity? While the complaints that American and other Western leaders and soldiers are not subject to the ICC is valid, they have strong judicial systems that can hold their leaders to account. US President Nixon resigned and the soldiers who committed crimes in Iraq were punished. The AU arguments reminds me of the villager who beats his wife and complains when he is summoned to the palace that he is being unfairly targeted because his neighbour, who also beats his wife has not been summoned! If African leaders stop abusing their people, the ICC indictments will stop. Let the ICC continue. Without them, who shall restrain the bullies on our continent? The AU should focus on the victims, not the perpetrators. Arthur K The Kapoor sisters are here to give you another simple styling lesson. By Hemul Goel: Actresses and sisters Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karisma Kapoor are always around to make the world a much more stylish place. Kareena, Karisma and Rhea post their lunch date. Photo: Yogen Shah Also read: We can't decide if Kareena Kapoor Khan's baby bump looked more stunning in a skirt or a sharara Spotted on a lunch date with the other Kapoors, sisters Sonam and Rhea, and stylist Tanya Ghavri, the five lookers seemed to come together for a winning shot that would give any shutterbug a high. Sonam Kapoor attended MAMI in the same look. Photo: Yogen Shah advertisement While the very pregnant Kareena Kapoor Khan dressed up in stripes, wide-legged pants and sneakers for the outing, Karisma kept it simple in a floral top, pants and flats. Also see: Kareena, Karisma, Ranbir: Kapoors rule the Lakme Fashion Week runway on day 5 However, the most striking feature of their appearance was the fact that the two sisters jazzed up their relatively simple looks in a similar manner. Twinning with their Hermes bags. Photo: Yogen Shah Twinning with their Hermes bags. Photo: Yogen Shah Big diamonds, watches and an Hermes army candy was spotted on each sister. So, the next time you are confused about the right way to make your look work, remember to fall back on just the essentials like these Kapoor girls. P.S. Don't miss a look at the trends mommy-to-be Kareena Kapoor Khan's set through her movies. --- ENDS --- Maputo (AFP) - Secret peace talks between Mozambique's opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama and EU mediators were called off at the weekend after fighting broke out between the military and ex-rebel fighters, local media reported Wednesday. It was hoped that the meeting would contribute towards negotiations that opened in May to end a simmering conflict between the government and the former Renamo rebel group. "We had agreed (with President Filipe Nyusi) that two mediators would come... to meet me," Dhlakama told the independent weekly Canal de Mocambique. But Dhlakama, who has been holed-up in the central Gorongosa mountains for a year now, said the military increased its presence near the bush location of the meeting on the morning of the talks. "There was a violent shootout. I even heard the explosions from here," Dhlakama said. "So I called (chief mediator Mario) Raffaelli to tell him that armed forces had come to ambush me." He said he was "convinced" that the ruling Frelimo party "wanted to capture me during the meeting". "It is obvious they have a plan to kill me," he added. Raffaelli, the European Union-appointed mediator, declined to comment when contacted by AFP. A European diplomat, who asked not to be named, confirmed to AFP that two mediators had gone to Gorongosa for a meeting with Dhlakama. "(But) Dhlakama told them to turn back at the very last moment," said the diplomat. A new round of peace talks resumed last week despite the killing of an opposition negotiator earlier this month. On Tuesday separate talks between the mediators and each of the feuding sides continued as usual. While both sides have agreed in principle to changing the constitution to allow Renamo figures to be appointed as provincial governors, the talks have yet to result in a ceasefire. Renamo, which previously waged a 16-year civil war that ended in 1992, has refused to accept the results of 2014 elections when it was beaten once more by the ruling Frelimo party -- in power since the former Portuguese colony's independence 40 years ago. Renamo's armed wing has in recent years staged a string of deadly attacks in central Mozambique as it fights to make its voice heard and to secure a greater share of power. Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Prof Stephen Adei has dismissed reports that he described President John Mahama as incompetent and a liar. According to Prof Adei the said report, which is circulating on social media is a complete fallacy and should be disregarded by the public. In a statement copied to Myjoyonline.com, the former rector said I would wish to categorically deny having stated, I say no to John Mahama; Hes incompetent and a liar! Even the purported quotation was a doctored reportage in a newspaper from a sermon I gave at the first Baptist Church in Tema about two years ago, the statement added. He further stated in the statement that I condemn such action and irresponsible language, especially in the current political climate, in no uncertain terms. I wish to apologise to his Excellency the President for any harm such malicious actions may cause him. Below is a copy of the statement Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com Nairobi (AFP) - A man was shot and killed by Kenyan police outside the US embassy in the capital Nairobi on Thursday, police said. "The man was shot dead after a confrontation with officers guarding the embassy," a police source told AFP on condition of anonymity, without specifying the cause of the confrontation. 27.10.2016 LISTEN By Maxwell Ofori, Parliament House [email protected] Ghana has gone into an agreement with five countries on the waiver of visa requirements to foster relations between them. The agreement would ensure the development of robust collaborative linkages in all sectors of the economies of the partner countries involved in the agreement. The five countries, namely; the Peoples Republic of China, Republic of Sudan, Republic of Cuba, Republic of Seychelles and Republic of Turkey, would have its citizens holding particular passports, and entering the territories of the stated parties with no difficulty. A report, which was presented to Parliament by the Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday, and sighted by The Chronicle, indicated that desirous of deepening relations between Ghana and the nations concerned, and the need to facilitate improved interactions between citizens and officials of Ghana and the said countries, Ghana entered into the agreement with those countries. The report noted that the agreement was entered separately, as the government of Ghana and the government of the Peoples Republic of China agreed on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports. This was signed on February 17, 2015, for nationals who hold diplomatic passports and service passports to be able enjoy a free visa stay in Ghana or China for a period not exceeding ninety days in an instance. However, conditions by which the affected persons will require a visa would be if the affected persons need to stay more than 90 days to engage in work, news reporting, or any activities which shall be approved in advance by the other contracting partys competent authorities. Also, on October 18, 2016, there was an agreement between the government of the Republic of Ghana and the government of the Republic of Cuba, regarding the waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports,for a period not more than 90 days in an instance. The agreement between Ghana and the Republic of Seychelles was on a short-stay visa waiver, which was signed on May 20, 2016. Nationals of the two countries can enjoy this waiver, but for a period not beyond sixty days, and not more than 90 days cumulatively in one year. Furthermore, the Republic of Ghana, on August 20, 2014, signed an agreement with the government of the Republic of Sudan, on the visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, officials and service passports, for a period not exceeding thirty days in an instance. Again, on March 24, 2011, there was an agreement signed between the government of the Republic of Ghana and the government of the Republic of Turkey, concerning a mutual abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic passports. These passports holders can enjoy the waiver for a period not exceeding 90 days within any 180 days period, commencing from the date of the first visa. Notwithstanding, beneficiaries wishing to stay beyond the 90 days period of visa exemption will need to apply for visas. According to the committees report, the agreement were restricted to holders of diplomatic and other official passports, to ensure easy management, given the fact that the holders are often public officials whose backgrounds and conducts were within the purview of the public, and therefore, of the security apparatus of the state, citing that in the light of the foregoing, the agreement posed no security risk to the country. The committee observed that the agreement does not impose any financial obligation on the parties, neither will any country obtain direct financial gains from the implementation, the report noted. 27.10.2016 LISTEN By Bernice Bessey. The Minister for the Interior, Prosper Douglas Bani, says the Ghana Police Service is set to arrest any individual who will hide behind political party vigilante groups to cause mayhem, before and during the December elections. Mr. Bani said the vigilante groups, namely; Invisible Forces, Bolga Bulldogs, Azorka Boys and Kangaha Boys among others, are not recognised by law, and, as such, their existence and operations are illegal. He sent a strong warning to the effect that individuals will be arrested based on their demerits, not who or which political party they have aligned themselves to, explaining that such persons are adults, and need to be held responsible for their actions. If an individual acts wrongly, we will arrest you as an individual. Because the individual we're talking about is an adult, he warned. According to the Minister, such groups, no matter their political affiliations, the media especially, should not give them its platform in order to legitimise their operations, saying, We don't want to give them credence. The Interior Minister made the statement at the occasion of the meet-the-press series, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications and Information, yesterday, in Accra. Touching on the preparedness of the police to ensure the lives and properties are protected during the elections, he said tension and anxiety during polls are normal all over the world, and that the security agencies are ready to curtail any form of lawlessness. He urged Ghanaians to be calm and avoid anxieties surrounding the coming elections, since the security of the nation is very firm and stable, stressing that for the past few years, the country had not experience any armed violence due to the intensive security measures already in place. Though the Ghana Police Service has identified over 5,000 hot spots in this election period, the sector Minister advised the public to have confidence in the security institutions, in order not to take the law into their own hands. He advised that protection of the ballot box is the responsibility of the police, not any individual or persons. To enhance the security of the nation during the polls, the Minister said when it becomes necessary the Ministry will consider supplementing the police with the military to effect peace. When answering the question on whether the government still has the intention to ban social media on Election Day, Mr. Bani iterated that social media would not be banned at any time, not during election period. He also used the platform to appeal to pastors to avoid pronouncements that would inflame passions and jeopardise the peace the nation is enjoying, adding that such pronouncements are not healthy for the country's young democracy. The Deputy Minister of the sector, James Agalga, also announced that the discrimination of drug use and drug addiction would lead to the establishment of rehabilitation centres that would cater for the needs of drugs addicts. However, he cautioned that the Narcotics Board, which will soon be made a commission, would continue to deal ruthlessly with drug barons. By Maxwell Ofori, Parliament House [email protected] The embattled Deputy Minister-designate for Local Government and Rural Development, John Oti Bless, has finally been given the green light to assume office. His approval follows weeks of debate from both sides of the House on his nomination, after his alleged denigrating comments on the personality of the Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, on an Accra-based radio station, Montie FM. It was the same demeaning utterances which landed the infamous 'Montie 3' Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, Alistair Tairo Nelson, and Godwin Ako Gunn in prison, and who were later pardoned by President Mahama after two months, on the heels of a petition sent to him (President) by some citizens. On the floor of Parliament yesterday, the Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, called for the motion, which had already been debated on, pending questions to be dealt with. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho, put the question, and the House agreed in the affirmative, adding that the House accordingly approved the nomination of the member. The Minority raised issues against the nominee in a move to block the approval of John Oti Bless, who had been accused of making unsavoury comments against the Chief Justice on the said radio programme. John Kwabena Oti Bless was alleged to have described the Chief Justice as an agent of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and unfit for the job. The comment, amongst others, came on the floor after the Appointments Committee had presented its report on the nominee. As a result, the Appointments Committee could not factor it in the report. The Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Ebo Barton Oduro, told the House that the accusations did not come up at the committee level, so it did not form part of the its report. Mr. Oti Bless was one of the three nominated by the President some months back for deputy ministerial positions. However, the two other nominees, including the Deputy Foreign Minister, Emmanuel Bombande, were approved somewhere in August, this year. Meanwhile, John Oti Bless' appointment comes barely a month to the end of the John Mahama-led administration. 27.10.2016 LISTEN By Pascal Kafu Abotsi ([email protected]). The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has launched an appeal to the Ghanaian electorate to unlock their mindsets from the deceit of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the perennial power outages across the country is a thing of the past. Per its assessment, the NPP has concluded that the Mahama-led administration lacks the technical know-how to contain the power crisis, popularly called dum-so, which, in the partys view, is back in full swing. At a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Policy Advisor to the NPP campaign, Boakye Agyarko, anticipated the worsening of the power in 2017, should Ghanaians give the NDC the chance to rule for another four years. His argument was that the NDC has not demonstrated any measure of control in addressing the challenge, adding that many businesses and residential consumers of electricity are justifiably afraid that 'dum-so' will come back if the NDC is retained in power. According to him, Gas supply from Nigeria stopped in June this year, and may not be resumed soon, due to government's failure to pay outstanding debts, in excess of US$160 million. He also said gas supply from the Jubilee Field would also stop, as the FPSO was expected to be shut down for repairs for between three to six months. With these developments, Asogli and AMERI will not be able to generate power. We are, therefore, estimating that Ghana will experience a shortage of up to 700 megawatts of power early next year, which may be dragged lower, as Akosombo [Dam] may be drafted in spite of the lower water level, he stressed. Mr. Agyarko further accused President Mahama and the NDC government of exploiting the energy sector to line the pockets of family and friends, saying, The NDC sees energy as a money-making pyramid scheme for friends and family of the President. When given the nod in the upcoming elections, Mr. Agyarko narrated, the NPP would strengthen governance of the power sector, whilst providing institutions like the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) better tools to operate at their fullest capacities. Apart from the NPP government negotiating with its counterpart in Nigeria, and with the West African Gas Pipeline, to restore the gas supply from Nigeria, Mr. Agyarko also mentioned that: An Akufo-Addo government, God willing, will shred into irretrievable pieces, John Dramani Mahamas reckless technical move to export all our gas in return for $2 billion. 27.10.2016 LISTEN President John Dramani Mahama, and his National Democratic Congress, appear to have already created the Ghanaian political version of what George Orwell described as double-speak in his political satire -NINETEEN EIGHT-FOUR. In one breath, the Head of State, and the whole of his government machinery, is in the campaign trenches, convincing Ghanaians to buy into their job-creation module promised in the party's manifesto for the 2016 Presidential and Legislative elections. In another, the government, headed by President Mahama, and propped up by the NDC, has written to the International Monetary Fund, pledging to abide by the fund's request for an entire government job freeze in 2017. For the records, the new Memorandum of Understanding with the IMF has the signature of Mr. Seth Emmanuel Terkper, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and Dr. Abdul-Nashiru Isahaku, Governor of the Bank of Ghana. Read the introduction to the party's manifesto: The National Democratic Congress (NDC) remains deeply committed to the principles and values of Social Democracy. As Social Democrats, we subscribe to a compassionate political philosophy that seeks to create opportunities for all to develop to their fullest potential. We believe that our pursuit of economic prosperity for all Ghanaians can best be achieved through appropriate regulation and strategic investments. We are, therefore, committed to using the legal, fiscal and trade instruments at our disposal, in an inclusive effort to safeguard the jobs of today, and create the jobs of the future. On Monday, the Finder Newspaper published the contents of a Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies and Technical Memorandum of Understanding the Government of Ghana has reached with the International Monetary Fund, under which the Mahama administration has pledged to fully enforce compliance of the Breton Woods institution's directive on a complete freeze on public sector recruitment. In other words, while the President claims to have committed himself and the entire administration to the promotion of jobs when retained in power at next month's election, Mahama and his administration have already pledged to the IMF to follow their prescription of keeping Ghanaian job-seekers at home. Already, the job market has been frozen, following the country's deal with the IMF, under which the collapsing economy has been bailed US$912 million over three years. In this country, public sector nurses who completed their various courses of study have been sitting at home for the past two years, while our health centres are crying for their expertise. The membership of the Unemployed Graduates Association of Ghana keeps growing, because there are virtually no openings in the public sector to recruit fresh graduates. As you read this piece, newly-qualified teachers who graduated from the 32 state-run colleges of education have been teaching all this while without wages. Job creation, under the Mahama oligarchy, is turning out to be a mirage. In a third-world setting like Ghana, the government is the largest employer. If the state is shirking its responsibility to provide jobs, it puts everybody in danger. If there is hardship in Ghana, there is your answer. Incidentally, this is an administration that claims to take its social democratic credentials seriously. We are not doomsday soothsayers, but The Chronicle is unable to find any straight path towards job creation after the vote. In a circumstance such as this, we do not believe any job seeker would be minded to put his or her trust in President Mahama and his promises. There is a lot that the people of Ghana would have to ponder on as we approach the vote. We are not safe with the new double-speak Mahama is preaching. Nairobi (AFP) - A group of African legal and rights experts on Thursday called on Burundi, South Africa and Gambia to reconsider their plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The African Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) -- consisting of lawyers, prosecutors, judges, academics and human rights activists -- called on the countries' leaders to "reconsider and recommit themselves to the Rome Statute," the treaty that established the ICC, a global court headquartered in The Hague. The AGJA was set up a year ago aiming to improve relations between the international court and Africa's leaders, some of whom say the continent has been unfairly targeted for prosecution or investigation. Last week Burundi became the first country to declare its intention to leave the ICC, after the court's prosecutor said she might open a case against the government. South Africa and Gambia followed suit, raising fears of an exodus of African countries, many of which are founding members of the court. The International Criminal Cour "Withdrawals from the ICC constitute a serious obstacle to the rights of victims to justice and the duty of states to ensure accountability for mass atrocities. They close an important recourse to justice and undermine the global fight against impunity," said AGJA member Hassan Bubacar Jallow, former prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and, like the ICC's current chief prosecutor, a Gambian national. AGJA noted that African countries including Botswana and Senegal had voiced their concern at the announced withdrawals and encouraged others to remain committed to the court. Nairobi (AFP) - A man was shot and killed by Kenyan police outside the US embassy in the capital Nairobi on Thursday after stabbing an officer with a knife. "The man was shot after stabbing a GSU officer in the hand and left him with injuries," said local police chief Vitalis Otieno. The police officer involved in the shooting was a member of the paramilitary General Services Unit (GSU) deployed to guard the embassy. He was said to be "in good condition" in hospital. Otieno said the dead man was a 24-year-old Kenyan from Wajir in the country's north-east close to the border with Somalia, but did not give a name. According to police the man had been walking towards the US embassy and was close to the public entrance to the visa section when he attempted to grab a gun from one of the officers. A scuffle ensued during which the man reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed one officer before being shot in the head by another. A photograph shared on social media showed the body of a man of apparently Somali ethnicity lying on the pavement, a pool of blood staining the tarmac by his head, and surrounded by police officers. Five US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officers were also present at the scene alongside around a dozen Kenyan officers. Soon after the incident the busy road was opened to traffic which drove slowly by the body still lying prone on the ground. A statement from the US embassy confirmed the "shooting incident", adding that "no embassy personnel were involved." The well-guarded US embassy in Nairobi is located opposite the main UN complex in Gigiri, an upmarket suburb in the city's north popular with expatriates. Motives unknown Additional UN security staff were deployed along the road, called UN Avenue, after the incident. The motive for the man's actions remains unknown with police saying "investigations are still ongoing". "We are investigating to know if there are other accomplices, and if he had been sent by anyone, so that we can get to apprehend them," Otieno told reporters at the scene. The US missions in both Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania were hit by near simultaneous car bombings in August 1998. The twin bombings, claimed by Al-Qaeda, killed a total of 224 people and injured some 5,000 -- almost all of them Kenyans and Tanzanians. By Mail Today Bureau: After facing flak from the opposition for allegedly promoting alcohol in the national Capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has decided to crack whip against drinking in public, and may even arrest violators and slap fine of Rs 10,000. The Delhi government has received several complaints against liquor vendors and nuisance created due to drinking in public. advertisement LICENSE CONDITIONS VIOLATED Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said that after Diwali the excise department will strictly enforce the Excise Act under which consuming alcohol at public places attracts a fine of Rs 5,000 and if the offender creates nuisance then the fine will go up to Rs 10,000 with a jail term of three months. The move by the city government came two days after Sisodia carried out raid at a liquor vend at Mayur Vihar Phase-II after receiving complaints from the public. During the raid he found that the licence conditions were violated by the shop and others shops were opened next to the liquor shop. Sisodia hinted that not only people drinking in public will be punished but the licence of the shop will also be cancelled. AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS TO TAKE PLACE Initially the Delhi government will carry out awareness campaign against public drinking and crime against women. "I have directed the excise department to inspect every alcohol shop and allied businesses outside these shops during the campaign. For one week we will conduct this awareness campaign. During the campaign, we will encourage and appeal to the people not to drink liquor in the open as it is against the rules. We will crack down on those indulging in such things," Sisodia said. EXCISE ACT ENFORCED FROM NOV 7 After the campaign, the excise officers will carry out random raids and prosecute the violators. "If someone is found consuming alcohol in public places and near liquor shops, we will get them arrested under the Excise Act from November 7. We will also impose fines," Sisodia said. The excise department officials will check whether CCTV cameras have been installed by the licence holders. Allied business, including general stores which often sell drinking glasses and fruit chaat, will be inspected. AAP's rival outfit Swaraj Abhiyan has been targeting the AAP government over its liquor policy and demanded immediate closure of 11 alcohol vends in the national capital that were allegedly opened without public approval. It carried out several jansunwai (public hearing) in parts of Delhi to reach out to large number of people. In August this year, the AAP government had announced that no new liquor shops will come up in Delhi this year and the mohalla sabhas will be empowered to shut existing neighbourhood vends if there are complaints of "nuisance". advertisement However, it remains to be seen if the drive by the AAP government gets support from the Delhi Police which operates under the Central government. But a senior officer said that even the excise department can impose fine and arrest people. So they would not have to rely on Delhi Police and will work on individual complaints, he said. The Delhi government may also start a helpline to report such cases. Also Read: Sisodia urges HRD to change its name into Ministry of Education --- ENDS --- 27.10.2016 LISTEN By Elsie Appiah-Osei/ Priscilla S Djentuh, GNA Accra, Oct 26, GNA - mFarms, an innovative user-friendly mobile and web based system for managing and communicating with players within the agriculture value chain, was launched in Accra on Wednesday. mFarms, which is an Image AD, a software company's flagship app aims at improving the operational efficiency, communication and viable linkages within the agricultural value chain system. It would unlock the potential of the sector and provide farmers with information on good agricultural practices, pest and disease management,' Mr Kwame Bentil, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Image AD said at the launch. He explained that the service would provide solution for value chain actors dispersed over a large area. 'The solution is a mobile and web based which will help in managing and communicating with actors within the agricultural value chain. 'This service is delivered via SMS and voice messages to farmers,' he said. Mr Bentil noted that the service sought to bring good agricultural practices to the doorstep of smallholder farmers in order to increase their yield and incomes. He said the public could subscribe to the app by texting #AGROTIP Region and Crop to register on 0238101010. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Bentil disclosed that mFarms was currently operating in 19 countries in Africa and was active in seven regions. 'With 16 apps developed over the past four to five years,' he said. Mr Bentil said three platforms namely Agribiz, Farmer to Market and m-Xtension were the main components of the mFarms. 'And so far two types of businesses have been recognised under the agribusiness which are the goods and services,' he said. Mr Bentil said the mFarms agribusiness solutions offered services such as field agent management, actors, transactions, loans management and warehouse management. Other services include crop production, market information, extension monitoring and communication hub. Mr Larry Attipoe, the Director for International Development of FAIRTRADE International, lauding initiators of the app said it was interesting and called on them to help make it attractive to the youth. He also called for active support from all for extensive solutions to be developed towards agriculture in the country. 'This is a potential change to the face of agriculture not on the continent but beyond,' he said. Mr Bentil said the mFarms came in handy in this technologically advanced era and urged farmers to take advantage of it. The mFarms solutions could be used by NGOs, farmer base organisations, logistics and Haulage companies, agricultural inputs companies and warehouse companies. Other target audience includes aggregators, processing companies and importers as well as farmers. Participants were taken through some technical demonstrations as to how the app would be used and also help value chain actors. GNA (Ecuador), Oct 27, GNA - Mr Sylvanus Kofi Adzornu, Head of the Urban Development Unit at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, says rural urban migration is the cause of slums in Ghana. He said the population of Accra and Kumasi alone put pressure on the infrastructure and social amenities, thereby creating slums in the city. Mr Adzornu was contributing to a discussion on Affordable Housing Network organized at the United Nations Habitat III Conference held in Quito, Ecuador, on Wednesday. He said the politicization of important issues in Ghana was one of the major problems that had set back the country's development, adding: "Our institutions must be working without any politics.' 'It is an offence for people to build on waterways in Ghana but people build on waterways with impunity with no respect for our laws." The Head of the Urban Development Unit said there was the need for uniformity and equal disbursement of public funds and state houses in all parts of the country to reduce rural-urban migration, which was the major cause of slums in our cities. He said it took many countries a number of years to develop their cities which Quito was no exception. The UN Habitat III Conference is a platform to ratify and adopt the 'New Urban Agenda' which will focus on Sustainable Urban Development, including issues such as housing, slum prevention and upgrading, climate change, protection and public safety. The Habitat III, the third conference in line with the bi-decennial cycle (1976, 1996 and 2016), is aimed at invigorating and securing a renewed global political commitment to sustainable urbanization to focus on the implementation of a 'New Urban Agenda', building on the Habitat Agenda of Istanbul in 1996. GNA From Desmond Davies, London Bureau Chief London, Oct. 27, GNA - Sub-Saharan African countries occupy the bottom 16 on the Global Youth Development Index, an initiative by the Commonwealth Secretariat, which ranks the prospects of young people in 183 countries in terms of employment, education, health, civic education and politics. It is the first comprehensive attempt to capture the state of development of the world's youths. The bottom 16 on the Index - from 168 to 183 - are Tanzania, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Mauritania, Benin, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Niger, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Central African Republic. Ghana is the top ranked sub-Saharan country at 117, while Libya is the highest ranked African country on the Index. Although Africa recorded the largest improvement on the status of young people over the last five years, this could be attributed to the fact that the continent was coming from a low base. Germany is the top ranked country and the top 10 countries, with the exception of Australia and Japan, are from Europe. The Index stresses the need for more investment on young people globally because they are the future of the world, which the Australian High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Alexander Downer, whose country funded the survey, said was just stating the obvious. He said Australia had invested a lot on improving the position of young people in the country - which was acknowledged by the fact that the country is third on the Index. Today the world's youth population is at an all-time high, at 1.8 billion people aged 15 to 29, with 90 per cent living in developing countries, of whom 15 per cent are in Africa. The Index notes that the potential for 'Generation Hope' to contribute to a happy, healthy and prosperous future for all could be dashed by widespread joblessness, unequal access to health and education and lack of political influence. Looking at 18 indicators, including literacy and mental disorder rates, financial inclusion and voter engagement, the Index both showcases the best-performing countries and serves as a warning light for low-scoring countries. Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: 'The Index throws down a challenge to policy-makers everywhere: without action to promote young people's empowerment, boosting opportunities for employment and opening up spaces for political dialogue, countries will be squandering their most precious resource and storing up problems for the future.' She said countries would be squandering their most important resource if they failed to develop the capabilities of young people. Achaleke Leke from Cameroon, a peace activist and Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2016, took African governments to task for not doing more for young people. 'Young people have the will and capability but we do not have the support to develop to the best of our abilities,' he said. 'This report is very important for young people, especially in developing countries. 'It shows the urgency of investing in us, so that we can become leaders and innovators, and peaceful and productive citizen,' he added. The Index notes that youth unemployment is a spectre that loomed as threateningly in developed countries as in the developing world, with youths at least twice as likely as adults to be jobless. Young women are much less likely to enjoy access to education, health services, financial services and digital technology than young men, according to the Index. GNA Sekondi, Oct. 27, GNA - The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly had by the end September, this year, collected an amount GH6.004, 780.39 in revenue representing 97.67 per cent as against GH6,146,522 estimated for the year 2016. Ms. Charlotte Otuwa Odoom, Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the figure showed a remarkable improvement by the assembly in internally generated funds. Ms Odoom, who announced this during the Third Ordinary Meeting of the First Session of the Seventh Assembly in Sekondi on Wednesday, said the assembly was committed to using the funds and sources of funding for development projects within the oil city. She said, so far, eight new projects were underway through the support of the GETFUND, while Urban Development Grants, Ghana Urban Management Projects and the Common Fund had contributed significantly to infrastructure development in the Metropolis. The MCE said plans were advanced in partnering a management company to run the Whindo Abattoir while work on the Apremdo terminal continued to progress steadily. The Urban Roads Department, she said, had put their equipment in good shape and started marking zebra crossing lines to promote good pedestrians and vehicle relationship. The MCE could however not speak on the performance of WASSCE and BECE situation in the metropolis due to the fact that the results were yet to be analyzed. Ms. Odoom said, so far, 1,492 farmers and individuals had been registered onto the e-agriculture platform for information and knowledge sharing. She mentioned that collaboration with external partners, including REBOOT International and the Smarter Cities Challenge, was aimed at improving local governance and revenue generation. Ms Odoom said the take-over of the Assakae Market, relocation of coconut seller from the central business district, sanctions on open defecation and new fees for 2017 were other initiatives begun by the assembly. Mr. Yusif Gyamson, Presiding Member of the Assembly, encouraged members of the assembly to always avail themselves of all discussions aimed at making the city a better place. All the five Members of Parliament, however, failed to attend the third ordinary meeting. GNA By Francis Ameyibor, GNA Special Correspondent, Banjul, The Gambia Banjul, (The Gambia), Oct. 27, GNA - Ghana is among three other nations appearing before the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 28 Ordinary session and the 12 Pre-session of the Committee meeting at The Gambia. Ghana would respond to issues raised by the Committee such as the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The other countries are, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, and Cameroon who are also expected to defend and present reports on issues raised by the Committee. The Committee is a group of 11 individuals of high moral standing, integrity, impartiality and competence in matters of the rights and welfare of the child, which are mandated to monitor and report on the fulfillment of child rights issues in Africa. Mrs Della Sowah, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, who is leading Ghana's delegation, explained that Ghana presented the first and second consolidated report with issues covering 2005 to 2015. She said government made a promise to optimise the realisation of children's rights when it ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990. The ratification of the Convention set the stage for improving the general conditions of children in Ghana through legislation, policy formulation, programme and project implementation, research, monitoring and evaluation with respect to quality care. Mrs Sowah noted: 'It is the firm belief of Ghana that the report findings will serve not only as assessment material, but also an encouragement to governmental and non-governmental institutions, parents, community leaders, and other relevant child caregivers to continue to fulfil the rights of the child, always ensuring the best interests of the child when dealing with all matters that affect children'. The report assesses the progress made by government with regards to the advancement of implementation and the status of children in terms of adherence to the principles of the African Charter and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It focuses on the realisation of their rights and freedoms at home, school and all other places in, which they often found themselves, and the provision of their needs. It chronicles responses of child-focused state institutions in their efforts to ensure children's rights and improve their access to quality education, health care, social welfare, protection and all other areas that affect child development from 2005 to 2015. The report reveals modest achievements made and challenges encountered by government and its partners to address important needs and gaps of children in the enjoyment of their rights in Ghana. It also responds to certain important observations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the previous reports submitted by Ghana to the Committee. Mr Kwesi Armo-Himbson, Chief Director Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection stated that since Ghana had not submitted its initial report, the current report covered three periodic stage - the initial, which was due on July 15, 2007; the first which was also due for submission on July 15 2010 and the second which was due on July 15, 2013. He explained that in order to implement measures that relates to child rights Ghana a number of institutions have been established or strengthened . He said the creation of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection had assumed a new and expanded mandate to ensure gender equality, promote the welfare and protection of the child, and to empower the vulnerable. Mr Armo-Himbson said the mandate also focused on the aged, people with disability and other social groupings who holistically considered in national developmental plan. The Committee within the framework of the commemorative activities to mark 2016 as the 'African human rights year, with particular focus on the rights of women', is meeting in Banjul, Islamic Republic of The Gambia. The Committee is examining Complementary Reports from Civil Society Organisations of State Parties to the Charter. The Committee draws its mandate from Articles 32-46 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which was adopted by the Heads of State and Governments of the OAU on July 11, 1990 and came into force on November 29, 1999. GNA By Francis Ameyibor, GNA Special Correspondent, Banjul, Gambia Banjul, (The Gambia), Oct. 27, GNA - Ghana has submitted the consolidated report on national development strategy for the protection of children to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), 28 Ordinary session and the 12 Pre-session of the Committee meeting at Banjul, Gambia. Mrs Della Sowah, Deputy Minister of Gender Children and Social Protection, presenting the report explained that Ghana ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child on July 15, 2005 as guided by the 1992 Constitution and the Children's Act, 1998 (Act 560) and other legislations, laws and policies, and institutional mechanisms, the nation has striven steadily to achieve the rights, and improve the welfare of children. The Committee is Chaired by Professor Benyam Dawit Mezmur is of eleven individuals of high moral standing, integrity, impartiality and competence in matters of the rights and welfare of the child which are mandated to monitor and report on the fulfillment of child rights in Africa. Mrs Sowah said owing to Ghana's quick ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1990, steps were already advanced prior to Ghana's ratification of the Charter. Progress was already enabled for the implementation of the Convention, which also made it possible to implement the Children's Charter. Ghana had already made significant inroads in creating systems and structures that enabled the implementation of children's rights. Since 2005, various policies, legislations, institutional reforms have been carried out in line with the tenets of the ACRWC. Mrs Sowah who is the leader of Ghana's Delegation appearing before ACRWC said the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (2014 - 2017) (GSGDA) II, the flagship national development policy provides series of medium-term national development policy frameworks with direct focus on children as captured under 'Key Focus Area 10' on 'Child Development and Protection' under 'theme 6' on Human Development, Productivity and Decent Work. She said the key strategies for children include promoting advocacy and creating public awareness on the rights of children; formulation and implementation of key policies and appropriate programmes to enhance child protection and development, and mainstreaming children's issues in development planning at all levels especially those of children with special needs. She said to establish a child protection system that is 'fit for Ghana' and able to address the peculiar needs of children in Ghana, the Government adopted a Child and Family Welfare Policy (CFWP) on February 19. 2015 which seeks to establish a well-structured and coordinated Child and Family Welfare System that promotes the wellbeing of children, prevents abuse and protect children from harm. The overall goal of the CFWP is to establish an effective child and family welfare system. She said the Government has also adopted a Justice for Children Policy (JfCP) to guide the interaction of children with the justice system of Ghana. It also seeks to establish a well-structured and coordinated Justice for Children System that promotes the wellbeing of children, prevent abuse, protect children from harm and promote justice for children. The JfCP focuses on all categories of children in contact with the justice system as victims of crimes, witnesses, offenders and other crimes involving children. Mrs Sowah also explained the constitutional, statutory, policy and institutional framework, which guarantees the rights of children and enjoins Parliament to enact laws to further realise these rights and ensure the wellbeing of children. She said Parliament has enacted the Children's Act 1998 (Act 560), Juvenile Justice Act 2003 (Act 653), Human Trafficking Act 2005 (Act 694), Disability Act 2006 (Act 715), Whistle Blowers Act 2006 (Act 720), the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2007, Education Act 2008 (Act 778), and the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act 2012 (Act 849) to name a few. Two Legislative Instruments (LIs) to fully operationalize the Human Trafficking Act and Domestic Violence Act have been finalised. Further protection is also being provided for children in the Property Rights of Spouses Bill, Affirmative Action Bill and the Intestate Succession (Amendment) Bill, which are also being finalised through the parliamentary processes for passage into law. The Gender Minister said in fulfilment of Ghana's obligation under the ACRWC to protect and safeguard the rights and welfare of the child, the Government has prioritised its interventions for girls, children with disabilities, children of asylum seekers, refugee children and children of immigrants, children exposed to sexual and gender-based violence, children living with HIV/AIDS and children living or working on the streets or both. In addition, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) - among its various functions - has striven to improve the nutritional status of children by improving maternal nutrition and capacity-building of health staff in skills and competencies for counselling, and essential nutrition actions. Since 2008, the Community-based management of acute malnutrition has been implemented and is currently in 97 Districts. It helps with early identification and treatment of severely malnourished children in their communities. She said the country has also initiated a model for community-based health service delivery known as the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) which takes health care closer to the people. 'There has been a significant increase in the number of functional CHPS compounds nationwide following the relatively slow start in CHPS implementation over the previous years. Implementation of functional CHPS compounds, for instance, increased from 868 in 2009 to 2226 in 2012, to 2580 in 2013 and to 3,914 in 2015. 'This increase has also been met with a correlated increase in the number of community health officers, most of whom have already had training in CHPS service delivery as part of their pre-service training,' she said. On HIV/AIDS prevalence among children, Mrs Sowah explained that Ghana has done remarkably well to reduce the prevalence rate, from a high prevalence of 3.4 per cent in 2004 to 1.37 per cent in 2015. Ghana is noted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) as one of five countries in West Africa whose prevalence declined by more than 25 per cent between 2001 and 2011. 'The successes chalked by the nation in reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS can be attributed to a number of policies and programme interventions covering awareness-raising campaigns, capacity-building of relevant staff and direct support services for people living with HIV and AIDS. 'HIV prevalence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic has dropped from 2.1 per cent in 2012 to 1.6 per cent in 2014. The 2014 survey showed that HIV prevalence rate was really stabilising below two per cent. Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services have been integrated into sexual and reproductive health services[1]. 'This has ensured wider access to women in reproductive ages. It is also recorded that in 2012, 70 per cent of all HIV-positive pregnant women received Anti-Retroviral (ARV) medication to prevent MTCT, an increase from the 2011 coverage of 50 per cent'. The Committee within the framework of the commemorative activities to mark 2016 as the 'African human rights year, with particular focus on the rights of women', is meeting in Banjul, Islamic Republic of The Gambia. The Committee is considering State Parties Reports from Ghana, Cameroon, Eritrea, and Sierra Leone and also examine Complementary Reports from Civil Societies Organizations of State Parties to the Charter. The Committee draws its mandate from articles 32-46 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which was adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the OAU on 11th July 1990 and came into force on 29th November 1999. GNA Ashaiman, Oct.27, GNA - SEND-GHANA, a Non Governmental Organization (N.G.O) based in Accra, in collaboration with the District Citizens Monitoring Committee(DCMC), has held a day's Budget Implementation seminar for stakeholders in the Ashaiman District of the Greater Accra Region. The theme for the seminar dubbed 'Making the Budget Work for Ghana' is aimed at addressing governance challenges affecting the effective delivery of basic education and health services in poor communities through improvement in budget planning, execution and monitoring systems. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the programme officer for SEND-GHANA,. Mrs, Harriet Nuamah Agyemang, said Ghana was fully practicing the decentralization system and it was therefore imperative that the citizens were involved in the local government system. She said this would enhance citizens' interest in the budgeting process to enable them to provide inputs and not leave resource allocation and utilization in the hands of public officials whose interests and priorities might not necessarily reflect that of the ordinary citizen. The Municipal Planning Officer for the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly(ASHMA), Mr, Michael Agyemang, presented to the participants projects that had been executed by the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly(ASHMA) and others that were yet to be executed but had been duly captured in the 2017 composite budget of the Assembly. He, therefore, appealed to the participants to, as a matter of urgency, also encourage other members to assist the Assembly to meet its budget goals by paying their levies and taxes to the Municipal Assembly to carry out developmental projects in their various localities. The participants included representatives of some organizations in the Ashaiman District. such as; the Ashaiman Women in Progressive Development, People Living with Disabilities (PWD), market women, social workers, assembly members and some government officials. Some of the PWDs said the event was well organized and very interactive and gave them the opportunity to make their inputs, wishing that such seminars would be organized more frequently. The SEND-GHANA outreach is a four-year project targeting 30 districts in four regions across the country. The project is being funded under the Global Partnership for Social Accountability by the World Bank. GNA Tarkwa (W/R), October 27, GNA - The Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly has disbursed a total of GH31,500.00 to 45 persons with disability within the municipality. The Municipal Chief Executive, Mrs. Christina Kobinah, who presented the money, said the government had been consistent with the disbursement of the two per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund set aside to provide educational support for children, students and trainees with disabilities. She entreated the beneficiaries to put the money they had received to good use. The MCE advised Persons with Disability not to allow their predicament to have an effect on them. Mrs. Kobinah said disability did not symbolize inability so people who were physically challenged should endeavor to live better lives. She cautioned people to live in peace with their neighbours as the country prepared to go to the polls on December 7. One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Emmanuel Yankey, on behalf of his colleagues, expressed gratitude to the government and assembly for the continuous assistance. He encouraged all persons with disability to refrain from begging on the streets and rather register with their associations to enable them to access the fund. GNA By Stephen Asante, GNA Kumasi, Oct 27, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC), the nation's election management board, has been asked to take steps to address any administrative blunders that could undermine public confidence in the electoral system. The Right Reverend Professor Osei Safo Kantanka, immediate-past Kumasi Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Church, said lapses, seen in previous polls should not be repeated. He was delivering a paper at a public lecture held in Kumasi on the topic ''Seeking peace and pursuing it in times of elections - a theological appraisal of Psalm 34:14'. He labeled this year's general election as 'critical' and said it was therefore important for the EC to go the extra mile to 'put its house in order to engender public trust. The lecture was put together by the Valley View University and the goal was to help promote healthy political conversation ahead of the December 07 general election. The Rt. Rev Prof Kantanka indicated that the nation had made significant progress over the years in its democratic practice and said this needed to be sustained. He reminded everybody that they had a responsibility to combine their effort to safeguard the unity, peace and harmony of the society before, during and after the election. He entreated political leaders to step back from doing anything that could divide and tear the people apart. They should avoid deception - telling lies about their opponents to make them look bad in their desperate bid for power, he added. The Rt. Rev Prof Kantanka asked that the election campaign should be substantive on message to aid voters to make the right decision on voting day. GNA By Benjamin Akoto, GNA Nsawam (E/R), Oct 27, GNA - The Nsawam Medium Security Prisons has been presented with assorted items in support of the upkeep of the inmates. These included three bags of gari, a bag each of rice and sugar, large quantity of toilet roll and boxes of soap. They were a donation from the Great Choir of the Eastern Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana. Mr. Felix Adadzi, its President, said it was their contribution towards helping to make things a bit better for the prisoners. He said as Christians they were enjoined by their faith to show love, care and affection for the needy and the suffering. The Reverend Kwame Nya-la, Kade District Minister of the Church, spoke of the need to do more to help reform and integrate the prisoners into society after serving out their sentence. Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (DSP) Courage Astem, Public Relations Officer of the Prisons, thanked the choir for the gift and appealed for increased public support. GNA The dog carcasses were later seen being transported in bulk on trucks. By Revathi Rajeevan: A group led by Ernakulam-based activist Jose Maveli culled dogs in huge numbers today in Varkala, 40kms from Trivandrum. Maveli, who has made quite a reputation as a pro-culling activist, said the dogs were being culled because they were dangerous. Also read: Is culling the solution to stray dog menace in Kerala? The dog carcasses were later seen being transported in bulk on trucks. advertisement Jose Maveli has at least six cases against him for killing stray dogs. Earlier this month he inaugurated a distribution of air guns at a Kottayam college, which were to be used against stray dogs. Read more: Kerala college alumni distribute air guns to tackle stray dogs Most recently, a 90-year-old man was attacked by a pack of strays at his home in Varkala. He sustained severe injuries to his face, arms and legs, and was treated at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. After a 65-year-old woman was mauled to death in August, rumours went around that the Kerala government had given a green signal to cull strays. Although CM Pinarayi Vijayan came forward to call out the news as false, it did not discourage people from killing dogs. Last month, Kerala Congress (M) youth wing hit the streets in a protest against the stray dog menace with bodies of dogs hanging from a pole. In broad daylight and before running cameras, the protesters marched to the city corporation office with the dog carcasses, screaming slogans. Watch the protest here: --- ENDS --- From: Edmond Gyebi, Tamale. THE MINISTER of Health, Alex Segbefia, has hinted of massive employment opportunities for the hundreds of Ghanaian nurses and doctors roaming on the streets and hankering for job placement in the health sector. He said that the government as a matter of fact, was making heavy investments in the health sectors to upgrading and expanding the existing health infrastructure and constructing new ones in order to widen the employment avenues for the personnel in the sector. Speaking to health personnel at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) during his recent familiarization tour of the Northern Region, Mr. Segbefia assured that the construction of numerous health infrastructures and expansion of the existing ones was enough to absorb a large number of the idling nurses and doctors. He therefore appealed to them to exercise restraint as the government was putting in place the necessary strategies for the good of the health sector and its personnel. This is what I keep saying to nurses who are worried about job that; we can't for instance increase Tamale Teaching hospital from 420 to almost 900 beds and expect the same number of nurses and doctors to do the work; we have to employ nurses. We can't build a new Legon Hospital and be looking at it from the eyesight waving at without employing doctors and nurses- we need a whole personnel raft. Same with the Dawdowa hospital that we just built, we have to even employ more, we have the new Military hospital coming up in Kumasi, we have seven hospitals under MNS, eight hospitals under Eurojet, Ridge Hospital is also expanding and more. If all of these hospitals are coming or getting ready at the same time we wouldn't even have all the personnel-doctors and nurses to actually cope. We know that we would be able to accommodate all of these personnel to run the units. The Health Minister, therefore, charged hospital authorities to draw up plans on what was required to run their facilities in terms of personnel needed and other conditions. Meanwhile, the ruling government led by President John Dramani Mahama is at the receiving end for its inability to employ majority of the nurses and doctors from the various health training institutions in the past few years. There have been series of agitations and protest against the government in that effect, whiles the few who were luck to be employed were also not receiving salaries and allowances. However, Mr. Segbefia said that there was no cause for alarm, since the government was progressively working to solve many of the challenges confronting the health sector. He commended the health personnel in the region for working hard to meet the health needs of the people in the midst of several challenges. He indicated that the Health Ministry had since the last nine months identified that several of the midwives were due for retirement, and had therefore come up with a policy to give contracts to some of the midwives to continue to serve at place where their services were needed most. The Health Minister who inspected the ongoing 2nd phase of the Tamale Teaching Hospital expansion works also visited the Yendi Government Hospital where he interacted with the personnel. He also paid a courtesy call on the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuyana Abdulai Andani. 27.10.2016 LISTEN Nana Kwesi Gyan-Appenteng, the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), says press freedom without responsibility is a threat to democracy and judicial independence. He said unethical media practices also undermined the judiciary and its independence. Nana Gyan-Appenteng was speaking at the opening of a two-day training for court reporters held on the theme: Responsible and Objective Court Reporting before, during and after the election: The Media and the Law. The training is to update and equip journalists, particularly those on court beats with relevant information to enhance their work. He said professional ethical journalism is an indispensable tool for judicial independence and accountability. Nana Gyan-Appentang, who spoke on the topic: Press Freedom and Responsibility: Is the media a threat to Judicial Independence? said the administration of justice was more important than journalists getting their scoop. He urged journalists and media practitioners to cross check all information, get their 'vitals' right and understand the court cases thoroughly before reporting. The NMC Chairman said journalists should also show compassion, restraint and have human understanding regarding cases they report on. He said the media has a role to advocate access to justice and legal schemes for the poor. It's also for the media to highlight the barriers to justice and suggest alternatives models and scenarios, he said. Nana Gyan-Appenteng said some of the barriers to justice include political, financial, cultural, linguistic, gender-specific, logistics and geographic. Justice J.C. Amonoo-Monney, a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, called on court reporters to equip themselves with relevant legal documents to enrich their stories. He urged journalists and media houses to use the correct legal expressions of terms used in trials to educate their audiences. Courts at the end of trials do not give ruling but rather they give judgment, he said. He said most journalists changed the court terminologies, which did not bring the right meaning in the story. Mrs Grace Tagoe, the Director of Communication, Judicial Service, said the Service duly acknowledged the media's effort in bring accurate, balanced and fair information to the public. She said there was no denying the critical role the media played in complementing the work of the judiciary in justice delivery. The journalists were taken through topics like legal terminologies and courtroom etiquette, what constitutes contempt of court, types in relations to the media, court processes and procedures in criminal and civil cases and effective court reporting with emphasis on election petition reportage. The rest are -Improving access to justice; The role of the media as a partner; Press freedom and responsible journalism; Is the media a threat to judicial independence and The role of the public complaint unit in effective justice delivery. Source: GNA 27.10.2016 LISTEN From Inusa Musah, Dodowa. Members of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs (GARHC) have expressed worry at the continuous disrespect the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs shows to them, assuring him that they will not beg him to release their three months' allowances. Dr. Seidu Daanaa, the GARHC explained, had deliberately changed signatories to their accounts without their consent, thereby blocking their allowances, which had been in arrears for three months now. We, the members of this august House, know why the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs is ceasing our money, but we want to tell him that we will not beg him to release it. He can continue keeping it for us, Nene Atsure Benta III, Mankralo for Prampram Traditional Area disclosed this to a section of the media at the head office of the GARHC, Dodowa. The expose was in a sharp response to the claims by the chiefs, after a brief news conference that, Dr. Daanaa had incessantly exhibited disrespect to Nene Abram Akuaku III, President of GARHC and the entire members. Nene Atsure Benta III explained that Dr. Daanaa was acting bitterly against the House because they tasked Harry Anthony Attipoe, the GARHC Registrar, to use his rich experience in the chieftaincy Act to hold workshops and seminars for all the paramouncies in the region. That, he said, had developed a sour hatred for the registrar by the Minister who directed the members of the House to call off the workshop, because he said Attipoe was projecting himself too much. The sour hatred for Mr. Attipoe, plus the unabated demonstrations by some Ga-Adangme youth on unfounded allegations that the registrar had sold out some Kpone lands, aroused the Minister to transfer Harry Anthony Attipoe to the Volta Region. We are not against transfer, but that should not be used as a form of punishing somebody who has been tasked by another body to help it to be abreast with some developments it does not understand. The immense peace we are enjoying in our various traditional areas is as a result of the hard work and constant workshops on conflict resolution Harry Attipoe has been taking the paramount chiefs in the Region, Nene Benta III pointed out. Not too long ago, Dr. Seidu Daanaa met with Nene Akuaku III, Nene Kanor Atiapah III and Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI in his office to assure them of rescinding his decision to transfer Harry Attipoe, in order that he could continue helping them in their peace-building projects. Nene Atsure Benta III said the GARHC was flabbergasted to later hear the Minister denied his words in Koforidua, where he met with some newsmen. The Constitution of our country bars chiefs from doing politics but these politicians are always hiding behind the innocent youth to disrespect our authority. We do not want to do anything that would heighten the political tension in the country. Therefore, we are asking the faceless politicians in government and the Minister to stop inciting the youth to be heightening the tension in the country with their demonstrations. Adding his voice, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, Osu Paramount Chief, said it was laughable how the Ga-Dangme youth would demonstrate against Harry Attipoe on allegations that he had sold lands belonging to the Kpone Traditional area. He advised the demonstrating youth to go to the Lands Commission and all other appropriate agencies to do painful enquiries on their allegations and if they find anything culpable against Harry Attipoe, he is not above the laws for misconduct. Furthermore, he said nothing stopped the Kpone Traditional Area from taking Mr. Attipoe on for illegally selling its lands, when he worked as a Secretary to the Kpone Traditional Council. Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI called for cool heads in the Region and invited the Ga-Dangme youth to the GARHC to iron out whatever grievances they might have, because we are their fathers and are ready to listen to them. He said the political tension in the country, as well as the demonstrations by the youth, could stretch the security and peace of Ghana. Present at the meeting was Nene Abram Akuaku III, President of GARHC, who supported the House's call, adding that it was the decision by the entire House to chart the cause of getting Mr. Attipoe to stay to help in their peace building efforts, and demanding reverence from Dr. Seidu Daanaa to the GARHC. 27.10.2016 LISTEN The Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) intervention, introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Ghana Environmental Management Project (GEMP), has improved food security among many households in the Upper East Region. This was made known when Mr. Asher Nkegbe, Regional Director of the EPA, undertook a monitoring visit to some communities in the region with some media personnel to see how the project was fairing. Ms. Janet Pwamang, Secretary to the Nayagnia VSLA group, said through the intervention, members who were mostly women had accessed loans from the savings they made, to help them improve upon their livelihoods. She said one of the major benefits they had derived from the intervention, as women groups, was that women were able to secure loan facilities every farming season to procure farm inputs to undertake farming activities. Ms. Pwamang said, unlike the past when majority of the women sat idle, particularly during the dry season, they were now able to engage themselves in petty trading, including pito brewing, and animal and birds rearing, among others, to support the work of their husbands. Whilst commendi ng the EPA, GEMP, and World Bank for supporting the project by forming and building the capacity of the women to begin the VSLA, Ms. Pwamang appealed to management of the programme to replicate it in other communities. The Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) is a group of people who save together and take small loans from those savings. VSLAs are self-managed groups, which do not receive any external capital, and provide people with a safe place to save their money, access small loans, and obtain emergency insurance. The approach is characterised by a focus on savings, asset building and the provision of credit proportionate to the needs and repayment capacities of the borrowers. Groups are low-cost, simple to manage, and can be seen as a first step for people to reach a more formal and wider array of financial services. Source: GNA 27.10.2016 LISTEN Professor Elvis Nyarko, Vice Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University (RMU), has appealed to the government to provide the country with a shipping line to help boost the economy and international trade. He said if Ghana had, at least one, vessel, it would be able to employ most of its youth who were are trained as marine engineers, logistics management, ports and shipping administration, nautical science and electronic engineering, thereby cutting down on the unemployment problem currently facing the country. Prof Nyarko, who was speaking at the 14th Matriculation Ceremony of the Regional Maritime University, said the government needed to invest in the sector to open up the opportunities that abound. He said if Ethiopia, a landlocked country, was able to own nine cargo shipping lines, and made more than 203.8 million Birr profit yearly, then Ghana could also make it, if the country was determined to do so. If the government is able to revive the Black Star Line, as they have promised, then this would help the country a great deal, and will be a step in the right direction, he said. The Vice Chancellor said it was evident that high transport and logistics cost, and a lack of advanced logistics services, were some of the main barriers to growth and prosperity, and was making a lot of the youth to develop less interest in maritime studies. For this reason, he said, the university had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with organisations such as Bernhard Schulte Shipping Management, Swire Pacific, Technip, Seaweld Engineering Limited, AMARIS Terminal Limited among others, to offer placement for internships for the students during inter-semester breaks. He said the management of Bernhard Schulte Shipping allowed students to offer 12 months internship services, to enable them churn out quality students who were ready for the job market right after school. Prof Nyarko said students would also be exposed to courses such as communication skills, French, and entrepreneurship among others, to develop student's capabilities and competencies to become functional in any environment they found themselves. The entrepreneurship course is very key to the institution, as it prepares them to be on their feet, while waiting to get employed. This is very important, because, if students are able to establish themselves through this venture, they can also employ others. Attach importance to every course you take in this university, as they have been designed to make you marketable intellectuals, and be able to adapt to any work environment. It is the desire of the school to provide access to university education to as many qualified applicants as possible, and for this reason, they have introduced another stream of admission, which commences in January each year, to give an opportunity to candidates whose results are not yet out to enroll. He urged qualified youth to take advantage of the opportunity and apply to the Regional Maritime University. Prof Nyarko advised the new students to take their studies seriously, and become the ambassadors to the University's philosophy, ideology, mission and vision. The University offered admissions to 617 applicants from both member and non-member countries, out of which 385 have accepted and registered. The students are made up of 339 males and 46 females, and are offering courses in BSc Computer Science, MA Ports and Shipping Administration, and BSc Engineering. Source: GNA Newmont Ghana's Women and Allies (W&A) Network has joined the global community to mark this year's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is being observed in October each year. The group has launched its breast cancer awareness programmes in Accra to intensify awareness, provide education and raise funds to support affected patients. At the launch, Chair of the Accra Chapter of Women and Allies Network, Neringa Berzinskaite expressed worry at the staggering statistics of women who have lost their lives due to lack of awareness about the disease. Looking at the statistics of women getting diagnosed in late stages due to lack of awareness and education, we thought that we could make a positive impact by saving lives. This can significantly reduce the number of affected women who are isolated and left to die, She said. Madam Eva Boakye, a breast cancer survivor and advocate, shared her story of survival and resilience. Diagnosed with the disease after losing two cousins to breast cancer, Eva confronted her fear of seeking treatment to turn the tide and fight for her life. Initially, I thought it was a death sentence because I lost my cousins to breast cancer. However, early detection and constant treatment have made me survive today. She admonished women to regularly inspect their breasts and seek early treatment should they detect signs of the disease. For Ama Bawuah, the Executive Patron for Women and Allies, Newmont Ghana, the loss of a close friend to breast cancer, after six months of late detection, remains one of her toughest life experiences. Early detection is key to surviving breast cancer and we should not wait till it is too late, she said. Let us also give moral support to family and friends who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Ama advised that financial constraints should not be reason to lose a life because there are health-related organizations in Ghana that provide support to breast cancer patient. She appealed to management and staff of Newmont Ghana to donate generously in support of the Women and Allies efforts towards breast cancer awareness and prevention. There is currently no known cure for breast cancer, and its early diagnosis is critical to survival. Activities lined up for the W&A Breast Cancer Awareness month include health screening exercises, talk programmes, awareness campaigns and a forum on the theme: 'Breast Cancer Awareness: A Shared Responsibility.' Funds raised will be donated to Breast Care International, a non-governmental organization which specializes in the provision of breast health education, screening, counselling, advocacy, research, and treatment support. Members of the African Regional Leadership team, including the RSVP, Alwyn Pretorius, and staff present pledged financial support towards the month long campaign. The Women and Allies (W&A) Business Resource Group is central to Newmont's global Inclusion and Diversity strategy. W&A seeks to enhance the representation and contributions of women through professional development and by building a more inclusive workplace culture. About half a million women die from breast cancer each year, with 70% of these deaths occurring in low and middle income countries, according to the World Health Organization. In Ghana, breast cancer is believed to be the leading cause of cancer mortality in women and the rate of incidence is expected to rise, if awareness creation is not enhanced. Ababio Kwame founder of Green Afro-Palms (GAP) was adjudged winner of the Young Entrepreneurship award 2016 for Ghana at the just ended young innovators award of Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) 2016. The Fifth RUFORUM Biennial Conference and African Higher Education Week, was held on 17-21 October, 2016 at the Century City Conference Center in Cape Town, South Africa where Ababio Kwame a young farmer deploying entrepreneurial potentials in his venture took the award for Ghana during the gathering. The RUFORUM Biennial Conference and African Higher Education weeks are held every two years to bring together higher education stakeholders, including postgraduate students. The focus is on strengthening the fundamentals for inclusive and sustainable growth through integration of science and technology. This years theme was on Linking Agricultural Universities with Civil Society, the private Sector, Governments and other Stakeholders in support of Agricultural Development in Africa. The Conference brought together over 600 participants to discuss and recommend how to strengthen higher agricultural education in Africa. This years Young African Entrepreneurs Competition attracted a total of 756 applicants from 38 African countries and after 2,463 reviews within two months RUFORUM announced the 15 winners for 2016. Green Afro-Palms was the winning enterprise for Ghana. Green Afro-Palms (GAP, www.facebook.com/greenafropalms) is a registered company created in 2012 in Ghana and has specialized in the Palm oil value chain from production to oil extraction, sales and marketing of palm oil. It has a variety of products including: Palm kernel oil, Palm fiber cake, and Palm kernels---see, With product lines being under development, the firm is currently led by Ababio Kwame, a young and dynamic entrepreneur. The companys model is built around joint venture with palm oil farmers who benefit from the companys clean planting materials and extension services and guaranteed market program. GAPs activities including farm management, agro-processing, education and sensitization are aimed at achieving quality and sustainability in agriculture specifically oil palm. Refineries, soap manufacturers, individual retailers of palm oil products, farmers and oil palm processors are part of the companys clientele. The company employs permanent employees in addition to a management team of 4 qualified young individuals. Kwame Ababio, the companys founder who is a recipient of several local and international entrepreneurship awards stated after his award; his excitement based on the fact that the potentials of entrepreneurship for Agriculture in Africa is given attention and called on all stakeholders to join in lifting Africa through Agriculture. African countries have shown strong economic performance during the last decade. From 2002 to 2008, Average GDP growth in Africa was 6.4 percent (World Bank, 20151) with this tread continuing into 2015. Improved democratization, governance, and the increased role of the private sector, has underpinned this improved performance. The contribution of agriculture to GDP in Africa remains high, on average contributing over 30%. The World Bank (2013) projects that by 2030, agriculture and agribusiness will have grown to a US$1 trillion business, from a current US$313 billion today and should be a priority concern for the development agenda on the Continent. RUFORUM is committed to catalyzing the transformation of universities to produce skilled, proactive graduates and research relevant to smallholder farmers and sustainable rural development. A Presidential Special Task Force leading negotiations for the procurement of a $1.5 billion from the China Development Bank is set to expend a total of $6 million dollars while shuttling between Ghana and China. The task force according to a document sighted by citifmonline.com is made up of five members. The document titled 'Decisions Memorandum on the Work of the Presidential Special Task Force on utilizing the US$3 billion CDB Facility' stated that the amount would be spent on the teams negotiation support costs including hosting in Accra and travel to Beijing; technical advisor's fees and contingencies. The preliminary analysis of the three costsabove are budgeted at an amount of US$ 6.00 million (i.e. CDB Task Force Support Costs; Technical Fees; and contingencies). And it is estimated that the CDB Team and Advisors may well make up to a minimum of 6 to 8 separate negotiation visits to Beijing over 12 to 10 months on the assignment, the document added. The Decisions Memorandum however explained the Task Force's lack of offices or attachment to any Ministry Department and Agency (MDA) poses peculiar challenges. The more substantive needs of hosting several days of engagement with a visiting CDB negotiation team of usually 20 people more or less at a time requires more substantial logistical backup, the document stated. Background of CBD loan The governing National Democratic Congress about five years ago started chasing for $3 billion loan facility from the China Development Bank to finance some government projects. Though government finally secured the loan, the amount was slashed by half. Renegotiation of deal Meanwhile the newly constituted Task Force is expected to ensure that the rest of the $3 billion is released to Ghana. NPP accuses NDC government of luring Chinese with gas The New Patriotic Party (NPP) at a press conference on Wednesday accused the Mahama-led cabinet of approving a proposed agreement which could see Ghana offering its gas to China in a bid to lure the China Development Bank to reactivate the reaming $1.5 billion of the $3 billion to the Ghanaian government. The opposition party claimed that the agreement has bleak implications on the future of Ghana. The agreement if successful could see Ghana offer one of the country's gas fields to China for a period of 19 years starting in 2018. We'll mortgage Ghana's gas to China but Though the Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper, confirmed the deal with China on the Citi Breakfast Show, he downplayed assertions that it has bleak implications for the country. He indicated that it was gas going to the Atuabo plant only under the GNPC. That is the only one we are talking about. Mr. Terkper also explained that this agreement was in line with government's self-financing loan strategy following the negotiations with the CNB by a task force mandated to discuss the utilization of the $500 million remaining $1.5 billion of the $3 billion deal. The premise for the CDB facility, which is in tune with our self-financing loan strategy is that proceeds from any commercial project must be used to pay for any loans that are used to finance the project, he said The payment was to be from revenue flows from crude oil which is sold on the international market at bench mark prices but crude oil prices fell and that source of financing the loan became inadequate So we had indicated that once the processes start, there could be other source of financing repayment for the facility. That is the discussion that we are holding now, to see how we can use the proceeds from lean gas and from other gas sources to finance any infrastructure that is built and not put the load for such infrastructure on the tax payer and increase public debt, Mr. Terkper noted. Target for the Presidential Task Force as captured in the Decisions Memorandum: The work of the CTF and TA will initially focus on bedding down the three RSAs for the project that were agreed upon to close the US$ 1.5 billion, and to assist the Ministry of Finance to document and negotiate the early disbursements that will free those subsidiary to implement the three projects. The next focus of attention is the application of the remaining US$ 1.5 billion, as directed by H.E. the President. A key consideration in the analysis for the foregoing work is whether or not the new structure of the project for which the remaining US$ 1.5 billion will be applied will fall within the parliamentary approval of 2012 or a new approval may be needed. This strategic and process analysis to be done by the NSA. Navigating through the establishment (GoG Executive Machinery, Legislature, MDAs, MMDAs, Legal system, approval and authorizing agencies, etc.) can be a daunting task. Indeed, this can constitute a key impediment to rapid negotiation decision-making. The technical advisor will facilitate the CTF's interface with the establishment to achieve speedy and timely closure to specific issues that may require their involvement in the course of the negotiations. While the above provides a guide to the nature of the outcomes that may be bench marked for the work of the CBD Task Force, the broad targets can be narrowed down to specific negotiation issues, or be expanded to include others. A key principle underlying the approach to the work by the CTF and also covering the TA's advisory inputs is the avoidance of the undertaking tasks or activities like feasibility studies that are best left to project contractors to conduct to show evidence of their capability. By: citifmonline.com/Ghana These are matters that must be dealt with spiritually not physically and, so, I dont know why they (the police) have invited me (Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah). It has widely been reported in the media that, Rev. Owusu Bempah, the founding overseer of the Glorious Word and Power Ministry International, accompanied by his lawyer Yaw Buaben Asamoah, turned himself in at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning. What for? That he prophesied about some assassins in the Volta Region plotting Nana Akufo-Addos death! This is how he described it: God has revealed to me that some people are plotting to kill Nana Akufo-Addo. They are planning several ways of doing that. They have planned it in the Volta Region and so whenever he (Akufo-Addo) visits the region, they will want to kill him. But why the Volta Region, if we should ask again? And not that they are going to kill him, Akufo-Addo, per se but that they will want to kill him. The operational phrase here is will want! First off, why will anyone want to kill him anyway? This prophecy comes against the backdrop of another prophecy in which Prophet Bempah allegedly claimed Akufo-Addo would be stoned, a prophecy which allegedly came to pass. If this is true even remotely, could anyone not have imagined the possibility of Prophet Bempah contracting another person to do the stoning to boost his spiritual powers of discernment? Could it be that someone, in this case the stone thrower, may have heard about this prophecy and decided to try it out for reasons of playful exuberance, say? And what if Rev. Bempah has been doing all these just to pitch or market his brand? What became of his other prophecy that some politicians were also plotting to kill Akufo-Addo? Did that also come to pass? The point of contention here is the comical juggling of forensic science and spiritual matters together by those who are supposed or expected to know better, for both are mutually disjoint in the scheme of things. The idea of critiquing conflation of the imperatives of forensic science and those of spiritual matters stems from the possibility of Rev. Bempah being behind the plot to assassinate Akufo-Addo. On the one hand, this may sound an outlandishly stupid proposition but we do see it as a working hypothesis instead, primarily, and among other things worthy of the seriousness of forensic attention. The point is that no stone should be left unturned while pursuing this matter to its logical conclusion. On the other hand, Rev. Bempah appears to be overly infatuated with Akufo-Addo in particular and that, again, in and of itself, raises eyebrows as to that seemingly farfetched possibility of his being interested in Akufo-Addos death, political or otherwise, for whatever reason(s). Infatuation led Mark David Chapman to shoot John Lennon and kill him; John Hinckley, Jr.s infatuation for actress Jodie Forster caused him to shoot Ronald Reagan. Infatuation may also have had a role in Mehmet Ali Agcas attempted shooting death of Pope John Paul (2). Infatuation may not be far from psychosis. By infatuation we simply mean this strange phenomenon called the psychology of celebrity worship, with its accompanying Celebrity Worship Syndrome (CWS), both of which are gradually creeping into our newfound culture of rubbernecking. Prophet Bempah always wants to be heard, always wants to be in the news, for all the wrong reasons as a matter of course, we suppose. Financial or economic motivations could be driving his opportunistic alarmism, although we shall also quickly dismiss the factor of moral imperative as being an underlying dimension of his prophetic alarmism? Otherwise, how do we sufficiently explain his perennial outlandish alarmism? Still, there could be more to the story of his prophetic shenanigans than meets the eye. What we are saying, in effect, is that it is also quite possible Akufo-Addos political enemies from the opposing camp or even from within his own camp may have contracted the services of Rev. Bempah, a well-known religious demagogue and a dangerous alarmist to boot, or anonymous persons linked to him to kill Akufo-Addo. In fact, he did make mention elsewhere of some leading party members from the Akufo-Addo camp wanting him [the latter] dead. Of course we are raising the possibility of contract killing. What if Rev. Bempahs contracting bosses refused to make advance payment for the contract killing and for this he has decided to expose the intentions of the contract killer(s) without necessarily naming names? Could it be possible that Rev. Bempah is a contract killer himself hiding behind the concept of psychological projection? We also cannot put it past him, that he could be a double agent and on this basis working for both major political parties. That will certainly make him a closet admirer of the ruling party in spite of his hypocritical criticism of that same party in public. Unfortunately, he has rubbished every claim either linking him to or about his being sympathetic to the ruling party. Listen to him in his own words: The NDC made an attempt to bribe me some time ago but they were advised not to do it because I would have exposed them. They did not come to me directly but someone warned them against the plan after deciding to come and bribe methe NDC should stop trailing me. They should stop contracting people to follow me because I will not stop talking. He also alleged that the NDC planned to burn down his church, but when specifically asked if he had reported this matter to the police, here is how he responded: I will not report to the police but I just want to let Ghanaians know what is going on. In spite of all the preceding concerns, it is still also possible that the security around Akufo-Addo and for this he wants that changed. But, if that were the case, why go through the spiritual route? Listen to the religious crank again: I stand by the prophecy that some people are plotting to kill Mr. Akufo-Addo, he must beef up his security. Finally, though we take the police inviting him for questioning as a precautionary measure, we equally believe it is in the best interest of our national security that religious cranks such as Rev. Bempah are closely monitored for their alarmist pronouncements. It is also appropriate they subject these cranks to psychological evaluation. Next time he should ask his God to reveal the identities of political assassins to him, to make the job of the security officials easier. Beyond that, police investigators should probe and debrief him further as he may know more than he had already spilled, and if he is genuinely patriotic and truly loves Akufo-Addo as he claims he will eventually spill the beans. Otherwise, police investigators might want to take the chance and go to the spiritual realm with him. There is, however, no doubt in our minds that this man is a prophet of doom. His lawyer says he is now a spiritual informant for police. Since when did Ghana get to this stage? Indeed, Ghana is in serious trouble if such cranks and demagogues are deemed role models! CLOSING REMARKS No doubt Rev. Bempah is a pagan oracle of tabloid political secrets. With that said, he behaves as though he has been a gangbanger trying to leave his gang but fearing the consequences of violating the tenets of omerta(see Mario Puzos novel Omerta). If he is a national asset as his lawyer claims then this occult hegemon of irrational pragmatism must come cleanwith the people of Ghana about what he actually knows about all these alleged assassination plots beyond his cheap, unschooled language of spiritual narcissism. These days there are all these greedy bastards demanding humongous sums of money from politicians and political parties in exchange for their loyalties, but when their demands are not met they shift their allegiances to the highest bidder from an opposing politician or political party. Mr. Beautiful, otherwise known as Clement Boney, and some of his colleagues in the creative industry have leveled a similar charge against actor Agya Koo. Let us not ignore the fact that these alarmist pre-election auguriespurely of a political naturehave negative implications for foreign and even local investment choices for investors. There should therefore be effective ways of de-politicizing them, curtailing them through a repeal of aspects of the Criminal Code (Act 2001), or channeling them away from the public space. Of course these policy suggestions will be difficult to carry out, we know, but what and where are the viable alternatives? Our position is that these alarmist rumors and auguries tend to polarize the country, pit the two major political parties, politicians and their followers against each other. They also pit the secular and the religious against each other, thus undermining the constitutional secularity of the Ghanaian society. It constitutes an irony of laughable proportions when the same God gives conflicting pre-election prophecies to these so-called Men of God, even while they preach to the world that God is not the author of confusion. If indeed God is not the author of confusion, then who are these Men of God? Is this God the same Judeo-Christian God both President Mahama and Akufo-Addo supposedly worship? How many mouths does this God have? Is this God a henotheistic deity, a monotheistic deity, or a polytheistic deity? Which is which? Does the God of atheists have a say in the outcome of the upcoming general elections? Is this God the Electoral Commission (EC) and its Chair, Madam Charlotte Osei? And why are we not hearing from the God of our Traditional Religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam...? Is it not strange that Bishop Obinim also claims to have the power to rig the elections for any political party? Hear the attention-seeking religious lunatic speak on this matter: For those of you who think you are voting for NDC, NPP, CPP or PPP when you are done voting for your candidate physically, I will spiritually change your vote. If you voted for NDC I can change the vote for NPP and do same for the NDC if you voted for the NPP. Talk is cheap indeed. This sounds more like a bad business pitch presentation than a serious statement, of incalculable forensic worth! Which spiritual supermarkets or bazaars are Bishop Obinim and Rev. Bempah buying their spiritual wares from? Election season and harvest time are here! Religious lunacy and buffoonery are also here! REFERENCES Ghanaweb. Volta Assassins Plotting To Kill Akufo-AddoRev. Owusu Bempah. October 21, 2016. Ghanaweb. Owusu Bempah Now A Spiritual Informant For PoliceLawyer.October 27, 2016. Ghanaweb. Owusu Bempah's Followers Jubilate After His Release. October 27, 2016. Leah Sottile. (August 13, 2015). When Death Is a Fascination. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/death-obsessed/400880/ Stephen Odoi Larbi. (September 26, 2016). AUDIO: NDC, NPP big boys plotting Akufo-Addos DeathRev. Owusu Bempah. Retrieved from https://kasapafmonline.com/2016/09/13/ndc-npp-big-boys-plotting-akufo-addos-death-rev-owusu-bempah/ Ghanaweb. NDC Planned To Burn Down My ChurchOwusu Bempah.August 31, 2016. Ghanaweb. Owusu Bempah Now A Spiritual Informant for PoliceLawyer. October 27, 2016. Ghanaweb. I Can Rig The Elections For Any Party; I'm A Dangerous Man of GodObinim Declares. October 24, 2026. Paris (AFP) - Nearly three-fifths of all animals with a backbone -- fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals -- have been wiped out since 1970 by human appetites and activity, according to a grim study released Thursday. On current trends, that plunge in stocks of global wildlife could extend to two-thirds by 2020, an annual decline of two percent, conservation group WWF and the Zoological Society of London warned in their joint biennial Living Planet report. There is no mystery as to why: our own ever-expanding species -- which has more than doubled in number since 1960 to 7.4 billion -- is simply eating, crowding and poisoning its planetary cohabitants out of existence. Data from the WWF's Living Planet report tracking the decline of vertebrate species since 1970 Victims include gorillas and orangutans, rhinos and elephants, tigers and snow leopards but also faceless species such as corals, a crucial cornerstone not only of marine life but also coastal human communities. Swathes of coral reef around the globe have already turned white, killed by warming waters, pollution and disease. The findings are based on long-term monitoring of some 3,700 vertebrate species spread across more than 14,000 distinct populations. Scientists have tracked changes in the size of those populations, not how many species are threatened with extinction. 'Disappearing at unprecedented rate' But the news on that front is not good either: experts now agree that Earth has entered only the sixth "mass extinction event" -- when species vanish at least 1,000 faster than usual -- in the last half-billion years. The majority of Earth's land area has today been resculpted by human hands "Wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate," said Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International. We should not be deceived into thinking humanity can do without, he added. "Biodiversity forms the foundation of healthy forests, rivers and oceans. Take away the species, and these ecosystems collapse, along with clean air, water, food and climate services they provide us." A dawning awareness -- in government, business and society as a whole -- that a healthy environment is not a luxury but the "foundation of future human development" is reason for optimism, he suggested in an interview with AFP. "This is really revolutionary," he said, pointing to a global pact to rein in climate change going into force next week, and a newly launched set of UN-backed Sustainable Development Goals running through 2030. "We have succeeded in making a strong business case for climate," Lambertini said. Municipal environmental workers collect waste on Hanoi's largest lake Ho Tay (West Lake) "Now we have to make an equally strong business case for conservation of natural systems." That is likely to be a hard sell. Global warming has measurable impacts that have already threatened tens of millions of people, and even then it took nearly 30 years to strike a universal deal. With biodiversity and ecosystems, the negative impacts are "less direct and less tangible on a global scale," Lambertini said. Planetary boundaries The five main drivers of wildlife decline -- in order of importance -- are habitat loss, overconsumption, pollution, invasive species and disease, according to the report. Climate change is poised to become a major threat in the coming decades, with some animals already in decline due to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns. "This should be a wake-up call to marshal efforts to promote the recovery of these populations," said Ken Norris, director of science at the Zoological Society of London. Factory fishing has emptied the seas of 40 percent of sea life, and nine out of ten fisheries in the world are either over- or full-fished today Freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers and wetlands have fared the worst, with an 81 percent decline in average population size between 1970 and 2012 for 881 species monitored. Freshwater covers less than one percent of Earth's surface, but is home to nearly 10 percent of all of the planet's known species. Marine and land vertebrates have suffered at about the same rate -- with populations dropping 36 and 38 percent respectively over the same period -- but for different reasons. Factory fishing has emptied the seas of 40 percent of sea life, and nine out of 10 fisheries in the world are either over- or full-fished today. Pollution and climate change are also wreaking havoc, especially along coastlines. On land, the big threats are loss of land to agriculture and cities, followed by rampant hunting, mostly for food but also for commerce -- much of it in endangered species. African elephants, slaughtered for their tusks, have dropped in number by more than a quarter since 2006. The majority of Earth's land surface has today been resculpted by human hands. Human activity has already pushed three of nine interlocking "Earth systems" beyond the threshold of a safe operating space, and two others -- climate change and land-system change -- are edging closer to the red zone, scientists say. "Once we reach a point of no return, we are not just running out of resources," said Lambertini. "We are damaging the ecosystems that are normally regenerating those resources." The reality TV star stepped out for some ice cream in a comfy white sweatshirt, and no makeup. Kim K steps out for the first time since robbery. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@drugproblem By India Today Web Desk: Kim K has been maintaining a low profile ever since her robbery in Paris, three weeks ago. After reports of her being emotionally taken aback because of the robbery surfaced, it was obvious to see no social media interaction from the reality TV star's side. After the robbery, Kim also went on to sue a website for claiming that the Kardashian sister faked the robbery. Only recently, however, Kim has withdrawn that lawsuit. advertisement Now, Kim has even resumed the shooting for her reality TV series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Because, the show must go on! Picture courtesy: Instagram/kimkardashian Showing these signs of moving on in life then, Kim made her first public appearance last night--thought she slyly attended Kanye's concert recently, while staying away from the media--without makeup. Yup, no makeup whatsoever, while sporting a simple, white oversized sweatshirt and comfy slippers. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@drugproblem Kim stepped out for ice cream with BFF Johnathan Cheban. "Things are slowly getting back to a new normal," a source close to the star told People. "She is definitely acting like a new Kim though. She wears both minimal make-up and jewelry. The new Kim seems less flashy. It's like she doesn't need that now to be happy. She actually looks much better with less make-up. She is naturally pretty and doesn't need make-up, or jewellery." With her life returning to normal slowly, we hope she's back to being her usual self soon enough! --- ENDS --- The presidential candidates of the two major political parties in Ghana, John Dramani Mahama and Nana Akufo Addo have been visiting various communities as part of their campaign ahead of the December polls. These visits require the candidates to pay homage to the chiefs and elders of the various towns and communities. The visits have seen some of the chiefs endorse both candidates. The infographic below shows a regional breakdown of these endorsements. By: Mawuli Tsikata/citifmonline.com/Ghana Traditional leaders at the Manhyia Palace could not hide their excitement on Thursday after they were showered with what has been described as the most unprecedented gift to the Palace by the wife of the NPP Presidential Candidate, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo Addo. Mrs. Akufo Addo glittered the Palace with gifts ranging from clothes, foreign expensive wine, food items and fat sheep when she and her entourage paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Thursday. Carried by over 22 beautiful young ladies, Mrs. Akufo Addo did not only spoil Chiefs and elders of the Asanteman Council, but also ensured that every division under the Kingdom had something to laugh about as cusotkse and tradition demand. The applause and cheers from the elders when the Chief Linguist of the King, Balfour Kantankrankyie asked Nananom to cheer on the entourage, were enough attestation of their approval of their approval. Some of the royals openly confessed that in their lifetime, they have never seen such a gift in the Palace before. However, the rationale behind the beautiful gift, according to the NPP Planning Committee, was for Mrs. Akufo Addo to show appreciation and recognition for the traditional leadership in the Asante Kingdom. The Committee Members include Mrs. Adjei Barwuah, wife of former Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Adjei Barwuah, Mad. Ama Dokuaah, an entrepreneur and owner of Beauty Queen Hotel as well as Andy Owusu, Special Aide to the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. Mrs. Akufo Addo is in the Ashanti Region for a five day tour to some selected constituencies. She would be interacting with Queenmothers to brief them on her husband's vision and programmes for the country and to court their support ahead of the elections. THE FLAGBEARER of the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP) Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo, has received overwhelming endorsement from the Queen mother of the Asante Kingdom, Nana Afua Serwaa Kobi Ampem II. The Queenmother has stated emphatically that she is for change and is backing the NPP Presidential Candidate ahead of the crucial elections. Speaking through her spokesperson, Nana Afua Agyemang Kromo, Asantehemaa said she was in full support of the change agenda. The Asantehemaa made the declaration when the wife of the NPP flagbearer, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo Addo, paid a courtesy call on her at the Manhyia Palace to formally announce her presence in the Ashanti Region for a five day tour. Doing the change (Yeresesamu) gestures whilst addressing the entourage, Nana Afua Kromo, said the Asantehemaa wishes to see progress and development in the lives of her subjects, particularly and that she hopes the NPP leadership under Nana Addo will deliver to the satisfaction of all. "Tell your husband we are in full support of him," Nana Kromo stated, amidst cheers and applause from the gathering that thronged the Asantehemaa Palace. Earlier, Mrs. Akufo Addo had paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Mrs. Rebecca Akufo Addo told Otumfuo Osei Tutu II that she was in the region to mobilize support for her husband. She indicated that her husband has love and vision for Ghana and that she would plead with the King to give him the needed spiritual backing to be able to confront the battle ahead of him. Mrs. Akufo Addo also conveyed her husband appreciation to the King for the warmth reception accorded him anytime he visits the region. "My husband has told me a lot about the love and support you offer him anytime he is in the region. I wish on my personal behalf to express much appreciation to you and plead with you to continue to protect him," She emphasized. Mrs. Akufo Addo is expected to visit about five constituencies to meet and interact with Queenmothers and traditional rulers to court their support for the NPP. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Burundi on Thursday formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, dealing a blow to the tribunal seen as a pillar of international justice. South Africa was the first to take the formal step at the United Nations last week and Gambia has also said it plans to pull out of the Rome treaty that created the ICC. Burundi's Justice Minister Aimee Laurentine personally delivered the formal letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office. The withdrawal takes effect one year after the letter is received. The United Nations is calling on South Africa and Burundi to reverse their decisions. "That withdrawal can be withdrawn," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Burundi's move came after a UN envoy was dispatched to Bujumbura for crisis talks. UN envoy Jamal Benomar was in Bujumbura meeting with leaders to try to defuse tensions over the ICC pullout and the government's decision to break ties with the UN rights office. Set up in 2002, the ICC is often accused of bias against Africa. The ICC in April launched a preliminary investigation of allegations of killings, torture and other rights abuses in Burundi. A report by UN rights experts has blamed President Pierre Nkurunziza's security forces and police for the violence that has torn the country since 2015. The UN Human Rights Council decided last month to set up a formal commission of inquiry that could help identify those responsible for the violence. Burundi has been in turmoil since Nkurunziza announced plans in April last year to run for a third term, which he went on to win. More than 500 people have died in the violence and at least 300,000 have fled the country. The National Democratic Party (NDP) has filed an action against the Electoral Commission (EC) for what it describes as the violation of its rights. A release signed by its Secretary General, Mohammed Frimpong, Thursday said the Party was stirred as a result of what it describes as a blatant violation of the Partys rights for refusing to accept its Nomination Forms as well as disqualifying its candidate for contesting in the December Presidential Election. An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Goerge Koomson struck out the suit on procedural grounds. He explained that it is against procedures of court to file a joint application praying for the EC's decision to be reviewed and at the same time demand for the enforcement of the Presidential candidate's fundamental human right to vote and be voted for. He described the suit as incompetent and the court also fined the applicants GHC10,000. However, the release assured "all Ghanaians and our teeming supporters that this matter is not over, not by a long shot." We shall continue to fight to ensure that persons in public offices respect the Commission of the land and laws that are passed to protect ordinary citizens from arbitrariness, capriciousness and prejudice and actions that breach the due process of the law and requirement imposed by law. The EC disqualified 13 Presidential aspirants including NDP candidate Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings for the December Polls. Chairperson of the Commission, Charlotte Osei said the disqualified aspirants did not meet the criteria for filing as presidential candidates. The rejected political parties are; Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), United Progressive Party (UPP), Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD), Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), and the Great Consolidated Peoples Party (GCPP). The rest include; United Front Party (UFP), All Peoples Congress (APC), National Democratic Party (NDP), and the Independent Peoples Party (IPP). Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com Tamale, Oct. 27, GNA - A total of 45 entrepreneurs, including 16 women from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, have received support from Tradeline Consult, Ghana. The donation forms part of Tradeline's strategic partnership with Enhancing Growth in New Enterprises Programme, ENGINE and TechnoServe, to create and sustainably develop indigenous businesses in Ghana. Making the donation of Embracing Your Inner Courage, the CEO of Tradeline Consult, Ghana Branch, Mr Sam Zeph Atiemo extolled the importance of the ENGINE programme in re-defining the scope of entrepreneurship by bringing it closer to indigenes. He said: 'ENGINE is the solution to practically and sustainably develop entrepreneurs in the country and must be supported by stakeholders to ensure success.' Mr Atiemo commended the passion and enthusiasm of entrepreneurs towards building sustainable businesses, adding that it required adequate support for their passions to be scaled-up into innovative business operations. The Tradeline CEO was one of the judges during the business pitch events, which investigated and determined the viability of the participating businesses from Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. He challenged the awardees to be more innovative in developing robust business models and make profitability inevitable since this was what most investors look out for. Tradeline Consult expressed interest in investing directly into some of the businesses that won the awards through its partner company BUFIA Investment Limited. It is a venture capital financing company that provides entrepreneurs with the best possible resources including investment, training, networking, enterprise development, and mentorship - to help turn their innovative ideas into profitable businesses. The Acting Country Director of TechnoServe, Mr Samuel Baba Adongo talked about the challenges faced by entrepreneurs including poor record-keeping. He commended the women entrepreneurs and urged them to keep improving themselves in spite of the challenges of limited access to finance and investment support in addition to limited access to raw materials. ENGINE is a multi-year project implemented by TechnoServe with funding from the UK through the Department for International Development. It seeks to equip Micro and Small Enterprises with the necessary skills and resources to improve their business plans and internal operations, while creating a thriving community of entrepreneurs through increased access to business development services and financing. The managing partner of Tradeline Consult, Mr Forster Gomashie pledged his firm's commitment to contributing strategically towards developing entrepreneurship ecosystems to solve some of the major challenges expressed by the awardees through establishment of the Savannah Business Factory, the first of its kind in northern Ghana. This would house the entrepreneurs and address their business development and investment needs through an Integrated and Sustainable Business Approach. Tradeline Consult is a limited liability company based in Accra-Ghana and Lilongwe-Malawi that offers a variety of business consulting services and training to SMEs with 70 per cent agricultural value chain consulting and 30 per cent non-agric related. GNA By Benjamin Akoto, GNA Anyinam (E/R), Oct 27, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama, has asked Ghanaians to take pride in his government's solid achievements. He said a lot of good things had happened to the nation that were much admired by many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which they would like to have themselves. Addressing a political rally at Anyinam in the Atiwa District as part of his six-day election campaign in the Eastern Region, President Mahama said strong progress had been made over the last four years. 'We are not there yet but we will get there' he told the people, adding that, 2017 was going to be 'the year of prosperity'. He announced that two roads in the area - Anyinam-Kwabeng and Kwabeng-Abomosu, had been selected for construction under the cocoa roads rehabilitation project. President Mahama spoke at another rally in Osino, in the Fanteakwa South constituency, where he hinted of getting small scale miners to come together to be registered as co-operatives. That, he said, would allow for effective regulation of their activities. This way, they could work in a concession - to earn income, without causing extensive damage to the environment. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Communications Minister, urged the people to vote massively to renew the mandate of the Mahama Administration. They should ignore the deception and empty election promises of the opposition political parties. GNA 27.10.2016 LISTEN By Gifty Amofa/Racheal Fosuah Osei, GNA, Kumasi, Oct 27, GNA - Two suspected members of a robbery gang, terrorizing and making life miserable for people in Agogo and other nearby communities in the Asante-Akim Noth District have been arrested and detained by the police. Their names were given as Denji Buyor, 29, and Umaru Jinji, 19. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwaku Osei Ampofo-Duku, Deputy Ashanti Regional Commander, told journalists in Kumasi that the pair were seized based upon police intelligence. The gang had attacked and robbed travelers on a mini-bus of their money, mobile phones and other valuables on the Kowereso-Bebome road on September 09. This was after they had shot into the vehicle through its back wind shield. They had on the previous day robbed passengers in a taxi, traveling on the Ananekrom-Dukusen road. ACP Ampofo-Duku said the gang shot and killed two farmers - 63 year-old Kwadwo Amponsah, and Abi Shaibu, 25, who were responding to the distress call by the robbery victims in the taxi. He said the suspects had already been identified by some of their victims, adding that, the police had intensified their effort to track down and arrest the other members of the gang to bring them to justice. GNA By Kwabia Owusu-Mensah GNA Kumasi, Oct 27, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) has asked the media to go the extra mile to cross check and get the facts right in their election reports. Ms. Georgina Opoku Amankwaa, a Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, said they should not carry wild and unsubstantiated allegations that could create confusion in the minds of the people. It was important for journalists to demand that politicians provided proof - solid evidence to back claims of bias, they had kept making against the EC. She made the call at a media interaction organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa in Kumasi. That provided the platform for journalists in the Ashanti Region to seek clarification of issues bothering on the electoral system and preparations towards the December 07 polls. Ms. Opoku Amankwaa stated that the Commission had been open and transparent in everything it had done, adding that there had been stakeholder involvement in all major decisions relating to the conduct of the election. She discounted the allegation by the largest opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the EC was conniving with some foreign telecommunication companies to tamper with collation figures in its strongholds during the transmission of election results to favour the ruling party. A leading member of the party is reported to have said that the EC was conniving with STL and Huawei - both telecommunication companies, to alter election figures during the transmission of results from the NPP stronghold. Ms. Opoku Amankwaa said it was not true that the Commission had engaged any company to transmit elections results from collation centres in the constituencies to its headquarters. She underlined the resolve of the election management board to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible polls. She therefore called on Ghanaians to continue to support and to have confidence in the Commission. Mr Sule Amadu, Deputy Chairperson in-charge of Operations, said the media was a key partner in ensuring transparency and participation of all in the processes leading to the election. He gave the assurance that the Commission was on-course despite the numerous legal challenges. Mr Amadu appealed to the media not to allow politicians to use their platform to create confusion and panic among the people. Professor Kwame Karikari, a media and communications expert, said it was not acceptable for any media house, no matter the objective of its establishment, to peddle lies and to do anything unethical. GNA By Iddi Yire/Winfred Zuur, GNA Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - Africa's transition to a low carbon energy future is critical for global sustainability, especially for addressing climate change, Dr Timothy Afful-Koomson, Principal Green Growth Officer, African Development Bank (AfDB) has said. He said globally, about 47 per cent of the increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 2000 and 2010 directly came from energy supply, with industry, transport and buildings contributing 30 per cent, 11 per cent and three per cent. Dr Afful-Koomson said this in Accra at a Green Growth Diagnostic for Africa (GGDA) workshop. The workshop on theme "Green Growth Diagnostics for Africa: Understanding and Tackling the Binding Constraints on Renewable Energy Investment in Ghana," was organised by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana (UG) in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies. Other partners are the Kenya Institute of Policy Research and Analysis, New Castle University, Durham University, the Policy Practice and Ashington Ngigi. The project seeks to develop a new Green Growth Diagnostics methodology and apply it to two African countries: Ghana and Kenya. These countries are the research hubs of East and West Africa and it is believe that they offer a good opportunity to test the methodology in advance to their wider application to other African countries and beyond the African continent. The workshop was therefore, organised to disseminate ISSER's findings on Political Economy Analysis (PEA) of the binding constraints on renewable energy investment in Ghana, and to stimulate more dialogue among key stakeholders. Dr Afful-Koomson said unreliable and costly power supply was a binding constraint for socio-economic development. "So the GGDA and the related work on PEA of the Binding Constraints to Renewable Energy Investment in Ghana are spot on. One cannot overemphasise their relevance," he stated. He said energy was the driving force for economies and GDP growth; declaring that "there is a clear correlation between gross domestic products (GDP) per capita and power consumption per capita". "Lack of reliable electricity is the biggest obstacle to business operations in Sub-Saharan Africa," he said. Dr Afful-Koomson said two key objectives of the 'AfDB Ten Year Strategy' (TYS) covering the period 2013-2022 are Inclusive Growth and a Transition to Green Growth to improve the quality of growth on the continent. He said in pursuit of the TYS, AfDB had developed a Green Growth Framework (GGF) for Bank staff to provide the rationale, guiding principles and entry points of engagements with regional member countries (RMCs). He noted that through the TYS and the GGF, the Bank had demonstrated the commitment to support the use of the green growth development model to spur innovation, productivity, entrepreneurship, employment and efficient use of resources in Africa. On what is green growth? Dr Afful-Koomson said the AfDB looked at the development challenges confronting the region and came up with what green and inclusive growth on the continent should look like with the Hi-5s. These are Light up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the quality of life for Africans. He said the Hi5s operationalise inclusive green growth and they were meant to help scale up the implementation of the TYS. "Why is energy and by implication clean and RE important for inclusive green growth in Africa?" he quizzed. He said more than 645 million Africans have no access to electricity while more than 730 million rely on biomass for cooking. He said electricity access rates vary enormously by region; stating that 'in South Africa the access rate is more than 85 per cent, and 95 per cent in North African countries; by stark contrast, it is less than 25 per cent in Central and East Africa'. Dr Afful-Koomson said, countries such as Chad and Sierra Leone have access rates lower than five per cent. He said Africa's power consumption per capita was very low, compared to that of the rest of the world. "The problem is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa, which has a per capita consumption of 181 kWh. 13,000 kWh per capita in United States and 6,500 kWh per capita in Europe," he noted. He said low access levels to modern energy was one of the reasons why many people resort to the use of harmful energy sources to meet their daily needs. He said potentials for inclusive green growth in Africa was enormous, with only a fraction of it being currently tapped. Patterning to the use of renewable energy in Ghana, Dr Afful-Koomson asked: "How could we use results from the GGDA/PEA to provide policy guidance to a country that is dependent on fossil fuels to drive its economy?" He said fossil fuel represented about 50 per cent of Ghana's energy mix with public expenditure on energy subsidies representing significant percentage of the national budget. "This country is pursuing 10 percent target of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2020. "We have almost come to the end of 2016 and RE in current energy mix is below one per cent," he said. He said information from the GGDA could help identify, which policies and regulations would be necessary to provide the enabling environment and incentives for which types of renewable energy in order to scale up investment in RE to at least realise half of the 10 per cent target. He called for the promotion of resource-use efficiency; stating that "the human 'wastes' that are posing sanitation challenges in several major cities such as Accra are actually sustainable 'resources' that could be transformed into clean and affordable energy to help improve accessibility and reliability of energy supply in the area." "The sustainable treatment of these 'wastes' may also help to address the vicious poverty cycle arising from poor sanitation and health-related hazards," he added. On performance and returns, Dr Afful-Koomson said there was the need for information on best practices of designing projects, providing enabling environments for projects, financing and risks products that helped generate better performance and risk-adjusted returns for specific renewable energy projects. Dr Charles Ackah, Acting Director, ISSER, said the Institute had conducted research into the impact of the energy crisis (dumsor) on small scale enterprises in Ghana since 2012. He said electricity played a critical role in a nation's socio-economic development; and that the earlier Ghana found a lasting solution to its energy needs, the better. Dr Simon Bawakyillenuo, Project Lead, ISSER, said the project sought to find the binding constraints for investment in economically viable RE; and policies, which could effectively target different binding constraints? He said the PEA identified the actors, alignments of interests or alliances that obstructed or drove the adoption of specific sustainable energy policies in Ghana and Kenya. Professor Paul Yanking, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography and Resource Development, UG, who chaired the function called for the promotion of RE in Ghana as part of efforts to address the impact of climate change. GNA Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which has been infamous for holding Mumbai to ransom by indulging in vandalism over terror attacks, Pakistani actors working in India and Maratha pride being compromised among other issues, actually resorts to violent protests merely for money. MNS has been involved in repeated acts of goondaism in Maharashtra. By Sushant Pathak, Jamshed Adil Khan : They let loose their bullyboy tactics on films, artistes, north Indian taxi drivers, vendors and jobseekers in Mumbai. Pugnacious activists of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena are increasingly holding the country's commercial and film capital to ransom in the name of either national or Maratha pride. The most recent case in point was the way in which they threatened to protest against the release of Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan before relenting on its stand. advertisement As the nation wondered whether the MNS' aggressive demonstrations to gag free speech and curb civil liberties were really about patriotism, a stunning India Today investigation has found that not all of the party's protests are motivated by ideology.Also read: Uddhav Thackeray makes fun of Maharashtra CM Fadnavis for brokering ADHM deal with MNS WANT PROTEST, MAKE THE PAYMENT India Today's undercover reporters working across Mumbai have discovered how some thugs in the MNS are willing to hold protests for a price. An investigation by India Today has also revealed a possible extortion racket running within Raj Thackeray's political party. Several MNS leaders, whom India Today's undercover reporters met, were ready to start protests with an army of goons in Mumbai after being paid. Mohammad Athar Shah, the party's Kurla ward president, agreed to order his foot soldiers to go on the rampage on the streets for Rs 25 lakh when our journalist in the guise of a lobbyist asked him whether he could organise violent protests. Also read: ADHM row: MNS a party of goons, can't decide what people must watch, says BJP MP Babul Supriyo "If you go to somebody else, they will charge Rs 50 lakh or more. We will organise it for Rs 25 lakh," said Shah, an aspirant for the powerful BMC. The bill he quoted for his violent demonstration would help him fund his campaign for the BMC, whose elections are due in February, he said. VANDALISM MOTIVATED BY MONEY BUSINESS He also admitted that the vandalism on streets MNS leaders like him perpetrate by whipping up nationalist and Maratha issues could be motivated by pure commerce. "Remember, our organisation has no patriotic objective at all," India Today's undercover reporter told Shah, clarifying the proposal was driven by vested interests. "I fully understand it's business. They'll benefit from it and so will I," acknowledged the MNS leader. He also then offered a host of ways in which he could carry out protests, from blocking traffic to indulging in street violence. "Tell me what your organisation wants. Do they want violent attacks, vandalism, traffic blockades, stone-pelting? he asked. But Shah wasn't the only one in the MNS rank and file instigating protests. advertisement In the second leg of its probe, India Today's special investigation team met Deepak Chavan, the party's vice-president of Mumbai's Malad-Malwani ward, with a proposal to hold demonstrations over child labour. Without delay, Chavan agreed to stage the agitation. "It will be done," he assured the undercover reporters. Also read: Fresh threat to Ae Dil Hai Mushkil from MNS "How many people can be brought together for this protest," asked one of the journalists. "Fifty or 100," Chavan replied. "Whether it is 50, 100, 200, 150, just ensure it involves stone-pelting and (police) lathicharge. All should appear on the media," said the undercover reporter. "It will be done," the MNS leader answered, but said his protests won't come for free. "I am not saying I will do it for free. I didn't say it. The boys and their people should be satisfied. Those who are with me shouldn't be upset. They should see clearly what's there on offer," Chavan remarked. EXTORTION RACKET Holding demonstrations over the issue of child labour appeared a routine happening for Chavan. Soon after, he offered the undercover reporters a partnership in a bigger extortion plan. "There's something big to be extracted if you are willing to be a partner," he said. advertisement "What big?" asked the reporter. The MNS leader from the Malad-Malwani ward explained that he was plotting to blackmail a real-estate tycoon who he said had built residential apartments on a tribal land in Mumbai. He even suggested that the fictitious NGO that India Today's reporters posed to be representing participate in the deal. "They (the tribes) are weak. They have no access beyond courts. They can't go anywhere else although they have all the valid documents," Chavan said. His scheme centred around a potential nexus between a politician like him and the NGO to extort the builder after pressuring him by deceitful protests. Also read: MNS welcomes theatre owners' decision to ban films with Pakistani artists "We'll get at least two to four crore rupees," Chavan told the investigative team. "So, what you are suggesting is to put pressure on the builder so that he negotiates with us," asked the reporter. "Yes," quipped Chavan. MODUS OPERANDI India Today's special team also probed how MNS leaders like Shah and Chavan were able to undermine Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of democratic protests, by holding protests by way of acts of intimidation and thuggery. advertisement The investigation revealed that the state itself might be partly to be blamed for patronising their high-handedness and bullying behaviour. In his comments, Shah explicitly endorsed manipulating the police as a modus operandi for his party's arm-twisting methods. He promised law-enforcers would respond lightly, and in accordance with his pre-scripted plan, when his men descend on Mumbai to create chaos. "It will be chaotic for sure. I'll manage the police post. I'll manage everything," Shah said. " So, you'll manage both the post and the police station. Right?" asked the reporter. "I'll manage everything," Shah assured. "There won't be any firing. We'll manage it. They (police) will let us know their limits and those of ours. That's it," he said in what appeared to be a stunning disclosure that explained why the police in Mumbai don't act against seemingly unlawful protests as they should. BRAINWASHING In the MNS clique, any cosmetic police case against the cadres is regarded as a badge of honour in the party, Shah told India Today's special team. "One who is not named in any case is not an MNS worker. That's true," he bragged. Also read: MNS workers disrupt pro-Vidarbha press conference in Mumbai Arif Shamim Sheikh, an MNS leader from Mahim, also termed criminal cases a hallmark of Raj Thackeray's outfit. "Police cases keep happening. It's not worth being in the MNS it if there isn't a case. How will you be identified then?" he said. "It's a trademark." Besides, Sheikh defined violence as the MNS' core philosophy. "Raj (Thackeray) Sahib says clench your fists and deliver the blows if words don't work," he said. METHOD IN MADNESS But before MNS activists pounce on their targets, they make every calculation, right from the strengths of their rivals to the legal costs involved in getting lawyers to defend our case, claimed Sheikh. "There's a system in place. We have to take into account how strong the other party is, where the protests should be held, how big our manpower should be, and the costs for lawyers," he said. Not one MNS leader India Today's investigative crew met refused to hold violent demonstrations in what appeared to be a tragic commentary on public protests that are a powerful statement against any abuse of rights in a democracy. --- ENDS --- Accra, Oct 27, GNA - The Supreme Court has ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to create a portion on the collation forms for all party agents including returning officers to append their signatures after results are collated. The seven-member panel also asked the EC to make available to the candidates and their representatives copies of signed collated results forms for both parliamentary and presidential elections at the various collation centres. The orders followed a suit by Mr Kwesi Nyame-Tsease Eshun a private legal practitioner, against the EC and the Attorney-General (AG) to expose flaws in the new law that governs the 2016 general elections. The Supreme Court also directed the EC to go and confer with lawyers for the plaintiff to rectify the anomaly identified in the CI 94. The plaintiff, Mr. Eshun, was seeking the true and proper interpretation of articles 42, 43, 45 (C) and 51 of the 1992 Constitution, especially Article 45 (C) which mandates the Commission to conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda, implying that a duty had been bestowed on the EC to conduct such elections in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner. The plaintiff is asking the Supreme Court to declare that the failure of the EC to make clear provisions in C.l. 94, prescribing the detailed steps that the returning officer at the Constituency Collation Centre shall methodically collate the total valid votes cast for each of the contesting presidential candidates, and to enter same in the relevant forms, namely, the Certificate to be endorsed on the Writ, Form One E.L. 1 B and Presidential Elections-Result Collation Form GNA 27.10.2016 LISTEN By Patience A. Gbeze, GNA Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has held its quarterly intercessory service in Accra to pray for peace ahead of the December 7 General election. It was on the theme, 'Ensuring Fire Safety and God's Guidance for Peaceful Election'. The Right Reverend Bishop Samuel Kwame Hodasi, a former Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, in a sermon, urged Ghanaians to maintain the peace and respect the rule of law. He said: 'It is God who chooses Kings for His nation', and expressed the hope that God would choose a President for Ghana, come December 7. 'No one can take something that belongs to another person,' he added, and urged Ghanaians to choose a God-fearing leader. Rt. Rev. Hodasi said as the country approached the polling process, it was incumbent on the GNFS as a security service body, to educate themselves on the process and seek the face of God before, during and after the polls. He advised Ghanaians to remain calm and prepare for God's words to pass in peace. 'Draw nearer to God to find perfect peace'. 'Be calm and willing to wait and prepare for God's fulfillment in your lives,' he added. He said men had become so full of their glory and had forgotten that that glory belonged to God. Rt. Rev. Hodasi, therefore, called on Ghanaians to continue praying for the leaders for God to endow them with perfect peace and wisdom. 'May the Holy Spirit garment us with self-restraint to ensure peaceful election,' he added. Mrs Adelaide Annor Kumi, the Chief Director, Ministry of The Interior, said the theme was very appropriate, especially as the country was preparing for the 2016 Elections. She urged the officers to exhibit high level of professionalism, loyalty, and dedication to ensure that Ghana goes through a successful and peaceful poll. 'Be very tactful to thwart any effort of some compatriots who would set in to cause mayhem,' she said, and tasked them to step up their game by being vigilant throughout the electoral process. 'As the statutory body mandated to manage undesired fires, I implore you to step up your vigilance throughout the country to ensure that any unwarranted and unwanted fire outbreak is avoided, (sic)' she said. 'On December 7, I also advise you to eschew any sense of bias before, during and after the elections to avoid the situation where you will become the source of conflict instead of the peace maker, and do not also indulge in the electioneering,' she advised. Dr Albert Brown Gaisie, the Chief Fire Officer, described the 'service as very special' in the sense that it came in the wake of a crucial election that would decide who lead the country for the next four years. He said: 'In about six weeks from today, the nation would be going to the polls to decide on who to lead the country and urged the officers and men to be impartial in their election duties and to discharge their duties without bias. 'Let the will of Ghanaians prevail over your parochial interests so as to help run a successful election. I will urge all officers to be vigilant as election approached, we should ensure that all appliances are in commission so that in the event of any unfortunate incident, we will be able to quell the situation on time,' he added. GNA 27.10.2016 LISTEN Accra Oct. 27, GNA - A Fisherman accused of breaking into a house at Community 16, Lashibi, to steal home appliances and monies has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. Edmond Odai and his accomplice one Otoo now at large have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry, and six counts of stealing. Daniel Afortey Odai a Motor rider has also been charged with abetment of crime. Edmond and Daniel pleaded not guilty to the various charges and have been admitted to bail in the sum of GH20,000.00 with a surety each. They are expected to reappear before the court presided over by Mrs Janet Naa Akaweley Quaye on November 3. Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kofi Adu said the complainant Mr Emmanuel Buedi Kwofi is a facility officer at Barclays Bank in Accra and resides at Community 16, Lashibi with his parents and two young sisters. On October 12, this year at about 4:05 pm, the complainant left home and returned to find out that thieves had broken into his house through the back door. The prosecutor said the thieves entered the complainant's room and made away with a 40 inch Samsung TV, one apple laptop, four mobile phones, a school bag and GH 80 cedis. The prosecution said the complainant also detected that his father and mother's room had been burgled and a wrist watch and cash of GH2,670.00 had been stolen. The room of two sisters was also ransacked and a Toshiba laptop, two purses containing their ATM Cards and money worth GH1,500.00had been stolen, the prosecutor added. According to prosecution when the matter was reported, Edmond was arrested and during investigation he mentioned Daniel as the one who bought one of the Television and two laptops to him to sell. When Daniel was rounded up he also mentioned Otoo now at large as his accomplice. GNA 27.10.2016 LISTEN By Deborah Apetorgbor, GNA Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - A constituency debate for parliamentary candidates, scheduled for the Weija/Gbawe Constituency was disrupted following a disagreement on the banner to be used for the programme. The debate, which was initially supposed to be collaboration between the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), the Centre for Development (CDD-Ghana Democratic) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), came to a halt even before the function could start. The programme was therefore cancelled after a misunderstanding between CODEO and the NCCE Greater Accra Regional Chair over who the organiser was, forcing the CODEO officials to pack their equipment and set out from the venue. Mr Angel Carbonu, Advisory Board Member for CODEO, explained to the media that the programme could not come on as a result of what he described as 'the misbehaviour of the NCCE Regional Chairperson'. Mr Carbonu, who was scheduled to be the lead moderator for the debate however noted that CODEO has been organising such events successfully without partnership with other organisations and added that the Coalition was going to re-organise and restructure to hold the debates in other constituencies. He said Mrs Lucille Annan, the NCCE Regional Chairperson, had not been properly informed of the arrangements for the programme which was originally to be held by the CODEO and the CDD-Ghana. The NCCE was then per an arrangement invited to collaborate due the official mandate. 'We are supposed to collaborate, you cannot superimpose yourself and claim ownership of the programme,', he said, adding that her behaviour was unacceptable. According to him, the programme was being organised by CODEO and CDD-Ghana with NCCE as the third party. He said the prior understanding was that the debate was a collaboration between CODEO, CDD and NCCE at the Head of the Commission but perhaps communication failed to reach the Regional Chairperson. Mrs Annan however explained that, the programme was being organised by the NCCE and not CODEO or any other. She said CODEO wanted to 'ride on our back', so the Commission agreed, however, on arrival, she found that CODEO had used its banner on the set and demanded an explanation. Consequently, she went ahead to mount NCCE's banner over that of CODEO's which led to a confrontation between the two parties with CODEO pulling out of the programme. Mrs Annan stated that, the NCCE was holding parliamentary debates in all constituencies, and that all districts have been resourced by the Commission with support from the European Union. Only the candidate of the National Democratic Congress, Obuobia Opoku Darko, turned up before the rumpus though the aspirants of the New Patriotic Party, Tina Mensah and that of the Convention People's Party had been invited. The constituency debate forum for parliamentary candidates is intended to give constituents the avenue to interact with their candidates and express their concerns to them. GNA By Belinda Ayamgha, GNA Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - The United States Customs and Border Protection and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would see the two institutions exchange customs expertise. The MoU was signed by the visiting Commissioner of the US Customs and Border Protection, Mr Gil Kerlikowske on behalf of the United States and Mr John Vianney Kuudamnuru, Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA for Ghana. The signing builds on the existing partnership between the two agencies, which has culminated in more than 100 Ghanaian border patrol personnel being trained by their US counterparts in 2016. Speaking at the signing ceremony, part of activities during his two-day tour of Ghana, Mr Kerlikowske said the MoU would provide a framework on which to further strengthen the partnership with Ghana. 'This memorandum of understanding is particularly helpful in many ways for continuing what is a robust and important trade relationship between two customs authorities' he stated, adding it would also support other efforts that were just as important to both the governments of Ghana and the United States. These efforts include anti-narcotics, combating human trafficking, and smuggling of hazardous materials. He noted that the signing of the MoU, not only provided a strong foundation to continue building the capacity of Ghanaian officials, but also for officials of the US to gain new insights, information and knowledge. The MoU also provides a framework for the implementation of the Security Governance Initiative (SGI), initiated by the US in 2014 and which provides assistance to Ghana and five other West African Nations in several areas. In Ghana these areas include cyber security and cybercrime, maritime security and land border management challenges. The MoU thus allows the US Customs and Border Protection to assist its Ghanaian counterpart in the area of border security and integrated border management over the next three years. 'We're going to provide technical assistance, capacity building, some of the lessons that we have learned and some of our best practices in this important joint cooperation, and we expect to deploy an advisor to be able to assist in many of these areas.' The MoU would work seamlessly to ensure safety and security for both nations. Interacting with the media at a roundtable following the signing ceremony, Mr Kerlikowske said his outfit would liaise with the GRA to identify the specific areas where the assistance would be needed and then proceed from there. He expressed the importance of information sharing among the two agencies, especially in light of the inherent difficulty in defining and securing borders. 'Borders are very hard to secure and nobody has a good definition of what's a secure border; that's why sharing information between countries about people or goods that may be a threat is a huge step forward in making either countries safer' he noted. Mr Kuudamnuru, noted that the US Customs administration, and other US Agencies, had already provided numerous capacity building and training programmes to the GRA, during its long-standing partnership. 'The two administrations have also exchanged critical intelligence and logistical support as part of the global effort to stem the ever-increasing menace of international narcotics drug trade and trafficking,' he noted. He said the signing of the MoU concretised the existing efforts of the two customs administrations and committed both parties to share customs expertise in narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling of hazardous materials, capacity building and technical assistance and other areas of interest to both parties. GNA 27.10.2016 LISTEN By Regina Benneh, GNA Abesim (B/A), Oct. 27, GNA - The personnel of the Brong-Ahafo Regional and Sunyani Municipal Commands of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on Wednesday donated items valued at GH3,500.00 to Rhema Ghana, an Orphanage at Abesim, near Sunyani. The amount was raised from offerings of morning devotions held two times a week by the personnel to purchase the items which included five dual beds, 10 student mattresses, bags of rice, some gallons of cooking oil, detergents and toiletries. In a sermon on the theme 'Caring for the fatherless' at a short prayer service prior to the donation, Assistant Divisional Officer II (ADOII) Thomas Kofi Dzah of the Municipal Command, admonished owners and managers of destitute homes who were in the habit of taking such charity items home for their personal use to desist from the practice, saying 'it was ungodly'. He said it was being widely-speculated that some of them were using the names and pictures of the children in their care to solicit for funds and other items from donors, both locally and abroad, for their selfish interest. ADO II Dzah said it was sad that some religious leaders including pastors were no more selfless and had neglected biblical commands to defend and care for the fatherless in society. Nana Opoku Oware, Manager of Rhema Ghana on behalf of the Children expressed appreciation to the Service for the gesture and pledged that the items would be used for their intended purpose. GNA By Kodjo Adams, GNA Accra, Oct 27, GNA - Mrs Joyce Afutu, Director of Communications at the National Council for Civic Education, has urged journalists to be abreast of electoral laws to educate the public ahead of the December 7 polls. She said it was imperative for media practitioners to know and understand the laws since their role is critical in setting agenda for public discourse as well as disseminating information through their medium. Mrs Afutu made the call on Thursday in Accra at a three-day training workshop for journalists across the country on elections reporting using data journalism, organised by EIB Network and Pensplusbytes with funding by the US Embassy. The training project dubbed: 'Voters Count-Amplifying Voices through New Digital Platforms is expected that the trainees are equipped with practical, ready-to-go toolbox of tips, and techniques to give comprehensive reports on the impending elections. The training is the second in series after a successful one in Kumasi for journalists designed to help leverage the knowledge and experience of seasoned media practitioners for improved issues coverage of the country's general election. Mrs Afutu appealed to the media to be professional in their line of duty and always cross check their facts and give accurate, fair and balance report ahead of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. 'The media is a powerful tool in changing behaviour, and that there is the need for journalists to uphold to the tenets of professional journalism through the use of temperate language on the airwaves,' she added. She implored journalists to present the facts to the public and allow the electorate to do the analysis since the media have been entrusted with the sovereign of the people to ensure responsible journalism devoid of violence. Mrs Afutu stated that as part of the NCCE mandate to educate the public on civic issues, it had initiated series of training with the public to educate them on their role in electoral process and called for political tolerance to ensure peaceful elections. Chief Superintendent Kwasi Ofori, the Adabraka Police Commander said his outfit had put in place measures to create peaceful environment with the establishment of the National Election Security Task force. He advised journalists in the local languages to be decorum and avoid sensationalism in reporting elections since such acts create tension which not controlled may cause mayhem and violence. Mrs Eyram Bashan, Group Managing News Editor of EIB Network, said the training programme would deploy new digital tools hosted by Pensplusbytes to ensure that every vote counted towards the final outcome of the elections. Ms Juliet Amoah, Strategic Director of Pensplusbytes said her outfit was passionate about using technology in Journalism. She said the training would review political parties' manifestoes to produce a comparative tabulation of policies, promises and costing and shared via online platforms. GNA 27.10.2016 LISTEN Accra, Oct 27, GNA - The National Media Commission (NMC) has appointed Dr Kwame Akuffo Annoff-Ntow, a broadcaster and communications consultant as the Director-General of Ghana the Broadcasting Corporation. His appointment takes effect from November 1, 2016. A statement signed by Mr Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, the Chairman NMC, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said: "Dr Akuffo Anoff-Ntow has close to two decades of professional experience in broadcasting as both a practitioner and scholar. 'His professional experience spans public broadcasting at GBC as well as consulting for other media and communication interests across the world.' As a trained television practitioner producer/director, the statement said, he had produced, directed and executive produced many television programmes across several genres. It said: 'Dr Anoff-Ntow, therefore, comes to the role of Director-General with intimate knowledge of the editorial and operational workings of global public broadcasting. 'As a member of the International Public Television (INPUT) forum, Dr Anoff-Ntow has undertaken many international projects around best practice in public broadcasting and media". He was one of 16 programme experts from around the world who planned and led sessions at INPUT international conferences in Germany, USA Switzerland and South Africa, the statement said. As a communication scholar, Dr Anoff-Ntow's research interest included newsroom journalistic practices, the political economy of public broadcasting in Africa, communication policy, and the politics of visual representations, it said. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Communications Studies from the University of Calgary in Canada, where his doctoral thesis topic focused on: 'Public Broadcasting and the Politics of Media in Ghana: a case study of the GBC'. He is a member of the Ghana Journalists Association, the Canadian Communications Association and sits on the Board of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA). GNA A 50-year-old Jaipur man tricked his former wife to sleep with his friend after he lost a bet with him. He also arranged fake documents to justify it as Nikah Halala. By India Today Web Desk: A 42-year-old mother-of-two from Jaipur filed a rape complaint after her former husband tricked her into sleeping with his friend. She claimed that her ex-husband drugged her and took her to his friend's house after losing a bet. The man, however, claims it was all for Nikah Halala, a Sharia law that requires the divorced woman to marry and consummate with another man before she can remarry her former husband. advertisement A Hindustan Times report says he has a fake nikahnama with the stamp of the Jaipur city qazi, which states his ex-wife and the friend were married. Also read: Supreme Court can't interfere in religious freedom, says Muslim Personal Law Board The woman said her ex-husband, who gave her triple talaq eight months ago, used to force her to sleep with his friends while they were still married, but she never gave in. "I cannot get over the insult and shame meted out to me. My husband got me raped by his friend," the woman told HT. "I feel angry, depressed, scared." Also read: All you need to know about the Uniform Civil Code Months after divorce, the man who still had relationship with the woman, took her out under the pretext of a drive, and drugged her. "I was feeling unwell and he gave me some tablets. I felt dizzy after taking them. He then took me to his friend's house where he gave me some more tablets," she said. Also read: PM Modi on triple talaq: Lives of Muslim women cannot be destroyed "The next thing I remember is waking up naked on the floor next to his friend," she said, adding that when she tried to go to the police, her husband threatened her with a footage of the sexual act with his friend. Nonetheless, she went to the police and filed a rape case against her ex and his friend. "There was no nikah with the friend. It's a case of rape, not halala," she said. Also read: Triple talaq in one sitting is against Quran: Sareshwala Mohammed Iqbal of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, a constituent of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said Nikah Halala is not valid in this case. "If there was no nikah or any forced nikah, halala is not valid. This is a case of rape and the accused must be punished," he said. Also watch: Supreme Court can't interfere in religious freedom, says Muslim Personal Law Board advertisement --- ENDS --- - Appointments into seven key government agencies awaiting Senate confirmation is been stalled - Some of them have been held up for more than four months now - The relationship between the Executive and the Legislature is nothing to write home about A report by Daily Trust has revealed that the Nigerian Senate is deliberately delaying the confirmation of some appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari. Is the supposed cordial relationship between the Senate and the presidency still intact? President Buhari made some of the appointments since June, but the Senate has looked the other way and carried on with other activities. Among those awaiting the Senate confirmation are: 1. Chairman and commissioners of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 2. Chairman and commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) 3. Chairman and commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission 4. Chairman and commissioners of the National Population Commission 5. Six Independent National Electoral Commission commissioners 6. Two Supreme Court Justices and 7. 47 career ambassadors The letter nominating the EFCC chairman and commissioners was received at the Senate on Wednesday, June 22, according to the official stamp on it but was not read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki until on Thursday, July 14. EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu is one of the nominees awaiting Senate confirmation A Senator however doused the tension surrounding the delay saying, its a blessing in disguise because our colleagues had reservations about him but the delay has calmed nerves. READ ALSO: Legislative aides stage protest over non-payment of allowances at NASS (photos) When contacted, the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume said the appointment of the EFCCs boss would soon be confirmed. Meanwhile, officials at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, opined that there are no cogent reasons why the Upper Chamber should be delaying the confirmation when there are many vacuums to be filed. Two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the refusal of the president to allow the lawmakers have their ways, especially on financial issues, was largely responsible for their disposition. The most important of their grievances is the issue of constituency projects which the presidency has said may not be possible in this years (2016) budget due to the economic downturn and dwindling income to the nations treasury. The lawmakers did not help themselves when they decided to purchase the cars despite the outcry by Nigerians, one of the officials said. The second official said the presidency is worried about the delays on what he opined the Senate should have prioritised. READ ALSO: 4 MAJOR reasons why corruption will continue in Nigerian governments He stated the recent withdrawal of the forgery charges against Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu was part of the federal government's strategy to douse tension between the two arms of government. His words: We all know that the National Assembly is seeing the Presidency as muzzling or trying to dominate them. But this is not the case; the cordiality expected from the lawmakers was not forthcoming. They want it to be business as usual even when they know there is financial difficulties and recession in the country. In a related development, an ambassadorial nominee from Katsina state, Usman Bugaje has revealed why he rejected President Buharis call to serve the nation under the current administration. Bugaje, who is from the same state as the president, explained that his hands were full and so, he could not attend to any other thing, hence his rejection. Another nominee, Akintunde Akinwande, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is also believed to have turned down his appointment as the chairman of the NERC after refusing to see the Senate for screening or the DSS for security clearance. Source: Legit.ng - People of Osisa community in Delta state attacked Fulani herdsmen few hours after holding government officials hostage - The reprisal attack followed conflict between Fulani herdsmen and members of the community - Mukhtar Usman, chairman of cattle breeders association said many of his members were in serious condition Some members of the Osisa community, in Ndokwa-East local government area of Delta state reportedly launched a reprisal attack on Fulani herdsmen. This is coming few days after some women held the Secretary to Delta Government, Festus Ovie Agas, and other government officials hostage over alleged killing of their people by the herdsmen. Speaking to Daily Post, the secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN, Mukhtar Usman, denied that members of the association killed any of the residents. Residents launch reprisal attack on Fulani herdsmen According to him, there was a conflict between some Fulanis and Osisa locals on Saturday, October 22, in which some people were injured. READ ALSO: Fulani herdsmen attack: Governors aide, others held hostage by women (photos) Recounting what happened, he said at about 1pm on Saturday, the police DPO of Ashaka called him that there was a fracas in Osisa and that three patrol teams had already been mobilized to the scene. But by the time the officers got there, the residents blocked them. They got defensive and said the policemen would not be allowed to take any of our injured members to the hospital. Eventually, they were able to rescue the Fulanis and took them to a medical centre at Ashaka at about 7:30 in the night, from where I took them to Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, he explained. Usman, who is also an aide to the governor on non-indigenes, said he told the Fulanis to vacate the area pending their meeting with Osisa community leaders Wednesday. However on Monday, the people of Osisa launched what looked like a planned attack on Fulanis across the community. READ ALSO: Use arrested cattle for stomach infrastructure Governor Fayose As I speak, some are in serious conditions, while cattle are missing. I told our members not to react but leave Osisa. I quickly called police deputy commissioner (operations) and the area commander. They have sent police teams to Osisa to look for the cattle. That is the situation at the moment. We are appealing for calm as we hope to douse the tension events of the last few days has caused. When contacted, the acting police spokesman, Andrew Animaka, dismissed the claims that there was no reprisal attack in Osisa. He said aside the alleged impunity by Fulani herdsmen and protest by a few women from the community, the place is calm and quiet. Fulani herdsmen have wrecking havoc in various communities across the country. Following their attacks, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state decided to take drastic action. He inaugurated of the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM), saying herdsmen caught grazing beyond 6pm risk a six-month jail term. The governor also ordered that all cattle arrested in the state be used for the stomach infrastructure programme. Also, Malam Muhammad Bello, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, has ordered all herdsmen to move their cattle out of the FCT. Source: Legit.ng The Tata Sons' board felt that Mistry did not have what it takes to be a chairman. By India Today Web Desk: As the Tata Sons' boardroom battle gets murky, a top source in the group said that Cyrus Mistry was given an 'opportunity' to resign but chose not to. "Cyrus Mistry was given an opportunity to resign, he chose not to," Reuters quoted a television report as saying. While Mistry has defended his strong decisions, the board felt he was not "cut out for the job". advertisement NO GENTLE WAY OF REMOVING CHAIRMAN Following the ugly battle with the board, Mistry is expected to resign as the chairman of several group companies, Reuters quoted the TV report. Company insiders, however, are of the view that there is no urgency on Mistry to resign from the post in group companies. ALSO READ: Tatas dismiss Cyrus Mistry's $18 billion write down allegation in reply to BSE Following Mistry's letter that is critical of Ratan Tata's all-purveying presence, top sources have said that it was the other way round. Many in the board felt that Mistry did not have what it takes to be a leader. ALSO READ: SEBI looking into Tata-Mistry saga; bourses seek clarification While many debate that the unceremonious and sudden exit of Mistry is unheard of in the Tata history, Tatas felt that while the manner of the removal is debatable, the decision is not. "There is no gentle way of removing a chairman, it had to be done," said sources privy to the board's decision. ALSO READ: Tata Nano was making losses, didn't shut it for emotional reasons, says Mistry It was not one decision but an accretion of things that led to the Tata board taking the tough decision of sacking its chairman. MISTRY'S HOSTILE DEFENCE On Wednesday, Mistry stunned the corporate world with a hostile five-page letter outlining governance failures, poor decisions and looming writedowns in the Tata Group, India's most revered conglomerates. ALSO READ: 'Lame duck chairman' Mistry attacks Ratan Tata directly in explosive letter Mistry's email, leaked late on Wednesday, turned into a viral sensation, captivating readers on social media and prompting shocked headlines in leading dailies, as the government told politicians to stay out of what has become a public spat. "I hope you do realize the predicament that I found myself in. Being pushed into the position of a 'lame duck' Chairman, my desire was to create an institutional framework for effective future governance of the group," his letter read. Stating that he inherited problems, he went on to raise corporate governance issues alleging representatives of family trusts, which hold two-thirds of Tata Sons shares, were reduced to "mere postmen" as they left board meetings midway to "obtain instructions from Mr. Tata." advertisement The country's two largest stock exchanges, citing the leaks, have demanded clarity from Tata's 27 listed units. At least one unit, Tata Steel, dismissed talk of writedowns. But shares in all of the group's major listed companies fell on Thursday. SUPRIYA SULE DEFENDS MISTRY Coming in defense of her friend Cyrus Mistry, NCP leader Supriya Sule who has known him from college days, said, "We were all shocked with the news. Who is to be hired and who is to be fired, that is none of our business but at the same time the way Mistry was asked to leave was in a bad taste. It could have been done in a much dignified manner." Sule added, "He is trying to handle the situation with much dignity. He is exceptionally dignified and he is showing it in all his demeanor." Here's the full letter: With inputs from Vidya. ALSO WATCH ALSO READ: Why did Mistry stop being blue-eyed boy of Ratan Tata? All you need to know ALSO READ: No Cyrus mystery: All you need to know about sacked Tata chairman advertisement --- ENDS --- - The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has informed the public of fake employment within the organisation - The NSCDC commandant, Mr Shuaibu Jibrin said that the racket had been collecting money from candidates in the shadow of offering them employment into the command - He said that all recruitment exercises by the organisation are usually advertised NSCDC alerts public of fake recruitment The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned the public of the existence of fake employment within the organisation. The NSCDC commandant, Mr Shuaibu Jibrin, said on Thursday, October 27, that the racket had been collecting money from candidates in the shadow of offering them employment into the command. Jibrin, while condemning the perpetrators explained that all recruitment exercises by the organisation are properly advertised through the mass media. Currently, the NSCDC is not carrying out any recruitment, the NSCDC recruits based on certain criteria and merit which is always advertised through the mass media, he said. READ ALSO: Immigration Service Raises Alarm Over Fake Recruitment He also assured Nigerians that those behind the scam will be apprehended and brought to book and also expressed regrets about the frequent vandalism of public utilities, especially pipelines and cables by unpatriotic citizens. The commandant said the command had stepped up its surveillance activities over such public utilities to prevent the operations of the vandals. He disclosed that three vandals had already been apprehended and were facing trial in the state. He, however, advised authorities of the electricity company covering the state to ensure proper identification of its staff working on transformers and handling underground cables to avoid arrest by his men. This will not be the first time this act has been carried out by lawless citizens. Over a year ago, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has dissociated itself from websites and social media accounts that promised to employment persons into the service upon payment of certain sums of money. READ ALSO: Police Arrests Three Over Fake Police Recruitment Forms The NIS, according to Punch, urged Nigerians seeking employment into the service to disregard money-for-job offers by individuals, saying they are scams. The comptroller-general, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr David Parradang, in a statement on February 21, Saturday, said many criminal elements were currently using fake websites and social media accounts to defraud unsuspecting members of the public, seeking enlistment into the NIS. Source: Legit.ng Ticket distribution for the upcoming assembly elections remains the key issue for the Samajwdi Party, which may see further bickering between the warring factions of the Mulayam family. By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: The internecine war between the two warring factions of the Yadav family in Uttar Pradesh refuses to cease. Whenever the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav sought to broker peace between his son Akhilesh Yadav and younger brother Shivpal Yadav, the situation has only worsened. On October 24, he brought Akhilesh, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, face-to-face with Shivpal, SP's state president. However, instead of calling truce, the two indulged in an unprecedented ugly spat. Snatching of mike, calling names, labelling Akhilesh a "liar", the CM refusing to be called "Aurangzeb" - all ingredients of a high voltage drama were witnessed that Sunday morning. advertisement It laid bare the animosity behind the facade of unity. READ: Ramayana script plays out in Mulayam PariWar; second wife Sadhna emerges as key player THE ELUSIVE UNITY Again, the very next day, Mulayam held a press conference. Shivpal sat beside him. However, Akhilesh showed his displeasure by skipping the show, which was arranged to showcase a "united" Yadav family. While the patriarch sought to bring about rapprochement, Shivpal wore a plastic smile, which betrayed a sense of hurt and humiliation. It was but natural - he had been sacked from Akhilesh ministry, the second time just a day ago. He had tolerated indignation of his nephew, who is several years younger to him not only in age but also experience in politics. It was the proverbial silence before the storm. READ: Is BJP taking advantage of rife in Samajwadi Party? IT'S AN ALL OUT WAR It seems that Akhilesh has refused to take back Shivpal in his ministry one another time. Mulayam had left the issue on the CM. This seemingly has enraged Shivpal. He has been unrelenting in his fury - expelling Tej Narayan Pandey, a minister close to Akhilesh Yadav named on charges of "indiscipline and harassment". He even resigned from the UP Assembly, precipitating the volatile situation. READ: Samajwadi PariWar: Akhilesh Yadav meets governor, Shivpal vacates official residence The delicate power balance forced the CM to call on Governor Ram Naik to apparently apprise him of the political crisis within the party and government. Political rumour-mills were working overtime - over the next moves of uncle and nephew - whether one of them will raise the banner of revolt. One thing is clear now - any peace between Akhilesh and Shivpal will be shortlived. Like a game of chess, the humble pawns and a couple of knights or bishops are falling victim to the war between the two sides. READ: Mulayam Singh ditches son Akhilesh Yadav for brothers Amar Singh, Shivpal POST-POLL SCENE Even if Mulayam succeeds in ensuring that the party does not split, a grave crisis awaits it later. The most trying times would be when distribution of tickets for the 2017 Assembly elections takes place. Both the sides will assert themselves to grab majority of the tickets for their candidates. advertisement The faction which manages to have more MLAs will emerge winner and call the shots post-election. If SP wins, the numerically preponderant faction will have its say in deciding the CM. In case, SP ends up being a runner-up, the same faction will decide who is chosen as the Leader of Opposition. The present tug of war is just a precursor of uglier scenes to be played out in public in not so distant future. WATCH: ALSO READ: Samajwadi Party crucial meet: Who said what --- ENDS --- Ever since the explosive interview of Mrs Aisha Buhari claiming that her husband's government has been hijacked by a cabal, Nigerians have been made to understand that there are some set of people who influences the president's decision. The president's wife in the BBC Hausa interview said that President Muhammadu Buharis government has been hijacked by cabal who are behind presidential appointments. President Buhari These "cabal" serve as close to ears to the president with so much power at their disposal. Nigeria's Senate president, Bukola Saraki during his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) alleged that a powerful cabal within the President Muhammadu Buharis government had hijacked power from the retired general. In a statement, Saraki alleged that the powerful forces in Buhari's administration are bent on humiliating him. READ ALSO: How Buhari appointed first 'cabal' into his government - Paden However, the presidency said Sarakis claim was not only ridiculous and baseless since it was not backed by facts and detailed information. Legit.ng has compiled a list of powerful cabal that have taken over the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso rock: 1. Abba Kyari, the chief of staff to the president File photo of Buhari's chief of staff Abba Kyari A retired Brigadier general in the Nigerian army and an uncle to the president. He had been in corridors of power since Yakubu Gowon's era. He wielded so much power, loves power and dispenses as he wishes. He is been accused of using power for personal gain. Kyari is reported to have a firm grip on Mr President and is a force to reckon within this government. 2. Mamman Daura Mamman Daura and President Buhari Daura is the nephew of President Buhari, hes the unofficial vice president, much more than VP Osinbajo. Although, he holds no political office in this dispensation, Daura, is often seen with the president and travels with him. He is believed to have considerable input in the choice of those who emerged as ministers, especially those from the North. Between the two they have made this government nepotic, despotic and lacks focus. In 1983, when the then General Muhammadu Buhari took over power from the democratically elected government of Shehu Shagari, Daura became very influential at the time. He even became the head of African International Bank and chairman of the board of Nigerian Television Authority. 3. Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Lawal occupies a powerful position on the ladder of Nigerias powerful rulers. By virtue of his position he serves as secretary to important government organs such as the Federal Executive Council and the Council of State. As governments scribe, Lawal carries out supervisory functions on some government departments and agencies. Very outspoken, he does not hide the big influence he wields in the administration. At the commencement of meetings of FEC, the SGF does not shy away from tackling ministers who do not settle down on time for meetings. He is also said to have the ears of the President. 4. Kayode Fayemi, Babatunde Fashola and Rotimi Amaechi - Ministers These ministers are the new mover and shakers of APC-led government. They are believed to have inputs alongside the APC National Chairman, John Oyegun at various state primary elections. They are the young minds of President Buhari and hold powerful ministries at the Federal Executive arm. 5. Ismailia Funtua Ismaila Isa Funtua is said to be a personal friend of the president and the Chairman of Bulet International construction. It is reported that he has Buharis ears on national issues, including appointments. Although Funtua, like Daura, does not hold political office, he has much influence on the President even more than those who are holding offices. He has been part of Buharis delegation on some of his foreign trips, including his official visit to the United States last year. READ ALSO: 2 cabals who take over Aso Rock Buharis wife spoke of 6. Theophilus Danjuma General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) Danjuma who is one of Nigerias most influential and respected senior military officers ever is a power broker. He is always sought after by successive governments. That he was one of the major sponsors of Buharis Presidency is not a secret. With an interest in oil blocs, Danjuma, is believed to have played a major role in the emergence of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and as the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources. Source: Legit.ng Twitter Acquisition: 4 new things Elon Musk may introduce to the site After the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation passed a no-confidence motion against Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, residents of Navi Mumbai and they have launched several campaigns including the online ones, to support him. By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: It's yet another case of politicians ganging up against an upright officer. After the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation passed a no-confidence motion against Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, a debate has been sparked off. One of the biggest Municipal Corporations in the country, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is witnessing an ugly show of power by Politicians. advertisement Earlier this week, the corporation controlled by NCP passed a no-confidence motion against Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe with a vote of 105-6 at a special meeting convened by the corporation that was chaired by Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane. This is perhaps the first time in the civic body's history that such a motion has been passed against the commissioner. Political parties had also accused Mundhe of acting in an authoritarian manner, not respecting their elected representatives and taking arbitrary decisions. But the man at the heart of the controversy IAS Officer Tukaram Munde is no stranger to controversies. MUNDHE WORKS LIKE AN AUTHORITARIAN: SONWANE Speaking to India Today, Mayor of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Sudhakar Sonwane accused Mundhe of practising an authoritarian style of functioning. "Neither he has any respect for protocol nor he has any respect for elected representatives. He talks about removing corruption, but he himself was neck-deep in corruption", Sonawane said. Known for being surrounded by controversies, Mundhe has been transferred eight times in the last ten years following almost similar conflicts with politicians. During his tenure as Solapur collector, he took on the sand and land mafia, following which he was allegedly attacked by goons. Even in the satellite city of Navi Mumbai, in the first three months after taking charge as the civic body chief, the municipal body removed 1,916 illegal hawkers, 1,808 hutments and 1,010 political hoardings. Also read: Fadnavis in dilemma over action after no-confidence motion passed against Navi Mumbai commissioner Mundhe, however, is unfazed by all these events. "Whatever I have done is according to the law. Let the government decide. I will continue doing my work until I am ordered not to do so by the state government. I had asked the Mayor to let meexplain my position before the House, but I was not given a chance to do so," Munde said. NAVI MUMBAI RESIDENTS BACK MUNDHE On the other hand, Mundhe is receiving huge support from the residents of Navi Mumbai and they have launched several campaigns including the online ones, to support him? Citizen groups believe that Mundhe has done nothing wrong. Mukesh, an activist who has launched a signature campaign in Mundhe's favour, told India Today, "Upright officers like Tukaram Mundhe are not allowed to work in Navi Mumbai Corporation, which has become a den of corruption. If he is allowed to work as per the law, all of them opposing him will be in jail." advertisement It's not only the NCP that rules the MMMC, but also the Shiv Sena that has launched a scathing attack against Tukaram Mundhe in its party mouthpiece Saamana. Sources say that the Chief Minister is in favour of the upright officer. Hence his party the BJP too is supporting Mundhe. Local BJP MLA Manda Mhatre told India Today, "Ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, our govt has been batting for corruption-free governance. Upright and non-corrupt officers like Mundhe should be allowed to work." The ball is now in the CM's court. The motion has been sent to the Urban Development Department headed by the CM himself. Sources say that the CM is keen to protect Mundhe. This may lead to a poltical fallout as ally Shivsena too is against Mundhe. --- ENDS --- Chipotles moving into the burger business. The first Tasty Made, Chipotles better burger chain, finally opened its doors on Thursday. This news comes after a quarter of disappointing sales for the burrito purveyor, and suggests that the company is making a big bet on its move into burger-making. The first location opened in a small strip mall in Lancaster, Ohio, at 732 N. Memorial Drive at 10 a.m. on Thursday, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Tasty Mades menu will be incredibly simple, selling only cheeseburgers, fries, sodas and milkshakes. Burgers will be grilled to order, fries will be hand-cut and fried twice, and a special Buckeye-themed shake will be served to commemorate the Ohio opening. Lancaster is the ideal market for this, because the people here really appreciate an excellent burger served at a reasonable price, said Chipotle executive Dave Chrisman in a press release. I ought to know, because I grew up just miles from here. And the warm welcome from our community has been great. They are very excited that the first Tasty Made is in their town. The new restaurant will be more like fast food than Chipotles fast casual, but it will maintain the ingredient standards that Chipotle holds. The location will also have a drive-thru. The companys prices will reportedly be similar to other fast food chains like Wendys and Burger King, according to The Dispatch. There are no reports as of yet about additional locations opening, but if they can maintain high-quality ingredients at competitive prices, then it seems like a no-brainer. On Sep. 9 this year, an estimated 24,000 inmates in as many as 29 prisons around the United States refused to report to their jobs, protesting the abhorrent conditions in which prisoners often toil thanklessly in fields or warehouses for as little as 12 cents an hour. A month later, the strikewhich was timed to coincide with the 45th anniversary of the Attica prison uprisinghas largely ended. And despite the fact that tens of thousands of inmates managed to reasonably and peacefully protest what are clearly deplorable circumstances (and were even joined in their protest by guards at a penitentiary in Alabama, the state where the protest originated), hardly a word has been written about the protests in the mainstream media. As weve written in these pages, the reasons for the media blackout of such a compelling story are simple and profit driven: The likes of AT&T, McDonalds, Walmart and Verizon would rather not have the general public know just how much they profit from prison labor. As the prison population began to soar exponentially in the 1970s (it grew by 700 percent from 1970 to 2005) businesses began petitioning lawmakers to lift restrictions on inmate labor that had been on the books since the 19th century. A 1979 program enacted by Congress began incentivising private companies to use inmate labor, and draconian drug and sentencing policies began flooding our privately owned and for-profit prisons with inmates. Twenty-five years later, the annual profits from the program have soared to an astonishing $472 million (2015 numbers), a mere five percent of which went to the inmates doing the work. International Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IIWOC) spokeswoman Azzurra Crispino recently described the protests motivations to The New Yorker, The idea was, lets have a work stoppage as a way of denying economic benefit to corporations If prisoners were paid a minimum wage, we know perfectly well that we could not afford to incarcerate the number of people we do in this country. A nearly $500 million dollar industry is essentially not paying its laborers, nor is it allowing them to unionize, all while keeping them in dehumanizing living conditions that the workers are powerless to change. Consider that incarceration rates disproportionately impact men of color: one in every 15 African American men and one in every 36 Hispanic men are incarcerated in comparison to one in every 106 white men. From the Republican partys preposterous war on drugs to Bill Clintons crime bill, black malesand their familieshave suffered more than anyone, and they have suffered immeasurably. To add the additional indignity of working in a hellhole like Angola for a mere pittance is unjustifiable and inhumane. It is equally unjustifiable to deny the notion that the 13th amendments so-called loophole, which abolished slavery except as punishment of crime, is exactly what is occurring in 2016: Modern slavery. Combine this with the rampant overcrowding of inmates and under-staffing of guards, and the stage seemed to be set for widespread violence that could have easily veered into catastrophemuch as it did in Attica 45 years ago. From the outset of the protest it seemed things could go horribly wrong when around 400 inmates at Holmes Correctional Institute in Floridawhich is both the nations third largest and one of its most understaffed and underpaidstaged a massive simultaneous protest in multiple sections of the prison. A creeping unease settled across the Sunshine State prison system like a blanket of humidity rolling in before a thunderstorm, and officials prepared for the absolute worst, calling in guards from five other state pens. But before sunrise the next day, the prisoners had dispersed, leaving only property damage in their wakewhich is all the more remarkable in the face of a marked increase in conflicts between guards and inmates this year. The fact that these inmates were able to transcend their myriad differences such as race and gang affiliation and peaceably make their displeasure known speaks to the severity of the issue. As author Heather Thompson recently told Mother Jones, historically, this issue of labor always has been that thing in American prisons that has generated protestwhen prisoners would slit their Achilles tendons so they wouldnt have to work as slaves, to Attica in 1971, when one of the first protests was a strike in the metal shop there. So how did the authorities react to these non-violent protests that have sought to evoke memories of Attica? Reports have been hard to verifyunsurprising considering the level of autonomy that prison officials operate withbut there have been several reports of retaliation toward the prisoners involved in the protest. When inmates declined to show up for kitchen duty at Michigans Kinross Correctional Institute and instead peacefully marched in the prisons yard, they were met by an armed tactical team and tear gas some inmates reported being left in the rain for hours as retaliation for participating. In South Carolina, prison officials simply flat out denied there were any protests, despite interviews with participants, reports from multiple prisons to the contrary and the list of reforms the apparently-imaginary protesters posted on Facebook (Id wager this is not the first time the state has tried to pretend its indentured servants dont exist). For a certain segment of the population, prison is an abstract term that perhaps calls to mind an hours-long stint in jail for some youthful indiscretion, quickly forgotten, records expunged. For those people, this may seem a faraway problemor simply not an issue. (These are criminals after all, goes the classic dismissal of the prisoners humanity.) But for manyespecially those in the minority communitythe threat of jail in America comes as a fearsome part of everyday life. In a country that has five percent of the worlds population but 25 percent of its prisoners, and doles out far longer sentences than almost every other country, how we treat our prisoners is clearly reflective of where we are and where were headed as a society. If, as Dostoyevsky postulated, you can judge a society by how well it treats its prisoners, then what does it say about us that we allow corporations to massively profit from the blood and sweat of inmates to whom we deny basic human rights? Of course people deserve to pay for their crimes, but to permit this form of modern slavery is far beneath what this country should aspire to beand what humans in general should aspire to be. As an inmate speaking under the condition of anonymity recently told The New Yorker, Slavery is inhumane, no matter its disguise. With The New York Times ramping up its local Australian hires and looking to move deeper into the local news market, its unsurprising that its beginning to seek out more content from our writers. Theyve long held a strong editorial stance against our incredibly harsh border policies, and the latest writer to take to the pages of the NYT to argue against them is Waleed Aly. Aly has a take on our policy towards refugees that has growing support Australias uncommonly immiserating laws are basically inspiring nationalist movements in Europe and beyond to brutalise refugees in order to stop them crossing borders. Its here we confront Amnestys most arresting finding: Australias policy is a kind of contagion, lowering global standards on refugee policy, shifting the boundaries of what nations now find acceptable. The most direct example is Indonesia, which, partly at Australias urging, has sharply increased its own use of detention centers, criminalized the act of providing accommodations for anyone without a visa, and attempted to return boats headed for Indonesia back to the countries they had left. He also discusses how the banality and distance of our detention centres allow the average Australian to avoid even thinking about what is being done to refugees in their name: So Australias detention regime becomes virtuous, brutality repackaged as compassion. Those languishing in detention centers, even the people who die there thanks to violence or woefully inadequate medical care for simple afflictions, theyre just a warning to others who might be tempted onto a boat. Its true the journey is deadly, but its also true that Australia is using the more than 1,200 other people stuck in limbo in Nauru and Papua New Guinea as a deterrent. These are the starkly utilitarian terms of the policy: We sacrifice the lives of innocent people to dissuade others from risking theirs. Its a good summary worth reading in full not least because it represents the growing global acknowledgement that the increasingly harsh measures taken against refugees across the world are spurred and inspired by us. But were also seeing a procession of European far-right nationalist parties the U.K. Independence Party in Britain, the National Democratic Party of Germany and the Danish Peoples Party expressly hold Australia up as an inspiration. There are even individual voices of support from within mainstream conservative parties, like Britains Tories. Its clear that Australia would like its policy to be adopted more broadly. Source: The New York Times. Photo: Channel Ten / The Project. Mats Karlsson Leads Final 14 After Day 4 of EPT13 Malta Main Event October 27, 2016 Frank van der Weck Day 4 of the2016 PokerStars.com EPT Malta Main Event is on the books. Thirty players returned to Casino Portomaso; only 14 will return on Friday for Day 5. Mats Karlsson tops the leaderboard after winning multiple big pots off German superstar Ole Schemion during the final level of the day. With 2,033,000 in chips, he's in pole position for the 355,700 first prize, which will be handed out on Saturday. Behind the Swede, Russian's Dmitry Yurasov (1,709,000) and PCA 2014 champion Dominik Panka (1,411,000) from Poland round out the top three. The top five also contains Belarusian Aliaksei Boika (1,1195,000) and Elie Saad (1,089,000) for Lebanon, making it an international affair. Start-of-the-day chipleader Tomas Macnamara sits in eight position with 943,000. On his way to the chiplead, Karlsson clashed with Schemion on multiple occasions. In his first of several big confrontations with Schemion, Karlsson took down a big pot with ace-king where top two pair was good. After winning some more from the German, the two clashed for a fourth time near the end of the day. Karlsson bet ace-eight on a board that contained a king, a ten and an eight, and got a call from worse to win another pot. Schemion, who entered the last level as chipleader, barely managed to survive the day. The German juggernaut has his work cut out for him, as he will return with just nine big blinds tomorrow. The day started with several bust outs in quick succession. Walter Treccarichi was the first to go when he ran pocket tens into Karlsson's pocket queens. Dong Zhao also left the building after a hand with pocket tens; he couldn't crack Martin Nikolov's aces. Ismael Bojang, Guillaume Valle and Usman Siddique busted before the end of the first level. Sarah Herzali did survive the first 90 minutes, but was left with only one big blind after losing ace-queen against Frederik Jensen's ace-king. The last woman standing busted in 25th place just a few minutes into the second level of the day. The last hope for Maltese, Konrad Abela, followed her to the rail shortly after. Chi Zhang ended in 23rd place. He became the third man of the day to bust out of the tournament with pocket tens. Bastian Dohler had ace-queen and flopped a queen to send Zhang to the rail. Davidi Kitai, one of the three former EPT champions left in the field, was the next one to bust. It was a brutal exit as Louis Cartarius rivered an ace with his ace-ten to beat Kitai's queens. Short-stacked Brian Altman busted a couple of hands later and Sergey Sergeev followed. The action slowed down after that, as Armin Mette and Diaz were the only ones to bust in level 21. Meanwhile, PCA 2014 winner Panka fought himself back into contention for the title. He gained a lot of chips, while he was left with only four big blinds earlier in the day. Panka became the last former EPT champion left in the field when Frederik Jensen busted in 17th place. The Dane's ace-seven fell short against Xixiang Luo's king-ten. Yury Gulyy had been a short stack since the bubble and saw his adventure come to an end in 16th place. Martin Nikolov was the last to leave the tournament on Day 4 and the fourth one to bust with pocket tens. Peter Ockenden had ace-queen and flopped an ace to send Nikolov to the rail. The fourteen survivors will return tomorrow at 12 p.m. local time to play down to six players. The blinds will be 12,000/24,000 with an ante of 4,000. Follow all the action live on PokerNews.com throughout the day as we reach the final table of the EPT13 Malta Main Event. PokerNews Podcast 418: Checking Privilege, PocketFives' Lance Bradley and Sasha Salinger October 27, 2016 PokerNews Staff This week on the PokerNews Podcast Sarah Herring and Matthew Parvis were joined by PocketFives Editor-in-Chief Lance Bradley and Sasha Salinger. The crew discussed 888Live London, EPT Malta, the epic check your privilege hand between Griffin Benger and William Kassouf and some picks and predictions for this weekends November Nine. You can subscribe to the entire iBus Media Network on iTunes here, or you can access the RSS feed here. The PokerNews Podcast family of podcasts is now available on audioBoom. Davidi Kitai on How to Play Against Small Stacks in Tournaments October 27, 2016 PokerNews Staff When it comes to tournament strategy advice, there's a lot available regarding how to play when your stack is small, with abundant tips for "short-stacked strategy" and "push-fold" charts out their to guide players. Less readily available is advice about how to play against short-stacked players in tournaments, probably because it's a somewhat more complicated topic to consider. Our Sasha Salinger spoke with accomplished Belgian poker pro Davidi Kitai about the topic yesterday as he continued a deep run in the European Poker Tour Malta Main Event, and he noted how as a big stack he prefers playing against other big stacks than contending with smaller ones. Kitai outlines a couple of reasons for this preference while adding a few thoughts about how and when to apply pressure with a big stack. Take a look. Day 4 of the EPT Malta Main Event is already underway where Kitai returned as one of just 30 left from the 468-player starting field. Follow PokerNews' live coverage to see how well Kitai is able to play his big stack against the shorter ones today and how things go for everyone as they proceed towards Saturday's finale. *** Include a contact email address if you want a response *** Please tell us about the problem you are having... See your usage details You will also be sending us basic usage details to help us fix this problem. Details about your session Javascript: not enabled. Submit my Problem Please tell us about your problem before you click submit. Thank you for flagging this problem, we very much appreciate your time and helping us improve the site. The CPI (Maoist) have released a letter in which they have vowed to kill Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his son N. Lokesh to avenge the killing of 29 Maoists in Malkangiri. By Ashish Pandey: Two days after the fierce encounter in Malkangiri district of Odisha in which 27 Maoists along with several of its top leaders were killed by joint team of Andhra Pradesh Greyhound and the state police, the Left Wing extremists are in a revenge mode. The CPI (Maoist) today issued a threat and pledge to target Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his son N. Lokesh following the encounter on the AP-Orissa border. advertisement LETTER RELEASED BY CPI (MAOIST) In a press release* sent to the media and signed by CPI (Maoist), AP State committee official spokesperson Shyam said Naidu escaped the attempt on his life at Alipiri (Chittoor district) in October 2003, but he would not be able to escape this time. "If necessary, we will use a suicide bomber to attack you (Naidu). No police or military force can save you this time," the release said. READ| Odisha: 27 Maoists killed, commander of Greyhound team killed in encounter N Chandrababu Naidu had survived a bomb attack by Naxals in October , 2003, at Alipiri near Tirupati. He had a miraculous escape with minor injuries while three more members who were sitting in the convey were injured and rushed to hospital. Suspected People's War naxalites exploded improvised claymore mines targeting Naidu's motorcade on the Tirumala ghat road. Alleging that Andhra Pradesh CM is behind the "Killings" in Malkangiri, Shyam alleged that the food of the slain Maoists was first poisoned and then they were shot at indiscriminately. READ| Malkangiri killings fake encounter of Naxals: Varavara Rao Shyam also stated that Maoist turned gangster Nayeem who was recently killed by the Telangana police near Hyderabad was also groomed to kill Chandrababu Naidu. The letter mentions the encounter of 21 Red sander smugglers in Sesachalam forest by Anti-Smuggling task force of Andhra Pradesh police on April 7, 2015. "Chittoor encounter is an evidence of his mastermind, 21 red sander workers were killed in Chittoor district immediately after he assumed office," Shyam said. (* The authenticity of letter is not verified. ALSO READ: Patnaik congratulates Odisha Police over Malkangiri encounter Sophisticated weapons, more money luring dacoits and Maoists from Chambal to Delhi-NCR Chhattisgarh: Maoist gunned down in face-off with security forces Chandrababu Naidu to induct his son Lokesh into the cabinet --- ENDS --- Media Contact Jennifer Hope ***@senior.guide 866-607-3646 Jennifer Hope866-607-3646 End -- Senior.Guide, - a searchable database for seniors to find housing and care options, today announced the launch of the directory location in Colorado Springs, CO. Senior.Guide provides a single stop solution to search the entire spectrum of senior care, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care options. At Senior.Guide you can search, rate, and compare thousands of senior living options.As part of the service, Senior.Guide allows you to match up with a free care advisor. Care Advisors are similar to real estate agents, but specialize in senior care. Their free service helps seniors decide the best place to live based on their individual needs, budget, and preferences. The service is 100% complimentary to the client. Senior.Guide has a database of 1000's of Care Advisors from multiple companies. Read reviews and select the best Senior Care Advisor for you.Adam Benton, founder of Senior.Guide, said "Senior.Guide is similar to Zillow but for senior housing. Information is readily available and there is no need to immediately fill out a form or talk with a sales agent to get help"Jennifer Hope, Marketing Director at Senior.Guide, said "Using Senior.Guide is a simple solution to a complex problem. Deciding on where to move and the type of care required is difficult but important. Senior.Guide takes out the guess work"Evan Jones, Family Advisor at Winslow Court Retirement Community in Colorado Springs, said "The more leads that come in the better. I'm excited for the new opportunities Senior.Guide will bring to Winslow Court."Miranda at Bonaventure of Colorado Springs said, "This new website is going to be very beneficial, both on the side of the community in getting new leads and on the side of the families who are looking for a good place for their loved one."Senior.Guide makes it easy for families to find local senior living options and care advisors. Compare and rate senior housing options near you. For additional help, searchers can engage the help of a free local care advisor. Find the care advisor that best fits your family's needs.Visit https://www.senior.guide to learn more.Jennifer Hope, Senior.GuideSource: Senior.Guide Headquartered in Washington, D.C., The Association of Data Scientists and Data Engineers promotes advancement of data science, data analytics standards, advocacy and certification By: Association of Data Scientists & Data Engineers Contact Association of Data Scientists & Data Engineers contact@assocdatascientists.org Association of Data Scientists & Data Engineers End -- The Association of Data Scientists and Data Engineers, a non-profit organization that promotes professional development, standards and certification for data analytics professionals started operations today. The association is dedicated to professional development of data scientists and data engineers, and to the advancement of data analytics. The association offers conferences, networking and knowledge sharing events, online technical support to its members and a peer-reviewed journal."The demand for data scientists and data engineers is just exploding", said John Huseby, a board member, "The association forms a community for data analytics professionals to network, exchange ideas and advance their profession", he remarked.The association offers committee forums for setting standards on data cleansing, data integration, predictive analytics, data mining, data modelling and data governance. It offers a calendar of data analytics events, conferences, meet-ups, educational and networking opportunities. Three levels of membership are available; individual memberships, students and corporate sponsorships.The website for the Association of Data Scientists and Data Engineers can be found at www.assocdatascientists.org "With more than thousands of data analytics professionals working as data scientists and data engineers out there we need to form a community to define the job roles, career direction and professional code of conduct", added John Huseby. "An aspiration of The Association of data Scientists and Data Engineers to bring data analytics professionals together to form a union, a common voice for advocacy across legislative and business landscape", he commented.The association acts as a bulletin board for presenting new ideas, tools, job opportunities, issues and challenges related to with data science and data scientists. "Our goal is to learn from one another and help each other in our projects and career journey. We work to shape the regulatory and policies for data analytics and data curation. We offer advice and know-how tips to members. We connect the vendors with users, governments with data stakeholders, members with mentors", added Huseby."A major goal of the Association of Data Scientists and Data Engineers to bring the right forum and collaboration for exchange of data analytics knowledge, know-how and best practices", remarked Huseby. "The association is the center of thought leadership for the community of data scientists and data engineers, the role of liaison and channel to generate value from data analytics, create a voice for all members around the world and to promote and protect the profession", he added.Data science is a wide and dynamic field that is being energized by other disciplines. Recent advances in computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering and statistics have blurred the lines that separated them and have introduced exciting new opportunities for further discoveries and development.In light of these technological advances, the Association of Data Scientists and Data Engineers is launched with the goal of evolving into one of the premiere global resources for data analytics technologies, information, and activities. "We seek to create new opportunities to introduce data science and technology to new and different audiences and disciplines. Further, we seek to create a virtual community for stakeholders that have interests in data sciences and its application in life", said John Huseby. Save Red Rock urges the public to attend public meetings to voice concerns and join thousands of residents and guest in opposition to rezoning rural land by signing its petition Media Contact Save Red Rock gina@forteprlv.com (702) 898-2547 Save Red Rock(702) 898-2547 End --, a citizen's organization working to preserve and protectis rallying in opposition to developer Jim Rhodes' Gypsum Resources, LLC (Gypsum) proposed 2010.6-acre high-density development near the Red Rock Canyon Visitor's Center. Gypsum is asking Clark County Commissioners to rezone the land from rural to high-density. The proposed development includes 5,000 homes making it equal in size to the third largest city in Southern Nevada. It would increase pollution and traffic to the Red Rock Canyon area, as well as raise the cost of water for all Las Vegas Valley residents.The public is invited to express concern at the Clark County Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, Oct.18 at 7 p.m. at the County Building, located at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. The public can also attend the final vote by Clark County Commissioners on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m., also at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway.Those in opposition to the proposed rezoning can email Commissioner Susan Brager and sign Save Red Rock's petition by visiting www.SaveRedRock.com.At a planning commission hearing on September 20, Clark County Commissioners agreed to issue a 30-day extension for more public outreach because of a lack of public notification and public meetings on the issue.The land known as Blue Diamond Hill is located on the top of the mountain directly south of the Red Rock Visitor's Center, across SR159 Scenic Byway and borders RRCNCA, 13 Mile Campground, and Southwest Ridge Recreation Area. Having purchased the land in 2002, in 2011 Gypsum sought approval for high-density zoning from the County Commissioners. The plan was put on hold, and the developer tried unsuccessfully to swap land with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Despite letters, petitions and documents supporting the transfer by all levels of government, the offer was denied. As a result, the developer is seeking to have the land rezoned for high-density development."Gypsum has the right to build a rural development, which means one house per two acres. Save Red Rock is not fighting the landowner's property rights. The controversy is rezoning to high-density, which would change the character of the canyon. Gypsum Resources is asking the county to approve a major project with 5,040 units," explains Heather Fisher, SRR president. "This means a master-planned development bringing an estimated 14,500 residents, more than Boulder City, making it Southern Nevada's third largest community. This is not a judgment on the developer's plan but rather the location, which is not appropriate or sustainable for the fragile desert ecosystem and peaceful recreational nature of Red Rock Canyon. The impact of this project is far-reaching."Fisher and her husband own Las Vegas Cyclery and Escape Adventures. Her group says the impact of this development extends to all Vegas Valley residents, by increasing pollution, driving up the cost of water and posing a threat to one of most majestic features of Las Vegas and its draw for tourism. It has characteristics similar to other abandoned master-planned projects, such as the failed Coyote Springs development, 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas.The Gypsum project proposes a road engineered to accommodate over 44,000 car trips per day from the development to Blue Diamond Highway (SR160). There are no plans, however, to improve traffic access to the 215 Beltway via Blue Diamond Highway, Fort Apache Road, Durango and Buffalo Drives, and Rainbow Boulevard, with the heaviest impact affecting the Mountain's Edge community and Pahrump commuters.Save Red Rock is a group of concerned citizens working to preserve the safety, serenity, and scenic nature of Red Rock Canyon. The group strives to protect the rural character and prioritize recreational and environmental needs over other uses not conducive to the primary uses as determined for the canyon area. For more information visit www.SaveRedRock.com or connect with Save Red Rock on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/ saveredrock/? fref=ts ), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/save_red_rock/)and Twitter (https://twitter.com/saveredrock) End -- We are happy to announce the release of an exciting new educational website, French Wizard.French Wizard is a French listening website with 320 listening resources across 6 levels, from beginner to advanced. It covers a vast range of themes and topics, from general conversation to French culture.Students can practise and improve their listening skills at school or at home by listening to high quality recordings and answer questions in French or English.Teachers enrol their class and follow their students' progress across the 10+ themes available.The listening skill is the hardest one to gain when learning a foreign language and the material does not always meet students' needs. French Wizard helps students improve with fun, current and quality listening resources for all levels, especially made to match the middle school and high school curriculum.Enrolments for the 2017 school year are now open. Don't wait and visit the French Wizard website today:and browse our themes:or our levels from beginner to advanced:https://www.frenchwizard.com.au/levels/ End -- MiniMovers (http://www.minimovers.com.au/)is very excited to announce that they will be giving all the great referrers in Australia a chance to win a new iPhone 7 Plus.As a part of their monthly promotions that has been going on for 4 years, for the month of September to December, MiniMovers decided to give this time the referrers a chance to win the newest released iPhone in the market.Says MiniMovers general manager, Stephen Herbert.The Refer-a-Friend IPhone 7 Plus promotion is only open to residents of Australia and will start on October 1, 2016 until December 15, 2016. There will be one lucky winner that will be chosen through a random draw.To join the draw, the participant must refer a friend who books with MiniMovers during the duration of the promotion. The referred friend must quote the referrer's Full Name and Email Address upon booking. The participant must also submit a form on the MiniMovers website: http://www.minimovers.com.au/ iphone7-christmas- giveaway-contest/ which requires their First Name, Last Name and Email Address.MiniMovers, Australia's Most Recommended Removalist is a moving company that has been very consistent in offering services since 1985. They do office move, furniture moving, and home removal, they also specialize in pool table and piano moving. MiniMovers has their own boxes, packing materials and services that you can avail.MiniMovers guarantees to give you the best service that will suit your moving needs, starting from the booking up to the moving day. They also offer packing serviceswith the professional packers and unpackers that will ensure the safety of your things. The professional movers are well equipped to prevent damages and scratches on your furniture.MiniMovers operates all around Australia including Removalists Brisbane, Removalists Gold Coast,Removalists Melbourne, Removalists Sydney, Removalists Adelaide, and Removalists Perth. The removalist company is available to move you 24/7.The company wants the finest for you and make your move an easy and hassle free one. The Refer-a-Friend IPhone 7 Plus promotion is just one of MiniMovers way to give appreciation to their valuable customers who continuously trust them for 30 years. MiniMovers is looking forward for more years of being a part of your move and to put smile on your faces.For more details about MiniMovers you can visit http://www.minimovers.com.au/ or call 1300 642 900 By: Marketing research firm IndexBox End -- According to IndexBox research EU: Melamine - Market Report. Analysis And Forecast To 2020, the introduction of a trade embargo in 2011 on Chinese imports has failed to end the decline in EU melamine production.In 2016, the anti-dumping tariffs (415/tonne)on melamine imports from China, introduced by the European Commission for a five-year term at the request of Europe's largest manufacturers - OCI in the Netherlands, Borealis (Germany-Austria)and Zakady Azotowe Puawy S.A. (Poland) - are about to expire. These companies were seeking support in their struggle to win over melamine's industrial consumers. The latter mainly consists of manufacturers that use melanine in the construction sector - concrete, laminate flooring, decorative panels, paints, varnishes, adhesives, and heat and sound insulation. Melamine is also in demand from car manufacturers and producers of chemical fertilizers.According to IndexBox estimates, EU melamine consumption fell by 2.4% from 2010-2015 - from 293,000 to 286,000 tonnes. A year following the introduction of the tariff, China's share in the structure of consumption deteriorated sharply - from 5% in 2010 to 2% in 2011 (Figure 1). By 2015, however, it had regained its previous level of 5% (13.7 thousand tonnes out of 286 thousand tonnes).From 2010-2011, EU melamine imports increased twofold - from 50,000 to 104,000 tonnes (Fig.2). Despite a shortlived tumble in 2012 (-16% to 87,000 tonnes), imports remained at this level, indicating that the market had attained a new balance.Immediately after the tariff was introduced, China's share in melamine imports to the EU plummeted from 27% (2010) to 5% (2011). By 2015, however, it had recovered slightly, reaching 13% (13.7 thousand tonnes out of 104,000 tonnes).Reduced melamine imports from China were not replaced by their EU-manufactured counterparts. From 2010-2015, EU melamine output contracted by 10.3% - from 311,000 to 279,000 tonnes; the share of domestic supply in consumption tumbled from 83% to 64% over the same period. In contrast, the share of imports from Russia in terms of the melamine imports structure posted a significant increase - from under 1% in 2010, to 14% in 2015.Despite the EU-imposed restrictions, China has managed to increase melamine exports overseas: from 2010-2015, exports surged by a sesquialteral amount - from 135,000 to 211,000 tonnes. China achieved this figure by adapting its export destinations. In 2015, the share of exports to the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy accounted for less than 1% of Chinese exports; in 2010, it was a little over 4%. From 2010-2015, China aggressively stepped up its melamine exports to Turkey (at an average annual rate of 20.1%), Thailand (15.8%) and South Korea (14%). In 2015, Malaysia assumed the largest share in terms of Chinese exports (13%), followed by South Korea (12%), Thailand (11%) and Turkey (11%).EU melamine manufacturers are concerned that the EU market will once again be flooded by cheap imports from China, once the tariff term ceases to be effective. In 2016, therefore, the European Commission started to consider its possible extension.Irrespective of the European Commission's decision, IndexBox analysts forecast that EU melamine production is set to shrink further in the medium term; the unrelenting decline in consumption will essentially be the main impetus for the downturn in production. The prosperity of the EU melamine manufacturers will only improve in the event of a rise in prices, which is sometimes accompanied by a decline in production: in 2013, for example, melamine prices increased a sesquialteral amount against the 2012 figure, amidst a 10% contraction in output (Fig.5). However, EU manufacturers will find it difficult to even count on a rise in prices, should the tariff on Chinese melamine imports be diminished.Source and figures: http://www.indexbox.co.uk/ news/restrictive- measures-on- im... Market report: http://www.indexbox.co.uk/ store/eu-melamine- market-report... Zayed University introduces a first of its kind badging program in peer assistance leadership in the region Contact Sara Hassan Media Relations Specialist ***@zu.ac.ae Sara HassanMedia Relations Specialist End -- Zayed University booth witnessed hundreds of young students, who familiarized themselves with current bachelor's and master's degree programs, which are on offer at the university during the first two days of Najah Education and Training Exhibition and Career Fair in the capital.The three-day fair, which was held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (Adnec), started on October 25and will end today (Thursday).Zayed University booth also attracted many fresh graduates and job seekers, who came to decide their career path to pursue with valuable advices from acknowledgeable staff and faculty members.Professor Reyadh AlMehaide, Vice President of Zayed University, inaugurated the first day of Najah Exhibition at Adnec in the presence of Dr Fatima AlDarmaki, Assistant Provost for Student Affairs and other administrative staff, faculty members, and members of Zayed University Student Council.Professor AlMehaideb said: "We are pleased to participate in this year's edition of Najah Exhibition, which acts as an ideal platform for higher education institutions to network with students and fresh graduates, help them making the right educational choice, and drive up student recruitment activities at Zayed University."During the fair, AlMehaideb announced the launch of a pilot project, which considers the first of its kind in the region and is designed to build a positive university climate through youth leadership, engagement, mentoring, peer helping, and service learning."The new program, which will be implemented at the beginning of next year, is part of the Peer Assistance Leaders (PALs) Support Center's activities, which are focused on peer interaction, peers support and role modeling to strengthen the impact of academic success, especially when students work together.The program will allow students to earn an electronic badge (ZU PAL, PAL Mentor, PAL Manager) based on number of hours spent weekly to support other students, who might be daunted by some obstacles they face, in addition to a certified academic and extracurricular activities record as an evidence based practice following graduation,"Professor AlMehaideb added.PALs are students who generally have a good academic standing and are willing to support other students who need help. They must complete at least two semesters at Zayed University and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater.About Zayed UniversityZayed University is today the premier national university in the United Arab Emirates and a regional leader in educational innovation and change. It has created and implemented a skills-rich, outcome-based general education program that systemically develops student skills, knowledge, and values associated with liberal learning and provided a solid foundation for pursuit of disciplinary majors and future careers. Zayed University welcomes national and international students, and provides them with a high quality education, offered by seasoned teaching scholars to prepare them to shape the future of the United Arab Emirates.Zayed University offers Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in the following Colleges: College of Arts & Creative Enterprises (recognized as substantially equivalent by NASAD), College of Business (Accredited by AACSB), College of Communication & Media Sciences (Accredited by ACEJMC), College of Education (Accredited by NCATE), College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, and College of Technological Innovation (Accredited by ABET). For more information, visit www.zu.ac.aeMedia contacts: Sara Sabry, Media Relations Specialist at the Office of the Vice President at Zayed UniversityDir-Tel: 025993630Mobile: 0566561059E-mail: Sara.Hassan@zu.ac.aeWeb: www.zu.ac.ae It's a journal. It's a blog. It's a book. It's a TRIP! Travel Diaries enables travelers to create their own personal travel journal. Contact Veerle Witte Founder/CEO Travel Diaries ***@traveldiariesapp.com Veerle WitteFounder/CEO Travel Diaries End -- Travel Diaries, the world's only* combo travel journal, blog and book, is now available to an American audience -- just in time for the holidays. Discover what thousands of Dutch users already know this FREE online platform to create, share, and cherish your travel memories is the most versatile, easiest to use and most attractive on the market. Open the web-based program on any computer or tablet. Write your own travel notes and stories by chapter, adding maps and photos as you want. Share all or some of your stories with others or keep them to yourself. Once your masterpiece is completed, it can be ordered in print format (6-by-8 inches) for a reasonable fee. Work online in an easy-to-use editor that shows you the pages exactly how you'll see them in print. Use a variety of fonts and layouts to style and personalize your journal. Use Travel Diaries' unique mapping options to share both locations and routes. Include an unlimited amount of photographs. Never worry about losing your diary. Travel Diaries keeps it safe for you. Have a favorite photo from your trip? Use it as the cover of your printed diary. Have ephemera such as train tickets, menus, and brochures? Set aside blank spaces for them in your book and paste them in later. Give book-printing vouchers as gifts.Travel Diaries was founded in 2014 by Dutch travel journalist Veerle Witte, who was inspired to start the service after a four-month trip to South America. For that adventure, Veerle had wanted a way to keep an online dairy that would include articles, maps and photographs, but she couldn't find a site that combined all those elements. Since then, Travel Diaries has earned the trust of thousands of satisfied customers, and Veerle works with a team of travel-loving experts making sure that Travel Diaries offers the latest in technology and design. Its mission is to inspire people to travel the world and help them to capture their adventures in a unique and lasting way.See for yourself at www.traveldiariesapp.com ( http://www.traveldiariesapp.com/ en ). For more information and high-resolution photos, have a look at our press page ( http://www.traveldiariesapp.com/ en/press ) or contact Veerle Witte at veerle@traveldiariesapp.com, 0031629621772 or through Skype: veerlewitte.*We hate hype as much as you do, which is why we wouldn't say "world's only" if we didn't believe it to be true. Prove us wrong and we promise to never say it again.Members of the press who would like to try out Travel Diaries can contact us to receive a free printed book. Please email veerle@traveldiariesapp.com. By: Belman Homes Contact Ray Hoffman ***@smallbusinessgrowthpartners.com Ray Hoffman End -- Next Friday, November 4th, the Milwaukee area is joining representatives from local builder Belman Homes along with national nonprofit, Operation FINALLY HOME, as they write inspirational words of support and encouragement on the studs of the unfinished home built for injured U.S. Army Specialist, Philip Olson, and his family. The family will experience everyones act of kindness on Saturday morning. The Operation FINALLY HOME team in Wisconsin surprised the Olson family at Summerfest on July 7announcing that they are the recipient of this mortgage-free home.12:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.11 a.m. Family arrivesDunbar Oaks Neighborhood512 Dunbar AvenueWaukesha, WI 53186was an army specialist for 4 years, 10 months as an infantryman and a gunner, serving two tours of duties in Afghanistan. Philip was shot three times during a firefight and was ejected from a vehicle from an IED Blast. He has Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), PTSD, and leg and spine issues as a result. He has lost several soldiers and his Captain. Philip was awarded numerous accommodations. He is currently a student working towards a degree in Mechanical Design. His wife, Chenoah, is a student at Colorado University studying for a business degree and is on the President's list. They have an 8-year-old son named Jonah. They are a young, well-grounded family with a strong work ethic and Philip's service, achievements, and injuries make him an excellent recipient for an Operation FINALLY HOME house, as he will be able to continue with his education without worrying about a home. Representatives from Operation FINALLY HOME Representatives from Belman HomesTo honor an American hero.Operation FINALLY HOME was established in 2005 as a nonpartisan/nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. In 2015 Operation FINALLY HOME is celebrating 10 years of providing custom-built, mortgage-free homes to America's military heroes and the widows of the fallen who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom and values. Operation FINALLY HOME partners with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, developers, individual contributors, and volunteers to help America's military heroes and their families transition to the home front by addressing one of their most pressing needsa home to call their own. To find out more, visit OperationFinallyHome.org Belman Homes vision is "Creating the ultimate building experience, one customer at a time." Lead by industry leader and second-generation homebuilder, David Belman, their commitment to this vision has led them to win major North American Awards for "Best Young Entrepreneur"and "Best Company Culture" in addition to many other accolades in recent years. Located in Waukesha this custom homebuilder, REALTOR, and land developer takes pride in their hand-finished stick-built homes using their loyal team of craftsmen for over 35 years. For more information, please contact Belman Homes at (262) 544-4648 or visit: www.belmanhomes.com The Indian automakers flagship vehicle world premiered at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in the form of a concept. Post that, the new Tata Hexa 7-seater was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo earlier this year. Now, with launch scheduled for January 2017, Hexa is finally ready to take on the likes of Toyota Innova Crysta, and especially the Mahindra XUV500. In terms of features, space, power, looks, Hexa matches or overshadows the XUV500 in many departments. But there is one major thing which is missing in the arsenal of Tata Hexa. The availability of a 44 AT variant. At launch, Hexa will only be offered in 42 AT and MT, along with 44 MT variant. Sadly, there will be no 44 AT on offer, at least at the start. But, there is good news. As per Zigwheels, Tata Hexa 44 AT is in the works and should be launched by Diwali 2017. The production version of Hexa pretty much carries forward all the design cues that were found on the concept. Tata claims that the Hexa is a completely new car and not a heavily refurbished Aria. In fact, Aria and Hexa will both be on sale in the company line-up. Tatas designers, under the leadership of Pratap Bose, have done a good job of transforming the MPV into an SUV with the usage of a rugged front and rear fascias. Styling highlights include new sweptback headlamps, bold honeycomb grille, bumper-mounted foglights with integrated LED daytime running light strips, black lower body cladding, silver skid plate, dual-tone alloy wheels, angular taillights, silver diffuser and a thick chrome strip on the tailgate. The interior too is revamped compared to the Aria. The new dashboard carries signature multifunction Tata steering wheel, revised instrument console and a new centre console with a touchscreen infotainment system from Harman. The seating configuration is identical to that of the Aria. Also Read Tata Hexa Review Power comes from the existing 2.2-litre VARICOR 400 diesel engine that is available in the top-end Safari Storme. The oil burner is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission to develop 154 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. The drive is sent to the rear wheels in lower variants and to all the four-wheels in the higher variants. The car is underpinned by a hydroformed ladder frame chassis. In terms of features, the Tata Hexa is equipped with 6-airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, projector headlamps, alloy wheels, automatic climate control, reverse parking camera and so on. Photos Tata Hexa Savitri Juaid died in her village under Mahima panchayat in Koksara block on Tuesday night. With no help from the local community, family members placed her body in a 'khatiya' or cot and dragged it to the local crematorium for the last rites. By Indrajit Kundu: In yet another shocker from Odisha, family members of a poor adivasi woman had to literally drag her body for cremation after the village community refused to help in her last rites. The incident has once again come to light from Kalahandi, one of the most backward regions in Odisha. Savitri Juaid died in her village under Mahima panchayat in Koksara block on Tuesday night. For long she had been ostracised by the Tentulipada village community as she had married out of her cast. Savitri who belonged to the savar caste had married her husband from the Goud caste. Refusing to accept this inter-caste marriage, villagers had ostracised Savitri and her family. advertisement Ever since the death of her husband, Savitri had been ailing. When she passed away on Tuesday night, her family sought help from the local village community to cremate her body. However, none came forward to take part in her last rites. ALSO READ | Tribal man in Odisha had to walk 10 km carrying wife's body after being denied govt help With no help from the local community, family members placed her body in a 'khatiya' or cot and dragged it to the local crematorium for the last rites on Wednesday morning. Soon, some a few villagers noticed her brother-in-law and other family members 'dragging' her body to the crematorium and informed the district collector. Later, the collector instructed the local BDO to assist the bereaved family in cremating Savitri's body. Following which, the family was granted Rs 2,000 under the state government's Harishchandra Sahayata scheme for last rites of destitutes. DANA MAJHI CASE This is just the latest in a series of such incidents that has come to light from Odihsa. Earlier in August this year, Dana Majhi, a tribal villager in Kalahandi district had to carry his wife's dead body on the shoulder and walk 10 kilometers accompanied by his minor daughter after being allegedly denied a hearse by the district hospital. Majhi's wife had died of tuberculosis at the district hospital in Bhawanipatna. The incident had caused widespread outrage across the country forcing the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to seek a probe report from Odisha government. Terming the incident extremely "distressing, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had then ordered an inquiry and sought stringent action against those responsible. Read more: Another Odisha man forced to carry daughters body for 6 km after ambulance dropped them midway --- ENDS --- The ongoing battle between Tata Sons board and ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry continues with a vengeance. Cyrus Mistry hits back at the board and the interim chairman Ratan Tata with a strongly worded five page letter citing various examples of flawed strategies and questionable transactions. Mistry states that the Tata Nano project was a failure since the start but was kept going purely for emotional reasons. The Nano project called for a car below INR 1 lakh while costs were well above this mark. Losses peaked at INR 1,000 crores despite which the company continues with its production. Mistry states that the shutting down of Nano was the logical business choice. But emotional reason, and one that it would stop supply of Nano gliders to an entity that makes electric cars in which Ratan Tata has a stake; stopped Tata Board from agreeing to discontinue the Nano. Under the Mistry regime, Tata Motors tried to revive the Nano, repositioning it as a smart city car in March 2014 while in May 2015 the Nano was renamed GenX Nano. It was re-launched at an aggressive price at INR 1.99 lakhs but yet failed to achieve required sales targets. In the first 7 months of 2016-17 sales of the Nano have dropped to 4,459 units as against 11,321 units sold in the same period of the previous year. Besides the failed Tata Nano project, Mistry also points out various other discrepancies where the management of the Tata Group is concerned. He states how he was forced to invest in joint ventures with both Air Asia and Singapore Airlines while he also questioned the groups dispute with DoCoMo and drew attention to the acquisition of Searock properties in Mumbai which was purchased at highly inflated prices. Below is the full letter, which Cyrus Mistry shot to board of Tata Sons. A combination of historical and genetic research reveals the error and hype that led to the coining of the term 'Patient Zero' and the blaming of one man for the spread of HIV across North America. A new study proves that a flight attendant who became notorious as the human epicentre of the US AIDS crisis of the 1980s -- and the first person to be labeled the 'Patient Zero' of any epidemic -- was simply one of many thousands infected in the years before HIV was recognized. Research by a historian from the University of Cambridge and the genetic testing of decades-old blood samples by a team of US scientists has demonstrated that Gaetan Dugas, a French-Canadian gay man posthumously blamed by the media for spreading HIV across North America, was not the epidemic's 'Patient Zero'. In fact, work by Dr Richard McKay, a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow from Cambridge's Department of History and Philosophy of Science, reveals how the very term 'Patient Zero' -- still used today in press coverage of outbreaks from Ebola to swine flu to describe the first known case -- was created inadvertently in the earliest years of investigating AIDS. Before he died, Dugas provided investigators with a significant amount of personal information to assist with studies into whether AIDS was caused by a sexually transmitted agent. McKay's research suggests that this, combined with confusion between a letter and a number, contributed to the invention of 'Patient Zero' and the global defamation of Dugas. Dr McKay's work has added important contextual information to the latest study, led by Dr Michael Worobey from the University of Arizona and published in the journal Nature, which has compared a new analysis of Dugas's blood with eight other archived serum samples dating back to the late 1970s. advertisement "Gaetan Dugas is one of the most demonised patients in history, and one of a long line of individuals and groups vilified in the belief that they somehow fuelled epidemics with malicious intent," says McKay. While his wider research traces this impulse to blame back several centuries, for the Nature paper McKay located the immediate roots of the term "Patient Zero" in an early 'cluster study' of US AIDS patients. Mistaken for zero Reports emerged in early 1982 of historical sexual links between several gay men with AIDS in Los Angeles, and investigators from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) undertook a study to interview these men for the names of their sexual contacts. They uncovered more links across southern California, but one connection was named several times despite not residing in the state: Case 057, a widely travelled airline employee. Investigators found that his sexual contacts included men in New York City, and some of his sexual partners developed symptoms of AIDS after he did. advertisement CDC investigators employed a coding system to identify the study's patients, numbering each city's cases linked to the cluster in the sequence their symptoms appeared (LA 1, LA 2, NY 1, NY 2, etc.). However, within the CDC, Case 057 became known as 'Out(side)-of-California' -- his new nickname abbreviated with the letter 'O.' Because other cases were numbered, it was here that the accidental coining of a new term took place. "Some researchers discussing the investigation began interpreting the ambiguous oval as a digit, and referring to Patient O as Patient 0," says McKay. "'Zero' is a capacious word. It can mean nothing. But it can also mean the absolute beginning." The LA study expanded, due in no small part to information provided by Case 057. Over 65% of men in the cluster reported more than 1,000 partners in their lifetimes, over 75% more than 50 in the past year. But most could offer only a handful of names of those partners. As well as donating plasma for analysis, Case 057 managed to provide 72 names of the roughly 750 partners he'd had in the previous three years. Also, his distinctive name may have been easier for other men to remember, says McKay. "The fact that Dugas provided the most names, and had a more memorable name himself, likely contributed to his perceived centrality in this sexual network." By the time the expanded study was published in 1984, the same year Dugas died of his illness, the cluster showed dozens of cases connecting several North American cities. Near the very centre of an accompanying diagram is a floating case that links both coasts, the itinerant Dugas. Case 057, the 'Out-of-California' case, had been rechristened simply as "Patient 0" -- causing much speculation in the media. 'Casting' an epidemic The journalist Randy Shilts would use the LA cluster study as an important thread in his bestselling book on the AIDS crisis, And the Band Played On. During the book's research, he became fascinated by the study's 'Patient 0'. Motivated to find out more about this man, Shilts eventually learned his name in 1986. The journalist tracked down his friends and colleagues for interviews, and, as "Patient Zero," made him one of the more memorable villains in his book. To call attention to the crisis, Shilts set out to "humanise the disease," says McKay, who discovered that an early outline for the book actually listed 'The Epidemic' itself among the cast of characters. "To Shilts, Dugas as Patient Zero came to represent the disease itself." The 1982 study had initially suggested to investigators that the period between infection and the appearance of AIDS symptoms might be several months. By the time Shilts's book was published in 1987, however, it was known that an infected individual might not display symptoms for several years, and that the study was unlikely to have revealed a network of infection. Yet Shilts uncritically resurrected the story of the Los Angeles cluster study and its 'Patient 0,' with long-standing consequences. The journalist's decision provoked immediate criticism from AIDS activists in lesbian and gay communities across North America and the UK. Some of their works of protest are cited in the Nature study, and explored in greater detail in McKay's own forthcoming book and in a 2014 article he published in the Bulletin of the History of Medicine. "In many ways, the historical evidence has been pointing to the fallacy of Patient Zero for decades," explains McKay. "We now have additional phylogenetic evidence that helps to consolidate this position." McKay describes the very phrase 'Patient Zero' as "infectious." "Long before the AIDS epidemic there was interest in locating the earliest known cases of disease outbreaks. Yet the phrases 'first case,' 'primary case,' and 'index case' didn't carry the same punch. "With the CDC's accidental coining of this term, and Shilts's well-honed storytelling instincts, you can see the consolidation of an 'infectious' formula that would become central to the way many would make sense of later epidemics." Blaming 'others' Now, almost 30 years since Shilts's book, analysis of the HIV-1 genome taken from Dugas's 1983 blood sample, contextualised through McKay's historical research, has shown that he was not even a base case for HIV strains at the time, and that a trail of error and hype led to his condemnation as the so-called Patient Zero. The researchers say it may be naive to expect Patient Zero's legendary status, or the popular impulse to attribute blame for disease outbreaks, to ever disappear. "Blaming 'others' -- whether the foreign, the poor, or the wicked -- has often served to establish a notional safe distance between the majority and groups or individuals identified as threats," says McKay. "In many ways, the US AIDS crisis was no different -- as the vilification of Patient Zero shows. It is important to remember that, in the 1970s, as now, the epidemic was driven by individuals going about their lives unaware they were contracting, and sometimes transmitting, a deadly infection. "We hope this research will give researchers, journalists and the public pause before using the term Patient Zero. The phrase carries many meanings and a freighted history, and has seldom pointed to what its users have intended." Researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have demonstrated how deregulation of an epigenetic mechanism that is active only in the early phases of neurogenesis triggers the subsequent death of neural cells. The generation of neurons from stem and progenitor cells is a complex, tightly regulated process known as neurogenesis. Researchers led by Professor Dr. Magdalena Gotz, Chair of Physiological Genomics at LMU and Director of the Institute for Stem Cell Research at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, have shown in collaboration with Professor Dr. Gunnar Schotta, Biomedical Center LMU, that epigenetic mechanisms which are brought into play at an early stage of neurogenesis, have an important impact on the subsequent fate of neurons. These new findings appear in Genes and Development, a leading journal in the field of developmental biology. In order to elucidate the significance of early epigenetic modifications on the development of neural cells during embryogenesis in the mouse, Gotz and her colleagues specifically inactivated the gene Uhrf1. This gene is known to control a number of epigenetic functions, including DNA methylation, and is active from very early stages of neurogenesis. The methylation of specific nucleotide bases in DNA often serves to switch genes off. Conditional knockout of Uhrf1, in a region of the forebrain, led to the activation of endogenous retroviral elements (ERV) in the genome, which are otherwise silenced by methylation. Further investigation revealed that members of the Tet family of enzymes are largely mediating the demethylation of the ERVs, thus appearing be functionally activated in the absence of Uhrf1. Moreover, these ERVs remained active not only in later stages of embryogenesis but also into postnatal stages, suggesting that their activation is non-reversible. The aberrant and ongoing activation of ERVs caused an accumulation of retroviral proteins in the affected cells and deregulation of genes and pathways. This in turn led to the progressive disruption of vital cellular processes and ultimately precipitated a massive wave of cell death. "Our results reveal that certain key factors -- such as the gene Uhrf1 -- that are transiently activated only in early neurogenesis can have a crucial impact on cell fate, which may only manifest weeks later," says Gotz. "Our model system provides us with fascinating insights into these mechanisms, which are also of great interest in the context of neurodegenerative diseases." "This discovery reverses food allergies in mice, and we have many people with allergies volunteering their own cells for us to use in lab testing to move this research forward," said professor John Gordon, lead scientist behind the discovery just published in the current issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The findings open the door to test this new allergy treatment in "humanized mice" -- mice with non-existent immune systems implanted with cells from a human immune system, for example, from a peanut-allergic person. With Health Canada approval, the first human trial could begin in about one year, Gordon said. "If we can reliably 'cure' food allergies, or related conditions such as asthma or autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis with this new therapy, it would be life-changing for affected individuals." Roughly 2.5 million Canadians self-report having at least one food allergy. Anaphylaxis, defined as a severe rapid-onset allergic reaction, can be life-threatening and treatment options are limited. The discovery involves generating a type of naturally occurring immune cell that sends a signal to reverse the hyper-immune response present in allergic reactions. That signal triggers another "off switch" that turns off reactive cells further along the allergic pathway. "We predict the treatment could be on the market within the next five to 10 years," said Gordon, who is also a research leader in the Allergy, Genes and Environment (AllerGen) Network. AllerGen -- part of the federally funded Networks of Centres of Excellence program -- aims to help Canadians address the challenges of living with asthma, allergies, anaphylaxis and related immune diseases. advertisement Gordon's team will collaborate with other AllerGen investigators located at the U of S, McGill University, Queen's University, McMaster University, and University of Alberta to pilot the new technique. "This discovery portends a major breakthrough towards a therapeutic reversal of food allergen sensitivity," said Dr. Judah Denburg, scientific director and CEO of AllerGen. "The treatment prevents anaphylactic responses in what were previously fully sensitive mice, opening the door for translating this therapy into the clinic." There is compelling evidence this technique could be effective in humans. In 2010, Gordon's team demonstrated they could reverse an asthmatic response in human cells in a test tube. Using three applications of a similar therapy in a 2012 study, the researchers effectively eliminated asthma in afflicted mice, within only eight weeks. "Even if we only cure 25 per cent of subjects, we will dramatically improve the health of those individuals, and also reduce healthcare system expenses," said Gordon, who worked with Wojciech Dawicki, a research associate and the primary author and lead researcher in this study. Master's student Chunyan Li and lab technicians Xiaobei Zhang and Jennifer Town also worked on the project. Here's how the technique works: The key component of this research is dendritic cells, which serve as the gate-keepers of the immune system and are present in tissues in contact with the external environment, such as the skin and the inner lining of the nose, lungs, stomach and intestines. advertisement Gordon's pioneering treatment involves producing dendritic cells in a test tube and then exposing them to a unique mix of proteins, a vitamin A-related acid naturally occurring in the human gut, and to the allergen, in this case, peanut or ovalbumin (egg white protein). The modified dendritic cells are then reintroduced into the mouse. Using this technique, the researchers were able to nearly eliminate the allergic reaction by converting allergen-sensitive immune cells into cells that mimic the response seen in healthy, non-allergic individuals. The treatment reduced the observed symptoms of anaphylaxis, and lowered other key protein markers in the allergic response by up to 90 per cent. Food allergy is a growing public health issue in Canada. Currently, there is no known cure. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, an estimated 171,000 Canadians visited emergency rooms for allergic reactions from 2013 to 2014, the rate of anaphylaxis visits increased by 95 per cent from 2006 to 2014, and the severity of reactions is increasing. Gordon said the new technique also shows promise for treating autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. "It would take very little to adapt the therapy for autoimmune diseases," he said. Over time, students' personal values become more similar to those of their school principal, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Associational for Psychological Science. The findings indicate that principals' values are linked with aspects of school climate which are, in turn, linked with students' own values. "Given the vast amount of time children spend in school, it is important to assess the impact that schools have on children, beyond their impact on children's academic skills," say researchers Yair Berson (New York University and Bar-Ilan University) and Shaul Oreg (Cornell University and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem). "Our findings show that schools contribute to the formation of children's values." Although there is a wealth of data showing relationships between aspects of the school environment and students' academic achievement, relatively little is known about the effects of school climate on non-academic outcomes. Based on previous research investigating leaders' influence on organizational culture and employees' values, Berson and Oreg hypothesized that school principals might similarly influence school climate and students' values over time. The researchers collected data from 252 school principals, over 3600 teachers, and almost 50,000 students in public elementary and secondary schools in Israel. Focusing on four well-established categories of values -- self-enhancement, self-transcendence, openness to change, and conservation -- school principals filled out a questionnaire in which they read statements about a hypothetical individual and rated how closely they aligned with their own values. Self-enhancement values were captured in achievement-focused statements (e.g., "Being successful is important to him"), whereas self-transcendence values were depicted in statements highlighting benevolence (e.g., "She goes out of her way to be a dependable and trustworthy friend."). Values indicating openness to change were conveyed in statements related to preference for stimulation and self-direction (e.g., "She thinks it is important to have all sorts of new experiences," "Being creative is important to him"). Conservation-related values were demonstrated in statements that covered conformity, tradition, and security (e.g., "It is important to him to follow the rules even when no one is watching," "It is important to her to maintain traditional values and beliefs," "Having order and stability in society is important to her"). advertisement At the same time, students completed age-appropriate measures that tapped into the same values. The students completed values measures again two years later. Teachers completed a survey measure focused on aspects of school climate that corresponded with the four values, including the degree to which school climate reflects an emphasis on stability (conservation values), support (self-transcendence values), innovation (openness-to-change values), and performance (self-enhancement values). Teachers also rated the degree to which students in their homeroom displayed various behaviors that reflected the same values. The researchers found that students' values became more similar to those of their principal over the two-year study period. "Principals' personal outlook on life is reflected in the overall school atmosphere, which over time becomes reflected in schoolchildren's personal outlook and eventual behavior," Berson and Oreg explain in their paper. advertisement This pattern was consistent for all of the values except for one: conservation values. "Values that have to do with maintaining the status quo -- emphasizing tradition, conformity and security -- showed a different pattern, whereby principals' values are associated with children's values, but without the mediating role of the school climate," say Berson and Oreg. The researchers speculate that unstudied mechanisms -- such as principals' selection of teachers -- might explain this exception. Ultimately, determining whether principals' influence on students' values is good or bad will be up to the individual observer. "But the existence of these effects should alert principals to the substantial impact they have on children's socialization to society," the researchers write. Both college men and women focus primarily on a photographed woman's nonverbal emotional cues when making snap decisions about whether she is expressing sexual interest at a particular moment in time. But their judgments also are based to a large degree on how attractive she is and the provocativeness of her attire. Physical attractiveness plays a much larger role in how college men than women make these quick judgments. Female students in turn tend to pick up more than men on clothing style and the woman's emotional cues. This is according to a study in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, published by Springer. Around 500 students were asked to give their first impressions about the current sexual interest of women in a series of photographs. While quick assessments about sexual cues are part of the dating game, these are easily misinterpreted and in extreme cases may play a role in unwanted sexual advances and even rape. Through cognitive training, male students can however be taught how to "read" the right sexual cues better, says lead author Teresa Treat of the University of Iowa in the US. The study was conducted among 276 female and 220 male college students to assess how they perceive women's momentary cues of possible sexual interest. Participants were presented with photographs of different women and had to express their first thoughts on whether the women showed sexual interest or not. Half of the participants received instructions beforehand on certain nonverbal emotional cues (such as body language or facial expressions) that help to gauge such matters better. All participants also completed an assessment about their attitudes towards rape. The findings looked different among students who held more rape-supportive attitudes (as determined by their results from the assessment). These attitudes are hostile to rape victims, including false beliefs about rape and rapists, for example women enjoy sexual violence. Both males and females in this group, relative to their peers, relied less on the photographed women's emotional cues and more on their attire and their attractiveness. This is problematic because appearance-related cues such as clothing and physical beauty are less accurate nonverbal signals of a woman's current (or momentary) sexual interest in a particular man than the woman's nonverbal emotional cues. It was found that the students who received instruction on non-verbal cues before assessing the photographs were more likely to note emotional cues than aspects such as clothing and physical beauty when making their judgments. Receiving such guidelines also shifted the focus of students who held more supportive attitudes towards rape. "The current work significantly advances our understanding of the operation and malleability of sexual-perception processes and their links to rape-supportive attitudes among both male and female college students," says Treat, who believes that cognitive training, including feedback on the accuracy of judgments, ultimately may play a useful role as part of sexual-assault prevention efforts. Such training could also include aspects about the types of social settings associated with sexual advances, such as bars, house parties or in a bedroom rather than sidewalks, classes or office spaces. This is according to the findings of a recent study2 in Springer's journal Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications of which Treat was also the lead author. In this election year of unprecedented acrimony, one of the most polarizing issues of all is rooted in what's typically considered a national strength: diversity. But as it turns out, according to UC Santa Barbara psychologist Brenda Major, not all Americans value the country's multicultural ethos. "Many whites are feeling very threatened by the increasing ethnic and racial diversification of America," explained Major, a professor in UCSB's Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences who specializes in social identity. "Donald Trump understands that, feels their same angst and plays to it. The threat of diversity among white Americans who highly identify with their ethnicity is playing a key role in shaping this year's presidential contest." To explore that idea, Major designed an experiment to demonstrate how the changing racial demographics of America are contributing to Trump's success as a presidential candidate among white Americans. The findings appear in the journal Group Processes & Intergroup Relations. While previous studies have shown that reminding white Americans about increasing racial diversification of the country makes them identify as more politically conservative, none of those studies had considered whether the degree to which the participants identified with their white ethnicity made a difference. That's where Major decided to focus her spotlight. In March 2016, 594 white U.S. residents participated in a "Brief Study on Perceptions and Beliefs." They were asked to read one of two randomly assigned press releases. The first indicated that racial minorities would outnumber whites in the U.S. in about 25 years; the other used similar language to explain that geographic mobility is increasing. advertisement Participants then answered questions about perceived threats to the status of their group, their support for the Republican and Democratic primary candidates, anti-immigration attitudes, support for anti-bias norms in speech ("political correctness") and how important their ethnicity was to them. An analysis of their answers showed white Americans whose ethnic identity was important to their self-concept became more supportive of Trump after reading the article about increasing racial diversity vs. the article about geographical mobility. This was true regardless of political party affiliation. "If you're white and you're highly identified with your ethnicity, reminding you of increasing diversity moves you toward Trump, turns you against anti-bias norms and makes you endorse anti-immigrant policies more,"Major said, "whether you are Democrat or Republican." Why does this happen? Because reminding highly identified white Americans of increasing racial diversity caused them to become more concerned about the declining status and influence of their group. This threat to group status, in turn, led to more pro-Trump, anti-immigrant and anti-PC attitudes. Noting the nuances revealed by the data, Major added: "Not everyone reacted the same to the diversity message. While highly identified white people became more pro-Trump after reading about increasing diversity, for those less identified with their ethnicity, we found the opposite effect. Reminding them of increasing diversity made them more against Trump and more supportive of anti-bias norms." For Major, the findings underscore the importance of identity politics -- the tendency of people to adopt political positions based on the interests of social groups with which they identify, such as race, gender or religion. "I predict that white identity politics will be on the stage more and more and become a larger part of the political discourse in the United States in the coming years," Major said. In the last few years, American hospitals have focused like hawks on how to keep patients from coming back within a few weeks of getting out. Driven by new Medicare penalties for such events, the effort has slowed a 'revolving door' of readmissions for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia patients that costs the nation billions of dollars. But a new analysis suggests that Medicare should focus more on how well hospitals do at actually keeping such patients alive during the same time. If hospitals got paid less when their patients died soon after a hospitalization, just like they get paid less when those patients end up back in the hospital, it would be a game-changer for one-third of hospitals, say researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System who published their findings in JAMA Cardiology. About 17 percent of hospitals are getting punished for excess readmissions, but are keeping patients alive more often than would be expected, they find. And another 16 percent of hospitals essentially get rewarded for low readmission rates, but their patients are more likely to die in the first month after leaving their hospital beds. advertisement In other words, some of the hospitals that get penalized for high readmissions are those that may actually do the best job at keeping patients alive -- and vice versa. Preventive incentives If the penalties took both readmission and mortality into account, the Medicare system would save the same amount of money, but incentivize good outcomes more fairly, the researchers say. "Under most circumstances, hospital patients would much rather avoid death than readmission," says Scott Hummel, M.D., M.S., senior author of the new paper and a heart failure cardiologist. "But the incentive to prevent death in the first 30 days after a hospitalization is 10 times less than the incentive to prevent a return hospital visit." He and his colleagues hope their analysis will spark a conversation about how to fine-tune the Medicare system's effort to encourage better performance by America's hospitals. advertisement Their work is based on data from 2014, the first year when hospitals could both be penalized for readmission rates that were higher than expected, and earn a financial reward based on a mix of measures that include everything from 30-day death rates to how well patients rated the care they received and the hospital environment. Under the current policy, hospitals can lose up to three percent of condition-related payments from Medicare for excess readmissions, but can recoup only about 0.2 percent of such payments for having low mortality rates. First author Ahmad Abdul-Aziz, M.D., an internal medicine resident at U-M, helped coordinate the data analysis using publicly available data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, called CMS for short. Some of it was accessed via an online system created by Kaiser Health News, based on data from CMS. In all, data from 1,963 hospitals was included. The authors, who also include senior team members Rodney Hayward, M.D., and Keith Aaronson, M.D., M.S., calculated a ratio for each hospital based on observed and expected readmissions and mortality in the first 30 days for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia. Although other conditions were added to the readmission program in 2015 and 2016, they weren't included because these diagnoses are not yet included in the reward program for low mortality rates. All the data were adjusted for how sick each hospital's patients were when they started, using standard methods that allow an apples-to-apples comparison. The socioeconomic status of each hospital's patients, which can also affect patient outcomes but aren't in a hospital's control, wasn't included because CMS hadn't yet started taking it into account in 2014. The authors don't take issue with the idea of penalizing excess readmissions -- though they do note that readmissions for any cause are included in the program, not just readmissions for the problem that sent the person to the hospital in the first place. Admissions to any hospital within 30 days of discharge count against the hospital that the patient was discharged from, which may work against large hospitals that patients travel to for advanced care before returning to their home area. Other researchers have shown there isn't a tight link between a hospital's 30-day readmission rate and the 30-day mortality rate for its patients with these conditions -- suggesting that there's more to the story when thinking about using them as measures of hospital quality. The authors also call for continued improvement in risk models that will more precisely predict a patient's risk of readmission, just like current, well-tested models to predict their risk of death. Better tools would mean better ability to test a hospital's actual performance against what might be expected based on their entire patient population. The researchers also plan to examine what kinds of hospitals are most likely to win or lose financially if the balance shifts between penalties for reducing readmissions and those for reducing early mortality. "The misaligned incentives for preventing readmission and preventing death may help explain why some hospitals are doing really well on one, but not on the other," says Hummel. "It's important that we continue to reduce preventable readmissions, but we need to watch out for unintended consequences too. "Sometimes, a readmission might be a good thing -- no one wants to see patients die because they should have been readmitted," he adds. "If financial penalties drive hospitals to figure out how to improve outcomes, increasing incentives to reduce early post-hospital deaths seems like a good place to start." People with higher levels of psychopathic tendencies are more likely to assault their romantic partners. They are also more likely to drink alcohol, a UBC study has found. The study, which was conducted at UBC's Okanagan campus, involved looking at data and police reports involving 700 US civil psychiatric patients in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as 870 students at UBC's campus in Kelowna, BC. "In this research, we noted that having higher levels of psychopathic personality traits is an important predictor of how likely someone is to engage in intimate partner violence," says Zach Walsh, an associate professor of psychology and the study's principal investigator. "While we also found that people with psychopathic tendencies tended to drink more alcohol, the data tells us it is their personality traits more than substance use that is associated with violence. "With further investigation, this research may be able to assist policy makers and service providers in their efforts to both predict and reduce violence among couples." The research also found that association between psychopathic personality traits and violence was consistent across both students and psychiatric patients. Walsh's study, conducted with Jenifer Langille of UBC and Marisa Okano of McGill University, was recently published in the journal Law and Human Behaviour. By Ursila Ali: If you happened to be at the third edition of the Asian Hawkers Market held in Delhi last weekend, you would probably have heard people raving about Pa Pa Ya's Hoisin Chilli duck dog--a refreshing take on the regular American hot dog. The food festival is where Zorawar Kalra's Pan Asian venture was first showcased in the city. A Mumbai export to the city, PA PA YA has already created quite a buzz with foodies in town (We are told that the venue--erstwhile B-Bar in Saket--has a massive ceiling of over 70 feet, setting new heights to a culinary experience). advertisement Chef Sahil Singh, Executive Chef, Modern Asian Cuisine, Massive Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. who has been busy for the past few months in drafting an exclusive menu for Pa Pa Ya, Delhi, gives us a glimpse on what we can expect from the menu. Chef Sahil Singh, Executive Chef, Modern Asian Cuisine is going to head the kitchen at Pa Pa Ya, Delhi. Photo: Pa Pa Ya 1. Pa Pa Ya has been extremely popular with Mumbaikars. Why do you think it clicked with the diners? With Pa Pa Ya, our aim was to completely change the way Asian food has been looked at and revolutionaise it entirely. It took us nearly eight months to develop the culinary concept behind Pa Pa Ya, while having undergone extensive research and countless food trials for perfecting the cuisine served. The exciting aspect, and one of the reasons for it to take as long, is that we were innovating with Asian food that no one had attempted before. The menu offers familiar flavours and authentic taste of admired dishes from Asia, however incorporating extensive modernist techniques, to bring in a sense of surprise into the fray. We are truly overwhelmed and humbled by the response received from our patrons for the culinary experience at Pa Pa Ya. I think the main reason for them to have appreciated our efforts is because of the fact that Pa Pa Ya, since its launch, has focused purely on flavours representing various regions of Asia, showcasing an array of classics, using contemporary cooking techniques and presentations and continuously endevoured to offer an experience as you'd get in a star restaruant but at a proportionately affordable price point. Pa Pa Ya's Mezze Platter is one of the signature dishes that have been appreciated by patrons. Photo: Pa Pa Ya 2. What makes the menu different than other Pan Asian restaurants? What are some of your signature dishes that are popular? Though we are currently in the process of changing the menu at the Mumbai outpost, it has an extensive Dim sum and Sushi sections, both available in vegetarian as well as non vegetarian options, including the Sushi Matrix presenting 19 Sushi to whet the palate. The menu also has dishes like Laksa, Classic Miso, Yam Tha lai, Tofu carpaccio, Crispy lotus stem, the Thai Green Curry Dim Sum and Edamame sliders recreated with Chinese Bao buns prepared in-house, and moistened with Japanese style mayonnaise or a sriracha based sauce in the form of a sphere. There are dishes like the Beer-battered avocado tacos and Sushi burgers, Butayakitori, Tuna Tataki pizza, Edamame and chickpea sliders, Soft shell crab buns and a signature Mezze platter, among others that have been appreciated by our patrons. Aside from these we also have an extensive signature Pa Pa Ya Tales beverage section which have used elements of Asian cuisine combined with molecular techniques for a unique mixological experience. Also read: After Mumbai, Delhi gets a taste of molecular gastronomy with Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra 3. What sets the Delhi menu apart from the Mumbai one? While it is still work-in-progress, and I will not be able to share details at this juncture, but can assure you that the menu in Delhi is going to surprise your palate as the Mumbai menu has, over the past year. Lighthouse is just one of the many innovative beverages that Pa Pa Ya has to offer. Photo: Pa Pa Ya Lighthouse is just one of the many innovative beverages that Pa Pa Ya has to offer. Photo: Pa Pa Ya advertisement 4. The preview at the Asian Hawker's Market was a success. Do you feel the diners in the city are finally moving on from Chinjabi dishes to understanding Pan Asian dishes better? With restaurants like Pa Pa Ya paving the way and conscious efforts being made through culinary showcases like the Asian Hawkers Market, I do feel that the diners are now getting a taste of true Asian flavours, which is only pegged to become bigger in times to come. 5. What should we absolutely not miss on the menu? Everything! 6. Apart from the food, what else can the diners look forward to at Pa Pa Ya? A truly high energy dining experience, showcasing Asian flavours through the food and beverage, unlike any before. With a ceiling height of over 70 feet, making it the tallest restaurant in NCR, the ambiance of the outpost in Delhi is also extremely unique and exquisite, adding to the overall culinary experience synonymous with Pa Pa Ya. --- ENDS --- advertisement Global warming above 1.5Celsius, the ideal limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, will change the Mediterranean region, producing ecosystems never seen throughout the last 10,000 years, a new study reports. As temperatures around the world increase, some regions will feel the heat more than others. Already, regional temperatures in the Mediterranean basin are about 1.3C higher than they were between 1880 and 1920, compared with an increase of roughly 0.85C worldwide during the same period. Considering that Mediterranean basin ecosystems are a hotspot for the world's biodiversity and supply numerous services to people, including clean water, flood protection, carbon storage, and recreation, this extra increase in temperature is critical. Here, to further consider the effects of different Paris Agreement temperature thresholds on the Mediterranean basin, Joel Guiot and Wolfgang Cramer used pollen cores from sediments, which provide rich detail about Mediterranean climate and ecosystem variability over the past 10,000 years. They applied this data in models as a baseline to estimate future climate and vegetation scenarios based on different temperature increases. In both the "business as usual" simulations and a second set of simulations that reflected intended national goals proposed by the governments at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, the amount of ecological change that's predicted vastly exceeds that which has occurred during the Holocene. In the "business as usual" case, all of southern Spain turns into desert, deciduous forests invade most of the mountains, and shrubland vegetation replaces most of the deciduous forests in a large part of the Mediterranean basin. Only under the scenario where the global warming is limited to 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures do ecosystem shifts remain inside the limits experienced during the last 10,000 years. This analysis does not account for other human impacts on ecosystems, such as land-use change, urbanization, and soil degradation, many of which are more likely to increase in the future because of the expanding human population and economic activity, the authors note.

Alison O'Connor

Alison O'Connor is a person who needs to help others - it's almost like an obsession. During the day, O'Connor is a therapist for people with special needs. But it's not just people she likes to help - she has also taken a particular interest in dogs with special needs. "My last dog Petey had dementia," O'Connor told The Dodo. "He required a lot of care. It was really heartbreaking and sad, but it sort of became my daily routine." Petey died in 2014, leaving a gaping hole in O'Connor's life - she desperately wanted someone else to care for. Alison O'Connor When a woman from the American Maltese Association Rescue (AMAR) asked O'Connor if she wanted to foster a dog who had kidney issues, O'Connor couldn't say "yes" fast enough. "I hadn't even seen her yet," O'Connor said. "[The dog] needed to have surgery in a specialized hospital, which was only about 20 minutes from my house. The intention was to get her medically taken care of, then adopt her out. But I think I always knew I was going to keep her." When O'Connor finally did meet the dog, who she named Pez, she noticed something unusual about her - Pez had a funny-looking snout with a row of snaggly teeth. O'Connor immediately fell madly in love. Alison O'Connor "It's sort of like a cleft palate, but the palate is actually closed," O'Connor said. Dodo Shows Dodo Heroes Woman Devotes Her Life To The Stray Dogs Of Bali Alison O'Connor To O'Connor, Pez appears to be constantly smiling. "Literally every time I look at her, my heart explodes," she said. Alison O'Connor But Pez's rough start to life is nothing to grin about. Alison O'Connor While O'Connor doesn't know everything about Pez's background, she believes Pez's previous owner abandoned her at a shelter when she didn't want to pay for the dog's medical bills. Pez ended up at a New York City shelter, and was slotted for euthanasia. But volunteers from the AMAR found Pez and saved her life by pulling her out of the shelter. Alison O'Connor According to O'Connor, Pez's funny face is mainly cosmetic and it doesn't cause her any health problems. Pez's main issue is her kidneys, which aren't properly connected to her bladder due to a birth defect. Even though Pez has had surgery to try and correct this, she remains incontinent, so O'Connor keeps her in diapers most of the time. Alison O'Connor Wearing diapers doesn't seem to phase Pez, and to O'Connor, it adds to her charm. "It's just like a quirk," she said. "I don't know what else to say besides that she's charming. I know that's a weird way to describe a dog, but she has a lot of spunk. She's constantly glued to you the whole time, and wants to be having a good time." Alison O'Connor Pez might satisfy O'Connor's need to help others, but Pez has also helped O'Connor get through periods of depression. "I've been battling depression for more than 10 years, as well as eating disorders," O'Connor said. "It becomes really easy to hang out in your bed for long periods of time and not go out in the world. Pez gave me a purpose and [helps me] get out of my own head for a bit and help her out. You can't hang out in bed all day if you have to walk a dog and feed it, and take her to the park and become more present." Alison O'Connor O'Connor even puts up with Pez's more questionable traits, like flinging dirty socks around the house and eating used tissues. "I blow my nose, and she's been sitting on my lap, and she's assaulting me to get this tissue," O'Connor said. "She's jumping on my face trying to grab it and bite it. If she doesn't get a tissue, she pulls one out of the garbage and shreds it into a million pieces." Alison O'Connor O'Connor recently got another rescue dog named Pinky, and Pez is obsessed with her too. "Pez loves her dearly," O'Connor said. "She's constantly checking her out and giving her kisses. If Pinky goes out without her and then comes back, Pez goes wild as if she hasn't seen her in years. And Pinky's like, OK, get it over with.'" Alison O'Connor O'Connor's hoping to register Pez as a service dog so she can help her clients with special needs, too. "I find Pez to be so therapeutic because of her nonjudgmental acceptance and unconditional love," O'Connor said. "My clients, just like everyone else, are so deserving of that." Alison O'Connor To see more photos of Pez's adorable grin, you can visit her Instagram page. In a tit-for-tat action, Pakistan on Thursday declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours. By Press Trust of India: In a tit-for-tat action, Pakistan on Thursday declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours. Foreign Office said in a statement that the decision was conveyed to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale who was summoned to foreign ministry. INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER SUMMONED advertisement "The Foreign Secretary (Aizaz Chaudhry) summoned the Indian High Commissioner today and conveyed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to declare Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non-grata," the statement said. Also read: Pakistan spy racket: 2 Indians arrested, embassy staff asked to leave India The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms, it said. SURJEET MUST LEAVE PAKISTAN BY OCTOBER 29 The Indian High Commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by October 29. Earlier today, India declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer in New Delhi as persona-non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. --- ENDS --- This little snake has a very good reason to smile. Portsmouth Police Department Earlier this week, the tiny reptile was discovered trapped in the strong adhesive of a glue trap inside a home in Portsmouth, Virginia. It's unclear how long the snake had been stuck there with no hope of escaping - but lucky for him, an animal control officer named Quintana arrived before it was too late. She decided to do all she could to save him. Dodo Shows Comeback Kids Family Stops At Nothing To Help Their Great Dane Run Portsmouth Police Department Once back at the office, Quintana and another officer used butter to lubricate the snake so he could be carefully pried up from the sticky trap. It was a painstaking task, to say the least - but the little animal's life depended on it. Portsmouth Police Department Fortunately, their hard work paid off. "As you can see from the pictures, the snake was really stuck on the trap and was extremely happy once he was freed by these diligent Animal Control Officers," the Portsmouth Police Department wrote in a post online. "The snake was then returned to the outdoors today." While it might have seemed a thankless job, before being released, the snake found a way to show his gratitude for all the officers had done. He gave them the happiest little grin.

Rachel Brown

Jon Snow was found all alone in an alleyway in South Korea, struggling to survive. He was starving, dehydrated and had a severe upper respiratory infection. No one thought Jon Snow would make it - except for one person. Rachel Brown knew she wanted to adopt a cat, and spent weeks looking through lists of all the cats in the country who'd been brought into kill shelters. When she came across Jon Snow, she knew immediately that he was the one for her. Rachel Brown "He was obviously in really bad shape but I couldn't get him out of my head," Brown told The Dodo. Brown had her boyfriend call the shelter to inquire about Jon Snow. The shelter owner told Brown's boyfriend that the cat was very sick, wasn't eating and probably wasn't going to make it. "He actually told my boyfriend that I shouldn't adopt him because it wasn't worth it," Brown said. "It would be expensive. But I couldn't just leave him there, I wanted to help him so bad, so I did." Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Couple Meets A Beach Dog In Mexico Who Changes Their Life Rachel Brown When Brown arrived at the shelter to pick up Jon Snow, she found him hunched over in an uncomfortable wire cage, a plate of untouched food in front of him. He looked so helpless, and in desperate need of a miracle. She filled out the paperwork as quickly as she could and immediately rushed him home to take him to the emergency vet. Rachel Brown On the way there, Jon Snow was still weak - but somehow had enough energy left to show his new mom how grateful he was to her for giving him a chance. "He did try to get up and walk out of his carrier, so I could tell he still had a fight in him," Brown said. "He meowed when he couldn't see me through the mesh, and he kept staring at me." Rachel Brown When the pair arrived at the emergency vet, doctors told Brown the same thing the shelter owner had. They suggested putting Jon Snow down because he likely wasn't going to make it, even with treatment. Jon Snow was diagnosed with several infections, including feline coronavirus (FCoV) and feline herpesvirus (FHV). Vets were also convinced that he had feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is often fatal. But Brown refused to listen. She checked Jon Snow into the hospital, where he began his treatment. Rachel Brown Brown took a 30-minute train ride back and forth every day to visit Jon Snow in the hospital. Despite how sick he had been, Jon Snow seemed to get a little bit better every day. On only his fifth day in the hospital, all of his tests came back normal. The vets said they had never seen anything like it. Somehow, Jon Snow had pulled through. Because Brown decided to take a chance on Jon Snow, she ended up saving a life. Rachel Brown Today, Jon Snow is completely healthy. He has tons of energy, loves to play and follows his new mom everywhere she goes. "He's the best cat," Brown said. "He has such a personality. He's crazy, he runs around like a maniac and climbs his cat tower at light speed." Rachel Brown He sleeps on her pillow every night, and lets her know every day how grateful he is that she saved him. "I'm so blessed by him," Brown said. "He makes my life a million times happier." It's a long way from the chilly arctic tundra to the sunbaked hills of Argentina, and nobody knows that better than a polar bear named Arturo. For the last 20 years, he's been confined at a zoo in the western city of Mendoza, where temperatures during the summer have been known to reach well over 100 degrees, forced to endure the rigors of both captivity and the arid climes of the region, so far from his natural habitat. He's been called the "world's saddest animal" -- and to see him, that description hardly seems hyperbolic. Dodo Shows Cat Crazy Fluffy Cat Wants To Sit On His Dad At All Times Up until two years ago, Arturo's miserable existence in his concrete enclosure had been eased somewhat by a polar bear companion named Pelusa. But since her death he appears to have slipped into a deep depression, exhibiting signs of psychosis, like in pacing and other repetitive behavior seen in the video below. Last February, vets in Mendoza concluded that Arturo was too sickly and frail to survive the journey north. More recently, Canadian authorities informed the conservancy that three years worth of records are needed to bring an animal into the country, records the Argentine zoo didn't keep.

Ayesha Cantor

Friendship can be found in the most unusual places and sizes. Ayesha Cantor, owner of the Kragga Kamma Game Park in South Africa, was driving with her 21-year-old daughter Tammaryn when they spotted something that made them hit the brakes and get their cameras out. Ayesha Cantor "I thought to get a few 'giraffe in the sunset' images, noticing one who kept arching his neck beautifully," Cantor told The Dodo. "We didn't immediately realize that there was something that had the giraffe's attention on the ground." Dodo Shows Adoption Day Hairless German Shepherd Puppies Find The Perfect Families Ayesha Cantor They followed the line of the giraffe's gaze. There in the grass was a tiny black and white animal - a rabbit. Ayesha Cantor "We were so surprised to see a domestic bunny right under the feet of the giraffe," Cantor said. "Totally unfazed, even stretching out fully between the giraffe's legs." Ayesha Cantor The giraffe was a type of Southern giraffe that's indigenous to African countries like South Africa. But the rabbit was a domestic animal that had no business being in the African bush. Ayesha Cantor Cantor and her daughter guessed the rabbit had escaped from a neighbor's rabbit hutch. They were amazed it hadn't already been eaten by predators! Ayesha Cantor As they watched from the car windows, they expected the rabbit to dash away, especially when the giraffe started moving around. But the rabbit stayed close to his long-limbed buddy. Ayesha Cantor "He showed no signs of wanting to get away," Cantor said. "The giraffe would bend over and have a sniff and nuzzle. The bunny would eat a bit and then hop further off with the giraffe following. Sometimes it looked as if the giraffe was going to paw at the bunny with his giant hooves, but he was so gentle, never actually striking him. Amazing that the bunny showed absolutely no signs of fear." Ayesha Cantor Cantor and her daughter watched the odd couple for 45 minutes. They eventually left because it was getting dark and couldn't take good photographs anymore. But the giraffe and rabbit were still together when they drove off. Ayesha Cantor "This is a most unusual sighting," Cantor said. "It's a miracle really that [the rabbit] has survived in the park. Being of domestic stock it wouldn't have the same survival instincts that a wild rabbit would have. Predators like jackal and caracal would have and should have made short work of it by now. Maybe Mr. Giraffe really does do a good job of keeping his buddy safe." MONTREALThe conductor as well as the owner of the train that derailed, exploded and killed 47 people in Lac-Megantic in 2013 have been added as respondents in a class-action lawsuit. Thomas Harding, Montreal Maine and Atlantic Canada Co. (MMAC), and Canadian Pacific Railway are now the three official defendants, according to an Oct. 24 ruling by Quebec Superior Court Justice Martin Bureau. About 25 other companies and individuals were once accused in the class action but they reached a deal with victims and creditors after agreeing to contribute $450 million to a settlement fund. Joel Rochon, a Toronto-based lawyer for victims in the suit, told The Canadian Press that, of the three respondents, Obviously our big target here is Canadian Pacific for their role in this catastrophe. MMAC is in bankruptcy protection, has no employees and all of its assets were sold in 2014 to help pay victims and creditors. Harding, along with two other former MMAC employees, faces 47 charges of criminal negligence causing death in the derailment. MMAC has no assets so they are effectively insolvent, Rochon said. Harding obviously doesnt have the resources to compensate the victims here. They were added to the lawsuit so the court can receive evidence and documents associated with their involvement in the derailment, Rochon said. (These two respondents) were the last piece of the puzzle and we believe they will provide the court with the entire perspective that is needed, he said. Hardings lawyer was not immediately available for comment. The class action had been stayed pending MMAC bankruptcy proceedings in the United States and Canada. Rochon said the stay was recently lifted, giving him the opportunity to add MMAC and Harding to the case, something the defendants did not oppose. The $450-million settlement fund was tied to the bankruptcy protection proceedings for MMAC, which were overseen in Canada by Andrew Adessky, the court-appointed monitor. Addesky said all of the wrongful death claimants have received compensation and challenges have been settled. Distribution of economic damage payments has begun and Adessky acknowledged some people are still people contesting the level of funds they received for moral damages. I appreciate that from the claimants point of view they would like to see their payments made as fast as possible and we are trying to do that, he said. Were cognizant of the fact people have been waiting and are eager to put this behind them. We will continue to work as fast as we can to get this resolved. Aside from the class action lawsuit, Canadian Pacific is facing a $409-million lawsuit brought forth by the Quebec government related to the derailment. It is also dealing with two other claims in the United States totalling more than $200 million (U.S.). CP maintains it had no responsibility in the disaster because it handed off the trains to MMAC for the final leg of the journey. Quebecs $409-million suit is back in court Nov. 8 in Lac-Megantic, followed by the class action proceedings on Nov. 10 in Sherbrooke. Read more about: SHARE: American Apparel Inc. is preparing for its second bankruptcy filing in as many years, according to people familiar with the situation, capping a tumultuous stretch that included tumbling sales, red ink and a split with controversial founder Dov Charney. The filing may come as soon as the next few weeks, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions arent public. The move could help set the stage for a sale of the Los Angeles-based company by letting it exit leases and shutter part of the retail operation, according to the people. Still, the plan isnt yet final and could change as the holiday season approaches. The clothing maker only emerged from bankruptcy in February, when former bondholders led by Monarch Alternative Capital took over the company. A turnaround plan to return to American Apparels roots and focus on basic items such as T-shirts and skirts did not improve results enough, according to the people. The company also has hired restructuring firm Berkeley Research Group for guidance, the people said. Representatives for Monarch and Berkeley Research Group didnt immediately respond to a request for comment, while American Apparel declined to comment. Seeking buyers American Apparel hired investment bank Houlihan Lokey earlier this year to consider a sale after receiving interest, according to the people. The potential buyers are mainly interested in the companys wholesale unit and the brand, they said. That leaves its roughly 200 retail stores in limbo. But one person said some potential acquirers view the locations as an attractive part of the company and only want to close some of them. The company also is dealing with management turnover. chief executive officer Paula Schneider, who took charge after the ouster of Charney, resigned in September. She is now CEO of apparel maker DG Premium Brands. General Counsel Chelsea Grayson, a former mergers and acquisitions lawyer, has taken Schneiders place. Charney, the companys founder and longtime CEO, was fired in 2014 over allegations of misconduct. He then fought unsuccessfully to regain control of the business. American Apparels results only got worse under Schneider, and it filed for bankruptcy in October 2015. Reuters reported earlier this month that Brand licensors Authentic Brands Group LLC and Iconix Brand Group Inc. have expressed interest in acquiring American Apparel. Negotiations could lead to a bankruptcy. SHARE: OTTAWACanadas trade deal with Europe has taken a critical step to becoming a reality but a wary International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland is warning that hurdles remain. Belgium on Thursday agreed to sign on to the Canada-European Union trade deal after resolving internal differences that had delayed the planned signing ceremony scheduled for Thursday. After days of tension and last-minute negotiations, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel confirmed that the impasse over the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement had been broken. Belgian agreement on #CETA. All parliaments are now able to approve by tomorrow at midnight. Important step for EU and Canada, he said on Twitter. Freeland hailed the announcement as a positive step in a week marked by dramatic ups and downs that had left the agreement seven years in the making in limbo. It's important for people to appreciate that while today, this morning, we absolutely had a positive development, there are still many steps to be taken, Freeland told reporters on Parliament Hill. I want to be sure that Canadians appreciate that even after signing, the process will not yet be complete. As with all trade agreements, the next step will be ratification and with CETA, that will mean a vote in the European Parliament if we get past signing, she said. Under the original plan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Freeland were to lead a Canadian delegation to Brussels Thursday for a grand ceremony to sign the completed trade pact. But with deal up in the air, those travel plans were postponed late Wednesday. Twenty-seven of the 28 nations had given the trade pact their required endorsement. But Belgium had been the holdout because of internal objections, largely raised by Wallonia, a French-speaking region of the country which has veto power. Among the objections were fears that investor protection provisions in the text put too much power in the hands corporations to impede regulation in areas such as environment and labour. The changes that brought Wallonia on-board appear to give countries the chance to veto such provisions at later stages of the ratification process. Freeland downplayed the impact of the change, saying every trade agreement has exit provisions. Trade agreements must be structured that way to permit national sovereignty, and that is also the case with CETA, she said. Paul Magnette, president of Wallonia, said his regions objections had produced results. I am sorry for all the other Europeans we made wait and for our Canadian partners. But if we took a bit of time, what we achieved here is important, not only for Wallonia but for all Europeans, Magnette said. Thursdays development paves the way for the deal to be signed in the coming days. CETA will eliminate the tariffs on most goods almost immediately once it takes effect, while others will occur over a seven-year span. While the trade deal will help boost exports, the real benefit is that it will put Canada at the heart of a free hub that extends to the United States, Mexico and soon 28 European nations, said Jason Langrish, executive director of the Canada Europe Roundtable for Business. That will attract investment and global companies looking to take advantage of Canadas access to those markets, he said in an interview. The more free trade agreements you have, the more you attract that kind of investment, he said from Brussels, where he was watching developments. While Canada will now have access to the European market, the late-day drama over the deal highlights the difficulty that the EU will have negotiating further trade agreement with other countries, like the United States, Langrish said. Its going to be a huge advantage. We get this preferential treatment in the European market, he said. Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, also praised the news but said he would each out to Trudeau only when the pact was ready to sign. With files from Associated Press and Canadian Press SHARE: Mike Todds family has a pretty wicked sense of humour. And they dont scare easily either. In 1999, his stepfather Neil Lamont and mom Gwen decided on a lark to see if they could grow grapes on their property located near Balaclava, pretty much a ghost town situated between Owen Sound and Meaford. Of course Georgian Bay with its icy, snowy winters isnt known as wine country, but that didnt spook them. They had noticed wild grapes growing in the Grey County area and figured they could grow their own. It was more like a hobby back then, says Todd, who moved away to work at a tech company in Hamilton while his folks fiddled with grape growing. That hobby eventually spawned the Coffin Ridge Vineyard and Winery, named partly after neighbouring Coffin Hill (they liked Ridge better). Its considered the first commercial vineyard in the Georgian Bay area, and a couple others have since followed their lead. Though they are available year-round, the wines with ghoulish names like Back from the Dead Red, Into the Light White, Riesling Bone Dry and Resurrection Rose are well positioned among the slew of Halloween-themed products out this time of year in Ontario. They range from pumpkin-spiced craft beers and whisky to novelty vino like Dearly Beloved Forever Red Blend and KillibinbinScaredy Cat Cabernet Shiraz. The LCBO says it gets a boost of 15 to 20 per cent in sales during the Halloween season and that their spooky selection this month is their biggest yet, including a skull-shaped bottle stopper/shot glass and lots of black and orange-coloured bottles and labels. This year we have seen even more Ontario craft brewers coming to market with pumpkin beer a perennial favourite with customers. Increasingly though, we are seeing more diverse styles of pumpkin beer, says LCBO spokeswoman Genevieve Tomney. For instance Big Rig Brewing Co. has a pumpkin porter with a glow-in-the-dark can, Great Lakes Brewery has a pumpkin saison and Torontos Collective Arts Brewing offers a sour pumpkin saison among the 25 Halloween-ish craft beers sharing shelf space this year at the LCBO. Select grocery stores in Ontario also carry beer and cider now, and Friday marks the launch of wine in the provinces supermarkets. One of those lucky enough to be chosen for grocery store shelves is Fancy Farm Girls Frivolous white wine from the Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery in Niagara. She also has a popular Halloween offering out now called Black ONoir (not surprisingly a baco noir she describes as black as a cat.) I think the wine has a cult following. I sold out here very quickly, said Staff, adding many LCBO locations that carry it had to re-stock for the weekend in the lead-up to Halloween on Monday. The Coffin Ridge boutique winery cranks out its scary-sounding vino year-round and for obvious reasons gets a nice boost in business this time of year. Producers like to have a little fun with creative packaging to get into the Halloween spirit, but whats really great is that the quality of these products is excellent. Its more than just a gimmick, notes Tomney. Indeed, the winery concept became serious enough that Todd left his tech gig and moved back home in 2006 after his mom called and asked: Do you want to start a winery? he recalls. By then they had five acres planted and wondered what are we going to do with all this stuff? says Todd, general manager of the boutique winery. Through trial and error they discovered winter hardy varieties of grapes such as baco noir, marechal foch and prairie star worked best in the Grey County climate, where summers arent as long or hot as in established wine regions like Niagara and Prince Edward County. Their whites now also include LAcadie Blanc, Geisenheim 318, Frontenac Gris and La Crescent and their reds showcase Marquette, Leon Millot, Frontenac and Pinot Noir. But it wasnt all smooth sailing which is actually how they landed on the creepy wine names. They tested a batch of red made in 2005 and it was terrible, says Todd. So they aged the two cases and a couple years later they had some with dinner. This time they really enjoyed it. We were joking that the red came back from the dead, and it all snowballed from there, he says. They also liked the life-after-death theme since the wine breathes new life into simple grapes, Todd notes. Appropriately, labels are shaped like tombstones and wine cases look like coffins. Since opening their doors in 2008, theyve grown from five acres to 25 and have since started a cider operation. Called Forbidden, the cider represents nearly half of sales at Coffin Ridge. Since apples are easier to grow and plentiful in the area, more craft cideries have popped up there recently, while fewer have tried their hand at winemaking. Making wine is much slower, a lot riskier and more capital intensive, Todd says. In terms of wine, they make 5,000 cases of 12 a year and always sell out by years end. They make 200,000 litres of cider, or 400,000 cans a year. It was a steep learning curve because I was a beer drinker when we started, so I learned everything as I went, said Todd. Read more about: SHARE: Bruce Springsteen may have been born to run, but on Thursday many of his fans seemed born to wait: queuing up for hours and snaking through the aisles of a bookstore on Bloor St. W. all for two minutes and a photo with The Boss. Part of an international legion of Springsteen lovers who call themselves the Tramps, those in attendance said it was totally worth it. Toronto musician Shawn Brady, 40, said Springsteen first inspired him to pick up an instrument and start songwriting. He happily shared his photo with Bruce, which showed the pair embracing in a hug, wearing matching leather jackets. Kelly Anne Taylor was absolutely trembling as she brought up the photo on her phone. It was awesome, she said, tears in her eyes. Ive seen him in concert 23 times and never thought Id be able to touch him and say hi, and tell him how much I love him. Taylor says The Boss has been a staple musician in her household for as long as she can remember, and that her mother, who now suffers from Alzheimers, still dances when his tunes come on. Springsteen made the stop in Toronto on Thursday to promote his new autobiography, Born to Run. The bookstore was packed with fans like Taylor, who shared personal stories of their connection with the American idol and who said they were excited just to catch a few minutes with him. As they waited for their turn for a photo opportunity and signed copy of his book, they jammed to a mood-setting soundtrack of his hits, and screamed like teens when they caught their first glimpses of him. Deena Grossman, 50, lined up in the rain with a broken umbrella for two hours before the bookstore let all the Tramps in, but said the wait didnt faze her at all. This was totally on my bucket list, said Grossman, after her big moment. First thing I told him was that I loved him ... and that I share a birthday with him. And so does my husband. And that all I do is sing Bruce on my birthday. Most of the 600 people who nabbed tickets to the Chapters/Indigo event were downright giddy after their minute with the American songwriter, immediately sharing their photos online and with each other, faces flushed and hands shaking. The literature, it seemed, was somewhat an afterthought. While he may have nine Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards an Oscar, this is Springsteens first book. The tome takes readers through the everyman rock stars life growing up in New Jersey and battling depression, as well as detailing his family life and his unrelenting drive to perform. It has been on The New York Times bestsellers list for the past three weeks. Readers may need to buckle up for parts of this 508-page spin, which Springsteen reportedly scrawled in longhand over seven years. Now 67, he contemplates some deeply personal topics, including harrowing health battles and quitting his longtime use of antidepressants. For fans lucky enough to meet him at Indigo, Springsteens life is an inspiration. (Meeting him) has been something Ive wanted to do for my whole life, said Peter Block, 52, who was in Toronto from Los Angeles. And this is something Ill remember for the rest of it. With files from Associated Press SHARE: Call these the uneasy days of wonder. Wonder Woman, a cartoon character created 75 years ago, gets named the UNs official ambassador for the empowerment of girls and women, so strong and sparkly and sexy, or as a distinctly not amused petition by UN staff protested, a large breasted, white woman of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a shimmery, thigh-baring body suit with an American flag motif and knee high boots the epitome of a pin-up girl. Shameful, the petition said, when the headline news in the United States and the world is the objectification of girls and women. Meanwhile a real not so ageless wonder woman, made of more steel than could be imagined, and possessed of a so far successful strategy to disarm and destroy her opponent by a technique known as bait and wonk, arrived in Cleveland last week on a campaign stop. Her collar was turned up against the wind, and her haunting image was captured in profile by Reuters photographer Carlos Barria and displayed in the New York Times. It was an image of Clinton alone and looking pensive, one that suggested: This is the next leader of the free world, not to mention: Its gonna be lonely at the top. This same real woman, in another image propagated by supporters of her Republican Presidential rival Donald Trump, has a chilling target on her smiling face. Lock her up. Kill the bitch. Hang her in the street. These are the days of unease and wonder. I marvel at how thoroughly the 2016 U.S. presidential race, to put it in Wonder Womans 1940s vernacular, one featuring The Dame versus The Demagogue, got down to womens business as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in very different ways, grappled with womens lived experiences objectification, misogyny, sexual assault, abortion. That was along with all the other issues economic equality, terrorism, trade and immigration that challenge a great nation. I wonder why it makes me so uneasy when all but a few pundits, slavishly heeding the polls, are two weeks early in declaring Clinton the next President, as if the actual voting that most private and ultimately un-coercible of activities doesnt really matter. Save it for Election Day, folks. Something crazy could no doubt will happen. In the meantime, lets savour the contradictions of this blistering spectacle, one from which many Canadians, still content with their sunny feminist global pin-up boy leader, couldnt tear themselves away. It was a gender-conscious smackdownbetween a blowhard self-described billionaire who began his campaign invoking racist views, scooped up millions of disaffected Americans, rich and poor, and lied the livelong day, and a warm in private, remote in public woman who since her twenties has had every twist of her life analyzed as she climbed a unique political ladder political wife, first lady, senator, secretary of state, presidential candidate and a completely familiar private one caring daughter, loyal wronged wife, devoted and proud mom, delighted grandmother. She daughter, wife, mother, grandmother now has this hideous target on her face, so rabid are her opponents, provoked onto ever greater heights of hate because she is a woman. Yet who would have thought HIS hair would get way more attention that hers? Writers everywhere struggled to describe the orange confection that sits atop Trumps head, and, compiled by the Washington Post, here are my two favourites: 1. It appears to be a comb-over, but, incredibly, it doesnt arrive from any direction. You cannot stare at The Donalds hair very long. Its like staring into the sun. 2. An ambitious corn dog that escaped from the concession stand at a rural Alabama fairground, stole an unattended wig, hopped a freight train to Atlantic City and never looked back. Who would have thought that HER considerable domestic baggage a former President husband, Bill the Big Dawg, who dallied with and damaged women, would be overshadowed by HIS sexual scandals as he was caught bragging on tape about grabbing women in the wherever, accused by more than 10 women of harassment and assault, and still incredibly, even after being called out for every dog, pig and fat shaming insult, managed to call his female rival a nasty woman in their final debate. That phrase of course sparked an online meme, and a T-shirt and coffee mug bonanza, finally grabbing millennials attention and proving Trump is not even, in another one of his insults to others, a bad hombre (another marketing opportunity!) but merely an undisciplined self-defeating fool. Who would have thought that SHE, despite battling pneumonia and nearly fainting in public would still look like she possessed more grit and stamina than he? And who would have thought that for countless months America would circle the drain, fall on its knees wailing, sink to new lows in political debate and incendiary language, beat its chest and yet somehow arrive back where it started, with Hillary Clinton as the prohibitive front runner and Donald Trump unable to crack his own mass ceiling? Trump simply cant appeal to a broad enough swath of Americans who rightly, despite their dissatisfaction with the status quo, fear and loathe him. Well, we think that this is where it ends. But these are the days of wondrous unease as America stumbles its way to the finish line of an epic battle worthy of its own cartoon: The Dame versus the Demagogue with all the smart money on the dame. Judith Timson writes weekly about cultural, social and political issues. You can reach her at judith.timson@sympatico.ca and follow her on Twitter @judithtimson Read more about: SHARE: By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, Oct 26 (PTI) Pakistan has decided to execute a mentally ill prisoner on November 2 after the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, ruling that schizophrenia cannot be a ground for halting a death penalty as it does not qualify as a mental disorder under the Mental Health laws. "The death warrant for mentally ill condemned prisoner Imdad Ali has been issued by the Sessions Court upon the request of the Government of Punjab. He will be executed on November 2," said Justice Project Pakistan in a statement. advertisement Imdad Ali, who was sentenced to death in 2001 over a shooting, was to be executed on July 26 but his wife filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court to delay her husbands hanging as he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The high court rejected her plea on August 23, forcing the wife to approach the Supreme Court. However, last week, the Supreme Court rejected the plea, ruling that schizophrenia does not qualify as a mental disorder under the Mental Health laws. Pakistans apex court cited the judgment of Indias Supreme Court in 1976 case of Amrit Bhishan Gupta vs the Union of India in which the court had rejected a petition to stop execution of a man suffering from schizophrenia. The apex courts ruling triggered a massive outcry by local and international human rights groups. Pakistans Ministry of Human Rights, also sent a letter advising Interior Ministry to stay the execution on humanitarian grounds, according to JPP. A mercy petition was filed by Alis family and his lawyers to President Mamnoon Hussain on September 19, but it is still pending with his office. Pakistan has signed international agreements which prohibit the execution of mentally ill prisoners. PTI SH PMS --- ENDS --- SASKATOON, SASK.-Theres an undeniable vibrancy abuzz in Saskatchewans largest city. A food and drink revolution is well underway in Saskatoon, thanks in part to the revitalized Riversdale neighbourhood, which has become a catalyst in encouraging entrepreneurs to set up shop. Related story:Race a stock car The Hollows: When chefs and co-owners Christie Peters and Kyle Michael took over the former Golden Dragon restaurant space in 2011, they left it as is, only adding minimal touches. The result is The Hollows, with its eclectic, nostalgic and warm environment. With a sustainable approach, both Peters and Michaels forage seasonally for the best local ingredients, using everything they take in. We have a snout-to-tail philosophy, says Peters. Even the most overlooked sources such as (edible) dandelions are used to create contemporary and delightful dishes. Ayden Kitchen & Wine Bar: Chef Dale MacKay and his team have been instrumental in transforming the citys food scene. The first Top Chef Canada winner returned home with colleagues (chefs Nathan Guggenheimer and Jesse Zuber, and GM/mixologist, Christopher Cho) to open Ayden Kitchen & Wine BarAyden Kitchen & Wine Bar in 2013. Its a very exciting place to be, says MacKay. The never-ending support (Saskatoon) has shown lets us continue to grow and change year after year. Expect home-styled comfort dishes, such as fried chicken and waffles and house-made charcuterie. Little Grouse on the Prairie: Former Ayden head chef Jesse Zuber is leading the way in Aydens recent off-shoot venture, Little Grouse on the Prairie. Offering authentic Italian food based (mainly) on prairie ingredients, meals are a la famiglia-style and served on mix and matched china in an intimate space. The a la carte menu says Zuber, has an interplay that is more modern and casual. Expect beautifully plated delectable dishes that set this Italian restaurant apart in the city and province. Try the beef carpaccio with a grotesque amount of black truffles. Drift Sidewalk Cafe and Vista Lounge: By day, enjoy a beachy, west-coast vibe at Drift Sidewalk Cafe. Its the ideal place to satiate caffeine fixes and snack cravings (OMG, the crepes). Airy breezes from a garage door-styled window roll in as you sip your latte, lounging in a cosy blue hammock. At night, head upstairs to Vista Lounge for shareable small and large plates, while you take in vibrant pops of colour in the funky, Moroccan-Mediterranean-styled interior. 9 Mile Legacy Brewing Co.: The story of Western Canadas smallest nano-brewery, 9 Mile Legacy Brewing Co., is a tale worth telling. It was founded by Shawn Moen and Garrett Pederson. Moen describes their venture as a longstanding legacy of working together, approaching community in the same way. For more than a century, the pairs families lived and worked alongside each other on farms nine miles (14 kilometres) apart. Tradition continues with craft beer that is delicious and tugs at the heartstrings. Try Angus Stout and Stand-Up Brown brews, named as tribute to their grandfathers. Lucky Bastard Distillers: When Michael Goldney and Cary Bowman of Lucky Bastard Distillers set out in 2012, their goal was to create traditional high quality, low quantity, handcrafted spirits. Four years later, the micro-distillery produces a large variety of playful and artistic spirits, liqueurs and bitters. Try popular Gambit Gin with floral and citrus notes, or Lucky Bastard Horlika, a.k.a., the kiss and the slap. This Ukrainian honey peppered vodka starts out sweet but finishes with a warm kick, thanks to Mexican chili peppers. Black Fox Farm & Distillery: Opened in 2015 and located just outside the city in the scenic river valley is family-run, boutique distillery and U-pick flower site, Black Fox Farm & DistilleryBlack Fox Farm & Distillery. We grow booze and flowers, says co-owner Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote. Quick gaining attention for their gin, production has expanded to include vodka, whisky and liqueurs, such as haskap, raspberry, honey ginger, and Creme de Cassis. Ninety-five per cent of the ingredients are grown onsite, where the family farms more than 32 hectares. The Glen at Crossmount Cidery: Saskatoons first hard cidery, Crossmount Cider Co., has a vision for growth. With 1,500 trees already planted in the six-hectare orchard, plans are in place to develop an additional 32.3 hectares to expand production from 15,000 litres to 45,000 litres. Using hybrids trees (bred at the University of Saskatchewan), head cidermaker Tyler Kaban is growing hardy apple varieties that can survive temperatures of up to -45C. The Glen at Crossmounts tasting room currently offers three varieties of cider: crisp, dry and gold. Jenn Smith Nelson was a guest of Tourism Saskatoon, which did not review or approve this article. SHARE: Retired lieutenant-general Romeo Dallaire is welcoming Canadas military commitment to peacekeeping missions in Africa. They should have never left, said Dallaire, who was commander of UN forces in Rwanda in 1994 when more than 800,000 people, most of them members the Tutsi ethnic minority, were murdered by ethnic Hutu extremists. The idea to start earning our spurs again in Africa, in a deliberate fashion to build capacity, to me, is probably one of the wisest decisions, he said. The Liberal government has pledged up to 600 troops and $450 million to UN peacekeeping missions, likely in Mali, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo or the Central African Republic. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has said Canadian forces will use force on these missions if necessary. Dallaire, who served as a Liberal senator from 2005 to 2014, said Canada has an important role to play in bringing peace to foreign countries, but that it will require far more than blunt military might. Theres no such thing as simply bringing in a military solution to any conflict anymore. Thats over, Dallaire said. Were into imploding nations and failing states, and, because of that, you concurrently have got to bring in a security sector, a development sector, a humanitarian sector, a nation-building sector, and all these disciplines have got to learn how to work together. Dallaires new memoir, Waiting for First Light: My Ongoing Battle With PTSD, released Tuesday, deals primarily with the mental and emotional anguish he experienced in the years after leaving Rwanda, a path that led him to alcohol abuse, overeating and many suicide attempts. In portions of the book, Dallaire rebukes the UN for not allowing him to intervene in Rwanda as tensions rose. And he criticizes Canadian government and military leaders for sending soldiers on increasingly complex missions in the 1990s with outdated strategies and inadequate preparation. We had stumbled unprepared into a series of missions in . . . Iraq, Kuwait, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Somalia, Rwanda, each with racial, ethnic and religious complexities we had no concept of, wrote Dallaire. Our troops had witnessed were still witnessing previously unimagined, massive abuses of human rights . . . . We had trained them for none of it. Dallaire told the Star that the Canadian Armed Forces have gained plenty of experience since then, due, in large part, to deployment in Afghanistan, but that UN peacekeeping will be different than the NATO-commanded mission in Afghanistan. NATO is not UN, Dallaire said. Getting (soldiers) to adapt to a whole different chain of command, to a different modus operandi, to mandates that are far more complex and ambiguous that is a learning curve that still has to be worked on. Since the 1990s, Canadian forces personnel have served in advisory, training and logistics capacities and contributed equipment to UN and African Union missions in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Rwanda, Darfur, South Sudan and others. Missions recently announced represent a significant renewal of Canadas role in UN peacekeeping Dallaire said it was a cop-out for Canada to downshift its peacekeeping commitments during the war in Afghanistan. It was a limitation that has been created by budget cuts and deliberate reduction of the capability of the forces, he said. I truly believe that returning to these missions means returning to forces that use all its assets, including reservists, to be prepared to deploy reasonable numbers of troops. The Canadian Armed Forces have the capacity and experience to make a significant contribution in Africa, Dallaire said. As for what that contribution could look like, the general spoke of a broad scope. I see not only troops, but equipment. I see development (workers) linking in to places that may be falling into conflict, he said. Theres a whole spectrum of stuff to be done. SHARE: The Ontario coroners office stopped investigating every tenth nursing-home death three years ago because it decided the provinces new and ultimately flawed inspection system would provide enough oversight. On paper, the long-term-care law enacted by the province in 2010 appeared tough on nursing homes but in reality, a huge number of individual complaints swamped provincial inspectors. Seniors advocate Jane Meadus called the coroners 2013 decision unfortunately misguided. Ministry of Health and Long Term Care inspectors, she said, just look at paper if a problem isnt recorded by nursing home staff, the case is closed. The inspectors are not investigators the coroners are investigators, said Meadus, a lawyer with the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly. Under the old system, a coroner would visit the home where a death occurred, review records, interview families and staff and possibly examine the body. Five of the deaths currently under investigation in Woodstock and London happened prior to 2013, when there were coroners investigations, and three occurred after the investigations ceased. Theres no guarantee that a coroners investigation would have uncovered the alleged medication murders of eight elderly residents in Woodstock and London. Ontario Provincial Police announced this week that 49-year-old registered nurse Elizabeth Wettlaufer is facing eight first-degree murder charges related to deaths in homes from 2007 to 2014. Seniors advocates say the case shines a light on serious inadequacies in the long term care system, including shortcomings in the inspection system. Wettlaufer is accused of killing seven seniors at Caressant Care Woodstock, between 2007 and 2014 and another senior at Meadow Park in London in 2014. Cheryl Mahyr, spokesperson for the coroners office, said the requirement for an investigation in every ten deaths was added in the mid-1990s because government oversight was lax. It was dropped in 2013 after the office concluded that the 2010 long-term-care legislation had robust investigation requirements. Ministry inspections do expose problems. The issue, say critics, is that Ontarios long-term-care system is so cash-strapped and short-staffed that systemic failures filthy unchanged diapers, resident-on-resident violence, improperly treated pressure ulcers or depression are never really fixed. Staffing, for example, is a serious problem, especially on weekends. Homes are only required to have one registered nurse onsite for each shift which means one nurse has full responsibility and control for the facility. Personal support workers do the hands-on care while nurses, for example, dispense medication. For the past two days, Premier Kathleen Wynne and Health Minister Eric Hoskins have been grilled in the legislature about homes struggles to give residents care when most are chronically short-staffed.NDP leader Andrea Horwath asked exactly whats being done by the premier to ensure that something this horrific and heartbreaking never happens again. Liberal MPPs and cabinet ministers shouted shame, shame at Horwath. Later, Horwath told reporters, While this is perhaps the most graphic, serious and tragic example of abuse and mistreatment in our long-term care system, we all know that its not the first. In response, Wynne said the government might conduct an independent review into safety procedures in nursing homes at some point, if there is a need. We will absolutely undertake that, not because of political pressure from the NDP, but because we all need to have the answers, Wynne said. The answers that Wynne may seek are already clear, said Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. The system, Grinspun said, needs funding to hire additional staff and nurses so residents get the right care for their needs. This is a sector that is trying to do heroics with the limited resources they have, she said. Wynne committed to improvements on Sept. 23 six days before Wettlaufers arrest when she sent Hoskins his new mandate letter. Long-term-care goals were to include: Increased safety in long-term care homes with continued investments for resident care, specialized investments for behavioural supports, and an ongoing commitment to annual inspections of every long-term care home in the province. Earlier this year, the ministry said its inspections which were supposed to include private interviews with roughly 40 residents and families will be done every three years, instead of annually as promised around the time when the coroners office made its changes. (The ministry continues to do shorter inspections every year.) Homes are supposed to report critical incidents, such as an unexpected death, to the ministry. By law, all deaths in nursing homes must be reported to the local coroner, who can decide whether further investigation is needed. The number of coroner investigations has dropped by more than half since it dropped the one-in-ten-deaths requirement in 2013, there were 2,027 investigations, followed by 890 in 2014. The coroners geriatric death review committee can still investigate cases that are sudden, unexpected or unnatural. With files from Rob Ferguson Read more about: SHARE: Prisoner advocates say charging inmates exorbitant rates to call loved ones from jail could hinder their chances for rehabilitation and make it more difficult for them to reintegrate into society. Once a person goes to court and is found guilty and sentenced thats their punishment. Theyre not supposed to be further punished when theyre inside, said Chris Hay, executive director of the John Howard Society in Edmonton. Research shows us the closer you can keep someone to society once theyre incarcerated, the easier it will be to reintegrate them after the fact. I lose sleep at night about people coming out of prison because I know theyre coming out worse than when they went in. Manitoba jails recently began charging inmates new phone rates, including a $3 flat rate for calls that last up to 15 minutes. That amounts to a days pay for a prisoner who has a job on the inside. Phone calls, allowing inmates to keep an open lifeline on the outside to family and friends, used to be essentially free. But now prisoners who cant pay are out of luck unless they have a family willing to foot the bill. It was kind of a shock, said William, a Winnipeg resident who didnt want his last name used. His brother is inside a provincial correctional facility and would talk to the family for up to an hour a day. The price basically went from zero and, under what he was calling previously, it would have been about $700 per month, he said. We can do half of what he was talking previously, which is still about $350 a month, which is definitely tough to afford. The phone system is operated by Texas-based Synergy Inmate Phones which also provides service to correctional facilities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. A coalition in Saskatchewan is fighting the phone fees in jails there. Synergy wouldnt confirm the fees are in place in other provinces. Because of contractual restraints, I am not at liberty to discuss any details with any of our provincial accounts, wrote Synergy Canada president Charles Slaughter in an email. Alberta charges a $1.25 flat fee for 20-minute local calls and $1.75 for collect calls. Saskatchewan hasnt confirmed what fees it has in place. Manitoba is not the first province for this to be implemented. Saskatchewan has had Synergy phones since 2010. There are a couple of other provinces who have adopted it as well and it seems to be the direction that things are going, said Jacquie Nicholson, a prisoner solidarity activist in Winnipeg. Nicholson is worried prisoners will lose connections to family and friends because of money. Now theres children that can no longer speak to their mothers and their fathers, parents who can no longer speak to their children, she said. Punishment within punishment makes the general public feel good. They like to think there are these bad guys and were making them feel really bad, which is a very simplistic way of thinking, she said. What kind of people are they going to be when they get out? Hay said the cost of prison calls is part of a bigger problem. Prisoners still presumed innocent at Alberta remand centres are no longer allowed in-person visits and theres chronic overcrowding as well. Its always amazing to me when people are released from prison and then commit another offence. We throw our arms up in the air and say we dont get it, Hay said. The further you remove someone from society, the harder its going to be to bring them back. Follow @BillGraveland on Twitter SHARE: MONTREALAs Justice Malcolm Rowe Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus first appointee to the Supreme Court fielded a barrage of questions from MPs and senators on Tuesday, there was nothing to suggest that he was not a flesh-and-blood person. And yet, only a few months ago, a legal creature with Rowes attributes was widely deemed to not exist. Trudeau was deluded, some argued, if he thought he could find a Newfoundland-and-Labrador jurist with sterling credentials and the ability to work in either of Canadas official languages. To read and listen to some of the commentary, one might have thought the prime minister had sent his headhunting committee on a quest for a unicorn. It may be that John Crosbie and Brian Tobin are to blame for that impression. Despite spending decades on Parliament Hill, neither of those famous political sons of N.L. managed to become fluent in French at a cost to their national leadership aspirations. And yet, not only does Rowe fit the job description, but in 2016 his status as a functionally bilingual non-Quebec jurist does not necessarily make him all that exceptional. According to former prime minister Kim Campbell, who oversaw the process that led to the short list Trudeau chose Rowe from, more than a few of the applicants her group considered would have been both valuable additions to the Supreme Court roster and satisfied the language requirement. And yes, they hailed from every region of the country. It should not come as a surprise that there is a discrepancy between the actual language proficiency of many non-Quebec judges and lawyers and the perceptions of the politicians and pundits who argue that to appoint Supreme Court justices among the ranks of bilingual applicants is to fish in an overly shallow pool. After almost two decades at the Star, I still do not know exactly how many of my colleagues can handle an interview in French for we tend to speak to each other in English. Back when I mostly worked for French-language media organizations, the same was true when it came to the other journalists proficiency in English. When it comes to requiring fluency in both official languages to sit on the Supreme Court or, for that matter, to lead a federal party, the real question is not whether otherwise qualified candidates will not be considered, but whether those who are would make the short list if French/English bilingualism was not a criterion. In the case of Justice Rowe, the answer is yes. Based on his answers to the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois Tuesday, a French-speaking lawyer would feel confident that if he or she were to plead in French, Rowe would grasp the nuances of the arguments. That is not a whim, for nuances and sometimes a bit more than that are often lost in simultaneous translation. Just ask the Senates French-speaking members. Most of them stuck to English during the debate over medically assisted suicide last spring for fear of not getting their points across. Just last week, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair mocked the prime minister, in French, after the latter called him le membre. In street French, the expression can refer to a male private part. That was lost on Hansard translators. They quoted Mulcair as reprimanding Trudeau for having used the word deputy. Rowes appointment has put flesh on the bone of the Liberal requirement that applicants for a Supreme Court appointment should be functionally bilingual. At one point, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould suggested it might not be necessary to speak French and English to meet the criteria. Rowes appointment sets the bar quite a bit higher. There are contenders currently running for Stephen Harpers succession who could not meet it. By all indications, the bilingualism criterion for Supreme Court appointments is here to stay. Wilson-Raybould told a parliamentary committee as much this week. It will be hard for future governments to set aside the practice, or for this one to lower the fluency standard it has just set with this appointment. The next scheduled Supreme Court vacancy is expected to be that of chief justice Beverley McLachlin who will reach the compulsory retirement age of 75 in 2018. Anyone interested in vying for a seat on the top court should consider that fair warning. He or she has two years to hit the books. Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau has named nine new, non-partisan senators, bringing him within reach of his goal to transform the discredited Senate into a more reputable, independent chamber of sober second thought. The five women and four men hail from a wide variety of backgrounds, from an art historian to a renowned human rights lawyer to a conservationist. They are the first senators to be chosen under an arms-length process that saw more than 2,700 people apply to fill the 21 vacancies in the 105-seat upper house. Trudeau is poised to announce two more batches of appointments within days, filling the remaining 12 empty seats six from Quebec, six from Ontario and, for the first time, putting senators with no partisan affiliation in the drivers seat. When hes done, independent senators will hold a plurality of 44 seats, outnumbering the Conservatives 40 and the independent Liberals 21. The prime minister said the new appointment process is merit-based and open. It is part of our ongoing efforts to make the Senate more modern and independent and ensure that its members have the depth of knowledge and experience to best serve Canadians, he said in a statement. Thursdays appointees include: Malaysian-born Yuen Pau Woo, former president of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and currently senior fellow in public policy at the Asian Institute of Research at the University of British Columbia. Manitoba art historian Patricia Bovey, former director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, former member of the board of trustees of the National Gallery of Canada and the board of the Canada Council for the Arts. Winnipeg psychiatrist Harvey Chochinov, internationally recognized expert in palliative care. The previous Harper government appointed Chochinov to chair an external panel that consulted Canadians on possible legislative options following the Supreme Courts landmark ruling striking down the ban on medically assisted dying. His appointment was controversial because Chochinov had argued in court against legalizing assisted dying. Lawyer and human rights activist Marilou McPhedran, co-leader of the Ad Hoc Committee of Canadian Women on the Constitution, a grassroots movement in the early 1980s that successfully campaigned for stronger equality rights provisions in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Former member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, former chief commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, currently a professor at the University of Winnipeg Global College. New Brunswick francophone Rene Cormier, president of the Societe Nationale de LAcadie, the lead organization for the international strategy for the promotion of Acadian artists. Formerly, president of the Commission internationale du theatre francophone, director of the Theatre populaire dAcadie, president of the Federation culturelle Canadienne-francaise and board member of the Canadian Conference of the Arts. New Brunswick womens issues expert Nancy Hartling, founder of the non-profit Support to Single Parents Inc. and founder of St. James Court Inc., an affordable housing complex for single parents. Co-chaired the provincial ministers working group on violence against women. Nova Scotia social worker and educator Wanda Thomas Bernard, the first African-Canadian to hold a tenure-track position at Dalhousie University and to be promoted to full professor. A founding member of the Association of Black Social Workers, current chair of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Daniel Christmas, senior adviser for the Mikmaw First Nation of Membertou, N.S. He is credited with playing a key role in transforming his home community from a First Nation on the brink of bankruptcy to one of the most successful in Canada. Former director of advisory services for the Union of Nova Scotia Indians. Prince Edward Island conservationist Diane Griffin, former provincial deputy minister of environmental resources. Recipient of the Governor Generals Conservation award. Currently a councillor on Stratford, P.E.I., town council. Trudeau took the first step toward transforming the Senate in January 2014, when he kicked senators out of the Liberal caucus in a bid to diminish the hyper-partisanship he maintained had destroyed the Senates intended role as an independent chamber of sober second thought. The much-maligned chamber was engulfed in the notorious expenses scandal at the time, which exposed the degree to which Stephen Harpers Prime Ministers Office attempted to manipulate the Senates Conservative majority. Shortly after taking power last fall, Trudeau created an arms length advisory board to recommend nominees to fill Senate vacancies. While the new appointment process does not preclude people whove been involved in partisan politics, it is supposed to put a premium on merit. In the initial phase of its work, the board accepted nominations of potential senators from organizations across the country. It recommended 25 of them to Trudeau, from which he named seven independent senators in March, including veteran bureaucrat Peter Harder to be the governments representative in the upper house. Todays nine are the first to be appointed under the second, permanent phase, under which individuals can apply directly to the board to become senators. The Canadian Press has learned that more than 2,700 people applied; the board recommended 105 of them (five for each of the 21 vacancies) to Trudeau. In addition to the independents so far appointed by Trudeau, some senators have left the Conservative and Liberal Senate caucuses to join the ranks of non-aligned senators. With their imminent plurality in the chamber, independents will be able to hasten the evolution of the upper house, whose operation has traditionally been geared to senators belonging to a governing party caucus and an opposition caucus. Among other things, the independents should be able to secure a bigger share of research budgets and increased membership on Senate committees. SHARE: A man in his 20s is in critical condition after he was shot in the head in Scarborough early Thursday morning, Toronto paramedics said. He was found in his car outside a police station, which also happens to be the ambulance station, said deputy commander Sandra McLeod of the Toronto Paramedic Services. We were there in very short time. The incident happened in the Manse Valley neighbourhood, in the area of Lawrence Ave. E. and Valia Rd., at around 12:52 a.m. EMS rushed the man to a local trauma centre via emergency run, said McLeod. He also had a gunshot wound on his arm. Investigators said the shooting likely took place further west along Lawrence Ave., in the area of Orton Park Rd., and a friend of the victim drove him to the 43 division police station. Const. Craig Brister of the Toronto Police Service said investigators didnt immediately have information on suspects, or how events unfolded. Theyre just trying to piece it together now, he said. The 52 and 54 bus routes were diverted in the area Thursday morning, said the TTC. Lawrence Ave. E was also closed in both directions from Orton Park Rd. to Overture Rd. Correction October 27, 2016: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled the name of Overture Rd. SHARE: A man is facing six child-abduction charges after six children were taken from their home in Calgary and driven to Bowmanville, police said Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon, a Durham Region Police officer ran the Alberta licence plate of a green SUV that seemed suspicious in a gas station parking lot near Waverly Rd. and Baseline Rd., said Sgt. Bill Calder. After running the plates, police discovered that the vehicle was linked to a parental-abduction investigation reported in Calgary on Monday. The six children, aged 2 to 11 years old, were standing outside the vehicle with the male driver when police approached him. They were all found in good health and taken by Social Services to be put in a home before the man was arrested, Sgt. Darren Smith of Calgary Police said. The mother, who had been away for a couple of days, gave consent to the man, with whom she had a common-law relationship, to care for her children, Smith explained. On Monday, she reported her six children missing, suspecting that he had left the province. Smith also told media that the man had no legal authority, whatsoever, over the children, and that police were investigating the relationship, but are still unsure if the man is the biological father to any of the children. When asked why investigators decided not to issue an Amber Alert, Smith said that there was no imminent threat as the man had made contact with authorities through email while driving through Ontario, and authorities determined that the children were safe. The relationship (the kids have) with the offender is a long relationship, they have known him their whole life, Smith said. He called one of our partner agencies to let them know he was in Ontario, and that he was caring for them at the time. Calder also told the Star that the officer found the vehicle unusual as there were so many children maybe even more than the car wouldve been able to hold. Calgary Polices Domestic Conflict Unit are now working to co-ordinate the childrens return to Alberta as soon as possible, Smith said. A 49-year-old man from Calgary is facing six counts of child abduction. Police are not releasing his name to protect the identity of the children. Read more about: SHARE: City workers who submit questionable or fraudulent claims for drugs such as erectile dysfunction medications and opioids should face termination, says Mayor John Tory in the wake of a damning audit that found millions of tax dollars are being spent on dubious claims. And I would suggest that termination (is) an appropriate kind of penalty for that sort of thing because we cannot, in a circumstance where were trustees of the publics money, allow it to (be) abused whether its for Viagra or any other drug or any other purpose whatsoever, Tory told reporters at City Hall on Wednesday. The mayors comments come after a scathing report released Tuesday by auditor Beverly Romeo-Beehler looking into potentially excessive and unusual drug claims found widespread problems with claims related to erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs Viagra and Cialis, as well as opioids including the highly addictive painkillers oxycodone and fentanyl. One expert, Dr. Meldon Kahan, medical director of the substance-use clinic at Womens College Hospital in Toronto, says hes very disturbed by the findings in the auditors report pertaining to opioids, saying the conclusions point strongly to drug abuse and drug dealing. For example, the auditors report found 16 claimants had an equivalent of two to five years supply of oxycodone in at least one year, and 32 claimants had an equivalent of 19 months to 6.7 years worth of fentanyl patches. The report also found examples of double doctoring, prescription forgery, and duplicate billing. In one case, 27 claimants were dispensed the same prescription opioid, including methadone at different pharmacies on the same days. Given the fact so many in Ontario are dying of opiate overdoses and so many are getting addicted and prescription opioids are a major cause of overdose deaths and rates of addiction ... this is a really concerning kind of report, Kahan said. For ED drugs, the report found 37 claimants were each reimbursed over $3,000 and five people were reimbursed over $5,000 last year, and that the city has no maximum coverage limit or cap for these kinds of drugs. The report recommended a cap of $500 for these drugs and says the city could save $750,000 a year by doing so. The report found the city could save an additional $185,000 by reducing dispensing fees for drugs. Last year the city spent $1.9 million covering claims for ED drugs such as Cialis and Viagra. The citys drug benefits plan is administered by Manulife, though a new company Green Shield Canada, will take over that role at the start of next year. In an emailed statement Wednesday, Anne-Julie Gratton, a Manulife spokesperson said the parameters of benefits/drugs plans are set by employers (plan sponsors) and that Manulifes role is to administer those plans. I recommend that you contact the City of Toronto directly about these questions, she said in response to the Stars queries including whether Manulife was aware of the extent of the problem surrounding the billings, whether this is a common problem for the company in other municipalities, and whether Manulife is planning to address the problem. City spokesperson Deborah Blackstone said that during the auditors probe, the city wasnt able to obtain certain information from Manulife to address questions and clarification inquiries regarding claims related data. As a result, without this additional background information, the city cannot establish to what extent the concerns raised in the Auditor Generals report may be addressed or explained, she added. But the city will meet with Manulife to address the auditors findings, she said, and the city will move to recover ineligible payments or overpayments when they are identified. The city will review its benefit plan and make changes to be more cost effective, subject to collective agreements with city unions. Regarding the erectile dysfunction drugs, Tory quipped that if there is evidence of somebody using 500 pills in a year, you know, Im happy to honour all kinds of athletes down here and I would perhaps even invite the person in for a visit. But I would say that that goes beyond what the citizens of Toronto would say (that) the taxpayers should support, the Mayor added. On Tuesday, Councillor Stephen Holyday, vice-chair of the audit committee, said the auditors report instilled a real sense of urgency in fixing the claims problems, and added this is all taxpayer money and at the end of the day its important we keep an eye on it. Kahan, the expert at Womens College, said opioid misuse is a terrible public health problem, and the auditors report suggests Manulife and the city need to beef up their oversight of claims. But its also the responsibility of physicians to prescribe more carefully, he said. Whether or not the patient is covered by a provincial drug plan or a city drug plan, or paying out of pocket, the root of the issue is that physicians need to prescribe more carefully. If the (city and Manulife) are getting claims that are suspicious or (theyre) concerned about the amount of opiates or erectile dysfunction drugs, they need to get back to the doctor and say whats going on? Kahan said. He referred to the fact that the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has a narcotics strategy for injured workers thats aimed at curbing abuse of and addiction to painkillers. For example, the program only allows prescriptions for short-acting narcotics a category that including oxycodone for a maximum of 12 weeks. The city of Torontos drugs and benefits plan is provided for under collective agreements with its unionized workers. Tim Maguire, president of Local 79, which represents the citys inside workers, says he couldnt comment on any specific drugs, but said his union has called for better screening to control costs and prevent fraud, but those calls have fallen on deaf ears at the city. In terms of the ED drugs, Kahan says he thinks its a bit of a stretch to call the drugs medicine thats important for health. The way we decide if something is important for health if it increases life span, or increases function or relieves symptoms of something, pain or emotional distress and so on. I think its a stretch to call these drugs essential medicines, I dont think they are, he added. But there are other cities that have drug plans that include Viagra and Cialis. The drugs are known to be prescribed to counteract the symptoms of impotence caused by antidepressants, for example. With a file from Jennifer Pagliaro SHARE: The Pakistan Army has mounted multiple hits along the LoC and the international border. There is massive shelling and firing by Pakistan and Indian forces are retaliating aggressively. By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan has once again provoked India by targeting various places across the LoC as well as the international border. There was massive shelling and firing by the Pakistani Army at Kathua, Heeranagar, Samba , Arnia , RS Pura and Akhnoor on International border. On the LoC, the Pakistani forces targeted Tangdhar and Poonch sector. The Indian Army too retaliated aggressively. advertisement Pakistan has reportedly suffered heavy damages across Kathua sector in Jammu after the BSF retaliated with heavy shelling and firing. Ambulances were also seen moving in Pakistan. Sources also said some villages were seen burning on the Pakistani side. INDIA RETALIATES, PAKISTAN FIRING AND SHELLING CONTINUES According to sources, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has directed the BSF to respond appropriately in case of any unprovoked firing from Pakistan, but has asked them not to fire first. Rajnath Singh has spoken to DG BSF about the current situation. DG BSF has also briefed NSA Ajit Doval on the ongoing firing at LoC. Amid ceasefire violations, Indian Army troops are bracing for an offensive by Pakistan's border action teams that may try to take revenge for surgical strikes. There was heavy shelling reported at the Sunderbani sector. The Pakistani forces reportedly threw mortal shells and fled from the spot. Villagers near the border have been asked to shift to safer places. Hiranagar (J&K): Border villagers migrate to safer places to avoid ceasefire violation by Pakistan pic.twitter.com/KqvLzbec18 ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 All border areas have been put on a high alert. (Audio Only) Heavy shelling in Rajouri (J&K) by Pakistan, exchange of fire underway. pic.twitter.com/ASB68zwBtX ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 Locals take shelter as heavy shelling in Rajouri (J&K) by Pakistan continues, exchange of fire underway. pic.twitter.com/EcszesT28G Heavy shelling and firing continues in the Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Mohammad Younis Choudhary, SHO, Rajouri said that such heavy firing from Pakistan has not happened before. He said the Indian forces are well prepared and the locals in the area have been directed to stay indoors. Earlier in the day, Pakistan declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours. Foreign Office said in a statement that the decision was conveyed to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale who was summoned to foreign ministry. Also read: Pakistan spy racket: 2 Indians arrested, embassy staff asked to leave India Another Pakistani spy working for ISI arrested in Rajasthan advertisement Pak analyst confirms India's surgical strikes, says Pakistan itself to blame Inside story of Indian Army's daring surgical strikes against Pakistan --- ENDS --- After Canadian man Shawn Ramta went missing nearly two months ago in Mexico City, his sister got a firsthand glimpse into that countrys Byzantine legal system, where, it seems, nobody wants to search for the disappeared. Sareeta Bassuta, 31, spent two-and-a-half weeks earlier this month traipsing from the Special Unit for the Search for Missing People, to the morgue, to the hospital, to the police, looking for clues to her brothers fate. There were lineups of other Mexican families crying their hearts out, saying where is my daughter, where is my son? she said. I cried and begged the police for help. But they werent sympathetic. I guess it is normal for them because there are so many missing people in Mexico. Ramtas family recently spent $6,100 for a billboard in the city centre it will go up next week offering a $72,000 reward for information and listing the telephone number of the private investigator the family has hired. Bassuta worries her brother will become one more casualty in Mexicos epidemic of forced disappearances. In the last nine years, more than 28,000 people have been forcibly disappeared in Mexico, including the 43 students, presumed dead, who made worldwide headlines after they went missing in Guerrero state in 2014. The missing by-products of the decade-long war the government has waged against the cartels that control Mexicos multibillion-dollar drug trade. Often, the reason someone is disappeared isnt clear, although in many cases local police and corrupt officials are involved. Ramta, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Brampton, travelled to Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic in late July, and then on to Mexico City, alone, on Aug. 10. He went as a tourist and to make business contacts, said Gord Ramta, his uncle. Ramtas wife, who lives in Vancouver, did not accompany him on the trip as she could not get time off work, Bassuta said. Ramta, who does not speak Spanish, owns a small trucking company. Ramta last spoke to his wife on Aug. 31, when he told her he was going to the gym. Since then, no one has been able to contact him, and calls to his cellphone have gone unanswered. Ramta did not board his Sept. 2 return flight to Toronto. At first I thought it was kidnapping for ransom but nobody ever called me, Bassuta said. So Bassuta and her uncle flew to Mexico City on Oct. 5, to try to find her brother. She went to hospitals and morgues, and gave police her DNA. She also shared identifying details about Ramta, including that he had worn braces, had his wisdom teeth pulled, and has two tattoos: a tribal band on his upper left arm and his wifes initials, SJ, on his left ring finger. I looked at bodies in morgues, and even at body parts, a finger, a foot. It was traumatizing, Bassuta said. Ramta is an experienced traveller and a body builder who doesnt smoke or take drugs, she said. In the Mexican Capital, Bassuta said she visited the condo Ramta rented through Airbnb. A Chinese tourist answered the door, and called the landlord who gave Bassuta a Nike duffel bag filled with her brothers T-shirts and boxer shorts. The bag did not contain his passport, wallet, any money, or a cellphone, she said. Using records from his credit card, Bassuta went back to the restaurants, gym, grocery store and cafe her brother had visited in Polanco, the upscale neighbourhood where he was staying that is usually considered safe. Nobody had seen him except the servers in a karaoke bar, La Chismosa. They said hed been in there on his own, and was in good spirits, Bassuta said. The Canadian Embassy in Mexico is providing consular assistance to the family, but said it cannot conduct searches for missing people. That is the responsibility of local police authorities, said a spokesperson with Global Affairs Canada. However, Consular officers may be able to liaise with local authorities in facilitating the search. Guillermo Cruz, a Toronto lawyer, says the family should consider hiring a lawyer to navigate Mexicos complex legal system, and to obtain a court order to force Mexican telecommunications providers to release Ramtas cellphone records. Offering money could put the family in a disadvantaged position, and might induce people to provide false information, noted Cruz. Cruz has assisted other Canadian families obtain information about relatives who have gone missing in Mexico. The country does not have a central DNA registry, and states do not share information about missing people or unidentified bodies with other jurisdictions. That makes searching for a loved one very challenging. Many Mexican families have formed groups that launch their own investigations. I just want to find my brother. I wont be giving up any time soon. In fact, I plan to go back down there, Bassuta said. Correction October 27, 2016: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Shawn Ramta is partner at Empire Customs, a Toronto menswear company. In fact, he was a co-founder of the company in 2011 but sold his share in 2014. Read more about: SHARE: She travelled from Iceland to Las Vegas hoping to win a crown instead, she left empowered, with a legion of fans behind her. Miss Iceland quit an international beauty pageant after being told to lose weight if she hoped for a chance to win. I decided to leave ... Miss Grand International doesnt deserve my face, body, personality or heart, Arna Yr Jonsdottir, wrote in a letter she shared on Instagram on Tuesday. Addressed to the president of the Miss Grand International Organization, Nawat Itsaragrisil, the letter said she was quitting the Las Vegas contest. Your staff told me that I had to lose weight for the finals because I have to (sic) much fat on me and also to (sic) big shoulders, wrote the 20-year-old model who has trained in gymnastics since she was 10 years old. I am a very strong woman, but sometimes my strength isnt enough. The Miss Grand Internationals website says its objective is an end to all forms of violence and hostility . . . (and) to rid the world of conflict and focus our efforts on improving the quality of life for all humanity. In an emailed statement to the Star, Itsaragrisil said Jonsdottir asked some questions to staff who replied: what they think, she may be a little bit fat and they recommended her, in a good way, to try to lose some weight in order to improve her chance to win. It is common that the contestants and staffs they exchange the opinion and asked for comments of how to improve their performance because this is beauty pageant and everyone wants to improve their chance in order to win the title, Itsaragrisil said in the email. The comments made to Jonsdottir didnt come as a shock to body image advocate Jill Andrew, co-founder of the Body Confidence Canada Awards. Im not surprised that a pageant would practise sizeism or body-based discrimination. Do I think its wrong? Of course it is, said Andrew, who started a petition called #SizeismSUCKS to make weight discrimination illegal in Ontario. We talk a lot about pageants being about empowering women . . . but, at its core, a lot of them really do reinforce very stifling body image ideals whether its about your weight, whether its about your hair texture , whether its about the colour of your skin, whether its about sexuality. Jonsdottirs stand against body shaming occurred around the same time women across Iceland left their jobs early on Oct. 24 to protest the gender wage gap in their country. The women left at 2:38 p.m. to mark the time of day after which they are essentially working for free in comparison to their male counterparts. In my country my bodyshape (sic) is perfect. And thats what Im gonna remember. No one will ever tell me anything else, wrote Jonsdottir. The year is 2016 and if you are gonna hold an international pageant you have to be able to see the international beauty. With files from Peter Edwards SHARE: SALEM, ORE.A South Korean man flown to the U.S. 37 years ago and adopted by an American couple at age 3 has been ordered deported back to a country that is completely alien to him. It is heartbreaking news, said Dae Joong (DJ) Yoon, executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, who had been in contact with Adam Crapser. Crapser remains confined in an immigration detention centre in Tacoma, Wash., pending his deportation. Crapser waived an appeal during the hearing Monday because he is desperate to get out of detention, his Seattle attorney, Lori Walls, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Im sure he doesnt have any idea what he can do in Korea, Yoon said in a phone interview from his groups offices in Annandale, Va. Crapsers plight mirrors those of thousands of others. Yoons group says an estimated 35,000 intercountry adoptees lack U. S. citizenship. It is backing legislation in Congress to address that. Seven years after Crapser and his older sister were adopted, their parents abandoned them. The foster care system separated Crapser when he was 10 from his sister. He was housed at several foster and group homes. When Crapser was 12, he moved in with Thomas and Dolly Crapser, their biological son, two other adoptees and several foster children. There, he was physically abused, Crapser has said. In 1991, the couple was arrested on charges of physical child abuse, sexual abuse and rape. They denied the charges. Thomas Crapsers sentence included 90 days in jail, and Dolly Craspers included three years of probation. Adam Crapser got into trouble with the law after he broke into his parents home it was, he said, to retrieve the Korean Bible and rubber shoes that came with him from the orphanage and later it was for stealing cars and assaulting a roommate. Federal immigration officials say they became aware of Crapser after he applied for a green card. His criminal convictions made him deportable. Becky Belcore, who was adopted at age 1 and brought to the United States from South Korea, said she was with Crapser in the courtroom, located inside the detention centre. She said the facility seems worse than jail because visitors cannot touch or hug detainees and must talk to them on a telephone. He has been in detention for almost nine months, Belcore said in a phone interview from her home in Chicago. Hes been separated from his children. It is really hard for him. Walls said Crapser is married and has four children. Belcore said Crapser was wearing what looked like hospital scrubs, the uniform for detainees, and that Immigration Judge John C. ODell appeared matter-of-fact as he announced his deportation verdict. In an email, Walls said Adam was eligible for a deportation reprieve called cancellation of removal, but the judge decided he did not deserve this relief. He will be deported as soon as Immigration and Customs Enforcement makes the necessary arrangements, Walls said. Adam, his family, and advocates are heartbroken at the outcome. Kathryn Mattingly, a spokeswoman with the Executive Office for Immigration Review of the U.S. Department of Justice, said in an email that she could not provide confirmation or details of the hearing without an alien registration number for Crapser and possibly a privacy waiver. Walls said she would seek permission from Crapser later to provide that information. Belcore said she feels lucky that her adoptive parents obtained her U.S. citizenship. A lot of times, parents simply didnt know that they were supposed to do it, she said. It seems so wrong and so inhumane for Crapser to be sent to South Korea, Belcore said. Without knowing the language and the culture, it will be so difficult to survive. Korean adoptee Adam Crapser poses with daughter, Christal, 1, in the family's living room in Vancouver, Wash. Crapser, a South Korean man who was flown to the U.S. 37 years ago and adopted by an American couple at age 3 has been ordered deported back to a country that is completely alien to him. SHARE: WASHINGTONDonald Trump may be spending most of his days inside the frantic hurricane of the presidential campaign, but inside his new hotel in Washington, calm and luxury prevail. Staff members offer impeccable service, serving Champagne to guests waiting to check in and preparing rooms with turned-down covers and bedside chocolates. Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., says hes confident the Trump International Hotel fronting Pennsylvania Avenue a few blocks from the White House will be a place for both Democrats and Republicans no matter who wins. Its not designed to be a partisan hotel, Trump Jr. said. Its a luxury hotel for all of D.C. That remains to be seen. Hundreds of people protested outside the hotel during the ribbon-cutting Wednesday. The rally started as a protest demanding that Trump recognize union representation for workers at a Las Vegas hotel, but it broadened into a larger anti-Trump event. Trump attended the ribbon-cutting, calling it a metaphor for what we can accomplish and taking precious time away from an apparently sagging campaign. He summed up the project with only a few words: under budget and ahead of schedule. And he noted the renovation and operation of the hotel had created hundreds of jobs. The Trump Organization agreed to open the hotel by 2018 and invest $200 million (U.S.) in it in a deal with the federal government, which owns the site. A Trump website describes the project as costing $200 million, so it was unclear what the under budget statement referred to. The hotel staff appears as diverse as any workforce in America despite Trumps divisive remarks about immigrants, Muslims and other ethnic groups. A note atop the Gideon Bible in every guest room states that Qurans and other holy books are available upon request, a standard amenity at luxury hotels. Trump supporter Brenda Dunaway, at the 263-room hotel with friends for lunch Wednesday, stood in the lobby beneath chandeliers and a soaring glass roof and gave her approval. Its beautiful and tastefully done, she said. I hope its a big success. Trumps inflammatory rhetoric led two celebrity chefs, Jose Andres and Geoffrey Zakarian, to back out of running restaurants in the hotel, but David Burkes Prime BLT is open in the lobby. Burke was on hand Tuesday night to chat with diners. No second restaurant has been announced. The five-star Trump International Hotel is located in an 1899 landmark, the Old Post Office, which was in disrepair when the Trump Organization won a bid from the federal government to turn it into a hotel in 2013. Nina Gardner, a consultant who lives in the area, decided to attend the protest when she heard about it Wednesday morning. Im totally against Donald Trump and his candidacy, she said. She has friends who are boycotting Ivanka Trumps clothing and jewelry line, and she predicted his campaign would end up hurting his business. Rates at Trump hotels have been falling and some residents of a Trump apartment building in New York are trying to have the name removed. But Ivanka Trump insisted all was well as she stood by her fathers side Wednesday: Our business at Trump Hotels continues to thrive. Rates start around $400 (U.S.) most nights but the cheapest rooms were over $600 for the night before Trumps visit. Suites run into the thousands. Some five-star D.C. hotels charge much more. The hotels renovation has been criticized for an excess of glitz and gold leaf signature Trump decor while covering up marble floors with carpets and walls with drapes. The Trumps defend the renovation as a mix of old and new. John Cullinane, an architect who worked on the project early on but left, had been among its critics, but declined to comment when reached by phone, saying the Trumps had sent him a letter threatening legal action. The hotels managing director, Mickael Damelincourt, said the hotels prime D.C. location and 300,000 square feet of meeting space, along with the citys largest luxury ballroom, ensures its success. He said the hotel had already hosted two weddings and board of director meetings from major corporations, but declined to identify any of the groups. A clock tower thats part of the Old Post Office has traditionally been open to the public, offering views of the city from one of the highest points in Washington. Its closed for renovations, but Donald Trump Jr. said it should be open by the end of the year and will be operated by the National Park Service. Rick Tyler, former spokesman for Trumps primary rival, Sen. Ted Cruz, said that because its in D.C., theres a layer of political consideration among potential hotel guests. But my guess is Donald Trump will lose and people will more or less forget about that, he said. Very few will make a decision about staying there based on Donald Trumps candidacy. Read more about: SHARE: KHAZER, IRAQIraqi special forces east of Mosul probed a network of underground tunnels and uncovered a bomb-making facility on Thursday in a village recently retaken from Daesh as their allies battled the militants in a push toward the city from the south. Special forces commanders said the operation was proceeding as planned, but that they were waiting for forces in the south to advance further before resuming their push toward the countrys second largest city, which fell to Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, in 2014. The operation has not been stopped and is proceeding as planned, special forces Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil said. Iraqi army Maj. Gen. Najim al-Jabori said forces south of Mosul retook the town of Staff al-Tut in the Tigris River valley the day before, and are now 35 kilometres from the city. He said local tribal and militia forces have been deployed to protect the gains while his troops regroup for their next push toward the city. The special forces, who are nine kilometres east of the city, continued cleanup operations in the village of Tob Zawa. They found a tire shop that had been converted into a factory for making roadside bombs and attaching armour to vehicles. They also found a tunnel equipped with fans and lights that ran from beneath a mosque out to a road. Iraqi forces have found extensive tunnelling networks in areas retaken from Daesh, which the militants used to elude U.S.-led coalition warplanes. Daesh has also rigged homes and other buildings with explosives to slow the troops advance. Many fear Daesh may resort to more brutal tactics as the forces converge on the city, which is still home to more than a million people. The UNs public health agency said Thursday it has trained 90 Iraqi medics in mass casualty management, with a special focus on chemical attacks. The extremist group is believed to have crude chemical weapons capabilities, and Iraqi forces say they are prepared to encounter them on the battlefield. The World Health Organization said that of the 700,000 people expected to flee Mosul, some 200,000 will require emergency health services, including more than 90,000 children needing vaccinations and 8,000 pregnant women. The International Organization for Migration says around 9,000 people have fled so far. Until now, the battles have taken place in a belt of sparsely populated farming communities around the city. The United Nations refugee agency is shipping tents, blankets and other aid from the United Arab Emirates to northern Iraq to help those affected by the military campaign. Soliman Mohamed Daud, a senior UNHCR supply officer, said that 7,000 units of the relief aid will be sent to northern Iraq starting Thursday. The Mosul offensive is the largest Iraqi military operation since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, and involves Canadian special forces, more than 25,000 Iraqi soldiers, Federal Police, Kurdish forces, Sunni tribal fighters and state-sanctioned Shiite militias. It marks the first time that Iraqs largely autonomous Kurdish region has allowed federal forces to operate in its territory since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, but the two sides remain deeply divided over the boundaries of the Kurdish region and the sharing of the countrys oil wealth. Ammar al-Hakim, the Shiite cleric who leads Iraqs largest parliamentary bloc, visited a staging area near Mosul on Thursday and held a joint press conference with Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, hailing their alliance against Daesh. Theres no doubt that this great security and military co-operation will be an important beginning and a window to address all the pending issues, al-Hakim said. The liberation of Mosul will be the beginning of a new Iraqi reality, with more co-operation. Read more about: SHARE: BUCHAREST, ROMANIAA Romanian man asked his countrys constitutional Court on Thursday to recognize his marriage to an American man, in a case that has pitted the nations conservative majority against those who want to move into the European mainstream. The court later postponed the case for a third time. Adrian Coman, a 45-year-old Romanian gay rights activist, wants the court to rule that his 2010 marriage in Belgium to U.S. citizen Claibourn Robert Hamilton, also 45, is legal in the way it would be if they were a heterosexual couple. Our values are no different from any other family in Romania, Coman said. Romania and Belgium are both members of the European Union. Romanian law allows the family of a Romanian citizen to take up residence in Romania, regardless of their nationality. But as the law stands now, Coman could marry a woman in Romania and not be found guilty of bigamy, his lawyer, Iustina Ionescu, told the court. The court later postponed making a decision for a third time after Ionescu asked it to consult with the European Court of Justice to see how other EU countries handled similar cases. A new hearing is scheduled for Nov. 29, and it is not clear if there will be a ruling then. The court first began hearing the case in July. Coman and Hamilton, a graphic designer and native of San Antonio, Texas, live in New York City and took legal action in 2012 to get their union recognized in Romania. In an unusual move, court president Valer Dorneanu on Thursday thanked Coman for his sincere remarks. Opposition to same-sex relationships is often fierce in Romania, where homosexuality was only decriminalized in 2002. Religious groups want the constitution amended to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Nearly 3 million people have signed a petition demanding a referendum to change the constitution, which currently states that marriage is a consensual act between spouses. President Klaus Iohannis recently voiced his support for same-sex couples and warned of religious fanaticism. Political leaders and some Romanians criticized his outspoken stance. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONSeeking to lash Hillary Clinton to her husbands sprawling post-presidential empire, Donald Trump accused the couple of turning to corruption to enrich themselves while in public service. Michelle Obama boosted Clinton at a North Carolina rally, meanwhile, as the candidate cheered her on. On Thursday, the GOP nominee cited newly released emails from her campaign chairmans personal account showing Doug Band, a former Bill Clinton aide, describing overlapping relationships between the Clinton Foundation and the familys private gains. Mr. Band called the arrangement unorthodox. The rest of us call it outright corrupt, said Trump at the first of three campaign rallies in Ohio. If the Clintons were willing to play this fast and loose with their enterprise when they werent in the White House, just imagine what theyll do in the Oval Office. Band wrote the 2011 memo to defend his firm, Teneo, describing how he encouraged his clients to contribute to the foundation and get consulting and speaking gigs for Bill Clinton. Some of his work included obtaining in-kind services for the president and his family for personal travel, hospitality, vacation and the like. The message was released by WikiLeaks after a hack by others of Clinton campaign chairman John Podestas private email account. I think weve had enough of the Clintons, in all fairness, Trump said. Dont you think? Band called the business, Bill Clinton Inc. a term Trump referenced to paint the family as using their public profiles for personal gain, a line of attack Republicans have long tried. The hacked emails, as well as recent news of an Obamacare premium hike, have appeared to hand Trump a pair of potent gifts in the campaigns final fortnight. But to the frustration of many in his party, Trump has struggled to stay on message, often turning to personal attacks against private citizens who he feels have wronged him, like the Gold Star family of Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim-American soldier killed in action. On Thursday morning, Trump told ABC News that had he been president during the Iraq War, Khan would still be alive. Honestly, I dont understand how anyone would want to rub salt in the wounds of a grieving family, Clinton told thousands of supporters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she was campaigning with Michelle Obama, marking the first joint appearance for the two first ladies on the campaign trail. Mrs. Obamas emotional take-downs of Trump have become a key part of Clintons effort to fire up women, particularly black women for whom the first lady is a model and a source of pride. Mrs. Obama offered an impassioned tribute to Clinton, praising her as the most prepared candidate for the presidency ever, adding: Yes, more than Barack, more than Bill. The women were unveiling a new $500 million (U.S.) policy plan aimed at reducing bullying. The Clinton campaign said her policy would provide funding to states that develop comprehensive anti-bullying efforts. It would be paid for through Clintons proposed tax increases on the wealthy. Mrs. Obama also accused Trumps campaign of trying to depress voter turnout by deriding the election as rigged. She told supporters that presidential races are decided on a razors edge. If Hillary doesnt win this election, that will be on us, she said. With a steady lead in the race for weeks, Clintons campaign is concerned that her advantage could prompt some of her backers to stay home on Election Day or cast protest votes for a third-party candidate. A new Associated Press-GfK poll released Wednesday found Clinton on the cusp of a potentially commanding victory, fuelled by solid Democratic turnout in early voting, massive operational advantages and increasing enthusiasm among her supporters. The survey shows her leading Trump nationally by a staggering 14 percentage points among likely voters, 51-37. That margin is the largest national lead for Clinton among recent surveys. But other polls generally have shown her ahead of Trump for the past several weeks. The presidential candidates and dozens of outside groups involved in the race are also due to file their final major fundraising reports before Election Day. These documents will show fundraising and spending between Oct. 1 and Oct. 19 giving a sense of what resources each side had available as the campaign entered its frantic final stretch. MORE ON THESTAR.COM Leaked emails reveal Clinton campaigns fears about Bernie Sanders Trumps campaign has become a litany of complaints Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama make a striking political odd couple Donald Trump said he has opposed Obamacare since before they even voted on it. That is a lie. Read more about: SHARE: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIATwo Eritrean pilots have defected with their fighter jets to neighbouring Ethiopia, an Eritrean opposition group confirmed Thursday, in a dramatic exit from one of the worlds most closed-off states. The two pilots flew their small-sized fighter jets to Mekelle on Wednesday morning, Nasredin Ahmed Ali, spokesman for the Ethiopia-based Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization, told The Associated Press. The spokesman identified the pilots as Afeworki Fisehaye and Mebrahtu Tesfamariam and described them as being very experienced with Eritreas air force. He said Ethiopian fighter jets accompanied them upon their entry into the countrys air space. One witness, Abiy Chelkeba, a lecturer at Mekelle University, said Ethiopian jets were flying very low and conducting unusual turns in the northern city Wednesday morning. Local media also reported the defection. An Eritrean official based in Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa, said he was not aware of the defections. Ethiopias government spokesman, Getachew Reda, declined to comment. This is the first time Eritrean pilots have defected to Ethiopia with their jets, but there have been reports of the East African countrys pilots defecting to Saudi Arabia since 2012. Eritreans are one of the largest groups trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, with the UN saying more than 47,000 applied for asylum there in 2015. Eritreas government has been under criticism for what a UN commission of inquiry has said are numerous abuses including enslavement, rape and torture. President Isaias Afwerki, in power since 1991, is described by rights groups as increasingly repressive in the country of about 6 million. Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a border war between 1998 and 2000 that killed tens of thousands of people. Border skirmishes occur often, and the two countries have not had diplomatic ties since 1998. Pilots have used their fighter jets to make high-profile defections in other parts of the world, notably during the Cold War. One North Korean pilot, No Kum Sok, left during a training mission in 1953 and landed at a U.S. military base in South Korea. SHARE: Americas top intelligence official echoed what many U.S. experts have long argued when he said this week there was little chance North Korea would agree to shut down its nuclear weapons program. The surprise, though, was that National Intelligence Director James Clapper had made the statement publicly, staking out a position contrary to the White Houses and wading into policy questions. To hear the head of the intelligence community say that the North Koreans are not going to give up their nuclear weapons, hes just telling us what everyone already knows, said Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum CSIS, a Honolulu-based foreign policy research institute, and a longtime Asia security analyst with the U.S. military. But when Clapper said that it was probably a lost cause to convince the North Koreans to abandon their nuclear program as opposed to presenting a carefully measured analysis of the current situation he was going beyond the normal role of an intelligence official. Intel guys are supposed to tell you what they assess of the world, but are supposed to steer clear of talking about policy, Cossa said. If you want to talk about policy, you retire first. Only Clapper knows why he made the statement Tuesday during a question-and-answer session following a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Some observers believe he may have simply misspoken accidentally telling the truth in a wide-ranging discussion. Others wondered if it could be a way to tell Beijing it needs to ramp up enforcement of international sanctions on North Korea. Still others saw a signal to Pyongyang about a possible change in U.S. policy. Or, maybe, it was about the upcoming presidential election, and Clapper was telling the next U.S. president that things need to change. He only has to toe the party line for the next three months, said John Raines, head of political risk at the international analysis firm IHS Markit. Perhaps he decided he could say something he felt was important. North Korea, for its part, insists it will never give up its nuclear weapons, declaring itself a nuclear state in its 2012 constitution. One of the governments key policies, byungjin, calls for developing a nuclear arsenal even as it builds its domestic economy. Pyongyang regularly tosses around atomic threats, warning recently that if it detected any sign of aggression it would reduce Seoul and Washington to a heap of ashes through a Korean-style pre-emptive nuclear strike. North Koreas leader, Kim Jong Un, appears to see nuclear weapons as a guarantee of his own survival that no country will attack him if hes able to respond with such force. He has ordered a dramatic increase in nuclear and missile tests since coming to power in 2011, and particularly over the past year, increasing both the strength of the Norths nuclear blasts and the range of its missiles. North Korea may already have nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting U.S. military bases in the Pacific, and analysts increasingly believe it could have the ability to strike the western United States in less than five years. Washington has long insisted it will not accept a nuclear-armed North Korea, and officials reiterated that after Clappers comments, saying there had been no policy changes. A string of U.S. administrations have demanded that North Korea denuclearize, but aid-for-disarmament talks have been stalled for years, and sanctions have failed to slow Pyongyangs weapons programs. Looking at the ways that Kim Jong Un has spoken of the North Korean nuclear program, its clearly not something he wants to trade away, said Andrea Berger, a proliferation expert at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based security research centre. They actually may never sell their nuclear program at any price. What they may be willing to accept, she said, is some sort of limits on their program, a possibility Clapper also mentioned. The best we could probably hope for is some sort of cap, Clapper said. But theyre not going to do that just because we ask them. Theres going to have to be some significant inducements. Those inducements could be carrots, sticks or some sort of combination, anything from multibillion-dollar aid packages to the threat of tightened sanctions. The U.S. has long opposed negotiating a cap on Pyongyangs nuclear program, fearing it would be a tacit acknowledgement of North Korea as a nuclear weapons state, and would reflect a failure of years of American policy. We need to get to the table to figure out what the incentives are that are going to change the North Korean posture, said Dennis Wilder, a professor at Georgetown University and former official with the CIA and the National Security Council. Wilder called efforts to get China to tighten sanctions on North Korea one of the most important challenges of the next U.S. administration. Until theres a new U.S. president, though, its unlikely anything will change between Washington and Pyongyang. Right now were kind of stuck on our narrative and theyre kind of stuck on theirs, Clapper said after his speech. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONDonald Trumps presidential campaign hasnt exactly enhanced his brand. Over the last year, bookings for Trump hotels in New York, Las Vegas and Chicago plummeted 58 per cent. Foot traffic to Trump properties fell 17 per cent year-over-year in March, April and June. The National Hispanic Media Coalition asked businesses in July to cut ties with the Republican presidential nominee. Protesters cried boycott outside the Wednesday grand opening of the new Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. But his eldest daughters retail ventures appeared to dodge the ire until the conversation shifted to his treatment of women. Now thousands of social media users are urging others to avoid stores that carry her namesake goods. Even some shoppers who havent seen the hashtags #GrabYourWallet, #BoycottIvanka say theyre spurning her office-wear. I just dont want that name in my closet, explained 31-year-old graphic designer Jessie Newman, as she shopped at T.J. Maxx in Washington, D.C. Ivanka Trump, 34, has painted herself a champion of breadwinning mothers and harnessed Trumps White House bid to buoy that image. As she rallied to close the gender pay gap during her speech at the Republican National Convention in July, she sported one of her own designs, a $157 (US) pink dress. The next morning, she linked to the look on Twitter. This pairing of business and politics seemed to initially pay off. Google searches for her clothing brand spiked in the hours after her RNC debut and soared again following a September stump speech, in which she helped unveil the GOP nominees child-care plan. Then the Washington Post published a 2005 tape on Oct. 7, showing Trump bragging about kissing and grabbing women without their permission. Ivanka continued to support her dad after the White House labelled such behaviour sexual assault, after 11 women accused the candidate of making unwanted advances on them, and after Trump suggested the accusers werent attractive enough for him to pursue. My fathers comments were clearly inappropriate and offensive, she said of the 2005 tape in an interview with Fast Company magazine, and Im glad that he acknowledged this fact with an immediate apology to my family and the American people. That wasnt good enough for Shannon Coulter, 45, who runs a marketing firm near San Francisco. A male boss had groped her once. Trumps remarks reminded her of the pain. She puts womens empowerment at the centre of her brand, she said, and is still campaigning for someone who is an alleged serial assaulter. Coulter shared her thoughts with the Internet, and they sparked a trend that, by Wednesday, had reached the feeds of more than two million Twitter accounts: Boycott Ivanka. Ivanka Trump clothing generated roughly $100 million in revenue last fiscal year, according to G-III, the contractor that produces her apparel. Its too early to tell if the web call to reject her goods has hit her bottom line. Surveys suggest consumers have mixed feelings. A Brand Keys survey of 950 millennial women, taken a week after the 2005 video was released, found that 51 per cent of respondents were extremely or very willing to buy her office-wear. Ivankas brand does not appear to have suffered the same fate as her fathers, said Brand Keys President Robert Passikoff in a written statement. There may be an I Hate All Things Trump backlash going on at the moment, but as it regards Ivanka, were estimating that it will be relatively small and short-term. But in a national survey of 1,983 voters, conducted last week by polling firm Morning Consult, 57 per cent of women said they would not purchase clothing from Ivankas namesake line, while less than a quarter said they would. The moguls presidential run made 35 per cent of the survey respondents much less likely to buy or use a Trump-related product. Another 4 per cent are somewhat less likely. Seventeen per cent, meanwhile, said they are much more or somewhat more likely to buy or use Trump products in light of the campaign. That does not bode well for Ivankas clothing line. Brands are affected by what theyre associated with, said marketing strategist Karen Leland, author of The Brand Mapping Strategy, And most people who shop for womens clothing are women. Some shoppers, she said, appear to be associating Trump with casual disrespect toward women. Leland recalls shopping recently with a friend in New York who snatched a blouse out of her hand. I didnt realize what I was holding, she said, but my friend says, Thats Ivanka. Youre not allowed to buy that. On Wednesday afternoon, three blocks from Trumps new hotel in the nations capital, Candace Steele, 34, browsed through blouses at T.J. Maxx. She touched a black Ivanka Trump top with white butterflies, on sale for $19.99. I just cant do it, she said. I cant bring myself to buy it. Steele, who identifies as Republican and an undecided voter, saw nothing wrong with the shirt itself. She doesnt dislike Ivanka, either. I know she cant control her dad but ... she trailed off. Ivankas in a hard position. Read more about: SHARE: One of the three arrested, a Pakistani embassy staffer, has been released due to diplomatic immunity. By Chirag Gothi, Shivendra Srivastava: A Pakistan High Commission official was questioned and two Indian nationals were arrested on alleged espionage charges and working for the Pakistani intelligence agency, the ISI. Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistan official in the High Commission, was briefly detained at Chanakyapuri police station and later let off because of diplomatic immunity. He has been asked to leave India immediately. advertisement However, the two Indians, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Rajasthan, were still being questioned for working with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The arrests were made late Wednesday night by the interstate cell Crime Branch following a tip off from the Intelligence Bureau, sources said. READ: 46 arrested since 2013: Timeline of Pakistan's spy game in India THE TWO INDIAN SPIES The two Indians arrested today in Rajasthan are accused of leaking defence secrets to the Pakistani High Commission. The two are Maulana Ramzan Khan and Subhash Jangir, both from Nagore in Rajasthan. Khan is a preacher in a local mosque and is suspected of luring locals for espionage. Jangir is a small-time businessman and is reported to be having financial difficulties. Pak High Commission official Mehmood Akhtar, who was detained by Delhi Police crime branch over espionage charges, carried fake Aadhaar card pic.twitter.com/4QDJG7kwWE ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 This racket, believed to be active for the last 18 months, used to pass information to Akhtar, for which they were paid handsomely. The Delhi Police said they had the information that the duo will come to a place near the zoo in Delhi, following which the three were nabbed on Wednesday. What was recovered? The Delhi Police said they have recovered maps of defence establishments, visa and other sensitive documents from the trio. A list of Border Security Force officers posted along side the Indian border with Pakistan has also been found. Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir HOW THE SPY RING WORKS FROM PAKISTAN HIGH COMMISSION ISI first recruited Mehmood Akhtar two-and-a-half years ago when he retired from the post of a hawaldaar in Pakistan army. Akhtar was sent to India to be posted at the Pakistan High Commission as a visa officer. He later started contacting those who used to come to the High Commission to get visa for Pakistan. After a long conversation, he used to target those who could work for him or the ISI. Akhtar used to give them money to get the documents of defence establishment. For months, Indian SIM cards were used by these agents to get in touch with Pakistan's ISI. Mahmood used documents necessary for being considered an Indian citizen to get these SIM cards. He was using those documents submitted at the High Commission to get through the visa process. advertisement Sources say Mahmood also exploited Indian women on the pretext of giving them jobs. ISI HAS SUFFICIENT DATA ON INDIA'S DEFENCE ESTABLISHMENTS After targeting northern India, Pakistan is now focusing on attacking India's western border. ISI now has substantial data related to all important defence establishments in Rajasthan and Gujarat. After trying for months, ISI has managed to get data of officers posted in these two states. PAK EMBASSY STAFF ASKED TO LEAVE INDIA India has asked the Pakistan High Commission staffer to leave the country immediately over his alleged involvement in a major espionage ring that was busted with the arrest of two Indians working for the ISI. Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted that Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit "to convey that (a) Pakistan High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities". Basit was summoned after Delhi Police said they detained the embassy official, Mehmood Akhtar, for questioning after he was found working for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and obtaining secret Indian defense related information for Pakistan's spy agency. advertisement This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India. Last year, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested. --- ENDS --- A two-year study of police traffic stops in Ottawa has revealed to no ones surprise that cops in the nations capital disproportionately pull over Middle Eastern and black drivers. Since police across Canada are being exposed for similar practices, their hollow excuses about a few bad apples are becoming less effective. Instead, our police increasingly argue that prejudiced police behaviour is well-intentioned, and therefore cannot be labelled as racist. Ottawa police chief Charles Bordeleau is using this strategy to shield his officers from accountability. Bordeleau has explained the targeting of Middle Eastern and black drivers by saying, residents want us to be visible and active in areas with high crime or social disorder issues and to respond to violent crimes, shootings and gang activity. Someone should tell the chief that racism refers to systemic, unfair outcomes for racialized people whatever police may believe about good intentions and colour-blindness, they are still abusing us. If a colleague at the Star steps on my foot every time he passes me in the hallway, it hurts. It doesnt matter if my colleague insists he never sees me standing there, or argues that he has to pass my desk to reach his own. What matters is that my toes are broken. Bordeleau is asking Middle Eastern and black residents not only to accept the damage of racist profiling, but to forgive the officers who repeatedly trample their Charter rights, particularly the right to drive Ottawas streets without being pulled over for the non-offense of being in a high crime or social disorder zone. Middle Eastern people in Ottawa are less than 4 per cent of the driving population, but they accounted for 12.3 per cent of the total stops by police in the York University study. Police stopped black motorists, who also represent less than 4 per cent of all drivers, 8.8 per cent of the time. Contrary to Bordeleaus fear-mongering about high criminal activity, police themselves recorded provincial and municipal offences as the reason for 97 per cent of all stops. Bordeleaus argument and that of police forces across Canada who engage in racist profiling is that police should stop drivers, especially racialized drivers, for non-criminal offences because they might uncover crime in the process. This explains why police forces have been so reluctant to abandon carding, the practice of stopping and documenting civilians who are not suspected of a crime. Bordeleau says local residents expect police to pull people over, but stops short of the obvious: white residents expect police to target poor and racialized people, and their chief is listening. I dont expect Bordeleau to acknowledge systemic racism in policing. He didnt acknowledge it in July, when police laid a vicious beating on Abdirahman Abdi, a 37-year-old Somali immigrant who died at the hands of Ottawa officers. He didnt acknowledge it in September, after Ottawa sergeant Chris Hrnchiar commented on the death of renowned Inuk artist Annie Pootoogook, who was found in the Rideau river, by saying that much of the Aboriginal population in Canada is just satisfied being alcohol or drug abusers. Hell, the police only participated in the York study because they were forced to do so. In 2005, Ottawa resident Chad Aiken, who was 18 at the time, was stopped by police while driving his mothers Mercedes Benz. Aiken, who is black, says an officer, who was never identified or charged, pulled him over for no reason and punched him in the chest. Police agreed to the York study as part of a settlement with Aiken but, 11 years on, Bordeleau and friends continue both their racist profiling and their denials of reality. The denial is so deep that it affected officers participation in the study. Several police told the Ottawa Citizen they were recording that they did not perceive the race of the individuals they were stopping. The officers explained they were afraid of being labelled as racist, as the study makes no room for them to explain why they keep targeting racialized people. Police need to justify their disproportionate, systemic violence against racialized people because they have no intention of stopping it. They could just quit trampling us, but they would rather continue the abuse and call it an accident or, worse, pretend they dont even realize they keep doing it to us. All the excuses are a waste of breath we know racism every time we are stepped on, and were so tired of hearing about the good hearts of our aggressors. Desmond Cole is a Toronto-based journalist. His column appears every second Thursday. Read more about: SHARE: Re: Stand Up For Bozo, Editorial, Oct. 23 Stand Up For Bozo, Editorial, Oct. 23 In speaking up for clowns, the latest new minority facing hostility, fear and discrimination, your editorial states that the so-called creepy clown epidemic started in South Carolina and has spread everywhere. This is not quite true. In fact, this latest epidemic of naughty clown incidents is not new, but could be actually considered copy-cat acts. The first case of a person dressed up as a clown and scaring the daylights out of people and causing panic occurred on Nov. 4, 1992 in New York City and was caught on film. The recorded incident clearly shows that the suspect, later identified as Joe Davola, aka Crazy Joe Davola, dressed up as a clown resembling Canios character from the Italian opera Pagliacci. He threatened and chased four local residents who were standing in line to see the opera by Ruggero Leoncavallo. In this 1992 case, no arrest has ever been made. So for ongoing safety reasons, the four victims have maintained their wish to remain anonymous because Crazy Joe is still on the loose. It seems that Mr. Davola becomes profoundly distressed and unhinged whenever the aria by Canio is performed. David Honigsberg, Toronto Clown costumes are getting a bad rap, especially when Canadian Tire decided to remove these from all their stores. Our society has gotten out of control and now Halloween is at risk. Has anyone looked at some of these gruesome, scary and in-your-face masks or outfits that are sold at hundreds of stores? And you can get these same products online rather easily. We organize Torontos Halloween run called Monster Dash and were actually offering the first 10 clowns who show up on site free race entries! Peter Donato, founder, www.goodtimesrunning.ca Enough with the bad/evil clowns, but taking all clown costumes off the shelves is just too much. The bad acts of a few idiots pretending to be clowns should not diminish all the good work good clowns do. A fine example is Doo-Doo The Clown, a fantastic entertainer and humanitarian. A number of people are afraid of clowns, but a number of people are also afraid of politicians and nobody is calling for their masks to be banned. If everyone was not afraid of anything, what a boring world it would be. As a retired politician and lawyer, I am surprised no one has gone to court to ban clowns and/or politicians. Joel Hertz, Toronto After reading your front page story on potentially offensive Halloween costumes, I struggled to come up with a new costume that wouldnt offend anyone. I decided to go with the old tried and true white sheet-ghost costume but, then I thought, would that be making fun of the corporeally challenged? Paul Day, Brockville SHARE: Re: Chippewas of the Thames protest pipeline, Oct. 20 Chippewas of the Thames protest pipeline, Oct. 20 The case that the Chippewas of the Thames is taking to the Supreme Court of Canada strikes at the heart and soul of this countrys relationship with the indigenous people and their rights and the government of Canadas duty to consult. This also applies to the Clyde River appeal. I am also so very grateful to the indigenous people who are courageously acting to protect the water, the air, the land and present and future generations. They need and deserve our support and solidarity. I hope many people will donate to this extremely important legal case. Miriam Garfinkle, Toronto SHARE: Re: Bank of Canada downgrades outlook, Oct. 20 Bank of Canada downgrades outlook, Oct. 20 I would ask Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz: Do you think money is worth money? Do you think money should make money? If both answers are yes, then I would ask another question: Why is it that money I deposited in a bank savings account because my main financial objective is to preserve capital makes practically no money? Jaime Oksemberg, Toronto The Bank of Canada governor didnt know quite where we were last quarter when we were there. The governor isnt sure where we are in this quarter when were here. The governor sees continuing stagnation into the indefinite future. He is confident that the right thing to do is nothing. Thats why he gets the big bucks. C. R. (Ray) Luft, Mississauga SHARE: Re: Courts left scrambling under new rules to limit trial delays, Oct. 17 Courts left scrambling under new rules to limit trial delays, Oct. 17 Defence counsel Daniel Brown hit the nail on the head when talking about the causes of trial delay: a shortage of judges and crowns, lack of court space and delayed disclosure. We have been raising the alarm on the under-resourcing of the crowns offices for many years. It has long been apparent that a crisis was inevitable. Anyone working in the criminal justice system could see Jordan coming and yet the government did nothing with respect to this key reasons behind it. In fact, theyve done quite the opposite. In the last few years, the government has effectively reduced the number of assistant crown attorneys in trial offices across the province. We estimate that there are at least 6,000 cases in Ontario that sit at the Supreme Courts benchmark of 18 months. In trial offices across the province there are hundreds of matters set for trial that sit unassigned because there are no available prosecutors. This is truly a crisis and yet there has been no meaningful response from the government. The attorney generals most recent mandate letter doesnt even address it. It is also critical for the public to understand that the problems run much deeper than trial delay. They are also related to the ability to assess, prepare and prosecute cases properly. It is about full and fair service to victims, to accused persons, their counsel, the courts, police and the public. All deserve our full time and attention. The criminal prosecutors of this province are extremely dedicated public servants, deeply committed to the principles of public safety and the proper administration of criminal justice. But there are not enough of us. Criminal prosecutions have become increasingly complex and take much longer to prosecute. Yet the numbers of prosecutors in the trial offices has decreased. Increasingly we are concerned that we will be unable to comply with our professional obligations and duties to the public we serve. The Ministry of the Attorney General spokesperson says they are taking several steps to reduce delay. Certainly, where effective efficiencies can properly be made, we welcome them. However, those steps will be mere band-aids if the government does not take meaningful, significant and immediate steps to increase the number of assistant crown attorneys in Ontario. Kate Matthews, president, Ontario Crown Attorneys Association SHARE: German car maker Volkswagen (VLKAF) (VLKAY) (VLKPF) (VLKPY) on Thursday downplayed the significance of outstanding litigation in both the U.S. and Europe by setting aside a relatively light 400 million ($437 million) in additional charges for compensation and other special items. But, although the new sum takes the total set aside for the cheat-technology scandal to 18.2 billion so far, the group was able to point to higher sales worldwide and a positive outlook for almost all its brands. Volkswagen was up 0.44% by late morning in Frankfurt at 134.40 Revenue in the third quarter was 52.0 billion, up 1% from 51.5 billion in the same quarter last year, while sales for the year so far were barely down on January to September 2015, at 159.9 billion compared with 160.3 billion. Earnings per share were 4.54, a few cents shy of analysts' estimates of 4.60, according to Market Watch. The company also changed guidance for the full year, saying sales would match last year's total. Previous guidance had been for a decline of up to 5% for 2016 compared with 2015. "The figures for the first three quarters show the operational strength of the alliance of brands in the Volkswagen Group", said management board chairman Matthias Muller. Overall, the group said operating profit before special items was up 1.1 billion in the first nine months to 11.3 billion, excluding Chinese joint ventures. After one-time items, operating profit for the period was still 8.8 billion compared with 3.3 billion a year ago. Profit after tax for the first nine months was 5.9 billion. Although Volkswagen passenger cars - - the group's core business - - fell just short of 2015 levels for the first nine months, Audi, Porsche (POAHF) (POAHY) , Bentley and the mass-market Skoda and Seat marques all showed increases, as did sales of the Scania and MAN commercial vehicle brands. Total vehicle deliveries were up 4.2% in the third quarter at 2.5 million units and 2.4% in the first nine months at 7.6 million units. A day before ExxonMobil (XOM) is set to report earnings, the oil giant announced Thursday, Oct. 27, that it has discovered between 500 million and 1 billion barrels of oil in the Owowo field in offshore Nigeria. The company described the find as a "significant discovery" but Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov tells TheStreet that 500 million to 1 billion barrels is a "fairly normal" discovery for offshore. Also, investors should be warned that it will be three years before these oil discoveries will be developed, according to Molchanov, and because this is Nigeria, where militant groups have undertaken violent sabotage campaigns on oil and gas operations this year, that development timetable might be stretched even more. Moreover, Nigeria continues to be one of the most expensive place to produce oil. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that at $28.99 per barrel, Nigeria had the third highest cost of oil production behind only Brazil ($34.99) and the United Kingdom ($44.33). Developing these reserves could be even less enticing from an economic standpoint if political unrest continues in the country, Molchanov said. Not to mention this is an offshore discovery, where costs to drill and produce are significantly higher than in onshore oilfields, as are the breakeven prices. Exxon holds a 27% interest in, and is the operator of, the discovery, with stakes also held by affiliates of Chevron (CVX) (27%) and France's Total (TOT) (18%), along with a Nigerian affiliate of Canada's Nexen Energy (18%) and state-owned Nigeria Petroleum (10%). "We are encouraged by the results and will work with our partners and the government on future development plans," ExxonMobil Exploration president Stephen M. Greenlee said in the statement. The Owowo-3 well, which was spud on Sept. 23, according to Exxon, encountered about 460 feet of oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. Owowo-3 extends the resource discovered by the Owowo-2 well, which encountered about 515 feet of oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. Owowo-3 was drilled to 10,410 feet in 1,890 feet of water, according to Exxon, which said the Owowo field spans portions of the contract areas of Oil Prospecting License 223 (OPL 223) and Oil Mining License 139 (OML 139). The well was drilled by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria and proved additional resource in deeper reservoirs, the company said. ExxonMobil's shares were up slightly on the news midday Thursday, while Chevron's shares were down a fraction of a percent from their position prior to the announcement. In the wake of continued challenges faced by some so-called peers of HCA Holdings (HCA) , the hospital and surgery center operator is selling its Oklahoma facilities back to its state university partner for $750 million while also posting third-quarter results that may offer some support to the whole healthcare services group. Nashville-based HCA has reached an agreement with the University Hospitals Authority Trust for the early termination of HCA's lease of The Children's Hospital at Oklahoma University Medical Center and an associated joint operating agreement. In connection with the deal, HCA will transfer the operations of its hospital operations in Oklahomaincluding Oklahoma University Medical Center and OUMC Edmondto an affiliate of University Hospitals Authority Trust. The health services company will receive $750 million in connection with the agreement, which was announced late Wednesday before the Nashville company posted its third-quarter results. HCA reported revenue just short of analyst expectations at $10.27 billion, up from $9.86 billion from the same period a year ago, while adjusted Ebitda grew to $1.96 billion, from $1.82 billion, topping analysts estimates. The move to exit Oklahoma reiterates that the bulk of HCA's strategy is based on maintaining a heavy presence if not dominance in the markets in which it plays, Brian Tanquilut of Jefferies LLC said Thursday by phone. "HCA is industry leading in terms of their performance," Tanquilut said. "They have the flexibility to invest in growth, whereas the other guys have kind of been hampered." RBC Capital Markets' Frank Morgan described the Oklahoma transaction as an economic decision, explaining that based upon terms of the lease structure, they couldn't make the desired capital investment to justify staying in the market. From a valuation perspective, HCA also looks to have fared well from the Oklahoma sale. "HCA did easily what other peers seem to be having trouble with: selling an asset for a nice multiple and a good amount of cash," wrote Sheryl Skolnick of Mizuho Securities USA in a report. According to American Hospital Directory data, the company's Oklahoma operations had about $104 million in Ebitda before restructuring or rent costs, implying a 7.2 times multiple on year-old data, the analyst noted, adding that it might translate to an even higher multiple of Ebitda. "We would caution investors to read anything through to other hospital companies' pending asset sales though: this was clearly a special case, given the OU relationship and the fact that HCA ran the operations." HCA's Oklahoma transaction and what were arguably solid results given a challenging environment come as troubled rural hospital operator Community Health Systems (CYH) disappointed investors with preliminary third-quarter results that raised concerns about its ability to remain in compliance with its debt covenants. The company lost nearly 50% of its value Thursday afternoon, tumbling to about $5.08. The Louisville, Ky.-based company is trying to sell a dozen hospitals while carrying out a strategic review that involves discussions with financial buyers around the rest of its business. Still, Community Health is largely an animal of its own, and separately, HCA's performance is widely viewed as an industry bellwether to the entire healthcare services industry, Tanquilut noted. "Frankly, HCA's numbers give a little bit of support to the group," he said, noting volume concerns across the healthcare provider universe. "We see HCA's valuation as appropriately moving away from the pack as the market segments those who can and those who can't run hospitals," Skolnick added. Shares of HCA added less than 1%, to $79.70 a piece, Thursday afternoon, joined by Universal Health Services (UHS) , whose shares climbed about 2.9%, to $122.59. Tenet Healthcare (THC) shares fell 3.8%, to $20.77, LifePoint Health (LPNT) shares dropped 4.3%, to $57.30, and Quorum Health (QHC) shares stumbled 7.6%, to $4.38. The Delhi Police crime branch detained a staffer of the Pakistan high commission and arrested two Indians for spying and stealing defense-related documents. The police said honey traps and handsome money used to lure Indians. Subhash Jangir (left) and Maulana Ramzan, who were arrested for alleged espionage activities, at Delhi Police headquarters on Thursday. By Ajit Kumar Dubey, Shashank Shekhar: Female partners, handsome money and expensive gifts: these were the tools used by a ring of Pakistani spies to lure Indian defense personnel and extract sensitive details about deployment of forces. The multiple ISI modules running across the country have their headquarters inside the safe confines of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi. advertisement The revelations emerged after the Delhi Police crime branch detained a Pakistan embassy staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar and arrested two Rajasthan residents over allegations of spying and stealing defense-related documents. Crime branch sleuths are also probing the role of two Delhi-based women, who were "too friendly" with Akhtar. Officials are trying to establish if they were used to gather defense-related classified information. Two Pakistan high commission (in picture) staffers were asked to leave in 48 hours Also Read | Pakistan spy racket: 2 Indians arrested, embassy staff asked to leave India SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS RECOVERED FROM AKHTAR Akhtar was declared "persona nongrata" for espionage activities and asked to leave India. But, Pakistan cried foul, saying Akhtar was not involved in any espionage activity. However, cops have recovered sensitive documents from Akhtar's possession including a fake Aadhaar card. According to a senior police officer, ISI operatives were using women to lay honey traps for defense personnel. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and crime branch are now scanning the operations of directorate of defense forces and paramilitary forces as they are the ones who handle sensitive information about exact deployment and movement of soldiers across the frontiers. Also Read | 46 arrested since 2013: Timeline of Pakistan's spy game in India HONEY TRAPS USED TO LURE INDIAN OFFICERS Even in the past, the ISI has used honey traps to lure Indian officers. In December last year, Indian Air Force (IAF) officer Ranjith KK was arrested from Punjab's Bathinda city as he allegedly passed on secret information to a honey trap set by the Pakistani agency. The spies had created a fake profile in the name of Damini McNaught, who claimed to be an executive of a UKbased media firm. McNaught claimed that she required IAF-related information for an article she was writing for a news magazine. The role of several defence and BSF personnel is under the scanner over suspicions of having leaked sensitive documents to the two arrested men, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Nagaur in Rajasthan. Shoaib, a Jodhpur-based passport agent allegedly involved in the espionage racket, was detained near his home town this evening, police said. advertisement Akhtar was strategically posted at the visa department of the high commission so that he could cultivate possible recruits. The two women and those arrested from Rajasthan came in touch with Akhtar when they approached the Pakistan embassy for visa. His main job was to spread his tentacles in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Also Read: Another Pakistani spy working for ISI arrested in Rajasthan AKHTAR TRAINED BY ISI THREE YEARS AGO "Akhtar was an important asset of the ISI as he was a havildar in the 40 Baluch Regiment of the Pakistan army. He was recruited and trained by the ISI three years ago," said an officer. Akhtar trapped poor and needy people to work for the ISI by promising them money and easy access in Pakistan. The Indians were deployed to gather secret information about the movement of Indian forces. Akhtar would meet the spies at some public place once a month and pay them a minimum of Rs 30,000 for each piece of information. MORE STAFF FROM THE PAKISTAN EMBASSY INVOLVED? advertisement A senior officer said they have found the involvement of at least 10 other staffers of the embassy, but since they have not been caught redhanded criminal action against them have not been initiated. But the ministry of external affairs has been informed about the conduct of the other people. "Technical surveillance and physical shadowing was used for several months to track Akhtar's movements. Though he had been cultivating sources for a long time and meeting them at public places in Delhi this was the only second time that he was exchanging bundles of documents near Delhi zoo," said Delhi Police officials. On being arrested, Akhtar said he was an Indian citizen and showed an Aadhaar card bearing a Chandni Chowk address. When probed further, he claimed he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. Police then contacted the foreign ministry and Pakistani officials identified him. Cops found information related to the deployment of the Indian Army and BSF in border areas. Akhtar had maps of BSF movement in his possession. He also had visa papers and money transfer documents. Also Read: Exclusive: Crime Branch probing role of two mysterious women in ISI spy ring advertisement Inside story of Indian Army's daring surgical strikes against Pakistan --- ENDS --- LABOR Jobless claims drop in a first in 3 weeks Filings for jobless benefits fell for the first time in three weeks, staying near a four-decade low as employers remain unwilling to part with workers. Jobless claims declined by 3,000 to 258,000 in the week ended Oct. 22, a Labor Department report showed Thursday in Washington. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey called for 256,000. Continuing claims dropped to the lowest level since June 2000. With the job market improving and the unemployment rate holding at or below 5 percent this year, fewer skilled candidates are available for openings, prompting managers to hold on to their staffers. Filings have been below 300,000 for 86 straight weeks the longest streak since 1970 and a level typical for a healthy labor market. Estimates in the Bloomberg News survey ranged from 245,000 to 270,000. The Labor Department revised the prior weeks reading to 261,000 from an initially reported 260,000. The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, increased to 253,000 from 252,000 in the prior week. The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits dropped by 15,000 to 2.04 million in the week ended Oct. 15. The unemployment rate among people eligible for benefits held at 1.5 percent. These data are reported with a one-week lag. No states had estimated claims last week, and there was nothing unusual in the data, according to the Labor Department. Though applications for unemployment insurance are near historical lows, there are other factors that have pushed claims down, including cuts in the duration of benefits and changes to claim-filing technology. Bloomberg News TECHNOLOGY Google parent revenue rises by 20.2 percent Google parent Alphabet Inc. reported a 20.2 percent rise in quarterly revenue on Thursday, helped by robust sales of advertising on mobile devices and YouTube, and the search giant said it would repurchase about $7 billion of its Class C stock. Googles ad revenue rose 18.1 percent to $19.82 billion in the third quarter, accounting for 89.1 percent of Googles total revenue, compared with 89.8 percent of revenue in the second quarter. Paid clicks rose 33 percent, compared with a rise of 29 percent in the second quarter. Paid clicks are those ads on which an advertiser pays only if a user clicks on them. Cost-per-click, or the average amount advertisers pay Google, fell 11 percent in the latest period after dropping 7 percent in the second quarter. Googles Other Revenue, which includes the companys increasingly important cloud business, jumped 38.8 percent. The companys consolidated revenue rose to $22.45 billion in the three months to Sept. 30 from $18.68 billion a year earlier. Net income rose to $5.06 billion, or $7.25 per Class A and B share and Class C capital stock, from $3.98 billion, or $5.73 per share, a year earlier. Reuters Also in Business From news services Coming Today From news services Rita Shapiro, the executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra for 15 years, is stepping down at the end of the year, the orchestra announced on Wednesday. Shapiro, 61, says the decision is her own. Fifteen years is a very, very long run in a job like this, she said, speaking by phone on Wednesday morning. I just think its healthy for me personally and for the organization to make a change. Many people expected Deborah Rutter to clean house at the NSO when she came from the Chicago Symphony to become president of the Kennedy Center in 2014. The announcement in January that Gianandrea Noseda would become the orchestras next music director he will take over in 2017 was a major step. Shapiros departure, on the heels of a new contract for the orchestra musicians, leaves a clean slate for a new administrative director as well. [A very not normal life: Gianandrea Noseda, the NSOs next music director.] This is one of the most exciting, most important new moments for an institution, when you bring a new music director on board, Rutter said by phone on Wednesday afternoon. Its a fresh new start in a lot of different ways. And shes put so many of the building blocks in place, it sets the stage for somebody to come in and say, This is how were going to build on it. Rutter added: I realize sometimes when you say, Im going to go do coffee roasting, or whatever, theres always this question, Was she encouraged to leave? That is not the circumstance. I want to reinforce that. This was a time when she said, I am making this decision. Shapiro has worked with music directors Leonard Slatkin and Christoph Eschenbach, as well as Ivan Fischer as principal conductor, and she led the search that culminated in Nosedas appointment. And she has arranged five international tours for the orchestra in the past few years after a long period during which the orchestra didnt tour at all. Initiatives such as the NSO in Your Neighborhood program, the SoundHealth program that brings musicians to play in local hospitals, and the new Declassified series of late-night Friday programs aimed at a younger audience have signaled the orchestras desire to keep abreast of the fields efforts to reach new audiences and play a greater role in local communities. And under Eschenbach, the orchestra has added a number of new musicians, a much-needed infusion of talent. [The National Symphony Orchestras forte for falling flat.] But Shapiro has also presided over an orchestra that, despite the sheltering arms of the Kennedy Center, has in some respects stagnated. Some of these recent initiatives replaced other initiatives that had to be cut for lack of money: NSO in Your Neighborhood began when the American Residencies program, which sent the NSO into communities across the country, ended. Recording activity remains almost nonexistent, despite high hopes when Eschenbach arrived in 2010. And the orchestra is still delivering too many lackluster performances. Although it is one of the most financially stable orchestras in the country, few would call it one of Americas leading orchestras. Shapiro is not yet sure what her next step will be. Having worked in the orchestra field for 30 years, she said, Im going to figure out what are the elements of my job that I might want to continue doing. She said she wants to cast a wide net, and adds, Im definitely staying in town. The NSO board is organizing a search committee to find Shapiros replacement. From left: Anna Camp as Jane Hollander, Genevieve Angelson as Patti Robinson and Erin Darke as Cindy Reston in Amazon's Good Girls Revolt. (Amazon Prime Video) If polls and predictions hold steady, were about to elect the nations first female president, which come on means something, right? Or have you, too, noticed a subdued enthusiasm for history in the making? Television, with its rapid response to zeitgeist and other topical matters, hasnt shown much recent interest in feminist themes either, which is a shame because the subject is so vital and right in front of our faces. Thats why its particularly gratifying to dive into creator Dana Calvos Good Girls Revolt, Amazons instantly addictive 10-episode drama thats loosely based on Lynn Povichs 2012 memoir of the discrimination lawsuit that a group of female journalists brought against Newsweek magazine in 1970. Though its set nearly 50 years in the past, much of what Good Girls Revolt zeros in on is freshly even desperately relevant to arguments were still having about the gender divide. Bring your 80-cents-on-the-dollar outrage here for an entertainingly upright tale of the fight for equality. At times, a viewer can only wish that some of what the series portrays in many scenes felt archaic or backward; flip to any season of The Bachelor or replay Donald Trumps excuses for his locker-room talk to know that its not. Filled with disciplined period details and the full spectrum of sexist slights (Youre pretty cute when you get a scoop), its almost impossible to resist comparing Good Girls Revolt to Matthew Weiners Mad Men on AMC. Indeed, its quite possible to imagine that the clang and clatter at News of the Week magazine is occurring mere blocks from the brooding hush of the Sterling Cooper (et al.) offices over on Madison Avenue. Its also tempting to start off sorting the Peggy Olsons from the Joan Harrises, but its better to let Good Girls Revolt stand on its own, especially once you get past the first episodes clumsiness and excess indignation. For all the decorative similarities, these are very different shows: Weiner and his Mad Men writers favored opacity, loose ends and manly silences; Calvo and her writers offer a bracingly direct route into the frustrated lives of characters who are big and (pardon the term) broad. These are women who say what they mean and mean what they say, with banter and repartee thats much more fun to watch than one of Don Drapers doleful moods. [How a fed-up group of Good Girls beat the Mad Men-era sexists] Could Good Girls Revolt be held up as a shining example of the difference between TV dramas run by and focused on women and those run by and focused on men? Is it possible that female creators are less inclined to lead viewers down every twisted path and rabbit hole? Maybe, if thats the game you want to play. Or maybe we can resist the urge to sort and stereotype and just enjoy the show. Genevieve Angelson (Backstrom) stars as Patti Robinson, a hard-working researcher at News of the Week, a (fictitious) magazine struggling to distinguish itself from Time and Newsweek in the era of New Journalism. As the magazine is busily closing an issue on a Saturday in early December 1969, news breaks of violence at the Altamont Speedway music festival east of San Francisco. The magazines top editor, Finn Woodhouse (Chris Diamantopoulos of Silicon Valley), senses an opportunity here to appeal to younger readers: Could Altamont, along with the recent arrest of Charles Manson and his gang, represent a shift in the counterculture movement? Hunter Parrish as Doug Rhodes in Amazon's Good Girls Revolt. (Amazon Prime Video) Grace Gummer as Nora Ephron in Amazon's Good Girls Revolt. (Amazon Prime Video) Finns fusty national editor, Wick McFadden (Jim Belushi), is aghast at the suggestion that the Altamont story could replace an already-prepared story about Vietnam on the cover. Finn gives his male reporters a few hours to pull an Altamont story together. But its the female researchers like Patti, who work in an area called the Pit, who do the heavy lifting making calls, hunting down leads and digging into records (all of this long before Google), which the men then take, fashion into prose and get a byline for, sometimes passing the womens sentences and paragraphs off as their own. Patti flies out to San Francisco to nail down a source, but its her colleague (and lover) Doug Rhodes (Hunter Parrish) who gets to put his name on the story. A new hire, Nora Ephron (Grace Gummer), finds this practice astonishingly offensive and quits after her first day, but not before shes written circles around the man to whom she was supposed to be dutifully supplying research. Though fudged somewhat (the real Ephrons stint at the real Newsweek predated the actual Good Girls Revolt suit by some years), Noras insubordination catalyzes the Pit. It isnt long before Patti and another researcher, Cindy Reston (Erin Darke), accept Noras offer to attend a womens consciousness-raising group, where they meet a civil rights attorney named Eleanor Holmes Norton (Joy Bryant). Soon enough, it dawns on them that they are overworked, underpaid and unfairly prohibited from becoming full-fledged reporters. Eleanor encourages them to band together with their colleagues and file a complaint with the relatively new Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Among their early, surreptitious discoveries: The male reporters are making $21,000 a year, while the women make about $7,000 a year. (In todays dollars, thats about $130,000 vs. $43,000.) Good Girls Revolt would be a fun show to watch even if all it focused on was the all-consuming acts of journalism that preoccupy its characters lives. Its been a long time, especially if we toss out Aaron Sorkins dreadfully sanctimonious The Newsroom, since we had a show this thrilling about making that extra call, coaxing a reluctant source and typing as fast as ones fingers can fly. But its an even better show when it dwells on the contradictions inherent in all political and social movements. Darkes portrayal of Cindy is especially endearing shes a newlywed whose strict husband has given her one year to enjoy a career before quitting to have children. Her consciousness raises through the roof once she discovers that hes pricked a hole in her diaphragm so shell get pregnant. Yet the key outcome of this is to send her into an illicit affair with Ned (Michael Oberholtzer), the magazines art director. Anna Camp as Jane Hollander in Amazon's Good Girls Revolt. (Amazon Prime Video) So eager to please are these obedient girls that the men can and do treat them as sex objects. Finn, the boss, is only in his early 40s but realizes that he and his magazine are on the wrong side of the generation gap; he begins to see Patti as both an editorial muse and an irresistible conquest. Another reporter, Sam Rosenberg (Daniel Eric Gold) pines for his research assistant, Jane Hollander (Pitch Perfects Anna Camp), a socialite Bryn Mawr alum who is easily the Pits most efficient journalist and is under extraordinary pressure from her parents to get her seemingly perfect boyfriend to propose. Her worst fear is to be labeled a career girl. TV viewers have seen Camp more than once in the role of prim and dangerous (True Blood, where she played the vindictive wife of a televangelist, comes to mind), but here, as Jane, shes working on a much deeper level, playing the part of the good girl with the most to lose as the world keeps evolving around her. Theres also something slightly yet distinctly Young Hillary in Janes coolly stiff, virginal resistance to the free love and free will thats firing up all around her. Good Girls Revolt is best when it reminds us that change comes more slowly for some, but one way or another, it eventually breaks through. True progress is a task thats never finished. Part of the experience of watching Good Girls Revolt is knowing how often and easily that rock rolls all the way back down the hill. Good Girls Revolt (10 episodes) begins streaming Friday on Amazon. (Disclosure: Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Oct. 16, 2006: South Koreans wear gas masks during a civil defense drill, part of an exercise in preparation for a nuclear attack from North Korea, after the United States confirmed that North Korea successfully detonated a nuclear device on Oct. 9, 2006. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) A 2000 photo accompanies The Washington Posts 2006 story about economic sanctions on luxury goods to North Korea. (Associated Press ) Oct. 9, 2006 North Korea declared its arrival as a nuclear power 10 years ago this month. According to The Washington Posts front-page account, geologists in South Korea earlier that day had detected a significant man-made explosion in the barren northeast of the peninsula that registered 3.58 on the Richter scale. Within minutes, the Korean Central News Agency, controlled by the government of the late North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, announced the secretive nations first test of a nuclear device, calling it a historical event that has brought our military and our people huge joy. Confirmation by U.S. officials came a few days later. At the time, the U.N. Security Council had been trying to get North Korea to resume multiparty talks over the future of its nuclear program. The United States and its allies immediately condemned North Koreas action and scrambled to put in place severe economic sanctions against the country, specifically targeting Kim Jong Ils favorite luxury items, such as fur, jewelry, race cars and Segways. Denying Kim what he craves, The Posts Elizabeth Williamson wrote on Nov. 30, 2006, the theory goes, might prompt better behavior from a dictator who reportedly spends nearly a million dollars a year on rare cognac. Annys Shin Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, walks away after a ribbon-cutting during the grand opening of the Trump International Hotel in Washington. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg News) News reporters are supposed to keep their opinions out of the stories they write and air. Twitter, it seems, is another realm entirely. With the political campaigns staggering into their final days, mainstream reporters otherwise obligated to objectivity or at least a reasonably balanced, non-argumentative account of events have taken to Twitter to unburden themselves of their apparently true feelings about the race. The primary target of their derision and general snark: Donald Trump. Trump was really just asking for it with this venue, tweeted New York Times political reporter Alex Burns the other day, when Trump gave a speech in Gettysburg, Pa. Like a losing caucus candidate speaking in Waterloo, IA. Over news that Trump held a rally in Bucks County, Pa., outside Philadelphia, wherein Trump pledged to put our miners back to work, Burns commented, Like going to Manhattan and pledging to defend sugar subsidies. Really great, he tweeted. Burns has had plenty of company in the dump-on-Trump arts. Michael Hirsh, national editor of Politicos magazine, let fly after a colleague confessed his exhaustion with covering the Republican nominee. The entire nation needs a vacation from a certain person. #LetItEnd, Hirsh tweeted, apparently referring to Trump. His Politico colleague Ben White offered his own one-word take on news that Trump had used donors money to buy copies of his book Art of the Deal: #scampaign, he tweeted. Editors have long tried to keep reporters opinions out of stories by excising them from unpublished copy. But social-media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook give scribes a direct and unfiltered publishing platform, enabling them to address thousands or even hundreds of thousands of followers without a meddlesome editor standing in the way. Most news organizations have policies on what is permissible for their employees to post on Twitter and Facebook. The Washington Post, for example, advises its journalists to avoid profanity, partisan political opinions and overheated exchanges with readers, said Tracy Grant, deputy managing editor. The Associated Press instructs employees to refrain from declaring their views on contentious public issues in any public forum. But the standards are often ignored and intermittently enforced, especially in the hurly-burly of a campaign featuring a candidate as polarizing as Trump. In the past three months, The Post, BuzzFeed and the New York Times have sent memos to their news employees reminding them about their guidelines. In his second memo on the subject in three months, the Timess standards editor, Phil Corbett, wrote last month that Times newsroom staffers should avoid editorializing, endorsing candidates or otherwise promoting their own political views on social media. That hasnt stopped Times journalists such as Burns, who has more than 75,000 Twitter followers, from disgorging a steady stream of sarcasm, argumentation and second-guessing about Trump in recent weeks. Trump on message so far, inasmuch as his message is airing grievances about people who have wronged Donald Trump, Burns tweeted during the third presidential debate. Burns, who declined to comment, has offered only a few such judgments about Hillary Clintons campaign tactics, speeches or behavior over the same time period. Asked for comment, a Times spokeswoman, Danielle Rhoades Ha, replied, We dont think the tweets youve cited reflect a partisan bias, and we are confident that our overall political coverage remains accurate and fair. Some journalists argue that the tweets aimed at Trump are warranted, given the unprecedented nature of his campaign. They point out that he has blacklisted news organizations, created a menacing atmosphere for the news media at his rallies, insulted dozens of reporters on Twitter, and advocated opening up the legal standards for libel so that he can prevail in lawsuits against reporters he dislikes. Hirsh, for example, replied via email that his tweet about needing a vacation from Trump was pretty thin gruel and suggested it was a joshing reference not to Trump but to a colleague. On the other hand, Hirshs boss, Politico editor John Harris, thinks journalists should exercise more restraint. Without singling out anyone in particular, Harris said, I think people pop off to excess and hurt themselves in the process. He added, I get upset by what I see. I dont think theres an editor who doesnt feel that way. Politicos co-founder and former chief executive, Jim VandeHei, offers a similar eye roll. To me, sticking to facts and smart, fact-based analysis is the safe, smart place to be, he said via email. But snark seems to be winning decisively. Some of Politicos journalists can be as snarky as anyone on Twitter. White, the publications chief economics correspondent, seeds his Twitter feed with Trump barbs such as, I dont give my employees good health insurance is a really weird argument to make; Only Trump could screw up a layup of a campaign issue (in reaction to Trumps comments about Affordable Care Act rate hikes) and All polls are phony [to Trump] unless he is ahead in them in which case they are the word of God. His colleague, chief political correspondent Glenn Thrush, has also offered tart Twitter commentary on many things Trump. Thrush live-tweeted the last debate, snarking, Note to future presidential hopefuls: debate prep, maybe, matters a little and The problem for Trump: [Clinton] is better at being reasonable than he is. Thrush suggests that none of those tweets is disputable. He also said that he has offered both praise for Trump and criticism of Clinton in his missives. I tweet a lot during debates, in part, because it provides the seed-corn for my takeaways, he said by email, and gives me real-time crowd-source feedback (positive and negative) that I find really valuable. He added: That Trump is often the target of those barbs simply reflects the fact that his candidacy challenges the norms of American politics while seeking to undermine and delegitimize the good work of the well-intentioned men and women who cover him. I give Clinton plenty of scrutiny too. Thrush, indeed, may be mild in his Twitter treatment of Trump compared with other journalists. The conservative Daily Caller news site recently called out several BuzzFeed reporters and editors for their unrestrained contempt. The site noted, for example, that, when the first Trump-Pence campaign logo was unveiled, BuzzFeed technology writer Charlie Warzel tweeted lol to all of us tho for thinking that after a year of racist, vitriolic campaigning that trump gives two s---s about a logo. And it pointed out that BuzzFeeds world news editor and reporter, Hayes Brown, tweeted last month, Donald Trumps policy proposals are almost entirely made up of racism, tautologies, and racist tautologies. BuzzFeed editor Ben Smith declined to comment on individual tweets. Instead, he said, We are proud of our tough, fair coverage on every platform. Smith issued a warning to his staff about proper social-media behavior in July after one of his reporters said she was so excited by President Obamas speech at the Democratic convention that she wet herself. Tim Graham, a self-described reluctant Trump supporter who is the director of media analysis at the conservative Media Research Center, isnt buying that coverage is fair. Its not difficult for people who feel the media is hopelessly biased against Trump to get all the evidence they need from Twitter feeds, Graham said. Every opinionated tweet further brands the media as a liberal blob. Crowds gather near a statue of Freddie Mercury, late singer of rock band Queen, on the shore of Lake Geneva in 2007. Mercurys spirit permeates the town of Montreux, Switzerland. (REUTERS /Alamy Stock Photo) For the past 50 summers, music lovers have flocked to the banks of Lake Geneva to take in the Montreux Jazz Festival. Drawing more than 250,000 visitors over its annual two-week run, the festival looms large and dominates the Swiss towns landscape and culture. But Montreux has another claim to musical fame: It was where Freddie Mercury, the legendary lead singer and songwriter of Queen, came to find peace. Like many well-known rock bands and musicians including David Bowie, Deep Purple and Iggy Pop Queen was drawn to Montreux by its quiet solitude and the lower taxes. The band members grew to appreciate the town so much that Mercury rented homes there. In 1979, they bought Mountain Studios, where they did much of their recording. Though Mercury died 25 years ago this month, a visitor today need only go slightly beneath the surface to find his spirit throughout the town. I visited Montreux in June after a stay in Chamonix, France. With a return flight out of Geneva, I decided to tack on a couple of days in the town, drawn as much by its alpine lakeside location as its music history. I was charmed by both and upon arrival, drawn to the waterfront promenade for a stroll past the towns restaurants, hotels and historical Chillon Castle. When Mercury came to Montreux in 1978, it was not love at first sight. He hated it, says Peter Freestone, who was Mercurys personal assistant from 1979 until his death in 1991. I spoke to Freestone via telephone from his home in Prague. Early on, in fact, he said that the best place for the studio would be at the bottom of the lake. Montreux, apparently, was too quiet for the famously energetic Mercury. Back when Queen first got here, the town was tiny and there was absolutely nothing to do, says Freestone. But if you wanted to record an album, it was perfect. Montreux began to appeal to Mercury once he had accepted his AIDS diagnosis in 1987, Freestone says. At that point, Freddie needed and wanted peace and quiet, and the town could deliver it, he explains. The Swiss were very used to seeing famous faces in Montreux, and they tended to leave them alone. Mercury could visit shops, eat out at local restaurants and move about town without the throng of fans and media following him in Montreux as they did in his home town of London. Indeed, the city has plenty to offer. If following in Queens footsteps doesnt appeal, theres the lake, available for recreation of all kinds, touring the history-rich town and taking in the castle. Its easy to enjoy it all in at a relaxed pace and simply people-watch along the promenade. As in most Swiss cities, the food is top-notch, albeit expensive. Montreux enjoys a temperate climate, and touring the area can be pleasant year-round. If jazz and crowds are not your thing, however, you probably want to avoid early July. Queen produced seven albums in Montreux, including the bands 15th and final one, Made in Heaven. The band members knew they were recording on borrowed time; Mercury worked as much as his diminishing energy would allow, with the other three members accommodating his scheduling needs. The band spent as much time as possible in the studio during this period, says Julia Tames, media and communications representative for Montreux Riviera, the local tourist office where I checked in. After he passed, the rest of the band finished the album. (It was released four years after his death, in 1995.) If you listen to the lyrics of A Winters Tale from the final album, you can hear and see everything in Montreux, Freestone says. The albums cover was shot in three frames in Montreux, later combined. The blended photo shows the 10-foot Freddie Mercury statue that still overlooks the lake from the town promenade, the three remaining band members on the shores of the lake and the boat house of the home Mercury rented while in Montreux. Lake Geneva as seen from the Fairmont Montreux Palace. (Amanda Loudin) These days, fans of Mercury and Queen can tour Mountain Studios, located on the top floor of the towns casino. The control room is unchanged from Queens recording days except for a new recording console. Visitors can also see some of Mercurys performance costumes, handwritten lyrics and a wide variety of memorabilia. A brass plate marks the spot where Mercury stood to record his final songs. Both an interior and exterior wall at the building are covered in signatures and handwritten tributes to Mercury. To enter the studio, you must first pass through the dated, gilded casino and walk up to the second floor. Here Queens music loudly greets you, even if crowds do not. I had the studio to myself while there, and I meandered through its three rooms at my own pace. Beyond the studio, you can feel Freddie all over town, Freestone says. Theres the statue, a bronze work by Czech sculptor Irena Sedlecka that was unveiled in 1996 and has become, local officials say, one of the 10 most visited tourist attractions in Switzerland. And several of the bars and restaurants Mercury favored still stand: Fans can have a meal at Brasserie Bavaria, a drink at Funky Claudes, or stay at the Montreux Palace, where Mercury and the band spent many a night. Queen frontman Freddie Mercury is shown in Germany on July 20, 1986. (MARCO ARNDT/AP file photo) A section of memorabilia from Queen's 15th album Made in Heaven and released in 1995, after Mercurys death. (Richard Gray) I stayed down the road/promenade from the palace at the Royal Plaza. Although the location was good, the hotel has seen better days, and a heavy 1980s vibe permeates the property. Visitors with a boat can get a view of a lakeside house that Mercury rented for several years he called it the duck house, due to the landlords decorating motif. Each fall, Freestone, who is semiretired, spends a weekend hosting several boat tours, taking visitors to view the house and other sights. You can generally score tickets from Freestones website or inquire about them at the tourist office. We occasionally do walking tours as well, but thats not quite as regular, he says. After Mercurys death in 1991, surviving band members Brian May and Roger Taylor and manager Jim Beach set up the Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT) to raise money for AIDS education and awareness projects around the world. For the past three years, the MPT has held a fundraising party at the Montreux casino around Sept. 5, commemorating Mercurys birthday. The event is open to the public; fans can purchase tickets through the MPT. This year marked what would have been his 70th. Its difficult to imagine Freddie at the age of 70, Freestone says, because he never wanted to slow down. We . . . use his birthday as an excuse to party, which is what he would have wanted. Loudin is a freelance writer based in Ellicott City, Md. You can dance, you can jive at Stockholms kitschy ABBA museum Finding real summer deals in the deluxe Swiss ski resort of St. Moritz Still finding kicks on Route 66 For more dining and lodging recommendations in Montreux, Switzerland, visit washington post.com/travel THE DISTRICT Pedestrian is struck, killed near Gallaudet A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle early Wednesday in Northeast Washington near Gallaudet University, according to D.C. police. The incident happened just after midnight near New York Avenue and Fourth Street. Police said the driver of a U-Haul truck hit the pedestrian just after crossing the intersection at Fourth Street. Police said the pedestrian, a man, was in the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Dana Hedgpeth Man is charged with second-degree murder A 49-year-old Southeast man died Wednesday after he was found with trauma to the head in a Southeast Washington church, and detectives arrested a 37-year-old man on a murder charge in the case, police said. About 8:15 a.m., police responded to a church in the 3000 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE, a D.C. police spokesman said. They found James Albert Harling suffering from head trauma. The man was transported to a hospital, where he died. Police investigated the case as a homicide, and officials announced an arrest late Wednesday. Authorities charged Perez Green of Southeast with second-degree murder while armed, the police statement said. Officials did not release details about a motive or how Harling was killed. According to a public police report, Harling was found in the dining area of the church, and an argument appeared to be a factor in the attack. Justin Wm. Moyer MARYLAND Early voting set to begin in all counties Early voting begins Thursday in all Maryland counties. Polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until Nov. 3. For a list of voting locations, go to elections.state.md.us. Voters can also cast an absentee ballot by mail, electronically or by fax. The election is Nov. 8. Bill Turque Infant in vehicle theft found safe in car seat An 11-month-old child taken in a vehicle theft in Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon was found safe about two hours later and about three miles away left in his car seat on a residential street in the city, according to police. The 2009 white Suzuki XL-7 SUV and the person suspected of taking the vehicle, described as a teenager, were located late in the afternoon, officials said. T.J. Smith, a spokesman for the Baltimore Police Department, said the infant was taken to a hospital for observation but that he appears to be fine at this point. Smith said a passerby who had seen an Amber Alert saw the child and called police about 3:45 p.m. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children identified the infant as Leo Garcia-Lopez. Smith said the mother was taking groceries in and out of her house and had left the child in the unlocked vehicle with the engine running and the keys in the ignition. A witness told police that a teenager jumped into the car and sped off. Peter Hermann VIRGINIA Police review panel comes into focus Fairfax County is moving closer to creating a civilian review panel for cases of alleged police abuse, part of a reform effort being launched at a time when such cases have stirred concerns nationwide. During a committee meeting Tuesday, the countys Board of Supervisors hashed out details for an independent body that would scrutinize cases involving police abuse or misconduct. The District and a handful of major cities across the country already have civilian oversight of police. The panel would be able to hold public meetings and compel county police officials and members of the Internal Affairs Bureau to explain their findings during those sessions. THE DISTRICT Man gropes woman on Georgetown street A man came up behind a woman as she was walking along a street in Georgetown and groped her, D.C. police said. The incident happened about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday in the 1600 block of 33rd Street near Q Street NW. No injuries were reported. Police described the assailant as being in his 20s or 30s. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with black stripes. He is about 5-feet-10, police said. There have been at least four other sexual assaults in Georgetown between Aug. 3 and Sept. 12, police said. Police said those four assaults might be related. During one incident, on Aug. 3, the assailant was armed with a knife. Authorities said they are looking into whether the most recent assault is related to the four others. Fox 5 was among the first to report the most recent incident. Dana Hedgpeth Dozens are injured as two buses collide A school bus and a Metrobus collided Thursday afternoon in Northeast Washington, and 43 juveniles were reported to have suffered minor injuries, according to a D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman. The incident occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. at Eastern Avenue and Randolph Street NE, steps from the District-Maryland border. Firefighters and rescue personnel from Prince Georges County assisted D.C. officials. It was unclear whether all 43 of the injured juveniles were on the school bus or if some also were on the Metrobus. Officials said five adults refused medical treatment. The Fire/EMS spokesman said patients were being evaluated to determine whether any needed to be sent to a hospital. Peter Hermann VIRGINIA Man struck by gunfire while walking home Fairfax County police are searching for the person who shot a man who was walking home from work in Reston on Wednesday night. The 42-year-old man was shot in the 12000 block of Greywing Square shortly before 11 p.m., police said. The bullet struck him in the upper body as he was walking near his apartment building. The man was transported to Reston Hospital Center with wounds that were not life-threatening, police said. Justin Jouvenal Arlington board moves ahead on bus stops After years of contention over how to improve transit along Columbia Pike, the Arlington County Board has unanimously agreed to move ahead with the design and construction of 23 new stops along Virginias busiest bus route. The transit stops are expected to look similar to the notorious $1 million bus stop at the Pike near Walter Reed Drive. But the roof will be flatter and the windscreen will be taller, to keep rain and snow off passengers waiting for the bus. Most important, the cost of the shelters and platforms will be about half what the first one cost. It will be several years before any new stops appear. Design specifications need to be written and bids go out before construction could start in the spring of 2018, officials said. Patricia Sullivan Emergency exercise at Dulles on Saturday Officials at Dulles International Airport will conduct an emergency exercise Saturday evening in the baggage claim area. The drill is designed to help airport and emergency personnel practice their response to an incident inside the airport. The exercise will begin at 11 p.m. Saturday and is scheduled to end about 4:30 a.m. Airport operations will continue as normal. The area where the exercise will take place will be closed off to the public. But people at the airport may see a large number of emergency vehicles parked outside the main terminal as well as volunteers wearing makeup and playing the role of victims fleeing the incident. The spy, identified as Shoaib, was arrested by Rajasthan Police and is being brought to Delhi for further probe. By India Today Web Desk: Hours after the arrest of two Indians exposed an espionage racket involving an employee of the Pakistani embassy, another spy was held in Rajasthan today. The spy, identified as Shoaib, was arrested by Rajasthan Police and is being brought to Delhi for further probe. Meanwhile, the two Indian nationals arrested earlier - Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir - were sent to 12-day police remand by the Patiala House Court in New Delhi. advertisement Also read: Exclusive: Crime Branch probing role of two mysterious women in ISI spy ring The spies are charged with passing on sensitive defence documents to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Ramzan and Jangir were arrested on Wednesday at around 10:40 am by the Inter-state Cell of the Crime Branch during a raid near the Delhi zoo. The Crime Branch officials believe that they had come to hand over some secret information to Mehmood Akhtar, an embassy official, about the deployment of security forces at Indian borders. Also read: 46 arrested since 2013: Timeline of Pakistan's spy game in India They were working as spies for Akhtar, the 'kingpin' of the racket working for the ISI, the officials said. The Indian government has asked the Pakistani embassy to send Akhtar back to Pakistan as soon as possible. Also read: Pakistan spy racket: 2 Indians arrested, embassy staff asked to leave India --- ENDS --- Childrens National Medical Center, in the District, provides nurses to D.C. public schools. A new health department plan could redistribute the nurses hours, drawing concern from parents. (John Kelly/The Washington Post) The D.C. Department of Health plans to change the way nurses are assigned to city schools, using a stricter formula to decide which schools get part-time nurses and which get full-time nurses as part of a push for more holistic child health care that focuses on preventive and community-based care. The nursing portion of the plan has been met with an intense backlash from parents who fear the changes could result in their children receiving inadequate medical attention at schools that would lose access to a full-time nurse. Dozens of people including parents, principals, charter school directors, nurses and other school representatives testified at a six-hour D.C. Council hearing Tuesday to attack the plan, which is expected to take effect in January. Many of the details of the plan are still unclear, and city leaders admonished the health department for not effectively communicating the changes to the public. LaQuandra Nesbitt, who leads the citys health department, said there would not be a reduction in school health care but rather a reshuffling of how resources are allocated, but she has not yet said how individual schools would be affected. On Thursday, council member David Grosso (I-At Large) introduced emergency legislation to delay the implementation of the new school nursing assignments until the beginning of the next academic year, in August. Were really all in the dark, Chris Sondreal, a parent of a second-grader at School Without Walls, testified Tuesday at a council education committee hearing. Its not clear as to how this is working. By law, the Department of Health provides a nurse for at least 20 hours each week to D.C. Public Schools and charter schools that have proper nursing rooms. The 20-hour minimum would not change under the new plan, though most schools currently have a nurse on site for more than the minimum. In the 2014-2015 school year, 72 percent of schools that received the services of a city nurse had nursing coverage on site for 40 hours each week, according to data analyzed by the nonprofit DC Action for Children. Beginning in January, nursing assignments will vary based on the needs of the students, with some schools probably having a nurse on site for fewer hours than they currently do. Schools with high rates of asthma among its students, for example, could receive a nurse for more hours than those with lower rates. Any school with a student who needs daily administration of medication would get a full-time nurse. The department has not said which schools would receive a reduction in nursing hours, and Nesbitt said she would make individual school nursing assignments public by mid-November. If we determine that a school needs 40 hours of coverage, then that school will receive 40 hours, Nesbitt said. [Almost the entire D.C. school district is ignoring its PE requirements] Nesbitt argued that nurses are currently burdened with administrative work and other minor medical requests that do not require a nurse, such as hearing and vision testing. Her plan calls for alternating nurses with medical assistants and making basic medical training more accessible to teachers and staff members. She said the department hopes to take advantage of nursing expertise while saving money when tasks do not require a trained nurse. The health department has an annual $19.8 million contract with Childrens National Medical Center, which provides the citys school nurses. The department plans to continue spending $19.8 million on school health services, but that money would be split among Childrens National Medical Center and other health-care providers. Grosso, who leads the councils education committee, pressed Nesbitt to explain how, if the department is spreading the same amount of money to more places, she can ensure that nursing hours would not be reduced. Nesbitt said she is working toward equity in services across the citys schools while ensuring that health needs will be fulfilled. Has anyone considered that I might be achieving an efficiency in government? Nesbitt asked. Im getting more for the same price. Nesbitt, city officials and health advocates agree that the current school health model is ineffective and that health outcomes are not improving. A DC Action for Children report published in June found that 33 percent of D.C. public school students 28,000 have at least one chronic health condition. Nearly 6,000 students require some form of regular health services at school. The citys new school health program is based on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention model called Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child. Teams of health professionals will work with schools and families to ensure children receive preventive health care and regular exams. To move toward models that are more responsive to the needs of students, we must move away from the one-size-fits-all approaches like standard students-to-nurse ratios, DC Action for Childrens executive director, HyeSook Chung, testified. The possibility that some schools could receive fewer nurse hours has received intense backlash. More than 1,500 parents have signed an online petition calling for a full-time nurse at every D.C. school. Former D.C. schools chancellor Kaya Henderson and D.C. Public Charter School Board Executive Director Scott Pearson sent a letter to Nesbitt with concerns about the program in May. On Sunday, Pearson sent another letter to Nesbitt saying that schools are still unclear about the health resources they will receive in January. As I had feared, this rushed implementation is causing tremendous concern and uncertainty in our schools, Pearson wrote. Before introducing the emergency legislation Thursday, Grosso asked Nesbitt at the hearing whether she would consider delaying the new nursing assignment system until the start of next school year. Nesbitt said she is confident in the program and its timing. Jacob Leggette, 9, of Baltimore, Md., looks in amazement as President Barack Obama blows a bubble while visiting his science exhibit during the annual White House Science Fair in April 2016. Obama started the fair as a way to highlight and encourage STEM education. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post) The nations fourth- and eighth-graders have made gains in science, and large racial achievement gaps have narrowed slightly, according to the results of a national science test released Thursday. In the test administered last year, girls improved faster than boys, narrowing the gender gap at the eighth-grade level and erasing it in the fourth grade. High school seniors science performance has remained flat since the last time the test was administered, in 2009, however, and racial and gender achievement gaps among 12th-graders did not change. The results come from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nations Report Card. The exams given every two years in math and reading and less frequently in science and other subjects, are widely seen as an important barometer of student performance because they have been given nationwide across a long period of time. [U.S. student performance slips on national test] The science test was revised substantially in 2009, making it impossible to compare results to those from tests given prior to that year. The exam, scored on a scale of 0 to 300, measures students knowledge and skills in physical science, life science and Earth and space science. Fourth- and eighth-grade students both scored an average of 154 in 2015, both up from 150 in 2009. White fourth-graders scored an average of 33 points higher than black students and 27 points higher than Hispanic students. The data released Thursday do not explain the reasons for the gains, which come as the Obama administration has sought to improve science education and highlight its importancefor preparing children to compete for jobs in the modern economy. Peggy Carr, acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which administers the exam, hailed the results. This is exactly what we like to see: all students improving but students at the bottom of the distribution making faster gains, Carr said. The majority of students did not score high enough to be deemed proficient. Among fourth-graders, 38 percent were proficient or advanced in science in 2015, up from 34 percent in 2009; among eighth-graders, 34 percent were proficient or above, up from 30 percent in 2009. Among 12th-grade students, 22 percent were proficient or above. Carr said the exam sets a high bar for proficiency, and that a full picture of U.S. science achievement must include students performance on international exams. The United States ranked in the middle of the pack among 65 countries that took the 2012 Programme on International Assessment, which measures science achievement of 15-year-olds. [U.S. lags around average on international science, math and reading test] U.S. students fare better on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS): Fifty-seven countries participated in the TIMSS fourth-grade exam in 2011, and just six outperformed the United States. Were not that bad at science, Carr said. Parents and teachers have long worried that schools under pressure to raise math and reading test scores are narrowing the curriculum, excluding science and social studies. Carr said that, according to surveys administered alongside the exam, fourth- and eighth-grade teachers are actually spending more time on science than they previously did. Its not clear whether or how much that contributed to the gains, she said. The data released Thursday also do not explain why older students performance stagnated: Twelfth-graders scored 150 in 2015, the same as they did in 2009. Carr suggested that one reason might be the nations rising high school graduation rate, which means that students who previously might have dropped out are now staying in school and are included in the 12th grade test. Even so, she said, theres reason for concern: Whenever we dont see movement, we need to pay attention to it. State-level results were not released for 12th graders and they varied widely among the states for younger students, from low-scoring Mississippi (where 23 percent of fourth-graders were proficient) to high-scoring New Hampshire (where 51 percent were proficient). Tennessee which has undergone rapid reforms in recent years, many aligned with Obama administration priorities such as new teacher evaluations was the only state to show faster-than-average growth at both grade levels. Locally, Virginia students performed significantly better than the national average. Half of fourth-graders were proficient, more than every state but New Hampshire, and 40 percent of eighth-graders were proficient, putting Virginia behind eight higher-scoring states. Steven Staples, Virginias state superintendent, said he was pleased with the performance but troubled by persistent and large achievement gaps. Even though the gaps may be closing slightly, were still concerned that those gaps are there, and I think thats going to be the focus of our work moving forward, Staples said. Marylands scores were not significantly different from the average. State participation in the exam was voluntary, and scores were not reported for the District of Columbia and Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana and Pennsylvania. It was supposed to be a routine meeting of Marylands Democratic House caucus. But that all changed when Del. Charles E. Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County) brought up the sky-high approval ratings of Gov. Larry Hogan (R). When I go around my district, it seems Governor Hogan is gaining traction among my people, Sydnor said, according to several lawmakers who were at the closed-door meeting and spoke on the condition of anonymity. What were the states Democratic elected leaders planning to do about it, Sydnor asked. What was the strategy to take back the governors office in 2018? Thats not our job, replied Del. Dereck E. Davis (D-Prince Georges), chairman of the House Economic Matters Committee, according to multiple delegates who were present. Our job is to protect the House. Speaker of the House Mike Busch (D-Anne Arunde)l and other Democratic delegates, including Del. Dereck Davis (Prince Georges), far right. (Gail Burton/AP) [Larry Hogans approval soars, buoyed by his disavowal of Donald Trump] Several lawmakers who declined to be named because caucus discussions are supposed to be confidential later described themselves as stunned. There was almost an audible gasp, one said. More questions followed, sharper and more accusatory than is typical. The heated discussion highlights what many describe as a building frustration within the Democratic caucus over the House leaderships response to Hogan, who is nearing the midpoint of his first term and is highly popular across party lines in the heavily Democratic state. Some delegates say they are dismayed that Democrats, who hold a veto-proof majority in both houses of the legislature, have not been able to dent Hogans approval ratings. They are worried that the moderate Republicans success could mean Democratic losses in the legislature in 2018, when Hogan, a former businessman, is favored to win a second term. Whatever we think were doing is not working, one delegate said in an interview. A recent Washington Post-University of Maryland poll placed Hogans approval rating at 71 percent, 10 points higher than last year. Just over half of Marylanders view the Democratic Party positively, about the same as last year. The governor appears to have benefited from his decision to disavow GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, who is trailing Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 30 points in Maryland. Hogan receives high scores from voters even though they think less favorably of the Republican Party than they did a year ago. [First-term Democrats in Annapolis want to push their party left] Some delegates who attended the caucus meeting said in interviews that Democrats should try to create a progressive contrast to Hogan during the upcoming legislative session, including passage of a paid sick-leave bill that failed to advance this year. One delegate said lawmakers are in a difficult position, however, because Hogan has not introduced robust or far-reaching legislation since taking office. He prefers to take executive actions, such as lowering tolls or changing the school calendar, which do not require lawmaker approval. How do you push against nothing? the delegate asked. Hes confrontational with rhetoric, but not with a legislative agenda. The Oct. 17 caucus meeting included about 55 of the 91 Democrats in the House of Delegates. Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel), who has led the chamber for 13 years, was absent; delegates were told he was not feeling well after getting a flu shot. Several committee chairs attended the meeting and provided updates on issues that could be taken up during the 2017 session, which begins in January. After some discussion about Hogan forcing schools to open after Labor Day, Sydnor raised the issue of the governors popularity. Alexandra Hughes, Buschs chief of staff, attended the meeting but declined in an interview to provide any specifics, saying such sessions are supposed to provide a forum to freely discuss issues. She said the legislature has moved a number of policies over the past two years that offer a clear contrast to Hogans agenda. [Hogans Labor Day order leaves most Democrats squirming] For example, during the 2016 legislative session, the House pushed for a $290 million package to help revitalize struggling Baltimore neighborhoods and address some of the citys social ills; passed a bill that prohibits insurers from charging co-payments for contraceptives, eliminates the co-payment for vasectomies and requires insurance coverage for over-the-counter contraceptive medications; and fought for a transportation bill that creates a new process for prioritizing road projects. In addition, Democrats have clashed with Hogan over how much school districts should receive in funding, among other things. The latest disagreement is over the school calendar. I think the House has drawn a clear difference with the governor on a number of policy issues, Hughes said. And I think those differences will speak for themselves moving forward. Davis would not discuss the caucus meeting, but he reiterated in an interview that House Democrats should not be focused on fighting Hogan. There will be plenty of times for the Republicans to get on one side and Democrats to get on the other side, he said. We need to put politics aside and be about legislating and governing. Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Marys College, agreed that delegates would be better off not to pick a fight with Hogan. People are tired of the vitriolic nature of politics, he said. Certainly the notion of the Maryland House of Delegates trying to go after or bring down a popular governor is not what people want in politics right now. Charles Connor, the executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party, said progressives in the House have been fighting tooth and nail for more left-leaning policies. That approach stirs concern among centrists, who watched Hogan upset heavily favored Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) in 2014 by focusing on tax cuts and making Maryland more business-friendly. [Democrats cant compete with Hogan on social media] Young, recently elected lawmakers are impatient for change, Connor said, and less willing to move incrementally than others with more time in Annapolis, including Busch, 69. People around the state, publicly and privately, have said it is an interesting time for leadership who have to deal with lawmakers who are not of the same generation, Connor said. Eberly cautioned that pushing Maryland further left may not serve Democrats well. Maryland is already a pretty progressive state, he said. If they try to push it even further, they may end up strengthening the coalition of moderates and conservatives that elected Hogan. Two first-term delegates and one veteran said in interviews that progressive freshmen were not the only ones concerned about the response from leadership at the caucus meeting, or worried about losing House seats in vulnerable districts. It was not the usual caucus, said one delegate. Was there tension? Yes. The delegate said Davis seemed to be saying it was up to the Democrats who challenge Hogan in 2018 to make a strong case against him. Three potential contenders U.S. Rep. John Delaney, Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III and Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz have been vocal critics of Hogan over the past year. Neither Delaney nor Kamenetz would comment for this story, and Baker could not be reached. Hogan is only the second Republican governor in Maryland in nearly half a century. The other, Robert Ehrlich, served only one term and was far less popular. Most elected officials in Maryland dont know what its like to have divided government, Eberly said. And they definitely dont know what its like to have a Republican governor with such high approval ratings. A nanny accused of force-feeding a crying baby until the girl choked to death was an unlicensed caregiver who was also watching two other young children at the time, according to the top prosecutor in Prince Georges County. Oluremi Oyindasola, 66, of Glenarden, Md., made her first appearance in court Thursday afternoon since she was arrested on murder and child abuse charges in the death of 8-month-old Enita Salubi. Oyindasola appeared before a judge in Prince Georges County District Court for a bond review hearing, but a judge postponed the matter until Friday afternoon when an interpreter for the native of Nigeria would be available for the proceedings. She is currently being held on a $1 million bond. Prince Georges County States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks (D) offered additional details about the case after the hearing, saying Baby Enita died a senseless death. This is an 8-month-old baby who we believe was killed simply because she cried, Alsobrooks said. Oluremi Oyindasola, of Glenarden, Md., is charged in the death of 8-month-old Enita Salubi. ( Prince George's County Police Department) Prince Georges County police said the live-in nanny was napping on a couch on Oct. 24 when the crying child, in a toddler walker, approached her. [A crying baby woke up a napping nanny. So she force-fed her until the child died, police say.] Oyindasola then proceeded to remove the nipple from a baby bottle and pour the liquid, which prosecutors said they believe was milk, inside the squirming girls mouth, according to police charging papers. Despite signs that the child could not breath and was in medical distress, Oyindasola forced the child to consume the contents of a second bottle, police said. The second bottle was a clear liquid that was probably water, prosecutors said. The entire incident was recorded on in-home surveillance video, police stated in charging documents. The child eventually became unresponsive and was later rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A medical examiner, who discovered white liquid in the childs lungs during an autopsy, determined the baby died of asphyxiation and that her death was a homicide, police said. Oyindasola was the only person watching the baby when the child suffered her fatal injuries, police said. Prosecutors said Thursday that Oyindasola was also watching the childs two siblings, who are 2 and 3. A 16-year-old was also in the home at the time. Family for Oyindasola who appeared in court Thursday declined to speak with reporters. [Do you know whos watching your children?] The death of Enita is one about a dozen homicides involving children 3 and under in Prince Georges County and part of a recent string of child abuse cases in the region. Last week, authorities arrested the parents of an infant whose father punched the child until he was unresponsive before leaving him in a car for more than 24 hours, police said. The childs parents then buried the 2-month-old in a shallow grave behind a Riverdale high school to hide the crime, police said. Also last week, a day-care center employee in Upper Marlboro was charged with assault and child abuse after she slammed a 3-year-old boys head on a table, police said. The child deaths have promoted county officials to launch a public service campaign, urging parents to check the background of their caregivers and seek help for subsidized child care when possible. Children are the most precious thing we have, Alsobrooks said. We have to make sure that we leave them with people who are fit to care for them. The man who killed Montgomery Co. police officer Noah Leotta was sentenced to 10 years for vehicular manslaughter. (WUSA 9) The man who killed Montgomery Co. police officer Noah Leotta was sentenced to 10 years for vehicular manslaughter. (WUSA 9) Moments before a judge sentenced the drunk driver who killed Rich Leottas son, the father stood in a Maryland courtroom Thursday and tried to explain the night his life crumbled. There was a knock on the door. Two police officers were standing there, telling him and his wife to go with them to a hospital. Noah, their 24-year-old son, also an officer, had been struck by a car. I was hoping: Noahs strong. My boys strong, Rich Leotta told a Montgomery County judge. Hes always in the gym. Hes going to make it. His emotions and sadness were shared by more than 190 people in court, including dozens of uniformed officers, during the 3 -hour hearing for Luis Reluzco, 47, of Olney, the driver. The case made all the more tragic because Leotta was working a special assignment to catch drunk drivers captured national attention and led to the passage of Noahs Law, designed to curb drunken driving in Maryland. The Leotta family, parents Rich and Marcia and daughter Shana, in February. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) Reluzco received the maximum sentence of 10 years for vehicular manslaughter from Circuit Court Judge Ann S. Harrington. This fine young man, this dedicated police officer had his life taken away by the very [kind of] person that he was out there trying to detect in order to keep everyone else safe, Harrington said. By your choice, the judge told Reluzco, you condemned to death one of the bright lights of this community. Reluzco probably will not have to serve the full 10 years. Through credits for good behavior and for participating in prison programs, he could trim the sentence by as much as five years. He could also be released on parole supervision. Because vehicular manslaughter is categorized as a nonviolent offense in Maryland, he will become eligible for parole consideration after a quarter of the 10-year sentence. Justice was served, Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger said after the hearing, as best it can be. [The statement Richard Leotta filed to the judge on the impact of sons death] Leotta was a likable patrol officer who had volunteered to work a holiday-season anti-drunk-driving task force on Dec. 3, 2015. Just before 10 p.m., on that Thursday night, he pulled over a car on Rockville Pike and got out to speak with the driver. About that same time, evidence showed, Reluzco pulled out from a Hooters restaurant, one mile away, where he had drunk beer and whiskey for four hours after earlier smoking marijuana and taking a Xanax. Reluzco was driving a Honda CR-V and had a blood alcohol concentration nearly three times the legal limit. He hit the rear corner of Leottas police cruiser and then Leotta. Leotta spent a week in the hospital before dying of his injuries Dec. 10. [Earlier: My insanely stupid decision. A drunk driver apologizes for killing officer] Reluzco, a former bartender at the Bethesda Country Club, spoke for 10 minutes in court Thursday, his first public comments in the case. He faced Leottas family and spoke directly to his parents. I want to say, first, that I am eternally sorry for what Ive done, Reluzco said. Anything that happens to me is not enough. What I do is I think about your son and your family every night. And I pray for his soul in heaven. And I pray that he comforts you and gives you some peace. Reluzco had three previous arrests for drunken driving, from 1987 to 1999. Each time, Harrington said, he was given leniency. On Thursday, Reluzco said he had been drinking and driving for 30 years. I have a problem, he said, adding, Its amazing that I didnt kill someone before. In handing down her sentence, Harrington noted the unfathomable pain felt by Leottas family and friends, as reflected in more than 40 letters she received and by statements made Thursday. Rich Leotta described arriving at Suburban Hospital the night of Dec. 3, when it was filling with police officers and clergy. He knew, right away, that Noahs strength alone couldnt save him. He spoke about life now and of how he tries to be strong for others in his family. There are times when I go into the woods with the dogs, walking Noahs dog, and I just cry, he said. Leottas mother, Marcia Goldman, also spoke about her son, sitting at a table in front of the judge. Im Noahs mom, she began. Reluzco sat about 20 feet away in a green inmate jumpsuit and with a sad, blank look on his face. Goldman spoke about how frightened Noah had been as a child, bringing his sleeping bag into their bedroom so he could sleep next to their bed. He struggled in school but later became enthralled about law enforcement. He transformed his body and joined the Montgomery force. He wanted to make a difference in the world and to try to help people, she said. Her sons death has devastated her. Ive lost my joy, and every minute of every day I am reminded that I lost my Noah and he will never come back to me, she said. [The statement from Luis Reluzco to the sentencing judge] After the crash, the Hooters restaurant on Rockville Pike signed an agreement with the county to surrender its alcohol license Nov. 1 and close permanently. Since their sons death, his family has worked tirelessly to toughen drunken driving laws. Their efforts led to the passage of Noahs Law, which expands the mandatory use of ignition locks devices that require drivers to blow into a tube before starting their cars. Reluzco, in his remarks in court to Leottas family, said he had followed their efforts. I think that your resilience, your courage and the strength that you show by pursuing Noahs Law is amazing, he said. In the spring of this year, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh said he often thought about carrying out an attack to support the Islamic State. The Northern Virginia man drew inspiration from Nidal Hasan, the Army major who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Tex., in 2009. But Jalloh, a former member of the Virginia National Guard, also questioned whether he could ensure his heart would be strong and not fail him during an attack, court records show. If he could not take part in an operation, he suggested, he could help by providing money or weapons. Jalloh, 27, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Virginia to attempting to provide support to the terrorist group. Court records show that the case came together largely because one person Jalloh was communicating with was an FBI source. Jalloh, who was born in Sierra Leone, lived in Loudoun County and was a U.S. citizen. His family has declined to comment, and neighbors said they kept to themselves. Authorities have said Jalloh had a job at the time of his arrest in July but did not say where. It was on a 2015 trip to his native country that Jalloh came into online contact with a member of the Islamic State, according to prosecutors. Jalloh traveled to Niger, where he boarded a truck to Libya with plans to join the terrorist group. But he backed out, later saying he was not ready to fight. Around January, just before returning from his six-month trip, Jalloh began communicating online with Abu Saad Sudani, a now-deceased Islamic State member who was plotting an attack in the United States. In April, according to court papers, Sudani asked Jalloh if he wanted to [join] the brothers for the operation. I really want to, but I dont want to give my word and not fulfill it, Jalloh told Sudani. Another time, he said, I just want to live a good Muslim life and die as a shaheed, or martyr. Jalloh bought a Glock handgun in February and said that committing an attack was 100 percent the right thing. He also said participating was a test and was not supposed to be easy. In May, during a conversation with the undercover FBI source he had met through Sudani, Jalloh said it would be best to plan an attack for Ramadan and also said he could offer more financial support. Jalloh had already sent money to the organization, once in March and a second time in April. He transferred a total of more than $700 to a family member living in Sierra Leone, who then sent the money to one of Sudanis associates. [Former National Guardsman accused of plotting attack to support ISIS] In mid-May, the FBI source told Jalloh about a plot to murder U.S. military personnel and asked Jalloh about acquiring weapons. Jalloh began searching online for weapons in June and traveled to North Carolina, where he visited a family member and unsuccessfully attempted to purchase an AK-47. On July 1, Jalloh attempted to buy an AR-15 at a Northern Virginia gun shop but lacked proper identification, according to court records. The next day, he searched the Internet for Orlando shooting weapon and then bought a Stag Arms AR-15 from the shop. But the FBI had been watching, and the gun was rendered inoperable. Jalloh was arrested July 3. In a statement, Dana J. Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, praised the work of the FBI and said that Jalloh attempted to help facilitate what he believed would be a terrorist attack here in Virginia. Jallohs attorney, Joseph Flood, declined to comment Thursday. During a plea hearing, he said that although Jalloh admitted to the charges, he planned to provide more context later. Jalloh served as a specialist in the Virginia National Guard from April 2009 to April 2015. A Virginia National Guard spokesman has said there are no records showing that Jalloh was deployed overseas. Jalloh is set to be sentenced in January and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison Fairfax County police are searching for a suspect who shot a man who was walking home from work in Reston on Wednesday night. The 42-year-old man was shot in the 12000 block of Greywing Square shortly before 11 p.m., police said. The bullet struck him in the upper body as he was walking near his apartment building. The man was transported to Reston Hospital Center with wounds that were not life-threatening, police said. The suspect was described as black with a thin build. He was wearing all black clothing. A K9 team and helicopter searched the area for the suspect, but he was not located. Detectives are still attempting to determine what led to the shooting, said Officer Don Gotthardt, a Fairfax police spokesman. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Crime Solvers electronically by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or by texting TIP187 plus your message to CRIMES (274637) or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or call Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131. Authorities said an 18-year-old man died Thursday after being shot behind a movie theater in southern Maryland. At around 8 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to the 11000 block of Mall Circle Drive in St. Charles for the report of a shooting, the Charles County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. A preliminary investigation showed that Reuel Hicks, of Waldorf, was walking behind the movie theater with friends when he stopped to make a drug transaction with Deavan Q. Jefferson, 19, of no fixed address, the statement said. During the transaction, Jefferson pulled a gun and shot Hicks, the statement said, then fled. Hicks was flown to a hospital in critical condition, according to police, where he died early Thursday. Jefferson was detained near the scene of the shooting and charged with first-degree murder, police said. Police asked anyone with information about the shooting to call 301-932-2222 or Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. A school bus and a Metrobus collided Thursday afternoon in Northeast Washington, leaving 42 children and one adult with minor injuries, according to the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. Theincident occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. at Eastern Avenue and Randolph Street NE, steps from the District-Maryland border. Firefighters and rescue personnel from Prince Georges County were assisting D.C. officials. Authorities had initially put the casualty count at 25, but increased it to 43 a short time later. At around 6:30 p.m., the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department tweeted that 42 chidren and one adult were transported to the hospital, and four adults were evaluated at the scene and refused further treatment. It was unclear if the injured juveniles were on the school bus, or if some were on the G8 Metrobus. Few details of how the crash occurred were available. Fire officials declared it a mass-casualty incident because of the number of people injured. There was no immediate word on injuries aboard the Metrobus. A spokeswoman for Metro had no information, and the Fire Department had casualty numbers only for those on the school bus. By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Police has registered a case of assault on a complaint against AAP MLA Amantullah Khan and his supporters, by a Shaheen Bagh resident in south east Delhi, police said today. "A case has been registered on a complaint against Amantullah Khan and his men on a complaint by a resident of Shaheen Bagh in Okhla. Investigation is underway," said a senior south east Delhi police officer. advertisement The case was registered on the complaint of Syed Taseer Ahmad, under Sections 506(criminal intimidation), 341(wrongful restraint), 325(causing hurt), 34 (criminal act done by several persons with common intention) at Jamia Nagar police station last night, he said. The complainant has alleged that about 50 men including the Okhla MLA attacked him near Hamza Square leading to injuries on his back, head, neck and face, around 9.30 pm on October 16, police said. Efforts are being made to ascertain whether Amanatullah was present on the spot as the complainant has claimed to have been assaulted by him and his men. Amanatullah said that police has registered the case without "proper investigation" on "false" charges by the complainant. "At the time of the alleged assault I was not there instead I was at Pocket 9 A in Jasola. I cannot be at two places at the same time. Police knows that I was not in the crowd that allegedly attacked the complaint but they still filed the FIR under pressure," he said. Earlier, in July, Tasser had filed a complaint against the MLA and his men of attacking him and other persons during a protest against civic woes in the area and a NCR (non cognizable report) was registered by the police. "The MLA is against me since I opposed him and his activities. I had also lodged complaints against him with police previously since he threatened to kill me," said Taseer. PTI VIT RG --- ENDS --- Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant a couple of podcasters who know a little bit about a lot of things understand what to expect Saturday when they bring their act to Washington: people who know a lot about a lot. People in D.C. know their stuff, Bryant said. Youd think that would be intimidating, but its actually kind of comforting for what we do. The two hosts of Stuff You Should Know are ready for the city of experts. They will bring to a live audience at the Lincoln Theatre the audio routine that has made them the object of wonk love across the country: a couple of guys brosplaining a different topic of general interest twice each week, mixing a love of learning with some pretty funny asides about movies, music and food. In more than 800 episodes, Clark and Bryant have delivered inch-deep summaries of steam engines and stem cells, pinball and probiotics, sinkholes, voodoo, body hair, the electoral college and the Large Hadron Collider. The show is routinely ranked in the top-five most popular podcasts in the country by Podtrac. It has become a sleeper hit in a medium dominated by the downloadable versions of such public radio shows as This American Life and Radiolab. [A station is born: Inside the high-risk, low-watt, quirky world of community radio] Chuck Bryant, left, and Josh Clark, co-hosts of the podcast Stuff You Should Know, at a Google event. (Stuff You Should Know) Its a mix of wonkery and comedy that caught the notice of the organizers of the Bentzen Ball, a three-day blitz of comedy acts held at venues across Washington that started Thursday. The festival, returning for its fourth (nonconsecutive) year, was seeking to expand beyond stand-up when producers latched onto Stuff You Should Know. Its not a comedy podcast, but theyre so goofy that I laugh even as I nerd out listening to them, said Cale Charney, a co-founder of Brightest Young Things D.C. and the festivals production manager. Its the perfect expression of D.C. as a city where comedy does really well but people are really smart. The Bentzen Ball, which is curated each year by comedian Tig Notaro, debuted in 2009 with performances by Sarah Silverman and Nick Offerman. This year it will present more than 10 performers on stages as diverse as the DC Improv Lounge and the Kennedy Center, starting with Notaros kickoff show Thursday night at the Lincoln. The lineup includes a showing of the cult film UHF narrated by its creator, Weird Al Yankovic, and a stage showing of the ghoulish comedy ensemble from The Last Podcast on the Left. D.C. is a phenomenal place for this, Notaro said. No matter what we throw at the audience there, they devour it. [Listen to Ciquizza: The Fix Podcast] The SYSK hosts know from listener mail that they have a following in the District. Its a city with a booming millennial population that has embraced the portability of podcasts, particularly one that scratches the minor itches of the chronically curious. Forty minutes on circumcision while picking up the dry cleaning? Freemasonry on the spin bike? Riding the Red Line to Jack the Ripper? Yes to all that and a sold out live show, as well. Its very weird, Bryant said by phone from Atlanta. Neither of us ever expected anything like this. Both hosts were writers for Atlanta-based howstuffworks.com, a collection of blogs devoted to explaining the universe to laymen started by a North Carolina State University professor, when the company decided to turn some of its articles into podcasts in 2008. After trying out a few co-hosts, the show quickly settled into the format that remains today, with Bryant, 45, and Clark, 40, briefing up on Google then sitting down in the studio for a chummy, unrehearsed conversation about the topic of the day. Never presenting themselves as more than temporary experts and careful to credit their research sources, the episodes are less like lectures and more like sitting in with a couple of pals with perfect retention. Its easy to imagine the University of Georgia undergrads they both were. Hearing SYSK riff on totem poles is like grabbing a quick one at the Globe Bar in Athens, Ga., with a guy who just turned in a solid A-minus paper in anthropology. The digression into Indiana Jones movies is just extra credit. The show grew along with the popularity of podcasts generally. Soon it was being downloaded more than a million times a week, and spinning off into Twitter and Facebook channels. By 2013, Clark and Bryant were starring in a low-budget sitcom based on their show that aired for one season on Discoverys Science Channel (the network owned How Stuff Works at the time). The two have traveled for live shows across the country and to Britain. As podcasts increasingly make the jump from ear bud to live stage, more listeners get to shatter the mental constructs they build around the voices. D.C. audience members will learn that Clark, he of the droll quip and the Muppety tenor, could pass for Chevy Chase or, in a tux, Cary Grant. While Bryant, with a delighted and delightful giggle, looks like the bearded jug player in a bluegrass band. I was recognized the other day in a pumpkin patch, Bryant said. How about that? They know they are hanging by an intellectual thread in each episode, aware that real experts are ready to pounce on any mistake. Any mispronunciation is likely to stir the language scolds, as they learned after a recent episode on the Chinese underground city of Dixia Cheng. Also, beware the karate nuts, train spotters, chess addicts and other hobbyists who fiercely police the particulars of their life passions. They are the nippy ones when we get something wrong, Clark said. Usually the howlers come not from their research but from the off-the-cuff comments they toss along the way. Like the passing reference to Germany as a landlocked country. We quickly heard a lot about the lovely Baltic Coast, Bryant said. Or Clarks offhand assertions on overwatering new grass. Yes, a lot of turf mangers let me know it would be madness to let an inch of water stand on your lawn, he said. But listeners often take the lessons the way they are meant, as mostly accurate accounts from two dudes who find almost everything interesting. Surprisingly, academics have been among the most forgiving. When the co-hosts ventured into chaos theory, physicists thanked them for touting their work to a general audience. I think most people get what our mission is, Bryant said. Were just giving a broad overview. Petra Lovetinska Seipel broke gender barriers at the all-male Citadel. The Marine major is in aviation supply. (Family Photo) They didnt want her. The Citadels bigwigs lobbied hard to keep young women like Petra Lovetinska Seipel out of their state-supported, all-male military academy. Yet Seipel, who became one of The Citadels first female graduates, was in Washington last week to talk up the place that didnt want to accept her. Shes 38 now and a major in the Marine Corps at a time when the country could be on the verge of electing its first female commander in chief. But Seipel wasnt planning to focus on Hillary Clinton or feminism or even gender when she spoke to students at her alma mater, Woodrow Wilson High School in Northwest D.C. I like to talk about opportunity, she told me as she made sure her uniform was in order before her appearance at the school. Not just about women in the military. Seipel has always concentrated on proving that women can do the job and thats not uncommon among female pioneers in the military, law enforcement, science, technology and other male-dominated fields. They often refuse to utter the word feminism, even when it has helped them break barriers. Female cadets at The Citadel speak about their thoughts on what it means to be a leader. (The Citadel Experience) Seipel was a star in her Wilson JROTC class two decades ago. She was a champion marksman, winner of JROTC competitions, a top performer academically and a competitive swimmer. She was also an immigrant. Seipel was 14 when she came to the United States with her parents from the Czech Republic. Her dad was a driver for the embassy. His pay placed them just below the poverty line. Seipel qualified for free lunches at school. The JROTC program helped her find her place in this new land. She had the skills, the drive and the discipline to get to The Citadel. Just not the gender. A familiar story, even today. [WWII pilot Elaine Harmon breaks one last barrier at Arlington Cemetery ] But the world was changing, and in the summer of 1996, the Supreme Court ruled that the nations only other state-supported, all-male military academy, the Virginia Military Institute, must accept women or lose public funding. The law was changing, so we fell in line, remembered Anthony Motley, a 1960 Citadel graduate and former U.S. ambassador to Brazil. Motley had lobbied against women at his beloved academy in Charleston, S.C. He even gave money to efforts to keep women out. It was a bitter fight. Shannon Faulkner sued The Citadel and finally got in as the first and only woman in 1995. She left five days later, a campus of men cheering her departure behind her back. It wasnt because Motley believed in equal opportunity that he chose to support one of the first women to go through The Citadel. He just wanted some say in who that first woman would be. Thats when he found Seipel, the perfect candidate to do this whole woman thing. But I cant pay for this, she told him after they met. He told her not to worry about the money. And sure enough, more than 100 members of the Washington area Citadel alumni club became her supporters. Petras Plank Holders, they called themselves. Seipel and three other women started at the academy that fall. Two dropped out before the first year was over, citing harassment and abuse. That left Seipel and Nancy Mace, the daughter of The Citadels commandant of cadets. They both had a rough experience. There was a tremendous backlash against women there, Motley said. Even now there are only 171 women at The Citadel, just 7 percent of the schools enrollment. But Seipel succeeded. She won awards, kept her grades up, was given leadership positions. Along the way, the young men around often told her, Its just because youre a girl. It constantly dogged her the feeling that she wasnt good enough, that she had to be perfect, that at least 100 people back in D.C. had money invested in her success, that the whole country was watching to see whether a woman could do the work. And she did [Hillary Clinton is a 68-year-old woman. And plenty of people hate her for it. ] Then came another hurdle. She wanted to join the Marines, but she was not an American citizen. It took an Act of Congress literally to make this happen. She became one of only five people joining Mother Teresa, William Penn, Winston Churchill and Raoul Wallenberg in American history to become citizens as a special Act of Congress. Shes now head of the organizational planning branch at the Weapon Systems Management Center in Albany, Ga. Her specialty is aviation supply the work she did when she was deployed to Iraq. Shes also the mother of two young boys and the wife of a Marine. Shes a great spokesman for The Citadel, Motley said. She does quite a bit of that. In urging high school students to apply to The Citadel, Seipel said: I dont focus on women in the military. I encourage them to work hard to achieve their dreams. I talk about leadership, I talk about my experience and relate it to the students. She sees herself as a crusader for quality and diversity. Thats what the military and the country need the most, she thinks. When you bring people together who have different ways of thinking, youre stronger, she said. Youre better prepared for the mission. Twitter: @petulad Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis. (John Locher/AP) Democrat Hillary Clinton continues to enjoy a hefty lead over Republican Donald Trump in Virginia, according to the latest polling in a state that began 2016 as a battleground but now is widely projected to go blue. The former secretary of state is up 12 points over the businessman in a Quinnipiac University Poll released Thursday, less than two weeks before Election Day. Clinton was up by the same margin in a poll released last week by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University. [Poll: Trump recovers slightly in Va. but still trails Clinton by double digits] Fifty percent of the states likely voters support Clinton in the Quinnipiac poll, compared to 38 percent for Trump. Four percent said they will vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson and 2 percent for Green Party candidate Jill Stein. After sending Lyndon Johnson to the White House in 1964, Virginia went reliably Republican for president until Barack Obama broke that streak in 2008. He won again in 2012. But after nail-biter races for governor in 2013 and U.S. Senate in 2014, the state was still considered a toss-up heading into 2016. But Trump has trailed Clinton in polls here for months. Virginia, which 12 years ago was a solidly Republican state, is now true blue in its presidential ballot and one of the most Democratic states south of the Mason-Dixon Line, said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the poll. Despite the lagging poll numbers, Trump has continued to make a play for Virginia and its 13 electoral votes. He held a rally in Virginia Beach on Saturday, and days earlier announced a $2 million ad buy in the state. May political observers Republicans among them have questioned the strategy, but his campaign has said the polls likely underestimate his support. [Trump confounds many Republicans with last-minute push in Virginia] While Clinton leads in the state, the poll shows Virginians do not have a particularly high opinion of her. Only 45 percent view her favorably, and 53 percent view her unfavorably. But that is still better than Trumps rating: 34 favorable to 61 percent unfavorable. Among men, 44 percent said they would vote for Clinton and 41 percent for Trump. Women back Clinton 55 percent to 35 percent. Clinton also has the support of 71 percent of nonwhite voters, while 48 percent of white voters go for Trump. Clinton has the backing of 91 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of independent voters. Eighty-three percent of Republicans back Trump. One number tells you all you need to know about why Donald Trump is doing so poorly in the Old Dominion: Only 83 percent of Republicans say they are going to vote for him, their own party nominee, Brown said. Thats a very low measure of party unity. Its fair to say history is not replete with major candidates winning an election in which they got only 83 percent of their own party members. By comparison, Secretary Clinton is getting 91 percent of the Democratic vote. Quinnipiac surveyed 749 likely Virginia likely voters via cellphones and landlines for the poll, which was conducted Oct. 20-26. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. Here's what you need to know about the changing premiums and options for Healthcare.gov plans in the 2017 enrollment period, which lasts from Nov. 1, 2016, to Jan. 31, 2017. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) Here's what you need to know about the changing premiums and options for Healthcare.gov plans in the 2017 enrollment period, which lasts from Nov. 1, 2016, to Jan. 31, 2017. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) Soaring insurance prices for the coming year under the Affordable Care Act place intense pressure on the next president to follow through with campaign promises for a new round of changes to the nations health-care system after years of bitter stalemate. The revelation this week by the Obama administration that premiums will increase by 25 percent, on average, for a popular group of plans sold through HealthCare.gov immediately became tinder for GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. The lashing was nothing new; during the six years since the law was passed, partisan hostility repeatedly has hobbled the daunting task of creating federal rules and ways for millions of Americans to buy coverage. Yet the timing only magnified the news of the spiking prices, as well as a dwindling number of insurers selling ACA plans in many states. Three years after crippling computer defects marred the launch of HealthCare.gov, the marketplaces face a host of new challenges that epitomize the difficulty of trying to broaden coverage in a politically fraught climate: Will enough healthy people sign up for ACA health plans when the marketplaces open Tuesday for their fourth enrollment season and help to stabilize the program? And will the pre-election focus on rising premiums further erode public support for the biggest and most contentious expansion of health coverage in decades? [Average premiums for popular ACA plans rising 25 percent] The first clue to both the number of people who pick ACA plans in time to be covered by Jan. 1 may be one of the first things awaiting a new administration, said Larry Levitt, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation. That early enrollment data usually arrives in mid-January, just before the inauguration, Levitt said. If the election is won by front-runner Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee who champions the law but wants to change it, how well open enrollment goes will be pivotal in how high the ACA ends up in the agenda, Levitt said. Asked about the price hikes in an interview with a Florida radio station, Clinton said, Well, were going to make changes to fix problems like that. She said that costs have gone up too much, but added that we can do that without ripping away the insurance that people now have. Trump is vowing to swiftly repeal the law. He characterized the rate increases as a sign that the Affordable Care Act is blowing up. No matter who wins, the price jump definitely increases the urgency for dealing with the problems for an incoming administration, said Dan Mendelson, chief executive of Avalere Health, a health-care consulting firm. Though the political repercussions are national, the 2017 prices announced on Monday affect only people who buy insurance through the marketplaces, designed for consumers who cannot get affordable health benefits through a job. Roughly 10 million Americans have such coverage now, and more than 80 percent qualify for subsidies under the law. The greatest burden of the rate increases will fall on marketplace customers with incomes too high for the tax credits. The big jump in rates is the result of a confluence of factors that have built up over several years. They involve policy, politics, finances and the courts. For starters, any insurer entering the new ACA marketplaces three years ago had to set its prices without knowing who would sign up and how much medical care they would use. This calculation was complicated by the fact that, under the law, insurers could no longer refuse to cover people with preexisting conditions such as cancer or asthma and could not charge them more. Some health policy experts think that some insurers, pressed by the Obama administration to help make the law succeed, charged artificially low prices to attract new customers. Other experts say insurers simply made bad guesses. This was a market where the insurers clearly had very little idea who the customers were going to be, said Joseph Antos, a health policy expert at the American Enterprise Institute. The rates that insurers proposed this spring for 2017 are the first based on enough data for many companies to understand that they are losing money because their ACA customers tend to be sicker than most Americans with private insurance. Antos predicts that after 2017 and perhaps 2018, the prices are likely to stabilize. Not all health policy experts agree, and the laws GOP critics say that the marketplaces are entering a death spiral. Obama administration officials are portraying this year as a transition time for the marketplaces, pointing out that some of the largest rate increases for 2017 are in states where ACA marketplace prices have been relatively low. [ACA enrollment to rise by 1 million next year, Obama administration projects] Mendelson, however, contends that this premium increase was largely avoidable if political Washington had managed to iron out small details. Instead, the only thing you see is spin coming out of the White House and blame coming out of the Republican Congress. Fixes that could have helped include giving insurers flexibility to sell less-expensive policies with fewer benefits and imposing significant penalties on people who game the system, by buying insurance just before they need costly medical treatment or prescription drugs and then dropping it soon afterward. If there had been some positive back and forth, wed have 20 million people, no problem, Mendelson said, referring to the number of ACA customers that congressional budget analysts had forecast for this year twice the actual enrollment. Instead, the House has taken more than 60 votes to repeal the law, and foes have repeatedly taken the law to court. Their legal results have been mixed. A 2012 Supreme Court ruling affirmed the ACAs constitutionality but allowed each state to decide whether to carry out the expansion of Medicaid the law envisioned. As a result, in the 19 GOP-led states that refused to expand the program, marketplace insurers have drawn more low-income people than they would have otherwise, some with expensive, pent-up medical needs. In addition, Congress has blocked federal health officials from spending money that the law intended to help ACA insurers if their expenses proved unexpectedly high during the first three years. Because of that, the Health and Human Services Department announced last fall that it had enough money to pay only about 13 percent of the $2.9 billion it owed insurers for the first year of this risk corridor program. HHS has since said it also will not have any money to pay for the second year. During his final months in office, President Obama is talking about fixes the law needs. In a speech in Florida last week, he mused that Congress might become more cooperative once he is out of office. He said the government should expand the premium subsidies to help more middle-income individuals and families afford an ACA health plan and to give more money to young adults as an inducement for them to enroll and thus balance out insurers costs. If Clinton succeeds Obama, she will arrive at the White House with a substantial agenda for altering the ACA. One of her main ideas, which Obama has embraced recently, is to allow a government-run insurance alternative in parts of the country in which marketplaces have too few choices. She wants to expand tax credits and give the federal government power to block excessive rate increases in states that do not have that authority. Meanwhile, leaders of the insurance industry have been talking with administration officials on steps they say would stabilize ACA marketplaces, such as cracking down on people who improperly buy policies outside the regular enrollment periods. But one industry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the discussions sensitivity, acknowledged that recognizing the political calendar and current makeup on Capitol Hill, its likely that these discussion and potential fixes will be pushed to next year. The federal government is temporarily blocking more health insurance companies from automatically moving customers who become eligible for Medicare into Medicare Advantage plans while officials review the controversial practice. They also will issue rules soon for plans that already have permission to make these switches, known as seamless conversion, according to a memo from Michael Crochunis, acting director of the Medicare Enrollment and Appeals Group at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Under current rules, an insurer can transfer customers who have purchased policies through an Affordable Care Act insurance exchange or other commercial plans when they become eligible for Medicare, typically at age 65. An insurer must give an individual 60 days written notice of the switch; if a person doesnt opt out, that enrollment takes effect automatically. But some seniors and advocates say such notices can easily be missed in the deluge of mailings from companies trying to entice newly eligible seniors to join their Medicare Advantage plans. [Between ACA and Medicare, some Americans may have too much health coverage ] These private plans are a substitute for traditional, government-run Medicare coverage and restrict beneficiaries to a network of providers. Medicare Advantage is a voluntary program for most seniors, and about a third of the 55.5 million older or disabled Americans who are Medicare- eligible opt for it. The program often includes additional services, such as eye and dental care or gym discounts. The decision to prohibit additional insurers from pursuing Medicare Advantage conversions comes after Kaiser Health News and The Washington Post identified problems with the practice in July. Some seniors did not know they had different coverage until receiving out-of-network providers bills for thousands of dollars. Others got the news when they received a Medicare Advantage membership card they hadnt requested with the name of a new primary-care doctor they didnt know. This week, a CMS spokesman encouraged seniors to open and review all mail from their current insurer, even if they had decided to sign up for traditional Medicare. The one-page announcement from Crochunis did not explain what prompted the decision, except to note that it followed recent inquiries regarding the [seamless conversion] mechanism. Twenty-nine insurers selling plans in 16 states including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and some Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates are allowed to do seamless conversion, according to CMS data. Nearly half of these companies were approved in the first eight months of this year, and the agency spokesman said it is working with insurers to determine how many beneficiaries were enrolled through the process. [This could be the worrisome reason why new cancer patients are not using a lifesaving ] Last month, four advocacy groups asked acting CMS administrator Andy Slavitt to strengthen protections for beneficiaries who have been enrolled in Medicare Advantage without their knowledge. The groups said seniors should be able to leave their plan anytime and join Medicare or choose another plan. Their recourse now is unclear. We think this is an important first step in addressing the issues surrounding seamless enrollment, said David Lipschutz, a senior attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy in Washington, which was among the groups signing the letter. But ultimately, we want it to go away. Lipschutz said that as long as CMS continues to allow the practice, insurers should be required to obtain a beneficiarys written consent before a new Medicare Advantage policy can take effect. The American Medical Association has also urged Slavitt to make changes in the program. Since Medicare Advantage provider networks are narrower than those of other private plans, seniors can lose their doctors when insurers switch them, chief executive James Madara wrote in September. Clearly, when a patients non-Medicare insurance has been covering their care from a particular physician(s) and this physician(s) is not in the MA plans network, the result is far from seamless, he wrote. Kaiser Health News is a national health policy news service that is part of the nonpartisan Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) President Pranab Mukherjee will pay a state visit to Nepal next week, the first by an Indian head of state in 18 years to the neighbouring country. The three-day visit will begin on November 2 and a high-level delegation will accompany him. "During the visit, the President will hold talks with the President, Prime Minister and other leaders of Nepal on a wide array of issues of mutual interest. advertisement "The state visit reflects the priority that government of India attaches to further strengthen its age-old unique partnership with Nepal and our shared historical and cultural linkages and wide-ranging people to people contacts," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said here today. He said apart from his engagements in capital Kathmandu, Mukherjee will also visit Jankapur and Pokhara adding Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari had invited the Indian President to her country. PTI NES RCJ --- ENDS --- Estelle and Frederick Garcia, with their son Fernando, left, leave the Douglas County Court in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday. (Nati Harnik/AP) TENNEESSEE Memphis police under review by Justice Dept. The Justice Department has launched a comprehensive review of the Memphis Police Department, officials said Wednesday, after citizens criticized the departments use of deadly force and its treatment of the black community. Federal and local officials announced the details in a news conference at the office of U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton III in Memphis. Mayor Jim Strickland and Police Director Michael Rallings said the city invited federal authorities to review the departments policies involving community-oriented policing and the use of deadly force, in efforts to undertake collaborative reform of the department. The announcement comes a month after the Justice Department completed its review of the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old black man by a white police officer in July 2015. The review found insufficient evidence to charge Officer Connor Schilling with civil rights violations in the shooting of Darrius Stewart. Schilling shot Stewart twice during a fight that began when Schilling tried to arrest Stewart on an active warrant during a traffic stop. Fourteen other cities are undergoing similar reviews, including San Francisco, Milwaukee and North Charleston, S.C. Associated Press OREGON Judge dismisses juror in refuge standoff case A judge overseeing the trial of seven defendants who took over a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon has dismissed a juror after questions arose about his impartiality during deliberations. U.S. District Judge Anna Brown in Portland dismissed the juror Wednesday and replaced him with an alternate. Brown said the juror is a man who worked for the Bureau of Land Management 20 years ago. The BLM is under the same federal umbrella as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Ammon Bundy and six others staged a 41-day armed takeover of the refuge in January. Associated Press NEBRASKA Ex-doctor convicted of killing four people A former doctor was convicted Wednesday of killing four people with ties to an Omaha medical school, including the 11-year-old son of a faculty member there. A Douglas County jury found Anthony Garcia guilty of four counts of first-degree murder. He faces either life in prison or death if voters opt Nov. 8 to keep Nebraskas death penalty. Garcia, 42, was convicted of fatally stabbing 11-year-old Thomas Hunter, son of Creighton University School of Medicine faculty member William Hunter, and the familys housekeeper, Shirlee Sherman, 57, in 2008 at the familys home in an upscale Omaha neighborhood. That case remained unsolved for years, until the deaths of another Creighton pathology doctor, Roger Brumback, and his wife, Mary, in their Omaha home on Mothers Day in 2013. Roger Brumback had been shot and stabbed; his wife was stabbed. Clues in that killing offered up similarities to the killings at the Hunter house, and a police task force examined possible ties between the two events. Prosecutors said Garcia blamed the doctors for informing other medical schools that he had been fired from the residency program in 2001, keeping him from being accepted to several of them. Associated Press MICHIGAN Detroit official pleads guilty in teen sex case The former president of the Detroit City Council pleaded guilty Wednesday to criminal sexual conduct with a teen more than a decade ago when he was a TV journalist. Charles Pughs plea deal is the latest turn in his incredible plunge since he was elected council president in 2009 as the top vote-getter in Detroit. He suddenly quit his post in 2013 and mysteriously left the city for New York as allegations surfaced about sexual misconduct. The plea deal calls for a minimum prison sentence of 5 years, after which Pugh will be eligible for parole. He also must register as a sex offender. IRAQ ISIS marching people into Mosul as shields Islamic State militants have been going door to door in villages south of Mosul, ordering people at gunpoint on a miles-long trek into the city and using them as human shields as the extremists prepare to defend it from Iraqi forces, according to residents swept up in the forced evacuations. The militants took all of us from our homes at gunpoint and told us they were taking us with them to Mosul, Ahmed Bilal Harish said Wednesday. They said if you dont come with us youre an unbeliever. He said he and his family were able to escape only when airstrikes caused the militants to scatter during the 25-mile forced march from their home in Shura. Brig. Gen. Alaa Mehsin of the Iraqi armys 15th Division said the militants were pulling back to bolster their defenses in Mosul and were taking hundreds of civilians as human shields. They also had planted explosive booby-traps to slow advancing troops, he said. Associated Press RUSSIA Flotilla wont refuel in Spanish port Russia canceled a request to refuel a flotilla of its Syria-bound warships at a Spanish port Wednesday, according to Russian state-run media and other news reports. The move came amid mounting criticism of Madrid by NATOs secretary general and Britains defense minister. The Russian battle group, comprising cruisers, submarine-hunting warships and Russias lone aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov was set to refuel in Ceuta, a Spanish port situated in North Africa near the Strait of Gibraltar, before heading into the Mediterranean. While Spain has allowed Russian ships to use its refueling facilities in the past, the small armadas likely mission bolstering Russias strikes in Syria has drawn widespread condemnation, forcing Spain into an uncomfortable position with its allies. Thomas Gibbons-Neff AFGHANISTAN Taliban blocks key highway to capital Taliban fighters blocked a major highway Wednesday linking Kabul to the southern city of Kandahar, as militants pressed an offensive against government forces near the Afghan capital. Any break in Afghanistans main highway is a serious blow, as it carries nearly all commerce and supplies, and alternative routes are extremely difficult. In a text message to reporters, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said an attack was launched on military installations and led to the closure of key roads and destruction of four tanks. It was unclear if anyone was killed. The attack on Maidan Shahr, about 25 miles southwest of Kabul was the latest in a series of assaults by Taliban fighters on provincial centers. Sayed Salahuddin and Erin Cunningham Temblor shakes central Italy: A 5.4-magnitude earthquake rattled central Italy, knocking out power, closing a major highway and sending panicked residents into the streets just two months after a powerful temblor killed nearly 300 people. Two people were injured in the Visso area near the quake epicenter, but there were no other immediate reports of victims, said Italys civil protection chief, Fabrizio Curcio. Some structures were damaged, though many were in zones that were declared off-limits after the Aug. 24 quake. Gambia to withdraw from International Criminal Court: Gambia has become the third African nation to say it will leave the International Criminal Court, deepening fears of a mass pullout from the body that pursues some of the worlds worst atrocities. In announcing the decision Tuesday night on national television, Gambia accused the court of unfairly targeting Africa and calling it the International Caucasian Court for the persecution and humiliation of people of color, especially Africans. South Africa and Burundi have also said they will leave the court. From news services RUSSIA Putin rejects U.S. claim of election interference President Vladimir Putin on Thursday dismissed claims that Russia is interfering in the U.S. presidential election, saying the allegations are designed to distract the public from real issues. The United States has accused Russia of coordinating the hacking of American political organizations to interfere with the election process. Speaking to international foreign policy experts in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin dismissed the hysteria about Russias influence on the U.S. presidential election. He said U.S. elites have used the mythical and fictitious issue to distract attention from real problems such as government debt and police violence. Does anyone seriously think Russia can somehow influence the American peoples choice? Putin said. Is America some kind of banana republic? America is a great power! Migrants walk at sunset near the "Jungle" migrant camp Thursday in Calais, northern France. (Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images) Putin dismissed as sheer nonsense the claim that Russia favors Republican contender Donald Trump, saying it serves as a campaign tool. Its just an instrument of political struggle, a way of manipulating public opinion, he said. Putin added that its not clear what stance the next U.S. president will take toward Russia but said, We will work with any president who will be elected by the American people. A day earlier, U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry insisted that Washington has no doubts about direct Russian involvement in the hacking. Relations between Russia and the West have plummeted to their lowest point since the Cold War over the Ukraine and Syria crises. Associated Press KENYA Man in knife attack at U.S. Embassy is killed A man was fatally shot after he stabbed a police officer guarding the perimeter wall of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi and tried to take his gun, a Kenyan police official said Thursday. The officer who was stabbed opened fire, killing the attacker, said Vitalis Otieno, the officer in charge of the Gigiri area, which hosts several embassies and the United Nations Africa headquarters. The identity of the attacker, a Kenyan from the volatile region of Wajir near Somalia, is known to police, Otieno said. The U.S. Embassy confirmed the shooting. Wajir county has been cited by Kenyan authorities as a hot spot for recruitment by the Islamist extremist group al-Shabab from neighboring Somalia. Al-Shabab has vowed retribution against Kenya for its deployment of troops to Somalia to fight the militant group. Al-Shabab has carried out deadly attacks in Kenya. Al-Shabab is al-Qaedas affiliate in the region, and it hosted Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, who was accused of masterminding the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania , which killed more than 200 people. He was killed by Somali troops in 2011. Associated Press Turkey arrests dozens of pilots suspected of Gulen ties: Turkeys state-run news agency said 45 military pilots were detained and 29 pilots previously detained were formally arrested as part of an investigation into the movement the government blames for a coup attempt in July. U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen is accused of masterminding the coup attempt, which led to more than 270 deaths, and the government has launched a broad crackdown on his followers. 2 Eritrean pilots defect to Ethiopia, group says: Two Eritrean pilots have defected with their fighter jets to neighboring Ethiopia, an Eritrean opposition group confirmed, in a dramatic exit from one of the worlds most closed-off states. A spokesman for the Ethiopia-based Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization identified the pilots and said Ethiopian jets accompanied them on their entry into the countrys airspace. This is the first time Eritrean pilots have defected to Ethiopia with their jets. Eritreas government has been accused of numerous abuses, and longtime President Isaias Afwerki is viewed as increasingly repressive. 2 Yazidi women win human rights prize: Two Yazidi women who escaped sexual enslavement by Islamic State militants and went on to become advocates for others have won the European Unions Sakharov Prize for human rights. Nadia Murad Basee, who escaped after three months in captivity, has become a spokeswoman for other women abused by the Islamic State. Lamiya Aji Bashar tried to flee four times before finally succeeding in March. Hundreds of Yazidi women and girls remain captives of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. From news services The Oct. 23 news article One year later in Flint, Michigan painted a devastating yet accurate picture of the continuing suffering of city residents exposed to lead in their drinking water. A delegation of Flint residents facing this grim circumstance came to Washington last month seeking federal help to remedy the damage to their water system. They left empty-handed. Congress has dithered for many months on aiding Flint, despite mounting health concerns. Republican leaders have come up with excuse after excuse. Finally, before leaving town last month for the campaign, the Senate and the House each passed bills that would help Flint recover, with the House bill providing less money and passing despite the objections of many Republican members. Congress should not adjourn for the year without helping Flint replace its lead service lines. The official neglect that resulted in lead contaminating Flints water should not be compounded by further official irresponsibility. David Goldston, Washington The writer is director of government affairs for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Matthew Dallek, an associate professor at George Washington Universitys Graduate School of Political Management, is the author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security. If Hillary Clinton became president and decided to put more U.S. boots on the ground to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, she would probably be able to wage that war. She could simply assert that the Islamic State presents an imminent threat to American lives and that circumstance requires her, as commander in chief, to commit Americas military more fully to destroying the terrorist group. Congress, widely condemned by its critics as a molasses-like, dysfunctional branch of government, would seemingly be powerless to stop her. This notion that commanders in chief enjoy nearly unrestricted authority to wage wars in virtually any manner of their choosing has sunk deep roots in American politics and culture. Historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. announced in 1973 that an Imperial Presidency was ascendant and even likened presidential war powers to those in the hands of an absolute monarch. Yet David J. Barrons Waging War: The Clash Between Presidents and Congress, 1776 to ISIS provides a trenchant counterargument to the idea that wartime presidents are pretty much omnipotent. Commanders in chief cant do whatever they want. As Barron puts it, Presidents are not really so imperial after all if one closely studies the historical record. Schlesingers widely known framework doesnt reflect the complicated reality of most of Americas struggles over war and peace. With an ambitious sweep and brimming with subtle insights, Waging War is a deep history and a thoughtful inquiry into how the constitutional system of checks and balances has functioned when it comes to waging war and making peace. Barrons argument bolstered by a sure grasp of constitutional debates and the ongoing struggles pitting the executive against the legislative and judicial branches is both surprising and oddly reassuring. Members of Congress in particular would do well to absorb it. Congress has frequently asserted its authority in order to shape how presidents run their wars. And it has often succeeded, Barron argues. From limiting funding used to sustain combat operations to restricting specific battlefield actions and pressuring presidents to shift military strategies, Congress has provided commanders in chief with far less latitude than readers might have supposed. Shortly after the nations founding, the Continental Congress influenced the conduct of the Revolutionary War. For instance, when the British threatened New York with invasion, Gen. George Washington wanted to prevent the city from becoming Winter Quarters for the Enemy by burning it to the ground. Warning of the dangers to the peoples morale of such a destructive act, Congress pressured Washington to retreat from New York without setting it on fire. He relented. The ramifications of this precedent shaped how presidents approached war in the early republic. The legislative and executive branches of government repeatedly clashed over their respective roles and the supposed constitutional limits on a presidents warmaking authority. Congress used its appropriations and other legislative powers, along with private and public criticism of the commander in chief, as leverage. The Second Confiscation Act of 1862 enabled Union forces to free some Confederate slaves in Union-occupied territory. The bill was all but imploring [President Abraham Lincoln] to act boldly to grant slaves freedom, a step that Radical Republicans saw as both a moral and a military imperative. A year later, fortified by congressional backing, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Even imperialistic-minded presidents faced congressional constraints on their war-waging authorities. During the 1899-1902 Philippine-American War, learning of allegations that U.S. military personnel occupying the Philippines had committed abuses, Congress launched an investigation. The subsequent report revealed that American soldiers had waterboarded prisoners and used other forms of torture. By exposing President Teddy Roosevelts seeming tolerance of the use of illegal tactics, Congress prodded him to bring the war in the Philippines to an end. As the United States entered the 20th century and the age of total war, which placed civilians in danger, Congress was still able to restrain presidential decision-making. The Senate roundly defeated Woodrow Wilsons proposed League of Nations, part of his vision for the world after World War I. Franklin Roosevelt sought for years to circumvent the Neutrality Acts, which had prohibited his administration from aiding the Allies in World War II. The Cold War, haunted by the specter of a nuclear Armageddon, tipped the scales toward executive warmaking authority. Describing U.S. operations in Korea as simply a police action, Harry Truman launched a three-year war without first securing congressional authorization. Tens of thousands of Americans died, even though Truman never received permission to wage war on the Korean Peninsula. When Congress passed the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Lyndon Johnson bragged that the measure was like Grandmothers nightshirt because it covers everything. Congress enabled LBJ and Richard Nixon, his successor, to wage the war in Vietnam unfettered by congressional obstruction until lawmakers mustered the will (at last) to cut off funding in 1975, well after the United States was defeated. The post-1975 decades have reverted to the historic mean. Congress and the presidency have achieved in these years what Barron terms an interbranch detente. Although presidents have still laid claim to unilateral constitutional war powers, in the end, Barron writes, Congress pressed its right to check those powers in ways that presidents saw no need to defy. After the 1983 U.S. Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 American troops in Beirut, Ronald Reagan came under pressure from Congress and ultimately announced that all U.S. military forces would be withdrawn from Lebanon. Two decades later, Vice President Dick Cheney proffered a unitary theory of executive power as the only way of defending Americans amid the war on terrorism. Yet his theory was met with fierce attack from a resurgent Congress as well. Congress investigated military abuses at Iraqs Abu Ghraib prison. By 2008, it was raising the prospect of cutting off war funding, pressuring the George W. Bush administration to consider a timetable for withdrawing from Iraq. Its no small irony that a book focused on how America has waged its wars and as this book amply demonstrates, the United States has fought its fair share features a note of optimism about the U.S. system of government. Few decisions are weightier than when and how to go to war. And the constitutional framework, especially the balance of powers exemplified by Congresss ability to check the commander in chief in wartime, remains in relatively good health. The federal government is broken, corrupt and incompetent. That is the prevailing opinion in this age of political distemper. Yet, when Congress has mustered its strength and imposed its will on matters of war and peace, the result often has been a wiser, more just wartime policy. As debates about Americas military roles in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan rage unabated, and as the dilemmas abroad facing any new administration grow more complicated, members of Congress must remember their historic, constitutional obligation to be ever vigilant in checking the commander in chief. By India Today Web Desk: Priyanka Chopra is the busiest actor in town where she's juggling Bollywood projects, a music career which she started a couple of years ago, shooting for the second season of Quantico and looking forward to her Hollywood debut in Baywatch. And therefore she can't understand the regressive pregnancy clause for women surrounding their pregnancy. ALSO SEE: Pregnant Kareena makes heads turn at the airport ALSO SEE: Pregnant Kareena in a black outfit sets the red carpet at MAMI 2016 on fire advertisement The Agneepath actor recounted one such contract she was signing with a 'big corporation' and said, "A clause there said that they (corporation) could terminate it (contract) if I got pregnant. I was livid. How could you tell me I could not get pregnant. Not sick, not overweight, just pregnant! Their logic was that I would not be able to deliver the project on time. I was fine with working when I am pregnant. We had a big argument over it. I said 'Alright, if I can't deliver when I am pregnant, you have the right to terminate my contract. If I can deliver, and you don't want me to, then I have the right to terminate." Before this Kareena Kapoor Khan was at the receieving end after she announced her pregnancy to the world. Questions came in thick and fast if she would step out of projects. And Kareena lost her cool and said this, "I'm pregnant, not a corpse. And what maternity break? It's the most normal thing on earth to produce a child. It is high time the media back off, and stop treating me any different than I ever was. Anybody who is bothered shouldn't work with me? but my work goes on as is, like always. Stop making it a national casualty." Both Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor Khan are the new flag-bearers for the working women of 2016 who make all the decisions. Even the intensity of work they can handle during this phase on their way to motherhood. Thou shalt not question their professionalism, or take it on the chin from them. --- ENDS --- In a speech in Gettysburg, Pa., on Oct. 22, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said voter fraud exists and that there are voter registrations in the U.S. that are "invalid" or "significantly inaccurate." (The Washington Post) In a speech in Gettysburg, Pa., on Oct. 22, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said voter fraud exists and that there are voter registrations in the U.S. that are "invalid" or "significantly inaccurate." (The Washington Post) When told that the New England transcendentalist Margaret Fuller had grandly declared I accept the universe, the Scottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle dryly remarked: Shed better. Much ink and indignation has been spilled concerning whether Donald (I am much more humble than you would understand) Trump will accept the elections outcome. The nation, like the universe of which it is the nicest part, will persevere even without the election result being accepted by the fellow who probably will be the first major-party presidential nominee in 20 years to receive less probably a lot less than 45 percent of the vote. When the Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale ticket lost 44 states in 1980, Mondale used his elegant concession remarks to herald a chance to rejoice: Today, all across this nation in high school cafeterias, in town halls, and churches, and synagogues the American people quietly wielded their staggering power. . . . Tonight we celebrate above all the process we call American freedom. Today, such political grace notes are rare as the nation slouches toward its first dyspeptic landslide an electoral-vote avalanche for a candidate regretted by a majority of the electorate. Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860 with the lowest percentage of the popular vote (39.9) of any electoral winner in history. He received fewer than the combined votes for two Democratic rivals, the Northerner Stephen Douglas and the Southerner John Breckinridge. This did not prevent Lincoln from becoming the nations greatest president. Majorities, however helpful, are not necessary. In 14 of the 39 elections since 1860 the winner did not get a majority of the popular vote, including Woodrow Wilson (twice), Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton (twice), Democrats all. [Fearful and angry, Trump supporters brace for the worst: A crushing defeat] Carters 50.1 percent of the popular vote in 1976 was the only time in the 40 years after 1964 that a Democratic presidential candidate would win a majority of the popular vote. Ronald Brownstein of the Atlantic notes, Since the 1828 election of Andrew Jackson that historians consider the birth of the modern two-party system, no party has ever won the presidential popular vote six times over seven elections. By the evening of Nov. 8, the Republican Party likely will have lost the popular vote for the sixth time in seven elections, and will have lost three consecutive elections for the first time since the 1940s. At the site of one of the Civil Wars key battles, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told an estimated crowd of 500 that todays America is nearly as divided as it was then. The Washington Post asked supporters about the future of the Trump movement. (Jorge Ribas/The Washington Post) In the past four elections (2000-2012), no loser has fallen below 45 percent of the vote and no winner has reached 53 percent. This years winner is unlikely to become just the fourth nominee of the worlds oldest party (following Jackson, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson) to win more than 53 percent. The loser, however, could plunge close to the 37.4 percent that George H.W. Bush received in 1992 when Ross Perot took 18.9 percent of the vote. This years winner probably will be the first Democrat since Grover Cleveland to become president without enjoying Democratic control of both houses of Congress. (Cleveland, the last conservative Democratic president, vetoed more bills during his two, non-consecutive terms than all of his predecessors combined.) This year will be the fourth of a particular kind of Republican disappointment since World War II. In 1946, 1994, 2010 and 2014 Republicans won huge victories in off-year elections but two years later lost the presidential election. Thomas Jefferson said the boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave, but some waves have become less turbulent. For example, in 2004, 13 states enacted 11 of them by referendums prohibitions on same-sex marriage. Three elections later, this issue has virtually disappeared from political discourse. [Trump tries to make the Old Post Office great again] Americans might feel as though they are living through an unceasing and unprecedented political maelstrom, but by one measure there is unusual stability: The nation is nearing the end of a third consecutive two-term presidency, something that has occurred only once before in U.S. history the Virginia dynasty of the third, fourth and fifth presidents (Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe). Of the five presidents in office from the inauguration of Kennedy in 1961 through the departure of Jimmy Carter in 1981, not one served two full terms. The last Democrat directly elected (that is, not counting Truman or Johnson, who were elected after inheriting the office) to succeed a Democrat was James Buchanan, arguably the worst president ever. One hundred and sixty years later, Republicans fearing four Clinton years can reasonably hope there will be no more than four: The likelihood of Democrats winning a fourth consecutive presidential term will be reduced if the Republican Party reverts to its practice, adhered to since it chose John C. Fremont in 1856, of nominating a Republican. Read more from George F. Wills archive or follow him on Facebook. IN AUTHORIZING the death-penalty prosecution of Dylann Roof, the white man accused of murdering nine people in a racially motivated assault at a historic African American church in Charleston, S.C., Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch cited the nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm. There can be no disagreement about the merciless horror that occurred June 17, 2015, or about the evidence of Mr. Roofs culpability. But we question whether justice is best served by pressing ahead with not one but two trials seeking the death penalty in the face of Mr. Roofs offer to plead guilty in exchange for life in prison without possibility of release. Some of the people whose lives were tragically touched by the events last year also question the governments decision. The remarkable display of grace that characterized Charlestons response to the shooting including from family members of victims who publicly forgave the 21-year-old gunman days after the massacre should cause federal and state prosecutors to rethink the wisdom of pressing ahead with costly trials and potentially protracted appeals that will cause the families and friends of victims to relive their trauma. Mr. Roof is set to go on trial Nov. 7 on 33 federal charges in connection with the mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. It will take an estimated two to three weeks to seat a jury and then two to three weeks for the trial and deliberations. Assuming a guilty verdict, there will be an additional three to four weeks as the jury decides the penalty. Then, in a jurisdictional pileup over the death penalty, South Carolina plans to go to trial with its own charges. It seems senseless. Trials involving the death penalty are expensive; imprisoning Mr. Roof for life would cost taxpayers less. Studies show that death-penalty trials make it more difficult for survivors and relatives of victims to heal and recover. Three adults and two children survived the attacks; imagine what they might have to endure as these trials drag on through the end of the year. Racially motivated violence such as this is the original domestic terrorism, Ms. Lynch said in explaining why the death penalty is appropriate. True. But some of the most powerful arguments against Mr. Roofs execution are from prominent civil rights leaders. Wade Henderson, president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, wrote a Post op-ed recalling the connection between the death penalty and racial discrimination that results in disproportionately more blacks being put to death. A poll by the University of South Carolina found a majority of black South Carolinians favor life without parole not death for Mr. Roof. We urge Ms. Lynch to bring a speedy and final resolution to the federal case by accepting Mr. Roofs guilty plea. The state should then drop its prosecution and let Mr. Roof be locked away for the rest of his sorry life. BAHRAIN, THE tiny Persian Gulf kingdom that hosts the U.S. 5th Fleet, used to perceive a need to appear responsive to U.S. concerns about its atrocious human rights record. Five years ago, after President Obama publicly criticized the mass arrests and brute force used by the regime to put down popular protests during the Arab Spring, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa commissioned an international investigation and promised to implement a series of reforms. But as Mr. Obama backed away from his support for democratic change in the Middle East, so did Bahrain. The promised reforms were never implemented, and the regime instead steadily escalated repression of moderate opposition leaders and human rights activists. Another big step in that regression could come Monday, when Nabeel Rajab, one of the Arab worlds most renowned human rights activists, faces sentencing on charges of speaking out on matters such as torture in Bahrains prisons and the war in Yemen. The State Department has called for Mr. Rajabs release; instead, he is likely to be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. If so, it will be another demonstration of how the Obama administration has failed to defend U.S. values even in cases where as in Bahrain it wields extraordinary leverage. Like the other Persian Gulf nations, Bahrain depends on the United States for its survival as a Sunni-ruled monarchy in the shadow of Shiite Iran. The al-Khalifa familys position is made even more precarious by the fact that a majority of Bahrains population is Shiite; the nation has been rocked by popular unrest since 2011, which the government claims is fomented by Tehran. In fact, Bahrain has long had a moderate and peaceful indigenous political opposition movement and a civil society of activists such as Mr. Rajab, who is president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Its leaders have advocated gradual change, including a transition to a constitutional monarchy. At times in recent years, the regime halfheartedly pursued dialogue with the opposition. But after the Obama administration lifted restrictions on arms sales last year in spite of a lack of change, the king returned to unmasked repression. This summer, the al-Wefaq opposition party was banned; soon afterward Mr. Rajab was arrested, charged with spreading false news because of his reporting about torture in a government prison, and insulting a neighboring country because of tweets about Saudi Arabias misguided intervention in Yemen. Last month more charges were brought against Mr. Rajab after he published a Letter From a Bahraini Jail in the New York Times. In it he noted he had met Secretary of State John F. Kerry this year. I would like to ask Mr. Kerry now: Is this the kind of ally America wants? he wrote. Unfortunately, the message the Obama administration has sent to Bahrain is Yes. A condemned inmate is led out of his cell on death row at San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin, Calif. (Eric Risberg/Associated Press) Youd think Proposition 62, a referendum to abolish Californias death penalty and replace it with life without parole, including for the 749 current occupants of death row, would win easily on Nov. 8. Democrats dominate this state; their 2016 national platform advocated an end to capital punishment. Former president Jimmy Carter, left-populist icon Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the states major labor unions and 38 newspaper editorial boards are urging a yes vote. Californias death row costs millions to maintain but the state has only executed 13 people since restoring capital punishment in 1978, mainly due to lengthy appeals processes, including recent successful challenges to its lethal-injection protocol. Replace the Costly, Failed Death Penalty, read the yellow-and-black Yes on 62 sign I saw planted in a well-kept Brentwood yard. And yet, 12 days before Election Day, Prop 62s prospects are uncertain. Of five statewide polls since Sept. 1, only one, a Field Poll, showed Prop 62 ahead, 48 percent to 37 percent. Measures that poll below 50 percent tend not to win, even if they are leading, according to Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo. Meanwhile, four other polls showed no up by an average of 50 to 37. Survey USA, which has polled on Prop 62 twice, predicts flatly that it is headed for defeat just like a similar anti-death-penalty measure that lost 52 to 48 in the state in 2012. Prop 62 faces various local political headwinds including competition for financial resources, and public attention, from more than a dozen other ballot measures, such as marijuana legalization and Gov. Jerry Browns pet project, parole reform. Given Prop 62s potential impact in one stroke, it would reduce Americas total death-row population of 2,905 by 26 percent the debate about it is remarkably low-profile. There are next to no ads on TV; the Brentwood yard sign was the only one I saw in three days on the West Coast. The main lesson, though, has to do with public opinion about the death penalty, which is much more nuanced than media coverage generally reflects. Consider this Oct. 4 New York Times headline: Death Penalty Loses Majority Support for First Time in 45 years. The article concerned a new Pew Research Center survey showing that 49 percent of the public favors the death penalty for murder, while 42 percent oppose it. Pew has asked its question only since 1994, so the Times headline came from combining Pew data with pre-1994 Gallup polls. However, this spliced two polls that use different methodologies, including differently worded questions. A few days after the Times article, in fact, a new Gallup poll found 60 percent support for the death penalty a smaller majority than in previous years, to be sure, but still large, and about the same as Gallup found in its first poll 80 years ago. Long-term Gallup trends suggest that the very high support for the death penalty of the mid-1990s up to 80 percent one year was an anomaly, probably a reaction to the soaring violent crime rates of the time. Now that crime has fallen, Gallups pro-death-penalty majority is reverting to historical norms; it may go lower still, unless this years spike in violent crime turns into a wave. Another new Gallup survey intriguingly shows decreasing punitive sentiment: 45 percent say the justice system is not tough enough on crime, down 20 points since 2003. Meanwhile, 50 percent believe the death penalty is applied fairly, and 67 percent say it is imposed either the right amount or not often enough. Gallup asks about capital punishment for murder. In 2013 and 2015 Quinnipiac interestingly asked whether murder during acts of terrorism should be punished by life without parole or death. Both times, about three-fifths said death remarkably high, given that offering life without parole as an alternative usually reduces the number of poll respondents opting for capital punishment. A rough summary of most Americans views of the death penalty might be: Yes, though it depends. It depends on whats going on in society. It depends on the specific crime. It depends on whether youre asking me in the abstract, as a juror or as a voter. The very fact the Prop 62 campaign focused on what spokesman Jacob Hay calls a cost-effectiveness message implies that categorical moral opposition cannot command a majority, even in a deep-blue state. And two can play at the cost-effectiveness game. Californias pro-death-penalty forces, led by prosecutors and police unions, are promoting Proposition 66, which would deal with the systems notorious backlog not by abolishing executions but by facilitating them, through streamlining the appeals process. Both conflicting measures might lose, essentially perpetuating the status quo; California would continue having whatever satisfaction comes with sentencing people to death, without whatever risks come from actually executing them. Also, both might get a majority Californians could vote yes and no on the death penalty in which case the one with the most votes becomes law, and the nations largest death row would start shrinking, one way or the other. Read more from Charles Lanes archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. We all know that Hillary Clinton is just lucky, not good. The second-most disliked candidate in history is winning only because her opponent is even more disliked. Any normal Republican would be waltzing to victory. Right? Wrong. These are common perceptions, though, and they have force because they are coming from NeverTrumpers as well as Donald Trump supporters. Its important to challenge this case now, because it will be used to question Clintons legitimacy, if shes elected, before she is even sworn in and to justify endlessly investigating her and rejecting her nominees thereafter. What is the case? First, the election is about Trump and not about issues, so Clinton will be able to claim no popular endorsement of her program. Trump backers go on to argue, as does their candidate, that if Clinton wins it will be because the media or the establishment ganged up on him and refused to hold her to account. For almost twenty years, Hillary Rodham Clinton put her political aspirations on hold when she moved to Arkansas to marry Bill Clinton, who would become the country's 42nd president. The former New York senator, secretary of state and Democratic nominee for president would be the first woman to hold the office if she is elected. (Jayne Orenstein/The Washington Post) More plausible than that kind of whining are arguments from Trump opponents who want the Republican Party to grasp its fatal error. In their understandable fervor, they insist that any reasonable, decent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, say, or Ohio Gov. John Kasich would be trouncing Clinton. People who vote for her really are only voting against him. Clinton merits little credit for a victory. It sounds plausible, but is it true? The Clinton campaign did worry early on that Rubio would be a formidable opponent: His youth would make her candidacy seem stale, his Cuban heritage would attract Hispanic voters. For his part, Kasich might rally the industrial heartland to the GOP, while his relative inclusiveness would keep suburban moderates in the fold. Meanwhile, any true Republican would benefit from powerful tailwinds for change: After two terms of a Democratic presidency, the thinking goes, voters would be disposed toward the GOP. That was especially true since two-thirds of the electorate believed the country was on the wrong track and Republicans were fielding what many of them claimed was their strongest lineup ever of governors, senators and business people. At some point, though, you have to look at actual performance. Rubio wilted under interrogation by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Kasich failed to connect, and not a single candidate in that supposedly awesome lineup managed to do what Clinton did, which is stand up to Trump in debate. They performed miserably in their primary campaigns; why would we assume that Jeb Bush or any of the others would have done better in the general? Clinton, meanwhile, has shown a political adeptness that few give her credit for because, well, because we just know she is an inept politician. In fact: She managed to carve out her own identity without repudiating President Obama. She tacked left to beat back a primary challenge without (with one glaring exception, trade) compromising on basic positions. She embraced the possibility of becoming Americas first female president without claiming that as a defining argument. In the debates, she projected competence without coming across as a know-it-all. None of these was easy, and when the campaign began many people doubted she could pull them off. She has achieved them despite the mood for change and in the face of venomous opposition not only from Republicans but from the agency-formerly-known-as-the-KGB, too. Even as Russian espionage, in a first in American history, has disclosed the embarrassing inner squabbling of her campaign, Clinton and her team have remained focused and disciplined. Poll results have followed. More Americans still have an unfavorable view of her than favorable, but by eight percentage points, compared to a minus-20 ranking last spring. Trump meanwhile is at minus-24, according to RealClearPolitics poll averages. Polls show that increasingly her supporters are voting for her and not just against Trump. As for a mandate well, check out the issues page of her campaign website. I count 41 position papers, though I might have missed a couple, ranging from autism to voting rights, each with a half-dozen bullet points. Should Trumps lack of interest in debating these count against her? Should her comprehensiveness? Was hope and change more of a mandate eight years ago? Clinton has been clear about priorities including immigration reform, taxing the rich and slowing climate change. The campaigns this year have given voters a pretty good understanding of what the candidates stand for and how each differs from the other. If Clinton wins, it will be after laying out not only her tax returns and campaign bundlers but, over the course of a grueling year and a half, her principles, personality and platform, too. Lets not pre-shrink her presidency. Read more from Fred Hiatts archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Lev Golinkins Oct. 22 op-ed, My mom, an immigrant, is vetted every day, told a story that is unfortunately too common. He described how his refugee mother had a successful career as a psychiatrist in Ukraine, only to work as a night security guard in the United States. Mr. Golinkins mom is not alone. In fact, nearly 2 million immigrants and refugees who come to the United States with a college education and in-demand skills are unemployed or working survival jobs. The barriers to meaningful employment for refugees even those who are highly educated and have specialized skills are vast and often insurmountable without support. We need to help refugees and immigrants find their place in the U.S. workforce because, as a country, we have as much to gain from them as they do from us. As Mr. Golinkin put it, Immigrants respect and cherish this land, not because theyre immigrants, but in spite of it. We are a nation built by immigrants. Lets draw on this proud heritage and help refugees fully integrate into the economic and social fabric of this country they now call home. Nikki Cicerani, New York The writer is president and chief executive of Upwardly Global. Lev Golinkins op-ed about his mothers immigration from Ukraine and her loving acceptance of the United States was a mean-spirited criticism of this country and its treatment of immigrants. Despite the many ways Mr. Golinkins mother was hindered by her non-native status, such as her inability to practice psychiatry, she loves America. I suggest Mr. Golinkin remember the Statue of Libertys welcome to immigrants: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. He just might better understand his mothers loyalty to and love of America. Jim Pembroke, Washington Lev Golinkins tribute to his mother brought tears to my eyes and rekindled memories of my own mother, who came to this country in the 1920s. In 1953, she took my brother and me to visit relatives in Germany. Her first act upon returning home to the United States was to kneel and kiss the ground of her beloved Vereinigten Staaten. Alfred Duncker, Gaithersburg Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, shown at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., in 2012, said of Moira Smiths groping allegation: This claim is preposterous and it never happened. (Michael Dwyer/AP) The 25th anniversary of Justice Clarence Thomass confirmation to the Supreme Court has featured testimonials from his supporters, a symposium on his jurisprudence and tributes from conservative legal scholars about his influence on the court. But Thursday brought an unwelcome echo of the sexual harassment allegations that almost derailed his 1991 nomination: An Alaska lawyer told the National Law Journal that Thomas groped her at a dinner party in 1999, when she was a young Truman Foundation scholar in Washington. Through a court spokeswoman, Thomas told the publication: This claim is preposterous and it never happened. The woman, Moira Smith, said she decided to make the allegations not because of Thomas but because of Donald Trump. She posted the information on her Facebook page on Oct. 7, hours after the media disclosed that Trump had boasted on tape about grabbing women. When Justice Thomas touched me inappropriately and without my consent, I was 23 years old and felt there was nothing I could do, Smith said in a statement released Wednesday. Seventeen years later, it is clear that sexual harassment, misconduct and assault continue to be pervasive, having an impact on all women. I choose to speak out now in the hope that this will change. Smith said she was helping her boss at the dinner party when the incident occurred. Guests contacted by the National Law Journal said they saw nothing untoward. Smith, who posed for a photo with the justice later that night, did not tell them Thomas had grabbed her buttocks. But friends said Smith told them about the alleged groping that same night and the next morning, and they were not surprised when Smith again recounted the incident earlier this month. I dont remember the specific timeline, Amy Hertel Buckley, 39, another Truman scholar at the dinner that night, told The Washington Post. But when I saw her Facebook post, it was instantly familiar to me. Its been a long time, but she definitely told me about that after it happened. Marcia Coyle, the longtime Supreme Court reporter who wrote the story, said Smith did not come forward. Smith initially made her Facebook posting private so that only friends could see it, Coyle said. Smith made it public after friends told her she should. A source told Coyle about the posting Smiths Facebook account has now been deactivated and Coyle interviewed her and others who corroborated her account over a two-week period, according to the NLJ report. The dinner party was held at the Falls Church, Va., home of Louis Blair, then head of the Truman Foundation. It was a scholarship program founded by Congress to identify students who demonstrate outstanding potential for and who plan to pursue a career in public service. Smith, now the vice president and general counsel of Enstar Natural Gas Co. in Alaska, was a resident scholar who assisted Blair. Her unofficial duties involved helping coordinate events such as the dinner, which preceded another event at which Thomas was to give an award named for a judge he knew. Buckley said she also helped out at the dinner. Smith told the National Law Journal: I was setting the place to his right when he reached out, sort of cupped his hand around my butt and pulled me pretty close to him. He said, Where are you sitting? and gave me a squeeze. I said, Im sitting down at the garden table. He said, I think you should sit next to me, giving me squeezes. Smith said she was so confused about what happened because she liked Thomas but also felt he had transgressed such a line. The NLJ report said her three former housemates during the spring and summer of 1999 each said in interviews they remembered Smith describing inappropriate contact by Thomas after she came home that night from the dinner or early the next morning. In her Facebook post, Smith said she had been the victim of date rape in college, and also groped by an acquaintance. After hearing the Trump tape, she said, she decided enough is enough. She also told the NLJ: We now know that many men in power take advantage of vulnerable women. That willingness by men in power to take advantage of vulnerable women relies on an unspoken pact that the women will not speak up about it. Why? Because they are vulnerable. Because they are star-struck. Because they dont want to be whiners. Because they worry about their career if they do speak out. But silence no longer feels defensible; it feels complicit. [It was just awful: The Clarence Thomas hearings, in the words of those who were there] Thomass supporters rallied quickly to his defense, saying the charges were part of an unrelenting attack on the conservative justice. Some tied Smith to Democratic activists and noted that her husband is a former Democratic party official. The alleged conduct bears no resemblance to the man I worked closely with, whom I still count a friend after nearly 10 years, Carrie Severino, a former Thomas clerk, wrote on the National Review website. Those of us who have known the justice or worked with him in any capacity . . . including those who disagree with him, recognize him to be a good and honest man. Mark Paoletta, a former assistant White House counsel who worked on Thomass confirmation, questioned the timing. I do not consider it a coincidence that this Democratic smear on Justice Thomas comes as he celebrates 25 years on the court, and in the heat of a presidential election. [For Anita Hill, the Clarence Thomas hearings havent really ended] Severino and Paoletta noted that Smith in the past has supported Democrats, and that a former husband worked in the Obama White House. One of the friends who confirmed Smiths story is a political consultant who works with Democrats. In her statement, Smith said she was motivated by her children. As the mother of a young daughter and son, I am coming forward to show that it is important to stand up for yourself and tell the truth, she said. Thomas spoke Wednesday during his remarks at the Heritage Foundation about his own confirmation hearings, marked by the allegations of Anita Hill that he verbally harassed her, and about other confirmation hearings since. The city is broken in some ways, Thomas said, adding, at some point, we have got to recognize that were destroying our institutions. Julie Tate contributed to this report. By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) Fuelled by roll-out of LTE networks, smartphone shipments in India grew 23 per cent in the third quarter of 2016, outpacing the modest 5 per cent growth notched by global smartphone market, says a report. "The smartphone shipments in India grew a healthy 23 per cent annually in Q3 2016 compared to the global smartphone market which grew modest 5 per cent," the report by Counterpoint Research said. Commenting on the findings, Karn Chauhan, Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research said that India witnessed record quarter for smartphone and featurephone shipments during Q3 2016. advertisement The demand for the feature phones also saw an uptick to satisfy the sizeable population which have been laggards in adoption of smartphones, Chauhan added. "...out of all the smartphones being sold, almost seventy per cent of them are now LTE capable with eighty per cent of those LTE smartphones sporting VoLTE (Voice over LTE) capabilities signaling a significant polarization among the Indian demographics," Chauhan pointed out. While bulk of the first-time smartphone users were mostly using Indian or Samsung branded smartphone, the aggressive entry and growth of Chinese brands have prompted most of these users to upgrade to affordable but better spec smartphones, Pavel Naiya, analyst at Counterpoint said. This has been possible because of Chinese brands adopting a direct and exclusive e-commerce channel strategy to be cost competitive. Samsung still dominates the feature phone and smartphone market but its overall market share declined sequentially by 4 percentage points even though it registered a record quarter in shipment volumes in India, the Counterpoint statement said. PTI MBI MR --- ENDS --- Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence's campaign plane skidded off the runway and onto a grassy area at New York's LaGuardia airport on Oct. 27. (The Washington Post) Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence's campaign plane skidded off the runway and onto a grassy area at New York's LaGuardia airport on Oct. 27. (The Washington Post) Donald Trump raised about half as much as Hillary Clinton for his presidential campaign in the first 19 days of October, putting him at a severe financial disadvantage in the crucial final days of the White House contest, new campaign finance reports filed late Thursday show. The Republican nominee raised just $28.9 million for his campaign committee over that period, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. His campaign and two joint GOP fundraising committees raised a total of $61 million in the first 19 days of the month -- a fall-off from September, when the three committees together pulled in $100 million, including $53 million for the Trump campaign. Trump had just $16 million in his campaign coffers on Oct. 19, compared to Hillary Clintons $62 million. And there was scant evidence that the real estate billionaire will end up giving the $100 million he has claimed he is donating to his bid. Trump gave his campaign about $31,000 in in-kind contributions in the first 19 days of the month down from the $2 million a month in cash he had been donating. His personal contributions to his campaign now total a little more than $56 million. Meanwhile, Clintons already-robust fundraising ratcheted up even more this month. The Democratic nominees campaign and two joint fundraising committees with the party together pulled in $101 million in the 19-day stretch. At the same time, Clintons campaign shelled out $54 million a slower spending rate than the previous month. That gave her a hefty stockpile of cash as she heads into the final weeks of the campaign: more than $153 million. [Clinton leads by 6 points, Post-ABC tracking poll finds] At a rally with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in Winston-Salem, N.C., Oct. 27, first lady Michelle Obama gave a passionate speech where she reminded supporters that Americans "sacrificed their lives" for the right to vote. (The Washington Post) Campaigning Thursday in North Carolina with 12 days until the presidential election, Clinton cautioned her supporters against complacency because, she said, the contest against Trump is likely to be closer than the latest polls suggest. Clinton, appearing on the campaign trail for the first time with first lady Michelle Obama, urged voters to stay engaged and vote because the outcome remains uncertain. Lets go out and win this election! she exclaimed at a rally at Wake Forest University in front of about 11,000 people. Lets make sure we vote early. Vote as soon as you can. Vote this afternoon! Obama also warned supporters to stay engaged, accusing Republicans of actively seeking to suppress turnout by making the election so dirty and ugly that we dont want any part of it. Clinton is hoping that some of Obamas magnetism and support among young people and African Americans can help consolidate a lead in North Carolina. Obama has emerged as probably the Democrats most powerful and effective voice opposing Trump, and Clinton frequently quotes the first ladys admonition to go high when critics go low. Later in the evening, Clinton took her early voting message to two college campuses in Greensboro -- the University of North Carolina and North Carolina A&T, which was holding its homecoming pep rally. [Inside Bill Clinton Inc.: Hacked memo reveals intersection of charity and personal income] At a rally in Springfield, Ohio, on Thursday, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said the release by WikiLeaks of a hacked memo written by a former Bill Clinton aide shows the lines all get blurred between the Clintons public and private activities. (The Washington Post) In Ohio, Trump suggested Thursday night that a video of him speaking in vulgar terms about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women may have been released illegally, and he didnt rule out suing NBC for its release. Certainly it was an illegal act, Trump told Fox News in an interview, adding later that the video was not supposed to be on. Trump would not say whether he planned to take legal action against NBC Universal, which owns Access Hollywood, the program that was filming Trump when he was recorded in 2005. Well, youll see, youll see, he said. Youre going to see after the election, but I will tell you, first of all, it shouldnt have been said, but it was locker room talk. And, yeah, I mean you know were gonna find out soon enough. I will tell you. As Trump was being interviewed, an airplane carrying Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential candidate, skidded off the runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Reporters traveling with Pence said there were no injuries, but a CNN reporter said she saw what appeared to be damage to the runway. Trump mentioned the incident during an event in Geneva, Ohio. And by the way, I just spoke to our future vice president, and hes okay... Everybodys fine. Trump said. Pence said in a tweet that he was So thankful everyone on our plane is safe. Grateful for our first responders & the concern & prayers of so many. Back on the trail tomorrow! Trump spent the day seeking to build on a reed-thin lead during three campaign stops in the battleground state and even suggested that the election should be scrapped. [Trumps plan for a comeback includes building a psychographic profile of every voter] We should just cancel the election and just give it to Trump, right? he asked supporters while campaigning in this midwestern industrial city. What are we even having it for? Her policies are so bad! Trump said that he would reopen federal investigations into her use of a private email server when she was secretary of state and her familys charitable foundation. Hillary Clinton put the office of secretary of state up for sale, he said. And if she got the chance, shed put the Oval Office up for sale. At an event in Springfield, Trump claimed again that Clinton appeared tired during the debates. Calling his rival a low energy person, Trump seemed to imply that Clinton was on the verge of needing physical assistance. I watched after the last debate and after the second debate. She was tired, wow, Trump said. She walked off that stage, of course she had a lot of people around; they had a lot of people around her, which was smart. No evidence has emerged that Clinton was suffering physically during or after the debates. Trump also took aim at the Clintons charitable foundation and financial dealings, pointing to private communications released by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, including a memo by top Bill Clinton aide Doug Band. The more emails WikiLeaks releases, the more lines between the Clinton Foundation, the secretary of states office and the Clintons personal finances, they all get blurred, Trump said. Bands memo detailed what he called Clinton Inc., a web of lucrative business ventures and overlapping charitable work. The memo was discovered in hacked emails from John Podesta, who is now chairman of Hillary Clintons campaign. [Republican women increasingly fear party is alienating female voters] In an interview published Thursday by Billboard magazine, Bill Clinton weighed in on Trumps criticisms, saying that the attacks on his foundation are frustrating. Its hard to hear because I know good and well that a lot of the people that are saying it know its not true. Its an insult to all the people who have worked there, he said in a profile of the former presidents charity and its ties to top performing artists, including Jon Bon Jovi. Polling released Thursday afternoon by Quinnipiac University showed the tick-tock nature of the race in the closing days. According to the poll, Trump holds a one-point edge over Clinton in Georgia 44 percent to 43 percent but theyre tied at 44 percent each in Iowa. In North Carolina, Clinton holds a four-point advantage (47 percent to 43 percent), while she holds a 12-point edge in Virginia. Clinton tops Trump 48 percent to 42 percent among likely voters in the tracking poll conducted jointly by The Washington Post and ABC News. Clintons margin in the survey has barely changed from her 47-43 edge in a mid-October Post-ABC poll, but is less than the double-digit leads in earlier waves of the tracking survey reported by ABC News through Monday. Sullivan reported from Ohio and Phillip reported from North Carolina. Matea Gold, Anne Gearan and Krissah Thompson in Washington contributed to this report. In a Fifth Avenue office near Trump Tower, a company being paid millions of dollars by Donald Trumps presidential campaign says it has developed a political weapon powerful enough to help the Republican nominee overcome his troubles and win the White House. The key is a psychological model for identifying voters that can determine the personality of every single adult in the United States of America, said Alexander Nix, chief executive of Cambridge Analytica. The little-known company, which has operated in the United States for four years, opened its office here only a month ago and is clearly at the center of Trumps quest for a last-minute comeback against Democrat Hillary Clinton. New federal filings show the campaigns payments to the firm ballooning from $250,000 in August to $5 million in September. The reliance on Cambridge reflects a recognition by Trumps campaign that drastic measures are required to erase a potentially irreversible disparity between Trumps get-out-the-vote operation and Clintons meticulously built machinery. The firm says it can predict how most people will vote by using up to 5,000 pieces of data about every American adult, combined with the result of hundreds of thousands of personality and behavioral surveys, to identify millions of voters who are most open to being persuaded to support Trump. This, the company says, is a leap beyond the widely used practice known as micro-targeting, in which campaigns use demographic and consumer data such as magazine subscriptions and club memberships to deduce political leanings. Doubters abound. Eitan Hersh, a Yale professor and author of Hacking the Electorate, a study of data mining in presidential campaigns, said Cambridge Analyticas claim about predicting personality is basically impossible. . . . You can do better randomly guessing. The Clinton campaign, which has a far larger team of data scientists, rejects such psychological profiling. Its analytics chief, Elan Kriegel, said he relies more on bread and butter information such as voter history. At Trump Tower, though, the firms work is embraced as a vital part of its plan, and there are ties between Trumps world and the company. Stephen Bannon, the Trump campaigns chief executive, sits on the Cambridge Analytica board, according to a Bloomberg News report. Hedge-fund billionaire Robert Mercer, the top donor to a pro-Trump political action committee, reportedly is the majority owner. Brad Parscale, the Trump campaigns digital director, said that he has never met Mercer and that he first encountered Cambridge Analytica when the company cold-called him to offer its services. Parscale said that he offered a $100,000 initial payment to run tests and that he was impressed with the results in finding donors. The company provides great modeling data for fundraising and persuadable voters, he said. The campaign receives Cambridges data on a computerized dashboard that offers recommendations, such as where to hold rallies, where volunteers should knock on doors, where potential donors live and where television ads should be placed, according to company and campaign officials. Parscale declined to discuss the companys work on psychological profiling because he has not opened the hood on its technology, he said. He stressed that the campaign also gets data from the Republican National Committee, and he said much of the recent payment to Cambridge was redirected to pay for television ads in places the firm recommended. Cambridge Analytica a U.S.-incorporated affiliate of SCL Group, a British firm that has worked on campaigns in 22 countries says it is working on 50 campaigns in the United States, all of them Republican. A key to its strategy is the fact that U.S. laws regarding the release of personal information are more lax than in some other countries, enabling it to mine far more data here. For example, European Union countries require much personal data to be kept private unless a person opts in to its release. The United States, by contrast, allows much data to be released unless a person opts out. Thus, companies such as Cambridge Analytica can collect thousands of pieces of information about voters. The explosion in the use of personal data and psychological profiling in campaigns accelerated in the wake of Republican Mitt Romneys 2012 loss to President Obama. Romney had said he had a state-of-the-art analytic operation, only to find that his campaigns get-out-the-vote technology crashed on Election Day and that the Obama team had far more-advanced information about voters. The Republican Party vowed to improve its methodology, and that provided an opening for Cambridge Analytica, Nix said. To be blunt, that was the landscape that we entered back in 2013, Nix said in an interview. Had the Republicans been able to deliver as sophisticated an operation as the Democrats had, there wouldnt have been so much opportunity for Cambridge Analytica to provide the services that we do provide. Initially, it was Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) who seized upon the companys methods, paying it at least $5.8 million to help identify voters in the Iowa caucuses, which Cruz won, and other contests. That led to publicity for the firms methods, although Cruz went on to lose the Republican presidential nomination to Trump. [Cruz campaign credits psychological data and analytics for its rising success] Nix, in a September speech, seemed to give his company much of the credit for Cruz becoming Trumps top challenger. It is easy to forget that only 18 months ago that Senator Cruz was one of the less popular candidates and certainly one of the more vilified, Nix said in his speech, standing in front of a giant quote from Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who said, If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate and the trial was in the Senate, nobody could convict you. Partly because of the power of big data and psychographics, Cruz rose from 5 percent to 35 percent in the polls, Nix said in his speech, which he delivered at the Concordia summit, a New York City gathering of government, business and nonprofit leaders. Whether such analytics had much to do with Cruzs showing is the subject of debate, and some Cruz aides privately said Cambridge Analytica goes too far in taking credit. Cruz did not respond to a request for comment. Among the skeptics about analytics was Trump. In May, citing the way thousands of people turned out for his rallies, Trump told the Associated Press that he always felt that relying on voter data was overrated. A change occurred after Cruz initially declined to endorse Trump. Among Cruzs biggest supporters was Mercer, who gave $14 million to a pro-Cruz political action committee, Keep the Promise I. Such committees are allowed to accept unlimited donations. The committee was overseen by Kellyanne Conway, who is now Trumps campaign manager. Mercer, a famously reclusive computer programmer, made a fortune as co-chief executive of a New York-based hedge fund, Renaissance Technologies, which relies heavily on analytics for its investment decisions. He believed that analytics could transform campaigns and became the major investor in Cambridge Analytica, according to a report that initially ran in Politico. Nix declined to confirm or deny Mercers role. Another PAC, Keep the Promise II, paid Cambridge Analytica $570,000 in the early days of the presidential contest, when it was boosting Cruzs candidacy. [How a reclusive computer programmer became a GOP money powerhouse] After Cruz dropped out of the race, Mercer switched his loyalties to Trump, and the committee to which he had donated changed its name to Defeat Crooked Hillary PAC, which runs ads savaging the Democratic nominee. Mercer did not respond to a request for comment. It is not clear whether Cambridge Analytica, along with Trumps in-house data team and Republican Party efforts, can catch up to the Clinton campaign. Clinton is the beneficiary of years of data collected by the party as well as valuable information gathered during the primaries. Moreover, she has 487 field offices, compared with 207 for Trump, according to the website FiveThirtyEight. Pro-Clinton ads outnumber pro-Trump ads by a 3-to-1 margin, according to a study by the Wesleyan Media Project. These shortfalls have made the role of analytics particularly important for Trump. One day earlier this week, Nix sat in a conference room overlooking Fifth Avenue, in offices once occupied by editors of Scribners, where work was done on novels such as F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and Ernest Hemingways The Sun Also Rises. The publisher has long since moved to other quarters, and the iconic bookstore that once took up the first three stories has been replaced by a Sephora cosmetics store. Upstairs, where novelists and their editors once sought to illuminate a characters motivation, Nix and his team try to understand that of voters. Cambridge Analytica relies on a system it developed called OCEAN, an acronym for the five main voter traits it can identify: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. The company collects information through a 120-question survey taken by hundreds of thousands of people. The psychological tests are combined with the collection of data, such as a persons taste in movies, music, books and restaurants and the likes or hearts on social-media sites. All of that information is added to a spreadsheet that contains the name of every voter. Thus, the companys files reveal a persons gender, race, location, car type, club memberships, and reading and viewing habits, along with potentially thousands of other pieces of information. Such data is compiled by many companies and used by most campaigns. In its marketing materials, Cambridge Analytica says that we collect up to 5,000 data points on over 220 million Americans, enabling it to target groups and predict the behavior of like-minded people. The company says it has not only the usual stable of data experts but also psychologists who analyze the data and assemble pools of like-minded people. Nix dismissed critics who questioned the companys claims of predicting voter behavior. It is intuitive that the more such data is collected, the better his company can be in predicting how people will vote, Nix said. If I was to tell you that an individual had voted for a particular party over the last 40 years the same way, you would conclude that is a fairly good indicator, Nix said. Now imagine if we could overlay thousands of data points that are predictable about behavior. Of course it works. A much better observation is, how well does it work? By India Today Web Desk: According to a report in Mid-Day, Salman Khan's rumoured ladylove Iulia Vantur is returning to Mumbai and might be a part of the Diwali festivities at his residence. ALSO READ: Did Iulia Vantur fast for Salman Khan on Karva Chauth? ALSO READ: Salman Khan's girlfriend Iulia Vantur is already Mrs Khan. Not joking! advertisement ALSO READ: Iulia Vantur denies being "just friends" with Salman Khan? ALSO READ: Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur want their relationship to work, but as for marriage... ALSO READ: Iulia Vantur and Salman Khan call it quits? Other times Salman has been unlucky in love After being spotted together everywhere from parties to film sets, there was speculation that all was not rosy between Salman and Iulia because of the former's lack of commitment. The Romanian beauty took off to her homeland after her visa expired. But now, Iulia has reportedly sorted her visa issues and will return to Mumbai as soon as the paperwork is taken care of. Sources say that Iulia is trying her best to return to the city before the Diwali party at Galaxy Apartments, which she is keen to be a part of. This news has reignited the rumour that the country's most eligible bachelor will tie the knot with Iulia in December. --- ENDS --- Prince Mikasa, who was a younger brother of former Japanese emperor Hirohito and who became an outspoken voice against Japanese barbarity during World War II, died Oct. 17 at a hospital in Tokyo. He was 100. The Imperial Household Agency announced the death. Japanese media reports said he had been hospitalized since May, initially because of pneumonia. Prince Mikasa, fifth in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, is the uncle of the current emperor, Akihito. Akihito succeeded his father, Hirohito, whose 62-year reign encompassed World War II and continued until his death in 1989. Prince Mikasa, also known as Takahito, was born in the Tokyo royal palace on Dec. 2, 1915. He was the youngest son of Emperor Taisho and Empress Teimei. He attended schools for nobility and royalty before enrolling in a military academy, where he graduated in 1936. His service in a cavalry regiment took him to China, including the Japanese armys headquarters in Nanking in 1943 and 1944, as a staff officer. He said he became increasingly shocked by the brutality of Japanese troops during World War II. At one point, he wrote in his best-selling memoir, he saw a film of Chinese prisoners made to march on the plains of Manchuria for poison gas experiments on humans. Prince Mikasa, wearing the black skull cap, participates in military exercises with the 15th Cavalry Regiment, swimming mounts across a river in Tokyo on Sept. 3, 1936. (AP) He reportedly tried to warn his oldest brother, the emperor, but it is unclear what effect he had. The emperor was a nationalist rallying point around which the military justified expansion throughout much of the Pacific and the sacrifice of millions of conscripts during the 1930s and 1940s. Shrouded in mystery were the emperors own views, whether he was in synch with the military or a closet pacifist and unwilling figurehead. After the war, Prince Mikasa published a book that was deeply critical of Japanese military aggression and conduct, and he continued for decades taking bold public stands against those who wanted to justify Japanese imperialism during the war. He said the military scorned his brothers desire for peace. The prince spent his prime years studying Middle Eastern literature and culture at the University of Tokyo and later taught at several universities in the country. He appeared on radio and television cultural programs and was often spotted in public, even the subway. He married Yuriko Takagi, and they had five children, three of whom died. A complete list of survivors could not be immediately confirmed. Chinese President Xi Jinping won a key victory Thursday in his battle to consolidate power and clean up the ruling Communist Party from within. Yet he still faces a desperately difficult battle. After a four-day meeting of 348 Communist Party leaders in Beijing, Xi was elevated to the status of a core leader, an honorary title but one that appears to strengthen his hand ahead of a key party congress next year. The meeting called on party members to closely unite around the leadership, with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, an official communique said. It added that new rules were adopted to regulate officials behavior and tighten party discipline. But the emphasis on unity and loyalty, experts said, also is revealing in itself, reflecting Xis frustration at his inability to force through his agenda in the face of growing resistance and resentment from within the party itself, coupled with an increasingly cynical public mood. China has a saying that whatever you make a noise about is what you lack, said Zhou Xiaozheng, a sociology professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing. It is obvious that all this noise about loyalty is because there is a lack of loyalty. Xi, who heads the party and the military, has worked constantly to consolidate power since taking office in 2013. This weeks plenum was another step in that process, setting the tone for a party congress in 2017 aimed not only at granting him five more years in power but at electing those who would stand beside him on the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee. The plenum also appeared to back Xis campaign to clean up the party from within and battle corruption. Together we must build a clean and righteous political environment, and ensure that the party unites and leads the people to continuously open up new prospects for socialism with Chinese characteristics, the communique said. The term core leader was first coined by strongman Deng Xiaoping, who conferred it posthumously on Mao Zedong, as well as on himself and his effective successor, Jiang Zemin. It is supposed to mean that their authority should not be questioned. It was not a title that Xis predecessor, Hu Jintao, was ever granted. Xi has achieved his minimum goal, said a Chinese political expert in Beijing, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of problems with authorities. His notional authority has been established. But how substantial it is has yet to be observed. In the months to come, it will become more apparent whether Xi has also been successful in promoting loyalists within party ranks, paving the way for the 2017 congress, he said. Xis elevation to the core leadership was not a surprise. Indeed, in the weeks leading up to the plenum, state media issued a steady drumbeat of articles underlining the need for loyalty to the leader and to the party. Chinas people, the media cited one poll as showing, are demanding strong central leadership under the pioneering figure of Xi. The emphasis on strong leadership partly reflects the scale of the task Xi has set himself: to clean up a deeply corrupt Communist Party whose moral atrophy threatens the very existence of the one-party state and to stop the rot without bringing the whole structure crashing down. [Grumbling mounts in China, even in the party. Is President Xi losing his grip?] The government announced Monday that more than 1 million officials, out of 88 million party members, have been investigated in the past three years during an intense campaign against corruption. State media has railed against lazy, foot-dragging officials, complaining that some were too scared to do their jobs for fear of being accused of taking bribes, while others were unwilling to act unless the kickbacks resumed. And those who complain or are nostalgic for the good old days? Well, they are just rotten with corruption, the Peoples Daily wrote. Xis signature anti-corruption campaign is both an attempt to clean house and restore public trust and a tool to be used against opponents to scare them into submission. But on both counts, it is also a double-edged sword: It has earned him many enemies within the party, experts said, and exposed to the general public just how deeply corruption has penetrated. Xi is fighting on his own on a rotten stage, said Zhang Lifan, a historian and prominent critic of the president. He has hit and hurt everybody; he has insulted everyone. In their hearts, [party members] want to drag him down. Nor has the anti-corruption campaign reassured the general public. Indeed, the constant drip of news about crooked officials may have had the opposite effect. People have become burned out, said Hu Xingdou, a governance expert at Beijing Institute of Technology. They are not fools. They can see very clearly there are far more corrupt officials at large who have not been caught. A poll released this month by Pew Global Research showed that political corruption was the Chinese publics top concern: 49 percent said corrupt officials were a very big problem a rise of five percentage points from the year before. Another 34 percent called it a moderately big problem. That the anti-corruption campaigns high-profile victims have been from rival factions within the party and never from Xis own inner circle has not gone unnoticed. During the first year of the anti-corruption campaign, Xi Jinping was very popular, said Willy Wo-Lap Lam, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. But after seeing the identities of the people he has pulled down most of them were his political enemies a groundswell of cynicism has set in. Corruption had seemed manageable when the economy was booming: At least everyone was getting richer, even if some were doing it faster than others. But as growth has slowed, distrust has grown, said Renmin Universitys Zhou. People are numb about the anti-corruption campaign now, he said. They just think: Okay, you higher party people fight behind closed doors. We dont want to know. How corrupt you are has nothing to do with the common people. In many ways, Xi faces a set of problems similar to those confronting then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s, including a slowing economy and a corrupt, truculent party opposed to reform. And the Soviet example is never far from his mind, experts said. The Soviet collapse teaches the [Communist Party of China] lessons in party leadership, the nationalist Global Times tabloid reminded its readers this week, citing Su Wei, a professor at a Communist Party school in Chongqing. It stressed a need for greater discipline. But while Gorbachevs policy of glasnost tried to harness openness and transparency to clean house, Xi has moved in the opposite direction, clamping down on the media, civil society and the legal profession. The new Long March for the party is about self-rectification and self-correcting, said Jude Blanchette, an expert in Chinese politics at the Conference Board in Beijing. Self is an important word. This is about fixing ourselves. Congcong Zhang contributed to this report. Read more: Twin historic traumas shape Xi Jinpings China presidency Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news The callers in India, claiming to be officials with the Internal Revenue Service or immigration services, would present those who answered the phone with an ultimatum. Pay us, or well fine you, deport you or arrest you. Their network was expansive, and their work lucrative. Justice Department officials announced charges against 61 people and entities Thursday and said the call center scheme had scammed at least 15,000 victims out of more than $250 million. [Indian call center employees posing as the IRS may have bilked Americans out of millions] Phone scams are not new, but the breadth and sophistication of this one is notable. Justice Department officials said the defendants 24 of them based in the United States ran at least five call center groups overseas. Leslie Caldwell, the assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, said she hoped the efforts of U.S. and Indian authorities would put a dent in the robust industry of phone scammers. We have seen a drop-off in the success rate of these scams, Caldwell said. U.S. authorities said they arrested 20 people in this country and carried out nine search warrants Thursday. A few others involved were already in custody. Earlier this month, in a separate case, police in Mumbai raided a call center and detained 770 employees for questioning. The Justice Department said that it was focused on a network of call centers in Ahmedabad and that some of the centers owners have been charged. A grand jury in federal court in the Southern District of Texas returned an indictment in the case on Oct. 19. Officials announced the unsealing of it on Thursday. The charges against those involved include conspiracy to commit identity theft, impersonation of an officer of the United States, wire fraud and money laundering. Bruce Foucart, assistant director of Immigration and Customs Enforcements homeland security investigations, said the scammers conducted online research on potential targets using Facebook and other online sources and bilked savvy, successful and law-abiding people. He said they went to frightening lengths to ensure the success of their scheme. In one instance, Foucart said, scammers convinced a Southern California woman with cancer that police would show up at her workplace for purported unpaid tax bills stemming from her medical treatment. She paid the scammers $7,000, Foucart said. In another instance, he said, when a man did not respond to phone demands for four years of purported back taxes, the scammers called 911 posing as the man and told the dispatcher he was armed and wanted to kill police. Armed officers showed up at the mans house, where his daughter was home alone, Foucart said. They convey authority and a sense of urgency that leaves their victims terrified, he said. Those involved had a network of U.S.-based co-conspirators who would liquidate and launder the ill-gotten gains by buying prepaid debit cards, which they often registered using the personal information of identity-theft victims. They also would send wire transfers using fake names and use money transferring methods known as hawalas, in which money is effectively moved internationally outside the U.S. banking system. Caldwell said the scammers were able to display their numbers on caller ID systems as being from the U.S. government, though she said no government agency would call demanding money as they did. If you get one of these calls, she said, it is not the U.S. government calling you. Authorities said callers also sometimes would defraud victims by offering small, short-term loans or telling them they were eligible for grants, then requesting a processing fee or a good-faith deposit to demonstrate the victims ability to pay it back. The callers would pocket that money and never provide the grant or loan, authorities said. Caldwell said that authorities would seek to recover the money that was stolen, but that doing so might be difficult, and that it is possible that victims would not be repaid. Read more: A police raid in India dramatically reduced the number of IRS scam reports Sen. Susan Collins talks about fighting scams aimed at retirees No, the IRS is not calling you Immigration and Customs Enforcement moving to increase its use of for-profit detention facilities, at a time when other government agencies say they are trying to get out of that business. (Marlon Correa/The Washington Post) When the Justice Department announced two months ago that it wanted to end the use of private prisons, Cibola County Correctional Center was exactly the kind of facility that officials desired to shut down. After a history of questionable deaths and substandard medical care, the New Mexico facility lost its contract. In recent weeks, it was emptied of inmates. But the vacancies wont last for long. As soon as this week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement which is separate from the Justice Department is going to begin moving immigrant detainees into the facility under a new set of agreements with Corrections Corporation of America, a county official said. The countrys immigration enforcement agency is expanding its use of for-profit prisons, even while another government agency says the facilities are less safe and effective than government-run prisons. The move illustrates the difficulties of ending the governments reliance on private prisons and jails, especially as immigration authorities deal with an influx of detainees. In addition to inking a new contract for up to 1,116 beds at Cibola County, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, recently extended a contract with Corrections Corporation of America for a 2,400-bed facility in Texas. The agency also seems to be eyeing jail space in Youngstown, Ohio, where Corrections Corporation of America has posted advertisements for several job openings, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. [Justice Department says it will end use of private prisons] The Justice Departments announcement in August that it would eventually stop using private prisons was a significant critique of the industry. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates wrote that for-profit facilities do not maintain the same level of safety and security as government-run prisons. Yates referred to an inspector general report that found private facilities had higher rates of assaults and eight times as many contraband cellphones confiscated each year on average. The report listed many examples of mayhem at private facilities, including a May 2012 riot at the Adams County Correctional Center in Mississippi in which 20 people were injured and a correctional officer was killed. That incident, according to the report, involved 250 inmates who were upset about low-quality food and medical care. Jennifer D. Elzea, an ICE spokeswoman, said in a statement the agency was committed to providing a safe and humane environment for all those in its custody. She said the agency used various contractors and other arrangements to house inmates to meet the agencys detention needs while achieving the highest possible cost savings for the taxpayer. The Department of Homeland Security, of which ICE is a part, said soon after the Justice Departments announcement that it would consider whether to follow suit. The department has created a subcommittee to study the issue, and its evaluation is due Nov. 30. If DHS ultimately decides to end its use of private prisons, the long-term future of a facility such as Cibola would be unclear. Gang- and drug-related violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras has been driving a surge of asylum seekers from Central America, who are winding up in the detention centers. Until two years ago, such asylum seekers were generally not held in detention. For the first years of the Obama administration, the United States kept fewer than 100 beds for family detention, but under pressure to show border security was of concern had plans to expand to more than 3,000 beds by the end of 2014. As of August, ICE had an average daily population of 33,957 across the facilities it uses, according to data provided by the agency. On Wednesday, the ACLU sent a letter to that subcommittee blasting Immigration and Customs Enforcement for moving forward with private prison contracts while the advisory councils review was ongoing. Singling out the Cibola facility in particular, the advocacy organization wrote that the case illustrates how CCA is literally operating a revolving door shuttling out prisoners one month, shuttling in immigration detainees the next month. Its astonishing that a prison that was found unfit and unsuitable for federal prisoners is now going to be used to lock up immigration detainees, said Joanne Lin, legislative counsel with the ACLUs Washington Legislative Office. Lin acknowledged that immigration detention rates have exploded, which she attributed to the governments tough stance on detaining asylum seekers crossing the southern border. Those detainees are not criminals, but often people who have fled countries where violence has grown rampant. A Corrections Corporation of America spokesman did not return messages seeking comment. In the meantime, demand remains for the facilities to remain open, one way or another. Cibola County Board of Commissioners Chair T. Walter Jaramillo said local authorities had been pushing for the private prison deal since the Bureau of Prisons decided to end its contract to use the facility this summer. Its employment, Jaramillo said, adding the contract would prevent 350 people from losing jobs. Its all about the economics in the community. [Private prison industry fights Justice Department directive to end the use of facilities] At the time of the Justice Departments directive, the Bureau of Prisons had just 13 contract facilities, including Cibola, totaling a little more than 22,000 inmates. Facilities contracted by both the Bureau of Prisons and ICE house those in the country without documentation. The Bureau of Prisons is responsible for those convicted of federal crimes, while ICE detains illegal immigrants convicted of state offenses that render them deportable and those pursuing asylum or other claims in immigration court. The private-prison industry has been lobbying against the Justice Departments directive to end the use of its facilities. The industry has argued that the governments comparison of for-profit facilities to government-run prisons was unfair because they house different populations. Officials have said the successful implementation of the directive depends on continued reductions in the federal prison population. As the inmate population goes down, the Bureau of Prisons plans to modify or allow contracts with private prison operators to expire, with the goal of ultimately ending their use entirely. The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been meeting in closed-door session this week to focus on a further tightening of party discipline as President Xi Jinping, who is also CCP general secretary, consolidates his grip on power. The four-day plenum started on Monday and is the sixth since Xi was installed as party leader in late 2012. Xis determination to stamp out any threat from rivals is not just the product of personal ambition, but reflects the inner crisis of the Stalinist regime which confronts a slowing economy, mounting social and class tensions and Washingtons aggressive pivot to Asia aimed at undermining and subordinating China. The CCP, which is riven with factional divisions and rests on a narrow social base, represents above all the interests of the super-wealthy oligarchs who have enriched themselves from the processes of capitalist restoration over the past four decades. After assuming office, Xi launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that has resulted in punishment being meted out to more than one million CCP members. The Chinese president has used the purge to weaken and remove factional rivals and make a pitch to broad public hostility against the privileged bureaucratic apparatus that presides over a widening social gulf between rich and poor. In a televised speech last Friday, Xi outlined the agenda for this weeks sixth plenum, declaring that we must strengthen the partys leadership, persist with strict party discipline. Pointing to the dangers confronting the regime, he said: We must work to prevent the systemic risk [in the economy] and avoid the risks of [political] upheavals. The plenum takes place in the lead-up to next years CCP congress which will preside over leadership changes. While Xi and Premier Li Keqiang seem certain to retain their positions on the seven-member Politburo Standing Committeethe partys top decision making body, the other five members are due to stand down. Xi is seeking to ensure that the replacements will be loyal to his leadership. Since 2012, Xi has used the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to carry out an unprecedented crackdown that has terminated the careers of more than 150 officials, military officers and state-sector business executives with the rank of vice-president or higher. In the past six months, more than a dozen provincial party chiefs have been replaced by party officials regarded as being close to Xi. The anti-corruption purge and calls for party discipline have focused on stemming any criticism of the top CCP leaders, especially Xi himself, who is increasingly being referred to as the core of the party leadership. The New York Times reported that the Ministry of Public Security was not exempt from inspection. Hundreds of officers were marched into a cavernous auditorium to listen to investigators excoriate senior ministry officials for lacking political judgment and demand greater loyalty to Mr. Xi and the party, it stated. Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun responded by vowing that his officers would be even more steadfastly and conscientiously obedient to Xi and other party leaders. The head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Wang Qishan, is a loyal ally of Xi and has been central to Xis purge of the CCP bureaucracy, leading to speculation that Xi might seek to retain him in his post and on the Politburo Standing Committee. During his four years in office, Xi has steadily consolidated his personal hold over the military and state apparatus. His military reform program not only puts greater focus on the navy and air force at the expense of the army but also consolidates the administrative structures under the Central Military Commission chaired by Xi. The president has also established a number of Leading Small Groups under his control that enable him to direct policy across a range of key issues, including the economy and foreign affairs. Xi and Li have already publicly disagreed on economic policy. The premier, who is nominally in charge of the economy, is an advocate of reducing obstacles to further foreign investment in line with the demands of the IMF and World Bank. In July, Lis prepared comments to the State Council stressed the need to slim down state-owned enterprises and make them follow market rules. In his remarks to the same meeting, Xi called for stronger, better, bigger state corporations with a central management role for the CCP. In early August, the CCP announced a major reorganisation of the Communist Youth League, halving its budget and slashing its personnel. The league is the base for one of the main factions of the CCP leadership including Li. According to a Reuters report last month, Xi is determined to curb the influence of the Youth League faction in the lead-up to next years congress and leadership changes, including its numbers on the Politburo Standing Committee. The reorganisation was accompanied by a campaign in the state media branding the organisation as elitist and inefficient. Xis efforts to strengthen his control over the top party leadership is also driven by fears of rising social tensions fueled by a slowing economy that has already led to plans to shed millions of jobs in so-called state-owned zombie companiesenterprises that are being kept afloat by state bank loans. The number of strikes as tabulated by the Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin has risen dramatically over the past year. Divisions in the CCP leadership always have the potential to open the way for a mass movement from below. The current plenum also takes place amid the uncertainty being generated by the US presidential elections. Xis response to the Obama administrations confrontational pivot has been to boost the Chinese military while at the same time trying to reach an accommodation with Washington. Any easing of US-China tensions is unlikely whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump wins the election. The plenum this week is the prelude to intense factional manoeuvring in the lead-up to next years congress. Following the meeting, the process for the selection of around 2,300 delegates to the congress will begin. The plenum itself could take an informal straw poll as a gauge of the support for various figures vying for positions on the top party bodies. With Election Day less than two weeks away, the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party are stepping up their preparations for the first 100 days of a Clinton administration. At the center of these efforts is an attempt to forge a bipartisan consensus with the Republican Party establishment on a government dedicated to intensifying US military operations in the Middle East and internationally and making the working class bear the cost through stepped-up austerity measures. Most of the US media and political establishment have concluded that a Clinton victory over Republican candidate Donald Trump is a virtual certainty. While the opinion polls in general have swung in Clinton's favor in recent weeks, this conclusion could still prove to be premature. Despite her edge over Trump, Clinton continues to be viewed as honest and trustworthy by just 39 percent of the electorate, making her the second most disliked presidential candidate in US history, behind Trump. The Republican candidate continues to attract broad support on the basis of his demagogic appeals to the anger and frustration of broad layers of workers and middle class people whose living standards have been decimated by the corporate-financial establishment the billionaire real estate mogul claims to oppose. The Clinton campaign, for its part, is strengthening its orientation to the Republican establishment and wealthier social layers that normally vote Republican but are put off by Trump's overt racism and extreme nationalism and his overall anti-establishment pose. Developments such as Monday's government announcement that Obamacare premiums will rise an average of 25 percent next year, or revelations contained in Clinton emails yet to be released by WikiLeaks, or an unanticipated economic or political shock could have unforeseen consequences for the outcome of the vote. What is clear, however, is that this presidential election will bring to power the most right-wing government in modern American history, regardless which of the two major party candidates wins. Clinton, the candidate favored by most of Wall Street and the corporate elite and large sections of the Republican Party establishment, is seeking to assemble something akin, within the framework of the US political setup, to a grand coalition between the Democratic Party and the Republican leadership. Earlier this week it was reported that Clinton had initiated back-channel talks with congressional Republican leaders over the basic policies and leading personnel of a Clinton administration. It was also reported that Clintons transition team had hired more staff and stepped up its efforts to put together a new Democratic administration. Clintons transition team is chaired by Ken Salazar, a former senator from Colorado and secretary of the interior during President Obamas first term. Salazar is on the right wing of the Democratic Party. He has spent his political career fronting for big oil and other energy interests and sparked controversy within the Democratic Party when he introduced George W. Bushs extreme right nominee for attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, and sat beside Gonzales during the latters Senate confirmation hearing. The central political axis of a future Hillary Clinton administration is evident in the anti-Russian, McCarthyite-style campaign she is waging against Trump. She is seeking and gaining support across virtually the entire bourgeois political spectrum on the basis of an intensification of the US war for regime-change in Syria and an even more aggressive and reckless confrontation with Russia. In Syria, she is calling for the imposition of no-fly zones, which top US military figures have acknowledged would mean war not only with Syria, but also with Russia. The Russia-baiting is intended to stampede and disorient public opinion, which is broadly anti-war, and enable an incoming Clinton administration to claim a mandate for military escalation. There have been numerous media commentaries pointing to broad dissatisfaction within the American foreign policy establishment, cutting across party lines, with Obamas policies. The basic argument is that his administration, which has continued the war in Afghanistan, extended it into Pakistan, carried out devastating wars in Libya and Syria, launched a new war in Iraq, backed a Saudi-led war in Yemen and carried out hundreds of drone missile attacks across the Middle East and Africa, is too timid. Last week, the Washington Post reported: The Republicans and Democrats who make up the foreign policy elite are laying the ground work for a more assertive foreign policy, via a flurry of reports shaped by officials who would probably play senior roles in a Clinton White House. The article noted that the Democratic secretary of state under Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright, is leading a bipartisan and international team looking at US strategy in the Middle East for the Atlantic Council. It quoted her as saying, We do think there needs to be more American actionnot ground forces but some additional help in terms of the military aspect. The ruling class knows that in carrying out such a foreign policy it risks a further growth of social anger and anti-capitalist sentiment. This has already found an initial expression in the mass support for the Sanders campaign and, in a more distorted form, the support for Trumps supposed challenge to the status quo. The problem facing the ruling class is compounded by the fact that the domestic side of a foreign policy tied to increased military spending is deeper social cuts. Clintons talk of taxing corporations and the rich to pay for a vast program of jobs and social reforms, such as debt-free college, is belied by the lopsided support for her campaign on Wall Street and among corporate CEOs. To cite a few relevant facts: * Of the $88 million donated by billionaires to the presidential candidates of the two major parties, $70 million has gone to Clinton. * Corporate-funded super PACs have favored Clinton over Trump by a two-to-one margin. * As of July, not a single CEO of a Fortune 100 company had donated to Trumps campaign or endorsed him. Clinton had received contributions from 11 of the corporate chiefs. * According to polls, 45 percent of households earning more than $100,000 a year plan to vote for Clinton, compared to 28 percent for Trump. For those earning $250,000 or morethe top 5 percentthe margin for Clinton is even greater, with 53 percent planning to vote for the Democrat and 25 percent favoring Trump. Transcripts released by WikiLeaks of Clinton speeches to Wall Street bankers, for which she received six-figure paychecks, show her praising the recommendations of the 2010 Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction commission, which called for sweeping cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; the elimination of 200,000 federal jobs; a tax on employees health benefits; and huge cuts in income taxes for the wealthy and corporate taxes. Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer told CNBC last week that Clinton will propose allowing US corporations to repatriate their $2.5 trillion in profits stashed overseas at tax rate far below the corporate rate of 35 percent (perhaps as low as 10 percent), providing a huge windfall for big business. To carry out such policies and fend off mass opposition from below, the ruling elite wants a united front of the two corporate-controlled parties. This may become all the more critical should the Republicans lose control of the Senate, considered likely, or even the House of Representatives, and find itself irreparably split. A central task before an incoming Clinton administration would be to rescue and rehabilitate the Republican Party and shore up the two-party system. This is what Clinton and the Democrats are seeking to deliver, as evidenced by Clintons increasingly pronounced effort to present herself as the candidate of the entire political establishment. Speaking Monday in New Hampshire, for example, she declared: Im proud to see Americans coming togetherDemocrats, Republicans and independentsto reject hate and division Im proud to have the support of more than 150 Republican leaders in the state who put country before party. As New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, a media surrogate for Clinton and the Democrats, put it in a column on Wednesday: The country desperately needs a healthy center-right party The state government said that they would protect all the institutions and the investigation is going on. By Naseer Ganai: As another government school was burnt in north Kashmir's Pattan area mysteriously today taking the number of the burnt schools to 23 in past four months, the government today said it is investigating who are involved in the school burning cases. "Kashmir's 23rd school set on fire today," tweeted Shahid Chudhary, Director of Information, J&K government after the Pattan incident. advertisement Chief Secretary of the State, BR Sharma, said that the state government would protect all institutions. He, however, said he would not accuse anyone at this stage. "It is a subject of investigation. Once investigation completes, we will let you know who are people involved in burning of schools. At this stage, we cannot say anything," Sharma told Mail Today. However, senior superintendent of police, Baramulla, Imtiyaz Hussain Mir, accused that separatists were involved. Also read: Yashwant Sinha-led delegation winds up Kashmir visit "In my area, three schools have been burnt by the youths, who are associated with the Hurriyat Conference and other separatist organisations," Mir told Mail Today. Superintendent Police (SP) Budgam, Abdul Wahid, said in his area one school was burnt. He, however, said it was burnt due to a short circuit. SCHOOLS ACROSS KASHMIR In Kulgam district of south Kashmir, six school buildings were set on fire including two high schools, one higher secondary school, two middle schools and one Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya school. Two schools in Bandipore, two in Baramulla, two in Shopian and two in Anantnag. While as one each school has been burnt in Kupwara, Ganderbal and Pulwama districts. According to Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, Muneer-ul-Islam, one school was burnt in his area after a killing of a local youth by government forces, two months ago. "Since then no one has touched schools in my district," he said. Education Minister and the government spokesman, Naeem Akhtar, said that it was very obvious to guess who was doing all this. Akhtar didn't name Hurriyat Conference but said, "Those, who have vested interests in keeping children out of school and use them as soldiers of future wars, are doing it." "The assault on education and inability of leaders to stop what is happening looks like an attempt at the collective suicide. Education is like oxygen and they are denying our younger generation of this basic necessity of survival as dignified people," Akhtar said. ANTI-PEOPLE ELEMENTS Hurriyat Conference issued a statement hinting that the schools were being burnt under watchful eyes of police. "In different areas, schools have been burnt and we have reports that culprits do so under police's watchful eyes," the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani said. advertisement Also read: Demands and reminders: Separatists leader Geelani meets Yashwant Sinha with list of concerns "Anti-people elements were carrying out these anti-social actions in broad daylight with a well planned strategy to malign the ongoing movement and paint it as violent and anarchist," the Hurriyat Conference said. Hurriyat has asked people and youths to expose "these elements and safeguard our pious struggle and project it in its real perspective." As education institutions are closed since unrest broke out in Kashmir on July 8, a five member Indian delegation headed by Former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha approached Geelani today, second time since Monday, urging him to help the state government to open schools. Geelani said he informed the delegation that education was important and essential for dignified life. The Hurriyat Conference told the delegation that no sane person can oppose or deny the importance of education. Also read: PM asks MHA to take initiative to reopen schools in Kashmir advertisement "We believe that education is a basic necessity for nation building. But education can only thrive in a calm, peaceful and dignified atmosphere, as mere attending the school may sooth the eyes of perpetrators and their jingoistic media may capture them in their lenses to portray an illusionary breakthrough," the Hurriyat said. The Hurriyat said "these stooges (state government and government forces) after causing deaths and blinding school children through pellets" were faking concern abut opening of schools." The schools and other educational institutions are closed since July 9 after the protests broke out in Kashmir over the killing of militant commander, Burhan Muzaffer Wani. On Thursday, Kashmir entered into 110th day of the unrest. Since then 94 civilians, mostly youth, have been killed and over 10,000 injured, by government forces firing bullets and pellets at protesters. The police have arrested over 6000 youths involved in various cases including stone throwing and over 400 political activists and separatist leaders have been booked under preventive detention law called Public Safety Act. --- ENDS --- In the midst of a three-day official state visit to Japan on Wednesday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he wanted US military forces out of the Philippines within approximately two years, and declared that he would end the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to achieve this. Addressing an economic forum in Tokyo, Duterte stated that I want, maybe in the next two years, my country free of the presence of foreign military troops, adding I want them out and if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, executive agreements, I will. Dutertes statements came in the wake of his four-day state visit to Beijing last week in which he declared that he was separating from the United States. Beijing and Manila signed 13 agreements during the trip, for an estimated total of $13.5 billion in trade and investment. During the visit, Duterte deliberately downplayed the July verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague which ruled that Chinas nine-dash line claim to the South China Sea was invalid. The speeches in Beijing and Tokyo were carefully delivered policy statements of the Duterte government. They had none of the vulgar, unhinged character of his prior denunciations of President Obama and the United States, and thus they far more clearly revealed the geopolitical roots of his volatility. Dutertes prior statements, calling Obama a son of a whore and positively comparing himself to Adolf Hitler, expressed in large part the psychology of the manan erratic, parochial figure with a fascistic agendawho was clearly out of his depth. The abrupt shift in Manilas foreign policy toward China, however, is an expression of the immense geopolitical tensions caused by the economic decline of the United States and its attempt to shore up this decline through global military domination. In Asia this has taken the form of Washingtons drive to militarily encircle and control China, and Manila has played a key role in support of this agenda for the past six years. Manilas economic ties with China drastically soured as a result. US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, speaking in Manila on Wednesday addressed Dutertes remarks, stating that it was a mistake to think improved relations between Manila and Beijing somehow come at the expense of the United States This should be addition and not subtraction. This is a lie. Washingtons pivot to Asia has created a perilous geopolitical powder-keg in which it is impossible for countries in the region to maintain friendly relations with both China and United States. For Duterte to continue the policies of his predecessor, Aquinoopenly contesting Beijings territorial claims and providing a pretext for the dramatic escalation of US military presence in the regionwould mean a continued and accelerating souring of trade relations with China. Washington has made geopolitics into a zero-sum game. This was what was at stake in Dutertes remarks in Tokyo, when he declared, I want to be friends to China I do not need the arms. I do not want missiles established in my country. I do not need to have the airports to host the bombers. Duterte is expressing opposition to the US military presence precisely because it jeopardizes business ties with China. Dutertes trip to Japan underscores these geopolitical tensions. Tokyo has allied itself with Washingtons pivot to Asia as a pretext for the remilitarization of the country but also to begin to assert its own imperialist interests in the region. Tokyo is looking to use the PCA verdict as a legal precedent for its own disputes with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and with Russia over the Kuril Islands. Dutertes downplaying of the decision has frustrated Japan almost as much as it has the United States. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a cordial meeting with Duterte, but these tensions were nonetheless present. Tokyo and Manila signed a joint agreement to uphold Freedom of Navigation in the South China Sea, in accordance with the rule of law. These are the watchwords of Washington in opposition to Chinas territorial claims. Japan committed to supplying Manila with aircraft and maritime surveillance equipment for patrolling the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Duterte indicated an awareness of the tensions over his increasing ties with China when he attempted to reassure Tokyo that the only thing discussed in China was economics. ...We did not talk about arms, we did not talk about stationing of troops, we avoided talking about alliances, military or otherwise. As yet none of Dutertes public pronouncements against Washington have been acted upon. US troops are still in Mindanao and they have not been formally asked to leave. US State Department spokesperson John Kirby stated that the United States was not going to respond and react to every bit of rhetoric. Were going to continue to work at this relationship. In other words, Washington intends to publicly ignore Dutertes statements and to maintain its presence in the country. At least one aspect of Manilas military ties with Washington has already been impacted. The meeting of the Mutual Defense Board and the Security Engagement Board, chaired by the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Ricardo Visaya and US Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris, has been postponed. The meeting which was slated for October 24, and which determines when the Philippines and the United States next hold war games, has been postponed until November 22, ostensibly to await the outcome of the US election. Reuters quoted a Philippine defense ministry official, however, who stated that the meeting was delayed because the president has not put down in writing what exercises with the US will be scrapped ... There was nothing to discuss because there was no specific instruction from the President. Dutertes sudden shift of Manilas foreign policy toward Beijing is an indication of economic weakness of the United States. Washington is attempting to shore up this weakness at every turn by escalating its military provocations and increasing the danger of world war between nuclear-armed powers. While Washington is currently expressing an intention to publicly ignore Dutertes volatile remarks, there are no doubt multiple plans currently in preparation for his removal from office. Ernie Bower, of the influential think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), hinted at these plans when he told the New York Times on Friday, President Duterte risks creating a lethal combination of adversaries if he moves to truncate the alliance with the United States. This year is the deadliest ever for desperate refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean to Europe in order to escape wars in the Middle East and Africa. We can now confirm that at least 3,800 people have died, making 2016 the deadliest ever, William Spindler, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), declared yesterday. The previous record number of deaths, 3,771, was set in 2015. Nonetheless, despite a sharp drop in the number of refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean, from 1.01 million last year to 327,800 so far this year, the number of deaths is surging. From one death for every 269 arrivals last year, in 2016 the likelihood of dying has spiraled to one in 88, Spindler said at a press conference in Geneva on Tuesday. On the Central Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy, the likelihood of dying is even higher, at one death for every 47 arrivals, Spindler said. This is the worst we have seen, he added. Political responsibility for these deaths lies above all with the European Union (EU). Having pushed aggressively for war in the Middle East and North Africa, notably with the 2011 NATO war in Libya, it then has moved to hermetically seal its borders against hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the catastrophic consequences of those wars. It destroyed semi-seaworthy boats on the cynical pretext that this would advance the "fight against smugglers" and hired mercenaries to deter refugees, putting them in additional peril and forcing them to seek out ever more dangerous routes on unseaworthy boats. People smugglers are today often using lower-quality vessels, flimsy inflatable rafts that often do not last the journey. Several incidents seem to be connected with travel during bad weather, Spindler said. He noted that refugees were also being forced to rely on mass embarkations of thousands of people, adding, This may be to do with the shifting smuggler business model or geared towards lowering detection risks, but it also makes the work of rescuers harder. The navies and armed forces of the NATO countries are intervening, but to destroy seaworthy refugee vessels and to initiate and cover up brutal attacks carried out against defenseless migrant vessels. An incident documented by the aid organization "Sea-Watch" on Tuesday with photos and logbook entries is symptomatic. On the night of October 21, the Libyan Coast Guard attacked a refugee boat, struck the inmates with clubs, and destroyed their dinghy. In the resulting panic, 30 people drowned. The incident occurred about 26 kilometers off the Libyan coast in front of the crew of the rescue vessel "Sea-Watch 2", which had been called by the Italian rescue center to come to the aid of a flimsy inflatable dinghy. The Libyan patrol boat forced to one side a boat that was accompanying "Sea-Watch 2," which was distributing life jackets to the refugees; it then attacked the dinghy. After the incident, "Sea-Watch 2" rescued 124 refugees and recovered four bodies. There was no trace of a further 25 refugees. The European Union and the Libyan Coast Guarda force set up by and operating under the military control of NATO, which continues to launch air strikes in Libya against Islamic State (IS) membersboth downplayed the incident. A Libyan spokesman said a patrol had boarded the aid ship to check whether it was in Libyan territorial waters. The Italian and German navies, which are on the scene due to the EU's Operation Sophia, claimed to have no knowledge of the incident. It was not the first time that the Libyan coast guard has used brutal force against refugees and rescue boats. In August, the ship Bourbon Argos, run by the Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) organization, was fired on by a Libyan patrol boat. At the time, the Libyan Navy declared that only warning shots had been fired, under the assumption that the "Bourbon Argos" was involved in smuggling refugees. The Libyan coast guard has also repeatedly intercepted refugee boats outside its territorial waters and forced them back to Libya, although this is illegal under international maritime law. Nonetheless, the EU and NATO are sticking to their plans to upgrade the Libyan coast guard and use it as a mercenary force against refugees. Around 1,000 members of the Coast Guard are to be trained and equipped in Libya as part of Operation Sophia. The aim was to start the training this week, and it will start this week, Antonello De Renzis Sonnino, the spokesman for Operation Sophia, told Reuters. According to the German government, the training will start on two ships, one Italian, the other Dutch. Weapons and trainers are being provided by Italy, Germany, Greece, Belgium and Great Britain. According to the German armed forces, the training of the Libyan coast guard has little to do with rescue at sea, and will concentrate on navigation and military issues. Sea Watch spokesman Ruben Neugebauer told the German public radio station Deutschlandfunk: Those responsible always say it is about gaining control of this region of the sea in order to reduce refugee numbers. If it were really a question of training a search-and-rescue force, then you could also train civilian rescuers. Then it would be unnecessary to train military forces. A huge contingent of warships has been sailing along the central Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy for months. Rather than making the sea crossing safer for refugees, the flotilla has only added to the risk of drownings. Since May this year, the EU's Operation Sophia has been mainly targeting smugglers providing boats for refugees. In addition, NATO ships and airplanes are operating in the central Mediterranean within the framework of Operation Sea Guardian. The patrol ships of Operation Sophia have destroyed many wooden fishing boats, which were at least in part capable of navigating the high seas. As a result, refugees are now attempting the crossing in crude and completely unseaworthy inflatable boats. These are much more difficult to detect and often have only sufficient fuel to reach international waters, but not the European shore. The refugees must then count on rescue on the high seas. The fight for health care continues. (Photo: Getty Images) About 40,450 women are expected to die of breast cancer in 2016, according to the nonprofit organization Breastcancer.org. Breast cancer remains the No. 1 cancer killing women in the United States, even as death rates have been decreasing, thanks to more advanced treatments, greater awareness, and earlier detection through screening. But many breast cancer advocates fear that that progress could be held back in an administration led by GOP nominee Donald Trump. The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) has tried several times to reach Donald Trumps office to ask him to endorse its 2020 Deadline to End Breast Cancer, but has not yet heard back from him. Thats not surprising: Throughout the campaign, the Republican presidential candidate has made no mention of breast cancer. For her part, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has not been as vocal on the subject as many might have hoped, yet NBCC president Fran Visco and others at the forefront of breast cancer advocacy efforts believe she is the best positioned to give breast cancer the requisite presidential support at a most crucial juncture for understanding, treating, and, hopefully, preventing the illness. Breast cancer has been an important issue for Hillary Clinton, and shes worked closely with the NBCC, as first lady, as senator, and since that time, Visco tells Yahoo Beauty. She has endorsed our deadline, and we hope to work with her. Thats why its critical for the next president to ensure that research in promising areas such as immunotherapy and genomics get support and funding, Visco says, and to continue supporting the Moonshot Task Force, a national effort to end cancer that is currently chaired by Vice President Joe Biden. The lesson about breast cancer nationally is that we need to really focus on where science can provide targeted progress, says Laura Esserman, a surgeon and breast cancer oncology specialist at the University of California San Francisco Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center. We want openness to change. We need to stay on the path of innovation. Story continues Science aside, repealing the Affordable Care Act a key item on the Trump agenda could prove detrimental to breast cancer patients, says Jean Sachs, CEO of Living Beyond Breast Cancer. The ACA has given many women the insurance coverage they need for mammograms and other preventative services, and it has brought down the cost of highly priced drugs for metastatic breast cancers. As Hillary Clinton said in one of the debates, we cannot take any steps back from the Affordable Care Act, Sachs says. Visco hopes that a Clinton presidency will facilitate the passage of the 2013 Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act. Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Blake Lively knows the way to Ryan Reynoldss heart! For his 40th birthday, which was Sunday, she threw him a megabash at their favorite NYC restaurant. The spot o ya, a Japanese restaurant in Midtown Manhattan the Gossip Girl alum picked had a lot of history for the pair, who recently welcomed their second child. It was at its sister restaurant in Boston where the pair first became smitten with each other in 2011. We fell in love at your restaurant in Boston, Blake shared on Instagram. We stay in love at your restaurant in NY. Thank you for the BEST food and memories! You are our FAVORITE!! The blonde then added a message to her husband, whom she met on the set of 2011s Green Lantern , writing, Another happy birthday with @vancityreynolds . Hey, Reynolds, I like you a whole lot. Just sayin. Blake had the restaurant decorated with balloons (including a 40) and photos from Ryans childhood and their relationship, including a picture, which he was holding, of his 35th birthday. In the photo, they were in the same pose, which is all pretty adorkable. In addition, the one-time Preserve guru had a photo booth set up for guests, lots of twinkle lights, and even party hats. Perhaps our favorite party accessory though were the bunny noses that Blake and Ryan wore for a second photo, which he shared. Those wascally celebs! Story continues Best. Birthday. Everrrrr. Courtesy of my wife, buddy, and international spy, @blakelively, the Deadpool star captioned the photo. With huge thanks to my favorite restaurant in NYC,@_o_ya_. He also gave their kids daughter James, almost 2, and the baby born late last month a shout out, thanking them for not ruining everything like they planned. Heres a third photo of the bash: the couple posing with the chefs. Happy Birthday to @vancityreynolds !! Lots of love and sushi A photo posted by o ya (@_o_ya_) on Oct 25, 2016 at 7:09pm PDT Word first got out that Blake and Ryan were an item in late October 2011, when she was shacked up with him in Boston, where he was filming R.I.P.D. However, by Blakes timeline, they must have already been in love by them. They quietly tied the knot in September 2012 in a lavish bash in South Carolina. The lovebirds have been just as secretive about the arrival of their second child, not revealing the name or gender. However, jokester Ryan may have given it away when he recently joked about a crib mobile made of NuvaRings that hangs over his daughters crib. When Nina Allreds 10-year-old daughter Emma had a low fever and chills, she thought she just had a bad cold. But when they went to Disney World in September 2013 their very first trip as a family she only got worse. After they returned to their home in Twin Falls, Idaho, Emma started to complain of stomach aches. When Nina checked to see where it was tender, she felt a hard mass. Not knowing what was normal, I took her to the ER, Nina tells PEOPLE. They did a CT scan and said that she had a mass in her abdomen the size of a tissue box. The fever was probably because the mass was so huge it was pressing onto her lungs. Doctors quickly determined that Emma had ovarian cancer and had to have her right ovary removed. Its quite rare, Emmas doctor, Nathan Meeker of St. Lukes Mountain States Tumor Institute, tells PEOPLE. Ovarian tumors represent only about 1 percent of all tumors seen in the pediatric population. For the next three months, Emma underwent three rounds of chemotherapy and although she started to lose her hair, she never lost her humor and great attitude. Im very OCD, so when she had a few strands of hair left on her head, I asked her if she wanted me to shave it, Nina says. She told me, No mom, Im leaving them just for you because I know how they drive you crazy. When patients are first diagnosed with the type of tumor Emma had a germ cell tumor of the ovary chemotherapy and surgery is the typical course of treatment. These tumors are very sensitive to chemotherapy, Dr. Meeker says, and the overall cure rate is somewhere around 93 percent. After her final treatment on Dec. 18, 2013, Emma was cancer free until July 2015, when Dr. Meeker found another large cancerous tumor in her lower abdomen during a routine check-up. There was a chance she might have to have a hysterectomy because the tumor was surrounding her reproductive organs and colon. But that following October, doctors were able to successfully remove the tumor without having to touch her organs, but a small amount of cancer was still on her pelvis. Story continues She underwent a pretty extensive surgery. The tumor was 10 inches in its longest diameter, says Dr. Meeker. We talked about how to proceed after because its so rare in kids. Its debatable whether chemotherapy at that point improves overall cure rates for children. After discussing it with Emma and her family, they decided that instead of chemotherapy, theyd move forward with continued surveillance. They mentioned her freezing her eggs, but thankfully we didnt have to go that route, says Nina. You shouldnt have to ask your 12-year-old if she wants to have kids. It was scary. When Emma, now 13, was approached by the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Idaho earlier this year, she didnt know what she wanted her wish to be. She could have had a shopping spree, gone anywhere or met anyone she wanted to, says Nina. They tell you its okay to be selfish. Her siblings wanted her to go shopping at an electronic store. Nina suggested going to Disney World again, so this time she could have more fun and do things her family wouldnt be able to afford. After thinking about it for a few weeks, Emma told her mom she knew exactly what she wanted. She said, Mom, I know what I want to wish for. I want to help the homeless, she says. I was taken aback, proud and humbled. She has a once in a lifetime opportunity to do just about anything and she wants to to use it for the homeless. Thats just amazing. Adds Dr. Meeker, Emmas wish is truly remarkable. I have not seen anything like it. They quickly got to planning and on Oct. 1 at City Park in Twin Falls, Emmas wish came true. They hosted a food drive to benefit local shelters and collected more than 13,000 pounds of food. Local organizations and a grocery store also contributed to the drive. It felt very good to help them, Emma tells PEOPLE. In reality, the more you give, the more people smile. It helps their day. If I can help someone, Ill help. The community came together for the event and also enjoyed a big picnic with hotdogs, cotton candy, face painting, balloons and live music. It was an amazing day, says Nina, who has two other children. We were overwhelmed in a very good way. I shouldnt be surprised that this was her wish because shes always helped people. The first thing Id think of is me. Where can I go? Who can I meet? Not to think of others. Emma is currently in remission, but after a recent check up, Dr. Meeker discovered another mass on the surface of her liver, which will be removed on Nov. 1. Hes hoping that its benign. Now we just have to wait, he says. If we were to see cancerous elements, that wouldnt be a good sign. Despite everything, Dr. Meeker says Emmas handled everything remarkably well. It was difficult when she initially had the relapse because we were a year in and thought itd be okay, he says. It was a setback for her, but even then she handled it with great courage. Shes only had the attitude that were going to fight this thing. Adds Nina, Just believing that God is in control and that he knows what hes doing is a big help. Its something that we have no control over. From Cosmopolitan Photo credit: Barcroft Media / Getty Images While everyones been busy worrying about babies contracting Zika (and for good reason), another viral infection has been quietly causing thousands of birth defects in the U.S. each year: I dont want to undermine the tragedy of Zika, but its important to recognize that for a long time, weve had this other virus that causes microcephaly and injures babies, says Mark Schleiss, MD, the director of pediatric infectious disease and immunology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. The virus hes referring to is cytomegalovirus (CMV), and it affects upward of 40,000 infants annually, causing permanent birth defects and developmental disabilities among some 8,000 of those babies. While there isnt a CMV vaccine yet, awareness about the virus and its effects can help everyone avoid infection and minimize the risk of women passing the virus along to their unborn babies. So, heres what you need to know about the other virus people should be talking about - particularly if parenting is on your bucket list: 1. You could have CMV right now without even knowing it. One in 3 kids in the U.S. will pick it up by the time they turn 3 years old, and approximately half of all adults contract it by the time they reach their 40s, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In other words, CMV is pretty freaking common. Whats more, fewer than 25 percent of people who get it experience any symptoms at all, according to Dr. Schleiss, who adds that even then, symptoms tend to be pretty mild and similar to the ones you experience when you come down with a cold. You might feel a little tired, feverish, or notice swollen glands or a sore throat, all of which tend to go away on their own within a few weeks. Its why you might not even realize you have CMV or know when youre spreading it. In rare cases, CMV can cause mononucleosis, or more serious complications among people who have weakened immune systems from chemotherapy or organ transplants. But again, those are special situations that wont affect the majority. Story continues 2. Although its common, CMV is hard to catch. Spread through bodily fluids like urine, saliva, tears, semen, breast milk, mucus, and blood, CMV isnt airborne or considered to be highly contagious. You dont get CMV from casual contact like riding the bus; its from exchanging body fluids at an intimate level, Dr. Schleiss explains, referring to kissing, sex, sharing cups and eating utensils, or changing an infected childs diaper without washing your hands well enough afterward - all of which can end up transmitting the virus into your body. 3. Close contact with babies and toddlers increases your risk of exposure. Day care workers and babysitters who feed and diaper multiple children all in a days work are bound to come in contact with lots of bodily fluids, whether theyre wiping one kids nose or changing anothers diaper. Because toddlers who have CMV can project perfect health, its that much easier to pick up CMV unknowingly - particularly when you work with kids who are younger than 3, about the age where kids begin to master potty training and practice proper hygiene. 4. Once youve got CMV, it stays in your system forever. A type of herpes virus, CMV remains dormant in your body just like chickenpox and mono, laying low even after any noticeable symptoms subside. When dormant, its not contagious, but can reactivate and become contagious at any time, unbeknown to the carrier. Besides undergoing therapies that weaken your immune system - like taking drugs to prevent your body from rejecting an organ in case of a transplant - experts dont know exactly which scenarios support reactivation in the average person. 5. Careful hygiene can protect you from CMV. Because your immune system is always on the defense, exposure to an active strain of CMV doesnt necessarily guarantee transmission. To reduce your risk of contracting the virus, avoid saliva-swapping activities like kissing kids on the mouth and cheeks, and sharing plates or eating utensils with them, even if theyre family members, according to the National CMV Foundation. Youll also want to thoroughly wash your hands by lathering up with soap for at least 20 seconds after coming into contact with a childs bodily fluids - particularly if youre pregnant. 6. You really dont want to contract CMV while youre pregnant. Thats because, when active, the virus circulates in your blood stream and can cross the placenta to infect your developing baby, resulting in whats known as congenital CMV. Photo credit: Getty Images 7. Babies that contract congenital CMV can develop serious birth defects and developmental issues, particularly when theyre exposed early on. Problems can range from profound, like multi-system failure, pneumonia, microcephaly [the same defect caused by Zika], and eventual death, to completely normal outcomes, Dr. Schleiss says, adding that the worst outcomes tend to follow exposure to a developing babys brain or central nervous system between the 12th and 20th weeks of pregnancy, a critical period for development. Other complications can also include hearing and vision loss, mental disability, cerebral palsy, failure to thrive, behavioral issues, and seizures, according to the National CMV Foundation (NCMF). Among CMV babies, 3 out of 4 who display symptoms at birth, like a small birth size for their age, yellow skin or rashing, a small head, or enlarged liver or spleen, will experience even more challenges as they grow up, according to the NCMVF. 8. CMV is the leading cause of deafness in children. Now that vaccines have wiped out other widespread causes of hearing loss such like meningitis, CMV is the single most common infectious disease that causes deafness in children, according to Dr. Schleiss. The disability can be present at birth or develop month or years down the line even when a fetus is exposed to CMV toward the end of their mothers pregnancy. That said, most babies who have hearing loss because of CMV have otherwise normal brain development, according to Dr. Schleiss. Photo credit: Getty Images 9. CMV affects more babies than fetal alcohol syndrome, neural tube defects, and Downs syndrome, combined - plus Zika. Women know they shouldnt drink while pregnant to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome, that they should take folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, and that they should avoid getting pregnant later in in life to avoid the heightened risk of having a baby with Downs syndrome, he says. But more babies are damaged by CMV every year than all of those adverse outcomes together, he adds, to put things in perspective. So far as Zika is concerned: While a baby exposed to Zika in the womb is more likely to be born with birth defects and developmental disabilities than a baby whos exposed to CMV during its development , CMV is so much more prevalent than Zika in the U.S. that more babies end up affected by CMV than Zika. FWIW, with both viruses, the earlier a baby is exposed, the greater the risk of developmental issues. 10. Second children are more likely to be born with CMV. Because mothers are more likely to be exposed to CMV picked up by their own children in day care or playgroups, women are more likely to contract CMV the second time they get pregnant, a bad thing considering the virus can do the most damage to a fetus when a woman is infected for the first time during her pregnancy. 11. The majority of babies exposed to CMV in the womb will end up perfectly fine. Dr. Schleiss estimates that 8 out of 10 CMV babies will lead normal lives without any disabilities at all. This prognosis is totally different from that of Zika, which causes devastating outcomes in the majority of babies who are exposed to Zika early in pregnancy. Photo credit: Getty Images 12. Doctors have the tools to detect CMV in pregnant women and unborn babies, but testing isnt standard. Although theres no test to predict exactly how CMV will affect any given baby, testing a pregnant womans blood or amniotic fluid can help detect a fetuss CMV infection early. This can help a woman decide whether to terminate her pregnancy, enroll in a clinical trial that could improve the babys outcome, help pediatricians anticipate developmental problems, or dictate whether a doctor prescribes antiviral medication at birth, which does appear to help prevent hearing and developmental issues, according to Dr. Schleiss. While monitoring for CMV during pregnancy is commonplace in Europe, those tests arent mandated by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, (ACOG) the organization that sets the standards for prenatal care in the U.S. Routine testing would put CMV on the grid so women begin to talk about it, says Dr. Schleiss, who adds that most parents of CMV patients hes treated never heard of the virus before their kids diagnosis. In the meantime, pregnant women can always ask their doctors to be tested. 13. Transmission of CMV to your baby through breastfeeding should be the least of your worries. Save for preemies and low-birth weight babies, for which more research is needed, infecting a full-term baby with CMV by feeding them breast milk is far preferable to not breastfeeding at all. Thats because CMV is unlikely to cause any symptoms, and the risk of developmental issues linked to the virus subsides once a full-term baby is born, according to Dr. Schleiss. Breastfeeding is always best, he adds. Photo credit: Getty Images 14. CMV vaccines are being tested as we speak, TG. Because testing involves following CMV children for years to evaluate the viruss outcomes, progress is slow coming. But it is coming. Follow Elizabeth on Twitter and Instagram. You Might Also Like A brand named after a beloved American presidentand which once supplied cars to presidentsis now looking to China for salvation. Following Buicks proven path, Lincoln sees the Middle Kingdom and its swelling ranks of status-obsessed nouveaux riches as the ladder on which it plans to climb back to market relevance. In China, Lincoln still is associated with Kennedy and Eisenhower and American glamour. There, Lincoln carries no negative baggage from decades of neglect. In China, the new Lincoln Continental hopes to make itspardon the Lincoln punmark. In the United States, where drivers are perhaps a bit more discerning, the Continental lugs the ball and chain of Lincolns more recent history and will have to prove itself against some very formidable competition. In that context, the car turns out to be, like Lincoln itself, a work in progress. The thoroughly fussed-over design, with exquisitely beveled edges and lovely LED light bars in back that give a seamless neon look, makes an imposing statement from any angle. And the interior takes Lincoln to heights that were unimagined when the brand sold nothing but bacon-wrapped Fords. But the car, despite its sales having begun already, is not yet fully finished. A few rough edges indicate that Lincoln is not quite ready to beat Lexus or the German luxury triumvirate, and it even has its hands full with the hard-charging Genesis sub-brand of Hyundai. Whether you get the base front-wheel-drive $45,485 Premier or the loaded all-wheel-drive $65,840 Black Label, this is a big machine, slightly longer both in wheelbase (117.9 inches) and between the license plates (201.4 inches) than the standard-wheelbase Lexus LS, itself a rather grand limo. Unlike the biggest Lexus (or the biggest Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz), there is only one Continental wheelbase at this point, so you can have any size you want as long as its XL. Besides that, Lincoln gives you a choice of three transversely mounted V-6 enginesthe Chinese get a fourth engine, a 2.0-liter turboand a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, unless you pick the most powerful twin-turbo 3.0-liter, which comes only with all-wheel drive. (The other six-cylinders are a naturally aspirated 3.7-liter and a twin-turbo 2.7-liter.) For our first drive, Lincoln made available only the 3.0-literboasting 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torquein the top two trim levels wearing nearly every option, a $74,705 Reserve and an $80,260 Black Label. Besides a full load of features and trim upgrades, the latter comes with experiential extras including concierge service for pick up and delivery and an extended maintenance plan. They both had a full suite of luxury and safety options, including the much heralded 30-way power seats, rear-seat climate controls, self-cinching doors, twin sunroofs, and blind-spot and lane-departure warning systems among the phalanx of electronic safety gadgets. Seat Yourself Unlatch a door via the high-mounted handle, and the interior is easily accessible through big portals, both front and rear. Once ensconced behind the wheel, you notice immediately the soft embrace of the broadly hugging front thrones, reminiscent of those found in the industrys current and longtime bucket-seat champ, Volvo. The seats many adjustments include two critical ones found on few cars: an independent upper-thorax component that articulates the upper half of the seatback, and a headrest adjustment that puts the soft cushion exactly where you want it. Unlike many modern seats, which curve away from your upper shoulders and neck and leave them dangling in dead space as part of a cheaped-out mechanical anti-whiplash scheme, the Lincolns can be configured after a few moments of familiarization to achieve perfect spinal alignment. We only wish the back seats were as comfortable. Theres tons of legroom in back, but the rear bench doesnt welcome or support you nearly as opulently as the front, and the head of this five-foot 11-inch reporter was almost touching the roof. The interior trim on these grander-level models, from the broad swaths of wood veneer to the finely perforated speaker grilles, cant be critiqued without sounding petty. Lincoln no longer wants its products to be thought of as Fords with a different fascia, and the connection to other Ford products through the switchgear is blessedly faint. However, we didnt see the lower trim levels, and the choice of a deep grain pattern for the material wrapping the dashtop and the seatbacks in the Reserve seems poor. Deep grain has long been associated with cheapness, and a smoother finish should have been selected. We might also have asked for more options in the instrument display screen. You can have a digital speedometer or an analog sweeping pointer, but not both, and while the display is legible and conveys the data, none of the options are particularly exciting. Other brands have taken better advantage of the switch from conventional gauges to TFT screens. Conti in Motion In motion, the Continental is quiet; even the mighty 3.0-liter makes a benign and distant V-6 hum. Lincoln was aiming for surprising performance from this boosted-to-bursting engine, and the Continental delivers, with the slightest brush of the accelerator causing your head to snap. Indeed, the engineers were a bit aggressive on the throttle calibration; the car rockets off with the gas pedal pushed barely a third of the way into its short stroke. And thats in the standard drive mode. Select the Sport mode by pushing the S button, located below D on the console (this sport setting being the only other drive mode offered), and the throttle jumpiness becomes downright annoying. Theres no way to be subtle in the Continental, no way to merely waft past a slower car. You have to pass them as if you are trying to humiliate them. Hey, some people like that sensation of instant, massive power, but in this age of electronic controls, Lincoln should give the driver the choice of opting out for a more measured throttle-control map. The six-speed transmission proved another rough spot. It can shift at odd times, and often it doesnt work transparently, especially on mid-throttle roll-offs from the line. Occasionally it lurched into second gear as if the car was hiccupping; once, it seemed to disconnect from the engine completely for half a second, then slammed into gear as if the car had been rear-ended, eliciting a startled gasp from both driver and passenger. Were guessing that more elegant powertrain calibrations will roll out over time as the buyer feedback comes in. The all-wheel-drive system includes a torque-vectoring function that, thanks to a gearset within the power take-off, allows the outside rear wheel to be over-run to help aim the car into a corner. Think of a canoe with two paddlers, the rearmost of which is paddling harder to the outside of a turn, and youve got the idea. Thus, the Continentals steering is lively and quick and definitely un-Lincoln-like, the weighting natural and progressive as it turns off-center. Its no trouble to place this big car in a corner or to thread a narrow space between, say, a pothole and a guardrail. The fine steering, if not exactly breathing with the tugs and sags of the road, is perhaps the Continentals best dynamic feature. We drove cars equipped with both the 19-inch wheels wearing fairly modest Michelin Primacy MXM4 all-season tires, and the 20-inch wheels with more aggressive Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric all-season rubber. With either, the ride is quite firm and the roll and pitch well attenuated, but on the 20s, the Contis lack of suspension travel wears through any velvet veneer. The suspension clomps against its bump stops over rough pavement that should be cushioned out in this, a somewhat genteel luxury liner. Lincoln eschewed fancier air springs or magnetorheological dampers in favor of adaptive shock valving, a cost-effective and reliable solution but one with somewhat limited capability. Whatever the thinking, at the price point where the Continental is playing, the suspension steps just a little too hard. (There also are available 18-inch wheels that are likely to offer the best ride of all.) At least the structurein its simplest terms an upsizing of the Ford Fusion platform, made mostly of various grades of steel with a few aluminum outer panelsis stiff, taking its wallops without shaking the floor or the steering column. But the penalty is weight, with the lightest front-drive Continental coming in at just over 4200 pounds, according to Ford. No doubt thats one reason the 3.0 manages EPA combined fuel economy of only 19 mpg. We just tested a Cadillac CT6 3.6-liter AWD that weighed 4138 pounds and returned fuel economy close to what Ford claims for its similar but less powerful 3.7-liter V-6. The Contis stiff ride is perhaps why the center console of one of our cars developed a persistent itching squeak somewhere around the clutter bin. When informed of this, an attending engineer just sighed, indicating that despite what have been (for Ford) obsessive efforts to mitigate squeaks and rattles, it remains a dogging issue in the early cars out of the Continentals Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant. As we said, the Continental is a work in progress. Some of the basic ingredients are there, including the design, the surfeit of modern amenities including the fully updated Sync 3 infotainment systemalas, still lacking a center control knob, so inputs are touchscreen or voice control onlyand a variety of powertrain and driveline options to suit many needs. It just needs polishing, a process that has taken Cadillac and Audi, two other reinvented luxury marques, some 20 years to pull off. At least Lincoln has finally taken its first steps. Specifications > VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front- or 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan BASE PRICES: Premier, $45,485; Premier AWD, $47,485; Select, $48,440; Select AWD, $50,440; Select 2.7 GTDI, $50,690; Select 2.7 GTDI AWD, $52,690; Reserve, $54,840; Reserve AWD, $56,840; Reserve 3.0 GTDI AWD, $60,105; Black Label, $63,840; Black Label AWD, $65,840; Black Label 3.0 GTDI AWD, $69,105 ENGINE TYPES: DOHC 24-valve 3.7-liter V-6, 305 hp, 280 lb-ft; twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 2.7-liter V-6, 335 hp, 380 lb-ft; twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 3.0-liter V-6, 400 hp, 400 lb-ft TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 117.9 in Length: 201.4 in Width: 75.3 in Height: 58.5 in Passenger volume: 109 cu ft Cargo volume: 17 cu ft Curb weight (C/D est): 4200-4400 lb PERFORMANCE (C/D EST): Zero to 60 mph: 5.0-5.8 sec Zero to 100 mph: 12.2-14.0 sec Standing -mile: 13.5-14.8 sec Top speed: 130 mph FUEL ECONOMY: EPA city/highway driving: 16-18/24-27 mpg Halloween is almost here and having a good fright is fun for many people. However, there is nothing fun about what scares many retirees. Rather than worrying about what might be lurking under the bed or in the shadows of the closet, seniors may be tossing and turning all night for a different reason. "Over 82 percent of baby boomers have some type of financial fear," says Brian Nelson Ford, a financial well-being executive at SunTrust Bank. Here's a look at what SunTrust and other financial experts say retirees fear most, and how you can stop these from keeping you up at night. [See: 10 Ways to Get Ready for Retirement After Age 50.] The Fear: Medical expenses The Fix: Proper insurance and an emergency fund This is the fear that keeps most baby boomers awake, according to the SunTrust survey. The bank found 21.7 percent of the 890 boomers it surveyed said their biggest financial fear was a medical emergency and its resulting costs. A 2016 survey conducted by the American Institute of CPAs discovered virtually the same thing. When the institute asked CPA financial planners what their newly retired clients' biggest fear was, 24 percent said it was a serious illness, dementia or diminished capacity. To banish this fear, retirees need to be fully insured, and that goes beyond simply having Medicare. Some medical emergencies, such as a stroke, can result in the need for ongoing long-term care, which is not covered by Medicare. However, retirees are typically at an age when the price of a separate long-term care insurance policy is cost-prohibitive. Jeff Fosselman, senior wealth advisor at Relative Value Partners in Northbrook, Illinois, says converting an existing life insurance policy to one that includes long-term care coverage may be an option. "I'm working with several clients right now on these combo policies," he says. What's more, retirees should have an emergency fund to pay for unexpected medical bills. "We call it a confidence account," Ford says. "That's not just to be cool or catchy. Research says people are confident when they have money." Story continues [See: 9 Retirement Planning Deadlines You Shouldn't Overlook.] The Fear: Recession The Fix: A diversified portfolio and multiple streams of income A recession or unforeseen economic event registered as the top financial fear for 21 percent of the boomers surveyed by SunTrust. It's a fear that strikes even those who have been diligent in saving for retirement, Ford says. "A recession scares them because they've done the right thing, but something they can't control could derail them." Patrick Meyer, director of wealth management client services at Unified Trust Company, says a recession right at the start of retirement is the most dangerous scenario for seniors. Called sequence risk, pulling money from retirement funds during a down market could mean a person's nest egg never fully recovers from a recession, even if the economy does. "One of the things you can do to guard against sequence risk is to have two years' worth of money in low-volatility accounts," Meyer says. Those could be something like money market accounts or traditional savings accounts. Then, money can be pulled from there while retirees ride out the recession and wait for the balances in their other retirement funds to rebound. Having a well-diversified portfolio that earns money through multiple income sources is another way to combat this fear. "A lot of people think they're diversified if they have stocks and bonds," Ford says. But adding in real estate or other revenue sources can provide additional protection in the event of a market downturn. [See: 10 Places to Retire on a Social Security Budget.] The Fear: Running out of money The Fix: Proper forecasting and conservative spending Lifespans are increasing thanks to modern medicine, but that poses a challenge for retirees. When Meyer is asked about his retired clients' biggest fears, "The one that really comes to mind is the fear of outliving their money," he says. "Some fear that more than death." It's a fear that can be difficult to quell since there is no way to know exactly how long someone will live. To be safe, financial advisors say it is wise to plan for a long life and budget money conservatively. "When I model things, I look to at least age 90 now," Fosselman says. Even with good forecasting, seniors have to be prepared for medical expenses and the occasional economic downturn. Plus, they may need to learn to say no. According to the American Institute of CPAs survey, 11 percent of those within the first 10 years of retirement say what they fear most is having to help children or grandchildren financially. Growing up usually means you no longer worry about spooks, goblins and ghouls, but that doesn't mean you're not scared. Fortunately, financial planners say it's possible to avoid the financial nightmares that may be keeping you up at night. 10 Ways Retirement Will Surprise You After being slammed by Ajay Devgn for praising ADHM, KRK has hit back at the actor by revealing details of the plot of his film Shivaay. By India Today Web Desk: It's been a few months since the promotion of Shivaay began. While Ajay Devgn has done everything possible to keep the plot of his upcoming action thriller under the wraps, Kamal R Khan is in no mood to keep it the same. KRK, who was catching a screening of Shivaay in Dubai, tweeted the opening scene of the film. advertisement ALSO READ: Karan Johar paid Rs 25 lakh to speak in favour of ADHM? ALSO READ: Ajay Devgn has no emotional connect with film industry, has never helped anyone, says KRK It was only a few months ago that KRK and Ajay had a face off on social media after KRK slammed Shivaay and was all praise for Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. And soon enough, Ajay released a phone conversation on Twitter where KRK is admitting to have taken Rs 25 crore from KJo for speaking in favour of ADHM. However, KRK denied all the allegations. And it seems KRK is still not over it as hit back at Ajay by leaking the opening scene of Shivaay on Twitter and wrote, "#Shivaay is starting with trailer of next flop #RockOn2." It was soon followed by another tweet, "First scene of Shivaay." He was not content with just sharing a few clips from the film. And soon enough started revealing the details of the plot on Twitter. In one of the tweets, he wrote, "Let me clear, #Shivaay is story of prostitution problem in Bulgaria, so what Indian audience has to do with it? Why will Indians watch it?" Let me clear, #Shivaay is story of prostitution problem in Bulgaria, so what Indian audience has to do with it? Why will Indians watch it? KRK (@kamaalrkhan) October 27, 2016 KRK did not stop here. And further tweeted, Story started by 9 years old memory and Since last 15 minutes Ajay Devgan Sahab is jumping in the mountains! #Shivaay KRK (@kamaalrkhan) October 27, 2016 30 minutes gone and Ajay Devgan sir is still climbing mountains only so I really don't know if he has made #Shivaay to show mountains only. KRK (@kamaalrkhan) October 27, 2016 KRK compared Shivaay to films like Himmatwala and Action Jackson. Soon enough the clip went viral. And that is when he decided to delete them. advertisement Shivaay, which brings Ajay back as a director after a gap of 8 years, is set to hit the screens on October 28. The film will clash with Karan's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. --- ENDS --- Dubai (AFP) - Warships from the US Navy and allied nations have intercepted four weapons shipments from Iran to war-ravaged Yemen since April 2015, a US admiral said Thursday. Yemen has been rocked by conflict since Iran-backed Huthi rebels overran the capital Sanaa and other large parts of the country in 2014, prompting military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition in March last year in support of the internationally recognised government. The United States and Saudi Arabia have accused Iran of arming the insurgents, and while Tehran denies the charges, the coalition has since enforced maritime and air controls over the Arabian Peninsula country. "Either US ships or coalition ships... intercepted four weapons shipments from Iran to Yemen," said US Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan. "We know they came from Iran and we know the destination," he told reporters at an undisclosed military base in Southwest Asia. Donegal said the shipments contained thousands of AK-47 assault rifles, anti-tank missiles, sniper rifles and "other pieces of other equipment, higher-end weapons systems". Naval officials were able to determine the destination of the boats' by analysing GPS settings and interviewing the crew. One of the shipments had been validated by the United Nations as being an illegal weapons shipment, said Donegal. His comments come after the US military's Central Command chief General Joseph Votel said last week Iran may have played a role in suspected Huthi missile attacks this month against US warships in the Red Sea. "We believe that Iran is connected to this in some way," Donegan said. Given the heavy volume of traffic around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf, the three-star admiral said "plenty" of other shipments would have gone through to Yemen. The arms seizures came after Iran in April 2015 tried in vain to send a convoy of seven ships, guarded by two Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels, to Yemen. Story continues The Shiite Huthi rebels are believed to be behind this month's attacks in which surface-to-surface missiles were fired at the USS Mason on at least two occasions. In response, US cruise missiles on October 13 struck Huthi radar sites. The Mason and two other warships were likely targeted in a third missile attack on October 15, but officials have not conclusively confirmed what the threat was or where it was coming from. - Peace roadmap - Yemen's conflict has killed nearly 7,000 people, wounded more than 35,000 and displaced at least three million since the Saudi-led coalition launched military operations, according to the United Nations. The UN special envoy to Yemen Ismail, Ould Cheikh Ahmed, submitted to the rebels in Sanaa on Tuesday a proposal to revive a political process. The contents have not been made public. But informed sources say the roadmap calls for agreement on naming a new vice president after the rebels withdraw from the capital Sanaa and other cities, and hand over heavy weapons to a third party. President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi would then transfer power to the vice president who would appoint a new prime minister to form a government in which the north and south of Yemen would have equal representation. The government has remained non-committal, saying it has not received any roadmap for a political settlement. From Popular Mechanics The United Kingdom has announced its new class of ballistic missile submarines will carry one of the oldest, if not the oldest names in navies: Dreadnought. The lead ship, HMS Dreadnought, will be the ninth ship so named since the 16th Century, carrying the name and the motto that goes along with it-"Fear God and Dread Nought"-deep into the 21st century. The first Dreadnought was an armed galleon of the Tudor Navy-the 16th Century equivalent of the Royal Navy. Dreadnought fought under Sir Francis Drake, harassing the Spanish armada. She served from 1573 to 1648 and was probably the longest-serving Dreadnought of all. Dreadnoughts II, III, IV and V were all ships of the line, armed with between 52 and 98 guns. Launched between 1654 and 1801, all these ships had fairly modest naval careers-except for Dreadnought V, which served at the Battle of Trafalgar. Dreadnought VI is where things start to get interesting. The sixth ship to bear the name was an ironclad battleship, the first with a metal hull and steam engines instead of a wooden hull and sails. Armed with four 12.5-inch guns, she was more powerful-and heavier-than the previous five warships combined. At some point in history, "dreadnought" became a loose term for any battleship, and that's because of the Dreadnought VII. With this vessel, the Royal Navy invented a revolutionary new class of fast battleship that was capable of 21 knots, powered by steam turbines, armed to the teeth, and heavily armored. Commissioned in 1906, Dreadnought VII set the standard for battleship design for the next forty years. At 20,730 tons fully loaded, she was twice as large as VI. Dreadnought VIII took the famous name into the nuclear age, and was the name of the U.K.'s first nuclear submarine. It was smaller than the Dreadnought battleships, but thanks to its six torpedo tubes it could sink any known vessel, and was more powerful than the rest combined. Story continues Dreadnought IX will be yet another nuclear powered submarine. The Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines will carry all of the U.K.'s nuclear weapons, each submarine equipped with between 8 and 12 Trident D-5 nuclear-tipped missiles. The four ships of the Dreadnought class will patrol the world's oceans, ready to carry out a devastating retaliatory strike against any country that nukes London. At least one will be on patrol at all times, with an estimated 40 or so nuclear weapons onboard. The first boat is scheduled to enter service in 2028. You Might Also Like France is dismantling the Calais Jungle refugee camp this week. But the story of refugees in todays world is much broader than any one camp. Here are 5 refugee facilities that help tell a more complete story. 1. ZaatariJordan While many Americans and Europeans would close their countries to refugees, Jordan has been doing its part from the outset of the Syrian civil war. Zaatarithe single-largest refugee camp in the world for Syrians fleeing violence, just 10 miles (16 km) from the Syrian borderhas been operating since 2012. Roughly 80,000 Syrian refugees currently reside in the camp, but Jordan has taken in approximately 635,000 Syrian refugees totalthats about 10 percent of its own population. If Zaatari were a city proper, it would be Jordans fourth-largest. But while Jordans generosity for its neighbors is real, its not entirely selfless. The World Banks $300 million interest-free loan certainly factors into Ammans decision to open its doors to Syrians in need, as does the prospect of tax-free exports to the E,U. And Syrian refugees have proven to be quite industrious; there are now more than 3,000 small businesses in Zaatari, generating more than $13 million a month for the Syrian refugees and the Jordanians they do business with. Money talks, even in times of crisis. (World Food Program, New York Times, PBS) Read: Arrest of National Geographics Afghan Girl Highlights Growing Pressures on Afghan Refugees 2. CalaisFrance But for Europe, Syrian refugees have become a downright existential crisis. Already straining under the weight of deep financial problems, fracturing politics, and terrorism fears, the Syrian refugee crisis has become Exhibit A for Europes inability to coordinate effective responses to continent-wide challenges. The Calais Jungle has become the most visible symbol of that failureeven though it holds only 10,000 inhabitants. Calaiss predominantly Muslim population unnerves a continent already struggling with radical Islamic terrorism. Funding refugee camps at a time when European citizens are seeing welfare benefits cut plays directly into the hands of populist politicians across Europe. And then theres the Brexit angleCalais is situated across the channel from the UK and was being used as a processing center for refugee seekers with relatives in the UK. Now that Britons have voted for Brexitin large part because they want better immigration controlthere wasnt much sense keeping open a refugee camp that has become a powerful symbol of Europes current dysfunction. Story continues (The Guardian) 3. DadaabKenya But the worlds largest refugee camp is one youve probably never heard of: Dadaab in Garissa County, Kenya. Home to nearly 350,000 peoplea population larger than the city of Pittsburghthe Dadaab refugee complex provides shelter to Somalis fleeing their countrys long-running civil war. Originally founded in 1991, today nearly a third of the people living in Dabaab were born inside the camp. Read More: The Left Behind Refugees of the Jungle in Calais Like Calais, fear of terrorism makes life in Dabaab much more difficult for its residents. Kenyan officials have been vowing to shut down the camp for years, but they have a renewed sense of urgency with the rise of the Shabab militant group, a particularly brutal band of militants who have pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda. Kenyan authorities have accused Shabab of using Dabaab as a hideout within their borders. Politics are also at play hereKenyas sitting president, Uhuru Kenyatta, is up for reelection next year, and he has made national security his rallying cry. Then theres the religious element: Kenya is a majority Christian country, Somalia a predominantly Muslim one. Thousands of miles from Calais, the concerns remain remarkably consistent: security, religion, and politics. (New York Times, BBC) 4. NakivaleUganda Uganda doesnt get a lot of positive attention these days, but when it comes to housing and caring for refugees, it should. Uganda has the bad luck to be surrounded by some of the most dysfunctional neighbors in the world, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to its west and South Sudan to its north. Uganda now hosts more than half a million refugees. More than 100,000 of those are housed at Nakivale, a six-hour drive west of the capital. Lives for refugees in Nakivale are much better than in Dadaab and Calais, because the Ugandan government allocates a piece of land to each refugee family, on which they can build a house and farm. Refugees also live in districts divided by their country of origin, which helps with the difficult social transition. And no work permits are required, which means that refugees can actively contribute to the Ugandan economy outside the refugee camp, rather than just languishing within it. (UNHCR, BBC) Read More: The Left Behind Refugees of the Jungle in Calais 5. Mae LaThailand Burma has been gripped by civil war for nearly six decades. Neighboring Thailand hosts nearly 40,000 people in its largest refugee camp, Mae La; the country as a whole shelters more than 100,000 refugees across nine refugee camps lining the Thai-Burma border. Refugee camps were developed in relatively desolate areas; as a result, jobs and factories have been built in their vicinity to take advantage of refugee laborers, and these refugees have become embedded in the social fabric of their communities. As far as refugee stories go, this is one of the better ones. But here comes the twist. Burma has made major strides toward democracy since it held elections in 2011, and its now run by some of the people the former junta imprisoned. Pressure is rising both inside Thailand and internationally to repatriate these refugees. Just this week, 68 people voluntarily relocated from Thailand back to Burma, a move hailed as a milestone by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). But remember, these communities have sunk roots into Thai soil for two decades. Nearly half the Burma refugees in Thailand are under the age of 18. Its bad enough to be forced to become a refugee; its almost as bad to be forced to return to a homeland youve never knowna refugee in everything but name only. (TIME, Iguacu) A few tricks and tips can help investors compound their portfolio returns. However, devising the right strategy from the extensive pool of information might prove to be quite a daunting task for seasoned investors, let alone new entrants in the world of stock trading. In this screen we discuss one of the oldest investment techniques, betting on stocks near 52-week highs. It is one of the most controversial strategies, with one set of experts cautioning investors against it and the other promoting it as an easy way of making quick bucks. Meanwhile, a wide group of investors today favor winning stocks with prospects of scaling higher. These investors have mastered the art of finding stocks that have strong upside potential and are still undervalued. . This screen helps you eliminate the risks associated with an ad-hoc 52-week high investment by clubbing it with a set of parameters. An Insight into 52-Week High Stocks Stocks near 52-week highs often instill the presumptive adjustment and anchoring bias principle in the minds of investors. This principle works on the belief that investors use the 52-week high price as a reference point and value stocks against this anchor. Many a times such stocks are prevented from scaling higher despite robust potential, due to the psychological bias of investors who fear that the stocks are overvalued and a price crash is impending. A few of the stocks remain undervalued due to prolonged under reaction on part of investors, despite bullish growth drivers. Meanwhile, news pertaining to robust sales, surging profit levels, bullish earnings prospects and strategic acquisitions can drive the stock higher. However, when a string of positive developments start dominating the market, investors find their under-reaction unwarranted and the renewed interest might drive stocks beyond the 52-week high bar. Wall Streets fast paced trading makes it imperative for investors to step in before the market gets a whiff of it. Story continues Also, recent academic research reveals that if a stocks current price is near its 52-week high, there are high chances that it will outperform peers in the subsequent period. According to researchers George and Hwang, holding 52-week high stocks for six months has resulted in an average monthly gain of 0.45% between 1963 and 2001. Encouragingly, this is twice the gain that can be garnered from similar momentum-based strategies. Setting the Right Filters Our diligent screening technique has been deployed to find 52-week high stocks that hold tremendous potential compared to their respective industries. The added parameters are strong earnings growth expectations, sturdy value metrics and positive price momentum. These stocks are relatively undervalued compared to their peers, in terms of earnings as well as sales, which make us believe that they will continue their rally for quite some time. Current Price/52 Week High >= .80 This simply is the ratio between the current price and the highest price at which the stock has traded in the past 52 weeks. A value greater than 0.8 implies that the stock is trading within 20% of its 52-week high range and is likely to touch the 52-week high mark soon. % Change Price 4 Weeks > 0 It ensures that the stock price has moved north over the past four weeks. % Change Price 12 Weeks > 0 This metric guarantees a continued upward price momentum for the stock over the past three months as well. Price/Sales <= XIndMed The lower, the better. P/E using F(1) Estimate <= XIndMed This metric measures the amount an investor puts into a company to obtain one dollar of earnings. It narrows down the list of stocks to those that are undervalued compared to their peers. One-Year EPS Growth F(1)/F(0) >= XIndMed This metric helps choose stocks that have higher growth rates than the industry median. This is a meaningful indicator as decent earnings growth adds to investor optimism. Zacks Rank = 1 No screening is complete without our proven Zacks Rank, which has proved its worth since inception. It is a fundamental truth that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) have always managed to brave adversities and beat the market. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Current Price >= 5 This parameter will help screen stocks which are trading at $5 or higher. Volume 20 days (shares) >= 100000 Inclusion of this metric ensures that there is a substantial volume of shares that can be traded easily. Here are five of the 12 stocks that made it through the screen: Winnebago Industries, Inc. WGO is a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles in the U.S. The company distributes its products through independent dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company beat estimates twice in the trailing four quarters, the average positive surprise being 1.2%. Idaho-based Micron Technology, Inc.MU is a provider of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, the company manufactures and markets Dynamic Random Access Memory, NAND flash memory, CMOS image sensors, other semiconductor components and memory modules used in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking and mobile products. With an earnings beat in all the four quarters, the company has an average positive surprise of 31.5%. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Chicago, IL, Navigant Consulting Inc. NCI is a provider of specialized consulting services. It serves industries undergoing regulatory and structural changes, including construction, energy, financial services and healthcare. The company managed to surpass estimates in all of the trailing four quarters, clocking an average positive surprise of 29.3%. Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc. NSM is a mortgage lender. It mainly originates conventional agency and government residential mortgage loans. The company also offers complementary services for mortgage investors. Nationstar Mortgage managed to beat estimates twice in the trailing four quarters, resulting in an average positive surprise of 10.2%. Incorporated in 1959, Houston, TX-based McDermott International Inc. MDR is an engineering and construction company, solely focused on the offshore oil and gas business. The company has a whopping average earnings surprise of 474%, beating estimates in all of the trailing four quarters. You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge. The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your trial to the Research Wizard today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out. Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today. Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance. Zacks Restaurant Recommendations: In addition to dining at these special places, you can feast on their stock shares. A Zacks Special Report spotlights 5 recent IPOs to watch plus 2 stocks that offer immediate promise in a booming sector. Download it free Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report WINNEBAGO (WGO): Free Stock Analysis Report MCDERMOTT INTL (MDR): Free Stock Analysis Report NATIONSTAR MTGE (NSM): Free Stock Analysis Report MICRON TECH (MU): Free Stock Analysis Report NAVIGANT CONSLT (NCI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 5 unanswered questions everyone who loves Disneys Pocahontas still has I consider Pocahontas the last Disney movie of my youth. It came out during the summer of 1995, when I was 10 years old. After that, it was time for middle school, and I was suddenly ~too cool~ for Disney (at least on the outside 21 years later and I let that flag fly freely). Im grateful I saw Pocahontas in the theatres. Its a beautiful albeit wildly historically inaccurate film with a soundtrack that, in my opinion, is just as good as its predecessors The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. The plot still leaves me hanging, though, so here are the biggest questions I still have for it aside from Who thought a watered-down treatment of this story would be a good idea in the first place? of course. How do all the natives speak English? So the movie is in English, which makes sense because it was made for an American audience and whatnot. But what always bugged me about it was that I couldnt even lie to myself that THAT was the reason everyone spoke fluent English because when the settlers meet the natives, they can somehow all talk to each other like its no thing. pocahontasjohnsmith I know the writers didnt care about the history enough to make a real effort, but I feel like maybe a bit of creativity in the language-barrier department without chalking it up to magic leaves in the air couldve gone a long way. Who is Grandmother Willow? I remember watching the first scene with Grandmother Willow in theaters, and just staring open-mouthed at the screen. The animation, especially for that time, was absolutely amazing. And Grandmother Willow was a wise old sassbucket my favorite type of character. grandmotherwillow But we never learn her backstory, which is a shame. Does Pocahontas call her Grandmother because she is actually descended from this woman, whose soul lives inside a tree? Or is she everyones grandmother who makes cookies for the entire village? OH GOD, IS GRANDMOTHER WILLOW WHERE KEEBLER ELVES COME FROM AND IVE BEEN IN THE DARK ABOUT IT THIS WHOLE TIME? It would explain so much. Story continues How did Pocahontas (and Meeko, and Flit) not die in this scene? Pocahontas first appearance in the movie is when shes hanging out with her friend Nakoma and shes like, Be right there, just going to dive off this 38574-foot cliff and dive into that shallow water perfectly! pocahontasdive1 No really, that sh*t is HIGH. Im not exaggerating. pocahontasdive2 But somehow, she (and her buddies Meeko and Flit, who fall after her) doesnt have a scratch on her from that dive. Now, I know theres Disney magic at play and Grandmother Willow is watching over her or whatever. But if guns can kill these characters, a dive from a cliff as tall as the Empire State Building into shallow standing water can also do that, Im just saying. Why doesnt Kocoum bleed when he dies? When the inexperienced Thomas (voiced by Christian Bale in his first [and one of his only] voice-acting roles to date, FYI!) shoots Kocoum in the chest, he falls into the water and Pocahontas goes over, takes one look at him, and says, You killed him! But there is no blood. None. Not even slow-moving blood, because they show his body in the water again and no redness can be seen. So how does she know hes dead? Because I think maybe he just passed out from shock and they buried the poor guy alive, if you ask me. kocoum Why didnt Pocahontas and Nakoma hook up instead? I cannot be the only person out there who shipped Pocahontas not with John Smith and not with Kocoum but with her BFF Nakoma, right? The first time we meet Pocahontas, she is showing off by jumping off of Death Rock down to where Nakoma is hanging out, and the the two splash around and its all so adorable IMO. Nakoma is all, Dont you think were getting a little too old for these games? a la Joey Potter in the first episode of Dawsons Creek when she says theyre getting too old to sleep in each others beds. nakoma Then Nakoma goes to alert Kocoum about Pocahontas and John Smith which, to be fair, is the right thing to do for the best interest of their entire village. Nakoma seems like the only person in Pocahontas life who wants whats best for her AND loves her for who she is so WHY DISNEY, WHY COULDNT YOU LET THIS BE A THING? The post 5 unanswered questions everyone who loves Disneys Pocahontas still has appeared first on HelloGiggles. Is there a holiday thats more demanding of parents than Halloween? For kids, its all about costumes and too much candy. But parents are expected to combine the skills of a costumer, a set dresser, an event planner, and Steven King. Its almost enough to make you want to turn out the porch light and wait for Thanksgiving. Despair not; it's technology to the rescue. We've discovered a variety of easy ways to use your computer, your phone, and other devices to help in your noble quest to make cool costumes, scary decorations, and ultimately, lasting Halloween memories. 1. Take Zombie Selfies The only thing that kids love more than zombies? Smartphones. The Zombify app combines those two obsessions by applying layers of virtual gore and blood over a selfie. That allows you to become the Greg Nicotero of your neighborhood without demanding that your subjects spends hours in the makeup chair. Even better? Zombify is free for Halloween for iPhone and Android users. 2. Make Cosplay Costumes How often do you make a costume? Once a year, tops, give or take a school play? Why not get advice from the specialists? Adam Savage of "Mythbusters" fame made an inspiring video of his build of a quick-and-dirty Doc Ock costume from "Spider-Man 2" for the comedian Patton Oswalt. You might not want to make that costume, but you can channel his thought process using lightweight materials, mounting them to a comfortable backpack frame, finding the right adhesives for the materials, and emphasizing safety above all. (Accidents aren't funny even before someone loses an eye.) That's just one idea. The internet is full of tips and tricks from actual costume designers, makeup artists, and special-effects experts who work in film and on the stage. An even better source of inspiration is the army of talented amateurs who engage in cosplay-genre conventions. 3. Put J.S. Bach in Your Mailbox It takes a lot of effort to build a haunted house thats really scary. But the right creepy noise at just the right time isn't only bone-chilling, it's easy to generate. Hide a wireless speaker, say, in your mailbox. Pair it to your phone, and when trick or treaters come, have an accomplice groan, Let me out of here . . . Story continues If you just want mood music, try the pipe-organ classic Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. Or stream this creepy Tom Waits classic. 4. Add Entrails to Your Smartphone Mark Rober was a rocket scientist fiddling with high-tech Halloween costumes when his hobby took on a life of its own. He quit his day job on NASA's Mars rover program and now offers a free app that features freaky beating hearts and other animated gore and guts. You run the app on a phone slipped into a costume that reveals just enough of the screen to bring the horror to life. You can order the outfit online or make one yourself. 5. Carve Your Pumpkin CNC-style Got a CNC machine sitting around? Then go for it. If not, you can aim for a CNC-quality pumpkin using less spendy materials. A Google search can point you in the direction of a) ideas that go beyond the current presidential candidates and b) free or inexpensive stencils for a template. (Our favorite? A pumpkin carved with an actual QR code where you can set up a customized link that visitors can actually scan on their phones.) Then you can simply blast through the template and pumpkin with a Dremel tool. Its faster than most pumpkin-carving bladesand safer. Once your carving is done, consider a high-tech alternative to a candle for illumination, such as LED lights from a hardware store or even a bundle of cheap laser pointers to project the pumpkin's image onto a garage door. 6. Design a Flat-Screen Mirror of Horror Dont ever get a TV engineer into a discussion about the merits of hanging a television over a fireplace. But any TV placed there, where you might expect to see an elaborate mirror or painting, is a particularly good candidate for this straightforward how-to. Buy a cheap, old-fashioned wooden frame to cover the television's plastic or metal bezel. Cover the screen with two-way mirror vinyl, which you can find at a craft store. Voila! Your TV's an heirloom mirror. Then slip in a ghostly DVD and you've got a scary thing. 7. Concoct Drinks That Glow in the Dark Remember those scary black-light posters from "That '70s Show?" Or the actual 1970s? That retro technology can be frightening in an entirely different way on Halloween. Replace a few ordinary bulbs with black lights, which you can find at a hardware store. Fill a beaker or some test tubes with tonic water from the supermarket, then walk into your Halloween party carrying a glow-in-the-dark drink. (The quinine in the tonic water makes it fluoresce a bright blue under a black light.) Want to really freak out your friends? Cackle. Drink it. And pretend to keel over. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. From Good Housekeeping Mary Lou Williams has got to be one of the coolest grandma's we know. At age 93, she has the best part-time job: scaring people at the Warehouse of Fear in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Williams got involved five years ago when her son, Kevin, who manages the Warehouse of Fear, needed an elderly person to fill a specific role. Feeling up to it, she gave it a try, and enjoyed it so much that she hasn't missed a day in five years. "Some just run through the room, and then some of them get so scared they back out," Mary Lou said to ABC News, while laughing. "I think sometimes they're kind of goofy. Some of them will say, 'Oh, there's grandma!' I enjoy it and I enjoy the people I work with." Although Mary Lou would probably do the job for free, she does use her paycheck to buy Christmas gifts for her five sons and 10 grandsons. After all, once Halloween season is over, she goes back to being sweet Grandma Mary Lou. If you're in the area, check out this year's "phobia" theme at the warehouse. Mary Lou will be playing a patient in a nursing home, who is beating her nurse for making her eat too many vegetables. We can relate Mary Lou, we'd rather be eating Halloween candy, too. [h/t ABC News] You Might Also Like Viola Davis and Julius Tennons JuVee Productions has sold a second project to ABC, single-camera comedy The Zipcoders. Written by Marshall Todd (Barbershop), The Zipcoders is about a divorced mother of three who moves her family to the East Side of Austin, Texas, soon after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., in an effort to be closer to her estranged sister. Once there, her teenage son forms a rock n roll band, to the utter bewilderment of friends, family and the community at large. Davis and Tennon executive produce through JuVee, along withTodd. ABC Studios, where JuVee inked an overall deal in April, is the studio. The Zipcoders is near and dear to my heart, Tennon said. Viola and I love what Marshall Todd put on the page the world, the characters and a fun-loving take on music, relationships, dreams and family. Over our conference room door is etched Dream Big, Dream Fierce and this show really underlines that ethos. The Zipcoders stems from an original idea developed at JuVee about a group of teenage friends growing up in East Austin who aspire to be a rock band like the Beatles. With the image of a group of African-American teenagers with feathered hair and bell bottoms in the middle of the Deep South, the company met with potential writers. The producers went with Todd who, after doing some research on late-60s America, found immediate parallels to the issues the country is dealing with today politically, racially and musically. This project gives me the opportunity to tell a story that, while specific to the African-American experience, doesnt travel in the usual tropes, Todd said. As a parent I was inspired to tell a story from the dual perspective of parents and children in a world where the rules are constantly changing. Music has always been a passion of mine, and to be able to use it to inform this particular narrative was a provocative challenge. Story continues The Zipcoders joins JuVees thriller drama project Head Games, written by Chuck Rose, which also has been set up at ABC. JuVees Head of Television Andrew Wang will be overseeing the project for the company. Todd co-wrote the original Barbershop movie, which launched the successful franchise in 2002, and became a sought-after script doctor working for producers Larry Gordon and Jerry Bruckheimer, including an uncredited rewrite of Bad Boys II. He is developing D-Town with producer Billy Chartoff and All Eyez on Me director Benny Boom. JuVee Productions is repped by CAA. Todd is repped by Gersh, Principato-Young and Mark Temple. Related stories 'American Crime': Tim DeKay Joins Cast For Season 3 Of ABC Series ABC Sets John Corey Cop Drama Based On Novels; Mace Neufeld & John Davis To EP 'Notorious' Order Cut To 10 Episodes By ABC (Adds quote, background) By Michael Flaherty Oct 27 (Reuters) - Activist investor Jana Partners LLC disclosed an 8.1 percent stake in HD Supply Holdings Inc , and said it had held discussions with the company's management about possible strategic options. HD Supply, the industrial product distributor that separated from parent Home Depot Inc in 2007 under pressure from a different activist investor, saw its stock rise 3 percent to $33.11 on Thursday. Jana, which owns $449 million worth of HD Supply's shares, is one of the largest U.S. activist investors, with $9.9 billion in assets. The New York-based firm has taken on companies such as chip-maker Qualcomm Inc and packaged food maker ConAgra Foods Inc. The HD Supply stake makes the hedge fund the company's second-biggest shareholder, according to Thomson Reuters data. "HD Supply welcomes open communications with our shareholders and we value constructive input," the company said in a statement, adding that it will continue to take action to increase shareholder value. HD Supply's stock plunged in September after its second-quarter earnings missed analyst expectations, falling by as much as 16 percent on the morning it published the results. "We suppose part of this bet is predicated on that issue being transitory," said Don Bilson, head of event driven research at research firm Gordon Haskett. Bilson also pointed out that HD Supply could be an acquisition target for Home Depot and Lowe's Cos Inc, which have been pushing into the facility maintenance sector that the company supplies. HD Supply's separation from Home Depot in 2007 came amid pressure from another activist hedge fund, Relational Investors, which launched a proxy fight against the company. The two sides settled before the fight came down to a vote, and resulted in a Relational founder joining Home Depot's board. Jana's regulatory filing did not offer specific plans that it wants the company to follow to increase its share price, which has risen 14 percent in the last year. Jana said in the filing that it believes HD Supply's shares are undervalued and that it has discussed strategic options with the company's management team. Jana added that it may have further discussions related to the composition of HD Supply's board of directors. (Additional reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Phil Berlowitz) By PTI: Male, Oct 27 (PTI) A Singaporean arbitration tribunal has ordered the Maldivian government to pay approximately USD 250 million in compensation to Indian company GMR over termination of contract to run Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA). Singapore International Arbitration Centre has ruled that the Maldivian government should pay USD 208 million in damages to GMR Group and after adding the interest it should pay a total of approximately USD 250 million, Maldives Attorney General Mohamed Anil was quoted as saying by the Sun Online. advertisement In a press conference held at Presidents Office today, Anil said that the tribunal had made its decision and released its report on October 25. The report was shared with Maldivian government last night, he said. GMR had asked for USD 1.4 billion in compensation. Maldivian government terminated its contract with GMR on November 27, 2016, during Mohamed Waheeds presidency after an audit regarding the contracts monetary, legal and national security implications. Anil said the audit uncovered conflicts of interest and violations of the rights of government and Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) arising from unseemly reliance on GMR. Anil said the amount of compensation was USD 800 million less than which was estimated by the opposition, falling closer to USD 300 million estimated by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, the report said. PTI ZH --- ENDS --- Two top Al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan were killed in a US drone attack, the nation's spy agency confirmed Thursday, in a major blow to the group as it seeks to re-establish safe havens in the country. Washington said the strikes on Sunday targeted Farouq al-Qahtani, Al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan, and his deputy Bilal al-Utabi, calling it the most significant attack against the group's leadership in several years. Multiple Hellfire missiles "levelled" two different compounds in Kunar province where the men were believed to be hiding, US officials said Wednesday, without confirming if the strikes were successful. Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security offered confirmation of their death on Thursday, adding that a third senior member of the group had also been killed. "The attack was carried out in coordination with NDS," the spy agency said in a statement, without naming the third leader. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook had earlier said their demise would deal a blow to the militant group's presence in Afghanistan. "Eliminating these core leaders of Al-Qaeda will disrupt efforts to plot against the United States and our allies, reduce the threat to our Afghan partners, and assist their efforts to deny Al-Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan," Cook said. The Pentagon had been actively hunting Qahtani for four years. He had longstanding ties with Osama Bin Laden before his death in the 2011 US raid on his Pakistan compound. Qahtani had operated in Afghanistan since at least 2009 and was responsible for planning attacks against US and coalition forces in the country, officials said. "He was seeking to re-establish (Al-Qaeda's) control in Afghanistan," a US official said. "He was charged with the requirement to establish AQ safe-havens throughout Kunar and Nuristan provinces." His deputy Utabi, was seen as the second- or third-most senior Al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, the official said. Story continues - 'Deadly attacks' - In October 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks, the US launched military operations to dislodge the Taliban from Afghanistan and capture or kill Al-Qaeda militants they were harbouring. Their numbers have since been decimated, but the United States continues to target the remnants of the group. In June, the White House restored the Pentagon's authority to strike at insurgents. The new authority has given the US-led NATO troops greater latitude to order air strikes against a web of militant groups in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, Islamic State jihadists and Al-Qaeda. Qahtani and his deputies were in Hilgal village in Kunar's Ghazi Abad district when they were attacked, US officials said. They were in two separate buildings a few hundred metres (yards) apart and were targeted almost simultaneously by multiple missiles. Provincial spokesman Abdul Ghani Mosamem told AFP at least 15 insurgents were killed, including two Arabs. A number of Pakistani Taliban fighters were also among the fatalities, he said. An Afghan intelligence official in the province also confirmed two Arabs were killed in the strikes. Qahtani and Utabi are well-known senior Al-Qaeda commanders in Kunar, and had been actively involved in recruiting young locals into the group. Qahtani was born some time between 1979 and 1981 in Saudi Arabia and is a Qatari national. In February, the US Department of the Treasury labelled Qahtani a specially designated global terrorist. Qahtani "has a long history of directing deadly attacks against US forces... along with plotting Al-Qaeda terrorist operations in the United States and around the world," Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam Szubin said at the time. (Adds details, background on proposed merger) By John Tilak and Rod Nickel TORONTO/WINNIPEG, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The shareholders of Agrium Inc and Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc are set to overwhelmingly approve a merger of the two Canadian fertilizer producers, according to a source familiar with the situation, despite initial skepticism from Agrium investors. About 99 percent of the votes from both groups of shareholders are in favor of the transaction, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter is not public. About half of the votes have come in, the source said. The merger requires two-thirds support of votes cast by shareholders of each company. On Nov. 3, shareholders of Agrium and Potash will vote in separate meetings in Calgary, Alberta and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, respectively, to approve the deal. Last month, Potash and Agrium agreed to join forces in an all-stock deal that will allow Potash shareholders to own 52 percent of the new company, with the rest going to Agrium shareholders. Some Agrium investors said at the time they were uneasy about the deal because it would give them greater exposure to the slumping crop nutrient potash. Agrium shares fell when the deal was announced. Potash Corp Chief Executive Jochen Tilk said on Thursday that early votes were "overwhelmingly in favor of the merger." Investor advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis are supporting the merger. The deal, combining the world's largest fertilizer capacity of Potash Corp with Agrium`s farm retail business, the biggest in North America, still faces regulatory scrutiny in Canada and the United States. Closing is expected in mid-2017. In North America, the new company will control about two-thirds of potash capacity and nearly one-third of phosphate and nitrogen capacity. (Reporting by John Tilak in Toronto and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Phil Berlowitz) By John Tilak and Rod Nickel TORONTO/WINNIPEG, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Shareholders of Agrium Inc and Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc are set to overwhelmingly approve a merger of the two Canadian fertilizer producers, according to a source familiar with the situation, despite initial skepticism from Agrium investors. About 99 percent of the votes from both groups of shareholders are in favor of the transaction, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter is not public. About half of the votes have come in, the source said. Potash shares dipped slightly in New York and Toronto on Thursday, while Agrium stock edged higher. The merger requires two-thirds support of votes cast by shareholders of each company. Last month, Potash and Agrium agreed to join forces in an all-stock deal that will allow Potash shareholders to own 52 percent of the new company, with the rest going to Agrium shareholders. Fertilizer profits have slumped as prices fall due to excessive supplies and weak crop prices. Some Agrium investors said at the time they were uneasy about the deal because it would give them greater exposure to the slumping crop nutrient potash. Agrium shares fell when the deal was announced. Capital Innovations LLC will vote its shares in both companies for the merger because it provides scale and diversification to weather a slumping market, said Michael Underhill, Capital's chief investment officer. "It's accretive (and) they look like attractive companies together. That combination affords a better platform." Agrium and Potash could not be immediately reached for comment. In a statement earlier on Thursday, Potash Corp Chief Executive Jochen Tilk said that early votes were "overwhelmingly in favor of the merger." The company on Thursday posted a smaller-than-expected drop in quarterly earnings and lowered its profit outlook for the year, warning that significant recovery in the potash market would happen only late this year or in early 2017. Story continues On Nov. 3, shareholders of Agrium and Potash will vote on the deal in separate meetings in Calgary, Alberta and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, respectively. Investor advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis support the merger. The tie-up, combining the world's largest fertilizer capacity of Potash Corp with Agrium's farm retail business, the biggest in North America, still faces regulatory scrutiny in Canada and the United States. Closing is expected in mid-2017. In North America, the new company will control about two-thirds of potash capacity and nearly one-third of phosphate and nitrogen capacity. (Reporting by John Tilak in Toronto and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Andrea Ricci) By John Tilak and Rod Nickel TORONTO/WINNIPEG (Reuters) - Shareholders of Agrium Inc and Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc are set to overwhelmingly approve a merger of the two Canadian fertilizer producers, according to a source familiar with the situation, despite initial skepticism from Agrium investors. About 99 percent of the votes from both groups of shareholders are in favor of the transaction, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter is not public. About half of the votes have come in, the source said. Potash shares dipped slightly in New York and Toronto on Thursday, while Agrium stock edged higher. The merger requires two-thirds support of votes cast by shareholders of each company. Last month, Potash and Agrium agreed to join forces in an all-stock deal that will allow Potash shareholders to own 52 percent of the new company, with the rest going to Agrium shareholders. Fertilizer profits have slumped as prices fall due to excessive supplies and weak crop prices. Some Agrium investors said at the time they were uneasy about the deal because it would give them greater exposure to the slumping crop nutrient potash. Agrium shares fell when the deal was announced. Capital Innovations LLC will vote its shares in both companies for the merger because it provides scale and diversification to weather a slumping market, said Michael Underhill, Capital's chief investment officer. "It's accretive (and) they look like attractive companies together. That combination affords a better platform." Agrium and Potash could not be immediately reached for comment. In a statement earlier on Thursday, Potash Corp Chief Executive Jochen Tilk said that early votes were "overwhelmingly in favor of the merger." The company on Thursday posted a smaller-than-expected drop in quarterly earnings and lowered its profit outlook for the year, warning that significant recovery in the potash market would happen only late this year or in early 2017. On Nov. 3, shareholders of Agrium and Potash will vote on the deal in separate meetings in Calgary, Alberta and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, respectively. Investor advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis support the merger. The tie-up, combining the world's largest fertilizer capacity of Potash Corp with Agrium's farm retail business, the biggest in North America, still faces regulatory scrutiny in Canada and the United States. Closing is expected in mid-2017. In North America, the new company will control about two-thirds of potash capacity and nearly one-third of phosphate and nitrogen capacity. (Reporting by John Tilak in Toronto and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Andrea Ricci) Allergan plc AGN will be reporting third-quarter 2016 earnings on Nov 2, before market open. Last quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 2.13%. Allergans performance has been pretty impressive, with consistent positive surprises. The average earnings beat over the last four quarters is 3.44%. ALLERGAN PLC Price and EPS Surprise ALLERGAN PLC Price and EPS Surprise | ALLERGAN PLC Quote Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors to Consider Allergans top as well as bottom line should continue to be propelled by acquisitions, particularly that of Botox-maker Allergan Inc. Botox Migraine, Namenda XR, and Vraylar should continue to drive growth. Linzess and Viberzi should also perform well. However, Namenda IR is facing generic competition. Investors will be interested to hear about Namzarics performance. Namzaric was launched in the second quarter of 2015 and is expected to reduce the impact of the Jul 2015 entry of Namenda IR generics. The performance of new products like Avycaz (treatment for adult patients with complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections), Vraylar (bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia), Kybella (double chin reduction) and Viberzi (adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea) will also be in focus. Allergan sold its generics and Anda distribution business to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited TEVA in August and October, respectively. Both these business lines will be treated as discontinued operations. Importantly, on the second-quarter conference call, management had said that while the Anda divesture will hurt second-half revenues by $100 million, contribution from new product launches will be greater in the second half, typical to pharma seasonality. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Allergan is likely to beat on earnings this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESPand a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here, as you will see below. Story continues Zacks ESP: The Most Accurate estimate stands at $3.55 while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged higher at $3.60. So, the Earnings ESP is -1.39%. Please check our Earnings ESP Filterthat enables you find stocks that are expected to come out with earnings surprises. Zacks Rank: Allergans Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP. However, we need to have a positive ESP to be confident about an earnings beat. We caution against Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks to Consider Some stocks in the healthcare sector that have both a positive Earnings ESP and a favorable Zacks Rank are: Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. ARIA is expected to release results on Nov 1. The company has an Earnings ESP of 5.26% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Shire plc SHPG with an Earnings ESP of +1.26% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is scheduled to release results on Nov 1. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ALLERGAN PLC (AGN): Free Stock Analysis Report ARIAD PHARMA (ARIA): Free Stock Analysis Report TEVA PHARM ADR (TEVA): Free Stock Analysis Report SHIRE PLC-ADR (SHPG): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Altria Inc.s MO third-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 82 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents by a penny. Earnings also increased 9.3% year over year driven by a strong performance of the core tobacco business and the leading premium brands. Revenues and Margins Net revenue dipped 3.1% to $6.9 billion backed by higher sales across all segments. Revenues net of excise taxes gained 4.3% year over year to $5.2 billion. The top line also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.12 billion by 1.6%. ALTRIA GROUP Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise ALTRIA GROUP Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | ALTRIA GROUP Quote Supported by lower excise tax levied on products, gross profit increased 3.4% year over year to $3.15 billion. Operating income advanced 3.3% to $2.38 billion. Segment Details Smokeable Products Segment: Net revenue inched up 1.8% year over year to $6.15 billion backed by higher pricing. Revenues net of excise taxes gained 2.7% to $4.47 billion. Shipment volume decreased 0.9% year over year to 33.23 billion units. Cigarettes retail market share inched up by 0.1 percentage points (pp) year over year as higher gains in Marlboro and Discount brands were offset by lower shares in Other Premium brands. Marlboros retail share was up by 0.1 pp to 44.0%. Retail share for cigars dipped 1.3 pp due to lower shares at the Black and Mild brand. Smokeless Products: Revenues jumped 9.5% to $528 million supported by higher pricing, partially neutralized by increased promotional investments. Revenues net of excise taxes increased 10.0% to $493 million during the quarter. Smokeless Products shipment volume increased 5.6% to 216.4 million units buoyed by a 6.6% surge in Copenhagen and Skoal shipment volumes. Smokeless Products retail share grew 0.9 pp year over year to 55.9%. Copenhagen brands retail share increased 2.7 pp, whereas Skoal witnessed a 1.5 pp dip. Wine: The segments revenues went up 9.6% year over year to $182 million owing to higher shipments. Revenues net of excise taxes increased 9.3% year over year to $176 million. Story continues Wine shipment volume rose 6.3% to 2.3 million units driven by higher shipments of Ste. Michelle brand. Outlook Altria reiterated its fiscal 2016 guidance. It now expects its 2016 adjusted EPS to be in a range of $2.98 to $3.04. The guidance represents a growth of 6.5% to 8.5% from 2015. Financial Updates Anheuser-Busch InBev took over SABMiller on Oct 10, 2016. Altria received a 9.6% ownership of AB InBev, and approximately $5.3 billion in pre-tax cash as per the terms of the acquistion. Altria anticipates incurring a pre-tax gain of approximately $13.7 billion, or $4.55 per share, effective in fourth-quarter 2016. During the third quarter, Altria repurchased 2.6 million shares for a total of $171 million. In Aug 2016, Altria announced an 8% hike in its quarterly dividend to 61 cents per share. The new dividend was paid on Oct 11 to shareholders on record as of Sep 15, 2016. The annualized dividend now amounts to $2.44 per share with a dividend yield of 3.7%, based on Altrias closing price of $66.33 as of Aug 19, 2016. Last year, the company increased its dividend by 8.7%. As of Sep 30, 2016, Altria had $2.29 cash and cash equivalents compared with $891 billion as of Jun 30, 2016. Long-term debt was $13.87 billion as against $12.83 billion as of Jun 30, 2016. Consolidation of Manufacturing Facilities During the third quarter conference call, Altria announced that it will consolidate several of its manufacturing facilities to streamline operations and achieve greater efficiencies. The consolidation, scheduled to be completed by first-quarter 2018 is expected to deliver approximately $50 million in cost savings by the end of 2018. E-Vapor Category in Focus Altrias subsidiary Nu Mark LLC (Nu Mark) stepped up the distribution of MarkTen XL and Green Smoke e-vapor products across several markets. Productivity Initiative In Jan 2016, Altria announced the implementation of an initiative for approximately $300 million in annual productivity savings by the end of 2017. Part of the savings is to be realized through reduced spending on certain infrastructure and will be invested in brand building and regulatory capabilities. Such initiatives are expected to help the company reap higher profits over the long term. Zacks Rank Altria has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). In order to combat macro issues, the company, along with other tobacco majors like Philip Morris International Inc. PM, British American Tobacco BTI and Reynolds American Inc. RAI, is focusing on the growth of the alternative tobacco product category. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ALTRIA GROUP (MO): Free Stock Analysis Report PHILIP MORRIS (PM): Free Stock Analysis Report REYNOLDS AMER (RAI): Free Stock Analysis Report BRITISH AM TOB (BTI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research anthony bourdain serious Loving to cook isn't enough. That's what celebrity chef and "Parts Unknown" host Anthony Bourdain tells John Sellers at Thrillist about making it as a chef. When Sellers asked him about whether the explosion of cooking shows in the past few years has created a "false impression" of working in a kitchen, Bourdain said it was likely. "... Anybody who goes in laboring under the assumption or thinking it's going to be easy or glamorous is going to be very, very quickly dissuaded," he told Thrillist. "They were not going to last. But that was always the case. There are always delusional people who thought it would be a great idea, who decided to 'follow their passion.' This was always a lethal instinct. Or almost always a lethal instinct." He went on to say that, by 35, "you're going to be grandpa in the kitchen" doing "physically hard" work and "getting paid sh--, if you're lucky, for the first few years." Bourdain, who just published his newest cookbook, Appetites, continued: "And if you want to be really good, then you will insist upon getting paid sh--, because what you should be doing is working for somebody really, really good for as close to nothing as they're willing to give you, in return for the experience. "So that's something that I think it would be useful to point out. That if you have a good job, you're 35 years old, and you think it's going to be easy, or that you're going to make a good living, you at least need a realistic picture of what the business is really like before you make a jump or a commitment like that." Bourdain, now 59, is one of the few who started from scratch and became an enormous success in the field and relatively late, at that. The best-selling memoir that led to his becoming a household name, "Kitchen Confidential," was published in 2000, when he was 44 years old. "I know the guy who wrote 'Kitchen Confidential' very well," Bourdain told Business Insider in April. "He's not me anymore. I'm not boiling with rage. I don't live in this tiny, tunnel-vision world. I had such a limited view of what reality was like outside of the kitchen doors I had no clue! I never lived with normal people. I lived in the restaurant universe for my entire adult life. I'm no longer the star of the movie. At all. That's it! It's a huge relief in a lot of ways." Story continues He knows that he's the exception to the rule, as a chef who started in the kitchen and has become a celebrity. "I work really hard to not ever think about my place in the world," he told Business Insider. "I'm aware of my good fortune." He continued to Thrillist: "I mean, I admire anyone who wants to cook and knowingly enters the field. It's a hard thing. But, you know, look before you leap. Because I've seen that so many times, kids coming out of cooking school and working in my kitchens, and literally two weeks in, you see it. You look behind the line, and you can just see the dream die. This terrible information sinking in, like, "Oh my God, this is nothing like they told me it was going to be." That might be in part because, as he said, there's very little romance in becoming a professional chef. "The true god of the restaurant business, of professional cooking, is not brilliance and creativity," he told Thrillist. "It's consistency." Read the full interview at Thrillist NOW WATCH: 2 simple shopping tricks the wealthy use to save money More From Business Insider Apparently stick masks are the new peel-off masks heres what to try first Like all good beauty lovers, we have a major thing for masks. That means we pay close attention to mask trends, from DIY natural skincare masks to the best best peel-off masks, we just love what masks can do for our skin. And beauty blogger Yes Hipolito just introduced us to something brand new: the stick mask. Obviously, were dying to try it. Luckily, Yes Hipolito posted a video of herself trying a stick mask for the first time, so were living through her! A video posted by Yes Hipolito (@yeshipolito) on Oct 25, 2016 at 10:39am PDT She captioned the post, First time ever trying a stick mask this is the @pharmaskincare A Peel mask! Smells like man I love it! & you know while I wait for it to dry on IG! Mmm sounds lovely to us! Were seriously dying to give this a shot. Will this be the new peel of mask?! Its so new, but were crossing our fingers that well have more available to try soon. Heres a few stick masks to try! This nourishing mask sounds totally dreamy. According to Pharma Skincare, the A Peel Microepidermal Masque Stick seriously hydrates skin. The site says, The Masque Stick helps nourish, restore, and diminish the appearance of existing lines and wrinkles caused by age, dryness, sun exposure, and environmental damage. It also works to smooth out acne scars and blemishes. Now that sounds ah-mazing, and oh so necessary. And this exfoliating mask sounds awesome, too! The FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser totally shifts the way weve been washing our faces. According to tarte, Get your quick Frxxxtion fix with this three-in-one exfoliator, cleanser, and face mask all in a portable, solid-to-suds stick. Ooh la la! With zero parabens and phthalates, this is for sure worth a shot. The post Apparently stick masks are the new peel-off masks heres what to try first appeared first on HelloGiggles. By PTI: Kolkata, Oct 27 (PTI) City-based Srei Group today announced launch of iQuippo, a digital marketplace startup for construction equipment machinery and services. "iQuippo is an independent markeplace model for construction equipment and this is the first of its kind. This is an e-commerce startup from Kanoria Foundation and Srei group," Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd vice-chairman Sunil Kanoria said. advertisement "Construction equipment business has begun to be revitalised with 30-40 per cent growth registered in the first six months of the current fiscal. I think the sector size is growing to Rs 50,000 crore by 2020 from Rs 20,000 crore annually," he said. "The used equipment market in India is pegged at USD 2 billion annually. Around 20 per cent of equipment is available for hire. iQuippo aims to alleviate the information asymmetry, enabling fair price discovery and transparent transactions which is currently constrolled by the unorganised sector," Srei CEO ? Financial Services, Devendra Kumar Vyas said. He said the revenue model will be fee from the trasactions take place on the marketplace. The company will now aggressively tieup with the partners of the eco-system like manufacturers, financiers, brokers, insurers among others to make this online platform one of its kind in India and globally. PTI BSM MD --- ENDS --- By Dave McKinney CHICAGO (Reuters) - Failure to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal would be a major setback for U.S. interests in Asia as Washington seeks to deepen alliances in the region, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday, urging Congress to ratify the pact. The 12-nation Pan-Pacific trade deal championed by President Barack Obama has been pilloried by both major-party nominees in the U.S. presidential race, Democrat Hilary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. While Republicans have traditionally backed free trade deals, Trump has blamed them for U.S. job losses and threatened to rip them up or renegotiate them if he wins the Nov. 8 election. "If we see the TPP rejected, it would be a gigantic self-inflicted wound a setback to our own interests in the region," Kerry told the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, in remarks that drew a smattering of applause and boos. "It would amount to a conscious turning of our backs on the Asia Pacific at the very moment that we ought to be linking arms it would be an act that will hurt American workers, slow our economy, hinder our ability to advance the full range of U.S. objectives" in the fast-growing region, he added. Republican leaders have said there is no point in bringing the trade deal for a vote in the "lame-duck" session of Congress after the election. But Kerry urged Congress to approve the deal after the election, saying: "It's the right thing to do for America and no matter what the loudest voices may be shouting it is also the popular choice." There are concerns in Washington that failure to pass the TPP would prompt Southeast Asian nations to turn to China and Russia. Kerry said the trade deal was a "litmus" test of Washington's capacity to lead and was necessary if the United States wanted a steady and reliable presence in the region. His comments came amid tensions with China over the disputed South China Sea, increased concerns over North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs, and questions over the future of the U.S.-Philippines alliance. (Reporting by Dave McKinney; Writing by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Peter Cooney) (Reuters) - The Arkansas Supreme Court struck down on Thursday one of two proposals in the November election to allow for the use of medical marijuana in the state, saying the proposal did not receive the required number of signatures to be on the ballot. Voters in the Nov. 8 election in Arkansas will still be able to vote on a separate measure that would allow for the regulated use of marijuana for certain medical conditions, where a state commission oversees plant growth and marijuana distribution. The ballot proposal that was struck down was called the "Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act." It had a provision for patients to apply for permission from state authorities to grow their own marijuana plants if they lived more than 20 miles (32 kms) away from an authorized dispensary. Four years ago, voters in socially conservative Arkansas narrowly rejected a proposal allowing for the use of medical marijuana. Some 24 states and Washington D.C. currently allow some type of medical marijuana use, and a handful of states allow its recreational use. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Editing by Alistair Bell) Conference Call Scheduled for Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 9:00 am Eastern Time ANN ARBOR, MI / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2016 / Arotech Corporation (ARTX) a provider of quality defense and security products for the military, law enforcement and homeland security markets, announced that it will release results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 after the market close. Steven Esses, President and Chief Executive Officer and Tom Paup, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 9:00 am Eastern Time, to review the company's financial results and business outlook. To participate, please call one of the following telephone numbers. Please dial in at least 10 minutes before the start of the call: US: 1-800-862-7084 International: + 1-785-424-1181 Conference ID: AROTECH The conference call will also be broadcast live as a listen-only webcast on the investor relations section of Arotech's website at http://www.arotech.com/. The online webcast will be archived on Arotech's website for at least 90 days and a telephonic playback of the conference call will also be available by calling 1-877-481-4010 within the U.S. and 1-919-882-2331 internationally. The telephonic playback will be available beginning at 12:00 pm Eastern time on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, and continue through 11:59 pm Eastern time on November 15, 2016. The replay passcode is 10510. About Arotech Corporation Arotech Corporation is a leading provider of quality defense and security products for the military, law enforcement and homeland security markets, including multimedia interactive simulators/trainers and advanced zinc-air and lithium batteries and chargers. Arotech operates two major business divisions: Training and Simulation, and Power Systems. Arotech is incorporated in Delaware, with corporate offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and research, development and production subsidiaries in Michigan, South Carolina, and Israel. For more information on Arotech, please visit Arotech's website at www.arotech.com. Story continues Investor Relations Contacts: Andrea Herman +1-516-874-0597 andrea.h@arotech.com SOURCE: Arotech Corporation Thirty-one years ago, Sharbat Gula, a young Afghan refugee at a relief camp in Pakistan, became the subject of one of the most iconic magazine covers of all time. Her piercing sea-green eyes, captured in an arresting image by the photographer Steve McCurry and published on the cover of National Geographic in 1985, became a symbol of the turmoil in her homeland after it was overrun by Soviet troops in 1979. As the fighting raged, Afghanistan became the worlds single largest source of refugees at the time. Most sought shelter in neighboring countries, and at the peak of the crisis in 1990, a year after the Soviets retreated, there were more than 6 million Afghans living in nearby Iran and Pakistan. Today, Gula is back in the news, facing up to 14 years in prison after she was arrested in Pakistan earlier this week on charges of possessing fake identity documents to remain in the country, as the authorities there crack down on what remains one of the worlds largest refugee populations. With the security situation in Afghanistan taking another turn for the worse, Gula has once again come to represent the plight of the millions of her fellow Afghans fleeing bombs and insurgent attacks. Unable to go home, those who fled south like Gula, often journeying on foot across treacherous mountains tracks to reach relief camps on the other side of the border, now find themselves increasingly unwelcome in Pakistan. Read More: The Left Behind Refugees of the Jungle in Calais They have few options: back in Afghanistan, a resurgent Taliban is making ever more audacious bids to reclaim territory lost when a U.S.-led invasion displaced the militants from the capital Kabul. Taking advantage of the security vacuum created by the departure of most foreign troops from the country at the end 2014, the Taliban has driven civilian casualties to new records. In Pakistan, they face growing official hostility amid a campaign to reverse the refugee exodus. A chill in relations between Islamabad and Kabul, which blames Pakistan for abetting violence in its territory, have been accompanied by public statements from Pakistani officials portraying Afghan refugees as a security threat. Over the summer, Sartaj Aziz, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs advisor on foreign affairs, said camps for displaced Afghans around the border between the two countries had become safe havens for terrorists. In view of the security and socioeconomic impact, the tolerance level of the host communities has reached its threshold and cannot be overstretched, he said in a local media interview. Story continues Read More: Portraits of South Sudanese Refugees The message for the roughly 2.5 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan couldnt be clearergo home. And many are returning, in increasingly large numbers: around 370,000 this year, according to U.N figures. In early October, nearly 52,000 crossed the border to return to Afghanistan over the course of just seven days, as Pakistani authorities mount what the U.N.s refugee agency has called a concerted push to repatriate Afghans displaced by the turmoil in their country. Writing online, Gerry Simpson, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said only around 1.5 million of the 2.5 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan have documents protecting them from deportation. The remainder have been forced to live in constant fear or arrest and deportation, with many, like Gula, resorting to bribing officials to get false identity cards. They now face the risk of prison and a hefty fine. For Gula, who has spent her life moving between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the fine could reportedly be as high as $5,000, if she is convicted of ID fraud. [Federal investigators] along with security forces came [on Wednesday morning], entered her house, searched all belongings and took important papers, including $2,800, Gulas brother in law, Shahshad Khan, told the Reuters news agency after she was moved to a prison in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. Her husband, he said, died five years ago, adding: She is a poor widow. Her children her and she needs justice. Gula was only identified as the girl on the famous National Geographic cover in 2002, when McCurry tracked her down on a visit to Pakistan. After meeting her again near Pakistans border with Afghanistan, he said: Shes had a hard life. So many here share her story. More than three decades after her photo was taken, as the security situation in Afghanistan deteriorates and Pakistani authorities crackdown on Afghan refugees, that is as true now as it was then. additional reporting by Abdur Razzaq/Peshawar By Ben Hirschler LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca's (AZN.L) high hopes for cancer immunotherapy were dented on Thursday as the recruitment of new patients with head and neck cancer into two clinical studies was put on hold, following instances of bleeding. The drugmaker said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had placed a partial hold on enrolment into the final-stage Phase III trials involving two of its immune system-boosting drugs, although the studies are still continuing with existing patients. Trials of durvalumab and tremelimumab in different cancer types are also progressing as planned. Durvalumab is being tested on its own and with tremelimumab in various cancers. Expectations for the combination treatment have been building in particular in lung cancer, where the two-drug cocktail is being tested in a broad range of patients as an alternative to initial chemotherapy. News of the problems in head and neck cancer first surfaced on the website clinicaltrials.gov, run by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, which said one of the trials, known as KESTREL, had been "suspended". "The trial is not suspended," an AstraZeneca spokeswoman said. "We have a pause or a partial clinical hold on enrolment of new patients." Shares in AstraZeneca fell more than 4 percent in U.S. trading on concerns that the setback might signal wider problems for durvalumab. AstraZeneca sought to play down concerns, however, stressing that pivotal data in lung cancer were still expected in the first half of 2017. It also said that bleeding was a known complication in treating head and neck cancer, given the proximity of tumours to major blood vessels and use of prior cancer therapies, which may involve surgery and radiation. Merck's (MRK.N) rival immunotherapy drug Keytruda is already approved for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the same condition that AstraZeneca is testing for. Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said there was some reference in the medical literature to a decrease in blood platelets, which are needed for clotting, when patients were given so-called CTLA4 drugs like tremelimumab, although cases were rare. Story continues Both Anderson and Deutsche Bank's Richard Parkes said it was unclear if bleeding constituted a real drug side effect or not. AstraZeneca said it had submitted its analysis of bleeding events to the FDA for review and would work to provide the required information to resume new patient enrolment as soon as possible. (Editing by Martinne Geller) Today in 5 Lines Donald Trump briefly stepped off the campaign trail to attend the grand opening of his new hotel in Washington, D.C. During his address, he congratulated Newt Gingrich for his performance during an interview with Megyn Kelly, who he accused of being fascinated with sex. Hillary Clinton will have her election-night rally at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on the west side of Manhattan. Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the Pentagon to stop collecting bonuses from California National Guard soldiers who reenlisted to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, calling the process unfair to service members and to taxpayers. The United States abstained from voting for the first time on a United Nations resolution to condemn the American economic embargo on Cuba. Today on The Atlantic Sick and Tired: Students at Liberty Universityan evangelical school and the old stomping ground of the religious righthave become less interested in politics. Instead, they want an education model that retains its Christian focus with fewer ties to the Republican Party. (Emma Green) Jumping Ship: The heated exchange between Newt Gingrich and Megyn Kelly Tuesday night over Trumps comments about women underscores why the Republican Party is losing support among conservative women. (David A. Graham) No Love for Trump: The Republican nominee is attempting to win over African American voters by promising to clean up crime-ridden communities. But to people in this Philadelphia neighborhood, Trump couldnt seem more detached from reality. (Elaine Godfrey) Follow stories throughout the day with our Politics & Policy portal. Recommended: Trump's 'Voter Suppression Operation' Targets Black Voters Snapshot Hillary Clinton holds a baby as she greets the audience at her rally at Palm Beach State College in Florida. Andrew Harnik / AP What Were Reading The New Conservatives: Evan McMullin came into the 2016 election as a conservative alternative to Donald Trump. But McMullin doesnt just have his sights set on the Oval Office, he is working to create a whole new partyone that has gained traction in Utah. (McKay Coppins, BuzzFeed) Story continues Recommended: The Battle for North Carolina Paging Dr. Orange: For years, the U.S. military and the Department of Veterans Affairs have turned to Alvin L. Young for guidance on handling questions about Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide used during the Vietnam War that is causing illnesses among veterans. (Charles Ornstein, ProPublica and Mike Hixenbaugh, The Virginian-Pilot) 28 Days in Chains: In Pennsylvanias Lewisburg federal penitentiary, inmates who are put in double-cell solitary with a violent roommate can object, but the alternative is to be confined in shackles so tight they create open wounds and prevent movement. (Christie Thompson, The Marshall Project, and Joseph Shapiro, NPR) The Truth About Trump: Recorded interviews between Donald Trump and Michael DAntonio, who wrote a biography of Trump, reveal the Republican nominees greatest fear: losing his celebrity status. Check out the tapes and transcripts here. (Michael Barbaro, The New York Times) Buckle Up: A Hillary Clinton victory in November is looking more and more likely, but that doesnt mean the attacks against her will stop. In fact, Representative Jason Chaffetz told The Washington Post, House Republicans have two years worth of material already lined up. (David Weigel) Visualized Down the Populist Path: The base of the Republican Party has changed drastically in the last 40 years, with Donald Trump highlighting a divide between traditional conservatives and a populist version of the party. These charts show how the GOPs ideological and geographic centers have shifted over time. (Gerald F. Seib and Patrick OConnor, The Wall Street Journal) Question of the Week Halloween is just around the corner, and were anticipating seeing a number of 2016-inspired costumes. What do you think each presidential candidate should dress up as for Halloween? Send your answers to hello@theatlantic.com, and our favorites will be featured in Fridays Politics & Policy Daily. -Written by Elaine Godfrey (@elainejgodfrey) and Candice Norwood (@cjnorwoodwrites) Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. An Australian theme park defended its safety standards Thursday following the deaths of four people on a malfunctioning ride, while admitting it had not been in touch with grieving relatives of those killed. Two women and two men died when rafts on the Thunder River Rapids ride at the hugely popular Dreamworld tourist attraction on the Gold Coast collided Tuesday, tipping one backwards and crushing or drowning those on board. A boy and a girl, aged 10 and 12, on the six-person raft miraculously survived the tragedy. The Australian Workers Union said it had voiced concerns about the operation and maintenance of some equipment at Dreamworld last year, while media reports claimed to have uncovered safety mishaps. The Sydney Morning Herald alleged the rapids ride had malfunctioned twice in three days recently, while The Australian reported mechanical problems just hours before the accident. Dreamworld said in a statement that safety was its priority, with the Thunder River Rapids ride passing an annual mechanical and structural test on September 29. "Dreamworld would like to assure the public and park guests that at the time of the incident the park was fully compliant with all required safety certifications," it said. "All our procedures and systems are constantly benchmarked against international best practice and ride manufacturer specifications. "Our rides and slides are checked and tested by our experienced team before the park opens every day. If it's not tested, it doesn't open." It added that the park, Australia's biggest, had hosted 30 million people since opening in 1981 and had never seen a death until this week. Police are conducting an investigation and have said that if there was any criminal negligence, charges would be brought. Dreamworld's parent company Ardent Leisure held its annual general meeting in Sydney with chief executive Deborah Thomas forced to defend herself after admitting she had yet to speak with the relatives of those killed, saying "we didn't know how to contact them". Story continues A journalist told Thomas the mother of two of the victims was watching her live press conference and had sent the reporter a text message saying she was furious no-one from Ardent had been in touch. Thomas, who refused to discuss receiving a more than Aus$800,000 (US$610,000) performance bonus this year, replied: "I am very happy to call her very soon after this meeting. "And on behalf of the staff and management at Ardent and Dreamworld, that our hearts and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time," she added. The park, which has been closed since the incident, was scheduled to reopen for a memorial day on Friday but this was later cancelled on the advice of police who are still conducting their investigation. By Byron Kaye SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Ardent Leisure Group, the owner of a theme park where four people were killed on a water ride, said on Thursday it would do everything to help the victims' families. Officials at the company's annual general meeting said they would offer financial assistance and rejected media reports that park staff had closed the ride hours before the accident due to safety concerns, only to be pressured into reopening it. "It's just a devastating tragedy and it's still having a lot of problems for all of us to deal with it," Chairman Neil Balnaves told the meeting in Sydney. "We will do everything to support the families. It's a time for grieving and that includes every single one of us." Two men and two women were killed on Tuesday after getting trapped under an upturned raft on the Thunder River Rapids Ride at Dreamworld, near the tourist-magnet Gold Coast district in northeastern Queensland. Ardent chief executive Deborah Thomas said she would donate her cash bonus of $167,500 to the Australian Red Cross which would ensure the full amount would go directly to support victims' families. "I have been deeply affected and saddened by the tragic deaths ...at Dreamworld on Tuesday, in particular the impact of this incident on their children and families," Thomas said in a statement. Ardent had been under pressure to defend executive pay arrangements, since the meeting had been set to consider a share incentive plan for Thomas, who became CEO in April last year. The meeting showed the company still in the early stages of managing the aftermath of Australia's deadliest theme park accident in four decades, instead of the update on U.S. expansion aims that had been scheduled. Balnaves, who had previously said he would retire after the meeting, said he would help the company with three inquiries into the accident: by the state workplace safety authority, the coroner and the company itself. Earlier, Ardent said the ride completed an annual safety inspection less than a month ago. The company also faces a blow to earnings from the accident, Balnaves said. Theme parks generate a quarter of Ardent's earnings, its 2016 annual report shows. In August, the company said theme park earnings rose 8.5 percent, as a spike in Chinese visitors pushed up admissions by 13 percent. In a statement, the company, which had planned a memorial function at the theme park on Friday before reopening on Saturday, said it was postponing both events because of a police investigation, and would give an update on reopening on Monday. Ardent shares fell 22 percent after the accident, but recovered 8 percent on Thursday. (Editing by Nick Macfie) Wait till you lay your eyes on the gorgeous clutch Sridevi just received. By Hemul Goel: As she has aged, Sridevi's style seems to have taken a turn only for the better. Also read: OMG! Sridevi looked like a Disney princess at this award show The veteran actress, who besides her films and ageless beauty continues to win fans for her sartorial statements, recently took to Instagram to share the picture of a very special gift that she had received. advertisement The English Vinglish star posted the image of a custom Judith Leiber clutch, she had been sent by the brand in the festive season. The US based celeb favourite brand, Judith Leiber is renowned for creating couture crystal clutches and minaudieres that come in the most imaginative shapes and sizes including toffees, cowboy boots, French Bulldogs and Lord Ganesha, among others. The crystal embossed ombre beauty also came with Sridevi's name on it. She thanked the brand for the gesture, posting, "Thank you @judithleiberny for this lovely gift!" Also read: Sridevi and Jhanvi Kapoor make the most gorgeous mother daughter duo EVER The custom clutch received by the actress. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@sridevi.kapoor Considering the actress is always spotted pairing her super-trendy ensembles with gorgeous clutches, we just can't wait for the stunner to flaunt it with a Manish Malhotra ensemble during her next outing. The only question is, will that be an upcoming Diwali party or will we have to wait for her next red carpet appearance? Sridevi's favourite combo includes pairing snazzy accessories with Manish Malhotra's designs. Pictures courtesy: Instagram/@manishmalhotra05 --- ENDS --- ICA Photo: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore Police Force Three Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in Singapore on Tuesday night (October 25), after a plan to illegally get one of them out of the country fell through. One 30-year-old Bangladeshi man was caught under a water pipeline along the Causeway after enforcement officers sighted him swimming in the vicinity, according to a joint statement by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and Singapore Police Force. The other two men, aged 34 and 37 years old, were later arrested over their alleged involvement in assisting the 30-year-old man, who had overstayed in Singapore, to leave the country illegally by acting as lookouts. The maximum penalty for overstaying or illegal entry is a jail term of up to six months plus at least three strokes of the cane. The penalty for abetting a person to leave Singapore illegally includes a jail term of between six months and two years, plus a fine not exceeding $6,000. London (AFP) - British bank Barclays on Thursday set aside another 600 million ($733 million, 672 million euros) to compensate customers mis-sold insurance, one day after a similar move from rival Lloyds. Barclays revealed the extra funds needed to cover costs linked to the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal contributed to it posting almost flat net profit, or earnings after taxation, of 414 million for the third quarter. The lender's performance in the three months to the end of September was also hit by rising credit impairment charges, it added in a results statement. That was partly offset by favourable currency movements, as the pound tumbled after Britain's shock EU exit vote. Barclays added that pre-tax profit rallied 35 percent to 837 million, buoyed by a jump in fixed-income trading. "The banking sector has been given a welcome dose of optimism with Barclays shares rising," said XTB analyst David Cheetham. "Despite having to put aside an additional 600 million for PPI, the results overall have been warmly received." Barclays shares soared 4.8 percent to close at 190.50 pence, topping the FTSE 100 risers' board. Chief executive Jes Staley -- tasked with restoring the bank's reputation after a series of scandals -- said Barclays was committed to offloading non-core assets as it switches focus to Britain and the United States. - Regulator deadline weighs - Britain's banking sector has been blighted by the long-running PPI scandal. In August, the nation's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulator slapped a June 2019 deadline on PPI claims. That was one year later than previously planned -- and sparked a raft of extra provisions. The worst affected bank was Lloyds, which revealed Wednesday it was setting aside another 1.0 billion for PPI claims, bringing its total cost to 17 billion -- far higher than any other lender. "Like Lloyds, Barclays has been hit by a big PPI charge as a result of the FCA's decision to call time on complaints in 2019, rather than 2018 as had been expected," added analyst Laith Khalaf at stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown. Story continues "Barclays has also seen a pick-up in credit impairments, though some of this comes from a more prudent approach to modelling bad loans." In 2011, British banks lost a high court appeal against tighter regulation of PPI, which provides insurance for consumers should they fail to meet repayments on a credit product such as consumer loans, mortgages or payment cards. PPI became controversial after it was revealed that many customers had been sold it without understanding that the cost was being added to their loan repayments. British authorities subsequently banned simultaneous sales of PPI and credit products. To date, British lenders have been forced to set aside around 31 billion to cover PPI compensation costs. The overall bill for Barclays now stands at 8.4 billion. Oct 27 (Reuters) - Barclays said on Thursday a Bloomberg report that it is trying to cap a penalty to settle a U.S investigation into its sale of mortgage securities at $2 billion was based on ill-informed speculation. Citing a source, news agency Bloomberg reported Barclays was trying to cap the penalty after receiving an opening offer it considered too high. The Department of Justice's (DoJ) starting point for negotiations wasn't disclosed but it was less than the $14 billion opening offer by the U.S. to Deutsche Bank over similar allegations, Bloomberg said. "This story is based on ill-informed speculation and contains material inaccuracies," a Barclays spokesman said in a statement that referred to the Bloomberg report. A spokesman for DOJ declined to comment. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that no settlement is imminent. Deutsche and Barclays are among a group of banks being probed by U.S. authorities over alleged misconduct in the sale of mortgage securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis. Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest lender, has been in the spotlight since a September report that DoJ asked the bank for $14 billion to settle the probe into its mortgage-backed securities. (Reporting by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) By Susan Taylor TORONTO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Barrick Gold Corp will consider offers to buy all or some of its five major mines, including Veladero in Argentina, a top executive said on Thursday, after Reuters reported the company held talks with Chinese miners. China's Zijin Mining Group and Shandong Gold Mining have had separate discussions with Barrick about buying a 50 percent stake in Veladero, according to four sources with knowledge of the process. "We've never said that we would not sell a core mine or part of a core mine," Barrick President Kelvin Dushnisky said on a conference call. The entire El Indio belt, which includes Veladero, is "a great opportunity for us to look at potential partnerships for future development," he said. El Indio, a 140 km (87-mile) stretch of land, is also home to Barrick's Pascua-Lama and Alturas mines, Two sources had told Reuters that Barrick would like the buyer of a stake in Veladero to also invest in its neighboring Pascua-Lama project, which straddles the border of Argentina and Chile. Last year, Barrick sold a stake in its Papua New Guinean mine to Zijin, one of China's biggest gold producers, and the two companies formed a partnership. "We have said that partnerships are core to our strategy," Dushnisky said. "You can expect to see more from us in that regard going forward, when it makes sense." Barrick is also considering opportunities to acquire assets but will be "discerning," he said. The company has been selling off assets and using cash flow to pay down debt. Barrick's 50 percent stake in the Kalgoorlie Super Pit mine in western Australia has drawn "robust" interest from miners in and outside that country since it went on the block last quarter, Dushnisky said. Newmont Mining Corp, which operates Kalgoorlie and owns the other 50 percent, has expressed interest in the acquisition, but differing views on valuation have thwarted a deal. Toronto-based Barrick reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday and cut its 2016 production cost and output forecasts. (Reporting by Susan Taylor; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) Frankfurt (AFP) - German chemicals giant BASF said Thursday it was leaving revenue and profit forecasts for the year unchanged despite a slowdown in production following a deadly explosion at its Ludwigshafen headquarters. The October 17 explosion killed three people, seriously wounding eight and lightly injuring 22 more, at the site in western Germany where the firm employs some 36,000 people. Contractors had been working on pipelines carrying liquids and liquefied gases when a small fire broke out, personnel chief Margret Suckale told reporters at a press conference. The explosion followed as firefighters were arriving to put out the initial blaze, she added. State prosecutors are still investigating the exact sequence of events that led to the blast, leaving the on-site harbour shut down and some pipelines emptied for closer inspection. The closures mean that parts of the gigantic works on the banks of the river Rhine remain offline while others are limping. Eight plants remain shut down of the roughly 200 at the site and 50 are running at partial capacity, BASF chief executive Kurt Bock told the conference. "The business is basically running, sales are down, it varies between 10 and 15 percent each day compared with before the accident," Bock said. "We expect that the limits to our logistics and supply will impact on our results for the whole year of 2016," chief financial officer Hans-Ulrich Engel told the conference. "Nevertheless, they haven't led to a change in our outlook for the whole year." In the firm's earnings statement, Engel said the group remained committed to the "ambitious" goal of an operating profit only "slightly below the level of 2015," when it grew by 10 percent. BASF made 888 million euros ($969 million) net profit between July and September, down 27 percent but exceeding the expectations of analysts surveyed by Factset who had predicted a steeper fall to 795 million. Story continues Sales fell by 20 percent in the third quarter to 14 billion, which BASF said was mainly down to a deal with Russia's Gazprom under which it divested its gas trading and storage activities. Low oil and gas prices have also driven down revenues at the group. But Engel said the group had revised its oil price estimate for the whole year up slightly in the second quarter. BASF had already released partial results for the third quarter showing the fall in revenues and operating profits. Southwest shares plunged more than 8% yesterday after Q3 results, as the airline provided a downbeat guidance for unit revenue, which is an important metric in the industry. What lies ahead for this low cost carrier? About the Company Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (LUV) is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. They operate more than 3,900 flights a day, focusing primarily on short-haul, high frequency, point-to-point and low-fare services. Third Quarter Results The airline beat both on the top and bottom lines. Adjusted earnings of $0.93 per share were above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.88 per share. Revenues of $5,139 million were also ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,132 million. However, unit revenue fell 4.1% during the quarter and the management expects this trend to continue with unit revenue expected to decline between 4% 5% during the current quarter. Results were also hurt by a computer outage in July which had resulted in cancellation of more than 2,000 flights. While low fuel prices benefit airlines earnings, they also put pressure on pricing, particularly due to heavy discounting mainly by low-cost carriers. Many airlines expanded capacity in the wake of lower fuel prices, which has now led to a fare war. Southwest had expanded capacity by 5% to 6% this year. It faces stiff competition from other low-cost airlines, which have aggressively boosted capacity for the same routes. As a result, average one way fare fell 4.8% during the quarter. Further, the fuel costs have started rising now and are expected to be $2.10 per gallon in the current quarter, up from $2.02 per gallon in the reported quarter. Falling Estimates Analysts have been quite bearish on the stock and slashing their estimates in the past few weeks. Zacks Consensus Estimates for the current and the next year had fallen to $3.77 per share and $3.83 per share, down from $3.90 and $4.04 respectively, 90 days ago. The Bottom-Line After two years of impressive profitability, thanks mainly to record low fuel prices, US airlines are facing rough weather now. Airlines industry is currently ranked 242 out of 265 Zacks industries (bottom 9%). Investors looking to play this industry could look at Copa Holdings (CPA) which carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). More Stocks to Sell. Now. Beyond our Bear Stock of the Day, today's list of 220 Zacks Rank #5 Strong Sells demand even more urgent attention. If any are lurking in your portfolio or Watch List, they should be removed immediately. Many appear to be sound investments but, since 1988, such stocks have actually performed more than 11X worse than the S&P 500. See today's Zacks "Strong Sells" absolutely free >>. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SOUTHWEST AIR (LUV): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The best news of Paige Montgomery's life was that she was pregnant. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age 22, doctors told her she'd never be healthy enough to conceive, strong enough to carry a pregnancy or live long enough to see her own child grow up. The worst news of Paige Montgomery's life came moments later: Either she or the baby likely wouldn't make it. Due to the collapse of her upper right lung prior to her pregnancy, her doctor insisted she undergo surgery to repair it at six months. "He told me to choose my life or the baby's life," recalls Montgomery, who ended up getting a second opinion, avoiding the surgery and carrying her son, now a healthy 2-year-old, to 37 weeks. [See: Lessons from Empowered Patients.] "I get to look at every day as such a gift, and to have him in front of my eyes as a huge miracle," says Montgomery, now a 28-year-old in Fort Worth, Texas, whose lung is still collapsed. Over the past year, she's spent more than 140 nights in the hospital. "I continue to fight for my life," she says. Montgomery's story illustrates just how complicated becoming a parent can be when you have cystic fibrosis -- a genetic disease that progressively compromises lung function, among other life-threatening consequences, due to overactive mucus production. The condition can affect fertility (particularly among men), raise pregnancy and childbirth risks among women and exacerbate the challenges of parenthood. Add to that the toll of weighing the chances of passing down the disease, plus the reality that, on average, today's adults with cystic fibrosis don't live past their late 30s. "The thought of one's own mortality plays a role" in when and if a person with cystic fibrosis becomes a parent, says Dr. Seth Walker, director of Emory University's Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program. What's more, cystic fibrosis specialists were traditionally pediatric providers with little or no experience discussing reproductive health options with their patients who, 40 years ago, typically didn't live past their teens. Twenty years ago, they more regularly lived to see 30. Today, while the increased life expectancy for cystic fibrosis patients is a sign of progress, the handoff between pediatric and adult care -- if it happens at all -- can still be rocky. Story continues "We've gotten better at taking care of patients with CF; things that weren't an issue are all of a sudden questions and issues [like,] 'Our patients are now becoming parents, what does that look like?'" says Dr. Traci Kazmerski, a pediatric pulmonologist at Boston Children's Hospital. "My ultimate hope is that [we're asking,] 'Our patients are becoming grandparents, what does that look like?'" But for now, people with cystic fibrosis and their partners who are considering starting a family can heed these expert tips: 1. Speak up. In a survey of nearly 200 15- to 24-year-old girls and women with cystic fibrosis, Kazmerski found that 78 percent of them wanted to become moms in the future. But in a series of interviews with similar patients, she also found that few had discussed reproductive health with their providers -- despite seeing them at least several times a year -- and were often misinformed about their own sexual health risks as a result. "That seemed really unfair," Kazmerski says. To help right it, patients should bring up their parental hopes with the doctor who knows them best, she says. "Have that conversation ... and really think about what are the steps to take so this can be as successful as it possibly can be." [See: 10 Questions Doctors Wish Their Patients Would Ask.] 2. Get the facts. For women with the disease, fertility varies widely, though it can be affected by medications, low estrogen levels and excess cervical mucus, a byproduct of cystic fibrosis. "We can't predict a woman's fertility based on any other aspects of their disease," Walker says. Pregnancy itself is considered high-risk among cystic fibrosis patients, who are at increased risk for diabetes and preterm delivery, according to the The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which recommends women with cystic fibrosis seek preconception counseling. For men, on the other hand, cystic fibrosis almost always comes with infertility; up to 98 percent of male patients are infertile, since cystic fibrosis almost always causes a blockage or absence of the canal that allows sperm to travel to the semen, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. While the disease and its drug treatments can also affect sperm quality, men can still become biological fathers through assisted reproductive technology using a medical procedure that can extract the sperm from the testicle. 3. Be prepared to make hard decisions. Deciding whether to pursue a pregnancy is just the first of many more complicated decisions people with cystic fibrosis and their partners must face. Others include how to proceed once results of genetic testing come back (couples in which only one partner has cystic fibrosis will either have a near-zero or 50-50 percent chance of having a child with the condition); whether to consider an alternative form of reproduction like a surrogate (if the woman has cystic fibrosis and doesn't want to risk her health); and which cystic fibrosis medications are worth the often-unknown risks to the fetus. Such decisions may require the guidance of multiple providers, including maternal-fetal medicine doctors, cystic fibrosis specialists, genetic counselors and, in cases where assisted reproductive technology is used, infertility specialists. Their work isn't to push the latest medical advances, but rather consider "what is going to fit into their ethical beliefs, their personal beliefs, the cultural norms," says Dr. Jeanne E. O'Brien, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at Shady Grove Fertility in Rockville, Maryland. "All of those things have to go into the decision-making." 4. Seek support. Nearly the entire time Katherine Proctor, 28, who also lives in Fort Worth, was pregnant with her now-toddler, she also played the role of caregiver to her husband, who has cystic fibrosis. At the time, he was undergoing a liver transplant and coping with the numerous complications of the procedure and disease. The pair, who underwent in vitro fertilization due to cystic fibrosis's effect on his fertility, got through it by focusing on their shared goal of parenthood, remembering to laugh and leaning on family and friends who live nearby. "It's a serious thing, it's an intense thing, there's a lot of money [involved,] it's physically and emotionally taxing," says Proctor, who now also has a 9-month-old son with her husband. "And in the end, it's totally worth it." [See: What Only Your Partner Knows About Your Health.] It's been more than worth it for Montgomery, too. "I don't think anything burdens me like other moms -- to be able to take my kid to school is the greatest gift of all," she says. "Being able to put him to bed, being able to wake up next to him is beyond my wildest dreams." By Robert-Jan Bartunek and Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium's regions agreed to a free trade pact with Canada on Thursday, ending weeks of uncertainty when internal divisions in just one country blocked the European Union of 500 million people sealing the landmark deal. Prime Minister Charles Michel said the regions and linguistic communities had drafted a four-page addendum to the pact that answered their concerns. The text addresses fears that a system to protect foreign investors could let multinationals block new rules on the environment, labour rights or public services - specifying that the "investment protection" regime would not come into force during an initial period. It also has a safeguard clause to protect agriculture in the event of a "market imbalance". "As a unilateral Belgian declaration, Canada's approval will not be sought or needed," a source close to the talks said, indicating the path was now clear to finalise the deal. European Council President Donald Tusk gave the Belgian agreement to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) a cautious welcome. Belgium's regional governments have until the end of Friday to consult their parliaments if needed, and ambassadors from other EU countries will also review the addendum. All 28 EU governments back CETA, which supporters say could increase trade by 20 percent, but Belgium's central government had been prevented from giving its consent because of objections led by the French-speaking Wallonia region. Wallonia, along with the capital Brussels and Belgium's groupings of French and German speakers, had opposed the deal for weeks, with fears about a flood of Canadian farm imports one of the main sticking points. The premier of the Flemish region, Geert Bourgeois, said the original 1,598-page text of the trade deal stood. "This (the addendum) is a clarification, the actual treaty does not change," he said. Canada has already agreed to a binding declaration to answer concerns raised by others, principally setting out the right of governments to regulate. Story continues "POLITICAL HOSTAGE-TAKING" Belgium will ask the European Court of Justice whether the investment protection system is in line with EU rules, with Wallonia still expressing reservations. Friends of the Earth described these as potential time bombs under the deal. EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the investment protection system did not yet exist and the EU and Canada had time to set up a panel of independent judges to settle disputes. "We are quite confident that it is perfectly in line with European law," she told Reuters. In Ottawa, Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland played down the suggestion that the Belgian addendum could effectively result in parts of CETA being unwound. "Every trade agreement ... has exit provisions," she told reporters. "Trade agreements must be structured that way to permit national sovereignty." CETA could apply provisionally next year, assuming the European Parliament backs it. Its final implementation could take a few years, after all relevant national or regional parliaments have had their say. Supporters say the deal will boost the EU economy by 12 billion euros ($13 billion) per year and Canada's by C$12 billion ($9 billion) at a time of low growth. For Canada, it reduces reliance on the U.S. export market. German trade groups said the CETA debacle should trigger a revamp of EU procedures. "This is not a victory for democracy. It is political hostage-taking," said BDI business association president Ulrich Grillo. Failure to agree CETA with such a like-minded country as Canada would have undermined the EU's ability to forge other deals and damage credibility already battered by Britain's vote to leave the bloc and disputes over the migration crisis. "I'm sorry for all other Europeans and our Canadian partners that they had to wait, but what we managed to get here is important not just for Wallonia but for all of Europe," said Wallonia premier Paul Magnette. (Additional reporting by Jeffrey Hodgson in Toronto, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Gernot Heller and Andrea Shalal in Berlin; editing by Robin Pomeroy and Cynthia Osterman) Shah Rukh Khan took to Twitter to share the first pic from the sets of Koffee With Karan Season 5, set to premiere on November 6. SRK and Alia will be the first guests on Koffee With Karan Season 5. By Hardeep Dugal: Koffee with Karan is back and we can't keep calm as Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt will be the first guests this season. The actors have been generating quite a buzz, thanks to their affable and platonic chemistry in the trailer of their upcoming film Dear Zindagi, directed by Gauri Shinde. SRK and Alia have just returned to Mumbai from their respective foreign schedules to shoot for the controversial yet fun chat show--hosted by KJo--a couple of days back. advertisement While SRK was shooting for Imtiaz Ali's next The Ring in Budapest, Alia was shooting with Varun Dhawan for Badrinath ki Dulhania in Singapore. Yet, they both managed to take out time for some coffee with Karan. Also read: Koffee with Karan Season 5: Not Fawad Khan; Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt to feature as first guests? We are just so pleased to have SRK back on Karan's couch after so long especially since the charming actor skipped the last season. Alia hopefully should be better prepared for the quiz round this time. SRK also took to Twitter to post a picture after the shoot and captioned it as, "Some days are not work. They are love and happiness." He also went on to wish Koffee with Karan's team a great season. With SRK coming as the first guest, we bet the show will be nothing short of great. Can't wait till November 6 to watch the first episode. Koffee with Karan Season 5 will be aired on Star World and Star World HD from November 6 onwards. --- ENDS --- Joel Edgerton received the best acting compliment of his career on the set of Loving. The actor, who plays reluctant civil rights hero Richard Loving in the film, recalled a day during filming when he received the best possible endorsement of his portrayal, from Lovings daughter Peggy. Peggy is as shy as her father and we were really just hoping for her acceptance and her blessing, which I think we got, Edgerton, 42, told PEOPLE at the films New York premiere on Wednesday night. One day on set she called me Daddy and it was like the greatest blessing Ive ever had. The film tells the story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple who were arrested and thrown in jail for violating their home states ban on interracial marriage. After spending years married in exile, they finally fought for and won their right to return to Virginia as man and wife in a historic 1967 Supreme Court ruling. Ruth Negga, who plays Mildred Loving in the film, said that playing such historic characters did not weigh lightly on the actors tasked to bring them to life. Whenever you play a real person there is a responsibility because you want to do the best possible job and not mess it up, said Negga. But also for a couple who arent terribly well-known, I felt that responsibility even keener because I wanted to do a good job cause I wanted to introduce them in the best possible way. The Ethiopian-born, half-Irish actress said she feels a special connection to the story since she is the product of an interracial marriage. Im the child of a mixed marriage so it definitely resonated, Negga told PEOPLE at the premiere. So many people have come up to us and said thank you for showing us, thank you for telling our story. I think thats the thing about being involved in things like this is that its reflecting the true nature of the world and its nice to see yourself on the big screen. From ELLE Bella Hadid dominated Spring 2017 runways, and it looks like she's headed to another very famous one: the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She posted a snap of herself in lingerie (with the most INSANE body) and the caption "VSFS 2016!" This will be her first time walking the show and, as her sister Gigi's emotional audition last year shows, getting cast is a BFD for any model. A Victoria's Secret staffer also confirmed the news with an Insta: The show is happening in Paris this year and will air on December 5. [contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="g27267" customtitles="How%20a%20Victoria's%20Secret%20Angel%20Gets%20Her%20Wings%7CJasmine%20Tookes'%20Favorite%20Fitspo:%20Jasmine%20Tookes" customimages="|" content="gallery.27267|gallery.27270"] You Might Also Like Ben Affleck revives his Boston accent for this voting PSA, and its hilarious AF Think New Hampshire is a blue state? Think again. While they often do vote Democrat, its always up in the air during election years. Thats why Boston Ben Affleck decided to make a PSA to encourage New Hampshire residents to get out there and vote. And yes, thats Boston Ben Affleck his accent is pretty intense in the video. This election has definitely made people a little angry but, its still important to go out there and vote on November 8th. While its humorous that so many actors and comedians are practically yelling for Americans to show up at the polls, theyre doing it for a great reason this election is extremely important. Affleck gets into character as Benny The Sweet One OCallahan,for this FunnyOrDie video, and explains why New Hampshire means so much to him. A few curses get dropped quite naturally. What can you say? Affleck put all of himself into this role. Were loving the background changes, and the fact that Affleck views New Hampshire much like his kid brother. But of course, we also love that Affleck thinks that womens rights are super important, and makes sure to give that cause a mention. Affleck has been super busy promoting his new movie The Accountant, which came out on October 14th, so were so glad he had the time to get a little political and make this video! The post Ben Affleck revives his Boston accent for this voting PSA, and its hilarious AF appeared first on HelloGiggles. MELBOURNE (Reuters) - BHP Billiton (BHP.AX)(BLT.L) said on Thursday its chief commercial officer, Dean Dalla Valle, who has led the company's response to the deadly Samarco dam disaster in Brazil, will leave the company in March 2017. Dalla Valle, who has been with the company for about 40 years, has agreed to leave as part of a move to centralise all of BHP Billiton's non-operated joint ventures under its Minerals America chief, Daniel Malchuk, the company said. Dalla Valle has been based in Brazil since Samarco's mine tailings dam collapsed nearly a year ago killing 19 people in the country's worst environmental disaster. BHP will still have a large team on the ground in Brazil after he leaves. Dalla Valle is not among the 21 people whom Brazilian prosecutors have charged with qualified homicide for their roles in the disaster. BHP Billiton has said it rejects those charges. The company reviewed its Samarco, Antamina copper and Cerrejon coal joint ventures, where neither it nor its partners are the operators, after the mine tailings dam burst. It flagged the decision to centralise non-operated joint ventures in August, when it released a report on the dam tragedy. Dalla Valle started as an apprentice electrician at BHP's Illawarra coal operation and rose up the ranks over a long career to lead the giant's coal business. (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Richard Pullin) Doug Band was never shy about making the ask. Band was a longtime aide to former President Bill Clinton, instrumental in the early days of setting up Clinton's post-presidency and establishing the operating patterns of the Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative and later, a for-profit company of his own called Teneo. Band had begun his career as Bill Clinton's "body man" the young staffer who carried bags, took notes and navigated Clinton through the day. But over the years, he became the man Bill Clinton relied on to make "the ask" requests for money for the Clinton Foundation, Clinton's charitable initiatives and most sensitively, for Bill Clinton himself. In Washington, making the ask is a delicate thing politicians and power brokers need to make asks all the time: politicians ask donors for money, lobbyists ask politicians for legislative favors, and on and on. It has to be done carefully, without crossing ethical lines or coming across as unseemly. But it has to be done. And that's why a figure like Band can be so important it allows the principal to ride above crass commerce, engaged in more high-minded discussions of ideas and policies. Someone else is nearby to make the ask. By 2011, the relationships at the core of that system inside the Clinton universe were fraying, and Band was forced to explain himself in a 12-page memo to the lawyers, the Clinton family and members of the Clinton Foundation board. Top Clinton executives had brought in an outside law firm to audit the Clinton Foundation as part of an effort to streamline and professionalize Clinton's various enterprises, and Band's memo would be a lynchpin of that effort. Titled "Background on Teneo and Foundation Activities," the 12-page memo was never intended to go public the phrase "Attorney Client Privilege" was emblazoned on the top of the document. But Band emailed the document to Clinton special advisor John Podesta for his input. And when Podesta's emails were hacked and posted for the world to see on WikiLeaks, Band's confidential assessment of the inner workings of Clinton's finances went massively public. Story continues "Given concerns that have been expressed about the role of Teneo in the Foundation's and the President's activities, as well as regarding support I provide for President's for-profit business activities, I wanted to take this opportunity to share information and help clarify my activities on behalf of the President," Band wrote. "This memorandum strives to set forth how I have endeavored to support the Clinton Foundation and President Clinton personally." Band laid out his entire history as he saw it with the Clinton family, beginning with a seven-year effort to raise money for the Clinton library and endowment. Ultimately, Band said, he put together a strategy that raised well over $150 million, "much of it from people who did not know President Clinton when he was in office." What was that strategy? In a footnote, Band says it boiled down to him making the ask. "This strategy included engaging the President's time to undertake specific speeches, events, targeted donor meetings, and other activities, after which Justin [Cooper] and I would follow-up to seek support for the Foundation." Eventually, Band decided to make the ask for himself, too. In 2011, he established Teneo, a private firm with three partners: Band, Declan Kelly and Paul Keary. From the beginning, the private money-making activities of Teneo were closely intertwined with the charitable efforts of the Clinton Foundation, and the private money-making efforts of Bill Clinton himself. "Teneo partners have raised in excess of $8 million for the Foundation, more than $5.25 million of which is in the bank. Teneo partners also have generated over $3 million in paid speeches for President Clinton," Band wrote. Teneo kicked in large sums for the Foundation. According to Band, that included: $4.3 million from Coca-Cola (KO), $780,000 from the Dow Chemical Company (DOW), $540,000 from the Swiss bank UBS and more. Figuring out where Teneo ended and the Clinton Foundation began could be complicated. When Bill Clinton famously went to North Korea to negotiate the freedom of prisoners there, Dow Chemical Company CEO Andrew Liveris provided Dow's plane for Clinton and his staff. The Foundation paid for airfare, but the loaner plane saved the Foundation $100,000 in travel costs, Band wrote. In a statement, a Dow spokesperson said, "Dow's participation and engagement with CGI dates back to 2007 and is well aligned to core business and citizenship strategies that have positively leveraged the resources and capabilities of our company." Dow also became a sponsor of the Clinton Global Initiative, a significant fundraising effort, and gave $150,000 to the Clinton Foundation "for President Clinton to attend a Dow dinner in Davos." What's more, Dow was a private client of Band's firm Teneo. At the center of it all was Band, ready to make the ask for more money. He called it: Bill Clinton, Inc. But Chelsea Clinton didn't appreciate all of that. She complained to others about Band's company Teneo "hustling" business for themselves at Clinton events. And when Band fought back, Clinton, using an email alias, struck back: "Doug called and yelled and screamed at my dad," Chelsea Clinton wrote in an email to Clinton aides. "I cannot believe Doug did this on the day my grandmother died." For his part, Band sent snarky emails behind Chelsea's back, and one point writing to another aide, "This is the 3rd time this week where she has gone to daddy to chance a decision or interject herself in the process." It set up an Oedipal struggle for control of the Clinton money machine as Bill Clinton was forced to mediate between his daughter and an aide so close some described him as like a son to the former president. Band lost out, resigning from the Clinton Foundation in 2015. This week, the Clinton campaign declined to authenticate any of the stolen emails posted by WikiLeaks, saying they were being used by the Russian government to "weaponize" WikiLeaks. But Teneo issued a statement defending Band's memo. Toward the end of the battle over his role in Clinton land, Band wrote a wounded email to John Podesta, complaining that he had to sign a conflict of interest policy, but Bill Clinton personally did not have to sign one. "Oddly, [Bill Clinton] does not have to sign such a document even though he is personally paid by 3 [Clinton Global Initiative] sponsors, gets many expensive gifts from them, some that are at home." Band had committed a classic mistake. He forgot that in Washington, the person who makes the ask is not always the same as the person who gets to keep whatever is being asked for. In the end, Band confused the ask with the get. Washington (AFP) - A hacked memo released by WikiLeaks has shed light on how Bill Clinton profited -- to the tune of tens of millions of dollars -- from work channeled to him by an aide who also worked for the family's charitable foundation. In the 2011 memo, Clinton aide Douglas Band said he personally provided the former president with more than 50 million dollars in "for profit" activities while he was leader of the foundation. Band detailed his own moneymaking efforts both on behalf of Clinton personally, and of the foundation, in a network of activity he called "Bill Clinton Inc." The latest disclosures have added to a drip-drip of WikiLeaks revelations plaguing Hillary Clinton in the final stretch of her run for the White House as the Democratic nominee. They come from a trove of email stolen from the account of John Podesta, who played a leading role in the foundation before becoming Clinton's campaign chairman. Podesta has refused to authenticate the emails, which US intelligence believes were stolen by Russian hackers to disrupt the US elections. But neither he nor the Clinton campaign has challenged their authenticity. They show the foundation had become a source of tension between aides to Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea, who accused them of taking "significant sums of money from my parents personally" and hustling clients for their own business at foundation events. Band's memo was sent in response to complaints by Chelsea Clinton. In it, Band defends his use of his private consultancy Teneo to raise funds for the foundation, saying it brought in large corporate donations from Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, and Swiss bank UBS among others. "Independent of our fundraising and decision-making activities on behalf of the Foundation, we have dedicated ourselves to helping the President secure and engage in for-profit activities -- including speeches, books, and advisory service engagements," said. Story continues "In support of the President's for-profit activity, we also have solicited and obtained, as appropriate, in-kind services for the President and his family -- for personal travel, hospitality, vacation and the like." He said he had received no fees or percentages of "the more than $50 million in for-profit activity we have personally helped to secure for President Clinton to date or the $66 dollars in future contracts, should he choose to continue with those engagements." - Campaign aides worried - The foundation, with its big foreign donors like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has been a prime target of Republican nominee Donald Trump. Republicans have accused Clinton of giving big donors favored access when she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, but no evidence of conflicts of interest has emerged in the emails. Clinton campaign aides were worried, however, that the foundation's activities could present a problem for the former secretary of state as she ran for president. In January 2015, campaign manager Robby Mook asked whether Clinton would take part in a foundation-sponsored conference in Morocco several months later, as she was launching her campaign. "This was HRC's idea, our office approached the Moroccans and they 100 percent believe they are doing this at her request. The King has personally committed approx $12 million both for the endowment and to support the meeting," Clinton aide Huma Abedin wrote back. "It will break a lot of china to back out now when we had so many opportunities to do it in the past few months," Abedin said, adding: "She created this mess and she knows it." In the end, only Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea attended the conference. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2016 / Bison Gold Resources Inc. (BGE.V) (the "Company") announces that Mr. Dale Dunlop has resigned as Chairman and a Director of the Company effective immediately. The Company would like to thank Mr. Dunlop for his contributions to the Company. For further information, please contact: Amir Mousavi, Chief Executive Officer Bison Gold Resources Inc. Tel: (647) 846-3339 www.bisongold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws. SOURCE: Bison Gold Resources Inc. * BMW seeks to cut vehicle weight with new materials * Says high cost of carbon fibre limits use * Bets on mixing materials to make lighter, more efficient cars By Edward Taylor and Alexandria Sage LANDSHUT, Germany Oct 27 (Reuters) - German auto maker BMW Group is limiting its use of costly but lightweight carbon fibre and turning to cheaper lightweight materials for its biggest selling cars to keep profit margins high. Lighter cars consume less fuel or if they are battery-powered can drive for longer on a full charge, vital attributes for manufacturers seeking to score points with consumers and regulators. After investing heavily in carbon fibre, which is stiffer and lighter than aluminium, BMW is now faced with tough choices on how to build its cars more profitably, as competitors close in with their own electric car offerings. "The main equation is how much cost do I spend for a kilogram reduction in weight. It is not about one material it is about the combination of materials," Oliver Zipse, BMW's board member responsible for manufacturing, said at the opening of a new 20 million euro high-tech research facility specialising in lightweight materials. The lighter you can make an electric car, the less you need a large battery to power it, saving costs. Batteries are the most expensive part of electric vehicles, which remain an unprofitable segment in the auto industry. After launching two cars which made heavy use of carbon fibre including the i3 city car and the i8 hybrid in 2013, BMW's new 5-series, presented earlier this month, does not use the material for major components. Sales of BMW's i3 electric car have failed to take off, analysts say, in part because of the extensive use of carbon fibre, which has made the vehicle expensive. It costs around 45,000 euros. The BMW i8's passenger cell is made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic, a manufacturing technique which involves bonding carbon fibres to make components which would otherwise have been made using conventional welding and stamping methods if they had been made of metal. Story continues Carbon fibre costs around 16 euros per kilo, compared with less than a euro for a kilo of common steel, according to consultants at Frost & Sullivan. BMW is under pressure to raise its game now German rivals Daimler AG, parent company of Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen AG, which owns Audi, as well as Tesla Motors Inc in the United States have outlined aggressive plans to court affluent buyers - and satisfy regulators' demands - with new electric cars. BMW said last month it would expand its electric offerings with all-electric versions of Mini, and its BMW X3 compact sport utility vehicle, for 2019 and 2020, respectively. Zipse declined to comment on whether future BMW and Mini vehicles will make extensive use of composite materials. BMW Chief Executive Harald Krueger was more direct, effectively ruling it out for smaller low margin cars. "The material is still too expensive and for smaller segments and smaller vehicles it can be not competitive," Krueger said at an event in Los Angeles earlier this month. Advances in battery technology have improved vehicle operating range by about 50 percent since 2013, taking some pressure off the need to use ultra expensive lightweight materials in manufacturing. After investing between 1.5-2 billion euros to develop carbon-fibre based hybrid and electric cars, BMW is now working hard to develop "hybrid" methods, which combine carbon with other materials like steel and aluminium. BMW's past investment in carbon fibre will be a great help, said Jochen Kopp, who specialises in product and process planning for carbon fibre reinforced plastics. The Munich-based carmaker now has a two year lead on rivals in terms of carbon fibre mass production know-how, he said. "It takes time to learn how it behaves in manufacturing, how it reacts to being bonded to other materials. This has implications for tooling, purchasing and manufacturing. We understand the complete development chain," Kopp said. (Reporting by Edward Taylor; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) The school teacher allegedly punished the student for not attending classes. A 14-year-old was allegedly beaten up by a teacher in Hyderabad. Photo for representation: AP By Ashish Pandey: In a horrifying case of corporal punishment, a 14-year-old is battling with life after his teacher allegedly beat him up with a wooden duster for not attending classes. The incident took place at the Rajdhani School in Kukatpally area of Hyderabad. The injured boy is currently admitted to the ICU of a nearby hospital and undergoing treatment for serious head injuries. advertisement MY SON WAS HEALTHY A student of Class 10, Suresh Kumar was allegedly beaten up by the teacher after he failed to attend classes. Following the assault, he immediately collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. ALSO READ: Kids hung from ceiling, beaten for not reciting Bible in Noida shelter homes According to the boy's father, Ramjanam Prasad, Kumar started vomiting and collapsed soon after the assault. The doctors, he said, have suggested a brain surgery to remove the blood clot. "My son was perfectly healthy while leaving for school," Prasad said. ALSO READ: Mistaken for apple thief, youth beaten to death in Delhi The teenager's mother alleged that the teacher also asked Kumar to pay a fine of Rs 500 for not attending classes. SCHOOL DENIES ALLEGATIONS The school administration, however, has denied the allegations. "The student fell unconscious and so we shifted him to the hospital," said the school's principal Narendra. ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu: Government school teacher held for sexually assaulting 12-year-old student The police have filed a case against the teacher following a complaint by the victim's father. They are also trying to find out if the boy had any medical history which led to the clot in the brain. ALSO READ: West Bengal: Corporal punishment lands two school kids in hospital, teachers suspended ALSO READ: Hyderabad: Medical student commits suicide after family refused love marriage plan ALSO WATCH --- ENDS --- LANDSHUT, Germany (Reuters) - BMW (BMWG.DE) board member Oliver Zipse on Thursday said there is no need to decide yet whether the Brexit vote is a reason to shift manufacturing of its Mini brand away from Oxford to other locations in Europe. Britain's vote in June to leave the European Union has raised doubts on whether it can keep tariff free access to the European common market, prompting various carmakers with factories in the United Kingdom to review their production plans. BMW Group, which manufactures the Mini in the Netherlands, Austria and the United Kingdom, is not currently under pressure to make any changes or decide about further investments in its assembly line in Oxford, Zipse said on Thursday. "The Mini has been launched not too long ago, now is not the time to make this decision," Zipse, BMW Group's board member responsible for manufacturing, told Reuters on the sidelines of an event held in Landshut, Germany. "When the time comes when we have to do the next bigger investment, we will have to look at the situation," Zipse said. Asked whether BMW could shift more production of the Mini to the Netherlands, Zipse said, "We have possibilities, but currently we don't have to." Earlier on Thursday, Reuters reported that Japanese carmaker Nissan will continue to build two new models at Britain's largest car plant, despite the vote to quit the EU. (Reporting by Edward Taylor; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) Typically, finding cheap airfare to Europe requires catching a flight from a major East Coast hub. But a major sale from Star Alliance carriers is good for travelers departing from as far west as Colorado. According to a tip from the Airfare Spot, Star Alliance members including United and Air Canada, are slashing prices on trips to destinations across Europe. Starting at $318 round-trip, travelers can fly from Detroit to Amsterdam, and flights are also available to Rome, Milan, and Paris for less than $400. Trips originating in Detroit can depart in November, or January through March (including Valentines Day). Starting at $403, travelers can visit Belgium from Denver between February and April. Munich, Amsterdam, and Paris are also available starting at $446 round-trip. Lufthansa can take travelers departing from Atlanta to Italy (Florence or Naples, specifically) starting at $368 in November, or between January and March. United is also selling flights from Atlanta for as little as $319 to Amsterdam, Rome, or Milan. And for $342, Atlantans can fly to Paris in November, January, February, or March. The Airfare Spot also suggests travelers departing from Minneapolis and Salt Lake City may be able to book an ultra-affordable trip to Europe. While these fares were valid at the time of publishing, they are likely to sell out extremely fast. Related Articles BorgWarner, Inc. BWA is a leading manufacturer of powertrain products for major automakers. Its products include four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive transfer cases (primarily for light trucks and sport utility vehicles), as well as automatic transmission and timing chain systems. These products are produced and sold worldwide, primarily to original equipment manufacturers. BorgWarner is poised to benefit from strong demand, global expansion, capital deployment and restructuring of the Drivetrain segment. However, negative impact from foreign currencies, pricing pressure from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and intensifying competition are some concerns. Estimate Trend & Surprise History Investors should note that the third-quarter earnings estimates for BorgWarner have remained stable over the past 30 days. Meanwhile, the company has a positive record in terms of earnings surprises. BorgWarner beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. As a result, the company posted an average positive surprise of 2.68% over the last four quarters. BORG WARNER INC Price and EPS Surprise BORG WARNER INC Price and EPS Surprise | BORG WARNER INC Quote Investors have been eagerly awaiting BorgWarners latest earnings report to see whether it delivers an earnings beat. Zacks Rank BorgWarner currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), but that could change following its earnings report which was just released. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. We have highlighted some of the key stats from this Michigan-based companys earnings announcement below: Earnings BorgWarner reported adjusted earnings of 78 cents per share in the third quarter of 2016, marginally beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 77 cents. Adjusted earnings increased from 73 cents reported in the year-ago quarter. Revenues BorgWarner logged revenues of $2.21 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.19 billion. Further, revenues were 17.5% higher than a year-ago. Story continues Key Stats/Developments to Note Net sales for 2016 are projected to grow 15.2%16.0%, compared to the prior range of 13.5%17.5%. Excluding the impact of foreign currencies and the Remy International acquisition, net sales are expected to grow around 4.3%4.8%. Further, BorgWarner expects net earnings in the range of $3.24$3.28 per share in 2016, compared to the prior range of $3.16$3.32. The Remy International acquisition is likely to have a positive impact of 12 cents per share. Market Reaction BorgWarners shares were inactive following the release. It would be interesting to see how the market reacts to the results during the trading session today. Check back later for our full write up on BorgWarners earnings report! Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Tale of the Tape, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BORG WARNER INC (BWA): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Bravo is renewing four of its reality series and tacking three new ones onto its roster. Fans of Southern Charm, Shahs of Sunset and Million Dollar Listing New York have cause to rejoice, as theyve all been given the go-ahead for another season. The new series ordered are First Family of Hip Hop, Relative Success with Tabatha and Southern Charm Savannah, an expansion of the Southern Charm franchise. First Family of Hip Hop follows the son and grandchildren of Sylvia Robinson, the woman who founded Sugar Hill Records and gave the world Rappers Delight. Sugar Hill Records has fallen on hard times, and squabbling family members arent doing the business any favors, but the Robinsons are looking to reclaim their rightful place in the music industry. First Family is produced by Left/Right and Mad Fusion. Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman and Anneka Jones serve as executive producers for Left/Right; Danielle Medina is exec producer for Mad Fusion. Ashley M. Buie serves as exec producer and Glenda N. Cox is a co-executive producer. The Robinsons might be prime candidates for Relative Success with Tabatha, which takes the allergic to nonsense Tabatha Coffey and gives her family-run businesses to fix. Regular businesses can be tough, but mixing in family feuds and daddy issues adds on another several degrees of difficulty. Relative Success is produced by Lime Productions for All3 Media, with Gregory J. Lipstone, Kate Little, Clare Poyser, Spike Van Briesen, Andrew Perry and Paul Osborne serving as exec producers. Southern Charm Savannah capitalizes on Americas fascination with the South specifically, with the posh high-society culture that still remains, where kids learn to drive boats before cars. The Savannah installment of Southern Charm will center around six lifelong friends as they love and fight in a place steeped in history. Southern Charm Savannah is produced by Haymaker Productions with Aaron Rothman, Irad Eyal, Sara Nichols, Luke Neslage and Jessica Chesler serving as executive producers. Jason Weinberg, Bryan Kestner and Whitney Sudler-Smith also serve as exec producers. Story continues Related stories TV News Roundup: NBC to Air 'SNL' Election Special on Nov. 7, New Judge Joins 'Hot Bench' 'Odd Mom Out' Renewed at Bravo for Season 3 Uma Thurman Joins Cast of Bravo's Scripted Drama 'My So Called Wife' SAO PAULO, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Brazil's beauty products manufacturer Natura Cosmeticos SA reported a sharp net income drop in the third quarter on falling revenues amid a harsh recession, according to a securities filing Wednesday. Natura's net income ended the quarter at 73.1 million reais ($23.3 million), down 44.6 percent over the same year-ago quarter. The company said consolidated net revenues fell 4.7 percent to 1.9 billion reais, affected by the weakness of the Brazilian consumer market. Natura also sells products in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia. The company, which also has operations in France, revised down investment guidance for 2016 to 300 million reais from 350 million reais, according to the filing. Amid Brazil's most prolonged recession in eight decades, Natura said revenue fell as consumers in Brazil are trading its toiletry products for cheaper brands. The company derives 60 percent of sales from this category. "Brazil remains a challenging market, and consumers have intensified the search for low-cost products," said Jose Roberto Lettiere, chief financial officer, in a separate statement. ($1 = 3.1392 reais) (Reporting by Paula Laier; Writing by Ana Mano; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) (Adds CEO quotes) BRASILIA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Samarco, the troubled joint venture between Vale SA and BHP Billiton, will need to use infrastructure from Vale's neighboring mines if it wants to secure a long-term future, Vale's chief executive said on Thursday. BHP Billiton and Vale did not currently see eye-to-eye about how to restart Samarco's mine, which was shut last year after a deadly dam burst, Murilo Ferreira said on a conference call to discuss third-quarter results. Earlier on Thursday, Vale posted third quarter net profit of $575 million. "I have to admit to you that there exists a certain misalignment between Vale and BHP in relation to the process of restarting Samarco," Ferreira said. "We think Samarco is not viable on the old structure of tailings storage," said Ferreira, adding he did not regard a rebuilding of the dam, which had collapsed, as feasible. Instead, Vale recommended that Samarco shares infrastructure with a bordering complex of mines. Ferreira did not provide details of how this would work. Ferreira said he planned to talk to BHP Chief Executive Andrew Mackenzie next week to try and come to an agreement. "I hope we can advance," he said. (Reporting by Stephen Eisenhammer; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Bernadette Baum) By Ethan Lou NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil settled higher on Thursday, as commitments from Gulf OPEC members to cut production assuaged some lingering doubts in the market about cooperation from other producers. The international benchmark Brent crude was up 49 cents, or 1 percent, at $50.47 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 54 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $49.72. "Another day, another market being pushed and prodded around by OPEC rhetoric," said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at energy data provider ClipperData. Energy ministers from Saudi Arabia and Gulf allies told their Russian counterpart this week they are willing to reduce peak oil output by 4 percent, sources familiar with the matter said. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said last month it would restrain output to boost prices, which have been slumping at less than half their mid-2014 levels due to a persistent supply glut. Iraq, however, has called for an exemption, adding to the list of members seeking special treatment. The expectation was that Libya, Nigeria and Iran should be exempt as their output had been hit by wars and sanctions, OPEC sources said. Smith noted that overall OPEC exports have been rising, which would normally be bearish for the commodity. While doubts linger about OPEC's ability to implement its production cut, the market has been leery of reading too much into it ahead of a meeting scheduled for the end of November, said David Thompson, executive vice-president at Powerhouse, an energy-specialized commodities broker in Washington. "The market is reluctant to get significantly short in front of that because, obviously, a political decision could catch them on the wrong side," he said. OPEC members are expected to have a technical meeting on Friday and a meeting with officials from non-member countries on Saturday. The cartel's oil ministers meet on Nov. 30, and are expected to work out how much individual countries should cut. Story continues Prices were also boosted by a fall in U.S. crude stockpiles at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery base, which showed a weekly decrease of 650,000 barrels, traders said, citing data from energy monitoring service Genscape. On Wednesday, the U.S. Energy Department said domestic crude stocks fell 553,000 barrels last week, the seventh such decline in the last eight weeks, adding to hopes that a long-awaited market rebalancing is taking place. [EIA/S] (Additonal reporting by Alex Lawler in LONDON and Henning Gloystein in SINGAPORE; Editing by William Hardy, David Gregorio and Chris Reese) By Joseph Ax NEWARK, N.J. (Reuters) - Closing arguments in New Jersey's "Bridgegate" trial were unexpectedly postponed by a day on Thursday because of an unspecified "legal issue" that must be resolved, the trial judge said. U.S. prosecutors in Newark had been scheduled to begin summing up the evidence against two former allies of Governor Chris Christie who are accused of orchestrating lane closures at the busy George Washington Bridge to New York City in September 2013 in an act of political retribution. U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton told jurors to return on Friday morning for closing arguments, which are now expected to last into Monday. Prosecutors and defense lawyers, who also left for the day, declined to comment on the nature of the issue. Jurors have heard more than a month of testimony in the trial of Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's former deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, operator of the bridge. Prosecutors say the two conspired with another Port Authority executive, David Wildstein, to create massive gridlock in Fort Lee, New Jersey, to punish the town's mayor for refusing to back Christie's 2013 reelection campaign. The scandal damaged Christie's political standing as he was beginning a campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. The governor is a top adviser to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Christie, who has not been charged with wrongdoing, has said he was unaware of the lane closings at the time. But testimony at the trial from several witnesses have contradicted Christie's claim. Wildstein, who pleaded guilty and testified for the government, said he and Baroni discussed the plot with Christie as it was unfolding. Baroni and Kelly each took the stand and said they spoke with Christie about the lane closures, though they said they believed that the closures were part of a legitimate traffic study. Kelly, who cried several times during her testimony, portrayed Christie as a demanding and bullying boss who once flung a water bottle at her in anger. She was the author of an infamous email sent to Wildstein that said, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," a message prosecutors say set the scheme in motion. But Kelly told jurors that she was simply parroting the language Wildstein had used in describing the potential gridlock caused by what she believed was a Port Authority-approved traffic study. (Additional reporting by David Ingram in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and Steve Orlofsky) Savjibhai Dholakia, a Surat businessman who is the owner of Hare Krishna Exporters that trades in diamonds and textiles, has again decided to give employees at his firm car and a house as Diwali bonus. By Gopi Maniar Ghanghar : Savjibhai Dholakia, a Surat businessman who is the owner of Hare Krishna Exporters that trades in diamonds and textiles, has again decided to give employees at his firm car and a house as Diwali bonus. Dholakia will hand over these gifts in a function to be organised by the company. FIRM EMPLOYS OVER 5,500 PEOPLE advertisement Hare Krishna Exporters employs more than 5500 people. The company makes a annual turnover of Rs 6,000 crore. As many as 1665 employees, who will be the beneficiaries, have been chosen based on their performance. Around 1200 of these 1665 employees earn between Rs 10,000 and Rs 60,000 per month. Also read: Diwali bonus: 500 cars, 200 flats given by this Gujarat boss to his employees The 400 employees, who are going to be given houses, will have to make no down-payment, which the company will take care of. Hare Krishna Exporters will pay a home loan EMI of Rs 5,000 for each of these workers for 5 years. Dholakia will also give away 1260 cars to its staff. As many as 56 employees will get jewellery boxes. 1,716 EMPLOYEES GOT BONUS LAST YEAR These 1665 employees did not avail the bonus last year when the company had given 491 cars, 200 houses and jewellery boxes to 1,716 of their colleagues. Savjibhai Dholakia is known as Savjikaka in Surat and Saurashtra. His story is a typical example of a man of modest means having gone on to carve a niche for himself. Savjibhai, who hails from Dudhala village in Amreli district, came to Surat in 1977 on a state transport bus with just Rs 12.5 with him as ticket fare. --- ENDS --- By Elisabeth O'Leary EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Britain's decision to leave the European Union will also mean leaving the EU single market, one of Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet ministers said on Thursday. "If we are leaving the EU, we are leaving the single market," Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell told Scottish lawmakers at a special hearing on the implications of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. He went on to say that he believed Britain could retain tariff- and barrier-free access to the single market. The implications of Britain's EU exit for its access to the bloc's 500 million-consumer single market remain unclear. Businesses and financial markets believe that if Britain loses unfettered access to the single market the economy will suffer, and such fears have sent the pound sharply lower. Mundell told a devolved Scottish parliamentary committee that Britain's future relationship with the EU would not replicate current structures. His comments touch upon one of the biggest unknowns thrown up by the June EU referendum - what type of trading relationship does Britain want with its biggest economic partner? Mundell has a seat at May's cabinet table but is not considered one of her closest advisers. Asked whether Mundell's comments were government policy, PM May's spokesman said: "We haven't started the process of exiting the EU yet ... clearly we will then engage in a process of negotiation with the EU and issues like that will form part of that dialogue. "What we're trying to get here is the best possible arrangement for trade and operation within Europe across business in goods and services." May has indicated that she wants a bespoke deal that allows Britain to end free entry of EU nationals into the country - a demand which is widely seen by other EU states as scuppering the possibility of full access to the single market. The prime minister told parliament this week that access to the single market was important, without saying what form that access would take. Story continues "I have been clear ... (about) the importance that we place on being able not just to trade with but to operate within the European market, and that is for both goods and services," she said. The centuries-old union between England and Scotland has been strained by the result of the June referendum because Scotland voted to stay in the EU while England voted to leave. Nicola Sturgeon, the head of Scotland's devolved government, has called for a "coalition" across Britain in support of single market membership, and said that if Scotland's links to the EU are not maintained as part of a Brexit deal, then another referendum on Scottish independence is an option. Mundell did not answer a question on whether he still supported Britain remaining in the single market, replying that he was committed to achieving the best possible deal by getting Scotland to work together with London. (Additional reporting by William James; Editing by Andrew Roche) London (AFP) - Britain on Thursday called on the French government to look after children stranded in Calais following the demolition of the Jungle migrant camp in northern France. British interior minister Amber Rudd spoke to French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve "to stress the need for children who remain in Calais to be properly protected", according to a Home Office statement. "Any child either not eligible or not in the secure area of the camp should be cared for and safeguarded by the French authorities," she told Cazeneuve. "We understand specialist facilities have been made available elsewhere in France to ensure this happens." Dozens of migrants on Thursday remained stuck in the Jungle, some of them children, as diggers began tearing down the last remaining shelters in the burnt-out camp. France's interior ministry said Wednesday that nearly 5,600 migrants had been taken into shelters around the country or accepted into Britain -- out of the 6,400 estimated by authorities to have been living in the camp up until this week. Rudd promised to work with the French authorities to make sure all children eligible to come to Britain be transferred "as quickly as possible". The Daily Beast STRINGER/ReutersVideo footage shows pedestrians attempting to sway an Indian suspension bridge in the moments before it catastrophically collapsed, leaving at least 141 people dead as of Monday.Rescuers expect the death toll to continue to rise after the bridge fell apart in the western state of Gujarat on Sunday. The majority of those killed were women, children, or elderly people, a local official told the BBC. Almost 180 people were successfully rescued, however, in an overnight operation inv Antibiotics Exit the Menu The fast-food industry has historically been slow to change its ways, particularly when profits are involved. But on one issue, it seems that more chains are now responding to pressure from consumers. These restaurants are moving to keep unnecessary antibiotics out of the production of the billions of pounds of beef, chicken, turkey, and pork that the industry serves every year. According to a new joint investigation by several health and environmental organizationsincluding Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reportsnine of the top 25 fast-food restaurants have publicly committed to significantly limiting their use of the drugs (up from five chains in 2015). The report, which grades the chains on their antibiotic policies and practices, found that Panera and Chipotle lead the pack with A grades; almost all the meat they servebeef, chicken, pork, and turkeyis raised without the routine use of antibiotics. Subway might rate a most improved: Last year it got an F; this year, a B. It says that by the end of 2016 all of its chicken will be raised without antibiotics. But KFC, Burger King, and 14 other chains received failing grades. Antibiotics are frequently used to help fatten livestock and keep the animals healthy in crowded, unsanitary conditions. But overuse contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which infect an estimated 2 million people in the U.S. each year, of whom roughly 23,000 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the health crisis of our generation, Consumer Reports president and CEO, Marta Tellado, told delegates to the United Nations in September during a special session on antibiotic resistance. We need leadership on a scale that we have not yet seen. The U.N. ultimately passed a resolution to help combat the epidemic. To find out more about the overuse of antibiotics, go to ConsumerReports.org/superbugs. You can read the scorecard of restaurant grades at ConsumerReports.org/holdantibiotics. Story continues Minding Our Medical Bills Within the past two years, almost one in four privately insured Californians received a medical bill only to discover that his or her health plan paid less than expected, according to a 2015 Consumer Reports survey of 825 privately insured California residents. Among those patients, almost one in four was charged an out-of-network rate for healthcare even though he or she had thought a provider was in-network, an all-too-common scenario as more and more medical specialists are declining to enter into contracts with health insurers. But although unwelcome surprises like those continue to plague patients nationwide, Californians can now recover from their ailments without that worry. Thats because the Golden State recently enacted a law that ensures that its residents will pay only in-network prices when receiving treatment at in-network hospitals, labs, imaging centers, and other healthcare facilities. California already had those consumer protections in place for emergency care. Consumer Reports strongly supported the California law and worked with legislators to share stories of Californians hit with such unfair bills. We also helped to generate calls, emails, and social media outreach to lawmakers. This bill is a victory for the millions of Californians who will be protected from surprise medical bills, and it boosts the movement to end the financial pain in states around the country, says Betsy Imholz, special projects director at Consumers Union. In fact, our advocates are working in several states to help push for similar legislation and were strong proponents of a law recently passed in Florida that also strengthens patient protections. Go to EndSurpriseMedicalBills.org to learn more about our campaign to safeguard your rights in this area. Pushing Back on Bad Banks Our financial system lost a lot of credit with the public in 2008, and so far it doesnt seem to be too concerned about improving its reputation. Comparing the months of May through July of this year with the same period in 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has seen consumer complaints involving bank accounts and services spike 26 percent. A majority of the complaints are about problems with checking accounts, including overdraft fees and inaccuracies in credit reportsconcerns that we at Consumer Reports have raised for years. The CFPBs complaint database is a crucial tool that helps track and tackle troubling trends. If you find that youre experiencing a problem like those mentioned with your own banking services, we encourage you to report the problem at cfpb.gov/complaint. Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the December 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. (Rome, Italy) A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy late Wednesday, crumbling churches and buildings, knocking out power and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. But hours after the temblors hit, there were no reports of serious injuries or signs of people trapped in rubble, said the head of Italys civil protection agency, Fabrizio Curcio. A handful of people were treated for slight injuries or anxiety at area hospitals in the most affected regions of Umbria and Le Marche, he said. A 73-year-old man died of a heart attack, possibly brought on by the quakes, local authorities told the ANSA news agency. All told, the information so far is that its not as catastrophic as it could have been, Curcio said. The temblors were actually aftershocks to the Aug. 24 quake that struck a broad swath of central Italy, demolishing buildings in three towns and their hamlets, seismologists said. Several towns this time around also suffered serious damage, with homes in the epicenter of Visso spilling out into the street. The first struck at 7:10 p.m. and carried a magnitude of 5.4. But the second one was eight times stronger at 6.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Because many residents had already left their homes with plans to spend the night in their cars or elsewhere, they werent home when the second aftershock hit two hours later, possibly saving lives, officials said. It was an unheard-of violence. Many houses collapsed, the mayor of hard-hit Ussita, Marco Rinaldi, told Sky TG24. The facade of the church collapsed. By now I have felt many earthquakes. This is the strongest of my life. It was something terrible. Rinaldi said two elderly people were rescued from their home, where they were trapped, and appeared to be in good condition. Some 200 people in Ussita were planning to sleep in the streets, given the impossibility of putting up tents so late at night. Story continues Calling it apocalyptic, he said the town and its hamlets were finished. A church crumbled in the ancient Perugian town of Norcia, famed for its Benedictine monastery and its cured meats. A bell-tower damaged on Aug. 24 fell and crushed a building in Camerino, the ANSA news agency said. Elsewhere, buildings were damaged, though many were in zones that were declared off-limits after the Aug. 24 quake that flattened parts of three towns. Were without power, waiting for emergency crews, said Mauro Falcucci, the mayor of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, near the epicenter. Speaking to Sky TG24, he said: We cant see anything. Its tough. Really tough. He said some buildings had collapsed, but that there were no immediate reports of injuries in his community. He added that darkness and a downpour were impeding a full accounting. Schools were closed in several towns Thursday as a precaution and a handful of hospitals were evacuated after suffering damage. Premier Matteo Renzi, who cut short a visit to southern Italy to monitor the quake response, tweeted all of Italy is embracing those hit once again. Italys national vulcanology center said the first quake had an epicenter in the Macerata area, near Perugia in the quake-prone Apennine Mountain chain. The U.S. Geological Survey put the epicenter near Visso, 170 kilometers (105 miles) northeast of Rome, and said it had a depth of some 10 kilometers (six miles). The second aftershock struck two hours later at 9:18 p.m. with a similar depth. Experts say even relatively modest quakes that have shallow depths can cause significant damage because the seismic waves are closer to the surface. But seismologist Gianluca Valensise said a 10-kilometer depth is within the norm for an Apennine temblor. The Aug. 24 quake that destroyed the hilltop village of Amatrice and other nearby towns had a depth of about 10 kilometers. Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said residents felt Wednesdays aftershocks but We are thanking God that there are no dead and no injured. The original Aug. 24, 6.2-magnitude quake was still 41 percent stronger than even the second aftershock. Wednesdays temblors were felt from Perugia in Umbria to the capital Rome and as far north as Veneto. It also shook the central Italian city of LAquila, which was struck by a deadly quake in 2009. The mayor of LAquila, however, said there were no immediate reports of damage there. A section of a major state highway north of Rome, the Salaria, was closed near Arquata del Tronto as a precaution because of a quake-induced landslide, said a spokeswoman for the civil protection agency, Ornella De Luca. The mayor of Arquata del Tronto, Aleandro Petrucci, said the aftershocks felt stronger than the August quake, which devastated parts of his town. But he said there were no reports of injuries to date and that the zone hardest hit by the last quake remained uninhabitable. We dont worry because there is no one in the red zone, if something fell, walls fell, he said. In Rome, some 230 kilometers (145 miles) southwest from the epicenter, centuries-old palazzi shook and officials at the Foreign Ministry evacuated the building. The quakes were actually aftershocks of the magnitude 6.2 earthquake from two months ago. Because they were so close to the surface, they have the potential to cause more shaking and more damage, coupled with infrastructure thats vulnerable to shaking, said U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Paul Earle. They have a lot of old buildings that werent constructed at a time with modern seismic codes, he said. Given the size, depth and location of the quakes, the USGS estimates that about 24 million people likely felt at least weak shaking. This original quake was about 20 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of the original shock, which puts it on the northern edge of the aftershock sequence and two months is normal for aftershocks, Earle said. ___ Barry contributed from Milan. AP science writer Seth Borenstein contributed from Washington. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Burundi on Thursday formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, dealing a blow to the tribunal seen as a pillar of international justice. South Africa was the first to take the formal step at the United Nations last week and Gambia has also said it plans to pull out of the Rome treaty that created the ICC. Burundi's Justice Minister Laurentine Kanyana personally delivered the formal letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office. The withdrawal takes effect one year after the letter is received. The United Nations is calling on South Africa and Burundi to reverse their decisions. "That withdrawal can be withdrawn," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Burundi's move came after a UN envoy was dispatched to Bujumbura for crisis talks. UN envoy Jamal Benomar was in Bujumbura meeting with leaders to try to defuse tensions over the ICC pullout and the government's decision to break ties with the UN rights office. Set up in 2002, the ICC is often accused of bias against Africa. The ICC in April launched a preliminary investigation of allegations of killings, torture and other rights abuses in Burundi. A report by UN rights experts has blamed President Pierre Nkurunziza's security forces and police for the violence that has torn the country since 2015. The UN Human Rights Council decided last month to set up a formal commission of inquiry that could help identify those responsible for the violence. Burundi has been in turmoil since Nkurunziza announced plans in April last year to run for a third term, which he went on to win. More than 500 people have died in the violence and at least 300,000 have fled the country. Johnny Depp has signed with CAA, the agency announced this morning. This is a shocker, and an exceptional development on multiple levels starting with the fact that stars long tenured with one agency, whove carried billion-dollar franchises, dont often move. Some will simply read this as a big get for CAA in a continuing rivalry with UTA that ratcheted up last year when nearly a dozen CAA agents jumped to UTA and took clients including Will Ferrell and rising star Chris Pratt. Others will see this as a star in a crisis moment making a course change after recent movies didnt work, and a loud marital breakup cast him in an unflattering light in the tabloid cross hairs. Others who follow the dynamic between talent and reps will focus on the end of one of the most enduring relationships between an agent and a movie star. That would be the three-decade collaboration between Depp and his UTA agent Tracey Jacobs, who signed Depp after watching his heartthrob turn as baby-faced undercover cop Tom Hanson on the Fox series 21 Jump Street. Together, they transitioned Depp into a globally bankable movie star whose films have collectively grossed more than $7 billion. She was a ferocious advocate for Depp and they were indelibly linked, down to the gold plaque bearing her name that Depp displayed in a prime booth at The Viper Room, when he was part-owner of the Sunset Strip nightspot. Related: For more celebrity videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS. His ascension to stardom was a neat trick in that Depp didnt do it like most big stars, who played variations of the branded persona their audiences wanted to see. Depp brought an art house sensibility to mainstream movies, and he was willing to go all in to disappear into eccentric and distinctive characters, some inspired by influences in his life. That worked to the maximum effect when, much to the initial trepidation of Disney, he channeled Keith Richards into the ghostly, tipsy buccaneer Jack Sparrow in the multi-billion-dollar global grossing Pirates Of The Caribbean series. Less effective was the channeling of his gonzo journalist pal Hunter S. Thompson in the films The Rum Diary and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. Along the way were lauded performances in dramas like Donnie Brasco, Blow and Whats Eating Gilbert Grape, and audaciously daring turns with director Tim Burton that included Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Alice In Wonderland. He was thrice nominated for Oscars, for Burtons Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street, Finding Neverland and Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl. Story continues Unfortunately, taking the risky road hasnt been as kind to Depp in recent years. He has starred in numerous movies that were expensive and either under-performed or flat-out flopped. An expected return to Oscar form in Black Mass as Boston gangster Whitey Bulger didnt resonate as strongly as was hoped. The failures that pleased neither audiences nor critics included Mortdecai, Transcendence, The Lone Ranger, and Alice Through The Looking Glass, the sequel to the billion-dollar grossing Burton-directed Alice In Wonderland (James Bobin directed the reprise). The last two were particular troubling: Disney famously put the brakes on The Lone Ranger to bring down the budget, but it still cost a reported $215 million and only grossed $265 million worldwide; the Alice sequel cost a reported $170 million and grossed $299 million worldwide, far from its predecessor. Another Burton collaboration, Dark Shadows, grossed $245 but cost a reported $150 million. Adding to those woes was an image hit to a notoriously private actor when when the he-said she-said ugly breakup of his marriage to actress Amber Heard exploded in the press. UTA wouldnt comment on why Depp left, but historically, this kind of perfect storm of uncertainty creates insecurity for artists, and makes them vulnerable to other agencies that court stars on Depps level. CAA has fixated on Depp for a long time; after vacillating for the past week, he finally made the jump late last night. We had a great 30-year run with Johnny and we wish him well, said a UTA spokesman this morning. Depps signing is a coup for CAA because in an age where the star system has been de-emphasized by studios in favor of brands and concepts, stars whove registered strongly on a global scale like Depp are few and far between. The onus on CAA will be to rebuild his standing with big hits. The pieces are already in place for a potential second wind for the actor, and those commissions will stay with UTA. Depp reprises Sparrow in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales next summer, and he is booked to play the iconic lead character in The Invisible Man, one of the linchpins in Universals plan to build new franchises from its classic movie monster library. He also recently signed on to star in Foxs Murder On The Orient Express, a Kenneth Branagh-directed revival of the Agatha Christie whodunit that also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley and Judi Dench. He also stars in Labyrinth, the Open Road drama that explores the murders of hip-hop stars Tupac Shaur and Notorious B.I.G. Depp continues to be managed by Christi Dembrowski, his sister and producing partner in Infinitum Nihil, and hes lawyered by Jacob A. Bloom at Bloom Hergott. Related stories UTA Signs NFL Network Stalwart Rich Eisen 'The Conjuring's Hayes Brothers Writing Duo Sign With CAA Thomas Haden Church Signs With CAA Magna International, Canada's giant auto parts supplier, expects to open 29 new plants by 2019 as it races to meet the demand for new high-tech driver assistance technologies. Jim Tobin, Magna's chief marketing officer, said Thursday that Magna plans to build nine new plants in China. Four of them will open this year and five more are scheduled over the next two years. "We've got the engineering and technical depth so we're able to offer competitive solutions to our customers," noted Tobin during a briefing at Magna's offices near Detroit, Michigan. "China is our biggest area of growth, but we're also expanding in India, North America and Europe," he said. With automotive production worldwide expected to climb to 100 million units annually, Magna, the largest automotive supplier in North America and the third largest in the world, is expanding to address demand despite the current global economic slump. It is building three new plants in India and two in South America; six are being developed in Western and Eastern Europe; and seven more are planned for North America. Altogether Magna currently has 309 plants in 29 different countries. Magna's services cover traditional technology such as metal forming and framing, assembling components for power trains and vehicle seats. Ian Simmons, vice president of business development and research and development, said the company also can offer customers expertise in electronics, including advanced driver-assistance systems such as automatic forward braking systems designed to avoid collisions, and cyber security. Magna is one of the largest suppliers of back-up cameras, which will soon be standard on every vehicle sold in the United States, and is experimenting with adding cameras that would either replace or augment rearview mirrors. Magna also is developing built-in seat sensors to monitor a driver's biorhythms and detect if a driver is falling asleep. Simmons also said Magna is engaged in projects to reduce the weight of vehicles and bolster fuel economy with aluminum-cast parts. With markets seeking answers from the Tata Group over allegation leveled by its ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry, the business conglomerate has denied writing down USD 18 billion due to unprofitable business. Cyrus Mistry and Ratan Tata: Tata Group has refuted the allegation of USD 18 billion wrte down leveled by ousted chairman. By India Today Web Desk: The Tata Group today refuted allegations of corporate governance issues and a huge potential write down, saying its financial statements present a "true and fair view" of the state of affairs of the companies. Various Tata companies have issued clarifications to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) over a potential $18 billion write down, as suggested by Mistry in his scathing email to the Tata Sons board on Wednesday. advertisement READ: 'Lame duck chairman' Mistry attacks Ratan Tata directly in explosive letter WHAT DID MISTRY SAY? Accusing directors of wrongfully dismissing him on Monday, 49-year-old Mistry said $103-billion Tata group potentially faces a whopping Rs 118,000 crore ($18 billion) write down over time due to five unprofitable businesses he inherited. "The capital employed in these companies had risen from Rs 132,000 crore to Rs 196,000 crore, due to operational losses, interest and capex. This figure is close to the net worth of the group, which is at Rs 174,000 crore," Mistry said in his stormy letter to the Tata Sons board and the group's trustees. The companies Mistry mentioned and from whom the BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) sought response to his letter are India Hotels, Tata Motors, Tata Steel Europe, Tata Power Mundra and Tata Teleservices. WATCH: TATA'S DEFENCE Following Mistry's allegations, the various stock exchanges had asked Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Indian Hotels, Tata Teleservices and Tata Power to provide full details on their financial positions. "As part of the preparation of financial statements, the value-in-use of the assets of the company is tested for impairment as per accounting standards. The financial statements are considered by our audit committee and board of directors. The company, in compliance with the SEBI Listing Regulations, disseminates the quarterly financial results to the exchanges and to the wider shareholders," the Tata Group statement said. Tata Power stated that "regarding the company's Mundra Ultra Power Project, the company has always made all relevant disclosures, as required, and has no further comments to offer." READ: Why did Mistry stop being blue-eyed boy of Ratan Tata? All you need to know in 10 points WORRY IN THE MARKETS On Wednesday, the BSE and the NSE had sought clarification from Tata Group's leading listed firms on startling disclosures Tata Sons' ousted Chairman Cyrus P Mistry made in a letter to its directors. "The Exchange has sought clarification from the company with respect to news article appearing on Bloomberg on October 26, 2016 titled 'Ousted Tata chief says group faces $18 billion in write downs," said Tata Group's firms Tata Motors, Tata Steel, India Hotels, Tata Teleservices and Tata Power in their regulatory filing. advertisement READ: Tata Nano was making losses, didn't shut it for emotional reasons, says Cyrus Mistry "If so, you are advised to provide the said information along with the sequence of events in chronological order and the material impact of this article on the company," the exchanges said. Market watchdog Securities Exchange Board of India is also reported to be looking into Mistry's disclosures to verify if there was any breach of corporate governance, violation of listing norms and regulations by the Tata group or its listed firms and financial or other irregularities.ALSO READ: No Cyrus mystery: All you need to know about sacked Tata chairman --- ENDS --- Ottawa (AFP) - Canada on Thursday hailed a deal reached by Belgian political leaders to break the logjam over a landmark trade deal between the EU and Canada, but cautioned there is more work ahead. Resistance from Belgium's French-speaking Wallonia region had threatened to derail the pact between the 28-member bloc and Canada, the world's 10th biggest economy. But Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel on Thursday announced an agreement had been reached with Walloon leaders in support of the CETA deal. "If it materializes, it's excellent news," Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said during a visit to Paris, adding he was "cautiously optimistic." His counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault added, "If it is confirmed, we are very happy about it." A spokesman for the Canada's Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, however, commented in an email to AFP, "There is still work to do. There remain additional steps before signing." "Canada remains ready to sign this important agreement when Europe is ready," Freeland spokesman Alex Lawrence said. The CETA pact would link the EU's single market of 500 million people -- the world's biggest -- with Canada, the world's 10th largest economy. "I am cautiously optimistic -- once bitten, twice shy," said Dion. "We will show it is possible to trade and have progressive policies for the environment, health and social policies." The leaders of Wallonia, a 3.5 million-strong region south of Brussels, had demanded guarantees that CETA will not harm local farming and other interests. HONG KONG (Reuters) - Carlyle Group LP and Bain Capital LLC are the only major global buyout firms left bidding for McDonald's Corp's restaurants in China and Hong Kong after TPG Capital Management LP [TPG.UL] pulled out, people close to the matter said on Thursday. The two private equity firms, which have partnered with conglomerate CITIC Group Corp [CITIC.UL] and hotelier GreenTree Hospitality respectively, will compete with Chinese bidders for assets worth up to $3 billion, said the people, who declined to be identified because details of the deal are not public. The people did not give a reason for TPG's decision to pull out. Chinese bidders include real estate firm Sanpower Group Co Ltd [SPGCL.UL] and mini-market operator Wumart Stores Inc, Reuters previously reported. Carlyle, Bain and TPG declined to comment. McDonald's did not respond to a Reuters request for comment outside regular U.S. business hours. McDonald's in March said it was reorganizing operations in Asia, bringing in partners as it switches to a less capital-intensive franchise model. It hired Morgan Stanley to run the sale of about 2,400 restaurants in China and Hong Kong. (Reporting by Elzio Barreto and Julie Zhu; Editing by Christopher Cushing) * Hungarian bond yields off record lows ahead of auction * 3- and 5-year bonds seen drawing good demand - trader * Slovenia sells 2040-expiry bonds By Sandor Peto BUDAPEST, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Hungarian government bonds retreated on Thursday ahead of bond auctions which are expected to draw good demand after yields increased across Central Europe in the past few days, tracking a rise in euro zone markets. The exception was the Czech Republic where demand is fuelled by expectations for a surge of the crown next year once the central bank abandons its cap on its currency, which keeps it weaker than 27 per euro. The yield on 5-year Czech bonds fell 6 basis points to -0.18 percent by 0818 GMT. The corresponding Bund yield rose one basis point to -0.43 percent. Hungarian 3-year bonds traded at 1.29 percent, up 5 basis points. Romania's corresponding bonds were bid at 1.48 percent, up 3 basis points. The Hungarian yield has risen 16 basis points in the past two days, rebounding from record lows. "I expect a good auction of 3- and 5-year bonds, while demand for the 10-year papers at the auction is more questionable," one Budapest-based fixed income trader said. The Hungarian central bank has launched a bunch of measures in the past two weeks to boost forint liquidity in markets to help borrowing costs fall and boost demand for government debt. The central bank provided commercial banks with 400 billion forints ($1.41 billion) through swap auctions, cut its short-term lending rates and commercial banks reserve rate on Tuesday and reduced its offer at its monthly 3-month deposit auction on Wednesday. That will increase forint liquidity in the next month while also helping banks bridge a temporary liquidity shortage this week. The measures have weakened the forint. It traded 309.46 against the euro at 0828 GMT, flat from Wednesday but well off 17-month highs hit early this month at 303.40, and it will probably test the 310 line soon. A larger fall in the forint is unlikely as Hungary's big current account surplus and improved credit ratings provide support for the currency, analysts said. Story continues Neighbouring euro zone member Slovenia, whose credit ratings are also improving, drew good demand for an offer of 2040-expiry bonds on Wednesday. The country's 10-year bond yield was bid at 0.744 percent, flat from Wednesday, but up from record lows set two weeks ago at 0.547 percent. "Slovenia remains an improving credit story with ongoing fiscal consolidation, privatisation targets including restructured banks and strengthening growth perspectives," Raiffeisen analyst Gintaras Shlizhyus said in a note. The Center for Public Integrity was honored today with two 2016 EPPY awards from Editor & Publisher, and three other finalist designations, continuing a run of success for the Center in the prestigious journalism competition. The awards, now in their 21st year, honor the best media-affiliated websites across 31 diverse categories. The winning investigations, and categories were these: The Centers International Consortium of Investigative Journalists won Best Collaborative Investigative/Enterprise Reporting on a Website with over 1 million unique monthly visitors for its landmark project, The Panama Papers . Best use of Data/Infographics on a Website with under 1 million unique monthly visitors was won by the Center for a variety of data visualizations on subjects as disparate as broadband access and homicide rates. The Panama Papers project, coordinated by ICIJ and German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung in collaboration with more than 100 media organizations around the world, was the largest investigation in journalism history. Based on a trove of 11.5 million leaked documents from inside Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, the investigation revealed how the shadowy offshore economy works in detail never seen before, exposing the hidden financial dealings of politicians, criminals and the rich and powerful. The Data/Infographics award honors several complex data visualizations, specifically: Where broadband access is unequal, Here are the interests lobbying in every statehouse, How does your state rank for integrity? and A reality check on crime. This story is part of Inside Publici. Stories were working on, the impact of our investigations, news about our fundraising efforts, and other issues that shape our work. Click here to read more stories in this topic. Don't miss another Inside Publici investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. Spellbinding and explanatory data journalism is at the heart of what the Center does and this is great recognition, said CPI chief executive officer Peter Bale of the awards. Story continues In addition, a trio of projects garnered finalist honors in the EPPYs, including The Panama Papers, which was cited for Best Investigative/Enterprise Feature on a Website with over 1 million unique monthly visitors. Also a finalist: Buying of the President 2016 for Best News/Political Blog with under 1 million unique monthly visitors. The "Buying of the President" project has included deep-dive investigations about Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as other presidential aspirants like Bernie Sanders and Ben Carson. Stories have highlighted the special interests bankrolling these White House hopefuls as well as entrepreneurs profiting off of their popularity. The third Center finalist, for Best Investigative/Enterprise Feature on a Website with under 1 million unique monthly visitors, was Rape, murder, famine and $2.1 million for K Street PR. That story detailed how the government of South Sudan turned to Washington, D.C. public relations and lobbying firms to bolster its image amid widespread conflict, poverty and human rights abuses. The new honors continue a winning streak for the Center for Public Integrity in the EPPY competition; the Center received four EPPY awards in 2014 and another four in 2015. This story is part of Inside Publici. Stories were working on, the impact of our investigations, news about our fundraising efforts, and other issues that shape our work. Click here to read more stories in this topic. Related stories Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. Fifteen years after Chandra Levys unsolved murder, Gary Condit the married politician initially identified and then ruled out as a possible suspect in the Washington, D.C., interns death appeared on Dr. Phil Thursday, breaking his long silence about the case. But it wasnt his first choice. Condit told host Phil McGraw he had no interest in writing a book or talking about this story much at all, but was coaxed into the project by his kids, who encouraged him to set the record straight by telling his version of events. Thats what Condit said he did in his new book, Actual Malice: A True Crime Political Thriller. One thing he declined to discuss in detail Thursday was his relationship with Levy. He reportedly admitted in a 2001 police interview to having an affair with her, but has not spoken publicly it until now. Dr. Phil, I havent answered that question publicly for 15 years, Condit said, and Im not going to change my position or my view on that today or probably any time in the future. Not only is it not relevant, he continued, I think people are entitled to some level of privacy. We have lost our common decency in this country, and I have decided to draw the line there. I did not have a romantic involvement with her, Condit said when pressed. I was not involved in her disappearance in any way. Levys mom, Susan Levy, tells PEOPLE she watched the episode with some friends. Her husband and son didnt want to see it. But when it comes to Condit and Chandra being just friends, Susan says, Thats not true. I think hes running scared. I think hes trying to clear his name, she says. There was definitely something going on between my daughter and him, unfortunately. During his Thursday TV appearance, Condit only admitted that Chandra periodically stopped by his office but no more than any of his other constituents. The police, Condit insisted, made this big leap that, because we were friends, because she came by the condo, that I must have something to do with . Story continues He said he did give Chandra a bracelet, but he told McGraw that was commonplace in his office. Condit said his wife routinely picked up cufflinks, lapel pins, and hats he would give out as gifts to constituents. He also had jewelry. Condit appeared on Dr. Phil with his co-author, Breton Peace, who said their book answers the question of how the media coverage of the politicians alleged guilt got so out of control. asked him, Did you have an intimate relationship with Chandra Levy? Peace said. said, I dont see the relevance of that question. If you can tell me, Ill answer it. But you can infer what you want for your investigation. The police told the press maybe they told the Levys that he denied it, that he answered, No. The cops lied it was the lie that launched a thousand lies. Condit tells McGraw he told the cops everything they needed to know and more. He said he only retained a lawyer in the summer of 2001 because he believe the police were trying to set him up. It began to have a nefarious feel to it, he said. But, Condit told McGraw, Im not the victim in this. The real victim is Chandra and her family, and theres no justice for what happened to her. The focus needs to be on the bad guys, Peace said. Go catch the bad guys. The man who was tried and convicted of Chandras murder, Ingmar Guandique, is now in the process of being deported after federal prosecutors dropped all charges again him earlier this year when their case unraveled. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office did not say whether authorities would pursue fresh charges against anyone else. Susan Levy previously told PEOPLE the dismissal was very hard on her: I feel shattered Its hard to accept that my daughters death is a cold case again. Brides-to-be planning weddings in Chechnya should add extra place settings for a few uninvited guests at their marriage celebrations: groups of Chechen law-enforcement officials who will attend weddings to rein in the guests behavior. A bride dancing at her own wedding, for example? Well, thats taking it a little bit too far. Authorities in the capital of Grozny have sent out a list of fresh expectations to restaurants and other venues that host weddings to ensure there are no misunderstandings about what is and isnt allowed. Chechnya is semi-autonomous Russian republic, ruled by Ramzan Kadyrov, a warlord loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some of the banned activities take aim at the very heart of most weddings: Guests are not meant to get drunk, trade dance partners, fire their guns, or, of course, allow the bride to dance. We will set up special working groups, whose representatives will be present at weddings in public places, and check that the demands of a traditional wedding are met, a Chechen Ministry of Culture representative told Russian state news agency Tass. If they see clothes that do not match our mentality, or incorrect dance movements, they will intervene. These rules will likely not, of course, apply to Kadyrov himself, who has overseen a number of lavish weddings and even controversially encouraged the marriage of a 17-year-old girl to a local police chief last year, saying that love is for all ages. And among a cache of U.S. diplomatic cables released to the public by WikiLeaks was a memo from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow that recounted how Kadyrov attended a wedding in Dagestan in 2006, and danced clumsily with his gold-plated automatic stuck down the back of his jeans. Still, the fact Chechen officials are now going so far as to deploy wedding monitors indicates theyre taking the whole crackdown quite seriously. Last year, they announced a number of similar bans on wedding activities, including cutting the cake and partners dancing closer than an arms length from each other. Its unclear what the guests were supposed to do with the cake if no one was allowed to cut it, but the government apparently sent out some pilot squads last year to see if they would do the trick. Clearly, guests must have kept breaking the rules if the government is now adding extra cops to make sure weddings say above board. Story continues Some have the impression that this is a human rights violation, but this is not the case, the head of the Chechen governments cultural department Dina Shagidayeva told Russian news agency RIA Novosti last year. Photo credit: ILIA VARLAMOV/AFP/Getty Images Correction, Oct. 27, 2016: The diplomatic cable was sent from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow after officials attended a wedding in Dagestan. A previous version mistakenly said it was sent from the U.S. Embassy in Dagestan. The United States does not have a diplomatic mission in Dagestan. Calais (France) (AFP) - Migrants left behind after the demolition of France's notorious "Jungle" faced a day of reckoning Friday after spending the night, with official blessing, in a disused part of the camp. Around 100 migrants, including minors, wound up being allowed under police escort to sleep in shelters that remained standing in the former southern section of the slum that was mostly razed in March, a prelude to this week's clearance operation. After thousands were bussed out over the past two days, the camp next to the northern port of Calais was virtually deserted on Thursday. This allowed demolition crews to make faster work of tearing down the makeshift dwellings that had served as a launchpad for migrants seeking to reach Britain by sneaking onto lorries or trains heading across the Channel. But scores of lost souls were still looking for shelter -- or refusing to leave the squalid settlement that has become one of the most visible symbols of Europe's migrant crisis. "You can't say the operation is over when there are people left," fumed Anne-Louise Coury, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) coordinator in Calais. "The state still has a serious obligation towards migrants who are minors." La Vie Active, a government-linked charity, said about one-third of the camp had been razed by the end of Thursday, and top local official Fabienne Buccio said demolition operations would end Monday. In sections that were still awaiting demolition, youths and some charity workers gathered over coal fires, preferring the more rustic conditions in what remained of the Jungle to the stringent rules inside the container camp reserved for minors. A giant teddy bear lay face down in the sand, while flowers still sprouted from planters, a reminder of a community that had insisted on enjoying basic pleasures while awaiting its fate. - 'Fleeing and waiting' - "They spend their time fleeing and waiting," said 78-year-old volunteer Michel Van Parys, surveying the bleak landscape of charred tents and shacks gutted by fires deliberately set Wednesday by departing migrants. Story continues The interior ministry said Wednesday that nearly 5,600 migrants had been distributed around France or accepted into Britain in the three-day clearance operation -- out of the 6,400 estimated to have been living in the camp up until this week. Immigration authorities said a further 226 adults and 16 minors left Thursday aboard eight buses for accommodation around France. But aid groups estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 fled the scene even before the evacuation began, melting into the region or finding hideaways in Paris. The fate of several dozen children remained of concern late Thursday as the container camp for unaccompanied minors stayed filled to beyond its 1,500 capacity. Around 200 minors had slept rough the previous night, along with dozens of adults still clinging to hopes of sneaking to Britain. A spokesman for Britain's interior ministry said Home Secretary Amber Rudd had spoken with her French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve to "stress the need for children who remain in Calais to be properly protected." - 'Truck try' - Most of the migrants hoping to reach Britain have fled conflict, poverty or persecution in countries such as Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan, and the authorities have said those who agree to be moved can seek asylum in France. "The government thinks the programme (of distributing migrants to shelters around France) is attracting people from other places like Belgium and Germany," said Coury, the MSF coordinator. "It sucks them in." Calais has been a magnet for migrants hoping to sneak across the Channel for over a decade, and many locals fear new settlements will simply spring up in the area after the Jungle is razed. Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart said claims of the Jungle's demise were "premature" and demanded "guarantees" that it would not spring up again, once the police had left. As far as Afghan 16-year-old Jawid Tor was concerned, he was waiting for his next "truck try" -- which he said he attempted practically every day. By Rosalba O'Brien MARIA ELENA, Chile, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Lithium giant SQM is moving into new countries and products and offering more transparency as it tries to ease investor concerns about alleged corruption, ties to Chile's former right-wing dictatorship and a bitter royalty dispute with the government. SQM is one of the world's biggest producers of lithium, iodine and nitrates, and its executives say they talk regularly to potential customers like carmaker Tesla Motors Inc. But at home it is often on the front pages of newspapers for the wrong reasons. An ongoing investigation into the issue of fake invoices to SQM and others, allegedly used as recently as 2014 to illicitly finance political campaigns, has dominated headlines for months. "We're a low-profile company, trying to do the best with the assets that we have. And all of a sudden we're on the front page of the newspapers. We don't like that," Gerardo Illanes, vice president for finance, told Reuters this month in a rare interview. "(That) will change with us continuing to do our work in the right way, keep on improving efficiencies, keep on improving market share, keep on delivering to our shareholders. That's what will help us move on." A recently finalized strategic plan emphasizes geographical diversification, new products and a more collaborative management style as it looks to modernize. The illicit donations scandal came on the heels of a market manipulation fine involving the firm's controlling shareholder, Julio Ponce, who resigned as chairman last year and has put most of his stake up for sale. Ponce has had close ties with the company since the 1980s, when it was privatized under dictator Augusto Pinochet, then his father-in-law. Now Chile's current center-left government is in arbitration with SQM over royalty payments, a dispute the company says it is confident it will win. At stake are cash flows from assets that made up 40 percent of 2014 revenues, analysts say. Story continues Outside of that dispute, SQM's relationship with the government is "normal", Illanes said, although some staffers privately say they feel SQM has been singled out by the media and the government because of the Pinochet links in a country where his 1973-1990 military rule remains divisive. Senior staff said Ponce, though previously active as chairman, is no longer involved in day-to-day operations. If SQM could convince investors to look beyond the overhang of Ponce, the illicit donations and the government dispute, SQM could see more of its value unlocked, analysts say. Shares are already up nearly 60 percent this year as hopes of an electric vehicle boom have sent lithium prices rocketing. SQM's reserves are "a tier one asset, the Saudi Arabia of lithium," said Morningstar analyst David Wang. But, he added, as long as the arbitration remains unresolved, SQM's shares are still too risky to recommend. Analysts average a "hold" recommendation on the company, at least in part because of the legal worries. NEW BROOM Partly in response to such concerns, Patricio de Solminihac, a company veteran installed as chief executive in March 2015, has been keen to improve corporate governance and implement a strategy of diversification, company documents show. SQM is "betting strongly" on higher value, next generation products - for instance, specialty fertilizers, solar salts that allow solar projects to stay operational after dark, or battery grade lithium compounds, product executive Carlos Diaz said in an interview. Expansion via partnerships or takeovers will focus on early stage projects rather than larger, established concerns, Illanes said. "We will engage in projects where we can be at the very beginning of the cost curve," he said, citing SQM's recently announced plan to develop a lithium project in Argentina with a Canadian miner. The company also says it has raised its productivity an average 20 percent by bringing in McKinsey consultants who have championed a more collaborative management style. Workers say they are encouraged to speak up in daily meetings more reminiscent of Japanese firms than the more typically top-down Latin American approach. "When we first had the dialogues, no one would talk. But now we have all taken on responsibility," said Nelson Valdivia, an operator at SQM's key nitrates plant at Coya Sur, which towers over the company-owned town of Maria Elena. The guest books at the whitewashed house where VIPs stay when they visit Coya Sur in the remote Atacama desert say a lot about the history of SQM, and Chile. In the early 1970s, the then state-run company was visited by Cuban leader Fidel Castro and international filmmakers keen to document the socialist government of Salvador Allende. Entries end abruptly on Sept. 10, 1973, the day before Pinochet took control of Chile in a bloody coup. More recent entries reveal the visits of a swathe of other mining companies, including representatives from state-run copper firm Codelco. They have been to visit to SQM as they look to learn lessons on improving productivity, SQM executives said. (Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Christian Plumb and Kieran Murray) The designer talks about Michael Jackson in his memoir, American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion and Business. By Indo-Asian News Service: American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has described his first meeting with the late King of Pop Michael Jackson as "crazy". Hilfiger recalled meeting Jackson at his "deserted" Neverland home to discuss plans to collaborate on a clothing line, and he could not believe his eyes when he saw elephants and a giraffe in the grounds of the abode, reports pagesix.com. advertisement The designer delved on the music legend -- who died in 2009 -- in his memoir "American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion and Business". Also read: Michael Jackson is Forbes' top-earning dead celebrity of 2015 He wrote: "A choo-choo train, with a conductor and everything, picked us up. We were driving through Neverland, and no one was there. As we passed the ferris wheel, it started up. Every seat was empty. We saw teacup rides and a racetrack and an amphitheater, all deserted. "We pulled up in front of the house, and a butler came out wearing white gloves. 'Hello,' he said. 'Michael will be coming; he is expecting you.' We were standing in front of this massive gingerbread-style house when a giraffe walked by, followed by a string of baby elephants. (Hilfiger's brother) Ally and (Hilfiger's daughter) Andy were looking at each other, like 'This is crazy!'" Hilfiger further described the experience: "Prince and Paris came barreling down the stairs dressed as characters from a Broadway show or 'The Sound of Music' - velveteen knickers, dirndl jumper, ruffled blouses, patent leather shoes, each in full make-up, their hair bleached blonde with dark roots. Blanket was an infant in nanny's arms." --- ENDS --- ARICA, Chile (Reuters) - Chilean researchers are seeking conservation aid to protect a collection of mummified human remains found in northern Chile, the oldest mummies discovered in the world to date. The nearly 300 "Chinchorro" mummies, which have been recovered in recent years from the dry coastal area near the Peru border, are thought to date from between 5000 BC to 1500 BC. "The dates that we have for the bodies are from 7,000 years ago ... so they have more relative antiquity in terms of intentional work on the human body than that found in Egypt," said Sergio Medina Parra, anthropologist and department head at University of Tarapaca in the northern city of Arica. Medina is leading an attempt to get the Chinchorro mummies recognized by UN heritage body UNESCO as a world heritage site. "The application is not a goal in itself, but the start of a process, of improved conservation tools, with the Chilean state and the international community," he said. The mummies need to be kept under specific conditions of temperature and humidity to prevent deterioration. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Chris Reese) China's ruling Communist Party declared its General Secretary Xi Jinping the "core" of its leadership on Thursday, elevating his already powerful status. A communique issued by top party leaders after a four-day meeting in Beijing called on all its members to "closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core", said the People's Daily, the party's official mouthpiece. The announcement followed a gathering of 400 top party leaders in Beijing for a meeting known as the Sixth Plenum to discuss changes to party structure and discipline. Scenes of the meeting shown on state broadcaster CCTV showed a relaxed but businesslike Xi, clad in a black windbreaker, lecturing a ballroom of rapt party members. He has sought to bend the party to his will since taking its helm in 2012, and has already taken control of more levers of power than any leader since Mao Zedong. Regional cadres began using the term "core" for Xi last December, but it then disappeared, suggesting that the Chinese president had encountered resistance to his efforts to further consolidate his power. Analysts have speculated that Xi could seek to stay in power beyond the traditional 10-year term. The declaration was "very significant", Willy Lam, professor of politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told AFP, because in Chinese politics the "core" has traditionally denoted a degree of individual authority unconstrained by term limits. "The core of leadership can last forever," he said. "There's no idea of tenure, retirement age associated with the core." China has a constitutional limit of two five-year terms for the national president, another of Xi's titles, but no formal rule on tenure for the general secretary of the ruling party, the post from which he derives his power. Deng Xiaoping, the economic reformer who was Chinas paramount leader throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, was referred to as the core of the leadership. Story continues But his successor Jiang Zemin was only called the core of the third generation of leaders, effectively limiting the duration of the description, Lam said. Xi's immediate predecessor Hu Jintao never achieved the status. "A core leader is critical for a nation, for a political party," the People's Daily said in an editorial published shortly after the meeting ended. "Formally" anointing Xi "reflects the common aspirations of the whole party, the whole military, the whole country and all of its people," it said. The plenum confirmed that the Communist party will hold a congress late next year, when a new politburo standing committee, its most powerful body, will be selected, giving Xi an opportunity to promote favoured allies. - Zero tolerance - Xi's elevation comes as he exerts increasing pressure on the party to clean up its act. Since coming to power, he has presided over an anti-corruption campaign that has punished more than one million officials in what some say resembles a political purge. Casualties have included ranged from so-called "flies", minor officials, to "tigers", major figures including top generals in the People's Liberation Army and seemingly invincible former security czar Zhou Yongkang. The drive has eliminated potential rival bastions of power, but it has also laid waste to the party's organisational chart, paralysing grassroots bureaucrats petrified of making a mistake, a problem compounded by unclear and contradictory signals on what policies to pursue. While some had speculated the party might use the opportunity of this week's conference to dial back its anti-graft campaign and give cadres some room to breathe, the communique suggested the opposite, calling for a "zero tolerance" attitude towards misbehaviour. The party must "persevere in constructing a system where [party members] do not dare to be corrupt, cannot be corrupt and do not think about corruption," it said. To that end, the communique called for strengthening the party's internal controls, including increasing ideological conformity and more strictly monitoring individual members' behaviour, the People's Daily said. But it sought to allay concerns about overzealous implementation of the rules, allowing for forgiveness in the event that an error was made in the pursuit of "reform and innovation". BEIJING (Reuters) - Special forces from China and Saudi Arabia have held their first joint anti-terrorism drills, state media reported on Thursday, China's latest effort to expand security ties with countries in the Middle East and its Muslim neighbors. China says its companies and citizens face a growing threat from terrorism as its global footprint expands, and the government has been getting more involved diplomatically in trouble spots in areas such as the Middle East. President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia early this year, vowing to expand security cooperation and oppose terrorism. Twenty-five people from each side took part in training over two weeks from Oct. 10 focused on anti-terrorism combat skills and tactics near China's southwestern city of Chongqing, the People's Liberation Army Daily said. "This joint anti-terrorism training is directed at raising the two militaries' ability to combat terrorism and non-traditional security threats," the paper said. Chinese officials have long been concerned that instability in Afghanistan will spill over into China's western region of Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uighur people. Hundreds of people have died there in recent years in unrest the government blames on militant separatists. Authorities in bordering Kyrgyzstan said a suicide bomb attack on the Chinese embassy in the Kyrgyz capital in August was ordered by Uighur militants active in Syria. In the face of such threats, China in August set up an anti-terrorism alliance with neighbors Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, which all border Xinjiang. From Oct. 20 to Oct. 24, more than 400 troops from China and Tajikistan held joint anti-terrorism drills along the remote mountainous Tajik border with Afghanistan, Chinese media reported on Tuesday. Afghan officials observed the exercises, which included hostage rescue and combat training. Human rights groups say violence in Xinjiang is more a reaction to repressive government policies and limits on Uighurs' religious freedoms, accusations the government denies. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs have fled the unrest and traveled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey. China says some of them then end up joining militants in Iraq and Syria. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Robert Birsel) BEIJING (Reuters) - China's latest drill in the South China Sea was a normal search and rescue exercise, the defense ministry said on Thursday, less than a week after a U.S. navy destroyer sailed near the Paracel Islands, provoking a warning from Chinese warships to leave. China routinely holds drills in the busy waterway, where Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have rival claims. The search and rescue exercises were being conducted off the coast of the island province of Hainan and were regular drills forming part of annual plans, a defense ministry spokesman, Wu Qian, told a monthly news briefing, but gave no further details. China's maritime safety administration said the exercises would run all day on Thursday, and ordered all other shipping to keep away. The maritime administration has given coordinates for an area south of Hainan and northwest of the Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, but controlled by China. China has a runway on Woody Island, its largest presence on the Paracels, and has placed surface-to-air missiles there, according to U.S. officials. Beijing's claim in the South China Sea is the largest of all the claimants. It argues it can do what it wants on the islands it claims as they have been Chinese since ancient times. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) BEIJING (Reuters) - China and the United States are in "advanced negotiations" on returning to China five of its most wanted corruption suspects who have fled to the United States, a Chinese state-run newspaper said on Wednesday. China has vowed to pursue an overseas search dubbed Operation Fox Hunt for corrupt officials and business executives who have fled abroad, and their assets, part of President Xi Jinping's war on deep-seated corruption. It has been pushing for extradition treaties but Western countries have been reluctant to help, not wanting to send people to a country where rights groups say mistreatment of suspects is a concern. The English-language China Daily, citing a senior unidentified official at the ruling Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said China and the United States had speeded up talks on the return of the five. "We will offer relevant evidence to our U.S. counterparts in a timely manner and leave for the U.S. at a proper time to conduct a joint investigation with our counterparts," the official said. "We are in advanced negotiations with the U.S. to speed up the process for the fugitives' return." The paper said the five included Yang Xiuzhu, a former deputy mayor of Wenzhou in the booming eastern province of Zhejiang, and Xu Chaofan, a former Bank of China regional director in the southern province of Guangdong. The newspaper did not identify the three others, and made no mention of Ling Wancheng, the brother of a disgraced one-time aide to former President Hu Jintao, who is also in the United States. China has said previously it was talking with the United States about Ling. Media reported this year that U.S. officials had debriefed Ling who had provided nuclear secrets as well as personal information about Chinese leaders. His lawyer told Reuters in February that Ling denied handing over state secrets. The unidentified official told the China Daily that China and the United States were in "advanced negotiations" to sign an agreement on "sharing confiscated assets". The United States, Canada and Australia are among the places that graft suspects have fled to. Governments in those countries have insisted China goes through a proper legal process if it wants suspects back. The U.S. Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department did not respond to the details in the China Daily report, but said the United States had a proven commitment to prosecute fugitives when China had provided sufficient evidence to do so. "We continue to emphasize to (Chinese) officials that it is incumbent on them to provide U.S. officials with significant, clear, and convincing evidence to allow our law enforcement agencies to proceed with investigations, removals, and prosecutions of criminal suspects in accordance with domestic laws," the spokeswoman, Anna Richey-Allen, said. She said that while the United States was not negotiating an extradition treaty with China, fugitives could be returned to other countries without one, "within the bounds and protections afforded by our Constitution and laws." China has upset other countries by sending investigators to track corruption fugitives down without their knowledge. "It is necessary to offer solid evidence to U.S. judicial officials and to make sure Chinese law enforcement officials are well-versed in U.S. and international law," justice ministry official Zhang Xiaoming told the China Daily. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom and Julia Edwards in Washington; Editing by Robert Birsel and Peter Cooney) Charting a path toward becoming an international lawyer can be difficult without strong mentoring, experts say. Marissa Brodney, a second-year student at Harvard Law School with an interest in international law, says students like her need to attend a law school that has a full roster of potential career mentors who can guide students to options they might not have otherwise contemplated. "There's no one way to enter the international law field," she says. The key, Brodney says, is discovering a fulfilling personal path. Here are five ways to identify a school that prepares law students for international legal careers, whether their dream job is to be a human rights lawyer that pursues justice for victims of war crimes, or an in-house attorney at a multinational firm. [Learn about earning an online LL.M. from a U.S. school as an international student.] 1. An eclectic, long list of international law courses: Law professors say that applicants with international career aspirations should target schools with a flexible curriculum, so they can tailor their courses to their personal interests. One sign of a comprehensive international law curriculum, professors say, is when a school offers all of the following types of international law courses : survey courses that provide an overview of how public international law and private international law works, comparative law courses which explore the differences between the laws of various countries and topics courses that drill into specific specialties within international law. Susan Karamanian, associate dean for international and comparative legal studies at George Washington University Law School, says that international law courses have become more common at law schools over the past three decades, and some law schools offer more courses on that subject than any one student could possibly take. 2. Courses that focus on your dream specialty: Kevin Davis, vice dean for global affairs at the New York University School of Law, says applicants should look for schools that delve deep into the intricacies of international law, rather than simply offering survey courses. Story continues "I'd look for schools that go beyond the basics on public and private international law," he says. "I think it's particularly important to look for advanced courses that pull everything together." Some examples of desirable advanced course topics for students interested in international business law include international intellectual property, international mergers and acquisitions, and international arbitration, Davis says. [Consider which law schools provide the best preparation for a global career.] 3. Intensive, comparative law courses: The laws of various countries can differ dramatically, Karamanian says, and understanding those differences is crucial. For instance, she says, lawyers who practice business law in both the U.S. and the Middle East need to know about how traditional Islamic law addresses financial transactions and why it prohibits the collection of interest. Davis from NYU says it is essential for any aspiring international business attorney to learn about law in the European Union, since most multinational firms have a presence in the EU and it has distinct policies regarding privacy and trade. 4. Opportunities to engage with lawyers from foreign countries: Both recent graduates and professors agree that exchange programs and joint degree programs can bolster law schools' offerings in international law by expanding students' horizons. One of the key benefits of these programs, Davis says, is that they expose students to the diverse ways lawyers in foreign countries think about law and use the law. "I do think, if at all possible you should look for a school that offers opportunities to work or study abroad," he says. "There's really no substitute for being immersed." Stephanie Shyu, an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and founder of AdmitSee.com, says that joint degree programs are a sign that a school takes international law seriously. "Even if you don't necessarily want to study abroad, you can consider it a strong signal if a school is putting resources behind partnering with international law schools," she said in an email. [Consider specialized programs when choosing a law school.] 5. Strong careers counseling: It can be difficult to break into the international legal field, particularly in the public sector, so you want to choose a school that will give you the network and skills you need to get ahead, says Brodney from Harvard. Brodney, who is simultaneously pursuing her law degree and earning a masters in public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, says applicants should identify law schools that provide postgraduate fellowships in international law. "Fellowships can be a great way to gain a foothold if a student is interested in public international law," she says. Searching for a law school? Get our complete rankings of Best Law Schools. Ilana Kowarski covers graduate schools for U.S. News. You can reach her via email at ikowarski@usnews.com. Hillary Clinton poses with members of the band Los Tigres del Norte at a debate watch party in North Las Vegas. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP) LAS VEGAS Rosa Serrano doesnt want to vote this election, but she might end up at the ballot box anyway just to get some peace and quiet. When Serrano went over to her friends house for dinner last week, she was surprised when she noticed the TV was on and tuned to the final debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, held at a nearby university. Her friend had staged a political ambush, making a final pitch to the disaffected Serrano to vote by forcing her to watch Trump, whom Serrano intensely dislikes. My friends and my kids, theyre forcing me to vote, Serrano said outside a Cardenas market in North Las Vegas. They want me to vote for Hillary, but I dont know. Im still debating what I want to do. Serrano is a Mexican-born U.S. citizen who has lived in her adopted country for more than 30 years. She detests Trumps caustic rhetoric about immigrants, but isnt sure she likes Clinton enough to vote for the Democratic nominee. If I vote, Ill vote with her, not Trump. Never, Serrano said. I feel like hes bringing a lot of hate. Many of Nevadas more than 300,000 registered Latino voters share Serranos dislike of Trump, and the Clinton campaign and its allies want to mobilize them and other battleground-state Latinos in order to thwart Trumps ambitions for the White House. Hillary Clinton and popular Latino singer Vicente Fernandez, far left, at a debate watch party in North Las Vegas. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP) Clintons team is hoping to smash turnout records among Latinos, who have historically voted at lower rates than other ethnic groups. But they may have a reason to turn out in this race: Among other things, Trumps agenda has included a vow to deport every person illegally living in the U.S. an estimated 11 million people, including many relatives of U.S. citizens who can vote. Theres some evidence the Democratic campaigns plan is working. In Florida, the number of Latinos voting early compared to 2012 is up 99 percent, though no such data is available for other states that allow for early voting. The biggest help theyve got is Donald Trump, said Nevada journalist and political expert Jon Ralston, who predicted Latinos could account for 20 percent of the electorate in the state this year. Theyre all using him to try to turn out Latino voters. Story continues This was apparent at a small pro-Clinton gathering with Latino elected officials who were on a bus tour funded by the national Democratic Party. On a stop in a Las Vegas parking lot last week, the politicians made the case that Trump, who has record-low favorability among Latino voters, was spreading hate against their community and must be stopped. We have a presidential candidate right now in Donald Trump who is demonizing immigrants, who is calling us rapists and criminals, said Nevada State Sen. Ruben Kihuen, who is running for U.S. Congress. Im sorry, Mr. Trump, but my mom is not a criminal or a rapist. My mom is a housekeeper here in Las Vegas and is the hardest-working person I know. The small crowd erupted in applause. The Las Vegas Strip. (Photo: David Goldman/AP) In Nevada, the Clinton campaign has the advantage of an early start and experienced hands, while the Trump campaign has had a slower beginning. Her campaign opened offices in April of 2015 and is headed up by Jorge Neri, who ran the state operations for Obamas campaign in 2012. Nevada is a hard place to organize, Neri said. Its a transient town a lot of cellphone use, people move around, and it was hit hard by the recession. You cant just drop in and organize. Neri said the campaign has narrowed down its list of supporters and is pushing them to vote early. (Last cycle, 70 percent of Nevadans who voted cast their ballots early.) A CNN poll of Nevada had Clinton garnering 54 percent of Latino voters support, compared to 33 percent who backed Trump. Nationally, she seems to be doing better with Latinos, with 66 percent saying they see her favorably compared to just 15 percent who say the same of Trump according to a recent Latino Decisions poll. The Clinton campaigns strategy to mobilize the Latino vote in the final days of the campaign goes beyond traditional door knocking. In a memo outlining their strategy obtained by Yahoo News, the campaign emphasizes the use of high-profile surrogates, empowering women in Hispanic households to urge their families to vote, registering voters at Latino-owned businesses and reaching voters at their churches. The campaign has also used Dreamers, young undocumented immigrants whove lived most of their lives in the U.S., to register and educate others even though they cannot vote. The campaign has also blanketed swing states in ads targeting Latinos. About a quarter of the campaigns general-election ads have targeted Latino households, with more than half of those appearing in Spanish. The ads have featured Trump hotel workers complaining about their treatment, Dreamers, new citizen voters, Puerto Ricans and Cuban-American Republicans, as well as Trumps comments about Mexican immigrants, veterans and more. Her team has also directly engaged Spanish-language media. This week, Clinton made an appearance on the popular Univision show El Gordo y La Flaca, as the hosts sang her happy birthday with a mariachi band in tow and presented her with an elaborate cake. At the end of the interview, she announced that Jennifer Lopez would reunite with Marc Anthony for a free concert in Miami boosting her campaign. In Nevada, labor leader Dolores Huerta and the former soap opera star Angelica Maria have served as surrogates to excite Latino voters. Still, many Latinos say they are most motivated by preventing Trump from taking office. Who would want a president like that? asked Claudia Hernandez, a hotel worker in Las Vegas who said she was turned off by Trumps ugly rhetoric about immigrants. Were just human like everybody else. CHICAGO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday moved higher, on follow-through buying in anticipation for stronger cash prices by Friday, said traders. * At 10:20 a.m. CDT (1520 GMT) October live cattle, which will expire on Monday, was up 1.400 cents per pound to 104.450 cents. Most-actively traded December was up 1.200 cents to 105.600 cents. * Wednesday's Fed Cattle Exchange (FCE) trade of slaughter ready, or cash, cattle at $103 to $105 per cwt inspired market bulls expect the same result for the bulk of remaining animals in the U.S. Plains. * Late Wednesday, an isolated $99 per cwt cash bid surfaced in the southern U.S. Plains, with sellers likely asking around $105 based on FCE's transactions, an analyst said. * Also feedyards will balk at selling cattle less than $103 per cwt given current futures prices and highly profitable packer margins, he added. * On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's export sales report for the week ended Oct. 20 showed U.S. beef sales at 8,300 tonnes, mainly to Mexico, compared to the prior week's sale at 16,000 tonnes. FEEDER CATTLE - October, set to expire at noon CDT (1700 GMT), was up 0.150 cent per pound to 122.125 cents. Most-actively traded November was 1.500 cents higher at 125.425 cents. * Technical buying and live cattle market advances boosted CME feeder cattle. LEAN HOGS - December was 1.100 cents per pound higher at 45.300 cents, and February was 1.050 cents higher at 52.175 cents. * CME lean hogs reversed Wednesday's losses, helped by short-covering and buy stops, said traders. * They said the December contract benefited from its deep discount to the exchange's hog index for Oct. 25 at 51.70 cents. * Wednesday's weaker cash and wholesale pork prices at times slowed market advances, said traders and analsyts. * They said that an East Coast hog processor may have only run one shift at one of its plants on Wednesday, and might be closed on Thursday, due to water issues. Story continues * The USDA estimated Wednesday's hog slaughter at 424,000 head, 17,000 less than a week earlier. * Thursday's U.S. government export report showed U.S. pork sales at 29,000 tonnes, mainly to Mexico, compared to 19,400 in the previous week. (Reporting by Theopolis Waters in Chicago) The giant crocodile had triggered panic among local villagers in Bilabalrampur village for the last few days. By Indrajit Kundu: A 12-feet-long mugger crocodile was rescued from a local rivulet in Odisha after a six long rescue operation. The reptile was recovered from the Luna rivulet of the Mahanadi river in Kendrapara by forest officials. The giant reptile had triggered panic among local villagers in Bilabalrampur village for the last few days. Apprehensive about a possible attack by the reptile, villagers had stopped venturing into the river for daily chores. This, after a few villagers first noticed the giant mugger basking in the river sand. advertisement Upon intimidated, officers from the Kendrapara Forest Range along with those from Kanika Forest Range recovered the mugger crocodile from the river water after conducting a six-hour-long rescue operation. Initial probe suggest that that the giant crocodile might have strayed from its natural habitat at Satakosia a few months back during high tide. Forest officers first located the reptile then chased it into a net with bamboo sticks. Following which fish nets were hurled at the mugger where it got entangled and gave in to the struggle. The huge crocodile was then tied to a bamboo stick and then uplifted from the water by locals who had gathered at the river bank to get a glance of a giant reptile. The rescued mugger was later sent to Nandankanan zoo for better protection and to give tourists a view of the rare creature after a decision by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest ( PCCF ) in Odisha . According to forest officials, a highly endangered species, mugger crocodiles are barely sighted in the Mahanadi river system. ALSO READ: Watch: Brave Aussie woman scares away deadly crocodile with flip-flops --- ENDS --- Colgate-Palmolive Co. CL posted in-line earnings in third-quarter 2016, thus maintaining its trend of beating and meeting estimates in alternate quarters for the fifth straight time. However, the top line, which has declined for over a couple of years now, marked its second consecutive miss in the reported quarter. It seems that this caused shares of the company to slip 1.8% in the pre-market trading session. During the third quarter, the company continued to battle macroeconomic headwinds and lingering currency woes. Nevertheless, this consumer goods behemoth witnessed solid gross margin expansion yet again and also reaffirmed its guidance for 2016. Quarterly adjusted earnings of 73 cents a share came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved about 1% year over year. On a currency-neutral basis, adjusted earnings rose by double digits. Including one-time items, the company posted earnings of 78 cents per share, down 2.5% from the year-ago quarter. FindTheCompany | Graphiq Deeper Insight Total sales of $3,867 million declined 3.3% year over year and also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,932 million. The company stated that the benefits of a 3% rise in prices were more than offset by a negative impact of 2.5% from currency fluctuations and a 4% drop in global unit volumes. However, excluding divested business and the effects of the previously announced deconsolidation of its Venezuelan operations, unit volumes rose 1.5%. On an organic basis (excluding foreign exchange, acquisitions, divestitures and the deconsolidated Venezuelan operations), the company recorded sales growth of 4.5%, mainly driven by an 8% sales improvement in emerging markets despite tough economic conditions. Notably, the company witnessed organic sales growth at nearly all its operating divisions. Adjusted gross profit margin was 60.4%, up 160 basis points (bps), backed by benefits of cost-saving initiatives under the companys funding-the-growth and 2012 Restructuring Program, along with better pricing. These were partly offset by increased packaging and material expenses stemming from higher currency translation costs and the effect of deconsolidation of the Venezuelan operations. In the reported quarter, adjusted operating profit of $1,022 million inched up 1%, with the adjusted operating margin improving 110 bps to 26.4% on enhanced gross margin, partly offset by a 70 bps increase in adjusted selling, general & administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues. On a year-to-date basis, Colgates market share of manual toothbrushes reached 33.2%. Further, the companys share in the global toothpaste market continued to grow, reaching 44%. Segment Discussion North America sales (21% of total sales) rose 1% in the reported quarter, driven by a 1.5% improvement in unit volume, offset by a 0.5% fall in pricing. Foreign exchange remained flat year over year. On an organic basis, sales grew 1%. Latin America sales (24% of total sales) slumped 13% year over year as the benefits of a 9% increase in pricing were more than offset by a 16% plunge in unit volumes and negative impact of 6% from foreign exchange. Excluding the deconsolidation of Venezuelan operations impact, unit volumes inched up 1.5%, thanks to gains from Mexico. On an organic basis, sales rose 10.5%. Europe (16% of total sales) sales slipped 1.5% year over year, owing to negative impact of 2.5% from lower pricing and 3% from foreign currency translation, somewhat compensated by a 4% rise in unit volumes. Unit volumes were driven by the strength noted in the U.K. and Germany. Europe organic sales inched up 1.5%. Asia Pacific sales (19% of total sales) dipped 1.5%, attributable to a 2% negative impact from foreign exchange, partly compensated by a 0.5% improvement in pricing. Unit volumes remained flat year over year, while rising 2.5%, excluding divested businesses. Volume growth was primarily attributed to gains in India and the Philippines. On an organic basis, sales rose 3%. Africa/Eurasia sales (6% of total sales) advanced 1.5% year over year, fueled by a 10.5% jump in pricing, partly offset by a negative impact of 7% from foreign currency exchange and a 2% dip in unit volumes. Soft volumes at South Africa could not be compensated by gains in the North Africa/Middle East regions. Organic sales for Africa/Eurasia escalated 8.5%. Hills Pet Nutrition sales (14% of total sales) increased 2.5% year over year. During the quarter, positive impact from a 3.5% increase in pricing and 1% gain from foreign exchange was somewhat offset by a 2% drop in unit volume. Unit volume declines in the U.S., Western Europe and Japan could not be compensated by benefits realized in the rest of Asia, Russia and Latin America. On an organic basis, sales rose 1.5% year over year. Other Financial Details Colgate ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1,298 million, total debt of $6,523 million, and shareholders equity (excluding non controlling interests) of ($133) million. Net cash provided by operating activities came in at $2,317 million for the first three quarters of 2016. COLGATE PALMOLI Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise COLGATE PALMOLI Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | COLGATE PALMOLI Quote Outlook Colgate anticipates macroeconomic and currency headwinds to linger throughout 2016. Hence, it expects net sales for 2016 to decrease in low to mid-single-digits, mainly reflecting the impact of adverse currency movements and the Venezuelan business deconsolidation. Nonetheless, even in the face of these challenges, management expects another year of robust organic sales growth on the back of new products across categories and geographical regions. Excluding the Venezuelan operations from its 2015 and 2016 results, Colgate still envisions 2016 earnings per share to witness double-digit growth (on a currency neutral basis). As of the existing spot rates, management continues to expect gross margin to expand in 2016 and adjusted earnings per share in dollar terms to remain flat with 2015. On a GAAP basis, Colgate anticipates the bottom line to grow in high double-digits in 2016, along with gross margin expansion. Zacks Rank Colgate currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the consumer staples sector include Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. OLLI, with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc. BUFF and Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. SPB, each with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Ollie's Bargain has to its credit a spectacular earnings trend as the company delivered a positive earnings surprise over the past four quarters. Moreover, its long-term EPS growth rate of 20.2% and positive estimate revisions over the past 60 days help it stand strong against the industry. Blue Buffalo, with a long-term EPS growth rate of 16%, has seen positive estimate revisions for 2016, over the past 90 days. The company also flaunts a solid earnings surprise history. Spectrum Brands, with a long-term EPS growth rate of 13.3%, has delivered back-to-back positive earnings surprises in the last two quarters. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SPECTRUM BRANDS (SPB): Free Stock Analysis Report COLGATE PALMOLI (CL): Free Stock Analysis Report OLLIES BGN OUTL (OLLI): Free Stock Analysis Report BLUE BUFFALO (BUFF): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Bogota (AFP) - Colombia's ELN rebels have begun the process of releasing a hostage at the center of a dispute threatening planned peace talks with the government, a top official said Thursday. "We have been informed by the Red Cross that the operation to free (hostage ex-lawmaker Odin Sanchez) has begun," said Juan Camilo Restrepo, the government's chief negotiator for the talks. The negotiations had been due to formally open at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT) until President Juan Manuel Santos suspended them with just hours to go because of the dispute over Sanchez. Restrepo said he believed the hostage handover would be completed by November 3, when the first round of actual negotiations had been scheduled to begin. "The government celebrates this news, and notes this operation, which it hopes will come to a satisfactory conclusion," he said. The International Committee of the Red Cross often facilitates the handover of hostages from Colombian rebel groups after their release has been agreed. It was not immediately clear how long Sanchez's release would take. Santos earlier said the talks could not begin "until (the rebels) release Odin Sanchez safe and sound." The president, who won the Nobel Peace Prize this month, is working on two fronts to end a half-century conflict gripping Colombia. His government is also in talks with a larger rebel group, the FARC. The two sides are racing to save a peace deal that voters rejected in a referendum this month. Colombia's conflict has claimed more than 260,000 lives and left 45,000 missing. Quito (AFP) - Peace talks between Colombia's government and leftist ELN rebels hung in suspense Thursday, hours before their scheduled launch, as leaders complained the insurgents had not released a key hostage. The talks are meant to open a new, decisive front in President Juan Manuel Santos's efforts to end an armed conflict of half a century that has killed more than 260,000 people. Santos, the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, has already signed a peace deal with the larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). But voters rejected it in a referendum on October 2, sending the two sides back to the drawing board. That has complicated the peace process with the country's second-biggest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN) -- a more intransigent negotiating partner. - Hostage dispute - The ELN had promised to free its hostages before the talks open in the Ecuadorian capital Quito -- as the FARC did before starting negotiations in Cuba in 2012. But the ELN bristled last week when the government's chief negotiator issued an ultimatum for it to free former congressman Odin Sanchez. Since then, there has been no news on the fate of the hostage -- or hostages, according to some sources -- still being held by the leftist guerrillas. Sanchez voluntarily went into the ELN's custody in April to take the place of his brother Patrocinio, who had fallen ill after three years in captivity. Sources in the Catholic Church, which has played a part in preliminary negotiations, say the rebels are also holding a doctor named Edgar Torres. - Hours to deadline - The talks were due to open at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT). It is the fifth attempt to make peace with the ELN over the years. Santos said on Twitter late Wednesday that he had not yet signed off on the start of negotiations because Sanchez had not been freed. The ELN's head negotiator Pablo Beltran tweeted in response: "We are fulfilling everything that was agreed." Story continues He said the ELN negotiating team had been in Quito since Wednesday night. "There is still time -- a few hours," said the government's chief negotiator Juan Camilo Restrepo in televised comments on Wednesday night. "We have reasonable confidence because it is the spirit and good faith that encourages the government to start this dialogue." - History of kidnappings - Like the FARC, the ELN formed in 1964 and is blamed for killings and kidnappings during a many-sided civil war. Analyst Camilo Echandia of Colombia's Externado University said the ELN was reluctant to accept the release of hostages as a condition for talks. "That is the big difference between the ELN and the FARC," he told AFP. "These negotiations are going to be very complicated." Frederic Masse, a specialist on armed groups at Colombia's Externado University, said: "What is still lacking in the case of the ELN is trust between the two delegations" to the talks. Incidents involving ELN forces have kept tensions high in recent months. The Colombian army blamed the ELN for a non-fatal explosion at an oil pipeline near the Venezuelan border on Sunday. "The ELN guerrilla group comes strengthened to the negotiations with the government. Over the past three years this group has increased its level of violence," Colombia's Conflict Analysis Resource Center (CERAC) said in a report this month. - Toll of war - Colombian authorities estimate the ELN currently has some 1,500 members. Its activities are restricted mainly to parts of the north and west of the country, according to CERAC. Colombia's territorial and ideological conflict has drawn in various guerrilla and paramilitary groups, drug gangs and state forces over the decades. The conflict has forced nearly seven million people to flee their homes, according to Colombian authorities. Bogota (AFP) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos postponed peace talks with the ELN rebels just hours before they were due to open, insisting they first release an ex-lawmaker being held hostage. Santos said he remained committed to making peace but would not budge from his demand for the ELN to first free former congressman Odin Sanchez "safe and sound." The government's top peace negotiator, Juan Camilo Restrepo, later said an operation was under way for the leftist guerrillas to hand Sanchez over to the Red Cross. But it was not immediately clear how long it would take. Restrepo said he believed the handover would be complete by November 3, when the first round of substantive negotiations had been scheduled to begin. "I reiterate all the government's readiness and willingness to advance with this process," Santos said in a speech. The talks had been due to formally open at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT) in Ecuador. Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo said the government was prepared to reschedule to Friday, Saturday "or whenever we are certain that Odin Sanchez has been freed." The rebels said on Twitter they "do not share" the decision to postpone. Hours after the government suspended talks ELN rebels killed two truck drivers in the country's northeast in a "terrorist act", the military said. "It is simply an act of terrorism against two civilian trucks traveling on the roads of Arauca, which were set on fire and the drivers killed by members of the ELN," Colonel Miguel Angel Rodriguez told AFP, referring to the region where the incident took place. The National Liberation Army (ELN) is the country's second-largest rebel group after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which has been in talks with the government for nearly four years. The ELN talks were meant to open a new, decisive front in Santos's efforts to end an armed conflict that has lasted more than half a century and killed more than 260,000 people. Story continues Santos, who won this year's Nobel Peace Prize, has already signed a peace deal with the FARC, but voters rejected it in a referendum this month -- sending negotiators back to the drawing board. And the ELN talks are shaping up to be even trickier. - Hostage dispute - The ELN had promised to free its hostages before the talks -- as the FARC did before starting negotiations with Bogota in 2012. But it bristled last week when Restrepo gave it an ultimatum to free Sanchez, accusing him of "torpedoing" the talks. Sanchez voluntarily went into ELN custody in April to take the place of his brother Patrocinio, a former governor who had fallen ill after three years in captivity. He is being held in the remote, jungle-covered department of Choco. Sources in the Catholic Church, which has played a part in preliminary negotiations, say the rebels are also holding a doctor named Edgar Torres. - Down to the wire - The talks would be the fifth attempt to make peace with the ELN over the years. The ELN says its negotiating team is already in Quito and ready to begin talks. Their head negotiator, Pablo Beltran, tweeted that they are "fulfilling everything that was agreed." Like the FARC, the ELN formed in 1964 and is blamed for killings and kidnappings during a many-sided civil war. Both groups have relied on ransom kidnappings and drug trafficking to fund themselves. Analyst Camilo Echandia of Colombia's Externado University said the ELN was reluctant to accept the release of hostages as a condition for talks. "That is the big difference between the ELN and the FARC," he told AFP. "These negotiations are going to be very complicated." - Ongoing violence - Incidents involving ELN forces have kept tensions high in recent months. The Colombian army blamed the ELN for a non-fatal explosion at an oil pipeline near the Venezuelan border on Sunday. Colombian authorities estimate the ELN currently has some 1,500 members, active mainly in the north and west of the country. Colombia's territorial and ideological conflict has drawn in various guerrilla and paramilitary groups, drug gangs and state forces over the decades. The conflict has forced nearly seven million people to flee their homes, according to authorities. KINSHASA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Congo's mines minister said on Thursday that the government "salutes and supports" China Molybdenum Co's bid to buy Freeport McMoRan's majority stake in the giant Tenke copper project despite objections from state miner Gecamines. The statement by Martin Kabwelulu appeared to be an effort to smooth passage of the transaction after Gecamines said last week that it had challenged the deal at the International Court of Arbitration in Paris to assert a right of first offer. However, Kabwelulu's statement cautioned that the $2.65 billion deal for Freeport's 56 percent stake, agreed to in May, must respect the rights of Gecamines, which holds a 20 percent stake in Tenke, one of the world's largest copper mines. "The Government is favourable to the conclusion of the sale ... but in respect of the rights of Gecamines, in order to permit the country to construct a long-term, win-win partnership with this Chinese company," Kabwelulu said. Gecamines, Freeport and China Molybdenum could not immediately be reached for comment. Toronto-based Lundin Mining, which owns the remaining 24 percent of the mine, has until Nov. 15 to exercise its right of first offer, after which Freeport says the sale to China Molybdenum will go through. Gecamines said last month it had submitted an offer to buy Freeport's stake without revealing any details. Freeport denies that Gecamines has a right of first offer. Democratic Republic of Congo, which mined nearly 1 million tonnes of copper last year, is Africa's top producer of the metal and also extracts significant quantities of gold, diamonds, cobalt and tin. (Reporting By Aaron Ross, editing by David Evans) (Adds Gecamines response) KINSHASA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's mines minister said on Thursday that the government "salutes and supports" China Molybdenum Co's bid to buy Freeport McMoRan's majority stake in the giant Tenke copper project despite objections from state miner Gecamines. The statement by Martin Kabwelulu appeared to be an effort to smooth passage of the transaction after Gecamines said last week that it had challenged the deal at the International Court of Arbitration in Paris to assert a right of first offer. However, Kabwelulu's statement cautioned that the $2.65 billion deal for Freeport's 56 percent stake, agreed to in May, must respect the rights of Gecamines, which holds a 20 percent stake in Tenke, one of the world's largest copper mines. "The Government is favourable to the conclusion of the sale ... but in respect of the rights of Gecamines, in order to permit the country to construct a long-term, win-win partnership with this Chinese company," Kabwelulu said. Freeport and China Moly could not be reached for comment. Gecamines' interim director general, Jacques Kamenga, told Reuters he welcomed Kabwelulu's demand that the company's rights be respected. Gecamines says it has a right to pre-empt the sale to China Moly, a claim Freeport rejects. Toronto-based Lundin Mining, which owns the remaining 24 percent of the mine, has until Nov. 15 to exercise its right of first offer, after which Freeport says the sale to China Moly will go through. "It goes without saying that if China Moly, Freeport and Lundin ask Gecamines to give up its right of pre-emption and approve the transaction, appropriate commercial discussions among all the concerned parties must take place," Kamenga said. Gecamines said last month it had submitted an offer to buy Freeport's stake without revealing any details. Democratic Republic of Congo, which mined nearly 1 million tonnes of copper last year, is Africa's top producer of the metal and also extracts significant quantities of gold, diamonds, cobalt and tin. (Reporting By Aaron Ross, editing by David Evans and Cynthia Osterman) KINSHASA (Reuters) - Congo's mines minister said on Thursday that the government "salutes and supports" China Molybdenum Co's bid to buy Freeport McMoRan's majority stake in the giant Tenke copper project despite objections from state miner Gecamines. The statement by Martin Kabwelulu appeared to be an effort to smooth passage of the transaction after Gecamines said last week that it had challenged the deal at the International Court of Arbitration in Paris to assert a right of first offer. However, Kabwelulu's statement cautioned that the $2.65 billion deal for Freeport's 56 percent stake, agreed to in May, must respect the rights of Gecamines, which holds a 20 percent stake in Tenke, one of the world's largest copper mines. "The Government is favourable to the conclusion of the sale ... but in respect of the rights of Gecamines, in order to permit the country to construct a long-term, win-win partnership with this Chinese company," Kabwelulu said. Gecamines, Freeport and China Molybdenum could not immediately be reached for comment. Toronto-based Lundin Mining, which owns the remaining 24 percent of the mine, has until Nov. 15 to exercise its right of first offer, after which Freeport says the sale to China Molybdenum will go through. Gecamines said last month it had submitted an offer to buy Freeport's stake without revealing any details. Freeport denies that Gecamines has a right of first offer. Democratic Republic of Congo, which mined nearly 1 million tonnes of copper last year, is Africa's top producer of the metal and also extracts significant quantities of gold, diamonds, cobalt and tin. (Reporting By Aaron Ross, editing by David Evans) The third-quarter 2016 earnings season or the quarter ended Sep 30, 2016, is well underway. The quarter seems to have had a reasonably good start with comparatively more positive surprises than in the past few quarters. Further, fewer negative estimate revisions for the third quarter makes the investor community optimistic about breaking the negative earnings trend witnessed since first-quarter 2015. Per the latest Earnings Trends report (as of Oct 26, 2016), 198 S&P 500 members that collectively account for 48.9% of the indexs total market capitalization reported earnings results. Total earnings for these index members rose 3.2% while revenues increased 1.9%, with 73.7% beating EPS estimates and 61.1% beating revenue estimates. The percentage of companies that have been able to beat both EPS and revenue estimates is tracking 51.5% at this stage. This clearly reveals an improvement from the previous quarters and remains on track to produce the best growth in six quarters. Looking at the third quarter as a whole and putting together the actual results of 198 index members with estimates for the upcoming 302 companies, total S&P 500 earnings are expected to be up 1.4% driven by 1.4% higher revenues. Notably, the projected earnings growth rate marks a substantial improvement from the 1% decline anticipated last week. That said, we quickly jump on to the consumer related sectors namely Consumer Staples and Consumer Discretionary. The Consumer Staples and Consumer Discretionary sectors have respectively seen 34.4% and 31.4% of its S&P 500 members report their third-quarter results. Of this, the Consumer Staples sector has an earnings beat ratio of 81.8% and the Consumer Discretionary sector has a 63.6% earnings beat ratio. The third-quarter forecasts show that earnings for the Consumer Discretionary sector will inch up 0.2%, whereas revenues will surge 11.7%. On the other hand, the Consumer Staples sector is expected to witness a 4.9% rise in earnings along with a 1.1% improvement in revenues. Of the earnings yet to be reported, we will here focus on three consumer stocks which are expected to report third-quarter 2016 results on Oct 28. To start with Newell Brands Inc. NWL, we are unsure whether this global manufacturer and marketer of consumer and commercial products will be able to post a positive earnings surprise in the quarter to be reported. The companys past performance reveals that it has outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in 25 out of the past 27 quarters, with an average beat of 4.9% over the trailing four quarters. Newells superb earnings history reflects the splendid performance of its brand, constant focus on growth initiatives and solid progress on its Project Renewal program, which have been largely benefiting the company by generating consistent cost savings. Additionally, given its impressive business trends and Jardens acquisition, Newell remains confident of achieving its sales and earnings targets for 2016, as is reflected by its outlook. However, Newells significant global presence exposes it to foreign currency headwinds. Thus, the prevalence of these challenges may dent the companys results. The company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. However, our criteria of earnings beat has been let down by an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. Please check our Earnings ESP Filter that enables you to find stocks that are expected to come out with earnings surprises. (Read more: Can Newell's Q3 Earnings Maintain its Robust Streak?) Story continues NEWELL BRANDS Price and EPS Surprise NEWELL BRANDS Price and EPS Surprise | NEWELL BRANDS Quote Next, the earnings picture for The Hershey Company HSY the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America as well as a global leader in chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery looks vague. Though the chocolate maker has a positive earnings surprise history with an average beat of 5.3% in the trailing four quarters, the companys sales trends have been weak since 2014. Weak category trends, increased competition from broader snacking category and soft international growth have been the main culprits for the dismal top line. Moreover, the company lowered its sales and earnings expectations for 2016 twice this year due to weak growth at the CMG category in North America and persistent macroeconomic challenges in China. However, management anticipates sales trends to improve in the second half driven by innovation and larger in-store merchandising and trade support. The companys Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) when combined with an Earnings ESP of 0.85%, calls for likely negative beat in the upcoming quarter. Its Most Accurate estimate is $1.17, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate stands higher at $1.18. (Read more: Will Hershey Earnings Disappoint Investors in Q3?) HERSHEY CO/THE Price and EPS Surprise HERSHEY CO/THE Price and EPS Surprise | HERSHEY CO/THE Quote Also in the queue is Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL, a Miami-based cruise company and the owner of popular brands like Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The companys earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 23.09%. The company remains positioned to profit from its strong booking trends, technological innovation, capacity growth and various profit-generating initiatives. Further, overall demand for cruising in North America is expected to be solid, and the Caribbean, Alaska and Bermuda itineraries are all poised to have a strong quarter and produce yield improvements. However, with about 50% of its revenues coming from foreign customers outside the U.S., the prevailing currency headwinds are expected to bear a significant impact on the companys results. Moreover, uncertainty in economies like Europe and China is likely to limit revenue growth. Further, higher marketing and promotional spend along with increased cruise costs is likely to hurt the quarters margins. The company carries a Zacks Rank #4, which when combined with an ESP of 0.00% makes surprise prediction difficult. (Read more: Will Royal Caribbean Q3 Earnings Let Down Investors?) ROYAL CARIBBEAN Price and EPS Surprise ROYAL CARIBBEAN Price and EPS Surprise | ROYAL CARIBBEAN Quote Where Do Zacks' Investment Ideas Come From? You are welcome to download the full, up-to-the-minute list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 ""Strong Buy"" stocks free of charge. There is no better place to start your own stock search. Plus you can access the full list of must-avoid Zacks Rank #5 ""Strong Sells"" and other private research. See the stocks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NEWELL BRANDS (NWL): Free Stock Analysis Report HERSHEY CO/THE (HSY): Free Stock Analysis Report ROYAL CARIBBEAN (RCL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research After the Centre decided to bypass the state for transferring NREGA funds, Mamata Banerjee held an emergency meeting to explore options of revenue earning. By Romita Datta: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has chosen to be on a war path with the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, especially over the finance ministry's decision to keep the purse string of centrally sponsored schemes tight. The finance ministry has recently decided to transfer the wages for 100 working days directly to the beneficiary's account, bypassing the state finance department. Earlier, the state finance department had the sole power of disbursal and distribution of wages to the beneficiaries, after the Centre released the funds on account of the NREGA. advertisement Over the last two years, complaints were being raised over irregular payment of wages. While the state blamed the Centre for withholding funds of the NREGA, the Centre alleged that the fund was being diverted by the state for some other activity. Also read: JW Marriot opens hotel in Kolkata; CM Mamata hails boost in investments in Bengal Between charges and counter charges, the dues accumulated to several thousand crores. EXPLORE OPTIONS After this decision of the Centre, Banerjee convened an emergency meeting with her ministers and asked them to explore possibilities of revenue earning. The departments were asked to submit details of assets, i.e. land, they have in possession and how they can be turned into performing assets. Unutilised land can be sold out to generate funds for the cash-crunched government. The departmental secretaries have been asked to be austere and judicious in asking for funds for projects. Meanwhile, the chief minister will continue with her political battle with the Centre. She would also write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a mark of protest, against the Centre's unilateral decision. Also read: Cyclone Kyant unlikely to make landfall, heavy rains likely in Odisha, Andhra A few months ago, the chief minister had also objected to the Centre's move of deputing central officers for monitoring the state treasuries. --- ENDS --- LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - British retail sales rebounded in October to grow at their fastest rate in over a year, after an end to unseasonably warm weather boosted demand for autumn clothing, an industry survey showed on Thursday. The Confederation of British Industry's retail sales balance surged to +21 from September's reading of -8, far outstripping economists' forecasts of a pick-up to -2. The expected sales balance for November also rose sharply to +21 from +7, a level last seen in December, and orders placed with suppliers were the strongest since March, though they are expected to dip in November. September had brought warmer than usual weather, denting demand for new season clothes, but early October saw a return to more normal seasonal trends, the CBI said. "With our Indian Summer now a distant memory, shoppers have been pounding the high street, with sales of clothing and other retailers outpacing expectations," CBI chief economist Rain Newton-Smith said. The figures follow official GDP data earlier on Thursday which showed the economy as a whole grew 0.5 percent in the three months to September, in contrast to forecasts for a steep slowdown after Britain voted to leave the European Union. But the CBI warned that the slide in the pound since Britain voted to leave the EU was likely to push up prices next year, hurting sales. "Household spending still has some momentum in the short-term, but we do expect the fall in the value of the pound to push up prices through the course of next year, hitting people's purchasing power," Newton-Smith said. Official data last week showed British retail sales recorded their strongest quarter of growth since late 2014 in the three months to September, but warm weather and higher prices dented demand for new clothing towards the end of the period. ((Reporting by David Milliken)) Lyle Denniston, Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent, looks at a legal challenge at the Supreme Court about a 1990s law that determines how copyright-protected music is used on YouTube and other Internet websites. Prince performs in 2008. Wikicommons: penner Throughout the history of the Constitution, America has been carrying on a kind of a thought experiment. It goes like this: if creative forms of writing and speaking are monopolized by their creator, does that stifle the ability of others to add to, or modify, that expression in their own way? Constitutionally speaking, does copyright protection run counter to First Amendment rights? The Supreme Court is now being asked to step right into the middle of this cultural controversy in a Digital Age setting. It arises in the mundane context of a mother who posted on YouTube a 29-second home video of her little boy bouncing rhythmically to a celebrated and copyright-protected song by the late performing artist, Prince. The song is titled Lets Go Crazy. The video has been viewed more than a million times. The legal controversy that is now known popularly as the dancing baby case has reached the Supreme Court in dueling appeals by that Pennsylvania mother, Stephanie Lenz, and the giant music publishing entity, Universal Music Corp., which is the guardian of copyright of Princes music. From the robust debate in the legal papers already filed in the case, it is clear that this has the potential to turn into a controversy that will go well beyond the facts of this particular episode. The Justices are scheduled to consider those appeals this week at least to decide whether to hear them. Both sides are pressing their view that the issues are of major importance both to holders of copyrights and to people who post billions of items to the websites of Internet platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, among many others. At the center of the case is a 1998 law the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that Congress passed in an attempt to strike a balance between the intellectual property rights of copyright holders and the free-speech rights of Internet users (and, in the balance, to create a zone of legal safety for Internet sites that host material composed and posted by others). Story continues The mechanisms that the Act created are called the take-down and put-back procedures. The first gives holders of copyrights the option to demand that a site remove or disable access to a posted item that the holders believe infringes their property rights. The latter entitles the person who did the post to a notice of the take-down and the option to demand that it be put back up on the site, arguing that it does not violate copyright. If the service provider quickly takes down and puts back up the post in response to such demands, it is itself protected from a claim that it contributed to copyright violation. Copyright holders, in sending a take-down notice, must declare a good faith belief that the posted item did violate copyright, and the composers of the posts must declare, in sending a put-back demand, their own belief that the post did not infringe on copyright. If either side has been found to have misrepresented the required declaration, that violates the law. Penalties can be money damages and a duty to pay the other sides attorneys fees and costs. As the dancing baby case reached the Supreme Court, the two sides approach it from very different perspectives. The lawyers for Stephanie Lenz are arguing that a federal appeals court made it much easier for Universal Music and other copyright holders to censor expression on the Internet by claiming that copyright has been violated, when they have not really examined closely whether the posted item may have been put up legally as for example a form of fair use of the copyrighted item. The appeals court, that filing complains, only required a simple statement of belief without evidence to support it. Universal Musics lawyers are arguing that Lenz should never have been allowed to pursue her lawsuit claiming that Universal violated the 1998 law, because she cannot show that she actually suffered any injury personally. It should not be enough, that appeal contends, that the law was violated. That, it asserts, is insufficient to show standing to sue under the Constitutions Article III. The appeals court that spared Universal Music some of the burden of proving its belief that there was a copyright violation, also ruled that, even though the only harm to Lenz was that she was the victim of a violation of the law, that could be enough to justify at least a modest damage award perhaps as little as $1 as a demonstration of illegality. On Lenzs side of the case, major corporations that operate popular platforms that host content posted by others are arguing that there is rampant abuse of the take-down process under the 1998 law, and the result is to smother the free-speech potential of the digital medium. They join Lenz in arguing that the appeals court decision at issue has virtually destroyed the legal concept that a fair use of copyrighted material is not illegal. Universal Music has the fervent support of a powerful lobbying group for the music industry, the trade association Recording Industry of America. Over the years, it has made a reputation as a most energetic defender of the rights of composers and as a fervent foe of easy modes of downloading music by digital consumers. The groups lawyers are urging the court to block lawsuits like the one Lenz has filed, and among its arguments is that there are billions of downloads of copyrighted music via the Internet. Their legal brief adds that new systems are always evolving, often armed with ingenious technologies to thwart copyright enforcement. How the Justices will react to the two new appeals is uncertain. There does not appear to be a split among lower courts on what a copyright holder must do to prove it fears that an Internet post infringes on a copyright, so the Justices may want to let that percolate in the lower courts for some period of time before getting directly involved. The issue that Universal Music is raising how to satisfy the right to sue under Article III is, however, a frequent one before the Justices, and there is a precedent on that point (one that limits the concept of standing) that is only a few months old. The Justices initial reaction may be known within a few days. Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011. Denniston has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily On This Day: The Federalist Papers are published What happens when there is a tie in the Electoral College? 10 little-known facts about President Theodore Roosevelt By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A New York state appeals court on Thursday cleared the way for billionaire investor Carl Icahn to pursue an unusual malpractice lawsuit against the powerful law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz over his 2012 hostile takeover of CVR Energy Inc. The 5-0 decision by the Appellate Division in Manhattan frees CVR to contest whether Wachtell should have revealed how Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Deutsche Bank AG, which were helping it defend against Icahn's tender offer, stood to earn far higher fees if the takeover bid actually succeeded. In effect, CVR, and thus Icahn, claimed to have overpaid for the process that left the activist investor with a now 82 percent stake in the Sugar Land, Texas-based petroleum refiner and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturer. The tender offer had valued CVR at about $2.6 billion at the time. Icahn is now worth $15.6 billion, Forbes magazine said. Wachtell did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In dismissing the malpractice claim, Justice O. Peter Sherwood of the state supreme court in Manhattan affirmed in February 2015 that CVR was contractually bound to pay the banks more than $36 million because it failed to object fast enough. U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan in Manhattan dismissed a similar federal case in March of this year, saying he was bound by Sherwood's ruling on the case's merits. But the appeals court said Sherwood's ruling did not bar CVR from pursuing a malpractice claim for "conduct that allegedly caused and/or contributed" to CVR's acceptance of the contracts, and its inability to extricate itself from them. Herbert Beigel, a lawyer for CVR and Icahn, said Thursday's decision means Sullivan is no longer bound by Sherwood's ruling. "CVR is gratified by the court's decision," Beigel said in a phone interview. "We expect our federal case on the malpractice claim to proceed." Goldman and Deutsche Bank had separately sued CVR to recoup unpaid fees. That litigation was settled last October. The case is Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz et al vs CVR Energy Inc et al, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 1st Department, No. 654343/2013. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) By Rania El Gamal DUBAI (Reuters) - Tough negotiations await a group of OPEC experts as they meet their counterparts from other oil producers such as Russia on Oct. 28-29 to hammer out details of an output-capping agreement, with disagreements threatening to scupper the deal. OPEC agreed in Algeria last month on a modest oil-production cut in the first such pact since 2008, with the group's top producer Saudi Arabia softening its stance on arch-rival Iran amid mounting pressure from low oil prices. But cracks have surfaced in the Algiers agreement, which would reduce output to a range of 32.5-33 million barrels per day (bpd), and Saudi Arabia may have to offer a major concession if it wants to cement the accord. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf OPEC allies are already willing to cut 4 percent from their peak oil output, energy ministers from the Gulf countries told their Russian counterpart this week, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Iraq, OPEC's No. 2 producer, said this week that it would not cut output and should be exempted from any curbs as it needs funds to fight Islamic State. Baghdad's stance is likely to face opposition from Riyadh and its Gulf allies, OPEC sources said. "I expect it to be a very tough meeting," one OPEC source said of the expert talks in Vienna. "If there is a cut, then everyone must cut. No exemptions," the source said, commenting on Iraq's demands. There is a general understanding that only Libya, Nigeria and Iran should be exempt as their output had been hit by wars and sanctions, three OPEC sources said. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries estimates its output at 33.39 million bpd, meaning it needs to cut about 400,000 to 900,000 bpd to meet its target. OPEC has yet to agree at which level Iran would freeze production, with Tehran having emerged from years of sanctions and aiming to regain market share. Iran has said it is producing 3.85 million bpd, close to its pre-sanctions output of 4 million bpd. A source familiar with Iranian thinking said Tehran was unlikely to match its pre-sanctions output this year. "We are not going to harm the market by drastically increasing production ... We have done much of the work, there is 200,000 to go and that will take a year," the source said. SAUDIS "DESPERATE" FOR A DEAL An attempt to bring non-OPEC Russia, the world's top oil producer, into a cut deal was rebuffed by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Riyadh on Sunday during a closed-door meeting with Gulf energy ministers, the sources said. "The Russian minister told the ... ministers that Russia will not cut production. He said they have been talking about a freeze, not a cut," said a source who was briefed on the talks. Another source confirmed that the message from Moscow was that Russia is not ready to cut and can only freeze output at current levels of 11.11 million bpd, a record high. That would require a bigger Saudi concession and deeper cuts by the kingdom to stabilize an oversupplied market and prop up prices that stand well below the budget needs of most producers. Most analysts say Saudi production will fall in winter anyway as the summer heat eases, reducing the need for cooling. State oil giant Saudi Aramco also plans to shut two refineries towards the end of this year for maintenance, which could mean reducing crude output by as much as 700,000 bpd. The 4 percent cut offer by the Gulf OPEC bloc is likely to be made at this week's meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC experts in Vienna, the sources said. Riyadh's highest output was reached in July at 10.582 million bpd, according to OPEC secondary sources. But such a reduction may prove insufficient if Iraq insists on being exempted, and as Iran has said it is pumping 3.85 million bpd - about 185,000 bpd higher than estimates of the country's September production by OPEC secondary sources. Riyadh has historically shouldered the lion's share of OPEC cuts. But if it took the same route this time, it could lose oil revenue if prices failed to rise while others increased production. The Saudis could also lose market share. "They (the Saudis) are desperate for a deal," an OPEC source said. Riyadh faces a second year of record budget deficits and is cutting the salaries of government employees, so keeping its output at current levels of 10.6-10.7 million bpd may not be economical. Industry sources say Aramco cannot sustain such high output for long, as it sees 10.1-10.2 million bpd as a more comfortable level also for its oilfields and reservoir management. "It's a question of how do they want to spend the limited budget that they do have," an OPEC watcher said. "They have tough choices. Clearly as Saudi production goes up, their costs go up too." THORNY ISSUES The OPEC experts, including governors, national representatives and other technical officials, will this week discuss production allocations for every member country. A major issue set to be raised by several countries is production estimates by secondary sources. Saudi Arabia insists on using secondary sources when discussing production curbs and later monitoring compliance. This is likely to be opposed by some members, OPEC sources said. For example, Iraq told OPEC its production in September was 4.775 million bpd, while secondary sources put the figure at 4.455 million bpd. Venezuela is also dissatisfied with secondary-source estimations, the country's oil minister Eulogio Del Pino said this month. "I think it is going to be very difficult for us and OPEC to reach a fair deal," said another OPEC source from a key Middle East oil producer. (Reporting by Rania El Gamal; Editing by Dale Hudson) There have been three episodes of the Trump campaign's live talk show presented on Facebook so far, and if they're indeed meant as a test run for a future "Trump TV," CNN and Fox News shouldn't be losing any sleep. Boasting production values that make Wayne's World seem state-of-the-art and all but begging for an appearance by a crochet-bikini-clad Robin Byrd to provide some class, Trump Tower Live is DOA. The show is supposed to come out nightly at 6:30 p.m. until the election, opposite the network TV broadcasts - again, Lester Holt and Scott Pelley needn't be worried - but that schedule lasted just one night. The second and third episodes each began roughly 45 minutes late, delayed by live coverage of Trump rallies. The broadcast's not-ready-for-primetime anchors are Trump campaign advisors Boris Epshteyn, displaying the smooth charm of a Depression-era gangster, and Cliff Sims, founder of something called Yellowhammer News. They host the show while standing behind an array of Apple laptop computers in what they keep referring to as the campaign's "war room" (a term which, to borrow one of Trump's favorite lines, would have George Patton and Douglas MacArthur "spinning in their graves"). A news-style ticker-tape ribbon appears at the bottom of the screen, featuring laudatory headlines about Trump that, in their sheer silliness, would make The Onion proud. Read more: CNN's Ana Navarro on Trump, the "Jerk Host of 'The Apprentice'" The broadcast's professed goal is to communicate directly with the voters and, in Epshteyn's words, "bypass the left-wing media, which screws everything." This essentially means that Trump supporters can say whatever the hell they want without being confronted with - what do you call them? - facts. At one point Epshteyn glowingly referenced Trump's recent "Gettysburg Address," which should have Abraham Lincoln's descendants suing for copyright infringement. Story continues The first guest was Kellyanne Conway, who is clearly going to need a very long vacation when all this is over. No matter what you think of the indefatigable campaign manager, you have to admit that she's very good at her job; she could spin a concentration camp as being "affordable housing." The segment ended with a break - yes, there are commercials, albeit all of them Trump's - followed by Epshteyn and Sims kibitzing some more. Standing in the background was Conway, who turned around, realized to her dismay that she was still on camera, and darted out of the frame like a deer on a country road. Conway was followed by Tomi Lahren, the 24-year-old host of an eponymous show on The Blaze, who makes Reese Witherspoon's Legally Blonde character look deep by comparison. Rallying her fellow "deplorables" - she meant the term ironically, but hey, if the shoe fits - she railed about Hillary's campaign sending people dressed as ducks to Trump rallies. She also described the Trump family as "valiant warriors," which is only true if you're talking about their brave efforts to rid the world of dangerous elephants. RNC communication director Sean Spicer enthused about Trump's momentum in the polls and made the claim that the candidate's "ground game is so much better" than Clinton's. It was a bold statement about a campaign sinking so rapidly that a band should be playing "Nearer, My God to Thee" while deck chairs are rearranged. Campaign worker Campbell Burr joined the hosts on the second night, apparently filling the quota for at least one perky young blonde per episode. The first guest was "America's Mayor," Rudy Giuliani, thankfully not wearing the glasses that make him look like an evil Dickens character. Read more: John Oliver Offers Donald Trump His Emmy If Trump Accepts Election Loss "We're basically electing a criminal," Rudy railed. "Hillary Clinton seems to like terrorists," he thundered, which seems to be the only way he talks these days. "They began as small-time Arkansas grifters," he said about Hillary and Bill, sounding like the narrator of a History Channel documentary about Bonnie and Clyde. He was followed by former New York Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey, who Epshteyn grandiosely addressed as "Doctor" (she has a Ph.D. in history). To provide a little background, McCaughey is such a repellant figure that George Pataki dropped her from the ticket when he ran for reelection. Demonstrating true political conviction, she sought the Democratic nomination before unsuccessfully running against him as the Liberal Party's nominee. She later sued her wealthy ex-husband for $40 million, claiming that he reneged on his promise to fund her campaign. McCaughey spent her segment railing against the failings of the Affordable Care Act, followed by the hosts asking their Twitter followers to define Obamacare in three words. "Unaffordable," McCaughey shouted, apparently not getting the rules. "That's three syllables," chided Sims, clearly not the brightest bulb in this show's chandelier. The third episode's special guest was Trump campaign advisor Peter Navarro, whom Epshteyn introduced as a "world-renowned economist," presumably for having written such scholarly tomes as If It's Raining in Brazil, Buy Starbucks. (If I keep quoting Epshteyn, it's because he barely lets the hapless Sims get a word in edgewise). Navarro talked about how illegal immigration is particularly hurting job chances for blacks and Hispanics, an argument presumably designed to propel Trump's poll standing with minorities into at least the high single digits. Tiresomely preaching to the choir, Trump Tower Live makes your typical public access show seem glamorous by comparison. The show attracted some 60,000 live viewers for its first episode, according to The New York Times (not that you can believe that lefty rag). It promptly dropped to 23,000 viewers the following night. At this rate, it'll be hitting negative numbers well before Election Day. West Texas Intermediate crude oil is higher by 1.08% at $49.64 per barrel as of 9:25 a.m. ET following more reports crossing the wires about a potential production freeze or even a cut. Reuters reports sources familiar with the said that Saudi Arabia and its Gulf OPEC allies are considering cutting their production by 4%. However, its seems like not everyone is on board with that. A separate headline from Reuters indicated Russia would freeze production at current levels, but not reduce output. OPEC meets on November 30 in Vienna, Austria. Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, is up 1.43% at $50.61 per barrel. Crude oil NOW WATCH: LIZ ANN SONDERS: The most unsettling outcome for the markets would be a surprise Trump win More From Business Insider World Wide Fund for Nature Living Plant Report of this year says the world may face the sixth extinction by 2020, and lose two-third of its wildlife population. By India Today Web Desk: Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, like many other environmentalists, has been urging world leaders to take climate change seriously. Referring to the Republican party nominee for US Presidential elections, Donald Trump, DiCaprio even said, "if you don't believe in climate change, you don't believe in facts, and science, and empirical truths and in my humble opinion, you should not be allowed to hold public office." advertisement DO WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, YET? Doesn't look like it. A World Wildlife Fund Living Plant Report said that world may lose 68 per cent of its wildlife by 2020, and if it happens, it could be considered as the beginning of sixth mass extinction. First extinction was of reptiles, mammals twice and dinosaurs twice. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? The report holds us, human beings responsible for the possible upcoming tragedy. Human induced climate change is the main cause of declining wildlife population. 58 per cent of the global population of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles has already been lost between 1970 and 2012. Talking about India, the report says that about 41 percent mammals, 46 per cent reptiles, 57 per cent amphibians and 70 per cent freshwater fishes are "threatened with extinction". This is despite India holding fifth rank when it comes to bio-capacity i.e the ability of an ecosystem capable of producing resources like food, fiber and absorbing carbon dioxide. What forces human beings to over-exploit wildlife population and destroy habitats?Population! Human population on Earth has increased from 1.6 billion people in 1900 to 7.3 billion. Food production to meet the rising demands of our population is the primary reason for the destruction of habitats, says the report.ANTHROPROCENE The researches are calling this era Anthroprocene -- the time period during which the climate changes, oceans acidify, and the entire flora, fona community disappears -- during a single human lifetime, says an IANS report. Studies predict that by 2050, there will be more polythene in the ocean than fish. "This is not just about the wonderful species we all love. Biodiversity forms the foundation of healthy forests, rivers and oceans. Take away the species and these ecosystems will collapse along with the clean air, water, food and climate services that they provide us," said Dr Marco Lambertini, International Director General, WWF. "Not only wild plants and animals are at risk, people are victims of the deteriorating nature. Patterns suggest that without action during the Anthropocene the earth will become much less hospitable to our modern globalized society," the report says. Brace yourselves, folks. We might live to see the sixth extinction and its adverse effects. --- ENDS --- advertisement This month, in a piece called Among the Post-Liberals, The New York Times's Ross Douthat offered an exposition on how on how the new radicals, new reactionaries, and religious dissenters within the West are engaged in trenchant critiques of the Western, liberal, democratic, capitalist order, though none of these groups have developed a unified theory of what ails this system or of what should come next. Of Douthats 808 words, it was the following passage that really grabbed me: It [the Western system] delivered peace and order and prosperity, but it attenuated pre-liberal forcestribal, familial, religiousthat speak more deeply than consumer capitalism to basic human needs: the craving for honor, the yearning for community, the desire for metaphysical hope. In explaining the weakness of the liberal West, Douthat was explicatingin an unintended way, of coursean important underlying reason why analysts and governments consistently fail to understand the Middle East. Recommended: Why Thousands of Women in Iceland Left Work Two Hours Early This Week For some time, observers have struggled with how to incorporate culture into their analyses of the region. There are good reasons for this, not least of which is the difficulty of defining culture in a rigorous and analytically useful way, as well as the slippery slope of sweeping generalizations based on cultural observations. Think of all the arguments about the so-called Sunni-Shia divide, the alleged millennia of conflict between these two Islamic sects that purportedly shape politics in the Middle East today, or the clash of civilizations that Samuel Huntington first wrote about in Foreign Affairs in 1993. At first glance, these are appealing arguments, but they wither quickly under close examination. Add to these important reasons the fear of being labeled an Orientalistan epithet in contemporary Middle East studies that can carry professional consequencesand you can understand why scholars have avoided examining culture as a possible explanation for what ails the Arab polities. This is a mistake. It strikes me that it is worth asking if the dynamic interaction between Western cultural preconceptions of the region and Middle Eastern predispositions is a reasonable explanation for Washingtons failures in the Arab world. Story continues More From Our Partners Council on Foreign Relations It is hard to take arguments about culture seriously whey they are presented in their most extreme form because they often boil down to the noxious, self-serving claims of Islamophobes and Islamists alike. Both camps are engaged in a mostly discursive, but sometimes violent, struggle for superiority, borne out of mutual fears concerning civilizational destruction. This is where conspiratorial books about the coming of Eurabia and half-baked accounts about the United States and a dubious policy of creative destruction come from. Yet it is possible that many scholars have gone too far in their collective aversion to studying culture. It seems worthwhile, at least, when thinking about U.S. policy in the Middle East, to understand the way in which Western ideaswhich many in the West believe to be universalinteract with the principles, ideals, and mythologies that make Middle Eastern societies tick. In anticipation of the critiques that I know are coming, let me first emphasize that there are, of course, many people in the Middle East who embrace their local identities and who are steeped in their indigenous cultural milieu, and also desire to live in more liberal societies. Second, I am well aware of the dangers of cultural relativity. The Egyptian government has already employed this tactic in its efforts to deflect criticism of its appalling human rights record. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has, for example, argued that human rights is a Western concept that does not necessarily apply in other cultural settings. Recommended: Milk Chocolate Is Better Than Dark, the End So how should we think about culture and U.S.-Middle East policy? Recently, Tunisia has experienced protests among students and others who are angry over their limited job prospects in an economy that is struggling. Tunisians are demanding jobs and the renewal of a social safety net that has eroded over time. This takes place at a moment when international financial institutions, the United States, and the European Union, are counseling the Tunisians to undertake reforms. But they are facing resistance. There is nothing culturally specific about Tunisiaa country that has, among other things, North African, Arab, Berber, and Muslim influencesthat has brought people out in front of the Ministry of Employment. There have been similar kinds of protests in the Greek capital, Athens, in response to austerity measures. And yet, I detect a cultural aspect to the problem, though culture of a different sort than what people often associate with the Middle East. Instead, it seems reflective of the cultural artifact of a big, authoritarian state that Arabs regarded as their salvation after long periods of colonial domination and European penetration. The existence of this kind of state has, over many years, embedded ideas about its role in peoples lives. Is it possible that the effort of authoritarians to establish political control over their societies through incentives like jobs, education, and generous subsidies, created a culture of expectations and ideas about the social and economic responsibilities of the state? The big Arab state may be a thing of the past, but it seems that after decades of the socialization and assimilation of its functions, citizens remain predisposed toward the dependencies that Arab leaders such as Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Houari Boumediene of Algeria, Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia, and others, created in the mid-twentieth century. It is not just in the regions republics where there may be a cultural challenge to reform. Saudi Arabias much-discussed Vision 2030 program promises to alter the relationship between Saudi citizens (including the elite) and a system that has provided generously for them. I am willing to allow that there are straight-forward explanations based on political economy that can account for the resistance to the type of change technocrats believe to be necessary. But again, I wonder if analysts are missing something when they avoid thinking about culture, specifically a political culture cultivated by the state. Are analysts missing something when they avoid thinking about a political culture cultivated by the state? My only point insofar as U.S. foreign policy is concerned is that our collective anxiety about dealing with anything associated with culture as well as our ingrained sense that liberal ideals are right and good and applicable anywhere perhaps blinds American officials to the political needs and, yes, cultural concerns of their interlocutors. Maybe Egyptians, for example, have not been able to carry out economic reforms hatched in Washington effectively because those reforms undermine a sense of communal solidarity and a large, patriarchal Arab state, which seem linked to an Egyptian cultural milieu that valorizes these things. One need not look too far for clues of this phenomenon. After all, despite the states recent failings, it remains central to the mythologies that shape politics and culture. From regulating the flow of the Nile by building the Aswan High Dam, to the 1973 crossing of the Suez Canal, to the recent widening of that body of water, there seems to be an ingrained sense about the proper role of centralized authority. Of course, there are a slew of other potential reasons why the Egyptians have been unable to get their economic act together, but Egypts economic policymaking and poor economic performance iswith a few brief exceptionsa persistent problem. The Egyptians know what they need to do, so why dont they do it? This is why I am starting to believe that we need to think more broadly about state culture in authoritarian regimes. The challenges that Tunisians, Egyptians, and others face have less to do with the particularities of a Middle Eastern way of life than with the cultural milieu that authoritarianism has bred, which includes ideas about the role of the state, individual rights, honor, community, and identity, that has had a lasting effect on politics and society. This may be why the technocratic solutions to the array of problems before Arab societies are simultaneously appropriate and deficient; they assume a cultural vacuum or void. Societies certainly change and cultures evolve, but as Douthat explains, ideas matter to people. It might seems strange to remind readers of this fact. It seems obvious, but it is worth repeating because of the analytic communitys collective aversion to grappling with anything associated with culture. There are no doubt material consequences of failing to undertake reform, but there are also significant cultural costs in pursuing them that societies may not be willing to pay. This post appears courtesy of the Council on Foreign Relations. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Lagos (AFP) - Karl Lagerfeld once sniffed that "no one wants to see curvy women" on the runway, but a wave of Nigerian designers are proving him wrong. The opening night of Lagos Fashion and Design Week on Wednesday featured five designers showcasing plus-size collections in a defiant celebration of all things curvy. "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but if he was in Africa, he probably wouldn't make that statement," designer Aisha Abubakar Achonu told AFP backstage. Achonu, a regal 32-year-old with feline eyes, said that in Nigeria bigger can be better. "Our culture appreciates plus-size more than other parts of the world," she said. "No woman should be subjected to looking a certain way." Most seemed to agree. When the lights went up and the first plus-size model strode onto the runway wearing sunglasses, crimson lips and a ton of attitude, the crowd went wild. Unlike the hesitant, calf-like models before them, the curvy women owned the runway, blowing kisses to the cameras as they shimmied down the catwalk to hoots and cheers. Waiters in pressed white shirts lost their composure, hollering "mama" and whistling. "Oh. My. God," said a thin woman in the audience with an Afro and gold hoop earrings. "Wow." - Booming business - Model Olivia Emenike, who is a size 18, stands over six feet tall and counts curvy star Ashley Graham and reality tycoon Kim Kardashian as inspiration, says she felt "fabulous" on the runway and wouldn't have it any other way. "I've never criticised my big bones or thick thighs. No one should feel ashamed of what they have," said the 25-year-old. "I wanted to be part of this event and show that plus-size women are fashionable." Plus-size clothing is shedding its dowdy reputation as more big name stores including Target and Mango introduce larger lines. US actress Melissa McCarthy introduced her own Seven7 brand after no one would make her a dress for the 2012 Academy Awards, with her manifesto declaring "clothes should flatter our bodies and not just try to cover us up." Story continues Of course, it's not just about looks: plus-size is big business too. Annual US sales of women's plus-size clothing -- 14 and higher -- rose to $20.4 billion in 2016, according to market research firm NPD Group. With studies showing that waistlines are starting to bulge in Africa too, designers are set to cash in on the growing demand for curvy clothes. "They see someone as big as me and look at my dresses and say I can relate to that," designer Makioba Olugbile said. Olugbile, who says she's a proud size "Africa 16", showed a dramatic black and white collection inspired by the moon "for how you want to look in the spotlight." Her business is booming. "You can't even imagine," Olugbile said, her eyes widening with excitement. "Now people are embracing plus-size." - A movement is born - The enthusiasm was infectious backstage. "I saw some of them when they were walking, I was like -- you go girls!" said 18-year-old model Aduke Shitta-Bey, wearing a white lace robe and her straight black hair in a high pony-tail. "Nigerians appreciate curvy girls, they say why are you so skinny? They say big is healthy, that's Nigerian beauty." The curvy collective was brought together by Latasha Ngwube, a 33-year-old former journalist and founder of About That Curvy Life, a lifestyle website "aimed at inspiring and supporting the plus-size community". Ngwube started using the hashtag #AboutThatCurvyLife when she was attending fashion shows. Now her website has 15,000 visitors a week. A "movement" was born, Ngwube said. "It's not just fashion, it's body positivity, the freedom to just be allowed to want to be beautiful." For Ngwube -- and many others -- curvy fashion is emancipation. "It's my duty to educate people through the language of fashion," Ngwube continued. "I think it's just mission started, but for tonight we'll take mission accomplished." Protesters seeking to block the Dakota Access Pipeline entered Hillary Clintons campaign headquarters in Brooklyn on October 27. The event was inspired by the ongoing encampment of demonstrators at the pipeline site in North Dakota. Those against the pipeline say its construction encroaches on sacred Native American land and could harm the areas water supply. The Justice Department has said it would refuse permits for the pipeline to cross nearby Lake Oahe, but construction has continued in other areas. Police and National Guard were expected to remove the Dakota camp; demonstrators at Clinton headquarters held a ceremony and speakout before attempting to deliver a letter to Clintons team condemning the pipeline. Credit: Instagram/unitedforpeaceandjustice The Founding Partner of Eberstein & Witherite was Selected by a Blue Ribbon Panel of Attorneys for Exhibiting Virtue in the Practice of Law DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2016 / The National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC) has announced that it has selected Amy Witherite, founding partner of the law firm of Eberstein & Witherite, as the newest member of the Nation's Top One Percent, a designation as one of the nation's top attorneys. The NADC is a member organization committed to recognizing lawyers who exhibit the highest standards of legal excellence. Only a small number of attorneys are invited to join the NADC's elite ranks as one of the Nation's Top One Percent. "I can't express what an honor it is to be selected by the NADC as one of the nation's top lawyers," Witherite stated. "This organization places a high value on ethics, integrity and high ideals, and being recognized as having those principles means so much to me and the rest of the team here at Eberstein & Witherite. This is really about the reputation we've built at our law firm that puts a premium on treating each client like a member of our family." Prior to selection, an NADC research team thoroughly vets all candidates, and submits them for approval by a judicial review board. The review board selects attorneys based on performance and reputation that exemplifies the highest professional standards. NADC attorneys have demonstrated outstanding character and virtue in the practice of law. This elite class of advocates consists of the finest leaders of the legal profession from across the nation. Witherite co-founded her law firm in 2001, specializing in personal injury claims. She is a member of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, a former Chair of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association Board of Advocates, and a fellowship member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. ABOUT Dallas-based law firm of Eberstein & Witherite, LLP, has years of experience helping injured Texans and their families obtain compensation for damages sustained as a result of negligent individuals and large corporations. Our partners, attorneys, and legal team are committed to providing the highest quality of legal representation in the area to ensure we deliver one thing: results. At Eberstein & Witherite, LLP we excel in providing personalized service to our clients in business litigation suits, personal injury cases, and bad faith insurance claims. Story continues Follow our Brands 1800 Car Wreck and 1800 Truck Wreck websites for more information. Media Contact Lucy Tiseo Eberstein & Witherite, LLP Phone: 800-779-6665 Email: lucy.tiseo@ewlawyers.com Connect with Eberstein & Witherite on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ Source: http://www.dallastexaspersonalinjurylawyers.com/news/dallas-trial-lawyer-attorney-amy-witherite-selected-national-association-distinguished-counsel SOURCE: Eberstein & Witherite, LLP via Submit Press Release 123 Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky will be the subject of an evening event at next months Singapore International Film Festival. Simon Yam, one of the most versatile Hong Kong actors, will receive a Cinema Legend Award. The festival, running Nov. 23 Dec. 4, will open with the previously announced Interchange, by Dain Iskandar Said. Its complete line-up, announced Thursday, spans 161 films including 16 world premieres. Among the other highlights are gala screenings for Mrs K, directed by Malaysias Ho Yuhang and starring Hong Kongs Kara Wai; and Nia Dinatas Three Sassy Sisters, which premiered in Tokyo yesterday. Also benefiting forma special screening is The Road to Mandalay, a social realist portrayal by Taiwans Midi Z which has already enjoyed a busy festival career. Among the festivals 13 sections are tributes to Hong Kongs Fruit Chan and Japans Naomie Kawase, as well as a selection of South East Asian classics. Among these are Tiga Dara, the 1954 Indonesian title that inspired Three Sassy Sisters. From further afield are Cannes Palme dOr winner I, Daniel Blake, and Notes on Blindness, by Peter Middleton and James Spinney. A four film Singaporean panorama includes: omnibus film 4 Love, Kan Lumes Ariel & Olivia, Ting Min-Weis Im Coming Up, and Sam Lohs Siew Lup. K. Rajagopals A Yellow Bird, which had its debut in Cannes this year, will also play in the Silver Screen competition for Asian films. Other Silver Screen contenders are: By The Time It Gets Dark, Live From Dhaka, Nokas, Town in a Lake, Turah, Verge, Wandering, White Ant, and White Sun. Related stories Tokyo: Indonesia's Women Filmmakers Talk Sex, Censorship and Cinema Dain Said's 'Interchange' to Open Singapore Film Festival Film Review: 'The Tenants Downstairs' marijuana grow room Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, is set to legalize marijuana for recreational use next year. And it could be a $22.6 billion industry, according to a soon-to-be-released report from Deloitte provided to The Toronto Star. Here's the breakdown of that number, based on Deloitte's survey of 5,000 Canadians: The retail market would be worth between $4.9 billion and $8.7 billion annually. The market for marijuana products and services including growers, testing labs, lighting, and security systems would increase that number to between $12.7 billion and $22.6 billion. Factoring in taxes, licensing fees, and weed-related tourism, the market could even be greater than $22.6 billion. "There hasn't been anything like this and granted it wasn't legislated but you think of the dot-com ... flurry," Mark Whitmore, a Deloitte vice chair, told The Star. Canada won't be alone in realizing the economic benefits of a legal marijuana industry. A recent Gallup poll also found that 60% of Americans now support legalization, up from 35% in 2005. Recreational marijuana is on the ballot in five US states this year, and it's likely to pass in Maine, Massachusetts, California, and Nevada. California's vote is particularly crucial given the state's population and the size of its economy. Furthermore, a report from The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research group, estimated that the marijuana industry could generate up to $28 billion in tax revenue in the US if it were legalized at the federal level. The Tax Foundation also estimates that marijuana is a $45 billion industry in the US. Marijuana stocks have also jumped in the lead-up to Election Day, trading as if most states will vote yes on legalization. Innovative Industrial Properties, a marijuana real-estate investment trust, on October 17 filed to go public on the New York Stock Exchange. If approved, it would be the first publicly traded marijuana REIT. Story continues Though marijuana is set to become a huge industry, many companies in the space still face unique challenges to doing business, including accessing payroll and benefits management companies as well as opening bank accounts and credit lines. NOW WATCH: LIZ ANN SONDERS: The most unsettling outcome for the markets would be a surprise Trump win More From Business Insider By PTI: Srinagar, Oct 27 (PTI) The five-member civil society delegation led by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha today completed its three-day visit to Kashmir during which it met various stakeholders to "understand the situation" and "share the pain" of the people here. The delegation will now discuss the future course of action after meeting in Delhi. "We came here to understand the situation and share the pain of the people. We will sit down (after going back to Delhi) and see how we can proceed further," Sinha told reporters after completing meetings with various sections in the valley, including separatists. advertisement Sinha said the delegation, which does not have any official status, met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday and Governor N N Vohra today. Since its arrival here on Tuesday, the delegation met hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat and representatives of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry -- the apex trade body of Kashmir. Sinha, former External Affairs Minister, disagreed when asked whether the meeting with the separatists could be seen as a breakthrough since they opened their doors to the delegation members unlike the members of all-party delegation who were turned away by Geelani earlier in September. "It was good on their part they decided to meet us. We had extensive discussions with various stakeholders here," he said. The other delegation members -- Wajahat Habibullah, the former chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Kapil Kak, former Air Vice-Marshall, Journalist Bharat Bhushan and Sushoba Barve of Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation -- met Geelani again today. PTI MIJ AKK AKK --- ENDS --- By Dan Levine (Reuters) - The Democratic National Committee on Wednesday asked a U.S. judge to hold the Republican National Committee in contempt of court over allegations that Donald Trump encouraged his supporters to intimidate minority voters. The DNC accused Republicans in a court filing of violating a longstanding consent decree, which restricts Republicans' ability to question voters at the polls and prevent those people from casting a ballot. During the presidential campaign, Republican nominee Trump has asked followers to "watch" for fraud in the Nov.8 presidential election in certain areas where minority voters reside, even though no evidence of fraud exists, the filing said. Some of Trump's followers have pledged to do just that, the filing said. The RNC has supported Trump's "ballot security endeavors," Democrats said in the court filing. Representatives for the RNC and Trump could not immediately be reached for comment. The DNC asked a New Jersey federal judge to issue an injunction preventing the RNC from spending money on voter integrity efforts, and to instruct its field offices that no employee shall participate in any ballot security measures. (Reporting by Dan Levine in San Francisco; Editing by Andrew Hay) Arguing that the Republican National Committee is collaborating with the Donald Trump presidential campaign in an alleged effort to intimidate minority voters, the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday asked a federal judge in New Jersey to hold the GOP in contempt of court. The main claim is that the GOP is violating a court order against such tactics, issued in 1982 and still in effect. The Supreme Court refused to disturb that order three years ago, turning aside a challenge to it by the RNC. The new motion was accompanied by 29 exhibits news articles and campaign documents that were said to illustrate the Trump campaigns publicly declared plan to send poll watchers to keep an eye on certain communities supposedly, code words for minority neighborhoods in major cities. Quoting statements that candidate Trump has been making at political rallies when he has said the presidential election this year is rigged, the motion said, for example, that Trump has even encouraged his watchers to act like vigilante law-enforcement officers. The Democratic filing conceded that certain RNC officials have attempted to distance themselves from some of the Trump campaigns more recent statements, but it then argued that there is ample evidence that Trump has enjoyed the direct and tacit support of the RNC in its ballot security endeavors, including the RNCs collaboration on efforts to prevent supposed rigging; and voter fraud. It quoted vice presidential candidate Mike Pence, Indianas governor, as saying in August that the RNC was coordinating with the campaign on ballot integrity initiatives, and it cited a story published last week by the Washington Post quoting campaign manager Kellyanne Conway as confirming the coordination in precincts around the country. Besides asking the District Court in Newark to hold the RNC in contempt for allegedly violating the consent decree, the DNC filing asked that the judge issue a new court order forbidding such tactics, require the RNC to get reimbursement from the Trump campaign and state political groups of any funds used for ballot security, circulate the consent decree against ballot security measures to all of its field offices, promptly report to the court any efforts by the DNC or its employees, agents or affiliates to carry out such efforts, and extend the consent order for eight more years from now (it is currently due to expire on December 1, 2017, following its renewal in 2009). Story continues The consent decree in the case grew out of Democrats complaints that the RNC in the early 1980s had engaged in intimidation of black voters in New Jersey. The order generally bars the RNC from organizing or directing similar efforts if the purpose is to deter voters from casting their ballots. After the decree was extended for eight years in 2009, the RNC returned to the Newark court, seeking to have the order vacated. The judge refused to do so, as did the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The RNC took its challenge to the Supreme Court, which denied review on January 14, 2013. There were no noted dissents. The DNC motion is in the form of a demand that the RNC show cause why it should not be held in contempt for violating the consent order. It asks that the federal judge act speedily, noting that the presidential election is less than two weeks away and that early voting has already begun in a number of states, including New Jersey. The RNCs alleged violations, it asserted, will continue until the court acts. Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011. Denniston has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com, where this story first appeared. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily Are copyright claims stifling free speech on the Internet? What happens when there is a tie in the Electoral College? 10 little-known facts about President Theodore Roosevelt This week on ABCs Designated Survivor, President Kirkman sweated out the repercussions of a critical decision, while FBI agent Hannah Wells uncovered another explosive secret. RELATEDDesignated Survivor, Speechless Snag Full-Season Pickups at ABC In the wake of canning Cochrane and installing Admiral Chernow as his new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and after being assured of a surgical hit Tom gave the order to strike the Algerian bunker where Al-Sakar chief Nassar was holed up. Alas, Tom waited just long enough that the strike was called off, because Nassar has been whisked away to the basement of a well-populated hospital. The new plan is for a Navy SEAL strike team to infiltrate the hospital and take Nassar alive, ideally, as he likely possesses intel on other imminent attacks. After meeting with SEAL commander Clarkson, who is orchestrating the op, Tom gives his OK, and things go pretty well save for a sandstorm that grounded one chopper and injured a SEAL, leaving Clarkson to step in. The commander ultimately lost his life while shielding innocent children during the shootout in which Nassar was captured. Meanwhile, Hannah Wells looked into the Room 105 that she was tipped off to by the anonymous caller. Tracking down the Capitols architect, she learns that 105 was a hidden room, used for private meetings and such, and that it had been involved in recent renovations. Securing the classified reno plans from Congresswoman Hookstraten, Hannah discovers that Room 105, in the vicinity of which Congressman McLeish had been found, had recently been shored up as a bomb shelter and that every subcontractor who worked on it was now suspiciously dead! Hannah shares this McLeish-implicating proof with Deputy Director Atwood, who agrees that it is damning and obviously incendiary, given the many bodies left in its wake. As such, he implores her not to share the info with anyone. Hmmm. Story continues Little do the FBI agents know, McLeish is on the verge of rising higher in the D.C. ranks. After receiving a medal from Kirkman, and then offering his unqualified support for the Nassar op, McLeish has the Speaker of the House gig dangled before him. He, however, doesnt want it, or at least the politics that come with it. He prefers to serve his country. Learning of the noble decline, Kirkman instead wonders if McLeish would make a fine Vice President. RELATED2017 Renewal Scorecard: Whats Coming Back? Whats Getting Cancelled? Whats on the Bubble? Elsewhere in the episode: * Working off the P.I..report he received, Chief of Staff confronted the First Lady, Alex, about Jeffrey Meyers, a former lover who has been in prison, and claims to be Leos biological father. Tis true, and the lad doesnt know. (Lets tell him off-screen, though, OK?) * When not securing Hannahs loyalty in trade for the reno plans, Hookstraten made clear to Kirkman that if the Nassar op went sideways, she on behalf of Congress would let it blow up his already tenuous presidency. What did you think of the episode The Mission? Glad to see some of the not-so-fine details e.g. the vice presidency, electing some new senators at least get a passing mention? Related stories Once Upon a Time's Colin O'Donoghue: Hook's Lie 'Weighs On Him Heavily' -- Plus, Watch Captain Nemo's Debut HTGAWM's Five Craziest Twists -- Plus: Aja Naomi King Talks 'Horrible, Horrible' #UnderTheSheet Reveal Grey's Anatomy's Caterina Scorsone on Owen's 'Dangerous' Love and Amelia's Changing Relationship With Alex * Cryan tells staff will redouble revamp efforts * Bank makes profit in Q3 but lags rivals * CEO cautions situation will stay difficult * Litigation reserves rise to 5.9 billion, non-RMBS related (Adds link to story on Deutsche's bond trading, updates shares) By Arno Schuetze and Anjuli Davies FRANKFURT, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank chief John Cryan pledged to redouble restructuring efforts on Thursday, warning that the bank faces tough times ahead as it finalises talks with U.S. justice authorities over a multi billion dollar fine. Germany's biggest lender earlier posted an unexpected quarterly profit, benefiting from a modest rebound in bond trading, but failed to dispel the cloud of uncertainty that drove clients to withdraw billions of euros. Cryan said on a conference call that the quarter had been overshadowed by talks over the U.S. Department of Justice's settlement proposal relating to sales of RMBS (residential mortgage-backed securities) which had caused uncertainty. As well as having an impact on investor and client views of the bank, this uncertainty had also taken its toll on "financial planning and strategy execution", Cryan added. Cryan warned Deutsche Bank employees in a letter that the situation "will stay difficult for a while" and said he was working to finalise the settlement "as soon as possible". Deutsche Bank would also intensify a major restructuring to counter a deteriorating environment for banking in Europe and elsewhere, Cryan said. However, a top ten shareholder called on the bank's management to make deeper cuts in its trading activities. "Fixed income is still oversized in terms of cost and on group level there are still 10,000 staff too many." Despite weeks of negative headlines, Deutsche was able to announce an unexpected net profit of 278 million euros ($303 million) in the third quarter, lifted by a surge in bond trading that boosted all Wall Street banks. This sent its shares to a more than one-month high, and despite retreating slightly they were still 0.7 percent higher at 13.4 euros at 1305 GMT. Story continues Deutsche Bank's Chief Financial Officer Marcus Schenck also struck a positive note, saying he expects the fourth quarter trading business overall to exceed last year's performance. SPREADSHEET MYTH Cryan said he was spending at least an hour a day explaining the bank's position to clients, adding: "To dispel any myths, I don't just sit poring over spreadsheets". Negotiations over a $14 billion demand from the U.S. DoJ for misselling toxic mortgage-backed securities before the 2007-2009 financial crisis have set a bleak backdrop for Cryan. Thursday's results gave some insight into how this demand has rocked confidence in Deutsche Bank, which plays a critical role in financing some of Germany's biggest companies. In retail and wealth management, which had assets of almost 440 billion euros, clients withdrew 9 billion euros in the third quarter, Deutsche Bank revealed. Outflows had since abated, it said, although its global markets trading business was also hit. Cryan said the bank had liquidity reserves of 200 billion euros, a fall from the more than 215 billion he had outlined on Sept. 30. In June, the bank had 223 billion euros. Deutsche Bank set aside more money for its legal bill for numerous past missteps. Litigation reserves rose to 5.9 billion from 5.5 billion at the end of June. However, Deutsche Bank has so far not made a specific proposal for what it would be willing to pay to settle the RMBS case and has therefore not upped its provisions for it. It had hoped to settle the case for about $3 billion. Revenue grew slightly at 7.5 billion euros, ahead of analysts' expectations, mainly driven by Deutsche's trading, while business declined in other operating areas. "Top down, revenues were stronger and the bank is delivering on costs with this quarter being a fourth consecutive one of declining operating expenses," analysts at Morgan Stanley noted. Its bond trading, which has volatile earnings and tough capital requirements to meet, revenues were up 14 percent. But the rebound was less pronounced than at peers because of cuts Deutsche has made to the division. Barclays on Thursday reported a 40 percent spike in its business. In equities trading, Deutsche saw revenue fall as low stock market volatility gave investors less reason to trade, while revenue from corporate and investment banking fell by 1 percent. ($1 = 0.9173 euros) (Additional reporting by Kathrin Jones; Writing by John O'Donnell; Editing by David Holmes and Alexander Smith) We expect Devon Energy Corp. DVN to beat expectations when it reports third-quarter 2016 results after the market closes on Nov 1. Last quarter, this independent energy company reported a positive earnings surprise of 127.27%. It is worth noting that Devon Energy has outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, the average positive surprise being 44.08%. Lets see how things are shaping up prior to this announcement. Why a Likely Positive Surprise? Our proven model shows that Devon Energy is likely to beat estimates because it has the right combination of two key ingredients. A stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy) or #3 (Hold) to be able to beat estimates and Devon Energy has the right mix. Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate of 6 cents and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 5 cents, is +20.00%. This is a meaningful and leading indicator of a likely positive surprise. DEVON ENERGY Price and EPS Surprise DEVON ENERGY Price and EPS Surprise | DEVON ENERGY Quote Please check our Earnings ESP Filter that enables you to find stocks that are expected to come out with earnings surprises. Zacks Rank: Devon Energy currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The combination of Devon Energys favorable Zacks Rank and positive ESP makes us reasonably confident of a positive surprise this season. Conversely, we caution against Sell-rated stocks (#4 or #5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Factors to Consider Devon Energys midstream division, EnLink Midstream, is expected to generate cash distributions of $270 million in 2016, thereby providing better visibility on its third-quarter cash flows. Earlier, in the second quarter, the company raised its capital investment by approximately $200 million to a range of $1.1 $1.3 billion for 2016. In line with managements expectation, the company must have deployed this entire incremental capital investment in its franchise assets STACK and Delaware Basin, during the third quarter. Story continues The company will also benefit from the ongoing cost saving initiatives, which is expected to fuel margins in the to-be-reported quarter amid the challenging commodity price environment. During the third quarter, Devon Energy announced that it will sale its 50% ownership interest in Access Pipeline to Wolf Midstream Inc. The completion of this deal, which took place at the very onset of this month, brought the total asset sale proceeds for the company to $3.2 billion; thereby comfortably surpassing its divestiture target of $2$3 billion for 2016. Devon Energy will use these proceeds to strengthen its balance sheet and deploy more funds in the resource-rich U.S. plays, including the STACK and Delaware Basins, to reap higher benefits. Other Stocks to Consider Devon Energy is not the only energy company looking up this earnings season. We see likely earnings beats coming from the following companies as well: Approach Resources, Inc. AREX has an Earnings ESP of +4.17% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is expected to release third-quarter 2016 results on Nov 2. Cobalt International Energy, Inc. CIE has an Earnings ESP of +20.00% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is expected to release third-quarter 2016 results on Nov 1. Apache Corp. APA is expected to release third-quarter 2016 results on Nov 3. The company has an Earnings ESP of +7.14% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report DEVON ENERGY (DVN): Free Stock Analysis Report APACHE CORP (APA): Free Stock Analysis Report COBALT INTL EGY (CIE): Free Stock Analysis Report APPROACH RESRCS (AREX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. MUMBAI Davy Chous French-Cambodian coproduction Diamond Island, earlier a selection at the Cannes Critics Week and winner of the SACD Prize there, has won the Golden Gateway Prize for best film at the international competition at the Mumbai Film Festival that concluded Thursday. Jury head Miguel Gomes said, The winner of this award goes to a simple but graceful coming-of-age story. It takes place in a new world, but with old-fashioned emotions: love friendship, family, and, of course, class struggle. Speaking to Variety from Cambodia, Chou said, Its a huge honor. I love the Mumbai festival as I attended it in 2013 with my previous film, Golden Slumbers. I wish I could attend this time also but it just happened to be the same day as the films premiere in Cambodia, where the film belongs. It was an immensely satisfying and humbling moment to be able to share this film with Khmer audiences and the Khmer cast and crew, which put so much heart into the project, while also receiving this kind of surprise commendation from far away, at Indias biggest festival led by a jury for whom I have such immense respect. To hear such kind words from Miguel Gomes about the film gives the award an even more special feeling. This is a beautiful moment for the film, and I want to thank the Mumbai festival and the jury for their choice. The winner of the Silver Gateway award at the international competition was Ralitza Petrova for Godless (Bulgaria/Denmark/France) while the jury grand prize went to Everything Else (Mexico) by Natalia Almada. In the India Gold competition Haobam Paban Kumar received the Golden Gateway Award for Lady of the Lake that world premiered at Busan. Satish Babusenan and Santosh Babusenan won the Silver Gateway Award for The Narrow Path while the jury grand prize went to Aicheng Jai Dohutia for The Hidden Corner. Alankrita Shrivastava won the Oxfam Award for best film on gender equality for Tokyo selection Lipstick Under my Burkha. Konkona Sen Sharma won the best India female filmmaker award for A Death in the Gunj that played Toronto and Busan before opening Mumbai this year. Story continues Related stories Mumbai Festival: 'Billion Colour Story' Director to Make 'Distant Teardrop' (EXCLUSIVE) Cary Fukunaga, Gideon Raff Talk 'Maniac,' 'Prisoners of War 3' in Mumbai Bollywood Big Names Bolster Mumbai Festival Opening Diego el Cigala made his name in the '90s and early '00s as a titan of contemporary flamenco, but for more than a decade, he has enjoyed cross-genre adventures, exploring outside the world of flamenco and winning awards for doing so. When he stepped on stage at Town Hall in New York City recently (Oct. 22) -- shoes shined to perfection, shirt unbuttoned to clear space for his beard, a flash of gold jewelry at his ears and fingers -- it was to debut songs from his newest album, Indestructible (out Oct. 28 through Sony Music Latin), which is in part a tribute to canonical salsa. Speaking with Billboard on the phone through an interpreter a few days before the show, El Cigala acknowledged that some listeners were surprised by his interest in salsa. "People almost didn't believe it," he said. "People didn't expect to hear pure salsa from the '70s and '80s with a flamenco voice." Carlos Alvarez, an engineer credited several times on Indestructible -- you can also find his imprint on records by Marc Anthony, Julio Iglesias, and Alejandro Sanz -- was more trusting. "[El Cigala] brings an incredible amount of energy and beauty to this," he said from Miami during a separate phone conversation. "This guy is a student, the real deal. How can you think that it's not gonna be an interesting listen to have a fusion with that iconic voice?" El Cigala has earned this sort of faith through a series of accomplished zig zags. He won his first Latin Grammy in 2004 for Lagrimas Negras, a collaborative album with the Cuban pianist Bebo Valdes that took home the Best Traditional Tropical Album honor, while his most recent award came in the tango category (his second tango win) for 2013's Romance de la Luna Tucumana. Where genre names denote difference and throw up walls, El Cigala tends to see similarities. "[Salsa] has many rhythmic, lyrical and compositional similarities to flamenco," he noted. "If there is no emotion everything is senseless," he added. "Listen to salsa, tango, boleros or flamenco, but it has to be something that excites you." El Cigala's genre-evading work with Valdes is invoked explicitly on Indestructible -- one of the loveliest moments is a ballad, "Fiesta Para Bebo," recorded in memory of Valdes, who passed away in 2013, and several songs on the record are Cuban boleros, recorded in the studio with Alvarez. "They hopefully harken back to what he was doing with Bebo," Alvarez said of the three songs that he worked on. "I came across Diego in the mid-to-late '90s at some point in Spain. [Lagrimas Negras] was where I was like, 'whoa.' I switched on my student hat: what made this recording really beautiful and really successful?" El Cigala has long harbored an interest in salsa and Cuban music. "I used to listen to Benny More, Antonio Machin, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, and other artists like them," he said. "My father would listen to Machin a lot." "I felt comfortable with salsa," he added. "That's why I did it. I wouldn't have done anything that would harm the name of salsa -- or that of flamenco." He started pooling songs for Indestructible in 2013 with help from collaborators like the pianist Jaime Calabuch, who also co-produced the new record. "[They] would bring me music that is not known worldwide, but known in the salsa community or in Cuba," El Cigala said, along with "all the repertoires of the greats: Cheo Feliciano, Benny More, Hector Lavoe. We must have listened to over one hundred songs. At the end we had these eleven wonders." Indestructible includes tracks made famous by Feliciano and More as well as a pair popularized by Lavoe. Reflecting salsa's wide reach and multiple hubs, El Cigala recorded parts of the album in several cities, including Miami, Cali, Columbia, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. "I wasn't going let the musicians come to me," he explained, "but rather go to their land and search for them." Several songs on the new album appeared on the famous New York salsa label Fania Records, so it was only fitting that El Cigala performed in the city on his short Indestructible tour. He came with a ten piece band, including two trumpets, two trombones, two percussionists, and two backing vocalists who complemented their boss: baby faced and clean-shaven where he was whiskered, executing taut, synchronized salsa steps while he remained seated. From his perch on a stool, El Cigala engaged in more casual rhythmic activity: clapping, snapping, beating time on this thigh, clinking out the rhythm on his drink glass with a ringed finger. As the night progressed, a shimmy crept in around his shoulders. The brawny ensemble cohered on the third song, a rendition of "El Paso de Encarnacion" (recorded by Machin, among others), and the show then progressed from one peak to the next: a slashing suite of full-band salsa - a series of adroit skirmishes between the band's various factions - was followed by several ballads with only El Cigala and his pianist, Calabuch. Several of these reached back to Lagrimas Negras; during "Soledad," from 2010, a man two seats away cried softly. Calabuch signaled a transition by moving from melancholy, empty-saloon figures on the keys to a cool sashay -- after a lick, he'd often throw a happy, inquisitive look at El Cigala, as if to say, "what about that one?" -- and the band returned for a series of tracks that started slow before heaving back into jubilant, full-tilt call and response. Alvarez believes El Cigala's latest genre merger is timely. "The fusion of tropical and flamenco voices seems to be the new thing," he said. "It started to come on my radar three years ago. I worked with Buika [on La Noche Mas Larga]; it was her doing more traditional Cuban songs; there was a little bit of a mixture there already going on. That's when I started to think about it. "I fully embrace it, because it bridges both worlds that I come from," Alvarez continued. "I hope there will be more of these records." But it's likely that El Cigala will move into new territory on his next record, as he has in the past. "I have never sung anything the same way twice," he said. JOHANNESBURG The Africa Channel has announced the official launch of a new production arm called TAC Studios which will be made during the Discop Africa TV market taking place Nov. 2-4 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Based in L.A., TAC Studios are being set up to finance and distribute premium lifestyle programming about contemporary African life. They will work with a network of producers and production companies in Africa and around the world. The move will expand the broadcasters existing focus on premium lifestyle content from the continent, with a mix of travel, cooking, music, and reality programming. They new unit is also planning to develop several scripted projects. We have been producing shows for several years for our own use, but until now had not envisioned licensing our content to third parties, says Narendra Reddy, EVP of content and global operations for The Africa Channel. After receiving requests from several networks and digital platforms, we realized there is a market for high-quality, affordable lifestyle content reflecting the people and influences of Africa. Along with developing and producing new shows, TAC Studios will distribute the channels existing library, which features more than 300 hours of premium programming. According to Reddy, the move underscores the companys decade-long ambition to acquire and produce content that reflects a different side of contemporary African life. Most of the content [at the time] lacked a holistic narrative about Africa and focused on the negatives or very narrow perspectivesof what the continent had to offer, he says. Missing were stories of progress and contemporary life about Africa and the diaspora. After rebranding in 2013, The Africa Channel began building an extensive catalog of premium HD content. While most of its acquisitions have been licensed from South Africa, where HD has been widely adopted by producers, Reddy says TAC Studios will offer a huge opportunity to both assist and give voice to story tellers and talent from all parts of the continent. Story continues The studio launch will also give TAC greater flexibility as it looks to build its brand of lifestyle programming. In the past, the company carried the weight of the entire cost of production of all the shows they produced, saind Reddy. In addition, the shows were never monetized outside the territories [where] TAC is broadcast, he added. The intent now is to both pre-license shows and seek co-production partners, so that the volume, budgets and quality of production can be increased. In recent months, TAC has closed content licensing deals with MNET, BET Africa, Australias SBS TV and several airlines, including South African Airways and Kenya Airways. In the U.S. the channel is available in approximately 10 million homes via cable companies including Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox. Reddy says the company saw an opportunity to launch its production arm thanks in part to the explosive growth of digital and OTT platforms, which have shrunk the cost of distributing content globally, while also attracting subscribers by targeting and aggregating niche audiences and fueling a demand for localized content. The growing reach of social media, he says, has also exposed a new generation of viewers to multicultural and multinational experiences, which has made them more open to consuming content that reflects diverse points of view. He points to the success of hit series like Blackish and Empire as evidence of the potential for content that would have once been deemed too niche. He adds, We chose to introduce TAC Studios at Discop 2016 because it is Africas number one TV and film marketplace for content buyers, sellers and independent producers. Related stories Discop Africa Expands Scope Via Strategic Partnership With New Joburg Film Fest Africa's Biggest TV Market Opens for Business Discop: The Africa Channel Eyes U.S. Viewers Anthony Garcia, a former medical resident, became a convicted serial killer Wednesday afternoon as jurors returned guilty verdicts on his four first-degree murder counts, PEOPLE confirms. Garcia, 42, faces either life imprisonment or the death penalty, court officials tell PEOPLE. His sentence will depend on the outcome of a Nov. 8 ballot question being put before the Nebraska voters that could abolish the states death penalty. Its the ending to what prosecutors have described a years-long series of revenge killings that started with Garcias firing from a residency program at Nebraskas Creighton University School of Medicine. In 2008, Garcia fatally stabbed 11-year-old Thomas Hunter, the son of Creighton faculty member Dr. William Hunter. Also killed in the familys Omaha, Nebraska, home was the familys housekeeper, 57-year-old Shirlee Sherman, who was reportedly stabbed more than 15 times.. For years, the case was bone cold, with no suspects and few leads to investigate. But in 2013, another Creighton staffer, pathology doctor Roger Brumback, was found slain in his Omaha residence, along with his wife, Mary. Prosecutors say Garcia shot and stabbed Roger before stabbing Mary. Forensic investigators were able to link evidence recovered from the Brumback killings to the Hunter home homicides five years earlier. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. According to prosecutors, all of the evidence pointed squarely at Garcia. The district attorney told jurors the murders were revenge killings Hunter and Brumback dismissed Garcia from Creightons residency program in 2001 court officials tell PEOPLE. In subsequent years, Garcia had trouble landing positions with other medical schools and blamed the two doctors for informing them of the firing, prosecutors said. They said Garcia also couldnt secure medical licenses in other states something he faulted the doctors for, too. Story continues Prosecutors also said Garcia couldnt secure medical licenses in other states something he also faulted the doctors for, court officials confirm. A probe into Garcias cell phone records and credit card transactions proved he was in the Omaha area the night the Brumbacks were murdered, according to court officials. Internet search results also showed Garcia had looked up the couples home address. Police also discovered several incriminating things at Garcias Indiana home, according to the Omaha World-Herald, including odd notes to himself (such as to remember to wear Band-Aids on his fingertips and park away from the home), a plan to impersonate another Anthony Garcia and an escape plan by boat. But Garcias lawyer told jurors the state had no direct evidence linking his client to the killings, court officials say. The defense argued, for example, that the Internet searches were planted. Two months after the Brumbacks bodies were found in 2013, Garcia was arrested for their slayings. Three years later, he was convicted. As the verdicts were read out, the victims families and Garcias mother cried, according to the World-Herald, which described his victims as four of societys most innocent. One relative told the paper, What I cant get over is how could you do that to a little boy? How could you do that to Shirlee, a grandmother who cared for everyone and wouldnt hurt anybody? To as he just answers the door? And Mary Brumback, the hell she went through as she fought him off? He didnt just kill them. It was torture. Attempts to reach Garcias attorney about a possible appeal were unsuccessful Thursday. He told the World-Herald the real killer was possibly still loose. The Hunter family disagreed, telling the paper, They got the right guy. Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange (Photo: Disney/Marvel) By Graeme McMillan, The Hollywood Reporter He might not have made an appearance in the movie itself, but that doesnt mean that the events of Captain America: Civil War were ignored by Marvels next big thing, Doctor Stephen Strange. Indeed, hes ready to give his diagnosis about what happened during the superhero smash-up. In a fun new promo for next months Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatchs surgeon-turned-sorcerer takes a look at different injuries inflicted during Marvels other 2016 movie and suggests potential remedies. A villain who gets hit in the head by Captain Americas shield is diagnosed with bodily impact and Vibranium-based trauma, while the Winter Soldiers cuts from the Black Panthers claws earn a scoffing, Its just a scratch, I mean, come on. Not everything is so easily dealt with, however; the removal of the Winter Soldiers mechanical arm prompts a Star Trek-referencing, Im a doctor, not a mechanic, and Civil Wars climactic fight between Captain America and Iron Man earns a sigh, and the diagnosis, Thats a broken heart. Im afraid theres no medical treatment for that but maybe a distraction might help! A distraction like, say, the imminent release of Marvels new movie Watch the new promo below. Doctor Strange will reach theaters Nov. 4. They've got injuries. He's got the cure. The Doctor is in. #DoctorStrange pic.twitter.com/dzFmL48ci3 Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) October 25, 2016 Related: Listen to the Doctor Strange End Credits Song Early Gravitas Ventures has set a digital release for Eve Marsons documentary Dr. Feelgood: Dealer or Healer? starting on Jan. 31, Variety has learned exclusively. The film tells the story of pain specialist Dr. William Hurwitz and the the ethical dilemma of opioid prescriptions. The film had its World Premiere at Los Angeles Film Festival earlier this year where Varietys Dennis Harvey called it engrossing. Gravitas Ventures has signed deals with Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, Microsoft XBOX, YouTube (for transaction), Cox, Charter Communications, Dish, Suddenlink and Verizon Fios. Prior to the digital release, the film will have a limited theatrical release opening Dec. 30 in New York at Cinema Village, followed by dates to be announced for January in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Hurwitz was convicted in 2004 of over 50 counts of narcotics distribution and given a 25-year prison sentence. Dr. Feelgood: Dealer or Healer? traces the trial and eventual appeal, detailing the events that lead to his arrest. Testimonies from the witnesses in Hurwitzs case contradict one another as some revere him, while others condemn him underscoring the tension between every patients right to pain relief and the lawful need for drug control. Some of his patients see him as a heroic genius, while others dismiss him as a fool and a murderer, Marson said. It was always my intention to make a film that presented an ambiguous portrayal of Dr. Hurwitz. The questions arise: Is he a compassionate doctor or a reckless drug trafficker? I wanted to show both perspectives but never wanted the film to take a clear stance. Dr. Feelgood: Dealer or Healer? is directed, written and produced by Marson, and also written by David Boodell, Sara Goldblatt and Mark Monroe. The film is produced by Sara Goldblatt together with Marson and executive produced by Alison Block and Timothy Poore. Related stories Gravitas Buys Stand-Up Comedy Documentary 'Dying Laughing' Story continues Cannes: Roger Guenveur Smith's Crime Thriller 'Dirty' Sells to Gravitas Stephen Lang's Medal of Honor Movie 'Beyond Glory' Picked Up by Gravitas More than one-third to nearly one-half of all households in the U.S. own a dog, and for many the animal is part of the family. Despite the close kinship, more than 50,000 children ages 6 and under suffered a dog bite injury in 2014, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Often standing at about eye level with the dog, research shows young children are more likely to be bitten in the head and neck, compared with adults who reach down to pet a dog and more often sustain bite injuries to the hand, arm or other extremities. Though the risk is still relatively small, Dr. Eddie Markul, an emergency medicine physician at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, says that because smaller children are more likely to be bitten in the face, head or neck, there's potential for catastrophic injury. A dog bite could leave a facial scar requiring plastic surgery or threaten to cause deeper damage and even life-threatening bleeding. More commonly, minor injuries can sour children to pets and make them more fearful or anxious around the dog, plus lead families to remove it from the home or have it put down. [See: Is it Healthy to Sleep With Your Pets?] Yet, the results of a recent study surveying dog owners to gauge their attitudes about supervising these child-pet interactions in the home show that often the risks are poorly understood or overlooked. The study, published in the July-August issue of the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, surveyed more than 400 Austrian and German dog owners in homes with children ages 6 and under -- including parents and grandparents -- and clinicians in the U.S. say the concerns raised apply to pet owners with young kids here as well. Pet owners participating in the study frequently advocated taking a more laid-back, hands-off approach to supervising young children and dogs interacting than animal experts said they should. Pet owners also reported they'd be more vigilant monitoring interactions between a child and an unfamiliar dog than interactions with the family dog. While it may be natural to trust the family dog, Markul says the study shows there's a lot of ignorance on the part of dog owners in regards to the potential dangers pets pose. "They think the dog just really, truly is a member of the family and would never hurt their child," he says. "While [dogs] definitely have more advanced cognition than some people give them credit for, they still are animals and do pose a risk to the child." While certain dogs may be more tolerant of rambunctious kids than others, experts notes that regardless of a pet's breed or disposition, any dog can bite. "One of the most common recommendations about young children and dogs is, 'Never leave the child alone with the dog,'" Christine Arhant, who led the research, said in an email. "In our study, we found that children are left alone with the dog for a moment in more than 50 percent of the participating families," notes Arhant, a veterinarian and researcher at Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Protection at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna in Austria. She and fellow researchers note in the study that many dog owners need to do better in supervising child-dog interactions. "It is vital to educate caregivers about potentially unsafe behaviors and safety measures to use with the family dog," the researchers wrote. [See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids' Health.] That means not errantly assuming dogs like the same things we do. Though petting a pooch may perk it up, for instance, research finds dogs hate hugs, despite the human inclinations toward a furry embrace. Kids naturally like to hang on their pets. A quick glance on social media finds many parents encouraging as much, taking photos and videos of kids posed, often with a visibly uncomfortable-looking dog, forcing a pooch hug -- or smooch. But like pulling a dog's tail, these time-honored embraces are a safety no-no that leaves kids vulnerable. "It's my sincere and strong recommendation that you don't allow your children to kiss the dog on the face," says Dr. Alex Rosenau, senior vice chair of emergency medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Pennsylvania, and past president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. "I've seen adults do that with tiny dogs -- kiss their dogs hello and get licked on the face. And I've seen terrible outcomes of facial bites by trusted dogs, because something got triggered in the mind of the animal by being that close to the face of the pet owner or the child." Experts say simply being present when kids and dogs interact isn't enough, given that previous research finds adults are frequently in the room when kids are bitten by the pet. "Parents should learn to interpret dog body language to be able to recognize signs of a dog feeling uncomfortable during an interaction with the child," Arhant says. "They should learn how to supervise and guide interactions and when to stop interactions and give the dog time to rest." Types of dog body language to heed: "Licking the lips or nose, turning the head away, walking away, raising a paw, yawning and a so-called whale-eye (white of the eye is visible) ... can indicate that the dog feels uncomfortable in an interaction," she says. "A low body posture and 'freezing' can indicate that the dog is already very fearful. Stiffening up and staring or growling are obvious aggressive signals." Ensure kids safely interact with the pet as well. "Don't allow the child to play aggressive games with the dog -- like tug of war or wrestling with the dog," says Dr. Deborah Ann Mulligan, a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics and a professor of pediatrics Policy at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. "The dog gets excited and misinterprets and that ... can lead to bites." Though it can sometimes be difficult to interpret a dog's body language, increased vigilance by parents can make a big difference in guiding positive interactions between kids and pets. Arhant recommends checking out dog bite prevention programs, such as Family Paws Parent Education for families living with a dog and kids ages 0 to 3, and The Blue Dog, for families with kids 3 to 6 years. Consider seeing a veterinarian specialized in behavioral medicine if you observe fearful or aggressive behavior, in particular, she says, as well as high arousal, withdrawal from the family or any other remarkable changes in the dog's behavior. "When dogs show high arousal towards newborns, the dog should be separated from the child and a specialized vet should be contacted immediately," Arhant says. [See: 7 Ways Pets Can Make You Healthier.] Animal training may be all that's needed to turn things around, and this should involve positive reinforcement. Don't aggressively punish dogs, such as yelling or hitting them to correct misbehavior, Arhant says. This can heighten a dog's fear and aggression, increasing the likelihood it might bite; plus, children may mimic this behavior, further putting themselves in harm's way with the dog. In many cases, simply paying closer attention to interactions between kids and the family dog may be enough to ensure safety. Whatever the case, parents shouldn't wait to take action to protect children, experts say, adding that being proactive, in turn, can also help preserve the treasured relationship the family has with their pet. Michael Schroeder is a health editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at mschroeder@usnews.com. The Doctors discuss a controversial new law that fines domestic violence victims for not pressing charges. A federal lawsuit has been filed against Columbus, Georgias policy of collecting a fee from alleged victims of domestic violence, who do not partake in the prosecution of their alleged abusers. If the alleged victim does not help prosecute the case, the city charges them an administrative fee of at least $50 dollars. If the alleged victim does not pay the fee, they are threatened with an arrest. The lawsuit says the money is used to account for the cost of police time spent investigating cases that do not move forward. Attorney Areva Martin slams the policy, saying she wishes the money would be used for support groups, therapy and help for victims. Watch: Moving On After a Brutal Attack With 80 to 90 percent of alleged victims not willing to testify against their alleged abusers often times out of fear The Doctors wonder how we can create safe environments where people feel comfortable coming forward. First, we change the culture and we dont penalize the victim, which this law does, Areva says, explaining that most of these people fear retaliation and further violence. She notes that just because the alleged victim will not testify does not mean the state cant still prosecute. This process of victimizing the victim is ridiculous! she adds. Watch: Is Spousal Abuse Ever Justified? If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Donald Glover stopped by Ellen for the first time to discuss his new Star Wars gig an in an episode that aired Wednesday (Oct. 26). On Friday, StarWars.com announced that the Atlanta star would be taking on the role of Lando Calrissian in Disney and Lucasfilm's upcoming young Han Solo spinoff. "It's really crazy. I'm very honored," Glover said about being cast as Cloud City's suave administrator, a part first played by Billy Dee Williams in the original franchise. "It's a very big deal." The rapper-actor told DeGeneres he'd been a major fan of the franchise from childhood (and even rocked Star Wars t-shirts in high school). "That was the first toy I had - Lando. That was the very first. I remember it like yesterday," he added. "My dad gave it to me. I had a Darth Vader one, too." Glover shared that he called his parents immediately after the news broke, and his mom, an avid fan of Williams, offered wise words of advice: "Don't mess it up." The untitled Han Solo project, directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, is slated for a 2018 release. Glover also talked about what inspired the hit sadcom about his hometown on which he plays striving rap manager Earn. "I just wanted to make 'Twin Peaks' with rappers," he told DeGeneres of the idea behind Atlanta. "Which was like, at the time people were like, 'I don't know what that is.' I was like... 'I get it.' Because it's very particular. I just wanted to show how it was growing up in Atlanta. I always had these kind of weird feelings. I was like, 'how do I exude that?' We tried to get it. It feels good." Atlanta has already been renewed for a second 10-episode season. This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter. Fresh off his casting as Lando Calrissian in the new Star Wars film about Han Solo, Donald Glover stopped by Ellen to discuss what it was like to fulfill his childhood dream. "It's really crazy. I'm very honored, it's a very big deal," Glover said. "There's this thing going around the internet of me in a Star Wars t-shirt when I was in high school, so it's been a long thing." He added, "That was the first toy I hadLando. I remember it like it was yesterday, my dad gave it to me. I had a Darth Vader one, too." He continued to comment on the pressure of following in Billy Dee Williams' large footsteps: "I told my dad immediately and my mom was in the back, like 'don't mess it up' because Billy Dee is, like, hers." After echoing previous comments that he "wanted to make Twin Peaks with rappers" when creating his hit FX show, Atlanta, Glover added, "I just wanted to show how it was growing up in Atlanta. I always had these weird feelings and was like 'how do I exude that?' We tried to get it. It feels good. It's just weird to be filming it in your home town." Watch the interview segment above. Continue Reading On PigeonsandPlanes More from PigeonsandPlanes Donald Trump, his wife Melania and the GOP presidential candidate's adult children joined ABC News' George Stephanopoulos for a multipart interview that aired on Thursday's Good Morning America. During the sit-down, at the opening of Trump's Washington, D.C., hotel, he reiterated his claims about a "rigged system," criticizing media coverage of him compared to that of opponent Hillary Clinton, whom Trump insisted repeatedly is "so guilty." He also discussed the sexual assault allegations against him and negativity on social media, in light of Melania's desire to work to combat this as first lady. Trump also reiterated that he'll decide whether to accept the election results at the time. "I've said a million times: I'll make that decision at the right time. Don't worry about it. But we've got a rigged system," Trump told Stephanopoulos when asked if the candidate would support the 2016 election results if Clinton wins. This "rigged system" involves "skewed" media coverage, Trump claimed, saying of how he feels he's being treated, "It's record-setting bad treatment what I'm getting. It's the greatest pile-on in American history. I go to these rallies and they're starting to hate the media because they see it's all a big lie. Not all, but a lot of it's a big lie." Read more: Donald Trump Once Joked He and Ivanka Have "Sex" in Common Trump also said he doesn't consider the attention he's received to be "free" media coverage because it's "bad," saying news organizations should pay more attention to the WikiLeaks disclosures about Clinton. After Trump talked about her email scandal and said of Clinton, "She's so guilty, how can she even run? But there's such anger in this country over what she got away with," Stephanopoulos pointed out that an FBI director appointed by a Republican president said "no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case." Story continues "He made a mistake, or whatever. I don't even call it a mistake. Something happened," Trump said. Stephanopoulos asked, "What?" "Well, I think somebody talked to him," Trump said referring to former president Bill Clinton's reported meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch before circling back to his assertion that Hillary Clinton committed a crime. "There's something going on. George, George, she's so guilty. " Stephanopoulos later brought up the numerous allegations of sexual assault that have been leveled against Trump. He first insisted that they not "waste time" on that issue instead of talking about ISIS and jobs, but couldn't help himself from firing back at his accusers. "These wereattacks. These things never happened. These people, I don't know these people," Trump said of his accusers. "These things never ever happened. This was out of the blue. It was made up. Probably by the Clinton campaign." Read more: John Oliver Slams Donald Trump's Views on Abortion and Women's Bodies When asked if he had evidence of the Clinton campaign being behind the reports, Trump merely said, "Well, many of those stories have already been debunked." But he backed off his statement from a few days prior that he would sue his accusers, saying, "We'll find out. Let's see what happens with the election." Trump also had harsh words for the People magazine writer who accused him of attacking her on a 2005 trip to Mar-a-Lago. He wondered aloud why she didn't mention that in her article at the time, to which Stephanopoulos responded, "She said she was afraid." Trump shot back, "Oh, she was afraid? Give me a break! If she was afraid to write it, she would have gotten the Pulitzer prize. Give me a break!" He claimed the allegations were "fabricated" by women wanting "fame" or to "help Clinton." ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos Later, joined by his wife, Trump elaborated on his issues with media coverage and why he sees it as unfair. "Well, I can just speak for myself, and I don't want to mention a specific act, but so often they'll mention that 'Donald Trump said this' or 'he said that.' And what I said wasn't wrong. What I said was fine," said Trump. "If a Democrat had said it, if Hillary had said it, people wouldn't have even thought about it. But I'll say something that's absolutely perfect, George, and the next day it's headlines: 'Donald Trump said this or that.' I went to an Ivy League school. I was a good student. I'm a very smart person. I know what I'm saying. There were some instances where I could have done it a little bit differently, but most of the time I'll say something that's absolutely perfect. And I'll get a call after an interview, "Did you say...?" And they'll skew it so unfairly." Stephanopoulos claimed people can see things for themselves and decide, but Trump disagreed. "The media poisons the mind of the American voter," he said. "It's unfair. But the thing is the American voter is really smart. I'm going to see how smart they are. I think the American voter is smarter than the media." Melania also reiterated how, as first lady, she would to work to protect children from the damaging effects of social media. "In this 21st century, it's very hurtful to children, to some adults as well," she said. "We need to teach them how to use it. What is right to say. What is not right to say, because it's very bad out there and children get hurt by social media and by what's going on and by negativity." Read more: Joss Whedon's Super PAC Unveils New Anti-Trump Ad Stephanopoulos asked Melania if she gives her husband advice about Twitter, and she smiled and looked at him as she said, "Yes, I do all the time." "You've got to use it right and she'll give me advice," Trump added. "What she's saying is true, though. I've heard so many people hurt so badly, not just children - people are hurt so badly by new social media." Stephanopoulos then brought up the New York Times' recent compilation of all of the people Trump insulted over Twitter and he said, "That's OK. Most of them deserved it." He continued: "I believe in fighting back. When people are against me, when they tell lies, I have the power of this instrument. You have to be careful with it." Trump also claimed his wife - who has preferred to stay home with her son, Barron, whom she insists is her top priority - will do "two or three speeches" in the waning days of the campaign, news that seemed to catch Melania by surprise. Read more: Donald Trump's Walk of Fame Star to Be Replaced After Being Destroyed by Vandal "She's an amazing public speaker and she's agreed to do two or three speeches," he said. "And I think it's going to be - big speeches, important speeches - and I think it's going to be great." ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos The couple were later joined by Trump's adult children - Eric, Don, Ivanka and Tiffany - who defended his brand amid various reports that it's struggling during the contentious election. "I think we've got the hottest brand in the world right now," Eric said. "Buildings like this are a testament to what we do every day." The elder Trump added, "I think the brand is hotter than it's ever been. But it doesn't matter to me. I don't care about the brand. I care about the country." Ivanka, in particular, responded to the "Grab Your Wallet" Twitter campaign to boycott her products. "The beauty of America is people can do what they like," she said. "But I would prefer to talk to the tens of millions of American women who are inspired by the brand and the message that I've created. My advocacy with women and trying to empower them in all aspects of their lives started long before this presidential campaign did. I've never politicized that message. People who are seeking to politicize it because they may disagree with the politics of my father, there's nothing I can do to change that." Read more: Donald Trump: "I Have No Interest in Trump TV" ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f261734%2fap_16300611604125 People are losing it over a new Donald Trump ad in which he is speaking Hindi and using Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis old campaign slogan. SEE ALSO: Donald Trump unveils his new campaign logo and the internet can't stop making dick jokes The Republican Party presidential candidates campaign has released a new video in which Trump is making an appeal to the Hindu and Indian community to vote for him. Equally surprising is Trump saying "Ab ki baar, Trump sarkar," (Hindi for: This time, Trumps government). Its a rendition of Modis previous campaign slogan, in which he said "Ab ki baar, Modi sarkar." (This time, Modis government). The video begins with Trumps campaign wishing people on the occasion of Diwali, one of the biggest festivals in India, which takes place over the coming weekend this year. The video also uses some moments from his recent appearance on "Humanity Against Terror" charity concert in New Jersey, where he talked about India and his love for Hindus. Trump said India is a "great friend" of the United States, and that he has many good friends in India. If I am elected President, the Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House, that I can guarantee you, he said. Trump also praised Narendra Modi. There are about two million Hindus in America. Trump's new video adds, "We love the Hindus. We love India." donald trump Donald Trump's campaign is reaching out to Indian-American voters with a series of new television ads using an adaptation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan. Set partially to Indian music, one choppily edited, 30-second ad viewed by Business Insider begins with text on the screen wishing viewers "Happy Diwali" on the eve of the Hindu holiday. The ad then cuts to the Republican presidential nominee's speech to a charity concert in New Jersey earlier this month organized by the Republican Hindu Coalition. The ad prominently features an image of Modi as well as Trump's take on Modi's popular campaign slogan, "Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar," or, "This Time, We're With Trump's Government." It also includes images of a 2008 terrorist attack in India and a spin on a popular Trump campaign sign that says "Great for America Great for US-India Relationship." Chicago businessman Shalabh Kumar, the chairman of Trump's Indian-American advisory committee and the founder and head of the Republican Hindu Coalition, told Business Insider in an interview late Wednesday that the ad was running almost 20 times a day nationally on 20 networks including Zee TV USA, a Hindi cable network, and TV Asia. "He's the only candidate who has ever spoken Hindi," Kumar said of the ad. Another senior Trump campaign official confirmed on Wednesday that the ad began airing this week in Indian-American media markets. The official said the campaign contracts many of its television ads through ad makers familiar with different markets. After what campaign officials viewed as a successful event in New Jersey earlier this month, the Trump campaign consulted with Kumar about the possibility of running ads targeting Hindu voters. Kumar told Business Insider that the ad campaign was part of a late strategy to reach Indian-American, and particularly Hindu, voters in three key battleground states: Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio. Kumar said if he could persuade 30,000 Indian-Americans in Florida to vote for Trump, they could help decide the election. Story continues Indian-American voters have overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates in recent presidential elections, while Trump's harsh rhetoric on immigration has alienated many nonwhite voters in the 2016 campaign. But to at least a few close observers of Indian and US politics, the outreach effort has a distinct purpose. Trump has garnered support among a niche group of Hindu nationalist supporters in India. As The New York Times has reported, the real-estate magnate's promise to aggressively combat Islamic extremists in particular may appeal to some Indian-American voters. Others have suggested that some voters in the demographic may also support the Republican presidential nominee's previous plan to bar Muslim immigrants from entering the US. "Our values are conservative values there is an information gap," Kumar said of Hindu voters. "When it comes time to vote, or support a particular candidate, they identify themselves as minorities. And as minorities, they just vote for Democrats." Kumar argued that Hindu voters he talked to were swayed by his argument that the Obama administration was too soft on Pakistan, citing the administration's plan to sell F-16 fighter jets to the country earlier this year, among other issues. "When they come to know all this, they think, 'We should support Trump, we should support Republicans,'" Kumar said. Watch the ad below: NOW WATCH: Golf legend Greg Norman reveals the truth behind President Bill Clinton's late-night 1997 injury More From Business Insider A suspect accused of vandalizing and destroying Donald Trumps star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame early Wednesday morning has been arrested, LAPD Sgt. Barry Montgomery confirmed to Variety. According to the LAPD, the suspect is a white male who was arrested while en route to giving a speech. He was detained by officers from the Hollywood division on suspicion of felony vandalism. The suspect is being booked right now in downtown L.A. Mens Central Jail. LAPD have confirmed the suspect is James Otis. In a video first obtained by Deadline, a man dressed like a construction worker smashes the star with a sledgehammer and pickaxe. The landmark was destroyed less than two weeks before the 2016 presidential election, which sees Trump running on behalf of the GOP. People can make a difference by voting and not destroying public property, Leron Gubler, President/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the Walk of Fame, said in a statement. Although Trumps star has seen its fair share of vandalism since he announced his presidential campaign (including the erection of a barbed-wire fence around it), this is the most damaging incident since it was placed on the historic street in January of 2007. The star is located on the 6800 block of Hollywood Boulevard. Related stories Donald Trump's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Smashed, LAPD Investigating Newt Gingrich Blasts Fox News' Megyn Kelly Over Trump Coverage: 'You Are Fascinated with Sex' 'Stranger Things' Actor Recalls Story of Donald Trump's Sexist Behavior at Work Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump may have once bragged about trying to hook up with John Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston, in a tribute he wrote about the couple's late son, Jett, just four days after his untimely death in 2009. In a blog post unearthed by Mother Jones that the business mogul reportedly wrote for the Trump University website, which no longer exists, Trump allegedly shared an occasion at a night club where he tried his best to hit on the actress. WATCH: Donald Trump Made 'Sexual Comments' to Marlee Matlin and Lisa Rinna on 'Celebrity Apprentice' "A long time ago, before I was married, I met Kelly Preston at a club and worked like hell to try and pick her up," Trump wrote in an editorial dedicated to Jett, who died unexpectedly from a seizure at the age of 16. "She was beautiful, personable, and definitely had allure. At the time, I had no idea she was married to John Travolta." Trump continued by praising Preston for having the fortitude to reject his advances, which he claimed was impressive because his "track record on this subject has always been outstanding." "Kelly wouldn't give me the time of day. She was very nice, very elegant, but I didn't have a chance with her, and that was that." Given the time frame Trump proposed, the incident at the club likely would have occurred between 1991 and 1993. Preston and Travolta tied the knot in 1991, while Trump, who said he wasn't married when he was trying to "pick her up," divorced ex-wife Ivana in 1992 and married his second wife, Marla Maples in 1993. WATCH: Donald Trump Allegedly Made Nasty Comments About Khloe Kardashian During 'Celebrity Apprentice' If the dates Trump suggested were accurate, Trump would have been 44 to 46 at the time, while Preston would have been 28 to 30. Additionally, Jett, Preston and Travolta's first child, was born in April 1992. Story continues According to Mother Jones, Trump concluded the post, which has long since been deleted, by saying that his thoughts were with Preston and her family, who were mourning the death of their teenage son. WATCH: Jamie Lee Curtis Defends Lindsay Lohan After Donald Trump Called Her 'Deeply Troubled' and 'Probably Great in Bed' These latest controversial comments are among a great deal of past interviews, editorials and on-tape interactions from Trump's past that have surfaced in the wake of the infamous Trump Tape earlier this month, in which the divisive politician was recording making vulgar and misogynistic remarks about women in a 2005 hot-mic conversation with former Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush. In 1992, Trump sat down for an interview with ET at Trump Tower. In unaired footage, Trump can be heard making lewd jokes toward a group of young girls. Watch the video below to see the uncomfortable interaction. Related Articles Chip and Joanna Gaines When Chip and Joanna Gaines now the stars of HGTV's hit home-renovation show "Fixer Upper" returned from their two-week honeymoon in 2003, they were met with some harsh realities. Their New York City vacation left them "basically out of money," forcing them to move directly into a vacated house they'd been renting out to college students back in Waco, Texas, they write in their new book "The Magnolia Story." The house smelled of rotting food and desperately needed new flooring and paint, so the newlyweds got to work. While Chip was a seasoned pro at renovation, Joanna was just discovering her passion for design. The pair now run Magnolia Homes, a real estate, renovation, and design company, transforming run-down properties into character-rich homes for families in the Waco area. But as their post-honeymoon disaster indicated, the path to success wasn't easy. Chip and Joanna found themselves in deep financial trouble on numerous occasions, including one incident where Joanna had to empty the cash register at her retail shop to bail Chip out of jail, and another where the couple found themselves $100,000 in debt after starting a large residential-development project in the wake of the financial crisis. Time after time, they were able to move beyond the hardships. "Jo and I don't quit. We don't quit, we never give up. Failure is not an option, losing is not an option. We fight and we have fought through some really tough, challenging times," Chip told Business Insider in a recent interview. Chip believes the pair share two qualities that keep them moving forward. "Somehow, even though we we're so different, so wildly different, the two things that were our common denominators ... we both love to work. We're passionate about what we do, we love waking up in the morning and giving it our best bet," Chip said. "And the second thing is, we hate to lose. When we woke up some mornings, realizing we don't have the money to pay back some of these debts that we had accumulated over the years, we realized we were going to have to be very creative, very quickly, and really fight for this. We didn't want to quit, we didn't want to declare bankruptcy some of those things were just literally not options for us," he said. Story continues "And here we are, at a place that we're really proud to say 'Look, we're really proud of some of the accomplishments we've made.'" In addition to Magnolia Homes, the couple now owns several small businesses under the Magnolia brand, including a retail shop, bakery, furniture line, paint collection, and a "Fixer Upper"-style bed and breakfast. The Gaines' book, "The Magnolia Story," debuted October 18 and chronicles the growth of their small business empire. Watch more from the Gaines' interview with Business Insider below: NOW WATCH: Drivers are wasting $2.1 billion on premium gas a year More From Business Insider A mysterious Celtic cross in the middle of a Donegal forest has caught the attention of many, since it was first spotted and investigated in October. UTV investigated the cross after it was noticed by passengers on a flight into Derry airport. The Donegal Daily reports that the cross at Bogay Hill was planted by forester Liam Emmery, who created the effect using two different types of trees. Paul McMenamin, who recorded this video, told Storyful that the cross is called Emmery Celtic Cross after the creator. He said, Liam sadly passed away six years ago without being able to see his creation grow and flourish. It was forgotten about since not many knew about it, however in the last year, passengers flying into Derry airport started to spot the cross. It is at least 400 feet in length and 150 feet wide and is truly a sight to behold. Credit: YouTube/Eye in the Sky Dutch inventors Tuesday unveiled what they called the world's first giant outside air vacuum cleaner -- a large purifying system intended to filter out toxic tiny particles from the atmosphere surrounding the machine. "It's a large industrial filter about eight metres (yards) long, made of steel... placed basically on top of buildings and it works like a big vacuum cleaner," said Henk Boersen, a spokesman for the Envinity Group which unveiled the system in Amsterdam. The system is said to be able to suck in air from a 300-metre radius -- and from up to seven kilometres (over four miles) upwards. It can treat some 800,000 cubic metres of air an hour, filtering out 100 percent of fine particles and 95 percent percent of ultra-fine particles, the company said, referring to tests carried out by the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) on its prototype. "A large column of air will pass through the filter and come out clear," Boersen told AFP, speaking on the sidelines of a major two-day offshore energy conference in Amsterdam. Fine particles are caused by emissions from burning wood and other fuels as well as industrial combustion, and have "adverse effects on health," according to the European Environment Agency. About 90 percent of EU residents are exposed to levels of such particles -- which can be carcinogenic -- above those recommended by the World Health Organization. As for ultra-fine particles, they are released by emissions from vehicles as well as aeroplanes, according to Envinity, and can "damage the nervous system, including brain cells, and also cause infections." Governments, businesses and airports are already interested in the project, Boersen said. Another air-purifying system called the "Smog Free Tower" was installed in Beijing last month and launched by the Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde. Using patented ozone-free ion technology, it can clean up to 30,000 cubic metres of air an hour as it blows past the tower, collecting more than 75 percent of the harmful particles, Studio Roosegaarde said in a statement. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted United States troops to leave his country within the next two years in a speech in Tokyo, on Wednesday, October 26. Addressing Japanese and Filipino business executives at a forum in Tokyo, Duterte said I want, maybe in the next two years, my country free of the presence of foreign military troops. Duterte added that this years U.S. and Philippine military war games would be the last. A 2014 treaty allows US forces to operate from Philippines military bases. Credit: YouTube/RTVMalacanang From Esquire The invaluable Brennan Center recently released another long study that reinforces the belief long held here in the shebeen that an elected judiciary is the Second Worst Idea In American Politics, something that was held axiomatic hereabouts even before the Supreme Court took it upon itself to legalize influence peddling. These are races to which nobody pays attention until some judge in somebody's pocket makes a ruling in Bugtussle Superior Court and, before you know it, the Supreme Court, John Roberts presiding, has made it mandatory to kill and eat all endangered species within the borders of your home state. And, according to the Brennan Center, the fundamental corruption of our politics by flood tides of anonymous dark money has more than drowned the grassroots as well. Of the 38 states that hold elections for high court judges, 27 have races this fall. To date, the Brennan Center has documented nearly $3.5 million in television and radio spending for the fall general elections in ten states (Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington). Ohio's election for two contested supreme court seats leads the pack, with more than $1.4 million in spending by candidates and an outside group. Since October 4, ten outside groups have spent a combined $1.2 million in six states, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, and Kansas, according to an analysis of state disclosures and television and radio contracts filed with the FCC. The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC), a group dedicated to electing Republicans in down-ballot races, is the single largest outside spender so far this fall, having spent an estimated $595,500 in Ohio. The RSLC also contributed an additional $50,000 to another outside group in Montana, and donated $43,000 in-kind for polling and research. To date, the RSLC has spent nearly $3.9 million during the 2015-16 cycle, including in off-cycle races in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, a record for judicial election spending by the organization. Story continues And, as always, campaign finance is the issue that is tangled in every other issue in one way or another. For example, several states including the Commonwealth (God Save It!) have ballot questions regarding charter schools. Needless to say, the usual suspects are ladling the cash into the judicial elections in those states that have a charter-school question down the ballot a ways from the place where you vote for judges. Fights over charter schools and education funding have bled into supreme court races in Washington and Louisiana this year. In Louisiana, a new PAC, Citizens for Judicial Excellence, has spent $78,255 on television ad buys for the general election. The group is principally funded by local businessman Lane Grigsby, a charter school supporter who has previously spent money on school board races and contributed to a pro-charter school group, Stand for Children. A lawsuit challenging public funding of charter schools in Louisiana is currently working its way through the court system, suggesting one possible reason for Grigsby's interest. Likewise, in Washington, the supreme court primary included $130,000 in outside spending from Stand for Children WA PAC, which is funded by charter school supporters. In 2015, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that charter schools could not receive public funds, and the legislature recently passed a new charter school law. Because none of you arrived here on a turnip wagon, you will note the happy correlation between court rulings adverse to the charter movement and money flowing in to elect new judges who can be counted upon to rule the other way. And, as you might expect, the Brennan Center finds that the whisper of hope that the Republicans might be interested in criminal-justice reform has blown away like smoke from burning autumn leaves. Willie Horton is alive and well in judicial elections. In Kansas, Kansans for Justice has begun running an ad discussing a case in which the Kansas Supreme Court vacated the death sentences of two convicted murderers, Jonathan and Reginald Carr, and sent their cases back to the lower court for further hearings and a new sentencing. The U.S. Supreme Court subsequently reversed the state court's decision. The ad features the families of the victims, and states that "The Kansas Supreme Court is out of control." Kansans for Fair Courts, which supports the justices' retention, has also aired an ad, highlighting that the justices "upheld the death penalty and kept us safe." Neither organization discloses its donors. (Ed. Note: Jesus, Kansas. No mas, OK? You want to be free-range lunatics, have at it. We surrender.) In Montana, a group called StopSetEmFreeSandefur.com put out an ad accusing Dirk Sandefur, a district court judge, of refusing "to give prison time to two child pornographers...[giving] a mere seven year sentence to a man guilty of repeatedly raping a ten year old girl...and [giving] no prison time to a man convicted of sexually assaulting a toddler [while] holding a gun to the child's head." The ads fail to reference that each of these sentences reflected plea bargains. The group is funded by the Republican State Leadership Committee, which receives most of its support from business interests. Ah, you say, why would an organization funded by "business interests" throw money into a race involving sex offenders in Montana? Why, to rile up the rubes, of course, and to make sure that the judges they elect over the bodies of abused children also will be reliable votes for whatever economic and environmental pillaging in which the "business interests" might want to engage. [contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="The%20Issue%20in%20Our%20Judicial%20System%20Nobody%20Wants%20to%20Talk%20About" customimages="" content="article.45802"] By all accounts, for example, Sandefur is an exemplary jurist. And while Montana judicial elections are officially nonpartisan, Sandefur has been endorsed by the state's largest environmental group while his opponent, law professor Kristen Juras, has been feted by the Montana Gas and Oil PAC. In addition, thanks to the indomitable Montana Cowgirl blog, we find that Juras is a strange species of duck. Juras is a conservative in a liberal town (Missoula) who first made waves in 2009 when she tried to put an end to a sex advice column that ran weekly in the Montana Kaimin, the UM campus newspaper. The column, tame by today's standards, was written by a female student and offered candid sexual advice on such topics as vibrators or "kinky gift ideas for Valentine's day." The prim Juras apparently got bad vibrations from reading the column, and so she stormed into the President's office to demand that the column be censored. She felt that at most, a column that addresses sexuality should deal only with sexual health issues, which in her mind meant discussing things like abstinence only or the dangers of premarital sex. Most of the professors on campus just laughed and shrugged at the college column and at Juras. But to Juras, a self appointed morality cop, the column was an affront to society. Not only that, but as the MC blog further points out, Juras comes from a long line of people who believe in the basic Romney Code-namely, that the world is divided into Romneys and The Help. Montana's stream access laws are among the most valuable treasures possessed by the citizens of Montana and the millions of people who visit our state each year. For over a quarter century, our State's stream access laws have been under attack by out of state billionaire landowners and those who loath the public trust. Professor Kristen Juras is among those who would seek to curtail or even eliminate Montana citizens' right to use and enjoy Montana rivers and streams. Professor Juras' family has a history of opposing and attacking Montana's stream access law. Professor Juras has hidden the fact that she is the niece of Jack Galt. In the mid 1980s, Jack Galt sued the State of Montana, asking the court to declare Montana's stream access law unconstitutional and to block access to one of Montana's greatest treasures, the Smith River. More recently, Juras' cousin, Bill Galt, referred to those of us who enjoy Montana's stream access laws as thieves. So what we have here is a campaign financed by anonymous out of state money that tries to smear a good judge as a friend to pedophiles on behalf of a woman who got her waders into a twist over a college sex column, who is a friend to the extraction industries, and whose family managed to get crossways with the fisherman's lobby in Montana. Butsex offenders!!!!! AIEEEEE!!!!! Yeah, she's perfect. God, an elected judiciary is a terrible idea. Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page. You Might Also Like Writing about her struggles with alcohol was not easy for Elizabeth Vargas. Last month, the 20/20 anchor released Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction, the poignant and powerful story about her longtime battle with alcoholism and anxiety. It was scary to write this book and tell this story, she tells PEOPLE. I imagined every terrible scenario possible. But, she adds, None of the things I was worrying about happened. Only amazing things have happened. Since the books debut, I have people stopping me every single day, she says. I had somebody stop me the other day who said she was at an AA meeting in Italy and they were talking about my book at the meeting. It makes me feel so grateful. This is a gift I have been given and the reaction has been so lovely. Vargas spoke to PEOPLE Tuesday night in Manhattanat at the 2016 gala she hosted for The Samaritan Daytop Foundation, a human services agency with programs including treatment for substance abuse and services for veterans, seniors and the homeless. She says she will never forget how other people lifted her up when she was at her lowest point in her battle with alcoholism and how she is doing the same. One of the things we learn in recovery is that there were people there to save us, she says. So to be able to turn around and do that for someone else is really important. Its our way of paying it forward. While onstage, she told the audience she was fortunate to have had the resources to seek the help she needed to battle the disease. But so many people dont have those resources and thats why we are here tonight to make sure people who just want a fair shot in getting better get that chance to lead a fulfilling and happy addiction-free life. One in five families in the United States are impacted by substance abuse, says Sheila Greene, who is vice president of communications and external affairs for The Samaritan Daytop Foundation. We have helped thousands of people reclaim their lives, she said. Our goal is to get people to support this important work. Elon Musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk said when its factory looks like an "alien dreadnought," it will be ready to support mass production of the Model 3, he said during Tesla's third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday night. Musk said Tesla is placing increased focus on its factory ahead of Model 3 production. Deliveries of the $35,000 Model 3 are scheduled to begin at the end of 2017, and a year's worth of Model 3 cars are already sold out. There were over 400,000 pre-orders for the Model 3 in the 10 days after Tesla unveiled the car. Tesla will have to handle production of its new Model 3 on top of its existing Model S and Model X production. "Our internal code name for the factory, the machine that builds the machine, is the alien dreadnought," Musk said on the call. "[When] our factory looks like an alien dreadnought, then we know its probably right." Musk said with Model 3 production, the factory will be at "alien dreadnought 0.5" in terms of advancements made to the production line. "And then it will take us another year or so, I dont know, summer 2018, to actually get to alien dreadnought version 1," Musk said. 'Production hell' Tesla Factory Tesla has experienced severe production issues in the past, most notably with the Model X, which suffered delays that pushed back deliveries to the second half of 2016. Musk has been vocal about the production issues Tesla suffered in the first half of 2016. "We were in production hell," he said during the company's second-quarter earnings call. "We climbed out of hell in June." Musk has gone so far as to sleep in the Fremont, California factory to personally inspect vehicles as they come off the production line. "My desk is at the end of the production line," Musk said during the company's first-quarter earnings call. "I have a sleeping bag in a conference room next to the manufacturing production line that I use quite frequently." Tesla's factory has the capacity to build 500,000 vehicles a year, but currently only produces a fraction of that. Tesla is maintaining its full-year guidance of delivering 80,000 to 90,000 vehicles by the end of this year. Story continues Tesla uses 580 giant robot arms to assemble the Model S and Model X cars. But Musk is focused on automating even more of the manufacturing process as he looks to ramp up production. In a September interview with Y Combinator's Sam Altman, Musk said he is looking to improve the speed of Tesla's production line. "I think we are ... in terms of the extra velocity of vehicles on the line, it's probably about, including both X and S, it's maybe five centimeters per second. This is very slow," he said. Musk then added he was "confident" Tesla can get a twentyfold increase of that speed. But we'll have to see if Tesla's "alien dreadnought" improvements pan out. NOW WATCH: Everything we know about the Tesla Model 3 More From Business Insider By Florence Tan SINGAPORE (Reuters) - France's Engie (ENGIE.PA), the world's largest independent power producer, is rolling out natural gas and renewable power projects across Asia-Pacific as it gradually exits coal-fired power generation in the region. "We will go to low carbon solutions ... it's not sure that coal power plants will remain sustainable for (the next) 30 years," Engie Asia Pacific's President and Chief Executive Officer Jan Flachet told Reuters. Renewables accounted for more than half of net annual additions to power capacity and overtook coal in terms of cumulative installed capacity in the world for the first time in 2015, the International Energy Agency said this week. "This market evolution has had a huge impact on the energy market," Flachet said, with Engie investing in technologies such as geothermal, biomass and hydrogen storage, as well as solar and wind. Natural gas would remain important to resolve intermittent power generation issues from renewables, he said. In Indonesia, which has struggled to meet strong demand growth for electricity demand as projects stall over license or land clearance issues, Engie has submitted a bid to build a 150-megawatt (MW) gas-fired power project in Riau province in a government tender, Flachet said. It expects to start construction next year at a 100MW geothermal power plant in Rantau Dedap, south Sumatra, the first of three such projects, he said, with more tenders for power projects to come. The company is also in talks with state power company PLN over feed-in tariffs for two solar projects of 200MW and plans to tap on biomass such as bamboo and palm oil waste to generate electricity, he said. To power up islands in the Philippines, Indonesia and remote areas in Australia, Engie is developing solar-hydrogen storage that will be competitive enough to replace diesel generators, Flachet said. In Myanmar, Engie hopes to capitalise on its huge growth potential for electricity, although the country will first have to install a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, he said. Story continues Engie also has a 50MW wind power project in Mongolia, he said. In Australia, meanwhile, Engie is considering a sale of its 70 percent stake in the 1000 megawatt (MW) Loy Yang B plant and may close its 50-year-old Hazelwood unit, Flachet said. It also expects to complete by end-2016 the sale of a 40 percent stake in Indonesia's largest coal-fired power generator PT Paiton Energy to an international investor, he said. (Reporting by Florence Tan; Editing by Richard Pullin) Visits to the emergency room for alcohol intoxication in the United States have increased by more than 50 percent over the past decade, a new study finds. What's more, ER visits tied to alcohol are taking up an increasing portion of hospital resources, and are requiring longer hospital stays than in the past, the researchers said. "These visits place a strain on the U.S. emergency care system and represent a public health problem," the researchers, from The George Washington University's Center for Healthcare Innovation and Policy Research, wrote in the Oct. 7 issue of the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism. There is a need for more attention to efforts to identify and reduce problematic drinking, which could also help to reduce alcohol-related ER visits, they said. [7 Ways Alcohol Affects Your Health] In the study, the researchers analyzed information from a national survey of U.S. hospitals, called the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, which includes information about ER visits. They looked at ER visits in which the patient received a diagnosis of alcohol intoxication or alcohol abuse. In addition, patients were included in the study if the reason for their ER visit was listed as "alcohol-related problems," "adverse effects of alcohol," "alcoholism" or "alcohol detoxification." Such visits could include cases in which a patient was injured because he or she was intoxicated. From 2010 to 2011, there were an estimated 3.8 million ER visits related to alcohol intoxication. That's up from about 2.4 million visits in the years 2001 to 2002, the study found. The total number of hours that patients spent in the ER for alcohol-related visits more than doubled during the study period, the research found. As a proportion of total ER hours spent caring for all patients, alcohol-related visits made up 3 percent in 2011, up from 2.2 percent in 2001, the researchers said. Story continues The researchers also found that the use of CT scans or MRI machines for alcohol-related ER visits increased during the study period. During the years 2001 to 2002, 11.5 percent of alcohol-related ER visits used CT/MRI scans, but in 2010 to 2011, that increased to 38.2 percent. Such scans may be used to check for head injuries in patients with alcohol intoxication, the researchers said, but there is a concern that these scans which can be expensive and time-consuming are being overused. A recent study found that the percentage of CT scans that actually lead to a diagnosis are declining, meaning that doctors are using CT scans more often but aren't detecting more health problems. There is also a concern that exposure to radiation from CT scans can increase the risk of cancer. The overall length of a stay for alcohol-related ER visits increased by 16 percent, from about 5 hours in 2001 to 2002 to 5.8 hours in 2010 to 2011. This rise is likely due to an increase in the intensity of care that patients with alcohol intoxication received in the ER, said study co-author Peter Mullins, a medical student and public health researcher at The George Washington University. Factors such as increased use of CT/MRI scans, and IV (intravenous) fluids (which also saw a rise during the study period) can contribute to longer stays in the ER, Mullins said. It's also common for doctors to allow patients to metabolize the alcohol and show they are sober before being discharged, which can also require a significant amount of time in some cases, he said. Still, "given the number of hours these patients spend in the [emergency department], these visits represent an opportunity for intervention on the part of emergency providers," the researchers wrote. One tool to reduce problem drinking is called the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) tool, in which a health care provider assesses a patient for risky substance use, engages him or her in a short conversation and provides a referral for patients who need additional treatment. But this tool is used mostly in primary care offices, rather than the ER. Efforts to improve the effectiveness of the SBIRT tool, and to figure out the best approach for using it in the ER, "are likely to result in a cost-effective intervention," the researchers said. Other interventions, such as follow-up phone calls to patients after they leave the ER, could help reinforce the counseling they received in the ER and promote follow-up treatment, the researchers said. The reason for the rise in alcohol-related ER visits is not known. The findings are "particularly striking," given that previous research has found a decrease in binge-drinking behavior in the United States during the same time period, Mullins said. Future research could study more specifically why these patients are ending up in the ER, he said. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations HBO Documentary Films will present director Erin Lee Carr's new true-crime documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest in March, it was announced Thursday. In her last film, Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop, Carr explored the case of Gilberto Valle, who was dubbed the "Cannibal Cop" by the New York tabloids. In her new film, she takes on another case that triggered lurid headlines, the case of Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Blanchard, who lived with her ailing, wheelchair-bound daughter, Gypsy Rose, was found stabbed to death in her home in Springfield, Mo., in June 2015, and her daughter was charged with the crime, which led investigators to discover a pattern of deception that involved child abuse and mental illness. The film, which includes exclusive prison access to Gypsy Rose, also examines the psychological condition known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy. "I am thrilled to be back at home with the team at HBO to bring this incredibly complex case and tragic story to audiences," said Carr. In addition to directing Mommy Dead and Dearest, Carr produced the film along with Andrew Rossi. For HBO, Sara Bernstein served as senior producer, and Sheila Nevins was executive producer. By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Parliament awarded its Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought on Thursday to two Iraqi Yazidi women who were held as sex slaves by Islamic State militants and now campaign for human rights. Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar were among thousands of women and girls abducted, tortured and sexually abused by Islamic State fighters after the militants rounded up Yazidis in the village of Kocho, near Sinjar in northwest Iraq, in 2014. The Yazidi are a religious sect whose beliefs combine elements of several ancient Middle Eastern religions. Islamic State considers them devil-worshippers. "This is a very symbolic and significant decision to support these two survivors who came to Europe as refugees and found shelter in the European Union," European Parliament president Martin Schulz told a news conference after the announcement. He added the prize meant the parliament was now supporting them in their fight not only for dignity but to give testimony as witnesses to atrocities. The prize is 50,000 euros ($54,595), with an award ceremony scheduled for December. Islamic State insurgents overran Sinjar in August 2014, systematically killing, capturing and enslaving thousands of Yazidi inhabitants Murad, now aged 23, was held by IS in Mosul but escaped her captors in November 2014, reached a refugee camp and eventually made her way to Germany. She has since become active as an advocate for the Yazidis, and refugee and women's rights in general, as well as campaigning against human trafficking. She has briefed the U.N. Security Council on the problem of human trafficking and last month launched Nadia's Initiative to help victims of genocide. She has called for the massacre of Yazidis to be recognized as genocide. Bashar, 18, was captured in the same raid as Murad and also kept as a sex slave by IS. She escaped in March but was badly disfigured and blinded in one eye when a landmine went off as she fled. Two companions were killed. She now lives in Germany, where she has undergone treatment for her wounds, and works as an advocate for the Yazidis. GENOCIDE Mass Yazidi graves have been uncovered in the area north of Sinjar mountain, which was taken from IS in Dec. 2014. Kurdish forces retook Sinjar town in November 2014 in a two-day offensive backed by air strikes from a U.S.-led coalition U.N. investigators said in a report in June that Islamic State is committing genocide against the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq to destroy the religious community of 400,000 people through killings, sexual slavery and other crimes. Such a designation, rare under international law, would mark the first recognized genocide carried out by non-state actors, rather than a state or paramilitaries acting on its behalf. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after the late Russian dissident and scientist Andrei Sakharov is awarded each year by the European Parliament. Set up in 1988, it honors individuals and organizations defending human rights and basic freedoms. Murad and Aji Bashar were selected by Schulz and political group leaders from a shortlist with two more political nominees. The others were Can Dundar, a leading Turkish journalist sentenced to six years in prison for publishing state secrets involving Ankara's Syria operation, and Mustafa Dzhemilev, a senior Crimean Tartar politician and human rights activist banned by Russia from entering the annexed Crimea peninsular. Last year, the prize went to Raif Badawi, a blogger from Saudi Arabia serving a prison sentence for insulting Islam. ($1 = 0.9158 euros) (Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop, Marilyn Haigh and Julia Fioretti; Editing by Jon Boyle) Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - Two Yazidi women who survived a nightmare ordeal of kidnapping, rape and slavery at the hands of Islamic State jihadists won the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize on Thursday. Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar have become figureheads for the effort to protect the Yazidis, followers of an ancient religion with more than half a million believers concentrated in northern Iraq. "They have a painful and tragic story" but "they felt compelled to survive to bear witness," European Parliament chief Martin Schulz told the assembly in Strasbourg. "The courage of these two women, the dignity they represent defies all description." Murad hailed the prize as a "profound message to the ISIS terrorist group that their criminal inhumanity is condemned and their victims are honored by the free world". In a statement she said the award told "our people and particularly to the more than 6,700 women, girls, and children who became victims of slavery and human trafficking under ISIS, that the genocide will not be repeated". According to UN experts, around 3,200 Yazidis are currently being held by IS, the majority of them in war-ravaged Syria. Bestowed annually, the award is named after the dissident Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov, who died in 1989, and honours individuals who combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression, often falling foul of their governments as a result. The prize, worth 50,000 euros ($55,000), will be presented at a ceremony on December 14 in Strasbourg. Murad, a slight, softly spoken young woman, was taken by IS from her home village of Kocho near Iraq's northern town of Sinjar in August 2014 and brought to the city of Mosul. As a captive of the reviled extremist group, Murad, now 23, said she was tortured and raped. Bashar, who was just 16 when she was taken and is also from Kocho, witnessed family and friends being slaughtered by IS jihadists before being enslaved and sold. Story continues After 20 months in captivity she escaped but then fell into the hands of an Iraqi hospital director who also abused and raped her and several other victims. - Lived through a nightmare - In a final tragedy, Bashar suffered horrific burns to her face and lost her right eye when one of her friends stepped on a landmine following their flight from the hospital director. The 2014 massacre perpetrated against the Yazidis by IS fighters in Sinjar forced tens of thousands to flee and left an already vulnerable community under perilous threat. UN investigators have said the IS assault on the Yazidis was a premeditated effort to exterminate an entire community -- crimes that amount to genocide. In speeches and interviews, Murad has voiced deep frustration with the international community for abandoning her people in the hands of grotesquely violent criminals. Bashar said in a voicemail message left with Mirza Dinnayi, founder of the German-Iraqi aid group Air Bridge Iraq: "I am so happy about the prize because I won it in the name of the Yazidi victims. "It is important that the world does not forget the women and children imprisoned by IS and that such crimes are not perpetrated against anyone," she said in Kurdish. Dinnayi, who has been looking after Bashar since her arrival in Germany in April, translated the message into German. Last year, the European Parliament awarded the prize to Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi, jailed for "insulting" Islam. Past winners include Pakistani education campaigner Malala Yousafzai, late South African rights icon Nelson Mandela and Myanmar activist Aung San Suu Kyi. Exiled Turkish journalist Can Dundar and Crimean Tatar activist Mustafa Dzhemilev were also shortlisted for the prestigious award. Separately, the EU assembly called on Turkey to free all journalists detained without solid evidence, saying in a resolution that the failed coup in July should not serve as a pretext to silence the media and opposition. Eversource Energy ES is set to report third-quarter 2016 results before the opening bell on Nov 2. Last quarter, the company reported earnings in line with estimates, bringing the average negative surprise to 2.24% for the trailing four quarters. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors at Play Above-average temperatures in its service territories Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the third quarter are expected to drive top-line growth at Eversource Energy. The company is primarily engaged in the transmission and distribution of electricity and natural gas. During the second quarter, the company received the Connecticut Siting Councils approval for a new $50 million transmission line, located west of Hartford, along with a series of improvements in the Bloomfield-Windsor area, north of Hartford. The company is expected to have started construction of both the projects in the to-be-reported quarter. EVERSOURCE EGY Price and EPS Surprise EVERSOURCE EGY Price and EPS Surprise | EVERSOURCE EGY Quote Further, at the beginning of the third quarter, the company received an approval from the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee for the Merrimack Valley Reliability Project. As per the projects terms, Eversource Energy and National Grid will jointly build an overhead transmission line in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Construction of the project has likely begun by now. Moreover, on Jul 1, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved Eversource Energys comprehensive settlement with numerous state officials and other parties to divest the Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) power plant. The agreement is focused on providing customer savings and resolving other related issues currently under review by state regulators. The New Hampshire PUC will now select an auction advisor to assist in the sale of the plants. Management had earlier announced its expectation of a final selection in Sep 2016. Story continues On the flip side, Eversource Energys strategic development opportunities in both the electric and natural gas transmission markets may not be successful and projects may not commence operations or be completed on schedule, which could have a material impact on its business prospects. Long-term projects could be postponed due to various factors like a delay in regulatory approval processes, new legislation, difficulties in obtaining required rights of way, and design and siting issues. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Eversource Energy is likely to beat earnings this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy) or #3 (Hold) to be able to beat consensus estimates. However, that is not the case here, as you will see below. Zacks ESP: The Most Accurate estimate stands at 78 cents while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 80 cents, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -2.50%. Please check our Earnings ESP Filter that enables you to find stocks that are expected to come out with earnings surprises. Zacks Rank: Although Eversource Energys Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP, its negative ESP makes surprise prediction difficult. Note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks to Consider Here are some stocks in the utility-electric power space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this season: Pattern Energy Group, Inc. PEGI is slated to report second-quarter 2016 results on Nov 7. The company has an Earnings ESP of +16.67% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Avista Corp. AVA has an Earnings ESP of +4.76% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is slated to report third-quarter 2016 results on Nov 1. Ameren Corporation AEE has an Earnings ESP of +2.90% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is slated to announce third-quarter 2016 earnings on Nov 4. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AMEREN CORP (AEE): Free Stock Analysis Report AVISTA CORP (AVA): Free Stock Analysis Report EVERSOURCE EGY (ES): Free Stock Analysis Report PATTERN ENERGY (PEGI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. YouTube To recap quickly: Impact Wrestling is in a whole bunch of financial trouble, they need to sell the company, they owe money to everyone and theyre being sued by TNA President Billy Corgan. Corgans lawsuit is largely an attempt to wrest control of TNA away from Dixie Carter, and to that end, the two sides met in court on Wednesday for a hearing. Corgan himself was not in attendance on Wednesday and was represented by his attorney, Scott Sims. Carter was in attendance, and she and TNA were represented by attorney Travis Parham. This particular hearing was to argue the two sides of the crux of the lawsuit, which is whether TNA is insolvent and if so, whether their agreement (which Corgan claims was to turn over Carters stake in the company over to Corgan in the event of insolvency, as per the terms of a loan) is binding. TNA tried to make the case that Corgan entered into the agreement in bad faith and acted as a predatory loan shark, knowing full well the status of the company and providing his loan expressly to force the leverage of this hostile takeover. Corgans attorney insisted his client made the loan attempting to help the company, but was kept in the dark about the true state of the company by Carter and others. The entire day of the hearing was reported on by the invaluable Nate Rau of The Tennesseean. He live-tweeted the hearing, and then concisely boiled everything down in his article about the days events. Corgans attorney, Scott Sims, argued that his client staved off creditors and gave TNA the cash flow it needed to pay for productions on two occasions in 2016. As part of those loan deals, Corgan rose to the title of president, but he wasnt given operating control of TNA. For the third loan, Corgan entered into a loan agreement with Carter in which he would gain her board of directors voting rights 92.5 percent if the company became insolvent. In court on Wednesday, Sims argued that TNA is insolvent and fails the cash flow test because it cant pay its bills. There are two legal questions in front of Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle, who is considering whether to grant a temporary injunction that would effectively grant control of TNA to Corgan. The first is whether such a loan agreement is legal under Tennessee law. The second is whether TNA is insolvent. Parham, TNAs lawyer, insists that a loan agreement of the type Corgan is suggesting is illegal, and thus the question of insolvency is irrelevant. Legal experts have suggested that Corgan has an edge in this lawsuit, as the judge has granted a retraining order preventing TNA from selling any equity or assets until this matter is resolved, which suggests his argument has merit. Chancellor Hobbs is expected to make a ruling on Monday. If she decides in favor of Corgan, he will effectively be awarded complete control of Impact Wrestling. If TNA wins the case, Corgan is expected to pursue other avenues of litigation to recoup his loan. By Alissa de Carbonnel BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will lift a cap on Friday that curtails Gazprom's use of its Nord Stream pipeline link with Germany, European Union sources said, removing a hurdle for Russia's plan to double the pipeline and bypass Ukraine as a gas transit route. Together with a separate move to settle an antitrust case against Gazprom, the resolution of key disputes with Moscow angers some EU nations who want a tougher stance towards Russia over its military engagement in Ukraine and Syria. Friday's decision on Opal, which provides a land link from Russia's undersea Nord Stream pipeline to Germany and the Czech Republic, allows Gazprom (GAZP.MM) to reroute more of its gas supplies now going through Ukraine to Europe. Under the exemption from EU competition law, Russia's state gas exporter will retain access to 50 percent of the pipeline. But it will gain the right to bid at auction to pump more gas via another 30 to 40 percent, sources said. At least 10 percent and as much as 20 percent of Opal must be available to other suppliers in case of demand, they said. Since its completion in 2011, Gazprom has only been allowed to use 50 percent of Opal's 36 billion cubic meters of annual capacity, under an EU ruling to prevent energy suppliers from dominating infrastructure. In giving ground on Opal, the Commission is seeking guarantees Gazprom will retain transit through Ukraine after it contract expires in 2019, an EU source said. It also wants three-way talks with Kiev over winter transits, the source said. European energy chief Maros Sefcovic said on Thursday he was "making a maximum effort" to broker a deal between Russia and Ukraine to ensure uninterrupted gas supplies for Ukraine this winter. "So far we haven't been successful, but I plan to meet with the Russia partner soon," Sefcovic told Reuters. Striking a conciliatory tone, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia was ready to resume gas supplies to Ukraine at "any second" if Kiev agreed to pre-pay for supplies. Story continues NORD STREAM 2 Clearing Opal's legal limbo is key to plans by Gazprom, which supplies around a third of the EU's gas, to expand the pipeline in a 9.9 billion-euro project known as Nord Stream 2. With Russia's gas routes to Europe increasingly politicised since its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, many eastern European countries and the United States have opposed the project. They argued it would undermine Ukraine's efforts to reform its economy by sidelining it as a transit route, depriving Kiev of billions of dollars in transit fees. Before Friday's decision, the Polish state-owned gas company PGNiG (PGN.WA) threatened to sue the Commission over the Opal decision, saying it threatened energy security. The decision will be applicable until 2033 and be binding on Germany's energy regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur. It modifies an exemption proposed by Germany in May that would have allowed Gazprom full access to the pipeline. "We are taking a cautionary approach. We are not trading in a void or inflicting ourselves a wound when we could be taking a stronger stance on Russia," an EU source said. EU approval of Nord Stream 2 is still in doubt, the source said. Gazprom's partners in the Nord Stream-2 project are Uniper , Wintershall (BASFn.DE), Shell (RDSa.L), OMV (OMVV.VI) and Engie (ENGIE.PA). But the company has said it will consider cancelling the agreement with European partners after Poland's anti-monopoly watchdog objected to the consortium which was to finance, build and operate the new pipeline. (Additional reporting by Tatiana Jancarikova in Bratislava, editing by Larry King) Independent natural gas producer EXCO Resources Inc. XCO is set to release its third-quarter 2016 results after the closing bell on Tuesday, Nov 1. In the preceding three-month period, the Dallas, TX-based upstream player delivered a positive earnings surprise of 28.57% in spite of challenges associated with a steep drop in oil price. This was primarily owing to effective cost-control measures. In terms of earnings surprise history, the company has an excellent record. It surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters with an average beat of 33.20%. EXCO RESOURCES Price and EPS Surprise EXCO RESOURCES Price and EPS Surprise | EXCO RESOURCES Quote Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors to Consider This Quarter The third quarter saw natural gas advancing around 25% sequentially. Natural gas futures during the JulSep 2016 period hovered mostly between $2.5 per million Btu (MMBtu)and $3 per MMBtu. Given that the commodity makes up for around 90% of EXCO Resources total production, the improvement in pricing bodes well for the company. Moreover, the companys successful cost-reduction initiatives are expected to cushion the results to a large extent. The companys efforts to improve liquidity and restructure the balance sheet to enhance capital structure are also expected to have a positive impact on the quarterly results. However, EXCO Resources core operational region the Haynesville shale has seen a drastic fall in the number of gas rigs employed. Production is likely to suffer as a result. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that EXCO Resources will beat estimates this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to be able to beat consensus estimates. Please check our Earnings ESP Filter that enables you to find stocks that are expected to come out with earnings surprises. Story continues That is not the case here as you will see below. Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is 0.00%. Zacks Rank: EXCO Resources has a Zacks Rank #3. Though a Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP, the companys ESP of 0.00% makes surprise prediction difficult. We caution against Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Ranks #4 and 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks to Consider While earnings beat looks uncertain for EXCO Resources, here are some firms from the energy space you may want to consider on the basis of our model, which shows that they have the right combination of elements to post earnings beat this quarter: W&T Offshore Inc. WTI has an Earnings ESP of +11.63% and a Zacks Rank #1. The company is expected to release earnings results on Nov 2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Devon Energy Corp. DVN has an Earnings ESP of +20.00% and a Zacks Rank #2. The partnership is anticipated to release earnings on Nov 1. Comstock Resources Inc. CRK has an Earnings ESP of +3.74% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is likely to release earnings on Nov 8. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report DEVON ENERGY (DVN): Free Stock Analysis Report COMSTOCK RESOUR (CRK): Free Stock Analysis Report W&T OFFSHORE (WTI): Free Stock Analysis Report EXCO RESOURCES (XCO): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Oct 27 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned aircraft from flying over an area in North Dakota where protesters are demonstrating against the construction of a $3.8 billion oil pipeline. The Temporary Flight Restriction, issued by the FAA on Wednesday, bars any aircraft other than those belonging to law enforcement from flying within a 4-nautical-mile radius of the town of Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The town is located near a site where a section of the Dakota Access pipeline would be buried underneath the Missouri River. The restriction is effective until Nov. 5 because of "hazards," which were not specified in the advisory. A spokesman for the FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe and environmental activists have been protesting construction of the 1,172-mile (1,886 km)pipeline for several months, saying it threatens the water supply and historical tribal sacred sites. Dozens of protesters have been arrested near the pipeline. Native American protesters on Monday occupied privately owned land in the path of the proposed pipeline, claiming they were the land's rightful owners under an 1851 treaty with the U.S. government. The group of protesters refused to move after being asked to do so by law enforcement on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Morton County Sheriff's Department. A spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff also did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson and actor Mark Ruffalo this week joined the demonstrations that have already drawn considerable celebrity support. The pipeline, being built by a group of companies led by Energy Transfer Partners LP, would offer the fastest and most direct route available so far to bring Bakken shale oil from North Dakota to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Supporters say it would also be safer and more cost-effective than transporting the oil by road or rail. (Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Tom Brown) (Reuters) - Police in North Dakota began clearing a group of Native American and environmental protesters from an encampment near an oil pipeline construction site on Thursday in a move that could escalate tensions in a standoff that has lasted several months. The police moved in on the protesters camped on private property near the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline about 11:15 a.m., according to a statement from the Morton County Sheriff's Department. Police were also removing roadblocks set up by the demonstrators, but Donnell Preskey, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's department, said protesters had lit some blockades on fire. Law enforcement used a sound cannon in a effort to force protesters to move, Preskey said by telephone. There had not been any arrests on Thursday and the number of protesters at the site was unknown, Preskey added. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said in a statement on Thursday that authorities had been forced to respond after protesters "escalated unlawful behavior" over the weekend, which he said included setting up illegal roadblocks, trespassing and establishing an encampment. Photos from the sheriff's department showed a line of dozens of heavily armed police standing alongside two armored vehicles. The 1,172-mile (1,885-km) pipeline, being built by a group of companies led by Energy Transfer Partners LP, would offer the fastest and most direct route to bring Bakken shale oil from North Dakota to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries. Supporters say it would be safer and more cost-effective than transporting the oil by road or rail. But the pipeline has drawn the ire of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and environmental activists who say it threatens the water supply and sacred tribal sites. They have been protesting for several months, and dozens have been arrested. On Monday, Native American protesters occupied privately owned land in the path of the proposed pipeline, saying they were the land's rightful owners under an 1851 treaty with the U.S. government. Members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe asked Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Thursday to oppose the pipeline. She has so far not taken a public position on the issue. The Federal Aviation Administration has suspended aircraft from flying over the area affected by the protests. The restriction, issued on Wednesday, bars any aircraft other than those belonging to law enforcement from flying within a radius of 4 nautical miles of Cannon Ball, located about 50 miles (80 km) south of the state capital, Bismarck. (Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington; Editing by Paul Simao and Peter Cooney) Aviation Medical Examiners will Receive Additional Training to Allow them to Spot Possible Signs of Mental Stress in Pilots NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2016 / The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announced it is undertaking efforts to urge pilots to seek help for mental health issues. The announcement came about one year after the tragic Germanwings plane crash that claimed 150 lives. Investigators believe the pilot in that crash intentionally downed the plane while experiencing a mental health crisis. If you have been injured in an airline accident, or you have lost someone you love in an airline crash, speak to a New York City airline accident lawyer today. FAA Focus on Pilot Self-Reporting As reported by USA Today, the FAA stopped short of changing rules created after the September 11 attacks - rules that require pilots to lock the cockpit door, which some argue prevents crew members or passengers from accessing a pilot who is showing signs of a mental disturbance. The FAA also declined to make psychological testing mandatory for pilots. According to FAA administrator Michael Huerta, the FAA would like to see a culture in which pilots self-report when they are experiencing mental health problems. Huerta also said that aviation medical examiners will receive additional training to allow them to spot possible signs of mental stress in pilots. Under current FAA rules, pilots must undergo a medical exam once a year, and pilots age 40 and older receive a medical exam every six months. The FAA's deputy federal air surgeon dismissed specific psychological testing as a "snapshot" of a pilot's mental health on the day of testing and said it wouldn't be effective. A FedEx pilot with 30 years' experience and a representative of the Air Line Pilots Association agreed with the FAA's decision, saying that said pilots are checked regularly for signs of mental stress. He also commented that pilots "are the most scrutinized profession in the world." Story continues Although mental health-related crashes are rare, they attract a great deal of attention when they occur. In two other cases - a 1999 EgyptAir Flight in Massachusetts and a 1997 SilkAir Flight in Indonesia - crash investigators say there was evidence of the pilots fighting for control of the aircraft prior to the crash. New York City Airline Accident Law Firm If you have been injured in an airline accident, or you have lost a loved one in an airline crash, you probably have a lot of questions about your options and your legal rights. In these tragic cases, it's important to work with a lawyer who regularly handles complex airline accident cases. In most cases, it's important to act quickly. Don't wait to speak to a lawyer about your case. Call New York City aviation accident lawyer, Jonathan C. Reiter, to get a free case evaluation today. You can reach us through our online contact form, or by calling 866-324-9211. Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm, PLLC The Empire State Building 350 5th Avenue #6400 New York, NY 10118 T: (212) 736-0979 Facebook Source: http://injuryaccidentnews.jcreiterlaw.com/2016/10/25/faa-wants-pilots-get-mental-health-checks/ SOURCE: Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm, PLLC via Submit Press Release 123 Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - Iraq's Yazidi minority is in the spotlight Thursday after two women from the community won the European Parliament's Sakharov human rights prize. Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar have spearheaded a movement to protect Yazidis, followers of an ancient religion with more than half a million Kurdish-speaking believers concentrated in northern Iraq. Here are some facts about the Yazidis: - Ancient faith - Mainly living in remote corners of Iraqi Kurdistan, the Yazidis adhere to a faith that emerged in Mesopotamia more than 4,000 years ago. It is rooted in Zoroastrianism but has over time integrated elements of Islam and Christianity. Yazidis pray to God facing the sun and worship his seven angels -- the most important of which is Melek Taus, or Peacock Angel. - Forced to flee - Of the world's 1.5 million Yazidis, the largest community is in Iraq -- comprising 550,000 people according to the Iraqi Kurdistan government. Of these, some 400,000 have been displaced by fighting with the jihadist Islamic State. Around 1,500 have been killed and nearly 4,000 are in captivity. A few thousand more are in Syria, Turkey, Armenia and Georgia. They are mostly impoverished farmers and herders. The United Nations has estimated that around 3,200 Yazidis are currently in the hands of the Islamic State, mainly in Syria. - Unique beliefs - Yazidis discourage marriage outside the community and even across their caste system. Their unique beliefs and practices -- some are known to refrain from eating lettuce and wearing the colour blue -- have often been misconstrued as satanic. Orthodox Muslims consider the Peacock a demon figure and refer to Yazidis as devil-worshippers. - Persecuted minority - As non-Arab and non-Muslim Iraqis, Yazidis have long been one of Iraq's most vulnerable minorities. Persecution by Saddam Hussein forced thousands of families to flee the country. Germany is home to the largest community abroad, with an estimated 40,000. Story continues On August 14, 2007, massive truck bombs almost entirely destroyed two small Yazidi villages in northern Iraq. More than 400 people died in the single deadliest attack since the 2003 US-led invasion. - The fall of Sinjar - In August 2014, Yazidis struggled to survive after their bastion Sinjar was seized by the Islamic State, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee. The IS then pursued a brutal crackdown on the minority that included massacres, enslavement and rape. UN investigators have said the IS assault on the Yazidis was a premeditated effort to exterminate an entire community -- crimes that amount to genocide. Iraqi Kurdish forces backed by US-led coalition air strikes recaptured Sinjar in November 2015. If youre a fan of Starbucks Tumblers, especially the thematic ones, you would know that the special collections in Japan & Korea sell out FAST. With personal shoppers all over the world queuing up at Starbucks stores in the morning, its pretty hard to grab one. starbucks korea christmas collection 2016 We hope its not too late to inform you that the 1st wave of Starbucks Korea Christmas Collection will be released on 28 October. No way you can fly there now? Check out the collection below and click on the links to ask an Airfrov traveller to get it for you! starbucks korea christmas collection 2016 DW White sweater mug 296ml | Ginger family house mug 355ml starbucks korea christmas collection 2016 Ginger boy sweater mug 355ml | Ginger girl demi mug 89ml starbucks korea christmas collection 2016 Ginger girl love water bottle 414ml | Ginger boy love water bottle 414ml Christmas mint water bottle 500ml | Pheobe ginger charm waterbottle 591ml starbucks korea christmas collection 2016 Pink star figure tumbler 355ml | Pink lena water bottle 473ml Gold lena water bottle 473ml | SS Harvard siren mint tumbler 473ml | SS Troy snowball pompom tumbler 473ml starbucks korea christmas collection 2016 Gold star muddler | Ginger boy muddler Ginger daddy plate | Ginger mommy plate Christmas tree coaster | Ginger boy coaster starbucks korea christmas collection 2016 Gold ornament demi mug 89ml | Candy cane polar bear mug 355ml Whipping cream red spoon mug 296ml | Christmas tree stacking jar starbucks korea christmas collection 2016 JBJ Christmas thermos container 300ml | Christmas gold dot glass 414ml | JNL Ginger family thermos 350ml Heres what they look like in real life: # #MD # A photo posted by (@lovely_shoo) on Oct 27, 2016 at 3:18pm PDT . # # # # # # # A photo posted by june (@pineally) on Oct 27, 2016 at 9:56pm PDT Want to place an order via Airfrov Travellers who are in Korea right now? Simply click here to browse what others are buying, and click on the + in the links if you would like to copy the order! A traveller will offer to help you buy based on your request. Story continues starbucks korea christmas collection 2016 *Fingers crossed* Afterall, Singaporeans are great at queuing right? The post #FastestShopperFirst: Starbucks Korea Christmas 2016 Collection appeared first on Airfrov Blog. A father has hit out at British Airways after he was wrongly stopped from travelling with his family to the south of France for failing to have correct documentation. Toby Keen checked in online for the flight from Heathrow to Nice, but when he and his family got to the airport he was told he couldnt fly because his passport had just under three months to run, the Independent reported. Instead, Mr Keens wife and two daughters were forced to travel without him to the wedding they were attending, which took place over the August bank holiday weekend. The 48-year-old, from Oxfordshire, told the Independent that when he rushed to the Passport Office in central London to get a new passport, he was told his original was fully valid to travel to France. Mr Keen and his family had successfully checked in online at home and made their way to Heathrow. But at the Bag Drop desk, he said he was told that he could not fly. Mistake - Mr Keen was told he needed a new passport, but this was apparently an error (Pictures: Getty) He told the Independent: This was a complete shock. When I challenged the agent, he blamed French immigration and said that BA would be fined 25,000 if he let me fly. I was left with no option but to let my family continue on and I would have to sort out the mess. MORE: Donald Trumps Hollywood Walk of Fame star has been smashed to bits MORE: Increase in benefit cuts linked to rise in numbers using food banks Mr Keen called the Passport Office advice line from Heathrow but was reportedly told nothing could be done until after the Bank Holiday, so went to the main office in central London and where he managed eventually to get a new passport. The main sticking point was that the staff said my passport was fully valid for France so what was the issue?, he said. No problem - Mr Keen was reportedly told there was nothing wrong with his original passport Story continues To add insult to injury, when he tried to re-book a flight with BA, Mr Keen says he was told he had been recorded as a no-show on his original flight and would need to pay 600 to fly on an early-evening flight. He reportedly chose a later departure, which cost 210. When he complained to British Airways, Mr Keen was apparently originally told the issue was his fault because he had an old-style passport that had to be valid for at least three months after his intended stay. The airline reportedly later admitted that this was wrong and it will be in touch with Mr Keen to resolve the situation. Washington (AFP) - With Donald Trump warning darkly of a plot to "steal" the White House from him next month, the specter of intimidation on Election Day, including by vigilante-style armed citizens, is now seen as a serious threat. Thousands of election observers and civil rights activists are being deployed for the November 8 presidential vote -- while the Republican nominee has urged his supporters to monitor the vote in person to prevent fraud. The Democratic Party this week asked a judge to block the Republican Party from working with Trump's campaign on so-called "ballot security" measures -- which it says violate a decades-old agreement not to engage in voter intimidation. The caustic climate surrounding one of the most bitter campaigns in American history, combined with the right in some states to carry weapons at polling places, has raised significant fears of violence. In Prince William County, Virginia, just outside the capital Washington, the electoral board weighed a single-day ban on weapons at polling stations -- they are already banned in schools and courts -- but the effort was shot down by a pro-gun state lawmaker. The powerful National Rifle Association lobby, which endorsed Trump's White House candidacy and vigorously defends Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms, is headquartered in the state. "It's up to the owner of the private polling place to forbid it or not," pro-gun Virginia state delegate Robert Marshall told AFP. More generally, observers have warned of a return of intimidation tactics targeting African Americans, especially in the once-segregationist South, and other minorities. Those fears have been stoked by Trump's unprecedented claims of a conspiracy to commit fraud in favor of Democrat Hillary Clinton -- prompting his threat not to recognize the outcome if he loses. The Republican nominee has suggested in particular certain "communities" were planning to cheat -- widely understood to be a reference to African American and Hispanic minorities who overwhelmingly back Trump's rival. Story continues - Blacks and Latinos targeted - US history is rife with voting restrictions on minorities, though systemic racial discrimination has been illegal since the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The law, the culmination of efforts by Martin Luther King Jr and other civil rights leaders, requires jurisdictions to obtain US Justice Department authorization before enacting any local electoral reform. But the very heart of this critical law was partially invalidated in 2013 by the US Supreme Court, which then had a conservative majority, and southern states quickly followed by implementing voter identification laws seen as restricting minority access to the polls. "This is the first presidential election in 50 years without the full protection of the voting rights act of 1965," Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel for the Legal Defense and Education Fund of the major civil rights group NAACP, said in an interview. "The removal of that key provision has led, in the last two-three years, to the proliferation of voting practices and procedures that are designed specifically to inhibit and restrict African Americans, Latinos and other racial minorities from being able to participate equally in the political process." North Carolina, for example, passed a law in 2013 barring voters from registering to vote on the day they cast their ballots, and requiring a certain type of photo identification. But a federal court struck down various provisions of the law in July, saying they "target African Americans with almost surgical precision." In recent months across the country, courts have amended similar pieces of legislation, whose stated aim is to fight electoral fraud. - Concerns in Deep South - Activists are calling for maximum vigilance on Election Day. The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday issued a special resource to help voters identify and prevent intimidation "in response to heightened concern regarding voter intimidation at polling places." Ifill's group is also raising the alert over people "who are there to question minority voters about whether in fact they are registered to vote, whether they are eligible to vote, whether they have the proper ID." Of particular concern, Ifill said, is the prospect of intimidation by people who in many cases are legally entitled to be armed. She said her group was in constant communication with the Department of Justice to alert them to possible problems. Efforts need to focus, she said, "on these deep south jurisdictions where a lot of this mischief we expect to happen." Because of the Supreme Court decision three years ago, the Justice Department will only be able to send specially trained observers in four states, down from 13 in 2012. The department also plans to send to 25 different states several hundred monitors -- but these would only be allowed to enter polling stations if authorized to do so by local authorities. Overall, numerous organizations are sending thousands of independent observers and lawyers to ensure fair voting conditions, joining monitors from the Democratic and Republican representatives. "We will do our best to be there, but the truth is we can't be everywhere on Election Day and so we have real concerns," Ifill said. Some Anne Arundel County residents who find themselves in the middle of busy air traffic will get to sound off to federal officials in an attempt to get some peace and quiet. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Maryland Aviation Administration are holding an open house Thursday night at Lindale Middle School near Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. People who live nearby have been waiting a long time for the meeting, saying they never had problems with jet noise before, but now find themselves in the middle of roaring new flight paths. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (C) speaks to the media after his inspection at Japan Coast Guard base in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan October 27, 2016. REUTERS/Issei Kato Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been busy. He was in China from October 18 to 21, where he continued to cozy up to Chinese leaders and declared his country's "separation" from the US, a longtime ally. He has since qualified that statement and the US says it has not received official requests to alter relations. Duterte continued his East Asian tour this week, stopping in Japan to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Prior to the trip, he softened his earlier comments about a separation from the US. But then during his visit he took the opportunity to again repudiate the US, declaring that the most recent military exercises between his military and the US would be the last and decrying Washington's treatment of Filipinos as like "dogs on a leash." Duterte's overtures to China and Russia and his ongoing rebukes of ties with Washington have stoked worry around the world, according to US officials, and his conflicting declarations seemed to have upset the business environment in his own country. But amid Duterte's vacillations on the international stage, a much more sinister trend has continued in the Philippines. Philippines drug violence victims killings deaths Rodrigo Duterte As of September 14, the number of drug suspects killed in police operations was 1,506, though a senior police official lowered that to 1,105. And the killings have continued. On October 26, the number of "suspected drug personalities" killed by police had reached 1,725 since July 1, when Duterte took office, according to Philippine news site Rappler. In addition to that, there were 3,001 deaths in extrajudicial or vigilante-style killings through October 23 though Philippine police said investigations were needed to determine whether those vigilante-style killings were drug related. Story continues The Philippine National Police has also reported 2,766 unexplained killings as of October 23 and has 2,153 under investigation. As of October 26, the PNP reported 32,909 police operations and 31,629 drug personalities arrested, with 751,703 surrenderers 54,702 drug pushers and 697,001 drug users. According to Philippine newspaper Inquirer, in the first half of the year, just 68 drug suspects were killed by security forces, but that number swelled to 1,578 in the first three months of Duterte's term. Philippines police troops security forces Manila Rodrigo Duterte war on drugs crime violence "The Kill List," kept by the Inquirer, has attempted to document the suspected drug-related killings carried out daily since Duterte's election sometimes more than a dozen a day, at all times of day, all over the country. Some of the entries are deaths caused by police during official operations; others from unknown assailants. Some victims' names are withheld because of their young age or because they can't be identified. As of noon on October 24, The Kill List has registered 1,368 slayings since June 30 and 1,415 since May 10, the day of the presidential election that Duterte won with a 39% plurality in a five-way race. 'You sons of bitches, I will really kill you' Philippines drug war deaths killings violence Rodrigo Duterte Duterte has promised a violent campaign against drugs well before he took office. "All of you who are into drugs, you sons of bitches, I will really kill you. I have no patience, I have no middle ground," he said on May 7. They say that my methods are unorthodox and verge on the illegal," Duterte said on June 30, during his inauguration speech. "The fight will be relentless and it will be sustained." "My order is shoot to kill you. I dont care about human rights, you better believe me," Duterte said on August 6, during a press conference in Davao City, where he was mayor for more than 20 years. As mayor, he led a brutal crackdown on drugs and crime and was accused of ties to death squads in the city. Even now, Davao is one of the most violent cities in the country. "Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now, there is three million drug addicts. I'd be happy to slaughter them," Duterte said on September 30, understating the 6 million Jews killed during the Holocaust. "If Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have ...," he said, pausing and pointing to himself. (He soon apologized for the comparison.) Philippines drug war victims arrests drug users violence In response to the dismaying number of extrajudicial killings, Philippine police recently announced a shift in their approach, focusing on arrests rather than "neutralization" and concentrating on high-profile figures involved in the drug trade. It remains to be seen how this purported switch to targeting the drug trade's big fish (Duterte has read out names of government officials accused of involvement, and police have said they're making a list of celebrities with ties to drugs) will affect the body count. Many of those killed already have impoverished users and dealers, prompting accusations that Duterte's "war on drugs" is really a war on the Philippines' poor. 'Given himself ... and given his police license to kill' Duterte's calls for a campaign against the drug scourge and the people accused of pushing it contrast with the reality of the Philippines' drug problem. While drugs are an issue in the country, it does not appear to be one with the severity Duterte as attributed to it. Philippines crime rates 2013 to 2016 Statistics from the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Broad, cited by the Inquirer, show estimated methamphetamine use falling from 6.7 million in 2004 to 1.7 million now that number would put the rate of use at about 2%, not much different from the US or Australia. Data from the President's Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) put the number of drug users at about 1.8 million, about half the 3.7 million that Duterte has cited in the past, according to Reuters. Further, of those 1.8 million users, about one-third had taken drugs only once in the previous 13 months, while only 860,000 had taken shabu, or crystal meth, which has been singled out by authorities, Reuters found. The president's office has also claimed that 75% of "heinous crime" in the country is drug related. But Reuters' investigation could not pinpoint a source for that statistic. A crime-monitoring office within the PNP put the number much lower, at 15%. Philippine police statistics also found that serious crime had dropped in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year, continuing a decline that was registered under Duterte's predecessor. By overstating the numbers and upping the rhetoric, Duterte has apparently put pressure on police to apprehend drug users and pushers in numbers higher than their actual population in the country and he's implicitly given justification for the brutal consequences of that intense law-enforcement effort. Philippines drug war arrest victims killings deaths Rodrigo Duterte "So what President Duterte has done is essentially create this sense that there is a 'drug emergency' in the Philippines and run with it, and given himself license and given his police license to kill for a reason that has no real factual basis in terms of what the drug situation really is in the Philippines," Phelim Kine, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, said during an interview on the Global Journalist podcast in mid-October. 'The real violence ... in the drug economy' Even though Philippine authorities have said they would reduce drug-related killings and focus on arresting more high-level suspects, the months of deadly violence may have lasting effects on the country. "There is this impression that this will affect in the long run the reputation of the Philippines to the international business community," Jayeel Serrano Cornelio, director of development studies at Ateneo de Manila University, said on the Global Journalist podcast. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte Japan Asia trip visit interpreter Despite government assurances the antidrug campaign would bring stability, "it seems that many businesses are increasingly apprehensive about staying in the Philippines right now," he added. Just as legal businesses may be spooked, illicit enterprises that is, gangs and other criminal groups that have likely lost members and territory during the violence will have to recover, which could have dangerous knock-on effects. "When you disrupt all these turf lines of the various drug groups, when they come back, when the pressure is released, they're going to have to refight and relitigate ... those turf lines," said Sanho Tree, director of the Drug Policy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC. "That's where the real violence comes from in the drug economy." NOW WATCH: 'America has lost': The Philippines president just announced that he's allying with China, wants to talk to Putin More From Business Insider VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2016 / FIRST BITCOIN CAPITAL CORP. (BITCF), a leading bitcoin and cryptocurrency developer, specializing in both blockchain and online merchant payment solutions for medical marijuana dispensaries and other high-risk merchant accounts and services, today announced the signing of a merchant account processing agent agreement with a credit card processor for the states of California and Oregon. Under the agreement, BITCF will provide a full suite of financial services for the medical marijuana industry: merchant processing and POS solutions through its alliance network, a fully compliant, user friendly solution to accept Credit and Debit Cards through traditional Merchant Card Processing networks. We intend to add more states as additional legal opinions are provided by our credit card processor providers counsel. First Bitcoin is also developing a system that will enable dispensaries to accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a form of legal payment. Stater of California has already enacted legislation that makes Bitcoin and similar digital currencies legal tender. BITCF has developed specific programs to meet the unique needs of the medical cannabis industry. Offering merchant services at competitive rates for businesses operating legally under state law of California and Oregon, the company can now provide financial services not typically available from conventional banks. While legalization of marijuana in many forms and in many states garnered over $5 billion dollars in 2016, the sums are expected to grow for 2017. More innovative and unique products are being created, and the stigma that once surrounded cannabis is slowly fading. These changes are helping the medical cannabis industry to prosper now that federal policies allow dispensaries to sell, grow, or possess cannabis while compliant with state laws. BITCF will only provide these services where federal policies allow our business model to proceed for dispensaries that are fully compliant with state and country laws, rules and regulations. Should your dispensary be interested in these services please contact us by email: info@bitcoincapitalcorp.com According to our merchant processor: Our processor introduces the first completely sanctioned credit card solution for the Marijuana Industry. Unlike most merchant accounts that are currently being used by many dispensaries, our processor Acquirers approve, accept and fully acknowledge their engagement with State licensed legal Marihuana Dispensaries. Our processor is an "IaaS". Infrastructure as a Service ("IaaS") and provider of an innovative array of synergistic services that include, advertising, affiliate marketing, consortium of vendors in various markets including the high risk sector and payment processing into a seamless comprehensive solution. Their mission is to utilize IaaS to provide protection and enhanced privacy for online consumers as well as all participating contractual Partners within their Network. Our processor employs a proprietary method of transacting on behalf of their Partners. Our processor also manages the customer database with its Partners and offers consumer protection services for their registered Users. They also operate through clearance and settlement systems that admit only BSA-regulated financial institutions. Our processor is also fully PCI compliant. About the company: First Bitcoin Capital is engaged in developing digital currencies, proprietary Blockchain technologies, and the digital currency exchange- www.CoinQX.com We see this step as a tremendous opportunity to create further shareholder value by leveraging management's experience in developing and managing complex Blockchain technologies, developing new type of digital assets. "Being first publicly-traded cryptocurrency and blockchain-centered company we want to provide our shareholders with diversified exposure to digital cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies." At this time Company owns and operates the following digital assets. www.BITCoinCapitalcorp.com company website. www.CoinQX.com Company operated Cryptocurrency Exchange, registered with FINCEN. www.iCoiNEWS.com real time cryptocurrency and bitcoin news site www.BITminer.cc company provides mining pool management services. www.2016coin.org online daily election coverage and home page for $PRES, $HILL and $GARY coins Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as may be disclosed in company's filings. In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release .Such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's filings, which are on file at www.OTCMarkets.com. SOURCE: First Bitcoin Capital Corp. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f262206%2f44f0a1a97ddb4863bfb1dbf8cd54b6e6 In the ancient swamps of southeast England, a palm-sized clump lay pickling in river sediment for 133 million years. Then a fossil hunter found the stone in 2004. Scientists have now determined the clump was actually the fossilized brain tissue of a large leaf-eating dinosaur, possibly from a species similar to the Iguanodon. The specimen is the world's first known example of dinosaur brain tissue, according to a special publication by the Geological Society of London released Thursday. SEE ALSO: Paleontologists just found a 2,500-pound T. rex skull in Montana The dinosaur fossil shows distinct similarities to the brains of modern-day crocodiles and birds, the scientists found. The discovery may shed light on how the brains of dinosaurs and other ancient creatures evolved over millions of years, an area that has long stumped researchers. Brain tissue, unlike durable bones and teeth, is often one of the first parts of the body to decay. The finding could also help other paleontologists to spot more fossilized dinosaur brains, now that they know to look for clues in unassuming clumps of dirt, said Lawrence Witmer, a professor of anatomy at Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, who was not involved with the new research. The dinosaur fossil likely belonged to a species closely related to the Iguanodon, shown here munching on some leaves. Image: biodiversity heritage library/wikimedia commons "This changes our 'search image.' It tells us what we should be looking for," Witmer told Mashable. "To have potentially some of those tissues preserved is truly remarkable," he said. Dino discovery Fossil hunter Jamie Hiscocks first found the fossilized brain in 2004 while digging near Bexhill, a seaside town in England's rural Sussex County. He turned the specimen over to Martin Brasier from the University of Oxford and David Norman from the University of Cambridge, who soon began coordinating research into the fossil. After Brasier died in a traffic accident in 2014, Norman continued the work with other researchers. Story continues The British scientists said this particular brain fossil likely survived because the dinosaur died in a bog or swamp, where highly acidic and low-oxygen water helped to mineralize and preserve parts of the brain. Working with colleagues from the University of Western Australia, the team used scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques to identify two key parts of the fossilized brain: the meninges the tough, outer membranes that surround the brain itself and the neural tissue beneath it, which includes strands of collagen and blood vessels. The outer membrane was the best-preserved part of the fossil. But the researchers were somewhat more cautious about interpreting the softer material they believe to be brain tissue. Structures that could represent tissues from the brain cortex the outer layer of neural tissue appear to be present and interwoven with delicate capillaries, the authors said in Thursday's publication. They also hesitated to draw conclusions about the intelligence of dinosaurs from this particular fossil. A time sequence outlining the inferred taphonomic history of the iguanodontian natural endocast from Bexhill, England. Scale bar = 10 mm. Image: UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE The Iguanodon lived during the early Cretaceous Period, could walk on two feet or all fours and had large thumb spikes that may have been used to fend off predators. It was the first identified dinosaur species more than 150 years ago. In typical reptiles, the sausage-shaped brain takes up only about half the space within a cranial cavity. The tissue of this dinosaur's fossilized brain appeared to have been pressed directly against its skull, which could mean it had a large brain that filled the entire cavity. This also may have resulted from decay over time, since gravity could have caused it to collapse and press against the cavity's bony roof. "It's entirely possible that dinosaurs had bigger brains that we give them credit for, but we can't tell from this specimen alone," Norman, the British paleontologist at Cambridge, said in a statement. "What's truly remarkable is that conditions were just right in order to allow preservation of the brain tissue," he added. First ladies getting it done and making sure you vote. Michelle Obama appeared alongside Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail for the first time on Thursday, sharing the stage with the Democratic presidential nominee at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Their speeches centered around encouraging residents of the state as well as all Americans to exercise their civic duty before and on Nov. 8. Clinton took the podium first, championing the most amazing first lady, who previously stumped for the former secretary of state at the Democratic National Convention and in an emotional New Hampshire speech earlier this month. I believe everything we care about is at stake in this election, so youve got to vote, said Clinton, 69. Of her special surrogate, Clinton praised, Michelle reminds us to work hard, stay true to our values, be good to one another and never ever stop fighting for what we believe in. She has spent eight years as our first lady, advocating for girls around the world to go to school and have the same opportunities as boys. Seriously, is there anyone more inspiring than Michelle Obama? Clinton asked. Maybe its especially meaningful to me because I do know something about being first lady of the United States. Clinton held the position during her husband Bill Clintons tenure as president from 1993-2001. As in her passionate address earlier this month, Obama got emotional while speaking about the future of America, noting of her own involvement in the 2016 election, Its been unprecedented for a sitting first lady to be so actively engaged in a presidential campaign, and that may be true but whats also true is that this is truly an unprecedented election and thats why Im out here. First Ladies, we rock! she later asserted, before getting down to business. Obama, 52, said of Clinton, We want a president who takes this job seriously and has the temperament and maturity to do it well. Someone who is steady, someone who we can trust with the nuclear codes because we want to go to sleep at night knowing that our kids and our country are safe I would not be here lying to you, I believe with all of my heart that Hillary Clinton will be that president. Story continues She then, too, turned her message to voter turnout, telling the gathered crowd, Hillary has done her job, now we need to do our job and get her elected president of the United States because heres where I want to get real: If Hillary doesnt win this election, that will be on us. Obama also shut down Donald Trumps recent claims that the election is rigged or pre-decided. They are trying to get you to stay home, they are trying to convince you that the outcome has already been determined voters decide who wins and who loses, period, end of story, she said, further reminding the audience that, Folks marched and protested for our right to vote. They endured beatings and jail time. Fighting back tears, Obama recalled her own familys background, as well as Clintons, as examples that Americans can work for and fight for anything. RELATED VIDEO: Michelle Obama Kills It at the Democratic National Convention Its a country where a girl like me from the Southside of Chicago, whose great-great grandfather was a slave, can go to the finest universities on earth, she said. A country where a biracial kid from Hawaii, the son of a single mother, can make it to the White House. A country where the daughter of an orphan can break that highest and hardest glass ceiling and become president of the United States. That is who we are. Declaring Clinton the most qualified presidential candidate in history, Obama told the crowd, Yeah, thats right. Hillary doesnt play. Its clear the first lady doesnt either. FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz will build the first model under its new EQ electric vehicle brand in the northern German city of Bremen by the end of the decade, parent Daimler said on Thursday. Mercedes-Benz and Daimler's Smart brand aims to launch more than 10 electric cars by 2025, in major push in pure electric vehicles thanks to advances in battery technology and greater consumer acceptance of zero-emissions vehicles. The model to be built in Bremen will be based on the sporty SUV coupe-style EQ vehicle it presented at the Paris auto show last month, Daimler said. The Bremen plant currently makes 10 different models including plug-in hybrids of the C-Class and the GLC SUV. In addition, its fuel-cell operated GLC, likely to compete with Toyota's Mirai, is to be made at the factory. The battery for the new electric vehicle will be developed by Daimler unit Accumotive and produced in Kamenz in the eastern German state of Saxony. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Christoph Steitz) London (AFP) - The High Court in Belfast will rule Friday on Northern Ireland's entitlement to veto the UK's departure from the European Union -- the first opinion by a UK judge on Brexit. With other legal challenges under way in Britain, the outcome will be closely monitored by politicians and financial markets. Ciaran O'Hare, a lawyer representing veteran victims' rights campaigner Raymond McCord -- one of a diverse group of individuals in the case -- said the judge would give his ruling at 0900 GMT Friday, after three days of hearings earlier this month. "We are delighted at such a quick turnaround but time is obviously of the essence," O'Hare said. He described the ongoing legal challenge as "a David versus Goliath battle" that would not end on Friday regardless of the outcome. "Both sides will likely appeal to the Supreme Court but the ruling in Belfast is important because it would have to be taken into account," he said. The campaigners argue Brexit cannot be imposed on Northern Ireland because the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, an international treaty involving the neighbouring Republic of Ireland, gives Northern Ireland residents control over future constitutional change. "The historical context is vital in our case: we believe the Good Friday Agreement gives us a veto," O'Hare said. In the June 23 referendum on EU membership, Northern Ireland voted 56 percent in favour of the UK staying in the bloc, while across the entire kingdom, 52 percent voted to leave. McCord has joined a cross-party group of politicians and community activists taking the case, warning that the loss of EU funds could undermine the Northern Irish peace process, which is underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. "The EU has pledged funding until at least 2020 but the British government has given no undertaking it will continue to fund projects to bring the two communities together," he told AFP at an earlier hearing. Under the EU programme for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, the province will receive a total of 229 million euros ($257 million) in funding by 2020 for initiatives regarded as crucial for building bridges across the sectarian divide in the region. Almost six months have passed since Kelly Ripas former co-host Michael Strahan left his seat at Live, and the race to fill the position is still ongoing. While the list of potentials is made up of some pretty major names, one unexpected contender has popped up in recent weeks: Introducing Richard Curtis, a high school teacher from Perkasie, Pennsylvania, who won a social media contest to co-host Live for one day earlier this month. Curtis, who guest co-hosted the ABC talk show on Oct. 21, has since returned to his hometown but curiosity about the surprise favorite is still brewing, so here are five things you need to know about him. 1. He went through a grueling audition process. Ripa, 46, announced her Live with Kelly and YOU contest on Sep. 7, asking fans to apply to fill in as a guest co-host themselves for one day. Participants had to submit a video application and the top 40 entries were selected by Live staff, judged on creativity, enthusiasm and personality, presentation and overall performance. The top 40 were announced on Sep. 23, and were then given a video challenge to complete. Live staff then cut down the list to 20, and from then on, viewer voting via social media dictated the contest, whittling down the remaining contestants each day the week of Oct. 17 until only Curtis was left Oct. 21. Curtis had to survive a series of on-air challenges, including but not limited to a Juju on that beat dance-off, a teleprompter reading challenge and a round of rapid-fire Q&A and he crushed all of them. Ultimately, Curtis beat out fellow finalist Dax Holt but they actually ended up becoming great friends. RELATED VIDEO: Could Alec Baldwin Be Kelly Ripas New Live Co-Host?! 2. Hes a father of two. Back at home, Curtis is the proud father of two kids: daughter Leighton, 5, and his adorable young son Parker. His family, including his parents and wife Lindsay, were all in the audience cheering him on during his Live stint last week, and hes credited Lindsay for pushing him out of his comfort zone and encouraging him to enter the competition. Story continues This whole journey wouldnt have happened without my wife, he told the Perkasie News Herald. 3. Hes not just any teacher he specializes in TV! Just when you thought he couldnt be any more perfect for the job Curtis actually teaches television production to grades 9 through 12 at Souderton Area High School. This is the first time as a teacher Im going to have full , he joked on the show. Everybodys watching me and listening to what Im saying. Maybe we should teach something at this point! The best part? He really did have everyones attention: All 2,500 Souderton students filled the schools stadium to watch Curtis performance and cheered him on with signs. 4. He can roll with the punches. For someone who was making their debut on national television, Curtis was cool as a cucumber even when things didnt go exactly as planned, like during his bottle flipping demonstration. 5. Last but not least, he has pretty amazing chemistry with Ripa. Curtis is not only a natural at live TV, but he really does seem to click with Ripa. The two walked hand-in-hand backstage before taking their seats, and we could watch them banter back-and-forth all day. In fact, their chemistry is so good that Live announced Thursday that Curtis would be returning to co-host on Nov. 7. Honestly, so excited to be back in that chair! Hosting that show was incredible and Im ready to show America the guy they saw is who I really am! Blessed! Curtis gushed on Instagram. This is all because my wife rocks and made me do it!!! Thanks Boo!!! Live with Kelly airs weekdays (check local listings). By Nate Raymond NEW YORK, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A Florida man pleaded guilty on Thursday to obstructing a regulatory examination of a credit union linked to an illegal bitcoin exchange owned by an Israeli accused of being behind hacking attacks on companies including JPMorgan Chase & Co. Michael Murgio, 66, admitted in Manhattan federal court he drafted a letter in 2014 with a false statement that was sent to the National Credit Union Administration during an examination of the New Jersey-based credit union. "When I did this, I knew what I was doing was wrong," Murgio said. Under a plea deal, Murgio, a former member of the Palm Beach County School Board, agreed not to appeal any prison sentence of 16 months or less. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27. Murgio was indicted in April, becoming one of eight people to face charges following an investigation connected to a data breach that JPMorgan disclosed in 2014 involving records for more than 83 million accounts. Among those charged was his son, Anthony Murgio, who prosecutors say operated Coin.mx, an unlicensed bitcoin exchange owned by Gery Shalon, an Israeli accused of orchestrating a massive hacking scheme involving JPMorgan and other companies. Prosecutors contend Shalon along with another Israeli, Ziv Orenstein, and an American, Joshua Samuel Aaron, ran a criminal enterprise that hacked into a dozen companies' networks, stealing the personal information of over 100 million customers. While the Murgios were not accused of roles in the hacking offenses, prosecutors said they committed crimes linked to the operation of Coin.mx, which exchanged millions of dollars of the virtual currency bitcoin for customers. Prosecutors said that beginning in 2013, Anthony Murgio operated Coin.mx, with the assistance of others including Florida resident Yuri Lebedev. To evade scrutiny of Coin.mx, they acquired control in 2014 of the now-defunct Helping Other People Excel Federal Credit Union of Jackson, New Jersey, by paying $150,000 in bribes to its chairman, pastor Trevon Gross, an indictment said. Story continues Michael Murgio's guilty plea was the second in the case. Jose Freundt, another Florida resident who according to his lawyers worked for Coin.mx briefly, pleaded guilty to various charges on Oct. 13 and agreed to cooperate with authorities. Anthony Murgio, Lebedev and Gross have pleaded not guilty. They are scheduled to face trial in February. Shalon and Orenstein pleaded not guilty following their extradition from Israel in June. Aaron is currently in Russia. The case is U.S. v. Murgio, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 15-cr-00769. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney) The airline that brought you $99 flights to Iceland is back with a $159.99 to their newest destination: Cork, Ireland. WOW Air, an Iceland-based low-cost carrier, will begin servicing Cork Airport beginning in June 2017. Flights will be available four days per week from New York City (at Newark Liberty International Airport), Baltimore, Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Although its a lesser known tourist destination, customers are in for a treat, WOW Air CEO Skuli Mogensen said of Cork. Irelands largest county is known for being very friendly, probably thanks to wildflower-covered hills and rambling rivers flowing through 6,000-year-old ruins. Visitors should also schedule time to take the new Wild Atlantic Way, a scenic route that runs some 1,500 miles along the countrys coast. Even if youre not familiar with cork, youve probably heard of the Blarney Stone, which is just a few miles away from the city center. Whiskey aficionados have a also been known to make pilgrimages to the Jameson distillery. Travelers can still take advantage of WOW Airs stopover program, allowing you to double up on vacation by spending as many as days as youd like on a layover in Iceland. Availability for these $159 one-way fares can be found on and off between launch of this new route until late October, 2017, save for July and August. (Adds detail, background, mentions presidential campaign issue) By Bernie Woodall DETROIT, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it will idle the Wayne, Michigan factory an extra two weeks by the end of the year, adjusting to light demand for the Focus compact and C-Max hybrid cars made there. This is in addition to the normal holiday shutdown for all Ford North American plants in the last week of the year, a Ford spokeswoman said. Ford, when it issued its third quarter earnings earlier on Thursday, said it was cutting inventories because it expects a slight downturn in the U.S. new vehicle market in 2017. Ford Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks said one of the three shifts at the F-150 pickup truck plant in Kansas City, Missouri will be out next week to manage inventory. This is in addition to this week's full-plant shutdown for the same reason, which Ford revealed earlier this month. The Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne is the same factory Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump pointed to when he blasted Ford for moving U.S. jobs to Mexico. Chief Executive Officer Mark Fields has said Ford is maintaining American jobs by keeping the company strong enough to compete in a tough market where profit margins for small cars are slight. During contract talks in 2015, Ford confirmed that it would move Focus and C-Max production out of its Wayne, Michigan, plant in 2018. The United Auto Workers union said at the time that Ford planned to build the next Focus in Mexico. A source briefed on the matter said the shift of production to Mexico was expected to take place next year before the start of the 2018 model year. In April, Ford reiterated that it was planning to build two new vehicles at the Wayne plant beginning in 2018. UAW officials have and analysts have said they expect Ford to build a new Bronco SUV and Ranger midsize pickup there. Earlier this month, Ford also announced temporary plant shutdowns in Kentucky and in Mexico to manage inventory of its Escape SUV and Lincoln MKC SUVs, Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans, and the Fiesta small car. (Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by David Gregorio) - Max Verstappen has decided to cut back on his use of Red Bulls team radio because he is worried that his comments make him sound arrogant. The Dutch teenager told reporters he felt his dialogue with the team was a target for the media who always wanted to broadcast him. He said he was sensitive to this especially following last weekends United States Grand Prix during which he was heard to say "Im not here to finish fourth." "All the time when I press my radio button, it's broadcast, and sometimes it sounds a bit arrogant -- especially 'I'm not here to finish fourth'," said Verstappen. "But that's just what comes up in my mind. I'm not there to finish fourth -- I'm there to win, as a racer." AFP 24: Legacy is off to a good start. In its first 24 hours, the first full trailer for Foxs upcoming 24 revival reached 7 million views on Facebook. This morning, the trailer has clocked in at 10 million views on the social platform and is growing at a rapid rate. The trailer was released Tuesday evening on during the first game of the World Series on Fox, on YouTube and across the shows social platforms. The 45-second video features star Corey Hawkins in an action-packed clip that previews the new series, which will chronicle a race against the clock to stop a devastating terrorist attack on United States soil. The early traction is a strong sign of public interest in 24: Legacy. In the ultra competitive era of Peak TV when viewers have limitless content choices and multiple viewership platforms, Facebook views are an important indicator of audience awareness and a shows potential success. Earlier this year, the trailer for NBCs This Is Us performed incredibly strongly on Facebook and now, has become the falls biggest new hit. This week, the 24: Legacy trailer is growing at a faster pace than the This Is Us trailer on Facebook. Fox is putting a lot behind 24: Legacy. The hotly anticipated series will debut after the ratings goldmine that is the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 5. The two-night premiere continues on Monday, Feb. 6. Watch the trailer again here: Related stories 'Bones' Final Season Gets January Premiere on Fox 20th Century Fox Communications Officer Chris Petrikin to Leave Post Fox's 'The Mick' Gets Plum Post-NFL Premiere, New Trailer Fox Business Network anchor Lou Dobbs dismissed independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin last weekend by using a slur about McMullin's religion. "Look Deeper, He's nothing but a Globalist, Romney and Mormon Mafia Tool!" Dobbs wrote on Twitter on Sunday, adding hashtags expressing support for Republican nominee Donald Trump. The tweet gained traction late Wednesday night. McMullin shot back several hours later Thursday morning on Twitter. The strength of @TeamMcMullin is that we're the #MormonMafia...& the Jewish, Catholic, Evangelical, Hindu, Muslim, or no Mafia Mafias! Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) October 27, 2016 Dobbs' tweet quickly inspired a critical hashtag, where users shared positive experiences with the "Mormon mafia." Dobbs has been highly critical of conservative Republicans like McMullin and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee, who have opposed Trump's candidacy. Earlier this year, Dobbs called Romney and House Speaker Paul Ryan "despicable" for supposedly undermining Trump's candidacy, referring to their failed 2012 White House bid as "Hell's ticket" and the "two-some from Hell." "Who does Romney think he is? Romney is nothing more now, obviously, than a tool of an ossified, far too entitled Republican establishment," Dobbs said. "Ryan and Romney hardly giving a thought to their attacks against Trump amounting to a campaign gift to Hillary Clinton and the Democrats," he added. Many polls show McMullin close behind behind Trump in Utah. The state has a large percentage of Mormon voters, many of whom have been alienated by Trump's inflammatory rhetoric and unorthodox candidacy. The RealClearPolitics average of recent polls Thursday showed Trump at 31% support, with McMullin and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton tied at 25% support. Story continues Wednesday's tweet isn't the first time that Dobbs has come under fire for his social media presence. Earlier this month, the Fox Business anchor retweeted the personal information of a woman who accused Trump of sexual assault. The anchor apologized several hours later for releasing the accuser's address and phone number. Fox Business did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. NOW WATCH: Golf legend Greg Norman reveals the truth behind President Bill Clinton's late-night 1997 injury More From Business Insider Megyn Kelly isnt often linked with big-ticket book authors like Paula Hawkins and Nicholas Sparks, but in just a few weeks, she is likely to have a strong connection with them. Booksellers believe the Fox News anchors new memoir, Settle for More, slated for release on Nov. 15, will be an automatic best-seller. This is going to be one of the biggest books of the year, said Daisy Kline, VP of books at Barnes & Noble. We feel enormous confidence in her ability to generate awareness of it, she added. The books release is likely to draw more attention to Kelly at a time when she already has a surfeit. Contract talks between the anchor and Fox News Channel have become more public after 21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that he was eager to keep her on at the cable-news outlet, even as she sought what the newspaper said was an annual salary of more than $20 million. This year, in the final months of her existing contract, Kelly is earning about $15 million. Kelly was surprised by Murdochs comments to the Journal, which she read just before going on air to host Wednesdays edition of The Kelly File, according to a person familiar with Kellys thinking. The anchor, this person said, was bemused that the Fox boss would publicly address a private negotiation, but she was not angered to the degree that his comments might influence her decision about whether to remain with Fox News. The surprise from Murdoch is the latest development in what has been an eventful 16 months for Kelly, ever since she grilled then-candidate Donald Trump about his treatment of women during a Republican primary debate in August 2015. The candidate blasted her via social media, leading to a high level of back and forth between the Trump campaign and Fox News Channel. More recently, Kelly had a combative on-air interview regarding Trump with former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich on her Kelly File on Tuesday. Story continues All of this sets the stage of big book numbers. Kellys tome was already considered a hot item this year, said Kline. Now the recent news that she has updated the Harper Collins tome with a chapter about this summers scandal involving sexual-harassment allegations made against former Fox News chief Roger Ailes will fan anticipation higher. Kelly has not spoken publicly about the matter, but did not join with other employees of the network who defended Ailes as multiple allegations were made making her words on the matter a must-read in media circles. And besides, Settle for More will arrive in bookstores just as the nation begins to recover from one of the most intense and scrutinized election cycles in recent memory. Kellys insight into that process will be welcome, said Jon Purves, director of marketing and publicity at Politics & Prose, a popular Washington, D.C. bookseller that focuses on tomes related to the inner workings of government, business and media. You are talking about events which are still unfolding, he said. Theres certainly anticipation and so much of it is hinges on the election and the events of the next few weeks. As for Kellys future at Fox News, her current contract runs through the middle of next year. At present shes in a window that allows her to engage with other prospective employers. Kellys representatives at CAA are in the midst of due diligence to get a handle on what her options could be if she left Fox News, but are not expected to make a final decision for some time yet, given that she is working furiously as Election Day approaches, and then has a whirlwind of promotional duties for her book. Kelly, the source said, is generally happy with her role at Fox News but is also aiming to find a way to spend more time with her children. Moreover, she is realistic about the limits of being about to chart her own course at a rival news outlet or pull in the salary that Fox appears prepared to offer. In November, the book launch is likely to take up more of her time, although she will not do any events before Election Day so as not to give the impression of trying to influence voters. As part of her tour, she is expected to do book-signings at three Barnes & Noble stores in New York and Florida, said Kline. She will also take part in a ticketed event in Washington, D.C. in association with Politics & Prose. Barnes & Noble intends to give Settle for More prominent space in its outlets, said Kline, including front-of-store placement. One promotion for the book has already launched. Fans who pre-order a signed hardcover copy of Settle for More during the month of October are eligible to receive a Settle for More wristband, so long as supplies last. A publicist assigned to Kellys book at Harper Collins, part of News Corp., a Murdoch-controlled sister to 21st Century Fox, did not respond to a query seeking information on how the publisher intended to market the book. The top-selling books of 2016 have included Bruce Springsteens biography and Jodi Picoults novel Small Great Things. And then the latest book from a Fox News co-worker: Bill OReilly. His Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan, has sold more than 485,000 units in 2016, according to Nielsen BookScan. Kellys ratings are often compared to those of The OReilly Factor. Book sales might be next. Cynthia Littleton contributed to this report. Related stories Rupert Murdoch Says He Wants Megyn Kelly, Bill O'Reilly to Stay at Fox News Newt Gingrich Blasts Fox News' Megyn Kelly Over Trump Coverage: 'You Are Fascinated with Sex' 'Stranger Things' Actor Recalls Story of Donald Trump's Sexist Behavior at Work MONTEVRAIN, France (Reuters) - France is determined to make Paris attractive for banks after Britain leaves the European Union, Finance Minister Michel Sapin said on Thursday, but without any special status for financial-services workers. Sapin responded to comments by French financial lobby Paris Europlace, which told Reuters earlier on Thursday it wanted special status in French labour law for executives of financial firms to make Paris more attractive. "The idea is to create a status whereby common rules on labour rights are waived," Arnaud de Bresson, chief executive of Paris Europlace, told Reuters. But Sapin told Reuters: "We cannot have a specific status for jobs in the financial sector." European financial centres, especially Frankfurt and Paris, have been mounting a charm offensive, saying they expect banks to start moving some operations from London next year to ensure continued access to the EU market after Britain leaves. Bresson said his lobby group would put to the government in mid-November a set of regulatory and fiscal proposals they believe are necessary to lure London-based firms. Ideas for setting up a special economic zone for companies moving from London are also circulating among lobbyists, Bresson said. Some bankers were sceptical about such a move. "I am not convinced theyll be able to achieve that," a senior banking source said. Measures taken recently in France include the extension of a tax relief regime for expatriates to eight years from five. Opposition politicians vying for next year's presidential election have repeatedly said the government's post-Brexit plans do not go far enough. France must fix its "many mistakes" on tax if it is to benefit from an exodus of business after Brexit, former prime minister Alain Juppe said on Tuesday. Opinion polls say he is likely to win the presidential election. Juppe said he would scrap a wealth tax and cut corporate tax if elected in May, and said he opposed parliament's plans to increase a transactions tax on shares. Last week, in a first reading of next year's budget bill, the lower house backed an increase in the tax to 0.3 percent from 0.2 percent and its extension to cover intra-day trading. (Reporting by Myriam Rivet, Julien Ponthus and Maya Nikolaeva; Additional reporting by Olivia Oran in New York; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Tom Heneghan) PARIS (Reuters) - France may make it easier for police to defend themselves under new measures laid out by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Wednesday, as police protested across the country. Other proposed measures include doubling sanctions for insulting police, easing conditions to wear hoods to better protect the identity of police officers and 250 million euros (US$273 million) to buy new equipment, Cazeneuve said after a meeting with President Francois Hollande and police unions. A draft law should be submitted by the end of November, he said. "All these measures ... are aimed to make into law provisions that will protect law enforcement officers and impose the respect they deserve," Cazeneuve said. Strained by an 11-month state of emergency triggered by attacks in Paris last November, police have said they are no longer sufficiently equipped even to defend themselves. About a thousand people protested in the streets of Paris on Wednesday in support of police demands. Some 15,000 people demonstrated in total across France, according to Unite SGP police union. There have been 10 days of demonstrations. "These are strong signals," said Yves Lefebvre, a union official for Unite SGP police union, after the meeting with Hollande. "It should be swiftly materialised to end the legitimate discontent expressed by police," said Jean-Marc Bailleul, a CFDT union official. Pressure has been mounting on Hollande since the start of the demonstrations as opponents demand a tougher stance on crime. Right-wing opponent Alain Juppe, who polls suggest could become France's president in next year's election, decried what he called a loss of authority in the country, as did Nicolas Sarkozy, who is also running for president. Media coverage of law and order problems frequently mounts before elections. Eighty-eight percent of French either support or have sympathy for the police, according to a poll of 997 people issued on Wednesday by a polling firm for news network BFM TV. Another poll, undertaken by Ifop and commissioned by French website Atlantico, showed that 91 percent of respondents considered police's demonstrations "justified". (Reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey and Gerard Bon; Additional reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; Editing by Toni Reinhold) PARIS (Reuters) - A French judge will investigate the disappearance in Syria of a father and son of dual French and Syrian citizenship, a judicial source said, in the first French probe into crimes for which rights groups blame the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The investigation into alleged torture, forced disappearance and crime against humanity was opened following a complaint filed on Monday by two rights groups and Obeida Dabbagh, brother and uncle to the missing pair, Patrick and Mazzen Dabbagh. "It is time that judicial authorities in other countries investigated the crimes committed by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad," the FIDH and LDH rights groups said in a statement. They said the father and son were arrested in November 2013 by soldiers. (Reporting by Gerard Bon; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Andrew Roche) Its increasingly difficult to imagine anything that could make the 2016 election season stranger than it already is, but the National Republican Congressional Committee managed to do just that when it released a television ad for Congressman Bob Dold of Illinois this week. In it, the narrator praises Dold for his decision to disavow the Republican Partys own presidential nominee, Donald Trump. Dold is an independent voice, who stood up to Donald Trump months ago, the narrator says. The ad then cuts to a clip of a Dold appearance on CNN from March of this year in which the first-term congressman says, Listen, I think Donald Trump has disqualified himself. Related: Leaked Memo Shows Clinton Foundations Tangled Web of Money and Favors The advertisement, which National Review writer Alexis Levinson flagged this afternoon, has aired in Dolds congressional district, where he is locked in a close battle with Democrat Brad Schneider. The seat is one of the most competitive in the country. Dold won it in 2010, only to be ousted by Schneider in 2012, before winning it back again in 2014. The advertisement does not even mention that Dold is a member of the Republican Party. In fact, someone unfamiliar with the congressman would likely come away with the impression that he is an Independent, because the narrator refers to him as a proven Independent for Illinois. At this point in the campaign, its become commonplace for individual Republican lawmakers to disassociate themselves from Trump. However, the formal GOP establishment, like the Republican National Committee, has remained steadfast in its support of the partys nominee. The decision by the NRCC to put its name -- and its money -- behind an ad slamming its own partys presidential nominee has got to rate as one of the oddest moments of an odd election season. Update: The NRCC's advertisement for Rep. Bob Dold (R-IL) was removed from YouTube sometime on Thursday afternoon, after stories pointing out the implicit criticism of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump began popping up in various publications. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: By Alistair Smout and Kit Rees LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's top share index rose on Thursday in a choppy session, buoyed by well-received results from Barclays, though mid-cap stocks fell as earnings updates led to double-digit slides for AMEC Foster Wheeler and Berendsen. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index (.FTSE) was up 0.4 percent at 6,986.57 points by the close, while the more domestically-focused FTSE 250 (.FTMC) slipped 0.5 percent. Barclays (BARC.L) was the top riser on FTSE 100, up 4.8 percent after its third quarter results beat forecasts. The lender posted a rise in third quarter profits to 1.7 billion pounds ($2.08 billion), helped by an improvement in its investment bank division. The bank has been outperforming the European sector since the beginning of last week, when the major U.S. banks reported a bumper set of results and strong fixed income trading. "Barclays earnings in the third quarter were boosted by its investment banking business, mirroring a trend seen amongst the big American banks," said Jasper Lawler, analyst at CMC Markets. However, the bank continued to be dogged by UK-specific issues, such as a provision for mis-selling insurance and a pension deficit due to lower interest rates in Britain. Lloyds (LLOY.L) continued to rebound after dropping following its own results on Wednesday. It initially fell as the government restarted its scheme to sell its stake in the bank, but it closed 2.9 percent higher, extending a rebound from Wednesday's lows to 7.5 percent. UBS reiterated a "buy" rating on the stock, raising its target price on the stock to 67 pence and saying that earnings had beaten is forecast by 2 percent. The bank said that Lloyds commitment to maintain this year's target of a 2.70 percent net interest margin as a target for 2017 helped support shares from lows in the previous session. Banks have struggled in the current low interest rate environment, with the Bank of England cutting rates for the first time since 2009 in August. Story continues Like the banks, the pension deficit was a concern for telecom BT (BT.L), which dropped 2.2 percent after its own update. Barratt Developments (BDEV.L) fell more than 6 percent after trading ex-dividend. The British midcaps underperformed their blue-chip peers after disappointing results weighed on shares in Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW.L) and Berendsen (BRSN.L). Oil services firm Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW.L) slumped more than 20 percent, posting its worst day in almost a year after cancelling its capital markets day and posting weak sales figures. Commercial laundry company Berendsen (BRSN.L) tumbled nearly 16 percent on a profit warning. This follows profit warnings from fellow midcaps Cobham (COB.L), Keller (KLR.L) and Senior (SNR.L) over the past week. "This earnings season isn't shaping up to be particularly great for medium-cap companies. They are the ones that are feeling the pinch of Brexit that's been demonstrated in recent sets of earnings," Jonathan Roy, advisory investment manager at Charles Hanover Investments, said. (Editing by Andrew Heavens) TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Fujitsu Ltd on Thursday confirmed it was in talks with China's Lenovo Group to cooperate in the design and manufacture of personal computers (PC), and that any outcome would see it retain its own PC brand. The announcement comes at a time when sales of increasingly sophisticated smartphones and tablet computers squeeze demand in a global PC market that peaked half a decade ago. The possible alliance with the world's largest PC maker "is aimed at strengthening our brand and business," Fujitsu President Tatsuya Tanaka said at a briefing in Tokyo after the company released its latest earnings report. "Scale is key to cost reduction, especially when operating globally," he said. Fujitsu and Lenovo, in a joint statement, said they were exploring means of cooperation and were discussing financial support with the state-backed Development Bank of Japan. Tanaka declined to comment further while details were under discussion. Reuters reported the talks earlier in October. At that time, a person familiar with the matter said an alliance could see Lenovo gain control of Fujitsu's PC business to allow the Japanese firm to focus on IT services for corporate customers. For Lenovo, a deal could help boost its purchasing power and consolidate its footing in a PC market where profit margins are thin. The Chinese firm's previous PC deals include buying the PC division of International Business Machines Corp in 2005 and creating a PC joint venture with NEC Corp in 2011. Fujitsu also on Thursday said its operating profit more than doubled in the second quarter to 37.1 billion yen ($355 million). Its share price ended up 7.8 percent after the announcements, compared with a 0.3 percent decline in the Nikkei average stock price index. (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Japan's Fujitsu said on Thursday it was in talks to merge its struggling PC business with Chinese computer giant Lenovo, sending its shares soaring as the company also announced a recovery in profits. The talks come as Japanese personal computer makers work to scale back their businesses as consumers shift to smartphones and tablets. Tokyo-based Fujitsu said it and Lenovo, the world's largest PC maker, are "exploring a strategic cooperation in the realm of research, development, design and manufacturing of personal computers for the global market". The two firms, which are yet to reach an agreement, are also talking with government-backed Development Bank of Japan for financial and strategic support. The market is rife with speculation that the two firms may merge their PC operations, with Lenovo taking the majority stake in the new venture. That should free up Fujitsu to pour more resources into its profitable IT services operations, while also pushing ahead with a sweeping restructuring programme that will see 3,200 job cuts. Fujitsu president Tatsuya Tanaka told a press conference that his firm wants to improve the competitiveness of its PC business. "Our priority option is to team up with Lenovo Group which has global PC operations," he said, according to public broadcaster NHK's website. Investors welcomed the news, as Fujitsu shares rose by 7.8 percent to close at 599.3 yen. The company had been in talks with Toshiba and Vaio to merge their once high-flying personal computer businesses, but those negotiations failed to result in a deal. Once-mighty Japanese firms have struggled to reorganise in the face of stiff competition from lower-cost rivals overseas, including in China and South Korea. Earlier this year, Taiwan's Hon Hai, better known as Foxconn, took over struggling Japanese electronics maker Sharp after it faced huge losses and mounting debts. In a separate announcement, Fujitsu said its net profit for the six months to September came to 11.8 billion yen ($113 million). Story continues The recovery marks a reversal from a net loss of 15.9 billion yen during the same period last year, thanks to cost-cutting efforts particularly in the PC and mobile phone operations. Operating profit stood at 25.9 billion yen, up from an operating loss of 12.4 billion yen the year before, while sales fell 7.0 percent to 2.08 trillion yen. Fujitsu also slightly revised down its annual sales forecast to 4.5 trillion yen, 100 billion yen lower than an earlier forecast due to revised exchange rate assumptions, but kept annual net profit projection at 85 billion yen. STATISTICS: CIS, 1H2016: Insurance markets passing through the storm After years of positive high dynamics, insurers of the CIS space are confronted with a difficult economical environment: decreasing demand for insurance products and the falling currency exchange rates all over the region are putting a high pressure on the costs and profitability. Overall, GWP in the region went down y-o-y by 3,3% in European currency. The strongest negative changes in GWP were seen in Kazakhstan (-26.5%) and Azerbaijan (-19.2%), countries where the local currencies have suffered massive devaluations against the Euro. In local currencies, both markets have recorded positive double digit growth rates. In the overall picture, the only 3% fall in GWP was supported by the relative stable situation of the Russian market which accounts for iver 82% of the regional GWP. Several countries in region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) are experiencing changes in the motor insurance regulations. Other countries, as Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan are taking steps to introduce different systems of mandatory health insurance system. To improve the market's stability, countries as Belarus or Ukraine have imposed higher capital requirements and have performed stress tests in order to identify the vulnerabilities. As a result, the market's concentration is more or less a general trend across the region. Thus, in Russia, although the market has already "lost" tens of companies, most of them being removed the licence because of the insufficient level of capitalization, there are still some hundred companies on the "red" list. M&A operations are part of the current market restructuring in some of the CIS countries, as Azerbaijan or Ukraine. Moreover, in Moldova five of the top insurers are under special surveillance, a major change of ownership being expected. Finally, the establishing of the new National Reinsurance Company in Russia, currently preparing to become active at the beginning of 2017, is raising concerns with regard to future of the reinsurance business carried on by the present players. Overall, CIS markets are facing "turbulent" times, strongly affected by the volatile political environment, as well as by the high dependence of their economies on the petrol price. Yet, in the long run, their potential is unaffected and the ongoing modernization of the regulatory framework is creating new opportunities. Read a comprehensive analysis of the trends recorded in the CIS insurance markets, as well as regional and country statistic data in the latest issue of the XPRIMM Insurance Report CEE, SEE & CIS 1H2016 Author: Daniela GHETU on 27.10.2016 Archive Comment this article 0 comments Atention! "Comment" and "E-mail" are mandatory Name: If you are logged on and you do not fill in your name, will be used the name that you used when you registered If you are not logged on, your name will appear preceded by '(Anonymous)'. For authentication, click here If you are logged on and you do not fill in your name, will be used the name that you used when you registered E-mail: Comment: < 10.000 car. Fill in the code from the image: F 35C Zumwalt navy In the above picture we see just one ship, the USS Zumwalt, and just one plane, an F-35C, but that's most likely all the US Navy will need to dominate the seas in the future. Despite being the US Navy's largest-ever destroyer, the Zumwalt is so stealthy that it appears as a small fishing boat on enemy radar and sometimes has to deploy mirrors to make it more visible to friendly traffic on the open ocean. "If Batman had a ship, it would be the USS Zumwalt," Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., the commander of US Pacific Command, told CNN. Both the Zumwalt and the F-35 share one key concept of the Navy's vision looking forward: modularity. With a large rear flight deck and an oversize power plant, the Zumwalt can accommodate weapons of the future like lasers, railguns, and the F-35B short-takeoff variant. The F-35 has options too. It can deploy with a detachable gun pod, it can carry external ordnance on pylons under the wings, or it can go out in full stealth mode with only the bombs in the internal bay. Together, the Zumwalt and the F-35 can achieve things that would have previously taken entire fleets and months of planning to do. The F-35 can talk to the Zumwalt and have the ship fire missiles at targets marked from the plane. The F-35 can also command fleets of drones to do its surveillance and firing for it. The Navy of years past imposed its will with massive fleets of battleships billowing smoke, but tomorrow's Navy will use surgical, stealthy tools to get the job done with just a few ships and hardly a blip on the radar. NOW WATCH: The US Navy is set to take over this $4.4 billion futuristic-missile destroyer More From Business Insider (Adds context) By Greg Roumeliotis Oct 27 (Reuters) - Gannett Co Inc remains in active negotiations to acquire U.S. newspaper publishing peer Tronc Inc , despite reporting disappointing earnings on Thursday that weighed on its shares, according to people familiar with the matter. Gannett's negotiations with Tronc, the newspaper and online media company that used to be part of Tribune Co, have been complicated by its latest quarterly loss, driven by declines in print advertising. Its shares fell more than 17 percent to $8.21 in New York on Thursday, giving it a market capitalization of $960 million. Tronc shares dropped as much 30 percent on Thursday after Bloomberg News reported, citing sources, that banks financing Gannett's takeover of Tronc, which has a market capitalization of around $500 million, have backed out, putting the deal in doubt. The Reuters sources said that the potential structure of the deal had not been finalized, and that financing had not yet come up as an issue that could kill the deal. There is, however, no certainty that an agreement will be reached, the sources said. The sources asked not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential. Gannett and Tronc offered no immediate comment. Talks between Gannett and Tronc come at a challenging time for the newspaper industry, which is grappling with high costs, shrinking advertising dollars and a broad move toward digital content. Gannett, which has been on an acquisitive streak all year, is betting that bigger scale will bring savings and help generate more profit. In April, Gannett made an unsolicited takeover offer for Tribune of $12.25 per share in cash, in a deal worth roughly $815 million. It followed up a month later with a $15 per share offer. Then in June, Gannett tried to influence a vote on board of director nominees at Tronc by turning it into a referendum on the board's handling of its takeover approach. Merrick Media LLC, an investment firm that owns 16 percent of Tribune Publishing and is led by Tronc Chairman Michael Ferro, had resisted a deal with Gannett until a few months ago, when the two companies starting negotiating in earnest. (Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis and Jessica Toonkel in New York; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) * GE ups Arcam bid to 300 crowns/share from 285 crowns * Bid values Arcam at almost $700 mln * To buy 75 pct of Concept Laser for 549 mln euros (Adds Concept Laser, background, detail) STOCKHOLM/FRANKFURT, Oct 27 (Reuters) - General Electric raised its bid for Swedish 3D printer maker Arcam on Thursday and said it had agreed to buy privately held German 3D printing firm Concept Laser. A day earlier GE abandoned its bid for 3D printing firm SLM Solutions after activist investor Elliott Advisors, which owns 20 percent of SLM, rejected its bid. "We have taken further steps to pursue Arcam ownership as we advance our additive strategy," GE Aviation chief David Joyce said in a statement. "We are delighted to achieve the strategic cornerstone in our additive strategy by announcing today our acquisition of Concept Laser." Arcam, Concept Laser and SLM, are three of the world's top makers of machines for metals-based 3D printing. GE and its competitors have begun to invest seriously in 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, which produces parts with less work than traditional production methods, generates less scrap material and expands design possibilities. Use of the technology has become more widespread for industrial mass production in recent years, with uses ranging from the production of dental crowns and medical implants to aircraft parts. GE raised its recommended bid for Arcam to 300 crowns per share from 285 crowns, valuing the Swedish 3D printer maker at 6.2 billion crowns ($696 million). It also lowered the minimum acceptance threshold for the offer to 75 percent. GE, one of Arcam's largest customers, said it controlled 46 percent of Arcam shares. Elliott owns around 10 percent of Arcam according to a disclosure notice issued this month. The U.S. industrial conglomerate is buying a 75 percent stake in Concept Laser for 549 million euro ($599 million) in a deal that will allow GE to take full ownership in a number of years. Story continues Concept Laser's customer base is focused on the aerospace, medical and dental industries, while Arcam's primary focus is on aerospace and medical implants. Arcam shares were up 8.7 percent in Stockholm to match the bid level as of 0806 GMT, while SLM shares fell 13 percent in Frankfurt. ($1 = 8.9103 Swedish crowns) ($1 = 0.9169 euros) (Reporting by Johannes Hellstrom and Georgina Prodhan; editing by Niklas Pollard and Jason Neely) FRANKFURT, Oct 27 (Reuters) - U.S. conglomerate General Electric has agreed to buy privately held German 3D printing firm Concept Laser for 549 million euros ($599 million), it said on Thursday, after its bid for rival SLM Solutions failed. GE and its competitors have begun to invest seriously in 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, which produces parts with less work than traditional production methods, generates less scrap material and expands design possibilities. The U.S. group is initially buying 75 percent of Lichtenfels-based Concept Laser, which specialises in metal additive manufacturing, with an agreement allowing it to take full ownership in a number of years. GE abandoned its bid for SLM on Wednesday after activist investor Elliott Advisors, which owns 20 percent of SLM, rejected its bid, making it harder for GE to reach its minimum acceptance threshold. It did, however, raise its bid and lower its minimum acceptance condition on Thursday for Swedish 3D printer maker Arcam, in which Elliott also owns a stake. Concept Laser's customer base is focused on the aerospace, medical and dental industries, and it also has a presence in the automotive and jewellery sectors, GE said. The company has more than 200 staff, including operations in Texas and China. GE, which has spent about $1.5 billion on additive technology research, said it would invest "significantly" in Lichtenfels, which would become a new German centre for the group. Co-founder Frank Herzog will stay on as chief executive. ($1 = 0.9168 euros) (Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; Editing by Maria Sheahan) (Reuters) - General Electric Co has approached No. 3 oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Inc to discuss the possibility of an acquisition, according to a person familiar with the matter. It is not clear whether Baker Hughes will engage further in deal talks, the person told Reuters. Baker Hughes, which has a market capitalisation of $23.1 billion (18.99 billion pounds), declined to comment. The deal would be large even for GE, roughly double the size of its $13 billion acquisition of power assets from Alstom last year. GE officials could not be immediately reached for comment. Baker Hughes shares were up 13.7 percent at $62 in after-hours trading. GE shares were down 1.4 percent at $28.23. GE said last week that it believes the oil market has bottomed, but that demand for the infrastructure equipment the company makes would take longer to recover, probably after the first half of next year. Baker Hughes' planned merger with bigger rival Halliburton Co, valued at $34.6 billion when it was announced in November 2014, fell through in May due to opposition from regulators. (Reporting by Arathy S Nair and Nikhil Subba in Bengaluru and Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Andrew Hay) STOCKHOLM, Oct 27 (Reuters) - General Electric on Thursday raised its recommended bid for Arcam to value the Swedish 3D printer maker at 6.2 billion crowns ($696 million), a day after abandoning its planned takeover of Germany's SLM Solutions. GE lifted its bid to 300 crowns per share from 285 crowns. The U.S. industrial conglomerate, one of Arcam's largest customers, also said it had reduced the minimum acceptance threshold in the offer to 75 percent. The bid represents a premium of around 61 percent relative to Arcam's closing price the day before the first bid was made on September 6. GE said it controlled 46 percent of Arcam shares. The company separately said it would buy a 75 percent stake in German 3D printer maker Concept Laser. ($1 = 8.9103 Swedish crowns) (Reporting by Johannes Hellstrom; editing by Niklas Pollard) For a moment, there appeared to be a light at the end of the tunnel in the ongoing battle between Georges St-Pierre and the UFC. After St-Pierre declared himself as a free agent, the UFC drew their line in the sand and stated that the former champion was still under contract. On Tuesday, Michael Bisping took to Twitter and said that he verbally agreed to a fight with St-Pierre at UFC 206 in Toronto, which would be a homecoming of sorts for GSP. The UFC middleweight champion added that the UFC and GSP had been negotiating this fight for the last few days. All Bisping was waiting for was St-Pierres signature to make the fight come to fruition. @GeorgesStPierre, we all want more money. But lets go,sign the papers.Give the people of Toronto what they want, be a hero! Lets go champ! michael (@bisping) October 26, 2016 However, St-Pierre responded to Bispings claims by welcoming the fight, but quickly refuted that a deal was ever in place. In a video posted on St-Pierres Twitter account, the French-Canadian said he met with WME-IMG CEO Ari Emanuel while in Las Vegas last week and made peace with UFC president Dana White. But the thought of a fight with Bisping was quickly dashed. Nothing would make me more happy in the world than to fight you in Toronto, Michael, St-Pierre said. Last week, I met with Ari and I made peace with Dana. I tried to resolve things, but unfortunately right now its not happening. Hopefully, things will change soon. Thank you. With that ends the latest chapter in the ongoing GSP vs. UFC saga. With no clear end in sight, there is no telling how long this disagreement between both parties will drag out. Berlin (AFP) - Strikes at German low-cost airlines Eurowings and Germanwings led to the cancellation of nearly 400 flights Thursday, stranding some 40,000 passengers, a spokesman for the two companies said. The airlines, owned by flag carrier Lufthansa, are locked in disputes with the Ufo flight attendants union. Eurowings staff are calling for salary increases and improved working conditions while Germanwings personnel are unhappy with terms for part-time employees. Cabin crew stayed away from midnight in Berlin, Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, Dortmund, Hanover and Stuttgart in what is to be a 24-hour strike, forcing around 400 out of 550 planned flights to be axed. The largest hubs in Frankfurt and Munich were spared, along with all long-haul flights. Nicoley Baublies of Ufo defended the decision to hit the two airlines at once with strikes. "At the end of the day both have the same targets and the same management," he told public broadcaster ZDF. Another Ufo representative, Daniel Flohr, threatened to extend the strikes next week if the talks failed to make headway. "We will strike on two days if management doesn't budge," he told AFP, without specifying a timetable. FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The German government has turned down a Chinese request for approval of a takeover of Osram's (OSRn.DE) light bulbs unit Ledvance pending a review of the deal, German magazine WirtschaftsWoche reported on Thursday, citing financial sources. Shares in Osram extended losses to 4 percent following the report and closed down 2.3 percent, one of the day's biggest decliners in the German midcap index (.MDAXI), which closed unchanged. Osram is switching focus from light bulbs to lighting technology, selling Ledvance and investing 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in a new factory in Malaysia to make chips for LED lights. The group agreed earlier this year to sell Ledvance to a group of Chinese buyers, including lighting company MLS , for more than 400 million euros ($437 million). WirtschaftsWoche said Berlin would review the planned acquisition, meaning it could be months until there is clarity over whether the deal will go through. Responding to the report, the German economy ministry said it was examining the deal as was standard procedure, declining to elaborate. Osram declined to comment on the report, which came days after Berlin put on hold the sale of semiconductor manufacturing equipment maker Aixtron (AIXGn.DE) to China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund, citing security concerns. Osram has said it expected to complete the transaction in the course of its 2017 fiscal year. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, submitted late in the evening Beijing time. Concern is growing in Berlin about losing technology to China after a string of Chinese acquisitions of German companies including industrial robots maker Kuka (KU2G.DE). Scrutiny of deals with Chinese buyers also casts a shadow over prospects for talks between Osram and Chinese chipmaker Sanan Optoelectronics about a possible takeover or cooperation. Sanan said earlier this month it had been in preliminary contact with Osram. ($1 = 0.9160 euros) (Reporting by Tina Bellon; Additional reporting by Gernot Heller and Jens Hack; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Alexandra Hudson) FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The German government has turned down a Chinese request for approval of a takeover of Osram's light bulbs unit Ledvance pending a review of the deal, German magazine WirtschaftsWoche reported on Thursday, citing financial sources. Shares in Osram extended losses to 4 percent following the report and closed down 2.3 percent, one of the day's biggest decliners in the German midcap index <.MDAXI>, which closed unchanged. Osram is switching focus from light bulbs to lighting technology, selling Ledvance and investing 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in a new factory in Malaysia to make chips for LED lights. The group agreed earlier this year to sell Ledvance to a group of Chinese buyers, including lighting company MLS <002745.SZ>, for more than 400 million euros ($437 million). WirtschaftsWoche said Berlin would review the planned acquisition, meaning it could be months until there is clarity over whether the deal will go through. Responding to the report, the German economy ministry said it was examining the deal as was standard procedure, declining to elaborate. Osram declined to comment on the report, which came days after Berlin put on hold the sale of semiconductor manufacturing equipment maker Aixtron to China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund, citing security concerns. Osram has said it expected to complete the transaction in the course of its 2017 fiscal year. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, submitted late in the evening Beijing time. Concern is growing in Berlin about losing technology to China after a string of Chinese acquisitions of German companies including industrial robots maker Kuka . Scrutiny of deals with Chinese buyers also casts a shadow over prospects for talks between Osram and Chinese chipmaker Sanan Optoelectronics <600703.SS> about a possible takeover or cooperation. Story continues Sanan said earlier this month it had been in preliminary contact with Osram. ($1 = 0.9160 euros) (Reporting by Tina Bellon; Additional reporting by Gernot Heller and Jens Hack; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Alexandra Hudson) LONDON/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's HSH Nordbank [HSH.UL] has arranged a deal which will see six container ships from collapsed South Korean line Hanjin chartered out to Denmark's AP Moller Maersk , the state-backed lender said on Thursday. This is one of the first examples of Hanjin's lenders looking to resolve the fallout from the shipping firm's collapse in August, which has left an estimated $14 billion in cargo stranded on its ships. HSH, which was among a consortium of banks that had financed Hanjin ships, said in a statement that Maersk's container unit, the world's No. 1 line, would operate the six vessels. "The chartering of the container ships by Maersk Line means that, in a difficult setting, these ships have been given a long-term perspective following the insolvency of Hanjin," said HSH's chief risk officer Ulrik Lackschewitz in the statement. "In Maersk Line we have a strong partner at our side for this transaction." Maersk confirmed the arrangement without providing further details. The global container shipping sector is struggling with its worst ever market conditions, caused by a glut of ships and slowing global trade, which has battered earnings and forced at least one out of business. A source involved in the transaction told Reuters HSH had separately arranged together with three other banks for three additional Hanjin ships to be chartered out to the world's No. 2 line, Swiss-based MSC. MSC did not immediately comment. This week Hanjin said its European routes services had completed stopped and a Seoul court overseeing its receivership process has approved winding down four of its European units. HSH has been under pressure due to the global shipping sector downturn and is trying to offload assets. The bank turned to its state owners after risky assets turned sour in 2008. In March, the European Commission approved a bailout which includes an ambitious plan to hive off a total of 8.2 billion euros ($8.96 billion) in bad loans, 5 billion of which are being transferred to the state owners, while the lender must sell up to 3.2 billion itself. ($1 = 0.9152 euros) (Reporting by Jonathan Saul in London, Andreas Kroener in Frankfurt and Annabella Pultz Nielsen in Copenhagen, editing by William Hardy) The flagging global smartphone industry got a bump in the third quarter as global shipments jumped 6% to 375 million. Samsung shipments dropped 10% during the same period, according to Strategy Analytics. Samsung's shipments fell from 83.8 million in the quarter a year ago to 75.3 million. Apple shipments also dropped, from 48.0 million to 45.5 million. Apple Inc. (AAPL) recently posted its first annual revenue decline since 2011. These two global smartphone leaders have problems they cannot overcome soon. Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics, commented: Samsung shipped 75.3 million smartphones worldwide in Q3 2016, falling 10 percent annually from 83.8 million units in Q3 2015. This was Samsungs slowest growth rate for almost two years. Its global smartphone marketshare has dipped from 24 percent to 20 percent in the past year. Samsungs recent Galaxy Note 7 recall was handled badly, which dented its brand image and left a large product gap in its premium smartphone lineup. Samsung will now be looking to its next flagship launch, such as the rumored Galaxy S8 model, to recover momentum in 2017. Apple fell 5 percent annually and shipped a lackluster 45.5 million smartphones worldwide in Q3 2016. Apples global smartphone marketshare has softened from 14 percent to 12 percent in the past year. Apple has been given a slight boost by Samsungs Note 7 missteps, but it continues to face iPhone fatigue among many consumers in major regions such as China and Europe. ALSO READ: 40 Countries the U.S. Government Doesn't Want You to Visit The three primary Chinese manufacturers Huawei, OPPO and Vivo posted impressive gains. Shipments by Huawei rose from 26.7 million to 33.6 million, putting it third in global sales for the third quarter. OPPO rose from 9.0 million to 21.6 million. Vivo sales rose from 9.8 million to 18.3 million. Global Smartphone Vendor Shipments and Marketshare in Q3 2016 [1] Global Smartphone Vendor Shipments (Millions of Units) Q3 '15 Q3 '16 Samsung 83.8 75.3 Apple 48.0 45.5 Huawei 26.7 33.6 OPPO 9.0 21.6 Vivo 9.8 18.3 Others 176.9 181.1 Total 354.2 375.4 Global Smartphone Vendor Marketshare (%) Q3 '15 Q3 '16 Samsung 23.7% 20.1% Apple 13.6% 12.1% Huawei 7.5% 9.0% OPPO 2.5% 5.8% Vivo 2.8% 4.9% Others 49.9% 48.2% Total 100.0% 100.0% Total Growth: Year-over-Year (%) 9.5% 6.0% Source: Strategy Analytics Story continues 1. Numbers are rounded. Related Articles DOHA (Reuters) - Gunmen who shot dead two security officers in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Dammam on Tuesday were connected to previous militant attacks in the region, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday. "The results of investigations show a link between the targeting of the security officers in Dammam and other terrorist attacks in Qatif and Dammam," the ministry said on Twitter. The perpetrators had been trained abroad, it said. Two other policemen were shot dead in Dammam in September. Eastern Province is home to many Shi'ite Muslims, who form a minority in the conservative Sunni Muslim kingdom. Shi'ite militants angry at what they say is repression of their community have attacked security forces in the Eastern Province in the past. The Islamic State group, which controls territory in Syria and Iraq, has also claimed attacks on Saudi security forces as well as deadly bombings and shootings that target the kingdom's Shi'ites. (Reporting by Tom Finn; Editing by Angus MacSwan) This guy went on a road trip to bring his BFF a banana and we desperately want to be part of their friendship A California students act of kindness is going viral after he drove 50 miles to bring his friend a banana. Martin Peredo of Ventura, California told Buzzfeed he was in a Starbucks trying to study when his friend, 20-year-old Justin Mendoza, texted him to ask for food. The only problem? Mendoza was in Northridge more than 50 miles away from Peredo. In an act of true friendship, Peredo grabbed a banana, got into the car, and drove it all the way to Northridge to hand-deliver it to his friend. Peredo documented the journey with a tweet that has now been re-tweeted nearly 18,000 times. After sharing the banana, both friends agreed they were still hungry. Peredo posted an update to his original tweet, informing the world that they splurged and got Wingstop. We approve: Its a meal much more worthy of their next-level friendship. Peredo and Mendoza have been friends for more than 13 years, Peredo told Buzzfeed. Were definitely feeling the love. The post This guy went on a road trip to bring his BFF a banana and we desperately want to be part of their friendship appeared first on HelloGiggles. From Cosmopolitan The above 2,066-pound pumpkin is believed to be the biggest one ever grown in New Hampshire, WMUR reports. Maine pumpkin carver Moe Auger saw potential in the pumpkins natural shape and transformed it into the thing you see above for all the world to enjoy. "It already had its own face," Auger, who has been carving pumpkins for 20 years, told the station. "So for us, its all about looking at the pumpkin and deciding, really on the spot, what were going to be doing." The team who helped Auger carve the pumpkin are calling the theme of the carving Scream despite the fact that the final result looks like Dobbys happy-drunk, fat, molting uncle. Pictures posted by the NH Giant Pumpkin Growers Association show the pumpkin did indeed vaguely look like it had a face before carving. It also dwarfed all the other pumpkins in this years NH State Pumpkin Weigh-Offs on Oct. 16. The carving will remain in Manchester through Halloween for everyone to enjoy, Auger said and it will be lit up every night for visitors. Five days until Halloween. Twelve days until the election. Eighteen days til my next vacation. Which will be filled with nightmares. Of gargantuan pumpkins. And 2016. Photo credit: WMUR Follow Tess on Twitter. You Might Also Like By Catherine Ngai VANCOUVER (Reuters) - A container vessel that spent months sitting off Canada's west coast due to the collapse of South Korea shipping company Hanjin docked in Vancouver on Thursday, according to union officials and ship tracking data. The Hanjin Scarlet arrived at DP World's Centerm terminal within the Port of Vancouver by early afternoon, according to Thomson Reuters ship tracking data. Terminal operator DP World and Hanjin could not be immediately reached for comment. The vessel, with nearly 800 containers on board, had been sitting some 45 km (28 miles) outside Prince Rupert for several months, said Peter Lahay, an inspector and coordinator with the International Transport Workers Federation. The arrival comes as creditors globally line up claims after the company applied for court receivership. Hanjin's collapse also forced ports around the world to deny service to its ships for fear they would not be paid. South Korea's Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd filed for court receivership at the end of August, which set the stage for its assets to be frozen as ports from China to Spain denied access to its vessels. Prince Rupert Port Authority spokesman Michael Gurney said that the Hanjin Scarlet arrived into the port on Aug. 30 and discharged some containers at one of its terminals. It then remained under arrest and at anchor in the outer harbor for nearly two months, he added. The ship, which has 24 crew members, will unload cargo on board, Lahay said. He added that crew members had less than 10 days worth of food and provisions left, and had run out of fresh food. Earlier this month, Hanjin said it would sell its major businesses, including its Asia to U.S. route network. The firm had a total of 6.03 trillion won ($5.41 billion) as of the end of June, according to court filings. Meanwhile, the Hanjin Vienna also remains at anchor off Victoria, British Columbia, according to ship tracking data. Local reports say that the Vienna is also arrested. According to an advisory on Hanjin's website, it is set to discharge in Vancouver on Nov 3. (Reporting by Catherine Ngai; Editing by Frances Kerry and Cynthia Osterman) What happened when Amber Tamblyn told her mom about her sexual assault story will make you rethink a lot Amber Tamblyn is speaking out and getting stronger with the process. A few weeks after speaking out about sexual assault, Tamblyn revealed that her sexual assault story brought her closer to her mom and really made her think about what shell be like as a mother, now that shes expecting her first child with husband, David Cross. In early October, Tamblyn opened up about her past experience of being in both a physically and emotionally abusive relationship and through that story she learned something about herself and bonded with her mother who she had to call and warn about the story coming out. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants actress penned an essay for Glamour on Wednesday and revealed that while telling her mom her sexual assault story, she realized that her mom had a similar tale to tell her, which got her thinking about the change we need in America. Goodnight, folks! #WhoWoreItBetter #LipSyncBattle A photo posted by Amber Tamblyn (@amberrosetamblyn) on Oct 19, 2016 at 8:41pm PDT Somewhere between Donald Trump calling Hillary Clinton a woman with tremendous hate in her heart and a nasty woman, I found myself making a phone call to my mother I was hoping I could avoid forever, Tamblyn began her letter for Glamour. A story I shared about an encounter with an ex-boyfriend had gone viral, and I feared she would read about it in the news. When I told her, my mothers reaction was unshockingly unshocked. You know, she began, I have a story of my own I want to share with you,' she continued. Go ahead and fill in the blank of my mothers story. Its easy, isnt it? Tamblyn continued. I was at a ________, and a guy _________. I was _______ years old and the father of one of my friends __________. I was at work and my boss ___________. I was walking down the street and __________. I exist, therefore ___________ is bound to happen. Story continues The Tamblyns are with her, but no matter who you're with, make sure to vote today! Your vote is your voice, and what a beautiful voice it is. @hillaryclinton #imwithher A photo posted by Amber Tamblyn (@amberrosetamblyn) on Jun 7, 2016 at 4:01pm PDT The 33-year-old actress went on to explain that her mother told her another story that day, the second one being about her mothers response (Tamblyns grandmother) to her experience. She told her mother what had happened to her, and Ill bet you can fill in this blank, too. My grandmothers response to my mother was, Boys will be boys. You just have to be really careful around them,' the California native said. This wisdom about boys will be boys is what got Tamblyn to thinking about what needs to change and what she wants her daughter to know when she enters this world. [Boys will be boys] encourages women to take a backseat in their own lives, telling them its okay: men know how to drive and know what theyre doing. It tells us to shush, to not make a fuss, to accept the world as it was built for us. It tells us we shouldnt ask for more than what we are given, from dollar bills to the Bill of Rights. Boys will be boys and girls will be, what? Quiet. Hungry. Subservient. Game, she said. After processing the stories her mother told her it left Tamblyn with a lot of questions in regards to her daughter and the future for women in general. Will I get a phone call from my daughter someday, one she never wanted to make? Will I have to share with her my story, and the story of her great-grandmothers words to her grandmother? Is it possible to protect her from inheriting this pain? she asked. How much do I have to do, as a daughter and a soon-to-be mother, to change not just the conversation about how women are seen, but the language with which conversations are spoken in? Tamblyn then urged the readers to think about who they will be voting for and then talked about why she was supporting Hillary Clinton. She also revealed that after talking to her mom, her bond with her was stronger than ever. Great event, Powell Ohio, you got this! Next up: Springfield! W/ my HilllYes sister surrogate Claire. #OhioTogether A photo posted by Amber Tamblyn (@amberrosetamblyn) on Aug 28, 2016 at 1:56pm PDT When I hung up the phone with my mom, I felt really good about our conversation and that she chose to tell me her story, Tamblyn wrote. After Im done writing this, Ill go back to my desk and fill out my absentee ballot. Ill be voting for more than just a woman; Ill be voting for a revolutionary idea. Everything Tamblyn wrote in this letter is powerful, thought-provoking and inspiring. It makes us want to read it over and over again because above all else Tamblyn is promoting strong women and a sexual assault free world, which we can definitely get behind. The post What happened when Amber Tamblyn told her mom about her sexual assault story will make you rethink a lot appeared first on HelloGiggles. A new report shows that women are often harassed from being flashed to grabbed and groped while out running. (Photo: Getty Images) A new report commissioned by Runners World, entitled Running While Female, has found that 43 percent of women say they sometimes experience some form of harassment while on a run compared with just 4 percent of men. And the numbers are even more dramatic for younger women: 58 percent of women under the age of 30 report being sexually harassed or threatened while running always, often or sometimes. Furthermore, 5 percent of female runners report being flashed while running, 30 percent report having been followed by a person (whether on foot, in a car, or riding a bicycle) while running, 18 percent say they have been sexually propositioned while running, and 3 percent have been grabbed, groped or otherwise physically assaulted all while simply trying to run in public. And fear of threats and harassment is affecting how women run too. The report found that 63 percent of women surveyed say they choose a place to run or a running route based on where they feel its unlikely they will encounter a person who might try to harm them. Only 23 percent of men surveyed said the same. Likewise, 41 percent of women runners said they choose routes where they are less likely to receive unsolicited attention, compared to only 9 percent of men. And 41 percent of women also said they choose a route where they can flee a dangerous situation, should one occur. The precautions women take while running dont end there. Out of concern for their safety, 73 percent of women say they run with their phone, 71 percent say they tell someone where they will be running and when they should be back, 60 percent limit their runs to daytime hours, and 41 percent run with other people. More than half of all women runners 54 percent say they are concerned they could be physically assaulted while running. The Runners World report is both deeply troubling and, unfortunately, not entirely surprising. This summer alone saw the murders of three women joggers: Karina Vetrano, 30, of Queens, N.Y.; Vanessa Marcotte, 27, of Princeton, Mass.; and Ally Brueger, 31, of Rose Township, Mich. Story continues Boston-area fitness instructor Erin Bailey shared her thoughts on being harassed while running in a viral blog post, What Do We Deserve? She told Yahoo Beauty that she was inspired to write her post after experiencing countless instances of street harassment herself and hearing similar stories from friends and acquaintances. The unifying thread behind all these stories, Bailey said, was that women were not only facing harassment and threats of sexual violence regularly but also being told repeatedly to deal with it by giving up running outside. Zoe Peterson is the director of the Sexual Assault Research and Education Program and an associate professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She explains to Yahoo Beauty that when it comes to the kind of threats faced by female runners, its complicated. Catcalling a woman runner, although demeaning and disrespectful, is obviously not equivalent to physically assaulting a woman runner, Peterson says. It is very common for women to experience sexually harassing comments from strangers on the street, but it is extraordinarily rare to be physically or sexually assaulted by strangers on the street. Those kinds of assaults are far more commonly perpetrated by someone that the woman knows. And yet, Peterson explains, the incredible rates at which women experience verbal street harassment can genuinely make them feel vulnerable and at risk for physical, sexual assault when out in public. Being harassed and objectified by a stranger is likely to increase [a womans] feelings of vulnerability and thus increase her fear of running alone, Peterson notes. Because most men dont share the experience of feeling sexually vulnerable every time they leave their house alone, they may not be sensitive to womens fears. As a result, she says, women deal with the added sociological effect of men finding humor or a lack of seriousness in exactly the comments that women know and understand to be verbal harassment and yet every time a woman hears these kinds of comments, even if not meant seriously by men, it only increases her fear of being alone in public. Ultimately, this may impede a womans ability to enjoy running or even cause her to discontinue the activity altogether, Peterson concludes. Speaking to Runners World, Michael Kimmel, the distinguished professor of sociology and gender studies at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y., explained that women regularly experience sexual aggression in public because the public sphere is [still] a male space. As a result, he explains, even seemingly casual verbal street harassment is a way that men assert their privilege and space over women and remind them that the world writ large is not theirs to exist in independently. The editors of Runners World are asking other women to share their stories and comment on the report using the hashtag #HarassedMidrun. Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. The literary series penned by the "Harry Potter" author about private detective Cormoran Strike is to be adapted for TV by the BBC and HBO, which will broadcast the show in the USA and Canada. In late 2014, British TV broadcaster BBC announced plans to bring a new hero, Cormoran Strike, to the airwaves. The English detective is the central character in three of J.K. Rowling's novels, published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Now, the prestigious US cable network HBO has joined the project, acquiring broadcasting rights for the USA and Canada. The BBC and HBO previously partnered to produce and screen the miniseries based on the British author's first post-Harry Potter novel, "The Casual Vacancy," which aired in 2015. The TV adaptation of Cormoran Strike will be based on a series of crime novels written by Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith -- "The Cuckoo's Calling," "The Silkworm" and "Career of Evil" -- published between 2013 and 2015. The books follow the investigations of private detective Cormoran Strike. This Afghanistan veteran, who quit the army after losing part of his leg in a bombing, will be played by English actor Tom Burke. The London-born actor has previous experience when it comes to literary adaptations, notably playing Athos in English TV series "The Musketeers," based on "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas, and playing a psychotic Russian soldier in a recent BBC adaptation of "War and Peace." Filming is due to start this fall in London, with J.K. Rowling signed up as an executive producer. Rowling's police novels have sold more than four million copies in total worldwide. A fourth installment is also expected in 2017. Each of Rowling's novels appears destined to be adapted either for TV or the big screen. After the seven novels in the "Harry Potter" series, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" has now been made into a movie, out November 18, starring Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne, and is the first in a series of five films. Warner is now considering adapting "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," a play set 20 years after the last Harry Potter novel, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." The script was published as a book on July 31, 2016, and is considered the eighth installment in the saga. Warner may even try to convince Daniel Radcliffe to step back into the young wizard's shoes for the production. (Adds Aetna update on Obamacare exchanges, Humana, share price) By Caroline Humer and Ankur Banerjee Oct 27 (Reuters) - U.S. health insurer Aetna Inc warned on Thursday that losses from its Obamacare individual insurance plans will likely continue despite pulling out of the exchanges in most states, creating uncertainty for next year's earnings. Chief Executive Officer Mark Bertolini said the earliest the health insurer might return to the exchanges is 2019, more likely 2020, and then only if operations improve. Shares fell 1 percent to $109.81. The CEO's comments came during a conference call to discuss third-quarter earnings and revenue, both of which beat analysts' expectations. Aetna said in August it will reduce participation in individual insurance on government-run online marketplaces to four states from the current 15 states due to financial losses. It will continue to sell plans on the exchanges. Bertolini's comments came two days after the U.S. government said premium rates for Obamacare plans would increase by 25 percent, on average, in 2017, reflecting higher medical costs of insuring members. Bertolini said two problems are the risk adjustment calculation that smooths out the costs of sick patients and the number of people enrolled in the program. "Until that mechanism changes, or until the pool substantively changes, we're going to find ourselves in a premium spiral that's going to continue to drive rates up," Bertolini said. The government estimates 2017 enrollment to rise 1 million about 11.4 million people. Aetna said it expects operating losses of $350 million on the individual insurance business in 2016. In 2017, it may book losses both in the states where it remains in exchanges and in the states where it sells plan outside the exchanges. Bertolini said Aetna, which is fighting a U.S. government lawsuit to block its $34 billion acquisition of Humana, is committed to the deal and expects to close in 2017. The exchanges and the lawsuit are two uncertainties for 2017, Aetna said. Other potential bumps include high costs in its fully insured plans for small companies and the possible loss of some Medicaid contracts. Story continues Chief Financial Officer Shawn Guertin said the combination of factors made it difficult to give a 2017 outlook, and that the company does not normally give a financial forecast with its third-quarter report. Leerink analyst Ana Gupte said Aetna did not alleviate Wall Street concerns about the outlook for 2017 earnings. Analysts expect earnings of $8.88 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. "They were not willing to guide at all, or even give any directional color on whether consensus was too high or too low," Gupte said. (Reporting by Caroline Humer in New York and Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto and Jeffrey Benkoe) From Country Living When I booked my stay at San Francisco's Sir Francis Drake hotel last week, I thought I was getting a great deal. Then I found out the true story behind the property, and I desperately wished I had been kept in the dark about its history. It all started two weeks ago when my my best friend Courtney and I went on a weekend leaf peeping drive in the Pennsylvania countryside. Finally chilly enough to wear turtlenecks and boots, we spent the afternoon driving around and catching up. We talked about what was new in our lives, and I told her that I was headed to San Francisco the following week to see some friends. "I just can't believe how expensive the hotels are out there, but luckily I found something through a friend that is still pricey but in an excellent location," I told her. Courtney mysteriously turned her had to me and asked, "Wait, is it the Sir Francis Drake Hotel?" Photo credit: Ryan Vaarsi/Flickr Creative Commons I thought it was pretty weird that she guessed the exact hotel that I had chosen. I nodded my head and she said, "Oh Micaela, the hotel is haunted. I booked a stay there a few years back and ended up only spending one sleepless night there. I was so spooked I had to change my reservations. If you want to look for another hotel, I have plenty of other recommendations." Of course this would happen to me. I decided to put the thought of staying in a potentially haunted hotel in the back of my mind. I didn't really think about it again until I boarded my flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco and decided to Google the hotel. But first, a little background on my "haunted" past: I'm a self-proclaimed scareoholic. My best friends from college, Courtney (the same one who told me about the news above) and Liz, and I all lived together our sophomore year of college and would tell each other ghost stories every single night before we went to bed. Looking back on it, that was pretty bizarre of us. But we loved it. I still enjoy getting spooked, but only to a certain degree. I love watching American Horror Story and horror movies. Halloween is my second favorite time of the year-second only to Christmas, of course. I love this stuff! Well, the thought of it, at least. But when it came down to me being face-to-face with *real* ghosts for four days straight, it turned out not to be as exciting as I thought. Story continues So, on my flight, I Googled "Sir Francis Drake Hotel haunted." I found entries on TripAdvisor and haunted blogs that said things like, "I was so scared, I didn't sleep for the three nights I was there." I also found this kicker: "Suicides, murder and ghostly figures add to the mystique of this Bay Area legend." Fun! One site offered this haunted fact about the hotel: "The Sir Francis Drake Hotel is also found in Union Square in the heart of the city. TV star Paul Lynde was involved with a terrible accident that took place here back in 1965. A man, who was said to be his lover, took a fall from an 8th story window after the pair had spent the night drinking. Since then guests report windows opening by themselves, curtains moving as well as strange shadows and disembodied voices." With these spine-chilling rumors, I decided to do a little experiment. How many days could I last in this haunted hotel? And if I could make it the whole time, I planned to journal each day and talk about any experiences or new things that I hear about the hotel. Here's what happened. I. Check in. Thank God I'm not on floor 12. First off, the hotel is ornate and gorgeous. You enter up a grand staircase and are greeted by a glittering chandelier, regal bar, and cranberry velvet chairs. The lighting is dim and romantic. At check-in I chatted with a man behind the desk. We shared some friendly banter about traveling, the weather back home, and if I had ever stayed at a Kimpton property before. Typical check-in conversation. Then I took him quite aback (I'm guessing they don't train you on how to answer questions about ghosts) when I told him I had read the hotel was rumored to be haunted and asked if he had any information. "Yes, there are ghosts," he said and winked. I pressed a bit further, "Can you be a little more specific with me? I'm weirdly fascinated by this sort of thing." He looked at my reservation closer and said, "Don't worry. You're not on the 12th floor. If you were on the 12th floor we would change that for you." We shared an awkward chuckle and I made my way to the "non-haunted" 15th floor. II. My room. My room was really beautiful. I had nice lighting and there were two queen beds that were beautifully dressed in soft linens. One of the beds had a mirror at the foot of it though and anyone who loves horror movies knows that ghosts and spirits love to pop up in mirrors. I could just imagine myself waking up to get a glass of water in the middle of the night and seeing a small ghostly child waving at me in the mirror. So I decided to sleep in the bed that didn't have the mirror in front of it. The room was perfectly lovely except for the artwork. It was as if the hotel was actually trying to scare their guests. One painting was a scary haunted looking child with praying hands and the other was a creepy boy with a crown. III. Night one. Make the noises stop please. After a long day of travel and scaring myself on the plane I was ready for a deep sleep. I got cozy and started to drift off to sleep but whenever I was just about to doze off I would hear a strange noise. The pipes in my bathroom. My faucet would leak a bit. At one point a piece of note paper I had on my desk mysteriously floated off the desk to the floor even though the AC was on low. I was paranoid and couldn't get a wink of sleep, so I downloaded a white noise machine, put it on loud, and finally drifted off. I only got a few hours of sleep because I was so paranoid the whole night. IV. Night two. What happens in room 823, stays in room 823. After a dinner out with an old friend I returned back to the Sir Francis Drake hoping for a more comforting and longer night of sleep than night one. I took a spinning class early in the morning to make sure that I would truly be exhausted and so that I would hopefully fall asleep more easily. When I got into the elevator after dinner an employee of the hotel was inside. He was a very nice old man with white hair and light eyes and a cheery demeanor. He told me he was investigating a problem with the elevator. I asked what the problem was and he said that many guests were trying to take this elevator to go to the 21st floor where the hotel's famed "Starlight Room" was located but the floor wouldn't light up. He seemed open and honest about the elevator issue and so I started to ask him questions on our elevator ride, that seemed to mysteriously stop at every floor. "Sir, I know this may sound a bit outlandish but I've heard the hotel is haunted. Have you heard anything about this?" He smiled, kind of creepily at me and smiled "Oh yes dear. The hotel is haunted." I asked if he knew about any specific incidents. "Well, guests complain about things all the time. Hearing voices. The 12th floor gets the most complaints but room 823 is apparently the most haunted. We had two maids that had an incident there some time ago and they refused to ever clean the room again. But as the staff changed we haven't heard anything about it. But yes, people definitely do see and hear things." The door opened to my floor. And I got off and said goodnight. He gave me a somewhat creepy wave and I was back in my room. The spinning worked, I put on my white noise machine for safe measure and passed out without hearing any sounds that night. V. Day three. Stranger things. This is when things got weird. I started to write this very article in my room the morning of day three. I started really digging into research on the property and searched through Google results to find more specific incidents. Especially about what happened in room 823. But I couldn't find anything about room 823. Mysteriously, I had a few pieces of paper on the table near my bed and one just suddenly fell off. Then the next one. I got a little spooked so walked down the hallway to get some ice and I saw one of the maids preparing one of the rooms on my floor. I peeked my head in, like a total weirdo, and asked her if I could ask her a strange question. She nodded her head. "I know this is going to sound weird. But there's something in my room that doesn't feel right ma'am. It's like the energy is off and I'm hearing weird noises. Is the hotel haunted?" She looked right at me, strangely, and said "It might be. But it's also old, so the noises you're hearing are probably just old pipes. Don't worry." So... she didn't quite deny the fact that the hotel was haunted. But she brought up a good point. Maybe the hotel is just old and has questionable artwork hanging in the rooms and dim lighting. I went back to my room and made myself a glass of ice water and turned the table lamp on next to my bed to continue writing. Then the lamp died and went dark. Coincidence? Honestly, I felt like the more prodding I was doing about the hotel, the weirder the experiences I was encountering. But maybe I was just starting to let the hotel get into my head. VI. The final night. Could this be the ghost that haunts the Sir Francis Drake? I MADE it. I went to the Bar Drake after dinner to do some further investigating. I made small talk with the bartender and told him I had been creeped out the whole time that I had been staying at the hotel and that I had read the place is haunted. I asked him if he knew anything. He stared at me for a quick second and went back to mixing his drinks. He told me that, yes, it is rumored to be haunted by spirits. "The owner of the hotel committed suicide and still haunts the hotel," he said. "He killed himself on the 21st floor, in the Starlight Room." I continued my spooky investigative work, pressing him further. "Ah, this one elevator wouldn't stop on the 21st floor the entire time I've been here. There have been people trying to fix it, but it won't stop on the 21st floor," I said. "That's spooky," he responded. Indeed. The whole place is. The verdict: While a beautiful hotel with great service, the energy at the Sir Francis Drake put me on edge the whole time I was there. But, if staying at a potentially haunted hotel doesn't bother you, then you should check it out. And if you're really brave, ask for room 823. You Might Also Like A "senior official" working for Donald Trump revealed the Republican campaign's plan for dissuading potential Hillary Clinton voters from voting Democrat in a new report from Bloomberg Businessweek. That unnamed official said the Trump team has "three major voter suppression operations under way," targeted at three distinct groups that Clinton needs for a big electoral victory. Those constituencies, as Businessweek describes, are "idealistic white liberals, young women, and African Americans." Although "voter suppression" sounds ominous and some on social media were quick to claim the revelation as evidence of illegal action on the part of the Trump campaign the tactics described are really just advertising that isn't attempting to convert voters to Trump, just turn them away from Clinton. One example of that strategy, as explained in the report, are Trump's attempts to "turn off" those liberals who had supported Sen. Bernie Sanders by referencing Clinton's shifting stance on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. That potential trade agreement, which Clinton had called a "gold standard," is now opposed by the Democratic nominee. And for African Americans, the Trump campaign is using nonpublic Facebook posts with an animation claiming "Hillary Thinks African Americans are Super Predators" targeted at certain potential voters, according to Businessweek. That "super predators" claim is referencing a 1996 speech in which Clinton called for an organized effort against gangs, saying they sometimes include "the kinds of kids that are called super predators no conscience, no empathy." Although Clinton did not specify African Americans in that comment, many took it that way, and she has said she shouldn't have used that language. For the more on Trump's homestretch strategy, see the Bloomberg Businessweek report. More From CNBC It's been a "ruff" couple of days, but this furry hero, whose frantic barking alerted neighbors of a house fire, has been released from the hospital battle scars and all. Read: Pug and Kisses: Elderly Pooch Becomes Unlikely Hero After Alerting Family to House Fire Meet Che, a 10-year-old chow chow-mix who proved his loyalty to his sleeping owner when a fire broke out in the middle of the night at their Philadelphia home. Neighbors said it was about 3:00 in the morning when they heard an out-of-the-ordinary yapping from the home. "They heard Che barking, barking, barking, which is unusual for him to do in the middle of the night," said Jen Leary, founder of the Red Paw Emergency Relief that responded to the scene. "They looked out the window, saw smoke, got their families out and tried to get the neighbor out but they couldn't get the door open." When firefighters arrived, they discovered Che, unconscious and lying on top of his owner's unresponsive body. His owner, Andrea Bulat, was immediately taken to the hospital. She reportedly suffered burns to more than half her body and is still in a coma following the Sunday blaze. Her cat, also living at the home, died in the fire. Che was given oxygen at the scene and quickly regained consciousness, "but he couldn't really move, he could only lift his head up," Leary said. "The neighbors covered him in blankets and waited with him until we got there." The Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, which works in conjunction with the fire department, immediately transported Che to a veterinary hospital, where they discovered he suffered corneal ulcers, smoke inhalation and lung inflammation. "No burns, amazingly," Leary said. In the following four days, veterinarians treated Che with fluids and antibiotics. Read: Elderly K9 Officer Receives Hero's Salute Before Being Put Down: 'He Was Family' Despite having suffered a setback in his health just the day before he was released to a close friend of his owner, Leary said they hope sending him home will help him recover faster. Story continues "He needs help getting up, and he's still very weak," Leary told InsideEdition.com. "But he's breathing on his own. He seems to be doing okay." The owner's friends have also since paid off Che's veterinary bill, which Leary estimates to be more than $5,000. Watch: Firefighters Rescue 34 Dogs From Burning Home: 'It Was an Endless Chain of Dogs' Related Articles: Early this month, Iranian-British charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sentenced to five years in prison on charges that have not been publicly clarified. She had been arrested in April when just about to return home after visiting family in Iran along with her then 22-month-old daughter Gabriella, whose passport was confiscated. Last week, Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his father Baquer each received 10-year sentences for cooperating with the US, although the nature of this alleged cooperation was not made clear outside of the secretive, closed-door trial. And on Tuesday it was announced that yet another dual-national, Robin Shahini, had been sentenced to 18 years in prison after a similarly secretive trial on charges of collaboration. Furthermore, the Washington Examiner reported on Wednesday that a permanent resident of the United States, the information technology expert Nizar Zakka, had informed the international press that Iranian authorities are demanding four million dollars for his release. Zakka was arrested after having been invited by government officials to an IT conference in Iran, where he delivered a speech on the role of women in that sector. He has reportedly been told that authorities considered sentencing him to death before resolving to hold him for 10 years or until the US pays for his release. Previously, figures associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had indicated that they expected to receive many billions of dollars in ransom for the various imprisoned dual nationals. The Examiner indicates that officials had initially named two billion dollars as the price for Zakkas release, before dramatically lowering that figure in September. But whatever the specific dollar amount may be, the State Department declares that it is resolved to not pay it. The Examiner quoted State Department spokesperson John Kirby as telling reporters on Tuesday that the US does not pay ransom and has no intention of changing that policy going forward. However, this statement conflicts with many lawmakers perceptions of a January incident in which the initial 400 million dollar installment of a debt resettlement was paid by the US to Iran, in the form of a delivery of foreign currency, at the exact time that three American prisoners were being flown out of Iran as part of a prisoner swap. The swap also saw the release of seven Iranians imprisoned in the US, as well as the dropping of charges against 14 others. But the corresponding debt resettlement was criticized for being, in effect, a ransom payment and thus a violation of the governments longstanding policy of not paying for hostages. The White House has acknowledged that the 400 million dollars was used as leverage to make sure that the prisoners were released, although it also insists that the two issues were negotiated separately. This is little comfort to critics of the Obama administration, who believe that the Iranians viewed the payment as a ransom and thus were emboldened in the taking of additional American hostages. The Namazi and Shahini cases, among others, lend credence to that claim, especially in light of the quotations indicating that at least some Iranian officials specifically expect to be paid for those prisoners. On Tuesday, Iran News Update discussed these arrests and convictions in the context of recent reports highlighting Irans changing foreign policy. That policy apparently acknowledges the need for the Islamic Republic to court a significant degree of foreign investment, but also reflects the regimes persistent desire to hold political and cultural influence at bay, in order to safeguard the hardline Islamic identity and dictatorial rule of the revolutionary government. Many other reports have pointed out that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is an increasingly powerful player in the establishment and enforcement of such policies, and that this and other hardline organizations stand to benefit the most from a tightly managed embrace of foreign investment. The nature of that management was outlined once again by an Agence-France Presse report on recent IRGC comments about cooperation with foreign oil firms. In keeping with the aforementioned reports by independent analysts and Western media outlets, those comments did indeed acknowledge that cooperation with such foreign firms is necessary, but also that the IRGC wishes to strictly limit the power and influence of those firms. It is a disgrace to be under the hands of foreigners when we have so many educated young people, said Brigadier General Ebadollah Abdollahi, the head of the IRGC-owned industrial conglomerate Khatam al-Anbia. Abdollahi also downplayed the gap in technology and know-how between Iran and the West, saying, There may be problems along the way, but we can definitely carry out these tasks. Irans Oil Ministry seems to have expressed agreement with Abdollahi, giving Khatam al-Anbia and other firms with close links to hardline officials the first opportunities to bid on major oil development projects. Foreign firms will surely be allowed in behind these, but even the latest templates for Iranian oil contracts indicate that foreign firms are expected to take a subordinate role. Although Abdollahi says that no one is against foreigners coming, it seems clear that hardline entities like the IRGC would like to limit contact between Iran and the West to the greatest extent possible while also taking advantage of Western investment capital. This dual aims are reflected in the fact that Iran is taking some measures to attract foreign investment while apparently avoiding others. Numerous officials including the Supreme Leader have criticized the US for keeping in place banking restrictions that make it difficult for international financial institutions to do business with both the US and Iran. But at the same time, those officials have refused to bring the country in line with the universal standards set out by those restrictions, for instance by providing evidence of safeguards against domestic money laundering. On the other hand, some factors limiting Irans attractiveness to the international banking system can be addressed without making serious changes to other Iranian policies, such as its policies of laundering money to foreign terrorist organizations like Hezbollah. In those cases, Iranian authorities have begun to assure the international media of forthcoming improvements. On Wednesday, CNBC quoted one such official as saying that the Iranian central bank is working on establishing a unified currency regime, thus ending the complicated situation in which foreign financiers must contend with one exchange rate set by the central bank and another set on the open market. It is perhaps significant that these sorts of changes promise to make it easier for foreign nationals to interact with Iran remotely, through its own financial institutions, but do not address the broader concerns about the safety of persons who travel to Iran on business. Their safety remains very much in doubt perhaps increasingly so as the Iranians continue to not only defend the persecution of dual nationals but also to publicly voice their desire to use those arrestees as bargaining chips. Heres a different kind of October surprise: Hillary Clintons campaign has tapped three big YouTubers GloZell Green, Todrick Hall and Sam Tsui for a video ad campaign urging millennials to vote for the U.S.s first female presidential candidate. In the videos, each YouTube star makes an unannounced, over-the-top visit to one of their fans in three battleground states: Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Hillary for America campaign recruited digital studio Portal A to produce the segments, which are designed to be fun and uplifting and carry the theme of #StrongerTogether. With less than two weeks before Election Day, the Clinton campaign is especially focused on Florida, where the latest polls show a tight race with Donald Trump. Clinton is scheduled to return this weekend to the Sunshine State, which represents a coveted 29 electoral votes. This came together because our campaign is heading into the final stretch and were heavily focused on turning out younger voters, said Jason Rosenbaum, HFAs director of digital advertising. Its our campaigns closing argument. Rosenbaum declined to say what HFA is spending on the YouTube get-out-the-vote campaign. In addition to funding the videos from GloZell, Hall and Tsui, Hillary for America will buy advertising on YouTube to promote them. The three YouTube creators have a combined subscriber base of more than 9.4 million fans, and the One Vote at a Time ads are designed to reach a cohort of potential voters who watch less TV than their elders. Millennials are much more likely to be watching YouTube and get messaging that way, said Sarah Galvez, audience growth strategist. The fact is that these creators are influential to people in that category. Todrick Halls video, shot in Philadelphia, features him parading in front of a marching band and surrounded by flash mob of dancers. GloZells includes synchronized swimmers in a pool full of Froot Loops in Orlando, Fla., and Tsui stages a live, pop-up concert performance in Columbus, Ohio. The Hillary ads with Hall (here) and GloZell (here) went live on their YouTube channels Thursday, and Tsuis is slated to debut Nov. 1. Story continues We know that younger people are tired of negative politics, said Rosenbaum. We teamed up with Portal A and a couple of YouTubes top influencers to develop incredible, entertaining experiences to encourage and inspire people to vote. Hillary for America has posted a 15-second clip of Todrick Halls segment on its YouTube channel and next week will release a 30-second sizzle of the whole series. The Clinton campaigns move to rope in digital influencers shows a level of savvy not seen before in a national political campaign, said Portal A managing director Zach Blume. The studio is best known for producing the YouTube Rewind year-in-review video compilation. Its one thing to just run ads on YouTube or Facebook. Its very different to work with creators like this. Overall, as Clinton has widened her lead over Trump in the polls, shes also gained ground on YouTube. Clinton-related videos had 164 million views on YouTube from Oct. 15-21, up 50% from the week prior, beating Trumps 120 million views over the same time period, according to video tech and analytics firm Zefr. Some major YouTubers have shied away from taking a political stand in the contentious 2016 election season, either because it deviates from their brands or they just want to avoid inviting controversy. But Blume said he found a different level of energy and enthusiasm with this project people really believed in this. For Blume, the work with Hillary for America was even more meaningful personally given his background as a political strategist before co-founding Portal A. It was a dream to work on a project that brought together everything we love about YouTube and this new generation of stars, with the urgency of this political moment, he said. Pictured above: Todrick Hall beseeching a fan in Philadelphia to vote. Related stories Hillary Clinton: AT&T-Time Warner Deal 'Raises Questions and Concerns' Disney's Maker Studios New Comedy, Gaming Original Series Will Get First Window on Sling TV, Other Platforms Morgan Freeman Narrates One of Hillary Clinton's Closing Campaign Ads This week, the White House finally admitted what had become obvious for months: premiums within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges will skyrocket in 2017. Unfortunately, neither the administration nor its intended successor Hillary Clinton demonstrated a grip on the failures that have driven the markets to collapse, or the need for a clear change in direction. Instead, both argued for Band-Aids that will make matters even worse. The timing for both Clinton and Barack Obama could not have been worse. Less than a week earlier, President Obama had praised the ACA for the progress that weve made in controlling costs in a speech extolling Obamacare in Miami. Five days later, Josh Earnest had to fend off the reality of an average 25 percent increase in premiums for next year by claiming that the vast majority of those purchasing insurance through Obamacare exchanges get tax credits that ensure health care is affordable. Related: Obamacare Rate Hikes for 2017 Even Bigger Than Expected Affordable to whom? Subsidies do not erase premiums; they shift the costs to taxpayers, which is why skyrocketing premiums matter to everyone. In March, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that premium subsidies in 2016 would come to $43 billion, or about $4,240 per subsidized enrollee. A 25 percent increase in premiums would increase that cost to $5,525 for 2017 if the out-of-pocket deductible remains $75, a 30.3 percent increase. That far outstrips the original projections for the cost of Obamacare, which means that the program will go far into the red rather than finish its first decade deficit-neutral as promised. In response to the failure, Earnest tried to blame Republicans for their lack of willingness to work with Democrats to fix the Democrats program, and offered Obamas own proposal more taxpayer support for bad choices. Expanded tax credits to young people to encourage them to buy insurance would improve the composition of the risk pool in a way that would reduce costs for everybody, Earnest argued, but this ignores a very simple calculation. Story continues Most young people see a health care provider only once or twice a year, which on a retail basis might cost several hundred dollars. Why would they spend $900 on already-subsidized coverage each year, and then pay for those visits out of pocket anyway because of the $6,000 deductible? Additional tax credits which are just another form of subsidy only change that calculation at the margins, and are precisely the same mechanism that has failed already in enticing healthier consumers. Related: Minnesota Could Be the First Obamacare Domino to Fall Not even the insurers selling the product believe that argument. Young people can do the math, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini told a Bloomberg conference in New York, describing their priorities as gas for the car, beer on Fridays and Saturdays, health insurance. Unlike Earnest and the Obama administration, Bertolini understands exactly what the problem is a lack of value. As the rates rise, the healthier people pull out because the out-of-pocket costs arent worth it. If Obama wants to double down on failed and expensive subsidies, Clinton wants to do the same with mandates and price controls. Having made the continuation of Obamacare a campaign promise, the Democratic nominee pledged again to build on the progress weve made and fix whats broken. The latter, not surprisingly, consists mainly of doing more of the former. As insurance companies have found themselves stuck in the vicious cycle of rising costs and narrowing risk pools, they have begun exiting the ACA exchanges altogether, which has left some consumers with two or fewer options. Clinton proposes to improve choices and increase competition not by remedying the mandates for comprehensive coverage and community pricing, but by reviving a public option. That idea died in 2009, mainly under pressure from Republicans who rightly saw it as a Trojan horse for single-payer health care. Related: The Simple Reason So Many Americans Are Opting Out of Obamacare Just as with the premium subsidies, the losses would have gone directly to the general fund and disappeared into annual budget deficits, while insurers would have been lowballed out of the exchanges within a couple of years. The lesson on the public option was made clear when the Obamacare co-ops all went under as soon as their access to general fund bailouts was blocked by a rule change on risk-corridor payments in the 2014 budget compromise. Clinton also promised to take on the pharmaceutical companies for driving up drug prices, a refrain that should sound familiar to Americans. The Obama administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill made similar claims about health insurers and supposed windfall profits made off of Americans. Obamacare was supposed to cure that ill, too, only as it turns out, the disease didnt exist. Even at that time, for-profit health insurers had modest profit margins, far below that of other industries. The small margin pre-ACA became an acute problem when Obamacare forced them to take on high-risk consumers without pricing their risk directly. Rather than charge higher prices to those with higher risk, insurers had to hike premiums and especially deductibles across the board under required community rating policies. Related: Heres Proof that a Single Payer Health System Could Break the Bank Everyone else had to pay more to shield insurers from the high utilization curves that resulted, and now much of that cost hits all taxpayers through premium subsidies. A government takeover of the market did not change the nature of risk pools, nor will a government takeover of pharmaceutical markets and pricing change the nature of technological innovation, research, and safety protocols. After more than six years, the Obama administration has proven one thing they have no clue how to run a health insurance market. Hillary Clinton has made clear that she has no more insight than a rehash of the same arguments that have led to this debacle. Only a complete reversal of Obamacare, and the rebuilding of an innovative insurance market based on consumer needs and choice will save this patient. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Hisyam Hamid wants to test his own acting capabilities. 27 Oct He's popular for playing romantic characters but now Hisyam Hamid wants to try his hand at something new and is aiming for antagonistic roles. The Singaporean-born actor said that as an actor, he doesn't want to keep playing the same roles over and over again, and would love to try out other characters, according to BH Online. "I usually play romantic characters, so I wish to play a formidable and bad character. It would help cast aside the typical characters I often portray previously," said the actor. "Except for now I haven't received any offer to play an antagonist. Some tell me it doesn't fit my looks." The 31-year-old revealed that there are even fans who asked him not to accept any offers to play antagonists. Hisyam, who gained famed through the drama series "Ariana Rose", said that as an actor, he has always had the intention to play different roles as it would test his own acting capabilities. Currently, the actor can be seen starring opposite Amira Othman in the well-received drama, "Abang Bomba I Love You". (Photo source: Hisyam Hamid's Instagram) British banker Rurik Jutting calmly described to police graphic photos of an Indonesian woman he had killed at his luxury apartment in Hong Kong, according to video footage shown in court Thursday. The 31-year-old Cambridge graduate and former securities trader for Bank of America-Merrill Lynch has pleaded "not guilty" to two murder charges, on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which was rejected by the prosecution. Since the trial started Monday, jurors have viewed harrowing iPhone footage of Jutting torturing his first victim, Sumarti Ningsih, 23, for three days before he killed her by cutting her neck with a serrated knife at his flat two years ago. Days later, he killed Seneng Mujiasih, 26, cutting her throat, also at his flat. Both women were found dead at his apartment on November 1, 2014, Ningsih's body stuffed in a suitcase. On Thursday, the final day of prosecution evidence in the trial, the court viewed video footage of police interviews with Jutting as he talks through photos of Ningsih taken by him on his iPhone. When shown the pictures by police he carefully described their content. "She is currently tied up by me... she is being restrained here against her will. She absolutely did not consent," Jutting told officers when asked about one of the photos. He adds: "This photo was taken during around three days that she was captive against her will in my flat." Jutting told police in the interview that he was "in a state of extreme sexual aggression" during that time. In other clips from the police interviews in which he is describing photos from his iPhone, Jutting says the images showed Ningsih bound and gagged, and she had marks on her body from being beaten with a belt by him. When shown a photo of his bloodstained bathroom he described to police in the video how he cut her throat there, tied her body with a rope, then wrapped her in a plastic bag, a bed sheet and a throw before putting her in a suitcase. Story continues - 'Still moving' - Jutting told police interviewers that after he attacked his second victim, Mujiasih, he collapsed "physically exhausted". "She was I think still alive and still moving. I collapsed outside on the balcony. When I went back in she wasn't moving. I didn't specifically check whether she was dead or alive," he said in the interview. Jutting said he had considered jumping from the balcony and at one point he climbed over to a neighbour's balcony, waving a kitchen knife and carrying vodka, cocaine and Red Bull. Jutting then went back inside where he rang police. He told officers in the interview tapes that he had bought "10 packets" of cocaine daily for the three weeks before November 1, at HK$1,000 ($109) per bag. "I had ingested it primarily by snorting it," Jutting told police in the video. Wearing a light-blue shirt, Jutting remained impassive in court, sometimes looking at the video footage and sometimes scanning the room. Jurors were also shown the knife he used to kill Mujiasih and were taken through some of the graphic photos one by one by the prosecution. The court heard Tuesday that Jutting was "deeply addicted" to cocaine and also drank heavily. Jutting faces a life sentence if convicted of the murders. The defence is due to open its case on Monday. The killings shone a spotlight on the seedy underbelly of the finance hub. Jutting's flat lay streets away from one of the city's red light districts. Indonesian migrant organisations in Hong Kong have called for justice for the women, and compensation for their families. The ex-wife of a Georgia dad on trial for murder in his sons hot car death has also always been a suspect in the case, police testified Wednesday but shes no longer being actively investigated. In the same testimony where he revealed this, Cobb County police detective Phil Stoddard detailed the ex-wifes odd behavior soon after her son was killed. However: No evidence has come forward to bring us up to a level of probable cause that you need to arrest Leanna Harris, Stoddard told jurors in Brunswick, Georgia. We never reached that point. Stoddard testified during Justin Ross Harris murder trial about the night his young son, Cooper Harris, died in 2014, after spending hours trapped in his dads hot car. Among other oddities, Stoddard said Coopers mother, Leanna, never asked to see his body. It was the evening of June 18, 2014, Stoddard testified. The 22-month-old Cooper had just been found dead, and Justin was in a police interrogation room when his then-wife, Leanna, came to visit him. But she displayed little emotion, Stoddard testified. Indeed, he said, she didnt ask to see her sons body, which he thought was strange. (Stoddard previously testified that Leanna asked her husband, Did you say too much?) In his cross-examination, Justins defense attorney, Maddox Kilgore, argued instead that Stoddard has had a theory from the start that Justin and Leanna colluded together to purposefully kill Cooper. Youre looking for a conspiracy, Kilgore said. Youre looking for nefarious motive, so youre seeing what you want to see, Kilgore said. He emphasized that detectives had found more than 30,000 photos of Cooper on Leannas laptop, undercutting the idea that she was out to cause him harm. The fact of the matter is that you were dead wrong about Leanna Harris, Kilgore told Stoddard. She was in no way involved in a conspiracy with her husband. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. There Was No Malicious Intent Also on Wednesday, Cobb police detective David Raissi took the stand to discuss Justins odd use of specific legal terms during questioning soon after his son died. Story continues Raissi testified that detectives told Justin of the charges he was facing. Justin then said he didnt understand why he would be charged because his sons death was an accident, according to Raissi, and he calmly argued, There was no malicious intent. I thought it was strange, said Raissi, whose testimony has not been cross-examined. It triggered in my mind how he knew that language. The wording he was using, the vernacular, the language was not from a layperson. Certainly as a police officer or lawyer, you understand what malice is, Raissi said. The wording he used caught my attention. I thought it was strange that he was using that terminology. Justin has been charged with eight felony counts in Coopers death, including malice murder, cruelty to children, and criminal attempt to commit a felony. He faces life in prison if hes convicted. He has always maintained it was a tragic accident not murder. The prosecution is expected to continue presenting its case throughout the beginning of next week. Leanna is expected to testify for the defense as early as next week. A massive magma chamber in South America that pumps melted rock into the Earth's crust created an enormous dome in the central Andes, within the second-highest continental plateau in the world, according to a new study. Researchers studying the seismology and topography of the Altiplano-Puna plateau have connected the existence of a huge, underlying magma body to the plateau's great heights. The Altiplano-Puna plateau, which has an altitude of 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), includes parts of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, and encompasses vast plains punctuated by volcanoes. The study reveals how magma that was injected into the crust from below contributed to the plateau's uplift, and it offers insight into the creation of continental crust as well as the region's supervolcanoes massive volcanic centers that are capable of producing volcanic eruptions that are thousands of times larger than normal eruptions. [The 11 Biggest Volcanic Eruptions in History] Study author Jonathan Perkins, who led the research as a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is now a researcher at the U.S. Geological Survey, explained that the Altiplano-Puna plateau's unique plate tectonics are what drew scientists to study it. The Andes were formed from a subduction zone, when two tectonic plates collided and one plate sank into the mantle underneath the other plate. "The plateau is the second-largest continental plateau in the world," Perkins told Live Science. "The biggest is the Tibetan plateau, but the Tibetan plateau formed from two continents crashing into each other, whereas the Andes formed in a volcanic arc, which is a subduction zone, so there the whole plate tectonic configuration is different." Traditional tectonic models could not account for the entire thickness of the crust beneath the plateau. To determine the source of the plateau's height, Perkins and his team combined seismological and topographical studies of the area. Story continues Using the seismological research of the magma body which is more like a mush of crystals with some liquefied areas versus an ocean of molten magma the researchers were able to determine the magma body's size, but not its connection to the plateau. "We analyzed the topography in that area and found this big dome in the plateau," Perkins said. "By doing some topographic filtering techniques, we were able to show that this large zone of uplifted topography correlates really well with where we see the magma body." About 3,300 feet (1 kilometers) high and hundreds of miles across, the dome's uplift from the magma chamber beneath accounts for about one-fifth of the height of the central Andes, the researchers found. [Photo Timeline: How the Earth Formed] In these volcanic arcs, the subduction zones are like the factories of continental crust, Perkins said. The big magma bodies make rocks that are seen in the continents today. While much of the continental growth occurred millions of years ago, when such magma chambers underwent a period of rapid melt generation called a magmatic flare-up, Perkins said that the chamber beneath the Altiplano-Puna plateau is still active. "Whats really neat about this area of the central Andes is that it's one of the only places we know of in the world right now thats actively undergoing one of these flare-ups," Perkins said. "So were using the topography and seismology in tandem to sort of get a real-time view about how fast magma gets pumped into the crust, creating new continental crust during one of these big flare-up events." The activity of the magma chamber that was determined in this study can also be connected to research on the area's supervolcanoes, which have been relatively inactive in the last 3 million years. Perkins explained that this massive magma body is a sort of "mother chamber," in that its magma is genetically related to the supervolcanoes that have been created over the past 10 million years. "We know that this magma body is still active, but we cant tell from the data whether or not this flare-up is actively ending, or if it's just a lull and there could be another pulse that triggers supervolcano activity," Perkins said. "But, it doesnt look like theres evidence for any potential supereruptions right now." The study was published online Oct. 25 in the journal Nature Communications. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Much like previously arrested dual nationals like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Amir Hekmati, Shahini was reportedly in Iran to visit family who remained in the country after he moved away in the late 1990s. The 18 year sentence that Shahini received represents approximately the same amount of time that he had lived as an expatriate in the United States. Western media indicates that he had resided in San Diego for 16 years and had recently graduated from San Diego State College. Shahini also planned to continue his studies following acceptance into a graduate program in homeland security. This fact may have contributed to the Iranian judiciarys decision to prosecute him, although no evidence has been presented to suggest that he was engaged in espionage or any other recognizably criminal activities. Indeed, when interviewed by the AP over the phone, Shahini indicated that his trial has consisted almost entirely of the airing of his previous Facebook posts, which included criticism of the Iranian regime. Shahini also acknowledged that he had voiced support for the 2009 protests against the disputed reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That movement is still referred to as the sedition by Iranian officials. Its leaders remain under house arrest despite campaign promises to the contrary made by current President Hassan Rouhani. Other participants in the protests remain in Iranian prisons to this day, while some others were killed under torture. Shahinis tenuous connections to Iranian activism, together with his longtime residence in the United States, make him a doubly attractive target for Iranian authorities crackdowns, and this fact may go some way toward explaining why his sentence is eight years longer than those given to the Namazis and 13 years longer than the five-year sentence given Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was accused of attempting to foment a soft revolution while visiting the country along with her two-year-old daughter. Although there is no indication of actual connections between Shahini and the US government, his intended studies of homeland security invite the perception of those connections on the part of Iranian hardliners. Those hardliners are recognizably antagonistic toward anyone who falls victim to such allegations. This fact was on display on Tuesday via another story that appeared in Western media. Iran News Update previously reported upon last months visit to Iran by Utah State Senator Jim Dabakis. The report noted that it was odd that Dabakis had been allowed into the country at all, given that the Iranians had barred entry to other American politicians. Now, as the Washington Post noted on Tuesday, the visit has reportedly become a point of contention within the Iranian government, with hardline figures criticizing the Intelligence Ministrys handling of the situation. Iranian officials have given somewhat contradictory accounts of the visit. While some insist that Dabakis did not clearly indicate on his visa application that he was an elected official in the US, Dabakis himself says that he listed his profession both as art dealer and state senator. Now, Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi seems to indicate that the politician was knowingly allowed into the Islamic Republic so that he could be kept under thorough surveillance during his six-day visit. Although Alavi and his critics apparently have differing views on how the visa application should have been handled, the intelligence ministers comments seem to indicate that both sides had similar suspicions about ulterior motives behind Dabakis trip, which he says was aimed at encouraging diplomatic and cultural contact between the two civilian populations. Of course, this stated goal is itself objectionable to the Iranian leadership, a fact that was underscored in a New York Timesreport about Irans changing approach to foreign policy. That report stated that the government of the Islamic Republic is actively trying to strike a balance between continued aggression and tactical outreach to the international community. The former trend is reflected in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps provocations against US ships in the Persian Gulf and in the judiciarys increasingly harsh sentencing of Western nationals. The latter trend, meanwhile, is arguably on display when high-ranking Iranian officials urge the US to lift the lingering restrictions on trade between Iran and the West. The Times report quotes sources close to Iranian hardliners in order to specify that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is urging the creation of a situation in which there is sustained economic contact between Iran and the West, but cultural and political influence is kept entirely at bay. Such a policy derives from extreme economic need in the wake of years of economic sanctions, but also from paranoia about Western infiltration. Khamenei began publicly warning of that infiltration virtually before the ink was dry on the July 2015 nuclear agreement. And that paranoia has been expressed in various contexts since then, including in the midst of the controversy of Dabakis visit. The Daily Mail points out that hardliners have accused Dabakis of being part of a major Western project to infiltrate the country. Presumably, arrests of such figures are discouraged by the risk of an international incident and by the fear of forcing the cancelation of sanctions relief under the nuclear agreement. The harsh prosecution of dual nationals visiting Iran may partly make up for this. At the same time, it serves to caution the West against sending its own representatives to Iran, as opposed to working with existing residents who are loyal to state-linked businesses and economic institutions. The limits of Irans prosecutorial efforts may leave open the possibility for Western entities to engage economically with the Islamic Republic and avoid immediate risk. After all, the Times report suggests that Iran is willing to do business with the West as long as there is little or no appearance of cultural or political infiltration. But this is little comfort to the vocal critics of current US policy toward Iran. Those critics tend to question the value of economic contact with the Islamic Republic if its leadership will continue to effectively and aggressively obstruct the chances of political and social reform. Criticism along these lines was voiced in an editorial at Commentary Magazine on Monday. The article noted that Sunday was the anniversary of the 1983 bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut by Iran-backed terrorists. The incident killed 241 US servicemen and the article suggested that this might be the sort of outcome that is in store if the US continues to be permissive of Irans political and cultural activities, for the sake of economic engagement. Furthermore, that economic engagement raises the specter of Western business partners indirectly financing terrorism carried out by Iran proxies. It is certainly the case that the Islamic Republic is seeking to grow its global influence, in line with a constitutional mandate to export the principles of the Iranian Revolution. However, for the time being the success of that expansion in some areas remains in doubt. There has been growing recognition of those efforts, and opposition to it in areas such as Nigeria. There, according to Nigerian news site Omojuwa, a student group has begun urging the government to prevent Nigerians from traveling to study Islam in Iran, where they risk radicalization. Naturally, though, opponents of Irans global influence are concerned not just about the perils of direct contact with Iranian hardliners, but also about the prospect of those hardliners having additional economic resources to bring to bear on the radicalization efforts, as economic contact continues with the West, but in absence of constraints on Irans domestic or foreign policies. Washington (AFP) - The International Monetary Fund said Thursday that Egypt should press ahead with economic reforms needed for a $12 billion loan despite rising public discontent at the cost of living. The government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is rolling out an austerity program and seeking billions in financial support from other countries in order to meet conditions necessary for the IMF's loan program -- moves which threaten to increase public anger. "We think that the reforms that the government is undertaking are headed in the right direction," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters in Washington. "That doesn't mean they're easy to do. They're difficult. There's going to be disagreement and differences and maybe even protests." Egypt is reeling after six years of political and economic turmoil involving the ousters of two presidents. Loans from Saudi Arabia and China will help Egypt gather the $5-$6 billion in additional financing required to complement the IMF lending, according to Rice. Given that "good progress" toward securing the bilateral funds, the IMF program could come before the Fund's board of directors for approval "in the next few weeks," he said. Rice said Cairo had adopted a new budget, approved a value-added tax, and developed a plan on energy subsidies, and that the central bank planned a gradual move toward a more flexible exchange rate. He stressed however that the IMF's planned $12 billion loan program did not call for cuts to food subsidies. Egyptian consumers have faced stinging shortages in rice, sugar, cooking oil and baby formula. "A lot of the protest seems to be aimed at the issue of food subsidies, and I just want to make clear that the IMF program does not call for any cuts in food subsidies," said Rice. "In fact, it provides for increases in the food subsidy budget to help people get through the early months of adjustment. Of course, it's up to the Egyptian government to decide which subsidies will be increased." Rice said that the IMF program would make social protection a "cornerstone," moving budgetary savings to areas that would cushion the poor and vulnerable from expected effects of government reforms. Cairo (AFP) - IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Thursday that Egypt is going through a currency "crisis," suggesting a quick devaluation to tackle a widening gap between the official and black market rates. Egypt has been struggling to shore up its foreign currency reserves in the political and economic turmoil following the January 2011 uprising that toppled former ruler Hosni Mubarak. The government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is rolling out an austerity programme and is seeking billions in support from abroad in order to meet conditions for a $12 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund and boost investor confidence. The country's foreign currency reserves stood at $19.6 billion in September, an increase from previous years but less than 50 percent of the level in early 2011. "In terms of exchange rate, there is currently a crisis, because if you look at the official price if you look at the grey market price, there is a 100 percent difference so that needs to be addressed," Lagarde said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Lagarde applauded the planned reforms, including the austerity programme, saying the IMF was ready to support the government if it takes the measures needed to meet the loan conditions. "If they decide to move forward we will certainly support that move, we will certainly accompany it, we'll put money on the table to help them along the way. But it's their call and it's their decision," she said. Responding to a question on whether a total free float or gradual devaluation might be the best, Lagarde said the right conditions were "going to be dictated entirely by the circumstances". "When you have very low reserves, when the difference between official and unofficial rate is very wide, historically we have seen rapid transitions being most efficient," said Lagarde, adding that "in other cases it has been gradual". Story continues Loans from Saudi Arabia and China would help Egypt gather the $5-$6 billion in additional financing required to complement the IMF lending, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters in Washington on Thursday. "I think they're very close and clearly the financing is one of the aspects that they need to lock in," Lagarde said, commenting on the loans. "Hopefully we'll be able to secure the IMF board approval in the next few weeks." MUMBAI (Reuters) - India has allowed start-ups to raise up to $3 million each in a fiscal year via the external commercial borrowings (ECB) route, the country's central bank said in a statement on Thursday. Overseas branches or subsidiaries of Indian banks will not be allowed to lend to start-ups via the ECB framework, the Reserve Bank of India statement (RBI) said. The RBI did not specify the maximum cost at which start-ups can raise money via ECB and said it will be mutually agreed between the borrower and the lender. Typically, the central bank specifies the maximum cost for financial institutions to raise money via ECB. (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) By Zeba Siddiqui MUMBAI (Reuters) - The head of an Indian drugs industry lobby group on Thursday said media reports linking pollution in some lakes and rivers to factories making antibiotics were not accurate and that drug factories were in compliance with local environmental rules. India's $17 billion drugs industry is one of the world's biggest suppliers of antibiotics. But activists, researchers and industry officials told Reuters last month that lax local regulation has allowed many large drug factories in the country to pollute rives and lakes with antibiotics, risking the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. (http://reut.rs/2dlynQT) P.V. Appaji, director of the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexil), said Indian drug factories' environmental standards were regularly audited by foreign customers, including drug distributors and manufacturers who source from them. He said he did not know how often such audits were conducted. "This is targeting the top pharma players in India ... it is going to have an impact on our exports," Appaji said by telephone. Pharmexil, which held a news conference on this subject in Hyderabad on Thursday, is a body under India's commerce ministry whose mandate is to promote the drugs industry. Pharmexcil said in a statement it agreed with the fact that there was a serious threat to public health from the emerging antibiotic resistance bacteria (superbugs) which is due to various reasons including environmental control. It said the government had recently expressed its concern and the Indian drug regulator had recently announced some measures to curb excessive/irrational use of antibiotics. Thirteen leading drugmakers promised last month to clean up pollution from factories making antibiotics and take steps to curb overuse of the medicines as part of a drive to fight the rise of drug-resistant superbugs. (Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai. Editing by Jane Merriman) New Delhi announced Thursday it was expelling a Pakistani visa official for suspected spying, with Islamabad responding by saying it would send back an Indian diplomat in an apparent tit-for-tat move. The expulsions come as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours are running high over their disputed territory of Kashmir. New Delhi police said the Pakistani official had been recruiting Indian nationals for two and a half years to spy for Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in return for cash. "Delhi police crime branch has busted an espionage racket run by a kingpin working in the Pakistan high commission," said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police on crime. The official, named as Mehmood Akhtar, was detained on Wednesday with documents in his possession on Indian troop deployment along the border, Yadav told a press conference in Delhi. "They used to meet once in a month at a pre-decided place to exchange documents and money," he said. Akhtar was later released, he added. India's foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar summoned Pakistan's high commissioner to inform him of the decision to expel the official within 48 hours. "FS (foreign secretary) summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter. Pakistan's foreign secretary then summoned the Indian High Commissioner on Thursday night to say Islamabad would also be sending back a diplomat over alleged improper activities. "The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms," an official statement said. It named the official as Surjeet Singh and added he and his family would also be required to leave within two days. Tensions between India and Pakistan have soared since a raid last month on an Indian army base near the de-facto border dividing Kashmir killed 19 soldiers, the worst such attack in more than a decade. Story continues India blamed militants in Pakistan and said it had responded by carrying out strikes across the heavily-militarised border, although Islamabad denies these took place. Indian and Pakistani troops regularly exchange fire across the border known as the Line of Control in Kashmir, but sending ground troops over the line is rare. - 'Spies' to meet at zoo - Yadav said two Indian nationals from the northern state of Rajasthan were also arrested, and that Akhtar had planned to meet his Indian co-conspirators at the Delhi zoo to exchange the information and cash. He said Akhtar was carrying maps that showed the deployment of India's Border Security Forces (BSF) and army soldiers. "A list of jawans (soldiers) posted at the border along with soldiers who had retired from service was also recovered," Yadav said. Another Indian national was arrested late Thursday from the western Jodhpur city on charges of helping the Pakistan official, a senior police officer said. Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit lodged a "strong protest" on Thursday with the Indian foreign ministry and said the detention of the official contravened diplomatic conventions, a Pakistani diplomatic source said. The expulsions came as two Indian soldiers died on Thursday during two separate gunfire incidents on the border with Pakistan in Kashmir region. Such incidents have increased in recent months as relations between the rivals have plummeted. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan since the army base attack that India would push to make it a pariah state, accusing it of being a "mothership of terrorism". Tensions were already high before the attack, with deadly violence in Kashmir over the death on July 8 of a popular militant leader. Nearly 90 people, most of them young protesters, have been killed in clashes with security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947. Both claim the territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region. The Iran Sanctions Act, or ISA, allows trade, energy, defense and banking industry sanctions over Irans nuclear program and ballistic missile tests. It expires on December 31, and its one of the major pieces of unfinished business lawmakers face after the Nov. 8 elections. The Congressional aides say that Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Representative Ed Royce, is expected to introduce the 10-year renewal as soon as Congress returns on November 14. They also say an unchanged renewal is likely to pass the House, but its fate in the Senate is less certain. A White House spokesman declined to say whether President Barack Obama would sign it into law. Republican controlled majorities in both the House and Senate opposed the international nuclear deal in which Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions, as did as every Republican in Congress. Theyve tried repeatedly to pass legislation to clamp down on Iran, and accused President Obama of having conceded too much to Tehran in the nuclear talks. Some Senate Republicans are trying to build support for legislation that would renew the ISA, but would also do more to punish individual Iranians and businesses over the countrys ballistic missile tests and what many view as its support for terrorism. Some senators are pushing for a new law to eliminate the presidents right to waive sanctions. According to the Reuters report, the Obama administration requested Congress to hold off on renewing the ISA. The administration says it has enough power to reimpose economic sanctions if Iran violates the nuclear agreement, even if it expires. White House spokesman Josh Earnest wouldnt say how President Obama would respond if the bill passed both houses of Congress and reached his desk. I wont prejudge at this point whether or not the president would sign that bill, Earnest told reporters. The president and the Treasury Department retain significant sanctions authority that already has been used to impose costs on Iran for their flagrant violation of their international obligations, he said. White House opposition to the bill may generate resistance from Democrats in the Senate, making it difficult to garner the 60 votes needed to move ahead, as Republicans hold only 54 seats in the 100-member chamber. Renewing the sanctions bill will also have an effect in Iran, since Iranian officials are already complaining that remaining U.S. sanctions have frightened away trade and robbed it of the benefits promised under the nuclear deal. Reuters reports that a House Foreign Affairs Committee aide said addressing the ISA before it expires is a top priority for Royce. The Iran Sanctions Act was enacted to curb Tehrans support for terrorism and its very dangerous weapons proliferation. It should remain in place until the regime stops exporting terror and threatening us and our allies with deadly weapons, Royce said in a statement sent to Reuters. Thats why Ill be introducing a bipartisan, long-term extension of these important sanctions, he said. JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian court jailed a woman for 20 years on Thursday for murdering her college friend by poisoning her coffee, ending a dramatic case that gripped the country for months. Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, an Indonesian citizen and permanent resident of Australia, remained expressionless while hearing the verdict and sentence. "The defendant has been proven guilty of premeditated murder," presiding judge Kisworo said to applause from a packed courtroom without suggesting a motive. "...The murder was vile and sadistic because the defendant did it to her own friend." Wongso told the three-judge panel she thought the verdict was "unfair and one-sided". Defense lawyers said she would appeal. The two women had been meeting at a cafe in a central Jakarta mall when victim Wayan Mirna Salihin took a sip of a cyanide-laced drink, collapsed on the floor and went into convulsions, according to prosecutors. She died by the time she arrived at hospital. Dozens of police were positioned around the Central Jakarta courtroom as crowds scrambled to get in to hear the verdict. The trial had heard testimony from a string of forensic and psychological experts and the case has generated headlines since Wongso was arrested earlier this year. President Joko Widodo's administration waded into the case, saying Wongso would not be executed if she got the death penalty, according to media. The deal was made with Australia in order for Australian police to assist in the investigation. Australia does not have the death sentence and opposes its use in other countries. (Reporting by Djohan Widjaya; Additional reporting and writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Nick Macfie) With the Q3 earnings season taking center stage, investors are all eagerly waiting to note the daily beats and misses of the mega companies. While estimating the performance of U.S.-based machinery stocks, we believe that factors like election-induced market instability, a strong U.S. dollar, weak energy resource prices, lackluster export numbers of China and the Brexit referendum might act as spoilsport. However, the time isnt ripe to draw any concrete conclusion, as the actual results might hold surprises. According to the Zacks Industry classification, the industrial stocks are broadly grouped under Industrial Products, one of the 16 Zacks sectors. Below, we briefly discuss the broader sectors earnings trend so far in the JulSep 2016 quarter. Our latest Earnings Trend article (released on Oct 26, 2016) reveals that roughly 43.5% of the Industrial stocks in the S&P 500 Group have reported results for the July-Sep quarter, recording 3.9% rise in earnings and 5.9% fall in revenues on a year-over-year basis (y-o-y). We predict that earnings of all the industrial stocks in the S&P 500 Group will increase 5.9% year over year, however revenues are expected to inch down 0.7% over the same time frame. Whats in Store for these 3 Industrial Primes? Standex International Corporation SXI is slated to report first-quarter fiscal 2017 (ended Sep 30, 2016) results on Oct 28, before the market opens. The companys average negative earnings surprise over the trailing four quarters is 1.93%. Our proven model does not conclusively show that Standex International will beat estimates in this quarter. This is because, the company carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) and has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% (as the Most Accurate Estimate and Zacks Consensus Estimate are both pegged at $1.23 per share). STANDEX INTL CO Price and EPS Surprise STANDEX INTL CO Price and EPS Surprise | STANDEX INTL CO Quote Please check our Earnings ESP Filter that enables you to find stocks that are expected to come out with earnings surprises. Over the last seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the stock has remained stable at $1.23 per share. Story continues Barnes Group Inc. B is set to release its third-quarter 2016 numbers, before the market opens. The companys average negative earnings surprise over the last four quarters is 1.37%. Our proven model does not conclusively show that Barnes Group will beat estimates in this quarter. This is because the stock carries a favorable Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has an Earnings ESP of -4.48%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Over the last seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the stock has remained stable at 67 cents per share. BARNES GRP Price and EPS Surprise BARNES GRP Price and EPS Surprise | BARNES GRP Quote Gorman-Rupp Co. GRC expected to release its third-quarter 2016 results has an average positive earnings surprise of 10.08% over the trailing four quarters. Our proven model does not conclusively show that Gorman-Rupp will beat estimates in this quarter. This is because, the stock carries a favorable Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) but its Earnings ESP is 0.00%. Over the last seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the stock has remained stable at 25 cents per share. GORMAN RUPP CO Price and EPS Surprise GORMAN RUPP CO Price and EPS Surprise | GORMAN RUPP CO Quote Where Do Zacks' Investment Ideas Come From? You are welcome to download the full, up-to-the-minute list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 ""Strong Buy"" stocks free of charge. There is no better place to start your own stock search. Plus you can access the full list of must-avoid Zacks Rank #5 ""Strong Sells"" and other private research. See the stocks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BARNES GRP (B): Free Stock Analysis Report STANDEX INTL CO (SXI): Free Stock Analysis Report GORMAN RUPP CO (GRC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research After a very private pregnancy, Rehab Addicts Nicole Curtis is now embroiled in a very public custody battle. The HGTV star, who just released a memoir, Better Than New: Lessons Ive Learned from Saving Old Homes (And How They Saved Me), opened up to PEOPLE about the challenges that have shaped her journey from cleaning houses to transforming them on TV, and her current battle: fighting for her son. Curtis was already one of the networks biggest stars, when she became pregnant with her second son, Harper, now 16 months old. Given her increased visibility and dwindling privacy, she explains, she decided to keep her pregnancy a secret, going so far as to hide her belly completely when filming Rehab Addict in 2015. Having my newborn childs face plastered all over social media . . . that wasnt for me, she says of her decision. It wasnt anything strategic. It was just one of those moments where I was like, this isnt anyone elses time and space; this is mine. RELATED: HGTVs Chip and Joanna Gaines Reveal We Were Broke! Before Fixer Upper Curtis split with Harpers father, who she refers to as Chad in Better Than New, but whose real name is Shane Maguire, after an on-again off-again romance that ended shortly before she discovered she was pregnant. Ive had good relationships and positive experiences and I wish they were all like that, but unfortunately they arent, Curtis tells PEOPLE. In the book, she describes Maguires reaction to her pregnancy as unexpected and writes that she planned to move forward raising the child on her own. (Maguires lawyer counters that his client couldnt have been happier to find out he was the father to his son.) Maguire filed for paternity and joint custody in December 2015, claiming via a statement from his lawyers that Ms. Curtis would not confirm or deny whether he was the father. A court ordered DNA test came back 99.4% positive. He was awarded both, according to The Detroit News. Story continues RELATED: Nicole Curtis Secret Pregnancy, Her Hooters Past and 3 Other Mysteries Revealed in the HGTV Stars New Book Curtis tried and failed to modify the agreement so that Maguire could not have overnight custody of Harper until hes 2 years old. Ive always been a proponent of co-parenting and children first and its just kind of backfiring right now, she tells PEOPLE. Things would only get more troubling for the TV star in July, with the News also reporting she was barred from taking the baby to job sites where lead and other toxins are present. In August, the judge warned her that she could face jail time for not paying expenses incurred for missed parenting times and attorney fees. (She had reportedly taken the baby to New York City with her in August during one of Maguires scheduled visitations). Although the custody documents are still being finalized, Curtis told PEOPLE she hopes to come to a resolution soon. If theres one goal thats out there for me its that time will heal some wounds here and I can have that relationship going forward for the baby. Jeff Bezos Amazon wants to open 20 brick-and-mortar grocery stores over the next two years, and the online retailer believes the US market has room for up to 2,000 of its Amazon Fresh-branded grocery stores over the next decade, Business Insider has learned. Amazon is planning to operate a 20-location pilot program for its grocery stores by the end of 2018, in places like Seattle, Las Vegas, New York, Miami, and the Bay Area, according to documents viewed by Business Insider. The company wants to experiment with different versions of stores during the pilot program. Ten of the grocery stores will be "click-and-collect" drive-up spots for Amazon customers to pick up their online orders. The other 10 will be traditional stores where cart-pushing shoppers can stroll the aisles while touching, smelling, and inspecting produce and other goods for themselves. The documents draw the curtain back on Amazon's vision for the grocery stores, though the company could change course depending on business and market conditions. Physical stores are becoming increasingly central to Amazon's business ambitions as the company expands beyond its online-retailing stronghold and looks for new ways to reach customers. Besides groceries, Amazon has already opened a few physical bookstores and is building out a network of pop-up stores in malls to showcase its line of hardware products. The physical store strategy is expensive and will pit Amazon against far more experienced players, such as Walmart, which has more than 5,000 stores in the US. As Amazon has moved into the massive $800 billion grocery market, it has until now taken a measured approach. Its grocery-delivery service, Amazon Fresh, has been unusually slow to expand, rolling out in only 17 US cities and one overseas location (London) nearly a decade after its first launch in 2007. With the new stores, however, Amazon appears to be preparing for a more aggressive push into the market. Story continues Amazon declined to comment. Members only? Amazon has studied the physical grocery store market closely in recent years. An internal market research report from 2014 that was updated earlier this year focused not only on sales data from Amazon's Fresh and Prime delivery services but on market data from competing grocery stores. amazon fresh Amazon has wrestled with the important question of whether to open the grocery stores to the general public or limit them to members of its Prime Fresh club, who pay a $15 monthly fee to receive grocery deliveries at home. The question is cited in the "risks/concerns" section of the internal documents. The grocery market is the single largest shopping category in the US, at $800 billion in spending last year, but it's also a tricky one because of its notoriously thin profit margins and high operating costs. By going membership-only, Amazon can use the membership fees to offset the high operating costs of grocery stores. On the other hand, eliminating the membership requirement could help the stores reach a broader set of customers and increase sales faster. A Wall Street Journal report earlier this month said the first grocery stores would be available only to members of the Fresh subscription service. If the 20-store pilot program is successful, Amazon envisions opening as many as 2,000 "multifunction" stores across the US over the next 10 years. The total number of grocery stores has not been finalized and could change, but the documents refer to a proposed launch schedule of 200 stores a year, all supported by a new generation of distribution centers to replenish inventories. 'Destination' stores It's still unclear exactly what the new Amazon grocery stores will look like. Bloomberg describes the drive-through spots as "gas stations," while The Wall Street Journal characterized the grocery stores as "convenience stores." grocery store 2 Some of the internal documents viewed by Business Insider say the drive-through spots will be 10,000 square feet in size, while physical stores could go up to 30,000 square feet. New technology like license-plate scanning or in-store kiosks are also being considered, along with a new rapid drive-through pick-up option. Some stores could be a combination of drive-through and walk-through as Amazon continues to iron out the format. Amazon believes that some of its stores will offer enough of a draw to become "destination stores" that consumers are willing to drive across town or even out of town to shop at. An Amazon grocery store under construction in Washington state and spotted by GeekWire is located in Ballard, a 25-minute drive from downtown Seattle. GeekWire also recently flagged a revealing 2013 report by the Deloitte consultant Brittain Ladd, which hints at where Amazon may be headed with its grocery stores. Ladd, who was recruited by Amazon Fresh in 2015, argued at the time that Amazon should build its own grocery retail stores that carry more than 42,000 products, with multiple shopping options like drive-throughs and touch-screen kiosks. "Amazon Fresh will only succeed as a grocery retailer if they can sell more groceries and selling more groceries requires attracting and delighting as many customers as possible through all available channels," wrote Ladd, who declined to comment for this story. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has previously stressed the g0-slow approach for grocery deliveries, saying in a 2013 annual letter to shareholders that "we'll continue our methodical approach measuring and refining Amazon Fresh with the goal of bringing this incredible service to more cities over time." After several years of "measuring and refining" grocery deliveries, Amazon looks as if it's almost ready for its grand opening. NOW WATCH: A hacker reveals a simple way to come up with a strong password that's easy to remember More From Business Insider By Stephen Kalin and Maher Chmaytelli SOUTH OF MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - The Iraqi army was trying on Thursday to reach a town south of Mosul where Islamic State has reportedly executed dozens to deter the population against any attempt to support the U.S.-led offensive on the jihadists' last major city stronghold in Iraq. Eleven days into what is expected to be the biggest ground offensive in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, army and federal police units were fighting off sniper fire and suicide car bombs south of Hammam al-Alil, the site of the reported executions, an Iraqi military spokesman said. The militants shot dead dozens of prisoners there, most of them former members of the Iraqi police and army, taken from villages the group has been forced to abandon as the troops advanced, officials in the region said on Wednesday. The executions were meant "to terrorize the others, those who are in Mosul in particular", and also to get rid of the prisoners, said Abdul Rahman al-Waggaa, a member of the Nineveh provincial council. Some of the families of those executed are also held in Hammam al-Alil, he said. U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville on Tuesday said Islamic State fighters had reportedly killed scores of people around Mosul in the last week. A Reuters correspondent met relatives of hostages south of Mosul. One of them was a police officer who had returned to see the family that he had left behind when his village fell under the militants' control two years ago. "Im afraid they will keep pulling them back from village to village until they get to Mosul. And then they will disappear," he said, asking not be identified to protect family members still in the hands of the fighters. Reuters also spoke to a woman and an elderly man who were part of group of families forced to march two to three days to reach Mosul from the villages of Safiya and Ellezaga, about 30 km (nearly 20 miles) and 50 km (30 miles) to the south. Children and the elderly were released when they arrived in Mosul, on Tuesday, and told to stay with relatives, they said, speaking on the phone from one of the few places where there is still telephone coverage, on the city's edges. A resident of Mosul, Rayyan, said he saw the families when they arrived in the city, "their bare feet bleeding and covered with dust as if coming from under the rubble." "We cried when we saw them," he said. FIERCE DEFENSE Islamic State fighters are keeping up their fierce defense of the southern approaches to Mosul, which has held up Iraqi troops there and forced an elite army unit east of the city to put a more rapid advance on hold. The fall of Mosul would mark Islamic State's effective defeat in Iraq. The city is many times bigger than any other that the ultra-hardline militant group has ever captured, and it was from its Grand Mosque in 2014 that the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a "caliphate" that also spans parts of Syria. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday an attack on Raqqa, Islamic State's main stronghold in Syria, would start while the battle of Mosul is still unfolding. It was the first official suggestion that U.S.-backed forces in both countries could mount simultaneous operations to crush the caliphate. The front lines east and north of Mosul have moved much closer to the edges of the city than the southern front and the combat ahead is likely to get more deadly as 1.5 million residents remain in the city. Worst-case U.N. forecasts see up to a million people being uprooted. U.N. aid agencies said the fighting had so far forced about 16,000 people to flee. "Assessments have recorded a significant number of female-headed households, raising concerns around the detention or capture of men and boys," the office of the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq said on Wednesday. The coordinator, Lise Grande, told Reuters on Tuesday that a mass exodus could happen, maybe within the next few days. CHEMICAL WEAPONS It was also possible that Islamic State fighters could resort to "rudimentary chemical weapons" to hold back the impending assault, she said. The militants are suspected of setting on fire a sulfur plant south of Mosul last week, filling the air with toxic gasses that caused breathing problems for hundreds of civilians. A senior U.S. official said about 50,000 Iraqi ground troops are taking part in the offensive, including a core force of 30,000 from the governments armed forces, 10,000 Kurdish fighters and the remaining 10,000 from police and local volunteers. About 5,000 to 6,000 jihadists are dug in, according to Iraqi military estimates. Roughly 5,000 U.S. troops are also in Iraq. More than 100 of them are embedded with Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces advising commanders and helping coalition air power to hit targets. They are not deployed on front lines. The warring sides are not giving casualty figures in their own ranks or among civilians, each claiming to have killed hundreds of enemy fighters. The Iraqi army said it killed 772 insurgents since the start of the offensive on Oct. 17, and captured 23. About 100 towns, villages and hamlets were taken back, it added in a statement. (Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Giles Elgood) The Post quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahram Qasemi as saying, It is not acceptable at all if a country, under the pretext of combating terrorism or any other crimes, tries to violate the sovereignty of another nation. The Iraqi government, which has been closely allied with Tehran since the tenure of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, has apparently given its official blessing to an Iranian presence in the conflict against ISIL but has not actually requested assistance from Turkey. The problem with this, however, is that the Maliki government had used its alliance with Tehran in order to oversee the consolidation of power into the hands of a Shiite faction, and was subsequently blamed for widespread alienation of Sunni populations, sometimes involving sectarian violence. Iran and Iraq are the only Shiite majority countries in the region, and the Iranian involvement in its neighbors civil war has largely relied on the promotion and support of Shiite paramilitaries that have been accused of human rights abuses rivaling those of ISIL. In this context, there is clear danger that Baghdads direct appeals for help will only seek to defend the countrys Shiite power structure and may eschew the northern fighting forces belonging to the Sunni and Kurdish minorities. While this situation does not invalidate Qasemis complaint about violations of national sovereignty, it does suggest hypocrisy on Tehrans part when it comes to such concerns. Many analysts have suggested that Irans involvement in the conflict against ISIL and against more moderate rebel groups is in itself a sort of violation of Iraqs sovereignty, notwithstanding Baghdads alliance with the Iranian regime. The Iraqi forces growing reliance on their Shiite paramilitary allies threatens to make the regular army subordinate to Iranian proxies, some of which publicly swear allegiance to the Iranian supreme leader, over and above the leadership in Baghdad. Because of this, it is easy to see why other regional countries like Turkey may see it as important to counter Iranian influence over the conflict, and to help safeguard the interests of Sunni minorities and the moderate rebel groups that have grown out of them. Critics of such Iranian influence may point to the Iranian regimes tendency to persecute religious minorities at home, and to its constitutional mandate to export the Shiite Islamic revolution beyond its own borders. Where Iraq is concerned, this export could be made easier by unchallenged Iranian influence over its Western neighbor. And this influence is not limited to the promotion of Shiite paramilitaries but also includes expanded contact among religious hardliners and the prospect of a more porous border between the countries. On Monday, Irans Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, published an article boasting that the country and its border police are in constant cooperation with Iraq and that Iran is fully prepared to dispatch more than two million pilgrims to Iraq during the Arbaeen religious holiday that will take place in November. Previously, Iranian and Iraqi authorities had expressed interest in waiving visa requirements for travel between the two countries. Publicly, these conversations refer to the regular transit of pilgrims to and from holy sites in Iraq. But such open-border policies would also make it easier for Iran to dispatch Shiite militants to Iraq or to send them through the country on their way to other battlefields or foreign missions. This remains a serious topic of concern for international policymakers and critics of the Iranian regime, especially in light of ongoing Iranian provocations toward the West and interventions into existing regional conflicts. Those activities could provide Western nations and the international community with additional incentive to disregard as hypocritical Irans criticisms of Turkish intervention in Iraq. That criticism, meanwhile, appears to be driven by Iranian hardliners such as the Revolutionary Guards. These figures have also been enforcing a major crackdown on domestic dissent and alleged manifestations of pro-Western sentiment. At the same time, the IRGC has been the main driving force behind dangerous close encounters with American vessels in the Persian Gulf. But their advocacy for a persistently aggressive foreign policy has not been noticeably challenged by the allegedly moderate faction led by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, least of all in the 15 months since the conclusion of nuclear negotiations between Iran and six world powers. Indeed, Iran News Update has pointed to numerous instances in which President Rouhani personally contributed to the regimes anti-American propaganda or its provocative statements about Irans regional power. The comments on Turkish intervention have come to represent that latter trend, as Radio Free Europe reported that Rouhani himself had described Turkish activities as very dangerous intervention while also ignoring Iranian interventionism in the same conflict. And this report came just after Voice of America reported that Rouhani had personally weighed in on the American elections slated to take place on November 8. He described the two major party candidates as presenting a choice between bad and worse and went on to opine that morality has no place in the American political process. His televised speech on the topic comes in the wake of several apparent propaganda efforts focused on American politics, including the unprecedented airing on state media of the last two American presidential debates. State media has also aired the Netflix political drama House of Cards, leading some viewers to report that they believed its Machiavellian characters were accurate depictions of American politics. Rouhanis active participation in these Iranian media narratives undermines the notion of his presidency as a moderate faction that can be trusted to deal with the West in good faith. And critics of current American policy toward Iran continue to argue that the White House is ignoring the accumulation of evidence for a persistent hardline bent in the Iranian leadership. One example of this criticism appeared on the website of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on Monday. The article described US President Barack Obama as believing that at least some aspects of Irans global influence no longer pose a threat to American interests. The article focused in particular on Latin America, where the Iranians have established upwards of 80 cultural centers over the years, thus increasing the danger of a steady point of ingress for terrorist proxies like Hezbollah within the Western hemisphere. The article differed with the Obama administration by suggesting that Iran sees Latin America as fertile ground for radical influence, just as it does Iraq. Also like Iraq, at least one Latin American country, Cuba, has recently opened its doors to that radicalization. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies reports that the Cuban government made the rare move of allowing Iran to proselytize on its territory, via the opening of an Iranian cultural center at a time when there were no Shiite Muslims in the country. The White Houses alleged disregard of this expanded influence helps to sustain doubts about its willingness to challenge Irans imbalanced influence in Iraq. Furthermore, there have been various indications that the Obama administration sees Iran as a potential partner in the conflict with ISIL. But this mentality may change next year, under his successor. The National Council of Resistance of Iran pointed out on Tuesday that recently leaked e-mails have shown Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton expressing the view that countering Iran and defeating ISIS are not distinct missions. However, the same report notes that Clinton was persuaded by her campaign chairman to keep this view silent. This raises some doubt about whether she would shape policy in line with the sentiment. Meanwhile, her Republican adversary has been similarly unclear with regard to his plans for dealing with Iranian influence. On one hand, he has suggested that he would tear up the Iran nuclear agreement something that might limit Irans economic prospects and thus constrain its ability to expand influence both regionally and globally. On the other hand, in the second debate, he seemed to praise Iran, Russia, and Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad for killing ISIS, this suggesting that he would share Obamas perception of Iran as a potential partner. Arbil (Iraq) (AFP) - Alcohol shops are open for business in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, where officials have vowed that Baghdad's recently passed ban on booze will not be enforced. The ban on the sale, import and production of alcohol was slipped into draft legislation on municipalities in Iraq's parliament last week, but the country's president has since called for the law to be revised. In Iraqi Kurdistan, a three-province region in the country's north that has its own government, security forces and flag, there seems to be another plan: ignore the measure even if the law remains unchanged. "We do not recognise such laws," which "will not be applied in the Kurdistan region of Iraq," said Farsat Sophie, a member of the legal committee in the Kurdish regional parliament. The region's culture minister also said that the measure would not be enforced, slamming it as an infringement on individual freedom. "This decision is against democracy and against personal freedoms," Khalid Doski said. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited by Islam, but drinking is fairly widespread in Iraq, including in Baghdad, where there are scores of small alcohol shops. If the ban is not implemented in Kurdistan but is elsewhere, it is all but guaranteed to result in a thriving black market for booze brought from the region into federally controlled areas. Both the federal and Kurdish regional parliaments have legislative powers, but it is unclear which would have primacy in the case of the alcohol issue. In practice, Baghdad does not have the means to enforce the measure in Kurdistan if its regional government decides not to do so on its own. In Ainkawa, a Christian area of Kurdistan's capital Arbil, cars carrying people coming to purchase booze line up near shops that are packed with whisky, beer and other alcohol. Raed Basil Hanna, the owner of an Ainkawa alcohol store, said the Iraqi parliament should be focusing on more important issues. Story continues The government should pay attention to "the situations of the people and improving their circumstances and taking them out of poverty," instead of "issuing decisions that do not benefit anyone," he said. - Business as usual - In addition to fighting an ongoing war against jihadists, Iraq faces myriad other problems, including an economic crisis due to low oil prices and abysmal basic services. In any case, "we obtained approval from the government of the region and are practicing our work as usual," said Hanna, who has worked in the alcohol selling business for over 25 years. "Most of those who stood behind the decision drink alcohol," he said with a smile. Another alcohol seller, who did not want to be identified by name, said: "Most of our buyers are Muslims." In Baghdad, the future of the ban, which has not officially come into effect, is less clear. Yonadam Kanna, a leading Christian politician, was furious after the vote on Saturday and went on television to condemn it and also to vow to challenge it in a federal court. Without specifically mentioning the ban, President Fuad Masum called Wednesday for parliament to revise the law that included it in a way that respects "the freedoms and rights of citizens of different religions and doctrines." Alcohol is rarely offered in restaurants and hotels in Iraq, but some young people drink it while sitting along the Tigris, while others do so at a bridge across the river, which runs through the capital. Iraq also has companies that produce various types of alcohol, such as Farida beer or Asriya arak, a regional anise-flavoured spirit. Baghdad alcohol shops are already shuttered for Arbaeen, a 40-day period following the date on which Iraqi Shiites commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. The shops were also closed in the 10 days preceding the start of Arbaeen, in addition to during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, meaning that alcohol sellers already face well over two months a year in which they cannot work. Some people still sell alcohol during the religious occasions, but do so at the peril of attack by militia forces in the capital. Ninety-nine Irish citizens from across the country travelled to the center of Dublin on a recent Saturday to begin an unusual exercise in democracy. Known as the Citizens Assembly, the randomly selected group has been tasked with discussing and making recommendations on one of the countrys most contentious and politically and socially divisive issues its restrictive abortion laws. Sitting in rows amid gold columns in the royal blue grandeur of the hall where Irelands presidents are inaugurated, they were thanked by Taoiseach [Prime Minister] Enda Kenny for their civic generosity and courage for taking part in the forum that will consider a matter deeply complex, hugely challenging and profoundly ethical. Over the next year, the group made up of people of different ages and backgrounds, brought together with the aim of broadly representing the Irish electorate, will discuss a number of topics including the issue of Irelands aging population, fixed-term parliaments and climate change. But it is the eighth amendment to Irelands constitution, which effectively criminalizes abortion, that will be the first order of business deciding whether or not the country should vote on scrapping it completely. Ireland has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. The eighth amendment gives equal right to life to the unborn, and terminating a pregnancy is only allowed in extremely rare circumstances where the mothers life is in danger. Ireland is peculiar if not unique in having an expressed provision in its constitution to make abortion illegal except in circumstances it can be medically established the life of the mother is at risk, says Noel Whelan, a political analyst. It was added to the constitution in the early 1980s, with a large majority voting in favor of it in a national referendum. Now, its legality is in question. The U.N. Human Rights Committee in July this year called for Irelands abortion laws to be reversed after it ruled that a woman who had been carrying a fetus with a fatal abnormality had been to subjected to discrimination and cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment due to the abortion ban. Story continues The U.N. case focused on Amanda Mellet, who was 21 weeks pregnant in November 2011 when she was told that the fetus had congenital defects and would die in the womb or shortly after birth. She travelled to the U.K. for an abortion but had to return to Ireland 12 hours after the procedure as she could not afford to stay longer. The ashes of the fetus were later delivered to her by courier. Mellet went on to form an advocacy group urging for the legalization of abortion for medical reasons. Another case is regularly cited by activists as evidence of the laws cruel side effects. Savita Halappanavar, an India-born woman who was living and working in Ireland, was 17 weeks pregnant in 2012 when she was admitted to hospital and found to be miscarrying. She requested a termination but was refused because there was still a fetal heartbeat and therefore it was not allowed under Irish law. Due to complications she developed severe sepsis and died in intensive care. An expert witness at the inquest into her death said she mostly likely would have lived if she had been given a termination as she had requested. The eighth amendment was added to the constitution at a time when social conservatives in the country were especially energized by changing social mores. A court case had ruled that married couples were permitted to import contraceptives for their own use; they were illegal in Ireland at the time. Over 30 years on, and social mores in Irish society are much changed. With an increasingly secular population, the influence of the Catholic Church has waned. Younger generations have been pushing much of the change in Ireland, away from its conservative Catholic past to a more progressive future. Last year, Ireland became the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote. It was voted in by an overwhelming majority and was seen as a dismantling of the control of the Catholic Church. It was young people who got involved and mobilized who ensure it was passed, said Ruth Coppinger, a Dublin lawmaker associated with the Socialist Party. It was a political movement. That youth political movement is mobilizing once again, this time around the issue of the eighth amendment, and that movement is gaining momentum. Earlier this month, over 20,000 people marched in the rain through Dublin city center calling for the amendment to be repealed. The campaign has been noisy and creative with black sweatshirts bearing the word Repeal a popular sight on Dublins streets. Yet success is far from inevitable. While Ireland is moving away from the tether of the Church, it is still a predominantly Catholic country and the churchs teachings and ethos on abortion run deep through society. The abortion issue is much more complicated and politically much more difficult than the marriage equality one, said Whelan. A slim majority appear to be in favor of allowing abortion in certain circumstances, but polls suggest a vote for abortion on demand would likely fail. According to a recent opinion poll in the Irish Times, 55% said the eighth amendment should be repealed to allow for limited access to abortion in the cases of rape and fatal fetal abnormality while just 19% said it should be repealed to allow for abortion in all cases. Any referendum on the eighth amendment would be bitter and divisive. It is probably going to be the most complex difficult and contentious political and social issue of a generation, said Whelan. Hence the Citizens Assembly, created by the government partly to pave the way for a potential referendum on repealing the eighth completely, or replacing it with something else. It has already come in for a lot of criticism on both sides of the abortion debate. Cora Sherlock, a representative of the anti-abortion campaign, described it as a pretend process with a prearranged outcome that is, of dismantling the case against a public vote. It has a political aim and that aim is to pave the way for a referendum, she added. Others say it is purely a way for the current minority government to avoid dealing with a divisive issue that will alienate older voters. The Citizens Assembly will not return its recommendations until the first half of 2017 and then a parliamentary committee will have to consider its report. It could be 2018 before a referendum is held with plenty of opportunities for the can to be kicked along the road. The Citizens Assembly was designed to delay the issue falling into the lap of the government ever having to deal with it, says Coppinger, who this week brought a motion before the Dail (the Irish parliament) calling for a referendum on repeal of the eighth amendment now. It was due to go before lawmakers on Tuesday, but the main coalition party Fine Gael joined with independent ministers to back a counter motion. After days of negotiations, the unstable minority government reached an agreement just hours before the debate not to accept the bill until the Citizens Assembly had finished its work. The 99 randomly selected citizens will begin deliberations later this year, but the battle lines were drawn by parties on both sides of the issue some time ago. In August, a contestant in the Rose of Tralee beauty pageant, Brianna Parkins, said during the contest that she would love to see a referendum on the eighth amendment. Afterwards the national broadcaster that airs the pageant received a number of complaints and Parkins said she later received threats and abuse on social media, as well as messages of support. Photos of fetuses and down syndrome children are regularly sent to those who back the legalization of abortion. Those on the other side could be seen at the Dail on Tuesday. Protestors spilled out on to the road, stopping traffic and calling for abortion to be made legal. Many chanted not the church, not the state, women will decide their fate, and get your rosaries of our ovaries. Inside, Richard Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit Party accused a Catholic Taliban of making womens decisions for them. The health minister was heckled as he made his statement. The media was urged not to photograph the Citizens Assembly as it met for the first time earlier this month, but it will come under huge scrutiny as the debate continues to heat up. The stakes are high. Their work, says Irelands leader, will affect indeed profoundly affect how we live our individual lives and our national life in the Republic of Ireland in the years to come. MILAN (Reuters) - A Milan judge has accepted a settlement agreement with the head of Apple's Irish-based unit Apple Sales International as part of a probe into allegations the U.S. tech giant failed to pay corporate taxes in Italy to the tune of 879 million euros ($959.43 million), a judicial source said. Under the settlement agreement, a six-month jail sentence for the executive has been converted into the payment of a 45,000 euro ($49,126) fine, the source said. Under Italian law, a settlement agreement does not imply an admission of guilt. Milan prosecutors investigating the allegations have asked for the case against two managers from the Italian subsidiary of Apple to be dropped, the source said. Apple was not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Emilio Parodi, writing by Silvia Aloisi, editing by Valentina Za) Ivanka Trump has addressed the calls for a boycott of her clothing line for the first time, saying her father's campaign should not distract from the message of her own business. Read: Melania Trump Denounces Husband's Sexual Assault Accusers: "Very Damaging and Unfair' She told ABCs George Stephanopoulos: The beauty of America is people can do what they like. I prefer to talk to the millions, tens of millions, who are inspired by the brand and the message I have created." She added: "My advocacy of trying to empower them in all aspects of their lives started long before this presidential campaign. I have never politicized that message. People who are seeking to politicize it because they may disagree with the politics of my father. There is nothing I can do to change that. Since the leak of her fathers 2005 comments to Access Hollywoods Billy Bush where Trump discusses grabbing women by their private parts women have been calling for department stores to stop selling Ivanka Trumps clothing line. The hashtag #GrabYourWallets has gone viral with shoppers posting on social media that they will not be shopping at certain stores until Trumps line comes off the shelves. #GrabYourWallet #Marshall's I love shopping at you store . I won't return until you stop selling Trump's brand. pic.twitter.com/L6LkHqiI3I Leticia Villarreal (@buildalunchbox) October 24, 2016 #GrabyourWallets, #grabyourwallet, I CAN avoid Nordstrom, Dillard's, Macy's, etc. this holiday season. No Trump line loving businesses 4 me. Kristie Rabago (@KristieRabago) October 23, 2016 During Thursdays interview with Stephanopoulos, the ABC anchor also spoke to GOP presidential candidates eldest children about the Trump brand. Story continues Eric, 32, said: "We have the hottest brand in the world right now." Trump himself, interjected, saying: I think the brand is hotter than it's ever been. But it doesn't matter to me. I don't care. It doesn't matter. I don't care about the brand. I care about the country and fixing in this country. Read: Dirty Bathrobe at Trump's New Hotel Not Washed Between Guests, Investigation Finds His daughter, Tiffany, 22, said she is not involved in the family business yet, since she just graduated college, and plans to attend law school to bring a different kind of skill set to the company. Donald Jr., 38, who has hinted at running for mayor of New York City, was coy about his own political career, saying his main goal presently is to get his father elected president. Trumps oldest children have all been given senior vice president roles of the Trump Organization and plan to run the company together should their father be elected president. Watch: President Obama Laughs Off Trump, Reads Mean Tweets on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Related Articles: By David Spaic-Kovacic and Marja Novak PORTOROZ, Slovenia (Reuters) - The International Whaling Commission (IWC) declared on Thursday that countries would in future need its approval to hunt whales for scientific research, but critics said the move would have little practical effect. The decision is intended to close a legal loophole that allows Japan to hunt some 300 whales a year, despite a 30-year-old global moratorium on commercial whaling. But the IWC, which is holding its plenary meeting in the Slovenian seaside town of Portoroz, has no enforcement powers, meaning no new practical limits will be placed on Japan's whaling. Japan says its scientific research program, involving examining carcasses to determine their age, is needed to better understand how whale numbers can be sustained. Its critics say that is a pretext for hunting the animals, whose meat is eventually sold for food. While some campaigners welcomed Thursday's IWC decision, which came after Japan and its allies succeeded on Tuesday in blocking a proposal for a South Atlantic whale sanctuary, others worried that it would have few practical consequences. "The International Whaling Commission doesn't have any teeth," said Nicolas Entrup, a consultant for Swiss NGO Oceancare. "So it's all about goodwill. And I doubt that Japan is ready." In future, scientific whaling permits will be issued by a standing IWC committee, on which the country applying will have only observer status. A Japanese representative declined to comment, but New Zealand's IWC commissioner Amy Laurenson welcomed the decision, which she called "a small step forward ... we'll continue to work to see this outdated practice brought to an end." Whaling was once a global industry, but as stocks have dwindled only a handful of countries still engage in it. (Reporting by David Spaic-Kovacic and Marja Novak; editing by Thomas Escritt and Andrew Roche) M. Night Shyamalans long road back from After Earth his personality-deprived 2013 sci-fi saga starring Will and Jaden Smith began last year with the sturdy found-footage thriller The Visit. However, he seems on the verge of making a complete return to form courtesy of his upcoming Split, which received an enthusiastic response when it premiered at Septembers Fantastic Fest. And now, its second trailer more fully lays out its mad mayhem. Split stars James McAvoy as an unhinged loner who abducts three teenage girls from a parking lot and stashes them away in a secret cell. That behavior alone would make him a psychopath, although as it turns out, thats just the beginning for this madman, who boasts multiple personalities 23 to be exact. Such a condition makes dealing with him a bewildering ordeal for his captives (The Witchs Anya Taylor-Joy, Jessica Sula and Haley Lu Richardson). To make matters worse, one of his identities is known as The Beast and, from the looks of this second promo, that name isnt just a euphemism. All this bodes well for audiences The Hollywood Reporters John DeFore wrote that genre fans should embrace what is arguably the directors most satisfying picture since The Sixth Sense. Split doesnt premiere in theaters until Jan. 22, but you can check out its latest unnerving promo above. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese scientists are getting an up-close lesson on how volcanic islands are formed. Last week, they landed on Nishinoshima, which was just a rocky outcropping in the Pacific Ocean until two years ago, when spectacular eruptions spewed lava and ash, expanding it to 12 times its size. Aerial footage of the island, about 1,000 km (620 miles) south of Tokyo, showed a cone in the middle surrounded by vegetation. Researchers from the Environment Ministry who swam the final distance from a small boat to the island to minimize biological contamination were the first people to set foot on the expanded island on Oct. 20. They collected rock, plant and insect samples and observed the first colonization of the island by masked gannets, a large seafaring bird. In 2013, an eruption next to Nishinoshima, a cluster of rocks barely 650 meters long and 200 meters wide (2,132 ft by 656 ft), swallowed the outcropping and grew into a 2.7 square kilometer (1.04 square mile) island, bigger than the city state of Monaco. Aside from ecological research, the team hopes to collect samples of lava and ash to learn more about the growth process of a volcanic island. They also planted several seismic monitors around the uninhabited island. Studying volcanoes is high priority for Japan, which lies on the "Ring of Fire", a horseshoe-shaped band of fault lines and volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean. (Reporting by Reuters Television, Writing by Malcolm Foster) When Jeff Zucker calls 2016 the "best year ever" for cable news, he's not being hyperbolic. Thanks to unusually high interest in the presidential race and reality TV star turned Republican nominee Donald Trump, aggregate primetime viewership is up 50 percent, and showings among adults 25-54 are up 55 percent. But with all of the widespread wealth, the cable chief has a unique excuse to brag. Zucker heads into his first presidential election as CNN Worldwide president with cable news' most appealing ratings narrative. Not only did CNN wrap October with another win among adults 25-54, the group that cable news advertisers buy against, the network just concluded its first four-week streak atop its key demographic in 15 years. The development further tightens its 2016 gap with leader Fox News Channel to just six percent in primetime and 14 percent in total day. Both CNN and MSNBC continue to trail Fox News more distantly in the total viewership race, but Zucker emphasizes that metric is not a present concern. Year-to-date, CNN is up 90 percent in the key demo during primetime with an average 436,000 adults 25-54 tuning in nightly. Its a welcome change of pace from when Zucker inherited the 36-year-old cable brand in 2013, just months after it had hit two-decade lows.?? Ratings aren't the only numbers that bode well for CNN. Last week's news of AT&T's proposed $85.4 billion acquisition of CNN parent Time Warner highlighted the network's 2016 fiscal successes. Sources confirm that the cable news network has seen a $100 million boost from forecasted yearly revenue, a stat first reported by NPR, thanks to its election coverage. With less than two weeks to go before the big day, primetime favorite Anderson Cooper (recently re-upped) enjoying a spate of recent wins against Bill O'Reilly, Zucker spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the hot streak - ??and how he plans to continue the momentum, with or without Donald Trump. Story continues Four years into your tenure, CNN has its best ratings narrative in over a decade. This is the best year in the history of cable news... for everybody. We've all benefited. Within that best year ever, I think CNN has out-shined everybody by taking a significant share of the audience. In terms of demos, CNN is closer to Fox than we've been at any point in 15 years, and we have a bigger lead over MSNBC than we've had in the last 13 years. It gives you a real sense of what a fantastic year it's been. How have things picked up closer to the election? With regard to the last four weeks, that's a testimony and a snapshot of this entire year. CNN has done something it hasn't done in 15 years. There's been a number of significant events over the last month - ??the debates, the Al Smith dinner, the hurricane - that signal that when it really matters, people come to CNN. You mention CNN growing its share of the cable news audience. Can you speak a little more about that? More people have come to watch cable news this year than any year ever. Disproportionately, they [in the key demo] have come to CNN over other networks. Fox has 36 percent of the primetime audience and CNN has 34 percent. That's more than CNN has had since 2001. A year ago, Fox had 41 percent and CNN had 29 percent. We've gone up and they've come down, so, in effect, we've stolen their five share points. But, again, everybody is having their best year ever and I want to give them credit. Your competitors are now plugging their successes with total viewership. How important is that number for your purposes? It's not a business story. It's more about bragging rights in the press, but I understand that. People go to a story that they need to go to when the real story doesn't fit. And it's fine. It's also a good story for us. This is CNN's best year in total viewers ever. We're closer to Fox than we've been in eight years, and we've got the biggest lead we've had on MSNBC in eight years. It's not quite as dramatic as the demo story, but we're in a great competitive position. But it's not how we run our business, so it's not the number we look at. Have you noticed any audience trends from the nights or days the last six months when the election was not the focus of coverage? There haven't been that many days when the election hasn't been the focus. When it hasn't been, there was either another major breaking news story or there was nothing at all - ??and that's where our original series fill the void. That's part of our strategy. We acknowledge there's no way 2017 is going to be 2016. It's just not possible. Audiences will clearly not be what they have been, but we feel good because we're starting from a higher place. What specific strategies do you have for after the election? Keep in mind that, prior to this year, 2008 was the biggest year in cable news history. Second to that was 2009. We do think there will be continued interest next year. But in terms of what do we do moving forward, we have a new philosophy and strategy that we've employed for the last three years of going all-in on the bigger stories in a way that our competitors can't match because of our global resources. We also have our original series. Next year we'll have more than 12, and six CNN films. With the many election commentators you've hired, particularly [former Trump campaign manager] Corey Lewandowski, is there a plan for how to include them moving forward? We're going to continue to employ a number of commentators going forward. I don't think it will be at the same level that we've had this year, but we'll begin to assess that after the election. Trump has been a huge boon to ratings but he is trailing in the polls. Have you had discussions about how and how much he'll be covered if he loses? We're not in the business of making any predictions to what's going to happen in the next 13 days. We'll see what happens and then we'll make decisions after that. I can't make any predictions. Do you have anything to say about the widely circulating $100 million in extra 2016 revenue that NPR reported? I'm not going comment on that other than to say that NPR is a fine journalistic organization. What are you impressions of the AT&T-Time Warner deal and your meeting with CEO Randall Stephenson? We're excited to see what comes in the future. Beyond that, we're just busy covering the last 13 days of the election. Do you have any thoughts on Trump TV? I've seen a little bit of what they're doing. The beauty of the internet is that anybody can be a broadcaster now. Again, I think the future of that depends on the next 13 days. Jensen Ackles gave two large, passionate fanbases a jolt when he posted a photo of himself on the Supernatural set with a barb-wired bat that should be very familiar to The Walking Dead fans. Hey @JDMorgan I found this in the trunkcan I try it out?, he captioned the photo. Dont miss tonights episode. Its a knockout! Ackles was addressing Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays both Walking Dead villain Negan and Supernatural flashback-dad, John Winchester. Also Read: 'Walking Dead' Premiere Director Calls Fans Threats to Quit Watching 'A Knee-Jerk Reaction' J. You werent supposed to find that, Morgan replied. Gonna need her back son. I mean I already gave you my car. And? I dont know? Sorta, died for you. The barb-wired bat is the weapon Negan named Lucille and used to kill fan-favorite character Glenn (Steven Yuen) on The Walking Dead Season 7 premiere Sunday. Its unclear if Ackles is holding the actual Lucille, but since both the zombie drama and Supernatural shoot in Atlanta, Georgia, its probable the actors could cross paths with each others sets on a regular basis. Also Read: 'Walking Dead' Fan Can't Stop Crying After Brutal Season Premiere (Video) Ackles timely joke may have hit a little too close to home for some fans. I DONT WANNA CRY AGAIN STOP IT, one distraught follower replied. Supernatural airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. Related stories from TheWrap: 'Walking Dead' Premiere Director Calls Fans Threats to Quit Watching 'A Knee-Jerk Reaction' 'Walking Dead' Fan Can't Stop Crying After Brutal Season Premiere (Video) 'Walking Dead' Season 7 Premiere Scores 17 Million Total Viewers With his dog by his side, his long neck wrapped up in a maroon scarf, Jeremy Irons settles into a drab Midtown Manhattan conference room. He pushes his wiry frame into a plastic chair and turns his steely gaze at his interviewer. Its raining outside well, spitting and hes had to deal with Big Apple traffic thats slowed to a crawl. To say nothing of overzealous security guards who are none too pleased about allowing his puppy into the office building. They dont care if the owner has won the Triple Crown of acting, with a Tony, Emmy, and Oscar on his mantel. Hes tired, he says, but despite the nasty weather, he still has a certain drawing room charm, pronouncing himself delighted to be here. In the next few months, hell be summoning up those diplomatic skills. Irons is back in the Oscar race this year for his subtle turn in The Man Who Knew Infinity as G.H. Hardy, a Cambridge professor who serves as a mentor to Srinivasa Ramanujan, a largely self-taught mathematical genius who grew up poor in India. Its an inspirational true story of the sort studios dont make much anymore, and its earned Irons his best reviews in years. Not that hes hurting for work. At 68, Irons has a full dance card. Hell appear as Alfred, Bruce Waynes loyal butler, in Justice League and a standalone Batman film, and has supporting turns in Assassins Creed, an adaptation of the popular video game, and the action-comedy Monumental. Irons spoke with Variety about playing the brainy Hardy, religion, method acting, and those nasty Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice reviews. Did you have an interest in math? No I hated math. No interest in math at all. So what drew you to the project then? It was a great story and it introduced me to something that I knew nothing about. There was a fascinating relationship about these two geniuses. To see how they interacted through the story and how they grew to be very important to one another. What kind of research did you do? I read the book and I read Hardys A Mathematicians Apology. Thats a compilation of his lectures, but its written in laypersons language. Once I read that and realized that for him pure mathematics was almost poetry, I could relate to him. He believed all those theories and things and equations were out there waiting to be found. They existed and that to find them one had to fly with a mathematical imagination. Story continues Ive heard it said that just when math gets interesting is the point when most peoples mathematical education stops. Do you think thats the case? I was talking to some smart mathematicians last night and they all feel that math is taught very badly. That its taught by rote, with tick box answers. I dont know how else you can teach math really. Im not a teacher and Im not a mathematician, but they are convinced that you could teach mathematics in a way that inspires people. In the film your character is an avowed atheist. Are you religious? Im not religious. Im spiritual. Religious seems too much like a club. How would you describe Hardy? A pretty dry guy. Hed been pretty concentrated on his math and sport a bit, too. He did like his sport, but not a great social animal. He wasnt fusty, but he was academic. That point of the movie when he begins to open up emotionally to another person through that shared passion for mathematics was very interesting. This isnt really an artsy film. Its an accessible story and its the kind of film that a major studio would have made 15 years ago. Does it worry you that projects like this struggle to find backing? Im old enough now that I dont let it worry me. The way the business is going is the way the business is going. But youre right. Theyre spending all their time and money making some great television. My god theres a lot of it. And making a lot of big budget movies. Theres lots of CGI and explosions and chases and people dressed up in funny clothes because they come from different places and different times, and thats fine. Thats fine. I think theres still an appetite among a certain audience to see intelligent movies that have real emotion in them. The problem comes down to when you start distributing the movie, because thats so expensive. Its very hard to get a film like this out to everybody. Theres so much competition out there. Just so much to see. Do you watch a lot of television? I dont watch a lot of television. I try to watch all the good movies, but Ive got about twenty of these television series that I should be watching. I havent seen The Wire. I havent seen Mad Men. I havent seen Kevins thing. Whats that called? House of Cards. I hear its wonderful. If I was bedridden for a couple of years, maybe I could catch up. How do you decide what projects to do? Its a gut feeling. Is it a film that interests me or a story, character, or director I like. On the business side, it helps you get budgets for smaller films to do films of a certain scale. Do you find bigger films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as fulfilling as the smaller projects? Less so, because theyre so slow. Theres a lot of waiting around and then a huge amount of publicity. One spends 70% of the time doing publicity, 10% of the time filming, and 20% of the time waiting. I love working with Ben [Affleck] and Zack Snyder. Theyve been fun. What was your approach to Alfred? He seems more a man of action than previous takes on the character? I remember an evening with Paul Getty, who was a neighbor of mine, now sadly dead. We drove up to his lovely house. A very nice gentleman opened up the car door. Then another very nice gentleman took the car and parked it somewhere. Another nice gentleman took my coat. And then another nice gentleman gave me a glass of champagne. And all those nice gentleman were SAS. I thought, thats Alfred. Hes a man who will take care of his boss, whether hes making coffee or pouring champagne or flying his airplane. Will he have more to do in Justice League than he did in Batman v Superman? Similar, but then, of course, Bens going to make a Batman film next summer. He promises me theres going to be a bit more of Alfred in that. In the Justice League we have seven major lead characters and Im the butler to one of them. Its clear I will not be dominating that film. Were you upset by the harsh reviews for Batman v Superman? Not at all. I was very pleased by the numbers. Zack seems to get a hard time from the press, which is strange. I dont know if it has to do with the sort of secrecy that surrounds the making of it all. But the audience liked it, which in the end is all that matters. What interested you about Assassins Creed? Do you play video games? I didnt know anything about Assassins Creed. Its a completely new world to me. You were just in Long Days Journey Into Night and you appear frequently on stage. Is theater an itch you need to scratch? Its nice to keep in touch with it. [Long Days Journey Into Night] was a mountain, but I think its good if you have the energy to climb the old mountain. Id seen Laurence Olivier do it when I was in my twenties and it was always a role that was a bit like Lear, where you think, thats a big one. I was happy to have the opportunity to work my muscles. They can get a bit flabby sometimes. Anthony Hopkins gave up the stage because he said he was tired of repeating the same performance every night. Do you ever feel that way? No. I would say to Anthony, does he surf? When he comes in on one wave does he say, Oh god, now Ive got to do another wave. Why am I doing all these waves? Each one is different. You can do better. Thats how I feel about playing in the theater. Each audience is different. Your energy is different each night. Everything changes a bit. I dont want to do it too long. I hope that were going to be able to bring Long Days Journey to New York in 2018 and then to Los Angeles with the same cast. But not for a Broadway run. I couldnt do that. Were going to be at the BAM and then the Wallis Theater, I think its called. Well do it for a few weeks in London before we come. Your son, Max Irons, is an actor. Did you want him to get into the profession? I tried to persuade him not to, but I want him to be happy, and his passion is to do it. He seems to be doing well. Hes employed. Hes making a couple of pictures in England with Glenn Close. But hes not very good with his down time yet. If he was like his father, hed enjoy not working more than hed enjoy working. He tends to get nervous hes never going to work again. Are you a method actor? Can you turn it off the second filming stops? I dont turn it off. I dont need people to call me by my characters name. I wouldnt call myself a method actor, but I have my own method. I do my own research. I come up with a background for the character. Im not a club man. I dont like isms. Ive never really studied Stanislavski. Actings very easy. You have to ignore all the distractions around you. You have to be able to play and to think and to listen and to concentrate and to learn lines and to have a musical ear. Its not rocket science. Related stories 'Justice League': First Look at Amber Heard as Mera, Queen of Atlantis 'Justice League' New Footage Teased in Behind-the-Scenes Video From Zack Snyder 'Justice League': First Look at J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon [October 26, 2016] Fitch Rates Verizon's Sr. Unsecured Note Offering 'A-'; Outlook Stable Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'A-' rating to Verizon (News - Alert) Communications Inc.'s (Verizon; NYSE: VZ) multi-tranche offering of Euro and Sterling senior unsecured notes. Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including the acquisitions of Fleetmatics Group PLC and XO Holdings' wireline assets as well as for the potential repayment of debt, depending on market conditions. Verizon's Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) is 'A-' and the Rating Outlook is Stable. KEY RATING DRIVERS Competitive Position: The ratings are supported by Verizon Wireless's (News - Alert) (VZW) strong competitive position, as evidenced through industry-low churn rates, high margins and the extensive coverage of approximately 98% of the U.S. population with its 4G LTE network. These factors are balanced against moderately high leverage for the rating, which stems from the February 2014 acquisition of the remaining 45% stake in VZW. Core Telecom Leverage: At Sept. 30, 2016, core telecom leverage was 2.4x and total adjusted debt/EBITDAR was 2.9x. Including the Yahoo acquisition and other pending acquisitions, Fitch expects Verizon's core telecom leverage to decline to approximately 2.2x by 2017 while total adjusted debt/EBITDAR is expected to approximate 2.8x. Core telecom leverage excludes securitizations (both off-balance-sheet and public/144A and on-balance-sheet asset-backed securitizations). Securitizations are included in total adjusted debt/EBITDAR measures. Pending Acquisitions: In July 2016, Verizon announced a definitive agreement with Yahoo! Inc. (Yahoo) whereby it will acquire the subsidiaries holding Yahoo's operating businesses for approximately $4.83 billion in a cash transaction (subject to closing adjustments). In September 2016, Yahoo disclosed that a copy of certain information related to approximately 500 million user accounts was stolen; this could have a material adverse effect on the transaction and Verizon is evaluating the impact of the event on the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in early 2017, following customary approvals including approvals by regulators and Yahoo's shareholders. Verizon's acquisition of XO Communications' (News - Alert) (XO) fiber network business for approximately $1.8 billion is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2017 (1Q17). In August 2016, the acquisition of telematics provider Fleetmatics for $2.4 billion was announced, and the transaction is expected to close by the end of 2016. Wireline Asset Sale: In April 2016, Verizon completed the sale of its wireline operations in California, Texas and Florida to Frontier Communications Corp. (Frontier) for pre-tax proceeds of $10.5 billion. Approximately $600 million of debt transferred with the subsidiaries. In April 2016, Verizon used the $10.5 billion in pre-tax proceeds and cash on hand to tender for and redeem early $10.7 billion in existing debt. KEY ASSUMPTIONS --Fitch assumes Verizon's EBITDA grows below 1% in 2016 over 2015. Fitch expects midsingle digit EBITDA growth in 2017, based on organic revenue growth slightly below Fitch's expectations for domestic GDP growth plus the effect of acquisitions. --Debt reduction in the core business, combined with EBITDA growth, is expected to reduce core telecom leverage to the low 2x range by 2017/2018. --VZW will continue to generate strong free cash flow (FCF) on an operational basis. VZW's simple FCF (EBITDA less capital spending) for the latest 12 months (LTM) ended Sept. 30, 2016, was approximately $28.5 billion. --In 2016, Fitch expects consolidated capital spending to be at the low end of company guidance of $17.2 billion to $17.7 billion. Investment in the wireless network continues to be an area of emphasis due to the strong demand for 4G LTE capacity for rapidly growing data services. --Fitch has included modest spending on spectrum in the FCC's 600 MHz TV broadcast auction, currently underway. Spectrum (News - Alert) spending approaching or exceeding levels spent in the AWS-3 auction will be an event-driven consideration. RATING SENSITIVITIES Positive Rating Action: Fitch believes a positive rating action is unlikely in the foreseeable future, given current levels of leverage. Negative Rating Action: Fitch may take a negative rating action if operating performance causes deleveraging to take place at a materially slower-than-anticipated pace, either alone or in combination with material debt-financed acquisitions. Discretionary management moves that cause leverage to rise above 2.5x, such as another material acquisition or stock repurchases, could lead to a negative action in the absence of a strong commitment to deleverage. LIQUIDITY Strong Liquidity Profile: Verizon's liquidity is supported by its reported consolidated cash balances, which were $6.4 billion at Sept. 30, 2016, and by its undrawn revolving credit facility (RCF). In 3Q16, Verizon amended its RCF, increasing its availability to $9 billion from $8 billion and extending its maturity to September 2020 from July 2018. Fitch expects Verizon to maintain aggregate commercial paper (CP) balances within a level fully backed by the RCF. The credit facility has no ratings triggers or other restrictive financial covenants, such as leverage or interest coverage tests. Verizon's cash from operations in 2016 will be negatively affected by certain items. The companywill incur higher cash taxes on a business-as-usual basis as the cash tax rate moves toward the effective tax rate and by the cash tax payment arising from the gain on sale of the wireline assets to Frontier. Additionally, wireless handset financing under the equipment installment programs will pressure cash from operations, as the public securitizations funding handset sales beginning in the third quarter of 2016 will be recorded in cash from financing activities. This is a change in presentation from the private securitizations undertaken in 2015 and 1Q16, which were recorded in operating activities. Further, cash from operations in 2015 was also boosted on a non-recurring basis by the portion of the tower sale proceeds (approximately $2.4 billion) recorded in operating activities. Debt Maturities: On a consolidated basis, as of Sept. 30, 2016, Verizon and its subsidiaries had no material maturities remaining in 2016, and expected debt maturities of approximately $3.8 billion in 2017. Date of Relevant Rating Committee: July 26, 2016. Summary of Financial Statement Adjustments - Financial statement adjustments that depart materially from those contained in the published financial statements of the relevant rated entity or obligor are disclosed below: --Securitized equipment installment receivables are not included in core telecom leverage and are included in off-balanced sheet debt. Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com. Applicable Criteria Corporate Rating Methodology - Including Short-Term Ratings and Parent and Subsidiary Linkage - Effective from 17 August 2015 to 27 September 2016 (pub. 17 Aug 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/869362 Additional Disclosures Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1013803 Endorsement Policy https://www.fitchratings.com/regulatory ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTPS://WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEB SITE AT WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA, AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE, AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CODE OF CONDUCT SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. Copyright 2016 by Fitch Ratings, Inc., Fitch Ratings Ltd. and its subsidiaries. 33 Whitehall Street, NY, NY 10004. Telephone: 1-800-753-4824, (212) 908-0500. Fax: (212) 480-4435. Reproduction or retransmission in whole or in part is prohibited except by permission. All rights reserved. In issuing and maintaining its ratings and in making other reports (including forecast information), Fitch relies on factual information it receives from issuers and underwriters and from other sources Fitch believes to be credible. Fitch conducts a reasonable investigation of the factual information relied upon by it in accordance with its ratings methodology, and obtains reasonable verification of that information from independent sources, to the extent such sources are available for a given security or in a given jurisdiction. The manner of Fitch's factual investigation and the scope of the third-party verification it obtains will vary depending on the nature of the rated security and its issuer, the requirements and practices in the jurisdiction in which the rated security is offered and sold and/or the issuer is located, the availability and nature of relevant public information, access to the management of the issuer and its advisers, the availability of pre-existing third-party verifications such as audit reports, agreed-upon procedures letters, appraisals, actuarial reports, engineering reports, legal opinions and other reports provided by third parties, the availability of independent and competent third- party verification sources with respect to the particular security or in the particular jurisdiction of the issuer, and a variety of other factors. Users of Fitch's ratings and reports should understand that neither an enhanced factual investigation nor any third-party verification can ensure that all of the information Fitch relies on in connection with a rating or a report will be accurate and complete. Ultimately, the issuer and its advisers are responsible for the accuracy of the information they provide to Fitch and to the market in offering documents and other reports. In issuing its ratings and its reports, Fitch must rely on the work of experts, including independent auditors with respect to financial statements and attorneys with respect to legal and tax matters. Further, ratings and forecasts of financial and other information are inherently forward-looking and embody assumptions and predictions about future events that by their nature cannot be verified as facts. As a result, despite any verification of current facts, ratings and forecasts can be affected by future events or conditions that were not anticipated at the time a rating or forecast was issued or affirmed. The information in this report is provided "as is" without any representation or warranty of any kind, and Fitch does not represent or warrant that the report or any of its contents will meet any of the requirements of a recipient of the report. A Fitch rating is an opinion as to the creditworthiness of a security. This opinion and reports made by Fitch are based on established criteria and methodologies that Fitch is continuously evaluating and updating. Therefore, ratings and reports are the collective work product of Fitch and no individual, or group of individuals, is solely responsible for a rating or a report. The rating does not address the risk of loss due to risks other than credit risk, unless such risk is specifically mentioned. Fitch is not engaged in the offer or sale of any security. All Fitch reports have shared authorship. Individuals identified in a Fitch report were involved in, but are not solely responsible for, the opinions stated therein. The individuals are named for contact purposes only. A report providing a Fitch rating is neither a prospectus nor a substitute for the information assembled, verified and presented to investors by the issuer and its agents in connection with the sale of the securities. Ratings may be changed or withdrawn at any time for any reason in the sole discretion of Fitch. Fitch does not provide investment advice of any sort. Ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature or taxability of payments made in respect to any security. Fitch receives fees from issuers, insurers, guarantors, other obligors, and underwriters for rating securities. Such fees generally vary from US$1,000 to US$750,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent) per issue. In certain cases, Fitch will rate all or a number of issues issued by a particular issuer, or insured or guaranteed by a particular insurer or guarantor, for a single annual fee. Such fees are expected to vary from US$10,000 to US$1,500,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent). The assignment, publication, or dissemination of a rating by Fitch shall not constitute a consent by Fitch to use its name as an expert in connection with any registration statement filed under the United States securities laws, the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2000 of the United Kingdom, or the securities laws of any particular jurisdiction. Due to the relative efficiency of electronic publishing and distribution, Fitch research may be available to electronic subscribers up to three days earlier than to print subscribers. For Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and South Korea only: Fitch Australia Pty Ltd holds an Australian financial services license (AFS license no. 337123) which authorizes it to provide credit ratings to wholesale clients only. Credit ratings information published by Fitch is not intended to be used by persons who are retail clients within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026006886/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Gina Cherelus NEW YORK (Reuters) - The former Rutgers University student whose high-profile cyber bullying conviction was overturned last month pleaded guilty on Thursday to attempted invasion of privacy, prosecutors said. Dharun Ravi, 24, the New Jersey man accused of recording his roommate Tyler Clementi kissing another man, was convicted in 2012 on 15 charges, including several bias intimidation counts and invasion of privacy. Clementi, 18, committed suicide three days after learning Ravi broadcasted images of him and the man online to a group of other students. Clementi's death sparked a national debate over cyber bullying and discrimination against gays and lesbians. Ravi, who faced up to 10 years in prison, will be sentenced to the time he has already served on the charges, which was 30 days, allowing him to avoid further prison time for the third-degree offense. Neither Ravi's attorney nor a representative for the Clementi family could immediately be reached for comment. "Reaching the plea agreement was a reasonable way to resolve the case in view of the appellate court decision, which dismissed a series of criminal bias charges that had been leveled against the defendant by a grand jury in Middlesex County," prosecutor Andrew Carey said in a statement on Thursday. Last year, the state's Supreme Court struck down part of the law under which Ravi was charged as unconstitutionally vague. That led a New Jersey appeals court in September to throw out Ravi's conviction. Prosecutors had conceded that Ravi's guilty verdict on those counts should be vacated but argued that his conviction for other crimes, including invasion of privacy and witness tampering, should stand. But the Appellate Division of the state Superior Court concluded that none of the convictions could remain in place because the bias allegations loomed over the entire case. "Our sympathies remain with the victims family, which continues to work to protect our at-risk youth," Carey said. Ravi's original sentence also included three years of probation, 300 hours of community service, cyber-bullying counseling and a $10,000 contribution to an organization dedicated to helping victims of bias crimes, all of which he has served. (Editing by Joseph Ax and Matthew Lewis) Jessica Alba has been dubbed the next Martha Stewart by a lot of people (including us), but when she comes face to face with the woman herself, the Honest Company founder brushes off the comparison. I just dont know if you could ever fill those shoes, and I think it would be silly for anyone to try and do something thats been so well done, she told PEOPLE at Stewarts fifth annual American Made Summit in New York City. She also posed a question that shes clearly already asked herself: If anyone wants to start something, what are they going to do thats different? Having expanded her line of safe baby products to include everything from household cleaners to beauty products, Alba and Stewart are already competitors in several categories. But, they might just have one more (friendly) rivalry ahead. WATCH: Friends Forever! Martha and Jessica Make Meatballs in this Throwback Cooking Segment RELATED: WATCH: On Martha Stewart and Snoops Cooking Show: 24 Karat Cookware and an Herb Garden I could see an Honest hotel, Alba reveals when asked what other business shed be keen to get into. Even Martha hasnt ventured into the world of hospitality . . . at least not yet. Weve broached it, but we havent done it, Stewart says conspiratorially. And she already has one confirmed guest! RELATED: These Incredibly Easy Pumpkin Decorating Ideas Will Give You All the Fall Feels I would stay at that hotel, by the way, Alba says, proposing that she could see a Martha hotel being right at home in Californias Napa Valley. Stewart, for her part, proposes Maine, where she already has a sprawling country home, frequented by celebrity guests including Jessica Biel and Brendan Fraser. And would the elder lifestyle maven stay at Albas proposed establishment? Of course I would! Stewart says. TOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices slipped on Thursday with the market tracking an overnight retreat by U.S. Treasuries. An auction of two-year JGBs, on the other hand, attracted ample investor demand as the shorter-dated maturities had cheapened over the past month. The bid-to-cover ratio, a gauge of demand, at the 2.3 trillion yen ($22 billion) two-year sale rose to 4.41 from 3.78 at the previous auction last month. The benchmark 10-year JGB yield was up 1 basis point at minus 0.060 percent and the 30-year yield rose 2 basis points to 0.495 percent. The JGB market took comments on Thursday by Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda in its stride. Kuroda told parliament that the central bank would not attempt to push down super-long bond yields if they rose further. The BOJ adopted a yield curve control scheme in September in a bid to keep the 10-year JGB yield around zero percent. U.S. Treasury debt yields rose overnight, pushed up by a fresh batch of economic data that enhanced the outlook for third-quarter U.S. gross domestic product data due on Friday, hardening expectations for a U.S. rate rise. ($1 = 104.4100 yen) (Reporting by the Tokyo markets team; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) As the Obama administration approaches its conclusion, everyone from the president to his policy analysts are searching for ways to preserve and shore up the work theyve done in the past eight years. For Jill Biden, perhaps nothing has been more important, save her work with military service members, during her tenure as second lady than highlighting the role community colleges play in helping men and women, young and old, achieve whatever their version of the American Dream looks like. And so on Wednesday, she invited dozens of community-college leaders to the vice-presidential residence for a lunch reception. The official purpose was to thank them for their work in recent months to make two years of community college free for some students, an effort that has expanded access to higher education in certain parts of the country for low-income, often nonwhite, students who have traditionally been overlooked. But Biden used her brief remarks to urge the provosts and chancellors assembled to do whatever they can in the coming weeks to do even more, to ensure that free community college becomes a reality around the United States. This is our moment, she said. We dont know what were going to have two months from now. Recommended: Milk Chocolate Is Better Than Dark, the End At the beginning of last year, President Obama called for community college to be free nationwide, a tall order that has yet to become a reality given pushback from Republicans in Congress opposed to Washington intervening in what many see as a state issue. Later in 2015, he announced the creation of a coalition of community-college leaders involving partnerships with local businesses, K-12 teachers, and foundations to pilot free community-college programs at state and local levels. So, even as nationwide free community college remains elusive, a number of states and cities have enacted their own versions of the idea. Tennessees Republican governor launched a statewide version in 2014 that frequently serves as a model. Oregon and Minnesota have followed suit. So have major cities like Detroit, Salt Lake City, and Boston. Lawmakers from more than 10 states have introduced legislation, and the issue appears to be gaining momentum. But theres no guarantee that momentum will be maintained. While Hillary Clinton has touted a plan to make not just two but four years of college free for students from families earning up to $125,000, the chances of such a proposal becoming reality anytime in the near future may be slim, and its unclear how much attention shell devote to community colleges specifically. Back at the vice-presidential residence, Biden thanked the college leaders before her for giving her the opportunity to inform White House officials about the benefits of community colleges. You have educated me [about community colleges], she told them. But its not a world Biden necessarily needed help understanding. Her own dissertation at the University of Delaware looked at how community colleges could retain students. And in a rare move for a vice-presidential spouse, Biden took a paying job as a professor at Northern Virginia Community College shortly after moving to Washington, D.C., in January 2009. She has continued to teach throughout both terms of the Obama administration. I have to continue to teach, she said she told her husband. Im not a lady who lunches. (Realizing shed just made the remark at a luncheon, she jokingly clarified that the gathering was a meeting with lunch.) Recommended: Trump's 'Voter Suppression Operation' Targets Black Voters The vice president, who cannot resist stopping by a party when it is happening in his own home, made a surprise appearance at the reception and, in typical fashion, cheerfully shared several anecdotes about Dr. Bidens work. She carries a bag all over the world of papers to be graded that weighs about 300 pounds, he said. Ill say to her, Put! The! Bag! Down! he joked. The vice president also gently ribbed his wife for delivering one of her oft-quoted lines about community colleges being the best kept secrets in the country as drivers of economic mobility to the commander in chief, to which Obama apparently quipped in reply, Oh really? I think were creating a national experiment. But Biden grew serious as he praised the college leaders before him for inspiring students, particularly those from other countries, and for giving a renewed sense of hope to people who were hurt by the economic downturn and who might not have otherwise had a chance to attend college. He recalled a visit to a community college in Detroit, which recently made community college free for local high-school graduates, that had reached out to people in their 20s through 50s about learning to code to fill IT jobs in the area. Now, he said, they earn a good living. Im telling you, its going to happen, he said, of nationwide free community college, particularly if my team wins this race. While most students still have to pay to attend a community college, the idea of free community college is gathering traction nationwide, said Emily Parker, a policy analyst with the Education Commission of the States during an interview at the reception. A report released this week showed that there are some 150 programs across 37 states offering free two-year degrees. Recommended: The Rise of Dating-App Fatigue I think were creating a national experiment, Ted Mitchell, the under secretary of education at the U.S. Education Department and the person in charge of postsecondary issues, said in response to a reporters question about whether the variety of programs allowed by the bottom-up approach was a concern. Most good solutions are not either or, he added, when asked whether the fact that a number of states have moved forward with their own initiatives meant Congress did not need to act at the national level. But Parker and her colleague, Sarah Pingel, also a policy analyst, said some states are ignoring older students who could benefit from free community collegepeople, for instance, who are forced to switch careers as their local economies shift. Some states have a myopic way of approaching the issue, Pingel said. Some explicitly restrict programs to recent high-school graduates, Parker added, while others impose implicit restrictions by asking for certain test scores that adults may not have, or requiring students to have graduated from local high schools. A national program might alleviate some of those burdens. Yet Mitchell said he is encouraged by the real shift of focus to the idea of making more than just the current 13 years of public education free and accessible, and by the way local school districts are working with businesses and colleges in places like Long Beach, California, and Knoxville, Tennessee, to make the transition from school to the workforce as seamless as possible for students. Martha Kanterwho served as under secretary before Mitchell, at one point worked as the chancellor of a large community-college district in California, and currently heads up the administrations national initiative to make community college freeagreed. Momentum has been building for years, she said, particularly as the cost of attending college has risen, and shes confident it will continue. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Time for Jim Gaffigan to buy one of those hats with the ear flaps, because hes heading to Fargo. The actor and stand-up comedian will be part of the FX series upcoming third season, TVLine has learned. Gaffigan will play police deputy Donny Mashman, who works with Chief Gloria Burgle (The Leftovers Carrie Coon) at the Eden Valley PD. VIDEOSJesse Plemons on Fargo Regrets and More Season 3 of Fargo (premiering in Spring 2017) focuses on a pair of lookalike brothers, both played by Ewan McGregor. The older of the two, Emmit, is a good-looking, self-assured real estate magnate known as the Parking Lot King of Minnesota. His younger sibling, Ray, is a flabby parole officer who blames Emmit for his sorry state of affairs. Mary Elizabeth Winstead (BrainDead) and Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire) will co-star. VIDEOSFargo Pays Cheeky Respect to Those Who Died in Season 2 In August, Gaffigan announced that he and his wife, Jeannie, decided not to continue with his eponymous TV Land comedy series past Season 2. We realize this may surprise some and we dont make this decision lightly. It is hard to say goodbye to this highly personal passion project, which we have nurtured and poured our hearts into for over five years, he posted on social media at the time. However the time commitment to make the quality of show we wanted was taking us away from our most important project, our five children. In addition to his own series, Gaffigans TV credits include My Boys, Bobs Burgers, Ed, Law & Order and Portlandia. Related stories American Horror Story: Roanoke Recap: Something Wicked This Way Comes American Horror Story: Roanoke Recap: C'mon, Baby, Let's Do the Twist The Americans Season 5: Laurie Holden Cast as Love Interest for [Spoiler] Chad Butler Jr., the son of late-rapper Pimp C, is fighting for control of his father's estate. According to a report, Butler Jr. petitioned to remove his stepmother Chinara Butler as administrator of Pimp C's estate after the widow allegedly mishandled money. Butler Jr.'s request was approved by Judge Gerald Eddins, in a hearing held on Wednesday (Oct. 26). Pimp C was found dead in a hotel room in 2007 from a drug overdose. He left behind three children -- Chinara Butler is the mother of his youngest child -- and no will, with Chinara Butler being appointed as head of Pimp C's estate. According to the report, Chad Butler Jr. informed the judge that he hasn't received any financial support from the estate, and his attorney Josh Heinz stated that Pimp C's home is foreclosed, and his cars have been repossessed. Chinara Butler was previously removed from the estate back in 2010, largely due to her "misapplying" $150,000 of jewelry, but was appointed back to administrator later that year. In a statement to Bossip, Butler's rep said, "Mrs. Butler is actually okay with the judge's decision. For far too long, she alone has bore all of the responsibility and liability regarding the business of the estate." The former UGK member's estate released Pimp C's third posthumous album, Long Live The Pimp, on the 8th anniversary of his death on Dec. 4, 2015, outraing the rapper's son. Lil Wayne, Ty Dolla $ign, and Bun B are just a few among the many features on the album, and Juicy J was a key producer on the project. Judge Gerald Eddins will appoint a new administrator on Friday. Billboard has reached out to a rep for Pimp C and Butler for comment. By Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) - A Delaware judge on Wednesday ordered Lynn Tilton's Patriarch Partners to turn over documents detailing the complex holdings of $2.5 billion distressed debt funds that the embattled investor lost control of this year. Tilton created the loan vehicles known as the Zohar funds more than a decade ago. The three funds have financed her investments in ailing companies such as Dura Automotive Systems, earning her the title of "Diva of Distressed." However, one of the Zohar funds defaulted last year and Tilton's Patriarch Partners investment firm stepped down as the collateral manager and was replaced by restructuring firm Alvarez & Marsal in March. Alvarez sued Patriarch earlier this year and alleged it had not turned over documents required to assess the Zohar collateral. Alvarez's lawyer said during an August trial that Tilton was playing a "shell game" with valuable assets, while Tilton insisted that Alvarez had every document needed to manage the Zohar collateral. Vice Chancellor Joseph Slights determined that Patriarch was obligated to produce the documents sought by Alvarez. "The collection and production of these documents will no doubt place a burden, perhaps even a significant one, on Patriarch," wrote Slights in a 51-page opinion. However, Slights added that Patriarch enjoyed the benefits of being the Zohar collateral manager for years and always knew it faced substantial obligations if its services came to an end. "Patriarch respectfully disagrees with the decision," said Reed Brodsky of Gibson Dunn, the law firm representing Patriarch Partners. "We are reviewing our legal options and note that this document production issue has no bearing whatsoever on the current SEC administrative trial and the baseless charges made there." The judge also said he was fully aware the litigation was driven by wider aims of the parties. He said Patriarch believed the Zohar funds were acting on behalf of the MBIA Insurance Corp, which is seeking to push responsibility for an impending Zohar default onto Patriarch. Story continues The judge said the Zohar funds believed Patriarch was trying to conceal Tilton's conflicting roles during her management of the Zohar funds. The judge said he was not expressing a view on those allegations. Tilton began defending herself at trial this week against a fraud lawsuit brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The regulator has accused Patriarch of hiding the poor performance of assets underlying the Zohar funds and allegedly collected nearly $200 million in improper fees. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Bernard Orr) Zay Hilfiger and Zayion McCall estimate that it took them about five minutes to make "Juju on That Beat (TZ Anthem Challenge)." Comparatively speaking, it didn't take much longer for the song to rocket up the Billboard Hot 100. In just three weeks, it soared to No. 11. Like Silento's No. 3 hit "Watch Me" and iHeartMemphis' "Hit the Quan" (which reached No. 15) in 2015, "Juju on That Beat" succeeded on the strength of homemade dance videos. "People keep finding it and engaging with it," says Jeff Vaughn, senior director of A&R at Artist Partners Group (APG), a joint venture with Atlantic Records, where the duo is now signed. "Shaq just did the challenge [on Oct. 20]." Yet a key factor in the song's continuing rise is how quickly the label was able to capitalize on its virality, which by nature is ephemeral. "The problem with dance records is it takes too long to handle business, and the momentum dies," says Vaughn. "These types of records need to be approached differently." So APG moved fast once it caught wind of "Juju." The dance trend was first initiated by a troupe called Fresh the Clowns in August; then, on Sept. 7, a clip of a Virginia high school student dancing to the song hit the Internet; Vaughn then saw it on Instagram -- "But it was not available for sale anywhere," he says. He met Hilfiger and McCall in Los Angeles on Sept. 20. As soon as the pair was signed, APG got to work. "Juju" includes a prominent sample of Crime Mob's 2004 hit "Knuck If You Buck" that had to be cleared -- a momentum-killer for many songs. But because "Knuck" was originally released through Atlantic/APG sister company Warner Bros., Vaughn's team managed to get the clearance in just 72 hours, and "Juju" hit iTunes five business days after the act's signing. "It was happening so fast, it felt like it would burn out quick," says Vaughn. "It hasn't, because we were able to act quickly and start promoting." And once the song went up for sale, Vaughn says that its subsequent growth has been "explosive." So how much can a viral meme-turned-legit hit make? Over its lifetime, which can be as short as three to four months, "Juju" could earn nearly $1 million when you factor in publishing income, global revenues from streams, synchs and sales, and future performances and appearances by Hilfiger and McCall (for example, a club appearance that might pay $20,000 for them to perform two songs, or even a tour). That's on the high end; typically, such novelty songs will see anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 for publishing and hope to earn the same for the recorded music side, according to industry insiders. This article originally appeared in the Nov. 5 issue of Billboard. By Scott Bransford PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - A federal judge in the conspiracy trial of seven people who took part in the armed occupation of a U.S. wildlife center in Oregon dismissed a juror over questions of bias on Wednesday, then ordered jury deliberations to begin anew with a replacement. "It's a new jury, a new day, a new start," U.S. District Judge Anna Brown said as she directed an alternate to step in for the disqualified juror, stressing that the reconstituted panel must renew its consideration of the case from scratch. "They cannot pick up where they left off," she said. The jury's impartiality came under scrutiny on Tuesday, on day three of deliberations, when the panel sent a handwritten note to the judge stating that one juror had professed to being "very biased" at the outset of the jury sessions last week. According to the letter, a copy of which defense lawyers showed journalists, the juror cited his past employment with the federal Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, although it left unclear whether his supposed bias was for or against the government. Brown questioned the juror privately on Tuesday and said afterward she found "no basis" for concluding he was biased. But defense lawyers said they were not convinced, and filed a motion on Wednesday calling for a mistrial unless the judge agreed to dismiss the juror in question and restart deliberations with an alternate in his place. The judge agreed to remove the juror on Wednesday, saying she had no recourse despite finding no verified prejudice or wrongdoing. Brown said opening the jury to further interrogation on the matter would have risked undermining the requisite confidentiality of its deliberations. The dismissed juror's history as a BLM employee 20 years ago was first disclosed during jury selection. But neither side made an issue of it then, even though the defendants' antagonism toward the government, particularly the BLM, was at the heart of the case. Story continues The defendants contend their seizure of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon was a legitimate act of civil disobedience protesting control over millions of acres of public land in the West by various federal agencies, including the BLM. The government has accused the leader of the occupation, Ammon Bundy, and his six followers on trial of engaging in a lawless scheme to seize federal property by force during the 41-day standoff that began in early January. The standoff led to the shooting death of one protester by police and left millions of dollars in damage to the refuge, much of it from bunkers and trenches built by the heavily armed occupiers. The six men and one woman on trial are charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers through intimidation, threats or force, as well as possession of firearms in a federal facility and theft of government property. Each faces up to six years in prison if convicted of conspiracy alone. One of Bundy's attorneys, J. Morgan Philpot, said he was satisfied with the judge's decision, adding he believed the integrity of the trial had been preserved. "I don't think anybody wants a mistrial," Philpot said. "I don't think anything tends to indicate a taint in the jury at this time." The 12 jurors were excused for the rest of the day and were to return on Thursday for further instructions. It remained unclear when deliberations would resume. (Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Toni Reinhold and Peter Cooney) By Scott Bransford PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - A federal judge in the conspiracy trial of seven people who took part in the armed occupation of a U.S. wildlife centre in Oregon dismissed a juror over questions of bias on Wednesday, then ordered jury deliberations to begin anew with a replacement. "It's a new jury, a new day, a new start," U.S. District Judge Anna Brown said as she directed an alternate to step in for the disqualified juror, stressing that the reconstituted panel must renew its consideration of the case from scratch. "They cannot pick up where they left off," she said. The jury's impartiality came under scrutiny on Tuesday, on day three of deliberations, when the panel sent a handwritten note to the judge stating that one juror had professed to being "very biased" at the outset of the jury sessions last week. According to the letter, a copy of which defence lawyers showed journalists, the juror cited his past employment with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), though it left unclear whether his supposed bias was for or against the government. Brown questioned the juror behind closed doors on Tuesday and said afterward she found "no basis" for concluding he was biased. But defence lawyers said they were not convinced, and filed a motion on Wednesday calling for a mistrial unless the judge agreed to dismiss the juror in question and restart deliberations with an alternate in his place. The judge agreed to dismiss the juror on Wednesday, deciding she had no other recourse. Brown said that opening the jury to further interrogation on the matter would have undermined the sanctity of deliberations, which must remain private. The dismissed juror's history as a BLM employee 20 years ago was actually first disclosed during jury selection. But neither side made an issue of it then, even though the defendants' antagonism towards the government, particularly the BLM, was at the heart of the case. The defendants contend their seizure of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon was a legitimate act of civil disobedience protesting control over millions of acres of public land in the West by various federal agencies, including the BLM. The government has accused the leader of the occupation, Ammon Bundy, and his six followers on trial of engaging in a lawless scheme to seize federal property by armed force during the 41-day standoff that began in early January. The standoff left one protester dead and caused millions of dollars in damage to the refuge, including the creation of bunkers and trenches. The six men and one woman on trial are charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers through intimidation, threats or force, as well as possession of firearms in a federal facility and theft of government property. Each faces up to six years in prison if convicted of conspiracy alone. One of Bundy's attorneys, J. Morgan Philpot, said he was satisfied with the judge's decision, adding he believed the integrity of the trial had been preserved. "I don't think anybody wants a mistrial," Philpot said. "I don't think anything tends to indicate a taint in the jury at this time." The 12 jurors were excused from court for the rest of the day and were to meet again on Thursday morning for further instructions. It remained unclear when deliberations would resume. (Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Toni Reinhold) [October 27, 2016] Red Lion Controls Names Jack Lee as President YORK, Pa., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Controls, the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, today announced the appointment of Jack Lee as President of the company. Jack, whose appointment is effective immediately, will be based at Red Lion's headquarters in York, Pennsylvania. Jack Lee succeeds Mike Granby, who served as President of Red Lion for seventeen years, and is leaving the company to pursue other entrepreneurial projects. Mike joined Red Lion in 1996 through the acquisition of the UK business that he founded, Paradigm Controls. "Jack has broad experience in industrial markets, including business development in the rapidly-growing Industrial Internet of Things field. His leadership skills and global industrial background make him well-suited to take Red Lion into its next phase," said Jo Hallas, Business Group Director at Spectris plc. "We would like to thank Mike for his considerable contribution to Red Lion, building the company into a trusted industrial automation and networking brand over his many years of service." Jack served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the Surface Equipment and Automation Business Group for Dover Corporation before joining Red Lion. Prior to this, he held various senior positions with Emerson, including leading the acquisition and integration of the Bristol measurement and control business. Earlier in his career, he held positions with Solvay and Pennzoil. He holds a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston and an MBA from Northwestern University. "I look forward to the opportunity to lead Red Lion forward as it helps customers gain business insight by improving communications and increasing productivity through its industry-leading solutions," said Jack Lee, President of Red Lion. "Red Lion has great talent, technology, partnerships and global reach, and we will continue to innovate and focus on providing strong customer service into the future." For more information on Red Lion, visit www.redlion.net. About Red Lion Controls As the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, Red Lion has been delivering innovative solutions for over forty years. Our automation, Ethernet and cellular M2M technology enables companies worldwide to gain real-time data visibility that drives productivity. Product brands include Red Lion, N-Tron and Sixnet. With headquarters in York, Pennsylvania, the company has offices across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Red Lion is part of Spectris plc, the productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company. For more information, please visit www.redlion.net. 2016 Red Lion Controls, Inc. All rights reserved. Red Lion and the Red Lion logo are registered trademarks of Red Lion Controls, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Media Contacts: Drew Miale Tracy Courtemanche Lewis Red Lion Global Marketing +1 (781) 418-2438 +1 (717) 767-6961 x6915 [email protected] [email protected] www.teamlewis.com www.redlion.net Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161026/433054 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/red-lion-controls-names-jack-lee-as-president-300352449.html SOURCE Red Lion Controls [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Summer may be over, but its always a good time of year for Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon to return to Camp Winnipesaukee. When Timberlake paid a visit to The Tonight Show Wednesday, the hilarious duo resurrected the hilarious sketch in which they reminisce on their days at a New Hampshire summer camp in the 90s, in which they stayed up late and sang their favorite radio hits. After Timberlake, 35, reveals his Halloween costume the late night host guessed Steve Urkel and Zack Morris from Save by the Bell before correctly answering Blossom the duo broke out into Alanis Morissettes Ironic. Although they agreed to keep it down because it was after lights out, they couldnt help but belt out the chorus, prompting Mr. Fletcher, the camp counselor, to bust in and break up the fun. You two potato heads need to go to sleep! he scolded before threatening to take away their Snack Shack privileges. Timberlake and Fallon, 42, giggled out of character as they broke into song again. After chasing Mr. Fletcher off with water guns, the campers decided to get some shut eye. Hey, Jimmy, best friends forever? Timberlake said. Best friends forever, Fallon replied to a collective Aww from the audience. In the 2002 movie Panic Room, Jodie Foster retreats to a high-tech, impregnable chamber when a gang of heavily armed robbers busts into her luxury Manhattan brownstone. (No spoilersbecause we honestly dont remember any of them!) Back in the day, this was seriously impressive stuff, and helped start a trend. Panic rooms became the housing industrys weirdest wanna-have amenity. Wouldnt it be great, the thinking went, to have your own safe rooma vault that couldnt be blown up by bad guys or destroyed by natural disasters, a place to hide out until the world becomes less dangerous again? Fast-forward to the present day, and safe rooms have evolved with a slew of new glitz, gadgets, and anti-theft deterrents. And theyre not just the stuff of Hollywood fantasy anymore. More and more real people have safe rooms, too. The New York Post recently called them the hottest new trend for the .01 percent. If youve got the cash, you can have one, too. So how do you do it? Good thing were here to tell you. Be safe. The safe room, expanded Outfitting a room with reinforcements that can withstand an AR-15 assault rifle Gaffco.com You can create a dedicated panic room somewhere in your house, just like in the movie. You can also identify an everyday space in your home that you feel the most comfortable in, and fortify it. In fact, your entire home can become one giant safe room, if youre so inclined. If youre isolated in your normal environment, thats when youre safe, says Lana Corbi, executive vice president of Strategically Armored and Fortified Environments, or SAFE, located in Los Angeles. You can isolate the master suite, the closet, the bathroom area, the kids room. Converting normal rooms into safe rooms has become more popular than tacking on a separate bulletproof space. Tim Gaffney, founder and CEO of Gaffco Ballistics in New York City, says business for integrated safe rooms has doubled this year (while demand for nonintegrated safe areas has declined). Gaffcos pitch: It can retrofit your bedroomor anywhere else in your homeinto a fortress. And youll never know the difference. Story continues If it doesnt look and feel normal, [customers] dont want them, Gaffney explains. You cant make a 400-pound door lighter, but you can make it feel lighter, blend in, and feel like a regular door opening and closing. High-tech keys to open the safe room No, having the latest and greatest in panic-room technology installed into your home does not come cheap. Want to go really high-tech? Whichever space you choose could be secured by a blast-resistant and EMP-proof door (so your electronics mostly continue to work when the bomb drops). Such doors can only open via approved facial recognition or palm scanners. Get ready to raid your 401(k). A retina scanner runs an average of $3,000, just for the hardware, Gaffney says. The physical integration of the scanner into a central hub, the highly personalized software, and the cost of installation will run you $15,000 to $20,000. Disorientation and ID tactics Heavy duty door with gun port Heavy-duty door with gun port It doesnt just have to be about locking yourself away until help comes. Homeowners can protect themselves with a variety of James Bond-worthy gadgets. For example, there are foggersdevices that deploy a blindingly thick water vapor into a room. The gassy gadgets can not only fill up 3,000 square feet in seconds, but also lace the perpetrators skin with a DNA time stamp linking them to the crime. Even after theyve showered several times, authorities can use a special light to illuminate the DNA marking that comes with the fog, Corbi explains. It gets into the crevices of your skin and identifies when, where, and the exact property you were in, she says. Still want more anti-felon fun? You can add a high-powered strobe light to further disorient the unwanted guest. Or, if youre so inclined, you can just flex your Second Amendment rights from behind a door. Gaffco Ballistics offers force-resistant doors with built-in gun ports. Trap doors Whats that youre saying? You dont just want to keep yourself and your loved ones safeyou want to catch the bad guys, too? SAFE offers man traps, which, according to their catalog, are designed to isolate intruders in a strategic section of the property behind some automatically locking security doors. It can be locked down manually, or our control systems can be pre-programmed to lock down the man-trap area automatically in the event of a break-in or other threatening circumstance, Corbi says. And then you can spend some quality time with the hapless robber via speakers or video conferencing, while you wait for the cops. Fun! A home in Mexico City, completely outfitted with bullet proof glass, doors and high tech security by Gaffco Ballistics. A home in Mexico City completely outfitted with bulletproof glass, doors, and high-tech security by Gaffco Ballistics The cost of being insanely safe Costs vary widely depending on what you want. More conservative customers might outfit their windows with a reinforcing film that can delay or stop smash-and-grab attemptsand that could cost as little as a few hundred dollars for a few minutes. Or you can bulletproof the whole house. Check out the photo above. Thats a home in Mexico City fully outfitted with bulletproof walls and windows, a smart system, ballistic doors, multiple backup systems, and all the bells and whistles by Gaffco Ballistics. The cost? $1.5 million. Gaffneys NYC clients are interested in protecting themselves from a dirty bomb. This entails a biodefense unit that employs a pressurized and filtered air system that ties into the homes heating and cooling system. It keeps chemicals out and uses a computerized system to give you real-time info about the air quality outdoors. These systems are typically built in a basement area (Gaffney notes that clients like to outfit their downstairs theater with it) and cost at least $75,000. But what about a safe room like in the movie? SAFE offers NBCE complexesnuclear-, biological-, chemical-, and electromagnetic-proof areasoutfitted with their own air filtration, food and water storage capacity designed to keep people safe in the event of a long-term attack. So whos putting in safe rooms? As you might expect, the majority of Corbi and Gaffneys business comes from wealthy customers. Not only do they have more to protect, you just cant achieve this level of defense on the cheap. The materials themselves are very expensive, Gaffney says. The cost to outfit four walls, a ceiling, and a floor with ballistic material, a force-resistant entry door, air filtration system, and a basic access control panel with a key fob runs from $250,000 to $300,000. And if youre talking the whole bunker package, with supplies, communication lines, Wi-Fi access, biodefense, etc., youre looking at about $500,000. Are these people paranoid or prepared? All we know is that if the apocalypse does happen, the meek 99.99% wont inherit the Earth. But wed like an invitation to your safe room, please. The post Keep the Bad Guys Out! How to Build a Safe Room Thats Utterly Impenetrable appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com. Live! With Kelly has enlisted a political commentator to take on co-hosting duties after America has voted on who will be the next president. The daytime talk show announced on Wednesday that Fox News' Megyn Kelly will sit alongside Kelly Ripa on Nov. 9, the day after the presidential election. Kelly, 45, found herself at the center of the primary election after Republican presidential hopeful, Donald Trump, unleashed a series of verbal attacks against her after she moderated the first GOP debate in August 2015. WATCH: Anderson Cooper Out of the Running to be Live! With Kelly Co-Host, Staying With CNN Kelly questioned Trump about controversial remarks he publicly made about women in the past -- including his use of the terms "fat pigs," "dogs," "slobs" and "disgusting animals" in reference to female politicians and celebrities. After the debate, Trump told CNN that Kelly appeared to have it out for him, adding, "There was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever." ET sat down with Kelly in January, who didn't appear to have any hard feelings toward the aspiring politician. "Whatever you have to say about Trump you can't deny that he is a compelling television personality," she said. "Part of his appeal is he does speak directly to you. He doesn't use the prompter, there's no veneer, so you feel like you can really connect with him. So I'm not surprised that people respond to him so well." Story continues WATCH: Christian Slater Is Officially 'Putting His Hat in the Ring' to Permanently Co-Host Live! With Kelly She added, "I have no conflict and no bias against Donald Trump." In addition to Kelly, Live! announced that Jerry O'Connell will be the guest co-host on Monday's highly anticipated Halloween episode. Scott Wolf, Vince Vaughn and Christian Slater will also sit alongside Ripa, 46, next week. EXCLUSIVE: Megyn Kelly Dishes on Why She Cut Her Hair, and It Has Nothing to Do With Donald Trump Related Articles Kendall Jenner is headed back to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. A year after making her VS debut, the 20-year-old model has been booked to walk the runway for the brand's 2016 fashion show, a source close to the show tells ET. WATCH: Kendall Jenner Says She Loves Her 'T*ts Being Out,' Gigi Hadid Admits She Isn't Good at Runway Walking The fashion show, set to air Monday, Dec. 5 on CBS, will be held in Paris this year. Jenner's appearance will likely mark her first trip back to the City of Light since her sister, Kim Kardashian, was robbed at gunpoint earlier this month. Though Kendall was not with Kim at the time of the robbery, she was in Paris with her and sister Kourtney Kardashian for Fashion Week. The model appeared to cut her trip short following the traumatic ordeal, and returned home a day after Kim. Jenner will, however, be surrounded by friends during her return to Paris. Victoria's Secret confirmed that Bella Hadid will also be walking in the upcoming show, and her sister -- and Kendall's BFF -- Gigi Hadid has been booked for the gig as well. Gigi, 21, confirmed the news on Instagram Wednesday night, sharing, "There is no feeling in the world like walking down this runway. I'm elated to say I'll be returning to the @VictoriasSecret Fashion Show this year." RELATED: Bella Hadid to Walk in Victoria's Secret Fashion Show! Story continues Only ET was behind the scenes during the runway show's final auditions in Paris this year, where executive producer Monica Mitro said that security will be tighter than ever. "There is a lot of security because it's a high profile event," she said. "And we have the musical artists, we have the models, we have the audience. We always have very tight security." See more in the video below. Related Articles Kendall Jenner has a message for all the dancers out there who found her ballet-inspired photo shoot for Vogue Espana "disrespectful," "dangerous" and "cringe worthy." On Thursday, the 20-year-old model took to her app to address the recent controversy, explaining how the theme came to be. WATCH: North West Is the Most Chic Ballerina Ever "It's so funny that people are getting pregnant and married -- or having crazy drama -- but my drama is ballerinas being upset at me!" she shared. "With my Vogue Spain shoot, I didn't even know I was going to be a ballerina until I went into hair and makeup." The editorial feature was released last month and was accompanied with a video, which showed the reality star attempting to dance en pointe and sashay across the room. Classically trained dancers immediately called Jenner out for her lack of form, some seeing it as a mockery to the art. Spanish Vogue by @miguelreveriego A photo posted by Kendall (@kendalljenner) on Sep 19, 2016 at 4:15pm PDT Even Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller was appalled by the magazine's decision to use a non-dancer for the shoot, sharing her opinions on Instagram. "I cannot be a fan of this shoot. There are so many amazing dancers in the world Kendall Jenner is not one of them!" she wrote at the time. Still, Jenner doesn't seem to understand why the feature upset so many ballerinas. "It confuses me how people can get that upset when there are so many important things going on in the world," Jenner continued. "But, it's obviously not going to stop me from working hard and being me." WATCH: Kendall Jenner Has Seriously Angered Ballerinas With Her 'Vogue Espana' Dance Shoot -- Find Out Why! Now, Jenner seems to be sticking to the floor she's most comfortable on -- the runway! The brunette beauty will officially be walking in the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, this time with pal Gigi Hadid by her side, a source close to the show confirmed to ET on Wednesday. Story continues As we patiently wait to see what sexy get-ups Jenner will don during her second VSFS appearance, watch the video below to see all the pics from her Vogue Espana shoot. Related Articles Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya's government on Thursday announced a 60-day dusk to dawn curfew in the northeastern town of Mandera, hit by two deadly terrorist attacks in three weeks. Interior minister Joseph Nkaissery issued the order two days after Shabaab militants killed 12 people at a hotel in Mandera town on Tuesday. He said the curfew, from 6:30 pm to 6:30 am would begin on Thursday and remain in place until December 27. It would be enforced along a 20 kilometre (12 mile) buffer zone of towns and territory reaching to the Somalia border. This week's attack was the second in Mandera in less than three weeks, with both claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab group. The Shabaab has fought to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu since 2007, but turned its sights on Kenya when the army was sent into Somalia in 2011 to fight the Islamic insurgents. Since then the militants have targeted civilians in different parts of Kenya, including a dramatic assault on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall in 2013 in which at least 67 people were killed. Kevin Gates was found guilty to battery in Polk County, Florida, on Wednesday (Oct. 26) after he was seen kicking a female fan during a concert in the city of Lakeland last year.?? The judge sentenced Gates to 180 days in Polk County jail, with credit for any time served, and fines and court costs, WFLA reports. He was convicted by a jury of six women after one day of testimony.?? Miranda Dixon, 18, admitted to having tugged on Gates' pants during the concert at Rumor's Nite Club on Aug. 28, 2015. She said during the trail, "I was trying to get his attention for my friend." Dixon's friend Teremal Redding testified as well, saying she had asked Dixon to grab Gates to get his attention "because he is a famous rapper." She said that the entire front row had been grabbing at Gates and that the first time Dixon grabbed him, he kept performing, but the second time he got violent, kicking her with force.?? Gates' defense attorney Jose Baez cross-examined Redding about Dixon's injuries, pointing out that Redding had stayed for the rest of the show after her friend left following the incident.?? In a previous hearing, Gates admitted to kicking a fan during the show and used the Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law in attempt to have the charges dropped. "I kicked them, I wanted them off me,"??he said during the previous hearing.?? Rumor's Nightclub head of security Joe Hailey testified during the trial that Gates' security team had not made any special requests for additional security or any barricade between the stage and the crowd for the concert. He said there were about 20 security guards working that night and??that there was room for Gates to back up on stage if he did not want to be touched. Kathleen Kick Kennedy JFKs little sister died in a plane crash in 1948 at just 28 years old. But her grand-niece and namesake, Kick Kennedy, is keeping her memory alive. The 28-year-old actress, who visited the grave of her great aunt in July, posted a looping video of Kick 1 to her Instagram page Thursday. The epic throwback shows the late Kick mid-conversation, wearing a long-sleeve yellow top while holding her plaid jacket. Her hair pulled back in a clip and her silver necklace laid over her top, the video is a sweet reminder of a woman whos life was cut tragically short. Looking at the two Kicks side-by-side, its hard not to see the similarities between the two family members. The younger Kennedy didnt stop her TBTs there. Three days earlier, she posted video of her grandparents Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Shakel dancing on their honeymoon in Palm Beach. The original Kick Kennedy was president John F. Kennedys most rebellious sister as author Barbara Leaming explains in her biography Kick Kennedy. When Kick arrived in England in 1938, she quickly became an item with the future Duke of Devonshire, Billy Hartington a scandal, considering he was a Protestant and Kicks devout Catholic family, in particular her mother, Rose, vehemently opposed their romance. The only Kennedy sibling who supported Kick unequivocally in her decision to marry outside the Roman Catholic Church was her eldest brother, Joe Jr. And when Kick and Billy were married in a civil ceremony in 1944, young Joe was the only Kennedy in attendance. But Kicks newlywed bliss was short-lived. Just four months after the wedding, her husband was killed in action in World War II. RELATED VIDEO: Natalie Portman talks about becoming Jackie Kennedy Within two years, a devastated Kick began an affair with Earl Peter Wentworth Fitzwilliam a Protestant, married drinker and gambler who was even richer than Billy. When Peter promised to leave his wife and marry Kick, she told her parents, who were furious. Rose threatened to cut Kick off from the family not just from her parents, but from her siblings as well which left her in even greater turmoil. Story continues In 1948, Peter and Kick arranged to meet her father in Paris to appeal for his help. Two days before the planned meeting, the couple were killed in a plane crash. Their death came just four years after Kicks eldest brother, Joe Jr., was killed in a top-secret mission during World War II. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f25934%2fkimkardashianwest Father, stretch my hands so I can reach that box of tissues. In this uncertain world, Kimye's love remains strong. Kim Kardashian West looked on from the crowd as husband Kanye West played the birthday video he made to celebrate her birthday at his concert last night featuring home videos from her childhood stitched together. SEE ALSO: When Kim Kardashian returns to social media, it will be very different kanye played the video he made for kim's birthday here in front of everyone pic.twitter.com/0dCA6wzRGK isaaaaa (@isabelluna602) October 27, 2016 Kanye played the birthday video he made for Kim at Night 2 of The Saint Pablo Tour at The Forum in Inglewood, CA last night pic.twitter.com/QjbJjg6u0R Kardashian Pedia (@Kardashianpedia) October 27, 2016 The video is set to West's "Only One" featuring Paul McCartney and it's very cute. Kim also attended West's first of five shows at the Forum on Tuesday night, but stayed backstage. This time around, she sat in the crowd with mom Kris Jenner and presumably tons of security. Prior to the traumatic robbery in Paris, Kardashian West had planned to attend most of West's Saint Pablo gigs. However, she's been home in Los Angeles while she recovers and this is her most public outing yet. SAINT PABLO CHANGED MY LIFE pic.twitter.com/DfydJ0XWXE sk (@bringdaruck) October 27, 2016 Drake, Travis Scott and Liam Payne also attended the gig, but did not get heart-melting tributes from Yeezy. Bonus: Doug the Pug Recreates Kim Kardashian Selfies [October 27, 2016] Gerber to Showcase Digital Fashion Industry Innovations at Blender Conference 2016 TOLLAND, Conn., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gerber Technology, the world leader in integrated software and automated solutions for the apparel and industrial markets, announced that Rich Colburn, simulation engineer at Gerber Technology, will speak at the Blender Conference 2016 on October 28 in Amsterdam. Blender is a suite of free, open-source 3D content creation software created by a global network of professional and amateur users and supported by Blender Foundation, a Dutch non-profit organization. The software is also the rendering engine behind Gerber's AccuMark 3D technology. Colburn's talk, titled "Blender as a Garment Design Tool," will highlight the ways Blender can be utilized by the fashion industry. His presentation will provide an in-depth look at Gerber's latest innovations in 3D and the company's work with fashion designer Danit Peleg, who used AccuMark 3D powered by Blender to support visualization, animation and simulation in the creation of a five-piece line of 3D printed garments. Peleg recently partnered with Gerber to help the company develop and evolve its YuniquePLM and AccuMark line of products in their efforts to make it easy for anyone in the world to design, produce and sell great products and get from concept to market quickly and seamlessly. Colburn is a veteran Blender Conference presenter. Last year, he discussed how his work at Gerber was leveraging Blender to create virtual cloth, a ke to transforming the design process. His 2016 talk will take a deeper dive into the ways fashion designers can use technology such as Blender and AccuMark 3D to design, create and modify digital clothing. "One of the most amazing things about Blender is its versatility," Colburn says. "This software has uses in just about every industry imaginable. Gerber is using Blender to create tools that accelerate and improve the clothing development process for both traditional and 3D printed clothing. With 3D, designers can create and adjust virtual sample garments and use animated characters to model them, saving vast amounts of time and costly materials." For more information on Danit Peleg's 3D printed collection, please read her interview with Elizabeth King, vice president, digital solutions community and ecosystem at Gerber Technology. http://www.gerbertechnology.com/news/danit-peleg-on-her-latest-innovations-in-3d-printed-garments/ Other events on the schedule for Blender Conference 2016 include an animated film festival; workshops focused on using the software to create art and video games; French- and Italian-language roundtable discussions; panel discussions; and an "ask us anything" session with Blender's core development team. Held annually in Amsterdam, the three-day Blender Conference draws hundreds of visitors from a wide variety of industries, including fashion, automobile design, animation, sports, gaming and more. Speeches and presentations from the event are recorded and made available to the public on YouTube. For more information or to view a list of presentations, visit the Blender Conference 2016 website at https://www.blender.org/conference/2016/. About Gerber Technology Gerber Technology delivers industry-leading software and automation solutions that help apparel and industrial customers improve their manufacturing and design processes and more effectively manage and connect the supply chain, from product development and production to retail and the end customer. Gerber serves 78,000 customers in 130 countries, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies in apparel & accessories, home and leisure, transportation, packaging and sign & graphics. The company develops and manufactures its products from various locations in the United States and Canada and has additional manufacturing capabilities in China. Based in Connecticut in the USA, Gerber Technology is owned by AIP, a New York based, global private equity firm specializing in the technology sector and has more than $3.0 billion assets under management. Visit www.gerbertechnology.com for more information. Contact: Jamie Bibb Tel: +1 419 244 7766 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161027/433316 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gerber-to-showcase-digital-fashion-industry-innovations-at-blender-conference-2016-300352772.html SOURCE Gerber Technology [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] From Cosmopolitan Kim Kardashian has been spotted in public for the first time in weeks since her terrifying robbery in Paris, where a group of men made away with $10 million worth of jewelry. On Tuesday, Kim made a low-profile arrival to Kanye Wests "Saint Pablo" show at the Forum in Los Angeles, along with Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and mama Kris Jenner. Other celebrity guests included Halsey and Katy Perry, who shared several Instagram videos during the show. Photo credit: AKM-GSI Photo credit: Getty Photo credit: Getty Also at the show: a camera crew from Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which is currently filming for the shows 13th season. The show recently resumed production after being on hold indefinitely following Kims robbery. On Oct. 19, cameras were spotted tagging along with Kourtney and Kris as they celebrated Kourts new role as the global brand ambassador for Manuka Doctor. An E! spokesperson tells Just Jared that full production has resumed on the show. KUWTK recently wrapped filming for season 12. Unlike previous outings to Kanye concerts, Kim remained silent on social media Tuesday. Shes refrained from posting anything on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat since the robbery. Her website is currently being maintained by close family and friends. While no arrests have been made, Paris Police Chief Christian Sainte recently told Vanity Fair that he is working with the elite Paris crime unit La Brigade de Repression du Banditisme and is very confident in solving the case. Follow Peggy on Twitter. You Might Also Like London (AFP) - The only journalist successfully tried in the mammoth British police probe into alleged corrupt payments to public officials for stories had his conviction quashed Thursday. The Sun newspaper's crime reporter Anthony France had his conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal. Some 29 journalists were charged in the giant Operation Elveden probe, one of the biggest in British police history, triggered during public outrage over a phone-hacking scandal. Detectives conducted pre-dawn raids on several journalists' homes. But after a string of failed court trials, prosecutors abandoned the impending trials of other reporters. Of all the journalists charged, only one now has a conviction -- a reporter who pleaded guilty, appeared as a witness for the prosecution and was later given a suspended sentence. Three were found guilty by a jury, but all had their convictions overturned on appeal -- of which France, 42, was the last. France was sentenced to 18 months in jail, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of cultivating a "corrupt relationship" with a policeman between 2008 and 2011. But three judges accepted the appeal against his conviction for aiding and abetting a police officer to commit misconduct in public office. They said the jury had not been properly directed as to whether the information passed on was so trivial it could not have harmed the public interest. He will not face a retrial. "I am delighted that this serious miscarriage of justice has ended today, allowing me to rebuild my life after 1,379 days of sheer hell," France said afterwards. "Having spent more than three years and nine months fighting to clear my name, this is not a time for celebration. Nobody has 'won'." - 'Witch hunt' - Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, said Thursday: "There needs to be far wider protection for journalists reporting in the public interest. Story continues "Careers and lives were destroyed by the overlong and hugely expensive police investigation." Operation Elveden ran from June 2011 to February this year. It cost the police A14.7 million ($17.9 million, 16.4 million euros) and prosecutors spent a further A1.8 million. Detectives ploughed through more than 200,000 emails, 28,000 documents and seized in excess of 12,000 exhibits. Some 61 officers were on the case at one point. Charges were brought under the 13th-century offence of misconduct in public office. Paying for stories has long been common in the British media, and many of the journalists prosecuted said they had no idea they might have been committing a crime. Their defence teams relied on the argument that it was in the public interest to obtain and publish the information. Some of the journalists caught up in the sprawling investigation branded it a "witch hunt". In total, 90 people were arrested and 33 convicted, including nine police officers and 21 other public officials working in fields such as prisons and healthcare. Leading the 2016 Latin Grammy Awards nominations is producer and composer Julio Reyes Copello, who scored four nods, including record of the year for "Iguales" by Diego Torres and album of the year for Andres Cepeda's Mil Ciudades, Torres' Buena Vida and Fonseca's Conexion. The Colombian artist, no stranger to this type of recognition as one of the most nominated producers by the Latin Grammys in the last decade, welcomes the nods with the same excitement he did the first time he was recognized. Although this time around, it's safe to say the recognition is a bit more special since he's sharing the spotlight with fellow Colombian musicians Cepeda and Fonseca -- the first Colombian superstars he's ever worked with. Just weeks away from the 17th edition of the Latin Grammys, Billboard caught up with the coveted producer, who has worked with chart-topping artists including Jennifer Lopez and Alejandro Sanz and is the creative mind behind Marc Anthony's "Vivir mi vida" and Ricky Martin's "Disparo al corazon." With 21 Latin Grammy nominations under your belt, is the excitement still the same for you from when you were nominated the first time? I always feel very excited. First of all because it's a recognition for doing what I love the most. That's the most important and a blessing in itself. Second, I feel that the spirit behind the Latin Grammys is to set the stage for a healthy competition and it has a positive effect on all of us in this industry. It keeps you trying to create the best version of yourself as a human being, as a composer and in some way, it reminds you of the responsibility you have to do things well. Those are the two most important things about these awards. How do you decide if you want to collaborate with an artist on their musical project? Usually, the ask comes from the artist and if I'm interested, I become invested in that project 100%. This time around there's something very special about these nominations. It's the first time I was able to work with some of my paisanos, artists from my country Colombia like Andres Cepeda and Fonseca. I had never worked with artists from Colombia that are established in the industry like they are. So that was definitely an element that made me even more interested in wanting to work with their projects, because we share the same DNA, childhood stories and experiences that are very important to translate when you're creating music. Story continues As a producer, is making a "hit" a priority when working on a new project? The best business is the one where you can actually leave the "business mentality" on the side. The best song is the one that is born spontaneously. Obviously, we know the rules to this game but I try to avoid that the reason why we're making music is because we want to make a hit. If that mentality has some sort of influence on the music, the creation loses emotion and spontaneity. If it happens on it's own, then the magic of the song is even greater. If making a "hit" is not the mentality, how do you make a song resonate with an audience? I believe in intuition of an artist. We have VIP access to a place where ideas are born. The creative process that in my opinion takes to conquer an audience is always associated with a motivation to make something different, new and surprise. To be innovative and bring the unpredictable in music. When I produce or write, I'm in always in the mindset of trying to renovate and not to repeat stuff we've heard before. We can't imitate, we should be trend setters. In an ever-changing industry, what are you looking forward to in Latin music? I try not to get scared by all the changes that I've seen in the industry, instead I feel very curious and excited. When music streaming services like Spotify came around everyone was scared, but for me, a platform like that seems incredible and a transparent where you can actually see in numbers how many times a song has been heard. Although, there are still a ot of things we need to work on. For example, giving songwriters the credit and justice they deserve. I feel that's something we need to work on. We have to remember that without songwriters there aren't songs and without songs there aren't artists. The songwriter has to be super appreciated so there can be art. In times of political turmoil, not only in the U.S. but also in Latin American countries, many artists you've worked with have turned to music to fight a cause or join a movement. In your opinion, how much responsibility does an artist or music have in issues like these? Music does have the responsibility to alleviate the weight of reality. From my point of view, as creators of music that is our job. To reduce aggressiveness and to put things in perspective. Music has the ability to do that, and that's when I get involved. Our responsibility is to give a more positive perspective to reality and in some way create empathy. I respect any political associationbut when it comes to issues that affect your spirit, the best way to react is to provide help the best way one can. There is no clearer example and message of tolerance than the one you find in music. [October 27, 2016] High Caliber Speakers Connect to Protect at RSA Conference 2016 Abu Dhabi RSA (News - Alert) Conference, the world's leading information security conference and exposition, has announced that it will host a group of diverse cyber security experts and influential speakers in Abu Dhabi. This year's keynote speakers will share crucial insights and in-depth knowledge on a variety of sector critical topics including enterprise malware, changing security perspectives, and the future of the threat landscape. RSA Conference 2016 Abu Dhabi takes place from November 15-16, 2016 at Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Exciting additions to the keynote speaker lineup for this year include former two-time Formula One World Champion, Mika Hakkinen and motor racing corporate titan turned motivational speaker, Mark Gallagher. Both are set to close out the conference with "Risk Management in F1 - Team Work & Technology at 350kph", which takes a look at what is required in order to succeed in the high speed, technology driven sport. Additional keynote presentations from industry leaders include: Amit Yoran, President, RSA, will talk about, "Changing Perspective" that explores what organizations need to change in an evolving digital landscape. that explores what organizations need to change in an evolving digital landscape. Matt Alderman, Vice President, Global Strategy, Tenable Network Security will present a session on "The Journey Ahead: Defining a new Security Roadmap ", which will cover the need for organizations to relook at IT security strategies to ensure maximum security. ", which will cover the need for organizations to relook at IT security strategies to ensure maximum security. Jason Kent, Vice President, Web Application Security (News - Alert), Qualys, will speak on " Security in the App Era: Building Strength for an Interconnected World" that aims to equip enterprise leaders to fly safely in today's interconnected world. that aims to equip enterprise leaders to fly safely in today's interconnected world. Sahir Hidayatullah, Chief Executive Officer, Smokescreen (News - Alert) Technologies, will deliver a session titled " Wolves amongst Sheep--Defeating Targeted Attacks with Deception". This talk will deconstruct recent attacks from a hacker's perspective and show how companies can use deception technologyto detect stealthy attacks. This talk will deconstruct recent attacks from a hacker's perspective and show how companies can use deception technologyto detect stealthy attacks. Scott Manson, Cyber Security Leader for Middle East and Turkey, Cisco (News - Alert), will delve into " Cybersecurity in the Digital Economy" detailing business benefits afforded by digitization, a secure network infrastructure and a threat-centric security model detailing business benefits afforded by digitization, a secure network infrastructure and a threat-centric security model Scott Rea, Senior Vice President - Public Key Infrastructure, DarkMatter LLC will cover "Keys to the IoT Security Castle" that explores the use of certificates for the implementation of security services for the Internet of Things. To register, please visit: https://www.rsaconference.com/events/ad16/register To view the full speaker list, please visit: https://www.rsaconference.com/events/ad16/speakers Media can register for a complimentary RSA Conference 2016 Abu Dhabi press pass by visiting: https://www.rsaconference.com/events/ad16/media About RSA Conference RSA Conference is the premier series of global events where the world talks security and leadership gathers, advances and emerges. Whether attending in the U.S., the EMEA region, or the Asia-Pacific region, RSA Conference events are where the security industry converges to discuss current and future concerns and get access to the people, content and ideas that help enable individuals and companies to win, grow and do their best. It is the ultimate marketplace for the latest technologies and hands-on educational opportunities that help industry professionals discover how to make their companies more secure while showcasing the most enterprising, influential and thought-provoking thinkers and leaders in security today. For information on events, online programming and the most up-to-date news pertaining to the information security industry visit www.rsaconference.com RSA is either a registered trademark or trademark of EMC (News - Alert) Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other products and/or services referenced are trademarks of their respective companies. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027006658/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A woman who works as a corporate lawyer with an Alaska energy company has accused U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of groping her in 1999, a charge he called "preposterous" and untrue. The woman, Moira Smith, said Thomas grabbed and squeezed her buttocks several times during a dinner party when she was 23 years old in the Falls Church, Virginia home of her boss at the time, the National Law Journal reported on Thursday. Thomas, 68, joined the high court in 1991 after contentious Senate confirmation hearings involving sexual harassment allegations against him made by another female lawyer, Anita Hill. Smith, currently vice president and general counsel at Enstar Natural Gas Co in Alaska, released a statement in which she said Thomas "touched me inappropriately and without my consent." Laura Fink, a political consultant in San Diego acting as Smith's spokeswoman, said the National Law Journal's account of the allegations was accurate. Thomas, in a statement to the National Law Journal, said, "The claim is preposterous and it never happened." A Supreme Court spokesman declined to comment on Thomas' behalf. Reuters was not able to independently verify Smith's accusations. The National Law Journal reported that Smith's allegations came to light when she posted an account of the incident on Facebook on Oct. 7 after news broke about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's explicit comments recorded in 2005 about groping women. Several women have since accused Trump of groping and kissing them without their consent. He has denied the claims. Smith was working at the time of the alleged incident for the Truman Foundation, which provides scholarships to people who hope to pursue public service careers. "As the mother of a young daughter and son, I am coming forward to show that it is important to stand up for yourself and tell the truth. When powerful men commit sexual assault, they count on their victims keeping it a secret," Smith said in her statement. Story continues The National Law Journal said three of Smith's housemates at the time of the incident recalled her describing Thomas' actions on the night of or the morning after the alleged incident. Beth Frerking, the National Law Journal's editor-in-chief, said the publication stood by the story. This week marked Thomas' 25th anniversary on the high court after being selected by Republican President George H.W. Bush. Hill accused Thomas of sexually harassing her when he worked at the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Thomas, the court's second black justice, denied the allegations and called the Senate hearings "a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks." The Senate confirmed him on a 52-48 vote. Since then, Thomas emerged as a unique figure on the court, rarely speaking during oral arguments and plotting his own conservative course on the law. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, Reminis eight-episode docuseries about the Church of Scientology, has been given a premiere date by A&E: Nov. 29 at 10 p.m. In the series, Remini meets and interviews former Church members, who all allege abuse and harassment by the Church. A team of former high-ranking Scientology officials helps Remini delve into these stories. For too long, this multi-billion-dollar organization bullied victims and journalists to prevent the truth being told, Remini said. It is my hope that we shed light on information that makes the world aware of what is really going on and encourages others to speak up so the abuses can be ended forever. I hope that people who have left now feel they have a safe place to go. I hope others who have also experienced abuses will come forward and help us to do something about it. Remini left the Church in 2013, after being a member for 30 years. Her departure came a few years after producer Paul Haggis high-profile split with the Church and just months after the publication of Lawrence Wrights Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, which served as the basis for Haggis HBO documentary of the same name. Remini came out with a memoir, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology in 2015. Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath is produced for A&E Network by the Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC). Executive producers for IPC are Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman. Leah Remini serves as executive producer for her No Seriously Productions. Alex Weresow serves as showrunner and executive producer. Remini is represented by APA, which packaged the project, art2perform and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof Fishman. Related stories Charlie Sheen, Leah Remini, Naya Rivera to Star in Crackle Film 'Mad Families' Ellen DeGeneres Lands Greenlight for 'Little Funny' Reality Series at A&E (EXCLUSIVE) JonBenet Ramsey Documentary, 'The Truth Uncovered,' Coming to A&E While most luxury options for long-haul flying involve huge airplanes with such amenities as private suites and in-flight showers, British Airways uses a tiny aircraft to offer a little-known option between New York and London (but, alas, not L.A.) that's close to a private-jet experience. Known as Club World London City, the business-class service offers four flights daily on Airbus A318 jets configured with only 32 seats - each of which converts into a 6-foot-long fully flat bed (BritishAirways.com). Round-trip fares in October range from $7,800 to $13,000, with perks not found as part of first-class offerings elsewhere. At JFK, travelers can get a complimentary massage at the Elemis spa, grab a craft beer at the open bar or eat a gourmet meal in the Terraces lounge to maximize sleep time in the air. Passengers are given iPads preloaded with movies, shows and games, and onboard Wi-Fi allows for texts and "light" email (phone conversations, thankfully, are prohibited). Across the pond, the A318 lands at London City Airport, closer to the city's financial center than Gatwick and Heathrow. Customers can take a complimentary car to grab a shower or work out at the spa at a nearby luxury hotel. Still, the biggest perk is time saved. With dedicated check-in desks on both ends and fast-track security, travelers can show up 45 minutes before departure at JFK and 20 minutes before in London. The eastbound flights are nonstop; on the return, flights take a refueling break in Shannon, Ireland, where passengers can clear U.S. customs - arriving at JFK as if on a domestic flight. This story first appeared in the Nov. 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Read more: A Cool, Stylish Guide to London From Jimmy Choo's Creative Director "This is it, so give us everything you have," Taylor Rice of Local Natives told the dense crowd crammed into Terminal 5 in New York City's Hell's Kitchen. The statement, though fitting for the end of any performance, held special significance here as last night (Oct. 26) marked the end of the North American leg of the band's Sunlight Youth tour. For the past six weeks, Local Natives have hit the road in support of their third album Sunlight Youth, which arrived in early September. The setlist for each of their back-to-back New York City shows leaned heavy on new material, though also sprinkled in fan favorites from both Gorilla Manor ("Airplanes," "Who Knows Who Cares") and Hummingbird ("You & I," "Ceilings") as well as dusted off lesser-known tracks such as "Camera Talk" (off Gorilla Manor). "Memory tells me that these times are worth working for," Rice, Kelcey Ayer and Ryan Hahn harmonized on the song's chorus. The statement proves true for these indie rockers, as their pair of performances -- which arguably subtracted "indie" from the equation and ran much more like a vigorous and vibrant rock show -- showcased just how far their hard work has taken them. Ayer told the audience that being back in New York was nostalgic for the band, as in 2009 (when their debut Gorilla Manor arrived) they performed their first ever show in the city for less than 50 people at Piano's in the city's Lower East Side neighborhood. Meanwhile, Terminal 5 has a capacity of 3,000. Both of the band's shows ran fairly similar to one another; Local Natives seem to have carefully calculated their every move: Rice jumped into the crowd during "Villainy" and once more during set closer "Sun Hands"; prior to "Jellyfish" he spoke of a "magic desert land" (Joshua Tree) in which they wrote the track; and he and Ayer acted as interchangeable frontmen throughout -- with the most notable swap taking place during the affecting "Columbia." Story continues "Columbia" saw Ayer take center stage while Rice stood by his side supporting on vocals and keys. Bathed in two separate beams of white light, they started the song slowly, allowing the beautifully heart-aching lyrics to be fully felt. "Am I giving enough Am I loving enough," the song questioned. The rest of the band soon returned to the stage, slowly adding more layers to the otherwise stripped-down track. By its end, the song had fully transformed. The previously unheard up-tempo urgency illustrated the current incarnation of Local Natives, a band brimming with enthusiasm. They colored the venue with their unwavering optimism and the picture they painted showed how far they have come since they first emerged more than seven years ago. Now, they appear comfortable, confident, and above all else cheerful -- a mood that surely played a role in choosing to cover David Bowie's "Let's Dance," which featured tour opener Charlotte Day Wilson on horn, on the second night. From beginning to end of each performance, Local Natives' energy was palpable. Their fervor was fleshed out with thick instrumental breaks that could be felt internally and a fiercely flickering light show that accompanied their most surging song "Breakers." In all, their performances perfectly proved much of what they have been saying time and time again in relation to Sunlight Youth: Amidst so much negativity and cynicism, hope and optimism can prevail. Prior to diving into their recent hit and politically geared track, "Fountain of Youth," Rice addressed the importance of voting and how it's essential to be informed and take action. "We have a much better idea of where the world needs to go," Rice said, speaking of today's youth. "This is our world." (Adds remarks from Labour finance spokesman) By Huw Jones and William James LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Failing to maintain access for banks to the European Union market after Brexit would be an act of "economic sabotage" that would ripple across Britain, London Mayor Sadiq Khan will say on Thursday. Banks in Britain have said they are preparing to move staff and activities to mainland Europe as soon as next year unless access to the bloc's single market is maintained. Khan, a member of the centre-left opposition Labour Party, is due to make the remarks in a speech at a dinner in the City of London financial district. He will also say that mishandling Brexit might have the biggest impact on financial services since "Big Bang" deregulation 30 years ago. That event helped to propel London to the top of the global financial centre league tables, a ranking that will be hard to keep without EU market access, bankers have said. "If the proper agreements aren't negotiated, there will be serious knock-on impacts with jobs and billions of revenues lost - something that would hit the entire country, not just London," Khan will say. "It's frustrating, to say the least, that much of what we are saying seems to be falling on deaf ears." While Khan's remit as mayor does not include responsibility for setting financial policy in London, he is the capital's most high-profile advocate and one of the Labour Party's most influential figures. But Khan's position jars with that of John McDonnell, Labour's most senior finance spokesman, underlining the rifts within Labour which critics say are watering down the party's influence on the Brexit process. BANKERS' BREXIT In a separate speech on Thursday, McDonnell accused the ruling Conservative party of looking to cut a special deal for Britain's financial sector. "Tory (Conservative) cabinet members are looking to cook up special deals for their friends in the City of London," he said. "They want a 'Bankers' Brexit', in the interests of an elite few, not the majority." Story continues McDonnell, who was last month criticised by business groups for setting out a left-wing economic agenda, said that while he wanted to defend banks' access to the EU single market, in return they had to "show clearly that they are delivering for this country". Khan will call for the government to aim for a "unique" deal with the EU that would avoid denting financial services, the economy's single biggest sector. "If we fail to get a good Brexit deal, businesses are more likely to move to New York, Singapore and Hong Kong than to other cities in Europe," Khan will say. A tenth of workers in the City are from other EU countries. Banks in London have an "EU passport" allowing them to operate freely across the bloc, but bankers expect that after Brexit, any access to the European market will be on less favourable terms than now. (Editing by Andrew Roche) Whenever I travel I always want to explore beyond the typical tourist attractions and find the core of a place, it's heart. While so many towns and cities have cracked down on allowing free libraries , Bisbee is obviously NOT following suit, and thank goodness. It speaks of a living town, a community, a place that cares about sharing and has a lot of art and spirit. You can tell when a town really supports art when it's everywhere from murals, street art and graffiti. On a side street we found some graffiti that screamed colour and life and a place for locals to express themselves. What really spoke of Bisbee's humanity was the table behind this doorway. It awarded a $325m-contract for the construction of a new platform. The Land Transport Authority of Singapore has chosen Lum Chang Building Contractors to build a new platform at Tanah Merah Station. With an additional platform, there will be one pair of dedicated tracks for East-West Line and Changi Airport Line, allowing trains of the Changi Airport Line to arrive and depart at Tanah Merah station at shorter intervals as compared to today. "Shorter waiting times, greater access to Expo and Changi Airport and more comfortable journeys," LTA noted. Along with the construction of a new platform, the $325 million contract will also extend the existing East-West Line MRT tracks to connect to the new four-in-one East Coast Integrated Depot at Changi. "This four-in-one depot will house trains from the East-West, Downtown and Thomson-East Coast Lines, as well as buses," LTA stated. Construction works for the additional platform are slated to commence by the end of 2016 and is targeted to complete in 2024. Photo from: http://www.exploresg.com/mrt/pedia/station/tanah-merah/ More From Singapore Business Review Holy Hands Puppet and Drama Team to perform MATTOON -- The Mattoon Christian Church will host the Holy Hands Puppet and Drama Team at 6 p.m. Sunday. The ministry will perform "The Faith and Fun Circus." All are invited to enjoy the music, humor and message. Mattoon Central Community Church to host festival MATTOON -- The Mattoon Central Community Church, located at 200 Lafayette Ave. East, will be hosting a Fall Fun Festival on Sunday from 6-7 p.m. Games and snacks will be featured. Costumes are welcome, but not mandatory. Church of the Nazarene Revival planned MATTOON -- The East Side Church of the Nazarene will be holding revival services Friday through Sunday with Nazarene evangelist and author Chic Shaver. Friday and Saturday services are at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. He will also be teaching a seminar called Witnessing Without Fear from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, and speaking at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday on the subject of Gods presence through illness as he shares about his sons bout with cancer. The community is invited to any or all of these opportunities for spiritual renewal and/or reconnection at 2129 S. Ninth in Mattoon. More information is available at esnmatt.com, or on the church Facebook page. For transportation needs on Sunday mornings, call the church at 217-258-6519. Smyser Christian Church announces upcoming events SULLIVAN -- The Smyser Christian Church will be hosting a Trunk or Treat from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday at the Sullivan American Legion. The event is sponsored by the the childrens ministry team at the church. Organizers say there will be dozens of decorated vehicle trunks and members of their church will be handing out candy. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be served, and pony rides will be available. Each child will receive a photo of themselves. There is no cost for this event. Also, the church will be offering a Thanksgiving dinner for anyone in the Windsor/Sullivan/Mattoon and surrounding communities who wants to enjoy a free traditional Thanksgiving meal in the company of others. SCC recognizes that the holiday time can be a lonely time for many, and they invite everyone to join them as they celebrate all the reasons there are to be thankful on Nov. 20, from 4-6 p.m. at Windsor High School, 1424 Minnesota Ave., in Windsor. For more information, call 217-752-6896. Rony Abovitz Mysterious startup Magic Leap, valued at $4.5 billion, is starting to manufacture its still unannounced product, potentially for a launch next year. Magic Leap is one of the most mysterious and hyped startups in technology. It has raised $1.39 billion from investors including Google, Alibaba, KPCB, and Andreeseen Horowitz. Google CEO Sundar Pichai sits on its board. The company may attend the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2017, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a reputation for being tapped into the Asian consumer electronics supply chain. "Although I can't comment on a 2017 launch, I can say we will not be revealing the product at CES in January of next year," Magic Leap spokesman Andy Fouche told Business Insider. Magic Leap's product is a pair of glasses that uses cutting-edge optics to superimpose computer graphics into the real world. Essentially, a tiny projector or laser beams light into the users' eyes in a way that computer graphics are indistinguishable from real life. The prototypes currently circulating around Dania Beach, Florida, where the company is headquartered, have a smartphone-sized battery pack with computer components attached to the glasses by a wire, according to sources familiar with Magic Leap's prototypes. Kuo calls Magic Leap's technology "dynamic digitized light-field signal." A good occasion If Magic Leap attends CES, it would make sense as an occasion to reveal its product publicly for the first time. If Magic Leap does not have a "highly finished prototype to showcase at the next CES," Kuo thinks it won't go into mass production next year, according to a note sent to investors seen by Business Insider. "We attend CES every year," Fouche said. "So that won't be anything new. But as you know, presenting vs. attending are two very different things." magic leap patent Magic Leap has deals with suppliers in the United States and Asia, says Kuo, which are key steps to making the device a reality. He picks up on a Chinese language report in TechNews that says that Magic Leap has placed "million-unit orders" to a supplier. Story continues "Our industry survey indicates that MagicLeaps software and form factor design have significantly improved in the past months, and the company may attend 2017 CES," Kuo writes. "We have recently learned that Himax, Corning, TSMC, Sinbon & CCP Contact Probe are among Magic Leaps suppliers." One big unknown about Magic Leap's product is its price. Kuo highlights the high cost of some of Magic Leap's components, such as a micro projector from Himax that costs about $35 to $45 per unit. Magic Leap also requires "high-speed transmission of AR and MR video" that would mean the company would have to pay $10-$20 for a high-frequency connector from CCP Contact Probe, which is over 10 times more expensive than a general connector. In testimony from August included as part of a recent lawsuit, Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz wrote that "Magic Leap is completing its manufacturing plant for its anticipated products." Fouche says Magic Leap's manufacturing plant is the company's new offices in Plantation, a former Motorola facility, which were announced in October 2015. "We just achieved a number of major product dev milestones; things are full on exciting at Magic Leap," Abovitz tweeted earlier this week. "Heavy work still ahead of us - but the summit is in sight :-)" Have you demoed Magic Leap or know something about the company? Email the author at kleswing@businessinsider.com. NOW WATCH: Why your iPhone alarm snooze is automatically set to 9 minutes More From Business Insider By Praveen Menon KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minster Najib Razak heads to China next week to build closer ties and seek investment, which may further dent U.S. aims in Southeast Asia after a push by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines to bolster China ties. Najib is traveling to China with dozens of government leaders and business people. In statement on Wednesday, he said Malaysia was committed to strengthening friendship with China and pushing ties to "new highs". "We will be signing many new agreements and understandings that will elevate the relationship between our two nations to even greater heights," the prime minister said. The Oct. 31-Nov. 6 visit comes days after Duterte's Beijing trip, where he declared a "separation" with old ally the United States and said he had "realigned" with China. Both Malaysia and the Philippines are in dispute with China over rival claims in the South China Sea but Duterte has softened the Philippine position in his push to build China ties and China could ease the dispute with Malaysia by offering economic benefits, an analyst said. "If it wields its check-book diplomacy shrewdly, it may either tie Malaysias hand on its dispute over the South China Sea, or even split ASEAN further on the South China Sea," said Yang Razali Kassim, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), of Nanyang Technology University in Singapore. The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which both the Philippines and Malaysia belong to, has struggled in recent years to present a united front to China on the South China Sea. Vietnam and Brunei are also ASEAN members and also have South China Sea claims. "There are implications should Najib move to get deeper into Beijing's embrace," said Yang Razali. Najib is eyeing more Chinese investment in infrastructure and manufacturing. Defense deals may also be discussed. China's increased assertiveness in the South China Sea has heightened U.S.-China tension, with the two trading accusations of militarizing the waterway through which some $5 trillion in trade passes each year. Last week, a U.S. navy ship undertook the fourth of what the United States calls freedom-of-navigation operations in the past year, to challenge what it sees as overreaching maritime claims by China in the South China Sea. The United States has seen the Philippines as an important ally in its "rebalance" to Asia in the face of a rising China but Duterte's threats to cut U.S. ties while making overtures towards China has raised questions over the U.S. strategy. CHINESE INVESTMENT Ties between Malaysia and China reached a new peak in December when China came to Najib's rescue with a $2.3 billion deal to buy assets of scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), helping ease Najib's concern over the firm's mounting debt. China has since been pumping more funds into Malaysia. For the first three months of 2016, Chinese investment in Malaysia's manufacturing sector reached 1.5 billion ringgit ($356 million), making it the largest foreign investor in its manufacturing. Chinese firms have also secured major deals in Malaysia, including a $7.3 billion port deal in the city of Malacca last month. China is widely expected to win a contract to build a high speed railway. Malaysia's China push comes amid strained U.S. ties after the U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits linked to a money-laundering investigation at 1MDB, the advisory board of which Najib chaired until recently. Najib dismissed foreign interference in Malaysia's affairs and questioned why the United States publicized the issue. "The lawsuits were a strategic mistake by the U.S. ... China will look at this situation with glee," said a person familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak to the media. Ian Storey, senior fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute think-tank said there would not be a Duterte-style about-turn in Malaysia's foreign relations under Najib. But the 1MDB case "might temporarily nudge Malaysia closer to Beijing and introduce a bit of turbulence in its relations with Washington". (Editing by Robert Birsel) A man who cops say destroyed Donald Trumps star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was busted Thursday, a day after laying waste to the symbol of Tinseltown notoriety with a pickaxe and sledgehammer. James Otis, who had admitted to reporters that he was the man donning a city worker's uniform Wednesday as he tore up the star, was arrested without incident, according to TMZ. Read: Starstruck: Donald Trump's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Destroyed by Vandal Otis was reportedly planning to turn himself in, but not before holding a press conference on the Walk of Fame, where a new Trump star has already replaced the one he allegedly busted the day before. But cops, eager to avoid any further spectacle from Otis, arrested him at a friend's home before he could address reporters, the Los Angeles Times reported. He is likely to be charged with felony vandalism. Hours after the crime, Otis admitted to media outlets that he was responsible, saying he has no regrets, and he doesn't care if he goes to jail. Otis said he destroyed the star to draw attention to women who have been victimized by sexual assault, and to benefit the women accusing Donald Trump of sexual misconduct. The reason I did it was because of the amount of sexual assaults that not only my own family has experienced, but the many women that Donald Trump has done this to, Otis told TMZ in the video. The point of the exercise was to take the star and auction it off and take that money and distribute it to the women who have been sexually assaulted by Donald Trump. Ivanka Trump Addresses Clothing Line Boycott: I Was Trying to Empower Women Video of Otis hacking at the star with the pickaxe and sledgehammer was posted by Deadline. What appears to be the final act of vandalism on the billionaire's star comes after months of reports of less permanent acts of aggression against it. A swastika was spray-painted on the star at one point in the drawn out 2016 election. An artist also erected a wall around the star, which was meant to evoke Trump's proposed barrier between the U.S. and Mexico. Story continues Trump was given the star in 2007 for his work on The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice. Watch: Melania Trump Condemns Her Husband's Sexual Assault Accusers Related Articles: From Cosmopolitan A well-known Portland, Maine, artist was arrested Oct. 25 for blocking traffic while dressed as an evergreen tree, the Portland Press Herald reports. Asher Woodworth (yes, Woodworth) was released the same night after making $60 bail. Woodworth, 30, told the Bangor Daily News he was meditating one day and this very clear vision for this performance kinda came to [him] out of an empty mind" and that [he] just decided that this was something [he] needed to do. His vision also included walking very, very slowly across one of Portlands busiest intersections - he explained he is a tireless advocate of slowness and stillness and quiet and that he felt we could use a lot more of that right now. The tree part is almost irrelevant: Yeah, I was dressed as a tree, but that had nothing to do with why I was arrested. Police have arrested a man dressed as tree for blocking traffic on Congress Street...as God is my witness. pic.twitter.com/VUFQY6Vyv0 - TVTEDDY (@TVTEDDY) October 24, 2016 He reportedly tre(e)aded around the city for about an hour before police arrived. Nothing he did shocked officers, as Assistant Police Chief Vern Malloch told the Press Herald these types of artistic stunts happen around the city from time to time. People do bizarre things because they want to get arrested. Woodworth also reportedly carried a boombox with him and played a remix of JoJos classic he called Get Out (Leaf) while getting sappy about - ugh, OK, no, Im reaching. Disregard all that last part. The point is that this tree man has a cute mug shot. Goodbye. Follow Tess on Twitter. You Might Also Like CHARLESTON -- A woman accused of concealing a homicide in Clark County was sentenced to prison when she pleaded guilty to a Coles County forgery charge. Karla Acord Kelly admitted to a role in the use of another person's check for a purchase at a Charleston store on June 7 of last year. Kelly, 45, for whom court records list an address in Paris, was sentenced to three years in prison with the agreement reached in her Coles County case. She and a rural Marshall man, Eric A. Wycoff, 46, are jailed in Clark County for allegedly hiding the body of Dennis Bates, a resident of Tolono in Champaign County, found near Marshall on May 5. In Coles County, Kelly was one of two people accused of using forged checks for purchases at Wal-Mart and at Charleston's Rural King Supply store. The agreement in her case had her plead guilty to a single forgery charge with the other charge dismissed. The nearly $1,600 in restitution she was ordered to pay will go to both stores, however. The charge to which Kelly pleaded guilty could have resulted in a prison sentence of two to 10 years, though prison time wasn't required. The maximum possible sentence was twice the normal for the offense because of Kelly's criminal record, which includes three methamphetamine possession convictions in Edgar County over about the last two years. In the Coles County case, Circuit Judge Teresa Righter sentenced Kelly based on the terms of a plea agreement that Assistant State's Attorney Tom Bucher and Public Defender Anthony Ortega recommended. The forgery charges against the other suspect, Scott E. Kelly, were dismissed following his death in October. According to news reports, authorities have released little information about Bates' death or the evidence they say tie Karla Kelly and Wycoff to it. The two suspects were acquainted with Bates and there were police reports that Wycoff was seen with Bates' pickup truck in Marshall after the man's disappearance, according to the reports. Kelly and Wycoff are also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle in Clark County and both are scheduled for pretrial hearings next month. Los Angeles (AFP) - A man who admitted to defacing Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in protest at the Republican presidential candidate's treatment of women was arrested on Thursday, police said. James Otis had planned to hold a news conference in the early morning at the site of Trump's star and then surrender to police, but he was arrested beforehand. Otis, who had his misdeed filmed on Wednesday, said he initially wanted to remove the star and auction it in New York on Election Day. The proceeds, he said, would go to nearly a dozen women who have accused the 70-year-old Trump of sexual misconduct. Otis ended up taking a sledgehammer and pickaxe to the star but could not totally remove the slab, as the "stone was like marble," he told the news agency. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce quickly moved to repair the star, which was awarded to the billionaire businessman in 2007 for his work on his reality television show "The Apprentice." "When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California state landmark," chamber head Leron Gubler said. "Our democracy is based on respect for the law. People can make a difference by voting and not destroying public property." Gubler said the chamber planned to pursue the case against Otis, who was charged with one felony count of vandalism. Nearly a dozen women have accused Trump of groping, forcibly kissing or being sexually aggressive toward them in the past. He has denied the allegations and vowed to sue the women after the November 8 election. This is not the first time Trump's Walk of Fame star has been targeted. In July, a Los Angeles street artist built a tiny wall of wooden planks topped with barbed wire around it, in protest at Trump's campaign vow to build a wall on the Mexican border. Last year, excrement was left on the star and someone drew a large yellow X over it. A swastika was also drawn on the red tile earlier this year. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f25999%2fc25df67d832f43779ea19d27eab0c4c0 Sometimes, you just need a burger and some fries, Animal Style. A police chase in the Phoenix area took a strange turn Wednesday when a suspect on the run decided he needed some food and stopped at an In-N-Out drive-thru. The suspect, identified as Josh Adkins, had outstanding warrants out for his arrest and failed to pull over when stopped by the cops, police told local NBC News affiliate 12 News. Adkins was able to shortly evade police and casually ordered some food at the kiosk before driving up to the to-go window. The food must have taken a little too long, because it appears Adkins took off before the restaurant could deliver his meal. Police could not be seen while the Adkins was at the In-N-Out parking lot. Adkins continued driving for several minutes before he finally ditched his truck and proceeded to run into a backyard, where he eventually surrendered to police. According to 12 News, Adkins was arrested and booked for his outstanding warrant as well as unlawful flight from law enforcement. BONUS: Hungry burglar breaks into Five Guys NAIROBI (Reuters) - A knife-wielding man who police described as a criminal was shot dead outside the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi on Thursday after he attacked and injured a Kenyan police officer. The motive was not immediately clear, but no U.S. embassy personnel were involved in the incident. National police spokesman George Kinoti said an investigation had begun and said the man was killed by the police officer in self defense. "It was a lone criminal who attacked a police officer," Kinoti told Reuters. "He was armed with a knife" A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman confirmed there had been a "shooting incident" outside the mission, which is located in a heavily secured compound in the north of the capital. "No embassy personnel were involved," U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Fiona Evans said, without giving further details. Kenyan media said the police officer had been guarding one of the entrances to the embassy compound when he was assaulted. (Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Larry King) Nairobi (AFP) - A man was shot and killed by Kenyan police outside the US embassy in the capital Nairobi on Thursday, police said. "The man was shot dead after a confrontation with officers guarding the embassy," a police source told AFP on condition of anonymity, without specifying the cause of the confrontation. The police officer involved in the shooting was a member of the paramilitary General Services Unit deployed to guard the embassy. A photograph shared on social media showed the body of a man of apparently Somali origin lying on the pavement, a pool of blood staining the tarmac by his head and surrounded by police officers. The well-guarded US embassy in Nairobi is located opposite the main UN complex in Gigiri, an upmarket suburb in the city's north popular with expatriates. Nairobi (AFP) - A man was shot and killed by Kenyan police outside the US embassy in the capital Nairobi on Thursday after stabbing an officer with a knife. "The man was shot after stabbing a GSU officer in the hand and left him with injuries," said local police chief Vitalis Otieno. The police officer involved in the shooting was a member of the paramilitary General Services Unit (GSU) deployed to guard the embassy. He was said to be "in good condition" in hospital. Otieno said the dead man was a 24-year-old Kenyan from Wajir in the country's north-east close to the border with Somalia, but did not give a name. According to police the man had been walking towards the US embassy and was close to the public entrance to the visa section when he attempted to grab a gun from one of the officers. A scuffle ensued during which the man reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed one officer before being shot in the head by another. A photograph shared on social media showed the body of a man of apparently Somali ethnicity lying on the pavement, a pool of blood staining the tarmac by his head, and surrounded by police officers. Five US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officers were also present at the scene alongside around a dozen Kenyan officers. Soon after the incident the busy road was opened to traffic which drove slowly by the body still lying prone on the ground. A statement from the US embassy confirmed the "shooting incident", adding that "no embassy personnel were involved." The well-guarded US embassy in Nairobi is located opposite the main UN complex in Gigiri, an upmarket suburb in the city's north popular with expatriates. - Motives unknown - Additional UN security staff were deployed along the road, called UN Avenue, after the incident. The motive for the man's actions remains unknown with police saying "investigations are still ongoing". "We are investigating to know if there are other accomplices, and if he had been sent by anyone, so that we can get to apprehend them," Otieno told reporters at the scene. The US missions in both Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania were hit by near simultaneous car bombings in August 1998. The twin bombings, claimed by Al-Qaeda, killed a total of 224 people and injured some 5,000 -- almost all of them Kenyans and Tanzanians. Billboard is excited to bring you an exclusive video sneak peek at a new trio that's sure to be one of the acts to watch in 2017 -- Midland. Comprised of Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson, and Cameron Duddy, the trio -- signed to Big Machine, home to Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts -- has a definite George Strait '80s New Traditionalist feel to it, combined with the rich California harmonies that made The Eagles legendary. Hailing from Hays County (Dripping Springs), Texas, the band -- who takes their name from the Dwight Yoakam song "Fair To Midland" -- actually came together in a different state. Duddy was about to tie the knot in Jackson Hole, WY, and Wystrach and Carson rolled into town a week early. The guys began playing around musically on the front porch of Carson's cabin, and things stuck. "All of us playing together happened only because Mark and I both showed up in Jackson Hole a week before the wedding with time to kill," says Jess, originally from the Pacific Northwest. Wystrach said that something was definitely in the air that just seemed to feel right. "By the end, we knew the three of us had amazing chemistry," says Mark. After Duddy returned from his honeymoon, they paid a visit to the Sonic Ranch in El Paso, TX, to see if what they did live translated to the studio. "When we went to the Sonic Ranch, we became a band. We walked away believing in what had happened," says Wystrach. "All of our souls, our imaginations, were wrapped up in these 15 songs. We went all-in." "And then we all moved out to Texas," Duddy said, with a laugh as big and hearty as the Lone Star State itself. Newly signed with Scott Borchetta and Big Machine, Midland is set to take 2017 by storm. Their debut EP will hit Spotlify Friday (Oct. 28), and the lead single, "Drinkin' Problem," will be officially sent to radio after the rush of the Christmas holidays. Produced by the red-hot Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, the song has a simmering throwback feel to it that should garner them plenty of fans in a quick manner. "It's talking about something that's real, but it's told in a way that it can be tongue-in-cheek, depending on how the audience experiences it," says Wystrach. "Every good country song has that versatility," Duddy adds. "But the best are the ones you can listen to when you're angry, sad, happy or however you may be feeling." George Brady, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, was preparing to be honored by Czech President Milos Zeman at a state dinner this month when he got bad news: the president had changed his mind, and Brady would no longer be receiving the award for public service. The reason? Czech leaders seem desperate to curry favor with Beijing. Born Jewish in 1922 in what was then Czechoslovakia, Brady two decades later tried to escape Nazi occupation by living with Catholic relatives. But he and his sister, Hana, were eventually shipped to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where Hana was killed in a gas chamber. Brady survived and moved to Canada after the war, where he ran a plumbing company and launched global efforts for Holocaust remembrance. It was those remembrance projects that prompted Zemans office to invite him to return to Prague for the annual awards ceremony on Oct. 28. But according to Bradys nephew, Czech Culture Minister Daniel Herman, there was a condition. Zeman warned Herman that if he met with the Dalai Lama, his uncles award would be rescinded. Herman went ahead and met with the Dalai Lama anyway, and thats when Brady was informed he would no longer be welcome at the state dinner. The president directly told me that if I meet the Dalai Lama, my uncle will be taken out of the list [for awards], and that is what happened, Herman told Czech public television this week. The Czech Republic was once an outspoken ally of the Tibetan independence movement. But since Beijing has ramped up its diplomatic and economic engagement with Europe especially central and eastern Europe Pragues tune has changed. Thats frustrated Czechs who are sympathetic to Tibet and the Dalai Lama, and many of them protested Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to Prague this spring by destroying Chinese flags. On Saturday, Finance Minister Andrej Babis admitted that President Zeman asked Herman not to meet the Dalai Lama, and that Bradys award had been yanked away. But he claimed the two events are entirely unrelated. Story continues Mr President says it has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama, but he confirms that he had asked Mr. Herman not to meet Mr. Dalai Lama, Babis said, according to Czech news website www.idnes.cz. But he offered no other reason for cold-shouldering Brady, prompting fury from other elected officials, as well as Czech civil society groups. Brady is now being offered so many alternative awards that he said this week hes no longer sure hell be able to attend all of the ceremonies hes now invited to attend. Im ashamed of whats going on regarding the award for Mr. Brady, Prague Mayor Adriana Krnacova said in a statement. Thats why Ive decided to use the authority I have to give him the official Key to Prague as an expression of gratitude. Four government ministers have said they will not attend the annual ceremony at the presidents castle, and will gather to protest the decision instead. But it might be too little too late. Brady said he is no longer interested in the presidents award, and wouldnt show up even if he was invited back. Im no longer interested, he told Czech Radiozurnal. I have other plans. Im not available anymore. Photo credit: MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images Mel Gibsons yet-to-be released war movie Hacksaw Ridge added to its Oscars credentials by scooping the largest number of nominations for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards. The film, which releases in Australia on Nov 3 and in the U.S. on Nov. 4 earned a total of 13 nominations across performance and technical categories, and including best picture. The Daughter was its closest competitor with 10 nominations. The film, about an American conscientious objector and medic Desmond Doss caught up in the WWII battle lines in Okinawa, was predominantly filmed in New South Wales, Australia. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Sydney on Dec. 7. Related stories 'Arrival,' 'Hacksaw Ridge' Are Among Films in Camerimage Main Competition Mel Gibson on Andrew Garfield in 'Hacksaw Ridge': He Was a 'Real Superhero' Mel Gibson to Receive Hollywood Film Awards Directing Honor Mel Gibson Mel Gibson is taking the steps to get back in the good graces of the Hollywood community. Ten years after losing his star status in the movie industry following a leaked recording of him saying anti-Semitic remarks during a 2006 DUI arrest, his new directing effort "Hacksaw Ridge," starring Andrew Garfield, is generating Oscar talk and seems to be the beginning of a comeback. Leading up to the release of the movie on November 4, the Hollywood Film Awards announced they will give Gibson a director honor, and he recently received a standing ovation at a screening of "Ridge" in Beverly Hills. On Thursday, Variety's "Playback" podcast had an interview with Gibson in which he spoke candidly about the 2006 arrest and fallout from the recording. It was an unfortunate incident, Gibson said on the podcast. I was loaded and angry and arrested. I was recorded illegally by an unscrupulous police officer who was never prosecuted for that crime. And then it was made public by him for profit, and by members of well call it the press. So, not fair. I guess as who I am, Im not allowed to have a nervous breakdown, ever. Business Insider talked to a friend of Gibson, writer/director Shane Black, in the spring, and Black said he believes Gibson has "essentially been blacklisted in the industry." Gibson feels it's time for people to move on. Ten years have gone by, Gibson said on the Variety podcast. Im feeling good. Im sober, all of that kind of stuff, and for me its a dim thing in the past. But others bring it up, which kind of I find annoying, because I dont understand why after 10 years its any kind of issue. Surely if I was really what they say I was, some kind of hater, thered be evidence of actions somewhere. There never has been. Ive never discriminated against anyone or done anything that sort of supports that reputation, Gibson continued. And for one episode in the back of a police car on eight double tequilas to sort of dictate all the work, lifes work, and beliefs, and everything else that I have and maintain for my life is really unfair. Story continues Listen to the podcast here: NOW WATCH: The final trailer for the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts is here More From Business Insider Mel Haber, the owner of the Ingleside Inn and Melvyn's Restaurant in Palm Springs who spent four decades welcoming celebrities to his classy, old-school establishment, died Tuesday, one day after his 80th birthday. Haber died of lung cancer and complications from pneumonia, his publicists announced. Since Haber took over the place in 1975, his inn and its restaurant have attracted such luminaries as Lucille Ball, Dinah Shore, Cher, Bob Hope, Debbie Reynolds, Liberace, Liza Minnelli, Gerald Ford, Goldie Hawn, Shelby Lynne and Nas. Frank Sinatra and his fourth wife Barbara picked Melvyn's to host their wedding reception in 1976. The Spanish-style inn was built as a private estate in 1925 before being transformed into a 20-room luxury hotel in the '30s. Back then, Howard Hughes, Clark Gable, Salvador Dali, Norman Vincent Peale, Spencer Tracy, Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner were frequent guests. Haber - a Brooklyn native who had been in the business of manufacturing dashboard figures and other automotive accessories - purchased the inn, which had fallen into disrepair, for $300,000. He refurbished it for another $500,000, added the restaurant (named for the new owner) and opened it anew. It was an overnight success. The Desert Sun newspaper noted that on 60 Minutes in 1979, Morley Safer quoted Haber as saying that Palm Springs was the home of the "creme de la creme." That made the folks who dined at Melvyn's "the creme de la creme of the creme de la creme." Haber also was profiled in The London Times, The New York Times and on TV's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. "I am everything that's wrong for this business," he said in an interview in March. "I am not a foodie. I am not a wine connoisseur. I can't cook a hamburger, make a Bloody Mary or open a cash register drawer. And I'm not into quaint, charming hotels. However, this property happens to be unique by itself. There's a magic ambiance about it that I've come to appreciate." Story continues In 1979, Haber launched a popular Palm Springs disco called Cecil's. After selling it in 1994, he opened Touche, a dance and dining club in nearby Rancho Mirage. The irrepressible restaurateur documented his Hollywood encounters in a 1995 book, Bedtime Stories of the Legendary Ingleside Inn. In 2009, he followed with Palm Springs a la Carte: The Colorful World of the Caviar Crowd at Their Favorite Desert Hideaway, co-written with Marshall Terrill. Haber for years served as president of the Angel View Foundation, a charitable organization that aids children and adults with disabilities. A great ambassador for the city, he has a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars and was known as "Mr. Palm Springs" around town. Melvyn's maitre'd Brian Ellis told the Sun that the inn and restaurant is being sold to a group of investors that include California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Haber's survivors include his daughters Autumn and Shani and son Gary Haber. A memorial is planned for 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 3 at Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs, and then a procession will pass Melvyn's and the Ingleside Inn on the way to Desert Memorial Park. ( function() { var func = function() { var iframe_form = document.getElementById('wpcom-iframe-form-09359883717dedaffc6adc0a427a8061-58121149b6edc'); var iframe = document.getElementById('wpcom-iframe-09359883717dedaffc6adc0a427a8061-58121149b6edc'); if ( iframe_form && iframe ) { iframe_form.submit(); iframe.onload = function() { iframe.contentWindow.postMessage( { 'msg_type': 'poll_size', 'frame_id': 'wpcom-iframe-09359883717dedaffc6adc0a427a8061-58121149b6edc' }, window.location.protocol + '//wpcomwidgets.com' ); } } // Autosize iframe var funcSizeResponse = function( e ) { var origin = document.createElement( 'a' ); origin.href = e.origin; // Verify message origin if ( 'wpcomwidgets.com' !== origin.host ) return; // Verify message is in a format we expect if ( 'object' !== typeof e.data || undefined === e.data.msg_type ) return; switch ( e.data.msg_type ) { case 'poll_size:response': var iframe = document.getElementById( e.data._request.frame_id ); if ( iframe && '' === iframe.width ) iframe.width = '100%'; if ( iframe && '' === iframe.height ) iframe.height = parseInt( e.data.height ); return; default: return; } } if ( 'function' === typeof window.addEventListener ) { window.addEventListener( 'message', funcSizeResponse, false ); } else if ( 'function' === typeof window.attachEvent ) { window.attachEvent( 'onmessage', funcSizeResponse ); } } if (document.readyState === 'complete') { func.apply(); /* compat for infinite scroll */ } else if ( document.addEventListener ) { document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', func, false ); } else if ( document.attachEvent ) { document.attachEvent( 'onreadystatechange', func ); } } )(); Donald Trumps love for Twitter is no secret, but the GOP nominee has a secret weapon when it comes to the popular social media site: his wife, Melania. Story continues The couple sat down with Good Morning Americas George Stephanopoulos in a segment aired Thursday, and the 46-year-old former model revealed that she gives her husband advice about his tweets all the time which Trump said has proven to be pretty helpful. Its a modern-day form of communication, he told the host as they sat down in his new Washington D.C. hotel. Between Facebook and Twitter, I have 25 million people. Its a big asset. You have to use it right and can give me pretty good advice, believe me. The presidential hopeful has come under fire numerous times for controversial tweets throughout his campaign, and the 70-year-old business mogul said he believes in fighting back, noting that most of the people he has criticized on the social media site have deserved it. When people are against me, when they tell lies, you know, I have the power of this instrument. And, frankly, sometimes Ill use that, he said. And I agree. Sometimes it will revert back or sometimes maybe it doesnt come out you have to be careful with it. Still, Melania said she has seen the harmful effects of social media, and vowed to make a difference should she become First Lady. I would focus on helping children and women and also about social media, she told Stephanopoulos. In the 21st century, whats going on, its very hurtful to children to some adults as well but we need to take care of children. We need to teach them how to use it. What is right to say, what is not right to say, because it is very bad out there and children get hurt by social media, by whats going on and by negativity. The Slovenian native also opened up about their 10-year-old son, Barron, telling Stephanopoulos that she has explained Trumps controversial campaign to the boy. Hes taking very well. I keep him balanced and just have him (sic) a childhood as normal as possible, she said, noting that Barron often asks her about the polls. Of course, he misses his dad a lot these days. A former medical examiner who performed autopsies, Alberto Ordaz knows more about corpses than most directors. He is now bringing degrees in criminology and psychology and a genre auteur fanboy sensibility to bear in a budding filmmaking career. Most immediately, Ordaz is competing at Morelia with HHL, set in a dystopia whose authorities dope the masses with a drug extracted from the brains of the recently deceased. HHL is backed by Feroz Carmesi Films and Jaime Romandias Mexico City-based Mantarraya, Carlos Reygadas and Amat Escalantes producer. Ordaz is already preparing his next short, which he describes as a sci-fi, suspense thriller, a ghost story with a sexual identity twist. Hes also writing and seeking financing for two features, one turns on boy werewolf and his difficult coming of age, the other inspired by the true story of doctor Alfonso Quiroz Cuaron, Mexicos first forensic detective, Ordaz said. Titled The Strangler of Tacuba, the movie will explain how Cuaron was key in capturing Mexicos first recognized serial killer, Goyo Cardenas, Ordaz added. The young helmer professes his admiration for a long list of classics Alfred Hitchcock, Kubrick and more modern classics, including Alex de la Iglesia, David Cronenberg, Sono Sion and Park Chan-wook. Mexico is currently at the forefront of Latin Americas genre revival, producing movies which often yoke the fantastic, an auteur sensibility and a social consciousness. Mexican cinema is going through an amazing time, said Ordaz. It has a vanguard, which is refreshing, and new ideas, he added. Related stories Morelia: 'Wild Flowers' Director Pablo Perez Lombardini Sets 'El Kaiman' Morelia: Juan Manuel Zuniga Bows 'Number Eighty,' Develops 'Mongo' Cinepolis Supplies 4DX to 12 Additional Sites in U.S., India, Spain and Across Latin America Coles County Voters, Do you want to pay more in taxes? No? Generally, neither do I. However, the fact is we are in a pickle regarding how to pay for our school buildings. Fortunately, we can be extremely proud of the schools and grounds we have worked so hard to build. It is our responsibility now to maintain these facilities so they will continue to serve our communities for years to come. State funding has become unpredictable at best. So while we continue our fight for our share of Illinois tax money, we still are required to find a way locally to take care of our investment. The 1% sales tax seems the most equitable solution. All residents and other consumers, not just property owners, will share in the effort to look after our school buildings. This tax is not to be used for salaries, its purpose is to pay for the maintenance of the physical educational structures and grounds. So although I dont love the idea of paying an additional 1% sales tax, I do want Coles County to provide a safe and secure classrooms for our children. The price seems fair. Please vote YES on the upcoming referendum. By Christine Murray SANTA CRUZ ITUNDUJIA, Mexico, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Toddler Priscila Rubi Sanchez lived in a remote Mexican hamlet with no fixed line or cell phone network, so when a mouthful of corn partially blocked her throat late one night and her parents could not call for help, she died. Life is tough in Santa Cruz Itundujia in the mountains of Oaxaca state and it is made even harder here and in other isolated towns throughout Mexico's rugged interior by a lack of connectivity that complicates everything from education to getting help in medical emergencies. Tales abound among the municipality's more than 10,000 residents of daily obstacles thrown up by having no phones. The woman who had to walk miles to report that her husband had been shot; the car crash victims who wait hours for assistance, the women who give birth before reaching hospital. In these remote indigenous hills, President Enrique Pena Nieto's telecommunications reform, credited with slashing prices for many Mexicans and boosting competition against billionaire Carlos Slim's company America Movil, is coming up short. "In an emergency situation, whether it is because of accidents or if there is an emergency in the municipality, there is no way of communicating," said Eric Cruz, 37, the mayor of the town nestled in the Sierra Sur mountains, some six hours from Oaxaca's state capital. "As a result, the number of deaths goes up." Almost a third of Mexico's population is estimated to live with no mobile subscription, according to global wireless industry body GSMA, meaning Latin America's second largest economy has a lower percentage of cell phone users than countries like Argentina, Uruguay and even Nicaragua. In the future, tech giants like Facebook, Alphabet Inc. and Elon Musk's SpaceX's use of drones, balloons or satellites to connect remote corners of the world may benefit Mexico's isolated pueblos. But for now places like Santa Cruz Itundujia survive using a rudimentary radio network to reach far away communities, or makeshift and unstable solutions like cheap cell signal repeaters. Outlying hamlets are without even public phones to call the outside world. Story continues Mexico's reform has undoubtedly done some good, such as creating special licenses for small rural operators. But a flagship coverage project, a tender to build a 4G wholesale mobile network to be awarded later this year, has a minimum reach of just 85 percent, and recent budget cuts decimated a public Internet program. "I don't think Mexico has ever designed a universal access program seriously," said Judith Mariscal, director of the telecoms research program at Mexico's CIDE university. "The reform was betting on the wrong business model." Mexico has the most unequal access to cellphone coverage in Latin America, according to a recent World Bank report. The country does not publish official numbers on the percentage of its population living in areas with no, or limited, coverage. America Movil, which is Mexico's largest cell network provider, says its network covers almost 95 percent of the population. The government does not publish audits of those figures. LIFE UNCONNECTED It took 20-month-old Priscila Rubi Sanchez's parents more than two hours to reach Santa Cruz Itundujia's clinic from their hamlet Iturbide when she began to choke on her food one night in late September. She was still partially breathing when they arrived in the town at midnight but died some time after. Health official Rocio Aparicio Garcia, 36, said the clinic didn't have the equipment to remove the blockage, which had moved into the girl's lungs, and with no earlier warning had no way of calling for help from a larger town. "The girl would have been saved if we had more equipment here, and more communication," Garcia said. Cruz, the local mayor, said he and his predecessors have tried to convince Telefonica's Movistar and Slim's America Movil to cover the town, but that efforts always fell apart. So in 2014, the town spent about 380,000 pesos ($20,000) on a cellular repeater, which amplifies the nearest America Movil signal from 30 km away. Its use is potentially illegal and the signal is unreliable, but there are not many good options for towns in the area. Cruz said that, without coverage, more people die from health emergencies, and even daily administration of the town is harder. "The federal government is more focused on where industry is, where businesspeople are ... They should worry more about marginalized towns," Cruz said. A government program called 'Connected Mexico' provides satellite-based Internet in local schools, but several teachers said the signal is patchy and it takes minutes to load a simple web page. Other schools have no access at all for pupils. "We don't even have a computer for them to work on," said Mitzi Puerto Jose, 36, a primary school teacher in the town. After school, kids in town hang out at a small cafe, paying a few pesos for 15-minute bursts of Internet on their phones or on clunky old computers. As part of proposed budget cuts for 2017, Connected Mexico's funding was slashed by more than 80 percent. Mexico's economic and fiscal outlook mean more government help is unlikely any time soon. The wholesale network project is to be tendered this year but with no obligation to extend coverage beyond 85 percent of the population, the government accepts that some will be left behind. "There's always going to be a percentage that is hard to get to at the margin," Telecommunications Undersecretary Monica Aspe said in an interview. "It's something the market will tell us in the shared network tender, how far can coverage go." Some experts argue there are things the government and regulator should have done, and could still. "We should impose coverage obligations and subtract it from their payment for spectrum," said Adriana Labardini, a commissioner at the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), Mexico's telecom regulator. "What the finance ministry gets from spectrum ... never goes to subsidize telecommunications." SMALLER ALTERNATIVES On the other side of Oaxaca state, some small companies and non-profit groups are not waiting. In Santa Maria Yaviche, a town which sits above the clouds and is made up of zig-zagging red mud roads, non-profit group Rhizomatica has set up a community-run phone network. Rhizomatica helped get a social concession for the network, a new figure under the telecoms reform which permits the use of a small amount of spectrum for free. It rents an existing Wi-Fi network to bring signal from Oaxaca city, the state capital, into the mountains. Users pay 30 pesos a month for unlimited voice and messaging within the town. For long distance calling, including to the United States, they pay up to 1 peso per minute. But founder Peter Bloom said that getting to its 3,000 users has required a lot of effort over several years. The telecoms reform is meant to open up both infrastructure and fiber networks owned by America Movil and by state electricity firm CFE, but the details are still being ironed out. "There are some good ideas but its really not very clear whether those ideas, when they get put into action, if they're going to benefit places like Yaviche," Bloom said. Regulator IFT is overseeing the unbundling of America Movil's network, Labardini said. America Movil did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Labardini said Rhizomatica's success is proof that if pushed, the larger telecoms companies could work in poor, remote regions. "How can it not be profitable for those who already have scale?" she said. (Reporting by Christine Murray; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Kieran Murray) By Christine Murray SANTA CRUZ ITUNDUJIA, Mexico (Reuters) - Toddler Priscila Rubi Sanchez lived in a remote Mexican hamlet with no fixed line or cell phone network, so when a mouthful of corn partially blocked her throat late one night and her parents could not call for help, she died. Life is tough in Santa Cruz Itundujia in the mountains of Oaxaca state and it is made even harder here and in other isolated towns throughout Mexico's rugged interior by a lack of connectivity that complicates everything from education to getting help in medical emergencies. Tales abound among the municipality's more than 10,000 residents of daily obstacles thrown up by having no phones. The woman who had to walk miles to report that her husband had been shot; the car crash victims who wait hours for assistance, the women who give birth before reaching hospital. In these remote indigenous hills, President Enrique Pena Nieto's telecommunications reform, credited with slashing prices for many Mexicans and boosting competition against billionaire Carlos Slim's company America Movil, is coming up short. "In an emergency situation, whether it is because of accidents or if there is an emergency in the municipality, there is no way of communicating," said Eric Cruz, 37, the mayor of the town nestled in the Sierra Sur mountains, some six hours from Oaxaca's state capital. "As a result, the number of deaths goes up." Almost a third of Mexico's population is estimated to live with no mobile subscription, according to global wireless industry body GSMA, meaning Latin America's second largest economy has a lower percentage of cell phone users than countries like Argentina, Uruguay and even Nicaragua. In the future, tech giants like Facebook (FB.O), Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.O) and Elon Musk's SpaceX's use of drones, balloons or satellites to connect remote corners of the world may benefit Mexicos isolated pueblos. But for now places like Santa Cruz Itundujia survive using a rudimentary radio network to reach far away communities, or makeshift and unstable solutions like cheap cell signal repeaters. Outlying hamlets are without even public phones to call the outside world. Story continues Mexico's reform has undoubtedly done some good, such as creating special licenses for small rural operators. But a flagship coverage project, a tender to build a 4G wholesale mobile network to be awarded later this year, has a minimum reach of just 85 percent, and recent budget cuts decimated a public Internet program. "I don't think Mexico has ever designed a universal access program seriously," said Judith Mariscal, director of the telecoms research program at Mexico's CIDE university. "The reform was betting on the wrong business model." Mexico has the most unequal access to cellphone coverage in Latin America, according to a recent World Bank report. The country does not publish official numbers on the percentage of its population living in areas with no, or limited, coverage. America Movil, which is Mexico's largest cell network provider, says its network covers almost 95 percent of the population. The government does not publish audits of those figures. LIFE UNCONNECTED It took 20-month-old Priscila Rubi Sanchez's parents more than two hours to reach Santa Cruz Itundujia's clinic from their hamlet Iturbide when she began to choke on her food one night in late September. She was still partially breathing when they arrived in the town at midnight but died some time after. Health official Rocio Aparicio Garcia, 36, said the clinic didn't have the equipment to remove the blockage, which had moved into the girl's lungs, and with no earlier warning had no way of calling for help from a larger town. "The girl would have been saved if we had more equipment here, and more communication," Garcia said. Cruz, the local mayor, said he and his predecessors have tried to convince Telefonica's (TEF.MC) Movistar and Slim's America Movil to cover the town, but that efforts always fell apart. So in 2014, the town spent about 380,000 pesos ($20,000) on a cellular repeater, which amplifies the nearest America Movil signal from 30 km away. Its use is potentially illegal and the signal is unreliable, but there are not many good options for towns in the area. Cruz said that, without coverage, more people die from health emergencies, and even daily administration of the town is harder. "The federal government is more focused on where industry is, where businesspeople are ... They should worry more about marginalized towns," Cruz said. A government program called 'Connected Mexico' provides satellite-based Internet in local schools, but several teachers said the signal is patchy and it takes minutes to load a simple web page. Other schools have no access at all for pupils. "We don't even have a computer for them to work on," said Mitzi Puerto Jose, 36, a primary school teacher in the town. After school, kids in town hang out at a small cafe, paying a few pesos for 15-minute bursts of Internet on their phones or on clunky old computers. As part of proposed budget cuts for 2017, Connected Mexico's funding was slashed by more than 80 percent. Mexico's economic and fiscal outlook mean more government help is unlikely any time soon. The wholesale network project is to be tendered this year but with no obligation to extend coverage beyond 85 percent of the population, the government accepts that some will be left behind. "There's always going to be a percentage that is hard to get to at the margin," Telecommunications Undersecretary Monica Aspe said in an interview. "It's something the market will tell us in the shared network tender, how far can coverage go." Some experts argue there are things the government and regulator should have done, and could still. "We should impose coverage obligations and subtract it from their payment for spectrum," said Adriana Labardini, a commissioner at the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), Mexico's telecom regulator. "What the finance ministry gets from spectrum ... never goes to subsidize telecommunications." SMALLER ALTERNATIVES On the other side of Oaxaca state, some small companies and non-profit groups are not waiting. In Santa Maria Yaviche, a town which sits above the clouds and is made up of zig-zagging red mud roads, non-profit group Rhizomatica has set up a community-run phone network. Rhizomatica helped get a social concession for the network, a new figure under the telecoms reform which permits the use of a small amount of spectrum for free. It rents an existing Wi-Fi network to bring signal from Oaxaca city, the state capital, into the mountains. Users pay 30 pesos a month for unlimited voice and messaging within the town. For long distance calling, including to the United States, they pay up to 1 peso per minute. But founder Peter Bloom said that getting to its 3,000 users has required a lot of effort over several years. The telecoms reform is meant to open up both infrastructure and fiber networks owned by America Movil and by state electricity firm CFE, but the details are still being ironed out. "There are some good ideas but its really not very clear whether those ideas, when they get put into action, if they're going to benefit places like Yaviche," Bloom said. Regulator IFT is overseeing the unbundling of America Movil's network, Labardini said. America Movil did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Labardini said Rhizomatica's success is proof that if pushed, the larger telecoms companies could work in poor, remote regions. "How can it not be profitable for those who already have scale?" she said. (Reporting by Christine Murray; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Kieran Murray) When Michelle Obama takes to the campaign stage with Hillary Clinton on Thursday, the intended message will be that the two women are united in political sisterhood. What will probably be left unsaid is that the relationship hasnt always been this warm. As recently as last spring, Michelle was reportedly rooting for Joe Biden to run for president, according to Kate Andersen Brower in her book First Women: The Grace and Power of Americas Modern First Ladies. Brower believes the coolness reflectsthe fact that the current first lady took far longer than her husband to let go of the animosity of the 2008 Democratic primary race. Back then, Clinton mocked Barack Obamas campaign message of hope and change, while Michelle Obama publiclyquestioned whether she would vote for Clinton even if her husband were not in the race. Upon entering the White House, Barack Obama quickly came to rely on Clinton as one of his closest advisers, but Michelle did not warm to her as much. She would not be the first candidates spouse to carry resentment far longer than the actual candidate. Nancy Reagan famously never forgave those who did not support her husband. More recently, Jane Sanders was reportedly one of the last holdouts against Bernie Sanders suspending his 2016 campaign. There is an unofficial club of first ladies, however, and sometimes real friendships are formed. Michelle Obama is particularly close to Laura Bush, her immediate predecessor, for instance. Brower believes that is because, political parties aside, the last two first ladies are more similar to each other than they are to the one who came before them both. From left, first lady Michelle Obama and her predecessors, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush and Rosalynn Carter, at the dedication ceremony for the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. (Photo: Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images) Story continues Personally Laura Bush and Michelle Obama are two women who are not superpolitical, who took on pretty traditional roles in the White House, she says, while Hillary Clinton taking responsibility for health care reform as first lady and serving as senator and secretary of state afterward was of a different mold. Laura and Michelle have done a lot of first lady initiatives together, during the Obama administration, Brower says. Hillary Clinton didnt have time. Lately Michelle is more than just finding time for Hillary. It began with Michelles laudatory speech about Clinton at the Democratic National Convention this summer. Then came her emotional speech on Clintons behalf after a 2005 Access Hollywood videotape surfaced of Donald Trump speaking lewdly about women to Billy Bush. A week later, Michelle gave a get-out-the-vote speech in the battleground state of Arizona. And next she will appear with Clinton at a Thursday rally in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Clinton campaign describes Michelle as its most effective surrogate, bar none. Even a top Trump campaign official, speaking off the record, called Michelle a much bigger threat than Hillary Clinton because of her charisma, her connection, adding its very tough to compete with that. Michelle herself, who has often said she hates campaigning, seems energized by being out on the stump. I think she has emerged as our not-so-secret weapon, Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said when announcing the joint rally appearance. She has exceeded our expectations in terms of how many events she has been able to do and been willing to do. Her team keeps surprising us with additional availability, and we cant, from our vantage point, get her out there enough. So, what has changed? Two words: Donald Trump. Michelle Obama at an Arizona Democratic Party Early Vote rally on Oct. 20 in Phoenix. (Photo: Ralph Freso/Getty Images) The enemy of my enemy is my friend, Brower says. If Clinton were running against another Republican, I dont think Michelle would go all-out like this, but she personally wants to stop Trump. The president has publicly agreed. Michelle had found a new passion for campaigning lately, he said, because she understands, as I understand, that some more fundamental values are at stake in this election. It has to do with our basic standards of decency how do we treat people Michelles conclusion is that we cant have [Trump] in the Oval Office. This is not the first time that a first lady has been a valuable voice in the race to follow her husband into office, Brower notes. Mamie Eisenhower made a campaign ad supporting Richard Nixon. John Kennedy personally visited Eleanor Roosevelt at home in Hyde Park, N.Y., to lobby for her support, which he received. But, she added, this is still unprecedented. We havent seen anything quite like this with a first lady being so full-throated there on the campaign trail. Perhaps the best sign that such support is effective is that Trump, who has stayed away from criticizing the extremely popular Michelle Obama in the 16 months since he announced, took the gloves off this past week. We have a president. All he wants to do is campaign. His wife all she wants to do is campaign, he said. Then, alluding to previous tension between the women, he added, And I see how much his wife likes Hillary. Whatever was in the past, Brower says, right now Michelle and Hillary are united in a common goal. Their personalities are still very different. But for now, its a love fest. BRASILIA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Vale SA will go ahead with the sale of its fertilizer business after its board of directors gave its approval, the newspaper Valor Economico reported on Thursday. Most of the fertilizer assets will be sold to U.S. fertilizer producer Mosaic Co, Valor said, citing people familiar with the deal, while its plants in Cubatao, Sao Paulo, should go to Norway's Yara International. The sale is aimed at helping Vale, the world's largest iron ore producer, trim debt and focus on its core mining activities. The Rio de Janeiro-based company declined to comment. Reuters reported on Oct. 5 that Brazil's global mining company was negotiating the sale of the business with Mosaic and Yara for at least $3.6 billion. Vale is disposing of assets to help meet a $10 billion debt-reduction target by next year. The strategy was devised by Chief Executive Officer Murilo Ferreira to help insulate the mining company against declining iron ore and nickel prices, after losing a record $12.1 billion last year. Vale reported third quarter net profit of $575 million on Thursday. Vale's board also approved the sale of its Carborough Downs coal mine, the company's last operating mine in Australia, Valor said. Nearing depletion, the mine produced 568,000 tonnes in the third quarter, a 22 percent decline from a year earlier, and has two potential buyers, the newspaper reported. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Even at 39 weeks pregnant, nothing seems to stop this dancer from a little baby bump and grind. "We dance all day every day," the soon-to-be mom told InsideEdition.com. "We live hip hop." Read: Cancer Patient Does 'Juju on That Beat' During Chemo: 'Doing Silly Things Makes All the Difference' Hip hop instructors Shaked David, 27, and husband Lidor David, 33, can be seen in a video licensed by Caters burning up the dance floor, although they are only a week from welcoming their baby boy. "When I show the doctors, they're like, 'That's amazing,' but when I show everyone else, they're like, 'Are you crazy?'" Shaked said. "I trust the doctors. If they say I'm good, I'm good." In fact, when the couple spoke to InsideEdition.com at 41 weeks pregnant, Shaked's water had already broken. "Maybe it's time to turn things up the kid's going to slow us down," she joked from the hospital room. "No he's not going to slow us down. Whenever he hears hip hop, he starts dancing in my tummy." The couple owns a hip hop studio in Israel, and Shaked said that throughout her pregnancy, she continued instructing classes for four or five hours a day. At seven months pregnant, Shaked said she traveled to Los Angeles with a class she was teaching for a dance competition: "I was dancing with them too at the convention." In the last few weeks of her pregnancy, she finally invited an assistant into her classroom to lead warm-ups "I don't do sit-ups or push-ups, but I can still beat everyone's butts," Shaked joked. Read: Baby Drenched in Nutella After Being Accidentally Introduced to the Hazelnutty Spread She explained that because she has always been an active person and even serving in the Israeli army, "My body is used to that movement. If I'm not moving, then the baby is like, 'What's going on here?'" Story continues Just moments away from giving birth, Shaked anticipated, "[Our baby] is going to grow up in the studio since we're there all day. He's going to be at the door, checking all the girls out it's going to be part of his life." Watch: Critics Blast 6-Month-Old Water Skier: 'That's a Pretty Sick Way to Exploit Your Baby' Related Articles: Yelp Offices NYC 23 We recently visited Yelp's Manhattan office and saw everything from an indoor swing to "Big Lebowski"-themed employee portraits. However, we were more surprised by what we heard when we walked in than what we saw: loud music playing throughout the office. "Music is a big part of our culture here," vice president of local sales Paul Reich told Business Insider during our visit. "We don't know whether we'll be hearing Brazilian or samba or even some heavy metal on any given day." Sometimes, he said, the battle for the position of office DJ can get pretty competitive. On the day of our tour, we arrived to the sound of some classic 80s tunes. Reich explained that music along with the numerous other perks the $2.4 billion San Francisco-based company provides its 900 New York-based employees is actually a major motivator during work hours. Most employees in Yelp's Flat Iron neighborhood office work in sales, so upbeat tempos help to keep everyone pumped throughout the day. "It's a difficult job, being an evangelist. You're calling people often who don't want to talk to you. How do you counter that? With music, with love, with energy, with support," he said. And it's not just about blasting Spotify over the speakers. Reich told us that workers have formed a capella groups, rock bands, and hip hop squads. Yelp employees also frequent karaoke bars in Koreatown with their coworkers after hours, Reich said. And the office recently installed its own karaoke machine. He explained that music is a means of both motivating employees, and encouraging them to socialize with one another. That being said, employees don't have to contend with so much sound and fury all the time. There a few quiet areas tucked away throughout the space. "We need to provide space that's peaceful and serene," Reich said. But once quiet time is over, it's straight back to facing the music. NOW WATCH: How to find Pokestops using Yelp More From Business Insider By Alan Baldwin MEXICO CITY, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, no stranger to controversial comments, has suggested building walls on racetrack corners to add a greater sense of danger. The remarks are unlikely to sit well with, or be treated seriously by, drivers and the governing FIA, who have worked for decades to improve safety in a sport whose past is littered with fatalities. "In those (the old) days, and it can't happen again, people would come to a race and think somebody could get killed," Ecclestone, who turns 86 on Friday, told British reporters in Austin before Formula One headed to Mexico for this weekend's round. "Today they know they come to a race and nobody is going to get killed. Which is good." However, he suggested races were now in danger of appearing too safe, with drivers exceeding track limits without suffering any consequences. "I've been criticized probably by everybody because I wanted to build 40cm walls around the corners. They keep saying they mustn't go off the road, I promise they won't," added Ecclestone. Ecclestone said Formula One's street races in Baku, Monaco and Singapore, with walls and metal fences, concentrated the minds and the racing was still good. He said the current crop of quieter, turbo-hybrid cars also looked easier to drive than the noisy beasts of old and compared the situation to a circus high wire act that was 15 metres off the ground to one that was only a metre up. Formula One is still feeling the pain from the death of Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who crashed into a recovery tractor at a wet Japanese race in 2014 and died in hospital of his head injuries last year. Before him Ayrton Senna was the last fatality in 1994, an Imola weekend that also took the life of Austrian Roland Ratzenberger. This season Spaniard Fernando Alonso walked away from a massive shunt in the opening Australian Grand Prix after his McLaren flew into the fence. And in Austin, race director Charlie Whiting reminded drivers that, for safety reasons, they could not change direction suddenly in the braking zone when defending against a fully committed rival. "What Fernando had in Australia ... you wouldn't think he was going to walk away," said Ecclestone, before coming up with another provocative suggestion with no chance of being implemented. "What we ought to do immediately that happens is have big sheets all the way around, bring the ambulance in ... and take him away. He's gone to the hospital and later on you announce that, thank God, he's out. A bit of showbiz. People like that." (Editing by Peter Rutherford) By Alan Baldwin MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, no stranger to controversial comments, has suggested building walls on racetrack corners to add a greater sense of danger. The remarks are unlikely to sit well with, or be treated seriously by, drivers and the governing FIA, who have worked for decades to improve safety in a sport whose past is littered with fatalities. "In those (the old) days, and it cant happen again, people would come to a race and think somebody could get killed," Ecclestone, who turns 86 on Friday, told British reporters in Austin before Formula One headed to Mexico for this weekend's round. "Today they know they come to a race and nobody is going to get killed. Which is good." However, he suggested races were now in danger of appearing too safe, with drivers exceeding track limits without suffering any consequences. "Ive been criticized probably by everybody because I wanted to build 40cm walls around the corners. They keep saying they mustnt go off the road, I promise they wont," added Ecclestone. Ecclestone said Formula One's street races in Baku, Monaco and Singapore, with walls and metal fences, concentrated the minds and the racing was still good. He said the current crop of quieter, turbo-hybrid cars also looked easier to drive than the noisy beasts of old and compared the situation to a circus high wire act that was 15 meters off the ground to one that was only a meter up. Formula One is still feeling the pain from the death of Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who crashed into a recovery tractor at a wet Japanese race in 2014 and died in hospital of his head injuries last year. Before him Ayrton Senna was the last fatality in 1994, an Imola weekend that also took the life of Austrian Roland Ratzenberger. This season Spaniard Fernando Alonso walked away from a massive shunt in the opening Australian Grand Prix after his McLaren flew into the fence. And in Austin, race director Charlie Whiting reminded drivers that, for safety reasons, they could not change direction suddenly in the braking zone when defending against a fully committed rival. "What Fernando had in Australia ... you wouldnt think he was going to walk away," said Ecclestone, before coming up with another provocative suggestion with no chance of being implemented. "What we ought to do immediately that happens is have big sheets all the way around, bring the ambulance in ... and take him away. Hes gone to the hospital and later on you announce that, thank God, hes out. A bit of showbiz. People like that." (Editing by Peter Rutherford) Christopher Tkaczyk is the Senior News Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @ctkaczyk. Adventurous vacationers who love a good surprise, get ready. You can now book passage on the cruise of your dreams. The Telegraph has reported that passengers on a new 16-night luxury cruise will be sailing into the unknown, with no knowledge of their destinations, stop-over ports and connecting flights. The Secret Sailaway mystery cruise is being organized by the Bolsover Cruise Club, which is only sharing information via a series of 10 riddles. New secret cruise takes you to six mystery destinations The trip is priced at $15,000 per person and will depart on March 18, 2017. The company says the itinerary will include five-star stop-overs in some of the worlds best hotels. Travelers will receive detailswhen they arrive at their departure harbor, which has not yet been revealed. New secret cruise takes you to six mystery destinations Traveling is not as adventurous as it once was, Michael Wilson, the managing director of Bolsover Cruise Club, told The Telegraph. You can find out everything about where youre going before youre within a thousand miles. This is our attempt to bring back some of the adventure, albeit with all the comforts of a luxury cruise. New secret cruise takes you to six mystery destinations Based on a few of the clues in the riddles, the editors at Travel + Leisure are guessing that the itinerary will include multiple islands in the South Pacific and Oceania, with stopovers in Tahiti, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Can you help us identify the actual ports of call? Tweet your best guesses to @TravelLeisure with the hashtag #SecretSailaway. Related Articles (Refiles to add dropped words "rise in" and "on Thursday" in graf 1) SYDNEY, Oct 27 (Reuters) - National Australia Bank (NAB) posted a 4 percent rise in annual cash profit on Thursday and maintained its final dividend after streamlining its portfolio by selling assets in the United Kingdom and United States. NAB reported a cash profit of A$6.48 billion ($4.95 billion)for the year ended Sept. 30, up from A$6.22 billion a year earlier, restated to reflect the sale of 80 percent of its life insurance business. The cash profit figure excludes one-offs and non-cash accounting items. The result was above an average estimate of 3 percent growth in cash profit from 15 analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The final dividend of A$0.99 was steady. Analysts had forecast it would fall by 4 percent to A$0.95. NAB is Australia's fourth-largest bank by market value and the first of three of the "Big Four" banks that will report full-year results over the next two weeks. Under Chief Executive Andrew Thorburn, NAB has withdrawn from underperforming businesses in the United Kingdom and United States. It also sold 80 percent of its life insurance business to Japan's Nippon Life for A$2.4 billion this month. "This is the first time in my 12 years at the bank we are able to focus exclusively on the Australia/New Zealand business," Thorburn told media on Thursday. "I think that bodes well for the performance in the future." The results come at a time when all of the Big Four banks, which account for 80 percent of lending in Australia, have been under fire for abuse of market power following a series of scandals involving misleading financial advice, insurance fraud and interest-rate rigging. ($1 = 1.3079 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Jamie Freed; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and James Dalgleish) NASA's Juno spacecraft has bounced back from the glitch that prevented it from gathering any data during its flyby of Jupiter last week, agency officials said. Juno went into a protective "safe mode" on Oct. 19, the same day the probe made its second-ever close flyby of the giant planet. (The first close encounter occurred July 4, when Juno arrived at Jupiter; the spacecraft is in a 53-day orbit, so the next flyby will take place Dec. 11.) But mission team members commanded Juno to come out of safe mode Monday (Oct. 24), and everything appears to be working well now. [Awesome Jupiter Photos by NASA's Juno] "Juno exited safe mode as expected, is healthy and is responding to all our commands," Juno project manager Rick Nybakken, from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said in a statement Tuesday (Oct. 25). "We anticipate we will be turning on the instruments in early November to get ready for our December flyby." Juno went into safe mode when a software-performance monitor caused the spacecraft's computer to reboot. The mission team is still investigating exactly why this happened, NASA officials said. That's not the only hiccup Juno has experienced. The probe was supposed to perform a lengthy engine burn during the Oct. 19 flyby, to shift from its current 53-day orbit into a 14-day path around Jupiter the mission's final science orbit. But an issue with a set of valves in Juno's main propulsion system forced this burn to be delayed; the earliest it can now occur is Dec. 11, during the next flyby. To help get ready for that encounter, Juno performed an "orbital trim maneuver" Tuesday, firing its smaller thrusters for 31 minutes to change its velocity by about 5.8 mph (9.3 km/h), NASA officials said. The $1.1 billion Juno mission launched in August 2011. The solar-powered spacecraft is using its nine science instruments to study Jupiter's structure, composition and gravitational and magnetic fields, to help researchers better understand the giant planet's formation and evolution. Juno gathers the vast majority of its data during its close Jupiter flybys. Story continues "We are all excited and eagerly anticipating this next pass close to Jupiter," Juno principal investigator Scott Bolton, of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, said in the same statement. "The science collected so far has been truly amazing." The mission is currently scheduled to continue through February 2018. Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. Editor's Recommendations Brussels (AFP) - NATO and the European Union are partners in defence, not rivals, top officials said Thursday, downplaying any suggestion EU military ambitions might undermine the US-led alliance which has protected Europe for decades. "I strongly believe it is absolutely possible to strengthen European defence without duplicating efforts by NATO," alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said. "EU leaders have (also) conveyed that this is not about the EU doing collective defence, the EU building structures that would compete with NATO," Stoltenberg said after EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini met NATO defence ministers in Brussels. Mogherini has drawn up a Global Strategy which says the EU should seek "strategic autonomy" to face multiple security threats, ranging from conventional to hybrid warfare, from the Ukraine crisis to Syria, from poverty in Africa to massive migrant flows. Her proposal for an EU military headquarters in Brussels -- also home to NATO's HQ -- has especially sparked concerns that the bloc is seeking a more independent role. Mogherini on Thursday insisted this was not the case at all. "Let me clarify that immediately -- I have to do that again and again -- first of all we are not planning a European army," she said as she arrived for the defence ministers meeting. "We are not planning to have any headquarters, as for instance NATO has SHAPE," she said, referring to the alliance's military HQ. At the same time, Mogherini said the EU does have civilian and military operations, such as in Africa or in the Mediterranean, and needs to improve command and control centres to run them. "But this can be done ... without any kind of overlaping or duplication with NATO," she said. Britain, a major power itself, has traditionally opposed any idea of a European army or EU military arm but after the shock Brexit vote, France and Germany said the bloc should be more ambitious. Story continues Britain's defence minister Michael Fallon said Wednesday there could be no question of the EU taking on NATO's collective defence mantle, and there was "very strong opposition to that kind of duplication" in the bloc. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen meanwhile said there was room -- and benefit -- for both in an increased EU defence effort. "I will make clear that NATO and the European security and defense union have different profiles and different tasks but that we need them both," von der Leyen said. "It is important that we do not build double structures. I will emphasise again that we are not talking about a European army," she added. EXCLUSIVE: Newtown filmmakers Kim Snyder and Maria Cuomo Cole, whose documentary chronicles the pain and suffering of the parents of murdered children Daniel Barden, Benjamin Wheeler and Dylan Hockley in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre, have pulled their feature documentary from Cinemark Theaters to stand in unison with the Aurora theater shooting families. The film was to be released in about 500 theaters across the country. The well-reviewed film is already eligible for an Oscar, having had its qualifying run for the feature documentary category earlier this year. It is now opening November 2 in a one-night-only event across the country in AMC, Regal, Wehrenberg, and indie theaters but not in any Cinemark locations. Newtown was to open in 100-plus of Cinemarks theaters in cities including Los Angeles, Tucson, Detroit, Albuquerque, Ann Arbor and in Texas, where Cinemark is based. Fathom Events, a Colorado-based event marketing company, handled the booking but it is understood that Cinemark came to them (Cinemark hired a crisis PR person in the wake of not only the shooting and an ongoing controversy that resulted in a nationwide boycott). A boycott began against Cinemark Theaters which also operates under the Century, Tinsletown USA, Rave, and CineArts monikers when the exhibitor asked victims of the theater shooting to pay $700K in legal fees to reimburse them for a failed lawsuit. In the state of Colorado, when a plaintiff sues and loses, they are liable for the legal fees. And, in this case, the plaintiffs were theater shooting victims who sued the exhibitor for not keeping their patrons safe. They lost after a jury determined that Cinemark could not have foreseen the shooting. However, key evidence sent to exhibitors two months prior to the July 20, 2012 shooting via Homeland Security (which warned theaters of a possible terrorist attack) was not allowed into evidence. Story continues RELATED: Boycott Erupts After Exhibitor Asks Victims To Pay $700K in Legal Fees The victims who Cinemark were demanding money from included those paralyzed and in wheelchairs, some with spinal cord injuries and others with brain injuries, parents of murdered children who heroically saved the lives of others, and one former military man who used his body as a human shield to save another and was shot twice. The single father of two small children now lives in constant pain and can barely walk. His name is Josh Nowlan. Cinemark told the victims that if they dropped their appeal that they would then no longer seek the $700K. Some of them said no Mr. Nowlan, another boy, Stefan Moton, who was an 18 year-old former kickboxer and is now paralyzed from the neck down, Ashley Moser, the mother of Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6, and the youngest victim of the July 20, 2012 Dark Knight Rises shooting. Moser was also catastrophically injured; she miscarried her second child (she had found out the same day that she was shot that she was pregnant). She still has a bullet lodged in her spine and is now paralyzed from the chest down. RELATED: What Happened Inside The Aurora Theater: When Moviegoers Became Superheroes After Cinemark demanded payment, a boycott against the theater chain started across the country with #boycottcinemark tags on Twitter and Facebook. Even California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom asked for a boycott against the exhibitor for going after the injured in Aurora. The Newton filmmakers actions came as a result of a call from Sandy Phillips, the mother of the late Jessica Ghawi (killed in the Aurora massacre) who asked the director to rethink putting the film into Cinemark Theaters. Phillips found out about it through the vast network of gun violence survivors. Sandy Hook parents whose children were murdered also asked the filmmakers to stand with their Aurora family (mass shooting families and victims of gun violence are a tight-knit group). Cinemark has proven their insensitivity to victims of gun violence, said Phillips, whose daughter was only 24 when she was slaughtered inside the theater along with 11 others and an unborn baby. Seventy others were physically injured. They still have not announced safety measures and, in fact, people with guns have been able to go into Cinemark theaters after Aurora which we all find unconscionable, she said. Cinemark really doesnt get what they are up against. Gun violence victims stand united from coast to coast. We are a force, and we do not waiver. We thank the Newtown filmmakers and love our Sandy Hook family. We made a film to honor the children and educators who were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, their families and the community of Newtown, and to show how gun violence impacts not just individuals but an entire community. said the filmmakers in a statement to Deadline. Out of respect for the families of the Aurora victims and with solidarity for the community as a whole, our decision to remove the film from playing in all Cinemark theaters is unequivocal. Twenty-six people were murdered in the Sandy Hook shooting 2o children and six educators. The film was produced by Maria Cuomo Cole and directed by Kim Snyder. After critical raves out of Sundance where it debuted, Abramorama released the film in NY on October 7. Following the screening of the film, there will be a livestream Town Hall conversation moderated by CNNs Chris Cuomo. The panel discussion will include several members of the Newtown community and will engage a dialogue around the issues of gun violence, trauma and the response afterwards. Anita Busch contributed to this report. Related stories 'Blue Jay', 'Newtown' Among Newcomers In Mostly Slow Weekend; 'Denial' Solid In Expansion - Specialty Box Office 'Newtown' Opens Ahead of November Event Screenings; Mark Duplass Bows 'Blue Jay': Specialty B.O. Preview 'Newtown' Doc Acquired For Theatrical Distribution Via Abramorama LAGOS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Nigeria has $500 million of commitments from its planned $1 billion Eurobond it intends to issue before the end of the year and any decision to increase the size of the offer will depend on pricing, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said on Thursday. "At the moment am focused on the $1 billion," she said in a video recording to an investor conference in Lagos. Adeosun said the country was "further along" with the African Development Bank for a $1 billion budget support loan than the World Bank due to scheduling issues. "We have pushed World Bank funding into next year's budget," she said. She said Nigeria was also interested it tapping funds at concessionary rates to develop its infrastructure and that most of the funding it was seeking would carry concessionary terms. Adeosun said expected taxes collection as a percentage of GDP which is currently at 5 percent to hit 7 percent within three-years and to reach 10 percent within 5 years. (Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Angus MacSwan) (Adds finance ministry statement, details, background) By Chijioke Ohuocha LAGOS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Nigeria has $500 million of commitments for the planned $1 billion eurobond it intends to issue before the end of the year and any decision to increase the size of the offer will depend on pricing, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said on Thursday. Nigeria wants to sell a $1 billion in eurobonds by the end of the year although, as of Thursday, no bank had been appointed to arrange the issue. "At the moment am focused on the $1 billion," she said in a video recording to an investor conference in Lagos. Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, slipped into recession for the first time in 25 years in the second quarter, largely due to low global oil prices. Crude oil sales account for about two-thirds of government revenues. The government has laid out plans to spend a record 6.866 trillion naira ($22.5 billion) to help pull Nigeria out of recession in a draft 2017 budget sent to parliament for approval. Spending this year was 6.06 trillion naira, but the government has struggled to fund this, and analysts were sceptical that it would manage to meet the targets for overseas borrowing that it has set for the next few years. Adeosun said the country was "further along" with the African Development Bank for a $1 billion budget support loan than the World Bank due to scheduling issues. "We have pushed World Bank funding into next year's budget," she said. President Muhammadu Buhari has asked parliament to approve $30 billion of foreign borrowing to fund planned infrastructure projects until 2018, according to a letter read out to lawmakers on Tuesday. The proposed borrowing includes the sale of eurobonds worth $4.5 billion and budget support of $3.5 billion, according to the letter. The finance ministry said on Thursday the $30 billion borrowing was going to be phased over a three-year period to cover proposed projects between 2016-2018. Adeosun said Nigeria was interested in tapping funds at concessionary rates to develop infrastructure and that most of the funding it was seeking would carry concessionary terms. Story continues The funding is being sought from multilateral agencies including the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Japan International Co-operation Agency and China Eximbank, the ministry said in a statement. Adeosun said expected taxes collection as a percentage of GDP which is currently at 5 percent to hit 7 percent within three-years and to reach 10 percent within 5 years. Nigeria's debt office has said the country can borrow up to $22 billion in 2017 from both local and foreign sources without breaching the debt threshold it has set for itself. (Additional reporting by Oludare Mayowa and Felix Onuah in Abuja; Editing by Angus MacSwan) By Minami Funakoshi and Ami Miyazaki TOKYO (Reuters) - A prominent Nigerian asylum seeker and activist is being held in solitary at a Tokyo detention center, a case that has highlighted a growing crackdown on foreigners living in Japan without visas and prompted demands for her release. Elizabeth Aruoriwo Obueza was detained two weeks ago after authorities turned down an appeal against her asylum rejection, Obueza and her lawyer told Reuters. Obueza, 48, campaigns for asylum seekers and the 4,700 people on "provisional release" from immigration detention - a status that lets foreigners out from detention but bars them from working and traveling freely. Obueza's arrest is part of a wider campaign by the Justice Ministry, which in September 2015 said it would take steps to reduce the 60,000 foreigners living in Japan without visas. People on provisional release, many of whom have lived in Japan for decades, have been among those targeted, activists and lawyers say. "Elizabeth was targeted and detained for being an activist," said immigration lawyer Shoichi Ibusuki. "I want her released immediately." The crackdown on people like Obueza comes even as people on provisional release, despite being legally unable to work, power Japan's construction and manufacturing sectors as companies scramble to find workers in the worst labor shortage in decades. "Elizabeth is held in solitary because she's an activist and immigration officials don't want her causing trouble," said Mitsuru Miyasako, head of the Provisional Release Association in Japan, a group representing refugees and immigrants. "Locking someone up alone in a tiny room is to ruin them psychologically." Naoaki Torisu, a senior Justice Ministry official overseeing immigration detention, declined to comment on Obueza's situation, saying he could not discuss individual cases. Obueza, an evangelical Christian, said she fled Nigeria for Japan in 1991 to escape female genital mutilation and applied for asylum in 2011. Obueza told Reuters she was locked up for more than 22 hours a day. Typically, detainees at the Tokyo Immigration Bureau, where she is held, are locked up for 18 hours a day, according to the Justice Ministry. "I want to help people," Obueza told Reuters from across a security divide in a small meeting room at the detention center. "Give me the right to help people - don't put me in here." During her previous 10-month arrest in 2011 at a different center, Obueza organized detainees to write a petition to immigration authorities calling for better medical care, Miyasako said. For more than a decade, Obueza has visited immigration detention centers across Japan, helping detainees navigate the asylum system and find legal help, said rights groups, lawyers and former detainees. "She has supported so many people as an activist and that's a nuisance for the immigration authorities," said Miyasako, who has worked with Obueza, adding that she had helped hundreds. Former detainees and people on provisional release visit her in detention every day, sometimes waiting for hours, he said. Solitary cells, usually for detainees who are ill, unruly or have tried to harm themselves, are about five square meters, detainees say. In 2014, a Sri Lankan man died in a solitary cell at the same center, highlighting problems with medical care. Isolation has not stopped Obueza from fighting for detainees' rights. "When I go outside my room, I go around the windows and talk to the others," Obueza said. "I advise them." Obueza said of the immigration officials who locked her up: "You might think you arrested me, but I think God wants me here to help some other people." (Reporting by Minami Funakoshi and Ami Miyazaki; Additional reporting by Thomas Wilson; Editing by William Mallard and Nick Macfie) By Felix Onuah and Ulf Laessing ABUJA/LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria launched a $10 billion infrastructure program on Thursday in its restive Delta region as part of a plan to end an insurgency that has hobbled oil production. President Muhammadu Buhari will meet representatives of militant groups and community leaders from the Niger Delta in Abuja next week in a bid to end the attacks, Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said. Speaking to a forum in Abuja aimed at outlining strategy for the petroleum industry, Kachikwu described bringing the insurgency to an end as the first goal of a seven-point plan. "Our target is to ensure zero militancy in the area," he said. "This planned meeting shows the level of interest the president has to ensure peace in the area." The $10 billion investment is "not necessarily" going to come from the federal government, but rather from "oil companies, investors, individuals", he said. Militants fighting for a greater share of the OPEC member's wealth complain of poverty and a lack of development across the Niger Delta region, where most of Nigeria's oil is pumped. NATIONAL IMPERATIVE The seven-part strategy also envisages passing a long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill by December. The bill, which covers everything from an overhaul of state oil company NNPC to taxes on upstream projects, was delayed by violence in the Delta, which at one point cut production to 30-year lows. The first part of the bill is already pending in the senate, and Kachikwu said the second part, which deals with fiscal aspects of the petroleum industry, is "almost completed" and will be presented to the oil industry in the next week or two. While the government has emphasized diversifying the economy, Buhari said on Thursday it would be impossible to move forward without the oil industry. "Oil and gas resources still remain the most immediate and practical keys out of our present economic crisis," Buhari said, and the plan for the industry is "a national imperative and a core thrust of our economic policy". To drum up financing and oil investments, Nigeria will hold a roadshow in the Gulf in January and in the United States by mid-2017, Kachikwu told reporters. One area of investment would be in improving outdated refineries to stop costly fuel imports, he said. "We are going to be licensing private refineries, to look at investing in private refineries." Kachikwu said Nigeria's oil output stood at 1.8 million barrels a day, compared with the 1.9 million bpd the Petroleum Ministry announced earlier this week. Still, he added that the government hoped to get back to 2.2 million bpd next year - the level seen at the start of 2016. "We have a capacity to produce 3 million," he said. (Reporting by Felix Onuah and Ulf Laessing, writing by Libby George; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Giles Elgood) London (AFP) - Japanese car giant Nissan announced Thursday it will build its new Qashqai sport utility vehicle at its plant in Sunderland, northeast England, easing concerns about Brexit's impact on the industry. "Nissan's decision follows the UK government's commitment to ensure that the Sunderland plant remains competitive," said a Nissan statement. "As a result, Nissan will increase its investment in Sunderland, securing and sustaining the jobs of more than 7,000 workers." It will also add production of the next four-wheel drive X-Trail model at the plant. British Prime Minister Theresa May called the announcement "fantastic news for the UK", saying the carmaker was "at the heart of this country's strong automotive industry". "It is a recognition that the government is committed to creating and supporting the right conditions for the automotive industry so it continues to grow -- now and in the future," she added. "This vote of confidence shows Britain is open for business and that we remain an outward-looking, world-leading nation." Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn warned in September that the company needed guarantees from London over Britain's vote to exit the European Union before it could commit to further investment at the factory in Sunderland. Britain faces years of tough negotiations with EU members over its future trading terms with the bloc. Ghosn met May for talks at her Downing Street office on October 14. - Nissan's Brexit concerns - The Nissan plant in Sunderland is Britain's biggest car factory and the group's largest facility in Europe, also making the Juke and electric Leaf car models, with around 500,000 cars rolling off the production line every year. "Our employees there continue to make the plant a globally competitive powerhouse, producing high-quality, high-value products every day," Ghosn said Thursday. He welcomed May's "commitment to the automotive industry in Britain and to the development of an overall industrial strategy". Story continues The plant has produced almost nine million cars since it opened in 1986 and now makes one in three cars manufactured in Britain. Around 80 percent of vehicles produced in Sunderland are exported to more than 130 international markets, highlighting why any possibile trade tariffs with the EU were a cause for concern. Ghosn revealed last month revealed that he had "explained our concerns very clearly" to the government. "We are not asking for any advantage but we don't want to lose any competitiveness no matter what are the discussions," he said. Despite the threat, the area voted overwhelmingly in favour of leaving the European Union in June's referendum, with 61 percent of people in Sunderland siding with the "leave" camp. Business Secretary Greg Clark said the announcement was vital for the region, whose economy has suffered from decades of post-industrial decline. "The UK automotive sector has had a remarkable year - exporting over one million cars around the world," he said. "This is thanks to our highly-skilled workforce, long-term investment in new technology and innovation and the strong partnership between government and industry as we develop together our industrial strategy." In another boost for government, latest figures showed that Britain's economy grew by a better-than-expected 0.5 percent in the three months following the country's vote in favour of exiting the EU. Chicago (AFP) - Police in the US state of North Dakota arrested oil-pipeline protesters en masse after a tense standoff and bursts of violence that continued into the night. Authorities said they had arrested 117 people and confirmed two instances of gunshots in the latest flare of tensions over a controversial oil pipeline project. One person was shot in the hand after being "run off the road by protestors," said the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. Another protester was arrested after firing three shots at police. No injuries were reported. Law enforcement reported late-night incidents of Molotov cocktails being thrown at officers and fires being set. The chaos began erupting in late morning when police started moving in to break up protest encampments on public roads and on private land. Demonstrators moved to block two roads over the weekend and camped on private land in an effort to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline -- the subject of a months-long protest by Native Americans and supporters. Police in riot helmets used a sound cannon device and pepper spray during operations that initially lasted more than five hours, before authorities said most of the several hundred protesters left voluntarily or were arrested. "Hopefully, we have persuaded these protesters that our state highways and county highways, private property, is not the place to carry out a peaceful protest," North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple said at a news conference. Dallas Goldtooth, a protester at the scene of the Thursday standoff, said police were "very aggressive" and had also used bean bags and a "concussion grenade." "The police action today was to remove protectors from this land," he said. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier could not immediately confirm Goldtooth's account, saying operations were still ongoing. He said protesters were free to exercise their free speech rights "as long as it was done legal and lawful." Story continues The Native American-led protest has grown into a larger movement in the United States, drawing in other tribes, environmentalists and advocates for Native Americans. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, whose reservation is close to the pipeline's route, objects to the project, saying it would endanger the tribe's water supply by crossing the nearby Missouri River, and destroy sacred Native American sites. The tribe criticized the police actions Thursday. "We have repeatedly seen a disproportionate response from law enforcement," Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Dave Archambault said in a statement. The tribe has asked the Obama administration to intervene to stop the pipeline construction and for the Justice Department to oversee local law enforcement. The federal government has twice asked the pipeline operator to voluntarily pause construction near the tribe's reservation while the authorities reconsider the project's route. But courts have refused to compel a halt. Energy Transfer Partners, which insists the pipeline complies with the law, resumed construction on October 11. By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday urged more than 25,000 volunteers and advocates who dialed in to a White House conference call to pull out the stops to boost the number of people signing up for Obamacare health insurance plans. Obama warned it will be challenging to overcome the skepticism about the plans given an onslaught of headlines about surging premium prices, but he said the stakes are high. "I think we're at a critical time where we have to show that this program works for people, if they just see what their options are," he told the volunteers, who work in their communities to encourage and assist enrollment. Americans who do not receive health insurance through their employer or through Medicare or Medicaid programs shop online for subsidized insurance plans starting Nov. 1 until the end of January. The average premium for benchmark 2017 plans sold on healthcare.gov rose 25 percent compared with 2016. Obama said tax credits will help more than seven in 10 shoppers get a plan for less than $75 per month, but said many may not bother looking because they have heard about spiking costs. "We're going to have to clear the bugs off the windshield so people can see the road ahead, and that's where you guys come in," Obama said. The law has been fought by Republicans in Congress, who said it creates unwarranted government intervention in personal healthcare and private industry. Several big insurers, including UnitedHealth Group Inc , Aetna Inc and Humana Inc , are pulling out of the online marketplaces selling the subsidized plans, citing bigger-than-expected financial losses. Aetna Chief Executive Mark Bertolini said on Thursday that the earliest his company may return to the marketplaces would be 2019. Obama said more young and healthy people need to sign up for plans. That would offset insurers' costs of covering members with serious illnesses. Obama has said there are a series of improvements that could be made to his signature domestic policy achievement - the 2010 Affordable Care Act - if Congress and the next president, who will take office on Jan. 20, can work together. "Part of what we can do this time is to overcome the skeptics, to prove people wrong, and to provide momentum so that when the next administration comes in, they are starting from a position of strength," Obama told the conference call. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama shortened the prison sentences for 98 convicts serving time for drug-related offenses in his latest round of commutations, the White House said on Thursday. Obama has granted 688 commutations this year, for a total so far in his presidency of 872. The commutations are part of Obama's push to reform the criminal justice system to reduce the number of people serving long sentences for non-violent drug offenses. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by James Dalgleish) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the next steps in the campaign against Islamic State during a telephone call on Wednesday, the White House said. Obama "welcomed continued dialogue between Turkey and Iraq to determine the appropriate level and form of Turkey's participation in the Counter-ISIL Coalition's efforts in Iraq, and both leaders affirmed their strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq," the White House said in a statement, referring to the jihadist group by an acronym. (Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Eric Beech) While many Americans reliant on Obamacares subsidized insurance policies are bracing for major premium increases next year of as much as 30 percent to 50 percent in some regions of the country, a far more encouraging picture has surfaced in the much larger arena of employer-provided health insurance, according to two new studies released this week. By way of comparison, about 10.4 million Americans purchased their insurance through government operated health care exchanges during the first half of 2016, but roughly 154 million other Americans are covered by their employers or the employer of a family member. While Obamacare costs have steadily risen, growth in the total health-benefit costs for coverage provided by employers to their workers slowed to near record lows during the past several years, according to research by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonpartisan health care research foundation, and Mercer, a consulting firm. Related: Obamacares Huge Premium Hikes Give Down Ballot Republicans a Boost Among the key findings, the growth in employees share of the health care premiums slowed over the past decade, including the period when Obamacare was being brought online, and employers began preparing for the new requirements under the law, according to the Commonwealth Fund report. But premiums are only part of the picture. The Commonwealth Fund concluded, Many insured Americans view their health care costs as unaffordable [because] deductibles continue to proliferate and their annual growth rate exceeds premium growth by a wide margin. Researchers crunched federal data to compare cost trends in the private sector over a 10-year period, between 2006 and 2015. Compared with the five years leading up to Obamacares implementation, premium growth for single health insurance policies offered by employers slowed both in the nation overall and in 33 states and the District of Columbia. More specifically, for individual plans the average premium growth rates slowed to 3.8 percent per year from 2010 to 2015 compared with an average 4.7 percent from 2006 to 2010, according to the study. Contributions to family policies grew 4.8 percent annually in the most recent period compared to 6.5 percent in the five years before the advent of Obamacare. Story continues Related: Hillary Clinton Hints at a Health Care Takeover to Keep Obamacare Alive Louisiana led the way, as that states average annual premium growth dropped from 7.8 percent annually between 2006 and 2010 to just 2.4 percent between 2010 and 2015. Meanwhile, nine other states including Florida, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Wisconsin saw a decline in annual premium growth of at least three percentage points, the report said. On the downside, premium growth rates stayed stubbornly high in eight other states: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, and Utah. These states experienced average growth rates of five percent or higher between 2010 and 2015. The Mercer study confirms the steady leveling off of premiums on health insurance policies provided by the nations businesses. The total cost of health benefits per worker enrolled in employer-sponsored health care plans rose 2.4 percent to $11,920 on average in 2016, compared with 3.8 percent in 2015, according to the new report. Mercer said that employer benefit costs are likely to rise by 4.1 percent in 2017, a modest increase at most. For a fifth straight year, employers will hold cost growth to less than five percent, according to the consulting firm. Related: Obamacare Insurers Are Looking for a Taxpayer Bailout There are several major caveats to the positive news in the two studies suggesting that many Americans who get their coverage through employers and who are not subsidized by taxpayers through Obamacare are still feeling a pinch because of high deductibles. Commonwealth points out, Middle-income families continue to see a growing share of their household budgets going to health care. Where employees have less generous health plans as well as lower median incomes, the combination is particularly toxic. People with high deductibles relative to income are far more likely to avoid getting needed care than those with more affordable out-of-pocket costs. As Mercer points out, even as the growth in the cost of employer coverage plateaued, many workers were shifted to high-deductible plans that are linked to a health savings account or health reimbursement arrangement. Despite a recent surge, income growth has not kept pace in many areas of the U.S., the report states. The enrollment in these high-deductible plans with out-of-pocket costs of $1,300 for individual coverage and $2,600 for family coverage rose by 29 percent of all covered workers who were surveyed last summer. Moreover, even as the growth rate in premiums and deductibles for policies provided by employers slowed since the advent of the Affordable Care Act, many families in regions of the country where incomes havent kept pace with the national average continue to struggle to cover their health insurance costs. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Brussels (AFP) - As Iraqi forces backed by a US-led coalition inch towards the Islamic State group in Mosul, experts and security sources warn that any assault on the jihadists' main Syrian stronghold of Raqa would be even more difficult. The US and British defence ministers said on Wednesday they expected an assault to drive IS from its de facto capital of Raqa to begin in the next few weeks. If Mosul falls, Raqa will be the only major city in either Syria or Iraq under IS control, the vestige of a cross-border "caliphate" the jihadists declared after seizing large parts of both countries in mid-2014. Tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters are steadily advancing on Mosul backed with air and ground support from a US-led coalition. Washington says a Raqa assault could be run at the same time. "That has long been our plan and we will be capable of resourcing both," US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told NBC News before arriving in Brussels Wednesday for a two-day meeting of NATO defence chiefs. Pleased with progress in the Iraq offensive, military chiefs are talking about overlapping operations in Raqa, though there is still a great deal of caution. US Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, commander of the coalition supporting Iraqi forces and Kurdish peshmerga units in the fight against IS, acknowledged Syria was "a very complicated battle space". "There are a lot of regional security concerns that are in competition there... the Syrian regime's involved, the Russians are involved, Turkey's involved. It's hard," Townsend told reporters Wednesday. A French source acknowledged that the Syrian side of the fight against IS was "much more complex," saying "obviously not everything is in place to take Raqa tomorrow." - 'Child's play' - The Lebanese newspaper L'Orient le Jour put it starkly in a comment piece this week, saying that "compared to the Syrian crisis, the Iraqi problem is practically child's play". Story continues The offensive on Mosul, which began on October 17, was more than a year in the planning, with the coalition, Baghdad and authorities in autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan all taking part. That operation has its own complications, namely over the role of Iraq's powerful Shiite militias and of Turkey, which considers Sunni-majority Mosul to be part of its natural sphere of influence. But an operation in Syria - theatre of a proxy battle royale among the great powers - would be even more difficult. In practical terms there is also the question of who would wage the offensive in a country ravaged by a bloody five-year civil war and broken up by myriad groups all fighting each other. "There is a difference in nature between Iraq and Syria. In Iraq we are intervening at the invitation of the Baghdad authorities," the French source said. There would be no such invitation in Syria -- the countries taking part in the anti-IS coalition are opposed to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and want to avoid operations that would help him. The view in Washington is that it must be local fighters that take the lead. Defense Secretary Carter spoke this week of "capable and motivated local forces that we identify and then enable". - The Turkish and Kurdish factors - "At this stage there are only two forces in Syria fighting Daesh, the Syrian Democratic Forces (a Kurdish-Arab coalition backed by Washington) and the rebels of the FSA (Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkey)," the French source said. Military officials say this is enough, but estimates of available forces range widely from 10,000 to 30,000 men. Another problem is Turkey's opposition to Kurdish militias, which form a key part of the SDF. Ankara views them as extensions of Turkey's own banned separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), making cooperation unlikely. General Townsend acknowledged the difficulty, saying the US was in talks with Ankara, but clearly stating that in his view the "only force that is capable on any near-term timeline" of beating IS in Raqa is the SDF. On Wednesday, Washington seemed to be leaning towards Ankara. "We already are working extensively with the Turkish military in Syria" and this had produced "significant" results, including the seizure of the "very important" town of Dabiq from IS, Carter said in Brussels after meeting his Turkish counterpart. "So we are looking for other opportunities including further within Syria, to include Raqa. That's been part of our discussions." On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country's military operation in support of Syrian opposition fighters in northern Syria would extend to Raqa. Still unclear is how Moscow, fighting to support Assad since last September, will respond. "Russia is fighting a different war, wiping out the opposition (to Assad) in Aleppo. Raqa clearly doesn't interest them," the French source said. (Corrects 11th paragraph to say that there were only four cases in which there was a complete dissent about bringing a case, not five) By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has released a collection of internal voting records, long held secret, that reveal it to be less divided than is commonly thought. The new data reveal that the agency's commissioners vote unanimously almost every time they take companies and executives to federal court, in contrast to the public and sometimes bitter disagreements they exhibit when debating regulatory matters. Details of the votes are significant because they give agency watchers a window into how commissioners handle cases they take to court. The cases that were brought unanimously - 94 percent of the total since April 2013, when Mary Jo White became the agency's chair - included high-profile defendants such as the City of Miami, Wells Fargo and pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli. The fact that so many are decided unanimously belies the public belief that the SEC is fractious, said James Cox, a law professor at Duke University who closely tracks the agency. In recent years, commissioners have dissented over many policy issues, such as whether to grant regulatory waivers to big banks and how to interpret rule-making requirements of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law. An SEC spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment. Legal experts expressed differing views on the significance of the uniformity of the votes. Donald Langevoort, a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, said there is less disagreement on whether to sue companies because those decisions tend to turn on individual facts and circumstances, instead of policy views. Defense attorney Stephen Crimmins of Murphy & McGonigle said commissioners might be agreeing quickly because their heavy caseload does not allow enough time for deep study of each case. Story continues The SEC decision to publish its voting records on these cases came four years after Reuters filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the data. The SEC, which historically has made public its voting on cases it handles administratively, had resisted release of internal voting records it deemed privileged. "The release of this data is a huge breakthrough for the public, said Bradley J. Bondi, an attorney with Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, who said it would provide insight into whether some alleged misconduct could be considered a "clear violation" or a "close call" in the eyes of the SEC. It covers slightly more than 1,400 defendants in 414 cases filed in federal courts from April 11, 2013, through August 26, 2016. Only four of those cases actually received a vote against bringing the case - all of which were from Michael Piwowar, a Republican. In one high-profile case, Piwowar voted against charging the Royal Bank of Scotland with misleading investors in subprime mortgage securities. The case still won a majority of support from the two other commissioners who participated in the vote, and the bank settled the charges. Some 21 other cases received partial dissents, meaning the commissioners agreed to proceed with the case but disagreed on matters like whether to require shareholders to bear the costs of paying a corporate penalty, or whether the evidence justified specific charges. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; editing by Linda Stern and Jonathan Oatis) (Adds background on some of the cases with partial dissents) By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has released a collection of internal voting records, long held secret, that reveal it to be less divided than is commonly thought. The new data reveal that the agency's commissioners vote unanimously almost every time they take companies and executives to federal court, in contrast to the public and sometimes bitter disagreements they exhibit when debating regulatory matters. Details of the votes are significant because they give agency watchers a window into how commissioners handle cases they take to court. The cases that were brought unanimously - 94 percent of the total since April 2013, when Mary Jo White became the agency's chair - included high-profile defendants such as the City of Miami, Wells Fargo and pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli. The fact that so many are decided unanimously belies the public belief that the SEC is fractious, said James Cox, a law professor at Duke University who closely tracks the agency. In recent years, commissioners have dissented over many policy issues, such as whether to grant regulatory waivers to big banks and how to interpret rule-making requirements of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law. An SEC spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment. Legal experts expressed differing views on the significance of the uniformity of the votes. Donald Langevoort, a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, said there is less disagreement on whether to sue companies because those decisions tend to turn on individual facts and circumstances, instead of policy views. Defense attorney Stephen Crimmins of Murphy & McGonigle said commissioners might be agreeing quickly because their heavy case load does not allow enough time for deep study of each case. The SEC decision to publish its voting records on these cases came four years after Reuters filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the data. The SEC, which historically has made public its voting on cases it handles administratively, had resisted release of internal voting records it deemed privileged. Story continues "The release of this data is a huge breakthrough for the public, said Bradley J. Bondi, an attorney with Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, who said it would provide insight into whether some alleged misconduct could be considered a "clear violation" or a "close call" in the eyes of the SEC. It covers slightly more than 1,400 defendants in 414 cases filed in federal courts from April 11, 2013, through Aug. 26, 2016. Only four of those cases actually received a vote against bringing the case - all of which were from Michael Piwowar, a Republican. In one high-profile case, Piwowar voted against charging the Royal Bank of Scotland with misleading investors in subprime mortgage securities. The case still won a majority of support from the two other commissioners who participated in the vote, and the bank settled the charges. Some 21 other cases received partial dissents, meaning the commissioners agreed to proceed with the case but disagreed on matters like whether to require shareholders to bear the costs of paying a corporate penalty, or whether the evidence justified specific charges. One example is an August 2013 case charging Bank of America with defrauding investors in subprime mortgage-backed securities. The commissioners who participated all approved the case, except that former Republican Commissioner Troy Paredes dissented on the SEC's reliance on a corporate negligence theory. In another case against CVS Caremark involving allegations of accounting violations and misleading investors, Piwowar approved the case, but dissented on charging the company with intentionally committing fraud. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; editing by Linda Stern, Jonathan Oatis and Bernard Orr) (This version of the October 26th story corrects paragraph 10 to remove Venezuela from countries expected to be exempt from oil cartel production cut) By Ethan Lou NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil settled down more than 1 percent on Wednesday even after a surprise drawdown in U.S. crude inventories, as traders remained cautious that OPEC would be able to cut production come late November. U.S. crude stockpiles fell 553,000 barrels last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said, compared with the 1.7 million-barrel build analysts polled by Reuters forecast. [EIA/S] Crude inventories in the world's largest oil producer have fallen unexpectedly in seven of the past eight weeks, bucking the usual autumn trend in which stockpiles rise as refineries go into maintenance season. Oil prices pared losses after the EIA data, with U.S. crude briefly trading in positive territory and Brent returning above $50 a barrel. But the rebound was limited by doubts about whether the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which meets Nov. 30 in Vienna, will succeed in its planned production cut. "The focus point from here remains on the OPEC meeting that comes a month from now, with Iran, Libya and Nigeria all looking unlikely to commit to output cuts," said Tariq Zahir, crude trader and fund manager at Tyche Capital Advisors in New York. Prices will likely continue falling, with WTI hitting $47 and Brent falling to $48 to $48.50 by the month's end as the market grows skeptical about OPEC's jawboning, said Scott Shelton, energy futures broker with ICAP in Durham, North Carolina. "We've seen bullish information," he said of the optimistic comments from some producers on OPEC's planned production cut. "None of it is really new, so it's one of those things when the buyers are exhausted." Brent crude (LCOc1) was down 81 cents, or 1.6 percent, at $49.98 a barrel. It fell as low as $49.65, its lowest since Sept. 30. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude (CLc1) slid 78 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $49.18. Its session low was $48.87, its lowest since Oct. 4. Story continues Iran, Libya and Nigeria are expected to be exempted from OPEC's planned production cut, which seeks to cut about 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) from an estimated glut of 1.0 million to 1.5 million bpd. Iraq has said it would not participate, while Indonesia's state oil firm is targeting an output increase. Unless non-member Russia joins, the onus of a potential cut would fall on Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. (Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper in LONDON and Henning Gloystein and Keith Wallis in SINGAPORE; Editing by David Gregorio, Lisa Shumaker and Chris Reese) OMG, Starbucks is bringing back its Halloween Frappula frappuccino Its really happening, you guys. This is not a drill! The Starbucks Frappula is back and we are totally freaking out. The company introduced the limited-time Halloween frappuccino last year, and it was so beloved by customers that theyve officially brought it back. If you havent yet tried one, heres how Starbucks describes whats inside: The fang-tastic beverage is made with a layer of mocha sauce and a dollop of whipped cream on the bottom. White chocolate mocha sauce, milk and ice blended together are then layered on top, while a drizzle of strawberry puree oozes from the rim. The beverage is finished with whipped cream on top. BRB, running to Starbucks to get one of these. The company is definitely getting in the Halloween spirit. Alongside the Frappula, Starbucks is introducing limited-edition mummy cake pops made with vanilla birthday cake. Plus, the company put together a Halloween playlist (catch it on Spotify!) so you know theyre taking this holiday seriously. Starbucks first Halloween frappuccino was introduced in the U.S. and Canada in 2014: a green tea Franken Frappuccino. Though it looked a little strange mostly green with flecks of blended chocolate chips it seemed to be well-liked. The Frappula, however, is the drink thats proved it has staying power. Two reasons you never let a vampire try a sip of your #FrappulaFrappuccino. Now through Halloween: A white chocolate mocha creme Frappuccinofloat above rich mocha sauce, haunted with sweet strawberry puree. A photo posted by Starbucks Coffee (@starbucks) on Oct 27, 2016 at 8:01am PDT Get it now and get it fast its only around until All Hallows Eve! The post OMG, Starbucks is bringing back its Halloween Frappula frappuccino appeared first on HelloGiggles. Ivanka Trump Nordstrom is coming under fire for selling Ivanka Trump's fashion brand. A woman describing herself as a lifelong Nordstrom customer posted an open letter to the department store demanding that it stop selling items from Trump's $100 million clothing and accessories line. "The hate speech directed at African Americans, Latinos, Jews, Muslims, LGBT people, and women by the Trump campaign is unacceptable and does not seem to represent Nordstrom's values," she wrote, according to a copy of the letter that she posted on Twitter. "Yet Ms. Trump continues to defend it, and Nordstrom continues to defend her." The letter's author, whose Twitter handle is @shewhovotes, asked her followers to share the letter if they agree. She tagged the tweet with the hashtag #GrabYourWallet, which has become a rallying cry on social media to boycott Trump's brand. The letter has since been shared on Twitter by more than 1,300 people. Many people commented that they would stop shopping at Nordstrom until it stops carrying Trump's brand. Other retailers that carry Trump's brand include Macy's, Amazon, Lord & Taylor, Marshalls, and Zappos. The author did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. In the letter, she said she understands that Nordstrom can't filter out every brand with "questionable business practices," but that "some brands are so toxic, they will hurt your business by alienating your customers, and this is surely one of them." "I cannot, in good conscience, continue to support a store willing to do business with a company that devalues me, my husband, and most Americans," she wrote. The author said she hasn't gotten a response from Nordstrom yet, but when she complained about the issue on Twitter a couple of weeks ago, she said she got this response from Nordstrom's Twitter account: "We're sorry you're disappointed. As a retailer we work with thousands of vendors. It would be difficult for us to filter out who and what they choose to support and then determine the ones we agree or disagree with. Offering these or other products doesnt imply we're taking a position." Story continues Nordstrom did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. Here's the letter: An open letter to @Nordstrom regarding Ivanka Trump's toxic brand. Please share if you agree. #grabyourwallets pic.twitter.com/xoayf3kOVF Nasty Woman Laura (@SheWhoVotes) October 26, 2016 Ivanka Trump was asked on "Good Morning America" on Thursday about the boycott of her brand. "The beauty of America is people can do what they like, but I'd prefer to talk to the millions, tens of millions of American women who are inspired by the brand and the message that I've created," she said. NOW WATCH: PUTIN: Trump represents Americans who are 'tired of the elite who have been in power for decades' More From Business Insider Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f262929%2fee679a26359d4f7cb7e997dd97ee2d28 After experiencing the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history in June, the Orlando community is still finding ways to honor the 49 people who died in the attack. At the Orlando Magic's first home game of the regular season on Wednesday night, the team paid tribute to them as well as caregivers, first responders and others affected by the violence with a beautiful ceremony. SEE ALSO: J.K. Rowling shares touching tribute to Orlando victim The team announced their plans on Twitter earlier this month. We will be dedicating our Opening Night to those who lost their lives & the lives that have been forever changed from the tragedy at Pulse. pic.twitter.com/am6NTZPU8s Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) October 11, 2016 At last night's opening ceremony, the Amway Center was illuminated with rainbow lights. A slideshow of photos played on the Jumbotron while Brandon Parsons performed his song "Forty-Nine Times," written by him to honor the 49 lives that were lost in the tragic shootings. Tonight we remember & honor the 49 victims, their families & first responders from the Pulse nightclub tragedy. #OrlandoUnited pic.twitter.com/pPzKnUA9QY Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) October 27, 2016 Fans shared other images of the event online. Moving tribute before #Heat #Magic game for those who died & affected by Pulse tragedy pic.twitter.com/ruEBfmSnin Tom D'Angelo (@tomdangelo44) October 26, 2016 #Magic take a moment to honor the 49 people who were killed in the Pulse Nightclub shooting. Banner up in arena remembers those who died pic.twitter.com/ethgzf3W3m Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) October 26, 2016 On their opening night, the #OrlandoMagic brought the community together to commemorate a https://t.co/sjSS2zcYZZ pic.twitter.com/5PddxA9eEa Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) October 27, 2016 The team warmed up in shirts that read "Orlando United." Orlando police officer Gladys Justiniano sang the national anthem in honor of the victims and the first responders. Check out our very own, Ofc. Justiniano singing the national anthem at @OrlandoMagic honoring #pulse victims and first responders pic.twitter.com/kcr5Wc0USh Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) October 26, 2016 And the team also honored caregivers of those injured in the attacks. Behind the scenes of special @magic@orlandosentinel to honor caregivers after Pulse tragedy #OrlandoStrong pic.twitter.com/B1tFhwYMpO Samantha K Olenick (@olenick_k) October 23, 2016 The Orlando Magic's ceremony last night is an important reminder that even after time passes following a national tragedy, not everyone has healed. Information on how to help those affected by the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shootings is available here. CLEVELAND (AP) -- David Ortiz is heading into retirement with some more hardware. The Boston Red Sox slugger captured the Hank Aaron Award on Wednesday as the top hitter in the American League this season. Budding Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant was honored as the top hitter in the National League. The award was presented before Game 2 of the World Series between the Cubs and Cleveland. It was determined through a combination of fan voting and a panel that includes Aaron and other Hall of Fame players. The 40-year-old Ortiz hit .315 with 38 home runs, 127 RBIs and 48 doubles in the 20th and final season of his major league career. His 541 career home runs rank 17th all-time. The 24-year-old Bryant hit .292 with 39 home runs and 102 RBIs while helping the Cubs cruise to the NL Central title and eventually a spot in the World Series. Shortly after being honored, Bryant singled in the first inning for his first Series hit. The terrorist attack on a police training academy in Quetta, Pakistan, on Tuesday was a horror of epic scale. Sixty-one people died, most cadets, and many of the injured are in critical condition. The attack was only the latest in a series of atrocities in Quetta and not even the worst. But the scale of the failure that allowed the attack to happen, especially for a country in the midst of a war against terrorist groups, was shocking. The December 2014 attack on a school in Peshawar, in which terrorists killed more than 130 children, was supposed to be Pakistans 9/11. It generated deeper than usual navel-gazing in Pakistans brutally self-critical national discourse. For a few months in 2015, a new energy was across the airwaves and on the street. The army, freshly empowered to convict and hang terrorists, together with law enforcement authorities unleashed offensives nationwide (ongoing as we speak), killing hundreds of people, capturing thousands, and injecting a new confidence into Pakistans domestic gait. After years of wishy-washy responses to the existential threat of terrorism, Pakistanis thought they were taking back their country. It would be unfair to judge the coffins of dozens of young cadets in Quetta as evidence of the utter failure of those hopes. But the cries of mourning come from a series of failures: operational, tactical, and strategic. If Pakistani decision-makers, especially the all-powerful army and intelligence chiefs, dont soberly examine these failures, the only long-term outcome will be utter defeat at the hands of Pakistans inability to assess and eliminate threats to the nation. The Quetta attack represents an operational failure because a facility with a known vulnerability a low and incomplete boundary wall was left so unprotected that a group of just three well-armed men could pull off an assault on more than 700 recruits. That will give terrorists the confidence to single out other exposed targets for similarly disproportional attacks. Story continues The attack was a tactical failure because the two groups involved, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and the Islamic State, are both known enemies of Pakistan, with a track record of successful attacks. Pakistan has scored several notable successes of its own against them, including the killing of LeJ founder Malik Ishaq by police in July 2015. But every operational victory for these groups especially one as spectacular as this gives them a wider tactical advantage. That these groups, facing the most robust and brutal campaign ever against them, can still mobilize the will, the resources, and the technical capacity to execute an attack on this scale is the very definition of tactical success. Pakistani soldiers still fighting the war across the country need the encouragement and support of a grateful nation. Attacks like Quetta undermine that confidence and erode not only public trust in the course of the war but also the armys morale. Most of all, Quetta was a strategic failure. The entire basis of the terrorists campaign is to degrade the statehood of Pakistan, as theyve explicitly stated. Pakistan continues to be the crucial front line of modern statehood. Its survival and success symbolize the resilience and endurance of statehood in an era when nonstate actors power is growing. A single attack doesnt undercut a countrys statehood. But this attack, in that city, at this time, against these victims? It poses a serious challenge to Pakistani leaders. The majority of the victims were Baluch, a local minority group. This is significant because recruiting young Baluch men to put their lives on the line for the country was a major win for a state that has been irritated by archrival Indias recent flirtations with Baluch separatists. The attack took place in Quetta, a garrison city that is growing weary of constant suffering. These feelings are complicated by Quettans sense of disenfranchisement due to long-standing economic and political marginalization, compared with the other provincial capitals of Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar. And the attack was perfectly timed, coming soon after the emergence of a split between the army and the prime minister on how to deal with India in the aftermath of the Uri attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Any intelligence and security failure of this scale legitimizes asking tougher questions of the army leadership. Challenging the army is controversial even in tranquil times, and given the current toxic discourse, such questions could elicit strong reactions from a military that often feels besieged by both external enemies and internal critics. Finally, consider the target. Although it was a vulnerable area, this wasnt a soft target of the kind struck by terrorists before, like a school, hospital, or park. This was a symbol of the state, of the foundation of state capacity, a place where young men are transformed into the pillars that hold up the nation. The police, like the army, represent that most basic element of any state the monopoly of violence. If Pakistan cant protect the very people charged with protecting common citizens, what chance do ordinary folk have? The more nights Pakistanis spend awake pondering these fears, the bigger the victory for the terrorists. So what can Pakistan do to prevent this cancerous set of failures from metastasizing into a broader defeat? The operational front has to be addressed by elected civilian leaders. If Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif does not have confidence in his partys leaders in Baluchistan, he needs to have the courage to sack them. If he is confident that elected leaders can deliver, he needs to extract a lot more effort from the ruling partys leaders in the province. Allowing civilian facilities to be sitting ducks for terrorist attacks cant be blamed on anyone but the civilian authorities. The lives of at least some of the young cadets killed in Quetta could have been saved if Baluchistan was being governed better, so at least some heads need to roll. But going by the track record, none will. The failure to hold the right people accountable will convert an operational failure into a tactical defeat. On the tactical front, Pakistans intelligence and military operations have to assess whether enough is being done to degrade, disrupt, and dismantle groups like LeJ. The constant allegations of selective justice targeting some groups while tacitly ignoring others will not go away. And every domestic failure will cause them to grow in volume and intensity. Here, too, military leaders need to examine why the canopy of security they are charged to provide in Baluchistan is so often shredded by terrorists shrapnel. Without deep introspection and accountability, the tactical failure in Quetta has the potential to evolve into a strategic threat. Finally, Pakistani leaders need to decide whether their contest for power and control over resources is more or less important than the countrys survival as a viable and respectable entity. Opposition leader Imran Khans threats to have his party workers lay siege to Islamabad next week have not been affected by the tragedy in Quetta. Meanwhile, the prime ministers consistent refusal to pass legislation that would satisfy Khans demand for transparency exacerbates the current crisis. Both men are callously pursuing narrow political agendas at a time of deep national insecurity. Compounding their quarrels is the larger structural contest between the elected government and the military. Much of the political challenge faced by the prime minister is believed to come from generals who want him to grant soon-to-retire army chief Raheel Sharif an extension of service. As ever, the discussion about Pakistans future ends where the military and intelligence establishments control begins. The attack in Quetta was concerted, calculated, and reasoned. For one moment, on one day, in one place, the terrorists beat Pakistan operationally, tactically, and strategically. They are smart. Making the same old mistakes in countering the terrorists is not smart. Stupid never wins wars. Pakistan needs to get smart. Photo credit: BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images By Syed Raza Hassan KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - A Pakistani court on Thursday ordered the closure of all liquor shops in the southern province of Sindh, officials said, cutting off one of the few legal alcohol sources in the Muslim-majority country. Although Pakistani Muslims are banned from drinking alcohol, the country's minorities, mainly Hindus and Christians, face no such prohibition. However, critics argue that the licensed liquor shops also sell to Muslims. It is not clear how the minorities will now buy liquor in the province, home to the teeming financial capital Karachi, with some 20 million people. "The chief justice Sindh high Court has ordered closure of all liquor shops in entire Sindh because they are running their business in violation of article 17, 19 of Hudood Ordinance 1979," Ghulam Mustafa Mahesar Additional Advocate General Sindh province told Reuters. According to Hudood law, passed under former military ruler General Zia ul-Haq, the sale of liquor is for non-Muslims and it is allowed only during religious ceremonies. The court case stemmed from a business rivalry among two members of Hindu community who are wine shop owners, with each filing a petition against the other, Mahesar said. "So as a result of the business rivalry, today all their businesses stand closed," he said. There are 120 retail liquor shops in Sindh, 21 wholesale shops and 20 which were non-operative for some reason, an official at the provincial Excise Department said. The Excise, Taxation Narcotics Department of Sindh which regulates the liquor shops wasted no time and issued a notification to all businesses on Thursday afternoon. (Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Nick Macfie) yuengling 2 Yuengling is facing backlash after the owner of the largest craft brewer in America voiced support for Donald Trump. On Monday, the Republican presidential nominee's son Eric Trump visited Yuengling's brewery in East Norwegian Township, Pennsylvania, while campaigning in the state, The Reading Eagle reported. Following the tour, Yuengling's fifth-generation owner, Dick Yuengling Jr., voiced his support of the candidate. "Our guys are behind your father," Yuengling said. "We need him in there." Since then, Yuengling drinkers have angrily taken to social media to disavow the beer. @EricTrump I will never drink another goddamn ounce of @Yuengling_Beer as long as I live. Many others I know will do the same. TrumpCrafts (@TrumpCrafts) October 24, 2016 An alcohol company endorsing a sexual predator, that's in no way indicative of rape culture. Way to go Yuengling! #NeverTrump Sane Ppl 4 Hillary (@SanePpl4Hillary) October 27, 2016 Not a big boycott guy, but why should i give Dick Yuengling even $1 to support Trump or his union-busting? https://t.co/XEJIP25he5 Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) October 26, 2016 I think it's time to boycott any company supporting a sexual predator, serial liar, racist, sexist, homophobic conman. Nope: @Yuengling_Beer https://t.co/dCZm8BMnSY OTEP SHAMAYA (@otepofficial) October 26, 2016 Yuengling endorsing Trump pisses me off. It's 1 of my favorite beers, but "people before profits" I say, so until they change, they lost me. NUFF$AID (@nuffsaidNY) October 26, 2016 "If you as a brewery are supporting Trump, then I'm no longer supporting your beer. Adios," reads one comment on the brewery's Facebook page. Yuengling couldn't immediately be reached for comment on the boycott threats. But as the backlash against Yuengling gains steam, some Trump supporters are promising to buy even more of the beer. Any business you've lost by endorsing Trump will be made up tenfold by my purchases for decades to come. @Yuengling_Beer Matt Dougan (@Americooligan) October 26, 2016 Every supporter of Donald Trump should buy a six pack of @Yuengling_Beer, as the company is BEHIND his efforts!! Awesome stuff. #MAGA Paul Kersey (@sbpdl) October 27, 2016 "Yuengling Brewery, I'm proud of you guys," reads another comment on Facebook. "Thanks for standing up and supporting the future President who will make this country great again!" Yuengling isn't the only one in the food and beverage industry to throw support behind Trump. While the industry as a whole has made uncharacteristically small donations to the candidate, Andy Puzder, the CEO of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's parent company CKE Restaurants, has come out in strong support of Trump. NOW WATCH: We did a blind taste test of Bud, Coors, Miller, and Natty Light here's the verdict More From Business Insider Healthcare has been a hot topic of late with presidential candidates Clinton and Trump doubling down on promises as the run-up to the election on Nov 8. And it makes sense because according to a Pew Research survey from earlier this year, 74% of voters said that healthcare was an important consideration determining their vote, behind only economy, terrorism and foreign policy, which were the top considerations. As far as healthcare-focused stocks are concerned, Clinton has it in for insurance and pharma companies, blaming them for rising drug costs. She also doesnt like pharma companies splurging on ads when they could have put the money into R&D instead. Trump would like to relax regulations for insurance companies in a way that would promote competition. Whatever their theories, these segments of the healthcare sector are likely to be volatile in the near term. So this might just be the right time to take a look at the medical instruments segment, which has a lot going for it. For one thing, medical instrument makers are increasingly collaborating with technology companies to expand beyond traditional genres. This has opened up opportunities in robotics, wearables, implantable devices, electronic health records (EHR) and more. So with the government focused on reforms, its not too far-fetched to imagine that corporate focus (and wellness spending) on Fitbit FIT-type wearables that are part of preventive healthcare will increase. Digital health startups are also seeing record funding. CB Insights data puts 2015 investment in the segment at $5.74 billion, led by organizations like Qualcomms QCOM Qualcomm Ventures, Alphabets GOOGL Google Ventures, Merck MRK, General Electric GE as well as VC firms Norwest Venture Partners and Lux Capital. Given the emerging markets, the segment is likely to get more difficult to understand, so it helps to know the basic categories. Story continues How Medical Instruments Are Categorized The Census Bureau classifies the industry into seven parts and provides some numbers indicating the size of each part. As with a lot of census data, its not too timely but rather a fair estimate of longer-term trends. The latest data, from 2012, mentions surgical and medical instruments (anesthesia apparatus, orthopedic instruments, optical diagnostic apparatus, blood transfusion devices, syringes, hypodermic needles and catheters) as the biggest category comprising 29% of total value of shipments. Surgical appliances and supplies (includes artificial joints and limbs, stents, orthopedic appliances, surgical dressings, disposable surgical drapes, hydrotherapy appliances, surgical kits, rubber medical and surgical gloves, and wheelchairs) is second with 22%. Then comes electro-medical equipment, which is basically powered devices like pacemakers, patient-monitoring systems, MRI machines, diagnostic imaging equipment (including informatics equipment) and ultrasonic scanning devices with 17%. In-vitro diagnostic substances (chemical, biological or radioactive substances used for diagnostic tests performed in test tubes, Petri dishes, machines and other diagnostic test-type devices) follows with 14%. Radiation apparatus, comprising x-ray machines and other diagnostic imaging, and computed tomography (CT) equipment accounts for 8%. Around 6% comes from ophthalmic equipment and the balance from dental equipment. In 2015, the above categories together generated $43 billion in revenue according to the 2016 International Trade Administration report. The Zacks System An investment plan is personal. It isnt just about stocks that will do really well in the near future as with the Zacks Rank#1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) stocks. Its also about other things like your risk appetite and investment style because no investment advice is 100% foolproof. Theres always the chance that the market will go slightly different than what was envisaged. Thats why we need a plan that has been proved to work in the past and its also where the Zacks Rank and Zacks Style Scores come in handy. The Zacks Rank is a quantitative measure that for more than a quarter century from 1988 through 2015, has nearly tripled the S&P 500 with an average gain of 26% per year. Whats more, these returns were examined and attested by Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, an independent accounting firm. The Style Score on the other hand, is best paired with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 (You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here). It essentially captures your investment style. So if youre a value investor, youre looking for undervalued stocks that will appreciate in the future. If youre a growth investor, youre willing to pay a higher multiple today for returns that may not be on the immediate horizon. Momentum investors are surf-boarders: they want to ride the wave and make some quick gains. How to Play the Segment There are plenty of opportunities in the medical instruments segment right now, so theres something in here for everyone. Plan for the Value Investor Simply look for stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 and a Value Score A or B. The following picks satisfy both these criteria: Baxter International Inc. BAX focuses on essential renal and hospital products, including home, acute and in-center dialysis; sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition; biosurgery products and anesthetics, and pharmacy automation, software and services. Key criteria considered are: Zacks Rank #2 Value Score B Current quarter EPS estimate up 10.9% and 2016 EPS estimate up 11.0% in the last 7 days. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. TMO provides analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software and services for research, manufacturing, analysis, discovery, and diagnostics through four premier brands: Thermo Scientific, Life Technologies, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services. Key criteria considered are: Zacks Rank #2 Value Score B The company is slated to report results today and since it has topped estimates in each of the last four quarters, this one may not be too different. Syneron Medical Ltd. ELOS manufactures and distributes medical aesthetic devices and systems for dermatologists, plastic surgeons and other qualified practitioners using non-invasive techniques. The company gets its name from its proprietary Electro-Optical Synergy (ELOS) technology, which makes use of the synergy between electrical energy, including radio frequency (RF) energy and optical energy to deliver the treatments. Key criteria considered are: Rank #2 Value Score B The company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 133.33% in the last quarter and will report third-quarter results on Nov 9. Plan For The Growth Investor Simply look for stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 and a Growth Score A or B. The following picks satisfy both these criteria: Abiomed, Inc. ABMD offers temporary percutaneous mechanical circulatory support devices for people with failing but potentially recoverable hearts. Its products are designed to enable the heart to rest, heal and recover by improving blood flow to the coronary arteries and end-organs and/or temporarily performing the pumping function of the heart. Key criteria considered are: Rank #1 Growth Score A The company, which will report results today, topped estimates in each of the last four quarters. Hologic Inc. HOLX supplies diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products primarily related to women's health. It operates through four segments: Diagnostics, Breast Health, GYN Surgical and Skeletal Health. Some of its products are X-ray bone densitometers and ultrasound bone analyzers. Key criteria considered are: Rank #2 Growth Score B The company, which will report results on Nov 2 reported EPS that topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters. AngioDynamics, Inc. ANGO makes medical, surgical and diagnostic devices used in minimally invasive, image-guided procedures for vascular access, for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease and for use in oncology and surgical settings. Key criteria considered are: Rank #1 Growth Score B The companys earnings has topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last quarters by a wide margin. Summing Up Buy-ranked companies with a VGM score (that stands for value, growth and momentum) of A or B will not disappoint you, whatever your investment style. But always check for earnings surprises and estimate revisions as well, because that is an indication that the momentum will continue. Where Do Zacks' Investment Ideas Come From? You are welcome to download the full, up-to-the-minute list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buy" stocks free of charge. There is no better place to start your own stock search. Plus you can access the full list of must-avoid Zacks Rank #5 "Strong Sells" and other private research. See the stocks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report MERCK & CO INC (MRK): Free Stock Analysis Report THERMO FISHER (TMO): Free Stock Analysis Report HOLOGIC INC (HOLX): Free Stock Analysis Report ANGIODYNAMICS (ANGO): Free Stock Analysis Report ABIOMED INC (ABMD): Free Stock Analysis Report SYNERON MED LTD (ELOS): Free Stock Analysis Report BAXTER INTL (BAX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Red meat from the Cornhusker State is selling well overseas. Nebraska beef accounted for about half of U.S. beef exports to the European Union in the first six months of 2016, up from about 5 percent in 2005. "People want our beef," Gov. Pete Ricketts said Thursday during a news conference at the state Capitol. The state's share of overall U.S. beef exports has grown as well, from under 4 percent in 2005 to more than 18 percent last year. Ricketts said expanding market share is important at a time when overall commodity prices are down. Nebraska has aggressively marketed its beef in recent years. This month, a delegation of agriculture leaders spent 10 days in Europe and secured formal commitments from six entities interested in buying or promoting Nebraska beef, said Greg Ibach, director of the state Department of Agriculture. Through trade missions that include Nebraska beef producers, officials have "debunked" the impression among some foreign buyers that agriculture here is dominated by corporate interests, Ibach said. "We've made them understand that Nebraska agriculture is families raising food for families around the world." The governor and other state officials plan to deliver a similar message next month during a trade mission in China, where they'll work to boost the appetite for Nebraska pork and beef among China's growing middle class. Earlier this month, faced with a growing budget deficit that is due in large part to falling commodity prices, Ricketts announced a ban on nonessential out-of-state travel for agencies under his control. That includes cutting back on the number of people going on the China trade mission. One way to address shortfalls is to grow revenue, Ricketts said Thursday. "That's what these trade missions do." Pfizer Inc. PFE will be reporting third-quarter 2016 earnings on Nov 1, before market open. Last quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 3.23%. The pharma giant has been consistently beating earnings expectations. The companys earnings surpassed expectations in each of the last four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 11.16%. PFIZER INC Price and EPS Surprise PFIZER INC Price and EPS Surprise | PFIZER INC Quote Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors to Consider While new products like Eliquis, Xalkori, Xeljanz and Ibrance as well as older products like Lyrica should contribute to the top line meaningfully, the bottom line should be driven by cost savings and share buybacks. Ibrance has already earned broad patient and physician acceptance with an encouraging feedback while Eliquis continues to perform well due to market penetration and market share gains in the U.S. and Japan. Meanwhile, the Hospira acquisition should continue to be an important growth driver as well with sterile injectables, biosimilars and infusion system segments performing well. The Anacor acquisition which closed in June should contribute to revenues in the third quarter. We note that Pfizer closed the acquisition of Medivation for approximately $14 billion in Sep 2016. However, Pfizer will continue to face headwinds in the form of genericization and the expiration of a few co-promotion agreements, which will continue to hamper top-line growth. Moreover, new product launch expenses and R&D investments are expected to hurt profits. On the third-quarter call, investor focus is expected to remain on the companys performance along with the performance of new products and pipeline progress including biosimilars and immuno-oncology. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Pfizer is likely to beat on earnings this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here, as you will see below. Story continues Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP is -1.59% as the Most Accurate estimate stands at 62 cents while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged higher at 63 cents. Please check our Earnings ESP Filter that enables you find stocks that are expected to come out with earnings surprises. Zacks Rank: Pfizers Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP. However, we need to have a positive ESP to be confident about an earnings beat. We caution against Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks to Consider Some stocks in the healthcare sector that have both a positive Earnings ESP and a favorable Zacks Rank are: ARIAD Pharmaceuticals Inc. ARIA is expected to release results on Nov 1. The company has an Earnings ESP of 5.26% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Shire plc SHPG with an Earnings ESP of +1.26% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is scheduled to release results on Nov 1. Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AERI, which is slated to report results on Nov 2. The company has an Earnings ESP of +8.57% and a Zacks Rank #3. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PFIZER INC (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report ARIAD PHARMA (ARIA): Free Stock Analysis Report AERIE PHARMACT (AERI): Free Stock Analysis Report SHIRE PLC-ADR (SHPG): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Now is the era of knee-jerk populism: Asia has brash Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte; the U.S. has Donald Trump; even once quiet Europe had Brexit. Trump has harnessed fears of immigration and American jobs being shipped abroad with quixotic plans to build a wall at the Mexican border (paid for by Mexico) and force allies to pay for American defense assistance. Duterte has been hailed as a two-fisted hero for vowing to purge the Philippines of drugs and crime within six months, even while death squads gun down more than 3,600 suspected addicts and dealers in the street. Of course, Duterte and Trump are very different characters with different backgrounds. One is a three-decade serving city prosecutor and mayor; the others a billionaire property magnate whos never held public office. But there are clear parallels in their politics: both are authoritarian-leaning populists who dont let their inexperience in world affairs prevent that from speaking entirely from the gut whatever the consequences. And so, when it comes to foreign policy, looking at Dutertes actions in his first few months in office may give the clearest indication of what a Trump presidency might look like. Read More: How Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte Is Shaking Up the South China Sea Trump and Duterte are similar in their vulgarity, misogyny and in-your-face politics, says Bridget Welsh, an international-relations expert at National Taiwan University. They also capitalize on similar sentiment shake the system up, challenge the status quo and basically move beyond the norms of rule of law. There are differences especially on China. Duterte seems convinced that his countrys future depends on Beijing, beseeching Chinese President Xi Jinping to build the Philippines a railway, If you can find it in your heart, and fawning that, only China can help us. Trump may have expressed admiration for China saying they are much smarter than we are but he has also vowed to aggressively challenge the Asian superpower, which he considers an existential threat to the U.S. economy. Story continues But the two leaders really find common ground in their willingness to tear up the rule book and reshape relationships with long-standing allies. The U.S. has a decades-old military alliance with the Philippines and is viewed positively by a vast majority of Filipinos, yet Duterte has called Barack Obama a son of a whore over criticism of his war on drugs. Trump said Angela Merkel is ruining Germany about her stance to refugees, and has suggested that he might only support NATO allies in an attack if they have paid their bills to the military alliance. They also have a tendency to react sharply to perceived criticism. Duterte threatened to withdraw his country from the U.N. after it urged him to scale back his drug war. And Trump, as Hillary Clinton illustrated in the three presidential debates, has a famously thin skin. Read More: Heres Why Rodrigo Duterte Could Be Making a High-Profile Visit to China Both Trumps and Dutertes foreign policy freelancing has at times been swiftly countered by senior members of their own staffs. Dutertes move to split with the U.S. in favor of a closer relationship to with China has been denied by his Foreign and Defense Ministers, and openly criticized by former Philippine President Fidel Ramos, a key Duterte mentor and his own recently appointed special envoy to Beijing. Are we throwing away decades of military partnership, tactical proficiency, compatible weaponry, predictable logistics and soldier-to-soldier camaraderie, just like that? asked Ramos in a recent editorial. Trump has split over foreign policy with his running mate, Governor Mike Pence, who had said that the U.S. should establish safe zones in Syria and meet Russian provocations with military force if necessary. He and I havent spoken, and he and I disagree, Trump said in the second presidential debate. Dutertes foreign policy priorities are narrower largely consisting of extracting the maximum concessions out of rival sponsors China and the U.S., while maintaining blossoming ties with second-tier nations like Japan. As U.S. President, Trump would have a far wider array of concerns on the global stage and with it, far greater responsibilities. Trump has already seen a revolving door of advisers during his campaign, and that door may well spin faster should he actually reach the Oval Office. I expect there would be mass resignations from the State Department, from government if theres a Trump presidency, says Welsh. He doesnt have a foreign policy and he doesnt have a foreign policy community with him. I think America would face a very significant crisis. Read More: Philippine President Dutertes Bold Move on China Spells Trouble Ahead Ultimately, the biggest similarity between Duterte and Trump is their shoot-from-the-hip communication styles. Each seems to say whatever comes into his minds in the moment, and has no problem contradicting himself in the next. Thats been a big enough problem for Duterte, who has managed to leave China, Japan and the U.S. confused about where exactly he stands after his recent East Asian tour. But every word the President of the United States says especially on military or foreign affairs has global significance, and should be weighed accordingly. Confusion has consequences. By Elaine Lies and Ami Miyazaki TOKYO (Reuters) - The Philippines is a good place for foreign investment despite statements from its volatile president attacking the United States and worries about his foreign policy, Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said on Thursday. President Rodrigo Duterte has thrown a long-standing alliance the United States into question since he took office in June, with a series of insults and threats to cut ties with the old colonial power. While on a three-day visit to Japan this week, Duterte said he might end defence treaties with the United States. Last week, in China, he announced his "separation" from the United States but then said ties were not being severed but he was pursuing an independent foreign policy. Dominguez said the response to some of Duterte's statements had been overblown and the Philippines would welcome investment from the United States though it was particularly interested in trade agreements with Asian neighbours. "We have looked around the world and said where should we redirect our economy, where should we integrate more," Dominguez told Reuters in an interview in Tokyo. "We have a 600 million population market which is growing," he said, referring to Southeast Asia. "We have China to the north, which is 1.3 billion which is growing very well, Japan has been a long time friend of the Philippines, and South Korea has been a very good partner." After only some 100 days in office, Dominguez - a former agriculture minister and childhood friend of Duterte - said it was difficult to comment on trade pacts, such as the chances of a proposed free trade agreement with the European Union. He said he was particularly interested in a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a proposed 16-nation free-trade area of which China is a key driver, while he questioned a U.S.-promoted Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) bloc. "I personally would like to look at the RCEP ... that one we are more open to. With regards to TPP, that's being reviewed all over, including in the United States, so maybe we'll put that on the back burner," he said. Story continues He also said the Philippines would give "priority attention" to a free trade agreement with the European Union. 'NOT DIVORCE' Duterte has praised relations with Japan during his visit and Dominguez said he hoped Japanese businesses, facing a labour shortage at home as the country ages, would establish small- and medium-sized companies in the Philippines to produce car parts and electronics. U.S. investment was also definitely welcome, he said. "What does separation mean? It's not divorce," he said. "Somebody suggested it's more like a child leaving its home and establishing its own home." When asked if he, as Duterte's childhood friend, could advise the world on how to work with the president, he said: "He's very focussed on his goals and he doesn't appreciate being slowed down. "He will lash out at people who try to slow him down." Duterte was apparently infuriated when the United States questioned his bloody war on drugs in which about 2,300 people have been killed. The United States has seen the Philippines as an important ally in its "rebalance" to Asia in the face of a rising China. Duterte has instead made overtures towards China, which he visited last week, despite a bitter dispute over rival claims in the South China Sea. (Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Robert Birsel) Premium consumer goods company, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation PPC reported weak third-quarter 2016 (ended Sep 25, 2016) results. The dismal performance was primarily stemmed by unfavorable exchange rate and grain costs. The companys quarterly earnings of 39 cents per share, fell short of the year-ago tally and the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 26.4%. The company's net income in the third quarter was $98.7 million compared with $137.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Revenues In the reported quarter, Pilgrim's Pride generated net revenue of $2,031.7 million, down 3.8% year over year. The top line also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,088 million. Revenues from the company's U.S. operations, which account for nearly 84.9% of the total revenue, fell 4.1% year over year. Revenues from the Mexican business 15.1% of the total revenue were down 2.2% year over year. Costs/Margins Pilgrim's Pride's cost of sales edged down 0.4% year over year to $1,821.5 million. Gross margin contracted 320 basis points (bps) year over year to 10.3%. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 12.4% year over year to $46.1 million. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) plunged 23.1% year over year to $210.8 million. Balance Sheet/Cash Flow Pilgrim's Pride exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of approximately $86 million, down from $439.6 million at the end of 2015. Long-term debt (net of current portion) was $1,004.8 million as against $985.5 million as of Dec 27, 2015. In the quarter under review, the company generated $531.1 million of cash from its operating activities, down 38% year over year. Capital spending totaled $173.4 million, up 33.6% year over year. Outlook Going forward, Pilgrim's Pride aims to improve its business through its customized portfolio strategy, operational excellence, increased value-added exports and superior niche customer relationships. The company targets to boost sales in the near term on the back of growing demand among consumers for natural food products, such as organic and Antibiotic Free (ABF) Fresh chicken. Story continues PILGRIMS PRIDE Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise PILGRIMS PRIDE Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | PILGRIMS PRIDE Quote Zacks Rank and Key Picks Pilgrim's Pride currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Some better-ranked stocks within the industry that warrant a look include: Amplify Snack Brands, Inc. BETR currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has an average positive earnings surprise of 9.93% over the four trailing quarters. Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc. BUFF currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has an average positive earnings surprise of 13.26% for the trailing four quarters. ConAgra Foods, Inc. CAG currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has an average positive earnings surprise of 10.66% over the trailing four quarters. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PILGRIMS PRIDE (PPC): Free Stock Analysis Report CONAGRA FOODS (CAG): Free Stock Analysis Report AMPLIFY SNACK (BETR): Free Stock Analysis Report BLUE BUFFALO (BUFF): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Madrid (AFP) - As Spain's conservatives prepare to re-take power after 10 months of political limbo, anti-austerity party Podemos has set its sights on replacing the divided Socialists as the main opposition force. Born on the streets in 2014 out of vociferous anti-austerity protests, the party led by the charismatic Pablo Iglesias has never made any secret of wanting to dislodge the 137-year-old Socialists (PSOE) as Spain's number one left-wing grouping. On Sunday, Podemos was handed a golden opportunity when the PSOE reluctantly decided to abstain in a parliamentary confidence vote due at the weekend, which will give acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy enough traction to win and push his minority government through. Since then, Iglesias and his team have zoned in on the Socialists, blaming them for putting Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party (PP) back in power despite the corruption scandals and sweeping spending cuts that marked his first term. "We are not going to fall into line... we want a different way of doing things and want to change things," the pony-tailed, 38-year-old told parliament Thursday, as Rajoy submitted himself to a first confidence vote. "It may be hard for you to recognise this, but you are closer to the PP than to ourselves," he told the Socialists. On the back foot, the PSOE has countered it is only abstaining to help unblock the political situation in Spain, which has remained without a fully-functioning government for 10 months after two inconclusive elections. - Back to its roots - Podemos is set to make life difficult for Rajoy's minority government with the 71 lawmakers it shares with smaller, former communist party Izquierda Unida as part of a coalition. But more than just parliamentary opposition, it has also pledged to return to its roots and mobilise society at a grassroots level. It backed student protests this week and Iglesias has pledged his support for a demonstration planned near parliament on Saturday, when Rajoy submits himself to the second and decisive confidence vote. Story continues He has also asked his followers to prepare for a potential general strike against the new conservative government. Podemos has risen at meteoric speed to become Spain's third political force in just under three years. It took millions of votes away from the Socialists in December 2015 elections and again in repeat June polls, although the grouping has remained firmly in third place after the Socialists. "Now we are in the phase of strengthening ourselves... by digging trenches in civil society," Iglesias told online daily eldiario.es, explaining that Podemos would continue to agitate through protests or by providing alternative information. "Doing brilliant parliamentary work is not the most important when you're in the opposition," the former politics professor said. "Digging trenches in civil society means reinforcing anti-establishment movements at a social level." - Assault on Socialists - The Socialists, meanwhile, have been seriously weakened by divisions pitting those who wanted to let Rajoy rule and avoid third elections, and those who wanted to keep blocking his attempts to form a government. The in-fighting reached such heights that Socialist party chief Pedro Sanchez, a staunch opponent of Rajoy, was ousted by a rebellion earlier this month. This, analysts say, offers an opportunity for Podemos. Research polls show that one in five disillusioned PSOE voters could now migrate to the far-left grouping, according to political analyst Pablo Simon. Podemos has also threatened to withdraw its support for several Socialist regional presidents, which would force them to seek the support of conservatives to remain in power. This strategy would allow it to once again "position the PSOE as a PP ally," said Carlos Barrera, professor of political communication at the University of Navarra. But David Pac Salas, professor of political sociology at the University of Zaragoza, warned that Podemos needs "to be more moderate in its discourse to attract orphan Socialist voters." For the moment -- and despite an inner party struggle -- this is not happening as the more combative Iglesias gets one over on his right-hand man Inigo Errejon, seen as more pragmatic. Whatever happens, though, it is going to take time for the Socialists to heal, said Pac Salas. In the meantime, Podemos will continue "to be a bother... look after number one, try to make gains and present itself to society as the true left-wing force," said Barrera. BEIJING (Reuters) - A three-year-old female polar bear kept in a shopping mall aquarium in southwestern China, at the center of an animal rights controversy, is showing signs of mental decline, animal welfare groups said. The bear, named Pizza, attracted the attention of international news media after Hong Kong-based Animals Asia posted a video on its website in July that showed visitors at the Guangzhou mall taking photos of her as she lay on her side in the blue-themed enclosure. The group called Pizza "the tragic bear that suffers for selfies". Humane Society International (HSI) on Tuesday released a video of Pizza, which it said showed "worrying stereotypical behaviors such as head swaying and repetitive pacing, evidence of frustration and mental decline." The group and three Chinese animal rights groups held a press conference on Tuesday calling for the closure of the aquarium at Grandview Mall. Yu Hongmei, founder of Dalian-based VShine Animal Protection Association, said at the press conference on Tuesday that "a shopping mall is not the place to exhibit animals". British newspaper 'The Telegraph', TIME magazine and other global media outlets have also called Pizza "the world's saddest polar bear." In an email reply to Reuters on Wednesday, Grandview Mall Aquarium said they disagreed with the animal rights groups' reports on Pizza's condition. They released their own video that showed Pizza swimming in his aquarium and getting fed by staff. Grandview said that Pizza's tank, at 150 square meters, complies with Chinese regulations for such enclosures. (Reporting by Reuters Television; Writing by Yiming Woo; Editing by Sam Holmes) Los Angeles police on Thursday arrested the man who destroyed Donald Trumps star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. James Otis, a Beverly Hills resident, previously told Deadline that he was behind the vandalism. Dressed as a construction worker, Otis said he took a sledgehammer and a pick-ax to the star shortly before 6 a.m. on Wednesday. He spoke about his negative feelings toward the Republican presidential nominee, telling the Los Angeles Times that he did not like Trumps behavior. I just sort of had enough with Mr. Trumps aggressive language toward women and his behavior, his sexual violence with women and against women, Otis said. Otis planned to turn himself in on Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported, but he wanted to hold a press conference at the scene of the crime before doing so. Police foiled this plan, arresting Otis on suspicion of smashing the star, according to the Times. Police estimated the damage to the star would cost about $2,500, which means Otis could face a felony vandalism charge that could land him in jail for up to three years. (Recasts top, adds arrest figures and background) By Timothy Mclaughlin Oct 27 (Reuters) - Sixteen Native Americans and other protesters were arrested in North Dakota on Thursday in the latest clash between police and demonstrators seeking to halt construction of a disputed oil pipeline. The arrests came as police moved to clear a camp on private property in the path of the proposed $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Department. Native American protesters had occupied the site since Monday, saying they were the land's rightful owners under an 1851 treaty with the U.S. government. Video posted on social media showed dozens of armed police and two armored vehicles slowly approaching one group of protesters during the confrontation. Reuters was unable to confirm the authenticity of the video, which showed a helicopter clattering overhead as some protesters said police had used bean bag guns in an effort to chase them out of the camp. The sheriff's department said in a statement that pepper spray was used on some of the estimated 330 protesters. "This is not about the pipeline. This is not about those who wish to legally protest. This is about the rule of law," Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said in a statement. North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple said police were successful in clearing the camp. "Private property is not the place to carry out a peaceful protest," he said. The 1,172-mile (1,885-km) pipeline, being built by a group of companies led by Energy Transfer Partners LP, would offer the fastest and most direct route to bring Bakken shale oil from North Dakota to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries. Supporters say it would be safer and more cost-effective than transporting the oil by road or rail. But the pipeline has drawn the ire of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and environmental activists who say it threatens the water supply and sacred tribal sites. They have been protesting for several months, and dozens have been arrested. Story continues Members of the Standing Rock Sioux asked Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Thursday to oppose the pipeline. She has so far not taken a public position on the issue. In September, the U.S. government halted construction on part of the line. The affected area includes land under Lake Oahe, a large and culturally important reservoir located on the Missouri River in southern North Dakota where the line was supposed to cross. Opposition to pipeline construction has increased in recent years, and environmental activists protested against the Keystone XL line that was rejected by the Obama administration. (Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney and Tom Brown) VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has accepted an invitation to visit South Sudan to preach peace in the country embroiled in inter-ethnic and political strife, religious leaders said after talks with the pontiff on Thursday. "He accepted the invitation and said that in principle he really wants to come," said Rev. Peter Gai Lual Marrow of the SoutH Sudan's Presbyterian Church. Marrow and Paulino Lukudu Loro, Catholic Archbishop of the capital, Juba, and Episcopalian Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak held talks with the pope, who had asked them to come to the Vatican to discuss the situation in their country. Oil-producing South Sudan, which became independent in 2011, descended into civil war in December 2013 when a dispute between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar ended with fighting, often occurring along ethnic lines. Both sides have targeted civilians, human rights groups say. A peace pact in 2015 ostensibly ended the fighting but has frequently been violated. Major clashes broke out again in July. The pope would also need an invitation from the government to visit the country. South Sudanese mostly follow Christian or traditional animist beliefs. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights warned this week that South Sudan is suffering a rise in hate speech and incitement to violence against certain ethnic groups which could result in mass atrocities if the government does not act. (Reporting by Philip Pullella Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) Lisbon (AFP) - The head of Portugal's ruling Socialists called German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble a "pyromaniac" Thursday after he criticised Lisbon for reversing course on austerity. Carlos Cesar's jibe came after Schaeuble said Portugal had been "very successful" until the Socialists, on coming to power last year, declared they would "not respect what the former government had agreed." "As everyone knows, the German finance minister is a pyromaniac who tries to present himself as a firefigher," Cesar told news radio TSF. "His compatriots do not think like him," he added, going on to cite examples of German firms that have made huge investments in Portugal. "They understand that the Portuguese economy has potential, that political and social stability is a factor that they value, and that Portugal is in a position to make progress with our policy," said the Socialist leader. Since coming to power the Socialists have reduced taxes for lower income earners and rolled back some austerity measures launched during the country's 2011-2014 78-billion-euro ($85 billion) bailout. They took office after teaming up with the Communists and the far-left Left Block to oust a centre-right administration which had embraced a German-led austerity push by raising taxes, cutting spending and reforming labour laws. Prime Minister Antonio Costa has vowed to "turn the page on austerity" with steps including a reversal of public-sector wage cuts and higher pensions, giving people and the economy more spending power. Costa dismissed Schaeuble's comment made on Wednesday, saying he "pays attention mainly to Germans who know Portugal, and as a result, know what they are talking about." "I usually only talk about what I know and I never talk about other countries about which I know nothing, based on prejudices," he added. The government's draft budget for 2017 forecasts the public deficit will fall to 1.6 percent of economic output next year from 2.4 percent in 2016, well below a European Union limit of 3.0 percent. Portugal posted a deficit of 4.4 percent of gross domestic product in 2015, the third highest in the EU after Greece and Spain. Oct 27 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** Finance Minister Bill Morneau will deliver a fiscal update next week that is along the lines of a mini-budget, with measures aimed at rolling out the federal government's second phase of infrastructure spending. http://bit.ly/2dOj0MV ** Canada's housing agency is warning that prices are soaring in smaller communities in British Columbia and Ontario as the real estate boom in Vancouver and Toronto spreads deeper into the suburbs. http://bit.ly/2dOpRWC ** Husky Energy Inc announced late Wednesday that President and Chief Executive Asim Ghosh, 68, will retire in December. http://bit.ly/2dOqvDx NATIONAL POST ** Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said she was willing to intervene after a United Nations department rejected an application for media accreditation from a Canadian news company on the grounds that it is an "advocacy media outlet". , The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat rejected The Rebel's application to send three journalists to cover next month's Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Morocco. http://bit.ly/2dOqFuE ** A former human resources executive for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp has filed a wrongful dismissal suit against the broadcaster, alleging that senior HR staff conspired to fire her while she was on medical leave and that CEO Hubert Lacroix breached his duties in refusing to review the matter. http://bit.ly/2dOmTRV (Compiled by Vishal Sridhar) Oct 27 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - Federal investigators have launched a probe into whether U.S. companies linked to a Chinese billionaire illegally avoided punitive import tariffs on Chinese aluminum, according to people familiar with the investigation. http://on.wsj.com/2eLixgW - The offering for ZTO Express, which delivers parcels for e-commerce giants like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and JD.com, is the largest IPO in the U.S. this year. http://on.wsj.com/2eTqMWD - Fifteen Democratic senators urged federal regulators to strengthen proposed rules governing Wall Street pay practices, saying the recent scandal at Wells Fargo & Co underscored the need to hold executives accountable for misconduct. http://on.wsj.com/2eTntPc - Two chief fundraisers for the Clinton Foundation pressed corporate donors to steer business opportunities to former President Bill Clinton as well, according to a hacked memo published Wednesday by WikiLeaks. http://on.wsj.com/2ex9aTN - The Pentagon on Wednesday said it has suspended its efforts to collect repayment of re-enlistment bonuses from service members and war veterans who received them erroneously, announcing a series of steps to quell a swiftly developing furor. http://on.wsj.com/2eSSP9X - Greece's ruling Syriza party suffered a major blow on Wednesday night when judges struck down its plan to revamp Greece's media sector, after a weekslong power struggle that produced allegations of blackmail and "fascist" methods. http://on.wsj.com/2eSqqRu - The Brazilian Supreme Court's 11 justices voted 7-4 that early-age retirees who continue to work and to contribute to the pension system can't ask for an increase in payouts, a possibility the government argued was against the Constitution. http://on.wsj.com/2eHP09S (Compiled by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru) Prince Albert has long been an outspoken climate change activist which is why he says Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump is dangerous. The Monaco royal, who visited the U.S. this week with wife Princess Charlene, told PEOPLE of Trump, I was pretty shocked when I heard his climate change denial. Its dangerous to have someone like this running for office, someone who can have people believing its all a conspiracy. During his visit to New York, the royal met with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and presented him with the documents of ratification of the Paris agreements, the framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that came out of last years COP21. The U.S. ratified in April and the Prince says that while the trigger number of 55 nations is approaching, weve still a few to go. COP22, which opens Nov. 7 in Marrakesh, will once again reflect the princes long-term advocacy for ocean protection. Similar to COP21, the Morocco conference will feature discussions chaired by Prince Albert to promote better understanding of the issues affecting our oceans. These include overfishing and pollution, the need for more protected areas, how better care needs to be implemented and progress on the negotiations concerning the legal status of the high seas which the U.N. has been working on, he says. On Monday, Albert and Charlene attended the annual Princess Grace Foundation dinner in New York, the charity event celebrating the Grace Kellys involvement in the arts. The following day, he made a quick visit to the newly purchased family home in Philadelphias East Falls neighborhood that once belonged to Grace. It feels good to be a new homeowner and know Ill have a place when Im in the U.S., he told PEOPLE last week. By Julia Fioretti and Dustin Volz BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A widely expected legal challenge has been filed by an Irish privacy advocacy group to an EU-U.S. commercial data transfer pact underpinning billions of dollars of trade in digital services just two months after it came into force. The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield was agreed earlier this year after the European Union's highest court struck down the previous Safe Harbour agreement over the transfer of Europeans' personal data to the United States, on concerns about intrusive U.S. surveillance. The new agreement gives businesses moving personal data across the Atlantic - from human resources information to people's browsing histories to hotel bookings - an easy way to do so without falling foul of tough EU data transferral rules. Digital Rights Ireland has challenged the adoption of the Privacy Shield pact by the EU executive in front of the second-highest EU court because it does not contain adequate privacy protections, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the Luxembourg-based General Court - the lower court of the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) - on Thursday confirmed the advocacy group sought the annulment of Privacy Shield decision. The case number is T-670/16. Digital Rights Ireland declined to comment. It will be a year or more before the court rules on the case and it could still be declared inadmissible if the court finds the Privacy Shield is not of direct concern to Digital Rights Ireland, two of the people said. Individuals or companies may challenge EU acts before the EU courts if they are directly concerned within two months of the act coming into force. "We are aware of the application (for annulment)," a spokesman for the European Commission said. "We don't comment on ongoing court cases. As we have said from the beginning, the Commission is convinced that the Privacy Shield will live up to the requirements set out by the European Court of Justice which has been the basis for the negotiations." Story continues Revelations three years ago from former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden of mass U.S. surveillance practices caused political outrage in Europe and have cast cross-border data transfers in a pall of uncertainty. The Privacy Shield seeks to strengthen the protection of Europeans whose data is moved to U.S. servers by giving EU citizens greater means to seek redress in case of disputes, including through a new privacy ombudsman within the State Department who will deal with complaints from EU citizens about U.S. spying. An official at the U.S. Department of Commerce - which negotiated the pact for the United States - said it knew a legal challenge was a possibility and was monitoring the challenge brought by Digital Rights Ireland. "The United States stands behind the Privacy Shield Framework and the critical privacy protections it affords individuals in furtherance of supporting robust transatlantic commerce and is ready to explain our safeguards and limitations if necessary," the official said. Companies had to rely on other more cumbersome legal mechanisms in the wake of the ECJ ruling invalidating Safe Harbour, the framework that for 15 years was used by over 4,000 companies for transatlantic data transfers. More than 500 companies have signed up to the Privacy Shield agreement so far, including Google (GOOGL.O), Facebook (FB.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O). (Additional reporting by Eric Auchard in London and Conor Humphries in Dublin; Editing by Mark Potter and Greg Mahlich) The prosecution rested its case Thursday in the trial of Rurik Jutting the British banker charged with the murder of two Indonesian women at his Hong Kong apartment two years ago. In Hong Kongs High Court, before a packed public gallery and an apparently emotionless Jutting prosecutors played videos of the 31-year-old describing to police officers the manner in which he killed 23-year-old single mother Sumarti Ningsih, from Cilacap in southern Java, and 28-year-old domestic worker Seneng Mujiasih, of Indonesias Sulawesi province. Jutting has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the two women, whose bodies were found on Nov. 1, 2014 after he summoned police to his address. He has admitted to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility a plea rejected by prosecutors. Sumartis decomposing body was discovered stuffed into a suitcase on the balcony of Juttings apartment. The body of Seneng was found naked on the floor. Both women had been killed with a knife. In interrogations with police, Jutting described torturing Sumarti for three days. She was screaming very loud, not in English I just assumed people wouldve heard, he said, before identifying the knife he used to kill her. He admitted making videos and taking photos of the torture (All of the photos from my mobile phone, I took) but said, I dont think I recorded her actual death. Jutting claimed to have been buying and consuming large quantities of cocaine in the weeks leading up to the murders. Police found a total of 26 empty small plastic bags in Juttings apartment that had each contained a gram of the drug. The defendant described being in a paranoid state of mind during the days in which he held Sumarti captive, believing that police were about to storm his apartment. He said he barricaded the door with boxes to give me time to jump if I needed to and spoke of police coming through windows and sewers. Story continues The prosecution then showed the judge and the jury various exhibits, including the weapon used to kill Seneng a blood-stained knife and graphic photos of Sumarti taken before and after her death. Among them was an image of Sumartis corpse with her head held up to face the lens. The defense said that Jutting would not testify, and added that, because the prosecution had rested it case earlier than it expected, its expert witnesses a doctor and a psychologist would not be able to testify until Monday, when the trial resumes. Deputy High Court Judge Justice Michael Stuart-Moore expressed the hope that jurors could come back fresh with an open mind after the weekend. With reporting by Kevin Lui / Hong Kong American officials have accused Russian-backed hackers of trying to influence the outcome of the U.S. presidential election by leaking Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons emails. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied this. But in doing so, he also questioned the nature of the American democracy, and threw a little love to his bro, GOP nominee Donald Trump. Speaking during a televised conference in the southern Russian city of Sochi, Putin said Moscow was not involved in the hacks. Does anybody seriously think that Russia could somehow influence the choice of the American people? he said. Is it a banana republic or something? America is a great power. As for backing Trump, Putin dismissed that theory outright, even though the pair have traded pleasantries. Instead, the Russian strongman suggested the outcome of the American businessmans candidacy will be determined by the Western media, and that the budding Putin-Trump bromance was part of a political battle, an attempt to manipulate public opinion on the eve of elections. Continuing, Putin said Trump speaks for people who dont like that power is being transferred by inheritance. Trump is, of course, extravagant, Putin added. He simply represents the interests of simple people who criticize those who have been in power for decades. Putins shadow has loomed large over the 2016 presidential race. On the campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly praised the Russian leader for commanding more respect than Clinton or President Barack Obama. Putin has called Trump colorful. But the real specter of the Kremlin looms as emails from Clinton or people connected to her stolen by hackers backed by Russia, according to U.S. intelligence officials steadily leak out in the runup to the election 12 days away. So far, the leaked messages have done little to sway the electorate. Most polls show Clinton with a comfortable lead over Trump. But it has forced her camp to continuously answer queries about them, keeping her private email in the news cycle. Story continues The Russian president also gave his thoughts on the state of the American electoral process, calling it watered down. Elections have stopped being an instrument of change, and have been reduced to scandals, to mudslinging, to questions of who pinched whom and who is sleeping with whom, he said, adding, It doesnt really make a difference, but of course we cant not welcome words, thoughts, intentions that are publicly expressed about normalizing relations between the U.S. and Russia. Heady words from a man who suppresses his countrys media, jails opponents, and stands accused of multiple human rights violations. If Trump does pull off an upset and win on Nov. 8, its doubtful Putins transgressions will be on the agenda at a pre-inauguration meeting suggested by the GOP nominee. Photo credit: Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Business Russia Congress in Moscow, Russia, October 18, 2016. REUTERS/Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool Russian President Vladimir Putin told a group of foreign policy experts in southern Russia on Thursday that Donald Trump's "extravagant behavior" is just his way of getting his message across to voters. "He has chosen a method to get through to voters' hearts," Putin said at the annual meeting of the the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi. Trump "behaves extravagantly of course, we see this, but I think there's a reason for this. He represents part of US society that's tired of having the elite in power for decades," Putin said. Putin said the mainstream US media's claim he supports Trump over Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, is "nonsense," but that Russia "welcomes statements that US-Russian relations should be improved from anyone." The US intelligence community has accused the Russian government of hacking Democratic Party organizations, a charge Russia has denied. Putin and Clinton have a history of mutual distrust, stemming from Clinton's claim in 2011 that Russia's elections that year were fraudulent which Putin said "set the tone for certain actors inside the country" to protest and her support for a military intervention in Libya to oust Moammar Gadhafi, which he said was done "without court or investigation." Trump's stances on the US's positions in the international community, meanwhile, have tended to align with Putin's. Donald Trump From threats about pulling out of NATO to altering the Republican Party's policy on Ukraine which has long called for arming Ukrainian soldiers against pro-Russia rebels Trump is "the gift that keeps on giving" for Putin, Russian journalist Anna Nemtsova wrote in Politico in July. Trump throughout his campaign has praised Putin for being a "leader, unlike what we have in this country," and has said he thinks he would "get along well" with Putin if he were elected. "I don't think he has any respect for Clinton," Trump said in July. "I think he respects me. I think it would be great to get along with him." Story continues Putin has returned the compliments, telling reporters in December that Trump is "a very lively man, talented without doubt" and the "absolute leader in the presidential race." Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, resigned this summer amid controversy over his previous position advising the Party of Regions, the political party led by the Russian-backed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych before he was driven out of power in 2014 and exiled to southern Russia. 'Is America a banana republic or what?' Putin, who spent the better part of his speech on Thursday criticizing Obama administration policies, said that reports of Russian interference in the US election were "hysteria." "Hysteria has been whipped up in the United States about the influence of Russia over the US presidential election," Putin said. "It's much simpler to distract people with so-called Russian hackers, spies, and agents of influence. Does anyone really think that Russia could influence the American people's choice in any way? Is America a banana republic or what? America is a great power." Obama and Putin Reports emerged in June that the Democratic National Committee had been infiltrated by Russian-aligned hackers. Hacked emails from Democratic Party officials that revealed their apparent coolness toward Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign began appearing on WikiLeaks and the website DCLeaks.com as Trump's campaign gained steam. The leaks led to the resignation of the Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The US earlier this month publicly accused the Russian government of orchestrating those cyberattacks, stating that "only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities." Putin on Thursday again denied any state involvement in the cyberattacks. "Cyberattacks against sovereign nations are unacceptable," he said. "A nation must respect other nations and adhere to common rules for the world. The gap between elites and their peoples are a major factor in today's problems, but not the only one, of course." NOW WATCH: PUTIN: Trump represents Americans who are 'tired of the elite who have been in power for decades' More From Business Insider By Narottam Medhora and Supantha Mukherjee (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) agreed to buy NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI.O) for about $38 billion in the biggest-ever semiconductor industry deal, expanding the reach of its chips from phones to cars. The deal will make Qualcomm, which provides chips to Android smartphone makers and Apple Inc (AAPL.O), the top supplier of chips to the automotive industry and help to reduce its dependence on the smartphone market. San Diego-based Qualcomm, which gets most of its profit from wireless patents it licenses to the mobile industry, has been facing slowing smartphone sales and stiff competition from Chinese and Taiwanese rivals. Qualcomm had sat out the transformative consolidation sweeping the industry, but Thursday's deal tops Avago's (AVGO.O) $37 billion acquisition of Broadcom last year. The equity value of Qualcomm's offer is $37.88 billion, according to Reuters calculations based on the company's 344.4 million diluted shares as of Oct. 2. Including debt, it is worth roughly $47 billion, the companies said. The combined entity is expected to have annual revenue of more than $30 billion. Eindhoven-based NXP became the world's biggest maker of automotive electronics after it acquired U.S.-based Freescale Semiconductor for about $12 billion last December. Qualcomm said it would offer $110 per share in cash, a premium of 11.5 percent to NXP Semiconductor's Wednesday's close. NXP's shares, which had risen 20 percent since reports of a potential deal emerged on Sept. 29, were up 2.9 percent at $101.55 in premarket trading on Thursday. Qualcomm's shares were up 2.1 percent at $69.64. The company said it intends to fund the transaction with cash on hand and new debt. Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are providing committed debt financing for the transaction. The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of 2017, is structured to use offshore cash flow in a tax-efficient manner to rapidly reduce leverage, Qualcomm said. Story continues The company said it expects the deal to significantly add to adjusted earnings immediately upon its closing, and generate $500 million of cost savings annually within two years after the deal closes. Goldman Sachs and Evercore were financial advisers to Qualcomm, while Centerview Partners LLC advised its board. Qatalyst Partners, Barclays and Credit Suisse were financial advisers to NXP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek were legal counsels. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee and Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Saumyadeb Chakrabarty) We know who wears the pants in this royal family! Theres no question Spains Queen Letizia can rock a gown like no other royal, but its clear her go-to look is a stylish pair of trousers. The royal, 44, rocked black tracksuit-inspired pants with a sporty white stripe down the side at an event at Zarzuela Palace on Thursday. Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. But this isnt the first time shes put slacks in the spotlight. Whether its downtime with her daughters, a glamorous event or official royal duties, Letizia always makes sure to pack along the perfect pants for any occasion. Letizia stunned in a sleeveless black Felipe Varela jumpsuit with delicate detailing at the neckline for the opening ceremony of the Princess of Asturias Awards in October 2015. The royal paired a blue and white jacked with skinny black pants to attend Easter Mass at the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca in 2014. The queen wore a khaki colored suit pantsuit during a business meeting in 2014. The queen was business chic in a sophisticated navy BOSS coat and slacks in December 2014. Letizia paired the perfect pair of red heels with black pants and a geometric top from Remix in November 2014. During a family vacation in Mallora in August 2014, Letizia made chic look easy in a pair of Aztec-inspired print pants from BOSS. Letizia brought the glam with a BOSS black jumpsuit paired with a gold metallic belt at an event in Madrid in 2013. Raven-Symone, who just announced she will be leaving The View, is staying in the Disney family with a Thats So Raven sequel for the Disney Channel. She is relocating from New York, where The View is taped, back to Los Angeles to work on the family sitcom, which is beginning preliminary casting. Raven will reprise her title role of Raven Baxter in the offshoot, which she also will executive produce. On the new show, Raven is a divorced mother to two pre-teen kids (a son and daughter), one of whom has inherited her ability to catch glimpses of the future. The pilot is being written/executive produced by longtime writing/producing partners Scott Thomas and Jed Elinoff (Disney Channels Best Friends Whenever). Ravens brilliant style of fearless comedy was a driving force for Disney Channels success around the world. Her performance in Thats So Raven is timeless, said Adam Bonnett, EVP Original Programming, Disney Channels Worldwide. We now have our eyes on the future with her, and were looking forward to telling more stories for a new generation with an adult Raven Baxter raising her young family. This is the same strategy Disney Channel used to successfully reboot the popular TGIF sitcom Boy Meets World with a sequel series, Girl Meets World, in which the title character from the original series now has kids of his own. Thats So Raven, Disney Channels first original multi-camera sitcom, told the story of Raven Baxter, a teen whose ability to glimpse flashes of the future often got her into hot water. It was a breakout hit for the network, setting ratings records with its January 2003 premiere, and ran for four seasons and 100 episodes. Like Boys Meets World and another recently rebooted ABC sitcom, Full House, Thats So Ravens repeats have remained popular after the shows end. Its most recent midnight telecasts on Disney Channel delivered on average 1.057 million total viewers from January-April 2016. Story continues Thats So Raven broke new ground, with Raven becoming the first African-American woman to have her name in a comedy series title. At age 19, she also was named producer on the series. With Thats So Raven, she won four NAACP Image Awards and two Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, among others. Additionally, Raven toplined the ABC Family comedy series State Of Georgia. Related stories Raven-Symone Becomes Latest To Leave 'The View' 'The Swap': Disney Channel Original Movie Draws 3.1 Million Total Viewers In Live+3 Jane Fonda's Evil Sorceress In Disney Channel's 'Elena And The Secret Of Avalor' - First-Look Photo Raven-Symone, who announced Thursday morning that she is leaving The View, will return to the Disney Channel to star in a spin-off of Thats So Raven, a show that shot her to fame for her portrayal of the psychic teenager Raven Baxter. The new series, still untitled, will feature Raven as a divorced mother of two children, one of whom has inherited her psychic abilities. Ravens brilliant style of fearless comedy was a driving force for Disney Channels success around the world, Disney Channels Worldwide executive vice president Adam Bonnett said. Her performance in Thats So Raven is timeless. We now have our eyes on the future with her, and were looking forward to telling more stories for a new generation with an adult Raven Baxter raising her young family. Raven became the first African-American woman to have her name in a comedy series title with Thats So Raven, which was Disney Channels first original multi-camera show. Raven will executive produce the series, with Scott Thomas and Jed Elinoff working on development. [*] OBAMA: Well (APPLAUSE) Whoa. (APPLAUSE) Well, hey there. (APPLAUSE) You guys are pretty fired up, right? (APPLAUSE) I like that, I like that. Wow. (APPLAUSE) Well, let melet me start. Of course, because Hillarys, you know, many tributes to me wastaken me off of, just kind of thrown me a little bit. It was very generous. But I just want to take this moment publicly to thank Hillary. I mean thereit takes a level of generosity of spirits to do what Hillary has done in her career in her life for our family, for this nation. (APPLAUSE) And if people wonder, yes Hillary Clinton is my friend. She has been a friend to me and Barrack and Malia and Sasha. And Bill and Chelsea have been embracing and supportive from the very day my husband took the oath of office. (APPLAUSE) So, I am grateful for Hillary for her leadership, for her courage and for what she is going to do for this country. So its going to be good, its going to be good. But I also want to take some time to recognize your former Senator, Kay Hagan, who is here. Kay, good to see you. (APPLAUSE) And again, I just want to lend my voice to your outstanding candidate Deborah Ross. (APPLAUSE) (Inaudible) Deborah. As Hillary said, she is someone who cares deeply about the people in this state. And she is always going to put your families first. So lets make Deborah your next U.S. senator. All right? (APPLAUSE) And lets make Roy Cooper your next governor. How about that? (APPLAUSE) Thanks also to all the members of Congress who are joining us and your mayor, Allen Joines, thank you, Mayor. (APPLAUSE) But more importantly, thank you to all of you for taking the time, waiting in lines to be here today to help us support the next president and vice president of the United States, Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine! (APPLAUSE) I dont know about you, but Im fired up. We are going to make this happen . (APPLAUSE) Now you may have noticed that Ive been doing some campaigning for Hillary. And I know that there is some folks out there who have commented that its been unprecedented for a sitting First Lady to be so actively engaged in the presidential campaign. And that may be true. But whats also true is that this is truly an unprecedented election. And thats why Im out here. (APPLAUSE) Im out here first and foremost because we have never had a more qualified and prepared candidate for president than our friend Hillary Clinton. Never before in our lifetime. (APPLAUSE) I say this everywhere I go. I admire and respect Hillary. Shes been a lawyer, a law professor, First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the United States, a U.S. senator, secretary of state. (APPLAUSE) She has (APPLAUSE) AUDIENCE: Hillary! Hillary! Hillary! OBAMA: Yeah. Thats right. Hillary doesnt play. (LAUGHTER) She has more experience and exposure to the presidency than any candidate in our lifetime. Yes, more than Barack, more than Bill. So she is absolutely ready to be commander in chief on day one. And yes, she happens to be a woman. (APPLAUSE) This election is also unprecedented because I dont think weve ever had two candidates with such dramatically different visions of who we are and how we move forward as a nation. One candidate has a vision that is grounded in hopelessness and despair. A vision of a country that is weak and divided. Where our communities are in chaos. Our fellow citizens a threat. This candidate calls on us to turn against each other to build walls. To be afraid. And then there is Hillarys vision for this country (APPLAUSE) that you just heard. A vision of a nation that is powerful and vibrant and strong. Big enough to have a place for all of us. A nation where we each have something very special to contribute. And where we are always stronger together. (APPLAUSE) That is the choice we face. Between those who divide this country into us versus them and those who tell us to embrace our better angels and choose hope over fear. As we look into the eyes of our children, as we send them off to school each morning and tuck them into bed at night, as Hillary said, the stakes in this election could not be more clear. And let me tell you, this is not about Republicans versus Democrats. None of that matters this time around. No, no, no. This election is about something much bigger. Its about who will shape our children and the country we leave for them, not just for the next four or eight years, but for the rest of their lives. (APPLAUSE) Because, as Hillary pointed out, we all know, we know the influence our president has on our children. How they turn on the TV and they see the most powerful role model in the world, someone who shows them how to treat others, how to deal with disappointment, whether to tell the truth. Theyre taking it all in. And, as Hillary said, when you raise children in the White House, like Barack and Hillary and I have, you are reminded every day of the impact that you have. You start seeing the images of every child in this country in the face of your child. So when people wonder how Hillary keeps her composure through the overwhelming pressure of not just this campaign, but of her career, or how Barack and I have dealt with the glare of the national spotlight these last eight years, thats the answer. With every action we take, with every word we utter, we think about the millions of children who are watching us, who hand onto our every word, looking to us to show them who they can and should be. And thats why every day we try to be the kind of people, the kind of leaders that your children deserve, whether you agree with our politics or not. (APPLAUSE) And when I think about this election, let me tell you, that is what Im thinking about. Im asking myself, what do my girls, what do all our children deserve in their president? What kind of a president do we want for them? Well, to start with, I think we want someone who is a unifying force in this country, someone who sees our differences not as a threat, but as a blessing. (APPLAUSE) As Hillary said, we want a president who values and honors women, who teaches our daughters and our sons that women are full and equal human being worth, deserving of love and respect. (APPLAUSE) We want a president who understands that this nation was built by folks who came here from all corners of the globe, folks who worked their fingers to the bone to create this country and give their kids a better life. We want a president who sees the goodness in all our communities, not just the brokenness. Someone who understands that communities like the one where I was raised are filled with good, hardworking folks. Folks who take that extra shift, who work that extra job, because they want something more for their kids. And finally, we want a President who takes this job seriously. (APPLAUSE) And has the temperament and maturity to do it well. (APPLAUSE) Someone who is steady. Someone who we can trust with the nuclear codes. (APPLAUSE) Because we want to go to sleep at night knowing that our kids and our country are safe. And I am here today because I believe with all of my heart and I would not be here lying to you I believe with all of my heart that Hillary Clinton will be that president. (APPLAUSE) See, over the years Ive come to know Hillary. I know her. Not just her extraordinary professional accomplishments, but I know her personal values and beliefs. I know that Hillary was raised like Barack and I in a working family. Hillarys mother was an orphan, abandoned by her parents. Her father was a small business owner who stayed up nights, pouring over the books, working hard to keep their family afloat. So believe this, Hillary knows what it means to struggle for what you have, and to want something better for your kids. (APPLAUSE) See, and thats why since the day she launched her campaign, Hillary has been laying out concrete, detailed policies that will actually make a difference for kids and families in this country. And she said she plans to make college tuition free to help young people drowning in debt. (APPLAUSE) Shes going to handle making sure that our climate is protected. (APPLAUSE) And let me tell you this about Hillary, she is involved and engaged in every policy issue that shes developed. You go on her website, shes gonna raise the minimum wage, shes gonna cut taxes for working folks, shes gonna do her best to help women get equal pay for equal work. (APPLAUSE) And if you want to know more, just go on her website, HillaryClinton.com. Because heres the thing about Hillary, thankfully Hillary is a policy wonk (ph). (APPLAUSE) And let me tell you, when you are president, that is a good thing. (APPLAUSE) Because policies matter, they really matter. They determine whether our kids have good schools, whether they can see a doctor when theyre sick, whether theyre safe when they walk out the door on the way to school. Policies matter, and thats why Hillary has fought so hard for childrens health insurance as first lady, for affordable childcare in the Senate. (APPLAUSE) Thats why as secretary of state she has gone toe-to-toe with world leaders to keep our kids safe, and that is why day after day, debate after debate, she has shown us such strength, such grace. (APPLAUSE) Refusing to be knocked down, refusing to be pushed around or counted out. Hillary does all of this because she is thinking of children like her mother, children like her daughter, and her grand- kids, children who deserve every chance to fulfill their God-given potential. That is why Hillary is in this. She is in this race for us. She is in this for our families, for our kids, for our shared future. So let me tell you, that is why I am inspired by Hillary. That is why I respect Hillary, because she has lived a life grounded in service and sacrifice that has brought her to this day, that has more than prepared her to take on the hardest job on the planet. She has run an extraordinary campaign. She has built an impressive grassroots organization. Shes raised the money, shes won all the debates. (APPLAUSE) So Hillary has done her job. Now we need to do our job, and get her elected president of the United States. (APPLAUSE) Because heres where I want to get real. If Hillary doesnt win this election, that will be on us. It will be because we did not stand with her. It will be because we did not vote for her, and that is exactly what her opponent is hoping will happen. Thats the strategy, to make this election so dirty and ugly that we dont want any part of it. So when you hear folks talking about a global conspiracy, and saying that this election is rigged, understand that they are trying to get you to stay home. They are trying to convince you that your vote doesnt matter, that the outcome has already been determined, and you shouldnt even bother making your voice heard. They are trying to take away your hope. And just for the record, in this country, the United States of America, the voters decide our elections, theyve always decided, voters decided who wins and who loses, period, end of story. (APPLAUSE) And right now, thankfully folks are coming out in droves to vote early. Its amazing to see. We are making our voices heard all across the country. Because when they go low AUDIENCE: We go high! OBAMA: And we know that every vote matters. Every single vote. And if you have any doubt about that, consider this. Back in 2008, and I say this everywhere I go, Barack won North Carolina by about 14,000 votes. (APPLAUSE) Which sounds like a lot, but when you break the number down, the difference between winning and losing this state was a little over two votes per precinct. See, I want you all to take that in. I know that there are people here who didnt vote. Two votes. And people knew people who didnt vote. Two votes. If just two or three folks per precinct had gone the other way, Barack would have lost that state and could have lost the election. And lets not forget back in 2012, Barack did actually lose this state by about 17 votes per precinct. 17. That is how presidential elections go. They are decided on a razors edge. So each of you could swing. In this stadium, just think about it. Each of you could swing an entire precinct and win this election for Hillary, just by getting yourselves, your friends and your family out to vote. (APPLAUSE) Just doing what you are supposed to do, you can do this. But you could also help swing an entire precinct for Hillarys opponent with a protest vote or by not voting at all. So heres what Im asking you. Get out and vote. Get out and vote for Hillary. Vote early. Vote right now. Leave here, go vote. And dont let anyone take that right away from you. As Hillary mentioned, you may have seen in previous weeks that folks were trying to cut early voting places and cut the hours they were open, but that did not stop people in this state. That is beautiful. Now I understand there are more locations that are opening, and I want you all to crowd those places. I want you to remember that folks marched and protested for our right to vote. (APPLAUSE) They endured beatings and jail time. They sacrificed their lives for this right. So I know you can get yourselves to the polls to exercise that right. Because make no mistake about it, casting our vote is the ultimate way we go high when they go low. Voting is our high. (APPLAUSE) That is how we go high, we vote. How do we go high? AUDIENCE: We vote! OBAMA: How do we go high? AUDIENCE: We vote! OBAMA: Thats it. And after you vote, volunteer. No, no, no, no. We need you to volunteer. Roll up your sleeves, make calls, knock on doors, get people to the polls. It is turnout that is going to make the difference. We have to turn our people out. (APPLAUSE) Do not let yourself get tired or frustrated, or discouraged by the negativity of this election. As you are out there working your hearts out for my girl, heres the thing that I just want to tell you all. Because this has been a draining election. But I urge you to please, please be encouraged. You know, I want our young people to be encouraged. Because we still live in the greatest country on earth. We do. (APPLAUSE) And I have never felt more hopeful about the future. I want our young people deserve that. Be encouraged. I feel that way, because for the past eight years, I have had the great honor of being this countrys First Lady. (APPLAUSE) First ladies, we rock. (APPLAUSE) But I have traveled from one end to this country to the other, and I have met people from every conceivable background and walk of life, including folks who disagree with just about everything Barack and I have ever said, but who welcome us into their community. Remember, our neighbors are decent folks. These are were all good people who are open hearted and willing to listen. And while we might not change each others minds, we always walk away reminded that when it comes to what really matters, when it comes to our hopes and dreams for our children, were just not all that different. And I want you to remember that its that part of us as Americans and its that piece of us that is in all of us. Thats what drives folks like Hillarys mother, who said to herself, I may not have grown up in a loving family but I will build a loving family of my own. I will give my children what I never had. I will pour my heart into raising a strong, smart, loving daughter. (APPLAUSE) Thats what drives people like my father, who kept getting up and putting in those long hours, who said I may not have gone to college, but Im going to keep working because maybe my son, maybe my daughter will, because in this country, anything is possible. (APPLAUSE) As we walk away from this election, remember that is what makes us who we are, remember that. Its a country where a girl like me from the south side of Chicago whos great great grandfather was a slave, can go to the finest universities on Earth. A country where a biracial kid from Hawaii, the son of a single mother, can make it to the White House. (APPLAUSE) A country where the daughter of an orphan can break that highest and hardest glass ceiling and become president of the United States. (APPLAUSE) That is who we are. That is whats possible here in America but only, only when we come together. Only when we work for it and fight for it, so thats why for the next 12 days folks, we need to do everything possible to help Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine win this election. (APPLAUSE) Are you with me? (APPLAUSE) Are you with me? (APPLAUSE) I cant hear you, are you we going to do this? (APPLAUSE) Were going to vote. Were going to vote early. Were going to stand in lines, were going to make our voices heard. No one is going to take away our hope. Lets get this done, thank you all. God bless. (APPLAUSE) END The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry named its Manufacturers of the Year on Thursday at an event in Lincoln. The group gave its small manufacturer award to Endicott Clay Products of Endicott, which is about six miles southeast of Fairbury. The manufacturer of brick and tile products has been in business since 1920. The chamber's large manufacturer award went to Novozymes of Blair. The Danish company, which is the worlds largest maker of industrial enzymes and micro-organisms, opened its Blair plant in 2012. It is the only U.S. Novozymes plant dedicated to producing enzymes for biofuels. The state chamber's manufacturing awards have been presented annually since 2008 to Nebraska manufacturers that successfully implement innovative ways of conducting business through the use of new products, processes, technologies and strategies. Bryan Tarnowski Lots of things can thwart a home saleugly decor, a bad location or an unrealistic price. But some homeowners and real-estate agents cite another reason: ghosts. For help, theres a cottage industry of people who advertise themselves as psychics, ghostbusters and paranormal investigators. Some charge hundreds of dollars to visit haunted propertieseither in person, or via astral traveland clear them of unwanted spirits. Others are volunteer ghostbusters who comb homes with high-tech gear to suss out paranormal activity. Jane Phillips, a paranormal investigator and self-described clearer in Santa Fe, N.M., markets her services to real-estate agents because its easier to get them to pay for something if it gets their houses sold. Ms. Phillips, 65, was a mortgage banker for 30 years in Minneapolis, before moving to New Mexico in 2008, she said. Since then she has worked on hundreds of homes, mostly locally, charging about $350 to $400. Jobs require her to remove energetic things, that can include ghosts but can also be portalsenergetic holes connected to planetsas well as what she calls dark energies, which are energies from other dimensions, she said. The work mostly occurs in my imaginationbut my imagination is real, said Ms. Phillips. Suzanne Taylor, the broker/owner of Taylor Properties in Santa Fe, hired Ms. Phillips for six of her home listings, paying between $500 and $750 for services. She recently brought her in on a house listed for about $300,000 in Santa Fe. Ms. Phillips came into the house carrying dowsing rods, crooked rods that are traditionally used as divination tools for finding buried treasure or water. She holds them and walks around the house and the rods move on their own, said Ms. Taylor. At the end of the process, Ms. Phillips said she created a white blanket of light in her mind to lift out any stray energies. Shortly thereafter, I got an offer and closed it, Ms. Taylor said. Story continues Mr. Teachout says he saw the ghost here, in his private suite of rooms. Bryan Tarnowski Nicole Sassaman, a designer and home-decor retailer in Los Angeles, has seen her share of weird things in 20 years of flipping houses. But nothing prepared her for the strange occurrences at the fixer-upper she was renovating years ago in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood. Doors would swing open. A box of plumbing supplies would move from one corner to the other when we werent looking. The floors warped for no reason. The house got broken into, said Ms. Sassaman, 45. About six months into the renovation, a neighbor dropped a bombshell: The former owner had died in the bathroom, Ms. Sassaman said. She paid a clearer $500 to rid the home of spirits and negative energy. The process, involving crystals, bells and murmured prayers, was weird but effective, Ms. Sassaman said. The problems stopped and the property sold quickly for its asking price of $995,000, nearly twice what shed paid for it. Not everyone in the ghostbusting business automatically assumes that low-pitched hum coming from the basement is a ghost. Eighty percent of the time, it isnt something paranormal at all, said Jason Hawes, the star of Ghost Hunters, a reality show on the Syfy channel that started in 2004 and is currently in its last season. Plumbing, electrical, psychological or medication problems are the most common culprits, said Mr. Hawes, 44, a plumber in Warwick, R.I., who is the founder the Atlantic Paranormal Society, or TAPS. The TAPS Family Network includes 76 groups of paranormal investigators in the U.S. (plus another 40 internationally) who work for free. These groups, usually comprised of 10 to 20 volunteers, visit homes armed with equipment such as thermal imaging cameras, wireless audio recording systems and electromagnetic field detectors. Keith Teachout said he spied a male ghost perched on this settee in June at his bed and breakfast in New Orleans. Bryan Tarnowski Joe Nickell, senior research fellow at the Center for Inquiry, an Amherst, N.Y.-based think tank focused on science and secularism, has investigated hundreds of claims of paranormal activity over the past 40 years. I have never found evidence of an actual haunting, said Mr. Nickell, 71. Ghosts must be believed to be seen. Laws addressing seller disclosures of psychologically impacting factors in properties vary widely from state to state, said Val Werness of LegalResearch.com in Minneapolis, which issued a report on disclosures for the National Association of Realtors last year. Only two states, Minnesota and Massachusetts, have laws that even mention reports of paranormal activity, and only to say they need not be disclosed, said Ms. Werness. Three other states, California, South Dakota and Alaska, have laws that require some form of disclosure of deaths on a property, even if the buyer doesnt ask about it. (Ms. Sassaman, who sold her house 15 years ago, said her agent told her disclosure wasnt required in the particular case of her house.) Some people are content to live amid the spirits. In New Orleans, Keith Teachout, who owns an 1830s Greek Revival bed-and-breakfast in the French Quarter, said he spied a ghost in June. Mr. Teachout said he was carrying a load of laundry up to his private suite of rooms when he saw a man with a slim build, in his late 50s or early 60s, perched on a settee in the living room. The man looked as real as anyone on the street, Mr. Teachout said, except that he was dressed in a 1940s-style overcoat and fedora. After a few moments, the man disappeared. I assumed he was a ghost, said Mr. Teachout, 55. About a week later, by coincidence, a police officer stopped by the home and explained that his great-aunt had lived there in her youth. Mr. Teachout said he invited the aunt, now 99 years old, to lunch and learned that her husband had died of a heart attack, wearing his overcoat and fedora, in the very room where Mr. Teachout had spied the ghost. The garden Bryan Tarnowski Mr. Teachout had met Cari Roy, a well-known psychic medium in New Orleans, at a party, so he called her up and asked her to come and see if she perceived the ghost. Ms. Roy said she has worked on ghost issues in over a hundred houses, hotels, restaurants and bars. For site visits, she typically charges $200 an hour, though she didnt charge Mr. Teachout, he said. Ms. Roy said she sensed the ghost and his reason for hovering: He wanted to protect his widow, she said. Ms. Roy and Mr. Teachout decided not to try to interfere. Ms. Roy considers ghosts part of New Orleans history, she said. Who am I to throw out a ghost who has been here for hundreds of years? she said. For those reluctant to hire a professional ghostbuster, there is a do-it-yourself solution. Last year, Yvonne Arias, owner of Los Angeles brokerage Property Lab, accompanied a client to a walk-through a few days before closing on a $600,000 house. The house was in poor conditionthere was a bad smell, all the windows were caulked shut, said Ms. Arias. But even that didnt account for the creepy, bad energy both she and the seller perceived, Ms. Arias said. The buyer handed Ms. Arias a bundle of sage, which they lighted on fire and toted from room to room. Burning sage to dispel spirits is traditional in several cultures, including some American Indian tribes. A few days later, the property closed as planned, Ms. Arias said. The post These Real-Life Ghostbusters Will Help Sell Your Haunted House appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com. Damascus (AFP) - At least six children were killed and 15 injured in rebel rocket attacks in the government-held west of Aleppo city on Thursday, Syrian state media said. A monitoring group said a child was also among at least eight people killed in government shelling on the rebel-held town of Douma outside Damascus. The rocket fire in Aleppo hit two neighbourhoods in the west of the city, with one of the attacks striking a school. "Three children were killed and 14 students were injured in a terrorist rocket attack on the national school in the Shahba neighbourhood of Aleppo," state news agency SANA reported. It added that the attack also damaged the school. A second rocket attack hit a house in the Hamdaniyeh neighbourhood, killing three brothers and injuring a fourth, SANA said. The two neighbourhoods are in the west of the city, which has been roughly divided since mid-2012, when rebels seized its eastern half. Rebels regularly fire crude homemade rockets into government neighbourhoods, often killing civilians. Regime forces backed by ally Russia have waged an aerial and ground assault since late September to recapture eastern Aleppo, killing hundreds of civilians and destroying infrastructure including hospitals. On Wednesday the UN children's agency UNICEF said 22 children had been killed along with six teachers in air strikes on a school in rebel-held Idlib province. The strikes, carried out by either Russian or Syrian warplanes according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, hit the village of Hass. Moscow denied any involvement in the raids. The British-based Observatory, which has a network of sources in Syria, gave a toll of 36 dead, among them 15 children and four teachers. The incident prompted outrage from UNICEF director Anthony Lake. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," he said, adding that the school complex had been hit repeatedly. Outside Damascus meanwhile, at least eight people were killed on Thursday in government shelling on Douma in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region, the Observatory said. Story continues Douma is regularly targeted by government fire, and in recent months regime forces have waged an offensive in the area, which has also been under siege since 2013. At a makeshift hospital in the town, an AFP photographer saw medics using a defibrillator on one man, his face speckled with blood. On a stretcher nearby, a wounded man lay with his artificial leg detached and lying on top of him, smeared with his blood. More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. Sunderland (United Kingdom) (AFP) - The decision by carmaker Nissan to invest in its Sunderland plant comes as a great relief to the English city battered by decades of industrial decline and threatened by the Brexit vote. The Japanese manufacturing heavyweight helped save the northeastern city of 275,000 inhabitants from economic oblivion following the closure of the shipyards and coal mines when it decided to build a large factory there in the 1980s. "When the shipyards shut, all the good lads were recruited by Nissan, lads with qualifications," William, a retired shipyard worker, told AFP earlier this week. Thirty years after opening its doors, the factory has become a giant. More than 7,000 workers, technicians and engineers will this year assemble half a million vehicles, of which more than half are exported to the rest of the European Union. Nissan also claims that the plant supports a further 28,000 supply chain jobs in Britain. "Nissan's presence is massive for Sunderland and for northeast of England," Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, told AFP. "In the Eighties we lost the shipyard and the coal mines and we reinvented the economy and Nissan was a massive player in that." Despite the obvious risks of post-Brexit trade tariffs to the plant's lucrative export business, the city voted resoundingly in favour of leaving the EU, leading Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn to issue a warning about the plant's future. But he appeared convinced by Prime Minister Theresa May's "commitment to the automotive industry in Britain" during a meeting this month, announcing Thursday plans to build Nissan's new Qashqai sport utility vehicle at the plant. May immediately hailed it as "fantastic news" for Britain, adding that "families across the northeast will be delighted". - Unemployment rife, despite Nissan - The plant is the largest car factory ever in Britain, and dominates both the local economy and landscape with huge buildings on the former airfield stretching as far as the eye can see. Story continues Since the first Nissan rolled off the Sunderland production line -- a Bluebird model -- it has produced nearly nine million cars. It now builds the small four-wheel drive Juke model, the city run-around Note model, the electric Leaf, luxury division Infiniti and the Qashqai, subject of intense speculation since the June vote to leave the EU. Nissan also said Thursday it would also make the X-Trail four-wheel drive model at the plant. The manufacturer has not specified how much more it will invest in the site, where he has already spent more than 3.7 billion ($4.5 billion, 4.1 billion euros). A young employee at the plant told AFP that a shift in production away from Sunderland would have been "devastating for the general population", but that many workers believed Nissan would not have deserted the plant after "spending billions of pounds on it". However, he stressed that new taxes on EU car exports could still harm the factory, possibly forcing Nissan to eventually move to France or the United States if particularly onerous. It therefore came as a shock to some observers that the city voted so enthusiastically to leave the EU, with more than 60 percent backing Brexit. But locals were less surprised, with recent data from jobsite Adzuna.co.uk. revealing Sunderland to be by far the worst city in Britain in which to find employment, with 5.28 job seekers for every advertised vacancy. "There are a lot of people in Sunderland that the success of the economy hadn't touched," explained council leader Watson. "It's not like before. It used to be a nice, prosperous little town," added former docker William. "People went to work, then they went out: they went drinking, they went to clubs. That is not the case anymore because people can't afford to go out. There is a lot of disillusion in this area." Remy Ishak has handed the matter to his lawyer. 27 Oct Actor Mohammad Zalimei Ishak, or more known as Remy Ishak, wants the culprits who accused his house of being a drug port to face justice after a recent search of his house revealed no proof to support the accusation. "It's proven my house has no drugs. So, I asked the police what can be done about the individuals that made the false accusation and I was asked to make a police report," said the actor to Utusan Online. "I have made the police report but until now there has been no action or reply from the police even though I have repeatedly enquired." Remy voiced his disappointment with what has happened despite having taken action through the judicial channel. The "Pilot Cafe" actor has since handed the matter over to his lawyer for further action. This is not the first time for the actor to face such an issue as early last month, he had had to file a police report after receiving a death threat from a woman following his refusal to meet her. He declined to talk further of the issue since it is still under investigation, though admitted that the incident has affected his life. Talking about his latest work, Remy said that he can be seen next in "Pulang", a movie by Khabir Bhatia. (Photo source: Remy Ishak's Instagram) From Esquire Coming soon to a hearing near you: The Clinton Rules II: Jason's Revenge. There are few members of Congress so anxious for the spotlight of an investigative hearing than Jason Chaffetz, Republican of Utah. The man makes Darrell Issa, whom he replaced as chairman of the House Government Oversight Committee, look like Deputy Dawg. Anyway, Dave Weigel of The Washington Post ran down Chaffetz at an event in Utah and Chaffetz was more than happy to clue Weigel and the nation in on what's going to be going down over the next four to eight years. Suffice it to say, he won't be exploring bipartisan solutions to the country's most pressing issues. "It's a target-rich environment," the Republican said in an interview in Salt Lake City's suburbs. "Even before we get to Day One, we've got two years' worth of material already lined up. She has four years of history at the State Department, and it ain't good." In 2014, Chaffetz was sent back to the House by 130,717 souls in Utah. But he is announcing his intention to cripple from the start a president who will be elected by north of 60 million of his fellow citizens. This isn't governing. It's more closely akin to extortion. And Chaffetz isn't alone. "The rigorous oversight conducted by House Republicans has already brought to light troubling developments in the [Hillary] Clinton email scandal," the office of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a statement to The Washington Post. "The speaker supports [Oversight's] investigative efforts following where the evidence leads, especially where it shows the need for changes in the law." And the Oversight Committee may not be the only House panel ready for partisan battle. While the Select Committee on Benghazi appears to have finished its work, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a committee member who says Clinton might have perjured herself on questions about her email, said recently that he wants the committee to continue. Story continues They aren't going to change. They're going to shuffle Donald Trump off the stage, blame him for himself, and then go right back to the serious work of seriously delegitimizing another Democratic president. The Republican party is as committed to subverting the will of the people as it ever was. What Chaffetz does is give the lie preemptively to any of the hogwash we're going to hear about the GOP learning a damn thing from the experiment in terror that it loosed upon the nation over the last two years. [contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="%22I%20Knew%20More%20About%20Benghazi%20Than%20Anybody...%22" customimages="" content="article.39282"] In terms of their dedication to the common good, and to the good of the nation, the only difference between Donald Trump and the Republicans in the Congress is that Trump has funnier hair. Chaffetz also suggested that coming Clinton hearings would touch on issues that had not been vetted. He had sent the committee's investigators a weekend article from the Wall Street Journal that asked whether Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) had slanted the FBI's probe of Clinton by helping outside groups put $467,500 into the campaign of Virginia senate candidate Jill McCabe, whose husband, Andrew, later became deputy director of the FBI. "It seems like an obscene amount of money for a losing race," Chaffetz said. "The ties between the governor and the Clintons are well-known. He raises money for a lot of people, but why so much for this one person?" In addition, Chaffetz previously said in an interview with CNN, an FBI agent's suggestion that Kennedy had tried to get Clinton's emails declassified deserved a hard look. "I honestly don't believe they act in the best interests of our country," he said of the State Department. Future Oversight investigations, he said, might depend on whether Clinton tries to put people ensnared by previous probes into her administration. "It depends on who stays and who goes," Chaffetz said. "If Hillary Clinton brings in the same gang - Loretta Lynch, Cheryl Mills, Huma Abedin, Jake Sullivan - she has her cast of characters. If they put on the same play, she's not going to get good reviews from the critics. Every single time we turn around, this puzzle gets more complicated with more pieces to it. That story about the $12 million from Morocco to the Clinton Foundation? You could take any one of these stories and have a year's worth of investigations." He is telling you, in advance, that he intends to break the next government. There used to be a phrase for that. If this were some small tinpot country, Jason Chaffetz would be seizing the radio station and putting more braid on his hat. Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page. You Might Also Like Daquq (Iraq) (AFP) - Residents of the Iraqi town of Daquq on Thursday demanded answers about who is responsible for an air strike on a Shiite place of worship that killed 15 people last week. The US-led coalition that is carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq said it had "definitively" determined that it did not carry out the strike in the northern town. And while the Iraqi government has announced the launch of an investigation into the strike, no results have been released so far. "The government sent an investigation committee to check the site and obtained the remaining pieces of the missile... and its serial number," said Aryan al-Bayati, who lost his mother, sister and niece in the bombing. "Where are the results of their investigation until now," Bayati asked. Daquq residents "are still feeling huge sadness and pain," as they have been for seven days, he said. The strike hit a Shiite place of worship that is known as a husseiniyah in Daquq on the afternoon of October 21, also wounding dozens of people. Murtada Abbas Daquqi, who lost his sister and his daughter in the blast, also demanded answers. "Who bombed Daquq and tore our women and our sisters to pieces?" Daquqi said. "We don't want statements and condemnations... We want an international investigation into the incident," he said. Yaljan Mahdi Sadiq, a leading figure in the Daquq community, said that families of the victims had refused compensation from the Iraqi government. "They don't want money, they want to know who committed this horrible crime against them," Sadiq said. Stocks (^DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC) are are roughly flat at midday, with health care (XLV) the most in the green and real estate (XLRE) the most in the red. Alan Valdes, director of floor operations at Silverbear, joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange. To discuss the other big stories of the day, Alexis Christoforous is joined by Yahoo Finances Rick Newman and Thomson Reuters correspondent Bobbi Rebell, author of How to be a Financial Grownup. Amazon to open 20 grocery stories in next two years: RPT Investors are waiting for Amazons earnings after the bell today. But heres some news you dont have to wait for: Amazon plans to open 20 brick-and-mortar grocery stores over the next two years, in cities including Seattle, New York and Miami. Half the stores will be drive-up spots where customers pick up online orders. The other 10 will be traditional stores where shoppers can stroll the aisles. This is all according to documents cited by Business Insider. Amazon reportedly believes the US market has room for 2,000 Amazon Freshbranded grocery stores over the next decade. Twitter smashes earnings expectations and slashes headcount While investors wait to hear Amazons earnings, theyre dissecting Twitters latest results, out this morning. The struggling social media company beat expectations for profit and revenue. Twitters number of active users rose 3% to 317 million. That was also better than what Wall Street expected. Twitter has been the subject of lots of takeover talk, and the company said it would slash 9% of its global workforceabout 350 jobs. Top companies for vacation time As the job market slowly heats up, workers are looking beyond the headline salary number when looking for a job. Theyre also seeking perks, including flexible vacation time. Glassdoor just released its latest survey of the best 25 companies for paid time off. The top two spots went to the biotech firm Amgen and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After that, we get some more familiar namesIkea, Google and Monsanto. Paris (AFP) - Europe is not slipping into the same dark tunnel of hate and nationalism that it did in the 1930s, one of the continent's leading historians told AFP. Despite the rise of populist and extreme right-wing parties across the continent, Professor Ian Kershaw -- the acclaimed biographer of Hitler -- insisted that drawing parallels with the rise of fascism was off the mark. In fact, it is thanks to a "liberal and peaceful" Germany, which unlike some of its neighbours, is "very clear-eyed about its past", that Europe is far more able to resist "a slide into barbarism", he argued. However, the historian, whose new book "To Hell and Back" spans the period from World War I to the outbreak of the Cold War, warned that "democracy has deteriorated on every level across the continent since 2014, and not just with (the return of a belligerent, authoritarian) Russia. "This was a very upsetting book to write in so many ways," he added. "Like everyone else I am worried about what is happening now," said the British academic, whose two-part biography of Hitler, "Hubris" and "Nemesis", was a huge international bestseller. - Xenophobia - "Brexit, the rise of the far right, xenophobia and racism... are all extremely worrying to say the least, and naturally make one think back to pre-war period," he said. "But I don't think we are returning to the dark ages of the 1930s because there are big differences as well as superficial similarities," Kershaw insisted. The biggest difference between then and now, he said, was that Germany is now a rich and stable beacon of social democratic values rather than an economic basket case "looking for revenge for (the Treaty of) Versailles. It is now probably the most pacific nation in the whole of Europe," he said. "Second, we now have a continent of democracies, admittedly flaky in parts when you look at Hungary and Poland," Kershaw said. "While in the 1930s there were lots of authoritarian states and democracy was very much a contested system." Story continues Europe has also experienced a major shift from "militaristic to civilians societies. Just look at the balance between military and social welfare spending of then and now," he added. And despite its current travails, Kershaw credited the EU with keeping the peace. "For all its weaknesses, the EU has got Europeans working through cooperation and talking rather than immediately resorting to threats," he said. "Those patterns of doing things through negotiation developed by the EU have put us in a better place to withstand the sort of pressures Europe experienced in the 1930s," Kershaw added. "To Hell and Back" -- which the New York Times declared "should be required reading in every chancellery" -- is the first of two books in which Kershaw will plot the history of Europe to the present day. - Identity politics - The historian, who is revered in Germany, said that the new populism "is different to that of the 1930s but of course it has echoes of it... with antipathy towards outsiders now directed at Islam and migrants arriving from beyond Europe". The big shift towards identity politics also made it easier to blame a faraway Brussels "for problems whose roots are much closer to home", he argued. Although personally "appalled" by Brexit, having voted to remain in Europe, the author said Britain was never emotionally committed to the concept. "Britain joined in 1973 purely out of economic self-interest, there was no idealism at all involved. Trade with the Commonwealth countries (of its former empire) had collapsed and we needed Europe to essentially rescue Britain, which it did. "Germans for their part cannot see why the British are so hung up on sovereignty given it lost its (own) completely in the defeat of 1945 and recovered through pooling its sovereignty," Kershaw said. He said the second, as yet untitled, instalment of his overview of Europe's century is likely to be published in 2018. stoenesti (Roumanie) (AFP) - Denisa, Robert and Calin have never celebrated their birthdays: the three children, like thousands of other Romanians, don't have birth certificates, leaving them in an administrative black hole. "It's very hard. Without birth certificates I don't get any allowances and I can't register for school," said their mother Gabi Matei, 22, a member of the Roma community in Stoenesti, southern Romania. The young mother, who is illiterate, adds that she has forgotten the birthday dates of her children, aged between nine months and seven years old. To register them, the local mayor demands that she produce identity documents, but she also doesn't have any. "My mother left the hospital immediately after I was born, and she never applied for a birth certificate for me," she said. Given this, she has been advised to seek help from the local departmental archives' office, or to hire a lawyer. But both options are impossible for Gabi, who lives by buying and selling scrap metal. Dozens of her Roma neighbours recount similar stories. "My husband doesn't have a birth certificate or identity papers. Because of that he can't be hired or go abroad to work," 19-year-old Alina Matei told AFP. Some 160,000 Romanians, or about 0.8 percent of the country's population, live without identity documents, including 10,000 who have no birth certificate, said Ciprian Necula of the Romanian EU funds ministry, who campaigns for the rights of Roma, or gypsies. - Vicious circle - He points the finger at legislation dating back to the Communist era, when all citizens had to be registered so that authorities knew "where to come and find them". "It's a vicious circle: these people can't get identity papers because they don't have a home address, and don't have a home address because they don't have identity papers, Necula told AFP. For Romania's Roma community, which numbers up to two million according to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), housing is a thorny question: most of them live in unhygienic accommodation and only rarely own property. Story continues This is also the case for Gabi Matei: her parents-in-law bought the house where she lives with her family, but without going through a notary. Romanian authorities also point the finger at the indifference of some Roma, many of whom are poor and uneducated, towards official bureaucracy. "You can blame their ignorance, but .. for these people, among the poorest in Romania, the priority is: 'What am I going to eat today?'" said Necula. - 'Non-existent' - Some 30 kilometres (about 20 miles) from Stoenesti, in a poor suburb of the town of Slatina, residents are angry. "The mayor promised to sort out the problem of identity papers but he's done nothing," said Viorel Voiculescu, 36. He said several hundred people were given permission some 15 years ago to build houses on the banks of the Olt river. But the local town hall subsequently refused to confirm their legality, meaning they still can't get permanent identity documents. "We're non-existent, how is that possible?" asked Voiculescu, whose 14-year-old son can't go away to summer camp because he doesn't have the vital document proving who he is. The town hall says a new law forbids it from granting property rights to housing building in zones at risk of flooding. "I know of cases where dead people couldn't be buried because the family didn't have the birth certificate," said Necula, adding that there was "a whole load of problems" to do with schooling, hospital or for dealing with notaries. Romania's technocratic government, which took office in November last year, is confronting the problem by a decree which aims to make paperwork easier for people without identity documents. The decree notably obliges authorities to issue a birth certificate for newborn babies even if the mother doesn't have one, while also helping her to obtain documents. Necula says obstacles won't disappear overnight, because some local authorities see people without identity papers as "people who are easier to manipulate". Mitt Romney Mitt Romney says he often wonders why he's not running in the 2016 election. "I get asked on a regular basis, 'Boy, why aren't you running this year?' I ask myself that a lot too," Romney said Wednesday at a summit hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce, ABC News reported. The 2012 Republican nominee was welcomed by a zealous audience who greeted him with a standing ovation, according to Politico. He joked about his loss to President Barack Obama four years ago and encouraged the audience to run for president if they have the chance. Romney expressed disappointment that debates in this election cycle haven't address key issues and rebuked both presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton without naming them, for not discussing some real challenges facing the country such as national debt and poverty. "Ive watched the presidential debates, Ive looked at the give-and-take, theres been almost no discussion of those things Ive described," Romney said. "I dont think either candidate for president has said theyre going to reform entitlements one way or another." Romney declined to comment on the state of the presidential race in Utah, where he got a landslide victory in 2012 and now independent candidate Evan McMullin is leading, and declined to say which candidate he is going to vote for he said earlier this year that he refused to vote for either Clinton or Trump and may vote for a third party candidate. Romney announced in early 2015 that he will stay out of the 2016 presidential race, saying in a statement that he didn't want to "make it more difficult for someone else to emerge who may have a better chance of becoming that president". Early this year, his son was still urging him to run for president. Speculations about a possible 2016 Romney White House bid had been going on for a while. The former Massachusetts governor made it abundantly clear on the "Today" show in November last year: "I've said it. I'll say it again today, which is: I'm not running. I'm not planning on running." Story continues NOW WATCH: 'America has lost': The Philippines president just announced that he's allying with China, wants to talk to Putin More From Business Insider Europes largest oil company Royal Dutch Shell plc RDS.A is set to release its third-quarter 2016 results before the opening bell on Tuesday, Nov 1. What Investors Need to Know The companys stock performance has been pretty choppy lately, and it will be up to this coming release to set the trend heading into 2017. However, The Hague-based supermajor has a good industry rank in the top 41% overall. Shell also has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), so fundamentals are pretty strong for this stock. But the company has a dismal great track record when it comes to earnings and has missed estimates in each of the last four quarters, as you can see in the chart below: ROYAL DTCH SH-A Price and EPS Surprise ROYAL DTCH SH-A Price and EPS Surprise | ROYAL DTCH SH-A Quote Earnings estimates have also been sluggish for the stock, as the consensus estimate has been going down over the past few months. This is something that investors definitely dont want to see heading into a report. To make matters worse, it has an F for its VGM Score. Therefore, notwithstanding Shells Buy rating, the signals are mixed and it seems as if it could be a rockier report than one might think. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors to Consider This Quarter Unlike the last quarter, where oil advanced more than 26% sequentially to notch up the best quarterly percentage gain in 7 years, the Jun-Sep 2016 period turned out to be a rather flat one with crude barely advancing. In fact, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures during the third quarter hovered around the $45 per barrel mark, flat from the second quarter and down from $46.50 in the same period last year. This does not bode well for Shell and its upstream unit in particular. Worryingly, there are signs of weakness in the refining business, suggesting that the unit which saved Shell when crude prices plunged could now be a drag. The second quarter saw the integrated behemoths downstream segment income erode on fuel oversupply and weak demand. With refined product inventories remaining at their maximum seasonal levels in at least 20 years and margins set to narrow, Shell could be in for more trouble in the to-be-reported quarter. Story continues However, production gains present a bright spot for the group. In the previous quarter, Shells upstream volumes averaged 2,628 thousand oil-equivalent barrels per day (MBOE/d), 24% higher than the year-ago period. While crude oil production increased 24%, natural gas output was up 23% -- thanks to the contribution from BG Group that was acquired earlier in the year. Chevrons successful cost reduction initiatives are expected to cushion the results. At $12 billion, the companys capital and exploration expenditure for the first half of this year has run 31% lower than in the equivalent period of 2015. Finally, Shell is set to benefit from lower unit costs in the upstream business and is on track achieve its previous guidance of a 20% reduction between 2014 and the end of 2016. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Shell will beat estimates this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to be able to beat consensus estimates. Please check our Earnings ESP Filter that enables you to find stocks that are expected to come out with earnings surprises. That is not the case here as you will see below. Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is -7.41%. This is because the Most Accurate estimate stands at 50 cents, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged higher, at 54 cents. Zacks Rank: Shell has a Zacks Rank #2. Though a Zacks Rank #2 increases the predictive power of ESP, a negative ESP makes surprise prediction difficult. We caution against Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Ranks #4 and 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks to Consider While earnings beat looks uncertain for Shell, here are some firms from the energy space you may want to consider on the basis of our model, which shows that they have the right combination of elements to post earnings beat this quarter: W&T Offshore Inc. WTI has an Earnings ESP of +11.63% and a Zacks Rank #1. The company is expected to release earnings results on Nov 2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Devon Energy Corp. DVN has an Earnings ESP of +20.00% and a Zacks Rank #2. The partnership is anticipated to release earnings on Nov 1. Comstock Resources Inc. CRK has an Earnings ESP of +3.74% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is likely to release earnings on Nov 8. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ROYAL DTCH SH-A (RDS.A): Free Stock Analysis Report DEVON ENERGY (DVN): Free Stock Analysis Report COMSTOCK RESOUR (CRK): Free Stock Analysis Report W&T OFFSHORE (WTI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Rupert Murdoch is not ready to lose Megyn Kelly as she negotiates her future at Fox News, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal published Wednesday. The host of The Kelly File is in her final year of her current contract and is weighing her options as she decides whether to switch networks. Murdoch, chief executive of Fox News as well as co-executive chairman of the parent company 21st Century Fox., is dead set on keeping Kelly on staff beyond next July when her contract expires. When asked about the chances of Kelly remaining at Fox, the WSJ reports that Murdoch was hopeful that things would work in his favor and stated that he expects her contract to be renewed "very soon," and added, "it's up to her." Murdoch also shared that he is very much involved in the ongoing negotiations, "every minute of the day." Read more: Megyn Kelly to Guest-Host 'Live' With Kelly Ripa the Day After the Election Despite maintaining his assurance of a positive outcome, Murdoch made it clear that while Kelly's continued presence would be an asset, there are other options that can be considered if there is a need to replace the star journalist: "We have a deep bench of talent, many of whom would give their right arm for her spot." Kelly is in the final year of her current contract that will pay her $15 million and is reportedly seeking an annual salary above $20 million, putting her into the same earnings bracket as Fox News' star Bill O'Reilly. While that seems like a hefty price tag, Murdoch confirmed that the issue of money isn't hampering the negotiations. Kelly has yet to issue a comment regarding her contract talks. Read more: Newt Gingrich Lashes Out at Megyn Kelly: "You Are Fascinated With Sex" MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed suggestions from NATO that a Russian battle group in the Mediterranean would join the bombardment of Syria's Aleppo as absurd, the RIA news agency reported on Thursday. RIA cited the ministry as saying NATO had no reason to worry about the battle group and that the Russian air force had not flown any bombing runs in Aleppo for nine days. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned on Tuesday that the ships, headed for Syria, could be used to target civilians in the besieged city of Aleppo and to launch more air strikes. Andrei Kelin, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official, told RIA Stoltenberg's statement was unhelpful. "The concerns are not based on anything as our planes have not come near Aleppo for nine days. Our battle group is in the Mediterranean. Our ships have always had a presence there," said Kelin. "Why make some spurious suggestions and then make some political recommendations based on them? It is of course absurd." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has questioned Russia's statements about a moratorium on bombing Aleppo, saying the city has been hit by strikes since a lull in fighting ended on Saturday. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Writing by Maria Tsvetkova/Andrew Osborn; Editing by Andrew Osborn) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Russia on Thursday dismissed as "unconvincing" the findings of a UN-led investigation showing that Syrian forces had carried out three chemical attacks, and said no sanctions should be imposed. "We believe that the proof is not there for any punitive action to be taken. It's simply not there," Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters following a closed-door Security Council meeting. A joint United Nations-Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel concluded that government forces carried out three chlorine gas attacks on villages in 2014 and 2015. It was the first time an international probe blamed President Bashar al-Assad's forces after years of denial from Damascus. But Churkin told the council that the findings were not strong enough to trigger sanctions. The conclusions "in most cases... are not substantiated by sufficient testimonial basis, first of all material proof, they are full of contradictions and therefore unconvincing," he said, according of a text of his remarks. The findings are "not definitive, have no legally binding force and cannot serve as accusatory conclusions for taking legal decisions," he added. Britain and France pressed demands for sanctions, arguing that UN resolutions provided for such action in response to the use of chemical weapons. "Those responsible for using chemical weapons must be sanctioned. There is no other way," French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters. "There should be accountability for every single person involved in any use of chemical weapons in Syria or indeed anywhere else," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said. - Chlorine barrel-bombs - Government helicopters flying from two regime-controlled air bases dropped chlorine barrel-bombs on the villages of Qmenas, Talmenes and Sarmin, in rebel-held Idlib province, the panel's latest report said. Story continues Chlorine use as a weapon is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in 2013 under pressure from Russia, Assad's ally. Although previous OPCW reports concluded that toxic gases were used as weapons in Syria's five-year war, they stopped short of identifying the perpetrators. The panel identified the 253 and 255 squadrons of the 63rd helicopter brigade, which flew from the Hama and Humaymim air bases, and the 628 squadron based in Humaymim as the perpetrators. The UN-OPCW panel also found that the Islamic State group used mustard gas as a weapon in August 2015. "We stand firmly behind the report and its conclusions," Virginia Gamba, who led the investigative panel, told reporters. Russia also rejected a US proposal to extend the panel's mandate -- which ends on Monday -- for a year, arguing that more time is needed to discuss the experts' future work. The probe should be broadened to look at chemical weapons use by extremist groups and in neighboring Iraq, Churkin said. The Security Council set up the so-called joint investigative mechanism (JIM) in August 2015 to determine who was behind the chemical attacks. From Popular Mechanics TASS, the Russian news agency, always publishes things for a reason. So when it releases a video extolling the virtues of underwater weapons used by Russia frogmen (those trained in tactical scuba), it should raise eyebrows. First, the hardware. The APS Automatic seen in the clip is a weapon specifically designed to shoot 5.66-mm ammunition underwater at a rate of 500 rounds per minute.These gas-powered assault rifles have better range and penetration than a speargun. Like a speargun, they don't work so well on land. The barrel it isn't rifled and has a shield that breaks up bubbles to help frogmen shoot from concealment. [contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Russia%20on%20the%20March" customtitles="Russia's%20New%20ICBM%20Could%20%22Wipe%20Out%20Texas%22%7CCan%20the%20U.S.%20Army's%20Stryker%20Vehicles%20Stop%20Russia?" customimages="|" content="article.23547|article.23383"] These weapons, while kind of cool, have been around since the mid-1970s. So why are the Russians drawing attention to them in 2016? Consider that frogmen really do only a few things-surveillance, sabotage, and fighting other frogmen. So the Russians are signaling that their anti-terrorism forces are ready for underwater attacks from what the article called "probable enemies" and "subversive forcesoperating in areas of basing of the Baltic." As they were during the Cold War, the Baltics these days are a flashpoint of tension between Russia and NATO. The country has two naval bases here: Baltiysk in the isolated patch of Russian turf known as Kaliningrad (the part of Russia stuck between Poland and Lithuania that isn't connected to the rest of the country) and another base in Leningrad Oblast. These host small but strategic fleets that bring the Russian sphere of influence to eastern Europe. It's important because Russia feels insecure on this border, watching NATO expand and seeing some of its "buffer zone" of client states lean toward the West. Each of these bases has anti-aircraft weapons that blanket the Baltic Sea and extend into states with deteriorating relationships with Russia, like Poland. Story continues In July, the government purged the leadership of its Baltic sea fleet, a sure sign that Vladimir Putin wants the bases run well in preparation for future geopolitical or even military confrontation. "Leningrad naval bases are designed to ensure the protection of ships and submarines of the Baltic fleet from sabotage and reconnaissance units," the TASS article says. The very idea that these underwater weapons are needed presumes that someone with an agenda will be sabotaging them. It's not hard to see what's happening here. There's a small but important fleet in the Russian Baltic sea bases. The Russians, having bolstered the bases' leadership, are now advertising a way to keep foreign frogmen from attacking the ships and submarines of the Russian fleet. In effect, they are saying something like, "We expect NATO to mess with our fleets, but we're ready for them with our nifty underwater assault rifle." The idea that these underwater weapons are needed presumes that someone with an agenda will be sabotaging them. This is not outlandish. Attacking these bases armed with such powerful anti-air defenses and anti-ship missiles would be difficult for a major military. But a few frogmen in underwater vehicles, armed with shaped charges, could do a lot of damage. A successful mission could be accomplished without blame or attribution, which is the kind of "low-intensity, hybrid" warfare that Putin has used successfully in Crimea, Georgia, and Ukraine. Who exactly would be doing this work? The U.S. Navy SEALs or German counterparts come to mind. NATO also has a Special Operations command and fields these troops as part of their Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. NATO leaders formed the VJTF in 2014 as a land brigade with some special forces thrown in. Interestingly, non- NATO Baltic countries like Finland and Sweden joined the Response Force nearly 10 years ago, and the Ukraine and Georgia began its contributions around 2015. By the way, the United States has also looked into underwater weapons, and has developed systems using sea lions and underwater grenades. The research received a renewed focus after the U.S. found al-Qaeda plans to launch underwater attacks on ships. Now, the Cold War has come back to the Baltics. You Might Also Like The leader of a small conservative group of Nebraskans is criticizing Judiciary Chairman Les Seiler for not participating as chairman in a number of bill hearings. Matt Innis, former chairman of the Lancaster County Republican Party, said Seiler, of Hastings, was not acting as chairman on hearings of 20 bills, but instead turned over the leadership to a vice chairman or another committee member. His information was inaccurate, Seiler said. Seiler's campaign manager, Mary Johnson, did a check of transcripts for those 20 bills and said Seiler was present for at least 16 of the 20, although he may have not been chairing the committee for the entire hearing of each bill, which is a common practice among committee chairs. Innis' group of six members organized in March, Innis said, to bring to light candidates' positions that are not necessarily on par with what they are telling voters, in this case that Seiler is leading the Judiciary Committee. "We've looked at certain races and certain people and just decided to expose how people are conducting themselves in office versus what they're telling their constituents back home," Innis said. The Concerned Conservatives group chose to look at Seiler's record, he said, because the committee is one of the most influential, hearing bills on criminal justice reform, prison reform and protection of vulnerable youths. Johnson's check of the 20 bills listed by Concerned Conservatives showed Seiler was present for all but four, and he sometimes turned over the chair to another member, but still participated in the hearing. For the first bill on Innis' list, LB675, a juvenile justice bill that was eventually killed, Johnson said the committee heard five bills the afternoon of Jan. 20. Seiler presided during the first two bills, was present for the introduction and first proponent of LB675, was gone briefly, questioned the first and second proponents, chaired the following two bills and closed the hearing. Johnson said she had no idea why Innis chose these particular 20 bills. Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board and a member of the Judiciary Committee, and Judiciary Vice Chairman Colby Coash said chairs and committee members have to excuse themselves from time to time to go to the restroom, introduce bills in other committees, briefly meet with constituents or other senators, or take phone calls. And even when a senator isn't present in the hearing room, he or she can be monitoring the hearing on closed circuit TV, Krist said. With between 130 and 150 bills heard in committee during a long session, and 110 to 120 in a short session, the hearings can go on for hours. Krist said Seiler is the first chairman in many years to insist on talking about every bill heard in executive session. That is important, he said. Seiler allows committee members to take their turns at chairing, so that junior senators learn how to lead a committee, he said. "He ran the committee everyday," Coash said. "He ran his committee no different than any other chair I've ever seen, with regard to his attendance, engagement. "From my perspective, he probably had the best attendance of the whole committee." Innis may have turned his attention to Seiler because he is in a hotly contested race in District 33, with his opponent -- Steve Halloran of Hastings -- endorsed by Gov. Pete Ricketts. Seiler has said Ricketts' opposition to him is based on his nonpartisan votes to override several of the governor's vetoes. Seiler, for example, voted to raise the gas tax, which Ricketts vetoed. Gas taxes were not an issue with constituents, Seiler said. And now Adams and Hall counties, he said, are getting $23 million as a result of the gas tax vote. The conservative group has asked on its Facebook page for candidates to sign a pledge stating they would not vote to increase the gas tax and that they would vote for electing chairs on an open ballot, rather than the secret ballot as it's done now. From Popular Mechanics Tabby's Star, scientifically known as KIC 8462852, has become a point of great intrigue in the ongoing search for extraterrestrial life following wild-sounding ideas that an "alien megastructure" could be there. Now UC Berkeley's Breakthrough Listen program is doing to explore that mystery more deeply than ever, thanks to funding by Russian billionaire investor Yuri Milner. Tabby's Star has captured the scientific community's attention because of its oddly varying luminosity, which occasionally dips by 20 percent. The flickering gave rise to theories of an "alien superstructure," possibly a Dyson sphere being used to capture the star's energy. While that's the most outlandish theory, there are also several more that attempt to explain what's happening at Tabby's Star, including the idea that it's brightness is being blocked by the debris of a destroyed planet. No one can offer up anything absolutely conclusive, so Milner and Breakthrough Listen plan to take another look. Milner rose to fame in Russia by creating a series of knockoff websites of popular Western services like eBay, Amazon, and GeoCities. In 2009 he invested in Facebook, and the Breakthrough Foundation is partially funded by Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sergey Brin. "I think that ET, if it's ever discovered, it might be something like that. It'll be some bizarre thing that somebody finds by accident." As far as the Berkeley connection is concerned, "The Breakthrough Listen program has the most powerful SETI equipment on the planet, and access to the largest telescopes on the planet," says Andrew Siemion, director of the Berkeley SETI Research Center and co-director of Breakthrough Listen in a press release. "We can look at it with greater sensitivity and for a wider range of signal types than any other experiment in the world. " There have been other attempt to look for extraterrestrial life around Tabby's Star, all of which have come up empty. Other instruments that could take a closer look are forthcoming, most notably NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in 2018. But Breakthrough and Berkeley are starting now, with observations scheduled for eight hours per night for three nights over the next two months, starting tonight, October 26. They are also using the largest radio telescope on the planet, the Green Bank in West Virginia, so they figure they stand as much a chance as anybody in making the breakthrough. Story continues "I don't think it's very likely a one in a billion chance or something like that but nevertheless, we're going to check it out," says Dan Werthimer, chief scientist at Berkeley SETI. "But I think that ET, if it's ever discovered, it might be something like that. It'll be some bizarre thing that somebody finds by accident that nobody expected, and then we look more carefully and we say, 'Hey, that's a civilization.'" Source: Berkeley, Breakthrough You Might Also Like Video of a man being tasered by police in Sacramento sparked a big reaction when it was posted to Facebook on October 26. Some commenters questioned the behavior of police in the incident, while others said the full context could not be known from the video. The footage shows a man and a woman being restrained by police. A Taser is used on the man, who shouts out, Somebody help. The Sacramento Bee quoted transit police as saying the incident ended in the arrest of Golden Lee Smith, 34, for assaulting an officer and for a parole violation. The woman in the video, named as Stacey Yvette Bledsoe, 48, was cited for resisting arrest, the Bee reported. Police said the pair had been asked to stop for a ticket check, but refused. While they had valid tickets, police said, they attempted to cite Smith for delaying officers. An officer was then punched by Smith, police said. The video does not show the reported punch. Credit: Facebook/Michael Aran Oct 27 (Reuters) - Chinese sailor Guo Chuan has gone missing in the Pacific during his attempt to set a record for a solo non-stop crossing of the ocean, state media has reported. "Guo was last heard just after 15:00 Tuesday Beijing time (0700 GMT) when his trimaran sailed 900 nautical miles off the west of Hawaii," the 51-year-old's support team was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency. "A search aircraft, sent from Honolulu, found the main sail in water, broken off the vessel, but didn't see Guo on the deck. All attempts to contact the sailor have failed." The U.S. Navy had sent two ships to the site of Guo's vessel, his team added. Guo, who set sail from San Francisco on Oct. 19, was aiming to complete his journey to Shanghai in 18 days. Italian Giovanni Soldini owns the speed record after completing the voyage in 21 days in 2015. Guo already has two records to his name, having set the pace to beat in the 40-ft solo nonstop circumnavigation in 2013 and the Arctic Ocean Northeast Passage non-stop mark in 2015. "We have been working hard for the past two weeks to refit the boat and finally today I am going to set sail," Guo said prior to setting sail from San Francisco. "I am very confident to go now. See you in Shanghai within 20 days." (Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru) Washington (AFP) - Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman who survived enslavement by the Islamic State group, welcomed the Sakharov prize for human rights Thursday as a "profound condemnation" of the jihadists' "criminal inhumanity." The European parliament awarded Murad and fellow Yazidi Lamia Haji Bashar the prestigious human rights prize for their courage in the face of IS atrocities against their people in Iraq and Syria. "This acknowledgement of the suffering of the Yazidi women and the Yazidi people is a profound message to the ISIS terrorist group that their criminal inhumanity is condemned and their victims are honored by the free world," Murad said in a statement, using an alternate acronym for the jihadist group. Murad and Bashar were taken from their homes near the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar and enslaved by IS jihadists, enduring a months-long ordeal of rape and torture. Since their escape they have emerged as leading advocates for the rights of other Yazidi survivors. Murad, who is 23, said she and Bashar accepted the Sakharov Prize "on behalf of thousands of kidnapped Yazidi women and girls and on behalf of all victims of the Yazidi genocide." "This award is a powerful message from the democratically elected representatives in Europe to our people and particularly to the more than 6,700 women, girls, and children who became victims of slavery and human trafficking under ISIS, that the genocide will not be repeated," she said. "We will continue to work to make sure that ISIS is brought to justice for its crimes against vulnerable communities and particularly against women and girls," she said, noting that they have asked the UN Security Council to request that IS's crimes be investigated by the International Criminal Court. (Adds Microsoft comment in paragraphs 11-12) By Julia Love Oct 26 (Reuters) - Salesforce.com Inc Chief Executive Officer Marc Benioff spoke on Wednesday about a pair of key acquisitions that got away, suggesting his vision for LinkedIn Corp was different from Microsoft Corp's and that he would have pursued Twitter Inc if shareholders had not learned of his plans. Speaking at a technology conference hosted by the Wall Street Journal in Laguna Beach, California, Benioff declined to elaborate on what he had hoped to do with micro-blogging site Twitter. Twitter hired bankers earlier in October to explore selling itself. Technology and media companies including Salesforce.com, Walt Disney Co and Alphabet Inc's Google looked at the company but passed on buying it. Some regarded Twitter as an unlikely fit for Salesforce.com, whose platform is popular among sales teams. Benioff said he was forced to drop the deal when investors began voicing concerns. "We've never had a deal leak before; we don't really understand that dynamic," said Benioff, who is an avid Twitter user. "We had to stop because I'm running the business in partnership with my shareholders." Benioff was also effusive about his interest in professional social networking site LinkedIn, which Microsoft agreed to buy for $26.2 billion in June. Benioff told technology news website Recode in June that Salesforce.com made a bid for LinkedIn and was primarily interested in its recruiting business. Benioff on Wednesday said he saw parallels between Salesforce.com's business model and LinkedIn's. "We really liked some of the business fundamentals," he said, adding few details on his vision for an acquisition of LinkedIn. He contrasted that vision with Microsoft's, which he said centered on mingling the companies' data streams to make it difficult for other companies to compete. Salesforce.com has raised concerns about the deal to European antitrust regulators. "Last time I checked, that was illegal," he said of Microsoft's plans for LinkedIn's data. Story continues Microsoft said it was confident it would gain final regulatory approval for the LinkedIn acquisition by the end of 2016. "We're committed to continuing to work to bring price competition to a CRM (customer relationship management) market in which Salesforce is the dominant participant charging customers higher prices," a Microsoft spokesman said in an emailed statement. (Reporting by Julia Love; Editing by Andrew Hay and Lisa Shumaker) SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Thursday it will examine every aspect of the Galaxy Note 7 such as hardware, software and the manufacturing process to determine the root cause of the fires that led to the phone's cancellation. Samsung Co-Chief Executive J.K. Shin said at a shareholder meeting that Samsung had sold 1.47 million new replacement Galaxy Note 7s using different batteries. Samsung secured 90 devices following 119 incidents of fire, of which 55 were relevant to the battery issue and another 19 are under investigation. The firm said it is working with regulators and third-party experts to conduct a thorough investigation. (Reporting by Joyce Lee and Se Young Lee; Editing by Stephen Coates) SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung SDI, a battery supplier for Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 7 phones, posted a worse-than-expected operating loss in the third quarter, weighed down by the termination of the fire-prone devices. The Samsung Electronics affiliate posted an operating loss of 110 billion won ($96.33 million) for the July-to-September period, compared with a loss of 48 billion won a year earlier and a consensus forecast of a loss of 55 billion won. Analysts said Samsung SDI supplied about 60 percent of the batteries for the Note 7, which Samsung scrapped earlier this month due to over-heating problems. The remaining 30 percent were provided by China's Amperex Technology Limited (ATL). (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Stephen Coates) A California man has been sentenced to two years in prison in Nebraska for getting caught trafficking 135 pounds of marijuana. Yakuba Brown, 44, of Moreno Valley, was on probation at the time, which allowed Nebraska State Patrol troopers to search his rented, silver Suburban despite the fact that a police dog didn't indicate the presence of drugs when it went around the SUV on Feb. 26 at a gas station near the 27th Street exit of Interstate 80. Troopers found the drugs inside three suitcases and three bags in the back. Brown pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana weighing more than 1 pound. Lancaster County District Judge Jodi Nelson sentenced him Tuesday to the prison time plus a year of post-release supervision. Although originally arrested with Brown, the driver of another rental car who appeared to be traveling with him, Stephen Montgomery, wasn't charged. Oct 27 (Reuters) - Sanchez Energy Corp is in talks to partner with Blackstone Group LP on a deal to buy Anadarko Petroleum Corp's assets in South Texas, the Wall Street Journal reported. The deal is expected to value Anadarko's assets at between $3 billion and $3.5 billion, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. (http://on.wsj.com/2eV86XK) Blackstone and its credit arm, GSO Capital Partners, would likely fund or participate in the purchase, according to the newspaper. Sanchez had also been in talks with Apollo Global Management LLC and energy-focused private equity firm EIG Global Energy Partners to participate in the offer, the Journal reported. Intrepid Partners, Citigroup Inc and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co are working with Sanchez on the deal, the report said. Anadarko in July increased the high end of its asset monetization target range to $3.5 billion, expected by year-end. Sanchez, Blackstone, Apollo Global and EIG were not immediately available for comment. Anadarko declined to comment. (Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) Michelle Mo was devastated. After three blissful years in remission, she found out in 2013 her breast cancer had returned-with a vengeance. This time it had spread to her bones, lungs and liver and was now stage IV. She had gone to the doctor ten months prior complaining of pain in her lower back but it took that long for an MRI to confirm the source of her discomfort. I was very depressed and very, very angry, Mo tells PEOPLE. If the doctors had listened to me, it wouldnt have had as much time to spread. I just couldnt let that go. She cried almost every day as she underwent additional treatments no one expected would save her life. The hardest part of the whole process, she says, was the fear that she would die and the only memories her children Vicky, 10, and Derrick, 7, would have of her would be as a depressed and angry woman. Then, a social worker at Massachusetts General Hospital approached Mo with an offer that would change her life. She and her family had been nominated to receive a vacation through Leslies Week, a nonprofit that sends Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families on weeklong all expenses paid vacations across the U.S. I was very touched, says Mo, 45, and a former bank teller who lives in Quincy, Massachusetts. Sandra Gunn founded Leslies Week as a way to honor her dear friend Leslie Twohig, who died of Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer in April 2011. She refused to allow cancer to take her down into depression or despair, Gunn, a former interior decorator who lives in Arnold, Maryland tells PEOPLE. She began first by donating her own vacation home in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, and launched her full-scale non-profit in 2014 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself. During treatment for her stage I cancer, Gunn heard the stories of the many stage IV breast cancer patients undergoing treatment beside her and felt inspired to expand her projects reach. I saw these women had this warrior-like determination to live despite being terminal and yet every day brought the drudgery of doctors and chemotherapy and infusions, Gunn, 74, tells PEOPLE. Story continues I wanted more than anything to give them a break from cancer just to go away with their families and have fun, she continues. So thats what I decided to do. In the five years since giving away its first vacation, Leslies Week has reached 26 patients and their families with many more vacations planned. This October, Gunn was named a 2016 LOreal Paris Women of Worth honoree for her dedication to helping women with breast cancer. The honor comes with a $10,000 grant to support her work and the chance to be voted the national honoree, which comes with an additional $25,000 for her cause. Leslies Week is about making memories that outlast cancer, Gunn, who leads the nonprofits all-volunteer team, says. We cant cure these women right now but we can give them the chance to get out of the hospital and make memories of laughing and relaxing in a beautiful place with their families. But Mo almost didnt get to go. After she accepted Gunns offer came some devastating news. Mos cancer had progressed so rapidly they werent certain she would live long enough to take the June vacation. They told Gunn that Mo likely wouldnt live past April. Gunn was undaunted. The B Ocean Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida had donated its presidential suite for Mo in June, and there was no availability in April. A breast cancer survivor herself who had been sending stage IV patients and their families on free getaways for 4 years, Gunn believed Mo would fight for the chance to have this time with her family. Michelle was determined to take that trip with her family, Gunn, 74, tells PEOPLE. The hospital told me shed never make it but I assured them that she would live to make this trip with her children. And she did. Gunn called her a couple of times a day every day of her stay to make sure everything was perfect. Every day she told me I didnt have to focus on the past, and that I was still alive and I still had time to live my life, Mo says. Mo took these words to heart. For the first time since her diagnosis, she says she felt able to put her anger and sadness aside and focus on enjoying each day. I played with my kids on the beach every day and when my son wanted to take swimming lessons I joined him even though it scared me, she recalls. I learned to swim and I saw the kids were so happy and I was so happy too because I did something I was really scared of and I discovered I was strong. This revelation stuck with Mo long after she and her family returned home to Massachusetts. After vacation I had totally learned how to enjoy life every day, Mo says. Every day I wake up is another day I get to live, so why not be happy? Though Mos cancer has now spread to her brain, she and her children continue to find ways to squeeze some vacation joy into each day even if its just a simple walk in their neighborhood park. Now the leaves are changing and we get to see them turn new colors every day, says Mo. Its beautiful. The frequent calls and visits from Sandra help, too. She didnt just give me a vacation, Mo says. She taught me how to face my cancer and live. By Ben Hirschler (Reuters) - Sanofi has struck a collaboration deal with a leading Brazilian research institute to speed development of a Zika vaccine, consolidating the French drugmaker's position in the race to defeat the mosquito-borne virus. The deal with the Fiocruz public health center follows a tie-up in July between Sanofi and a U.S. Army research institute, which gave the drugmaker access to one of the furthest advanced vaccines in development. Sanofi said on Thursday that all three research organizations would now work together to "increase the likelihood of successfully developing and licensing a safe and effective Zika vaccine as quickly as possible". The French company has taken pole position among major drugmakers in Zika vaccine research, reflecting its expertise in developing shots against other so-called flaviviruses, such as yellow fever, dengue and Japanese encephalitis. In February, the World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency because of Zika's apparent link to microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small heads and serious developmental problems. That has galvanized efforts to speed up vaccine development. If all goes well, some experts believe a vaccine could come to market in as little as two years. "It only makes sense for the pursuit of public health that we combine our expertise and resources on Zika with Fiocruz, which is ideally based in Brazil where the heart of the current Zika experience lies," said John Shiver, senior vice president for research at Sanofi's vaccines unit. Fiocruz scientists are expected to help in areas such as pre-clinical and clinical studies, as well as vaccine process development and other technical matters. Even if the current outbreaks in Latin America and the Caribbean burn out by the time a vaccine is ready for deployment, people living in those regions are expected to want protection against a return of Zika. Tens of millions of travelers from the United States and other wealthy nations could also be in line to get vaccines before visiting areas at risk. Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical announced last month it was also joining the effort to develop a Zika vaccine, after receiving funding from BARDA, a U.S. government agency that is also backing Sanofi's efforts. In addition, several smaller biotech companies are working in the area, including U.S.-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals, which has started human testing of a vaccine candidate in Puerto Rico. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Susan Fenton and Alexander Smith) DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and its Gulf OPEC allies are willing to cut 4 percent from their peak oil output, energy ministers from the Gulf countries told their Russian counterpart this week, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The offer was made at a closed-door meeting in Riyadh, where the ministers met on Sunday. But Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told the officials that Moscow would not cut output, but rather freeze it at current levels, the sources said. The 4 percent offer is likely to be made at a meeting of OPEC experts and officials from other oil producers such as Russia on Oct. 28-29 in Vienna, to nail down the details of last month's OPEC production-cap agreement in Algeria. Iraq, OPEC's No. 2 producer, said this week that it would not cut output and should be exempted from any curbs as it needs funds to fight Islamic State. Baghdad's stance is likely to face opposition from Riyadh and its Gulf allies, OPEC sources said. "If there is a cut, then everyone must cut. No exemptions," one OPEC source said, commenting on Iraq's demands. There is a general understanding that only Libya, Nigeria and Iran should be exempt as their output had been hit by wars and sanctions, three OPEC sources said. (Reporting by Rania El Gamal; Editing by Dale Hudson) donald trump supporters Schools across the country are canceling classes on Election Day, citing fears of altercations or even violence erupting in the hallways as people cast their votes. School districts in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina have all opted for students to take the day off rather than share the building with voters, according to USA Today. Some districts have asked that polling sites be moved from schools altogether, the Associated Press reported. The news comes the same day as a USA Today/Suffolk University poll shows more than half of Americans are concerned about the possibility of Election Day violence. In recent weeks, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has escalated his warnings of a supposedly "rigged" election a claim he repeatedly makes without evidence and has urged his supporters to monitor polling sites in order to prevent voter fraud. Observers fear the candidate's rhetoric could lead to the intimidation of voters at some locations. Theres going to be a lot of people coming in and out of the buildings throughout the day as they show up to vote, Jeff Graham, superintendent of Ohio's Lorain City School District, told USA Today. We want to ensure a smooth experience for everyone concerned. We felt it would be best for our students and community. Utah vote school poll voting Alpay Balkir, a parent from Falmouth, Maine, echoed the same concerns to the Associated Press. "If it's going to be as chaotic as they say it's going to be, it's a good thing. Kids should stay out of it," he told the AP. "I don't know what the environment is going to be like." Schools and churches are popular polling sites in the US because of their central locations and ample parking availability. But this year's election has some officials questioning how long the practice should last. Story continues "If you take the personalities away and cast the emotion with the election aside, one has to ask the question: 'Are our schools the best places for that activity to take place?'" said John Reinhart, a superintendent from Easton, Pennsylvania, according to the Associated Press. "I just think we've reached the point where we need to look at other locations." NOW WATCH: 'He never said that': New Clinton ad shows Trump contradicting Pence's VP debate denials More From Business Insider More than a decade ago, an amateur fossil collector found a brown, pebble-sized lump on a beach in Sussex, England. Now scientists have determined that lump is the first known fossilized brain tissue from a dinosaur. The 133-million-year-old fossil is likely from a species similar to the Iguanodon, an herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous Period. Scientists announced the discovery on Thursday at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontologys annual meeting in Utah, according to National Geographic, and they wrote about the find in a special publication from the Geological Society of London. Finding fossilized tissue is very rare, but the researchers believe this brain tissue was so well-preserved because it was pickled in a body of water shortly after the creatures death. What we think happened is that this particular dinosaur died in or near a body of water, and its head ended up partially buried in the sediment at the bottom, David Norman, who coordinated the research of the fossil, said in a statement. The fossil also shows similarities to modern crocodiles and birds. Its discovery may shed light on how the brains of dinosaurs and other creatures evolved over time, an area where researchers have had comparatively little information before now. By Madeline Kennedy (Reuters Health) - Digital distractions, and a more classical one, talking on the phone, are linked to shorter sleeping time and greater daytime sleepiness for teens, Canadian researchers say. Todays adolescents sleep much less than previous generations, their sleep quality is poorer, and they report more daytime sleepiness, all of which have health and social consequences, said Jennifer OLoughlin, an author of the paper in the journal Sleep Health and researcher at the University of Montreal. At the same time, electronic media are becoming a larger part of teens lives and are often used before bed, OLoughlin told Reuters Health by email. To explore the link between time spent using electronics like video games, TVs and phones and the amount of sleep teens are getting, the study team analyzed data from a Montreal-based study of high school students. More than 1,200 students 14 to 16 years old completed questionnaires between 2008 and 2009 reporting on how often they used electronics, including watching television, as well as how often they did other sedentary activities like reading, doing homework or talking on the phone. Teens also answered questions about what time they usually went to sleep and woke up on weekdays and weekends. Researchers found that kids who used computers and videogames for more than two hours per day slept 17 and 11 minutes less, respectively, than youth who used screens for less time. One in three teens used computers for more than two hours per day and they were more than twice as likely as the others to sleep less than eight hours per night. Teens who talked on the phone for at least two hours daily were also three times more likely than those who didnt to fall short of eight hours of sleep. Watching TV had the opposite effect on sleep, and teens who watched two hours or more per day were half as likely to sleep less than eight hours compared to others. Youth who used the computer or talked on the phone for more than two hours per day also reported more sleepiness during the day than those who spent less time using devices. Teens who engaged in other sedentary activities that did not involve screens such as reading did not report getting less sleep than their peers. Kids need sleep to grow, period, said Christina Calamaro, a research director who studies teens and sleep loss at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. Calamaro added that missing out on sleep increases young peoples risk for depression, problems with thinking and attention, and weight gain. Calamaro advised that parents should model healthy sleep behavior and not use electronics in the bedroom. It is important that they set the standard for healthy sleep routines! she said in an email. OLoughlin recommended that parents keep an eye on their childrens screen time throughout the day, adding, Talking to your child about why it is important to limit screen time if they are experiencing sleep problems may also be important. SOURCE: bit.ly/2fjXTXY Sleep Health 2016. A former Richardson County Sheriff's deputy has been found not guilty of three felony child abuse charges. Joshua Nincehelser, 28, was arrested in July 2015 and charged with sexually assaulting a girl younger than 12 earlier that year. On Oct. 21, a jury found him innocent of all charges after a four-day trial, according to state court records. The Nebraska Attorney General's Office tried the case because Nincehelser once was a sheriff's deputy in Richardson County. In January 2015, he was sentenced to three years probation and 180 days of community service for lying when he said an unknown assailant shot him while he was on duty in June 2014. He later admitted he shot himself and then fired several shots into his cruiser to make his story look real. By Geo Tharappel Oct 27 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian markets ended largely up on Thursday, as oil prices rose on concerns over Venezuela's stability and firming demand in Asia, but Philippine shares extended losses to a sixth straight session. Escalating protests in Venezuela against the rule of President Nicolas Maduro boosted oil prices, but doubts over OPEC's ability to organise a coordinated production cut continued to weigh on markets. In Asia, South Korea's S-Oil Corp said on Thursday that it expected refinery demand to rise in the region. The Philippine index extended losses for a sixth session to close 0.7 percent down, led by financials and consumer staples. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is visiting U.S.-ally Japan, said on Thursday there would be no more war games with the United States and again gave vent to his anger against Washington. Philippine property developer SM Prime Holdings was among the top losers on the index, falling nearly 2 percent. Branded food products company Universal Robina Corp fell more than 2 percent, posting its biggest intraday percentage loss, in more than eight weeks. Thailand ended around 0.4 percent up, rebounding from Wednesday's losses, led by financials and energy stocks, as oil prices were up about 0.5 percent. Thailand's largest energy firm PTT PCL was the biggest gainer on the index by points. Indonesian stocks rose 0.3 percent, with trading volumes nearly five times the 30-day average, boosted by financials and telecommunication services. Index heavyweights Telekomunikasi Indonesia and Bank Mandiri were among the top gainers, both recording biggest intraday percentage gains in close to two weeks. "Telekomunikasi Indonesia's earnings continue to give positive surprise... valuation remains attractive compared with regional telecommunication rivals," financial services company Mandiri Sekuritas said in a note. Singapore ended flat, while Vietnam rose. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Story continues Change on day Market Current prev close Pct Move Singapore 2828.94 2828.57 0.01 Bangkok 1498.36 1492.12 0.42 Manila 7445.14 7494.41 -0.66 Jakarta 5416.836 5399.679 0.32 Kuala Lumpur 1669.03 1673.92 -0.29 Ho Chi Minh 676.9 673.61 0.49 Change on year Market Current End 2015 Pct Move Singapore 2828.94 2882.73 -1.87 Bangkok 1498.36 1288.02 16.33 Manila 7445.14 6952.08 7.09 Jakarta 5416.836 4593.008 17.94 Kuala Lumpur 1669.03 1692.51 -1.39 Ho Chi Minh 676.9 579.03 16.90 (Reporting by Geo Tharappel in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri) Fox News host Sean Hannity is probably Donald Trumps biggest supporter in the mainstream media, but he said he will never work in the GOP nominees administration because he is under contract the next four years. Hannity responded to a user on Twitter who asked whether hed accept a position in President Trumps administration if the GOP nominee were to win on Election Day. Never. I am under contract the next four years, Hannity responded. Also Read: Donald Trump Thinks He's Receiving Worst Media Treatment 'In American History' (Video) This is more relevant than it might seem since Hannity, who openly supports Trump and regularly interviews him on Fox News, would be an obvious choice for the often-rumored Trump TV. Despite Trump denying interest in the endeavor, many have speculated that Trump wants to launch a conservative news organization should he lose in November. Hannity would be atop the list for any conservative network, but revealing that he has four years remaining on his Fox News contract should put any rumors to rest. Trump has the pieces in place if he does attempt to launch a news network, including the former head of Breitbart News Stephen K. Bannon serving as campaign CEO and his son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly meeting with potential investors. He even recently launched a nightly newscast on Facebook Live. Regardless of Trumps desire, or lack thereof, to start a network, Hannity will apparently be with Fox News for the foreseeable future. From ELLE Things have changed a lot since the last U.S. general election: In 2012, No one knew what 'Hiddleswift' meant, the blue/black white/gold dress had yet to be sewn into existence, and DJ Khaled didn't even have Snapchat. Now we know that Hiddleswift is code for "elaborate music video," that the dress was white/gold blue/black, that DJ Khaled is all over Snapchat, along with you and almost all your under-40 coworkers (while even your Mom is probably on Instagram). We selfie and Snap everything-including, in 2016, our election ballots. But should we? In some states-as Justin Timberlake just found out-the law isn't so cool with the Snap-everything generation, and it's actually illegal to selfie your ballot. Below, check out how your state stacks up: Source: ABC News What exactly does "unclear" mean, you may ask? It's things like this: In Texas, photography within 100 feet of polling places is banned, so polling booth selfies are a no-no, but photos of mail-in ballots are okay. In Arizona, photography within 75 feet of polling places is banned, but the state changed the law that barred showing photos of completed ballots in 2015; legally, you can now post photos of early, mail-in ballots on social media. [contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Stories" customtitles="What%20Do%20You%20Get%20Hillary%20for%20Her%20Birthday?%7CThe%20Top%20Concern%20of%20Young%20Women%20This%20Election%7CAre%20You%20Set%20to%20Vote?" customimages="||" content="article.40281|article.38984|article.40077"] And what about Tennessee, where Justin Timberlake voting-selfied on Monday? Voters are not allowed to take photos or videos while in polling places in that state...but the Shelby County District Attorney told reporters he won't be pressing charges against JT. (He's probably just happy to have someone with 37 million followers encouraging people to go out and vote already, right?) You Might Also Like VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2016 / Silver One Resources Inc. (SVE.V) (BRK1.F) (OTC Pink: SLVRF) ("Silver One" or the "Company), is commencing exploration on its wholly owned La Frazada and Penasco Quemado silver properties in Mexico. Initial work will include geological and geochemical surveys designed to best select drilling targets, with drilling expected to start in 2017. The Company proposes to conduct two exploration programs. At La Frazada the program will include permitting, geological mapping, trenching, soil sampling, underground sampling, metallurgical testing and Community outreach. At Penasco Quemado the proposed work will entail permitting, soil sampling, geological mapping, trenching and Community outreach. Exploration is targeted to commence on or about November 15, 2016. Greg Crowe, President and CEO, comments: "Both La Frazada and Penasco Quemado are past-producing silver rich mines that have never been tested for their full mining potential. These initial surface and near-surface proposed exploration programs will aid us in garnering a better understanding of the controls on and distribution of silver mineralization. This will allow us to better delineate drill targets designed to evaluate the potential of these silver rich systems." La Frazada Work on La Frazada will consist of geological and geochemical testing of the along-strike projections of the two known veins. This may include some trenching and underground sampling. A NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared for Silvermex Resources Ltd. ("Silvermex") outlined a historical measured resource comprised of 2.54 million ounces, averaging 260 g/t silver, a historical indicated resource comprised of 2.16 million ounces, averaging 241 g/t silver, and a historical inferred resource comprised of 3.86 million ounces of silver, averaging 225 g/t silver. The veins also contain significant lead, zinc and copper contents (see the Table below, as reported in the Company's news release of September 27, 2016). Story continues Resource Category (Underground) Mineral Type Tonnes (Mt) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) Ag (Moz) Au (oz) Pb (Mlb) Zn (Mlb) Cu (Mlb) Measured Sulphides 0.30 260 0.20 0.88 2.36 2.54 1,900 5.86 15.78 0.63 Indicated Sulphides 0.28 241 0.14 0.86 2.52 2.16 1,300 5.30 15.50 0.55 Total M+ I Sulphides 0.58 251 0.17 0.87 2.44 4.70 3,200 11.16 31.28 1.18 Inferred Sulphides 0.53 225 0.17 0.92 2.62 3.86 3,100 10.86 30.77 1.05 Silvermex Resources Limited reported in a technical report titled "Technical Report and Preliminary Resource Estimate for the La Frazada Silver Property, El Zopilote Mining District, Nayarit, Mexico) dated November 24, 2008 (amended January 19, 2009) (filed on SEDAR on February 18, 2009), prepared by William J. Lewis, the above historical mineral resource estimate. The historical mineral resource estimate used "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" ,which are categories set out in NI 43-101. Accordingly, the Company considers these historical estimates reliable as well as relevant as it represents a target for exploration by the Company. The database for the historical resource estimate consisted of 729 samples; 233 belonging to the La Jabalina West vein, 384 to the La Frazada vein and 112 samples corresponding to the La Jabalina East-Tiro Real vein. The mineral resource estimate used a block model method with a cut-off grade of 80 g/t Ag, 0.75% Pb and 1% Zn. The qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, therefore the Company is treating these historical estimates as relevant, but not current mineral resources. Mineralization in quartz veins and associated structures at La Frazada has been traced over a strike length of 2.5-3 km and over a vertical extent in excess of 500 m. The La Jabalina East and La Frazada veins host silver - lead - zinc mineralization in underground workings. The bulk of the known historic resource on the La Frazada property is contained within these two eastern most areas. Approximately 2-2.5 km to the west, the lower most workings are exposed along road cuts and in underground adits and drifts in the La Jabalina West Vein. Although the property was mined since pre-Colonial times, mining was curtailed in the 1910 Mexican Revolution and did not recommence until the 1980's. In 1985, the Mexican company, Compania Minera Nival, constructed a 280 tonne per day mill and developed underground workings allowing access to the Jabalina vein over a strike length of 900+ m and over a vertical distance of 350 m on 6 levels. In 1990/91, Zinc Corporation of America purchased a 25% interest in La Frazada and expanded the mill. Zinc concentrates were shipped to the company's smelter in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The mine was shut down in 1997 due to low metal prices, but most underground workings remain accessible and in good condition. Silvermex acquired the property in 2008 and completed an extensive underground rehabilitation and sampling program. Silvermex's work focused primarily on the previously known mineralized vein systems. Silvermex's assets were acquired by First Majestic Minerals in 2012 and La Frazada was vended into First Mining Finance in 2015. Penasco Quemado Small scale mining was conducted through a series of pits and shafts up to the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Recorded exploration was not documented again until the 1960's, when Asarco acquired the rights to the property and completed drilling programs. In the 1970's, small scale mining was conducted by Sr. Adalberto Ballesteros. Approximately 10,000 tonnes averaging 225 g/t silver were reportedly mined from a small open pit, with the manganese oxide material being shipped to the Phelps Dodge smelter in Douglas, Arizona. In the 1980's, Cerro de Plata acquired the property and drilled 800 m in 13 holes, reporting silver intercepts and outlining a shallow, westerly dipping body of mineralization. Silvermex acquired the ground in 2005 and completed 1,450 m of drilling in 15 reverse circulation holes. They confirmed the nature of the mineralization outlined previously by Cerro de Plata and in 2006 completed an additional 2,250 m of drilling in 7 reverse circulation and 12 diamond drill holes. Significant mineralization was encountered over a strike length of 300 m and the area of known mineralization was extended to over 750 m. Silvermex completed a NI 43-101 Technical report outlining the current historical resource estimate as set forth below. Resource Category (Underground) Mineral Type Tonnes (Mt) Ag (g/t) Ag (Moz) Measured Oxides 0.12 152 0.60 Indicated Oxides 2.44 115 9.03 Total M + I Oxides 2.57 117 9.63 Inferred Oxides 0.10 41 0.13 Silvermex Resources Limited reported in a technical report titled "Updated NI 43-101 Technical Report and Resource Estimate for the Penasco Quemado Silver Property" dated March 9, 2007 (filed on SEDAR on March 16, 2007), prepared by William J. Lewis and James A. McCrea, the above historical mineral resource estimate. The historical mineral resource estimate used "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource", which are categories set out in NI 43-101. Accordingly, the Company considers these historical estimates reliable as well as relevant as it represents a target for exploration work by the Company. The database for the historical resource estimate consisted of 24 reverse circulation holes from a 1981/82 program, 17 reverse circulation holes from a 2006 program and 8 diamond drill holes from a 2006 drill program. Assay data was available for all 49 of the drill holes and 12 trenches. The mineral resource estimate used a kriging estimation method to establish ore zones with a cut-off grade of 30 g/t Ag and assay's capped at 700 g/t Ag. Resource blocks were estimated by ordinary kriging with samples within a search radius of 25 meters classified as a measured mineral resource, within 47 meters classified as an indicated mineral resource and within 70 meters classified as an inferred mineral resource. As required by NI 43-101, CIM definitions (August, 2004) were used to classify mineral resources with the classification of each kriged ore block dependent upon the number of penetrating holes. An in-situ block density of 2.50 t/cu meter was assigned the ore blocks. The qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, therefore the Company is treating these historical estimates as relevant, but not current mineral resources. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Greg Crowe, P.Geo, President and CEO of Silver One, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. For more information, please contact: Silver One Resources Inc. Greg Crowe, President and CEO Phone: (604) 974-5274 Email: info@silverone.com Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Silver One cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Silver One's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Silver One's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Silver One undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SOURCE: Silver One Resources Inc. Here comes Raqqa. Few in the military likes to put a time frame on operations. Until the boss does. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told NBC News Wednesday that the U.S,-backed assault on Raqqa starts in the next few weeks, and the coming attacks by Kurdish and Syrian Arab militia fighters are all part of a larger plan that has made Mosul the U.S.-led coalitions first priority, but has been designed to squeeze ISIS by hitting both cities almost simultaneously. Speaking in Paris after a meeting in Paris with NATO allies to discuss the ISIS fight, Carter added, its been long a part of our plan that the Mosul operation would kick off when it did. This was a plan that goes back many months now and that Raqqa would follow soon behind. ISIS plotting against West. Just hours before Carters announcement, Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top American military commander in Iraq, told reporters at the Pentagon that there was sense of urgency about hitting the Islamic States de facto capital, as the group was plotting unspecified attacks on the West from the city. We know theyre up to something, and its an external plot, the general said while speaking from his headquarters in Baghdad. We dont know exactly where they intend to strike, he added, and we dont know exactly when. So, its on. But heres the problem. U.S. allies on the ground in Syria are looking to find and train several hundred more Arab fighters from the local population to help in the assault, since the most accomplished fighters in the area the Kurds wont be welcomed inside the city. Relying on the Kurds, of course, is a non-starter for Turkey, which considers the Kurdish YPG a terrorist organization. Ankara recently sent special operations forces and a force of its own Syrian Arab militiamen into northern Syria to push ISIS and the Kurds off its border, and according to a speech delivered by President Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, is planning to attack the U.S.-backed Kurds around the town of Manbij before moving on Raqqa. Erdogan said he informed U.S. President Barack Obama about his plans for the operation in a telephone call on Wednesday, something not included in a White House readout of the call. Story continues Russian ships making a go. Russia says it wont be refueling its aircraft carrier in Spain after all following an outcry in Europe against Madrids support to the Russian war in Syria. The Admiral Kuznetsov, the smokey, rusty aircraft carrier with the little engine that maybe cant, has been making its way to Syria for whats expected to be an uptick in airstrikes on Aleppo. The proposed refueling visit raised the ire of British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, who said hed be extremely concerned to see a NATO country lending a hand to the Russian effort in Syria. Russian officials said Thursday that the Kuznetsov and other Russian ships that recently entered the Mediterranean wont target Syria, of course. Rumble in the Baltic. If you need another sign of the poisonous relationship between Russia and NATO, Sweden, and Finland, look no further than the latest reports about Russia strengthening its Baltic Fleet. According to Reuters, Russian media is reporting that two Russian Buyan-M missile corvettes armed with nuclear-capable Kalibr cruise missiles are headed to join the Baltic Fleet as part of a new unit based in Kaliningrad. Russia already rattled nerves among NATO countries by sending OTR-21 Tochka nuclear-capable short range ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad earlier this month. The Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab has a great rundown of the Russian ships in question and their capabilities, concluding, the Kuznetsov group is making bigger waves, and has the potential to have a greater military impact in the Mediterranean. But the two small corvettes, with their modern, nuclear-capable missiles, may yet have an impact out of proportion to their size in the Baltic. Boots on the gravel. The Washington Posts Loveday Morris had a chance to visit U.S. troops stationed at the Q West base just outside of Mosul, and sends back a report of what life is like there. If you spent any time at an American forward operating base in Iraq or Afghanistan over the past 15 years, it seems pretty similar, save for the lack of an ice cream station in the chow hall. Good morning and as always, if you have any thoughts, announcements, tips, or national security-related events to share, please pass them along to SitRep HQ. Best way is to send them to: paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or on Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley U.S. expands Africa drone ops Washington has secretly expanded its global network of drone bases to North Africa, deploying unmanned aircraft and U.S. military personnel to a facility in Tunisia to conduct spy missions in neighboring Libya, the Washington Posts Adam Entous and Missy Ryan report. The unarmed Reaper drones started flying out of the base in June and have played a role in the U.S. air strikes against ISIS in Libya. The Obama administration pressed for access to the Tunisian base as part of a security strategy for the broader Middle East that calls for placing drones and small Special Operations teams at a number of facilities within striking distance of militants who could pose a threat to the West. Robot rodeo The Peoples Liberation Army is serious about modernization and so this month it put on a running of the unmanned vehicles for the Overcoming Obstacle 2016 challenge. PopSci reports that the event, similar to DARPAs Grand Challenge, pitted five categories of unmanned ground vehicles against each other to see which one performs the best. The contest featured unmanned cars, all-terrain vehicles, tracked SWAT-bots, cargo vehicles, and creepy quadrupeds resembling Boston Dynamics iconic BigDog robot. Drones of the caliphate The Pentagon is preparing its forces in Iraq to deal with the threat of Islamic State drones, Bloomberg reports. Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend briefed reporters on the threat, saying that the jihadist group uses the small unmanned systems more for reconnaissance and improving artillery accuracy than as explosive-laden homebrew missiles. Townsend said the suicide drones so far havent had a great effect, but the Pentagon nonetheless expects Islamic State fighters to keep trying. Commanders have issued new procedures for dealing with the threat of explosive drones and the Air Force revealed that its now using electronic warfare systems in Iraq to down Islamic State drones. Afghanistan Meanwhile, the war against the Islamic States erstwhile parent group, al Qaeda, continues in Afghanistan. A drone strike in Kunar province killed two al-Qaeda officials, Nayef Salam Muhammad Ujaym al-Hababi and Balal al-Utabi. Defense officials say that al-Hababi, reportedly al Qaedas top commander in Afghanistan, was involved in planning terrorist attacks in Europe alongside his deputy, al-Utabi. The two men were also involved in fighting U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan are up pretty significantly this year over 2015, already hitting the 700 mark, whereas all of last year saw 500 American strikes. Reuters reports that between June and late October, about 240 of the strikes came under rules approved by Obama in June allowing U.S. forces to more actively support Afghan troops fighting the Taliban and other insurgent groups, and 190 came against Islamic State. The Islamic State in Afghanistan has killed 30 civilians, some of them children, which the group kidnapped as they were gathering firewood in Ghor province, according to the BBC. Islamic State fighters executed the captives after a failed attempt by Afghan police to free the prisoners, which resulted in death of a commander for the jihadist group. Business of defense How did Northrop Grumman land the multi-billion dollar contract to build the Air Forces stealth B-21 bomber? Its bid came pretty cheap, FlightGlobal reports. Air Force Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch told reporters on Wednesday that the designs offered by both Northrop and the Boeing-Lockheed tag team met the requirements for the bomber just fine. In a protest to the contract award, Boeing complained that Northrops plan to use low skill, low-paid workers to work on the program would put the it in jeopardy and offer an unfair cost advantage but the Government Accountability Office disagreed. Photo Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images Geneva (AFP) - Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar endured a months-long nightmare as sex slaves of the Islamic State group (IS) before becoming the faces of a campaign to protect their Yazidi people from a genocidal threat. Murad, a slight, softly spoken young woman, was taken by IS from her home village of Kocho near Iraq's northern town of Sinjar in August 2014 and brought to the city of Mosul. As a captive of the reviled extremist group, Murad, who today is 23, said she was tortured and raped. The IS made her disavow her Yazidi faith, an ancient religion with more than half a million adherents concentrated near the Syrian border in northern Iraq. "The first thing they did was they forced us to covert to Islam," Murad told AFP in an interview earlier this year at the United Nations in Geneva, through an Arabic translator. In a December speech at the UN Security Council in New York, Murad recounted her so-called "marriage" to one IS captor. He mocked her, beat her and then ordered her to wear makeup and revealing clothes, she told the council. "I was not able to take any more rape and torture," she said, explaining why she decided to flee. - 'Remarkably strong' - Bashar is also from Kocho and was just 16 when she was taken. "This is a remarkably strong woman who endured things I wouldn't wish on anyone," a psychologist who helped arrange for her to receive treatment in Germany, Jan Kizilhan, told AFP. "Many of her close acquaintances and relatives were killed by Islamic State before her eyes before she was captured, enslaved, sold several times and repeatedly raped along with other Yazidi girls." She tried to break free of her captors several times during her 20 months in captivity before finally succeeding. But even after her escape, she fell into the hands of an Iraqi hospital director in the town of Hawjiah who also abused and raped her and several other victims. Story continues She finally made it out with two friends. But en route to the city of Kirkuk, one trod on a landmine, killing her instantly, said Mirza Dinnayi, founder of the German-Iraqi aid group Air Bridge Iraq. Dinnayi has been looking after Bashar since her arrival in Germany in April. Bashar escaped with her life but suffered horrific burns to her face from the blast, losing her right eye. - 'Genocide must be recognised' - On the run in Mosul -- IS's last remaining stronghold in Iraq -- Murad said she was terrified that no one would take her in. But she ultimately found shelter with a Muslim family in the city. "They made me an Islamic ID," which she used to cross the border into Iraqi Kurdistan, she told AFP. In some respects, Murad's life lay in ruins after her harrowing escape. The 2014 massacre perpetrated against the Yazidis by IS fighters in Sinjar forced tens of thousands to flee and left an already vulnerable community under perilous threat. UN investigators have said the IS assault on the Yazidis was a premeditated effort to exterminate an entire community -- crimes that amount to genocide. Murad said she lost six brothers and her mother in the Sinjar assault. While living in a displaced persons' camp in Kurdistan, Murad contacted the Yazidi welfare organisation Yazda, which helped her move to Germany to live with her sister. In speeches and interviews, Murad has voiced deep frustration with the international community for abandoning her people in the hands of grotesquely violent criminals. World powers failed to "rescue us from this genocide," she told AFP after addressing a Human Rights Council side event in June. "For you to regain the trust of the Yazidis will take a lot of work," she said at the event. She has become a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN's office on drugs and crime, working for victims of human trafficking. Bashar, for her part, is living with her sister in southern Germany and working towards recovery from her debilitating injuries. She is now able to walk again independently, Dinnayi said. She dreams of becoming an elementary school teacher and staying in Germany. "She is a very lively, funny person with a lot of friends," Kizilhan said. "She did not lose her courage and is fighting to survive." * Rajoy expected to lose first vote on Thursday * Socialists to abstain in second vote on Saturday * Rajoy will lead weak minority government * Socialists say will reverse Rajoy's policies from first term By Inmaculada Sanz and Angus Berwick MADRID, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Spain's Socialists will not allow incoming conservative leader Mariano Rajoy a free hand to govern despite allowing him a second term, one of their leaders told parliament on Thursday during a heated debate before a first confidence vote. Rajoy is expected to lose the first vote that starts at around 1800 GMT, but the Socialists, in a change of stance, have agreed to abstain in a second vote on Saturday, permitting him to form a minority government and end more than 300 days of political limbo. Rajoy's People's Party won two national elections in December and June but without a majority, and efforts to form a coalition in a fragmented parliament failed. Rajoy urged opponents on Wednesday to set aside their differences and to work together to avoid another election in the future which he said would be damaging for the country. But Socialists and members of anti-austerity Podemos queued up inside and outside parliament to make clear they would fight Rajoy's conservative policies from his first term and keep parliament in flux. "You will not dominate parliament, the majority you lack will triumph and a lot of the time it will align with the PSOE (the Socialists)," Antonio Hernando, a senior Socialist member, said. To win the first confidence vote, Rajoy would need an absolute majority of 176 in the 350-seat parliament. A loss will trigger a second vote 48 hours later in which parties can abstain, meaning he only needs more votes in favour than against. Rajoy will need support from outside his People's Party to pass legislation in what would be a challenging second term. Top of the list of the tasks awaiting him is shrinking Spain's budget deficit to meet its 2017 target agreed with Brussels which requires at least 5 billion euros ($5.46 billion) of either cuts or revenues. Story continues The Socialists remain deeply split over their planned abstention vote, which a majority of their senior members approved on Sunday. The party's wing in the Catalonia region has already said it will vote "no" on Saturday. Rajoy urged the Socialists on Thursday not to reverse his economic reforms and offered an olive branch to the opposition saying he was willing to compromise and strike a national pact on reforming Spain's struggling education system. "Having a government that cannot govern is just as bad as not having a government," Rajoy told lawmakers. Podemos' head Pablo Iglesias, who has called for protesters to surround parliament for Saturday's vote, laid claim on Thursday to leading the opposition to Rajoy's incoming administration and denounced the Socialists as partners of the PP, which he brands as corrupt and committed to austerity. "There are more potential criminals in this chamber than there are outside," Iglesias said to jeers from other politicians. ($1 = 0.9153 euros) (Writing by Angus Berwick; Editing by Adrian Croft and Angus MacSwan) By Stella Mapenzauswa CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan declined on Thursday to say whether he was confident of the ruling party's support, less than a week before he appears in court to answer fraud charges in a saga that has rocked the government. Speaking a day after presenting his mid-term budget to parliament, Gordhan said he had tried not to let his Nov. 2 court case distract him while outlining measures to help kick-start an economy that he forecast would barely grow this year. Gordhan is accused of fraudulently approving, in a previous post as head of the revenue service, early retirement for a deputy tax commissioner and re-hiring him as a consultant, costing the tax agency 1.1 million rand ($79,000). He has denied any wrongdoing, saying the case is politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by opposition parties, business leaders and some senior African National Congress (ANC) party figures. The state prosecutor has rejected allegations of political interference. Asked during a post-budget breakfast meeting whether he was still confident he had political backing, Gordhan said: "I'm not trying to duck, but I'm not going to answer it." The ructions in government have weakened the rand and bonds in an economy struggling to create jobs. Some analysts say President Jacob Zuma's allies are driving the investigation in a bid to oust Gordhan, something the president denied. "He (Gordhan) is well aware that while he does have some support inside the ANC, the faction that's supporting him is not winning," NKC Africa Economics analyst Gary van Staden said. "If you're asked if you have support and you say I'm not answering that question, obviously he thinks he doesn't." Gordhan, who on Wednesday slashed growth forecasts for the next three years and predicted wider budget deficits than previously expected, said he was not preoccupied with whether he had done enough to stave off credit rating downgrades. "Our preoccupation is not rating agencies. Our preoccupation is putting the country on the right footing," Gordhan said. "If we build confidence to the point where we get investment going ... everybody including ratings agencies will believe that we as a government are doing the right thing," he said. Moody's, Fitch and S&P, who are due to review the credit rating of Africa's most industrialized country in November and December, have warned of downgrades if growth remains weak and Pretoria's commitment to fiscal prudence comes into doubt. 'CORRUPTION IS REAL' Gordhan told parliament on Wednesday the economy was suffering infrastructure bottlenecks, volatile labor relations, regulatory constraints and red tape, inefficiencies in state-owned enterprises and uncertainties in the policy environment. Moody's senior analyst Zuzana Brixiova however said on Thursday South Africa would continue to be challenged by slow progress and uncertainty around structural reforms meant to support growth. She also warned that spending pressures were likely to rise in the run-up to the 2019 elections. In the budget, Gordhan urged public servants to work with integrity, honesty and accountability, a plea his deputy Mcebisi Jonas said referred to rampant corruption in state departments. "Corruption is real, it's palpable, you can feel it, and you can see it in most agencies," Jonas told the post-budget briefing also attended by Gordhan. "That's why sometimes Treasury gets the flack. The public finance management act requires that we intervene in institutions and try and correct some of the problems." (Editing by James Macharia) * Minister faces fraud charges in Nov. 2 court hearing * Gordhan says court case did not distract from budget preparation * Minister says he is not preoccupied with ratings agencies * Deputy minister says corruption rife in state departments (Adds comment from IMF, Moody's, Fitch, deputy finance minister) By Stella Mapenzauswa CAPE TOWN, Oct 27 (Reuters) - South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan declined on Thursday to say whether he was confident of the ruling party's support, less than a week before he appears in court to answer fraud charges in a saga that has rocked the government. Speaking a day after presenting his mid-term budget to parliament, Gordhan said he had tried not to let his Nov. 2 court case distract him while outlining measures to help kick-start an economy that he forecast would barely grow this year. Gordhan is accused of fraudulently approving, in a previous post as head of the revenue service, early retirement for a deputy tax commissioner and re-hiring him as a consultant, costing the tax agency 1.1 million rand ($79,000). He has denied any wrongdoing, saying the case is politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by opposition parties, business leaders and some senior African National Congress (ANC) party figures. The state prosecutor has rejected allegations of political interference. Asked during a post-budget breakfast meeting whether he was still confident he had political backing, Gordhan said: "I'm not trying to duck, but I'm not going to answer it." The ructions in government have weakened the rand and bonds in an economy struggling to create jobs. Some analysts say President Jacob Zuma's allies are driving the investigation in a bid to oust Gordhan, something the president denied. "He (Gordhan) is well aware that while he does have some support inside the ANC, the faction that's supporting him is not winning," NKC Africa Economics analyst Gary van Staden said. "If you're asked if you have support and you say I'm not answering that question, obviously he thinks he doesn't." Story continues Gordhan, who on Wednesday slashed growth forecasts for the next three years and predicted wider budget deficits than previously expected, said he was not preoccupied with whether he had done enough to stave off credit rating downgrades. "Our preoccupation is not rating agencies. Our preoccupation is putting the country on the right footing," Gordhan said. "If we build confidence to the point where we get investment going ... everybody including ratings agencies will believe that we as a government are doing the right thing," he said. Moody's, Fitch and S&P, who are due to review the credit rating of Africa's most industrialised country in November and December, have warned of downgrades if growth remains weak and Pretoria's commitment to fiscal prudence comes into doubt. 'CORRUPTION IS REAL' Gordhan told parliament on Wednesday the economy was suffering infrastructure bottlenecks, volatile labour relations, regulatory constraints and red tape, inefficiencies in state-owned enterprises and uncertainties in the policy environment. Moody's senior analyst Zuzana Brixiova however said on Thursday South Africa would continue to be challenged by slow progress and uncertainty around structural reforms meant to support growth. She also warned that spending pressures were likely to rise in the run-up to the 2019 elections. In the budget, Gordhan urged public servants to work with integrity, honesty and accountability, a plea his deputy Mcebisi Jonas said referred to rampant corruption in state departments. "Corruption is real, it's palpable, you can feel it, and you can see it in most agencies," Jonas told the post-budget briefing also attended by Gordhan. "That's why sometimes Treasury gets the flack. The public finance management act requires that we intervene in institutions and try and correct some of the problems." (Editing by James Macharia) Madrid (AFP) - Spain's Socialists may have reluctantly decided to let Mariano Rajoy govern again but they will not go easy on the acting conservative premier once he re-takes power, they warned Thursday. "You don't have our trust, nor do you have our support," Antonio Hernando, the Socialists' parliamentary spokesman, told Rajoy as he addressed lawmakers. In a taste of things to come, Hernando blasted the acting prime minister's first term track record in a bitter debate held before Rajoy submits himself to a preliminary, symbolic parliamentary confidence vote. Rajoy is widely expected to lose this vote, due later Thursday, before submitting himself to a second, final and decisive vote at the weekend which he will likely win thanks to a decision by the Socialists to abstain. The Socialists have defended this decision by saying they are helping unblock the political impasse in Spain, which has remained without a fully-functioning government for 10 months after two inconclusive elections. "There is no reason to maintain the political blockage and take Spaniards to new elections," Hernando said. "Our abstention on Saturday will allow you to form a government, but it is not support for your government or your policies," he told Rajoy. Support will be in short supply when Rajoy takes power next week at the head of a minority government, a far cry from 2011 when his Popular Party won an absolute majority. With just 137 seats out of 350 in parliament, his party will face huge opposition and Thursday's bitter debate reflected this as Rajoy came out fighting and his rivals criticised him. Pablo Iglesias, the head of far-left Podemos, which aspires to replace the Socialists as the main opposition force, also warned his own party would not "fall into line." "We are not a left-wing force that fits the mould... we want a different way of doing things and want to change things," he said. Story continues Rajoy, meanwhile, called on opposition parties to try to agree on crucial measures such as the 2017 budget, as Spain works to reduce its deficit under EU scrutiny. "Demonising your enemy is not credible, it doesn't work," he told lawmakers. "Not having a government is as bad as having a government that can't govern," he said. "Without a budget, by not complying with our agreements with the European Union, we run the serious risk that Spain will experience a sterile four-year term." By John Geddie LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Spain's borrowing costs edged away from three-month highs on Thursday ahead of Spanish lawmakers' vote on acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's bid to form a minority government to end 10 months of political deadlock. Rajoy is expected to win the vote in two rounds. He has offered to work with his opponents on major challenges such as pension and education reforms and is unlikely to get the backing from an absolute majority of deputies he requires on Thursday. But if he fails, a second vote would be called 48 hours later in which he simply needs more votes in favour than against, meaning the recent decision by opposition Socialists to abstain should allow for a breakthrough. His conservative People's Party (PP) won two elections in December and June but failed to secure a majority and attempts to put together a viable coalition government have failed. "While acting PM Rajoy is likely to miss the absolute majority today he has good chances to succeed in the second round," DZ Bank strategist Pascal Segesser said. Spanish 10-year bond yields dipped 1 basis point on Thursday to 1.13 percent, just off a three-month high of 1.16 percent struck 10 days ago, according to Tradeweb. Most other euro zone yields were slightly lower on the day, including German 10-year yields - the bloc's benchmark - which struck a four-month peak of 0.11 percent in Asian trading hours. Even if Rajoy is successful, analysts fear that strained relationships between his People's Party and the Socialist Party (PSOE) could hamper reform efforts in the euro zone's fourth largest economy, which is recovering from a severe recession. "PP and PSOE have virtually no history of coalition government, let alone grand coalitions, and will struggle to work constructively," political risk consultancy Eurasia Group analyst, Federico Santi, said. "They also share little in the way of ideology and have fundamentally different positions on many issues the next government will have to face, from fiscal policy, to labour regulation and education." Story continues Spain is also under pressure to present a new budget plan for 2017 to Brussels to guarantee it can meet public deficit targets for next year, and Rajoy said on Wednesday his government planned to present a proposal in the coming days. Spain's main stock market, which opened a touch lower, has fallen nearly 4 percent this year, outperforming slightly the euro-wide STOXX 600 which has lost about 6.5 percent of its value. For Reuters new Live Markets blog on European and UK stock markets see reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=http://emea1.apps.cp.extranet.thomsonreuters.biz/cms/?pageId=livemarkets (Editing by Louise Ireland) MADRID, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told parliament on Thursday that it was still unclear whether the country would have to make spending cuts to reach its deficit targets next year, as it depended on how tax revenues performed. Spain needs to shrink its public deficit to 3.1 percent of output in 2017 from an expected 4.6 percent this year, according to targets agreed with Brussels, but based on its budget plan so far it is expected to miss next year's goal. It would need either 5 billion euros ($5.46 billion) in extra revenues or spending cuts to reach the target, according to its latest budget plan, which Rajoy wants to amend after he is confirmed as expected as Prime Minister this weekend. Those budget talks could be a first point of friction with opposition parties for Rajoy's minority government, as other parties are likely to oppose cuts. "I'm not in a position to say whether or not we are going to have to adopt corrective measures ... we'll have to wait until the end of 2016 and see if the favourable trend which we are now seeing in revenues continues," Rajoy told lawmakers. ($1 = 0.9159 euros) (Reporting by Sarah White and Inmaculada Sanz, Editing by Jesus Aguado) MADRID (Reuters) - A Spanish court on Wednesday for the first time ruled in favour of a buyer of a Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) car with altered emissions software, ordering two of the German firm's local units to pay a 5,000 euro (4,463 pound) fine to the car's owner. The judge said the owner of an Audi Q5, bought in 2013, had wanted compensation and a new car after finding out last year when the VW diesel scandal erupted it had software which allowed it to cheat emissions tests. Courts in Spain have ruled in favour of Volkswagen in five previous cases related to the emissions scandal, and Wednesday's sentence could open the door to a wave of new consumer lawsuits. Spanish consumer organization OCU called for other people with affected cars in Spain to join more than 5,500 others in filing a class-action lawsuit against VW. The Spanish court in the city of Valladolid said the fine imposed on Valladolid Wagen and Volkswagen Audi Espana was equivalent to 10 percent of the car's value. The companies will also have to repair the car, the court said. VW admitted in September 2015 to installing secret software in its diesel cars to improve their test performance. Since then, the company has been hit with enormous fines worldwide, and on Tuesday a U.S. judge approved a $14.7 billion settlement between the carmaker and U.S. regulators. A source at Volkswagen Audi Espana said the company would appeal the ruling. Spain's High Court said in October last year it had begun an investigation into VW cars in Spain. (Reporting by Maria Vega Paul; Writing by Angus Berwick; Editing by Sarah White and David Holmes) Sri Lanka said Thursday it will reduce its foreign debt by $1 billion by selling off former strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse's vanity projects. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament he wanted to privatise a $1.3 billion port and a $210 million airport in Rajapakse's home constituency which have become huge white elephants. "By turning the debt into equity and forming a public-private partnership to run the airport and the harbour, we will reduce our foreign debt by a billion dollars," Wickremesinghe said. He did not disclose whether any investors had been lined up for the facilities in Rajapakse's home constituency of Hambantota in the island's deep south, which were built with Chinese loans and named after the former leader. Only one airline operates flights to the airport in the sparsely-populated area while the harbour is also one of the emptiest in the world. The new government which came to power in January last year has been trying to renegotiate terms of its $8 billion Chinese debt, which includes the construction costs of the airport and the harbour, but with no success. The former administration relied heavily on China to build ports, highways and railways as Western nations shunned it over its dismal human rights record. The new government secured a $1.5 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in June after facing a balance of payments crisis and has also negotiated cheaper funding from international lenders. There is a major behind-the-scenes shakeup on Star Trek; Discovery, the upcoming new Star Trek series for CBS All Access, CBS live streaming and VOD service. Executive producer Bryan Fuller, who co-created the series with Alex Kurtzman, is exiting as showrunner. His No.2s, Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts, will succeed him in running day-to-day on the show. Fuller gave the duo his endorsement via Twitter: Riker spent 7 years of TNG unready for Captaincy, @GretchenJBerg @AaronHarberts are ready. Thrilled to see them in command of the Bridge. Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) October 27, 2016 Its been a rough going for Star Trek: Discovery following a splashy announcement, a marquee Comic-Con appearance and a blockbuster Netflix international distribution deal, which paid in full for the shows budget. Casting and pre-production had been going slowly, leading to the decision last month to push the premiere of the series from January to May. After a five-month search, the series still has not cast its female lead, Lieutenant Commander, though it is getting closer. Filming is slated to begin next month in Canada. Fuller, who is still overseeing the breaking of the stories for the first season, has been the public face of Star Trek: Discovery, talking passionately about it at events, so the series is now losing its top ambassador. (He will remain as an executive producer on the show.) It is without exaggeration a dream come true, Fuller said of being named co-creator and showrunner on the new Star Trek series in February. He wrote the first episode and is working on two more. To help fill in the void left by Fullers diminished role, the series will be bringing in veteran Akiva Goldsman (Fringe) in a senior writing/producing capacity. Story continues Unlike Fuller, Berg & Harberts as well as Goldsman have no Star Trek experience. Berg and Harberts, who previously worked with Fuller on his cult ABC series Pushing Daisies, had spent the last five years on primetime soaps, including Revenge, Reign and Off the Map, before reuniting with Fuller on Discovery. In a statement, producer CBS TV Studios praised Fullers contributions. We are extremely happy with the creative direction of Star Trek: Discovery and the strong foundation that Bryan Fuller has helped us create for the series, the statement said. Due to Bryans other projects, he is no longer able to oversee the day-to-day of Star Trek, but he remains an executive producer, and will continue to map out the story arc for the entire season. Alex Kurtzman, co-creator and executive producer, along with Fullers producing partners and longtime collaborators, Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts, will also continue to oversee the show with the existing writing and producing team. Bryan is a brilliant creative talent and passionate Star Trek fan, who has helped us chart an exciting course for the series. We are all committed to seeing this vision through and look forward to premiering Star Trek: Discovery this coming May 2017. Fuller also executive produces Starzs American Gods drama series, which has been in production for six months, though he has a seasoned partner on that in Michael Green. He also has been developing an Amazing Stories reboot for NBC. The news of his Discovery exit was first reported by Variety. Related stories 'The Good Wife' Spinoff Adds Delroy Lindo To Cast CBS All Access Taps Danny Feldheim As VP Original Content 'The Good Wife': Rose Leslie Cast In Spinoff Series For CBS All Access The University of Nebraska will take part in a four-state initiative to help early career scientists find the resources they need to expand research in the region. On Monday, the University of Nebraska Medical Center announced a record-breaking $20 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish the Great Plains Institutional Development Award-Clinical/Translational Research Network. UNMC will work with the three other NU campuses as well as five other schools in four states to expand medical professionals' knowledge in approaching a wide range of diseases. Its never easy to compete for a research grant of this magnitude, UNMC Chancellor Jeff Gold said. It represents years of hard work by lots of dedicated individuals. We couldnt be more proud. Dr. Matthew Rizzo, a professor and chairman of UNMCs Department of Neurological Sciences, will lead the five-year project that already has engaged researchers from various departments to study how research can benefit the community. The goal of this grant is to help early career scientists to become independent and launch their own research programs, Rizzo said in a statement. We want to fill in the health gaps in the Great Plains area. We have unique needs. We have areas with relatively few people in big spaces, as well as medically underserved populations in urban areas." At UNL, Melanie Simpson, a professor of biochemistry and the associate director of the Center for Biotechnology, will serve as the project coordinator for Nebraska, while other participants in the network include North Dakota, South Dakota and Kansas. Simpson said the grant should lead to more research at UNL that helps solve real-world problems like the effectiveness of drugs or medical devices, while also building the universitys research portfolio. My hope for this project is that we, at least in the biomedical areas, significantly increase the campus interface between UNL and other universities in the University of Nebraska system, she said. This program will be beneficial in helping researchers realize the strategic importance of shared grants, shared programs and shared students." This is what we call a Halloween miracle. Starbucks just announced theyre bringing back their spooky limited-edition Frappuccino, the Frappula, which will be available in stores from October 27 through the end of the day on October 31. The fang-tastic frozen beverage is made with a blend of white chocolate sauce, milk and ice, then layered between mocha sauce and a generous dollop of whipped cream. A drizzle of strawberry puree oozes from the rim, and the whole thing is finished with even more whipped cream. With Starbucks new Chile Mocha Latte, iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte and this spooky special, it looks like were going to be extra caffeinated and on a sugar high this Halloween. RELATED: Gordon Ramsay Names the 5 Worst Halloween Candies WATCH THIS: Take 5: Five-Ingredient Pumpkin Gnocchi To compliment the Frappula, the coffee chain also released two festive treats: the Mummy Cake Pop (made with vanilla birthday cake) and the Day of the Dead Cookie (a shortbread with a skeleton design). Washington (AFP) - A star alights on the campaign trail, Donald Trump springs a few surprises -- and his crude remarks about women come back to bite him, again. Here is a rundown of quirky moments on the campaign trail Thursday, as the White House race enters its home stretch. - 'First ladies rock' - It never hurts to invite a rock star to the party. Hillary Clinton upped the voltage with a joint appearance with Michelle Obama -- hands-down the star of the 2016 campaign since she burst onto the scene with a string of now-viral speeches denouncing Republican Donald Trump. "Seriously, is there anyone more inspiring than Michelle Obama?" Clinton said as she introduced her Democratic ally -- and shared in the rapturous applause from the rally in swing state North Carolina. "First ladies, we rock!" quipped back Obama, urging the ecstatic crowd of 11,000 to get out and vote "right now" for "my girl" -- Hillary Clinton. "We're going to make our voices heard," vowed the first lady. "No one is going to take away our home. Let's get this done!" - Surprise! - Donald Trump is just full of surprises. Take his Thursday morning interview with his wife Melania when he announced -- to her visible astonishment -- that she would be delivering two or three "big speeches" in the closing days of the White House race. Asked if she would be playing a more public role with Election Day around the corner, the 46-year-old began by replying : "We will see. My priorities are my son Barron, our son Barron." But Trump jumped in: "She's actually going to make two or three speeches," he said. "She is an amazing public speaker, so she's agreed to do two or three speeches and I think it's going to be big speeches, important speeches." Melania Trump's only big speech to date was at the Republican National Convention, where she was publicly humiliated after it turned out her remarks were in part plagiarized from Michelle Obama. Story continues Since then, she has been all but absent from the campaign. - It's a (Pussy) Riot - Russian punk feminists Pussy Riot turned their fire on Trump with a dystopian video that imagines the United States if he wins. The provocative band, whose members were jailed in Russia, intersperses footage of Trump with scenes of real and imagined violence in "Make America Great Again," the title an allusion to his campaign slogan. The graphic video depicts police in a Trump America raping and humiliating members of the all-women band, including measuring them to ensure breast sizes to Trump's likings, branding them like cows and forcibly restricting abortion. The song's lyrics also take to task Trump's hardline stance on immigration and champion the rights of African Americans amid outrage over police brutality. Pussy Riot rose to prominence through heated denunciations of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump has spoken of in admiring terms. While some media once hesitated to use Pussy Riot's name, the vulgar term for the female anatomy recently figured prominently in the news when a video surfaced of Trump boasting he would "grab (women) by the pussy" and get away with it because of his fame. - Trump for Diwali - Trump may have insulted Mexicans, Muslims and women but to woo Indian American voters, he's dabbling in Hindi for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights which falls on the weekend. The bombastic New York businessman is seen uttering "Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar" -- adapting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 vote-winning catchphrase as his own -- in a new campaign ad. "This time Trump government," says the translation offered on the screen. Trump delivers the Hindi phrase in a thick US accent in the 30-second ad, the Republican's latest attempt to win votes among America's estimated four million Indian Americans ahead of Diwali. The video opens with the message "Happy Diwali" and borrows from footage of Trump speaking at a Hindu gathering in New Jersey, lighting an oil lamp and promising close US-Indian relations. "The Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House," Trump says. "We love the Hindus, we love India." - 15 minutes of fame - James Otis -- the man who took a pickaxe to Trump's Walk of Fame star in protest at his treatment of women -- was arrested Thursday and charged with vandalism. The arrest cut short Otis' plan to hold a news conference and then surrender to police -- but he may feel he has made his point, after his misdeed was filmed and broadcast around the world. Otis said he initially wanted to chisel out the star and auction it on Election Day -- donating the proceeds to women who have accused the 70-year-old Trump of sexual misconduct. When he found the star too heavy to remove, he ended up taking a sledgehammer and axe to it instead. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce -- which has moved to repair the star, awarded to the billionaire for his work on reality show "The Apprentice" -- was not impressed with the stunt. "When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California state landmark," chamber head Leron Gubler said. It was just the latest assault on Trump's Walk of Fame star, which has been smeared with excrement, daubed with a swastika, and surrounded with a tiny barbed-wire topped wall in a critique of Trump's vow to build a wall on the Mexican border. On Wednesdays The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Stephen Colbert took on the Pentagon and Congress as he addressed the California National Guard repayment scandal. Thousands of National Guard service members received enlistment bonuses that they have since been asked to repay due to clerical errors, missing documentation, and other problems. It gets worse, Colbert explained. Now, not only is the Pentagon asking the troops for their re-enlistment bonuses back. Theyve also tacked on a 1 percent processing fee. Congratulations, military. Youve somehow made me feel good about my credit card company. Though Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has called for a suspension of the widely unpopular repayment effort, Colbert implored Congress to help. He said, It should be easy to forget the troops debt because weve apparently forgotten the debt we owe them. The Late Show With Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS. Watch: Will Forte explains why Amish community supports Trump Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Cynthia LuCiette, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. On Wednesday's The Late Show, Stephen Colbert took on the Pentagon and Congress as he addressed the California National Guard repayment scandal. Thousands of National Guard service members received enlistment bonuses but have been asked to repay them due to clerical errors, missing documentation, and other problems. Colbert said, "Now, not only is the Pentagon asking the troops for their re-enlistment bonuses back. They've also tacked on a 1% processing fee. Congratulations, military. You've somehow made me feel good about my credit card company." Though Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has called for a suspension of the widely unpopular repayment effort, Colbert implored Congress to help. He said, "It should be easy to forget the troops' debt because we've apparently forgotten the debt we owe them." Hillary Clinton kicked off her 69th birthday with a sweet serenade from Stevie Wonder! The music legend made a surprise appearance during Clinton's interview with The Breakfast Club on Wednesday, and after a little prodding from the radio show's co-host, Wonder launched into his 1980 rendition of "Happy Birthday." RELATED: Hillary Clinton Shares Cute Throwback Wedding Pick With Bill Clinton on His 70th Birthday The 69-year-old musician wasn't shy about his admiration for the former Secretary of State. He showed up to the interview donning a black blazer with the words "1st woman president" and Clinton's name written on the sleeve. "I'm really excited to be here and excited to support someone I have had such love and respect for for years," he explained. "Truth be told, I think we as men have had our chance to work it out. It's time to let a woman do it." As Wonder broke into the impromptu performance, Clinton swayed with the music, while the radio show's co-host clapped along. WATCH: Miley Cyrus Goes 'Dorm to Dorm' Campaigning for HIllary Clinton Clinton has received lots of support from the music world, with Adele being the latest recording artist to publicly endorse the Democratic presidential nominee. "I do know what to do don't vote for him, that's what I'm saying," Adele told the crowd of Clinton's opponent, Donald Trump during her concert in Miami on Tuesday. Clinton attended the show, and tweeted the next day, "That was quite a birthday surprise, @Adele. Loved the show last night!" MORE: Jay Z Supports Hillary Clinton With Free Concert in Cleveland Katy Perry has also been a vocal Clinton supporter. The pop star celebrated turning 32 on Tuesday by casting an early presidential vote for the former FLOTUS. See more on Perry's birthday vote in the video below. Related Articles Stop and Frisk is a Complex Area of Law, and it's a Topic that has been the Subject of much Debate Over the Years DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2016 / "Stop and frisk" is a topic that has dominated headlines over the past few weeks. As a result, many people are wondering if the police are allowed to conduct these types of stops. Any time the police stop you, there is a possibility that your rights have been compromised. In the heat of the moment, it's easy for police officers to forget that you have important rights. If you believe the police violated your constitutional rights during a stop or any type of police encounter, don't wait to speak to a Texas criminal defense lawyer. Your Fourth Amendment Rights Stop and frisk is a complex area of law, and it's a topic that has been the subject of much debate over the years. Overall, stop and frisk searches are legal and have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court since they were first recognized as an exception to the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. The Court first discussed stop and frisk in Terry v. Ohio in 1968. In Terry, the Court stated that police officers are in an inherently dangerous profession. To protect themselves, they must have the ability to determine if someone intends to harm them. Generally, if a police officer reasonably suspects that an individual has committed a crime or has a weapon, the officer can perform a stop and frisk search. New York City's Stop and Frisk Policies On the other hand, these stops have generated controversy. In 2013, New York City's police department came under fire when a federal judge ruled that the department's stop and frisk practices unfairly targeted minorities. The ruling did not state that the city's stop and frisk law was unconstitutional. However, the judge held that the department's practices violated the Supreme Court's ruling in Terry. The then-mayor initially filed an appeal, but his successor took office shortly after and decided not to pursue the appeal. Story continues Stop and Frisk in Texas The Texas Criminal Court of Appeals just upheld a "stop and frisk" case in Furr v. State in September 2016. In that case, the court ruled that the police were justified in conducting a stop and frisk search of an individual based on an anonymous tip they had received. They based their reasonable suspicion of a crime on the suspect's behavior, which included looking back at a police officer repeatedly, acting anxious and nervous, refusing to respond when the police asked if he had a weapon, and acting erratically. Discuss Your Case with a Texas Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer At Broden & Mickelsen, we are Board Certified in Criminal Law and Criminal Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Receive a free case evaluation from a Texas federal criminal defense lawyer today by calling 214-720-9552. Broden & Mickelsen, LLP 2600 State St Dallas, Texas 75204 Main Phone: (214) 720-9552 Office Direction Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer on Facebook Source: http://www.brodenmickelsen.com/blog/is-stop-and-frisk-unconstitutional/ SOURCE: Broden & Mickelsen, LLP via Submit Press Release 123 This Stranger Things and Peanuts mashup is the best thing youll see all day Its been months since Stranger Things made its explosive debut on Netflix and we seriously cant get enough of all things related to the wildly successful show! And even though Halloween hasnt passed yet (we cant wait to see how many Eleven costumes we see), some genius soul decided to make the cast of Stranger Things into Peanuts characters during Christmas and holy guacamole is it fantastic! The cartoon shows Will Byers after hes returned from the Upside Down, and features all of our favorite characters. When Will asks Eleven what will help him feel better after leaving the Upside Down, she simply answers, Eggos. BECAUSE DUH! We think the best line of the whole cartoon, though, is when Will goes to his mom for advice and we hear the classic Peanuts Wah wah wah, wah wah and Will says: Sometimes, I think you just cant talk to grownups, unless its through light-up letters on a wall. LOL! We mean, hes not wrong! Although were not sure when Season 2 of the show will return to Netflix next year, we can all safely say that were waiting on the edge of our seats to see what happens to Eleven and what the next adventure awaiting the kids of Hawkins, Indiana. The post This Stranger Things and Peanuts mashup is the best thing youll see all day appeared first on HelloGiggles. Soon after Pat Clinch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, hundreds of people gathered for a February 2015 fundraiser at Chez Hay for the longtime Lincoln musician and employee of The Mill coffee shop. They raised thousands through a silent auction of gift packages donated by Lincoln business owners. And they danced and made music and celebrated. Inspired by Clinch, who died three months later at age 38, many of those people and more will return to Chez Hay, 210 N. 14th St., Friday evening for the first flash fundraising hosted by the Pat Clinch Peace Project. "We are not a nonprofit organization, we are not a foundation, an LLC or anything else along those lines," the project says on its Facebook page. "We are simply the 'conduit' that connects the community to the cause. 100% of every penny we raise goes directly to the cause." All of the money raised Friday will go to the Mourning Hope Grief Center (mourninghope.org), a support network for children and families who have experienced the death or severe illness of a loved one. Ultimately what inspired us was Pats ongoing and unwavering want to help others, said lifelong friend Greg Joyce. ... He was very inspiring. Pat also had a gift for connecting and bringing people together. Our goal with this was to keep that alive -- continue to connect people and positively impact the community and the lives of others. The fundraiser runs 5 to 8 p.m. and will include raffle items, arts and crafts projects for children, cash bar, appetizers and music by The Bottle Tops and DJ Ole Moaner. The group has already raised more $8,000 from sponsors and plans to hold more flash fundraisers in Clinchs honor. Together, we know we can build a community support system in Pats honor, Joyce wrote on the group's website. But, as you may know, it can take a village to change a life. If youre a musician, an artist, a local business owner we would love to connect. Let us know what you want to contribute and lets grow this together. Freewill donations will be accepted at Chez Hay Friday. More, patclinchpeaceproject.com. By Abhinav Ramnarayan and John Geddie LONDON (Reuters) - Strong growth data in Britain prompted the worst daily sell-off in gilts for months and pushed yields on the world's benchmark bonds higher on Thursday, as expectations for a Bank of England rate cut fell. Britain's 10-year government bond was up 12 basis points to 1.27 percent, on track for its biggest daily rise since June 2015. The yield is also now at the highest level since Britain's June vote to leave the European Union, and it has prompted a sell-off in other major government benchmarks. German and U.S. equivalents rose to their highest since early June at 0.19 percent and 1.86 percent, respectively. With the market worried that central banks are stepping back from the ultra-accommodative stance of recent years, a reduced chance of a rate cut was enough to push benchmark bonds in Europe and U.S. to their highest level since the Brexit vote in late June. "The stronger GDP print in the UK has given further weight to speculation that the BoE will not provide further stimulus anytime soon," said Rabobank strategist Richard McGuire. "The market reaction to strong data prints has become more dramatic in the wake of speculation that central banks' modus operandi is changing and they are more focused on the negative effects of unconventional stimulus measures than the benefits," he said. British gross domestic product expanded by 0.5 percent in the July-September period, less rapid than the unusually strong growth of 0.7 percent seen in the second quarter but comfortably above a median forecast of 0.3 percent in a Reuters poll of economists. "There's been a general build-up of inflation expectations, so I think this data adds to that and has just given yields that extra push," said Investec economist Victoria Clarke. French and U.S. GDP data due out on Friday could give further impetus to inflation expectations. A key main gauge of long-term inflation expectations, the five-year five-year breakeven forward, hit 1.4813 percent on Thursday, its highest level since May. Story continues Concerns over reduced stimulus have increased in recent times, ever since the Bank of Japan on Sept. 21 changed its focus from money printing to targeted government bond yields. Rumours that the European Central Bank may reduce the scale of its asset-purchase programme exacerbated the concerns, and 10-year German Bund yields, the region's benchmark, are now 34 basis points higher than the September trough of minus 0.16 percent. SPAIN UNDERPERFORMS Spain's borrowing costs struck a three-month high on Thursday before a vote on acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's bid to form a minority government and end 10 months of political deadlock. Rajoy is expected to win the vote in two rounds, and analysts said some investors had already decided to sell Spanish bonds, which they say are pricing in a high chance of success. Rajoy has offered to work with his opponents on major challenges such as pension and education reforms, but he is unlikely to get the backing on Thursday from the absolute majority of deputies that he needs. If he fails, a second vote will be called 48 hours later in which he simply needs more votes in favour than against, meaning that a recent decision by opposition Socialists to abstain should allow for a breakthrough. Rajoy's conservative People's Party (PP) won two elections in December and June but failed to secure a majority. Attempts to put together a coalition have failed. "Some investors are basically thinking that a government being in place has largely been priced in over the last week or so, and under that scenario there is only one way you can go from here if there is a slip back," Credit Agricole strategist Orlando Green said. Spanish 10-year bond yields rose as much as 7 basis points on Thursday to hit a three-month high of 1.22 percent . For Reuters new Live Markets blog on European and UK stock markets see reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=http://emea1.apps.cp.extranet.thomsonreuters.biz/cms/?pageId=livemarkets (Editing by Larry King) Police in Austin, Texas, are investigating the beating and armed robbery of a college student early Sunday that was caught on FaceTime and the victims best friend is speaking out to PEOPLE about her chilling experience as a witness. Yale Gerstein, 19, was FaceTiming Baylee Lucciana just after midnight Sunday when he heard a knock on his apartment door. When he opened the door, Gerstein was attacked by three men who started beating him with their guns, Baylee tells PEOPLE. Mid-conversation he gets up and walks over , and I hear screaming and yelling and lots of commotion, Baylee says. later I see him being held down with a gun to his head, and saying, Should we just shoot him, should we just get it over with? Baylee, who lives with her father, Chris Lucciana, called him over, and the pair started taking screengrabs of the attack while calling 911, which PEOPLE has declined to publish. I believe just because of FaceTime, Chris says. Otherwise he have been a goner. Baylee and her father were on the phone with police for 17 minutes while they witnessed the attack, they say. At one point, their computer connection was lost. Before the 911 call finished the remark was made Should we shoot him? and said, Look! and everything went away, Chris tells PEOPLE. I thought I had just watched him die, Baylee says. In my mind Im like, Hes dead. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. As soon as the connection went out, Chris told his daughter to go to Gersteins Facebook and try and find the men they saw on the screen. Within 20 minutes, Baylee found the attackers Facebook accounts including photos and videos through mutual friends It was just crazy, she says, adding that they handed over all of their evidence to police immediately. Victim is Just Shocked Austin police confirmed the incident to PEOPLE but declined to comment further, citing their ongoing investigation. They have not named any suspects. But Baylee and her dad say they believe theyve already identified Gersteins attackers. Story continues Its important to remember that during these things you must stay calm, call for help and try to get evidence, Chris tells says. And thats exactly what we did. Less than 24 hours after the attack, the Facebook accounts Baylee and her father discovered were deactivated. While Gerstein has spoken publicly about the incident, PEOPLE was unable to reach him for comment. Baylee says since the attack, he has been overwhelmed with the media and is trying to keep to himself: Hes just shocked. He doesnt know who to trust. Thousands of dollars worth of music, photography and computer equipment was stolen, in addition to Gersteins computer, phone and XBox. Everything that you can think of thats important to a 19-year-old kid, Baylee says. One thing that cannot be replaced is an album Gerstein had recently recorded, according to Baylee. While police investigate, Baylee and her father say they are thankful nobody else was hurt. I have a feeling the only reason it didnt get worse was because they looked up and saw us on the computer, Baylee tells PEOPLE. Its not just a movie youre watching, its real life. This study is more proof of the terrible things women deal with in politics One thing weve witnessed firsthand during this painful election cycle is that sexism is rampant in politics. However, the issue extends far beyond the showdown in America between Democratic and Republican presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump a new study shows that a startling number of female politicians all over the world face threats of rape and violence. Although theres more than one reason women are underrepresented in politics, a recent report from the Inter-Parliamentary Union shows that violence and harassment may be a deciding factor when women choose to stay away from careers in the political field. @SecretService Please investigate this death threat against Hillary Clinton &arrest Trump for attracting this hate https://t.co/6XnhhSwqxS peek a boo (@Run_IsHere) August 10, 2016 Fifty-five female members of parliament in 39 countries participated in the survey, and 40% of these women stated theyd been threatened with rape, beatings, or abduction during their time in office. These arent empty threats more than 20% of the participants reported experiencing one or more acts of physical violence, The Guardian reports. Psychological abuse is also at play. Eighty percent of respondents described being subjected to hostile behavior that causes fear or psychological harm. The female politicians in the study also reported sexual harassment on a number of levels. An MP in Africa stated that her female colleague had paid a high price after rejecting the sexual advances of a male colleague after the rejection, he refused to give her the floor in parliament again. Hillary Clinton Campaigns In Florida Ahead Of Presidential Election Humiliating and sexist remarks are also common 65% of the women surveyed had been on the receiving end of these comments. In 2014, this issue was addressed by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in her memoir Off the Sidelines, when she recounted male colleagues calling her everything from porky to Honey Badger to the hottest member of Senate. Story continues Deal me in! #ImWithHer A photo posted by Kirsten Gillibrand (@kirstengillibrand) on Oct 19, 2016 at 6:03pm PDT Theres no getting around it powerful women are viewed as threats in many workplaces and sexual harassment certainly isnt limited to politics. But politicians are viewed as the most powerful people in the country and, as Hillary Clintons presidential candidacy has proven, countless people are just not OK with the idea of a powerful woman who consistently outperforms her opponent and calmly calls him out for his outright lies and lack of experience. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images As the 2016 election illustrates, we need to normalize the idea of powerful women in politics STAT because, as of right now, the future of our country and many others depends on it. The post This study is more proof of the terrible things women deal with in politics appeared first on HelloGiggles. The Weeknd Launches Tour Merch Pop-Up Shops [Instagram] The Weeknd has officially gone through the pop-star rite of passage. That's right, he's launching his very own tour merch pop-up shops. Ahead of the release of his new album, Starboy, Bella Hadid's beau is launching a series of shops from Nov. 4-6. Locations and other details have not yet been released, though we expect that - like Kanye West before him - the 26-year-old will make the announcements 24 hours ahead of time. A photo posted by The Weeknd (@theweeknd) on Oct 25, 2016 at 4:42pm PDT Sonia Rykiel Shutters Secondary Line, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel [WWD] Sonia Rykiel is shuttering its secondary, more affordable, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel??line and laying off one quarter of its staff. The company will shift its focus to the main Sonia Rykiel line and introduce lower price points in order to be more competitive in the contemporary market. The four stand-alone Sonia by Sonia Rykiel stores will be shuttered by the end of 2017. Sonia Rykiel is one of several brands to end their secondary lines, including Victoria Beckham and Marc Jacobs.?? Aritzia's Wilfred Brand Collaborates With Citizens of Humanity [Pret-a-Reporter Inbox] Wilfred, one of Canadian retailer Aritizia's in-house brands, has collaborated with denim label Citizens of Humanity on an exclusive capsule collection for fall 2016. The brand celebrated the three-piece collection with a soiree at the Sunset Tower hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, where guests including Emmanuelle Chriqui and Whitney Port enjoyed beats by DJ Pamela Katz, and got their jeans hand-painted on site. The new collaboration, priced between $188-$235, is now available at Aritzia stores and online.?? Sarah Jessica Parker Collaborates With Kat Florence on Jewelry Collection [WWD] Sarah Jessica Parker has partnered with London-based fine jeweler Kat Florence on The Flawless Diamond collection. The Divorce actress not only helped in the design process, but also stars as the face of the collection. SJP was photographed by Peter Lindbergh for the black-and-white ads. Each of the collection's 100 pieces, priced at $1,600 and up, is fitted with D-grade flawless stones and available today.?? By Michel Bernouin CHAMPTERCIER, France (Reuters) - Champtercier, a tiny hillside village in sunblessed southeastern France, was joined early on Thursday by dozens of migrants who fled their homes with a dream - now more remote - of reaching Britain. The new arrivals were the first of about a hundred people being relocated to Champtercier from the "Jungle", a shanty town in the less clement northern climes of Calais, which was a base for migrants trying to get across the sea to Britain. As bulldozers this week razed the Jungle, a symbol of Europe's fraught experience with the largest inflow of migrants in living memory, Zerif, who reached Calais from Afghanistan intent on reaching Britain, is resigned to being moved further from his planned destination. "Maybe I am staying here, maybe I go back (to) Afghanistan, I don't know. If French government gives me papers I stay here," he said in broken English. Zerif is one of roughly 6,000 who lived in the squalor of the ramshackle camp near the gritty port town on France's northeastern coast from where Britain is almost visible across the sea and can be reached by ferry or tunnel. He looked at least relieved to get a warm drink on arrival before dawn in a former holiday residence on the edge of Champtercier. His plan had been to go to England, he said. "That's why I stayed in the Jungle. I try, many tries, but no chance." Among the 700 villagers, some are happy to help and turned up hours before daylight to welcome the migrants with tea and a bite to eat at the unused holiday residence where they will be lodged pending examination of their right to stay in France or wider western Europe. Some, such as elderly Jacqueline Dieude, whose daily walk is near the spot where the migrants will be housed, are worried. "I don't feel safe," she said. Lila Santarnecchei, who works in Champtercier and lives in a nearby town, is more optimistic, noting that the local climate is more hospitable than in Calais. "In Calais - I've nothing against the north, it's a region just like any other - but I think conditions there are not great, they were all stewing on top of one another in their misery," she said. (Writing by Brian Love) Des Moines (United States) (AFP) - White House frontrunner Hillary Clinton challenged the FBI to defend its renewed probe into emails sent to her private account, declaring herself confident it would find no wrongdoing. The Democratic candidate, who is seeking to be elected America's first female president on November 8, launched a blistering fightback after the Federal Bureau of Investigation revived its probe, citing new evidence. "We are 11 days out from, perhaps, the most important national election of our lifetime," Clinton told reporters, complaining that the FBI announcement posed more questions than answers. "The American people deserve to get the full and complete facts immediately," she said. "We don't know the facts, which is why we are calling on the FBI to release all the information that it has." But her defiant words came after Republican rival Donald Trump had seized on the news, declaring Clinton unfit for office as a jubilant crowd of supporters in New Hampshire chanted: "Lock her up!" Concern that the renewed probe would damage Clinton's seemingly unstoppable momentum rocked the markets, with US stocks, the dollar and oil prices tumbling lower on the prospect of a close vote. FBI Director James Comey dropped his bombshell in a letter to congressional committees investigating allegations that Clinton had put US secrets at risk during her time at the State Department. - Classified information - In July, Comey told lawmakers the FBI had not found any criminal wrongdoing in Clinton's unusual decision to use a private server instead of a government email account while serving as secretary of state. But on Friday he wrote to congressional leaders to reveal that "in connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation." The FBI will thus take "appropriate investigative steps" to decide whether the new batch of mails contains classified information "as well as to assess their importance to the investigation," Comey wrote. Story continues Clinton's campaign was outraged, and quick to imply that Comey's intervention could be politically-tinged because, in Clinton's words, the letter was only sent to "Republican members of the House." "We have not been contacted by anyone," she complained. "The American people deserve to get the full and complete facts immediately." Clinton noted that Comey had said he himself does not know whether the emails are significant or not. "I'm confident, whatever they are, they will not change the conclusion reached in July," she added. According to the New York Times, the newly discovered mails emerged after agents seized electronic devices used by Clinton's closest aide, Huma Abedin, and her husband, Anthony Weiner. Weiner, a former congressman who resigned in 2011 after he was exposed for sending explicit online messages, is under investigation over allegations he sent sexual messages to a 15-year-old girl. According to NBC News, the newly discovered emails were sent by Abedin to Clinton from a laptop used by Weiner, who also saw a bid to become mayor of New York founder over similar claims in 2013. - 'Criminal scheme' - Officials in President Barack Obama's administration said they had learned of Comey's letter and the issues it raises in news reports. "I don't think anything has surfaced to change the president's opinions and views," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said. Meanwhile, Trump, trailing in polls both nationally and in the swing states he must win to secure the White House, seized triumphantly on the news. "We must not let her take her criminal scheme into the Oval Office," the 70-year-old billionaire told cheering crowds at a campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire. "I have great respect for the fact that the FBI and the Department of Justice are now willing to have the courage to right the horrible mistake that they made," he added. The news took the shine off what should have been a good day for the 69-year-old Clinton, with Obama's Democratic administration announcing stronger than expected economic growth numbers. While the former first lady holds an overall poll lead, a handful of states -- including Iowa -- could be close-fought. Both candidates were to be in the battleground of Iowa within hours of each other as they vie to drum up support across the rolling plains of the Midwest. From Cedar Rapids, Clinton went to the state capital Des Moines to rally voters. Trump kicked off the day in New Hampshire, jetting to Maine and was to wrap up with an evening rally for 5,000 people in an open-air amphitheater in Cedar Rapids. While Trump draws the biggest crowds, he is failing to pull in donations to match. Contributions to his campaign slumped in October. Both camps filed campaign accounts Thursday for the period leading up to October 19, confirming the Democrat's overpowering lead in the money game. - Defiant rhetoric - Trump's campaign was rocked this month by the release of 2005 footage showing him bragging about how his fame allowed him to grope women with impunity, followed by a string of accusations of sexual misconduct -- which he denies. As he faltered, Trump piled on the defiant rhetoric, claiming the allegations were part of a plot to rig the election, and threatening not to recognize the outcome if he loses. By Jack Kim and Yun Hwan Chae SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye faces a deepening crisis over allegations an old friend enjoyed inappropriate influence over her, a scandal that has sapped her support to an all-time low. Park's popularity has slumped to 17.5 percent, the lowest since she took office in February 2013, according to a poll released on Thursday by pollster Realmeter. Forty-two percent of people polled said Park should face impeachment or step down. Her conservative Saenuri Party saw its support rating overtaken by the main opposition Democratic Party, trailing by 4 percentage points at 26.5 percent. Parliament began discussion on Thursday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the allegations amid calls from legislators for Park to reshuffle the presidential office and the cabinet. It was not clear whether Park herself would be investigated. Opposition parties have demanded a thorough investigation but have not raised the possibility of impeaching the president. The South Korean won dropped to a near 4-month low as investors grew more concerned over the potential ramifications of the affair. A public apology from Park on Tuesday for giving the friend, Choi Soon-sil, access to draft speeches during the first months of her presidency has done little to deflect demands that Park reveal the full nature of her ties with Choi and whether she enjoyed favors because of her friendship with the president. Park, the daughter of a former president, Park Chung-hee, said she had consulted Choi with good intentions and Choi was someone "who gave me help when I was going through a difficult time". Park is the latest South Korean leader to become engulfed in scandal involving family or friends, in the latter part of a single five-year term presidency. None of the five democratically elected presidents before Park finished their terms with more than 30 percent approval. Civic groups and students have called for Park to step down and for criminal charges against her aides and others who helped release government documents to Choi, who is not known to have held a government post. 'WRONG THING' Choi, in her first comments after weeks of reports about her ties with Park, told a newspaper she did get drafts of Park's speeches after Park's election victory but denied she had access to other official material, or that she influenced state affairs or benefited financially. In an interview published on Thursday, Choi dismissed as "a work of fiction" reports she was a member of a group of women who used their links with the president to wield influence. Media has speculated for weeks that Choi may have used her friendship with Park to play a role in the establishment of two foundations with contributions of about 50 billion won ($44 million) from conglomerates and that she had benefited from their operations. Choi dismissed that speculation, denying she had benefited from government funds or control of state finances. She said she had made changes to drafts of Park's speeches in the early days of her presidency. "It was a wrong thing to do and I am sorry," Choi told the Segye Ilbo newspaper in the interview in Germany where she is staying. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said the government was doing everything to get to the bottom of the allegations surrounding Choi, including working with German authorities to determine her whereabouts and bring her back to South Korea. The Segye Ilbo newspaper said it interviewed Choi in the German state of Hessen and she was too weak to travel to South Korea. Media has published photographs of Choi with Park from 1979 when the president, the eldest daughter of then-President Park, was filling in as first lady after her mother was killed by an assassin who meant to kill her father. Her father, who took power in a coup as a military officer, was shot dead by his disgruntled spy chief in 1979. Park, the current president, who is 64, has never married. (Additional reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Tony Munroe, Robert Birsel) Several Democratic gubernatorial candidates are running ads against their party's leader, President Barack Obama, and their nominee, Hillary Clinton even as she appears headed for a landslide victory. In fact, more than 97 percent of the gubernatorial TV ads mentioning the presidency are either anti-Obama, anti-Clinton or against them both, according to a Center for Public Integrity analysis of Kantar Media/CMAG data from January 2015 through Oct. 24 of this year. Of course, that also includes plenty of ads from Republicans and conservative political groups who are slamming Obama and Clinton. What stands out, though, are the Democrats who are distancing themselves from the standard bearers of their own party. In Montana, for example, Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock cites Obama, but his presidential name dropping is not an attempt to ride a coattail. Its intended to help him jump as far from Obama as possible. A lot of politicians treat coal like its a political game. But not Steve Bullock, says a Montana coal worker in one of Bullocks re-election ads that has been airing this fall. As governor, he listened to us and stood up to President Obama to defend our coal jobs. So why the snubs when Obama enjoys favorable ratings from a majority of Americans and polls show Clinton leading Republican nominee Donald Trump? The answer is rooted in the countrys fractured political geography. While the national map tilts in Democrats favor this year, many of the 12 races for governor are taking place in Republican strongholds, such as West Virginia, Missouri and Montana. Related story: Tracking TV ads in the 2016 state races This story is part of Whos Calling the Shots in State Politics?. The Center exposes the powerful special interests that drive elections and policy in the states. Click here to read more stories in this series. Don't miss another Politics investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. Its part of a broader power imbalance that has state-level Democrats playing defense. Currently, Republicans hold 31 of the governors' mansions, while Democrats control only 18. (Alaska has an independent in office.) Story continues "Even though the Democrats are deep in the hole, they control the majority of the governorships up this year and many are in red states, said Kyle Kondik, who analyzes gubernatorial races for the University of Virginias Center for Politics. So in order to get elected, theyve got to win some percentage of Trump voters. Like Bullock in Montana, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and West Virginias Jim Justice publicly distanced themselves from the president with their ads, despite belonging to his party. By comparison, Trump is a ghost. Very few of the ads from either party go so far as to mention the Republican, either with praise or damnation. To be sure, the messages in most gubernatorial race ads have nothing to do with the president or the White House race. Just over one out of every 10 broadcast TV ads about gubernatorial elections occurring this year mentions either Clinton, Trump or Obama, according to the Kantar Media/CMAG data. Instead, the ads typically focus on policies such as jobs, taxes, energy, crime and corruption. Kantar Media/CMAG data, the media tracking company, monitors 211 TV markets around the country. It does not track local cable ads or messages used on the radio, the internet or for direct mail. Few of the 2016 candidates campaigns returned requests for comment about why they ran such ads. Yet by injecting the White House in these state-level campaigns, the candidates can quickly signal to voters clues about their alliances and positions with just a few words. This code-word messaging is not new, even about Obama. In 2014, a similar proportion of state election ads mentioned Obama or his signature health care law. Interestingly, while some Democrats are willing to differentiate themselves from Clinton, no Republican candidates have dinged their nominee, Trump, in TV ads. And few of those Republicans have aligned themselves with him. Being anti-Obama and anti-Clinton does not equal being pro-Trump. Even in red states, a lot of Republicans are keeping their distance from Trump, said Kondik of the UVA Center for Politics. The Kantar Media/CMAG data show that only one gubernatorial candidate is running pro-Trump ads: West Virginias Republican nominee and state Senate President Bill Cole. The Mountain State is forecast to be firmly in Trumps corner. So much so that Cole is actively campaigning with Trump and using his name as much as possible including three times in the narration of a single ad. Related story: Tight governors' races loosen political purse strings Bill Cole stands with Donald Trump because Donald Trump stands up for our coal industry, says the ad amid images of them campaigning together as if they were running mates. Together, the Bill Cole-Donald Trump team will fight for working families, helping make West Virginia and America great again. Cole campaign consultant Kent Gates said that such messages are extremely important in a state whose economy is so dependent on coal. They help voters know that Cole is standing with Trump in the fight to get the Environmental Protection Agency out of the states way, he said. Few Democrats are opting to spend their TV air time knocking Trump. The sole candidate still in the running who has aired anti-Trump ads is Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat seeking a second term who has tried to tar his Republican opponent Bill Bryant by associating him with Trump. (A Vermont candidate, Matt Dunne, who was knocked out in the Democratic primary also ran an anti-Trump ad.) Bryants senior adviser Jason Roe said his candidate has already said he doesnt support Trump. He noted that presidential candidates are irrelevant to voters when they choose their governor. Hes using Trump as a bogeyman so he doesnt have to face the facts on his record of failures in the last four years, Roe said. The use of Trumps name in TV ads for governor did not appreciably change since this months release of the 2005 Access Hollywood video that prompted 11 women to come forward with allegations that Trump made unwanted physical sexual advances toward them. The clip and Trumps response to it helped change national polls yet didnt catalyze candidates to disavow him in their state race messaging. Related story: Insurers give big to races determining their regulators Don't miss another Politics investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. In West Virginia, the power of Trump means that Coles Democratic opponent, Jim Justice, goes further than any other Democratic candidate for governor by running an ad that distances himself from both Obama and Clinton. The billionaire coal magnate and resort owner was registered as a Republican until three months before he announced his candidacy in 2015. Lets get this straight: Im a coal man, Justice says in the ad. I have never given money to Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. In fact, I didnt even vote for Obama. He later tacks on a diplomatic note that hell find a way to work with whoever is elected president. Being a Democrat who opposes Clinton and Obama lets Justice play both sides of the fence, appealing to Democrats on the basis of shared partisanship and also Republicans on the basis of shared policy priorities, said Erin Cassese, a West Virginia University associate professor of political science. In Washington, its a different story. Inslee started running an ad on Monday featuring Obama stumping for him, the boldest gubernatorial TV ad this election cycle to try to capitalize on the president. Related video: Jim Justice campaign ad Additionally, Democrat Sue Minter, who is seeking to replace Vermonts departing Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin, mentions Obama in a positive, yet more muted, way in one broadcast TV message. She touts her service on a White House task force on climate change, specifically mentioning the presidents name. A radio ad released Wednesday, though, goes further and features Obama endorsing her. Namechecking the president is a logical move for her, according to Eric Davis, professor emeritus of political science at Middlebury College in Vermont. Obama did better in Vermont than in any other state in the continental U.S., Davis said. Its politically advantageous to associate yourself with Obama in Vermont. In other states with governors races, not so much. And Clinton fares even worse than Obama. It does not appear that any of the gubernatorial candidates or the political groups backing them has used TV ads to embrace Clinton and that includes the Democrats. This story was co-published with TIME. This story is part of Whos Calling the Shots in State Politics?. The Center exposes the powerful special interests that drive elections and policy in the states. Click here to read more stories in this series. Related stories Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. ATHENS (Reuters) - Talks in Switzerland between rival communities on ethnically-split Cyprus in November will offer clarity on whether a peace accord can be reached this year, a United Nations envoy said on Thursday. Estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders are engaged in peace talks on reuniting the island under a federal umbrella. The sides are scheduled to take their negotiations to Switzerland in early November to discuss territorial trade-offs defining boundaries between Greek Cypriots in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north. "It's ambitious, but I believe it is still possible," the United Nations special adviser for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, said of the deal. "The meeting in Switzerland will be significant because it will show with more clarity whether this aim (of a solution) will be possible within the timeframe," he was quoted by the semi-official Cyprus News Agency as saying, referring to the end of this year. The east Mediterranean island was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Its division is a source of tension between NATO allies Greece and Turkey and an obstacle to Turkish aspirations to join the European Union, in which Greek Cypriots represent Cyprus. Eide said progress in negotiations had been made, but there were still issues which needed to be settled including security and guarantees. The security issue relates to the presence of the Turkish army on the island, and the guarantees to a decades-old treaty allowing Turkey, Britain and Greece intervention rights over Cyprus. Greek Cypriots want the system abolished. Turkish Cypriots want a form of Turkish guarantees to remain. Switzerland has hosted a number of rounds of negotiations on Cyprus through the decades, the latest long-haul talks being held at the mountain resort of Burgenstock in March 2004. Those consultations finalised a reunification blueprint prepared by the United Nations which was eventually rejected in a referendum by Greek Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots accepted the plan. (Reporting by Michele Kambas; editing by Andrew Roche) BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's army regained the town of Soran, north of Hama, from rebels on Thursday, a Syrian military source and a war monitor said, part of a push back against insurgent gains in the area over recent weeks. "Units from our armed forces in cooperation with the people's defense forces regained control over the municipality of Soran and the farms surrounding it," the source said. Militia forces from both Syria and other countries in the region have fought alongside the Syrian army in its fight against rebels seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad, a war that is in its sixth year. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor of the war, said the army's advance into the town was aided by a heavy bombardment since dawn on Thursday, including with rockets, mortars and barrel bombs dropped by helicopter. Rebels, including hardline Islamist groups, had captured a number of villages in northern Hama province in the center of the populated west of the country, in recent weeks. Recent fighting between Syria's army and its allies against an array of rebel groups has been heaviest around Aleppo in northwest Syria, in insurgent-held pockets near the capital Damascus in the southwest, and north of Hama. (Reporting By Angus McDowall; Editing by Toby Chopra) The plan to build a pipeline to drain naturally occurring saltwater from a proposed rare metal mine near Elk Creek into the Missouri River ought to raise a red flag for the Legislature. State senators need to make sure Nebraskas regulatory system is up to the task of ensuring the safety of community residents and protecting the environment. Officials for NioCorp Developments Ltd. want to mine niobium, scandium and titanium from a deposit of so-called rare earths in Johnson County. They are in the process of trying to raise nearly $1 billion to build and operate the mine and processing plant. Initial descriptions dont sound overly alarming. NioCorp officials said the underground water that will be drained from the mine has a salt content about half that of seawater. Once the water from the mine is mixed with the water in the Missouri River it would be diluted to fresh-water quality less than a mile downstream, according to NioCorp. officials. Company officials said draining water from the mine into the river would raise the average chloride content of the Missouri River by approximately 5 parts per million, or about 25 to 30 milligrams per liter, which is far below the acute limit of 860 milligrams per liter, as well as the chronic limit of 230 milligrams per liter set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The 30-mile pipeline would run east from the mine site at the Johnson County-Pawnee County line, veer north into Nemaha County and discharge at the Missouri River Oxbow near the mouth of the Little Nemaha River. About 9,500 gallons a minute would move through the 24-inch-diameter pipeline. NioCorp officials said the mine will need to be drained continuously. It should be noted, however, that the naturally occurring saltwater locked beneath 500 feet of limestone is not the only waste disposal challenge the mine would create. Its processing plant also would create waste. Most of the existing mines and processing plants for rare earths are in China, where environmental and health problems have been reported. Bayan-Obo, Chinas largest rare earths project, has a toxic sludge waste pond of about four square miles. NioCorp officials have made a good start by meeting with local residents to discuss plans for the mine, which would create an estimated 400 permanent, high-skill jobs and produce revenue projected at $438 million a year. But state officials should make certain that adequate regulatory safeguards are in place to ensure that these economic benefits do not come at too high a price in terms of damage to health and the environment. Berlin (AFP) - German federal prosecutors said Thursday they had brought charges against a 19-year-old Syrian man accused of having scouted targets in Berlin for a potential attack by the Islamic State group. The man identified only as Shaas Al-M. allegedly joined the jihadist group in 2013 and took part in various military operations in Syria, they said in a statement. Prosecutors declined to tell AFP when and how the suspect entered Germany last year, which in 2015 took in nearly 900,000 asylum seekers, around 40 percent of them from war-ravaged Syria. Once he arrived, "he inspected potential attack targets during stays in Berlin and arranged to send at least one person to Syria as a fighter". "In addition, he served as a contact man for potential attackers in Germany and indicated he was prepared to carry out an attack in Germany," they added. The suspect was arrested in March after prosecutors in Potsdam near Berlin laid criminal conspiracy charges. He stands accused of membership of a foreign terrorist organisation as well as military weapons law violations. Germany has so far been spared large-scale jihadist attacks. But Europe's biggest economic power has been shaken by two assaults claimed by IS and carried out by asylum seekers -- an axe rampage on a train in Wuerzburg that injured five, and a suicide bombing in Ansbach in which 15 people were hurt. Police said this month they had foiled an alleged plot by a Syrian refugee to bomb one of Berlin's airports. T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. TROW reported negative earnings surprise of 2.5% for third-quarter 2016. Adjusted earnings per share of $1.17 missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.20. However, the bottom line improved 10% from the year-ago earnings of $1.06. Result excludes higher non-operating income associated with implementation of new accounting guidance in Jan 2016, related to the consolidation of certain sponsored investment portfolios. Shares of T. Rowe Price declined more than 3% in the beginning of the trading session today, reflecting investors concern on higher expenses. However, the price reaction during full trading session will give a better idea. Increase in net revenue and assets under management (AUM) were the positive factors, while elevated operating expense was the downside. Net income came in at $299.9 million, up 8% from the prior-year quarter. Revenue & Expenses Rise Net revenue rose 4% to $1.09 from the year-ago quarter. The rise was primarily due to higher investment advisory fees that grew 5% year over year to $970.5 million. Net revenue also outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.07 billion. Distribution and servicing fees declined 3.7% to $36.7 million. Additionally, administrative fees decreased 2.9% year over year to $85.7 million. Investment advisory revenues earned from the T. Rowe Price mutual funds, distributed in the U.S., were up 5% year over year to $703.5 million. Investment advisory revenues earned from other investment portfolios, managed by the company, increased 6% from the year-ago quarter to $267 million. Total operating expenses rose 4% year over year to $617.2 million in the quarter. The rise was mainly driven by increase in all components, except distribution and servicing costs. As of Sep 30, 2016, T. Rowe Price employed 6,239 associates, 4% higher than last year. Strong Assets Position As of Sep 30, 2016, total AUM increased 12% year over year to $812.9 billion. During the quarter, net market appreciation and income, came in at $36.5 billion, while net cash outflow was $0.2 billion after client transfers. T. Rowe Price remains debt-free with substantial liquidity, including cash and sponsored portfolio investment holdings of about $2.1 billion as of Sep 30, 2016, which help the company to keep on investing. Capital Deployment Activity During the first nine months of 2016, T. Rowe Price repurchased 8 million shares of its common stock for $546.9 million and utilized the available cash balance by investing $112.5 million in capitalized technology and facilities. For 2016, the company expects capital expenditures to be approximately $165 million, comprising two-third for technology development. Our Viewpoint With its financial stability T. Rowe Price has the potential to gain from growth opportunities in domestic and global AUM. The companys debt-free position and higher return on earnings should strengthen its financials. However, higher operating expenses and stringent regulatory norms remain primary concerns. Story continues T ROWE PRICE Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise T ROWE PRICE Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | T ROWE PRICE Quote Currently, T. Rowe Price carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. Performance of other investment managers SEI Investments Co. SEIC reported earnings per share of 53 cents that outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4 cents. Moreover, the bottom line improved 13% from the prior-year quarter tally of 47 cents. Higher revenues and income from operations, along with improvement in asset position, aided the better-than-expected results. On the down side, the quarter witnessed an increase in expenses. Janus Capital Group, Inc.s JNS reported adjusted earnings per share of 24 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Moreover, the bottom line improved 9.1% from the prior-year quarter. Though the company outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings, we remain apprehensive due to declining revenues. However, the decline in operating expenses is a consequence of prudent expense management. Moreover, increase in AUM was another positive. Franklin Resources, Inc. BEN reported earnings per share of 82 cents, handily beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents. Moreover, results compared favorably with the prior-year quarter earnings of 59 cents per share. Results were aided by decline in expenses, partially offset by reduced revenues. Notably, the quarter recorded decline in assets under management (AUM) and recorded net outflows. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report JANUS CAP GRP (JNS): Free Stock Analysis Report T ROWE PRICE (TROW): Free Stock Analysis Report FRANKLIN RESOUR (BEN): Free Stock Analysis Report SEI INVESTMENTS (SEIC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research India's largest conglomerate Tata rejected ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry's warnings of possible massive write-downs as "malicious" and "unsubstantiated" on Thursday, as acrimony over his sudden sacking erupted into the open. In an email to the board leaked late Wednesday, Mistry said Tata may face $18 billion in asset write-downs because of unprofitable companies he inherited and accused directors of wrongfully dismissing him. The email, which made frontpage headlines in India, sent shares in Tata companies falling on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Thursday after they suffered earlier drops on news of his abrupt dumping late Monday. But the $100-billion giant hit back, saying Mistry's four years as chairman from 2012 was marked by "repeated departures from the culture and ethos of the group". Tata, a sprawling group founded under British colonial rule in 1868 and with companies ranging from tea to steel, has long prided itself on its social and corporate responsibility. In a strongly worded statement, the group also rejected Mistry's claims of being a "lame-duck chairman" after he suggested in his email that the board had been undermining him. "As the Executive Chairman, he was fully empowered to lead the group and its companies," the Tata statement said. "It is a matter of deep regret that a communication marked confidential to Tata Sons board members has been made public in an unseemly and undignified manner," the statement said, referring to Tata's holding company. "The correspondence makes unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations." "It is unforgivable that Mr Mistry has attempted to besmirch the image of the Group in the eyes of the employees." Mistry was the first head of the multinational from outside the Tata family, taking over from company patriarch Ratan Tata. The group hit headwinds during his time in charge with lacklustre performances at several companies. Story continues Mistry had focused on reducing the sprawling group's $30 billion debt level by selling assets and refinancing loans. - Loss-making assets - In his email, a copy of which AFP has seen, Mistry cited the steel arm of the conglomerate, which is struggling to offload its loss-making British assets, as well as its carmaking business which has long been plagued by weak sales. He said the small, cheap Nano car spearheaded by Ratan Tata, who led the company for 21 years, should be scrapped because it was unprofitable. "As there is no line of sight to profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company requires to shut it down," Mistry wrote. "Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision." Tata said on Monday it was replacing Mistry as chairman, with Ratan Tata appointed interim head until a successor could be found. Ratan Tata is said to have become increasingly frustrated by 48-year-old Mistry's focus on divestments, believing the group should hold on to its assets for the long term and not reduce its global reach. During his time in charge, the 78-year-old Tata travelled the globe buying up big names including Britain's Tetley Tea and Anglo-Dutch steel firm Corus. Tata Group's revenue slipped 4.6 percent for the financial year ended March to about $103 billion. One of its worst performers is Tata Steel, which last month reported a quarterly net loss of almost 32 billion rupees, as it winds back its European operations. The company announced earlier this year that it was selling its loss-making British assets owing to a global oversupply of steel, cheap Chinese imports into Europe, high costs and currency volatility. By Promit Mukherjee MUMBAI (Reuters) - Tata Steel Ltd's (TISC.NS) plans for its European steel business are unchanged and the debt-laden firm is still seeking a partner for a joint venture to run the assets, according to a source present at a closed-door analyst briefing on Thursday. In March, Tata Steel decided to put its British steel operations on sale following heavy losses linked to a flood of cheap Chinese imports and low demand in the region. The process was suspended in July because of uncertainty over Britain's vote to leave the European Union. The company has since said it is exploring opportunities for a partnership for its entire European steel business, which also includes a steelworks in the Netherlands. Tata Steel has previously said that Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG (TKAG.DE) is one of the companies with which a partnership is being discussed. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Tata Steel officials told analysts there were no concerns about the group's steel business stemming from the departure of its former chairman Cyrus Mistry as boss of Tata Sons [TATAS.UL]. Analysts had said the departure of Mistry from the chairmanship of the group could hurt the prospects of the merger or sale of the European steel business as he played a big role in discussions. Sources in Britain and Germany said it was too early to know the implications of the boardroom changes, but they had not heard talks were off. In any case, discussions have been slow and difficult as negotiators face big obstacles, such as dealing with a very expensive pension scheme Tata Steel inherited when it bought the British operations. Mistry, in a letter to the board of Tata Sons on Tuesday, criticised the group's foreign acquisitions, saying the investments in loss-making businesses could lead to writedowns of $18 billion. He also said in the letter that an aggressive acquisition strategy, during Ratan Tata's previous tenure as chair, led to the company's European steel business suffering "potential impairments in excess of $10 billion, only some of which has been taken as of date." Story continues In response, Tata Steel said on Thursday that its financial statements presented a true and fair value of the company. In an interview with Mint newspaper on Thursday, the head of ThyssenKrupp India, Ravi Kriplani said the discussions with Tata Steel on a joint venture were at a preliminary stage and far from fruition. Alex Flynn, a spokesman for Unite the Union, said the body that represents British steelworkers was seeking clarity concerning protection of jobs under any new owner and had no knowledge that talks had been called off. The Welsh and British governments declined to comment. (Additional reporting by Barbara Lewis in London and Georgina Prodhan in Frankfurt; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and David Evans) By Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Next month's Senate election in Wisconsin could gain Silicon Valley a key ally in Washington in the high-tech industry's battle against the U.S. government's growing appetite for more access to private data. Democrat Russ Feingold, 63, the only lawmaker to vote against the USA Patriot Act in 2001, leads incumbent Republican Senator Ron Johnson in the state in opinion polls ahead of the Nov. 8 election. Johnson, 61, rode a wave of support from conservative Tea Party activists to victory six years ago, sweeping Feingold out of office. But polls this year have consistently shown Feingold ahead, although recent surveys show a tighter race. Privacy advocates and former Feingold staffers said they expected Feingold, if returned to office, to be sympathetic to the privacy concerns of technology companies and civil liberties groups on issues such as encryption and domestic spying, at a time when many lawmakers are being pressured to confront security threats from Islamic State and other militant groups. The Feingold campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Apple Inc , Microsoft Corp and other tech giants have tussled in recent years with government agencies over how much user data the companies should be forced to retain and share with investigators hunting for criminal suspects or national security threats. Those tensions grew after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked secrets about U.S. surveillance practices in 2013. They reached a crescendo earlier this year when the FBI tried to force Apple to unlock an iPhone tied to one of the shooters in a San Bernardino, California, attack that killed 14 people. Chief among the goals of many companies and privacy advocates is reforming a foreign intelligence authority used to justify once-secret broad internet surveillance programs exposed by Snowden that will expire in December 2017 unless Congress reauthorizes them. Should Feingold return to Capitol Hill, former staffers said he would probably seek a seat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, where he would have privileged access to classified information about government spying. Feingold's campaign has received far more contributions than Johnson's from donors employed by tech companies including Alphabet Inc's Google and Intel Corp , a review of U.S. Federal Election Commission records showed. VOTED AGAINST PATRIOT ACT Digital privacy activists have long regarded Feingold as an ally and aggressive overseer of the intelligence community, a reputation he burnished as the sole vote against the USA Patriot Act, which was passed after the Sept. 11 attacks, expanding the government's surveillance capabilities. In a speech from the Senate floor at the time, Feingold raised concerns that one provision would allow the government to "go on a fishing expedition and collect information on virtually anyone." Leaks from Snowden in 2013 showed the provision Feingold questioned was later secretly interpreted to conduct bulk surveillance on U.S. phone metadata. That program was curtailed by Congress in 2015. Feingold "was a true leader in fighting indiscriminate mass surveillance of innocent Americans," U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who also is among congressional skeptics of government spying, said in a statement. Wisconsin typically leans Democratic during high-turnout presidential election years, a problem for Johnson, who won by nearly 5 points in 2010 running as a small-government outsider. "It was pretty clear that 2010 was a wave election and there was nothing that (Feingold) could have done to fend off the challenge from Ron Johnson," said Kenneth Mayer, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Johnson has attempted to use Feingold's 18-year Senate record to portray him as soft on national security. William Allison, a Johnson campaign spokesman, added that Feingold had been "willing to completely mislead Wisconsinites about his weak record on national security." (Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Peter Cooney) Every Halloween, Robert George Pickett rises from the grave. (Figuratively.) The song that made Pickett famous (three times over), Monster Mash, spikes to 40 times its regular view and search volume on YouTube every Halloween, and with good reason. It is a uniquely ripe piece of American cheese, a novelty hit that stands among the best of a decade packed with them, and Picketts life and dogged attempts to keep grabbing the brass ring he glimpsed with the song represent a uniquely American story. Pickett was in born in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1938, right in the middle of Universal Studios reign atop the horror movie industry. In Somerville, Pickett explained to Gary James, You had two choices as a young man, you could either be a gangster when you grew up or an athlete. His father managed a movie theater, and Pickett grew up watching Universal stars like Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney, Jr. stalk the screen in iconic films like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy and The Wolf Man. After a year-and-a-half tour in the Army (during which he served in Korea), Pickett returned home in 1958. He honed a Karloff impression in local talent shows at places like the Irish-American Club in Everett, Massachusetts. Id win all the time, he told PEOPLE in 1996. I knew I was going to Hollywood. Pickett moved to Los Angeles in 1960. He finally got an agent, who died of a heart attack two weeks after Pickett signed with him, an example of the kind of morbidly humorous incidents that seemed to surround Pickett his whole life. Then, Ironically, he told Linda Janus-Napier in 1991, I ran into four guys from my hometown in Massachusetts. They were forming a singing group and I said I had experience, he continued. I started singing with them and one of the tunes we did was Little Darlin. In the middle of that is a monologue, so I asked the leader if I could do it as Boris Karloff. Every time, the audience cracked up. Story continues Lenny Capizzi, Picketts bandmate in The Cordials, as the group called themselves, suggested they put the impression to work in a novelty hit, something on the order of Sheb Wooleys Purple People Eater. I said I wasnt interested, Pickett recalled. I was leaving the group to pursue my acting career. A year went by and nothing happened in terms of that, so I called him and said I wanted to write that song. The pair sat down on Saturday in May 1962 (on the same day Herb Alpert was in the same studio cutting Brave Bull, and Jimmy Rogers was recording his hit, Honeycomb) and knocked out the song in two or three hours. Pickett and Capizzi had one music industry contact: Gary Paxton, whod sang lead on the Hollywood Argyles hit Alley Ooop. Paxton produced the song for the pair; the initial sessions took two hours, and the entire song was completed in two days. Leon Russell, then a hustling young session piano player, is behind the keyboards for the singles B-side, and another possibly apocryphal bit of L.A. musician lore has Ventures drummer Mel Taylor playing on it as well. The songs sound effects were typically low-budget bits of studio improvisation: The coffin door sound is a rusty nail being pulled out of a board with a hammer and the noise of the cauldron is water bubbled through a straw. Four labels passed on the song before Paxton released it on his own on Aug. 25, 1962. The song reached No. 1 on Billboards Hot 100 chart the week of Oct. 20, just before Halloween that year. Interestingly, in an example of how mercenary the music industry has always been, a copycat named John Zacherle actually beat Pickett and Capizzi to a full-length album called Monster Mash by two or three weeks, putting it out on on Cameo Parkway Records, though the pairs own full-length; The Original Monster Mash, eventually outsold his. Not everyone was a fan of the song: Pickett recalled Dick Clark being reticent to have him perform the song on American Bandstand, and Elvis Presley called Monster Mash the dumbest thing I ever heard. (For years afterward, after Presleys death, Pickett would tell that story as part of his act and say, If youre still out there listening, Elvis, Im still here.) Pickett immediately attempted to capitalize on the records success with Monsters Holiday, in time for Christmas, but that song only climbed to 30 on the charts. Picketts next biggest single, Graduation Day (a saccharine tune he later described as an embarrassment) only reached No. 80 in June 1963, and he was absent on the pop charts for much of the rest of the decade, though he worked steadily in commercials, B-movies and episodic television at his first love, acting. (Capizzi, for his part, fared much more poorly; Pickett recalled in 1994 that his co-writer on Mash eventually developed a heroin addiction and overdosed in 1989.) But Monster Mash, like one of its subjects, continued to rise again. It re-entered U.S. charts twice, in August 1970 and in May 1973, while Pickett was driving a cab in New York to make ends meet. (Its one of only three songs to achieve such a hat trick on the U.S. charts.) Also in 1973, it peaked at No. 3 on the U.K. singles chart in October. Picketts other stabs at musical success in the 70s were novelty hits on the order of Mash: A Star Trek parody called Star Drek (which found a second life on The Dr. Demento Show) and King Kong (Your Song) in 1976, which attempted to capitalize on the remake that hit theaters that year. Pickett remained genial about his success as a one-hit wonder, even as his years out of the spotlight saw a divorce and the death of his 3-year-old son from drowning. Bobby wouldnt ask for a quarter, his friend, actor Alex Rocco, told PEOPLE in 1996. And Pickett never truly let his signature song rest in peace. He released Monster Rap in 1985, a stab at updating the tune with the then-novel sounds of hip hop and twenty years after that, made an admirably political move, recording Climate Mash, a song critical of the U.S. governments inaction towards climate change. (Whether Picketts motivations were genuinely altruistic or simply opportunistic is unclear climate change was a hot-button issue during that time, with An Inconvenient Truth being released in 2006.) Pickett acted in off-Broadway plays during the 80s and toured consistently (at one point with Tiny Tim of Tiptoe Through the Tulips fame in between putting in work on local theater stages in Boston, as a DJ and writer relegated to appearances at theme parks and state fairs, usually around Halloween. (He did work steadily through the 90s at Spooky World, a seasonal theme park touted as Americas Horror Theme Park.) Pickett continued pounding the pavement on behalf of the Mash; he was still touring as of November 2006, just five months before his death from leukemia. (In another cosmically funny coincidence, his tour bus once broke down outside Frankenstein, Missouri.) Id like to perform a medley of my hit, went the introduction hed use when performing the song in later years. Still, he told PEOPLE in 1996, Im glad I did the song, because some people never get to do anything. Pickett died on April 25, 2007. His website remains charmingly low-key, and according to the equally morbidly and low-fi website FindAGrave.com, he was cremated upon his death, and a portion of his ashes were made into a diamond ring, given to his daughter. Can you think of anything more fitting? (CANNON BALL, N.D.) The prospect of a police raid on an encampment protesting the Dakota Access pipeline faded as night fell Wednesday, with law enforcement making no immediate move after protesters rejected their request to withdraw from private land. Unmarked aircraft that had been monitoring protesters were withdrawn late in the day, and some activists who had been on hand for a possible confrontation headed back to a larger protest camp on federal land. Law enforcement officials said they were ready to remove about 200 protesters who this weekend set up teepees and tents on land owned by the pipeline company. Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney told reporters that authorities dont want a confrontation but that the protesters are not willing to bend. We have the resources. We could go down there at any time, he said. Were trying not to. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said authorities would continue to try for a peaceful resolution but that we are here to enforce the law as needed. Protesters vowed to stay put, at one point chanting Stand in peace against the beast. Were going to hold this ground, said protester Mekasi Camp Horinek. Im here to die if I have to. I dont want to die but I will, said Didi Banerji, who lives in Toronto but is originally from the Spirit Lake Sioux reservation in North Dakota. Activists fear the nearly 1,200-mile pipeline could harm cultural sites and drinking water for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Energy Transfer Partners, which is building the $3.8 billion pipeline, said Tuesday that the protesters were trespassing and that lawless behavior will not be tolerated. Protests supporting the Standing Rock Sioux tribes opposition to the pipeline have been ongoing for months, with more than 260 people arrested so far in North Dakota. The pipeline is to carry oil from western North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa to an existing pipeline in Patoka, Illinois, where shippers can send it on to Midwest and Gulf Coast markets. Energy Transfer Partners has said the pipeline is nearly complete other than the work in south central North Dakota. Story continues Local sheriffs officials had said earlier they didnt have the resources to immediately remove activists from the private land, which is just north of the main protest camp on federal land near Cannon Ball, a town about 50 miles south of Bismarck. But officers called for reinforcements, and those were arriving from other states. One notable clash came on Sept. 3, after construction crews removed topsoil from private land that protesters believe contained Native American burial and cultural sites. Authorities said four security guards and two guard dogs were injured. The tribe said protesters reported that six people were bitten by security dogs and at least 30 people were pepper-sprayed. The state and pipeline company dispute that any sacred grounds have been disturbed during the construction. North Dakotas Emergency Commission approved $6 million in emergency funding for law enforcement costs related to the protest but as of Wednesday, nearly all of that had been used up. The Department of Emergency Services plans to ask for more, Fong said. The protest has drawn the attention of activists and celebrities, including actress-activist Shailene Woodley and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson and actor Mark Ruffalo were at the protest camp Wednesday. Jackson said he was there to pray together, protest together and if necessary go to jail together. ___ This version of the story corrects the end point of the pipeline to Patoka, Illinois rather than refineries in Illinois. ___ Nicholson reported from Bismarck, North Dakota. Here are some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today: Tesla (TSLA) shares accelerated in early trading. The electric carmaker delivered only the second profitable quarter in its history. That surprised analysts who were expecting a loss. The company also beat Wall Streets revenue forecast. The companys last profitable quarter was in 2013 and the pressure was on this time because CEO Elon Musk needs cash to build the companys mass market Model 3. He also needs shareholders to approval to approve Teslas merger with SolarCity (SCTY). Twitter (TWTR) is flapping its wings. The struggling social media company delivered better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the third quarter. Twitter reported 317 million monthly active users. Thats a rise of 3% from a year ago. The company also said it would eliminate about 350 jobs, or 9% of its workforce. Twitter shares have had a bumpy ride since speculation first started swirling about a potential takeover. The biggest US IPO of the year is set to make its Wall Street debut. Chinese package delivery firm ZTO Express will begin trading on the NYSE this morning under the ticker ZTO. The company priced 72 million shares last night at $19.50 a piece, raising $1.4 billion for its initial public offering. ZTO is the biggest Chinese company to go public in the US since Alibaba (BABA) two years ago. Yahoo the parent company of Yahoo Finance owns about a 15% stake in Alibaba. Ford (F) reported a beat on both its top and bottom lines for the third quarter. Profit fell 56% from a year ago due to costs related to a safety recall and lower sales in the US. However, results did improve in China and Europe. NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) is being bought by Qualcomm (QCOM). The deal is valued at about $47 billion, which includes debt. That translates to $110 per share. This as Qualcomm looks for ways to expand the reach of its chips from smartphones to cars. The combined company is expected to have annual revenues of more than $30 billion. Apple (AAPL) remains in focus this morning. The fell more than 2% yesterday after quarterly results failed to impress investors. Today the focus shifts to the tech giants unveiling of a new upgraded Mac computer in Cupertino at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Apple is in need of a new hit as it looks for ways to offset falling sales of iPhones. Separately, the company said its delaying the shipment of its wireless AirPod headphones, which were supposed to hit the market at the end of this month. Apple said the product needs a little more time before its ready for market, but did not say when the headphones would be available. BANGKOK (Reuters) - More than 3,000 prison inmates lined up on Thursday to form the Thai symbol for the number nine, in honor of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died on Oct. 13 after reigning for seven decades. Thailand has entered a year-long mourning period for the king, formally known as King Rama IX and the ninth of the 234-year-old Chakri Dynasty, who was seen as a unifying figure in the politically fractious country. As many as 3,699 male inmates of the Central Correctional Institution for Young Offenders in Pathum Thani province, 40 km (25 miles) north of the capital, Bangkok, stood in the grounds of the prison complex and sang songs dedicated to the late king. The men, many of them jailed for drug convictions, were accompanied by a marching band. The activity, which was compulsory for inmates, is part of many similar events across Thailand amid an outpouring of grief. "Many inmates wanted to do something to show their loyalty to His Majesty," prison commander Narongsak Sompat told Reuters. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 64, is the king's designated successor, but junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha told the country hours after the king's death that the prince had informed him he was not yet ready to assume the throne. Prayuth said last week the prince could become king in seven to 15 days after the king's death, or later. His coronation, however, cannot take place until after the royal cremation, in a year's time. The government has moved to quash uncertainty surrounding the succession and to reassure the country that the king's death will not derail plans for a return to democratic rule, which include a general election in late 2017. It has also gone after critics of the monarchy and enforced tighter censorship of internet comments perceived to be insulting to the royals. (Reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Juarawee Kittisilpa; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Whether or not you theoretically support the death penalty, this November's referendum vote has practical implications that go beyond the theoretical. The death penalty costs Nebraska $14.6 million annually, a much higher price tag than life in prison without parole. A common thread among public comments insists that the death penalty should be a quick and straightforward process and I have even heard the extreme take them behind the corner and shoot them. These comments ignore that the Supreme Court mandates a complicated process for capital cases, which includes a three-part trial, a longer jury selection and special appeals only available in death cases. This process will not be changed by a repeal of LB268. Add the inability to obtain lethal injection drugs, the real possibility of an innocent being sentenced to death and the lack of deterrent value and you have a broken and costly system that can and should be done away with on Nov. 8 by retaining LB268. 0 Friday is all about the US economy. On Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. ET, the first estimate of third-quarter GDP will cross the tape. Friday will also mark the final day of the quarters busiest week of corporate earnings season. Economy In Focus Wall Street expects the US economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.5% in the third quarter of 2016, which would be the fastest pace of growth this year. In the first two quarters of 2016, the economy expanded at a rate of just 0.8% and 1.4%, respectively. Sam Bullard, an economist with Wells Fargo, expects Q3 GDP to come in at 2.8%. While anticipated contributions were revised substantially lower from the quarters robust start, consumer spending should remain the primary driver of GDP growth, Bullard wrote in a note on Thursday. Personal consumption rose by a robust 4.3% in the second quarter. Elsewhere in economic data on Friday, the employment cost index for the third quarter is expected to show wages rose 0.6% in the quarter. The ECI is preferred by some economists over the monthly average hourly earnings figures, as the ECI takes into account benefits paid out to employees as well as wages. The University of Michigans latest reading on consumer confidence is also due out Friday morning. Earnings On Deck The earnings flow is expected to remain heavy on Friday, with oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron set to report their results, while pharma majors AbbVie and Shire are also expected to release earnings. Investors are likely to remain focused on Thursdays blockbuster tech results, which included quarterly earnings out of Amazon, Google-parent Alphabet, and Twitter. In after hours trade on Thursday, Amazon shares were off more than 6%. Alphabet shares were little-changed. Twitter which reported earnings before the market open on Thursday gained 0.6% on Thursday. Further Reading Donald Trumps latest plan: Spend $1 trillion on infrastructure without raising taxes (Yahoo Finance) This years largest filer of patent lawsuits doesnt do, well, anything. (WSJ) Story continues There are some companies that announce earnings and you are like, well, that is the thing about that company. (Matt Levine) Apple announced new laptops and new dongles (Yahoo Finance) One outcome from the AT&T-Time Warner merger could be personalized TV ads (NYT) Twitter is shutting down Vine; Vines founder regrets selling the company (Yahoo Finance) Who will be Americas next celebrity candidate? (WaPo) Fox News superstar Megyn Kelly is seeking a salary north of $20 million (WSJ) Myles Udland is a writer at Yahoo Finance. BOISE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2016 / Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. (the "Company" or "Thunder Mountain") (TSX-V: THM; OTCQB: THMG) is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed James A. Sabala as a Director of Thunder Mountain Gold, replacing Mr. Ed Fields who will step aside and serve the Board as Technical Advisor. Ralph Noyes, former Vice President of Metal Mining - Hecla Mining Company, and fellow Board Member commented, "I had the pleasure of working opposite Jim during his tenure at Coeur Mining and Stillwater Mining Company, negotiating several transactions with his company. Besides his competence in the financial markets, and concentrate marketing, Jim understands the technology and psychology of underground mining. I look forward to our continuing association." Mr. Sabala graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S. Business, Summa Cum Laude in 1978, and currently resides near Coeur d`Alene, Idaho. Prior to his retirement in May, 2016, Mr. Sabala was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hecla Mining Company, a silver, gold, lead and zinc mining company with operations throughout North America and Mexico. Mr. Sabala was appointed Chief Financial Officer in May 2008 and Senior Vice President in March 2008. Prior to his employment with Hecla Mining Company, Mr. Sabala was Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer of Coeur Mining from 2003 to February 2008. Mr. Sabala also served as Vice President-Chief Financial Officer of Stillwater Mining Company from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Sabala has served as a director of Arch Coal (NYSE:ACI) since February, 2015 and currently serves as a director of Dolly Varden Silver (TSX-V:DV). Jim Collord, Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and founding member of the Company with Board service of more than 38 years added, "I am very excited to see the positive evolution of Thunder Mountain with the addition Jim Sabala. The makeup of the Board will be able to direct the Company into the future. At the same time, we greatly appreciate the time and expertise that Ed Fields has brought to the Board, and we look forward to his continued service as Technical Advisor." Story continues Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc, is a U.S. - based exploration company founded in 1935, has assembled a top tier Board and Management team, with direct ownership interest in two U.S. precious and base metal projects. The Company's principal asset is The South Mountain Project - a former producer of zinc-silver-gold project with copper and lead, located in southern Idaho's Owyhee County. The Company's Trout Creek Project is a grass roots gold target, drill ready, and located in the Eureka-Battle Mountain trend of central Nevada. For more information on Thunder Mountain Gold, please visit the Company's website at Thundermountaingold.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. The forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, which could change materially in the future. By their nature, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required in accordance with applicable laws. Cautionary Note to Investors Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. For further information, please contact: Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. Eric Jones President and Chief Executive Officer eric@thundermountaingold.com Tel: (208) 658-1037 Jim Collord Chief Operating Officer jim@thundermountaingold.com Tel: (208) 658-1037 SOURCE: Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. Facebook was built on sharing. One of the most commonly shared things on Facebook is music. Specifically, covers of songs. Fan versions of hits have produced some of today's biggest stars, but -- there's one problem, Facebook hasn't licensed with any of the publishers who represent the songwriters behind that music. With views in the millions, it's time for Facebook to answer songwriters' friend request and properly license their platform. Otherwise, it may find itself de-friended by the music industry. Since its launch in 2004, Facebook's timeline has been dramatic. Today the company is valued at around $350 billion, with analysts projecting that going to over a trillion dollars in the near future. In the U.S. alone, Facebook currently has over 170 million users. One of the reasons Facebook has been so successful is because it allows talent to travel fast. Likes propel videos to the top of friends' and fans' feeds. In a recent snapshot search of 33 of today's top songs, NMPA identified 887 videos using those songs with over 619 million views, which amounts to an average of nearly 700,000 views per video. In reality, the scope of the problem is likely much greater because, due to privacy settings on Facebook, it's almost impossible to gauge the true scale. Additionally, while we don't know the full extent of what is posted, we do know that engagement and viewership on Facebook often outpaces other social media video platforms. In fact, in a recent study of the popularity of copies of Adele's music videos, of the 60,055 copies of "Hello" found that while "Facebook had only 64 percent of the number of copies published to YouTube, Facebook still garnered over two times more video views than YouTube. On average, Facebook racked up 73,083 views per video, whereas each YouTube amassed an average of 23,095 views per video." For these reasons, we wrote to Facebook in July of 2015, asking them to work with music publishers to ensure songwriters were respected and paid. At that time, Facebook was in the process of negotiating deals with major record labels in order to license the distribution of music videos, but had not yet approached publishers about also compensating songwriters. Unfortunately, over a year has passed and nothing has changed. Facebook has even added to its repertoire of broadcast capabilities. Facebook Live has launched, but due to the nature of live broadcasts, they are almost impossible to monitor. Today the live streaming platform produces millions of videos and billions of views. Story continues Facebook's inactivity and unresponsiveness has left publishers no other choice but to attempt to remove the music that amounts to stealing from their songwriters. To aid in this effort, NMPA and our member publishers have sent thousands of takedown requests, but this is merely a drop in the bucket. For the most part, Facebook has remained passive in its approach and largely has left it to copyright owners to report cases of infringement rather than tackling the issue directly. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which Facebook has claimed provides it with "safe harbor" protection from copyright liability, Facebook is responsible for terminating the accounts of repeat infringers. But these whack-a-mole efforts have been proven insufficient and ineffective. Issuing takedowns and haphazardly removing accounts of serial infringers are not long-term solutions. More importantly, it is not what the music industry wants. We have seen what Facebook may soon become in the form of YouTube. However, unlike Facebook, YouTube took steps to license with record labels and publishers. While the percentage they pay is only a fraction of what it should be, even that fraction today generates hundreds of millions of dollars for the music industry. Facebook would be wise to befriend songwriters and publishers as partners now -- not pursue the path taken by other digital services who now find themselves at odds with the creative community. The publishing and songwriting industries do not want to discourage fans from enjoying -- and covering -- their songs. They don't want to take down videos or punish those who post them. Unfortunately, because Facebook has failed to license properly, it's been the only recourse. This doesn't have to be so. Many digital music services have been down this road. Asking forgiveness instead of permission is a common path for tech companies. The reality is, songwriters and music publishers want Facebook and other tech startups to be successful, but creators cannot be a casualty of that success. Facebook has been warned, and now must face the music and work on a solution. The breadth of Facebook's influence is enormous -- and an industry-wide settlement would empower the platform to encourage the legal sharing of its users' talents. Great artists and entertainers have been discovered by posting videos to social media and attracting an audience that eventually filled stadiums. This kind of organic, local-to-global music scene is vibrant and should be cultivated and grown. However, it can only happen if Facebook decides to recognize the important contribution of songwriters. David Israelite is the President and CEO of the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA). Founded in 1917, NMPA is the trade association representing all American music publishers and their songwriting partners. Billboard welcomes guest submissions -- you can email the editor at andrew.flanagan@billboard.com Police officers wearing riot gear have started removing hundreds of people protesting a controversial crude oil pipeline at its construction site in North Dakota on Thursday. More here Ammon Bundy and six other co-defendants were found not guilty Thursday of federal conspiracy and weapons charges stemming from their armed takeover of a federally owned wildlife sanctuary in Oregon earlier this year. More here An Alaska lawyer has accused Justice Clarence Thomas of groping her at a dinner party in 1999. More here Were live-blogging the news stories of the day below. All updates are in Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -4). Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. In a neat piece of scheduling the Tokyo Film Festivals symposium on women film makers in Indonesian cinema on Wednesday followed directly on from the screening of Three Sassy Sisters. Sex, clothing and freedom of expression were on the agenda, and each flowed into the other. Directed by Nia Dinata, Sisters is a bright, sexy celebration of womens lives when they are not chasing a husband. It is also a modern adaptation of a 1950s Indonesian classic film, harking back to a time when religious conservatism was not the societal norm. Since that time the country may have become more conservative and conditions for women more strict. 2003 was the golden year for openness and freedom of expression, said Dinata. Inevitably, the Tokyo discussion turned to changing dress codes. Im a Muslim. I dont cover myself and Im now in the minority. Women are not taught to be the breadwinners. (As my father has passed away) if I were to get divorced, Id now become the property of my elder brother, said Mouly Surya, a musician turned film maker and teacher. But, conversely, Indonesia has long had a tradition of women in film many producers or cinematographers. Nevertheless, Kamila Andini (The Mirror Never Lies) said she was privileged to be able to pursue her chosen career as a director. All the men in my family are fully supportive father, father-in-law and husband of me following my dream. Many others suffer from the patriarchy system. Dinata also set about trying to set the record straight on Islamic conservatism and its pushback against supposedly western values. People have forgotten the roots of our culture. In our ancient temples womens breasts were not covered. Sarongs were close fitting. This is not Western culture, this is Indonesian!, she said. Like much of Asia, Indonesia suffers from an inability to publicly discuss tricky subject matters, notably sex. (Sex) must have happened given that we are 250 million people. We just dont talk about it, said Surya. Story continues All of us are sexual beings, cmon!, said Dinata. Cinema is for talking about the the things that are not discussed in real life. It is a force to break hypocrisy. We recognize the force that is trying to make Indonesian women more conservative, said Dinata, but film is a power that can make society more diverse and honest. Related stories Darren Aronofsky, Simon Yam to Spice up Singapore Festival Lineup Bali Festival Awards Prizes to 'Eddie the Eagle,' 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' Catchplay Expands VOD Operation to Indonesia EXCLUSIVE: Topher Grace has just joined Hacksaw Ridges Andrew Garfield and Fifty Shades Of Grey star Dakota Johnson in David Robert Mitchells Under The Silver Lake, which is a a modern noir crime thriller set in Los Angeles. The That 70s Show actor will play play a friend to Garfields character who helps him with an investigation surrounding a missing woman. The story centers on a man who becomes obsessed with the strange circumstances of a billionaire moguls murder and the undeniable link to the L.A. dog murderers and cult indie music scene. Grace just wrapped War Machine opposite Brad Pitt for director David Michod and was last seen in Truth opposite acting greats Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford. Michael De Luca is producing Under The Silver Lake with Chris Bender. Jake Weiner and Adele Romanski are also producing. Grace, whose credits also include the Lionsgate film American Ultra opposite Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, is repped by ICM Partners, Lighthouse Management and Ziffren Brittenham. A24 had acquired domestic rights to the the pic during this years Cannes Film Festival. The film, which Mitchell is both wrote and is directing, is the helmers follow-up to his breakout indie horror pic It Follows. Related stories Dakota Johnson Joins Andrew Garfield In 'Under The Silver Lake' - Cannes A24 Acquires U.S. Rights To Andrew Garfield-Starrer, David Robert Mitchell-Directed 'Under The Silver Lake' - Cannes Andrew Garfield To Star In 'Under The Silver Lake' As 'It Follows' Follow-Up For David Robert Mitchell - Cannes By Naomi Tajitsu TOKYO (Reuters) - Britain's decision to leave the European Union may dent Toyota Motor Corp's competitiveness in the region, but the Japanese automaker did not see it as a trigger to shift production away from the country, a senior executive said. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo this week, Chief Competitive Officer and Executive Vice President Didier Leroy said he had "trust in the UK government that it will offer fair treatment" for all companies when negotiating agreements to mitigate the impact of Brexit. Businesses operating in Britain are concerned the country is heading towards a so-called "hard Brexit" which would leave it outside the European Union's single market and facing tariffs of up to 10 percent to export cars to the trading bloc. Having produced nearly half of all cars made in Britain in 2015, Japanese automakers are facing decisions on how they can stay competitive in a post-Brexit Britain, as they will be exposed to any rise in tariffs. Leroy, who also serves as chairman of Toyota's European operations, said the world's largest-selling automaker would have to improve overall performance to offset increases in tariffs "because the customer would not accept paying that. "It will be a big negative impact in terms of competitiveness if we have a trade tax," Leroy told reporters in comments for Thursday publication. Maintaining competitiveness and free access to the EU market is crucial for operations in Britain, he said. "But at the same time, does it mean that we should give up (producing in Britain)? ... I can tell you that we won't give up and move to another country just because it will be easier. We have a fighting spirit and have trust in the people at our UK plant." Toyota produces the Avensis saloon and the Auris hatchback at its plant in Derbyshire, central England, which produced about 190,000 cars last year. Of that, 75 percent went to the European Union, and only 10 percent was sold within Britain. Story continues Nissan Motor Co Ltd has said it may halt investment in its British factory unless it receives a guarantee of compensation for Brexit-related costs. Japan's second-biggest automaker said it would decide next month whether to build an upcoming vehicle model at its plant in the country. NOT SEEKING CONSOLIDATION Leroy said that while Toyota has been increasing partnerships with rival automakers to develop new vehicle technologies, it was not focussing on takeovers at the moment. Toyota earlier this month said it was considering cooperating with compact carmaker Suzuki Motor Corp , just months after completing a buyout of Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd. The company also has partnerships with Mazda Motor Corp and Germany's BMW (BMWG.DE). "We are not talking about consolidation in this case for us, we are really talking about partnership," Leroy said, referring to talks with Suzuki. While Toyota hoped to leverage partnerships to increase competitiveness, Leroy said it had enough firepower to keep up with the rapid pace at which the industry is developing self-driving and eco-conscious cars. "Some carmakers around the world believe that they will never be able to do this alone. That's why they are sometimes talking about consolidation," he said. "But we have the appropriate scale for that. We don't have any problem." (Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by Christopher Cushing) In response to Nancy Hicks column on Oct. 16 ("Elected officials get homestead tax breaks"), I feel compelled to respond to the specific case of Bob Feit, who has served on the SCC Board of Governors for 19 years. My father served four years in the U.S. Navy on board the destroyer USS Davis during the Vietnam conflict. He was also one of the first American sailors to respond to the USS Liberty conflict in the Mediterranean Sea. In that service, he lost most of his hearing. That hearing continued to decline to the point that today, he has 3 percent hearing in the left ear. Thats it. When I was growing up, I had to speak loudly and, today, the only way to communicate with my dad is by facing him so he can read my lips. Since the late 1960s, my father has been rated 100 percent disabled by the VA as a direct result of his service to our country. Toyota's number-two said the firm will fight to continue operating its British factory after Britain leaves the EU, but insisted it would not yet demand guarantees from London before making a decision over its future in the country. Didier Leroy, chief competitive officer at the world's biggest automaker, made the pledge after the boss of rival Nissan warned he would need assurances from London before committing to more investment at a factory in northeastern England. Many firms operating in Britain, including some of Japan's biggest companies, are worried about the future of their access to Europe following Britain's June vote to quit the European Union. Leroy acknowledged an exit could hurt the competitiveness of Toyota's operations in Britain -- where it has two plants and employs about 3,400 people. In comments Wednesday but embargoed until Thursday, he told reporters Toyota planned to "talk with our UK members, to motivate the team in the UK, to balance this negative impact". He added: "Does it mean that it will be easy to do? No. Does it mean we are sure we will be able to do it? No. But I can tell you, we have a fighting spirit and we fully trust our people in the UK plant." The impact of Brexit on foreign firms remained unclear so there was no immediate plan to demand guarantees from the government, Leroy said. "Practically nobody knows what the impact of Brexit will be, what will be the impact in terms of tariffs, of access to the market. The key point for us is not trying to negotiate anything," he said. "If there are tariffs or specific taxes, because we are exporting 85 percent of our production to continental Europe then it will be bad news. But we really trust that EU and UK governments will find the appropriate agreement." Last month Nissan's top executive Carlos Ghosn said his firm would be looking for compensation if his company's tax regime became less favourable or cross-border duties had to be paid once Britain left the European Union. Story continues "If these kinds of principles are accepted we can go ahead because it will neutralise some of our concerns." Ghosn said last Thursday a decision on further investment would be made next month. At issue is whether Nissan would continue building the next generation Qashqai sport utility at its Sunderland plant after 2019. The plant is Britain's biggest car factory, which has around 7,000 employees, making it the group's largest facility in Europe. Nissan "has to decide very quickly if they will continue to produce the cars (at the plant)," Leroy said. "We are not exactly in the same situation, we are not facing the same urgency at this stage." Trance expert Ferry Corsten is finally returning to Zouk Kuala Lumpur this coming November, after five long years! The Dutch DJ began his music career in 1989 and is known for producing many pioneering trance tracks and albums during the 90s era. But now, he has started to shift to a broader electronic music style, playing everything from progressive house to melodic trance, and is also a host for his own weekly radio show, "Corsten's Countdown". The 42-year-old DJ is currently on a world tour for his uplifting trance project Gouryella, which is also one of his many aliases. The global tour will also include several Southeast Asian countries like Philippines, Thailand and also Malaysia! This is not the first time Corsten performed in Zouk KL, his last show in the club was back in 2011. However, the DJ has been in Malaysia twice last year for New World Punx together with DJ Markus Schulz, and also It's the Ship 2015. DJ Ferry Corsten will be heading down to Zouk KL on 18 November 2016, 10pm, at Zouk Mainroom. Fee per entry starts from RM70. For more info, visit zoukclub.com.my or Zouk KL's Facebook. * Yields on German bunds, UK bonds rise * U.S. data mixed, but supportive of yields overall (Adds comment, details, updates prices) By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK, Oct 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury debt yields climbed to roughly five-month peaks on Thursday, driven by gains in German and British bonds as well as upbeat U.S. jobless claims data that point to another robust non-farm payrolls number next week. "A lot of the moves today in Treasuries are being led by the dramatic steepening of the bund (German bonds) and gilt (UK bonds) curve," said Subadra Rajappa, head of U.S. rates strategy at Societe Generale in New York. German 10-year bund yields rose to five-month peaks , while that of 10-year British bonds advanced to more than four-month highs, lifting U.S. Treasury yields in the process. Strong growth data in Britain prompted a sell off in the world's largest benchmark bonds on Thursday, with investors believing the Bank of England is now less likely to cut rates at its policy meeting next week. With gains on the long end, the Bund yield curve has steepened to nearly 79 basis points, its widest since early March, while the spread between long-term and short-term gilts rose to 95 basis points, the highest in four months. Societe's Rajappa said the gap between long-term and short-term yields on bunds and gilts have widened on the belief that both the Bank of England and European Central Bank would hold off on further easing. In the case of the ECB, while the market believes the bank will extend asset buying beyond the March deadline, the expectation is that it will slow the pace of its bond purchases. The spread between short-and long-term U.S. Treasury yields curve have also increased as a result to 127.30 basis points. . In late morning trading, benchmark 10-year Treasury notes were down 22/32 in price to yield 1.867 percent, up from 1.79 percent late on Wednesday. Earlier, 10-year yields hit a five-month high of 1.87 percent. Story continues U.S. 30-year bonds were down more than a point in price to yield 2.628 percent, up from Wednesday's 2.537 percent. Thirty-year yields earlier hit a five-month peak of 2.631 percent. U.S. two-year note yields were at 0.896 percent, up from Wednesday's 0.872 percent. Earlier on Thursday, two-year yields touched five-month highs of 0.896 percent. Yields also were boosted by data showing U.S. jobless claims dropping 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 258,000 for the week ended Oct. 22. That marked 86 straight weeks that claims have been below the 300,000 threshold, which is normally associated with a strong job market. (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Kevin Pollak has a whole arsenal of celebrity impressions, several of which he busted out during a recent Role Recall interview with Yahoo Movies. There was his Casino costar Robert De Niro, his Indian Summer costar Alan Arkin, and his A Few Good Men costar Jack Nicholson. But nothing beats Pollaks impersonation of one of the most frequently impersonated people on Earth, Christopher Walken. Pollak has never worked directly with the Deer Hunter Oscar winner (though both appeared in Waynes World 2), but he explained to us (watch above) that he was still invited to speak at Walkens hand- and footprint ceremony at Graumans Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in 2004. I had never met Christopher Walken, Pollak said. Quentin Tarantino was the other speaker. That makes sense they worked together [in Pulp Fiction]. Why am I there? Ah, because I do an impersonation of him. Its then that Pollak broke into the impression he did in front of Walken of the actor greeting children whove come to his door on Halloween night. Pollak calls the art of impersonation a parlor trick, but trust us, this one is a treat. Look for our Kevin Pollak Role Recall interview on Nov. 1 on Yahoo Movies, and watch him talk about his new film The Late Bloomer below: Baghdad (AFP) - Islamic State group fighters are trickling out of Iraq's Mosul as the jihadists suffer heavy casualties, the general overseeing American military operations in the region told AFP on Thursday. Army General Joseph Votel, head of the US military's Central Command, said groups of half a dozen or fewer IS fighters have been seen slipping out of the city as US-backed Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces close in. Some of them dump weapons and try to look like civilians, making it hard for coalition drones and planes to track them, Votel said, but some presumably are headed toward Raqa, the IS group's Syria stronghold. "They don't have uniforms, so it is a little bit of a challenge. These aren't big groups, they aren't moving in military formations," the four-star general said, speaking from an undisclosed military base in Southwest Asia. "There are some that will get away, and I think that happens in a lot of cases. Nothing is 100 percent, but in this case we are doing a pretty good job." Between 800 and 900 jihadists have been killed in and around Mosul since the Iraqi-led operation to recapture the city began 10 days ago, he added. Earlier US estimates had put the total population of IS fighters in Mosul itself at between 3,500 and 5,000. Up to another 2,000 were thought to be in the broader region. Votel cautioned it was hard to provide precise numbers as IS fighters move around the city and blend in with the local population. The jihadists have quit Mosul from the west side, which has not been sealed by Iraqi forces. Some strategists question the Iraqis' decision to leave part of the city open, but Votel said there were advantages to doing so. "It certainly provides a way for the refugees of the population to get out of there," the general said, and "it does provide an opportunity to limit destruction in the city itself". Aid groups are bracing for an exodus of Mosul residents as the battle enters the city proper. Story continues The United Nations says more than 10,000 people have already been displaced. Votel said he had spoken with Iraqi military leaders late Tuesday who told him that, as of that time, 57 Iraqi security forces had been killed and about 255 wounded. For the Kurdish peshmerga, numbers were lower, with about 30 killed and between 70 and 100 wounded. - 'Know what we are shooting at' - Despite the heavy casualties, the jihadists still think they can retain control over Mosul, Votel said, because "some of their fighters don't understand what is taking place around them". The offensive is seeing tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north in a bid to retake the last major Iraqi city under IS control. Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces are pushing along several axes and have made relatively quick progress as they approach the city. The offensive has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, and resistance may get heavier as Iraqi forces break through IS defences and enter the city itself. Security forces have complained about insufficient air support from the US-led coalition, but Votel said strikes were only delayed if there is a concern of causing civilian casualties. "We do have a responsibility to make sure we know what we are shooting at... That does require some time to do that," he said. Votel's job is arguably the most complex in the US military, as he is responsible for an area including Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, as well as war-torn Yemen, Iran and the rest of the Middle East. The US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces is also trying to defeat the group in Syria, where they retain parts of the north and the key city of Raqa. Pentagon chief Ashton Carter this week said the battle for Raqa would begin within a few weeks, and Votel cautioned the fight could take longer than Mosul because the US-backed opposition forces are not as well armed or resourced as the Iraqis. "We've long recognised that our greatest desire would be to orchestrate (operations in) Mosul and Raqa... almost completely simultaneously," he said. But "we can't do things as simultaneously as perhaps we would like to." Hillary Clinton saw a double-digit lead amid Donald Trumps latest controversies, but as Election Day 2016 draws near, new polls suggest that the GOP candidate is catching up. Multiple polls suggest that the presidential hopefuls are in a fierce fight for battleground states Florida and Nevada, with Trump and Clinton both at 43 percent among likely voters in Nevada, according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll. Major story that the Dems are making up phony polls in order to suppress the the Trump. We are going to WIN! Trump, 70, tweeted on Monday. The GOP nominee boasts a two-point lead in Florida, with Clinton at 43 percent among likely voters and Trump at 45 percent, according to a recent Bloomberg poll. Just last week, the two states appeared to lean in favor of Clinton, 68, CNN reports of its electoral college map. A CBS News poll had Clinton boasting a three-point lead in Florida and another had Clinton leading Trump by seven percent in Nevada. RELATED VIDEO: Id Love That. Donald Trump Ready for Fight with Mr. Tough Guy Joe Biden The new polls come after Trump has faced numerous accusations of sexual assault. The allegations began pouring in after The Washington Post published a video of the presidential candidate making lewd comments about groping and trying to have sex with women during a 2005 conversation with Access Hollywoods Billy Bush that were caught on a hot microphone. Trump has strongly and repeatedly denied all charges against him. Clinton, meanwhile, is facing her own controversies. Her use of a private email server during her time as Secretary of State has long plagued her campaign, and a recent hack by WikiLeaks rolled out more than 12,000 internal emails illegally obtained from the private account. Donald Trump A senior Donald Trump official told Bloomberg in a story published on Thursday that the campaign had "three major voter suppression operations underway." The effort, according to the unidentified official, was aimed at discouraging three groups Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton needs to turn out at the polls white liberals, millennial women, and black Americans from voting. The official explained that the Trump campaign was highlighting the ongoing dumping of Clinton campaign emails on WikiLeaks and her past support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership to turn off supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Allegations of sexual misconduct against former President Bill Clinton were meant to turn off young women, the official said, and Clinton's decades-old comment about "super-predators" was intended to discourage black voters. The Bloomberg report also highlighted details of Trump's major data operation, called "Project Alamo." Brad Parscale, a high-ranking Trump official closely tied to the project, said expensive internal polling done by the campaign showed that Trump was behind in the presidential race. "Nate Silver's results have been similar to ours," Parscale said, referring to the renowned statistician, "except they lag by a week or two because he's relying on public polls." The campaign has a model, called the "Battleground Optimizer Path to Victory," to help weigh the states that the data team assessed are most critical to hitting the needed 270 electoral votes in November. Florida is the top state in this model, followed by Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia a reliably red state. NOW WATCH: 'America has lost': The Philippines president just announced that he's allying with China, wants to talk to Putin More From Business Insider I am confused about Donald Trumps explanation of the video regarding his ability to make conquests of beautiful women due to his celebrity. Perhaps someone can help me understand this. He came to the second presidential debate with no sign of contrition for his behavior with women. Instead, he brought a group of women who have allegedly been assaulted by Bill Clinton. He then related examples of how other rich powerful men, such as members of the Kennedy family, have done worse things to women than he has. Now, he is surprised and shocked when several women have come forward confirming his assaults on them exactly as he stated in the video. Then, he vehemently denies having really done these things. According to Mr. Trump, his only fault was participating in raucous locker room banter like any normal guy. Even his lewd remarks about his adult daughter recorded on the Howard Stern show were not that remarkable in his world. So, we can conclude that in Mr. Trumps view, this whole business is not really about women. It is about rich, powerful men who abuse women in the normal course of life. Also, there are men who treat women much worse than he. I guess what he is telling us is that we are to disregard his behavior because it is less awful than what we should normally expect from such men. In fact, the whole debacle is just a world-wide conspiracy against him. As his loyal followers tell us, his so-called policy ideas and defeating Hillary Clinton are the only issues that are important to them. They still want him as their president. They simply do not care about his character flaws. Meanwhile, one in five women in America is abused or assaulted by men. Kenneth C. Govaerts, Lincoln WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Melania Trump will give two or three speeches in the final days of the U.S. presidential race, Republican candidate Donald Trump said in a television interview, apparently surprising his wife. The couple appeared in a taped ABC interview broadcast on Thursday less than two weeks before the Nov. 8 presidential election against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Melania, who has mostly remained off the campaign trail to care for the couple's 10-year-old son, was asked if she was going to campaign for her husband in the homestretch. "We will see," she said. "My priority is my son Barron and I support [my husband] 100 percent and I'm there for him every time he needs me." Trump indicated that time is now. "She is actually going to make two or three speeches," he interjected, drawing an "Oh!" from his wife. Melania has stayed largely out of the public eye since the Republican National Convention in July, when she gave a speech that borrowed portions of first lady Michelle Obama's address to the 2008 Democratic convention. "She's amazing when she speaks," Trump said of his third wife, a former model from Slovenia. "She is an amazing public speaker. She's agreed to do two or three speeches, and I think it's going to be big speeches, important speeches." The New York real estate mogul, who is making his first run for office, is down an average of 5.4 percentage points in national opinion polls against Clinton, a former U.S. senator and secretary of state, according to Real Clear Politics. Trump has been struggling to attract women voters after a series of damaging revelations and allegations about his treatment of women. Several women have accused him of making unwanted sexual advances, including groping or kissing, in incidents dating back to the early 1980s, according to reports in various news outlets. Trump has denied the allegations and maintained the women accusing him of sexual misconduct fabricated their stories to damage his campaign. (Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Bill Trott) New York (AFP) - Donald Trump may have insulted Mexicans, Muslims and women, but to woo Indian American voters he's even dabbling in Hindi for Diwali. The bombastic New York businessman is seen uttering "Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar" -- adapting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 vote-winning catchphrase as his own -- in a presidential campaign ad released Thursday. "This time Trump government," translates the ad on the screen. Trump may speak in a thick US accent, but the 30-second ad is the Republican nominee's latest attempt to win votes among Indian Americans ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights which falls on the weekend. The video opens with the message "Happy Diwali" and borrows from footage of Trump speaking at a Hindu gathering in New Jersey this month, lighting an oil lamp and promising close US-Indian relations. "The Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House," he says in the ad. "We love the Hindus, we love India," he adds, saying that he looks forward to working with Modi. The candidate's daughter-in-law Lara Trump visited a Hindu temple this week in Virginia, the home state of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine which is expected to vote blue on November 8. Trump trails 5.4 points in the latest poll average compiled by tracker RealClearPolitics in a national race against Clinton and two outsiders -- pointing to a likely electoral college victory for the Democrat. There are an estimated four million Indian Americans living in the United States according to 2015 census figures. They are among the most educated ethnic groups and generally well off, according to the Pew Research Center. Only about half are Hindu and 65 percent are Democrat, or Democrat-leaning, the think tank found in a 2014 report. Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia on Thursday denied a US news report it has allowed Washington to operate unmanned planes from its territory for missions in neighbouring Libya against the Islamic State group. "As part of Tunisian-US bilateral cooperation, we have acquired drones to train our military personnel to use this technology and to control out southeastern border with Libya and detect any suspicious movement" there, a defence ministry spokesman said. But "Tunisian soil has never been and never will be used to strike targets in Libya. The drones are used by Tunisians and no one else," Belhassen Oueslati said. The Washington Post on Wednesday reported that the Pentagon had "secretly expanded its global network of drone bases to North Africa, deploying unmanned aircraft and US military personnel to a facility in Tunisia to conduct spy missions in neighbouring Libya". The "drones began flying out of the Tunisian base in late June" and "played a key role in an extended US air offensive against an Islamic State (jihadist group) stronghold" in Libya, the newspaper said. Since August 1, the United States has carried out 351 air strikes in Libya in support of loyalist forces fighting to retake the coastal city of Sirte from IS, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on Thursday. Tunisia's Defence Minister Farhat Horchani told the Mosaique FM radio station on Thursday: "We were one of the few first countries to oppose a foreign military intervention in Libya." "We don't -- and won't -- have a foreign military base in Tunisia," he said. An AFRICOM spokesman did not deny that US drones had taken off from Tunisia but said: "There are no US bases in Tunisia." "There are US service members working with the Tunisian security forces for counter terrorism and they are sharing intelligence from various sources, to include unarmed aerial platforms," Colonel Mark R. Cheadle said. Story continues Tunisia "requested additional military equipment and training from Washington after deadly militant attacks last year in Tunisia and the US has provided more than $250 million in security assistance". Tunisia has suffered from a wave of jihadist violence since the 2011 revolt that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. IS claimed brazen attacks last year on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis and a beach resort that killed a total of 59 foreign tourists. In March, dozens of jihadists attacked security installations in the town of Ben Guerdane on the border with Libya. By Angus McDowall and Nick Tattersall BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Fighting between Turkey and Kurdish militias in northern Syria is complicating plans to drive their mutual enemy Islamic State from its Syrian capital Raqqa, an operation U.S. officials have said may start within weeks. Turkish jets and armor, in support of Syrian rebels, have struck Kurdish fighters in recent days as both sides compete to capture land from Islamic State that Ankara wants as a buffer zone against militants near its border. Those clashes could foreshadow a wider battle as they also eye control over Manbij, a city northwest of Raqqa. This was taken from Islamic State in August by local fighters backed by Kurdish groups, and offers strategic control over a large area. The push against Islamic State is crystallizing such fears, with Syrian Kurdish leaders anticipating a "stab in the back" from Turkey if they join the Raqqa operation. For its part, Ankara says the Kurds' main militia should not be involved at all. This underscores the difficulty of orchestrating a broad push against Islamic State in a region that is home to Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, and where regional politics and a fear of ethnic cleansing make it harder to build stable alliances. Syria's civil war pits President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Iran, Russia and some Shi'ite militias against mostly Sunni Arab rebels backed by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the United States. A secondary conflict puts all of them at war with Islamic State. However, the focus on driving Islamic State from Raqqa is growing ever more urgent as Iraq's army and Kurdish forces push toward Mosul, about 370 km (230 miles) to the east across the Iraqi border. This is encouraging the jihadist group to fall back on Raqqa as the seat of its brutal rule. The forces closest to Raqqa at present are those of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of militias in northeast Syria of which the strongest is the Kurdish People's Protection Units or YPG, regarded by Ankara as anathema. Western officials have said the operation to take Raqqa, a predominantly Arab city, should be mainly conducted by Arab forces. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday the YPG should not take part, while maintaining that his own forces should be involved in the assault. The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, said on Wednesday that the SDF was the only force capable of isolating Raqqa any time soon and insisted that the YPG would be involved in that operation. But he acknowledged Ankara's opposition and said the United States and Turkey were holding talks on the issue. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he was looking for ways Turkey could take part in the Raqqa operation and praised its intervention in Syria so far for taking territory from Islamic State. Syrian Kurds lay no claim on Raqqa, said Saleh Muslim, joint head of the Syrian Kurdish PYD party, but he told Reuters its "liberation is a priority for the Kurds", adding that those who rule there "at least should be friends of ours who would not attack us". SEPARATIST What most alarms Ankara in northern Syria is the predominance of the YPG militia and the political party with which it is associated, the PYD or Democratic Union Party. Turkey regards both as extensions of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a separatist group that has waged a three-decade insurgency to push for Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey. It is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. The PYD party and YPG militia in Syria, and the PKK in Turkey, deny that they share direct military or political links, but they are members of a larger alliance of Kurdish groups that promotes the ideology of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Turkey's own intervention in Syria in support of rebel groups fighting under the Free Syrian Army (FSA) banner sought to drive Islamic State from positions it had used to shell Turkish towns, and also to stop YPG expansion there. When Islamic State swept through Syria in 2014, eventually threatening Kobani and Hasaka, cities with big Kurdish populations, the YPG emerged as the strongest group fighting the jihadists. It soon gained U.S. backing and joined with smaller Arab and Kurdish militias to form the SDF, which over the past year has seized land from Islamic State along the border with Turkey, setting up a de facto autonomous zone. That zone is ruled by local councils, a system that Ankara regards as little more than a front for control by the PYD and YPG. INTERVENTION When Turkey intervened in August, the SDF had just captured Manbij, leaving it poised to close the 70 km (45 mile) gap separating two Kurdish enclaves along the Turkish frontier, something Ankara was determined to prevent. While it and the FSA rebel groups it backs have captured the border area from Islamic State, the Kurds have a last chance to unite their two regions by taking the town of al-Bab. Their capture of three villages near al-Bab last week prompted the latest round of fighting between them and the Turks. "Some insist on trying to keep Turkey and the FSA away from al-Bab. We are determined to cleanse Manbij from the PYD as soon as possible. Either they abandon the area as soon as possible, or we will do what is necessary," Erdogan said on Wednesday. Turkey has repeatedly insisted that the YPG and PYD should quit Manbij, something that both they and the United States have said has already happened. The city is run and defended by local civilian and military councils which say they are independent of the PYD and YPG but allied to the SDF umbrella group. Turkey appears to regard that position as dissembling. If it does take al-Bab, ending Kurdish hopes of uniting Rojava, as Kurds call northern Syria, and then strikes at Manbij, where Kurdish fighters died in the battle against Islamic State in August, it could prompt a big escalation. For the United States and other Western countries now focused on uniting their allies - who include both Turkey and the SDF - for the battle to crush Islamic State, that would represent a big setback to their plans. (Writing By Angus McDowall; Additional reporting by Phil Stewart in Brussels and Yeganeh Torbati in Washington; editing by David Stamp) By Daren Butler ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish police detained 45 air force pilots and were to take in dozens more on Thursday in the latest in a stream of police operations relating to investigations into a failed coup by rogue military in July, the state-run news agency Anadolu said. The operation targeting suspected followers of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the putsch, focused on an air base in the central province of Konya and spread across 17 provinces, the agency said. Prosecutors issued detention warrants for a total of 71 lieutenants and two colonels, it said. Other media reports said more than 200 soldiers and civilians had been detained in coup-related operations on Thursday. Prosecutors could not immediately be reached for comment. The failed coup, in which rogue soldiers commandeered fighters jets and tanks in a bid to seize power, and the subsequent purges have shaken the Turkish armed forces, the second largest in NATO, as they fight Islamic State and Kurdish militants in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Turkey has arrested 35,000 people and sacked or suspended more than 100,000 others in the military, police, judiciary, civil service and elsewhere since the coup attempt. Gulen denies involvement in the plot. Those detained on Thursday were accused of "armed rebellion against the Turkish Republic" and membership of what Ankara calls the Gulenist Terror Organisation, the privately-owned Dogan news agency said. They bring to more than 300 the number of pilots dismissed or arrested in the coup investigation. The government is working on projects to cover the sudden shortage in air force pilot numbers and will seek to draw back pilots from civil aviation, the Haberturk newspaper said on Thursday. Police last week detained 47 soldiers in a similar operation focused on the Konya base, of which 29 were subsequently remanded in custody, Dogan said. On Wednesday, Ankara said it had replaced three quarters of provincial police heads as part of the crackdown. Turkish officials have said the interior ministry has ramped up efforts to purge the police and state institutions after the appointment at the end of August of a new minister, Suleyman Soylu, seen as close to President Tayyip Erdogan. The extent of the crackdown has worried rights groups and some Western allies, who fear Erdogan is using it to curtail dissent. The government says the actions are justified by the threat to the state on July 15, when more than 240 people died. (Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Richard Balmforth) Washington (AFP) - Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag insisted on Thursday that he had provided US authorities with enough evidence for them to arrest alleged coup mastermind Fethullah Gulen. Bozdag met US Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Wednesday to press the case, but left without being given any guarantees on Turkey's demand that the US-based cleric be detained and extradited. US authorities are still examining the request but after the meeting Lynch's office tellingly noted that the case for extradition "must meet the evidentiary standards of the requested country." On Thursday, Bozdag told reporters he had sent Lynch three folders containing additional information requested by US officials to allow them to study the Turkish case against Gulen. This new documentation concerns a previous extradition request related to Gulen's alleged role coordinating "terrorist" activity in Turkey from the US state of Pennsylvania before the bloody July 15 coup attempt. But, Bozdag said, Turkey had also on September 10 submitted a separate request that Gulen be detained in the US pending extradition for his alleged role as leader of the coup attempt itself. "In our provisional arrest request we put more-than-sufficient evidence and information about the fact that the coup attempt was carried out under the instructions and coordination of the terrorist leader Fethullah Gulen," he told reporters. Once the US Justice Department has judged whether there is sufficient evidence to begin extradition proceedings, Turkey's request will be passed to a judge to be examined under a lengthy court process. But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, while insisting it respects US procedure, is increasingly frustrated and its supporters are stoking popular anti-Americanism, accusing Washington of harboring a terrorist mastermind. "Turkey cannot accept and we cannot understand the fact that the murderer of 241 people, who wounded around 2,194 people, is acting freely and managing a terrorist organization freely from a friendly and allied country," Bozdag said. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally who has lived in the United States since 1999, denies the claims and his supporters ridicule the description of his group as the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO), saying he runs a peaceful religious and educational network. By Tulay Karadeniz and Laila Bassam ANKARA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkey said on Wednesday it will press its military offensive in Syria until Islamic State is driven from the town of al-Bab, despite a warning from forces allied to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a helicopter attack on the rebels it backs. Turkey's incursion into Syria, launched two months ago to drive Islamic State militants from its border and prevent Kurdish fighters from gaining ground in their wake, has complicated an already messy battlefield in northern Syria. As the Turkey-backed rebels push south towards al-Bab, an Islamic State-held town 35 km (22 miles) northeast of Aleppo, they face confrontation with both Kurdish and pro-Assad forces, whose frontlines lie close by. The field commander of the forces allied to the Syrian leader - which include the Lebanese group Hezbollah, Iraqi militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards - warned Turkey any advance towards their positions north and east of Aleppo would be met "decisively and with force". The commander, who was not identified by name, nationality or affiliation, made the comments during a tour of frontlines to the north of Aleppo in a written statement sent to Reuters. They came a day after what the Turkish military said was a barrel bomb attack on the rebels its backs by a Syrian helicopter. "This kind of attack will not stop our fight against Daesh (Islamic State)," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference in the capital Ankara. "This operation will continue until al-Bab. The operation needs to continue, and it will," he said. President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey's military operations in Syria aimed to secure al-Bab and the town of Manbij, which a group of Kurdish and Arab militias seized from Islamic State in August, but were not intended to stretch to Aleppo. "Let's make a joint fight against terrorist organizations. But Aleppo belongs to the people of Aleppo ... making calculations over Aleppo would not be right," he said in a speech in Ankara. U.S. President Barack Obama, in a telephone call with Erdogan on Wednesday, recognized Turkey's contributions to the fight against Islamic State, especially is supporting Syrian forces that have cleared the jihadists from the Turkish border, the White House said. Obama "noted the need for close coordination" between the two countries to apply sustained pressure on Islamic State in Syria, the White House said in a statement. The two leaders also agreed on the importance of denying Kurdish PKK militants a safe haven in northern Iraq, it added. FIRST DIRECT CLASH The Turkish military said a helicopter "assessed to belong to regime forces" bombed the rebels it backs in a village near Akhtarin, a town 5 km (3 miles) southeast of Dabiq, late on Tuesday. Dabiq is a former Islamic State stronghold that the rebels seized from the jihadists this month. It was the first time a direct clash between Syrian forces and the Turkey-backed rebels has been announced. Two rebels were killed and five wounded, the Turkish army said. The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment, but it said last week that the presence of Turkish troops on Syrian soil was a "dangerous escalation and flagrant breach of Syria's sovereignty". It warned it would bring down any Turkish warplanes entering Syrian air space. Turkey launched "Operation Euphrates Shield" two months ago, sending tanks and warplanes into Syria in support of the largely Turkmen and Arab rebels. Erdogan signaled Turkey could target the Afrin region of northwest Syria, which is controlled by Kurdish YPG forces and lies just west of the "Euphrates Shield" area of operations. "In order to defeat threats directed at our nation from Kilis to Kirikhan, we are also putting that area on our agenda of cleansing from terror," he said, referring to two Turkish towns across the border from Afrin. (Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay in Ankara, Tom Perry in Beirut, Humeyra Pamuk and Ayla Jean Yackley in Istanbul; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Lisa Shumaker) Ankara (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that the military operation supporting Syrian opposition fighters in northern Syria will target the IS-held city of Raqa. Erdogan said the rebels were now advancing on the important city of Al Bab to clear Islamic State group elements. After retaking the city, they will target Manbij, captured by Syrian Kurdish militia in August, and "then we will go towards Raqa". Raqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State, has long been the next target in the fight against the jihadists but there is a debate on how the offensive would look on the ground. The US-led coalition against IS is likely to provide air support but Turkey opposes the involvement of any Syrian Kurdish militias. Since August 24, Turkish tanks and special forces have been inside northern Syria providing support to opposition fighters in an ambitious operation to remove IS jihadists from the entire border area. The Turkey-backed rebels comprise different Syrian opposition brigades rather than a single organised force, according to experts. The operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" has another purpose: to halt the westward advance of the Syrian YPG Kurdish militia. Ankara says the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Kurdish Democratic Union (PYD) are linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) waging an insurgency in Turkey since 1984. The PKK is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. In August the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed alliance of about 30,000 Kurdish and Arab fighters, captured Manbij from IS. But Erdogan has repeatedly said any operation to retake Raqa cannot be done with YPG elements and on Thursday, said the Turkish operation would target Manbij as well. He later said he told US President Barack Obama in a telephone conversation on Wednesday that he opposed any YPG or PYD participation. Story continues "We do not need terrorist organisations like the PYD/YPG... I said, 'come let's remove Daesh (IS) from Raqa together. We will sort this out together with you'. We have the strength," he said, referring to the Turkey-backed rebels. Erdogan also said that Turkey would not allow the northern Iraqi district of Sinjar to become a new Qandil, referring to the mountainous area in Iraq's north where the PKK has bases. "Sinjar is on its way to becoming a new Qandil. We will not allow (this) because the PKK is there," hinting at possible Turkish military intervention. (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors on Thursday said two men from Syria and Turkey have been extradited to face criminal charges that they tried to sell military-grade weapons to purported Mexican drug traffickers to help them ship cocaine to the United States. Turkish citizen Memet Gezer, 49, and Syrian citizen Saber Karimch, 50, were arrested by Montenegrin authorities in April and were extradited to the United States on Thursday to face charges filed in federal court in Manhattan, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, between September 2015 and March 2016, Gezer and Karimch during recorded conversations with undercover U.S. informants posing as Mexican drug traffickers agreed to supply them with machine guns, grenades and other weapons. Gezer and Karimch sought the deals with the understanding that the weapons would be used to protect cocaine shipments as they traveled from Mexico for distribution in the United States, prosecutors said. Gezer also offered to sell the agents large amounts of U.S. currency at a fraction of its value in the belief that it could be used to launder money for the traffickers, prosecutors said. Lawyers for Gezer and Karimch could not be immediately identified. They were expected to appear in court later on Thursday. Both men face counts for conspiracy and attempt to import cocaine into the United States that carry mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years and maximum terms of life in prison. (Reporting by Nathan Layne and Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) On Thursday morning, prosecutors announced that former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi has agreed to plead guilty to one count of attempted invasion of privacy for live streaming his then-roommate, Tyler Clementi, in an intimate encounter with a man in September 2010. Days later, Clementi, 18, jumped off the George Washington Bridge to his death. Ravi was convicted of 15 counts of invasion of privacy and bias intimidation in March 2012 but appealed his conviction. In September a New Jersey appeals court overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial. Instead, he and the prosecutor agreed to the deal announced Wednesday in which Ravi was sentenced to time served. He and his attorney did not have an immediate response to the deal but Tylers mother, Jane, wrote this piece. Time is a very interesting concept. But what I have found is time is actually a very personal experience. My time stopped when my world crashed apart into a thousand pieces, on September 22, 2010. It feels to me as if it was just yesterday. I was so numb for so long that it seemed as if time just stood still. The pain and anguish held me tight and would not go away or subside. My life was frozen in time and yet in the same moment, if you can even imagine there was this giant chasm of nothingness in which it seems like it was an eternity when I last heard Tylers voice, his laugh, or his music and it is extremely difficult to remember the touch of his hand or his hug. So to hear now that the time has come to move on is extremely painful.everyone is saying this has gone on long enough and now its time to move on. I am told that Mr. Ravi wants this to go away and he wants to move on. He wants to get on with his life. So he will plead guilty to one of the many counts against him and then shut the door and move on with his life. As if you can put part of your life in a box, tape it shut and poof it is gone. It does not exist any longer. If only it were that simple. How can someone forget a life experience that had such drastic consequences? I cannot even imagine that. For that to be possible a person would have to have no heart or soul..no conscious at all. Story continues We continue to learn as we journey on in this world from all our experiences. Maybe Mr. Ravi has not learned anything but due to the public nature of all the media coverage, I hope those reading this have learned something. Maybe there are loopholes in the legal system that allow a person to be charged with breaking the law 15 different ways to walk away with only 1 conviction, even though a jury of his peers found him guilty of all 15. Maybe the law can change on what the legal definition is of bias but the moral definition never changes. It is hard to be part of a charade of justice, left to wonder where the truth fits in. This has been very confusing for my non-legal mind, a mind that likes to search for the truth and see a logical flow, which leads eventually toward some kind of understanding. What confuses me is the appellate judges stating that the prosecutors conceded on all 4 bias counts while the prosecutors say they only conceded the one count where the law had changed. Maybe there is no logical conclusion or truth to be found in these conflicting statements. Something that I have learned through these most difficult days, months and years, is that some mysteries are meant to be left unexplained, at least in this world. Maybe the point of all this was not to find truth or justice but rather to learn to find knowledge, maybe even a tiny bit of wisdom. We certainly do need laws to protect the vulnerable among us, to set the bar for minimal acceptable behavior in a society where there is order and not complete chaos. Laws to keep a society from becoming completely barbaric and chaotic. But sometimes when the system fails and there are no consequences for breaking the law we might just need to search deeper and hope for a higher standard of morals. Maybe moral issues are better served in the court of public opinion. We all have the ability and inner power to control our actions and words. We can choose actions and words that are mean-spirited, evil and cruelly tear people down, trying to humiliate and destroy them. Or we can draw upon our inner strength and courage to choose words and actions that will encourage someone else, to build them up and support their growth. The ability to give life, hope and peace to another human being. I hope that all who read this will remember Tyler and allow Tylers story to do a good work in them. I encourage everyone to move forward, not forgetting the past but rather remembering the past, maybe even because of the past learn to make smarter choices. What makes someone smart is not if they can get away with poor behavior but rather to display good character, kindness and respect in all the places and spaces one enters into, whether in person or in the electronic world. Become an UpStander, someone who stands up and speaks out when they see someone being harassed and humiliated. Hold the people around you accountable for their words and actions. Let Tylers story help you to remember to choose your words and actions to build people up and encourage all their unique gifts and support the very essence of their being. Help to build a culture of kindness, respect and empathy all around us. Lets all work together to create a culture shift towards goodness and equality. Jane Clementi is the founder of The Tyler Clementi Foundation. By Eric Walsh (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department charged 61 people and entities on Thursday with taking part in a scam involving India-based call centers where agents impersonated Internal Revenue Service, immigration and other federal officials and demanded payments for nonexistent debts. The scam, which had operated since 2013, targeted at least 15,000 people who lost more than $300 million. Twenty people were arrested in the United States on Thursday, while 32 individuals and five call centers in India have been charged, the department said in a statement. The defendants, including 24 people across nine U.S. states, were indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. U.S. Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said at a news conference that the United States will be seeking the extradition of those based in India and warned others engaged in similar schemes. "It's really important for the scammers in India to know that the United States is looking at this, is watching them and they could, if they engage in that activity, be extradited to the United Sates and could sit in jail ... for several years," she said. According to the indictment, the operators of the call centers in Ahmedabad, in the Indian state of Gujarat, "threatened potential victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay taxes or penalties to the government." Payments by victims were laundered by a U.S. network of co-conspirators using prepaid debit cards or wire transfers, often using stolen or fake identities, the statement said. The call centers also ran scams in which victims were offered short-term loans or grants on condition of providing good-faith deposits or payment of a processing fee, it said. The investigation involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Treasury, Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service and police officials, the Justice Department said. (Additional reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir) NATO allies including the U.S., Britain and Canada pledged Wednesday to deploy forces, tanks, jets and artillery in Eastern Europe amid escalating tensions with Russia. Following a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Britain announced it would send fighter jets to Romania in 2017, while the U.S. promised tanks, artillery and more than 900 troops to Poland, Reuters reports. The U.K., Germany, Canada and other allies had also committed to contribute to a 4,000-strong ground force in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe, which aims to check Russian belligerence in the region. Speaking at a press conference, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the reinforcement would be the biggest build up of NATO forces since the end of the Cold War. NATO accuses Moscow of continuing to support pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine following the annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, and the alliance believes Russia has stationed around 330,000 troops close to its western border. Stoltenberg said the build up of troops was a measured response to Moscows actions. This month alone, Russia has deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad and suspended a weapons-grade plutonium agreement with the United States, he said according to Reuters. The announcement came as Russian warships sailing through the English Channel, believed to be on their way to Syria, withdrew a request to stop to refuel in Spain amid international opposition, the BBC reports. At a July summit in Warsaw, NATO said it expected to deploy four battalions by early 2017. I am pleased to confirm that we are on track. This Alliance does what it says. And we deliver on our promises, Stoltenberg told reporters. A 40,000-strong rapid-reaction force would support the four battalions, with follow-on forces on hand if necessary. [Reuters] WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department charged 61 people and entities on Thursday with taking part in a scam involving India-based call centers where agents impersonated Internal Revenue Service, immigration and other federal officials and demanded payments for nonexistent debts. The scam, which had operated since 2013, targeted at least 15,000 people who lost more than $300 million. Twenty people were arrested in the United States on Thursday, while 32 individuals and five call centers in India have been charged, the department said in a statement. The defendants, including 24 people across nine U.S. states, were indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. U.S. Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said at a news conference that the United States will be seeking the extradition of those based in India and warned others engaged in similar schemes. "It's really important for the scammers in India to know that the United States is looking at this, is watching them and they could, if they engage in that activity, be extradited to the United Sates and could sit in jail ... for several years," she said. According to the indictment, the operators of the call centers in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, "threatened potential victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay taxes or penalties to the government." Payments by victims were laundered by a U.S. network of co-conspirators using prepaid debit cards or wire transfers, often using stolen or fake identities, the statement said. The call centers also ran scams in which victims were offered short-term loans or grants on condition of providing good-faith deposits or payment of a processing fee, it said. The investigation involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Treasury, Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service and police officials, the Justice Department said. (Reporting by Eric Walsh; Additional reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir; Editing by Frances Kerry and Jonathan Oatis) (Adds byline, comment from Coast Guard) By Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard called off its search for a Chinese sailor attempting to sail alone across the Pacific Ocean, after his empty trimaran vessel was discovered, officials said on Thursday. A crew from the U.S. Navy assault ship USS Makin Island boarded Guo Chuan's boat on Wednesday, but found only his life jacket, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement. He had been trying to set a record for the fastest solo crossing of the Pacific. Guo, who set sail from San Francisco on Oct. 19, was aiming to complete his solo, non-stop journey to Shanghai in 18 days. He was last heard from on Tuesday afternoon Beijing time when his vessel was about 900 nautical miles (1,666 km) west of Hawaii, his support team had told the Xinhua news agency. "Mr. Chuan was a professional mariner with a deep passion for sailing," Captain Robert Hendrickson, chief of response, Coast Guard 14th District, said in the statement. "Our thanks to our Navy partners who helped us search for this vessel in a timely manner so far from shore in an attempt to locate Mr. Chuan," Hendrickson said. "Our deepest condolences go out not only to his family and friends but also to his racing team and the sailing community." Guo had two records to his name, having set the pace to beat in the 40-ft solo nonstop circumnavigation in 2013 and the Arctic Ocean Northeast Passage non-stop mark in 2015. His sailing team, in a statement on his website guochuanracing.com, said they believed Guo might have fallen into the water during a maneuver on his vessel that would have required him to unhook his safety lifeline. A representative for his team could not immediately be reached for comment. Guo had expressed optimism about his mission prior to setting sail last week. "I am very confident to go now. See you in Shanghai within 20 days," he said at the time. The Coast Guard said the crew that boarded Guo's 97-foot (30-metre) vessel, the Quindao China, left it adrift and Guo's racing team would recover it. Authorities broadcast a notice to alert other mariners to the vessel's presence. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles and Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Alistair Bell) (Recasts; updates with regulator action) WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Credit unions will be able to reach more consumers with their not-for-profit business model under rules passed by the industry's regulator on Thursday, U.S. officials said. The proposal eases restrictions on who may join credit unions: member-owned lenders that typically form around a common employer, hometown or other shared class. The industry regulator, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), on Thursday approved a plan that relaxes membership restrictions - an action welcomed by the industry. "This comprehensive rule expands consumer access to credit and provides them a safe place to invest their life savings," NCUA Board Chairman Rick Metsger said in a statement. In regulatory jargon, credit unions may only form around a "well-defined local community" but proponents of reform say technology has helped widen the meaning of that term. "The internet has changed everything for lenders," said Ryan Donovan, lobbyist with the Credit Union National Association. "This only modernizes some arcane requirements." Regulators approved easing geographic limits on credit union membership and allowing more contractors to join employer-affiliated lenders, among other reforms. One reform also encourages credit union expansion into poor and rural communities by easing tests for whether those regions are underserved by other creditors. The roughly 6,000 credit unions in the United States are a relatively small part of the national financial system. With around $1 trillion in total assets, they have only about two thirds of the total holdings of JPMorgan Chase & Co , one of the nation's largest banks. Leading bank industry trade groups, though, have opposed plans to allow credit union expansion. Congress always intended to limit the power of credit unions and keep them tethered to small groups of people with a strong, common bond, according to the American Bankers Association. "Unfortunately, the NCUA proposal totally ignores two key phrases, 'well-defined' and 'local', out of its statute in order to drastically expand credit union powers," the bank trade group wrote lawmakers early this year. (Reporting By Patrick Rucker; Editing by Bernard Orr and Andrew Hay) NAIROBI (Reuters) - The U.S. Embassy confirmed there had been a "shooting incident" near the mission in Nairobi on Thursday but said no embassy personnel were involved, after Kenyan media said a man was shot dead when he tried to attack a Kenyan police officer there. "The U.S. Embassy confirms there was a shooting incident near the embassy. No embassy personnel were involved," U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Fiona Evans told Reuters, referring further queries to the Kenyan authorities. (Writing by Edmund Blair) (Adds Comcast comment, details on AT&T deal) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted 3-2 to adopt new privacy rules that will subject broadband internet service providers to more stringent requirements than websites like Facebook Inc, Twitter Inc or Alphabet Inc's Google. The rules will force companies like AT&T Inc, Verizon Communications Inc and Comcast Corp to obtain consumer consent before using certain user data for advertising and internal marketing. The final regulation is less restrictive than the initial plan proposed by FCC chairman Tom Wheeler in March and closer to rules imposed on websites by the Federal Trade Commission. Republican commissioners said the rules unfairly give websites the ability to harvest more data than service providers and dominate digital advertising. Wheeler said that by February he will propose rules that could bar internet service providers from using mandatory arbitration clauses to prevent consumers from going to court for billing or other disputes. The new rules are aimed at protecting sensitive personal consumer data, and providers must get affirmative consent for details like precise geo-location, financial information, health information, children's information, web browsing history, app usage history and communication content. For less sensitive information, like email address or service tier information, consumers will be able to opt out. The FCC is also imposing new rules requiring disclosure of data breaches and stronger transparency about information collected. Free Press policy counsel Gaurav Laroia said the action "on privacy isn't perfect, but it takes tremendous strides forward. It gives internet users far more control over how their personal information may be used by AT&T, Comcast and other carriers." AT&T senior vice president of federal regulators affairs Joan Marsh said in a statement that new FCC rules depart from the FTC rules governing websites "in significant and illogical ways, most importantly in the treatment of web browsing and app history data." Story continues She said the approach will confuse consumers who see ads generated by websites even after notification from service providers that consent is required. Some analysts said the rules could hinder AT&T's goal of using data from its planned $85.4 billion acquisition of Time Warner to enhance advertising. Comcast in a statement criticized the FCC for a decision "that unfortunately will likely do more harm than good for consumers, competition, and innovation in the all-important internet ecosystem." The Internet & Television Association trade group said the FCC adopting "a cobbled-together approach that abandons principles of fair competition is profoundly disappointing. Instead of creating a consistent and uniform approach to privacy that consumers can easily understand, today's result speaks more to regulatory opportunism than reasoned policy." Several commissioners said the government should work to better harmonize the FTC and FCC rules. Senator Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, praised the move. "These broadband privacy rules are the next logical step since enshrining net neutrality in our telecommunications playbook. These rules will ensure that as technology changes, our core values do not - that consumers, not corporations, have control over their personal information," he said in a statement. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Meredith Mazzilli) Lincoln Yoga Center will host its third annual Veterans Yoga Project from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday (Nov. 11) in Studio 1 of the center, located at 2127 Winthrop Road in Rathbone Village. The class is free; donations for the Veterans Yoga Project are encouraged. "The practice will be based on PTSD/trauma yoga, which is good for all of us," said Lincoln Yoga Center owner Sheila Palmquist, "and funds received will go to support the Veterans' Yoga Project, to get this healing practice to the people." No experience is needed, and all are welcome. For more details, call http://www.veteransyogaproject.org/ By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has asked the Security Council for help to resolve a stalemate between peacekeepers and the Democratic Republic of Congo government over what to do with hundreds of South Sudanese rebel fighters. In a letter to the 15-member council, seen by Reuters on Thursday, Ban said 755 South Sudanese rebels had crossed into Congo's Garamba National Park with opposition leader Riek Machar in August. They fled the South Sudanese capital Juba in July, after fighting erupted between Machar's forces and troops loyal to his rival, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir. U.N. peacekeepers in Congo extracted Machar, his wife, son and 10 others from Garamba at the request of the Congolese government in mid-August, Ban said. Since then the United Nations has been trying to broker an agreement between Congo and South Sudan on the repatriation of the fighters or their relocation to a third country until a political deal is in place in South Sudan, Ban said. On Oct. 3 the Congolese government told the United Nations peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, that it wanted the fighters to leave within a week, but the mission does not have the legal authority to expel the troops from Congo, Ban said. "At the same time, there is no basis for MONUSCO to continue providing humanitarian assistance to them, as they are no longer in a life-threatening situation," he said, adding that the mission had told the Congolese government it could not longer take care of the South Sudanese fighters. "I am, accordingly, bringing the matter to the attention of the Security Council in order that it might take such decisions or provide such guidance as it may deem appropriate," Ban said. In August and September, Ban said the peacekeeping mission in Congo removed 755 opposition fighters from Garamba "on lifesaving, humanitarian grounds." Eight of those died from injuries, malnutrition or ill health while in the mission's medical facilities, he added. The United Nations has been in contact with the African Union, East African regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the International Committee of the Red Cross to resolve the issue. The fighters have voluntarily handed over 134 weapons, which peacekeepers will dispose of, Ban said. Political rivalry between Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his former deputy Machar, a Nuer, led to civil war in 2013 that has often followed ethnic lines. The pair signed a shaky peace deal a year ago, but fighting has continued. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Richard Chang) By Mohammed Ghobari SANAA (Reuters) - A U.N. peace proposal to end a 19-month war in Yemen appears aimed at sidelining exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and setting up a government of less divisive figures, according to a copy seen by Reuters. Hadi fled the armed advance of the Iranian-allied Houthi movement in March 2015 and has been a guest of neighboring Saudi Arabia ever since. A U.N. Security Council resolution a month later recognized him as the legitimate head of state and called on the Houthis to disarm and quit Yemen's main cities. But the Houthis and their allies in Yemen's army have said he will never return, accusing him and his powerful vice president, Ali Mushin al-Ahmar, of corruption. The latest peace plan submitted by U.N. envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed suggests Ahmar would step down and Hadi would agree to become little more than a figurehead after a Houthi withdrawal from the capital Sanaa. It was not immediately clear if the men had been consulted on the plan. But their supporters have in the past insisted that past agreements recognizing Hadi as leader must be respected. "As part of the signing of a complete and comprehensive agreement, the current Vice President will resign and President Hadi will appoint a new Vice President," the document says. "After the completion of the withdrawal from Sanaa and the handing over of heavy and medium weapons (including ballistic missiles) Hadi will transfer all his powers to a Vice President, and the Vice President will appoint a new Prime Minister ... (who will form) a national unity government," it added. SYMBOLIC ROLE The proposal would technically confirm Hadi in office, as stipulated by the U.N. resolution, but leave him in reality with only a symbolic role. Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr said that the government had not received a draft of the peace proposal from the United Nations, according to state news agency Sabanew. Government officials have said they are unwilling to legitimize what they see as a Houthi "coup". "We emphasize our conviction that all proposals are doomed to failure if (they dont reject the) excesses of the coup, which is the mother of all these calamities and the root of the evils," Abdullah al-Alimi, a senior official in Hadi's office, wrote on Twitter. A U.S. State Department official said Washington continued to support the U.N. envoy's peace efforts. "We have long maintained that compromises and concessions by all sides are necessary to reach a political settlement," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. There was no immediate comment from the United Nations, or from Saudi Arabia, which backs Hadi and is leading a military coalition, including the United Arab Emirates, trying to dislodge the Houthis. But UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash expressed his support for the U.N. plan on Thursday, saying on Twitter that "alternate options are dark". "The road map represents a political solution to the crisis of Yemen. ... It is time to leave behind the logic of arms and violence among Yemenis, and the road map gives a chance for reason and dialogue to prevail," he wrote. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has killed at least 10,000 people and unleashed one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. (Additional reporting by Yara Bayoumy in Washington; Writing By Noah Browning; Editing by Tom Heneghan and Jonathan Oatis) From Popular Mechanics In an article at The National Interest, the Commander of U.S. Surface Forces, Vice Admiral Tom Rowden, discusses his new concept of "distributed lethality" and its implications for the U.S. Navy. The result will be a more heavily armed, lethal Navy with amphibious ships and perhaps even ammunition ships and oil tankers outfitted with the latest weapons. According to Rowden, the U.S. Navy moved away from its core mission of controlling the seas after the end of the Cold War. The collapse of the Soviet Union left the Navy as controller of the seas by default, and it moved on to other missions such as support of ground forces after 9/11. The rise of the Chinese and Russian navies, however, has changed things. The Chinese Navy is actively trying to contest the U.S. Navy's firm grip on the western Pacific, putting sea control back on the mission table. Distributed lethality will put offensive weapons on ships that previously didn't have weapons before. Amphibious ships such as the San Antonio-class have traditionally carried only defensive weapons, but they under the new concept could be equipped with Mk. 41 vertical launch silos. These silos could carry a new generation of anti-ship missiles such as the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles, and other offensive missiles. Amphibious ships wouldn't be the only ones to become more lethal. The U.S. Navy's fleet of replenishment ships, supplying fuel, food, munitions and mail to the fleet could also gain missile silos. After all, when they're sailing with a task force they're like any other ship. Armed with long-range missiles, they could hang back in the rear and contribute firepower while being relatively protected. The concept also demands more offensive weapons across the board. One solution to this has been adapting the SM-6 air defense missile to the anti-ship role. While not exactly a ship-killer, the small warhead on a SM-6 will damage an enemy warship. More importantly the SM-6 could be carried by any ship with a Mk. 41 vertical launch missile silo. Story continues Distributed lethality is a concept that could turn around the Navy's decline in firepower. It's a logical, cost-effective approach to making the US Navy more lethal without necessarily needing a larger fleet, made possible by the Navy's investment in advanced communications, data-sharing, and command and control technologies. Read more at The National Interest. You Might Also Like Dubai (AFP) - The United Arab Emirates on Thursday welcomed a proposal by the UN envoy to Yemen aimed at reviving a political process to end the country's 19-month-old conflict. The UAE is a key member of the Saudi-led Arab military coalition backing the government of Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in its war against Shiite Huthi rebels. "The UAE supports the efforts of UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed knowing that the mission of a mediator is always tough," the state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said on Twitter. "The roadmap represents a political solution for the Yemeni crisis," he added. The UN envoy submitted to the rebels in Sanaa on Tuesday a proposal on advancing prospects for peace. The contents have not been made public, but informed sources say the roadmap calls for agreement on naming a new vice president after the rebels withdraw from the capital Sanaa and other cities, and hand over heavy weapons to a third party. Hadi would then transfer power to the vice president who would appoint a new prime minister to form a government in which the north and south of Yemen would have equal representation. The government has been so far non-committal, saying it has not received any roadmap for a political settlement. "The aim of a political settlement is to give priority to the interest of Yemen and regional stability. UN efforts represent a chance to bring Yemenis back to the political track. Other alternatives are gloomy," said Gargash. Around 80 Emirati soldiers have been killed in the UAE's military involvement in Yemen. The Arab coalition launched its campaign in March 2015 as the rebels closed in on Hadi's refuge in the southern city of Aden, forcing him into exile in Riyadh. Government forces backed by coalition air power have since expelled the rebels from five southern provinces, including Aden, but the insurgents and renegade troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh still hold Sanaa and much of the north. Nearly 7,000 people have been killed in Yemen's conflict since March 2015 and more than 35,000 wounded. The war has displaced three million Yemenis and left millions in need of food aid. Travis Kalanick Uber has launched a new project to bring flying cars to commuters by 2026. The company published a white paper today outlining its plans for Uber Elevate, a network of on-demand electric aircraft. Known as VTOL aircraft short for Vertical Take-Off and Landing the aircraft would be used to shorten commute times in busy cities, turning a two-hour drive into a 15-minute trip. According to a piece out from Wired on the new plans, Uber doesn't plan to build the aircraft themselves. The ride-hailing company will bring together private companies and the government to deal with the larger issues of making this project a reality, Wired reports. The vehicles would be able to travel at about 150 mph for up to 100 miles and carry multiple people, including a pilot, according to Wired. While the first vehicles will be ready by 2021, the expected roll-out date is 2026. The military already uses VTOL technology for its own aircraft. The planes rise in the air like helicopters but are still capable of flying at high speeds. Here's what it looks like when one of aircraft takes off, courtesy of Lockheed Martin: via GIPHY Uber says the project will have "significant cost advantages" over other modes of solving transportation problems, like building new roads, bridges, or tunnels. The company suggests parking garages and helipads could be repurposed to be used as "vertipods" and "vertistops." Uber says that since the planes don't need to follow set routes, it would help avoid congestion and improve commute times. Eventually, the planes will be self-flying. Uber VTOL helipad While these types of vertical take-off aircraft might sound similar to helicopters, Uber argues that the planes would have key advantages over helicopters: since they'll be electric, the planes would have zero emissions, and they'll be significantly less noisy than helicopters. Uber also believes the planes will one day be less expensive to use than owning a car. Story continues Uber isn't the only tech company looking into the technology for commercial use. Alphabet CEO Larry Page reportedly invests in a company called Zee.Aero, which also wants to build a "flying car" that can take off and land vertically without a runway. One of Zee.Aero's prototype planes was spotted at an airport earlier this week. Airbus also plans to fly a full-size prototype before the end of 2017. NOW WATCH: A hacker reveals a simple way to come up with a strong password that's easy to remember More From Business Insider By Costas Pitas LONDON (Reuters) - British car production rose by an annual 0.9 percent in September with a rise in exports compensating for a fall in demand at home, an industry body said on Thursday. Output increased to 159,726 vehicles thanks to a 5 percent rise in the number of models sold abroad, representing more than three quarters of Britain's total output, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Year-to-date output rose 10.5 percent to 1.3 million cars, with exports benefiting from the depreciation in the value of sterling since the country's June 23 referendum to leave the European Union, although the long-term effect on production remains unclear. It generally takes around two to three years from the point a carmaker decides to build a new model at a plant and the first car rolling off the production line, which means that current manufacturing is based on pre-Brexit investment choices. Japanese carmaker Nissan, which runs the country's biggest car plant, will decide next month whether to build its next Qashqai model in Britain in the first major investment decision affecting the country's car industry since the vote. Following signs that Britain is headed towards a "hard Brexit", which could leave its car exports facing tariffs of 10 percent, Nissan warned that it could halt new investment without a guarantee of compensation for any costs related to Brexit. A hard Brexit is the scenario in which Britain leaves the EU's single market in order to impose controls on immigration, disrupting access to the country's main trading partner. SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes welcomed the rise in exports, which offset a 10.6 percent drop in domestic demand, but warned that continued success was dependent on unfettered access to key markets. "Future growth will depend on securing our international competitiveness and the barrier-free access to major global markets that has enabled UK Automotive to thrive," he said. (Editing by Alexander Smith) LONDON (Reuters) - Britain did not offer Nissan compensation in return for any Brexit-induced costs to persuade the Japanese carmaker to build new models in Britain, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Thursday. "There is no compensation package," the spokesman said. "What we have made clear to Nissan and to others in the industry is that what we want is a competitive environment for the whole of the industry." Nissan said earlier it will build its new Qashqai and X-Trail models in Britain despite the vote to quit the EU, giving May her most important corporate endorsement since the Brexit referendum in June. (Reporting by William James; writing by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison) By Tom Bergin LONDON (Reuters) - The support that the UK government has promised carmaker Nissan in return for building new models in Britain could prove expensive, but the Japanese carmaker's complex structure makes it hard to estimate. Nissan announced on Thursday it would build the new Qashqai and the X-Trail SUV in Sunderland, England, after saying in September it would only commit to new UK investment if it got a promise of compensation should Britain's move to leave the European Union lead to new taxes on car exports. Nissan's main UK arm sells vehicles worth 5.3 billion pounds ($6.5 billion) a year, its accounts show. It says 55 percent of the cars go to Europe, suggesting exports of about 2.9 billion. In line with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, the European Union applies tariffs of 10 percent on passenger vehicles imported from outside the bloc. That could theoretically mean a tariff bill of 290 million pounds ($350 million) for Nissan's exports from Britain to Europe after Brexit - if the UK fails to secure a free trade deal. The imposition of customs clearances at borders and the need for upfront payment of value added tax when goods go into the EU could also hit carmakers' competitiveness. On the other hand, the UK government has said it is confident of striking a free trade deal with Europe after Brexit, in which case Nissan may face few additional tax costs. Prime Minister Teresa May's spokesman said on Thursday Britain did not offer a "compensation package" to Nissan. However, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters the government gave Nissan a written commitment of extra support in the event Brexit reduces its competitiveness. The carmaker said: "For Nissan, the support and assurances of the UK government enabled the Executive Committee to make the decision that the next generation Qashqai and X-Trail will be produced at Sunderland". COMPLEX FINANCES Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn met Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this month to discuss the impact of any EU tariffs. Story continues Nonetheless, Nissan's main UK unit does not sell cars to the bloc. All output is sold to Nissan International SA in Switzerland, which Nissan describes as its "European group head office trading company". Many multinational groups sell all their products through a centralised unit. This can be done for efficiency, but it can also offer tax benefits if the intra-group transactions channel profits into lower tax jurisdictions. Switzerland offers tax rates of around 10 percent or less to foreign companies on profits they make on non-Swiss activities. Nissan declined to comment on whether its structure is intended to shift profits into Switzerland. Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd's accounts say its arrangements are fully declared to the UK tax authority. The UK arm is not especially profitable, making average annual profits of less than 33 million pounds over the past five years on average turnover of 5.0 billion pounds. Lynne Oats, Professor of Taxation and Accounting at the University of Exeter Business School, said the complex structure would make calculating the actual cost of any government compensation to Nissan complicated. Richard Murphy, Professor of Practice in International Political Economy at City University London, said if there were new post-Brexit taxes, it would be unclear which set of accounts for Nissan's UK activities would be used in assessing any compensation claims. Given the government's commitment to stamp out corporate tax avoidance, any agreement to pay out on the basis of accounts other than those of the UK unit - including taking account of losses generated in Switzerland - would open the government to criticism, Murphy said. ($1 = 0.8213 pounds) (Reporting by Tom Bergin; Editing by Mark Potter) HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2016 / UMeWorld (UMEWF) is pleased to announce that in collaboration with the College of Vocational and Technical Education of the South China Normal University ("SCNU"), the Company will offer a K12 private tutoring training and certification program to millions of full and part-time private tutors in China, under a newly created business division "UMANTANG". As previously announced in June 2015, UMeWorld and the College formed a collaboration and established the "SCNU Online Education & Assessment Research & Training Centre". The successful result of this collaborative research has been the development of an extensive tutor training course with a robust curriculum supported by substantial adjunctive training materials soon to be commercially available to private educators as a certification program through UMANTANG. UMeWorld plans to unveil several new K12 products under the "UMANTANG" brand in early 2017, which the Company believes will totally disrupt the traditional private tutoring industry in China. This program will be conducted online, as well as onsite, and jointly taught by staff from UMeWorld and the College. Upon completion of the training program and 25 supervised tutoring hours, successful candidates will be certified as qualified K12 private tutors. The certification process is intensive and assures parents, teachers and other tutoring services where successful candidates are employed, that these individuals have the content knowledge, the ability to communicate effectively to their students insuring their integrity to work as qualified private tutors. K12 private tutoring is a rapidly growing industry in China, but currently one without recognized regulations or uniform standards. After-school tutoring is the largest segment of the non-formal education market in China, totaling $90 Billion US in 2015. It is estimated that 57% of Chinese K12 students avail themselves of 1.5 - 2 hours/day of after-school tutoring, with 40% of parents spending $750 US and 15% investing $1,500 US per year on extracurricular tutoring for their kids. After-school tutoring is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.28% during the period 2016-2020 in China. This is based on two major factors - the abolition of the one-child policy and an increase in family expenditures on education. China has the largest K12 population in the world and the government's abolition of the one-child policy will help China maintain this metric. Story continues About UMeWorld UMeWorld is an internet technology company with a focus on the K-12 education market in China. UMFun, the Company's K-12 flagship product, is a cloud-based, adaptive learning and assessment platform that can intelligently analyze and adapt to a student's performance and personalizes the delivery of proprietary educational items in accordance with the student's learning needs. UMFun's off-school version is made available to Chinese K-12 students through China Mobile, the world's largest mobile service provider by network scale and subscriber base, serving over 823,000,000 customers. For more information, please contact: Ruby Hui, Executive Vice President UMeWorld Limited E-mail: info@umeworld.com Website: www.umeworld.com Telephone: (86) 020-89237947 SOURCE: UMeWorld Limited RACINE COUNTY Ron Helmick thought he was going to hit the man in a top hat with his car. The man in the top hat came out of nowhere outside of the Racine Masonic Center, 1012 Main St. Helmick had just finished up a wedding gig as a DJ and was backing his van up when he almost hit the man with a top hat, or so he thought. Helmick jumped out of his vehicle and found nothing. No man, no blood, and no top hat. I got out of my car and there was no one there, said Helmick, the co-founder and lead investigator for the Racine Paranormal Investigators. The Masonic Center is a very interesting place for me. It was where I had that crazy experience. This was Helmicks first paranormal encounter. After talking with a woman at the Racine Masonic Center, he realized he was not alone. Others had seen the phantom figure lurking around the building before. With a long history and a spooky character, the Masonic Center seemed the best place place for a paranormal encounter or two when the Racine Paranormal Investigators and Racine Ghost Tours host a presentation and tour Monday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. This is the first event the two groups are doing after partnering in September when investigators began accompanying the tour guides on tours through Racine. Its a really cool event, Helmick said. Weve found activity in parts of the mansion and we plan to take people through it to share those experiences, and also provide history of the house. Helmick said the event is for ages 12 and older. The two groups plan to have a presentation about the paranormal, a tour limited to 50 people where they will take participants through the house looking for paranormal activity, and medium Michael Sorensen will use his gift to share reading and spirit messages. Sorensen will also be on hand to talk about what he does as a medium. Tickets for the event are $15 ahead of time and an additional $5 for the tour. They can be purchased at the door or online at www.racineghosttour.com. Were going to have a great time out there, Helmick said. Were going to have all of our gear, well be doing a Q&A and people will have a chance to meet and talk to (Sorensen) and any other crew members. Racine Ghost Tours will also do tours Friday and Saturday from Divino Gelato, 245 Main St., at 6:30 p.m. for $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For want of scares The paranormal event is not the only draw for people this holiday weekend. Around every corner and turn of the county fun can be found, especially at the Abandoned Haunted House Complex, 2825 E. Frontage Road, Mount Pleasant. The complex will be open from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 28-Nov. 5, and from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 30. All three parts of the complex will be open including the Ambush Haunted House, Hysteria Haunted House, and the newest addition: the Stalker Haunted Cornfield. The cost for the house portions is $25 while the cornfield is $15. Access to all three can be purchased for $30. More scares can be found in Racine at Walden III School, 1012 Center St., where the annual Haunted Hallway and Carnival will be held. The hallway is for ages 13 and older and is open to the community. The cost for the haunted tour is $5 with proceeds going toward the students spring trip to Paris. For those younger than 13 or not looking to be frightened, a carnival will take place outside of the school. Anyone younger than 13 years old dressed up in costume will receive a goodie bag. One of the busiest locations in the county will be the Racine Zoo, 2131 N. Main St., which will host its annual Boo at the Zoo and Roaring Nights Halloween Bash this weekend. Trick-or-treating among the creatures and critters is only part of the excitement for Boo at the Zoo, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. There will also be doors with surprises on the other side (if you dare to open them), a craft-making zone for making Halloween knickknacks and animal ambassadors for kids to meet. The Halloween Bash will kick off after Boo at the Zoo from 7 to 10 p.m. Cost for the event is $50 individually and $90 for two. Wine and beer tasting, food, live music and animal encounters are planned for the evening. For want of no scares Rising again this year will be a city favorite with the Trolloween Pub Crawl Saturday night, Oct. 29. Festivities begin at 9 p.m. and wristbands for shuttle access between the 15 participating bars is $2. The wristbands are encouraged because all of the proceeds go toward the winners of the costume contest taking place at 1 a.m. at Johns Dock, 303 Dodge St. Each bar will have drink specials and free food is rumored to be served at midnight. If celebrators find themselves looking to wander outside the county, the Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 First Ave., will be open to the public for trick-or-treating within the halls and have access to the Center Stage: A Century of Guitars exhibit. The Rockin Boofest takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, and is free to the public. People will be running in terror and adrenaline, or walking if thats more their cup of tea, on Saturday, Oct. 29, dressed to impress and express in costume at the Scary in the Prairie 5K Run/Walk. Participants will complete a course at Prairie Springs Park, 104th Ave., around Lake Andrea. The $30 registration includes a T-shirt, post-race refreshments and a goodie bag. The race starts at 5 p.m. Police and fire agencies will not be able to participate in many festivities, but they will be on hand at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 2921 Olive St., for the Trunk or Treat event from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30. The agencies will have police vehicles including a police car and fire truck on hand for people to explore. Families of the church will also open their vehicles as part of a trunk decorating contest. Each trunk will be decorated and trick-or-treating amidst the displays will take place during the event. With weekend festivities galore and impending screams and terror, Racine County has plenty of Halloween weekend fun in store. For information on other Halloween parties and events, go to www.journaltimes.com/calendar. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is appalled by an attack on a school in Syria that killed 22 children and is calling for an immediate investigation, his spokesman said Thursday. "If deliberate, this attack may amount to a war crime," Ban said in a statement from his spokesman. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "warplanes -- either Russia or Syrian -- carried out six strikes" on Wednesday in a village in rebel-held Idlib province, including on a school complex. UNICEF said the school compound in the village of Hass was "repeatedly attacked," leaving 22 children and six teachers dead. Ban called for an "immediate and impartial investigation" and raised concerns about a series of attacks on civilian targets in Syria, now in its sixth year of war. "If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice," he said. "They must be proved wrong." Russia, which is backing Syria in its military operations against opposition rebels and jihadists, said it had nothing to do with the air strikes and also demanded an immediate investigation. Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who is the UN envoy for global education, earlier called on the Security Council to ask the ICC prosecutor to open up an investigation of the attack, describing it as a war crime. Russia used its veto in 2014 to block a resolution demanding that the ICC investigate war crimes in Syria. Geneva (AFP) - A UN rights committee said Thursday it will study a petition filed by Brazil's embattled former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva claiming the country's courts violated his rights over a huge corruption scandal. "I can confirm that the UN Human Rights Committee has formally registered a petition submitted by the former president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva," said Elizabeth Throssell, a spokeswoman at the United Nations human rights office. She added that the committee "will begin its consideration of the complaint's admissibility," once it has received a formal reply from Brazil. Lula, 71, faces three corruption-related court cases over a vast graft scheme that flourished during his time in office at the state flagship company Petrobras. He has claimed that both prosecutors and a judge breached his rights, using the legal system to wage a political attack against him. He petitioned the UN rights committee over the matter in July. The complaint was registered on Wednesday, Throssell said. Registration "does not entail any expression or decision by the Committee on the admissibility or the merits of a complaint," she said in an email to AFP. Once Brazil replies to Lula's claims, the committee will then decide whether to launch a full inquiry, but that decision could take up two years. An actual ruling on the merits of the allegations could take up to five years, Throssell said. The world's whaling watchdog moved Thursday to curtail Japan's annual whale hunt, conducted under scientific licence but blasted by critics as a commercial meat haul. A resolution on "improving" the review of deadly research programmes, which Japan alone conducts, split the 70-year-old International Whaling Commission (IWC) into familiar camps -- pro- and anti-whaling. Just two days earlier, the pro camp defeated a bid to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic, which had required 75 percent of IWC member votes. Thursday's resolution, however, needed a simple majority to pass. It garnered 34 "yes" votes to 17 cast by the camp that includes Japan and commercial whalers Norway and Iceland. Championed by Australia and New Zealand, it will lead to the creation of a permanent "working group" to assist the IWC and its expert scientific committee to assess whaling programmes conducted in the name of science. The outcome was hailed by conservation groups which accuse Japan of abusing an exemption for research hunts under a 30-year-old moratorium, which also allows controlled aboriginal subsistence whaling. "Todays vote shrinks the... loophole that Japan has exploited ever since the global moratorium on commercial whaling came into effect," said Kitty Block of the Humane Society International. "In defiance of the ban, Japan has issued itself a license to kill more than 15,000 whales under the guise of science" since 1986. Resolutions are not legally binding on members of the commission, which has no policing function and cannot impose penalties. "We will abide by the convention itself," Japan's commissioner to the IWC, Joji Morishita told AFP after the vote, referring to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, the IWC's founding document. Japan's whaling is a deeply divisive and recurring quarrel at the IWC's biennial meetings. Story continues Under the scientific exception, national governments determine their own catch limits and issue whaling permits. - 'Not justified' - In 2014, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that permits issued by Japan were "not for purposes of scientific research" and instructed the country to halt its JARPA II programme. Japan cancelled its 2014-15 hunt, only to resume it the following year under a new programme called NEWREP-A (New Scientific Whale Research Program in the Antarctic Ocean). It killed 333 minke whales in the Southern Ocean that year -- many of them pregnant, according to observers. The Southern Ocean hosts one of two whale sanctuaries in the world. The meat from Japan's hunts ends up on supermarket shelves and in restaurants, in line with an IWC stipulation that whales taken for research must be eaten. Morishita defended Japan's whaling, insisting it was to gather science data, and did not violate the ICJ judgment. In its ruling, "it is clear that the ICJ assumes there can be future research activities," the commissioner told fellow delegates. "The ICJ also said... that the use of lethal sampling per se is not unreasonable in relation to the research objectives." But his New Zealand counterpart, Amy Laurenson, insisted that NEWREP-A was clearly "not in fact for purposes of scientific research. "Japan has still not justified the use of lethal sampling," she said. Under the new resolution, a working group will be appointed to consider the reports of the IWC's scientific committee on all new, ongoing and completed scientific whaling programmes. It will report to the commission, which will express itself on the validity of every programme. The International Fund for Animal Welfare welcomed the move as a further obstacle to Japan "unilaterally" issuing its own permits. "We all know that scientific whaling is sham science, and simply commercial whaling by another name," said the organisation's Matt Collis. IWC members put their differences aside just long enough on Thursday to pass a separate resolution on trying to save the critically endangered vaquita -- a small porpoise sometimes called Mexico's "panda of the sea". There are fewer than 60 known individuals left in the Gulf of California, the vaquita's only home. They perish in illegal nets used to catch totoaba, large fish whose swim bladders are believed in China to hold medicinal powers. The vaquita decision urges IWC members to provide financial and technical assistance for Mexico to police a permanent gillnet ban, compensate affected fishers, and replace outdated fishing gear with safe alternatives. A University of Wisconsin student has been accused of sexually assaulting four women and further investigations are being carried out by the police after more women came forward alleging assault at the hands of the student. Alec Cook, 20, a graduate of Edina High School, Minnesota, is facing nine charges including sexual assault, strangulation, battery and false imprisonment in a case involving a female acquaintance, while additional charges are expected to be filed Thursday after investigators were contacted by dozens of other females. Last week, Cook was arrested by the police after a 20-year-old student said that the junior attempted to strangle her and then raped her while holding her captive in his home for hours. Cook was re-arrested on suspicion of other crimes after three more women accused him of separate instances of assaults after hearing of his arrest. I saw the news story and was empowered by another girl being able to tell what happened to her, that I thought I could now finally tell, police quoted one of the women telling investigators. Investigations by the authorities led to the discovery of notebooks in his apartment with details about Cook grooming and stalking his victims and his sexual desires. The entries went on to document what he wanted to do with the females, Madison police investigator Grant Humerickhouse told the Star Tribune. Disturbingly enough, there were statements of kill and statements of sexual desires. Cook has denied the allegations against him and is reportedly cooperating with authorities. His attorney has said that blind acceptance of accusations leads to the stigmatization of innocent people. Much of what has been on Facebook has been character assassination of my client, Cooks attorney Christopher Van Wagner told the Star Tribune. Hes been accused of serious crimes, but the media firestorm has prompted a lot of people to apparently go back and re-examine their relationships with him. Story continues Cook, who was studying business, has been suspended from the university and banned from the Madison campus. Lori Berquam, dean of students, said in a statement: Sexual violence is unacceptable in our campus and community. This is a serious case and the university is responding. Cook is scheduled to appear Thursday in the Dane County Circuit Court. Related Articles Washington (AFP) - US shipping company UPS announced Thursday it will buy 14 Boeing freighter aircraft, and has an option to buy 14 more, to increase fleet capacity. The Atlanta-based shipping firm will buy Boeing's 747-8 planes, which will allow it to "begin a cascade of aircraft route reassignments that will add significant air capacity to the company's busiest lanes," it said in a statement. "These aircraft are a strategic investment for increased capacity for UPS customers around the globe," said UPS Airlines president Brendan Canavan. Boeing will deliver the first planes late next year, with the rest delivered by 2020, UPS spokesman Mike Mangeot told AFP. The option for the additional 14 planes is open-ended. He said the aircraft will not be replacing older planes, but simply add to the UPS fleet of more than 500 aircraft. The 747-8 Freighter has 16 percent more revenue cargo volume than the 747-400F, which makes it more cost efficient for shippers. Earlier Thursday UPS announced that it expects record deliveries of more than 700 million packages in the holiday season, through the end of December, an increase of more than 14 percent over last year, with two additional delivery days compared to 2015. And it expects to hit records on 13 of the 21 delivery days before Christmas, with more than 30 million packages dispatched, most delivered by the ubiquitous brown UPS trucks. By Nick Carey CHICAGO (Reuters) - The top executive at United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) said on Thursday he is seeing a greater commitment from President Barack Obama's administration on getting the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal completed despite negative election campaign rhetoric about free trade agreements. "I'm still optimistic there's a chance to get this for a vote in the lame-duck session," UPS Chief Executive David Abney told Reuters in a telephone interview, referring to the U.S. Congress vote on the agreement. "The current president has made it clear this is a high priority and his people are starting to contact people across the aisle to make sure we give this a fair hearing." "If anything, I'm seeing a greater commitment from the administration than before," he added. Abney highlighted a section in the TPP deal on small businesses, which will enable smaller U.S. firms to gain access to new markets. Both major party nominees in the U.S. presidential race - Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump - have criticized TPP, a sweeping pan-Pacific trade deal covering 12 countries negotiated by the Obama administration. Trump also has railed against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico as a U.S. job killer, saying that if elected, he would be prepared to scrap it if he could not negotiate much better terms for the United States. "You focus on the candidates that are going to be in place, but we're going to focus on the person who's going to be in charge through the end of the year," said Abney, head of the world's largest package delivery company. He spoke to Reuters after UPS posted third-quarter results that met Wall Street expectations. Abney also said UPS has added capacity for this year's U.S. peak holiday season to handle soaring ecommerce package volumes. The company has 15 new or expanded hubs, 13 temporary hub facilities - which it calls "pop-up hubs" - and more than 20 leased buildings. Story continues UPS had a solid peak season performance in 2015 after two years of struggle to balance capacity and demand. "We've increased capacity, the pipe is wider," Abney said. UPS is working closely with major customers to anticipate package orders and has added more weekend shifts, especially after Thanksgiving, to handle the extra seasonal business. "Now there's going to be some surprises, but I'm confident we have as thorough and up-to-date information as our customers have about how their customers are going to ship," Abney said. (Reporting By Nick Carey; Editing by Bernard Orr) UPS Boeing 747 8 On Thursday, Boeing announced that UPS has placed an order for 14 new 747-8F freighters along with an option for another 14 of the jumbo jets. With a catalogue price of $379.1 million per plane, the deal could be worth as much as $10.6 billion with the option included. However, it should be noted that major customers traditionally negotiate substantial discounts over the list price. "These aircraft are a strategic investment for increased capacity for UPS customers around the globe," said Brendan Canavan, president, UPS Airlines. "The 747-8 will allow UPS to upsize our network in both new and existing markets." Including, the 14 orders from the UPS and four from Russian cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr Group, Boeing has racked 18 firm orders for the jumbo freighters this year. As result, 2016 is the 747 program's most successful sales year since 2006 when Boeing sold 53 of the massive jets. Boeing has struggled mightily to find new buyers for its iconic jumbo jet over the past decade. With market demand for wide-body commercial airliners skewed almost exclusively towards twin-engine jets such as the company's own 777 or the Airbus A330, Boeing has come to rely upon the cargo freighter as a lifeline to keep the 747 program alive. Thursday's order breathes new air into the 747 program. Prior to the UPS deal, Boeing had just 15 unfilled orders left for the jumbo jet. In fact, to allow the sales team more time to find new buyers, Boeing slowed production of the aircraft down in September from one per month to just one over other month. UPS Airlines currently operates a fleet of more than 200 Airbus A300, Boeing 747, 757, 767, and McDonnell-Douglas MD11 freighters. NOW WATCH: An economist explains why Clintons plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 might be 'too much, too quickly' More From Business Insider By Alwyn Scott and Nick Carey NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) said on Thursday it ordered 14 Boeing (BA.N) 747-8 cargo jets, a deal worth $5.3 billion at list prices that potentially breathes new life into an aircraft Boeing had warned it might cancel. The UPS order, which includes options for 14 more of the hump-backed planes, reflects growing demand the freight company is seeing for air cargo after years of anemic growth, Chief Executive Officer David Abney said in an interview. "We have the demand and these aircraft will allow us to handle the demand on a very scheduled basis," he said as UPS reported third-quarter results. The purchase adds significantly to Boeing's order book at a time when it and rival Airbus (AIR.PA) have struggled to sell widebody aircraft. Slow sales of the 747-8, the latest version of the four-engine plane that first flew in 1969, prompted Boeing to recently cut production to six a year and to warn in July it might stop making the plane. Similar-sized two-engine planes that are more fuel efficient have largely eclipsed the 747's passenger mission. Sales have also slowed for Airbus' large four-engine A380 passenger jet. But the 747-8 freighter's special hinged nose gives it a unique ability to carry large cargo. Boeing has said it expects 747 demand to recover when air cargo traffic growth resumes and when a wave of older 747s are retired beginning around 2019. On Wednesday, Boeing predicted 4.2 percent annual growth in air cargo traffic over then next 20 years, driven largely by e-commerce traffic and express delivery in China. "Markets linked to Asia will lead all other international markets in average air cargo growth," Boeing said, citing a need by 2035 for 550 large, 747-size freighters. UPS plans to use its 747-8s on important "trunk routes... connecting Europe to Asia, Asia to the U.S.," Abney said. It will use older 747s and other planes now flown on those routes to replace smaller planes on other routes, adding capacity. Story continues "Its really a cascading effect that is more than the sum of its parts," he said. "We may be adding only 14 at this time, but ... theres going to be multiples of larger aircraft with more capacity and much more locations." "What is important is this is net add," he said. "In some places youre buying just to replace aircraft. This is not. This is a growth strategy. This is about opportunity.... Were going to put these planes to work as soon as we get them. UPS shares were down 0.9 percent at $107.62 and Boeing shares were down 2 percent at $142.60 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Alwyn Scott and Nick Carey; editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Cynthia Osterman) A-10 thunderbolt warthog cannon After years of threatening to cut funding to the A-10 program and funnel the money to the newer F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Air Force seems to have finally faced facts the A-10 is just too effective to get rid of. Air Force Materiel Command chief Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski recently told AviationWeek that the depot line that maintains and repairs the Air Force's 283 A-10s has been reopened to full capacity. They have re-geared up, weve turned on the depot line, were building it back up in capacity and supply chain, said Pawlikowski. Our command, anyway, is approaching this as another airplane that we are sustaining indefinitely. This move echoes the sentiments of many, many people across the defense community. Senator John McCain, former Navy pilot, and Representative Martha McSally, former A-10 pilot, both fought hard for the Warthog in their respective Armed Services Committees against the Air Force's claims that the F-35 could replace the Cold War-era bird. The move also follows trials initiated by the Air Force to determine if the F-35 or A-10 better executes the close air support role, which suggest that the A-10 came out on top. The Government Accountability Office debunked the Air Force generals' contentions that the A-1o could be replaced, arguing that the plane's low flight costs, unique airframe, and hyper competent, impeccably trained pilot community was without peer in today's Air Force. a-10 f-16 elephant walk warthog south korea Now maintainers at Hill Air Force Base in Utah can finally make good on a 2007 contract with Boeing to keep the aging birds air worthy for years to come. For now, the Warthog still faces the chopping block in the 2018 budget requests, but fans and friends of the bird can breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate with this hour long compilation of the best of BRRRRT. NOW WATCH: The Air Force's A-10 Warthog targets ISIS fighters with this massive gatling gun More From Business Insider The US Coast Guard has suspended its Pacific Ocean search for star Chinese sailor Guo Chuan, it said, after rescuers found his drifting yacht and confirmed he was not there but aboard his lifejacket. Guo "was a professional mariner with a deep passion for sailing", the Coast Guard's Captain Robert Hendrickson said in a statement on Thursday Chinese time. "Our deepest condolences go out not only to his family and friends but also to his racing team and the sailing community." Footage released by the US Coast Guard showed Guo's 97-foot trimaran Qingdao China drifting across the waves hundreds of kilometres west of Hawaii, its red sail emblazoned "Peace and Sport". During two days of searches over around 12,000 square kilometres both a US Navy helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Hercules aircraft overflying the vessel had been unable to contact Guo, it said. Guo, by far the country's biggest sailing star, became in 2013 the first Chinese sailor to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe. The 51-year-old set off from San Francisco on October 18 in an attempt to set a record solo crossing of the Pacific, but his team lost contact with him on Tuesday afternoon Beijing time. They alerted US authorities, and rescuers from the USS Makin Island amphibious assault ship reached the Qingdao China on Thursday Beijing time. "The boat crew confirmed Chuan was not on the vessel although his life jacket remains aboard," the Coast Guard statement said. They lowered the mainsail and left the Qingdao China -- originally built as the Idec 2 for French yachtsman Francis Joyon -- at sea, it added, saying his racing team was arranging to salvage the vessel. On a verified Weibo social media account Guo's team said his personal items had been recovered. In a sailing diary entry for October 20 posted by the team he said that listening to a recording of his two sons' laughter on his computer was "the world's most beautiful song, the song that puts me most at ease". Story continues Guo had previously said that his greatest fear was to fall in the water, China's official Xinhua news agency reported, citing him as saying: "I fear being separated from the ship when I am sailing solo." If he was to be thrown into the sea, he said, "I would never catch up with the ship. My chance of survival would be none." - Eternal rest - What happened to Guo remained unclear. Guo's team said they had observed his speed slowed on Tuesday and attempted to contact him, but he did not answer either satellite calls or internet communication. The US searchers had found a broken sail in the water, they added. The US Coast Guard said it was called when Guo's team had not received notification from him for 24 hours. The sailor had previously been "in constant contact" with his shore team and family and was "not likely to miss scheduled calls", it added. Chinese fans expressed fears for the mariner, with one writing that it was "likely he was adjusting or repairing the sail when he was struck or an accident occurred and he fell". Others urged rescuers to continue the search. "Absolutely do not stop the search and rescue! It's only 24 hours, the water is warm enough, Guo Chuan's physical abilities are fine, if money's an issue the shore team must immediately open a donation account... You can't give up!" But a tone of mourning and tribute also appeared, with one writing that sailors, like mountain climbers, embraced challenge to access a vast perspective, with "captains' hearts always facing the sea". The writer added: "To rest eternally in the Pacific now, that's a respectable fate!" Arbil (Iraq) (AFP) - The United States said Thursday up to 900 Islamic State group jihadists have been killed in the offensive to retake Iraq's Mosul, as camps around the city filled with fleeing civilians. Iraqis who fled their homes expressed joy at escaping IS's brutal rule as they were given shelter and assistance, in some cases reuniting with relatives they had not seen in more than two years. The offensive, launched on October 17, is seeing tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north in a bid to retake the last major Iraqi city under IS control. Backed with air and ground support from a US-led coalition, federal forces allied with Kurdish peshmerga fighters have taken a string of towns and villages in a cautious but steady advance. General Joseph Votel, who heads the US military's Central Command, told AFP the offensive was inflicting a heavy toll on the jihadists. "Just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate they've probably killed about 800-900 Islamic State fighters," Votel said in an interview. There are between 3,500 and 5,000 IS jihadists in Mosul and up to another 2,000 in the broader area, according to US estimates. Votel also said he had spoken with Iraqi military leaders late Tuesday who told him that as of that time, 57 members of the Iraqi security forces had been killed and another 255 or so wounded. For the Kurdish regional peshmerga forces, numbers were lower, with about 30 killed and between 70 and 100 wounded. - Families reunited - The offensive has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, with Iraqi forces later expected to breach city limits and engage the jihadists in street-to-street fighting. Aid workers have warned of a major humanitarian crisis when fighting begins in earnest for Mosul, which is home to more than a million people, but thousands have already been fleeing surrounding areas. The International Organisation for Migration said Thursday that 15,804 people have been displaced since the operation began, the vast majority from Nineveh province, of which Mosul is the capital. Story continues "There's been quite a dramatic upturn in the last few days. As the Iraqi troops get closer to Mosul, more people are getting displaced, there are more populated areas," said Karl Schembri, regional media adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council. At a camp in Khazir, about mid-way between Mosul and the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, Massud Ismail Hassan peered through a chainlink fence, looking for family members as peshmerga fighters registered the displaced. "Once all these procedures are finished we will be able to give them food and drink and blankets we brought with us," he said. Other families had already found each other, and tearful relatives clutched hands through the links of the fence. Saddam Dahham, who lived under IS control in a village near Mosul for more than two years, fled to Khazir with his wife and their three children. "We were not allowed to smoke, to use phones, not allowed to watch TV and we had to let our beards grow long," the 36-year-old said. - Not enough room at camps - One of the first things he did after arriving at the camp was joyfully shave the "heavy thing dangling from my chin," Dahham said. "I'm finally going to resume a normal life," the former truck driver said. Schembri said the Norwegian Refugee Council, other aid agencies and the United Nations were planning for 200,000 people to be displaced in the next few days, though it may not reach that figure. If anything close to 200,000 people are displaced in the immediate future, there would be a major shortage of places in camps. "In terms of... camp facilities, there are only spaces available for 60,000" people, Schembri said. After seizing control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in mid-2014, IS declared a cross-border "caliphate", imposed its harsh interpretation of Islamic law and committed widespread atrocities. Its rule was especially harsh for religious minorities. On Thursday two Yazidi women activists who survived a nightmare ordeal at the hands of IS won the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize. Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar have become figureheads for the effort to protect the Yazidis, against whom IS pursued a brutal campaign of massacres as well as enslavement and rape. Murad hailed the prize as a "profound message to the (IS) terrorist group that their criminal inhumanity is condemned and their victims are honoured by the free world". For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS. Riyadh (AFP) - Vigilance must be maintained against the Islamic State group's ability to finance itself even as it loses territory in Iraq, a senior US treasury official said in Riyadh on Thursday. "It has the ability to, with relatively small amounts of financial resources, to rebuild capability," said the official, who sought anonymity to speak more freely during a meeting with foreign reporters. Tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters are advancing on the city of Mosul, the last major city under control of the Sunni extremists in that country. If Mosul falls, Syria's Raqa will be the only significant city in either Syria or Iraq under IS control, the vestige of a cross-border "caliphate" the jihadists declared after seizing large parts of both countries in mid-2014. IS, which inspired attacks around the world and whose atrocities included the beheading of foreign hostages and enslaving Yazidi women, derived illicit proceeds from its occupied territory. A report last year by the inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force said those sources included bank looting and extortion, control of oil fields and refineries, robbery of economic assets, and kidnapping for ransom. "Our sense is that we have made considerable progress limiting ISIL's access to multiple forms of ongoing financial support," the official said, using another acronym for IS. But he added "we are very conscious of the fact that it's a very resilient organisation and a creative one that finds new pathways". The official said the battle against the finances of IS, also known as ISIL, "is going to remain a very central focus, not just of the GCC countries and the United states but really globally." RACINE In front of a crowded room on Wednesday, the Racine Plan Commission recommended that the city create an ordinance to allow for a tiny-house village for veterans. Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin is planning on placing 15 tiny houses on 1624 Yout St. as temporary housing for homeless veterans. The organization is seeking a rezoning and a conditional use permit to operate a transitional living facility at the location. The commission recommended the City Council create an ordinance and set a public hearing in November. Were preparing an ordinance because nothing like this has ever been done before, Mayor John Dickert said. This is a very laser-focused ordinance this is a very specific, veteran-specific ordinance. Jeff Gustin, co-founder of Veterans Outreach, said hes thrilled with the outcome. Our working relationship with the city has grown, Gustin said. Were all on the same page and we all have the best interest of our veterans in need. The location on Yout Street has a one-story building already on the property that Veterans Outreach is planning on remodeling to include showers for men and women, along with a meeting space. Once there, the veterans will have access to peer-to-peer mentoring and other benefits. The organization hopes to have five tiny houses on the property as soon as possible, but that could change depending on Mother Nature. If winter hits us fast and hard, thats going to slow us way down, Gustin said. If we have a mild start to the winter, we can get a lot of progress done fast. Large show of support Veterans and volunteers of Veterans Outreach spoke in favor of the program at the public hearing. Monte Osterman, Fifth District county supervisor, said the program will help veterans who have fallen on hard times. Our veterans joined the military because they had the attitude and the idea of being involved in servant leadership, Osterman said. The very best thing that will come out of this initiative is the sure and certain fact that as these veterans go through this program theyll matriculate out and their peers will follow. Although the property isnt in his district, Osterman said none of the constituents hes talked to is against it. For Maria Liberty, the veteran tiny-house initiative is more than just an idea, its personal. Living just across the street on Yout, Liberty will be a potential neighbor and she told the commission shes in favor of veterans coming to the neighborhood. We have gangs that like to congregate near there, Liberty said, adding people have dumped tires on the property. None of this would be happening if we had these houses there. Where we have people living on that property every day. While speaking, Liberty got emotional. My dad, he was a vet, she said. And I know he would agree with this organization doing what theyre doing. The very best thing that will come out of this initiative is the sure and certain fact that as these veterans go through this program, theyll matriculate out and their peers will follow. County Supervisor Monte Osterman Madrid (AFP) - Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez insists hard work can unlock more first team opportunities at the Santiago Bernabeu after extending his contract with the European champions to 2021. Vazquez has featured in 12 of Madrid's 14 games this season, but has started just three as the Spanish international has developed a reputation as a game changer off the bench under Zinedine Zidane. "It is an important step in my career, I am happy to be here, it is where I have always wanted to be," he said on Thursday after becoming the latest Real player to extend his contract in recent weeks. "I will continue working as hard as I can to have more chances to play." Midfielders Toni Kroos and Luka Modric have also extended their deals with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo expected to follow in the coming weeks. The presence of Bale and Ronaldo has limited Vazquez's chances to start, but he insisted the chance to play alongside them was a major reason for his desire to remain at the Bernabeu. "It is an honour to be alongside these great players. It was a dream that I had since I was young," he added. "I want to try and return the confidence the club has shown in me on the pitch and in every training session." If you only read one thing: The latest batch of Clinton-camp hacked emails by Wikileaks paints an unseemly picture of the web of ties between Bill Clintons foundation and his for-profit interests. While the outlines of these entanglements have long been known, seeing them explained in such clear detail elevates the issue at a political hazardous time for Clinton. Its the latest reminder of Clintons historically weak position and the GOPs missed opportunity. As Republican operative Michael Steel described her to TIME yesterday, she is the political equivalent of a jumbo shrimpshes a very unpopular and distrusted frontrunner. These leaks would have been potentially fatal to her candidacy in any other yearthat is assuming she was even still in the runningbut Trumps even weaker status makes it almost a moot issue for now for most voters. But conflicts are sure to reemerge as an issue should the trend lines hold and Clinton assumes the White House. Donald Trumps campaign is looking to boost its chances by suppressing turn-out of high-propensity Democratic voters: African-Americans, young women, and liberals. Its far from an unprecedented strategy, but the scale and the openness with which the Trump campaign talks about it is. Trying to keep people away from the polls is antithetical to democratic society, and a tacit admission that most of the country doesnt support Trumpsomething borne out over and again in public polls. Aeromexico uses Trump in a new ad. Trump argues his new hotel is a metaphor for his campaign. And TIME brings you the answers to the big questions: Where can you take a selfie while voting? Here are your must reads: Must Reads Bill Clinton, Inc. Memo Reveals Tangled Business, Charitable Ties Aide Secured $116 million in paid and pledged income to Bill Clinton, TIMEs Massimo Calabresi explains Story continues Inside the Trump Bunker, With 12 Days to Go The Republican candidate and his inner circle have built a direct marketing operation that could power a TV networkor finish off the GOP. [Bloomberg] Beneath Cheers at Donald Trumps Rallies, Dark Fears Take Hold Trump supporters lose confidence and embrace conspiracy [New York Times] Early Voting: More Good Signs for Clinton in Key States Democrats out-performing 2012 in several battlegrounds [Associated Press] Sound Off I certainly intend to reach out to Republicans and Independents, and the elected leadership of the Congress. Im going to be doing everything I can to reach out to people who didnt vote for me because I want to be the president for everybody, and I intend to do as much of it as I possibly can before the inauguration and to continue afterwords. Hillary Clinton on reaching out to Republicans after Election Day We have a protesterby the way, were you paid $1,500 to be a thug? Wheres the protester? Was he paid? You can get him out. Get him out. Out! Trump in North Carolina Wednesday Bits and Bites Joe Klein: The Ultimate Insider Who Could Still Change the Game In the Oval Office Donald Trump Argues D.C. Hotel Is Metaphor for Campaign [TIME] Check Out the Best Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Costumes Just in Time for Halloween [TIME] Hillary Clinton Jokes That She Takes Style Inspiration From Death Row Records [People] Justice Thomas Laments a Washington Thats Broken in Some Ways [Bloomberg] Aeromexico Launches A Donald Trump-Themed Fare Sale [One Mile at a Time] Samantha Bee to Interview President Obama on Full Frontal [TIME] 7 Ideas From Other Countries That Could Improve U.S. Elections [TIME] Heres Where Youre Allowed to Take a Selfie While Voting [TIME] Someone Destroyed Donald Trumps Hollywood Walk of Fame Star With a Sledgehammer [TIME] KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures dipped on Thursday as selling in the Chinese markets and concerns over weak exports outweighed benefits from a weaker ringgit. Benchmark palm oil futures for January on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange dropped 0.9 percent to 2,770 ringgit ($662.68) a tonne at mid-day break. Traded volumes stood at 22,875 lots of 25 tonnes each. The Malaysian ringgit fell 0.6 percent. A weaker ringgit would have typically boosted palm prices as it makes the tropical oil cheaper for holders of other currencies, but other factors offset the benefits on Thursday. Palm futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange had gained as much as 1.4 percent early in the session, before giving up nearly all their gains. They were trading flat at 5,988 yuan ($883.63) a tonne at 0539 GMT. "Concerns on poor export and turnaround in Dalian prices are hurting palm futures," said a Kuala Lumpur-based trader. Exports of Malaysian palm oil products for Oct. 1 - Oct. 25 fell 10.9 percent to 990,939 tonnes from the same period last month, cargo surveyor Intertek Testing Services said on Tuesday. Technical selling and profit-taking after the previous session's gains are also weighing on prices, the trader said. A second trader said selling on Dalian could be a result of some hedging following purchases in the physical markets. Still, he was upbeat about prices for the rest of the year. "Bean oil prices are moving up, China funds still in the market for commodities, and year-end stocks are expected to be lower than last year. All these will support prices," said the second palm trader. The Malaysian futures contract surged to a more than two-year high of 2,822 ringgit on Monday, on lower output data and tracking the uptrend in Chinese vegetable oils, which also rose to their highest levels in about two years. Output in top producers Indonesia and Malaysia have been affected by the lagging effects of last year's crop-damaging El Nino, though production is Story continues expected to recover next year. Palm, soy and crude oil prices at 0539 GMT Contract Month Last Change Low High Volume MY PALM OIL NOV6 2781 -11.00 2771 2785 7 MY PALM OIL DEC6 2772 -23.00 2772 2810 1586 MY PALM OIL JAN7 2770 -26.00 2769 2810 12117 CHINA PALM OLEIN JAN7 5988 +2.00 5960 6068 887422 CHINA SOYOIL JAN7 6746 -12.00 6712 6824 537856 CBOT SOY OIL DEC6 35.7 -0.40 35.56 35.9 4936 INDIA PALM OIL OCT6 536.80 -0.40 535.50 537 121 INDIA SOYOIL NOV6 676.05 +1.55 673 676.3 7850 NYMEX CRUDE DEC6 49.29 +0.11 49.08 49.34 15916 Palm oil prices in Malaysian ringgit per tonne CBOT soy oil in U.S. cents per pound Dalian soy oil and RBD palm olein in Chinese yuan per tonne India soy oil in Indian rupee per 10 kg Crude in U.S. dollars per barrel ($1 = 6.7766 Chinese yuan) ($1 = 4.1800 ringgit) (Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) An Indonesian woman was jailed for 20 years Thursday for murdering a friend from an Australian college with poisoned coffee in a "sadistic" fashion, capping a sensational trial that has gripped the country. Jessica Kumala Wongso, 28, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was found guilty of murdering Wayan Mirna Salihin by slipping cyanide into her drink at an upmarket Jakarta cafe, sparking applause from spectators in the packed courtroom. The soap opera-style tale of two members of Indonesia's wealthy elite having a dramatic fallout that culminated in murder has captivated the country, with the trial dubbed the "poisoned coffee" case and broadcast live on national TV for months. The murder, which Wongso carried out in January after becoming angered at 27-year-old Salihin's criticism of her boyfriend, also generated huge interest in Australia, where the women studied together at a Sydney design college. After hours reading the verdict in a courtroom overflowing with hundreds of journalists and members of the public, a three-judge panel declared Wongso guilty of premeditated murder and handed down the lengthy jail sentence. "The defendant's action was deplorable and sadistic because it was committed against her own friend," presiding judge Kisworo, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told the court. "The defendant did not regret her action and claimed she did not do it." Wongso, who denies carrying out the crime, was emotionless as the ruling was handed down, then told the court: "I cannot accept the verdict, it's very unfair." Her legal team said they would file an appeal. - Sobs of relief - Some of Salihin's relatives sobbed with relief after the verdict, with her twin sister Sandy telling journalists: "This is very hard, I am grateful." The victim's supporters had rallied outside court throughout the day waving signs that read "Justice for Mirna", and when the hearing concluded gave out white roses to police and journalists. Story continues After drinking the iced Vietnamese coffee at the cafe in one of Jakarta's fanciest malls, Salihin collapsed and began convulsing, then died soon afterwards in hospital. Prosecutors said Wongso decided to murder Salihin after she advised the defendant to break up with a boyfriend as he was using drugs, saying that the "cruel" crime was planned "meticulously". Police say that she placed bags on the table to prevent CCTV cameras in the cafe from filming her slipping the poison into the coffee. Wongso had vehemently denied murdering her friend, breaking down in tears as she took the stand during the trial to reject the allegations. She had testified that she could not remember key details about the day and her defence team asserted the case against their client was weak and lacked evidence to prove guilt. During the months-long trial, which began in June, three forensic experts called by the defence testified there was no proof Salihin's death was caused by cyanide poisoning. Australian authorities assisted with the case after receiving assurances that Wongso would not be handed the death penalty if found guilty of murder, a capital crime in Indonesia. Vernon Kifer, a veteran camera operator who worked on such sitcoms as Friends, Mike & Molly and Veronica's Closet, has died. He was 63. According to a report from the Los Angeles County coroner's office, Kifer was found dead Oct. 16 in his residence. Friends said he had an apartment in Glendale, Calif. No cause of death was available. Kifer was with Friends throughout its 10-season run, shooting 187 of the series' 236 episodes, including the first one and the last, according to IMDb. He also did 46 episodes of Joey, the spinoff starring Matt LeBlanc. A sitcom specialist, Kifer also worked on Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show, Cybill, Men Behaving Badly, Will & Grace, Delta, Three Sisters and the 1996 pilot for Spin City. Kifer received a "reference camera technician" credit on James Cameron's Avatar (2009) and most recently worked on a February episode of Girl Meets World and a pilot for NBC. A native of Canonsburg, Pa., near Pittsburgh, Kifer attended Whittier High School in California and then San Diego State before finding work as a director and cinematographer at KPBS, a public TV station in San Diego. He was a member of the International Cinematographers Guild and the Society of Camera Operators and was an astronomy buff. Read more: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2016 From ELLE Victoria's Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes will be taking on the greatest honor at the lingerie brand's fashion show airing December 5: modeling the 2016 fantasy bra. The Bright Night Fantasy Bra, designed exclusively for VS by jewelry designer Eddie Borgo, is worth a whooping $3 million. Photo credit: Courtesy of Victoria's Secret AWMouzannar hand-crafted the piece with over 9,000 precious gems on 18-karat gold. It is handset with diamonds and emeralds in a process that took over 700 hours to complete. The total weight: More than 450 carats. Wow. Victoria's Secret shared Tookes' reaction when she got the news. It is very adorable: Tookes first walked the Victoria's Secret fashion show in 2012. Oh, how far she's come: You Might Also Like Over a thousand people have been treated for breathing problems since Islamic State set a sulfur facility ablaze near Mosul last week, as the militant group attempted to repel an offensive by Iraqi forces to drive them from the city one of their last remaining strongholds in Iraq. A toxic cloud triggered by the fire at Mishraq sulfur plant was spreading across northern and central Iraq, satellite imagery released by NASA showed. Villagers interviewed by al-Mawsleya, south of Mosul, some of whom had masks or scarves covering their faces, discussed the effects of the smoke, described as toxic, corrosive, and sometimes fatal by health organizations. People in the area affected by the smoke said it was difficult to breathe, burned their eyes and stung their noses and throats when they inhaled it, and burned any exposed wet skin as the cloud intermittently blew over the area depending on winds, Ben Kisling and Gordon Lubold wrote in a story for the Wall Street Journal on October 23. Credit: YouTube/al-Mawsleya By Ayla Jean Yackley ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Five members of Turkey's security forces and five Kurdish militants were killed on Thursday in clashes in the southeast, where unrest has flared since the arrest this week of two popular mayors. Two soldiers were killed in a clash near Hani, a town outside Diyarbakir, the region's biggest city, security sources said. A third died in a firefight near Cukurca near the Iraqi border, where five militants were also killed, they said. A soldier was killed by a homemade explosive device in Bingol, 140 km (85 miles) north of Diyarbakir, and a member of a state-backed militia was killed in Batman province to the east. Violence has escalated in the 15 months since the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) called off a two-year ceasefire, and the arrest of Diyarbakir Mayor Gultan Kisanak and her co-mayor Firat Anli late on Tuesday on terrorism charges has caused further resentment. A lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) accused the government of blocking the internet throughout the mainly Kurdish southeast after the arrests. President Tayyip Erdogan has said the removal of elected officials and civil servants accused of links to the PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, is a vital part of the battle against it. The U.S. State Department urged Turkey to "act with due restraint and respect for freedom of expression," spokesman John Kirby said late on Wednesday. "We would, again, note the importance of due process." Senior officials in the European Union, which Turkey aspires to join, described the arrests as worrying. FIRST FEMALE MAYOR The local prosecutor said Kisanak, a member of parliament before becoming Diyarbakir's first female mayor in 2014, and Anli had given speeches sympathetic to the PKK, called for greater political autonomy for Turkey's estimated 16 million Kurds and incited violent protests in 2014. Three city officials in Diyarbakir were also detained on Thursday after hanging a banner outside city hall in support of Kisanak and Anli, municipal officials said. The banner had pictures of the two politicians and read: "Respect the will of the people, free our mayors". It was later removed by police. A PKK leader urged Kurds to "rise up" in solidarity, reported Firat News Agency, a mouthpiece for the group. Rebel commander Cemil Bayik said the importance of Diyarbakir, a city of 1.7 million people, meant actions against its elected officials were attacks on all Kurds, Firat said. On Wednesday, the prosecutor invoked an emergency power to bar Kisanak and Anli from seeing a lawyer for five days. HDP lawmaker Meral Danis Bestas submitted a parliamentary motion on Thursday asking why internet service in 12 provinces had been cut since 10.30 a.m. (0730 GMT) on Wednesday. A witness in Diyarbakir reported connectivity was restored at 5 p.m. A spokeswoman at the state agency overseeing the internet was unable to comment on widespread reports of outages. The autonomy-seeking PKK took up arms in 1984, and more than 40,000 people have died in the conflict since. Renewed violence since July 2015 has claimed thousands of lives. (Additional reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler and Robin Pomeroy) BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - German carmaker Volkswagen will invest 150 million euros ($163.67 million) to build a logistics center near its assembly plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, the company said on Thursday. The logistics center will be opened in 2017 and an external partner will run it, the company said. Volkswagen exports almost all of the vehicles it makes in the Slovak factory. It produces Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, Volkswagen up!, Volkswagen e-up!, SEAT Mii, SKODA Citigo and bodies for Porsche Cayenne at its Slovak plant. It will also launch a Porsche Cayenne assembly line next year. Slovakia, the world's biggest per-capita car producer, is also home to Kia <000270.KS> and Peugeot Citroen plants and a new Jaguar Land Rover [TAMOJL.UL] plant is expected to come online in 2018. (Reporting by Tatiana Jancarikova; editing by Susan Thomas) WHITEWATER A suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of a 43-year-old man in Whitewater. Whitewater police said the arrested man is a homicide suspect, and that the murder was targeted, with no additional threat to the community. The deceased is Kenneth Myszkewicz, 43, a 1991 Burlington High School graduate. He was found unresponsive at a residence on West Peck Street early Tuesday morning. Police did not say how the victim died; the homicide remains under investigation. Wedbush's James Dix cut his rating on Alphabet (GOOGL) last month to a "sell," citing emerging competition that Google faces in search advertising. Among Wall Street analysts, Dix is on an island. Some 42 of the 46 analysts (91 percent) tracked by FactSet recommend buying the stock, while three say investors should hold on to it. The more popular view was expressed by Pivotal Research Group's Brian Wieser, who wrote this month that Google and Facebook (FB) are "unambiguously the hegemonic players in digital advertising." Wieser's $1,090 price target is the highest on Wall Street. Dix's is the lowest at $700. Alphabet shares have gained 6.5 percent this year, closing on Tuesday at $828.55. Heading into its third-quarter earnings report on Thursday, Alphabet's stock market capitalization of $562 billion trails only Apple among the world's most valuable companies. Once at risk of losing ground in the transition from web to mobile, Google has solidified its digital dominance through the Android operating system, growth of YouTube and investments in smartphone apps for maps, e-mail and photo storage. Meanwhile, Google commands over 95 percent of the global mobile search market, according to NetMarketShare, an even higher level of control than it has on desktops. Revenue probably climbed 18 percent to $22.05 billion in the period from $18.7 billion a year earlier, according to the average estimate in a Thomson Reuters survey. Earnings, excluding some items, likely increased to $8.63 a share from $7.35. Alphabet's quarterly reports offer a regular reminder of what drives the Mountain View, California-based company. While Google has held recent events promoting its cloud-computing platform , which competes with Amazon (AMZN) Web Service, and a new home-assistant device that's out to take on the Amazon Echo, advertising is still what matters for the company's financials. Google's own websites have benefited from an increase in the number of text ads shown on mobile to three from two, and the company has even been testing searches with four ads on top. Ads within maps are contributing to growth, and Google has gotten a boost this year from the Olympics and U.S. elections. Story continues Consumers shopping for sneakers, smartphones and handbags also see scrollable advertisements, called product listing ads (PLAs) on the top of the screens. "Mobile search, PLAs and YouTube are all showing strength and we believe have plenty of headroom," wrote Rob Sanderson, an analyst at MKM Partners, in an Oct. 24 report. Sanderson recommends buying the shares and has a $935 price target. The stock isn't cheap by historical standards. It's trading at 32.1 times earnings, higher than its average of 28.1 over the past five years, according to FactSet. Wedbush's Dix sees risks ahead. Search, he argues, is giving way to more targeted forms of marketing. Increased data on how and where consumers spend money means that brands can reach spenders on their devices in other ways. "Payments innovations should facilitate more seamless settlement of incentives," Dix wrote on Sept. 27. But betting against Google has been a bad strategy of late. In addition to advertising strength and investments in big new markets, Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat has been spending billions of dollars on share buybacks. Given how much cash Alphabet generates $7 billion in free cash flow in the second quarter money is plentiful. Anthony DiClemente of Nomura Securities expects more returns for shareholders. He has a "buy" rating on the stock and a $925 price target, as of his latest report on Oct. 24. "Our analysis shows that Alphabet could support a meaningful expansion of its buyback program," DiClemente wrote. Don't expect much from Alphabet's other bets all the non-Google businesses. Since creating Alphabet as a holding company last August to break out core Google from the so-called moonshots, the futuristic projects have been beset by high-profile executive departures. Craig Barrat, who ran Google's fiber unit for high-speed connectivity, became the latest to leave. Barrat announced his departure in a blog post on Tuesday, and Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, that 9 percent of jobs are being cut. Barrat also said that the unit is going to "pause our operations and offices" in cities where it's been planning to expand. Tony Fadell , creator of the Nest smart thermostat, departed that business in June, and Bill Maris , former head of the start-up investing arm GV, left the company in August. Also in August, Chris Urmson, the technology chief of Google's self-driving car project, stepped away, and just last week came the announced departure of Dave Vos, who was helping lead the drone program Project Wing. For investors, other bets are currently just expensive investments. In the second quarter, the projects collectively generated $185 million in revenue and lost $859 million. Analysts polled by FactSet expect to see third-quarter revenue of $226 million. Amgen Inc. (AMGN) is scheduled to release its third-quarter financial results after the markets close on Thursday. Consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters call for $2.79 in earnings per share (EPS) and $5.73 billion in revenue. The third quarter of last year reportedly had EPS of $2.72 and $5.72 billion in revenue. This biotech giant posted outstanding second-quarter earnings, and it remains a top stock for investors to buy. Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve peoples lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the worlds leading independent biotechnology companies, reaching millions of patients around the world and developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential. ALSO READ: 40 Countries the U.S. Government Doesn't Want You to Visit The company posted revenues above expectations and showed strong expense management in the previous quarter. It also raised guidance for revenues and earnings, and many on Wall Street think the numbers could be conservative. However, the caveat is that this stock has underperformed for the year, so buyer beware. Many on Wall Street point to the companys tremendous pipeline and outstanding forward earnings and revenue capabilities. Amgens double-digit earnings and revenue growth rate is expected to continue for the foreseeable future because of the companys very deep clinical pipeline, which includes potential blockbusters Repatha for high cholesterol and Kyprolis for relapsed multiple myeloma. Amgen also has one of the industrys deepest biosimilar pipelines, which is expected to generate upward of $3 billion in annual sales in the years ahead. ALSO READ: America's 50 Best Cities to Live A few analysts weighed in on Amgen ahead of the earnings report: Jefferies reiterated a Buy rating. Citigroup has a Neutral rating with a $172 price target. JPMorgan reiterated a Hold rating. Goldman Sachs reiterated a Buy rating with a $206 price target. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an Outperform rating with a $190 price target. Leerink Swann reiterated a Hold rating. Credit Suisse has a Buy rating with a $206 price target. Piper Jaffray has a Buy rating with a $193 price target. Morgan Stanley reiterated an Overweight rating with a $198 price target. Story continues Excluding Thursdays move, Amgen has underperformed the broad markets with the stock down about 2% year to date. Over the past 52 weeks, the number is incredibly similar. ALSO READ: 80 Most Influential Americans Over 80 Shares of Amgen were trading up over 1% at $160.81 on Thursday, with a consensus analyst price target of $189.41 and a 52-week trading range of $139.02 to $176.85. Related Articles Terry Tate, the fictional office linebacker in a famous old series of Reebok ads, got to do what many women who heard Donald Trumps lewd locker room talk probably wished they could: Knock him backward into the Access Hollywood bus. In a new spoof of the infamous 2005 tape from the comedy website Funny or Die, the character barrels into Trump shortly after he sets foot on the soap opera set, sending the real estate mogul flying. Tate then delivers a stern warning to Trump, who was on a hot mic in a conversation bragging to Billy Bush about kissing women and grabbing their genitals without their consent. You cant go around grabbing people willy-nilly, son! he says, while standing over Trump. Thats just creepy. What kind of locker rooms you been hanging around in Donny, huh? (Funny or Die) Tate then turns to Bush, who hosted Access Hollywood, to deliver a message made famous by Trump on The Apprentice. Hey, Billy Bush, he says. Youre fired. The expertly edited video which combines both real footage and a Trump-like stunt double is drawing plenty of double-takes online. According to Adweek, Reebok had nothing to do with the spot. Lester Speight, the actor who plays Tate, told the magazine that he owns the character therefore didnt need to consult with Reebok at all. Watch the full video below but be warned: It contains graphic language included in the original Access Hollywood tape. Stevie Wonder sat in with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Wednesday morning's (Oct. 25) edition of syndicated radio show "The Breakfast Club," to help celebrate the former Sec. of State's 69th birthday. In fact, Wonder -- dressed in a custom "first female prez" jacket, with Clinton's name down the sleeves --????played a moving version of "Happy Birthday," the 1981 track he wrote to help promote making Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday into a??national holiday. Wonder even included a surprise ad-lib at the end, in which he encouraged listeners: "Go out and vote!"?? "I want to wear what I believe," Wonder said before his performance, explaining his jacket. "I'm really excited to be here. I'm excited to support someone who I've??had such great love and respect for for years. It's very exciting and I think that -- truth be told -- I think we as men we have had our chance to work it out... It's time to let a woman do it." Clinton sat down with Charlamagne??Tha??God and the crew for more than 90 minutes, to??talk about??her push for common-sense gun laws, better police training,??her request that former President Bill Clinton focus on creating economic opportunities for lower-income communities should she win, as well as??being a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and making it through??the homestretch of the grueling campaign. While Wonder was customizing his song in Clinton's honor, someone else took a classic Stevie track and reworked it as a??shot at her rival, Republican??Donald Trump, with a??pointed remake of Wonder's 1974 hit "You Haven't Done Nothin'."??As reported by The Root??(where you can hear the remix), the original song --??which took aim at embattled president Richard Nixon just days before he resigned in disgrace -- was updated by an anonymous??remixer.?? "Yo, what up man? They keep talking about Donald Trump trying to push up on the black community. But you know, for black folks, Donald Trump ain't never done nothin'," a woman says in voiceover at the beginning of the song, which features the new refrain, "Donald Trump, you haven't done nothin.'" Alongside??repeated samples of Trump's plea to black voters "What the hell do you have to lose?" and bits of other controversial statements from the divisive real estate mogul,??the song also mixes in bits of speeches by President Obama, questioning The Donald's fitness to serve.?? The track is the??latest??in a late-season deluge of anti-Trump tracks from the likes of Lila Downs, Death Cab For Cutie and??El Vey, a number of which are part of author Dave Eggers' 30 Days, 30 Songs campaign. Its near the end of October, so weve put down our pumpkin-flavored snacks and drinks to share some of the best Halloween movies you can stream at home. Earlier, we shared films that are good for the whole family. Then we shared some flicks that are a little scarier but not too intense. This week, were going all in. Here are three Halloween movies that arent for the faint of heart that you can stream right now. The Conjuring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, stars of The Conjuring. (Photo: Warner Bros.) Before he became a blockbuster action director, James Wan came up as a horror filmmaker. You could watch Saw or Insidious, but were going to recommend this one. Starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, this movie was lauded for its ability to interweave tension-building shots with sudden scares. The Conjuring is available to rent on iTunes. The Ring Naomi Watts, star of The Ring. (Photo: DreamWorks) Typically, horror remakes dont go over well, but in 2002, Gore Verbinski bucked that trend with this Americanized version of a Japanese film. Starring a stellar cast of Naomi Watts and Brian Cox and featuring a score by Hans Zimmer, critics complimented its ability to capture a creepy, squeamish atmosphere. The Ring is available to rent on Amazon. Let the Right One In Lina Leandersson, star of Let the Right One In. (Photo: EFTI) Last but not least, were going to choose the original over its American remake when we suggest this 2008 Swedish horror film. Starring a cast of actors mostly unknown on this continent, this story combined dark storytelling with a genuinely moving story about friendship. Let the Right One In is available to rent on YouTube. 3 Halloween Movies That Arent Too Scary: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Thursday that either the Syrian government or Russia was responsible for a deadly air strike in Syria that hit a school and led to the deaths of 26 civilians. "We don't know yet that it was the Assad regime or the Russians that carried out the air strike, but we know it was one of the two," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. "Even if it was the Assad regime that carried it out, the Assad regime is only in a position to carry out those kind of attacks because they are supported by the Russian government." Russia said earlier on Thursday that Moscow was not responsible for the attack in Idlib. (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe and Erc Walsh; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chris Reese) Investors are always looking for stocks that are poised to beat at earnings season and Cabot Corporation CBT may be one such company. The firm has earnings coming up pretty soon, and events are shaping up quite nicely for their report. That is because Cabot is seeing favorable earnings estimate revision activity as of late, which is generally a precursor to an earnings beat. After all, analysts raising estimates right before earningswith the most up-to-date information possibleis a pretty good indicator of some favorable trends underneath the surface for CBT in this report. In fact, the Most Accurate Estimate for the current quarter is currently at $1.01 per share for CBT, compared to a broader Zacks Consensus Estimate at $0.94 per share. This suggests that analysts have very recently bumped up their estimates for CBT, giving the stock a Zacks Earnings ESP of 7.45% heading into earnings season. CABOT CORP Price and EPS Surprise CABOT CORP Price and EPS Surprise | CABOT CORP Quote Why is this Important? A positive reading for the Zacks Earnings ESP has proven to be very powerful in producing both positive surprises, and outperforming the market. Our recent 10 year backtest shows that stocks that have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better show a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and have returned over 28% on average in annual returns (see more Top Earnings ESP stocks here). Given that CBT has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an ESP in positive territory, investors might want to consider this stock ahead of earnings. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Clearly, recent earnings estimate revisions suggest that good things are ahead for Cabot, and that a beat might be in the cards for the upcoming report. Confidential from Zacks Beyond this Tale of the Tape, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CABOT CORP (CBT): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research On Monday, around 2:38 PM, thousands of women left work early and headed to Austurvollur square in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik. Punctuality mattered: They were trimming a typical 9-to-5 workday by precisely two hours and 22 minutes, or around 30 percent. Thirty percent also happens to be the gap in average annual income for men and women in Iceland; for every dollar a man makes, a woman makes 72 cents (other ways of measuring the gender wage gap in Iceland yield smaller percentages, and the gap narrows when considering men and women who do the same sort of work). Those assembled at Austurvollur shouted Ut, or Out, to discrimination against women. They were essentially saying: If I were a man, I might have earned my paycheck by now, so Im taking the rest of the afternoon off and demanding change. Women in Iceland come together to fight for equality, shouting OUT #kvennafri #womensrights pic.twitter.com/vTPFwfSoVk Salka Sol Eyfeld (@salkadelasol) October 24, 2016 Recommended: Milk Chocolate Is Better Than Dark, the End The protest put a complex issue into the simple terms of hours and minutes. Were all intimately familiar with the workday; its how many of us mark time. And we can all appreciate how early in the day 2:38 PM isespecially if youre living in Iceland and women suddenly leave offices and stores and schools en masse. One father who had to pick up his daughter from preschool before 2:38 told the public broadcaster RUV that he supported the demonstration despite the inconvenience. She should get a better salary in the future like the men, he explained, as he held his daughter in his arms. We can also easily translate the lesson across cultures. If women in the United States had staged the same protest, for example, they would have left work at 2:12 PM. In South Korea, it would have been 12:36 PM. In Pakistan, 10:50 AM. Plus, since womens-rights organizations and labor unions in Iceland have organized the demonstration in the past, we can actually measure, in minutes, the countrys advances on pay equity. On October 24, 2005, women in Iceland left work at 2:08 PM. On October 24, 2010, they departed at 2:25. Its encouraging that progress has been made. But the pace of that progress is dispiriting nonetheless. On Monday, women in Iceland left work only half an hour later than they did 11 years ago. If the same trend continues, Vala Hafstad writes in Iceland Review, not until 2068 will women and men enjoy equal pay. Recommended: Trump's 'Voter Suppression Operation' Targets Black Voters The struggle, moreover, began well before 2005. On October 24, 1975, 90 percent of women in Icelandthats nine with a zero after itwent on strike to campaign for equal rights. The BBC has more on that extraordinary day: It is known in Iceland as the Womens Day Off, and [Vigdis Finnbogadottir, Icelands first female president] sees it as a watershed moment. ... Banks, factories and some shops had to close, as did schools and nurseriesleaving many fathers with no choice but to take their children to work. There were reports of men arming themselves with sweets and colouring pencils to entertain the crowds of overexcited children in their workplaces. Sausageseasy to cook and popular with childrenwere in such demand the shops sold out. It was a baptism of fire for some fathers, which may explain the other name the day has been giventhe Long Friday. We heard children playing in the background while the newsreaders read the news on the radio, it was a great thing to listen to, knowing that the men had to take care of everything, says Vigdis. Things went back to normal the next day, but with the knowledge that women are as well as men the pillars of society, she says. So many companies and institutions came to a halt and it showed the force and necessity of womenit completely changed the way of thinking. Yet here Icelands women were, in Austurvollur square exactly 41 years later, yelling Ut. Whats most sobering about Mondays rally is that it occurred in what is arguably the most gender-equal nation on earth. Iceland has had either a female president or a female prime minister for 20 of the last 36 years. Every year for the last eight years, Iceland has finished first among 100-plus countries in the World Economic Forums annual Global Gender Gap ranking, which quantifies disparities between men and women in health, politics, education, and employment (the higher a countrys ranking, the smaller its gender disparities). Recommended: The Battle for North Carolina In its latest report, released on Wednesday, the World Economic Forum noted that while Iceland has become the world leader on measures of political empowerment and educational attainment, it has yet to close gaps in earned income and wages for similar work. (Both of these metrics are important because the gender pay gap is frequently less the result of unequal pay for equal work than of women entering different professions from men and occupying fewer high-level positions.) Iceland is still way ahead of most countries on pay equity, but it hasnt solved the riddle of how to make the workplace more just. More broadly, the report found that global progress toward economic parity between men and men has suffered setbacks in the past few yearsand that the gap might not close for another 170 years!largely because of chronic gender imbalances in salaries, labor-force participation, and representation in senior positions. Were now hitting a bit of a wall in terms of policy reforms to address these imbalances around the world, Saadia Zahidi, one of the reports co-authors, told The Guardian, and sluggish economic growth in many countries isnt helping. In The Guardian this week, Noreena Hertz puzzled over why the gender pay gap has persisted in Iceland despite the governments many policies to eliminate it, including generous paid leave for new mothers and fathers, state-subsidized childcare, and gender quotas for corporate boards. Explanations vary, she wrote, from women going into less well-paid professions, to the penalty paid for working part-time that weve found in the UK as well, to the time it takes for employers implicit gender biases to shift. That time, however, can seem excruciatingly long. As Gylfi Arnbjornsson, the president of the Icelandic Confederation of Labor, told RUV, No one puts up with waiting 50 years to reach a goal. It doesnt matter whether its a gender pay gap or any other pay gap. Its just unacceptable to say well correct this in 50 years. Thats a lifetime. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. When Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton talk about trade they each appear to envision the same target audience: a 50-year-old auto worker in Michigan or Ohio hoping his job will last until retirement. That crimped construct leaves no room for the very different perspective of someone like architect Charles Kelley in Portland, Oregon. Kelley is a principal with the global firm ZGF Architects, which has built a big business consulting with cities worldwide to help them grow in a more environmentally sustainable manner. Kelley works with about a dozen cities across six countries, with a special concentration in Asia. Portland, Kelley said, has become responsible for setting the frame for how China will look at urbanism for the next 50 years. ZGF is just one member of We Build Green Cities, a loose consortium of Portland-based engineering, architectural, and environmental science firms that consult with cities around the world to develop sustainable communities through everything from promoting renewable energy to opening bike lanes. And We Build Green Cities is just one element of a vibrant Oregon export culture that ranges from local technology start-ups, to global behemoths like Nike, to a bustling international portnot to mention the lawyers and other professionals who service all of the above. When I started, only a relatively small slice of our clients sold to the world, said Wally Van Valkenburg, a managing partner at Stoel Rives, a leading Oregon law firm. Now I cant imagine what the region would be like if we didnt have the level of trade we have [today]. The interests of places like Portland that view greater global economic integration as an opportunity, not a threat, have been almost completely eclipsed this year. Threatening tariffs and walls, Donald Trump insists that trade and immigration are undermining wages and devouring jobs (while also presenting migration from Mexico and the Middle East as a security threat). Clinton has defended immigration, but effectively surrendered to Trump on trade. Clinton has not only renounced her conditional early support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership that President Obama negotiated with 11 Asian nations, but has also refused to defend the North American Free Trade Agreement that her husband Bill Clinton signedan agreement Trump routinely calls the single worst trade deal ever approved in this country. Recommended: Trump's 'Voter Suppression Operation' Targets Black Voters From both a political and policy perspective, Clintons trade surrender makes little sense. Trade has prompted many of her worst moments across the three debates. While Trump has never appeared more confident than when hes denouncing TPP or NAFTA, Clinton has been tongue-tied. Unwilling to make the persuasive alternative case for expanding trade, she has been reduced to limply suggesting that it doesnt cause as many problems as Trump says. Not exactly a rallying cry. Clintons suspicion of trade isnt just a tactical maneuver: Veterans of the Bill Clinton administration say that internally she was always dubious about pursuing NAFTA. But her resistance to expanded trade reflects outdated assumptions about the Democratic coalition. As recently as 2004, Democratic and Republican voters were almost exactly as likely to view globalization as good for America overall, and international trade specifically as beneficial for the U.S. economy, consumers and their own living standards, according to annual surveys by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Democratic partisans are now much more likely than Republicans to view globalization and trade as a positive. But the latest Chicago Council survey, released last month, shows that Democratic partisans are now much more likely than Republicans to view globalization and trade as a positive force on all those fronts. (Over two-thirds of Democrats now say trade benefits both the overall U.S. economy and their own living standards.) That reflects the movement of blue-collar whites largely skeptical of trade into the GOP, and their replacement in the Democratic coalition by minorities, Millennials, and college-educated whites, who are all more welcoming of it. (Millennials, on pace to become the electorates largest generation by 2020, are also the most open to the world, expressing more support than their elders in the Chicago Council survey for both trade and immigration.) With Trump centering his campaign on mobilizing working-class whites, Clinton may rely even more than previous Democratic nominees on these pro-trade groupseven as she further sublimates their views. Similarly, given Trumps strength in small-town America, in all of the big swing states, Clinton will be depending on big margins in metropolitan areas where trade is generally prized; virtually all big-city Democratic mayors have backed the Asian trade deal. Recommended: The Battle for North Carolina In the Chicago Council survey, voters from all parties worry that trade can eliminate domestic jobs. That concern can be overstated: Duncan Wood, director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center, notes that NAFTA has likely saved many U.S. jobs that might otherwise have migrated elsewhere. The reason: Its encouraged an integrated North American supply chain that allows American firms to produce autos and other products at less cost overall by shifting some manufacturing to Mexico. That preserves related jobs in the U.S. If you are able to produce parts of your finished product in Mexico and lower your cost, you can increase your share of the market, Wood said. [Then] you have created more opportunity for that company at multiple levels-in manufacturing, design, marketing. Wood acknowledges that U.S. manufacturing workers who lose jobs in this exchange often are not equipped to compete for the new positions that the integration process creates. That creates an undeniable need for fresh thinking on how to connect those displaced workers with the economys new opportunities. But that necessity hardly justifies abandoning the growing global prospects lifting cities like Portland. When it comes to Americas hurtling demographic change, Clinton recognizes that the right question isnt whether to accept itsince it cant be reversedbut how to make it work. If she wins, shell eventually need to acknowledge the same about economic globalization. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. By Alister Doyle OSLO (Reuters) - Worldwide populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles have plunged by almost 60 percent since 1970 as human activities overwhelm the environment, the WWF conservation group said on Thursday. An index compiled with data from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to measure the abundance of biodiversity was down 58 percent from 1970 to 2012 and would fall 67 percent by 2020 on current trends, the WWF said in a report. The decline is yet another sign that people have become the driving force for change on Earth, ushering in the epoch of the Anthropocene, a term derived from "anthropos", the Greek for "human" and "-cene" denoting a geological period. Conservation efforts appear to be having scant impact as the index is showing a steeper plunge in wildlife populations than two years ago, when the WWF estimated a 52 percent decline by 2010. "Wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate," Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International, said in a statement of the group's Living Planet Report, published every two years. "Biodiversity forms the foundation of healthy forests, rivers and oceans," he said in a statement. "We are entering a new era in Earth's history: the Anthropocene," he said. WWF is also known as the World Wide Fund for Nature. The index tracks about 14,200 populations of 3,700 species of vertebrates - creatures that range in size from pea-sized frogs to 30-metre (100 ft) long whales. The rising human population is threatening wildlife by clearing land for farms and cities, the WWF's report said. Other factors include pollution, invasive species, hunting and climate change. But there were still chances to reverse the trends, it said. "Importantly ... these are declines, they are not yet extinctions," said Professor Ken Norris, Director of Science at ZSL. Deon Nel, WWF global conservation director, told Reuters it wasn't all bad news. "I don't speak at all about doom and gloom we do see a lot of positive signs," Nel said. One hopeful sign is a global agreement by almost 200 nations last year to curb climate change could, for instance, help protect tropical forests, slow a spread of deserts and curb an acidification of the seas caused by a build-up of carbon dioxide. And a 2015 U.N. plan for sustainable development by 2030, seeking to end poverty with policies that safeguard the environment, would also help if properly implemented. Also, some species are recovering. Last month, the giant panda was taken off an endangered list after a recovery in China. (Reporting By Alister Doyle; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) A University of Wisconsin student was charged Thursday with sexually assaulting four women as authorities field dozens of other claims and urge potential victims to come forward. Alec Cook, 20, entered a no contest plea during a hearing in Dane County Circuit Court, where his bail was set at $200,000, according to NBC News. The business major, who has no criminal history, was charged with 15 counts of sexual assault. Dozens of women who had previously been silent have accused Cook of stalking and sexual assault since he was first arrested after an attack on Oct. 12. Madison police and the UW-Madison Police Department are investigating the alleged attacks that accusers say took took place from 2015 up until this month. Authorities said he kept a journal of potential victims. In one incident, a female student told authorities that Cook touched her inappropriately at least 15 different times while the two were taking a ballroom dance class together this year. Cooks attorneys questioned the validity of the ballroom assaults and said the sexual encounters with the other four women were consensual, according to the Associated Press. Chris Van Wagner, a lawyer for Cook, on Wednesday urged the public to wait for the facts before condemning him. Keep in mind that not everything you hear is true, and that in the past few years, several grave accusations in similar cases were later proven groundless, Van Wagner said in a statement. Wingardium leviosa! Illinois-based family photographer Kayla Glover dressed up her now 5-month-old daughter Lorelai in August for what is perhaps the most magical baby photo shoot ever. Sporting rounded black spectacles, a Gryffindor scarf and an Ash wand, Lorelai is shown sitting in a black cauldron, wide-eyed, surrounded by Harry Potter books. The best part is those glasses are actually mine from when I was a teenager! Glover, 29, tells PEOPLE. I got them at a midnight release party for Order of the Phoenix in 2003 and kept them all these years, so its really full circle. Glover, a die-hard fan, decided on a Harry Potter-inspired shoot because the books resonated with her growing up and she hopes to share them with Lorelai when shes older. Need a little inspiration? Click here to subscribe to the Daily Smile Newsletter for uplifting, feel-good stories that brighten up your inbox. I just love the mixing of worlds, of fantasy and reality, she explains. Its sort of like photography in that way. Youre able to incorporate different elements of fact and fiction. Glover picked up her first Harry Potter book at the age of 10 and immediately fell in love with the wizarding world. I dont remember life without Harry Potter, it might sound weird, but its been one of my oldest friends! she says. Glover, a professional photographer at Kayla Layla Photographer, says she knew she wanted to incorporate Harry Potter into a photoshoot when she was pregnant with her daughter. I wanted it to be a part of her childhood! she says. Once she reached an age where she could hold a wand and interact with the camera, everything came together. So, Glover borrowed the wand and scarf from her 19-year-old niece, took the cauldron from her mother (an old Halloween decoration) and used her own original Harry Potter books to set up the shoot. I think the pictures resonate with people because Harry Potter is so personal to so many people, says Glover. They are magical photos. Story continues The mother plans on taking her daughter to Universal Orlandos Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida next year when she turns one. I want her to grow up in a world of magic and happiness and Harry Potter, she says. Just like I did. From Cosmopolitan Do you notice anything different about me? I asked my husband, flexing my feet and rubbing my leg against his as I slipped into my train seat next to him on our way home one evening. Without hesitation, he replied, Yes. Youre wearing really hideous Crocs. It would have been hard for him not to notice my Crocs. This particular style was a gray-and-white marble print embellished with bulbous glittery stones. These just walked the runways at London Fashion Week, I said. Thats the saddest thing Ive ever heard, my husband replied. Its true though. These very shoes had, weeks prior, walked down the runway of designer Christopher Kane. Kane presents one of the most significant shows on the fashion calendar (the major runway shows are held twice a year in New York, London, Milan, and Paris), and by significant, I mean that what he shows, people wear. If youre not one of the people who can afford his $2,400 shirtdresses, you surely end up perusing the knockoffs of said shirtdresses at Zara and Forever 21. Like it or not, Kane is a man of influence. What this means is that Crocs are about to happen. Scoff you may, and scoff perhaps you should, but I urge you to take me at my word. Photo credit: Ruben Chamorro Having never worn or considered wearing Crocs before, because theyre ugly, I wore the Crocs for a full week. And I can confirm that I am a changed woman. One who has now worn Crocs for a full week. Lucy Thornley, the vice president of product for womens and kids at Crocs, told me that Kane approached Crocs well in advance of his runway show and spent three months creating the final runway shoe. Kane, Thornley said, always knew he wanted to use the classic Croc, the most iconic silhouette the brand offers. The same marble print and stones on the Crocs featured on the clothing in his collection. The stones include malachite (modestly priced according to gemsociety.org) and druzies (inferior pieces can go for $15 to $20 while the best pieces can go for $200). The stones will not fall off the shoe because they are affixed via gibbet to those holes that come on the top of your classic Croc. Think of them as little Croc earrings. If you feel like mixing and matching your stones or taking them out all together, you can do that. Though a Croc without boil-like stone protrusions on it is like a pizza without cheese, if you ask me. Story continues Photo credit: Ruben Chamorro The shoes will be sold by luxury retailers when the spring collections go on sale in about another months time, Thornley said, though, since the final list of retailers is being finalized, she could not name specific outlets. The price will be more in line with the Christopher Kane price point than the Crocs price point. (A classic Croc will run you about $30, while Christopher Kane shoes usually range from around $550 to $900.) When I first put the shoes on my feet, I felt uncomfortable. Well, physically comfortable because thats the whole point of a Croc, but emotionally and psychologically uncomfortable. First, I was wearing Crocs, which the Cut, for one, has called 100 percent effective birth control and the worlds most reviled shoe. Second, they were glittery, heavily embellished Crocs, so there was no denying what was on my feet. When I spoke to Thornley, she wanted to know how I was finding my Crocs. Its a lot of shoe, I told her. A bigger shoe. Apparently this is what Kane was going for. You just said exactly what Christopher really liked about the clog himself, she said. He just loved the fact that it made his foot look bigger. This may mark the first time in the history of fashion that a designer has wanted to make a part of a persons body look bigger. Later I went to take the subway home, and as I approached my train, I heard a woman call after me. Sure that she would have something to say about my intense footwear, I turned around. Is this yours? she said, holding up a bracelet that had fallen off my wrist. I thanked her and accepted the bracelet, noting that here was a stranger who wasnt embarrassed to associate with me. I spent the entire week in my shoes studying the expressions of people I shared various trains with for traces of scorn or bewilderment. I detected no such judgment (my loving husband excepted, of course). Toward the end of the second day in the Crocs - the day I discovered that they look, quite unlike my Adidas Originals, thoroughly terrible when worn with my barre socks and cropped leggings - I began to feel a fondness for them. They were becoming a part of me, and not just because I had committed to wearing them for a week in the name of journalism. Walking to the train after my barre class, I passed an Ugg store on Lexington Avenue. Looking through the window, without even thinking about it, I noticed a pair of boots I liked. The Crocs were clearly changing me from the inside, inspiring warm feelings toward all kinds of footwear denounced by fashion people. The next day, I went to get my hair cut at a salon that is generally considered one of the trendier ones in Manhattan. If anyone was going to notice my shoes, it would be the staff of that salon. When my hair stylist approached me to collect me from reception, his eyes immediately went to my feet. I love your shoes, he said. I explained, seeing as I finally had a real audience for this information, that they were the Christopher Kane Crocs that had just walked the runways at London Fashion Week and they werent in stores yet. My stylist had just returned from a trip to Germany, where, he said, shoes like my Crocs - marble-print clogs - were everywhere. I think theyre cool, he assured me. Once he finished with my hair and removed my long black smock, unveiling my Crocs as though a prize on The Price Is Right, his assistant came over to say that she also loved my shoes. A stylist at the next station over joined the conversation. My Crocs had turned me into the most-talked-about person in the salon. And there were legit fashion models on the other side of the room getting their hair dyed blonde. Legs for days and flawless features they may possess - but designer Crocs? I dont think so. My husbands attitude toward the Crocs did not change over the course of the week. We had to attend an event for his family over the weekend, one that would require him to wear a jacket and me a cocktail dress. Can I wear my Crocs on Saturday night? I asked. Please dont, he said. (The first time I met his dad I wore designer sweatpants and that did not go over well.) I acquiesced and packed a flat. Saturday morning we went to buy flowers for my mother-in-law at a nice flower shop. I was wearing skinny jeans and a white T-shirt - minimalist weekend wear - and my glaringly obvious and enormous Crocs. I love your Crocs! a woman working in the shop said to me as I was choosing between a cheaper and more expensive bouquet. Was it just a coincidence that the only people enthusing over my shoes were those who I was buying goods and services from? I took the costlier of the two bouquets and gleefully reported to my husband that the woman in the flower shop loved my Crocs. At brunch, my sister-in-law said they were awesome - and its true, no matter where your feelings for Crocs lie, these Christopher Kane ones are awesome - but realistically, no one is going to come up to you and tell you to your face that youre wearing the most hideous shoes known to man. What I will say about the Crocs is this: They are a lot of look, a very strong flavor of footwear, but like any trend, eventually you get used to them and start to love them. Tons of massively popular trends start in a hopeless/hideous place: mom jeans, reflective shades, shower slides, Tevas. Its just that when a Jenner and a Hadid start wearing them everywhere, and major designers put these things on their runways, and all the people who want to get photographed outside of Fashion Week start wearing them, the ugliness becomes normalized. These Crocs are unlikely to be much different. Toward the end of my week in them, I really thought they looked, well,cool. Photo credit: Ruben Chamorro Amy is the editor of Cosmopolitan.com. Follow her on Instagram. And buy her book, Tales From the Back Row: an Outsiders View From Inside the Fashion Industry, which contains stories of more fashion experiments just like this one. You Might Also Like Move aside, Microsoft and Apple: this week it's Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi's turn to grab headlines with a new smartphone with borderless design, a phablet and a first virtual reality (VR) headset. All three are due to go on sale in China only, for the time being. Mi Mix This high-end smartphone stands out with its ceramic body designed by Philippe Starck. On top of that, the Xiaomi Mi Mix has a 6.4-inch display with virtually no bezel, covering over 90% of the handset's front face. This mobile breaks the norm in several ways, in fact, as the mechanical home button and earpiece speaker have been ditched to make more room for the display. Instead, Xiaomi offers a system called a "cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic technology" for listening to calls. This smartphone runs on the latest version of MIUI (directly derived from Android) and comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor -- as seen in Google's new Pixel -- a 16-Megapixel main camera, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of memory. At the moment, it's only available to preorder in China, for the equivalent of $669. A higher-spec version with 6GB of RAM, 256GB of onboard storage and with gold rims around the buttons, fingerprint reader and camera is also listed for $749. Mi Note 2 Although less groundbreaking, performance is still on the agenda with the Mi Note 2, a phablet that's reminiscent of the now defunct Samsung Note 7. This 5.7-inch smartphone has curved edges and a Snapdragon 821 processor. It comes with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, depending on the version, and has 22.5-Megapixel and 8-Megapixel cameras. The Mi Note 2 will go on sale in China for $549. Mi VR Glasses Xiaomi has broadened its product range even further with a VR headset. After smartphones, action cams, ultrabooks and drones, the manufacturer is moving into the realm of virtual reality with a product similar to the Google Daydream VR. This headset is compatible with all of the brand's smartphones and comes with a remote control. The Mi VR Glasses go on sale in China for the equivalent of just $38. A relatively basic VR viewer is also available for $19. - The US Coast Guard has suspended its Pacific Ocean search for star Chinese sailor Guo Chuan -- which covered an area of around 12,000 square kilometres over two days -- after rescuers boarded his drifting yacht and confirmed he was not there but found his lifejacket. Guo "was a professional mariner with a deep passion for sailing", a Coast Guard statement said, while offering its "deepest condolences" to family, friends and the sailing community. Footage showed Guo's 97-foot trimaran Qingdao China drifting across the waves hundreds of kilometres west of Hawaii. Guo, 51, became the first Chinese sailor to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2013 and is by far the country's biggest sailing star. What happened to him remains unclear. AFP With millions of Americans voting by mail this year, the hunt for a stamp has replaced the I Voted sticker as a marker of the election. But if you forget to put one onor you dont get the right amount of postageyour mail carrier will still deliver it. The U.S. Postal Services official policy is to deliver all absentee and mail-in ballots, regardless of whether they have proper postage, according to spokeswoman Sue Brennan. If theres no stamp or not enough postage, the Postal Service charges the local board of elections instead. Technically, sending mail requires postage, Brennan told TIME in an email. Voters should affix a stamp to their ballot. But, if they do not, the Postal Service will still deliver it and charge the postage to the appropriate office. That doesnt apply if youre sending your ballot from overseas or a non-Postal Service facility, where youll definitely need to attach the correct postage, however. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia allow no-excuse absentee ballots, while 20 states allow voters to request them if they have a reason. Washington, Oregon and Colorado vote entirely by mail. In 2012, more than 6 million domestic voters mailed in their ballots, while another 23 million sent them from overseas, including military bases. That number is expected to increase this year. In some counties, the ballots are long enough that the postage is more than just the usual 47 cents. In Washington states Snohomish County, voters are supposed to pay 68 cents for an oversize envelope or else return the ballot to a drop-off point for free delivery. In New Jersey, some mail-in ballots were returned this month because of a design flaw in the envelopes that caused problems with the machines that read addresses, but Postal Service policy is that ballots must never be returned because of a lack of a stamp. Story continues Some voters are also finding that putting just the right stamp on their ballot is one more way to express their feelings on this years election. Harry Potter stamps have proven popular, especially for people who want to say Im With Hermione. I've already picked out the stamp I'm going to use for my Hillary ballot: pic.twitter.com/bST9rE4Cxr Jemma Prophet (@jemmaprophet) August 1, 2016 I'm using this stamp to mail in my absentee ballot because Ron's face perfectly captures my annoyance at the process pic.twitter.com/HgkwUVAxZ8 Alexa (@alexablanton) August 20, 2016 Just dropped my ballot in the mail! And I used my last Ginny Weasley stamp in honor of fiercely tenacious girl power. #IVOTED pic.twitter.com/1i6E1E5kLb Louisa Gaylord (@Louisa_Gaylord) October 25, 2016 Deciding which Harry Potter stamp to put on my absentee ballot is one of the hardest things I've done; it has to send the right message. Katie Hudson (@Khud186) October 25, 2016 When I sent in my absentee ballot this week, I used my final #HarryPotter stamp, one of Voldemort. Interpret that as you will. #IVotedEarly pic.twitter.com/MQ0qYxmEhH Diana Meakem (@dianameakem) October 22, 2016 Gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk was another pick. I also used a Harvey Milk stamp when I mailed it in so they might not even need to look at my ballot. Tom Ceraulo (@tceraulo) October 19, 2016 Finally got a chance to use a Harvey Milk forever stamp, on the mail-in ballot I mailed in. Felt right in some small way. #IVoted Saxon (@saxonburns) October 7, 2016 One voter made a comment about Islam. Mailing in my ballot with an Eid stamp because #America pic.twitter.com/Ex3E9uFHel Rachel V (@Secretegrets) October 15, 2016 Actress Yvette Nicole Brown made a statement about Donald Trumps controversial Access Hollywood video. While others hoped to be saved from the election year. I sent in my absentee ballot with a baby Jesus stamp cause either way this election goes this country needs Jesus Shelby Morrow (@shelbymorrow10) October 14, 2016 For Immediate Release Chicago, IL October 27, 2016 Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Coal, part 3, including NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE Free Report),Dominion Resources (NYSE:D Free Report),DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE Free Report),Xcel Energy Inc. (NYSE:XEL Free Report) and American Electric Power Co., Inc. (NYSE:AEP Free Report). Industry: Coal, part 3 Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/94170/war-on-coal-continues-will-it-survive The coal industry continues to fight a very difficult battle, with challenges being flung from all quarters, domestic and international. In the U.S., declining natural gas prices, stringent regulations and additional impetus to solar and wind power generation through the extension of tax credits are steadily driving away utility operators from coal. Jittery development in key global markets and higher production countries like Australia and Indonesia, and, importantly, a stronger greenback, are making the export market fiercely competitive for U.S. coal players. The new Clean Power Plan, unveiled in Aug 2015, calls for CO2 reductions of 28% by 2025 and 32% by 2030, from 2005 levels. This is slightly stricter than the draft proposal wherein the EPA had proposed total CO2 reduction of 29% by 2025 and 30% by 2030. Utilities like NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE Free Report) andDominion Resources (NYSE:D Free Report) are investing consistently to increase their green generation portfolio. Another operator in this space, DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE Free Report) is planning to wind down its old coal-fired electricity generation units. Meanwhile, the company will add increase the share of natural gas and renewable energy in its generation portfolio in order to its carbon footprint over the long run. This stock has surpassed earnings estimates in three out of the last four quarters. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here . Story continues Failing to cope with the continuous fall in demand and declining prices of coal, some coal miners have filed for bankruptcy. The latest on this list is Peabody Energy, preceded by names like Arch Coal Inc., Patriot Coal, Alpha Natural Resources and Walter Energy. These companies tried all possible means to remain solvent, but we have to accept the harsh reality that coal demand is down and almost out. In response to the anti-carbon drive, utility operators are shutting down coal-based power plants and are directing fresh investments toward constructing natural gas facilities and adding more renewables. U.S. coal production during the second quarter of 2016 was 160.5 million short tons (MMst). This reflects a decline of 7.2% sequentially and 24.4% year over year. Per a release from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the decline in U.S. coal production is expected to continue through 2016, with output expected to tumble 19.1% or by 171.1 MMst from the 2015 levels. Here are some of the severe headwinds that the coal industry is up against: Environmental Legislations: Coal has been losing its importance as a fuel source over the last few years, particularly in the U.S., vis-a-vis other sources that are much less harmful to the environment. Concerns over the emission of greenhouse gases and global climate change have resulted in the formulation of new legislations and policies which emphasize the use of environment-friendly fuel sources, particularly in the power sector. This has considerably slowed down the expansion of coal-fired capacity in the power sector, with utility companies now building new natural gas-fired plants and resorting to alternative sources of energy generation like wind, solar and hydro power. The final version of the Clean Power Plan will ensure that coal consumption for power production in the U.S. will go down from the present level, unless the utilities pour more money to upgrade existing plants. Xcel Energy Inc. (NYSE:XEL Free Report) has already reduced carbon dioxide emissions during power generation by around 22% since 2005 and American Electric Power Co., Inc. (NYSE:AEP Free Report) has eliminated over 5,500 megawatts (MW) of coal-fired capacity. NextEra Energys unit, Florida Power & Light Company decided to purchase a 330-MW coal-based power plant with the intention of phasing it out gradually to lower carbon emission. Due to such legislative stringency, coal usage in electric generation is expected to witness a decline this year. In fact, the EIA forecasts coal consumption in power generation of 673 MMst, down 9.1% from 2015. Natural Gas Substituting Coal: A major substitute for coal in energy generation is another fossil fuel natural gas. Coal is being dumped in favor of natural gas, which due to extensive exploration and production and a shale gas boom in onshore U.S., is seeing significantly lower prices than in the past. Natural gas is usually an attractive choice for new generating plants because of its relative fuel efficiency, low emissions, quick construction timelines and low capital costs. This trend is encouraging power generators to not only convert their existing plants to gas-fired ones but to build new units. The EIA expects natural gas to contribute to 35% of the total generation in 2016, while coal represents 30%. However, in 2017, the share of natural gas is expected to dip to 34% while coals inches up 31%. Besides power generation, clean burning natural gas is being utilized in new projects in the fertilizer and chemical sectors. Competition from Alternative Energy Sources: Apart from natural gas, the coal industry has been losing a major share of its electric generation demand to renewable sources of energy. The EIA report reveals expectations of a 6.3% year-over-year increase in renewable energy consumption to 10.513 Quadrillion Btu in 2016 and a 3.7% rise to 10.533 Quadrillion Btu in 2017. These renewable additions will eat into coals share of electricity generation. Production of power from renewable sources is supported by most of the U.S. states though there is no national consensus regarding the percentage of renewables in the total energy mix. However, the Clean Power Plan will encourage energy conservation and efficiency plans, use of renewables and clean alternative technologies for lowering air pollution. The extension of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar and Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind will drive further additions in renewable generation units at the cost of coal. Making use of the government support, NextEra Energy expects to bring on-line nearly 2,4003,800 MW of new wind projects over the 20172018 timeframe. Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>. Get the full Report on NEE - FREE Get the full Report on D - FREE Get the full Report on DTE - FREE Get the full Report on XEL - FREE Get the full Report on AEP - FREE Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com/ Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NEXTERA ENERGY (NEE): Free Stock Analysis Report DOMINION RES VA (D): Free Stock Analysis Report DTE ENERGY CO (DTE): Free Stock Analysis Report XCEL ENERGY INC (XEL): Free Stock Analysis Report AMER ELEC PWR (AEP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. From Harper's BAZAAR 1) The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) One of the most famous movies to come out of German Expressionism, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari follows a Dr. Caligari, who uses hypnosis to manipulate a sleep-walking man to commit murders. Roger Ebert considered it to be "the first true horror film." 2) The Fly (1958) While attempting to build a teleportation device, a scientist accidentally transforms himself into a monster with fly-like characteristics. Entomophobes, beware. 3) Jaws (1975) In this Spielberg classic, a shark hunter (Robert Shaw), an oceanographer (Richard Dreyfuss) and the local police chief (Roy Scheider) hunt a man-eating shark off the coast of a New England beach town. 4) Children of the Corn (1984) In the small town of Gatlin, Nebraska, a devilish creature known as "He Who Walks Beyond the Rows" convinces the local children to massacre the adults in return for a bountiful harvest. Three years later, a young couple traveling through the area gets caught up in the bloodshed. Surprise: the film is based on a short story by Stephen King. 5) The Addams Family (1991) The first movie to chronicle the lives of Charles Addams' "creepy, kooky" family introduced two inadvertent style icons: Anjelica Huston's morbidly glamorous Morticia and Christina Ricci's malicious schoolgirl, Wednesday. 6) The Crow (1994) This cult classic follows Eric Draven (Brandon Lee), a man murdered alongside his fiancee the night before his wedding. One year after his death, he rises from the dead as The Crowm intent on revenge. 7) From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) Two criminals (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) on the run with a family they kidnapped (Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Ernest Liu) stumble upon a bar run by vampires and must devise a means of escape. Director Robert Kurtzman commissioned the script from Tarantino, his first-ever paid writing assignment. The film is now considered a cult classic. Story continues 8) Scream 2 (1997) A copycat killer stalks Sidney Prescott and her friends one year after the events of Scream. 9) Practical Magic (1998) Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman star as sisters who also happen to be witches-and cursed: the men they fall in love with will meet untimely deaths if the two can't determine how to break the spell. 10) Sleepy Hollow (1999) In Tim Burton's take on Washington Irving's 1820 short story, Johnny Depp plays Ichabod Crane, a policeman sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of brutal beheadings. 11) Underworld (2003) When a vampire (Kate Beckinsale) falls in love with a human (Scott Speedman) bitten by a lycan (a werewolf-the mortal enemy of vampires), she faces a difficult choice: kill the man she loves, or betray her family to save him. 12) The Amityville Horror (2005) Based on true events, this remake of a 1979 film follows the Lutz family as they move into a home which bore witness to a grisly mass murder several years earlier. 13) Corpse Bride (2005) If horror movies aren't for you, get in the holiday spirit with Corpse Bride, Tim Burton's stop motion-animated film about a young man (Johnny Depp) who accidentally marries a dead woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) the night before his wedding day. 14) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) This film adaptation of the 1979 musical of the same name stars Johnny Depp as the title character, a London barber who takes his razor to the necks of his clients as revenge against a judge (Alan Rickman) who wrongfully convicted him. Helena Bonham Carter plays Mrs. Lovett, the cook who turns the barber's victims into meat pies. 15) Monsters (2010) A photojournalist must help the daughter of his employer escape from an area along the Mexico-United States border occupied by aliens. 16) The Awakening (2012) An author (Rebecca Hall) intent on debunking ghost stories is hired by a boarding school teacher (Dominic West) to probe reports of a ghost following the death of a student. Imelda Staunton and Game of Thrones's Isaac Hempstead-Wright also star. 17) Byzantium (2012) Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan play mother-daughter vampires hiding out in a quiet seaside town-until their secret is revealed, with bloody ramifications. 18) The Pact (2012) When her sister and cousin disappear shortly after the death of her mother, Annie (Caity Lotz) begins investigating her mother's mysterious past-a search that takes a dark turn into the realm of the supernatural. 19) The Babadook (2014) Described by Stephen King as "deeply disturbing and highly recommended," The Babadook sees a single mother (Essie Davis) attempt to rid her home of a frightening monster borne from a storybook found on her son's shelf. 20) A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) A vampiress (Sheila Vand) haunts the people of Bad City, Iran, in this critically-acclaimed art-house horror film. 21) The Invitation (2015) A man's paranoia plays out at a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife and her new husband. 22) The Nightmare (2015) This horror documentary explores the unique experiences of eight different people who suffer from sleep paralysis. 23) 13 Cameras (2016) A newlywed couple expecting their first child move into a home where their landlord has installed cameras-and watches their every move. 24) Hush (2016) A masked intruder terrorizes a deaf author who lives in a secluded cottage in the woods. You Might Also Like If you booked an amazing flight deal to Iceland, or are planning a life-changing journey to the Land of Fire and Ice, youre definitely going to be flying into Keflavik Airport, a solid 40-minute drive to Reykjavik. But the odd thing about Icelands international airport is that, perhaps unlike any other, there are no domestic connections. If youre flying out of Keflavik, youre leaving Iceland. Until now, that is. Skift reported that Air Iceland, an Icelandair subsidiary, in February of 2017 it will launch regular domestic flights between Keflavik and Akureyri. Until this time, Keflavik has only ever offered infrequent summertime routes to the north. There will be three flights a week to Akureyri in the summer, and Air Iceland plans to offer six flights a week in the wintertime, when Icelands roads are regularly blocked by heavy snowfall and ice. In addition to providing a greater service for locals, the new flights could very well make Northern Iceland more popular with tourists, who typically spend their trips orbiting the Golden Circle and west toward the Snfellsnes Peninsula. In Akureyri alone, visitors to Icelands second-most populated area can take Northern Lights tours (the likelihood of capturing photographs of the aurora borealis is especially high in the north) and visit Eyjafjordur, the longest ford in Iceland. Microsoft started slow on Wednesday, but things picked up when Panos Panay took stage and showed off a brand new all-in-one desktop PC called the Surface Studio. Now, just one day later, it's Apple's turn to try to wow tech enthusiasts with its own look at the future of computing. Apple's big iPhone 7 event this past September was obviously the highlight of the year for Apple fans, and the company's iOS 10 unveiling to kick off WWDC 2016 in June was a close second. The company's October event might not have generated quite as much buzz as either of those two earlier press conferences, but Apple's Mac lineup is about to get its biggest refresh in years and fans can't wait to see what's in store. DON'T MISS: Google Pixel crushed by iPhone 7 once again in new performance test Apple's redesigned MacBook Pro is going to be the star of the show this time around, and for good reason. While the new laptop will look fairly similar to other Apple laptops from afar, a closer inspection reveals an awesome new "Magic Toolbar." This nifty new feature replaces the keyboard's top row of function keys with a long OLED touchscreen display. The display will feature 3D Touch to mimic button presses just like the home button on Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and it will also sport an integrated Touch ID fingerprint scanner for security and Apple Pay transaction authentication. The Magic Toolbar display will change dynamically to show contextual information and buttons depending on which apps are being used at the time. So, for example, the OLED screen might show Photoshop's tool buttons while the user is editing a photo, but it will switch to playback controls when Spotify is in the foreground. The MacBook Pro will come with either a 13-inch or 15-inch display, and it is also expected to feature improved specs highlighted by Intel's latest-generation processors. Thanks to a big leak ahead of Apple's October event, you can see what the new MacBook Pro and Magic Toolbar look like right here in this post. Story continues Other announcements are expected as well during Thursday's big Apple press conference, of course. Rumor has it that there won't be any new iMac computers unveiled today, and Apple's long-awaited 5K Thunderbolt display will also be a no-show. The will reportedly be refreshed MacBook Air laptops unveiled during the event though, and rumor has it we're also in store for some Apple TV news. Where the Apple TV is concerned though, it's not yet known if we'll see any new hardware (the old entry-level Apple TV was recently discontinued) or if Apple only has new software to show off. Now that you know what's in store, it's time to watch all the big announcements live as they happen. Apples big event is set to kick off at 1:00 PM EDT / 10:00 AM PDT, and there are several different ways to watch. On an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, simply click this link to open the live stream in Safari. Apple requires that you're running at least iOS 7.0 on your device in order for the stream to work. And if youre on a Mac computer, youll need to have OS X 10.8.5 or later installed and the stream only works with Safari 6.0.5 or later, not any third-party browsers. Click this link in Safari to check out the live stream. Second, third and fourth-generation Apple TVs will see the Apple Events app reappear on their home screens, and the event will be broadcast live inside that app. Last but not least, Windows 10 users can watch Tim Cook and his cohorts unveil the latest Windows rivals by clicking this link using the Microsoft Edge browser. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com Internet service providers are taking aim at the FCC today after the agency, in a 3-2 vote along party lines, adopted rules that require cable and phone companies to secure consumers permission before using or sharing data about their web use. Chairman Tom Wheeler called this a significant step to safeguard consumer privacy in this time of rapid technological change, as we adopt rules that will allow consumers to choose how their Internet service provider uses and shares their personal data. (Separately, he says that the FCC will propose rules by February to address the harmful impacts of mandatory arbitration requirements on consumers of communications services.) Cable and phone companies will have to tell customers what information they collect, how they use it and the types of entities with which they share it. People would have to opt-in to allow that data to be used and companies cant refuse to offer service to those who want to keep that information private. The rules apply to ISPs such as Comcast and Verizon but not service providers including Google, Facebook and Netflix. The Federal Trade Commission sets privacy policies for them. They do not affect government surveillance, encryption or law enforcement. The rules also apply only to residential and commercial ISPs, not packagers including the services youd find in public places such as Starbucks. RelatedFCC Fines Comcast After It Charges Customers For Services They Didnt Order But providers say that the FCC demands too much from them potentially stifling innovation. This could have been a moment for the Commission to come together and make sensible bipartisan policy, Comcast Senior EVP David Cohen said. But once again a divided FCC chose a path that unfortunately will likely do more harm than good for consumers, competition and innovation in the all-important Internet ecosystem. Cables chief trade group, NCTA The Internet & Television Association, said theres no lawful, factual or sound policy basis to justify a discriminatory approach that treats ISPs differently from some of the largest companies in the Internet ecosystem that engage in similar practices but operate under different regulatory standards. Story continues But consumer rights activists cheered the FCC decision. Although the new rules dont impose an outright ban on harmful pay-for-privacy schemes, they allow the agency to keep a watchful eye on plans that would force users to make an impossible choice whether to surrender all of their privacy just to get an Internet connection, Free Press Policy Counsel Gaurav Laroia said. Consumers Unions Senior Telecom Policy Counsel Jonathan Schwantes called the rules strong, fair and necessary as we live more and more of our lives online. Wall Street appears unfazed by the development. The data privacy rules are unlikely to materially alter economics near term for ISPs, Barclays Capitals Kannan Venkateshwar said. Still, it is tough to argue that the terminal value of cable companies is higher today than it was earlier this year, given the increasing lack of visibility on future impact of regulation. Related stories FCC Talks Up Consumer Protection Efforts After Dinging T-Mobile's "Unlimited" Plan TV Stations Lower The Threshold For Bids In FCC's Broadcast Spectrum Auction FCC Fines Comcast After It Charges Customers For Services They Didn't Order By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - A Florida man pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges stemming from his role in wide-ranging hacking scheme that generated $1.3 million through the hijacking of customer email accounts to send unsolicited "spam" messages, prosecutors said. Timothy Livingston, 31, entered his plea in federal court in Newark, New Jersey to three counts including conspiracy to commit fraud and related activity in connection with computers and access devices, prosecutors said. His plea came ahead of a trial scheduled for Nov. 14, and followed guilty pleas in June by two other men in the case, Tomasz Chmielarz of Rutherford, New Jersey and Devin McArthur of Ellicott City, Maryland. As part of a plea agreement, Livingston agreed to forfeit nearly $1.35 million as well as property he obtained using proceeds from the scheme, including a Ferrari and Cadillac, prosecutors said. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 27. A lawyer for Livingston did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prosecutors said Livingston, who owned a spam company called A Whole Lot of Nothing LLC, solicited Chmielarz to write computer programs that send spam in a manner that conceals their origin and bypasses spam filters. In pleading guilty, Livingston admitted that he also hacked into individual email accounts and used corporate mail servers to further his spam campaigns, prosecutors said. He also admitted he and Chmielarz created custom software that appropriated a corporate website belonging to a New York-based technology company in order to use its servers to send spam that appeared to be from the company, prosecutors said. Prosecutors had previously said the scheme that targeted personal information of 60 million people, including customers of Comcast Corp, where McArthur worked during the period in question. The case is U.S. v. Livingston et al, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, No. 15-cr-00626. (Editing by Alistair Bell) FRANKFURT (Reuters) - One of Germany's longest-running business court cases reopened on Thursday, with the lawyer for the plaintiffs against Deutsche Telekom urging judges to speed up proceedings as his clients were getting too old to see the results. "Plaintiffs are dying on us," lawyer Andreas Tilp told the higher regional court in Frankfurt, which has been told by Germany's supreme court to determine damages in the case first filed in 2001. More than 16,000 plaintiffs are claiming 80 million euros ($87 million) in compensation for a drop in the share price of the former state monopoly after they bought stock in a third tranche of shares to be offered in 2000. The lead plaintiff in the case - Germany's closest thing to a class action in which one person is used as an example for all the others - has meanwhile died, but this does not affect the lawsuit. About 70 percent of the 200 million shares on offer at 66.50 euros apiece in 2000 were bought by retail investors, who considered it a safe and stable investment. The public share sale, which began in 1996, was Germany's largest IPO to date. Only eight months later, Deutsche Telekom announced a write-down on the valuation of its real estate portfolio, sparking a slide in the shares, which now trade at around 13 euros. Germany's supreme court ruled almost two years ago that Deutsche Telekom failed to adequately inform potential investors buying shares in its public share offer at the height of the tech market bubble in 2000. The supreme court referred the case back to the regional court in Frankfurt, which will now have to establish whether Deutsche Telekom will have to pay damages and if so how much. (Reporting by Peter Maushagen; writing by Harro ten Wolde; editing by Jason Neely) Microsoft made several announcements concerning its intention to bring 3D technologies to everyone at its latest Windows 10 event. The firm aims to bring affordable tools to the public at large, with a range of headsets and upcoming developments for Windows. The first step in Microsoft's vision to bring 3D to everyone is to provide easy-to-use tools for capturing, creating and sharing in 3D for all Windows users. As a result, 3D will be fully integrated into a future update of the operating system (Windows 10 Creators Update), scheduled for spring 2017. The most noticeable change will be an overhaul of Paint, updating the long-serving drawing program to allow users to create and animate 3D images relatively easily, notably by transforming simple 2D drawings into three-dimensional images by means of a simple rotation tool. Office is also set to get new tools for handling 3D content, whether in Word documents or PowerPoint presentations. In addition, Microsoft is working with various manufacturers (Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo) to bring a selection of virtual reality headsets to market, priced from $299. These will bring the 3D experience to any PC running the Windows 10 Creators Update, with no complicated setup and no external camera to install. Here, Microsoft clearly isn't targeting the more elitist markets of the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, which require highly powerful computers to run. However, these products aren't expected to land until Q2 2017. As well as moving into virtual reality, Microsoft has already caused a sensation in the field of augmented reality with its Hololens glasses, allowing users to interact with virtual reality elements inserted into real-world environments. Although previously only available in the US and Canada, Hololens is due to roll out to half a dozen other countries from November 2016. As yet, this isn't a fully commercial device, however. It's primarily intended as a development kit for professionals. The firm's long-term aim is to develop applications as well as games to ensure broader appeal for the technology. Still, democratizing this kind of technology -- which is more ambitious than "classic" 3D -- will no doubt take a few more years. Nokia was the world's top mobile phone maker between 1998 and 2011 but was overtaken by South Korean rival Samsung after failing to respond to the rapid rise of smartphones (AFP Photo/Irene Stachon) (Lehtikuva/AFP/File) Helsinki (AFP) - Finnish telecom equipment giant Nokia said Thursday it has managed to reduce losses but remained in the red in the third quarter after acquiring its former rival, French-American Alcatel-Lucent. The world's former number one in handsets, which turned into a telecom equipment maker, reported a net loss of 125 million euros ($135 million) in the third quarter after a 665-million-euro loss in the previous quarter ($725 million). Thanks to the Alcatel-Lucent acquisition, the company's net sales grew by nearly 94 percent to 5.89 billion euros from 3.04 billion for Nokia alone a year before (to $6.43 billion from $3.32 billion). Nokia's chief executive Rajeev Suri described the results as solid "despite market conditions that are softer than expected". While the global slowdown in the construction of new telecom networks continues to put pressure on the company, Suri expressed satisfaction with an "excellent quarter" from the Fixed Networks business and from Nokia Technologies business unit which benefited from a recent licensing agreement with South Korean Samsung. "The results also reflect another excellent quarter from Fixed Networks, which improved both net sales and profitability from one year ago," Suri said in a statement. The company also announced that one of its long-time key members of the board, chief financial officer Timo Ihamuotila, would leave the company to take up a similar position at the Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB in Switzerland. Ihamuotila was the only Finn on the board of the company based in Espoo, Finland, and he will be succeeded by another Finn Kristian Pullola, who up until now served as a corporate controller at Nokia. Nokia said it would be squeezing out Alcatel-Lucent's last remaining shareholders, representing 4.7 percent of the shares, next week on November 2, to gain full control of its former rival. Nokia was the world's top mobile phone maker between 1998 and 2011 but was overtaken by South Korean rival Samsung after failing to respond to the rapid rise of smart phones. After selling its handset business to Microsoft in 2014, it launched in 2015 the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent, a company that had only recorded one year of annual profit since its inception in 2006. 400 types of flowers on show at Godavari Expo The 10th edition of Godavari Expo kicked off in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur on Wednesday with the aim of promoting the local flower business. Api gets nod to set up 8 solar plants Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has authorised Api Power Company to develop eight solar power projects with a combined capacity of 19.5 MW. Calais 'Jungle' children with nowhere to sleep Several hundred migrants remain inside the "Jungle" camp in Calais, BBC reporters at the scene say, despite French officials claiming the camp is now empty. CIEDP proceeds investigation with no clear law Amid uncertainty over outcome of its investigation, the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) has started corroborating prima facie evidences of the complaints. Distribution of compensation payments for Arun III starts The distribution of compensation payments for land to be acquired for the Arun III Hydroelectric Project in Sankhuwasabha district has formally started. Frost at the core Despite the fatigue setting in over the Lokman saga, I have been fascinated by what it reveals about the Nepali state and its drivers. Govt nod for ambitious SSDP The Ministry of Education has finally endorsed the ambitious School Sector Development Plan (SSDP), replacing six-year School Sector Reform Programme (SSRP), aimed at bringing about changes to school education as per the spirit of the new constitution. Indian govt formally announces Prez Mukherjee's Nepal visit The state visit of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee to Nepal has been officially announced on Thursday. Indonesia 'coffee killer' trial: Jessica Wongso found guilty of murder A woman accused of murdering her friend by slipping cyanide into her coffee has been found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in jail by an Indonesian court, in a case that gripped the country. Ministry urged to sign PDA, PPA simultaneously The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has urged the Energy Ministry to conclude the Project Development Agreement (PDA) and the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydroelectric Project simultaneously so that its implementation can be expedited. Off the rails? Unlike Kathmandu, the situation in other districts of Nepal, surprisingly, looks quite different from the conflict victims perspective.Off the rails? Public holidays during state visit by presidents of India, China The government has declared public holidays during the upcoming state visit to Nepal by the Presidents of India and China. Secy-level talks set tone for todays JC meeting The foreign secretary-level talks between Nepal and India on Wednesday in the Indian capital dwelt on a wide range of bilateral issues. Taxi receipt system to be implemented in Valley Cab drivers in the Kathmandu Valley will be required to provide taxi receipts to their passengers under a pilot project the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) plans to launch in a bid to prevent travellers from being ripped off. The long wait The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has repeatedly and justly been criticised over the previous year for delays in the post-earthquake reconstruction process. Top leaders decide to work in unison The last time major parties were singing in chorus was in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake last year when they were in a rush to promulgate the constitution. Visakhapatnam Port finally opens for Nepali business Traders can finally import third-country goods using Visakhapatnam Port in India, as Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank, has allowed banks to issue letters of credit (LC) to bring in cargoes using the seaport in Andhra Pradesh. Offer a personal message of sympathy... You'll find individual Guest Books on the page with each obituary notice. By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. . From a Guest Book, you may log in with your Google, Facebook, Yahoo or AOL account to leave a message. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that. Otherwise, it's simple to create a new one by clicking on the Create "Sign up" button and following the simple steps on the Sign Up page. The city Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been urged to desist from politicizing matters of street vendors. This follows recent clashing between Lukwago and the minister for Kampala Betty Kamya over the street vendors. Speaking to Kfm the deputy executive director of the Uganda Media Centre Col Shaban Bantariza says Lukwago should instead work with government in bringing order to the city rather than riding on populism. Lukwago had proposed that government finds an alternative place for the vendors before evicting them from the streets. The city council in a meeting held earlier this week chaired by the Lord Mayor resolved to allocate some streets for vendors to operate from. Government has been asked to build more workshops for the existing technical and vocational institutions. The call was made by the chairman Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board Prof Venansius Baryamureeba while touring Lugogo and Nakawa vocational institutes today. He argues that this will equip students with competence based skills given the increased interest in vocational training. He explained that currently Kisubi, Nakawa and Lugogo vocational institutes have about 1500, 8000 and 1200 students respectively, yet structures and equipment have not been increased. By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS In early October, Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haiti. Torrential rains and high winds devastated parts of the already impoverished island, creating a humanitarian nightmare not seen since the 2010 earthquake. The storm which killed over 550 people has affected nearly two million people causing dislocation, food and clean water shortages, and triggered an outbreak of Cholera. Yet, humanitarian aid was quickly on the way from UN relief agencies and the USA, Canada, and European donors. Haiti's interim President Jocelerme Privert warned, Hurricane Matthew has left destruction on an apocalyptic scale. Tragically in the midst of a humanitarian relief visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the ravished island, mobs attacked UN aid convoys near Les Cayes. A shaken Secretary General conceded, "We understand the impatience and the anger of the population who are waiting for emergency relief. We are doing all we can to facilitate the arrival of the assistance as soon as possible." Haiti is a land stricken by a heart breaking and cruel combination of corruption, dangerous political infighting, and cyclical natural disasters. The 2010 earthquake caused 220,000 deaths and untold destruction. The recent Hurricane was but a tragic reminder of Haiti's vulnerability. According to Haiti's Ministry of Interior, more than 19% of the Haitian population,two million persons, has been affected by the hurricane and more than 12% or 1.4 million persons, are in need of urgent assistance in different departments of the country, most specially in the South. The UN's Humanitarian Country Team in Haiti, in close coordination with the Government of Haiti, has appealed to the international community for US $120 million in emergency funding to provide life-saving relief to Haitians affected by the Category 4 Storm. According to UN relief agencies, this emergency funding is needed "to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs of 750,000 people, including 315,000 children, for the next three months." David Pressman of the U.S. UN Mission stated, "Haiti needs assistance as soon as possible, and it is up to all of us to contribute." The U.S. made $1.3 million available for recovery efforts but this was a first step. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has published urgent Situation Reports outlining the specific needs for affected regions. The document lists areas of response in clean drinking water, emergency food and shelter for people primarily on Haiti's long narrow southern coastline. In addition to the humanitarian needs, over 300 schools have sustained severe damage. Thirty- four Cholera treatment centers have been destroyed, this at a time when the island faces up to 1,800 suspected cases of the disease. Flooding and infrastructural damage are widespread. Member States and donor agencies are slowly responding to the appeal but the needs are increasingly urgent. Of the $120 million requested only $26 million has been funded. Sadly part of this underwhelming response comes from the donor fatigue where a plethora of global crises both from conflicts and natural disasters have swamped the international community and dulled the collective senses to respond. Addressing the Haitian humanitarian crisis, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated bluntly "People who before had little, now have nothing." The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has slated more than $12 million in additional humanitarian aid to help communities affected by Hurricane Matthew. With this funding, the U.S. is providing nearly $14 million for immediate Hurricane relief efforts in Haiti, as well as in Jamaica, and The Bahamas. Canada is contributing more than $2 million. Japan is giving $3 million. Aid given through a maze of private charitable organizations and church groups is not yet calculated. Ironically, besides triggering a natural disaster, Hurricane Matthew also disrupted the final days before Presidential elections were due to be held. "The decision to postpone elections was unfortunate but understandable," advised Britain's delegate Matthew Rycroft, adding "Democracy was essential for Haiti's path forward." Ambassador Joao Valde de Almeida of the European Union told the Security Council, that Haiti was in a state of great fragility. Political and institutional stability was an urgent necessity for the country. A period of uncertainty persists and observers are calling for elections to be held at the earliest possible date. The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH ) has been on the ground since 2004. Forces stand at 5,000, approximately half military and half police. This UN presence will provide a modicum of security in an already very dangerous situation, now and in the run to the planned elections. Haiti needs help now! The top American intelligence official's remarks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program are creating a stir. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Tuesday, U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper said the notion of persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons was a "lost cause.'' "The best we could probably hope for is some sort of a cap (on the North's nuclear capabilities),'' the former U.S. Air Force lieutenant-general said. This was taken as meaning that Washington may feel the need to acknowledge Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal and choose to set the freezing of the nuclear weapons as a policy objective. But Clapper's remarks clearly contradict the policy goal of South Korea and the U.S. of denuclearizing the reclusive North. In response to a question about Clapper's comments, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that "only by negotiation and consultation can the nuclear issue be brought back to the track of settlement.'' Even so, that Clapper, who oversees 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, officially raised the need to change the policy toward North Korea must be heeded. Clapper's comments reflect America's more realistic assessment of Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities. As he pointed out, it is widely believed that North Korea would never give up its nuclear weapons. And the North is moving closer to having nuclear-tipped missiles through two nuclear tests and over 20 ballistic missiles launches this year. True, few believe that sanctions alone will thwart the North's nuclear ambitions. The stark reality is that the hostile regime in Pyongyang has been upgrading the North's nuclear capabilities. So it is tempting to alter the policy toward North Korea's weapons of mass destruction from "no tolerance'' to "freezing.'' Should Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton be elected, the next U.S. administration may drop Obama's "strategic patience'' and seek dialogue with the North. The recent so-called Track 2 discussions in Malaysia between former U.S. diplomats and North Korean officials may also signal a possible shift in American policy. The most important thing here is whether our diplomats are well prepared for America's sudden policy change. They must be on high alert, keeping a close watch on possible changes in Washington's North Korea policy. South Korea has no reason to be too rigid concerning the North's nuclear issue, bound by the current goal of denuclearization. Depending on the circumstances, it's possible to consider freezing the North's weapons program as an intermediate goal. But Seoul cannot afford to let Washington change its policy toward the North without consultation. No Yes, a light case Yes, two or more light cases One serious case Two or more serious bouts Vote View Results State assembly representative Steve Doyle joined Republican challenger Julian Bradley on the stage at the Marie W. Heider Center for the Arts in West Salem Oct. 20 for their first head-to-head debate. The event was organized by West Salem senior Nick Schultz, who's interest in exploring a future in politics lead him to dedicate his senior exit project to putting the political system to work. Instead of an audience of undecided voters, the candidates were speaking to the entire West Salem High School student body, the vast majority of whom wont be eligible to vote in this election. Also in the audience were a few dozen interested community members. Unlike the recent presidential debates, both Doyle and Bradley remained civil, often pointing out each others differences if only to differentiate their similar stances on issues. The questions were delivered by Schultz and moderated by University of Wisconsin-La Crosse professor Joe Heim. The questions were drafted by students during their social studies classes and selected for the candidates by Schultz and Heim prior the debate. The majority of these questions centered around education and the issues currently facing Wisconsin. The first question up for discussion went first to Steve Doyle on the issue of college affordability. The candidates were asked to address how, if elected, they would make college more affordable. The important thing about college is you have to make the best choice for what is right for you, Doyle said. The important thing is when you get done is you enter the workforce, you enter your livelihood with the ability to pay for it. Doyle said when he went to college, the grants and scholarships available to him were enough to cover the cost of his undergraduate degree. Your situation when you go to higher education will be much different, he said. Doyle said the tuition freeze has helped keep tuition affordable for students, but it isnt enough and it isnt a permanent solution. We have to look at other options because we cant freeze tuition indefinitely, Doyle said. We have to return to the days when college was accessible because it was either free or low-cost to you. Bradley said as a nontraditional student, he experienced first-hand the struggle of finding a way to pay for college. I also graduated from UW-L, Bradley said. I went on a much longer path because after I graduated high school, I knew college was expensive and I needed a way to pay for it. Bradley explained how he went directly into work force, establishing himself before returning to school again only a few years earlier. I wanted a four-year university degree, but not everyone has to get that four-year expensive degree, he said. There are great high-paying jobs that come from a technical school. Bradley said he watched the cost of attending college increase rapidly over the past few years. From the time I graduated high school in 1999 until I graduated college, tuition in the UW system went up well over 100 percent, he said. Thats not sustainable. Thats not fair to you, thats not fair to your family, thats not fair to anyone who is trying to pay for college. Bradley said he would have supported a recent bill that would have allowed taxpayers to deduct a larger percentage of interest accrued on student loans. My opponent voted against that bill, he said. I would have voted for that. Bradley and Doyles responses set the mood for much of the debate. On the majority of questions, the candidates agreed with each other on the issues, but their methods for addressing them often showed a bias toward toeing the party line. The issue of education, as well as transportation, continued in the second question in which the candidates shared their top priorities for the next state budget. Both candidates said education and transportation were at the top of their lists for the next state budget. Our top priorities are going to be education, Bradley said. I have gone on the record, as your assembly man when we negotiate the budget if there is not an increase for K-12 funding, I will vote against that budget. I have no problem doing so, he emphasized. That is how important making sure we have more money into these institutions into our public schools is to me. Bradley said he wouldnt neglect the UW system, either. He said he wants to make sure people can get a quality education, graduate and find a quality job working in Wisconsin. So often, people will get a great education here and then they leave to search out other jobs, Bradley said. We want to focus on jobs and the economy. He said the second thing he would focus his attention on is transportation. We have to fix transportation, Bradley said. On top of that, we have to fight the rising cost of healthcare and roads. Bradley criticized Doyle for trying to fix these issues by raising taxes. My opponent favors just raising the gas tax, Bradley said. I think we need to hold off, all options need to be on the table before we go to raise taxes. Doyle said the same issues were his own priorities for the next state budget. My two priorities would be the same, although I look at them differently than Mr. Bradley does, Doyle said. I strongly support education. He said the K-12 education system has become under-funded, losing millions of dollars in state aid, but school districts have still had to make due. If you look at the school districts in my state assembly district, they have lost $10 million in state funding over the past five years, Doyle said. He said that money would have gone toward improving the quality of buildings, attracting quality faculty, and offering better course options to students. Doyle said that in talking to the various superintendents in his school districts, he hears constantly that they have to make due with less and less of what they used to have. Doyle said while the state has given more money to schools, they havent been able to use it do to strict revenue caps. We hear some talk that while the state gave more money to schools in this last budget, which really is not quite accurate, he said. When money comes in from the state it (aid) goes up a little bit, then property taxes go down, which is good for property taxpayer, but it doesnt leave any more money in the school. Doyle said the assembly needs to find a solution so schools do not need to ask property owners for more just to run the school. He said that of all the places schools receive funding including income, sales and property taxes, asking for more money from property owners is the worst solution. When a referendum passes, that money comes from your property taxes and your parents will tell you thats the worst tax, as far as they are concerned, Doyle said. "We need to put more money into education. Doyle said transportation is also an important issue to him. Transportation is important consideration for me, he said. As a board member, which is another job that I have, I have seen how much money we have coming in from the state and how much it has been reduced in the past few years. Doyle said at this time, La Crosse County has approximately $61 million in unmet needs, but only $2.4 million in funding to spend on those needs. $61 million but only paying $2.4 million per year, we are never going to catch up, he said. Bradley said he didnt think the state could solve these problems without penalizing people by raising their taxes. He said that Doyle made a point by pointing out how much education funding has been lost in the past five years, but said despite these losses, Wisconsin schools have continued to grow. If you go to the DPI website, thats where I got all my facts and figures, you can see there has been an increase in education, Bradley said. We want to keep that education continuing. Bradley also touched on the transportation issue. He said transportation is going to be a topic of discussion for the foreseeable future. One of the staggering facts about the department of transportation budget is that only 16 percent of that budget goes into local roads, Bradley said. That is not nearly enough; local roads are what we mostly drive on out here. Continuing the education theme already established in the first two questions, the candidates were questioned as to whether they supported the expansion of the voucher system. Doyle, who attended Aquinas High School in La Crosse and later sent his children there, said he opposed any expansion of the voucher system. I live in the Holmen School District. It is a great school district. Donald Trump would say its a huge school district, Doyle said. We didnt not send our kids to public school because we thought there was anything wrong with them. We wanted, simply, to have our girls get a Catholic education. He said when he sent his children to Aquinas, he never expected taxpayers to have to fund that decision. I paid my own way though Aquinas starting my freshmen year; I never expected the taxpayers to pay for that choice of mine, Doyle said. We cant afford to pay for two school systemsa public school system and a private school system. He said he has strongly opposed the voucher system in the past. The way that it works is, if I want to send me kids to a private school, Doyle said, I can take money that would otherwise have gone to West Salem School District, and can say I am going to take that money and send my kids to Aquinas. He said it is great for the parents and their kids, but it is a detriment to the public schools that are losing money because of that choice. What about you people here who are going to the public school system where that money is now coming out of your school and going to another school? Doyle said. That isnt fair. Doyle said it isnt about having the option for parents to send their kids to a private school or any other public school, it was about taking money out of the public school system. If we start to suck money and resources out of that, we are hurting our community, he said. I think that its the wrong approach to take. Bradley argued that while he isnt the biggest fan of vouchers, he saw their purpose. He described the Milwaukee Public School District, which was turned around thanks to a massive investment of money and the voucher system which allowed students who wanted to succeed to attend private schools. There were more than 50 schools that had a population that was more than 80 percent minority and more than 80 percent living below the poverty line, Bradley said. Of those 50 schools, their reading comprehension was below 8 percent. There were two more schools that had not a single student proficient in math. Bradley said the situation in western Wisconsin was different, but it was no less important to ensure students can learn in quality school. He said the voucher system allows students to do just that. In western Wisconsin, we are lucky, especially here in the 94th District, we are very lucky. Our schools here are fantastic, you guys are getting a great education, Bradley said. Other schools in this area arent so lucky. Bradly criticized Doyle for his stance on vouchers. Steve was just talking about how he doesnt like vouchers and it isnt fair, but just recently said he supports vouchers in the Milwaukee/Racine area, Bradley claimed. I support a statewide expansion of vouchers into any district where schools are failing. He said it isnt fair to tell a parent whose student is attending a failing school they have to pay to attend a passing school. Not everyone can pay for that opportunity. We need to make sure we are taking care of those kids and vouchers allow them to get out of those schools that are failing and into a better one, Bradley said. Doyle responded by clarifying his position on the voucher system. He said that he had supported the voucher system in the Milwaukee schools because they were failing. I supported that for many years because it was a different situation than the rest of the state, Doyle said. But we dont have failing schools in western Wisconsin. He said that if students dont like the school, they can move to another public school. His issue was with taking money out of public schools to put it in the hands of private schools. Where the candidates differed the most was on the issue of whether they supported their partys presidential nominees. Doyle quickly came out in support of the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. No candidate is perfect, Doyle said. Hillary Clinton has some baggage that some people in my party are concerned about. Doyle said if he looked back at best presidency during his lifetime, it was during Bill Clintons eight years in office. During his eight years as president, he had personal issues, no doubt about that, bad guy in that respect, but we had eight years of peace and prosperity, Doyle said. When he was president, you were getting a two-for-one deal. You got Bill and Hillary, too. Now it is the reverse. He said Hillary Clintons experience sets her apart from other politicians. She is the most qualified person to ever run for president, Doyle said. I think she will make a really good president. Bradley, on the other hand, avoided the question. He said he had not endorsed any candidate for president, and that after his first run, he is focused on ensuring voters know who he is and not who he stands behind. I have remained very consistent, Bradley said. I have not endorsed anyone. He said earlier in his career when he ran for state superintendent, he didnt do enough to stand out from the pack. I didnt do enough to stand out and stand up as myself, Bradley said. It is very important to stand up tell people what my beliefs are. He said it was important that people saw him as a representative of their interests and not a figure of a larger party system. I want people to know why they should vote for me, Bradley said. Following the debate, the auditorium was opened up for students and community members to get out and meet the two candidates. Both Bradley and Doyle took photos with students and discussed policies covering the gamut of the political system. I thought both candidates did tremendous jobs. They gave a platform that they stuck with, Schultz said. I think they made a good appeal to voters who care about the educational system. He said he put a lot of work into making the debate happen and hed expected something to go wrong. I am still waiting for something to go wrong. Not too bad of a fight out there, Schultz said. I think everything was completely worth it. He said it was an experience that he will not soon forget. Schultz said he felt it was still too early to say whether he would pursue a career in politics. The La Crosse County Board voted 18-9 Oct. 20 to form a joint library commission proposed by board Chairwoman Tara Johnson to study a possible merger of the city and county library systems. That means there are two competing processes approved to look into a library merger, the countys commission, which would involve more community participation in the process and take up to a year, and the streamlined one approved proposed by Mayor Tim Kabat and approved by the La Crosse Common Council that would involve having city, county and library staff members negotiate a merger deal. Kabat has proposed shifting $3.5 million in city library costs to the countywide tax rolls, with the city retaining a separate library tax to cover the cost of keeping the archives and the north and south branch libraries open. At last weeks meeting, County Administrator Steve OMalley said that move would result in the largest annual county levy increase in history and bump the county tax rate from $3.89 per $1,000 in equalized property value to $4.30, using 2016 budget figures as a base. Under Kabats proposal, the average city of La Crosse taxpayer would see a net reduction in taxes of $40, according to OMalleys rough calculations, while the average county resident outside the city would see a $118 hike in taxes. OMalley also shared some other research he had done focusing on the high cost of the city library system. Looking at 2014 figures on the state Department of Public Instruction website, OMalley noted that the city librarys $5.1 million costs in 2014 ranked fifth highest in the state, behind Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and Kenosha and had per capita spending of $85.23, more than twice the average per capita cost ($42.65) of nine other similarly sized Wisconsin cities. La Crosse is the only one of those cities with three library buildings; Fond du Lac has two and all the others have just one. He also noted that the city library system has the equivalent of 57.1 full-time employees, more than 40 percent above the average of 40 FTE for the other nine equivalent cities. Theres a stark difference, OMalley said. I think it gives us pause as we walk into the discussions were about to have. Kabat has maintained that the city library system has become a regional resource, arguing that 20 percent of the people who check out materials over-the-counter at the city libraries come from county municipalities outside La Crosse.Its clear that our library is a regional library. We see that from usage and who participates in programs and checks out materials and everything else, he said. The city in each of the past two years asked the county for $219,000 for library expenses, and this year, OMalley noted, the city is asking for $3.5 million. Of course, La Crosse taxpayers would be on the hook for a large chunk of that $3.5 million as they would have to pay county library taxes, too. They dont now, despite about 10 percent of the users of the county library system coming from the city of La Crosse. No county board members commented on the merits of shifting a major chunk of library costs to county taxpayers outside the city, but a majority wanted to look further into the myriad questions involved in the county taking over the city library system. Board member Mike Giese proposed postponing a vote on the joint library commission. I just wonder if moving forward in this way doesnt add to the confusion, he said. Several other board members argued against putting off a decision. This issues going to come up again and again, board member Ralph Geary said. This may take longer than Ive been on the county board. ... Id like to know the answers to these questions, and if we postpone it nothing gets done. Board member Patrick Scheller agreed, saying the county is not committing itself to anything by discussing the possibilities. Theres nothing to be gained by putting our heads in the sand and ignoring it, he said. Gieses motion to postpone the vote on the joint library commission failed 16-11. Neither Johnson nor Kabat was entirely certain what the next step would be. Johnson asked board members to forward names of people theyd recommend for the joint commission, which also would have members appointed by Council President Dick Swantz. Johnson didnt know if the city would follow through and appoint members. The county remains committed to a community-engaged process, Johnson said. That is definitely our preference for moving forward on this. ... We dont have a library problem. We are more than willing to work with the library boards and the city to come up with a community plan for what libraries look like, but its because it sounds like the city needs some help. Kabat suggested it might make sense for the next step to be to have the city and county library boards get together and discuss a potential process. Im hopeful that theres a way to bring the groups together to lay out a process for moving forward, he said. New counsel The board also approved Megan DeVore as the new corporation counsel, replacing Dave Lange, who is retiring. DeVore, who started working for the countys legal department in February 1998, has been deputy corporation counsel for about five years. She grew up in Middleton, and did her undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, double majoring in theater and communication arts: research and theory. She moved to La Crosse County after graduating from UWs law school in 1995. DeVore interned with the public defenders office in La Crosse while in law school, and before starting with the county she worked at the city of La Crosse and in private practice. The countys legal department expanded to four attorneys this summer, and DeVore expects to hire another attorney in early 2017. Pay hike The board approved a new contract with the sheriffs deputies, the last group of county employees that has full collective bargaining rights after the passage of Act 10 in 2011. The contract for the 28 deputies includes across-the-board wage increases of 1.5 percent as well as a market adjustment of 1.5 percent on Jan. 1 and another 1.5 percent increase a year later. The countys proposed budget, which is up for approval in mid-November, also includes 1.5 percent pay increases for other county employees for 2017. In a mindboggling trick, some magicians levitate themselves. But remember, the key word in magic trick is trick. And magicians arent the only ones performing. Scott Walker, for example, is quite the political trickster. This right-wing extremist became so unpopular in his first term as Wisconsins governor that he faced a recall election in 2012. Yet, he seemed to rise in front of our very eyes, miraculously lifting himself above the publics anger to avoid defeat. Howd he do that? As reported by The Guardian, some 1,500 secret emails, court testimonies, and financial records were recently uncovered, revealing that Walker had a hidden lifeline of corporate cash hoisting him up. Despite a Wisconsin law specifically prohibiting corporations from funding political candidates, millions of those banned dollars were pumped into the governors campaign. The trick is that corporate checks were sent to supposedly independent political outfits that thanks to the Supreme Courts ridiculous Citizens United decree are allowed to take unlimited campaign funds from corporations without disclosing the names of the donors. This is all provided that the independent groups dont in any way coordinate their electoral efforts with the campaign of the candidates they want to elect. Even when obeyed, this farcical rule essentially sanctions organized corporate corruption, but Walker and company didnt even try to follow the rules. Rather, the governor asked everyone from the Koch brothers to Home Depot to Donald Trump to funnel checks to the independent political groups backing him. Walker wrote personal thank-you notes to the donors, and even had his media strategist handle the ads for both his campaign and the groups. Scott Walker, his front groups, and his corporate donors arent a magic act theyre debouched thieves, stealing our democracy to impose their plutocracy over us. The cats out of the bag. The story of a local World War II code talker will be revealed at the Holmen Area Historical Societys November meeting. Alvin Blackdeer, a Brice Prairie native son, was a member of a team of Ho-Chunk language speakers who served in the South Pacific. Blackdeers daughter, Barb Blackdeer-Mackenzie, will share her fathers story at the societys November meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Holmen Village Hall. The society generally devotes its November meeting to stories about the service made by the countrys veterans. A few years ago, the Native American code talker program was declassified. Serving in the war as a boatswains mate in the Navy during WWII, Blackdeer was one of the Ho-Chunk code talkers who communicated ship-to-shore tactical battle communications. The enemy was never able to decode the messages sent by the code talkers using the encrypted means. Blackdeer served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-48 in the South Pacific and received the WWII victory medal and South Pacific Theater medal. Since the code talker program was declassified, the U.S. Congress has issued a gold medal to the Ho-Chunk Nation honoring the men who served in the program, and the Blackdeer family is anticipating receiving Blackdeers posthumous medal soon. Even so many years after his passing, I am still getting to know and understand him, Blackdeer-Mackenzie said. He made incredible sacrifices many of us will never understand for our family to thrive as we have. To think of the life and times he lived, enduring racism, having his religion outlawed until 1978, as just a couple of examples. He was an amazing man and definitely my hero. After the war, Blackdeer returned to the area and remained a lifelong resident until his death in 1988. He was a lifetime resident of the area, known for his community-mindedness, having promoted his culture, supported veterans needs, involved himself in community, and participated in local politics, Blackdeer-Mackenzie said. In promoting the Winnebago culture, Blackdeer participated in numerous events, including many appearances at area schools, where he sang, danced and showed examples of Native American artifacts and handicrafts. Blackdeer was a La Crosse County Sheriffs Deputy for 11 years and an Onalaska constable. Blackdeer also served two nonconsecutive terms on the Onalaska Town Board (1968-72 and 1981-86). He worked for Burlington Northern Railroad, where he started as fireman and worked his way up to engineer. He was honored in 1959 with the International Safety Award from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers for his part in stopping a train he was on when the engineer died at the controls. In Madison, then Gov. Gaylord Nelson presented the award at a banquet held in Blackdeers honor. A 41-year member of the Holmen American Legion Post, Blackdeer was a former national committee man on the Legions law enforcement committee, a member of the La Crosse County Voiture 40 et 8, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Thomas Rooney Post 1530 and Disabled American Veterans Post, La Crosse Chapter 12. He was also commander for the Winnebago Veterans Association several times. In 1960, as commander of the Winnebago Veterans Association, he participated in the dedication of the Red Cloud marker and shelter house in La Crosses Red Cloud Park. The park was named in the memory of Cpl. Mitchell Red Cloud, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for bravery in Korea in 1950. While commander for the Winnebago Veterans Association, he led the Wisconsin state American Indian veterans contingent in the Dwight Eisenhower Inaugural Parade in 1953. During the 1960 presidential campaign, Blackdeer made candidate John F. Kennedy an honorary chief. A follower of the traditional Ho-Chunk religion, Blackdeer was buried in traditional Ho-Chunk ways at Decorah Cemetery in Black River Falls. The Holmen Area Historical Society meetings are free and the public is welcome to attend. For more information about the society or the November program, email president Hannah Scholze at hscholze@centurytel.net. The La Crosse County Health Departments lab is now certified to test well-water samples for arsenic, which should mean quicker answers for concerned residents as well as cutting the cost of arsenic tests by a third. This summer, the county installed a $51,000 atomic absorption spectrometer in the lab after winning a highly competitive grant from the Centers for Disease Controls Safe Water Program. Only four other county health departments in the country qualified for the grant, which gave the county $131,853 this year and could mean a total of $659,000 in funding if the county wins grant renewal for the next four years. The grant aims to promote public awareness about well testing and protecting well water, with a focus on arsenic, nitrates and coliform bacteria in a five-county area that also includes Trempealeau, Jackson, Monroe and Vernon counties. The hope is more people will get private wells tested for these substances. The spectrometer can test for all sorts of metals, including lead, but arsenic is of particular concern in La Crosse County because of high readings from wells in the towns of Shelby and Greenfield, with one well testing at 20 times the level of arsenic considered safe in drinking water. In the past, the county had to send water samples to a private lab to be tested for arsenic, and the test cost residents $46. Now the test will cost $29. Arsenic exposure is linked to bladder, liver, lung and skin cancers in adults, and children who are exposed to arsenic have an increased risk of lung cancer and respiratory problems later in life. Its estimated that arsenic contributes to 1,000 deaths a year. Most arsenic in drinking water comes from underground deposits of the metal, but there have been cases in which it has migrated to groundwater in former apple orchards, where arsenic was used as an insecticide into the 1950s. Jim Steinhoff, who manages the county health departments lab operation, hopes residents will take advantage of the countys new testing abilities. The county aims to create a map that shows arsenic levels based on the tests, and the more people who get their water tested, the better the picture that map will provide. The School District of Onalaska officially certified its 2016-17 local tax levy Oct. 24 and the taxpayers will end up saving even more than originally anticipated. At the school boards Oct. 10 meeting, the levy was projected to be set at $18,071,209 a 2.63 percent decrease from last year and about $10 for every $1,000 in taxable property. But the school board managed to squeeze even more out of the levy between the last meeting and last week as official state aid estimates and pupil head-counts were squared away, in the mean time, as Director of Finance and Business Kent Ellickson said. The official certified Onalaska School District tax levy will be $17,930,992, which equates to a 3.4 percent decrease from last year and $9.89 per every $1,000 in taxable property. The extra savings comes from even more state aid than anticipated. It was conservatively estimated that the district would receive $874,000 in state aid, but it actually received just over $1 million The district chose to take the pressure off the taxpayers as a way to say thank you for the referendum the citizens voted on five years ago, which gave the district more operating cash over a five year span. Student assessments The board spent most of the nights meeting looking at all of its student assessments from last year to evaluate district performance and set goals as the 2016-17 year settles in. The data presented by Roger Fruit, the districts Director of Instructional Services, provides a detailed, school-by-school analysis of how employees can create a Professional Learning Community (PLC) that focuses on assessing the needs of individual students. This annual data analysis, completed by teams at each school in the district, is more of a 30,000-foot view of student assessment, as Fruit said. Instead of merely looking at the results of one test (the ACT, FORWARD, or STAR assessments, for example), these teams look at all assessments done throughout the year to get a better idea of how students grasped particular material and gained proficiency as the year went on. Board director Tim Smaby summed up the data best. If anybody wants to know why were doing what were doing and what were focusing on and how were improving, this is it, he said. The report listed things to celebrate and things to improve for each school in the district. Heres a breakdown on the data school-by-school: Onalaska High School What to celebrate: Although some on the school board thought it a lofty goal and nearly unreachable, the top 80 percent of students from last years high school graduating class who took the ACT almost reached an average score of 25. Their average was 24.8, so now the focus at OHS is to Take it to 25. What to work on moving forward: The high school will look to increase the percentage of students that take at least one Advanced Placement exam and score high enough to receive college credit. When students leave Onalaska High School, we want all doors to be open for them, OHS Principal Jared Schaffner said. The high school will also work on smoothing the transition for students moving from middle school to high school. This transition can be hard sometimes, Shaffner said, and so freshman-level teachers are working on identifying behavioral patterns to help improve it. Onalaska Middle School At the middle school, English Language Learning students and economically disadvantaged students (those qualifying for free and reduced lunches) out-performed the state average in math assessments. Also, grades 6-8 were above the state average for the forward exam: the newest state-administered assessment tool that tests elementary and middle school students proficiency in English, math, science and social studies. Moving forward, the middle school is working to direct its focus from a small amount of large-scale assessments to more frequent small-scale assessments. As for course content, theyre also looking to spend an extended period of time on important concepts rather than short-term exposure to a wide range of concepts. Irving Pertzsch Elementary With an overall focus on individual student proficiency rather than looking at the class as a whole, Irving Pertzschs Response to Intervention program helped teachers throughout the year identify students who were lagging behind. There is kind of a trap sometimes when you look at assessment data to look at what the class average is, Irving Pertszch Principal Todd Antony said, but that really doesnt tell you how our lower performing students are doing. It doesnt paint the complete picture. So, as always, there are areas to improve. Using a STAR assessments projection, 37 percent of students at Irving Pertszch are anticipated to test below proficiency for reading this coming spring, so working with students to buck that projection is the key moving forward. Northern Hills Elementary At Northern Hills last year, students below the 25th percentile in reading decreased as the year went on while the number of students reading above the 40th percentile simultaneously increased over the years span. With a similar focus on assessing the needs of individual students as Irving Pertszch, Northern Hills will aim to increase student proficiency moving forward by identifying where the basic students are struggling and add supports for those needed skills, according to the report. Eagle Bluff Elementary The number of students at Eagle Bluff reading at or above the 75th percentile increased over past year, according to STAR assessments. Eagle Bluff also scored well above the state averages for both language arts and math in some cases (like the fourth grade) more than 30 percentage points higher than the state average. Eagle Bluffs data-retreat team determined that the most important area to improve moving forward stems from a disproportionate number of economically disadvantaged students scoring below proficiency levels in math and reading. Focus should be directed on engaging students in poverty, as the report states. People should be excited that the district their child attends on a daily basis has teams that are looking to see how they can increase the individual achievement of their students, Fruit said. Kudos to Roger for leading this, Superintendent Fran Finco said. It helps the administrators and community and the board understand whats going on. We are living in interesting times. There has never been a presidential election such as this in the history of our nation, and people may be wondering what the future has in store for us. The world and society keeps changing. The values and morals of yesterday are not necessarily the same as today. So what is a Christian to do in such a time as this? Should we be changed by society? Should we allow popular culture be the norm of our lives? Should we give up and say there is nothing I can do? The book of Esther is an interesting book of the Bible. It has been scrutinized over the fact that there is no mention of the Messiah or Christ and some have questioned its canonicity, whether or not it belongs in the Bible at all. But there is a great lesson that is to be learned and applied to our very day, some 2,400 years later. The Babylonians were the powerhouse nation that swept Gods people into captivity in 586 BC. What soon followed in history, which was prophesied by God, was the rise of the Medes and Persians, when Gods people experienced peace and prosperity and were allowed to freely spread out through the empire. This was short-lived and the future of the Israelites was threatened once again. And this is such a time for a woman named Esther to rise up and act. Gods people were facing possible eradication because of a plot by a man in the kings court named Haman. Haman hated the Jews and wanted them gone. So he convinced Xerxes, the King of the Medes and Persians, to sign a decree for the killing and eradication of the Jewish people. This is where we find Xerxes wife, Queen Esther, who was a Jew, learning of this plot to kill her people. These are the words of her cousin Mordecai, encouraging Esther to see that God had placed her in a very powerful position at such a time in history that should compel her to act: For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 Esther takes Mordecais words to heart. She does act. And by the hand of God, she changed the history of her people and the preservation of, most importantly, the Christ who was to come from that people, some 300 to 400 years later. (I will let you read this book of Scripture for all the fascinating details.) This book does belong in the canon of Holy Scripture. For even though we dont have mention of the Messiah or Christ by name, we see how God preserved the line of the savior. So, just as was promised, Jesus came into the world. This is an important truth to be recognized and remembered for such a time as then and now. But this Book of Esther has many great applications for our lives, especially for such a time as this. It is easy to be complacent and say that my vote doesnt count. For such a time as this, Christians must speak up. But its not just about showing up to the polls on Election Day. We need the same encouragement that Mordecai gave to Esther; God has put you where you are and when you are to speak up and act your faith. And you dont have to be in a political or powerful position. You can be like Esther no matter if you are a mother or father, sister or brother. You can be like Esther no matter if you are married or single. You can be like Esther no matter if you are CEO of your company or the employee on the assembly line. You can be like Esther no matter if you are 5 or 105. We are living in a time such as this and you as believers are the Esthers who have received the grace of God not only to believe his word, but also to speak and act on that word. And as Mordecai said, Who knows if we remain silent God will carry out his will with someone else. It would be very easy to give into that attitude. It would be very easy to be changed by the norms of society and popular culture. It would be very easy to give up and say there is nothing I can do. But God knows that he did not give his people his spirit and Gospel to be silent and be inactive. He gave them to you to bring relief and deliverance to souls who need to hear of Jesus. He gave them to you to speak up for the word of God that announces his salvation and his will for this world at such a time as this. For such a time as this, God raises up his people like Esther and like you who can make a difference, who can change history. Keep Christ first. Real giants in the earth? Giant skeletons have been found all over the world, all over the U.S. and specifically, near Dakota, Minn. Who were these giants in the earth? Where did they come from? When did they live? The 1913 Winona County History book stated, Indian mounds and relics are found in various parts of our area. While men were digging in Miners Bluff (hill on the south end of Dakota), 150 feet above the river, a skeleton of an unusual size was unearthed. On measuring, the giant skeleton was found to be 10 feet in length, with other parts in proper proportions. A copper hatchet and a dart of arrowhead nine inches long were found in the skull. Another skeleton, nine feet long was found in the village of Dresbach, while some men were digging a road or trench. These skeletons were of an unusual size to those generally taken from Indian mounds. Their size, form and structure would lead those versed in paleontology to believe they belonged to a race prior to the Indian. The 1882 History of Houston County said, At La Crescent, there is a chain of mounds which indicate the existence of a race with characteristics quite distinct from, and unlike the Indians. The conformation of the skulls which have been found reveals them as having more of an animal nature than their exterminators; one striking peculiarity being in the size of the jaws, the lower one especially. It is true it was a human jaw and not an animals, because it had a chin, which no mere animal has An account of Jim Doville of Trempeleau, Wis., in an early 1900s era La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press also talked about Indians who were of an average height of eight feet. The article said, It was just after Doville returned from the Civil War that the Milwaukee [railroad] tracks were laid. Doville took an active part in the work, at the direction of the civil engineers. While building the right-of-way near Richmond, Minn., halfway between points of bluffs known as Kings and Queens mountains, the workmen were amazed to discover the skeletons of men, which then, even in the state they were found, were taller than the tallest pioneer workmen in the big crew. The article continued, A St. Louis scientist got wind of the find and he hastened north, and joined the railroad men. He declared, after assembling the bones of many of the skeletons which now rest in glass cases in a municipal museum in St. Louis, that their stature averaged eight feet. No relics were found with the bodies. They were buried very deep in the ground and in large numbers, and are still to be found today, according to Doville, at the foot of Kings and Queens mountains, now better known as bluffs.... Doville, thought to be the first white child born on the Mississippi River above Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien, Wis., whose mother was Winnebago, also spoke of the great battle which the Red Men believed was fought at the base of Kings bluff. He asked numerous questions of the Indians who were about. The Indians told him, The mound builders were but dim memories to the Indians, the recollections of them kept alive only in occasional story. The Indians declared that the mound builders had been done away with entirely by the smaller, but more intelligent Indian which followed him, the descendants of whom still live in this section. A story in the book Weird Minnesota by Eric Dregni talks about a book by Jay Rath called The M-Files, which said, Rath reports that in 1884, 52 men of exceptionally large stature were uncovered in La Crescent, having been buried 18 feet underground. Even more impressive are the 600 huge skeletons that were found in Lanesboro. Rath explains that George E. Powell, writing in 1907, said that 27 years earlier he had heard oral histories representing a battle said to have occurred 200 years before then. The dead were supposedly strangers slain by Ojibwe; the story comes from a 100-year old Ojibwe. Rath suggested the giants were Neanderthals or Giantopithecus, which was another humanoid that evolved in Asia 9 million years ago and survived until 1 million years ago. He speculated they could have crossed the land bridge between Siberian and North America a trip at that time of 52 miles. Perhaps the 1913 Winona County History summed it up the best, Where they came from, when they lived, and whence they have gone, is only conjecture and speculation. That they were mighty races, skilled in the mode of warfare, understanding the mechanical arts, for all these we have conclusive evidence. But of their end we know nothing. Whether they were swept from the earth by some deadly epidemic, or annihilated themselves by intestine wars, or died of inherent weakness, we have nothing to inform us. State Sen. Jeremy Miller and senate hopeful Jon Pieper had more to agree upon than not at the candidate forum Oct. 18 at La Crescent High School. The night began with introductions and a three-question window. Each candidate was given one minute to respond to a question. Pieper gave some background. I live in Lanesboro; I am a graduate from Caledonia High School, where I met my wife Sarah, he said. My biggest reason for running is my three children. I was lucky enough to come back 23 years ago and have the fortunate circumstances to buy a building, get it renovated and start a small business. Pieper graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and has a masters degree from the University of Oregon. I want to see our small towns back to the glory they have been, he said. We cant fight it. Minnesota is No. 2 in high tax rates for rural commercial business, so thats main street La Crescent, main street Lanesboro, main street Caledonia. Pieper believes that property taxes have to be lower, and that Minnesota has to work on creating equity between metro and rural laws. Pieper has been endorsed for the state senate by the local Democratic-Farmer-Labor party. Miller, a Republican who has served in his position since 2011 and has had two terms, skipped most of the dalliances associated with introductions. One of my biggest frustrations as a member of the Minnesota senate is the extreme partisanship of party politics, he said. A lot of that fight isnt between Democrats and Republicans, believe it or not; it is between metro area and greater Minnesota. Miller addressed some of Piepers concerns by citing the tax bill that was vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton in June 2016 as a response to many of those issues. Miller also took time out of his introduction to thank Rep. Greg Davids also at the forum for his bipartisan work on the tax bill. The candidates were first asked: What is the status of the reciprocal agreement between the Minnesota and Wisconsin and give your thoughts on its importance? Pieper began with a statement. The tax bill should have been passed; Im supportive of it and its in therein 2017, we will get this passed, Pieper said in reference to the state reciprocity agreement within the tax bill. Miller clarified that the question addressed income tax reciprocity, an issue that he is very familiar with because he was the chief author of the bill. The amendment had focused on reciprocity for those who live in Minnesota but work in Wisconsin; the income tax varies between the states. So what we did was give a tax credit for those folks who live in Minnesota and work in Wisconsin to help make up that difference, Miller said. It was in the tax bill; unfortunately, the tax bill was vetoed and if the governor will call us back for a special session, that will continue to be a topic of priority. The second question asked when states elected body would start funding public education instead of the local taxpayers being asked to fund operating levies? Miller cited his work in the pre-k funding battle between the governor and the rest of the legislature. In 2015, the governor had proposed a 1 percent increase on the funding formula, he said. Im co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan purple caucus in the Minnesota senate. We said that was unacceptable and said the governor should fund us at least 3 percent; we compromised at 2 percent. According to Miller, the lack of action boils down to funding priorities between the metro-area legislature and the greater Minnesota legislature. 2017 was Piepers answer. He hopes the solution to the problem will be solved by then. This has been going on for a long time, and when you keep increasing the base without fixing the formula, every time you give 2 percent, the margin is widening because the metro is getting more than us every time, Pieper said. The third question brought a more personal element to the forum. It came from a person who serves on the ABLE board, which serves people with disabilities. The state plays a significant role in the organizations funding and it was asked what the senator would do to assure the support needed to serve the people in need of assistance? Pieper who recently attended an event at Home and Community Options in Winona with Miller spoke of his time there. We got to talk quite a bit about the lack of funding on the employees and the aids helping the clients. I am in full support to try to get additional funding, Pieper said. They affected me so much that I told them afterward, if we can get the clients and the workers on a bus in St. Paul, in front of a committee, there is nobody that would say no to more funding for those people. Miller spoke of his passion on the subject. I was the co-author on the 5 percent campaign that we were successful in funding, Miller said. I have already made a commitment that I will carry that bill as the chief author in 2017, but I do not think that 5 percent is enough; I think it should be an 8 percent campaign. Miller carried his sentiment into a promise to look at unfunded mandates that the federal government passes. We need to take care of our most vulnerable citizens and we also need to continue to support reforms and we need to look at unfunded mandates, Miller said. The forum closed with the candidates taking a minute to thank the attendees and the La Crescent Chamber of Commerce for hosting the event. After Miller thanked those there for attending, he left the audience with something to think about. There is a lot of money pouring into this district right now; just look to see where that money is coming from, he said. There are some Twin Cities special-interest groups that are investing a lot of money in southeastern Minnesota and we need to keep the focus on greater Minnesota, not the light rail. Pieper also thanked the crowd and promised the voters that he would not vote straight party lines. I would vote for the best idea. And you hear it maybe not enough that you are our customers, you are the people that we serve, so we have to listen to you. Again, thank you to everyone we met on the campaign trail, he said. Mary Marchel, Director of Public Health, along with her staff, appeared before the Houston County Board of Commissioners at its Oct. 18 meeting a meeting dominated by the annual public health department review. Marchel, who has served as interim human services director, praised her entire staff. Without them, I wouldnt be able to be doing double duty here, Marchel said. Gratitude, she said, was owed the staff, many of whom have picked up duties Marchel herself said she would be more involved with. I dont know how we would do all this without them, she said. Highlights of the public health departments 2016 looked something like this: Southeast Service Cooperative Grant for Houston County employee wellness program, with more than 60 percent of county employees participating in one or more components Ten mini grants awarded to Houston County partners (seven SHIP and three UCare) Minnesota Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Grant Award 2016 Houston County Public Health serves as fiscal host for Minnesota Immunization Informational Connection (MIIC,) serving 11 southeast public health agencies (2016-18) Successful implementation of the Cradling Literacy program with each area district ECFE promoting early development of reading, cognitive and language skills Agency home health aides to assist with human services child protection supervised visitation Cross-jurisdictional agreement with Winona County Public Health for short-term maternal child health nursing services Partnered with La Crosse County Health Department and Mayo Health System on Aligning Pain Management Project Partnered with Western Wisconsin Health Care Coalition in the regional Ebola exercise Established quarterly joint Fillmore-Houston Board of Health meetings Houston County website now includes links to numerous data sources for health information and data Assisted 18 Houston County families with car seat checks; 12 seats distributed by public health Successful summer nurse internship initiative Roll-out of MN Choices assessment process Agency Facebook page created Public health nurse trained in child and teen checkups 0 to 21 year-olds Mary Thompson, PHN, received 2016 CDC Childhood Immunization Award WIC staff trained in baby behavior curriculum and integrated into practice Excellent U Care and BCBS health plan audit results USDA awarded Houston County WIC with the Excellence for Exemplary Breastfeeding Support and Practices Even with a decrease in staff, Marchel said, and a lot of work done in a short time, the department has achieved much to be proud of in the past year. For 2017 to 2018, the departments strategic initiatives include Lyme Disease community health education, in-home child and teen screenings, a Home Care program, Minnesota Choices certified assessor requirements, Minnesota immunization information connection regional coordination, and continued internal quality improvement processes, WIC outreach, parenting classes, and core competency development, among others. Total 2015 expenditures for the department registered at $1,682,773, with federal, state, and fees accounting for 91 percent of that ($1,531,326), and 9 percent coming from a local levy ($151,427). With a population of 19,027 in the county, the average per capita for public health services, in levy terms, is $7.96. I think for an agency this size, Marchel said, that is really awesome. And, she said, as a reminder, that the community is the departments client. Really, Marchel said, the heart of public health work is primary prevention. The policy that allows members of the public to express their concerns at Houston County Board of Commissioners meetings has become a significant issue in the race for the county boards District 1 seat. Incumbent Judy Storlie and challenger Jack Miller responded to a question about the public comment period at county board meetings at the Oct. 18 candidate forum in La Crescent. Taxpayers need to be able to express their views, Miller said. Its important to engage with voters during public comment. You dont stifle public comment. If it gets out of hand, you (the chairman) can use a gavel. The policy for public comment period was amended Jan. 12. It states anyone wishing to comment at a county board meeting will be allowed a maximum of two minutes to speak. Another provision of the policy prohibits the members of the public and commissioners from engaging in a debate during that agenda item period. Also, the public comment period is on the agenda the first and third Tuesdays of each month and is placed toward the end of the meetings. I feel, first and foremost, county board meetings are business meetings, Storlie said. Public comment is a time to comment. I encourage people to contact their (county board) representatives. The candidate forum was held in the La Crescent High School with about 78 members of the public attending to hear where the candidates stand on issues affecting the county. Miller is running to regain the seat he lost to Storlie in 2012. Miller has also served as La Crescents mayor for two nonconsecutive terms from 1983 to 1986 and 2001 to 2002. During the introductory portion of the forum, Miller questioned the proposed costs projected for a new county maintenance building. He stated the estimates for the new building are $8 million. What kind of county maintenance building do you have to have? Miller said. Storlie currently serves as the Houston County Board chairman. Among the advancements taking place during her term she is proud of includes videotaping meetings and making them available to the public and her work to get more grants coming into the county. Ive invested a lot in the last four years to be the best commissioner, Storlie said. The two county board candidates were also asked to weigh in on whether they would support hiring an administrator. There are many different sides to an administrator, Storlie said. At this time, we dont have the structure for an administrator. Miller indicated that an administrator could be beneficial, but he questioned the costs of adding the position. There could be a lot of advantages with an administrator, he said, but we dont need to look at other places to spend our (taxpayers) money. The candidates were also asked how tax increases could be kept level at the county. We need to take a comprehensive look at the needs and get a handle on spending, Miller said. It will involve cutting where you have to. Storlie contended making spending cuts could run up against state regulations. You cant control taxes by just culling, she said. We have mandates; we cant just cut. No one wants taxes to go sky high. There are ways to bring money into the community. Among the suggestions Storlie offered for bringing money into Houston County was to encourage businesses to locate in the county. The results of the Nov. 8 election will determine who will serve District 1 on the Houston County Board. Roosevelt Elementary is on its way to becoming affordable housing, but it wont lose its old-school charm, according to the developer. Gorman & Co. started construction Sept. 1, but the 92-year-old building continues to be recognizable as a school, with lockers lining the hallways and signs outside proclaiming it Roosevelt Elementary. Everybody wanted to kind of save the building. Its an integral part of the neighborhood, Ted Matkom, Gormans Wisconsin market president, said. Matkom said the project wont lose those touches as the Oregon, Wis.-based developer works to renovate the former school at 1307 Hayes St. into 33 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The building is planned as affordable housing, which means tenants could earn no more than 60 percent of La Crosse Countys median income: $25,000 if single or up to $45,000 for a family of four. Workers are framing walls, putting in underground plumbing and getting ready to pour concrete as classrooms are transformed into living spaces. Well keep all the character and everything outside as is, Matkom said, though they will be doing some landscaping to improve the look of the grounds. With so many new residents, theyre also looking ahead to parking, with 50 parking spaces prepared. Well park all of the cars on the existing parking lot on the south side, Matkom said. Council member Andrea Richmond, who represents the area where the former school sits, has been enjoying watching the work get going. She passes by regularly to check out the progress. I think its exciting. Im anxious to see it. During the design process, I had hoped and they agreed that they would keep the playground, Richmond said. Itll be open so that the neighborhood children can access it as well. She also praised the landscaping planned for outside the school. It really will improve that whole block, she said. Arranging the financing for the $7.5 million was complicated with multiple layers of funding, but it was finalized Sept. 30 after the La Crosse Common Council approved final changes to its $300,000 two-part tax increment district 13 loan, adding to the previously awarded $400,000 in community development block grant loans. The city of La Crosse really made that deal happen with their gap financing that they provided, Matkom said. He praised the very cooperative and development-friendly staff that really, really wanted to make sure this happened in a positive fashion. Richmond said the financing will be a positive for the city, as well as the area. The end result will be good for the city and the community, and in the end, itll have tax base, Richmond said. It also continues to set a good precedent, she added. It was a good step, showing the community that the city works with businesses well, she said. Completion of the construction is tentatively planned for next summer. Ted Matkom, Gormans Wisconsin market president DECORAH, Iowa If Republican Donald Trump pulls off a win in Iowa this year, its because this presidential swing state still has plenty of voters like Daryl Hovden old, male, white and angry. Trump isnt my ideal choice, but hes a lot better than that other (expletive). Excuse my French, said Hovden, a 60-year-old crop and cattle farmer and property owner. I know theres going to be a woman president and I have nothing against it. But not that woman, is my opinion. Iowa gave President Barack Obama its six electoral votes in 2008 and 2012. But this year, its been flagged as the U.S. state most likely to flip back from Democratic to Republican in the presidential vote. Experts say the states aging population, lack of diversity and rural character is making it politically more akin to conservative prairie states like Nebraska and the Dakotas over more populous neighbors like Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois that consistently back Democrats in presidential years. Iowa is mostly white, only about 25 percent of its residents have college degrees, and its one of the oldest states in the country, said David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, and a former political journalist in Iowa. Ive just described to you the profile of the typical Trump voter. Trump led Democrat Hillary Clinton by 4 points in the last statewide poll of Iowa, by the Des Moines Register earlier in October. It was taken right before the second presidential debate and the new flood of allegations about Trumps behavior toward women, after which Clinton expanded her lead in national and other swing-state polls. Obama won Iowa in 2008 and 2012, but Republicans have gained major ground in state and congressional elections here in recent cycles, and former President George W. Bush won the state in 2004. Clinton and Trump both campaigned in Iowa at the end of September, and both their running mates also made recent visits. Hovden, a longtime Republican voter, admitted to pessimism about Trumps chances in November. Sitting in the cab of his dusty Chevy Silverado, Hovden called Clinton a crook and argued that former President Bill Clintons alleged transgressions with women are likely as bad as anything Trump said or did. The media is against Trump and they spin these stories, Hovden said. Im sure he is a bigot with women and probably tried to make sexual advances. But shes not a saint, either. At the end of his interview, Hovden seemed to regret his initial coarse language about Clinton. Take out my cuss words if you reprint me, he said. Nearby is tiny Burr Oak, site of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum. Barb Olson, the museums director, already cast her ballot in Iowa, early voting commenced Sept. 29. It was an easy call, said Olson, a 67-year-old retired teacher wearing an American flag T-shirt. They both have things Im concerned about. But I cannot vote for a person like Trump. I think hes a very poor role model. Decorah is the largest town in this northeastern corner of Iowa, home of Luther College. Its a liberal town, but I drove to Iowa City the other day and I was a little disturbed by all the Trump signs I saw as soon as I got out into the country, said Emily Mineart, 28, who works at Luthers library. Mineart was a Bernie Sanders supporter but has made her peace with Clinton. Noah Madryga, an 18-year-old first-year student, said hes only met three or four Trump supporters on campus. Like every Clinton supporter in Iowa interviewed for this story, Madryga expressed some doubt about her honesty: the email scandal and all of that, he said. But he finds Trump unacceptable and is awakening to the historic nature of Clintons bid. Its either the first female president, or with Trump you get possibly the worst president ever, Madryga said. Down Hwy. 52 is Postville, home to the kosher meat-processing plant Agri Star, the target of a massive immigration raid in 2008. Along the main drag is the Juba Grocery and Halal Market, where a handful of Somali-American men standing out front were unanimously behind Clinton. She likes to help us immigrants, said Abdi Ahmad, a plant worker. She wants to support us. The men were more reluctant to talk about Trump. Faid Hussein Warsame, another plant worker, criticized Trumps repeated vows to toughen immigration laws. He cant take all the people in the U.S. out of here, Warsame said. He doesnt know what to do or what to say. He dont even remember what he said yesterday. Here in northeast Iowa, a Republican unseated the Democratic congressional incumbent in 2014, the same year Republican Joni Ernst captured the U.S. Senate seat long held by Democrat Tom Harkin. Five of the states six statewide elected officials are now Republicans, as are three of its four members of Congress. Drive west from Postville and soon you hit the political turf of longtime U.S. Rep. Steve King, one of the most conservative and controversial members of Congress, a former Ted Cruz supporter now allied with Trump. I know Trump is not the greatest man, said Vernon Oakland, a 74-year-old retiree who lives along Hwy. 18 in Clermont. He lies, too. But why I am a Republican is every time a Democrat gets in, it seems like our rights get taken away. They want to pass a lot of new regulations and restrictions. Oakland relates to Trumps recent struggles. He doesnt always say the right thing. Sometimes I stumble around with my words, too, he said. In early January, at the start of this wild presidential year, Trump traveled to Clear Lake in north-central Iowa, where he rallied supporters at the Surf Ballroom ahead of the states curtain-raising presidential caucus. Trump finished second to Cruz but has since consolidated and held the support of the states Republican establishment support that eluded him in numerous other swing states. Long-serving Gov. Terry Branstad, Sen. Chuck Grassley and Ernst have stood behind Trump in the recent fusillade of allegations and controversies. Its just guy talk. I dont think that should disqualify him, said Derick Trappe, atop a dirt bike on the shore of Clear Lake. Trappe, 19, and his buddy Dallas Lee, 20, were out for an afternoon ride. Asked if they were Trump supporters, Trappe laughed and lifted his sweatshirt to reveal a Make America Great Again T-shirt. Trappe and Lee said they prefer Republican economic principles and like Trumps blunt talk and nonpolitical background. But that appeal is lost on Bob and Jill Branstad, both 48, setting out a picnic spread nearby. Everything that comes out of his mouth I just think hes incapable of running the country, said Jill Branstad, a preschool teacher. Asked about his last name, Bob, a mechanical engineer, explained that he and Gov. Branstad share a great-grandfather. I wont be voting for him again, Bob said of his relative, disgusted by the governors continued support for Trump. Grassley, either. Jill Branstad said shell vote for either Clinton or Libertarian Gary Johnson. Bob Branstad is voting for Johnson unless he decides Trump has a chance to win, in which case he might strategically vote for Clinton. I could be swayed if I thought the vote was that close, but right now, I dont, Bob Branstad said. Everyone deserves the right to quality, affordable health care. But right now, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites are suffering because politicians are playing politics with their health care. A few years ago, Wisconsin had the opportunity to expand BadgerCare coverage to 80,000 more people by accepting federal funds. Instead of bringing this money home, our governor refused it. Our tax dollars went to provide health care for people in other states. That doesnt make any sense. Just like the proposed high-speed rail funding that our governor turned down, this BadgerCare money would have changed a lot of lives. Unlike the rail funding, which has been used by other states, the BadgerCare money is still on the table, waiting for us to claim it. Rep. Steve Doyle knows that this money belongs here in Wisconsin and has been working hard to bring it home. I support taking the BadgerCare money, and that is why I support Rep. Steve Doyle. You should, too. Kathryn Mayer, Holmen We heartily endorse Rep. Nancy VanderMeer for a second term in Wisconsins 70th Assembly District. Rep. VanderMeer has accomplished much, serving on five legislative committees. Rep. VanderMeer has joined fellow legislators to promote the Rural Wisconsin Initiative, which focuses on improving education, health care and technology in small towns and rural areas. She also is a strong advocate of STEM education. STEM programs steer young people to jobs that are high tech and high paying and occupations that are in demand but often lack qualified and trained people. STEM graduates often enter the workforce quickly, thus are less encumbered by student debt. Rep. VanderMeer authored the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which allows doctors already licensed in certain states to more quickly start practicing in Wisconsin. Its a common-sense approach that is sure to help rural hospitals and clinics. Rep. VanderMeer also helped modify the Broadband Expansion Grant Program. Her bill removes limits placed on the Public Service Commission in awarding grants. Now, broadband can readily expand to rural areas. Rep. VanderMeer votes her own convictions, which may run contrary to her partys line. Her recent no vote on the biannual budget is an example. She believes the budget falls short on funding our roads and education. Nancy VanderMeer is a hard worker and a good listener. She is a small business owner in Tomah. She and her husband, David Hall, operate a dairy farm northwest of Tomah. She understands the needs of her constituents. We enthusiastically endorse Rep. VanderMeer for a second term in Madison. Larry and Ann Scheckel, Tomah When voters in La Crosse County were asked whether the governor should accept federal funding to expand BadgerCare, they overwhelmingly said yes. But what happened in Madison was the exact opposite. With many Wisconsinites struggling to find health insurance, the governor refused to accept millions of tax dollars. Because of his political posturing, 1,200 people in La Crosse County alone had to leave BadgerCare. Now, BadgerCare costs more and covers fewer people. Rep. Steve Doyle supports strengthening BadgerCare so that we can cover 80,000 more people while cutting costs by $240 million. Instead of having our tax dollars go to another state, Rep. Doyle would keep our money at home where it can go toward providing Wisconsinites access to affordable health insurance. By not accepting federal funds, the governor sent our tax dollars to cover people in other states. We should elect people who listen to public opinion. Rep. Doyle is one of those people. He co-sponsored an equal number of Republican and Democratic bills and has listened to his constituents for the past five years in the Assembly. That is why I will be voting for Rep. Doyle, a man who I can say truly represents me. He represents you, too. Monica Kruse, Onalaska A federal judge has ordered state officials to keep searching for voters who requested credentials to meet Wisconsins voter ID requirement in the November election but havent gotten them in the mail. In an order filed Wednesday, U.S. Judge James Peterson declined to require the state to set up mobile DMV locations to issue free IDs for voting or send mailers to registered voters who lack IDs eligible for voting. He also did not instruct the state to ramp up TV and radio ads publicizing a petition process for people to get temporary credentials they can use to vote in November if they lack a qualifying ID as well as the underlying documents, such as a birth certificate, needed to get one. Those steps were advocated by the plaintiffs in a legal challenge to Wisconsins voter ID law, including the liberal groups One Wisconsin Institute and Citizen Action of Wisconsin. But Peterson said he would require one of the actions the plaintiffs sought writing that the DMV must use whatever contact information is available to locate people who entered the petition process but have yet to receive a temporary voting credential. The state must issue such credentials by mailing them to the voter within six days of when he or she requests them, unless it can show the voter is ineligible. Heroic measures are not required, but the DMV must at least attempt to contact the family or friends of those petitioners who are entitled to a voting credential but have not received them, Peterson wrote. So far that includes 48 voters whose credentials were returned in the mail as undeliverable, DMV administrator Kristina Boardman said Thursday. Boardman said that the division is using background-check software and other measures to try to locate them. The DMV is the agency tasked with issuing free IDs to people who lack drivers licenses or other IDs that satisfy the voter ID requirement. Wednesdays order was Petersons second official directive in the case in the past two weeks, as state officials prepare for the first presidential election in which its voter ID requirement will take effect. Earlier this month Peterson ordered the state to better publicize a petition process for people to get temporary voting credentials. An undercover investigation by the group VoteRiders found DMV staffers at locations throughout the state gave out incorrect information about the process. About 2,200 people had entered the petition process as of Oct. 20, Boardman said. Peterson also said Gov. Scott Walkers administration had shown a disturbing pattern of failing to foresee problems with the rollout of Wisconsins voter ID requirement. Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine plans to swing through Madison on Tuesday, a week before Election Day. The Virginia Senator is also planning to visit Appleton the same day. According to the Hillary Clinton campaign, "he will lay out the stakes of November's election and urge Wisconsinites to vote early." He will also encourage voters to visit IWillVote.com to check their voter registration status and learn more about how to register to vote. Further details of Kaine's visit were not immediately available. Kaine last visited Madison for a private fundraiser on Aug. 16. He was also in Milwaukee on Aug. 5. Clinton has not yet visited Wisconsin since accepting the nomination in July. Her Republican opponent Donald Trump has been to Wisconsin four times since then and his campaign spokesman has said he will be back for a fifth visit. Clinton has held a steady lead according to publicly available Wisconsin polls and currently holds a 6.7-point lead in the RealClearPolitics poll average. Local election administrators were unimpressed Thursday with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps allegations that the Nov. 8 election will be rigged in favor of his opponent. For weeks Trump has repeatedly said the contest between him and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is rigged against him and warned of widespread voter fraud. He repeated the assertions during last Wednesdays debate. Its almost an insult to the county clerks, municipal clerks and poll workers who put in all the time and effort and training to make sure the processes are followed behind the scenes to protect the integrity of the election, La Crosse County clerk Ginny Dankmeyer said. West Salem village administrator Teresa Schnitzler agreed, saying it was insulting to hear vague accusations of voter fraud coming from Trump and his supporters, calling it offensive. Yeah, thats offensive. Where is it happening? Who are they accusing? Schnitzler asked. If were doing our job, its not going to happen, and we are doing our job. If were not, we dont last very long. La Crosse City clerk Teri Lehrke was a bit more reserved in her response, stating, I dont like it. The county and municipal clerks who run La Crosses elections on behalf of the state defended the security of the election, explaining the myriad ways they protect against fraud and ensure the integrity of ballots. Dankmeyer said Trumps comments and those of his supporters show he doesnt understand how elections are administered and secured. Its not possible to rig the election in the way theyre saying its happening, Dankmeyer said. There are a lot of things in place that people dont realize behind the scenes. City of Tomah clerk Jo Cram said the process is too decentralized to rig an election. We have 1,800 (municipal) clerks in the state, and they would all have to be in on the conspiracy, not to mention all the poll workers, Cram said. Fraud prevention starts before any ballots are cast, with the Wisconsin Election Commission putting laws and policies on the books to ensure both the voting equipment and the voting process are secure. The state has the most decentralized voting system in the U.S., according to Government Accountability Board spokesman Reid Magney. While most states have county clerks directly administer elections, Wisconsin puts that on each municipal clerk. Those 1,854 municipal clerks work with 72 county clerks to hire thousands of poll workers to ensure the election is fair and nonpartisan. What that means is that there would need to be a conspiracy among not only the clerks, but also the thousands of poll workers, Magney said. The system is also transparent, with public testing of voting equipment in which people can see whether ballots are counted accurately and then watch the seals placed on the machines, ensuring they wont be opened again until ballots are counted. If they wanted to, they could verify that those same seals are on the equipment on the morning of the election as well as after the polls close, Magney said. Trump said at the debate that millions of people that are registered to vote shouldnt be registered to vote, implying that those people will be casting illegal ballots on Election Day. However, there are several layers of checks to prevent nonregistered voters and ineligible people from voting, including a statewide database of registered voters called WisVote. Regardless of what municipality you are working in, youre registering voters in that particular system, Lehrke said. The system, which is protected by state-of-the-art technology and undergoes extensive security testing by the Wisconsin Division of Enterprise Technology and Department of Homeland Security, crosschecks with other state departments to make sure the person attempting to vote isnt a felon, hasnt been declared dead and is identified correctly. It also updates in real-time, ensuring that no one can vote in two municipalities on Election Day or vote both absentee and in person on Election Day. If there are situations where we would suspect fraud, we would turn them over to the district attorney for investigation, Lehrke said. Both absentee, including early-voting absentee ballots, and Election Day ballots are counted by the machines, which save the results on memory sticks that are tested prior to use and held in secure vaults. Thats our highest priority is to make sure those memory sticks cannot be tampered with, Dankmeyer said. Dankmeyer and other clerks spend about a month after the election double-checking their voter numbers and looking for any errors. If something doesnt match up, were looking into what happened and why. Rarely do those numbers not match up, she said. Cram said 444 people had voted by early absentee ballot in Tomah as of Friday morning. She said her office hasnt heard any concerns about ballot security or fraud. I had one voter this morning who thought all the talk was horrendous and totally uncalled for, Cram said. Magney defended Wisconsins election officials, praising the amount of work they do to uphold the safeguards in the system. Wisconsins municipal clerks are extremely hardworking and diligent. They, along with the poll workers, are really our friends and neighbors. Any suggestion that these people would be doing something illegal really rubs them the wrong way, Magney said. Tomah Journal editor Steve Rundio contributed to this story. We have 1,800 (municipal) clerks in the state, and they would all have to be in on the conspiracy, not to mention all the poll workers. Tomah city clerk Jo Cram Thursday, October 20, 2016 More than two years ago, as first reported here, this seemingly historic new New York Times editorial called for the legalization of marijuana under the bold headline "Repeal Prohibition, Again." At the time, I had thought this action by the Gray Lady's editorial board would mean that the marijuana reform movement would have a high-profile and powerful media champion and advocate. Disappointingly (though perhaps not surprisingly), while the NY Times editorial board has been a a high-profile and powerful media voice on a number of other modern criminal justice reform issues, the Times editorial pages has been anything but bold (and has often just been silent) in the last two years on a wide range of notable state and federal marijuana reform issues. In 2016, for example, which has arguably been the most significant year (and after this election will be surely the most consequential year) in the modern history of the reform of state and federal marijuana laws (and which the New York Times has covered extensively as news), the NY Times editorial board until this week had put forward only one single editorial advocating for marijuana reforms. (In telling contrast, the NY Times editorial board has had at least a dozen editorials advocating against forcefully capital punishment in 2016. ) I would think that if the editorial board was still truly committed to its advocacy in 2014 that the US should "Repeal Prohibition, Again," that it would be saying a whole lot more on this topic during this critical year. Against that backdrop, I am disappointed (but I suppose not too surprised) that this new New York Times editorial headlined "Marijuana Lights Up State Ballots" is marked more by reporting than by advocacy. Here are excerpts: People in nine states, including California, Florida and Massachusetts, will vote Nov. 8 on ballot proposals permitting recreational or medical use of marijuana. These initiatives could give a big push to legalization, prompting the next president and Congress to overhaul the countrys failed drug laws. This is a big moment for what was a fringe movement a few years ago. A Gallup poll released on Wednesday showed 60 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana, up from 31 percent in 2000 and 12 percent in 1969. The drive to end prohibition comes after decades in which marijuana laws led to millions of people being arrested and tens of thousands sent to prison, a vast majority of whom never committed any violent crimes. These policies have had a particularly devastating effect on minority communities. Federal and state governments have spent untold billions of dollars on enforcement, money that could have been much better spent on mental health and substance abuse treatment. So far, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use of marijuana, and 25 states permit medical use. A recent Cato Institute study found that the states that have legalized recreational use have so far had no meaningful uptick in the use of marijuana by teenagers, or other negative consequences predicted by opponents. For example, in Colorado, drug-related expulsions and suspensions from schools have gone down in recent years. There has been no spike in drug-related traffic accidents and fatalities in Colorado or Washington. On Election Day, voters in Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada will consider proposals to allow recreational use. In California, which approved medical use in 1996, polls show that the measure is likely to win. In Massachusetts, a recent poll showed 55 percent of likely voters supporting legalization. In Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota, residents will vote on medical marijuana. If Florida voters say yes, other Southern states that have been resistant to liberalizing drug laws could reconsider their prohibitions, too. Passage of these proposals should increase pressure on the federal government to change how it treats marijuana. The Obama administration has chosen not to enforce federal anti-marijuana laws in states like Colorado and Washington. But this bizarre situation cant last even as more states legalize the drug, state-licensed marijuana businesses remain criminal operations under federal law. Even if they are not prosecuted by the federal government, this conflict in their legal status creates immense problems.... States are driving the change in marijuana policy because they see the damage created by draconian drug laws on communities, families and state budgets. Its time the federal government acknowledged these costs and got out of the way of states adopting more rational laws. When I saw the headline for this editorial --- which, as I suggested before, seems to be mostly a report of reality and fails to do much editorializing --- I at least expected it to mention and link to the New York Times' prior 2014 editorial calling for the US to "Repeal Prohibition, Again." I do not believe that the New York Times has changed its editorial stance on this front, but they seem now almost intent to make sure nobody remembers their bold advocacy two years ago. Moreover, this "editorial," while seemingly eager to note that "negative consequences predicted by opponents" of reform have not materialized, entirely fails to note or highlights that all of the positive consequences predicted by supporters of marijuana reform have come to pass: huge new tax revenues are being collected, economic development has been considerable, arrest rates have gone down dramatically, and adults have safe and legal access to their preferred medicine or recreational drug. Simply saying at the end here that the federal government should get "out of the way of states adopting more rational laws" (which the Obama Administration has largely done, though Congress could and should do it more formally) is about the weakest tea support for reform I could imagine. I suppose that when a paper's nickname is the "Gray Lady," I was foolish to expect or hope it would act or advocate like even a young smart conservative advocate (whom polls show support medical marijuana reform 10 to 1 and full marijuana reform 3 to 1). Still, I feel now as though the 2014 editorial headline really should have been "Repeal Prohibition, Again.... but do not expect the Gray Lady to really try to help make that happen anytime soon." https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/2016/10/disappointingly-new-york-times-editorial-board-tepidly-notes-how-marijuana-lights-up-state-ballots.html While The New York Times's editorial board maintains its current silence on marijuana policy reform, its reporters continue give its readers necessary information and perspectives on the marijuana reform movement from across the country. In today's Times, Thomas Fuller reports on the legalization debate in California. The article begins: To the red-and-blue map of American politics, it may be time to add green. The movement to legalize marijuana, the countrys most popular illicit drug, will take a giant leap on Election Day if California and four other states vote to allow recreational cannabis, as polls suggest they may. The map of where pot is legal could include the entire West Coast of the United States and a string of states reaching from the Pacific Ocean to Colorado, raising a stronger challenge to the federal governments ban on the drug. In addition to California, Massachusetts and Maine both have legalization initiatives on the ballot next month that seem likely to pass. Arizona and Nevada are also voting on recreational marijuana, with polls showing Nevada voters evenly split. The passage of recreational marijuana laws in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington over the last four years partly unlocked the door toward eventual federal legalization. But a yes vote in California, which has an economy the size of a large industrial countrys, could blow the door open, experts say. If were successful, its the beginning of the end of the war on marijuana, said Gavin Newsom, the lieutenant governor of California and a former mayor of San Francisco. If California moves, it will put more pressure on Mexico and Latin America writ large to reignite a debate on legalization there. The market for both recreational and medicinal marijuana is projected to grow to $22 billion in four years from $7 billion this year if California says yes, according to projections by the Arcview Group, a company that links investors with cannabis companies. This is the vote heard round the world, said Arcviews chief executive, Troy Dayton. What weve seen before has been tiny compared to what we are going to see in California. And yet scholars who have studied these legalization measures say that to a large extent they are very much a shot in the dark, a vast public health experiment that could involve states that hold 23 percent of the United States population and generate a quarter of the countrys economic output carried out with relatively little scientific research on the risks. In addition, there are 25 states that already permit medical marijuana. This Hartford Courant article, headlined "Massachusetts Marijuana Vote Could Mean Legalization Across New England," highlights reasons why I expect the recreational marijuana legalization initiative vote in the Bay State to have important ripple effects well beyond the state's borders. Here are excerpts from the piece: As a multimillion dollar fight over recreational marijuana in Massachusetts races toward the finish line, both sides of the debate in Connecticut are keeping a close eye on a vote that could open the door to legalization across New England. Massachusetts is one of five states where measures to legalize and regulate the sale of recreational marijuana will be on the ballot. Voters in Arizona, California, Maine and Nevada will also vote on the issue. An affirmative vote in Maine or Massachusetts would bring legal recreational marijuana to the region for the first time, putting new pressure on those in the state that oppose expanded marijuana use. Jill Spineti, president and CEO of the Governor's Prevention Partnership, said her group wasn't yet willing to shift the dialogue from opposing recreational marijuana use to figuring out the best way to regulate it. At the same time she acknowledged how legal cannabis across the border would complicate that fight. "We're staying focused on opposition," Spineti said. "But I do believe that if Massachusetts approves it, it will be much harder to oppose it here." There's also the question of people crossing the border to buy marijuana. Something Spineti said some Connecticut employers have raised concerns about. It's been almost two years since a public opinion poll asked Connecticut voters about marijuana legalization. In that March 2015 Quinnipiac Poll, 63 percent of voters said they supported allowing adults to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use.... A legalization and taxation bill was introduced last year [in Connecticut] and had about a dozen Democratic co-sponsors. An informal informational hearing was held with experts on both sides offering testimony before interested legislators. Proponents of the bill said Connecticut would be losing out on valuable tax dollars if it wasn't the first state in New England to move forward with recreational marijuana legalization. State Rep. Vin Candelora, a Republican from North Branford who opposed the bill, said lawmakers shouldn't see tax revenue from the legalization of marijuana as a solution to the state's budget problems. He called it "blood money."... Rep. Edwin Vargas, a Hartford Democrat who supported the marijuana legalization bill, said money that is funding criminal enterprises would instead be directed toward state government. Drug dealers would see their business undercut, he said, and fewer youths would be arrested for dealing. "I knew all along this was going to sweep the states after the success in Colorado," Vargas said. Colorado, the first state to legalize and tax recreational marijuana use, brought in $130 million in tax revenue in the last fiscal year. "The only thing I feel bad about is we could have been first in the area and established the industry here. The one that establishes the industry first has a huge advantage." At the University of Massachusetts last week, Rick Steves, an author and travel host who helped with the marijuana legalization effort in his home state of Washington, talked about the tax benefit. But he also made a civil liberties and criminal justice argument. "I'm a hardworking, kid-raising, church-going, taxpaying American citizen," he told the crowd of about 100 students and residents. "If I work hard all day long, want to go home, smoke a joint and just stare at the fireplace for three hours, that's my civil liberty." Steves said marijuana could be regulated like alcohol. He didn't buy arguments by opponents who say it's a gateway drug, or that legalizing marijuana will lead to increased use by youths. "The opponents of these initiatives and moves to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, they cherry-pick their problems and they don't recognize that the major problem is with us right now its called the status quo. We're arresting hundreds of thousands of people every year for nonviolent marijuana crimes. They're not rich white people, they're poor people and people of color. That's a real problem." Steves acknowledged the difficulty getting marijuana legalized through a legislative effort rather than by ballot. Lawmakers in Vermont and Rhode Island had bills that progressed further than Connecticut's but neither were adopted. But public opinion is shifting. A national Pew poll released last week showed 57 percent of adults were in favor of legalizing marijuana use, up from 32 percent 10 years ago. "Politicians are realizing that the days when somebody could condemn you as being soft on drugs are slipping away," Steves said. "I don't think the issue is are you soft on drugs or are you hard on drugs. Now the issue is are you smart about drug policy reform?" But even in Massachusetts most of the political establishment has shied away from supporting the ballot initiative. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healy and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, both Democrats, are against it. As is U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy. The "yes" campaign has fought back with television advertising and a substantial campaign war chest, including more than $3 million in contributions from a Washington, D.C.-based cannabis reform advocacy group. On November 8, five states will consider legalizing recreational marijuana use--Arizona, California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Maine. While polls show majorities favor legalization in each state, the opposition has perhaps had the most success in a surprising place--Massachusetts. Joel Warner examines the battle over legalization there in this lengthy piece in The Boston Globe, writing in part: Massachusetts may have seemed like a legalization shoo-in, but thats not how things have been working out. After several early 2016 polls showed the pro side with a considerable lead, polls in May and July suggested a majority of voters opposed legalization and, until recently, online betting markets gave Question 4 less chance of winning than nearly all marijuana measures being tracked nationwide. While surveys over the past two months have given Question 4 a better shot at victory, dont count out the opposition just yet. Massachusetts-born casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, a staunch marijuana opponent, recently donated $1 million to fight passage of Question 4... Around the United States, dozens of efforts to pass pro-marijuana initiatives have faced opposition from elected officials. But only in Massachusetts has a group of a states top brass joined together, across party lines, to formally oppose a legalization campaign. The broadside began in March, when Governor Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, and Attorney General Maura Healey co-authored a joint Boston Globe op-ed opposing legalization. A month later, Baker and Walsh launched their anti-Question 4 Campaign for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts. Eventually, Healey and more than 120 elected officials and 15 statewide organizations joined with the group. The legalization campaign, which had until then enjoyed a year of favorable polling, took a big hit almost immediately. In April, one poll had voters supporting legalization by a 57 to 35 percent margin. But a month later, a Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll reported respondents opposing it 46 to 43 percent. Two months later, the oppositions lead grew even wider: 51 to 41 percent. Question 4s sizable and unprecedented opposition could be in part happenstance, says Kris Krane, president of the Boston cannabis consulting and operations firm 4Front Ventures. You have a governor who has very strong ties to the treatment community from his ties to health care, he says. And you have the mayor of Boston who is a recovering alcoholic and very anti-drug. (4Front Ventures donates office space to the Yes on 4 campaign and has given it more than $35,000.) Then theres the states opioid crisis, which claimed more than 1,500 lives in 2015. Baker pledged to make combating addiction a top priority, working closely with Walsh and Healey last year to craft an opioid-control law with a coalition in place to stop one kind of drug, the three then also opposed the legalization of another. As we are addressing the opiate crisis, now is not the time to introduce an entirely new drug market, says Corey Welford, spokesman for the campaign... The Yes on 4 campaign argues that marijuana reform could actually help address the opioid epidemic. They point to studies that suggest that physicians prescribe fewer pain pills in states with legalized medical marijuana and that opioid overdose deaths are 25 percent lower in those locales. But when the states top officials and health experts link marijuana and opiate deaths, folks are bound to listen. The legalization movements first response to its formidable opposition didnt help. In Colorado, marijuana advocates made hay from the fact that Governor John Hickenlooper had once cofounded a brewery. The day after Walsh and Baker launched their campaign, the MPP-backed Yes on 4 team tried a similar approach, unveiling a sign depicting the two officials who had supported additional Boston liquor licenses and longer bar operating hours saying, Our health policy: Drink more alcohol! In the face of widespread criticism, particularly in light of Walshs status as a recovering alcoholic, Luzier and Borghesani quickly apologized and scrapped the sign. It was a hint that the MPPs top-down approach to legalization campaigns might not work amid the deeply personal politics of Massachusetts... Along the way, Massachusetts legalizers might have lost their ability to fully leverage one of their big arguments: that cannabis should be treated like booze. Originally, their initiative was titled the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, as similar MPP-backed efforts are called in Maine, Nevada, and Arizona. But by August, the Massachusetts campaign was known simply as Yes on 4. Daunting adversaries arent the legalization campaigns only problem. Theres also the lack of unified support from those who are supposedly on its side... Even medical-marijuana advocates are struggling with Question 4. The Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, which supports the 36,000-plus medical-marijuana patients statewide, is remaining neutral. Thats partly because the organization doesnt want to jeopardize its relationships with public health officials, says the Alliances executive director Nichole Snow. But its also because in other states recreational marijuana has had a way of eclipsing patient needs. The marijuana industry has great potential for crowding out advocacy groups, Snow says. Business interests are going to outnumber the patients. I have already seen it happen. Earlier this year, Washington state shut down nearly all its roughly 1,500 medical dispensaries, forcing most medical marijuana patients to buy their cannabis, at a slightly discounted price, from recreational shops. Even if Massachusetts didnt go the same route after legalization, market forces could have the same effect. Legalization slows the growth of medical markets, a recent analysis by a cannabis investor network concluded. But though thats bad for medical marijuana investors, it can be good for consumers, who benefit from falling prices and broader selection amid the competition. When Larry Steinberger ran for school board in 2012, he figured he had a pretty good idea of what he was getting into. After all, he taught for 37 years in Lexington Public Schools before retiring in 2010, and for 14 years he negotiated with school administration on behalf of Lexington teachers. Steinberger had a good idea of what the financial responsibilities of the board were, but it turned out serving on the board was more work than he thought it would be. Thats a good thing, Steinberger said. Committee meetings throughout the month keep board members busy, he said, but they allow issues to be thoroughly examined before being brought before the entire board for a vote. Looking ahead, Steinberger said the growth of the Lexington student population and the impact on facilities will be a big challenge. I dont see us getting any smaller, he said. Right now Sandoz Elementary is the top issue. They need a new gymnasium badly. I wish there was the money to do that right now, but it might be a year or two away. The school boards decision to convert Morton, Sandoz, and Pershing Elementary schools into grade-level campuses drew a lot of scrutiny from parents when it was implemented before the 2015-2016 school year. Steinberger said its gone well so far, and continuing to support the move is another challenge facing the board in the coming years. Its been going well. The bussing problems many people thought wed have were minimal, Steinberger said. I thought it would help get everybody teaching the same thing, so no students are left out. Were going to see if it will improve those test scores people are always asking about. He also identified continuing to utilize the former armory as a priority. Our automotive program is in there, and we are moving the welding program in there as well, Steinberger explained. Ive always thought we take good care of the high-end students. There are a lot of kids who are going to four-year schools from Lexington. We need something for the student who may not go to a four-year school; who might prefer a two-year technical program. Those kids deserve to make a good salary at a good job. The trades are in demand, we need those jobs, he continued. And it might convince the students to stay in Lexington. Steinberger noted the importance of board members remaining flexible. He pointed to a vote earlier this year on occupational therapy services for Lexingtons youngest students. It was actually at Steinbergers request that bids for the services were taken. However, after hearing from parents, teachers, and therapists themselves on the work they do, Steinberger voted to award the contract to the current providers. We dont know everything, he said. I was set to vote one way, but after the calls and the meeting I realized that it makes a difference. I changed my mind right there at that meeting. Steinbergers philosophy is not to micromanage, and focus on keeping the district financially stable. -Four candidates are seeking three spots on the Lexington school board. The will be a town hall forum for Lexington school board candidates Nov. 3 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre. The forum is sponsored by Get Out The Vote Lexington in partnership with the Lexington Clipper-Herald. - Particularly during my sojourns in South Africa, it may not be possible for me to perform the moderation function speedily. I regret the necessity of moderation but it has been rendered inevitable by the behaviour of a particular commentator whose contributions will always and without exception be rejected. No correspondence will be entered into regarding moderation decisions. Readers are invited to comment on blog posts. All comments require to be pre-moderated by me, and I shall reject all (a) that are not related to the Lockerbie disaster or (b) that fail to meet my -- perhaps idiosyncratic -- standards of courtesy towards other contributors. Comments will not be rejected simply because I disagree with them or because I, or other contributors, find them irritating. But comments will be rejected if they distort or misrepresent the evidence; are defamatory; or if they risk embroiling me, as publisher, in defamation proceedings. I am perfectly relaxed about being sued in respect of material which I personally have posted -- but not in respect of material that others wish to post as comments and which, in any case, I often strongly disagree with. Anthem Inc., the parent of Blue Shield insurance, will bring 1,800 jobs to Atlanta and invest $20 million in the half-vacant Bank of America tower in Midtown. That's the same Anthem that threatened to pull out of Obamacare markets when the federal government sought to block its merger with Cigna. The Anthem whose Blue Shield of Georgia's huge premium increase caught the attention of Fox News. Anthem told the feds that if the merger is approved, the company might stay in the Obamacare exchanges. It claims huge Obamacare losses but can spend $20 million to convert the Bank of America tower, once heralded as Atlanta's business icon, into an app-development center, so that customers can find it easier to learn about their rising premiums. Gov. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed attended the Anthem press conference. Deal with a straight face called Atlanta "the Silicon Valley of the South," citing the city's growing roster of health IT companies. Silicon Valley companies develop out of their own resources, making startup plans and raising venture capital and inventing new products. Under GOP business development plans, Anthem and other mature corporations receive Georgia tax breaks for each job created. Unlike innovative Silicon Valley startups, Anthem's a long-established company that seeks to limit its risks. How the number of jobs created is determined was not disclosed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, or if the state monitors if a company's number of promised jobs is ever realized. Deal also cited Atlanta's "educated work force." The Anthem IT center at the Bank of America tower will be close to the company's innovation center at Georgia Tech's high-tech square. While Georgia Tech and other universities turn out sophisticated high-tech workers, many of the city of Atlanta's K-12 public schools show up on the state's failing schools list. Deal's Opportunity School District plan would allow the state to take over these schools, fire their principals and teachers, convert them to charter schools. The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and other business groups back the constitutional amendment. That's the same chamber of commerce that years ago backed the hiring of the late APS Superintendent Beverly Hall, who instigated a nationally embarrassing test cheating scandal. The Metro Atlanta Chamber's years-long effort to improve APS schools has come to naught. Despite all the attention the Atlanta school district receives, it's the smallest in the metro area, and the only one that's failing, at least on the Southside. In Buckhead and other Northiside communities, the city elementaries thrive, although many families bail out before middle school and high school. Those Northsiders often get free rides at Georgia and Georgia Tech, while those poverty-stricken Southsiders often drop out before graduating high school. Reed, who once threatened to take over the city schools, opposes the opportunity school district plan, which would allow Deal to appoint an administrator separate from the elected state school superintendent. Other Democrats crossed party lines to vote for the Opportunity School District when it passed the Legislature. The Republicans needed the Democrats' support because even with the GOP's blatant gerrymandering, it has not yet won a "supermajority" in the state House and Senate. State teachers, school boards and PTAs also oppose the amendment. The National Education Association is paying for TV ads opposing what it calls a blatant power grab by Deal. Opponents of the plan say persistent poverty causes failing schools. Deal blames school boards for not allowing enough "school choice." The last couple of years, Deal has scraped together enough money to give teachers meager raises, although some school boards have not followed through, as the AJC reported. Deal has also found money to close the gap in minimum funding for local school district. Nearing the final year of administration, Deal wants to change the formula for how the state passes along funds to local schools. Business groups, including charter school companies, are funding ads supporting the Opportunity School District, based on the Louisiana model that allowed the state to take over New Orleans schools ravaged by Katrina. The ads include a pensive Deal, who speaks of his concern for kids mired in poverty. That's the same Deal who's refused to extend Medicaid in Georgia, forcing lower-class citizens to have to buy from Anthem's Blue Shield if they want health insurance. Deal claims the state can't afford the Medicaid extension, although the feds would have funded it. The state can handle corporate tax breaks however. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution refuses to take a stand on the vital Opportunity School plan. The once courageous newspaper fears losing even more subscriptions and ads if it upsets suburban Republicans. As its print newspaper shrinks, the AJC's poorly organized AJC.com web site cuts off readers after five articles and is clumsy to navigate. Trying to connect all of the dots makes me think of the Blood, Sweat and Tears song, "Spinning Wheel.." "What goes up must come down Spinning wheel got to go round, Talking 'bout your troubles it's a cryin' sin Ride a painted pony let the spinning' wheel spin." A Land O' Lakes family is throwing a birthday celebration for a brother they just learned about. Robert Mauskoapf, 67, given up for adoption when he was born Brothers Elee, Tico Dumas found Mauskoapf while researching ancestry online Mauskopf's children paid to fly him from Phoenix, AZ to Florida to meet his brothers Robert Mauskoapf, 67, of Phoenix, Arizona was given up for adoption when he was born. His brothers, Elee Dumas of Land O'Lakes, and Tico Dumas of Jupiter said they had no idea he existed. "Our family was broken apart due to things that happened 60 to 80 years ago," said Elee Dumas. Recently, family members started doing online searches about their ancestry. Mauskoapf came up as a match. "We just knew right away that it was definitely a brother," said Tico Dumas. "Over the last six decades, I've had recurring dreams of brothers and sisters, and it was always a good feeling to be part of a family," said Mauskoapf. For Mauskoapf, that dream is now a reality. He said his children gave him a birthday gift to fly to Land O'Lakes to meet his brothers. They're already noticing all the things they have in common. "You name it, we're talking about different subjects and I say, 'That's me,' and they say 'Oh, that's me!'" said Mauskoapf. "He understands, he gets me, it's like we think alike," said Elee Dumas. "We were talking about how we don't like hot spices and it's like, 'Whoa!' you know, just little things like that," said Tico Dumas. The Dumas brothers bought Mauskoapf 67 birthday cards to make up for all the years they were apart. "What made it so beautiful was when they found out I existed they were so welcoming, so loving. Every conversation we have now we end by saying 'I love you,'" said Mauskoapf. "Unfortunately, we lost 67 years of being together, but as long as we live from this point forward we will be together." PETA has filed a federal lawsuit against Dade Citys Wild Things, alleging the Pasco County roadside zoo violated the Endangered Species Act by abusing tiger cubs for photo ops. Charges built on video shot by volunteers at facility Video shows a tiger cub pulled through a cage, another yanked on a leash Owner of facility denied charges in a released statement PETAs expose of Dade Citys Wild Things revealed tiger cubs pulled from their mothers days or even hours after they were born, said Brittany Peet, PETAs Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement. And those same cubs later being hit, thrown and yanked about all for the facility's lucrative tiger cub photo ops. PETA said they obtained undercover eyewitness video from volunteers who worked at the roadside zoo for the past year. The video shows a tiger cub being pulled through a cage, another being yanked by a leash, a staffer striking one and cubs being forced to participate in a customer encounter. PETAs eyewitness footage shows the dark side of what really goes on behind the scenes to make these tiger cub photo ops happen, Peet said. No one should support any facility that exploits wild animals as photo props. To watch the video, click HERE. (Please note - the video does not have audio, but it does have images that some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.) The owner of Dade Citys Wild Things, Kathy Stearns, declined a request for an oncamera interview. Instead, Stearns released a statement: Dade Citys Wild Things adamantly denies all the allegations by PETA in the complaint PETA makes false claims and distorts the law for fundraising tactics. Stearns also said PETA selectively edited the videos. Thats what you say when you have no other defense, said Peet. You cannot defend the indefensible. On Wednesday, the Pasco County Sheriffs Office said Stearns wanted to file charges against two volunteers for unauthorized recording of the video. Deputies said because the video has no audio it did not violate any state laws. Instead, deputies opened up an animal cruelty investigation against Dade Citys Wild Things for the images on the video. PETA also alleges the confinement of tigers in tiny, squalid enclosures also violates the Endangered Species Act. Stearns said Dade Citys Wild Things expects to win the lawsuit and will collect attorney fees in the end. The Florida Board of Education on Wednesday approved a new plan to rehabilitate two consistently failing middle schools in Polk County. It was the third such plan submitted for approval to the board. Board members noted difficulty of recruiting high-performing teachers Problem in Polk is microcosm of statewide problem Teacher grading system possibly keeps good teachers from struggling schools Several board members noted the difficulty of recruiting high-performing teachers while commenting on the group's decision. "Probably a lot of it goes to teacher pay at this point," Polk County Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd said after the board's vote. "As you look at the numbers that are going across the district right now, we're just not having those numbers go into the majors anymore." The middle schools, Lake Alfred-Addair and Westwood, had earned consecutive 'D' or 'F' grades, prompting the district to submit a 'turnaround' plan to the state. While the state board typically signs off on such plans, it took issue with Polk's inability to replace underperforming teachers with teachers rated as 'highly effective' in the struggling schools. Recruiting those prized teachers, Byrd told the board, was a challenge that ultimately proved unrealistic. The schools now have teachers who are at least rated 'effective.' "There are no unsatisfactory teachers in those schools. There are none," Byrd said. Polk's difficulty in finding top-performing teachers to turn around its most troubled schools is a microcosm of a statewide teacher recruitment problem. Critics of Florida's Republican-crafted school and teacher grading system - one largely based on student test scores - argue it dissuades quality educators from signing up to work in perennially struggling schools. Additionally, Florida teacher pay ranks below the national average, sending many top teachers packing for other states. Board member John Padget even suggested the very notion of a "fair" school grade could be in doubt under Florida's current scheme. "We should be seen as a board to be rather fair and equal with all schools, and we're having to do that with imperfect data or different data," he said. KIGALI, Rwanda - An accelerated African growth strategy for Carlson Rezidor, one of the world's largest hotel groups, is on track to achieve its target of more than 23,000 rooms open or under development in Africa by the end of 2020. Rezidors President and CEO, Wolfgang M. Neumann, who was a speaker at the Africa Hotel Investment Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, says the hotel group launched its accelerated African growth strategy in 2014 with ambitions to double its portfolio in Africa by the end of 2020. Africa has always been close to our hearts. We were the early movers on the continent in 2000 when we established our dedicated business development base in Cape Town. Today, Africa is our biggest growth market with a fully functional Area Support Office in Cape Town since 2016. We also converted our joint venture company with the four Nordic Government Development agencies, AfriNord, from a mezzanine debt funding facility to a minority equity investment vehicle to support our strategy and owners. Rezidor first entered Africa in 2000 when it opened its first Radisson Blu in Cape Town. Today Carlson Rezidors footprint in Africa has grown to include 69 hotels open and under development in 28 countries, incorporating more than 15,000 rooms. We have opened a new hotel in Africa every 60 days over the past two years Neumann says in the past 24 months Carlson Rezidor has signed a new hotel deal in Africa every 37 days. Of course, we are aware that it is not just about signing. Its really about delivering the pipeline. We have opened a new hotel in Africa every 60 days over the past two years. This year, we have already opened six Radisson Blu hotels and expect to open a Park Inn by Radisson in South Africa in the next six months. We intend to keep up this momentum of signings followed by successful openings. The six hotels opened in 2016 include Radisson Blu hotels in Nairobi, Kenya; Marrakech, Morocco; Maputo, Mozambique (first residence in Africa); Abidjan, Ivory Coast (first airport hotel), Lome, Togo; and the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, East Africas largest convention centre and host to the 2016 Africa Hotel Investment Forum. Leading player Carlson Rezidor senior vice president business development Africa & Indian Ocean, Andrew McLachlan, says Radisson Blu leads the way with more hotel rooms under development than any of the other 85-plus hotel brands active in Africa today, according to the W-Hospitality Report. Our ambition is to be the leading player in the travel and tourism sector across the continent. Exciting new developments on the cards for Carlson Rezidor in Africa include the signing of the first Radisson RED, which is expected to open in Cape Town in the course of 2017, as well as the signing of the first Quorvus Collection to be built in Lagos, Nigeria, expected to open in 2019. Carlson Rezidor aims to open 15 or more hotels in South Africa and Nigeria alone by the end of 2020, incorporating its full brand portfolio, ranging from the Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, and Park Inn by Radisson. McLachlan says Africa presents an opportunity for Carlson Rezidor to grow its resort portfolio under Radisson Blu and Quorvus Collection in locations such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar, East Coast of Kenya and Tanzania and the Cape Verde Islands. He adds that the challenges experienced in Africa are no different to those experienced in other emerging markets. Generally-speaking, the owner class in Africa today is typically a local, first-time owner and local professional team with limited or no hotel development experience. This means the learning curve is high and expensive. In addition, there is a high demand for imported products and equipment in many of the markets. To mitigate these risks, we offer hotel turnkey design and build contractors to ensure the owners and their teams have significant support when it comes to delivering each hotel. Cost saving Water and electricity are the two most expensive running costs in African hotels today and we are constantly looking at ways to design and operate our hotels with a view to saving costs and improving results, as part of our responsible business strategy, says McLachlan. Notably, 77% of Carlson Rezidors hotels worldwide have been eco-labelled and the hotel group has recorded a 22% energy saving since 2011 and a 29% water saving since 2007 across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. The hotel group is particularly focused on conserving the planets scarce water resources and its Blu Planet initiative is aimed at providing safe drinking water for children in disadvantaged areas in partnership with international water aid charity, Just a Drop. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group also partners with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group that focuses on private sector development, to promote the design and construction of green buildings in emerging markets. Through the partnership, Carlson Rezidor will use the EDGE eco-analysis software for all of its future hotel projects in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As 40% of the world's carbon emissions are generated through the construction and operation of buildings, designing green hotels supports the industry's responsibility to meet COP21 targets. Expanding its footprint into Africa also means creating employment for the local population in each country, with an emphasis on developing women to leadership positions. Many hotel jobs do not require tertiary education and present opportunities for locals to be trained and upskilled to fulfil particular roles, says McLachlan. African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation have announced that Heritiaina Randriamananatahina, (22), an agriculture entrepreneur from Madagascar, is this year's winner of the $25,000 Grand Prize in the sixth annual edition of Africa's premier award for youth entrepreneurship. Randriamananatahina is the founder of Fiombonana, an agro-processing enterprise that manufactures dairy products and confectioneries using only Malagasy raw materials, employing farmers and providing local job opportunities. Randriamananatahina was selected from a competitive pool of diverse entrepreneurs from all over Africa. This year, the Anzisha Prize celebrates increased representation of winners from francophone countries. The first runner-up was environmental entrepreneur Yaye Souadou Fall (21), from Senegal (who will receive $15,000) while agricultural entrepreneur Nguessan Koffi Jacques Olivier (19), from Cote dIvoire was the second runner-up (and will receive $12,500). The presence of two agriculture entrepreneurs in the top three is emblematic of the important role agriculture plays in Africas economies. Agriculture represented the sector with the largest share of applicants for the prize this year. The Agriculture Sector Prize was also claimed by Nguessan Koffi Jacques Olivier who demonstrated the potential for agriculture to create jobs for youth. As the grand prize-winner, Randriamananatahina impressed a pan-African panel of judges with his venture response to a real need within his community, effective business model, job-creation potential, scalability, and demonstrated leadership potential. Fiombonana has enjoyed significant success to date including sizeable growth as Fiombonana produces 800kg of cheese a week, with potential for rapid and low cost expansion due to innovations such as reverse-engineering machinery for food processing. I am so excited to win the Anzisha Prize for 2016, even though I had to drop out of school when I was in grade six. My hard work in my business is paying off. I appreciate the training I have already received so far. Now that I have won, I will invest in my own education and grow my business, says Randriamananatahina. The first runner up for the prize, Yaye Souadou from Senegal and founder of E-cover, is also the first Senegalese entrepreneur ever in the top three in the history of Anzisha Prize. The core need the venture meets is to repurpose the many discarded tyres that are available in her home city, Dakar, into multi-purpose tiles for paving playgrounds, pavements, roads, and other surfaces. Souadou believes that youth can be agents of change to solve the problems that Africa faces and can drive pursuit of opportunities for economic growth. Her win will enable her to build the production capacity that her venture desperately needs in order to meet customer demand. Olivier from Cote d Ivoire is the remarkable second runner up who founded Yaletite Entrepreneurship Group CI. Yaletite Entrepreneurship Group CI is an agricultural group with the aim of producing and selling chocolate and food crops for profit and mobilising youth for agricultural employment. It is unique for the manner in which Olivier operates his farm, through modern methods to ensure maximum yields during processing. Olivier has managed to tirelessly pursue this innovative venture, and create employment for 35 people. Olivier creates improved livelihoods for over 100 households through access to innovative farming practices. The Anzisha Sector Prize in Agriculture was also awarded to Olivier. The Anzisha Prize in Agriculture is offered with the sponsorship of the Louis Dreyfus Foundation, which promotes projects in the areas of sustainable agriculture, food security and self-sufficiency, particularly through education and direct support to farmers. The MasterCard Foundation continues to support both entrepreneurs and the Anzisha Prize support program that the entrepreneurs will now access. Joining the ranks of the Anzisha Fellows, this impressive group of young men and women are igniting the entrepreneurial spark in young people across Africa, said Koffi Assouan, program manager, youth livelihoods at The MasterCard Foundation. This ripple, the #AnzishaEffect has the power to transform the continent as these young entrepreneurs rise to become the next generation of African movers and shakers. Anzisha Prize is a truly inclusive and pan-African Prize. The program is run in a multi-lingual learning environment in which entrepreneurs can learn regardless of their preferred language of instruction such as Arabic, French, Portuguese, and even Malagasy this year. The entrepreneurs really represent the true cream of the crop from the entire continent, says Grace Kalisha, program manager for the Anzisha Prize. The Anzisha Prize is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation. The 12 Anzisha Prize finalists were hand-picked from an applicant pool of 550 entrepreneurs from 32 African countries. Now in its sixth year, Anzisha Prize celebrated these outstanding young people at an exclusive, invitation-only ceremony on Tuesday, 25 October 2016 in Johannesburg. The 12 finalists presented their ventures to a panel of judges after spending 10 days in a business accelerator camp to strengthen business fundamentals. They join a now 67 strong pool of Anzisha Fellows and will receive ongoing business-consulting support, access to experts, and access to networking opportunities to enable sustainable venture growth. Applications for the next cycle of the Anzisha Prize will open on 15 February in 2017. Nominations for promising youth entrepreneurs are welcome all year round. Ah! the '90s. That glorious time of oversized and out-of-place props in the backdrop of every Bollywood song, oddly choreographed routines, and questionable fashion choices on the part of our stars. But some things only get better with age, and Ajay Devgn is certainly in that category. With Shivaay releasing on Friday, 28 october, what better time to trace the evolution of Devgn, the star, than by going back to some of his popular songs from the '90s. These songs had us 'trippin' down memory lane. So how many of these do you remember? 'Duniya Di Tha Tha Tha' from Platform Don't remember this song? Well then, you must refresh your memory by playing it immediately! In it, Ajay fights crime, rescues damsels in distress, sets the grimy underbelly of the city in order and dances while he does so! Don't miss the strange head bobbing step that he performs in perfect sync with the other dancers. 'Raah Main Unse' from Vijaypath True love must conquer many things. In this song from Vijaypath, it has to conquer a gale force wind that whips about Tabu's hair and metres-long pallu. Ajay provides a masterclass in being coy even though all the lovers have in the form of company is one grand piano and several fluttering white flags. 'Akeli Na Baazaar Jaaya Karo' from Major Saab If you're looking for a 101 on 'How Not To Woo Your Prospective Ladylove', then gentlemen, this is it. From forcible PDA to bringing along a posse of the most irritating friends to assist in your lovelorn endeavours, this song from Major Saab has it all. There's also a moment at the very start where Ajay takes the adage 'sweep her off her feet' rather literally, by scooping an unwitting Sonali Bendre up for some paragliding. But those are minor quibbles. Sonali gets pawed, mauled, pushed around and undressed, all in the name of love but we're going to hold off on lectures about the implied patriarchy, consent issues etc for now. 'Premi Aashiq Awara' from Phool Aur Kaante In this, Ajay stalks and mauls sorry, we mean 'woos' Madhu, this time with a whole motorbike gang in tow. He also makes his bike dance. In other words, unmissable. 'Bad Boy' from Gundaraj Colour coordinated back-up dancers, check. Nasal vocals courtesy Bali Bramhabatt and Alisha Chinoy, check. 'Inspired' music by Anu Malik, check. This old gem from Gundaraj has all the prerequisites of bad '90s Bollywood songs, and is much the better for it. Bonus: Ajay even shakes a leg! 'Yeh Nakhra Ladki Ka' from Suhaag Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar are college buddies ruing the nakhras of their respective girlfriends (Nagma, Karisma Kapoor) in this song from Suhaag. Ajay does a thumka, and some bhangra moves in this number but the piece de resistance is definitely Karisma's pink sunhat (to match her all-pink costume) which puts Ajay's Stetson in the shade. 'Kuku Kuru Kuku Kuru' from Jaan Ajay sticks to his strong, silent, enigmatic avatar in this particular number, leaving Twinkle Khanna to do the swooning and pursuing. Our favourite moment: When he walks with his holster et al among gaily dressed back-up dancers. Oh also, when he's chopping up an especially stout tree. Because bodyguards double up as lumberjacks too. 'I Am 16, Going On 17' from Hulchul Not to be confused with its classic namesake from The Sound of Music, this '16 Going On 17' has follow-up lyrics like 'Dil kyun na dhak, dhak kare..." and is picturised on a writhing Kajol seducing a willing Ajay Devgn. We're not going to spoil the song with too much commentary, just leave you to enjoy it. 'O Jaane Jaan' from Haqeeqat Okay, we have to admit, this should be more on a list of Tabu's throwback songs, because Ajay doen't really have all that much to do in it. Still, for the sake of being comprehensive, take a look at this ditty. Ajay plays honeymooning husband to Tabu. Our quest for quirkiest Ajay Devgn songs from the '90s also dredged up 'Aa Pappiya Jhapiya Pa Le Hum'. We must say though, Ajay is sort of cute in this one! And for a truly peppy parting note, we leave you with this awesome number: 'Ruk Ruk Ruk' from Vijapath With dancing beggars, it may not have passed today's standards of political correctness, but since we got away with such things back in the day... If you are hunting for clues about when the fourth season of Sherlock will debut; you can stop looking: BBC has just announced that the much anticipated Sherlock season 4 will premiere on 1 January 2017. Sherlock will return in The Six Thatchers on January 1, 2017. #Sherlock pic.twitter.com/9QT9vhPGLe BBC One (@BBCOne) October 26, 2016 It had been delayed thanks to the ever growing popularity of Benedict Cumberbatch, but things seem to finally be near completion. The episode titles for the first two episodes were already released, and include The Six Thatchers (Episode 1) and The Lying Detective (Episode 2). According to Dr John H Watson's personal blog (an official spin-off site hosted by BBC), there is a peripheral entry titled 'The Six Thatchers'. According to John, the case takes place when they were approach by a student named Sally Barnicot who asks them investigate the murder of her best friend Pietro Venucci who had been found stabbed at their universitys pottery room. His boyfriend Beppo Rovito was discovered at the scene, but there was no evidence to connect him to crime. However, Sally was convinced that Beppo had killed Venucci in a fit of uncontrollable anger. And, rather unsurprisingly, Sherlock deduces what happened well before he and John had bid Sally goodbye. As for 'The Lying Detective,' the episode will reportedly be loosely based off one of Arthur Conan Doyles famous stories, 'The Adventure of the Dying Detective.' This short story sees Sherlock fake a terminal illness to coerce a guilty confession from an unhinged murdered. With two months to go for the debut of the fourth season, we can hardly wait. On Wednesday, 26 October, Salman Khan's bodyguard Shera was questioned by the Mumbai police on charges of physical assault. Akhtar Moin Qureshi filed a complaint with the DN Nagar Police Station, alleging that Shera had threatened him with a gun, and hit him, in an altercation between the two on Tuesday night. Shera has denied the allegation, saying that the duo did have an argument, but it was only verbal. Nothing happened on Tuesday, Shera told Times Now on Wednesday morning, before being questioned by the police. I went to meet a friend at Kokilaben Hospital, then I went to Pop Tates where I had a verbal argument on the phone, but no physical scuffle. The police came to my house in the morning and now I am accompanying them to the DN Nagar Police Station. I dont know the details of the charges against me. Salman on his part believes that Shera is innocent, as reported Mumbai Mirror. "They have offered complete support to Shera, who has been working for the family for the last 21 years. He has told the Khans that he wasnt involved in the brawl, and they have no reason to not believe him," the Mirror report quoted a source as saying. You can read a full report of the incident on Firstpost: Salman Khan's bodyguard Shera booked on charges of assault; questioned by cops The case has triggered a huge amount of interest in Shera, who has been Salman Khan's bodyguard for nearly two decades now. Shera is among the most recognisable faces of an elite breed of personnel who are in charge of the security of top Bollywood stars. Shera (whose real name is Gurmeet Singh) became the head of Salman's security detail back in the mid-90s. The Indian Express reports that it was Salman's brother Sohail Khan who chose Shera, and the superstar and his bodyguard have been inseparable ever since. The Indian Express report points out that Shera went to the extent of cutting off his hair and giving up his turban (he is Sikh) as it interfered with his work, and has beee known to run for miles ahead of Salman's car, clearing out crowds, when fan frenzy goes out of hand. Salman on his part, dedicated his film Bodyguard (also starring Kareena Kapoor Khan) to Shera, opting to sport the logo of the latter's firm Tiger Security on his costume despite being offered several lucrative deals to endorse other services. While Shera is the most famous of the Bollywood bodyguards, there are other faces who are also recognisable, by virtue of being with the stars everywhere they go. These include: Mayur Shettigar Hrithik Roshan Mayur Shettigar is the one who protects Hrithik Roshan from overenthusiastic fans. When Hrithik was recently (almost) knocked over by a fan at a multiplex, it was Shettigar who stepped in to prevent the situation from escalating. Apart from his security responsibilities, Shettigar is also a huge champion of Hrithik on social media, and was most recently, enthusiastically sharing the Kaabil trailer with his friends. Shettigar has said that the star treats him like a younger brother. Yuvraj Ghorpade Aamir Khan Yuvraj Ghorpade had a keen interest in bodybuilding even as a teenager, but didn't foresee a career in it when he finished school. But after joining Ace Secrity, Ghorpade found that he had a all the skills necessary for to be really good at the job. For the past several years now, Ghorpade has been in charge of Aamir Khan's security detail. It's a job he enjoys not least for its substantial prestige value. "Many of my friends are envious of the fact that I roam with such a big celebrity all the time," Ghorpade admitted in an interview with The Express Tribune. Ravi Shah Rukh Khan; Jitendra Shinde Amitabh Bachchan Not much is known about the men who guard Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan; they keep a relatively low profile. Ravi is believed to accompany SRK on all his shoots, whether at home or abroad, while Shinde is among the posse that guards Bachchan Sr whenever he steps out of Jalsa. Yusuf Ibrahim Shahid Kapoor, Sunny Leone Ibrahim doesn't fit the stereotype of the beefy guard, but he provides security services to stars like Shahid Kapoor, and Sunny Leone. Ibrahim previously told Mid-Day what his job entailed: "It all depends on the situation we are in. I do my homework before escorting any superstar to a location. The problem I face is when we exit a venue and travel to an event. Some crazy fans ride their bikes rashly to get a glimpse or take pictures with the star. To control and convince them not to risk their life is a problem." Shreysay Thele Akshay Kumar Thele doesn't' just look after Akshay, he is also in charge of the actor's son, Aarav's security. While Thele has been a solid presence by Akshay's side for several years now, in April 2016, there was a controversy when he punched a fan who got too close to the actor in the quest for a selfie. Akshay issued an apology on Thele's behalf, saying to PTI: "What my bodyguard did was wrong. I apologise for that. But sometimes you need to take care of these things because the actors dont realise... they dont understand that sometimes they might get injured too." The only thing standing in your way of achieving your dream is yourself. Thats why I decided to name the album natural disaster. Because there are things in your psyche that you cant control. Boston-based Zoya Mohan talks to The Groove Invader and Neel Adhikari about her third album Natural Disaster which released in July 2016. Vladimir Nabakov, who was a major influence for her album Letters to Toska, played a very important role in influencing her song Butterfly Catcher in Natural Disaster. New Delhi: This could mark a very important milestone in Air Indias turnaround. A consortium of 19 public sector banks is examining a proposal by the airline to convert Rs 10,000 crore worth of loans into equity. If this move actually happens, the PSU banks could together get to own about 40% stake in Air India. Obviously, these banks will also then get a say in how the airline is being run. As of now, the banks have held one meeting with officials of the airline and need to take an approval from their respective boards before this ambitious loan recast proposal moves forward. An airline official confirmed the move, saying the consortium of banks includes SBI, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Syndicate Bank, Central Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce. He also said that once the board of directors of each bank ratifies this proposal, the entire debt restructuring exercise will have to be approved by the Union Cabinet. The Cabinet will have to approve this scheme since it would mean arrivals of third party shareholders (PSU Banks) in Air India the government has been the sole owner till now. The entire loan restructuring process could take up to six months. But once it is done, we can reduce our total annual interest payment outgo by about Rs 1,000 crore, said this official. As of now, the total interest payment annually is Rs 4,000 crore, so this ambitious loan restructuring proposal could mean interest payment falls by a fourth from FY18. Restructuring of loans is critical to Air Indias turnaround. But it also brings to mind a similar attempt to involve banks in another airlines turnaround remember the Kingfisher Airlines saga? This story speaks of how PSU banks converted Rs 650 crore worth of loans into equity at a premium in the now-defunct KFA and ended up owning about 23% of the airlines equity. Given this background, not all the banks being asked to consider conversion of loans into equity may agree. The total debt on Air Indias books now stands at about Rs 46,000 crore, down by about Rs 4,000 last fiscal on several measures the airline took to reduce this leverage. Of the total debt, about Rs 20,000 crore is sought to be restructured through the Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A) scheme announced by the government recently, where banks are being asked to look at equity on return for debt repayment. This scheme allows debt recast of the sustainable portion of a loan in case 75% of the lenders, who hold 50% of the value of the debt, agree. The official quoted earlier said of the Rs 20,000 crore debt under S4A, Rs 10,000 crore each has been classified as sustainable and non-sustainable. So the non-sustainable portion is being converted into equity whereas the remaining Rs 10,000 crore will be serviced in the normal course. This story talks about tweaking of the current S4A norms where the 50% portion of the total loan to be qualified as sustainable may be reduced. Perhaps as the PSU Banks involved with Air India talk among themselves about the S4A scheme, the government may tweak the scheme itself and contours of the Air India deal may change as we go along. The story also alludes to little success PSU Banks have had so far in implementing the S4A scheme. But whether banks involved come on board or not may also depend on the desperation they themselves face about rising bad debts in the system it is possible that the loan for equity proposal of Air India may be the best bet yet for banks to reduce some of the red ink on their own balance sheets. In any case, the criticality of a debt recast for Air Indias turnaround cannot be over emphasized, since it would be crucial to the airline achieving its net profit target by FY18 and expanding the Rs 105 operational profit it report for FY16 in the current fiscal. Though the airline reduced its operational loss in the first six months of the current fiscal, it still has not been able to make an operational profit. The maiden operational profit in FY16 came for the first time in a decade and was also the first time after the two erstwhile airlines (Air India and Indian Airlines) merged to form the present entity. Air India was earlier targeting a 10-fold jump in operational profit this fiscal to about Rs 1,000 crore. So in order to achieve its target of about Rs 1,000 crore operational profit in 2016-17, it must pull up socks and hope for a significantly better operational performance in the remaining six months of the year till March 31, 2017. Another airline official pointed out that during the first half, yields (revenue per passenger) fell by almost 15%, an unprecedented fall in revenues due to all-round fare wars. This negated all the benefits of benign oil prices. We are fighting a daily battle on yields but given the stiff competition on pricing, there is little we can do. The good part is that occupancy in the front of the cabin has improved. Business Class is now 60% full and First Class 40%, this official said. New Delhi: It is now there in black and white for everyone to see. The board of directors of Tata Sons, where Tata Trusts (headed by Ratan Tata) holds 66% stake and Shapoorji Pallonji Group 18.5%, sacked Chairman Cyrus Mistry on Monday in a shock decision. At that time, a terse press statement merely announced the boards decision to replace the chairman without ascribing reasons for what lead to this momentous decision. Then, a day later, Mistry leveled serious charges against the board and against Ratan Tata in a five-page letter, written to the board in confidence but widely quoted in the media. Today, a statement from Tata Sons wondered why a confidential letter was at all leaked to the media while dismissing all allegations in that communication as unfounded and unwarranted. This is the first reaction from the group since Monday on the happenings of that board meet and its fallout. And Mistry is being squarely held responsible for the mess. Mistry made several startling and some not-so-surprising disclosures in his letter. These include financial irregularities in AirAsia India, a venture which he alleged was formed by Tata Sons at Ratan Tatas behest and where these fraudulent transactions were not probed. He also put in words what many have suspected all along - the Nano project was losing Rs 1000 crore at its peak and needed to be shut down but was continuing for emotional reasons. Mistrys calculation that the groups five legacy hotspots would need a write down of Rs 118,000 crore left the market shocked. So what are the Tatas trying to say in their rebuttal today? The statement does not make any specific allegations against Mistry but makes it clear that he had ample time and opportunity to address any wrongs he saw in the group, in his decade long association. Heres what the statement says: 1) Mistrys letter makes unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations, casting aspersions on the Tata group, the Tata Sons board and several Tata companies and some respected individuals. It is clear from this statement that a long battle lies ahead where the Tata Group will leave no stone unturned to rubbish allegations and insinuations made by Mistry in his letter. 2) The Tatas have rightfully pointed out that Mistry has been a board member of Tata Sons since 2006. And in such a long association, he would be familiar with the culture, ethos, governance structure, financial and operational imperatives of the Tata Group as well as various group companies. The statement also counters Mistrys lame duck lament by saying that as the Executive Chairman, he (Mistry) was fully empowered to lead the group and its companies. So why did Mistry choose to air his grievances only on being sacked? It is unfortunate that it is only on his removal that allegations and misrepresentation of facts are being made about business decisions that the former Chairman was party to for over a decade in different capacities, the statement points out. 3) Did Mistry ignore concerns of the board on business issues? The statement says that board directors repeatedly raised queries on certain business issues which were not addressed. It also says the trustees of the Tata Trusts were increasingly getting concerned with the growing trust deficit with Mr. Mistry. But the statement does not specify the concerns of either the board members or the trustees. It seems Mistry was nursing a grouse against the board for not listening to him while board members also thought they did not have his ear! 4) The Tatas do not want a public spat on unfounded allegations made by Mistry and the statement says these allegations are not based on facts. It is convenient to put selective information in the public domain to defend one's point of view. There are a multitude of records to show that the allegations made by Mr Cyrus Mistry are unwarranted and these records will be duly disclosed before appropriate forums. 5) The statement mentions past endeavours of the board of Tata Sons in asking group companies to pare debt and sharpen focus on the portfolio and capital efficiency. It also says Ratan Tata, the Interim Chairman of Tata Sons now, has also already stressed to senior group leaders about the need to focus on delivering strong shareholder returns. In 2011-12 the Central Information Commission 1 gave eight orders to RBI to give information in respect of the following maters 1) top defaulters; 2) Investigations and audit reports of banks by RBI; 3) warnings or Advisory issued to Bank; 4) Minutes of meetings of governing board and directors; and 5) Grading of banks. Citizens had sought this information using Right to Information (RTI). Under the law, all information which is held in government offices has to be disclosed to citizens unless it is specifically exempted. The law lists ten exemptions in section 8 (1). RBI had refused to give information on all these matters claiming that they were exempted from disclosure in Right to Information. RBI argued that it did not wish to share the information sought as some of it could adversely affect the public interest and compromise financial sector stability. RBI was unwilling to share information which might bring out the weaknesses in the financial institutions, systems and management of the inspected entities. It was further contended that disclosure can erode public confidence not only in the inspected entity but in the banking sector as well. This could trigger a ripple effect on the deposits of not only one bank to which the information pertains but others as well due to contagion effect. It claimed exemption on the grounds that disclosure would harm the nations economic interests and also said the information was held in a fiduciary relationship. On these grounds RBI claimed exemption under Section 8 (1) (a) and (j) of the RTI Act. These claims were rejected by the commission on the grounds that citizens had a right to know whether their banks were acting prudently. It was money belonging to the citizens and the truth should be known to them. It held Therefore, it is only logical that the public has a right to know about the functioning and working of such entities including any lapses in regulatory compliances. Merely because disclosure of such information may adversely affect public confidence in defaulting institutions, cannot be a reason for denial of information under the RTI Act. If there are certain irregularities in the working and functioning of such banks and institutions, the citizens certainly have a right to know about the same. The best check on arbitrariness, mistakes and corruption is transparency, which allows thousands of citizens to act as monitors of public interest. The commission ruled that information obtained in fulfillment of statutory obligations could not be claimed to have been given in fiduciary relationship. It therefore rejected the claim of exemption. RBI got a stay on all the orders. All these petitions were dismissed by the Supreme Court on 16 December 2015 in a landmark judgment. The court castigated RBI for its refusal to give information and agreed completely with the commissions orders. It scathingly said : From the past we have also come across financial institutions which have tried to defraud the public. These acts are neither in the best interests of the Country nor in the interests of citizens. To our surprise, the RBI as a Watch Dog should have been more dedicated towards disclosing information to the general public under the Right to Information Act. It also said, Because an informed citizen has the capacity to reasoned action and also to evaluate the actions of the legislature and executives, which is very important in a participative democracy and this will serve the nations interest better which as stated above also includes its economic interests. It is interesting to note that within a fortnight the RBI governor Raghuram Rajan took this call for accountability and transparency in the right spirit. He sent a new year message to all officers for 2016: It has often been said that India is a weak state. Not only are we accused of not having the administrative capacity of ferreting out wrong doing, we do not punish the wrong-doer unless he is small and weak. This belief feeds on itself. No one wants to go after the rich and well-connected wrong-doer, which means they get away with even more. If we are to have strong sustainable growth, this culture of impunity should stop. Importantly, this does not mean being against riches or business, as some would like to portray, but being against wrong-doing. ... there is a sense that we do not enforce compliance. Are we allowing regulated entities to get away year after year with poor practices even though these are noted during inspections/scrutinies? Should we become more intolerant of sloppy practices at regulated entities, so that these do not result in massive scams years later? Should we haul up accountants who do not flag issues they should detect? My sense is that we need a continuing conversation about tightening both detection as well as penalties for non-compliance throughout the hierarchy.. Finally, we are embedded in a changing community. What was OK in the past is no longer all right when the public demands transparency and better governance from public organisations. . Transparency and good governance are ways to protect ourselves from roving enquiries everyone should recognise that an effective regulator has enemies, and like Caesars wife, should be above all suspicion. Despite this, most of the information ordered to be given has not been given and this is truly contempt of court. In 1994 RBI had issued a circular that all banks should make public the names of the borrowers who have defaulted and against whom suits have been filed. However this changed over time as corruption became more brazen and many large borrowers treated the loans as largesse. To obfuscate matters Non Performing Assets (NPAs) were repackaged with the following labels: 1. Corporate Debt Restructuring or CDR (about 4 lakh crores) 2. Strategic Debt Restructuring or SDR (amount not known) 3. Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets or S4A (label invented in June 2016 When a defaulter manages to get these labels the following could happen: 1. The loan would be rescheduled. 2. The interest could be reduced. 3. The debt could be swapped with equity. When equity is taken in lieu of debt it means the bank now takes over the business risk of a bad business! The bad debts of the Nationalised banks are over 5 lakh crores. The CDR, SDR and S4A are likely to be of a like amount. Taxpayers will have to bear the burden of all this. Owing to a perverse decision of the Central Information Commission in September 2016, CDR, SDR and S4A do not give any information in RTI, and RBI claims it does not have the information! The Supreme Court has been seeking the disclosure of top defaulters in a PIL, and RBI is resisting this. This is in contempt of the apex courts judgment of 16 December 2015. RBI has not challenged this landmark judgment. The court must get its directions implemented and read the riot act to RBI. This will result as a check on arbitrariness and corruption and the flow of the nations taxpayers into the coffers of the super-rich. The author is former Central Information Commissioner. By Amjad Ali | ISLAMABAD ISLAMABAD Pakistan's foreign ministry said late on Thursday it has declared an Indian diplomat persona non grata and given him 48 hours to leave the country.The diplomat was identified as Surjeet Singh, an official at the Indian High Commission, in a statement from the foreign ministry. India said earlier on Thursday it would expel a Pakistani diplomat based in New Delhi who allegedly ran a spy ring that collected sensitive information about Indian security operations along its border. The allegations come amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals over the disputed region of Kashmir. (Writing by Kay Johnson, editing by Larry King) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Islamabad: The ADB has refused to commit funds for Pakistan's $14 billion dam project on Indus river in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), two years after the World Bank declined to fund the project following Islamabad's refusal to seek an NoC from India. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao said on Wednesday at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. Underlining that the project on Indus river in Gilgit-Baltistan in PoK was very important for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, Nakao called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, expected to generate a power output of 4,500 MW. "We haven't decided [whether to fund] this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date, the Dawn reported. He said presently the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the dam. Islamabad has consistently failed to attract foreign lenders for the project. Repeated efforts to rope in the World Bank as a co-lender had failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No objection Certificate from India for the project. Instead, Pakistan accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha. The ADB also advised the government to adopt a professional approach towards the construction of the big dam that cannot be funded by a single institution, country or group given its mammoth financial requirements and the risks involved. As a way out, the ADB advised Islamabad to restructure the Diamer-Bhasha dam project by separating power generation, land acquisition and main dam structures and their various modes of financing. The ADB chief also cautioned Pakistan to wisely implement projects under the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), another strategic project opposed by India as it passes through the PoK, and utilise their funds well so as to avoid debt or repayment problems. New Delhi: The armed forces continue to be upset with the government over a Defence Ministry circular regarding rank parity vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts at the Service headquarters even though the Ministry issued a statement today, saying no downgradation had been done. Two days after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar promised to look into the concerns of the military personnel, the Ministry issued a statement saying there has been no downgradation or any change in the existing equivalence of the Service ranks whatsoever. "The existing functional equivalence as clarified in 1991 and further reiterated in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2005 has only been re-affirmed," the statement said. It, however, failed to placate the armed forces, including some retired officers. "PM exhorts nation to send Diwali 'sandesh' to soldiers. B'crats reduce disability pension n lower status vis-a-vis civilians. Happy Diwali!," Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd) tweeted, a view echoed by serving officers in the three Services. As per the circular issued on October 18, an army Major General (rear admiral in the navy and vice-marshal in the air force) was to be on par with a principal director in the Armed Force Headquarters (AFHQ) Civil Service. A Brigadier/Commodore/Air Commodore (with about 24 years of service) was to be equivalent in rank to a director (with about 14 years of service), and a Colonel/Captain/Group Captain to a joint director in the civil service, sources in the armed forces said. So far, a colonel was equated with a director. A Brigadier did not have a clearly defined equivalence in the civilian hierarchy. However, they were treated at par with a deputy director-general. A major general was treated as the equivalent of a joint secretary. In the letter of 1992, it was clearly mentioned that a Major General was equivalent to a Joint Secretary and equivalent ranked civil officers in the Service Headquarters. Defence Ministry sources said that a Joint Secretary is equal to a Principal Director in the Services Headquarters in terms of pay band. However, sources in the Services say that the Ministry should put it in writing that a Joint Secretary is equivalent to a Principal Director. Sources in the armed forces said that the Services had issued an order for "Redesignation of Appointments of AFHQ Civil Service Officers posted at Headquarters between 2003-08) under which a Director was re-designated as Principal Director and a Joint Director as Director. It was clearly brought out that designations were purely local and would be used for day-to-day purposes alone and not entail change in status, prevailing rank and equivalence, sources said. "It is further clarified that the present reiteration of rank equivalence is only for matters of assigning duties and functional responsibilities as is already existing in different offices of the respective Service HQrs of the Army, Navy and Air Force having component of Service personnel as well as civilian officers. "It has no bearing on civilian employees outside these offices of the Service HQrs. It is reiterated that there is no change in the rank structure or the status of the Armed Forces personnel," the statement said. However, sources alleged that Office of JS (Training) and Chief Administrative Officer has been issuing regular orders establishing protocol and status equivalence based on the redesignation. They fear that with the letter of October 18 a Joint Secretary in the MoD will go a notch higher than a Major General. Senior armed forces officers said an attempt at downgrading the status of military officers vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts had been resisted way back in 1992 by then Chiefs of Staff Committee. "But, babus prevailed by simply bulldozing their way and (because of) unwillingness and irresponsibility of political executive. "Issue is simple. There can be no more than one parameter for 'equivalence'. How can there be separate equivalence for 'Functionality', 'Warrant of Precedence'; and based on 'Pay Scales/ Grade Pay' ? Accepting such multiple regimes is a deliberate act of causing confusion and subverting status as per convenience," a senior officer said. The officers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it was important to scrutinise the mandate of AFHQ cadre. Noting that AFHQ officers were meant to provide only secretarial support and had no executive authority or powers, they said comparing them to armed forces officers who have executive powers, exercise command over men in peace and war, and also have substantial judicial powers, is insane - like comparing "chalk and cheese". Alappuzha: With four villages in Alappuzha district reporting ducks dropping dead, authorities have called a meeting on Thursday to decide if ducks in a one-kilometer radius, covering these villages, need to be culled. District officials on Wednesday burnt the dead ducks in the affected four villages, with Thakazhi reporting the maximum. Around 500 dead ducks in Thakazhi village were burnt and the district authorities have decided to hold a final meeting of all stakeholders on Thursday to decide if culling needs to be undertaken in these four villages. Two years ago, thousands of ducks and hens were culled in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts following the outbreak of avian flu, which was then confirmed as H5N1 virus. Keeping that in mind, state's Animal Husbandry Minister K Raju earlier this week asked the district administration to investigate and warned the farmers to immediately report if poultry birds drop dead in significant numbers. Kochi: Congress MP and former Union Minister K C Venugopal on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "check" the "unjustifiable and rigid stand" taken by his cabinet colleague Maneka Gandhi in dealing with the growing stray dog menace in Kerala. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Alappuzha MP criticised the Union Women and Child Development Minister, who is stalling Kerala government's move to kill "dangerous stray dogs, which create threat to the life of common people" calling it as "unlawful and unscientific". A day after a 90-year-old man was killed in stray dog attack in the state, he urged the PM to "clarify" the stand of the Union government in the matter. He asked whether the Union government values human life or the dangerous animals which threatens humans. "I would request the government to clarify the stand of the central government in this issue and remove all confusions in this regard. The public in Kerala is in anger and they need a solution in this matter as soon as possible." Venugopal said Maneka Gandhi has stated that Kerala Anti-Social (Prevention) Act (KAPA) should be used against those who kill stray dogs, "which has drawn wide criticism in the state where stray dogs have become a major menace." "I would also request the Prime Minister to take a favourable stand in this matter and to check the unjustifiable and rigid stand taken by the union Minister of Women and Child development," the letter said. He said repeated incidents of stray dog attacks in Kerala have created "utter panic and apprehension" among the people in the state. "The attack by dangerous stray dogs has been happening on a daily basis in various parts of the state.There are reported incidents of stray dogs' attacks on infants, children, old age people and pets," he said. He said following repeated stray dog attacks, there is strong demand from the public in the state to kill dangerous stray dogs. Kathmandu: Amending the new Constitution is the top priority for the Nepal government and a federal commission will soon be formed to resolve the issue, Prime Minister Prachanda said on Wednesday, underlining the need for flexibility to accommodate demands of the agitating Madhesi community. "On Constitution amendment, I personally feel we need to be more flexible on key issues to accommodate the demands of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front and other ethnic groups," Prachanda told reporters on conclusion of the meeting between the ruling alliance Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-Maoist Centre and main opposition CPN-UML. Prachanda said that the coalition government has accorded high priority to the task of Constitution amendment and election. The Prime Minister also underlined the need to bring on board the Madhesi parties and their alliances, which have been demanding Constitution amendment, before holding the election of the local bodies. The election of the local bodies could not be held for more than 16 years due various reasons. "We will have to redraw boundaries of some provinces and the issue of national language also needs to be worked out." He said an earlier understanding between N C and CPN-UML on the number and demarcation of provinces could be considered a basis for redrawing the provinces for the time being. Re-demarcation of the provincial boundary is the major demand put forth by the agitating Madhesi community, mostly of Indian-origin and other ethnic minority groups. "A federal commission will soon be formed to recommend and settle the issue of provincial boundaries in the long run." Prachanda said the tricky issue of citizenship could be resolved by reverting to the provisions of the interim constitution. Differences between the ruling coalition and the main opposition parties are narrowing and the three parties are nearly on the same page on the issues of Constitution amendment and its implementation, said sources close to the Prime Minister. Talking reporters shortly after his one-and-a-half hour meeting with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman K P Sharma Oli, Prachanda said "this was the first meeting between the three top leaders after I became prime minister for the second time." He also hinted that relations have improved among the major political forces at the recent time. "The impeachment motion against Lok Man Singh Karki could bring the three parties together to push for constitution amendment," Prachanda said. The Parliament has recently started discussion on motion relating to impeachment of Karki, the chief of anti-graft body. "I am now turning my focus on forging alliance with political parties, warming and normalising relations with immediate neighbours, speeding up reconstruction and giving people a sense of good governance in the run-up to the elections," Prachanda said. Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistani High Commission staffer, who was arrested on Thursday morning by Delhi Police on espionage charges, has been let off as he enjoys diplomatic immunity on Indian soil, CNN-News18 reported. He will be sent back in 24 hours and has been asked to leave India within the next 48 hours. Akhtar, along with four others, was arrested on Tuesday morning after a tip-off by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and was allegedly arrested with sensitive defence documents. While Akhtar, has been declared a persona non-grata, his two Indian aides have been sent into a 12-day police remand. Delhi Police arrests Pak High Commission staffer with Defence documents; Basit also summoned by MEA at 11.30AM -reports @manojkumargupta He was remanded at Chanakyapuri police station under the espionage charge. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has summoned Pakistans High Commissioner Abdul Basit at 11.30 am on Thursday to convey that Akhtar has been declared persona non grata. FS summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) October 27, 2016 Pakistan's government has lodged a protest over the arrest of Akhtar with the Indian authorities. Basit said that Pakistan High Commission never engages in any activity that is incompatible with its diplomatic status. He also strongly protested over the detention of Akhtar in violation of 1961 Vienna Convention. He has allegedly also asked the Indian authorities to ensure that such harassment does not happen again. Basit strongly protested with Indian Foreign Secy at detention & manhandling of Pak HC staffer in violation of 1961 Vienna Convention News18 (@CNNnews18) October 27, 2016 According to CNN-News18, some maps and details of force deployment were found with Akhtar. It also quoted sources as saying that Akhtar was on Pakistan ISI's payroll. The Crime Branch also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the staffer. "The spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. The spies were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information," said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir. A former Raw official RSN Singh told CNN-News18 that the fact that this has been released to the media and this is being given so much importance, reveals that this is a major catch. Crime branch officials have also briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, according to a report by The Times of India. Some staffers came under scrutiny after a spy ring with links to Pakistan intelligence was busted in November, 2015, according to an NDTV report. Four arrests were made in Jammu and Kashmir and one of the accused was supposed to meet a high commission staffer who would have helped him with papers to reach Pakistan. The identity of the accuseds source at the High Commission could not be ascertained then. With inputs from PTI. The Delhi police, on Thursday, said that after working for about six months, they were able to apprehend Mehmood Akhtar, a Pakistan High Commission staffer, and two others, who were allegedly working as spies in India for over one-and-half years. Akhtar was working in close association with two men, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, from Rajasthan. The police got a tip off that they will be meeting on 25 October at the national zoological park in New Delhi. After the cops apprehended them, Akhtar identified himself as Mehmood Rajput from Chandni Chowk. He even presented a fake aadhaar card to the police to dupe them about his identity. #EXCLUSIVE | CNN-News18 accesses the image of fake Aadhar card that the Pak High Commission staffer was carrying with him pic.twitter.com/CZdzB6p7eh News18 (@CNNnews18) October 27, 2016 However, during interrogation, he invoked diplomatic immunity. This confounded the police as Akhtar had identified himself as an Indian national. Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs were called and after checking the records, it was ascertained that Akhtar was allegedly working for the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. According to the Delhi police, he was deliberately put in the visa department to identify and get in touch with potential recruits, possibly from a poor economic background, and convince them to work as a spy. He was arrested on espionage charges on Thursday morning but released soon after he invoked diplomatic immunity and was asked to leave India within next 48 hours. Akhtar was recruited in Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI about three years ago and posted in the commission around two and a half years ago, said the Delhi police. The Delhi police also clarified on the role of the other two men. Jangir was recruited by Maulana after his business suffered a major loss, while Maulana was recruited by someone called Shoaib, who allegedly works as a visa agent in Jodhpur, police said. Defence deployment and border deployment papers were found in their possession. The police said that the three men also had a list of BSF officials who were posted at the border. They used to meet at least once a month at a tourist spot and exchange documents, the Delhi police said. The Delhi police is on the look out of more people, who are involved in this spy ring, and hope to arrest them soon. Theres good news from Kashmir. No, the 'Kashmir problem' hasnt been solved. None of the problems have been, actually. But its good news anyway that the government has decided to wake up to one part of the stinking rot under its nose. The rot has been around forever at least 1,500 years if one goes by the historical poem, Rajtarangani but governments of various sorts have either repressed the place or turned a blind eye in or to Kashmir. That tendency has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade. The particular part of the rot that the government has just decided to acknowledge is that the state police has been compromised. On Saturday, 10 policemen were finally suspended. They are accused of not having resisted when boys who were taking up militancy snatched their weapons. And it's about time too. Enough blood has flowed down the fetid drains of Kashmir while the world at large has pretended that things are as the 'narratives' say they are. They are most certainly not and the mystery of the snatched rifles is a good illustration of that. The accusation against the policemen might as well be that they colluded with the wannabe militants who took their weapons. That would mean that they wear uniforms with the President of Indias police medal but assist and abet those fighting the State. Its a pretty neat bargain for them, for they get salaries, perks, pensions, facilities and the much-favoured delight of oppressing and extorting from those who are not part of the network of power. So what exactly is the deal with these snatched rifles? Apparently, the organisers and handlers of the new militancy which has been gradually emerging in south Kashmir over the past five years or so did not want to send weapons for the new boys without testing them. So boys who wanted to be militants had to prove their militant capabilities by snatching weapons from policemen or paramilitary soldiers. It would seem that would be easy in a place where collusion and the free flow of power and wealth across presumed dividing lines is commonplace. The intriguing thing is how the powers that rule the state and these powers include a variety of security agencies and forces managed to not know what was going on. One is speaking here of the basic fact that guns were being snatched, not necessarily that those from whom they were being snatched could be colluding with the loot of their own weapons. That is the amazing vitality of a conflict economy such as this one! On both sides That people of all sorts have been playing both sides simultaneously in this unbelievably vitiated place has been well-known to all but the blind, deaf and mute. Those who have been playing both sides include politicians, bureaucrats, militants and mediapersons, so why would the list not include policemen and others charged with fighting militancy? The uncomfortable fact that stares us in the face is that the police force has been compromised, very deeply compromised, for years. But most of us have gone along with the pretence that lines dividing State and anti-State, 'mainstream' and 'secessionist', friend and enemy, ours and theirs exist. It became clear around a year ago that information had been leaked to militants when one of the most effective operatives of the state police was killed when he went to try and nab one of the most important militants of recent years, and a bunch of highly-trained infiltrators. The victim was a sub-inspector who was nicknamed 'laptop' for his immense skills at cyber tracking. He was said to be a walking-talking encyclopaedia of information on militants. Not only did it become clear that that officer was working with a double (or triple) agent, but also that such a valuable officer whose talent was behind a computer was apparently persuaded to go to the site where he was ambushed and killed by those who he thought he was tracking. Did colleagues who saw him as competition engineer that? Faced with a tongue-lashing from the highest authorities, and public outcry, the state police killed the militant who had ambushed and killed that operative and they did it with amazing alacrity. They did not, however, nab or kill the group of at least eight Pakistani militants who that operatives killer had gone to receive soon after their infiltration. Those militants have wreaked havoc against the forces in several militant attacks since the beginning of the year. Blood will continue to flow but this sort of duplicity must end. Raipur: A villager, who had served as Special Police Officer (SPO) during the Salwa Judum movement in Bastar, has been killed allegedly by Maoists in the insurgency-hit Sukma district on Thursday. The body of Podiyam Dula, in his 40s, was found in a forest area this morning between Murliguda and Banda villages, Sukma Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela said. "As per preliminary information, a group of rebels picked the victim from his village Banda last night. He was later shot dead," he said, adding soon after being informed, security forces rushed to the spot and the body was brought to Konta for post-mortem. Dula had worked as the SPO from 2006 to 2007. According to his brother, Dula was mentally unstable for the past several months, Elesela said. The Naxals have reportedly left a note at the spot in which they claimed that the victim was helping police. However, the SP refuted the charge. Salwa Judum, an anti-Maoist civil militia, was disarmed and disbanded in 2011 in the state following a Supreme Court order declaring as illegal and unconstitutional the deployment of tribal youths as Special Police Officers in the fight against Maoist insurgency. The signs are too glaring to be misread. The Indo-Russian relationship that has stood the test of time, regime changes, and seven decades of global geo-strategic upheavals, is on the cusp of a major transformation. Caught between a crink of history and limitations of geography, the partnership is moving away from an all-weather alliance to a more utilitarian one. And both countries seem powerless, despite considerable mutual interest and goodwill, to turn back the clock. Recent events have conspired to hasten the drift in relationship between two erstwhile BFFs. On Wednesday, the Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, arrived in New Delhi to co-chair a meeting of the Indo-Russian Inter Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGCMTC), an annual bilateral exercise aimed at deepening military-strategic ties between the two nations. PTI reported that Sergei Shoigu's meeting with Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar, and a subsequent delegation-level talk saw a renewed stress on India's defence equipment imports the joint production of fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), upgradation of Su-30 MKI planes, and firming up the contract for the Triumf air defence system. Even as details of the $12 billion Indo-Russian defence deal signed by Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin in Goa this month were being thrashed out by the two defence ministers, reports surfaced that Russia is also eyeing the multi-billion dollar deal for P75-I project under which six conventional submarines are to be built with Air Independent Propulsion systems. The picture that emerged from the IRIGCMTC meeting is of two friends bonding over military hardware. New Delhi appears eager to open purse strings and assuage Moscow's insecurity over US supplanting itself as India's largest arms supplier. Russia seems bend on sending a message that its flirtation with Pakistan is the side-effect of strategic necessity, not an effort to cold shoulder a Cold War-era partner. Beyond the utilitarian deepening of ties, though, the discord is palpable. One has to go by not what is being said but what is being done behind the scenes. Almost at the same time that Parrikar was claiming Russia's "consistent and unwavering support" for challenges faced by India on cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, Russia was playing a game of roulette. It nodded towards India on "zero tolerance against terrorism" and winked towards Islamabad by signaling a deepening of military-strategic ties. During his condolence message to Pakistan Prime Nawaz Sharif on the terrorist attack in Quetta, Russia President Vladimir Putin indicated that Russia is willing to scale up the relationship from Level one to two, strengthening the impression that the recent Pakistan-Russia joint military exercise that raised the hackles in India wasn't a one-off. "The president of Russia stated his confidence that the plotters and executors of the barbaric crime will be brought to justice, and confirmed Russia's readiness to further expand counter-terrorist cooperation with Pakistani partners," the Kremlin said in its missive to Islamabad, reports The Telegraph. Now let's take a close look at this development. Despite India's virulent and unguarded negative reaction to Russia's joint military exercise with Pakistan post the Uri attack, Moscow did not cancel Druzhba-2016, its first military exercise with Pakistan. Moreover, just before Putin was scheduled to arrive in India in October for the BRICS Summit and a bilateral meeting, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces, General Oleg Salyukov confirmed that Moscow would hold another round of military exercises with Pakistan in 2017. And now, we have Putin expressing desire to hold Pakistan in a firmer strategic embrace. It cannot be lost on Russia that its "all-weather friend" India would be noting these developments with considerable alarm. Yet, for now, Russia seems unready to humour India beyond becoming its favourite arms and technology supplier. So, what is causing this chill in Indo-Russian ties and a new, uncharted direction to the bilateral relationship? The reasons are many, and not all are within the two nations' control. Carnegie India director C Raja Mohan writes in Indian Express: "...A sovereign (nation) has no permanent friends... Nothing illustrates this more than the evolution of Russias ties with China and Pakistan. Few countries in the non-Western world have done more damage to Russian interests. The Chinese alignment with the West from the 1970s and the Pakistani jihad against Moscow in the 1980s were central to the defeat of the Soviet Union in the Cold War. That was then; Moscow now believes it can play the China card in enhancing its leverage with the US. Some in Moscow may also bet that cosying up to Pakistan would help caution India against drawing too close to America. Others in Russia might point to the unintended consequence of pushing India into the arms of the US. Even though a much diminished force, Russia still has a huge say in global geopolitical developments. One of the reasons why it has grown close to the China-Pakistan axis is the predicament it finds itself in vis-a-vis NATO nations and its fast worsening relationship with the US. Reports have emerged that alarmed at building up of Russian warships with cruise missiles entering the Baltic Sea, US, Britain, Germany, Canada and other NATO allies are planning the biggest military deployment near Russian border since the Cold War. And this comes while Russia is staring eye-to-eye at the US on Syria, and Washington is leveling charges of Russian meddling in US Presidential Election. Now, in this backdrop, Russia as a sovereign nation cannot but recalibrate its strategic partnerships, more so when it feels that India has grown close to the US. The Telegraph report, quoting a Kremlin transcript, mentions a dialogue between Putin and Russian journalists in Goa on growing Indo-US ties: "India, for example, is making friends with the United States... Good for them! The United States is a great power, and India is a great power. Great powers have interests and they pursue these interests in a multilateral format. It is impossible to imagine the modern world any different." The shades of this new partnership between India and Washington was evident when Russian interlocutors failed to include strong language from India against US' role in Syria in the Goa Declaration. So, while the two nations go about securing their own strategic interests there may not be any degradation of ties, but the era of Cold War bonhomie is, well, and truly, over. New Delhi: Shoaib, the Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent allegedly involved in espionage racket, was detained near his home town this evening, police said. A Pakistan High Commission official, identified as Mehmood Akhtar, was detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage racket involving sharing of sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. Two people, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir were also arrested for sharing sensitive information and defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. "He (Shoaib) was responsible for recruiting Subhash and Maulana in the module. He was detained near Jodhpur today evening," said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police(Crime). Shoaib had come in contact with Maulana around one-and-a-half year back, who lured the latter to join him in collecting vital information about the installations of army and para-military forces in Gujarat and Rajasthan, the officer said. Yesterday, after getting a tip-off about the presence of Akhtar along with Shoaib, Ramzan and Jangir at Delhi Zoo, the police had nabbed Akhtar along with Ramzan and Jangir but Shoaib had managed to escape, said the officer. "We had sent a request to Jodhpur Police about detaining Shoaib and today evening he was detained. He will be brought to Delhi soon," said the officer. Shoaib's questioning is likely to reveal about the network of other spies who were recruited in the module. Police has also got to know Nagaur-based Ramzan used to recruit locals which included army and para-military forces personnel to pass on information/documents, said Yadav. He had introduced Subhash as a para-military officer to Mehmood for getting high money for sharing of important documents, police said. Acting tough on an arrested Pakistani spy Mehmood Akhtar, who was handling espionage activities in the guise of an employee in the High Commission in New Delhi, India on Thursday asked the neighbouring country to recall its staffer within 48 hours. "Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, given 48 hours to leave India," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup in a press meet. His family also have to leave within the deadline given. "Mehmood Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi Police yesterday while he was receiving sensitive documents pertaining to national security of India,"he said. Swarup said that following an intelligence tip-off, Akhtar, who was among the personal staffers of Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit, was detained for a short while by the Delhi Police before being released due to his diplomatic immunity. "Mehmood Akhtar stated that he had joined Baloch regiment of Pakistan Army in 1997, came on deputation to ISI in 2013. Mehmood Akhtar was posted in September 2013 to Pakistan High Commission, where he's currently working," he said. The external affairs ministry spokesperson said that while the spy ring has been busted, "the ring-leader has been sent back." Swarup refuted allegations by the Pakistani High Commissioner made earlier in the day that Akhtar was mistreated and harassed in police custody. He went on to give a line by line rebuttal of Pakistan's allegations. Swarup said that Akhtar was detained but was treated with courtesy in accordance with his diplomatic status. He said it was Akhtar who indulged in subterfuge and tried to conceal his identity initially. Swarup told the press that Akhtar himself, in the presence of MEA officials, had said that he was treated well. Categorically deny this,he was treated with courtesy befitting his diplomatic status: MEA on allegations of Mehmood Akhtar being manhandled pic.twitter.com/1cS4Z0m2wl ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 The Pakistani High Commissioner had even lodged a protest over the "detention and manhandling" of Akhtar with the Indian authorities strongly rejecting the Indian accusations, terming them "false and unsubstantiated." Basit said that the detention of was in violation of 1961 Vienna Convention. On the Pakistani allegation that Indian conduct was in violation with the 1961 Vienna Convention, Swarup said that no convention bars a nation from acting against a person whose conduct is not in line with his diplomatic status. He said, "India was well within its right to declare him persona non grata." With Pakistan losing no time to link the spy saga as India's attempt to divert attention from Kashmir, Swarup said that he "fails to understand the rationale" behind such a statement. In a strongly worded statement, "India", Swarup said, "has conveyed its objection to Basit, stating that it should ensure that all Pakistani diplomats should act in a way that merits their diplomatic status and should not indulge in acts manifesting enmity to India." The Delhi Crime Branch also arrested two persons, both residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar. "The alleged spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. They were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information," said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, he said. Srinagar: A primary school building and two vehicles were set ablaze by some persons in Kashmir in separate incidents of arson over the past 24 hours, police said on Thursday. This was the 19th school building set on fire by unknown persons since the current unrest began in Kashmir following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on 8 July. A police official said Government Primary School at Taaper in Pattan area of Baramulla district was set on fire by unknown persons late last night, a police official said. He said the three-room building was gutted in the fire. In another incident, miscreants set on fire an autorickshaw in Rainawari for violating the strike call given by the separatists, who are spearheading the agitation. The autorickshaw was destroyed in the fire, the official said. Unconfirmed reports said a truck was set ablaze at Parimpora in the outskirts of the city this morning. However, police denied any such incident having taken place. Pakistan resorted to a tit-for-tat response on Thursday telling an Indian official to leave the country within 48 hours post Indian police's arrest of a Pakistan High Commision personnel on charges of espionage, reports said. The Pakistan government declared Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission as persona non grata (an unwelcome person), ANI reported. According to Times Now, Singh has been given official 48 hours to leave the country. The Pakistan government also summoned Gautam Bambawale, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan related to the incident. Pak Foreign Secy conveyed decision of Govt of Pak to declare Surjeet Singh (an official of the Indian High Commsn) as persona non grata. ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 On Tuesday, a Pakistan High Commission staffer was detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage ring. According to PTI, Mehmood Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the Pakistani High Commission was arrested by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. The Police claimed that Akhtar had shared the details with the ISI. Two of Akhtar's accomplices were already arrested arrested He said that he is on deputation to ISI since January 2013 and is a serving Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army and native of village Kahuta of Rawalpindi district, Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police(Crime) told PTI. During interrogation, Akhtar said that he was posted in Pakistan High Commission for last two-and-a-half years, according to police. India had declared Akhtar as person non-grata. However, it is also suspected that he lured many people into the spying ring by offering them good money and that there was a honey trap at play to lure people, said another officer in the probe team. Sources said more people in the Pakistani High Commission may be involved in the case. Pakistan, however, has denied the charges. According to TV reports, Pakistan's decision to declare Singh as persona non grata is a retaliatory action in response to India's action against Akhtar. Pakistan also resorted to cross-border firing on Thursday evening in Sundarbani in Kashmir. Jammu: Seven persons were injured when Pakistani troops shelled over 15 BOP and 29 hamlets with mortar bombs and fired heavily from automatic weapons overnight in R S Pura and Arnia Sectors along the International Border in Jammu district. "Seven persons including five women belonging to two families of Goparbasti village of R S Pura sector were injured overnight as Pakistan Rangers targeted civilian areas," the police said. BSF troops guarding the border line retaliated to the Pakistani firing. "After Pakistan Rangers used 82 mm mortar shells to target civil and Border Security Forces (BSF) facilities in RS Pura, the BSF retaliated effectively using same calibre weapons," police sources added. "There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BoPs and villages along IB in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till this morning", a police officer said. Pakistani troops pounded over 20 civilian hamlets along IB in Arnia and R S Pura in Jammu district overnight, he said. Over 15 BOP were also targeted. In the shelling, seven civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in R S Pura this morning, he said, adding the injured have been evacuated to a hospital for treatment. Pakistani posts started firing heavy mortars towards the Indian side at 2035 hours, a BSF officer said. "Heavy mortar shells were fired towards Arnia last night", Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said. On Wednesday, an officer of the Border Security Force was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him during in RS Pura sector along the International Border in Jammu. As many as 16 people, mostly women, have been injured in the cross-border firing in the RS Pura sector in the past two days. Assistant Sub Inspector of BSF A K Upadhyay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He received splinter injuries in his hand on Wednesday. Eight civilians were injured in shelling in R S Pura and Arnia on 25 October. Singh said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border. People have been migrating to safer locations. "In the wake of the heavy firing, border residents are migrating to safer locations. Whenever there is lull, they leave their houses to shift to either safe camps or to their relatives' houses at safer locations", Singh said. A six-year-old boy and a BSF jawan were killed in the cross border shelling in RS Pura sector on 24 October. Over 55 ceasefire violations have taken place since the surgical strikes carried out by the Army on terror launch pads in PoK, in which four persons, including three security personnel, died and over 25 were injured. With inputs from IANS and PTI Jammu: Alleging Pakistan for "destabilising" Jammu and Kashmir, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Thursday said the neighbouring country is a "failed state" and time would come when it will "cease to exist on the world map". "Time will come when Pakistan will not be on the map of world. It will have similar fate as that in the period when Bangladesh was carved out," Singh said. He said Pakistan has turned "jittery" following surgical strikes on terror launch pads by Indian Army in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). "It is now resorting to continuous ceasefire violations and pushing in militants to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir. It also engineering what is happening in Kashmir Valley," Singh said. "Pakistan has been isolated with the proactive and strong campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the globe. It has been isolated on the global map and has become a failed and a terrorist state," he claimed. He was speaking at a function to commemorate the 69th Martyrdom day of Brigadier Rajendra Singh (MVC posthumous), organised at latter's birth place Bagoona at Rajinderpura village in Samba district. Recalling the bravery and sacrifice of Rajendra, the Deputy Chief Minister said personalities like him inspire us to stand for the sovereignty and integration of the country. He exhorted upon the youth to remember and emulate the bravery of such heroes. Singh said the government is committed to the welfare of soldiers and their families and informed that it was contemplating to formulate a policy for providing jobs and compensation for wards of martyred soldiers. "...In a country no caste or religion should have separate judicial system. India needs a Uniform Civil Code and practices such as triple talaq should come to an end. If a Muslim man rapes a woman, will he be tried under the shariyat law and lashed or lynched publically? Even Islamic countries won't accept it..." said Union minister Nitin Gadkari in an interview with The Economic Times. He was replying to a question on his position on the ongoing Uniform Civil Code debate. Nothing wrong in what he said either morally or from the legal point of view. The only problem is it takes the same tangent as that of his party colleagues. It makes practices in the Muslim community the reference point for his argument while those in any other community could have served the same purpose. The mention of the Muslim community maybe unintentional but it reflects the flaw in the approach to the code debate. Is it just happenstance that the uniform civil code debate invariably runs into Muslim personal law? No. Is it necessary that any discussion on the code must portray the Muslim community as the resisting party? No is the answer again. The uniform code involves several religious and ethnic communities, including Hindus who constitute above 80 percent of the country's population. Why is it then the debate on it is so Muslim-centric? It is possible mischief has been built into it with some deliberateness. No one wants a code; they just want to keep the talk going - communalising an essentially secular debate has its uses, political and otherwise. The fact that the biggest votaries of it are linked to Hindutva politics adds to the suspicion. If they are really serious they would busy themselves preparing the draft code and seek its ratification from the Hindu community first, not get into the business of polarising debates. This idea, proposed by a panellist on a television channel, makes sense. Uniform Civil Code is not a bad idea at all, at least theoretically. How it would tackle hundreds of communities, including tribals and dalits, following their own personal law, and using it as a social identity marker and instrument of group cohesion is a different matter though. Beginning the process with Hindus would take the rancour off the debate and create a positive ambience for the creation of the common code. This is possible if the real intention is not to have a Hindu civil code imposed on every community in the country. At present, aggrieved individual members of any community can move court for justice under secular laws guided by provisions of the Indian Constitution. The decision of the courts overrides the decision of those dispensing personal law. Our Constitution, through a set of rights, ensures that the individual is protected against the whims of the community. This in some way blunts the need for a uniform civil code. Just as secular laws have not managed to break the stranglehold of the community over the individuals, the common code may not achieve anything significant. It might even lead to communities getting more rigid and protective about their personal laws. Now, what is the real intention behind the demand for the common code? It won't ever be known. Since it is favoured overwhelmingly by the members of the Hindutva Parivar, there is scope for suspicion that it could be driven by an agenda. The minorities, including Muslims, have already expressed concern. A BJP government raising the matter aggravates their apprehension. If the government is really serious about having a common civil code, it should begin by stopping the debate from being Muslim-centric. It would be the first test of its actual intention. Mumbai: Shiv Sena on Thursday needled Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is in a quandary over a no-confidence motion passed against Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, as it exhorted him to take the democratic route and remove the officer rather than being "unnecessarily stubborn" on the issue. As many as 105 corporators in the NCP-ruled NMMC, barring six from BJP, have unanimously passed a no-confidence motion against Mundhe for his alleged "autocratic" style of functioning. The motion was supported by Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress and Independents. On Wednesday, NMMC Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane demanded his immediate recall by the chief minister saying that the officer has lost all right to head the civic body. However, the final decision on Mundhe now rests with Fadnavis, as he holds the urban development portfolio. "In a democracy, majority holds immense significance and the no confidence motion has been passed with majority. Thus, the chief minister should not show unnecessary stubbornness. If all elected representatives have stood up against the civic chief, the state government has to respect their decision," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana. Fadnavis, however, has indicated his support for Mundhe, saying "targeting an officer for doing his duty, exposing irregularities and preventing wrong happenings is absolutely wrong". Sena claimed that had the BJP corporators been given the "liberty" to do what they deemed right, they too would have voted against Mundhe. "How can corporators from across party lines vote against him without a valid reason? In his autocratic style of functioning, he has belittled the role of elected representatives. He has never been able to complete his minimum three-year stipulated term whichever post he held. He should introspect reasons behind it," it said. "An officer is a representative of the government who has to abide by the Constitution. Even the CM talks respectfully with members of Opposition parties. Elected representatives have immense responsibility towards people and it isn't right to try and get them in trouble by using your position," the Sena said. Mundhe was accused of "undemocratic functioning" by corporators even though his drive against illegal constructions, allegedly linked to politicians, has earned him the backing of a section of residents. New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party legislator from Okhla, Amanatullah Khan, was on Wednesday booked in a case of physical assault on two engineers, Delhi Police said. A case was registered against Khan and four-five of his associates on the statements of Tashir and Naushad, who alleged that the accused beat them up with sticks following a verbal duel over a Facebook post. Naushad and Tashir are residents of Shaheen Bagh area of south-east district. They were allegedly attacked by Khan's associates on late Tuesday night. Both suffered injuries to their heads and internal organs during the clash. Police said a cross-case was also registered against both the engineers at the Jamia Nagar Police Station on a complaint by an accused Feroz that both engineers began arguing first on Facebook and abused Khan and others associates. "Khan and his associates were booked under Sections 341,325 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code on various charges, including causing grievous hurt on the complaint of Naushad and Tashir," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Romil Baniya told IANS. "The two were booked on a complaint about threats, abuse and others offensive comments at the Jamia Nagar police station." Khan was earlier booked on a molestation charge levelled by a kin. Patna: Hitting out at the Centre for abolition of 'triple talaq' and introduction of a Uniform Civil Code, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday said the move was aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear directed against Muslims to reap electoral benefits. "By seeking abolition of triple talaq and imposition of Uniform Civil Code, Modi and the BJP are trying to create an atmosphere of fear against Muslims, so that they could create a communal frenzy in the country to reap benefits in the next general elections," he told reporters in Patna. Singh was on a day-long visit to Bihar to appear in a four-year-old case of making alleged derogatory remarks against Yoga guru Ramdev, in which a court in Vaishali district granted him bail. Launching a frontal attack on Modi for questioning the justification of triple talaq and backing empowerment of Muslim women recently, the Congress General Secretary said, "The Prime Minister talks about empowerment of Muslim women, but has himself failed to do so." He was referring to Modi's separation from his wife decades ago. The Congress leader said the triple talaq issue should be left to religious leaders of the respective communities, as the Constitution provides every citizen the right to practice his religion or such beliefs of one's choice. On BJP's stand that a number of Muslim countries have banned triple talaq, Singh said he was aware that as many as 22 countries had banned the practice. However, these countries should also leave the issue to the people to decide, he said. On the Uniform Civil Code, Singh said the proposal should be debated under the ambit of Article 25 (every individual is equally entitled to freedom of conscience) and Article 26 (freedom to manage religious affairs subject to public order, morality and health), and a consensus should be built after discussion among all political parties. Singh charged Modi and his government with creating a "frenzied atmosphere" in the country to deflect attention from failures of the NDA government on all fronts during its rule of over two and a half years. "The NDA government has failed on all fronts, be it creation of two crore jobs, bringing black money from abroad and distributing Rs 15 lakh to each person or to boost manufacturing sector on the theme of 'Make in India", Singh said. This is the reason why, he alleged, that religious issues were being deliberately pursued to deflect attention from "real" issues. He claimed that on the recent surgical strikes against Pakistan-terror camps, the Congress had backed the NDA government, but objected to the "undue political advantage the ruling party was trying to reap out of it." He also decried the Prime Minister and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for "politicising" the strikes with the latter claiming the they were carried out to translate RSS ideology into action. "The surgical strikes have not happened for the first time...even the UPA government carried out strikes across the LOC, but refrained from taking political advantage," he said. "However, by keeping the discussion on the surgical strikes alive, it appears that the Prime Minister will take India to war with Pakistan in the times to come," Singh said. On the political situation in Uttar Pradesh, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said that whatever had been happening was the internal affair of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP). "The political clash among the SP leaders is an internal matter of the party that is bereft of ideology," he stated. On the speculation doing rounds that the wedge between SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav may prompt the latter to stitch an alliance with the Congress, Singh said that such talks were "premature". He said that there was no political crisis in Uttar Pradesh as far as he was concerned. "The Congress is going alone in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls due early next year," Singh said, adding that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi has successfully toured the poll-bound state and "received massive response of the people" which bodes well for the party. Singh said the Congress has already started the process of selection of its candidates for the Assembly polls. He added that the party was keeping a close watch on the political developments unfolding in the northern state. On the raging debate over various political parties declaring their respective prime ministerial candidates, the senior Congress leader felt that there was nothing wrong in the exercise as every party was within their rights to do so. "What is wrong if political parties so decide to declare their prime ministerial candidates?...let them do so," he said in a reply to a question on the JD(U) declaring its national president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the prime ministerial material for the next general elections. Asked if the declaration of so many prime ministerial candidates by the secular parties will affect Rahul Gandhi's prospects, Singh said Gandhi remained his party's leader. On MNS president Raj Thackeray opposing the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil starring a Pakistani actor, Singh lashed out at the leader for meddling in the matter, saying that the said Pakistani actor was granted visa by the Indian government. The Maharashtra Chief Minister should not have allowed Raj Thackeray to browbeat or blackmail the producers of the film over its release, the Congress leader added. Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has to give a go-ahead for procurement of tablets for paperless functioning of the state Legislature. With this move, the upcoming session of the Legislature to be held in Nagpur from 5 December, will go paperless. The committee set up for procurement of tablets has given a go-ahead for it along with financial sanction, MLC Manikrao Thakre, one of the committee members, told PTI on Thursday. States like Goa and Haryana are already using tablets during sessions of their respective Legislative Assembly, he added. "The tablets are going to be used in the upcoming Winter Session. The Maharashtra government spends around Rs 50 crore annually for publication of various committee reports, official surveys, reference reports and daily reports for the members of Assembly and Council. Compared to it, at present the tablet cost is not over Rs five crore. Once the tablets are procured, the cost of (publishing) documents will be saved forever," Thakre said. There are 288 members in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly while there are 78 members in the state Legislative Council. "The high speed Internet service will reduce the waste of time in searching the information and presenting it before the House", Thakre, a senior Congress leader said, adding the government needs to ensure higher Internet speed through Wi-Fi service. "All the modalities including whether to fix the tables inside the both houses will be finalised at the Committee meeting after Diwali," Thakre added. A committee of administrative officers had already studied the functioning of Haryana and Goa Assemblies and hence the state government gave its nod to the proposal, said the MLC. The Budget and the Monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature are held in Mumbai while the Winter session is held in Nagpur. United Nations: Russia angrily accused the United Nations' aid chief of bias and arrogance on Wednesday after he told the Security Council that Aleppo had become a "kill zone" under Russian and Syrian bombs. The accusations, in turn, drew sharp responses from the United States, Britain and France in one of the stormiest council sessions on Syria in weeks. Russia is facing pressure at the United Nations to rein in its Syrian ally and halt the air strikes in rebel-held east Aleppo, where 250,000 civilians have been living under siege since July. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said he was "incandescent with rage" over the council's failure to take action, deploring that "nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering." With food growing scarce, "civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow," said O'Brien. "Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone." Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin shot back, accusing O'Brien of making "arrogant remarks" and failing to recognize that Russia had declared a humanitarian pause that he maintained had been holding for eight days. "If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church," Churkin quipped. The ambassador blamed opposition rebels and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists for the failure at the weekend of a UN plan to evacuate the wounded from Aleppo and charged that the UN official was not objectively presenting the facts. "Please leave this kind of report to a novel that you might write one day," said Churkin. The pause declared by Damascus and Moscow ran out at 1600 GMT on Saturday, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported there were air strikes afterwards against an opposition-controlled district in Aleppo. On Wednesday, air strikes hit a school in rebel-held Idlib province, killing at least 35 civilians including many children, according to the observatory. No war crimes today US Ambassador Samantha Power took the floor to criticize Russia, saying it had never worked cooperatively with the United Nations during the pauses to ensure humanitarian relief. "You don't get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week," said Power. The US ambassador insisted the goal of the Russian and Syrian bombing campaign was to "make civilians relent and cry uncle" and again challenged Moscow's argument that it is fighting terrorists. "Does Russia believe that all of the children in eastern Aleppo are al-Qaeda members ?" she asked. The bitter exchange came as the latest attempt to revive a ceasefire this time led by non-permanent member New Zealand fell flat. New Zealand circulated a draft resolution two weeks ago demanding an end to the air attacks, but there was no agreement on the measure. New Zealand Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen blamed Russia and the western powers for the failure, deploring that "geopolitics are being put ahead of people." More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria and more than half of the country's population displaced since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. Politicians in India have always had a disturbing obsession with superstition like black magic, vaastu or the dark arts. And the latest incident to give the Samajwadi Party rift a weird turn (as if it was not weird enough already) is expelled SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav warning Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav that "in-house enemies" are using the dark arts to destroy them, according to India Today. The SP drama already looked like a bad Bollywood movie but with this claim, it now resembles a Bollywood movie like Nagina. "Do saal se tantra mantra chal rahe hain Netaji ke upper ek Kailashanand hai, ek Rajasthan ka hai, ek MP ka hai. Ek tractor narial chadh chuke hain Saifai mein Shivpal ke ghar par. Akhilesh ka bura karne ke liye aur Netaji ko vash me karne ke liye (There have been attempts to harm Akhilesh and Mulayam with the help of tantriks and the occult)," the report quoted Ram Gopal Yadav as saying in his letter to Mulayam and Akhilesh. The report also said that Akhilesh supporters believed that Shivpal was using black magic against him and Mulayam because Mulayam broke his promise of making him the CM after three years. This great 'revelation' by Ram Gopal Yadav comes days after MLC Udayveer Singh, expelled from the party, had written a "private letter" to Mulayam in which he had accused Mulayam Singhs second wife Sadhna and Shivpal of using black magic to harm Akhilesh, according to IANS. Singh had also said that he was merely airing his personal feelings but he insisted his views echoed the views of most party colleagues. The obsession with black magic is not just limited to SP though. A report in Daily Mail stated that according to a leading astrology guru in Chennai, Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa has been in hospital since September because she is a victim of black magic. The 'guru' went on to say DMK chief M Karunanidhi may also be suffering from bad health because of tantric spells. The connection between Indian politics and black magic is a disturbingly old and strong one. Before the Bihar election in 2015, a video clip showing Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar seeking the benediction of an unknown tantrik had gone viral. On 16 February last year in Bengaluru, Congress workers were horrified when they found lemon, chilly, vermilion and other unknown materials wrapped in red cloth in the premises of the party head office. Congress had alleged Janata Dal (Secular) had performed black magic after losing the office building in a legal battle, another report in India Today had said. On 26 October 2014, when Manohar Lal Khattar was being sworn-in as Haryana chief minister, BJP workers in black clothes were not allowed to enter the venue and were told to remove the black clothes as they were considered to be unlucky. Similarly, in Maharashtra, senior Shiv Sena leader Mohan Rawale's obsession with wearing the 'lucky' colour yellow during campaigning for elections is so intense that once, he had recalled about 1.5 lakh campaign posters because they showed him wearing shirts of other colours. A report in The Indian Express said that historian William Dalrymple had noted in his book Nine Lives that many politicians in Bengal and Bihar "not only worshipped skulls but also offered animal sacrifices to the goddess before standing for election." The report also said that Indira Gandhi performed rituals "privately" to protect Sanjay Gandhi after the Emergency. Even some politicians from the Left engage in superstitious practices, showing that superstition is all-pervasive in Indian politics. "Our local Communist MP may tell his followers that what we do is superstition, but that doesnt stop him coming here with a goat to sacrifice when he wants to find out from us what the election results will be," Dalrymple had quoted a local tantrik in Bengal as saying. Maybe the link between politics and superstition has something to do with the fact that a large section in India is superstitious. After all, politicians tend to support the beliefs of the people. In July 2014, a sting operation by journalist Ashish Khetan revealed thatthe Pune Police had consulted a retired policeman-cum-tantrik called Manish Thakur to try and solve the Narendra Dabholkar murder case. In February 2015, former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar confirmed that the then Pune Police commissioner Gulabrao Pol had to be transferred because he had resorted to a planchet to solve the murder case. In 2012, a church in Mumbai told its followers about a miracle when droplets of water appeared at the base of a crucifix. When rationalist Sanal Edamaruku pointed out that the water was, in fact, coming from a drainage pipe, he made the church leaders so angry that they persuaded the police to file charges that Edamaruku had hurt their religious sentiments. Edamaruku himself had to flee to Finland to avoid further harassment. With inputs from agencies In an interview to CNN-News18, Congress MP and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor talked about the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army across the Line of Control, the Congress leadership and its future, India's foreign policy and his view of the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On being asked whether the government should have provided proof for the surgical strikes, Tharoor said that even though he felt that the word of the Indian Army was good enough, releasing the co-ordinates of the places the strikes took place would not compromise national security. "Since the Pakistanis know where they were hit, we would not be revealing anything secret, but the incontrovertible facts would have given the lie to the Pakistani propaganda that there were no strikes and the whole thing was just an Indian PR exercise," he told CNN-News18. Tharoor also said that Pakistan had not been isolated globally. "Both China and the US, and many other countries, have significant and substantial reasons for staying engaged with Pakistan," he said. He did, however, also say that other countries had been convinced that Pakistan's continued sponsorship of terrorism against India was unacceptable. Tharoor also said that the media had misinterpreted Rahul Gandhi's 'khoon ki dalali' remark against Modi. "The Indian media is excessively fond of focusing on a word or a phrase rather than looking at its meaning...He was clearly saying that the ruling party was trying to make political capital out of the blood of our soldiers. Just look at the hoardings and posters the BJP has put out in UP and you will get his point," he said. The Congress MP also said that even though he was the chair of the parliamentary panel on foreign affairs on the surgical strikes, he maintained silence after controversy broke on foreign secretary S Jaishankar's briefings to the panel because the rules of the panel required confidentiality. He added that breaking this promise of confidentiality could undermine his credibility to future witnesses who testified before him. When asked whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would be better for India as US President, Tharoor said, "Undoubtedly Hillary," adding that Trump did not realise "the severe limitations he would face in implementing some of his more controversial ideas" when it came to India. He also clarified that the US was not India's "ally" but "partner". He also warned against attaching too much importance to ties with the US because it would alienate China. "We have a long-stalemated border dispute with them which we dont want to see flare up," he told CNN-News18. Tharoor also said that he would definitely travel abroad to make India's case if he was asked to do so by the government. On Modi's reference to Balochistan during his Independence Day speech, Tharoor said that there was a fine line "between showing Pakistan that they have a mote in their on eye" and "seeming to reduce international politics to a tu-tu-main-main exercise" and even though the government had come close to crossing that line, it had not crossed it yet. On being asked what he would do to "fix" the Congress, Tharoor said, "No further delays in the leadership transition and organisational change; a strong emphasis on revitalising the party grassroots machinery; revival of the practice of the party workers using the period between elections to perform social work in their constituencies; and more public communication of the partys ideas, are among my recommendations." When asked to pick one attribute in Modi he admired, Tharoor said he admired the Prime Minister's personal energy and the fact that he was tireless in his domestic and international travels. Among other things, Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech at Mahoba, Bundelkhand three days ago showed that his felicity for springing uncanny surprises remains intact. While on the surface, it was just another campaign speech, scratching the surface reveals just how consummately he has set the cat among the pigeons. Amid criticism that after becoming PM, Modi had become extra-cautious on contentious issues, his stringent criticism of triple talaq in the communal cauldron of Uttar Pradesh certainly hit like a bolt from the sky. But before we proceed, lets recall an interesting tidbit from the Constituent Assembly Debates: The only province the Civil Law has not been able to invade so far is Marriage and Succession. It is this little corner which we have not been able to invade so far and it is the intention of those who desire to have article 35 as part of the Constitution to bring about that change. Therefore, the argument whether we should attempt such a thing seems to me somewhat misplaced forwe havecovered the whole lot of the field which is covered by a uniform Civil CodeIt istoo late now to ask the question whether we could do it. As I say, we have already done itmembers who put forth these amendments say that the Muslim personal law, so far as this country was concerned, was immutable and uniform through the whole of India. Now I wish to challenge that statement. I think most of my friends who have spoken on this amendment have quite forgotten that up to 1935 the North-West Frontier Province was not subject to the Shariat Law. It followed the Hindu Law in the matter of succession and in other matters, so much so that it was in 1939 that the Central Legislature had to come into the field and to abrogate the application of the Hindu Law to the Muslims of theProvince and to apply the ShariatLaw to them. That is not all. My honourable friends have forgotten, that, apart from the North-West Frontier Province, up till 1937 in the rest of India[in] the United Provinces,the Central Provinces and Bombay, the Muslims to a large extent were governed by the Hindu Law in the matter of succession. In order to bring them on the plane of uniformity with regard to the other Muslims who observed theShariat Law, the Legislature had to intervene in 1937 and to pass an enactment applying the Shariat Law to the rest ofIndiain North Malabar the Marumakkathayam Law applied to all-not only to Hindus but also to Muslimsthe Marumakkathayam Law is a Matriarchalform of law...It isno use making a categorical statement that the Muslim law has been an immutable law which they have been following from ancient times. That law as such was not applicable in certain parts and it has been made applicable ten years agoif it was found necessary that for the purpose of evolving a single civil code applicable to all citizens irrespective of their religion, certain portions of the Hindus, law, not because they were contained in Hindu law but because they were found to be the most suitable, were incorporated into the new civil code projected by article 35, I am quite certain that it would not be open to any Muslim to say that the framers of the civil code had done great violence to the sentiments of the Muslim community. My second observation is to give them an assurance. I quite realise their feelings in the matter, but I think they have read rather too much into article 35, which merely proposes that the State shall endeavour to secure a civil code for the citizens of the country. It does not say that after the Code is framed the State shall enforce it upon citizens merely because they are citizens. That was BR Ambedkars response to the debate on 23 November 1948 to Muslim representatives, Hussain Imam, Pocker Sahib, Mahboob Ali Baig, and Naziruddin Ahmad who insisted on retaining the Muslim Personal Law in Article 35. In todays Constitution, this is Article 44, an albatross that has led to avoidable, national misfortune on a huge scale. On the same day, heres what Congress stalwart KM Munshi said on the issue: I want my Muslim friends to realize that the sooner we forget this isolationist outlook on life, it will be better for the country. Religion must be restricted to spheres which legitimately appertain to religion, and the rest of life must be regulated, unified[so] that we may evolve, as early as possible a strong and consolidated nation. Our first problem and the most important problem is to produce national unity in this country. From that point of view alone the opposition is not very well advised. I hope our friends will not feel that this is an attempt to exercise tyranny over a minority; it is much more tyrannous to the majority. As we notice, the demand for separate Muslim Personal Law is quite old and the history of the vicissitudes that the Sharia Law passed through in India has been largely suppressed. Both Ambedkar and Munshi stressed the need for a Uniform Civil Code primarily from a perspective of forging and preserving national unity and integrity, a prime ingredient of which is social harmony. As it unfolded over the next 60-odd years, Munshis own party in its later deformed state worked zealously to ensure that Uniform Civil Code was kept in a state of permanent limbo to serve Muslim vote bank interests, to state the obvious. And once a bad precedent is allowed to fester, it grows to unmanageable proportions, which is what has occurred even in this case. And keeping it in limbo has ensured that it continues to remain a political hot potato, cynically exploitable. But the consequence has been predictable: at the least, there are countless separatist forces operating within India in every sphere even as we speak.When this sort of bad precedent is set in one sphere, why not find a similar precedent elsewhere and use it similarly? One of the core elements in the opposition to Uniform Civil Code as Ambedkar and others note relates to marriage. In other words, to the status, plight, and reform of Muslim women. And by directly invoking this core element with his stinging criticism of triple talaqs responsible for destroying the lives of our Muslim sisters and daughters,Narendra Modi has indirectly set the frame of debate regarding UCC. This is in sharp contrast to the poorly thought-out approach of the previous NDA regime, which expectedly bombed. Several key threads emerge from Modis speech. First, he has in a manner, set the terms of the Uttar Pradesh campaign at the level of discourse than on a plank of hollow political rhetoric and oratorical flushes. This is reminiscent of how he set the terms of the debate during his prime ministerial campaign by defining secularism in two words: "India first." Second, by also warning the Hindu community that those who abort (female) fetuses would be "behind bars," he has preemptively neutralized his militant secular critics, a large section of which comprises feminists. Third, and related to the second, his equally severe condemnation of the triple talaq contains echoes of the aspirations of the founding fathers of our Constitution quoted earlier. Fourth, his condemnation of triple talaq, too, rests on the edifice of a democratic debate: instead of approaching it from a confrontationist view, he gives a call to Islamic scholars and clerics to arrive at a consensus after a healthy debate based on what the Koran etc says. Lastly, his candid appeal to the media anchors and talking heads to refrain from framing this issue as a Hindu versus Muslim or BJP versus other political parties but rather as one centered on reform of Muslim women is a subtle hint at how he perceives these debating eminences. Indeed, as this Firstpost piece shows, Modis speech has evoked support from Muslim women fighting against discriminatory practices like the triple talaq. For a firsthand account of the plight that Muslim women face due to such practices, one can read this recent and rather chilling report. On the political front, this has immense potential to cause severe anxiety mainly to the Samajwadi Party, already reeling under a family feud with no apparent end in sight. Used to winning elections by pandering to the worst elements of the Muslim community like that minister who offered Rs 51 crore to anyone who murdered the Danish cartoonists Modis appeal for the upliftment of Muslims on the grounds of education and reform isnt a script the SP is used to. The less said about the Congress party the better. But whats undeniable is the fact that at the moment, Modi seems to have unleashed a potential game changer at Bundelkhand, not just on the electoral front but at multiple levels. ARICA, Chile Chilean researchers are seeking conservation aid to protect a collection of mummified human remains found in northern Chile, the oldest mummies discovered in the world to date.The nearly 300 "Chinchorro" mummies, which have been recovered in recent years from the dry coastal area near the Peru border, are thought to date from between 5000 BC to 1500 BC."The dates that we have for the bodies are from 7,000 years ago ... so they have more relative antiquity in terms of intentional work on the human body than that found in Egypt," said Sergio Medina Parra, anthropologist and department head at University of Tarapaca in the northern city of Arica. Medina is leading an attempt to get the Chinchorro mummies recognised by UN heritage body UNESCO as a world heritage site."The application is not a goal in itself, but the start of a process, of improved conservation tools, with the Chilean state and the international community," he said. The mummies need to be kept under specific conditions of temperature and humidity to prevent deterioration. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Chris Reese) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The millions of votes that have been cast already in the US presidential election point to an advantage for Hillary Clinton in critical battleground states, as well as signs of strength in traditionally Republican territory. The strong early-voting turnout by those likely to support Clinton registered Democrats, minorities, and young people among others could leave Donald Trump with virtually no path to the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. Clinton is showing strength in Florida and North Carolina, both must-win states for Trump, as well as the battleground states of Nevada, Colorado and Arizona. There are even favorable signs for Clinton in Republican-leaning Utah and Texas. "It's going to be a very tall order for Trump to win," said Michael McDonald, a University of Florida professor who specialises in election turnout. Other analysts also point to a strong finish for Clinton based on the early vote. Early voting, via mail or in-person, is underway in 37 states. More than 12.5 million votes have been cast, far higher than the rate in 2012, according to Associated Press data. In all, more than 46 million people or as much as 40 percent of the electorate are expected to vote before Election Day, 8 November. A look at the latest trends: Positive signs for Clinton in North Carolina, Florida The Clinton campaign describes both North Carolina and Florida as "checkmate" states. Trump probably can't win if he loses either. After trailing in mail ballots, Democrats surged ahead of Republicans in North Carolina ballots cast after the start of in-person early voting last week. Democrats currently lead in ballots submitted, 47 percent to 29 percent. In-person voting is off to a slower start for both Democrats and Republicans compared to 2012, when Republican Mitt Romney narrowly won the state. But many Democratic-leaning counties reduced the number of polling stations in the first week, a likely factor in the decline. Several of those counties are opening more stations this week. In Florida, more than 2 million voters have already returned ballots. In-person voting began on Monday, and Democrats have pulled virtually even with Republicans, at 41 percent each. That's a much faster rate of catch-up than in 2012 and 2008, when Barack Obama won the state. This year's numbers are troubling for Republicans. "If current early vote trends hold, it's a real possibility that Clinton can sweep a majority of swing states including Florida," said Scott Tranter, co-founder of the Republican data analytics firm Optimus. Latinos, young people buoy Democrats in West Once Republican states, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado are in play for Democrats. All are crucial for Trump. Overall ballots in Nevada are down but the Democratic lead widened after the start of in-person voting last week. Democrats lead in returned ballots, 46 percent to 35 percent. Ballots from older white voters declined significantly while those from Hispanics and Asian-Americans rose. Nearly 70 percent of all Nevada ballots were cast early in 2012; Obama won the state by 6 percentage points. Early voting is surging in Arizona, normally a Republican state but one that Clinton has targeted. More than 616,000 ballots have been cast and Democrats are about even with Republicans, 37 percent to 38 percent. Another 25 percent were independent or unknown. At this point in 2012, Republicans led by more than 7 percentage points. Ballots rose in Arizona especially among younger adults and Latinos. In Colorado, where early voting has been by mail, Democrats led 40 percent to 34 percent among the 416,000 ballots returned. In 2012, Democrats trailed Republicans at this point by 10 percentage points. Since then, registered Democrats have surpassed Republicans in the state. Early softness for Trump in Utah, Texas The trends out West may bode well for Democrats in two Republican strongholds. In Utah, overall ballots are up from 2012, driven by faster gains among voters ages 22 to 49, according to Catalist, a Democratic analytical firm. Republicans barely led in total ballots cast compared to independents, 38.6 percent to 38.5 percent. That could mean that Evan McMullin, a third-party candidate, is drawing support from Republicans unhappy with Trump. Democrats still trail at 19.4 percent, but they're in an improved position from 2012, when Republicans held a 58 percent to 13 percent lead. Texas began in-person voting Monday. More than 969,000 ballots were cast as of late Tuesday, based on reports from the top 15 counties, a 46 percent increase. The state did not provide breakdowns by party. The Clinton campaign believes higher turnout, especially among Latinos, could give it an edge. Can white support help Trump? Boosted by white voters, Trump may still hold an edge in Ohio, Iowa and Georgia states that still won't be enough for him to garner the presidency without multiple come-from-behind wins in Democratic-leaning states. In Ohio, the heavily Democratic counties of Cuyahoga and Franklin continue to show double-digit declines in ballot requests compared to 2012. The state does not break down ballots by party affiliation. By race, voter modeling by Catalist found the white share of Ohio ballot requests was up to 91 percent from 87 percent. The black share declined to 7 percent from 10 percent. Democrats lead early ballot requests in Iowa, 43 percent to 35 percent. But that lead is narrower than 2012, when Democrats held an advantage of 14 percentage points. Obama ultimately won the state by 5 percentage points. And in Georgia, which does not report party affiliation, ballots submitted are up from 2012, but mostly among whites. The white share of ballots rose a percentage point to 66 percent. The black share fell to 31 percent from 34 percent, according to Catalist. Washington: Allies of Hillary Clinton felt threatened by the power of Senator Bernie Sanders' candidacy and wondered about getting some signal of support from President Barack Obama in the heat of the Democratic primaries, according to the latest emails in a hacked trove from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. Ahead of the Illinois primary in March, liberal operative Neera Tanden asked Podesta, who formerly worked on Obama's transition in 2008, if the president could give any kind of indication that he was supporting Clinton over Sanders. Tanden asked Podesta whether Obama could "even hint of support of Hillary before Tuesday?" Obama stayed officially neutral in the primaries until Clinton clinched the nomination in June. Tanden wrote: "Maybe they don't want to do this, but the stakes are pretty damn high in this election for him." The email exchange was contained in more than 1,500 emails released Wednesday by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. The notes were stolen from the email account of Podesta as part of a series of high-profile computer hacks of Democratic targets that US intelligence officials say were orchestrated by Russia, with the intent to influence the 8 November election. Russia has denied the allegations. In a separate June 2015 email, the Clinton campaign worried that some state affiliates of the nation's largest labor union, the National Education Association, were set to endorse Sanders even though the national union had not yet made an endorsement. On June 22, 2015, Clinton's labor outreach director Nikki Budzinski emailed other campaign officials to let them know "NEA is concerned their VT affiliate could do a Tuesday (next week) recommendation of endorsement (with potential press release). This is not confirmed. The bigger concern is that RI and MA might go with VT as well." Carrie Pugh, the NEA's political director, had similar concerns and shared them with Clinton campaign officials. Budzinski said the move in Vermont "doesn't pose serious concern for the NEA overall endorsement" but called it an "optics problem" coming before a major meeting of NEA representatives. "I am working with Carrie Pugh on options to head this off," Budzinski wrote. The NEA ultimately endorsed Clinton in October 2015 despite some complaints that leaders hadn't taken Sanders seriously enough and should have waited. In an email to Podesta in January, Clinton pollster Stan Greenberg weighed in by urging that Clinton better position herself relative to Sanders on the issue of reforming big money politics and special interest giveaways. The memo hints that Clinton, a prolific fundraiser and longtime Democratic Party insider, had her doubts. "Her concern about authenticity and credibility on this issue is understandable but not right," Greenberg said. "There is nothing more important politically than Clinton getting ahead of money and politics," the pollster said. "It is a pre-requisite for getting heard on change and government activism, for competing and beating Sanders and establishing a key contrast with the Republicans." And both Podesta and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio warmed to the idea of setting up a "People's PAC" intended as a vehicle for Clinton to direct support toward liberal Democrats in the House and Senate and potentially draw Sanders' supporters to Clinton. The idea was floated in a March 2016 email from Huffington Post contributor Brett Budowsky to Podesta, which Podesta forwarded to de Blasio, who responded that the liberal PAC "has a lot of merit." The People's PAC never came to pass. "I think it's a good idea but think that our team will see it as a resource diversion," Podesta wrote to de Blasio. In an email on Jan. 22, 2016, Erika Gudmundson, with Chelsea Clinton's office, discusses ways that the campaign could help Chelsea Clinton draw distinctions between her mother and Bernie Sanders as the campaign grew more competitive. "The tone has changed would be great to highlight for her where contrasts should be made," Gudmundson wrote. London: British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that the UK's stand on Kashmir remains unchanged and it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan to address. The issue was raised in the House of Commons during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session on Wednesday by Pakistani-born Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi, who asked if the Kashmir issue would form part of May's discussions during her visit to India next month. "I take the same view as this government has since it came into power, and indeed previously, which is that the issue of Kashmir is a matter for India and Pakistan to deal with and sort out," the British PM said in Parliament, clearly indicating that Kashmir was unlikely to be on the agenda during her bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she visits India between 6 and 8 November. Qureshi, who represents a heavily Pakistani-origin constituency of Bolton in north-west England, had questioned in the Commons: "Will the Prime Minister meet with me and cross-party colleagues to discuss the human rights abuses and the issue of self-determination for Kashmiri people, as was set out in the resolution of the UN in 1948 and can she raise this issue with the Indian Prime Minister." May, while dismissing any meeting herself, said: "The foreign secretary [Boris Johnson] has heard her representations and I am sure will be interested in taking those issues up with her." The British PM is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on 6 November for her first overseas bilateral visit outside Europe. Besides inaugurating the India-UK Tech Summit alongside Modi, she will be holding talks with her Indian counterpart before heading to Bengaluru. May will be accompanied by a business delegation comprising small and medium enterprises from across the UK and her international trade minister, Liam Fox. By Chris Kahn | NEW YORK NEW YORK More Republicans now think Democrat Hillary Clinton, rather than Donald Trump, will win the presidency, as their party's candidate struggles with difficulties including allegations of sexual misconduct and his suggestion he may not honour the outcome of the election.A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday and conducted from Oct. 20 to Oct. 24 found that 41 percent of Republicans expected Clinton to win the Nov. 8 election, versus 40 percent who picked Trump.That reflected a sharp decline in confidence from last month, when 58 percent of Republicans said they thought their party's nominee would win, versus 23 percent who expected Clinton to prevail. Among Trump's supporters, 49 percent in the latest poll said they believed Trump would win, down from 67 percent who felt that way at the beginning of the month."There's still hope, I guess. I just dont have a great deal of faith in a good portion of the American public," said Bert Horsley, 38, of Belgrade, Montana, who said he planned to vote for Trump even though he believed Clinton would win. Horsley said he felt the country was leaning increasingly socialist and that voters were more inclined to focus on Trump's problems than on issues facing Clinton, including allegations she mishandled classified emails while secretary of state."The nations willing to overlook certain things in some people and not in others," he said. Despite the growing pessimism, Trump, who trails Clinton in national opinion polls, still enjoys overwhelming support from members of his party. Some 79 percent of likely Republican voters said they would vote for him. Many said their support was rooted in an expectation he would promote a conservative agenda in Congress and appoint conservative justices to the Supreme Court. Democrats appear to be strongly anticipating a Clinton presidency. Some 83 percent of Democrats said in the poll they thought she would win, while only 8 percent predicted Trump would become president. Among Clinton's supporters, 92 percent expected her to win, up from 83 percent a month earlier.Clinton held a commanding lead in the race to win the Electoral College and claim the presidency, according to results from the Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project released on Saturday. CONFIDENCE DROP THIS MONTH Trump, a businessman and former reality television star, has alarmed mainstream Republicans throughout his campaign by routinely bashing the political establishment and making a series of provocative statements. He aroused criticism for belittling the parents of a U.S. soldier killed in the Iraq war, calling for a ban on admitting Muslims to the country and accusing a judge of bias because of his Hispanic heritage. He has also asserted, without showing evidence, that the U.S. electoral system is rigged. But Republicans remained mostly confident in their candidate's chances until this month, when a videotape from 2005 was released in which Trump could be heard bragging in vulgar terms about kissing and groping women. At least 10 women have since accused Trump of making unwanted sexual advances, including groping or kissing, from the early 1980s to 2007, according to reports in various news outlets. Trump has denied the women's allegations, calling them "totally and absolutely false" and has promised to sue the women after the election.Trump has also deepened divisions within his party by refusing to promise to accept the outcome of the election. "I will keep you in suspense," he said when asked about the issue during an Oct. 19 debate with Clinton.The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English with American adults in all 50 states. The latest poll included 648 people who identified as Republicans and 771 people who identified as Democrats. It had a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 4 percentage points. (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Peter Cooney) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The UN's public health agency said on Thursday that it has trained 90 Iraqi medics in "mass casualty management," with a special focus on chemical attacks, as part of its preparations for Iraq's operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group. The extremist group, which has ruled Iraq's second largest city for more than two years, is believed to have crude chemical weapons capabilities, and Iraqi forces say they are prepared to encounter them on the battlefield. The World Health Organisation on Wednesday said that of the 700,000 people expected to flee Mosul, some 200,000 will require emergency health services, including more than 90,000 children needing vaccinations and 8,000 pregnant women. The operation to retake Mosul began 17 October and is expected to take weeks, if not months. The International Organisation for Migration says around 9,000 people have fled so far. The fighting has not yet reached the city itself, which is home to more than a million people. The United Nations' refugee agency is shipping tents, blankets and other aid from the United Arab Emirates to northern Iraq to help those affected by the military campaign. The UNHCR shipment, which left Dubai's International Humanitarian City on Thursday, is expected to reach those affected as soon as Friday. Soliman Mohamed Daud, a senior UNHCR supply officer, told The Associated Press that 7,000 units of the relief aid will be sent to northern Iraq. The UAE shipment that left Thursday includes some 1,500 kits. Iraqi and Kurdish forces, backed by US advisers and airstrikes, began the operation to retake Iraq's second-largest city earlier this month. Aid groups fear that a mass exodus from Mosul could overwhelm camps for displaced people set up around its outskirts. United Nations: More than 10,500 people have to date been recorded as internally displaced as a result of the Mosul military operation in Iraq, a United Nations spokesman told reporters on Wednesday. "The majority of the displaced are sheltering in host communities while others are sheltering at three displacement camps outside of Mosul," Xinhua news agency quoted UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying. Humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance to displaced families and wherever access allows, he said. Iraqi security forces recaptured more villages last Tuesday from the Islamic State militants, as part of a major offensive which started on 17 October in a bid to liberate the city of Mosul, the last major IS stronghold in Iraq. Mosul, nearly 400 km from Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control. Earlier on Tuesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that more than 7,000 Iraqi people are internally displaced as a result of the Mosul military operation in Iraq. "The situation is fluid and the numbers and patterns of displacement are fluctuating as the front lines move," Stephane Dujarric was quoted as saying at a daily news briefing on Monday. By Michelle Nichols | UNITED NATIONS UNITED NATIONS Syria should investigate accusations that government forces carried out chlorine gas attacks and Islamic State militants used mustard gas, Russia said on Thursday, dimming Western hopes that U.N. sanctions could be imposed on those responsible.The 15-member council met behind closed doors to discuss the findings of an inquiry by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which blamed the Syrian government for three toxic gas attacks.France, Britain and the United States hope to persuade Russia to agree to a 12-month extension to the mandate of the inquiry, which expires on Oct. 31, before starting negotiations on a draft resolution to punish those blamed for such attacks."The conclusions of the JIM (Joint Investigative Mechanism) are not definitive, have no legally binding force and cannot serve as accusatory conclusions for taking legal decision," Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council, according to a copy of his remarks."Damascus should carry out a comprehensive national investigation on chemical incidents confirmed by the JIM," he said, adding that while Russia is still studying the latest report, most cases in the international inquiry's report were "full of contradictions and therefore, unconvincing." The United States has circulated a draft resolution to the council to renew the mandate for the inquiry and the council could vote on the measure as early as Monday, diplomats said."We want to have a much stronger mechanism, which would also be looking at the terrorist chemical threat," Churkin told reporters, adding that Russia wanted the mandate expanded to include attacks beyond Syria. U.S. forces confirmed the presence of a sulphur mustard agent on Islamic State munition fragments in Iraq earlier this month.Syria's government on Wednesday denied that its forces had used chemical weapons during the country's nearly six-year civil war.In its fourth report to the Security Council last Friday, the international inquiry found that Syrian government forces had used helicopters to drop barrel bombs of chlorine gas. It found those flights came from two bases where the 253 and 255 squadrons, belonging to the 63rd helicopter brigade, were based. "Those responsible for using chemical weapons must be sanctioned," French U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters ahead of the meeting. "If the Security Council is not able to unite on the proliferation and the use of weapons of mass destruction in the 21st Century, frankly, what is the use of the Security Council?"Virginia Gamba, head of the international inquiry, told reporters that the yearlong investigation had served as a deterrent and that there had been a drop in the number of accusations of toxic gas attacks. However, she said in the past month 14 allegations of such attacks had been made. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Michelle Nichols | UNITED NATIONS UNITED NATIONS United Nations aid chief Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council on Wednesday that the "buck stops with you" when it comes to ending the nearly six year war in Syria and he is "incandescent with rage" that no action is being taken to do so.O'Brien's monthly briefing to the 15-member council on the humanitarian aid situation in Syria sparked an angry exchange, pitting Russia against the United States, Britain and France."I call upon all council members who have operational military assets in Syria to take concrete steps to halt the aerial bombardment of civilian areas," said O'Brien, specifically slamming the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russia for bombing the city of Aleppo.Russia and China have protected Syria's government from Security Council action to try and stop the war, including vetoing a bid to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court. Russia has blocked five council resolutions.U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who steps down at the end of the year after serving two five year terms, told Reuters on Friday that he deeply regrets the Syrian conflict has not been resolved."Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone," O'Brien told the 15-member body, adding that no U.N. aid had reached eastern Aleppo for four months. "Civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow. The tactics are as obvious as they are unconscionable." Aleppo, Syria's most populous city before the war erupted, is now divided into government- and rebel-held areas. Intense bombardment by Syrian and Russian warplanes has reduced the rebel-controlled east to ruins. Russia said on Tuesday it would extend a moratorium on air strikes on Aleppo into a ninth day. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin hit back at O'Brien, describing his remarks as "arrogant" and criticizing him for not talking about Russia's halt to air strikes in Aleppo."If we needed to be preached to we would go to a church," Churkin said. "Please leave this kind of a report for a novel you might write one day." He also denied that Russian planes had dropped leaflets on eastern Aleppo - cited in the council by O'Brien and U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power - that warned people to leave or "you will be annihilated."O'Brien responded: "Don't shoot the messenger." Several council members, including the United States, France and Britain, also jumped to the defence of O'Brien."What Russia really wants from the U.N. is credit," Power told the council. "You don't get congratulations and get credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week." Syria's war pits Assad, backed by Russia, Iran and Shi'ite Muslim militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan against mostly Sunni Muslim rebel groups including some backed by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the United States."I cannot help but be incandescent with rage. Month after month, worse and worse, and nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering," O'Brien told the council. "If you don't take action, there will be no Syrian peoples or Syria to save that will be this council's legacy, our generation's shame," O'Brien said. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Michelle Nichols | UNITED NATIONS UNITED NATIONS United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has asked the Security Council for help to resolve a stalemate between peacekeepers and the Democratic Republic of Congo government over what to do with hundreds of South Sudanese rebel fighters.In a letter to the 15-member council, seen by Reuters on Thursday, Ban said 755 South Sudanese rebels had crossed into Congo's Garamba National Park with opposition leader Riek Machar in August. They fled the South Sudanese capital Juba in July, after fighting erupted between Machar's forces and troops loyal to his rival, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir.U.N. peacekeepers in Congo extracted Machar, his wife, son and 10 others from Garamba at the request of the Congolese government in mid-August, Ban said.Since then the United Nations has been trying to broker an agreement between Congo and South Sudan on the repatriation of the fighters or their relocation to a third country until a political deal is in place in South Sudan, Ban said. On Oct. 3 the Congolese government told the United Nations peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, that it wanted the fighters to leave within a week, but the mission does not have the legal authority to expel the troops from Congo, Ban said. "At the same time, there is no basis for MONUSCO to continue providing humanitarian assistance to them, as they are no longer in a life-threatening situation," he said, adding that the mission had told the Congolese government it could not longer take care of the South Sudanese fighters."I am, accordingly, bringing the matter to the attention of the Security Council in order that it might take such decisions or provide such guidance as it may deem appropriate," Ban said.In August and September, Ban said the peacekeeping mission in Congo removed 755 opposition fighters from Garamba "on lifesaving, humanitarian grounds." Eight of those died from injuries, malnutrition or ill health while in the mission's medical facilities, he added. The United Nations has been in contact with the African Union, East African regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the International Committee of the Red Cross to resolve the issue. The fighters have voluntarily handed over 134 weapons, which peacekeepers will dispose of, Ban said. Political rivalry between Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his former deputy Machar, a Nuer, led to civil war in 2013 that has often followed ethnic lines. The pair signed a shaky peace deal a year ago, but fighting has continued.South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Richard Chang) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. United Nations: The United States on Wednesday abstained for the first time in 25 years from a vote at the United Nations calling for an end to the US embargo against Cuba. The UN General Assembly adopted the annual resolution by an overwhelming 191 votes in favor with only the United States and Israel abstaining in the 193-nation forum. Washington's abstention was in line with calls from President Barack Obama for the opposition-controlled Congress to lift the decades-old embargo as part of a historic normalization of relations. "The United States has always voted against this resolution. Today the United States will abstain," US Ambassador Samantha Power told the assembly, drawing loud applause. "After 55-plus years of pursuing the path of isolation, we are choosing to take the path of engagement." The United States restored diplomatic ties with Cuba in July 2015 and a month later re-opened its embassy in Havana. Obama made a landmark visit to the communist-ruled island in March. But restoring full trade and financial ties with Cuba would require legislative action by Congress, where the Republican majority has said human rights concerns must first be addressed. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez welcomed the US shift as positive, but said that Washington must take concrete steps that go beyond the "vote of one delegation in this forum." "The blockade continues to be a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of all Cuban men and women and qualifies as an act of genocide," Rodriguez said. Economic damage suffered by Cuba from the US embargo between April 2015 and March 2016 coinciding with the time of Obama's first meeting with President Raul Castro to his historic Havana visit is estimated at more than $4.68 billion, Rodriguez said. Over the past six decades, the damage from the policy amounts to $753.688 billion, he added. Cuba still suffering Embargo restrictions have prevented the sale of US medical equipment to treat Cubans suffering from Parkinson's disease and blocked a deal by a Cuban pharmaceutical company that would have allowed it to produce drugs locally, said the foreign minister. "There isn't any Cuban family or sector in our country that has not suffered from its effects," he said. This year's UN resolution makes note of steps taken by the Democratic Obama administration to ease the embargo, describing them as positive but "still limited in scope." The measure calls on all UN member states to refrain from applying the embargo and to "reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation." Last year, the United States and Israel were the only two countries that voted against the non-binding resolution, but 191 voted in favor the highest level of support yet for the measure at the United Nations. Power recalled that the US policy aimed at isolating Cuba "was not working" and had instead isolated the United States. "Abstaining on this resolution does not mean that the United States agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government. We do not," said Power. After praising Cuba for sending hundreds of doctors to West Africa to fight the Ebola virus outbreak, Power said the United States and Cuba must continue to find ways to engage, despite differences. "Today, we have taken another small step to be able to do that. May there be many more including, we hope, finally ending the US embargo," she said. The assembly has voted each year since 1992 to approve the resolution criticizing the embargo that was imposed in 1960, at the height of the Cold War. The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 after Fidel Castro rose to power and aligned himself with the then-Soviet Union. Moderate Cuban dissident Manuel Cuesta, who has met twice with Obama to discuss human rights, expressed hope the US abstention would lead to lifting the embargo. "The embargo has been transformed into a bag where the Cuban government puts all its failures, and it must be lifted to get rid of all the excuses," Cuesta told AFP. By Andrew Cawthorne | CARACAS CARACAS In a curious convergence of events on the same day last week, four Venezuelan provincial courts issued identical rulings, state governors quickly hit Twitter to celebrate, then the election board emailed a short but bombshell statement.Opposition hopes for a referendum to recall President Nicolas Maduro were dashed, on grounds of fraud in an initial signature drive. The vote was off.For many in the opposition, that settled a years-old debate about the nature of Venezuela's socialist government, uniting them in conviction they are now fighting a dictatorship.Their new militancy heightens the risk of unrest as the South American OPEC member of 30 million people grapples with a dangerous economic and political crisis."Can anyone in the world now really doubt that Venezuela is living in tyranny?" said housewife Mabel Pinate, 62, dressed in white among thousands of protesters who took to the streets against Maduro on Wednesday."We are sick of this. It's time to toughen up and do what we must to save Venezuela," added Pinate, whose husband was fired from state oil company PDVSA by Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez and whose two children have gone abroad.After pinning its hopes on a referendum this year - which could have triggered a presidential election and put them in power after 17 years of leftist rule - the enraged opposition Democratic Unity coalition has taken its gloves off.It is holding a symbolic political trial of Maduro in the legislature, organising daily street protests, and shunning talks with the government that had been announced by the Vatican for this weekend. Recalling tactics that led to a short-lived coup against Chavez in 2002 and a shutdown of the oil industry, the coalition has also called for a general strike on Friday and a march to the Miraflores presidential palace next week. "We've reached the limit," said Henrique Capriles, a usually moderate opposition leader, calling the government "Satan.""Does the opposition have anything to negotiate with the government? Nothing. Why does the government want dialogue? Because the water has risen to its neck," he said. Some hardliners, most notably veteran activist Maria Corina Machado and jailed protest leader Leopoldo Lopez' wife Lilian Tintori, are calling for Gandhi-style civil disobedience. 'I FEAR NOBODY' The government is vowing an iron fist.It says well-known troublemakers, who were behind the 2002 putsch, are again seeking a coup against an elected government, with the help of the United States and compliant foreign media."I fear nobody and nothing!" Maduro told red-shirted supporters at one of his daily rallies and TV appearances this week.The ruling Socialist Party's No. 2, Diosdado Cabello said any companies heeding the strike call would be seized by workers and the military. "We're not going to allow craziness." Long proud of its democratic credentials after winning numerous elections under Chavez, the ruling Socialist Party says it is the opposition flouting Venezuela's democracy given that independent institutions shot down the referendum.Officials also argue that the very existence of protests and virulent public criticism of Maduro prove democracy is alive and well in Venezuela.Maduro insists the referendum decision was made by independent judges and electoral officials based on technical criteria, and denies the Socialist Party had any sway over the result. But critics say both the judiciary and electoral council have long been in the government's pocket.The Supreme Court has repeatedly shot down legislation passed by the opposition-dominated Congress while interpreting the constitution to favour the executive branch and limit the reach of lawmakers.And the elections council has steadily shifted the requirements for requesting the recall vote.Maduro would have faced probable defeat and removal from power if the referendum had gone ahead. His challenge now is to contain street protests and respond to deep anger among all Venezuelans at the dreadful state of the economy.Food shortages, long shopping lines and runaway prices have eroded the ruling "Chavismo" movement's popularity among the poor and seen Maduro's ratings slide to just over 20 percent. But as unhappy as they are, disaffected former "Chavistas" are not yet ready to throw their lot in en masse with coalition leaders they still view with suspicion."They are all from privileged families. How can they represent me?" said Orlando Diaz, 47, a mechanic and father of four from a slum in western Caracas who has seen work dry up and income tumble during a nearly three-year recession."Do I hate Maduro? Yes. He has betrayed the comandante (Chavez), he is a fool. Will I join these people in their crying and marching? No way. Frankly, I don't know where to turn. I don't see a future, I just have to find bread for my family today and tomorrow. That's all I think about."The opposition's challenge is how to incorporate people like Diaz and his neighbours from the gritty hillside Antimano "barrio", into their street push. On Wednesday, they drew hundreds of thousands nationwide, but students and traditional supporters remained at the vanguard.Scores of people on both sides were killed during anti-Maduro protests in 2014 and there was new violence on Wednesday, with dozens of injuries and arrests. A policemen was shot dead in an incident the government blamed on demonstrators. "A recall referendum in 2016 would have meant the automatic exit from power of 'Chavismo'," said local pollster Luis Vicente Leon. "Eschewing democratic codes and values, the government preferred to assume ... the risk of a popular reaction."The next presidential election is due at the end of 2018 and most Venezuelans assume another candidate will emerge from within "Chavismo" instead of Maduro. But given the events of recent days, opposition supporters are beginning to wonder if that election will even take place. (Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Kieran Murray) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. CARACAS A Venezuelan policeman died after being shot during an opposition protest late on Wednesday, the Socialist government's Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said, adding there were two other officers injured.Clashes during Wednesday's anti-government march also injured over 120 people, opposition leader Henrique Capriles said earlier. (Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Sandra Maler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. The creation of smoking areas inside the Macau prison is a decision that will be made by its director, the president of the Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly (AL) said yesterday as he addressed changes to the Regime for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Use. The director of the prison can determine the area for that purpose, said Chan Chak Mo, as cited by Radio Macau, who spoke on the sidelines of the meeting addressing the law review held yesterday by the Second Standing Committee of the AL . Another of the questions debated by the committee is the authorization of the creation of Smoking Rooms inside casinos. The government is still studying the matter. Nothing is decided yet on the creation of such areas, said Chan who noted that the committee members had questioned the government on the topic. He remarked that a consensus on the matter has not yet been reached. A Hispanic woman says her white co-workers at an Iowa claims office used images of Donald Trump to racially harass her for months after they learned she was angered by his description of Mexican immigrants as rapists, according to a civil rights lawsuit she filed against her company. Alexandra Avilas co-workers at Sedgwick Claims Management Services where they administered benefits for Wal-Mart employees began calling her an illegal immigrant even though shes a natural-born U.S. citizen, according to the lawsuit filed this week in Iowa district court. The suit claims her former co-workers placed a picture of an angry-looking Trump as Avilas computers screensaver, signed her up to volunteer for his campaign and sent her racist memes, including one that read: Hows Mr. Donald Trump going to deport all these illegals? Juan by Juan. The Republican presidential candidates promise to build a border wall to keep out Mexican immigrants has for months contributed to racial tensions nationwide. Build a wall chants have been used by high school students to taunt Latino opponents at sporting events in multiple states, including Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana. At Kent State University, Latinos marching in the Homecoming parade this month said they were taunted with the same chant. Avila, a 32-year-old mother of one who worked at Sedgwick for three years, claims she faced similar heckling at her white-collar workplace in Coralville, Iowa, from the beginning of Trumps campaign in June 2015 until after she was fired five months later. Its been a weird political season where one candidate is taking public stances on things that, if the same words were said in the workplace, might constitute violations of our civil rights laws, said Avilas attorney, Paige Fiedler. His candidacy has emboldened some people to feel like that doesnt violate social norms anymore. Lesley Gudehus, spokeswoman for Memphis, Tennessee-based Sedgwick, declined comment on the lawsuit. Avila, born in California to Mexican parents, told colleagues she was upset with Trumps 2015 campaign launch when he said of Mexican immigrants: Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. Soon after, the lawsuit claims, colleagues removed the photo Avila had of her young daughter as her computer screensaver and replaced it with a picture of Trump yelling and pointing his finger. When Avila removed the photo, they kept switching it back to Trump, the suit alleges. An email arrived from the Trump campaign last fall thanking her for the support and asking how she wanted to help, according to the suit. Avila also claims her colleagues sent offensive memes, including one showing a brown-skinned man that read: Found Jesus he stabbed me twice. When her department was voting on a potluck menu, one co-worker said Avila was ineligible because she was an illegal immigrant, drawing laughter from Avilas boss, the lawsuit claims. Avila contends that after she complained about the harassment, the company accused her of falsifying timecards by claiming she worked minutes more time than she actually did. Avila was fired last November and escorted out, with Sedgwick saying it would send her personal property later. When her belongings arrived from FedEx, Avila says they contained a handwritten note that called her La Trumpa and added: Illegal immigrants cant vote or work. Good luck finding a job. Getting that box in the mail was a horrific experience, Fiedler says. After her firing, a co-worker sent her an invitation to a Trump rally on Facebook, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit, which names Sedgwick and two supervisors, alleges Avila suffered discrimination based on national origin and that the company failed to pay wages she earned. Alexandra Avila Ryan J. Foley, Iowa City, AP TWIN FALLS Popular rock climbing routes on a Dierkes Lake crag will get new, safer hardware after a fledgling coalition snagged its first grant for anchor replacement. Colorado-based Access Fund and the American Alpine Club this month awarded $1,000 to the year-old Southern Idaho Climbing Coalition, one of 15 awards from their joint Anchor Replacement Fund to address potential failures of fixed anchors on sport climbing routes across the country. The southern Idaho coalition will use the grant plus more than $800 donated by local businesses and individuals this fall and winter to replace all the anchors and lead bolts on the 18 climbing routes on The Prow, a crag on city-owned property between Dierkes Lake and Shoshone Falls. And climbers plan to do it the hard way. Whats cool about this project is were hoping to do 100 percent sustainable bolting, said College of Southern Idaho climbing instructor Shawn Willsey, the coalitions chairman. Climbers common practice has been chopping off old bolts, patching the holes and drilling new holes next to them for replacement hardware. If we do that ad nauseam, you end up with a pretty damaged and scarred-looking rock, Willsey said. Sustainable bolting, on the other hand, means completely pulling out the old bolt, then occupying the same hole with its replacement. Its a tricky, delicate job. And the coalition intends its Prow project to help lead the way on the new ethic. You can always spot a patch, said Tony Roberts, owner of the Magic Valley Gear Exchange in downtown Twin Falls. As chairman of the coalitions maintenance committee, hes teaching fellow climbers that its simply not an option to break off an old bolt, not an option to further mar a rock surface, even if cleanly removing a bolt takes hours. With that standard to uphold, coalition leaders need to recruit volunteer labor. Without the help of the climbing community here locally, we wont be able to pull off this project as fast as wed like to be able to, Roberts said. At a hands-on rebolting clinic tonight 6 p.m. at Magic Valley Gear Exchange Roberts will teach climbers the techniques for pulling out several types of hardware. Anyone whos interested in helping is welcome. And if tonights participants have time, Roberts will have them start building the custom tools and custom adapters theyll need for the Prow project tools that he copied or developed to solve the puzzles of sustainable bolting. This is a fresh, new thing, pulling out these bolts, Roberts said. The practice isnt widespread enough for tools to be available on the market. Why replace the bolts at all? The Prows sport climbing routes were developed in the late 1990s and early 2000s using a variety of bolts, anchors and hangers none of which comply with Access Fund standards. Most were plated steel, susceptible to rust and galvanic corrosion that might be hidden inside the rock. Twenty years ago, plated steel was the best thing, so it wasnt that we were using inferior materials back then, Willsey said. But todays bolts are stainless steel and last more than 50 years. The coalitions grant application cited a hodgepodge of existing anchors on The Prow: chains bolted directly to rock, gym hardware not intended for outdoor use, cold shuts, and homemade bed frame hangers. Also, the coalitions August inventory found several pieces of fixed hardware with visible rust or corrosion. The westward aspect of the crag makes it susceptible to storms and rainfall, and the winds of southern Idaho occasionally are strong enough to blow spray from nearby Shoshone Falls onto the rock face, the coalition wrote. Its leaders hope eventually to replace all the climbing hardware at Dierkes Lake. So why choose The Prow first? Its not as old as some of the lakes other developed climbing areas, but The Prow gets a lot of use because its the highest crag and includes routes of only moderate difficulty. And the setting is scenic. Its cliffs of featured basalt, more than 80 feet tall, overlook Shoshone Falls. The openings of Clif Bar and Chobani factories in Twin Falls brought in rock climbers from other areas. And the coalition predicts the areas first climbing gym Gemstone Climbing Center, under construction in downtown Twin Falls will make the sport even more popular here. Want to get involved at The Prow? The best way to contact Southern Idaho Climbing Coalition is its Facebook group. Donations to the Prow project or to the coalitions work on other local crags in need of new bolts can be dropped off at Magic Valley Gear Exchange, 364 Second Ave. E.; the coalition also expects to have a PayPal donation button activated soon on its website, Climbsicc.com. JEROME Southern Idaho Muzzleloaders Association will hold its next shoot at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Jerome Gun Club range on U.S. 93 at mile marker 64. BLISS With dirt smudges on his cheeks from a day on undercover ATV patrols, Dustin Masin watched the northern horizon and listened for the hum of an engine. Fellow officer Alex Head, behind the wheel of one of their parked Idaho Department of Fish and Game trucks, chewed his way steadily through a bag of sunflower seeds as he waited to turn on the trucks blue overhead flasher. Theyd do a lot of waiting during this three-hour check station. Now in uniform, the two senior conservation officers had set up their stop sign and their traffic caution triangles Oct. 22 in a strategic spot on the sagebrush desert, in a hunting unit known for trophy mule deer. Anyone hunting in Unit 45 for the day was likely to leave the Bennett Hills on the Bliss Hill City Road, and Masin and Head intended to talk to them all. Anyone traveling south on this dirt road between 5 and 8 p.m. would have to stop. The officers chose a spot with enough southbound visibility for a safe stop but not enough, they figured, for a hunter to spot the check station, stop unseen and hide a violation. They angled one Fish and Game truck toward the north, to quickly reach any vehicle that might stop before reaching the check station, and the other toward the south, to chase down anyone failing to stop. Some violations, they know, are inadvertent. Sometimes people with tags for a general hunt south of here fail to read the full regulations and hunt too far north, angering hunters who put in for years for Unit 45s coveted controlled hunts, Masin said. And by far the most common mistake he and his fellow officers encounter at check stations is hunters failing to leave evidence of sex naturally attached to a deer or elk carcass. Folks have been forgetting that a lot this year, Masin said. Knowing a reporter would join this shift, Masin brought along a copy of the Idaho Court of Appeals 1999 decision affirming that its constitutionally reasonable to briefly detain the traveling public, in or near designated hunting areas during hunting season, to question hunters, check their licenses, inquire about game taken, inspect game in hunters possession, and collect biological data. In that case, a hunter who conditionally pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a mule deer doe and a fawn moved to suppress the evidence from an unannounced Fish and Game check station on a rural Owyhee County road, then appealed the motions denial. The Appeals Courts judges said check stations like these advance the public interest in highly regulated wildlife management. Still, Masin and Head know they need to minimize the inconvenience for travelers who havent been hunting. The first group to stop at their Oct. 22 check station two motorbikes, no guns was on its way again in less than a minute. Sunset would bring the hunters, the officers figured. Masin consulted his smartwatch: sunset at 6:42 p.m. Other conservation officers give Masin a hard time for that smartwatch. But he defends it: The watchs quiet tap alerts him to a phone call without giving him away to a hunter or angler he might be sneaking up on. Head, based in Ketchum, is used to brisk traffic at his check stations in the Wood River Valley, where lots of general hunts means lots of hunters. So Masin, whose patrol territory includes the Bennett Hills, had another reason to be cheerfully defensive on this quiet evening in the desert. You can believe it or not, but this is one of my busier backcountry roads, Masin said. And occasionally the check station did have visitors: a foursome of bird hunters in a UTV with dogs on their laps; three hunters with cow elk tags but no elk; a big UTV with extraordinarily bright headlights and the color-changing LED whip that you might expect to see at St. Anthony Sand Dunes. Just out for a cruise. A pair of bird hunters not required to stop because they approached from the south complained about the hunting; Masin offered a tip on where to find chukars nearby. Bill and Suzanne Philips of Twin Falls, both with elk tags, wished they had an elk for the officers to examine, Suzanne said. Oh, man, were running out of time. Masin assured them that colder weather had elk starting to move. As the week goes further, I think youll have a better and better chance. And he suggested a herd of elk between agricultural fields north of Pioneer Reservoir. Bill was philosophical. Even if they dont see game, he said, its an excuse to go out every weekend driving. The officers recorded each license plate on their clipboard a list that might be useful later if they need to know who was in the area that day. But it wasnt the action they hoped for. I want to see one of those nice 45 bucks come through, Head said. Their tally so far: three quail and a pheasant. Masin perked up when the metallic clatter of a horse trailer accompanied an approaching engines hum. But it was Bliss outfitter Daniel Butler of Spring Cove Outfitters returning not with game but from tending camp for a family of hunting clients. Butler showed off a mountain lion photo on his cellphone and, with the officers help, entered Masins contact information in the phone. Hunters from neighboring Unit 44 came through. No big game in their rig, either. But Head waited until they left to add his commentary: I dont know how you go to 44 with a doe tag and not get a doe. While Head had talked with the Unit 44 hunters, Masin had walked behind the vehicle with his clipboard, trying to see in the tinted windows and looking for blood on the bumper. Some of the other telltale signs of a harvest are more subtle, and the officers didnt want them revealed. But blood on hands, clothes or vehicles is a big giveaway. If youre cutting up a critter, Masin said, youre going to have blood somewhere. Head realized hed missed a call from a Picabo-area officer to discuss possible violations for someone who drove cross-country to retrieve a shot elk. See, Masin said, if you had your smartwatch on, you wouldnt have missed that. Pink clouds accented the western sky. Leaning on the warm hood of Heads truck, Masin yawned. Heads position in the drivers seat became a sprawl. Twenty more minutes of this, he said. Headlights at 7:40 p.m. raised their hopes. But a couple in camo, indirectly illuminated by Masins raised flashlight, reported no luck. The Big Dipper had emerged in the cloudy night sky before Masin and Head wrapped up for the night. Preparing to head north, toward the Wood River Valley, Head predicted hed pass a lot of headlights. And, Masin said, theyll have blood all over their white pickup. 7 occupants escape house fire in southwest Idaho NAMPA Authorities in the southwest Idaho city of Nampa say seven people escaped a house fire Wednesday morning, some by crawling out windows. Nampa Fire Battalion Chief Todd Banta tells KTVB-TV that the fire started at about 1 a.m. Banta says no one was injured but the house is a total loss. He says the cause of the fire is unknown. No damage estimate was provided. Vandals destroy bell at N. Idaho memorial for veterans COEUR DALENE Authorities in northern Idaho say damage is estimated at $15,000 after vandals destroyed a bell at a memorial for veterans in Coeur dAlene. Deputy City Administrator Sam Taylor says the 350-pound Pappys Bell at the Veterans Memorial in McEuen Field shattered sometime over the weekend when it fell after someone broke the frame holding it aloft. Taylor tells the Coeur dAlene Press that its unclear if the bell can be repaired. The bell was donated to the city in the 1950s. Police are investigating. Man who killed 3 pleads guilty to vehicular manslaughter COEUR DALENE A Hayden man has pleaded guilty in connection to a fatal head-on crash that killed a father and his two young daughters. The Spokesman-Review reports that 28-year-old Ryan Turner on Tuesday pleaded guilty to three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter. Kootenai County prosecutors say they will recommend a fixed sentenced of 10 years and an indeterminate sentence of 20 years when Turner is sentenced Jan. 31. Police say Turner was driving his pickup truck northbound in the southbound lane on U.S. Highway 95 Sept. 12, 2015, when he crashed into an incoming car. The crash took place just south of Athol. The crash killed 33-year-old Mathew-Michael Baroni of Spokane and his daughters, 8-year-old Madilyn and 6-year-old Molly. Court documents show Turner had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.155 percent. Man who crashed into house pleads guilty to manslaughter BLACKFOOT A southeast Idaho man who crashed a vehicle into a house and killed the 92-year-old resident has pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter. The Idaho State Journal in a story on Wednesday reports that Dillon Grant Gibson of Blackfoot also agreed to pay restitution. Police say that Gibson on June 14 was driving under the influence when he crashed into the Blackfoot home of William Hong, a well-known restaurateur. Police say the crash started a fire that gutted Hongs home and that Hong suffered extensive injuries. He was transported to a hospital but died a short time later. Police say Gibson fled the scene on foot but was quickly arrested. Gibson faces up to 15 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 10. Death of N. Idaho father being investigated as homicide COEUR DALENE Northern Idaho authorities on Wednesday identified a body found in the Coeur dAlene National Forest as that of a missing father and the death is being investigated as a homicide. Post Falls Police say the body of 41-year-old William Bo Kirk of Coeur dAlene was found Tuesday. Police say he went missing Saturday after leaving work at 7 p.m., and a few hours later his truck was found on fire near Athol. Police previously released surveillance video of a masked man in Kirks vehicle using Kirks card at several cash machines to withdraw money. Police are continuing to investigate. Drivers The Twin Falls Senior Center needs drivers to deliver meals to homebound seniors in Twin Falls Monday through Friday, and the routes take an hour or less to complete. Commitment is based on your availability. Volunteers must be 18 years of age with their own car, and have proof of liability insurance and a background check. Drivers receive 54 cents a mile fuel reimbursement. Information: 208-734-5084. Volunteers Horizon Home Health and Hospice is looking for volunteers to join its team to provide quality compassionate care to patients through the following activities: companionship, socialization, respite, and support for patients and families and much more. Information: Cynthia Nixon, 208-800-8085 or cnixon@horizonhh.com. Drivers The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteer drivers for its Road to Recovery program in Twin Falls. Volunteers will drive patients to and from medical treatments. Commitment is flexible. Information: 1-800-227-2345. Volunteers The Senior Companion Program at the CSI Office on Aging needs volunteers, age 55 and older, to assist homebound seniors by providing friendly visits, transportation or other assistance as needed. Senior Companions receive a stipend per hour of service (to income eligible seniors) and can work between 15 to 40 hours a week. They receive reimbursement for mileage, and training on age-related problems. Information: Dandre, 208-736-2122, or toll free, 800-574-8656. Volunteers The Fifth Judicial District CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program is seeking community volunteers to become advocates for abused children. Advocates receive training and support to investigate, report, monitor and advocate for children involved in the child protection system. Advocates are needed in all eight counties of the district, and the program needs volunteers in the Mini Cassia area. Information: Tahna, 208-735-1177. Volunteers Hospice Visions Inc. is looking for volunteers to visit with patients and their families, do minor home modifications such as grab bars, and also volunteer Light Touch Massage therapists, hair dressers, meal assist volunteers, and to play music and games with hospice patients. Volunteers are needed with licensed certified therapy animals to love our hospice patients in their own homes or assisted living centers. Hospice Visions is looking for volunteers interested in doing art projects with patients or filming and creating a Life Legacy Video, or to take someone to the store, run an errand or out for a drive. Veterans can become a Vet-to-Vet Volunteer and visit with other veterans. Volunteers are also needed to assist with fundraising events and provide office assistance. Information: Nora at 208-735-0121 or nwells@hospicevisions.org. Volunteers St. Lukes Home Health and Hospice is looking for new volunteers to join its team to share compassion and care and increase the quality of life for patients and their families. The program is designed to offer companionship and socialization to patients as well as respite and support for the caregivers. Information: Marie Sharp, 208-814-7603 or sharpm@slhs.org. BOISE A Jerome who led police on a high-speed chase has been found guilty of federal gun charges Wednesday after a two-day trial. Daniel Andrew Mills, 41, was indicted in February. Mills, a convicted felon, was wanted by the U.S. Marshals on a federal warrant for a supervised release violation, according to U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson. In January, Mills led police on a chase through Jerome when officers tried to pull him over for a broken tail light. He crashed and refused to come out of the car, waiving a shotgun out the window. After several hours, a Twin Falls County negotiator finally talked Mills out of the car. Inside, deputies found a loaded shotgun and a loaded .25-caliber pistol. According to federal prosecutors, Mills has previously been convicted of assault with intent to commit a serious felony, aiding and abetting delivery of controlled substance, escape, forgery and possession of controlled substance. I want to thank all the law enforcement officers involved for their efforts and willingness to put themselves in harms way in order to bring Mr. Mills to justice, Olson said in a statement. Their restraint and professionalism in peacefully resolving this armed stand-off is but one example of Idaho law enforcement protecting the community as a whole, to include individuals like Mr. Mills who seek to do them harm. Mills faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of firearms. Mills will be sentenced in January. TWIN FALLS Dressed sharply in a black three-piece suit, Robert Kreger III, 28, of Twin Falls stood at a podium Wednesday night to address several hundred people at the College of Southern Idaho. I rented a suit tonight, because most people have only seen me in my work uniform Ive dedicated my life to sewers and septic, Kreger said. But tonight, I decided to dress how I feel inside. And I feel wonderful. It was a feeling Kreger shared with 16 other Magic Valley residents as they graduated Wednesday from Idahos 5th Judicial District Drug Court at a large, boisterous ceremony at the CSI Fine Arts Auditorium. Including Wednesday nights graduates, 510 people have now graduated from the 5th District Drug Court, a program that helps addicts convicted of felony crimes to overcome their addictions through counseling, therapy and education. Drug court participants are also must take random drug tests, check in with probation officers, maintain employment and attend regular court sessions where a judge checks on their progress. The first graduate afforded the chance to speak quoted Peyton Manning quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said: Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be. The graduates were treated as they could be, he said, by the drug court team that consists of judges, a drug court coordinator, prosecutors, public defenders, treatment providers, mental health clinicians, probation and parole officers, law enforcement and vocational rehabilitation specialists. All those people, as well as friends, family and drug court alumni were in attendance at Wednesdays celebration. Also in attendance were those still going through drug court programming, so they could see whats in store for them. Among those who graduated Wednesday was Kreger, who was using drugs as recently as last spring, and though he wanted a house, a wife and a family, he never expected to have those things. With the help of drug court, Kreger has been clean and sober since April 2015. Charli Ward, who lives in Jerome but grew up in Shoshone, was working at an assisted living center when a co-worker reported her for having drugs on the job. Her sister tried to get Ward help several times, tried to get her clean, but Ward never wanted the help. Now, she has 23 months clean and sober. Verna Rene Serrato, 46, of Burley was addicted to methamphetamine for a few years, and crack cocaine for 10 years before that. In two weeks, shell be 14 months clean and sober. Doug Carter, 51, lives in Burley but grew up in the tiny community of Stone, just east of where Interstate 84 crosses from Idaho to Utah. Carter said the closest law enforcement was 35 miles from Stone, so residents there had free run doing whatever we wanted to do. Carter started drinking and doing drugs at age 13 and used for the next 37 years. As of Wednesday, Carter was clean and sober for 14 months, 13 days. I went from losing everything to having what I need and want, Carter said Tuesday during a phone interview. I gained a lot of tools I wish I would have had 35 years ago. Drugs robbed Carter of close friends who have died while using, of money he should have been saving, of materialistic items. Drug court has helped me get past all that, Carter said. Its helped me put closure to losing friends I lost, helped me form a future Im proud to look forward to. Kregers 28th birthday was Tuesday, the day before he was going to graduate after 18 months in drug court. He said he was ecstatic about graduating and about the two big milestones in back-to-back days. Was I expecting to be where I am now? Heck no, Kreger said Tuesday, recalling the time early last year when he was still using. I didnt want to get clean. The same can be said for a lot of drug court participants when they first start out, 5th District Drug Court Coordinator Israel Enriquez said. He runs the districts four drug courts, in Twin Falls, Jerome, Blaine and Minni-Cassia. Its definitely a process, Enriquez said Oct. 19 following a drug court session at the Twin Falls County courthouse. So many of them come into our program, and theyre lost, and we just try to get them stable and get their basic needs met. For the first 12 weeks at least, participants are required to be in court once a week on top of their weekly counseling and therapy sessions and other requirements. Its during this time that Enriquez, the judges and the rest of the team make personalized recovery plans that can include everything from mandating where the person lives, how many hours they need to be working and who they can or cannot associate with. The duration of phase one, they come to court on a weekly basis and we try to use that to determine their initial engagement and what theyre willing to put into their programming, Enriquez said. We see a lot of different behavior through phase one some people dont want to be here and some people are more ready to take on the challenges and change that come with drug court. Carter said he locked horns with Judge John Butler early in his programming. Ward said she struggled at the beginning and even got kicked out before being allowed back in. The structure that drug court demands can seem impossible at first, but by the end, its what the participants rave about. It gave me the structure I needed, not just to stay clean, but to do everything else in life, Serrato said Tuesday during a phone interview. Now Im a college student at CSI. Im going to become a drug counselor and help others who dont believe in themselves. Serrato said drug court saved her life, a sentiment shared by many of the graduates who spoke Wednesday. I would have been still stuck at home getting high without drug court, Serrato said. Now, shes learned to love and respect herself, and to deal with pressure and stress and other triggers in much more healthy ways than lighting up a bowl. Carter, Kreger and Ward also talked about the structure the program provides. Most participants are in the program between a year, the absolute minimum, and 18 months. Ward said shes been in the program 23 months after her initial rough start and getting kicked out once. Sitting through a court session Oct. 19 in Twin Falls, it was easy to see those participants who were just starting out and those who were nearing the end. One woman made excuses about why her urine tested positive for drugs she had mistakenly taken a prescription-strength pain killer instead of a regular Tylenol. Im not buying it, Judge Eric Wildman told her. I hear that excuse a lot. Wildman told the young woman she needed to lose her attitude and open up more. He then sanctioned her to two days in jail. Judges sanctions can range from a verbal warning to community service to jail time. But the weekly court sessions are only a tiny part of the overall recovery process. The real work happens during the week at the counseling and therapy sessions, and at recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. And all of that, if everything goes right, leads to ceremonies like Wednesday nights graduation, and futures that finally look brighter. Serrato is back in school and plans to be a drug counselor. Ward, who lost all of her medical and nursing credentials when she was caught with drugs at work, also plans to go back to school to become a registered nurse and work with children who have cancer. Kreger wants to find a wife and have children in a structured household. And Carter, who is finally clean after nearly four decades of drug use, said that even though its not a lot, he has more money in his pocket now than hes had for a long time. He plans to continue working and saving. Just gonna buy me a house, Carter said, plant my roots and grow. TWIN FALLS Twin Falls school trustees approved a job description and salary range Wednesday night for the next superintendent. Wiley Dobbs announced last month hell retire Sept. 1, 2017. He has overseen the Twin Falls School Districts operations since 2003. The school board is starting the process of finding a new leader for Idahos eighth-largest school district, with about 9,300 students. School trustees set the next superintendents salary range at $113,692.30 to $134,147.40, depending on education and experience. Trustee Bryan Matsuoka wasnt at the meeting to vote. Twin Falls has the 11th highest superintendent salary in the state, at $130,239. Were right in the ballpark with our salary, compared with other superintendents in the area, board chairman Bernie Jansen said. Trustee Mary Barron asked if the board would like to see a doctoral degree as a requirement for the next superintendent. With a district this size, I think it would be difficult to finish an advanced degree while overseeing the district, she said. Trustee Paul McClintock asked if that would be eliminating too many candidates, especially those who are on their way to their dissertation. Trustees decided to list a doctoral degree as desired, along with experience as a superintendent or assistant superintendent of a school district with 3,000 or more students. Barron asked Dobbs if anything else should be included in the job description or if he had any feedback. I think the technology piece is a good point, Dobbs said, referring to a point in the job description about understanding school technology. I hadnt thought of that. Trustees voted Oct. 10 to pay $7,500 to the Idaho School Boards Association to help with the search process for a new superintendent. That will include marketing the job advertisement, putting together public forums, reviewing each application and providing feedback to the school board, conducting reference checks on top candidates, recommending four to six candidates for school board consideration, communicating with applicants and scheduling interviews. During their meeting, trustees also: Heard a public comment from Carter Killinger, who said hes a concerned citizen. He told the school board he read a story in the Times-News about the districts payout to administrator Clara Allred. The school district gave a $94,108.26 payout in late June to Allred who was director of support services as part of a separation agreement. She announced her retirement about a week later. Before Killinger began speaking, Jansen said the agreement involves a personnel action. Some of it, were unable to talk about it. Killinger asked why the board meeting happened July 4 to accept Allreds retirement. Either someone isnt doing their job or guidelines werent being followed to prevent this incident from happening, he said. Jansen said the board has no control over employee actions in the district, except for imposing consequences. There are guidelines for situations like the one with the former employee, Jansen said. Thats why the action was taken. He said he feels guidelines are adequate. He added: As a board, we do not micromanage the affairs of the district. Thats why we hire a superintendent and he hires a staff. Killinger said self-policing is a poor practice. There needs to be accountability. He asked for written responses to his questions and Jansen handed him a piece of paper with information. After hearing responses from Jansen, Killinger said: I think youve got some good answers. Approved an audit report for the 2015-16 school year. The school district received an unmodified opinion, auditor Raymond Ware said. We have given you a good, clean opinion. The auditing firm went through the districts books and records, and there werent any violations of the budget or state regulations. We found things to be in good order, Ware said. The school district has about $3.78 million in fund balance. It spends, on average, $3.9 million per month. It means the district has 28 days of operational funding in reserve. Thats the highest it has been since 2007, Ware said. The general fund is generally the best indicator of how youre doing, he said. Ware said hed like to see a fund balance of somewhere between one and two-and-a-half months of operating expenses. Youve been operating on less than one for about 10 years, Ware said. But he told school trustees it was a good year for the audit and the district is to be commended. Ware said his firm does about 30 audits per year and the Twin Falls School District is in the top three for its strong internal controls. Reviewed a job description for the public relations director, but didnt take action. TWIN FALLS Fewer Idaho students are pursuing education beyond high school a troubling trend for lawmakers and education experts trying to convince more high schoolers to pursue higher education. College go-on rates dropped again from 52 percent in 2014 to 46 percent last year, according to new data from the Idaho Board of Education. State lawmakers have approved measures over the past two years in an effort to have 60 percent of Idahoans 25 to 35 with a post-high school degree or certificate. The state school board reviewed the latest numbers during a meeting last week at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston. Data isnt available yet for the 2016 graduating class. One explanation for the decline: a booming economy, said Debbie Critchfield, an Oakley resident and member of the board. Typically, when unemployment rates are low, fewer students are enrolled in colleges and universities. As (the economy) improves, we see go-on rates decline because students are enticed by immediate job opportunities, said Blake Youde, spokesman for the Idaho Board of Education. Theres nothing wrong with students connecting with careers and jobs after graduation, Critchfield said, but we also want to make sure theyre as qualified and trained as possible. Idahos unemployment rate is 3.8 percent, and its even lower for the south-central Idaho region, at 3.2 percent, according to Idaho Department of Labor estimates for September. In south-central Idaho, college go-on rates for 2015 range from 15 percent at three alternative schools (Magic Valley School in Twin Falls, Mt. Harrison Junior/Senior High School in Heyburn and Silver Creek High School in Hailey) to 82 percent in Hansen. Students are counted only if they enroll full-time or part-time at an accredited public or private college or university in the United States within a year of graduating from high school. Data is compiled from Idaho colleges and universities, and the National Student Clearinghouse. Officials in the Twin Falls School District say theyre perplexed by the numbers, especially, since high school graduation rates often exceed 90 percent and more students are earning college credits in high school. I think its surprising to all of us, district spokeswoman Eva Craner said about the go-on rate. Secondary programs director L.T. Erickson said hed like to spend time taking a deeper look at the data and asking questions about how the rates are calculated. For 2015, the go-on rate was 43 percent for Canyon Ridge High School (down from 51 percent in 2014), 51 percent for Twin Falls High School (down from 61 percent), and 15 percent for Magic Valley High School (up from 11 percent). Superintendent Wiley Dobbs said the school district isnt going to change course, but it will look deeper into the data. Dobbs said hed like to see rates reflect students who enlist in the armed forces or attend trade schools. That certainly, in my mind, is going on and being successful. High schools also offer certifications such as in manufacturing that students can earn in high school and enter the workforce directly after graduation. One of the good things about Twin Falls is the job opportunities are growing, Dobbs said. The states new direct admissions initiative, now in its second year, will have a positive impact on the go-on rate, Critchfield said. Seniors at Idahos public high schools received a letter earlier this fall about which in-state public colleges and universities theyre qualified to attend. It also simplifies the application process. Statewide, theres a 5 percent increase over last year in resident Idaho freshmen at in-state colleges and universities. An official headcount later this month may give us a good reason to be optimistic, Youde said. In the Magic Valley, the College of Southern Idaho hired four transition coordinators last year who help high schoolers prepare for college. The LDS effect Statewide, go-on rates dont include high school graduates who go on missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints right after high school. A few years ago, there was a bubble of students going on LDS missions. I think that was a biggest factor why the go-on rate wasnt improving like we thought, Critchfield said. But now, it looks like that trend has gone flat a bit. The LDS Church decided in 2013 to lower the age members can serve missions: 18 for men and 19 for women. But many young adults who serve missions enroll in college once they return. At least 15 percent of graduating Twin Falls students serve a church mission, Dobbs estimated. Reversing the trend In Hansen which has the highest go-on rate in south-central Idaho theres a high rate of poverty and many students initially have the notion college isnt an option, Superintendent Kristin Beck wrote in an email to the Times-News. But the school district has written several grants totaling about $25,000 to help bridge the gap between high school and college. And about four years ago, Hansen High School started offering its own in-house dual credit classes. Grant money pays for textbooks for students and offsets or entirely covers the cost of college credits. At Jerome High School, the go-on rate dropped from 55 percent in 2014 to 41 percent last year. What I dont have is the reason why, school district Superintendent Dale Layne said. And I dont know how accurate those numbers are. Last year, the school received a grant to hire two employees who worked with students on college applications and applying for financial aid. It will be interesting to see if that had any impact on the go-on rate, Layne said. About 97 percent of the 2016 graduates applied to at least one college. In Twin Falls, the school district is considering collecting its own data on where high school graduates end up, Erickson said. School officials want students to be aware of their many options, Craner said, beyond the traditional four-year university path. BOISE Six Magic Valley organizations will receive a grant from the Idaho Food Bank Fund, the group announced Wednesday. Recipients are: St. Jerome Community Kitchen/Martha & Marys Food Pantry ($3,525), Twin Falls Senior Center ($2,100), Hagerman Valley Senior and Community Center ($415), Jubilee House ($1,950), Open Hearts Food Pantry in Rupert ($3,247) and Ketchum Community Dinners ($900). Theyre among 34 organizations across Idaho to receive $88,800 in total grant money. The Idaho Food Bank Fund was established by the 2009 legislature as a cooperative effort among the Idaho Foodbank, Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho and Catholic Charities of Idaho. Donations can be made via the Idaho State Income Tax Form 40. For more information, email grants@idahofoodbank.org or visit http://idahofoodbankfund.org/. Alexandra Grablewski/DigitalVision/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- A study published Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Association refutes the long-held theory that cranberry capsules can cure urinary tract infecctions in nursing home residents. The study is the latest data point in decades of conflicting evidence as to the efficacy of the "cranberry cure." While some studies indicated that there was a benefit to using cranberry capsules as a preventative measure, the science remained weak. Bacteria plus pyuria, the researchers note, is common in older women living in nursing homes. However, when they performed their study, using 185 women over the age of 65, they found no significant difference in the presence of bacteria. Researchers say 147 women completed the one-year study, but the difference in incidence of urinary tract infection was small -- 10 UTIs in the group receiving cranberry capsules, as compared to 12 in the group receiving a placebo. Urinary tract infections lead to approximately nine million doctor visits each year, and over one million hospitalizations, mostly involving women. An editorial also published in the Journal of the American Medical Association said that while further research can be done to find more effective preventative measures, "it is time to move on from cranberries." Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the resolution, which disregarded Jewish ties to the Al Aqsa by endorsing that of the Palestinians following a secret ballot by members of its World Heritage Committee. Such resolutions are usually approved through a consensus but Tanzania and Croatia demanded a secret ballot. Before the voting, the resolution was revised after aggressive diplomacy and lobbying by Israel and the US but Israels Ambassador to the organization Carmel Shama-Hachohen said it is a repeat of yet another absurd resolution against the State of Israel, the Jewish people and historical truth. Israels ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, described the approval as an embarrassment that is doomed to fail after criticizing UNESCO for marching to the tune of the Palestinian pipers to deny Jewish heritage by distorting their history and disconnecting the Jewish people from their land. Israel has recalled its ambassador for consultations and Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that his government will decide what the next steps will be. Palestines envoy for UNESCO, Elias Sanbar, said Israel should stop politicizing religion because it is very dangerous. Ten states voted in support of the resolution while two opposed it with the remaining eight countries abstaining. Israel protested against the resolution by dumping it in garbage. The Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Saed Erekat, applauded the resolution for reaffirming the importance of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. He accused Israel of trying to make East Jerusalem a city of Jewish traditions by distancing it from its Muslim and Christian traditions through an orchestrated campaign based on archaeological claims and distortion of facts as a way to legitimize the annexation of the city. Erekat urged Tel Aviv to respect the status quo of our religious sites, including al-Aqsa Mosque Compound that continues to be threatened by the Israeli systematic incitement and provocative actions. Turkeys crackdown on the alleged members of the July 15 coup detat continues with the Chief Public Prosecutor in Konya issuing an arrest warrant for 73 pilots, two colonels and 71 lieutenants. The arrest operation began on Thursday morning across 17 provinces and there are reports that at least 45 of them have been taken into custody. Dogan news agency reported that the pilots are being charged for violating the constitution by trying to oust a democratically elected government and also taking part in an armed rebellion against the Turkish Republic. They are also accused of taking orders and acting on behalf of the organization in reference to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) that Ankara alleges was behind the failed coup detat. State-run Anadolu news agency reported that the pilots were handpicked by the Gulen movement and played an active role in the movement and the search for some of them at the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Command is ongoing. Over 35,000 people have been arrested since July as part of the investigation into the group while nearly 26,000 have been released under judicial control. Alleged coup leader, Fethullah Gulen, has rejected the accusations that he was behind the plan. In total, Turkey says it has investigated 82,000 people in connection with the coup attempt and more than 5% of its security force has been affected by the investigations. Critics say President Erdogan is using the coup to go after his opponents but Ankara argues that it is acting within the framework of the law while stressing that its actions are in reaction to an extraordinary threat necessitating emergency measures. The United States is yet to heed Ankaras request for the extradition of Gulen much to the dismay of the Turkish authorities especially President Erdogan who openly criticized Washington for not handing over an alleged terrorist. Former rebel group of Riek Machar in South Sudan released 145 child soldiers, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) confirmed on Wednesday. The operation has been coordinated by exiled South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machars group and another group in Pibor in eastern South Sudan. In 2015, armed groups in the same area released a total of 1,775 children. Our hope is that their release today will be followed by many others so that the 16,000 children still with armed groups can return to their families, the UNICEF representative in South Sudan, Mahimbo Mdoe, said in a statement. Children in South Sudan need security, protection and opportunities Our priority is that they go to school and be able to provide services to their communities and to consider a more promising future, he added. According to the UN agency, about 16,000 child soldiers have been recruited since December 2013 when the civil war began in the worlds youngest nation, claiming tens of thousands of lives and more than 2.5 million civilians displaced. UNICEF has repeatedly accused both the government and rebel groups of forcibly enrolling hundreds of children in their ranks and widespread atrocities and war crimes, including gang rapes, massacres and attacks on aid organizations and peacekeepers. Botswanas National Development Plan presented to Parliament on Wednesday indicated that the southern African nations economy will grow by an average of 4.4 percent annually from April 2017 to March 2023. According to the document, the diamond-rich country will introduce a new fiscal rule next year that will see its diamond producers save 40 percent of countrys annual mineral revenue in a sovereign wealth fund. When implemented, the rule will see 40 percent of minerals revenues saved with the Bank of Botswana under the countrys sovereign wealth fund, the Pula Fund, secretary for finance and economic policy Taufila Nyamadzabo said. Botswanas economy contracted 1.3 percent quarter-on-quarter in the three months to end-June versus a 1.6 percent expansion in the first quarter of 2016. According to IMF forecasts, Botswanas economy is to grow by 3.7 percent this year after an estimated contraction of 0.3 percent in 2015. Botswana, the worlds biggest diamond producer, has been reeling from a drop in commodity prices which has impacted negatively on the countrys mining industry. The sector accounts for around 75 percent of Botswanas foreign exchange earnings and 30 percent of GDP, but gem demand has slowed since late 2014 as middlemen who buy rough stones struggle with a stronger dollar and liquidity problems. The French government on Wednesday said it will keep a rapid reaction force in war-ravaged Central African Republic after its mission ends. According to a statement published by the Elysee, the force has a capacity for military intervention at short notice and may be mobilized at the request of the Central African Republic government in case of serious threats against peace or the countrys institutions. In the stabilization phase that follows, France will continue to participate in the integrated multi-dimensional UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) and the training mission of the CAR army set up by the European Union (EUTM RCA), the Elysee said. President Francois Hollande has recently maintained that much is needed to be done in terms of security and disarmament in the central Africa nation while acknowledging the progress made in the country citing their successful election this year. Rebels overthrew the president of CAR in 2013, triggering waves of sectarian violence. France responded by sending a military mission there in December 2013. Its final 350 troops equipped with drones will continue to be a tactical reserve, authorized to lend a hand to the UN forces if needed. With the reduction of the French Sangaris forces to 350 men against 2,500 at the height of the crisis, MINUSCA is in the front line to ensure safety until the CAR army is able to effectively protect the state. A blood test that has shown promise in predicting how cancer will progress and what treatments will be most effective for a given patient may not be reliable for either, according to a new Penn Medicine study published this week in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Investigators have been looking for a biomarker in bladder cancer, and one emerging candidate is the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Previous studies have linked an elevated NLR with worse overall survival after radical cystectomy, a surgery in which the entire bladder and nearby lymph nodes are removed. Other studies suggest NLR correlates with the amount of cancer found during surgery, meaning the blood test might predict which patients will benefit from pre-surgery chemotherapy to shrink their tumors. But new research led by Eric Ojerholm, MD, a resident physician in the department of Radiation Oncology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, raises doubts about NLR as a biomarker. In contrast to previous studies, Dr. Ojerholm's team found NLR is not effective at predicting the overall survival of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Further, they found NLR was not helpful in determining which patients would benefit from chemotherapy before surgery. Ojerholm said the discrepancy between the findings of this study and previous work comes in the methodology. "Dozens of earlier studies reported NLR as a biomarker for bladder cancer, and we hoped that this would be true," Ojerholm said. "Yet extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. And all prior studies relied on observational datasets. Many also used statistical methods that can lead to false positive results. So we decided to rigorously put NLR to the test." Ojerholm's team analyzed data that was collected in real-time during a prospective clinical trial, making this the first study of NLR in bladder cancer not to rely on observational data. The study analyzed SWOG 8710, which was a randomized Phase III trial of 317 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. All patients were treated with radical cystectomies. Half had pre-surgery chemotherapy, while the other half did not. "The trial we used has a few big advantages to study NLR," Ojerholm said. "First, baseline blood samples were collected as part of the trial protocol. Second, the study's long-term follow-up gave us adequate 'statistical power,' meaning that if NLR really was a biomarker, then we should be able to detect it. Third, the trial randomly assigned some patients to receive pre-surgery chemotherapy. This allowed us to test NLR both as a prognostic and predictive biomarker." Of the 317 total patients, Ojerholm and his team identified 230 for a prognostic analysis to see if NLR could serve as a predictor of how long patients would live after curative treatment. They identified 263 others for a predictive analysis to see if NLR could tell which patients would respond to chemotherapy. There was a median follow-up of 18.6 years. For the prognostic analysis, NLR was not a significant factor in overall survival. The important factors were age and whether the patient received pre-surgery chemotherapy. For the predictive analysis, NLR did not predict which patients benefitted from chemotherapy. On the question of why most previous publications supported NLR as a biomarker, Ojerholm pointed to several factors beyond methodology and statistical design. "There's also the problem of publication bias," Ojerholm explained. "Sometimes authors won't submit negative results, and sometimes journals won't accept them. That could be a real issue as NLR research continues." Ojerholm stressed that no single study is definitive, and doctors must weigh results from the entire literature. "Yet this study does raise questions about NLR for bladder cancer," Ojerholm added, "and we need more evidence before using this biomarker in clinical practice." In the last few years, American hospitals have focused like hawks on how to keep patients from coming back within a few weeks of getting out. Driven by new Medicare penalties for such events, the effort has slowed a 'revolving door' of readmissions for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia patients that costs the nation billions of dollars. But a new analysis suggests that Medicare should focus more on how well hospitals do at actually keeping such patients alive during the same time. If hospitals got paid less when their patients died soon after a hospitalization, just like they get paid less when those patients end up back in the hospital, it would be a game-changer for one-third of hospitals, say researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System who published their findings in JAMA Cardiology. About 17 percent of hospitals are getting punished for excess readmissions, but are keeping patients alive more often than would be expected, they find. And another 16 percent of hospitals essentially get rewarded for low readmission rates, but their patients are more likely to die in the first month after leaving their hospital beds. In other words, some of the hospitals that get penalized for high readmissions are those that may actually do the best job at keeping patients alive - and vice versa. Preventive incentives If the penalties took both readmission and mortality into account, the Medicare system would save the same amount of money, but incentivize good outcomes more fairly, the researchers say. "Under most circumstances, hospital patients would much rather avoid death than readmission," says Scott Hummel, M.D., M.S., senior author of the new paper and a heart failure cardiologist. "But the incentive to prevent death in the first 30 days after a hospitalization is 10 times less than the incentive to prevent a return hospital visit." He and his colleagues hope their analysis will spark a conversation about how to fine-tune the Medicare system's effort to encourage better performance by America's hospitals. Their work is based on data from 2014, the first year when hospitals could both be penalized for readmission rates that were higher than expected, and earn a financial reward based on a mix of measures that include everything from 30-day death rates to how well patients rated the care they received and the hospital environment. Under the current policy, hospitals can lose up to three percent of condition-related payments from Medicare for excess readmissions, but can recoup only about 0.2 percent of such payments for having low mortality rates. First author Ahmad Abdul-Aziz, M.D., an internal medicine resident at U-M, helped coordinate the data analysis using publicly available data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, called CMS for short. Some of it was accessed via an online system created by Kaiser Health News, based on data from CMS. In all, data from 1,963 hospitals was included. The authors, who also include senior team members Rodney Hayward, M.D., and Keith Aaronson, M.D., M.S., calculated a ratio for each hospital based on observed and expected readmissions and mortality in the first 30 days for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia. Although other conditions were added to the readmission program in 2015 and 2016, they weren't included because these diagnoses are not yet included in the reward program for low mortality rates. All the data were adjusted for how sick each hospital's patients were when they started, using standard methods that allow an apples-to-apples comparison. The socioeconomic status of each hospital's patients, which can also affect patient outcomes but aren't in a hospital's control, wasn't included because CMS hadn't yet started taking it into account in 2014. The authors don't take issue with the idea of penalizing excess readmissions - though they do note that readmissions for any cause are included in the program, not just readmissions for the problem that sent the person to the hospital in the first place. Admissions to any hospital within 30 days of discharge count against the hospital that the patient was discharged from, which may work against large hospitals that patients travel to for advanced care before returning to their home area. Other researchers have shown there isn't a tight link between a hospital's 30-day readmission rate and the 30-day mortality rate for its patients with these conditions - suggesting that there's more to the story when thinking about using them as measures of hospital quality. The authors also call for continued improvement in risk models that will more precisely predict a patient's risk of readmission, just like current, well-tested models to predict their risk of death. Better tools would mean better ability to test a hospital's actual performance against what might be expected based on their entire patient population. The researchers also plan to examine what kinds of hospitals are most likely to win or lose financially if the balance shifts between penalties for reducing readmissions and those for reducing early mortality. "The misaligned incentives for preventing readmission and preventing death may help explain why some hospitals are doing really well on one, but not on the other," says Hummel. "It's important that we continue to reduce preventable readmissions, but we need to watch out for unintended consequences too. "Sometimes, a readmission might be a good thing - no one wants to see patients die because they should have been readmitted," he adds. "If financial penalties drive hospitals to figure out how to improve outcomes, increasing incentives to reduce early post-hospital deaths seems like a good place to start." More information: Ahmad A. Abdul-Aziz et al, Association Between Medicare Hospital Readmission Penalties and 30-Day Combined Excess Readmission and Mortality, JAMA Cardiology (2016). Journal information: JAMA Cardiology Ahmad A. Abdul-Aziz et al, Association Between Medicare Hospital Readmission Penalties and 30-Day Combined Excess Readmission and Mortality,(2016). DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2016.3704 DentaCom is a novel mobile application enabling smartphones to capture and transmit images from inside the mouth, along with details on the dental emergency, to provide the information dentists need to make a decision on what -- and how urgently -- care is needed. Credit: Corey Stein Have a dental emergency? Your smartphone may be able to help you avoid an unnecessary trip to the hospital. A team mentored by Thankam Thyvalikakath, DMD, PhD, now of the Indiana University School of Dentistry and of the Regenstrief Institute, has developed and tested a novel mobile application enabling smartphones to capture and transmit images from inside the mouth, along with details on the dental emergency, to provide the information dentists need to make a decision on whatand how urgentlycare is needed. Seeking to improve emergency dental care, the researchers developed DentaCom, a cell phone application that enables dentists to make decisions when they cannot see the patient. "A Prototype Mobile Application for Triaging Dental Emergencies" is published in the October 2016 issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association and is featured on the issue's cover. The authors were at the University of Pittsburgh at the time of the study. The new app guides individuals with real or suspected dental emergencies through a series of questions designed to capture clinically meaningful data via familiar smartphone functions. In the study, all participants were able to complete a guided report on their dental emergency and take photos of the problem region within four minutes. All clinical information was successfully entered by prospective patients via DentaCom. "There are many challenges here that our app can help with," said Thyvalikakath, the paper's senior author. "It is a challenge for the patient to get the dental emergency appropriately managed, and not just treated by painkillers in a busy hospital ER by a clinician who is not a dental specialist, It is also a challenge for the dentist to get details of the problem." Corey Stein, MS, first author of the study and now a dental student at Western University of Health Sciences in California, initially conceived the idea of an app when he experienced a dental emergency. He received the American Dental Association's 2016 Robert H. Ahlstrom New Investigator Award for his work on DentaCom. Dental emergencies frequently occur when dental offices are closed. Patients often turn to hospital emergency departments or urgent care centers. But most patients who go to these facilities are simply treated for their pain and referred to their dentist for proper care during office hours. Valuable time may be lost before actual treatment is received, and the patient is billed for the emergency or urgent care visit in addition to whatever dental fees will be incurred. In contrast to a physician's office, a dentist's office is hands-on and procedure based, and it can be difficult to add an emergent patient to the schedule. The DentaCom app provides the detailed guidance that the dentist needs to determine the urgency of, and appropriately treat, the problem. "We developed this app as a communication tool linking patients and dentists during emergency situations," said Thyvalikakath, associate professor and the director of Dental Informatics Core in the IU School of Dentistry. "But I see even more potential in nonemergency situations when individuals, particularly those who lack dental insurance, need guidancedo I need to see a dentist or not? It can also be useful in enhancing access to routine dental care." More information: Corey D. Stein et al. A prototype mobile application for triaging dental emergencies, The Journal of the American Dental Association (2016). Journal information: Journal of the American Dental Association Corey D. Stein et al. A prototype mobile application for triaging dental emergencies,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2016.03.021 Cutting exposure to common environmental synthetic chemicals by 25 per cent might ward off more than 150,000 cases of diabetes in Europe and save 4.5 billion every year, suggest estimates published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. A mounting body of evidence suggests that environmental 'pollutants,' such as phthalates (plasticisers), pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs for short (used in coolant fluids in fridges and other electrical apparatus) contribute to metabolic disordersparticularly obesity and diabetesby disrupting the production and regulation of hormones in the body. In a bid to quantify the potential contribution of these 'endocrine disruptors' to new cases of type 2 diabetes in Europe and the associated costs, the researchers used data from the Swedish Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors Study (PIVUS). This study examined the exposure of more than a thousand 70-75 year olds living in the city of Uppsala to phthalates; dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (pesticide); PCBs; and perfluoroalkyl substances (used in a wide range of consumer products from textiles and carpets to cleaning agents and paper baking moulds/liners) in blood samples. The researchers estimated the number of cases of diabetes among this age group using European prevalence data and relevant Swedish population data and calculated annual treatment costs (2010 figures) aggregated over a period of 10 years. They then estimated the impact of a 25% reduction in exposure to four compounds (PCB 153; monoethylphthalate, diclorophenyldichloroethylene, and perfluorononanoic acid), taking account of other potentially influential factors: sex, weight (BMI), physical activity levels, daily calorie and alcohol intake. They used all this information to come up with a population attributable fraction (PAF)an estimate of the theoretical effects of a risk factor at a population, rather than an individual, levelfor a 25% reduction in exposure to all four compounds and in BMI. Their calculations showed that if BMI were to fall by 25% this would translate into a 40% reduction in the prevalence of diabetes among this age group in Europe, representing 469,172 fewer cases and annual savings of 13.9 billion. Although much smaller, a 25% reduction in exposure to each of the four synthetic chemicals would nevertheless be associated with a 13% fall in prevalent diabetes among 70-75 year olds, the calculations show. And it could potentially mean 152,481 fewer annual cases of diabetes with associated savings of 4.51 billion every year. The researchers admit that some might question the application of relatively limited data to estimate such figures, but emphasise that several other groups of researchers have linked certain chemicals to a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes. "Our findings also speak to the need for a strong regulatory framework that proactively identifies chemical hazards before they are widely used, and the use of safer alternatives," they write..."In the absence of such a framework, newly developed synthetic chemicals may emerge as diabetogenic exposures, replacing banned or substituted hazards as contributors." More information: Population attributable risks and costs of diabetogenic chemical exposures in the elderly, Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, DOI: 10.1136/jech-2016-208006 Population attributable risks and costs of diabetogenic chemical exposures in the elderly, New research suggests there's limited benefit to playing numeracy games with pre-schoolers. Credit: University of Melbourne New research suggests playing counting games with young children does little to improve their numeracy skills. A working paper from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research examined the impact of singing songs, telling stories, playing counting games and doing puzzles with pre-school-aged children. It found such activities were of little benefit to their numeracy skills later in Year 4. "While reading to children clearly helps them with their reading skills, none of the other activities studied here can be conclusively said to influence the early reading or numeracy achievement of children," said Associate Professor Chris Ryan from the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Business and Economics. "However, the current research does not suggest that parents stop engaging in numeracy activities with their children." Associate Professor Ryan said further research is needed to better understand how the home learning environment affects early childhood learning. While some families engage more in activities that seem to relate to the development of the child's reading or numeracy skills, it appears this says much more about the families and their focus on the development of their child than it does about the effectiveness of these activities. "It is not clear whether the set of activities studied are just the wrong ones, or that they are not captured very well in the available data, but most are not closely associated with far better reading and numeracy skills," Associate Professor Ryan said. Reading to children was the exception. Similar to findings in other studies, reading to children early in their lives improves the child's reading ability, according to the paper. More information: Parental Investments and Child Development: Counting Games and Early Numeracy. Parental Investments and Child Development: Counting Games and Early Numeracy. www.melbourneinstitute.com/dow series/wp2016n34.pdf Mitochondria. Credit: Wikipedia commons What happens in intestinal epithelial cells during a chronic illness? Basic research conducted at the Chair of Nutrition and Immunology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) addressed this question by generating a new model system. Functioning mitochondria play a decisive role in cellular homeostasis, but what happens when an important player of the anti-stress program in mitochondria is switched off? On the one hand, this leads to the loss of stem cells, but on the other, it sets healing processes in motion. The human intestinal system covers an area of approximately 300 to 500 square meters due to its many protrusions (villi). This inner intestinal wall full of tiny bumps renews itself completely once every four to five days, a process which is guided by stem cells. Mitochondria are the powerhouse of a cell and provide energy through respiration, and play a crucial part in this process. When the self-renewal of intestinal epithelial cells is interrupted, for example due to defective mitochondria, chronic inflammation may result under extreme conditions. "We then speak of cell stress," explains Professor Dirk Haller from the Chair of Nutrition and Immunology and Executive Director of the Institute for Food and Health (ZIEL) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). If cell stress occurs, then - to put it graphically - helpers so called chaperones are activated to ensure that the proteins involved in the renewal process fold properly in cells in order to maintain homeostasis of the intestinal mucosa. Heat shock protein (HSP) 60 is one of these regulators and is essential to maintain the status quo in mitochondria of intestinal epithelial cells. Study with deactivated heat shock proteins In a study just published in Nature Communications by Haller and his team, this protein HSP60 was examined more closely. It is deeply involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR), as scientists call it - it can be understood as a component of the anti-stress program in cells. What happens when precisely this crucial regulator HSP60 is deactivated in the gut? How do mitochondria react in the cells when it is absent? On one hand, the respiratory capacity and the cellular ATP levels were reduced, both key tasks of the mitochondrion, the powerhouse of the cell. At the same time, Professor Haller and his team observed that all cells without HSP60 presented changes. Stem cells lost their ability to self-regenerate, while surrounding epithelial cells initiated a growth program. Tissue regeneration due to the induction of a growth environment "But the reaction to the lack of HSP60 was startling", says Haller"because although stem cells lost their characteristic properties, the stressed cells in the surrounding intestinal mucus wall activated a growth program leading first to hyperproliferation that finally ended in tissue regeneration." The cells with disrupted mitochondrial functions send out growth factors as a "call for help". Using the stress response program, they ensure that the residing stem cells with intact mitochondria divide abundantly; these new, intact cells then replace the other stressed ones. The lack of HSP60 therefore led to the establishment of communications from one cell to another, triggering a previously unknown healing mechanism which could be of significance after injuries to or inflammation of the intestine. "This shows what a fundamental role functioning mitochondria have in regulating intestinal tissue renewal and how they might contribute to chronic intestinal diseases", says Haller about the findings. Consequently, when the intestine is in a permanent inflammatory or stressed state, the stem cells are permanently over-stimulated to self-renew and this could facilitate the development of tumors. More information: Emanuel Berger, Eva Rath, Detian Yuan, Nadine Waldschmitt, Sevana Khaloian, Michael Allgauer, Ori Staszewski, Elena M Lobner, Theresa Schottl, Pieter Giesbertz, Olivia I Coleman, Marco Prinz, Achim Weber, Markus Gerhard, Martin Klingenspor, Klaus-Peter Janssen, Mathias Heikenwalder, and Dirk Haller: Mitochondrial function controls intestinal epithelial stemness and proliferation, Nature Communications 2016, DOI: 10.1038 ncomms13171 Journal information: Nature Communications Emanuel Berger, Eva Rath, Detian Yuan, Nadine Waldschmitt, Sevana Khaloian, Michael Allgauer, Ori Staszewski, Elena M Lobner, Theresa Schottl, Pieter Giesbertz, Olivia I Coleman, Marco Prinz, Achim Weber, Markus Gerhard, Martin Klingenspor, Klaus-Peter Janssen, Mathias Heikenwalder, and Dirk Haller: Mitochondrial function controls intestinal epithelial stemness and proliferation,2016, DOI: 10.1038 ncomms13171 Georgia-EU trade turnover increases 10%, reaches $2.5b Georgia is again strengthening its trade relations with the European Union (EU).Between January and September 2016, Georgia's external trade turnover with EU countries reached $2.5 billion.The latest figures from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) showed external trade turnover between Georgia and EU countries grew 10 percent year-on-year (y/y).Exports to these countries were worth $389 million, while imports were valued at $2.1 billion.EU countries made up a 28 percent share of Georgias total external trade turnover; 26 percent in exports and 29 percent in imports.Meanwhile in the same nine months Georgia weakened its trade ties with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and other countries.During the reporting period Georgias external trade turnover with CIS countries reached $1.8 billion an eight percent reduction y/y.Exports were worth $495 million (22 percent lower) while imports equalled $1.3 billion (two percent lower).Georgias top trading partners in January-September 2016Georgias top 10 trading partners in the first nine months of 2016 made up 70 percent of Georgias total trade turnover, said the statistics agency.In January-June, Georgias top four trading partners were: Canada ($1.8 billion) Turkey ($1.1 billion) Ireland ($621 million) Russia ($612 million)What are Georgias main exports?Georgia's top exported items in January-September were: Copper ores and concentrates (worth $243 million or 16 percent of total exports) Motor cars (worth $121 million or eight percent of total exports) Ferro-alloys (worth $120 million or eight percent of total exports)What are Georgias main imports?Georgia's top imported items were: Medicines (worth $2.5 billion or 34 percent of total imports) Petroleum and petroleum oils (worth $412 million or five percent of total imports) Motor cars (worth $338 million or four percent of total imports)Regarding the import of medicines, $2.3 billion of medicine was specifically used as Hepatitis C treatment.Georgia's external merchandise tradeIn the first nine months of 2016, Georgia's external merchandise trade (excluding non-declared trade) was $9.10 billion - 24 percent growth y/y, said Geostat.Between January and September, the value of Georgias export dropped eight percent to $1.51 billion, while the value of imports increased 34 percent to $7.59 billion.Georgias trade deficit equalled $6.08 billion in the first nine months of 2016.Trade deficit is an economic measure of a negative balance of trade in which a country's imports exceeds its exports. The News in Brief If there is only one child in the family, 46% of Georgian citizens would prefer to have a son, 9% a girl, according to UNFPA The harmful practice of gender-based sex selection in Georgia is still a widespread problem, says the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report for 2016 on the state of the global population. The document reviews situations in different countries, including Georgia. According to the report, if a family has only one child, most of them prefer the child to be a boy rather than a girl. In particular, 46% of the citizens would prefer a boy, 45% say the sex does not matter, while only 9% would prefer to have a girl. According to the report, in some parts of the world, a 10-year-old girl on the verge of adolescence sees limitless possibilities ahead and begins making choices that will influence her education and, later, her work and her life. But in other parts of the world, a 10-year-old girls horizons are limited. As she reaches puberty, a formidable combination of relatives, figures in her community, social and cultural norms, institutions and discriminatory laws block her path forward. By age 10, she may be forced to marry. She may be pulled out of school to begin a lifetime of childbearing and servitude to her husband. At 10, she may become property, a commodity that can be bought and sold, says the report. According to the report, the new United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its accompanying 17 Sustainable Development Goals aim for equitable, inclusive development that leaves no one behind. This 15-year plan promises to help transform the futures of millions of 10-year-old girls who have traditionally been left behind. (IPN) Georgia's parliamentary elections were free and fair - William Lahue The international community assessed Georgia's parliamentary elections as free and fair. This is a big achievement for the country in terms of Euro-Atlantic integration, William Lahue, the head of the NATO Liaison Office, said. "The international community assessed the elections as free and fair. Elections have been accompanied by some problems, but it is not unusual during elections. Even in democratic countries, including the US, similar problems arise from time to time. The government took steps to ensure a transparent election and full and transparent investigation of incidents of violence. This is a great achievement for Georgia and for its Euro-Atlantic integration, said William Lahue. (IPN) New bypass around Georgias Kakheti region announced Travelling from Georgias capital of Tbilisi further east to Kakheti, the countrys wine region, will soon become easier thanks to a new bypass road taking motorists on a scenic journey along a modern, high quality road. Today, the Government of Georgia discussed a draft contract on designing and constructing the 15.5km Gurjaani-Bakurtsikhe bypass road in Kakheti. This project will be within Georgias new spatial arrangement plan and the Governments four-point reform agenda. The 38 million GEL (about $16 million/15 million*) bypass road will connect the Tbilisi-Bakurtsikhe-Lagodekhi Road to the Akhmeta-Telavi-Bakurtsikhe Highway. Linking these two roads together will facilitate safer and quicker transportation and will reduce traffic congestion. I hope the ambitious plan that we vigorously launched several months ago will continue and we will finalise construction of all previously announced highways within the next four years, said Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili today. The contract to design and plan the Gurjaani-Bakurtsikhe bypass road was expected to be signed by the end of this month. The Prime Ministers press office said the bypass road must be built within 30 months of the deal being signed. (agenda.ge) Georgia Sets Preferential Tariff on Kazakh Cargo Transit Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement on preferential tariffs for Kazakh cargo transit in the TransCaspian corridor. The agreement was reached at the meeting of TransCaspian International Transport Route Coordination Committee in Astana. A part of Kazakh export cargo, including cereals, oil products and nonferrous metals will enjoy preferential tariffs in the corridor participant countries. The meeting participants also established the TransCaspian International Transport Route Association that will focus on attracting transit and foreign trade cargo and developing integrated logistic products in this corridor, as well as developing efficient tariff policy. The association will remove obstacles and determine prices for integrated services, developing a united technology of transportation process, reducing administrative barriers related to frontier and customs procedures and cargo treatment. All these measures are to increase competitive capacity of the corridor compared to the alternative route. (cbw.ge) Memo signed on Trans-Caspian transport route Railway Administration of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia signed a memorandum of Trans-Caspian international transport route association and adopted its charter, Kazakh Prime Ministers web site reported on Oct. 10.The associations office will be located in Astana.The memorandum was signed at the meeting of the Coordinating Committee for the development of the Trans-Caspian international transport route, attended by the heads of railway administrations of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia.The association's activities will focus on attracting transit and foreign trade cargo and development of Trans-Caspian international transport routes integrated logistics products.It is planned that the association will work out an effective tariff policy, optimization of costs and value of integrated services, the creation of a single technology transportation process, contributing to the reduction of administrative barriers related to border and customs procedures and processing of cargo and containers in the ports.The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route runs through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and then through Turkey and Ukraine to Europe.The agreement to create the Trans-Caspian International Transportation Consortium was signed in April in Baku by the railway authorities of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan.Azerbaijani companies ADY Express and ACSC Logistics, Kazakhstan's KTZ Express and Georgia's Trans Caucasus Terminals LLC are the consortium members.New competitive tariffs were introduced for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route since June 1, 2016. THE TRUE COST OF ALL THAT 'CHEAP' LAOR THAT DESTROYED AMERICA THE BIG SECRET DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW: Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute has testified before a Congressional committee that in 2004, 95% of all outstanding warrants for murder in Los Angeles were for illegal aliens; in 2000, 23% of all Los Angeles County jail inmates were illegal aliens and that in 1995, 60% of Los Angeless largest street gang, the 18th Street gang, were illegal aliens. via @CTeproff The Pinecrest motorcycle officer who was injured in a crash as he rode in Hillary Clintons motorcade Wednesday is expected to be OK, Pinecrest police said Wednesday. Officer Maikel Rodriguez, who has been on the force for 10 years and a motorman for four, crashed into a guardrail Tuesday afternoon as he road with other officers on the Palmetto Expressway near Miami Lakes. The busy highway was shut for hours in both directions and Rodriguez was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. On Wednesday, Pinecrest police identified the officer and gave an update in a social media post. He has some broken bones and road rash, the department wrote in a post. Officer Rodriguez is in good spirits and is expected to make a full recovery. The post included a photo of Rodriguez in a hospital gown giving two thumbs up despite both arms being bandaged. And he even got a call from Clinton wishing him well, Pinecrest police posted. --CARLI TEPROFF @NewsbySmiley Miami Commissioners voted Thursday to ask Congress and the Obama administration to grant Temporary Protective Status to undocumented Haitian immigrants rather than deport them back to storm-ravaged Haiti. "This is a no-brainer," said Chairman Keon Hardemon, who sponsored the resolution. "We shouldn't be deporting people back to an island where there's tremendous devastation from a natural disaster." After a six-year hiatus following a devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the White House resumed deportations to the impoverished Caribbean nation last month. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson suspended the policy after Hurricane Matthew struck the island as a category 4 storm in early October, but made it clear the move was only temporary. Matthew killed more than 1,000 in Haiti according to some reports, and left the country in crisis. @NewsbySmiley UPDATED: Judge Cecilia Altonaga issued an order late Wednesday in which she declined to re-open the case but entered the agreed-to final judgment against the city. Attorneys for the Securities and Exchange Commission asked a federal judge Wednesday to enter a final judgment in the historic civil securities fraud case against the City of Miami. The proposed judgment -- which city commissioners approved two weeks ago -- calls on the city to pay a $1 million civil penalty to the SEC within 14 days of entry of the judgment. The city would also be subject to a court-enforced injunction barring it from further violations of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Former Miami budget director and co-defendant Michael Boudreaux plans to challenge the jury verdict, according to his attorney. Miami made history this summer by becoming the first municipality to fight the SEC all the way to trial, and then again last month when a jury found city officials had violated a 2003 cease-and-desist order by playing shell games with the budget in the late 2000s -- making Miami a repeat offender. Miami City Manager Daniel Alfonso signed a consent form Tuesday, in which the city waived its right to appeal the verdict or any judgment. The matter is now in the hands of Judge Cecilia Altonaga. One of the countrys leading reporters on the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is suing the Pentagon over its delay in providing figures for staffing levels at the controversial facility. Carol Rosenberg, a Miami Herald journalist whos reported on the Guantanamo prison since 2002, filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking expedited release of the data. Ive been trying to examine staffing levels for years, Rosenberg said. The detention center used to give us precise numbers on a given day, then the Southern Command stopped them. For more read here. Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article110639477.html#storylink=cpy @ByKristenMClark White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a press briefing Wednesday that President Barack Obama is "committed to strongly supporting" Patrick Murphy's U.S. Senate campaign in Florida -- but the White House won't weigh in on how national Democratic groups should spend their money helping Murphy versus other U.S. Senate candidates. Between early September and mid-October, the Senate Majority super PAC and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee pulled $16 million in planned TV ad spending the groups had reserved to fortify Murphy's campaign this fall against Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. The decisions came as Murphy gained little, if any, ground on Rubio in September, causing the Democrats to re-direct their resources to other competitive -- and potentially more winnable -- Senate contests elsewhere. But in the past two weeks, Murphy's campaign picked up steam again. Recent polls show the race very close. And Murphy has gotten vocal praise from both Obama and Hillary Clinton during their recent visits to Florida, which has helped Murphy's name ID and his support among the Democratic base. But the Democrats' money hasn't returned -- and if it did, the ad time would be vastly more expensive than before. Some Democratic leaders are questioning the DSCC's earlier decision to withdraw from Florida and not more aggressively help Murphy unseat Rubio, according to a story by Politico on Tuesday. When Earnest was asked Wednesday whether Obama had an opinion on if Democrats should do as much as they can to take out Rubio (and consequently help Murphy), Earnest said: "I can tell you that President Obama is traveling down to Florida because he believes that Congressman Murphy is the right person to represent the state of Florida in the United States Senate. And he will reiterate that case once again on Friday in Orlando." "The president feels strongly about the race," Earnest added. "When it comes to the strategy that's implemented by the DSCC, those are decisions for them to make. But the president is -- is certainly committed to strongly supporting Congressman Murphy's campaign and is optimistic about his prospects." McClatchy D.C. reporter Lesley Clark contributed to this report. Photo credit: Miami Herald Michael-in-Norfolk disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, legality, reliability, operability, or availability of information or material displayed on this site and does not claim credit for any images or articles featured on this site, unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to it's respectful owners. Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies, and Michael-in-Norfolk does not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site's content. If you own rights to any of the images or articles, and do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact Michael-in-Norfolk via e-mail and they will be promptly removed. Michael-in-Norfolk contains links to other Internet sites. These links are provided solely as a convenience and are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information or content in such site has been endorsed or approved by this blog. "This report provides a review of laws adopted in Cuba, Iran, Libya, Russia, Sudan, and Syria on lifting the sovereign immunity of foreign states. Individual lawsuits against the United States brought before national and international courts by these countries are also analyzed." "The surveys demonstrate some diversity and common threads with regard to lifting the sovereign immunity of the US and other countries. Except for Iran and Russia, the surveyed countries have no specific legislation addressing general principles of sovereign immunity. Iran uses domestic counterterrorism legislation to facilitate the freezing of financial assets of foreign governments. Syria uses such legislation to freeze the assets of individuals, including government officials, while Sudan uses it simply to prosecute foreign nationals. Cuba and Iran have adopted special laws targeting the US." "Laws on jurisdictional immunity passed by the Russian and Iranian legislatures are based on the principle of negative reciprocity meant to deter the lifting of sovereign immunity of Russia or Iran by other countries. These laws allow domestic courts to try civil cases against foreign governments. While the focus of the Iranian law appears to be limited to violations of international law and cases of terrorism, Russian law is broader and allows considering foreign state property in Russia as an asset in any civil suit against a foreign government brought before a Russian court. In both cases, the countries foreign ministries determine the damage inflicted on the nations sovereign immunity and recommend the level of reciprocity to the court." The Law Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. has made public a new report on Laws Lifting Sovereign Immunity In Selected Countries (from May 2016):The Law Library of Congress is the worlds largest law library, with a collection of over 2.65 million volumes from all ages of history and virtually every jurisdiction in the world.It has produced many comparative and foreign law reports Labels: comparative and foreign law The citizen council that advises the Forest Service on the new Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNNST) will meet Nov. 2-3 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. The council will discuss and provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service on the long-term management of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail including the nature and purposes of the PNNST, recreational trail uses, and signing and marking the trail. The council is composed of 24 citizens appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to represent a balance of interests from across the trail. It also includes representatives of federal and state land management agencies. All meetings of the council are open to the public. The agenda includes time each day for testimony from the public. Written testimony may also be submitted in advance of the meeting by email to pnnstcomments@fs.fed.us. The Pacific Northwest Trail runs 1,200 miles from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park to the Pacific Ocean at Cape Alava in Olympic National Park. The trail travels through seven national forests, three national parks, tribal, state, and private lands in Montana, Idaho and Washington. For more information, visit fs.usda.gov/pnt. The former chief financial officer of Vanns Inc. has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to defraud the company. Paul Lyn Nisbet was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Missoula by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dana Christensen. This is not a situation where Mr. Nisbet simply failed to yell fire as the house burned, Christensen said. Nisbet, 47, and former CEO George Leslie Manlove were charged last December with more than 200 federal counts alleging that they conspired to defraud Vanns, an appliance and electronics retailer that closed three years ago after declaring bankruptcy. Prosecutors accuse the men of making shell companies and having Vanns lease property from them, without permission from the rest of the board of directors. Court documents also say Manlove used company money on personal expenses like tuition for himself, vacations and jewelry for family members, and membership fees at private clubs, with Nisbets knowledge and approval. In June, as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Nisbet pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to have his other charges dropped. Nisbets attorney Colin Stephens said Thursday his client was caught between a rock and a hard place, referring to the board of directors and the somewhat megalomaniac Manlove. He added that public stigma of the charges and being "castigated in the media" has already had an effect. Mr. Nisbet has lost the lions share of his good name, Stephens said. Nisbet himself said over the 12 years he worked for Vanns, he had always tried to help it to be successful. There is nothing I wouldnt do for that company, he said. Im incredibly sorry and remorseful. Federal sentencing guidelines set a recommendation of 30 to 37 months in prison for Nisbet, and his attorney asked the judge to only impose community supervision or probation. Christensen said he felt the former too severe and the latter not enough of a punishment. Christensen said he reached his sentencing decision after reading presentence reports, as well as 14 character letters on behalf of Nisbet that urged the judge to be lenient, and victim impact statements from former Vanns employees. I know that the victims, the employees of Vanns, desire punishment, he said. Whatever sentence I impose in this case will send a message to the community in general. In addition to his prison and supervision, Nisbet agreed to pay $122,250 in property forfeiture from the proceeds he gained by the conspiracy. Restitution from the conspiracy totals $906,300. A hearing to determine the amount of restitution Nisbet owes is set for Nov. 16. A civil lawsuit against the two former executives filed on behalf of the former employees was settled for $7.3 million in 2014. Nisbet was released Thursday to make arrangements before reporting to his prison placement. Christensen said he would recommend Nisbet be sent to a minimum-security facility in Sheridan, Oregon. More than six months after he was released from custody, Cody Marble could soon learn if hes truly a free man. In 2002, Marble was convicted of the rape of a 13-year-old boy while the two were in custody at the Missoula County Jail. After several unsuccessful efforts to overturn his conviction, the Montana Supreme Court sent the case back to District Court in August 2015. The high court asked for a review of Marble's request for a new trial using a more expansive interpretation of evidence presented after his initial conviction, including the fact that witnesses have recanted their testimony against him. The Supreme Court decision prompted Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst to personally review the case against Marble. At an April 19 news conference, she announced that she had concluded his conviction "lacked integrity" and said it was never too late to do the right thing." She filed a motion that day requesting the case against Marble be dismissed. Two days later retired District Court Judge Ed McLean, who is presiding over the case, ordered that Marble be released from custody. But in an unusual twist, he left Marble's conviction in place and invited Pabst's predecessor, former Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg, to weigh in as a friend of the court. For the past six months, Pabst, Van Valkenburg and Colin Stephens the attorney representing Marble have traded legal briefs, with the current prosecutor taking the side of Marble while the former prosecutor who convicted him is contending he should remain in jail. On Friday, McLean will hear arguments from all parties, although he is unlikely to make an immediate ruling. Pabst is asserting that multiple witnesses have recanted their testimony against Marble, and detention officers she interviewed have said they believe he was set up by other inmates. She also is claiming that Van Valkenburg threatened Marble's accuser, who is now dead, after he recanted his accusation of rape in an interview with the Montana Innocence Project. Pabst said Van Valkenburg told the accuser, Robert Thomas, in a deposition after he talked to the Innocence Project that he could be charged with perjury for his recantation. And I would advise you that if in fact I am able to establish sufficient evidence outside of what you say in this deposition, that you lied during that trial on the substance of the issue, and that is whether or not Cody Marble raped you, that I would in fact prosecute you for perjury for your actions in lying at that trial, Van Valkenburg told Thomas. Thomas reversed himself once more during the deposition, and again said Marble had raped him. Van Valkenburg, in his arguments to keep Marble's conviction in place, contends his words were not a threat but simply an accurate statement of the law. In addition, he claims that Pabst's request to throw out Marbles conviction is inappropriate for a prosecutor, especially one who had argued multiple times as an assistant prosecutor in 2011 and 2012 that Marble did not deserve a new trial. Van Valkenburg is urging the judge to reject Pabst's request to dismiss the case and Marble's request for a new trial. Stephens, Marble's attorney, notes in his arguments that only one thing has remained constant in the 13 years since Marble was sentenced: his "consistent assertion that he is innocent.'' Stephens and Pabst filed a joint stipulation in September reminding the judge that there is no disagreement between the two parties in the case, and that both want the conviction overturned. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry made a mistake Wednesday that drew rousing applause in Missoula. At a fundraising event in the Florence Building downtown, the Republican referred to gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte as "governor," and an estimated 35 people in the audience paused, then clapped. "If you go do the work over the course of the next two weeks, it will be a new chapter for Montana," Perry said. "And it will be a chapter that is bright, that is positive, that is uplifting." Outside the building, a boisterous group had gathered to protest Gianforte's appearance with Perry, who signed a bill with provisions that the U.S. Supreme Court determined placed "a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking an abortion." Sporting pink hats and waving signs, the Planned Parenthood Advocates for Montana drew honks and waves from drivers along Higgins Avenue. "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Rick and Greg have got to go," the group chanted. On Wednesday, Gianforte didn't directly say whether he would defund Planned Parenthood if elected, but he did say his focus was on the economy. Republican Gianforte has made the economy the centerpiece of his campaign in his bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. The Montana campaign is tight, with a recent Mason-Dixon poll commissioned by Lee Newspapers of Montana giving Bullock just a 2-point edge, which is well within the 3.2 percent margin of error. In brief remarks in the Governors Room of the Florence Building, both Gianforte and Perry talked about growing wealth in the West. Gianforte is a businessman-turned-politician who, with his wife, Susan Gianforte, founded RightNow Technologies in Bozeman. The customer service software company was sold to Oracle Corp. for $1.8 billion in 2012, and some RightNow executives walked away with millions. Before addressing the audience, Gianforte said he sees Advanced Technology Group as the "RightNow Technologies of Missoula" and said Missoula counts 80 technology businesses that are part of the key to boosting wages. "That's not the solution, but it's part of the solution in bringing more vibrancy into the economy so we can create more high wage jobs so more of our young people can stay," said Gianforte, praising ATG's Tom Stergios. In his talk to supporters, the candidate noted Montana is 49th in the country for wages, a figure he mentions often. In an earlier analysis, political scientist David Parker said that status poorly describes Montana's jobs picture because it doesn't include the state's many sole proprietors who may report business income but not W2 income. Parker, with Montana State University in Bozeman, also noted rankings by the Kauffman Foundation. In August, the foundation released a ranking that put Montana as the No. 1 state for entrepreneurship the fourth year in a row. Nonetheless, Gianforte has attracted some support from prominent liberal-leaning business people for his stance on the economy. Flathead Valley angel fund investor Liz Marchi, for instance, praised Gianforte's ability to get value out of every tax dollar, and she also referred to Bullock's "Main Street Montana" program as "a boondoggle." Perry spoke briefly Wednesday about both the economy and propriety in office. The longest-serving governor in Texas tried to link Bullock to the email scandal still plaguing Democratic presidential candidate Sec. Hillary Clinton by saying the governor should not have destroyed emails he wrote as attorney general. "Unless you're Hillary Clinton, that'll get you sent to prison," Perry said. Montana Department of Administration officials earlier said email accounts are deleted when an official moves to a different agency, and IT officials used the same procedures to handle Bullock's emails as they did those of previous administrations. It remains unclear why the Montana Department of Justice staff member tasked with records management did not save emails of public interest before the accounts were wiped as required by law. *** Outside the Florence Building, some 25 people with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana waved signs and chanted with their attention on family planning. "(Nasty) women vote," read one sign, playing on GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump's remark in the final presidential debate that Clinton is "such a nasty woman." Another sign told both Perry and Gianforte they should leave: "This ain't Texas, and Montana women aren't messing around. Go home!" Gianforte lives in Bozeman and has for more than 20 years, but the state Democratic party has referred to Gianforte as a "New Jersey billionaire." Asked where Gianforte should go home to, Laura Terrill said many people have noted the candidate is "a transplant to Montana." "It seems to me that he's trying to buy himself an election and that he doesn't share Montana values," said Terrill, vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana. Gianforte has spent more than $5.1 million of his own money on his campaign, while the Democratic Governors Association has put $3.35 million into the race for Bullock through the Good Jobs Montana PAC. As drivers honked and demonstrators waved, Terrill also said that a state that has laws in place that mean women have to travel far for medical care isn't a state with sound economic policies. "When women are denied access to basic health care and forced to take numerous days off work, that economy is probably not working as well for them as it is for men," Terrill said. Mariah Welch, a board member, recently asked Gianforte if he would defund Planned Parenthood should he be elected, and at the demonstration she said she did not receive a satisfactory answer. She said she believes candidates running for high office should be open and transparent about their stances. "Planned Parenthood matters to people of Montana," said Welch, also a University of Montana student and Planned Parenthood volunteer. Wednesday, Gianforte said he wasn't speaking with the advocates, although he has in the past. Through his family trust, Gianforte has supported the Montana Family Foundation, which vocally opposes abortion, and in the past, he has said he is pro-life. However, Gianforte has repeatedly declined to answer questions about whether he would support bills to expand restrictions on abortion or efforts to keep Planned Parenthood money out of Montana. In his remarks, though, the candidate contrasted himself and his running mate Lesley Robinson against "career politicians." "You got a ranch gal and a techie, but we're ready to go to work in Helena," Gianforte said. I know you are busy but I hope you will take time to read this. My first presidential campaign was in 1960. The candidate was John F. Kennedy. I went to rallies, walked door to door, talked to everyone I could because I believed in him and he passionately supported the issues I cared about: nuclear disarmament, womens rights and civil rights. I knew if Kennedy lost, these goals would not be achieved. For these past five decades, many in my generation have fought tirelessly for what we believe in. We have campaigned and voted our values and supported candidates who most closely align with our own vision for America. Over the years, the happy result is the achievement of landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, pro-environmental legislation, and countless Supreme Court decisions including Roe v. Wade. Now it is your turn. So, please, bear with me a moment longer. In 1985 Hillary Clinton and I were brought together by our shared concern for worldwide peace and justice, improving our health care system, and our mutual passion for the general well-being and education of our youngest Americans. Our work together these past 30 years has led to a lifelong friendship. I trust her and know she will be an extraordinary president of the United States. I understand that not all younger voters share my enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton. Some of you may still be disappointed that Sen. Bernie Sanders lost the primary. I sure get that because I have been in your shoes so many times. Not voting is abandoning democracy and voting for a third-party candidate is throwing away your vote. At this years Democratic National Convention I voted for the most progressive Democratic platform in history. That platform included the Unity provisions supported by both Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton, which includes bold steps forward on climate change, income and wealth inequality, campaign finance reform, the cost of health care and funding college education. To implement the platform and guarantee the appointment of a Supreme Court that will align with our progressive values, repeal Citizens United and protect Roe v. Wade, we need Hillary Clinton in the White House and Sanders in a Democratic-controlled Senate. Plain and simple. As she has done her entire adult life, Clinton will move progressive values forward. The other presidential candidates are unstable and temperamentally unfit to be commander in chief or are openly hostile about progressive values. Third-party candidate Gary Johnson does not even believe in climate change. And Jill Stein is peddling conspiracy theories and promoting a narrative that the vaccine regulation process in the U.S. is corrupt and untrustworthy. If Hillary Clinton loses, our goals will not be achieved. Donald Trump will be president and the Supreme Court will be lost for decades. So its up to you. Your decision will affect our country for years to come. This is your time and your year. Your vote is important. You have a voice and you have power. Please use it wisely. Consider voting for Hillary Clinton. You will look back and be proud you elected the first woman president of the United States and an extraordinary leader for all Americans. Every election cycle, Im reminded of the sad reality that politics are often void of truth. Just look at our own congressional race. Montanans have been barraged by a series of false attacks coming from Denise Juneau. Its frustrating to see the truth become an afterthought. Ive known Congressman Ryan Zinke for years. He is an honorable man who speaks his mind and serves his constituents without prejudice or fear. Ive come to appreciate his no-nonsense approach, because I know that whether we agree or not, when dealing with Zinke, its about the facts, the truth and nothing less. The same cannot be said for his opponent. I was disappointed in seeing Juneaus most recent television ads attacking our congressman. The accusations that she rattles off misrepresent the truth about Ryan Zinke. The idea that he would vote to raise taxes on families, oppose paycheck fairness or cut education is nothing short of absurd. We must demand better from our candidates; bending the truth is why the public has so little faith in our politicians. As a state senator, Ive had to learn legalese and political process, and to distinguish fact from fiction. Juneau claims that Zinke voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act. Her attack ad actually refers to a procedural vote that has nothing do with income equality. In fact, paycheck fairness has never been voted on this Congress. Either Juneau cannot understand the process or she is willingly and knowingly bending the truth. Neither is good. She also states that Zinke voted to increase taxes on families. Also not true. In reality, Zinke was the only member of the Montana delegation to vote in favor of the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Both of these tax credits help working families keep more of their own hard-earned money. Lastly, she says that Zinke voted against education, citing the House budget. If you read the bill, there was no cut to education; it simply froze growth. Only in politics would someone equate a spending freeze with a cut. Not to mention, Zinke voted against the final budget because of an amendment that could have led to the sale or transfer of public land, which he does not support. Something also misrepresented in her ads as well as in the debates. Unfortunately for Montanans, Juneau has chosen to dismiss honest debate for the sake of political gain. Whether or not you agree with Zinkes positions, our state has the fundamental right to hear the truth. This sort of misrepresentation is a disservice to voters and it is what people hate most about politics. If we are ever going to get back to a place where we can trust our government, it starts with demanding the truth. I encourage every Montanan to decipher between fact and fiction, and when someone like Denise Juneau puts political ambition ahead of honesty, hold them accountable. Be informed, be vigilant and let the truth guide your decisions in this and every election. I believe experience matters. If you agree with me, the candidate you need to vote for to represent you in House District 92 is Mike Hopkins. Legislative sessions in Montana are only 90 days long, so if you want someone who will know what theyre doing the minute they step through the door, someone who is already familiar with most elected legislators in both houses and on both sides of the aisle, and someone who already knows the ins and outs of preparing and submitting legislation, you will want to vote for Hopkins. Hopkins worked in the last Legislature where he was part of a group that submitted seven bills and got six of them passed, which happened partly because Hopkins has a reputation for being calm and steady, for getting along with everyone and for being able to work with anyone regardless of their party or their political ideology. Everybody likes Mike Hopkins! Hopkins has also appeared often before numerous legislative committees where he has testified on dozens of bills. Hopkins knows policy and is very familiar with the disposition of past legislation and he is just as familiar with legislation that has already been drafted for the 2017 session. Hopkins is not only a walking encyclopedia for Montana legislation, but he is also a data-driven, significant resource who knows and understands the major issues that will face legislators this January. Because of his experience, Hopkins will be able to hit the ground running and maximize his time to do the best possible job of representing HD 92 in a very short 90 days. If competence, skill and intelligence are important to you, please consider voting for Mike Hopkins to represent you in HD 92. Bill Kopetski, Missoula The Advocates for Our Republic endorse Todd Geery for Missoula County commissioner. We have heard the debates between him and Dave Strohmaier, and Geery has attended one of our regular meetings to allow us to ask many questions. We are convinced that he will represent the people of Missoula County, not the elites of Washington, D.C. Whereas, Strohmaier has proven that he is an ideologue who has supported the positions of the super progressives in Washington, D.C. For example, Strohmaier co-sponsored the city's nondiscrimination or hate crimes ordinance, which passed despite objections expressed by hundreds of citizens at the April 12, 2010, public hearing, which didn't end until 1 a.m. We know that hundreds of letters opposing this ordinance were received by the City Council. Yet the people were ignored. In our opinion, whenever any group of people receive preferential treatment in the municipal courts because of their sexual orientation, everyone else suffers injustice. The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says "nor shall any State deprive any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Strohmaier does not deserve the position of county commissioner, simply because he is not a public servant. Please vote for Todd Geery. Jeanette Zentgraf, co-chair, Advocate for Our Republic, Lolo If you normally vote Republican, make sure you do your research before voting for state auditor. Among other things, this office regulates insurance companies in Montana. Republican Matt Rosendale is a real estate developer from Maryland. The only thing he knows about insurance is that he hates Obamacare. While this view has support in Montana, he picked the wrong office to do anything about it because it is a federal, not state, law. Rosendales record as a legislator is one of making sure government is underfunded so it works badly. Then he pontificates about how government needs to be cut, because, surprise, it works badly. He will throw Montanans under the bus, and then blame Obamacare for working badly. His opponent, Jesse Laslovich, is extremely well qualified for state auditor; he has been their chief legal counsel for the last five years. Laslovich has already recovered over $100 million for Montana victims of securities fraud. And he is interested in making Obamacare work for Montanans. Dont be fooled by Rosendales (R). Jesse Laslovich (D) is the only candidate who wants to help Montanans. Rob Gregoire, Bozeman KALISPELL (AP) A Helena man has pleaded guilty to charges related to an armed standoff with National Park Service rangers that forced the evacuation of a campground in Glacier National Park. The Flathead Beacon reports that 28-year-old Jesiah Richards pleaded guilty Wednesday to discharging a weapon and endangering other people in connection with the July incident. Court documents say Richard fired a .44-caliber revolver through the roof of his tent on July 9 at the Sprague Creek Campground, which had been filled with people. According to the charges, Richard then "took up a position" along the edge of the campground and didn't surrender until he was confronted by four rangers. Carrying a firearm in Glacier National Park is legal, but firing a weapon is against the law. BISMARCK, N.D. President Barack Obama has called for "peace" and "restraint" on the disputed Dakota Access oil pipeline, and says the U.S. A BILLINGS - A 32-year-old Wyoming man was shot dead Thursday morning by a police officer in southwest Billings. At about 4 a.m., Billings Police got a call from a Days Inn desk clerk saying a man had come in with a gun. The man at one point held the gun to his own head, St. John said. The Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office will assist with the investigation, in order to make the investigation more transparent, St. John said. Raschkow will meet with mental health professionals and there will be an independent review by the Police Departments Office of Professional Standards before Raschkow returns to duty. This is the fifth fatal officer-involved shooting in Montana this year. Copyright 2022 HT Digital Streams Ltd All Right Reserved Employers with salaried staff members may soon have to change the way theyve been doing business including those in Butte. Starting Dec. 1, a new federal regulation will go into effect that will increase the threshold under which salaried employees can qualify for overtime. Under current rules, only employees who earn an annual salary under $26,660 (or $455 per week) qualify for overtime. But after Dec. 1, that threshold will increase to $47,476 ($913 weekly) a more than $20,000 increase. The new regulation is anticipated to affect four to five million employees nationwide, and it has left some business owners wondering how they will be able to cope. Betsy Markey, the Rocky Mountain regional director of the Small Business Administration, and John Hart, the organizations regional advocate, traveled from Denver to Montana this week to educate business owners about the new rule. Hart said this is the first time the overtime threshold has been updated since 2004, when it received a modest increase. Before that, Hart said, the rule hadnt been updated for 40 years. We want these rules to be current. We want these rules to be active. They protect our workforce and they protect you as employers too, said Hart. Is it a bit brutal? Sure. Could they have phased it in a bit differently? Maybe. Despite the benefit to employees, the new rule hasnt sat well with some entrepreneurs. On Tuesday one business owner said mom-and-pop operations will find it difficult to comply. Im so for this, for the employees if theyre working more than 40, you bet, they deserve that, she said. But I dont know that we can even quantify how much time and pain this is causing small businesses, and they are like blood in Montana. But regardless of what the impact on small businesses may be, what remains certain is the new rule is here to stay, despite lawsuits filed by 21 states, which SBA officials said they didnt anticipate would be successful. To negotiate the new rule, one option for employers is to simply raise salaries to the new threshold which Hart said wont always be the most practical solution while another is to keep employees at their current salary and manage their hours. But as Hart noted during the meeting, some employers have responded by saying they will lay off employees or cut their hours in order to cope with the new regulation. Hart conceded that layoffs and cutting hours is a strategy, but didnt have much to say about it. That is not something I want to propose, said Hart. Other finer points of the new regulation include the ability of employers to include up to 10 percent of nondiscretionary income toward an employees salary. This includes things like bonuses and incentive payments. As for the business owners in the room, they came to the meeting armed with questions. Jason Manning, the owner of Express Employment Professionals, 700 E. Front St., asked whether workshops and travel time counted as hours worked. Do you clock them from the time they show up at the airport? He asked. And then youve got the two hours between landing and not being at the conference, and the conference starts at noon. Both Hart and Wayne Gardella, SBA district director for Montana, said Mannings only option is to find a system for tracking hours and suggested he consult an accountant to help him. Janelle Hildreth, meanwhile, who co-owns the senior-living facility BeeHive Homes, 2930 Elm St., wanted to know whether on-call employees who answer phones offsite should be clocked in during their entire on-call period. Gardella said such employees would only be considered on the clock while they are on the phone, and added that there are apps and software available for tracking the amount of time an employee spends talking to clients. And just how will the new overtime rule be enforced? According to the Department of Labors website, employers in violation of the law may be responsible for paying any back wages owed to their employees, as well as additional amounts in liquidated damages, civil money penalties, and/or attorney fees. However, Hart said the Department of Labor doesnt actively seek out violators, but enforcement could come in the form of a complaint filed by an employee, a competitor or another entity. All-in-all, Hart maintained that the SBA is a non-partisan organization aimed at helping and educating small-business owners. For him, the idea of regulation goes back to a concept of balancing cost with benefits. The whole idea is, and the whole intent of regulation, is balance, is fairness, he said. We want to protect our resources. We want to protect public good. Air, water, land. We want to protect private industry, but we dont want to impede economic growth and development. Country superstar Dierks Bentley is coming to Billings for an April 22 show in the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. Bentley is touring with Cole Swindell and Jon Pardi, according to several websites, including Rollingstone.com and Radio.com. Pardi drew more than 1,000 fans last August when he headlined a show at ZooMontana. The Billings show appears to be his only Montana stop on this tour. He continues from Billings to Rapid City, S.D. Theres a song on my album called What The Hell Did I Say and it seemed like an appropriate title for a tour with Cole and Pardi, Bentley said in a statement published by Radio.com. I have a feeling Ill be asking myself that question the morning after many of our shows and late night hangs because you really dont know what will happen when the three of us get together. There has been a lot of drunk calls and texts between all of us over the last year trying to make this tour happen, and Im excited we were able to pull it off. Billings Gazette Stephanie Sorini has been named the full-time executive director of the Butte Chamber of Commerce, effective immediately. Colin Higgins, chamber president, said the board of directors unanimously voted Thursday to hire Sorini as the director at his request. Sorini has been acting as interim chamber director since the former director, Marko Lucich, went on leave in August for ongoing health problems and in September resigned from the position. "It truly is an honor to accept this position. I realize I have very big shoes to fill as Marko did a tremendous job of leading the chamber for the past 13 years," Sorini said. Higgins said the chamber is in good hands with Sorini, incoming chamber president Paul Babb, the staff, and the board. "I firmly believe in Stephanie's character, work ethic, passion, and commitment to the principles and mission of our Butte Chamber. We had massive shoes to fill left by the absence of Marko," he said. Babb said the chamber board "could not have made a better decision to move forward with Stephanie Sorini as the new executive director. I can think of no one more qualified and passionate to lead our chamber." Marko Lucich whole-heartedly agreed. "If the board did a national search, they would have found the most qualified person right here in Butte, Montana, with Stephanie Sorini," he said. As a business owner, Sorini was a member of the Butte Chamber and served six years on the board of directors and most recently was the director of marketing and membership services. Sorini at one time owned and operated a children's clothing store in Uptown Butte called Munchkins. This summer she purchased the Butte 100 mountain bike race entity, which attracts hundreds of racers to the area each July. Her late husband, Dr. Pete Sorini, was an avid rider and supporter of the race. The 400-plus member-led Butte chamber focuses on creating success and growth for area businesses. Facts mean yes vote for anti-trapping Both sides of the trapping debate contain too many exaggerations and outright misinformation. But there are some clear facts that should be considered as we decide how to vote on I-177. Trapping is the very definition of a special interest; less than 1 percent of Montanas population traps 50,000 animals that belong to every citizen of Montana, according to the public trust. We have no idea how many non-target animals are killed directly or by injury caused by trapping, as there is no requirement to report these incidences, unless it is a protected species that is dead or severely injured. The regulations around trapping are loose at best. These animals suffer, are killed and their pelts sold for personal profit, creating an economic incentive to kill our wildlife. A small percentage of people are causing a disproportionate impact on a resource that we all own. Trappers can continue to trap on two-thirds of the Montanas private land under I-177. Indiscriminate trapping does not control populations or disease. The only populations that are even attempted to be controlled through trapping are wolves and coyotes. Fewer than half of the wolves trapped in 2015 occurred on public land, around 35, while the rest were taken on private land. There is evidence that mass killing of coyotes has only made them more resilient by causing younger animals to reproduce and larger litter sizes. Constant disruption of social structures in wolf and coyote populations might actually increase depredations. As a hunter I am offended by the absurd claim that banning trapping on public lands will somehow lead to a movement to ban hunting. What a bunch of fear mongering nonsense! The two activities are quite different. I hope other hunters will see the clear ethical distinction between hunting and trapping and vote yes on I-177. Greg Price, Missoula Facts mean no vote on anti-trapping I-177 I-177 is real, not fiction. The loss of trapping public land will greatly reduce the protection of livestock! My neighbor lost 50 sheep to wolves, and another had to put down what was left of 14 heifers the wolves hadnt killed outright. Another picture in the newspaper showed a heifer standing in a fence corner with one leg chewed off. This is the definition of cruelty. Mark Bennetts article about his trapping was full of falsehoods. In 65 years of trapping, Ive yet to hear one sound from a trapped animal. Nothing is going to eat a live animal in a trap, unless they want to get bit. A trapper does not find just a foot in a trap. An animal would have to be left in a trap for many days for that to happen. Traps are designed for that NOT to happen, with a timely trap check. Just catching feet doesnt pay. Im surprised hed make public how irresponsible he was, if he ever did trap. Forty percent of the wolves taken were trapped (stats from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation). The Yellowstone Park elk went from 19,000 a few years ago, to just 3,900 now (FWP stats). Three families of friends spent two days each in Yellowstone this past summer and never saw an elk. Most ranchers are bordered by BLM, state land or national forest. Predators on government lands will overrun them. Stop trapping and youll leave livestock, pets, elk, deer, and antelope, at the mercy of the predators to be eaten alive. Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will have to poison them. Wayne Moore, Big Timber Juras best choice for Supreme Court I had the good fortune of having Kristen Juras as a professor in law school. I consider myself fortunate because she was an excellent teacher who made the subject matter interesting and relevant. More importantly, she genuinely cared about us as students. So when Dirk Sandefur publicly berates her as an extremist, special-interest ideologue, it strikes me as irresponsible and desperate. Kristen Juras is very knowledgeable about the law and able to objectively understand and communicate how it applies to a given set of circumstances. At no point did she ever use her position at the lectern to promote a personal or political interpretation of the law. As a Supreme Court Justice, I believe she will follow the same objective, common-sense approach and faithfully uphold the laws of Montana. -- Greg Tragmoe, Stevensville Sandefur best choice for Supreme Court Judge Dirk Sandefur knows law and order from every aspect: as a Havre police officer, a prosecutor of criminals, a public defender, and for the last 14 years, as a highly respected state district judge in Great Falls. As a judge, Sandefur has handled the entire spectrum of complex civil and criminal cases that come before Montanas courts. In all, Dirk Sandefur has 25 years of proven public service for Montanans. His opponent has no such experience. In addition, she is backed by out-of-state corporations that are spending vast sums of dark money to get her elected by attacking Judge Sandefur. Please dont believe their deception. Judge Sandefur is a fine man with an outstanding reputation for fairness and hard work. Thats why Cascade County citizens have elected him repeatedly to serve as state district judge. Judge Sandefur has my solid support for state Supreme Court justice. -- Shelli Lavinder Schwalk, Great Falls Gianforte 'un-Christian' on refugee attack ads I recently viewed the CBS 60 Minutes program, Finding Refuge, that documented the 18-month-long vetting process used by the U.S. government before allowing any refugees to escape their tragic circumstances abroad. This elaborate process to allow relatively small numbers of these victims into the U.S. in no way resembles what transpired in Europe. Then I think of the despicable fear-mongering ad that is being run by Greg Giantforte that attempts to portray Governor Bullock as an importer of terrorists. The deplorable ad is about as un-Christian and un-Jesus like as you can get. Next I read his statement, Manage our forests. Lets responsibly harvest timber rather than watch our forests burn. Read: Lets transfer our public lands and cut our forests for profits. The same rhetoric spewed forth from big money against President Theodore Roosevelt, but fortunately he fought them off and established 150 national forests from 1901 to 1909. Ironically, it was during this same time period that the Montana Copper King, W.A. Clark, was buying our state Legislature for his own agenda. Greg Giantforte has now spent over $5 million of his own money trying to do the same thing. -- Orville Bach, Bozeman Why Im voting for Greg Gianforte Greg is a job creator, a true leader with a proven track record who genuinely cares about Montana. I met Greg when I joined RightNow Technologies upon graduating from MSU-Bozeman in 2000. At that time, in-state jobs for technology majors were rare. Of the nine Montana engineering friends I attended classes with, I was the only one fortunate to find a job in Montana. Staying in Montana at Gregs start-up company was a gamble. The company was relatively new, and previous attempts to start and grow a large tech company in Montana hadnt been successful. Some tech companies were downsizing. However, Gregs leadership, with Montana employees, set a new standard for what could be accomplished here. Since then, many tech companies have started in Montana, often led by previous RightNow employees. Greg has traveled Montana urging students to consider technology careers. Oracle regularly hires interns from Montana State and converts them to full-time positions post-graduation. Montana is now attracting other big-name companies which have come to realize the benefits of our work ethic and education system, all due to Gregs leadership and focus on building a successful Montana company. Ive been blessed to be able to stay in-state, working for a Bozeman company that has grown to over 500 Montana employees. Gregs interest in the community, evidenced by RightNows policy allowing employees to donate 40 hours annually to community service during paid work hours, is highly commendable. Gregs expertise is no gamble for Montana. -- Duane Ray, director, Software Development, Bozeman Sentence outrage doesn't justify vigilante reaction I read this morning (10/23/16) about Judge McKeon of Eastern Montana who has caused some outrage over a lenient sentence of a man who raped a 12-year-old girl. The Montana statute requires a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison for anyone convicted of rape, incest or sexual abuse of a child twelve years or younger. The piece also pointed out that judges are allowed to dole out less severe punishment in a case where a court-appointed evaluator determines that the person so convicted is afforded a better opportunity for rehabilitation and for the ultimate protection of the victim and society. The judge cited this exception when he gave the man a 30-year suspended sentence with 60 days in jail, followed by sex offender treatment and probation with many restrictions. The victims mother and grandmother wrote letters in support of community-based treatment in order that the offender and his family better heal. This decision, while fully within the purview of the judges responsibilities, has engendered an online petition for McKeons impeachment signed by more than 82,000 people from Montana as well as other states and countries. Outrage at this crime, while understandable, does not justify this level of vigilante reaction. Do we as a people embrace the concept of restorative justice, or are we still in the rut of punitive revenge? Looking at our exceptionally high rate of incarceration, relative to the rest of developed countries, can one but wonder about our previously chosen path and maybe other possibilities? Perhaps instead of castigation, Judge McKeon should be celebrated for a sane and even courageous decision. -- Tim Crawford, Belgrade GREAT FALLS (AP) A group that represents independent cattle ranchers wants more say in how beef is marketed in the United States. The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America or R-CALF USA filed a lawsuit this spring questioning the fact that half of the $1-per-head "beef checkoff" fee is given to the privately incorporated Montana Beef Council. R-CALF argues that its producers are being forced to subsidize the council's promotions, which do not distinguish between domestic and foreign beef. "This is not just a violation of freedom of speech, it's a violation of the freedom of association," said David Muraskin, a Washington, D.C., attorney representing R-CALF USA. "It's an issue of forced association." R-CALF USA includes cattle ranchers and feedlot operators in 42 states. It has 375 voting members in Montana. The Montana Beef Council includes people aligned with some of the largest multinational, industrial cattle producers, which purchase and raise cattle both domestically and internationally, the complaint said. Since 1985, beef producers have paid a $1 federal tax for every animal sold to promote the marketing and consumption of beef. In Montana, the money is delivered to the Montana Beef Council, which forwards half of the proceeds to the Cattlemen's Beef Board which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for investment in national checkoff programs. The Montana Beef Council received more than $870,000 in federal beef checkoff money between October 2014 and September 2015, the R-CALF complaint said. Around $550,000 was spent on promotional campaigns while more than $300,000 was spent on administrative costs far exceeding the Cattlemen's Beef Board, which is allowed to spend only 5 percent of its funds on administrative expenses, the lawsuit argues. R-CALF USA argues its producers raise their cattle domestically and comply with the United States' rigorous safety and quality standards, but have no standing to encourage the Montana Beef Council to market beef raised in the U.S. separately. In fact, the complaint argues, independent ranchers have to spend more money to educate consumers about U.S. beef. Polling over the last decade consistently shows that the majority of consumers want to know their food's country of origin, the complaint said. Michelle Bennet, an attorney for the USDA, said beef producers can request that all of their checkoff dollars be sent to the national Cattlemen's Beef Board, but there is little record of Montana producers filing such a request. The independent producers argue that having the Montana Beef Council collect the tax, even temporarily, violates the First Amendment. U.S. Magistrate John Johnston of Great Falls heard arguments Tuesday and said he would rule later, the Great Falls Tribune reported. WEST LIBERTY, Iowa - A seminar on researching historic properties, the National Register of Historic Places, and historic tax credits will be hosted by the Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission at 6:30 p.m. on Monday Nov. 7 in the County Activity Center on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds in West Liberty. All county residents are invited and encouraged to attend. The meeting is part of the year-long Planning for Preservation project currently underway for the Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission. Public education about historic preservation is a component of this project. Project consultant Rebecca McCarley of SPARK Consulting in Davenport will be presenting information and answering questions on researching historic properties, nominating properties to the National Register, and utilizing historic tax credits for rehabilitation projects. The commission received a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant in spring 2016 from the State Historical Society of Iowa to complete a Planning for Preservation project. In addition to training and educational opportunities, this planning project will set short and long goals for the commission as they move forward with additional projects. Preliminary information from the initial public input meetings will also be presented at the meeting. The Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission is a county organization that has worked in Muscatine County over the last three years. The nine-member commission is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Current members include Lynn Pruitt, Lisa Wertzbaugher, Rebeckah Allgood, Tom Furlong, Jim Nepple, William Koellner, Mary Beveridge and Anna Mack. Anyone interested in additional information on the commission or the Planning for Preservation project is encouraged to contact any commission member. VIEWpress/Getty ImagesTonight, Jon Bon Jovi will perform at a free "Get Out the Vote" event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to support Hillary Clinton's campaign. Jon's been a huge supporter of Clinton's for quite a while, but he admits he's taken some flak from fans for his political activities. At least his band supports him...as long as he doesn't get political during one of their concerts, that is. "Absolutely," Jon tells ABC Radio when asked if fans tell him they wish he would just shut up and sing. "Y'know, you see that just about any time you're involved in something. But then again, it doesn't matter who you are or what you do, someone's going to criticize something." In fact, Jon says he even gets criticized for his charity work, but he doesn't let it bother him. "If you're doing it from a pure place, with no expectations other than doing good, amen," he tells ABC Radio. "And, y'know, we'll deal with the fallout." As far as Bon Jovi the band is concerned, keyboard player David Bryan says sending a specific political message isn't what they're about. "You know, Jon never uses the stage to say his political views and I think we kinda all just don't want to do that," he tells ABC Radio. "I think we're here to entertain and then what we want to do individually, we can do individually." He adds, "I think at the end of the day we're Americans, that's what we are, and we believe in America." Tonight's concert takes place at 6:30 p.m ET at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Pittsburgh. If you have no problem with Jon being political, visit the "Events" page of HillaryClinton.com for tickets. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy 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 [] ADSL data prices continue to decline in South Africa, with many ISPs offering affordable capped and uncapped data packages. To make data even cheaper, Afrihost launched free data use between midnight and 18:00 each day on its capped ADSL accounts. This means the effective price of ADSL data has dropped from around R70 per GB to less than 3c per GB over the last decade. Speaking at the 2016 MyBroadband Conference, Afrihost CEO Gian Visser said it is challenging to make money at these low prices. Visser said that to make money in this market, you have to be one of two types of companies: A price leader A service, or customer experience leader If you want to be a price leader it becomes all about volume, where you eek out even a few cents of profit per GB, said Visser. The next step is to generate enough volume to make sure those few cents add up to enough to sustain the business. If you cant compete on price and volume, you have to be a service or experience leader, said Visser. You are going to do that by quality the quality of service that you give and also by the tools that clients can use, said Visser. He said Afrihost and Axxess try to do both offering quality services and a great experience at low prices. The fact is that it is tough out there at the moment. Having said that, I do believe there is money to be made, otherwise we would not have bought our Afrihost shares back, he said. Now read: Afrihost shocks ADSL market with free data ADSL has long been the internet standard in South Africa. However, with FTTH now bursting onto the scene, things are changing incredibly fast and South Africa is having to quickly cope with the new technology. We asked Cybersmarts Laurie Fialkov if Fibre will ever overtake ADSL in the country, what this means for South Africa, and if our tech support can cope: FTTH will overtake ADSL eventually, said Fialkov. This is going to happen because of the rich media content that is now available over IP. A couple of years back everything was text, you really had to be a geek to go through the pain of trying to stream a movie. Now you choose a movie online, press the button, and expect it to play. Now that we can do that easily (even on a 10Mbs ADSL line), the kids may want to stream a different movie to you because they also know how to click the play button. So instead of fighting over the TV remote, we now fight as to who has access to the bandwidth. So personal bandwidth requirements are going to increase, and the only technology that can really scale to speeds to support that is Fibre. What will this mean for technical support? Can the industry adapt to the change? As to the technical support side, obviously now that we have our own fibre in the ground you can no longer palm off any network issues on Telkom, you have to get out there and fix it. However if you are just providing service over Telkom or another open access network, there is no new technical support challenges other than the training required around different open access implementations. There is much more wriggle room at higher speeds. If the service you are providing is 10Mbs and something goes wrong which degrades the service to 5mbs, suddenly you can no longer stream in HD. However if you are providing a 100Mbs service which degrades to 50Mbs, everything still works. More gaming news 5 secret tips to boost your gaming performance in Windows 10 This is what everyday South Africans thought of VR Everything you missed at rAge Expo 2016 Oops... This is embarrassing... We're Sorry, the page you're looking for may have been moved. Let's help you find the page you were looking for... First, try using the search form below. Type what you're looking for and search; If the search forms above won't help you find exactly what you're looking for, perhaps one of the links from our sitemap below will help you; If you prefer to visit a particular school's information page on this website, please select the school from the form presented on the Myschool Homepage by clicking here. Sitemap Home Store | News | Classroom | Scholarships | Questions | Connect2Me | Marketplace | Events | Groups | Dashboard | Contact Us Buy Now Myschool Mobile App | Myschool Computer Software | Post-UTME Past Questions | Project & Research Materials | Video Lessons Subscription News Post a News | All News | Latest News | JAMB | O' Level (WAEC, NECO, NABTEB) News | Post-UTME Classroom Classroom | Take a Free CBT Test | Topic by Topic Video Lessons | Past Questions Video Lessons | Study Novels | JAMB Novel | JAMB Syllabus | JAMB Brochure Scholarships Local Scholarships | International Scholarships | Undergraduate Scholarships | Undergraduate Scholarships | All Scholarships Questions Ask a Question | Academic Questions | School-based Questions Connect2Me Find a Friend | Update Your Profile | Create an Account MarketPlace Buy an Item | Sell an Item Events Check all Events | Post an Event Groups Join a Group | Create a Group Dashboard Dashboard | Notifications | Blog: View Posts | Create Post | Events: View Events | Create Event | Reminders | Private Messages: Inbox Messages | Compose | Sent Messages | Friends: Friend Requests | Confirmed Friends | Sent Requests | Orders: All Orders | Place an Order | App Manager: Mobile App Activation Codes | Desktop App Activation Codes | Mobile App Customization | Desktop App Customization | Materials & Research Works: Post a Research Work | All Research Works | Sales Information | Downloads | Groups: Join a Group | Membership | Create a Group | View Groups | Classroom: Exam History | Performance Analysis | Video Subscription | Bookmark | Questions: View all your Questions | Post a Question | MarketPlace: Post an Advert | All Your Adverts | Transactions: Request Payout | All Transactions | My Account: Update Profile | Change Password | Bank Information | Logout ROSEVILLE More than 100 California Department of Motor Vehicles field offices, including the Napa location, remained restricted to limited operations Wednesday after a catastrophic computer failure that shuttered offices statewide, leaving customers frustrated with few answers from DMV officials. In a statement posted on its website, the DMV said crews were rebuilding the computer system after an outage attributed to a hardware failure on Monday. The catastrophic failure was the loss of several hard disks in a primary and backup system, a DMV spokesperson told the Napa Valley Register on Wednesday. However, several customers reported that the computer problems began Friday and they were told to return this week. DMV spokespeople did not respond to numerous phone messages and emails from The Associated Press on Wednesday inquiring about when the problems began, whether they were resolved, or what steps were being taken to ensure the problems would not occur again. The affected offices are still able to provide driving tests and some can process drivers license matters but not vehicle registrations, the DMV said. Online services are still functioning. At the Roseville DMV office, people were lined up well before the office opened at 9 a.m. because the DMV said things would be back to normal on Wednesday, but they were upset that systems were not working when the office opened. Wednesday marked Kennidi Beaties third frustrating trip to a DMV office since her car was broken into and her purse and drivers license stolen Saturday night at a Roseville restaurant. With no identification, she said she cant get into her bank accounts. She was at the Folsom DMV office on Monday an hour before it opened, only to be thwarted by the computer meltdown. I sat there for five hours hoping they might be open, said the Sacramento woman. DMVs, like, broken. Is that real? Im like, ooooh, is this happening? This is my life. She went back to Folsom again on Tuesday, but on Wednesday tried the Roseville office. No signs were posted indicating that computers were not working, and Roseville officials couldnt say when things would be back to normal. Lisa Harris husband attempted to update the couples vehicle registration twice, on Friday and Monday, without success as the family tries to avoid a steeper penalty that they expect will top $100. They recently moved to nearby Antelope, and the registration due in August went to their old address. Lisa Harris left the Roseville DMV office Wednesday after failing a third time. Very, very frustrating, she said, criticizing the DMVs lack of communication about when the computers would be working again. Its a guessing game and then theyre not telling anyone and youre standing in line, so its just frustrating. April Baird of Rocklin left the Roseville DMV office after a fruitless 10 minutes in line as she tried to get a disabled license plate for her daughter. I heard they were back up today and theyre not, she said. I took the day off work to get things done and I cant do it. Officials say the computers were not hacked or targeted but have not provided evidence for the assertion. They have not responded to questions about what went wrong and whether the department has backup systems that could prevent such widespread chaos. Meanwhile, customers in Napa reported wondering whether or not there would be penalties for expiring drivers licenses or if they should even be driving with possible expired licenses and registrations. According to the DMV, customers still have options. Vehicle registration renewals, drivers license renewals and other services are available online. The DMVs Interactive Voice Response System at 800-777-0133 is also available for eligible registration renewals. And, if your registration is due during a system failure, no penalties will be assessed if the renewal is postmarked by the next work date. The DMV also said that, if the department is unable to process a request due to a system outage, customers should complete a Statement of Facts (REG 256) or write a letter explaining why they were late and any penalties may be waived. For more information, services and a full, updated list of field office affected, visit dmv.ca.gov. Register reporter Maria Sestito contributed to this story. One woman was transported to the hospital with minor injuries after the vehicle she was driving crashed into a rock embankment along Highway 128 in unincorporated Napa County on Tuesday, according to California Highway Patrol. She was driving a 2010 Lexus RX350 eastbound when, for an unknown reason, her vehicle veered off the roadway into the embankment less than four miles east of Wragg Canyon Road around 4 p.m., CHP said. The woman was taken to the Queen of the Valley Medical Center with minor injuries. Betty Skaggs visited Vallergas this past Friday for groceries but left with something equally important suggestions from a doctor about how she could make healthier food choices to combat her pre-diabetes. The advice came courtesy of Abhijit Adhye, M.D., of St. Joseph Health Medical Group. In a new effort to combat obesity rates and focus on preventive health, Dr. Adhye and other medical professionals visited Vallergas Market on Friday. Hosted by doctors and educators from St. Joseph Health, Queen of the Valley Medical Center and St. Joseph Health Medical Group, the event offered Napans a chance to Shop with Your Doc in the place where important everyday health decisions are often made: the neighborhood supermarket. The grocery store is where most people decide what they and their families eat every week. A few small changes can make a big difference in our health and energy levels, said Dr. Adhye. Nutrition labels can be confusing, and knowing how to navigate the details is the first step towards improving eating habits and promoting overall health. Skaggs said that since she learned shes pre-diabetic, shes eating more salads. However, she wasnt sure which dressings were the best choices. She and the doctor made their way to the condiments aisle where the physician showed her food labels and discussed the ingredients. We all feel healthy eating a salad, Adhye told Skaggs, but if you use too much dressing, it can ruin the health benefits of the salad. The physician suggested she should review the amount of sugar, fat and sodium in various salad dressings. Having a doctor to stand with her and actually help her pick out food in the grocery store is a wonderful idea, said Skaggs. It certainly educates people, she said. I want to do everything I can to prevent her pre-diabetes from getting worse. Shopper Laurie Gholson visited with Dr. Susana Gonzalez during the Shop with Your Doc event. Gholson didnt need help with shopping, but she did need some suggestions of which Napa primary care doctors are accepting new patients. Its been frustrating trying to find a new doctor, Gholson said. She gave me a couple names, she said. That was helpful. Doug Long of Lake Berryessa also applauded Shop with Your Doc. I think its a great thing, he said. I get behind a lot of people at the grocery store and I see what they have in their cart and I just shake my head. Catherine Schoen of Napa specifically visited Vallergas to ask one of the doctors about how Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects nutrition and eating habits. Im very grateful to have this available, she said. Its a great idea. A doctor can give all kinds of suggestions during an office appointment, but visiting with people outside of the office gives us a chance to see the food choices our patients are making, said Gonzalez. In addition, Its great to let our patients identify with us as real people. Instead of just seeing a doctor when youre sick, We want to create other opportunities where the public can connect with physicians as partners in health, said St. Joseph Health representative Vanessa deGier. According to the most recent Napa County Community Health Needs Assessment, 40 percent of fifth-, seventh- and ninth-grade students and 60 percent of adults in Napa County are overweight or obese, which puts them at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other health problems. At a time when more and more food products promise health benefits and sport flashy labels, Shop with Your Doc helps residents navigate the grocery store and make the best choices for their families, said a news release from St. Joseph Health. Shoppers have so many choices inside the market, and we want them to be able to make the most nutritious decisions they can, said Chris Vallerga Burns of Vallergas Market. The events are part of St. Joseph Healths focus on population health a concept aimed at improving the health of entire communities, not just hospitalized patients. By focusing on prevention and urging patients to make better decisions about their everyday health through the adoption of responsible eating habits, health care providers can help combat obesity and other health challenges, said the release. On Monday, Christina Harris, Queen of the Valleys communications and marketing coordinator, said that more than 50 people stopped at the Shop with Your Doc informational table during the three-hour event. We are very pleased with the success of Napas first-ever Shop With Your Doc event, Harris said. By bringing care providers out of the hospital and clinic and into the neighborhood supermarket, Napa residents had the opportunity to learn the basics of smart shopping, such as reading nutrition labels and navigating the store. St. Joseph Health said it will be sponsoring additional Shop with Your Doc events elsewhere in California this fall. AMERICAN CANYON Whether you like em glazed, frosted or filled, the donuts have arrived in American Canyon. They arent just any donuts either theyre Dunkin Donuts and the Napa County location at 410 Napa Junction Road is the first restaurant theyve opened in the North Bay. Although the chain is relatively new to California, its been slinging donuts and coffee in the United States since 1950, even using the tagline: America Runs on Dunkin. Dunkin Donuts serves more than 3 million customers daily in 41 states and 36 countries, according to the company. Eager customers started lining up at the new American Canyon location as early as 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday to be first to not only get a donut and some coffee at the 5 a.m. opening, but also to have a chance at a $100 Dunkin Donuts gift card. There was some confusion about how many people would get gift cards, but restaurant employees cleared it up. In the end, the first person in line in both the drive-thru and at the front door were given the gift cards while the next four in each line were given $50 gift cards. The first 100 people in line received other goodies, including a Dunkin Donuts refillable cup. Dunkin Donut diehards and newbies kept the line out the door, guarded by an orange and pink balloon arch, decorated with inflatable donuts. The line didnt scare people away. In fact, they knew that it would be a madhouse. We cant miss it, Helen Paet told her friend, Maya Adel, Wednesday morning. Whether theres a long line or not we have to be here. Both women grew up with Dunkin Donuts in their lives Paet had one across from her university in the Philippines and Adel worked at her uncles shop in New Jersey. We would drive to Sacramento just to have a taste of Dunkin Donuts, Adel said. If the duo was in the Sacramento area for another reason, they would be sure to pick up some donuts before heading back to American Canyon, she added. I grew up with Dunkin Donuts, Adel said. Not only does she love the donuts, but it reminds her of her childhood, her family and her home back in New Jersey. Dunkin Donuts even became a part of her marriage, she said. The couple met in Vallejo after Adel moved to California. He was from the Philippines and also grew up on Dunkin Donuts. Together they lamented the fact there werent any nearby. To impress him, she said, I called my cousin and had him ship a box of donuts to him overnight, of course. More than 16 years later, theyre still together and have two children who are also donut lovers. Every person has their own box, Adel said. Each child has a pack of munchkins donut holes. Her husband has a box of donuts to himself, and she ordered a box of sugar and glaze donuts for herself. She even bought another box with a variety of flavors to share. When she told her family back on the East Coast of the Dunkin Donuts opening, her brothers teased her, she said, asking if that meant she wouldnt be coming home to visit anymore. Although thats not the case, she is happy that the restaurant opened so close to where she lives. Adel said shell be there almost every day. Visiting Dunkin Donuts every day wasnt a foreign concept to Jeannie Reagan of American Canyon. As she stood in line with four of her gal pals, she said that she would get coffee and a donut every day when she lived in Pennsylvania. When she moved to California, she said that it was sad that no Dunkin Donuts restaurants were around. I was surprised when it came here, she said of the restaurant opening. Its awesome. The location is convenient and everything is good, Reagan said. To anyone who hasnt tried it yet, They dont know what theyre missing out on, she said. When asked if he had ever been to a Dunkin Donuts, Earl Richardson of Vallejo said Oh, you better believe that. Richardson has been patronizing Dunkin Donuts for more than 30 years. Being from Wisconsin, he was used to having it around. Now that he lives in California, hes made sure to find the beloved donut shop whenever he is on vacation. Dunkin Donuts is my favorite place, Richardson said. I gotta have some coffee with my donuts. Richardson said he has tried supporting the shops as they open in California, noting that he visited the one in Walnut Creek. Whenever they open up a new one, I like to go to em, he said. This is a good place, he said of the American Canyon restaurant. If you ask me, I give it an A. A lot of transplants hailing from the East Coast and the Midwest have been missing Dunkin Donuts, said Nick Bhatt, who moved from Chicago two months ago to open the American Canyon location with his sister and brother-in-law. I started working at Dunkin Donuts when I was in high school, Bhatt said. From there, he has worked his way up in the chain. This is my passion, he said. Bhatt appreciated having the support of the community and is happy to be in California, he said. We had a lot of fun out here. Customers were understanding and patient, he said. The next Dunkin Donuts location the family plans to open will be in Petaluma. A third restaurant is also planned, although its location hasnt been determined yet, Bhatt said. ST. HELENA The St. Helena City Council agreed Tuesday to contribute another $140,000 to the Turley Flats affordable housing project on Pope Street, which is facing a funding gap of over $1 million. The money will come out of the citys Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which had already pledged $500,000 to the project $341,500 in the form of a loan and $158,500 in fee waivers. The new contribution will help close the funding gap faced by Calistoga Affordable Housing, which is trying to build eight affordable units at 1105 Pope St. It will also help the nonprofit developer access a $650,000 matching grant from Napa County. The citys additional contribution is contingent upon Calistoga Affordable Housing receiving that grant. In hopes of closing the rest of the gap, the nonprofit has asked several residents for additional funds, Calistoga Affordable Housing President Larry Kromann wrote in a letter to the city. CAHs interpretation of their comments is that they believe they started the Turley project with their money and it is now time for the other community entities to provide their matching funds, Kromann wrote. They also expressed their frustration with the current time-consuming construction approval process. To date no funds have been offered. CAH was able to reduce its construction costs by $300,000 by meeting with bidders and going over their numbers, Kromann said. CAH has also met with engineers and architects to talk about ways to reduce costs, he said. The council directed City Manager Jennifer Phillips to report back in 60 days on the projects progress. The city red-tagged some illegal units on the Pope Street property in 2011, citing building code violations and unsafe living conditions. When he heard that seven families had been evicted from the units, vintner Larry Turley bought the property and donated it to CAH. St. Helenas Affordable Housing Trust Fund has a balance of $1.3 million, but only $500,000 is still unallocated. The city has earmarked $640,000 for Turley Flats and $165,000 for Our Town St. Helenas Brenkle Court project on McCorkle Avenue. After five years of working as a server at Per Se, Thomas Kellers acclaimed New York City restaurant, Vanessa Scott-Allen set her sights on the Napa Valley. But after moving here to work at The French Laundry, the job fell through. Scott-Allen, who claims she was discriminated against because she was pregnant, filed a lawsuit last month in Napa County Superior Court against both Per Se and The French Laundry, the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group that owns both operations, and Keller himself. Samantha Shuman, a spokeswoman with The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, said last week that the company has a policy of not commenting on pending or ongoing business litigation. According to the lawsuit, it all started this past January when Scott-Allen and her husband traveled to California. They had been thinking about heading west, but didnt have any plans yet. While in the Bay Area, Scott-Allen arranged to visit The French Laundry in Yountville. By the end of her visit, The French Laundrys general manager, Michael Minnillo, who is also named as a defendant, told her that his restaurant would love to have her work there, according to the suit. Taking him seriously, Scott-Allen said she notified the general manger of Per Se, Antonio Begonja, via email that she wanted to look into possibly transferring to The French Laundry. She also notified him that she was pregnant, the suit contends. Both managers agreed to the transfer and the ball was rolling Scott-Allen was to start work at The French Laundry on April 1, according to the filing. Between February and March, Scott-Allen and her husband had made necessary moving preparations, including terminating their lease in New York, buying a car, and making housing arrangements in California. They even began shipping their belongings, the suit says. On March 7, Scott-Allen was told that, as part of the transfer process, she needed to sign resignation documentation, the lawsuit alleges. The next day, when Keller was visiting Per Se, the server told the restaurateur that she was transferring to The French Laundry. Thats wonderful, he replied, hugging her. According to the suit, during Scott-Allens last day at Per Se, March 10, the restaurants daily bulletin included a photo of her and Keller hugging and wished her luck in California. It read: Thank you Vanessa! May your warmth, grace and impact shine just as brightly at TFL as it has here. After that, Scott-Allen was informed that her start date at The French Laundry had been pushed back a few days, the suit states. She was scheduled to meet the restaurants entire management team on April 4. Now living in California, Scott-Allen showed up to her meeting to find that Minnillo, the general manager, wouldnt be there because he was in New York visiting Per Se, the suit contends. During her meeting, Scott-Allen spoke with another manager, Olivia Wallace, who proceeded to ask her several questions about her pregnancy and maternity leave plans, according to the lawsuit. She asked Scott-Allen when her due date was, how long she expected to work before giving birth, and how long she expected to be on maternity leave, the suit alleges. Wallace told Scott-Allen that she would get back to her about her training schedule after speaking with Minnillo. Shortly after, Minnillo informed Scott-Allen that the position was no longer available and that there were no positions available at The French Laundry, according to the suit. Scott-Allen contends that three positions were open at the time. She filed a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing on April 21, then received a notice of case closure and right to sue, according to the lawsuit. Scott-Allen filed her lawsuit in Napa County on Sept. 26. Her attorneys, Sami N. Khadder, Dustin L. Collier and V. Josh Socks, all out of San Francisco, did not respond to media inquiries. Scott-Allen is seeking an estimated $5 million in damages for allegations that include fraud and deceit, sex discrimination, violation of pregnancy disability leave law, negligent misrepresentation, breach of implied contract, wrongful termination and failure to prevent discrimination, as well as violations of labor codes and the California Family Rights Act. Scott-Allen is suing in addition for attorneys fees and the cost of the suit. She also demands a jury trial. A case management conference is scheduled for March 7, 2017. World leaders have started to generate some real optimism with their efforts to address global climate change. What's troubling, though, is how far we remain from getting carbon emissions under control -- and how much wishful thinking is still required to believe we can do so. The Paris agreement on climate change has garnered the national signatories needed to go into force on Nov. 4. Some economists see it as a promising framework for cooperation among many different countries, especially if those not pulling their weight suffer penalties such as trade sanctions. There's even talk of aiming for the more ambitious goal of keeping global temperatures within 1.5 degrees Celsius or less of their pre-industrial level, as opposed to the currently agreed 2 percent. Meanwhile, another major international deal has been reached to phase out greenhouse gases used in refrigeration systems, and solar energy technology continues its rapid advance. For all the progress, though, the gap between what needs to happen and what is happening remains large. Worse, it's growing. Consider, for example, how far the planet remains from any of the carbon emission trajectories in which -- according to the International Panel on Climate Change -- global warming would remain below 2 degrees. Even in the most lenient scenarios, we would have to be cutting net emissions already. Yet under the pledges countries have made in the Paris framework, emissions will keep increasing sharply through at least 2030. As climate scientists Kevin Anderson and Glen Peters argue, an element of magical thinking has crept into the IPCC projections. Specifically, they rely heavily on the assumption that new technologies will allow humans to start sucking carbon out of the atmosphere on a grand scale, resulting in large net negative emissions sometime in the second half of this century. This might happen, but we don't know how to do it yet. The assumptions about negative emissions amount to a bizarre step in what ought to be a cautious and conservative analysis. The IPCC scenarios essentially ignore the vast uncertainty surrounding a technology that does not yet exist, and about our ability to ramp it up to the required scale. To eliminate that much atmospheric carbon, as geophysicist Andrew Skuce estimates, we would need an industry roughly three times as big as the entire current fossil fuel industry -- and we would need to create it fast, building something like one new large plant to capture and store carbon every day for the next 70 years. Does that sound likely? Perhaps such wishful thinking is an inevitable symptom of our addiction to fossil fuels -- and our fear of the wrenching pain that moving away from them will entail. In reality, if we're not feeling the change, we're probably not doing enough. Mark Buchanan, a physicist and science writer, is the author of the book "Forecast: What Physics, Meteorology and the Natural Sciences Can Teach Us About Economics." Donald Trump's refusal to commit to accepting the final, official verdict of November's election has provoked a hue and cry as great as any he has sparked in this long campaign - and that's saying something. The Republican nominee's defiance of long-held democratic norms is disturbing, and all the more worrisome because no previous candidate has so consistently and publicly seeded doubts about the presidential election results before the voting even took place. But Trump's latest vows aren't as unprecedented as we keep telling ourselves. While each historical event is unique, we should resist the urge to see Trump as somehow untethered from the American past, as completely unlike all his predecessors. The impulse to cast Trump as a unique threat to the republic has led to a great deal of amnesia and historical airbrushing - creating an idealized picture of a past free of bitterly contested outcomes and crisis. National elections do not always end nicely. In particular, in their zeal to impugn Trump, some writers have revived the myth that Richard Nixon graciously conceded the 1960 presidential election to John F. Kennedy. According to Lyndon Johnson library director Mark Updegrove, Nixon "subordinated his own ambitions for the sake of governmental continuity" and that Trump "would do well to look at" Nixon's behavior that year. That's a hard claim to endorse. The 1960 election between Nixon and Kennedy was a nail-biter. Although JFK seemed to be headed for victory on election night, the outcome wasn't clear until the next morning. And because of the national vote distribution, Kennedy emerged with an electoral college lead of nearly 100 electoral votes - enough to put his win safely beyond question. Unlike in 2000, when Vice President Al Gore's loss to Texas Gov. George W. Bush hinged on a mere handful of ballots in the state of Florida (a state Gore had reason to think he had rightfully won), Nixon had no real basis for believing that a simple recount could remedy enough tallying errors to swing the national results his way. Among the other obstacles he faced, Nixon would have had to reverse Kennedy's victories in not one but two large states. Still, the narrowness of JFK's popular margin led angry Republicans to cry that his triumph was fraudulent and to demand investigations. Nixon and Republican leaders knew that their chances of prevailing at state election boards or in the courts were slim. But they thought they had a chance, because there was circumstantial evidence of fraud in Illinois and Texas. (In Chicago, Mayor Richard Daley's machine was famous for its creative and illegal ways of making sure Democrats prevailed in Cook County. Lyndon Johnson's Texas operation was also said to engage in ballot-box chicanery.) And if the Nixon effort failed? The headlines could still tarnish Kennedy's victory, motivate hard-core supporters, and perhaps provide Republicans with a rallying cry in future elections. From the start, Nixon kept the door open to challenges, even as he publicly claimed to take the high road. His 4 a.m. concession to Kennedy, which is sometimes cited as an example of his magnanimity, was pointedly phrased in the conditional tense. "I want Senator Kennedy to know and I want all of you to know," Nixon said to his supporters, "that if this trend does continue, and he does become our next president, then he will have my whole-hearted support." It was a classic Nixonian formulation, leaving him room to reverse course. Nixon always pretended that he resisted challenging the result, rejecting even President Eisenhower's counsel to fight it. This was a dubious, self-serving claim. Eisenhower early on withdrew his support for a challenge, making it harder for Nixon to press on. Nixon's friend and biographer Ralph de Toledano wrote that even though the candidate knew Ike opposed a bid to discredit Kennedy's victory, Nixon nonetheless told people that he, not the president, was the one urging restraint. "This was the first time I ever caught Nixon in a lie," Toledano noted. While Nixon stayed at arm's length for political reasons, Republican officials - led by Republican National Committee Chairman Thruston Morton and including some of Nixon's closest aides - pressed ahead with challenges in 11 states. This wasn't something they could ever have done had Nixon wanted to stop them. Robert Finch, a California ally of Nixon's who would later serve in his Cabinet, deployed operatives around the country to carry out what the Associated Press called "field checks," trying to gather evidence of massive fraud. Peter Flanigan, who would also serve in high-level Nixon White House posts, worked to create a "Nixon Recount Committee" in Chicago. According to news reports, they accumulated about $100,000 in funding, presumably from Republican donors. The Republicans managed to get several U.S. attorneys to convene grand juries to investigate, and some cases proceeded through the court system. In late November, it still seemed remotely plausible that these undertakings would bear fruit. "It is now imperative that the results in each state be definitively settled by the time the electoral college meets," said an editorial in the New York Times on Nov. 26. In truth, it was only in Illinois, where Kennedy's margin was about 9,000 votes, that the GOP had anything resembling a case - and flipping that state alone wouldn't have given Nixon the White House. Still, Morton and RNC Treasurer Meade Alcorn made front-page headlines when they continued to declare Nixon the rightful winner in that state well into November. An unnamed Republican official told Tom Wicker of the New York Times that if Nixon prevailed in Illinois, the GOP "might go all out to reverse the apparent Electoral College victory" that Kennedy was expected to garner when the electoral college met on Dec. 19. Next on the horizon were South Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico and Nevada, the Times reported. A down-ballot race, for position of Cook County state's attorney, provided the occasion for a recount. Republican Ben Adamowski, a longtime Daley antagonist, had lost his office to a Democratic challenger by 25,000 votes. But the recount in his race also examined presidential ballots. In the end, 943 votes had been undercounted, far short of the 4,500 that would have been needed for Nixon to win the state. The Republicans appealed the case to federal court and to the State Board of Elections (which was composed of four Republicans, including the governor, and one Democrat), but it all came to naught. Since then, academics studying the issue have concluded that while some fraud no doubt occurred, it probably wasn't substantial enough to award the state to Nixon. Certainly, there exists no conclusive evidence, or historical consensus, that the election was stolen. Meanwhile, in other states, the GOP failed to prove its case. In most instances there was nowhere near enough evidence of fraud or even error to warrant more than small squibs in the newspapers. In New Jersey, for instance, courts authorized recounts in five counties, but by Dec. 1 the state Republican committee found no significant problems in the tally and stood down. In Texas, Nixon lost by a substantial 46,000 ballots, and a federal judge dismissed the case. Nixon publicly accepted the courts' decisions, but privately he remained convinced he had been robbed. At a 1960 Christmas party, he was heard greeting guests, "We won, but they stole it from us." To this day, many people seem to subscribe to this unsubstantiated claim. There was nothing patriotic or honorable about Nixon's behavior in 1960. He acted for self-serving reasons in trying to reverse Kennedy's victory, and he kept his hand hidden because, as he wrote, he feared that "charges of 'sore loser' would follow me through history and remove any possibility of a further political career." His hypocrisy in feigning to take the high road while allowing his allies to do his dirty work does not deserve our admiration. What relevance does this have for Trump's talk of fraud, a rigged election and possibly rejecting the election results? First, while Nixon's behavior in 1960 was different in key ways from Trump's this year, there are also similarities worth attending to. Although Nixon's 1960 challenges fell within legal parameters and didn't constitute an assault on democratic traditions, his grandiose sense of entitlement - his sense, like Trump's, that if he personally doesn't win it means, de facto, that the system's rigged - was on view. In retrospect we can see that it held clues as to the lawless presidency that was to come. Second, and perhaps more important, we should be careful not to romanticize the past. Our democratic experiment has on the whole been a model to the world, and it should inspire pride, not least in how we peacefully transfer power between presidents. But we should bear in mind there has always been an ugly undercurrent in our history - of resentment of those whose politics are different from our own, of distrust of the duly constituted political authorities, of impatience with democratic norms and procedures. Most of the time, this undercurrent is kept in check, but from time to time it spills over. Our system has been quite good at containing those eruptions, but they remind us that at the bottom there is a fragility to our democracy - a fragility we should take pains never to forget. David Greenberg is a professor of history at Rutgers University and the author of "Republic of Spin." He wrote this for The Washington Post. Mark Luce has served the city and county of Napa for many years in a caring, intelligent, and experienced manner. Beyond his skills as a supervisor, he demonstrates daily his character. Even though I have not agreed with every vote that Mark has made, I am consistently impressed with the amount of thought that goes into every decision. The most recent plan that Mark has introduced to the board (and is now being implemented) is a plan which enables people with lower incomes to purchase homes in the Napa Valley. There is a fund of a million dollars, which is available to it new home buyers. These buyers can borrow from the county up to 10 percent of the cost of a new home. There is no interest on loans but the people pay back 10 percent of the future value upon the sale of the home. A hundred families have bought homes because of this program and 15 families have paid back loans when they refinance. This plan means that $40 million of home purchases can be made initially, with potentially more funds in the future. People can buy the home they choose and still have the benefit of having the support of their community through this fund. We see so many government programs that give people no incentive to improve their lives. This program is full of incentives. Aside from his work as a supervisor, I have known Mark as a member of the community for over 15 years. I know that he has traveled to Haiti with his wife to help in an orphanage. The building had no electricity. So Mark went with a group last January to wire the home so that the children could have lights and other amenities that we take for granted. It is this ability to see the world from another's point of view that most impresses me about Mark. He could, like many of us, enjoy the pleasant life of the Napa Valley and be content with that. Instead, he chooses to find ways of helping all of the members of our community, including our most vulnerable. A vote for Mark Luce is a vote for a more prosperous future for Napa County. Marty Devitt Napa Jennifer Baker will be a strong voice on the Napa Valley College Board of Trustees. I have known Jennifer professionally for several years. As library directors in nearby cities, we interacted and communicated often on issues of local, state, and national interest. Jennifer is highly intelligent, collaborative in her approach, and builds on her strong network of colleagues and contacts to strengthen community access to education in every way she can. She commands a great deal of well-earned respect within the California library community. Jennifers tenure with the St. Helena Library resulted in many improvements to service to the community. Library use on every metric (visits, books borrowed, event attendance, digital use) increased with Jennifers leadership. The library was a true community center and reflected the diversity of the community it served. The Napa Valley College is facing the challenges faced by many community colleges: securing adequate funding, meeting standards, and community integration. The Board of Trustees has a significant impact on the future of the college and the educational programs available to the community of Napa. I trust Jennifer to be a voice on the board to ensure that the community college continues to truly serve the entire community. Jennifers background in executive library leadership and community engagement and communication for the Napa Valley Unified School District combine to make her an exceedingly qualified candidate for the Board of Trustees. Jennifer offers knowledgeable and experienced leadership and is well-prepared to step in to this role. I am confident that Jennifer will champion the needs of the entire community, and is the most qualified candidate for the Napa Valley College Board of Trustees. Sarah Houghton San Rafael The Napa Sierra Club and the Napa Valley Vintners have come together to support Measure Z, a quarter-cent sales tax funding measure for parks and open space thats on the ballot Nov. 8. In the 1980s, the county-owned park system consisted of a single boat launch in the wetlands and a bicycle rest stop along the railroad. In 2006, with voters creation of the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District, we finally had the means to create a county-wide network of trails and open-space protection. The district has strategically leveraged its limited budget, securing millions of dollars in grant money to purchase wildlands for watershed protection and nature-based recreation. The district has created Moore Creek Park, re-opened the old Lake Berryessa Boy Scout Camp and improved the Oat Hill Mine Trail. It has built sections of the Bay Trail, the Vine Trail and the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It took over both the Bale Grist Mill and Bothe State Park, saving them from closure by the state. Its fair to say that the Napa Open Space District has exceeded expectations. While the district has already brought over 4,000 acres under public protection, they estimate that they could protect another 30,000 acres if they had the money. Measure Z would provide that funding. In 2000, Napa Valley Vintners joined the Sierra Club and many other organizations to craft the voluntary Napa Green Certification program to ensure that farm practices would protect Napa Valleys water quality. Efforts by local farmers to restore the riparian habitat of the Napa River have taken that goal even farther. By supporting Measure Z, the Vintners and the Sierra Club are again joining forces to better protect our watershed. Measure Z, by generating funds that will support public acquisition of watershed lands, is a logical expansion of Napa's land and water protection efforts. Our organizations encourage you to support this effort and vote "yes" on Measure Z. Linda Reiff, president and CEO Napa Valley Vintners Nancy Tamarisk, Executive committee chairwoman Napa Sierra Club Welcome to an evening of divine imbibing and decadence, said the emcee from a compact, elevated stage in the back of the narrow, crowded bar in Berlin. He wore red-and-black striped pants and had fringes on his jackets epaulets, and he introduced Roxy Diamond, a Swiss expat who, working down from a flouncy dress to full burlesque regalia (which is to say minimal regalia), strutted, shimmied and gleefully evoked catcalls. It would seem like an exercise in nostalgia, evocative of the things that iconic Weimar-era writers Joseph Roth and Christopher Isherwood made famous about the city. Thats what this bar, Prinzipal Kreuzberg, is like. Sort of. The thing that brought me back to now was the bourbon cocktail infused with grapefruit, dates and cinnamon made by a tall Norwegian expat named Odd Strandbakken, all boyish features and blond hair. It was Saturday night and I had arrived early, as everyone recommended. Strandbakken regaled me with tales of when he lived in the North Pole, such as the time he faced down a polar bear. Then he did some Vegas-caliber card tricks. Berlin is a city where past and present are on a constant collision course. History hangs heavy, but creativityand the creative types that give a city its energyremain among its exhilarating hallmarks. David Bowie, for one, once deemed it the greatest cultural extravaganza that one could imagine. Theres much to-do this year throughout Germany to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Reinheitsgebot, the German beer-purity laws. Abiding by tradition like that is virtuous, to be sure, but personally, I consider disruption way more captivating. Thats precisely what I found in this city, where creative bartenders are establishing new traditions in a way thats uniquely Berlinesqueimaginative while nodding to the cultural extravaganza that historically defined it. Thats what hit me when I walked into Fairytale Bar, best described as a fever dream engineered by the Brothers Grimm and Tim Burton. The menus are retrofitted into vintage illustrated storybooks with test tubes of cocktail samples nestled in the pages. The bartenders wear corseted dresses, and the decor has the feel of an aged aunts kitsch-laden living room. My first drink was served in a glass vessel designed as a high-heeled shoe, a sort-of salute to Cinderella. My second intriguingly combined Scotch, plum wine and Guinness beer syrup. But those drinks were tame compared with the sensory bonanza at Fragrances, a glammy lounge in the Ritz-Carlton that boasts the kind of madcap formulas usually found in molecular gastronomy temples or in mixology bars that require X-ray glasses to find the unmarked door. I was sure I was in the wrong place when I walked in the department-store-style entrance, lined with glass display vessels, each containing a designer perfume, scent samples in small boxes and liquor bottles to show the ingredients in the cocktail that the fragrance inspired. This was the menu. After about 15 minutes of inhaling gorgeous, indulgent scents, I settled on a mezcal-based drink with ingredients involving orange, sandalwood, cloves and pink peppercorn inspired by Frederic Malles Vetiver Extraordinaire. It was spicy, earthy and bright in scent and flavor. The following night, a local friend instructed me to meet him at Gin & Tonic Bar. It was safe to assume that, with a name like that, thered be no whimsy. The brass-accented space was as minimalist as the starring drink: nearly 100 bottles of gin lining a mirrored wall behind the bar. But my attention was diverted by a glass dome on the bar containing an arrangement of a bottle of English gin, a small bottle of Jagermeister, a lime and a sign that read Pretty Amber. Then and there I knew I had walked into something truly surreal, as my grown-up cocktail-sipping self tried to imagine how Jagermeister, that fierce liqueur I was always instructed to shoot cold, would play in a tranquil cocktail-bar setting. Figured Id try itjust for old times sake, right? Actually, it was nothing like the old times I remembered. The small measure of inky bitter liqueur added a sweet, violetlike floral dimension to the bright botanicals of the gin, in this case the zesty, citrusy Sipsmith. What a curious fluke, I thought. Until it happened again. The next night, my friend and I visited Chapel Bar, a lively spot with opulent chandeliers, stark concrete walls and Victorianesque velour couches. The drinks leaned inventive, with unusual twists on classics such as the whiskey sour (fat-washed walnut bourbon, anyone?) and rum infusions, but my eye landed on this option: Ardbeg 10, Jagermeister, fresh lime and maple syrup. Ardbeg, an exceptionally peaty Scotch, was brought to submission and revealed its gentler side with a small helping of the liqueur. I chatted with the bartender, who explained that he liked to use it as a modifier in lieu of common bitters such as Angostura, as it has a spicy bitter quality, or as a sweet substitute for a syrup. He told me that a recent visit to the facility inspired him to play around with it more. It wasnt farabout a two-hour train ride. I try to always leave room for changes of plans when I travel, so I changed them. The next day, I took the train with a friend to Wolfenbuttel, a charming town thats all narrow zigzagging streets, a narrower canal, timber-framed buildings and even a grand library said to be among the oldest in the world and home to more than 1,000 Medieval-era manuscripts and 1,000,000 old books, many written on vellum. A short walk from the old-world town center, however, is a sleek glass building where people in white lab coats scurry around. Given the space-age polish of the space, the smells that envelop you in the visitors room are disorientingthey evoke an old Chinese herb shop. But as I learned, the drink, which dates to 1935 and was created by a longtime wine and vinegar merchant whose family still owns the company, is made with the same 56 herbs, spices and botanicals as it was back then. Those raw smellsJamaican allspice, Indian ginger, Madagascar cloveswere transporting, reminding me of the past. Its a past that the bartenders in Berlin are saluting as they create their own history. This course Read more [...] Talk about a massive comeback to the forefront of country music! Shania Twain will be honored as part of Billboards 11th Annual Women in Music event, held December 9 in New York City and airing nationally on Lifetime on December 12. Twain will receive the 2016 Women in Music Icon Award, which celebrates an artist whose historic contributions to the music industry establish them among the highest class of performers. Shania Twain is a groundbreaking artist whose successful country-pop crossover blazed the trail for a new generation of country stars like Taylor Swift, Billboards 2014 Woman of the Year, and Carrie Underwood, said Janice Min, President and Chief Creative Officer of The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group. Shes fearless in her career, following her own path and pushing the boundaries of the country music genre as she creates music that has proven to be timeless. She is revered in the industry and we are honored to present the Icon award to her. NATO hosts what could well be the largest global coalition on UNSCR 1325, said NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative on Women, Peace and Security Marriet Schuurman at a United Nations (UN) Security Council debate marking the landmark No Women, No Peace Resolutions anniversary. At the UN Headquarters in New York on 25 October 2016, Ambassador Schuurman discussed the need for inclusiveness in sustaining peace and explained recent efforts taken to cement the dialogue between NATO and representatives of civil society who work in conflict prevention, resolution and womens empowerment. She also highlighted the importance of combatting sexual violence through the ongoing implementation of the Military Guidelines on the Prevention of, and Response to Conflict-related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. On womens participation in NATOs peace operations Ambassador Schuurman spoke frankly: We can do better. Just 10% of NATOs armed forces are women. Of those deployed on operations, it is just 5.5%. We understand that improving this ratio will improve our effectiveness and urge member states to do their part. She strongly supported the recent pledge to double the proportion of women in peacekeeping at the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in London in September 2016. She also applauded NATO as a role model for its recent high-level appointments of women to the most senior roles in the Alliance, most notably the NATO Deputy Secretary General (October 2016), the Commander of NATOs Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy in June 2016 and the Commandant of the NATO Defense College in September 2016. The Security Council debate on UNSCR 1325 was chaired by the Russian Ambassador, Vitaly Churkin. Opening statements were given by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, and Ms Rita Lopidia, Executive Director and Co-founder of the EVE Organization for Women Development, South Sudan (on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security). Other participants in the meeting included representatives from the European Union, African Union, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and dozens of non-governmental organisations. Allied Defence Ministers discussed practical steps to take forward NATOs cooperation with the European Union on Thursday (27 October 2016). Ministers were joined by the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, as well as the Defence Ministers of Finland and Sweden. Briefing the media, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the benefits of closer NATO-EU cooperation. He noted that, in the Aegean Sea, NATOs deployment supports Greece, Turkey and the EUs border agency Frontex in breaking the lines of human trafficking. That is why last night we decided to continue our Aegean deployment, said Mr. Stoltenberg. Allies also decided last night that NATOs new Operation Sea Guardian will support the EUs Operation Sophia. Within two weeks, NATO ships and planes will be in the Central Mediterranean, ready to help increase the EUs situational awareness and provide logistical support. Today, ministers addressed ways to deepen NATO-EU cooperation in the areas of countering hybrid threats, cyber defence, coordinated exercises and supporting partners. Ministers also discussed recent initiatives to strengthen European defence. The Secretary General underlined that a strong Europe will make NATO stronger, especially by delivering more capabilities and by increasing defence spending among European Allies. Armenias Pashinyan arrives in Iran Russia envoy to Armenia: Many common paradigms being broken in South Caucasus Lavrov: Over past decades we managed to lay solid foundations for strategic partnership, alliance with Armenia Primakov Readings international forum kicks off in Yerevan One person killed in Toronto shooting Armenias Pashinyan heads for Iran Newspaper: Armenia premier sends intelligence to Artsakh on day of rally Russia, Turkey FMs discuss South Caucasus Kremlin: Armenia, Azerbaijan confirmed their interest in Russia mediation Armenia PM concludes visit to Russias Sochi Putin: Europe will not be able to exclude Russia from Yerevan-Baku relations normalization process Putin on extending mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh: It will depend on other matters Putin: No Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty yet IMF forecasts $1 trillion unforeseen profit for oil exporter Lavrov and Cavusoglu discuss recent developments in Caucasus Seoul and Warsaw sign key agreements on nuclear energy development in Poland Statement by leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on results of meeting in Sochi Saudi Arabia and UAE defend OPEC decision Putin: Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan agree on joint statement U.S. wants EU to impose export restrictions against China Thunberg calls UN conference place for lies and fraud Putin, Pashinyan and Aliyev hold trilateral talks Russian businessman Artem Aslanyan commits suicide in Moscow Head of the Ministry of Finance: Sweden's economic outlook is gloomy and we're heading for a tough winter Norway to raise level of army combat readiness in response to Ukraine war Putin and Aliyev talks in Sochi are over Moldova expels Russian embassy employee after incident with falling rocket parts Estonia to expand by 30 times protected zone on border with Russia Serzh Sargsyan receives Garo Paylan Inflation hits new record in 19 eurozone countries Shoigu and Akar discuss Russia's decision to suspend participation in grain deal Head of Armenian Armed Forces General Staff: Azerbaijan refuses to allow evacuation of Armenian soldiers' bodies Inflation in Poland breaks the record of 25 years ago Head of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces explains why Azerbaijanis 'trapped' were not captured Chief of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces confirms loss of positions as result of Azerbaijani aggression Central Bank: Inflation in Armenia reaches 9.9% Edvard Asryan: The operational situation in the eastern and southeastern directions is relatively stable Iran arrests 6 suspects in attack on Shiraz mausoleum Aliyev: Baku put forward five main principles to normalize relations with Yerevan Putin: The goal of the trilateral talks is the implementation of all agreements of 2020 and 2021 Talks between presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan start in Sochi Six people detained in Belarus for hanging Ukrainian flag NBC News: Biden lost his temper on the phone with Zelenskyy European Parliament lawmakers arriving in Armenia on fact-finding mission Cavusoglu: Europe weakening runs counter to Ankara's economic interests Non-resident organizations providing online services in Armenia declare 1bn drams of VAT in 3 quarters October oil production in Russia falls Storm warning issued in Sochi due to tornadoes Putin and Pashinyan hold 1-hour talks in Sochi Pashinyan to visit Tehran on November 1 Over AMD 76 billion will be assigned to Armenian police in 2023 Provincial governor of Armenias Tavush, France envoy discuss future cooperation (PHOTOS) South Korea and the U.S. begin large-scale air force exercise Dollar, euro continue falling in Armenia Pashinyan says issue of Armenian captives is unresolved, despite discussions with Putin Iranian parliament chair to visit Azerbaijan Pashinyan: Communications passing through Armenia should be under Yerevan's full control Pashinyan: Russia's clear position on moving Azerbaijani soldiers to their initial positions is important World wheat prices up Putin urges to ensure peace in Karabakh and unblock transport infrastructure Pashinyan calls Russia's approaches to establishing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations acceptable State budget spending on Armenia emergency ministry needs to increase considerably in 2023 Pashinyan says he wants to discuss regional security issues with Putin Putin hopes for progress in Karabakh settlement during summit Putin: We have to end the Karabakh conflict 80% of Kyiv remains without water supply after morning strikes, mayor claims China accuses US of violating trade rules Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan meets Russian President Vladimir Putin Peskov: We will inform if documents are agreed as result of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders meeting Kremlin says Russia continues contacts with Turkey and UN on 'grain deal' Masis Abrahamyan, head of ANC - Netherlands office, files lawsuit against Armenian National Security Service Bloomberg names world's richest families Central Bank: About 86% of banks' profits in Armenia come from currency sale/purchase, exchange fees Head of Central Bank of Armenia: Economic growth in 2023 will be lower than 7% forecasted by government Armenia civil servants salaries to increase but bonuses to reduce Armenia finance minister: Salaries to increase almost twice as much more than bonuses have become salaries Finance ministry: Armenia inflation would have been higher if national currency had not increased in value Alen Simonyan to Erin Elizabeth McKee: Armenia is interested in deeper engagement by US Central Bank of Armenia: U.S. financial authorities complicate U.S. dollar turnover worldwide Kyiv: 12 vessels with grain leave Ukrainian ports France is working on a land route for grain export from Ukraine Amount of Armenia financial assistance to Karabakh to not change in 2023 International Rescue Committee: Blockade of Ukrainian grain may lead to disaster Erdogan: Turkey will continue to solve the food issue despite Russia's hesitation Armenia's budget deficit in 2023 will be 3.1% of GDP PACE MPs initiate resolution on political prisoners cases increase in Azerbaijan EU studying issue of recognizing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist organization Finance minister: Armenia tax revenues projected to be about 3.7% of GDP in 2023 Armenia opposition MP: No final document will be signed in Russias Sochi Opposition MP: When Armenia PM says he is in Russian proposals favor, has no value unless he says he rejects US option Employee of Karabakh permanent representation in Armenia is charged with high treason Kyiv mayor claims damage to energy facility that supplies power to 350,000 apartments Blinken has phone talks with China's FM Artsakh strategic issues discussed at We Are Our Mountains agency first meeting Death toll in Indian bridge collapse rises to 141 Armenia 2023 state budget draft: Capital expenditure to increase significantly Armenia national debt against GDP is planned to be reduced Iranian Foreign Ministry: Presence of foreign forces doesn't contribute to peace in Caucasus Alen Simonyan, Garo Paylan discuss prospects for reopening of Armenia-Turkey border Aliyev arrives in Sochi YEREVAN. The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) elite on Thursday will again assemble at the party central office for a supreme body (SB) meeting, according to Zhoghovurd newspaper. Zhoghovurd has learned that todays RPA SB session will be devoted to the [party] congress to be held on November 26. We have learned that in today's session, it is expected that it will be announced about RA [i.e. the Republic of Armenia] Prime Minister Karen Karapetyans joining the RPA ranks. According to the news, he not only will become a Republican in the coming days, but also be elected vice chairman of the party in the forthcoming congress, wrote Zhoghovurd. STEPANAKERT. The adversary violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces around 20 times, from late Wednesday night to early Thursday morning. During this time the Azerbaijani armed forces fired more than 200 shots toward the Armenian position-holders, and by way of various caliber weapons, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) Defense Army informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. In addition, the adversary made use of automatic and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, in a northeasterly direction of the line of contact. But the NKR Defense Army vanguard units took actions in response to quell this aggressive activity by the Azerbaijani armed forces, and continued confidently carrying out their military service. The Armenian Social Democratic Hunchakian Party (SDHP) will be endorsing Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton in the forthcoming presidential election in the United States (US). On November 8th, millions of Americans will head to the polls to participate in one of the most consequential elections of the past decades. The outcome of this election will not only determine the future of the United States, but also will have an effect on the rest of the world. The choice is between the two major party candidates, the Republican or the Democratic candidates, one of which will become the 45th president of the United States and govern for the next four years. Throughout this long presidential campaign, the Republican candidate Donald Trump with his vague economic, social and political plans, divisive and racially toned rhetoric, his calls to deport millions of refugees, his treatment of women, un-presidential behavior, his numerous bankruptcies, his shady business dealings and many more character flaws, has come to prove that he is unqualified to become the leader of this country. In addition, considering his business dealings in Turkey and Azerbaijan, we deem Donald Trump to be an unacceptable choice. The Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton has over thirty years of experience in the political arena, as a first lady, senator and secretary of state. She has shown to be a balanced politician. She has adopted the Democratic Partys platform based on social justice and the protection of the working people and the middle class. Hillary Clinton has fought for progressive ideals throughout her career. Based on all these and other factors, the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party endorses the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton In our endorsement letter addressed to Mrs. Clinton, we expressed our hope that on the issue of the Armenian Genocide, she reverts to the position she held as a Senator. We urged her to support the right of self-determination for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the resolution of the Karabakh conflict through peaceful means. We also asked her, as President, to increase cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Armenia, increase financial and other forms of aid aimed to benefit the people of Armenia and democratic institutions. Thus, we call upon the Armenian American community to participate in the upcoming elections, in large numbers, and to vote for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, as the next president of the United States, reads the respective statement by the SDHP Executive Committee of Western United States. The EducationUSA Armenia of the American Councils for International Education on Wednesday held its annual EducationUSA exhibition in capital city Yerevan. The EducationUSA Armenia is one of hundreds of advising centers around the world supported by the US Department of State. It provides students with accurate, comprehensive, and current information about how to apply to US colleges and universities. All services, including lending library of test prep and others books, individual consultations, lectures, workshops, sample testing, group advising, and regional outreach, are offered free of charge. This educational exhibition was a one-day event that was open to the general public, and it provided information on higher education in the US. More than 1,000 further education college students, who are interested in the opportunities for receiving higher education in the US, attended this EducationUSA Armenia exhibition. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE) NGO, a total of 304 Armenian students have received higher education in the US, in the 2014/15 academic year. WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) joined yesterday in a White House briefing between senior Obama Administration officials and leaders of the Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac, Armenian, and Antiochian communities to discuss the security of Christians in the Middle East. The Administration was represented by Special Assistant to President Obama, Melissa Rogers; State Department Special Advisor for Religious Minorities, Knox Thames, and; senior officials of the National Security Council. ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian took part in the briefing along with Steve Oshana, Executive Director of A Demand for Action, and senior leaders of organizations representing Americans of Antiochan and Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac heritage, including Mark Arabo of the Minority Humanitarian Foundation. Among the consensus priorities of the visiting delegation were protecting Christian and other at-risk populations from ongoing armed attacks, supporting refugees and internally displaced persons, closing gaps in the delivery of international humanitarian aid to highly vulnerable groups, standing up sustainable and secure safe havens for persecuted minorities, including in the form of a Nineveh Plains Province, and, more broadly, ensuring that ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity contributes to the future stability and prosperity of the region. The ANCA has long advocated for Armenia as a safe sanctuary and secure long-term home for Armenians and other Christians and oppressed groups fleeing violence in the Middle East. As Armenian Americans, we were pleased, once again, to join with our Christian allies in delivering a unified message to our White House about the concrete steps that our country can and must take to address the urgent crisis facing our sisters and brothers in Syria, Iraq, and across the region, said Hamparian. Armenia - which has already taken in over twenty thousand refugees fleeing violence in the Middle East - can, with materially increased U.S. and international support, serve as a safe haven and secure long-term home for the region's Christians, Yezidis, and other at-risk minority populations. Commenting on ADFA's social media following the meeting, Oshana noted: In these moments, when our people are facing serious existential threats, the coalitions we build are what allow us to make progress in the face of even the most difficult of circumstances... I'm proud that today we were able to bring together a coalition of Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac, Armenian, and Antiochian Americans to advocate on behalf of victims of Genocide. To walk into the White House with this kind of coalition was uplifting and our continued engagement with the Obama administration during these difficult times is as important as ever. YEREVAN. Members of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia on Thursday observed a minute of silence to honor the victims of the terrorist act that was committed in Parliament, seventeen years ago on this day. A group of criminals broke into the NA Sessions Hall, on October 27, 1999, and shot and killed several government and parliament members. This terrorist act took the lives of Prime Minister and Supreme Commander Vazgen Sargsyan, NA Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Vice-Speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, Operational Affairs Minister Leonard Petrosyan, and MPs Armenak Armenakyan, Henrik Abrahamyan, and Mikayel Kotanyan. The trial of the terrorists, who committed this crime, was held from 2001 to 2003. As a result, six of them were sentenced to life imprisonment, and one was handed down a fourteen-year prison sentence. The trial, however, did not expose the persons behind this tragedy, and, as a result, the Armenian society still has serious doubts about the architects of this terrorist act. Donald Trump criticized Washington's tactics in preparation of the operation to free Iraqi Mosul from ISIS militants, ABC News reported. Ive been hearing about Mosul now for three months. Were going to attack. Were going to attack. Meaning Iraqs going to attack but with us. OK? Were going to attack. Why do they have to talk about it? Element of surprise. One of the reasons they wanted Mosul, they wanted to get ISIS leaders who they thought were, you know, in Mosul. Those people have all left. As soon as they heard theyre going to be attacked, they left, Trump added. The resistance is much greater now because they knew about the attack. Why cant they win first and talk later? Trump said. He emphasized that fighters of the terrorist group were resisting much more because they knew about the preparing attack. Billionaire accused U.S. President Barack Obama and the ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that their policy led to occupation of Mosul by ISIS terrorists. We had Mosul. We have to take it because Hillary Clinton and Obama left that big vacuum, and ISIS went in, and they took Mosul, he stressed. YEREVAN. Armenia is negotiating with Western low-cost airlines. Sergey Avetisyan, Head of the Armenian Government-Affiliated General Department of Civil Aviation (GDCA), told the aforementioned to reporters, after Thursdays Cabinet meeting. In his words, however, the question is whether these low-cost carriers will have a demand in the country. As is known, Russia is the most used destination for flights to and from Armenia. It was so, and I believe that it will remain [so] still for long, added Avetisyan. And, from here [comes] the interest of Russian low-costs, first of all. Earlier, the GDCA chief had expressed confidence that low-cost Pobeda Airlines will offer a price starting from 999 [Russian] rubles [approx. US$16], also for Armenia. In addition, Sergey Avetisyan had confirmed that this Russian airline will be conducting flights between Moscow and Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia, apparently, as of late November. YEREVAN. Public and political figures of Armenia are visiting Yerablur Military Pantheon in capital city Yerevan, since early in the morning on Thursday, to pay tribute to the politicians that were killed 17 years ago on this day. Aside from the relatives of these victims, National Assembly (NA) President Galust Sahakyan, ruling Republican Party of Armenia MPs, and representatives of several other political forces also have come to Yerablur, the Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informed from the military pantheon. A group of criminals broke into the NA Sessions Hall, on October 27, 1999, and shot and killed several government and parliament members. This terrorist act took the lives of Prime Minister and Supreme Commander Vazgen Sargsyan, NA Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Vice-Speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, Operational Affairs Minister Leonard Petrosyan, and MPs Armenak Armenakyan, Henrik Abrahamyan, and Mikayel Kotanyan. The trial of the terrorists, who committed this crime, was held from 2001 to 2003. As a result, six of them were sentenced to life imprisonment, and one was handed down a fourteen-year prison sentence. The trial, however, did not expose the persons behind this tragedy, and, as a result, the Armenian society still has serious doubts about the architects of this terrorist act. YEREVAN. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on Thursday was on hand at the official opening of the JUNWEX Yerevan Show 2016 International Jewelry Exhibition, which will run in the capital city until Sunday. Sargsyan toured the stands of this event, which the Armenian Jewellers Association (AJA) has organized for the sixth year, the Press Office of the President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The President also inspected the jewelry and jewelry production equipment showcased by Armenian and foreign companies, and got familiarized with their activities and future plans. The JUNWEX Yerevan Show 2016 International Jewelry Exhibition has brought together renowned jewelry companies, individual jewelers, and jewelry experts from around the world. Turkey has been unable to block the NATO's operations in the Aegean Sea during the meeting of NATOs defense ministers, stated the Greek Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accusing the Turkish side of creating an atmosphere of instability and provocations, reports the RIA Novosti. "I would like to congratulate the members of our NATO delegation - militaries and diplomats - for the efforts they have made for the ongoing NATO operation in the Aegean Sea, despite a counteraction from Turkey," the minister said. "It is important that the NATOs presence in the region not only be an effective means of curbing the flow of refugees, but also help our allies to see Turkey's provocations, violations of international norms, and attempts to create instability between two members of the alliances," said the Greek minister. The armed forces of Germany will send up to 600 soldiers and Leopard 2 tanks to Lithuania in 2017 within the framework of the NATO program, reports the DW. Experts say that it is a clear signal that Germany is serious about the concerns of the Baltic states and Poland about a military threat from Russia. The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, said that NATO wants to demonstrate its defensive potentialities with that decision. The same goal is pursued by deploying heavy arms such as like tanks and artillery in the region, even if there is no talk of an imminent threat to the NATO member countries, said Stoltenberg. A similar statement was made by the German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen. She called the support provided to NATO partners as proportionate and protective. At same time, the head of the Left Party faction Sahra Wagenknecht has sharply criticized the plans of Berlin. To send German tanks to the border means to forget history and take a new step in the escalation of relations with Russia," she said. YEREVAN. - The talks on the self-determination and status of Nagorno-Karabakh are on the agenda; all the other issues stem from them. Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) faction, Vahram Baghdasaryan, told the aforementioned to Armenian News NEWS.am. In his words, the agreements reached at Vienna and St. Petersburg meetings have been violated only by the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. All his statements are merely aimed at distracting his own people and justifying himself before them. It was recorded in the presence of the heads of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states that our position is the following: we cannot speak about other problems unless the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh self-determination is solved, Baghdasaryan stressed. It will be possible to speak about other problems only after the final resolution of the issue on the Nagorno-Karabakh status, the MP added. At a press-conference held in Yerevan on Tuesday, U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, James Warlick, stated that the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has launched a discussion on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, urging to welcome that step. The European Parliament has called on Turkey to release all journalists that were detained with no significant legal proofs of crime. The attempted coup in Turkey of July 15, 2016 cannot be used as a pretext to silence the media and the opposition, reads the resolution adopted by the European Parliament, reports the DW. After a failed attempt the Turkish authorities detained at least 99 journalists and writers; at least 330 journalists have been deprived of media accreditation. In addition, about 100 media outlets were closed in Turkey, due to which more than 2,300 people lost their jobs. According to the data of the European Parliament, imprisoned journalists have limited access to legal services. They are kept in custody in conditions that humiliate human dignity, get threatened and tortured. The resolution strongly condemns the military coup at that. Turkey ranks the 180th country in context of the freedom of press out of 180 countries by the annual report of the Reporters without Borders. Earlier, the Human Rights Watch accused the Turkish government of using torture against prisoners, including beating and sexual violence. Armenian Premier Karen Karapetyan on Thursday attended the subsequent session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Belarus, the Government press-service informed Armenian News NEWS.am. In his speech, Karapetyan expressed conviction that all of them share the position that the international cooperation carried out in direction of forming foreign trade policy and deepening ties with third countries and key integration unions is first of all aimed at contributing to the modernization of the national economy of member states and raising their competitiveness. According to him, the expansion of international and multi-format cooperation should be based on genuine preconditions and be built considering the genuine readiness of third countries to establish cooperation both with each EAEU member-state separately and the EAEU generally. Considering the presence of different legal regulations in member-states, we fully share the approach based on ensuring the lawfulness of the turnover of goods through introduction of traceability mechanism in EAEU customs territory. This mechanism should be introduced so that its application doesnt contradict one of the pillars of our union the freedom of transporting goods. Thus, we are ready to actively cooperate with states to discuss the issues existing in that connection. The Armenian Premier also expressed hope that the joint efforts aimed at implementing the agreements reached Thursday will allow to achieve significant progress in integration processes. Armenian side is ready for closest cooperation with its partners, he added. COCOA, Florida A 31-year-old Brevard County man was shot and killed early Wednesday morning after walking his son to the school bus stop. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Witnesses told police that Walter Thomas, Jr. had just walked his son to the bus stop on Fern Street. As he walked back home north on Fiske Boulevard, an unknown suspect began arguing with him and subsequently fired several rounds at the southwest corner of Fiske Boulevard and Grove Street. The suspect was on a bicycle and then fled the area. Thomas, Jr. managed to get to his home nearby the shooting at 1035 Grove Street. Family members called 911 and police and fire rescue arrived on scene. Thomas, Jr. was later pronounced deceased after being transported to the hospital. First Folio, by the numbers 900 pages, a massive volume 750 estimated copies printed in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death 1616. Actual title: Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies 235 known surviving copies 82 copies at the Folger Shakespeare Library 13 copies in the next largest collection, in Japan $6.1 million is the record price for a First Folio, paid by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen 36 plays comprise the contents of the book What kind of a person would buy 82 copies of the same book? If the book is Shakespeares First Folio, it would be an obsessed person Henry Folger, founder of the Folger Shakespeare Library. Andrea Mays, economist and author of The Millionaire and the Bard, discussed the history of the First Folio and Folgers passion for collecting it in her book and at a lecture on Monday in the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library. The First Folio is the book that saved half of Shakespeares plays from extinction, Mays said. Only half of his plays had been published before he died. Two of Shakespeares friends who had acted with him, John Heminges and Henry Condell, prepared the First Folio. Mays said the two friends edited the plays, based on their memory of how they were acted. The text in the First Folio is really the way the plays were performed when Shakespeare was alive, Mays said. They put together the First Folio as a memorial to their friend. Born in 1857, Henry Folger attended Amherst College around the time Shakespeares works were starting to become an area of study in college English courses, Mays said, which likely piqued his interest. Folger worked for Pratt Oil Company and later became president of Standard Oil, all the while obsessively collecting the First Folio with the help of his wife, Emily. They worked together to create a library to house the collection, and after Henry Folger's death in 1930, the Folger Shakespeare Library opened in 1932. Most collectors wanted a copy of the First Folio is mint condition, but Folger wanted every copy he could get his hands on. That was part of the compulsion, Mays said. Each copy is slightly different, and by collecting the copies, he could compare them and infer something about their differences. Shakespeare all around us One of the highlights of Mays' lecture was when she pointed out how many Shakespearean phrases are still used in common language today and how most people are unaware of those origins. Phrases such as Knock, knock. Whos there? ("Macbeth"), Break the ice, ("The Taming of the Shrew"), It was Greek to me, ("Julius Caesar"), and Send packing ("I Henry IV") are among the many taken from Shakespeares plays, demonstrating one aspect of the Bards modern-day relevance. Emory English professor James Morey is looking forward to having the First Folio at Emory and giving his students a chance to experience this important book for themselves. In advance of its arrival, his class is currently working on assignments involving the Second, Third and Fourth folios, on exhibit in the Rose Library corridor until Friday, Oct. 28. Literary study relies on objects and data just as much as any other discipline, Morey said. Material culture constitutes our evidence, and evidence is a primary feature of Emorys Quality Enhancement Plan. When it comes to evidence for the study of Shakespeare, the First Folio is a gold mine its the closest and most tangible link to his work for about half of his plays. The Mays lecture is part of a series of related events in anticipation of the arrival of the First Folio, which will be on display at the Michael C. Carlos Museum, along with the Second, Third and Fourth folios from the Rose Library exhibit, from Nov. 5 through Dec. 11. Rosemary M. Magee, director of the Rose Library, said events such as Mays' presentation provide context and background to the First Folio, giving the Emory community an opportunity to enhance their enjoyment of the grand book once it arrives. The entire campus community and beyond have the opportunity to experience the many worlds of influence of William Shakespeare, including film, lectures, theater, rare books, poetry and music, Magee said. Emory Libraries have additional free events and exhibits planned, such as Shakespeares Words and Works, the upcoming Creativity Conversation with Emory alumna and playwright Lauren Gunderson and author Daniel Wechsler, on Nov. 14; and Othello: The Moor Speaks and Shakespeare Artists Books, two exhibits running now through Feb. 28, 2017, on Level 2 of the Woodruff Library. Visit Shakespeare at Emory for the full schedule of events and exhibits on campus. As a 46-year-old atheist, Sara Miles took communion for the first time, an act she says changed her life, leading her to establish a food pantry, which provides free groceries to hundreds of families each week. Now an acclaimed author, she speaks Nov. 3 to Candler's Annual Women's Forum. Sara Miles, acclaimed author and founder/director of The Food Pantry of St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, will be the featured speaker at the Annual Women's Forum hosted by Candler School of Theology's Women, Theology and Ministry Program. Her presentation, "Breaking Bread with a Broken World," will take place Nov. 3 at 7p.m. in Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. The lecture is free and open to the public, but registration is required by Nov. 1 at 12 p.m. Register here. As a 46-year-old atheist, Miles wandered into St. Gregory of Nyssa and took communion for the first time, an act that she says changed her life. Her first book, "Take This Bread" (2007), documents her conversion to Christianity and her experience establishing The Food Pantry at the church, which provides several tons of free groceries to hundreds of hungry families each week. "In a piece of bread, Sara Miles knew Jesus and heard God's call to feed hungry people," says Ellen Shepard, assistant professor in the practice of practical theology and director of the Women, Theology, and Ministry Program. "I'm excited for the Candler community to hear the authentic voice of someone whose life was so radically changed by bread that she responded by radically changing the lives of others with bread." Candler students are already preparing for Miles' visit. A series of on-campus lunch gatherings in the weeks leading up to the lecture is providing opportunities to read and discuss passages from her work. Then, on Nov. 4, the day after Miles delivers her lecture, students will partner with local nonprofit Restoration ATL to put on a fall festival for women and children living at the City of Refuge homeless shelter. Shepard considers this follow-up event equally important to the message Miles will bring. "What better way could there be to respond to Sara's witness and ministry than by becoming connected to the larger community in which we live?" she asks. Miles is also the author of "Jesus Freak" (2010) and "City of God" (2014), which details the events of Ash Wednesday 2012, when Miles and her colleagues took to the streets of San Francisco's Mission District to administer ashes to those in the neighborhood. She speaks, preaches and leads workshops around the country, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the New Yorker and on National Public Radio. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] itel Mobile, the hi-tech innovative brand from Transsion Holdings Conglomerate, has announced the launch of its latest feature phone, Smartpower it5612 at Rs 1700. Equipped with several innovative features such as a Super LED Torch, OTG support, King Voice, a 0.3 MP Rear Camera with flash, and a 2500 mAh, the latest product from itel will be the perfect fit for the rural consumers with its focus on quality, camera and long battery life. The Smartpower it5612 from itel comes with a 2.4 inch QVGA display and is housed in a compact, sturdy frame available in white-champagne and black-champagne. The multilingual phone supports four major languages including Hindi, English, Punjabi, and Gujarati, and comes equipped with BIG 2535 Speaker for high-quality audio performance. With a super-long battery life, the Smartpower it5612 can stay without charging for long and can even help in charging other phones with its OTG support, acting as a powerbank. The phone also supports expandable memory up to 32 GB using a t-card. "We are working towards the philosophy to empower people with localised product and hence give them the Right to Progress. With its innovative and value-driven features, we are confident that the launch of Smartpower it5612 will delight aspiring mobile phone owners in the country," CEO, Itel Mobile India, Sudhir Kumar said. With Edge connectivity and Bluetooth 3.0, the phone gives rural users a chance to stay connected to their contacts through social apps such as Facebook and Palmchat. With itel's service proposition of 100-day replacement guarantee, a unique offering in the Indian mobile industry, and a 12-month warranty, the it5612 is designed to address the quality and support requirements of rural consumers, and is available at a value-plus price point of INR 1,700. Over all this is a fully loaded handset which packs in the best of all things targeted at the true discerning feature-phone consumer. itel's focus on enabling value-plus connectivity solutions has led to its immense growth and consumer adoption, allowing it to sell over 5 million handsets since its India launch earlier this year. As a result, the brand has secured the 6th position in the feature phone category and has captured 2% market share in less than a quarter, according to the recent CMR report. (ANI) The online video advertising industry has been growing enormously due to increasing number of people watching online videos. Hence, these markets are gateways for brands to gain foothold to a larger target audience. With the expanded outreach Adomantra will cater to its partner agencies and brands in a highly effective manner in the key markets. The company expects to generate revenue USD 1 million in this quarter, as the response in the first month is encouraging. "Online video has been growing exponentially across the UK and globally, as internet users experience higher bandwidth, more compelling content and multiplicity of network choices. The video consumer behaviour has helped in penetration of online video advertising along with high click through and ROI," Founder and CEO, Adomantra, Vikas Katoch said "If brands, advertising agencies and publishers want to take full advantage of the rising markets, they will need the help of newest innovative technologies for optimal visibility and impact of ads. Adomantra with Adomatric technology, which is its propriety algorithm, ensures maximum ad visibility to the right target audience,"he added. Serving more than 10 billion ad impressions, Adomantra has helped automobile, FMCG, telecom and handset manufacturing sectors build long-term relationships with appropriate media partners globally. Adomantra brings to the table strategies based on the changing behaviour of internet users and potential of digital platforms. With innovative technologies in programmatic advertising, business analytics and intelligence tools, Adomantra ensures maximum video ad visibility to brands and advertisers. Adomantra is a new age online video advertising solutions company which enables brands and publishers connect with billions of internet users all over the world.(ANI) The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitender Singh, told the media that the fund formed part of a special package. He said 21,000 apple growers would benefit from the package. --IANS aks-sk/sm/mr ( 65 Words) 2016-10-27-16:40:54 (IANS) The agreements cover a range of international transactions, including sale of finished goods, purchase of raw materials, software development services, IT enabled services, exports and interest payment. The agreements pertain to different industrial sectors like manufacturing, IT services, etc. The agreements provide certainty to the taxpayers for 5 years with regard to the covered international transactions. With today's signing, the total number of APAs signed so far has reached 108. These include four bilateral APAs and 104 unilateral APAs since 2013-14.Of these, 44 APAs have been concluded in seven months of the current Financial Year itself. The APA Scheme was introduced in the Income-tax Act in 2012 and the Rollback provisions were introduced in 2014. The Scheme endeavors to provide certainty to taxpayers in the domain of transfer pricing by specifying the methods of pricing and determining the arm's length price of international transactions in advance for a maximum period of five future years. Further, the taxpayer has the option to roll-back the APA for four preceding years. Since its inception, the APA scheme has attracted tremendous interest among Multi National Enterprises (MNEs) and more than 700 applications (both unilateral and bilateral) have been filed in just four years. (ANI) Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan has joined the debate on the inclusion of Pakistani talent in Indian projects, saying that while music has no boundaries, it is time to stand with the Indian armed forces and respect the patriotic spirit. "I'm the first musician who visited Pakistan after 25 years of cultural silence at the time when Mr. Natwar Singh was the Ambassador and Mani Shankar Aiyar was the Consul General in Karachi. I received a lot of love and appreciation from music lovers of Pakistan. "I met many artistes who came to my concert, including Roshan Ara Begum and Farida Khanum. This was back in 1981. Though I believe that music has no boundaries, it's time to show solidarity towards our jawans and armed forces who are sacrificing their lives so that we can be safe." The 70-year-old musician, who became a part of Vision concerts in Mumbai and Delhi to mark the start of a new phase in the global campaign to eradicate cataract blindness, feels "today, terrorism and destructive activities are at their peak". Despite all the negativity around the world, he hopes for a brighter future. "There are certain countries that ruin the future of their younger generation by injecting hatred among them. A group of people is committed and dedicated to destroy the world. Today, the human being has become the symbol of arrogance, hatred and destruction," he said, adding he hoped and prayed that the younger generation "experiences peace, harmony and tranquility in the world". In general, Khan, who has performed internationally for over four decades, is happy to see the progress of young artistes. "They are very fortunate to get access to so much content today through YouTube. However, to be a professional, you must learn from a teacher," said the father of sarod players Amaan and Ayaan. Technology might have opened up many doors for young artistes, but Khan is concerned that the "future children of this world should not behave or look like robots". Talking about his association with the Vision concerts, held as a part of an India-US musical collaboration that brings together leading international musicians, he said: "It is an irresistible model for what is possible when different musical cultures and genres come together with a purpose." The target of the concerts -- presented by HelpMeSee and Music For Life International (MFLI) -- was to create 50 free surgical backlog-free districts in India's backward areas by 2020. George Mathew, a US-based music conductor and MFLI Artistic Director, and American violinist Elmira Darvarova, were also a part of the concert. (Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in) --IANS sug/rb/vm/ky ( 455 Words) 2016-10-27-12:10:04 (IANS) Looking lovely in white, the 34-year old actress had a blast at the show while answering the host's questions about Indians, as she will be visiting India soon for a shoot. The 41-year old comedianne asked our Desi Girl, if she knew English when she first came to America at the age of 12, to which she affirmatively stated that about 10 percent Indians can fluently speak English which accounts for 1.3 million of the population, more than most countries. 'Quantico's Alex Parrish took to her social media to thank Chelsea for having her over. She wrote, "You are so much fun @chelseashow. Thank you for having me. Can't wait for you to experience India...you're going to love it. Big hug!" Reportedly, the pretty lady will next be seen in another US talk show 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' on November 2. On the work front, Priyanka who now is busy shooting the second season of her American TV series, will be seen in Dwayne Johnson's 'Baywatch' next year, alongside Zac Efron and others. (ANI) In an interview on 'The Breakfast Club', the 66-year-old Grammy winner, wearing a 'first female prez' custom jacket, stopped by to offer a special treat to Clinton, reports E! Online. To get the icon to sing, the hosts jokingly offered him 40 dollars, but Wonder told them to keep their money and launched into his 1980 track, 'Happy Birthday' while Clinton was all smiles as she applauded the star. Besides Wonder, the former senator is openly supported by numbers of other celebrities including Katy Perry, John Legend, Amy Schumer, Adele, Meryl Streep, Lady Gaga, George Clooney, Salma Hayek and many others. (ANI) Another school building was gutted under mysterious circumstances in the Kashmir valley, where so far about 20 government educational institutions were torched during the past three months of unrest. Meanwhile, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq has strongly condemned torching of schools by unidentified persons and urged people to be cautious of these elements who are bent upon defaming "freedom" movement. Official sources told UNI that fire broke out in Government Primary School at Tapper Pattan in north Kashmir district of Baramulla in the wee hours of today. The building suffered partial damage as locals and fire fighting engines joined the fire fighting operation, they said, adding that the cause of fire was being ascertained. Police have registered a case and initiated proceedings as the school remained closed for the past three months. About 20 government school buildings have been gutted under mysterious circumstances despite the students staying away in response to separatist strike call since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag. As many as 18 school buildings have been gutted in fire incidents in the Valley since the eruption of protests. Normal life remained paralysed for 111th day today in view of the unrest that has left 86 civilians dead and over 10,000 others injured in Kashmir, where government has announced to conduct 10th and 12th grade examinations though students are demanding its postponement in the wake of non-functioning of all educational institutes following unrest since July 9. The injured included some students who have lost both their eyes or one after being hit by pellets fired by security forces and police. Students alleged that they have not even completed 50 per cent of the syllabus and are not ready for examination. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had already announced that there will be more choice in terms of questions in the examinations. Meanwhile, strongly condemning the burning of school buildings in the Valley, state Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar had also stressed the need to tread the road of dialogue which is the only way forward. Mr Naeem said the damage to schools is not just burning of an institution but a colossal loss for the entire society, adding that during the last few months, Kashmir has gone through a bad phase which has given pain to everybody. "The biggest casualty has been the loss of human lives which is irreparable. We cannot bring them back but we can save our future generation," Mr Naeem said, adding, "We will never forget the people who died. For the good of all we have to proceed constructively and dialogue is the only way forward." Expressing serious concern over the setting ablaze of school buildings by unidentified persons, the Mirwaiz said some people having vested interest are trying to malign the movement in the Kashmir valley. He strongly condemned and expressed his concern over the incidents. He said time and again mischievous attempts are being made to malign the movement and to dishearten the people. The Mirwaiz urged the people to be cautious and vigilant of these elements who are bent upon defaming their movement. UNI BAS SB ADG 1058 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-996662.Xml Three Indian fishermen were arrested and their boat impounded by the Sri Lankan navy near Rameswaram for allegedly possessing two kilograms of heroin. The Sri Lankan navy is questioning the arrested Indian fishermen in this connection. Earlier, on October 24, the Marine Police of Coastal Security Group (CSG) arrested three Sri Lankan fishermen, along with their fibre glass fishing boat, in connection with poaching in Indian waters.(ANI) Group of Ministers (GoM) agreed for allocation of 200 acres of land to Amrita university, 11 acres to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and 28 acres to Central Public Works Department. The meeting of the GoM to look into the issues of allocation of land to various institutions in APCRDA region, was held under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister, Y Ramakrishnudu last night. The proposals of Amrita university, BRS Medi City Health care & Research Ltd, Brahma Kumaris Society, AP Non Resident Telugu Society, Reserve bank of India, Central Public works department, Basavatarakam cancer hospital were reviewed. Earlier the government allocated land of 200 acres to Vellore Institute of Technology, 150 acres of land to Indo-UK Institute of Health, 50 acres to National Institute of Design, 25 acres to AP Human Resource Development Institute, 25 acres to TTD Temple and 5 acres to Central Institute of tool Design. The Finance Minister said that proposals of SRM University, BRS Medi City Health care & Research Ltd, Brahma Kumaris Society, AP Non Resident Telugu Society, Basavatarakam cancer hospital and GITAM university were still under process for allocation of land. These allotments are made to kick start the economic development and creation of jobs in Amaravati city.UNI DP CS 1215 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-996790.Xml South African finance minister Pravin Gordhan declined today to respond to a question on whether he was confident of the support from his party, the ruling African National Congress (ANC)."I'm not going to answer that," he told guests at a breakfast meeting hosted by media outlet Fin24.Gordhan is facing charges that, while running the tax agency, he fraudulently approved early retirement for a deputy commissioner and re-hired him as a consultant, costing the tax agency about 1.1 million rand ($79,000).REUTERS JW RAI1225 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-996797.Xml Under this tie-up, the company will manufacture Bajaj Genuine Oil in their manufacturing facility and distribute these lubricants in Bajaj Auto's dealer network as well as tap into the bazaar market through Gulf's dealer network and in rural areas, GOLIL said in a filing to Bombay Stock Exchange. "Bajaj evokes inspiration across generations. Bajaj Genuine Oil, with its long drain interval of 10,000 km, is yet another addition to the range of products with differentiated value propositions," Ravi Chawla, Managing Director, Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited said in a statement. "This association, our first OEM tie-up in the two-wheeler segment, will help us grow further in the Motorcycle Oil segment where we have a strong presence in the "Bazaar" and also provide a platform to increase the reach of the Bajaj Genuine Oil in the markets," he added. These lubricants are available in two variants, 10W-30 (for bikes up to 100 cc) and 20W-50 (for bikes above 100 cc). Gulf Oil is among the fastest growing brands in the Indian lubricants industry with presence in a large base of retail counters and independent workshops. UNI ASH SB ADG 1129 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0388-996708.Xml So far, six civilians have been injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the R.S. Pura sector today. Pakistani Rangers also started unprovoked shelling on Indian posts and civilian areas in the Arnia area of R.S. Pura around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Heavy shelling was also reported from the Ramgarh area of adjoining Samba sector. The BSF has been retaliating and giving a befitting reply. A heavy exchange of gunfire between border forces of both countries is still continuing in Sai, Treva, Bidipur, Joda, Arnia, SM Pur and Chanliyal areas of the state. Border resident have been asked not to venture out of their homes and take all precautionary measures. Some have been shifted to safer places. Multiple ceasefire violations have been reported along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan, however, remains in denial about the cross-border firings. (ANI) Major General Anuj Mathur, officiating General Officer Commanding - Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa areas - led all the officers of the Military Station in Colaba to lay wreaths. It was on October 27 and 70 years ago that the first and finest team of Indian infantry landed in Srinagar and defended Jammu and Kashmir from falling into Pakistani hands. That day, an Infantry Company of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Jammu and Kashmir from invading tribals supported by the Pakistan Army. The action was ordered by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru after the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession, acceding the state to India. The infantry has remained at the forefront in the entire spectrum of activities since then, from maintaining vigil along the border to combating insurgency. Besides, they help fellow citizens during natural calamities or help restore peace in foreign countries as part of UN peacekeeping missions. --IANS qn/ss/mr ( 202 Words) 2016-10-27-12:44:07 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee has said India and New Zealand can be partners in promoting security, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond, adding that the two countries can work together in areas such as maritime security, ensuring freedom of navigation and in countering terrorism. Welcoming New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday, President Mukherjee said there exists a strong desire among the people of the two countries to improve relations. President Mukherjee said India values its relationship with New Zealand and the sustained momentum of high level contacts reaffirms the growing strength and dynamism of bilateral engagement between the two nations. "India and New Zealand share a unique bond based on shared values and synergies, being two multicultural, vibrant democracies that believe in and respect the rule of law," said the President. "New Zealand could be a key partner in India's quest for food security. Bilateral trade in goods and services has nearly doubled in the last eight years. Currently, total trade in goods and services in 2015 amounted to US$ 1.45 billion," the President noted. Reciprocating the President's sentiments, Prime Minister Key said, "His Government would like to grow and strengthen bilateral relations. There is a strong and growing Indian community in New Zealand, while the high level contacts between the two countries provide the foundation stone for a better understanding of each other's perceptions." He thanked President Mukherjee for his visit to New Zealand earlier this year, saying India's economic growth provides many opportunities. Prime Minister Key, accompanied by his wife Bronagh and a high level business and education delegation, arrived here on Tuesday for a three-day-long state visit. His arrival was delayed by a day after the aircraft carrying him and 80 other passengers broke down in Townsville. (ANI) A relatively small temple tucked away near the India-Pakistan border is considered the protector of the region. The Tanotmata Temple is 153 kilometers from Jaisalmer and falls within the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF). Getting here is a challenge, especially, when the International Border (IB) with Pakistan is on high alert. From Jodhpur, you have to drive a five hours to Jaisalmer because this tourist destination is not connected by air. A swanky airport constructed four years ago lies unused for security reasons. Another two hours drive from Jaisalmer on narrow roads through uninhabited sand dunes and you reach the Tanotmata Temple. A desultory shopkeeper sells scarves for ten rupees outside the temple. "Ise mandir kay andar baandh deejiye aur mannat maangiye. Mannat poori honay par rumaal kholnay aayiga." (Tie this scarf inside the temple and make a wish. Once your wish is fulfilled, come back to untie the scarf). In my mind, I am wondering, should I just make a wild wild wish so that I don't need to make this arduous journey again? We trudge into the temple to clanging of bells and drumbeats. It doesn't sound like regular prayers and those singing the bhajans are singing in gusto that I haven't seen in any temple. The prayers are the same but the energy and the tune is different. You could march to the beat. Since the 1965 war, when Pakistan shelled this area, the temple management is with the Border Security Force and, they conduct prayers here with very high energy and spirit. There are unexploded Pakistani shells kept in grimy show-windows with black and white photos of India-Pakistan wars. It is said that Pakistan dropped 3000 shells on this temple in 1965, but not even one exploded. The locals and even soldiers of the BSF believe that the Mother Goddess Tanotmata protects this region and will not allow the enemy to go further inland if it dares to cross the border. The legend was further reinforced in the Battle of Longewala in 1971. Pakistani tanks entered Indian Territory and for four days they tried to go past the sand dunes but got stuck. Over 200 Pakistanis were killed and the rest ran back to save their lives. It was a foolish military strategy of attacking India on a second front without knowing the terrain or having tactical support. "The defence of East Pakistan lies in the West" was the military strategy of Pakistan's defence that failed in 1965 and again in 1971. Pakistan moved 65 tanks on night of 3rd December 1971 in a mission called 'Operation Changez Khan'. The Indian Army had not prepared the minefield to counter the attack. The 23rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment led by Major K S Chandpuri gave a tough fight, even though, they were outnumbered. In the film "Border" in which Sunny Deol played the role of Major K S Chandpuri, there are these famous lines he utters, "Woh kehte hai subah ka khana Jaiselmer mein karange dopahar ka khana Jodhpur mein karenge or raat ka khana Delhi mein karenge. Lekin aaj hum unka naashta karenge" (they, ie Pakistanis, say they will have breakfast in Jaisalmer, lunch in Jodhpur and dinner in Delhi. Today, we shall have them for breakfast). At the small war museum in the Longewala battlefield there are no pictures of the battle. Yes, nobody asked for proof those days. There are pictures of the area after the battle and a captured Pakistani tank. It has got a fresh coat of paint. Those who come here, climb on top of it and get their pictures clicked. Though, the small hamlets in this area are predominantly Muslim, they believe that Tanotmata prevented a Pakistani invasion in 1965 and 1971 and she will do that even now if the Pakistani Rangers or the Pakistan Army dare cross the IB. At the border outpost, some women BSF soldiers smartly guard the fenced up area. They don't allow us to take pictures, but they guide us helpfully to the camp located a few miles away. There is a recreational area for women soldiers, a volleball court and very basic living quarters. They have satellite TV but no time to watch. I asked the senior most officer there (who did not wish to be quoted) if he sensed war clouds on the horizon. He replied, "Maybe in your TV studios, on the border here in Rajasthan, we haven't seen any activity. But we are alert. We know what is happening north of this area." There is little or no contact with locals. For miles and miles on either side of the border, there is no habitation. Just the hot Thar Desert and the eagle eyed Indian soldiers. The Pakistanis don't patrol their side. Nobody is trying to infiltrate into Pakistan, you see. On our way back from the International Border, we stop by the temple again. It seems the BSF soldiers smear the sand near the temple on their foreheads, praying for the safe journey ahead. Tanotmata keep my country safe is the prayer here. (ANI) What is seen as score-leveling bid by Congress after losing to BJP its stalwart leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi in Uttar Pradesh, the grand old party has succeeded in making the loss good by drawing into its fold two Jatheavy-wieghts of Rajasthan--former Union Minister Subhash Maharia and ex-MPDr Hari Singh. "The duo are joining the Congress formally at the AICC here today and a formalannouncement about their induction in the party will be made later this afternoon", a senior party functionary told UNI here. Congress state President Sachin Pilot and Leader of Opposition in the stateassembly Rameshwar Dudi have brought the two leaders to the national capitalhere. Three time Lok Sabha MP Mr Maharia has been Member in the the Atal BihariVajpayee led Government had also held organisational posts in the BJP for long.He was disillusioned with the saffron outfit since 2014 Lok Sabha polls followingdenial of party ticket from Sikar. Dr Hari Singh, a renowned surgeon, and a former MP from Sikar had quit his government job in the SMS Medical College of Jaipur to join politics in 1977 asmember of the Janta Dal and later got elected to the Rajasthan state assembly. During his long political career he had changed parties and remained in the BJP and Congress too. He had served as Minister both in the then BJP andthe Congress led Governments.UNI SS-AR -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-996983.Xml Kanubhai Ramdas Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, whose stay in an old age home in Delhi had shocked the nation earlier this year, is struggling for life in a private hospital here. He had suffered a heart and brain stroke five days ago and the right half of his body is fully paralysed. Kanubhai and his wife Shiva Laxmi now have been living in a temple premise of the Punjabi Samaj here since July this year. His care-taker Rakesh Patel today said that Kanubhai was continuously on life support system in the ICU of Shivjyoti Hospital near Ram Chowk. "He had suffered a heart attack and brain stroke. He is on ventilator with no signs of improvement," Mr Patel said. Notably 87 year old Kanubhai is the little boy pulling the Mahatma's lathi in the legendary picture of the father of the nation during a beachwalk seen in many galleries and Ashrams of Gandhiji across the world. He is one of the three children of the Mahatma's third son Ramdas Gandhi. Kanubhai and his wife Shiva Laxmi Ganddi, 85, have no children. They returned to India in 2014, after spending more than four decades in the US, and since then lived in various ashrams in Gujarat before moving to Delhi in May this year. He and his wife were brought here by the local Punjabi Samaj in Mid-July from Delhi. An abode for the old couple has been created in the Saint Niwas segment of the Radhakrishna Temple in Parle Point locality of the city. Kanubhai was around 17 when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948. After that the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and US Ambassador John Kenneth Galbraith sent him to Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study applied mathematics. For a long time, Kanubhai and his wife lived in Hampton, Virginia where he worked at the NASA Langley Research Centre. He also worked for the US Government's defence department and used to do research on aircraft wing structures for the fighter planes. His wife, a PhD in biochemistry, first taught in Boston and later left the job to do research at the Boston Biomedical Research Institute. Now the local Punjabi Samaj in Surat has vowed to serve them for the remaining part of their lives.UNI XC RAJ SNU 1519 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-997124.Xml Australia's High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu has met Goa Minister for Tourism Dilip Parulekar and held dialogues on boosting tourism ties between Australia and Goa. According to a press release from the Department of Tourism here, the meeting was held earlier this week where Ms Sidhu shared her pleasant experiences while visiting Goa and discussed issues on how footfalls from Down Under to Goa could be enhanced. The Consul General of Australia Tony Huber and Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Managing Director Nikhil Desai were also present in the meeting. Mr Parulekar and Ms Sidhu discussed various aspects of enhancing tourism ties between Australia and Goa. Ms Sidhu also complimented Goa Tourism for working on a Tourism Master Plan and Policy which would help Goa become an attractive tourism destination. UNI AKM NV SM SNU 1450 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-996990.Xml The suspended included Mahadeva Swamy, Depot Manager,Shivaprasad, Accounts Supervisor, Shrikanth, Clerk, cash departmentand two security personnel Mahesh and Santhosh who were present onthe day of theft in the depot. The cash was stolen from the vault though the key was with the supervisors.UNI BSP MSP CS -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0287-997045.Xml Surya, a young male Asiatic lion, will be the new partner for Renitha as the Zoo here has drawn up an ambitious captive breedingprogramme of Asiatic lions with these two big cats. Asiatic lion is an endangered species, surviving only in Girforest in Gujarat. Sakkarbaug Zoo is famous for breeding them andlater releasing them into the Gir forest. Mysuru Zoo Executive Director K Kamala said that "everything isin place and we are awaiting clearances from the Central ZooAuthority (CZA) on our deal with Rajkot Zoo. We may get the lion in November." She said that the Rajkot Zoo had agreed to spare the male lion inreturn for a few birds that are in our collection. Renitha, the lioness from Sakkarbaug zoo in Junagadh whichsuccessfully breeds Asiatic lions in captivity, was brought hereunder an animal exchange programme a few months ago. In return,Mysuru Zoo gave a pair of black swans, two Indian grey wolves, and apair of sun conure birds. Prior to this exchange, Mysuru Zoo received a pair of lions fromSakkarbaug Zoo five years ago. The lioness, Gowri, suffered a healthproblem and did not recover despite constant treatment. Gowridelivered a cub, which died sometime later. Gowri is now taken offpublic display and housed inside the hospital. Mysuru Zoo had Asiatic lions in 1989 but they could not breed.Rakshitha and Darshan, both of whom were cross-bred, are the twoother lions housed at the Zoo. Only a few Zoos in the Country haveAsiatic lion, and Mysuru Zoo is one among them.UNI BSP MSP CS 1457 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0287-997074.Xml This would augment the Karnataka government's efforts to positionBengaluru as one of the top startup ecosystems in the world. Branded 'candorHUB', the state-of-the-art incubation ecosystem,will nurture startups in bringing their innovations to marketefficiently; providing them with an array of startup advisory,business support, co-working space, structured training programs inaddition to extending much needed linkages with industry sponsors,mentors, investors, and accelerators, a company statement said. candorHUB will invite startup entrepreneurs to apply forincubation program. It would shortlist promising startups andincubate them on a case to case basis and engage a suitable mentorto nurture each startup.UNI RS CS 1530 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0287-997117.Xml The Allahabad High Court had earlier on Wednesday declared the Noida DND route as toll free. The flyover connects Delhi on the west bank of the Yamuna with Noida and East Delhi. A division bench comprising Justices Arun Tandon and Sunita Agarwal passed the order while allowing a public interest litigation filed by the Federation of Noida Residents' Welfare Association. The PIL, which was filed in 2012, had challenged the "levy and collection of toll in the name of user fee by the Noida Toll Bridge Company". Commuters travelling from Delhi to Noida and East Delhi have heaved a sigh of relief over not being told to pay Rs. 56 to and fro (Rs.28 each way) every day to facilitate a smooth entry and exit in the Delhi-NCR region. The Allahabad High Court pronounced its order on a PIL filed by the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations (FONRWA). Earlier in August, the protesters had demanded that the Rs. 28 toll be scrapped, alleging that the the Noida Toll Bridge Company had already made profits but were still charging the public. The expressway, which opened in 2001, considerably reduces the travel time between Delhi and Noida. Commuters, however, often face huge traffic jams. An average of 1.5 lakh vehicles take the route daily. (ANI) Mukherjee, along with officers and staff, paid floral tributes in front of a portrait of Narayanan in the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan here, an official release said. Narayanan, the tenth President of the country, was in office from 1997 to 2002. He died here in 2005. --IANS sk/ss/dg ( 79 Words) 2016-10-27-15:56:19 (IANS) A crackdown by security agencies against stone-pelters and trouble makers in the Kashmir Valley has forced youths to flee to the winter capital here to escape arrests initiated on a large-scale to end a more than three-month-long Kashmir unrest triggered by the death of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces. However, a mysterious blast that rocked the city during midnight on Wednesday has forced security agencies to tighten vigil across the 'City of Temples'. ''To escape arrests, youths, particularly those, who are involved in stone-pelting and violence in Kashmir unrest, have started shifting towards Jammu to spend a period of hibernation,'' a source in an intelligence agency here told UNI. He said that with the fleeing of youths from the Kashmir valley, no doubt, tension is apprehended here too but the security agencies have been told to remain alert and maintain vigil around . ''There are inputs that some of the youths fled from the Valley and shifted to Jammu or may be to the neighbouring states also included the 'wanted' in the list of the security forces,'' he added. ''Situation is being monitored as with Darbar move and winters in the Kashmir Valley, a section of people migrate to Jammu but this time, the shifting from the Valley will be in large numbers due to Kashmir turmoil and 'hartals' observed as per the calendar issued by the separatists,'' sources asserted. Sources said that as per data available, over 5,000 people have been arrested in the past three months in the Valley, which is the biggest crackdown so far following the protests on Burhan Wani's death. The Lashkar-e-Toiba's threat to police officers after 44 people were arrested for terror-related activities shows the massive impact of the state government's biggest crackdown in the Valley in recent times. Police on the 104th day of the unrest have also arrested more than 100 people in different parts of Kashmir, sources said adding, ''at least four people are being arrested by the state police every hour''. Given the numbers and the intensity of the crackdown, many are calling it the biggest in the state's volatile history. Sources put the total number of arrests in the state anywhere between 5,000-7,000 in the past three months. A mysterious blast which rocked this winter capital, damaging nearly five vehicles, has also put security agencies on alert as explosive was used in the blast following which a suspect was also detained. ''Blast is an alarm in view of Kashmir unrest and it should not be taken lightly,'' they said. An alert has already been sounded here against the backdrop of surgical strikes by Indian soldiers on terrorist launching pads across the Line of Control and escalated tension between India and Pakistan.UNI VBH RP1638 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-997315.Xml The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has claimed that there has been an unprecedented growth in the number of RSS shakhas across the country following it replaced its traditional uniform. According to RSS functionary, more and more youths are getting attracted to the organisation and as on date as many as 1500 shakhas were added to the organisation following the change in uniform. Interestingly, a 90 percent of the RSS volunteers are young. There were 50,432 shakhas of the RSS all over the country as stated in the meeting of its national executive held at Ranchi last year. But the number increased to 52,102 as informed in the RSS meeting in Bhagyanagar, Telangana. Within one year, their number increased by 1,670. The decision to change its uniform had been taken at annual meeting of RSS Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the highest decision-making body of RSS, at Nagaur in March. Though the RSS may deny it the fact is that the RSS went for the change in its dress primarily to attract youths who shy away from wearing shorts. One of RSS local leaders said khaki shorts made way for trousers following a long pondering on suggestions made to this effect by its cadre and the change is in sync with time. There are 7027 shakhas, which are exclusively attended by college going youths, they added.UNI PK NV SW SNU 1626 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-997265.Xml As Assam tea faces competition from other similar beverages, it is time for it to reinvent, brand and develop niche products to retain its market-share, British Deputy High Commissioner, Kolkata, Bruce Bucknell said here today. On his first visit to Assam since assuming office at Kolkata three months back, Mr Bucknell, an avid tea drinker by own admission, said the tea industry, in general, has to focus on keeping its market intact as other similar beverages compete for consumers. He said, "Tea remains one of the main businesses of Assam. The tea business itself is very competitive. There is increasing competition from other types of beverages. It has to go for branding and developing niche products to retain its market." Mr Bucknell cited the example of Scottish whisky, which faced competition from vodka in the 1970s and 80s and had to develop exclusive niche products, like single malt whisky, to retain its market share. On overall economic prospects of North East, Mr Bucknell pointed to the geographical proximity of North Eastern region to the emerging markets of Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh, among others. He harped on the need to improve connectivity and reopen old trade links to facilitate greater commercial interaction. He, however, admitted that it is difficult to get attention to issues from the eastern and northeastern part of India as the focus is more on other corners of the country. Mr Bucknell said, "I have to struggle to get attention for East and North East. All tend to look to other parts more." He, however, added that there have been some changes lately due to a combination of factors, like, point of saturation at the other places, increasing industrial pace in these parts and 'cloud technology' contributing to bringing places together. "Earlier, IT investments were more in places like Bangalore as these had the infrastructure. Cloud technology opens a lot of opportunities for any place with a good internet connectivity," Mr Bucknell added. UNI SG SJC RSA SNU 1624 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-997233.Xml Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh on Thursday said he is scared about the threats coming from expelled party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, as the latter has his roots in the one-time dacoit-infested region of Chambal and has used both a carbine and a pen. Singh told ANI that he hasn't called Ram Gopal Yadav 'impotent', and added that one should show audio or video as proof that he did. "Ram Gopal is intelligent and strong. He is intelligent, that's why I was forced to leave the party. He said earlier too that he got me sacked from the party and will do the same in the future. He is very powerful as well because he started his career in politics from Chambal. When there was a danger on Charan Singh, Ram Gopal Yadav used to carry a carbine to protect him. He is a person who has used the carbine as well as the pen. I have two young daughters, and right now, I am scared after Ram Gopal Yadav's threatening statement," Singh added. Ram Gopal Yadav had on Tuesday said, "People will teach these leaders a lesson. The party leaders are being misguided." He also took a jibe at Amar Singh and said-"Even in economics this happens, khota sikka ne asli sikke ko market se bahaar kar diya". (Bad money drived out good money from the market) Ram Gopal Yadav had on Monday dared party leaders Shivpal Singh and Amar Singh to speak against him and come out unscathed. (ANI) Talking to news persons, Prof. Landy who assumed office as the Director of FIP here today said that hitherto he was working as a Professor in Paris Univesity. Prof.Landy said the British Library is extending a financial assistance of Rs.35 lakh for the research in temples and palace. He said, the works of the FIP is widely acclaimed throughout India and added that this is one among the 27 institutions enjoying French financial assistance. He said the institute is having details about social science, finance, Agriculture, voters, urban problems, environment, forest, western ghats collected in the 19th century. Further,UNESCO had recognized as anicient memorial symbol, the palm leaf manuscripts on the historical research, Sanskrit, Tamil language among others collected at the institute. He said the institute is having photograph collections and library, including the photographs of ancient idols which helped a lot in the idol smuggling investigations.The idols smuggled into America and Australia were retrived with the help of the institute, he added.UNI PAB CS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-997495.Xml Addressing a massive meeting at L.B. Nagar, which was organised in connection with Congress party's signature campaign seeking payment of Fee Reimbursement dues, Mr Shabbir Ali pointed out the Chief Minister was acting against the students' community since he came to power. Accusing him of playing with the lives of over 14 lakh students, he condemned the Chief Minister for not releasing the Fee Reimbursement dues for the last three years. He said it appears that Mr Rao was pursuing some hidden agenda against the students of Telangana State. The former Minister reminded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had conceded the demand for Telangana in view of students' agitation and to prevent further suicides by students' community. However, he said the same students have been pushed to streets by the TRS Government. He said it was highly condemnable that the students who brought Telangana are now protesting on streets seeking clearance of Fee Reimbursement dues. He said that the entire education sector was in doldrums due to the wrong and anti-student policies of TRS Government. "Everyone thought that new State of Telangana would bring pens and books into the hands of students. However, the TRS Government forced them to hold placards in protest. Instead of spending time in their classrooms, they are on streets demanding clearance of Fee Reimbursement dues," he said.UNI KNR CS 1743 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-997551.Xml Vajra Corps General Officer Commanding (GOC) Lt Gen B S Sahrawat laid wreath at 'Vajra Shaurya Sthal' and paid homage to the fallen heroes, an official statement said here. Apart from the serving officers of the station, Infantry veterans of Jalandhar station were also present on the occasion. October 27 is celebrated as Infantry Day by the Indian Army as it was on this day in 1947, that an Infantry Company of the First Battalion The Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Kashmir from the invading tribals who were supported by Pakistan Army. At the Golden Arrow Division, the wreath was laid by GOC Maj Gen Vijay Pingale and other officers paid homage to the martyrs at the Infantry War Memorial. It was followed by unit level Barakhana for all ranks. Pine Division GOC Maj Gen Rajesh Chaba also laid a wreath at the 'Pine War Memorial.' The ceremony was also graced by all seniors veterans, serving officers and Jawans of the station. Wreath was also laid at Panther Division at the Panther Inspirational Park by its GOC. Wreath laying ceremonies were also organised at Dera Baba Nanak War Memorial and Batala War Memorial which were attended by all serving ranks and veterans. Infantry, also popularly known as the 'Queen of the Battle' is the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army.UNI DB SW 1812 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-997575.Xml After dismissing six employees, the Haryana government has suspended 53 more employees of National Health Mission (NHM) from service for leading the striking employees and have been charged with instigating other employees and preventing them from performing their duties thus creating problems for patients. The government has also imposed section 144 of CrPC within a radius of one kilometer of hospitals to keep striking employees away from hospitals. Health Minister Anil Vij today said those dismissed included three from Bhiwani district, four of Faridabad district, two each from Hisar and Karnal districts, six each from Sonipat and Palwal, three from Rewari, nine each from Gurugram and Sirsa, five from Panchkula, four from Jind. They were also creating hindrances for those employees who wanted to perform their duties. Earlier, the government had also dismissed such six employee leaders. Mr Vij said that orders have been issued to all Civil Surgeons to engage new drivers in place of the drives of Referral Transport, who went on strike, so that patients do not suffer. He said that NHM employees also admit that their services could not be regularised yet, therefore they were agitating. He said during his regime former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had appointed his workers in NHM by setting aside all rules. Now these employees were instigating and forcing others to go on strike. The Minister said the present government was well wisher of its employees and he himself has taken initiative for providing age relaxation of five years and eight points for maximum eight years experience. Even after that they are insisting to go on strike. He said adequate arrangements have been made in hospitals so that patients do not suffer. Mr Vij said today a number of striking employees had decided to return to work in many districts. However, similar action would be taken against those who would go on strike, he added.UNI DB SW 1811 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-997616.Xml The accused Wilsan Oeochukwu, 28, came to India on an education visa and was earlier staying in Vasant Kunj area of New Delhi. He was staying in a paying guest (PG) accommodation in DLF phase 3 area of Gurgaon for the last two months from where he was arrested. Oeochukwu hails from Nigeria's Benin city, police said. Police officer Surender Singh told IANS, "Oeochukwu was arrested from a PG in U block during a routine search operation. His visa expired in 2004 and he was staying illegally since then." The accused was on Thursday produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Gagandeep Mittal and was sent to jail under judicial custody for 14 days following the court order. --IANS pradeep/ask/bg ( 151 Words) 2016-10-27-18:10:05 (IANS) They took Rs 40-50,000 each time they passed on information about Indian military camps to the ISI agent posted in the Pakistan High Commission. The going was good -- until Delhi Police busted the ring, arresting a Pakistani diplomat and two Indians. Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, now in custody, and Sohaib Nagaur, on the run, formed a well-knit group that was on the payroll of Mehmood Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the Pakistani High Commission. The job of the Indians was to secure information and documents related to deployment of the army and Border Security Force (BSF) along the Rajasthan and Gujarat border. On Thursday, their luck ran out. When Maulana, who worked in a madrassa, and Jangir were set to meet the Inter-Services Intelligence agent outside the gate of the Delhi Zoo, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police netted them. In the process, officials here believe they may have averted a possible terror attack in Rajasthan and Gujarat on the likes of the one which took place at the IAF base in Pathankot in Punjab in January this year. According to informed sources, it was in mid-April that the Intelligence Bureau alerted Delhi Police about the spy ring. The Intelligence Bureau had been tracking for months the Pakistani diplomat, who used to make contact with Indians from the visa section. All three Indians linked to the Pakistani diplomat were from Rajasthan. "They were given Rs. 40-50,000 every time for sharing documents having secret information of border areas," Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police, told IANS. "If they provided more valuable information, they got extra money." It is not clear as of now how much money had changed hands. After his arrest on Wednesday morning, Akhtar first claimed he was an Indian and flashed an Aadhar Card issued in the name of Mehboob Rajput, said to be a resident of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. But once he was put under sustained interrogation, he cracked. Akhtar has been on deputation to the ISI since January 2013. He is a Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army and a native of Kahuta village in district Rawalpindi. He was posted in the Pakistan High Commission for about two-and-a-half-years. On Thursday, India declared him person non grata and told him to leave India by Friday. Pakistan predictably protested the decision, claiming he was innocent. Official sources say more arrests are likely in the case. The police seized several military related maps, deployment charts of border areas, details of serving and retired BSF personnel as well as visa related documents from the arrested persons. The sources said that Maulana used to try to recruit poor people coming to the madrassa by promising them money if they worked for him. There is also a fear that they may have honey-trapped some middle-ranking BSF officers in the border areas. (Rajnish Singh and Sanjeev Pal can be contacted at rajnish.s @ians.in and sanjeev.p@ians.in) --IANS rak-sp/mr/sar ( 510 Words) 2016-10-27-18:16:03 (IANS) A high-level delegation will accompany the President. This will be the first visit of a President of India to Nepal in 18 years. During the visit, President Mukherjee will hold talks with his Nepalese counterpart and have meetings with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and other leaders on a wide array of issues of mutual interests. The state visit reflects the priority that India attaches to further strengthening its age-old, unique partnership with Nepal and shared historical and cultural linkages and wide-ranging people to people contacts. Apart from official engagements in Kathmandu, President Mukherjee will also visit Janakpur and Pokhara. (ANI) The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for signing and ratification of an agreement between India and Estonia on the transfer of sentenced persons. Briefing reporters about the Cabinet decisions, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who addressed the media briefing along with Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of State in the PMO Jitender Singh, said signing the agreement will facilitate the Indian men imprisoned in Estonia or vice-versa to be near to their families, for serving the remaining part of their sentence and will facilitate their social rehabilitation. Prior to 2004, there was no domestic Legislation under which foreign prisoners could be transferred to the country of their origin to serve the remaining part of their sentence, nor was there a provision for the transfer of prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court to serve their sentence in India. The transfer of such prisoners to their own native countries will facilitate their social rehabilitation. Hence, the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 was enacted for serving the above purpose. For achieving the objectives of the Act, a Treaty/Agreement is required to be signed with countries having mutual interest with India and later to the notified in the Official Gazette. The government has so far signed bilateral Agreements on Transfer of Sentenced Persons with United Kingdom, Mauritius, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Brazil, Israel, Bosnia & Herzegovina, UAE, Italy, Turkey, Maldives, Thailand, Russian Federation, Kuwait, Vietnam, Australia, Hong Kong, Qatar, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Bahrain. So far total 65 prisoners have been exchanged, out of which 55 were Indians.UNI NY RSA SNU 1818 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0099-997619.Xml Sri Lankan Navy arrested three Indian nationals on the alleged charges of smuggling two kilograms of Heroin to the Island nation, today. Official sources said the arrested persons hailed from Thangatchimadam coastal hamlet near Rameswaram. The identity of the incarcerated persons was being ascertained. The Sri Lankan Navy in its official website claimed that its personnel attached to SLNS Barana located in Mullikulam in North Western Naval Command apprehended the Indian nationals while smuggling two kilograms of Heroin in a traditional fishing boat, while conducting a special operation in Lankan territorial waters. The arrested Indians, narcotic substance along with the boat were produced before the Colombo Police Narcotics Bureau Officials for onward investigation. UNI GSM CS 1846 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-997744.Xml The government today approved an agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit between India and Bhutan. The decision was taken by the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The bilateral trade relations between India and Bhutan are governed by the agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit between the Government of India and Bhutan. The agreement provides for a free trade regime between two countries, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement. The agreement also provides for duty free transit of Bhutanese merchandise for trade with third countries. The agreement was renewed on July 29, 2006 for a period of ten years. Its validity was extended with effect from 29th July 2016, for a period of one year or till the new agreement comes into force, through exchange of Diplomatic notes. UNI ASH SNU 1809 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0388-997619.Xml Paying rich tributes to martyrs, the Army celebrated its 69th Infantry Day with traditional solemnity today, as on this day in 1947 first column of Infantry landed in Srinagar. Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs on this occasion by Chinar Corps at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar and in other parts of Kashmir, a defence ministry spokesperson Colonel Rajdesh Kalia said. While this day celebrates the valour and sacrifice of the Infantry soldier and inspires the entire nation, it also holds a special significance for the Chinar Corps and the state of J&K as it was on October 27, 1947 that the first column of Infantry landed in the state. Actually, the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar, to save Kashmir from the Pak abetted tribal raiders, he said. The decision to induct the Indian Army in to the J&K state was taken immediately after the signing of "Treaty of Accession" on October 26, 1947. The delay imposed on the Pak marauders by the J&K State Forces led by Brig Rajinder Singh whose martyrdom day is celebrated on October 26, proved crucial as it gave time to the Army to organise its defences and prevent the invaders from taking over Srinagar. In subsequent actions the Pak invaders were repulsed from Kashmir thus thwarting Pakistan's nefarious designs and since the entire campaign was predominantly Infantry-centric, its commencement on October 27,1947 is commemorated as the 'Infantry Day'. Regarded as the "Queen of the Battle", the Infantry is the largest fighting Arm of the Indian Army and its units are being regularly modernised to meet all contemporary and emerging security challenges. Paying homage to the sacrifice of valiant soldiers, Lt Gen Satish Dua, Chinar Corps Commander said that real tribute to these martyrs would be to remain committed to the cause for which they had laid down their lives. He said it was also a day for the Chinar Corps to rededicate itself to the well being of the people of Kashmir. GOC of Baramulla Division, Maj Gen JS Nain joined the people in offering floral tributes at the statue of 'Son of the Soil', Late Mohd Maqbool Sherwani whose sacrifice is a source of inspiration for all. Wreaths were also laid at the 'Sikh War Memorial' in Baramulla.UNI ABS SHS SNU 1842 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-997653.Xml Kerala Forest and Animal Husbandary Minister K Raju today told the State Assembly that the presence of avian flu (H5 N8) has been confirmed in ducks in five places in Kuttanad by the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal. Replying to a submission in this regard, the Minister said the H5N8 is not fatal and will not spread to human beings. Steps have been taken to cull the affected ducks in the region with the help of various government agencies, he added. He said steps also been taken to stop the movement of ducks to other places as part of restriction and further spread of virus. The situation is being monitored by 20 task force teams led by doctors. He said that farmers would be given adequate compensaton for the culled ducks. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the State would consider setting up of a hi-tech laboratory in Kerala to test avian diseases in the wake of frequent outbreaking of avian influenza in the State.UNI DS CS 1910 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0324-997806.Xml The Gujarat government today announced that UAE and Denmark would be 'partner countries' to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017. The government also shared that the UK India Business Council will be extending its support as a 'partner organisation'.The 10 partner countries to Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 comprise the United States of America, United Kingdom, UAE, Poland, The Netherlands, Japan, France, Denmark, Canada and Australia. Further, the United Kingdom India Business Council will be the fourth 'partner organization' at the summit. Other partner organizations include Australia India Business Council, Japan External Trade Organizations and the US India Business Council. Speaking on the announcement, Rajkumar Beniwal, Managing Director, iNDEXTb said, "UAE and Denmark, both are important countries for Gujarat. We are extremely delighted to have them as our 'partner countries'. UKIBC will be participating at Vibrant Gujarat as a partner organisation, they will be the fourth 'partner organization' to participate at the event. I thank them for their support and look forward to welcoming all our guests in January."A delegation led by Dr Ahmed Albanna, Ambassador, UAE visited Gujarat in July followed by a visit by the Indian delegation representing the Government of Gujarat delegation to UAE, early September. The delegation was led by Mr S J Haider, IAS, Principal Secretary (Tourism & Civil Aviation), Industries & Mines Department, Government of Gujarat. The last edition of Vibrant Gujarat, hosted a business delegation led by Danish Trade and Development Minister Mogens Jensen along with other senior representatives from 18 Danish companies. The purpose of the business delegation was to promote Danish competencies in water, energy, food technology and urbanisation. UNI ADP RSA 1907 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0429-997664.Xml Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat today showed anguish over massive unauthorised construction in this hill sate and directed the state government to check such construction in the future. Town and Country Planning and Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma along with senior officers of the department held a detailed meeting with the Governor on HP Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2016 at the Raj Bhavan. Discussing on the Bill, the Governor advised that keeping in view the fact that Himachal Pradesh was sensitive for earthquakes, it should be ensured that there were no illegal constructions in future in the state. He also stressed for structural audit of those multi-storied buildings which were unsafe. He said that the orders passed by the Himachal Pradesh High Court from time to time regarding regularization of illegal constructions should be strictly adhered. Mr Sharma apprised the Governor that Town and Country Planning department was not flouting the orders of the High Court. He said the High Court had asked for bringing retention policy whereas the department had presented a Bill for regularizing deviations through the Bill, which would be applicable for one year only. He said this amendment had been brought only after proper perusal by the Law department of the state government on the orders of the Supreme Court on a similar Bill of the Tamil Nadu government and also according to the orders of the HP High Court. "Such buildings will not be regularized which are structurally unsafe or have been constructed on government or other land. The department will ensure proper structural audit of all the cases coming up for regularization for which the department has already started to register structural engineers and concerned agencies," said the Minister. He also assured the Governor that no illegal constructions would be allowed in future as the department had made provision for online application, online tracking and providing no objection certificates for water and electricity connections. The Governor assured that a decision would soon be made on the Bill.UNI ML SW 1956 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-997923.Xml Urging Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti not to divert attention from alleged atrocities and unrest in the Kashmir Valley, the main opposition National Conference (NC) today boycotted meeting on 'Smart City Challenge' here. The NC legislators boycotted the "smart city challenge" held by the Chief Minister at SK International Convention Complex (SKICC). The Chief Minister should not try to divert attention of the people from alleged atrocities, indiscriminate arrests and mass repression by such unproductive, diversionary tactics, NC legislators Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Shameema Firdous and Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar said after boycotting the meeting. The NC legislators said the Chief Minister should acknowledge the gravity of the situation in Kashmir and stop persecuting and repressing people while living in a fool's paradise thinking that such gimmicks will divert the focus from her utter and complete failure. "There is absolutely no clarity on the 'Smart City' prospects for Srinagar and seminars and presentations cannot absolve the PDP-BJP Government of their responsibility to actually deliver on their promises including the broken promise of getting both Srinagar and Jammu included in the Smart Cities list", the opposition legislators said in a joint statement. The NC legislators asked the Chief Minister to apologise to the people of the state for her insensitive remarks and insults while young boys and girls were losing their lives. They alleged that the Chief Minister had remained silent when Kashmir was robbed of an IIT and IIM and was similarly clueless about the 'Smart City' prospects for the city. "Mehbooba Mufti didn't utter a single word when Kashmir was deprived of vital educational institutions but wants to deflect responsibility through meaningless meetings and charades. Doesn't a smart city need vital education institutions," they added.UNI ABS DJK SNU 1916 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-997787.Xml The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the question of whether seeking votes on the basis of religion, caste, community or language of candidate alone constituted corrupt practice or it could include such acts of his election agent or third parties canvassing support for him. The seven-judge Constitution Bench hearing the matter is headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and includes Justices Madan B. Lokur, S.A. Bobde, Adarsh Kumar Goel, Uday Umesh Lalit, D.Y. Chandrachud and L. Nageswara Rao. "All that we wanted to know was that the appeal for votes in the name of religion means whose religion? Is it the religion of the candidates or the religion of (his/her) agent or the religion of the third party or religion of voters or all of them," the court said. In the course of the hearing that lasted for two weeks, the bench repeatedly made it clear that it was limiting its examination of the curbs imposed on the use of religion, caste, community and language under Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951 and was not venturing into defining of 'Hindutva'. Section 123(3) prohibits seeking votes by a candidate or his agent on ground(s) of his religion, race, caste, community or language or the use of, or appeal to religious symbols or the use of, or appeal to, national symbols. When the hearing commenced on October 18, the court said at the very outset that religion was a matter of personal faith and elections were secular and there could not be a mixing of the two. In the course of the hearing, the court observed that seeking votes in the name of religion was evil. As a senior counsel told the court on Thursday that he would like to argue if the Constitution Bench was going into the question of Hindutva, Chief Justice Thakur said: "Why are you referring to the Hindutva judgment. We are not examining that judgment. Let me make it clear that this has not been referred to us." The hearings that concluded on Thursday is rooted in a 1996 reference by a five-judge bench to the seven-judge Constitution Bench on the interpretation of Section 123(3). The court on Thursday also observed that under the Fundamental Rights bestowed by the Indian Constitution, there was freedom to practice and propagate one's religion but could it be used for electoral purposes. The court said religion could not intrude the "secularity of the electoral process". --IANS pk/tsb/dg ( 428 Words) 2016-10-27-21:16:04 (IANS) The Congress on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government of systematically discriminating against the armed forces, raising the purported change of armed forces officers' rank parity with respect to their civilian counterparts. "The Narendra Modi government has systematically discriminated against the armed forces," said Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala. The Defence Ministry had on October 18 issued a circular on rank equivalence between defence officers and civil service officers, which lowered the parity of the former. As the issue created a row, the ministry clarified on Thursday that there has been no change in the rank structure or the status of Armed Forces personnel with respect to their civilian counterparts and termed media reports in this regard as "erroneous". Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Tuesday assured that the ministry would check if ranks of armed forces personnel have changed vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts, and any discrepancies would be rectified in a week. However, Surjewala attacked Parrikar, charging him with "lying". "The Defence Minister is lying once again. How can he say that he does not know of this downgrade in ranks when the last line of the order says it has been done with the permission of the Defence Minister," he asked, also adding that "within hours of the cross-border surgical strikes, the government proceeded to reduce the soldiers' disability pension". "OROP (One Rank, One Pension) has been made to mean one rank many pensions. There are many anomalies in the Seventh Pay Commission which are not being addressed despite repeated requests from the retired officers. "The soldiers feel cheated," Surjewala said. --IANS mak/vd/dg ( 277 Words) 2016-10-27-22:10:07 (IANS) He inspected the lab facilities and equipment available to impart the training to Signal & Telecom staff. Later, Kashinath awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000 for the exemplary work done by STTC team in maintaining the institute. The new hostel block consists of nine rooms with capacity augmentation of 20 beds. With the addition of new block accommodation available at the STTC has increased to 108 members.UNI KNR SHS 2201 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-998103.Xml Against the backdrop of escalated tension and cross border firing on the borders, Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister today asked the health department to deploy adequate doctors in firing hit areas and said that the government has released Rs 15 lakh for those who have lost their cattle due to firing. ''Deploy adequate doctors with staff at all the government hospitals in the area and sufficient number of ambulances should be placed there to shift injured people to the hospitals without wasting time,'' Dr Singh said while chairing a meeting to review border situation here. He asked all the DCs and SSPs to remain vigilant round the clock and to ensure evacuation of people to safer places with adequate arrangements at established relief camps. The Deputy Chief Minister also informed that the government has released Rs 15 Lakh from the Chief Minister Relief Fund as a relief to the owners of cattle killed in border firing as per SDRF norms. ''Sufficient fund has also been released to provide treatment to the injured cattle,'' he added. Meanwhile Director Animal Husbandry department apprised the meeting that so far 162 cattle have been injured while many have been killed. He said that the necessary medical treatment is being provided to the injured cattle and additional staff including veterinary doctors and other staff have been put on alert in the area falling in danger zone and have been asked to provide best possible treatment to the injured cattle. Dr Singh directed the Animal Husbandry department to keep available the stock of necessary drugs for the treatment of cattle with them. However, IG BSF briefed the meeting about the prevailing situation on International Border and said that BSF is on high alert and retaliating to the provoked firing from across the border. While briefing about the role of CRPF in present scenario, IG said that adequate number of CRPF jawans have been deployed for patrol especially during night and on nakas on all vital points on National Highways. He further said that they are working in coordination with state police to ensure foolproof security. IGP Jammu informed the Deputy Chief Minister that police is constantly in touch with BSF and district administration so that the people of border areas can be evacuated to safer places in case of exigency. He said that all SSPs and other senior officers have been instructed to visit border areas regularly to meet people and help them to shift to the safer places keeping in mind present tense situation on border. He also apprised the meeting that adequate number of police force has been deployed at nakas on national highways and on all border roads linked to it to keep close check on vehicles coming from neighbouring state. Dr Singh also reviewed status of construction work of community bunkers under pilot project in border villages and it was decided that issue of construction of individual household bunkers will be taken up with the centre government. Dr Singh asked the officers especially DCs and SSPs to put the administrative machinery on alert and remain vigilant round the clock keeping in mind present security scenario and upcoming festival of Diwali. He asked them to ensure evacuation of people to safer places and ensure basic amenities including medicare facilities, food, sanitation and other arrangements are put in place at the camps established. UNI VBH CJ SHS 2200 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-998138.Xml At least 26 people, most of them school children, have been killed in airstrikes by Syrian or Russian warplanes in a village in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province, rescue workers and a monitoring group have said. The Syrian civil defence rescue workers' network said on its Facebook account that a residential area and a school in Haas village were hit by raids on Wednesday. Syria's civil war pits President Bashar al-Assad - backed by Russia, Iran and Shia Muslim militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan - against an array of mostly Sunni Muslim rebel groups, including some backed by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the US, reports the Guardian. Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said: "It's horrible, I hope we were not involved. It's the easiest thing for me to say no, but I'm a responsible person, so I need to see what my ministry of defence is going to say." Idlib holds the largest populated area controlled by rebels - both nationalist groups under the banner of the Free Syrian Army and Islamist ones including the former al-Qaida affiliate Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. According to the civil defence network, which operates in rebel-held areas in the country, 20 children had died in Wednesday's attacks. Visuals of the site showed buildings were reduced to rubble, including what appeared to be a school with upturned desks and chairs covered in dust. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, has said that several locations in Haas were struck by the warplanes including an elementary and middle school, killing at least one teacher as well as children, though it gave a lower toll of 15 children killed. (ANI) A Venezuelan policeman died after being shot during an opposition protest, the Socialist government's Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said, adding there were two other officers injured.Clashes during yesterday's anti-government march also injured over 120 people, opposition leader Henrique Capriles said earlier.REUTERS VS 0613 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0440-996621.Xml The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court today began a final hearing to determine whether Australia must resettle hundreds of asylum seekers held for years in an Australian-funded detention centre on a PNG island.Australia has vowed the asylum seekers will never set foot in the country, after being intercepted by its navy sailing from Indonesia and shipped to Manus island detention centre.Resettling the detainees in Australia would be a political nightmare for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, as the tough offshore detention policy has won past elections and has bipartisan political support.Many of the asylum seekers have spent three years in the centre, which the Supreme Court ruled in April was unconstitutional and must close.For men like Abdul Aziz, 24, who fled his home in Sudan amid a bloody civil war, the court case has stirred hopes of finally leaving the centre he has called home for 38 months."I'm optimistic that after the court case, I will be sent back to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed," Aziz told Reuters by telephone."We sought asylum from Australia, not PNG."A group of 302 asylum seekers have applied to the court to be resettled in Australia or a third country.If the court grants the judgment, it would order the PNG and Australian governments to transfer detainees to Australia within 30 days. Those that do not wish to go to Australia, the governments must transfer to a third country.A ruling in favour of the 302 detainees would set a precedent for all 823 detainees, asylum seekers predominately from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan."The earlier (court) decision applied considerable political pressure already and Australia is no doubt negotiating with PNG (for a solution)," said Amy Maguire, senior lecturer in international law at the University of Newcastle.The Australia government has said it is working with PNG to find a permanent home for the men.Under Australia's laws, asylum seekers intercepted trying to reach the country by boat are sent for processing in detention centres on Manus island and the South Pacific island nation of Nauru.The United Nations and human rights groups have condemned the policy, citing human rights abuses in the centres.Australia says its border security policy is aimed at saving lives. Aziz twice attempted to make it to Australia. On his first attempt after leaving Indonesia, five of his friends died when their boat sank.REUTERS JW PR1145 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-996769.Xml Kurdish peshmerga fighter Germad Yihya stood on a small berm overlooking a village where he said Islamic State militants had been defeated. A line of trees 500 metres away from his position illustrated how he can't afford to be complacent.A day earlier, a suicide bomber had rushed out of the thick green vegetation and killed five of his comrades after Kurdish forces had fought for 10 days to gain the upper hand in Fadiliya, where 1,000 people remain trapped, surrounded by roadside bombs.Iraqi and Kurdish forces have cleared more than 30 villages like Fadiliya during their offensive to drive Islamic State from its main Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, in what is expected to be the biggest battle in Iraq for more than a decade.Clearing the hardline Sunni militants from areas where they once imposed a reign of terror is proving to be a slow and risky mission. Securing Mosul - with a population of 1.5 million - could take months in the event of victory.When Kurdish fighters first entered Fadiliya, they faced a barrage of suicide bombers screaming Allah hu Akbar (God is Greatest) while speeding towards them in cars, SUVs, motorcycles, and Humvees stolen from the Iraqi army."On the first day there were ten suicide bombers coming at us from all directions. All kinds of cars," said Yihya. "Fighting street to street. House to house. They fired at us with machine guns too."The jihadists were mostly in their 20s, Iraqis and also what Kurdish officials describe as the most ruthless and efficient Islamic State radicals - foreign fighters from places like Chechyna.RIGGED WITH EXPLOSIVESThe Kurds had to move cautiously through the village, a collection of drab cement structures set against a backdrop of mostly barren land about 4 km (2-1/2 miles) from Mosul.Like other such villages, it is rigged with explosives, forcing a slow advance by Kurdish and Iraqi forces."There are so many bombs planted that I now regard the ground as my enemy," said Yihya, with an uneasy smile.Along a narrow dirt road nearby, it's easy to see why.As thick dust stirred up by vehicles settled, nine small, red flags became visible beside the roadway, indicating Kurdish forces believe improvised explosive devices were planted there.Just outside the village, military engineers worked meticulously to clear roadside explosives to give civilians safe passage. Bomb disposal experts blew up two devices in about an hour.Kurdish fighters say Islamic State fighters are hiding in an elaborate tunnel system beneath Fadiliya, like the network militants have built in nearby Mosul.Flushing them out will be dangerous, and will take time.For now, a small group of peshmerga fighters are content to pass the time on a dirt berm, occasionally raising their AK-47 assault rifles. Sandbags are attached to their pickup truck, scant protection against suicide bombers.Swara Omar talked tough as he stood with his back to the trees from where the suicide bomber emerged to carry out the attack that killed five of his comrades."Daesh is weak," he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. "They are not as effective as before."But his optimism was tinged with the realization that perils still await these Kurdish warriors, who were routed during an Islamic State advance in the north in 2014 but slowly regained territory after the United States helped with air strikes."We will go in again when we get the order. There are many IEDs. It's full of IEDs," he said, as a Kurdish flag fluttered over a building in the village behind him.Kurdish special forces are stationed further away from the village at a checkpoint with watch towers. They are not taking any chances either.When a man who had come from one of the villages presented himself to them, an officer carefully inspected his cell phone, reviewing a few numbers stored in his contacts list.In the distance, the bomb squad detonated more explosives. Shooting could also be heard, a foretaste of the task ahead. REUTERS JW RAI1335 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-996916.Xml Her statement indicates that Kashmir is unlikely to be on the agenda during her bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she visits India early next month - her first overseas bilateral visit outside Europe. The issue was raised in the House of Commons by Yasmin Qureshi, Pakistan-born Labour MP, who sought to know whether the Kashmir issue would be part Prime Minister May's discussions during her visit to India. During her visit to India, Prime Minister May will be accompanied by a business delegation comprising small and medium enterprises from across the U.K. (ANI) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said today his country could join naval exercises with Japan, but repeated there would be no more war games with long-time ally the United States and again gave vent to his anger against Washington.Duterte also said he had explained to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in talks on Wednesday just why he resented the United States, reiterating that Washington treated the Philippines like "dogs on a leash" and lectured about human rights in connection with his domestic campaign against drugs.The Philippine leader's visit to Japan coincides with jitters about his foreign policy after weeks of verbal attacks on the United States, including threats to end military agreements, and overtures towards China.Duterte last week announced in China his "separation" from the United States, but then insisted ties were not being severed and that he was merely pursuing an independent foreign policy."Joint exercise with Japan in general terms is not a problem. Stationing of Japanese troops was not discussed and with the Americans, it's problematic," Duterte told reporters one day after saying he wanted foreign troops out of his country "maybe in the next two years"."I don't want to embarrass my defence secretary but the exercises with the Americans will be the last," he said.Duterte, on the final day of a three-day visit to Japan, made the comments after watching Japan Coast Guard activities in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo.Duterte's recent comments pose a headache for Abe, who has tightened ties with Washington while building closer security relations with Manila and other Southeast Asian countries as a counter-weight to a rising China, which has maritime feuds with several countries in the region including Japan.In their Wednesday talks, Duterte and Abe agreed on the importance of settling maritime disputes peacefully.Duterte said he had explained to Abe why he was angry with the United States."I had told the prime minister some of my sentiments against the Americans. They are treating us like dogs on a leash," he said. "The prime minister understands that."Also today, Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez told Reuters his country was still a good place for foreign investment and that the Philippines would welcome investment from the United States though it was particularly interested in trade agreements with Asian neighbours.A scheduled call by Duterte on Japanese Emperor Akihito, 82, was cancelled following the death on Thursday of Akihito's 100-year-old uncle, Prince Mikasa. REUTERS PS NS1504 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-997115.Xml Pakistan on Thursday condemned India's declaring Pakistan's High Commission Staff member as Persona Non Grata (PNG) and stated the action is a violation of the Vienna Convention signed in 1961. The Pakistan Government alleged that Indian government lifted the staff member 'on false and unsubstantiated charges' and rejected and condemn the detention and manhandling the diplomatic official. "We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which is indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere," said a statement issued by Nafees Zakaria, spokesperson, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). The spokesperson also stated that the act reflected India's actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of the Pakistan High Commission. Early today, Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit denied the accusations of espionage levelled by the Indian Government, saying Islamabad never indulges in activities that are incompatible with its diplomatic status. According to sources, Basit strongly protested with Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar over the detention and manhandling of the staffer and said that it is a clear violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention. The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police on Thursday confirmed the arrest of two people of Pakistan origin who are residents of Rajasthan and the expected deportation of a Pakistan high commission staffer for "espionage activities", for possessing and passing on classified defence-related documents to Pakistan. Crime Branch Joint Commissioner, Ravindra Yadav told media here that the documents recovered from the high commission staffer included defence deployment maps, details of BSF staff and other visa-related documents. The Delhi Police officer said they were apprehended at the Delhi Zoo on October 25 when they were meeting to exchange the documents and were tracking their activities for six months. High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India. Last year, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested. (ANI) Malaysian Prime Minster Najib Razak heads to China next week to build closer ties and seek investment, which may further dent US aims in Southeast Asia after a push by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines to bolster China ties.Najib is travelling to China with dozens of government leaders and business people. In statement today, he said Malaysia was committed to strengthening friendship with China and pushing ties to "new highs"."We will be signing many new agreements and understandings that will elevate the relationship between our two nations to even greater heights," the prime minister said.The October 31-November 6 visit comes days after Duterte's Beijing trip, where he declared a "separation" with old ally the United States and said he had "realigned" with China.Both Malaysia and the Philippines are in dispute with China over rival claims in the South China Sea but Duterte has softened the Philippine position in his push to build China ties and China could ease the dispute with Malaysia by offering economic benefits, an analyst said."If it wields its cheque-book diplomacy shrewdly, it may either tie Malaysia's hand on its dispute over the South China Sea, or even split ASEAN further on the South China Sea," said Yang Razali Kassim, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), of Nanyang Technology University in Singapore.The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which both the Philippines and Malaysia belong to, has struggled in recent years to present a united front to China on the South China Sea. Vietnam and Brunei are also ASEAN members and also have South China Sea claims."There are implications should Najib move to get deeper into Beijing's embrace," said Yang Razali.Najib is eyeing more Chinese investment in infrastructure and manufacturing. Defence deals may also be discussed.China's increased assertiveness in the South China Sea has heightened US-China tension, with the two trading accusations of militarising the waterway through which some 5 trillion dollars in trade passes each year.Last week, a US navy ship undertook the fourth of what the United States calls freedom-of-navigation operations in the past year, to challenge what it sees as overreaching maritime claims by China in the South China Sea.The United States has seen the Philippines as an important ally in its "rebalance" to Asia in the face of a rising China but Duterte's threats to cut US ties while making overtures towards China has raised questions over the US strategy.CHINESE INVESTMENTTies between Malaysia and China reached a new peak in December when China came to Najib's rescue with a 2.3 billion dollars deal to buy assets of scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), helping ease Najib's concern over the firm's mounting debt.China has since been pumping more funds into Malaysia.For the first three months of 2016, Chinese investment in Malaysia's manufacturing sector reached 1.5 billion ringgit (356 million dollars), making it the largest foreign investor in its manufacturing.Chinese firms have also secured major deals in Malaysia, including a 7.3 billion dollars port deal in the city of Malacca last month. China is widely expected to win a contract to build a high speed railway.Malaysia's China push comes amid strained US ties after the US Department of Justice filed lawsuits linked to a money-laundering investigation at 1MDB, the advisory board of which Najib chaired until recently.Najib dismissed foreign interference in Malaysia's affairs and questioned why the United States publicised the issue."The lawsuits were a strategic mistake by the US ... China will look at this situation with glee," said a person familiar with the matter but not authorised to speak to the media.Ian Storey, senior fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute think-tank said there would not be a Duterte-style about-turn in Malaysia's foreign relations under Najib.But the 1MDB case "might temporarily nudge Malaysia closer to Beijing and introduce a bit of turbulence in its relations with Washington".REUTERS PS VP1532 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-997148.Xml A NATO mission in the Aegean sea to stem the flow of migrants towards Europe has fulfilled its target and is no longer necessary, Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said today.Speaking to the state broadcaster TRT in Brussels, Isik said Turkey has informed NATO about the need to complete the mission.Following last year's uncontrolled migrant flows to Europe, the worst such crisis since World War Two, NATO ships had begun patrolling in the Aegean Sea with the European Union's border agency Frontex and local coastguards. REUTERS PS NS1621 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-997329.Xml France's National Assembly today rejected the latest move to introduce an additional levy on palm oil, the widely used food and cosmetics ingredient that has been blamed for encouraging deforestation and posing health concerns.Green party lawmakers in the lower house of parliament failed to win support from government or main opposition parties for an amendment to the 2017 budget bill that would have applied an extra tax of 300 euros (328 dollars) per tonne in 2017, that would have risen progressively to 900 euros in 2020 and be further increased each year from 2021.Crude palm oil is quoted at between 700 dollars and 750 dollars a tonne on the European market. In France, the current tax on palm oil is 104 euros a tonne.French politicians have made several attempts to create a special levy on palm oil, currently among the least taxed vegetable oils in France. Some food manufacturers have removed the ingredient and labelled products as being palm oil-free.Palm oil is favoured by food and cosmetics manufacturers due to its relatively low cost and chemical properties - it is solid when cold - and top producing countries Indonesia and Malaysia have lobbied against possible tax increases in France.Such proposals were previously dubbed a "Nutella tax" in the French media because of the popular spread made by Italian group Ferrero that uses palm oil as one of its main ingredients.The French government has said it would propose by February a new scheme to harmonise taxes on vegetable oils and include an exemption for those that are sustainably produced.Ferrero says all of the palm oil it uses is certified as sustainable.REUTERS PS VP1646 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-997382.Xml According to a statement issued by the Nepal's PM's Secretariat, UAE Ambassador to Nepal Al Naqei handed over a formal letter of invitation to Dahal, reports the Himalyan Times. Assuring Nepal that it could take a great benefit from the summit, Ambassador Al Naqei also made it clear that the Nepal has been invited for the first time to the event. Prime Minister Dahal expressed his interest to attend the programme. Bilateral relationships and mutual interests between Nepal and the UAE were also discussed between the two. Ambassador Al Naqei was requested by Prime Minister Dahal to provide blanket amnesty to Amar Bam of Darchula district who is on death row in the UAE for the last eleven years. Bam has been languishing in the Al Abira Central Jail in Dubai as he was accused of murdering an Indian national, Sharad Shetty in 2003. Mentioning the friendly relations between the two countries since long, Ambassador Al Naqei said he would be discussing the issue once he reaches the UAE. (ANI) The United Kingdom has deployed hundreds of troops to Eastern Europe as NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) continues to bolster its presence in the face of perceived Russian provocation. In the largest build up of troops in the region since the cold war, the UK has confirmed it will send RAF Typhoon jets to Romania for up to four months in 2017, reports CNN. British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon also confirmed that 800 personnel will be moved to Estonia. "Backed by a rising defense budget this deployment of air, land and sea forces shows that we will continue to play a leading role in NATO, supporting the defense and security of our allies from the north to the south of the alliance," said Fallon. The announcement comes a week after a Russian fleet, which was reportedly en-route to Syria, passed close to British waters. Tensions between Moscow and NATO have been increasing ever since Russia annexed the Crimea region in 2014. The tensions further exacerbated in recent months after Russia's role in the Syria conflict. On Wednesday, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said that recent tactics by Moscow had forced his organization to respond. "Russia has invested heavily in modern military equipment. They are conducting a large scale no notice exercises close to NATO borders, but perhaps most importantly Russia has been willing to use military force against neighbors," he said. In July, the UK confirmed it would deliver one of four battalions to NATO's enhanced forward presence in the Baltic States and Poland. UK Troops are expected to begin their deployment in Estonia in May 2017. The US and Canada were also preparing to send forces to Eastern Europe. United States President Barack Obama announced earlier this year that the US was deploying a "battle-ready" task-force of about 900 soldiers to Poland, as well as armour across Eastern Europe. The country was also preparing to send troops to Norway for the first time. Canada and Italy were reported to be sending troops to Latvia, while hundreds of German forces were said to be due to move to Lithuania. Belgium, Croatia and Luxembourg were also among the countries reported to be ready to commit forces. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance which constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party. (ANI) Talks in Switzerland between rival communities on ethnically-split Cyprus in November will offer clarity on whether a peace accord can be reached this year, a United Nations envoy said today. Estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders are engaged in peace talks on reuniting the island under a federal umbrella. The sides are scheduled to take their negotiations to Switzerland in early November to discuss territorial trade-offs defining boundaries between Greek Cypriots in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north. "It's ambitious, but I believe it is still possible," the United Nations special adviser for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, said of the deal. "The meeting in Switzerland will be significant because it will show with more clarity whether this aim (of a solution) will be possible within the timeframe," he was quoted by the semi-official Cyprus News Agency as saying, referring to the end of this year. The east Mediterranean island was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Its division is a source of tension between NATO allies Greece and Turkey and an obstacle to Turkish aspirations to join the European Union, in which Greek Cypriots represent Cyprus. Eide said progress in negotiations had been made, but there were still issues which needed to be settled including security and guarantees. The security issue relates to the presence of the Turkish army on the island, and the guarantees to a decades-old treaty allowing Turkey, Britain and Greece intervention rights over Cyprus. Greek Cypriots want the system abolished. Turkish Cypriots want a form of Turkish guarantees to remain.Switzerland has hosted a number of rounds of negotiations on Cyprus through the decades, the latest long-haul talks being held at the mountain resort of Burgenstock in March 2004. Those consultations finalised a reunification blueprint prepared by the United Nations which was eventually rejected in a referendum by Greek Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots accepted the plan.REUTERS PS BD1800 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-997615.Xml Pope Francis has accepted an invitation to visit South Sudan to preach peace in the country embroiled in inter-ethnic and political strife, religious leaders said after talks with the pontiff today. "He accepted the invitation and said that in principle he really wants to come," said Rev. Peter Gai Lual Marrow of the SoutH Sudan's Presbyterian Church. Marrow and Paulino Lukudu Loro, Catholic Archbishop of the capital, Juba, and Episcopalian Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak held talks with the pope, who had asked them to come to the Vatican to discuss the situation in their country. Oil-producing South Sudan, which became independent in 2011, descended into civil war in December 2013 when a dispute between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar ended with fighting, often occurring along ethnic lines. Both sides have targeted civilians, human rights groups say. A peace pact in 2015 ostensibly ended the fighting but has frequently been violated. Major clashes broke out again in July. The pope would also need an invitation from the government to visit the country. South Sudanese mostly follow Christian or traditional animist beliefs. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned this week that South Sudan is suffering a rise in hate speech and incitement to violence against certain ethnic groups which could result in mass atrocities if the government does not act. REUTERS PS BD1811 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-997647.Xml Usually feted ecstatically by Catholics across the world, Pope Francis may face a far more muted reception when he arrives next week in Sweden, one the world's most secular nations, with openly gay Lutheran bishops and special cemeteries for atheists. Add to that the fact that Francis will be there to take part in a joint Catholic-Lutheran service in Lund to mark the start of the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's anti-Catholic Reformation that led to a bloody schism in Europe. In the first papal visit to the country in nearly 30 years, Francis, who is seen as breathing freshness into traditional Catholic doctrine and reaching out to other religious communities, will also hold a public Mass in Malmo, a gateway for thousands of immigrants who have fled from Middle East wars over the last few years. While trips to the likes of the Philippines attract huge crowds, Francis's attempt at dialogue with Lutherans may go either unnoticed or criticised by Scandinavians whose views on sexuality and abortion are among the world's most liberal. "This is really the first time Francis will have spoken so directly to the secular West, and he will do so in the country that is considered the world's capital of irreligion," said Austen Ivereigh, a papal biographer and Catholic commentator. The visit could see Francis make a symbolic attempt to help unite Lutherans and Catholics, such as allowing non-Catholic partners in a Catholic-Lutheran marriage to receive Communion at Catholic Masses. But that could be lost on most Swedes. "It's easy to perceive this as a papal visit when it's not. It's about the meeting of Lutherans and Catholics," said Antje Jackelen, Lutheran archbishop of Uppsala and Sweden's first woman archbishop. Media coverage ahead of the visit - which starts on Monday - has been minimal, although the mass at a 26,500 seat capacity stadium in Malmo has been nearly sold out. IRRELIGIOUS Polls show Sweden, nominally Lutheran, is one of the world's most irreligious nations. In a WIN-Gallup survey last year, around eight in 10 Swedes said they were either "not religious" or "convinced atheists." Surveys show Swedes trust institutions like the tax agency more than the Lutheran Church. An atheist cemetery opened this year, where Swedes can be buried without religious symbols like the cross, star of David or Islamic crescent. David Thurfjell, professor of religion and history at Sodertorn University, said for many Swedes it may be easier to come out as gay than to come out as religious. "Swedes are just uneasy with the word," said Thurfjell. "You would just never call yourself religious." It is a trend seen across the Nordics. After making it possible to exit from membership on-line, Norway's Lutheran state Church saw 25,000 people exit in August, the biggest one-month drop in its history. Swedes still take part in Christian sacraments such as baptism and many still pay small voluntary tax contributions to the Lutheran Church of Sweden. Some also say that a wave of new immigrants - many Christians and Muslims who have fled war in the Middle East - is changing attitudes. Around 17 per cent of Swedes are now foreign-born. "It has been secularized for so long, that people start to get tired and sick of it," Sweden's only Catholic archbishop, Anders Arborelius, said. "The new situation with a massive immigration of people who are often more religious has also changed the mentality." Multi-culturalism has challenged Sweden's comfortable secular identity. This year Sweden faced controversy when former schools minister Aida Hadzialic, herself an immigrant, said religious schools that separate boys from girls should not be allowed. That backlash against any perception of religious interference may mark rancis's visit. "I hope they'll (Swedes) be opposed to the Middle Age dogma the papacy represents," former ABBA band member Bjorn Ulvaeus and member of Sweden's Humanist Association said in an email. "But, I fear, they'll be mostly indifferent." REUTERS SHS BD1928 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-997824.Xml The European Parliament awarded its Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought today to two Iraqi Yazidi women who were held as sex slaves by Islamic State militants and now campaign for human rights. Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar were among thousands of women and girls abducted, tortured and sexually abused by Islamic State fighters after the militants rounded up Yazidis in the village of Kocho, near Sinjar in northwest Iraq, in 2014. The Yazidi are a religious sect whose beliefs combine elements of several ancient Middle Eastern religions. Islamic State considers them devil-worshippers. "This is a very symbolic and significant decision to support these two survivors who came to Europe as refugees and found shelter in the European Union," European Parliament president Martin Schulz told a news conference after the announcement. He added the prize meant the parliament was now supporting them in their fight not only for dignity but to give testimony as witnesses to atrocities. The prize is 50,000 euros (54,595 dollars), with an award ceremony scheduled for December. Islamic State insurgents overran Sinjar in August 2014, systematically killing, capturing and enslaving thousands of Yazidi inhabitants Murad, now aged 23, was held by IS in Mosul but escaped her captors in November 2014, reached a refugee camp and eventually made her way to Germany. She has since become active as an advocate for the Yazidis, and refugee and women's rights in general, as well as campaigning against human trafficking. She has briefed the UN Security Council on the problem of human trafficking and last month launched Nadia's Initiative to help victims of genocide. She has called for the massacre of Yazidis to be recognised as genocide. Bashar, 18, was captured in the same raid as Murad and also kept as a sex slave by IS. She escaped in March but was badly disfigured and blinded in one eye when a landmine went off as she fled. Two companions were killed. She now lives in Germany, where she has undergone treatment for her wounds, and works as an advocate for the Yazidis. GENOCIDE Mass Yazidi graves have been uncovered in the area north of Sinjar mountain, which was taken from IS in December 2014. Kurdish forces retook Sinjar town in November 2014 in a two-day offensive backed by air strikes from a US-led coalition UN investigators said in a report in June that Islamic State is committing genocide against the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq to destroy the religious community of 400,000 people through killings, sexual slavery and other crimes. Such a designation, rare under international law, would mark the first recognised genocide carried out by non-state actors, rather than a state or paramilitaries acting on its behalf. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after the late Russian dissident and scientist Andrei Sakharov is awarded each year by the European Parliament. Set up in 1988, it honours individuals and organisations defending human rights and basic freedoms. Murad and Aji Bashar were selected by Schulz and political group leaders from a shortlist with two more political nominees. The others were Can Dundar, a leading Turkish journalist sentenced to six years in prison for publishing state secrets involving Ankara's Syria operation, and Mustafa Dzhemilev, a senior Crimean Tartar politician and human rights activist banned by Russia from entering the annexed Crimea peninsular. Last year, the prize went to Raif Badawi, a blogger from Saudi Arabia serving a prison sentence for insulting Islam.REUTERS SHS BD1926 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-997841.Xml A recruitment channel to terror groups active in trans-en-route from Central Asia to Russia has been thwarted by security services, Evgeny Sysoev, the executive committee director of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) grouping said today. "The security services of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan in 2015 have thwarted recruitment activities of international terror groups' emissaries operating in international trains-en-route to Russia from the above states via Kazakhstan," Sysoev said, addressing a security conference in Tashkent, RIA Novosti news agency reported. The SCO is a political, economic and military alliance that includes Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Pakistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Iran and Afghanistan hold observer status in the organization, while Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Armenia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka hold status of dialogue partners. Sysoyev said that the joint efforts of SCO member- countries in the suppression of international terrorist organizations have borne fruit. "This activity has been productive," he said. Last year alone, eight citizens of Uzbekistan involved in international terrorist organizations were detained in Russia thanks to the information provided by the Uzbek National Security Service. They were extradited to the home country and stood trial. Criminal charges were brought against another four members of international terrorist organizations, Sysoyev said. He said that the Federal Security Service, jointly with the Tajik law enforcement authorities, identified and detained 50 followers of various terrorist organizations. The activity of 20 Kyrgyz members of international terrorist organizations was stopped in collaboration with Kyrgyz partners.Joint measures taken by security agencies blocked access to over 500 websites and nearly 200,000 terrorist materials during 2015, he said.UNI XC PS SW 1915 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-997667.Xml - Gunmen who shot dead two security officers in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Dammam on Tuesday were connected to previous militant attacks in the region, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday."The results of investigations show a link between the targeting of the security officers in Dammam and other terrorist attacks in Qatif and Dammam," the ministry said on Twitter.The perpetrators had been trained abroad, it said.Two other policemen were shot dead in Dammam in September.Eastern Province is home to many Shi'ite Muslims, who form a minority in the conservative Sunni Muslim kingdom.Shi'ite militants angry at what they say is repression of their community have attacked security forces in the Eastern Province in the past.The Islamic State group, which controls territory in Syria and Iraq, has also claimed attacks on Saudi security forces as well as deadly bombings and shootings that target the kingdom's Shi'ites.Reuters CJ GC2144 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-998123.Xml The police on Thursday arrested around 100 workers of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as they gathered in Sector E-11 area to attend a youth convention ahead of the party's planned "lockdown" of the national capital on November 2. The convention was being held hours after Imran Khan said that he would go ahead with his plan of closing down the capital come what may and even said that he would challenge the orders passed by the Islamabad High Court, reports the News International. The Frontier Corps troops were also called in as situation seemed to deteriorate during police action against the PTI workers. PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi accused the police of manhandling female workers and vowed to continue the peaceful struggle and called upon Justice Shaukat Siddiqui to take notice of what he said violation of a court order by Islamabad administration. Reacting to this, ruling PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry said the gathering was in violation of Section-144, adding that the PTI leaders didn't bother to seek permission for the convention. Meanwhile, Pakistan People's Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari strongly condemned police baton-charge on the PTI workers in Islamabad. Earlier today, Section- 144 has also been imposed in capital Islamabad for two months by the capital administration, after the Islamabad High Court ordered the administration not to allow a shutdown of the city on November 2 during the PTI's proposed lockdown. The government authorities have been directed by the court to follow all legally available courses to stop the protest in any part of the capital other than the designated "Democracy Park and Speech Corner". Imran Khan has been demanding the government to order an inquiry into the Panama Papers leak disclosing offshore business interests of Pakistanis including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's children. (ANI) United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has asked the Security Council for help to resolve a stalemate between peacekeepers and the Democratic Republic of Congo government over what to do with hundreds of South Sudanese rebel fighters.In a letter to the 15-member council, seen by Reuters on Thursday, Ban said 755 South Sudanese rebels had crossed into Congo's Garamba National Park with opposition leader Riek Machar in August. They fled the South Sudanese capital Juba in July, after fighting erupted between Machar's forces and troops loyal to his rival, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir.U.N. peacekeepers in Congo extracted Machar, his wife, son and 10 others from Garamba at the request of the Congolese government in mid-August, Ban said.Since then the United Nations has been trying to broker an agreement between Congo and South Sudan on the repatriation of the fighters or their relocation to a third country until a political deal is in place in South Sudan, Ban said.On Oct. 3 the Congolese government told the United Nations peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, that it wanted the fighters to leave within a week, but the mission does not have the legal authority to expel the troops from Congo, Ban said."At the same time, there is no basis for MONUSCO to continue providing humanitarian assistance to them, as they are no longer in a life-threatening situation," he said, adding that the mission had told the Congolese government it could not longer take care of the South Sudanese fighters."I am, accordingly, bringing the matter to the attention of the Security Council in order that it might take such decisions or provide such guidance as it may deem appropriate," Ban said.In August and September, Ban said the peacekeeping mission in Congo removed 755 opposition fighters from Garamba "on lifesaving, humanitarian grounds." Eight of those died from injuries, malnutrition or ill health while in the mission's medical facilities, he added.The United Nations has been in contact with the African Union, East African regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the International Committee of the Red Cross to resolve the issue.The fighters have voluntarily handed over 134 weapons, which peacekeepers will dispose of, Ban said.Political rivalry between Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his former deputy Machar, a Nuer, led to civil war in 2013 that has often followed ethnic lines. The pair signed a shaky peace deal a year ago, but fighting has continued.South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. REUTErS CJ AS2251 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-998161.Xml Kurdish Peshmerga fighters guard the Bartella frontline, east of Mosul, Iraq, on Oct. 26, 2016. Iraqi security forces on Wednesday inched to the eastern fringes of the city of Mosul, and made progress on other routes around the city preparing for the major battle to storm the city and drive out the Islamic State (IS) militant group from its last major stronghold in Iraq, a security source said. (Xinhua/Khalid Davood) by Jamal Hashim BAGHDAD, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A strong and unified Iraq has become a crucial need as the Iraqi forces are pushing to surround the city of Mosul to evict the extremist Islamic State (IS) militant group from its last major stronghold. In the second week of a major offensive to retake Mosul, the troops' advance seems quicker than most observers had anticipated, and the troops become closer to the fringes of the country's second largest city. Like previous offensives that freed the cities of Tikrit, Ramadi, Fallujah and others from IS militants, the troops are moving gradually to encircle Mosul, some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, after clearing IS militants from towns and villages around it, before entering the city's populated districts. Federal forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters were moving forward in several routes around the city, but the militants were hitting back with shelling, sniper fire, roadside bombs, suicide car bombs and booby traps with the aim of slowing down the troops' advance. Thick plumes of black smoke rose into the air above Nineveh plains; mainly from oil fires set up by IS militants to make targets more difficult to recognize by the U.S.-led coalition and Iraq aircraft. "Attempts by the IS to slow the Iraqi forces shows the group's desperation, reinforcing the opinion that the group is completely on the defensive and is only trying to hold on," Major Abdullah al-Jubouri, an Iraqi army officer, told Xinhua. On Oct. 20, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi spoke by video link to diplomats meeting in Paris, saying that the Iraqi forces are "advancing faster than expected" in their offensive to recapture the areas around Mosul. On the other side, the IS militants increased large-scale attacks on big cities in Iraq in an attempt to divert the troops' advance to their stronghold in Mosul. The group waged several major attacks on Sinjar and Rutba, but the most notable one was on Kirkuk, when dozens of IS militants carried out multiple attacks on Friday on the city of Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Baghdad, and simultaneously on a nearby power plant in Debis area. The attacks on Kirkuk, which occurred just four days after the launch of Mosul offensive, resulted in the killing of more than a hundred of people, including 74 IS militants, according to a statement issued by Kirkuk's provincial security committee. "The attacks in Kirkuk apparently aimed at creating chaos and fear rather than seizing territories," Jubouri said, adding "It seems they thought the attacks would cut the number of Iraqi fighters who can be sent to Mosul." However, the IS militants appeared well-trained for urban combat, and they showed stubborn fighting when they continued sporadic clashes for two days after Friday, as the troops searched for unknown number of militants holed-up in some buildings and houses and possibly would attack again or flee the city. "Such fighters with combative spirit raise concern about the battle for Mosul, which could be long and bloody if they show stiff resistance," Jubouri concluded. Despite IS desperate attempts, Iraqi forces apparently are making significant progress on the ground around Mosul, including Nineveh Plain, which lies to the east and northeast of Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh. The troops have so far recaptured the towns of Hamdaniyah, also known as Bakhdida, Bartellah and Bashiqa in east and northeast of Mosul, as well as some 76 villages on the routes of the troops around the city. If the progress continue in the coming days, the battles on the fringes of Mosul probably could start in mid-November to drive out the IS militants from the urban areas of the city. Heavier resistance is anticipated by some 3,000 to 5,000 IS militants once the anti-IS forces enter populated neighborhoods located on the eastern side of the Tigris River that bisects the city. Laith al-Ani, a military expert, told Xinhua that it is widely believed that the security forces will try to enter the city from the eastern side of the river, which reports said the IS group has evacuated most of its fighters from its headquarters in the eastern side to the western side where the old city located. "Most of the neighborhoods in the eastern side, locally named left side, were built in the recent decades with separated houses and wide streets, that would be difficult for IS militants to defend, unlike the neighborhoods of the western side, or right side, where the old city located with its heavy populated old buildings and narrow alleys," Ani said. The battles in the eastern side of Mosul would mainly depend on suicide car bombs, roadside bombs and snipers attacks, which aimed at hindering the progress of the troops, while the fierce battles are expected to be on the western side. Mosul is the IS last major stronghold in Iraq, the group more likely is unwilling to surrender without a fight. Over the past two and a half years, they have dug an extensive network of tunnels to transport equipment and fighters, and rigged roads and bridges with bombs and digging trenches to be filled with burning oil to impede the Iraqi forces' movements. Then there is the human toll of an estimated over one million civilians who are still living in the city, and IS apparently to use them as human shield. Despite the difficulty of the task of liberating Mosul, success in such task would be great gift to Iraqis and the whole world, as defeating IS in Mosul would break the back of the terrorist group, demolishing its self-declared state of Islamic "caliphate" in Iraq. However, the U.S. strategy to defeat the IS in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh and its capital Mosul depends on a variety of allied local armed groups who are often bitterly at odds. All of them consider the IS group as an enemy, but also most of them consider one another as enemies. The army, Kurdish Peshmerga, Shiite paramilitary Hashd Shaabi units and Sunni tribal fighters are expected to struggle for control in the aftermath of the fighting. As part of his cooperation with the U.S.-led international coalition, Abadi who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi forces, managed to achieve the coalition's goal which requires that Iraqis fight as a single force under a unified leadership named Joint Operations Command. For the first time, the Iraqi elite Counter Terrorism Service troops deployed to the Kurdish frontline, marking the first joint military operation between the government of Baghdad and the semi-autonomous Kurdish Regional Government based in Arbil in the north of the country. Abadi also convinced the Hashd Shaabi units, including the powerful Iranian-backed Shiite militias, to act under the supervision of the Iraqi security forces and to avoid possible abuses to Sunni civilians. In his speech to the diplomats meeting in Paris, Abadi vowed to protect civilians fleeing the battleground and said the government "will not allow any violations of human rights." According to a plan agreed by the Iraqi factions, the Iraqi security forces are moving up to Mosul from the south; Kurds headed to the city from the east and northeast, but will stop on the fringes of Mosul itself, leaving the actual entrance to Iraqi counter terrorism special forces, which will be followed by Iraqi police and Sunni tribesmen, Ani said. However, bringing back peace to Mosul needs hard work, it is even more important than the necessary military action. The city once was home to a complex mosaic of tribes and ethnic groups, but with majority of Sunni Arabs. Hassan al-Dulaimi, a military expert, told Xinhua the unity of Iraqis through real national reconciliation efforts "is crucial in this stage, because it will help defeat Daesh (IS) and put foundations for peace in the post-IS era." The Iraqi government, the international coalition and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) will have the duty to pursue long-term engagement strategy with a greater focus on national reconciliation that could consolidate the peace and co-existence among Iraqi factions in Mosul and other parts of Iraq, according to Dulaimi. "This is not an imagination or wishes, because the Iraqi factions, regional countries and the international community have the interest to bring peace and dry up the resources of terrorism," Dulaimi concluded. On the other hand, the United Nations and aid agencies expected a human catastrophe with up to 1.5 million people could be displaced or in need for aid in Nineveh province when an offensive is launched to retake Mosul from IS militants. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in recent report that it is expecting 200,000 people to flee in the first few days of an attack to retake the city, but says the worst case scenario could be up to 700,000 people. Up to 1.5 million people in the city could be in need of aid. Civilians in Mosul could face multiple threats from cross-fire, sniper attacks, booby traps and explosive remnants of war. Responders fear that tens of thousands of Iraqi girls, boys, women and men may be forcibly expelled, trapped between conflict lines, held under siege or used as human shields, according to OCHA report. Currently, agencies on the ground have supplies for about 100,000 of the estimated 200,000 people who will initially need help. "It's a race against the clock now," said Lise Grande, the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Iraq. TAIPEI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Taiwan sailor who had been abducted and held hostage by Somali pirates for almost five years returned home Wednesday. Shen Jui-chang, the chief engineer of the Oman-flagged fishing vessel Naham 3, arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. Shen, who was in bad physical shape, dropped to his knees after alighting the airplane to express his wholehearted gratitude to those who had saved him. He said he will share his experience with the public once he is in better health. Shen, along with 25 others on board, which included nine from the Chinese mainland, were released Saturday after almost five years in captivity. A total of 29 men were snatched from the vessel when it was hijacked just south of the Seychelles in March 2012. Three of the captives, including one from the Chinese mainland and one from Taiwan, died after the hijacking. KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Wednesday that he will visit China later this week to strengthen bilateral ties and friendship. Recalling Malaysia establishing diplomatic ties with China in 1974, when his father Abdul Razak was the then prime minister, Najib said in a statement that China and Malaysia have a relationship based on mutual trust and respect. Najib said he was committed to achieving "new highs and entering into new areas of cooperation" with China. Najib did not elaborate on what he will discuss with Chinese leaders, but he said many new agreements and understandings will be signed. WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The recent dip of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the polls has sparked a new round of confrontation between the real estate mogul and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, as they wrangled over a group of issues such as Obamacare and poll performances. With the clock ticking toward Election Day, both candidates are focusing on a handful of key battleground states they hope will turn the tide. TRUMP TO SCRAP OBAMACARE ONCE ELECTED This week, both Clinton and Trump began their campaigns in swing states on the East Coast, such as Florida, Ohio, New Hampshire and Virginia. But insiders said both candidates would head west soon. As the two staged rallies Tuesday in the crucial battleground state Florida, the United States' third most populous state, Trump denounced the Obamacare overhaul, saying it is a "monster" that has robbed Americans of jobs and money. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicted a big increase in insurance costs in the 38 states with federally-managed health care exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), marking the largest jump in premiums for the program. In a bid to attract Florida's retiree voters, Trump announced to get rid of Obama's healthcare program, which he vowed to "repeal and replace" if he is elected. "Obamacare is just blowing up," the 70-year-old mogul said. "Job-killing Obamacare is just one more way that our system is rigged, believe me." "Obamacare has to be repealed and ... it has to be replaced with something much less expensive for the people, otherwise this country is in even bigger trouble than everybody thought," and Clinton "wants to keep it," he added. In response, Clinton's team said later that Trump wants to "rip up the ACA and reverse the progress we have made." Trump would "throw 20 million people off their coverage and let the insurance companies write the rules again," Clinton's campaign spokesperson Julie Wood said, adding "Hillary Clinton wants to build on the progress we've made and fix what's broken." The latest polls show that Clinton was more popular than Trump in Florida with a lead of 3.1 percentage points, and nationally by 5.4 points. BICKER OVER CLINTON'S LEAKED EMAILS "The criminal conduct of Hillary Clinton threatens the foundations of our democracy," Trump said in a Florida rally, in response to the crowd's chanting of "Lock her up!" Further taking aim at Clinton's Achilles' heel -- the leaked emails -- Trump also accused Obama of having known Clinton's use of a private email server, which he once denied and claimed he had just learned about from news reports. "In other words, they were saying he had to know Hillary was using an illegal server but he claimed otherwise," Trump said. "That means Obama is now into the act." Since Oct. 7, WikiLeaks has published on its website thousands of stolen emails from John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman. In one of Clinton's secret speech transcripts to Wall Street bankers, she implied that action was necessary to curb Wall Street "for political reasons," and she once contemplated the necessity of holding "both a public and a private position" on politically contentious issues. Earlier this month, U.S. intelligence agencies issued a joint statement claiming that Russia was behind the recent hacking of emails so as to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. Citing these conclusions, Clinton accused Russia of being behind data breaches at Democratic political organizations and "trying to interfere in our election." Last week, Clinton also charged that Russian President Vladimir Putin was backing Trump because "he'd rather have a puppet as president." "PHONY" POLLS Despite the increasingly unimpressive poll results, Trump on Monday rejected the "phony" polls from the "disgusting" media and asked supporters to join in the "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to dip the establishments in Washington. "I believe we're actually winning," Trump declared in Florida, accusing the media of using biased "phony" polls to discourage Republican supporters from voting. "The media isn't just against me. They're against all of you ... they're against what we represent," he said. A Gallup poll released before the third debate found that neither Clinton nor Trump is particularly well-liked. Only about half of those who view either candidate favorably say they have strongly favorable views. By contrast, most of those who have unfavorable views of the candidates say they are strongly unfavorable. "This reinforces the idea that for many voters, the 2016 election is a choice between 'the lesser of two evils,'" Gallup said. TOKYO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte held a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the prime minister's office Wednesday. Abe told a press conference after the meeting that the Philippines is an important partner of Japan and the two sides agree to improve bilateral ties to a higher level than before. He said that Japan will support infrastructure development in the Philippines, both in rural areas and in the cities. He also said that the Philippines will serve as ASEAN chair next year and Japan would provide its utmost support to the Philippines in this regard. Duterte, for his part, said that Japan is an important dialogue partner for ASEAN and the Philippines will cooperate closely with Japan on issues of common concerns. Duterte started a three-day visit to Japan from Tuesday. He is expected to meet with the Japanese emperor and empress on Thursday. GENEVA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Progress towards parity between men and women in terms of economic opportunity has slowed dramatically with the gap standing larger than at any point since 2008, warned the World Economic Forum in a report published on Wednesday. The Global Gender Gap Report 2016 found that, despite working longer hours, women around the world on average earn just over half of what men earn. It also noted the stagnant women labour force participation, standing at 54 percent, compared to 81 percent for men, adding that economic parity between the sexes could take 170 years. The number of women in senior positions also remains stubbornly low, the report added. The report is an annual benchmarking exercise that measures progress towards parity between men and women in four areas: educational attainment, health and survival, economic opportunity and political empowerment. The Nordic nations stand still as world's most gender-equal societies, with Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden as the leading four nations. Away from economics, the education gender gap has closed 1 percent over the past year to over 95 percent, making it one of the two areas where most progress has been made to date, while health and survival, the other pillar to have closed 96 percent of its gap, has deteriorated minimally. Syrians run for cover following reported government air strikes on the rebel-held town of Douma, east of the Syrian capital Damascus, on October 26, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday denied the government forces' use of chemical weapons during the ongoing battles in the war-torn country, according to the state news agency SANA. The ministry statement denied what it said "accusations" made recently in a report inquiry by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which blamed the Syrian forces for carrying out a gas attack against rebels in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib in March 2015. "The Syrian government, while denying all accusations in the report, stresses its commitment to all its pledges made when it joined the treaty of chemical weapons convention. It said the Syrian government repeatedly denied all "allegations circulated by some western departments and their tools" about the use of chemical weapons in the fight against the rebels. Chemical weapons are believed to have taken place in several areas in Syria in the past years, with the government and the rebels trading accusations. As many as 1,400 people were killed when several opposition-controlled areas in the suburbs around Damascus were struck by rockets containing the chemical agent sarin on Aug. 21, 2013. Both the opposition and the government traded accusations. In the same year, a chemical attack hit the then government-controlled town of Khan al-Asal in the countryside of Aleppo, in which several Syrian soldiers and civilians were either killed or suffered from suffocation. The government accused the rebels, who, in turn, denied the accusation. In October 2013, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) officials arrived in Syria to monitor the dismantlement of the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal, after Damascus officially joined the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Convention. The OPCW later said the government has made its chemical weapon production facilities inoperable. The dismantlement of the Syrian chemical weapons was due to a U.S.-Russian understanding, the first sign of a consensus between both powers on the Syrian conflict. Since then, reports of poisonous gas attacks kept emerging once in a while. ROME, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A second strong quake hit central Italy late on Wednesday, soon after a 5.4-magnitude temblor had struck the same areas located in the province of Macerata in the Marche region. The latest quake hit at 9:18 p.m. local time (1918 GMT) and carried a magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter scale, according to Italy's National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (INGV). The first one had struck at 7:11 p.m. local time (1711 GMT). The epicentre of both tremors was registered in the Valnerina valley, a mountainous area between the cities of Macerata and Perugia, the capital of the Umbria region. It was at a relatively shallow depth of 9 km, and the nearest urban areas were the villages of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Visso, Ussita, and Preci in the province of Macerata, the INGV stated. The events wreaked havoc among the local population, which had already gone through a powerful quake only two months ago. Some buildings partly collapsed in the villages around Macerata, and one people were reportedly injured in Visso, but no further casualties were immediately reported, according to Italy's civil protection head Fabrizio Curcio. Some makeshift camps were being set up for panicked residents, who left their homes for fear of further events, RAI News 24 state broadcaster reported citing local authorities. Communications and power lines were disrupted on Wednesday evening, and a major highway connecting the affected areas was closed, according to the Italian civil protection agency. Both quakes were clearly felt in other provinces of Marche region, in the central cities of Perugia and Ancona, and as far as in the capital Rome, which lies some 230 km to the west from the epicentre. The new tremors would be linked to a major quake that occurred in central Italy in August, La Repubblica newspaper reported citing an INGV expert. "This quake occurred within the area already hit (by the previous one). It might be the opening of a new fault line," seismologist Alessandro Amato told La Repubblica online. On Aug. 24, the central regions of Lazio and Marche were hit by a 6.0-magnitude earthquake. Some 298 people were killed and 400 injured, while several thousands were left displaced. STRASBOURG, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the European Union (EU) on Wednesday signalled optimism in signing a free trade pact with Canada in a plenary debate with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), as Belgian politicians continued struggling talks on whether to approve the deal. European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker briefed MEPs on the political conclusions of the latest EU summit, with the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) on top of the agenda. "I trust that an agreement will be reached in the course of today within Belgium, Wallonia and other parts of the country, so that Belgium can sign the deal when appropriate," Juncker said. Tusk also told MEPs that he hoped the agreement would be finalised soon, but stressed that the EU could not simply ignore the views of national parliaments on trade agreements. "No one will change the fact that EU is still the Union of States and not institutions," said Tusk. "The fears and concerns for example on private arbitration must be addressed and they are being addressed and explained now. I trust that after today's talks in Belgium, the climate around CETA, and maybe around future free trade agreements, will change for the better," he added. Earlier on Wednesday Tusk said on his twitter account that an EU-Canada summit scheduled to sign the accord on Thursday was still possible. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, Foreign Minister Didier Reynders and regional minister-presidents had been in talks since Tuesday afternoon, trying to close the deal before the planned summit. The negotiation was interrupted around 6 p.m. Wednesday as the regions needed time to "further analyse" a text on the disputed issues. The meeting resumed at 9 p.m. Although a compromise might be reached, the chances of Belgium approving the deal before Thursday are getting slimmer, according to local media. If a text is agreed within Belgium, it needs to be reviewed and approved by all other member states, the Flemish newspaper De Morgen reported. Belgium is the only EU country that still hasn't approved CETA, as three of the country's five regional authorities remain in steadfast opposition. Without the unanimous consent of all member states, the EU cannot formally sign the deal with Canada, which took seven years to negotiate. The two major issues raised by the opponents, namely the southern region of Wallonia, the capital region of Brussels and the French-speaking community, are an investor-state dispute settlement system, or private arbitration, incorporated in the deal, and the concerns over agricultural imports, according to the Francophone newspaper Le Soir. According to the latest development, Belgium's political leaders failed to break the deadlock on Wednesday, but agreed to resume talks on Thursday. The controversial trade pact aims to establish a free trade zone between the EU and Canada, scrapping more than 98 percent of existing tariffs. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Jose Graziano da Silva, on Wednesday called for a data revolution to implement the 2030 Agenda, stressing that the data requirements for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) far exceed the current capacities of most national statistical systems. To help countries achieve the 2030 Agenda, including the Zero Hunger Target, the FAO is putting in place a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening tried-and-tested systems as well as adopting innovative approaches, such as the use of mobile technology or remote sensing imagery, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. The 2030 Agenda, with its 17 SDGs, was approved by world leaders in September 2015 to serve as the blueprint for the global development efforts for the years leading up to 2030. In his key message delivered at the start of the 7th International Conference on Agricultural Statistics, the FAO FAO director-general underlined that the adoption by the UN Statistical Commission of 230 different indicators earlier this year to monitor the SDGs and 169 targets of the 2030 Agenda represents "a turning point for the global statistical system". The conference was organized by the Italian National Institute of Statistics in collaboration with FAO and taking place in Rome on Oct. 26-28. "The SDG data requirements far exceed the current capacities of most national statistical systems," the FAO chief said, noting that to rise to the challenge, the world needs to both strengthen tried-and-tested statistics gathering systems as well as adopt innovative approaches and cost effective methodologies, such as the use of mobile technology or remote sensing imagery. "The challenge facing us now is to move from identifying our objectives to achieving them," said Italian Vice Minister for Agriculture Andrea Olivero, in remarks made at the start of the conference. "Statistics represent a critical tool in this effort, since the effectiveness of public policies will depend on the best possible information." "For this reason, we need experts capable of identifying the appropriate tools in this the new reality," the deputy minister said. "Our task now is to take advantage of the new information era to ensure global food security and agricultural sustainability." To help countries achieve the 2030 agenda -- including the Zero Hunger Target -- FAO is putting in place a series of initiatives to strengthen countries' capacity and has developed innovative survey tools, such as the Food Insecurity Experience Scale to monitor food insecurity worldwide, and AGRIS (Agriculture Integrated Survey) to monitor economic, social and environmental aspects of farming activities, Graziano da Silva said. The agency is also working on gathering and harmonizing the information provided by countries to produce global and regional aggregates, all of which are available online through FAOSTAT, its statistical database on food, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, natural resources management and nutrition. The world's largest and most comprehensive data resource of its kind, FAOSTAT provides free, open and easy access to more than three million time-series and cross-sectional data of 245 countries and territories. The suite of tools being used and developed by FAO will help establish a baseline against which countries can measure progress towards the SDGs, design the most effective policies and monitor their impact. The International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS VII) takes place every three years and convenes senior agricultural statisticians representing national statistical offices and ministries of agriculture from around the globe. The conference is open to all producers and users of agricultural statistics, from government entities, academia, development partners and international organizations. The seventh edition of the Conference is organised by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat), in collaboration with FAO, under the auspices of the International Statistical Institute. CARACAS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro activated on Wednesday the nation's Defense Council on a permanent basis to find a solution to the country's political, economic and social crisis. The Constitution's Article 323 says that the Defense Council is the highest advisory organ of the state to plan and assess matters related to the defense of the country. At a press conference from the presidential place, Maduro said the Council would attend "the end of 2016 with the best criteria and knowledge possible so that...peace may reign." The first meeting of this Council was attended by the executive vice-president, Aristobulo Isturiz, several ministers and representatives of the judiciary. However, although National Assembly President, Henry Ramos Allup, was invited, the opposition leader did not attend. At the press conference, Maduro said that Allup was continuing to go against the Constitution. He added that he wanted to hold a "consultation with all sectors, workers, farmers and professional moments. There will be a permanent social dialogue." Despite his criticism of Allup, Maduro also called all actors to join the first phase of dialogue between the government and the opposition on Oct. 30 in the island of Margarita. Maduro then stated the Defense Council would seek to tackle the economic situation, which has risen to over 700 percent this year. "I ask this Council to make proposals in the best national interest," he expressed. Finally, he said that the Council would seek to make reparations to victims of political violence and to guarantee the lack of foreign interventionism. "Venezuela is the target of international persecution and we are forced to reject any attempt at intervention," vowed Maduro. On Tuesday, the National Assembly, in majority controlled by the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), voted to open a political trial against Maduro for causing the crisis and ordered him to appear on Nov. 1. Nurses take care of a newborn baby at the Tangdu Hospital in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 24, 2016. The baby, born on Wednesday in Xi'an through frozen embryo transfer (FET), was fertilized over 12 years ago and became China's longgest preserved tube baby through FET technology. (Xinhua/Liu Tingting) WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The world's first children who were born in the United States under a now-banned practice of creating three-parent embryos are "in good physical and cognitive health" more than a decade later, a study said Wednesday. The findings, published by the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online, were based on the first survey that described parents' perception of the well-being of their children after the use of the experimental fertility procedure called cytoplasmic transfer. "The survey-based study is the first to explore the long-term impact of cytoplasmic transfer and the results appear to be positive," said Serena Chen, Director of the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey, which conducted the study with the ART Institute of Washington. "So far, only one child was informed by parents about the innovative science behind their conception. As more parents decide whether to tell their children, we may be able to conduct additional studies in the future," Chen said. Cytoplasm is the liquid portion of an egg that contains many different molecules and tiny parts called organelles, including mitochondria that generate energy for the cell. During cytoplasmic transfer, a small amount of cytoplasm from a fertile donor egg is injected into the egg of a woman who is trying to become pregnant through in vitro fertilization, or IVF. The egg is then fertilized with sperm and implanted in the uterus. Between 1996 and 2001, Saint Barnabas Medical Center offered women who had experienced multiple IVF failures and poor in vitro embryo development the opportunity to try this experimental technique. Thirty-three couples participated in the study and 13 of the 14 women who became pregnant delivered 17 babies, all of which reported to be healthy at the time of birth. But the technique was later halted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In the new study, parents of 13 children whose ages ranged from 13 to 18 years were asked about the physical, emotional, mental and cognitive well-being of the children through an online questionnaire. The survey found parents had no concerns about the cognitive development of their children and felt their children were in good health. "The majority of children (11/13) had excellent grades. The other two had good grades," it wrote. Meanwhile, no major health issues were found. Minor health issues among the children included allergies (seven children), minor vision (three children) and skin (three children) problems, mild asthma (two children), and chronic migraine headaches (one child). One boy was diagnosed with borderline attention deficit disorder. He also has episodes of depression. But the researchers said his family has a history of depression. They noted that limitations of the study included the subjective nature of the survey and the lack of clinical follow-up. Recently, John Zhang of New Hope Fertility Center in New York revealed the birth of the first baby, now six months old, using a different three-parent technique called mitochondrial spindle transfer. The new approach involved removing the nucleus from one of the mother's eggs and inserted it into a donor egg that had had its own nucleus removed. The resulting egg was then fertilized with the father's sperm. Unlike cytoplasmic transfer, this procedure was aimed not at infertility but at preventing women with devastating mitochondrial disease from passing them on to their children. ROME, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Italy will get more aid in dealing with the ongoing refugee and asylum seeker crisis, the chief of EU border agency Frontex told a press conference in Rome on Wednesday. Italy is on the front lines of the exodus of people fleeing war and persecution in their homelands in Africa and the Middle East and will remain so for some time, Frontex Director Fabrice Leggeri said, as a rescue ship operated by medical NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) headed to Italy with 200 asylum seekers and 25 bodies. The victims were on a dinghy that ran into trouble some 26 miles off the Libya coast. MSF's Bourbon Argos ship picked up 107 survivors and 139 more from a migrant vessel in the same area. Also on Wednesday, the United Nations refugee agency said this has been the deadliest year to date for asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean towards Italy, whose outlying islands are the first landfall for those fleeing from the coasts of northern Africa. "We can now confirm that at least 3,800 people have died, making 2016 the deadliest ever," UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler tweeted earlier in the day. The refugees risk their lives to make the crossing, packed into unseaworthy boats by unscrupulous people traffickers who exact exorbitant fees from each "passenger". They are given neither food nor water nor enough fuel, Leggeri explained. The vessels are more and more decrepit, making it impossible for them to reach the Italian coast," he said. "On average, out of five vessels used by traffickers in the central Mediterranean, four were bad quality rubber dinghies, while the number of people packed onto these unseaworthy boats has grown by a third," according to Leggeri. This explains the increased mortality on the Mediterranean route, which is now the main one after a crackdown on the route to Greece through Turkey following an agreement with the EU. A total of 3,771 died in the crossing in 2015, out of over one million who made the attempt. This year, a total of 327,800 people have taken to the sea so far, but the mortality rate has risen from one in 269 last year to one in 88 this year. This figure is even higher in the central Mediterranean, where the tally is one death per every 47 arrivals. The key to the problem, said the Frontex chief, is Libya. "I don't think arrivals can diminish without that country being stabilized,"he said. "We must improve our support for Italy, which is on the front lines," he said. "The agency has new tools and resources thanks to an expanded mandate," he said, adding "We will use them." This support could translate into more ships and men for the patrol and rescue mission, but also into more help in repatriating undocumented migrants who don't have a right to asylum. Italy has repatriated 12,406 such migrants this year so far but they should be a lot more, according to Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, who called on the European Union to do more to relocate refugees away from the country of first arrival in the Union, i.e. Italy, and to repatriate those who can't stay. He also urged the EU to use international aid funding as a tool of persuasion. "We say to the African countries (of origin) that if they won't help us keep people from leaving, we will suspend the aid money," Alfano said. CANBERRA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Australian scientists are leading the charge in defeating mosquito-borne viruses such as zika and dengue fever. Australia's peak scientific body, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has announced it will partner with James Cook University and U.S research company Verily to attempt to mitigate the damaging effects of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which often carries deadly diseases. The CSIRO has been developing a bacteria called wolbachia, which renders the male mosquitoes sterile. Throughout the study, scientists will monitor the mating habits of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Dr Rob Grenfell from the CSIRO said the team hopes that, when the males mate with the females, the wolbachia will eventually transmit to the females, which will then be unable to produce larvae - in effect wiping out the disease-carrying female mosquitoes. "This is completely safe, the bacteria has absolutely no effect on humans and is only mosquito bacteria," Grenfell told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday. "The other issue is that the male mosquitoes, which we are using to carry this, do not bite humans - they actually feed on nectar." A pilot trial is expected to take place later this year in the tropical Queensland town of Innisfail, but Grenfell said they still required the approval of the community before they proceed. If the trial is a success, the research could be fast-tracked to ensure other nations - in which zika and dengue fever are prevalent - can begin to wipe out the potentially-deadly mosquitos. by Alessandra Cardone ROME, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Italy would be ready to veto next European Union (EU) budget, if other European partners do not provide more help in the migration crisis, according to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Renzi made his remarks on Tuesday evening, after tension between the EU Commission and Rome increased over Italy's own 2017 budget draft. "Italy is going to put a veto on next EU budget, if some (EU) countries will not be taking in more asylum seekers," the Italian prime minister told RAI state broadcaster. He specifically mentioned Hungary and Slovakia as example of eastern countries less willing to share the burden of Europe's migrant crisis. According to Renzi, Italy was currently contributing some 20 billion euros (about 22 billion U.S. dollars) to the EU's budget, receiving 12 billions euros back. "Yet, if Hungary or Slovakia want to preach to us about migrants, providing no help but asking for our money ... In 2017, the (Italian) government will say there is absolutely no way, and we will provide further contributions only when responsibilities are equally shared," he told RAI. The political background of the current row between Rome and Brussels was related to the doubts raised by EU authorities over Italy's 2017 budget draft. The EU Commission, in charge of reviewing EU countries' draft budgets, on Tuesday sent a letter to Italy after examining its budgetary plan for next year, asking explanation for a breach of previous fiscal commitments. The letter was addressed to Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, and it gave Italy 48 hours to reply. "Italy has benefited from significant flexibility under the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact both in 2015 and 2016," the commission said. Part of such flexibility was "granted subject to Italy making use of this allowance for the purpose of ... presenting credible plans to resume the adjustment as of 2017". The commission asked further information for the revision of the targets, and the gap emerging with respect to the commitments made last spring, in order to "assess if Italy fulfils the conditions under which the additional flexibility was granted for 2016". In particular, it mentioned "the extraordinary costs that Italy is incurring for the recent earthquake and migration inflows." Italy's cabinet had indeed stated the change in the budget plan was linked to additional spending due to a disastrous quake that hit Italian central regions in August, and to the refugee crisis. A major point of concern for the EU would be the budget deficit forecast, which Italy in its 2017 draft budget raised to 2.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) from a previous 1.8 percent forecast in May. "Our deficit to GDP ratio would be below two percent, but because of the migrant emergency and the earthquake it will reach 2.3 percent," Padoan said, after confirming the letter was received. "Each (EU) country has the right to decide how to use the EU resources. We believe the migrant emergency is a priority," said the minister. "If Europe ignores such emergency, and tolerate walls (against immigrants), it means it will have to struggle to survive," Padoan added. Some 153,450 migrants and refugees have arrived by sea to Italy so far in 2016, including at least 20,000 unaccompanied minors, the cabinet said on Monday. The total figure is now expected to exceed that of 2015, when this same number of arrivals was registered throughout the whole year. Some 3,740 migrants and refugees have died crossing the sea in the attempt to reach Europe so far, making 2016 the likely deadliest year in the Mediterranean, the UN refugee agency UNHCR stated. (1 euro = 1.10 U.S. dollars) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on the United States to repeal its policies of embargo against Cuba at an early date and develop normal state-to-state relations with Cuba. Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the appeal ahead of a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution urging an end to U.S. embargo on Cuba. The General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt the resolution with the United States abstaining for the first time in 25 years. It is the 25th time that the UN General Assembly has adopted such a resolution. This year, there is a change in vote of the United States since it voted against in the past 24 votes. "China has noticed the measures taken by the United States to ease the limits regarding Cuba in commerce, trade and tourism and hopes that the United States and Cuba continue to work towards the normalization of their relations," said Liu. Liu said in current world, countries should work on the basis of equality and seek common development through win-win cooperation. "Under such circumstances, the United States should immediately end its economic embargo and sanctions on Cuba," he added. Washington decreed the blockade against Havana officially on Feb. 3, 1962, following the intensification of the political differences that emerged between the U.S. and the fledgling socialist government led by Fidel Castro. Full diplomatic ties were restored between the United States and Cuba as an agreement to resume normal relations took effect on July 20, 2015. However, the United States has not repealed the embargo yet. Liu said China always stands for respect for the right of countries to freely choose their social systems and paths towards development, and China opposes unilateral sanctions against other countries by military, political, economic or any other means. "We hope that the United States will comprehensively repeal its policies of embargo against Cuba at an early date and develop normal state-to-state relations with Cuba in accordance with the purposes of United Nations Charter and basic norms governing international relations," he added. Guo Chuan celebrates after completing a non-stop 24-day trip on the sea, in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 27, 2015. Guo and his crew including two Frenchmen, a German and a Russian set off on September 3 in the Russian city of Murmansk, and completed the North-East passage in the Arctic Ocean 12 days later. They then used another 12 days to reach Qingdao, where they were given a hero welcome. (Xinhua/Meng Jing) LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday that they are searching for a missing Chinese sailor, Guo Chuan, who was on a solo trans-Pacific voyage. "We have found the vessel but we have just not see him," an official of United States Coast Guard District 14 told Xinhua. "We don't know whether he is on board or not." Tuesday morning, watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu, Hawaii, received notification from Maritime Rescue Coordination Center that the vessel, "Qingdao China", with one person aboard, had not been heard from for over 24 hours. The Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles confirmed the missing. "Since being informed in Tuesday evening, we have been in close contact with U.S. authorities and rescue teams both in U.S. and China, urging for greater efforts for search and rescue," a spokesman for the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles told Xinhua. The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a missing 50-year-old Chinese man reported overdue while sailing aboard this 97-foot super trimaran from San Francisco to Shanghai, Oct. 26, 2016. Coast Guardsmen at the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received notification from Maritime Rescue Coordination Center China personnel that the vessel Quingdao China, with one person aboard, had not been heard from for 24 hours. (Courtesy Photo/ U.S. Coast Guard photo by Air Station Barbers Point) According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the 97-foot super trimaran "Qingdao China" is actively transmitting on an automatic identification system which showed the vessel's position at the time 620 miles northwest of Oahu. An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, sent from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point is searching and the crew of the USS Makin Island is attempting to rendezvous with the vessel to confirm Guo Chuan is aboard. A Navy MH-60 helicopter overflew the vessel Wednesday morning and was unable to hail Guo Chuan. The Coast Guard Hercules crew overflew the vessel Tuesday afternoon with the same result, the Coast Guard said in a statement. Guo set sail on his trimaran near the U.S. city of San Francisco, embarking on a solo voyage to the Chinese city of Shanghai on Oct. 18, 2016. (Xinhua Photo) Guo set sail on his trimaran near the U.S. city of San Francisco, embarking on a solo voyage to the Chinese city of Shanghai. He was last heard just after 15:00 Tuesday Beijing time when his trimaran sailed 900 nautical miles off the west of Hawaii, his support team said. The 50-year-old Chinese sailor, aiming to set a new solo non-stop trans-Pacific world record, piloted the "Qingdao China", west across the start line under San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge. He had been in constant contact with MRCC China and family on the voyage and is not likely to miss scheduled calls, the Coast Guard said. Guo is regarded as a very experienced sailor and is reportedly in good health. The sailor has set a world record for a 138-day solo non-stop circumnavigation. His solo sailing is about 7,000 nautical miles in length and normally expected to be completed within 20 days. He told a Xinhua reporter in an earlier interview that the greatest fear as a sailor was to fall in the water. The current trans-Pacific speed record is 21 days, set by crews on board the Italian Maserati. MELBOURNE, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A top Victorian government minister has been forced to apologize for using a taxpayer-funded chauffeur to ferry his two dogs up to 120 kilometers. Steve Herbert, Victoria's minister for corrections, used the car, which was meant to take him to and from parliament house, to shuttle his two dogs, Patch and Ted, between his two properties while he was at work. The journey between his Melbourne home in Parkdale, 30 km southeast of the CBD, and his country home in Trentham, 125 km northwest of Parkdale, could take up to two hours. Herbert initially justified the trips, saying his driver had the time to do it, and refused to apologize. "It suited the driver occasionally to pick up the dogs when she was doing nothing," Herbert told News Limited on Thursday. "Quite frankly, there was absolutely no issue and if she didn't want to do it, she didn't have to." However, following a meeting with Premier Daniel Andrews, Herbert issued an apology, admitting the trips were unacceptable. "On reflection, this use of the ministerial car does not meet community expectations and I apologize," Herbert told reporters on Thursday. Matthew Guy, leader of the opposition, said the apology did not go far enough, calling on Andrews to sack Herbert from his post for his "arrogant" behavior. "I think Melburnians who are stuck in gridlock or trying to get onto a packed public transport system will be furious to hear of a state minister using a chauffeur-driven limousine to ferry his pets around town," Guy told the ABC on Thursday. Andrews said that he accepted Herbert's apology and that was the end of the matter. "He's made it very clear that what he did was inappropriate, he's apologized for that," Andrews told the ABC. "He's indicated that that won't be happening again." BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Coast Guard's ships have just arrived at the site of Guo Chuan's trimaran and will soon use a helicopter to drop rescuers onboard to look for the sailor, Guo's shore team said on Thursday. Guo was last heard just after 15:00 Tuesday Beijing time when his trimaran sailed 900 nautical miles off the west of Hawaii, his team said. A search aircraft, sent from Honolulu, found a sail in the water, broken off the vessel, but didn't see Guo on the deck. All attempts to contact the sailor have failed. Guo was trying to set a solo non-stop trans-Pacific world record from San Francisco to Shanghai. CARACAS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Government and opposition supporters held dueling marches in Venezuela on Wednesday after the recall referendum process against President Nicolas Maduro was suspended. Protests were staged across the country but the main ones took place in Caracas, with leaders of the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) greeting their supporters. Maduro addressed the demonstrators outside his presidential palace and said he was willing to talk to the opposition "to protect peace." "We want dialogue as we want stability, but they do not want dialogue because they want a coup and foreign intervention. Here, in Venezuela, there will be neither...this is why we need people in the street," said the head of state. After activating the Defense Council to seek solutions to the country's crisis, Maduro denounced the right-wing MUD, saying it was "desperate and has received orders from the empire to end the revolution." Maduro called on MUD members to leave behind "hate and intolerance". MUD supporters scolded the decision of the National Electoral Council (CNE) to suspend the recall referendum process, saying it favored Maduro. In May, the MUD collected signatures from over 1 percent of the electorate, one of the early steps needed for a referendum. The MUD had been set to launch a three-day operation on Oct. 26-28 to gather signatures from 20 percent of the electorate, a step that would trigger a recall referendum against Maduro. However, on Oct. 20, the courts in five states -- Aragua, Carabobo, Monagas, Apure and Bolivar -- said irregularities had been found at a previous stage of the referendum process. The five states said that a number of cases of identity theft had been found among the signatures submitted, leading the CNE to suspend the process. On Wednesday, MUD Executive Secretary Jesus Torrealba announced a general strike on Oct. 28 that will last from 6 a.m. (0330 GMT) to 6 p.m. (1530 GMT). Torrealba also told supporters that the MUD would give a week for the CNE to reactivate the referendum process. If not, a march will be held at the presidential palace on Nov. 3. On Tuesday, the MUD announced it would open a political trial against Maduro, summoning him to appear before the National Assembly on Nov. 1. The opposition is also set to hold a legislative session in the National Assembly on Thursday to consider Maduro's removal from office. Despite their grave rifts, the two sides are set to begin a round of dialogue on Oct. 30, with the presence of mediators from the Vatican and the Union of South American Nations. A rock shaken down in a quake lies on a road in Visso, Italy, Oct. 27, 2016. Two powerful earthquakes hit central Italy late Wednesday, bringing down buildings and wreaking havoc in local areas just two months after another major quake killed 298 people. (Xinhua/Stringer) by Alessandra Cardone ROME, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two powerful earthquakes hit central Italy late Wednesday, bringing down buildings and wreaking havoc on local areas just two months after another major quake had killed 298 people. A first 5.4-magnitude tremor hit at 7:11 p.m. (1711 GMT), according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). A second 5.9-magnitude quake struck the same area at 9:18 p.m. (1918 GMT). The epicenter of both events was registered between the provinces of Macerata and Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region, and the province of Perugia in the nearby Umbria region, in central Italy, the INGV added. It was at a relatively shallow depth of about 9 km, and the nearest urban areas were the villages of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Visso, Ussita, and Preci. No victims were reported up to the early hours on Thursday, and only one person was injured in the village of Visso, according to Fabrizio Curcio, head of Italy's Civil Protection Agency. "The situation is less dramatic than expected," Curcio told a press conference late Wednesday. "There seems to be no reason for grave concern so far. There are no people reported as being trapped under rubble," he added. However, the official warned a full assessment of the situation was hampered by heavy rain and a lack of electricity. In the disastrous area, communications and power lines have been down for several hours, and a major highway connecting Rome to the affected areas was closed. Rescue teams were quick to reach all quake-hit towns and villages, but they had to work through the night in difficult conditions. In Ussita, Mayor Marco Rinaldi told local media that many buildings have collapsed, including the facade of the church, and several aftershocks were felt during the night. "It was the strongest event I felt in my life, something terrible," he told Sky TG24 television channel. Residents in all the affected centers spent the night in their cars or makeshift camps for fear of further tremors. Significant damage were reported in the medieval towns of Norcia, in Perugia province, and of Camerino, in Macerata province, where the bell tower collapsed on a building. Both quakes were clearly felt all across central Italy, but also in the capital Rome some 230 km west to the epicenter, and in northeast Veneto region, the INGV said. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquartered in Rome was temporarily evacuated. The new tremors were linked to the major quake that struck central Lazio and Marche regions in late August, according to an INGV expert. "These two events are counterparts of that major quake," INGV senior scientist Gianluca Valensise told Xinhua. "Both tremors were very similar to the one in August, and this would show the seismic activity is proceeding toward north, north-west," the seismologist explained. New fault lines along the Apennines mountains, which constitute Italy's mountainous central "spine," might have be involved in this latest seismic activity, Valensise said. The previous 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit central Italy in the night of Aug. 24, killing 298 people. Some other 400 people were injured and several thousands displaced. President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun speaks during a press conference in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Oct. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/U Aung) NAY PYI TAW, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun said here on Tuesday that the AIIB is looking forward to promoting infrastructure in Myanmar. A delegation from the AIIB led by Jin Liqun is visiting Myanmar. Speaking to the press in Nay Pyi Taw after meeting with Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, the president said that it is very important for the new government to push forward the peace process and promote economic development in the country. Only by achieving national reconciliation can Myanmar promote economic development and only economic development can help people understand how important the political stability is, he said. He pointed out that the AIIB is a new bank mainly focusing on investment and infrastructure to promote a broad-based economic and social development by reducing poverty . Myanmar is one of the 57 founding members of the AIIB. Noting that Myanmar is suffering shortage of electric power supply and lacking of infrastructure such as railway, highway, particularly subway, Jin believed that the country can develop its economy by cooperating with other ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries in developing deep seaport, power transmission and distribution. On China's Belt and road Initiative, the AIIB president said all the programs within the framework of the initiative are for the purpose of promoting connectivity. He stressed that the regional conductivity is important for the economic integration and the AIIB would help connectivity among its members. Noting that the regional connectivity projects in Myanmar would benefit all neighboring countries, Jin said the infrastructural development in the neighboring countries can also help Myanmar develop, and that the regional integration would play a big role in promoting economy and development. The AIIB president pledged to work with the Myanmar government and provide resources to the country to finance related projects. When asked by Xinhua, Jin revealed that during the nine-month operation period since January, the AIIB had approved loans amounting to 500 million U.S. dollars for power, housing, transportation in four countries. In a meeting in September, the AIIB approved another project worth 300 million U.S. dollars, which includes Myanmar's Mingyan project. The AIIB was formally established on Dec. 25 , 2015 with its headquarters in Beijing. MELBOURNE, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A highly drug-resistant strain of salmonella, dubbed "superbug," has been discovered in Australia for the first time. The salmonella strain, which was discovered by researchers from Western Australia's Murdoch University, was found in a pet cat and is resistant to carbapenems, a type of antibiotic used to treat infections in hospital patients. Sam Abraham, the leader of the study from Murdoch University, said the rare and unusual superbug could pose a serious threat to public health. "This is the first time that a salmonella strain with resistance to most drugs has been reported in any Australian domestic animal and it is a significant concern to public health," Abraham told the ABC on Thursday. Abraham said the strain of salmonella in the cat, which came from a pet shelter in Sydney, had picked up an antibiotic-resistant piece of DNA. "What makes this bacteria a superbug is because it has picked up a piece of DNA that gives this bacteria super powers or resistance to about nine classes of drugs that we usually use to treat humans and animals," he said. Tests revealed that three other cats at the veterinary clinic that the original feline was admitted to with a serious gut infection had also contracted the bacteria, indicating it is highly transferrable. "Transferability is a major problem. If this drug-resistant bacteria spread outside of this facility, there would be other implications of humans and other animals exposing themselves to this bacteria," Abraham said. Darren Trott, the director of the Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, said the case was "highly unusual." "In a recent nationwide survey, we found no carbapenem resistance in bacteria from either companion animals or livestock," Trott told the ABC. "These strains have turned up in animals overseas, in Asia, so we certainly want to be on the lookout for them here in Australia. "This cat was definitely very unlucky." The original cat was put down to prevent any further spread of the infection. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, foreign minister of Cuba, addresses the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct. 26, 2016. The UN General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution urging an end to U.S. embargo on Cuba, and the United States abstained for the first time in 25 years.(Xinhua/Li Muzi) by Raimundo Urrechaga HAVANA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United States broke a 24-year voting streak at the United Nations on Wednesday, by abstaining from instead of voting against a resolution calling for an end to the trade embargo against Cuba. The vote marks another turning point in the U.S.-Cuba relations since the two Cold War enemies announced in December 2014 they would work to normalize ties, according to Cuban political observer Esteban Morales. "We finally got to a point where the U.S. changed its annual vote," said Morales, underscoring the diplomatic progress made by the two countries in the past two years. Still, Morales warned against a too-cheerful interpretation of the vote, saying it only reflected the U.S. newfound economic interest in Cuba. "We can't deceive ourselves. The blockade," as Cubans call the embargo, "is an obstacle for the White House's new policy toward the island and that's why (U.S. President Barack) Obama has said from the beginning it must be lifted," Morales said. The Obama administration's vote at the UN, he said, is directed at conservative U.S. lawmakers, who control Congress and appear determined to maintain the outdated policy despite international condemnation. "It is a strong message to the U.S. Congress and to radical sectors that times have changed and a new policy towards Cuba is necessary," he said. "If they want to reach a deal with Cuba, they must change the ideological and aggressive strategies of the past," Morales added. Obama has taken steps to ease trade and travel restrictions on Cuba, but only the U.S. Congress can fully lift the embargo. For the first time ever, no countries voted against the resolution, and 191 countries voted in favor, while the United States and Israel both abstained. Such resolutions are non-binding, but carry political weight. Gathering outside the University of Havana, young Cubans watched the UN General Assembly vote on a giant LED screen, following the hours-long process as representatives from nearly 200 countries rejected the policy that has caused billions in losses over five decades, according to Cuban officials. Many were surprised but pleased by Washington's decision to abstain after voting down the resolution every year since it was first submitted to a vote in 1992. "The blockade is still in force, but this means there has been a change in attitude at the highest levels of the U.S. government," said Raul Palmeiro, a 21-year-old law student and president of the university's Student Federation. Most of the students described the U.S. abstention as a historic victory for Cuba, but cautioned that it was meaningless without congressional action. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez hailed the vote as a "positive sign" and said he hoped the change would be "reflected in reality." Last week, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker, Republican Paul Ryan, dimmed hopes that lawmakers might end the embargo on Cuba after Obama leaves office, saying he intends to keep the trade restrictions in place. Havana should now urge the White House to push Congress to lift the embargo before the next administration takes over in January, said Morales. WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday discussed by phone with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the next steps to fight the Islamic State (IS), the White House said. "The president recognized the contributions of Turkey, our NATO ally, to the campaign, especially in supporting local Syrian forces who have cleared ISIL from Turkey's border in northwest Syria," the White House said in a statement, using the acronym for IS. Obama noted the need for close coordination between the U.S. and Turkey to build on these successes and to apply sustained pressure on IS in Syria to reduce threats to the U.S., Turkey, and elsewhere, it said. Obama welcomed continued dialogue between Turkey and Iraq to determine the appropriate level and form of Turkey's participation in the counter-IS coalition's efforts in Iraq, while both leaders affirmed their strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, it said. The two leaders agreed on the importance of denying the PKK a safe haven in northern Iraq, it added, referring to the Kurdish Workers' Party that has been waging an armed struggle since 1984 for self-determination for the Kurds in Turkey. The PKK, which is based in Turkey and Iraq, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey. Guo set sail on his trimaran near San Francisco on Oct. 19, embarking on a solo voyage to the Chinese city of Shanghai (Xinhua/Xu Yong) BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Legendary Chinese captain Guo Chuan's disappearance sent a shock wave across his home country, where millions of his compatriots are praying for his safe return. Guo's support team reported his disappearance in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, saying he was last heard from just after 15:00 Tuesday Beijing time. Guo was on a solo trans-Pacific voyage when he went missing. His trimaran has already been found drifting 900 nautical miles off the west coast of Hawaii, but Guo was not spotted on the deck. All attempts to contact the sailor have failed, Guo's support team told Xinhua. The news made its way across Chinese media as netizens expressed their best wishes for Guo. "Guo Chuan missing near Hawaii while trying to challenge the world record," read a headline on Sina, one of China's largest online portals. "I am extremely shocked at the news. My hero, please come back safe and sound," said one internet user whose comment was liked 500 times. "Pray for this very brave man. I hope he can come back safely," said another user. "Guo Chuan, we are waiting for you!" headlined a public account on the social media app WeChat. The public account "Who most embodies the Qingdao spirit" posted photos from some of the Qingdao native's past adventures. Guo aimed to set a new solo trans-Pacific world record by sailing non-stop from San Francisco to Shanghai. He piloted his trimaran, the "Qingdao China", west across the starting line under San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge. His solo sailing route is about 7,000 nautical miles in length and would normally be completed within 20 days. The current trans-Pacific speed record is 21 days, set by crews on board the Italian Maserati. U.S. Coast Guard ships have just arrived at the site of Guo Chuan's trimaran, and will soon use a helicopter to drop rescuers onboard to look for the sailor, Guo's shore team said on Thursday. PHNOM PENH, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A truck transporting garment factory workers flipped onto its side on the eastern outskirts of Phnom Penh on Thursday morning, leaving 20 workers seriously injured, a Cambodian Labor Ministry spokesman said. The truck overturned when its neglect driver attempted to overtake a tuk-tuk at high speed. "The injured workers had been sent to hospitals soon after the accident and the National Social Security Fund will cover for their medical expenses," Labor Ministry spokesman Heng Sour told Xinhua. Transporting factory workers in open trucks to and from factories is common in the Southeast Asian country. On Tuesday, some 30 garment workers in northern Kampong Chhnang province were injured when their truck overturned after colliding with a tourist bus. The country's 6.5 billion-U.S. dollar garment industry is comprised of some 1,000 factories, employing around 750,000 workers. BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- No matter who wins the presidential election slated for Nov. 8, the next U.S government will not improve relations with Latin America, an Argentine scholar on international relations has warned. In an interview with Xinhua, Leandro Morgenfeld, professor of the University of Buenos Aires, said that neither Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton would change the strategy of attacking a country that does not obey the orders of Washington. Both will try to encourage regional fragmentation and prevent the emergence of a more multipolar world. "Trump has provoked a large wave of rejection during his xenophobic and anti-Latino rhetoric. Clinton would bring more continuity with Obama despite a more aggressive approach toward governments that do not submit to the orders of Washington." According to Morgenfeld, Clinton said during her campaign that she opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but she actually pushed for the negotiations when she was the secretary of state. "She will seek the ratification of TPP by Congress, if Obama does not do so before leaving, which will cause resistance from the region," he said. The scholar labelled the U.S. attitude toward Latin America as "a paternalistic vision." Morgenfeld said he expects countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua to maintain their distant relationships with Washington. "Trump and Clinton would have a more aggressive approach to Bolivarian countries than Obama. They will try to use the economic crisis in the region to flip the government of President Nicolas Maduro and isolate anyone seeking not to be subordinate to the U.S.," he warned. Regional fragmentation "weakens the position of each country and deepens dependency. I have no hope that Clinton or Trump government will improve relations with Latin America," he said. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin (L, front) and Pak Myong Guk , vice foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) shake hands in Pyongyang, capital of the DPRK, Oct. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Guo Yina) PYONGYANG, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday wrapped up the third meeting of a joint border commission in Pyongyang. The two sides reviewed the implementation of the agreement on the border management system since the second meeting and had an in-depth exchange of opinion on law enforcement and control of the border, cross-border infrastructure, cooperation in border regions and ports opening, where consensus was made. The DPRK side appreciated the assistance given by the Chinese side in relief efforts after the flooding of the Tumen River and post-disaster reconstruction. The two sides expressed their willingness to continue to make good use of the joint commission mechanism and strengthen communication and collaboration to jointly safeguard peace and stability of the border areas. They also exchanged views on other issues concerning bilateral relations. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Guk attended the meeting. Present at the meeting were officials of public security, environmental protection, transport, water conservancy, national defense and port affairs from the two countries. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin (2nd L) and Pak Myong Guk (2nd R), vice foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), attend the meeting of a joint border commission in Pyongyang, capital of the DPRK, Oct. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Guo Yina) PHNOM PENH, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A truck transporting garment factory workers flipped onto its side on the eastern outskirts of Phnom Penh on Thursday morning, leaving 72 workers injured, a Cambodian Labor Ministry statement said. The truck overturned when its neglect driver attempted to overtake a tuk-tuk at high speed, the statement said. "Forty-three workers were seriously wounded as 29 others sustained light injuries," the statement said. Labor Ministry spokesman Heng Sour told Xinhua that the injured workers had been sent to hospitals soon after the accident and the National Social Security Fund would cover for their medical expenses. Transporting factory workers in open trucks to and from factories is common in the Southeast Asian country. On Tuesday, some 30 garment workers in northern Kampong Chhnang province injured when their truck overturned after colliding with a tourist bus. The country's 6.5 billion-U.S. dollar garment industry is comprised of some 1,000 factories, employing around 750,000 workers. WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military is confident that Iraqi forces will succeed in retaking Mosul from the Islamic State (IS) as they continue to make steady progress, the military said on Wednesday. Stephen Townsend, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, told a Pentagon briefing via teleconference from Baghdad that Iraqi forces "had developed a lot of momentum over the past two years." "The Mosul offensive is a large and extraordinarily complex operation that the Iraqis have been planning for a very long time," Townsend said, referring to the battle launched by Iraqi forces on Oct. 17 to liberate Mosul, Iraq's second largest city. Iraqi forces are moving forward on multiple axes toward Mosul, but the effort to take back the city will not be easy, he said. "There's a lot of hard fighting ahead but we're confident the Iraqis will be successful," Townsend said. The U.S.-led coalition has supported Iraqi forces in planning and preparing for the battle, by providing advice, training and assistance that includes air and artillery strikes. The relentless campaign of strikes had removed many IS fighters, key leaders and weapons from the battlefield ahead of the battle. Meanwhile, Townsend said that the battle to retake the Syrian city of Raqqa from IS will be launched soon. He declined to disclose further details. The U.S. commander added that as Syria is a complicated battlespace with many regional security concerns, the battle to liberate Raqqa is going to be a tough one. It will be different from that in Mosul, Townsend said, noting it will be done by local partnered forces, rather than a nation's armed forces. By Spencer Musick BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers sent by the U.S. Coast Guard did not see Chinese sailor Guo Chuan on board his boat, Guo's shore team said on Thursday. The coast guard used an HC-130 Hercules search and rescue airplane to drop personnel onto Guo's trimaran floating in the Pacific Ocean. The crew of the USS Makin Island is reported to be assisting the coast guard in its search and rescue operation. Guo was last contacted just after 15:00 Tuesday Beijing time when his boat sailed 900 kilometers off the west coast of Hawaii. All attempts to contact the sailor have failed. The 51-year-old Guo was trying to set a solo trans-Pacific world record sailing non-stop from San Francisco to Shanghai. Guo reportedly kept a diary during his journey, and his entry for Oct 25 noted "plain sailing." An earlier entry dated Oct 20 said that Guo had been playing a recording of his two young boys' laughter while sailing. The announcement from the US Coast Guard comes after Chuan's support team said yesterday that they had lost contact with the sailor for over 24 hours. A search aircraft, sent earlier from Honolulu, found a sail in the water yesterday, broken off from the vessel, but didn't see Guo on the deck. The plane hovered over the vessel for one hour before returning to the base for lack of fuel. The U.S. Navy has sent two search ships to the site of Guo's vessel, according to the team. Guo set sail on his trimaran near the U.S. city of San Francisco on Oct. 19, embarking on a solo voyage to the Chinese city of Shanghai. Guo, aiming to set a new solo non-stop trans-Pacific world record from San Francisco to Shanghai, piloted his trimaran, the "Qingdao China", west across the start line under San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge. His solo sailing route is about 13,000 km in length and normally expected to be completed within 20 days. Guo, who has set a world record for a 138-day solo non-stop circumnavigation, told a Xinhua reporter in an earlier interview that the greatest fear as a sailor was to fall in the water. "I fear being separated from the ship when I am sailing solo," he said. Guo recalled a brush with death in a 2011 trans-Atlantic race, saying he had survived a fall by grabbing a cable. "I was waist deep in the water. If hadn't grabbed the rope, I would had been thrown in the water. In that scenario, I would never catch up with the ship. My chance of survival would be none." News of Guo's disappearance sent shock waves across his home country, where millions of his compatriots are praying for his safe return. "Guo Chuan missing near Hawaii while trying to challenge the world record," read a headline on Sina, one of China's largest online portals. "I am extremely shocked at the news. My hero, please come back safe and sound," said one internet user whose comment was liked 500 times. "Pray for this very brave man. I hope he can come back safely," said another user. "Guo Chuan, we are waiting for you!" headlined a public account on the social media app WeChat. The public account "Who most embodies the Qingdao spirit" posted photos from some of the Qingdao native's past adventures. SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea will resume talks with Japan on adopting a pact to share military intelligence on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after an aborted attempt four years ago, Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday. An unnamed South Korean government official was quoted as saying Seoul will resume a working-level dialogue with Japan soon about the bilateral intelligence-sharing accord to effectively respond to the DPRK's nuclear and missile threats. The decision was allegedly made during the national security council (NSC) meeting in the presidential office to sign the pact called General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). Former President Lee Myung-back pushed to seal a hush-hush military deal with Japan in 2012, but it was scrapped at the last minutes on public outcry over the closed-door attempt to endorse the intelligence-sharing agreement. Under the deal, South Korea and Japan would directly exchange military intelligence on the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs. Under the trilateral military pact signed in late 2014 with the United States, Seoul and Tokyo have shared intelligence in an indirect way. Yonhap reported that the bilateral accord could be sealed within this year, but oppositions are expected as Japan has yet to show its sincerity and repentance over past atrocities during the World War and its colonization of the Korean peninsula. Victims of Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during the devastating war, euphemistically called "comfort women," still call on the Japanese government to make a sincere apology and compensate for brutalities they suffered under Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. Japan has repeatedly lodged territorial claims over a set of disputed islets, called Dokdo here and Takeshima in Japan that lies halfway between the two countries. The islets have been controlled by South Korea since its liberation in 1945 from the Japanese colonization. Seoul claims Dokdo belongs to its territory historically, geographically and under international law as the sparsely inhabited islets were incorporated into Japan's territory after the colonization. Many South Koreans see the recurring territorial disputes and the comfort women issue as signs that Japan is not entirely repentant of its colonial past. MOSCOW, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia has sent its 57th humanitarian aid convoy to the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Thursday. "The convoy of over 40 cars is carrying over 440 tones of aid: food products, baby kits and medicine," the ministry's spokesperson said. According to the ministry, the humanitarian aid arrived from public organizations and trade unions in different regions of Russia. Since mid-August 2014, Russia has sent over 64,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the restive eastern Ukraine, where residents have been suffering from a serious humanitarian crisis. The ongoing conflict between Ukrainian government forces and independence-seeking militia began in April 2014. The leaders of the so-called Normandy format group comprising Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France met last week for talks over implementing the Minsk Agreement for eastern Ukraine, and agreed on a new roadmap for peace. The Minsk peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine was reached by the leaders of the Normandy group in February 2015 in Minsk, the capital of Belarus; however, the peace treaty has not been fully implemented. An Afghan policeman searches a vehicle during a military operation in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Oct. 27, 2016. About 66 militants had been killed in military operations launched by Afghan security forces in 17 of the country's 34 provinces since early Wednesday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Sayed Mominzadah) KABUL, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- About 66 militants had been killed in military operations launched by Afghan security forces in 17 of the country's 34 provinces since early Wednesday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "A total of 23 militants were also injured and 11 persons, including eight suspected militants, were detained during military and cleanup operations carried out by Afghan army, police and personnel of intelligence," the ministry said in a written statement. Among the killed insurgents were up to 30 militants of Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, according to the statement. The joint forces were supported by the Afghan army air force and artillery during the raids, the statement said, adding that they also found weapons and defused several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The Afghan security forces have stepped up security operations against militants recently as the militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions ahead of winter in the mountainous country. The Taliban and IS militant groups have yet to make comments. Earlier on Thursday, security forces detained a militant in Pul-e-Khumri, capital of northern Baghlan province, who tried to plant an IED inside a local mosque, provincial governor Satar Baraz told Xinhua. The security forces defused the IED safely and the timely arrest of the militant has foiled a terror attack in the city, 160 km north of Kabul, the governor added. Yahya Jammeh, President of Gambia, arrives for the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of States and Governments, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oct. 12, 2013. The Heads of States met in Addis Ababa to deliberate on issues related to the International Criminal Court (ICC), under the theme, "Africa's Relationship with the ICC". (Xinhua/Li Jing) BANJUL, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Gambia has become the third African country, following Burundi and South Africa, to withdraw its membership from the International Criminal Court. "As from today, Tuesday, 25th October 2016, we are no longer a member of the ICC," said Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure Sheriff Bojang in a televised statement aired over state broadcaster GRTS on Tuesday Night. Bojang said the government has started to complete the withdrawal process as stipulated in the statutes that established the court. Bojang said the Gambian government's decision to withdraw from the court is warranted by the fact that "the ICC, despite being called the International Criminal Court, is in fact an International Caucasian Court for the persecution and humiliation of people of colour, especially Africans." "This Infamous Caucasian Court for the persecution of Africans and especially their leaders, showed its true colours when it declared immediately after the United Kingdom released their investigation report on the Iraq war pronouncing former Prime Minister Tony Blair of committing war crimes; that the ICC will not indict Tony Blair for war crimes." "There are many Western countries, at least 30, that have committed heinous war crimes against independent sovereign states and their citizens since the creation of the ICC, and not a single Western war criminal has been indicted," he said. The ICC has opened inquiries involving nine nations, all but one of them African: Kenya, Ivory Coast, Libya, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic (twice), Uganda, Mali and, most recently, Georgia. Gambia had taken the European Union to the ICC about a year ago for the mass murder (genocide) of thousands of young Africans on European coastal waters, but nothing has been heard from the ICC, Bojang noted. "After several warnings to the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, in particular, about the mass murder of young African migrants on European beaches and waters, in annual speeches to the United Nations General Assembly, fell on deaf ears, the Gambia government engaged the ICC to prosecute those leaders and countries responsible for the genocide." "We made it very clear that if the ICC fails to bring those responsible to justice, the Islamic Republic of The Gambia would be obliged to use other more stringent options to make those responsible for the deaths of thousands of young African migrants on the European coast face justice or pay a very high price for their racist genocide," Bojang said. Last week, Burundi's president signed a decree making his country the first in Africa to withdraw from the ICC. Three days later, on Friday, South Africa became the second to withdraw. In Kenya, the executive decision to withdraw from the court is pending, but the Kenyan parliament had passed two resolutions to withdraw the country's backing for the Rome Statute that established the court. BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's first domestic-built aircraft carrier is in the development stage, with the hull having already been assembled in a shipyard, said a spokesperson for the country's Ministry of National Defense on Thursday. Design work on the vessel has been completed, said the ministry spokesperson Wu Qian, adding that workers are currently installing equipment to the ship's body. BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Township disciplinary secretary Wu Yongping was taken by surprise when he was summoned to a harshly-worded talk by his supervisors at the county level. Wu is a thirtysomething aspiring cadre in Yangqiao Township in southeastern Guizhou Province. The hours-long disciplinary talk was to inform him that a village-level official embezzled 4,000 yuan (588 U.S. dollars) in funds meant for sheep-raising under his supervision last year. It was determined that Wu had failed to properly supervise and prevent the wrongdoing. The stern reminder to Wu was part of a province-wide disciplinary campaign of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that started this year. With an unprecedentedly large scale, the campaign is aimed at deterring Party disciplinary offences and nipping them in the bud. From January to September, more than 148,000 officials were subject to these disciplinary talks. "The admonitions are aimed at keeping us focused on doing our jobs right and staying away from minor or major wrongdoings," said Wu. During the campaign, more than 3,200 officials were punished, according to the Guizhou provincial CPC committee. "No CPC member shall be left out of supervision. No wrongdoings shall be ignored and we shall do all we can to prevent a cadre from becoming corrupt," said Huang Wensheng, deputy secretary of the Guizhou Party disciplinary committee. "Such talks are not only necessary, but key to ensuring day-to-day supervision," said An Zhifang, professor of public management at Guizhou University. "Skirting around discipline has been common within the Party, and often, few people bother to confront minor wrongdoings. But we should know turning a blind eye to problems is equal to encouraging them. It is important to preempt before grave problems arise," he said. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC has launched fierce anti-graft campaigns and reinforced the governance of the Party. Chinese provinces have been under pressure to regulate behavior of CPC members and officials. The sixth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which is due to close on Thursday, will further institutionalize Party governance practices. The session has been focused on deliberating a document on the norms of political life within the Party under the new situation, and a revision to an intra-Party supervision regulation. HOLDING POWER IN CHECK A consensus on strict governance of the Party has been reached in political, academic and public circles. "The governance of the CPC concerns the governance of the nation and the people's well-being," said Liu Zhexin, professor with China Executive Leadership Academy based in Pudong, Shanghai. "The ruling party is like a brain that should function well with the myriad cells of society. The public expects it to keep clean and shield itself from the erosion of graft. It needs a stringent system of rules to hold power in check. This is what the CPC is doing," said Liu. At a gathering last week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the success of the Long March, which cemented the victory of the Chinese revolution, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, stressed strengthening the leadership of the Party and strictly governing the Party in order to achieve the nation's goals. He pledged unswerving efforts to promote clean governance, fight corruption, and strengthen the Party's ability to purify, improve and innovate itself. "Today, our 'long march' is to realize the 'two centenary goals' and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation," Xi said in the speech. The two goals are building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the time the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2021, and turning the nation into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious in time for the People's Republic of China to mark its centennial in 2049. "With more than 88 million members, and as the world's largest ruling party, the CPC is putting in place rules and mechanisms that are the foundation to better management of the Party and the country," said Dai Yanjun, deputy director of the Party-building department at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC has formulated, revised and drafted more than 50 regulations on the governance of the Party. "The CPC has recognized the full gravity of strict party governance. It is a matter of life for the Party," said Zheng Changzhong, an expert on Party building at Shanghai-based Fudan University. The ability of the CPC to strictly govern itself and exercise power decides whether it can lead the people, who expect the CPC to forge a culture of clean and secure governance, said Zheng. BETTER TRANSPARENCY At the ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Party in July, Xi said the key to doing things well in China lies in the CPC. "If we cannot manage the Party well and govern the Party strictly, leaving problems within the Party unsettled, our Party will sooner or later lose its qualifications to govern and will unavoidably be consigned to history," warned Xi. "Party building shall not be empty slogans," said Wang Yukai, professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, "it needs stringent rules to square the deeds for its members and officials." In the business hub of Shanghai, a regulation has been made to restrict business operations of officials' family members, preventing them from profiteering from posts. Such pilot programs were expanded to Beijing, Guangdong, Chongqing and Xinjiang this year. In Shanghai, spouses of the city's officials at or above the mayor level are not allowed to run companies, nor can their children or the spouses of their children do business in the city. Those whose families are already engaged in business face two choices: ask their families to quit or resign themselves. By January, the city had checked the work backgrounds of 1,802 officials' families and found violations related to 182 officials. Ten officials were stripped of their posts, 10 were transferred and one resigned. Three officials were put under investigation for disciplinary violations. Analysts said the restriction is likely to be copied across the country. "Such rules are meant to draw lines between power and money and target the misuse of power," said Liu Zhexin. Stronger intra-party supervision will boost transparency of the use of power and facilitate external supervision from outside the Party, he said. "The sixth plenary session will further embody the spirit of the law and implement rule of law in governance. Power will be checked further," said Dai Yanjun. DUBAI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) largest sovereign wealth fund, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), said on Thursday it opened an office in Hong Kong, the UAE's state news agency WAM reported. ADIA, marking its first presence in the area, is one of the largest government-controlled wealth funds in the world, aims to tap the Chinese and the greater East Asian market. ADIA Hong Kong will act as a platform for the sovereign wealth fund "to broaden and deepen its network of relationships and identify new opportunities in China and other key Asian markets," said the report. ADIA manages most of the petro-dollar-based wealth of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, home to 7 percent of the world's known oil reserves. The Hong Kong branch will be responsible for conducting comprehensive investment-related research and ongoing analysis of the Asia-Pacific market and economic trends. In addition to bringing ADIA closer to its key local contacts and investments, the office will assist in identifying new avenues for cooperation and growth "in one of the fastest developing regions in the world," said WAM. Managing Director of ADIA Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the fund's decision to open an office in Hong Kong "is a symbol of our confidence in Asia's continued growth and our long-term commitment to the region." According to the Las Vegas-based Sovereign Fund Institute, ADIA manages global assets worth approximately 792 billion U.S. dollars, ranking fifth in the sovereign wealth fund world. ADIA's annual return in the last 20 years stands at 7.4 percent, according to ADIA's website. ISTANBUL, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Thursday detained 81 people suspected of links to the Islamic State (IS), local media reported. Among the suspects, who were seized in simultaneous operations conducted in Istanbul and five other cities, 60 are foreigners intending to go to IS camps in Syria and Iraq through illegal routes, the Haberturk daily said. In the operations, police also seized two guns, 200 bullets, organizational documents, military camouflage and digital materials, the daily noted. The Turkish army hit as well 94 IS targets in northern Syria early Thursday amid its ongoing operation in the region, the military said. DAMASCUS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday extended an amnesty for three more months for rebels to disarm and surrender themselves, state news agency SANA reported. The extension of the pardon, first issued last July, offers more time for rebels to clear their "criminal records" by laying down their weapons and surrender to the government. The amnesty also offers kidnappers a chance to clear their records by releasing their captives unharmed and without ransom. An unspecified number of rebels around Damascus have benefited from the amnesty, while others chose to leave for rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib. The government renewed its calls recently for rebels to surrender in the northern city of Aleppo, where the Syrian army and Russia declared a unilateral cease-fire earlier October, or to leave for other rebel-controlled areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo or Idlib. Only seven rebels took advantage of the brief truce and left eastern Aleppo, as the cease-fire was largely rejected by rebel groups who tried to prevent rebels and civilians from leaving. The Syrian army and Russia have since renewed a broad offensive against rebels in eastern Aleppo. BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- China said on Thursday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's recent remarks during his visit to Japan accord with the consensus he reached with Chinese leaders during his China visit last week. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks in response to a question regarding Japanese media reports saying Japan and the Philippines reached agreement during Duterte's visit on respecting an international arbitration tribunal ruling over the South China Sea. Lu said China and the Philippines reached consensus during Duterte's state visit to China, and both agreed to focus on cooperation, put aside their differences and bring the South China Sea issue back to the correct track of bilateral negotiation and consultation. "The consensus has been made clear in the statements of the meetings of the two countries' leaders, their talks as well as in the China-Philippines joint statement," Lu said at a routine press briefing. The consensus meets the common interests of the two countries and peoples and helps regional peace and stability, he added. Currently, the situation in the South China Sea is moving in a positive direction, with joint efforts from concerned parties, including China and the Philippines, Lu said, citing their efforts to properly settle the issue through dialogue. "If some countries still have unrealistic illusions, it's better to give up (the illusions) as early as possible," Lu said. ANKARA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two Turkish soldiers were killed in attacks by suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeastern provinces of Bingoll and Siirt, Dogan News Agency reported Thursday. One soldier was killed when a military vehicle he was riding on hit an improvised explosive device in the Kigi district of Bingol. The other soldier was killed in clashes with suspected PKK militants in Siirt province. One other soldier was wounded in the fighting, Dogan said. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey. BERLIN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP's takeover bid for German semiconductor equipment company Aixtron is a regular business action and should not be interfered with politically again, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Germany (CHKD) said in a statement on Thursday. "The companies located in Germany are concerned about the fact that relevant governmental authorities in Germany are once again politically interfering in investment from China and have no understanding of the short-term contradictory decision of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany (BMWi)," according to the Berlin-based institution. The statement also noted that political unpredictability and uncertainty would not only worsen the investment climate in Germany and lead to losses for investors, but would also have a negative impact on the credibility of the German federal government. BMWi withdrew the clearance certificate for Grand Chip a few days ago. The ministry has reopened the review of the 670-million-euro (732.06 million U.S. dollar) deal after it was initially approved on September 8. It follows the interference of the German federal government in Chinese home appliances giant Midea Group's takeover of German robot maker Kuka in June. In August, the German government announced it would not hinder the deal, as it would not endanger Germany's security. "The relevant government authorities in Germany should not, on the one hand, demand the opening of the Chinese market, but at the same time repeatedly create barriers to market activity. Such protectionist tendencies will soon be detrimental to the development of the German and European economy," emphasized CHKD, which represents Chinese business in Germany. GAZA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian official said on Thursday that Israel has decreased the amount of goods allowed into the Gaza Strip until further notice. The Palestinian liaison officer and coordinator in charge of goods shipment into the Gaza Strip, Raed Fattouh, told Xinhua that Israeli authorities informed them of the reduction of trucks allowed into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, down from 450 to 500 trucks to 340 trucks a day. Fattouh said the "surprise" decision went immediately into effect with no end date declared, stressing that the new measures come as Palestinians demand an increase in the number of trucks allowed into Gaza. No Israeli reaction regarding the announcement was available. Independent parliamentarian Jamal Al-Khudary, who heads the Popular Committee to Defy the Israeli Blockade, warned of consequences of this step by Israel on the economically exhausted Gaza Strip. This step affects "the basic needs and basic food stuff and would pull Gaza into new crises to hit what is left of partial economic resilience," Al-Khudary said in an emailed press statement. Gazans will suffer both direct and indirect losses, including the shortage of goods and increased prices as well as damage to the already ailing transportation, commercial and industry sectors, he said, urging the international community to "save 2 million Palestinians living in the Strip under dire conditions." Israel has used the Kerem Shalom crossing as the sole commercial crossing with Gaza since the beginning of 2012, after closing four other crossings around Gaza, while using the Erez Crossing only for the passage of individuals, such as businessmen and humanitarian cases into Israel or the West Bank. Israel imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip since the Islamic Hamas movement seized control over it by force after uprooting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces in 2007. NAY PYI TAW, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's new Investment Law will take effect with its regulations on April 1 next year, an official of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) told the media in Nay Pyi Taw Thursday after a Consultation Workshop for Implementing Regulation of the Myanmar Investment Law was held. The new Investment Law was endorsed on Oct.18 with the approval of both Houses. The law which was drafted in 2013 based on suggestions from experts and businessmen with the help of International Finance Corporation (IFC) combines the Foreign Investment Law drafted in 2012 and the Citizens' Investment Law drafted in 2013. U Aung Naing Oo, who is director general of the DICA and secretary of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), said that the drafting process of regulations is underway and will be completed in January, 2017. Unlike the previous one, the new law stipulates that tax breaks are only enjoyed by those who invest after the new law comes into effect. Under the new law, tax privileges of the existing investment will remain only for those which export their products abroad. Domestic investments as well as foreign direct investments both enjoy the privileges. According to MIC, Myanmar drew 662.835 million U.S. dollars of foreign direct investment in the first half of the fiscal year 2016-2017. The total foreign direct investment in the country amounted to 64.97 billion U.S. dollars as of September since late 1988. China topped the investment line-up, accounting for 28.46 percent of the total investment. WINDHOEK, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- An African Union (AU) delegation handed over a cheque worth 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Namibia government during a courtesy call to Namibia's Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Thursday in the capital Windhoek. The delegation is undertaking a humanitarian assessment mission that started from Oct. 23 and ends on Friday. Ambassador Lamine Yahiaoui, permanent representative of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to the African Union, said their mission is to assess how the drought situation affected Namibia and they also want to show solidarity with Namibia. "Collectively we need to contribute to save lives and we hope this will contribute to the aid that Namibia so much needs," he added. Namibia's Prime Minister said that Namibia highly values and appreciates the initiative of the African Union to support fellow member states currently undergoing humanitarian emergencies. "The donation will go a long way in addressing the gaps in our humanitarian response," she added. The Prime minister added that the drought in Namibia has affected 729,314 people and the bulk of that figure live in the rural areas and are in need of direct food assistance. BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Unrestricted power or any unsupervised Party members are not allowed to exist within the Communist Party of China (CPC), said a statement released after a key CPC meeting on Thursday. Supervision is the fundamental guarantee for exercising power properly, as well as a crucial measure for strengthening and regulating political life within the Party, according to the communique of the sixth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which ran from Monday to Thursday. Party organizations and leading officials must not hide violations of Party discipline and laws, or problems reported by Party members, and must deal with such issues in a timely manner, said the communique. It added that leading officials involved in issues reported should not participate in, intervene or meddle with investigations. LONDON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May Thursday welcomed an announcement by Japanese car maker Nissan that it is to build new models at its plan in Sunderland. As well as protecting thousands of jobs in England's northeast, the decision will be seen as a boost for Britain's post-Brexit ambitions. The news came just hours after the announcement that the British economy grew 0.5 percent in the the quarter after the June 23 referendum decision to quit the EU. There had been fears major industries would consider leaving or reducing activities in Britain in the event of a hard Brexit. Commentators immediately said the Nissan decision will strengthen Britain's stance for its tough Brexit negotiations with Brussels. Most of the vehicles built at the plant are exported, many to Europe. May said in a statement from 10 Downing Street: "The government will continue to work closely with employers and investors in creating a global Britain, a country where there are new opportunities for jobs and rewarding careers." DAMASCUS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least six Syrian children were killed on Thursday by rebel mortar shelling on government-controlled areas in the northern city of Aleppo, state news agency SANA reported. The shelling targeted the National School in the Shahba neighborhood in Aleppo, as well as residential areas in the Hamadaniyeh neighborhood in western Aleppo. SANA said the rebels in the Zahra neighborhood targeted the school. The attack came just a couple of days after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said Russian airstrikes on rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib killed 22 schoolchildren. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Chirkin described the Idlib deaths as horrible, expressing the hope that "we were not involved." "It's the easiest thing for me to say no, but I'm a responsible person, so I need to see what my Ministry of Defense is going to say," Churkin said. Violence has reached a new high in Syria recently after efforts to revive a cessation of hostilities failed in the war-torn country. By Sportswriters Cao Jianjie and Guo Shuang BEIJING/LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese sailor Guo Chuan went missing after being thrown into the water by high winds or a rocking boat during his trans-Pacific sailing, Guo's support team said on Thursday. The team said he was suspected to have fallen in the water between 15:15 and 15:30 Tuesday Beijing time. The 51-year-old Chinese sailor was attempting to sail from San Fransico to Shanghai in 20 days or less for a new solo trans-Pacific world record. The U.S. Coast Guard have suspended the active search for the missing mariner, who lost contact while sailing his 97-foot super trimaran 500 nautical miles off the west of Hawaii. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, sent from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, conducted six search patterns in the vicinity of the trimaran. The USS Makin Island deployed a Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopter once they were in range to attempt contact with Guo. Their hails over the radio went unanswered and weather conditions prevented safe deployment of a rescue swimmer to the vessel. They followed up by deploying a rigid-hulled inflatable boat and crew to conduct a boarding of the trimaran. The boatcrew confirmed Guo was not on the vessel although his life jacket remains aboard. Marine and navigation experts on Guo's team blamed Guo's disappearance on the jib, a triangular staysail that sets ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel, which was seen broken from the ship and floating on the water. Following a research of videos, photos and phone transcripts from rescuers, the experts agreed on two scenarios that led to Guo's disappearance. When Guo tried to lower the jib against high winds, a difficult task for a solo sailor, the jib suddenly fell. Guo tried to prevent the sail from dropping into the water while standing at the narrow head of the ship. The ship rocked and Guo fell. The second scenario could happen when Guo dealt with an accidental fall of the jib. Guo unknotted the harness for wider movement on the ship to drag the jib onboard, which got heavier after getting wet. A heavy wave could have thrown the sailor off board. An expert on Guo's team said it was difficult for a solo trimaran sailor to lower a jib or drag a soaked sail from the water. In any of two cases, the sailor has to untie his harness to complete the job, he said. Guo's team said the sailor had been in a normal mental and physical condition before the accident happened. Guo set sail on his trimaran near San Francisco, embarking on a solo voyage to Shanghai. He was last heard just after 15:00 Tuesday Beijing time when his trimaran sailed 500 nautical miles off the west of Hawaii, his support team said. The Chinese sailor aiming to set a new solo non-stop trans-Pacific world record, piloted the 'Qingdao China' west across the starting line under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Guo, who had a world record to his name for a 138-day solo non-stop circumnavigation, told a Xinhua reporter in an earlier interview that the greatest fear for a sailor was to fall in the water. The current trans-Pacific speed record is 21 days, set by crews on board the Italian Maserati. LONDON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Britain's economy in the immediate quarter after Brexit showed a modest growth rate of half a percent, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed Thursday. While the growth in the July-September quarter was slower than the 0.7 percent growth in the second quarter, it was higher than the 0.3 percent predicted by analysts. Figures show GDP grew 2.3 percent in the third quarter compared with the same quarter in 2015. This is the first release of GDP figures covering a full quarter of data following the EU referendum. Before the June 23 referendum when Britons voted to leave the European Union, some economists and politicians had been warning of a catastrophe for the British economy in the event of a vote to leave. "The pattern of growth continues to be broadly unaffected following the referendum with a strong performance in the services industries offsetting falls in other industrial groups," said the ONS. Commenting on the GDP figures, ONS chief economist Joe Grice said the data provide the most comprehensive picture so far of the post-referendum UK economy. "While quarterly growth has fallen slightly, the economy has continued to expand at a rate broadly similar to that seen since 2015 and there is little evidence of a pronounced effect in the immediate aftermath of the vote." "A strong performance in the dominant services industries continued to offset further falls in construction, while manufacturing continued to be broadly flat." In July-September, the services industries increased by 0.8 percent. In contrast, output decreased in the other three main industrial sectors with construction dropping by 1.4 percent, agriculture by 0.7 percent and production by 0.4 percent, within which manufacturing decreased by 1 percent. The figures released Thursday are the last set of GDP data before Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond makes his autumn statement on the economy to the House of Commons next month. In one of the first responses to the figures, Britain's main trade union body TUC representing millions of workers called on Hammond to boost jobs and pay packets. TUC chief Frances O'Grady said: "We can't yet say what impact Brexit will have on our economy, but these figures show there's no room for complacency. British manufacturing is still struggling, and now faces real uncertainty following the vote to leave the EU. "The government must use next month's autumn statement to boost Britain's jobs and wages. This means investing in infrastructure like roads, rail and homes, and raising the national minimum wage." NEW DELHI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- India on Thursday expelled a Pakistani High Commission official on charges of espionage after claiming to have caught him and two Indian nationals with some "sensitive defense documents and maps." Indian External Affairs Ministry summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit and told him that the Pakistani official, identified as 35-year-old Mehmood Akhtar, has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, and that he and his family must leave this country within 48 hours. However, refuting India's charges, the Pakistani High Commissioner has claimed that Akhtar was "detained and manhandled in violation of the Vienna Convention". Earlier in the day, Akhtar and the two Indian nationals were nabbed by the Delhi Police for alleged spying. Cops claimed the trio were caught red-handed near Delhi Zoo while the two Indians were handing over sensitive defense documents to Akhtar, following a tip-off by Indian security agencies. While the Pakistani official who works in the High Commission's visa section, was not arrested and let off after questioning due to his diplomatic immunity, the two Indian nationals -- Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir -- were arrested, a senior police official said. In fact, Indian intelligence agencies have been for some time keeping a tab on a few employees of Pakistan's High Commission after a spy network allegedly linked to the Pakistani intelligence agency was busted last year, and five persons were also arrested, the official said. The expulsion of the High Commission staff member came amid increasing tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack on an Army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir last month, in which 19 soldiers died and more than 30 others sustained injuries. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, a claim denied by the latter. Both India and Pakistan stake out claim to Kashmir and have fought at least three major wars over the disputed territory in the past 65 years. People are seen at the exhibitions on biodiversity, technology and culture held on the sideline of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, or Habitat III, in the city of Quito, capital of Ecuador, on Oct. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Santiago Armas) By Chris Dalby QUITO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN's Habitat conferences have more pressure on them to succeed than most. Happening once every 20 years, the third iteration, Habitat III, wrapped up in Quito last week with the adoption of the New Urban Agenda. The UN hailed the New Urban Agenda as a roadmap to offer equal opportunities to all citizens in cities, to improving air quality, and to improving basic services. The concept of Smart Cities featured prominently in Quito, including the use of new technologies in urban development. However, while numerous participants detailed different ideas on how to harness technology to tackle urban challenges but the final document of the Agenda did not necessarily reflect that. Perhaps due to the complexity of finding common solutions to boundlessly diverse realities, the New Urban Agenda was felt to be lacking specifics. "While the New Urban Agenda did a great job of bringing a worldwide consensus about the challenges we face in the coming two decades, its reference to the role of technology and data was shy of clear actions. There is a clear mention -though modest- of the role of technology and data moving forward," said Charbel Aoun, a non-executive director at Future Cities Catapult, a British organization supporting the development of smart cities. "I expected more specific answers...as opposed to echoing a globally acknowledged consensus and potential value coming from more structured and committed use of data," he said in an interview to Xinhua. Aoun echoed other experts in explaining that the worldwide spread of technology and its runaway development are essential to the democratization of solutions to urban problems. While numerous areas around the world lack access to electricity, clean water, safe transportation, or healthcare, cell phones have become ubiquitous. "These smart devices have broken the digital divide and economic disparity. We are being offered a unique access to people and people are being offered a unique access to a world of info via this little screen," explained Aoun. Numerous technological solutions have been suggested for how people could interact with their urban environment as the foundation of smart cities. Pollution in China and beyond has already seen apps providing air contamination levels surge in popularity. However, this is but scratching the surface of the integrated information that could be provided. Air quality could be joined by reams of public data, including restaurant inspection results, museum opening hours, transport timetables and parking information. Another aspect of smart cities that has not been widely discussed is that of private adoption of facilities. The likes of Uber and Airbnb have arisen from private initiatives to carpool and couch-share. The same spirit of goodwill could be rolled on a different scale. If someone lives next to some public greenery, they can "adopt" it and take care of its maintenance, saving the city money. If a bus shelter has been spray-painted, someone can register that they will clean it on their own time. Ana Gonzalez is executive director of COPEVI, an influential housing NGO, which was part of the Mexican delegation to Habitat III. She sees such ideas taking slowly hold in the country. "In Mexico City, and perhaps in other cities of the country, more technology is constantly entering to supervise administration and government procedures, mobility and public security," she explains. People enjoy the scenery as their shadows are reflected in a puddle of water in the early morning at the Bund in Shanghai, the landmark of Shanghai, east China, Sept. 22, 2014. (Xinhua/Lai Xinlin) However, Gonzalez points out that such options lie in the hands of those who have access to the right technology and WiFi. "There is still a long way to go to see the true inclusion of poor women and children. Infrastructure in their neighborhoods, schools and offices is still deficient." Gonzalez hints at a real problem that may be at odds with some of the priorities outlined at Habitat III. While smart cities technology featured prominently, more attention was given to the plague of informal settlements, such as slums. As urban sprawl has been spurred on by a steady flow of migrants around the world, public budgets and services have struggled to keep up. This makes much of the functional technological applications of urban development moot, since they rely on at least some level of accessible and reliable data. Juan Pablo Duhalde, director of social affairs for TECHO International, a civil organization focusing on helping those living in informal settlements, felt that Habitat III needed to focus on the broader aims. According to Duhalde, it is a priority for Habitat III's vision to be translated into policies that improve the general of quality of life, with an emphasis on initiatives which promote fair access to quality land, basic services, removing homelessness and projects of social integration. "Instead of smart cities, we should speak about democratic cities, which is what we need today. For this, current housing policies must be redesigned, for the great masses of standardized housing to be converted into quality housing, which allow for the buying and improvement of a home," he said. Habitat III had a tough mission from the start, collating the experiences of urban development over the last 20 years and needing to provide guidelines for the next 20. One word returned time and time again: democracy. Democracy in letting people participate actively in improving their urban environments and engaging with their governments. The New Urban Agenda calls on cities to be "participatory, promote civic engagement, engender a sense of belonging and ownership among all their inhabitants." But one important question remains, which only individual cities and communities may find the answer to. Through technology, education, or social programs, as Aoun asks, how can we create a community of interested people that can come together to identify local problems, agree to solve them and decide on how to solve them? BRUSSELS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- NATO defense ministers on Thursday agreed to move forward cooperation with the European Union (EU) in curbing illegal migration, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told media. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and the defense ministers of Finland and Sweden also joined the second day of NATO's ministerial meeting. Highlighting that the NATO-EU cooperation was now closer than before, Stoltenberg said, "In December, Federica and I will report to ministers on the practical steps NATO and the EU are taking to move our cooperation to the next level." He announced that NATO defense ministers had decided to continue NATO's deployment in the Aegean Sea to help stem illegal migration. In February, NATO deployed ships to the Aegean Sea to support Greece and Turkey, as well as the EU's border agency Frontex, in their efforts to tackle the refugee and migrant crisis. "Thanks to our joint efforts, together with Greece and Turkey, the flow of migrants has decreased substantially," Stoltenberg said. NATO defense ministers also decided that NATO's new Operation Sea Guardian would support the EU's anti-migrant smuggling mission, Operation Sophia. "Within two weeks, NATO ships and planes will be in the Central Mediterranean, ready to help increase the EU's situational awareness and provide logistical support," Stoltenberg added. The discussions also included ways to deepen NATO-EU cooperation in the areas of countering hybrid threats, cyber defense, coordinated exercises and supporting partners, according to the statement released by NATO. Related: EU presents first report on migration partnership framework BRUSSELS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Tuesday presented its first progress report on the implementation of the partnership framework with third countries to more effectively manage migration together. Full story EU summit convenes to discuss migration, trade, Russia Image taken on June 24, 2015 shows Gabriel Molina, the winemaker in charge of Premium wines of Trivento Winery, reviewing the barrels, in Maipu city, Mendoza province, Argentina. (Xinhua/Martin Zabala) BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China has great potential as a wine export market for Argentina, due to growing demand, Argentinean experts said on Wendesday. "Wine has recently become fashionable in Asia. If we look at China, the market remains relatively small, but presents great potential for the coming decades," Cristobal Lapania, director general of the Don Cristobal wine company, and Lucia Espejo, an oenologist with the company, told Xinhua. They remarked that "in China, wine is frequently used as a gift, to welcome someone or as a status symbol. It is very common for wine to be given as a gift for the Chinese New Year." Furthermore, wine imports into the northern port of Tianjin increased in the first nine months of this year by 46 percent to reach 62 million liters, for a value of over 130 million U.S. dollars, according to the Tianjin Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. The Don Cristobal firm was also awarded one of the top prizes of the Decanter World Asia Wine Awards 2016, held in Hong Kong, and organized by the prestigious Decanter wine magazine. The winning wine was the Triana Cosecha 2011, elaborated with three types of grapes, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. "It is always good, especially in new markets, to obtain important prizes as we obtained from Decanter. Frequently, such prizes are what influence people at the moment of buying," said Lapania and Espejo, who added that Don Cristobal takes part in at least two wine fairs in Asia a year. Protesters rally in front of the European Union (EU) headquarters during a demonstration against the EU-U.S. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada, in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Sept. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan) BRUSSELS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Thursday welcomed the breakthrough on Belgian parliaments' impasse over the bloc's landmark trade deal with Canada after intense and lengthy negotiations. European Council President Donald Tusk said he was glad for the good news from Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, who earlier announced Belgian parliaments had agreed to approve the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Tusk tweeted that only once all procedures were finalized for the EU signing CETA would he contact Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. All 27 EU member states approved the signing of CETA except Belgium, whose regional Wallonia parliament had for weeks strongly opposed the idea, saying it jeopardized European farmers' interests and granted inappropriate power to international enterprises. The deadlock had not been broken until Thursday at 12:00 p.m. local time (2200 GMT), when Michel announced that all Belgian parliaments were now in a position to approve CETA by Friday at midnight. "Important step for EU and Canada," the Belgian prime minister wrote on his Twitter account. Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament who participated in a series of talks with the Canadian and Belgian sides on CETA, praised the Belgian move. "Welcome today's breakthrough on CETA. Listening to and respecting citizens' concerns, dialogue, compromise, and a bit of patience were the key to it," he tweeted. HELSINKI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nokia's net sales and operating profit in the third quarter declined from the same period a year ago, but improved largely on a quarter-on-quarter basis, the Finnish information technology company said in its interim report on Thursday. Compared with the same period in 2015, Nokia's net sales (non-IFRS) in the third quarter this year decreased by 7 percent to reach 5.95 billion euros(6.50 billion U.S. dollars), and its operating profit (non-IFRS) was 556 million euros, falling by 18 percent. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the company's net sales increased by 5 percent, and its operating profit rose by 67 percent. The earnings turned out to be better than the forecast of 430 million euros given earlier in a Reuters poll of analysts. While the general income declined, it was offset by the performance of Nokia Technologies, which achieved a 109 percent increase in net sales and a 168 percent growth in operating profit compared with the third quarter last year. The sharp year-on-year increase was largely boosted by revenues related to the Samsung licensing agreement, explained Rajeev Suri, CEO of Nokia. Suri believed Nokia remains well-positioned for the weak market environment. Mikael Rautanen, analyst of Finnish equity analysis company Inderes, described Nokia's results as "a defensive victory", especially after its rival Ericsson's quarterly profit plunged by more than 90 percent. Rautanen told Finnish investment magazine Arvopaperi on Thursday that Nokia seemed to have performed clearly better than Ericsson under difficult market conditions. LIVERPOOL, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A letter written to Queen Elizabeth II by Beatle John Lennon when he returned his MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) to Buckingham Palace has been valued at 60,000 British pounds (73,041.64 U.S. dollars), it was revealed here Thursday. The hand-written letter was brought forward on Wednesday at a special Beatles memorabilia day held at The Beatles Story exhibition in Liverpool when auctioneers Julien's Auctions were putting values on The Beatles items. It had been found among a collection of records bought for just 10 pounds at a car trunk sale 20 years ago. Written by Lennon to Queen Elizabeth II, the letter explained why he had returned his MBE, awarded to each member of the band in the Queen's honors. According to a spokeswoman for The Beatles Story, the owner of the letter, who wished to remain anonymous, brought the letter at The Beatles Story on Wednesday, where members of the public were being offered free valuations. "The letter was discovered tucked away inside the sleeve of a record that was part of a collection of 45s (45 rpm records). The letter, which was recently unearthed in the owner's attic, has been described as an 'incredible find' by music memorabilia expert Darren Julien of Los Angeles-based Julien's Auctions." Until the meeting with Julien on Wednesday night, the owner of the letter had presumed it must have been a copy and was stunned to discover it could be worth such a huge sum of money, added the spokeswoman. Julien, director at Julien's Auctions, said he was thrilled to have uncovered such a hidden gem during his brief visit to Liverpool. "Being the birthplace of The Beatles, I was quite confident that we would uncover something special during the memorabilia day at The Beatles Story," Julien said. "This is a real stand out piece. I believe this letter has the potential to sell for a lot of money at auction, around 60,000 pounds." He said there was no doubt it was Lennon's hand writing and said it could be "The Beatles find of the year." Julien's theory on how the letter ended up in the hands of a member of the public is that Lennon never actually sent this version to the Queen when he famously returned his MBE. "You can quite clearly see that the signature in this letter has been smudged. My theory is that John Lennon never sent this draft because of the smeared ink. If you're writing to the Queen, you want the letter to look pretty perfect, you don't want the ink to be smudged. This suggests that he wrote a second version of the letter, which was the one that was actually sent to The Queen," he said. Martin King of The Beatles Story added: "This is an absolute gem and we are thrilled to have seen a piece of memorabilia with such historical significance. Ironically, Oct. 26 was the day the Beatles received their MBEs from The Queen so it's quite fitting that the letter was brought in to us on the exact same date." The letter was just one of a number of items valued during the memorabilia day at The Beatles Story. Another major find at the valuation was a painting of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. It was salvaged from the original Cavern Club in Liverpool when it closed its doors in 1973 and was valued at 5,000 pounds. The owner of the painting, Hal Morris, worked as a cleaner at the club and was given the portrait of the drummer by a builder who was about to throw it into a skip. SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- An Indian military trooper was killed and another wounded Thursday in a gunfight on Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir, officials said. The gunfight, according to the Indian military, broke out in Tanghdar sector of frontier Kupwara district, about 152 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Today troops intercepted a group of infiltrators attempting to infiltrate inside our territory," a defense official said. "The infiltrators fired upon the troops which was retaliated. However, in the ensuing gunfight a trooper was killed and another wounded." Reports said reinforcements have been rushed to the spot to trace infiltrators and searches were going on in the area. LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India- and Pakistan-controlled parts. A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region. New Delhi blames Islamabad for infiltrating militants into Indian-controlled Kashmir. However, Islamabad denies the charge saying it only provides moral and political support to Kashmiris. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. NAIROBI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's security officer on Thursday shot dead a man of Somali origin outside the United States embassy in Nairobi. Gigiri divisional police commander Vitalis Otieno said the man had grabbed one of the officers manning the entrance gate to the visa section and stabbed him, injuring him in the head and hand. In self-defence, the injured police officer shot and killed the man, Otieno said, adding that the motive of the assailant is still under investigation. Otieno told Xinhua that the unidentified man had other accomplices who ran away from the scene. The U.S. embassy also confirmed the incident, saying no embassy personnel was injured. DAMASCUS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government forces succeeded on Thursday to retake the city of Soran, one of the largest cities in Hama province in central Syria, just weeks after the rebels had captured it, a monitor group reported. With reinforcements received over the past few weeks, the government forces completely regained control over Soran, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The London-based watchdog said the city was retaken by government forces Thursday after "intense shelling." Recapturing Soran enables the Syrian army's artillery to target rebel-held areas all the way to the southern countryside of the northwestern province of Idlib, one of the most important rebel strongholds in northern Syria. Syrian forces could also use Soran as leverage over the rebels in northern Hama countryside. The rebels captured Soran on Aug. 29 as part of a wide-scale offensive they unleashed in northern Hama to divert the attention of the Syrian forces from battles in the northern province of Aleppo, where the Syrian army were also making notable gains. NAIROBI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government on Thursday imposed a 12-hour curfew in the border region of Mandera following an Al-Shabaab terror attack at a guest house that left 12 dead. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery in a Kenya Gazette Notice said the regulation required people to remain indoors between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. in towns of Mandera, Omar Jillo, Arabia, Fino, Lafey Kotulo, Elwak and the environs extending to 20 kilometers from the Kenya-Somalia border. The order will come into effect on Oct. 27 and last until Dec. 27, according to the gazette, which was issued two days after the militants killed 12 Kenyans in Mandera town. The attackers used improvised explosive devices to break the metallic doors at the lodge before killing the 12 Kenyans in their rooms. Among the people killed in the Tuesday attack were ten non-locals who had visited the town for performances at schools. The terror group has carried out several attacks in Mandera. On Oct. 6, six people were killed after the militants attacked a residential plot in Bulla public works in Mandera town. Mandera Governor Ali Roba said he could not request additional security personnel as they are afraid of carrying out patrols. Instead, Roba asked the government to dispatch 300 police reservists to boost the county's security. "The border security programme should also be fast-tracked," he said. Nkaissery said Wednesday that the Interior ministry was collaborating with the military to set up a border command unit in Mandera. He added that they will also boost security along Mandera-Lamu border, which is prone to attacks due to its proximity to Somalia where the militants are based. Mandera residents have received the curfew with mixed reactions as some say the move will improve security while others questioned its effect. "We welcome the curfew since it will help improve security which has been at its low this year. I think it will help stabilize Mandera," said Adan Haji Banja, a local trader. Another resident Ibrahim Jelle, however, said the move would not do anything to improve security as curfew had been there before and nothing had improved. He asked the government to coordinate security agents in the region to improve the runaway insecurity in the area. AMMAN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Thursday signed a deal to set the price of natural gas to be supplied to industries in the country via a pipeline owned by an Egyptian company. The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Fajr Company for Natural Gas Transmission and Supply. Ten factories in Jordan have already submitted requests to be connected to the gas pipeline in Jordan to receive natural gas. Around 70 million cubic feet of natural gas will be supplied by Fajr to industries in Jordan, which imports about 97 percent of its energy needs annually and opened a terminal last year for liquefied natural gas (LNG) which enabled the country to import large quantities of LNG. The Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee is held in Beijing, capital of China, from Oct. 24 to 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo) BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has called on all its members to "closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core," a call to action that many observers believe will give the country the impetus to realize its two centenary goals. The call was included in a communique released Thursday after the sixth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which was held from Monday to Thursday. Party members were told to resolutely safeguard the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its central, unified leadership while pushing forward the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. That "the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core" was officially put forward at the meeting is "where the fundamental interests of the Party and state lie," said Liu Qibao, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department. It is also a fundamental guarantee for the adherence to and strengthening of the CPC leadership, Liu said after the meeting. The strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core is vital to China's targets to build an "all-round moderately prosperous society" for the CPC's centennial in 2021, and for it to become a "modern socialist country" in time for the PRC's centennial in 2049, said Liu Dongchao, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance. The meeting approved two documents on the discipline of the Party, including the norms of political life within the Party under the new situation and a regulation on intra-Party supervision. Liu Dongchao called the two documents "a perfection of the CPC's governance system, which will result in a better intra-Party political life," adding that the communique is "an embodiment of the Party's strengthened awareness of its responsibilities." UPHOLDING AUTHORITY The CPC has called on all Party members to firmly uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee. A leading core is vital to a country and a political party, the communique said, adding the entire Party should consciously maintain a high degree of consistency with the CPC Central Committee in thoughts, politics and actions. Ensuring the authority of the CPC Central Committee and the proper execution of orders of the Party are concerned with the destiny of the Party and the state, according to the communique. They are also concerned with the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups in China, and they are important purposes of strengthening and regulating intra-Party political life, the communique said. An overhaul of intra-Party political life was a pressing task for the CPC, if it was to weather the storm of challenges -- the ruling status, reform and opening up, market economy and other external factors -- it had to address the dangers rocking the boat, including the slacking of officials, incompetence, isolation from the people and corruption, it noted. It said the CPC needs to be empowered to successfully purify, perfect, reform and upgrade itself, resist corruption and withstand risks, thus, safeguarding the authority of the CPC Central Committee and the Party's unity, advancement and purity. Party organizations at all levels and all Party members, especially senior cadres, should conform to the CPC Central Committee and CPC theory, path, principle and policy, as well as decisions made by the CPC Central Committee. Party organizations at all levels and all Party members should firmly follow what the CPC Central Committee advocates, firmly implement what the CPC Central Committee decides, and must not do what the CPC Central Committee prohibits, according to the communique. The document also urged Party discipline to be thoroughly enforced with no exceptions made for any organizations or members. Every individual or organization is equal before Party discipline and none enjoys any prerogatives, it said. CORRUPTION FREE The CPC vowed to tackle corruption in its promotion system, putting an end to the buying and selling of official posts and vote rigging. According to the communique, requesting an official post, honor or special treatment is not allowed under any circumstances. The communique also underscored that bargaining with Party organizations or disobeying decisions made by Party organizations is forbidden. "No one should be allowed to consider Party officials as their private property," the document said, adding there should be no "personal favors" within the Party. There will no longer be any place for corrupt officials to hide in the CPC, the communique noted. In efforts to clean up Party politics, leading officials are banned from using their positions to seek benefits for friends and family. Family members and friends of leading officials will be banned from interfering in the work of leading officials, including personnel arrangements, the communique said. Stating that building clean politics and opposing corruption was an important task in strengthening and standardizing political life within the Party, the meeting called for the building of a system that ensures officials dare not, will not and cannot be corrupt. In addition, leading officials at all levels have no right to seek personal privilege, it said, adding that they should take the lead in implementing socialist core values and acting with integrity and self-discipline. The Party will stick to the policy of "no restricted zones, full coverage and zero tolerance" in its fight against corruption, it added. STRONGER SUPERVISION The communique stressed supervision as the fundamental guarantee for exercising power properly, as well as a crucial measure for strengthening and regulating political life within the Party. Unrestricted power or unsupervised Party members are not allowed to exist within the CPC, it said. "No prohibited zone or exception will be allowed in intra-Party supervision." Intra-Party supervision should be carried out in accordance with regulations and by observing the principles of democratic centralism, top-down organizational supervision, democratic supervision from the bottom to the top, and peer review or critique, said the communique. The mission of intra-Party supervision is to ensure the Party Constitution, its regulations and code of conduct are enforced effectively; to maintain Party unity and solidarity; and, primarily, to resolve Party leadership enervation and slackness in Party building and governance as well as discipline slackening, it said. Supervision will ensure Party organizations perform their due duties, that all members play vanguard and exemplary roles and leading officials are loyal, clean and accountable. The main targets of supervision are the CPC's top organs and officials, particularly senior officials, according to the communique. Intra-Party supervision should focus on Party members' observance of the Party Constitution and rules as well as the country's Constitution and laws, adherence to the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, official's integrity and self-discipline, and impartial exercise of official power. 19TH CPC NATIONAL CONGRESS The 19th CPC National Congress, a major event in the political life of the Party and the state, will be held in Beijing in the second half of 2017, according to the communique. The entire Party shall comprehensively implement the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as the third, fourth, fifth and sixth plenary sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee, the communique stressed. In the lead-up to the 19th CPC National Congress, the Party shall rally and lead people of all ethnicities to forge ahead with firm confidence; perform various jobs of the Party and the state, particularly preparatory work for thought, theories and organization, economic and social development, as well as ideological work; and safeguard social harmony and stability, the communique said. Two new members have been added to the CPC Central Committee to fill vacancies, who are Zhao Xiangeng and Xian Hui, formerly alternate members of the CPC Central Committee. The meeting also endorsed prior decisions to expel four former senior officials from the Party, including former Party chief of Liaoning Province and senior national legislator Wang Min, former Beijing deputy Party chief Lyu Xiwen, and former senior military officials Fan Changmi and Niu Zhizhong. Related: Intra-Party democracy is vital to CPC: communique BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Intra-Party democracy is vital to the Communist Party of China (CPC), and is fundamental to a positive, healthy internal political environment, according to a CPC communique issued Thursday. Full story Commentary: CPC unity with Xi as "core" vitally important ISTANBUL, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Thursday vowed to lure more global investment by eliminating obstacle that foreign entrepreneurs have been facing. "The Turkish government would provide all the opportunities to the global investors without any discrimination against anyone who invests in Turkey," the premier told a conference on investment in Istanbul. He said that the government had adopted new incentives for specific investments and privileged regions in the country. "We also determined privileged sectors and we will offer special incentives," Yildirim said, citing information technology, chemistry and logistics. Recent developments in Turkey, including a spate of suicide bombing attacks and an ongoing widespread purge in the wake of a failed military coup in July, have been making it harder for the country to woo more foreign investment. The investors praised as well Turkey's efforts in sustaining its economic growth with structural reforms. "The Turkish government develops innovative growth policies by forging synergy among fiscal, monetary and structural policies under challenging global economic conditions and political turmoil in neighboring regions," said David Hess, deputy chairman of the United Technologies Corporation. He noted that the investors were glad to hear the Turkish government's commitment to maintaining a well-functioning free market economy and the rule of law. The meeting gathered senior managers of companies from 14 countries, including the World Bank Group, Bank of China, Bombardier, BP, Renault, Microsoft, Vodafone and ZTE Corporation. WINDHOEK, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Rural tourism ventures in Namibia have welcomed the government's strategy geared towards transforming the tourism industry. Set in a far-flung village in northern Namibia, Helena Shitemba, who has been weaving baskets out of palm tree leaves from home since 2013, said on Thursday how she is hoping to benefit from the nation's tourism development plan. Like fellow women in the northern Oshikoto region, the prime target buyers for her woven baskets are tourists and locals seeking to buy traditional products, gifts and souvenirs unique to Namibia. Apart from direct sales, she uses various platforms to sell her products. "In addition to selling to some shops, I also participate in exhibitions and various trade fairs to promote my products," she said. Although she has established a good chain of clients, a boost to the tourism-oriented business ventures championed by the government could help reform her business into a lucrative trade. "My hope is that the government gives a lending hand to rural enterprises, especially those that rely on tourists for income generation," she said. Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism on Wednesday launched a national strategy on tourism, which aims to transform Namibia into a competitive tourism destination regionally and globally. According to Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism, the strategy will turn the local tourism sector into a world class industry over the next 10 years. This, according to the minister, will be achieved through support programmes for emerging entrepreneurs in the sector, economic empowerment of enterprises and their partners, support to communal conservancies and development of rural tourism. The minister said that if the current efforts of developing tourism products in a sustainable manner are strengthened, tourism will be a key catalyst for growth and national development across all sectors. "Key strategic interventions include building top class facilities and land has already been acquired for the construction of such facilities," according to Shifeta. In the meantime, minister Shifeta also indicated that the ministry has crafted a National Sustainable Tourism Growth and Investment Promotion Strategy, focusing on opportunities in the tourism industry to be implemented by the Ministry of Trade, Industrialization and SME Development. Meanwhile, Namibia Tourism Board chief executive officer Digu //Naobeb also welcomed the strategy, saying that it is timely. "The time is now for the regional council to make concerted efforts in supporting local tourism, through marketing and creating awareness about services and ventures in their regions to lucratively market their regions as potential destinations," said //Naobeb. Namibia's tourism sector is the third largest contributor to the country's economy. Like many traders in rural areas, Shitemba hopes that the efforts will be inclusive and address their needs. "I hope my trade is one of the many components of rural tourism that will be positively impacted by the implementations of this strategy, as assistance from the government can go a long way," said Shitemba. ISLAMABAD, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Thursday ordered an Indian embassy official to leave the country by Oct 29, only hours after the Indian government's decision to expel a Pakistani embassy staffer in New Delhi. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that the Indian High Commissioner was summoned and conveyed the decision of the Pakistani government to declare Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non grata. The ministry said in a statement that the Foreign Secretary,who had summoned the Indian envoy, expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms. "The Indian High Commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Surjeet Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by October 29,2016." the statement said. Earlier the day, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that a staff member of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was detained by the Indian authorities on Oct. 26 on "false and unsubstantiated charges."He was, however, released in about three hours on intervention by the High Commission. Delhi police said earlier in reported comments that they took the Pakistani embassy official, Mehmood Akhtar, for questioning after he was found "working" for the Pakistani spy agency and "obtaining secret Indian defense related information" for the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence. Pakistan later rejected the Indian allegations and deplored the Indian action which is "indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere." Diplomatic tensions increased at a time when troops of the two nuclear and uneasy neighbors are involved in firing exchanges that has caused casualties on both sides over the past few weeks. U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump poses for photos during the opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., the United States on Oct. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) By Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two weeks before the Election Day, U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is bashing President Barack Obama's controversial healthcare overhaul, but experts say this may not impact the upcoming election. "Obamacare is just blowing up," Trump said Tuesday at a rally, going on a tirade against Obama's landmark yet controversial healthcare law, after it was announced that Obamacare premiums will rise by around 25 percent next year. The tactic is a bid to cast doubt on rival Hillary Clinton's health care plans, as she said she would continue to implement Obamacare, as the healthcare revamp is known, rather than repeal and replace it as Trump plans to do if elected. Still, most U.S. voters have already made up their minds about which candidate they will vote for, and Trump's hammering of Obama's healthcare law may not do much to impact the outcome of the elections, experts said. "It is bad timing for Obamacare rates to go up right before an election. Republicans will use that in races all around the country. But it is not clear that this will help Trump. He is not very adept at using negative information to criticize Clinton," Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua. Surprisingly, there has been little attention to Obamacare in the last few months of this campaign, West noted. "If it were a bigger issue in the campaign, it would have more potential to help Trump with moderates. But since he hasn't devoted much time to that issue, it is not likely to alter the overall direction of the campaign," West said. Republicans talk about replacing Obamacare, but they never have revealed what their alternative looks like. This makes it more difficult for them to persuade voters that they have a viable alternative to Obamacare, he added. Dan Mahaffee, an analyst with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua the growing cost of healthcare premiums reflects some of the weaknesses in the original Obamacare law, as well as the difficulties in full implementation in the face of Republican opposition at the state level as well as in Congress. However, given that the legislation ensures that the American people have access to health care, even if there are pre-existing health conditions or part time employment, it remains very popular. In the absence of a coherent plan to replace the Obamacare, many Americans may decide that a "less affordable" health care act is still better than the unknown, as there is confusion about what exactly the Trump plan is, Mahaffee said. Trump's alternative is described in great detail on his website, and many could consider it a well-crafted alternative, but that has not been communicated well on the campaign trail or through the debates, he noted. "Moderate voters may feel the sticker shock of the price of their healthcare premiums, but the failure to communicate the alternative to the voters limits the upside of (Trump) pushing against Obamacare," Mahaffee said. Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, said that with two weeks left until Americans head to the polls, Trump's new focus on Obamacare may not help him much. "It might mitigate some of the damage that his campaign can do down ballot (in races other than the presidential one), but I think that he consumes so much attention and creates so much controversy, that it won't be as powerful as it would have been in any other presidential campaign, Zelizer said, referring to Trump's penchant for creating controversy. Related: Spotlight: Trump, Clinton clash over Obamacare, leaked emails, polls WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The recent dip of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the polls has sparked a new round of confrontation between the real estate mogul and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, as they wrangled over a group of issues such as Obamacare and poll performances. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported 51 confirmed cases of cholera from nine governorates in Yemen, with more than 1,180 suspected cases, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Thursday. The Yemeni Ministry of Public Health has reported six laboratory confirmed deaths related to cholera in Sana'a, Aden and Ibb, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. WHO is estimating that 7.6 million people are living in affected and at risk areas, he said. "There are delays in confirming the suspected cases of cholera since there are only two laboratories in the country, one in Sana'a and one in Aden," the spokesman said. "Humanitarian partners continue to provide people with water supplies in the affected areas and improve water infrastructure," he added. A cholera outbreak in Yemen has put an even greater strain on the country's already fractured health system. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said earlier this week that it is on the ground in the hardest hit areas chlorinating water sources, distributing hygiene kits and teaching families about prevention. A cholera outbreak across Yemen is the last thing the conflict-ridden country needed, but it was also expected given the collapse of the health system. More than 600 health facilities are not functioning, and many of those that are functioning are either poorly staffed or are running on minimum operating capacity. ATHENS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two emblematic Athens hotels which have put their mark on the city's tourism industry for more than half a century, the Athens Hilton and Astir Palace, changed ownership on Thursday. The Athens Hilton in the city center was sold for 142 million euros (154 million U.S. dollars) to Greek company Home Holdings SA, a member of TEMES SA, and the Amsterdam-based D-Marine Investments Holding BV, a subsidiary of Turkish Dogus Holding, Alpha Bank announced. According to a statement issued by the Greek lender who owned the hotel's managing company, the contract to sell its 97.3 percent majority stake in Ionian Hotels Enterprises SA, the shareholder of the Athens Hilton, was signed on Thursday. The transaction, which is subject to approval by the Greek Competition Commission in coming weeks, is part of the bank's restructuring plan to deal with the effect of the Greek debt crisis. The D-Marine Investments Holding-Home Holdings consortium won an international tender launched eight months ago. The Athens Hilton began operations in April 1963. Its guests' book has included numerous heads of states, famous artists and celebrities. Astir Palace Hotel which also changed hands on Thursday has been a destination for an elite clientele by the seaside in the Athens southern suburbs since 1960. Greece's privatization fund HRADF (Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund) which oversaw the tender launched three years ago, announced on Thursday the completion of the sale of 90 percent of the "Astir Palace Vouliagmeni Hotel SA" to Turkish-Arabic consortium Apollo Investment Holdco SARL for 393 million euros. National Bank will use the liquidity to further reduce its borrowing from the Emergency Liquidity Assistance Mechanism (ELA), the chairman of the lender's Board Louka Katseli told Greek national news agency AMNA. (1 euro=1.09 U.S. dollar) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Thursday described the latest report by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) in Syria as "unconvincing," saying that the report is "not substantiated by sufficient testimonial basis " UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Thursday described the latest report by the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) in Syria as "unconvincing," saying that the report is "not substantiated by sufficient testimonial basis " Vitaly Churkin, the Russian permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement at a closed meeting of the UN Security Council to consider the fourth report of the JIM. "We can say already now that in most cases they are not substantiated by sufficient testimonial basis, first of all material proof, they are full of contradictions and therefore, unconvincing," Churkin said. The OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) in Syria was established after the United Nations Security Council in August 2015, unanimously adopted resolution 2235, aimed at identifying those behind chemical weapons attacks in Syria. OPCW stands for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), an international organization based in The Hague. WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has provided the United States with additional files for the extradition request of Fetullah Gulen, a cleric whom Ankara accused of orchestrating the failed coup in July, Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said Thursday. At a news conference at the Turkish embassy in Washington D.C., Bozdag said the Turkish side submitted to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch three folders containing the additional information and documents requested by the United States. He called on the U.S. authorities to process the files and not to "ignore the legal procedure or the law." Turkey has repeatedly demanded Gulen's extradition following the attempted coup, while U.S. officials insisted that they can only extradite him if Turkey presents proof regarding his direct involvement in the coup. Turkey, a NATO ally for the United States, is a major member of the U.S.-led coalition in the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group. At the press conference, Bozdag said he did not believe Washington would "sacrifice" its friendship with Turkey for a leader of a terrorist organization. Gulen, who has lived in the United States since 1999, has denial Ankara's allegations. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department said Lynch and Bozdag discussed that in the U.S. and Turkey "extraditions are subject to the judicial process, and accordingly must meet the evidentiary standards of the requested country." The two officials pledged that their departments will continue the ongoing close and full cooperation, according to the statement. BOGOTA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- With talks officially set to begin Thursday between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), the Minister of the Interior, Juan Fernando Cristo, said that the talks would only proceed should the ELN free former congressman, Odin Sanchez. "The negotiators will not travel (to the talks) until we have certainty (of his liberation). If the start cannot happen today, the government is ready to do it tomorrow or Saturday, in the moment we have confirmation of the liberation," said Cristo at a press conference. President Juan Manuel Santos wrote on Twitter on Thursday night that he had not formally assigned negotiators for the talks with the ELN in Ecuador, since Sanchez had not been freed. According to Cristo, the decision taken by the president is that until Sanchez is safe and sound with his family, the negotiations will not begin. The opening ceremony, which had been planned for 5pm at the Capilla del Hombre museum in Quito, has now been suspended. The negotiating team, led by Juan Camilo Restrepo, a former minister, is poised to leave once the liberation is confirmed. On Twitter, the ELN confirmed its team had arrived in Quito on Wednesday but gave no news about Sanchez' release. CARACAS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Venezuelan opposition confirmed on Thursday that it would participate in dialogue with the government, in a meeting set for Sunday on the island of Margarita. Jesus Torrealba, executive secretary of the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), announced Thursday that his bloc would sit down with the government to seek to resolve the country's political crisis. However, while participating in talks to be mediated by the Vatican and the Union of South American Nation (UNASUR), the opposition bloc will continue its agenda to denounce the government's "breaking of the constitutional order." "The dialogue will take place in parallel to the strategies of citizen expression, in the Parliament and in the street," Torrealba told the private Union Radio. He added that the MUD would ask the government to either restart the recall referendum process, which were recently suspended by the National Electoral Council, or to call new general elections this year. "At this meeting, we will table a central topic, which is to recover the electoral agenda. Either they rehabilitate the process to activate a recall referendum...or they call new general elections this year," said the leader. However, Torrealba's declarations seemed to contradict former opposition presidential candidate and current governor of the state of Miranda, Henrique Capriles, who denied the MUD would attend the talks. For Torrealba, participating in the talks is the best way to seek a solution to the crisis. "Let it not be bullets and boots, but signatures...and the vote that decide the solution," he stated. Despite this willingness to talk, the MUD has called for a general strike on Friday as part of their show of strength to demand the recall referendum process proceed. HAVANA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa met with Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, and expressed his condemnation for the ongoing U.S.-led trade embargo against Cuba, local media reported on Thursday. De Sousa met with Castro on Wednesday, just hours after the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted for the 25th year in a row to condemn the embargo. Portugal's head of state hailed the results of the vote, "highlighting that his country condemns the globally rejected extraterritorial policy," state daily Granma reported. The United States, which consistently voted against the UN resolution calling for Washington to put an end to the half-century embargo, for the first time abstained, with the final vote being 191 countries in favor, none against and two abstentions (including Israel). A photo of their encounter showed a smiling and still bearded Castro, dressed in a blue track suit, engaged in conversation with De Sousa. Castro thanked De Sousa for his country's support of Cuba. Castro, who retired in 2006 following a serious intestinal ailment, governed Cuba for 48 years, spearheading the development of cutting edge medicine and biotechnology, despite crippling sanctions imposed by the embargo. De Sousa arrived in Cuba on Tuesday for an official three-day visit, accompanied by a business delegation, to boost economic and trade ties with Cuba. It is the first time a Portuguese president visits Cuba. He next travels to Colombia to participate in the 25th Ibero-American Summit in Cartagena de Indias, and later to Brazil, to attend the 11th Summit of the community of Portuguese-speaking countries. HELSINKI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Member of Parliament Mika Lintila was chosen by Finnish Center Party on Thursday to take the position as the Minister for Economy and Employment of Finland. He will succeed Olli Rehn, who has been elected to be one of the directors of the Bank of Finland. Lintila will formally start working in January 2017. The ruling party was split on the choice as it convened a joint meeting of its Parliamentary Group and the Party Executives on Thursday. Lintila was chosen after a narrow vote 37-33 against Mauri Pekkarinen. Mauri Pekkarinen has been a cabinet member several times while newly elected Lintila has no ministerial experience but has served in five parliaments. Lintila belongs to those centrist politicians who favor cooperation with the conservatives. He is known as the party's expert on taxation. Lintila was a key figure in 2012 when Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila, then a first-term MP, was campaigning to be elected as the chairman of the Center Party. Local analysts noted that Lintila as the economic minister will face tough questions such as the continued existance of the money losing Talvivaara nickel mine. The government will have to decide within a few months whether to keep the state-owned nickel mine operator Terraframe to close it. BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- California has benefited a lot from its business with China in terms of investment, job creation and growing number of Chinese tourists according to a recent report on Los Angeles Times. This report, entitled California actually benefits a lot from trade with China, sheds light on the growing trade ties between China and the U.S. state. Chinese money has seeped into almost every crevice of Californias economy inflating its cities skylines, flooding amusement parks and shopping malls with tour groups, snapping up $1-million-plus homes with all-cash offers, and quietly rejiggering the power balance in Hollywood, the report said. In terms of investment, the report said Chinese investors' money serves as a driving force behind a renaissance in construction. Lots of residents in California have witnessed the benefits of Chinese money flowing freely into the U.S., and more money was brought back to their pockets, their daily life got improved greatly, the report said. As for job creation, the report said most investments in California are either innovation or labor intensive or both. The explosion in Chinese imports also has fueled the creation of new jobs in California, thanks to the states bustling ports, it said. Tourism has also become an important contributor to both the economy and the employment in the state, it added. According to Visit California, a nonprofit agency that promotes tourism, Chinese tourists to California hit a record 1.1 million last year, and that number is expected to hit 1.5 million by 2018, the report said. The average Chinese tourist spends about 2,200 dollars per visit to California, $200 more than the typical foreign visitor, it said. Economist: Oil surge not good He said that with the country in recession a lot of fiscal changes had been made in the last year or so and the Prime Minister had even spoken recently about the need to reduce the dependency syndrome and the gimme gimme mentality. Therefore, if the price of oil were to suddenly surge by some act of God to US$80 a barrel, there is the probability and the possibility that we may reverse some of the decisions that were made. Dr Hosein was speaking with journalists after delivering the keynote address at a function at the TSTT Hospitality Box at the Queens Park Oval, Tragarete Road, Port of Spain, to launch Global Entrepreneurship Week Trinidad and Tobago. He added that, A lowered price of oil offers the possibility and the interventionary opportunity to change some of our gimme gimme mentality and gimme gimme habits and I would not like to see all the positive efforts we have made become eroded because of a price change. Oil prices have been rising of late following a decision last month by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut oil production. The members of the cartel are scheduled to meet in Vienna, Austria, on November 30, 2016 to ratify the decision and decide by how much to cut their output but the groups second largest producer, Iraq, said on Monday that it would not go along with the production cut because it needed more money to fight against militants of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). That announcement caused oil prices for Brent crude oil, the international benchmark crude, to slump on world markets to US$51.18 a barrel. The benchmark for the crude produced by this country is West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil which ended the trading day yesterday at U.S $49.30. For one week every year in November, thousands of events and competitions are held in 160 countries, inspiring millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while making connections with potential collaborators, mentors and investors. The event is organised and driven by the Kauffman Foundation, and is supported by dozens of world leaders and a network of more than 15,000 partner organisations. Law student among three held for fraud The student, who is in her third year at the University of the West Indies in the Faculty of Law, was arrested yesterday along with her sister and a male relative at their home in central Trinidad, by fraud squad detectives led by Head of the Fraud Squad, Senior Supt Totaram Dhookie. Acording to a police report, First Citizens Bank (FCB) in Couva, called in the fraud detectives and handed a certain document, purporting to be that of a job letter from the San Fernando City Corporation. The document bore the stamp of the corporation, but according to the police report, no such letter had been issued to the law student. Fraud squad detectives reported that the corporation had confirmed that one of its stamps was stolen from an office where a 27-year-old relative of the law student worked. The report stated that the letter was allegedly tendered at FCBs Couva branch for the purpose of obtaining a loan. Newsday learned that six charges have been laid against the law student, her sister and the male relative. The charges are: larceny of a stamp; two charges of uttering a forged document; two charges of forgery and an charge of conspiracy to defraud. The fraud squad detectives who conducted the investigations were Supt Kent Ghisyawan, Cpls Daren Badree; Sareal Bachu and Police Constable Kalil Hosein. The charges were laid by Hosein. Bail has not been granted to the thrio and up to yesterday they were in police custody. They would be taken before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde- John in the San Fernando Magistrates Court. The charges have been laid indictably. A 69-year-old man is to appear at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates court today to answer a charge of fraud in which he is alleged to have tendered a deed to a Justice of the Peace, for the securing of bail, for an accused. The charge alleged that the deed was alreadyused on two previous occasions and was therefore null and void to be posted for bail. The offence arose, a report stated, by the swearing to a declaration that the deed was clean. Brasso Seco memorial Sadly, by November 8, 2014, the bodies of Irma Rampersad, 49; Felix Martinez, 52; and Shania Amoroso, 14 months, were found. Rampersads two daughters - Janelle and Felicia - had been kidnapped, but were found alive. Azmon Alexander and a minor are before the Arima Magistrates Court facing charges of murder and kidnapping. Yesterday family members said they look forward to the conclusion of the case, so they can move on with their lives with closure. One person said that the two girls who had survived the ordeal are living in a safe house but otherwise are not doing well at all. Venezuelan paper: Ria may be in Tucupita A check of the website Tane Tanae Asi Paso showed a photo of Sookeo who was snatched on Thursday September 22 shortly after she dropped off her two children at school in Penal. The online publication reported that Sookdeos relatives had contacted the Venezuelan authorities for help in determining her whereabouts. The story, bad grammar included, stated: According to unofficial information, it was recently seen in the vicinity of a known shipping company, covering Delta Amacuro-Trinidad route. We thank the person who holds useful information that can lead to locate, transmit it to the security agencies. His family in the neighboring nation is deeply concerned need to dispel any doubt about its current condition and the risk that something may have happened. Checks with local police last night revealed that officers knew nothing of Sookdeo being seen in Venezuela and that there was no official interaction between local police and their Venezuelan counterparts on the abduction of Sookdeo. PNM group not satisfied with candidate It is not late for the Political Leader to make the change, Curvis Sinnette, who is leading the charge told Newsday yesterday. If a change cannot be made, Sinnette said, the members of five groups are in favour of withholding their votes at the election. The choice of the partys screening committee, Sinnette claims, has no grounding with the people. The choice, he claimed, was based on favouritism and not merit. In a letter sent to Rowley, Sinnette said that the selected person has no track record of helping people and does not have ground support. The group, which Sinnette leads, has called on the Rowley and Party Chairman Franklin Khan to retain the incumbent Enroy Slater who has served two terms, through a petition in which some 1,300 signatures were obtained. Slater had achieved much during his tenure, Sinnette said. According to Sinnette, the petition was submitted to Rowley and Khan on September 7. Since then there has been no response. Five times we went to the partys constituency office to see Dr Rowley but were unsuccessful, he said. Several attempts to contact Khan yesterday by phone were also unsuccessful. 10,500 people displaced due to Mosul operation: UN United States,Terrorism,Defence/Security, Wed, 26 Oct 2016 IANS United Nations, Oct 27 (IANS) More than 10,500 people have to date been recorded as internally displaced as a result of the Mosul military operation in Iraq, a UN spokesman told reporters here Wednesday. "The majority of the displaced are sheltering in host communities while others are sheltering at three displacement camps outside of Mosul," Xinhua news agency quoted UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying. Humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance to displaced families and wherever access allows, he said. Iraqi security forces recaptured more villages last Tuesday from the IS militants, as part of a major offensive which started on October 17 in a bid to liberate the city of Mosul, the last major IS stronghold in Iraq. Mosul, nearly 400 km from Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control. --IANS vgu/ Clinton leads Trump by 3 points: Poll United States,Politics, Wed, 26 Oct 2016 IANS Washington, Oct 27 (IANS) With less than two weeks to go, the race for the White House has narrowed as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton now has a three-point advantage over Republican rival Donald Trump, according to a new Fox News poll. The poll, released on Wednesday, showed Clinton leading 49-44 per cent in the head-to-head matchup. That 5-point advantage is at the edge of the error margin. She was up seven a week ago (49-42 per cent). Trump was helped by increased backing among independents and greater strength of support: 68 per cent of those backing the real-estate mogul support him "strongly", compared to 61 per cent for Clinton. Independents favoured Trump over Clinton by 13 points (41-28 per cent). He had a seven-point advantage last week, and two weeks ago they were tied at 35 per cent each. Trump leads among whites (+14 points) and men (+5), although his best groups remain white evangelical Christians (+56) and whites without a college degree (+28), the poll showed. Clinton has commanding leads among blacks (+77 points), unmarried women (+27), voters under 30 (+18), and women (+10). First-time voters are also more likely to back her (+16). The candidates garner almost equal backing among the party faithful: 83 per cent of Democrats back Clinton, while 81 per cent of Republicans support Trump. All in all, likely voters do not think Trump was up to the task of being President: less than half think he was qualified (46 per cent) and even fewer feel he has the temperament to serve effectively (36 per cent). Over half lack confidence in his judgment in a crisis (56 per cent). Clinton trounces Trump on each of those measures: 64 per cent believe she was qualified, 62 per cent has said she has the temperament, and 56 per cent are confident in her judgment. However, there were a couple of areas where the two are about evenly matched. First, 52 per cent feel Clinton "stands up" for people like them, and 49 per cent feel that way about Trump, the poll revealed. Also on their honesty -- or lack thereof: a record-low 30 per cent of likely voters think Clinton is honest and trustworthy, while 34 per cent said Trump is. The Fox News Poll is based on landline and cellphone interviews with 1,309 randomly chosen registered voters nationwide and was conducted from October 22-25. The survey includes results among 1,221 likely voters. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points for results among both registered and likely voters. --IANS ksk Centre announces package for apple growers Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) The union cabinet on Thursday approved a financial package of Rs 500 crore for apple growers of Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitender Singh, told the media that the fund formed part of a special package. He said 21,000 apple growers would benefit from the package. --IANS aks-sk/sm/mr Cabinet approves 2% hike in DA/DR for central staff, pensioners Delhi,Business/Economy,Politics, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a two per cent hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from July 1. The decision, taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will benefit about 50.68 lakh government employees and 54.24 lakh pensioners. "The cabinet has given its approval to release an instalment of DA to central government employees and DR to pensioners from July 1, 2016, representing an increase of 2 per cent of the revised basic pay/pension, to compensate for price rise," a statement read. "The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, based on 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations," it added. The cumulative effect of the hike on the exchequer will be Rs 5,622.10 crore per annum. The amount will be Rs 3,748.06 crore for eight months (July 2016 to February 2017) of the 2016-17 fiscal, the statement said. --IANS aks/tsb/bg Nigerian national held for staying illegally in India Haryana,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Gurgaon, Oct 27 (IANS) A Nigerian national was arrested on the charge of staying illegally in the country, police said on Thursday. The accused Wilsan Oeochukwu, 28, came to India on an education visa and was earlier staying in Vasant Kunj area of New Delhi. He was staying in a paying guest (PG) accommodation in DLF phase 3 area of Gurgaon for the last two months from where he was arrested. Oeochukwu hails from Nigeria's Benin city, police said. Police officer Surender Singh told IANS, "Oeochukwu was arrested from a PG in U block during a routine search operation. His visa expired in 2004 and he was staying illegally since then." The accused was on Thursday produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Gagandeep Mittal and was sent to jail under judicial custody for 14 days following the court order. --IANS pradeep/ask/bg No change in rank parity of armed forces personnel: Defence Ministry Delhi,National,Politics,Defence/Security, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) There has been no change in the rank structure or the status of Armed Forces personnel with respect to their civilian counterparts, the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday, terming media reports in this regard as "erroneous". Refuting media reports, the Ministry, in a release here, maintained that the government had issued no order lowering the status of military officers with respect to their civilian counterparts in the Armed Forces Headquarters, and asserted that there was no such move either. "It is clarified that there has been no down-gradation or any change in the existing equivalence of the Service ranks whatsoever. The existing functional equivalence as clarified in 1991 and further reiterated in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2005 has only been re-affirmed," it added. Media reports, quoting a ministry circular dated October 18, "are erroneously stating that the equivalence has been disturbed and status of Service officers has been downgraded", it said. "It is further clarified that the present reiteration of rank equivalence, is only for matters of assigning duties and functional responsibilities as is already existing in different offices of the respective Service Headquarters of the Army, Navy and Air Force having component of service personnel as well as civilian officers," it said, adding that this has no bearing on civilian employees outside these offices of the service headquarters. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Tuesday assured that the ministry would check if ranks of armed forces personnel have changed vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts, and any discrepancies would be rectified in a week. According to the October 18 circular, a Major General in the army and equivalent -- Rear Admiral in the navy and Air Vice Marshal in the air force -- will be equal to a principal director in the civil service ranks at AFHQ. A Brigadier in the army, and equivalents -- Commodore in the navy and Air Commodore in the air force -- will be equal to a director, and a Colonel in the Army -- Captain in the navy and Group Captain in the air force -- will be equal to a joint director in the civil service. Earlier, a Colonel was equated with a director, Brigadier was treated at par with a deputy director-general, and a Major General was treated as equivalent to a joint secretary. Parrikar, however, said that the classifications do not reflect the status, but are related to "functional responsibilities", and added that it is being studied. --IANS sk-vd/dg Women have the highest status in Islam: Former CEC Delhi,National,Politics,Religion,Immigration/Law/Rights, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) Women have the highest status in Islam and the Muslim community must see things with a liberal interpretation now, former Chief Election Commissioner of India S.Y. Quraishi said on Thursday. Speaking in the backdrop of the ongoing debate about Triple Talaq, Quraishi said: "Muslim women have the highest status in Islam and no other religion has such concept of equality." Giving examples of property rights of women in Islam and right to education he said: "There is a perception that women are suppressed. The government must think that the laws are sacred within a community as they are seen with liberal interpretations now." "We all (Muslims) should also unite together and not give anyone a chance to interfere with our religious laws," Quraishi said. Speaking at a function on the 96th foundation day of Jamia Milia Islamia, Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmad said there is a need to focus on education of minority communities in the country, especially the Muslims, for them to progress in society. "The community will progress only when everyone receives education." "Given the circumstances, we do not have to let any community remain backward in any aspect," he added. University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Ved Prakash said the country needs to place its education system right. "We need to sit together and interpret in terms of curricular and ensure diversity there in," Prakash said. The function was held to inaugurate a "Talimi Mela" (educational fair) in the campus. Various other programmes, including Art and photography exhibitions, lectures by academicians, film screenings and cultural shows were also held at the campus in the ongoing three-day celebrations. --IANS ruwa/in/dg 3 years on, families of blast victims at Modi rally wait for jobs Bihar,National,Politics,Features,Human Interest/Society, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Patna, Oct 27 (IANS) It's been three years since they were promised jobs and other benefits, by none other than then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. But for the families of the six people killed in serial blasts at Patna Gandhi Maidan on October 27, 2013, the wait continues. The promises were made to them by Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, after six persons -- Rajnarain Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Bindeshwar Chowdhury, Bharat Rajak, Vikas Kumar and Munna Srivastava -- were killed in bomb blasts that rocked the Patna Gandhi Maidan venue, just ahead of Modi's address at a massive rally there. The families are disappointed. Neither has any Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader approached them so far, and nor have officials of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) contacted them in the three years. "We have lost faith in the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who promised a job to me," Veena Devi, widow of Vikas Kumar, told IANS. Veena recalled that in the first week of November 2013, Modi himself visited her at her native Nishiza village in Kaimur district and promised to provide a job to her in the same village on behalf of the Gujarat government. He also assured to provide free education to her two minor children, Sakshi and Rishabh, in a Sainik School. "But, to date, nothing has happened," said Veena, who has been struggling for her and children's survival since her husband's death. And, why just her? Shankar Razak, son of deceased Bharat Rajak, said "It is useless to talk of the promises made to me and my family by top BJP leaders and Modi himself." "I was hopeful and sure to get a job after Modi became the Prime Minister. But I have been waiting for a call from his office for the last three years," Shankar Razak told IANS. More or less similar stories were told by the family members of Rajnarain Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Bindeshwar Chowdhury and Munna Srivastava. "What is the use of talking about it now? The BJP and Modi have forgotten the promises made to us," a family member of Munna said. Meanwhile, using the unfulfilled promises as a tool to beat the political rivals with, ruling Janata Dal-United Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar termed the promises made by Modi as "just another 'jumla' (rhetoric) like that on 'kala dhan'" (getting back black money). "Modi has failed to provide jobs to the families of the six people killed in serial blasts at his rally. It has once again exposed the hollowness of his promises. Now the BJP leaders are trying to play down the issue," Kumar told IANS. Neeraj, a vocal JD-U legislator, considered close to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, said the BJP and Modi should explain to the people about the promises made to family members of those killed in the blasts. "Why are BJP and Modi silent on the issue? Do they forget the promises made to people. Modi must apologise to the bereaved families and the people of Bihar for failure to provide jobs to them," he said. Neeraj said it was the BJP and Modi who politicised the serial blasts to garner votes during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and are now not willing to fulfil the promises. However, senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav said family members of the blast victims will be given jobs. "The process has begun for it...we will fulfil the promise," Yadav said. Another BJP leader Prem Kumar, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, said the party has not forgotten the family members of the serial blast victims. "Whatever promises were made to them will be fulfilled sooner or later." During his meeting as well as telephonic interactions with the victims' families, Modi had reportedly promised jobs, and free education to children. He had personally handed over Rs 5 lakh cheque each to the families of four persons killed, while the families of two others were handed the money later. Six people were killed and more than 80 injured as half-a-dozen bombs exploded in Patna, most of them in and around the sprawling Gandhi Maidan just ahead of Modi's address to a huge rally. Most of those killed and injured were activists or supporters of the the BJP. (Imran Khan can be contacted at imran.k@ians.in) --IANS ik/nir/rn/vm Tata Group firms' stocks close in the red Maharashtra,Business/Economy, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Mumbai, Oct 27 (IANS) Scrips of most of Tata Group subsidiaries closed in the red on Thursday, a day after ousted Chairman of Tata Sons Cyrus P. Mistry alleged corporate misconduct at the company. Tata Sons is the holding company of the Tata Group. Nearly all the subsidiaries of the industrial conglomerate opened the day's trade in the negative territory. According to market observers, investors became cautious after Mistry on Wednesday indicated that the group was in a bad financial shape. In his five-page letter to the board members of Tata Sons and the trustees of the Group, Mistry said a realistic assessment of the fair value of the "legacy hotspots" like IHCL, Tata Motors PV, Tata Steel Europe, Tata Power Mundra and Teleservices could "potentially result in a write down over time of about Rs 118,000 crore ($18 billion)". He talked about "fraudulent transactions" of Rs 22 crore in the case of Air Asia involving non-existent parties in India and Singapore. He also railed against Ratan Tata's pet Nano project, saying it had entailed a loss of Rs 1,000 crore and should be "shut down". Mistry's letter had also prompted the Indian stock exchanges BSE and NSE to seek clarification from Tata Group's leading listed firms like India Hotels, Tata Motors, Tata Steel Europe, Tata Power Mundra and Tata Teleservices. Stocks of several well-known group companies like Tata Investment Corporation, Indian Hotels, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Chemicals and Tata Motors declined during the day's trade. At the BSE, stock price of Tata Investment Corporation declined by 5.43 per cent to Rs 577.55, while the scrip of Tata Motors fell by 5.27 per cent to Rs 115. Similarly, scrip of Tata Global Beverages dropped by 5.12 per cent to Rs 137.95, and that of Tata Chemicals declined by 1.98 per cent to Rs 538.60. Besides, Tata Motors' stocks also receded by 1.44 per cent to Rs 521.85, while the scrip of Tata Power fell by 1.36 per cent to Rs 79.55. In contrast, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) stocks rose by 0.68 per cent to Rs 2,413.25. On the other hand, shares of Voltas declined by 0.90 per cent to Rs 381.55. In addition, the scrip of Tata Sponge Iron edged lower by 3.98 per cent to Rs 590.15, and that of Tata Elxsi dropped by 2.44 per cent to Rs 1,241.85. The Titan Company's scrip closed lower by 1.53 per cent to Rs 369.05. The stocks of Tata Communications ended the day's trade down 1.68 per cent to Rs 625.75. "Most stocks of Tata Group companies witnessed a gap down opening and traded with bearish sentiments during the intra-day session on selling pressure," Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, told IANS. "However, some recovery was seen from the lower levels in the second half of the session due to short covering and some speculative lower levels buying." According to Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services: "Tata Group companies came under pressure with more news unravelling on Tata Sons Chairman's exit." --IANS rv/dg October 28 to be observed as National Ayurveda Day: Minister Delhi,National,Health/Medicine, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) The Ayush Ministry on Thursday said October 28 will be observed as National Ayurveda Day across the country. The Ministry is also organising a day-long National Seminar on Prevention and Control of Diabetes through Ayurveda on the occasion. A statement from the Ministry also said that it will launch Mission Madhumeha through Ayurveda on the occasion. "The Mission Madhumeha will be implemented throughout the country through a specially designed National Treatment Protocol for effective management of Diabetes through Ayurveda," the statement said. "The national treatment Protocol will also be released on the occasion of the National Seminar," the statement added. --IANS rup/ask/dg HC quashes denial of licences to drug manufacturers in Bihar Bihar,National,Immigration/Law/Rights,Health/Medicine, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Patna, Oct 27 (IANS) The Patna High Court on Thursday quashed a Bihar government notification to deny licences to manufacturers of ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines having alcoholic content. A bench of Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmad Ansari and Justice Samarendra Pratap Singh said the state government did not have the authority to deny issuance of licences for manufacturing medicines. The court was hearing two petitions that challenged the notification dated March 17, issued ahead of a total liquor ban imposed in Bihar in the first week of April. The court said it was wrong to deny licences to companies for manufacturing alternative medicines with alcoholic content. The government counsel told the court that there could be misuse if the state allowed the drug companies to use liquor for medicinal purposes. --IANS ik/tsb/dg India, Nepal agree to expedite pending projects Delhi,National,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Diplomacy,Business/Economy, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi/Kathmandu, Oct 27 (IANS) India and Nepal on Thursday agreed to expedite implementation of the seven projects on infrastructure, cross-border connectivity and utilisation of Indian funds for Nepal's reconstruction following the April 2015 earthquake. An agreement in this regard was reached during the fourth meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting held at the Foreign Minister-level in New Delhi. According to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, a comprehensive review of all aspects of India-Nepal relations under five broad clusters was undertaken at the meeting. These clusters are political, security and boundary, economic cooperation and infrastructure, trade and transit, power and water resources and culture and education. The Joint Commission decided to convene within a month the first meeting of the 'joint oversight mechanism' comprising officials of both the countries to expedite the implementation of all ongoing bilateral cooperation projects, an official statement said. Both countries had agreed to set up such a mechanism to clear the bottlenecks in India-funded projects in the Himalayan country. The Foreign Secretary of Nepal and the Indian Ambassador to Nepal will lead their respective sides to help clear glitches in the projects funded by India. The statement said the two sides agreed to clear detailed project reports on roads, Mahakali Bridge and irrigation projects to be implemented through concessional loans provided by the Government of India in 2014. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal in August 2014, India announced an assistance of $1 billion to execute various projects in Nepal. Both sides also agreed for the expeditious completion of the first phase of the Terai roads in the southern plains. Discussions were also held on a new concessional loan for development of Terai roads in the second phase as well as some other projects. The statement said both sides agreed for the early completion of two cross-border rail link projects -- the Biratnagar-Jogbani and Bardibas-Bijalpura-Jaynagar projects -- and initiation of works for three other cross-border rail projects, namely the Nepalgunj-Nepalgunj Road, Kakarbhitta-New Jalpaiguri, and Bhairahawa-Nautanawa rail links. A consensus was arrived at on the early completion of works of integrated checkpost at Birgunj on the Nepali side and commencement of construction of ICP at Biratnagar in Nepal. India is constructing four ICPs at key trading points on both sides of the border. The meeting agreed for early implementation of the Hetauda Polytechnic project undertaken through Indian assistance and finalisation of the projects to utilise grant and loan components offered by India for reconstruction. On bilateral trade, the Nepali side requested India to take concrete measures to increase Nepal's exports to India by, inter alia, addressing the concerns related to additional duties and charges, quantitative restrictions and rules of origin. Both sides agreed to expedite the finalisation of a memorandum of understanding between the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology and the Bureau of Indian Standards. On Nepal's request for additional air routes, the Joint Commission directed the civil aviation authorities concerned to deal with the matter at the next meeting by the end of 2016. Nepal requested India to take supportive measures to promote tourism industry by including Nepal in its concessional leave scheme and by granting multiple entry visas to India-bound third-country tourists to enable them to visit Nepal, said the statement. The Fifth meeting of the Joint Commission will take place in Nepal at a mutually convenient date. Formed in 1987, the Joint Commission is a bilateral mechanism at the Foreign Ministers level with a mandate to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. The last meeting of the commission was held in Kathmandu in 2014. --IANS giri/tsb/dg Union Cabinet gives ex-post facto approval to IISER in Odisha (Lead, with corrections) Delhi,National,Politics,Science/Tech,Education, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its ex-post facto approval to formation of the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) at Berhampur in Odisha, and the start of its 2016-17 academic session from August 1. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The Cabinet meeting gave its ex-post facto approval for formation of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Berhampur Society, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860," said a cabinet communique. The cabinet also approved setting up and operationalisation of the institute in a transit/temporary campus from academic year 2016-17 for initial three years (2016-19), involving a cost of Rs 152.79 crore. The cabinet also approved accepting land, free of cost, from the Odisha government for the institute and cleared creation of post of director of the institute in the pay scale of Rs.80,000 (fixed). The cabinet also approved introduction of National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 in parliament for inclusion of the IISER at Tirupati and Berhampur in the second schedule of National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (NITSER) Act, 2007. Declared as Institutes of National Importance under the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education & Research (NITSER) Act, 2012, the institutes are envisaged to carry out research in frontier areas of science and provide quality science education at the under-graduate and post-graduate levels. Earlier, there were only five IISERs -- at Kolkata, Pune, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram. Later, the Modi government started an IISER at Tirupati in 2015. --IANS sk/ps/vd President Mukherjee to pay 3-day visit to Nepal Delhi,National,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Politics,Diplomacy, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee will pay a three-day state visit to Nepal from November 2 in the first presidential visit from India to the Himalayan neighbour in 18 years. Mukherjee is paying the visit on the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Bidhya Devi Bhandari, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said at a briefing here on Thursday. "A high-level delegation will accompany the President. This will be the first visit of the President of India to Nepal in 18 years," he said. President Mukherjee's visit to Nepal is expected to further cement bilateral ties, which saw an upswing during the India visit of new Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' last month. The talks between the two sides during Prachanda's visit, who chose India for his first overseas tour, helped dispel the unease that had crept into the bilateral ties over the earlier few months. During his visit, Mukherjee will hold meetings with the Nepali President, Prime Minister 'Prachanda' and other leaders of Nepal on a wide array of issues of mutual interest, said Swarup. President Mukherjee will also visit the holy town of Janakpur and the lake city of Pokhara during his stay in Nepal. The warming of India-Nepal ties comes amidst the backdrop of Chinese President Xi Jinping cancelling his maiden visit to Kathmandu, which was earlier scheduled for October. The cancellation came after Prachanda chose to visit India. China has been reportedly miffed with Nepal going slow on implementing some of the bilateral road and rail projects inked during the tenure of previous Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who markedly leaned towards Beijing. --IANS rs/lok/rn/dg SC reserves order on votes sought on religious, caste lines Delhi,National,Immigration/Law/Rights,Politics, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the question of whether seeking votes on the basis of religion, caste, community or language of candidate alone constituted corrupt practice or it could include such acts of his election agent or third parties canvassing support for him. The seven-judge Constitution Bench hearing the matter is headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and includes Justices Madan B. Lokur, S.A. Bobde, Adarsh Kumar Goel, Uday Umesh Lalit, D.Y. Chandrachud and L. Nageswara Rao. "All that we wanted to know was that the appeal for votes in the name of religion means whose religion? Is it the religion of the candidates or the religion of (his/her) agent or the religion of the third party or religion of voters or all of them," the court said. In the course of the hearing that lasted for two weeks, the bench repeatedly made it clear that it was limiting its examination of the curbs imposed on the use of religion, caste, community and language under Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951 and was not venturing into defining of 'Hindutva'. Section 123(3) prohibits seeking votes by a candidate or his agent on ground(s) of his religion, race, caste, community or language or the use of, or appeal to religious symbols or the use of, or appeal to, national symbols. When the hearing commenced on October 18, the court said at the very outset that religion was a matter of personal faith and elections were secular and there could not be a mixing of the two. In the course of the hearing, the court observed that seeking votes in the name of religion was evil. As a senior counsel told the court on Thursday that he would like to argue if the Constitution Bench was going into the question of Hindutva, Chief Justice Thakur said: "Why are you referring to the Hindutva judgment. We are not examining that judgment. Let me make it clear that this has not been referred to us." The hearings that concluded on Thursday is rooted in a 1996 reference by a five-judge bench to the seven-judge Constitution Bench on the interpretation of Section 123(3). The court on Thursday also observed that under the Fundamental Rights bestowed by the Indian Constitution, there was freedom to practice and propagate one's religion but could it be used for electoral purposes. The court said religion could not intrude the "secularity of the electoral process". --IANS pk/tsb/dg Hurt by Akhilesh's 'dalal' comment: Amar Singh Delhi,National,Politics, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Thursday broke his silence on the rift within the Samajwadi Party, saying he was hurt by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav calling him a 'dalal' (broker). "I am hurt by his words. There is no photograph of his wedding where this 'dalal' (Amar Singh) is not present," Amar Singh remarked, which were aired on several news channels. On Sunday, Akhilesh held a meeting with party legislators after sacking his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav and three other ministers from the Cabinet. Soon after the meeting ended, the legislators trooped out while denouncing Amar Singh as a 'dalal'. He was held responsible for infighting within the party. Singh said he will not attend Akhilesh's Rath Yatra from November 3, saying he was not invited. The Samajwadi Party leader, considered close to Mulayam Singh Yadav, said he was the only one who supported Akhilesh when his family was opposed to his marriage. He also clarified he never abused expelled SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav. Singh said it was not the first time he was blamed for party differences since he was blamed even when Akhilesh replaced Shivpal as the SP Uttar Pradesh unit President. --IANS am/tsb/dg Women safe under Shariah laws: Muslim women activists Delhi,National,Immigration/Law/Rights,Politics,Religion, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) Several women activists and female members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Thursday insisted that Muslim women are safe under the Shariah laws and there is no need for the government to meddle in their affairs. "We, the Muslim women from various walks of life, schools of thought and organisations, want to make it clear that the Muslim women are safe and secure under the Muslim Personal Law," Asma Zehra, executive member of the AIMPLB told reporters here. She said the Muslim Personal Law is well balanced for both men and women and it regards human values, and the ruling BJP is raking up the issue of "Triple Talaq" just for electoral gains. "As the facts stand today, incidence of divorce among the Muslims is the least and same is the case with polygamy. But, in spite of this, it is projected as if the Muslim men have no other job but to pronounce divorce," she said. She said that marriage is a contract in Islam, prescribing various conditions, and the women have all the rights to change the terms, and if the terms are not favourable, even the Nikah can be declined. "If she does not say 'qabool hai' (I accept it), no Nikah can be validated," she said. Zeenath Mehtaab of the Social Reform Committee, New Delhi, pointed out that the incidence of female foeticide, female infanticide, dowry and ostentatious marriages is the least among the Muslims. For "the people talking about gender equality and gender justice", President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Atiya Siddiqui had a few posers. "Why 50 per cent representation for women is not there in the legislative bodies in India? What is the percentage of women in judiciary, defence forces, IITs and other top institutions," she said. "We hope that good sense will prevail on the present-day government and the Prime Minister would be magnanimous in withdrawing the affidavit filed before the Supreme Court for interference in the Shariah laws," Zehra said. A number of other women activists from various states were also present at the conference. --IANS mak/nir/dg Pakistan retaliates, asks Indian official to leave Pakistan,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Politics,Diplomacy, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Islamabad, Oct 27 (IANS) In a tit-for-tat measure, Pakistan on Thursday night declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non grata and asked that he leave the country by Saturday. In a statement, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry had summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale and conveyed the decision to this effect. The Foreign Secretary also expressed "deep concern" over the activities of the Indian official, which he said, was in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms. The Indian High Commission was asked to make necessary arrangements to make Surjeet Singh and his family leave Pakistan by October 29. The move comes hours after Indian authorities detained a Pakistani High Commission official, Mehmood Akhtar, in New Delhi on charges of running a spy network. The Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned the Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit and asked that Akhtar, a visa officer, be sent back within 48 hours. --IANS rn/tsb/pgh Modi trying to run country on 'Manuwad': BJP ex-leader Delhi,National,Politics, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) Jat leader and former Rajasthan minister Hari Singh on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to run the country on Manu's principles (an ancient Hindu legal code) instead of Gandhian principles. "The democratic values are being eroded under this government. Therefore, people are returning to the Congress," said Singh, who rejoined the Congress on Thursday along with another Jat leader Subhash Meheriya. He had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2013 after quitting the Congress in 2011 after differences with the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Meheriya, who served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, said joining the Congress was like a homecoming for him. A three-time Member of Parliament, Meheriya was denied a Lok Sabha ticket by the BJP in the 2014 general elections and subsequently expelled when he contested from Sikar in Rajasthan as an Independent. Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Sachin Pilot and Leader of Opposition in assembly Remeshwar Dudi were present on the occasion. --IANS mak/tsb/vd Charge-sheet filed against Goa ex-CM Kamat in Louis Berger case Goa,National,Politics,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Panaji, Oct 27 (IANS) The Goa Police's Crime Branch on Thursday filed a supplementary charge-sheet against former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1.2 crore from Louis Berger India officials for securing contracts for a water and sewerage augmentation project funded by the Japan International Co-Operation Agency (JICA). Heading a Congress-led coalition government, Kamat, along with then state PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and other government officials have been accused of allegedly accepting a $976,630 bribe in 2010 from officials of US-based consultancy firm. While Alemao has already been arrested last year and charge-sheeted subsequently before a special court, Kamat has managed to evade arrest. However his anticipatory bail has been challenged by the Crime Branch in the apex court. Top officials linked to the JICA project as well as senior Louis Berger employees have been arrested by the Crime Branch. Kamat has been charged for sections relating to criminal conspiracy and tampering with evidence of the Indian Penal Code and other sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He is also being probed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the scam. The FIR was first filed after Louis Berger headquarters in the US, discovered during its internal audit that bribes had been paid to elected representatives and government officials in Goa for securing of contracts in the Rs 1,031 crore project. --IANS maya/vd Widows break taboo by celebrating Diwali inside temple Uttar Pradesh,National,Religion,Human Interest/Society, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Vrindavan, Oct 28 (IANS) Breaking an age-old taboo, about 700 widows celebrated Diwali for the first time in the ancient Gopinath Temple here on Thursday. The initiative to let widows of Vrindavan light up their lives was spearheaded by Sulabh Movement leader and social activist Bindeshwar Pathak, who was also present for the celebrations. Widows from six of Vrindavan's ashram took part in the celebration. Widows from Varanasi joined widows living in the Hindu holy city of Vrindavan to enter into the Gopinath temple with an aim to break cultural taboos, which restricts them from taking part in any festivals, among others, after the death of their husbands. This was the fourth time that widows took part in any festival through the Pathak-led movement. Earlier, Diwali was celebrated by the widows of Vrindavan but not inside any temple. They were also able to celebrate Holi from last year as a result of the initiative. The celebration inside the temple started with Pathak lighting up the candles and 'diyas' placed circularly. He was then joined by the widows who lit 'fuljhari' and 'anaar', before they showered Pathak with flowers. "With an aim to bring a ray of happiness at their twilight years, we have come up with this unique idea to organise the festival of lights, especially for the widows," he said. Sulabh International looks after half a dozen widow ashrams in Vrindavan, including Pagal Baba, Ketan Vihar, and Maa Dhaam ashram, among others. "We have been celebrating Diwali, Holi, and Durga Puja since 2012. Pathak ji has done a lot for us. He gave us ambulance, TV, fridge, medicines," 85-year-old Mona Ghosh whose been living in Pagal Baba Ashram for last 30 years told IANS. --IANS vn/vd Naval commanders conference ends Delhi,National,Defence/Security, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) The second bi-annual Naval Commanders' Conference ended here on Thursday with top navy officers holding discussions on operational, strategic, planning and procurement issues as well as the overall national security and maritime environment, an official statement said. Navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, addressed the Naval Commanders on various issues including operational readiness, capability enhancement, infrastructure development and human resource management, the statement added. The commanders also reviewed operational preparedness, training and resource availability with the Navy. They also took stock of the progress in integrating newly-inducted naval ships into the operational fleet and how they would add to the capability of the Navy. The three-day meet was inaugurated on Tuesday by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who appreciated the high tempo of operations sustained in the last six months and efforts put in for maritime security and coastal security. Speaking to journalists, he had lauded the Indian Navy for embarking on the Make in India programme in a big way, and expressed hope that whatever lacunae are there would be overcome soon. --IANS rs/vd Indian Army's 70th Infantry Day celebrated Maharashtra,National,Defence/Security, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Mumbai, Oct 27 (IANS) Top military officers paid homage to the infantry fraternity who died for the country in Jammu and Kashmir on the 70th Infantry Day celebrations here on Thursday. Major General Anuj Mathur, officiating General Officer Commanding - Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa areas - led all the officers of the Military Station in Colaba to lay wreaths. It was on October 27 and 70 years ago that the first and finest team of Indian infantry landed in Srinagar and defended Jammu and Kashmir from falling into Pakistani hands. That day, an Infantry Company of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Jammu and Kashmir from invading tribals supported by the Pakistan Army. The action was ordered by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru after the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession, acceding the state to India. The infantry has remained at the forefront in the entire spectrum of activities since then, from maintaining vigil along the border to combating insurgency. Besides, they help fellow citizens during natural calamities or help restore peace in foreign countries as part of UN peacekeeping missions. --IANS qn/ss/mr 12th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2016 New Delhi, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 NI Wire An academic revolution has taken place in higher education particularly in the past one decade is marked by a paradigm shift in scope and opportunity. The Education sector in India is poised for crucial stage in its growth. Indias demographic advantage of having a large population of youth presents a huge opportunity to education sector stakeholders. By 2030, India will be amongst the youngest nations in the world. With nearly 140 million people in the college-going age group and with one in four graduates in the world being a product of the Indian system. This huge pool of young people is considered the nations biggest strength however; the key to harnessing India's demographic dividend is the quality of education. No wonder, the education sector has dominated policy and economic planning and various ambitious campaigns like Make in India and Digital India have been rolled out, but the benchmark for these initiatives is the employment they generate. The global economy is undergoing a fundamental change and developing countries are moving to services and capital intensive manufacturing. The phenomena is anticipated to come into effect in India by 2020, 90% of Indias GDP and 75% of employment is expected to be contributed by the services and manufacturing sectors, so clearly, India could potentially emerge as a global supplier of skilled workforce . India, with its increasing pool of higher education graduates, is strategically positioned to stay ahead of this curve and reap the benefits of this metamorphosis but it lacks a higher education system which is aligned with the dynamic demand of the global economy. Therefore, India must develop a higher education system that is not best in the world but best for the world. Recent initiatives taken by government can be acknowledged, however several facilitating steps can be taken to make the Indian higher education system more cohesive. Institutions on their part need to adopt a transformative and innovative approach to become globally relevant and competitive. This calls for fully empowered institutions and a shift from a mindset of control to one of facilitation. FICCI being a leading Industry voice works closely with all the key stakeholders- government, industry and academia. With a vision to bring key stakeholders including policy makers, educationists and industry at both national and international level at one common platform for constructive deliberations and knowledge sharing, FICCI over the years has been organizing the Higher Education Summit. With its inaugural edition in 2004, HES has become the most trusted platform for the entire education sector. Recognizing FICCIs efforts, Ministry of Human Resource Development, GoI has been supporting the summit every year. With its current demographic structure, India would have the largest work force in the next ten years. It is our belief that with enhanced partnerships between governments, educators and employers, India can truly become the global human resource hub, said Ms Shobha Mishra Ghosh, Senior Director, FICCI. Over the years, the summit has gained a global stature. It is an effective forum for facilitating partnerships and collaborations between Indian and foreign higher educational institutions. In the past, the event has been graced by delegations from USA, UK Canada, Australia, Scotland, Europe, Middle East, Africa and SAARC etc. Running in its 12th year, FICCI Higher Education Summit 2016 is poised to be one of the Asias largest platforms to address the issue and challenges of Higher Education. This year, with the support of Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the Summit has taken a larger role and will be organizing an International exhibition simultaneously with the Conference. With the advancement in technology and gradual implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions, the skill requirement in industry is going to change significantly. This year theme- Education for Tomorrow: Learn in India-Learn for the World will also touch upon digital learning and its impact on todays education scenario. The Summit is to be held from Nov 10-12, 2016 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. More than 1000 participants including Indian and foreign University Presidents, Vice Chancellors and Deans from Canada, USA, UK, Africa, Middle East, SAARC, CIS, Germany, France, etc. are expected to participate in the Conference. In addition to the two day Conference, there will be more than 150 plus exhibitors from top of the line Indian Institutions showcasing the best practices to the global participants. The FICCI Higher Education Awards will recognize quality and excellence in higher education delivery. The CEO Roundtable will facilitate exchange of information, ideas and insights on higher education among top CEOs. There will also be Master Classes, a focused discussion on issues pertinent to the sector and poster presentation, a theme based competition for professionals / post-graduate students to creatively share their know-how with the delegates besides informal networking opportunities. While the Indian higher education system has made considerable progress in capacity creation and enrolment, it needs improvement to make the system globally relevant and competitive. The vision of FICCIs Higher Education Summit is to build a 21st century model of the Indian higher education system which is at par with the best in the world. It also aspires to create a conducive entrepreneurial framework to encourage new ideas. India has potential to become a hub for talent, a centre for research, innovation and entrepreneurship. The dream may be ambitious but not unattainable, with concerted efforts by the public and private sector and proper deliberation and effective execution, India can truly emerge as a global knowledge economy. Share Globe Telecoms (News - Alert) subscriber base is growing 10 percent annually. At the same time, the Philippines telecommunications operator is working to support the government's initiative to expand the availability of broadband services and to address demand from the Internet of Things. So the company has called on Nokia (News - Alert) to help it transform its current fixed and mobile networks with new IP, optical, software-defined networking, and wireless technologies. That will entail Nokia providing Globe Telecom with its 1830 Photonic Service Switch, 7750 Service Routers, 7950 Extensible Routing System, AirScale Base Station, Flexi Zone Small Cells, NetAct, and Nokia Network Services Platform. Services including commissioning, design, engineering and planning, installation, project management, and testing and integration are also part of the companies two frame agreements. The wireless effort will include the deployment of Nokias 4.5G Pro technology via the AirScale Base Station and Flexi Zone small cells, managed by NetAct, in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, some of which as a result will get broadband access for the first time ever. That technology is upgradable to 4.9G and even 5G. Globe Telecom also expects to leverage advanced carrier aggregation and mobile edge computing in its Nokia-powered wireless network. That will allow for better network performance, network automation, more efficient use of power, and reduced operating costs. Nokia through a second frame agreement with Globe Telecom will provide the carrier with IP, optical, and SDN solutions to address agility, capacity, coverage, performance, and quality in the service providers enterprise data services network. That effort is focused on the Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi regions. Globe Telecom expects to be able to roll out bandwidth-on-demand services nationwide as a result. The two frame agreements were signed by Globe Telecom's Director Fernando Zobel de Ayala, and President and CEO Ernest L. Cu, during the State Visit of the Philippine President to China. Edited by Alicia Young We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Some 40% of Tunisian terrorists have a university degree, a group of sociology experts found out after examining a sample of 1,000 cases based on judiciary records. Several thousands of Tunisians across gender, according to a UN working group, have left the country since 2011 to join terrorist organizations in hotbed conflict zones. The numbers qualified the North African country for the position of world largest terrorist supplier. According to Imen Kochbati, a sociology and demography expert, and her colleagues, the 1,000 sample judiciary records analyzed also revealed that 33 per cent of the countrys terrorists received high school education while 13 per cent accounting for 384 of the sample are vocational training graduates. The sample covering judiciary records panning from 2011 to 2015 also reveals that 4 per cent of the militants are high school graduates. The broad picture of terrorism in the North African country titled Terrorism in Tunisia via judiciary records also indicates that recruitment of the militants is done based on different age groups. Terrorists aged 25-29 (275), 30-34 (243) 18-24 (204) are the main targets of terrorist groups. Kochbati additionally argued that out of the 1,000 sample analyzed, 965 are men and only 35 are women. Large majority of militants are bachelors (536). 239 are married while only one per cent accounts for divorced men or women. The experts further revealed that the recruitment of terrorists has divided the country into three chunks given the number of recruits. The region to provide most terrorists is Tunis where 181 had been recruited. Sidi Bouzid is the second provider, with 138. These two regions, in addition to Ariana (61), Jendouba (53), Kasserine (52), Medenine (51) and Bizerte (50) constitute the first group. The second group according to the experts includes 13 regions among which Sousse (49), Nabeul (43), Kairouan (39), Ben Arous (35), La Manouba (31), Le Kef (27), Monastir (24), Gafsa (23) and Zaghouan (21). The third group encompasses 4 regions with a total of 20 terrorists. Kochbati also explained that the failure of the education model and lack of match between training and market demands increased unemployment rate and darkened all perspectives. Non-stop hunting of terrorists continues in Spain as security authorities announced Wednesday the arrest of another Moroccan Jihadist, two days after netting two religious leaders accused of promoting the Islamic State group (IS) on the Balearic Island of Ibiza. A total of 157 terrorists have been arrested since 2015, when the security alert level was raised in the wake of Paris November attacks. The arrest of the suspect referred to by initials A.B. has been possible after the arrest of another Moroccan, named Salim Aghmir, in December in the city of Pamplona for attempting to join IS in Syria, reports say. Aghmirs arrest set authorities on A.B.s tail. A.B. according to authorities was active in promoting the ideologies of terrorist groups, including IS operating in Syria and Iraq, as well as their propaganda videos. The man, despite being on authorities radar following Aghmirs condemnation, continued his activities, indoctrination and auto-indoctrination for terrorism, authorities said. During his interrogation, the jihadist confessed his support for the Paris attacks, masterminded by the global terror group, and his endorsement for would-be jihadists who join the ranks of the militant group in Syria. A.B. is the third Moroccan nabbed this week. Earlier this week, two Moroccan Imams aged 31 and 35, both religious leaders at Ibiza, were arrested for promoting IS on social media including facebook. The men used their preaching to lure young fellows into radicalization and support for the terrorist group. Morocco and Tanzania signed a cooperation agreement to reinforce religious training and spreading the values of moderation and tolerance of Islam. The agreement was signed on the occasion of the launch by the Moroccan monarch, who was on a three-day visit to Tanzania, of the construction works for a mosque in Dar es Salam. The 7,400 square meter mosque, will accommodate more than 5000 worshipers and will house a library and a conference hall as well as offices. On this occasion, King Mohammed VI offered 10,000 copies of the Holy Quran to the National Muslim Council of Tanzania. The mosque adds another dimension to Moroccos relations with Tanzania and with this part of Africa. Besides sharing expertise in the economic and development areas, Morocco is willing to expand its tolerant religious model in the continent to counter the calls for extremism and benefit African countries from the Moroccan experience in restructuring the religious field. In a bid to reinforce religious ties with African countries, Morocco established a Foundation for African Muslim Scholars as a venue for cooperation, exchange of experiences between the Ulema of Africa with a view to championing the true image of the pristine Islamic faith. The Fez-based Foundation is also created to disseminate enlightened religious precepts and to combat extremism, reclusiveness and terrorism. Portugals leading mold making company, Simoldes, is on course to launching construction works for its 70 million-dollar industrial plastics processing complex in Morocco to supply automakers in North Africa and beyond. The new plant will stretch over a surface area of 10 hectares with a potential to employ 3000 people. The complex will be producing injection molds along with injection molded exterior and interior vehicle components. Morocco was chosen by the Portuguese company in light of its investment incentives and the existence of car industry ecosystems where leading French automakers, such as Renault and Peugeot-PSA operate. Besides Simoldes, other leading car part makers will set up plants in Morocco. Canadas Linamar Corp will build a 2.7 billion dirhams ($280 million) plant in Morocco to make engine parts. U.S. auto parts maker Delphi will also launch a new factory making electrical distribution systems and a research and development center in the North African kingdom. Morocco expects auto industry exports to reach an annual 100 billion dirhams ($10.2 billion) by 2020. King Mohammed VI wound up on Thursday his official visit to Tanzania, second leg of his East-African tour that previously took him to Rwanda. The Sovereign was also due to visit Ethiopia, but this third and last leg of the tour in East Africa has been postponed and not canceled, as reported by some media outlets. The postponement was reported by barlamane.com, which quoted a source from the Sovereigns accompanying party. Banking on the economic and political success made by Morocco in West and Central Africa thanks to its soft-power approach and win-win partnership, King Mohammed VI, a strong advocate of South-South cooperation, undertook this tour to shore up economies of this region and enable the African continent to sail at full steam. Contrary to the doubts expressed by some analysts, who argued that this English-speaking part of Africa was out of reach for Morocco because of language barrier, the outcome of the visits to both Rwanda and Tanzania proved them wrong. Nothing is impossible. Determination and perseverance are the key to success. Besides, Moroccos experience and its sharing and inclusive approach, which proved to be effective are popular in Africa. In Rwanda, the first leg of the African tour, President Paul Kagame rolled out a red-carpet for King Mohammed VI and hosted a state dinner in honor of the Moroccan Monarch and his accompanying delegation. In diplomacy, these are highly eloquent gestures. Furthermore, Rabat and Kigali inked over twenty cooperation deals aimed at boosting bilateral ties in almost all strategic sectors. The cooperation areas covered by the agreements include foreign relations, security, finance, tourism, banking, housing, pharmaceutical industry, investments and private sector development. The two countries agreed to hold regular political consultations, weave visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders, cooperate in counter-terrorism, exchange intelligence, avoid double taxation, combat tax evasion and launch an investment fund for Africa. The joint statement released at the end of King Mohammed VIs visit to Rwanda underlined the Moroccan and Rwandan leaders shared determination to build a strong partnership seeking to enhance South-South cooperation, foster inter-African solidarity, promote regional integration and bolster African Renaissance. The statement commended the Moroccan Kings leadership and his noteworthy contribution to promoting peace, stability and sustained development in Africa. After his visit to Rwanda, King Mohammed VI touched down in Tanzania, where the Sovereign received a similar warm welcome and had a private meeting with President John Pombe Magufuli. Afterwards, the two leaders chaired over the signing ceremony of over twenty cooperation agreements in the fields of economy, finance, renewable energy, agriculture, fisheries, air transport, hydrocarbons, mines, banking, tourism, health as well as science culture and religion. President Magufuli hailed the sealed cooperation agreements and said they will lift up partnership to a higher level between the two countries sharing the same values and goals for Africa. In his capacity as Commander of the Faithful, King Mohammed VI launched construction works for a new mosque in Dar es Salaam, fulfilling the wish and dreams of Tanzanias Muslims National Council. The religious institution, dubbed Mohammed VI Mosque, will be built over a 7,400 m2 plot and will accommodate more than 5,000 worshipers. The mosque will also include a library, a conference room, a cultural center and other facilities. The Sovereign also donated 10,000 copies of the Holy Quran to the Muslims National Council, which signed on this occasion with the Moroccan ministry of Islamic Affairs a cooperation agreement in religious education, based on an Islam of the middle path doctrine, a vision of religion based on tolerance, intercultural dialogue and respect of other faiths. The Royal tour in East Africa adds substance to Moroccos foreign policy towards the continent, and renews, if need be, Moroccos commitment towards Africa, a commitment underpinned by the principles of co-development and solidarity. It, once again, evidences Africas central place in the Moroccan Kings forward-looking vision and strategy and also adds an edge to the Kingdoms official request to regain its natural place in Africas institutional family. This tour also shows the Kings far-sighted statesmanship and deep conviction that Africans unity will ultimately triumph over ideology and that the North African Kingdom has a vital role to play in the continent. After November 8, anyone can legally be a doobie brother (or sister) in the Golden State. Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images In 2010, Californians rejected Proposition 19, a ballot initiative to legalize the growth, sale, and recreational consumption of marijuana, by a seven-point margin. What a difference six years have made. On November 8 a new pot legalization initiative, Proposition 64, is expected to win by a landslide. And that, dear readers, is a safe prediction despite some evidence of a softening of enthusiasm for Prop. 64. Last month, the two most prestigious California public opinion outfits the Field Research Corporation and Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) both pegged support for Proposition 64 at 60 percent. Field nostalgically noted that its first poll of California on the subject, in 1969, showed only 13 percent support for legalization. A new PPIC survey in October showed legal weed pulling a mere 55 percent with 38 percent opposed. Thats still a 17-point margin. Indeed, there has only been one bad poll for Proposition 64: A recent poll from the California Growers Association of 750 cannabis farmers found that just 31 percent supported Prop. 64, with another 31 percent opposing it and a whopping 38 percent undecided. Ambivalence among pot farmers is partly attributable to regulatory costs associated with a legalization scheme, and partly to fears of getting crushed by big companies perhaps alcohol producers and distributors who already have a system in place for getting the product to market. Those involved in the lucrative existing medical marijuana industry are especially nervous. But it has always been hard to imagine that the Golden State would hold out much longer once pot became legal in other jurisdictions. Aside from California, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, and Nevada are holding recreational pot initiatives next month, bidding to join Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Washington D.C. as places where one can legally fire up or consume an edible. Californias the biggie, though. And this time, it wont be close. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images In the hours after Donald Trumps Access Hollywood video broke, Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah was the first Republican politician to say he could not endorse a presidential candidate who bragged about sexual assault. Im out, Chaffetz told Utahs Fox 13 News. I can no longer in good conscience endorse this person for president. It is some of the most abhorrent and offensive comments that you can possibly imagine. My wife, Julia and I, we have a 15-year-old daughter, Chaffetz explained. Do you think I can look her in the eye and tell her that I endorsed Donald Trump for president when he acts like this and his apology? That was no apology, that was an apology for getting caught. But, technically speaking, does announcing that youre voting for someone mean youre endorsing them? Chaffetz doesnt think so! I will not defend or endorse @realDonaldTrump, but I am voting for him. HRC is that bad. HRC is bad for the USA. Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) October 27, 2016 There are six other Republican members of Congress who have re-embraced Trump after walking away in the grab-em-by-the-pussy aftermath. Several are locked in tight reelection races, but that doesnt explain why Chaffetz decided to sort of re-endorse Trump, since Chaffetz is polling about 45 points ahead of his Democratic challenger. Chaffetz has made it clear from the start that theres no way hes backing Hillary Clinton, and last week he said he would watch the debate and see how the rest of the things play out before deciding how to cast his ballot. Trump has not personally made any overtures to Utah in recent days, but on Wednesday, he did send his running mate, Mike Pence, to campaign in Salt Lake City while he was opening his new Washington, D.C., hotel. Unlike other candidates who are torn between alienating either conservative pro-Trump voters or Never Trump independents, Chaffetz has another option. Obscure fifth-party candidate Evan McMullin has surged in Utah in recent weeks and actually has a chance of beating Trump and Clinton. For some insight into Chaffetzs decision, we should look to D.C. rather than Utah. Earlier on Wednesday, Chaffetz tweeted this: House Republicans are already preparing for years of investigations of Clinton - The Washington Post https://t.co/daj1BE13CY Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) October 26, 2016 The Washington Post story, which many did not consider flattering, described how Chaffetz is preparing to spend the next four years investigating Clinton, rather than focusing on governing. Its a target-rich environment, Chaffetz, chair of the House Oversight Committee told the paper. Even before we get to Day One, weve got two years worth of material already lined up. She has four years of history at the State Department, and it aint good. Chaffetz rose quickly since his election in 2008, and he led the House investigation into Clintons private email server. He told the Post that he isnt positioning himself for a more senior leadership position, though hes already run for Paul Ryans job: After John A. Boehners surprise retirement, Chaffetz briefly ran for speaker of the House. Today, he says hes supportive of Ryan and has no plan to chase his job though he does not rule out supporting someone else. Oversight, he explained, is where the action is. Still, theres speculation that House Republicans may try to oust Ryan after the election, and Chaffetz would be a likely contender for the speakership. With pro-Trump Republicans focusing much of their ire on Ryan, its smart for Chaffetz to send the message that hes President Hillary Clintons greatest nemesis in the House, and at least tolerant of Trump. In August, Paul Ryan fended off a primary challenge from motorcycle-riding bad boy Paul Nehlen, a Wisconsin businessman who won the support of Donald Trump, Ann Coulter, and Sarah Palin. But Nehlens loss, by 69 percentage points, hasnt discouraged him. Hes now planning to unseat Ryan as Speaker of the House. In an announcement Tuesday, Nehlen said: Real America knows that D.C. lives in a bubble, and that the power players inside the Beltway are concerned with their own fortunes rather than the plight of the American worker and middle class. Speaker Paul Ryan a man who bends over backward to deliver President Obamas agenda is the physical embodiment of Washingtons disregard for the American people. He went on to cite Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, which he says allows for non-members of the U.S. House of Representatives to be elected Speaker of the House. While hes technically right, there has never been a Speaker who wasnt also a member of the House. And it seems a pretty safe bet that if that were to change, a guy who makes arm-wrestling challenges during campaigns wouldnt be the one to do it. Photo: Taylor Hill/WireImage Bill Clinton has not been much of a presence in Hillary Clintons current presidential campaign, which is smart for a number of reasons. As The New Republics Jeet Heer points out, in addition to being targeted by the Trump campaign over sexual-misconduct allegations, the former president is not his wifes best surrogate. On the campaign trail he can be gaffe-prone and undisciplined, plus some of his politics are out of step with todays Democratic Party (which is why hes mostly been dispatched to rural areas where he can rally white working-class voters who supported him in the 90s). Heer forgot one other factor, which was highlighted in the latest batch of hacked emails released by WikiLeaks: There are a number of ethical concerns related to how Bill Clinton ran his foundation and earned a living after he left the White House. Those issues were spelled out more clearly than ever on Wednesday in a memo stolen from the email account of Clinton campaign manager John Podesta. In the 13-page document, Doug Band, one of Bill Clintons closest advisers, described how he pressed major corporations that were clients of his firm, Teneo, to donate money to the Clinton Foundation and employ the former president personally as well. According to the Washington Post, Band composed the memo in 2011 and presented it to attorneys reviewing the Clinton Foundations activities. At the time, Band was working for Clinton and the political-consulting firm he co-founded. In the memo, Band defends his work for the Clinton Foundation and Teneo, arguing that it was beneficial for everyone. Since President Clinton left office, I have sought to leverage my activities, including my partner role at Teneo, to support and to raise funds for the Foundation, Band wrote. He goes on to list a number of Teneo clients who he says initiated or increased their giving to the Clinton Foundation thanks to him. The list includes Coca-Cola, which gave $4.3 million, Barclays, which gave $1.1 million, and Dow Chemical, which gave $780,000, all over a four-year period. Band went on to explain that he simultaneously encouraged the companies to provide personal income to President Clinton, hiring him to make speeches or act as a consultant. For example, Laureate International Universities, a chain of for-profit universities, donated to the foundation and paid the former president $3.5 million annually to serve as honorary chancellor and provide advice. Band said that he and another Clinton aide have in effect served as agents, lawyers, managers and implementers to secure speaking, business and advisory service deals. From 2001 to 2011, according to Band, President Clintons business arrangements have yielded more than $30 million for him personally with $66 million to be paid out over the next nine years, should he choose to continue with the current engagements. Previous emails shed light on the feud between Band and Chelsea Clinton. In one email, Chelsea accused several of her fathers aides of referring to him in derogatory terms, taking significant sums of money from my parents personally, and installing spyware on her chief of staffs computer. My father was told today of explicit examples at CGI of Doug/ Teneo pushing for and receiving free memberships and of multiple examples of Teneo hustling business at CGI, she wrote. Chelsea eventually helped bring in an outside law firm to review the foundations practices, which is why Band composed the memo. It appears that Band tried to defend his own practices by pointing out that if he had conflicts of interest, so did the Clintons. I signed a conflict of interest policy as a board member of cgi [the Clinton Global Initiative], Band wrote in an email to Podesta, adding, Teneo represents 4 cgi sponsors, 3 of which teneo brought to cgi. Oddly, wjc does not have to sign such a document even though he is personally paid by 3 cgi sponsors, gets many expensive gifts from them, some that are at home. In another email, Band complained to Podesta that Chelsea was being disrespectful and overreacting to concerns about how the foundation operated. She is acting like a spoiled brat kid who has nothing else to do but create issues to justify what shes doing because she, as she has said, hasnt found her way and has a lack of focus in her life, he said. Band does not work for Bill Clinton any longer, and hes less involved in the foundations activities. Teneo issued a statement on Wednesday saying it did not receive any financial benefit from its ties to the Clinton Foundation. As the memo demonstrates, Teneo worked to encourage clients, where appropriate, to support the Clinton Foundation because of the good work that it does around the world, the statement said. Bands memo does not include any direct references to Hillary Clinton, but if shes elected, rest assured that any conflicts of interest in her involvement with the Clinton Foundation will be very thoroughly explored. Depending on which polls you consult, Democrats are either surging or in a very tight race. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images The latest batch of national and state polling results has a data point for you, no matter what story you want to tell. If you accept the general (though not universal) consensus that Donald Trump is trailing Hillary Clinton by a significant margin in the presidential race, the polling averages all support that. RealClearPolitics has her ahead by 5 points (46 percent to 41 percent), while HuffPost Pollster has her up 7, at 46-39. But in the latest batch of individual polls, the spread of results is really getting large and weird. An AP/GfK survey released yesterday shows Clinton at 51 percent and leading Trump among likely voters by an astounding 14-point margin. That is on the heels of an ABC News tracking poll that at the beginning of the week had Clinton up 12 points (but shows a 6-point margin). But an IDB/TIPP tracking poll puts Clinton up by just 2 points, and there is also the two-way LAT/USC tracking poll that shows the race tied. So, too, did a Gravis Marketing poll taken just a few days ago. (For what its worth, RealClearPolitics Sean Trende describes the overall effect of recent polling as suggesting that the race is tightening slightly, without actually being tight.) Now, you can just intone the word outliers and dismiss any of these polls you wish. But the fact remains that fairly steady averages disguise some pretty significant variations in public-opinion findings this cycle. It is hard to generalize reasons for these variations, though sampling methods, weighting of samples to reflect assumptions about the shape of the electorate, and likely voter screens could all be factors. They do, however, clearly offer partisans a huge cherry-picking opportunity to reinforce whatever they choose to believe about the trajectory of the contest. And if the handful of national polls showing Trump still in a tight race with Clinton are not enough for his fans, they can all just shout Brexit! Brexit! to allude to a recent example of polling error, and/or mutter darkly if somewhat mindlessly about biased or phony polls. State polls are taken less consistently, so in general it is harder to chart trends. They continue to show a battleground-state landscape favoring Hillary Clinton, whose leads in Colorado, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin are beginning to look formidable. The best state polling news for Trump in the last few days was probably a Bloomberg survey showing him up by 2 points in Florida, and hes still up in the polling averages for Iowa (where recent polling is sparse) and Ohio. Those states are not enough for him to win, of course. Senate polling continues to show relatively comfortable Democratic leads in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin; a consistent but not that comfortable Republican lead in Florida; and very tight races in Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. This all adds up to pretty good odds Democrats will get the four net seats they need for control if Clinton becomes president. The House is a different matter. The RealClearPolitics average of polls on the congressional generic ballot that is probably the best indicator of a potential wave election shows Democrats up by less than 4 points. Thanks to Republican advantages via gerrymandering and superior voter distribution, it is generally assumed that Democrats will need a generic ballot advantage in the high single digits (or higher!) to have a real shot at control of the House. It is interesting that the same AP/GfK poll that gave Clinton the massive 15-point lead in the presidential race showed Democrats with only a 5-point lead in the congressional generic ballot. Team Donkey really does still have its work cut out for it with 12 days left. Jason Chaffetz, grand inquisitor. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Republicans are at each others throats in a way they havent been since at least 1964. Republicans disagree about Trump, and they disagree about what they need to do in order to regain power. But those disagreements have very little to do with the decisions the party will face between now and the next presidential campaign. Its position toward a prospective Hillary Clinton administration is so predetermined it is hardly a decision at all. The party will oppose her completely and totally. Some Republicans blanched at Donald Trumps outright promise to imprison his opponent if elected. But almost none of them objected to his underlying premise that Clinton is a criminal figure who should be in prison but for the politically motivated decision of the FBIs Republican director to inexplicably spare her prosecution. That consensus will quickly return to the fore. Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, boasts to Dave Weigel that he plans to begin multiple years worth of investigations into the incoming Clinton presidency. Even before we get to Day One, weve got two years worth of material already lined up. Chaffetz makes clear in his interview that two years truly is a low-ball figure. He sees numerous examples of Clintons corruption, each one of which could inspire 12 months of investigations and hearings on their own. Every single time we turn around, this puzzle gets more complicated with more pieces to it, he told Weigel. That story about the $12 million from Morocco to the Clinton Foundation? You could take any one of these stories and have a years worth of investigations. So the Republican plan is to consume Clintons presidency with an investigative apparatus that will surround her with allegations of corruption, which in turn can enmesh her staff into defensive paranoia that produces cover-ups that in turn produce more grist for additional investigations and hearings. Note that this assumes that Clinton and her staff manage not only to avoid any legitimate scandal which is difficult for any administration, given the historical frequency of scandals but also to avoid anything that House Republicans would consider scandalous, which is near impossible. Chaffetz has plans to spend most of Clintons term criminalizing her presidency even if her administration is somehow as pure as driven snow. In the far more likely scenario that it isnt and, lets face it, she has surrounded herself with some pretty shady characters before it will get much, much worse. The 40-member House Freedom Caucus, which abjures compromise in all forms and habitually goads its leadership into hopelessly aggressive confrontations, is already stirring up a challenge to Paul Ryans Speakership. Its unlikely that the Caucus will actually topple Ryan. What it will do is limit his ability to conduct normal business in the chamber. The intent of the coup threats is to bring the House leadership to heel. Ryan has every incentive to support Chaffetzs star-chamber strategy and no leeway whatsoever to rein it in. Indeed, Ryan is already praising Chaffetz. Ryans office told Weigel that he supports [Oversights] investigative efforts following where the evidence leads. The constant churn of scandals will keep the Republican base in a state of perpetual frenzy at the administrations perfidy, some of which will redound back at the Republican leadership. However far Republicans go, conservatives will be furious they havent gone further. Ryan will be facing endless coup threats, and his members the prospect of right-wing primary challenges. The last thing they will want to do is cast votes for Clinton-supported policies. A total boycott on any legislative cooperation will constitute the moderate, responsible Republican position. The crazy Republicans will be the ones who demand impeachment or publicly muse about political violence. Not that any of this would be necessary to prevent cooperation anyway. What Republicans have demonstrated and proved during the Obama era is that bipartisan cooperation is a losing strategy for the out party. As Mitch McConnell explained, if proposals had bipartisan support, it would signal to America that they were unobjectionable, making them, and their president, popular; the presidents popularity would then make it harder for the opposition to gain seats or defeat him in the next election. That dynamic will not change at all with a new Democrat in office. Clintons plan to change this dynamic, as Patrick Healy reported in July, is to get Republicans roaring drunk. (Mrs. Clintons ability to use alcohol as a political lubricant came up repeatedly when allies and advisers were asked how she might work with Republicans.) This is not a promising long-term strategy to induce legislators to act contrary to their political self-interest. Even suppose Clinton faces the most fantastically positive and unlikely scenario, in which the GOP suddenly reverses its decades-long lurch to the right, ignores its base and the conservative media, and attempts to reposition itself closer to the center. Suppose reform conservatives somehow get their hands on the partys steering wheel. Would they cut deals with Clinton? Hardly. Remember, the main goal of the reform conservatives is to build a platform that Republicans can use to win presidential elections. This objective does not depend on working with Clinton. It actually depends on not working with her. Allowing Republican reform ideas to be seen by the partys base as tainted by support from Clinton, the evilest and most socialist president in history, would make them poison for any Republican candidate. More important, for a candidate to run on a platform, it needs to have not been enacted into law, because you cant run on a promise that the incumbent president has already fulfilled. The Republican Party may have a lot of fights over the next four years: whether to moderate any elements of its platform, how to rebuild its support among minorities and women, whom to nominate for president, and whether to impeach Clinton or merely oppose her. None of the factions has any interest in helping her have a successful presidency. New Jersey governor Chris Christie beginning a weeklong bus tour in the lead-up to elections on November 5, 2013. Christie made stops to speak to supporters at the Ritz Diner in Livingston, downtown Linden, Fair Lawn Senior Center, Nevada Diner in Bloomfield, Chowpatty Restaurant, Flemington, and Hamilton. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Mark Peterson traces the arc of this strange, sometimes shameless, presidential election in his new book, Political Theatre. He captured the rallies, the stump speeches, and the debates of the primaries and general election. But he also trained his camera on the forces that would end up shaping this campaign tea-party rallies, for example long before anyone had likely uttered the words Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Peterson says he wanted to show the artifice of campaigning. How superficial or how orchestrated the events really are, he adds. His goal was to find one detail that summed up each candidates essence. Take that first photo above: a close-up of Chris Christies mouth. Peterson says hell continue to photograph the race through Election Day and up to the inauguration though he admits he may have already taken enough photos of Donald Trump. Jen Kirby Hillary Clinton at the NYC Labor Day parade in NYC, 9/9/06. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump held a campaign rally in Lowell, Massachusetts, on January 4, 2016. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Bernie Sanders. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux RedState Gathering attendees watch the Republican presidential debate on Fox News, in Atlanta, Georgia, August 6, 2015. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Senator Bernie Sanders at the New Hampshire Young Voters convention in Manchester, New Hampshire. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Connor Carew, student at Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Virginia. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump hosted an event to raise money for veterans organizations at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 28, 2016. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Republican U.S. senator Ted Cruz, of Texas, at the Iowa Ag Summit, hosted by Bruce Rastetter, highlighting and promoting agriculture, in Des Moines, Iowa, March 7, 2015. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Senator Marco Rubio held a campaign rally in Derry, New Hampshire, on February 5, 2016. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Donald Trump campaign rally in Plymouth, New Hampshire, February 7, 2016. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux The Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor MD on March 8, 2014. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux/ Mark Peterson 2014 Second Amendment activists gathered with handguns and rifles in Fort Hunt National Park outside Alexandria, Virginia, on April 19, 2010. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Donald Trump campaign rally in San Jose, California, June 2, 2016. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Donald Trump at the Iowa Freedom Summit, hosted by Citizens United and Congressman Steve King, in Des Moines, Iowa, January 24, 2015. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Ben Carson before the CNN Republican debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, September 16, 2015. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Carly Fiorina speaks at the RedState Gathering in Atlanta, Georgia, August 7, 2015. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux A video game for training people how to shoot things at the NRA National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, May 21, 2016. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin at the Iowa Freedom Summit, hosted by Citizens United and Congressman Steve King, in Des Moines, Iowa, January 24, 2015. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Former governor of Florida Jeb Bush at the Iowa Ag Summit, hosted by Bruce Rastetter, highlighting and promoting agriculture, in Des Moines, Iowa, March 7, 2015. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Donald and Melania Trump at the Fox Business Republican presidential primary debate at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center in North Charleston, South Carolina, January 14, 2016. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux A sign on a resturantant in Virginia 2014. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux Photos from Political Theatre, published by Steidl. Its looking more and more like the last two weeks of the campaign will be a recap of some of Donald Trumps worst moments. On Wednesday, after praising Newt Gingrich for fighting with Megyn Kelly and taking a break from campaigning to plug his hotels, Trump sat down for an interview with ABC News. George Stephanopoulos asked if the candidate feels he should apologize to the family of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. Unsurprisingly, Trump did not answer the question, but he said he has great respect for Captain Khan and his family. If I were president at that time, Captain Khan would be alive today, George. Because I wouldnt have been in Iraq, he claimed. Trump made a similar remark in the second presidential debate. Stephanopoulos pointed out that Trump publicly supported the war in Iraq (though, in private conversations he was against it, Sean Hannity assures us). Trump insisted he is wrong, despite evidence to the contrary. In a separate interview with ABC News, Captain Khans father, Khizr Khan, said the remark is more evidence that Trump should not be president. This is the most cruel thing you can say to grieving parents, that if I was there this would not have happened, Khan said. Theres no sincerity in those remarks This is one character that a leader must have to be the leader of a great country, to be the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the United States: empathy. And this person totally lacks that. Trump has been asked multiple times if he will apologize to the Khan family specifically (hes only expressed vague regrets), and its no surprise that the feud would come up again this week. Khizr Khan just cut a campaign ad for Hillary Clinton, and he hit the campaign trail for the first time on Wednesday. At a mosque in Norfolk, Virginia, Khan said he and his wife felt moved to speak at the Democratic National Convention after hearing questions from Muslim-American children. At gatherings, little children would ask You are an attorney, are we going to be thrown out of the country? The courage [to speak out] wasnt ours, Khan said. The courage was given to us. The Trump campaign is running a new ad on Indian-American TV channels that will air 20 times a day in the lead-up to this weekends Hindu festival, Diwali. The spot includes footage of Trump speaking at the Republican Hindu Coalition, which was held earlier this month in New Jersey; a shot of a Mumbai terror attack from 2008; and a couple of seconds of Trump showing off his Hindi. Ab ki baar Trump sarkar, he says. The line translates to This time, a Trump government, and its a direct nod to the slogan Indian prime minister Narendra Modi used in his campaign. The BBC asked people walking around Delhi to review Trumps Hindi, and they were not impressed. This is so funny. He seems to have rehearsed the slogan many times, but he still didnt sound convincing, one woman said. Are you sure this is not some spoof video? Indeed, it is not a spoof. Trump appears to see an ally among Indian Americans, whom he appealed to at the New Jersey event by talking tough on Muslims and praising Modis simplification of Indias tax code. If I am elected president, the Indian and Hindu community will have a big friend in the White House, he said. That line drew cheers in a room full of Republicans, but it doesnt seem to be reverberating throughout the rest of the country. A survey released earlier this month shows that Trump has the support of 7 percent of Indian-Americans. Hillary Clinton has 67 percent. Photo: Debrocke/ClassicStock/Getty Images A rule that spans time and space and morning routines: It is entirely too easy to underestimate the time it takes to get to work. Maybe once one time it took just 20 minutes to get to work, but it typically takes 25 to 30, and you know that, but still you leave late and, thus, arrive late. Its dumb. It is also, maybe, human nature. As Christian Jarrett at BPS Research Digest reports, a team of neuroscientists has just uncovered a very handy if rather complicated excuse for tardiness it seems people tend to underestimate how long it will take to travel familiar routes. The laws of time and space do not actually bend in order to transport you to work or school more quickly, but at least part of you believes that they will. And yet the oddest part of this new study, published in the journal Hippocampus, is that the participants tended to overestimate the physical length of those routes, even as they underestimated how long it would take to travel them. It does make a certain amount of sense that people would exaggerate the breadth of familiar distances, because the level of detail youve stored about them matters to your memory. If you remember every Starbucks and street corner you pass on the way you usually walk to school, for instance, the walking route will likely feel longer when you recall it than one you dont know as well. As Jarrett explains, the researchers thought a more detailed neural representation would make that space seem larger. And when they asked a group of students all of whom had been living in the same building in London for 9 months to draw a little map of their neighborhood, this is indeed what they found. The students exaggerated the physical distance of the routes they walked the most, drawing their maps a little bigger they should have. But from there, things got strange. The researchers had predicted that if the students overestimated the physical distance between two points, they would in turn overestimate the time it would take to travel between those two points. Instead, the students lowballed their guesses for how many minutes those journeys on the familiar routes would take, telling the researchers that theyd expect to arrive at the designated destination sooner than they possibly could. Something weird is going on here, and the study authors are not quite sure what it is. Perhaps, Jarrett writes, there are separate neural systems for computing spatial extent and time-to-travel through that space. Or perhaps it was the way the researchers made the students draw their maps, with south at the top of the page and north at the bottom. Maybe, Jarrett ventures, we judge the time-to-travel through familiar routes using our experience-based knowledge, whereas drawing a south-is-up map cannot be based on knowledge and must be freshly reconstructed from the brains spatial representation of the area. Perhaps. If nothing else, Jarrett suggests that this new finding can be used as a handy excuse for your tardiness that will baffle others into silence and acceptance. Yes, you see, I wouldve been on time, but its just that the brain maintains separate neural systems for estimating spatial extent and time-to-travel through that space, so. You know how it is. Jennifer Elizabeth Meehan Photo: Courtesy of LinkedIn While sorority drama is typically limited to rude emails and fights over who gets the most screentime in the annual recruitment video, sometimes its slightly more high-stakes. Take, for instance, the case of Jennifer Elizabeth Meehan, 40, a South Carolina attorney who defrauded her University of Alabama sorority out of over $500,000. According to al.com, Meehan, a former member of Gamma Phi Beta, was volunteering as the president of the House Corporation Board of one chapter of the sorority. Between September 2013 and March 2015, it was her job to furnish a new, $14 million sorority house. Instead of scouring Pinterest for decorating tips, Meehan submitted fraudulent furniture invoices totaling about $375,000 to Greek Resource Services, a contract company that handles the finances for fraternities and sororities at the University of Alabama. GRS drew money from Gamma Phi Betas account at Bank of Tuscaloosa and gave Meehan two checks totaling about $375,000. She deposited that money into a account for a fake business she started at First Citizens bank, then wired about $175,000 over to her personal account at Bank of America. $234,648 in cash was also found stashed in a Sam Edelman shoe box in her closet. In July, Meehan entered an agreement in which she pled guilty to one count of bank fraud, while the other eight counts she was facing were dismissed. (All the money she owed the sorority was recovered as well.) On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Haikala sentenced her to six months in prison, 18 months of home confinement, and 40 months of supervised probation. Her law license is also suspended. A reportedly emotional Meehan told the judge, Its really sad I never got to see the house open. Well someone did hold up the furnishing process. Photo: Max Villardi Taking Care of Business: a week devoted to taking our professional lives up a notch. Everyone has heard the legend of the back of the napkin idea. A person usually a man has a great business idea hit him like a lightning bolt, he scribbles it down on the back of a napkin, takes that napkin into meetings with investors, and boom, he becomes a start-up kajillionaire in three months. Colleen and Hailey Brooks two sisters who also had an idea would tell that story differently. When they decided in January of last year to open their own version of the currently di rigueur social-house model one that incorporates fitness, wellness, and intelligent leisure called High Court they knew it would be an uphill battle from the start. There were highs, lows, and a complete overhaul of the myth of the napkin when the two female founders started their business, and almost a year after their first meeting with investors, the Brooks sisters have completed their first round of fundraising. Heres what it took to get High Court off the ground. A new kind of celebrity. One sub-culture of celebrity young start-up founders has for the past few years really been at the center of our attention. Its a long road from the back of the napkin idea to closing your first round, and theres no real rulebook, no how-to guide. Since we had the idea for our business in January 2015, weve listened to podcast after podcast, read interview after interview, searched late-night Instagrams obsessively for moments of honesty from founders, looking for hints on how to get past the idea stage to actually getting funded. There arent enough stories about the time between founders quitting their full-time jobs and closing their first round of funding for their business. Maybe its because after the shock of actually having pulled it off, founders dont want to revisit the difficult, gory first days. The early, uneasy balancing act. In the beginning, before Colleen left her job in private equity, she started building the plans for High Court. This wound up becoming a balancing act of two careers. Through hunting for real estate for High Court, building our advisory board, and selling an apartment she owned (which had a flood two days before closing) she shuffled everything before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. or took calls in empty conference rooms. Until I left my retail-consulting job in August, all of my calls for High Court took place from my satellite office the upstairs of the Duane Reade in Herald Square. Dont take every piece of advice youre given. Most of the advice you will receive is circumstantial and its mostly coming from people who are on the other side of the fundraising table. The advice we received was definitely very Silicon Valleyfocused, too, even out here in New York. As women, we were advised nine out of ten times to try going with women-only angel investment groups because we were told that would be our best shot at actually getting funded. When we first started, mindfulness as a concept was just beginning to go mass and we had to do a lot of educating alongside our pitch. It was all good practice, but we learned not to wear ourselves out on the investors who just didnt get it. You have to seek potential partners who you know will get your vision from the outset. It can be really hard to say no to people that you are working with, especially when youre just starting out. But if you feel you are getting led in a direction that doesnt feel comfortable, you should really do what feels right you cant ever lose sight of your own gut through the piles of advice around you. Rewrite your pitch deck then rewrite it again and again (and again). Surely we arent the only founders with over 150 versions of the same pitch deck. Its an endless editing process that at some point began to feel like it was collapsing in on itself. The good thing about the bad meetings is that we were always able to see the silver lining on how to hone our pitch. The multiple versions actually help the vision. By now, weve actually been able to circle back to something that sounds a lot like the very first version the purest explanation of our idea. You have to have thick skin. Once, after what we thought was an amazing meeting, we asked a friend who had connected us to a potential investor for feedback, and the investor had told him that our idea would never work. Colleen met with a small business-lending group who we thought we were turning to for support only to have the woman deny the loan because we were a start-up. Afterward, the woman said to us, I wouldnt have left my good paying job if I were you. We cant count how many times weve showed up to pitches only to be met with unhelpful analyses of our entire business plan, or whats worse, someone pitching our idea back to us as if it was their own. Putting your personal life on hold is scary but sometimes its necessary. Before she had even taken on fundraising for the company full-time, Colleen was being set up on dates through a matchmaker. One time, the matchmakers feedback was that her date after she had met up with him after a long day of High Court meetings thought that she didnt even seem like she wanted to be there and that she hadnt dressed well enough for the occasion. She realized how different her goals and priorities these days were, and that that was okay. Be prepared to have periods of sleepless weeks and nights. In June, we really wanted to show the world what High Court would look like, even though we hadnt secured a space yet. So we agreed that it wouldnt be too hard to put on a four day, multi-event pop-up version of the space. Four weeks later, we had turned ourselves into sleepless zombies, on-edge from the logistics of securing real estate (we found and lost four different spaces, one a week before the event), wrangling furniture and audio equipment, as well as eight yoga teachers, ten different panel speakers, over ten brand collaborators, food and beverage sponsors, and press to help promote the whole thing, all while one of us was still working full-time. Luckily we live together, so we knew there could be no moments wasted. We barely slept or had personal lives. You will get your hopes dashed a lot. The head of a major player in fitness and hospitality contacted us to come in and talk about our plans for High Court. We of course thought of a million ways why this could be the best meeting we would ever take, but we decided to remove all expectations and keep our cards close to the chest. In the end, it was more of an information-gathering effort on their part, and while flattered, it was a hard meeting to walk away from empty-handed. Immediately following that meeting, we had a phone call scheduled with someone who we thought was a promising investor, and as we took the call sitting on a curb in Chelsea, we soon found out that this person was much more interested in mansplaining to us the ways of the business world than actually listening to our pitch. But at some point down the line, there will be rewarding moments, too. There are also the amazing days the ones that get posted and talked about on Snapchat and Instagram. Recently, we sat down with an investor so taken with the concept that we never opened the pitch deck once. That was the closest thing we have had to a successful off the back of a napkin-style meeting. Our matched visions for High Court and excitement for what we could create together was more important than our projected return metrics. We know that founders are never truly finished raising money, but there is nothing better than looking at the end of this first round of fundraising. What's This Blog About? Who needs to read about the latest pop chart tart? Who cares about another formulaic mall movie? That's what People Magazine is for, right? Off-Center Views is for those who want to wade outside the mainstream without getting dashed upon the rocks of academic pretense, post-modernist mumbo jumbo, or high culture snobbery. Look to this blog for reviews and opinions (including some truly cranky notions) on films, music, sports, art, and anything else that's on our minds at present. We aim to be provocative, but also entertaining and understandable. Enjoy and share the posts with others. Phoenix Brown & Lars Vigo This seems like bullshit tbh Hope she can figure something out. Who is her ex? Reply Thread Link I know nothing about him but he looks punchable. Reply Parent Thread Link Looks like a Hanson brother. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Oh dear god, his shirt and her matching ascot. What the fuck is wrong with people? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He looks like a TOWIE Meth Damon Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I would have thought that WAS her son. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link "Lena wanted to keep her son in England permanently because she hates the US school system" who can argue with this Reply Thread Link It's not an excuse when she can afford to put him in private schools; LA has some of the best in the country. Reply Parent Thread Link it's fucked up anyways. We all ought have a lifetime of good careers and education by now especially to next generation. /imsortofprojectingrnanyways Reply Parent Thread Link I was under the impression that she was broke. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link sarry you shouldn't be forced to pay out of the ass for school, public school should be good enough. having private schools be the only decent schools is exactly why class barriers still exist. only the rich people can get their kids educated to the point where they, too, can become rich. Reply Parent Thread Link I doubt she lives in a neighborhood with bad schools. Yeah some schools are bad but let's not act like her son wouldn't be going to amazing schools. And as a product of public schools, it kinda pains me every time someone makes this ridiculous blanket statement. Edited at 2016-10-27 12:19 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Tampons should not be free, why does everyone keep saying they should be?? if u can't control ur bladder then that's not taxpayers problem! Ryan (@ryanwilliams97) October 16, 2016 tell me more about this elite UK school system Reply Parent Thread Expand Link the slums of Europe lost this time around Reply Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link this iconic line. slums of monte carlo Reply Parent Thread Link still fucking waiting for someone to deport me to monaco Reply Parent Thread Link lmao poor kelly rutherford (not really) Reply Parent Thread Link lmao christ Reply Parent Thread Link lmaoo hopefully this aint nowhere as messy Reply Parent Thread Link I haven't been following this story so I'm probably missing something not mentioned here and I don't know how custody tends to work but if he agreed to it and she followed the terms of the agreement he signed, shouldn't that void any previous arrangement? Or no, since a judge didn't sign off on it? Reply Thread Link it seems like it was just a personal agreement between the two of them Reply Parent Thread Link I do not think a personal agreement between two parents voids any official and signed off on custody agreement from the court system, especially when it comes to something this major. Reply Parent Thread Link True, that makes sense. Hopefully she can argue that their current court approved arrangement isn't what is best which can allow her to renegotiate custody, especially since he was willing to let the kid go in the first place and is now wanting him back because he changed his mind about moving. Reply Parent Thread Link The judge's job is to prioritize the welfare of the child, and as such they aren't necessarily required to give a rat's ass about prior arrangements between the parents. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link if all parts of said deal are put in place ..." I suspect this is the part of the agreement that's fucking her over. Reply Thread Link hmmm it seems like he went against the deal by not moving to england though Reply Parent Thread Link It looks like the agreement also stipulated that both parents had to agree on decisions regarding Wylie's schooling, and when Lena enrolled him without consulting her ex, that's the basis for the judge declaring that she violated the agreement. Also, if the agreement didn't require him to move to the UK within a certain timeframe, he can delay that for years while still being entitled to visitation/custody of his son. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Mess :( she is totally reasonable, I mean tickets and face-timing when they live so far apart and maybe 1 year holidays with either of the parents???? What can go wrong? Reply Thread Link TMZ's headlines are disgusting like always. I haven't been following this so I don't know what to say. Reply Thread Link I wonder if she faked that "document" because everything in the TMZ says her ex is pissed and wants their son in LA. Reply Thread Link that'd be stupid if she provided it to court. it'd be easy to disprove, and she'd get into bigger trouble. Reply Parent Thread Link True. Source says it was an email, I don't see how she thought that would be legally binding. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link TBH, even if he agreed... if they didn't get the custody agreement legally amended then they have to stick to that. Reply Thread Link Issue #8 of the current run of Green Arrow comics! Otto Schmidt did the art for that issue and about half of the issues since Rebirth and I adore his style. Plus... you know. Green Arrow/Black Canary are OTP. Reply Parent Thread Link wtf Reply Thread Link Oh dear. This just reminds me of that woman who refused to let her kids go back to Monte Carlo(?) and then went on a media rant about how unfair it all was that he had full custody when she'd seemingly attempted to get him deported. I wonder how that ended. Reply Thread Link they're still slumming it in europe Reply Parent Thread Link they are AMERICANS that were DEPORTED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Reply Parent Thread Link and then she further fucked herself over, thinking she was higher than the law, and refused to send her kids back to monte carlo after a visit to NYC. iicr, i think it came out that she lied about him being a terrorist or w/e, which got him deported. Reply Parent Thread Link the best was all the people who were like "those kids were born in AMERICA so they are AMERICANS they are being ripped away from their homeland!!!!!!!!!!". i died. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Oh Cesei. Reply Thread Link meh. the basic presumption in family court is that both parents should take an active role in the kid's life (absent circumstances like domestic violence etc). it's a best interest of the child standard, which takes into account a whole variety of factors. the judge is likely not going to give a crap about some agreement that the parents made up. and the judge is going to be really, really leery of someone who wants to take the kid and move elsewhere. Reply Thread Link Does she really think that Facetime and flying back and forth from L.A. to London (a 10-and-a-half hour flight each way) is going to give him the same opportunity to parent and be with his son as living in the same city as the boy? He's a parent, too, and has as much right to be with his child as she does. Reply Thread Link she wants him to move to england. thats what she was offering plane tickets for Reply Parent Thread Link i hate gofundme Reply Thread Link I use to have a client who had some type of lung disease ,but she still has smoke . She would spend like $500 on lingerie ,and then talk about her gofundme account .after dealing with her I just don't trust it Reply Parent Thread Link I would never donate to someone unless I knew them personally. I've seen ones looking for money for things they can clearly afford to pay for. Or like they'll ask for 500 dollars on gofundme instead of putting it on their credit card and IDT that's what it's for. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I always see these go fund me's on tumblr floating around for aomeone's sick little bro and i'm just like how do I know this is real? and not just like a pic of someone grabbed from fb? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link sad that she lives in a place where having cancer would necessitate having to raise tons of money :/ Reply Thread Link Yeah, our health care system is a fucking joke Reply Parent Thread Link Yep Reply Parent Thread Link So fucking true :( Reply Parent Thread Link even if you live in a country with universal healthcare they're not gonna pay for your travel expenses, possible hotels, mortgage bills or god forbid funeral expenses. Reply Parent Thread Link That's what life insurance and private healthcare insurance is for I'm in Canada. Almost no one goes broke from getting cancer. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Uh not to sound like a total bitch but can't demi just give her the money? Reply Thread Link she broke Reply Parent Thread Link cmon Demi has probably given more than $10k already Reply Parent Thread Link A preliminary google search shows that Demi has 30 mil in the bank. So if that's true, IA. Reply Parent Thread Link Net worth from one of those fake net worth sites? Or did you actually see her bank statement? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Maybe the family feels uncomfortable accepting money from Demi. Or maybe she's contributed already IDK. Reply Parent Thread Link My first thought tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link Chances are she has. This could be additional money needed. Maybe her friend doesn't want to take money from Demi. There are any number of reasons. When you ask such a question, it does sound bitchy... and uneducated. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I had the same thought. I wonder if she has already given money? I really do hope so. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link that's what i'm thinking Reply Parent Thread Link I thought the same thing at first, but then I looked up monthly cancer treatments, and they can run up to $30k a month or more. :/ Reply Parent Thread Link If not, I hope Taylor donates. Reply Parent Thread Link I kind of agree? If I was a celebrity and my best friend's mom got sick, I would absolutely give everything I could to help. My bff's mom is like a second mom to me and even if she wasn't, I would do anything to help my friend. I'm sure Demi has given them a lot though, I don't want to be too quick to judge. Reply Parent Thread Link I would pay for my best friend's mom cancer treatment if I had the moneyz. Reply Thread Link I mean, no one is saying people shouldn't give the woman money at all, they're just wondering why Demi didn't just write a check. Reply Parent Thread Link ita Reply Parent Thread Link Do you have loved ones affected by cancer? Yes, actually. One of my aunts was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and was given 4 months to live. Seeing her for the first time after the diagnosis was so hard. She's literally wasting away. Reply Thread Link My grandmother died of pancreatic cancer a few years ago. Seeing her waste away was one of the hardest things and absolutely heartbreaking. I hope you and your family find a way to get through it. Reply Parent Thread Link I appreciate the comment, bb! We're okay right now, I guess. I mean, there's not anything that can be done about it. Hope your family is well, too! Reply Parent Thread Link a coworker just died of the same thing. She had breast cancer too. :( hugs bb Reply Parent Thread Expand Link So sorry about your aunt. Pancreatic cancer is the worst :(. My grandpa was dx with it and passed away a month later. It's such a heartbreaking cancer (I mean they all are, but pancreatic cancer just happens so damn quick) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My mom passed away from stage 4 pancreatic after only getting diagnosed a month prior. All cancers can go to hell, but goddamn, pancreatic cancer is a special kind of evil. I think it usually goes undiagnosed until late stages and it's located in such an inoperable area. Watching my mom go through her illness was the worst thing to ever happen to me, especially being forced to make literal life or death decisions because my dad isn't around and I have no siblings. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My uncle died from pancreatic cancer. He was my favorite uncle & watching him waste away & be in such pain broke my heart to pieces. He was stage 4 when he was diagnosed too. I'm sorry that you're going through this. I know what it feels like. :( Reply Parent Thread Expand Link my grandmother died of pancreatic cancer last year. it took her so fast. it felt like one day she got diagnosed and then in a blink she was gone. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i feel for you bb. my mother in law was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had already spread to her lungs, liver and the rest of her colon .. that was 4 years ago. she's battling hard but her doctors are amazed she's made it this long. they arent saying "remission" but she's kicked ass for the time being. however, it sucks to know it's a matter of time before it comes back and takes her right down. we're in america, so it also sucks to see her being forced to take an inferior medication because the one that really would do the most for her was raised from $200 a month to over $3000 a month - for ONE medication. she and her husband are in their 70's, retired with no income, and their healthcare is so shitty that they have to pay out of pocket thousands a month to keep her alive. it's like her life isnt worth saving, to the insurance companies. they'd rather keep her sick and in pain than see her take the proper medication and stand a fighting chance. it's fucking depressing as hell. being poor here is like a death sentence if you get sick. it's hard watching her fight so hard, waste away, be in bed constantly or sick constantly... and know that it's a losing battle. cancer is the fucking devil incarnate :( Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My mom has to go for her annual CAT scan next week and I'm so nervous. I hate how gofundme accounts have gone from helping people who really need it to people setting them up just because they lost their jobs or something stupid. Reply Thread Link mine will too. i hope everything turns out good for your mom! Reply Parent Thread Link Thank you, same for yours! Reply Parent Thread Link Yea some of them are for stupid shit, or you see ones from people who could actually pay for whatever it is they're asking for they just would rather someone else pay lol. But idiots donate so... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link crossing my fingers and toes for your mama! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I hope everything turns out well for your mom <3 sending you guys lots of hugs and warmth Reply Parent Thread Expand Link best of luck and all the hugs for your mom <3 Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I hope everything turns out well for you mom! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link good luck! i hope everything turns out good for her! Reply Parent Thread Link Cancer is terrible, but as someone who JUST lost her job, can I say it's really not something "stupid." It's kinda awful and I don't know what the hell I'm going to do. I broke my foot 3 months ago, I lost my job (thus my insurance) the day before my next doctor's appointment, so I'm not sure how to deal with that. I have some money saved, but not much, I hope like hell I get unemployment, but that will only last a few months and I HAVE to get a job or I don't know what I'm going to do. I literally do NOT know what I'm going to do. So, yeah, not fucking stupid. It's a big fucking deal for some people. I'm single, I live on my own, completely, 100% support myself and I don't have anyone else to rely on. Losing my job is a big fucking deal for me. It's not cancer, but it's not "stupid" either. With that said... good luck with your mom. I hope the CAT scans turn out OK. Edited at 2016-10-27 06:04 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I've seen them for YouTube celebrities trying to earn money to "make better content." It's like um Reply Parent Thread Link Not. At all Suprised about the comments in this post lol Reply Thread Link it's awful people have to create things like this. it's such a cruel world. what i do not understand though, is when people on tumblr sell things such as fanfics to simply buy groceries or stuff they want. maybe i'm too old fashioned, but this seems like a lazy attempt of having a "job". Reply Thread Link My friend is one of them with fanfic artwork. I know there's a lot of hardworking millennials but there's some who do this to "beat the system". Like it's great the government isn't taking 25% of your paycheck but you have no job stability or benefits. Reply Parent Thread Link this is exactly my problem. my paycheck is decent before taxes, but after them i'm destroyed. so it seems unfair to me that people avoid paying such things for "the sake of their art". suddenly the koons is them! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yes I don't understand this. I follow a girl with a guinea pig tumblr -- she has two guinea pigs and then one of them gave birth to 4 baby guinea pigs. Apparently she used to draw comics about her guinea pigs but like most people I imagine I found her because of the cute pictures of baby pigs. She tried starting a Patreon with incentives being things like "I'll draw a full guinea pig comic every week!" and then ranted when no one donated. Yeah...because all people want to see are pictures of baby guinea pigs... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I knew someone who wrote erotica for people on DA for like $20 a chapter. It was a thing she did during school and I'm just like damn, I want in this business. But I mean, if I can also sell fanfic that'll be cool too. I don't judge people who do that (well this is the first time hearing about the fanfic thing TBH), but I don't see why it's bad if they're doing it for extra income. Now, as a job and trying to beat the system? Idk... I mean, why couldn't they just put out a book on Amazon or something? Then you'd also be getting into the same argument for artists who take commissions and it seems like a win/lose type of argument? I need more coffee Edited at 2016-10-27 03:29 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link So are you like wholly opposed to the idea of Patreon? I mean, if someone is willing to pay for something like that, what's the big deal in making it and charging them? I don't know how most people could support themselves like that, but who cares if that's what they're doing to make a buck? It's the 2016 version of doing odd jobs like kids did ~back in the day~ for their neighbours or whatever. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Writting fanfic in exchange for money is probably VERY illegal. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i don't rly have an issue with things like that but i tend to be weary of a lot of accounts who are asking for help bc i rly don't know if i can give money to someone i don't know well enough a lot of times however there are times where i do give when it strikes a nerve & i feel like i could at least help. Reply Parent Thread Link A great uncle just passed from and we werent close but I'm annoyed because he wasn't a close enough relative I can't go to the funeral Saturday. This is the second family funeral this year I couldn't go to because of my job Reply Thread Link I'm sure she's probably given them money because it's not just treatment but also the subsequent living expenses that continue. This is really nice. I do remember a gofundme where a girl was asking for money so she could see the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in Vegas. She got clowned so bad lol. She deserved it. Reply Thread Link I'm very sad that this new trend of sharing bad news has to be attached to a gofundme. It shows how shitty the healthcare system is. Wishing her mom a speedy recovery. Reply Thread Link it says someone named kelsey created it, not demi - so it's nice that she's promoting it to raise as much money as possible to help marissa and her family out right now jk a google search told me kelsey's demi's assistant - still a sweet gesture!! Edited at 2016-10-27 02:17 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Nobody should have to worry about how they're going to pay for their cancer treatment to survive. Especially in a country like the United States. It makes me sf angry. Most likely after I finish grad school and move back home I'll be working at a safety net hospital because of staffing issues. I just know it will enrage me even more once I get there because nobody should be denied healthcare or worry about the burden of debt vs survival. Reply Thread Link can maluma be cancelled already? overrated ugly pos lol (-: anyway im here for the international success carlitos y la shaki estan teniendo con la bicicleta yas!!! got second row tickets for carlos vives on dec 9th im so excited!!! Edited at 2016-10-27 02:06 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link I think he's hot because I'm into the douchebag aesthetic, but his music is subpar reggeaton. If she had to do this, I would have taken J Balvin in a heartbeat. And so jealous of you! I love Carlos. Reply Parent Thread Link i totally see the appeal of his look, but ia! subpar at best, he is bringing nothing NEW plus he took a dig @ my country while being here so he can rot in hell lol es un encanto ese hombre, tan carismatico <3 Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Maluma is fire hot lbr I don't know anything about him other than that so carry on lol Reply Parent Thread Link Maluma is so , Colombian Spanish has got to be the sexiest dialect. Reply Thread Link Why do u like to lie? Reply Parent Thread Link What's your favorite Colombian accent? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I love Black M, good for Shakira Reply Thread Link The way she announced the single/art work and all on instagram doing little riddles and contests wirh her fans was hella cute lol. I like when artirts do things like that. And why didnt i know she had a new song out and with carlos vives? Where have i beeeeen? Reply Thread Link Omg! Are you not Latin American/are you living in a place with no Latinos? Because La Bicicleta was EVERYWHERE over the summer in all Latin countries and it spent weeks as no. 1 in the Spanish charts. It's such an earworm, I got my life dancing to it anytime it came up. Reply Parent Thread Link Smh im from BuenosAires but this year it almost seems like all the radios and clubs are too busy playing the same four songs by the same two bands Edited at 2016-10-27 02:35 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link French rap always sounds so... interesting? I was forced to listen to it for months because of my ex and was surprised how it flowed nicely. I've learned rap in other languages is very hit or miss. Reply Thread Link We used to listen to French rap in class to Improve understanding, I love it haha. Reply Parent Thread Link French rap is "easy" to follow because French is already spoken very fast. I find that mainstream French rap covers social issues more than conventional rap these days. There's also the amount of layering in terms of meaning, you have wordplay that can be interpreted in several ways. It's why I love Stromae so much (yes he's Belgian, I know), because his lyrics are really clever. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm pretty sure Shakira invented languages and I'm thankful for that All faves should fear her cause she is coming back to slay worldwide a la Enrique, I just know it. I'm so excited!! Reply Thread Link That's the feeling I'm getting and I can't be more excited about it! She also has a Sean Paul collaboration for his album, so that might be coming up soon as well. Conquer the world, Queen! Reply Parent Thread Link Rita Ora has to be the only pop star left without a Sean Paul collaboration this year so I am not surprised in the slightest. She legit has a shot to be on top of the world again with the right song, people adore her. Reply Parent Thread Link I need maluma to release better music Reply Thread Link I'm excited by the prospect of a new album. Reply Thread Link The one with Black M? I think that's a fanmade. The one she revealed is for her Maluma collab. Reply Parent Thread Link La Bicicleta grew in me so fast. It is a BOP and a half! I only know Maluma from his collabs with Ricky and Thalia. Cute jams too. Reply Thread Link I often find myself listening to Shakira. Las de la intuicion is still my bop Reply Thread Link it's crazy that Shakira is honestly the best selling female artist - she's so underrated as a legend in the US but globally she has so much #impact Reply Parent Thread Link always here for more of global living legend shaki La Bicicleta was a cute bop, i fucking cannot wait for that spanish album Edited at 2016-10-27 05:16 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Has it been confirmed her new album will be Spanish? I didn't like the She-Wolf album at all, but the Oral Fixation era and everything before that are brilliant, Laundry Service takes me straight back to 4th grade haha. Any recs for Spanish/Latin pop? I started teaching myself Spanish and I'm always on the lookout for good music to learn from too :) Reply Thread Link Juan Luis Guerra Reply Parent Thread Link The exploration of oil in Libya began in 1955, four years after the country was declared independent. 40 companies were given an area of 600,000 km2 to explore over ambitious geological speculations that the country may have some oil reserves underneath its surface. By 1959 it was a fact: the country is sitting on the largest oil reserve in the continent, and the 9th largest in the world (Currently estimated at around 48 billion barrels) Libya joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, in 1962, a year after it started exporting oil, and has been a member since then. The country quickly became an important contributor to the global supply of light, sweet (low sulfur) crude oil, which was mostly exported to the European markets. Oil exports from Libya quickly ramped up to 3.4 million barrels per day, creating an unprecedented source of revenues for the extremely poor country coming out of WWII. By the end of the decade, and as the Mediterranean country fell under the influence of the wave of military coups sweeping the region, the country's king, Idris I, was overthrown by a group of rebel military officers led by lieutenant, Muammar Gaddafi, who, in 1970, nationalized foreign oil companies operating in Libya. Unsurprisingly, Libya's oil production started to deteriorate as the oil industry became a part of the public sector. The country's revenues, however, were not highly affected as the drop in production was offset by the increase in global oil prices after the 1973 oil shock. Nevertheless, Libya's hostile political regime eventually got it into trouble, leading to a U.S. embargo on the country in the 1980s followed by international sanctions in the 1990s. Oil production levels dropped to as low as 1 million barrels per day in the 80s, before gradually increasing to a steady 1.6-1.7 million barrels per day in the late 2000s, just before the uprising against Ghaddafi took place in 2011. The country's output has dropped sharply since 2013 when the Libyan Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) announced the shutdown of the four oil exporting ports under their control in the eastern part of the country over alleged claims of corruption in the oil industry. Libya exported through six oil export terminals: Az-Zawiyah, Sidra, Ras Lanuf, Brega, Zueitina, and Al-Hrega. The shutdown, which took around 900,000 bbl/day off the grid, was later combined with the closure of the Az-Zawiyah export terminal in the Western region, amid conflict between local militias over the control of oil fields in the south. Libya's production sat at a level of 400,000 bbl/day for more than 3 years, until the Libyan National Army recaptured Eastern ports last September. Libya's National Oil Corporation, NOC, immediately announced the resumption of oil production, and set an ambitious production target of 900,000 barrels per day before the end of the year. This unexpected change of events comes at a rather odd time Related: Could An Intense Winter Fuel The Oil Price Rally? Since the Saudis' decision in late 2014 to cripple OPEC's ability to cut down production and control market supply, oil prices per barrel have fallen from a steady $115 to painful mid $20s. The supply glut has extended beyond most pessimistic analysts' projections, supported by the longer-than-expected production life of shale wells, the lifting of sanctions on Iran, and a historical ramp up of Iraq's production. Oil prices hovered around the $40s range for over a year, until the end of last September, when OPEC countries' representatives met in Algeria to engage in a complicated negotiation round. The oil producing cartel announced after the meeting that it has reached a preliminary agreement to reduce the group's collective oil output from 33.24m to 32.5m bbl/day, and that further negotiations would be carried to agree on how member countries would split the production cut. Libya's voice at this meeting was one of hesitation and weakness. On one hand, market supply control is extremely important for the oil producing country; with oil exports making 95 percent of its GDP, Libya is extremely vulnerable to oil price volatility, and higher oil prices would directly help the country's struggling economy. On the other hand, the country is finally resolving its export facilities' closure issue and is just getting ready to resume production. The country has roughly 1.3m bbl/day of spare capacity, and is in dire need to ramp up production as fast as possible to control its deteriorating oil-dependent economy and to avoid a financial collapse. Additionally, Libya has been going through a brutal civil war over the past few years and its economy cannot afford the proposed production cap. However, the country did not really have much say at the OPEC meeting as its production currently makes less than 1 percent of the cartel's total output, weakening its negotiation power Speaking with several key officials within the oil industry in Libya, it seems that the country is facing a real dilemma: To cap or not to cap? Related: Is ISIS Giving Up On Oil? If Libya agrees on a production cap at its current output levels (~ 500,000 bbl/day reported this week), then the country would be missing out a long-awaited opportunity to finally get its economy back on track and enhance the declining quality of life of its people. The country has been suffering from economic pressure due to the unprecedented 3-year, 80 percent drop in oil production, combined with the brutal civil war that has only added salt to its many wounds. Agreeing to cap the production is not only economically painful, but would be an act of political suicide for its recently formed Government of National Accord, GNA, a government that has been created after long and complicated UN-led negotiations between rival factions in the country. On the contrary, if Libya refuses to abide by the OPEC deal and decides to go on with its plan to maximize oil production by adding ~ 1.3m bbl/day to its current output, then the current global supply glut magnitude of ~ 1.2m bbl/day would possibly double, especially if Nigeria joins the rebellion and increases its output as recently communicated by its Petroleum Minister. If this happens, oil prices could plummet back to the mid-$20s, or even lower, according to a number of market analysts. This substantial decline in prices is likely to offset any impact of the planned increase in Libya's oil production, leaving the country in the same situation of budgetary deficits and economic instability, only with a higher market share This puzzle is quite challenging for Libya's NOC leaders, just as it is for OPEC's. Whether Libya can sustain high levels of production in the long run is still questionable, but today's fact is that the country is back and is pumping more crude every day. Unless OPEC makes room for Libya's additional barrels, it is very unlikely that any price control deal will hold up and become a success. Libya has more incentives to raise its output than to not, as reclaiming market share is essential for the country to regain its position in the market and benefit from any future demand-driven increase in prices, or unplanned supply shortages. Either way, the upcoming few weeks before OPEC's next meeting are sure to reveal Libyas oil strategy and the level of influence it yet holds within the cartel. By Ahmed Ben Mussa for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russias Gazprom is on the verge of striking a deal with EU regulators to settle a half-decade old dispute over natural gas pricing, and the resolution could change the way Gazprom does business and lead to lower gas prices for much of Eastern Europe. The conflict began back in 2011 when EU antitrust regulators began investigating Gazprom for anticompetitive behavior, citing Gazproms practice of pricing natural gas differently to different countries depending on how compliant they were to Moscow. The EU Commission launched a formal investigation that ultimately led to negotiations, which were temporarily put on ice after Russias takeover of Crimea. The details are arcane, but Gazprom is about to offer concessions to the EU in order to avoid potentially having to pay billions of dollars in fines. These include allowing recipients of Russian gas to resell that gas. Gazprom has opposed that practice because it undercuts their ability to demand certain prices from individual customers and countries. Gazprom and Russia were much happier under the old system, in which they could sign an array of bilateral deals on an individual basis, rather than negotiating with European countries collectively. That allowed the company to tie gas contracts to political aims should a European country lend its support to a Russian cause, such as a pipeline, they would receive better terms. That leads to the second concession that Gazprom will have to grant Europe: they will have to charge customers similar rates for natural gas. But the agreement stops short of entirely breaking Gazproms practice of linking gas prices to oil prices. We are now putting the final touch to our commitment proposal. It will be sent to the European Commission shortly, Alexander Medvedev, Gazproms deputy chairman, said this week after meeting with the EUs top antitrust official, Margrethe Vestager. The deal is not yet secured it still needs to be reviewed by European countries but if it is, Gazprom will avoid having to pay billions of dollars in fines. However, the agreement could then become legally binding, subjecting Gazprom to European law, something it has objected to up until now. Gazprom would have to pay fines if it violates the terms of the agreement. The settlement would seem to bolster relations between Russia and Europe, which had become strained in recent years after the conflict in Ukraine. Some countries in Eastern Europe are wary of such a thaw and have demanded a much tougher line from European officials. Others in Europe that are at odds with Russias actions in Ukraine and Syria are not eager to soften the tone either. To be sure, the settlement over the antitrust charges still needs to survive input from European governments. Poland, in particular, is not happy with the deal. These decisions pose a real threat to the stability of gas supplies to central and eastern Europe, the Polish state-owned oil and gas company PGNiG said in a statement. Resolving the conflict could also lead to more Russian gas flowing into Europe, which already depends on Russia for about one-third of its gas needs. Russia is hoping to double the gas flows through the Nord Stream pipeline, hoping to gain some market share in a market that is no longer growing. Again, European officials, especially in Eastern Europe, are not keen to see a greater reliance on Russian gas. But the business interests involved in building the expansion of the Nord Stream pipeline, as well as German officials who feel comfortable with Russia as a reliable source of energy, are pushing the deal forward. Another missing point of these puzzles is the future of Nord Stream 2, a Polish official told the FT. Now, it looks like they give the Russians too much. Overall, though, the deal would solidify some changes already underway. Gazprom has already begun to link its gas prices closer to hub prices. It needs to do that anyway because it is seeing increased competition from other sources of natural gas, particularly LNG. The U.S. began sending LNG to Europe, and several new LNG ships and import terminals are allowing a few European countries, such as Lithuania, to gain leverage over Gazprom. No longer at the mercy of one supplier, parts of Europe are becoming emboldened to demand lower gas prices from Russia. Whether EU officials will force Gazproms hand or not, the Russian gas giant will be forced to keep a lid on its gas prices if it wants to avoid losing market share. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) posted a huge loss for the third quarter, yet the loss was lower than analysts had expected. And while it cut capex guidance again, the exploration and production major raised its midpoint 2016 production guidance. ConocoPhillips said its third-quarter net loss came in at US$1.0 billion, down from a net loss of US$1.1 billion for the same period last year. Excluding special items, the Houston-based companys adjusted net loss stood at US$0.66 per share, higher than the US$0.38-per-share loss for the second quarter of 2015. A Zacks Consensus Estimate had expected the company to report a third-quarter adjusted net loss of US$0.69 loss per share. ConocoPhillips continued to cut costs, and its adjusted operating costs dropped by 18 percent annually to US$1.654 billion in the third quarter. The full-year guidance for adjusted operating costs was lowered to US$6.6 billion from the previous guidance of US$6.8 billion. The company also reduced its capital expenditure guidance to US$5.2 billion from US$5.5 billion, as it seeks efficiencies and shifts capital from major projects to Lower 48 unconventionals. ConocoPhillips has been consistently lowering capex guidance this year, from US$6.4 billion to US$5.7 billion in April, and from US$5.7 billion to US$5.5 billion in July, in a sign that oil prices are not high enough to justify more investment. Regarding cash generation, ConocoPhillips said that it generated US$1.2 billion in cash from operations in July to September. In the third quarter we achieved cash flow neutrality, with operating cash flow covering capital expenditures and the dividend, chairman and CEO Ryan Lance said in the companys earnings release. ConocoPhillips has been aiming to reduce its breakeven price, improve its balance sheet, and position itself to generate free cash flow, Lance noted. On the production side, the company increased the midpoint of its 2016 production guidance, excluding Libya, to 1.565 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, on the back of strong year-to-date performance across Lower 48, Europe and Asia Pacific. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Law enforcement officials prepared to remove 200 protestors trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline on Wednesday after the group refused to leave private lands. The company constructing the pipeline owns the land occupied by the demonstrators, according to the Associated Press. North Dakotas highway patrol and the National Guard approached the protestors to ask them to vacate the area, but they refused. Both groups of authorities left afterwards. "We have the resources. We could go down there at any time," Sheriff Paul Laney of Cass County said. "We're trying not to." Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier also insisted that police forces wanted to reach a peaceful resolution with the protestors, but that the authorities are here to enforce the law as needed. Reverend Jesse Jackson flew to North Dakota on Wednesday to support the demonstrators efforts. The Baptist minister and civil rights activist said he supports the tribe and their rights. Jackson added that he came "to pray together, protest together and if necessary go to jail together." Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the $3.8 billion pipeline said it would not tolerate the lawless behavior of protestors trespassing private lands. Recently, an arsonistpresumably against the pipelineset fire to equipment used by contractors building DAPL, causing $2 million in damage. Around 200 people moved to the site earlier this month to protest Dakota Access, which will link North Dakotas oil to five other states. The AP reported that local officials did not have the human resources to remove the protestors from the private land immediately, which prompted them to contact police stations from neighboring counties and states for reinforcements. Over the past weekend, local police officers arrested at least 125 people demonstrating against the pipeline, according to Zero Hedge. Documentarian Deia Schlosberg was recently charged with three felonies for filming activists from Climate Direct Action who vandalized five pipeline valve stations in several states claiming solidarity with the Dakota Access protestors. If found guilty, Schlosberg could face a 45-year prison sentence, though she claims she did not participate in the groups activities and filmed from public lands at all times. By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Three years of energy reforms in Mexico will help oil production rebound, increase renewable energys role in powering the country, and reduce carbon emissions, according to the International Energy Agencys latest review of the provisions. The Reforma Energetica currently in motion in the North American nation will also end the 75-year domination of PEMEX, or Petroleos Mexicanos, in the oil and gas sector and of the Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) in the electric utilities sector, a new report by World Oil said. Mexicos proactive efforts aim to stem the natural decline from large offshore fields that resulted in reduced oil production and lost market share in the United States. "This is not a reform, it's a revolution on an unprecedented scale," Dr. Fatih Birol, the executive director of the IEA, said. "This transformation touches every sector of the Mexican energy industry and goes well beyond. Still, the energy expert cautioned against believing that Mexicos energy goals had already been met. Let's not underestimate the task ahead, Birol said. It is a huge undertaking and there will be challenges but the reform has made remarkable progress. The government's path forward is the right one and the IEA stands ready to assist." Mexico applied to join the IEA for the first time in November 2015. If the country is accepted, it would support the global organizations commitment to its new open door policy in the coming years. "The Mexico Energy Outlook motivates us to continue in the path traced by the Energy Reform and to double our efforts," Mexican Energy Secretary Pedro Joaquin Coldwell said. "The report includes some very convincing findings on what Mexico would have faced if the reform had never been enacted." State-run PEMEX reported this week that its oil exports in September jumped, allowing the country to recover from a 26-year low in August. By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: For the 10th straight year, October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee, presented by the restaurants of Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, dining guides, delectable features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food, as well as voting for your "Best of Dining 2016." On Saturday, Nov. 5 from noon to 4 p.m., Point Burger Bar will be hosting a job fair for their new Pewaukee location, which is slated to open Dec. 1. The company hopes to fill over 100 job openings including managers, bartenders, servers, kitchen and support staff. Located at W229 N1400 Westwood Dr., Point Burger Bar in Pewaukee is an 18,000 square foot restaurant, with a 5,000 square foot game room, a large viewing deck overlooking the Veloce Race Track and an exterior patio seating over 150 customers. "For months, we have been searching for the right spot for our second location. The moment we saw the Pewaukee location, we knew this was where we wanted to be," said Brian Ward, owner of Point Burger Bar. "Based on our experience at the Good Hope Road location, we foresee great things for Point Burger Bar here in Pewaukee." Ward believes that a key part of the companys success has been having the right staff in place. At the Nov. 5 job fair, the company hopes to fill many of the more than 100 job openings. "Having a motivated, friendly and dependable staff is key," said Ward. "Experience is great, but Im just as happy to find someone with a great attitude and desire to learn. If the willingness is there, we can teach anyone to excel at any of the jobs we have to offer. Many of the staff who opened our Good Hope Road location three years ago are still with us today, because we continue to recognize their efforts, offer great pay and advancement opportunities not usually found in the service industry." As for the restaurant, in keeping with the initial concept, the Pewaukee location will feature an extensive menu with a special focus on burger options. Along with Prime Angus, Points burger options include duck, turkey, buffalo, salmon, lamb and more. On the beverage menu at Point Burger Bar in Pewaukee, there is, of course, a full bar with plenty of Point Brewery Beer. However, it is the malt and shake options that stand out too many guests. Inspired by a similar concept Ward came across in Las Vegas, Point Burger Bar has a liquor option with their shakes and malts. Along with the delicious classic shakes without liquor, there are over a dozen specialty shakes with liquor such as Royal Raspberry with Kahlua, cheesecake, brandy and berries, or the Salted Caramel Brittle with salted caramel, peanut butter, Jameson Whiskey and Frangelico. "The shake bar, along with a diverse burger menu, has certainly set us apart from any other restaurant in the area. We want to keep building on our success, and Pewaukee is the next step in that journey," said Ward. "With the construction wrapping up, all focus is on finding the best employees the help us make Point Burger Bar Pewaukee absolutely amazing." Point Burger Bar in Pewaukee will be hosting their job fair on Saturday, Nov. 5 from noon to 4 p.m. This is the second location for Point Burger Bar. The original venue is located at 10950 W. Good Hope Rd. in Milwaukee. From Consortium News Leading protests and stirring up trouble in the Senate might be all that's left for Bernie Sanders to do in contesting Hillary Clinton's administration if, as many expect, it deviates from her public embrace of some Sanders positions if and when she becomes President. "I won't stay silent if Clinton nominates the same old, same old Wall Street guys," Sanders said this week. "The leverage that I think I take into the Senate is taking on the entire Democratic Party establishment, and, you know, taking on a very powerful political organization with the Clinton people. We won 22 states and 46 percent of the pledged delegates, 13.4 million votes ... and a majority of the younger people, the future of the country. ... That gives me a lot of leverage, leverage that I intend to use." Looking forward to Clinton's expected election on Nov. 8, the 75-year-old Vermont senator said he's begun to draft some of his planks that were accepted into the Democratic platform into legislation: on climate change, minimum wage and breaking up big banks. But given what we now know about what the Clinton machine thinks of him, it's debatable how much leverage he'll have. It's not hard to imagine Sanders contemplating what could have been as he sees the two most unpopular candidates in modern history beset by ever deepening scandals: Clinton from Wikileaks revelations and Trump from exposure of alleged sexual misconduct. Sanders now knows for certain how the Democratic National Committee undermined his candidacy when it was supposed to remain neutral. And he knows from Wikileaks' disclosure of Clinton's Wall Street speeches, which he repeatedly demanded that she make public, how cozy she is with plutocrats. A Third-Party Run In the context of these revelations, is it not reasonable to assume that if Sanders had taken Jill Stein's offer to head the Green Party ticket that such a team would have gotten 15 percent in the polls and a place at the debates? Wouldn't Sanders's presence at the debates have given an alternative to voters who detest both Trump and Clinton and at least a chance to build a viable third-party movement? Sanders said he supports Clinton because an independent or a third-party run could have handed the election to Trump. "I don't want to end up like Ralph Nader," Sanders told journalist Chris Hedges. Nader is blamed for handing the 2000 election to George W. Bush over Al Gore with his Green Party run, which kept the vote in Florida close enough for Bush, with the help of five Republicans on the U.S. Supreme Court, to claim its electoral votes and thus the presidency. [For how a full Florida recount would have given Gore the White House, see Consortiumnews.com's "Gore's Victory" and "So Bush Did Steal the White House."] But it is questionable whether Sanders would have divided the Clinton vote to make Trump president. Millions of angry voters from an eroding middle class could have supported Sanders instead of Trump. In other words, Sanders could have taken away just as many and perhaps more votes from Trump, as both were insurgency candidates against the Establishment's choice. Sanders who hasn't even a whiff of corruption about him might well be soaring above both of them in the polls by now. It also appears that Sanders made his decision to support Clinton almost wholly based on domestic issues, which he focused nearly exclusively on during his primary campaign. On immigration, climate change, gun control and a number of other issues, Sanders aligns with Clinton rather than Trump. And, Sanders rightly feared Trump's xenophobia, Islamophobia, misogyny, racism and demagoguery. But Sanders overlooked Trump's conciliatory approach toward Russia and Clinton's warmongering on Syria and her open hostility toward Russia. Given Sanders's accurate critique of Clinton's fondness for "regime change" wars, a Sanders's victory would have likely offered a greater hope for peace. In other words, Sanders had an historic opportunity and, arguably, an obligation in the face of the ruin of the American middle class and the danger of looming global conflict, but he failed to seize it. He either did not take seriously or failed to understand the urgency of the situation. He talked about a "revolution" to upend the status quo but ended up supporting a status quo candidate for President. Given his comments this week, he might well be regretting his decision. Yeah. I know, I know. I'm an iconoclast. Yep and I'm proud of it. So the other day I got to thinking about religion and other things in the Homo Sapiens space called life. You know I get philosophical from time to time. And then I get inspired to tackle some very touchy and sensitive subjects that usually set off a lot of people. I get a perverse joy in rubbing people the wrong way and send them into WFT hissy fits. So you know that this article is going to have some folks seeing red and the God-police will start pulling out their truncheons to give me a whack on the ole noggin just to prove their point that I should not meddle in the affairs of the Great Father somewhere in a place called Heaven. The fact is that today, with the click of a mouse button the era of seeking answers and advice about God directly from rabbis, pastors, or imams is gradually coming to an end. And the cause of this backsliding and undermining of the hitherto unquestioned role of these "emissaries of God on earth?" Well, it's not a human person but Artificial Intelligence personified and its called "Google." Google may be the well-known supercomputer system that processes information by nano-seconds but AI has been with us for a long time. Consider the following: Self-driving cars have arrived; Siri (on your Iphones and Ipads) can listen to your voice and find the nearest movie theatre; and I.B.M. set the "Jeopardy"- conquering Watson to work on medicine, initially training medical students, perhaps eventually helping in diagnosis. Nowadays, scarcely a week goes by without the announcement of a new A.I. product or technique. And for all the constant complaining about the religious right's inappropriate influence in politics and religious conservatives' attempts to tear down the church-state wall, the secular movement in America is actually doing quite well. The most recent Pew Research Center poll says 23 percent of Americans are religiously unaffiliated (atheists, agnostics and no-religion people); that percentage increases to 35 percent for Americans under thirty-five -- young people are not doing too many religious conversions, and see God as part of a belief system of their parents. So, for Americans in the Bible Belt and elsewhere this is alarming news - if secularism hasn't yet taken over the country, its on track for that to happen. And its all the fault of artificial intelligence as epitomized in the incredible superpower of Google. Now I do NOT intend to be dismissive of religion or disrespect people's beliefs OR their right to worship and believe what they want to. Me? I believe that every Thursday night when karaoke takes place in Brooklyn my bulldog Max turns into a werewolf seeking cats to relieve them of their hemoglobin fluids. You get my drift -- you can believe what you want but that does not make what you believe true. But one thing is not in doubt -- Google and God are on our daily human agendas. Indeed, the questions that Americans type into Google searches about God appear to confirm the country's rising secularism. For example, according to an economist writing in the New York Times: "Despite the rising popularity of Pope Francis, who was elected in 2013, Google searches for churches are 15 percent lower in the first half of this decade than they were during the last half of the previous one. The top Google search including the word "God" is "God of War," a videogame, with more than 700,000 searches per year." Bummer, people searching for a videogame with the word "God" in it? WFT! Are people losing their cotton-picking minds? And to make matter worse the same economist, Stephens-Davidowitz, also discovered that "Searches questioning God's existence are up." He went further to seek what questions people Google whilst in their periods of doubt: The No. 1 question? In the United States of America? Is without a doubt: "who created God?" And the second? "why God allows suffering?" in number 3 "why does God hate me? And in fourth place: "why God needs so much praise?" It now appears from this data that people in America are looking to Google for answers to some pertinent and serious questions about God and in an oblique way questioning what they were taught by their parents and learned in churches on Sundays for so many years. There is absolutely no doubt that the Internet and Google have been at odds with religion. The Google phenomenon is also explainable in the context of the adversarial relationship between science and religion -- they just don't mix. Religion -- all religions -- are based on a system of blind, unquestioning belief and a rejection of objective inquiry that is substituted with faith. Religions place and validate this faith by statements found in their Holy Books that's interpreted by preachers, pastors, priests and ministers. These writings and teachings MUST be accepted without question by the faithful. Science on the other hand believes that ALL things in nature should be questioned and examined. And that it is only by this kind of objective inquiry that humankind has progressed and will progress. The Internet and Google are not the products of a Sunday sermon or the dogmatic faith or prayers of the faithful. Advances in medicine, communications technology, transportation, and other things that define modern human existence are the results of science -- not faith or belief. In fact, the cornerstone of the scientific method is to question everything; science accepts nothing that is not provable -- again and again and again. The rise of American secularism and of individuals with no religious affiliations is directly due to the rise and use of the Internet. Hitherto the Internet, and in particular Google, people used libraries and their church leaders for research on questions of faith, belief, and the existence of God. Religion had a stranglehold on knowledge and issues of God and Sin. But with the advent of Google information and knowledge became readily available and a new generation is now growing up in a society more open to doubting old canards and traditional belief systems. Google has undermined religion's central premise for the belief in God -- his all-knowing faculty. Google now processes over 40,000 search queries every second on average which translates to over 3.5 billion searches per day and 1.2 trillion searches per year worldwide. Google can bring up literally millions of hits SIMULTANEOUSLY on every conceivable topic that the human mind can imagine -- including Biblical history, origins and that of other religious books, and their pros and cons. For iconoclasts like me declining religious affiliation is akin to social improvement. It's evidence of the clarifying influence of scientific rationality that's the end result of the global information revolution. I know that one of the questions here will undoubtedly be about personal faith in the context of our ability to pay bills, order clothes and food, communicate with friends and family and send emails across the word in seconds. And too, I'll hear the issue of the difference between Google as a profit-making, altruistic organization, and the church whose primary concern is about the condition of our souls. These are valid arguments when it comes to God and Google. I'm not suggesting that this is an either or situation. But what I am suggesting is that modern experiences in the secular world are now impacting religious belief and not in a very positive manner. And yes, from a religious standpoint the question is: because of the rise of Google are religious institutions that used to answer questions about God and Sin crowdsourcing the acts of faith that the entire system is built on? Put another way, does religion risk losing its ability to provide answers to life on earth when Google's data cannot do so? And, in today's Internet and Google dominated world will faithful people when in doubt, Google "who created God?" Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs (Image by Shutterstock) Details DMCA The U.S. healthcare system is produced and fueled by crony capitalism. Activist investor Dave Chase bottom-lined the result (Forbes): "the Middle Class is in a 20-year long economic depression that is at least 95% due to healthcare." Studies show our healthcare industry is providing worse care than those of many other wealthy nations, at an astounding 50% per capita higher cost than the next most expensive nation. Ask the price of any service and you always receive the same answer: "What insurance do you have?" Billing is determined by how much can be extracted from each patient on a case-by-case basis, often when the patient is at his or her most vulnerable. By any definition, this is a predatory, non-competitive system. So-called price-transparency initiatives serve to perpetuate this system in which prices can vary by a factor of 100 for the exact same service performed by the same provider. Healthcare is the only consumer industry legally permitted to shield itself from the usual requirement of legitimate pricing and competition. Patients have been rendered powerless. Ethically, this is institutionalized fraud. To stop the bleeding, Congress need only require that healthcare providers publish "legitimate pricing", which means they can continue to set their own rates, but - a different rate for each patient - must be prohibited. Without legitimate pricing, price competition cannot exist and healthcare costs will continue to skyrocket. Consumer-protection laws are applied to virtually every other industry and require both that (i) prices be disclosed; and (ii) prices be stated in a common format. Gas is uniformly priced in gallons (not pints, quarts, ounces or liters). Food is generally priced in ounces and pounds and state agencies protect consumers by inspecting scales. Scores of regulation specify precisely how annual percentage rate must be calculated and disclosed in all credit transactions (i.e., the price of borrowed money). Healthcare's exemption from consumer-protection laws is a national disgrace. Healthcare providers, like other sellers of consumer and financial products, must be required to publish their rates in a uniform format such as industry-standard CPT codes or a percentage of Medicare rates. Every citizen would be empowered to search any medical procedure online and see pricing for all providers within X miles. It would be as easy and familiar as checking the price of any other goods or services. Legitimate prices mean networks will be obsolete, along with the administrative burdens, tremendous costs, and limitations on patient choice that they impose. Health insurance will function like homeowner's, fire or auto insurance. When a house burns down, the price of drywall and paint does not depend on whether the home was insured by State Farm or Allstate. Patients would buy health insurance providing a reimbursement level that they select; for example, 100% of Medicare rates. Consumers could shop every provider in the nation and easily determine their out-of-pocket costs. High amounts of corporate debt have been incurred acquiring medical facilities on the assumption they could continue to impose predatory pricing. Disruption of current business models will lead to bankruptcies. Just as in all other industries, currently non-competitive providers will be acquired at low cost and be operated by more efficient providers. Ultimately, the industry will adjust to a competitive environment and offer health services at far lower prices. University of California researchers reported that a consumer-oriented incentive to generate competition, known as reference pricing, lowered hospital costs by more than 20% for the 1.3 million members (and their families) of the California Public Employees' Retirement System. The insurance plan stated the maximum amount it would pay for a group of common medical procedures, thereby incentivizing participants to shop prices. Lower-priced hospitals saw market share growth of 28 percent, prompting many higher-priced hospitals to lower their prices. Legitimate pricing would be a far more powerful stimulus to competition than mere reference pricing. Legitimate pricing would compel wide-open free-market competition and would, in this author's opinion, virtually overnight reduce U.S. health expenditures by a minimum 33%. Disposable incomes and prosperity would boom. The U.S. deficit would shrink. Lower underlying healthcare prices is the sole and exclusive way to materially lower health-insurance premiums. Anyone who says otherwise is, to be kind, incorrect. Reform is difficult because the healthcare industry spends more on lobbying than the defense, aerospace, and the oil-and-gas industries combined. The American public understands our predatory pricing system is morally and economically unjustifiable and is demanding change. A Petition to End Predatory Healthcare Pricing and to require legitimate pricing rapidly gained more than 100,000 signatures this year. To the many polarized groups in our nation, we have added free-market versus single-payer devotees. While this author takes no position on this issue, legitimate pricing is an essential prerequisite to either system. Nobody knows what prices would look like in an open market. For example, a study by The Department of Health and Human Services compared Medicare-allowable prices for lab charges to the negotiated prices paid for 20 high-volume and high-expense lab tests by health insurers. While providers generally complain that Medicare rates are too stingy, the study found that prices paid by Medicare exceeded fair market value: "Medicare could have saved $910 million, or 38 percent, on these lab tests if it had paid providers at the lowest established rate in each geographic area." In the absence of legitimate pricing, bureaucrats administering single-payer would have no basis on which to negotiate or set rates. That will likely leave lobbyists in control of pricing. For many Americans this concept evokes memories like the Pentagons purchase of $1,000 hammers and toilet seats. If we didn't know how much those items cost in hardware stores (i.e., legitimate prices), there would be no reference point and nobody would have even batted an eye. To reverse our nation's financial bleeding and end restrictions on patient choice resulting from restricted provider networks, Congress must empower citizens by mandating legitimate healthcare pricing. Fight against Taliban is now Americas longest war but has been all but ignored by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump With all eyes focused on Mosul, Aleppo and Russias military buildup in the Middle East, the sharply deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan has been all but ignored by and Donald Trump. Whoever wins the US presidency, such insouciance will be hard to justify beyond Januarys inauguration day. As this weeks showed, Afghanistan has a way of forcing itself into the political headlights. Barack Obama learned this lesson the hard way. He promised to end the war. Instead, he escalated, faltered, . Obamas 2009 Afghan surge, supported by Clinton, then the US secretary of state, sent an additional 51,000 troops to the country. But the reinforcements failed to end the insurgency. In 2014 Obama said the war was ending. But he has had to eat his words. As he leaves office, 8,400 US soldiers and a large air force contingent remain behind. The Afghan Taliban, supported by elements in Pakistan, are still the deadliest and most numerous foe. Recent estimates suggest they are gaining territory in Helmand, where British troops once did battle. around Kunduz in the north and audacious attacks on Kabul have been beaten back, but with great difficulty. Al-Qaida jihadis the reason the US entered in 2001 remain active in at least seven provinces, while Isis has gained a foothold in Nangarhar. Rival ethnic warlords further complicate the picture. Afghanistan is now Americas longest war. Its 15th anniversary fell on 7 October. More than 2,300 US troops have died there. The conflict Yet despite , it is far from over. Afghanistan has become the dirty little secret of the US presidential campaign that neither candidate cares to discuss. Across all three presidential debates, Afghanistan was only mentioned once, by Clinton, and then only in passing. The Democrat, already under fire for her support for the 2003 Iraq invasion and the 2011 US intervention in Libya, has little incentive to draw attention to unfinished business in Afghanistan. She knows the war is deeply unpopular with voters. For his part, Trump seems to understand little and care less. He once said the war was a terrible mistake but has no known policy. Even the Taliban feel affronted. A Talib spokesman, quoted by analyst Yochi Dreazen, commented after the first debate that Trump says anything that comes to his tongue and is not serious. , Dreazen wrote. Whatever the reason, the silence about Afghanistan is a genuine shame since the future of the long US-led war there will be one of the first major choices that a President Trump or a President Clinton would have to make The next president will need to decide whether to leave the troops there, send more, or bring even more of them home. Abandoning Afghanistan is probably not an option, however much western countries would like to wish away the problem. Despite the failure of many rural reconstruction projects, another $15.2bn for the next four years. "Trunken" Mascot: Not even the GOP elephant is immune from Trump's influence "If you look up into the clouds, you can see rock bottom" - Comedian John Oliver As of Friday, October 7, the phrase " p*ssy Riot "is no longer the sole province of a gallant all-female Russian punk-rock collective best known for courageously speaking truth to Putin's power. In 2012, members of the band were locked up for "hooliganism"--singing songs -- and in 2014, they were infamously horsewhipped and pepper-sprayed by Putin's notorious Cossack Militia who were crashing one of the group's impromptu performances. Indeed, Russia's p*ssy Riot is so thoroughly scorned by Donald Trump's good buddy Vladimir, that for many Russians, the only matter left open to question isn't when, but in what manner will the band be mysteriously "disappeared." But that's Russia, and that's another story. Here in America the phrase p*ssy Riot -- at least since that first Friday in October -- is frankly the best response one could give to anyone who asks: "What's up with the Republican Party these days?" ### As most of us now know, October 7, 2016, "Donald's Freaky Friday," as it may forever come to be known, was the day Donald Trump notoriously became "Grabby the Clown," after being unwittingly revealed as the guy running for president who awards you more brownie points if you have him over to watch skin flicks rather than to just talk politics. For a roughly 36-hour period leading up to the second presidential debate following Trump's exposure, America's 24-hour cable news junkies were played and re-played every X-rated nugget of Trump's videotaped "locker-room" talk by CNN, MSNBC -- and, to a lesser extent of course, FOX News -- with the perpetual obsession of a sex-fiend watching a favorite two-minute porno-loop. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). A new poll from an unlikely source suggests that the U.S. public and the U.S. media have very little in common when it comes to matters of war and peace. This poll was commissioned by that notorious leftwing hotbed of peaceniks, the Charles Koch Institute, along with the Center for the National Interest (previously the Nixon Center, and before that the humorously named Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom). The poll was conducted by Survey Sampling International. They polled 1,000 registered voters from across the U.S. and across the political spectrum but slanted slightly toward older age groups. They asked: "Over the last 15 years, do you think U.S. foreign policy has made Americans more or less safe?" What, dear reader, do you say? If you say less safe, you not only agree with dozens of top U.S. officials the week after they retire, but you agree with 52.5% of the people polled. Those who said "more safe" add up to 14%, while 25.2% said "about the same" and 8.3% just didn't know. Well, at least all these humanitarian wars to spread democracy and eliminate weapons and destroy terror have benefited the rest of the world, right? Not according to the statistics that show terrorism on the rise during the war on terrorism, and not according to 50.5% of poll respondents who said U.S. foreign policy has made the world less safe. Meanwhile 12.6% said "more safe" while 24.1% said it was about the same and 12.8% didn't know. Asked about four wars in particular, registered U.S. voters said each of them had made the U.S. less secure, by a margin of 49.6% to 20.9% on Iraq, 42.2% to 18.9% on Libya, 42.2% to 24.3% on Afghanistan, and 40.8% to 32.1% on bombing ISIS in Syria. These answers should not immediately be taken to prove that the U.S. public is universally wise and well informed, and (not coincidentally) at odds with U.S. media. Not only is that margin pretty slim on ISIS, but 43.3% of those polled said ISIS was the greatest threat the United States faces. Meanwhile 14.1% named Russia, 8.5% North Korea, 8.1% the national debt, 7.9% domestic terrorists, and bringing up the rear with the correct answer of global warming as the greatest threat were a grand total of 4.6% of those polled. A survey of U.S. news reports would certainly suggest a point of agreement here between the public and the media. But here is where it gets interesting. Although the public believes the hype about danger emanating from these foreign forces, it does not favor the solution it is endlessly offered by the media and the U.S. government. When asked if, compared to last 15 years, the next president should use the U.S. military abroad less, 51.1% agreed, while 24.2% said it should be used more. And 80.0% said that any president should be required to get congressional authorization before committing the U.S. to military action, while 10.2% rejected that radical idea that's been in the U.S. Constitution since day 1. The U.S. public may look quite depressingly ignorant in a quick survey of Youtube videos, but check this out: Asked if the U.S. government should deploy U.S. troops on the ground in Syria 51.1% said no, compared to 23.5% who said yes. Only 10% said yes on Yemen, while 22.8% said no -- however, 40.7% said the U.S. government should keep "supporting" Saudi Arabia in that war. Good majorities also oppose Japan acquiring nuclear weapons, Germany acquiring nuclear weapons, or the U.S. defending Taiwan against a Chinese attack. (Who invents these scenarios?) This moderately encouraging survey of public sentiment stands in stark contrast to U.S. media coverage of wars in general and Syria in particular. The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof is ready for a bigger war as are columnists in the Washington Post and USA Today, as well as, of course Chuck Todd and other televised talking head. Meanwhile Hillary Clinton's comment to Goldman Sachs that a "no fly zone" would require "killing a lot of Syrians" has received dramatically less press than her brave calls for creating a humanitarian no fly zone, and the steady depiction of that proposal as "doing something" -- in contrast to the only other option: "doing nothing." The public, however, rejects the only "something" that's on offer and just might leap at the opportunity to try something else, if anyone ever proposed anything else. At lease 60 cadets were killed and more than 116 injured as terrorists attack the Police Training College in Quetta, Pakistan, in one of the deadliest extremist attacks this year. Three gunmen burst into the sprawling academy, targeting sleeping quarters home to some 700 recruits, and sent terrified young men aged between 15 and 25 fleeing, Dawn News reported. Communication intercepts showed the attack was carried out by Al-Alimi faction of the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi militant group, IG Frontier Corps (FC) Major General Sher Afgan said. The group itself has not claimed the attack. Most of the deaths were caused when two of the attackers blew themselves up. The third was shot dead by Frontier Corps (FC) troops. At least 120 people were injured, according to Dawn News. The IG FC said "terrorists were communicating with their handlers in Afghanistan". "There were three terrorists and all of them were wearing suicide vests," he added. The training college is situated on Sariab Road, which is considered to be one of the most sensitive areas of Quetta. Militants have been targeting security forces in the area for almost a decade. The attack comes a day after militants belonging to the Baloch Liberation Army on a motorcycle shot dead two coast guards and a civilian and wounded a shopkeeper in a remote southwest coastal town in Balochistan. In August, a suicide bombing at a Quetta hospital claimed by the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban killed 73 people, including many of the city's lawyer community who had gone there to mourn the fatal shooting of a colleague. Pakistan says intelligence agencies of India and Afghanistan are fanning unrest in Balochistan by helping the rebels and sectarian militant outfits. According to Islamabad Policy Research Institute, the Indian consulate in Kandahar, a border town, provides a firm base to train, arm and dispatch militants across the border to undertake sabotage activities in Balochistan. Indian companies have been awarded contracts on various projects to link Kabul with Balochistan near Iranian border; and in the bargain it makes the job of the Indian intelligence agency RAW easier. Last month Indian government formally offered political asylum to secessionist Baloch leaders. The Zee News of India reported that the media is buzz with reports that Brahumdagh Bugti, grandson of Nawaz Akbar Khan Bugti, is set to get Indian citizenship. He is currently living in exile in Switzerland. Balochistan is a key region for China's ambitious $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor infrastructure project linking its western province of Xinjiang to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan. Security problems have mired CPEC in the past with numerous separatist attacks, but China has said it is confident the Pakistani military is in control. 18 Indian soldiers killed in an army base attack The Quetta terrorist attack came five weeks after a militants attack on an army base in the garrison town of Uri in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir -- killing 18 soldiers. The attack on Sept 18, which took place near the de facto border between India and Pakistan in the disputed region, was one of the deadliest on an army base in Kashmir since militant attacks began in 1989, according to CNN. Tension remains high between the neighbors following the Uri attack. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has been under intense pressure from his own party and the Indian public to respond to the Uri army base attack. Mr Modi came to power pledging to toughen India's response to what he calls cross-border incursions from Pakistan. He vowed that the Uri raid "will not go unpunished". On September 29, India announced that it had carried out early morning "surgical strikes" on terrorist camps in Pakistani controlled Kashmir. However, Pakistan denied that a cross border strike had taken place, saying that Indian troops had fired small arms across the Line of Control, killing two soldiers and injuring nine. The notion of surgical strike linked to alleged terrorists' bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by India to create false effects," the Pakistani military said in a statement. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Maya Schenwar (Image by Jill Brazel) Details DMCA My guest today is Maya Schenwar, Truthout's editor-in-chief, author of Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn't Work and How We Can Do Better , and co-editor of Who Do You Serve, Who Do you Protect? Police Violence and Resistance in the United States. Joan Brunwasser: Welcome back to OpEdNews, Maya. We last spoke back in January, 2015. Now, I'd like to discuss your recent piece: Death Penalty for Heroin Dealers? More Proof the Drug War Is Not Over . Who thought the drug war was over in the first place and why? Maya Schenwar: There has been a shift in mainstream politics toward condemning the drug war, and for good reason. It has done nothing to stem drug misuse, and meanwhile it has resulted in the criminalization and incarceration of millions of people, overwhelmingly Black and Brown people. With countless studies demonstrating its "failure" (I put this in quotes because I don't think the drug war was actually devised to help people in the first place), politicians who defend it end up looking pretty bad. So the current line is to say it's in the past, and that we have a new approach to drugs going forward. The Obama administration, many state governments, and even conservative politicians (including the "Right on Crime" crowd) have said that we need to leave behind the old war on drugs. In February, Eric Holder said the drug war is "over," and Obama increasingly talks about treating drug-related issues as "public health problems" instead of criminal problems. JB: How does that change anything: the disproportionate numbers of minority members locked up for possession, more single moms incarcerated for the same, families split up and minors left with no parent at home? Are they, then, opening the prison gates and saying, "We were wrong. This was all a big mistake; it didn't work and we diverted and wasted billions of dollars that could have been used to good purpose. And we ruined your lives for nothing. Oops. Sorry."? MS: No, no one is opening the prison gates, unfortunately! There are some limited steps being taken toward scaling back drug-war-related incarceration. For example, Obama has issued hundreds of commutations to people serving super-long drug sentences. Some states have taken steps to reduce some very low-level drug offenses to misdemeanors instead of felonies, which means people are a lot less likely to be incarcerated for them. (California's Proposition 47 is an example of this, although the emphasis on "low-level offenses" has actually entrenched the idea that people should be severely punished for "higher-level offenses.) Obviously, in a number of states, marijuana is being decriminalized, and some are legalizing it. However, that doesn't mean there are no longer marijuana arrests -- in fact, an ACLU study released recently showed there were more marijuana possession arrests last year than arrests for all violent crimes. The study also showed that Black people are still disproportionately arrested in far greater numbers than white people, despite using marijuana at about the same rate as white people. JB: How do we understand this, Maya? Beyond being convinced that the whole penal system is seriously screwed up, what's the point of increased marijuana arrests? Is this a last gasp effort or at least partly to fill up jail cells and local or private prison coffers? MS: There wasn't an increase in marijuana arrests overall last year; there was a decrease. But obviously it was a small decrease, given that there was a larger number of possession arrests than all violent crime arrests. I don't think it's about filling private prison coffers. Ultimately, prisons are expensive for states, and I don't actually see money as a primary motivator to incarcerate people. Until we challenge criminality itself -- and challenge the white supremacy that underlies the US's version of criminality -- we won't be done with large-scale incarceration. We have to understand incarceration by looking at how people are being labeled as disposable and as "dangerous," and how those things are racialized. Whether it's marijuana possession or something else, there will always be a convenient "crime" with which to charge Black and Brown people unless white supremacy itself is confronted. We also have to think about ableism, transmisogyny, patriarchy, economic injustice, capitalism -- really confronting the structures that make it possible for our society to lock millions of people in cages. If we look at the drug war through this lens, we understand that's it's not some stand-alone entity; it's one tool deployed by a larger power structure that continually targets marginalized people in order to keep itself going. JB: Good point. Does the fact that the penal dysfunction is part of a larger overarching dysfunction make it easier or harder to improve it? And what's ableism? I don't know that I'm familiar with that term. MS: I think the fact that it's part of an overarching structural problem means that it can't really been improved, per se -- it really has to be uprooted. I wouldn't say that can happen extremely easily; it's more a goal to move toward while making incremental changes. Ableism is the structural oppression against and devaluation of people with disabilities. One of the ways it plays out in relation to prison is the extremely high level of incarceration of people with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities. 'Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn't Work and How We Can Do Better' by Maya Schenwar (Image by Berrett-Koehler Publishers) Details DMCA JB: Quite true. I believe much of that shift occurred when President Reagan "reallocated" resources, closing many state mental hospitals and dumping the patients onto the streets and the unprepared public. And we've been paying the price, one way or another, ever since. What haven't we talked about yet? Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Clout Research A new Clout Research telephone poll of likely General Election voters shows the race for governor of Oregon very close, with incumbent Democrat Kate Brown leading Republican challenger Bud Pierce, 45% to 43%. The survey showed three other candidates winning less than 2 percentage points each, with another 6% yet undecided in the race. Both Brown and Pierce are struggling somewhat to gather the support of voters in their respective parties, as Brown is winning just 75% of Democrats and Pierce wins just 77% of Republicans, but Pierce enjoys a 11-point advantage among political independents, an all-important demographic group which is keeping him in the race, the survey shows. Pierce is also showing stronger cross-party appeal, as he wins 19% support from Democrats, while Brown wins 13% support from Republicans across the aisle. As there has been in Clout polling throughout this gubernatorial contest, the gender gap continues in dramatic fashion, as Pierce leads by 18 points among men and Brown leads by 19 points among women. Broken out by congressional district, Brown holds a predictable and substantial advantage in CD3, while Pierce leads by a wide margin in CD2. In both CD1 and CD4, the race is very close, but Pierce leads by 8 points in in CD5. Clout polling of this race has shown it to be very close all year long, as Brown has struggled to keep her favorability rating high and to shore up Democratic support in the wake of the Kitzhaber scandal. Pierce has faced challenges familiar to Republican statewide candidates in Oregon in recent elections. The top of the ticket on ballots this fall has helped neither candidate for governor, as the ebbs and flows of charges and counter-charges between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have left voters less enthusiastic than in previous presidential elections. Clout Research is a leading opinion research company established in 2005 and working nationwide with clients in politics, business, media, government, and the non-profit sectors. It conducted a survey of Oregonians statewide October 20-21, 2016, regarding political issues. The telephone survey, which included interviews with likely voters in landline and cell phone-only households, included 928 respondents. It carries a confidence interval of 95% and a margin of error of +/- 3.22 percentage points. More questions on Brad Avakians campaign violation case By Taxpayer Association of Oregon, This week, Forbes dropped a bombshell on Democrat Brad Avakian, Oregons labor commissioner who is running for secretary of state. The article claims that Avakian has regularly commingled his official duties with his campaigns for his current position for the secretary of state post he is seeking. In particular, it is alleged that three employees at Oregons Bureau of Labor and Industries headed by Avakian, worked on his political campaigns while on-the-clock at BOLI. It also alleges that the BOLI employees, Charlie Burr, Jesse Bontecou, and Paloma Sparks were paid bonuses out of Avakians campaign warchest. Burr received payments totaling of $3,000, Bontecou $1,000 and Sparks $500 in payments from the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian. In The Oregonian it states that he, Bontecou, and Sparks volunteered for Avakians campaign in 2015 and 2016. Webster provides a simple definition of volunteer as a person who does work without getting paid to do it. As Labor Commissioner, Avakian has a reputation of hostility toward independent contractors, preferring that workers be classified as employees subject to the BOLI oversight. Given his stand on the contractor vs. employee issue, it seems clear that Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks were/are, in fact, employees of the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian. The cash payments indicate that Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks were not volunteers for the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian. Brad Pyle, Avakians campaign manager, says payments from the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian, to the three the BOLI employees in 2014 and 2015 were fairly routine holiday bonuses. Independent contractors are rarely paid a holiday bonus. BOLI, however, describes a Christmas bonus for all employees as a discretionary bonus. Notice it says employees, not contractors. Pyle also says the bonuses Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks received in 2014 and 2015 were in appreciation for advice and counsel given in those years. BOLI characterizes such bonuses as nondiscretionary bonuses, offered as part of the wage agreement. Under Oregon law, an independent contractor must satisfy the following conditions: 1. Free from direction and control over the means and manner of providing the services, subject only to the right to specify the desired results. There is no evidence that, as workers on the Avakian campaign, Burr, Bontecou, or Sparks were free from direction and control over the means and manner of providing their services to the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian. 2. Customarily engaged in an independently established business. None of the three BOLI employees had an independently established business to provide services to the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian. 3. Is responsible for obtaining licenses or certificates necessary to provide the services. There is no evidence that Burr, Bontecou, or Sparks had obtained any licenses or certificates to provide the necessary services (such as a City of Portland business license). Because Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks were paid cash bonuses, they were not volunteers. Because Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks fail the three-part contractor test (that BOLI imposes on private businesses), they were not contractors. Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks were employees of the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian. As an employer, the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian is subject to the same wage, workplace, and tax obligations as any other employer in the State of Oregon. Were the bonuses paid by the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian to Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks reported to the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue? As employees, Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks should have W-2 income reports from the Committee to Elect Brad Avakian. The W-2s should have been provided to the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue and taxed as income. Even if Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks are classified as contractors, some or all of the cash bonuses should have been reported on 1099s sent to the campaign advisers as well as to the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue. Whether or not Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks received 1099s, the income should have been reported as income. Cash payments to Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks should have been reported and taxed as income. Did Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks violate state restrictions on campaigning and moonlighting? Burr claims: We didnt and dont do campaign work on state time. Thats not good enough. Salaried public employees are always on state time unless they clearly indicate otherwise, according to the Secretary of States Restrictions on Political Campaigning by Public Employees. If the work performed falls generally within the job duties of the public employee, the work is performed in an official capacity regardless of the time of day or location. Even if the activities of the BOLI employees were not considered campaigning, Oregons Guidelines for Public Officials apply to moonlighting. The guidelines state clearly and unambiguously: A governmental agencys supplies, facilities, equipment, employees, records or any other public resources are not to be used to engage in private business interests. In other words, its more than just working off the clock. The BOLI employees must demonstrate that they exited state offices, got off the states wireless network, and used their own computers, phones, or other communication devices to engage in their moonlighting work for Avakians campaign. In the absence of such demonstration, Burr, Bontecou, and Sparks appear to have violated either or both the states restrictions on campaigning by public employees and/or the states restrictions on outside employment by public employees. Seoul, Oct 27 (AP) Samsung Electronics reported a sharp fall in its quarterly earnings today as the unprecedented recall and discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones wiped out its mobile profit. For the July-September period, Samsung's net income was 4.4 trillion won (USD 3.9 billion), down 17 per cent from 5.3 trillion won a year earlier. The company's profit from its mainstay mobile business showed a dramatic decline due to the Note 7 recall. Samsung issued the world's largest smartphone recall in September after the flagship smartphones caught fire or overheated. But it was forced to recall the smartphone again earlier this month before discontinuing the model altogether after its replacement phones that were supposed to be a fix for the fire-prone phone also combusted or emitted smoke. The Galaxy Note 7, initially launched as Samsung's weapon to kill the iPhone, was scrapped in less than two months. Samsung's troubled mobile business generated just 100 billion won (USD 87.9 million) in operating income during the quarter, compared with 2.4 trillion won one year earlier. Samsung's mobile business usually contributes more than half of its overall income. It is the world's largest smartphone maker. ALSO READ: Samsung on fire again: After Note 7, now Galaxy S7 Edge explodes Sales fell 7 per cent to 47.8 trillion won (USD 42 billion), while operating income slumped 30 per cent to 5.2 trillion won (USD 4.6 billion), in line with the company's guidance earlier this month. While mobile profit shrank dramatically, Samsung recorded solid earnings from its component businesses, especially its high-density chips for computers and next-generation smartphone displays called OLEDs, which have been increasingly popular among global smartphone makers. Together, its component businesses generated more than 80 per cent of the quarterly income in the latest quarter, helping Samsung weather the cost of the handset recall. ALSO READ: Your Note 7 replacement is here: Xiaomi launches Mi Note 2 Analysts expect that those high-end components will be Samsung's growth engine next year as more premium smartphone makers are expected to adopt Samsung's OLEDs due to its flexible design while Samsung's advanced chips will help the company save costs and charge higher prices. The South Korean tech giant said its annual investment this year will be at a record high as it seeks to expand production of those two lucrative components for computers and smartphones. Samsung said it will spend 27 trillion won (USD 23.7 billion) this year to increase production of OLEDs and an advanced chip that are expected to see huge demand growth. ALSO READ: Best smartphones you can gift this festive season From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher, Credit: University of Western Australia Researchers from The University of Western Australia have invented a device that can detect very small quantities of the parasite eggs that cause schistosomiasis in humans which are currently difficult to detect. Schistosomiasis is second only to malaria as the most globally devastating parasitic disease and can be deadly if left untreated, but curable if detected early. It affects 250 million people globally every year,10 times the population of Australia, and is most prevalent in poorer and rural parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The eggs are difficult to detect when in small quantities using current detection methods, which can delay critical treatment for people that contract the debilitating disease, however the new device will change this. It works by using a magnetic field to detect the eggs in small quantities. Researchers from UWA's School of Physics invented the device in collaboration with the University of Queensland (UQ) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) in Brazil. Lead inventor Professor Tim St Pierre from UWA's School of Physics said the device, which looks like a syringe, uses a magnetic force to attract the parasitic eggs into a small droplet. "A sample of human faeces is stirred with the device, attracting the eggs. After withdrawal from the sample, the magnetic force is 'switched off' to release the eggs onto a microscope slide for examination with an optical microscope to search for the eggs," Professor St Pierre said. "The prototype we created is highly effective and will reduce the time taken to search for the eggs from hours to a matter of minutes. This will help detect the disease early at a critical stage, to enable treatment to start early." Dr Renata Candido, UWA Research Associate and one of the inventors, said current techniques failed to diagnose patients if there were fewer than 100 eggs per gram of faeces, but the new technology could detect eggs down to at least three or four eggs per gram of faeces and probably lower. "The device is also very low cost, which will help make it easily accessible across the globe, particularly for poorer regions in the world where the disease is most prevalent," Dr Candido said. The device has been patented and a partnership to support the commercialisation of the invention is being offered through UWA's Research Development and Innovation office. The researchers hope to continue testing the device to see if it may be used in the diagnosis of other major parasitic diseases globally such as trichuriasis (caused by whipworm) and ascariasis (caused by a species of roundworm). Fish-eye view of the interior of the C-Mod tokamak experiment. Credit: Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Plasma Science & Fusion Center On its final day of operation, the Alcator C-Mod tokamak at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Plasma Science & Fusion Center set a new record for plasma pressure in a magnetic confinement device. These results help validate the high-field approach to fusion energy, which could lead to smaller, cheaper fusion power plants. Fusion energy requires that the product of three factorsa plasma's particle density, its confinement time, and its temperature (the so-called "triple product")exceed a certain threshold value. Above this value, the energy released by the fusion process exceeds the energy required to keep the reaction going. Pressure, which is the product of density and temperature, accounts for about two-thirds of that challenge. Fusion power density increases with the square of the pressureso doubling the pressure leads to a fourfold increase in energy production. And since the economics of fusion energy will be dominated by the capital costs, high power densities will be essential. C-Mod is a compact, high-field tokamak, which has produced a wealth of new and important results since it began operation in 1993, contributing data that extends tests of critical physical models into new parameter ranges and into new regimes. The research team includes scientists, engineers, technicians and students from MIT and a large number of national and international collaborating institutions. Its unique and record-breaking capabilities flow directly from the powerful electromagnet at the heart of its design. During the 23 years Alcator C-Mod has been in operation, it has repeatedly advanced the record for plasma pressure in a magnetic confinement device. The previous value of 1.77 atmospheres, set at C-Mod in 2005, was eclipsed by the new record of 2.05 atmospheres (in other units 2.1 Bar or 0.21 MPa). These latest values were attained by employing over 4 megawatts of radio frequency heating, raising the temperature inside C-Mod to over 35 million degrees Celsius or approximately twice as hot as the center of the sun. The machine was operated with a central magnetic field strength of 5.7 Tesla and 1.4 million amps of electrical current. In these new experiments, the C-Mod results exceeded the next highest pressure, achieved in other devices, by approximately 70 percent. Unless a new experiment is announced and constructed, the pressure record just set in C-Mod will likely stand for at least the next 15 years. ITER, a tokamak currently under construction in France, will be approximately 800 times larger in plasma volume than C-Mod, but it will operate at a lower magnetic field. ITER is expected to reach 2.6 atmospheres when in full operation by 2032, according to a recent U.S. Department of Energy report. In 2012, the DOE decided to end funding to C-Mod due to budget pressures from the construction of ITER. Following that decision, the U.S. Congress restored funding to C-Mod for a three-year period, which ended on Sept. 30. Throughout its life, results from C-Mod have directly supported design decisions and operational planning for ITER. At the same time, they point the way toward a fusion development path that would feature more compact, higher field devices. As noted above, fusion power density increases with the square of the plasma pressure, which in turn scales as the square of the magnetic field. Thus fusion power density increases as the fourth power of the magnetic field. Energy gain scales with the third power of the field. From these arguments, it is clear that the most cost effective fusion devices would operate with the highest fields that can be reliably engineered. On several previous occasions when the United States was planning to build its own burning plasma devices, for example, the proposed CIT, BPX and FIRE devices, the price to performance argument led to compact high-field designs. Looking forward and considering the substantial costs and extended construction schedule for ITER, which was designed with moderate-field superconducting magnet technology, a development path that features higher field seems attractive. Until recently, the high-field option was only open for pulsed experiments since conventional niobium based superconductors have critical currents and fields that would limit large volume fusion magnets to about 6 Tesla. However, the industrial maturity of so-called high-temperature superconductors (HTS) based on rare earth compounds like yttrium-barium-copper-oxide (YBCO) is a game changer. A fusion pilot plant concept, called ARC, has been developed at MIT to explore the capabilities enabled by the new superconducting technology. This study showed that a machine the size of the JET tokamak, running with HTS magnets at 9 Tesla and with normalized plasma parameters already achieved in current day experiments, could produce 500 megawatts of fusion power and 200 megawatts of net electricity. As avian embryos develop, they draw needed calcium from the inner most layer of their eggshell, which in turn thins the eggshell and facilitates hatching. Yet, parasitic cuckoos, which lay their eggs in nests of other bird species (hosts), must maintain thick eggshells to avoid pecking and ejection by the sharp beaks of the foster parents. A new study in the Journal of Zoology shows that common cuckoo eggs undergo similar degrees of embryonic eggshell thinning as eggs of their host, thus maintaining thick-shelled eggs at all stages of development. The article, titled "Brood parasite and host eggshells undergo similar levels of decalcification during embryonic development," is the collaboration of an international team of researchers, including Mark Hauber, Professor of Psychology, Hunter College, and Interim University Vice Provost for Research, City University of New York. Common cuckoos are brood parasitic birds that lay their eggs in the nests of host species. Soon after hatching, the cuckoo chick evicts all other nestlings and eggs from the nest. Hosts combat this parasitism in part by puncturing and destroying cuckoo eggshells. In response, cuckoos have evolved thick-shelled eggs to protect their young. However, thicker shells require more time and energy for cuckoos to hatch than a host that lays eggs of similar size but with a thinner eggshell, the great reed warbler. Researchers therefore asked whether cuckoo eggshells might be specifically adapted to ease hatching from an initially thicker shell. They compared the thicknesses of unincubated and hatched cuckoo and warbler eggshells using scanning electron microscopy, and found that cuckoo and warbler eggshells experience similar amounts of decalcification during embryonic development. Principal author, Branislav Igic, Department of Biology, University of Akron (now at the Research School of Biology, Australian National University), said, "Contrary to our expectations, common cuckoo eggshells underwent similar degrees of embryonic eggshell thinning as warbler eggshells. Cuckoo eggs retained greater eggshell thicknesses than warbler eggs throughout embryonic development." Dr. Igic points out that cuckoo eggshells may still lose more tensile strength than their warbler counterparts during embryogenesis. Because the innermost layer of cuckoo eggshells is stronger than that of warbler eggshells, it is still possible that common cuckoo eggshells experience a greater reduction in overall breaking strength than warbler eggshells. However, this question requires further study. Steve Portugal, Senior Lecturer in Animal Behavior, Royal Holloway University of London, said, "This study firmly suggests that the extra thickness of the cuckoo eggshell is related to the risk of host bird puncture, and getting the egg safely into the host nest unharmed. Interestingly, it means that the extra shell thickness and the calcium it contains is not related to the increased rate of development of the cuckoo chick, or a requirement for bigger, stronger, bones that may assist in the eviction of host eggs and chicks." The investigators also point to the importance of comparing parasitic and non-parasitic cuckoo eggshells: Other than differences in size and eggshell thickness, little is known about how eggshells may vary among cuckoo species. Simulation showing cosmological initial conditions (left) evolving into shocks (right). Credit: Pen and Turok. 2016 American Physical Society (Phys.org)Physicists have discovered a surprising consequence of a widely supported model of the early universe: according to the model, tiny cosmological perturbations produced shocks in the radiation fluid just a fraction of a second after the big bang. These shocks would have collided with each other to generate gravitational waves that are large enough to be detected by today's gravitational wave detectors. The physicists, Ue-Li Pen at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics in Toronto, and Neil Turok at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, have published a paper on the shocks in the early universe and their aftermath in a recent issue of Physical Review Letters. As the scientists explain, the most widely supported model of the early universe is one with a radiation-dominated background that is almost perfectly homogeneous, except for some tiny waves, or perturbations, in the radiation. In the new study, Pen and Turok have theoretically shown that some of these early, tiny perturbations, which are small-amplitude waves, would have spiked to form large-amplitude waves, or shocks. These shocks would have formed only at very high temperatures, like those that occur immediately after the big bang. The physicists also showed that, when two or more shocks collide with each other, they generate gravitational waves. The results suggest that both colliding shocks and merging black holeslike those detected earlier this year by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) experimentcontribute to the gravitational wave background. Some researchers have previously speculated that the mergining black holes may have formed from the same perturbations that created the shocks and, further, that black holes of this size may make up the dark matter in our galaxy. However, it would be possible to distinguish between merging black holes and colliding shocks because the gravitational waves emitted by shocks would be detected at far lower frequencies today since the wavelength would have been stretched by the expansion of the universe. Today the gravitational waves from shocks would have frequencies of 3 nHz, as opposed to the 100 Hz regime in which the LIGO experiment currently operates. Based on their analysis, the scientists think that both current and future planned gravitational wave detectors will be able to detect the frequencies of gravitational waves emitted by shocks. These frequencies correspond to emission times of around 10-4 to 10-30 seconds after the big bang. Another interesting consequence of shocks in the early universe is that their interactions would have caused the surrounding radiation fluid to rotate, generating vorticity. This means that shocks in the early universe would have generated entropy in an otherwise perfect radiation fluid, in which normally the entropy cannot increase. The possibility that shocks in the early universe could have generated gravitational waves, vorticity, and entropy could help scientists solve some of the more perplexing puzzles of the early universe, such as why the universe has more matter than antimatter (the baryogenesis problem), as well as the origins of the magnetic fields that are observed in many astrophysical objects. More information: Ue-Li Pen and Neil Turok. "Shocks in the Early Universe." Physical Review Letters. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.131301 Also at arXiv:1510.02985 [astro-ph.CO] Journal information: Physical Review Letters 2016 Phys.org Female Aedes aegypti mosquito. Credit: Leonard Munstermann Mosquitoes that carry Zika virus and Dengue fever are genetically distinct throughout the globe, a fact that may help public health officials assess risk to populations newly exposed to the species, a new Yale-led study shows. Researchers described the genetic diversity of the Aedes aegypti mosquitowhich also transmits yellow fever and chikungunyain 30 countries and across six continents. In different locales, the mosquito species has different genetic signatures, the researchers report in the journal Molecular Ecology. "This is important to know because these mosquitoes differ in their ability to transmit diseases," said Andrea Gloria-Soria, associate research scientist in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) and lead author of the study. Information on the mosquitoes' origin can help officials to assess threat levels if the species shows up for the first time in a new location. For instance, if Aedes aegypti arrives in a southern U.S. state from areas of Brazil where levels of Zika infection are high, public health officials can launch aggressive prevention measures in those newly exposed areas. And mosquito migration can be unpredictable, notes Jeffrey Powell, professor in EEB and senior author of the paper. For instance, when Aedes showed up in California in 2013, it was assumed that the mosquitoes had been imported from Mexico. Genetic testing showed that the insects had hitchhiked on planes, trains, or trucks from the New Orleans/Houston areas. In another case, Dutch officials were stunned to find subtropical mosquitoes in the Netherlands in 2010. Testing showed that the mosquitoes had arrived with cargoes of used tires shipped from Miami for disposal at centers in that country. More information: Andrea Gloria-Soria et al. Global genetic diversity of, Molecular Ecology (2016). DOI: 10.1111/mec.13866 Journal information: Molecular Ecology Credit: Wiley Many microorganisms produce secondary natural products, the potential antibioticeffects of which are extensively investigated. German scientists have now examined a class of quinone-like substancescontaining an additional epoxide functional group for their antibiotic activities. As they report in the journalAngewandte Chemie, the compounds can kill problematic Salmonella pathogens, probably by interfering with theirbacterial stress response system. Multidrug resistance is one of the most urgent problems in clinical research. It particularly concerns the gram-negativebacteria strains, which possess an outer membrane largely impermeable for small molecules. Scientists are continuallyscreening natural secondary products of various structural motifs to investigate their effects as possible antibiotics, whichcould enter in the microorganism and possibly inhibit essential enzymes. Stephan Sieber, Iris Antes and their colleagues atTechnical University of Munich were particularly interested in a class of molecules with a structural scaffold present invarious natural products. Its quinone-epoxide motif could be crucial for antibacterial bioactivity, they assumed. The scientists used click chemistry to label the molecular candidates with fluorescent dyes. Thus, in a proteomicapproach, theirat this point unknownprotein targets within the microorganisms could be identified, once they interactedwith the candidates. One of the candidates called FM233 was not only found to kill Salmonella, which is one of themost problematic pathogens, but its target proteins were identified as well. The scientists reported that two of the three proteins belonged to thecellular stress response machinery. "FM233 antibiotic activity stemmed to a large extend fromdownregulation of enzymatic stress response, and corresponding sensitization of cells to stress," they wrote. Thefunction of the third of the three targeted proteins had been unknown before. However, after employing test systems on various possibleactivities, the scientists concluded "that this protein is not involved in the antibacterial mechanism ofaction." The notion that FM233 can intervene in the bacterial stress response system could be a good starting point for furtherresearch on the antibacterial activities of that particular molecular scaffold. As only small chemical changes can causestrong responses, the battle against resistance is ongoing. Provided by Wiley This is the latest in a series of posts about general election 48 hour notices filed in the 21st Congressional District race. The campaign is in the period when contributions of $1,000 or more must be reported to the Federal Election Commission within 48 hours of receipt. Mega-donor George Soros, an investment fund manager from New York City, contributed $2,700 to the campaign of Democratic congressional candidate Mike Derrick, according to a 48 hour notice the campaign filed Wednesday. Hudson Valley PAC, a New York City-based pro-Israel political action committee, contributed $1,000, bringing Derrick's 48 hour notice contributions to $8,400, as of Thursday morning. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, had reported $15,500 in 48 hour notice contributions, as of Thursday morning. Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello had not reported any 48 hour notice contributions, as of Thursday morning. Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, had $753,432 in her campaign fund, as of Oct. 19, heading into the final stretch of the 21st Congressional District race, according to a report filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission, the last full campaign finance report before the Nov. 8 election. Thats what a reader wrote to me in an email this week. I dont know how old they are, but it sounded like they were in junior high school. Attached to their email was a story with the headline and news: Michelle Obamas Mom Will Get $160k for Life Paid by Our Taxes Congress just announced the most outrageous waste of taxpayer money designed by Obama. First Grandma Marian Robinson, 79, will receive a lifetime 160K government pension when she leaves the White House next year, according to congressional budget statements. I did a quick search of the Internet and found it littered with similar stories from news sources I had not heard of. It only took 20 seconds or so. Then I went to snopes.com. If you are not familiar with snopes.com, it is a website that spends a lot of time checking into the validity of stories that run rampant on the internet. Snopes said the report originated from the Boston Tribune website on Oct. 17 and that the First Ladys mother was to receive a lifetime yearly pension of $160,000 for having served as the caretaker of her grandchildren while they lived in the White House. What snopes.com found was that there was no truth to the report and that The Boston Tribune is a fake news site that masquerades as the online arm of legitimate big-city newspaper in order to lure readers with fabricated click bait stories. The also elaborated: The Former Presidents Act of 1958 provides lifetime benefits for presidents after they leave office. This law also provides some benefits for former first ladys (such as Secret Service protection), but not lifetime pensions for them (or their parents). The Boston Tribune is an offshoot of the fake Associated Media Coverage website, which has previously published false stories claiming that Florida store owners killed 31 looters after Hurricane Matthew, that the practice of "open carry" was being banned in the United States," and that convicted murderer Jodi Arias had been released from prison. Its a reminder if a news report is hard to believe, it may not be believable. SUNY Adirondack Professor of English Kathleen McCoy will hold a book signing and poetry reading for her first book, Green and Burning, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at LARAC in Glens Falls. Published by Word Tech in Cincinnati, the poetry collection is described as luminous in the best sense. Hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served. LARAC is at 7 Lapham Place in Glens Falls. Doug Gruse is Director of Marketing and Communications at SUNY Adirondack. Email him at grused@sunyacc.edu. For more information on the college, go to www.sunyacc.edu. Friday and Saturday Nettle Meadows Haunted Farm Tour THURMAN Nettle Meadow is hosting a Haunted Farm Tour, Friday and Saturday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Nettle Meadow Farm, 484 S. Johnsburg Road, where a history of hauntings get extra creepy around Halloween. Tour the ghostly graveyard, the spooky cabin, the haunted forest trail and the creepy old barn. Stop by the kids creepy craft station and enjoy coffee, hot cider, cookies and caramel apples served to all who survive the $5 per person haunted tour. All proceeds go directly to the not-for-profit Kemp Animal Sanctuary at Nettle Meadow Farm to support care, feeding and health care for more than 100 sanctuary animals currently living at the farm. Friday and Saturday Rocky Horror Picture Show GLENS FALLS The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a cult classic, comes to the Charles R. Wood Theater, 207 Glen St., with a live shadow cast. There are two performances on Friday, 8 p.m. and 11:50 p.m., and one on Saturday at 8 p.m. The Rocky Horror Picture Show contains mature themes. Prop bags are provided and costumes are encouraged. Admission is $20. Call the Charles R. Wood Theater, 480-4878 for tickets. The event is sponsored by Art in the Public Eye. Saturday Halloween Block Party Boo 2 You GLENS FALLS Bring out the whole family for the Halloween Block Party, Boo 2 You, on Glen Street in downtown Glens Falls on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Festivities include trick-or-treating at downtown storefronts and along candy lane; spooky dance performances by local dance groups; costumed characters meeting and greeting children; a photo booth courtesy of The Post-Star; costume parade at 4 p.m.; screening of the film Hocus Pocus at the Charles R. Wood Theater at 4 p.m. and more. The event is free. Friday and Saturday Maze by Moonlight, Haunted Hallway TICONDEROGA Explore a six-acre corn maze designed especially for Fort Ticonderoga on Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Use your flashlight to guide you to the Heroic Corn Maze where a multitude of twists and turns through acres of corn stalks await. The mysteries of the night surround you as you search for hidden stations in the maze. Cost is $10 per person; tickets available at the door. Also in Ticonderoga, North Country Community College at 11 Hawkeye Trail is hosting its annual Haunted Hallway, 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, scary fun for kids and adults, with $5 admission. Saturday Fright Fest Costume Party & FUNdraiser QUEENSBURY Experience this Halloween Spooktacular from Noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Six Flags Great Escape. The event is a fundraiser for Lending Hearts & Hands, Inc. The $40 admission ($20 for season pass holders) includes all you can eat buffet from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; trick or treating; haunted houses; theme park; costume and other contests with prizes including Great Escape season passes. Saturday Goblin Gallop & Halloween Hop Kids Fun Run GLENS FALLS The Goblin Gallop is a two-loop 5K flat and fast course that starts at 9 a.m. at the Abraham Wing School, 120 Lawrence St. Registration is $22. Race day registration is 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. There is also a 1K kids Halloween hop that starts about 10 a.m. There is a special raffle for all costume participants. For information, call 798-4066. The event benefits Adirondack Runners and Nepal Village School Project. Friday and Saturday Haunted Hayride & Haunted House WILTON Enjoy a haunted hayride and haunted house in Wiltons Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Drive, from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The event features the Mortimer Blackstone haunted house and tickets are $12. Proceeds benefit Operation Adopt a Soldier & Veterans. For information, call 260-9922 Friday Warrensburg Graveyard Walks WARRENSBURG Experience the chills of a guided walk through the cemetery, 164 Hudson St., and meeting historic figures from the towns history. The walks begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and run until 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults; students are $5. For information, call 623-9367. Friday Haunted Barn at the Little Theater on the Farm FORT EDWARD Face Your Fears on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Little Theater on the Farm, 27 Plum Road, for the 11th Annual Haunted Barn. Admission is $8 adults, $5 children 4-12, and under 4 free. For information, call 932-6985. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday HalloweenFest Weekend 2016 TICONDEROGA HalloweenFest Weekend 2016 will take place Friday through Monday and is hosted by The Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership and the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition to regular trick or treating from 6 to 7 p.m. at area businesses, other events are added this year, including the Adult Haunted Hallway with an American Horror Story theme at the North Country Community College from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For information, call 585-6619. Saturday Haunted Halloween Walk MOREAU LAKE STATE PARK Take a haunted walk through the day use area on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. Refreshments and activities will be available. Advance registration is required and there is a $5 fee per car. Contact the park office at 793-0511 to make reservations or if you have questions. Proceeds go to benefit the educational programs and patron services at the park. Bring a flashlight. Rain date is Sunday at 6 p.m. Sunday Trunk n Treat at Crandall Park GLENS FALLS Lots of candy will be available at Trunk n Treat 2016, starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Crandall Park. There will be a costume parade for candy and treats for those in 5th grade and under. Donations for the event are $1 per person and will benefit Warm the Children, a regional drive to provide new winter clothing for the children of needy families. Areas north of Glens Falls got their first accumulation of snow last weekend, and the rest of the region will likely see its first winter weather on Thursday. Temperatures will likely be cold enough for snow when a storm moves into upstate New York during the day Thursday. Little accumulation is expected in Glens Falls, but a winter weather advisory has been issued for central Warren County and points north and west, where higher elevations may see 3 to 6 inches before temperatures warm enough for snow and sleet to turn to rain. The advisory is in effect from 8 a.m. to midnight Thursday. Warrensburg, North Creek, Chestertown and Indian Lake are among the communities where the advisory is in effect. Rain is expected to linger into Friday, with showers Saturday before nicer weather arrives for the second half of the weekend. SARATOGA SPRINGS There are promising results from the first post-dredging tests of the Hudson River. Although it will take decades for fish in the upper Hudson River to recover from PCBs, the water is already showing improvement, EPA official Mike Cheplowitz said at Thursdays report to the Community Advisory Group. The CAG is a group of community representatives that have met to discuss dredging-related issues for years. EPA officials present to them regularly. They met Thursday at Saratoga Spa State Park. The most recent Hudson River water data shows big decreases in the amount of PCBs, as compared to the amount in 2004, said Cheplowitz, who is the EPA program manager for the flood plains portion of the project. He is taking on more responsibility, so he did the water report to the CAG. PCBs were cut in half or better at each sample site. One particularly big reduction was at the Thompson Island Dam in Fort Edward, he said. That site had PCB concentrations of nearly 50 nanograms per liter, but that dropped to 15 nanograms per liter this year. Other sites dropped by about 50 percent. There is a decrease across the board, Cheplowitz said. The magnitude of the change appears to be the most significant the further north you are. However, he noted this was just the first non-dredging year, and water levels were low all year, which could have made a difference, scientifically. Were not seeing the full spectrum of what we might see, he said. The news is good, but officials emphasized it doesnt mean fish are recovering as quickly. Data from 2015 fish has just been sent to the EPA from the lab, which is now starting to measure PCBs in the fish caught this year. That will be a critical data point because the fish caught this year are the first to be caught after dredging ended. The data will be included in the five-year review of the effectiveness of the entire dredging project. EPA is doing that review now, with the goal of releasing it to the public in late January or early February. Then EPA will hold a public comment period before finalizing the report in April. But they already know what it will say about eating fish: Its still discouraged. A new outreach program has been funded for the next 20 years to spread the word about not eating the fish. The program is offering a more nuanced set of instructions, posting signs in the mid-Hudson and lower Hudson that allows certain fish to be eaten occasionally. But no woman under age 50 and no children under age 15 should eat any fish from the river from Corinth Dam south to New York City. However, from Troy to Catskill, men and older women can occasionally eat rock bass, yellow perch, alewife and blueback herring. In the lower Hudson, that group can eat most fish but should avoid walleye and catfish. They should also not eat crab liver, shouldnt reuse water used to cook the fish, and should remove skin and fat because that can eliminate about 50 percent of the PCBs in the fish. But thats not the way many people want to eat their fish, presenter Regina Keenan of the state Department of Health acknowledged. The state ran many surveys to find out if people are eating fish. They found that many people are, including women and children, but that most people arent eating a lot of the fish. The top reason for the fish consumption, by far: They prefer the taste of fresh fish. This is what were up against, Keenan said ruefully. This is why people eat locally caught fish. They like it. State Assemblyman Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, said he and Steve Englebright, a Democratic colleague from Long Island, spent so much time conferring in the last two weeks of the legislative session that colleagues coined a new nickname. Some of our colleagues started calling us Englestec, he said in a meeting Tuesday with The Post-Star editorial board. Englebright is chairman of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee and Stec is the ranking minority member. Stec, who is running for re-election against Green Party challenger Robin Barkenhagen, said his bipartisan collaboration is among the reasons he should be re-elected. Working with the other side of the aisle is always the way to get these things done, Stec said. Stec said one of the initiatives he and Englebright achieved was legislation to begin the process of holding a statewide referendum on a constitutional amendment to establish a land bank in the Adirondack Park for swapping of state and private or municipally owned property for public benefit projects. The Legislature must pass the legislation in two consecutive two-year sessions before it can be put up for a public vote. Under current law, each land swap needs a specific individual constitutional amendment, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Under the proposed change, land could be swapped with approval of the state Legislature or regulatory agencies for public benefit projects that meet certain criteria. There was a municipality that needed a constitutional amendment to disturb a couple of acres to drill a water well for public drinking water supply, Stec said. Relocation of the Middleton Bridge in Chester and Horicon is another example. From an engineering and a service perspective, thats the right thing to do. But the banks of the Schroon River are in the Forest Preserve. You literally are talking about whatever the footprint of the embankments are, he said. Stec said his advocacy for legislation to remove pensions from government officials convicted of felonies in relation to official duties is another example of bipartisanship. Pension forfeiture would not have happened without my (Republican) conference. There was enough of us making enough noise, he said. Bipartisanship, however, hasnt kept him from being vocal about conservative principles. There is a role for a loyal opposition or an informed and energetic minority, Stec said. Stec, a two-term incumbent, is running against Barkenhagen, a retail shop owner and musician from Glens Falls. There is no Democratic candidate. Campaign finance reform and recreational marijuana have been major issues in the campaign. Barkenhagen supports establishing a state public campaign finance system, which Stec opposes. Barkenhagen supports legalizing recreational marijuana use in New York. Stec opposes it. Before serving in the Assembly, Stec was Queensbury town supervisor for nine years and Queensbury 3rd Ward councilman for four years before that. Stec said his local government experience provides insight to represent the 114th Assembly District, which includes 40 towns, eight villages and one city in Warren, Essex and portions of Washington and Saratoga counties. This seat is local government intensive, he said. GLENS FALLS Its amazing how the Adirondack Film Festival came out of nowhere last weekend to become a smashing success, isnt it? No, it isnt, although the festival was a great success and there was some uncertainty whether, in its first year, it would attract substantial crowds. But like most things that seem to burst upon the scene, years of hard work, in fits and starts, with failures as well as successes, preceded its appearance. The hard-won success of the Adirondack Theatre Festival, first of all, set the stage for the Film Festivals star turn. Over years, under three executive directors and with lots of support from the community, the Theatre Festival has built itself a wonderful performance space and a sterling reputation. Wander into the Wood Theater on a weekday afternoon during the festivals run and peek at a rehearsal from the balcony as I did this summer with my cousin, who worked for years on Off-Broadway shows as a writer, actor and director and you will be blown away, as he was, by the quality of the work. What we have here, with professional actors doing cutting-edge shows, including premieres, is something few other small cities in the country, if any, have. The theater got built because Charley Wood donated a chunk of his fortune and a lot of other people who didnt have as much money as he did donated chunks of theirs, too. Building the theater was only possible because of the forethought and generosity of a small group of downtown business leaders calling themselves Partners for Progress, who in 1995 bought the old Woolworths building with the impractical notion of transforming it into a theater. In 1995, you could stand on the sidewalk in front of the Woolworths building on a July evening and speak just three or four words in three or four hours one hello for every person that walked by. If the zombie apocalypse had arrived in downtown Glens Falls that summer, the zombies would have starved. Or they would have gotten run down by cars zipping around the one-way loop formed by Glen, Ridge and Washington streets, a speedway that ran through downtown like a stock car track. Plans put together by William Loeb, a former councilman, champion of two-way traffic and one of the unsung heroes of downtowns revitalization, were finally carried out in October of 1995, and the cars were forced to slow down. Even though downtown was a dead zone in 1995, people were working the barren ground to bring it back. That summer was when David Turner and Martha Banta started Adirondack Theatre Festival, performing at the Lake George RV Park, and the next year they set up shop in the cavernous Woolworths building. Progress has at times seemed so slow, but look how far we have come! Zombies could gorge themselves any night of the week in downtown, and if youd stood on the sidewalk this weekend in front of the theater, youd have gotten trampled by moviegoers skipping back and forth between there and 190 Grille. The film festivals success emerged, not out of nowhere, but out of years of determined, creative work and investment by businesspeople, politicians and artists. We are lucky in the people we have now leading the downtown community, like ATF Director Chad Rabinovitz; we are lucky in those we had in the past; and we are lucky, too, in those whose efforts petered out or collapsed, because their sweat and imagination prepared also for the burgeoning prosperity we are enjoying now. Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether Read more Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Blog Archive Oct 2022 (64) Sep 2022 (60) Aug 2022 (61) Jul 2022 (55) Jun 2022 (60) May 2022 (73) Apr 2022 (60) Mar 2022 (58) Feb 2022 (65) Jan 2022 (69) Dec 2021 (106) Nov 2021 (84) Oct 2021 (58) Sep 2021 (67) Aug 2021 (62) Jul 2021 (54) Jun 2021 (50) May 2021 (58) Apr 2021 (44) Mar 2021 (57) Feb 2021 (64) Jan 2021 (93) Dec 2020 (82) Nov 2020 (62) Oct 2020 (50) Sep 2020 (45) Aug 2020 (51) Jul 2020 (56) Jun 2020 (53) May 2020 (70) Apr 2020 (66) Mar 2020 (169) Feb 2020 (211) Jan 2020 (184) Dec 2019 (54) Nov 2019 (56) Oct 2019 (55) Sep 2019 (63) Aug 2019 (54) Jul 2019 (69) Jun 2019 (56) May 2019 (65) Apr 2019 (68) Mar 2019 (72) Feb 2019 (76) Jan 2019 (62) Dec 2018 (55) Nov 2018 (69) Oct 2018 (90) Sep 2018 (82) Aug 2018 (58) Jul 2018 (36) Jun 2018 (47) May 2018 (44) Apr 2018 (64) Mar 2018 (63) Feb 2018 (68) Jan 2018 (92) Dec 2017 (85) Nov 2017 (64) Oct 2017 (82) Sep 2017 (54) Aug 2017 (89) Jul 2017 (60) Jun 2017 (86) May 2017 (84) Apr 2017 (62) Mar 2017 (86) Feb 2017 (91) Jan 2017 (113) Dec 2016 (109) Nov 2016 (100) Oct 2016 (82) Sep 2016 (95) Aug 2016 (84) Jul 2016 (84) Jun 2016 (99) May 2016 (93) Apr 2016 (106) Mar 2016 (145) Feb 2016 (125) Jan 2016 (103) Dec 2015 (83) Nov 2015 (80) Oct 2015 (100) Sep 2015 (111) Aug 2015 (94) Jul 2015 (98) Jun 2015 (151) May 2015 (125) Apr 2015 (109) Mar 2015 (122) Feb 2015 (113) Jan 2015 (135) Dec 2014 (131) Nov 2014 (115) Oct 2014 (146) Sep 2014 (112) Aug 2014 (128) Jul 2014 (94) Jun 2014 (104) May 2014 (140) Apr 2014 (132) Mar 2014 (81) Feb 2014 (89) Jan 2014 (141) Dec 2013 (100) Nov 2013 (96) Oct 2013 (99) Sep 2013 (94) Aug 2013 (95) Jul 2013 (95) Jun 2013 (91) May 2013 (139) Apr 2013 (179) Mar 2013 (73) Feb 2013 (76) Jan 2013 (85) Dec 2012 (59) Nov 2012 (71) Oct 2012 (85) Sep 2012 (70) Aug 2012 (71) Jul 2012 (53) Jun 2012 (51) May 2012 (52) Apr 2012 (52) Mar 2012 (69) Feb 2012 (76) Jan 2012 (70) Dec 2011 (60) Nov 2011 (54) Oct 2011 (57) Sep 2011 (75) Aug 2011 (72) Jul 2011 (64) Jun 2011 (76) May 2011 (56) Apr 2011 (73) Mar 2011 (114) Feb 2011 (71) Jan 2011 (80) Dec 2010 (92) Nov 2010 (82) Oct 2010 (73) Sep 2010 (95) Aug 2010 (86) Jul 2010 (81) Jun 2010 (76) May 2010 (71) Apr 2010 (74) Mar 2010 (74) Feb 2010 (82) Jan 2010 (101) Dec 2009 (108) Nov 2009 (182) Oct 2009 (136) Sep 2009 (102) Aug 2009 (120) Jul 2009 (151) Jun 2009 (136) May 2009 (180) Apr 2009 (145) Mar 2009 (113) Feb 2009 (113) Jan 2009 (124) Dec 2008 (108) Nov 2008 (69) Oct 2008 (89) Sep 2008 (76) Aug 2008 (75) Jul 2008 (87) Jun 2008 (80) May 2008 (99) Apr 2008 (93) Mar 2008 (115) Feb 2008 (147) Jan 2008 (162) Dec 2007 (124) Nov 2007 (95) Oct 2007 (67) Sep 2007 (42) Aug 2007 (78) Jul 2007 (75) Jun 2007 (123) May 2007 (110) Apr 2007 (108) Mar 2007 (92) Feb 2007 (136) Jan 2007 (119) Dec 2006 (41) Nov 2006 (34) Oct 2006 (12) Sep 2006 (13) Aug 2006 (13) Jul 2006 (16) Jun 2006 (12) May 2006 (21) Apr 2006 (38) Mar 2006 (27) Feb 2006 (25) Jan 2006 (18) Admittedly, we have taken note of series of outages in some areas within our distribution system, but we wish to state as a matter of fact that it is not load shedding, the Director of Operations at the ECG, Engineer Tetteh Okyne said. Some parts of Accra have been experiencing power outages in recent times. READ ALSO: But addressing a press conference to explain current developments in electricity supply, Engineer Tetteh Okyne attributed the current power cuts to interruptions at ECGs bulk supply points and some planned maintenance works. He said: Most of the time, there are faults that have come on our network and we have to respond to them as quickly as we can but the climax was on the Sunday where we had two challenges at the Mallam bulk supply point which affected a large area of Western parts of Accra, Kasoa, Nsawam at the same time we had another challenge and we had to put off the station at Baatsona which serves the Spintex Road and other areas. So it happened that certain parts of the Western parts of Accra were off and some parts in the Eastern region were also off which raised some issues, he said. Below is the list of top 10 hottest African actors - thespians who have mastered these determinants to construct enviable bodies of work. Ghanaian Actor Majid Micheal is considered to be one of the hottest actors in the industry. His aggressive nature, fair, smooth complexion as well as charismatic style comes out uniquely. Djimon Hounsou is a Beninese-American actor and model. He gained further recognition for his roles in Gladiator (2000), In America (2004), Blood Diamond (2006), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Furious 7 (2015). Richard Mofe Damijo, popularly known as RMD, won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best actor in a Leading Role.Considered by many as a sex symbol, his handsomeness seemingly intensifying as he ages, he has over 50 movies to his credit. His confidence, endearing manners and acting skills definitely put him up there one of the hottest actors in Africa. Desmond Oluwashola Elliot is an award winning Nigerian actor, director, and politician. He has starred in over two hundred films and a number of television shows and soap operas. Apart from the fact that he is super handsome, he is one of the hottest actors sought after both internationally due to the ease with which he slips into roles. Chiwetel Ejiofor is British actor of Nigerian descent who gained worldwide acclaim for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in the epic 12 Years a Slave. Ejiofor is one of the leading black actors in Hollywood, praised for his appeal and talent. Adjetey Anang, who became iconic in the early 2000s playing Pusher in the cult hit series Things we do for love, has since evolved from his one-dimensional nature to become one of the most versatile actors working in Ghana today. Ramsey Noauh is definitely one of the hottest actors in Africa. He is fair, handsome and with a winning moustache. The women never stop talking about his lips. Ali Nuhu is a Nigerian actor, producer, director and television personality. Referred to in the media as the "King of Kannywood", "Sarki Ali" or "King Ali", he has appeared in hundreds of Hausa Language and English Language films and earned numerous accolades. There have been several hilarious responses to the tweet but multiple award-winning rapper, Edem's response has been considered as the most epic. Without fear, Edem quoted Wiz Khalifa's tweet about his coming to Ghana saying "We have the best Weed in Alajo brought in from Volta". Edem made this statement due to Wiz Khalifa's love the for cannabis or weed. Wiz Khalifa revealed his readiness to come to Ghana in a tweet yesterday (October 26). The "See You Again" hitmaker tweeted: "I can't wait to go to Ghana." It is unclear what he is up but other sources suggest that he is planning a tour in Ghana. On an exciting night, Nigeria cleaned up the winning list. Wizkid, from Nigeria, was the most decorated artiste on the night with three major awards: Artist of the Year, Best Male and Best Collaboration. Yemi Alade also from Nigeria beat Ghana's MzVee to cling the Best Female award while Pana hitmaker Tekno was named Best Breakthrough Act. South Africa also fared quite well. Hip-hop star Cassper Nyovest picked up Best Live Act while Emtee won Best Hip Hop. Caster Semenya took home the 2016 Person of the Year. Hugh Masekela was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. Kenya didnt disappoint either. Afro-pop band Sauti Sol was given the award for Best Group. But on the night, Ghanas topmost artistes MzVee, E.L, Sarkodie, R2Bees and Stonebwoy who were nominated for awards were missing from the winner' list. Even though Sarkodie had a great night by performing with Patoranking, he still came home empty-handed. The only question Ghanaians might be asking is, Where were our top men when Nigerians, South Africans and Kenyans were scoring high on the night? This question is indispensable because they were the best candidates to represent the country. But I think Ive got the answer. The answer is disunity among artistes and the various fan armies. This disunity is even spearheaded by these artistes hence they lose prestigious awards like MTV Africa Music Awards. Why am I saying this? We are in a country with a population of 28 million and we are competing with countries like Nigeria whose population is over 188 million. Out of our 28 million population, about 25-40 per cent are actively following music. And out of the 25-40 per cent, each top artiste has about 2 per cent die-hard fans that would do anything they are ordered to do. The other percentage are okay with their lives without hearing Sarkodies fast rap or Shatta Wales constant yelling on Jamaican beats. Now, when an artiste receives an international nomination, which may need the votes of the whole country especially music lovers, it never materialises. Why? Because these same artistes incite their fans to go against their rivals. They incite their fan armies to go against each other. We are in an industry where hate, greed, partiality and parochialism become the order of the day. Most Ghanaian artistes are not united, so as their fans. But here is the case where the MTV Africa Music Awards winning process goes through voting. And, as explained, our little 25-40 percent (of the country's population) who follow musicians are divided. I know Shatta Wales fans didnt vote for Stonebwoy because they see him as a rival instead of a countryman. M.anifests fans didnt vote for Sarkodie because they always see themselves as enemies. Sarkodie and M.anifests fans didnt vote for E.L because he was involved in their recent beef. Kaakies fans didnt vote for MzVee because they are also beefing. Beef is part of showbiz and beneficial but taking it too personal ruins the prosperous side of the business. Ghanaian Hip-hop (Hiplife) nearly died until the recent Sark-Mani beef revived it. Whats better than that? But what do we see? Division! How can a divided country with 28 million population win any battle against united countries like Nigeria with 188 million, South Africa with 55 million, and Kenya with its 55 million population? A release signed by GAFs Director of Public Relations Aggrey-Quashie said no soldier has been assigned to the presidents brother. Some pictures making the rounds on social media shows Ibrahim Mahama in the escort of some supposed military personnel around an event in Accra New Town over weekend dubbed, Walk with Ibrahim. Many have since accused President John Mahama of abusing his incumbency following the development. But the Ghana Armed Forces has insisted that it has not assigned any soldier to Mr Mahama as his bodyguard. The soldiers in question were assigned as part of the security details at the Flagstaff House. According to him, Ghana has sufficient power than it even requires. Mr Boakye Agyarko, policy advisor of the NPP in a press conference on Wednesday said the NDC has not demonstrated any measure of control in addressing the challenge. He said: many businesses and residential consumers of electricity are justifiably afraid that dumsor will come back if the NDC is retained in power. According to him, Gas supply from Nigeria stopped in June this year and may not be resumed soon due to governments failure to pay outstanding debts in excess of US $160million. Gas supply from Jubilee Field will also stop at the FPSO and it is expected to be shut down for repairs for the period between three to six months. With these developments, Asogli and AMERI will not be able to generate power. We are, therefore, estimating that Ghana will experience a shortage of up to 700 megawatts of power early next year, which may be dragged lower as Akosombo [Dam] may be drafted in spite of the lower water level, he said. But Mr Jinapor has insisted that the NPP might be hallucinating for making such claims. As I speak to you, some of our plants have been shut down because of excess capacity. KTPP is down, TT1PP is down, the Sonnet plant is down, not due to fault but due to strategic reasons. We do export power to Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso; we do export power through NEDCO to Ivory Coast. ...There is no agreement that states that we are going to give out gas to the Chinese. We have consistently stated that we believe in a gas fired thermal system and so as much as possible we intend using our gas resources to fire our thermal plants because that is cheaper, efficient and that is part of our plans. So that cannot be true. I listened to him this afternoon and he claimed that VRA supply 75% of our power needs, that is not true he claimed that the dam is at an all-time low, that is not true, he claimed that crude oil is far expensive compared to their time in terms of the premium, that is not true, he told Accra-based Citi FM. He said under the NDC administration, we have added more capacity than the NPP. And it is obvious; it is undisputable...some of the challenges we went through, it is because the NPP didnt take some of the challenges we have taken today. We had to take very difficult, bold steps in order to stabilise the power situation. And so we have the track record and given the opportunity, we will certainly do better than the NPP. Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM he urged members of the NDC to prosecute him now since he enjoys no immunity by the constitution. His comments follow threats by the NDC to ensure that the former Deputy Energy Minister in the Kufuor government is arrested and prosecuted for his role in the sale of Ghanas drill ship as soon as he loses his seat. A government white paper on a report presented by the Judgment Debt Commission directed the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) to investigate K.T Hammond on the disbursement of $900,000 from the sale of the drill ship which belonged to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) . KT Hammond subsequently sued the government for directing the Economic and Organised Crime Unit (EOCO) to investigate him over the drill ship saga. READ ALSO: K T Hammond in trouble over drill ship saga But speaking at the launch of an outreach programme for Volta caucus nationwide at Fumso in the Ashanti Region, Mr Asiedu Nketia hinted that government is waiting for Mr Hammond to lose his seat and face the law. The visit to Okyehene was the next stop of Mahama following his successful visit to the Volta Region. The visit was part of his five-day Eastern regional campaign tour. Okyehene Amoatia Ofori Panin, lauded president Mahama and the NDC government for his outstanding performance when it comes to infrastructure development. The NDC has declared Operation 50 50 in the Eastern Region, which is to split the votes with it opponent, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and President Mahamas visit is to boost the morale of the regional executives of his party, as they prepare for this years elections. In April 2016, the Kyebi Executive Council banned two Eastern Region executive members of the NDC from visiting Okyehenes palace. According to the Council, the two executives - Regional Chairman, Tawiah Boateng and Youth Organizer, Appaw Haruna Owiredu - have brought the name of the Paramount Chief, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, into disrepute hence the decision. Speaking on behalf of the chiefs, the Paramount Chief of Nkwanta Akyode Traditional Area Nana Obonbo Sewura Lipuwura II, said the level of leadership has fallen drastically hence the need to support a better leader in the upcoming elections. He added that READ ALSO: Otumfuo issues stern warning to chiefs endorsing politicians Nana Obonbo Sewura Lipuwura II was speaking on Wednesday (October 26) when Nana Akufo-Addo and the leadership of the NPP in the Volta Region paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Nkwanta. Nana Obonbo Sewura Lipuwura II said he believed Nana Addos campaign promise of one-District-one-Factory will materialise if he was declared the winner of the December 7 elections. READ ALSO: Dambai chiefs endorse Nana Addo He entreated Nana Addo to create the Oti Region [from the Volta Region], and site the capital in Nkwanta, if he wins power on December 7. READ ALSO: According to him, the Commission failed to educate electorates on what was required of them if they wanted to endorse flagbearers for the December polls. ...It is the duty of the NCCE to have educated the people on how to subscribe so for us that fault does not lie on political parties but the NCCE, which Charlotte Osei was the former boss. So if those common mistakes are happening then it means that the NCCE didnt do a good job because if they had done a good job, I dont think we would have these common errors coming from the voter, he said. But the Communications Director of the NCCE, Joyce Afutu has insisted that her outfit has nothing to do with nomination of candidates; it is the work of the Electoral Commission. We have done education several times over the years but there are people who are recalcitrant and will go ahead to double vote or go against the law. That cannot be blamed on us, she said at the opening of a three-day workshop on data journalism for some selected media personnel organized by the EIB Network, Penplusytes and the US Embassy in Accra Thursday. She said that the current electoral process will make it too difficult for anyone to rig the polls. she added. Mrs Osei said this when she met members of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday. READ ALSO: Final voters register to be released next week She also mentioned that the Electoral Commission has put in place enough measures to ensure there is a free and fair general election in December. President Mahama was addressing a campaign rally in Kyebi. He mentioned that former Presidents had forgotten about the town until he came to power. Mentioning some of the projects his government had undertaken in the area he said the bad roads in the town have been fixed as he promised. he added. President Mahama also mentioned the newly commissioned water project as another project he has embarked on. The President earlier paid a courtesy call on the Okyenhene Amoati Ofori Panin and his elders at the Ofori Panin Fie. Earlier, in his ruling, Justice George K. Koomson said the decision was due to a wrong procedure used by Nana Konadu hence making the case incompetent. He said the applicants were wrong in including an application for judicial review and the enforcement of fundamental human rights in one writ. Background The NDP applied for an interlocutory injunction to be placed on all processes in connection with the elections, which would require their participation. Nana Konadu and her NDP were also praying the court to declare as illegal the deadline the EC set for receiving nominations and a further declaration that the EC erred in law when it decided not to accept the applicants nomination thereby wrongfully and illegal disqualifying the applicants from contesting in the 2016 presidential elections. They are also seeking an order quashing the ECs decision not to accept Konadus nominations and an order compelling the EC to accept her nomination and to include her name on the ballot for the 2016 presidential election. Nana Konadu was disqualified with 12 other presidential nominees because they failed to meet the necessary requirements of the electoral laws. The Paramount Chief made this known on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, when Nana Akufo-Addo and the leadership of the NPP in the Volta region paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Nkwanta.He said: Under President Kufuors tenure, I can say with all certainty that, all was well with Ghana. There was money in the land and in the pockets of people. However, under President Mahama men are crying, women are crying, the youth and old are all crying, the Nkwanta Chief lamented.Theres a saying that you visit two markets before one can tell which is the best. We have, indeed, visited two markets over the last 16 years, and we know which is best. We know it is the NPP that can help us, the chief added. Salifu Maase who is popularly referred to as Mugabe made the scathing attacks on his radio show Pampaso. He accused the NDC of giving advertorial contracts to media houses belonging to members of the opposition party while ignoring media houses that have been propagating the messages of the party. READ ALSO: Montie 3 released Mugabe is a member of the infamous Montie three whose sentence was remitted by President Mahama after they were sentenced to a four-month jail term by the Supreme Court following contempt proceedings against them. He further mentioned that contrary to reports that the three of them have been compensated after the remission they have been left on their own. Nana Baffour Mireku Okonsende II explained that this will ensure that Nana Addo develops a better transportation means for residents in the area if he becomes President after the December 2016 polls. Accra-based Starr FM reported that the ferry which was to transport them to the other side of the river got stuck. However, some NPP officials and activist believe this is a way of sabotaging the party. Even though Nana Addo has made no promise to carve a new region from the Volta region Nana Baffour Mireku Okonsende II appealed to Nana Addo to make Krachi the regional capital of a new region he may create from the Volta region should he become President. READ ALSO: All the chiefs who have boldly endorsed Mahama and Nana Addo We are confident that we can still get all the results and declare within two maximum three days so we vote on December 7, by 10th of December, we get all the results announced", she stressed. According to her, only the manual transmission of results is presently backed by law. She said the Commission will seek the support of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to select a suitable telecom company for the implementation of the Electronic Transmission System alongside the manual system. We are now evaluating the tender of the telecom process. We will go back to IPAC and explain to them for consensus to be reached, she added. Meanwhile, the EC Chair has indicated that the final voter's register which will be made available to the political parties next week will contain close to 16 million voters. The register has now been finalised; we have implemented all the decisions and we are in a good place and, so, they (political parties) will have the register at the end of this week. We will probably have an approximately 15,800,000 names thereabout on the register going into the elections, she said. According to the EC Chair, the list of the polling stations would also be ready by Friday, October 28, 2016. She further indicated that the list would also be made available on the ECs website and also be made available to security agencies to ensure a transparent election in December. Mrs Osei added that no polling station would hold more than 850 voters in this year's polls. In an interview with Accra-based Starr FM the minority leader in parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu explained that the approval was about the majority number of votes which they couldnt have won considering the number. In a related development, a political strategist Dr Kobby Mensah said the approval was politically motivated since the general election is near. Oti Bless ministerial appointment remained in the balance for the past three months after the Minority led the charge for the suspension of his approval following his alleged abusive remarks against the Judiciary, especially, the Chief Justice on an Accra-based radio station Montie FM. Parliament had put on hold the approval of his nomination in August after his vetting by the Appointments Committee. On Thursday, August 5, 2016, Edward Doe Adjaho, Speaker of Parliament told the house that further discussion needed to be had on his nomination. John Oti Bless later apologised for the remarks against the Chief Justice. On the request for the creation of a new region out of the Volta Region, with the proposed name being the Oti Region, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that I heard President Mahama say that when Ghanaians give him another 4 years in office, he will create the Oti Region. President Mahama has been in office for 8 years, 4 years as Vice President and 4 years as President, and, yet, he never made statement about the creation of a region, until I talked about the Western North Region. Read more: 57 Volta chiefs declare support for Nana Addo Nana Addo was addressing a mini durbar comprising 57 chiefs in the Nkwanta South constituency, during his tour of the constituency, as part of his 5-day tour of the Volta Region. Nana Akufo-Addo added that the proposed Western North region announced by me prompted President Mahama to also promise the creation of 5 more regions. We thank God that he has seen the light. He said the creation of a new region will be of immense economic and developmental benefit to the northern and southern parts of the Volta Region, as it will also bring governance to people. I assure you that when I win this years elections, the creation of the Oti Region will be done. However, what I cannot promise now will be where the capital will be sited. I know the Chiefs of Nkwanta want the capital right here in Nkwanta. What I would ask for is for a consultative process to take place, where we can all sit down and agree, as a people, on whats best for the new region, in terms of the siting of a capital, he added. Meanwhile, President Mahama has also reiterated his commitment to the creation of a new region of the Volta Region. According to the President, the process to create the new region, in the Northern part of the Volta Region, will receive great attention in the next government of the NDC. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Shuaibu Jibrin, the state commandant revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, October 27, 2016. He disclosed that any recruitment exercise by the NSCDC is done through an announcement by known media channels. ALSO READ: 3 cable thieves arrested by NSCDC Currently, the NSCDC is not carrying out any recruitment, the NSCDC recruits based on certain criteria and merit which is always advertised through the mass media. He also mentioned that the state security agency will not charge any fee for its job recruitment exercise. A statement by the Public Relations Officer, Mr Barry Ndu, made available to newsmen in Owerri on Thursday said that the suspension was to allow full investigations into the matter. According to Ndu, the suspension is the decision of congress of ANC which held at its secretariat on Sept. 28 ratified by the board of trustee, members and delegates from other regions of Ghana. Ndu added that already the matter had been reported to Ghana Police, saying the members want the investigation to follow due process of the law so as to unravel circumstance that led to tampering of ANC United Bank of Africa account. Ndu stated that ANC account was frozen since 2013 due to court action against the body, but it was recently uncovered that fake resolution purported to have come from the executive council of the association was used to make withdrawal from the account. It was further revealed that two of the said new signatories were Daniel Obiora and Godwin Onowu, who were neither members of the congress nor executives of the association. The congress perceived the action as gross violation of all known rules binding members of ANC. For the sake of transparency, due process and in line with the anti-corruption agenda of Nigeria government which all Nigerians must be part of as ambassadors of the country, the executives have decided to immediately suspend Owharo as its president, he said. He noted that Owharo had equally been summoned by the body to explain his role in the change of signatories and withdrawals made from the ANC Ghana UBA Account. But in a swift reaction Owharo told NAN that the allegation was false. Owharo told NAN in a telephone interview that there was no leadership crisis in ANC in Ghana. News 4 reports that Oyindasola who worked as a nanny in the Maryland area has been charged in the asphyxiation death of the baby girl who was in her care. The accused was allegedly caught on camera as she force-fed two bottles to the baby and the child choked to death, police say. The baby whose parents are also Nigerians, according to the report, died after she was rushed to a hospital in Prince George's County. Authorities said video camera footage revealed that Oyindasola, was asleep on a couch inside the house when the baby, who was in a walker, began crying and woke her up. On waking up, the angry nanny tried to feed the baby, but without success. She then pulled the baby from her walker, removed the nipple from her bottle and forcefully fed her. "She forcefully poured the two bottles of what looks to be milk down the baby's mouth, causing her to not be able to breathe, suffocating her, and eventually she died at the hospital,"Col. Harry Bond of the Prince George's County Police stated. The doctors assured the public that they were bound by their Hippocratic oaths to provide accessible and affordable life saving services to the society at large. The state NMAs Chairman, Dr Keme Pondei, made the pledge at the 2016 Physicians week held in Yenagoa. Pondei said the week was a period when medical practitioners gather to reassess the state of healthcare. He said that the doctors evaluate the effect on the population and proffer appropriate solutions to improve healthcare delivery. We also during this week, provide free healthcare to rural dwellers in the form of medical outreach. Despite the prevailing economic situation in the country, we carried out a medical outreach at Agbobiri and Okordia communities, Yenagoa Local Government Area. The healthcare indices for the country are really not what they should be, Pondei said. He said that the NMA was non-partisan and devoted to the welfare of every Nigerian. We are partners in progress with government and welcome the hand of friendship the current Government of Bayelsa has offered us. We appreciate the employment of 20 doctors at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri, facilitation of accreditation for the Obstetrics and gynaecology department. The approval of the corrected CONMESS, approval of land for NMA Secretariat Complex, among others. We pray that as partners in progress Government and the NMA will partner to review the healthcare delivery system in the state. There is a need to urgently pass the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) bill that is believed to be before the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, he said. Pondei urged the Bayelsa Government to revive the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme while steps should be taken to join the National Health Insurance Scheme to achieve universal health insurance cover in the state. He said the health system functions more effectively with a Commissioner of Health to facilitate the coordination of the ministry and urged the government to urgently appoint a commissioner for health. The Bayelsa Head of Service, Dr Peter Singabele, said celebration of the Physicians Week was very important for efficient healthcare services. He stressed the need for doctors to embrace peace and shun rivalry among themselves, saying they are one of the key professions that deal with human life. Health is wealth and a healthy population is a wealthy one. According to the current representative of Bayelsa East constituency at the Senate, celebrating some of the incidents that make up the history of Nigeria further help youths understand the need for unity and peace. Speaking to journalists at the media screening of a new movie, 76, in Lagos, Bruce said the neglect on the history of the civil war is one of the reasons youths clamour for unrest and Biafra state. "Today, you find out people and most especially the youths are clamouring for war because they have little or no idea of what and how the civil war nearly wrecked an ethnic in Nigeria. And you can't blame these youths because none of them were alive to witness the era which is best remembered. I will urge the FG to embrace the culture of celebrating our history as this will give an insight into what people went through. "I was old enough to tell you details of the civil war and the bad memories of it. My young friend became a rebel while he was just a teenage and he was sent to the war front. I would listen to two radio stations to monitor what was going on. I will listen to Radio Nigeria as well as Radio Biafra. But today, Nigeria is better off and that is why I say if you don't know where you are coming from, you might certainly not understand where you are going to." ALSO READ: Senator warns those calling for disintegration of Nigeria News of the soldiers return was confirmed to journalists in Maiduguri by the Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Lucky Irabor on Wednesday, October 26. It is true that about 39 soldiers were declared missing. I want to inform you that a sizeable number of our soldiers had returned to base, I think it is only a handful that have not been found, operations are ongoing in the area, Irabor said. I think that we will give you the details in due course; we have a task before us that anyone held by the Boko Haram terrorists must be rescued. We will do everything possible to rescue them. So far, we have arrested 30 suspects in connection with the crime of collaborating with the terrorists. We have four soldiers, two policemen, vigilantes and other civilians, for some reasons we cannot give out their names for now, but we will do that at the end of the investigation, he added. Meanwhile, controversy has arisen as to the actual number of soldiers who went missing during the attack. ALSO READ: We should be very worried if 83 Nigerian Soldiers are missing Buhari also urged Nigerians not to speak about the crisis from a position of hopelessness. The president, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, made the comments on Thursday, October 27, during a national prayer meeting in Abuja. As leaders we must strive to be the light of the world, we must resist to talk about our current socio-economic situation with despondency. As for me, I have complete faith that Nigeria will emerge from this crisis strong, united, prosperous and secured, he said. I believe that all these will come to fruition in the life time of this government, the life time of these executives, legislature and the judiciary, he added. The Ondo state chapter of the Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM) also said that Buhari redeemed Nigerias lost image. The group made the comments on Thursday, October 27, via a statement issued by Chairman, Agbejoye Adetoye. The statement reads: It is on record that integrity, discipline and honesty are gradually returning to our public life unlike in the past when impunity was the order of the day. The presidents popular slogan, `If Nigeria refuses to kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria is fast gaining a strong footing in public consciousness. According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper, Ekweremadu, who is currently the highest elected leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), paid a courtesy visit to some of the members of the opposition party in detention. Ekweremadu's visit on Thursday, October 27, 2016 which generated a buzz in the political circuit, was supposed to boost the morales of the detained past officials that were paying same price of leadership paid by past leaders who were detained on different occasions in the leadership quest for the country. Ekweremadu paid a courtesy visit to individuals like Femi Fani Kayode, Director of Publicity of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathans Media Adviser and Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under President Jonathan. Few weeks back, ex-PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh replaced one of his sureties with the deputy Senate President. ALSO READ: Ekweremadu accuses FG of marginalising Igbos According to a report by SaharaReporters, the lawyers were alleged to have transferred huge sums of money to the bank accounts of some judges. Though some of the invited lawyers for interrogation didn't show up, some of those who reportedly showed up include Paul Usoro, Chief Gabi Adetola-Kaseem and Chief Felix Fagbohungbe. The report further said the lawyers, who honoured the EFCC's invitation were Senior Advocates of Nigeria. It was further reported that the advocates were still at the Ikoyi office of the EFCC, where they had been all Thursday. ALSO READ: Judges, judicial workers barred from accepting gifts An EFCC source reportedly disclosed that the commission had also invited another senior lawyer, Adeniyi Akintola, but he did not show up. According to Jude Ndukwe, the EFCC is determined to mislead the public on the actual details of Fani-Kayodes detention which he described as illegal. Read his statement on the issue below: It is a pity that the spokesman for the EFCC Mr Wilson Uwujaren is determined to try to mislead members of the public concerning the illegal detention of Chief Fani Kayode. He issued a statement today saying the arraignment of Chief Fani Kayode will take place on November the 10th and that it was to do with 17 count charges amounting to 4. 6 billion naira. The truth is that the 4. 6 billion naira arraignment took place last July at the Federal high court in Lagos. Chief Fani Kayode was granted bail by that court far back as July and the trial for the case commenced on the 21st of October. The arraignment for November 10th has nothing to do with 4.6 billion naira or campaign funds and rather it is the 5 count charge in respect to the allegation that he was given 26 million naira by the NSA office in 2014 for media work for the government. Chief Fani Kayode has denied that this happened and the arraignment has been slated for November the 10th It is wrong for the EFCC to give the impression that the November10th matter which is in an Abuja Federal high court is the same which is in the federal high court in Lagos. We will recall that Chief Fani Kayode was detained by the EFCC for 73 days before his arraignment before a Federal high court in lagos in July. Despite that long incarceration and despite that the court now freed him on bail, he was rearrested on the 21st from the court and they intend to keep him in detention until November10th even though he was granted bail by the federal high court. This is barbaric and it is wrong. They are also aware that he does not enjoy good health but they don't care. The EFCC and the court had been given an undertaking through the lawyer that they will produce him in court on November the 10th for the arraignment but despite that, they arrested him and are determined to keep him in until November the 10th even though he has court bail from the federal high court and is ill. Their plan is to keep him in perpetual detention even after the next arraignment and even after he is granted bail by the second federal high court. The union revealed that already 3000 staff of different oil companies have lost their jobs to an ongoing mass retrenchment of oil workers. Speaking after a meeting of the Central Working Committee of the union in Delta State, the National President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese urged the FG to prevail on international oil companies operating in the country to stop the ongoing mass retrenchment of oil workers to avoid further loss of jobs. In his words: It is painful to say as I address you, Chevron has wound up in the East and their offices closed. A total of 1,500 workers were sacked without their entitlements and nobody is saying anything. As we speak, many companies have left and many others are winding up to go. Many oil companies are winding up, including ExxonMobil, Pan Ocean, Sapiem Ground Petroleum, and Hercules Offshore Nigeria Limited. About 3,000 workers have already been sacked by the various oil companies. The Federal Government should act fast to avert further loss of jobs. There is too much redundancy in the oil industry, which needs urgent action from government to salvage the situation, Achese said. ALSO READ: NUPENG says Chevron has closed Eastern offices in Nigeria The detention has highlighted a growing crackdown on foreigners living in Japan without visas and prompted demands for her release. Elizabeth Aruoriwo Obueza was detained two weeks ago after authorities turned down an appeal against her asylum rejection, Obueza and her lawyer told Reuters. Obueza, 48, campaigns for asylum seekers and the 4,700 people on "provisional release" from immigration detention - a status that lets foreigners out from detention but bars them from working and travelling freely. Obueza's arrest is part of a wider campaign by the Justice Ministry, which in September 2015 said it would take steps to reduce the 60,000 foreigners living in Japan without visas. People on provisional release, many of whom have lived in Japan for decades, have been among those targeted, activists and lawyers say. "Elizabeth was targeted and detained for being an activist," said immigration lawyer Shoichi Ibusuki. "I want her released immediately." The crackdown on people like Obueza comes even as people on provisional release, despite being legally unable to work, power Japan's construction and manufacturing sectors as companies scramble to find workers in the worst labour shortage in decades. "Elizabeth is held in solitary because she's an activist and immigration officials don't want her causing trouble," said Mitsuru Miyasako, head of the Provisional Release Association in Japan, a group representing refugees and immigrants. "Locking someone up alone in a tiny room is to ruin them psychologically." Naoaki Torisu, a senior Justice Ministry official overseeing immigration detention, declined to comment on Obueza's situation, saying he could not discuss individual cases. Obueza said she fled Nigeria for Japan in 1991 to escape female genital mutilation and applied for asylum in 2011. Obueza told Reuters she was locked up for more than 22 hours a day. Typically, detainees at the Tokyo Immigration Bureau, where she is held, are locked up for 18 hours a day, according to the Justice Ministry. "I want to help people," Obueza told Reuters from across a security divide in a small meeting room at the detention centre. "Give me the right to help people - don't put me in here." During her previous 10-months arrest in 2011 at a different centre, Obueza organised detainees to write a joint petition to immigration authorities calling for better medical care, Miyasako said. ALSO READ: Nigerian lady claims her life is in danger For more than a decade, Obueza has visited immigration detention centres across Japan, helping detainees navigate the asylum system and find lawyers, rights groups, lawyers and former detainees said. "She has supported so many people as an activist and that's a nuisance for the immigration authorities," said Miyasako, who has worked closely with Obueza, adding that hundreds have received her help. Solitary cells - usually for detainees who are ill, unruly or have tried to harm themselves - encompass just three tatami mats, or around five square metres, detainees say. In 2014, a Sri Lankan named Niculas Fernando died in a solitary cell at the same centre, highlighting severe problems in medical care provided at the facilities. Isolation hasn't stopped Obueza from fighting for detainees' rights. Mr Barnabas Bantex, the state Deputy Governor, made the appeal at a town hall meeting in Manchok, Kaura Local Government on the lingering crisis in the area. Bantex said the stakeholders and government must work together to build confidence and engender peace among the people. He said that the natives and Fulanis had lived peacefully in the area for centuries, as such recent crisis should not be used to severe the bond that existed between them for a long time. I want the people to always consider the path of peace in their dealings with one another and desist from taking the law into their hands," he said. Prof. Solomon Captain, President, Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SUKAPU), alleged that the area was facing existential threat. He said that the state and Federal Government should synergise to bring about peace and harmony in the area. The SUKAPU president called for the setting up of camps to cater for those displaced by the crisis in Godogodo chiefdom. Earlier, a cross section of participants including religious, traditional and opinion leaders, called for more security presence in the area to tackle persistent attacks by gunmen. They said government must also punish those involved in formenting the crisis. They noted that the reluctance to mete out penalties to perpetrators of similar acts in the past, had encouraged recurrence of the crisis. Tella, who represents Jemaa Local Government made this known when he spoke with newsmen at Manchok, Kaura Local Government on Wednesday. He decried the insecurity in Southern Kaduna, especially Godogodo Chiefdom and urged the Federal Government to give marching orders to security operatives to engage the attackers in their hide outs. The Federal Government should direct the soldiers to enter into the bush and fish out the attackers instead of operating just on the main road, he said. The lawmaker, who expressed concern over the untold hardship displaced persons were exposed to, also urged government to as a matter of urgency provide relief materials to cushion the effect of the crisis. It was gathered the judges will be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on separate charges. They were arrested on October 7 and 8 on allegations of corruption. The judges were, however, admitted to bail on self-recognition and have been reporting to the office of the DSS for questioning. Two of the accused judges, Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro of the Supreme court had written to the National Judicial Council (NJC), describing their ordeal as political persecution. ALSO READ: Protesters invade Supreme Court, urge accused justices to step aside He made the comments on Thursday, October 27, while speaking at the Annual Lecture of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Abuja. Thats why the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture launched a Sensitization Campaign Against Corruption on 18th January 2016with a view to alerting Nigerians to the evils of corruption and carrying them along in the efforts by the government to tackle the menace, he said. As this Administration is stepping up its anti-corruption fight while also seeking to bring the economy out of recession and put it on the path of sustainable growth. In other words, in countries where you have a high level of corruption, there is reduced economic growth and, of course, higher poverty level. Thats why the Berlin-based global civil society organization, Transparency International, said corruption, especially public sector corruption, is about so much more than missing money. Its about peoples lives. It is therefore not a surprise that the countries that have consistently scored high marks in the Annual Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International are also the countries that have also managed to grow a sustainable economy. We are very much aware that the fight against corruption will not be easy. Fighting entrenched corruption can sometimes be a very lonely road to travel in our part of the world, where a true community of genuine corruption fighters are assailed from every side by unwary recruits of the looters among us, in our communities, places of work and worship. We also know that corruption is fighting back, fastly and furiously. But with uncommon commitment and determination, we will win the war against corruption, he added. According to Punch, Alade alleged that an aide of Governor Ayo Fayose, Abiodun Agbele, distributed the money himself. The Zenith bank staff was the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC's) witness at the Federal High Court in Abuja, during Agbeles trial. Also, the Zenith bank branch manager in Akure, where Obanikoro allegedly airlifted the money to, Wahab Shittu, said I first met Agbele on June 17, 2014. On that day, my zonal head, Abiodun Oshode, informed me that he recieved a message from Lawrence Akande, the Zonal Head of Oyo State Branch of Zenith Bank that a customer will be coming to the bank from the airport with cash. He said that I should arrange for our bullion van to be taken to the airport to convey the cash when it arrives. After about an hour, Oshode walked to me that the customer is in the bank and I followed him to his office where he introduced Mr. Abiodun Agbele to me as the customer. Agbele told me that they had security details and that I should not bother about policemen since they had enough. That was how I, my Zonal Head, the bullion van driver, Agbele and his team drove to the airport. When we got to the airport, we waited for some minutes before the aircraft arrived. When the aircraft offloaded its passengers, one of them appeared to me to be Senator Musliu Obanikoro and the other one appeared to be his ADC, Adewale. Agbele walked up to them and had a discussion with them. Thereafter, he signaled me to bring the van. Bags loaded with cash were evacuated into the van and Obanikoros ADC, I and Agbele drove back to the bank. When we got to the bank, we bundle-counted the cash and it was N724,500,000. Agbele told us that more money was still coming and then, Obanikoros ADC left for the airport immediately. In the evening, all of us left for the airport a second time. After the passengers disembarked, we offloaded the cash bags into our bullion van and drove back to the bank to ascertain how much the cash was. The second tranche was N494,990,000, bringing the total about N1.219, 490,000 We headed straight to our zonal head office where instructions were given by Agbele on how the funds were to be credited to various accounts. However, because of the amount involved, we needed to detail-count before crediting the accounts the next day. All these are recorded in the statements I volunteered to the EFCC. According to a statement issued by the Vice Presidents Spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, on Thursday, the lecture at the universitys 'Nigeria in the World' seminar is at the invitation of the university. It added that Prof. Osinbajo would be talking on Destroying Boko Haram and the Rebuilding of Nigerias North-East. Akande said Osinbajo would highlight the progress made by the Buhari presidency in degrading Boko Haram resulting in the freedom of thousands of Nigerians in Boko Haram captivity, including some of the abducted Chibok girls. He also said that Osinbajos lecture would be a clarion call for a more concerted global action against terrorism and an increasingly effective international collaboration regarding the humanitarian crisis in the North-East. He said that the Harvards Nigeria in the World seminar is hosted by the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs. Akande said the seminar served as a forum for scholars, researchers, policy makers, and professionals to reflect on critical issues pertaining to Nigerias relations with the world by focusing on strategic issues of security. He said it also focused on regional stability, economic development, interreligious relations, health policy, human rights, justice and gender, while its overall goal is to bring Nigeria into dialogue with world issues. While in Harvard, the VP would be received by top officials of the university and would also visit the Divinity School and the African Studies Centre, the statement said. It added that Osinbajo would participate on Friday in a town hall event in Houston, Texas, and also a business conference organised by U.S.-based Nigerians on Infrastructure development issues. It said the VP would round off the visit in Houston by attending an evening gala to honor high flying U.S.-based Nigerians. The hard earned money in question here is the $15M the wife of Nigerias former President--Goodluck Jonathan--is being investigated for by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On September 22, 2016, the EFCC ordered that some bank accounts belonging to Mrs. Jonathan be frozen. According to the anti-graft agency, Mrs. Jonathan opened the accounts in the names of front companies and individuals. The frozen Skye Bank accounts had a combined balance of $15, 591,700 (about N5B) at the time there were frozen. The four companies in whose names the accounts were open are Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Friday Davis), Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Agbor Baro), Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Dioghowori Frederick) and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd (represented by Taiwo Ebenezer). A former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to erstwhile President Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa, helped Mrs. Jonathan open these bank accounts in the names of front individuals. Mrs. Jonathan had access to all the accounts and in confessional statements, the companies have said they were only surrogates of the former First Lady. It is not likely that these women from Bayelsa State who stormed the court arrayed in Buba and Wrapper with head gear to match, were availed of the facts before they were corralled into a bus headed for Lagos. Because if they were, they wouldnt constitute the kind of nuisance that was the lot of a normally chaotic Lagos on Wednesday. According to The Nation, the women bore placards with the inscriptions: Ijaw people are in solidarity with Jonathan; Unfreeze ex-president Jonathans wifes account; We urge EFCC to abide by the rule of law and Women must be heard. According to the women, Mama Peace (Mrs. Jonathans nickname) is a hard working woman Mrs. Jonathans $15M bank balance came through dint of hard work, they told the world. Well, apparently no one told these women that Mrs. Jonathan said she didnt acquire these obscene amounts of money from hard work. Mama Peace has since told the world that the money came from the pockets of her friends. There were gifts, she explained. As they sang and danced around the court premises, the women said the former first lady was being victimised by the federal government. This has become a bare-bone, well-worn line thrown around by anyone who has a corruption case to answer to in Nigeria. It is important to state at this point that no one has found Mrs. Jonathan guilty of stealing $15M from the Nigerian State. But if all you were was a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa in the last decade or so, and you were still able to accumulate $15M, its important that the nation in which your husband served as number one citizen, demands answers. Mrs. Jonathan is also asking for $200M from the EFCC in damages. She insists that the anti-graft agency has infringed on her fundamental rights. Thats rather ridiculous. The only persons infringing on rights here were the garishly attired women who were mobilized to storm a court and halt legal proceedings. Last we checked, the courts are duty bound to hear cases and pass judgments. They dont exist to do the bidding of women from Bayelsa, Okirika or Otuoke. In any case, hiring persons to protest for you is no longer novel in these parts. Diezani Alison-Maduekes hired crowd couldnt even spell properly and Bukola Sarakis held their placards upside down. Its a Nigerian thing to hire people to obstruct justice. But that doesnt make it right. These misguided 100 women from Bayelsa or wherever else they were plucked from, should be paid their fares back to their families who need them more than Mrs. Jonathan does. For today, October 27, 2016: THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER Senate wants 10% fund for hydroelectric communities The Senate has proposed 10 per cent of total revenue for Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) host communities, in his lead debate titled A Bill for an Act to amend the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, (Establishment Act), 2010, David Umaru (APC, Niger East) said the proposed amendments would give legal backing to the 10 per cent HYPPADEC charge being deducted from the invoices of companies, including power generating and distributing firms, and retained by various government agencies, including the Market Operator (MO), the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET). Confusion over alleged sacking of ICPC boss There was confusion yesterday over the alleged sacking of the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta. Government to restrict access to seaports, airports from next year As from January 1, 2017, access to the nations seaports and airports will only be granted to those with a pass.Such passes will be given to only those who have a genuine business to attend to at the ports. THE VANGUARD NEWSPAPER FG needs new plan on economy DMO On the heels of the Federal Governments plan to borrow US$29.9 billion over the next two years, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said that there was an urgent need for the Federal Government to formulate an economic blueprint or road-map for the medium term.NUPENG gives FG 21 days to halt sack of workers by oil majorsNigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG, yesterday gave the Federal Government, a 21-day ultimatum to order the recall of over 3,000 workers sacked by oil majors in the ongoing mass sack of workers in the sector or face a nationwide industrial action.Police uncover ritualists den in Ogun, arrest twoOperatives of the Zonal Intervention Squad, Zone 2, Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have uncovered a ritualists den at Abule Ifa, Siun area of Obafemi Owode Local Government, Ogun State, arresting two suspected leaders of the syndicate. THE NATION NEWSPAPER Obanikoro targets first N100m refund for freedom Former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro is yet to refund the N785million allegedly collected from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), The Nation learnt yesterday. NLNG to raise $15b for Train 7 Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) plans to raise $15 billion from the International Capital Market to fund its Train 7 project, its Managing Director Tony Attah, has said. Money laundering: Diezani back in London court March Former Petroleum Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and her mother Beatrice Agama have been told by a London court that they may still have a case to answer regarding the 27,000 money laundering and bribery allegation made against her by the United Kingdoms National Crime Agency (NCA). THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER Major, captain, others held for leaking information to Boko Haram The Nigerian Army is holding two officers a major and a captain in connection with alleged sabotage of the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-East. Seized $15m: Patience seeks N200m damages A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed December 7, 2016 to hear the N200m fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Skye Bank Plc to challenge the freezing of four bank accounts containing $15m. Police to deploy 24,000 officers for Ondo gov poll The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Harrison, has said that 24,000 officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force will provide security during the November 26, 2016 governorship election in the state. THE BUSINESSDAY NEWSPAPER CEOs of Linkage, Leadway, NEM, ten others to vacate office At least 13 chief executive officers (CEOs) in the insurance industry will have to vacate their positions in line with the requirements of the new Corporate Governance Code 2016 Business Day investigations reveal. Nigeria shifts focus from oil to gas in new Petroleum Industry Roadmap Four months after the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) emphasised the need to plug the $55 billion investment gap in the gas sector, President Muhammadu Buhari is unveiling today, a new Petroleum Industry Roadmap that places emphasis on gas rather than crude oil. Fuel queues loom as imports become unprofitable for marketers But as news filtered in from back home in Nigeria that the Court of Appeal has struck out his application seeking to halt his trial for false declaration of assets, the former Kwara State Governor must have excused himself into a restroom to ponder his next line of action. In Thursdays ruling, Justice Abdul Aboki held that the trial of the Senate President will continue at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Saraki is facing a 16-count charge bordering on corruption and false declaration of assets at the (CCT). The Senate Presidents legal team has been trying to avoid todays outcome for as long as anyone can remember. Kanu Agabi, a former Attorney General who is Sarakis lead counsel, has deployed all the legal tricks in the book in a bid to avoid confronting CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar. Umar isnt loved by the defense. Saraki had asked that the CCT Chairman withdrew from the case. According to Saraki, Umar is intent on sending him to jail. But Umar hasnt budged. He has notified everyone that hell continue to hear the case, much to the dismay of the Senate President and his lawyers. According to Sahara Reporters, Agabi had approached the Court of Appeal citing 9 grounds of appeal and seeking an order of the court to halt Mr. Sarakis trial pending the completion of the appeal. Sarakis lawyers have been very busy across all the courts in the land. Its been a 12-month span to forget for them and their client. The Senate President recently had cause to breathe again after the Federal Government withdrew its case of forgery against him. But his CCT battle has been his toughest yet, especially because a tough talking CCT Chairman continues to get under Sarakis skin and breathe down his neck. With todays ruling, Sarakis trial for false declaration of assets will resume on November 7 and 8, 2016. The trial commenced in September 2015. Saraki may yet run to another court of coordinate jurisdiction or the Supreme Court in a bid to halt his trial at the hands of Umar. Given his antecedents, you cant put it past him to run to a Magistrate or Customary court in order to avoid trial at the CCT. The talented rapper who is popularly known by TV lovers for his role in "Jenifa's Diary," made his acting debut in the movie undefinedwhich stars him alongside Adesua Etomi, Lilian Esoro, Kiki Omeili, Enyinna Nwigwe among others. The actor plays the role of a hairdresser Segun, who works in the same salon with Jenifa. Along the line, they fell in love and had an affair. To celebrate Falz, Pulse Movies have put together three times the hilarious Segun made us laugh out loud. 1.That one time he wanted to watch Jenifa undress 2. When he was accused of impregnating one of his 'girlfriends' 3. When Falz asked Jenifa for more than a kiss ALSO READ: undefined On Tuesday, October 11, 2016, the rapper joined "Tinsel" as Kayode Beko-Williams, a young socialite with a heart of gold and Telema's love interest. for his role as Segun in "Jenifa's Diary." He beat IK Ogbonna, Kelechi Udegbe, Ime Bishop Umoh, Bowoto Jephthah to win the award. Meanwhile, my constituency, my local government (Kanam Local Government Area) is an APC stronghold. There has been so much pressure from the people that voted me into power, that I should join the ruling party. After much consultation among people of my constituency, it dawned on me that my remaining in the opposition for long will be at my own peril. Dayo Adeyeye, the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party made this known through an official statement on behalf of the party. He said: Nigerians will recall that the minister of information, culture and tourism, Alhaji in June 2016 made public through a press statement, an account of recovered looted funds between May 2015 to May 2016 amounting to the sums of N78.3bn, $185.1m, 3.5m and 11,250m in cash; while others were under interim forfeiture. "What happened to the recovered funds? Or is it the same funds the EFCC and DSS are planting in houses of opposition figures and justices instead of channeling it into the economy? the party asked. Continuing, the PDP said In addition, the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), recently confirmed our position when he stated that the commission recovered more money in eight months than it recovered in 12 years." On the achievements of the President Buhari led government, PDP said, "It is no gain saying that the APC led federal government has left no stone unturned in castigating the PDPs 16 years as wasted even with its obvious achievements; one of which was getting reprieve from the Paris Club of Creditors." The party further said, "The APC-led federal government is again taking Nigeria prior to Year 2005 when external debt burden derailed the growth of Nigeria economy and weakened the GDP before the total cancellation of her debt. This proposed action of the APCs government will be a great injustice to the citizens of this country now and in the future if they are plunged back into debt." ALSO READ: According to a The Guardian report, despite MTN's attempts, via a quarterly update to its shareholders, to clear the air that it was not guilty of the illegal repatriation charges levelled against by the Nigerian Senate, its shareholders are still calling for blood. Well, the accusation may be due to the payment of cash dividend to foreign shareholders in dollars without due approvals. But, we do not see any reason for the suspension of cash dividend if not that they have done something wrong. It is uncalled for. Dividend must be paid when declared. It is a debt, said Timothy Olufemi, President of the Renaissance Shareholders Association of Nigeria. The CBN has also instructed four banks: Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Diamond Bank, and Citi Bank, to suspend MTN's dividend payout from Nigeria. Apparently, the Senate and the CBN are alleging that MTN did not obtain the proper certificates stating that it had invested foreign currency in Nigeria within a 24-hour deadline as outlined in a 1995 law. This, in turn, made the repatriation of returns on that investment illegal. However, Isaac Okorafor, a CBN spokesman, when reached for a comment, said he was not aware of such an order, Innovation Village reports. To make the entire story even more bizarre, MTN, in a letter to its shareholders, confirmed that MTN Nigeria, four commercial banks, certain MTN Nigeria directors and shareholders, the Central Bank of Nigeria and others appeared before the Senate on October 20, 2016, at the outset of this investigation. The allegations are that $13.97 billion was repatriated illegally by MTN Nigeria through its bankers. MTN Nigeria and its bankers are cooperating with the investigation with a view to resolving the matter as expeditiously as possible. In the interim, the CBN has instructed the banks to suspend any remittance of dividends until further notice. MTN Nigeria continues to refute the allegations that MTN Nigeria had improperly repatriated funds from Nigeria. Consequently, MTN Nigeria will strongly defend any action that would be prejudicial to its interest. MTN Nigeria has no intention to make any dividend payments over the next six months. Unfortunately, it seems like the industry is going pay a price for that. According to the official Twitter account of the Senate, a bill for an Act to provide for Effective and Transparent Administration, Management and Control of Payment, Clearing & Settlement Processes in Nigeria (and for related matters) has been put forward by Senator John Enoh. Apparently, the reason behind this is the "rise" of e-commerce in Nigeria and the Senate's need to take 'advantage' of it. It is unclear at the time of writing this article what the bill says exactly but the Senate's thoughts on the bill are clear, and not too comforting. ALSO READ: Saraki says alleged funds can bring Nigeria out of recession In the eye of the Senate, it is a great idea since it will provide a legal framework plus if it is implemented, it will 'make the country a lot of money'. Basically, the Senate thinks it has stumbled on to a cash cow and is looking to milk it for all its worth. Not exactly something to rejoice over. The bill has already been cleared for the second reading stage - the Committee on Finance has also been given four weeks to turn in a report on the bill. If you've been on social media over the past few days, you've probably seen a photo of this boy. Or even in different forms like this, Or this one. If there's anything we've learned, it is that when the internet finds a picture it loves, that photo shall be memed in every possible way. But who exactly is the boy in the photo? Guess what? We found him. Who is he and what was he doing? His name is Jake Amo and he is 4 years old. In the photo, he is scribbling away at a local creative workshop held in his village of Asempanaye, Koforidua, in Ghana. The workshop was organised by the US-based Ghanaian Artist, Solomon Adufah. Solomon says about Jake on his Instagram: Everyone Say Hi to my buddy Jake. This was moments in Ghana during my Art workshop with the kids. Each kid received brand new set of crayons, pencil colors, pencils, toys and other wonderful goodies. The expressions on their faces were heartfelt. I appreciate you all for making this possible for the children and support my cause. He also said about Jake: Jake was one of the children I taught in Ghana. He was always gentle and quiet.. Ever present in class and was eager to learn everyday. Thats what I loved about all the children. Their enthusiasm and high spirit was refreshing and encouraged me to continue helping them, The photograph was taken by Carlos Cortes. Since we don't want to carry last, we'll add our own caption to the photo. When you reach EFCC's office and they ask you to write down the names of everybody you gave money to. African states have long complained the ICC is biased, prosecuting Africans while ignoring others, but they had until recently resisted withdrawing. Burundi now says it has joined South Africa in taking such a step. Gambia said on Tuesday it would withdraw, saying the court had ignored war crimes by Western nations. However, the United Nations said it had not received official notification from Burundi. "An official document announcing Burundis move to quit the International Criminal Court was sent to Ban Ki-moon, Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Joseph Bangurambona, told Reuters. Another ministry source said the withdrawal document was dated Oct. 19, a day after President Pierre Nkurunziza signed a decree to that effect. South Africa's letter informing the U.N. chief of its decision to withdraw was also dated Oct. 19, although it was not clear if there was any coordination involved. South Africa argued that the ICC's Rome Statutes were at odds with its laws granting leaders diplomatic immunity. Other African countries see the tribunal as an instrument of colonial justice that unfairly targets the continent. Burundi lawmaker Gabriel Ntisezerana said this month when parliament voted to quit the ICC that the court was "a political tool used by powers to remove whoever they want from power on the African continent." Prosecutors declined to tell AFP when and how the suspect entered Germany last year, which in 2015 took in nearly 900,000 asylum seekers, around 40 percent of them from war-ravaged Syria. Once he arrived, "he inspected potential attack targets during stays in Berlin and arranged to send at least one person to Syria as a fighter". "In addition, he served as a contact man for potential attackers in Germany and indicated he was prepared to carry out an attack in Germany," they added. He stands accused of membership of a foreign terrorist organisation as well as military weapons law violations. Germany has so far been spared large-scale jihadist attacks. But Europe's biggest economic power has been shaken by two assaults claimed by IS and carried out by asylum seekers -- an axe rampage on a train in Wuerzburg that injured five, and a suicide bombing in Ansbach in which 15 people were hurt. Jessica Kumala Wongso, 28, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was found guilty of murdering Wayan Mirna Salihin by slipping cyanide into her drink at an upmarket Jakarta cafe, sparking applause from spectators in the packed courtroom. The soap opera-style tale of two members of Indonesia's wealthy elite having a dramatic fallout that culminated in murder has captivated the country, with the trial dubbed the "poisoned coffee" case and broadcast live on national TV for months. The murder, which Wongso carried out in January after becoming angered at 27-year-old Salihin's criticism of her boyfriend, also generated huge interest in Australia, where the women studied together at a Sydney design college. After hours reading the verdict in a courtroom overflowing with hundreds of journalists and members of the public, a three-judge panel declared Wongso guilty of premeditated murder and handed down the lengthy jail sentence. "The defendant's action was deplorable and sadistic because it was committed against her own friend," presiding judge Kisworo, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told the court. "The defendant did not regret her action and claimed she did not do it." Wongso, who denies carrying out the crime, was emotionless as the ruling was handed down, then told the court: "I cannot accept the verdict, it's very unfair." Her legal team said they would file an appeal. Sobs of relief Some of Salihin's relatives sobbed with relief after the verdict, with her twin sister Sandy telling journalists: "This is very hard, I am grateful." The victim's supporters had rallied outside court throughout the day waving signs that read "Justice for Mirna", and when the hearing concluded gave out white roses to police and journalists. After drinking the iced Vietnamese coffee at the cafe in one of Jakarta's fanciest malls, Salihin collapsed and began convulsing, then died soon afterwards in hospital. Prosecutors said Wongso decided to murder Salihin after she advised the defendant to break up with a boyfriend as he was using drugs, saying that the "cruel" crime was planned "meticulously". Police say that she placed bags on the table to prevent CCTV cameras in the cafe from filming her slipping the poison into the coffee. She had testified that she could not remember key details about the day and her defence team asserted the case against their client was weak and lacked evidence to prove guilt. During the months-long trial, which began in June, three forensic experts called by the defence testified there was no proof Salihin's death was caused by cyanide poisoning. Interior minister Joseph Nkaissery issued the order two days after Shabaab militants killed 12 people at a hotel in Mandera town on Tuesday. He said the curfew, from 6:30 pm to 6:30 am would begin on Thursday and remain in place until December 27. It would be enforced along a 20 kilometre (12 mile) buffer zone of towns and territory reaching to the Somalia border. This week's attack was the second in Mandera in less than three weeks, with both claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab group. The Shabaab has fought to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu since 2007, but turned its sights on Kenya when the army was sent into Somalia in 2011 to fight the Islamic insurgents. "We had agreed (with President Filipe Nyusi) that two mediators would come... to meet me," Dhlakama told the independent weekly Canal de Mocambique. But Dhlakama, who has been holed-up in the central Gorongosa mountains for a year now, said the military increased its presence near the venue of the meeting on the morning of the talks. "There was a violent shootout. I even heard the explosions from here," Dhlakama said. "So I called (chief mediator Mario) Raffaelli to tell him that armed forces had come to ambush me." He said he was "convinced" that the ruling Frelimo party "wanted to capture me during the meeting". "It is obvious they have a plan to kill me," he added. Raffaelli, the European Union-appointed mediator, declined to comment when contacted by AFP. An EU diplomat, who asked not to be named, confirmed to AFP that two mediators had gone to Gorongosa for a meeting with Dhlakama. "(But) Dhlakama told them to turn back at the very last moment," said the diplomat. A new round of peace talks resumed last week after they had been halted following the killing of the opposition negotiators. While both sides have agreed in principle to changing the constitution to allow Renamo figures to be appointed as provincial governors, the talks have yet to result in a ceasefire. Renamo, which previously waged a 16-year civil war that ended in 1992, has refused to accept the results of 2014 elections when it was beaten once more by the ruling Frelimo party -- in power since the former Portuguese colony's independence 40 years ago. It said in a statement in Juba that the release was secured in collaboration with government disarmament commission, the largest since 2015, when 1,775 children were freed. UNICEF said that the child soldiers were released by rebels supporting former vice president Riek Machar and another armed group known as the Cobra Faction. The children were due to be placed in a care centre while their families were being traced. UNICEF said that an estimated 16,000 children were recruited by the army, the rebels and allied militias since a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Machar escalated into military conflict in December 2013. More than 800 of the children were recruited this year, the Fund stated. Responding, Sam David from the Cobra Faction, a militia comprising mainly members of the Murle ethnic group, said it had released child soldiers without receiving financial compensation for it. Army Spokesman Lul-Ruai Koang also said the Cobra Faction was in the process of being integrated into the South Sudanese army, which no longer recruits children. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that South Sudans civil conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced about 2.5 million people. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," said UNICEF director Anthony Lake. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "warplanes -- either Russia or Syrian -- carried out six strikes" in the village of Hass, including on a school complex, killing at least 35 civilians including 11 schoolchildren. Lake said the school compound was "repeatedly attacked," adding that it may be the deadliest attack on a school since the war began more than five years ago. "When will the world's revulsion at such barbarity be matched by insistence that this must stop?" added the UNICEF director. Asked about the attack, Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin responded: "It's horrible, horrible. I hope we were not involved." Syrian government forces and their Russian ally have been accused by rights groups of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure. The White Helmets civil defence group released pictures of four rescue workers clambering over a mound of rubble in search of survivors after what it said was a "double-tap" strike on the school. The raids hit Hass around 11:30 am (0830 GMT), an activist with the opposition Idlib Media Centre told AFP. "One rocket hit the entrance of the school as students were leaving to go home, after the school administration decided to end classes for the day because of the raids," the activist said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Other activists from the province circulated a photograph on social media of a child's arm, seared off above the elbow, still clutching the strap of a dusty black rucksack. Shaky video footage depicted rescue workers sprinting towards the site of the raids and pulling a frail, elderly man out of a collapsed building. The authenticity of the pictures and footage could not be independently verified. The latest attacks took to 89 the number of civilians killed in air strikes on Idlib province in the past seven days, said the Observatory. 'Intentional' attack A leading opposition group condemned the raids. The Istanbul-based National Coalition said Russian and regime warplanes "targeted children in their schools, deliberately and intentionally hitting civilians with high-explosive material". Idlib province is controlled by the Army of Conquest, an alliance of rebel groups and jihadists including the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after breaking off ties with Al-Qaeda earlier this year. Syrian and Russian warplanes regularly bomb Idlib, but air strikes have intensified in recent weeks, according to the Observatory. Russia is facing pressure at the United Nations to rein in its Syrian ally and halt air raids in rebel-held east Aleppo, where 250,000 civilians have been living under siege since July. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said he was "incandescent with rage" over the Security Council's failure to take action, deploring that "nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering." With food growing scarce, "civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow," said O'Brien. "Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone." Russian ambassador Churkin shot back, accusing O'Brien of making "arrogant remarks" and failing to recognise that Russia had declared a humanitarian pause that he maintained had been holding for eight days. "If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church," Churkin quipped. The ambassador blamed opposition rebels and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists for the failure at the weekend of a UN plan to evacuate the wounded from Aleppo and charged that the UN official was not objectively presenting the facts. US ambassador Samantha Power criticised Russia, saying it had never worked cooperatively with the United Nations during the pauses to ensure humanitarian relief. "You don't get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week," said Power. The bitter exchange came as the latest attempt to revive a ceasefire fell flat. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and his British counterpart Michael Fallon said an offensive to drive IS out of its Syrian stronghold of Raqa, 160 kilometres (100 miles) east of Aleppo, would begin in the next few weeks. The US-led coalition is currently supporting a 10-day-old assault by Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the jihadists' main Iraqi bastion of Mosul. Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. But it has since evolved into a multi-front war, pitting jihadists, rebels, government forces and Kurdish militia against each other. HANGZHOU - A national quality monitoring center for cross-border e-commerce was launched on Wednesday in Hangzhou, China's e-commerce capital. The online system, approved by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in June 2015, went into operation after more than a year's preparation. The platform will form a big data center to monitor cross-border e-commerce and will have several functions, such as risk monitoring, evaluation and treatment, quality source tracing, and credit rating. Wang Yichen, an official with the Hangzhou entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau, said the center will lower risks concerning commodity quality, protect consumer rights and help create a safer and more trustworthy e-commerce environment. The center has agreed to cooperate with Alibaba's cross-border retail platform Tmall International on policy innovation, data sharing, quality supervision and information exchange. China currently has over 5,000 cross-border e-commerce platforms. The Ministry of Commerce predicts the volume of cross-border e-commerce will reach 6.5 trillion yuan in 2016 and that it will soon account for 20 percent of China's foreign trade. Police said there was no guarantee that foreign Interpol representatives would comply with the Thai Polices request, and that extradition of any suspects would take time. Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya earlier said that 19 suspects from seven countries were currently being sought for breaking the laws. Thailand has heightened surveillance of online content, following the death of the countrys king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, on Oct. 13. The Thai government recently requested that certain videos be removed from online platform YouTube. Ivory products are also hot in Vietnam, though the trade is officially banned. The latest haul from Kenya was discovered at a port in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, where it was carefully hidden in a shipment of timber logs -- a common practise among smugglers. Some 3.5 tonnes of ivory have been discovered at the city's Cat Lai port this month, all in crates of wood, including a hefty two-tonne haul packed into a single shipment. "All that ivory was not just to be consumed in Vietnam," a customs official told AFP, requesting not to be named. "We believe much of it was to be later be transferred to the main market, China." This week's cache reportedly originated in Kenya's Mombasa port and was sent to Malaysia's Tanjung port before arriving in Vietnam, according to state-run Thanh Nien newspaper. Vietnam outlawed the ivory trade in 1992, but shops still sell ivory dating from before the ban and weak law enforcement has allowed a black market to flourish. A two-week survey by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) last year found out that more than 16,000 ivory products were available in Hanoi. The African Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) -- consisting of lawyers, prosecutors, judges, academics and human rights activists -- called on the countries' leaders to "reconsider and recommit themselves to the Rome Statute," the treaty that established the ICC, a global court headquartered in The Hague. The AGJA was set up a year ago aiming to improve relations between the international court and Africa's leaders, some of whom say the continent has been unfairly targeted for prosecution or investigation. Last week Burundi became the first country to declare its intention to leave the ICC, after the court's prosecutor said she might open a case against the government. South Africa and Gambia followed suit, raising fears of an exodus of African countries, many of which are founding members of the court. "Withdrawals from the ICC constitute a serious obstacle to the rights of victims to justice and the duty of states to ensure accountability for mass atrocities. They close an important recourse to justice and undermine the global fight against impunity," said AGJA member Hassan Bubacar Jallow, former prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and, like the ICC's current chief prosecutor, a Gambian national. ROH ON COMET REPORT: CABANA AND CASTLE IN ACTION, NAITO AND EVIL FACE THE MCMG, AND MORE We are in Lowell, Massachusetts and your announcers are Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino. Match Number One: Sho Tanaka and Yohei Komatsu versus Colt Cabana and Dalton Castle (with the Boys) Cabana and Komatsu start things off. They lock up and Cabana with a snap mare. Cabana with a wrist lock and Irish whip. Komatsu floats over and hits a flying forearm. Tanaka tags in and they hit a double flap jack. Yohei with a drop kick to the head and Sho follows with a drop kick of his own. Tanaka with a forearm. Castle makes the tag and Castle goes for an OConnor Roll but Tanaka holds on to the ropes. Castle does his pose and Tanaka freaks out. Cabana comes in and poses like Castle and it forces Tanaka to make the tag to Komatsu. Komatsu charges and they side step him. Castle is finally Irish whipped into the corner for a knee and then Cabana hits an elbow. Castle with a waist lock take down and then he rolls into a bridge. Castle holds on to the waist lock and Cabana tags in. Cabana with a chop and then he decides to give Komatsu another chop. Komatsu with an Irish whip but Cabana with a sunset flip. Castle tags back in and they work on the arms and then they leg sweep Komatsu. Castle gets a near fall. Castle with a reverse chin lock. Komatsu avoids a slam attempt and Komatsu with a super kick. Tanaka tags in and connects with a knee. Tanaka with an elbow followed by a running clothesline into the corner followed by another running clothesline in the center of the ring for a near fall. Castle with an elbow and Cabana tags in. Cabana with a punch and Castle with a punch. Cabana with a bionic elbow. Castle with a belly-to-back suplex and Cabana gets the near fall. Castle tags in and Cabana with a slam. Castle misses a frog splash and Komatsu tags in. Castle with punches and elbows to Tanaka and Komatsu. Komatsu with a boot to Castle and Castle with an exploder to Komatsu. Castle with a deadlift German suplex to Tanaka. Castle with the Bang-O-Rang for the three count. Winners: Colt Cabana and Dalton Castle We go to commercial. We are back and Kevin Kelly is with the Briscoes. We see what happened during the commercial break between the Briscoes, Dalton Castle, and Colt Cabana. Jay says when you break it down, they dont run with them because they already beat Castle and Cabana. Mark says they have beaten the Young Bucks, and the team of Dalton Castle and Colt Cabana. The winners of the match between those two teams will face the Briscoes at Final Battle. Jay says at Final Battle they are going to get the tag titles back. Match Number Two: Jonathan Gresham versus Kyle OReilly Gresham with a wrist lock but Kyle with a reversal. Gresham with a reversal but Kyle reverses again. Gresham with a side head lock but Kyle escapes and goes back to the wrist lock. Gresham with a snap mare and Kyle returns to the wrist lock. Gresham with a snap mare but Kyle is able to get back to the wrist lock. Gresham with a monkey flip but Kyle holds on to the wrist lock. Gresham with a side head lock take down and Kyle with a head scissors and Gresham escapes. They lock up and Kyle with a European uppercut. Kyle with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Kyle blocks a hip toss and so does Gresham until they get to the ropes and Kyle hip tosses Gresham over the top rope but Gresham brings Kyle to the floor as well. They get back into the ring and then they criss cross the ropes. Gresham blocks a hip toss and so does Kyle. They get to the ropes and give a clean break. Kyle pushes Gresham and Kyle kicks Gresham in the leg. Gresham blocks a kick and then connects with an uppercut to the injured arm. We go to commercial. We are back and Kyle slaps Gresham and then takes him down with a leg sweep. Kyle with a running forearm and he works on Greshams shoulder and hits a belly-to-back suplex. Kyle with a heel hook but Gresham kicks Kyle in the shoulder to try to get out of the hold. Gresham gets to the ropes. Kyle kicks Gresham in the leg and follows with knees. Gresham avoids a round kick and hits a rana but Kyle rolls through to get a near fall. Gresham gets a near fall. Gresham with a crucifix for a near fall. Kyle with forearms to get Gresham to release the wrist lock. Kyle removes the tape from his injured shoulder and Kyle goes for a suplex but Gresham blocks it. Kyle with a front face lock as Gresham tries to escape but he appears to lose consciousness and Kyle hits a brainbuster for the three count. Winner: Kyle OReilly After the match, Adam Page attacks Kyle and goes after the injured shoulder. Page has Kyle up for Rite of Passage but he lets go of the hold when Bobby Fish comes to the ring. Fish and Page battle in the ring. Adam Cole comes out and he works over Fish while Page sends Kyle into the guardrails. Page gets a chair and he hits Fish in the ribs. Cole holds Fish but Fish spits in Pages face. Page hits Fish in the ribs with the chair again. Page drives the chair into Fishs ribs. Security comes to the ring and they hold their arms out with the international signal for please stop. We go to commercial. We are back with a look back at what happened after the match between Kyle OReilly and Jonathan Gresham. We take a look at the situation between BJ Whitmer and Steve Corino. Cheeseburger gets on the mic before his match and he tells BJ, Martinez, and Sullivan . . . Will Ferrara takes the mic and he says that they are sick and tired of being attacked. If you want to dance with the devil? Do you think you are so bad? You are not bad enough to keep them down. He says they dont have the balls to try it again. He says they are not leaving until Whitmer and Martinez get what is coming to them. Match Number Three: Cheeseburger and Will Ferrara versus Punishment Martinez and BJ Whitmer (with Kevin Sullivan) Ferrara and Cheeseburger attack Martinez as he enters the ring. Martinez with a double clothesline. Martinez with a Stinger Splash to Ferrara and then he hits a second splash and follows with a clothesline and punch. Martinez with a back breaker and he tags in Whitmer. Whitmer sends Ferrara into the turnbuckles and chops Ferrara. Ferrara with punches but Whitmer with a rake of the eyes. Whitmer kicks Ferrara and chops Will in the back of the head. Ferrara with punches but Whitmer with chops. Ferrara with a rollup for a near fall. Ferrara with a jaw breaker and Cheeseburger tags in and he connects with forearms as he comes off the ropes but Whitmer stays on his feet. Whitmer with a knee to the midsection followed by an Irish whip. Ferrara with an elbow to Whitmer in the corner followed by a forearm from Cheeseburger. Whitmer is Irish whipped and BJ takes care of Ferrara and Cheeseburger. Cheeseburger with a kick from the apron and then he hits a springboard knee. Ferrara with a tornado DDT and Cheeseburger gets a near fall. Martinez grabs Cheeseburger and he pushes him down when Ferrara gets in a few shots. Ferrara comes off the turnbuckles and Martinez with a forearm. Martinez grabs Cheeseburger on a springboard attempt and then he slams Cheeseburger into Ferrara. Martinez comes off the turnbuckles with a punch to the head and Whitmer gets the three count. Winners: BJ Whitmer and Punishment Martinez After the match, Martinez hits a sit out choke slam on Cheeseburger as Corino heads to the ring. We go to commercial. We are back and Chris Sabin has the mic. Sabin says everyone who saw Ladder Wars knows that they are a little bruised, battered, and broken. However, one thing will not be broken is their spirit and desire to be the best. Nigel told them that the company appreciated what they did at All Star Extravaganza. Tonight, if you want, you can have the night off and enjoy the show. Chris says they said hell no and they love this company too much to take a night off. Alex Shelley says six men walked into Ladder Wars and then six men walked out and into Lowell General Hospital. They put their careers on the line for you. Ring of Honor is about the best pro wrestling on the planet. They dont have any off days or bye weeks. They are out here because you deserve the very best. You are going to get it. It is not time for Tranquilo so come out Los Ingobernables de Japon. Match Number Four: Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin versus Tetsuya Naito and Evil Evil and Sabin start things off and Naito hits Sabin from behind and Evil joins in and kicks Sabin. Sabin sends Evil into Naito and then Shelley hits an enzuigiri from the apron. Sabin sends Evil over the top rope to the floor. Shelley tags in and Shelley with a kick. Shelley with a double stomp to the back and Sabin with a bulldog. Sabin and Shelley go to the apron and Shelley with a knee to Naito and Sabin with a senton onto Evil. Evil is sent back into the ring and Shelley hits a jumping side kick. Shelley with a running forearm to Evil but Naito trips Shelley and then he blocks a kick from Sabin and sends him into the apron. Naito sends Sabin into the guardrails while Evil hits a side slam on Shelley and sends him to the floor. Evil puts a chair around Shelleys neck and Shelley is sent into the ring post. Naito tags in and he kicks Shelley in the back. Naito with a rear chin lock and elbows to the head. Evil tags in and he kicks Shelley in the ribs. Evil with a wrist lock and then he stretches Shelley. Evil with a curb stomp and a back senton for a near fall. We go to commercial. We are back and Naito hits a drop kick on Shelley for a near fall. Naito and Evil press Shelley over their heads but Shelley gets to the mat and he kicks Evil and hits a tornado DDT on Naito. Sabin tags in and drop kicks Evil off the apron. Sabin with running forearms but Naito with a sunset flip. Sabin rolls through and kicks Naito. Sabin kicks Evil from the apron. Sabin with a missile drop kick. Sabin gets Naito up but Evil stops Sabin. They Irish whip Sabin into the corner. Sabin with a boot to Naito and an elbow to Evil. Sabin with a cross body onto both men and then Shelley does the same thing. Sabin with a suicide dive onto Naito and Evil on the floor. Shelley goes up top and misses a double stomp. Naito gets his boots up and then hits Sabin with an elbow. Sabin and Shelley hit their dream sequence. Sabin with a running boot but Naito pushes Sabin into the ropes and it crotches Shelley. Evil with a discus clothesline and then Naito with a reverse atomic drop followed by a clothesline from Evil. Naito with a cover for a near fall. Evil with an STO to Shelley. Sabin fights off Naito and Evil but Naito with an enzuigiri and Evil with a super kick. Naito with a reverse DDT for a near fall. Naito with Destino to Sabin for the three count. Winners: Tetsuya Naito and Evil We go to credits. If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here! October 29, 2017 125th Anniversary of the former Muscatine High Bridge MUSCATINE, Iowa- On Jan 23, 1889 the first bridge meeting was in City Hall and the initial steps were taken to build a bridge. According to the History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 305-306: The high bridge, as it was called, was started om July 15, 1889 and was finished May 8, 1891, and on that day four carriages containing representatives of Muscatine, under the direction of Superintendent C. Lillibridge, made the first crossing over the bridge to the Illinois shore. The bridge was not formally opened at that time, however, owing to formalities being necessary between the bridge company and the Milwaukee Construction Company in regard to the acceptance of the work. This was accomplished a few days later and the bridge then opened to the world. The bridge was one-half mile long and had six spans. It is of cantilever order and fifty-five feet above high water mark. The road deck was 18 feet wide with a 4 foot wide sidewalk on the downstream side. The length of largest span was 442-feet long and the total length was 2,000-feet long. From the Musser Public Library, this photo was taken from the Muscatine County Courthouse. A shot of Muscatine and the High Bridge from the Illinois side of the Mississippi River circa 1966. In 1972, with the High Bridge in the foreground, the center span for the new bridge is moved into place. Pull up to Awesometown, and youll see a guy wearing overalls and a trucker hat unloading speakers from the trunk of his light-pink 1991 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, complete with bullhorns on the hood. Its pretty cool, right? says Charlie Crider, pointing to his car. I like when its the first thing people see. His flashy ride seems out of place here outside a former church on 13th Avenue in the quiet town of Fulton, Illinois. But he says it sets the tone. Follow him into the building where kids are fiddling with guitars or their homework or jars of paint and where musicians are practicing for an evening show and you get the idea. Welcome to Awesometown, Crider said. Its just everything that's awesome. Crider, of Clinton, describes Awesometown as a non-profit community center, concert venue and space where art and music is celebrated. At about 18 months old, Awesometown has hosted festivals and concerts with 500 people in the crowd and offers a steady stream of events for a community that Crider says didnt have anything to do other than hang out at home. And, from here, Crider has high hopes for the loosely-defined space. "I dream about people from all over coming here. I dream about this place being a tiny Red Rocks or a Grand Ole Opry," he said. All we have to do is get on the map. Why couldnt that happen here? Go do something cool The first time Crider met with fellow musician Bob Whitten, they brainstormed about a place where arts meet community. They walked away with the name Awesometown buzzing around in their heads. That was about the time Whitten, had ankle-replacement surgery and couldnt return to work in newspaper production. He had money saved up and his house paid off, so his wife gave him a not-so-subtle push. She told me to go do something cool, Whitten, 56, said. She told me to pursue my dreams. Whitten didnt know thats what Crider, who had retired from the Marine Corps and couldnt work his factory job because of a back injury, was trying to do, too. I look at things like River Music Experience and I thought, Why cant we do that for our community, Crider said. "We were both fueled on that passion." In February 2015, the pair rented a 7,000-square-foot building on Fultons Main Street and started scavenging for volunteers, donated instruments and musicians who needed a place to play. They quickly grew out of that space. In June, they scrounged up enough money to lease what was formerly Trinity Reformed Church, an upgrade to 25,000 square feet. They heard our mission and gave us a good deal, so it was definitely a fate thing, Whitten said. We wanted a place to help musicians and to help kids thats all we knew. Day-to-day, Crider, a bluegrass musician himself, books acts, such as a recent visit from Yale Universitys a capella group, called the Spizzwinks, teaches lessons and sets up sound for the shows. A lot of these bands are struggling to make it and they need places to play, he said. And we need those real, in-person interactions with music, too. That goes for a stop-over from Christian-artist Zach Williams, when around 400 people packed into Awesometown's concert space the church's sanctuary. The turnout impressed Chuck Murphy, a full-time musician based in Eldridge, who drove around 45 minutes for the concert. To see a great musician with 400 people on a Sunday in Fulton of all places is completely random, he said. But something about it feels like youre escaping the same old venues. After talking with Crider Murphy will play on Awesometowns stage on Dec. 22 he said he found its all done out of pure love. No one is making money there; theyre doing it out of passion, he said. We need more places like this, because going to a concert isnt just about music its a gathering point for the community. More than music When you ask Whitten how Awesometown got where it is today, he doesnt have a quick answer. I just never wouldve thought we would pull it off, he said. Im a God-fearing person and its just been a God thing. He also never expected Awesometown to become a safe haven. We dont choose who walks in our doors, he said. Weve become a place for people who need help in all kinds of ways. That includes drop-ins from homeless people, addicts as well as kids and adults who just dont fit in. Whitten doesnt have a lot of money, but he teaches kids that its important to look people in the eyes or shake his hand. He teaches them how to play the piano or how to apply for a job. He gives outcasts a place to hang out. People walk in because they heard about the music and they stay for other reasons, he said. I wouldnt call it counseling, Id call it listening. I look at what we do every day, he added, "and I think, What if every community had an Awesometown in the future? In the mean time, Awesometown will continue to evolve, he said. Two weeks ago, Cause Church began holding Sunday services in the sanctuary, a partnership that Whitten says will help Awesometown make ends meets. We pay for a lot of this out of pocket and we barely pull it off, he said. And with faith, it keeps working and changing lives. That churchs pastor, Josh Meyer, agrees. Theyre really reaching out to everyone here through the arts and music, he said. They have a heart for people on the fringes. He has also seen people of different faith backgrounds come together at Awesometown-sponsored concerts. Its getting people that wouldnt normally connect together, and thats powerful, he said. This is something that wasnt happening just a couple years ago and now its alive. CEDAR RAPIDS The most vulnerable U.S. House member doesnt look as vulnerable as he did early in the election season, but that hasnt stopped a super PAC aligned with Hillary Clinton from joining the campaign to oust Iowa 1st District Rep. Rod Blum. Blum, a freshman from Dubuque, has been at or near the top of Roll Calls most vulnerable House incumbents list for much of the year. As polls have shown GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump doing well in the 20-county northeast Iowa district that includes Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque and Cedar Falls, Blum dropped to ninth on the list. The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political report also moved the race from tilts Democratic to toss-up. With Clinton appearing to open a commanding lead in the presidential race, she is stepping up support for down-ballot candidates, including Monica Vernon in the 1st District. Clinton will be in Cedar Rapids Friday for an outdoor rally in the NewBo City Market courtyard, 1100 3rd St. SE. Priorities USA is going up with a 30-second ad in the Cedar Rapids market tying Blum to Trump. It opens with footage of Trump appearing to mock a disabled reporter. It then shows Blum telling the crowd at a campaign rally saying to send me back to Congress, and you send Donald Trump to the White House. The Blum campaign was not surprised by the super PACs spending in the 1st District race. Hillary Clinton knows our opponent will be a rubber stamp for her entire agenda, so its no surprise her Super PAC is trying to buy this election so she can have a politician in this seat who reports to party bosses instead of the people of Eastern Iowa, said Blum spokesman Daniel Sunne. Blum has taken pride in not following his party bosses by voting against John Boehner for speaker of the House and calling for a variety of congressional reforms. Polls of the race have been a mixed bag with one commissioned by his campaign showing Blum leading by 16 points. Two others showed him leading by 8 percentage points. More recently, a pair of polls by Democratic pollsters have shown the race to be much closer. One showed Vernon leading 48 percent to 47 percent. The other had Blum leading 45 percent to 44 percent. GBA Strategies, whose poll showed Vernon leading, attributed the shift to perceptions of Blums connection to Trump. Also, Democratic canvassers say they are hearing from independents and women in both parties that Trump is a liability for any GOP candidate. After all Donald Trump has said and done mocking the disabled, disrespecting veterans, and degrading women Congressman Blum still stands by him, Vernon campaign manager Michelle Gajewski said. Blum has shown time and time again he puts his radical Tea Party agenda and love of Trump, ahead of what is best for Iowans. URBANDALE, Iowa "Don't give up," U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst urged Iowa conservatives Wednesday, noting that GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump continues to do well in Iowa and reminding them she was locked in a tight 2014 election battle with Democrat Bruce Braley before beating him by 8 points. While some public opinion polls are showing Democrat Hillary Clinton leading Trump nationally or locked in tight contests in key battleground states, Ernst, R-Iowa, told the Westside Conservative Club he is "doing very well" and "staying strong" in Iowa, a swing state with six electoral votes. The first-term senator said the polls had her "about even this time of year" in her 2014 U.S. Senate race with Braley before she won decisively. "People didn't see that coming," she said. "You know what, maybe the pollsters out there don't see Donald Trump coming, so don't give up, don't give up, don't give up." Ernst said the two words voters should have foremost in their minds when they cast ballots in the Nov. 8 presidential race are "Supreme Court." She said the next president could name up to three justices, a process that will reshape the court and carry long-term implications. "I think that shift will last much more than a generation," Ernst said. "They will be legislating from the Supreme Court ideas that we don't believe it, so 2016 is so important." Both at the Wednesday morning conservative breakfast and at a Polk County GOP fundraiser Tuesday night, Ernst criticized what she sees as a "lack of leadership" by the Obama administration, including the years that Clinton had a hand in directing foreign policy as U.S. secretary of state. She pointed to "Hillary's failed policies all around the globe" in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya and Iran, saying: "We can't forget these things, folks. We can't forget them, nor should we forgive them because she knowingly went into those policies and pushed them within the administration. We should not allow her to take the White House." Officials with Hillary for America issued a statement indicating Trump is temperamentally unfit to serve as president and the nation's commander in chief. "Donald Trump seeks our nation's highest office, but he so utterly lacks the temperament required of the United States' commander-in-chief it would be laughable if it weren't so frightening," according to the Hillary for America statement. "As Hillary Clinton reminded us in June, some of the comments he has made about world affairs are so ignorant, incoherent, and/or outrageous, it is hard to believe they actually came out of the mouth of a presidential nominee. As Hillary Clinton has said, Donald Trump is a loose cannon, and loose cannons tend to misfire." At the Urbandale meeting, Ernst also said Obamacare has been exposed as "an utter disaster" that will mean health insurance rate increases of 25 percent or more for some Iowans, but she doubted Congress would be able to do much to fix the problems yet this year, and Republicans could see their 54-seat majority in the U.S. Senate shrink to 51 or 52 after next month's election. "It's going to be very difficult to change that law," she said, even with Trump as president unless there is some bipartisan agreement going forward. Although some Republicans have broken with Trump over positions he has taken or the release of a video in which he is heard making lewd comments about women, Ernst said she is supporting Republicans "all up and down the ticket, all the way to the top, folks." "I have not backed off on that, and I will not back off on that because of the importance of 2016 and the implications that go beyond 2020 and 2024," she said. "I've had people say, 'I can take four years of Hillary Clinton, I can take eight years of Hillary Clinton, I've done it with Barack Obama.' No, folks, we can't." DES MOINES Some Iowa faith-based groups are encouraging voters to retain the states Supreme Court justices despite the opposition of other faith-based groups dismayed by the high courts 2009 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa. Members of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa held a news conference Thursday outside the Iowa Judicial Building, which houses the state Supreme Court chamber, to support retention of the high courts justices. Im here because I fear that three fine justices may not be retained on Nov. 8 due to misleading rhetoric and a misunderstanding about the role of the court in this historic case and others, said the Rev. Mark Stringer of First Unitarian Church of Des Moines. I fear that religious extremists with an agenda to impose their views on our state may succeed in deceiving too many of us into politically motivated and misguided attempts at revenge. Iowa Supreme Court justices are nominated by the governor and retained by voters. When a justices eight-year term expires, he or she is placed on the ballot, and voters decide simply whether the justice should be allowed to continue to serve. This year, three justices who were a part of the unanimous 2009 decision that legalized same-sex marriage are up for retention: justices Brent Appel and Daryl Hecht, and Chief Justice Mark Cady, who wrote that 2009 ruling in Varnum v. Brien. In 2010, some religious organizations upset with the Varnum ruling mounted a successful campaign convincing voters to vote against retaining three Supreme Court justices up for retention, including then-Chief Justice Marsha Ternus. The group tried again in 2012 with David Wiggins, another Varnum justice, up for retention, but opposing advocacy groups prepared and mounted their own successful campaign to defend Wiggins, who was retained. This year, with the final three justices involved in the 7-0 Varnum decision up for retention, those who in the past have campaigned for the justices ouster are again calling for the same, but they are not campaigning to the extent they did in 2010 and 2012. The judicial retention vote is a key check and balance the people of Iowa have against judicial overreach and, while the Family Leader will not be devoting the extensive staff time and resources required to conduct a judicial vote campaign this year, we encourage Iowans to vote against retaining those judges who have used their office for political activism, says a post on the website of the Family Leader, the lead group of the 2010 and 2012 anti-retention campaigns. Interfaith Alliance members said Thursday they oppose the Family Leader's effort. We are certainly encouraged by the idea that there is less opposition to the retention elections this year, but we are taking nothing for granted, said Connie Ryan, executive director of the Alliance. But there are voices, certainly, out there that are opposed to this, and we want to make sure that Iowans understand the importance of the retention election, how you vote on a retention election, and that it is nonpartisan and that politics should not be inserted into it. More than 40 percent of Iowans favor retaining the three justices, while just 16 percent oppose retention, according to polling conducted for Justice Not Politics, an advocacy group that supports retaining the justices. Three men are seeking the Iowa House seat in District 97, a large swath of territory that covers much of rural Clinton County and upper Scott County. Incumbent Rep. Norlin Mommsen, a DeWitt Republican, is seeking a second term, hoping to get re-elected to a seat that has largely been in GOP hands in recent years. He's being opposed by Jeff Wolf, a Democrat from Park View who has worked as a political field organizer, and David Melchert Jr., a Libertarian from Grand Mound who runs his own construction business. Mommsen, a farmer, says that improving the state's water quality will be a big issue in the upcoming legislative session and he wants to come up with an "Iowa solution." When asked about the possibility of a 3/8th-of-a-cent increase in the state sales tax for the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, Mommsen says he's "personally not in favor of raising taxes" but would consider it if there is a change in how the funds are spent. Some Republican legislative candidates this year have argued too much money goes to things that aren't linked to improving water quality. Wolf, his Democratic opponent, says he's undecided on the idea of raising the sales tax for the trust fund but is interested in exploring possible avenues of funding for improving water quality. He and Mommsen both say they think the state's current voluntary nutrient reduction strategy is working. A range of groups are pushing for the state Legislature to take action on improving water quality in the state, an issue that's been brewing at the state Capitol for a few years now. For his part, Melchert says that he would consult his constituency on this issue, something that is much in keeping with how the Grand Mound man says he would operate across the board if he is elected. Melchert says that, via social media, texting and other means, he is reaching out to thousands of people in the district something he has said he has been able to do without benefit of a party structure and would consult them continuously, "if a well-informed majority wants me to spend their tax dollars on that, that's what I'd do," he said. Mommsen and Wolf tackle school funding from different perspectives. Mommsen supported the bill to give K-12 schools in the state an increase of 2.25 percent in basic state aid. He says he understands school districts wanting more but notes some departments within state government did not get any increases. Wolf, on the other hand, says he's more in line with the idea that districts should be getting at least 4 percent increases annually. The current level of funding, he says, reflects a mistaken belief that "schools are good enough as they are." He says that too much money is being spent on tax breaks for businesses, making it more difficult to find resources for schools. Both he and Mommsen said they also are cognizant that rural districts are hampered by transportation costs that are higher than for urban districts. Melchert says school districts constantly say they are not adequately funded. However, he says too many Iowans are misled about where education money goes, saying they aren't aware how much goes to salaries and pensions. Wolf says that, as a legislator, he would be more aggressive in seeking out problems in the district and trying to resolve them. An example, he says, is the push to loosen Iowa's liquor laws so distilleries can sell on-site in the same manner as craft breweries and wineries. LeClaire's Mississippi River Distilling Co. has been trying to convince lawmakers to make that change but have not been successful so far at getting legislation passed. "It's putting a drag on the state's economic growth," Wolf says. Mommsen also supports the change and has been working to get legislation passed. He says that he intends to work on instituting a voluntary system for animal breeders that would put in place standards of care, broadening its use across the state in lieu of legislation that some are advocating to strengthen the state's ability to regulate dog breeders. Mommsen also says the state needs to work on funding the judicial system. "We really need to look at that," he said, adding he thinks the court system is experiencing delays as a result of funding issues. As a Libertarian, Melchert says government should be limited and more decentralized than it is. He adds the way to limit government is to push for more volunteerism, which he says he engages in heavily and would encourage. "I prefer to lead by example," he said. The 97th District includes the towns of LeClaire, Princeton, Camanche and DeWitt, as well as large parts of rural Clinton and Scott County. Of the approximately 21,700 active registered voters in the district in October, 5,690 were Democrats, 6,881 were Republicans and 9,052 weren't affiliated with any party. The city of Davenport has put a temporary hold on appointments to its boards, commissions and committees. Mayor Frank Klipsch announced he had decided the City Council would not entertain the appointments scheduled for Wednesday's council meeting at the current time. Klipsch said no decision will be made until the City Council has an opportunity to discuss them during its next management update and consult with the city attorney. "We will discuss not only the appointments, but more particularly the whole process that we have for the appointments," Klipsch said. He said the aldermen would also look at how to make the boards, commissions and committees more efficient. The mayor's choice for appointment to the Levee Commission, Mike Veal, has drawn scrutiny both from a member of the commission as well as the public. Commissioner Karl Rhomberg has voiced the need for the next commission member to be a woman to follow Iowa's gender balance law. Currently, the levee commission has four men and two women among its appointed members. Iowa Code 69.16A requires no one gender to be greater than half of membership for even-numbered boards, committees, commissions and councils. The code allows for a plus one difference when there are an odd number of members. Exceptions do apply when a "good faith effort" has been made, but a qualified candidate cannot be found within three months. Klipsch said his initial selection of Veal was based on the qualifications found in the board and commission application submitted to the city. Veal's experience includes leadership positions at HNI and project management at Stanley Consultants, where he worked with the Rock Island Corps of Engineer district and Mississippi Valley U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district. Elaine Kresse, the policy co-chair for the Davenport and Bettendorf branch of American Association of University Women, read a statement to the council expressing the oroup's disappointment. Kresse stressed the law's intention of giving an equal voice to both men and women. "When a vacancy occurs, one does not look at all the applicants, but only those from the gender required to equalize the committee," Kresse said. "It is not OK to use the excuse that Davenport may have better gender balance than other Iowa cities and towns." SPRINGFIELD Gov. Bruce Rauner held a Facebook Live session Wednesday with a nurse practitioner from Springfields Memorial Medical Center in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Most of the prescreened questions focused on health-related topics, but one ventured into political territory. Rauner fielded a question about the effect the states budget impasse has had on breast cancer screening programs for uninsured women. Illinois breast and cervical cancer screening program, which received no state funding last year, was given $5 million in a stopgap spending deal that the Republican governor and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly approved this summer. The program, which mainly provides free cancer screenings for uninsured women age 35 to 64, received $13.8 million in state funding in fiscal year 2015, the last year in which Illinois had a complete budget. The stopgap spending plan expires after Dec. 31, putting future funding for the screenings in question. Its an important program, one that I very strongly support, Rauner told his Facebook audience. That has been impacted by the lack of a balanced budget. The governor also noted that private insurance plans and Medicaid are required to cover breast cancer screenings at no charge under the federal Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obamas signature health care law. The expansion of Medicaid in Illinois made possible by the federal law also has helped significantly reduce the states uninsured population, but an estimated 8 percent of women ages 19 to 64 remained without coverage last year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Rauner said the impasses impact on breast cancer screenings is one symptom of the states overall budget woes. We have not been funding our health and human services properly in Illinois for many years, he said. The solution is a comprehensive, balanced state budget, Rauner said. To do that, we need reforms to grow our economy because we cant have government spending growing way faster than the pace of growth for our economy, he said. Its unsustainable. But Democrats and other critics say the states inability to pass a full budget since Rauner took office is the result of his insistence on reforms such as term limits for elected officials and changes to workers compensation laws, which they contend are unrelated to the budget. The Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force also took to Facebook on Wednesday with a video response to the governors event. While its important for us to balance the budget, its important for us to do reform, all of these things, a balanced budget should not come at the cost of a womans life, said Teena Francois-Blue, associate director of community initiatives and research for the task force. The lack of state funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings, however, hasnt resulted in service reductions everywhere in the state. Charli Kahler of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, which serves as the lead agency for the program in six central Illinois counties, including McLean, said there havent been any reductions in that area. The agency relied on federal funding to continue operating the program at full strength during the impasse, Kahler said. We have plenty of spots for clients, she said. Kahler said health department actively works to recruit new women into the program, which currently serves 800. Gracies in the building, but you wont know until you see her. The golden retriever doesnt make a peep as she walks steadily at the pace of her handler for the morning, retired Davenport Police Lt. Scott Sievert. She brings a lot of peace to people, said Sievert, who introduced the comfort dog to his comrades at the police department two years ago and brings her back about every two weeks. Thats her job. This fall, the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association recognized Gracies professional companionship by naming her to the states Animal Hall of Fame, which has honored 58 animals since its inception 19 years ago. The 6-year-old pup, owned by Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Davenport, isnt your average stay-at-home pet. Shes responded to nine national tragedies and emergencies during her career, which started when she finished her training at 14 months. Two days after the mass shooting this June at a nightclub in Orlando, Gracie arrived in Florida under the watch of Sievert, who retired from the force in 2012, and his wife, Sandy. During her week there, Gracie consoled those shaken by the tragedy that left 49 people dead, including survivors, first responders and victims family members and friends. Twelve golden retrievers, all members of the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog program, aided the grieving process. The organization has 120 dogs across the country, but Gracie remains the only one in Iowa. We are so lucky to have her in the Quad-City area, said Laura Bahns, Gracies primary care provider at Kimberly Crest Veterinary Hospital. People know her as the Trinity Lutheran comfort dog, but they dont realize everything she does. Bahns, whose children attend Trinity Lutheran School, nominated her furry patient for the award. When shes in town, Gracie accompanies children as they practice reading, veterans battling post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and residents at nursing and hospice homes. Wednesday marked Gracies most recent visit to the Davenport Police Department, and her first time there since receiving the recognition for her services. In just an hour, she cheered up dozens on the job, from custodial staff to the stations top cop. Jane Marsh-Johnson, Gracie's main handler and director of her comfort ministry, also joined the tour. They spent the majority of time in the Criminal Investigation Division with several detectives. She must know Im stressed, Cpl. Joshua Stocking said as he rubbed Gracies ears. You need to start bringing her up here more often. As they completed the rounds, a message sounded over the buildings intercom system: Gracie to the chiefs office. Upon arrival, Sievert removed Gracie's leash to let her find Chief Paul Sikorski by the sound of his voice. "Come here, you!" he shouted with open arms as Gracie, wagging her tail, ran toward him, later knocking him off balance. Sikorski congratulated her on the award and thanked Sievert, a longtime friend and mentor, for stopping by the criminal investigation division. They deal with a lot of ugly stuff over there, and some of them may internalize it, said Sikorski, who has a golden retriever at home. It's just good to have her go over there and give us some love." The following is a letter I recently sent to the Iowa Republican Party. I share it with readers in hope that it inspires others to put people before party when voting Nov. 8: I request that I immediately be removed from all Iowa GOP mailing, phone, and email lists. I've been particularly disappointed to see your mailers, as I recently changed my registration to independent in response to the Party's nomination of the dangerous, dishonest, and unqualified Donald Trump as its nominee. In fact, I have already filled out an absentee ballot with votes for Hillary Clinton to help ensure that Trump will never take residence in the White House, former Lt. Gov. and Secretary of State Patty Judge for senator because of Sen. Chuck Grassley's role in leaving the Supreme Court a justice short, and Kim Weaver, as U.S. Rep. Steve King is a demagogue and an embarrassment to Iowa and the GOP. I may return to the Republican Party when it takes governance seriously and the state GOP takes a stand against people like Donald Trump and Steve King. Until then, please do not contact me in any way, shape, or form. Dan Voss Boone, Iowa Abraham Lincoln said, I do not think I could, myself, be brought to support a man for office whom I knew to be an open enemy of, and scoffer at religion." With the revelation of emails attributed to Hillary Clinton and her campaign staff criticizing Catholics and evangelicals, people of faith need to pray for guidance before voting next month. If you consider yourself to be a person of faith, you need to prayerfully consider God's condemnation of abortion, homosexual marriage, men using women's restrooms, clergy being forced to marry same-sex couples, lying, and the corruption that permeates the current administration, including Hillary Clinton. For those who refuse to even consider that the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian principles or that our Founding Fathers and mothers were religious people who believed in God, and used the bible as their life's guide, I urge you to read, "America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations" by William J. Federer. As the political elite plunge our nation ever faster towards Sodom and Gomorrah, like Rome and Babylon, we'll reap the same fate unless we return to the God of the bible, and reject the God of secular humanism before it's too late. The bible says, "Righteousness exalts a nation. But sin is a disgrace to any people. The king's favor is toward a servant who acts wisely. But his anger is towards him who acts shamefully." Proverbs 14: 34 - 35. Choose wisely, America. Jim Dieterich Silvis Gary Johnson, the energetic Libertarian Party candidate for president, came to Rapid City on Wednesday and attracted a crowd of more than 300 people who heard him share his hope that he can siphon South Dakota's few electoral votes away from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. During an appearance at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Wednesday night, Johnson told a room of 300 to 400 people that he is a positive and viable alternative to the major party candidates on election day on Nov. 8. Johnson was introduced Wednesday by former state senator Stan Adelstein of Rapid City, who told those assembled that Johnson born in Minot, N.D. should be considered "one of us. Johnson, a former governor of New Mexico, is the only third-party candidate to appear on the presidential ballot in all 50 states, and is hoping to turn that to his advantage in South Dakota. Potentially, we could win South Dakota, Johnson said. Though aggregated polls predict he may only pull in less than 1 percent of the nations electoral votes, and only 5.6 percent of the popular vote, an optimistic Johnson is soldiering on in the hope that he can convince a majority of the country that he is a viable and desirable candidate in the election. Im always a glass-half-full kind of guy, he said, flashing a boyish grin. Once on stage, Johnson rolled through some of his key talking points. His statement supporting smaller government, the Second Amendment, and legalized marijuana all received hearty applause from the audience. I do support the Second Amendment, but I support all the amendments of the Constitution, Johnson said. And the Constitution limits the power of government." He also sought to contrast himself with his opponents, both of whom he views as overly eager to engage in lengthy foreign wars and costly regime changes. We bombed seven Muslim countries last year, and we will bomb seven more unless I am president, he said. He also criticized Trump for his statements about immigrants. We are going to be on the wrong side of history if we build a fence across the border, Johnson said. Those who attended the Rapid City rally had varied views about Johnson. Watching with his family, Ian Kellar, 29, of Rapid City, said he supports Johnson mainly because he doesnt like the major party candidates. I like that hes socially liberal, I like his stance on the Second Amendment, Kellar said. I like his foreign policy, or lack thereof. Samantha Denney, 28, just moved to Rapid City from Minneapolis a few days ago. I feel like weve been disenfranchised by the two party system since Citizens United, Denney said of the court decision allowing more corporate funding of campaigns. She supports Johnson in part because she believes he is the only candidate who would take serious action regarding college debt. Nicole Preble, 47, remains undecided on her vote for president, and came to the Johnson rally to see if he offered anything better. Honestly Im amazed weve gotten to the place were in now. I think Donald Trump is an indication of how fed up the American people are. Republican state Rep. Lynn DiSanto of Rapid City was among a small group waving signs outside the Johnson rally, saying she supports Trump because he would run government like a business. Asked about Trump's taped derogatory statements on women, DiSanto said: I am more concerned about what Hillary Clinton is doing right now than what Donald Trump said 20 years ago. In the moments before taking the stage, Johnson said he supports the Dakota Access pipeline, but would have issues with it if government used eminent domain to seize property from local landowners. The controversial $3.8 billion pipeline would pass beneath the Missouri River, a major water supply for South Dakota. Opponents who have encamped in opposition now number in the thousands from around the country. For all his differences with the establishment candidates, Johnson finds some common ground with his opponents. I happen to agree with Hillary Clinton on her No. 1 issue in this election. I also agree with Donald Trump on his, Johnson said, pausing for effect. Dont vote for Trump. Dont vote for Hillary. A pilot scheduled to fly a commercial airliner out of Rapid City on Wednesday morning smelled of alcohol and was arrested on a DUI charge before the flight took off, Rapid City police said. The pilot of the flight scheduled to depart for Salt Lake City at 8:30 a.m. was later arrested on a charge of operating an aircraft while intoxicated and placed on administrative leave by his employer. The incident led to a delay of more than two hours for the flight, which took off with a replacement pilot. Russel J. Duszak, 38, of Salt Lake City, was detained at the Pennington County Jail on a DUI-aircraft charge around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday. He was released less than an hour later after paying a $300 bail, according to jail information. Rapid City police arrested Duszak after finding his blood alcohol level to be above the 0.04 percent legal threshold for pilots. His exact alcohol level was still being determined by a laboratory test, police said Wednesday. The Rapid City Police Department began investigating Duszak after it was notified that a SkyWest Airlines pilot smelled of alcohol, it said in a news release. The information came from Rapid City Regional Airport's Transportation and Security Administration shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday. Duszaks flight, bound for Salt Lake City, was scheduled to take off at 8:30 a.m. but was delayed for 2-1/2 hours. Another SkyWest pilot replaced Duszak, airline spokesperson Layne Watson said. SkyWest flight 4574, which was operating as a Delta connection, had 45 passengers. The airline apologized to passengers for the flight delay and said it was cooperating with the law enforcement investigation. Duszak has been placed on administrative leave and removed from flying duties while SkyWest investigates the incident, Watson said in an email. SkyWest would not comment on Duszak's employment record, or about its measures to ensure pilots are safe to fly. Officials said Duszak violated a South Dakota law that prohibits pilots from flying under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The offense is a class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in county jail and/or a fine of $2,000. Rapid City Police Lt. Mark Eisenbraun described the case as "extremely rare." Eisenbraun, whose responsibilities involve working with Rapid City Regional Airport, said he cannot remember another incident in which police had to physically detain an airline pilot. An airline pilot who reportedly smelled of alcohol prior to entering the cockpit for a flight out of Rapid City on Wednesday was arrested on a charge of operating an aircraft while intoxicated. The pilot was placed on administrative leave by his employer, SkyWest Airlines. Russel J. Duszak, 38, was arrested after police said they found his blood alcohol level to be above the 0.04 percent legal threshold for pilots. He was booked at the Pennington County Jail at noon on a DUI charge. His bond was set at $300. The Rapid City Police Department began investigating Duszak after receiving a report shortly past 8 a.m. Wednesday that a SkyWest Airlines pilot smelled of alcohol, it said in a news release. Duszak was among the crew of SkyWest flight 4574 that was operating Wednesday as a Delta airline connection from Rapid City to Salt Lake City. The flight was scheduled to take off at 8:30 a.m. The flight ended up being delayed by about 2-1/2 hours. SkyWest said in a statement that Duszak has been placed on administrative leave and removed from flying duties while the airline investigates the incident. It apologized to passengers for the flights delay and said it was cooperating with the law enforcement investigation. The airline declined to comment on Duszak's employment history or how the airline ensures its pilots are always fit to fly. Authorities said Duszak, a Salt Lake City resident, violated a South Dakota law that prohibits pilots from flying under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The offense is a class 1 misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in county jail and/or a fine of $2,000. PIERRE | The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has been asked to resolve another pricing dispute between a wind-power company and an investor-owned utility. Juhl Energy Inc. is using a 1978 federal law to force NorthWestern Energy to buy electricity from Juhl Energys wind farms. The projects are in Brule County near Kimball, Aurora County near White Lake and Davison County near Letcher. All are within NorthWestern Energys service territory. The commission gave its staff authority Wednesday to pay up to $38,000 to an outside consultant to help on the pricing analysis. Unlike other types of proceedings, Juhl Energy wasnt required to pay a fee to the commission when the Pipestone, Minn.-based company filed its complaint against NorthWestern Energy on June 23. The commission scheduled an evidentiary hearing for April 11-14. Federal regulations require NorthWestern Energy to buy the electricity that would be produced from the three projects. The price is supposed to be equal to what the utility would have otherwise paid for the power through its own generation or bought from another source. Juhl and NorthWestern disagree on the cost. That is where the consultant would come in for the PUC. Juhl has calculated $60.70 per megawatt-hour. NorthWestern has calculated $24.35 per megawatt-hour. Juhl plans nine turbines each at Letcher, Kimball and White Lake. Each turbine would generate up to 2.3 megawatts. The commission has handled two similar disputes in the past three years. In 2014 the panel dismissed a complaint brought by a project promoter against Basin Electric Power Cooperative and five rural electric cooperatives. The PUC doesnt have legal authority over rates charged by cooperatives in South Dakota. The commission issued a decision in 2013 on a similar complaint brought by Oak Tree Energy, a private company operating a wind facility in Clark County. NorthWestern Energy paid the price approved by the commission after two years of procedural maneuvers and hearings. Amendment R is an important step for South Dakotas technical institutes. I encourage you to vote yes on Amendment R. Since they were founded in the 1960s, the technical institutes have been locally operated by the K-12 school district, with oversight from the State Board of Education. The technical institutes are a key component of our education system, training skilled workers in many high-need fields. Many South Dakotans owe their careers to a technical institute education, and employers depend on those workers. Amendment R gives technical institutes equal treatment in our state Constitution, alongside the state universities, operated by the Board of Regents, and the K-12 education system. This amendment fixes a section of the Constitution from the 1940s that can be taken to put the Board of Regents in charge of the technical institutes. That has never been the case, and the legal questions surrounding this section have made it difficult for the technical institutes to advance in their mission or to advocate in Pierre for their institutions. Amendment R fixes that. It makes it crystal-clear that the Board of Regents was not intended to operate the technical institutes. Over the years, various proposals to strengthen the technical institutes have failed because of the legal uncertainty surrounding the state Constitution. The amendment simply states that the state Legislature may determine governance of the technical institutes. It does not change the technical institutes, and it doesnt mandate any change. It will allow the Legislature to consider these issues without the threat of a legal battle. I urge you to support our technical institutes by voting Yes on Amendment R. WASHINGTON | Not enough has been made of two obvious facts: Hillary Clinton, if she wins, would be the first woman elected to the White House. And it will have been the votes of women who put her there. Think, for a moment, about what a remarkable milestone that would be. Consider what it would say about the long and difficult struggle to make the Constitution's guarantees of freedom and equality encompass all Americans. The first 43 presidents were all members of a privileged minority group white males. The 44th is a black man, and the 45th may well be a white woman. That is a very big deal. The historic nature of Clinton's candidacy has been all but lost amid the clamorous sound and fury of the Donald Trump eruption. The campaign has seen many unforgettable moments, but one that I believe will prove truly indelible came during the third and final debate, when Clinton was speaking and Trump interrupted her by snarling, "Such a nasty woman." Within minutes, "nasty woman" became an internet meme not so much because of what it said about Trump, since we already knew of his sexism and misogyny, but because of what it said about the moment. A "nasty woman" was on the verge of shattering the highest and most shatterproof glass ceiling of them all. That this accomplishment would come at Trump's expense just made it a bit sweeter. Polls show Clinton leading Trump among women by double-digit margins an incredible 18 percentage points in a recent Fox News poll. If only men could vote, Trump would have a lead, albeit a shrinking one. But thanks to the 19th Amendment, Clinton is well ahead nationally and has taken solid leads in almost all the swing states. Surely this has something to do with the "Access Hollywood" videotape in which Trump brags of groping and kissing women against their will and the 11 women who have come forward to accuse him of doing just that. But I like to believe it also has much to do with Clinton and the virtues she has demonstrated during the campaign. Trump's slide in the polls, you will recall, began after the first debate, before the "Access Hollywood" tape came to light. The contrast at that encounter, which took place at Hofstra University on Long Island, was striking. Trump was clearly winging it, relying on swagger and presence to bluff his way past questions he could not intelligibly answer. Clinton was sharp and aggressive, but also fully prepared to discuss the issues in detail. She had done her homework and it showed. This was the case in the second and third debates as well, and I'll bet her performances struck a chord among women who watched. To succeed, a woman can't just be as good as her male counterparts. She has to be better. She has to know more, she has to work harder, she has to sweat the details while maintaining the illusion that she never perspires at all. Like any woman who runs for office or, for that matter, seeks a corner office in the business world Clinton faced scrutiny in ways men never do. What was she wearing? Did she sound "shrill" as opposed to "bold" or dynamic" when she raised her voice? Did she smile enough? Did she smile too much? Male candidates simply are not critiqued in this manner, unless there is something bizarre about them that cannot be ignored (such as Trump's hairstyle). The next woman nominated for president by one of our major parties will have a lighter burden because of the poise with which Clinton conducted herself and her campaign. Barack Obama's election meant that African-American parents were no longer lying when they told their children they could grow up to be president. Likewise, if Clinton wins on Nov. 8, all parents will be truthful when they tell their daughters that there is nothing they cannot achieve. It is ironic that when Bill and Hillary Clinton first met, she was the rising academic and political star, largely on the basis of a 1969 Wellesley College graduation speech that received national attention. But she put her own ambitions on hold in favor of her husband's. It was, at the time, a rational choice; he was likely to go further, and be able to achieve more, than any woman. Only decades later could she step out on her own. That's a familiar story to millions of women. Now they look ready to change the script. BELLE FOURCHE | Two Belle Fourche women were arrested on charges of simple assault early Tuesday afternoon after police say they attacked a third woman at a Taco John's restaurant. Ashley Anderson, 26, and Alicia Anderson, 24, were arrested at the scene and taken to the Meade County Jail. Belle Fourche police said when they arrived at the scene shortly before 2 p.m., the third woman was on the ground. She was transported to Spearfish Regional Hospital with a possible head injury. Police said Wednesday that a witness told them that she had used her telephone to video the incident. Police reviewed the video before making the arrests. Police said further charges are pending against the two women. Man allegedly behind Crimea blockade owes $2.8 mln to bank MOSCOW, October 27 (RAPSI) The Moscow Commercial Court has proceeded with a claim by Aziya-invest Bank seeking to put a 176 million ruble ($2.8 million) debt on the list of creditors claims with regard to Lenur Islyamov, an alleged organizer of the food blockade of Crimea, RAPSI learnt in the court on Thursday. The Moscow Commercial Court declared Islyamov bankrupt on July 18. On March 16, the court introduced a procedure for restructuring of Islyamovs debt upon the application of Sberbank of Russia. According to the banks representative, the businessmans debt under two loans is estimated at 1.1 billion rubles ($17.4 million). Islyamov was a loan guarantor for the Queen Group Company that received these credits. The company later has been declared bankrupt. Moreover, Aziya-invest Bank turned to court seeking to include Islyamovs 493.6 million rubles debt ($7.8 million) on the register of claims. Islyamov owns TV company ATR, transportation company SimCityTrans, and retail chain ICom selling Apple products. SimCityTrans is a largest Crimea haulier, carrying out its operations in Simferopol and across the peninsula. In June, the Commercial Court of Crimea has suspended SimCityTrans operations for 90 days on the grounds that the company committed a serious administrative offence with regard to licensing regulations. In May 2014, Islyamov, who at that time was Deputy Chairman of the Crimean Council of Ministers responsible for repatriates, water provision and utilities, was dismissed as failing to cope with these responsibilities. The Crimean investigators launched a probe into Islyamov and in November 2015 raided the offices of companies he controlled on the peninsula. Earlier, Crimea's Prosecutors Office informed that two men (Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov) behind the peninsula blockade had been put on the international and one (Lenur Islyamov) on the federal wanted lists. Embezzlement case against Russian tycoon Polonsky reaches court MOSCOW, October 27 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) A criminal case against Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky, who stands charged with embezzling 2.6 billion rubles ($41.7 million), has been submitted to the Presnensky District Court of Moscow, the courts spokesperson Anastasia Pylina told RAPSI on Thursday. The hearing date has not been scheduled yet. On August 8, the court decided to return the case against Polonsky and his alleged accomplices to prosecutors for tightening indictment. This ruling was adopted in order to classify the defendants actions as a more serious crime, Pylina told RAPSI earlier. According to investigators, Polonsky, aided by Alexander Paperno, Head of the Mirax Group Finance Department and Alexei Pronyakin, CEO of Avanta company, have defrauded participants of shared construction apartment projects. Polonsky, who is the founder of Potok (formerly Mirax Group), a diversified corporation that has been involved in several large development projects, is deemed to cause damages in amount of 2.4 billion rubles (around $38.5 million) with regard to Kutuzov Mile and 256 million rubles (around $4.1 million) with regard to Rublyovskaya Riviera development projects. In May 2015, the Cambodian authorities, where Polonsky had been avoiding Russian prosecution, extradited him to Russia. If convicted, Polonsky could face up to ten years in prison. Polonsky has pleaded not guilty. Detention of Ukrainian journalist Sushchenko upheld by Moscow court Context Federal Security Service charges Ukrainian journalist Sushchenko with espionage MOSCOW, October 27 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has upheld detention of Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who was allegedly spying on Russias Armed Forces and National Guard, RAPSI learned from the courts press-service on Thursday. Hearings were held behind closed doors because this case is classified as secret. Earlier, the Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow has ruled to detain Sushchenko. He will stay in jail until November 30. On October 7, Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) charged Sushchenko with espionage. According to the FSB, the Ukrainian citizen has purposively collected classified information about the Armed Forces and National Guard of Russia. Leak of data abroad could cause damage to the national defense capability. Sushchenko could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Ukrinform news agency earlier confirmed that Sushchenko has been acting as its reporter since 2002. Since 2010, he has been working as Ukrinforms personal correspondent in France. According to the agency, the man arrived in Moscow on private business during his vacation and was arrested immediately upon his arrival. Ukrinform repelled accusations against Sushchenko calling him a journalist with years of unblemished professional reputation. Student accused of killing prominent Russian journalist pleads guilty ST. PETERSBURG, October 27 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) Student Sergey Kosyrev, who stands charged with the murder of prominent Russian journalist Dmitry Tsilikin, has pleaded guilty, his attorney Iosif Gabunia told RAPSI on Thursday. According to the lawyer, Kosyrev has also pleaded partially guilty to stealing Tsilikins personal possessions. Upon the prosecutors request, the case is considered behind closed doors in order not to give away personal information. The next hearing has been scheduled for November 14. According to investigators, Tsilikin met Kosyrev online on one of the social networks. On March 27, Kosyrev visited the journalist with whom he had befriended online. Investigators allege that the student killed Tsilikin during a quarrel, stole his laptop, mobile phone, money and fled the scene. Kosyrev, 22, was arrested on April 7 after investigators had examined Tsilikins conversations on one of social networks. The body of the 54-year old journalist was found in his apartment on the night of March 31. According to preliminary findings, he died from multiple knife wounds. Dmitriy Tsilikin was an editor of Culture and society section in the Chas Pik (Peak Hour) newspaper. He was also an author and host of multiple TV- and radio-shows, his works were published in numerous newspapers and magazines. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on the website. The purposes of using cookies are defined in the Privacy Policy of RAPSI If you agree to continue using cookies, please click the "Confirm" button. If you do not agree, you can change your browser settings. The OHara Commons hosted a Montana Crunch Time event on the leaf-strewn lawn in Hamilton with youngsters from Washington Elementary School and Evergreen Kids Corner Monday. The event celebrated National Food Day and National Farm to School Month by crunching into fresh, crisp locally grown apples at 2 p.m. across the state. Samantha OByrne, director of The OHara Commons & Sustainability Center, served organic apples donated by the Redsun Labyrinth in Victor. We are celebrating National Food Day, local producers and local produce, OByrne said. Everyone is eating a fresh apple that was grown in the Bitterroot Valley. The first apple tree planted in Montana was in 1866 in Stevensville. Karen Daniels, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher at Washington Primary School, brought her students to participate in the statewide event because it fit in with their current studies. Weve been doing some studies of apples: how they grow, tasting different kinds, making apple pie, and making applesauce and cider the old-fashioned way, Daniels said. Participating in Crunch Time at OHara Commons seemed like a great way to connect with locally grown apples at a place in our community outside of school. Munching at Crunch Time is a great thing to do. Klista May brought her kindergarten class for a great opportunity to explore beyond the classroom. They are crunching a locally grown apple and they need to know about that, May said. The kids enjoyed playing in the leaves and making leave angels, that was a bonus. The Montana Crunch Time event was designed to bring awareness of local foods and encourage healthy eating habits by having people across the state eat a local or regionally grown apple. Emilie Ritter Saunders, communications director for the Montana Office of Public Instruction, said, Last year, more than 20,000 people participated we were expecting close to 40,000 this year. We dont yet have a final count. A Hamilton man has been charged with driving drunk and ramming the car of a woman who came to check on his well being. William Edward Anderson, 62, appeared on a felony count of criminal endangerment before Ravalli County Justice James Bailey. According to a charging affidavit, the woman was called by a friend to come to the home on Sheafman Creek Road to check on a cut on Andersons head last Monday at about 10:15 p.m. After parking her car toward the front of the home, the woman went inside. Shortly thereafter, she saw Anderson go outside, get into his vehicle and back into her car. The woman went outside and confronted him. At that point, she was standing about two feet from Andersons passenger-side door when he allegedly slammed his vehicle into hers for a second time with the passenger side of his vehicle. The woman said that if she had been standing near the rear end of the vehicle, he would have run her over. She then got in her vehicle and drove away. Anderson admitted that he had consumed alcohol that evening. He was unable to successfully complete the field sobriety tests. A preliminary breath sample resulted in a .192 breath alcohol content. In Montana, a driver is considered impaired with a .08 blood alcohol content. Anderson was also charged with misdemeanor counts of driving while under the influence and reckless driving. Bailey set bail at $10,000, with a requirement that Anderson be monitored for alcohol if released from the detention center. Like most Montanans, we were horrified as we watched footage of Donald Trump boasting about sexually assaulting women while Access Hollywood reporter, Billy Bush, laughed and egged him on. We were horrified because we are women and mothers, sisters and daughters. The men and boys in our lives were also horrified. All decent people should be horrified when they hear a man bragging about violently forcing himself on women. Over the last two weeks, many high ranking Republicans, well-known religious leaders, and other public figures have rescinded their support for Trump. But Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke is not one of these leaders. In fact, Ryan and Lola Zinke quickly reaffirmed their support for Trump and dismissed his confession of sexual assault as locker room talk. But thats not the worst of it. A few days before the Trump video was released, the Billings Gazette recorded a video interview with Congressman Zinke. In this interview, Montanas Congressman can be seen and heard cracking an ugly joke. He says, I think Mr. Trump has been an equal opportunity offender . . . I dont think he offends women any more than he offends anyone else. At the end of the joke, Zinke smiles, hoping for a laugh. But no one else in the room laughs, and thats the point: sexism and sexual assault arent funny. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 150,000 Montanans have been victims of sexual assault in their lifetimes. With these lives in mind, is it any wonder why we think sexual assault is a big issue that merits statewide attention? When we consider the pervasiveness of sexual assault, were not just disappointed or upset that Congressman Zinke is ignoring this problem. Were angry. Heres why: Congressman Zinke isnt merely silent on the issue of sexual assault; hes actively trying to protect a man who has bragged about committing sexual assault. Hes protecting Trump by pretending that his actions are mostly harmless and not worthy of conversation. Hes protecting a sexual predator by helping him become President of the United States. For these reasons, we recently organized the Montanans Rally for Women group, and we held protests outside the Congressmans four state offices in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, and Helena. Women and men joined us from all corners of our communities to tell their stories of sexual assault and to demand that Congressman Zinke withdraw his support for Trump. He has not yet responded to us. Congressman Zinke is choosing Donald Trump over Montana. He is minimizing Trumps words and his actions, and we find this behavior both disturbing and dangerous. We would not stand by if our religious leaders or teachers ignored sexual assault. We would not allow any respected or trusted adult in our community defend someone who bragged about forcing himself on women. We must hold our elected officials to the same standard. As Montanans, our voices may be minor influences in the Presidential election, but we do have influence over who represents Montana families and Montana family values in the U.S. House. We believe that all Montanans deserve to be represented by someone who has the courage to stand up against sexual assault and those who make light of it. We believe Montanans deserve better than Congressman Ryan Zinke. Nancy A. Neal, Candidate for HD 86 Hamilton, MT; Juniper Davis, of Missoula; Kate Olp-Restad, of Billings; Jules Shindel, of Great Falls; and Holly Kaleczyc, of Helena, are all part of Montanans Rally for Women. Dirgha Raj Prasai The Hindu glorious Festival-Tihar is also known by many names such as Dipawal in Nepal, or Bhai Tika or Laxmi Puja or as a festival of lights and Diwali in India. In this year the light day-Tihar is starting from 12 Kartik 2073 just 28 Oct. 2016. It is a five-days festival, which comes soon after the Dashain Festival, and Tihar is all about worshiping of different animals such as crow, dog, cow, and worshiping of the Hindu Goddess of Fortune or Wealth (Goddess Laxmi), and cooking great meals at home, brothers and sisters shopping for gifts, flying kites, decorating homes and streets, playing cards with friends, resting and relaxing, and finally ending the festival with an exchange of a special temporary mark on forehead. The last day of the festival is known as Tika day or popularly known as Bhai Tika (brothers' day). To sum up Tihar festival, Tihar is the festival when sisters wish a long life to their brothers (Bhai)! Tihar is a festival for brothers and sisters, but What if you are a brother without a sister or a sister without a brother. Well, you can make one by accepting someone close to you in your relatives. If nothing works, you find one among your friends and neighbors, it becomes almost as if it was real. Tihar is a festival of sisters wishing a long life to their brothers and Tihar is the most popular festival in Nepal, India and in all over world where Hindus have been living . From the waning moon in between Oct. and Nov, (Kartik), there starts the indigenous Festival Dipawali-Tihar-the light day in Nepal, India and in all over the world. In this year it starts Nov-13-15 2069 Bs. Due to the Tithi disturbance, Crow and Dog worshiping day is joined in a day. We the Nepalese people have glorious history on 'Himabatkhand.' The Himabatkhand-Nepal covers the land of Brahmaputra in the east, Hindukush in the west, Kailash-Mansarovar (west-south China) in the north and the Ganga-River in the south. In the past, Nepal was bigger than what it is today. This zone is the origin of the Vedas, Upanishads, Purans and Nitishastra. The region has been irrigating by rivers originating in the Himalaya, several Saints, Sages and renowned Kings. The Bikram Sambat is an original and sign of Nepalese sovereignty where the foreigners could not attack here like India, China and Pakistan. Exactly, Nepal Sambat and Mahapuja celebrates in just the day of Govardhan Puja (body worshiping organized by Newars) have been celebrating in the time of Dipawali-'Tihar' in Nepal. Nepal Sambat was being practiced from the mid time of Lichchhavis to time of nation creator Prithvi Narayan Shah and Ranas. However due to problems in government administration because of confusion with tithis (dates in Nepal Sambat), Chandra Shamsher started- (1962Bs) the Date (Gate) including the existing Thithi, the oldest indigenous-'Bikram Sambat' in the country. Even in the system, Tithes were same and only dates of Bikram sambat were added. But Brikram Sambat had been existed from the beginning of the history. There are 354 days in Nepal Sambat and 365 days in Bikram Sambat. Therefore Bikram Sambat became more practical. Several historians have written regarding Nepal sambat and its origin. French scholar Syavan Levy has written that the people revolted against Tibetan king who was ruling Nepal between the 7th and 9th century AD and liberated the country. Nepal Sambat started between 879 and 889 AD. One of the Histotian Prof. Bendal has written about the rule of King Raghav Dev of the Lichhavis and started Nepal Sambat in 880 AD. Historian Balchandra Sharma agrees to this point in his history book Nepalko Aitihasik Ruprekha. According to another scholar of history Dhanbajra Bajracharya, King Raghav dev started this Sambat in honor of Pashupatinath. Italian scholar Laciano Patrek has published a Vansavali which honors King Raghavdev as Pasupati Bhattarak Sambatsar. Historian Baikuntha Prasad Lakaul has written in Nepali Samacharpatra on Kartik 30, 2058 that no others are as authentic as Gopal Bansawali. Historian Dhundi Raj Bandari wrote in Nepalko Aitihasik Biwechana writes about handwritten Bishnu Darma which mentions King Raghav dev propagating Nepal Sambat 167. This was used as national Sambat in Tibet and Bangal during the Malla reign. A fable on Shankhadhar has been talked which is hard to believe. On hearing from an astrologer, king Ananda Malla of Bhaktapur (there is no mention of King Anand Malla in hitory of Bhaktapur_ asked to bring sands from Bisnumati River. But, Shankhdhar Sakhwa asked the King's carrier to deposit the sand to him and carried another sands to King. Historian Bhuvan Lal Pradhan supported the conversion but the arguments later he wrote about gold particles found in the river. So, there is no strong argument about Shankhdhar. Historian Krishna Bahadur Udaya says traditionally and culturally king is called Narayan (God). Narayan carrying Shankha is also called Shankhadhar. Therefore Shankhadhar or Chakradhar is the Narayan or Vishnu (God). So it is convincible that Shankhadharr is nobody but King Raghav Dev. There is no proof on the existence any capitalist named Shankhadhar in Kathmandu at time of King Raghav Dev. The followers of Shankhdhar has written that south gate at Pahupatinath has a stone statue with Sankha in hand, is the statue of Shankhdhar Sakhwa. But this is not true. This is the statue of King Bhagiratha devotion of Bhagitathi Ganga for water in the earth. Such statues are found in front of 108 Shiv Temples across the River Bagmati, In front of Ganga Mata, Sundhara at Dharahara & Patan Sundhara. We can see such statue stands in front of Swarna Buddha Mandir in Patan also. So, I request that not to try to exercise in futility. The History always follows the real events, evidence, writings, and chronology. During the festival all the houses in the city and villages are decorated with lit oil lamps. Thus during the night the entire village or city looks like a sparkling diamond. This festival is celebrated in five days. The Nepali festival Tihar is also known by many names such as Dipawali or Bhai Tika or Laxmi Puja or as a festival of lights. It is a five-days festival, which comes soon after the Dashain Festival, and Tihar is all about worshiping of different animals such as crow, dog, cow, and worshiping of the Hindu Goddess of Fortune or Wealth (Goddess Laxmi), and cooking great meals at home, brothers and sisters shopping for gifts, flying kites, decorating homes and streets, playing cards with friends, resting and relaxing, and finally ending the festival with an exchange of a special temporary mark on forehead. The last day of the festival is known as Tika day or popularly known as Bhai Tika (brothers day) To sum up Tihar festival, Tihar is the festival when sisters wish a long life to their brothers (Bhai)! The first day of Tihar is known as Kag Tihar, (crow's day). Crow the messenger of death is honored on the first day of Tihar. The second day is called Kukur Tihar, (dogs' day). A dog plays many roles in our society. We pray to the dog to guard our house as he guards the gate of the underworld and to divert destruction away from our homes. On this day you can see dogs running around with garlands on their neck. Tihar and Laxmi Puja (3rd Tihar Day)- One of the most important day of the festival is Laxmi Puja on which day the Goddess of wealth (Laxmi) is worshiped in every household in the entire Nepali Kingdom by means of Puja, decoration, candle lights, and oil lamps. In this 3rd day of the Tihar Festival, the entire nation becomes an illumination of lights. Pictures and icons of Laxmi Devi (Goddess) are placed and worshiped in a Puja room (or a place in a living room or a dedicated room for worshiping Gods) Puja is performed using flowers, incense, oil lamps, color-powders, bell and money (both notes and coins). Laxmi puja is not only for households but is equally done by Companies. Business-Laxmi-Puja is done exactly the same way as is done in home. Usually company's cashier performs the puja during which time the entire office including office compounds are lit with various lights including electrical, candle lights, and oil lamps and usually staffs are invited to participate in the Puja procession. 'Water is a symbol of love. Lakshmi emerging from the water explains that the right type of wealth emerges from love. Divine love is the highest wealth and is like nectar in our life. Lakshmi is depicted as seated on a lotus floating in water. Lotus is a symbol of dispassion. A droplet of water on the lotus leaf moves freely on the surface without any stickiness whatsoever. Similarly, when we are not attached to wealth and not possessive, then what emerges is the wealth that is everlasting and light like a flower. Such wealth is life-supporting, brings abundance and prosperity. Wealth should be moving like water. The purity of water is lost if it is stagnant. Similarly, the usefulness and value of wealth is only when it is shared and is moving. Lakshmi is adorned with golden ornaments and is holding a lotus flower in two hands. This represents a brighter outlook and celebrative aspect of life, a combination of abundance without any possessiveness towards the wealth. Further when wealth is used for the benefit of humanity, it doesnt bog you down, it is light like a flower. The other two hands hold symbolizing the shower of blessings and indicating that we should have patience. Diwali is a festival of lights. It is a time to honor all aspects of wealth and to illumine our life with the light of spiritual knowledge, the energy that is Mahalakshmi. Maha implies great. Mahalakshmi denotes a great wealth, a wealth that includes all the eight aspects, the spiritual wealth that takes care of our well-being in all the three worlds (Adibhautik, adidhaivik and adhyatmik). So on this occasion, we wish health, happiness and prosperity for everybody.' -(Satish Oberoi) 'During the festival all the houses in the city and villages are decorated with lit oil lamps. Thus during the night the entire village or city looks like a sparkling diamond. This festival is celebrated in five days starting from the thirteenth day of the waning moon in October. We also refer to tihar as 'Panchak Yama' which literally means 'the five days of the underworld lord'. We also worship 'yamaraj' in different forms in these five days. In other words this festival is meant for life and prosperity.-Google online opts. 'The eve of Laxmi Puja Day is made spectacular not only by lights but also by echoes of a special song including dancing known as Bhailo or Bhailini that's played only on Tihar and Songs : Deusi Songs (4th Day) Male members sing what is called Deusi or Deusuray in Nepali. Tihar is also the time to re-call their continued wish for a long and a happy life for their brothers. Brothers sit on a floor while sisters perform their Puja. Puja involves following a traditional ritual in which sisters circle brothers three times dripping oil on the floor from a copper pitcher. Afterwards, sisters put oil in brother's ears and hairs, and then give Tika. Also breaking of walnuts by sisters prior to giving Tika to brothers is also a common practice. After tika, flower garland is put around brother's neck. Then brothers give tika to sisters in the same fashion. Sisters also receive flower garland around their neck. Brothers give gifts such as clothes or money to sisters while sisters give a special gift. Those without a sister or brother, join relatives or friends for Tika. Sisters pray for their brother's long life to the Hindu God of Death (Yam Raj). Tihar and Flower Garland is called Malla. Tihar is probably the best festival of all due to its short holiday period yet packed with much excitement unlike other Nepali festivals! Tihar and Rani Pokharai (Pond)- Rani Pokhara in center of Kathmandu built by Pratap Malla-1649-50, is located at the center of Kathmandu. This famous pond has a small holy temple located at the center. The compound's door is locked all year around except on the day of Bhai Tika. Those who do not have sisters enter the temple to receive tika from priets. Tihar and Cooking - Sisters prepare unique Nepali meal at home for brothers. This includes making of the famous Nepali bread known as Nepali Roti or Sel or Sel (Roti).-Google online opts on Nepalese festival Tihar. The most important day of the festival- Laxmi Puja, early in the morning the cow is worshipped. Tika is put on her head and a garland around her neck then she feasts with delicious food. A cow also symbolizes wealth and she is the most holy animal for Hindus. A cow also symbolizes wealth and she is the most holy animal for Hindus. Cow is holy and venerable animal for Hindus and Buddhists. Hindu and Buddhist scriptures view cow in form of a mother in all over the world especially-Nepal and India. Since the Vedic period cow's body has been accepted as the spirits of various Gods and Goddess. In many Vedic books has mentioned'Gao Biswasya Matera' or Cow is the mother in the world for human being. It is a belief that people who look upon cow with devotion and worship attain blessings and enlightenment. Such conclusions were given precedence in Shrimadbhagawat Mahapurnana (Hindu's greatest religious book) since long period Gopalas started worshipping cow. Cow has been declared Nepals national animal in Nepal for it has the supreme qualities of animals.' The cow was venerated as the mother goddess in the early Mediterranean civilizations. The cow became important in Nepal and India, first in the Vedic period, but only as a symbol of wealth. In the Mahabharata, Bhishma-a great religious personality and warrior, also observes that the cow acts as a surrogate mother by providing milk to human beings for the whole life. So the cow is regarded as the mother of the world. Hindus worship cow as Goddess Laxmi. Every year cow is worshipped during the Hindu festival of Tihar. The day of worship is known as Gai Tihare. Cow is worshipped in every household. Cows urine and dung is needed during any auspicious occasion. It is Hindu tradition to slather the floor with cows dung to make it pure. The cows dung can also kill germs; so its use is good for health as well. A cows milk is highly nutritious that its advantages are hard to explain. Hindus all over the world, irrespective of their caste, creed and country of origin, Celebrates this festival'-Tihar'-'Deepawali'. A famous Indian religious revolutionary A. Swami Vivekananda had said- 'The light of Deepawali is also the light of freedom from control, freedom from tyranny and freedom from all that artificially divides humanity.' Similarly an Indian religious thinker Basavanna writes--'the power of knowledge destroys ignorance; the power of light dissipates darkness; the power of truth is foe of all untruths. Several programmer's are going on not only in Nepal & India two countries from where this religion was started around 5000 years before but also in other countries like USA, Canada, Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad, Malaysia and a lot more. In India also, this is the only one festival which was celebrated all over the country from TamilNadu to Kashmir and Manipur to Gujarat. In the North India this festival is celebrated as Diwali but in South India it is celebrated as Deepawali. Deepawali, the festival of lights is a harbinger of joy and happiness. On this day throughout the evening the groups of boys and girls come to houses singing song (Deusi Bhailo) of praise of the goddess and dancing and calling the old story with tune of god and goddess (first day) 'Bhaili Ram' then 'Deusuri Ram' with great rejoicing and they are taken as guests and given gifts- money, various food and fruits. This day the entire place is lively through out the night. The fourth day is bit different. Today the things you worship depend on your specific cultural background. Normally most of the people perform Govardhan Puja, (ox worshipping). The ox is worshipped with Tika, garland and then a delicious meal is fed to it.-(Avigya Karki-http://thehimalayanbeacon.com/magazine/2010/11/03/ In the last day, the sister worships their brothers for their prosperous long life worshiping the 'Yamaraj (God of death). The main theme behind Bhai Tika (worshiping brothers) is the sisters praying for their brothers long life from Yama Raj, god of the underworld. Tihar starts from the thirteenth day of the waning moon in October. We also refer to Tihar as Yama Panchak which literally means the five days of the underworld lord. We also worship Yamaraj in different forms in these five days. In other words this festival is meant for life and prosperity. It is a celebration of the triumph of light over darkness and of hope over despair. That the festival is celebrated by people from diverse faiths is a significant affirmation of the great Hindus traditions in the world. Happy Dipawali-2073 Bs (2016) Email:dirgharajprasai@gmail.com CPN-UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali BANEPA: The CPN-UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali said the impeachment motion against the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority chief, Lok Man Singh Karki, was not put forth in order to topple the incumbent government. Addressing a programme in Banepa in Kavrepalanchok district on Thursday, Gyawali also expressed his belief that the Nepali Congress would decide about the impeachment issue at the right time. Accusing that the CIAA chief Karki had tried to challenge the countrys democracy, Gyawali further said that even development activities had been affected by unnecessary pressure exerted by the Karki-led anti-graft team. The CPN-UML leader even suspected that there was being a conspiracy to make the Constitution a failure. In the programme, Secretary Gyawali warned that the country would be pushed into a state of anarchy if elections were not held by January 2018. RSS Indian President Pranab Mukherjee Kathmandu, Nepal: The government has on Thursday declared public holiday on November 2, to observe Indian President Pranab Mukherjees visit to Nepal. A meeting of the Council of minister made the decision to that effect. Indian President Mukharjee is arriving in Nepal on Novernmeber-2 on a three-day state visit at the invitation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari. However, the government decision has been dragged into controversies as people from different walks of life have criticized the government for unnecessarily declaring public holyday during the visit of foreigners. What the gender wage gap looks like in the United States Desiree, formally Dermaphoria, first premiered at the East End Film Festival to a great response and marked Ross Clarkes directorial debut. Cinemazero labeled the films visuals stunning while Smoke Screen compared the film to Mullholland Drive. It has since played at numerous film festivals all over the world and this month was widely released on VOD and DVD. Also receiving recognition was the films score by composer Bill Brown, which is being released on iTunes October 28, 2016. Brown is best known for scoring such projects as CBSs CSI: NY and Syfys Dominion. We spoke with Brown about his latest film score, discussing everything from how he got invloved to his working relationship with the director. Read the full interview below. -Tell us a little bit about Desiree and how you got involved? Desiree is about this inspired experimental chemist Eric (Joseph Morgan) who wakes up in a New Orleans jail accused of arson linked to an illegal drug-manufacturing ring. He has amnesia and can only remember pieces about his girlfriend Desiree. Hes released (mysteriously) on bail and is determined to find her thats where it all begins. My manager sent director Ross Clarke some of my music as he was shooting the film in Louisiana. I remember talking to him about how hot it was there while they were shooting the film. He loved my music and we got on really well, so there it was. -The film is very dark and noir like. How did this vibe play into your score for the film? The score needed to reflect how Eric is haunted by fragments of memories, his confusion and frustration, his desperation to find his girlfriend at the center of it all. The locations in Louisiana created this dreamlike noir vibe as well. I felt to really get inside that character and the location musically, I needed an instrument in the studio that reflected all of that, so I bought this beautiful 100+ year old upright grand piano and set it up in my writing and recording space. I left the tuning mostly just as I found it, changing just a few things including muting some strings and removing most of the beautiful shell of the instrument to use it. -On the first day composing for this project, where did you begin? Writing the music for a film for me is a combination of craft and gut instinct. The way the film is edited, how the characters reveal themselves, the lighting, the language, the atmosphere, time, place, narrative, the drama everything informs the score. The score is subtext, what is unspoken, what we might not see on screen in that moment - What the director wants the audience to feel. The music adds another dimension to it all. After I brought that beautiful old upright grand in the studio, I worked on some theme ideas and started to film myself playing them to send to Ross.. Something I had never really done before, but for whatever reason felt like doing on this project. I think Ross and I were really on the same page with this instrument and I wanted him to see, hear and feel what it was like to hear it happening live from it in the room. I started sending him ideas and the one that stands out most in my mind was my first recording of I Remember, one of the last cues in the film, and one of the most integral. Ross was really excited when I sent that one. And I remember later playing it live for him in the studio.. What an exciting time.. -About how much music did you make for this film? Lots! I think the technical / contractual term is A whole bunch. The soundtrack is really the parts of the score that were more melodic and had lots of rhythmic exciting elements happening, but theres another side of the score thats more dirty analog and ambient that we left for just the experience of the film. I loved it all, but everything I love about the score is definitely on the soundtrack. -What was the most challenging part of scoring this film? I think the most challenging part of any project is that part at the beginning where youre looking for the sound that thing that has some magic in it. With this one, I think the magic came from those moments in the studio where I just sat with the film and played. Its different every time. -How closely did you work with the director Ross Clarke, what was your working relationship like? Working with Ross was inspired for both of us I think. We were like brothers, even though we just had met really. Thats what it felt like. When I sent Ross those theme ideas on video, and then played them live to picture in the studio, he told me it transformed the movie, and his deep emotional reaction inspired me to take the piece even further in the next weeks, bringing in cellist Tina Guo to perform the beautiful cello parts throughout. Ill always love this music every cue has meaning for me personally, as it relates to the depth of visual poetry Ross created with his film. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to create it with him. You can learn more about Bill at http://billbrownmusic.com/ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/billbrownmusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillBrown.music.composer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billbrownmusic/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/billbrownmusic It's not the first time Werner Herzog has delved into an explosive subject. In 1977, he rushed down to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, because he was told that La Soufriere, the island's looming volcano (and also the title of his resultant film), was about to erupt. All its inhabitants fled. But that eruption never happened. Instead, he found three people who stayed behind and ended up talking philosophically about their attitude toward death and their belief system. During another volcano trip in 2006, this time in Mt. Erebus while filming Encounters at the End of the World, a film about Antarctica and its quirky inhabitants, he met enthusiastic young volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer. Even though Mt. Erebus and Oppenheimer never made it into the film, the two men struck up a friendship. After the volcanologist's book Eruptions that Shook the World was published in 2011, they decided to make a film together. This collaboration here is special. Unless the person is his subject, never in Herzog films have I ever seen this kind of rapport before, but Oppenheimer, a Cambridge academic who prefers field work, does a great job being the filmmaker's surrogate. The questions he asks the various subjects here are most definitely Herzogian. It also helps that he is a big fan who is familiar with the filmmaker's filmography. In Into the Inferno, this dynamic duo, in true Herzogian fashion, takes us to various volcanoes around the globe -- from North Korea to Ethiopia to Iceland to the Vanuatu Archipelago -- and touches upon the impermanence of human existence on literally 'thin crust' and the awesome power of nature and our belief system. Because he is armed with tons of awe-inspiring archival footage of molten lava flowing inches from the screen and exclusive access to the remote, isolated places, we are once again at the hands of a prolific master storyteller who keeps on churning out his contemplations on the vagaries of human existence every chance he gets. (The funding came from Netflix and the film will be premiering globally on October 28.) We start in Vanuatu, where the team is looking down at the center of the active volcano. The bright orange of bubbling magma has a hypnotic effect. Herzog's long time cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger too seems having a hard time looking away from it, following its glowing, spewing trajectories over and over. Then we travel to Indonesia's Mt. Sinabung where they narrowly escape a deadly eruption, and then visit Mt. Merapi on Java, one of the most sacred volcanoes to its people. The chief and his son of the tribe, discusses the spiritual implications of living on the slopes of the volcano. The film talks about the pivotal role volcanoes have played in everything from farming, migration and religion. So we find ourselves in an archeological dig in Ethiopia, serendipitously come across a renowned paleoanthropologist Tim White and his team, working on digging up bones of 20,000 year old human, remarkably preserved because of volcanic activity nearby. Oppenheimer helps out, brushing off dirt in Danakil desert, the lowest and the hottest place on earth. We are hoisted over to volcanic island nation of Iceland where national identity is closely co-mingled with volcanoes: Codex Regius, Iceland's most precious posession, an ancient text that tells of a tenth-century volcanic eruption. As we all remember the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajokull volcano that caused massive air travel disruptions. All these surroundings spawned religion and myth making. Then we are in North Korea, on Mt. Paektu; a dormant volcanic mountain with a giant caldera lake. The mountain is the sacred setting for the Korean creation myth and also the communist revolution led by Kim Il-sung, the nation's eternal leader. Herzog places emphasis on how Kim co-opted the symbol of national identity to his own myth making. Mt. Paektu garners little interest outside Korean peninsula but Herzog explains that through Oppenheimer's connections, he jumped on the opportunity to film in North Korea, the most secretive, isolated country in the world. Even though Herzog can't get personal opinions out of North Korean guides and its scientists, he and Oppenheimer gets unprecedented access (I'm sure it took Herzogian persuasion and mind-controlling of his own) into the seldom seen, majestic view of the mountain. We move on to the religion in Vanuatu that centers around American G.I. named John Frum, who will return and bring 'cargos' of prosperity and wealth. Its literal combination of Waiting for Godot/My American Uncle is fascinating and disturbing at the same time. Herzog, once again, demonstrates his unparalleled ability in storytelling, weaving vastly different elements from world over -- music, belief systems, natural phenomena, and contemplates the entire human existence build upon the not-so-permanent ground. It's also not short on Herzogian quotes: "The volcanoes could care less about scurrying roaches or retarded reptiles or what we are doing up here." The Ethiopian desert and North Korea scenes runs a little too long without contributing much, but they showcase Oppenheimer as our very likable guide and a scientist who can explain things in very easy terms. Many of his films have been about man's desire to conquer nature, and failing miserably, Herzog makes a point that however benevolent the volcanic activities are to us, such as creating breathable atmosphere and nutrient rich soil for farming, it might cause the end of the world as we know it. Into the Inferno is yet another entertaining philosophical musing -- the second offering this year, after his Lo, and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World -- from the master storyteller. And I couldn't be happier. Into the Inferno opens in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, October 28. It will also be available to stream on Netflix worldwide on the same day. Dustin Chang is a freelance writer. His musings and opinions on everything cinema and beyond can be found at www.dustinchang.com If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). More reporting on (and now seeking reactions to) AG Holder's big sentencing speech | Main | "What Real-World Criminal Cases Tell Us About Genetics Evidence" August 12, 2013 Some sentencing-related highlights from AG Holder's remarks today to the ABA In so many ways, todays ABA is reminding us that, although our laws must be continually updated, our shared dedication to the cause of justice and the ideals set forth by our Constitution must remain constant. It is this sense of dedication that brings me to San Francisco today to enlist your partnership in forging a more just society. To ask for your leadership in reclaiming, once more, the values we hold dear. And to draw upon the ABAs legacy of achievement in calling on every member of our profession to question that which is accepted truth; to challenge that which is unjust; to break free of a tired status quo; and to take bold steps to reform and strengthen Americas criminal justice system in concrete and fundamental ways. Its time in fact, its well past time to address persistent needs and unwarranted disparities by considering a fundamentally new approach. As a prosecutor; a judge; an attorney in private practice; and now, as our nations Attorney General, Ive seen the criminal justice system firsthand, from nearly every angle. While I have the utmost faith in and dedication to Americas legal system, we must face the reality that, as it stands, our system is in too many respects broken. The course we are on is far from sustainable. And it is our time and our duty to identify those areas we can improve in order to better advance the cause of justice for all Americans. Even as most crime rates decline, we need to examine new law enforcement strategies and better allocate resources to keep pace with todays continuing threats as violence spikes in some of our greatest cities. As studies show that six in ten American children are exposed to violence at some point in their lives and nearly one in four college women experience some form of sexual assault by their senior year we need fresh solutions for assisting victims and empowering survivors. As the so-called war on drugs enters its fifth decade, we need to ask whether it, and the approaches that comprise it, have been truly effective and build on the Administrations efforts, led by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to usher in a new approach. And with an outsized, unnecessarily large prison population, we need to ensure that incarceration is used to punish, deter, and rehabilitate not merely to warehouse and forget. Today, a vicious cycle of poverty, criminality, and incarceration traps too many Americans and weakens too many communities. And many aspects of our criminal justice system may actually exacerbate these problems, rather than alleviate them. Its clear as we come together today that too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long, and for no truly good law enforcement reason. Its clear, at a basic level, that 20th-century criminal justice solutions are not adequate to overcome our 21st-century challenges. And it is well past time to implement common sense changes that will foster safer communities from coast to coast. These are issues the President and I have been talking about for as long as Ive known him issues hes felt strongly about ever since his days as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago. Hes worked hard over the years to protect our communities, to keep violent criminals off our streets, and to make sure those who break the law are held accountable. And hes also made it part of his mission to reduce the disparities in our criminal justice system. In Illinois, he passed legislation that addressed racial profiling and trained police departments on how they could avoid racial bias. And in 2010, this Administration successfully advocated for the reduction of the unjust 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.... Over the next several months, the President will continue to reach out to Members of Congress from both parties as well as governors, mayors, and other leaders to build on the great work being done across the country to reduce violent crime and reform our criminal justice system. We need to keep taking steps to make sure people feel safe and secure in their homes and communities. And part of that means doing something about the lives being harmed, not helped, by a criminal justice system that doesnt serve the American people as well as it should. At the beginning of this year, I launched a targeted Justice Department review of the federal system to identify obstacles, inefficiencies, and inequities, and to address ineffective policies. Today, I am pleased to announce the results of this review which include a series of significant actions that the Department has undertaken to better protect the American people from crime; to increase support for those who become victims; and to ensure public safety by improving our criminal justice system as a whole. We have studied state systems and been impressed by the policy shifts some have made. I hope other state systems will follow our lead and implement changes as well. The changes I announce today underscore this Administrations strong commitment to common sense criminal justice reform. And our efforts must begin with law enforcement. Particularly in these challenging times when budgets are tight, federal sequestration has imposed untenable and irresponsible cuts, and leaders across government are being asked to do more with less coordination between Americas federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies has never been more important. Its imperative that we maximize our resources by focusing on protecting national security; combating violent crime; fighting against financial fraud; and safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our society. This means that federal prosecutors cannot and should not bring every case or charge every defendant who stands accused of violating federal law. Some issues are best handled at the state or local level. And thats why I have today directed the United States Attorney community to develop specific, locally-tailored guidelines consistent with our national priorities for determining when federal charges should be filed, and when they should not. Ive also issued guidance to ensure that every case we bring serves a substantial federal interest and complements the work of our law enforcement partners. I have directed all U.S. Attorneys to create and to update comprehensive anti-violence strategies for badly-afflicted areas within their districts. And Ive encouraged them to convene regular law enforcement forums with state and local partners to refine these plans, foster greater efficiency, and facilitate more open communication and cooperation. By targeting the most serious offenses, prosecuting the most dangerous criminals, directing assistance to crime hot spots, and pursuing new ways to promote public safety, deterrence, efficiency, and fairness we in the federal government can become both smarter and tougher on crime. By providing leadership to all levels of law enforcement and bringing intelligence-driven strategies to bear we can bolster the efforts of local leaders, U.S. Attorneys, and others in the fight against violent crime.... Fifty years ago last March, this landmark ruling [in Gideon] affirmed that every defendant charged with a serious crime has the right to an attorney, even if he or she cannot afford one. Yet Americas indigent defense systems continue to exist in a state of crisis, and the promise of Gideon is not being met. To address this crisis, Congress must not only end the forced budget cuts that have decimated public defenders nationwide they must expand existing indigent defense programs, provide access to counsel for more juvenile defendants, and increase funding for federal public defender offices. And every legal professional, every member of this audience, must answer the ABAs call to contribute to this cause through pro bono service and help realize the promise of equal justice for all. As we come together this morning, this same promise must lead us all to acknowledge that although incarceration has a significant role to play in our justice system widespread incarceration at the federal, state, and local levels is both ineffective and unsustainable. It imposes a significant economic burden totaling $80 billion in 2010 alone and it comes with human and moral costs that are impossible to calculate. As a nation, we are coldly efficient in our incarceration efforts. While the entire U.S. population has increased by about a third since 1980, the federal prison population has grown at an astonishing rate by almost 800 percent. Its still growing despite the fact that federal prisons are operating at nearly 40 percent above capacity. Even though this country comprises just 5 percent of the worlds population, we incarcerate almost a quarter of the worlds prisoners. More than 219,000 federal inmates are currently behind bars. Almost half of them are serving time for drug-related crimes, and many have substance use disorders. Nine to 10 million more people cycle through Americas local jails each year. And roughly 40 percent of former federal prisoners and more than 60 percent of former state prisoners are rearrested or have their supervision revoked within three years after their release, at great cost to American taxpayers and often for technical or minor violations of the terms of their release. As a society, we pay much too high a price whenever our system fails to deliver outcomes that deter and punish crime, keep us safe, and ensure that those who have paid their debts have the chance to become productive citizens. Right now, unwarranted disparities are far too common. As President Obama said last month, its time to ask tough questions about how we can strengthen our communities, support young people, and address the fact that young black and Latino men are disproportionately likely to become involved in our criminal justice system as victims as well as perpetrators. We also must confront the reality that once theyre in that system people of color often face harsher punishments than their peers. One deeply troubling report, released in February, indicates that in recent years black male offenders have received sentences nearly 20 percent longer than those imposed on white males convicted of similar crimes. This isnt just unacceptable it is shameful. Its unworthy of our great country, and our great legal tradition. And in response, I have today directed a group of U.S. Attorneys to examine sentencing disparities, and to develop recommendations on how we can address them. In this area and many others in ways both large and small we, as a country, must resolve to do better. The President and I agree that its time to take a pragmatic approach. And thats why I am proud to announce today that the Justice Department will take a series of significant actions to recalibrate Americas federal criminal justice system. We will start by fundamentally rethinking the notion of mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related crimes. Some statutes that mandate inflexible sentences regardless of the individual conduct at issue in a particular case reduce the discretion available to prosecutors, judges, and juries. Because they oftentimes generate unfairly long sentences, they breed disrespect for the system. When applied indiscriminately, they do not serve public safety. They and some of the enforcement priorities we have set have had a destabilizing effect on particular communities, largely poor and of color. And, applied inappropriately, they are ultimately counterproductive. This is why I have today mandated a modification of the Justice Departments charging policies so that certain low-level, nonviolent drug offenders who have no ties to large-scale organizations, gangs, or cartels will no longer be charged with offenses that impose draconian mandatory minimum sentences. They now will be charged with offenses for which the accompanying sentences are better suited to their individual conduct, rather than excessive prison terms more appropriate for violent criminals or drug kingpins. By reserving the most severe penalties for serious, high-level, or violent drug traffickers, we can better promote public safety, deterrence, and rehabilitation while making our expenditures smarter and more productive. Weve seen that this approach has bipartisan support in Congress where a number of leaders, including Senators Dick Durbin, Patrick Leahy, Mike Lee, and Rand Paul have introduced what I think is promising legislation aimed at giving federal judges more discretion in applying mandatory minimums to certain drug offenders. Such legislation will ultimately save our country billions of dollars while keeping us safe. And the President and I look forward to working with members of both parties to refine and advance these proposals. Secondly, the Department has now updated its framework for considering compassionate release for inmates facing extraordinary or compelling circumstances and who pose no threat to the public. In late April, the Bureau of Prisons expanded the criteria which will be considered for inmates seeking compassionate release for medical reasons. Today, I can announce additional expansions to our policy including revised criteria for elderly inmates who did not commit violent crimes and who have served significant portions of their sentences. Of course, as our primary responsibility, we must ensure that the American public is protected from anyone who may pose a danger to the community. But considering the applications of nonviolent offenders through a careful review process that ultimately allows judges to consider whether release is warranted is the fair thing to do. And it is the smart thing to do as well, because it will enable us to use our limited resources to house those who pose the greatest threat. Finally, my colleagues and I are taking steps to identify and share best practices for enhancing the use of diversion programs such as drug treatment and community service initiatives that can serve as effective alternatives to incarceration. Our U.S. Attorneys are leading the way in this regard working alongside the judiciary to meet safety imperatives while avoiding incarceration in certain cases. In South Dakota, a joint federal-tribal program has helped to prevent at-risk young people from getting involved in the federal prison system thereby improving lives, saving taxpayer resources, and keeping communities safer. This is exactly the kind of proven innovation that federal policymakers, and state and tribal leaders, should emulate. And its why the Justice Department is working through a program called the Justice Reinvestment Initiative to bring state leaders, local stakeholders, private partners, and federal officials together to comprehensively reform corrections and criminal justice practices. In recent years, no fewer than 17 states supported by the Department, and led by governors and legislators of both parties have directed funding away from prison construction and toward evidence-based programs and services, like treatment and supervision, that are designed to reduce recidivism. In Kentucky, for example, new legislation has reserved prison beds for the most serious offenders and re-focused resources on community supervision and evidence-based alternative programs. As a result, the state is projected to reduce its prison population by more than 3,000 over the next 10 years saving more than $400 million. In Texas, investments in drug treatment for nonviolent offenders and changes to parole policies brought about a reduction in the prison population of more than 5,000 inmates last year alone. The same year, similar efforts helped Arkansas reduce its prison population by more than 1,400. From Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio, to Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and far beyond reinvestment and serious reform are improving public safety and saving precious resources. Let me be clear: these measures have not compromised public safety. In fact, many states have seen drops in recidivism rates at the same time their prison populations were declining. The policy changes that have led to these welcome results must be studied and emulated. While our federal prison system has continued to slowly expand, significant state-level reductions have led to three consecutive years of decline in Americas overall prison population including, in 2012, the largest drop ever experienced in a single year. Clearly, these strategies can work. Theyve attracted overwhelming, bipartisan support in red states as well as blue states. And its past time for others to take notice. I am also announcing today that I have directed every U.S. Attorney to designate a Prevention and Reentry Coordinator in his or her district to ensure that this work is, and will remain, a top priority throughout the country. And my colleagues and I will keep working closely with state leaders, agency partners, including members of the Federal Interagency Reentry Council and groups like the American Bar Association to extend these efforts. In recent years, with the Departments support, the ABA has catalogued tens of thousands of statutes and regulations that impose unwise and counterproductive collateral consequences with regard to housing or employment, for example on people who have been convicted of crimes. I have asked state attorneys general and a variety of federal leaders to review their own agencies regulations. And today I can announce that Ive directed all Department of Justice components, going forward, to consider whether any proposed regulation or guidance may impose unnecessary collateral consequences on those seeking to rejoin their communities. The bottom line is that, while the aggressive enforcement of federal criminal statutes remains necessary, we cannot simply prosecute or incarcerate our way to becoming a safer nation. To be effective, federal efforts must also focus on prevention and reentry. We must never stop being tough on crime. But we must also be smart and efficient when battling crime and the conditions and the individual choices that breed it. Ultimately, this is about much more than fairness for those who are released from prison. Its a matter of public safety and public good. It makes plain economic sense. Its about who we are as a people. And it has the potential to positively impact the lives of every man, woman, and child in every neighborhood and city in the United States. After all, whenever a recidivist crime is committed, innocent people are victimized. Communities are less safe. Burdens on law enforcement are increased. And already-strained resources are depleted even further. Today together we must declare that we will no longer settle for such an unjust and unsustainable status quo. To do so would be to betray our history, our shared commitment to justice, and the founding principles of our nation. Instead, we must recommit ourselves as a country to tackling the most difficult questions, and the most costly problems, no matter how complex or intractable they may appear. We must pledge as legal professionals to lend our talents, our training, and our diverse perspectives to advancing this critical work. And we must resolve as a people to take a firm stand against violence; against victimization; against inequality and for justice. This is our chance to bring Americas criminal justice system in line with our most sacred values. This is our opportunity to define this time, our time, as one of progress and innovation. This is our promise to forge a more just society. And this is our solemn obligation, as stewards of the law, and servants of those whom it protects and empowers: to open a frank and constructive dialogue about the need to reform a broken system. To fight for the sweeping, systemic changes we need. And to uphold our dearest values, as the ABA always has, by calling on our peers and colleagues not merely to serve their clients, or win their cases but to ensure that in every case, in every circumstance, and in every community justice is done. I am back on line, and now able to link to and provide some extensive excerpts from Attorney General Eric Holder's high-profile remarks earlier today at the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association's House of Delegates. Everyone should make time to read AG Holder's remarks in full, but below I will try to excerpt those portions likely to be of greatest interest and import for sentencing fans. Here goes (with apologies at how much text is excerpted, and with some of my very favorite text in bold and even italics): August 12, 2013 at 06:43 PM | Permalink TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e20192ac817a69970d Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Some sentencing-related highlights from AG Holder's remarks today to the ABA: Comments As near as a I can tell it is fancy words that change nothing at all other than transfer prisoners from the federal system to the state system. To my mind many of the people who this proposal is trying to help would actually be better off in the federal system than in the state system because (a) the prisons are better and (b) they are likely to get a higher quality PD than at the state level. I really can't see any positive on the ground effect this is going to have. Posted by: just me | Aug 12, 2013 7:17:45 PM "I really can't see any positive on the ground effect this is going to have" I disagree. I think Holder's statement was superb, as was the directive he issued today to all U.S. Attorneys. I expect that many of my clients (as well as society) will benefit quite soon. Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Aug 12, 2013 8:00:29 PM "We also must confront the reality that once theyre in that system people of color often face harsher punishments than their peers. One deeply troubling report, released in February, indicates that in recent years black male offenders have received sentences nearly 20 percent longer than those imposed on white males convicted of similar crimes. This isnt just unacceptable it is shameful. Its unworthy of our great country, and our great legal tradition. And in response, I have today directed a group of U.S. Attorneys to examine sentencing disparities, and to develop recommendations on how we can address them." I call BS. Holder has been caught before telling half-truths about race and the criminal justice system---in testimony he gave to Congress on the death penalty: http://www.crimeandconsequences.com/crimblog/2008/11/eric-holder-and-the-death-pena.html#more Why should he be trusted to tell the truth now? Did that study account for differences like, for example, criminal history? Holder's word cannot be trusted for so many reasons--why is anything he says taken at face value? Posted by: federalist | Aug 12, 2013 8:45:57 PM LOL got to give Fed this one guys! He's a typical politician. Mouth Open - Bull Shit at a minimum comes up! at the national lvl it's usualy Open Mouth - LIES come out! Posted by: rodsmith | Aug 12, 2013 9:22:43 PM I tried to post this in an earlier thread, but for some reason Firefox seems not to be sending my comments after doing the captcha thing. I'll try again: The new policy of not specifying drug amounts in indictments will affect defendants very little if judges do not use their newfound discretion to vary downward. Take the following example: a defendant possesses between 100 and 400 kilograms of marijuana. If charged as 100 kilos or more of marijuana, this carries a mandatory 5 year minimum sentence. If charged without specifying the amount, the guideline range for a defendant who pleads guilty is still 46-57 months in criminal history category I. This is lower than the mandatory minimum, granted. But most--though by no means all--defendants in category I are going to qualify for safety valve anyway, so the minimum does not apply to them and the guideline range will be even lower. The new policy will not affect those defendants. Defendants in category I who are not eligible for safety valve because of a weapon, leadership role, violence, etc., will not be eligible for the DOJ's new policy anyway, so the mandatory minimum will still apply to them, and their guideline range will still be above the mandatory minimum. Defendants in category II and higher are not safety valve eligible, so in theory they stand to benefit the most from this policy. But even in category II, the guideline range after a guilty plea is still 51-63 months in a 100-kilo marijuana case, which gives a 9-month leeway. At category III, the leeway is a matter of three months and by category IV it disappears altogether. Of course, the higher one's criminal history category, the less likely it will be that a defendant qualifies for the DOJ's largesse. If the amount of drugs is higher, the difference between the guideline range and the mandatory minimum starts to become academic. Basically, those who are most likely to benefit from this policy will tend to be defendants in category II and III, whose relevant conduct amounts to something close to the mandatory minimum amount, where judges exercise their discretion to vary or depart downward from the guideline range. I hate to be Debbie Downer, but frankly I don't view this as much of a sea change. Hopefully I will be wrong. Posted by: C.E. | Aug 12, 2013 10:46:30 PM Mr. Levine. It's possible to square your analysis with C.E's analysis but only if one accepts you're playing word games. I have no doubt that there will be some tangible benefit to a very small subset of cases. But C.E.'s thinking reflects my intuition which is that most of the time for most defendants this new policy isn't going to make any meaningful difference in the sentences people spend behind bars. This certainly doesn't mean that I am opposed to this new policy. But it does mean that I think it's being vastly overplayed for political reasons. Posted by: just me | Aug 13, 2013 12:50:28 AM Not a mention of The Unloved (2010) and why would there be? The criminal justice system is ex post facto. Too late. NetFlix it to see what I mean. Posted by: George | Aug 13, 2013 1:01:48 AM just me: You may be right. However, I point to the following language from Holder's speech, highlighted by Prof. Berman: "too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long, and for no truly good law enforcement reason." This language from the chief law enforcement officer of the country will be quoted in many a defense memorandum in support of a downward departure. Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Aug 13, 2013 3:26:28 AM As near as a I can tell it is fancy words that change nothing at all other than transfer prisoners from the federal system to the state system. To my mind many of the people who this proposal is trying to help would actually be better off in the federal system than in the state system because (a) the prisons are better and (b) they are likely to get a higher quality PD than at the state level. The state penalties for comparable offenses are usually quite a bit lower. I'm no expert on the quality of state PDs, but I doubt there are many defendants who would prefer to be charged with a federal crime. As much as the states tend to complain about Washington, federal policy tends over time to be influential. A statement like this, coming from a sitting AG, could mark the beginning of a long overdue sea change. (A number of ex-AGs, like Edwin Meese, have come out against mandatory minimums, but they were curiously silent about it when they were in power.) Beyond that, this is simply right on federalism grounds. The decision to prosecute crimes that occur locally, should be made locally. The new policy of not specifying drug amounts in indictments will affect defendants very little if judges do not use their newfound discretion to vary downward. True, and in some cases they won't. But there are many judges who've stated on the record that the mandatory minimums are too high; I don't recall very many who said they were just right or too low. Holder's decision certainly must lead overall to lower sentences, although of course not every defendant will get the benefit. Posted by: Marc Shepherd | Aug 13, 2013 7:09:55 AM Marc Shepherd -- I am not aware of Ed Meese's having come out against MM's. Do you have a specific quotation or a link I could look at? Posted by: Bill Otis | Aug 13, 2013 8:34:54 AM Bill, greetings. In response to your query to Mark Shepard, I found the following on the FAMM website setting out views of some conservatives: Grover Norquist The benefits, if any, of mandatory minimum sentences do not justify this burden to taxpayers. Illegal drug use rates are relatively stable, not shrinking. It appears that mandatory minimums have become a sort of poor mans Prohibition: a grossly simplistic and ineffectual government response to a problem that has been around longer than our government itself. - Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform, written testimony submitted to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, House Committee on the Judiciary, July 14, 2009. David A. Keene [M]y opposition to mandatory minimums . . . is rooted in conservative principles; namely, reverence for the Constitution and contempt for government action that ignores the differences among individuals. . . . James Madison, for one, believed that a clear separation of powers was more vital to protecting freedom than the Bill of Rights. Yet mandatory minimums undermine this important protector of liberty by allowing the legislature to steal jurisdiction over sentencing, which has historically been a judicial function. The attempt by legislatures and the Congress to address perceived problems in the justice system by transferring power from judges to prosecutors and the executive branch violate these principles and have, in the process, given prosecutors unreviewable authority to influence sentences through their charging decisions and plea bargaining power. - David A. Keene, Chairman, American Conservative Union, written testimony submitted to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary (July 14, 2009) Pat Nolan, Justice Fellowship When judges mete out sentences for certain crimes, mandatory minimum laws prohibit them from weighing the relative harm caused by the crime or the relative culpability of the defendant. Mandatory minimum sentences are one size fits all. These laws offend the very notion of justice, which requires that the severity of the punishment match the harm done by an individual criminal. In Exodus 21:24, we are told that our judgments should exact an eye for eye, tooth for tooth. This verse limits punishment by requiring that offenders pay back value for value. The Bible calls for proportionality in punishment, and stresses that penalties should match the injury. - Pat Nolan, President, Justice Fellowship, Mandatory Minimums, Unjust and Unbiblical Ed Meese, former U.S. Attorney General for President Reagan I think mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenders ought to be reviewed. We have to see who has been incarcerated and what has come from it. - Ed Meese, former U.S. Attorney General under President Reagan and Senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, quoted in Texas Public Policy Foundation, What Conservatives are Saying About Criminal Justice Reform (Jan. 2010) Pat Robertson, Christian Broadcasting Network "[O]ur government [should] revisit the severity of the existing laws because mandatory drug sentences do harm to many young people who go to prison and come out as hardened criminals. ... [T]hese mandatory sentences needlessly cost our government millions of dollars when there are better approaches available." - Thoughts of Pat Robertson, Founder and Chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network, as delivered by CBN spokesman Chris Roslan on Dec. 23, 2010 P.S. I saw you on Public T.V. last night. You were impressive. Congrats! Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Aug 13, 2013 10:16:08 AM Michael R. Levine -- Thanks very much. I know Grover and some of his pals have gone to the Dark Side on this. Meese is a different matter, and I'm checking with Heritage to see what his specific position is. I might say in response to some of those you have cited that, while judges have historically and correctly (in my view) had a substantial say-so over sentencing, it is also the case that the legislature's setting tops and bottoms also has a long and (up to now) accepted historical pedigree. As Mistretta noted, all three branches are properly involved in setting the broad parameters of sentencing. Your posting more has been a shoot in the arm to the comments section, and I hope you'll keep it up. Posted by: Bill Otis | Aug 13, 2013 10:58:23 AM Those here supporting the AG and this lawless administration should be ashamed. It is just another example (like the ACA as well) of the executive circumventing a statute passed by Congress and signed into law. Someday, it will be your ox being gored and you will wonder why no one cares. Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Aug 13, 2013 1:55:47 PM Just me: I just saw this posted on the NACDL website, which supports my view that defense lawyers do view Holder's statement as indeed significant: "Jeffrey Zimmerman, an Alexandria defense lawyer, said Holder's memo had 'rocketed around the defense community' and could undercut an argument prosecutors often make in negotiating plea deals - that their hands are tied by 'office policy.' Zimmerman said that while the policy change probably would not affect those already sentenced, it would put the brakes on defendants about to agree to plea deals that might bind them to mandatory minimum terms." Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Aug 13, 2013 2:19:53 PM TarlsQtr1, You write "Those here supporting the AG and this lawless administration should be ashamed. It is just another example (like the ACA as well) of the executive circumventing a statute passed by Congress and signed into law." 1. Surely you agree that prosecutors have absolute discretion whom to charge and what charges to bring. If so, the prosecutor can choose not to charge x with any crime, or if charging x, not to charge him with a crime carrying a mandatory minimum term. So why is such an exercise of prosecutorial discretion "lawless"? 2. With respect to the ACA, I don't understand your criticism. By delaying the employer mandate for one year, Obama is simply ensuring that the law passed by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court is "faithfully executed." 3. Why should supporters of reasonable sentencing policies outlined by Holder on this blog be "ashamed"--when many very conservatives leaders are just as supportive? Posted by: onlooker | Aug 13, 2013 2:28:52 PM onlooker stated: "1. Surely you agree that prosecutors have absolute discretion whom to charge and what charges to bring. If so, the prosecutor can choose not to charge x with any crime, or if charging x, not to charge him with a crime carrying a mandatory minimum term. So why is such an exercise of prosecutorial discretion "lawless"?" My first response is to point out the phrase used in your #2, something about "faithfully execute." I am not sure having your AG willfully ignore the current law fits in with that phrase. Second, let's play a hypothetical with President Rand Paul in 2017. Would the majority of those cheerleading Holder call it mere "prosecutorial discretion" if President Paul's AG announced to the ABA that the administration would no longer be enforcing environmental laws? Would the majority of those cheerleading Holder call it mere "prosecutorial discretion" if President Paul's AG announced to the ABA that the administration would no longer be enforcing gun control laws? Would the majority of those cheerleading Holder call it mere "prosecutorial discretion" if President Paul's AG announced to the ABA that the administration would no longer be enforcing hate crime laws? I think you get the idea. You stated: "2. With respect to the ACA, I don't understand your criticism. By delaying the employer mandate for one year, Obama is simply ensuring that the law passed by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court is "faithfully executed."" Is that what he is "simply ensuring?" Even many of his greatest fans admit that the act was meant to ensure that Democrat legislators lose as few seats as possible in the 2014 midterms. And the ACA does not say that the employer mandate will start at the President's whim. It gives a specific date, which the President is ignoring. Again, that is not how I would define "faithfully execute." You stated: "3. Why should supporters of reasonable sentencing policies outlined by Holder on this blog be "ashamed"--when many very conservatives leaders are just as supportive?" It is a good debate to have. Unfortunately, the entire purpose of using executive action in this case is to AVOID debate and act unilaterally. Good or bad, MMs were passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law and should be respected in that manner. Whether "conservative leaders are just as supportive" is irrelevant. That so many elected officials from both sides are so eager to do the wrong thing for the sake of expediency is just another nail in our coffin. That a bunch of lawyers are also eager to go along with the other guy's ox being gored is similarly troubling. Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Aug 13, 2013 3:09:24 PM One more point, onlooker. If President Romney had taken over this year and said that he was delaying the ACA until January of 2017, would that have been acceptable? Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Aug 13, 2013 3:13:28 PM TarisQtr1: You write "Unfortunately, the entire purpose of using executive action in this case is to AVOID debate and act unilaterally. Good or bad, MMs were passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law and should be respected in that manner. " This misses my point. Congress has passed many hundreds of criminal laws. Prosecutors have virtually unfettered discretion on whether to charge anyone with these laws. That a particular law is on the books does not mean that they it must be charged by the prosecutor. As the Supreme Court has observed: "Insofar as prosecutors, as a practical matter, may be able to determine whether a particular defendant will be subject to the enhanced statutory maximum, any such discretion would be similar to the discretion a prosecutor exercises when he decides what, if any, charges to bring against a criminal suspect. Such discretion is an integral feature of the criminal justice system, and is appropriate, so long as it is not based upon improper factors." U.S. v. LaBonte 520 U.S. 751, 762, 117 S.Ct. 1673, 1679 (1997) Posted by: onlooker | Aug 13, 2013 4:50:34 PM Tar Is Qtr! You write: "And the ACA does not say that the employer mandate will start at the President's whim. It gives a specific date, which the President is ignoring. Again, that is not how I would define "faithfully execute." I agree that Obama cannot decide not to set up the ACA altogether because he has to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. At the same time, in the Administrative Procedures Act, Congress has given him (the executive branch) flexibility in determining what it means to faithfully execute a law. In Chevron v. NRDC, a 1984 Supreme Court case, the justices granted agencies regulatory authority when it comes to filling in any ambiguous gaps in a law. See also Telecommunications Research and Action Center v. FCC. Besides, Obama by no means dispensing with the law on the contrary, he is in the process of to implementing it he is simply making an adjustment, well within executive discretion. This authority stems from agency power in the ACA itself to prescribe all needful rules and regulations for the enforcement of this title. In the past, across administrations, similar authority has been used to postpone the application of new legislation when the immediate application would have subjected taxpayers to unreasonable administrative burdens or costs. Moreover, this is something that implementing agency has done more than a dozen times before with the ACA, without a peep from Congress. Posted by: onlooker | Aug 13, 2013 5:31:09 PM onlooker stated (emphasis added): ..."such discretion would be similar to the discretion a prosecutor exercises when he decides what, if any, charges to bring against A criminal suspect. Such discretion is an integral feature of the criminal justice system, and is appropriate, so long as it is not based upon improper factors." U.S. v. LaBonte 520 U.S. 751, 762, 117 S.Ct. 1673, 1679 (1997)" Would it be fair to say that the case you cite refers to prosecutorial discretion in a single case? I am not an attorney so I am not going to argue the fine points of law, but it seems quite clear that the INTENT of the decision was not to grant BLANKET discretion to ignore the law. You stated: "In Chevron v. NRDC, a 1984 Supreme Court case, the justices granted agencies regulatory authority when it comes to filling in any ambiguous gaps in a law." An employee mandate to "start on January 1, 2014" is not a gap or ambiguous. And I noticed that you did not answer my questions. Would you and those with the same political leanings as you have been OK with a Paul Presidency exercising "prosecutorial discretion" in regards to environmental law, hate crimes, gun control, banking regulations, or even collecting certain taxes from the "rich?" Would y'all been OK with a Romney Administration delaying the ACA until he left office? Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Aug 13, 2013 6:30:20 PM TarIsQtr1, you write: "Would you and those with the same political leanings as you have been OK with a Paul Presidency exercising "prosecutorial discretion" in regards to environmental law, hate crimes, gun control, banking regulations, or even collecting certain taxes from the "rich?" A: With respect to criminal laws, the executive has discretion whether to prosecute and whom to prosecute. This goes for either "political leaning." If one side is not satisfied, I supppose they can that can launch impeachment proceedings and try to get a conviction and removal from office. Would y'all been OK with a Romney Administration delaying the ACA until he left office? A: No. But Obama is not delaying the ACA, only a small part of it (employer mandate), and only for a year. Remember most employers covered under the delay provison already provide insurance to their employees. Posted by: onlooker | Aug 13, 2013 7:30:13 PM Thanks for your responses onlooker. I have two main points. I do not believe that "prosecutorial discretion" was meant to nullify a law passed by Congress and signed by a President. It was intended to right a wrong or give the prosecutor some leeway in individual cases. In my opinion, what Obama is doing is a gross bastardization of its intent. And even if it is lawful, just because you CAN do something does not mean you SHOULD. Again, one day it will be your ox being gored. You stated: A: No. But Obama is not delaying the ACA, only a small part of it (employer mandate), and only for a year. Remember most employers covered under the delay provison already provide insurance to their employees." You said previously that the President was given this right, citing the Chevron case. Does it limit it to "parts" of a law? If you can justify it to delay a part for a year, it is a short walk to delaying the entire law for many years. I would also note that the employee mandate is part of the heart and soul of the law, nor is it the only part being delayed. To claim that only a small part is delayed is not accurate. Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Aug 13, 2013 9:21:48 PM LOL you were doing great tarls till this! "An employee mandate to "start on January 1, 2014" is not a gap or ambiguous." sure it is. the USSC proved that for all time when they creatively interpeted "NO expost" to "NO expost except in civil law or sex crimes" now suddenly the show is on the other foot and people are pissed! I love it! Posted by: rodsmith | Aug 13, 2013 10:11:31 PM onlooker, This sure is interesting: "In a major rebuke on Tuesday, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an unusual writ of mandamus, which is a direct judicial order compelling the government to fulfill a legal obligation. This "extraordinary remedy" is nominally about nuclear waste, writes Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the 2-1 majority, yet the case "raises significant questions about the scope of the Executive's authority to disregard federal statutes."" "The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1983 requires that the NRC "shall consider" the license application for the repository and "shall issue a final decision approving or disapproving" it within three years of submission. "Mr. Obama promised to kill Yucca as a candidate and the Energy Department tried to yank the license application after his election. But an NRC safety board made up of administrative judges ruled unanimously that this was illegal unless Congress passed a law authorizing it. Mr. Obama then teamed up with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada to stack the NRC with anti-Yucca appointees. Although Congress appropriated money to conduct the review, the NRC flat-out refused, in violation of the three-year statutory deadline. "By its own admission, the Commission has no current intention of complying with the law," writes Judge Kavanaugh, despite a 2011 ruling from a separate D.C. Circuit panel instructing the NRC to follow through." "Congress did not amend the 1983 statute. "As things stand, therefore, the Commission is simply flouting the law," Judge Kavanaugh continues. "In light of the constitutional respect owed to Congress, and having fully exhausted the alternatives available to us," the court had no option other than the mandamus writ." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324085304579010743875400898.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop This sounds A LOT like what is going on wit the ACA and mandatory minimums. Comments? Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Aug 15, 2013 8:32:06 AM Post a comment Looking into nuanced reality of death penalty perspectives in deep blue California | Main | Significant new report calls for closing all traditional youth prisons due to their inefficacy October 27, 2016 "Consolidating Local Criminal Justice: Should Prosecutors Control the Jails?" The title of this post is the title of this interesting new essay authored by Adam Gershowitz now available via SSRN. Here is the abstract: Most observers agree that prosecutors hold too much power in the American criminal justice system. Expansive criminal codes offer prosecutors wide discretion to charge defendants with a huge number of offenses. And stiff authorized punishments provide prosecutors with leverage to pressure defendants to plea guilty. As a result, prosecutors hold most of the plea bargaining cards. Massive prosecutorial power has resulted in mass incarceration. I do not disagree with the conventional wisdom that prosecutors hold too much power. However, absent drastic legislative and judicial change, it will be nearly impossible to substantially reduce prosecutors power and discretion. As such, this essay offers the counter-intuitive proposal that we should give prosecutors more, not less, power and responsibility. This essay argues that states should change their nearly uniform policy of having sheriffs run local jails. Instead, we should place local prosecutors in charge of their local jails. While sheriffs would remain responsible for safety and discipline, prosecutors should be charged with all of the logistical responsibility for checking inmates in and out of the facilities and with handling the overall budgets. Putting prosecutors in charge of the jails would take a bite out of the correctional free lunch in which prosecutors impose sentences but do not have to internalize the financial costs of their decisions. Put simply, prosecutors would have to pay for and live with their misdemeanor charging and sentencing decisions. Consolidating local criminal justice might also have spillover effects that encourage prosecutors to reduce the sentences they seek in felony cases. October 27, 2016 at 11:17 AM | Permalink Comments Prosecutors can't control themselves and you want them to control the jails! How funny! Posted by: kat | Oct 27, 2016 1:01:51 PM Actually, it's an interesting idea. Currently, prosecutors are only liable poltically for their "good conviction" rate. That is, unless there are numerous exonerations during the prosecutor's term (unlikely) or an exculpatory-evidence-withholding crisis, their political capital with a weak-minded and fearful electorate is being "tough on crime." The link between their actions and the social costs is too attenuated for the voting public to account for it. Posted by: Fat Bastard | Oct 27, 2016 8:42:32 PM The proposal only really makes sense to me if the prosecutor's office was more of an administrative office with lawyers working for them. Instead, it's generally an office of lawyers led by a lawyer (with some non-attorney support staff). It doesn't make sense to have lawyers doing non-attorney work solely so they feel the brunt of their work, but it might make sense to place those responsibilities under the same roof so they understand the system throughout. Posted by: Erik M | Oct 28, 2016 1:51:10 PM Post a comment The Opportunity Agenda produces huge report on "Transforming the System: Criminal Justice Policy Solutions" | Main | Famous "war on drugs" voice now voicing support for marijuana reform: any questions? The title of this post is the title of this new paper authored by Paul Robinson now available via SSRN. Here is the abstract: The notion of democratizing criminal law has an initial appeal because, after all, we believe in the importance of democracy and because criminal law is so important it protects us from the most egregious wrongs and is the vehicle by which we allow the most serious governmental intrusions in the lives of individuals. Given criminal laws special status, isnt it appropriate that this most important and most intrusive governmental power be subject to the constraints of democratic determination? But perhaps the initial appeal of this grand principle must give way to practical realities. As much as we are devoted to democratic ideals, perhaps the path to a better society is one that must recognize inherent weaknesses in the system of democratic action, which necessarily relies upon the judgments of common people. Perhaps, when dealing with things as important as doing justice and preventing crime, we must look instead to experts, such as criminologists and moral philosophers. Perhaps the path to a better society is one that, in this instance, should skirt democratic preferences as needed? More specifically, consider some of the realities that might derail a movement toward democratizing criminal law: First, perhaps there is no such thing as a shared community view of justice on which to base a criminal law, but simply an endless list of individual disagreements. There can be no such thing as a criminal code that reflects community views if there is no such thing as a community view. Second, even if there were a shared community sense of justice, perhaps it is brutish and draconian, something born of anger and suspicion and not something that even the people themselves feel should be enshrined in public principles of liability and punishment. Third, even if community views of justice are in fact enlightened, something that people would be proud to enshrine in public law, perhaps they are not the path to a society with less crime. That is, perhaps the path to effective crime control is not through justice -- either the communitys view of it or the moral philosophers view -- but through more instrumentalist crime-control mechanisms, such as general deterrence or incapacitation of the dangerous. And finally, even if relying upon the communitys views of justice did turn out to be a mechanism of effective crime-control, wouldnt such a system condemn us to live under the status quo of current community views, when history teaches us that a society can improve itself and the lives of its members only by moving ever forward in refining its judgments of justice? Thus, this brief essay will take up these four questions: Is there any such thing as the communitys views of justice? Are the communitys views of justice brutish and draconian? Why should a criminal law concerned with crime-control care what the community thinks is just? Should the criminal law ever deviate from the communitys shared judgments of justice? "Democratizing Criminal Law: Feasibility, Utility, and the Challenge of Social Change" | Main | Has DOJ's "Smart on Crime" initiative had a big impact in federal white-collar sentencing outcomes in recent years? October 26, 2016 Famous "war on drugs" voice now voicing support for marijuana reform: any questions? This new MarketWatch article, headlined "War on drugs spokesman now supports marijuana legalization," gives me an excuse to flag an iconic 1980s public service announcement while reporting on its new symbolic significance: The voice behind one of the war on drugs most iconic ads has cast a vote to legalize marijuana. During the height of the 80s war on drugs that gave rise to the Just Say No campaign, actor John Roselius stared in an antidrug TV ad for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The ad featured Roselius frying an egg in a skillet to portray what happens to the brain while using drugs. Roselius, who is now 72, recently told Colorado-based Rooster Magazine he voted yes on Californias Adult Use of Marijuana Act, or Prop 64, which would legalize and regulate the use and sale of the plant to adults. Im 100% behind legalizing it, are you kidding? Its healthier than alcohol, Roselius told the publication. And hes not alone. Just ahead of the Nov. 8 election in which five states will vote on legalizing the recreational use of marijuana and four will vote on legalizing medical marijuanaa Gallup poll shows that 60% of Americans support legal marijuana use. Thats the highest percentage of support recorded in the 47-year trend, with support rising among all age groups in the past decade. That follows a separate poll by Pew Research earlier in the month which found 57% of Americans support legalization. The topline number obviously bodes well for the marijuana measures on state ballots next month, said Tom Angell of Marijuana Majority, an organization tasked with educating people and fighting for marijuana legalization. More politicians presidential candidates included would do themselves a big favor to take note of the clear trend and then vocally support legislation catering to the growing majority of Americans who support modernizing failed marijuana policies. Roselius told Rooster Magazine hed smoked marijuana in the 60s, and that when he made the ad, he knew it didnt fry the brain like an egg. The war on drugs has been one of the most scrutinized and debated policies to come out of the Reagan era. Drug dealers were cast as violent villains and were blamed for devastating some of Americas cities. Incarceration rates shot higher and disproportionately affected men of color. The cannabis industry has since fought back against that portrayal, calling for an end to arrests for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses. Roselius vote to legalize marijuana in California could help push one of the most important states in the movement to the forefront. Of course, if you do have question about these matter, my blog Marijuana Law, Policy and Reform has a lot more coverage. And, with that intro and a good excuse now, here is a review of some recent posts there (many of which are the fine work of my relatively new co-blogger): October 26, 2016 at 05:46 PM | Permalink Comments Spokespeople often don't really support what they are "selling," but besides that, even if it is somehow dangerous, it is another thing to ban it. We see this regarding cigarettes -- there are a lot of scary and unpleasant PSAs about how they affect our body, but banning them is not something many support, except regarding smoking certain places. Posted by: Joe | Oct 27, 2016 11:12:56 AM Post a comment Has DOJ's "Smart on Crime" initiative had a big impact in federal white-collar sentencing outcomes in recent years? | Main | "Consolidating Local Criminal Justice: Should Prosecutors Control the Jails?" The always interesting Charles Lane has this interesting new Washington Post opinion piece headlined ""Most Americans dont like the death penalty, right? Wrong." Here are excerpts: Youd think Proposition 62, a referendum to abolish Californias death penalty and replace it with life without parole, including for the 749 current occupants of death row, would win easily on Nov. 8. Democrats dominate this state; their 2016 national platform advocated an end to capital punishment. Former president Jimmy Carter, left-populist icon Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the states major labor unions and 38 newspaper editorial boards are urging a yes vote. Californias death row costs millions to maintain but the state has only executed 13 people since restoring capital punishment in 1978, mainly due to lengthy appeals processes, including recent successful challenges to its lethal-injection protocol. Replace the Costly, Failed Death Penalty, read the yellow-and-black Yes on 62 sign I saw planted in a well-kept Brentwood yard. And yet, 12 days before Election Day, Prop 62s prospects are uncertain. Of five statewide polls since Sept. 1, only one, a Field Poll, showed Prop 62 ahead, 48 percent to 37 percent. Measures that poll below 50 percent tend not to win, even if they are leading, according to Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo. Meanwhile, four other polls showed no up by an average of 50 to 37. Survey USA, which has polled on Prop 62 twice, predicts flatly that it is headed for defeat just like a similar anti-death-penalty measure that lost 52 to 48 in the state in 2012. Prop 62 faces various local political headwinds including competition for financial resources, and public attention, from more than a dozen other ballot measures, such as marijuana legalization and Gov. Jerry Browns pet project, parole reform. Given Prop 62s potential impact in one stroke, it would reduce Americas total death-row population of 2,905 by 26 percent the debate about it is remarkably low-profile. There are next to no ads on TV; the Brentwood yard sign was the only one I saw in three days on the West Coast. The main lesson, though, has to do with public opinion about the death penalty, which is much more nuanced than media coverage generally reflects.... Long-term Gallup trends suggest that the very high support for the death penalty of the mid-1990s up to 80 percent one year was an anomaly, probably a reaction to the soaring violent crime rates of the time. Now that crime has fallen, Gallups pro-death-penalty majority is reverting to historical norms; it may go lower still, unless this years spike in violent crime turns into a wave. Another new Gallup survey intriguingly shows decreasing punitive sentiment: 45 percent say the justice system is not tough enough on crime, down 20 points since 2003. Meanwhile, 50 percent believe the death penalty is applied fairly, and 67 percent say it is imposed either the right amount or not often enough. Gallup asks about capital punishment for murder. In 2013 and 2015 Quinnipiac interestingly asked whether murder during acts of terrorism should be punished by life without parole or death. Both times, about three-fifths said death remarkably high, given that offering life without parole as an alternative usually reduces the number of poll respondents opting for capital punishment. A rough summary of most Americans views of the death penalty might be: Yes, though it depends. It depends on whats going on in society. It depends on the specific crime. It depends on whether youre asking me in the abstract, as a juror or as a voter. The very fact the Prop 62 campaign focused on what spokesman Jacob Hay calls a cost-effectiveness message implies that categorical moral opposition cannot command a majority, even in a deep-blue state. And two can play at the cost-effectiveness game. Californias pro-death-penalty forces, led by prosecutors and police unions, are promoting Proposition 66, which would deal with the systems notorious backlog not by abolishing executions but by facilitating them, through streamlining the appeals process. Both conflicting measures might lose, essentially perpetuating the status quo; California would continue having whatever satisfaction comes with sentencing people to death, without whatever risks come from actually executing them. Also, both might get a majority Californians could vote yes and no on the death penalty in which case the one with the most votes becomes law, and the nations largest death row would start shrinking, one way or the other. "Consolidating Local Criminal Justice: Should Prosecutors Control the Jails?" | Main | Defense attorneys assert Ohio's new execution protocol is akin to "burning at the stake" October 27, 2016 Significant new report calls for closing all traditional youth prisons due to their inefficacy This recent item from the Harvard Gazette, headlined "Youth justice study finds prison counterproductive: New report documents urgent need to replace youth prisons with rehabilitation-focused alternatives," spotlights a significant new report concerning the way juvenile offenders are punished. Here are excerpts: A new report, published by Harvard Kennedy Schools Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management (PCJ) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), documents ineffectiveness, endemic abuses, and high costs in youth prisons throughout the country. The report systematically reviews recent research in developmental psychology and widespread reports of abuse to conclude that the youth prison model should be replaced with a continuum of community-based programs and, for the few youth who require secure confinement, smaller homelike facilities that prioritize age-appropriate rehabilitation. The authors, who are leading youth justice researchers and former youth correctional administrators, find that the current youth prison model, which emphasizes confinement and control, often exacerbates youth trauma and inhibits positive growth while failing to address public safety. Rather, the paper argues, programs work best when youths are in their home communities with rehabilitative programs or in smaller, homelike facilities that promote opportunities for healthy decision-making and development. Corrections agencies should provide a range of options depending on the individuals needs, from smaller secure facilities to noncustodial programs. Annual youth imprisonment costs are approximately $150,000 per individual, yet recidivism rates remain close to 70 percent. The report examines the experiences of several states that have pursued alternative models and finds community-based approaches can reduce recidivism, control costs, and promote public safety. Youth in trouble need guidance, education, and support, not incarceration in harmful and ineffective youth prisons, said PCJ Senior Fellow Vincent Schiraldi, a co-author of the report. Previously, Schiraldi directed juvenile corrections in Washington, D.C., and served as commissioner of probation in New York City. We now know from research and on-the-ground experience that youth prisons are not designed to best promote youth rehabilitation. This report offers concrete alternatives for policymakers across the country to maintain public safety, hold young people accountable, and turn their lives around. Juvenile-justice systems must have the clear purpose of giving each youth the tools he or she needs to get on the right path to a successful adulthood and to reintegrate into the community, said Patrick McCarthy, president and chief executive officer of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and a co-author of the report. Like Schiraldi, McCarthy is a former director of youth corrections in his case, in Delaware. By closing traditional youth prisons and leveraging increased political will to reform our countrys dependence on incarceration, states can use the savings to begin implementing a new, more effective approach to serving young people. This report, titled The Future of Youth Justice: A Community-Based Alternative to the Youth Prison Model, is available in full at this link. And here is a key paragraph from its opening pages: Whether the benefits and costs of youth prisons are weighed on a scale of public dollars, community safety, or young peoples futures, they are damaging the very people they are supposed to help and have been for generations. It is difficult to find an area of U.S. policy where the benefits and costs are more out of balance, where the evidence of failure is clearer, or where we know with more clarity what we should be doing differently. October 27, 2016 at 12:21 PM | Permalink Comments "This report offers concrete alternatives for policymakers across the country to maintain public safety, hold young people accountable, and turn their lives around." Yeah right. Posted by: federalist | Oct 27, 2016 1:44:16 PM Post a comment Dozens of people projectile vomiting in a hotel banquet hall sounds like anyone's idea of a nightmare, but for a local NAACP chapter that nightmare became reality two years ago when 127 members became ill after eating what they allege was norovirus-tainted fish at Redwood City's Hotel Sofitel. The Chronicle reports that many of the conference attendees had to be rushed to the hospital, and that a former mayor of Oakland slipped into a coma. Now the group is suing the hotel chain, alleging both that hotel staff was negligent in the preparation of the meal and that employees, potentially because of the victims' skin color, did nothing to assist the sick crowd. This was a terrible scene of involuntary and uncontrollable projectile vomiting that turned the Sofitel Hotel lobby into a grizzly Stephen King movie," the group's attorney, John Burris, said in a statement. Theres a real sense that this was racially-motivated or racial neglect, KRON4 reports him as adding. The ill-fated National Association for the Advancement of Colored People gala dinner in question took place on October 25, 2014, and seemed to be progressing normally until people started eating the salmon. As attendees began to get sick throwing up into hotel trash cans and, according to the press release, "writhing in pain in the hotel lobby" the suit alleges that Sofitel offered no assistance. Sofitel employees and managers were dismissive and inattentive, explained attendee Alice Hoffman. "There was neither humanity nor human decency on the part of Sofitel management. Not a compassionate word was uttered to the food poisoning victims nor a blanket or glass of water offered. A spokesperson for the hotel told KRON4 that We are confident their allegations will not hold up in court. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. It does leave you not only with the sense of a bad taste in your mouth," former Oakland mayor Elihu Harris told the Chron, "but also, I think, it leaves you with the idea that youre not going to necessarily get equal treatment or an equal level of concern that one would hope that a hospitality institution would have when they have served tainted food. Related: Local Reporter Seeks Out Food Poisoning, Gets Food Poisoning A recent poll conducted by a pro-development organization has found that residents of San Francisco blame the tech industry for the city's high housing costs. The Chronicle reports that the group, Rise SF, advocates for construction of both more housing and public transportation and has a steering committee that represents tech, construction, and business interests. The poll, which was conducted in English and Chinese (though not, it should be noted, Spanish), asked 400 residents if they believed the tech sector was to blame for San Francisco's notoriously expensive cost of housing. 63 percent of respondents answered "yes" (the margin of error is plus or minus 4.9 points). In addition, 53 percent of residents said the city was partially at fault as well for not building enough housing. Did they really need a poll to tell them that? Formed just last month, Rise SF has a prominent list of backers and according to the Business Times has received an undisclosed amount of funding from Facebook. Members of Rise SF's steering committee include tech luminaries such as Y Combinator's Sam Altman, Lia Theodosiou-Pisanelli of Square, Michael Matthews of Facebook, and David Rusenko of Weebly. Also on the steering committee is Sonja Trauss, the founder of the sometimes controversial SFBARF. "[Our] city has all these policies that prevent it from accommodating growth its not elastic, she said tells the Chronicle. Theres such a tight grip on the way the city is built that it stresses everything. When that tide ebbs, finally people feel relief. That's a sentiment some San Franciscans expressed this March to the New York Times, airing their grievances and expressing their hopes for the relief of an economic cooling down period. Another member of the steering committee, Jared Friedman of Y Combinator, tried to shift the blame away from the tech sector suggesting inaction at City Hall is to blame for our housing problems. "I would really like to see the elected leaders in San Francisco promoting common-sense solutions to these problems," he told the Business Times. According to his own group's poll, however, what the city's residents would really like to see is startups like the ones Friedman incubates stop driving up rents. If the past is any indication, neither is likely to get their wish any time soon. Related: Report: Over 80% Of Millennials Have Given Up On Ever Owning A Home Here What's the first thing you do when your body starts acting weird? Duh. You Google your symptoms. WebMD that shit! Sunbelt Staffing (yes, Sunbelt Staffing) took a gander at Google Trends to see which U.S. cities googled which medical problems the most. Ew, San Francisco. Ew. According to our Google searches, San Franciscans most regularly search for skin problems. Specifically, we're "curious" about dandruff and eczema. San Jose suffers similar flaky issues. In fact, according to Sunbelt Staffing's Google Trend research, San Jose is basically the dandruff capital of the world. San Franciscans also google sciatica, which is some kind of leg/butt-area pain and is most likely incurred from manspreading on public transportation. The Bay Area is not a top city for mental health searches or respiratory ailments, although San Jose does pop up a lot when searching for "the common cold." At least we're not Nashville, whose residents have a whole lot of questions about diarrhea. "A high level of searches for a specific ailment in any given area is not a definite science, but could give some indication of a shortfall with education or employment, a wider problem related to the geographical location of the city, or an indication of environmental factors in the area," explains Sunbelt Staffing of their research. What geographical or environmental factor is causing our (your) dandruff? Is designer coffee drying scalp skin? Is it that funky Muni air? A WebMD article entitled, "Dandruff: Learn the Basics" says that fungus is involved. Scalp fungus. "The internet is a great resource, but shouldnt be used as a replacement for assessments by trained medical professionals," warns the folks at Sunbelt. It's also important to remember that Head and Shoulders has totally revamped their product and it smells a lot better now. Big construction projects in San Francisco often take years to get approved and can be held up for any number of reasons. And yet even our jaded eyes were a bit agog at the tale of one local man's battle against a developer set to get him out of his home, and how, in the end, both he and the developer got what they wanted. San Francisco Magazine takes us on a deep dive into the story of the eccentric man and odd property, known as the Barn, which stood in the way of developer Build Inc.'s plans to construct 1,000 condos on the eastern edge of the city. Michael Hamman, the magazine tells us, bought in 1997 what was once part of a boatyard and spent years working on the property himself to turn it both into a home and a refuge for artists from all over the city. However, in order to go ahead with its planned project, Build Inc. needed to do foundation grading work that would in all likelihood make Hamman's home unlivable. Basically, they needed him gone, but Hamman wasn't going to budge. I was going to go to battle, he told SF Mag. They had to realize that their money was not the be-all, end-all atomic bomb they had imagined it would be. Not for me. And so a contest of both wit and stubbornness began. From the magazine: Almost all of [Grant Barbour of Build Inc.'s] deals involve finding a sellers price. Ninety-eight percent of my negotiations are about price, he says. So many people start off pretending that it is not about the money, but in the end it is about the money. But from the start, Barbour realized that this deal would be different. Every few weeks at the beginning of negotiations, he would show up at 9 a.m. at the Barn, sometimes with [Lou Vasquez of Build Inc.], and meet with Hamman. He says the negotiations were always just about asking Hamman what he wanted to do with his life and where and how he wanted to live, and that Build Inc. never made any actual cash offers. But little progress was made. Almost two years of back and forth went by before a uniquely San Franciscan solution was agreed upon: Why not just move the Barn to a similar piece of land out of the developer's way? Build Inc. has submitted plans for its India Basin development to the city, as well as an EIR for moving the Barn. If those plans are approved, two or three years from now the company will build a road to a plot of land about 800 feet east of the Barn, on the edge of the bay. After it lays utility and sewer lines to the sitewhich it will also be doing for the rest of the developmentand builds a foundation, Build Inc. will construct a new bottom floor and mezzanine level for the structure. The firm didnt agree to fashion the hill Hamman wanted, so the new ground floor will be designed to stand on flat ground. A new feature is an elevator that will serve every floor. And, of course, there will be land for Shaun. When the site is ready, contractors will cut off the top two floors of the Barn. Exactly how those floors will be moved is still under discussion. Hamman advocates that they place the Barn on a platform on specially laid railroad tracks to convey it to the new site. Ever the eccentric, Hamman's plan is to stand on top of the building as it is moved. "I guarantee you this is the most complicated real estate deal in San Francisco history, Barbour told the magazine. It took Michaels imagination, my creativity, and a lot of bourbon. Whatever the recipe, both Hamman and developers got what they wanted preserving a bit of weird and wonderful San Francisco in the process. Related: The Real Story Of The Great Highway Shack That Sold For $1.2 Million Is Priceless I'd sincerely like to thank my school for putting up this sign pic.twitter.com/TuEWjJzCBm Maggie Greco (@maggieegreco) October 24, 2016 Convicted Stanford sexual assailant Brock Turner's returned to his home state of Ohio to apparently trim bushes and lay down mulch, but that doesn't mean you won't get a chance to see his smiling face. California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, CA is now using his visage in posters warning students of the dangers of sexual predators. CBS 5 reports that the posters which read "Don't be that person. Perpetrators of sexual assault, stalking and dating violence look like regular people" over a photo of a broadly grinning Turner are part of Cal Poly's "Safer" program, their "confidential advocacy, education and support resource for addressing sexual assault, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking." Turner, who gained notoriety for first sexually assaulting a woman behind a Stanford University dumpster, then for an increasingly infuriating defense including his dad's argument that he shouldn't be subjected to a lengthy sentence for "20 minutes of action." To the dismay of many, Judge Aaron Persky sentenced Turner to a mere six months in Santa Clara County Jail for the crime. He was released in September after serving only three. Turner is now reportedly working as a landscaper in Montgomery County, Ohio. "At first, I was like, 'That's creepy,'" Cal Poly freshman Ren Blanding told ABC 7 of the posters, which remained on campus as of Monday. "But you think about it and think, 'That's Brock Turner's face,' and that smiling face gets really dark and ominous real fast." As the saga of George Lucas's proposed Museum of Narrative Art continues, it appears the famed director and passionate art collector has at least a few more tricks up his sleeve. The latest was played this week when Lucas released renderings for a museum on Treasure Island that differ wildly from his original Presidio design from 2013. The Chronicle reports that while the final location of the museum is very much up in the air Lucas is reportedly considering Los Angeles in addition to San Francisco the new renderings have given city officials supporting the project a point around which to rally. "Wed like to think their heart is here, Adam Van de Water of the San Francisco Mayors Office of Economic and Workforce Development told the paper. [Lucas] lives and works here, its a spectacular site, and we think its a natural fit. It never seemed quite right that the man who brought us THX 1138 would house his collection of narrative art in a museum more reminiscent of times past than days ahead, and after his plan to build the museum in the Presidio was shot down and he announced he was taking both his art and his $700 million to Chicago, a new architect was brought on board. Although things went sour in Chicago, the new architect, Ma Yansong, was kept on and it is he who is responsible for the renderings above. Ma told the paper that the Treasure Island site is "a little bit surreal theres a disconnection with the urban setting, but its the perfect place to view the urban setting. We want to present the museum as if it is a natural feature, added Ma, like a cloud moving toward the island and landing. Interestingly, a design that evokes a cloud would not be out of place in San Francisco according to the SFMOMA, the recently renovated and expnded museum was "was inspired by the waters and fog of the San Francisco Bay." The city has yet to approve the plan, with a determination about the museum's environmental impact still outstanding. And, even if officials here do approve it, Lucas may take the project elsewhere. According to the Chronicle, he is working simultaneously to seek approval from the city of LA and has reportedly yet to make a final decision something he intends to do within two to four months. The LA Times takes a look at the Los Angeles renderings, which are similar in feel to the Treasure Island ones (although, of course, not on a island). If Treasure Island is selected as the museum site, the project is expected to take roughly three years after ground is first broken. Rendering of the proposed LA site from Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art via Chronicle. Previously: What George Lucas Means By 'Narrative Art': Chronicle Gets First Glimpse Of His Collection An unusually heavy downpour hit Durban for two days before the BRICS summit's debut on African soil, but interest for a better platform for emerging markets were still sparked at the summit. Photo by artjaro, FlickrCC *All events are on Saturday, Oct 29 unless otherwise noted. DJ Jeremy hosts starting at 9:30pm after the Badgers game. Costume contests, drink specials and dance floor with smoke machine (they specifically call out the smoke machine a lot; must be a good one). The restaurant puts on a costume every year for Halloween; last year they became a Chinese restaurant for the night. This year they'll become Hook, Line & Sinker, a seafood restaurant and bar. Expect lobster, shrimp and crab dishes. Costumes encouraged. A vintage James Bond-themed party. Dress as your favorite Bond character and pay $5 cover and get cocktail specials. $100 to the best Bond costume. Live photobooth. Wasteland, zombie-themed party with prizes for the best wasteland-related costume. Drink and shot specials plus Bounce the DJ. $5 cover. This all-inclusive party features a parlor show, tarot card reading, palm reading, karaoke, costume contest, DJ, one drink and food buffet. Donate food to the Bay View Community Center Food Pantry, get a ticket for $15, otherwise $25 at the door. Three floors of partying with a different DJ on each floor, at the Brass Alley, Evolution and The View. $1,500 in costume contest prizes to be given out. $10 cover. Costume contest with people's choice and bartender's choice categories, DJ, and drink specials that include $5 zombies and $2 bloody Jell-o shots. No cover. Cawl-o-ween bar crawl on Old World Third or in the Third Ward. Start at Buck Bradley's or The Irish Pub, then head to nearby bars. This is an organized event and your $20 ticket will get you $10 in gift cards, no cover or lines at any of the bars, drink specials and costume contest entry. "Hamabee Halloween Pizza Zoo starts after the end of the Cubs game (and Badgers game). $3 champagne, $4 sangria and free pizza after 10pm. Some of the proceeds go to gorilla conservation. El Dia de los Muertos dinner with food by Get Them While They're Hot Tamales. Three course prix fixe menu including pozole and chicken mole. $16 in advance, $22 at door. Saturday, live music by Dirtbike, costume contest, and flights of rum. On Sunday, a special bloody mary bar will be available until 6pm, plus Packer game specials, an oyster roast and pumpkin beers. They are combining their official grand opening party and their Halloween party. Come dressed as any Chris Farley character and get a free sandwich, beer and shot. Free donuts, bacon and lots of drink specials. DJs and costume contests on Saturday and Sunday nights. $1400 in prizes for the costume contest. Beer pong and drink specials. $5 cover. Friday, a Dia de Los Muertos party with DJ, salsa dancing and special menu served until 1am. Best costume wins $80 gift card. Friday and Saturday nights will have DJs, adult trick-or-treating, costume contest, games and drink specials. Campy Halloween party. Prizes for best costumes plus $3 and $5 drink specials. For other Halloween events going on this weekend (including some that are more family-friendly), check out this article. CHEROKEE, Iowa | This Northwest Iowa city will celebrate the end of the career one of its icons Sunday. Sanford Museum and Planetarium will host a retirement party for its 1951 Spitz A-1 planetarium projector. As part of nearly $1 million in upgrades to the facility, the 45-year-old projector will be replaced by a state-of-the-art digital model, which will allow planetarium shows to resume in the spring. The special retirement party for the old projector begins at 2 p.m. with a planetarium program. At 3 p.m., the museum will recognize and honor donors for the new capital campaign. At 4 p.m., the final star gazing show with the old equipment will begin. Linda Burkhart, director of the museum, said a celebration is in order as the projector has been such a valuable educational tool for the public and students around the area for 60-plus years. It was the first in the state of Iowa, she said. Although its been a wonderful educational tool and thousands have seen the planetarium program, its showing its age. Casey Stowater, a fifth and sixth grade science teacher at Cherokee Middle School, said shes brought her classes to the planetarium two or three times a year in her 11 years with the district. Always a student favorite, she said the projections have also provided a unique educational tool to her class. The planetarium is an extremely valuable tool for my classes because not only does it help students identify constellations and stars but it also helps them visualize concepts better, she said. Burkhart said the thought of putting a Cherokee icon on the shelf is bittersweet. She still fondly remembers the first time she saw the stars and planets shine on the dome of the museum. I was in awe of it. Just in awe, she said. Its an incredible feeling and takes you right out into the night sky. The old projector may be retiring, but it wont be leaving the museum. Burkhart said it will be given its own display because it is an historical artifact. The projectors inventor, Armand Spitz, conducted planetarium programs at the museum when the projector first arrived. We always need to preserve our history, she said. Its the first in Iowa and its an important thing to preserve. The new digital projector the SciDome IQ 2400 will be installed and open in the spring. Burkhart said aside from the usual night sky presentation, the new projector will also have the ability to show features on geology and the human body. The projector also will allow the museum to have daily planetarium projections. Were really excited, she said. This will make a huge difference for what it will offer to the public. Stowater said the new features of the projection, along with the planetarium display, will elevate the learning opportunities for her class. The idea that it will teach geology is amazing and will open the door to several other concepts in both 5th and 6th grades, she said. She added that the museums efforts to offer lessons is a major asset to the district. The museum staff also is amazing and really helps with organizing lessons to meet our standards, she said. The projector, valued at $250,000, is part of a $950,000 fundraising effort by the museum to also add an elevator, establish a maintenance fund for the projector and elevator. About two-thirds of the target funds have been raised, Burkhart estimated, but the museum trustees elected to go forward with the new projector. The museum will commemorate donors. Those giving $500 or more will have a ceramic tile they designed themselves placed on an exterior wall. The names of those who gave $1,000 or more will be displayed on a donor board. A mockup of the board will be on display at the retirement party Sunday. Planetarium presentations will cease for about six months while the new one is installed and the theater is updated. In the meantime, Burkhart said visitors can still come and visit the exhibits in the west gallery. SERGEANT BLUFF | Lawrence Parrish, 90, often spends his days at home watching television and reading the newspaper. He also mulls some bigger questions, such as deciding which presidential candidate to vote for. In late September, he also pointed to an article that was part of a series in the Journal that highlighted key issues of the 2016 campaign. He referenced a story that was lying face-up on his living room footstool, with the headline, "North Korea and nuclear weapons." Asked Parrish, "What do you think will happen there?" The topic has primacy for Parrish, since, in his mid-20s, he fought in the Korean War, as the U.S. sided with South Korea in a three-year conflict aimed at fending off the spread of communism in the north. Parrish, a Nebraska native, was drafted by the U.S. Army in January 1951. The youngest in a family of 11 children, he had been farming with his brother, Cecil Parrish, near Decatur. "Then Uncle Sam called me. I was surprised," Lawrence Parrish said. Back in the days when newspapers and radio were main news sources, Parrish said he knew little about the war before he was summoned to be part of it. He broke an ankle in Army basic training in Missouri, so his deployment to the Kumhwa Valley was delayed until August 1951. As a member of the 25th Division Third Regiment, he replaced troops that "had been shot up," and thereafter the first part of his Korea service was a matter of defending "hill after hill." He recalled flood lights used by North Korean soldiers and guarding a coal mine as he carried an M1 rifle on the front line. He pulled night guard duties, with two hours on duty, then two hours off. He was near the area of Heartbreak Ridge and Bloody Ridge, places that got notable and memorable names after battles. One time he was among soldiers who were pinned down by enemy fire for 30 hours, hoping to survive. "We would attack, try to get a hill...Guys got shot, killed," Parrish recalled. He said the U.S. soldiers received good training, although the officers leading the men were at times a mixed bag. "We had one that was worth nothing," Parrish recalled. By spring 1952, he was reassigned to driving jeeps in the motor pool. "Oh, I loved that. I was off the line then," Parrish said. Parrish was moved to the Punchbowl area in the Haean-myon Valley, which got the name for being a bowl-shaped area. Things were reversed there, as he said U.S. troops were in valleys and the enemy was up on ridges. Either way, it was a bloody business. Replacements arrived by July 1952, so Parrish was shipped back to the U.S., and discharged later that year. He was matter-of-fact in assessing how he performed as a soldier in the war sandwiched between World War II and the Vietnam War. "It was something I did for the United States. My duty was, I enjoyed fighting for the country I live in," Parrish said. Once he left the service in December 1952, Parrish became a welder for Wilson Trailer in Sioux City, then moved to his Sergeant Bluff home in 1956, where he has lived the past 60 years. Parrish married his wife, Gloria, and the couple had two children. He enjoyed dances and rollerskating. Parrish has been active with the American Legion chapter in Sergeant Bluff. He worked for the city of Sergeant Bluff, handling groundskeeping until retiring in 1988. Now, Parrish has lots of free time. Also during that September day, he pointed to a book titled "Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation." Parrish said he wasn't sure how Koreans viewed the troops, but he wonders how the area he tramped and drove through 64 years ago looks today. "I'd like to go back over and see where I went through," Parrish said. LE MARS, Iowa | Authorities have released the identity of the man who sustained severe burns during a fire at an apartment duplex earlier this month in Le Mars. According to a news release from the Le Mars Fire Department, 21-year-old Nicholas Huser, of Le Mars, continues to be treated at an Omaha hospital after sustaining burns during the fire, which occurred the morning of Oct. 15 at 620 Greenwood Ave. SE. in Le Mars. Huser had been found by firefighters standing at the back of the apartment with burns when they arrived at the location. He was transported to Floyd Valley Hospital and later airlifted to the Omaha hospital, the release said. Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire. The release said gasoline was found ignited in the kitchen area of the home, and the cause is currently listed as "undetermined" as authorities await tests of further evidence. The fire caused approximately $5,000 in damage, the release said. Residents at the front of the building were able to escape the building during the fire and were allowed to return following the fire. Huser's apartment is not livable at this time, the release said. SAC CITY, Iowa | An Ida Grove, Iowa, man charged with hitting another man with his car will stand trial for attempted murder only after five other charges were dismissed earlier this week. On Wednesday, Sac County Attorney Ben Smith filed a motion asking that charges of going armed with intent, assault using a dangerous weapon, second-degree criminal mischief and two counts of willful injury be dismissed against Jeremy Werneburg. District Judge William Ostlund granted the motion. In his motion, Smith said he believed "the interests of justice and judicial economy are best served" by dismissal of the five counts. Werneburg, 37, is scheduled to stand trial Tuesday in Sac County District Court. He is accused of intentionally striking Kyle Freese, of Glidden, Iowa, with his car on Feb. 14 outside the Carnarvon Inn in Carnarvon, Iowa. According to court documents, Werneburg threatened a group of people with a hammer, then got into his car and struck Freese, who was pinned against the building. Werneburg failed in a second attempt to hit Freese after he moved behind another vehicle for protection. Freese suffered serious leg injuries in the incident. Werneburg fled the scene and was arrested three days later in Fort Dodge, Iowa. SIOUX CITY | Two more Sioux City teenagers have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into a violent Oct. 14 assault caught on video, bringing the total number of arrests to four. The Sioux City Police Department reports 16-year-old Al Lewis and 15-year-old Kenneth Thompson, both of Sioux City, were arrested Thursday afternoon. Both were arrested on willful injury charges. Thompson is also facing charges for first-degree theft and assault while participating in a felony. Police arrested the first teen, 16-year-old Austin Rockwood, of Sioux City, on Monday and arrested a second, De'Von Jackson, 16, of Sioux City, Wednesday. Detective Nick Thompson said Thursday that police are looking for about 10 additional people. "For the most part we have everybody identified. We just havent found them all yet," Thompson said. The assault occurred shortly before 11 p.m. Oct. 14 in the 1500 block of West Third Street. During the assault, police say a group of people crowded around a single victim, throwing him to the ground, then punching him and stomping on his head. The victim blacked out, and one of those involved stole his phone before the group dispersed. The victim sustained a fractured orbital socket, had several teeth shattered or knocked out, suffered a concussion and had bruises on his face, head and back from being dragged, according to court documents. He was treated and released from a local hospital, according to police Police released the video in a Facebook post last week. Thompson said tips from the public and from witnesses contacted by police have aided in the arrests thus far. SIOUX CITY | After more than three decades in office, Woodbury County Supervisor Larry Clausen opted against a re-election bid this year. Clausen's decision created a rare open seat on the five-member county board. The District 5 seat will be filled by a Republican, a Democrat or a Republican-turned-independent in the Nov. 8 election. District 5 covers the east edge of Sioux City and rural areas in the northern and eastern portions of the county, including the cities of Lawton, Moville and Correctionville. Democratic nominee Bruce Garbe, of rural Sioux City, was uncontested in the Democratic primary in June. In a seven-candidate field, Gary Niles, of Sioux City, won the most votes in the GOP primary. But he didn't reach the 35-percent threshold to automatically advance to the general election under state law, resulting in a special Republican convention to select the nomination. At the the convention in Sioux City three weeks later, Rocky De Witt, the second-place finisher, won support from 65 percent of the roughly 190 delegates to win the nomination. Niles said he's heard from people who were unhappy he was sidelined after getting the most votes in the primary, 1,157, or 23 percent, to De Witt's 1,070 votes, or 21 percent. DeWitt, of rural Lawton, said Republicans should note that he is the party's nominee, adding that he came close to beating Niles in the primary, a result he called "a statistical tie." With three candidates on the general election ballot, he said, the outcome is more cloudy. DeWitt said he presumes the typical heavy use of straight-line party balloting could play in his favor. "I am cautiously optimistic that I will come away with the win," he said. Niles said running as an independent isn't a hindrance for him. "I hope that my experience, the results Ive produced by working with others and the personal commitments I have are qualities you think supersede party politics in this race," Niles said. Garbe said he aims to keep the supervisor seat in Democratic hands. He has heard longtime Democratic political observers predict the current and former Republicans in the District 5 field will split party votes, giving him a possible track to win. Still, he added, "It isn't over til it is over." DeWitt, 57, is a Woodbury County Sheriff's deputy who handles security in the Woodbury County Courthouse. DeWitt said his key issues will be to reduce property taxes through judicious paring of the county budget, continuing a transparency push in county decisionmaking and reducing jail inmate medical costs. "I am not a politician. I don't intend to be a politician. This will not be a career," DeWitt said. Garbe, 62, is retired after working in the Sioux City Assessor's Office. "I was in the courthouse for more than 25 years. I have seen a number of things go on that I am familiar with, that I would like to try and change and be a voice at least," Garbe said. Garbe said his top issue is to cut spending in some county departments he said have room to pare. He also aims to keep jobs in the county, rather rather than moving across the border to neighboring South Dakota and Nebraska. He supports the county setting an hourly minimum wage that is higher than the amount now set by the state and federal government. Niles, 62, is a Chief Juvenile Court Officer for Iowa's Third Judicial District. He said he plans to work to improve economic opportunities, through actions that attract will attract employers. He also vowed to deliver fiscal accountability through sound county budgets. Niles said he's got the right approach to manage tax dollars. SIOUX CITY | A Sioux City man on a motorcycle has been arrested after leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit Thursday. At 2 a.m., the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office attempted a traffic stop of a motorcycle in the 500 block of Gordon Drive, a press release said. The driver of the motorcycle, Kelly Bryan Malloy, 49, failed to stop for law enforcement and continued traveling through Morningside and eventually on old Highway 141 exceeding speeds of 100 miles per hour at times, the release said. The pursuit continued into Smithland, Iowa, where Malloy was apprehended. Malloy has been booked into the Woodbury County Jail for felony eluding, second-degree theft, operating while intoxicated, driving with a barred license, reckless driving, stop sign violations, speeding, possession of drug paraphernalia, fraudulent registration and driving left of the center line. His bond has been set at $15,500. After more than 40 years in Congress (six years in the House and nearly 36 years in the Senate), Charles Grassley is today much the same public servant he was when he first arrived in Washington, D.C. He's an honest man of integrity who reflects the priorities and values of Iowans and stays connected to the needs of his constituents. He continues, each year, to visit all of Iowa's 99 counties. In other words, he hasn't lost touch. He remains one of us, his "How ya doin'?" greeting as welcomingly familiar within this state as the fall harvest. Grassley remains a powerful, influential figure (he is chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a senior member of the Finance, Budget and Agriculture committees) and advocate for key sectors of Iowa, including agriculture and renewable energy; a champion for federal government openness and accountability and a watchdog over waste in federal spending; and a conservative stalwart who stands for smaller government, fewer regulations, and lower taxes. He also is a lawmaker who, because he earns respect on either side of the political aisle, works quietly and effectively with both Republicans and Democrats. (Grassley talked to us with pride, for example, about 30 bipartisan bills passed by the Judiciary Committee during his chairmanship and, ultimately, signed into law by President Obama.) Today The Journal editorial board endorses Republican Grassley for a seventh term in the U.S. Senate over his Democratic opponent, former Iowa Lt. Gov. and Agriculture Secretary Patty Judge. At 83, Grassley - who begins his 12-hour days with an early three-mile run and who in 2010 was named the hardest-working member of Congress by The Hill newspaper - shows no signs of reducing the rigorous schedule he maintains or otherwise slowing down. In January, Grassley broke the Senate record for the longest streak of consecutive votes when he cast a "yea" vote for confirmation of Wilhelmina Marie Wright to be a United States judge for the District of Minnesota. "And with that," The Washington Post reported, "Grassley hadn't missed a vote in an astonishing 22 years, six months and six days. That's longer than most senators' careers." The previous record-holder was the late Sen. William Proxmire, D-Wis., who didn't miss a vote in the 22 years, five months and 28 days between April 20, 1966, and Oct. 18, 1988, before he retired. "You could argue the record Grassley now holds is an arcane one that only political nerds in Washington tally up," Amber Phillips wrote for The Post. "But you could also argue Grassley's vote streak gets to the heart of how Congress works. At the basic level, we send our lawmakers to Washington to do what Grassley has done for 22 years -- cast votes for us on some of the nation's biggest (and smallest) issues." The streak remains alive today at 7,670 consecutive votes. (Grassley cast his extraordinary 12,000th total vote as a senator in 2015 - only 17 senators in American history have cast more.) We remain disappointed in the unwillingness of Grassley and Republican members of the Judiciary Committee to meet their responsibility under the Constitution and take up President Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Still, our criticism of Grassley over his handling of the Supreme Court vacancy doesn't overshadow the overall body of the man's work. Not only does Grassley deserve re-election, we wish the halls of Congress were filled with more men and women like him. "I wake up every day wanting to work for Iowans," Grassley told us. We believe working for Iowans is exactly what he does, still. SIOUX CENTER, Iowa | The times, they are a-changin'! Especially when somebody like Bob Dylan can join the ranks of Samuel Beckett, T.S. Eliot and Toni Morrison as a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Well, that is if "the poet laureate of the rock era" will actually acknowledge the good folks from Stockholm, Sweden. First, Dylan, 75, was supposedly "incommunicado" when the award was announced on Oct. 10. And late last week, the musician's website removed any mention of the accolade, causing the Nobel Committee for Literature's chairman to use words like "rude" and "arrogant" to denounce the snub. However, if you ask Jeff Taylor, Dordt College political science professor and co-author (with Chad Israelson) of "The Political World of Bob Dylan," it is hardly surprising for the "Blowin' in the Wind" writer to... well, blow off this honor. "Dylan enjoys messing with people," Taylor said. "After all, his last two studio albums (2015's "Shadow in the Night" and 2016's "Fallen Angels") were simply covers of old Sinatra tunes and songs from the Great American Songbook. "That's about as far away from (Dylan's) social protest songs as you can get," he added. It is Taylor's contention that Dylan's ability to confound the expectations of both fans and foes is a reason why he still matters after more than a half-century in the public eye. Plus it's fun, one can reason, to remain a contrarian pain in the butt. "Dylan was born in Duluth, Minn., and that seems to have informed his attitude towards who was authentic and who was not," Taylor said. "He certainly identified with the underdogs of society." Dylan's worldview was also shaped by the writers and artists who represented the counterculture movement of the 1960s. That is, up to a point. "On the one hand, Dylan appreciated the role government played in society," Taylor said. "Yet on the other hand, he knew that politicians could be bought off for the right price. "While he is probably more left-leaning," he continued, "Dylan's ideas and personal politics always seem more complex than that." This meant not getting caught up in the celebrity culture. Instead, according to Taylor, Dylan thought of himself "as being something of a musical anarchist." "There's a timeless quality to Dylan," Taylor said. "While he made some commercial steps, he remained true to his sound. "There are no secret disco albums in Dylan's past," he said. A few weeks before Americans choose the next president, Taylor imagined Dylan is watching with a detached bemusement. "Dylan always refused to endorse any candidate," Taylor said. "He refused to be pigeonholed, politically or otherwise." So will we ever know what Dylan thinks about Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton? The author of "The Political World of Bob Dylan" doesn't think so. Also, it's not very likely that Dylan will appreciate his latest honor. "For Dylan, everything begins and ends with his music," Taylor said. "It all comes down to that." In the United States of America, we like to bastardize any holiday we can get our hands on. No longer can we simply celebrate Christmas by visiting family and occasionally exchanging gifts or homemade treats. No, no. Now we have to go to the store and load our carts with red and green garbage to decorate our house with. Then we have to buy a stupid tree and put little colorful bulbs on it and pray that our house doesnt burn down from all that wiring. And dont get me started on the inflated electric bills caused by all those bright lights stapled to the outline of our homes. St. Patricks Day is the same way. We buy all this green-colored clothing and put green food coloring in light, domestic beers. Why? Who knows. Valentines Day is a disaster. Easter is a joke. Now we've got people in the U.S. celebrating Oktoberfest in October when it already happened in September. Hell, its not even a holiday. But there is ONE good thing to come of this: Oktoberfest beer. For the longest time, we had no idea that Oktoberfest is actually a style of beer. According to the BeerAdvocate, an Oktoberfest is actually a Marzen or Marzenbier, which translates to March beer. Marzen beers are brewed in March and stay in cold storage over the spring and summer months. Theyre ready just in time for Oktoberfest, the worlds largest annual beer festival held in Munich, Germany. The beer is usually a dark copper color with a mild hop profile, according to BeerAdvocate. Beer companies tend to release their Oktoberfest brews in early fall. And we thank them for that. Even though were nearing the end of October, your thirsty and devoted Weekender writers scoured liquor stores around Siouxland in search of those beers. We discovered two things: 1) These Oktoberfest beers are kind of expensive, and 2) These Oktoberfest beers are really delicious no matter the month. SAMUEL ADAMS OCTOBERFEST Brewer: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) ABV: 5.3 percent Our rating: B To start off, we had to go with the classic Samuel Adams Octoberfest. Despite the fact that the Boston Beer Company misspelled Oktoberfest, the brew is well-known and beloved by many beer drinkers. For us, this is the beer you tend to think of when you want an Oktoberfest brew. Sam Adams can be a hit or miss with its seasonal beverages, Cherry Wheat being a hit while the 20 Pounds of Pumpkin is a miss. Octoberfest isnt as heavy as we expected. The consistency was smooth and the flavors were bold and slightly sweet. And the aroma is malty. This beer would fit in nicely with just about any kind of meal thanks to its milder flavors. Samuel Adams' Octoberfest is a solid go-to beer for the fall season. SPATEN OKTOBERFESTBIER Brewer: Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau ABV: 5.9 percent Our rating: B+ When we were venturing through the refrigerated aisles at liquor stores, we never expected to be greeted with such a German-looking beer. With its fancy text and crest, we knew this Spaten Oktoberfestbeir would impress. At least, we hoped it would. Luckily, it did. This year-round brew from Germany sat quite well with us. The Spaten Oktoberfestbier had a caramel-like aroma with a slight earthy tinge. The flavors were noticeably stronger than the Samuel Adams Octoberfest, but not by a huge margin. Small sips seemed to work well with this beer. The brew had a certain spice to it that was a tad bit overwhelming at first. But the refreshing finish made us want to pick up the bottle for another drink as soon as we were through. SURLYFEST Brewer: Surly Brewing Company ABV: 6 percent Our rating: A- Trying out those spooky Surly beers at The Diving Elk got us in the mood for even more Surly. The Minnesota-based brewing company sells its own Marzen by the can called SurlyFest. Now, we arent the biggest beer snobs -- to be honest, well drink whatever is in front of us -- but we sort of question or turn up our noses at beer in cans. Light beers and domestics in cans are A-OK with us. But theres something about having any other beer in a can that makes us nervous, and we swear we can taste the aluminum every time. But we were pleasantly surprised to find that not only was SurflyFest delicious, we didnt mind it being in a can at all. Maybe we are just paranoid. As soon as we pried open the tab, we were hit with a rush of floral, hoppy scents. According to Surlys website, the beer is brewed with a mix of different hops and we could certainly tell. There was a baked and malty flavor that we adored. Amazingly, it wasnt all that heavy. We should have bought more cans. Social Movements October 27, 2016 Bruce Allen From a Townhall Presentation on the Trans-Pacific Partnership on October 22 by Bruce Allen, organized by the Niagara Regional Labour Council , for which Bruce is Vice-President. I want to take this opportunity to present a short overview of local activity in Niagara in response to the TPP. It will emphasize in particular the leading role which the Niagara Regional Labour Council (NRLC) has played in this activity. The first actions to show opposition to the TPP were initiated last autumn. They essentially came from outside of the labour movement. They were initiated largely by former members of the Occupy group which existed in Niagara in the wake of the global economic meltdown of 2008. Their efforts were supported by members of the Council of Canadians, some local labour leaders and other concerned citizens. These actions consisted of information pickets about the TPP staged on consecutive Saturdays at the Homer Bridge crossing the Welland Canal next to Lock 2. They were followed by a public forum organized last November 27 by the Niagara Workers Activist Group which is now collaborating with the NRLC in supporting the Fight for $15 and Fairness. The event was well attended. It featured presentations by Bill Gillespie of the Trade Justice Network and Unifor economist Jim Stanford. Ramping Up the Campaign The start of 2016 saw the NRLC send a letter to the leadership of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) calling on the CLC to organize a mass march on Ottawa in opposition to the TPP. Shortly afterward, leaders of the NRLC made a series of successful presentations to city councils in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Thorold, Welland, Port Colborne and Fort Erie. These presentations met with little opposition to our arguments against the TPP and resulted in all six city councils adopting motions opposing the TPP in its present form and sending letters to the Federal Trade Minister expressing their opposition. Media coverage was limited but positive especially in Niagara Falls. In addition to these initiatives a letter was sent to the editor of the St. Catharines Standard detailing how the TPP must be seen an integral to Capitals offensive against Labour putting forward a perspective inspired by consumer protection activist Ralph Nader who has called the TPP the most brazen corporate power grab in American history. There have also been lobbies by NRLC Executive members of local Liberal MPs Chris Bittle and Vance Badaway. Neither of these MPs took a clear position on the TPP one way or the other particularly with respect to whether the Federal Government would ratify it. The point of all this is simple. Niagara, thanks largely to efforts by and associated with the NRLC, has seen sustained work to build ongoing opposition to the TPP. Furthermore insofar as this is the case and we are assembled here today at a NRLC event it can reasonably be asserted that we have set an example that could and should be replicated across the country. Faced as we are with a majority government in Ottawa led by a political party, the Liberal Party, with a long and very consistent track record of backing and implementing anti-worker trade agreements nothing less, if not much more, is going to be necessary to stop this government from ratifying the TPP. Stated otherwise, we must mobilize politically. We must put optimal pressure on the federal government if we want to see the TPP go the way of the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas which we mobilized against in Quebec City in 2001 and which died due to the strength of opposition to it in Latin America and of the quietly abandoned Multilateral Agreement on Investment which also encountered strong popular opposition. We must fight to win. The suspect, Deavan Quindel Jefferson, 19, of Baltimore, is being held at the Charles County Detention Center. Jefferson is 6'-03", 175 pounds. LA PLATA, Md. (Oct. 27, 2016)Almost one month to the day, a second teenager was shot and killed in Charles Countyon Sept. 25, Mason Cameron Atkins, 18, of Deale, was killed near La Plata by 4 other teens . Police have identified the 18-year-old male victim from last night's shooting as Reuel Hicks, of Waldorf. The suspect, Deavan Quindel Jefferson, 19 (DOB 23-NOV-1996), of Baltimore, is being held at the Charles County Detention Center.The shooting occurred on Wednesday around 8pm behind the AMC Loews St. Charles Town Center movie theater complex in the 11000 block of Mall Circle Drive in Waldorf.A preliminary investigation showed the victim was walking behind the movie theater with friends when he stopped and had a conversation with the suspect. The suspect suddenly produced a gun and shot the victim. The suspect fled and the victim was flown to a hospital in critical condition.Officers arrived on the scene within minutes and obtained a description of the suspect. Pfc. R. Gass located a suspect nearby and detained him. Through further investigation, the suspect was positively linked to the shooting. It appears the victim and suspect are acquaintances and were making a drug transaction when the shooting occurred.Hicks died of his injuries early this morning at a local hospital.Jefferson has been charged with First Degree Murder, First Degree Assault, Use of Firearm in a Felony-Violent Crime, and Handgun on Person.Det. J. Austin is investigating. DETROIT, Mich. -- Navy engineer Tiffany Owens, left, receives the Women of Color Magazine's 2016 Community Service Award at the magazine's annual awards gala held at the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center, Oct. 15. Owens was honored for inspiring and mentoring students throughout Virginia in a myriad of science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. "In serving our country as a systems safety engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Tiffany Owens has also gone above and beyond in service to her community," said Karen Davis, Naval Sea Systems Command Executive Director for Surface Warfare, told the audience before presenting the award to Owens. DETROIT, Mich. (Oct. 27, 2016)U.S. Navy engineer Tiffany Owens is constantly on the go helping girls envision that "STEM is a girl thing" while enabling them to experience it in their lives.Once her proteges catch the vision, they are on the go themselves pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities, academics, degrees and careers.The Women of Color Magazine noticed the engineer's startling success with inspiring and mentoring students throughout Virginia and honored her with the magazine's 2016 Community Service Award at its conference, aptly themed: "STEM is a Girl Thing"."My mother, a teacher, raised three girls on the east side of Buffalo, New Yorkwe all became engineers," Owens remarked while accepting her award before a hushed audience at the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center during the Women of Color Awards gala, Oct. 15. "She taught us we can do anything we put our minds to, and raised us with confidence, pride and responsibility to ourselves and our community. I will be eternally grateful for her and her advice that drives me to continue to help, give and serve."The Women of Color Magazine refers to its annual technology conference as "the forum of choice" for recognizing significant contributions by women in STEM fields. This year's awards gala theme- "Earned it, Got it, Celebrate it,"paid tribute to awardees for their commitment, service, and achievements."In serving our country as a systems safety engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Tiffany Owens has also gone above and beyond in service to her community," said Karen Davis, Naval Sea Systems Command Executive Director for Surface Warfare, as she introduced Owens. "Her impressive volunteering and mentoring efforts at the Center include her active role in her departments Diversity Council and Special Events Committee. But this is just the start of Tiffanys strong passion for STEM outreach. She donates countless hours to introducing young people to the world of STEM in the local Dahlgren and Richmond, Va., community and schools to positively impact our next generation."Owens led and volunteered for a myriad of STEM activities and programs, including Bring Your Child to Work Day, the Metro Richmond Science Fair, the FIRST Lego League, and FIRST Robotics Competition."Tiffany also filled the roles of chartering member, president emeritus, and public relations chair for the Richmond Professionals Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers," according to the Women of Color Magazine's fall 2016 feature profile on Owens. "She developed and conducted STEM enrichment activities at Richmond and Henrico Public Schools as a volunteer."Since 1995, the Women of Color technology conference has attracted and leveraged exceptional talent within the nation's scientific and technical workforce.Moreover, attendees benefit from the event's career networking opportunities. They interact with executives representing Fortune 500 companies that embrace diversity and are recognized as top places for women to work and advance in their careers. College students meet with award winners and learn the next critical steps in forging their own successful careers."We are all held responsible for our talents, wealth, knowledge and time," said Owens as she concluded her speech. "I have been richly blessed. So many people poured into my life, which leaves me with a tremendous responsibility to give back."Career Communications Group's Women of Color Magazine hosts the technology conference which recognizes outstanding women in the STEM fields. It provides excellent opportunities for professional development, networking and recruiting. The conference is focused on the development of STEM women and ensures that the superior achievements and importance of these outstanding women in STEM are highly visible to all conference participants. More on Career Communication Group STEM events: intouch.ccgmag.com The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division is a premier research and development center that serves as a specialty site for weapon system integration. The command's unique ability to rapidly introduce new technology into complex warfighting systems is based on its longstanding competencies in science and technology, research and development, and test and evaluation. News and information about NSWCDD: www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NSWC-Dahlgren The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) mission is to design, build, deliver and maintain ships and systems on time and on cost for the U.S. Navy. NAVSEA mission, vision, and commander's intent: www.navsea.navy.mil/Who-We-Are BALTIMORE (Oct. 27, 2016)Overnights next week, the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close the MD 231 (Prince Frederick Road/Hallowing Point Road) "Benedict Bridge" over the Patuxent River for construction work. Crews will intermittently close the bridge to vehicles, stopping traffic on both the Calvert and Charles County sides for 30-minute periods between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, November 13. The closures are necessary for SHA's contractor to drive piles under the swing span, which requires the structure to be in the open position. All work is weather permitting. SHA advises travelers to plan ahead to avoid crossing overnight or to allow extra time for the intermittent closures. The piles are part of the new fender system that will protect the bridge supports from marine traffic collisions. Construction of the new steel and timber fender system began late April. The new system, which includes heavy wooden timbers, is prepared off-site and installed from barges. SHA is adding navigational lights under the bridge to enhance visibility for marine traffic's safe passage. SHA awarded the $3.5 million project to Corman Marine Construction, Inc. of Annapolis Junction, Md. BALTIMORE (Oct. 27, 2016)Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced that his office has reached a settlement with Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Motors Corporation, Inc., and Kia Motors America, Inc., resolving claims that the companies misrepresented the mileage and fuel economy ratings for some of their model year 2011, 2012 and 2013 vehicles. The $41.2 million settlement concludes a multi-state investigation into the companies' business practices related to downgraded fuel economy estimates on affected vehicles. Maryland joined 33 states and the District of Columbia in announcing the settlement. Maryland will receive approximately $1.38 million of the total settlement. "Consumers should feel confident that the manufacturers' representations of their vehicles' fuel efficiency are true and accurate," said Attorney General Frosh. "Based on the allegations in this case, consumers who bought these cars not only did not get what was advertised, but they also ended up paying more at the pump." In November 2012, Hyundai and Kia announced they were adjusting and restating the fuel economy ratings for certain model year 2011, 2012 and 2013 vehicles because those ratings were higher than those vehicles' actual fuel economy. Attorney General Frosh, along with 33 other attorneys general, alleged that Hyundai and Kia incorporated inflated and inaccurate test data into the estimated mileage ratings displayed on hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Maryland and across the country. The attorneys general also alleged that the companies sought to capitalize on the erroneous mileage estimates by prominently featuring them in a variety of advertisements and other promotional campaigns. The manufacturers have separately provided restitution to consumers injured by its mileage advertisements. The companies must pay $1.38 million to resolve the claims brought by the Maryland Attorney General's Office. In a narrative changing announcement Wednesday, researchers exonerated Gaetan Dugas, a.k.a. Patient Zero, from starting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Findings released in the journal of Nature concluded the strain of HIV responsible for almost all of the AIDS cases in the United States came from Zaire, Africa via Haiti in 1967. The virus was first contracted in New York in 1971, eventually spreading to San Francisco in 1976. The Patient Zero story came from a 1984 study of 40 gay men who had developed Kaposis sarcoma or other signs of late-stage AIDS. Dugas, a French Canadian flight attendant, reported having around 250 sexual partners a year and gave investigators 72 names. He died in 1984 but his legend lived on in stories and tabloid headlines. The New York Post labeled Dugas as The Man Who Gave Us AIDS. Scientists at the University of Arizona were able to clear Dugas of such a dubious distinction by analyzing stored blood samples from health trials in the 1970s. By screening samples from New York and San Francisco, scientists were able to determine eight different HIV genetic codes. We can place the most precise dates on the origins of the U.S. epidemic at about 1970 or 1971, Dr. Michael Worobey, one of the researchers, told the BBC. In response to the analysis, the Gay Mens Health Crisis applauded the correction, but acknowledged stigma is still a huge barrier in defeating the disease. GMHC Chief Executive Officer Kelsey Louie released the following statement: The findings released today tell us that the strain of HIV responsible for almost all AIDS cases in the United States came to New York City around 1971, debunking the myth of Patient Zero. Gay Mens Health Crisis was formed as the effects of the deadly virus began to wreak havoc and take their toll. Society, and in particular the media, were all too eager to cast blame on a single person, rather than reflect on the stigma they were creating and the lack of political will to actually do something about the disease. The stigma created in the past is still strong today and prevents many from even getting tested for HIV for fear of being labeled a carrier. Were it not for Larry Kramer, Larry Moss, Edmund White and the other founders of GMHC, we would not be as close as we are now to ending the epidemic and someday finding a cure. Meanwhile, at the World AIDS Museum in Wilton Manors, the news of Dugas exoneration was not a complete surprise. Unfortunately people still think hes the villain, said Ed Sparan, WAM operations manager. We just werent connecting the dots. Sparan said when he gives tours of the museum he often cites cases of people having contracted HIV well before the 1980s. When he tells the story of an autopsy report showing an African man with HIV in his blood as far back as 1959, peoples eyes get wide open, Sparan said. U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch blasted U.S. Senator Marco Rubio for using the LGBT community to advance his own political interests. Related: Straight Ally: Ted Deutch Speaking to a packed room Tuesday morning inside Pride Center at Equality Park, Deutch said Rubios reaction to the Pulse Nightclub massacre was shameful. After years of supporting anti-LGBT policies Rubio, Deutch said, attempted to recast himself as a savior to LGBT Floridians following the worst mass shooting in American history. His actions need to be condemned, Deutch said. Using a community for political gain after a massacre like that is exactly what people hate about politics. Rubio, a Republican, is in a tight race against Democrat Patrick Murphy for the Senate seat which could change the balance of power in Washington. A co-sponsor of the Equality Act, Deutch said he would continue to fight for LGBT rights on Capitol Hill. He said if Hillary Clinton is elected President, she will sign the Equality Act into law. Among other things, the bill provides workplace protections for LGBT Americans. In Florida, if youre gay you can get married on the weekend and fired when you show up to your job on Monday, that just cant stand, Deutch said. Deutch was the featured speaker at the Pride Centers weekly coffee and conversation program, a gathering geared towards seniors and boomers. Congressional redistricting has given Deutch more Broward County constituents. The three-term Congressman faces a Republican challenger, real estate agent Andrea McGee in the general election. (WB) Ricardo Negron-Almodovar, who is originally from the Puerto Rican city of Yauco, was at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12 when he heard gunshots. He said in a Human Rights Campaign video that he initially thought the gunshots were part of a reggaeton song. Negron-Almodovar said the music stopped and clubgoers got on the floor. People started screaming, he said in the video that encourages LGBT people to vote. Negron-Almodovar and a woman who was asking people whether they spoke Spanish survived the massacre that killed 49 people by running out of the nightclub. Federal law prevents residents of Puerto Rico, which is a U.S. commonwealth, from voting in presidential elections. Negron-Almodovar, who moved to Florida in 2015, told the Washington Blade on Tuesday during a telephone interview that he plans to vote for Hillary Clinton. He said he is also inclined to support Florida Congressman Patrick Murphy in his race against U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Its exciting, Negron-Almodovar told the Blade. This election has been dirty for lack of a better term. Rubio accused of using Pulse to re-launch career The Pulse nightclub massacre continues to overshadow the race between Murphy and Rubio that could determine whether Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate. A poll that Bloomberg Politics released on Wednesday indicates Rubio is ahead of Murphy by a 51-41 percent margin. A second poll from a Tampa Bay area television station notes the Republican incumbent is ahead of his Democratic challenger by four points. Rubio said before he launched his failed presidential campaign that he would not seek another term in the U.S. Senate. Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith are among those who have sharply criticized him for announcing his re-election campaign less than two weeks after the massacre. Him using the Pulse massacre to re-launch his political career was beyond appalling, Smith told the Blade on Tuesday in an email. Smith and other advocates have criticized Rubio for not supporting gun control measures in the wake of the Pulse nightclub massacre. The Cuban-American Republican in August reiterated his opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples when he spoke at an anti-LGBT conference that took place at an Orlando hotel. Rubio callously used the Pulse shooting to run for re-election and then once again turned his back on Florida families, Jason Rubin, a spokesperson for Murphys campaign, told the Blade on Wednesday in a statement. Floridians deserve better. Murphys campaign last week released an ad in which Christine Leinonen, the mother of Christopher Drew Leinonen, who died inside the Pulse nightclub with his fiance, Juan Guerrero, appears. Murphy said in a Sept. 26 press release that announced he had received HRCs endorsement that he supports the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal civil rights law. After the tragic Pulse shooting, it is clear that much work remains to end discrimination and keep LGBT Americans safe, said Murphy. From marriage equality to employment nondiscrimination, Marco Rubio has opposed LGBT equality at every opportunity and has never stood with our LGBT community in Florida, he added. Our state deserves a senator who represents the voice of the LGBT community and all Floridians in the U.S. Senate. The Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, a PAC that formed after the Pulse nightclub massacre, has also endorsed Murphy. Patrick believes that we have a responsibility to the victims of the tragic Pulse shooting and Florida families throughout our state to act on gun violence and LGBT equality, Rubin told the Blade. Rubin also noted Murphy has stood with Christine Leinonen and Brandon Wolf, who was inside the nightclub when the gunman opened fire. Patrick will always fight for commonsense gun violence prevention that will help keep Florida families safe and is proud to sponsor the Equality Act to ban LGBT discrimination, said Rubin. Rubio in July endorsed Donald Trump during the Republican National Convention. He continues to support the Republican billionaire in spite of his lewd comments against women and sexual assault allegations that have come to light in recent weeks. His refusal to un-endorse Trump is exposing him as a political lightweight, a hollow man, pointing whichever way he thinks the wind is blowing, Smith told the Blade. Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith hugs GLBT Community Center for Central Florida Executive Director Terry DeCarlo during a press conference in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. (Washington Blade photo by Jason Fronczek) Pulse massacre survivor meets with Rubio in D.C. Rubio was with President Obama and Vice President Biden when they traveled to Orlando on June 16 and met with the families of the victims, survivors and the Pulse nightclubs owners and employees who were working when the gunman opened fire. Rubio in July met with Fred and Maria Wright, who lost their son, Jerry Wright, in the massacre. Angel Colon, who was shot inside the Pulse nightclub, and his mother in September sat down with Rubio in D.C. I admire Angels courage and appreciate him meeting with me to discuss preventing future terrorist attacks like the one he survived at Pulse nightclub, Rubio told an Orlando television station after the meeting. Rubios office helped relatives of the Pulse nightclub massacre victims obtain visas that allowed them to travel to Florida. Rubio, who has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association, in June voted for proposals that sought to expand background checks and temporarily stop gun sales to suspected terrorists after a judge found probable cause to do so. He also voted for a measure that would have kept the Pulse nightclub gunman in the national background check system for five years. Rubio last month introduced the Terror Intelligence Improvement Act, which would bolster efforts to combat terrorism and make it harder for suspected terrorists to purchase firearms. Police in July arrested an Equality Florida staffer and nine other gun control supporters who staged a sit-in in the lobby of Rubios office in downtown Orlando. Rubio and Nelson in June urged the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide financial assistance to businesses around the Pulse nightclub that were closed in the days after the massacre. Rubio last month introduced a bill that would allow survivors of terrorist attacks to receive automatic student loan deferments. Terry DeCarlo, executive director of the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, said Rubio and his staff reached out to him and his colleagues after the massacre. DeCarlo told the Blade on Tuesday that this outreach did not continue. We havent heard a word from him since basically the first week, he said. Rubios campaign did not respond to the Blades request for comment on criticisms over his decision to run for re-election and his positions on gun control. Log Cabin Republican President Gregory Angelo said it early on: Donald Trump is the most pro-gay Republican presidential candidate in history. And following the deadly attack on an LGBT nightclub in Orlando last June, Trump himself suggested that he not Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is the presidential candidate who is really the friend of women and the LGBT community. Clintons claim to the mantle as the Democratic Partys most pro-gay presidential candidate in history has to compete with the partys 2012 nominee, President Barack Obama. But even during this years general election campaign, when most Democratic presidential candidates typically grow subtle about their support for the LGBT community, Clinton prominently and repeatedly stated her support in stump speeches and debate answers. Asked to make their best arguments for their partys candidate, gay Democratic and Republican leaders said this: Earl D. Fowlkes Jr., chairman of the Democratic National Committees LGBT Caucus: As a black gay man, I know that Mrs. Clinton will protect and work to extend LGBT rights gained under the Obama Administration. She will appoint Supreme Court judges who will not undo same-sex marriage, women's reproductive rights, and more provisions of the Voting Rights Act. In short, Mrs. Clinton will be a president that will fight for all Americans. She is one of the most qualified candidates to ever run for the Presidency, said Fowlkes. As First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton has both the experience and temperament to handle the complex issues that our nation is facing. Log Cabin Republicans have not yet issued an endorsement in the presidential race, so Angelo declined to provide a statement. But Charles T. Moran, a prominent Trump delegate from Los Angeles to the GOP convention, offered this: The strongest reason why LGBTQ'ers in our community should vote for Donald Trump is that he's constantly recognized our community and treated us with respect. In his business and philanthropic work, he's always been supportive, even when it hasn't been popular. From the money he's given to HIV/AIDS causes in NYC, to opening the first private club in Palm Beach to allow open homosexuals to join, to just recently dismissing the dramatic debate in the GOP and stating that Caitlyn Jenner should use whatever bathroom she wants at his Trump properties, to bringing forward the issue of protecting our community against radical Islamic jihad and threats of violence against our freedoms, he has truly walked the talk, and that is 30+ year history of support, unlike Hillary Clinton's zig-zag on our issues over her 30 years in the public eye. Angelo says the Log Cabin board will reveal its decision concerning a presidential endorsement during this last week of October. In late October 2012, the group gave a qualified endorsement for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, noting that, while he may not be the first choice for voters with LGBT issues as a priority, Romney was better qualified overall and not likely to waste his precious time in the White House with attacks on the community. In early September 2008, Log Cabins board issued an enthusiastic endorsement of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, calling him an inclusive Republican who bucked his own party by voting against the anti-gay Federal Marriage Act. Meanwhile, numerous LGBT groups have endorsed Clinton: the Human Rights Campaign, the Lesbian Political Action Committee, the Congressional LGBT Caucus political action committee, and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. She has also won the endorsement of several statewide LGBT political groups, including Equality California and Equality Pennsylvania. She has the backing of prominent LGBT elected officials, such as former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank and five of the six current LGBT members of the U.S. House (only Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has not). Polls past and present Historically, LGBT voters have supported the Democratic presidential candidate over the Republican one by a margin of about 3 to 1. Over the years, the polls suggest that many LGBT people who used to identify as independent are now identifying as Republican or Democrat. In September 2012, a Gallup study found 43 percent of LGBT-identified adults said they were independent, 13 percent Republican, and 44 percent Democratic. An NBC poll in September of this year found that only 13 percent identified as independents, compared to 18 percent Republicans or Republican-leaners and 70 percent Democrats and Democratic-leaners. Over a shorter span of time, support for Clinton among LGBT voters has also grown. In a Gallup survey in May, 54 percent supported Clinton and 18 percent Trump. But in the NBC poll in September of 1,728 registered voters who identified as homosexual or bisexual, 72 percent said they would vote for Clinton; 20 percent for Trump. (Including the Libertarian and Green party candidates in the mix, the NBC survey found 63 percent of LGBT voters supported Clinton, 15 percent Trump, 13 percent Libertarian Gary Johnson, and eight percent Green Party Jill Stein.) Looking at data going back to 1990 (the first year the National Election Pool exit poll sought to identify gay, lesbian, and bisexual voters), the lowest LGB vote for Republicans came in 2008 when only 19 percent of LGB voters supported Republican John McCain. A 2012 exit poll conducted by the New York Times and other major media outlets found that 76 percent of LGB voters supported Democratic incumbent President Obama. That meant, at best, 24 percent for Republican Mitt Romney. The campaign rollercoaster Donald Trumps most pro-LGBT moments in the two-year campaign came in reaction to the June 12 mass shooting this year at an LGBT nightclub called Pulse in Orlando. He immediately expressed sympathy over the 49 lives lost and 50 people injured. During his nationally televised acceptance speech to the Republican National Convention in July, he reiterated his concern to the GOP a party whose platform has been notoriously hostile to equal rights for LGBT people. Only weeks ago, 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by an Islamic terrorist this targeting the LGBTQ community. No good, and were gonna stop it, said Trump. As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful, foreign ideology believe me. Then, departing from the text of his speech, Trump added, And I have to say, as a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just had to say. Thank you. But for many in the LGBT community, Trumps statement of solidarity with the LGBT community was undercut by his insistence that the Orlando massacre was made possible because the U.S. allows Muslims, who he said want to murder gays, to immigrate. Trump has called for a ban on allowing Muslims to enter the country (more recently, hes called for extreme vetting of Muslims). Trump also confused and dismayed many by seeming to signal initial support of transgender people in the North Carolina HB2 (bathroom) controversy only to say later that the issue should be left to the states. And his repeated promise to appoint a Supreme Court nominee in the mold of Antonin Scalia, who had the most anti-gay voting record of any justice on the nations highest court, will not likely earn him any LGBT votes. Hillary Clinton has repeatedly included words of support for LGBT equality in her stump speeches. She addressed the 2015 national dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, unabashedly putting herself on record early in the primary season as supporting numerous positions favored by LGBT voters. Among other things, she promised, as president, I would push to cut off federal funding for any public child welfare agency that discriminates against LGBT people. She visited Orlando to show solidarity with the LGBT community following the Pulse massacre. On LGBT issues, she stumbled twice: Once by saying that Nancy Reagan had helped lead public support for the fight against AIDS and a second time by saying that President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act as a way to head off a constitutional amendment banning marriage for same-sex couples. Internal campaign emails made public by Wikileaks this month show that LGBT Democratic activists moved quickly to urge Clinton to correct the record on both of those statements. She did correct her remark concerning Reagan and apologized. She said her DOMA statement reflected her recollection of private discussions she participated in. In one of the leaked email, a staffer said Clinton would never approve a true walkback of the comment. Position on the issues Supreme Court: Clinton said she would make marriage equality a priority issue in choosing a nominee to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump said he would appoint someone in the mold of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who is perhaps the most anti-gay justice in history. Equality Act: Clinton supports it, saying it will mean full federal equality for LGBT Americans and stronger anti-discrimination protections for everyone. Trump has declined opportunities to say where he stands on the measure. Marriage Equality: Clinton evolved over a period of 10 years to support marriage equality. In 2004, she said it was a sacred bond between a man and a woman. In 2007, she supported repeal of the part of the Defense of Marriage Act but also wanted to leave the marriage equality issue to the states. Then, in a 2013 video after leaving her Secretary of State post, Clinton said she had learned and come to believe that LGBT Americans deserve the rights of citizenship that includes marriage.I support it personally and as a matter of policy and law. On CNN, Trump said, I dont say anything. Im just for traditional marriage. But he has also said he would appoint Supreme Court justices willing to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell that struck down state bans on marriage for same-sex couples. North Carolinas HB2: Clinton issued a statement the day after the North Carolina legislature passed the law banning local jurisdictions from prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people and prohibiting transgender people from using the public restroom that matches their gender identity. The statement said, LGBT people should be protected from discrimination under the law period. When questioned about the law on NBCs Today Show, Trump said the state should leave it the way it is, noting that there had been very few complaints the way it is. People go. They use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate. There has been so little trouble," said Trump. But three months later, he said he had spoken with North Carolinas governor and a lot of people and he had changed his mind. Im with the state on things like this. Kim Davis controversy: A Kentucky county clerk named Kim Davis refused to allow her office to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples even after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the states ban. Clinton said it was appropriate that Davis was jailed until she agreed to let her fellow clerks issue the licenses. Trump said Davis should either let her fellow clerks issue the licenses or have same-sex couples go to other counties to obtain their licenses. LGBTs in campaign: Clinton hired an openly gay man (Robby Mook) as her campaign manager. She also hired an LGBT Outreach Director, Dominic Lowell. Trump has not hired any openly LGBT in his campaign leadership. Vice-president: Clintons choice, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, is a long-time supporter of equal rights for LGBT people. Trumps choice, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, is a long-time opponent of equal rights for LGBT people. Pro-active assist: As Secretary of State, Clinton spoke publicly about the need to address hostilities toward LGBT people around the world, saying gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights. In 2011, Trump accepted the invitation of an LGBT Republican group, GOProud, to speak at the conservative CPAC conference. And he eliminated a beauty pageant rule requiring contestants be naturally born female. Voting record: Clinton earned a 94 score from the Human Rights Campaign during her last Congressional session as senator; earned 89 and 88 in previous sessions. Trump has never held elective office and has no voting record. The departing Expedition 48-49 crew members (from left) Kate Rubins, Anatoly Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi. Credit NASA. NASA Three Expedition 49 crew members are winding down their stay in space this week, as a new trio gets used to its new home on orbit. While all six International Space Station residents are in the midst of a crew transition, they are still continuing advanced space research and orbital lab maintenance. Commander Anatoly Ivanishin spent the morning getting the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft ready for its Saturday night departure. He and Flight Engineers Kate Rubins and Takuya Onishi will board the Soyuz, undock from the Rassvet module and land in Kazakhstan ending a four-month mission. The trio spent Wednesday afternoon practicing their Soyuz descent procedures and packing gear. Rubins also explored how living in space can affect brain functions such as perception, memory and motor control for the NeuroMapping study. Onishi spent some time on an education demonstration video for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. New station resident and NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough is getting ready for the crew handover as he prepares to assume station control. He will become station commander during a change of command ceremony Friday afternoon. Expedition 50 will officially begin when the Soyuz MS-01 undocks Saturday night. Kimbrough is staying in space until February with fellow crewmates Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko. On-Orbit Status Report Meteor Operations: FE-6 exchanged the hard drive then removed and replaced the grating in the Meteor Camera located in the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF). The Meteor payload is a visible spectroscopy instrument with the primary purpose of observing meteors in Earth orbit. Meteor uses image analysis to provide information on the physical and chemical properties of the meteoroid dust, such as size, density, and chemical composition. Since the parent comets or asteroids for most of the meteor showers are identified, the study of the meteoroid dust on orbit provides information about the parent comets and asteroids. Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL) Sample Cartridge Assembly (SCA) Exchange: FE-3 was unable to locate the calibration cartridge and was directed to cap the cable connectors on the MSL chamber. The MSL was left in a safe configuration while ground teams investigate the potential locations for the cartridge. The cartridge that FE-3 removed was used for Metastable Solidification of Composites (METCOMP1) Run 4 and completed on October 20. The calibration cartridge must be installed prior to the next science run. The Batch-2b of the Materials Science Laboratory Sample Cartridge Assemblies (MSL SCA-Batch 2b-ESA) serves two projects investigating how different phases organize in a structure when metallic alloys are solidified. The METCOMP project studies the phase formed by the reaction of the remaining liquid phase with an already formed solid, to form a second solid phase on cooling. For this purpose, Bronze (Copper-Tin Alloys) of different compositions will be processed. The other project, Solidification along a Eutectic path in Ternary Alloys (SETA), looks at how two phases that form together organize into lamellar, or fibre, structures when cooling Aluminum (Copper-Silver Alloys). Both projects will provide benchmark samples that will enable to test numerical models that aim to predict these structures. Radiation Area Monitor (RAM) Retrieval: FE-2 retrieved the RAMs that are located throughout ISS and package them for return on 47 Soyuz (47S). Soyuz 47 (47S) Nominal Descent Drill: The 47S crew participated in a nominal Soyuz Decent Drill. As part of the training they reviewed preliminary undocking and descent data and worked through the descent timeline from Soyuz activation through post-landing activities. The 47S crew is scheduled to return to Earth on Saturday, October 29th. Todays Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. NEUROIMMUNITET. Saliva Collection NEUROIMMUNITET. Closeout Ops MICROVIR. Removal of Cassetta-M No.1-3 and No.1-4 from ???-? No.04 and setup in Cryogem-03 at +37 deg C COSMOCARD. Setup. Starting 24-hr ECG Recording PRODUTSENT. Removal from ???-? No.02 and Transfer to ???-? No.04 at 4 deg C MICROVIR. Squeezing out and photography of Cassetta-M No.?1-3, No.1-4 bottom cells. Setup in Cryogem-03 at +37 deg C. Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth Soyuz 731 Samsung Tablet Recharge, Initiate EVA Find Payload Water Reservoir Degas Tool ISS CREW/SSIPC CONFERENCE Filling (separation) of ??? (???) for Elektron or ???-?? Soyuz 731 Return Stowage Ops Dose Tracker Data Entry Subject Handover of Increment 49 Crew ??? maintenance DOSIS 3D Passive Detectors De-Installation from Columbus (10 PDPs and 1 TDP). Meteor Hard Drive Swapout DOSIS 3D Passive Detector Pouch handover to Russian crew for download of dosimeters with Soyuz. MICROVIR. Glovebox-S Closeout Ops MICROVIR. Photographing the state of the cells of the lower cassette-M ? 1-1, 1-2. Final operations.METEOR Grating Configuration Soyuz 731 Samsung tablet recharging, end LBNP Training (PRELIMINARY). PRODUTSENT. Deactivation and Removal of ???-? S/N 02 JAXA Education Payload Observation Communication Event MICROVIR. Photography of bottom cells CALCIUM. Bioekololgiya containers: Photography, Processing, and Photo Downlink, Pre-pack for Return Soyuz 732 Samsung Tablet Recharge, Initiate Verification of ??-1 Flow Indicator Position BIOPLENKA. Removal of Samples from the Thermostat, fixation of Constanta cassette No.4-4 biofilm. Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) JEM Crew Prep for TV Conference TV PAO event with participants of International Space Olympiad for Schoolchildren Scheduled monthly maintenance of Central Post Laptop Log-File Downlink from the Laptop. MICROVIR. Photography of bottom cells Material Science Laboratory SCA Exchange2B #4 Soyuz nominal descent training 2 Soyuz 731 descent OBT. Download Pille Dosimeter Readings IDENTIFICATION. Copy ???-? micro-accelerometer data to laptop Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation MICROVIR. Photography of bottom cells Radiation Area Monitors (RAM) Retrieval Dose Tracker Data Entry Subject SODI DSC Flash Disk Exchange NeuroMapping Experiment Neurocognitive Test Subject Dose Tracker Historical Documentation Photography Crew time for ISS adaptation and orientation Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations Subject IMS Delta File Prep MICROVIR. Photography of cell condition. Start of video recording Soyuz 732 Samsung tablet recharging, end MICROVIR. Photography of cell condition. End of video recording Completed Task List Items Biomolecule Sequencer Sample Stop and Restow Flow Cell Biomolecule Sequencer MELFI Insert Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. SSRMS Unstow SPDM Three-Day Look Ahead: Thursday, 10/27: Airway Monitoring, Handover Friday, 10/28: Cygnus Cargo Transfer, 47S Prepack, Change of Command Saturday, 10/29: 47S Undock and Landing QUICK ISS Status Environmental Control Group: Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [???] 1 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1) Off [???] 2 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2) Off Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Idle Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Shutdown Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Off Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Full Up NASA FISO Presentation: An ISS Space Ambulance Based on X-37B Technology NASA/UC Santa Cruz Now available is the October 19, 2016 NASA Future In-Space Operations (FISO) telecon material. The speakers was Steve Robinson (UC Santa Cruz) who discussed An ISS Space Ambulance Based on X-37B Technology. Thirty-four years after graduating from the UC Davis Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Dr. Stephen K. Robinson returned as a professor in 2012. The intervening years were spent at NASA, where he served as a research scientist, manager, engineer, and astronaut. Robinson flew on four space shuttle missions, including three spacewalks, and has extensive expertise in spacecraft systems, operational safety, space robotics, aerodynamics, and fluid physics. He has received numerous awards, including NASAs highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal. Robinson is a UC Davis alumnus in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (B.S., 1978) and received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in Mechanical and Aero/Astro Engineering (1990). Robinson was named as Chair of the UC Davis Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department in June of 2016, and also serves as Director of the UC Davis Center for Human/Robotics/Vehicle Integration and Performance. (Much of this presentation was given by grad student Etan Halberg.) Listen to podcast of An ISS Space Ambulance Based on X-37B Technology telecon: Download the MP3 File. Download the presentation (PDF). A contagious form of coffee madness hit Montreal on October 17th with a full day of workshops, demonstrations, and tastings, highlighted by five guest speakers. It was the second edition of East Coast Coffee Madness, an event that was created last year by Jerome Grenier-Desbiens and an all-star team from the East Canada coffee community. The Montreal coffee scene is growing rapidly and I think we need events like this East Coast Coffee Madness to keep our drive and make sure we dont stand still, explains Grenier-Desbiens, Jeremy [Challender, of Londons Prufrock Coffee] was telling me earlier that we have more quality cafes per person than in London. Its easy when there is a new cafe opening every month or even every week to sit on our success. People like Jeremy or Pete [Licata, 2013 World Baristas Champion] are here to remind us that we can always get better at what we do. Bianca Lavoie, a local and very active coffee blogger who was part of the founding group of ECCM a year ago, adds, Our motto is Meet + Learn + Grow and the event offers to all the members of the coffee community a chance to come together, discover new products and trends, learn, and develop business connections during our workshops. For their second edition, the ECCM moved to the Societe des Arts Technologiques in the busy Quartier des Spectacles. As you might expect, the crowd was mostly coffee professionals, with many of Montreals best known micro roasters, cafe owners, and baristas in attendance. Christopher Hendon, the co-author of Water for Coffee, started up the morning sessions with a surprisingly lively presentation on the many quantitative data and instruments used in the preparation of coffee, challenging many certainties that often interfere with a true qualitative approach. Then Montreals Karine Chretien-Guillemette, aka Miss Choco, spoke about the many parallels between coffee and chocolate, insisting on the bean-to-bar chocolate movement that is changing her business. She also addressed the social and ethical questions related to the trade of chocolate. The morning finished with a presentation from Challender, who is also the 2016 UK Brewers Cup Champion, who presented on calibration, batch brewing, and the many ways to run a coffee business more efficiently. The afternoon session started with Colleen Anunu, a coffee market specialist with Fair Trade USA and a member of the SCAAs Board of Directors. Critical of the emotional recuperation of so-called fair and sustainable coffee sourcing by many micro roasters on their websites and social media, Anunu explains, We have to decide what is really important. Coffee isnt about qualityits thereand coffee isnt even about economics, coffee is all about people. You have to really know who you are working with, sourcing and buying from. Anunu also insisted on the need to develop fairer trade practices on not only an economic level but also a social level, with attention to issues like gender equity. She concluded her very well received presentation by offering three goals to all those who work in the coffee trade business:,Action transparency, shared accountability, and honest emotional equity. Serious matters to consider, to say the least. The last speaker, Pete Licata, addresses the question of leadership. Coffee is very competitive at all levels and you have to show and share leadership qualities, Licata told the audience. I see my role more as a mentor than I see my role more as a mentor than a leader. I sometimes see people looking up at me or at other well-known baristas, when in fact, were all basically doing the same things, being only at different point in our careers, explains Licata. In a sense, its a matter of shared humility. I think its important that more and more people in leadership positions truly share their knowledge. And its equally important that the people starting up in the business accept that they have a lot to learn. As the world champion noted, events like the East Coast Coffee Madness perfectly serve that need to share knowledge and information. The team is already making plans for 2017 and beyond. Michel Marois (@MMcafeLP) is a sportswriter for La Presse, and a Sprudge.com contributor based in Montreal. Read more Michel Marois on Sprudge. The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono gets into the spirit of the heavenly haunted holiday this coming Monday, October 31, Halloween, with its annual staging of 'The Grey Ghost and Poltergeist Pace,' which will be held as the fifth race on the (appropriately) twilight card, because isn't twilight when the Halloween spookiness begins to come out? The nine-horse race is comprised of horses who are grey or roan (mixed black and white with some red hair), and this year's edition includes a rare horse that is officially classified 'white' (more on him in a minute). Grey horses and their brethren make up less than five percent of racing Standardbreds. The Downs will be 'done up' appropriately for the holiday event: outrider Tia Shafer will lead the horses to post with her horse Red, and both will be dressed in their spooky finest; the Hanover Shoe Farms' winner's circle a haunted graveyard; there will be candy, and free programs while they last. The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame is the sponsor of the race: the Goshen NY-based Hall will be selling wristbands honouring the great trotter Greyhound and to raise money for his museum exhibit, along with mugs featuring pictures of Pocono's 2015 'Grey Ghost' and other fun items. Front and center on the souvenir mugs will be Gotta Love Him, who is the defending champion, a two-time winner having also taken the 2013 edition (Matt Kakaley, who is listed to drive him Monday, steered him to both victories), and a four-time competitor. Gotta Love Him is sired by Admirals Galley, who himself was sired by Laag, one of the best grey horses ever, and Admirals Galley is in turn the sire of Admirals Express, a hugely-popular Ontario-based performer who won $2.1 million in his career and had a mark of 1:48.2. The team behind Gotta Love Him -- owner Stan and Amie Weitoish and trainer Cindy Weitoish -- must really be looking forward to Halloween, for that day will be the one-year mark of when Gotta Love Him last won -- in the 2015 Halloween pace at The Downs! (Don't feel too bad for the Weitoishs, though -- the horse has earned $24,150 since his last win). And the fall must really agree with Gotta Love Him -- in the last three years, he shows four victories, and all of them have come later than October 15! Another interesting breeding angle is that there is a full brother and sister competing in the race, and they were assigned the outermost two posts based on good recent performance. Both the four-year-old gelding Muffins Man (post position eight) and the five-year-old mare Bettor Chill Out (post position nine) are parented by sire Bettors Delight and dam Jus Chilln Out -- a grey mare who set a world record at Pocono when she was three! Finally, the 'white' horse -- a four-year-old named White Bliss, an extremely rare pure white Standardbred (the last one registered was in 1998). The then-yearling sold at auction for $240,000 and was purchased as a present for Asa Sjoberg, matriarch of one of Sweden's leading trotting families, with the hope that he would be a racehorse and sire. White Bliss does have a win and two seconds in his last five starts, and was timed in 1:54.2 in coming to Pocono for his last start. Rounding out the field is JS McFlash, making his second appearance in the Pocono race for trainer Wendy Shimmin; the Roll With Joe gelding White Rolls, trained by Michael Hall; Rumor Mill, a roan mare from the Rene Allard barn; Classic Seebreeze, trained by Eric Mollor; and Jaded Truth, making his first start on the Pocono oval for trainer Pat Curtin. All these storylines converge in the fifth race at Pocono this Monday, where the first of 14 races starts at 4:30 p.m., meaning that "The Grey Ghost and Poltergeist Pace" should crown its 2016 champion at approximately 6 p.m. (With files from PHHA / Pocono) An unexpected lahar due to heavy rains has buried 9 trucks at Mount Merapi in Indonesia on October 27, 2016. The miners and truck drivers managed to escape just before the volcanic debris flow engulfed their cars. Recent heavy rains have triggered a lahar that flew down from Merapi along the Bebeng river valley. Besides destroying everything in its path, the volcanic debris flash flood also buried nine trucks transporting miners back to their villages. The miners and the truck drivers managed to escape when the lava flood arrived. But the trucks are buried in stones and mud. There is no place to secure the trucks, which are badly damaged. A new road must be created to reach the location. Do to the steep landscape, the scene is hard to reach. Miners and drivers havent been rescued today, as the conditions are too dangerous. The scene can only be reached through the river Kali Bebeng. The sediment and the lava makes it almost impossible to pass. The victims of the lahar should be evacuated tomorrow. Pray for them in the meantime! Sembilan Truk Terkubur Banjir Lahar Merapi Follow us on Facebook andTwitter Play at the new site will be free and first come, first served through the year's end. Cowlitz PUD commissioners this week passed a $276 million budget for next year that wont raise rates for customers, but does plan for a potential budget deficit. Ratepayers wont see rate hikes yet, primarily because Bonneville Power Administration, which supplies 90 percent of the utilitys power, wont change its rates until next fall. Both revenue and overall expenses will be slightly down or flat compared to this years budget. The budget is the result of months of planning that involved a new process of five-year forecasting and managing expenses led by new General Manager Steve Kern. I really feel our house is in order. The staff has really dug in and turned over about every rock we can, Kern told commissioners Tuesday. But at the same time, we dont want to run a bare-bones organization as well. I feel like were very lean, but very efficient, and we still provide reliable, safe service. The utility had anticipated a $6.1 million deficit in 2016 between its expected revenue and costs, but instead will end the year with $5.9 million surplus. The surplus will be placed in a rate stabilization fund used to control potential rate increases. In spite of the better-than-expected year for costs, the PUD has again planned for a deficit of up to $5.73 million next year. Any budget shortfall will be covered by cash reserves. Utility CFO Trent Martin said the deficits are only planned as a conservative estimate to account for volatile power costs, which are subject to change depending the weather and wholesale market prices. Though harder to control, power costs account for about 76 percent of the utilitys budget. Because much of those costs depend on the weather, the utility conservatively budgets for poor wind and water years, expecting to have to buy more of its power on the market to make up for lower generation levels. However, this year there was an average amount of wind generation and a better than average level of hydropower generation. That helped to significantly lower power costs. The utility also made $1 million in a one-time sale of extra renewable energy credits. The agency additionally pushed for lower maintenance costs at its Eastern and Central Washington wind farms. In an effort to stem costs next year, Kern told staff to only include priority capital projects based on safety, efficiency and reliability, capacity and growth, as well as other requirements. Major capital projects to be tackled next year include upgrading the West Kelso substation, replacing 12 miles of underground cable and upgrading 1.6 miles of transmission line. Next years capital budget of just over $7 million is down 13 percent from this years budget. Also, operating expenses were cut by 3.85 percent compared to the prior years budget. However, power costs are expected to be slightly higher, and labor costs will also rise as the utility expects to hire a new energy policy manager and a government affairs manager. Commissioner Dena Diamond-Ott praised the PUD staff for developing a capital plan that we can afford and will continue to provide safe and reliable electrical service to our customers. We have reduced our debt by $18 millions and most importantly weve done all that without needing a rate increase. When incumbent state Sen. Dean Takko retires, he wants to be known as the legislator who worked across the aisle. Its been his message throughout his campaign. As a moderate Democrat, Takko who has been a state legislator for 11 years said he is often the one trying to persuade partisan views to compromise. I try to be in the middle on issues because thats usually where youre going to find the answer, he said. Having moved from Ilwaco to Cathlamet at age 14, Takkos first foray into holding an elected office came in 1974 when he was voted in as Wahkiakum County Assessor. Although Takko, now 66, said he never planned for a career in politics, just four years later he was elected Cowlitz County Assessor. Then in 2005, he was appointed to the 19th District House seat to replace Brian Hatfield who left to work for the lieutenant governors office. Ive never been one to plan my life out, he said with a chuckle. Its just an interesting ride and Im willing to take chances and try new things. Takko boasts of his record fighting for the 19th District in the Legislature, touting his work on the states most recent transportation package that provided $110 million to Cowlitz County. At other times, he said he steps aside to let his fellow legislators get credit for a bill if he thinks it will help it pass into law. Takko said he took the advice of former state Sen. Sid Snyder, who once told him: It doesnt matter whose name is on the bill. What matters is that you do good policy. Now, Takko said the biggest challenge the 800-pound gorilla in the room is the McCleary decision, the state Supreme Courts ruling that Washington violated its constitution by not fully funding K-12 public education. The state has been fined $100,000 a day for contempt since Aug. 13. Takko said a statewide levy wont be enough to solve the problem; the state has already poured billions of dollars to try to comply, and nobody has the answer as to how its going to happen. So this coming year, in any conversation about the Legislatures funding goals or the goals he has like transportation or tourism improvements in the district he will always have McCleary in the back of his mind, he said. Thats the frustration, is that McCleary is just overwhelming everything else, he said. Takko became a state senator in October 2015, having replaced Hatfield through the appointment process for the second time when Hatfield resigned for a position with Gov. Jay Inslees office. Some have been critical of the appointment process, which involves the county commissioners from all five of the 19th Districts counties. The process has determined the districts legislative representation for decades. But Takko says the process is fair, rejecting the idea that the district has remained an old boys club. Takko noted that the three female county commissioners also voted for state Rep. J.D. Rossetti as his replacement last fall. Like the other current state representatives, Takko opposes I-1491, which would prohibit high-risk individuals from obtaining firearms, and he supports the proposed coal facility. Takko opposes I-732, which would impose a carbon emission tax on certain fossil fuels. But he supports I-1433 to raise the state minimum wage to $13.50 by 2020, as well as I-735, which provides constitutional amendment rights only to individuals and not corporations. He opposes repealing the Oregon sales tax exemption but is still divided on I-1501, which is meant to protect seniors and vulnerable individuals from identity theft but also protects union caregivers from public disclosure. Takko had a comfortable lead in the Aug. 2 primary against challenger Sue Kuehl Pederson, a Grays Harbor Republican. Districtwide, Takko had 57.7 percent of the votes compared to Pedersons 42.4 percent. In Cowlitz County, Takko received 58.4 percent and Pederson 41.6 percent. Of the $107,000 Takko has raise for his campaign, he has about $59,000 remaining, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission on Wednesday. Pederson has raised $86,000, which includes more than $71,000 of her own money. Takko said he hopes people remember him as the one who got things done, the legislator who was willing to work with people across party lines. A self-described social liberal and fiscal moderate, he said hes been disappointed with the polarized politics in the federal government. Takko said hes not afraid to go against his party. If I were king of the world, I might do some different things, Takko said, but I realize youve got to work with people. Sue Kuehl Pederson grew up in Southwest Washington and she says she wants to see it thrive. I have an image of what it can be, and what I see is this long, slow downhill slide of our economy, Kuehl Pederson said. The Skamania County native grew up in Cook, Wash., home to the Little White Salmon hatchery, and worked as a fish biologist for 20 years. From 2005 to 2007, she was a Grays Harbor PUD power manager in Aberdeen and then retired with her husband. Kuehl Pederson doesnt have political experience and has never run for elected office. But she said she brings a diverse working background and another advantage fresh eyes. She hopes that diverse background and fresh perspective will be enough to unseat state Sen. Dean Takko, a Democrat who was appointed to the position last year. I think Dean (Takko) has done a fine job maintaining the status quo, but I think its time to make big changes, she said. I am the furthest thing from a crony politician. I dont work that way. The Republican candidate is opposed to big government, she said, and doesnt want any form of tax increases. She opposes all six initiatives on the November ballot; that includes a carbon emission tax on fossil fuels, state minimum wage raises, and the repeal of the Oregon sales tax exemption. She said her focus as a state senator would be jobs and education, and she supports a statewide levy to fund K-12 public education after the state Supreme Courts McCleary decision. Until we have more jobs, we are suffering in our rural areas, Kuehl Pederson said, adding that the 19th District needs to better use its natural resources in the ports and forestry, and increase internet capability to draw more businesses in. And her experience in the PUD and fish biology has made her passionate about the 19th Districts natural resources, especially salmon. She said biologists should be using the hatcheries to improve the gene pool and get more fish in the river. Beyond her own work experience, Kuehl Pederson said doorbelling has provided her with new perspectives on what people in the district need and the importance of being accessible. With tears in her eyes, Kuehl Pederson spoke about people who have struggled with their childrens drug abuse. People are blown away when they see a candidate at the door, she said. Kuehl Pederson said a lot of people in public administration suffer the silo effect being involved in one issue alone and forgetting to see the big picture. She said her diverse background and life experiences allows her to approach problems with a bigger point of view. I spent a lot of time contemplating what could be done to fix some of our problems, she said. Kuehl Pederson registered to vote in Grays Harbor two weeks before she filed as a candidate and wasnt registered to vote two years prior. In 2010 her husband passed away, prompting her to move from Aberdeen to University Place in Pierce County and enroll her then-14-year-old son in a better school when he struggled with his fathers death. She said all the while she kept her fixer upper home in Aberdeen, which she bought in 2005 when she began working for the PUD. They have always been the first priority for me. I always put my kids first, she said. I know what its like to be a single mom and to be a parent juggling life with children. Kuehl Pederson has said as someone who grew up in Southwest Washington, the 19th District better encompasses who she is. The 19th District includes Aberdeen in the north, parts of Lewis and Cowlitz counties in the east, and all of Pacific and Wahkiakum counties. Kuehl Pederson believes 19th District voters deserve to have a choice, and she has poured more than $71,000 of her own money into her campaign, according to the states Public Disclosure Commission on Wednesday. Throughout her campaign she has touted her lack of political ties as a strength, often citing Albert Einstein as an inspiration: You cant solve problems using the same way of thinking that created your problems in the first place, she said. As part of her effort to continue development of early childhood programs, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, (D-Wash.) visited Longview Head Starts new Memorial Park location Wednesday afternoon. Murray toured the facility, met teachers, staff and parents and read a short story to a class. Murray, whos running for re-election against former Washington GOP Chairman Chris Vance, said investing in programs like Head Start is of critical importance. Its going to be an uphill battle in a very tough climate, but I wanted to come out and take some of these stories back to Washington D.C. to remind people why this is one of the most important investments we can make, Murray said. A lot of people just think its daycare for kids. Its not. Its so much more than that. Head Start in Cowlitz County has nine locations serving more than 525 children. Because the Head Start program is not fully funded, another 184 children have been placed on a wait list. Of those wait-listed, 53 do not have permanent home. Although Head Start Director Suzanne Boursaw expects funding for the program to remain the same, shes still hopeful more money will be made available especially with Muray backing the program. Theres so much research done in the area of early learning and how important early years are for children and adults. The investment in early learning is worthwhile and Sen. Murray has been a real champion for that, Boursaw said. Murray took time out to meet with several parents who have children enrolled in the program. Amy Montarbo, 32, said Head Start was more than just and education program and helped bring her blended family of eight together. She said on her oldest sons first day in the program, someone took a picture of Montarbo and her family all standing together. The picture, which Montarbo brought to show Murray, was the first picture the family had ever taken together. Everything happens very, very quickly ... We had never stopped to say we are a family, we are raising these tiny people and this is their childhood. Head Start really helped us slow down and say look, They have a lot to learn, theyre little, lets enjoy them, and they [Head Start] helped bring us together as a family, Montarbo said. Youre recognized as an important person, not just as a parent. Montarbo said nobody teaches you how to be a parent before you are one, especially for those that are at-risk. I think a lot of parents who are at-risk can come from that kind of background in this program and now our kids dont have to be, because of Head Start. Murray later attended a Get out the Vote campaign event at the Cowlitz County Democrats office in downtown Longview. There, encouraged people to keep talking to neighbors, friends and family about the upcoming election. Longview resident Mary Lyons said shes supported Murray since her first term in office in 1993. Ive always admired her compassion. Shes very compassionate about the people of Washington, Lyons said. I think that she articulates our optimism here in Washington and she represents us in a way that makes us proud. hidden Some Chinese iPhone owners are giving their old models a makeover to look like the latest iPhone 7, rather than buying new - a trend that could dent Apple Inc's efforts to boost sales in what has been its biggest growth driver. Online sites offer shoppers makeover kits, false cameras and even dust plugs to hide the removed headphone jack to give their iPhone 6 or 6S the appearance of the iPhone 7 - Apple's latest flagship product which launched last month. The makeover quirk mirrors a broader view among some Chinese users that the iPhone 7 doesn't have enough new features to convince them to trade up. "I don't have the money to upgrade, and the (iPhone) 7 is just so-so," said a Beijing-based sales worker, who said he was getting a Shenzhen firm to replace his iPhone 6 back casing with a fake iPhone 7 shell. "I'm changing it to show off," he said, giving only his surname Gao as he wasn't sure that what he was doing was legal. Searches on platforms including Alibaba's Taobao showed a range of products to transform older phones to an iPhone 7 - from stickers and engraving services to replacing the outer casing and even some of the hardware. "Now people have money and the Internet, these [modifications] are very convenient to do," said Hu Benshu, who owns an electronics retail outlet in Beijing's popular Zhongguancun technology hub. He added that at his store, Apple's iPhone 4 - launched six years ago - is still the best-seller because of its durability. Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. firm posted a third straight quarter of declining iPhone sales globally on Tuesday, and said Greater China revenue slipped 30 percent to $8.79 billion in July-September - despite the partial impact of the new iPhone launch. The company said any bump from iPhone 7 sales would not be seen fully until the current quarter, and a jump in sales was just around the corner. "I think Q4 looks promising for Apple in China as long as they ensure supply of the larger 7 Plus," said Canalys analyst Nicole Peng. Apple has struggled with supply issues, causing some demand gaps in China, particularly for the large screen iPhone 7 Plus and the coveted jet black model. The world's most valuable listed firm has seen its China market share slip to 8.4 percent, lagging local smartphone makers Huawei [HWT.UL], Oppo and Vivo, which have won over shoppers with similar features at lower prices, according to research firm Counterpoint. "The iPhone 7 series should help Apple regain lost (China) market share as demand is tracking better than for the iPhone 6s series," said Counterpoint analyst Neil Shah. "(But) Apple needs to offer something cutting-edge to appeal to maturing Chinese smartphone users who are warming to local brands." Struggling for converts Apple has something of an opportunity in China as its traditional rival, South Korea's Samsung Electronics, had to yank its large-screen Galaxy Note 7 off the market this month as some phones were catching fire. But consumers and retailers said the iPhone maker faces an uphill task to convert Samsung fans. One Samsung user wrote online that "an exploding Note 7 is still better than an un-innovative iPhone 7." Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri told Reuters on Tuesday it was "impossible to know" if there was any effect yet from Samsung halting production of its Note 7 phones. Of six ex-Samsung smartphone users Reuters spoke to in China, only one said he would consider switching to the iPhone 7, which was seen lacking ground-breaking features. "The iPhone 7 design was ... not much of an upgrade," said Zhao Bo, a 26-year-old student from Jilin province, who plans to buy a Samsung C9 Pro after returning his Note 7. "There's no headphone jack and the price is so much higher," he said, noting also that Samsung is offering subsidies to users who trade in their Note 7 for another Samsung phone. Some carriers have made a marketing push on the iPhone 7 to fill the Note 7 vacuum, but the effect is limited partly due to Samsung's own declining market share and to shoppers possibly holding off until Apple launches a new model, expected next year. "I'm waiting for a big upgrade," said Gao, the Beijing salesman, adding he'd only buy the next new phone if there were significant changes. "I'm going to see what it's like; it really depends." Reuters tech2 News Staff Diwali is just around the corner. Apart from being the festival of lights, it's also a time when you indulge in a lot of gifting. With so many sales going on around this time, it only makes sense to make the most out of it. We have you covered with cameras, smartphones across budgets, home theatre systems, TVs, fitness bands and more. Here are the best laptops you can buy for yourself or for gifting it to your loved ones, this holiday season. Entry level laptops This category of laptops are best for the first time buyers. Ideally something you can buy for your younger cousins who are at school or college, to help them out with projects and assignment work. Both Intel and AMD have great entry level solutions in this category. Ensure that you will not be able to run high end applications such as Adobe's Photoshop or even run some high resolution video content on these laptops. Suggestions Lenovo IdeaPad 100 (Without Windows out of the box) Price: Rs 18,986 Acer Aspire ES (With Windows 10) Price: Rs 18,990 HP 15-ba007au (Without Windows out of the box) Price: Rs 18,299 Multimedia laptops For those looking at this category, you don't need to go for a traditional laptop as such. There are many 2-in-1s in the market which function quite well as your daily driver or if you want to relax, you can detach the display and use it to consume content. The thing to look for here is portability and sleeker profiles. Suggestions HP Pavilion x360 Price: Rs 48,290 Asus UX360CA Price: Rs 55,640 Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Price: Rs 73,190 Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Price: Rs 73,990 Lenovo Yoga 900 Price: Rs 1,18,400 Gaming laptops The only requirement here is to ensure that the laptop has a dedicated graphics solution. Integrated graphics just won't cut it for your loved one who is into gaming. Also with gaming laptops, you will really have to increase your budget over Rs 70,000 to get a proper gaming laptop. There's really no point trying to go for a budget option here. Suggestions MSI GL62 6QF Price: Rs 76,900 Asus ROG G551W Price: Rs 94,990 Alienware R2 Price: Rs 1,53,000 Apple laptops For those of you wanting to forego the Windows OS, there are the macOS sporting Apple laptops. Apple has neatly divided segments with the Air series meant for those who want a light laptop, the Pro series targetted at content creators. Here are the interesting deals we found on the Macbooks. Suggestions Apple MacBook Air (13.3-inch) Price: Rs 60,990 Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display (13-inch) Price: Rs 89,990 Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display (15-inch) Price: Rs 1,40,490 Please Note: Apple is launching its new series of MacBook Pros on 27 October 10.30PM India time. These will take some time getting to India. So it would be best to wait and see how things pan out. The existing models may hopefully get a further price drop over the days. hidden EU officials said on Wednesday they planned to invest 12 billion euros by 2020 to develop new rockets to launch satellites for defence and data-driven businesses and reduce reliance on Russian launchers. With limited options to launch orbiters and Russia controlling a large share of the market, businesses currently wait years for a window to put satellites in space. The European Commission wants to help Europe's top rocket contractor, Airbus Safran Launchers, to develop the Ariane 6 rocket by 2020 to better compete with U.S. and Russian rivals on cost and payload size. Existing Ariane launchers cost roughly 150 million euros compared to 80 million for Russia's Soyuz, EU officials said. "We don't want to use the other launchers. We are now using the Soyuz because there is no other way," Europe's Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska told reporters. With the global space industry growing faster than any other sector, the EU unveiled its strategy on Wednesday to ensure it does not fall behind in sectors, including defence, that use earth-observation data. "We know who are the biggest global space powers: It is the U.S., it is Russia and China and India are coming so we want to be second or third," Bienkowska said. The Commission plans to promote the use of its own global satellite navigation system Galileo in mobile phones and make the data available for business. Europe will launch more than 30 satellites over the next decade to complete Galileo, which will work in tandem with the U.S. GPS system, EU officials said. "Galileo data will be much more precise than GPS," Bienkowska said. Russia and China have launched their own global positioning systems to underpin their defence industries and civilian commerce. Europe is the world's third largest satellite manufacturer and the 28-nation bloc hopes investment in the space sector can increase the number of related jobs from the current 230,000. "The benefit for the economy from one euro invested in space is seven euros back," Bienkowska said. Reuters tech2 News Staff Google Pixel has already received accolades from all nooks and corners, and sort of enjoys the tag of the 'best Android ever'. However, there is one niggling problem and the company has also gone ahead and acknowledged the issue flare lens. There have been users complaining of a distracting halo lens flare in photos that are taken in bright light. Now, Google has not just acknowledged the issue, but also promised to fix it soon. How soon? Well, in the coming weeks', it says. lens flare is common, but in case of Pixel, the camera is more susceptible than others, and some Redittors have been complaining about it. "You'll probably see it if you take a photo with a bright light source visible. In particular, there's a halo effect in the corners of the frame," points out AndroidPolice. The report adds that in a forum thread, it is said that the issue doesn't mean a defective device, and all Pixel devices may see this problem to some extent. However, later it was said that there could be a fix. "This will only work with HDR+ enabled, but there's no reason to turn that feature off as it's considerably faster on the Pixel than on past Google devices," the report further adds. Meanwhile, you can take a look at our low light photography comparison on how Google Pixel XL leaves the Apple iPhone 7 Plus behind. hidden A widely expected legal challenge has been filed by an Irish privacy advocacy group to an EU-U.S. commercial data transfer pact underpinning billions of dollars of trade in digital services just two months after it came into force, sources said. The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield was agreed earlier this year after the European Union's highest court struck down the previous such framework for transferring Europeans' private data to the United States on concerns about intrusive U.S. surveillance. The framework gives businesses moving personal data across the Atlantic - from human resources information to people's browsing histories to hotel bookings - an easy way to do so without falling foul of tough EU data transferral rules. Digital Rights Ireland has challenged the adoption of the "Privacy Shield" by the EU executive - which negotiated the pact with Washington - in front of the second-highest EU court, arguing it does not contain adequate privacy protections, several people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The case has been published on the website of the Luxembourg-based General Court - the lower court of the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) - but says only it is an "action for annulment". The case number is T-670/16. Digital Rights Ireland declined to comment. It will be a year or more before the court rules on the case and it could still be declared inadmissible if the court finds the Privacy Shield is not of direct concern to Digital Rights Ireland, two of the people said. Individuals or companies may challenge EU acts before the EU courts if they are directly concerned within two months of the act coming into force. "We are aware of the application (for annulment)," a spokesman for the European Commission said. "We don't comment on ongoing court cases. As we have said from the beginning, the Commission is convinced that the Privacy Shield will live up to the requirements set out by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which has been the basis for the negotiations." Revelations three years ago from former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden of mass U.S. surveillance practices caused political outrage in Europe and have cast cross-border data transfers in a pall of uncertainty. The Privacy Shield seeks to strengthen the protection of Europeans whose data is moved to U.S. servers by giving EU citizens greater means to seek redress in case of disputes, including through a new privacy ombudsman within the State Department who will deal with complaints from EU citizens about U.S. spying. Companies had to rely on other more cumbersome legal mechanisms in the wake of the ECJ ruling invalidating Safe Harbour, the framework that for 15 years was used by over 4,000 companies for transatlantic data transfers. More than 500 companies have signed up to the Privacy Shield so far, including Google, Facebook and Microsoft. Reuters tech2 News Staff Microsoft has announced a new Surface Book laptop whose battery life is 30 percent longer at 16 hours. Shares of Microsoft were up 0.2 percent in morning trading. Terry Myerson, Microsoft's executive vice president for the Windows and devices group, said the update was tailored for gamers who are increasingly interested in augmented and virtual reality experiences. The three new Surface Book models will come with sixth Generation Intel Core i7 processors and pack more than twice the graphics processing power compared to the original Surface Book. "With Surface Book with Performance Base, engineers can spin 3-D CAD models with thousands of parts, designers and developers can render large files quickly, and gamers can play more of their favorite games. No other laptop combines similar battery life, performance and pixels in as lightweight a package," Microsoft writes in a press release. "Windows 10 will be your platform for gaming glory," he said at a product launch event in New York. Accessories for the update will start at $299, Myerson said. The revamped operating system and accessories, which also will let users tour world heritage sites in virtual reality, come as Microsoft's Windows and mobile business is struggling. Revenue for the unit fell 1.8 percent last quarter to $9.29 billion, Microsoft said last week. It forecast the division's sales at up to $11.6 billion for this quarter, well below year-earlier results of $12.7 billion. Nonetheless, Microsoft is riding high on its fast-growing cloud business, which companies can use to host their websites, apps or data. Shares of Microsoft have doubled since August 2013, with Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella restoring investor confidence by focusing on mobile and cloud computing rather than PCs. Surface Book with Performance Base starts at $2,399 ERP USD, which is approximately Rs 1,60,000. It is available for pre-order at Microsoft Stores, MicrosoftStore.com and select retailers in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It will be made available starting November 10. The company has also announced a free update to its Windows operating system that lets users take photos and edit content in three dimensions, in a bid to raise excitement for its declining computing business. The Windows 10 Creators Update, coming in early 2017, lets users on mobile devices take three-dimensional photos by scanning an object as they walk around it. It also allows for 3D graphics in Microsoft's popular PowerPoint presentation software, and a new "Paint 3D" application lets people edit photos and other designs in three dimensions. With input from Reuters hidden South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics' net profits in the third quarter dropped by 16.8 per cent, primarily due to problems with the Galaxy Note 7 for which a massive recall had to be issued in September, the company announced on Thursday. Operating profit dropped 29.7 per cent from a year earlier to 5.2 trillion won ($4.6 billion) in the July-September quarter. From three months ago, the profit tumbled 36.2 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported. It marked the lowest in two years, meeting the revised estimate by Samsung which slashed its preliminary forecast by 2.6 trillion won to reflect costs from the discontinuation of its fire-prone smartphone. Scores of reports about Note 7 phones heating up and catching fire led Samsung to terminate its latest flagship model. Hundreds of owners of the device here have sued Samsung for inconveniences they experienced in the recall and termination process. The company's revenue declined 7.5 per cent over the year to 47.82 trillion won in the September quarter, the lowest since the first quarter of last year. From the previous quarter, the revenue was down 6.1 per cent. Net income dropped to 4.54 trillion won in the third quarter from 5.46 trillion won a year earlier. From three months ago, the net income plunged 22.4 per cent. IANS hidden Senior executives from the Asia-Pacific headquarters of Alphabet Inc's Google met Indonesian tax officials on Wednesday to negotiate the internet search company's tax bill, a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. No agreement has been reached yet, said the person, who declined to be named as the information was confidential. A Google spokesman declined to comment. Indonesia plans to pursue Google for five years of back taxes, and the U.S. company could face a bill of more than $400 million for 2015 alone if it is found to have avoided payments, senior tax official Muhammad Haniv told Reuters last month. Google Indonesia has said it continues to cooperate with local authorities and has paid all applicable taxes. Indonesia is eager to ramp up tax collection to reduce its budget deficit and fund an infrastructure programme. Other governments around the world are also seeking to clamp down on corporate tax avoidance. Thailand is studying plans to toughen tax collection rules for internet and technology firms, the head of the Revenue Department told Reuters last month. Ken Dwijugiasteadi, Indonesia's director-general of taxes, declined to comment on whether the meeting with Google took place on Wednesday, but told Reuters in a text message: "When the time is right, we will hold a press conference." The tax office alleges that Google's local entity, PT Google Indonesia, paid less than 0.1 percent of the total income and value-added taxes it owed last year, with most of the revenue from the country being booked at Google's Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore. The Indonesian tax office has estimated the total advertising revenue for the industry in Indonesia at around $830 million a year, with Google and Facebook Inc accounting for around 70 percent of that. But a joint study by Google and Singapore state investor Temasek released earlier this year estimated this at $300 million for 2015. Reuters Nimish Sawant Microsoft unveiled a premium all-in-one in the form of the Surface Studio PC at its Surface Event in New York on 26 October. The 28-inch PixelSense touch-sensitive display sporting all in one, comes with one of the thinnest displays and has a 3:2 aspect ratio. It comes fully kitted out with a high-end Intel Core i7 processor, 2TB hard drive, 32GB RAM, Nvidia 980M GPU, four USB 3.0 ports which are present inside a small box at the base. This box connects to the display via the hinge. It also comes with a special controller in the form of Surface Dial. Unlike most static all-in-one's we have seen so far, the Microsoft Surface Studio, offers a zero-gravity hinge mechanism. The hinge comprises two chrome arms attached to the base. It can go from keeping the display upright, to going almost flat without much resistance. It does not go completely flat, but has a slight angular approach. This resembles the angles at which drafting boards are in studios, which allow the artist to have a better angle to sketch or draw. Pair the 20-inch display which has a 192 PPI pixel density with a Surface Pen (similar to the one seen with Surface Book and Surface Pro 4) and the Surface Dial and you could optimise your workflow vis-a-vis the physical counterparts, as was demoed on stage by Madefire founder Ben Wolstenholme. Telling partners how it's done Microsoft has been working with its PC partners for many years now. But that did not stop it from releasing the Surface Pro tablet in 2013 and last year we saw the release of the Surface Book laptop. Note that Microsoft partners are making products in these categories for years. This year with the Surface Studio PC, Microsoft is getting into the all in one space. Again, this is a category where players such as Lenovo, Asus, HP, Dell and others have been working for years. Microsoft Windows operating system may be riddled with issues. But when Microsoft releases hardware such as the Surface Pro, the Surface Book and now, the Surface Studio all in one we are left impressed. It makes us wonder, why aren't the partners thinking of these design languages before Microsoft itself? It feels as if Microsoft is laying out the reference design, in a way, which partners need to emulate. With the Surface Studio, Microsoft is continuing that trend in the all in one space. Focus on Creators If there was one word that was constantly heard in the Surface event, it was Creators. Microsoft ensured that every announcement had something or the other to do with content creators. It kind of reminded one of Lenovo's 'Do' campaign. Right from releasing the Windows Creators Edition, to the revamp of Microsoft Paint, to showing off the Surface Studio, it looked like Microsoft was addressing only one community of users - creative professionals. A lot of these, for better or worse, are Mac users. This Quora thread gives a good idea why designers prefer a Mac over a Windows system for professional work. According to Guy Kawasaki, it was desktop publishing which saved Apple thanks to its original page-layout program Aldus Pagemaker. At the high end of things, as far as all in ones go, the iMac 5K does not really have a Windows equivalent. Even in terms of design, the iMacs with Retina displays are still considered gold standards for all in one systems. Long story short - Windows never had an iMac all in one equivalent. And just like it did with the Surface Pro and Surface Book, Microsoft decided that it had to lead the way in this department as well. Surface Dial really adds value Microsoft has been teasing a large screen touch display for ages now. Surface Table, anyone? Back when I had seen it, that moment when the menus pop out once you place the phone on the table, was pretty impressive. With the Surface Dial, Microsoft is trying to do just that. Off the display, it works as a scroller or a jog dial. Place it on the display and it opens up contextual menus based on application you are in. In the demos shown, you see a designer engrossed with painting on the display. She then places the Dial on the display and out comes the colour picker. Considering the 28-inch display size, it would certainly be inconvenient to constantly be going back to the colour picker which may be on either edge of the display to change colours. With more developers adding contextual menus to the Dial, it will get more convenient to use it over say just a mouse / trackpad / Wacom pen tablets. Penny Arcade's Gabe who has been using the Surface Studio for a week has this to say about the Dial. "The Dial has built in haptics so each step backwards or forwards is accompanied by a click I can feel in the device. It can also be pushed like a button or pushed and held to bring up a customizeable radial menu. This menu is customizable so I can easily make that same motion zoom in and out or control the volume of my music. While you are working you can hold it in whatever position is comfortable." What does it mean for India? Going by the release cycles of Microsoft's past hardware products, nothing really. It took ages for Microsoft to release the Surface Pro 3 and later the Surface Pro 4 in India. The Surface Book never made it to the Indian shores. And looking at the starting price of $2,399 (approx Rs 1,61,000), it is doubtful we are going to see this in India any time soon. That leaves the field open for Microsoft's partners to come up with something along the lines of Surface Studio for India. But then looking at the declining PC sales, and adding in the fact that the Surface Studio and its ilk address a super niche market, I wonder how much of a dent that will make. Professionals are known to invest in machines that will last them for years. Surface Studio is a great looking product and brings in a true competitor to the iMac 5K in the Windows PC space. Will other partners follow suit, or will it be Microsoft leading this segment in the Windows PC? Only time will tell. Which ever way this pans out, one thing is for sure. For a company which relies on software for its bread and butter, Microsoft has been pulling off some really aspirational hardware over the years. Nash David Im thankful to Microsoft. My awareness of the computing world is completely enabled by Redmond. Since my days in school, my journey with technology included Pacman, Logo programming, and Prince of Persia on a monochrome screen powered by a state of the art 25MHz 486 PC. Since then, Ive closely watched Microsoft. I felt I was pretty decent at GWBasic, and wished someday Id have a career with the tech giant. Before you laugh at me, werent many boys aspiring to be Top Guns? I didnt know Apple back then. Google didnt exist. Intel was the next big thing. Since the 486 to a wide gamut of devices from the RaspberryPi to a tabletop Surface Microsoft has evolved. Its latest operating system grew leaner and found itself on newer product categories. The new Microsoft under Satya Nadella Theres now a big shift in the way Microsoft is perceived. Specifically coming to the Surface line of devices, theres the Surface Pro, Surface Book and now Surface Studio. It showed that Windows devices could be brilliantly designed. Another product that was getting widespread attention was the HoloLens. I had the privilege of trying out the HoloLens early on. And it felt that these headsets finally made sense. As a person, Im admittedly claustrophobic. I like my world to be airy. I love long walks. I love magnanimity in space. Yes I live in Mumbai where space is limited. Its a desire, and Ive come to terms with it. But no way am I putting my head into an enclosure for any more than a couple of seconds. Thats what I think when I try on an Oculus-compatible product. The world of VR is enclosed. But the world of MR (or mixed reality) is open. It brings about a sense of being in an expanse. You see the real world and you can interact with virtual characters as well as augmented data. Its brilliant. Its probably what the Google Glass could be. But wasnt. Then, yesterday, during the Surface event, Microsoft showcased a new VR headset. It had the perfect ingredient. A price of $299. But. But, it wasnt the same as the HoloLens. This piece of technology, is pocket friendly (nearly) when compared to the real thing which is priced at $3000. So what exactly were we expecting at a tenth of the price? The product has turned from a mixed reality to virtual reality. Did I mention Microsoft is an investor in Facebook? Wouldnt a better way forward be having Oculus closer to the Surface environment. Instead, what we have a whole new product that sits in a new category. Its far above the basic Google Cardboard, but below the other noticeable devices such as the HTC Vive. The Vive is priced at $799. Effectively, Microsoft just expanded the zone in which it was working. Rather than just going with mixed reality and the HoloLens, which was also astronomically priced, it just created a new segment that is more affordable and matches with existing competition. All said and done, experience will play an important factor. Because it's pointless being a Top Gun but experiencing motion sickness while trying out a virtual reality headset. hidden Ride-hailing service Uber plans to make Cairo a regional hub with an investment of more than $50 million in the next two years, building on its breakneck growth in the infamously traffic-clogged city, its Egypt general manager said. The company has committed to investing $250 million over the next five years in the Middle East, where Cairo, a sprawling city of 20 million, has emerged as the jewel in its growth strategy. "Today, Cairo is the fastest growing city in Europe, Middle East and Africa ... We've seen an uptick starting in 2016, which is the year it started booming," Anthony Khoury said as part of the Reuters Middle East Investment Summit. Uber has rapidly expanded to more than 450 cities since its San Francisco launch in 2010, fighting a series of battles with local regulators and taxi drivers who have got its services partly or fully banned in several cities worldwide. Khoury described Egypt, typically associated with crippling bureaucracy, as a relatively smooth ride, though it briefly faced protests early this year from taxi drivers who complained that lower taxes and licensing fees gave Uber an unfair edge. The government had moved swiftly to draft regulations that cooled the controversy, Khoury said as part of the Summit, taking place in cities across the region. "The sharing economy in general is a completely new type of economy, so it's usually a bit tricky at the beginning," he told Reuters from his office at the GrEEK campus, a hub for Cairo's small but energetic startup scene. "But Egypt was very quick to see the benefits, create a cross-ministerial committee and start really trying to regulate the operation." Popular alternative Uber's fleet of Egypt drivers has grown to about 35,000 from 30 when its air-conditioned cars first hit Cairo's busy streets in November 2014. Along with fellow ride-hailing service Careem, it has become a popular alternative to riding in often-dusty and dilapidated Cairo taxis, whose drivers are notorious for switching off metres, jacking up fares and chain smoking. Khoury said more than 2,500 new drivers join Uber's ranks every week, in a country where double-digit unemployment helped stoke an uprising in 2011. "From these 35,000 drivers, 40 percent are unemployed. So it's really an economic empowerment tool ... the other 60 percent use it on a part-time basis and it's really for them to supplement their income," he said. In a nod to the vast majority of Egyptians who don't have bank accounts, Uber Egypt decided late last year to break from its credit card-only model and allow cash payments, a move that attracted scores of new passengers overnight, Khoury said. The company is building a support centre in Cairo that will serve the Middle East and parts of Africa, with its current staff of roughly 175 expected to reach 1,000 by the end of 2017. "We found that talent was available, and it's really good talent that we were not expecting to find ... at an English-speaking, managerial level," he said. Reuters hidden A Verizon Communications Inc executive said the acquisition of Yahoo Inc still makes sense, but the telecommunications company needs more information about the email provider's massive breach of accounts. Speaking at a tech conference hosted by the Wall Street Journal in Laguna Beach, California, Marni Walden, an executive vice president at Verizon, said on Wednesday Yahoo is investigating the 2014 data breach and that she hopes to resolve any questions related to the incident in 60 days. Ive got an obligation to make sure that we protect our shareholders and our investors, so were not going to jump off a cliff blindly, said Walden, who is also Verizons president of Product Innovation and New Businesses. Verizon announced in July that it would buy long-struggling Yahoo for $4.83 billion. But in September, Yahoo disclosed that it had fallen victim to a data breach in 2014 that compromised users names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and encrypted passwords, raising questions about whether Verizon would withdraw from the deal or renegotiate. Walden stressed that the deal still achieves Verizon's aim of uniting its AOL subsidiary and Yahoo's audiences to challenge Facebook and Google in online advertising. "You bring them together, and you can be a relevant third player in this space," she said. With Facebook dominant in social media and Google in search, Verizon can stand out in the market by catering to brands, Walden said. "We can help other brands build inside of a very open, friendly marketplace," she said. But despite Walden's enthusiasm for the Yahoo acquisition, she appeared to leave open an escape hatch for her company. Asked whether there were any circumstances under which Verizon could back out of the deal, she quipped, "Why dont we move on to your next question?" Reuters hidden By Asheeta Regidi Google and its subsidiary YouTube are reported to have received an order from the Madras High Court to provide the user details of a user accused of uploading defamatory content. Google and YouTube are unwilling to comply with the court order and disclose the information. The request for information here is a very normal request, and it the basic duty, under law, of YouTube to comply with such a request. YouTubes reluctance to share information is therefore very surprising. User privacy suits scaring YouTube The only explanation for this sudden resistance to provide information seems to be the way websites have been under fire for not protecting their users privacy. YouTube, in fact, states that it fears that complying with the order will open them up to a privacy suit from the user, Marupakkam Seithigal. Sharing information on a large-scale basis, as is seen with the NSA in America, or the sharing of information for ads is definitely something to worry about. However, sharing information in compliance with a court order, for investigation for a specific offence, is not only normal, but also necessary. Every privacy policy, including YouTubes own Privacy Policy, has a clause to this effect. YouTubes responsibility for removal of defamatory content The law in relation to removal of any offending content, including defamatory content, is very straightforward. Under Indian laws, the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011 imposes an obligation on intermediaries (in this case, the website YouTube) to remove any defamatory content. When there is a court order, the content must be removed within 36 hours. YouTube itself has a system for removal and blocking of defamatory content. YouTube notes that sometimes a court order is required for the removal of the content, but advises its users to approach the offending uploader directly, since acquiring a court order is a cumbersome process. Clearly, YouTube through its policies, intends to comply with court orders to remove offending content. The petitioner, a company named Lebara, approached the courts for the removal of the defamatory video. When a court order is already present, YouTubes resistance of it is surprising, and also in contradiction with its own content removal policy. YouTubes Privacy Policy states it can share user data with courts YouTubes Privacy Policy, itself states that user data can be shared with courts. The relevant part reads as: We will share personal information ... outside of Google if we have a good-faith belief that ... disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary to ... meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request. The applicability of this clause is not restricted to American courts, but applies to any court orders or official government requests from anywhere in the world. The Intermediary Guidelines also impose an obligation on an intermediary to provide information when requested through a lawful order. This includes a court order. In fact, Rule 3(7) of the Intermediary Guidelines specify that information must be provided for the purpose of verification of identity. This is exactly the information sought by the Madras High Court order- the identity and the IP address of the user. Similar obligations can also be found under the laws in other countries. YouTubes refusal to share the information is therefore, again in contradiction with its own policies, and in direct violation of Indian laws. Only Indian access to offending video blocked On receiving a direction to remove the offending video, YouTube removed access to the video from India. However, it has surprisingly refused to prevent the video from being accessed from other countries, stating that it amounts to monitoring of content posted online. YouTubes differentiation based on the place of access is surprising. If a URL is illegal or offensive, YouTube must remove it, regardless of the place of access. It is not very clear if YouTube has removed the video itself, and has been asked to keep track of and remove any other such videos that turn up. In this case, YouTubes refusal to monitor other videos is understandable, since it will be impossible for YouTube to monitor every single video that is put up. However, it may be that the video itself has been retained, and only access from India has been removed, while access from other countries has been retained. If this is the case, then YouTubes content removal system would be rendered pointless. Defamatory matter is defamatory anywhere in the world, with no differentiation based on the place of access. The obligation under the law is very clear, YouTube is required to remove the video itself. Refusing to do so can lead to YouTube losing its immunity as an intermediary. YouTube apprehensive of privacy suits Another of YouTubes argument in this case is that it fears that disclosing the user information will lead to a suit of breach of trust against it from Marupakkam. This fear is also completely unfounded, since YouTube specifies in its Privacy Policy that it can share information with a government body. As far as suits go, YouTubes real fear should be if it loses its immunity as an intermediary by refusing to remove access to the video from other countries. Once it loses its immunity, Lebara itself can sue YouTube for retaining the defamatory content. Considering that a suit from Marupakkam is less likely to hold water, but a suit from Lebara will, YouTube needs to be more concerned about the latter. YouTube taking an extreme stance While maintaining user privacy is necessary, YouTube appears to be taking an extreme and unnecessary stance by refusing to share this information with the Madras High Court. Sharing a specific piece of information for investigating a crime is a better way to protect the people than to keep the privacy of the criminal. The Madras High Court itself has overruled YouTubes arguments and directed it to provide the information. YouTubes next step will have to be seen. The author is a lawyer with a specialisation in cyber laws and has co-authored books on the subject. CHENGDU - Representatives from over 150 European companies will gather in Southwest China's Sichuan province next month for the 11th EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair. The event, set to last from Nov 3 to 6 in Chengdu city, will organize 800 negotiation sessions between Chinese and European enterprises. The companies will focus on agreements in areas such as new energy, bio-medicine, machine manufacturing, aerospace, and innovation. Forums on EU-China green economy development and EU-China innovation and entrepreneurship will be held to promote trade and scientific exchange and cooperation between China and the EU. More than 200 officials of governments and international organizations of European countries will also attend the event. The previous 10 fairs had combined attendance of over 2,650 European companies and more than 4,800 Chinese firms, and a total of 1,659 cooperation agreements were inked. The GSMA announced that it has elected Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, as Chairman for the two-year period from January 2017 through December 2018. As GSMA Chairman, Mr. Mittal will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation, which represents nearly 800 of the worlds mobile operators, as well as more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem. Bharti Airtel was the host of the inaugural GSMA Mobile 360 India event in New Delhi this week, as well as a meeting of the GSMA Board. A highlight of the week, GSMA Chair-elect Mr. Mittal led the GSMA Board delegation at a meeting with the Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on Wednesday afternoon. In a broad-ranging discussion, the meeting highlighted the pivotal role of mobile in delivering the governments Digital India vision of broadband as a utility for every citizen, bringing digital and financial inclusion to every corner of the country. The GSMA also elected the new members of the 26-member Board and re-elected Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere, Executive Vice President, Innovation, Orange Group as Deputy Chair for the two-year period. Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal said, I am delighted to be elected as Chairman of the GSMA, and look forward to working closely with the rest of the Board, the GSMA leadership team and our entire membership to address the critical issues facing our industry and our customers. In a relatively brief period of time, mobile has had a transformational impact on individuals, businesses, industries and societies, contributing significantly to local economies and improving the lives of billions around the world. I am excited about what the next chapter holds for us, as we work to connect everyone and everything to a better future. In my new global role, I am excited to support the ongoing mobile broadband revolution in India to boost the Governments Digital India Program and its vision of broadband access for all, added Mr. Mittal. The first Indian to be elected as Chairman of the prestigious global telecom industry board, Sunil Bharti Mittal took over as Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) early this year. He already serves on the Boards and Councils of several reputed international bodies and think-tanks like the World Economic Forum (WEF), Telecom Board of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Broadband Commission, Harvard Universitys Global Advisory Council Board of Deans Advisors at HBS, International Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Prime Minister of Singapores Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council. He is also a Trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and on the Board of Qatar Foundation Endowment. The GSMA Board has 26 members, including 25 operator representatives from the worlds largest operator groups as well as smaller, independent operators with global representation. The GSMAs Director General Mats Granryd also serves on the GSMA Board. The GSMA Board for the 2017-2018 term comprises: Juan Carlos Archila, Executive Vice President, International Relationships, America Movil Bill Hague, Executive Vice President-Global Connection Management, AT&T Mobility Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises Sha Yuejia, Executive Director and Vice President, China Mobile Sun Kangmin, Executive Director and Executive Vice President, China Telecom Lu Yimin, President and Vice Chairman, China Unicom Wolfgang Kopf, Senior Vice President, Public and Regulatory Affairs, Deutsche Telekom Hatem Dowidar, CEO International, Etisalat Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA Christian Salbaing, Deputy Chairman, Europe, Hutchison Takashi Tanaka, President, KDDI Eelco Blok, CEO, KPN Chang-Gyu Hwang, Chairman and CEO, KT Corporation Mauricio Ramos, CEO, Millicom Phuthuma Nhleko, Chairman and Acting CEO, MTN Group Andrei Dubovskov, President, MTS Kazuhiro Yoshizawa, President and CEO, NTT DOCOMO Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere, Executive Vice President, Innovation, Orange Group Dong-Hyun Jang, President and CEO, SK Telecom Julio Linares Lopez, Vice President of the Board, Telefonica Sigve Brekke, President and CEO, Telenor Group Johan Dennelind, President and CEO, Telia Company Kaan Terzioglu, CEO, Turkcell Roy Chestnutt, Chief Strategy Officer, Verizon Serpil Timuray, Group Chief Commercial Operations and Strategy Officer, Vodafone Scott Gegenheimer, CEO, Zain Group GSMA Chairman Mr. Jon Fredrik Baksaas will step down from the Board at the end of 2016, after holding this position for the past three years. Mr. Baksaas was elected as a member of the GSMA Board in 2008. With nearly 4.8 billion individuals around the world subscribing to mobile services, it is the most pervasive and fast-growing platform of users ever built. It is now accessible to billions in both developing and developed markets, providing life-enhancing services and enabling new socio-economic opportunities for all, commented Baksaas. The mobile industry is at the very heart of the worlds digital transformation, driving efforts to make the world a better place, in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It has been a true privilege to serve on the GSMA Board for eight years, the last three as Chair. I wish the new Board and Chair, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, the very best of luck as the GSMA focuses on extending global platform capabilities, such as GSMA Mobile Connect, to billions of users around the globe. @Technuter.com News Service Trend Micro Incorporated has announced the availability of XGen endpoint security. This new offering is powered by the XGen blend of cross-generational threat defense techniques that intelligently applies the right technology at the right time, resulting in more effective and efficient protection against a full range of threats. Trend Micros unique approach uses proven methods to quickly identify benign data and known threats, freeing its advanced techniques, such as application control, exploit prevention, behavioral analysis and machine learning, to more quickly and accurately identify unknown threats. Trend Micro is the first to infuse high-fidelity machine learning into its approach uniquely analyzing files both before execution and at runtime, using noise cancellation features like census checking and whitelisting to reduce false positives. Endpoint security has evolved dramatically over the past 25 years. In the early days, nuisance malware or spam was the only concern. However, the booming underground hacker economy, ever-changing IT landscape and risky user behavior have given rise to an exponential growth in sophisticated threats like phishing, targeted attacks, mobile malware and now ransomware. Recently, a single ransomware variant compromised an estimated 100,000 computers per day. These dynamic challenges, combined with the cumulative volume of attacks made worse with more than 500,000 new threats identified daily have made it harder than ever for organizations to stay protected. Despite promises by some security providers, time has shown that there is no silver bullet when it comes to defeating the myriad of cyber threats each new class of threat requires purpose-built protection techniques. Eva Chen, chief executive officer for Trend Micro, said, The name XGen was carefully chosen to indicate the cross-generational technology fueling our approach, which is built on years of experience and provides customers with better protection against the evolving range of threats they face. Weve been using machine learning for years as part of our global threat intelligence, the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network. Now, were raising the bar by infusing high-fidelity machine learning into our blend of protection techniques to specifically tackle more advanced threats like ransomware, while other vendors, including relatively new next-gen endpoint security companies, only offer one or two one-size-fits-all protection techniques. The use of Trend Micro XGen endpoint security has redefined our security posture, allowing for both complete protection and ease-of-use in securing our most valuable enterprise data, said William Crank, chief information security officer for MEDHOST. When evaluating solutions from other security providers, it became apparent they did not provide the breadth of protection we need. To achieve the best security posture, we require seamless integration of capabilities, not a bolt-on endpoint product that doesnt share threat intelligence and only addresses part of the problem. XGen endpoint security is available today as part of the Trend Micro Smart Protection Suites. The suites include a range of integrated endpoint, email and web gateway security capabilities designed to protect users in their daily activities, with centralized visibility and control to speed time to response for IT. With 28 years of experience and more than 155 million endpoints protected, Trend Micro continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to innovation in the area of endpoint security. New threats are appearing as rapidly as technology changes, but old threats continue to circulate and plague enterprises, said Doug Cahill, Senior Analyst for ESG. What comes next should embody a design that is multi-generational, based on an architecture that can transcend technology, threats and end-user computing behaviors. Its exciting to see that Trend Micro is addressing this challenge with the introduction of XGen endpoint security. @Technuter.com News Service Locomotives of 4 trains go out of order in one day Chittagong Bureau : The incident of train engine disorder of four intercity train on Dhaka-Chittagong track occurred on Wednesday. Out of the four, three intercity and one express train, a railway East zone sources said. Following the engine disorder, the passenger could not reach their destinations in time. Sources said locomotives of Chittagong bound Mohanagar Pravati, Dhaka bound Mohanagar Express, chittagong bound Subarna express and Chattala Express went out of order at morning hour . After removing faults in the engine, the trains leave for their destinations after 2 to 3 hours. Railway sources said Mohanagar express became out of order at Barabkunda junction at about 12 noon, Later at 3.40 pm Dhaka bound chattala express halted at Laksham due to engine fault, one chittagong bound Subarna express gone out of order following the collision with a covered van at AK khan gate crossing in city left the train halted at about 8 pm General Manager of East zone Railway Md. AbdulHai told the media that these intercity trains are being operated with very old engines and after arrival of new engines from abroad, these problemswill be resolved Meanwhile railway communications between Chittagong , Dhaka and sylhet have been halted for few hours due to failure of engine of Karnapuli express. The accident took place at Ashuganj rail station area of Brahmanbaria district on Wednesday (October 26). Brahmanbaria rail station master Soayeb Ahmed sources said. Rail communication restored after the engine repaired, he said. National e-commerce policy must for businesses to flourish Economic Reporter : The government should undertake an initiative to formulate a national e-Commerce policy, which is a must to flourish the business across country. Speakers came up with the observation at an e-Commerce policy conference held in a city hotel recently. They have also underscored the need for removing all the identified obstacles to flourish e-commerce across the country. According to them, the main impediments are poor customer-friendly infrastructure, growing cyber security issues, poor delivery channels, poor roads and communication facilities, traffic jam in Dhaka and Chittagong, payment System, trust issues, general trust issues between buyers and sellers, excessive debit or credit cards and POS fees for merchants. State minister for ICT division Zunaid Ahmed Palak formally inaugurated the conference. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and State Minister for Posts and Telecommunication Tarana Halim also attended different sessions of the seminar. Nahim Razzaq MP, Razib Ahmed, president of e-CAB, Nazrul Islam Khan, adviser of e-CAB, Russel T Ahmed, senior vice president of BASIS, Anir Chowdhury and policy advisor a2i chaired various sessions at the day-long seminar. Abdul Wahed Tomal, general secretary of e-CAB, presented a keynote paper at the inaugural session. During his presentation, Tomal said: "Initiative of the government to formulate national e-Commerce policy is a must to tap the business. A total of 65 percent of the total population is being under the age of 35 which is a potential for this industry." Establishment of high-tech park and national data center, progressive usage of smart phones and tablets, progressive rates of mobile phone and mobile internet usage, progressive involvement of people in social media activities, implementation of 3G network nationwide, implementation of e-Governance plan are needed if we really want to develop the sector, he added. The executive committee of Officers\' Club, Dhaka led by its Chairman Mohammad Shafiul Alam made a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on Thursday. Press Wing, Bangabhaban photo Sher-e-Bangla : The mover of Lahore Resolution Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque and Dr. M. Abul Kashem Mozumder : 'Brave and intelligence' seem one of the characteristic traits of his leadership. His charisma enabled him to earn tremendous popularity. The way he demonstrated indomitable courage no other Bengali could do it to become the 'Tiger of Bengal' . "He was very close to Ashtosh Mukherjee (who was also known as 'Tiger of Bengal'), father of Shyamaprasad Mukherjee (a Bengali politician who supported him as Prime Minister. After being alienated from the Congress party where he seprved as its General Secretary in 1916-1918, in 1929, he launched the Nikhil Proja Samiti. "Nazimuddin was so afraid of Haque that he even arranged Grand feasts in several places. A peasant came to that and prayed for Haque. When asked why, he replied "It was Huqsaab who intimidated you, so you are arranging such party, so we are getting this meal."In this election Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq launched famous slogan still popular: who gives the sweat should get the value. Who holds the plough should own the land' He served as the Premier of Bengal. "His reign was unstable as it was marred by controversies. In 1938, the Independent Scheduled Castes seceded and the K.P.P. slowly started disintegrating. Following the betrayal by Indian National Congress, he also moved the Lahore Resolution in 1940. In 1941, The Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithglow nominated him to the Defence Council. But the Quaid-i-Azam who headed the All-India Muslim League asked him to resign. He obeyed but, to demonstrate his unhappiness, resigned from the League Working Committee. As a result of Huqs' reluctance to obey the League ministers resigned. In 1945, he contested elections successfully on two seats. But his party was trounced badly by the All India Muslim League. In 1947, he joined the League campaign to include Calcutta in Pakistan. The other prominent supporters included Husseyn Shaheed Suhrwardy and Sarat Chandra Bose. The opposition of the Congress, however, ensured a partition of the province. Later on he accused Jinnah of not working hard enough for the cause. This time he managed to lead a fragile short lived alliance with Right wing-Hindutwa leader Shyamaprasad Mukherjee. He was an admirer of Netaji, but he was very angry on him as Netaji started hunger strike on demand of removing Hallwell Monument, and Huq needed stability to discuss the land reform. In fact, Sher-E-Bangla occupies the foremost place among the leaders ceaselessly fighting for the emancipation of Bengali peasants. Indeed he was matchless and had only a few equals well known in history as humanists and philanthropists. By dint of his extraordinary genius, he created an era. In fact, he was a versatile talent making remarkable marks in public life as politician, peasant leader, teacher, lawyer, administrator, statesman, freedom fighter and a person with incredible physical strength and guts. He was an well-known Bengali politicians having a large following especially amongst the ordinary masses in East Bengal. "He was one of the tallest leaders of the Krishak Praja Party, a political party which was one of the major three players in the Bengal province of British India (along with the Congress and the Muslim League". Fazlul Haque was the prime mover in tabling famous Lahore Rersolution in 1940. It was written by Muhammad Zafarullah Khan and presented by A. K. Fazlul Huq, the Prime Minister of Bengal. Lahore Resolution was a a formal political statement adopted by the All-India Muslim League on the occasion of its three-day general session in Lahore on March 22-24, 1940. The resolution called for independent 'states' as seen by the statement: "That geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of (British) India should be grouped to constitute 'independent states' in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign. "Although the name "Pakistan" had been proposed by Choudhary Rahmat Ali in his Pakistan Declaration, it was not until after the resolution that it began to be widely used. This was the moment when Sherebangla , totally transformed himself into a great leader. According to Wikipedia, there remains a debate on whether the resolution envisaged two sovereign states in the eastern and western parts of British India. Abdul Hashim of the Bengal Muslim League interpreted the text as a demand for two separate countries. In 1946, Prime Minister H. S. Suhrawardy of Bengal, a member of the All India Muslim League, mooted the United Bengal proposal with the support of Muslim and Hindu leaders, as well as the Governor of Bengal. However, it was opposed by Lord Mountbatten, the Muslim League, the Congress and the Hindu Mahasabha. Although there were and continue to be disagreements on the interpretation of the resolution, it was widely accepted that it called for a separate Muslim state. Opposing opinions focus on the phrase "independent states" claiming this means Muslim majority provinces, i.e. Punjab, Sindh, etc. would be independent of each other. They ignore the phrase "geographically contiguous units." They also rely on the claims of certain Bengali nationalists who did not agree with one state. They accuse their opponents of diverting the "spirit" of the resolution. Ultimately, it is the author of the resolution that decides its spirit and the sponsor who decides its legal interpretation. Both the author (Zafarullah Khan) and its sponsor (the Muslim League leadership) contended that it is intended for not only the separation of India but into only 2 states (Muslim majority and Hindu majority). Therefore, it is indeed a statement calling for independence and one Muslim state. Eventually, the name "Pakistan" was used for the envisioned state. (Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque, Department of Public Administration, Chittagong University and Dr. M. Abul Kashem Mozumder, Member PSC) Man held for pirating of `Aynabaji` Staff Reporter : Police in a drive arrested a youth on charge of uploading pirated copy of Aynabaji, a film by Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, to a personal server and illegally screening it on the internet early Thursday. The arrested man has been identified as Atikur Rahman Avi, 28, one of the owners of Badda Net Zone, a broadband internet connection provider at Badda. Masudur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said this in a press briefing at the DMP media centre on Thursday. Soon after receiving complaint, the Cyber Security and Crime Division of the DMP team started investigations and arrested Atikur, the police official said. "We have already identified a number of people involved with the piracy and police drives are on to pick up them," the DC said. Nazmul Islam, Senior Assistant Commissioner of the Gulshan Division, said, "We have already tracked 18 server links which uploaded the pirated copy of the film, 15 of which have already been removed by BTRC. The 15 server links were created in overseas countries." The three other server links were generated in Badda, Khilkhet and Uttara, the police official said. Moreover, 22 to 25 Facebook IDs telecast the film live which have also been traced and legal actions will be taken against the ID users, he said. Syed Gousul Alam Shaon, one of the producers-cum-writers of Aynabaji who was also present during the briefing, expressed his worries over the leak of the film. They also seized a computer and pirated materials during the drive, he said. The Aynabaji was released on September 30 and it has been screened in different cinema halls across the country. Properly grooming of children stressed UNB, Dhaka : Launching the Child Helpline-1098, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged all to build a beautiful society by grooming children with good attitude and brining an end to child repression. "Human beings have both good and bad attitudes. But awareness has to be built so that their good attitudes are flourished instead of the beastly ones; and the Social Welfare Ministry will to play the lead role in this regard," she said while launching the helpline. Hasina said people will have to awaken their own human qualities imbued with the thinking that they may be affected if they want to cause harm to others. Sheikh Hasina formally launched the 'Child Helpline - 1098' from her official residence Ganobhaban through a videoconference to provide free telephone service to children who are facing violence, abuse and exploitation. The helpline will enable anyone to report acts of child rights violation, child abuse, 29 dead bodies found on refugee boat off Libya coast Al Jazeera News : The bodies of 29 people, who perished in a pool of fuel and seawater on a crowded dinghy off Libya, have been found by the French aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF). MSF said its chartered rescue ship, the Bourbon Argos, picked up 107 people aboard the inflatable boat 26 nautical miles off Libya on Tuesday. Its crew initially counted 11 corpses on the dinghy's floor, which was flooded with a murky mixture of fuel and seawater. The Bourbon Argos was then called away to another rescue operation nearby, saving 139 people aboard another vessel. The crew returned to the dinghy and found 29 people had died, probably from suffocation, skin burns or drowning. The bodies were retrieved from the toxic mixture over a period of hours, with the help of a team from the German NGO Sea-Watch. "The mixture of water and fuel was so foul that we could not stay on the boat for long periods. It was horrible," MSF project leader Michele Telaro said in a statement. Twenty-three survivors suffered burns from exposure to fuel, 11 of whom were seriously hurt. Seven survivors were taken to hospital, two of them by helicopter. The find adds to the grim evidence of the hazards of crossing the Mediterranean - a journey that the UN said on Wednesday has claimed more than 3,800 lives so far this year. To venture out to sea in such conditions, said Tefano Argenziano, in charge of MSF's migrant assistance activities, "is a headlong rush to the cemetery". In a separate incident, more than 90 people were believed to be missing after their boat sank off the coast of western Libya, according to a coastguard spokesman. Ayoub Qassem said coastguards had rescued 29 people about 26 miles off the shore east of Tripoli. Survivors said 126 people had been on the rubber boat before one of the sides was ripped and it started taking on water. Eviction protested Hawkers clash with police, DSCC staff: 20 including OC injured; 15 vehicles vandalized A triangular clashes among affected hawkers, DSCC men and police were erupted when illegal structures and makeshift markets evicted in Gulistan area. (Inset) Huge illegal structures and makeshift shops on the footpath were bulldozed by DSCC in city\'s Gul Staff Reporter : At least 20 people, including Paltan Police Station OC, were injured in a clash between the hawkers and the employees of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in Gulistan area on Thursday. The demonstrated hawkers vandalized at least 15 vehicles during the clash in the area, witnesses said. The clash erupted when city corporation men went to Sundarban Market for an eviction drive into the market in the afternoon, they said. Later, the hawkers blocked the road in front of the city corporation building, according to them. Paltan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rafiqul Islam said, "A clash began in the market when DSCC officials started eviction drive led by Mamunur Rashid, Executive Magistrate of the City Corporation around 11:30am. The magistrate also fined Tk 10,000 each of the traders and picked up the General Secretary of the market on the charge of creating barrier to their eviction drive. At one stage, the traders obstructed the drive and besieged the DSCC Building." "Following the besieging of the building, the DSCC staff and hawkers backed by DSCC Mayor engaged into a long time clash. They also hurled brick-chips and stones' pieces," the police official said. Additional police were deployed in the area to avert further untoward situation, the OC said. The DSCC Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon visited the area and tried to convince demonstrators in the afternoon. Police also fired bullets and tear shells to disperse the demonstrated hawkers after getting green signal from the Mayor. The hawkers in protest called for hartal in Gulistan area on November 2. But the Sramik League a brought out stick-procession against the illegal hartal. Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon warned that all the illegal establishments and shops would be evicted as per the High Court order. He instructed the law enforcers to evict the unlawful establishments to free the area. He also requested the city dwellers to help the authorities concerned and law enforcers implement the HC order. Hawker Jahangir claimed that the authorities concerned started eviction drive without any notice or announcement unlike the previous evictions in the city's other places. Another team of the DSCC led by its Chief Estate Officer Md Jahidul Hossain conducted a drive in the area around 3:30pm, said DSCC Chief Executive Officer Khan Mohammad Bilal. They also evicted at least 50 without trouble, he said. BPDB in fund crunch Kazi Zahidul Hasan : The government has failed to rein in the losses of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) which has cost the exchequer around Tk 50,000 crore since independence. Officials said BPDB incurred losses caused mainly by low power sales tariff over a higher production rate. The state-owned entity had incurred Tk 6,233 crore losses during the last fiscal. "Our losses are increasing every year due to the prevailing gap between the average electricity tariff and production cost," a senior BPDB official told The New Nation on Thursday. He said: "Electricity purchase from costly IPP's and rental power plants has further aggravated BPDB's financial position. The official also pointed out that though it's an autonomous body, all the major decisions of the BPDB are controlled by the administration deeply affecting its financial health. "We have submitted a proposal to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to enhance the present power tariff by 41 per cent so that the organisation can reach a break-even point," he added. According to him, BPDB is now incurring over Tk 100 crore losses per month due to the lower billing price of electricity that the supply cost. "The cumulative losses has made BPDB financially crippled and it is now running with huge financial difficulties," he said. When asked, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu told The New Nation yesterday that the government is highly concerned over the BPDB's losses and formulating policies to rein in its mounting losses. "We are also formulating the market based electricity pricing mechanism so that BPDB can run under break-even point," he said, adding, "Besides, steps have been taken to reduce system losses, electricity theft and prevent illegal connection to narrow the losses." Justifying the losses, Bipu said, BPDB was selling electricity at a lower rate than actual production cost to the distribution companies since its inception forcing it to incur losses year after year piling up the loss amount to Tk 50,000 crore. "It has long been adopted the policy to follow a government policy to provide electricity at subsidized rate to the consumer," he said. But, now the government has come out from the policy and fixing the electricity rates based on market price to improve the financial health of the BPDB and other state-owned power companies. 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. Foreign ministry says the Philippines agreed to put aside disputes tomaintain regional stability Some countries should "discard their unrealistic stance" over the South China Sea issue, as China and the Philippines are making joint efforts to promote the positive development of the situation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday. Spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks at a regular news conference, while commenting on a report from Japanese media that quoted a Japanese government official as saying that during Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's state visit, Tokyo and Manila have reached consensus on Wednesday over "respecting the arbitral ruling" of the South China Sea. The arbitration case, unilaterally launched by former Philippine president Benigno Aquino III in 2013, had deteriorated the China-Philippine relationship until last week when Duterte began a state visit to China to restore bilateral ties and enhance cooperation. Lu said that during Duterte's visit, China and the Philippines agreed to set aside disputes and enhance bilateral negotiations over the South China Sea. "We have noticed that President Duterte's recent remarks are in accordance with the spirit of the consensuses (made during Duterte's visit to Beijing)," he said. "If you want to understand the stance of the Philippine government, it would be worth listening to what the Philippine leader said," Lu added. On Thursday, the final day of his three-day visit to Japan, Duterte said his country could conduct joint naval exercises with Japan, but repeated there would be no more war games with longtime ally the United States, and again vented his anger toward Washington. Duterte said on Wednesday that disputes over the South China Sea should be resolved peacefully. Chen Qinghong, a researcher of Southeast Asian and Philippine studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said Japan, a country which does not have territorial clams in the South China Sea, has been trying to stir up trouble in the region, at a time when parties involved in the issue have been working to maintain regional stability. "Through intensifying disputes in the region, Japan is attempting to sow discord between China and Southeast Asian countries, in an attempt to expand its influence in Southeast Asia and try to contain China," Chen said. 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: Chisinau Pronounced kee-shee-now is probably Europes least visited capital city, or at least the one most of us are likely to get wrong in the pub quiz! Not all that many people venture into the mysterious corner of the far east of Europe in which Moldova sits and even fewer know what there is to experience there! In all honesty Moldova isnt a country that thrills the regular traveller looking for unforgettable beauty and amazement. But instead it provides a fascinating insight into an often over looked authentic culture and a world many of us never get to see. Explore the markets of Chisinau What better place is there to take in local life than the markets of any city. Centred around the citys central bus station this chaotic and raucous set of markets feels rather disorganised and frantic. But that is the beauty of it, from bits of old tat to fresh fruit and veg there seems to be an inexplicable amount of random items for sale. Many of these you have no idea what it is, where it came from or what its purpose is!! But immersing yourself in such a crazy and overwhelming environment is be best way to experience Chisinau in all its uniquenessThe flair of the Romanian influence and the staunch of the Ukrainian side. Find the beach in the citys large park! On our first day in the city we were jet lagged from our long over night bus trip from Brasov. The lack of sleep lead to us deliriously wandering around the city with no real aim or destination. Heading into the large park we felt a wander around this lovely wooded area would be a nice relaxing way to ease into Chisinau. Soon we discovered Nistru beach, a soviet constructed resort built on the banks of the Nistru river where locals flock in the summer months in this land locked country. Now, I am not quite sure I would be tempted to slip into my bikini and take a dip in this murky water, but what interested me more what this slice of typical Moldovan life here that for us seems so surreal! Triumphal Arch and Government house Built in 1840 to commemorate Russias victory over the Ottoman empire this triumphal arch tells the history of this country that has fought on numerous occasions for independence. Having been part of the Russian Empire, The Ottoman Empire, Romania and The USSR Moldova has seen many influences and battles. The fact that his arch now sits opposite the independent government of Moldova and within flies proudly the Moldovan flag shows the story of this small and yet wildly fought over nation. Nativity Cathedral This huge white cathedral sits opposite the Triumphal Arch and has a grand and imposing feel to it and dominates the park in which is was constructed. Built in the Neo-Classical style in the 1830s it once again has been through many changes with the differing eras of Moldova. Built originally by the governor of New Russia it was then heavily bombed during the second world war. Left is a sorry state the once bright and colourful interior was repainted plain white and the bell tower destroyed during the communist era. Lovingly repaired in 1997 by the high population of Eastern Orthodox followers in Moldova the cathedral is now back to its former glory both externally and internally. A symbol of more than just religion but also the resilience of the Moldovan people. The impressive Military Museum of Chisinau A rather strange and at first glance shabby museum in a grand old building the various exhibitions display artefacts from wars known and those very much off the mainstream radar. The outdoor area is free and covers an extensive collection of impressive military transport including many tanks, aeroplanes and trucks, most of which were inherited from Russia. However the dark and imposing corridors of the internal section of museum take you on a journey through the various occupations and wars Moldova has been involved in. For us the most interesting have to be that against Transnistria, a conflict that has largely gone under the radar of the outside world but one which is still very much on the edge still within this region. St. Theodor Tiron Convent This stunning shimmering bright blue and gold convent tucked away against the grey background of post soviet Chisinau feels like walking into a fairytale. Hidden behind a high fence of trees from a distance only the tips of the onion domes shining in the sun give away this beautiful convent. One of the oldest buildings in the capital it almost feels out of place, but in truth the city has grown around it whilst is has stayed in against the odds. Head out of the city to the Orheiul Vechi monastery Not actually in the capital itself but a couple of hours away it is easily visitable in a day from Chisinau and is often considered to be one of the only real attractions of Moldova that most may have heard of. Situated in the Moldovan countryside next to a tiny traditional village this old Monastery is composed of ancient archeological sites and churches that are still in use to this day. Surrounded by the stunning hillside on which it is based the stunning church that stands out shimmering against the green landscape is decorated in sumptuous colour and detail and is still frequented by monks. But located in this historical open air complex is many significant artefacts from the Iron Age, Eneolithic and Paleolithic eras as well as remnants of ancient fortresses, monasteries, caves and towns some as early as the 6th century BC and many from between the 16th-18th centuries. Head over to the communist republic of Transnistria Is it part of Moldova or isnt it, this strange nation which declared independence from Moldova in the early 90s has been in limbo ever since. With only Russia and a handful of other self declared republics acknowledging its independence it has its own money, government and culture. Heading over into Transnistria is like going back in time to the height of the soviet union. Here hammer and sickles are common sight and Lenin statues still plentiful, its quite the experience! Crossing the border is a strange affair with the Russian army having a presence here since the war over this territory. Visitors are issues a 12 hour visa that can be extended once inside the territory. Most visits today are without issue but overstay your time and you might find yourself having to bribe one of the guardsthat is if you even recognise their authority! Read more here: A day in the communist republic of Transnistria Just take in everyday life in Chisinau Lets be honest, Chisinau isnt a tourists paradise, but the for the traveller is has much to offer those who seek out the fascination in the everyday lives of people from other countries and cultures. Just wandering around Chisinau and the villages that surround it is the best way to soak in the unique culture of Moldova. Get talking to locals, each Moldovan food and drink their homemade wine and beer. You will soon find that there is plenty more to this forgotten corner of Europe than you first imagined! Read more about being one of the only tourists in Moldova: The most off the beaten track country in Europe? Have you ever been to Moldova? See more from this country: See more from our backpacking adventure: 6X6 Landscaping Timbers Ac2 6 x 6 #2 critical structural green pressure treated. Recycled plastic lumber 6696 6 x 6 x 8 from markstaar can be used for a wide range of plastic lumber applications such as decking, walkways, railings, boardwalks, landscape steps,. Thought i would ask you pros about what is the best way to rip cut a 4x6 or even a 6x6 timber that is 8' long diagnolly in half. I've seen these jigs for your tablesaw where people. Can also take them back to the. California Rent Increase Notice As a landlord, you have to increase the rent of your tenant at some agreed point. Download our free printable rent increase notice template in pdf or word format. Minimum. Houses For Rent In Conover Nc Search the most recent rental houses to hit the market in the last 24 hours near lyle creek elementary school in conover, nc. Use our detailed filters to find the. Boston Terrier Puppies Craigslist Gorgeous ckc boston terrier puppies ready for their new homes born on 8/15/22 has been wormed with strongid at 2,4 weeks and panacur at 6 weeks and had there 6. Apartments For Rent Wenatchee Forrent.com provides you with the most comprehensive list of rentals so you can find your perfect home. View apartments for rent in wenatchee, wa. Find wenatchee apartments for rent that you'll love on redfin. If youre looking for apartments in wenatchee, wa. 55 apartments rental listings are currently available. Aldabra Tortoise For Sale Cb reptile has some fantastic and flawless, bowling ball smooth captive bred baby aldabra tortoise for sale. These massive, round tortoises are second in size only to the. We have. Craigslist In Dc $12,000 oct 9 2015 mazda 3. Dc is home to the world's greatest super heroes, including superman, batman, wonder woman, green lantern, the flash,. Newton st ne near 12th st. Apartments For Rent In Florence Italy Earnestly state that we run the most experienced agency in florence and one of the. Room in via di ripoli, 96, gavinana, firenze. We have a selection of florence italy. Kohler Maxton Faucet Check out kohler's amazing selection of faucets here on amazon: Showing results for kohler maxton faucet 3,401 results. Kohler maxton touchless pulldown kitchen faucet response touchless technology sweep spray docknetik magnetic docking scratchshield technology soap/ lotion dispenser included. Overriding the sensor on touchless faucets. Maxton faucet stream breaker removal kohler remove the aerator for simplice pull down low flow you katun brushed nickel 2 handle widespread watersense mid arc bathroom. Barnes Noble Coupons 20% off any cook book at barnes & noble. All in all, you will not want to miss our hottest coupon selections. Save up to 80% with our promo codes. For Rent Lake Lanier 3 bedroom home for rent at 6159 lake lanier heights rd, buford, ga 30518. Featuring 2 and 4 bedroom log cabins with full kitchens and baths, cable tv/dvd, gas log. Reeds Metal Brookhaven Ms / / / / / / / /. Reed's is comprised of 10 locations including 8 manufacturing sites and 2 storefront locations. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top. Consumer Cellular Link Ii Consumer cellular link ii cell phone: Youll have everything you need for calling and text messaging, plus you can take. Free shipping free shipping free shipping. Here well cover adding a contact on your device. On the other end of the spectrum, consumer. Bozeman Harley Davidson Bozeman, mt > buy & sell > motorcycles for sale in. Reserve a harley davidson road king billings mt. $16,500 (bozeman) pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. Old. Townhomes For Rent Apple Valley Mn Find the best townhomes for rent in apple valley for rent with apartmentguide. See 5 townhomes less than $3,000 in apple valley, mn, browse photos, floor plans, reviews and more. Photo Studios For Rent Near Me As a rule, similar groups are created by local photographers, thus a request such as photoshoot studios near me could help you find the most appropriate space. You can book. Loadup Junk Removal Loadup junk removal provides upfront pricing and everything you need to create your dream space by helping you get rid of unwanted stuff from your home or office. Loadup deploys a large network of independently licensed and insured junk hauling professionals. 2019 loadup technologies, llc. Labor, transportation & disposal costs). I signed up for day of pickup. Rent A Loft In Miami Magnificent loft in fernandina beach with two decks (from usd 318) show all photos. Spectacular wide bay and ocean views from this spacious 4 bedroom/4.5 bath se corner unit at. Used Portable Toilets For Sale Craigslist Pusat sewa toilet portable jakarta toilet portable. Favorite this post oct 9 commode. Portland > > > for sale > post; Commode portable $35 (post falls) pic hide this posting. 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. Ameren Illinois is warning customers of a scam in Southern Illinois. More than 15 businesses in Carbondale, Carterville, Marion and Herrin reported suspicious activity Thursday. The majority of incidents involved scammers threatening immediate disconnection of utility service unless payment was made from a pre-paid debit card. Ameren is warning customers to never give credit card, debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or savings account numbers to anyone who comes to their home or calls or sends emails requesting the information. Customers should not let anyone claiming to be from Ameren into their home unless they show proper badge identification. Employees are not allowed to accept payments in the field. Email attachments should not be opened unless Ameren Illinois contacts have been contacted for specific information, as the company does not send emails with attachments, unless the customer has has contacted the company, asking for specific information. If anyone suspects fraud, Ameren urges customers to end the conversation and call Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000. The Southern MARION A not-for-profit organization assisting veterans in need is expected to expand their services to Marion. Bruce Sheffler, the president of the Vets4Vets organization, said plans are already in development to install tiny homes in the area. "My partner Chuck and I looked at some property around Marion about five or six months ago and decided that instead of planning to build a hundred homes I said lets just start with building one and go up from there," he said. According to Sheffler, the not-for-profit organization has been assisting homeless veterans in need with tiny homes since its development last November. The organization partners with Cook Portable Warehouse, the Illinois Department of Corrections, Home Depot, along with the Bank of Herrin and The UPS Store in Marion to build the homes, work on interior designs and ship the homes. "Cook builds the shells for us to specifications that are better than most residential specifications for the portable warehouses," Sheffler said. "Were doing 16 inches on the center and bunch of other things that are an upgrade." With homes already installed throughout Franklin County and surrounding areas, Sheffler said he wants to expand by installing a total of three homes within Williamson County. Two homes will be placed in Carterville, near John A. Logan College and Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, and one will be placed in Marion, approximately six miles from the V.A. Medical Center. Each home will have a bedroom, a kitchen, a dining area and some light furnishing. "We'll install a Murphy bed and we'll also provide some pots and pans," Sheffler said. "We just want to make sure that they're comfortable and that their basic needs are met." As plans for the installation are well underway, Sheffler and his partner, Chuck Kuhns, who helps him run and maintain the organization, will have to make minor adjustments. With their tiny homes estimating to less than 400 square feet, Kuhns said the minimum requirement for homes built in the city of Marion is 400 square feet. "And we have 384 square feet," Kuhns said. Mayor Bob Butler told The Southern on Wednesday that the pair will be seeking a variance of the provision of the ordinance to continue their project. They would have to file a petition and it will have to go before the Board for consideration, Butler said. "So all things being equal I believe it will probably have a favorable ruling but nonetheless this is something that has to be considered," he said. The pair said they hope to have all the homes installed by Veterans Day. A new exhibit at Morthland College in West Frankfort will offer a look at how political campaign buttons have evolved over the past century. Pin It to Win It: A History of Political Campaign Buttons was curated by the Morthland College Library staff from the Ken Gray Presidential Museum collection and will be on display ahead of Election Day. The Rev. Margaret Toedy Holley-Gray, former Congressman Grays widow, donated the collection to Morthland College in 2015. I think that its always interesting to look at artifacts of other times, and I think certain things are evident, like a change in typesetting styles and different colors going in and out of fashion, said Leigh Caldwell, director of community engagement at Morthland College. The exhibit features political pins from 1896 to 2009, Caldwell said. In a lot of ways, political messages are strikingly similar and have been throughout the years, especially when its something like a button and youre just trying to get a name out there, she said. Its interesting to look at the popularity of more highly designed typefaces in some of the older buttons, and then you go into a 60s, 70s type block print theres that variation. The exhibit will be displayed at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at Whitfield Hall at 401 W. Main St. in West Frankfort during a lecture by Elizabeth Allen, a business consultant and author. Both events are free and open to the public. Next, the exhibit will be available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day during the Delta Theta Tau Ham and Bean Dinner at the Trinity United Methodist Church Life Center at 304 N. Sunnyslope St. in West Frankfort. The buttons are from presidential, senatorial and gubernatorial campaigns. Caldwell said she thought the late congressman, who died in 2014, probably gathered most of the buttons by trading with his colleagues. Im sure that there is a certain amount of trading of those kinds of things, Caldwell said. I know that today, magnets are a popular thing for candidates to have and hand out, and they trade them sometimes, so I would imagine the same thing was happening with these buttons. She said that the most unusual button in the collection is one that says Dan Quayles mother believes in abortion. The buttons and other artifacts in the collection were previously on display in the Ken Gray Presidential Museum at the Illinois Star Centre Mall before the museum closed in 2015. This is the first curated exhibit from the collection. Were excited to do this in the future with it cull out little parts of it and show them to the public, Caldwell said. Two suspects allegedly involved in a drug ring with possible ties to the July 31 shooting of a Carbondale police officer pleaded not guilty to charges on Thursday. At an arraignment hearing in Jackson County Court, Brandon Jones and William M. Cummins both entered a plea of not guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver cannabis. Brandon Jones also pleaded not guilty to one count of cannabis trafficking. The grand jury charges allege that the two suspects in conjunction with Christian N. Reichert, Jared J. Jones and Alex B. Karcher stored more than 5,000 grams of cannabis at a rental home on Power Plant Road in Williamson County with intent to distribute between January 2015 and July 2016. Prosecutors claim that an unnamed co-conspirator took a portion of the cannabis to and delivered it to a customer in Carbondale for $49,000 in cash on July 27, and that the suspects sold five pounds of the drug to Cummins on multiple occasions in exchange for vehicles. No one is currently charged with the shooting of Officer Trey Harris, but a statement released by the Carbondale Police Department indicated that Karcher and two other suspects might have been involved in the incident. Karcher, Xavier L. McCray and Xavier E. Lewis are accused of conspiracy to commit capital murder. Complaints filed in Saline County, Kansas Court allege that the three men agreed to assist in the crime of capital murder between July 27 and Aug. 1, and traveled to Jackson County to commit the crime. Harris was injured in the line of duty during a high-speed chase on July 31 after responding to reports of gunshots. A hearing for Cummins and Brandon Jones has been set for Dec. 20. Numerous residents told HUD they didnt want to move. Dont do this. Its wrong, man, one resident told them. You dont know what were going through because you're not from here, said another, noting he has lived in Cairo since the 1950s and doesnt intend to live elsewhere. Stop moving our people out of town. Build something new here. To the Editor: Illinois voters are being asked whether spending on transportation programs, enforcement and infrastructure should be protected under the Illinois Constitution. Protecting transportation funds for their intended purpose is important, but doing so through a Constitutional Amendment would be bad government. The Constitution should provide a general framework, not give preferential treatment to one essential need. Rather than protecting only transportation, the Constitution should protect funding for all essential State obligations education, health care, public safety. The reason behind this proposed amendment is lack of adequate revenues to pay for State programs. The Governor and General Assembly are responsible for raising sufficient revenue to meet our State needs, preparing a budget, and appropriating revenue accordingly. Both branches of government have failed, so the legislature chose to kick the revenue and appropriation issues to the voters when it comes to transportation spending. Other aspects of the amendment are also troubling. Transportation funds could never be used in the case of a State emergency and this amendment takes the authority for appropriations and allocation of funds out of the hands of elected public officials. Rigid constitutional language has had unintended negative consequences in the past. The state legislatures current practice of diverting transportation funds to General Revenue should stop. Voters must now decide whether prioritizing transportation needs at the expense of all other competing needs warrants a constitutional amendment. And, whether locking these funds up, even in the case of a State emergency, is really in the best interests of Illinois residents. Mary Kubasak President, League of Women Voters The race for junior senator for the State of Illinois is among the most interesting in the country. We have the incumbent Republican Mark Kirk, a political maverick. Kirks first term as senator was highlighted by his willingness to buck party ideology, a badge he wears with honor. Kirk likes to call himself a leading member of the Illinois Party. I dont allow ideology to get in the way of advancing my states interests, he said. Although the majority of Illinoisans should find that refreshing, that independent streak has created some friction among die-hard Republicans. A story published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this summer referred to Kirk as a man without a party. Then, there is Tammy Duckworth, the Democratic challenger. Part of Duckworths story is well-known. A Blackhawk helicopter pilot, she lost both legs during the conflict in Iraq. While recovering from her injuries, she advocated on behalf of other veterans to Sen. Dick Durbin. Duckworth initially ran for Congress at Durbins urging. Like Kirk, Duckworth has shown a willingness to work across the aisle in her brief political career. Whereas Kirk refers to himself as member of the Illinois Party, Duckworth described herself as a pragmatist several times during a recent interview. And, both espouse middle-of-the-road positions that would serve citizens of Illinois and the entire country well. Both Kirk and Duckworth disagree with Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Both said provisions regarding pre-existing conditions and allowing children to remain on parents policies until 26 are important. Both believe the Second Amendment can be protected while enacting common sense reforms. Likewise, both say immigration reforms need to be addressed by allowing undocumented aliens to be granted some sort of legal status after coming forward and paying fines and fees related to entering the country illegally. The difference between the two candidates seems to be the depth of their plans for the future of Illinois and the United States. The most intriguing ideas Duckworth brought to the table dealt with energy and manufacturing in Illinois. She pointed out that Illinois businesses are on the cutting edge of windmill technology building both gear boxes and bases for windmills. Yet, just 5 percent of Illinois electricity comes from wind. Duckworth advocated for long-term tax credits that would allow companies to make capital investments necessary to keep the businesses in Illinois. She also noted that with research universities and the abundance of corn and soybeans grown in Illinois, the state should be the leader in a biofuel renaissance. We need to help coal with carbon-capture sequestration, and even as we reduce the use of coal in this country, other nations are still using coal, Duckworth said. Also we need to make sure as we transition into the other industries like wind and solar, Im going to help our coal miners finish out their careers. But, lets make sure their kids dont have to go into coal mining, but have the opportunity to go into wind mills and nuclear and bio-fuels. And, make sure we put the emphasis on locating those new power industries where coal mines already are. That is the essence of pragmatism. The Regional Medical Center systems finances have turned around, with officials reporting it received almost $2 million more than it spent during the past year. "We finished well into the black," RMC Finance Committee Chairman Matt Stokes informed trustees during the hospital's meeting Tuesday. "I think its a lot more than I had anticipated, he said. The hospital system, including Edisto Regional Health Services, lost $3.5 million last year. This year, it ended up $1.8 million in the black. The hospitals fiscal year ended Sept. 30. RMC Chief Financial Officer Liza Porterfield said the improvement did not include the $1.9 million the hospital had to pay back to Medicaid for services to indigent patients. "We are really $7.2 million to $7.3 million better than we were last year at this time," Porterfield said. Looking closer at the numbers, the hospital alone ended the year with $3.1 million in revenues over expenses. The foundation was $114,701 in the black and ERHS ended up $1.5 million in the red. Several trustees expressed joy at seeing the positive year-end-margins. "It is wonderful news," trustee Milton Dufford said. RMCs administration has implemented a financial turnaround plan over the past year in an effort to improve the system's finances, which were consistently showing losses. As part of the plan, RMC reduced overtime and some full-time work schedules, focused on flexing of staff and filled only emergent vacant positions. The plan is expected to save the hospital $4.9 million a year. In related matters, trustees approved spending $5.6 million, including $3.8 million for its information systems department to upgrade its patient accounting system. "For the patient, it will easier to schedule appointments," Porterfield said. "The workflow will be more patient-centered." For example, Porterfield said a patient who sees four different doctors will get a consolidated statement rather than four separate bills. "We are hoping the combined bills will become easier for the patients to read and is more patient friendly," Porterfield said. Also, patient billing questions will be handled by one point of contact. Trustee Dr. M.S. Nassri asked if the $3.8 million expense will be recurring annually. "This is a one-time uplift of the existing system," Porterfield said. "There will be some ongoing maintenance of it." Trustees also agreed to purchase 20 specialty mattresses for the nursing department for $123,806 a year rather than renting the mattresses for $130,000 a year. In other matters, RMC President Tom Dandridge updated trustees on the impact of Hurricane Matthew on the hospital. "We asked a number of staff to stay and about 20 spent a couple of nights with us," Dandridge said. "They were upbeat, they were positive." The storm did cause some damage, including to signs and an awning. Dandridge said the hospital also lost four oak trees on the hospital grounds. RMC took in a number of coastal evacuees during the storm. "We took in 26 patients from a nursing home in Mount Pleasant," Dandridge said. Strategic Planning Committee Chairwoman Betty Henderson requested hospital administration send a letter of gratitude to staff for their dedication in the storm. Also during the meeting, trustees unanimously approved board officers for the 2017 fiscal year. Melvin Seabrooks was named chairman; Betty Henderson, vice chair; Johnny Mallard, secretary; Dr. Oscar Butler Jr., at-large; and Kenneth Rickenbaker, at-large. The hospital's fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Freedom of religion means that nobody -- not the government nor the surrounding culture -- can tell you what to believe. All people are free to reach their own conclusions about faith. Oct. 27 is International Religious Freedom Day, so it's a good time to ponder the many, many battles that won this precious right. In past centuries, religious wars, persecutions and cruelties were common. Crusades against Muslims, Reformation wars between Catholics and Protestants, pogroms against Jews, Inquisition tortures of nonconformists, witch hunts, eradication of Anabaptists, bloody jihads, etc. -- history is full of horrors. Physician-scholar Michael Servetus, who discovered the pulmonary circulation of blood, was burned at the stake in Calvinist Geneva in 1553 for doubting the Trinity. His own books were used for his pyre. Philosopher-scientist Giordano Bruno was burned in Rome in 1600 for teaching that the universe is infinite, with many stars that might be accompanied by planets. The Enlightenment gradually changed western civilization, instilling a new sense that faith is personal, not to be dictated by authorities. It slowly bred the separation of church and state, forbidding the use of government force to impose beliefs. But many struggles were required to achieve it. Heres an example: When Quakers first began expressing their beliefs in the 1600s, England's ruling Puritans under Oliver Cromwell denounced and persecuted them. Many fled to the New World -- unfortunately to Puritan Massachusetts, where they were persecuted anew. Massachusetts law required that all residents attend Puritan worship. In 1658 the Massachusetts legislature decreed that Quakers must be banned, on pain of death. Quakers arriving by ship were seized and jailed, and their books burned. But Quakers stubbornly defied expulsion, returning repeatedly to hold worship services in homes. Persecution intensified. New laws decreed that Quakers would be flogged, or have their ears cut off, or their foreheads branded, or their tongues burned through by a hot iron. Any resident who sheltered a Quaker was fined. Quaker resistance finally forced a showdown. In 1659, three unrepentant Quakers -- Marmaduke Stevenson, William Robinson and Mary Dyer -- were tried on capital charges and sentenced to death. The two men were hanged in Boston Commons on Oct. 27, 1659, but the woman was reprieved and banished. However, she stubbornly returned to defy the Puritan law, and was hanged in 1660. The following year a fourth Quaker, William Leddra, also was hanged. By this time, some Massachusetts Puritans became revolted by their colony's cruelty and tried to soften punishments of Quakers. In 1661 King Charles II ordered the colony to halt executions. He sent a royal governor who passed a Toleration Act allowing some believers to hold unorthodox beliefs. It was a breakthrough for freedom of religion. Peaceful acceptance of all sorts of religious views is central to democracy. Separation of church and state was locked into the First Amendment of Americas Bill of Rights. Virginias historic Statute for Religious Freedom, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 and finally passed in 1786, declares that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion. Similar guarantees of church-state separation later were written into Frances Rights of Man and the Citizen, and into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations. By coincidence, the first Boston Quakers were hanged on Oct. 27 -- the same calendar date that skeptic Michael Servetus was burned in Geneva. So that date eventually was adopted for International Religious Freedom Day, one of many observations little known to the public. Meanwhile, America has a different Religious Freedom Day, January 16, marking the date that Jeffersons statute was signed into law. Here's another religious freedom breakthrough: During the patriotic fervor of World War II, some Jehovahs Witnesses in West Virginia enraged neighbors because they refused to salute the flag and wouldnt let their children do so in public schools. They said their religion required them to swear allegiance only to God. Some Witness families were brutalized or humiliated. Witness children were expelled from school for their unpatriotic behavior. But the American Civil Liberties Union fought their case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the children in a famed 1943 decision (West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette). The court said personal beliefs are beyond the reach of majorities and officials. Justice Robert H. Jackson wrote eloquently: If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act. Today -- although few people know Oct. 27 is a special day of observation -- freedom to believe as one wishes is locked securely in the heart of democracy. With just days before the presidential election, a top issue for voters is terrorism. In the last year, Europe and America (the West) experienced attack after attack, both large and small. The year started with the devastating small cell attack in Paris followed by the husband-wife attack in San Bernardino and ended (so far) with the multi-site attack in New York and New Jersey and lone-wolf gunman in Washington. The frequency and variety of attacks across the West is like nothing weve seen since the September 11, 2001, attack. The terrorist threat is higher than ever. It is only going to get worse. Two trends occurring in the Middle East foreshadow a worsening threat environment in the West. First, with the collapse of ISISs dominance in Syria and Iraq, the foreign fighters who made their way to the Middle East are coming back. Security entities in the West are doing all they can to prevent their return, but, given the numerous land and water entry points around the Mediterranean Sea and continued migrant flows within which they can hide, they simply cant stop every returning fighter. Equally troubling is the presence in the West of frustrated fighters who wanted to travel to the Middle East to join ISIS but couldnt find a way. Estimates place the number of these radicalized individuals at more than 10,000 roughly 10 times the number of returning fighters. Combined with the million-plus migrants (about whom we know very little) who poured into Europe over the last year, European security agencies are spread too thinly. Their ability to identify and monitor, let alone stop, all of these individuals is weak, at best. The second trend is the re-emergence of al-Qaeda (not that it ever went away), especially in Syria, where an al-Qaeda affiliate has patiently established itself. In a shift toward the ISIS model, al-Qaeda has moved from focusing largely on spectacular, catastrophic attacks on the West to calling on adherents to attack the West by whatever means. The Wests intelligence agencies have become very good at detecting and thwarting the former types of attacks, but simply arent constructed and resourced for an Uberized terrorism environment. In the United States, the FBI, with only 35,000 personnel, is grossly outmanned. Moreover, a centralized entity is ill-equipped to fight a decentralized enemy. The only way to increase our capabilities and odds of winning is to evolve our national security apparatus by decentralizing elements to local law enforcement, which has a million badged officers and decades of experience to contribute to the fight. First, with a growing volume of terrorist recruiting, communications, planning and execution occurring behind encrypted technologies, substantially increasing the use of human intelligence (HUMINT) being done by local law enforcement is vital. Given their years of experience infiltrating organized crime, gangs and transnational networks, local law enforcement in our higher-risk cities possess the skill and legal framework to monitor, surveil and go undercover when necessary. HUMINT will give us the access undermined by the decline in signals intelligence due to encryption. Next, we cant defeat terrorism without the help of Muslim communities. Most of the attacks over the last year involved suspicious precursor activities witnessed by family, friends, neighbors or acquaintances. We must build inroads into the Muslim community to increase the trust they have in law enforcement and open critical lines of communication. Doing so will facilitate cooperation, as Muslim parents realize reaching out to law enforcement could get their wayward child help, not handcuffs or worse. We need to build off-ramps before young Muslims are too far down the radicalization path. Last, we must reform our domestic intelligence enterprise to consolidate information and intelligence activities in our states. Currently, in too many places, those activities are bifurcated into two different entities (FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Forces and DHS-funded fusion centers) residing in physically separate locations. While sincere efforts are made to connect the two entities, it is axiomatic that separation and distinct operations increase the odds key data are not gathered and analyzed in one place. We cant keep failing to connect the dots. Terrorisms dark clouds are gathering on the horizon. Our Constitution gives the federal government great powers to act to keep us safe. It also recognizes the important role local law enforcement plays in our domestic security. We need a president who will bring both pieces together to form a national security whole. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By Trend The Islamic Republics giant car manufacturing company, Iran Khodro (IKCO), has exported 26,500 cars to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) over the past 10 years, Iran Khodro told Trend. Sabina Nobari, the director of America, Asia, Europe and CIS region at IKCO, has said that 5,000 cars out of the total number went to Azerbaijan through a local company. According to Nobari, Azerbaijans AzEuro car LLC has purchased about 5,000 Iran Khodro-made cars including Samand, Soren and Runna brands as CBU (Complete Built Up) units over the mentioned period. However, AzEuro cars purchase of Iran Khodro cars dropped significantly following last years national currency devaluation in Azerbaijan as international oil prices took a sharp tumble, she added. In the meantime, Iran Khodro has developed a plan to invest in Azerbaijan by launching a joint venture as the Iranian manufacturer has already carried out an in-depth study on the neighboring countrys car market. The car factory jointly founded by the two countries in Azerbaijans Neftchala industrial park is expected to produce its first cars as of late-May 2017, Nobari noted. The joint venture will produce 1000 cars including Iran Khodro brands of Samand, Soren, Runna and Dena in its first year of activity and the factory is projected to increase its annual output to 10,000 cars within three years. According to the official, there are talks underway to export the joint ventures products to regional countries such as Georgia and Ukraine. Iran Khodro owns 25 percent of the shares of the joint venture and the rest belongs to the Azerbaijani side. IKCO is Iran's major automaker, producing about 600,000 cars a year. By Azertac Azerbaijan`s Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov has today met European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Herbert Salber to discuss how to develop the strategic partnership ties. They discussed the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Azerbaijani top diplomat briefed the EU Special Representative about the ongoing negotiations to solve the dispute. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova The Armenian militaries, taking advantage of unstable weather conditions, attempted to sabotage on the frontline last night and tried to approach the Azerbaijani positions in the southern direction of the front. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported on October 27 that the enemys actions were timely detected and the Azerbaijani side carried out pre-emptive strikes on the enemy positions. The Armenian side suffered losses and was forced to retreat. The Defense Ministry warns that the responsibility for the escalation of tension on the contact line of troops falls on the military and political leadership of Armenia. The Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 26 times throughout the day, the Ministry furter said. The Armenian armed forces, stationed in Armenia`s Voskevan village in Noyemberyan region, nameless hills in Ijevan and Krasnoselsk regions, Ayqedzor village in Berd region subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces located in Qushchu Ayr?m and Bala Jafarli villages in Gazakh region, Aghbulaq village in Tovuz region and nameless hills in Gadabay region. The ceasefire was also violated near the Chilaburt and Goyarkh villages in Tartar region, Mehdili village in Jabrayil region, as well as nameless hills in Goranboy, Tartar, Goygol and Fuzuli regions. Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s. Long-standing efforts by US, Russian and French mediators to end the conflict have been largely fruitless so far. As a result of the military aggression of Armenia, over 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 4,866 are reported missing and almost 100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled. The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day. By Azertac An event on World Food Day has today been held in the Heydar Aliyev Center. The event was organized by IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, as well as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Union, FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva attended the event. Addressing the event, Leyla Aliyeva said: A day devoted to those in need and as well a great opportunity to draw global attention to the challenges of hunger and food security. The theme of this years food day covers two issues that I am especially sensitive about - both as FAO goodwill ambassador and as a passionate environmental activist, but more importantly as concerned global citizen. With the new reality of changing climate, we must fundamentally change the way we produce and consume food. Whether we like it or not, the worlds climate is changing. While the international community is making efforts to curb this process by cutting emissions, millions of people around the globe already suffer from its consequences. Unfortunately, it is mostly the poorest communities - people with least means to recover that hit hardest by weather-related disasters, which are becoming more and more common. Indeed, the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development last year was a crucial milestone. Nations have pledged to keep the temperature increase at below 2 degrees and achieve zero hunger by 2030. The Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation noted: Achieving resilience, productivity and sustainability in agriculture is absolutely vital if we want to ensure the food security of the gradually growing global population. This is especially critical now, when climate change tightens its grip on our ecosystem and rural populations. In this regard, it is essential that FAOs climate smart agriculture approach is universally embraced in order to transform and reorient agricultural systems. Although people all over the world are realizing that nature and its resources are limited, and cannot be taken for granted. We believe in more action, education, creativity and positive thinking. Only knowledge can help to see the direct link between environmental degradation and human activity, and highlighting the urgency of matter. This is exactly why we launched IDEA (international dialogue for environmental action) campaign five years ago. During this period, we have achieved many positive results such as protecting endangered species of animals, planting 5 million trees, organizing science labs, lectures for students, schools and universities, exhibitions, publishing books and making documentaries. The FAO Goodwill Ambassador said: Today I would like to tell you more about one specific project that has a special relevance both to the topic of food security and to the environment. As our modest effort to contribute to the welfare of our marine environment as well as help the rural communities that depend on it, IDEA has recently launched the multi-dimensional Kura river delta-cleaning project. Why this project is so important? Well, let me start by saying that Kura stretches almost 1000 kilometers from our western borders to the Caspian Sea and ensures vital livelihood for people living along the river. In addition, Kura river is considered the main spawn area for the Caspian sturgeon - one of the most ancient and rarest fish in the world. Meanwhile, during recent years, industrialization, lack of proper waste management, unsustainable tourism, unawareness of local communities and other factors led to increased pollution of the Kura river. Riverbanks especially near delta, are full of plastic, domestic waste and used gillnets. As a result, water quality and fish stocks in Kura and the Caspian Sea have decreased dramatically during the last decades. Our project will target to improve, fish stock, water quality and overall ecology, which will be beneficial for the environment and local population. As sad as it may sound in the 21st century, one out of nine people in the world suffer from malnutrition. Everyday children in the developing world die from hunger. Hunger is the number one cause of death in the world, killing more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined, while more than third of food is thrown away globally each year. The global warming is making the situation with global food security even more uncertain. We must constantly be aware that each of us can make a difference in combating climate change by protecting the environment, living sustainable lifestyles, being ethical consumers and not wasting food. We must do it for the sake of hundreds of millions of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition and for our own sake. I strongly believe that with action, hope, believe kindness and love we can solve all the problems and create a brighter future and life, Leyla Aliyeva added. Other speakers at the event included Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyngulu Baghirov, head of FAO's Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan Melek Cakmak and Director General of FAO Jose Graziano da Silva. The event continued with panel discussions. Please note that the poems and essays on this site are copyright and may not be reproduced without the author's permission. Blockchain technologies have the potential to revolutionize the rapidly growing financial services sector in the UAE and broader GCC region, according to a new report from global consulting and technology firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Titled Blockchain: Application to Financial Services in the GCC Region, the report outlines how the technology could have many useful applications, including in retail payments infrastructure, remittances, trade finance and syndicated loans, capital markets, and compliance activities such as Know Your Customer(KYC), benefitting both the financial sector and consumers. The UAE government is working to establish the country as a major financial technology (fintech) player and has already started to experiment with the potential uses of blockchain in the public and private sectors. At the Dubai International Financial Centre, for example, blockchain will be used to preserve and record wills and trusts, while the Abu Dhabi Global Market free zone has expressed its ambition to become the financial technology capital of the Gulf. The adoption of blockchain was given an additional boost in February when Dubai's Museum of the Future announced the formation of a research council focused on blockchain technology that will comprise 32 members including government entities, international companies and blockchain start-ups. Booz Allen Hamilton identifies a number of specific opportunities in the financial services sector to shape and drive blockchain adoption, and recommend show the region can best organize and co-ordinate efforts for future research and development. The report also outlines how central banks could lead this initiative by supporting broader issues on regulation, and knowledge sharing, as well as encouraging commercial banks to work together and collaborate with fintech firms to test and utilize new business models using the technology. Lutfi Zakhour, senior vice president, Booz Allen Hamilton Mena, said that it is imperative for commercial banks to actively look to embrace blockchain. The digital economy is moving so rapidly that adopting a 'wait and see' approach is not advisable. Our report shows that there are a number of very real opportunities that will provide genuine long-term benefits. We are seeing significant momentum now at the global level which means that GCC institutions need to start planning the most effective ways to engage and implement blockchain solutions into their future business operating models, he said. The report identifies a number of key areas of finance that blockchain has the potential to revolutionize in the GCC, including: Retail Payments Infrastructure Introducing blockchain will speed up transactions and reduce costs, provide near instantaneous clearing and settlement, and manage complete transaction records, which would boost the accuracy of data and allow for improved monitoring by regulators. Banks could look to develop payments infrastructure and systems to make them blockchain compatible, but implementing blockchain will require investment to upgrade existing infrastructure. Collaboration between banks on an equal partner basis to develop a co-owned blockchain payments system, or partnerships with specialized 'fintech' firms and start-ups could help offset some of these costs. Remittances GCC countries account for an estimated $98 billion in annual outward remittance flows which are likely to continue to grow given the high percentage of migrant workers. However, transaction costs and time are relatively high, reflecting the complexity of the clearing and settlement chain. Blockchain application could potentially reduce this complexity by eliminating the need for correspondent banks, thus reducing cost for customers and providing near instant settlement. This would enable banks to levy cheaper fees and compete better even if exchange houses also adopted blockchain technology. Remittance industry leaders like Western Union are already investing in blockchain companies (in this case, Digital Currency Group) to see how the technology can help improve their service. Given the scale of the remittance market in GCC countries, this is an area that needs to be further explored by banks and exchange houses alike. Foreign exchange Foreign exchange (FX) trade volume in the GCC has increased 50 per cent year on year since 2011. Blockchain technology could be utilized to meet this increase in demand in order to enable direct peer-to-peer foreign exchange transactions. By allowing parties to access a much larger pool of currency exchange markets, costs can be driven down and the speed of transactions increased. Trade finance Trade finance is another key area that could benefit from blockchain technology adoption. Trade finance is a complex process that involves a number of manual checks to verify the legitimacy of a client, its trading partners and the goods that change hands. The majority of these processes involve the exchange of paper documents between buyers and sellers via their respective banks, ensuring transactions are verified and processed, and allowing for payments to be made. Utilizing blockchain technology could yield significant benefits. Having all parties on a shared system with permissioned access will enable real time exchange of information, increase speed and provide visibility across the transit of goods and flow of information. The report concludes with recommendations on how GCC governments, central banks and the banking sector can help shape and drive blockchain development and application in the region. Understandably, new technologies and disruption often leave governments and regulators playing catch up, and blockchain is far from a complete and proven technology. What is clear, though, is that leadership and direction are vital for a meaningful and productive initiative, which could ultimately deliver profound change and benefits to financial services within the GCC region. TradeArabia News Service Leading international experts in sustainable development for the built environment presented actionable insights for strengthening energy and water use efficiency and cutting the ecological footprint of buildings at the EmiratesGBC Congress in Dubai. The fifth edition of the event was organised by the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) at Dusit Thani Hotel in Dubai. Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, the two-day event opened with keynote addresses by Anwaar Al Shimmari, the director of design at Ministry of Infrastructure Development; and Ahmed Bukhash, the director of urban planning, Dubai Creative Clusters Authority, who presented compelling sketches on the UAEs experience in driving built environment sustainability and the future vision of Dubai to build a smart and sustainable city. Saeed Al Abbar, the chairman of EmiratesGBC, welcomed the audience comprising experts from across the construction industry supply chain, as well as government departments, non-government organisations, financial institutions and the academia. Holley Chant, the executive director (Corporate Sustainability) at KEO, moderated the congress. Regarded as the regions largest-of-its-kind brainstorming in promoting sustainable built environments, the fifth EmiratesGBC Congress was held under the theme UAE of the Future: Looking Backward as a Way Forward, said the organisers. The theme and the discussions were specially curated to reflect the achievements of the UAE in greening urban environments and how the nation and the region can achieve transformational growth through a clear focus on embracing innovative green building practices, they added. Al Abbar said the annual event brought together local and international experts in sustainable built environments to identify future trends and emerging challenges in its concerted efforts to create more sustainable urban environments. The remarkable participation of industry stakeholders this year is a strong demonstration of the keen interest of the UAE and the wider region in promoting sustainable buildings, he noted. With its focus on both theoretical discussions and visual presentations to emphasise the new technologies that can be used in future green planning for the region, the congress discussed the opportunities and challenges from diverse industry perspectives covering the financial, governance and material management aspects, among others. A presentation on the Buildings of the Future was addressed by Talik Chalabi, the partner, Chalabi Architect, who presented an overview of the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center, and Matthew Utley, the associate principal, Grimshaw Architects, who underlined the features of the Expo 2020 Dubai Sustainability Pavilion. With sustainability as a core theme of the global event, the insights offered served as a referral points for the audience in managing their projects for a greener future, said the organisers. Fareed I. Bushehri, the regional resource efficiency officer, UN Environment, West Asia Office, discussed Sustainable Buildings, Resilient Cities from the Global Context, followed by a talk by Shaima Sharif Abu Baker Al Aydarous of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, on UAEs Transition to a Green Economy. A panel discussion on Targets & Regulations of the Future was addressed by Fareed I. Bushehri, the regional resource efficiency officer, UN Environment, West Asia Office; Faisal Ali Hassan Rashid, the director for demand side management at Dubai Supreme Council of Energy; and Chris Wan, the head of design management, Masdar City. The session was moderated by Al Abbar. Highlighting the innovations of the future was a presentation by Luciana Soledad Ledesma, the manager for innovation and creativity at Dewa, which was followed by a discussion on Transport of the Future by Huda Shaka, Associate - Planning, Arup; and Keith Miller, the director of Atkins. A session on Materials of the Future was addressed by Hubert Thaler, the general manager, Fujairah Rockwool Factory; Eirini Matsouki, an associate for sustainability and energy at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff; Rania Haddad, the business development manager at Caparol; and the company's product manager Sumeet Parkar. The second day featured a guided tour of Al Fahidi Historic Neighbourhood (Bastakiya) in Bur Dubai, to put the spotlight on the architectural and cultural influence on the UAEs built environment. It was followed by a facilitated discussion on architecture heritage led by Scott Coombes, the director at AESG.-TradeArabia News Service The inaugural The Maritime Standard Tanker Conference, which recently concluded in Dubai, UAE highlighted the scope that exists for sustained growth and expansion within the region's tanker sector provided investment is sustained. The event attracted a high quality audience of around 150 people, including delegates from leading owners and operators from across the region. Dubai-based operator, GNH Maritime Ship Management and Operations, a subsidiary of Gulf Navigation Holding, signed a contract for the construction of an MR type chemical tanker. The vessel will be built by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International and Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group. A high quality line up of speakers at the conference, organised by Flagship Events, provided a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead, not just for tanker owners and operators, but also companies providing services to the tanker sector. Two leading figures from the region's shipping and maritime sector gave keynote addresses. Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of the board at Asry in Bahrain, gave a valuable perspective as one of the leading tanker repair yards in the region. Shaik Daij set out some of the factors he expected to see influencing the business over the next few years. He was followed Ali Shehab, deputy, chief executive of Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) who set out his views on the market and the need for a new public dialogue around tanker freight rates. He also set out KOTC's plans to upgrade its fleet following earlier successful investment completed in 2014. Speakers in the lead session on tanker market prospects included Khamis Juma Buamim, managing director and group CEO of Gulf Navigation; Naser Al-Abdulkareen, president of Bahri; and Philip Tinsley, maritime security manager at BIMCO. Jasmine Fichte, of Fichte & Co, chaired a lively session on investing to service this market, with presentations by Petros Doukas, former Greek Finance Minister; another by Ali Shehab, deputy CEO of KOTC; and Thomas Kriwat, chief executive of Mercmarine Group. A final session on servicing the needs of the regional tanker market, chaired by Clive Woodbridge, editor of The Maritime Standard, featured an overview from Amir Mosadeghi, chief executive, Islamic P&I Club; and Captain Harihar Prasad, managing director of McQuilling Shipping Services. Trevor Pereira, managing director of The Maritime Standard, said: "This is our first dedicated tanker conference and we believe it is very well timed, as this is probably the only shipping sector that is doing relatively well at the moment. We managed to gather together a high quality cast of speakers and the 150 or so attendees found their insights to be enormously valuable I am certain. The networking opportunity was exceptional with delegations from Iran, China and Turkey in the room, for example. TMS plans to build on the success of this inaugural event by organising a second one in 2017, a statement said. TradeArabia News Service The Dubai Municipality has launched a new app containing a glossary of Emirati words with an option for searching pronunciation in the local dialect, as well as the provision for adding new local words to it during the updating process. The smart app called 'Ramsatina', which is an initiative of the Knowledge Management Department at the municipality, is the first smart app that has written and spoken options. Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality, said the initiative contains more than 3,900 words from the local terminology of the UAE. The smart dictionary has been launched on phones so researchers can find the meaning of any word from the local dialect and even find out how to pronounce it. "It also contributes to the profoundness of the knowledge in the Arabic language as the vocabulary of the local dialect in the country is at the heart of the classical Arabic language vocabulary," said Lootah. TradeArabia News Service Emirates Aviation University has announced the introduction of a new Executive MBA Programme in Aviation Management in collaboration with Coventry University in the UK. The specialised programme will begin in January 2017 and applications will now be accepted on EAUs website. The Executive MBA curriculum was designed for students who plan to pursue a career in aviation management or want to transition from an operational role into a general management role. Professionals enrolled in the programme will benefit from the dynamic structure as the course is set to be delivered in both Dubai and the UK. As a growing aviation hub and home to one of the worlds fastest growing airlines, Dubai will be the ideal place for Aviation Management MBA students to learn about the industry. While in Dubai to study the first three modules, students will have the opportunity to visit and see first-hand the breadth of operations in aviation-relevant organisations such as Emirates, Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport and dnata. In the UK, students will also have the opportunity for organised visits to a range of organisations within the aviation sector. All enrolled students will need to attend modules at both locations to complete the course. Consisting of six modules and set over the course of 12 months, the Executive MBA programme was specifically developed to fit the lifestyle of busy professionals. Teaching will be delivered in an intensive four day block, followed by individual study and submission of coursework. Emirates Aviation University remains committed to offering new and industry-relevant programmes. Over the years, EAU has grown from a small college to a full-fledged university offering more than 44 programmes in various fields of study. The growth of EAU underscores the demand for quality higher education in the UAE and the rapid development of the aviation industry in the MENA region. EAU continues to expand and strives to cement its position as the centre of aviation education excellence both nationally and internationally. Some of the programmes offered by EAU include postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in aviation management, logistics and supply chain management, aeronautical engineering, aerospace technology, pilot training and a wide range of aviation and aviation related programmes. EAU participates annually in several national and international higher education exhibitions where prospective students have the opportunity to learn about the course offerings and speak directly to the faculty. The university is currently present at Najah 2016 Abu Dhabis leading higher education exhibition which concludes today. EAU will also take part in China Education Expo in Shanghai from October 29 to 30. - TradeArabia News Service The TransGriot is available for speaking engagements, college lectures, panel discussions, media interviews, conferences or Trans 101 education efforts for your school, business or professional organizations. For local Houston area, Texas or national events, you can e-mail me at transgriot@yahoo.com For events outside the Houston metro area, I ask that my travel and lodging expenses be covered. This is separate from my speaking fee. If you are interested in having me appear as a speaker or panelist, you can e-mail me with the date and details of your proposed event. Please book as early as possible because my speaking and event calendar slots during the year rapidly fill up. Shao Rong and her first album Orchid. [Photo/Sina Weibo] Acclaimed Chinese pi pa (a four-stringed plucked musical instrument) performer Shao Rong has brought the traditional Chinese instrument to Japan, where she has created a new form of music. "The thick strings thrummed like fast rain, the fine strings tinkled like murmurs. When the plucking mingled, it sounded like beads of all shapes falling onto a jade plate," said Bai Juyi, Chinese poet from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), of the sound of the pi pa in his poem Pi Pa Xing (Song of a Pi Pa Player). As a traditional Chinese musical instrument, pi pa expresses a whole range of emotions in music. Some songs are strong with fast and thrilling beats, for example, Shi Mian Mai Fu (), a traditional Chinese song featuring Xiang Yu, a famous warlord from the late Qin Dynasty (221-206BC), being cornered in his last battle; while others are poetic and slow, say, Chun Jiang Hua Yue Ye (), a gentle song expressing the beauty of a silent spring night with a shining moon and blooming flowers. Pi pa is adept at expressing the two contrasting emotions with its four strings. Shao Rong brought pi pa music to new audiences by combining it with flute, er hu (a Chinese two-stringed bowed musical instrument) and chi ba (a traditional Chinese musical instrument introduced to Japan in the Tang Dynasty) and even piano. Cover of Shao's second album Orchid II. [Photo/Sina Weibo] Her elegant combinations of traditional Chinese and Japanese music express the beauty of subtle emotions rooted in the cultures of both nations. Pi pa in China is mainly used to play the melody, while in Japan it often serves as the accompaniment in vocal music. Shao also attempted to sing while playing the instrument, creating two distinctive songs asides from eight melodies in her 2003 album Orchid II. In Dreaming, Shao used contemporary Chinese poet Shu Ting's poems in the lyrics. The female poet's feminine and romantic words were beautifully enhanced by the four strings and her soft voice. Another song, Milky Way, also performed with lyrics, described an old Chinese fairy tale: the romance between Niu Lang, represented by the star Altair, and Zhi Nv, represented by the star Vega. Born in Shanghai, Shao began learning pi pa at the age of ten. After college, she went to Japan to perform as a musician. Click here to listen to Shao Rong's Dreaming and Milky Way. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get a dose of adorable in your inbox Receive local adoptable pets PLUS updates for pet lovers in your inbox every week! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy A Big Piney hunter will serve jail time and pay thousands of dollars in fines after poaching a large, unique mule deer buck and then displaying the mount at a hunting expo. Nathan Strong admitted to shooting the well-known non-typical mule deer buck out of season with a white-tail deer tag last year. The buck is called a non-typical because it had an unusual set of antlers. Strong was sentenced Tuesday. Sportsmen saw the animal mount displayed at the 2016 Hunting Expo in Salt Lake City, and realized it was the same one they had photographed near Pinedale after the hunting season. They reported the buck to Big Piney Game Warden Adam Hymas, said John Lund, Pinedale regional wildlife supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Residents in the Hoback Ranches area saw the deer almost daily, Lund said, even naming the animal. Strongs final sentence included a $10,000 fine with $5,000 suspended, along with another $4,000 in restitution. He will also lose his hunting and fishing privileges for seven years and serve up to 10 days in jail with one year of probation, Lund said. Lund credits tips from the public for making this and other Game and Fish cases possible. We dont have enough people in the field all the time to witness everything, so we rely on a good relationship from the public to give us information, he said. Sometimes its a tiny little tip that doesnt seem like much but snowballs into a bigger case. Game and Fish is still looking for information on a handful of cases this fall including: Two bull elk and one calf were shot and left to waste Saturday or Sunday near Baggs in the Dexter Peak area. A yellow Polaris Razor with Natrona County license plates was seen nearby by other hunters. A hunter shot and partially field-dressed a bull elk Oct. 4 south of Pinedale. Wildlife officials believe the hunter left the elk after he learned he was in a limited quota elk area, according to a news release. The suspect is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds. He has dark hair and drives a blue truck with Sweetwater County license plates. Someone killed a buck mule deer late Oct. 8 or early Oct. 9 south of Rock Springs and removed the deers head and back straps. The rifle season had not opened yet in that area. A bull moose was killed illegally Oct. 6 or 7 along the Louis Lake Road outside of Lander. Two pronghorn bucks were shot, beheaded and field dressed before being left to waste in mid-September along the Burbank Creek trailhead on the west side of Teton Pass. They were discovered Sept. 23. Four big game animals were beheaded and skinned before being dumped in an alley between Sept. 24 and 25 on the 1500 block of Taft Avenue in Cheyenne. A doe and fawn pronghorn were killed and left to waste Sept. 25 along Forest Service Road 726 south of Interstate 80. Anyone with information on these or any wildlife violation may call the Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847). Poaching information may also be texted; text keyword WGFD and message to TIP411 (847-411). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000 if the information leads to a conviction. Beneath a blond wig and a quarter-inch of orange foundation, 17-year-old Kevin Milburn did an imitation of Donald Trump that made Alec Baldwins running shtick on Saturday Night Live seem amateur. Micah Miller, an 18-year-old senior with a small mustache growing on his upper lip, didnt even try to imitate Hillary Clinton. Being interrupted by Trump and wearing a womens business suit was enough to tell the crowd who he was satirizing. The mock debate and fundraiser Tuesday night at Natrona County High School was much like the real ones that preceded it. For $3, or canned goods, students of the school could access their own version of the U.S. presidential election. Tuesday night was a lighthearted rebuke by student organizers of the tawdry exhibition of American politics this year. I think the NC student council wanted to do something in order to show what type of political season its been, said assistant principal Christopher Dresang. Comedic distractions Kevin and Micah put on a spectacle that had their friends screaming in delight, but it was a fairly accurate portrayal of the three debates the real candidates recently waged in their battle for the U.S. presidency. Trump promised a raucous crowd that he would make America great again. Clinton used a moderators question on the gender pay gap in Wyoming as an opportunity to tout her record on womens issues. But beneath the mockery was disappointment in the candidates, Dresang said. Instead of approaching their first presidential vote with enthusiasm, many young people are being told their vote doesnt matter, he said. They grow up their whole lives to be citizens and their first vote is for kind of a joke really, he said. So, I think a lot of them feel disenfranchised. Dressing up in womens clothes and donning high heels handed Micah enough laughs. But this election is far from funny to him. In November, Micah will cast his first vote for a president of the United States, and he will give his vote to Clinton, he said. He originally supported Bernie Sanders, a favorite among younger voters who lost to Clinton in the primaries. Micah was drawn to the senator from Vermont because he was a Washington, D.C., outsider and a grass roots champion, he said. He hopes the mock debate shows his fellow students that the comedic distractions are less important than the issues. While Kevin fired up the crowd and threw out Trumps most famous catch phrases, Micah talked about policy choices and climate change. He wants his peers to participate in politics and vote when theyre old enough. I hope they realize that this really isnt a normal election and that they should look at it in terms of what is really happening and not in terms of something thats funny or has a wow factor, he said. Absolute bedlam The crowd Tuesday included parents and younger siblings. An elementary-age boy wearing a straw cowboy hat, Harry Potter glasses and a big brass belt buckle sat on his fathers knee and watched as Kevin hovered behind Micah. It was a joke hearkening back to the second debate, when some say Trump impeded Clintons personal space. The boy wore a Trump-Pence sticker on his white T-shirt. Teachers at NC were nervous that the spectacle would cross the line, and that Micah and Kevin would parrot some of the offensive language used by Trump, Dresang said. The principal spoke to both boys before the debate, advising them not to use certain terms. It was an odd moment, he said. I have to talk about two of the people running for president and say Dont use those words, because they are not appropriate at our public high school, he said. The debate veered in that direction all the same. Kevin threatened to send Micah to prison. Micah brought up the former beauty contestant that Trump recently insulted via Twitter. Even though it is absolute bedlam, its pretty entertaining because I feel its pretty accurate the interrupting and the not really answering questions, Dresang said. It seemed clear from the number of Trump signs in the crowd that there was the favorite from Casper, but Micah didnt think so. The support is more for Kevin. Hes an amazing kid, Micah said. Id like to think that I dont go to a high school filled with avid Trump supporters. Kevins Trump impersonation has been delighting the school for a week. The junior took to the intercom every morning with a message. This is Donald J. Trump, he would say in the raspy drawl of the New York real estate mogul. You are going to witness the greatest debate of all time. But the event Tuesday was a sincere effort for Kevin. Though hes still too young to vote, he wants others to use that right. The mock debate was his idea. I love politics, he said. I feel like I need to do something, especially in this election where people are losing hope and effort to actually go out and vote. The mock debate was the only thing he could think of to bring people together and make them feel involved, he said. An educated citizenry Frustrated they may have been, but the teenagers at Natrona County were far from oblivious. Not only did the crowd seem to care about the candidates, they knew them. They laughed and booed at all the right moments, a generation of high schoolers that knew the gaffes, the key moments and the controversies of Trump versus Clinton. And if the student councils choice of questions were anything to go on, there was an attempt to advance issues, if only to watch Micah and Kevin dance away from them. Someone had even nodded to one of the third-party candidates holding on with single digits in the polls. Scrawled across a sheet of notebook paper a boy had written, "Let me debate, please," and signed it Gary Johnson. They stuck it on Hillary Clintons podium during intermission. POWELL A Wyoming judge has ruled the City of Powell and its police department cannot be held liable for a sexual assault committed by one of its officers while he was on duty. The ruling came in a lawsuit seeking $250,000 in damages for a woman who was assaulted by officer Kirk Chapman in September 2011. The lawsuit said Chapman had given the woman a ride home from a bar, then went back to check on her and assaulted her. He pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual assault. District Court Judge Steven Cranfill's ruling said under state law, a government is only liable for an officer's misconduct if their actions were within the scope of their duties. Attorney Brian Hanify argued the welfare check was within Chapman's scope of duty. Cranfill ruled Friday the welfare check ended when the assault began. A 32-year-old Wyoming man was killed Thursday morning by a police officer in southwest Billings, Montana. The mans identity will not be released until after the coroner notifies family members, Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said at a news conference Thursday. Involved in the shooting was seven-year department veteran David Raschkow, who shot the man three times in the chest, St. John said. Raschkow will be on paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated. At about 4 a.m., Billings Police got a call from a Days Inn desk clerk who said a man had come in with a gun. The man at one point took the gun out and held it to his own head, St. John said. The clerk was able to get out of the office and police arrived at the Days Inn within minutes of the 911 call, St. John said. Officers tried for at least 25 minutes to convince the man to put the gun down and move away from the lobby area of the hotel, St. John said. With his back to the officers, the man continued to watch the security television that showed feeds from multiple cameras inside the hotel, St. John said. The man made statements he was going to start shooting. Most of what the man said did not make sense, St. John said. A police department negotiator arrived about 15 minutes after police and was unsuccessful in convincing the man to put the gun down. Eight to nine officers were in the lobby with the man, with more officers outside the building, St. John said. Prior to being shot, the man stood up and began to turn around. The man had a gun in his left hand and did not obey orders from officers to drop the weapon, St. John said. Raschkow shot the man out of fear for his fellow officers, St. John said. The man was responsive when officers pulled him out of the lobby office, but later died at St. Vincent Healthcare, St. John said. Police were notified of the mans death at about 7:30 a.m. The Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office will assist with the investigation in order to make the investigation more transparent, St. John said. Raschkow will meet with mental health professionals and there will also be an independent review by the Police Departments Office of Professional Standards before Raschkow returns to duty. According to Billings Gazette archives, Raschkow was placed on paid leave May 3, 2012, when the department initiated an internal investigation as a result of a complaint of excessive force. St. John said the complaint was generated from within the department and was not from a citizen. The investigation determined Raschkows actions were proper and within department policy and procedure, St. John said. St. John was notified about the shooting at about 4:30 a.m. He has contacted Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito and a coroners inquest will be held some time after the investigation into the shooting is completed. Billings City Mayor Tom Hanel, City Administrator Tina Volak and representatives of the Billings City Attorneys office were also at the news conference, though none spoke. Editor: Because I have paid attention to Liz Cheney for many years, I was eager to hear her in person. During the Casper College debate, as with all her campaigning, I experienced Cheney as not only disingenuous but the epitome of entitlement. I say disingenuous because I lived in Maryland about four miles from the White House and there is very little reason to believe anyone who grew up inside the Beltway truly understands why so many of us who are not miners, ranchers, or independently wealthy choose to live and work in Wyoming. With all due respect to the residents of Wilson, when Cheney decided to establish residency why didnt she move to Rawlins, Riverton or Lusk? She states she is proud of the support she has received while traveling the state since launching her campaign last February. This too is disingenuous because the support she enjoys primarily comes from party loyalists. She has made no apparent attempt to reach out to anyone whose experience of Wyoming is outside of Republican orthodoxy. She is adamant in her opinion she can be a nationally effective advocate for Wyoming through more obstructionism, name-calling, exclusion, blaming, negativity and more negativity all of which many of us are fed up with. At the risk of over-generalizing, I would suggest one of the reasons those of us who "get" Wyoming do so because we do not believe in entitlement. As a conservative liberal, there is a place for me in Wyoming because I believe God helps those who help themselves. I do not begrudge Cheney her privileged life and all the opportunities her father brought into it, but many of us choose to live and work in Wyoming because we get Wyoming all of it. If Cheney wins the election, it will be because too many Republicans put party loyalty first and Cheney believes she is entitled to it. Fortunately, we have a viable alternative who understands were all in this together. I would urge every voter to read up on Ryan Greene hes the real deal. Editor: I was saddened to hear Rep. Lummis, House candidate Cheney, and Senator Enzi, as a group in lock-step, all affirm that they're "standing by" Donald Trump in his campaign to the president of the United States. Given Trump's disparaging comments about John McCain's war-time sacrifice, a Gold Star family, Mexicans, Muslims and women, along with mocking a disabled journalist, leading the insidious "birther" movement and bragging about groping women, I doubt if he could say or do anything to repulse our Wyoming Republican leaders, as long as he calls himself a Republican. Probably the last Republican I would've voted for was Teddy Roosevelt, but I've always had respect for the party's standard bearers. For example, while I disagreed with his policies, Mitt Romney struck me as an admirable and qualified candidate. Now, however, it's clear that the GOP has become something other than the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower, Reagan, and Romney. Earlier this year, Romney delivered courageous, powerful speeches, detailing the many way in which Trump is a dangerous, unqualified and unsuitable choice for the highest office in the nation. While Romney placed his principles above his party, in contrast, it's clear that the Republican leaders of Wyoming will instead place their party above their principles. After Romney was soundly defeated by Obama in 2012, the Republican party conducted a "postmortem," analyzing why they had lost and how they can win in the future. To paraphrase a Washington Post editorialist, it seems that in 2016 the Republican party took that postmortem, ripped it to shreds and threw it into the wind from the top of Trump Tower. I suspect a new postmortem will be conducted soon after their upcoming loss on Nov. 8. In short, it's sad to see that Lummis, Cheney and Enzi have expressed their unwavering support for a candidate that the Atlantic magazine has named the most unqualified person to ever run for the presidency of the United States. In addition, it's sad to see what the GOP has become. Perhaps they'll do some soul searching and re-organize to become a principled, relevant party once again after we inaugerate Ms. Clinton in January. Canyon del Oro sophomore Kailee Savage, 16, works in the bricklaying area during the Third annual Southern Arizona Construction Career Days in Tucson on Oct 27, 2016. More than 1,250 students from more than 25 high schools from Southern Arizona are expected to attend Oct. 27-28 at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Students were given first-hand experience operating excavators, backhoes, grader simulators and more. Another hawk has been killed illegally, the third hawk killing in the Tucson area since Sept. 7, Arizona Game and Fish Department officials reported. The agency's Operation Game Thief program is offering a $250 reward for information leading to an arrest in the killing of a Harris's hawk Saturday near Catalina. Rewards also are offered for information in the case of a Coopers hawk that was found dead Sept. 28 at Purple Heart Park near South Houghton Road and East Rita Road, and in connection with the killing of a Coopers hawk with a dart on or about Sept. 7 near Picture Rocks. The Harriss hawk was found in the Canyon Del Oro wash in Catalina after apparently being shot in the head at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday near North Lago Del Oro and East Wilds Road, Game and Fish reported. This is the third time since early September that a poacher has stolen wildlife from the citizens of Arizona by illegally killing a hawk, said Raul Vega, regional supervisor for Game and Fish in Tucson. These acts are crimes against state as well as federal laws. Illegal take of wildlife is punishable by up to a $750 fine and six months in jail under state law. Violations of the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act are punishable by a maximum fine of $15,000 or imprisonment for up to six months. Individuals with information about the cases are asked to contact Operation Game Thief at 1-800-352-0700. Dozens of Haitian migrants are camped out at the Nogales, Sonora, port of entry awaiting a chance to speak with U.S. immigration officials. They are just a few of the roughly 5,000 Haitians who have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent months. The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said another 40,000 are on their way to the border. Since May, the influx of Haitians without immigration documents was centered in Tijuana, where more than 4,300 Haitians have arrived since October 2015, up from 339 the previous year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection records show. But in recent weeks, Haitians started trying to cross in Mexicali and San Luis Rio Colorado, just across the border from San Luis, Arizona. Last week, they began arriving in Nogales, Sonora. The arrival of Haitians at Arizona ports is rare, CBP records show. As of Aug. 31, one Haitian had arrived at Arizona ports without proper documents in fiscal year 2016. None had arrived in the preceding two years. Central American governments informed ICE that 40,000 Haitians are en route to the United States, agency director Sarah Saldana told the House Judiciary Committee on Sept. 22. On Tuesday, Haitian migrants milled around the pedestrian entrance to the Nogales port, napped on top of backpacks and bundles of clothes, or hunched over their phones next to a public electrical outlet. Many had traveled for months with hopes of finding work or reuniting with relatives living in Florida, New York, and other states. Along the way they walked for days at a time, rode buses and trains, and paid guides to get them through Peru, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. Youve got to try On his doctors advice, Lamitie Maxime, 28, left Tijuana and headed to Nogales, Sonora. Hundreds of his fellow Haitians were waiting to cross into the United States through the Tijuana port of entry, which meant he wouldnt speak with a U.S. immigration official until December. Maxime suffers from a painful condition and the precarious existence of being a migrant didnt bode well for getting access to medical care, much-needed after two months of traveling overland from Brazil. So he decided to try his luck at a less congested port, as did Leaureant James, 31, who headed directly to Nogales on a friends suggestion as soon as he entered Mexico. Were here looking for a better life, James said, noting the dangerous conditions his family faces in Haiti and a lack of jobs in Brazil, where he spent eight months trying to find work. It didnt go as well as I had hoped. I didnt work a single day, he said. Fonsner Saintil, 27, plans to wait as long as it takes for him to get into the United States. If you have a chance of getting in, youve got to try, the native French speaker said in Portuguese, a language he picked up while living in Brazil. Five cross a day Many of the migrants waiting in Nogales left Haiti several years ago and headed to Brazil in search of work, Saintil said. He spent two years working as a cook before the Brazilian economy soured earlier this year and he decided to head north. The moment came in the economic crisis where I had gone seven months without work, Saintil said, adding, Its even harder to find work in Haiti. The first of about 60 Haitians the number changes daily arrived in Nogales, Sonora, last Wednesday, said the Rev. Sean Carroll, executive director of the Kino Border Initiative, a Jesuit ministry that aids migrants in Nogales, Sonora. Local nongovernmental organizations and Mexican government agencies like Grupo Beta are helping provide food and address the Haitians basic needs, Carroll said. In the meantime, the migrants are sleeping in the covered walkway leading up to the port and guarding their spot in line, which will determine the order in which they can petition U.S. officials to cross the border. So far, the pace is about five each day. Pancho Olachea, a Mexican man who was deported from Phoenix eight years ago and now runs an informal ambulance service in Nogales, Sonora, shuttles the Haitian migrants to a shelter where they can eat breakfast and shower. As Olachea chatted with the Haitian migrants on Tuesday afternoon, he also picked up a Guatemalan woman and her three children four of the 20,000 Guatemalan citizens traveling as families who have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border in the last year without immigration documents and took them to the shelter. CBP said in a statement Tuesday the agency is accustomed to dynamic changes at our local border crossings, and are able to flex resources to accommodate those changes. Uncertain future For the Haitian migrants in Nogales, Sonora, going back to Haiti would be returning to a life of poverty and hardship. James said the best he could hope for in Haiti was a job paying $6 a day. Thats not even enough for food, James said. If you have a family, how do you pay for school? Beyond the lack of decent jobs, the migrants in Nogales, Sonora, pointed to larger problems. Elections in Haiti are seen as corrupt and for many years have not been held regularly, they said. The current president has held office for a year past the end of his term. In addition, access to basic services, such as water, is inconsistent and dangerous at times. Nearly all of Haitis schools are private, which adds to the daily economic burden. Still, the migrants said they help their families in Haiti as much as possible and havent forgotten their homeland. I always have it in my mind that I have to go back, said Davidson Petiote, 35. I would go back if there was a change, but as it is Their future after they speak with an immigration official is uncertain. After a 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the U.S. government stopped sending Haitians back to their country. The following year, the policy changed, and Haitians convicted of a serious crime or posed a national security threat were removed to Haiti. On Sept. 22, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement the situation in Haiti has improved sufficiently to permit the U.S. government to remove Haitian nationals on a more regular basis, as is done with other countries. However, Johnson said the agency would screen Haitians who express a fear of returning to Haiti and refer those with credible fears to immigration court, where they can apply for asylum or other relief. For Haitians who have lived in the United States since 2011, the temporary protected status granted after the 2010 earthquake was extended to July 2017, Johnson said. The arrivals are processed on a case-by-case basis, CBP said this week. Individuals without immigration documents are placed in ICE custody while their removal proceedings unfold. More than 2,800 Haitians were in ICE custody as of Oct. 20, ICE said in response to questions from the Star. One man who was taken into custody Wednesday in connection to a bank robbery in the Catalina Foothills was identified as Jason Wells. A second suspect remains unidentified, authorities said Thursday night. Wells, 49, was captured by law enforcement officers after a pursuit, chase and search of a midtown neighborhood for several hours Wednesday, said Deputy Ryan Inglett, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesman. Wells was placed on the ground and paramedics treated him for injuries before he was questioned by detectives. He was later booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, unlawful use of means of transportation, and unlawful flight from law enforcement, Inglett said. The search for the second suspect in the neighborhood was called off at 6:30 p.m. About three hours earlier that day, deputies responded to a report of a robbery at a Wells Fargo branch at East Sunrise and North Kolb roads. Deputies learned that a man walked into the branch and displayed a gun, Inglett said. The man demanded money and left the branch with an undisclosed amount. He was wearing a disguise to include a safety vest, surgical mask and a wig, said Inglett. A witness gave deputies a vehicle description used in the crime and deputies located the black Jeep Cherokee and pursued it, said Inglett. The vehicle, which was reported stolen, fled from deputies and it stopped near East Mabel Street and North Country Club Road, he said. Two men ran from the Jeep. Tucson police officers and other law enforcement agencies helped in the search and capture of Wells. PHOENIX An independent review of criticism leveled against the leadership of the University of Arizonas two medical schools will be kept from the public, the Arizona Board of Regents announced Wednesday. The board, which is the governing body for Arizonas public university system, also says no further inquiry is needed. The Wednesday morning announcement came after a two-hour closed-door executive session to discuss an independent review that was ordered after public criticism of the UAs Health Sciences leadership. The content of the completed report on the schools, which was done by the law firm Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP, is protected from public discussion by attorney-client privilege, board chairman Greg Patterson said. He declined to elaborate. The Star filed a records request with the board to get a copy of the publicly-funded report. Board officials confirmed they received the request and said they would respond in a timely manner. The Star also requested a cost for the report. Attorney Dan Barr, an expert in media law, said just because a law firm completes a report for an entity doesnt mean its protected by attorney-client privilege. Barr, who has represented the Star, said attorney-client privilege may be invoked, however, when the entity is seeking legal advice. Board spokeswoman Sarah Harper said that was true for the regents report on the medical schools. Yes, in seeking the independent evaluation, the board sought legal advice, she wrote in an email. The UA College of Medicine Tucson and the UA College of Medicine Phoenix are separately accredited, but they are both governed by the Tucson-based UA leadership. They are currently Arizonas only two allopathic medical schools. The regents independent report on the schools followed comments during a public regents meeting in Tucson on Aug. 12. At that time, regents President Eileen Klein raised serious questions about the leadership of the medical schools. Her comments came two months after the Arizona Medical Association took a vote of no confidence in the executive leadership of the UA medical schools as well as accrediting concerns for its Phoenix campus. While the board does not believe that additional board inquiry is necessary at this time, we have asked President (Ann Weaver) Hart and her team to advance a comprehensive business plan to guide the future operation of the UA Colleges of Medicine, Patterson said. The board will also provide detailed guidelines to the university on reporting back to the board related to the colleges of medicine. We also have asked for strong oversight of the workplace culture as well. Chic Older, who is the executive vice president of the Arizona Medical Association, says the regents response on its review is too abstract to understand. Since no one is saying what the review found, its impossible to accept that no further inquiry is needed, Older said. Older said the physicians organization is not going to give up on getting more answers. In the Arizona Medical Associations June vote, the 4,000-member association of physicians and medical students called for an independent investigation into why six top leaders at the UA College of Medicine Phoenix, including Dean Stuart Flynn, left the school earlier this year. The association also expressed concern that the departure of so many top leaders could affect the schools attempt to see full accreditation, a process that is ongoing. The association asked for exit interviews with the departed deans and publicly called on the Arizona Board of Regents to initiate an investigation into, any U of A organizational impediments or policies that contributed to the departures of the well-respected and quality team that was in place. Dr. Joe G.N. Skip Garcia, who reports directly to Hart and earns $870,000 a year, oversees all of the UAs health colleges the UA College of Medicine-Tucson, the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix, the UA College of Pharmacy, the UA College of Nursing, and the UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. The total health sciences budget is $595 million per year. Last year, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education wrote a letter to the Phoenix medical school saying changes would be needed in order to secure full accreditation. The accrediting body had concerns about the recent academic affiliation between Banner Health and the UA. But the Phoenix medical school has since been granted provisional accreditation, which puts it on pace for full accreditation in 2017, UA health science officials say. Garcia has defended himself against public criticism over his travel costs, which have included chauffeur-driven limos between Tucson and Phoenix. The Arizona Republic in August analyzed three years of Garcias travel costs, which included 56 trips between Tucson and Phoenix at a cost of $475 or more per day. Kleins comments during the Aug. 12 meeting in Tucson referred to use of public monies. Information has been brought forward that raises questions about the ethics of leaders, the use of public monies, the accuracy of information documented in public records and the workplace culture and treatment of employees, she said at the time. The board and university leaders will need to go beyond these public hearings and take additional actions to better understand and address these concerns and determine whether any improprieties have occurred. Garcia has said he was maximizing his time as he needs to work during those trips, and says that hiring a driver was suggested by Hart. He also said hed be willing to rethink how he travels if theres a more effective and cost-efficient way to do it. Hart provided an emailed statement responding to Wednesdays announcement. I am pleased the board of regents has concluded its comprehensive independent review and found no grounds for additional board inquiry, she wrote. I also appreciate that the board acknowledged the University of Arizonas demonstrated excellence in medical education and research and significant enhancements to health care in Arizona. The progress made is largely due to the vision and valuable contributions of Dr. Skip Garcia and his team of committed physician scientists. I look forward to continuing to work with the board on our shared goal of maximizing the positive impact for Arizonans, for our two medical schools and all of the health sciences. Parents, teachers and students met with U.S. Assistant Deputy Education Secretary Libia Gil at a Tucson high school Wednesday to discuss a new federal law designed to give states more flexibility and authority in K-12 education. Gils stop at Pueblo Magnet High School, 3500 S. 12th Ave., is part of her listening tour for the Every Student Succeeds Act, which was signed into law in December 2015. It would replace No Child Left Behind in the 2017-2018 school year as the re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, which sought to establish equity in education. Educators and community members filled the schools library, where U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva moderated a discussion between Gil and the audience, which included the TUSD and Sunnyside school district superintendents, governing board members and the vice-chair of the Tohono Oodham Nation. Gil began the discussion by highlighting some of the major changes, including reduced burden of testing; higher focus on vulnerable students, such as homeless students, English language learners and those in foster care; and high quality preschool. Under ESSA, states have more control over what assessments are used to teach students, how school success is measured and what programs in schools are essential versus supplementary. We know that there is no one-size-fits-all, Gil said. Each state must come up with its own ESSA adaptation plan, which Arizona is in the process of crafting. All of us need to be a little wary about what that plan would look like, Grijalva said. Other highlights of ESSA pointed out by Gil included the expanded eligibility for grants that help with teacher preparation programs. Under No Child Left Behind, only higher education institutions, such as universities, were eligible. To ease the teacher shortage problem across the country and increase ways students can aspire to be teachers, ESSA allows for alternative institutions and nonprofits to apply for the grant. The deputy education secretary repeatedly emphasized the importance of community feedback. The federal law itself was crafted based on more than 21,000 comments from organizations, educators and parents from around the country. She encouraged Tucsonans to give feedback to the state for its plan. H.T. Sanchez, superintendent of Tucson Unified School District, said he was concerned that the states proposed framework for accountability looked identical to what was in place before. He wanted to know how the federal government could ensure that states dont just assign new names to old plans. There will be scrutiny on the state plan, Gil told Sanchez. A parent of two children enrolled in TUSD shared a similar concern. Cesar Aguirre said he was not convinced that even with the requirement to seek public feedback, Arizonas plan would end up doing the same old things that put Arizona at the bottom of education rankings. I feel like the state is our biggest obstacle, he said. On ESSA, Aguirre said, A lot of things look good on paper. Just like No Child Left Behind, it sounds good and looks good. But when those policies get implemented at the school level is only when Arizonans will see if its actually any good, he added. Pilot error was determined to be the probable cause of a helicopter crash that killed two on New Years Eve 2014 near Benson, according to a federal report. The Bell helicopter, which was contracted to provide air support services to the Cochise County Sheriffs Office, crashed near Interstate 10 outside of Benson. The pilot, Jeff Steele, 48, a retired Glendale police officer, and a mechanic, Marc Hansen, 59, who was a passenger and also licensed pilot, were killed in the crash. The two were civilian employees who lived in the Phoenix-area. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board concluded the pilots use of visual references while flying in bad weather that required the use of an instrument panel to navigate was the probable cause of the crash. A cold front in the area produced rain, gusty winds, fog and low clouds and the helicopter crashed into the terrain seven miles west of Benson, states the report. Investigators also found that the pilots inadequate preflight planning caused a failure to identify the forecasted deteriorating weather conditions along the flight route and that contributed to the crash. On Wednesday in response to the reports findings, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels said in a statement: Although any thorough investigation identifies facts surrounding an incident, as it should, we cannot overlook or change the fact that we all lost two great men who were dedicated to their country, their communities and to their work and families. We miss Jeff and Marc and will continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers now and in the future, Dannels said. The report, made public earlier this week, indicated the pilot appeared to be attempting to maneuver the helicopter out of the inclement weather into airspace that had better visibility when the aircraft collided with the ground, leaving behind a nearly 200-foot-long debris field. The report noted the helicopter crashed in flat terrain. Investigators did not find any evidence of mechanical anomaly or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter, according to the NTSB report. The helicopter was headed to Sierra Vista where it would go into service to provide air support to the Cochise County Sheriffs Office. The NTSB report said the helicopter followed Interstate-10 at about 300 feet above the ground, however, in the last few minutes of the flight descended to about 200 feet above ground level, before ascending to about 500 feet and drifting south of the interstate near where it crashed. The helicopter was operated by Airwest Helicopters LLC and had flown from Glendale, where it had undergone a 100-hour inspection prior to flight. The NTSB said the company was contracted to provide about 30 hours of air service to the sheriffs office each month. Shortly before 7 p.m. Dec. 31, 2014, the sheriffs office was notified that the leasing company had lost communications with the helicopter, designated Cochise Air, near the Benson area, said Carol Capas, a sheriffs spokeswoman, at the time of the crash. Witnesses told investigators they heard a low flying helicopter around the time of the crash and that the weather was cloudy and foggy with limited visibility, the NTSB report said. The departments search-and-rescue team, along with Benson Fire Department personnel, responded to the area in search of the helicopter. The rescue team traced the cell phone of the pilot, narrowing the search area, and Benson firefighters found the crash site, Capas said. In January 2016, the sheriffs office entered into a lease with another company for helicopter service for law enforcement and public safety missions. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation is covering the cost, said Capas. The virus that causes AIDS emerged in New York City in 1970 or 1971 a decade before it was identified, says an international team of researchers, led by evolutionary biologist Michael Worobey of the University of Arizona. The research results, published online Wednesday in the journal Nature, also provide evidence that a single promiscuous individual, mythologized as Patient Zero, did not jump-start the AIDS epidemic in the United States by contracting the disease in Haiti or Africa and infecting multiple partners in the United States later in the decade. Emergence of the virus predates the international sexual contacts of Gaetan Dugas, a French Canadian flight attendant whose multiple sexual contacts were central in a Centers for Disease Control study of the mysterious disease and later documented in Randy Shilts chronicle of AIDS in America, And the Band Played On. Worobeys team also examined a blood sample given by Dugas, who died of AIDS in 1984. It was typical of U.S. strains of the time. In short, we found no evidence that Patient 0 was the first person infected by this lineage of HIV-1, the Nature report states. Worobey said his lab at the UA, led by co-author Thomas D. Watts, had to invent new techniques to extract the full genome of the virus from blood samples collected in 1978 and 1979 in separate studies of gay men with hepatitis-B virus. They eventually extracted three nearly full genomes from the San Francisco samples and five from the New York study. It was not easy, said Watts, who came to Worobeys lab in 2009 when the attempt was ongoing but not yet successful. We were trying to put the RNA in these samples into next-generation sequencing tools. It was horrible. We got nothing at all. After six months with similar results, Worobey and Watts took a step back and tried to use older PCR (polymerase chain reaction) methods. In any given sample, there might be only one copy of a certain stretch of the genome, Watts said. We had to farm these little bits and pieces so that we got a lot of them before we did the PCR. It wasnt rocket science; it was sweat equity, Watts said. Using those eight nearly complete genomes of a strain of the virus known as HIV-1 group M subtype B, Worobey was able to reconstruct the path HIV-1 took in the United States, using mutations in the genome as a genomic clock. As hypothesized in previous work by Worobey and others, HIV came first to the Caribbean from Africa about 1967. By 1970 or 1971, it was in New York City, though its symptoms would not be recognized for years. It made its way to San Francisco in 1976, the paper says. What I like about this is that weve been able to step back in time to such early genome sequences, Worobey said by phone Wednesday. My lab, and in particular Tom Watts, came up with a good way of stitching together genomes from highly degraded samples. The human side of the story was led by co-author Richard McKay, a medical historian at the University of Cambridge, who is working on a book titled: Patient Zero and the Making of the North American AIDS Epidemic. The Nature report notes that Dugas was never identified in the medical literature and that his central role in research into its causes came about because he aided researchers by identifying his sexual partners. Worobey said Dugas was originally referred to as patient O. A later transcription error changed that to zero. It stuck in peoples minds as a general term for first patient, Worobey said. That (CDC) paper placed him centrally, more central than he deserved to be, because he was helpful to CDC in providing names of contacts and blood samples. There has always been something unsettling about this person becoming synonymous with bringing the virus to North America, Worobey said. The HIV genome sequenced from his blood sample proves he was nothing special. He was just one of many, many people already infected. There is no good reason to assign blame to any of these individuals or countries or areas that were hit earliest, he said. Part of the history of HIV has been an unfortunate blaming of people, said Scott Blades, executive director of the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network. It is a medical condition, yet sometimes people feel a need to moralize the virus to assign responsibility or blame. Blades said people are less likely to do that than they were in the early days of the disease. In the 1980s, he said, politicians did not pay adequate attention to it because it was a gay disease. That is something I continue to be angry about and something I continue to grieve about, Blades said. Today in America, 1.2 million persons are living with AIDS, he said, and we could have stopped this early on. Studies like this one are great because they advance the scientific knowledge about the virus, he said. And hopefully it will remind people HIV is still present. There is no cure and no vaccine. Help India! By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter Kozhikode: After much hue and cry over social media, the police has booked Hindu Aikya Vedi (United Hindu Front) state president K P Sasikala for a series of hate speeches. Sasikala, who has been spewing communal venom for past few years in Kerala was booked on various charges that include non bailable offences of IPC Section 153 (A) that prevent inflammatory speeches. The case was taken after a complaint was filed with Hosdurg police station in Kasargod district by a C Shukkur on October 15. Support TwoCircles Shukkur, who is also Kasargod district president of Kerala Lawyers Forum, a feeder organisation of Indian Union Muslim League, in his complaint cited that the speeches went against communal harmony in the state by enclosing CDs of her three speeches that were downloaded from YouTube. Besides, links of 12 hate speeches have been also submitted before the police. He complained that some of Sasikalas speeches, widely circulated on social media, could flare up communal tension in Kerala. Shukkur told media persons that his attention was drawn towards her speeches by his friends. Her speeches are aimed at creating divisions and tarnish the democratic and secular values of the country. I initiated the steps as part of the fight against fascism and I am obliged to do it as a citizen, who wants the harmony of the country should sustain,he said. Shukkur had also filed a complaint against Salafi preacher Shamsudeen Palath for saying that true Muslims couldnt live amidst Kafirs as God would question it. Sasikala has stirred several controversies by using divisive language throughout her speech. The acid-tongued Hindutva campaigner had humiliated Naushad, who died while trying to save two migrant labourers trapped in the manhole, by saying the reason for his death was lack of intelligence. Sasikala was also trolled and was in headlines for her recent speech alleging Hindu fishermen were denied fishing in sea in Thiruvananthapuram district by Christians. The infamous leader, who used to threaten Muslims and Christians by reminding the genocides in Gujarat and Odisha, is a strong criticizer of Mother Theresa, who she called a liar. In 2015, Britain had revoked visas issued to Sasikala and N Gopalakrishnan, Director of Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage, Thiruvananthapuram, following a complaint was issued by the Indian community in the UK. citing they were carrying campaigns on radical Hindutva ideology The duo was invited to attend the first Hindu Religious Conference at Croydon in London. Following delay in taking action against Sasikala, the state government had drawn heavy criticism from various corners. IUML MLA K M Shaji had come down heavily against Chief Minister alleging the government was extending partial approaches in the matter of hate speeches. Help India! By Soroor Ahmed, Twocircles.net The uncivil war in the Samajwadi Party is likely to have its impact not only on the ruling party of Uttar Pradesh, but on its arch-rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party too. This is a unique situation in which the family feud in one party may mar the poll prospect of the other. Support TwoCircles The BJP is alarmed because the infighting within the Samajwadi Party may force an overwhelming number of its committed voters, especially the Muslims and some backward castes to move towards the Bahujan Samaj Party. Till now the BJP was banking on the hope that Muslim votes would get divided between BSP and SP and thus would facilitate the victory of saffron party. As the BSP has recovered a lot of ground, which it lost in 2012 and 2014 Assembly and Lok /Sabha elections respectively its leader, Mayawati, has emerged as a front-runner for the post of chief minister. The massive BSP rally of October 9 in Lucknow stands as a testimony to his fact. With 21.3% Dalit and 19.3% Muslim votes, the social equation in Uttar Pradesh will tilt in favour of the BSP, if the minority votes shift heavily in favour of Mayawati. In spite of Muzaffarnagar riots of September 2013 and incumbency factor, Samajwadi Party managed to get 58% Muslim vote in 2014 Lok Sabha election. The BSP and Congress got just 18 and 11 per cent Muslim votes respectively. The community largely voted for Mulayam Singhs party because it found Samajwadi Party better placed to counter BJP than the Congress and BSP. But this did not stop BJP-led alliance from winning 73 seats. Notwithstanding general disillusionment, the Samajwadi Party could have repeated its performance this time, had there been no infighting. Akhilesh Singh Yadav has at least cultivated the image of young, dynamic and progressive-looking chief minister free from any controversy. But the full-blown family feud so close to Assembly election has seriously marred the Samajwadi Partys prospect. No doubt, as always, Muslim votes would split in 2017 too, but not in that proportion as was feared till a few weeks back. If the BSP manages to woo a big majority of its voteas it seems nowit would be much better placed in 2017. The rally in Lucknow clearly indicated that Muslims have almost made up their mind to overwhelmingly vote for Mayawatis party. It also shows that the BSP has won back the support of non-Ravidas Dalits into its fold. Needless to say Ravidas form two-thirds of Dalit votes in UP. Developments in other states and even in UP compelled all the Dalits to close their ranks. Not only is the BSP supremo better equipped to defeat the BJP she has, perhaps, for the first time, openly wooed Muslims towards her side. Besides, Dalits and Muslims are not only coming together in Uttar Pradesh. Even in Gujarat, the home state of prime minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, the two communities are coming closer. In contrast Congress party is not in position to attract the Muslim votes towards its side as it lacks any state-level leader of Mayawatis stature. However, there is another possibility. If Akhilesh finally breaks from the SP and join hands with the Congress the situation may change a bit. In recent weeks both he and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi have praised each other. Apart from BSP, the BJP can claim to have a strong social base in UP. Upper castes and trading communities together form about one-fourth of population. Besides, the BJP can manage some backward caste and floating votes of all the communities. But as the possibility of Muslim votes going to SP have receded after the turmoil in the party the chance of the BJP bouncing back looks a bit remote. Last year, we learned that over a million people living in Britain relied on food banks to survive. We may have stopped talking about it, but that figure isn't decreasing. In fact, it's on the rise. Considering how last year's statistics shocked the nation, what does it now say about Britain that the number of people reliant on food banks is still growing? How can one of the world's most developed states suffer from such a rate of Poverty? The Numbers According to the latest figures from the Trussell Trust, the UK's largest food bank provider, the number of people given three-day emergency food supplies has increased two percent from last year to 1,109,309. Comparing this to the statistics from 2009 where 25,899 people visited a food bank makes for a stark and depressing revelation. Even more shockingly,over 400,000 of thosewho have visited them in the past year are children. Causes for referrals. The latest figures from the Trussell Trust show thatthe primary reasons people go to food banks are varied. Most often, it is due to delays and changes in benefits, low income, homelessness, unemployment, disability, domestic violence and debt. Since the rise in the minimum wage was announced last year, the number of people seeking food banks due to benefits has decreased, but this has had little effect on numbers, as the numbers of people seeking referrals due to low income have increased. In an age where the Conservative government is preaching 'social mobility' as gospel, more and more people are faced with fewer benefits, more low-income jobs, and zero-hour contracts. Furthermore, more disabled people are being deemed 'fit-to-work' than ever, cutting their benefits and heightening reliance on food banks. At the heart of Conservative policy lies thenotion that poverty is psychological, not material: thatpoverty is the state of mind for those who do not have the wherewithal to find work and aspire to a better life.The numbers from the Trussell Trust prove otherwise. Poverty in the North Statistics measuring the use of food banks show sharp differences between regions of the UK. By far the most affected are areas in the north of England and in Scotland. In the 2015-2016 financial year,160,048 people used food banks in the North East of England and 133,726 people used them in Scotland where food bank use is disproportionately higher than in any other area in the UK. A 2014 report by Sheffield University found that northern areas were hardest hit by local government funding cuts under the Tory austerity program. In Scotland, the downturn in the oil and steel industries have affected unemployment and low-income figures. The promises of reinvestment in a 'northern powerhouse' are yet to materialise, and until they do, it seems unlikely that the north will be any less reliant on food banks. The shame of Britain In one of the world's most developed countries, and one that learned its lesson from the injustice of poverty during the Victorian times, the increase in the use of food banks is unacceptable. This is particularly true when we consider at the arrival of refugee children in the coming weeks, and what we can offer them as a nation. The war on 'benefits cheats' and 'scroungers' has seriously affected cultural attitudes towards poverty and made the UK a less caring place. Where we should have focused our energy on attempting to make food banks obsolete in the past year, we have thrown away a third of our food, ridiculed those on benefits and let the problem fester, only to re-elect a government that has done nothing about the problem. It's only when all of us can truly view those who use food banks with compassion and foster a sense of community that food banks will disappear. Yet sadly, in post-Brexit Britain, we are becoming more fragmented and indifferent than ever. HughesNet Voice for Business Means Better Remote-Located Phone Service Share Tweet By Steve Anderson Contributing Writer By Steve AndersonContributing Writer Internet providers like HughesNet are often regarded as the provider of last resort, the kind of service people get when there's simply no other choice. A new addition to the HughesNet lineup, though, may be poised to change that, in the form of the HughesNet Voice system. HughesNet Voice is a facet of the HughesNet Business Internet program, and gives businesses access to unlimited voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) calling for the United States and Canada. Users get access to such tools as caller ID, call block, call forwarding, voicemail options, and even simultaneous ring features. It's projected that users turning to HughesNet Voice will save up to 45 percent over the current alternatives, and the service is currently available, so those interested will need only contact their HughesNet representative to get connected. Better, HughesNet Voice can be added to any current HughesNet Business Internet service package, and can be paid for on a monthly basis or a two-year plan, allowing for scalability as needed. There are even plans involving international calling for those who need such services, and setup and activation are free for those just getting started. Hughes Network Systems (News - Alert) senior vice president Mike Cook noted With HughesNet Voice, we are bringing our years of experience delivering high-quality VoIP services to the small business market. HughesNet Voice delivers fully featured calling services to businesses regardless of where they are located, enabling them to stay connected with customers, partners and suppliers. While my experience with satellite Internet wasn't exactly a pleasant one, this kind of operation suggests some clear possibilities. Satellite Internet isn't great for high-bandwidth operations; a couple hours of Netflix streaming would be enough to break the usual bandwidth cap wide open. However, for VoIP, satellite might do the job just fine. That actually poses a clear opportunity; if satellite moves to being the new provider of choice for VoIP service, it's a safe bet it could destroy local phone for business if nothing else, and potentially even for the everyday user. That would in turn free up the copper used for phone lines to be used in digital subscriber line (DSL) operations, and potentially provide at least some level of high-speed Internet to every home currently getting phone service. It's a bit of an oversimplification, of course, but it's an idea that might stand some research. Businesses have long needed a way to keep in touch, and HughesNet Voice might just be that way. It's not without its flaws, but satellite-based VoIP could be just the technology we need to finally address the problem of the Internet access gap. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Article comments powered by Disqus Article comments powered by Edited by Maurice Nagle Although vitamin D has been experimentally reported to inhibit tumorigenesis, cell growth and prostate cancer invasion, epidemiologic data regarding prostate cancer risk are inconsistent, and some studies have suggested positive but nonsignificant associations. Further, the impact of vitamin D on prostate cancer between Western and Japanese populations may differ due to different plasma vitamin D levels. We performed a nested case-control study within the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective (JPHC) Study in 14,203 men (40-69 years) who answered a self-administered questionnaire at baseline (1990-1994) and gave blood samples, and were followed until 2005. We identified 201 prostate cancers which are newly diagnosed during follow-up (mean 12.8 years). We selected two matched controls for each case from the cohort. We used a conditional logistic regression model to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for prostate cancer with respect to levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) in plasma. We did not observe statistically significant association between 25(OH)D level and total prostate cancer (multivariate OR=1.13 (95%CI=0.66-1.94, Ptrend=0.94) for the highest versus lowest tertile) However, 25(OH) levels were slightly positively associated with advanced cancer. The results remained substantially unchanged after stratification by intake of fish or calcium intake. 25(OH)D level showed no association with overall prostate cancer among Japanese men in this large cohort.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 19 October 2016; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2016.184. European journal of clinical nutrition. 2016 Oct 19 [Epub ahead of print] N Sawada, M Inoue, M Iwasaki, T Yamaji, T Shimazu, S Sasazuki, S Tsugane Epidemiology and Prevention Group, Center for Public Health Sciences, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan. PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27759068 One of the important issues that voters think about during a presidential election is foreign policy and national security. For Republican nominee Donald Trump, his plans for defending the United States have often resulted in controversy and criticism. Trump's defense Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Middle East has been decimated and fractured, as various different Islamic terrorist groups have attempted to control the region. After a poorly U.S. trained Iraqi military lost control of Mosul to the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014, American-backed forces have been fighting to regain the city ever since. In recent days, the Iraqi military and other allies have come close to pushing back ISIS' control on the ground, and are expected to be just weeks away before they can rid the city of the terrorist group all together. As expected, Trump has been critical of what has gone down on the ground, as the plan has conflicted with his proposal to "bomb the sh*t" out of oil fields controlled by ISIS. During a sit-down interview with ABC News on Wednesday, Trump elaborated on his thoughts, while also responded to criticism from a retired Army colonel and military expert. The Hill reported further on October 26. "Trump doesn't know a damn thing about military strategy," Jeff McCausland, former dean at the Army War College, told The New York Times earlier this week. In response, Trump spoke with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News to voice his opinion. "Ive been hearing about Mosul now for three months," Trump said, rhetorically asking Stephanopoulos, "Why do they have to say three months before the attack, 'We're going in?'" Trump referred to his strategy as "the element of surprise," before telling Stephanopoulos, You can tell your military expert that I'll sit down and Ill teach him a couple of things." Trump says he'll teach a military expert a couple of things https://t.co/ivMDmC6Rk0 pic.twitter.com/j9wKl523Jw The Hill (@thehill) October 27, 2016 This isn't the first time that a military expert has spoken out against Trump. Earlier this summer, 50 former Republican national security experts came together and released a letter of opposition against the former host of "The Apprentice" due to his views on foreign policy and his unworkable plans. Campaign countdown According to the latest Real Clear Politics rolling average, Trump is in trouble on a national level and in swing states. Hillary Clinton currently leads Trump by just over five points, 48.4 percent to 43 percent, while she's currently projected to hold 252 electoral votes compared to only 126 for the billionaire real estate mogul. Trump's recent slide is not just limited to the presidential race, as many pollsters are now predicting that the Democrats will regain control of the Senate. A big part of the conspiratorial argument for a Donald Trump upset victory in the presidential race, from Trumps fans, is that their candidate tends to attract larger crowds at rallies than Hillary Clinton does. True, he does, but as any seriousstudent of politics knows, elections arent determined by crowd sizes.But the crowd size argument would hold more water if his supporters didnt feel the need to blatantly lie about the crowd size disparity -- such as the case of the Tim Kaine Rallywith 30 people in West Palm Beach. Kaine, Party of 30 The meme began spreading on Twitter Monday night and Tuesday: that a daytime rally for vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine in West Palm Beach, Fla., had drawn just 30 people. The conservative blog Gateway Pundit reported this. The Drudge Report tweeted it. So did the candidates son, Eric Trump, his campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, and numerous other prominent conservatives. But its not true The origin of the 30 people at the Kaine rally myth appears to be this video, from the Trump Street Team FL. In it, a Trump fan stands in front of the rally, then pointing his camera over towards the 30 people, while pointing out how pathetic the showing is and that it means Clinton has no support in Florida. Most tweets about the rally have used a screen capture from this video: BREAKING: #TimKaine rally only about 30 people show up. Her campaign is dead in #Florida nobody wants #HillaryClinton Serial Liar Corrupt pic.twitter.com/vgnWGHxXgs Trump Street Team FL (@ChatRevolve) October 24, 2016 Take a look at the rally in the video: Theres music playing. People are milling about. Theres no one on stage. Its blatantly obvious that the video was filmed not during the rally but rather before it started, and certainly before Kaine arrived. If you've been to a political rally, you know that they tend to let people in hours before the actual rally starts. The real crowd A Palm Beach Post account of the speech put the crowd at 300 -- not a huge number but, well, more than 30, and still not bad for a veep candidate on a weekday afternoon. Once Kaine arrived, Clinton campaign staffer Karen Finney posted this picture: Even if the crowdwas only 300, thats not the number that matters. The last ten polls of Florida, according to FiveThirtyEight, have Clinton in the lead in that state. And Palm Beach County, as anyone who remembers the 2000 Florida recount can tell you, leans Democratic in presidential elections. The implication that Kaine's rally crowd indicates a complete lack of support for the Democratic ticket in Florida is just laughable. In the end, its not the number at rallies, or of lawn signs, that matters. Its the number of votes. Taiwan has never been a country: Chinese mainland spokesperson Updated: 2016-10-26 16:08 (Xinhua) Print Mail Large Medium Small 0 BEIJING - Taiwan is an indispensable part of China and has never been a country, said a spokesperson of the Chinese mainland on Wednesday. It is a basic fact and the legal basis for cross-Strait relations, and it has never been and cannot be changed, said An Fengshan, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a regular press conference. An made the remarks in response to a question concerning a Taiwan official's recent remarks saying that relations across the Taiwan Strait are special state-to-state relations. The Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China, and the false "two states" theory has already been rejected by the people of both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, as well as the international community, according to An. No body or organization will succeed in seeking Taiwan independence through any form, said An. Top suspect willing to return and face the music Updated: 2016-10-27 07:25 By ZHANG YAN(China Daily) One of China's most-wanted fugitives will return from New Zealand to stand trial, according to the authorities. Yan Yongming, former chairman of Tonghua Jinma Pharmaceutical Industry Group in Jilin province, is accused of fraud and embezzlement valued at $250 million. Last month, the 47-year-old turned himself in to Chinese judicial authorities and said he will return voluntarily to face trial. "He has reached an agreement with police in both New Zealand and China, and will return to face the courts. He is willing to return the money he received illegally," said a senior official from the Ministry of Public Security, who declined to be identified. In addition, judicial officers in both countries are in advanced negotiations about sharing $31 million that Yan allegedly stowed in New Zealand, the official said. However, he was unable to provide details of how China's judicial authorities will conduct the investigation into Yan, who holds New Zealand citizenship under the name of William Yan. According to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, China's top anti-graft watchdog, Yan fled to New Zealand in 2001 after charges were brought against him. In 2005, Interpol issued a red noticean international arrest warrantfor him. In April last year, Yan was fifth on Interpol's list of the 100 most-wanted Chinese fugitives at large overseas. In August, the New Zealand High Court decided to end a money laundering investigation into Yan, and ruled that his alleged illegal earnings, thought to be as much as NZ$43 million ($30 million), will be forfeit, according to a statement released by New Zealand police. The judgment followed a complex three-year investigation into Yan that targeted large sums he allegedly collected via a number of frauds and corrupt activities perpetrated between 1999 and 2001, the New Zealand police said. The statement said the police will end their investigation and unfreeze Yan's assets once he has returned the money, which will be shared between China and New Zealand. According to Stuff, an online news portal in New Zealand, the two countries will soon open negotiations related to a bilateral extradition treaty. However, the Ministry of Justice said the complex procedures involved mean it is unlikely the treaty will be signed anytime soon. Breakthrough agreement signals harder stance Updated: 2016-10-27 07:28 By ZHANG YAN(China Daily) The bilateral treaty signed by China and Canada to facilitate the recovery of assets salted away overseas by corrupt officials or businesspeople is the first of its kind between the People's Republic and a Western country, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The agreement provides a new legal basis for the return of assets illegally sent to either country and opens a new channel for China's cooperation with other nations," said Sun Ang, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Sun, if a court rules that illegally transferred funds or assets belong to a specific person or enterprise within their own country, the recipient country will return them in accordance with the law. If the courts are unable to identify the rightful owners, judicial officers will confiscate the assets and determine the proportion that should be shared with the other country. Lei Ming, a senior official at the Ministry of Public Security's economic crimes investigation department, said the agreement reflects "the Chinese government's resolute determination to recover illegal funds and sends a strong signal that other countries will never be safe havens for the fugitives' criminal earnings". "Fugitives should never believe that it is safe to place their ill-gotten gains overseas, and if they insist on defying the law, they will eventually receive severe punishments and their illegal assets will be confiscated," he said. In recent years, a large number of corrupt officials have fled China and headed for popular destinations, including the United States and Canada, to avoid punishment, while illegally transferring billions of yuan to overseas bank accounts via money laundering channels and underground banks. In April last year, Interpol issued red noticesinternational arrest warrantsto find the top 100 corrupt Chinese officials overseas and confiscate their assets. Since then, 35 have returned to face trial, including eight from Canada. However, only a small portion of the illegally transferred funds has been recovered. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China will improve cooperation on law enforcement with the relevant countries, and sign similar bilateral agreements with more Western countries, including the US, France and Australia, to recover and share misappropriated assets. "No matter where they go and how much they have transferred in ill-gotten gains, we will use every means to bring them back," Sun said. How illegally gained assets are sent abroad Updated: 2016-10-27 08:13 (China Daily) 1 When underground bankers receive funds from clients, they divert the money to numerous bank cards under their control and then arrange for the funds to be placed in bank accounts they have opened overseas. If the value of assets is low, the funds will be handled by small underground banks run by family groups. 2 Underground banks often send money to casinos in Macao to be laundered. The casinos then transfer "clean money" to clients' bank accounts overseas disguised as legal winnings from gambling. 3 Money dealers notify their foreign counterparts through instant-messaging platforms, such as QQ and WeChat. Suspects use false documents to simulate business or export activity. Their accomplices overseas then send US dollars to their offshore bank accounts, with the sums based on the daily exchange rate. Usually, money dealers charge 3 to 5 percent of the value of the assets. However, if the dealers are part of a gang or are involved in other criminal activities, there is no guarantee that the proceeds will arrive in bank accounts overseas. Animal rights groups are practicing some polar bear diplomacy. In this case, their effort isn't the heady stuff of bilateral relations, but an attempt to set free an animal dubbed "the world's saddest polar bear" who glumly lays about in a shopping mall aquarium in South China's Guangdong province. On Tuesday, the Washington-based Humane Society International (HSI) presented a letter signed by 50 Chinese animal rights groups calling for the Guangdong governor to close the city's Grandview Mall Ocean World, where "Pizza", as the bear is called, is among 500 animal species on exhibit. The groups joined several other international organizations, such as the Born Free Foundation and the Hong Kong-based Animals Asia Foundation, which have gathered more than a million signatures on a petition calling for action. "The Chinese groups are adding their voice to the international outrage at the polar bear's fate, as new video footage is released by Humane Society International and its Chinese partner group VShine, showing the polar bear exhibiting worrying stereotypical behaviours such as head swaying and repetitive pacing, evidence of frustration and mental decline," the letter said. Last month, Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England offered to house the bear in a 10-acre enclosure, but the offer was declined. The 3-year-old bear has been the mall's top draw it since it opened in January. A social media post about Pizza's apparently morose demeanor went viral, spurring the groups to action. "Pizza is a superstar," Cao Jinwei, a representative from Beijing's Capital Animal Welfare Association, told the Los Angeles Times. "There was a large crowd around his enclosure, and children had their faces against the glass to get a good look at him. But he is a celebrity without freedom." The mall responded to the criticism in an Oct 21 statement. "Grandview Mall Ocean World has always operated with an 'animals first' philosophy, focusing from the outset on animal protection, scientific discovery and education," the statement said. The statement also said that the aquarium welcomes feedback, but "some groups acting on ulterior motives and personal vendettas will be reported to the relevant government authorities, and [Grandview Mall Ocean World] reserves the right to take legal action." Hongmei Yu, founder and president of Vshine Animal Protection Association, said "there is a worrying trend in China of wild animal exhibits in shopping centers, with another one reportedly being considered right now in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province". "If the mall thinks foreign groups are not needed, let them meet with us Chinese groups instead, because we too care passionately about these animals and want to give them a better life," Yu said. "Because [such recreational facilities including Grandview] aren't professional zoos, they often provide very poor living conditions [for animals in captivity]. Plus, they are often located in places where there are intense streams of visitors. So, from the aspect of animal welfare, that imposes a grave negative impact on the animals," Qin Xiaona, founder of Beijing-based Capital Animal Welfare Association (CAWA), told the Voice of America. Grandview, in response to VOA, argued that Pizza is an artificially bred polar bear, which left its mother at the age of 2 and would be unable to survive in the wild. "It is only objective to look at both animal welfare and their social function we also shoulder social responsibilities to popularize science and promote biodiversity," the curator wrote in an email. Grandview said it has made the health of Pizza and other captive animals a priority, with 130 professionals tending to the animals' daily needs and performing regular checkups. "Our star animal Pizza has been healthy, as all indicators from his recent physical exam fall with the normal range," the statement said. The aquarium said that Pizza is well fed and that it has added more stimulating activities, such as hiding food in the snow, according to a Grandview promotional video. Perhaps if Pizza knew how many people were pulling for him, that forlorn look might someday turn into a smile. Contact the writer at williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com Canada sent fugitives back to China Updated: 2016-10-27 11:21 By China Daily(China Daily USA) Cooperating with Beijing, Canada ships fugitives back to China to stand trial Canada, a popular destination for corrupt Chinese to flee, has been returning dozens of Chinese nationals annually, according to the National Post. The country has returned 24 Chinese nationals to China this year, and the previous Conservative government sent back more than 330, the newspaper reported on Sunday, citing data from Canada Border Services Agency data. In 2015, the numbers reached a 10-year high of 43, and the lowest number of returned fugitives over the last 10 years was 18, in 2010, the Post said. The statistics do not say what crimes people were accused of, according to the Post. More than a quarter of China's 100 most wanted graft suspects are believed to live in Canada, but the two countries do not have a formal extradition treaty. "The return of inadmissible persons is a normal part of the bilateral relationship with any country. Nothing has changed with this policy since the change in government in 2015," Nicholas Dorion of the Canada Border Services Agency told the National Post. A working group of Chinese and Canadian officials has been meeting regularly on common law-enforcement issues, including the return of Chinese fugitives to China, since 1999. China has vowed to pursue a search beyond its borders for corrupt officials and business executives, and their assets. In Addition to Canada, the United States, Australia and Singapore also are among the most popular countries for fugitives due to the lack of bilateral extradition treaties and differences in laws, according to China's Ministry of Public Security. Chinese and US judicial authorities have been speeding up negotiations on returning five most-wanted corrupt Chinese officials, who are still on the run in the United States, to face trial at home, a senior official from the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection told China Daily this week. The official, who declined to reveal his name, said that "achievements have been made" on some major cases through judicial and diplomatic channels. In September, during his visit to Canada, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang signed a treaty on the return of stolen assets with Canada. Under the agreement, the two countries will share the assets if their origin cannot be confirmed. Documents obtained with an access to information request show that in 2014 then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Chinese leadership that he was eager to collaborate on the return of fugitives, the Post reported. Search for lost mariner continues Updated: 2016-10-27 11:21 By Yan Dongjie in Honolulu(China Daily USA) US Coast Guard rescue teams were still searching on Wednesday for Chinese mariner Guo Chuan, 50, who was reported missing on Tuesday during his non-stop trans-Pacific solo sailing attempt. Wednesday Beijing time, Guo's vessel was found about 620 miles northwest of Hawaii's main island of Oahu. The airborne search team did not see Guo on deck, but the main lateen sail of the 97-foot trimaran was broken off in the water. "It's hard to say how many percentage but it could be true that the mariner is onboard alive on the vessel," said Tara Molle, a spokesperson for Coast Guard Honolulu. The Coast Guard sent an HC-130 Hercules, a long-range surveillance and transport aircraft, to the area where Guo's vessel was sending a location signal. The crew tried to communicate with Guo via wireless walkie-talkie, but failed. Two rescue vessels have been sent by the US Navy and crews will access and board Guo's vessel to investigate, according to the Consulate-General of China in Los Angeles. "It takes a couple of hours for our aircraft to arrive at that area, and way longer for the vessels," said Molle, adding that the aircraft crew had been working continuously since Tuesday afternoon local time except for refuels. Guo set sail of his trimaran Qingdao China from San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge on Oct 17 for Shanghai hoping to set a new sailing world record for solo crossing. The voyage was planned to be about 7,000 nautical miles long and take about 20 days. Tuesday afternoon Beijing time, one week after departure, Guo spoke on the phone with his support team telling them that all was good and he expected to arrive in Shanghai on Nov 5 or 6. Shortly after the call, the GPS on Guo's boat reported a sudden loss of speed, Guo's support team reported. "After that, we haven't gotten through to or heard from Guo via phone calls or internet messages," said a team member. 24 hours after the team lost contact with Guo, Maritime Rescue Coordination Center China, in cooperation with the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles, contacted the Coast Guard in Hawaii for help with search and rescue. Guo is a professional sailor in China, and was reported to be in good health and confident about the voyage. He holds two world records for sailing - a solo non-stop circumnavigation world record set in 2013 and an Arctic Ocean Northeast Passage non-stop sailing world record set in 2015. In an interview with nofrillssailing.com in August, Guo said he fell in love with sailing back in 1998, when he and his friend were sailing his 40 feet yacht for fun. "Now looking back, I wonder whether it be destiny that my first world record was set on a 40 feet yacht as well," said Guo. Guo, who had learned sailing and trained in France, attended the famous "Clipper Round the World Race" in 2006. He began working in the circuit as media crew on VO 70 class GREEN DRAGON in Volvo Ocean Race in 2008 and 2009, and finally race the MiniTransat in 2011. His racing yacht, QINGDAO, is a Marc Lombard designed Akilaria RC2. Guo said he is more familiar with Akilaria and his technical manager used to work for Akilaria and they got much technical support and quality after-sales service from that brand. "For me, Akilaria is like an old friend," he said. Discussing the non-stop trans-Pacific crossing with reporters, he said, "Most of the pressure will come from the weather." "When the wind is strong, you may make some small mistakes and then they may become larger and larger. So that's one of the things I need to be really careful about," Guo said prior to departure. Were he to arrive in Shanghai, Guo would be the first ever to finish a solo non-stop trans-Pacific sail from San Francisco to Shanghai. yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn Italy ready to veto 2017 EU budget over migration expenses row Updated: 2016-10-27 10:12 (Xinhua) Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi attends a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium October 21, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] ROME - Italy would be ready to veto next European Union (EU) budget, if other European partners do not provide more help in the migration crisis, according to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Renzi made his remarks on Tuesday evening, after tension between the EU Commission and Rome increased over Italy's own 2017 budget draft. He specifically mentioned Hungary and Slovakia as example of eastern countries less willing to share the burden of Europe's migrant crisis. According to Renzi, Italy was currently contributing some 20 billion euros (about 22 billion US dollars) to the EU's budget, receiving 12 billions euros back. The political background of the current row between Rome and Brussels was related to the doubts raised by EU authorities over Italy's 2017 budget draft. The EU Commission, in charge of reviewing EU countries' draft budgets, on Tuesday sent a letter to Italy after examining its budgetary plan for next year, asking explanation for a breach of previous fiscal commitments. The letter was addressed to Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, and it gave Italy 48 hours to reply. "Italy has benefited from significant flexibility under the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact both in 2015 and 2016," the commission said. Part of such flexibility was "granted subject to Italy making use of this allowance for the purpose of ... presenting credible plans to resume the adjustment as of 2017". Chinese sailor Guo Chuan not on board: US search team Updated: 2016-10-27 14:11 (chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua) Rescuers sent by the US Coast Guard didn't see Chinese sailor Guo Chuan on his boat, Guo's shore team said on Thursday. Guo Chuan's vessel is found about 620 miles northwest of Hawaii's main island of Oahu. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The Coast Guard used a helicopter to drop rescuers on Guo's trim ran floating on the Pacific Ocean. Guo was last heard just after 15:00 Tuesday Beijing time when his boat sailed 900 nautical miles off the west of Hawaii. All attempts to contact the sailor had failed. Wednesday Beijing time, Guo's vessel was found about 620 miles northwest of Hawaii's main island of Oahu. The airborne search team did not see Guo on deck, but the main lateen sail of the 97-foot trimaran was broken off in the water. "It's hard to say how many percentage but it could be true that the mariner is onboard alive on the vessel," said Tara Molle, a spokesperson for Coast Guard Honolulu. The Coast Guard sent an HC-130 Hercules, a long-range surveillance and transport aircraft, to the area where Guo's vessel was sending a location signal. The crew tried to communicate with Guo via wireless walkie-talkie, but failed. Two rescue vessels have been sent by the US Navy and crews will access and board Guo's vessel to investigate, according to the Consulate-General of China in Los Angeles. "It takes a couple of hours for our aircraft to arrive at that area, and way longer for the vessels," said Molle, adding that the aircraft crew had been working continuously since Tuesday afternoon local time except for refuels. Guo set sail of his trimaran Qingdao China from San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge on Oct 18 for Shanghai hoping to set a new sailing world record for solo crossing. UN accepts case against Brazilian judge accused of persecuting Lula Updated: 2016-10-27 16:31 (Xinhua) File photo shows Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reviews the honor guard during a reception ceremony at Havana's Revolution Palace January 15, 2008. [Photo/Agencies] RIO DO JANEIRO - The defense team of Brazil's former President Quiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday the United Nations accepted their complaint against Judge Sergio Moro for violating Lula's civil and political rights. Moro is in charge of Operation Car Wash, a probe into the corruption scandal involving the state-controlled oil company Petrobras, and Lula was accused of money laundering and corruption in connection with the Petrobras investigation. Lula's lawyer Cristiano Martins said Moro is persecuting the former President for political reasons in an attempt to pin on him crimes he did not commit. Martins said the UN High Commissary for Human Rights admitted the case against Moro and the Brazilian government was ordered to present information on the case. The government has a two-month deadline to provide related information. Lula's defense filed the case in the UN in July. Moro is accused of violating Lula's rights and acting arbitrarily in the investigation, such as forcibly taking Lula to testify, even though he had not refused to testify before, the defense said. In addition, illegally recorded conversations between Lula and then-President Dilma Rousseff were leaked to the press, even though presidential conversations should never be handled by a regular court like Moro's, as the president has the privilege of being attended by the Supreme Court under Brazilian law. "We advanced another step in the protection of the former president's individual rights with the UN's acceptance of our registration. It is especially important to know that from now on, the UN will be taking note of the gross violations committed against Lula every day," Lula's defense said. Looking ahead - Oct 27 Updated: 2016-10-27 17:33 (China Daily UK) Events and stories coming up in the next few days New shows at contemporary art gallery The Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art has unveiled three autumn exhibitions. Chen Yin-Ju's Extrastellar Evaluations II, Kirsty Harris's How I Learned to Stop Worrying (1945-2016) and Kuo I-Chen's Open Studio are displayed in separate galleries at the center, as is the ongoing Stanley Chow exhibition InStangram. Extrastellar Evaluations II is an audio-visual installation that is accompanied by objects, texts and drawings that continues Chen's probing of dystopia, conspiracy and art history. The Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art is on Thomas Street in Manchester. Rare and ancient Chinese ceramics on display The Oriental Ceramic Society is staging an exhibition of historic ceramic art between Thursday and Wed, Nov 9. China Without Dragons will be at Sotheby's New Bond Street showroom and feature around 200 pieces that are on loan from members of the society. Curator Regina Krahl describes the show as the most important event the society has staged during the past 45 years. Experts advise on care of old photographs Several experts in the care and preservation of old photographs will take part in a public discussion at the China Exchange on Friday. Preservation of Culture: Custodianship of 19th Century Photographs will take place at 32a Gerrard Street in London. The discussion is connected to the photography exhibition Life in Qing Dynasty Shanghai: The Photographs of William Saunders. Panel members for the discussion will include private collector Stephan Loewentheil (who owns the photographs on display), Phillip Prodger, head of the National Portrait Gallery's collection of photographs, and Richard Fattorini, a specialist in historical photographs from a top auction house. Malaysian PM to visit China next week Updated: 2016-10-27 17:44 By Wang Qingyun(chinadaily.com.cn) Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will visit China next week, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang announced on Thursday. During his week-long visit, starting on Monday, Najib will meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC. Leaders of the two countries will have in-depth exchanges over China-Malaysia ties and issues of common concern, and will attend the signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents, according to Lu. Malaysia is an important cooperative partner and neighbor, and bilateral ties have been developing in a healthy, stable and rapid way, Lu said, adding that bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and the financial sector has achieved spectacular progress. This will be Najib's third visit to China since he became Malaysia's prime minister. "We believe the visit will further enhance mutual trust and deepen the friendliness between the two countries," Lu said. Asia American leaders discuss civic engagement Updated: 2016-10-28 03:38 By China Daily in Houston(chinadaily.com.cn) Asian Americans are the fastest-growing demographic in the nation, and their political involvement is becoming more and more important, as evidenced by a Tuesday discussion hosted by the Asia Society Texas Center. From left: Panelists Vinh Ho, Christine Chen and Mustafa Tameez discuss the importance of Asian-American civic engagement, with Miya Shay moderating at the Asia Society Texas Center on Tuesday. [Tiffany Wang for China Daily] The event was organized in collaboration with Asian/Pacific American Heritage Association and the Organization of Chinese American-Greater Houston. Local ABC News affiliate reporter Miya Shay moderated the three panelists, which included Christine Chen, executive and founding director of APIAVote, Vin Ho, a local managing attorney, and Mustafa Tameez, founder and managing director of Outreach Strategists. Chen, who flew in from DC for the discussion, talked about her excitement at the increased interest and mobilization of voters of Asian descent in response to the upcoming election. She compared the increase in early voting in Texas to the nation-wide increase. Vinh Ho, who is also the director of the Immigration Initiative at the Houston College of Law, spoke about the dynamic of immigrants and refugees and the importance of helping them understand the system of laws and voting. "As they start to be educated on how the process works, you don't have to be the lone person doing it. We have to educate our own communities," Ho said. Mustafa Tameez mentioned that people tend to overlook the quick growth of the Asian community in Texas, adding that one out of five people in Fort Bend County is of Asian descent and one out of three in Sugarland. "If you look at the 2000 census to the 2010 census, the Asian community grew by 67 percent," Tameez said. "You see that leadership build, because the population is building." Asked what draws Asians to the voting booth, the panelists agreed that the key to getting Asians involved with civic engagement is family. They also expressed optimism at expecting a record turnout from voting millennials. "A lot of it is within your own family and your own immediate network. Bringing your own child to the polls, or the reverse, having the child taking the parent," Chen said. The panel wrapped up by taking questions and urging the audience to get their immediate communities out to vote. Cecil Fong, president of OCA-Greater Houston, said the divisiveness of the presidential campaign made this topic very timely. "As Asian Americans, we are the highest in terms of education achievement, but we are the lowest in terms of civic engagement," Fong said. "It's good to hear from these distinguished panelists about why that is and what we can do to reverse the trend, because if Asian Americans are not represented and we're not at the table, we lose our voice." Tiffany Wang contributed to the story Chinese groups, First Nations relate Updated: 2016-10-28 03:42 By NA LI in TORONTO(China Daily Canada) Members of the Aboriginal Education Center at St. Pauls College play a traditional song of the First Nations on Oct 3 in Waterloo. JIAO HUANWEN / FOR CHINA DAILY Chinese groups listened with an understanding forged by experience about the challenges faced by Canadas First Nations aboriginal groups. A symposium, Shared Cultural Pasts: A Comparative Conversation Exploring the Cultures of Multi-ethnic Chinese and First Nations Peoples in Canada, was held in Waterloo earlier this month. Father Norman Casey (back row, fourth from right) is joined by Chinese ethnic minority scholars and writers at St. Pauls Church at Six Nations of the Grand River in Ohsweken on Oct 3. XIN LIANXING / FOR CHINA DAILY Hosted by the Confucius Institute in Waterloo and the Institute of Ethnic Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, it gathered 18 Chinese ethnic minority scholars and writers along with their North American counterparts to engage in dialogues of comparative multiculturalism in Canada and China. Guo Xuebo, a novelist born in Inner Mongolia, discussed similarities in religious practices between Mongolians and the First Nations. Yan Li (right), a bilingual writer and director of the Confucius Institute in Waterloo, presents a painting to Lila Bruyere (centre) and her son, Shawn Johnston, from the Waterloo Aboriginal Education Centre after they spoke at an international symposium on Oct 2 in Waterloo. NA LI / CHINA DAILY The First Nations comprise the various aboriginal Canadians, of which there are currently 634 groups across the country. "I discovered that the religious beliefs of these people, including their customs and attitudes toward nature were similar to that of the Mongolian people, and this made me feel connected to these people," Guo said. Guo said that since the ancient Pleistocene glacial period, when the sea level fell, the Bering Strait exposed a narrow strip of land, which the ancestors of the Inuit crossed. Some of the first Canadians crossed the strait that connected Asia to North America. Darrol Bryant, director of the Centre for Dialogue and Spirituality in the Worlds Religions at Renison, which hosted the 2016 international symposium from Oct 1-2 in Waterloo, said that Canadians can learn from China in cooperating with multiethnic groups. NA LI / CHINA DAILY "In particularly, I found that the Inuit religion appellation is called Shamanism, which is exactly the same as Mongolian Shamanism," Guo said. Guos Mongolian group is just one of the 55 ethnic minority groups in China, in addition to the Han majority. All of the groups have traditions of written and oral literature. "Ethnic minority literature came into a new era since the founding of a new China in 1949," said Yin Hanyin, a Manchu ethnic writer, who was the editor of National Literature magazine. Chinese ethnic minority literature began to flourish after the open-door policy was adopted, Yin said. In recent years, more ethnic writers have begun writing in their native languages. "The Chinese government has paid great attention to promote the ethnic minority literatures, because many minority writers are at the same time inheritors of their cultures," said Pan Ling, a Bu Yi ethnic writer, who is deputy general of the Chinese Minority Writers Society. "The multicultural nationalities in China have functioned primarily toward providing resources to maintain the vitality of the mainstream Han culture throughout Chinas long history," said Yan Li, director of the Confucius Institute in Waterloo. "In the past years, these multicultural nationalities have demonstrated their vision for preserving their worthwhile heritages, which the majority-group people should learn from." The conversation exploring the cultural of multinational Chinese and First Nations people of Canada is an important one, said Darrol Bryant, director of the Centre for Dialogue and Spirituality in the Worlds Religions at Renison University College in Waterloo. "North America is a relatively new nation, and it began its history by colonizing the indigenous people of the Americas, and that has had disastrous consequences for the indigenous peoples of the Americas," Bryant said. "China, on the other hand, has had thousands of years to deal with their multiethnic heritage. I think actually there are things as Canadians to learn from the current situation in China," he said. "There are a lot of interesting possibilities for comparative or cooperative education with students from China and Canada, to learn the tragic history and the consequences," said Keith Carlson, a history professor at the University of Saskatchewan. At the symposium, Lila Bruyere recalled her experience of being deprived of using her native language. As a second-generation "survivor "of Canada's residential school system, Bruyere was taken away from her home community of Couchiching First Nation in northern Ontario at age 6 and spent eight years at what she called a "feared" building that now houses the Aboriginal and First Nations offices. Residential schools were set up to assimilate aboriginal children into Canadian culture. "I was told not to speak my own language, because our language is bad," she said with a quaver in her voice. "So I missed out on my language, but I think my language is still here, in my heart." Bruyere was accompanied by her son, Shawn Johnston. The cycle started from her parents and continued to her son, she said. Bruyere said the trauma has affected so many aboriginal families like hers. "I wanted the cycle of abandonment to stop; I started my own healing and kept myself in treatment." Despite those obstacles, Bruyere and Johnston graduated from the Wilfrid Laurier Universitys Master of Social Work Aboriginal Field of Study program, and mother and son donned graduation robes at the same time. Bruyeres and her sons stories are some of the wrenching tales that residential school survivors have shared since the notorious system was closed in the 1980s after almost 100 years in operation. "The loss of language and culture is the loss of worlds as we know them," Wendy L. Fletcher, principal and vice-chancellor at Renison University College, said at the symposium. "The recovery of traditional wisdoms and practices as well as recovery of language will be critical in formulating a new Canada." Wendy added. renali@chinadailyusa.com World's disabled get new champion Updated: 2016-10-28 05:20 By DAI TIAN(chinadaily.com.cn) Zhang Haidi becomes president of Rehabilitation International Zhang Haidi, chairwoman of China Disabled Persons' Federation, became head of Rehabilitation International (RI), a leading global network for the rights and inclusion of the disabled, in Edinburgh on Thursday. Zhang Haidi, chairwoman of Rehabilitation International (RI) speaks at her inauguration at the RI Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Oct 27. Lin Wei Guang/For China Daily A bestselling writer and translator, Zhang was elected RI's incoming president in 2014. "Our responsibility is to help as many disabled people as possible with access to rehabilitation, thus to see the light, to hear the sound, to sit, to stand, to walk, to run, to equally integrate into society and live a happy life," Zhang said at the inauguration ceremony before the RI Congress on Thursday. "It is indeed a tremendous honor for me to work for the RI in this role," she added. Zhang Haidi, chairwoman of Rehabilitation International (RI) speaks at her inauguration at the RI Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Oct 27. Lin Wei Guang/For China Daily Zhang pledged to make more effort in her four-year tenure to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and promote an equal, sharing and inclusive environment worldwide for people with disabilities. Born in 1955, Zhang Haidi became paralyzed at the age of five, but she educated herself to the university level before obtaining a master's degree in philosophy from Jilin University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of York in 2013 and by the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2015. A prolific writer, Zhang's published works include Beautiful English, Dreams in Wheelchair, The Topmost, Enduring as the Universe and collections of short essays. Zhang is a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and is also head of the Chinese Paralympic delegation. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi attends a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium October 21, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] ROME - Italy would be ready to veto next European Union (EU) budget, if other European partners do not provide more help in the migration crisis, according to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Renzi made his remarks on Tuesday evening, after tension between the EU Commission and Rome increased over Italy's own 2017 budget draft. He specifically mentioned Hungary and Slovakia as example of eastern countries less willing to share the burden of Europe's migrant crisis. According to Renzi, Italy was currently contributing some 20 billion euros (about 22 billion US dollars) to the EU's budget, receiving 12 billions euros back. The political background of the current row between Rome and Brussels was related to the doubts raised by EU authorities over Italy's 2017 budget draft. The EU Commission, in charge of reviewing EU countries' draft budgets, on Tuesday sent a letter to Italy after examining its budgetary plan for next year, asking explanation for a breach of previous fiscal commitments. The letter was addressed to Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, and it gave Italy 48 hours to reply. "Italy has benefited from significant flexibility under the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact both in 2015 and 2016," the commission said. Part of such flexibility was "granted subject to Italy making use of this allowance for the purpose of ... presenting credible plans to resume the adjustment as of 2017". Demonstrators clash with members of Venezuelan National Guard during a rally demanding a referendum to remove Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, in San Cristobal, Venezuela October 26, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] CARACAS - Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro activated on Wednesday the nation's Defense Council on a permanent basis to find a solution to the country's political, economic and social crisis. The Constitution's Article 323 says that the Defense Council is the highest advisory organ of the state to plan and assess matters related to the defense of the country. At a press conference from the presidential place, Maduro said the Council would attend "the end of 2016 with the best criteria and knowledge possible so that...peace may reign." The first meeting of this Council was attended by the executive vice-president, Aristobulo Isturiz, several ministers and representatives of the judiciary. However, although National Assembly President, Henry Ramos Allup, was invited, the opposition leader did not attend. At the press conference, Maduro said that Allup was continuing to go against the Constitution. He added that he wanted to hold a "consultation with all sectors, workers, farmers and professional moments. There will be a permanent social dialogue." Despite his criticism of Allup, Maduro also called all actors to join the first phase of dialogue between the government and the opposition on Oct 30 in the island of Margarita. Maduro then stated the Defense Council would seek to tackle the economic situation, which has risen to over 700 percent this year. "I ask this Council to make proposals in the best national interest," he expressed. Finally, he said that the Council would seek to make reparations to victims of political violence and to guarantee the lack of foreign interventionism. "Venezuela is the target of international persecution and we are forced to reject any attempt at intervention," vowed Maduro. On Tuesday, the National Assembly, in majority controlled by the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), voted to open a political trial against Maduro for causing the crisis and ordered him to appear on Nov 1. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. Workers pack coffee products for export at Vinacafe in the southern province of Binh Duong. The total export value of Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products in the first ten months of this year reached US$26.4 billion. VNA/VNS Photo Vu4 Sinh HA NOI The total export value of agro-forestry-fishery products in the first ten months of this year reached US$26.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.3 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Specifically, export value was $12.5 billion from of main farming products, up by 7.8 per cent; $5.7 billion from seafood products, up by 5.9 per cent; and $5.8 billion from forestry products, a little increase of 0.1 per cent. The ministry said in October alone, total export value was estimated at $2.75 billion. The local fisheries industry had the largest contribution to the total export value of agro, forestry and fishery products, it said. During the January-October period, the nation exported 1.5 million tonnes of coffee, earning $2.76 billion. Exports surged by 40.2 per cent in volume and 25.4 per cent in value against the same period last year. The export value of pepper reached $1.29 billion from 159,000 tonnes, an increase of 15.3 per cent in value and 35.7 per cent in volume year-on-year. Some other farming products also increased exports, including rubber, tea and cashew. Cashew and rubber industries saw a year-on-year increase of 16.6 per cent to $2.33 billion and of 4.5 per cent to $1.28 billion, respectively, in the first ten months of this year. Rice exports down Meanwhile, the country earned $164 million from the shipment of 368,000 tonnes of rice in October, bringing the total value and volume of the key staple for ten months to $1.9 million and 4.2 million tonnes, respectively. The rice exports in the first ten months dropped by 21.2 per cent in volume and 16.9 per cent in value. However, Viet Nams rice exports increased in both volume and value to key markets, including Ghana, Angola and Indonesia, during the first nine months, according to MARD. In nine months, rice exports to Ghana, the second largest export market of Vietnamese rice, rose by 41.8 per cent in volume to 387,700 tonnes of rice and 36.2 per cent in value to $189.6 million. Viet Nams rice exports to Indonesia reached 359,400 tonnes, earning $142.5 million. The exports surged by 21.5 times in volume and 22.5 times in value against the same period last year. Rice exports to Angola increased by 4.4 times in volume and 3.5 times in value. Meanwhile, exports of this product reduced in value to some major markets compared with the same period last year, including China (down by 13.9 per cent), the Philippines (47.8 per cent), Malaysia (47.4 per cent), Singapore (34.6 per cent), the US (32 per cent) and Ivory Coast (25.2 per cent). Deputy Minister of agriculture and rural development Tran Thanh Nam said the ministry would solve difficulties, including credit and tax, for enterprises and associations in production and business to reach its export target of $31 billion this year. VNS Hanoi Beer, a brand name of Habeco. The company will list shares on UPCoM on October 28. Photo cafef.vn HA NOI Ha Noi Beer Alcohol and Beverage Joint Stock Corporation (Habeco) will start its first trading day on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) on October 28, eight years after its initial public offering in March 2008. Almost 232 million shares of the beverage company will be traded under the stock code BHN at the reference price of VN39,000 (US$1.75) per share on its first trading date. Habeco, headquartered in Ha Noi with charter capital of over VN2.3 trillion, is the third largest beer company in Vietnam with popular brands Hanoi Beer and Truc Bach Beer. It owns 17 subsidiary and nine affiliated companies with total production capacity of over 800 million litres of beer a year. The company has 623 shareholders, of which the Ministry of Industry and Trade is the biggest stakeholder with a 81.79-per-cent capital, followed by Carlsberg Group with a 17.08 per cent stake. The brewery has stable performance thanks to large consumption in the country. Viet Nam was among top five Asian beer-drinking countries in 2015, consuming 31.7 billion litres a year. Habeco reported total revenues of over VN9.7 trillion and net profits of VN951 billion in 2015. It has targeted product sales of VN7.9 trillion with 525 million litres of beer, and profits of VN848 billion in 2016. Dividend payment this year is expected at 15 per cent, up from 10 per cent in 2015. Total production of beer nation-wide reached nearly 2.7 billion litres in the first nine months of this year, up 9 per cent year-on-year. Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation (Sabeco) is the largest producer with over 1.2 billion litres and Habeco 541 million litres, a recent report of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) showed. The Prime Minister has requested both Habeco and Sabeco to list stocks on the stock exchange before selling State capital to ensure transparency. The State is expected to sell its entire holdings in these two companies next year. VNS A NANG The central city of a Nang plans to relaunch a direct air route to Pakse, in Laos province of Champasak, in a bid to boost investment, co-operation, and tourism in the years to come. The announcement was made by the citys secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh during a working visit to Champasak province in Laos. He said the two cities, Pakse and a Nang should increase investment, trade, tourism, and education by re-opening the direct flight that was halted shortly after its original launch in 2013. Xuan Anh, who is chairman of a Nangs Peoples Council, said a Nang offers investment projects in infrastructure, urban development, trade service and tourism in south and central provinces of Laos. The two cities also agreed on co-operation programmes in 2018-22 including education, trade and tourism, heath and urban development. As scheduled, a Nang will support Champasak with total funds of VN21.74 billion (nearly US$1 million) for social security and heath care. The city allocated an assistance fund of VN5.8 billion ($258,000) for Champasak following a Memorandum of Understanding in 2013-17. a Nang has only one investment project in Chamasak, out of 271 foreign direct investment projects. The central had signed assistance projects for provinces in Laos worth a total US$2 million from 2013 to 2017. The city inked 29 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with cities and provinces such as Vientiane, Savannakhet, Champasak, Sekong, Salavan, Attapu, Bolikhamsay and Xaynhaburi. According to the citys investment and planning department, a Nang has invested $52.3 million in Laos garment, mine ore, industrial and agricultural sectors. Last year, a Nang exported petrol, rubber and plastics to Laos worth $34.4 million. According to the latest report from the Association of Viet Nam Investors to Laos (AVIL), Viet Nams investments in Laos now total $5.3 billion in registered capital, with annual growth rates averaging 30 per cent over the last five years. Investments registered in Laos account for roughly one quarter of Viet Nams overseas investments of $20.2 billion. VNS Viet Nam will lose nearly 39 per cent of the total area of Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta the biggest rice granary of the country if the sea level rises 100cm by the end of the century. Photo vacne.org.vn HA NOI Viet Nam will lose nearly 39 per cent of the total area of Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta the biggest rice granary of the country if the sea level rises 100cm by the end of the century. Localities of Hau Giang, Kien Giang, and Ca Mau are expected to suffer the most with inundated areas up to 80 per cent, 77 per cent and 58 percent respectively. It was released following the 2016 Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Scenarios for Viet Nam and by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Tuesday at a high-level meeting held in Ha Noi. The scenario said about 16.8 per cent of the total area of the Hong (Red) River delta and 1.47 per cent of the total area of central coastal provinces were predicted to be inundated if the sea level rises 100cm by the end of the century. In the Red River delta, rising sea levels would cause an area loss of 58 per cent in Nam inh Province and 51 per cent in Thai Binh Province. Additionally, three islands of Van on, Con ao and Phu Quoc as well as Tri Ton Island and Luoi Liem Island of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago were also facing severe flood risk, the scenario said. Tran Thuc, deputy head of the consultancy board for Viet Nams National Committee on Climate Change, said data used to compile the 2016 scenario was updated until 2014. Compared to previous scenarios, the 2016 scenario provided details of rising sea levels for 28 coastal provinces and Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, he said. The scenario also pointed out that geology changes and subsidence due to overexploitation of underground water were the two major reasons worsening flood risk for localities across the country, he said. After the forecast was announced, the environment ministry ordered localities to improve their irrigation planning to adapt to rising sea levels and climate change. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam has improved its policy framework on forest land tenure, but contradictions and implementation weaknesses persist, experts said at a workshop yesterday. The workshop was held to review a three-nation ongoing project on Strengthening forest tenure for sustaining livelihoods and generating income. The project, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), began implementation in October 2014 in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Nepal. Hoang Lien Son, director of the economic research centre under the Viet Nam Academy of Forest Sciences (VAFS), said progress has been made in acknowledging the rights of forest growers and managers. Prof. Vo ai Hai, VAFS president, also said that protection of forest tenure has significantly improved in Viet Nam since the passing of the Land Law and Law on Forest Protection and Development. With intensive legal reform on land and forest tenure, the forest area has expanded, he said. He said Viet Nams forest area has increased from 28 per cent in 1990 to 41 per cent in 2015, and the value of wood-based products increased from US$1.6 billion in 2006 to $6.8 billion in 2015. Small forest growers manage about 20 per cent of the nations forest area, he noted. He also said that annual revenue from environment protection fees was $60 million, and this is set to double in 2017. However, Hai added that forest tenure in Viet Nam continues to face several limitations and challenges that need to be addressed by the Government. This is an important task because secure tenure has lifted out of poverty millions who depend on forests for their livelihood. It has also contributed to sustainable forest management, he said. Jong Ha Bae, FAO Country Representative in Viet Nam, said improved governance of forest tenure was essential for food security, poverty eradication and to creating an enabling environment for responsible investment in forest-based enterprises. Improved governance of tenure is critical as it reflects the interest of citizens, and ensures peoples ability to exercise the tenure rights and duties, he said. Yurdi Yasmi from the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific said existing forest tenure policies in all three nations still had several shortcomings, resulting in reduced benefits for the community. The shortcomings include contradictory and complicated policies, and weak implementation, he said. Officials from the Forestry Administration of Cambodia and the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation of Nepal attended the workshop. All the participants shared their experiences as well as results of policy and institutional capacity assessments related to forest tenure. Forest tenure includes ownership, tenancy and other arrangements for the use of forests. Its a combination of legally or customarily defined forest ownership; and of rights and arrangements to manage and use forest resources. VNS Seven years ago, Megumi Kawada, a Japanese-English freelance translator from Kyoto, followed her heart to Ha Noi. While living in London, she had met and fallen in love with Matthew Wythe, a graphic designer who had been living in Viet Nam since 1999. She decided to join him and has been there ever since. Matt was working in Hoi An, and I decided to settle in Hoi An with him. I kept working as a freelance Japanese-English translator, while Matt earned a living from graphic designer, she told Viet Nam News in an interview. But in 2012, tragedy struck. Matt fell seriously ill while she was pregnant. I wrestled with serious troubles while Matt did his best to fight his illness. I flew back to Japan alone to have the baby, she said. The little things: Megumi and her four-year-old son Moto Kawada. -- VNS Photo Cong Thanh She came back Hoi An with her baby and resumed working, while her husband was in prolonged therapy. I have felt very strong since then. I feel like there is nothing to be afraid of after overcoming the hardship, but also this experience gave me the idea of living a healthy life and enjoying every moment because you never know what might happen tomorrow, she said. It was then that Megumi came up with the idea of producing eco-friendly kitchen/cleaning/laundry soap from recycled oil, which protects her skin. My hands were damaged by chemical-based cleaning soap and washing-up liquid, so I learnt to make natural handmade organic soap from cooking oil and local ingredients such as vegetable oils, shea butter, herbs and pure essential oils, she said. The 37-year-old said the organic production does not use preservatives or palm oil, and its healthy and environment friendly. She produces 500 soaps, body creams and lipsticks every month. She said her products are available at resorts and hotels in Hoi An for tourists, and at Japanese shop in a Nang. Megumi is not in it for the money. She sees her work as a mission she must share with others, for example teachers and students at local primary schools. I want to raise awareness among the young generation (kids from primary school) to the importance of healthy and environmentally friendly production, as well as food safety. Its really important for them to grow up with healthy ideas, she said. Green thumb: Megumi Kawada checks her lemon grass at home in Hoi An city. Herbs are used for her organic production. -- VNS Photo Cong Thanh She has also conducted training courses for local residents, foreign tourists and expats living in Hoi An, teaching them natural soap production in a 90-minute session at an organic restaurant, U-Cafe. Trainees can learn from my experience and they can make organic soaps themselves at home and in their community. Even the packaging must use environment-friendly material, she said. Megumi herself no longer uses chemical cosmetic products since her production began in 2013. Ha My, an assistant of Megumis, said the organic production is a good example for local residents. They (local people) will come to prefer organic products to chemical-based daily substances. Thus, the environment would be less polluted by harmful cleaning products, My said, adding that organic products would also promote tourism in Hoi An. Megumi said she even buys farm produce from an organic vegetable farm in Cam Thanh Village for healthy and safe meals. However, Megumi admits shes not a good cook. Her favourite Vietnamese food is spring rolls, and her family dines out at Japanese restaurants in Hoi An or cook Japanese food at home. Spreading the suds: Megumi demontrates organic soap production for trainees at U-Cafe -- an organic and eco-site -- in Hoi An. -- Photo Megumi Having lived in Hoi An for seven years, Megumi, her husband and their four-year old son, Mito Kawada, have joined local celebrations of the lunar New Year as well as annual Japanese-Vietnamese Culture Festival in Hoi An. It is a nice time for all the family to spend time together. I like the way people still follow traditions and buy new things or decorate the house with new flowers, she said. Although I have seen rapid development over the past years, I still think Hoi An is an attractive place to live with lush surroundings and natural resources. Many locals are still not aware of unsafe food and chemical products. People in the countryside are living organic lives naturally by growing vegetables and domestic animals themselves. I would like people to know that this is the healthiest lifestyle for all of us. With the economic development, people try to cope with work-life balance and they seek longer-life/cheaper products sold in supermarkets. This produces more and more waste harmful to both our life and the earth." She said she would continue sharing her knowledge with locals to and try to get them to live simply by using or making their own natural products from local ingredients. I especially hope to promote this idea to local businesses in Hoi An so that they can be role models for sustainable development in the future," she said. VNS HCM CITY IDECAF Stage, HCM Citys leading private drama theatre, is staging a childrens puppet play about a farmer family that led Vietnamese in their fight against aggressors. The 35-minute play, Thanh Giong (Saint Giong), features Giong, a young hero from the family. Nearly 400 preschool students at the Be Ngoan School in District 1 attended the opening show recently. Young audiences were rapt with wonder while veteran and young actors of the theatres Nu Cuoi (Smiles) Puppet Troupe displayed skills in puppetry, music, dance and circus tricks. Costume designers and specialists in sound and light added a realistic element to the play through beautiful puppets, accessories and interior design suited to the plays theme, said theatre director Huynh Anh Tuan. The play is part of the theatres drama programme on Vietnamese history created for preschool and primary school students. Our two-year project will offer 50 shows at school, which cost about VN400 million (US$18,000) per year, said Tuan, adding that his staff had received financial support from the citys Department of Education and Training. "Through our project, we hope children will enter the theatre and learn more about the countrys history and traditional theatre," he said. Featured plays such as Tran Quoc Toan (Young Hero Tran Quoc Toan) and Son Tinh-Thuy Tinh (The God of Mountain and The God of Water) will be offered. The shows will be staged for students at preschools and primary schools in rural Nha Be, Thu uc, Cu Chi and Can Gio districts next week. VNS Saigon Chamber Music will organise a concert at the HCM City Opera House on November 5 to raise funds to buy wheelchairs for the disadvantaged. The concert will feature Vietnamese-British pianist Nguyen Bich Tra, soprano Ngoc Tuyen, chorus master Le Minh Hien and young virtuosi from the Saigon Chamber Music group. Works by composers Dvorak, Kember, Schubert, Puccini, and Vivaldi will be performed. All proceeds will be donated to Arts for Mobility, a concert organiser and manager, to raise funds to support mobility. The concert will begin at 6pm at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1. Tickets, which are VN500,000 including a pre-show reception, are available at www.ticketbox.vn. VNS HA NOI Nguyen Thi Loan is among the top 20 at Miss Grand International 2016, which was held yesterday in the US. She is also among the pageants top 10 in the best national costume round. Being among the top 20 is a proud achievement to me. I feel a bit sorry for not having much time for better preparation and rehearsal. Yet I tried my best and would like to send my thanks to my family and audience who supported during the time I participated in the contest, Loan told Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper. This is also a memorable landmark, which gives me motivation and passion to pursue my career, Loan said. Loan also displayed an impressive performance in the bikini and evening gown rounds in the semi-final on October 24. The Miss Grand International 2016 title was won by Indonesia and the first runners up title went to the Philippines, Thailand, Puerto Rico and the US. The pageant was held in Las Vegas with the participation of nearly 80 contestants from all over the world. This is the fourth of Miss Grand International and the first time Viet Nam is among the top 20. Nguyen Thi Loan was among the top five in Miss Viet Nam 2010 and the winner of this pageants beauty swimsuit contest, second runner-up at Miss Ethnic Minorities 2013 and among the top 25 at Miss World 2014. Viet Nam will host Miss Grand International 2017. VNS By Brook Horowitz The first draft of Viet Nams latest anti-corruption law was published in late June by the Government Inspectorate and has been attracting comment and debate from all sectors of society. If all goes according to schedule, the draft will be submitted to the National Assembly in November of this year. Final revisions will go to the National Assembly for adoption in May 2017. This latest revision deals with many of the loopholes left open by the previous 2007 and 2012 versions, especially with regard to law enforcement in the public sector. However, it also includes for the first time enforcement regimes for the private sector. It introduces sanctions outside the criminal code to handle corruption cases beyond the public sector. Top managers of public companies, credit institutions, investment funds will have to publish their earnings and will be treated under the law as state officials. All enterprises will have to be completely transparent about their ownership. Enterprises will be responsible for developing codes of conduct and internal control mechanisms to prevent corruption. Safeguards and guarantees of anonymity will be provided for whistle-blowers. This new focus on the private sector brings Viet Nam into line with many countries of the world where anti-corruption legislation is balanced between both the supply side (the company or company representative giving the bribe) and the demand side (the public official soliciting the bribe). It is right that companies especially the leading companies - should be subject to the same anti-corruption standards as the government. But herein lies one of the paradoxes for both government and business. The large publicly quoted companies account for only 2-3per cent of the number of registered companies. Just as in many rapidly-developing countries, small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs) account for the vast majority of enterprises and are the driver of the countrys growth. These same enterprises are amongst the most exposed to corruption and the least inclined or able to resist it. Unlike larger companies, they dont have an army of compliance officers to keep an eye on their staff, or internal auditors to review each and every transaction. And frankly theres often not much choice. They dont have the power of the bigger companies to just say no to paying a bribe. Saying no would mean effectively turning their backs on a deal. No bribe, no business. Its as simple as that. Indifference, passivity or acquiescence at best, and at worst, full complicity in bribery are a quite understandable reaction on the part of SMEs. However, a recent survey of SMEs by VCCI revealed the extent of SMEs frustration with the status quo. They were quite clear about the root causes, and what the government should do about it: The Government should be a pioneer in fighting corruption wrote one respondent. This was certainly not the voice of passive and down-trodden victims of endemic corruption. Rather it was the voice of an aspiring, upwardly-mobile entrepreneurial class that aspires to running a professional business. Clearly to take the fight against corruption to the next level depends not just on introducing new rules and regulations, and making sure they are enforced. For a wholesale culture change, the whole of society, needs to be involved. SMEs, impacting the lives and livelihoods of millions of individual entrepreneurs and their families, are a critical component and catalyst of this change. Thats why VCCI and IBLF Global have focused their latest programme on helping SMEs resist corruption. With the support of the British Embassy in Hanoi and a local team of experts, we have created an on-line anti-corruption toolkit for SMEs and a series of training workshops to go with it. The training workshops, which are being conducted in Hanoi, HCMC, and 6 cities in the northern provinces, will continue to the end of 2016 - and longer if there is sufficient demand. We have found a high level of enthusiasm from the participants, a real desire to learn more and a commitment to trying out their newly acquired management techniques in their companies. The online toolkit, Practical Steps for dealing with Corruption is being launched in Hanoi on 21st October. It is a first attempt to address the issue of corruption from an SME point of view. It has plenty of useful information about rules and regulations, practical tips and advice about how to resist corruption, pointers about where to get further help and advice. A prominent feature of the toolkit will be both a help desk, run by VCCI, and a self-help desk, where SMEs can offer advice to each other online. Our hope is that the Vietnamese government, foreign governments, Vietnamese companies and multinational investors will encourage SMEs throughout Vietnam to join the training and use the toolkit. In this way, the toolkit will become a focal point for a community of companies wanting to professionalise their operations, reduce costs, and increase their competitiveness and profitability. It will be of immediate benefit for the SMEs themselves, but it will also represent the first steps in a longer-term shift towards a fairer and more equitable society. Brook Horowitz is CEO of IBLF Global, a London-based NGO dedicated to promoting responsible business standards in G-20 and high-growth markets. The Anti-Corruption Toolkit for SMEs and the schedule of training workshops can be found on https://dean12.org.vn/ Leaders of the five Mekong countries discussed measures to promote co-operation and make the region more dynamic and competitive at the two summits that convened in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo HA NOI Leaders of the five Mekong countries discussed measures to promote co-operation and make the region more dynamic and competitive at the two summits that convened in Ha Noi yesterday. The capital city hosted the 8th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 8) and the 7th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 7). Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the CLMV and ACMECS have contributed to important achievements, such as promoting the socio-economic development of each country, helping establish of the ASEAN Community and aiding peace and stability in the region. Mekong countries have driven growth in Southeast Asia; it is considered one of fastest growing region in the world, he said. At these summits, we will discuss new landscapes and collaborate on ways and means to build dynamic and competitive economies with sustainable and inclusive growth, Phuc said. Leaders of other countries, including Cambodian PM Hun Sen, Lao PM Thongloun Sisoulith, Myanmar President Htin Kyaw and Thai Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak also talked about the importance of ACMECS and CLMV within the ASEAN. They believe that promoting the two co-operation mechanisms will improve connectivity in ASEAN and strengthen the ASEAN community, which will help fix the development gap in the region, cope with challenges the region faces, and improve social welfare and the standard of living of the people. CLMV 8 The CLMV 8, themed Seize Opportunities, Shape the Future, focused on opportunities and challenges for economic development of the four participating countries, and it discussed measures to boost their co-operation in improving competitiveness and regional integration. The participating leaders shared the view that the CLMV countries are face many chances at big economic development which come from the global science-technology revolution, the regions strong economic integration and the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community. They also boast a number of important competitive edges, like a location in close proximity to major markets, rich natural resources, abundant and young workforces, and favourable trade and investment policies. The leaders pointed to the challenges facing the Mekong Region, including limited human resources, underdeveloped infrastructure, climate change impacts, regional and global economic instability, and the vulnerability that faces small, open economies. To maintain growth momentum and improve competitiveness, they agreed to concurrently reform domestic economics, maintain macro-economic stability, create an optimal business environment, and proactively integrate more strength into the regional and global economies. They also agreed to implement concrete measures toward a seamless regional economy, so as to link their economies and markets ever closer together, particularly in boosting transport connectivity, facilitating trade and investment and increasing co-operation in industry, tourism, and human resources. Addressing the summit, PM Phuc called on the countries to make timely adjustments to catch up with new global trends and not to be left behind. The four countries should create a new development momentum characterised by technologies, high-quality human resources, innovations and creations, instead of pursuing the growth model based on natural resources, cheap labour costs and outdated technologies, he said. The Vietnamese Government is resolved to do its best to serve people and businesses, the leader affirmed, pledging that Viet Nam will make all-out efforts to ensure macro economic stability and accelerate economic restructuring towards innovations, creations, higher productivity and competitiveness. At the same time, the country will implement breakthrough strategies on institutions, human resources and infrastructure, while removing administrative barriers to create the best possible climate for domestic and foreign investors and enterprises, he stated. ACMECS 7 The ACMECS 7, themed Towards a Dynamic and Prosperous Mekong Subregion, discussed stepping up co-operation among the ACMECS member countries Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam to narrow development gaps in the Mekong sub-region and to ensure sustainable development. Participating leaders discussed measures to spur socio-economic development, improve the competitiveness of the economies and increase regional economic integration. They also outlined cooperation orientations to ensure sustainable development in the Mekong Region. They agreed to boost co-operation in a number of fields , including transport, facilitation of trade and investment and industrial co-operation, tourism, agriculture and environment. They agreed to step up collaboration between ACMECS countries and the Mekong River Commission and other regional mechanisms to jointly manage water resources for the sustainable management, development , utilisation, and conservation of trans-boundary water and related resources. Speaking at the summit, PM Phuc underscored major priorities in ACMECSs future co-operation, including increasingly connecting ACMECS economies; promoting links between ACMECS and ASEAN as well as other partnership mechanisms in the region; fostering coordination in improving competitiveness and international integration; and collaborating to cope with climate change and protect the environment. The summits closed with leaders adopting a joint statement for the CLMV 8 and a Ha Noi Declaration for the ACMECS 7. VNS HA NOI Co-operation in trade and investment between Viet Nam and Belarus is enjoying ample opportunities brought about by the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union which took effect earlier this month. The relationship between the two countries in economy, trade and investment remained restricted and far from the political one, agreed Deputy PM Trinh inh Dung and his visiting Belarus counterpart Vladimir Semashko in Ha Noi yesterday. Despite a 14 per cent increase in 2015 compared to the previous year, two-way trade reached only US$125 million. Additionally, Deputy PM Semashko said leaders from both sides were particularly concerned about strengthening co-operation, especially in energy, machine manufacturing, automobile, education and training. Belarus said specialised bodies from both countries should closely work together to remove obstacles and shortcomings, and to soon increase bilateral trade to $500 million annually. In the coming time, big enterprises from Belarus, including manufacturers of mechanical products, energy, automobile, machinery, and rubber would come to Viet Nam to seek co-operation as well as investment opportunities. Deputy PM Dung said Belarus should facilitate Vietnamese goods entering the countrys market, particularly farm produce. VN, Italy look forward to increased justice ties HA NOI - The first visit to Viet Nam by Italys Justice Minister Andrea Orlando was of significance to justice ties between the two countries, National Assembly (NA) chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said during a reception for the guest in Ha Noi yesterday. Ngan applauded the Memorandum of Understanding that the two ministries of justice inked during his visit, affirming that Viet Nams NA would provide full assistance for comprehensive cooperation between the justice ministries and sectors. The NA chairwoman thanked the Italian parliament for ratifying the EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) in March. She said the PCA and the Vietnam-European Free Trade Agreement would be an impetus for furthering bilateral links in economy, trade and investment. Minister Orlando said Italy looked forward to expanding ties with Viet Nam in fields that Viet Nam had experience, such as infrastructure and traffic and to increasing Italian investors in the host country. The two Governments were exerting efforts to bring two-way trade from US$4.3 billion in 2015 to $5 billion. Saying that the Government of Italy supported Viet Nams international economic integration policies, the minister expressed his satisfaction with the intensified mutual cooperation in science and technology, and education. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam and Myanmar have agreed to further enhance political and diplomatic ties via increasing all-level visits and contacts through Party, government, State, National Assembly channels and people-to-people exchange. The agreement was reached during talks between President Tran ai Quang and Myanmar President Htin Kyaw following the welcome ceremony in Ha Noi yesterday. The two Presidents also shared the view that the two countries should maintain existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-Committee on Vietnam-Myanmar Bilateral Cooperation, the deputy ministerial-level political consultation, and the Inter-Committee on Trade, among others. They pledged to deepen mutually-beneficial trade and investment. Viet Nam is currently the 10th largest trade partner and investor in Myanmar. Both sides are actively working together on 12 priority fields of agriculture, industrial plants, fisheries, finance-banking, aviation, telecommunications, oil and gas, mining, electrical devices, automobile assembly, construction, and trade and investment. President Kyaw, who is on a State visit to Viet Nam from Wednesday to Friday, hailed the efficient operation of the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Myanmar, and affirmed that the Myanmar government will provide favourable conditions for investors in the fields of banking, telecommunications, aviation, mining and tourism. The two State leaders shared the view on common interest in regional peace and security, and affirmed their commitment to enhancing national defence-security ties via the sharing of experience and information, as well as optimising existing cooperation mechanisms. They pledged to promptly establish mechanisms for deputy ministerial-level defence policy dialogue and a joint working group of the defence ministries external relations departments. They agreed to hold the fourth security dialogue in the near future, and push ahead with negotiations for the signing of an agreement on extradition and another one on the transfer of sentenced persons between the two countries. Both host and guest expressed their pleasure with the increasingly strong ties across agriculture, telecommunications, transport, justice, culture, education, tourism, people-to-people exchange, and agreed to sign agreements to create a legal framework for partnerships in specific areas. The two leaders vowed to boost people-to-people exchange and culture-tourism collaboration, believing that mutual understanding and the sharing of cultural values are a firm foundation for mutual trust and long-term bond between the two nations. On regional and global issues of shared concern, they vowed to work with other ASEAN member states to accelerate the building of the ASEAN Community via the effective and full implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the promotion of ASEANs central role in regional architecture. The two sides will also work to increase cooperation in the sustainable and effective use of Mekong River water resources, especially within the framework of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and related organisations. On the occasion, the Myanmar President said the country will consider joining the MRC. Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, the Presidents pledged to promote peace, security, stability, maritime and aviation safety and freedom, as well as unhindered trade in the region, especially in the East Sea. They called on parties concerned to exercise restraint, refrain from the use of force or threat to use force, fully respect diplomatic and legal process, settle disputes by peaceful means in line with basic principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The two Presidents reiterated their support of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the cooperation for finalisation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. The same day, President Htin Kyaw paid a courtesy call to Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong, met Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and received several Vietnamese business representatives. VNS HA NOI Girls who get married before 18 years old are much more likely to drop out of school and face a much higher risk of family violence, experts warned in a seminar on child marriage prevention. In addition, children born to too-young mothers face high risks of dying in wombs or dying in the first months of their lives, they said. According to statistics released at the event on Tuesday, this year more than 60 million ten-year-old girls around the world will enter adolescence, but millions of those will be forced to get married to adults regardless of whether they agree or not. Specifically, every day around the world, nearly 48,000 girls are forced to get married and about 20,000 women under 18 give birth. According to Viet Nams Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2014, 10.3 percent of Vietnamese women aged 15-19 are married. Married at 14 and parents to a 2-year-old child, Ly Thi Dau and Vang A Minh in Ban Giang Commune of Tam uong District in the northern mountainous Lai Chau Province has been fighting each other everyday. It is because they are indeed themselves children. After getting married, they moved out of their parents home. Now, the wife works all day in the rice field, does housework, and takes care of the baby without her husbands help. Because her husband is still a boy, he spent most of time his friends. The difficulties of life causes them to fight with each other every day. If I had known getting married would turn my life in such way, I would have refused and continued going to school, the wife- Dau sadly told the Tin Tuc (News) Newspaper. Unfortunately, the couple is not a special case, especially among ethic minority communities. In the Huoi Uc Hamlet of Ky Anh District of Nghe An Province, there are 36 households of Hmong ethnic people. Here, most children get married and become parents when they are 13 or 14 years old, the News reported. Reports show that many people really do not want to let their children to get married early, but they cannot prevent the situation because it is a part of traditional customs. Va Xin Mua, a Hmong ethnic, told the paper that his 12-year-old daughter got married last year, when she was a 6th grade student. I sent her to a boarding school in Muong Xen Township where she met her husband, said Mua. One day she came back home saying she wanted to get married. And then she dropped out of school, he said. As a head of the hamlet, Mua knew that child marriage was a marriage law violation, but he could not stop his daughter because the Hmong custom regulates that if any family whose daughter was asked to marry a man refuses the proposal, the whole clan will suffer. So Mua has surrendered the rule and now his daughter dropped out of school, working hard every day but still living in poverty. Child marriage is not just an issue in ethnic minority communities, however. It is also quite prevalent in the Northern Mountainous Region, the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands. According to statistics conducted among 53 ethnic minorities last year, the northern mountainous and Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) regions had the highest rate of child mariage in the country. Provinces of Lai Chau, Ha Giang, ien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Bac Kajn, Kon Tum and Gia Lai were reported to have the highest rate of child marriage nationwide. In some communes, the child marriage rate even exceeds 50 per cent. Among ethnic minority communities, the Hs Mong people have the highest child marriage rateup to 33 per cent, followed by the Thai with a rate of 23 per cent. Risk of pregnancy Studies show that many children with incomplete anatomical, physiological and psychological functions have been forced to become parents, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien warned in the meeting. According to the minister, child marriage impairs the quantity and quality of the population. Stature and average life expectancy for ethnic minorities are also lower. In regions where child marriage is prevalent, the average life expectancy is approximately 45 years old. In addition, maternal mortality in the 15-19 aged range was higher than that in adult mothers. Also, hundreds of children were illiterate or living in poverty and debt after their weddings, the expert said. Couples who get married too early might not fully understand their mates, which could easily give rise to domestic violence, stress and depression following mental trauma. Girls after these marriages are often isolated and abandoned by their peers. o Van Chien, Minister-Chairman of the Commitee for Ethnic Affairs, said the Government has carried out years of policies to stop the situation, but the rate is still high. Child marriage might stem from the influence of customs and practices that force children into early marriage, sexual abuse, lack of understanding of laws relating to the prohibition of child marriage, limited access to reproductive healthcare and economic difficulties. Astrid Bant, Country Representative of the UN Population Fund in Vietnam, said that with support from families, communities and the State, girls needed to be fully given their rights and favourable conditions for their comprehensive development. -- VNS HA NOI Around 5,000 level crossings in the country, of which 4,302 are illegal, remain unguarded and are the main cause of railway accidents, the Vietnam Railways Corporation has announced. Latest figures from the corporation show that only 641 level crossings, which are built to cross railway tracks, are manned by its staff. The rest, including 4,302 illegally built level crossings, are only equipped with warning signals or alarms. oan Duy Hoach, deputy director of the corporation, said to guard one level crossing round the clock, it has to employ between three and five staffers to work in rotation. The cost for guarding each level crossing station is on average VN600 million (US$26,860) per year. Because of the high cost, not all stations across the country have round-the-clock staff to guard level crossings, he said. The railway network in the country was built over a century ago and many level crossings have been built illegally since then because of the rise in the number of residential areas along rail routes, he said, adding that it is leading to more accidents. In the first six months of 2016, around 195 railway accidents were reported, which claimed 81 lives and left 138 injured. On Wednesday, a man was killed in Thuong Tin Districts Van Tu Commune at a level crossing that had no barriers or warning lights. The police are investigating the case. As a solution, the transport ministry has asked the corporation to install 600 automatic barriers at level crossings by 2017. So far 100 barriers have been installed. We will continue the work when we get the budget for it, Hoach said. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has released an official message concerning this years presidental amnesty decisions. Reiterating the determination of the Party and the State to give clemency to people who have successfully repented while serving their sentence and to contribute to the efficiency of national crime prevention programme, the Prime Minister asked ministries, agencies and localities to try their best to ensure that amnesty decisions be implemented seriously, transparently and in accordance with State regulations. He ordered the Ministry of Public Security (MoPC) to consult with the Amnesty Consultative Council to help them perform their duties at their best. The Ministry of Information and Communications was asked to direct press agencies to popularise the Presidents amnesty decision on mass media in order to raise awareness and responsibility accross all sectors, social organisations and regions on the need to create favourable conditions for released inmates reintegrate into the society. The Prime Minister instructed the Peoples Committee of provinces and cities to co-ordinate with relevant agencies to help amnesty recipients stabilise their lives soon. Those who commit crimes or violate laws will be strictly punished. The MoPC was also asked to monitor and submit results of amnesty implementation to the Prime Minister. Under a decision dated October 17, 2016, prisoners hoping to be granted amnesty must abide by prison regulations and show good rehabilitation progress so that if released, they will not disturb social order and security. They also have served at least one-third of their sentence or at least 14 years of a life sentence. In addition, they must have paid all fines and compensation for damages, except elderly or sick prisoners over 60 years of age not convicted of corruption. Those who meet the first and third criteria but have only served a quarter of their sentence or 12 years of their life sentence are still eligible for amnesty if they are war invalids or accredited Peoples Artists, Peoples Doctors, Peoples Teachers or Labour Heroes. Others exempt from many of the criteria are those who were juveniles when they committed the crime or were pregnant or had children less than three years of age living with their mothers in prison. VNS BANGKOK More than 100 government delegates and development experts are exploring ways to design integrated national financing frameworks for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia-Pacific during a meeting. The two-day meeting, which is on aid ahead of the upcoming Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC), was launched yesterday in Bangkok, Thailand. It was organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asia-Pacific Development Effectiveness Facility. Domestic sources of finance are emerging as a key driving force for sustainable development in Asia-Pacific, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Director for Asia and the Pacific Haoliang Xu said. These new sources of finance allow us to expand the existing development cooperation and partnership. According to a new report released today at the event, domestic public finance accounts for 44 per cent of the total and domestic private finance, an estimated 45 per cent of overall resources. The new resource landscape is reflected in the increase in the number of middle-income countries in Asia-Pacific from 16 to 28 over the past decade. While international public finance, particularly official development assistance (ODA), accounted for 13.5 per cent of the total financial inflow into the region in 1990, it fell to 3.4 per cent in 2012. As a result, countries are now designing new financing strategies that mobilise contributions from a wide range of sources, including the private sector. For example, Bangladesh aims for private financing to fund 78 per cent of its 7th Five Year Plan that commenced last year. The transformation of development finance translates into increased demand for our services from governments in Asia-Pacific, Xu said. Our portfolio of government co-financed programmes quadrupled over the past two years. The volume of UNDPs government co-financed portfolio in Asia-Pacific is presently at US$116 million, according to a new report titled Together for a Sustainable Future: Achieving the SDGs through Government Co-Financing in Asia and the Pacific. Currently, UNDP and the governments have co-financing agreements in 14 countries. However, ODA continues to be significant, particularly in small island developing states. In Kiribati and Solomon Islands, ODA accounts for over 30 per cent of total financing, while in Tuvalu it accounts for more than half. Discussions at the workshop are intended provide information ahead of the upcoming GPEDC meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, this November. VNS ATHENS Greeces top administrative court on Wednesday dealt a heavy blow to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras by blocking his flagship reforms of the murky private television sector. Fourteen of the courts 25 judges said the controversial law passed in October 2015, limiting Greece to a maximum of four national private TV licences, was unconstitutional and should be overturned, a judicial source said. The government had auctioned off the licences for a total of 246 million euros (US$268 million). But a majority of the judges ruled that it should have been up to Greeces independent broadcasting watchdog to carry out the reforms, not parliament. The judges met behind closed doors and the details of their decision -- leaked by the Greek press -- will not be published until next Monday, the judicial source said. The ruling is a painful blow to the far-left Syriza government which had announced the reforms to great fanfare, saying they would clean up a sector that has been dominated by powerful oligarchs and dogged by murky financing for a quarter of a century. The government, which had made the reform a symbol of its commitment to clean up public life, reacted angrily but said it would comply with the verdict. "This is a binding but unjust decision," state minister Nikos Pappas, architect of the reform, said on public TV Ert 1. He recalled that the state council had in the past ruled as unconstitutional the prevailing system in the sector, but the ruling never had an effect. Undemocratic machinations "This decision will be judged by its consequences," said government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili. She added it would "deprive the state budget of necessary funds, which society needs, and which will be returned to four wealthy businessmen", a reference to the owners of channels that were auctioned off. "This decision takes the country back to a previous regime that was also judged anti-constitutional," she said. "We will not allow this to happen." The government will launch a new bill to regulate the sector from Monday, Gerovassili said. The opposition conservative New Democracy party hailed the verdict, saying "the undemocratic machinations have not been passed" and calling for early elections. Pappas retorted: "Those who dream of destabilising the country and the government via legal decisions need to wake up." The government had insisted that Greeces media and advertising market, depleted by the countrys six-year debt crisis, is limited and only viable TV stations should be allowed to continue broadcasting. The tender was criticised as heavy-handed for slashing the number of licences, as eight nationwide channels had been operating until now. Greeces oldest private channel, Mega, failed to make the cut and was eliminated before the bidding started. Authorities have said they want to clean up an industry known for workforce exploitation and rumoured under-the-table deals between media moguls, bankers and influential politicians, while bringing an end to decades of chaotic licensing. AFP UNITED NATIONS The United States on Wednesday abstained for the first time in 25 years from a vote at the United Nations calling for an end to the US embargo against Cuba. The UN General Assembly adopted the annual resolution by an overwhelming 191 votes in favour -- with only the United States and Israel abstaining in the 193-nation forum. Washingtons abstention was in line with calls from President Barack Obama for the opposition-controlled Congress to lift the decades-old embargo as part of a historic normalization of relations. "The United States has always voted against this resolution. Today the United States will abstain," US Ambassador Samantha Power told the assembly, drawing loud applause. "After 55-plus years of pursuing the path of isolation, we are choosing to take the path of engagement." The United States restored diplomatic ties with Cuba in July 2015 and a month later re-opened its embassy in Havana. Obama made a landmark visit to the communist-ruled island in March. But restoring full trade and financial ties with Cuba would require legislative action by Congress, where the Republican majority has said human rights concerns must first be addressed. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez welcomed the US shift as positive, but said that Washington must take concrete steps that go beyond the "vote of one delegation in this forum." "The blockade continues to be a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of all Cuban men and women and qualifies as an act of genocide," Rodriguez said. Economic damage suffered by Cuba from the US embargo between April 2015 and March 2016 -- coinciding with the time of Obamas first meeting with President Raul Castro to his historic Havana visit -- is estimated at more than $4.68 billion, Rodriguez said. Over the past six decades, the damage from the policy amounts to $753.688 billion, he added. Cuba still suffering Embargo restrictions have prevented the sale of US medical equipment to treat Cubans suffering from Parkinsons disease and blocked a deal by a Cuban pharmaceutical company that would have allowed it to produce drugs locally, said the foreign minister. "There isnt any Cuban family or sector in our country that has not suffered from its effects," he said. This years UN resolution makes note of steps taken by the Democratic Obama administration to ease the embargo, describing them as positive but "still limited in scope." The measure calls on all UN member states to refrain from applying the embargo and to "reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation." Last year, the United States and Israel were the only two countries that voted against the non-binding resolution, but 191 voted in favor -- the highest level of support yet for the measure at the United Nations. Power recalled that the US policy aimed at isolating Cuba "was not working" and had instead isolated the United States. "Abstaining on this resolution does not mean that the United States agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government. We do not," said Power. After praising Cuba for sending hundreds of doctors to West Africa to fight the Ebola virus outbreak, Power said the United States and Cuba must continue to find ways to engage, despite differences. "Today, we have taken another small step to be able to do that. May there be many more -- including, we hope, finally ending the US embargo," she said. The assembly has voted each year since 1992 to approve the resolution criticising the embargo that was imposed in 1960, at the height of the Cold War. The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 after Fidel Castro rose to power and aligned himself with the then-Soviet Union. AFP For the eighth consecutive year, Virginia Tech has been recognized for its best practices in campus community forestry through the Arbor Day Foundations Tree Campus USA program. Virginia Tech achieved Tree Campus USA recognition by meeting five national standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicating annual expenditures toward trees, an Arbor Day observance, and student service-learning projects. Since 2007, students have planted more than 600 new trees on campus. Students and administrators come together each fall for Sustainability Week and each spring for Earth Week to plant dozens of trees across campus. Virginia Techs commitment to expanding and maintaining a healthy tree canopy on its campus is consistent with aspirations from the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment approved by the Board of Visitors, said Jason Soileau, assistant vice president for the Office of University Planning. This contributes to Virginia Tech being recognized as one of the nations most beautiful campuses by a variety of national publications. Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor colleges and universities for promoting healthy forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. The Arbor Day Foundation is a conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Written by Abbey OFarrell. 01:54 RBA lifts cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.85 per cent Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood says the Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted the cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.85 per cent. 03:30 Democrats distance from stammering and stuttering Joe Biden ahead of midterms Democrat candidates are running further away from US President Joe Biden and are turning to his former boss Barack Obama to get them across the... 03:00 Furious driver drags leftie protesters off busy road Sky News host Caleb Bond says one man in the UK tried to reason with some "lefties" before having to resort to dragging them off a busy road... 01:32 Where is Generation Zs resilience? Sky News host Caleb Bond says one "poor leftie" student in America has posted a video online complaining about having to work an entire day.... 08:51 No perfect solution to fix gas prices Assistant Minister for Treasury Andrew Leigh says there is no perfect solution to fix rising gas prices. CEDAR FALLS The timetable for building a new hospital in Cedar Falls has been delayed. But staff and the new owners of Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls and Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo still plan to make the project happen. The commitment to doing a project in Cedar Falls hasnt changed, said Joe LeValley, a senior vice president with Mercy Health Network in West Des Moines, which took over Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa hospitals in May. Its just the timetable is less certain as we work through these other things, such as converting human resource systems and information technology. The transition into a new company is obviously a huge effort, LeValley said. All the employee human resource systems, benefits, all the information technology system changes, its a very time-consuming project to make the transition. Thats one of the factors in slowing this (Cedar Falls) project down. A new timetable has not been determined. Were not sure at this point, LeValley said. But theres a genuine support, that belief in the project. And we hope people understand as we get this other work done first. Wheaton officials in May 2015 announced plans for a $120-million hospital to replace Sartori, at West Sixth and College streets, pending regulatory approvals. At that time, officials anticipated plans would be approved in 2016, with construction occurring in 2017-18 and the new facility opening in 2019. Services would continue at Sartori during construction. Five months later, in October 2015, Mercy Health Networks plans to take over Sartori, Covenant and Mercy Hospital in Oelwein were announced. That ownership change was completed in May. In April, while the ownership transition was in process, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa bought about 50 acres of land at the northeast corner of Greenhill and Hudson roads from the University of Northern Iowa for $4.3 million as a site for the new hospital. We believe that its important to have a modern health care facility, using the latest design for patient safety and quality, creating excellent healing venues for patients and their families, LeValley said. He noted the local leaders, headed by Covenant/Sartori/Mercy CEO Jack Dusenbery, who initiated the Cedar Falls hospital proposal, are working on all the necessary system conversions on the local level. Its not known yet what the new hospital will be named, but Dusenbery has said the Sartori family name will stay with the new facility in some fashion. CEDAR FALLS The University of Northern Iowa presidential search committee winnowed a list of 46 candidates down to seven semifinalists Wednesday. Hopefully, youve all done a lot of homework. We will not rush, search committee co-chairman Dan Power said before the group met in closed session for four-and-a-half hours. But we do have a lot of information to process, and well try to do that systematically. The finalists will be interviewed by the committee at a neutral site Nov. 11 and 12. The committee will identify finalists who will be brought to campus for public visits. The tentative schedule has the first candidate arriving Nov. 28, with events Nov. 29. The second candidate would arrive a day later, and the third a day after that. If there are four finalists, the fourth candidate would arrive the next day. Candidates who visit campus would hold more than 12 hours of meetings with faculty, staff, students and attend an open forum. The forum will include a candidate presentation, questions from campus leaders and questions from the audience. The search committee will then report to the Iowa Board of Regents. The board will also interview the finalists before it announces the 11th president of UNI. Former UNI President Bill Ruud announced in May he was leaving for the smaller private Marietta College in Ohio. UNI Provost Jim Wohlpart has been serving as interim president since Ruud left in July. The pool of applicants included 37 men and nine women. AGB Search, the consultant firm hired by the Board of Regents to assist with the search, received a total of 76 nominations, of which six were duplicates. Clearly, AGB has done a lot of work pursuing nominations, Power said. The application deadline was Oct. 19. The search committee first met on Aug. 29. Wednesday was the second meeting of the full committee. We have a lot of work to do in the next six weeks, or five weeks not very long, Power said. ALLISON Maurine Wagoner of New Hartford was honored this week by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate as one of the states oldest precinct election officials. Butler County Auditor Liz Williams conferred the honors at the courthouse Wednesday. Im not revealing any ages here, but thank you to Maurine Wagoner for her service to making sure Butler County elections are run smoothly and successfully, said Pate in a prepared statement. She is happy to share her age: 97. At my age, Im older than most anyone in the state, whether an election worker or not, said Wagoner, laughing. She will be 98 in March, which makes her Iowas second-oldest precinct official. According to Pates office, Berniece Butler, 99, of Appanoose County, is believed to be the states oldest precinct official. I do just what anyone should do. As a good citizen, you do the things you are capable of doing, and you want to do those things because you want to contribute to the community, she explained. I think (the honor) is very unnecessary. Wagoner believes service is the proper response of those who are grateful to live in the United States. I think that as a nation, we are not as mindful of the privilege we have to help select our guiding officers, she said. I think as a nation, we have digressed from the fact that its a privilege and a duty to vote, to the point that we think its a burden. Its too bad. In Iowa, precinct election officials are appointed by county auditors office and trained for each school, primary, general and special election. According to Pates office, precinct officials ensure fair, honest elections by assuring the privacy, secrecy and integrity of each vote. Precinct election officials are key to organizing elections in Iowa, said Pate. Long before a voter shows up on Election Day and long after polls close, precinct election officials are hard at work. Nominator Mary Brouwer, first deputy Butler County auditor, said Wagoner is known as a conscientious and valued precinct official. Wagoner has served off and on as a precinct official since she and her husband moved to New Hartford in the mid-1950s. Election precincts must have a balance of officials who represent both the Republican and Democratic parties. Butler County is predominately Republican, so Wagoner, a Democrat, was tapped to serve as an official. Prior to moving to New Hartford, Wagoner taught junior high school. She stayed home with her son and two daughters, which allowed her to serve as a precinct official. She eventually went back to the classroom as a fourth-grade teacher and wasnt able to serve as an election official. After retiring in 1982, Wagoner returned to the polls. She will be on hand Nov. 8 at the precinct in Parkersburg, where she moved recently. Her regular Election Day duty is to acknowledge voters as they enter and confirm their information. Wagoner was born in 1919, roughly 18 months before women earned the right to vote in the U.S. She recalled discussions from her childhood about newly minted female voters. Politics, however, held no interest for her mother. Instead, her fathers involvement in the community and as an elected official made a strong impression on Wagoner during her formative years. I think my father gave me the insight on not only voting not only on knowing who and what youre voting for but also on the fact that participation in the elective process is part of the privilege and duty we all have as citizens, Wagoner said. CEDAR RAPIDS -- Democrat Hillary Clinton has wiped out Republican Donald Trumps polling lead in Iowa, where the two are tied at 44 percent among likely voters. While wide gender and racial gaps remain, Trumps standing among men is shrinking, according to an independent Quinnipiac University Poll released Thursday. The dead heat in Iowa is reflected in the polls internals, Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll said. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both are getting 88 percent of their respective party members, while independent voters are evenly divided. Clinton and Trump traded the lead in Iowa in two previous Quinnipiac polls since the national party conventions in late July. Clinton had the lead in August 47 percent to 44 percent. However, Trump turned it around in September, taking a 44 percent to 37 percent lead over the former Secretary of State. That poll was conducted before revelations of a recorded conversation in 2005 in which Trump made lewd comments about kissing and groping women. Because of the crucial role swing states play in the Electoral College, Quinnipiac paid special attention to voter opinions in Iowa as well as Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. The new poll findings are not good news for Trump, Brown said. Time is running out and Donald Trump has lost his leads and now is tied with Hillary Clinton in Iowa and Georgia. North Carolina appears to be moving in her direction also, he said. Quinnipiac also found Clinton leads 61 percent to 27 percent among Iowa likely voters who have voted early. Clinton is less disliked by likely voters, with a negative 40 percent to 55 percent favorability rating, compared to Trumps negative 36 to 59 percent rating. Iowa men back Trump 51 to 35 percent, while women back Clinton 52 to 37 percent. Republicans go to Trump 88 to 6 percent, while Democrats back Clinton 88 to 9 percent. Independent voters are split 40 to 40 percent, with 6 percent for former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party nominee. Green Party nominee Jill Stein gets 1 percent of the Iowa vote. Quinnipiac conducted the poll Oct. 20-26, calling 791 Iowa likely voters using land lines and cellphone. The Iowa results have a 3.5 percent margin of error. DES MOINES - Sen. Charles Grassley told an economic group Thursday the next president has to focus on policies that will encourage business investment to promote job creation and income growth. Grassley, 83, a New Hartford Republican seeking re-election to his seventh Senate term against Democrat Patty Judge, said he has been disappointed with American economic performance under President Obama with none of his eight years in office exceeding a 2 percent increase. Grassley told about 30 members of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, a regional economic development agency, the U.S. economy has been flat for the past eight years with 2015 marking the only year middle-income Americans experienced income growth since the country was hit by the second worst economic calamity in the nation's history. "This is the only president that hasn't had at least one year out of eight that you've had 3 percent growth or more," Grassley told the forum. "We're told now that 2 percent or less growth is the new normal. We do not have to settle for the new normal." Grassley blamed the sluggish economic activity on an uncertain business climate thwarted by a "D.C." attitude of more taxes, more spending and more regulation that impedes forward-looking investment. "I don't know what Washington is going to do to me so I don't know if I should invest," Grassley said of business planners, "and when you don't invest, you don't create jobs." The Iowa Republican said the next president, whether it's Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton, will have to fill the leadership "vacuum" in Washington by working with House and Senate members from both parties to implement changes that will help U.S. businesses compete internationally. He said cheap energy, on-time inventory and quality already has helped bolster U.S. manufacturing but other changes like a lower corporate tax rate and regulatory certainty also are needed. One thing he did not support was using a federal government shutdown to try to force policy changes. "I was an advocate for it in 1995 and I found out it doesn't work," Grassley said, noting it costs money to close government and it costs money to reopen government after a shutdown. "Consequently, it shouldn't have been done." He said another government shutdown took place in October 2013 because 80 percent of the members of Congress were new and had not gone through the process to understand it was not an effective strategy for change. ANKENY A government-operated option for health insurance should be on the table for discussion, Patty Judge says, although the Democratic challenger in Iowas U.S. Senate race said shes not yet ready to fully endorse the public option. Judge spoke about health care policies and issues Wednesday at an event hosted by Partnership for Better Health, a coalition of Iowa health care organizations. Judge, a former lieutenant governor and state ag secretary, is running against longtime Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. Judge discussed various issues with representatives of several health care organizations at the event, which was held at Des Moines Area Community College and led by Andy McGuire, a retired physician and co-chair of the Partnership for Better Health. She also is the state chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party. In a post-event interview, Judge, a former registered nurse, said that despite news that premiums for plans under the federal health care law will rise more than 20 percent on average next year, she maintains her support for the law and remains open to making fixes to help bring down costs. The federal government reported this week that health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act will rise an average of 22 percent, although federal subsidies for low-income Americans also will rise, so many will see small or no premium increase. The news also rekindled debate over whether the law should include a public option in addition to the private insurers that offer plans under the federal law. I think that needs to be on the table, Judge said. I dont know that today Im ready to endorse the public option, but I think, again, if we bring this bill back up on the floor, if we have some serious discussions, some hearings, that needs to be a part of the discussion and see where we are at the end of the day. On the health care law in general, Judge reiterated her position that she wants to keep and perfect the law, not repeal it, as many Republicans have advocated. What I believe should happen is we need to bring that bill up on the floor of the Senate and the House and try to see what is driving the premium increases (and) what we can do to change the act so that it is affordable and works better, Judge said. I think it can be done. Grassley campaign manager Bob Haus said in an emailed statement that Judge should offer some concrete solutions on how to actually control costs under the federal health care law. It is reckless and irresponsible for Patty Judge to go anywhere near anything health care related, given she cheered the federal health law that's responsible for punishing increases in premiums for thousands of Iowans, Haus said. Public polls on Iowas U.S. Senate race have shown Grassley leading Judge, most by double digits. CEDAR RAPIDS A super PAC aligned with Hillary Clinton has joined the campaign to oust Iowa 1st District Rep. Rod Blum. Priorities USA is going up with a 30-second ad in the Cedar Rapids market tying Blum to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. It opens with footage of Trump appearing to mock a disabled reporter. It then show Blum telling the crowd at a campaign rally saying to Send me back to Congress, and you send Donald Trump to the White House. The Blum campaign responded, Hillary Clinton knows our opponent (Monica Vernon) will be a rubber stamp for her entire agenda, so its no surprise her Super PAC is trying to buy this election so she can have a politician in this seat who reports to party bosses instead of the people of Eastern Iowa, said Blum spokesman Daniel Sunne. WATERLOO The Snowflake Express returns to the Cedar Valley on Dec. 3. Tickets go on sale at all area Hy-Vee stores (Waterloo, Waverly, Cedar Falls) at 7 a.m. Nov. 5. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are for general seating. The Snowflake Express will make its fifth annual appearance, boarding at the Open Bible Church, 928 Jefferson St., in downtown Waterloo. The train will depart from the church, traveling south and returning, with departure times at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5 p.m. All passengers should plan to board 30 minutes prior to departure time as the train leaves promptly at scheduled times. The Snowflake Express is a popular fundraiser for the Magical Mix Kids, selling out within hours each year since its start in 2011. Tickets are $15 per person. Children under age 1, sitting on a ticketed passengers lap, are free. Car seats and carriers are not allowed on the train without a ticket. The Snowflake Express ticket includes hot cocoa and cookies prior to train departure along with a ride on the Snowflake Express, which includes holiday music, a story read by the conductor, a visit from Santa and a bell for children over 1. Free parking is available under the highway. The train is not handicap accessible. For more information about the Snowflake Express, contact Janelle Rench or Mary Williams at 277-1918. Meyer and Schoenjahn DOROTHEA JURGENSON DENVER -- Please be aware that our state legislature includes a number of homeschool supporters who recently held the K-12 funding bill hostage to their demand for an amendment eliminating accountability for homeschoolers. The first problem with this is it means no accreditation, no real way of knowing whether these children are actually being educated, and no oversight of such things as possible abuse or even vaccination. No one wants the government looking over their shoulder, but it is important to provide some basic protection to these children. The bigger problem is that homeschoolers are a small minority which has no business short-circuiting public school funding and impacting the fate of the vast majority who use the public system. In this election season, also know that Senator Brian Schoenjahn has fought tirelessly for adequate funding for education, K-12 as well as the universities. He is extremely well-versed in the intricacies of state budgets, and the problems likely to result if the legislature fails to act responsibly. Teresa Meyer, running for Iowa House in District 63, is also very committed to education and understands the needs and funding problems having served on the Hawkeye Community College Board for several years. Rod Blum's obstructionism SAM GEORGE CEDAR FALLS -- Rod Blum's campaign likes to paint him as a bipartisan moderate -- but his record strongly suggests otherwise. Rod Blum belongs to the right-wing fringe group of the Republican Party, the Freedom Caucus, that offers only divisiveness and backroom deals -- not the compromise and bipartisanship we need in Washington. He speaks a lot about working together with Democrats and Republicans to solve the big issues like Social Security solvency, but if he cannot work effectively within his own party, it gives me little confidence in his ability to work across the aisle to protect the gains we've made as a country and to keep us moving forward in the right direction. His adherence to ideological politics may appeal to his tea party colleagues, but it does little to represent his constituents. The gridlock in Congress is only getting worse and Rod Blum has settled in comfortably as a representative who spends much of his time trying to derail progress rather than finding a way to improve the lives of his constituents. Our neighbors in western Kansas ousted their own Freedom Caucus obstructionist Rep. Tim Huelskamp. I think it is time Iowa does the same. Rogers and gun bill DORIS KELLEY CEDAR FALLS -- In the United States, one child is killed every other day by a gun. Our Second Amendment is paramount, but protecting children is of equal importance. I was dumbfounded when Walt Rogers, Republican, House District 60, Cedar Falls, voted to let any child carry a gun while also removing the requirement for background checks for certain gun sales. This was part of the gun omnibus bill (HF 527, HJ 507; March 20, 2015) that passed the House 75-24 and loosens restrictions on firearms, including suppressors and lowering the age when a child 14 years and younger can handle a handgun. He supported the same cause during the 2016 legislative session. With all of the gun killings of, by and toward children, I've had it. Enough is enough. Walt Rogers needs to get smarter on reasonable gun control. If he's Pro Life, I think that life also extends to living children. Let's practice what we preach and keep guns away from children. Vote for Kroeger JOE GORTON WATERLOO -- Walt Rogers has been in office for so long he no longer cares that his values are completely out of touch with the people of Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and Hudson. It's time we return decency and civility to our politics. That's why we need to support Gary Kroeger for House District 60. Unlike Walt Rogers, Gary Kroeger does not value the dictates of party bosses more than the moral health of our state. Many Republicans are rejecting Donald Trump because he is an insult to all that is good about America. Someone once said, "you are who you vote for." Walt Rogers is voting for Donald Trump. The good news is that Republicans, Democrats and Independents are rejecting the politics of people like Trump and Rogers. So please do what's best for Iowa, vote for Gary Kroeger. Vote for Hillary CHESTER WORDEN CEDAR FALLS -- If they had a fourth debate, this is how the candidates would be announced: Domineering, gropping, dictator Don is sponsored by the FTOA party (For Trump Only Again). His platform is to make ME richer yet. She would be announced as Hilarious Hillary, sponsored by ALLTP (ALL the people). Her tough stance against world leaders shows she is for both USA and all lawful world people. In Donald's corner is trainer Putin, and Hillary has Sheriff Vanna White. For any of Trump's vulgar remarks against any American citizen, Sheriff White is to kick hard Trump's crown jewels. For anything Hillary does wrong, Putin can release one e-mail. I don't agree all the things either one says, but as a caring Christian person, I cannot support Trump's actions and words. I have always voted for the best man; but this year I will vote for the best woman. I urge you to do the same. Stop drag racing WATERLOO I am wondering if there is any way we can shut down the San Marnan dragway? Most every day during the summer, there are either several drags or motorcycles on their rear wheels racing between the Kimball Avenue light and the dental office on the south side of the road, heading west. We have notified the police, but the only time we see them stopping people is Sunday morning ticketing older people on their way to church. My suggestion is to install a photo ticket system at the entrance to Farmers State Bank and the health care entrance and make some money off these lawbreakers. State elections CRESCO When our current governor took office, Iowa had just been through the worst recession since the 1930s. We had the best bond rating in history and were in good financial shape. Since then our governor has given $200 million per year in property tax breaks to businesses, which home owners are now going to have to pay for with higher property taxes. He has increased the fuel tax by 10 cents per gallon on gas that working Iowans need and now wants to increase our state sales tax. All this while cutting services and education spending for our states residents. He has accomplished this while his political party controls only one chamber of our state Legislature. When voting, ask yourself what will happen if his party controls both chambers of our Legislature. Do we want this tax and spend but dont deliver to all Iowans policy to continue? New buildings WATERLOO I think residential homeowners should be concerned what is happening in Waterloo with the building of condos and apartments. We give the land away for a dollar with three to 10 years of tax abatements. We already have 446 homes on the market for sale in Waterloo, with 147 of these homes vacant and 299 of these homes occupied waiting to be sold. Many of these homes at $100,000 and below will probably be converted to rental properties. These new rentals can potentially lead to the trend of blight in their neighborhoods. It seems the new building (of condos and apartments) is exceeding the growth of Waterloo, which will result in excess residences on the market, which at some point some sellers and landlords will end up holding the bag and citizens will continue to not receive tax relief, a burden that TIF and CLURA were meant to reduce. Wake up WATERLOO Its such a sad state of affairs our country is in, and so many people say they are not going to vote. The truth is more people are not informed as to the real issues that are, or will, affect the normal family. Bill Clinton did tell the truth (for once) when he talked about Obamacare. All of the three major networks are in the tank for Hillary Clinton. She had to admit she had paid rabble-rousers at the Trump convention. This is going on already without hardly any attention paid to it: Russia and North Korea are going back and forth on information on nuclear weapons, and then they are all upset about some old stale video of five years ago on locker-room talk. How many people have done something they are ashamed about five years ago? This is all deliberate to throw the American people from focusing on the real issues. Read Crisis of Character by Gary Byrne. It will sicken you to death to read about what really went on in the Clinton White House. FORT DODGE Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence brought an upbeat message to Iowa on Thursday, urging supporters to take back their country with President Donald Trump at the helm of a stronger America. Iowa, weve got work to do, Pence told about 300 people at a rally at Iowa Central Community College. He urged Iowans to vote early with a friend and to tell neighbors and even strangers to help elect the Trump-Pence team Nov. 8. Lets get on with it. Pence said the GOP ticket is gaining momentum despite the unfair fight created by a liberal media that play up Trumps negatives while ignoring an avalanche of scandals surrounding Hillary Clinton. Pence said Trump offers the best hope of restoring American security, jump-starting a sputtering economy and filling U.S. Supreme Court vacancies with conservative justices. Its change versus the status quo, he said. Its up or down, America. Pence said Clinton would continue President Obamas downhill spiral of making America weaker with a hollowed out military and more taxes and regulation. By contrast, he said Trump would scrap bad trade deals, repeal Obamacare and presidential executive orders, implement ethics reforms, cut taxes, place a moratorium on new government regulations and restore law and order. Before the Pence rally, a Democratic event in Des Moines featured Michele Meadors, a quadriplegic Des Moines woman who grew up in Indiana, where Pence is governor. She said she comes from a multi-generation Republican family but she no longer identifies with GOP because of Trump. I will tell you Im really saddened, said Meadors. Mike Pence, coming from Indiana, is someone that was greatly respected in the Hoosier community where Im from. And I had great respect for him: family man and what he has done. But how disgusting is it that a man of his background can actually support the words that are coming out of that mans (Donald Trumps) mouth? ... Its just not right. At the rally in Fort Dodge, Pence called Trump a man who never quits, never backs down, who embodies the American spirit and who has given voice to the frustrations and aspirations of Americans who feel left behind by the Washington elite. Weve got a basket of the American people who are saying enough is enough, he said. If you want to learn about English manners and social etiquette, why not go straight to the top? Baron Fermoy, a cousin of the late Princess Diana and sixth baron in an Irish peerage created by Queen Victoria in 1856, will go to Guangzhou next month for a week to brief eager Chinese entrepreneurs on how the upper crust lives in 21st-century England. The British television series Downton Abbey, a huge hit in China, has inspired wealthy Chinese to find out more about how Britain's nobility lives. Fermoy, born Maurice Burke Roche, announced details on Wednesday of his Nov 6 to 12 visit. "My purpose is to bring the best of British culture to a Chinese audience," Fermoy said. "There is clearly a fascination in Chinese society as to why the British behave as we do, with the grace and the manners we bring. "This is a two-way street. I hope to bring the best of Chinese culture to the UK," he said. Fermoy said he has already taught some Chinese students basic etiquette in the UK. In China, things such as English afternoon tea, formal balls, country house weekends or dressing up for formal dinners, with polished silver plates and cutlery and served by butlers and maids, are becoming fashionable. Growing wealth in China means that many who can now afford to aspire to live the British aristocratic life-style, creating a huge market of people paying big money for authentic British etiquette classes. Fermoy's trip is being organized by Peak Group Global, a cultural exchange organizer based in London and founded in 2005. He will be talking to a group of no more than 35 entrepreneurs and their families, a group ranging from primary school children to parents in their 30s and 40s. Events traditionally accessible only to the British upper classes, like the Royal Ascot races and Queen Charlotte's Ball, have attracted attention from Chinese living overseas, and their social media postings have become big talking points in China. In 2014, Britain's 250-year-old heritage etiquette organization, Debrett's, established an office in Beijing, teaching Chinese secondary school students British etiquette in partnership with Dulwich College Beijing. Grant Harrold, a former butler to heir-to-the-throne the Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, established an etiquette school in London with the exiled Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Serbia. One-fourth of the students in its afternoon tea and dinner etiquette classes come from China. "Chinese students are very quick learners and ask lots of questions," Harrold said. A growing number of Chinese etiquette schools are also entering the competition. Lessons with teachers flying in from the UK can cost 9,800 yuan ($1447.9) for two days, but lessons with Western teachers based in China are 6,800 yuan for a package of 10 short classes. Contact the writers at cecily.liu@mail.chinadailyuk.com If you have opinions about the subject matter of posts on this blog please share them. Do you have a story about how the system affects you at work school or home, or just in general? This is a place to share it. By WestKyStar and Shawnee College Staff Oct. 26, 2016 | 09:22 PM | ULLIN, IL As Illinois prepares to administer the SAT in April 2017, it is important for educators to understand the content and structure of the new assessment. Join us in this informative session to learn about specific content changes to the SAT, the updated College Board Assessment Reporting Data Portal, and key resources that will help you and your student as the state transitions to the SAT. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP by November 7th to Mindy Ashby at mindya@shawneecc.edu or by calling 618-634-3316. Shawnee Community College will be hosting an Introduction to the New SAT session on November 10th from 8-10:30 am at the SCC Main Campus in Ullin, IL. By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 26, 2016 | 09:00 AM | FULTON COUNTY, KY A wanted felon has been captured and now faces new charges. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office arrested Richard McClure on Friday after he allegedly stole some prescription pills from a home in the Brownsville community. McClure tried to run from the home when police arrived and had to be tased. After he was tased, a lengthy fight took place between McClure and the three officers. During the fight, McClure reportedly disarmed one of the officers. After approximately ten minutes, police said McClure was taken into custody. McClure was charged with fleeing or evading police, three counts of assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, and disarming a peace officer. Outstanding warrants from Fulton County and Obion County, TN were also served on McClure. A Fulton County Grand Jury Indictment for a vehicle pursuit that occurred in February was also served on McClure. Those charges include fleeing and evading police, wanton endangerment, possession of methamphetamine and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. past daily news Sep 13 (1) Sep 09 (15) Sep 06 (12) Sep 04 (10) Sep 03 (10) Aug 31 (17) Aug 29 (14) Aug 26 (13) Aug 22 (11) Aug 21 (12) Aug 19 (21) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (10) Aug 10 (10) Aug 08 (9) Aug 07 (10) Aug 06 (10) Aug 05 (8) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (14) Jul 29 (1) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (5) Jul 24 (10) Jul 22 (11) Jul 19 (16) Jul 17 (6) Jul 16 (10) Jul 15 (13) Jul 12 (7) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (8) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (8) Jul 04 (11) Jul 03 (8) Jul 02 (7) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (8) Jun 28 (7) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (7) Jun 25 (8) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (6) Jun 22 (9) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (9) Jun 18 (8) Jun 15 (9) Jun 13 (13) Jun 11 (11) Jun 09 (19) Jun 06 (10) Jun 04 (10) Jun 03 (8) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (5) May 30 (5) May 29 (6) May 28 (7) May 27 (7) May 26 (6) May 25 (4) May 23 (6) May 22 (6) May 21 (4) May 20 (7) May 19 (9) May 18 (4) May 17 (6) May 16 (5) May 15 (7) May 14 (3) May 13 (3) May 12 (9) May 10 (3) May 09 (7) May 08 (4) May 07 (3) May 06 (5) May 05 (8) May 03 (9) May 02 (1) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (8) Apr 29 (5) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (7) Apr 26 (12) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (8) Apr 23 (7) Apr 22 (5) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (1) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (3) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (6) Apr 15 (5) Apr 14 (2) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (2) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (3) Apr 09 (3) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (5) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (10) Apr 04 (2) Apr 03 (3) Apr 02 (9) Apr 01 (7) Mar 31 (10) Mar 30 (6) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (10) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (10) Mar 22 (6) Mar 21 (5) Mar 20 (11) Mar 19 (8) Mar 18 (5) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (11) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (7) Mar 13 (7) Mar 12 (5) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (6) Mar 07 (8) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (12) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (8) Mar 02 (6) Mar 01 (8) Feb 28 (7) Feb 27 (5) Feb 26 (6) Feb 25 (7) Feb 24 (3) Feb 23 (6) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (1) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (2) Feb 15 (5) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (6) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (6) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (6) Feb 06 (4) Feb 05 (2) Feb 04 (3) Feb 03 (5) Feb 02 (1) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (8) Jan 30 (2) Jan 29 (4) Jan 28 (1) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (4) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (2) Jan 20 (2) Jan 19 (3) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (2) Jan 16 (7) Jan 15 (6) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (5) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 05 (5) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (1) Dec 31 (5) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (5) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (2) Dec 17 (1) Dec 16 (4) Dec 15 (2) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (7) Dec 12 (5) Dec 11 (4) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (2) Dec 08 (2) Dec 07 (4) Dec 06 (4) Dec 05 (1) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (5) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (5) Nov 29 (10) Nov 28 (6) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (3) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (6) Nov 19 (2) Nov 18 (5) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (2) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (4) Nov 10 (5) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (5) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (5) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (9) Oct 30 (9) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (6) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (6) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (6) Oct 22 (4) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (5) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (2) Oct 13 (4) Oct 12 (7) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (5) Oct 08 (10) Oct 07 (1) Oct 06 (10) Oct 05 (6) Oct 04 (8) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (1) Sep 28 (6) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (5) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (6) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (6) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (5) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (6) Sep 13 (4) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (7) Sep 10 (6) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (4) Sep 06 (8) Sep 05 (6) Sep 04 (7) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (5) Aug 31 (8) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (6) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (1) Aug 26 (4) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (7) Aug 23 (4) Aug 22 (4) Aug 21 (4) Aug 20 (7) Aug 18 (5) Aug 17 (8) Aug 16 (8) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (2) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (4) Aug 08 (8) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (3) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (4) Aug 03 (10) Aug 02 (9) Aug 01 (8) Jul 31 (1) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (2) Jul 28 (11) Jul 27 (10) Jul 26 (10) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (2) Jul 21 (7) Jul 20 (10) Jul 19 (8) Jul 18 (7) Jul 17 (1) Jul 16 (10) Jul 14 (7) Jul 13 (6) Jul 12 (11) Jul 11 (7) Jul 10 (5) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (8) Jul 06 (4) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (6) Jul 03 (7) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (2) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (5) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (6) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (8) Jun 18 (2) Jun 17 (3) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (3) Jun 14 (7) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (7) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (8) Jun 08 (8) Jun 07 (8) Jun 06 (10) Jun 05 (14) Jun 04 (6) Jun 03 (6) Jun 02 (8) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (7) May 30 (2) May 29 (7) May 28 (7) May 27 (2) May 26 (4) May 25 (5) May 24 (4) May 23 (5) May 22 (5) May 21 (5) May 20 (3) May 19 (10) May 18 (6) May 17 (3) May 16 (6) May 15 (2) May 14 (3) May 13 (5) May 11 (1) May 10 (5) May 09 (3) May 08 (4) May 07 (2) May 06 (4) May 05 (6) May 04 (5) May 03 (5) May 02 (1) May 01 (6) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (7) Apr 28 (8) Apr 27 (9) Apr 26 (14) Apr 25 (6) Apr 24 (6) Apr 23 (7) Apr 22 (1) Apr 21 (8) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (6) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (1) Apr 15 (8) Apr 14 (1) Apr 13 (7) Apr 12 (10) Apr 11 (7) Apr 10 (2) Apr 09 (2) Apr 08 (4) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (6) Apr 05 (6) Apr 04 (9) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (5) Mar 30 (4) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (9) Mar 26 (4) Mar 25 (5) Mar 24 (11) Mar 23 (10) Mar 22 (9) Mar 21 (10) Mar 20 (11) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (7) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (7) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (6) Mar 13 (9) Mar 12 (6) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (6) Mar 07 (13) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (7) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (6) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (5) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (6) Feb 23 (9) Feb 22 (6) Feb 21 (7) Feb 20 (8) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (6) Feb 15 (5) Feb 14 (7) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (5) Feb 09 (9) Feb 08 (8) Feb 07 (7) Feb 06 (10) Feb 05 (7) Feb 04 (2) Feb 03 (8) Feb 02 (7) Feb 01 (5) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (7) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (7) Jan 26 (8) Jan 25 (6) Jan 24 (6) Jan 23 (5) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (6) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (8) Jan 17 (12) Jan 16 (5) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (8) Jan 12 (6) Jan 11 (6) Jan 10 (7) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (6) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (6) Jan 05 (9) Jan 04 (9) Jan 03 (4) Jan 02 (6) Jan 01 (8) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (1) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (8) Dec 26 (4) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (7) Dec 22 (12) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (7) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (5) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (1) Dec 15 (7) Dec 14 (10) Dec 13 (7) Dec 12 (12) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (6) Dec 08 (7) Dec 07 (12) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (13) Dec 04 (6) Dec 02 (8) Dec 01 (8) Nov 30 (6) Nov 29 (7) Nov 28 (7) Nov 27 (4) Nov 26 (8) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (11) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (10) Nov 18 (7) Nov 17 (6) Nov 16 (11) Nov 15 (10) Nov 14 (7) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (5) Nov 11 (12) Nov 10 (4) Nov 09 (14) Nov 08 (10) Nov 07 (11) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (5) Nov 04 (11) Nov 03 (9) Nov 02 (10) Nov 01 (8) Oct 31 (12) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (5) Oct 28 (5) Oct 27 (11) Oct 26 (13) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (10) Oct 23 (8) Oct 22 (5) Oct 21 (11) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (5) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (6) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (9) Oct 13 (10) Oct 12 (11) Oct 11 (9) Oct 10 (10) Oct 09 (7) Oct 08 (5) Oct 07 (10) Oct 06 (9) Oct 05 (14) Oct 04 (9) Oct 03 (12) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (9) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (7) Sep 28 (13) Sep 27 (10) Sep 26 (11) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (9) Sep 23 (7) Sep 22 (10) Sep 21 (12) Sep 20 (12) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (7) Sep 16 (11) Sep 15 (8) Sep 14 (5) Sep 13 (8) Sep 12 (8) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (10) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (9) Sep 07 (8) Sep 06 (11) Sep 05 (2) Sep 04 (8) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (6) Sep 01 (9) Aug 31 (9) Aug 30 (7) Aug 29 (9) Aug 28 (4) Aug 27 (8) Aug 26 (6) Aug 25 (5) Aug 24 (8) Aug 23 (4) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (2) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (6) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (4) Aug 16 (6) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (4) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (3) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (8) Aug 08 (9) Aug 07 (7) Aug 06 (7) Aug 05 (7) Aug 04 (7) Aug 03 (11) Aug 02 (6) Aug 01 (9) Jul 31 (11) Jul 28 (7) Jul 27 (11) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (5) Jul 24 (1) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (2) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (8) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (7) Jul 15 (4) Jul 14 (2) Jul 13 (6) Jul 12 (10) Jul 11 (11) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (5) Jul 06 (6) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (6) Jul 03 (5) Jul 02 (3) Jun 30 (8) Jun 29 (5) Jun 28 (6) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (11) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (7) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (7) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (6) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (6) Jun 09 (8) Jun 08 (6) Jun 07 (8) Jun 06 (7) Jun 05 (5) Jun 04 (7) Jun 03 (1) Jun 02 (9) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (8) May 30 (7) May 29 (5) May 28 (5) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (3) May 23 (5) May 22 (2) May 21 (3) May 20 (7) May 19 (11) May 18 (1) May 17 (7) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (3) May 13 (4) May 12 (4) May 11 (11) May 10 (2) May 09 (6) May 08 (6) May 07 (2) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (5) May 03 (8) May 02 (4) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (13) Apr 28 (5) Apr 27 (7) Apr 26 (5) Apr 25 (5) Apr 24 (2) Apr 23 (7) Apr 22 (9) Apr 21 (11) Apr 20 (2) Apr 19 (2) Apr 18 (5) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (6) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (2) Apr 12 (9) Apr 11 (10) Apr 10 (6) Apr 09 (5) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (10) Apr 06 (7) Apr 05 (7) Apr 04 (7) Apr 03 (9) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (4) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (6) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (8) Mar 23 (7) Mar 22 (4) Mar 21 (10) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (6) Mar 17 (7) Mar 16 (11) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (4) Mar 12 (6) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (9) Mar 08 (10) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (5) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (2) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (3) Feb 27 (8) Feb 26 (9) Feb 24 (11) Feb 23 (8) Feb 22 (9) Feb 21 (8) Feb 20 (7) Feb 19 (4) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (6) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (7) Feb 14 (11) Feb 13 (2) Feb 12 (5) Feb 11 (5) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (10) Feb 08 (9) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (2) Feb 05 (9) Feb 03 (7) Feb 02 (5) Feb 01 (7) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (5) Jan 29 (6) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (7) Jan 24 (8) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (14) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (10) Jan 18 (11) Jan 17 (9) Jan 16 (5) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (9) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (7) Jan 10 (2) Jan 09 (7) Jan 08 (6) Jan 07 (10) Jan 06 (8) Jan 05 (7) Jan 04 (9) Jan 03 (8) Jan 02 (5) Jan 01 (14) Dec 30 (13) Dec 29 (13) Dec 28 (9) Dec 27 (5) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (7) Dec 24 (4) Dec 23 (5) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (8) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (8) Dec 18 (9) Dec 16 (8) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (5) Dec 13 (8) Dec 12 (4) Dec 11 (17) Dec 09 (8) Dec 08 (5) Dec 07 (10) Dec 06 (12) Dec 05 (6) Dec 04 (8) Dec 02 (6) Dec 01 (7) Nov 30 (9) Nov 29 (6) Nov 28 (11) Nov 27 (6) Nov 26 (15) Nov 24 (7) Nov 23 (15) Nov 22 (9) Nov 21 (6) Nov 20 (11) Nov 18 (11) Nov 17 (13) Nov 16 (8) Nov 15 (13) Nov 14 (7) Nov 13 (7) Nov 12 (3) Nov 11 (13) Nov 10 (13) Nov 09 (6) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (6) Nov 06 (4) Nov 05 (12) Nov 04 (8) Nov 03 (9) Nov 02 (8) Nov 01 (6) Oct 31 (10) Oct 30 (8) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (8) Oct 27 (15) Oct 26 (10) Oct 25 (10) Oct 24 (13) Oct 23 (9) Oct 21 (8) Oct 20 (13) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (11) Oct 17 (8) Oct 16 (14) Oct 14 (9) Oct 13 (11) Oct 12 (9) Oct 11 (13) Oct 10 (7) Oct 09 (15) Oct 07 (7) Oct 06 (11) Oct 05 (18) Oct 04 (14) Oct 03 (1) Oct 02 (10) Sep 30 (11) Sep 29 (11) Sep 28 (11) Sep 27 (15) Sep 26 (7) Sep 24 (9) Sep 23 (11) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (17) Sep 20 (20) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (11) Sep 16 (10) Sep 15 (12) Sep 14 (9) Sep 13 (12) Sep 12 (14) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (8) Sep 09 (9) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (13) Sep 06 (15) Sep 05 (8) Sep 04 (11) Sep 03 (10) Sep 02 (12) Sep 01 (12) Aug 31 (14) Aug 30 (14) Aug 29 (8) Aug 28 (8) Aug 27 (9) Aug 26 (12) Aug 25 (6) Aug 24 (8) Aug 23 (12) Aug 22 (6) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (6) Aug 19 (9) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (7) Aug 16 (11) Aug 15 (2) Aug 14 (12) Aug 12 (15) Aug 11 (11) Aug 10 (6) Aug 09 (7) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (7) Aug 04 (7) Aug 03 (4) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (5) Jul 31 (7) Jul 30 (5) Jul 29 (9) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (8) Jul 26 (7) Jul 25 (6) Jul 23 (8) Jul 22 (6) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (15) Jul 15 (14) Jul 14 (5) Jul 13 (6) Jul 12 (12) Jul 11 (8) Jul 10 (3) Jul 09 (11) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (7) Jul 06 (10) Jul 05 (4) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (5) Jul 02 (7) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (10) Jun 28 (8) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (2) Jun 23 (11) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (7) Jun 20 (3) Jun 19 (7) Jun 18 (10) Jun 17 (11) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (7) Jun 13 (14) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (8) Jun 09 (9) Jun 08 (11) Jun 07 (14) Jun 06 (16) Jun 03 (8) Jun 02 (12) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (7) May 30 (15) May 28 (7) May 27 (5) May 26 (21) May 25 (14) May 24 (10) May 23 (7) May 22 (8) May 21 (11) May 20 (5) May 19 (4) May 18 (10) May 17 (11) May 16 (5) May 15 (6) May 14 (7) May 13 (12) May 12 (10) May 11 (7) May 10 (13) May 09 (4) May 08 (7) May 07 (3) May 06 (6) May 05 (9) May 04 (14) May 03 (7) May 02 (10) May 01 (10) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (9) Apr 28 (5) Apr 27 (9) Apr 26 (8) Apr 25 (8) Apr 24 (6) Apr 23 (14) Apr 22 (16) Apr 21 (11) Apr 20 (7) Apr 19 (16) Apr 18 (8) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (10) Apr 15 (8) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (11) Apr 12 (10) Apr 11 (8) Apr 10 (12) Apr 09 (5) Apr 08 (13) Apr 07 (9) Apr 06 (11) Apr 05 (15) Apr 04 (7) Apr 03 (15) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (11) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (10) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 (7) Mar 27 (12) Mar 26 (8) Mar 25 (8) Mar 24 (7) Mar 23 (15) Mar 22 (17) Mar 21 (9) Mar 20 (8) Mar 19 (4) Mar 18 (16) Mar 17 (8) Mar 16 (19) Mar 15 (13) Mar 14 (7) Mar 13 (20) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (11) Mar 09 (13) Mar 08 (13) Mar 07 (7) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (9) Mar 04 (10) Mar 03 (16) Mar 02 (16) Mar 01 (13) Feb 29 (8) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (16) Feb 26 (10) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (12) Feb 23 (14) Feb 22 (9) Feb 21 (11) Feb 20 (8) Feb 19 (12) Feb 18 (12) Feb 17 (11) Feb 16 (8) Feb 15 (9) Feb 14 (7) Feb 13 (10) Feb 12 (11) Feb 11 (13) Feb 10 (5) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (13) Feb 05 (10) Feb 04 (11) Feb 03 (7) Feb 02 (19) Jan 31 (21) Jan 29 (11) Jan 28 (10) Jan 27 (13) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (2) Jan 23 (8) Jan 22 (13) Jan 21 (11) Jan 20 (9) Jan 19 (13) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (11) Jan 15 (7) Jan 14 (13) Jan 13 (9) Jan 12 (9) Jan 11 (5) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (7) Jan 08 (7) Jan 07 (6) Jan 06 (11) Jan 05 (7) Jan 04 (7) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (8) Jan 01 (5) Dec 31 (10) Dec 30 (9) Dec 29 (7) Dec 28 (9) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (1) Dec 25 (5) Dec 24 (6) Dec 23 (6) Dec 22 (7) Dec 21 (6) Dec 20 (7) Dec 19 (13) Dec 18 (16) Dec 17 (10) Dec 16 (13) Dec 15 (11) Dec 14 (8) Dec 13 (4) Dec 12 (9) Dec 11 (10) Dec 10 (12) Dec 09 (10) Dec 08 (13) Dec 07 (7) Dec 06 (12) Dec 05 (8) Dec 04 (11) Dec 03 (12) Dec 02 (16) Dec 01 (14) Nov 30 (10) Nov 29 (11) Nov 28 (15) Nov 27 (16) Nov 26 (11) Nov 25 (9) Nov 24 (13) Nov 23 (10) Nov 22 (1) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (12) Nov 19 (10) Nov 18 (11) Nov 17 (11) Nov 16 (10) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (10) Nov 13 (14) Nov 12 (8) Nov 11 (13) Nov 10 (10) Nov 09 (6) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (11) Nov 06 (12) Nov 05 (17) Nov 04 (12) Nov 03 (11) Nov 02 (5) Nov 01 (12) Oct 31 (11) Oct 30 (11) Oct 29 (10) Oct 28 (18) Oct 27 (16) Oct 26 (11) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (12) Oct 23 (11) Oct 22 (14) Oct 21 (12) Oct 20 (17) Oct 19 (12) Oct 18 (13) Oct 17 (15) Oct 16 (14) Oct 15 (10) Oct 14 (16) Oct 13 (12) Oct 12 (13) Oct 11 (8) Oct 10 (12) Oct 09 (21) Oct 08 (22) Oct 07 (19) Oct 06 (18) Oct 05 (6) Oct 04 (17) Oct 03 (13) Oct 02 (14) Oct 01 (13) Sep 30 (14) Sep 29 (15) Sep 28 (12) Sep 27 (11) Sep 26 (15) Sep 25 (13) Sep 24 (9) Sep 23 (10) Sep 22 (12) Sep 21 (8) Sep 20 (4) Sep 19 (12) Sep 18 (12) Sep 17 (16) Sep 16 (21) Sep 15 (14) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (10) Sep 11 (16) Sep 10 (7) Sep 09 (8) Sep 08 (10) Sep 07 (7) Sep 06 (5) Sep 05 (8) Sep 04 (9) Sep 03 (8) Sep 02 (11) Sep 01 (10) Aug 31 (4) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (1) Aug 28 (10) Aug 27 (8) Aug 26 (8) Aug 25 (14) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (3) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (13) Aug 20 (9) Aug 19 (13) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (8) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (12) Aug 11 (9) Aug 10 (8) Aug 09 (14) Aug 08 (6) Aug 07 (1) Aug 06 (4) Aug 05 (8) Aug 04 (6) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (2) Aug 01 (6) Jul 31 (6) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (6) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (6) Jul 23 (5) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (7) Jul 20 (5) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (9) Jul 14 (2) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (1) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (8) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (13) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (5) Jul 03 (6) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (7) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (1) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (7) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (9) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (3) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (7) Jun 17 (7) Jun 16 (7) Jun 15 (11) Jun 12 (6) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (10) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (2) Jun 05 (9) Jun 04 (8) Jun 03 (9) Jun 02 (6) Jun 01 (4) May 30 (7) May 29 (9) May 28 (13) May 26 (8) May 25 (5) May 24 (2) May 23 (8) May 22 (9) May 21 (7) May 20 (4) May 19 (6) May 18 (7) May 17 (8) May 15 (9) May 14 (5) May 13 (8) May 12 (6) May 11 (6) May 09 (7) May 08 (6) May 07 (11) May 06 (7) May 05 (4) May 04 (11) May 03 (5) May 02 (4) May 01 (9) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (9) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (5) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (10) Apr 22 (8) Apr 21 (9) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (4) Apr 18 (8) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (6) Apr 14 (8) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (6) Apr 10 (2) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (5) Apr 07 (5) Apr 06 (2) Apr 05 (2) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (7) Apr 02 (7) Apr 01 (12) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (1) Mar 28 (2) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (2) Mar 25 (5) Mar 24 (4) Mar 23 (7) Mar 22 (4) Mar 21 (6) Mar 20 (9) Mar 19 (9) Mar 18 (8) Mar 17 (9) Mar 16 (7) Mar 15 (11) Mar 13 (5) Mar 12 (12) Mar 11 (9) Mar 10 (12) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (5) Mar 05 (5) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (11) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (8) Feb 27 (9) Feb 26 (9) Feb 25 (8) Feb 24 (6) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (3) Feb 19 (10) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (7) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (2) Feb 14 (8) Feb 13 (12) Feb 12 (8) Feb 11 (10) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (2) Feb 06 (7) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (11) Feb 03 (5) Feb 02 (7) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (8) Jan 29 (12) Jan 28 (6) Jan 27 (8) Jan 26 (13) Jan 24 (8) Jan 23 (12) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (10) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (9) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (11) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (6) Jan 10 (2) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (6) Jan 06 (4) Jan 05 (4) Jan 04 (3) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (6) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (6) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (3) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (7) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (5) Dec 18 (8) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (9) Dec 15 (7) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (10) Dec 12 (10) Dec 11 (9) Dec 10 (10) Dec 09 (11) Dec 08 (5) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (9) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (8) Dec 02 (10) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (1) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (9) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (7) Nov 25 (12) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (8) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (12) Nov 19 (6) Nov 18 (10) Nov 17 (12) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (12) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (7) Nov 11 (8) Nov 10 (7) Nov 09 (6) Nov 08 (5) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (6) Nov 05 (12) Nov 04 (9) Nov 03 (6) Nov 02 (14) Nov 01 (3) Oct 31 (6) Oct 30 (7) Oct 29 (9) Oct 28 (9) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (8) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (2) Oct 19 (11) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (7) Oct 15 (7) Oct 14 (8) Oct 13 (5) Oct 12 (8) Oct 11 (6) Oct 10 (5) Oct 09 (11) Oct 08 (10) Oct 07 (8) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (7) Oct 04 (8) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (10) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (7) Sep 29 (6) Sep 28 (5) Sep 27 (8) Sep 26 (11) Sep 25 (11) Sep 24 (15) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (9) Sep 21 (4) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (9) Sep 18 (10) Sep 17 (10) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (8) Sep 10 (6) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (2) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (7) Sep 04 (11) Sep 03 (7) Sep 02 (7) Sep 01 (2) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (1) Aug 29 (10) Aug 28 (5) Aug 27 (4) Aug 26 (10) Aug 25 (6) Aug 24 (9) Aug 22 (11) Aug 21 (8) Aug 20 (12) Aug 19 (8) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (4) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (4) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (8) Aug 11 (7) Aug 10 (12) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (6) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (8) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (4) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (6) Jul 30 (12) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (8) Jul 23 (8) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (8) Jul 20 (6) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (8) Jul 17 (2) Jul 16 (7) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (9) Jul 13 (10) Jul 11 (9) Jul 10 (8) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (7) Jul 07 (7) Jul 06 (7) Jul 05 (10) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (6) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (5) Jun 29 (6) Jun 28 (1) Jun 27 (15) Jun 26 (10) Jun 25 (9) Jun 24 (16) Jun 23 (6) Jun 22 (12) Jun 20 (6) Jun 19 (8) Jun 18 (10) Jun 17 (6) Jun 16 (7) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (5) Jun 13 (13) Jun 12 (7) Jun 11 (14) Jun 10 (3) Jun 09 (2) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (7) Jun 06 (16) Jun 05 (7) Jun 04 (18) Jun 03 (12) Jun 02 (8) May 31 (3) May 30 (6) May 29 (6) May 28 (7) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (6) May 23 (4) May 22 (8) May 21 (5) May 20 (6) May 19 (2) May 18 (9) May 17 (1) May 16 (5) May 15 (5) May 14 (7) May 13 (7) May 12 (7) May 11 (4) May 10 (4) May 09 (5) May 08 (10) May 07 (4) May 06 (13) May 05 (4) May 04 (10) May 02 (2) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (9) Apr 29 (6) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (9) Apr 25 (9) Apr 24 (7) Apr 23 (11) Apr 22 (7) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (10) Apr 19 (6) Apr 18 (5) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (6) Apr 15 (7) Apr 14 (11) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (9) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (6) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (6) Apr 05 (10) Apr 03 (9) Apr 02 (9) Apr 01 (12) Mar 31 (4) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (10) Mar 28 (7) Mar 27 (8) Mar 26 (8) Mar 25 (15) Mar 24 (11) Mar 23 (8) Mar 22 (7) Mar 21 (14) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (11) Mar 18 (11) Mar 17 (12) Mar 16 (8) Mar 15 (8) Mar 14 (13) Mar 13 (8) Mar 12 (10) Mar 11 (8) Mar 10 (7) Mar 09 (3) Mar 08 (12) Mar 07 (15) Mar 06 (16) Mar 05 (9) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (12) Mar 02 (20) Feb 28 (11) Feb 27 (8) Feb 26 (11) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (14) Feb 23 (5) Feb 22 (6) Feb 21 (8) Feb 20 (11) Feb 19 (7) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (8) Feb 16 (11) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (10) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (10) Feb 11 (7) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (6) Feb 07 (5) Feb 06 (4) Feb 05 (10) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (5) Jan 29 (2) Jan 28 (6) Jan 27 (3) Jan 26 (2) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (7) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (5) Jan 20 (5) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (7) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (5) Jan 13 (4) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (3) Jan 10 (5) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (6) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (1) Jan 05 (4) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (6) Jan 01 (2) Dec 31 (6) Dec 30 (1) Dec 29 (5) Dec 27 (1) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (8) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (1) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (8) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (4) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (4) Dec 11 (4) Dec 10 (7) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (2) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (10) Dec 04 (9) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (2) Dec 01 (8) Nov 29 (5) Nov 28 (7) Nov 27 (5) Nov 26 (9) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (5) Nov 23 (6) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (12) Nov 20 (12) Nov 19 (10) Nov 18 (4) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (8) Nov 15 (7) Nov 14 (7) Nov 13 (6) Nov 12 (12) Nov 11 (6) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (10) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (5) Nov 05 (9) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (4) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (3) Oct 31 (10) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (11) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (7) Oct 26 (7) Oct 25 (6) Oct 24 (7) Oct 23 (11) Oct 22 (2) Oct 21 (7) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (7) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (8) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (5) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (7) Oct 11 (20) Oct 10 (2) Oct 09 (4) Oct 08 (21) Oct 07 (20) Oct 06 (34) Oct 04 (24) Oct 03 (21) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (7) Sep 30 (3) Sep 29 (5) Sep 28 (6) Sep 27 (5) Sep 26 (6) Sep 25 (5) Sep 24 (2) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (4) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (9) Sep 19 (11) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (7) Sep 16 (6) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (8) Sep 12 (11) Sep 11 (7) Sep 10 (6) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (6) Sep 06 (10) Sep 05 (7) Sep 04 (7) Sep 03 (5) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (8) Aug 31 (5) Aug 30 (7) Aug 29 (10) Aug 28 (7) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (6) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (8) Aug 23 (6) Aug 22 (6) Aug 21 (8) Aug 20 (8) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (2) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (7) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (4) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (6) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (8) Aug 08 (6) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (12) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (4) Aug 01 (10) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (6) Jul 27 (4) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (7) Jul 23 (10) Jul 22 (8) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (7) Jul 18 (9) Jul 17 (10) Jul 16 (11) Jul 15 (5) Jul 13 (5) Jul 12 (9) Jul 11 (11) Jul 10 (12) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (8) Jul 06 (9) Jul 05 (10) Jul 04 (8) Jul 03 (10) Jul 02 (12) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (5) Jun 29 (6) Jun 28 (23) Jun 27 (18) Jun 26 (12) Jun 25 (14) Jun 24 (15) Jun 23 (11) Jun 22 (11) Jun 21 (15) Jun 20 (9) Jun 19 (8) Jun 18 (11) Jun 17 (7) Jun 16 (6) Jun 15 (6) Jun 14 (6) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (6) Jun 11 (9) Jun 10 (10) Jun 09 (9) Jun 08 (6) Jun 07 (2) Jun 06 (6) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (3) May 30 (5) May 29 (8) May 28 (7) May 27 (2) May 26 (2) May 25 (8) May 24 (7) May 23 (6) May 22 (9) May 21 (6) May 20 (5) May 19 (6) May 18 (9) May 17 (10) May 16 (11) May 15 (5) May 14 (11) May 13 (6) May 12 (7) May 11 (7) May 10 (5) May 09 (3) May 08 (10) May 07 (8) May 06 (11) May 05 (5) May 04 (9) May 03 (3) May 02 (2) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (5) Apr 29 (8) Apr 28 (6) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (9) Apr 25 (11) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (11) Apr 22 (7) Apr 21 (5) Apr 20 (7) Apr 19 (10) Apr 18 (8) Apr 17 (10) Apr 16 (8) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (7) Apr 12 (11) Apr 11 (6) Apr 10 (7) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (9) Apr 05 (10) Apr 04 (7) Apr 03 (2) Apr 02 (6) Apr 01 (4) Mar 31 (3) Mar 30 (4) Mar 29 (3) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (10) Mar 26 (5) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (7) Mar 22 (6) Mar 21 (9) Mar 20 (5) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (9) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (8) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (10) Mar 12 (10) Mar 11 (2) Mar 10 (1) Mar 09 (6) Mar 08 (4) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (7) Mar 03 (6) Mar 02 (8) Mar 01 (9) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (8) Feb 25 (7) Feb 24 (3) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (7) Feb 20 (4) Feb 19 (4) Feb 18 (2) Feb 17 (1) Feb 16 (6) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (5) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (7) Feb 11 (2) Feb 10 (2) Feb 09 (5) Feb 08 (5) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (4) Feb 05 (9) Feb 04 (3) Feb 03 (3) Feb 02 (10) Feb 01 (9) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (8) Jan 29 (5) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (6) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (7) Jan 18 (3) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (8) Jan 15 (7) Jan 14 (9) Jan 13 (1) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (1) Jan 10 (3) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (2) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (4) Jan 02 (4) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (8) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (4) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (7) Dec 21 (5) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (6) Dec 17 (4) Dec 16 (5) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (8) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (6) Dec 11 (8) Dec 10 (5) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (4) Dec 07 (7) Dec 06 (7) Dec 05 (6) Dec 04 (6) Dec 03 (7) Dec 02 (1) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (2) Nov 29 (8) Nov 28 (16) Nov 27 (7) Nov 26 (5) Nov 25 (2) Nov 24 (6) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (5) Nov 20 (15) Nov 19 (8) Nov 18 (2) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (7) Nov 14 (6) Nov 13 (9) Nov 12 (7) Nov 11 (8) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (5) Nov 08 (8) Nov 07 (9) Nov 06 (9) Nov 05 (1) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (8) Nov 02 (6) Nov 01 (3) Oct 31 (6) Oct 30 (7) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (8) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (1) Oct 22 (6) Oct 21 (1) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (10) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (15) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (5) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (9) Oct 11 (7) Oct 10 (1) Oct 09 (5) Oct 08 (7) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (8) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (7) Oct 02 (6) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (8) Sep 29 (6) Sep 28 (13) Sep 27 (10) Sep 26 (8) Sep 25 (8) Sep 24 (8) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (9) Sep 20 (7) Sep 19 (8) Sep 18 (4) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (8) Sep 14 (5) Sep 13 (7) Sep 12 (7) Sep 11 (9) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (10) Sep 08 (4) Sep 07 (12) Sep 06 (13) Sep 05 (15) Sep 04 (5) Sep 03 (4) Sep 02 (6) Sep 01 (9) Aug 31 (7) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (8) Aug 28 (11) Aug 27 (2) Aug 26 (6) Aug 25 (15) Aug 24 (6) Aug 23 (8) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (6) Aug 20 (7) Aug 19 (2) Aug 18 (5) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (11) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (9) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (6) Aug 09 (5) Aug 08 (7) Aug 07 (9) Aug 06 (4) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (4) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (9) Aug 01 (10) Jul 31 (11) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (11) Jul 27 (4) Jul 26 (7) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (8) Jul 22 (5) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (10) Jul 19 (6) Jul 18 (9) Jul 17 (6) Jul 16 (7) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (7) Jul 12 (8) Jul 11 (6) Jul 10 (14) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (9) Jul 05 (8) Jul 04 (5) Jul 03 (8) Jul 02 (5) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (6) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (8) Jun 25 (3) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (14) Jun 22 (11) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (8) Jun 19 (7) Jun 18 (4) Jun 17 (3) Jun 16 (12) Jun 15 (12) Jun 14 (10) Jun 13 (10) Jun 12 (9) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (12) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (12) Jun 06 (6) Jun 05 (7) Jun 04 (6) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (4) Jun 01 (8) May 31 (4) May 30 (3) May 29 (8) May 28 (7) May 27 (4) May 26 (3) May 25 (5) May 24 (9) May 23 (16) May 22 (12) May 21 (11) May 20 (7) May 19 (10) May 18 (8) May 17 (8) May 16 (10) May 15 (8) May 14 (5) May 13 (1) May 12 (6) May 11 (9) May 10 (9) May 09 (10) May 08 (9) May 07 (6) May 06 (5) May 05 (7) May 04 (10) May 03 (7) May 02 (9) May 01 (10) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (9) Apr 28 (12) Apr 27 (9) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (5) Apr 24 (9) Apr 23 (4) Apr 22 (7) Apr 21 (8) Apr 20 (9) Apr 19 (6) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (2) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (10) Apr 14 (7) Apr 13 (5) Apr 12 (7) Apr 11 (7) Apr 10 (7) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (7) Apr 07 (10) Apr 06 (8) Apr 05 (8) Apr 04 (9) Apr 03 (6) Apr 02 (4) Apr 01 (4) Mar 31 (11) Mar 30 (12) Mar 29 (16) Mar 28 (8) Mar 27 (10) Mar 26 (12) Mar 25 (6) Mar 24 (9) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (12) Mar 20 (14) Mar 19 (8) Mar 18 (7) Mar 17 (8) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (9) Mar 12 (6) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (13) Mar 09 (8) Mar 08 (10) Mar 07 (12) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (2) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (12) Mar 01 (8) Feb 29 (11) Feb 28 (5) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (13) Feb 25 (10) Feb 24 (13) Feb 23 (10) Feb 22 (9) Feb 21 (18) Feb 20 (6) Feb 19 (7) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (5) Feb 16 (9) Feb 15 (7) Feb 14 (6) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (6) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (8) Feb 09 (5) Feb 08 (8) Feb 07 (10) Feb 06 (7) Feb 05 (7) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (11) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (12) Jan 30 (7) Jan 29 (7) Jan 28 (7) Jan 27 (12) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (11) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (6) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (12) Jan 20 (11) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (6) Jan 17 (11) Jan 16 (9) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (9) Jan 11 (9) Jan 10 (10) Jan 09 (5) Jan 08 (10) Jan 07 (5) Jan 06 (6) Jan 05 (8) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (8) Jan 02 (7) Jan 01 (7) Dec 31 (10) Dec 30 (11) Dec 29 (6) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (10) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (5) Dec 24 (7) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (9) Dec 21 (8) Dec 20 (8) Dec 19 (5) Dec 18 (1) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (6) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (13) Dec 13 (8) Dec 12 (7) Dec 11 (9) Dec 10 (12) Dec 09 (7) Dec 08 (11) Dec 07 (9) Dec 06 (11) Dec 05 (10) Dec 04 (6) Dec 03 (8) Dec 02 (6) Dec 01 (14) Nov 30 (7) Nov 29 (8) Nov 28 (8) Nov 27 (6) Nov 26 (9) Nov 25 (10) Nov 24 (12) Nov 23 (10) Nov 22 (10) Nov 21 (10) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (4) Nov 18 (8) Nov 17 (9) Nov 16 (9) Nov 15 (12) Nov 14 (6) Nov 13 (9) Nov 12 (3) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (10) Nov 09 (10) Nov 08 (7) Nov 07 (8) Nov 06 (10) Nov 05 (8) Nov 04 (7) Nov 03 (10) Nov 02 (11) Nov 01 (10) Oct 31 (5) Oct 30 (8) Oct 29 (8) Oct 28 (8) Oct 27 (11) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (10) Oct 23 (5) Oct 22 (14) Oct 21 (10) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (11) Oct 18 (13) Oct 17 (7) Oct 16 (6) Oct 15 (9) Oct 14 (7) Oct 13 (12) Oct 12 (13) Oct 11 (9) Oct 10 (8) Oct 09 (9) Oct 08 (7) Oct 07 (12) Oct 06 (8) Oct 05 (13) Oct 04 (11) Oct 03 (7) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (14) Sep 30 (12) Sep 29 (12) Sep 28 (11) Sep 27 (11) Sep 26 (7) Sep 25 (10) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (7) Sep 22 (8) Sep 21 (8) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (7) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (14) Sep 16 (7) Sep 15 (11) Sep 14 (13) Sep 13 (11) Sep 12 (9) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (13) Sep 08 (11) Sep 07 (11) Sep 06 (16) Sep 05 (1) Sep 04 (10) Sep 03 (8) Sep 02 (8) Sep 01 (7) Aug 31 (1) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (2) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (8) Aug 25 (5) Aug 24 (5) Aug 23 (6) Aug 22 (7) Aug 21 (6) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (9) Aug 18 (7) Aug 17 (7) Aug 16 (10) Aug 15 (2) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (10) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (8) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (12) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (7) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (14) Jul 31 (7) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (13) Jul 28 (10) Jul 27 (6) Jul 26 (7) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (12) Jul 22 (14) Jul 21 (6) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (12) Jul 18 (9) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (6) Jul 15 (8) Jul 14 (15) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (10) Jul 11 (6) Jul 10 (6) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (6) Jul 07 (9) Jul 06 (15) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (10) Jul 03 (6) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (11) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (8) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (11) Jun 24 (9) Jun 23 (10) Jun 22 (8) Jun 21 (8) Jun 20 (6) Jun 19 (5) Jun 18 (15) Jun 17 (8) Jun 16 (13) Jun 15 (15) Jun 14 (11) Jun 13 (6) Jun 12 (15) Jun 11 (7) Jun 10 (7) Jun 09 (18) Jun 08 (20) Jun 07 (17) Jun 06 (9) Jun 05 (9) Jun 04 (12) Jun 03 (13) Jun 02 (14) Jun 01 (8) May 31 (13) May 30 (8) May 29 (6) May 28 (8) May 27 (17) May 26 (8) May 25 (13) May 24 (12) May 23 (9) May 22 (4) May 21 (4) May 20 (11) May 19 (14) May 18 (6) May 17 (10) May 16 (4) May 15 (5) May 14 (28) May 12 (9) May 11 (17) May 10 (15) May 09 (12) May 08 (5) May 07 (4) May 06 (10) May 05 (8) May 04 (10) May 03 (5) May 02 (6) May 01 (8) Apr 30 (8) Apr 29 (12) Apr 28 (6) Apr 27 (11) Apr 26 (12) Apr 25 (6) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (5) Apr 22 (10) Apr 21 (19) Apr 20 (13) Apr 19 (11) Apr 18 (11) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (12) Apr 15 (11) Apr 14 (17) Apr 13 (6) Apr 12 (16) Apr 11 (10) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (18) Apr 08 (14) Apr 07 (6) Apr 06 (10) Apr 05 (21) Apr 04 (12) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (13) Apr 01 (8) Mar 31 (10) Mar 30 (11) Mar 29 (10) Mar 28 (8) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (12) Mar 25 (15) Mar 24 (10) Mar 23 (12) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (8) Mar 20 (4) Mar 19 (11) Mar 18 (7) Mar 17 (7) Mar 16 (9) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (4) Mar 13 (2) Mar 12 (14) Mar 11 (13) Mar 10 (7) Mar 09 (9) Mar 08 (17) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (7) Mar 05 (13) Mar 04 (10) Mar 03 (14) Mar 02 (12) Mar 01 (18) Feb 28 (8) Feb 27 (2) Feb 26 (9) Feb 25 (13) Feb 24 (17) Feb 23 (13) Feb 22 (12) Feb 21 (11) Feb 20 (11) Feb 19 (16) Feb 18 (17) Feb 17 (15) Feb 16 (15) Feb 15 (15) Feb 14 (10) Feb 13 (8) Feb 12 (10) Feb 11 (15) Feb 10 (11) Feb 09 (13) Feb 08 (10) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (6) Feb 05 (15) Feb 04 (15) Feb 03 (11) Feb 02 (14) Feb 01 (15) Jan 31 (11) Jan 30 (9) Jan 29 (19) Jan 28 (9) Jan 27 (9) Jan 26 (16) Jan 25 (19) Jan 24 (17) Jan 23 (8) Jan 22 (15) Jan 21 (9) Jan 20 (11) Jan 19 (7) Jan 18 (9) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (7) Jan 15 (12) Jan 14 (9) Jan 13 (14) Jan 12 (11) Jan 11 (13) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (8) Jan 08 (20) Jan 07 (11) Jan 06 (11) Jan 05 (8) Jan 04 (14) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (7) Jan 01 (7) Dec 31 (14) Dec 30 (15) Dec 29 (7) Dec 28 (10) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (11) Dec 24 (9) Dec 23 (9) Dec 22 (15) Dec 21 (12) Dec 20 (11) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (16) Dec 17 (6) Dec 16 (12) Dec 15 (14) Dec 14 (11) Dec 13 (10) Dec 12 (6) Dec 11 (10) Dec 10 (17) Dec 09 (11) Dec 08 (12) Dec 07 (16) Dec 06 (11) Dec 05 (5) Dec 04 (12) Dec 03 (15) Dec 02 (15) Dec 01 (12) Nov 30 (16) Nov 29 (7) Nov 28 (11) Nov 27 (13) Nov 26 (13) Nov 25 (16) Nov 24 (15) Nov 23 (10) Nov 22 (10) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (8) Nov 19 (9) Nov 18 (16) Nov 17 (11) Nov 16 (11) Nov 15 (10) Nov 14 (9) Nov 13 (6) Nov 12 (10) Nov 11 (12) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (10) Nov 07 (6) Nov 06 (7) Nov 05 (12) Nov 04 (14) Nov 03 (10) Nov 02 (13) Nov 01 (9) Oct 31 (9) Oct 30 (11) Oct 29 (18) Oct 28 (13) Oct 27 (23) Oct 26 (12) Oct 25 (14) Oct 24 (20) Oct 22 (18) Oct 21 (18) Oct 20 (19) Oct 19 (12) Oct 18 (11) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (18) Oct 15 (8) Oct 14 (11) Oct 13 (9) Oct 12 (13) Oct 11 (6) Oct 10 (7) Oct 09 (27) Oct 08 (14) Oct 07 (10) Oct 06 (9) Oct 05 (7) Oct 04 (10) Oct 03 (6) Oct 02 (9) Oct 01 (13) Sep 30 (12) Sep 29 (13) Sep 28 (8) Sep 27 (9) Sep 26 (8) Sep 25 (14) Sep 24 (4) Sep 23 (14) Sep 22 (20) Sep 21 (11) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (9) Sep 18 (14) Sep 17 (8) Sep 16 (17) Sep 15 (6) Sep 14 (11) Sep 13 (9) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (7) Sep 10 (14) Sep 09 (12) Sep 08 (17) Sep 07 (12) Sep 06 (13) Sep 05 (9) Sep 04 (20) Sep 03 (16) Sep 02 (16) Sep 01 (10) Aug 31 (13) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (9) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (8) Aug 26 (11) Aug 25 (10) Aug 24 (14) Aug 23 (12) Aug 22 (13) Aug 21 (10) Aug 20 (13) Aug 19 (15) Aug 18 (8) Aug 17 (10) Aug 16 (8) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (11) Aug 13 (12) Aug 12 (15) Aug 11 (10) Aug 10 (17) Aug 09 (6) Aug 08 (13) Aug 07 (11) Aug 06 (13) Aug 05 (11) Aug 04 (11) Aug 03 (10) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (6) Jul 31 (10) Jul 30 (21) Jul 29 (14) Jul 28 (13) Jul 27 (16) Jul 26 (10) Jul 25 (15) Jul 24 (17) Jul 23 (15) Jul 22 (15) Jul 21 (19) Jul 20 (17) Jul 19 (9) Jul 18 (7) Jul 17 (26) Jul 16 (18) Jul 15 (20) Jul 14 (16) Jul 13 (19) Jul 12 (11) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (13) Jul 09 (11) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (12) Jul 06 (16) Jul 05 (9) Jul 04 (5) Jul 03 (15) Jul 02 (11) Jul 01 (14) Jun 30 (13) Jun 29 (19) Jun 28 (8) Jun 27 (9) Jun 26 (16) Jun 25 (22) Jun 24 (17) Jun 23 (11) Jun 22 (15) Jun 21 (14) Jun 20 (8) Jun 19 (17) Jun 18 (10) Jun 17 (10) Jun 16 (17) Jun 15 (13) Jun 14 (14) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (13) Jun 11 (15) Jun 10 (25) Jun 09 (10) Jun 08 (23) Jun 07 (14) Jun 06 (20) Jun 05 (10) Jun 04 (11) Jun 03 (12) Jun 02 (21) Jun 01 (14) May 31 (10) May 30 (14) May 29 (8) May 28 (23) May 27 (20) May 26 (16) May 25 (13) May 24 (12) May 23 (10) May 22 (18) May 21 (14) May 20 (12) May 19 (18) May 18 (14) May 17 (13) May 16 (4) May 15 (7) May 14 (16) May 13 (13) May 12 (8) May 11 (18) May 10 (8) May 09 (7) May 08 (13) May 07 (11) May 06 (15) May 05 (18) May 04 (17) May 03 (7) May 02 (5) May 01 (11) Apr 30 (19) Apr 29 (21) Apr 28 (18) Apr 27 (16) Apr 26 (8) Apr 25 (11) Apr 24 (9) Apr 23 (20) Apr 22 (23) Apr 21 (5) Apr 20 (16) Apr 19 (13) Apr 18 (6) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (16) Apr 15 (18) Apr 14 (13) Apr 13 (14) Apr 12 (9) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (16) Apr 09 (14) Apr 08 (12) Apr 07 (18) Apr 06 (7) Apr 05 (11) Apr 04 (9) Apr 03 (19) Apr 02 (17) Apr 01 (16) Mar 31 (16) Mar 30 (22) Mar 29 (16) Mar 28 (16) Mar 27 (19) Mar 26 (31) Mar 25 (25) Mar 24 (26) Mar 23 (27) Mar 22 (22) Mar 21 (22) Mar 20 (13) Mar 19 (21) Mar 18 (20) Mar 17 (24) Mar 16 (18) Mar 15 (9) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (29) Mar 12 (15) Mar 11 (11) Mar 10 (11) Mar 09 (20) Mar 08 (12) Mar 07 (6) Mar 06 (21) Mar 05 (22) Mar 04 (19) Mar 03 (9) Mar 02 (20) Mar 01 (11) Feb 28 (11) Feb 27 (27) Feb 26 (15) Feb 25 (18) Feb 24 (17) Feb 23 (19) Feb 22 (24) Feb 21 (10) Feb 20 (14) Feb 19 (25) Feb 18 (16) Feb 17 (19) Feb 16 (23) Feb 15 (8) Feb 14 (11) Feb 13 (25) Feb 12 (16) Feb 11 (12) Feb 10 (18) Feb 09 (12) Feb 08 (14) Feb 07 (8) Feb 06 (27) Feb 05 (28) Feb 04 (24) Feb 03 (17) Feb 02 (20) Feb 01 (23) Jan 31 (16) Jan 30 (20) Jan 29 (26) Jan 28 (17) Jan 27 (21) Jan 26 (24) Jan 25 (16) Jan 24 (14) Jan 23 (16) Jan 22 (17) Jan 21 (19) Jan 20 (21) Jan 19 (17) Jan 18 (13) Jan 17 (14) Jan 16 (10) Jan 15 (21) Jan 14 (16) Jan 13 (19) Jan 12 (30) Jan 11 (14) Jan 10 (11) Jan 09 (8) Jan 08 (23) Jan 07 (13) Jan 06 (21) Jan 05 (15) Jan 04 (18) Jan 03 (9) Jan 02 (12) Jan 01 (15) Dec 31 (18) Dec 30 (7) Dec 29 (13) Dec 28 (11) Dec 27 (8) Dec 26 (6) Dec 25 (8) Dec 24 (28) Dec 23 (12) Dec 22 (12) Dec 21 (17) Dec 20 (19) Dec 19 (19) Dec 18 (22) Dec 17 (24) Dec 16 (17) Dec 15 (29) Dec 14 (22) Dec 13 (12) Dec 12 (22) Dec 11 (24) Dec 10 (25) Dec 09 (18) Dec 08 (15) Dec 07 (21) Dec 06 (24) Dec 05 (30) Dec 04 (28) Dec 03 (26) Dec 02 (22) Dec 01 (33) Nov 30 (23) Nov 29 (9) Nov 28 (18) Nov 27 (25) Nov 26 (17) Nov 25 (23) Nov 24 (27) Nov 23 (12) Nov 22 (10) Nov 21 (15) Nov 20 (23) Nov 19 (23) Nov 18 (24) Nov 17 (21) Nov 16 (20) Nov 15 (13) Nov 14 (15) Nov 13 (27) Nov 12 (23) Nov 11 (19) Nov 10 (21) Nov 09 (13) Nov 08 (16) Nov 07 (16) Nov 06 (32) Nov 05 (24) Nov 04 (20) Nov 03 (29) Nov 02 (12) Nov 01 (15) Oct 31 (20) Oct 30 (22) Oct 29 (27) Oct 28 (20) Oct 27 (23) Oct 26 (21) Oct 25 (15) Oct 24 (23) Oct 23 (26) Oct 22 (27) Oct 21 (28) Oct 20 (24) Oct 19 (13) Oct 18 (9) Oct 17 (30) Oct 16 (8) Oct 15 (20) Oct 14 (14) Oct 13 (17) Oct 12 (16) Oct 11 (8) Oct 10 (19) Oct 09 (22) Oct 08 (16) Oct 07 (18) Oct 06 (23) Oct 05 (7) Oct 04 (15) Oct 03 (21) Oct 02 (17) Oct 01 (22) Sep 30 (25) Sep 29 (20) Sep 28 (17) Sep 27 (13) Sep 26 (20) Sep 25 (15) Sep 24 (24) Sep 23 (23) Sep 22 (18) Sep 21 (20) Sep 20 (11) Sep 19 (24) Sep 18 (25) Sep 17 (25) Sep 16 (19) Sep 15 (21) Sep 14 (15) Sep 13 (10) Sep 12 (23) Sep 11 (23) Sep 10 (25) Sep 09 (25) Sep 08 (17) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (17) Sep 05 (14) Sep 04 (24) Sep 03 (16) Sep 02 (11) Sep 01 (19) Aug 31 (20) Aug 30 (11) Aug 29 (24) Aug 28 (24) Aug 27 (16) Aug 26 (26) Aug 25 (21) Aug 24 (15) Aug 23 (19) Aug 22 (15) Aug 21 (25) Aug 20 (27) Aug 19 (19) Aug 18 (24) Aug 17 (14) Aug 16 (10) Aug 15 (15) Aug 14 (16) Aug 13 (21) Aug 12 (30) Aug 11 (19) Aug 10 (8) Aug 09 (12) Aug 08 (17) Aug 07 (21) Aug 06 (26) Aug 05 (23) Aug 04 (21) Aug 03 (12) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (19) Jul 31 (21) Jul 30 (25) Jul 29 (29) Jul 28 (23) Jul 27 (17) Jul 26 (11) Jul 25 (21) Jul 24 (14) Jul 23 (15) Jul 22 (19) Jul 21 (15) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (10) Jul 18 (15) Jul 17 (22) Jul 16 (18) Jul 15 (21) Jul 14 (20) Jul 13 (7) Jul 12 (9) Jul 11 (29) Jul 10 (19) Jul 09 (17) Jul 08 (26) Jul 07 (21) Jul 06 (18) Jul 05 (14) Jul 04 (20) Jul 03 (17) Jul 02 (24) Jul 01 (23) Jun 30 (23) Jun 29 (18) Jun 28 (16) Jun 27 (16) Jun 26 (17) Jun 25 (23) Jun 24 (32) Jun 23 (29) Jun 22 (8) Jun 21 (17) Jun 20 (25) Jun 19 (28) Jun 18 (19) Jun 17 (25) Jun 16 (23) Jun 15 (9) Jun 14 (11) Jun 13 (14) Jun 12 (22) Jun 11 (19) Jun 10 (17) Jun 09 (15) Jun 08 (16) Jun 07 (7) Jun 06 (29) Jun 05 (27) Jun 04 (24) Jun 03 (22) Jun 02 (22) Jun 01 (13) May 31 (9) May 30 (26) May 29 (19) May 28 (15) May 27 (15) May 26 (23) May 25 (13) May 24 (12) May 23 (24) May 22 (13) May 21 (21) May 20 (18) May 19 (16) May 18 (7) May 17 (12) May 16 (25) May 15 (24) May 14 (23) May 13 (19) May 12 (17) May 11 (8) May 10 (6) May 09 (14) May 08 (21) May 07 (26) May 06 (14) May 05 (14) May 04 (3) May 03 (3) May 02 (24) May 01 (13) Apr 30 (15) Apr 29 (24) Apr 28 (24) Apr 27 (11) Apr 26 (8) Apr 25 (13) Apr 24 (27) Apr 23 (15) Apr 22 (21) Apr 21 (19) Apr 20 (17) Apr 19 (8) Apr 18 (20) Apr 17 (27) Apr 16 (27) Apr 15 (21) Apr 14 (8) Apr 13 (8) Apr 12 (7) Apr 11 (7) Apr 10 (22) Apr 09 (15) Apr 08 (15) Apr 07 (17) Apr 06 (14) Apr 05 (5) Apr 04 (12) Apr 03 (19) Apr 02 (17) Apr 01 (19) Mar 31 (25) Mar 30 (13) Mar 29 (9) Mar 28 (16) Mar 27 (23) Mar 26 (22) Mar 25 (17) Mar 24 (25) Mar 23 (16) Mar 22 (13) Mar 21 (24) Mar 20 (27) Mar 19 (20) Mar 18 (24) Mar 17 (17) Mar 16 (11) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (20) Mar 13 (28) Mar 12 (30) Mar 11 (20) Mar 10 (21) Mar 09 (12) Mar 08 (8) Mar 07 (17) Mar 06 (20) Mar 05 (19) Mar 04 (15) Mar 03 (17) Mar 02 (8) Mar 01 (12) Feb 28 (16) Feb 27 (17) Feb 26 (8) Feb 25 (23) Feb 24 (15) Feb 23 (8) Feb 22 (10) Feb 21 (24) Feb 20 (14) Feb 19 (24) Feb 18 (19) Feb 17 (27) Feb 16 (13) Feb 15 (11) Feb 14 (15) Feb 13 (13) Feb 12 (13) Feb 11 (21) Feb 10 (16) Feb 09 (15) Feb 08 (10) Feb 07 (17) Feb 06 (21) Feb 05 (17) Feb 04 (14) Feb 03 (23) Feb 02 (5) Feb 01 (8) Jan 31 (17) Jan 30 (22) Jan 29 (23) Jan 28 (10) Jan 27 (24) Jan 26 (12) Jan 25 (9) Jan 24 (12) Jan 23 (19) Jan 22 (19) Jan 21 (14) Jan 20 (21) Jan 19 (12) Jan 18 (8) Jan 17 (20) Jan 16 (14) Jan 15 (23) Jan 14 (8) Jan 13 (20) Jan 12 (9) Jan 11 (7) Jan 10 (18) Jan 09 (11) Jan 08 (18) Jan 07 (13) Jan 06 (12) Jan 05 (12) Jan 04 (11) Jan 03 (10) Jan 02 (9) Jan 01 (9) Dec 31 (12) Dec 30 (11) Dec 29 (6) Dec 28 (9) Dec 27 (13) Dec 26 (15) Dec 25 (8) Dec 24 (6) Dec 23 (8) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (6) Dec 20 (14) Dec 19 (17) Dec 18 (14) Dec 17 (14) Dec 16 (13) Dec 15 (9) Dec 14 (9) Dec 13 (11) Dec 12 (16) Dec 11 (18) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (24) Dec 08 (11) Dec 07 (19) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (26) Dec 04 (15) Dec 03 (20) Dec 02 (17) Dec 01 (11) Nov 30 (10) Nov 29 (18) Nov 28 (21) Nov 27 (10) Nov 26 (22) Nov 25 (16) Nov 24 (12) Nov 23 (8) Nov 22 (18) Nov 21 (9) Nov 20 (17) Nov 19 (16) Nov 18 (16) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (9) Nov 15 (21) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (20) Nov 12 (16) Nov 11 (13) Nov 10 (9) Nov 09 (10) Nov 08 (16) Nov 07 (15) Nov 06 (18) Nov 05 (19) Nov 04 (16) Nov 03 (11) Nov 02 (5) Nov 01 (17) Oct 31 (17) Oct 30 (21) Oct 29 (9) Oct 28 (16) Oct 27 (6) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (16) Oct 24 (18) Oct 23 (14) Oct 22 (17) Oct 21 (10) Oct 20 (6) Oct 19 (8) Oct 18 (11) Oct 17 (12) Oct 16 (14) Oct 15 (19) Oct 14 (15) Oct 13 (11) Oct 12 (9) Oct 11 (10) Oct 10 (23) Oct 09 (13) Oct 08 (15) Oct 07 (20) Oct 06 (13) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (16) Oct 03 (17) Oct 02 (17) Oct 01 (20) Sep 30 (17) Sep 29 (9) Sep 28 (8) Sep 27 (14) Sep 26 (20) Sep 25 (19) Sep 24 (13) Sep 23 (11) Sep 22 (9) Sep 21 (5) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (21) Sep 18 (12) Sep 17 (20) Sep 16 (16) Sep 15 (10) Sep 14 (6) Sep 13 (18) Sep 12 (14) Sep 11 (24) Sep 10 (17) Sep 09 (16) Sep 08 (16) Sep 07 (10) Sep 06 (20) Sep 05 (13) Sep 04 (23) Sep 03 (14) Sep 02 (12) Sep 01 (11) Aug 31 (11) Aug 30 (13) Aug 29 (18) Aug 28 (14) Aug 27 (21) Aug 26 (10) Aug 25 (8) Aug 24 (10) Aug 23 (17) Aug 22 (15) Aug 21 (14) Aug 20 (20) Aug 19 (20) Aug 18 (7) Aug 17 (9) Aug 16 (11) Aug 15 (12) Aug 14 (14) Aug 13 (19) Aug 12 (14) Aug 11 (6) Aug 10 (12) Aug 09 (7) Aug 08 (18) Aug 07 (16) Aug 06 (16) Aug 05 (20) Aug 04 (12) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (12) Aug 01 (14) Jul 31 (16) Jul 30 (16) Jul 29 (11) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (9) Jul 26 (17) Jul 25 (20) Jul 24 (17) Jul 23 (11) Jul 22 (18) Jul 21 (7) Jul 20 (10) Jul 19 (14) Jul 18 (11) Jul 17 (15) Jul 16 (12) Jul 15 (10) Jul 14 (8) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (17) Jul 11 (18) Jul 10 (16) Jul 09 (13) Jul 08 (10) Jul 07 (12) Jul 06 (8) Jul 05 (16) Jul 04 (14) Jul 03 (17) Jul 02 (13) Jul 01 (16) Jun 30 (19) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (19) Jun 27 (21) Jun 26 (27) Jun 25 (23) Jun 24 (23) Jun 23 (12) Jun 22 (9) Jun 21 (18) Jun 20 (15) Jun 19 (24) Jun 18 (21) Jun 17 (13) Jun 16 (9) Jun 15 (9) Jun 14 (18) Jun 13 (24) Jun 12 (18) Jun 11 (23) Jun 10 (25) Jun 09 (24) Jun 08 (27) Jun 07 (5) Jun 06 (25) Jun 05 (30) Jun 04 (23) Jun 03 (22) Jun 02 (16) Jun 01 (17) May 31 (18) May 30 (19) May 29 (17) May 28 (23) May 27 (15) May 26 (10) May 25 (19) May 24 (16) May 23 (16) May 22 (27) May 21 (20) May 20 (26) May 19 (6) May 18 (8) May 17 (20) May 16 (8) May 15 (18) May 14 (5) May 13 (21) May 12 (9) May 11 (8) May 10 (12) May 09 (18) May 08 (11) May 07 (27) May 06 (12) May 05 (16) May 04 (19) May 03 (14) May 02 (18) May 01 (18) Apr 30 (25) Apr 29 (27) Apr 28 (11) Apr 27 (10) Apr 26 (18) Apr 25 (10) Apr 24 (29) Apr 23 (29) Apr 22 (14) Apr 21 (15) Apr 20 (20) Apr 19 (22) Apr 18 (16) Apr 17 (32) Apr 16 (12) Apr 15 (21) Apr 14 (21) Apr 13 (15) Apr 12 (13) Apr 11 (14) Apr 10 (16) Apr 09 (20) Apr 08 (36) Apr 07 (22) Apr 06 (11) Apr 05 (28) Apr 04 (20) Apr 03 (29) Apr 02 (32) Apr 01 (18) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (15) Mar 28 (22) Mar 27 (24) Mar 26 (17) Mar 25 (17) Mar 24 (13) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (15) Mar 20 (18) Mar 19 (19) Mar 18 (16) Mar 17 (10) Mar 16 (6) Mar 15 (18) Mar 14 (24) Mar 13 (18) Mar 12 (18) Mar 11 (17) Mar 10 (13) Mar 09 (12) Mar 08 (18) Mar 07 (25) Mar 06 (16) Mar 05 (16) Mar 04 (22) Mar 03 (17) Mar 02 (6) Mar 01 (23) Feb 29 (19) Feb 28 (25) Feb 27 (26) Feb 26 (23) Feb 25 (12) Feb 24 (13) Feb 23 (15) Feb 22 (26) Feb 21 (31) Feb 20 (12) Feb 19 (21) Feb 18 (15) Feb 17 (10) Feb 16 (15) Feb 15 (19) Feb 14 (15) Feb 13 (25) Feb 12 (20) Feb 11 (9) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (28) Feb 08 (20) Feb 07 (22) Feb 06 (20) Feb 05 (19) Feb 04 (14) Feb 03 (16) Feb 02 (28) Feb 01 (37) Jan 31 (27) Jan 30 (31) Jan 29 (18) Jan 28 (14) Jan 27 (10) Jan 26 (18) Jan 25 (26) Jan 24 (34) Jan 23 (21) Jan 22 (21) Jan 21 (18) Jan 20 (18) Jan 19 (18) Jan 18 (26) Jan 17 (24) Jan 16 (23) Jan 15 (30) Jan 14 (20) Jan 13 (18) Jan 12 (24) Jan 11 (11) Jan 10 (23) Jan 09 (22) Jan 08 (17) Jan 07 (17) Jan 06 (9) Jan 05 (18) Jan 04 (15) Jan 03 (19) Jan 02 (14) Jan 01 (6) Dec 31 (12) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (15) Dec 28 (11) Dec 27 (7) Dec 26 (10) Dec 25 (16) Dec 24 (13) Dec 23 (16) Dec 22 (11) Dec 21 (26) Dec 20 (28) Dec 19 (14) Dec 18 (25) Dec 17 (23) Dec 16 (19) Dec 15 (22) Dec 14 (38) Dec 13 (26) Dec 12 (25) Dec 11 (27) Dec 10 (31) Dec 09 (15) Dec 08 (30) Dec 07 (31) Dec 06 (27) Dec 05 (38) Dec 04 (25) Dec 03 (27) Dec 02 (15) Dec 01 (36) Nov 30 (23) Nov 29 (17) Nov 28 (23) Nov 27 (13) Nov 26 (16) Nov 25 (14) Nov 24 (18) Nov 23 (21) Nov 22 (21) Nov 21 (24) Nov 20 (20) Nov 19 (23) Nov 18 (17) Nov 17 (17) Nov 16 (34) Nov 15 (25) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (21) Nov 12 (18) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (12) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (4) Oct 29 (1) Oct 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1) MoMA announced that the NTT DOCOMOs original set of 176 emoji was added to the MoMA's collection. Developed under the supervision of Shigetaka Kurita and released for cell phones in 1999, these 12 x 12 pixel humble masterpieces of design planted the seeds for the explosive growth of a new visual language. From its founding in 1991 by the Japanese national carrier Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, NTT DOCOMO was at the forefront of the burgeoning field of mobile communications. In keeping with Japans longstanding pioneering role in technological adoption, Japanese tech companies, and NTT DOCOMO in particular, were ahead of the curve in incorporating mobile Internet capabilities into cell phones. Early mobile devices, however, were rudimentary and visually unwieldy, capable of receiving only simple information about weather forecasts and basic text messaging. For the revolutionary i-mode mobile Internet software NTT DOCOMO was developing, a more compelling interface was needed. Shigetaka Kurita, who was a member of the i-mode development team, proposed a better way to incorporate images in the limited visual space available on cell phone screens. Shigetaka Kurita. Emoji (original set of 176), 1999, Digital image, Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc. Image 2016 NTT DOCOMO Released in 1999, Kuritas 176 emoji (picture characters) were instantly successful and copied by rival companies in Japan. Twelve years later, when a far larger set was released for Apples iPhone, emoji burst into a new form of global digital communication. Emoji tap into a long tradition of expressive visual language. Images and patterns have been incorporated within text since antiquity. From ancient examples to, more recently, the work of creative typesetters, these early specimens functioned as a means of augmenting both the expressive content of the text and the overall aesthetic quality of the printed page and in some cases the icons were the language. With the advent of email in the 1970s and the subsequent evolution of concise, almost telegraphic correspondence, the conveyance of tone and emotion became both harder and more urgently important. Shigetaka Kurita. Emoji (original set of 176), 1999, Digital image, Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc. Image 2016 NTT DOCOMO Beginning in the 1980s, computer users in the West began composing emoticons to create simple faces out of preexisting glyphs the ubiquitous smiley face :) is an example. In Japan, the larger character set necessitated by the language allowed for even more complicated images, giving rise to kaomoji, or picture faces, such as the now common shruggy: \_(?)_/ . When combined with text, these simple images allow for more nuanced intonation. Filling in for body language, emoticons, kaomoji, and emoji reassert the human in the deeply impersonal, abstract space of electronic communication. The transition from desktop to mobile platforms necessitated a further rethinking of the customs long associated with written correspondence. This was especially true in Japan, where the cultural necessity of exacting salutations and complex honorifics made early devices impractical for widespread adoption. Emoji were an ingenious shortcut around this and other problems. The release of NTT DOCOMOs emoji contributed to a radical alteration in the way the Japanese communicated through mobile phones. Shigetaka Kurita. Emoji (original set of 176), 1999, Digital image, Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc. Image 2016 NTT DOCOMO Working within the software and hardware limitations of the late 1990s, Kurita created his emoji on a small grid of 12 x 12 pixels. Drawing on sources as varied as manga, Zapf dingbats, and commonly used emoticons, Kurita designed a set of 176 emoji that included illustrations of weather phenomena, pictograms like the , and a range of expressive faces. While successful, emoji remained a largely Japanese concern until 2010, when they were translated into Unicode. This development meant that a user in Japan could send an emoji to a user in France with the same basic image being represented on both ends. Google included emoji in its Gmail as early as in 2006, but it wasnt until 2011, when Apple added emoji functionality to its iOS messaging app, that the emoji explosion began. Shigetaka Kuritas emoji are powerful manifestations of the capacity of design to alter human behavior. The design of a chair dictates our posture; so, too, does the format of electronic communication shape our voice. MoMAs collection is filled with examples of design innovations that radically altered our world, from telephones to personal computers to the @ symbol. Todays emoji (the current Unicode set numbers nearly 1,800) have evolved far beyond Kuritas original 176 designs for NTT DOCOMO. However, the DNA for todays set is clearly present in Kuritas humble, pixelated, seminal emoji. Shigetaka Kurita. Emoji (original set of 176), 1999, Digital image, Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc. Image 2016 NTT DOCOMO Emoji continue to grow in use across the world. To get a sense of just how rapidly theyre enmeshing themselves in contemporary discourse, check out Matthew Rothenbergs bewildering emojitracker, which documents emoji use on Twitter in real time. Or head to San Francisco for the first ever Emojicon, a celebration of all things emoji (at which I will be speaking). Lastly, a forthcoming installation at MoMA, opening in early December, will further elaborate on the evolution of emoji and give visitors an opportunity to see them in a new light (and no doubt inspire a few selfies). Top image: Shigetaka Kurita. Emoji (original set of 176), 1999, Digital image, Gift of NTT DOCOMO, Inc. Image 2016 NTT DOCOMO > via MoMA I dipped a bird recently possibly a lifer. While crossing Gramos Mountain in northern Greece, a Dendrocopos woodpecker flew over the road and landed in a pine tree. First I noticed a red cap a male, then striped flanks and pale-red undertail, but couldnt see its wing because some part of the bird remained hidden by a branch at any given time. I had two possibilities, an uncommon Middle Spotted or scarce White-backed Woodpecker which would have been a lifer for me. It appeared big enough for a White-backed, and yet, I didnt see it properly! So, I wrote to my friend Giorgos Spiridakis, a bird guide living by Kerkini Lake, further east, if he could help me with this elusive woodpecker. His answer was something like we can try, but that is the hardest one to find. And a week later, in early October I found myself at Kerkini. Giorgos is driving up the forested Belles Mountain. The autumn has come earlier this year, he says, at this time last year tree crowns were much greener. I am not complaining. I am mesmerised by the mountain. One Grey-headed Woodpecker flies across the road a promising start. At first, the road is paved, but as soon as the tarmac ends, the tracks become decorated by hunters in orange vests. Its the boar hunting season. The higher we go, by the fields of now coppery-red ferns, the cooler it becomes, with ever stronger winds. We started from the village at, perhaps 50 m a.s.l. and went all the way up to one of the lower ridges at 1600 m a.s.l. The beech forests were dense, landscapes stunning, only that wind Birds were hiding from it, too, with mostly tits (Coal, Long-tailed and Great), a few thrushes (Mistle, Song and Eurasian Blackbird) and numerous Common Chaffinches showing. A short stop at the wind swept ridge and a hasty retreat to a lower elevation pine forest. While field guides usually mention that the White-backed Woodpecker requires large tracts of mature deciduous forests with high percentage of dead trees and fallen timber, they fail to say that these peckers are occasionally found in conifers, too, provided there are enough dead trees. Dirt tracks are in good condition at first. We stop here and there, trying to tell if the double knock comes from a pecker or a tree squeaking in the wind. The second turned out to be true. The soil is disturbed by foraging boars (and there is not a single shot from those hunters). A ditch in the middle of the tracks, a fallen rock here and there and afterwards the road becomes overgrown with ferns and young pines. Too much is too much, it may be risky to continue and we turn back, down the mountain. The WBW remained elusive like a bear (for me at least a month ago, Georgos met a mother with two cubs, took a few photos, then dropped down and played dead). By the cliffs we find several Eurasian Crag-Martins and a consolation species a family of Golden Eagles in the air! Going even lower, we add a Cirl Bunting and a Syrian Woodpecker. Enough of the mountains. The next morning is for the Kerkini Lake, one of the youngest national parks of Greece, protected only ten years ago, in 2006 and inhabited by 11 amphibian, 27 reptilian, 44 mammal and 312 bird species. I opt for the bird richest section of the lake, visible from the eastern dyke. Cows and water buffaloes grazing the dried up lakebed under the imposing shadow of Mt. Belles. The water is quite shallow and most of the lake is covered by Greater Flamingoes (cover photo), about 1,500 and likely more. Some are far away, some much closer to the shore feeding in the shallows. I observed them many times, but this is the first time to observe them feeding from such a close range, with those dancing leg moves. Among them are Dalmatian Pelicans, so big and lazy. A movement in green and yellowish leaves by the side of the road a Common Chiffchaff, one of those very few European birds that I simply cannot describe. What to say? They have an eyestripe and? Small and leaf-green. There are three species of which two closely fit that description, and if you do not see them well, the third can be equally confusing! Soon, we are to encounter Willow Warblers, too. And for every bird we have seen, there were at least 3 more that we only heard whistling in the bushes (its Serbian name can be translated as the Whistler). We are approaching a large mudbar with some more Dalmatian Pelicans and a flock of geese dark, round-headed and short-billed, elongated white blaze on their faces threatened and declining Lesser White-fronted Geese! Should I add, a lifer, too. And not just 22 (that many I dipped on one earlier occasion) but all 95 of them! This species population has decreased rapidly owing to levels of hunting on the migration stopover and wintering sites, as well as habitat destruction, mostly as a result of land cultivation. Eurasian Spoonbills are foraging, some of them literally running through the water chasing some fast food. Scattered Pied Avocets, Spotted Redshanks in good numbers, cows and water buffaloes grazing, two Black Storks, bare mudbar and a perched eagle! Large, unicoloured Lesser Spotted, perhaps? That was my initial ID, it is a Clanga type eagle and the Lesser was the one I commonly find here. I digiscoped one photo that, when enlarged on my computer screen, made me think could it be the Greater Spotted Eagle? After all, it is rather bulky and very dark and not quite Lesser, so I later checked with Giorgos who confirmed my suspicion the Greater it is, my first in Europe. The Greater Spotted Eagle is a threatened species. Besides the usual threats such as habitat destruction, disturbance, poaching and electrocution, this species suffers much more from one quite surprising threat the hybridisation with the closely related Lesser Spotted Eagle. In some European countries mixed pairs can constitute 50% or even more of Greater Spotted pairs. It remains unclear whether this represents a new phenomenon, but the Lesser is far more numerous than Greater in the overlap zone, and the range of LSE appears to be spreading east into the range of GSE. Further roadside birds include a few lessers the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and the Lesser Whitethroat and quite a few greats Great White Pelicans next to each other in a pinkish haze in the distance, at least twice as numerous as Dalmatian cousins. One of the last birds on that stretch of shoreline was a young Peregrine, just prior the coffee time. Kerkini Factfile Species list: 312; Best site: the eastern embankment NP authorities http://kerkini.gr/eng/ I stayed at Limneo Guest House www.limneokerkini.gr/en And birded with Giorgos Spiridakis (@: george-spiridakis@hotmail.com) MIAMI, FL, October 27, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The entrepreneur, originally from Spain, has recently relocated to Miami as he looks to establish his business in the U.S. As a French national, Eric Martin is excited at the prospect of building a business relationship and exchanging ideas with one of the direct marketing industry's Regional Directors. "One of the things that I love most about this industry is the incredible people I have been able to meet and share stories with," said Eric Martin, CEO at Florida Business Consulting. Unlike many other industries where companies and individuals are very focused on their own success, the direct marketing and sales industry is unique because of its copy and paste mentality. "I admire the industry's dedication to helping to elevate and celebrate the success of others. There is a quote by Robert Ingersoll which sums up the philosophy of the direct marketing and sales industry; 'we rise by lifting others'," said Eric Martin. About Florida Business Consulting: http://www.floridabusinessconsulting.net/about.html Here, the direct marketing and sales firm have outlined top tips for building solid and long lasting business relationships. 1. Be Authentic Authenticity is vital when building relationships. At Florida Business Consulting they state that when building relationships, it is important to be yourself. "The best relationships will be built when you find someone that you have a natural connection with and feel easy to communicate with; that can only be done when you are being authentic," said Eric Martin. 2. Identify Shared Goals and Values There will be times when people do not always share the same point of view, however, sharing goals and values is an important element for forming a strong business relationship. The most successful entrepreneurs and business owners seek out people who share similar goals and values and therefore have a common interest and a shared vision for the future. By sharing this interest it can help the relationship to strengthen and prosper. 3. Relationships are about give and take To form a strong business relationship it is important to offer something before asking for anything in return. "Sharing experience and expertise will build the foundation for trust that underlies long-lasting relationships," said Eric Martin. 4. Form a Personal relationship Business relationships can be strengthened and solidified by getting to know someone on a personal level. "If you really want to get to know someone, talk more personally one-on-one, ideally away from the office environment. Take someone for a drink or go for a coffee," said Eric Martin. In business, building strong relationships can have a dramatic effect on success. At Florida Business Consulting they argue that forming good business relationships can accelerate someone's journey to success. Based in Miami, Florida Business Consulting specializes in bringing brands and consumers closer together through face-to-face marketing. Working on their clients' behalf, the firm conducts thorough market research to pinpoint the most promising markets for their clients' brands. Then, after identifying key consumer groups the firm delivers their clients' campaigns directly to consumers, opening up the opportunity for one-on-one communication. At Florida Business Consulting they promote the need for mentors and networking and they encourage their employees to take advantage of every networking opportunity and to build relationships with fellow professionals, which will help to progress their business journey. SOURCE: https://smallbiztrends.com/2015/06/build-lasting-business-relationships.html For more information about Florida Business Consulting, Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook # # # BOSTON, MA, October 27, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- One third of U.S. school children are having problems reading, and that's something that reading specialist Dr. Lorna Kaufman does not take lightly. During the month of October, National Learning Disabilities Month, Dr. Kaufman has been lecturing parents about the need to get independent evaluations for children who are having difficulty learning to read. "You do not want recommendations based on the budgetary and staffing constraints of the school system," cautions Dr. Kaufman, a developmental psychologist, reading expert, and past president of the Massachusetts Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. Instead, she advises, "Get a comprehensive, diagnostic evaluation from an independent specialist--someone who will make recommendations based on your child's individual needs. You must have an understanding of your child's cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses." Public school systems, unfortunately, are ill-equipped to help, argues Dr. Kaufman. Getting your child reading assistance that results in meaningful improvement requires that you advocate for your child. "Your child's independent evaluation will form the backbone of your advocacy plan." "Most reading problems can be prevented," explains Kaufman, who has also written a book, Smart Kid, Can't Read: Five Steps Any Parent Can Take to Get Help (Ash Point, paper, $14.95). "We're spending billions of dollars on a problem we know how to prevent." The problem is inertia on the part of the very people who are supposed to be solving this problem: school systems and the colleges of education training our teachers. The good news: armed with the information Dr. Kaufman provides, children can get the help they need before it's too late. Smart Kid, Can't Read offers parents--and grandparents--"everything they could possibly need to help them become effective advocates for their children," says the author. Kaufman, who has worked with parents and school systems for thirty years, draws upon a career's worth of experience and smarts to create a guide full of step-by-step advice. From red flags for reading problems to why schools don't act soon enough--and how to get them to--is laid out cleanly and clearly in language accessible enough that anyone can follow. "Over the years parents of children I've worked with have urged me to write this book," says Kaufman, who speaks regularly on efforts for improving reading instruction in the nation's schools. "I know the ins and outs of the reading remediation system very, very, well. Let's just say I've been in the trenches." In Smart Kid, Can't Read, Dr. Kaufman distills her considerable expertise into five critical steps for parents to take in order to get their kids the help they need: Step 1: Trust your judgment and act as soon you suspect there's a problem with your child's reading. Don't wait. Catching and fixing reading problems early is the key. Step 2: Find out precisely what your child needs. Make sure to get an independent expert diagnosis. Step 3: Learn as much as you can about the reading the process. The more you know about The ABCs of reading, the more powerful an advocate you'll be for your child. Step 4: Know your legal rights. You'd be surprised how effective you can be when you know the special education laws that are on your side. Step 5: Advocate for your child. From networking with other parents to organizing a team, Smart Kid, Can't Read shows you what you must do and when you must do it. Dr. Kaufman's book offers easy-to-administer tests that parents can give their children to help decide whether a reading evaluation is warranted. "Most reading problems can be prevented with explicit, systematic, phonics-based instruction in the early grades, says Kaufman. "The tragedy is what happens if the problems aren't fixed in time." Fixing them in time is what Smart Kid, Can't Read is all about. "Children whose parents advocate on their behalf receive more help and better quality help than children whose parents do not advocate on their behalf." When you're fighting for your child, it's good to have a reading expert on your side. Lorna Kaufman, PhD is a Boston-based developmental psychologist specializing in the psychological and educational evaluations of children, adolescents, and adults. She has taught in the Graduate Language and Literacy Program at Simmons College and in the School of Education at Wheelock College. Dr. Kaufman has worked in leading clinics including Boston Children's Hospital, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, and the Learning Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In addition to her private practice, she writes and lectures regularly on reading and reading disorders. Dr. Kaufman and her colleagues, Sandra Doran, EdD and Leigh Leveen, are cofounders of www.SmartKidCantRead.com, which provides training and resources leading to successful reading experiences for all children. # # # Owen Bennett-Jones in the LRB: Should women carry out knife attacks? In the September issue of its Inspire Guide, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula argued against it. In October an article in the Islamic State publication Rumiyah (Rome) took the opposite view. Having discussed possible targets a drunken kafir on a quiet road returning home after a night out, or an average kafir working his night shift the magazine praised three women who, on 11 September, were shot dead as they stabbed two officers in a Mombasa police station. After some years of mutual respect, tensions between the two organisations came to a head in 2013 when they tussled for control of the Syrian jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra. The arguments were so sharp that the al-Qaida leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, eventually said he no longer recognised the existence of the Islamic State in Syria. The former IS spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani hit back, saying that al-Qaida was not only pacifist excessively interested in popularity, mass movements and propaganda but an axe supporting the destruction of the caliphate. The disagreements reflect contrasting approaches. Bin Laden with decreasing success urged his followers to keep their focus on the far enemy, the United States: Islamic State has always been more interested in the near enemy autocratic regimes in the Middle East. As IS sees it, by prioritising military activity over al-Qaidas endless theorising, and by successfully confronting the regimes in Iraq and Syria, it was able to liberate territory, establish a caliphate, restore Muslim pride and enforce correct religious practice. For al-Qaida its been the other way round: correct individual religious understanding will lead people to jihad and, in time, result in the defeat of the West followed by the rapid collapse of puppet regimes in the Middle East. Al-Qaida worries that establishing a caliphate too soon risks its early destruction by Western forces. In 2012, Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, the leader of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, advised his forces in Mali to adopt a gradualist approach. By applying Sharia too rapidly, he said, they had led people to reject religion. Islamic States strategy in Iraq and Syria has always been more aggressive. When it captured a town it would typically give residents three days to comply with all its edicts, after which strict punishments would be administered. Unlike al-Qaida, IS is not concerned about alienating Muslim opinion. It places more reliance on takfir: the idea that any Muslim who fails to follow correct religious practice is a non-believer and deserves to die. In 2014 it pronounced the entire moderate opposition in Syria apostates and said they should all be killed. Islamic State has killed many more Sunnis than al-Qaida. But the most important point of difference between the two concerns the Shias. For bin Laden and Zawahiri anti-Shia violence, in addition to being a distraction, undermines the jihadists popularity. Islamic State has a different view, in large part because it draws support by encouraging a Sunni sense of victimhood. Caelainn Hogan at Harper's Magazine: On a gray Sunday in Belfast, police stood cross-armed in front of a line of armored jeeps, primed like racehorses in the stocks. They formed a barricade across a wide shopping street in the center of the city, starting at Poundworld and cutting off the KFC from the Disney Store one door down. The street was an eventual meeting point of the famous Falls and Shankill roads, the thoroughfares of West Belfasts predominantly Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods, divided by a looming peace wall. A solid concrete barricade topped with metal fencing, the wall runs for miles along the lonely bend of Cupar Way, rising higher than a double-decker bus. One of many peace lines built up more than four decades ago to prevent clashes between the two communities, on one side of the wall, fenced-off estates fly the English Cross of Saint George, while on the other, houses hang the Irish tricolor. Spike-topped security gates stand at the point at which the peace line crosses Lanark Way, traffic streaming through during the day. But the gates still shut automatically at designated times, barricading one side from the other. That morning, Khaled Berakdar, his head and face freshly shaven, nipped down a back alley lane, making his way through empty streets and past the line of police, to meet his younger brother Ibrahim. With slicked-back hair and a thick beard, Ibrahim was sporting a rubber bracelet that read Syria. They embraced before making their way towards the Falls, where a crowd was mustering for a parade in honor of the Irish uprising against the British. more here. Marin native Sinead Kennedy has taught shark diving, worked with Malala Yousafzai, and run the country's biggest food truck gatheringand somehow she still finds time to surf. Kennedy's resume is as varied as her interests. With a degree in marine biology from UC Santa Barbara, she did ocean-related work in South Africa and Australia before moving to New York to work as a digital strategist. Kennedy created the digital strategy and branding for a non-profit you may have heard of, The Malala Fund, while also managing the social media for the 19-year-old girls' education activist and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Malala Yousafzai herself. In addition to her career endeavors, Sinead is a human-rights activist. She was a community leader for LGBT causes and has worked with a number of nonprofits including founding Project SAFE an organization in South Africa that holds workshops in rural areas to teach women how to build solar cookers. Currently, Sinead works as the director of marketing for Off the Grid, which organizes food truck events around the Bay Area. We spoke with Sinead to get the inside scoop on her past and current work, her typical weekend uniform and one of her craziest travel stories. 7x7: Why work in South Africa and Australia? SK: I took time off during college and went to South Africa to study great white sharks. I went back to UCSB to finish my degree, but that experience really changed what I wanted to do. I was certain that I wanted to study oceans and sharks, which led me to Australia after college where I worked on the Great Barrier Reef. I only had $600 to my name, and spent half of that on the flight out there, so it was a life-changing experience just trying to survive. After working on the Reef for while, I moved to Sydney to be a part of city life and started working at an aquarium teaching shark diving. I spent two years living in Australia. After that, I traveled around Southeast Asia and then I moved back to South Africa to start a nonprofit. What made you decide to change careers and become a digital strategist upon moving back to the U.S.? At the core of everything I've wanted to do is this big sense of adventure. I was really involved in politics in college, so when I moved to New York I knew I wanted to get back into politics (plus, there's only so much you can do with sharks.) My passion is to persuade people on progressive issues and I knew I really wanted to do this through running campaigns on a digital scale. What has been your favorite position so far? Everything I've done has been so different and fulfilling in different ways, it's hard to compare. I would say, however, that being a senator in the student government at UCSB was my most impactful position because I was young and it trained me to be a really great leader. It taught me different ways of working with people and put me in a position to get involved in political campaigns such as queer politics. What was most surprising about working with Malala and for the Malala fund? When I was working for the Malala Fund I worked a lot with Malala's dad. Malala is an amazing and wonderful human being, and at the core of this is her father. Her father is a kind and passionate person. He's a real feminist. He's the reason that Malala is who she is. Her mom is more conservative and doesn't speak very much. Malala's dad really raised her and they're very similar people. It was a really humbling experience to work with them and I learned a lot about Pakistan as a country. What is some of the work you've done to support LGBT rights? Most of the work I did was around same-sex marriage. In 2008, I was doing work around the Prop 8 campaign in California. We thought we were going to win it and the fact that we lost pushed me to work harder. After that I was involved in state-by-state work, trying to win the vote by changing people's minds about queer people and the queer movement. Specifically, I spent time working with an LGBT-rights organization called EqualityMaine in the State of Maine for a while. How did you come up with the idea for Project SAFE and how did you get it going? It was really an out-of-left-field idea. I was traveling through Southeast Asia and talking with a friend who was also interested in empowering women and had worked with solar cookerswhich use the energy of direct sunlight to heat and cook foods or pasteurize drinksbefore. She had this knowledge and I knew I could really take initiative and contact people to help get it started. We flew out to South Africa and did some couch-surfing while I got on the phone with people to get donations for initial funding. We really built the nonprofit ourselves. We went door-to-door to build coalitions with people and get translators, and we got involved with Wheat Trust, a large organization that works towards empowering women in South Africa. We went into refugee camps, community centers, schools, and female networks to run workshops that taught women how to build their own solar cookers. Eventually we handed off the project to Wheat Trust, which was really our end goal the whole time, to empower women in the community to run the workshops themselves. That was the beauty of it. How did you get involved in Off the Grid and what interested you in their work? I moved back to the Bay Area in late 2014/early 2015. I had been going to a lot of Off the Grid events, but I didn't fully know what Off the Grid was. I thought it was just Presidio Picnic. A marketing position became available at Off the Grid and I knew I wanted a break from politics but I also wanted to do work that involved persuading people, which is totally what marketing is. I went to interview at Off the Grid and it just felt right. The life of the office was amazing. What are the major goals that you focus on in your work for Off the Grid? Getting people to come to our events is the easy answer, but that's just one of the goals. What we're really trying to do is enhance the experience at all of our events. We hold 68 events a week across Northern California, and we're not just food trucks anymore. We're building digital projects and we have a catering business. We are really focused on what we want our company to be like and how we want people to see us. We want to expand the experience outside of just food and make it more community-centric, as well as fun and valuable. I know that I'm the target audience for our events, so I always go to our events and judge if it's cool. If I'm having a good time, I'm pretty sure the crowd is too. What are the current projects you are working on for Off the Grid and what's coming next? We're kind of stealthy, we don't want to give away our secrets. But one thing that's coming down the line is new technology. We have been growing so fast and our technology wasn't keeping up. I just redesigned a whole new, fresh website, and now I'm rebuilding the app. (Courtesy of Sinead Kennedy) Favorite Bay Area spot? Definitely Pacifica. I live 20 minutes away and I love all the hiking and surfing going on there and just the general beach vibe. It's so quintessential Northern California, that's my jam. Favorite Bay Area food truck? Well in my job you really get to know the vendors behind the food trucks. So I find myself judging which food trucks I like based the relationship I have with the vendor. I have a really great relationship with a vendor named Bini who makes Nepalese food at the Fort Mason Center event on Fridays. Go-to weekend uniform? Board shorts with a Patagonia fleece. I wear board shorts whenever I get the chance and I probably own more board shorts than work pants. Sometimes I even get them tailored because I get men's board shortsthey have much better patterns. Favorite place you've traveled to? I went to Cuba back when you had to bus across borders and fly in through another country. I flew in through Canada, and ended up getting stuck in Cuba with passport issues. My girlfriend left the country so that she could figure out a way to get me out. I spent several very intense days and nights alone in Cuba with no money and no way to get money because of the embargo. I made really good friends who were incredibly kind and generous. We would stay up until 4 a.m. talking about American and Cuban politics and social norms. Cubans are just so welcoming and joyful. I got out of the country eventually. I'll leave that part a mystery. Where haven't you been yet that you're dying to go to? I'm really intrigued by this town in India called Meghalaya, that lives by a matrilineal system. The women are in charge, and the men are demanding gender equality with a men's rights movement. That's a real thing. Of course I'd have to go with some greater purpose than to just observe it. I think I'd want to really understand it and draw parallels of other human-centric systems and oppressions in the world. October 26, 2016 Pelham, Alabama Wittle LLC proudly announces a successful first year for Door Buddy, an innovative product offering cat owners with a simple, convenient, and affordable way to keep dogs and babies out of the litter box while giving cats easy access. October 29, 2016 marks exactly one year since the introduction of Wittle LLCs flagship product Door Buddy to the market. Door Buddy was initially created by mom, Shanelle Johnson, when her 10 month old daughter became curious about exploring the house and ended up in the cat food and almost in the litter box. Knowing that other pet owners with both dogs and cats faced the same challenge, Shanelle together with her husband, Scott, created and launched Door Buddy as a way to ensure babies and dogs are kept out of rooms where they can get into trouble while still allowing easy accessibility for cats. Door Buddy was really born out of necessity for us personally and so when we launched last year we did not know what to expect said Shanelle. We knew new parents with cats would really benefit from Door Buddy, but our biggest surprise has been the demand from our customers with dogs. So many of them have commented on how much they love it and how much simpler Door Buddy has made their lives by finally giving them an easier way to dog proof the litter box, cat food, or just to give their cat a room where they can go to escape the dog. The simple hook and latch system can be used from either side of the door giving pet owners quick and convenient access to the designated room. The key feature of Door Buddy that isnt found in any other competing door lock is the ability to adjust. With the adjustable strap the customer can set the perfect width of the door opening allowing cats of all sizes to easily enter or exit the room while keeping anyone or anything remotely larger out. Intended as an alternative to more complicated and expensive products like cat doors and pet gates, Door Buddy was designed with convenience and ease of use in mind. The product design along with the way it mounts allows it to work on wide variety of interior door types including door knob styles. We are really excited about Door Buddys success in our first year and look forward to the possibilities as we expand in the future said Scott. Door Buddy is proudly made in the USA and is currently available for sale exclusively on TheDoorBuddy.com and Amazon.com. About Wittle LLC Wittle LLC is a family owned company that produces simple products that make the lives of parents and pet owners easier. The about us page on their website discusses what they are about and the products they offer. Media Contact Company Name: Wittle LLC Contact Person: Scott Johnson Email: scott@wittleco.com Phone: (205) 529-3060 Country: United States Website: www.thedoorbuddy.com F17 First Quarter Results Announcement Sydney, Oct 27, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blackmores Limited ( ASX:BKL ) ( BLMMF:OTCMKTS ) today reported first quarter Group sales of $149 million, down 8.1% compared to the previous corresponding period. Net profit after tax (NPAT) was $12 million for the quarter, down 46.6% on the previous corresponding period. Summary - Group sales of $149 million, 8.1% down compared to previous corresponding period - Net profit after tax of $12 million, down 46.6% compared to previous corresponding period - Consumer demand remains strong both in Australia and internationally, and Blackmores is the clear market leader in Australia - Australian sales were impacted by retailers reducing excess stock and changing buying patterns of Chinese exporters - Blackmores China business contributed $31m, up 220%, compared to previous corresponding period - Blackmores Asia, BioCeuticals and Global Therapeutics all delivered strong growth "Though trading conditions were challenging at the start of the financial year, we finished the quarter in a stronger position than we started with improved sales and profitability momentum," said Chief Executive Officer Christine Holgate. "Importantly, consumer demand remains high, though our profit result for the first quarter was impacted by softer sales in Australia primarily as a result of changes in the export market which previously was largely serviced through Australian retailers." "The lower Australian sales impacted our ability to recover the cost of our operational infrastructure which is reflected in our lower earnings before interest and tax," she said. "It is important we continue to focus on adapting our business and continuing to invest for longer-term growth." "Our China business, comprising in-country sales and sales from our new export division to service the Chinese market, delivered $31 million, up 220% compared to the prior corresponding period," said Christine Holgate. "The rapid growth of sales through these channels is encouraging as it validates continuing demand for our products in China." "Blackmores Australia sales of $68 million were down 40% compared to the prior corresponding period as Chinese exporters transitioned to new channels and Australian retailers worked through excess stock. We estimate the impact of reducing excess stock to be $17 million with a further $28 million resulting from changes to the way exporters buy through Australian retailers. Around 20% of Australian sales in the first quarter are estimated to be to consumers in China," she said. "Pleasingly, underlying sales to Australian consumers for the first quarter were growing ahead of the category and Blackmores remains the clear market leader." Sales of nutritional foods in partnership with Bega have been sluggish in the first quarter as the Australian market adapts to overstocking. The team is focused on launching into the China retail market later in the second quarter following the recent approval of labels that meet China's strict regulations. "We have had nearly three years of rapid growth over which time our expenses have increased to meet demand. We are in the process of realigning our cost structure to ensure it is appropriate to the size of our business, that it enables us to best serve our customers and that it still allows for investment in new platforms for growth." In-country Asia sales were up 37%, contributing $35 million. Direct sales to Asia were $52 million for the quarter including almost $17 million from Blackmores' new Chinese export division. BioCeuticals sales are growing at more than 17% compared to the prior period. Their sub-brand IsoWhey was recognised with the Customer Satisfaction award in the highly competitive weight loss category at the Canstar Blue Awards in September. "Global Therapeutics has achieved pleasing sales momentum since Blackmores acquired the leading Australian Chinese herbal medicine company in May 2016 and continues to meet our expectations," said Christine Holgate. NEW MARKETS Blackmores launched in Indonesia in September with encouraging early sales. The current range of 17 products is expected to grow to 29 core lines in more than 1,200 retail outlets with an established e-commerce presence by the end of the financial year. "Indonesia is another exciting opportunity for Blackmores with an increasing number of consumers taking a greater interest in health. This growing health literacy is coupled with a growing middle class," said Christine Holgate. "Our joint venture with Kalbe enables us to partner with leaders in health and nutrition with a strong understanding of and commitment to Indonesian consumers. Together we have established a sophisticated service model that provides excellent distribution to retailers and consumers across Indonesia." OUTLOOK "As advised when we announced our full year results, our first quarter sales have been impacted by changes in market dynamics in Australia. Pleasingly, we entered the second quarter with an improving sales and profit trajectory, there are positive sales trends that indicate overstocking is easing, consumer demand remains robust and we have been able to capture significant new sales in China," said Christine Holgate. "Whilst we don't expect to match last year's exceptional performance for the full year, we are pleased with the improving trends and are encouraged by new growth opportunities. At this stage, we anticipate a stronger second quarter compared to the first quarter sales and profit. The Board remains confident in the Group's strategic focus and long-term growth prospects." To view the announcement, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/84A778FT About Blackmores Limited Blackmores Limited (ASX:BKL) (OTCMKTS:BLMMF) is Australia's leading natural health brand. Its quality range of vitamin, minerals, herbal and nutritional supplements, and continued support of the community and environment, are among the many reasons Blackmores is the most trusted name in natural health. 2016 AGM Presentation Sydney, Oct 27, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blackmores Limited ( ASX:BKL ) ( BLMMF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to provide its 2016 AGM Presentation. F16 COMMITMENT TO SHAREHOLDERS "We remain focused on our strategic priorities. Demand for our products continues to grow and we are taking this opportunity to invest in our existing business and to establish new platforms and partnerships to extend our brand and expertise. We are committed to growing this business delivering improved shareholder returns in the coming year." AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR - Group Sales of $717m, up 52% - Record NPAT of $100.0m, up 115% - EBIT margin improvement from 15% to 20% - Operating cash flow of $84m, up 18% - Cash conversion ratio of 81% - Net debt $17m post acquisition of Global Therapeutics - Earning per share of 581 cents, up 115% - Dividends were 410 cents, up 102% F16 HIGHLIGHTS - Every region and brand delivered strong growth - Recognised as one of Australia's best employers by AON Hewitt - 117 new products launched across the Group - Significantly invested in infrastructure and new businesses to build future pipeline - Secured supply in a constrained environment, building reserves of scarce materials - Acquired Global Therapeutics in May 2016 - Australian market leader in Chinese herbal medicine category - Entered ASX 100 - Record payouts to key stakeholders - shareholders, staff and Australian Government OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS - Total current assets have increased by 57% commensurate with business growth - Inventory increased to $116m to ensure stock is held to meet demand, secured scarce raw materials, plus integration of Global Therapeutics. - Invested in robotics and quadruple head counters, expanded our facilities footprint and our staff to increase capacity and improve productivity - High staff engagement F16 SUMMARY - Exceptional year of performance - Strong progress on delivering our strategic priorities - Blackmores now the largest Asia Pacific natural health company - Asia is increasingly important to our future - Exited the year with a more diversified business, with a strong balance sheet and built new platforms for growth - Key stakeholders rewarded YEAR END SUMMARY AND AUGUST OUTLOOK - Pleased with progress delivering strategic priorities - Advised shareholders that first quarter financial results would be impacted by challenges in Australia -- Major retailers destocking -- Changes in how exporters acquire products - Encouraged by strong consumer demand, growing momentum in Asia and BioCeuticals - Need to develop our business model, build new channels, adapt our cost base and accelerate our transition to support our changing retail landscape FIRST QUARTER UPDATE - Blackmores Australia sales down 40% to $68 million -- Destocking impact circa $17m -- Changes in how Chinese exporters buy, impact circa $28m -- 20% of Australian sales influenced by Chinese shoppers -- Australian consumer demand strong - Blackmores remains leader - Asia sales contributed $51m, up 75% - Record Quarter -- China in-country sales contributed $14m, up 135% -- New China export division contributed $17m, up 356% -- Total China direct sales $31m, up 222% - BioCeuticals at $19m, up 17% - Record Quarter - Global Therapeutics contributed $6m - Record Quarter - Launched in Indonesia - Lower volumes resulted in higher recovery costs - Took immediate action to contain costs OUTLOOK - Australian market improving but remains challenged -- Sales trajectory improved in the quarter -- Impact of excess stock in Australia has eased - Progress made in building new channels - Blackmores Asia, BioCeuticals and Global Therapeutics all continuing to perform - Embarked on cost structure review to enable continued investment and build profits - Unlikely to match exceptional F16 full year profit - Expect second quarter to be stronger than the first quarter - Board remains confident in the Group's strategic focus and long-term growth prospects To view the presentation, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/4QT99WO4 About Blackmores Limited Blackmores Limited (ASX:BKL) (OTCMKTS:BLMMF) is Australia's leading natural health brand. Its quality range of vitamin, minerals, herbal and nutritional supplements, and continued support of the community and environment, are among the many reasons Blackmores is the most trusted name in natural health. September 2016 Quarterly Report Brisbane, Oct 27, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Stanmore Coal Limited ( ASX:SMR ) is pleased to provide its September 2016 Quarterly Production Report. HIGHLIGHTS - 8 shipments completed for 286 thousand tonnes (86% coking and 14% thermal) - Continued safety record of no lost time injuries to date for the Isaac Plains Coal Mine - December 2016 quarterly benchmark price set as USD 130 per tonne, a rise of USD 56 per tonne or 75% above the September 2016 quarterly benchmark price of USD 74 per tonne. - Rehabilitation activities undertaken and nearly completed on 82Ha SAFETY PERFORMANCE During the September quarter, there were no lost time injuries (LTI's) recorded and two reportable injuries at the Isaac Plains Mining Complex, with no others across other projects and tenements of Stanmore Coal Limited (Stanmore or the Company). The Total Reportable Injury Frequency Rate at quarter end is 9.9 per million hours. ISAAC PLAINS OPERATIONS The September quarter included carryover for the ramp-up phase of operations towards steady-state production. Mining activities were completed in the smaller N2 pit with mining in the N1 pit commencing which features a considerably longer strike length. Overburden and coal mining in the open cut pits progressed at a run-of-mine (ROM) strip ratio of 23.8 for the quarter (23.0 for project to date) following a continued build-up of pre-strip activities in preparedness for the upcoming wet season and a planned dragline outage in October, in addition to the completion of the higher strip ratio N2 pit. Open cut ROM coal production was lower than planned for the quarter. Operations were also impacted also by unseasonal rainfall during July and August that slowed coal release. These factors contributed to the build-up of overburden inventories during the September quarter with the operation now set up for future periods where strip ratio will trend toward the life of mine ratio. Highwall mining activities noted improvements in performance and plunge depths toward the end of the quarter after experiencing initial operating and water-related issues at commencement. Highwall mining contributed 146kt (37% of total production) of ROM coal during the quarter. Highwall mining is expected to cease by early November and is expected to have produced approximately 220kt of ROM coal by completion. During the quarter the Company carried out further rectification works at the washplant facilities on previously noted issues with performance and reliability of the plant. The initial results following completion of these works is a significant improvement to total washing yields and the proportion of coking product produced. As a consequence of the improved coking proportion a total of 7 coking coal shipments (86% product sold) and 1 thermal coal shipment (14% product sold) were completed during the September quarter. Notwithstanding the lower than planned open cut ROM coal production for the September quarter, the Company continued to expect to be able to produce 1.1 million tonnes of product coal from its open cut operations which, together with the contributions from highwall mining, the Company expect to produce 1.25 million tonnes of product coal this financial year. COAL SALES AND MARKET OUTLOOK The December quarterly 2Q17 benchmark price has been set as USD 130 per tonne, a rise of USD 56 per tonne or 75% above the September 2016 quarterly benchmark price of USD 74 per tonne. Under Stanmore's term contracts with major Asian steel mills each new quarterly price applies after any carry over tonnes from the previous quarter are delivered. On this basis it is currently anticipated that the higher December quarterly price will apply coal to be delivered by the mine from around November 2016 through February 2017. The first shipment of Isaac Plains coking coal was delivered in mid-May, being half way through the first contract quarter. As a result of this a large portion of September quarter sales were still being sold on the June quarter contract price which has led to an average sale price for the quarter of US$68 per tonne. The Company is continually monitoring its optimal product mix and in particular the potential for reintroducing a semi-hard coking coal product as was historically produced at Isaac Plains. REHABILITATION The 2016 rehabilitation campaign commenced during the Quarter with Golding completing all works in the N1N rehabilitation area. Final topsoil push and seeding will continue on the S2 waste dumps into early October, resulting in a total rehabilitation area of 82Ha. Stanmore is fully committed to meeting its obligations to State and the environment as it fast-tracks rehabilitation works within the first year of ownership of the Isaac Plains Coal Mine. EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT Total exploration expenditure for the September quarter was $0.5m. Isaac Plains East During the September quarter the Company progressed environmental studies to support the submission of an Environmental Authority (EA) amendment application on the existing Isaac Plains EA. The EA amendment together with Mining Lease (ML) applications over the tenement were lodged in October with relevant State government departments. In addition to the works being undertaken on the lodgement of the EA and ML applications, Stanmore has also commenced capital and operating cost reviews together with mine planning and development strategies. An optimisation study is planned in conjunction with further confirmatory exploration activities works to improve detailed mine planning. Isaac Plains Underground Conceptual mining studies have commenced for a potential underground mining within the current Isaac Plains mining lease. Further works will be carried out in the near term including internal assessment of the planning and timing to progress development. Clifford Project Stanmore continued works within the Clifford Project during the September quarter with support of JV partner JOGMEC. A field exploration program was completed in the Grange prospect during July, which consisted of 5 core holes and 2 rotary chip holes for a total of 554 metres drilled. Stanmore has commenced a concept study for the Clifford Project with independent consultants to assess mining and development options in conjunction with other Surat Basin projects. CORPORATE As at 30 September 2016 Stanmore's cash position was $14.0m (increase of $2.0m from prior quarter). The Company has an estimated remaining receivable in relation to vendor compensation payments of $7.3m at quarter end with available undrawn Taurus Mining Finance Fund (Taurus) working capital facility of US$12m (A$15.8m). Bank guarantees held with Taurus are unchanged from the prior quarter, amounting to A$36.8m. Post the quarter end the Company has drawn the Taurus working capital facility USD 6m to manage variability in the shipping schedule. The undrawn portion of the facility is USD 6m (USD 12m total facility). COMMUNITY Stanmore continues to support local communities through providing grants and donations to local events and fundraisers and has established a fund to support the local communities in which we operate. Further donations were made during the quarter to local groups. To view the report, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/CV1NWFM4 About Stanmore Coal Limited Stanmore Coal (ASX:SMR) is an operating coal mining company with a number of additional prospective coal projects and mining assets within Queensland's Bowen and Surat Basins. Stanmore Coal owns 100% of the Isaac Plains Coal Mine and the adjoining Isaac Plains East Project and is focused on the creation of shareholder value via the efficient operation of Isaac Plains and identification of further local development opportunities. Stanmore continues to progress its prospective high quality thermal coal assets in the Northern Surat Basin which will prove to be valuable as the demand for high quality, low impurity thermal coal grows at a global level. Stanmores focus is on the prime coal bearing regions of the east coast of Australia. Some of our favorite recent tax fraud cases. St. Paul, Minn.: Former Tax Court judge Diane L. Kroupa, 61, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. According to the plea agreement and testimony, Kroupa, appointed to the U.S. Tax Court in 2003 and indicted in April, was during the time in question in the case married to Robert E. Fackler, a self-employed lobbyist and political consultant who owned and operated the business Grassroots Consulting. From 2004 to 2013, she and Fackler owned a home in Plymouth, Minn., and, from 2007 to 2013, also leased a residence in Easton, Md., where Kroupa lived while a Tax Court judge in Washington, D.C. Between 2002 and 2012, the couple conspired to obstruct the IRS from accurately determining their joint income taxes. As part of the conspiracy, Kroupa and Fackler worked together each year to compile numerous personal expenses for inclusion as supposed business expenses for Grassroots Consulting in their joint tax return. Those expenses included rent and utilities for the Maryland home; utilities, upkeep and renovation expenses of the Minnesota home; pilates classes; spa and massage fees; jewelry and personal clothing; wine club fees; Chinese language tutoring; music lessons; personal computers; and expenses for vacations to Alaska, Australia, the Bahamas, China, England, Greece, Hawaii, Mexico and Thailand. From 2004 through 2010, the defendants fraudulently deducted at least $500,000 of personal expenses as purported Schedule C expenses. At times, Kroupa prepared and provided to Fackler summaries of personal expenses falsely described according to business expense categories. On other occasions, she compiled and provided to their tax preparer the fraudulent personal expenses. Kroupa made a series of other false claims on their returns, including failing to report some $44,520 that she received from a 2010 land sale in South Dakota. Kroupa also falsely claimed financial insolvency to avoid paying tax on $33,031 on cancellation of indebtedness income that she and her husband received. The couple concealed documents from their preparer and an IRS tax compliance officer during an audit for their 2004 and 2005 tax returns, according to the plea agreement and Kroupas testimony at the plea hearing. During a second audit in 2012, Kroupa and Fackler caused false and misleading documents to be delivered to an IRS employee to convince that employee that certain personal expenses were actually business expenses of Grassroots Consulting. After the IRS requested documents pertaining to their returns, the couple removed certain items from their personal tax files before giving them to their preparer because the documents could reveal they had illegally deducted numerous personal expenses. During the audit, Kroupa also falsely denied receiving money from the 2010 land sale. When they learned the 2012 audit might progress into a criminal investigation, Kroupa told Fackler to lie to the IRS about her involvement in preparing the portion of their returns related to Grassroots Consulting. Between 2004 and 2010, the couple also purposely understated their taxable income by approximately $1 million and purposely understated the amount of tax they owed by at least $450,000. Mount Vernon, N.Y.: Preparer Samuel Gentle, 59, owner of the prep businesses GenGen and GenGen Financial, has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for obstructing the IRS and preparing false and fraudulent individual income tax returns for his clients. From 2010 through 2014, Gentle, who was found guilty in July, operated a large and thriving prep business that prepared and submitted to the IRS, on average, 3,200 returns each year. These returns contained a pattern of false and fraudulently inflated deductions for business expenses and gifts to charity. Numerous clients of Gentle testified that they had not provided him with any information to support the false or inflated deductions. As part of the investigation, an undercover IRS agent posed as Gentles client. During the operation, the agent provided Gentle with no records that he could have used to support any deductions. But, consistent with his pattern, Gentle included false and fraudulent deductions for business expenses and gifts to charity on the return he prepared for the undercover agent. Gentle also failed to report on his own personal and business returns nearly half of the $1 million in receipts that he received for his prep services from 2010 through 2014. He spread the receipts across eight bank accounts at five banks and failed to issue required IRS forms to himself or his employees. Gentles crimes cost the IRS more than $550,000. In addition to the prison term, Gentle was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $125,000 fine and to pay the IRS more than $295,000 in back taxes. Lawton, Okla.: Preparer Ricky Costello Williams has been sentenced to 30 months in prison and a year of supervised release, and been ordered to pay $240,361 restitution for tax fraud. For a number of years, Williams prepared returns for others under the business name W&B Financial. An IRS investigation determined that in 2010 and 2011, he knowingly prepared returns with fraudulent deductions and falsified credits to illegally obtain refunds. Williams was previously convicted of preparing false returns in North and South Carolina. In February, Williams pled guilty to assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent federal return; he has been in custody since May based on a violation of his conditions of release. Chaparral, N.M.: Preparer Maria Ramirez, 62, has been sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay nearly $25,000 in restitution in a tax fraud case, according to published reports. News outlets said she was accused of preparing false returns and failing to report or pay gross receipts tax on her prep business, and that she pleaded guilty to 29 counts of tax fraud. Authorities reportedly said that Ramirez failed to report or pay gross receipts tax on her business for six filing periods and filed at least 29 false personal income tax returns for her clients. Johnson City, N.Y.: Preparer Heather Sweet, 36, has been sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge and been ordered to pay $12,000 restitution to New York State for preparing and filing fraudulent personal income tax returns. Sweet pleaded guilty in June to a felony for filing false income tax returns with the New York State Tax Department. The returns reported false Schedule C income and claimed refundable credits that werent owed. Investigation showed that Sweet filed the returns for numerous friends and relatives for tax years 2008 through 2011 while she was employed by a professional prep firm. The Tax Department will also bill Sweet $30,000 in preparer penalties. MAZATLAN, Mexico, Oct 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The "Culinary Roots" Gastronomic Forum will celebrate its second edition later this month, from October 27 through October 30 in Mazatlan El Cid Vacations Club members and visitors will be able to take part in this exciting culinary event that is fun for the whole family. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161025/432490 The city officials of Mazatlan are always looking for more ways to enhance the visitor experience in their area, and Culinary Roots is one of the more festive choices. The celebration brings numerous economic benefits to the city by way of hotel occupancy, restaurant business, taxi income, and overall tourism. El Cid Vacations Club notes that Mazatlan is now a key tourist destination in Mexico and just keeps getting better and better for visitors each year. In fact, for the very first year of the Culinary Roots celebration, there were more than 2,500 professional participants who took part in one or all of the many diverse events that make up the festivities. Those participants include some of the most influential restaurant entrepreneurs and chefs from all over the country, according to El Cid Vacations Club. Besides the chefs and entrepreneurs, hundreds of culinary school students attend the event in order to learn what it takes to break into the top levels of the food industry. There are dozens of different activities that make up the event, according to El Cid Vacations Club. Not only do the chefs and restaurateurs enjoy showing off a wide array of seafood and farm produce, there are all sorts of conferences, awards presentations, beer-tasting festival and other unique parts of the program. El Cid Vacations Club notes that all the food cooked and served during the Culinary Roots celebration of regional Mazatlan ingredients. There will be at least 12 top international chefs taking part in this year's event, which is the brainchild of Marino Maganda, one of Mexico's most respected chefs and culinary instructors. Maganda is president of the influential chefs' group COSINAR. In addition to Maganda and his organization, other Mazatlan groups also contribute to the creation and design of the Culinary Roots events. El Cid Vacations Club wants attendees of Culinary Roots to know that one of the central parts of the celebration is a large expo area where visitors can peruse thousands of products and providers. For those who love food and fun, there is no better time to visit Mazatlan than during the late-October Culinary Roots event About ECVC El Cid Vacations Club is a global leader in the vacation ownership and resort industry, delivering a wide variety of memorable vacation experiences for members. El Cid Vacations Club continually strives to enhance its member services and guest experiences. Members are invited to take advantage of downloading the complimentary El Cid Vacations Club Member mobile app available on both the App Store and Google Play (keyword "ecvc"). This application allows members to stay up to date on the most recent news, make reservations, and always stay in contact with El Cid Vacations Club. This is the perfect opportunity for El Cid Vacations Club members to plan their next dream vacation at one of the many stunning El Cid properties. For more information, visit http://www.elcidvacationsclub.com. Media Contact: El Cid Vacations Club, El Cid Vacations Club, 1 866 552 7320, ownersrelations@elcid.com.mx News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com SOURCE El Cid Vacations Club 212NYC, The Advertising Club of New York, SheKnows Media, IoTC, Producers Guild of America, New Media Council East and Others Rally for the New ad:tech ad:tech New York 2016, the original industry authority for advertising, marketing and media technology, today shared its plans to spotlight a select group of the most engaged, innovative industry associations in a special content focus at its November show. Marking ad:techs 20th anniversary, the signature November 2-3 show at Javits Center in New York City will highlight those organizations and groups embracing and driving the new innovation agenda within their memberships and own programming. As we head into this new era of innovation, we called upon and assembled those groups actively curating innovation in their own right, said John Durham, General Manager for ad:tech New York. As we bring them into the mix at the new ad:tech, we are spotlighting these vibrant communities within the community. They are in many ways the beating heart of it all, especially in New York City. Please join the conversation at the following special sessions: A Session with 212NYC: Media Buyers - Why Their Media Consumption Habits Matter and the Questions You Are Afraid to Ask During this session with the industry's rising media planners and buyers we will explore the media platforms and channels that are popular with today's up and coming generations, including those working in the media industry. Moderated by ad:tech's own John Durham, the group will delve into how the usage of these particular platforms and channels informs the approach to media planning and buying that our panel participants execute on behalf of their brands. A Session with The Advertising Club of New York: Creating Diversity How do you reinvent the approach to creating diversity in the marketing and advertising industries, so that everyone involved thrives? You raise awareness of the benefits and rally professionals in a shared movement. Imagine the possibilities for innovation and ideation inside your company and within your culture, when diversity is the imperative. Hear from executives and participants of the AdClubs ImPart program as they share the successes of plugging into an initiative that focuses on attracting, training, retaining and promoting diverse talent in the ad industry. A Session with SheKnows Media: Branded Content and Native Advertising, the Miracle Mix Explore the marriage of content and native advertising with the leading womens lifestyle digital media company. SheKnows Media has revolutionized the publishing industry with seamless integration of users, editors and content creators on a single platform designed to empower the female gender to discover, share and create. The award-winning team at SheKnows creates authentic and on-trend content for a wide variety of audiences. A Session with the Internet of Things Consortium: IoT and the Marketing Revolution In a recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit, more than half of marketing executives reported that the IoT movement would revolutionize marketing by the year 2020. Amazons Echo device has already seen spectacular success since it was launched a year ago. Join the Internet of Things Consortium (IoTC) and special guests to discuss how marketers and technology companies are already planning for this revolution. Learn whats real and whats pure science fiction in the IoT era. In addition, members of the Producers Guild of America, New Media Council East and friends of ad:tech will assemble for a special session curated for ad:tech 2016: Ad Tech and Content Collide - Producing in the Programmatic World The explosion of new technology platforms for advertising creates expansive opportunities for new media producers, from new ways to entertain audiences and build influencers to new subscription models and payment solutions. Join members of the Producers Guild of America New Media Council East for a discussion on breakthroughs in ad tech for producersincluding the latest in data science, artificial intelligence (AI), addressable advertising, mobile real-time semantic buying, in-app purchases, and videogame ad solutions. These are some of the most timely sessions within the agenda, continued Durham. Were so appreciative of their passionate involvement and support. AdMonsters and 614 Group have also been incredibly supportive. AdMonsters' own and industry original Gavin Dunaway will be hosting one of our Podiums for the day. The 614 Group has also been spreading the word with their community, which we so appreciate. We look forward to a full house! Its your last chance to book your tickets. Use promo code: 50SPEAKERNY16 for a special discount! About ad:tech ad:tech is the original industry authority for marketing and media technology, where marketing, technology and media communities assemble to share new ways of thinking, build strong partnerships, and define new strategies to compete in an ever-changing marketplace. Several annual events around the world deliver immersive education through keynote speakers, timely topic-driven panels and hands-on workshops as well as showcase the latest products and solutions to help deepen understanding and create new ideas that will drive innovation. Attendees leave ad:tech inspired by whats new and whats next, armed with the tools and techniques they need to shift and re-imagine their own businesses. For more information, visit www.ad-tech.com. Follow @adtech on Twitter About Comexposium The COMEXPOSIUM Group, one of the worlds leading event organizers, is involved in more than 170 B2C and B2B events across 11 different sectors, including IT, security, digital, high-tech, food, agriculture, fashion, construction, optics and transport. Comexposium hosts more than 3 million visitors and 45,000 exhibitors around the world. Comexposium operates across 30+ global economic growth zones, such as: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027006972/en/ For ad:tech New York WIT Strategy Kendall Allen, 917-714-9213 kallen@witstrategy.com SecAF honors Gulf Coast military members during annual salute Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James was the guest speaker at the 38th annual Gulf Coast Salute to the Military event here Oct. 25. For nearly four decades people from across the Mississippi Gulf Coast have set aside one night to come together, enjoy each others company and honor military men and women. Salute to the Military gives us an opportunity each year to honor those who serve. Thank you to our men and women in the military, Congressman Steven Palazzo, host of the 38th annual Salute to the Military said. This year, attendees walked through a gallery of art and artifacts depicting the military history. They stood in silence to honor the more than 100 Mississippi military members who gave their lives in the line of duty. They watched video tributes that celebrated Keesler Air Force Bases 75th anniversary and told the stories of four military women who served in a time when opportunities for women in the military were limited. They cheered for the veterans in the room from each of the United States major conflicts, including the handful of World War II veterans that were present for the evening. Having the opportunity to attend this years Salute to the Military was a great honor, Col. Michael Manion, 403rd Wing commander said. Its an illustration of the true partnership that we have with the people here on the coast and a reminder that our work in Air Force Reserve is part of a much greater picture. Mississippi and the Gulf Coast region play a critical role in our national security, Secretary James said. She detailed Keeslers Navy, Marine and Coast Guard partners as well as the skills provided to Air Force members through the 81st Training Wing, the 403rd Wings new 36th Aeromedical Evacuation unit and the critical data collection of the Air Force Reserves Hurricane Hunters. Being on the Gulf Coast you know good and well that the Hurricane Hunters fly their missions to save American lives, she said. She also mentioned the thousands of volunteer hours coast military members complete every year as well as the work they do to promote Science Technology, Engineering and Math career fields to children and teenagers across the region. These are only a few of the dozens of incredible things that members at Keesler are doing, James said. I am very, very proud of our military and Im especially proud of our Air Force. James also said that Biloxi and the Gulf Coast do so much for our Airmen that its no surprise so many of them choose to make a permanent home on the Gulf Coast after they complete their military service. We could not do it without having all of you standing behind all of us every step of the way, she said. Thank you for all that you do to support us. Ashok Chavan questions the tall claims made by Fadnavis government about attracting investments in the state after the uncertainty looming over Foxconn project. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ashok Chavan has demanded a clarification from the Fadnavis government about the status of the Foxconn project which is likely to be called off due to the absence of client. Chavan said that the state government always makes tall claims about Maharashtra being a premier investment destination but Foxconn project remains a non-starter despite a $5 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the government and the firm. This development comes a day after India was ranked 130 globally in ease of doing business. The lack of interest shown by Taiwanese firm is major setback to the Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make in India campaign. The state government had claimed that it had signed various investment deals with multinational companies under the Make in India scheme but they are yet to see the light of the day. I am worried that whether Foxconn project too will meet with similar fate as the firm is yet to start manufacturing activities in the state, said Chavan When Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that the Foxconn project will create 50,000 jobs in the state I had compared it with the speeches delivered by Narendra Modi which are only promises that never get fulfilled. Fadnavis had also toured foreign countries for bringing investments into India but they have not materialised yet. The erstwhile Congress government had managed to attract more investments in the country without making false promises, he added. Principal secretary of industries department Apurva Chandra said, The business with Foxconn is yet to materialise. I visited its unit in Vashi and saw that they have not started manufacturing. I was informed that they have not received any client to begin production. On whether it was the Maharashtra governments failure, Mr Chandra said, Do not look only at the materialisation of MoUs to gauge the investments that Maharashtra has received. There are several projects worth thousands of crores happening on ground and these are investments are beyond the MoUs we have signed. As far as Foxconn is concerned, they say they havent found any client. We do not think this is disappointing as we would like to give them some more time before taking a decision, he added Foxconn is primarily a contract manufacturer and its clients include major American, Finnish, Japanese and Canadian electronics and information technology companies. [dropcap]O[/dropcap]n Thursday, two persons were arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police for selling the information related to the BSF and Indian Armys deployment in the border areas surrounding Pakistan. Several defence related maps and secret documents were recovered from the two spies, this is what police has claimed. Maulana Ramzan Khan and Subhash Jangir, both are the residents of Nagaur in Rajasthan. Khan is a teacher in a mosque there and Jangir ran a local business that was suffering heavy losses. The police also nabbed a Pakistan High Commission staffer when he was receiving secret documents from the two persons. However, the staffer, who was an ISI agent, was let off after he claimed diplomatic immunity. Meanwhile, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs and Foreign Secretary Jaishankar told him that Akhtar has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities. The arrested men have spoken about the possibility of the BSF personnel being honey trapped into sharing defence related information. Akhtar was a Hawaldar with the 40 Baloch Regiment and he was roped in by Pakistans espionage outfit ISI after a rigorous test. When questioned about his identity, he produced an Aadhar card that showed he is a resident of Delhis Chandni Chowk. The card, however, turned out to be a fake one and Akhtar confessed to being a staffer of the Pakistan High Commission and claimed diplomatic immunity when faced with arrest. The Delhi Police then contacted the Ministry of External Affairs who, in turn, contacted the Pakistan High Commission officers, who confirmed that Akhtar is working with them. India subsequently asked three officials of the Pakistani mission to leave within 48 hours. Indias decision to expel a visa official of the Pakistani mission on charges of espionage is just the latest in a long list of actions taken against diplomatic staffers by both countries. As far back as November 1963, Abdul Majid, a driver at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, was arrested by Delhi Police on charges of obtaining secret information from an office assistant in Indias Defence Ministry. In December 1988, India expelled Brig. Zaheer Abbasi, the Pakistan Army attache, after a Delhi Police team caught him in a hotel handing over Rs. 25,000 for secret documents. In October 1997, Pakistan expelled SK Chaudhury from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and India retaliated calling for the withdrawal of Murad Baloch from the Pakistani mission in New Delhi. In February 2000, India expelled three Pakistani diplomats because of activities incompatible with their official status. In December 2001, India recalled its ambassador to Pakistan in response to an attack on its Parliament by militants from Pakistan-based groups and both countries cut the size of staff at their diplomatic missions. In May 2002, our country expelled Pakistani envoy Ashraf Jehangir Qazi as tensions spiked as India accused Islamabad of backing militants who attacked an army camp in Kashmir. In January 2003, India expelled four members of the Pakistani mission in New Delhi, including first Secretary Mohammed Asif, senior and counsellor Muzaffar Sayeed, as they had been found indulging in activities incompatible with their official status. The move followed allegations that the most senior Indian diplomat in Islamabad had been harassed by Pakistani authorities. In February 2003, Jalil Abbas Jilani, then charge daffaires or the number two at the Pakistan high commission, was expelled along with four others because their activities were not in line with their diplomatic status. Pakistan retaliated by expelling Indias acting High Commissioner to their country Sudhir Vyas and four officials in the mission in Islamabad, including first Secretary Rahul Rasgotra. Jilani, who was accused of providing Rs. 3 lakh to separatist Kashmiri leaders, went on to become Pakistans foreign secretary, and on August 2006 Pakistani expelled Deepak Kaul, a counselor at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, after accusing him of possessing sensitive documents. Kaul denied the allegation and said he was unlawfully detained and interrogated while driving from Islamabad to Lahore. India retaliated by expelling Syed Muhammad Rafique Ahmed, a counsellor in the Pakistan mission in New Delhi. Later in 2010 April, Delhi polices Special Cell arrested Madhuri Gupta on 22nd April 2010, she was posted as second Secretary (press and information) in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. According to the chargesheet filed by the police in 2010, she was involved in a relationship with Jamshed, an ISI official, whom she planned to marry. She was accused of passing on sensitive information to the ISI agent. On an average every year one spy of Pakistan is been nabbed in India and deported or arrested in India. Indian Government needs to be little strict, as these members are caught by the Indian agencies. Definitely, there are many planning to disrupt the peace in our country. Indian intelligence needs to be more smarter and aggressive to tackle them. (Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com) The Mumbai Fire Brigade has asked the city police to ban the use of flying lanterns during Diwali celebration in a bid to avert possible threats caused by them. Chief of Fire Brigade, BMC, P S Rahangdale in a letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner, has drawn the attention of police department towards accidents caused due to flying lanterns every year. Flying lanterns in large number are released in air during Diwali and Makar Sankranti (festivals), which pose serious threat to aircraft, high rise towers, slums, installations of HPCL and BPCL refineries etc. Even terrorists activities cannot be ruled out by its use, the letter sent yesterday, read. It is, therefore, essential to ban the use of flying lantern so that possible threats can be averted, it said. Referring Nation Fire Protection Associationss (NFPA) recommendations, Rahangdale said countries like the US, Thailand have also supported the ban on such flying objects. He also asked the police to take action against those found selling and flying such item under the relevant sections of the IPC. The Fire Brigade chief also cited data of calls received at their stations during Diwali in the last three years. A total of 217 calls were received in three years from 2013 to 2015. Out of 217, 103 calls reported fire at refuse area of buildings. In as many as 80 incidents (calls), fire took place in godown and other parts of house. Besides, the city fire brigade has also launched a campaign to sensitise Mumbaikars to observe a safe and secure Diwali. Every year people buy items manufactured in China depriving the local artisans and organisations of the opportunity to prosper. This year we will be buying things from NGO, which works for women empowerment. For a huge society like ours, we are going an extra mile to bring smiles on the faces of artisans and underprivileged. This way we would like to spread the message Be Indian Buy Indian. The residents of Navi Mumbai have decided to celebrate an Eco-lit noiseless Diwali this time. Time and again residents of satellite city have played a positive role in adopting eco-friendly measures during festivals. In the past they had taken initiative of planting trees in the city. They also disposed E-waste to give the city a clean look and there has been reduction in pollution too. We may feel proud to celebrate noiseless Diwali this year also. Media will play a pivotal role in making people to understand the need for celebrating Diwali with minimal noise pollution. During Ganpati Festival residents had used eco-friendly Ganpati and noise levels were reduced to the minimum. Noise pollution is a nuisance and there is no doubt about it. It causes innumerable problems during the Diwali festival season. Despite clear cut instructions to reduce noise levels, some citizens burst crackers and create trouble for other residents in the society. In the past noise levels reached a new high thereby creating disturbance for residents. A person exposed to such noise for a long time may turn deaf. Sound pollution affects the brain and prolonged exposure to noise may cause blood vessels to contract, sometimes resulting in hypertension. To add salt to the wound, the thick smog and the poisonous smoke can cause breathing problems for children and elderly persons. Those who live in cities are affected by several ailments that include vegetative vascular dystonia, heart failure, dyspepsia and headaches. It is better to cover the face while driving a vehicle on a highway. Pollution of any kind causes serious damage to man, animals, birds, aquatic life, crops and vegetation. Since Diwali festival is just round the corner citizens must take steps to reduce noise levels. It is time to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali and people should follow this in true spirit every year. Awareness is already created and so over a period of time people will be in a position to curtail noise pollution to the minimum level and still celebrate festivals with same gusto and enjoyment. (The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.) A Muslim woman has sued a security company in the US for discrimination, alleging that the firm rejected her for employment because of her faith and her hijab. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Zahraa-Imani Ali, from St Louis County, Missouri, alleging that a nationwide security firm discriminated against prospective Muslim employees. Securitas Security Services refused to hire Ali, at least in part, but likely entirely, on the fact that Ms Ali wears the hijab as part of her adherence to the Islamic faith, lawyer Robert West was quoted as saying by St. Louis Post- Dispatch. The suit, filed on October 21, seeks monetary damages, costs and attorneys fees and seeks class-action status to represent other applicants. The lawsuit said that Ali, a former correctional officer, applied for a job with Securitas in September 2015. During a phone screening that October, she asked whether wearing a hijab would be an issue, the suit said. The recruitment specialist said that there should not be a problem, but in a series of emails, a regional compliance manager recommended that the specialist side step and pass on Ali, according to the suit. The mainstreaming of Islamophobia has made it much harder for American Muslims to gain employment because of religious discrimination, Faizan Syed, executive director of the councils Missouri chapter, said in a statement. We hope this lawsuit will send a clear message to all employers to follow the law and not engage in discriminatory hiring practices, he said. The Delhi Police on Thursday gave details of how an espionage ring was busted in the national capital, which led to the detention of a Pakistan High Commission staffer and arrest of two ISI spies on Wednesday. Several defence related maps and secret documents were recovered from the two spies, the police claimed. The two arrested are Maulana Ramzan Khan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Nagaur in Rajasthan. Khan is a teacher in a mosque there and Jangir ran a local business that was suffering heavy losses, police said. They (all three) were carrying out the activities for the last one and a half years, but we were keeping an eye on them for the last six months, said a senior police officer. Mehmood Akhtar, the official in the Pakistan High Commission, was briefly detained and let off because he had diplomatic immunity, the officer said. He was arrested from near the Delhi Zoo, where he was allegedly purchasing sensitive documents from an Indian national. Akhtar has been working with the Pakistan High Commission in India for the past three years. He was a havaldar in the Baloch regiment of Pakistan army (and) was later hired by ISI. (He) was working in the visa department in the High Commission They were carrying out the activities since last one and half years, but we were keeping an eye on them for the last six months, the Delhi Police said. Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Ravindra Yadav, said that all the three, caught from the Delhi zoo, were involved in espionage for over one-and-half years. The trio used to share information with Pakistans intelligence agency, ISI. On initial information after being caught red-handed, the Pakistan official showed a forged Aadhar card with which he tried to depose himself as Mehmood Rajput, the resident of Chandni Chowk. However, later he was identified by the Pakistan High Commission as its employee, Mehmood Akhtar. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over the matter and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told him that the Pakistan mission staffer has been declared persona non-grata for espionage. FS (foreign secretary) summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non-grata for espionage activities, foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter. Pak High Commission official Mehmood Akhtar, who was detained by Delhi Police crime branch over espionage charges, carried fake Aadhaar card pic.twitter.com/4QDJG7kwWE ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission in India have come under the radar for alleged espionage. Last year, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested. RSS is hopeful that the Supreme Court will give an early verdict to pave the way for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader said amid renewed focus on the issue in the run up to assembly elections in UP. The Sangh also favours a ban on Pakistani artistes amid high tensions along the borders. However, issues like prohibiting import of Chinese products should be left to society, RSS Delhi state general secretary Bharat Bhushan told mediapersons. The Ram temple is central to our faith and a temple should come up at the Ram Janmabhoomi site, which has been made clear by the Allahabad High Court verdict. It is a matter of few days, months or years. The country wants that a big temple is set up. The matter is before the Supreme Court and we expect that the court gives an early verdict in the matter. We expect this issue should be resolved early, Bhushan said. Asked about demand made by some for day-to-day hearing, he said, It has nothing to do with Uttar Pradesh elections. On banning Pakistani artistes, the RSS leader said though art is a universal subject, artistes coming here and not condemning terror and criticising those who raised the issue should be banned, especially in view of the heightened tensions along the borders. Asked if Chinese products should be banned, he said, Some things are best left to society and the issue of Chinese products should also be decided by the society and not by us. Bharat Bhushan stressed that the country should be self reliant in manufacturing all products and cited the example of RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch raising the issue of banning import of Chinese medicines. The RSS leader was speaking about the just-concluded RSS National executive meeting, where the Sangh passed two resolutions against the violent attacks on its leaders and workers in Kerala and West Bengal, besides against the spread of terrorism in the country and other problems faced by society. Britain said on Wednesday it will send fighter jets to Romania next year and the United States promised troops, tanks and artillery to Poland in NATOs biggest military build-up on Russias borders since the Cold War. Germany, Canada and other NATO allies also pledged forces at a defence ministers meeting in Brussels on the same day two Russian warships armed with cruise missiles entered the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Denmark, underscoring East-West tensions. In Madrid, the foreign ministry said Russia had withdrawn a request to refuel three warships in Spains North African enclave of Ceuta after NATO allies said they could be used to target civilians in Syria. The ships were part of an eight-ship carrier battle group including Russias sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov that is expected to join around 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast, diplomats said. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the troop contributions to a new 4,000-strong force in the Baltics and Eastern Europe were a measured response to what the alliance believes are some 330,000 Russian troops stationed on Russias western flank near Moscow. This month alone, Russia has deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad and suspended a weapons-grade plutonium agreement with the United States, Stoltenberg said, also accusing Russia of continued support for rebels in Ukraine. Those ballistic missiles can hit targets across Poland and the Baltics, although NATO officials declined to say if Russia had moved nuclear warheads to Kaliningrad. NATOs aim is to make good on a July promise by NATO leaders to deter Russia in Europes ex-Soviet states, after Moscow orchestrated the annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014. NATOs plan is to set up four battle groups with a total of some 4,000 troops from early next year, backed by a 40,000-strong rapid-reaction force, and if need be, follow-on forces. As part of that, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced a battle-ready battalion task force of about 900 soldiers would be sent to eastern Poland, as well as another, separate force equipped with tanks and other heavy equipment to move across eastern Europe. Its a major sign of the US commitment to strengthening deterrence here, Carter said. Britains Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Britain would send an 800-strong battalion to Estonia, supported by French and Danish troops, starting from May. The United States wants its troops in position by June. London is also sending Typhoon fighter aircraft to Romania to patrol around the Black Sea, partly in support of Turkey. Although we are leaving the European Union, we will be doing more to help secure the eastern and southern flanks of NATO, Fallon said. Web Toolbar by Wibiya Date: 16 October, 2016. Place: Newnan, State of Georgia, United States. On 16 October, in the small city of Newnan, Georgia, a very strange phenomenon occurred. According to a report published on specialised-in-UFO website MUFON.com, two very bright lights were seen hovering above the Georgia town. I was taking a walk in the later evening about dusk to get some steps in for the day. The sighting was around 730p EST, in Newnan, GA, about 15 miles south of Hartsfield Jackson Airport, the witness commented. The Georgia resident affirmed that there were 2 very bright lights in the sky, not airplane lights. The orb lights stood out like a sore thumb. The orbs were also closer together than any planes would be on approach to the airport, he said. Living so close to the airport, I see airplane lights all the time and know the landing patterns of the planes. They were out of the landing path from the west and east of the directions of the planes in the area, he explained. The witness also offered a detailed description of the two objects. He affirmed that the objects consisted in two very round, circular, glowing orbs, which were almost star like in colour. In addition, there was something in the middle of each of them, but [I am] not sure if it is just distortion or not. The sighting lasted for about 10 minutes. After that, both objects slowly moved to the horizon and disappeared. I started walking down the hill to my house. I as started walking each orb went in separate directions in slow controlled line, the witness asserted. It was odd to me that they were going the opposite direction of the landing patterns of the planes. They went below the tree line and didn't see them again, he added. In reference to this event, UFO investigator and writer Scott C Waring, of UFO Sightings Daily, commented: this sighting included two UFOs which stood out in the night sky. He also affirmed that a video of the event could have determined the nature of the objects. A video of them moving would really help determining if it was a UFO or something else, he stated. Draw your own conclusions For further information: http://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2016/10/two-glowing-ufo-over-mountain-tops-at.html Two Glowing UFO Over Mountain Tops At Newman, Georgia On Oct 16, 2016 Date of sighting: Oct 16, 2016 Location of sighting: Newnan, Georgia, USA News source: MUFON #79837 This sighting included two UFOs which stood out in the night sky. Unfortunately the eyewitness didn't get any video, but only had this single photo. A video of them moving would really help determining if it was a UFO or something else. Scott C. Waring Eyewitness states: 1. Where were you and what were you doing at the time? I was taking a walk in the later evening about dusk to get some steps in for the day. The sighting was around 730p EST, in Newnan, GA, about 15 miles south of Hartsfield Jackson Airport. 2. What made you first notice the object? There were 2 very bright lights in the sky, not airplane lights. Living so close to the airport I see airplane lights all the time and know the landing patterns of the planes. They were out of the landing path from the west and east of the directions of the planes in the area. The orb lights stood out like a sore thumb. The orbs were also closer together than any planes would be on approach to the airport. 3. What did you think the object was when you first noticed it? Airplanes 4. Describe the object and its actions and motions in detail. 2 very round, circular, glowing orbs. Like perfect glowing circles. Almost star like in color. After taking the pictures with an iPhone 6s +, I zoomed in to see if I can get a better look. In the middle of the orbs there seems to be something in the middle of each of them, but not sure if it is just distortion or not. 5. Describe your feelings, reactions and actions, during and after sighting the object. I always look for UFO's, so I was excited that this could be my first potential sighting. I had no other feelings other than excitement. I texted my buddy the picture and he check flightradar24 and nothing on the app showing aircraft in the area matching the two orbs in that area. I am always skeptical of ever seeing anything like this, but this was different than anything I have ever seen before. 6. How did you lose sight of the object? Total sighting was about 10 minutes for me. I wasn't 100% sure, so I started walking down the hill to my house. I as started walking each orb went in separate directions in slow controlled line. It was odd to me that they were going the opposite direction of the landing patterns of the planes. They went below the tree line (in the pictures) and didn't see them again. WASHINGTON, Oct.27, 2016 USDA today said it will fund 325 projects with $45 million through the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program to help farmers, ranchers, small businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide develop new product lines. Sam Rikkers, administrator of USDAs Rural Business-Cooperative Service, announced the grants during a visit to Leffel Roots LLC in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Leffel is receiving a $22,530 grant to develop and market bakery, cider and hard cider products. Another Wisconsin recipient, Bee Forest LLC, a logging and sawmill company in Nelson, is receiving a $250,000 grant to market, process and ship shredded bark and saw dust. "Through the Value-Added Producer Grant program, USDA Rural Development invests both in the quality of food and quality of life in rural areas," Rikkers said. "Wisconsin businesses like Leffel Roots and Bee Forest are creating jobs and growing local economies with their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit." In a news release, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called VAPGs one of USDAs most sought after funding sources for veteran and beginning farmers and rural-based businesses. These grants provide a much-needed source of financing to help producers develop new product lines and increase their income, and keep that income in their communities. Economic development initiatives like this one are working, Vilsack said, noting that the unemployment rate in rural America is at an eight-year low and that incomes rose 3.4 percent last year. Small business entrepreneurship, which Value-Added Producer Grants support, is a major reason why rural America is a making a comeback." Ferd Hoefner, policy director of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, welcomed todays announcement, pointing out that NSAC has been a major champion of the VAPG program since its creation in 2000. Value-Added Producer Grants help create small farmer-based businesses that increase farm income, generate good jobs, and improve consumer healthy food choices, Hoefner said. VAPG provides producers with the tools they need to grow new enterprises, develop new markets, and create new value chains, which helps small and mid-scale family farms reach the profit margins they need to stay in business. Read about other USDA news such as this. Sign up for a four-week free trial Agri-Pulse subscription for the latest ag and rural policy news. Hoefner also commended USDA for ensuring the program has such a wide reach, noting that the 2016 awards were well distributed throughout the country. The North Central region claimed 93 awards, followed by the South with 83, the West with 78, and the North East with 64. By sector, meat and dairy had over 100 projects, followed by fruits and vegetables with over 80, and wine, cider, juices and other beverages with 75. The awards include over 50 local-food projects, more than 30 involving organic food, a dozen grass-fed meat and pastured poultry and egg projects, and a handful of non-GMO feed grain projects. Food hubs and mid-tier value chain development projects which connect farmers to the rest of the supply chain in a way that allows farmers to receive a higher percentage of the consumer food dollar were also funded through VAPG again this year. Hoefner said USDA projections show that demand for local and regional food will become a $20 billion market by 2019 and that VAPG is an important resource in building the infrastructure and business and marketing acumen American farmers need to meet the rising demand of this market. NASC said the $45.6 million allocated for the fiscal year 2016 awards is the largest single-year award in the programs history. Approximately $35 million of the total came from the $63 million Congress provided for VAPG in the 2014 farm bill, with the balance coming from annually appropriated funds. #30 For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2016 - The Energy Department (DOE) is awarding up to $80 million for a six-year project to design, build and operate a 10-MWe (megawatts electrical) supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) test facility in San Antonio, Texas. The new facility will explore the potential energy efficiency and cost benefits of a new technology, the sCO2 Brayton cycle energy conversion systems, which promises to produce the same amount of energy from less fuel, compared to the commonly used steam and water Rankine cycle systems. Supercritical CO2 is carbon dioxide that is above its critical temperature and pressure so that it is in a fluid state In addition to decreasing CO2 emissions and operating costs by using less fuel, since sCO2 has a high-fluid density relative to steam, the new sCO2 power plants could be fitted with compact turbomachinery, DOE says, which would also help to reduce capital costs. Today the average efficiency of the U.S. fleet of steam Rankine cycle power plants is in the lower 30 percent range, DOE says. This new facility has the potential to demonstrate greater than 50 percent cycle efficiency. Learn about the benefits of subscribing to Agri-Pulse. Sign up for your four-week free trial Agri-Pulse subscription. If successfully developed, DOE says that supercritical CO2 power cycles could provide significant efficiency gains in geothermal, coal, nuclear and solar thermal power production. Currently, no commercially-feasible sCO2 facility exists for high temperature and high-efficiency system testing. Supercritical CO2 power systems have the potential to improve the efficiency and reduce the size of future power plants significantly. Smaller size and increased efficiency can lead to lower costs and fewer greenhouse gas emissions, says Franklin Orr, DOEs under secretary for science and energy. The selection of this test facility will help to further our nations climate goals by bringing us one step closer to deploying this exciting technology on a commercial scale. The six-year project will be managed by a team led by the Gas Technology Institute, Southwest Research Institute and General Electric Global Research. #30 For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2016 - Recommendations to help reduce the risk of natural gas leak incidents are featured in a new report by the Interagency Task Force on Natural Gas Storage Safety. The task force was established in the wake of last years massive natural gas leak at Californias Aliso Canyon site, located in the Santa Susana Mountains near Porter Ranch, Los Angeles. Gases escaping from a well within Aliso Canyons underground storage facility effectively doubled the methane emission rate of the entire Los Angeles Basin at its peak. In total, 97,100 metric tons of methane were released to the atmosphere, says the task force of researchers who published their findings in the journal Science. The leak, which was discovered by SoCalGas employees on Oct. 23, 2015, was permanently plugged on Feb. 18, 2016, nearly four months later. It was the largest ever gas leak from a U.S. storage facility, the researchers say. The task force, co-chaired by Franklin Orr, the U.S. Department of Energys under secretary for science and energy, and Marie-Therese Dominguez, administrator of the Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), looked at three primary areas: well integrity, health and environment, and energy reliability. Did you know Agri-Pulse subscribers get our Daily Harvest email and Daybreak audio Monday through Friday mornings, a 16-page newsletter on Wednesdays, and access to premium content on our ag and rural policy website? Sign up for your four-week free trial Agri-Pulse subscription. Among other findings, the task force recommends that, except under limited circumstances, facility operators phase out single-point-of-failure designs that contributed to the inability to swiftly control and repair the Aliso Canyon leak. Natural gas storage facility operators should also conduct risk assessments, develop and implement transition plans to address high-risk infrastructure and apply robust procedures to maintain safety and reliability while the transition to modern well design standards is occurring, the report finds. The reports recommendations are summarized in a fact sheet available here. To read the full report, click here. #30 For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2016 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $300 million to help hundreds of small businesses across the country save money on their energy costs by adopting renewable sources or implementing more efficient energy options, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He made the announcement at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, Tuesday during a meeting with several local business owners who will make use of these loans and grants. "Cutting our energy waste is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to help families save money on their energy bills while reducing harmful carbon pollution. Over the course of nearly eight years, the Obama Administration has taken strong actions to advance energy efficiency in our homes and businesses," Vilsack said. The Rural Energy for America Program alone has helped roughly 15,000 rural small businesses, farmers and ranchers improve their bottom lines by installing renewable energy systems and energy efficiency solutions, Vilsack said. When businesses lower their energy costs, they are also able to expand their services and contribute to stronger local economies." Nationwide, USDA is investing $237 million to support 423 businesses through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Recipients will use the loans and grants to install renewable energy systems such as biomass, geothermal, hydropower and solar. The funds also may be used to make energy efficiency improvements to their heating, ventilation and cooling systems; insulation; or lighting and refrigeration units. USDA is investing nearly $80 million for energy projects in Texas, which he said builds on the $100 billion commitment USDA has made in the Lone Star State over the course of the Obama Administration. Nine Texas businesses will receive more than $870,000 in REAP grants, and two businesses will receive loans of $5 million each. In Austin, the Vickery Wholesale Greenhouse Inc. is receiving a $28,238 REAP grant to install a 40.32 kW roof-mounted solar array. The electricity produced from this new installation will offset the company's annual energy consumption with an expected output of 198 million BTUs. Vilsack also announced that Pedernales Electric Cooperative of Johnson City, Texas, received an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP) loan of more than $68 million to fund system-wide energy efficiency improvements to assist a rural portion of the co-op's service territory. Pedernales' energy efficiency program will offer members low-interest loans of up to $20,000 for solar photovoltaic and energy storage equipment. Members will make loan payments through on-bill financing. The EECLP was created in November 2013 and has issued nearly $127 million in loans to cooperatives in Arkansas, North Carolina and Vermont. Keep up with ag and rural policy and energy news as it happens. Sign up for a four-week free trial of Agri-Pulse. Pedernales received its first Rural Electrification Administration loan on Sept. 27, 1938, with the help of then Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson. USDA's Rural Utilities Service, which administers EECLP, succeeded the Rural Electrification Administration in 1994. Other examples of REAP projects receiving awards include Inter-State Hardwoods in Bartow, W.Va., which is getting a $237,331 grant to replace four wood-fired boiler systems. This is expected to decrease energy consumption by 39 percent 876,000 kWh per year. Inter-State is a sawmill and wood processor specializing in hardwoods. Minnesota's Chippewa Valley Ethanol Cooperative, LLP is receiving a $250,000 grant to make energy efficiency improvements to an evaporator at an ethanol refinery. #30 For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com Afreximbank, KEXIM sign MOU; Agree on USD100m facility to boost Korea-Africa trade The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) today in Seoul entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) expected to inject $100 million to support trade between Africa and South Korea. Under the terms of the MOU signed by Afreximbank President Dr. Benedict Oramah and his KEXIM counterpart, Dr. Lee Duk-Hoon, KEXIM will make available a credit line of up to $100 million to Afreximbank to support trade transactions between South Korea and the African continent as part of a commitment by the two institutions to cooperate in matters of common interest. Afreximbank and KEXIM will also explore the possibility of establishing other financing schemes to promote trade between South Korea and Africa. Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dr. Oramah described the line of credit as very timely, given Afreximbanks current focus on financing the import of investment goods to accelerate the structural transformation of African economies. We look forward to using the funding to pursue the urgent needs of our continent, he said. Dr. Lee, on his part, noted that in spite of current economic challenges facing most African economies, the growth prospects for the continent remained positive. He stressed the need for the two institutions to deepen their collaboration in order to boost trade and investment relations between South Korea and Africa. Established in 1976, KEXIM supports South Korea's export-led economy by providing loans and financing mega projects, thereby facilitating economic cooperation with other countries and regions. In 2015, Africas imports from South Korea stood at approximately $9.8 billion compared to $13 billion in 2014 while the continents exports to South Korea amounted to $5.8 billion in 2015 and $7.9 billion in 2014. www.afreximbank.com What is erotic? People have a seemingly endless variety of answers to that question, which is why PPD started its semi-regular series on eroticism: As PPDs multitudinous staff of editors scan the internet each day, we tag certain stories for our Eros File, and when the feeling strikes we open Actor Austin James Cleri No Light Modifier Left Untested If theres one thing that both studio and location photographers have a fetish for, its light modifiers. And why not? Light is, after all, the universal currency in photography and the more that you can direct, soften, shape and otherwise tailor Pictured is James Byrnes' home office recreated by the staff of McKissick Museum in Columbia. The 2016-17 Leadership Aiken County class is made up of 25 local professionals who represent Aiken County's business and community leaders. More Iraqi Towns Freed, But Assyrians Not Confident About Safe Return MOSUL, IRAQ -- As prayers were offered in Syriac in front of the altar of the trashed church of Mart Shmoni in the recently freed town of Bartella, more homes where Christians used to live in Iraq's north-eastern Nineveh Plain were being claimed back from the Islamic State (IS), according to World Watch Monitor (www.worldwatchmonitor.org) Qaraqosh, Iraq's largest Christian town, has been regained by Iraqi forces, sources close to the area, have told World Watch Monitor. Also known by its Syriac name, Baghdeda was home to 50,000-60,000 people (95 percent Christian) before IS invaded it in 2014. The troops now control the city center and St. Mary's Al-Tahira Syriac Catholic Church, the biggest church in the town, and Karamles, another town of significant Christian presence halfway between Bartella and Baghdeda, east of Mosul, may soon be fully in Iraqi hands. Iraqis in the area have been warned IS possibly put mines in their homes. Meanwhile, Bashiqa, another Nineveh town whose name testifies to its Assyrian roots, remains under siege, while Kurdish Peshmerga forces have regained more of the surrounding area, World Watch Monitor said. The agency also reports that fighting continues for other towns where Christians were once a majority, including Telkeif, as anti-IS forces continue their push for Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul, 10km away. Telkeif was almost entirely a Christian town before it was Arabized and the majority of its ancient Chaldeans migrated to the Detroit area, in the US - a situation replicated in varying degrees across areas and towns in Iraq and the wider Middle East. World Watch Monitor stated: "But despite images of liberating Iraqi militias ringing bells or cleaning statues of the Virgin on behalf of Nineveh's displaced Christians, the Plain's natives are not making a comeback just yet." The agency explained that long before the hot summer of 2014, when IS strove to wipe out every remaining Christian vestige from those ancient lands, Iraqi Christians have seen the country they called home turning increasingly more hostile towards them. The agency says Iraq's Christian presence has been rapidly declining in recent decades. In the early 1990s, one and a half million Christians reportedly lived in the country. Today, at most 250,000 are thought to still be living there, half of them internally displaced. A report presented in October by Christian charity Open Doors UK says radical groups have been working for the religious cleansing of Iraq, with the aim of making the country "purely Islamic." World Watch Monitor went on to say that Iraq's Parliament, while apparently thrilled that the Nineveh Plain is being "liberated" from the "extremist" IS, has recently voted for a blanket ban on the sale, import and production of alcohol. In a country that at least officially recognizes among its citizens indigenous groups like Christians, Yazidis, Shabaks and others, the availability of alcohol was found to be unconstitutional, as it is "un-Islamic." The World Watch Monitor report says now that the displaced may be considering their first moves back to their lost properties, Henriette Kats, analyst at the World Watch Research unit of Open Doors International, cautions against false optimism. "Of course it is to be hoped that the citizens of Mosul and of the neighboring towns will be able to return to their homes when the IS militants are defeated," she said. "[But], although many Christians are looking forward to returning, many others are distrustful and say that they do not believe they can ever live in Iraq in safety again." NGOs fear that this military offensive will lead to new streams of refugees, which in itself could cause demographic changes - further alienating the Christians from their ancestral lands. Meanwhile, Iraqi Syriac-Catholic priest Ammar told World Watch Monitor: "It's a miracle. A true miracle. We prayed a lot and God answered." These were his words in the wake of last weekend's remarkable story of seven Christian female students in Kirkuk, who hid under their beds for seven hours while soldiers from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) occupied their house. It vividly illustrates how volatile the situation in Iraq is currently. World Watch Monitor said that last weekend IS launched a surprise attack on the northern Iraqi city, supposedly to divert the Iraqi military from the battle for Mosul. While the battle to expel IS from Iraq has begun, Christians still fear IS attacks, even in cities and villages deemed safe. The news agency explained that since Kirkuk has been under the protection of Kurdish forces for over two years, Iraqi churches deemed it safe enough to send displaced Christian students there to study at Kirkuk University. Father Ammar told World Watch Monitor contacts how 50 female students and eight nuns lived there in church-rented houses. Last weekend, completely unexpectedly, an IS militia bombed and stormed that part of the city. "Suddenly their street was filled with IS warriors, shouting 'Allahu akbar' [Allah is the greatest]. Most students were able to leave their houses in time, but seven girls couldn't," Father Ammar said. "They texted me in the evening; they were terrified: 'We are in danger. Please come for us.' At least four IS soldiers had entered their house. The girls had gone to their bedroom, and were hiding under their beds, covered in blankets." IS is known to rape and enslave non-Muslim women, to kill them brutally or to use them as human shields. All those thoughts must have gone through the heads of the seven while they waited in the dark for hours, trying to lay still and not make any sound. After the girls notified their church leader in Erbil, he set the wheels in motion to save them. People started praying, and the church reached out to the Iraqi and Kurdish forces, asking them to save the girls. While the rescue was being planned, Fr. Ammar stayed in touch with them through texts. "All this time they were hiding under their beds, undiscovered by IS. At some moment the IS warriors even entered the bedroom, to pray and to care for one of their soldiers who'd got hurt. Luckily the electricity was cut off, so it was dark. Nevertheless it was a miracle the girls weren't discovered," he said. World Watch Monitor said that after three or four hours, Iraqi soldiers liberated the house and the girls were taken to safety. Arriving in Erbil a few hours later, they were greeted with cheers. "In the end, none of the students or nuns were injured. Praise God for that," said Fr. Ammar. However, shortly after the IS soldiers left the house, one blew himself up. The news agency stated that now that IS is being hunted and cornered by Iraqi, Kurdish and international forces, Christians and others in Iraq can be vulnerable even in apparently secure areas: they fear IS sleeper cells may pop up elsewhere in Iraq, in an effort to destabilize the country. Please pray for the safety of Christians in the region as the military campaign to recapture lost territory progresses. Photo captions: 1) The heavily damaged and burned Tahira (Immaculate) Syriac Catholic Church in Baghdeda. (World Watch Monitor). 2) The graffiti reads, 'No god but Allah [The Islamic proclamation of faith] is above [greater than] than the cross', though, ironically, it can also be read as 'He who's on the cross is God and no other'. (World Watch Monitor). 3) Archbishop Boutros Moshi (left) and Archbishop Nicodemus Sharaf (second from left) greet one of the students saved from IS. (World Watch Monitor). 4) Michael Ireland With ISIS on the Retreat, What's Next for Iraq's Beleaguered Assyrians? Soldiers from the Nineveh Plains Protection Units pose with a priest and a cross along with the Iraqi flag. Credit: Nineveh Plains Protection Units. With Iraqi forces on the march to liberate Mosul from the grips of the Islamic State, Iraq's beleaguered Assyrian Christians have renewed hopes of returning to their ancestral homeland in the Nineveh Plains region surrounding Mosul, the country's second largest city. Since the beginning of recorded history, the Assyrians, along with other ethno-religious minorities, have lived in northern Iraq's Nineveh Plains. In 2014, they were conquered by the Islamic State and forced to flee or be killed. In the latest development on Oct. 24, Iraqi troops swept into the predominantly Assyrian Christian town of Karemlash, located about 18 miles southeast of Mosul. Before that, Iraqi special units had also captured the Assyrian Christian town of Bartella and entered Iraq's largest Christian city, Qaraqosh, home to around 50,000 Christians prior to 2014. Working alongside the Iraqi Army's 9th Armored Division are the Nineveh Plains Protection Units (NPU), an ethnic Assyrian fighting force which is part of the effort to liberate their homeland during the Mosul offensive. So far, several villages and towns formerly under the Islamic State's control have been liberated. After Assyrian Christian fighters liberated Bartella, they defiantly erected a cross atop Mar Shmony, a church located in the eastern part of town. Jeff Gardner, director of operations at Restore Nineveh Now, explained the founding of the NPU. "Just over two years ago, as the Islamic State was ravaging northern Iraq and terrorizing the Assyrian nation, the American Mesopotamian Organization (AMO), which launched the Restore Nineveh Now Foundation (RNNF), and members of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM), sat down and resolved that if Assyrians in Iraq where going to have a future, they had to take matters into their hands," Gardner told JNS.org. "In an historic move, AMO and ADM decided to form and launch the Nineveh Plains Protection Units, or the NPU," he said. While an estimated 14,500 displaced families are expected to return to their villages in the Nineveh Plains, the Iraqi Christian Relief Council (ICRC) recently started its Operation Return to Ninevah campaign to raise funds for their needs, said Juliana Taimoorazy, ICRC's founder and president and a fellow at the Philos Project. Besides the urgent need for humanitarian supplies, houses will be de-mined by the Iraqi Golden Division, a special operations brigade, as the Islamic State booby trapped most of the homes when they overtook the area. The Nineveh Plains Taimoorazy, a Christian Zionist, explained to JNS.org that many Assyrian Christians look at the Ninevah Plains as a spiritual destination, much like Jews view Jerusalem. "Just like the Jews went back to their homeland, we have the right to return to a homeland that has been ours for 6,700 years, and it's [been] our national dream for 2,400 years," she said. Taimoorazy urged Christians and Jews to embrace and support returning Christians to their decimated homeland. This area of Iraq is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Christianity arrived in modern-day Iraq by Jesus's Apostle St. Thomas during the first century C.E. Christians represented a majority of the population until the 14th century. Since then, they have splintered off into numerous churches, with the largest denominations being the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East. Most Iraqi Christians are Assyrian and considered direct descendants of many ancient Mesopotamian civilizations frequently mentioned in the Bible, such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians and Assyrians. A safe haven for Assyrian Christians and other minorities As Iraqi forces continue to liberate Assyrian Christian villages, the debate has begun over what's next for them and other persecuted minorities in northern Iraq including the Yazidis, Turkmen and Shabak. The push to form a safe haven for these minority groups, centered on the Nineveh Plains, is gaining ground. "The Iraqi Constitution and the Iraqi government, not to mention the Iraqi minorities, support the idea of a safe haven that will transition to a self-administering province inside Iraq," Robert Nicholson, executive director of the Philos Project, told JNS.org. "Unless the U.S. takes the lead, the safe haven will never emerge," he said. "Fog of war and competing interests make it unlikely that things will just play out in the minorities' favor. It was our invasion in 2003 that commenced their flight from Iraq. It should be our policy now to facilitate their return." In September, U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting the creation of a safe haven in Iraq's Nineveh Plain region. The Iraqi Council of Ministers and Iraq's President Jalal Talabani back the idea of forming such a province for Iraq's minorities. "All we're doing is supporting the effort . . . A lot of people say, 'You are trying to create a Christian ghetto,' which is not true," Taimoorazy said. "This is a province for all minorities supporting what the people on the ground want. We don't want to break away from Iraq, we're not looking for independence like that. We want to live in a federated Iraq, but not under the Kurdish regime, we do not want to be under the KRG [Kurdish Regional Government]." Meanwhile, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Sargis Sangari cautioned that the clearing operations in the Nineveh Plains will likely render most of the cities as uninhabitable as the Iraqi army has little interest in preserving these areas. Sangari serves as CEO of the Near East Center for Strategic Engagement and is currently in Iraq coordinating the various Assyrian Christian groups. "If you are the Iraqi army, you're not going to go house-to-house to fight for these villages and take on heavy casualties," he said. For the Assyrians to preserve their way of life, the various Assyrian churches, political parties and military forces must unite to form a strong voice for Christianity in the Middle East. "Our recommendation to the Christian churches is that to unite and support the Assyrians," Sangari said. "When you do this you become a stronger force, it is no longer a religion against another religion. The Assyrians are a key to peace in the region. Their historical homeland was designed by God. The Assyrians' homeland needs to be saved." Who Are the Assyrians? This statue depicts the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal carrying a basket of earth on his head. The relief and text depict the king as a builder, helping to rebuild Esagila, the temple of Marduk at Babylon. It dates to around 668 BC-655 BC. ( Owen Jarus) The Assyrians are a people who have lived in the Middle East since ancient times and today can be found all over the world. In ancient times their civilization was centered at the city of Assur (also called Ashur), the ruins of which are located in what is now northern Iraq. The city had a god that was also called Assur or Ashur. The territory that the Assyrians controlled could be vast, stretching at times from southern Iraq to the Mediterranean Coast. The city of Assur first gained its independence about 4,000 years ago. Before independence the city was controlled by a people known as the Sumerians and only gained its independence after the Sumerian civilization declined. Modern-day scholars often divide Assyrian history into three periods: the Old Assyrian, Middle Assyrian and Neo-Assyrian periods. The timespan that each period covers is a source of debate among scholars. Old Assyrian Period The "Old Assyrian" period generally refers to the time after Assyria first gained independence around 4,000 years ago. Ancient texts indicate that Assyria's size and power were limited in the period after it gained independence. Its early rulers didn't refer to themselves as a "king" in their inscriptions. Instead they called themselves a "vicegerent" (a word that can mean "governor") of the god Ashur. "Erishum, the vicegerent of the god Ashur, son of Ilushuma, vicegerent of the god Ashur, built the entire temple area of the temple of the god Ashur..." reads part of an inscription found on an Assyrian temple's stairway (translation by Albert Kirk Grayson). Why Assyria's early rulers used such modest titles is a mystery that scholars are still trying to understand. All pretense of modesty came to an end when a ruler named "Shamshi-Adad" (sometimes spelled Samsi-Adad) conquered, or otherwise took over, Assur, adding the city to an empire that controlled a vast swath of territory across modern-day Iraq and Syria. Study of inscriptions and archaeological remains indicate that Shamshi-Adad lived sometime around 3,800 years ago and based himself not at Assur but at a site in Syria which is now called "Tell Leilan." Rather than giving himself a modest title, as the earlier Assyrian rulers had done, he instead gave himself a title which scholars often translate as "king of the universe." Shamshi-Adad's empire did not last for long. After his death the Babylonian Empire, led by Hammurabi, and a kingdom known as "Mittani" or "Hanigalbat" took over Shamshi-Adad's lands. Ancient records indicate that by 1500 B.C. the city of Assur was heavily influenced (if not directly controlled) by Mittani. Middle Assyrian Period During the 14th century B.C., the Kingdom of Mitanni began to fade and those in charge of Assur began to assert the city's independence. Modern-day scholars often call this period of newfound Assyrian independence the "Middle Assyrian" period. At the start of this period Assur-Uballit I (reign ca. 1363-1328 B.C.) conquered territory near Assur and sought diplomatic recognition of his status from the kings of Egypt and Babylonia. His successors further enlarged Assyrian territory. Adad-nirari I (reign ca. 1305-1274 B.C.) conquered Mitanni, taking over a kingdom that had ruled Assyria a century earlier. Adad-nirari I claimed that he "sowed salt over" the Mittani capital of Taidu and imposed labor obligations on the city's survivors. He constructed a palace over Taidu saying that he built it "from top to bottom" and deposited a stelae to mark his control of the city (translation by Albert Kirk Grayson). Adad-nirari I also used the title "king of the universe" to describe himself, a title which future Assyrian kings would also use. Ancient records say that the successors of Adad-nirari I continued to expand Assyria. The Assyrians conquered Babylon during the reign of Tukulti-Ninurta I (reign ca. 1243-1207 B.C.) and reached the Mediterranean coast during the reign of Tiglath-Pileser I (1114-1076 B.C.). Tiglath-Pileser marked the achievement by bringing back cedar wood for building projects. The martial prowess and skill of the Assyrian kings continued to be emphasized in ancient inscriptions. Tiglath-Pileser I boasted in one inscription that "altogether I conquered 42 lands and their rulers" from across the Middle East, adding that he was a "valiant man" with an "unrivalled bow" who was such a good hunter that "I killed on foot 120 lions with my wildly vigorous assault" (translation by Albert Kirk Grayson). However, inscriptions from Tiglath-Pileser's time, and that of his successors, point to problems Assyria was experiencing. Cities and civilizations across the Middle East were collapsing as a group of people from the Aegean arrived in the region, displacing local populations and collapsing trade networks. Assyrian records indicate that Tiglath-Pileser and his successors frequently fought against the Arameans, a group of people who were displaced or otherwise caught up in the chaos. In the two centuries following Tiglath-Pileser's conquest, Assyria's territory gradually contracted, the kingdom retaining control of Assur and territory near it. Assyria didn't expand again on a large scale until the 9th century B.C. Neo-Assyrian Period The time period from the 9th century B.C. (when the Assyrians started expanding again) to the destruction of the Assyrian Empire (before 600 B.C.) is often called the "Neo-Assyrian" period by modern-day scholars. During this time the territory that Assyria controlled reached its greatest geographic size. Under Ashurnasirpal II (reign 883--859 B.C.) the Assyrians reconquered much of the territory that they had once controlled, again reaching the Mediterranean coast. In recognition of his achievements, Ashurnasirpal II constructed a new palace at the city of Nimrud and used this city, rather than Assur, to control Assyria. This policy of the king keeping himself some distance from Assur would be continued by future Assyrian kings. Sargon II (reign ca. 721-705 B.C.) founded a new city called Khorsabad, making it his capital, while Sennacherib (reign 704--681 B.C.) constructed a new palace at Nineveh, moving the Assyrian capital there. Why Ashurnasirpal II and his successors chose to distance themselves from Assur, the traditional capital city of Assyria, is a source of debate among scholars. Throughout Assyria's history the king wasn't the only one jockeying for power over the kingdom notes Karen Radner, a professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit EU Parliament Votes To Protect Christians In Iraq After ISIS Is Defeated A resolution to protect religious minorities including Christians and Yazidis in Iraq following the expected defeat of ISIS has been passed in the European Parliament. The European People's Party Group, the largest political group in the European Parliament, tabled this week a joint motion for a resolution in Iraq once the offensive to retake Mosul from Islamic State is completed. The resolution passed on Thursday morning by an overwhelming majority, with 488 votes in favour, 11 against, and around 100 abstentions. Charlie Weimers of the Swedish Christian Democrats told Christian Today it was "now or never" for religious minorities in Iraq. The motion highlighted ISIS' "draconian regime in Mosul", the jihadist group's last stronghold in Iraq. It noted that those who have managed to escape the city "report that people are starving and desperate to be liberated" and "strongly condemned" mass executions perpetrated by militants. The motion also said the Nineveh Plain, Tal Afar and Sinjar regions have been "the ancestral homeland of Christians (Chaldeans/Syriacs/Assyrians), Yazidis, Sunni and Shia Arabs, Kurds, Shabak, Turkmen, Kaka'i, Sabaean-Mandeans, and others where they lived for centuries in a spirit of general pluralism, stability and communal cooperation despite periods of external violence and persecution, until the beginning of this century". Before the Iraq invasion of 2003 there were more than 1.5 million Christians living in Iraq. There are now believed to be only around 200,000. "The extinction of these minorities in the region will have a further destabilising effect," the resolution said. The European Parliament in February recognised the atrocities committed by ISIS against religious minorities including Christians, Yazidis and Turkmen as genocide. Member states must ensure "the necessary security conditions should be ensured for all those who have been forced to leave their homeland or have been forcibly displaced, to make effective their right to return to their homelands as soon as possible", the motion continued. Article 125 of the Iraqi constitution gives religious minorities the right to have their own province, and this was guaranteed by the Council of Ministers in January 2014. The motion urged member states to "give their practical and diplomatic support to a sustainable and inclusive post-conflict structure for the region, with particular reference to the possibility of an autonomous province including the Nineveh Plain, Sinjar and Tal Afar, to be politically presented by the indigenous peoples of the region". Groups acting on behalf of religious minorities in Iraq have long called for a self-governed province to be created in the Nineveh Plain post-ISIS. "The coming liberation of Mosul is... the defining moment when it comes to the future of Iraq's indigenous peoples," said Lars Adaktusson, who initiated the resolution. "Now that Islamic State is on its way to being driven out of Mosul, it is indispensable that the EU, together with other countries, shows solidarity with minorities and, within the framework of Iraq's federal structure, formulates an action plan on the future of Christians, Yazidis and Turkmen. "That means the creation of maximum regional autonomy in Northern Iraq for Christians -- Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians -- Yazidis and Turkmen indigenous populations, and providing the necessary training support and security guarantees, including support for local security forces, in order for such an administration to be politically, socially and economically viable." Though the motion is non-binding, there is precedent for the European Parliament to take action following the passing of such resolutions and the European Commission is obliged to respond at a later stage. When the resolution branding ISIS' actions a genocide was passed earlier this year, an amendment to the motion called for the appointment of an EU special representative for the freedom of religion and belief. Although this, too, was non-binding, the Commissioner appointed someone to the position in May. After today's vote, Adaktusson told Christian today he was "very happy" with the support showed in Parliament. "The important issues the resolution is dealing with have been highlighted," he said. "We need on the European side to take responsibility and do what we can in order to stabilise the situation [in Iraq] and make it possible for refugees and IDPs to return to their homelands." Though the resolution is non-binding, it will "mean a lot" to religious minorities in the Middle East, Adaktusson added. "The Christian groups, Assyrians, Syriacs and Chaldeans, as well as Yazidis and Turkmen have been fighting for autonomy within the framework of the Iraqi Constitution for a long time. Nineveh was upgraded to a province just prior to the invasion of Islamic State in 2014, so this has been an issue for a long time for these groups," he said. The passing of the resolution shows both political and moral support for persecuted minorities, he said. "I also think it's necessary to underline that if we want to preserve the Christian heritage, if we want to keep the Christian tradition within this region, it's essential that these groups will be able to return, and that's not possible without international support." October 27, 2016 The European Union Parliament passed a resolution Oct. 25 calling for normalization of relations with Iran a decision that Tehran cautiously welcomed. In response to the resolution, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that the EU Parliament seeks "renormalization and expansion of long-term relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran." He added, "This shows the positive will of the European entity for extending and deepening all-out bilateral relations with Iran." However, the day after the resolution passed, the chief of the Iranian judiciarys Human Rights Council, Mohammad Javad Larijani, said, There are a lot of flaws in the resolution. The document regards Iran as a market for the sale of European goods. Noting the EU's plans to establish an office in Tehran, Larijani added, It would be no problem if this office pursues trading issues, but they have stated that after establishing the office, they want to establish close contacts with human rights advocates so they can ensure the process of human rights implementation. Thus, they should know that the judicial system will definitely not allow such a nest of corruption to be established in Iran. During a joint press conference Oct. 26 with his visiting Finnish counterpart, Sauli Niinisto, President Hassan Rouhani expressed Irans willingness to enter into further dialogue with the EU. Reformist Etemaad newspaper, in its Oct. 27 edition, described Rouhanis remarks as "a green light for the EU. Furthermore, in an Oct. 27 interview with Vaghaye Etefaghie newspaper, spokesman Qassemi reacted to Larijanis remarks on the judiciary opposing an EU office in Tehran, saying, The permission [for such a move] is given by the administration. Most EU countries have embassies in Tehran, and in fact, the mentioned office is similar to an embassy. Hinting at the upcoming Iran-EU human rights talks, Qassemi emphasized that the development of the relationship between Iran and the EU is not conditioned on human rights issues. The hard-line Kayhan newspaper asked in an Oct. 27 headline, "Is the EU seeking normalization of ties or meddling in Irans affairs?" The story continued, The European Parliament passed the resolution for normalization of ties with Iran, but there are still items in the document [showing] Western countries meddling in Irans internal affairs. The conservative Mizan news agency, which belongs to the judiciary, published a report Oct. 26 under the headline, The European Parliaments issuing of a document for Irans slavery. The article argued, The EU Parliament resolution provides grounds for cooperation with Iran, but it urges that the cooperation be based on talks that should push Iran toward a more appropriate behavior in the region, observing human rights and economic transparency. In reality, the conditions that Europe has set for normalization of ties with Iran are exactly the [same] policies and demands that the United States has [of Iran]. This cooperation document, which in reality is a document of slavery, shows that Europe has still not separated its way from the United States. However, conservative member of parliament Hossein Naghavi Hosseini believes the precise opposite. He told Iran's parliament-affiliated news agency ICANA Oct. 26, The [EU Parliaments] resolution for expanding relations with Tehran shows the gap between Europe and the United States. Europe is trying to define its relationship with Tehran separate from Washington. In contrast, Mehdi Motaharnia, a political science professor at the Islamic Azad University, told the Reformist Hamdeli newspaper Oct. 27, Europes negotiations with Iran have been conducted following a green light from the United States. He added, Despite the European Unions disagreements with the United States, it defines itself from a base, which is the Western front. October 26, 2016 Ever since taking office, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has come under increasing pressure from hard-liners who have been trying to tie his administration to the infiltration project of the enemy. The code word infiltration has especially been used in relation to the arrests of dual nationals. In what some have deemed as pushback against this pressure, the debut screening Oct. 25 at the University of Tehran of a film about jailed Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and the ecosystem of Iranian startups was canceled, causing outrage among hard-liners. Dubai-based Namazi was arrested soon after arriving in Iran last year and was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison on the charge of cooperation with the hostile government of America. His father, Baquer Namazi, who was detained in February, was handed the same sentence. According to the conservative Sobhe-No newspaper, the film dubbed "Shabnaameh" (Secret Pamphlets) narrates the story of the activities of a Telegram channel ... which disclosed an espionage networks infiltration of entrepreneurs. The Telegram channel, which is also called Shabnaameh and is run by those behind the film, has over the past year accused a series of journalists, political activists and entrepreneurs both inside and outside Iran of being part of an infiltration plot. It has also suggested imminent developments in court cases kept under close wraps, which have later materialized. This has led to speculation that Shabnaameh is linked to the security services responsible for the detention of Namazi and other dual nationals. Mohammad Saeed Karbasi, director of the self-styled documentary, said Oct. 25, Before making Shabnaameh, we were involved in startup [activities] in which a series of summits were held, and we took part in them. Some of the people who attended these summits spoke about subjects that we sensed are notable. Karbasi dismissed speculation that the security services are behind "Shabnaameh." Sobhe-No claimed Oct. 26 that the screening of "Shabnaameh" at the University of Tehran was stopped due to pressures of high-level [officials] outside the university. Pointing the finger at the Rouhani administration, Sobhe-No wrote, After the University of Tehrans issuing of permission for the screening, some governmental institutions that are outside the university sought the cancellation of the screening through the office of the vice presidency for science and technology. However, the cultural deputy of the chancelor of the University of Tehran told the official IRNA news agency Oct. 25 that "Shabnaameh" didnt have the required permissions to be screened from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Criticizing the cancellation of the screening at the University of Tehran, Mehdi Mohammadi, a hard-line pundit and member of the nuclear negotiating team of failed presidential candidate Saeed Jalili who just so happens to appear in "Shabnaameh" wrote on his Telegram channel, A wide network ... in Iran exists that is directly related to the US, and its goal is to conduct security activities under the cover of civic activism, entrepreneurship, and so on and so forth. Hinting at the Rouhani administration, Mohammadi added, Gentlemen, whether you want it or not, the documentary will be unveiled. The issue is who is worried [about the screening] and why? Using Who has become worried about 'Shabnaameh'?" as its headline, hard-line Javan newspaper protested the cancellation of the screening of the film, which it described as having revealed the infiltration project of the enemy. In this vein, Javan described the cancellation as a cover-up policy while insisting that reality will be unveiled at last. It then eerily echoed the tagline of "Shabnaameh": Strange days are ahead. After being barred from the University of Tehran, "Shabnaameh" made its debut at the conservative-run venue Howze Honari in downtown Tehran a few hours later. Meanwhile, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi, who was summoned to parliament over several matters, including Utah Sen. Jim Dabakis recent trip to Iran, said Oct. 25, The Intelligence Ministry pays close attention to the infiltration issue. ... But we should note that using the issue of the enemy infiltration as a tool in the service of political interests is disloyalty to the warnings of [Supreme] Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei], and it will be problematic while we want to deal with it. He emphasized, Closing the gates of the country is not necessary to counter infiltration, just as the way to [counter] the infiltration of insects in ones home is not through depriving [oneself] from the spring weather and closing ones windows. In response, hard-line parliament member Javad Karimi-Ghodousi said, Infiltration means the evil network of Siamak Namazi, who had been promoted to advising the hegemonic [US] system. His father was a member of the [exiled Pahlavi] royal family and pursued the project of restricting the [current young] generation in Iran [from having children]. Siamak Namazi was responsible for this project. In another sign of pushback from the Rouhani administration, the intelligence minister apparently cleared Abdol Rasul Dori Esfahani a member of the nuclear negotiating team of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of espionage allegations. Dori Esfahani had been arrested in August and was described by some hard-liners as an infiltrating spy. Deputy parliament Speaker Masoud Pezeshkian said, According to the views of the Intelligence Ministry's experts, Mr. Dori Esfahani was not engaged in spying." October 26, 2016 Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) claims Israel has dramatically toughened its policy on granting permits to sick Palestinians needing life-saving treatment in Israeli hospitals, among them many cancer patients. This, despite the fact that the Palestinian Authority (PA) pays in full for every patient referred by its Health Ministry for care in Israel. Attorney Mahmoud Abu Arisha, in charge of the organizations occupied territories department, told Al-Monitor that over the past six months PHR has received 158 appeals from severely ill Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank whose requests for treatment in Israel were turned down by the Shin Bet security agency. Naturally, not all people turn to PHR when their requests for entry permits are denied. Thus, the organization estimates that the number of requests refused by the Shin Bet is much higher than that. In 2015, in comparison, the organization received 48 such appeals over the entire year, and only 23 the year before. Over the past few years, he said, Palestinians have submitted annually about 1,300 requests for entry permits to Israel to benefit from life-saving treatments in Israeli hospitals. According to PHRs data, during these past years, more than 10% of the requests were turned down on grounds of being a security threat. But in the past few months, the organization has detected a surge in the number of rejections. Absent a medical alternative in the West Bank, and even more so in the Gaza Strip, denying Palestinians medical treatment in an Israeli hospital is effectively a death sentence. Nonetheless, it should be noted that more than 1,000 severely ill Palestinians reach Israel every year and doctors fight to save their lives, very often successfully so. We want to know what it means when someone is denied a permit on the grounds of being a security threat. Often we come across patients who were allowed to enter Israel for treatment one week, but were denied the next week. We sense that this argument is being misused, because if any of the patients family members are involved in activity that threatens Israelis security, the entire family is automatically turned down by the Shin Bet, Abu Arisha said. He also noted that the organization has documented cases of Palestinian patients who died while awaiting the treatment denied to them by Israel. Abu Arisha said that last year, the organizations repeated appeals to Israeli authorities yielded entry permits to 60% of the cases that were referred to them. And if this is the case, why were these people considered beforehand a security threat suddenly cleared for entry? Why were they suddenly turned into people who are no longer a security threat? Attallah al-Abit, 31, is hospitalized in critical condition at the Rentisi Cancer Hospital in Gaza. All his requests for permission to travel to Israel for treatment have been denied. His father, Ziad, told Al-Monitor his son was injured in Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014 by a missile that hit a group of pedestrians in Gaza City on their way to seek shelter from the fighting between Hamas and Israel at one of the hospitals run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Two of his cousins, ages 12 and 14, were killed; he was gravely injured. Abit was taken to Israels Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, where he was treated for three months. They told him to go home for a while until his body grows stronger before undergoing another operation. He returned home and then his condition deteriorated and it turned out his liver has been damaged and contained cancerous cells. Since then all his requests for an exit permit [from Gaza to Israel] have been denied, his father said. He has submitted 12 requests to transfer his son from the hospital in Gaza to Israel, but all have been rejected. Meanwhile, his son is in a medically induced coma. Even an appeal by the director of the department at Hadassah where his son had been treated, Dr. Haleile, did not sway the Israeli authorities into letting his son be moved to Hadassah to try to save his life, the father said. Abit added that at the liaison office in Gaza that passes on the Palestinian permit requests to Israels military authorities, he came across dozens of Palestinians begging for their relatives lives. At the Rentisi Hospital in Gaza he meets even more families in the same situation. People are dying. Even children. Im talking about dozens of patients who can't be saved in Gaza. At the Rentisi Hospital all they do is put patients on life support and give them pain killers. Anyone who comes to the hospital cannot remain indifferent to the scenes there. People are crying. These are unbearable sights because death is in the air and theres no answer to the prayers. Abu Arisha told Al-Monitor no treatment is available for cancer patients in Gaza, whereas in the West Bank the treatment is limited. In Gaza, chemotherapy treatments are not available due to an ongoing absence of chemicals, and there is no radiation therapy at all. In the West Bank, given the financial straits of the PA, often there is no way to supply all the needed substances, he said. He explained that the situation in the West Bank is slightly better compared to Gaza, because patients are allowed to travel to the Augusta Victoria Church Hospital in East Jerusalem for chemotherapy treatments. The mother of a 7-year-old boy from Shaati refugee camp in Gaza also wants to save her sons life. He was treated in the past at the Schneider Childrens Medical Center in the Israeli town of Petah Tikva. She told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Three years ago they found he had a tumor. At first they prevented me from going with him [to Israel] and his father accompanied him. After his condition deteriorated, the hospital in Israel asked that I come and sit with him, and I was authorized to exit [Gaza]. I came for a while and then had to go back to Gaza. His father stayed with him. After the boy underwent a series of treatments, he was sent together with his father back to Gaza for a recuperation holiday. While they were coming back, I suddenly received a phone call from the Erez checkpoint [between Israel and Gaza]. I was told to come and get the boy because his father had been arrested. He was then sentenced to two years in prison. According to the mother, since then the boys condition has continued to deteriorate. All requests for him to be moved back to Israel for continued treatment have been denied. What has the boy done? she asked. Why do they need to abuse him? He is only 7. Now I have put in another request and they tell me it is being examined. Until when? Until, God forbid, the boy dies? When he was hospitalized in Israel, the doctors had already managed to control the disease and stabilize him. Now his health is again at risk. The mother also described the liaison office in Gaza full of Palestinian families pleading on behalf of their sons and daughters to be moved to Israel for life-saving care, saying, For all of them, the refusal of an entry permit means the end; there is no chance of saving them. And that hurts. October 26, 2016 The announcement Oct. 25 on the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs internal messaging system regarding the cancellation of the meeting of the appointment committee, which was set to take place in two days in order to appoint an Israeli ambassador to Ankara, disappointed many diplomats in Jerusalem and at Israeli missions abroad. Several senior officials at the ministry submitted their candidacy for this important and desirable post, despite the many security risks involved in heading the Israeli diplomatic mission in Turkey these days. The most prominent among the potential candidates were Eitan Naeh, currently the deputy ambassador in London; Emmanuel Nahshon, the ministry spokesman in Jerusalem; Irit Ben Abba, the ambassador to Athens; and Amira Oron, the charge daffaires of the embassy in Ankara. Sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted before the cancellation of the committee meeting that Netanyahu prefers to appoint a close associate a political appointment but the ministrys announcement said that in light of the changes stemming from the resignation of the ministrys director general, Dr. Dore Gold, it was decided to wait to convene the committee until the end of the process of installing Yuval Rotem as interim director. Or, in a loose translation from diplomatic speak: Netanyahu, who also serves as foreign minister, wants to hold on to the ambassador post as a consolation prize for someone who feels put out by the changes at the top of the ministry. Either way, by delaying the appointment, the prime minister delays the last step in the normalization agreement signed and authorized on June 27; the agreement was already supposed to be fully implemented. This is a move that requires some explanation in light of the fact that Turkey already has announced the name of its intended ambassador to Tel Aviv, Kemal Okem, and that Erdogans press secretary Ibrahim Kalin said two weeks ago that he expected the ambassadors to be exchanged within a week to 10 days. This isnt the only mishap in the implementation of the reconciliation agreement, which is meant to normalize relations between the two nations, which underwent a serious crisis following the Marmara incident in May 2010. At the time, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers killed 10 Turkish citizens in a violent confrontation while taking over the Mavi Marmara as it was sailing to Gaza as part of the solidarity flotilla. Following this event, Turkey called its ambassador back from Tel Aviv and expelled the Israeli ambassador from Ankara. On Oct. 19, an Istanbul court refrained from rejecting a criminal lawsuit brought by the families of those killed on the Marmara against IDF commanders and set another hearing for December. The termination of criminal proceedings against IDF officers related to the Mavi Marmara incident is a central element of the reconciliation agreement, as part of which Israel paid $20 million in compensation for the loss of life in the takeover of the flotilla. After Yom Kippur on Oct. 13, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz paid the first official visit of an Israeli minister to Turkey since the agreement was signed. In Istanbul, Steinitz met with his Turkish counterpart, Berat Albayrak, and discussed the advancement of a gas pipeline between the Leviathan natural gas reserve off of Israeli shores and Turkey, which was one of the main incentives of the reconciliation agreement. Steinitz told Al-Monitor that the meeting with his counterpart, who is Erdogans son-in-law, was very friendly and excellent. The two also held a 45-minute meeting one on one, without advisers, in which they discussed a variety of topics related to whats happening in the region, Steinitz said. He refused to disclose more for understandable reasons. According to Steinitz, the two decided to establish a direct line between them, which would work as a channel of communication between the two governments. However, in the public speech Albayrak delivered at the energy conference immediately after he met with Steinitz, he didnt say a word about Israel or the honored guest with whom he held a historic meeting right before. Likewise, the Turkish Foreign Ministry didnt send an official notice of condolence after the Sept. 28 death of Israels ninth president, Shimon Peres. Peres worked tirelessly to advance reconciliation between the two countries, despite Erdogans outburst at him at the Davos summit in January 2009, which I previously noted here was a turning point in the Turkish leaders political evolution. Erdogan sent Feridun Sinirlioglu to Peres funeral Sinirlioglu is the former undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry who conducted the reconciliation negotiations with Israel; today he serves as his countrys UN ambassador. Sinirlioglu, who once served as ambassador to Israel, is highly respected here. But in comparison with the heads of state and ministers who came from all over the world to pay respects to the late President Peres, he was low in ranking. Israeli and Turkish diplomats who spoke with Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity each noted separately that the way Israel responded to the failed July 15 coup attempt about two weeks after the reconciliation agreement was signed angered Erdogan no less than the responses of the United States and EU nations. Israels government was very late to condemn the coup attempt. Two days later, at a government meeting July 17, Netanyahu issued a lordly statement that refrained from expressing support for Erdogan but expected that the events over the weekend, in his words, shouldnt hurt the reconciliation process. Erdogan gritted his teeth. But while he expressed vocal criticism against the United States and EU nations, when it came to Israel he bit his lips. Statements against Israel just days after signing the agreement would have made him look ridiculous to the Turkish public, as if he had made a mistake when he decided to normalize relations with Netanyahu. Thus, he held back and continued to do his part in the reconciliation process, although without extra enthusiasm. The agreement was authorized as required by the parliament in Ankara, but in the middle of the night, at the last minute before adjourning for its summer recess. Erdogan then waited several long days before adding the presidential signature that turned the agreement into law. Officials at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem raised an eyebrow when Turkey took its time in delivering the bank details for the account to which Israel ultimately transferred the $20 million in compensation to the fund for the casualties of the Marmara and their families. Jerusalem and Ankara are both sensitive to these mutual gestures. The two sides emphasize their commitment to uphold the conditions of the agreement. But both Netanyahu and Erdogan feel comfortable enough (each on his home turf) to leverage its implementation according to the domestic political needs of the moment. The two are chained to the reconciliation agreement, which they now have no option but to carry out. Nonetheless, in light of these developments, its convenient for both to let the reconciliation between their nations be a cold one. October 26, 2016 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Many Palestinians are concerned about the future of the Palestinian Authority in the absence of a stable political system and in light of the numerous Fatah leaders aspiring to assume the top seat in a post-President Mahmoud Abbas scenario. Asaad Abd al-Rahman, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, told the Jordanian al-Ghad newspaper Oct. 11 that a serious dialogue is currently underway" to appoint a vice president to prevent "many undesirable conflicts and slippery slopes. Possible candidates, Abd al-Rahman said, include Mohammed Dahlan, an Abbas rival who was dismissed as a Fatah official in 2011. He added, Many believe that Dahlan is recommended by several Arab and regional parties, more than he is supported by Fatah and its institutions, particularly following the things that happened between him and Abbas and the entire Fatah Central Committee. Nasser al-Kidwa, a member of Fatah's Central Committee and a close Dahlan associate, is also being mentioned as a result of a consensus among aspiring and other influential figures within the Central Committee," Abd al-Rahman said. Mahmoud Aloul, a Central Committee member, also told Al-Monitor that the group is "examining the legal situation regarding the appointment of a vice president and the necessary amendments to the law. He added, The vice president does not have to be necessarily from the Fatah movement. Some believe the Fatah Central Committee is trying to circumvent the Palestinian Basic Law by creating the post of vice president during the current challenges to the political system, as the terms of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and Abbas have expired. The law does not provide for a vice presidential position. Article 37 of the 2003 Amended Basic Law stipulates that if the presidency is vacated, the PLC speaker assumes power for a maximum of 60 days, "during which free and direct elections to elect a new president shall take place in accordance with the Palestinian Election Law. The current speaker is Aziz Duwaik, a Hamas official. Article 34 stipulates, The president of the Palestinian National Authority shall be elected in a general and direct election by the Palestinian people, in accordance with the Palestinian Election Law. Those who oppose creating a vice presidential position believe Abbas and other officials can't legally choose the person who would assume the presidency after Abbas vacates the role. They say the next president must be elected by the Palestinian people. Hassan Khreisheh, the PLC's second deputy speaker, told Al-Monitor Abbas "does not have the right to choose a vice president." Khreisheh explained, After President Yasser Arafat died, I was summoned to the presidential headquarters. I demanded that an emergency PLC session be held in the presence of Palestinian Chief Justice Zuhair al-Sourani. Back then, I was the first deputy speaker of the PLC. Rawhi Fattuh, then speaker of the PLC, took the oath to preside over the PA for 60 days, until a president is elected, and I became the speaker. Many amendments were added for the [2005 presidential] elections to be held, and Abbas won the elections. Another PLC session was held in the presence of the head of the Palestinian National Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization Salim Zanoun, and Sourani, during which Abbas took the presidential oath. Khreisheh now calls on Abbas to convene an emergency PLC session to form a new body through which a vice president will be selected. He added, The Palestinians have become more aware and will not agree to be led by someone they did not elect. We have a parliamentary system of governance whereby we do not allow any violation. Fatah is seeking to arrange its internal affairs by holding its seventh conference, tentatively set for Nov. 29, to select the movements head, deputy head and members of the Central Committee and Revolutionary Council. Then, the highest PLO body, the Palestinian National Council (PNC), will meet to select the PLOs new executive committee. PNC member Mahmoud Ajrami told Al-Monitor, There is a struggle for the post of vice president, and many figures think they are eligible for this post, such as Nasser al-Kidwa, Jibril Rajoub, Abbas Zaki and Mohammed Dahlan, who perceives himself as natural heir of the Fatah movement. Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf countries in particular are pushing for Dahlan to succeed Abbas. On the legality of creating the post of vice president, Ajrami added, Fatah does not have the right to monopolize the Palestinian political decision or infringe on the law. The issue is very complicated, in light of the PLC term expiration and PNC failing to meet. Alaa Abu-Taha, a professor of Palestinian law at al-Israa University, noted that while the law does not provide for a vice president, some people are demanding one "to prevent the constitutional vacuum [that would be] caused by the death of the president. On the legal impasse, Abu-Taha said, One cannot say that the Palestinian situation today is governed by the Basic Law. There is a split and the president is facing a crisis of legitimacy, as his term has expired. Also, the Palestinian system is suffering from a structural crisis. I don't think the problem of appointing a successor to Abbas will be resolved through legal and constitutional means. Palestinians still don't know what will happen after Abbas departure, particularly since things are not going well inside Fatah, which leads the PA and PLO. Many fear that chaos could arise without a well-planned transition, especially considering the political and legal problems that have been ongoing since the 2007 internal Palestinian split. October 26, 2016 RAMALLAH, West Bank About 7,000 Palestinian prisoners linger in Israeli jails, including more than 470 sentenced to life imprisonment. While many of them are married with children who are growing up without their fathers, others sometimes get married while serving long prison sentences. On Sept. 30, 30-year-old Heba Ayad from the town of Abu Dis married 40-year-old Munzer Snobar from the town of Yatma in Nablus. Snobar is detained in an Israeli prison. Ayad, who has been working at the Hurriyat Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights in Ramallah for five years, is one of dozens of young women who have married prisoners serving life sentences. Snobar was arrested on Dec. 29, 2003, and given four life sentences for participating in several military operations against the Israeli forces during the second intifada (2000-2005). Ayad told Al-Monitor that her engagement to Snobar was out of complete conviction and not out of sympathy, expressing her happiness with her decision. She first met Snobar in 2014 through a prison window while she was visiting her brother, who is also a prisoner. On April 17, 2015, his parents asked Ayads family for her hand in marriage. Ayad and Snobar were engaged for a year and a half, which they spent preparing to get married in their complicated legal circumstances. They completed the necessary paperwork and found a way to take the marriage contract into the prison for Snobar to sign it. It took four months for the International Committee of the Red Cross to get the marriage contract with Snobars signature out and deliver it to a Sharia judge, who officially married the two on Sept. 30. Speaking about why she decided to marry a man who was sentenced to life imprisonment, Ayad said, This is my conviction. We have so much mental compatibility and we love each other. We are so much alike. We love life and we do not give in to sadness. This is why we are hopeful and we do not place much importance on the long years he has to spend in prison. Ayad also spoke about her familys opinions. They did not object to my decision, but some family members advised me to think carefully about it, as I could get married and have children [with someone else]. But I refused to let anyone interfere in my convictions and my decision. After they were married, Ayad sent a request to the Palestinian Ministry of Interior to change the social status on her identification card from single to married. After this step, she could submit a request to Israel through the Red Cross to obtain a permit to visit her husband and place his ring on his finger. However, this procedure can take up to two months and she fears the Israelis will deny her request. The Red Cross works with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and is in charge of organizing family visits for immediate family members under its prison visitation program created in 1968. Ayad is concerned about getting older and not being able to have children. Since Snobar is in prison, they would have to smuggle his sperm out to perform an artificial insemination. We are not thinking about this at the moment, but eventually we will, especially since I may not be able to have children at an older age, she noted. Of the Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life in Israeli jails, 42 have already served 20 years. Another 16 have been in prison for 25 years, according to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs. Ayads story is not the first of its kind. Former prisoner Mona Kaadan, 45, from the town of Arraba in the northern West Bank, was one of the first Palestinian women to marry a prisoner with such a lengthy sentence. She got engaged to Ibrahim Aghbarieh, from the town of Umm el-Fahm inside the Green Line, in 2000. He is serving three life sentences. Kaadan told Al-Monitor, I got to know Ibrahim through my brother Tareq Kaadan during his detention. Their marriage was delayed for several reasons, one of which being that the Red Cross does not work with prisoners from inside the Green Line, as they are considered Israelis. Aghbarieh's family could not help him marry in absentia, and Kaadan could not get into the Green Line without an Israeli permit. The Israeli army had arrested Kaadan five times on charges of affiliation with the Islamic Jihad movement. She was able to marry Aghbarieh when she herself was in prison in 2008. With the help of the Yousef al-Sedeek Institute for Prisoners Protection, which submitted their marriage request to the Israeli Prison Service, Kaadan and Aghbarieh were brought to the Nazareth court on July 3, 2008, and were married. Kaadan, who was released in March, has been with Aghbarieh for 16 years now. He is almost 50 years old, and he has only served 25 years of his three life imprisonment sentences in Rimon prison for participating in an armed attack on an Israeli army camp in 1992. However, all these years have not obscured the reason Kaadan married him. She said, The main idea that encouraged me to marry Ibrahim was my belief in this message [of love.] This person sacrificed his life for Palestine, and he deserves for me to sacrifice myself for him and give him the hope he needs to carry on. However, the Israeli authorities refuse to give Kaadan a visitation permit to see her husband, as she is a former prisoner. We only communicate every once in a while through letters because Israel won't give me a permit to visit him. Last time I saw him was on May 4, 2015, when he was able to visit me while I was detained. Issa Qaraqe, the head of the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, believes the rise in women marrying prisoners means that the Palestinian people are still hopeful. He said that women who marry prisoners serving life sentences is a testament to willpower and hope, showing that they believe their detention will not last forever. Qaraqe told Al-Monitor that such marriages show that Palestinian women are faithful to the cause of the prisoners and that they express their appreciation for their sacrifices by challenging traditions and societal norms. The act, he said, is the embodiment of national and social loyalty. Sociology professor at An-Najah University Maher Abu Zant told Al-Monitor that women are marrying prisoners as an act of patriotism, sacrifice and loyalty. He noted the major social repercussions of such marriages, most importantly that the wives may never have the chance to live under the same roofs with their husbands or raise children together. Despite all of Israels attempts to stop these marriages by blocking the entry of marriage contracts for prisoners to sign and preventing the wives from visiting their husbands by withholding permits, many Palestinian women continue to hope that the prisoners will one day be released and able to live normal lives. October 26, 2016 The grand Mosul operation was launched Oct. 17 by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, accompanied by a group of tough and decisive-looking generals. There was a flurry of activity, and now there is a lot of speculation, in addition to observations, about the current and future battle plans of the Islamic State, Syria, Russia and the United States. In the first week of the offensive, about 30,000 Iraqi national army, Shiite militias and peshmerga elements, supported by an anti-Islamic State (IS) air coalition led by the United States, captured about 80 villages around Mosul, while about 6,000 IS militants counterattacked at different points. The IS operation to infiltrate Kirkuk's center via Havika and link up with their sleeper cells in the city was the most important development of the Oct. 21-24 operations. That was followed by news reports that IS had counterattacked at Rutbah in Iraqs Anbar province, not far from the countrys borders with Syria and Jordan. Then came news that an Oct. 24 IS attack against Sinjar, which dominates the vital road from Mosul to Syria, had been blocked by Yazidi forces supported by US Air Force fighters. The pace of combat operations generally slowed in the next few days. The question everyone now asks is whether IS will resist in Mosul for months as it did in Fallujah and Ramadi, or will melt away without putting up sustained, heavy resistance. First, a reality: IS seems to be acutely aware of the existential struggle it faces against peshmerga, Sunni Arab tribes of Ninevah province, Iraqs national forces and Shiite militias. IS shows signs of launching a new wave of terror with counterattacks and vehicle-borne suicide bombings. IS will likely try to create an ethnic-sectarian civil war in Iraq by sending suicide bombers to Shiite religious shrines and mosques and to disputed territories such as Kirkuk and those between Erbil and Baghdad. An analysis of the first week of the Mosul operation showed that to delay enemy advances to Mosul's center, IS resorted to hit-and-run bombing attacks in surrounding villages. More than 20 vehicle-borne bombing attacks have been recorded in Mosuls periphery since the operation's launch. To incapacitate the massing of coalition forces around Mosul, IS is distracting them with operations at Kirkuk and Rutbah, which no doubt have high prestige values. In short, IS appears determined to stay and fight. Does that mean IS will fight to the last militant in Mosul? Or will it act rationally and disengage before it becomes too expensive? I believe that the IS military leadership adheres to rational military strategies, in contrast to its fighters on the ground, who are motivated by Salafi-jihadi ideologies with an apocalyptic vision. We saw how rational IS military commanders could be when, on Oct. 16, instead of trying to defend symbolically important Dabiq against a Free Syrian Army assault backed by Turkey, they withdrew toward al-Bab. The IS military command acted rationally during their defensive period from January to June, and they are acting rationally now when they are under heavy pressure. If that is the case, what does rational military thinking call for at Mosul? That's simple: Defend as much as you can. Undermine the enemys offensive intentions. Dictate the pace. Make the combat static. Spread it over a long period to break the cohesion of the enemy, which already has the appearance of a motley collection. If there's a need to withdraw, dont hesitate to regroup, get organized and hit back. With that line of thinking, I believe IS will resist in Mosul as much as it can and then evacuate the city in phases and shift its main force to Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa in Syria or to Iraqs Sunni-populated Diyala rural terrain. IS doesnt appear ready to concede Mosul easily. According to information I received from local sources, IS reinforcements are coming from Syria, and Mosul residents are prevented from leaving so that they can be used as shields against air attacks. There are also other indications that IS intends to fight hard for Mosul, such as executing about 60 prisoners and banning cellular and internet connections to the outside world. Of course there is also the widely reported reality of hundreds of hardened IS combat positions fortified by roadside bombs, tunnels, snipers and suicide bombers. If IS militants cannot end the Mosul siege with their resistance, they will shave off their beards, mix with the civilians and foreign militants, and withdraw to other locations to regroup. Diyala rural terrain, with its desert features and hills, provides an ideal location to regroup. In a CTC Sentinel article, Alex Mello and Michael Knights predict that IS militants leaving Mosul are likely to use the Diyala region as an assembly point in Mosuls periphery to reorganize. If IS loses Mosul, then Syria, Iraq and the rest of the world must be ready to deal with the phenomenon of an IS without a state and with an ever-shrinking territory. In my Nov. 20, 2015, column titled Is the Islamic State going global?" I emphasized that there is a split in IS between "localists and globalists" over the group's defensive posture. More recently, in a July 14 column titled Is the Islamic state planning a cyber-caliphate? I drew attention to increasing IS propaganda activities in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Turkey following losses of territory in Iraq and Syria. My point was that the globalists in IS are likely to shift their activities to Turkey, to train and export cells to other countries. It is likely that if it loses Mosul, IS will alter its combat strategy and go underground, boost its propaganda operations in cyberspace and shift its training activities to Jordan and Turkey while mounting terror acts to send the message We are still strong. Finally, if IS loses more strength and becomes more of an underground terror organization, it can become a major proxy in the developing US-Russia power struggle in Syria and Iraq. The United States sees that with the involvement of Russia, the Syrian army has performed better than anticipated in its operations and is about to reach the end of the battle at Aleppo. To exhaust the Russian military and economically degrade it, the US may opt not to annihilate IS in Mosul but to let it withdraw to Syria through Mosuls west flank, which was left open. If this scheme works, then the IS fighters who regroup at Raqqa-Deir ez-Zor may form a defensive line that will prevent Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces from crossing east of an Aleppo-Palmyra line. In short, the United States, by allowing IS militants to withdraw to Syria from Mosul, may be hoping to use that organization to erode the military gains of Russia and the Assad regime. Syria and Iraq are on the verge of becoming a hot front in the global struggle for power between the United States and Russia. One cannot help but wonder whether the United States is redesigning a new Afghanistan in Syria to militarily and economically exhaust Russia. October 26, 2016 On Oct. 18, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi renewed the state of emergency for three more months. The state of emergency has been imposed since Nov. 25, 2015, in the wake of a suicide attack on a bus carrying members of the presidential guard. The Tunisian presidency said in a statement, Following consultations with the prime minister and parliament speaker, the president decided to extend the state of emergency nationwide. The decision was issued despite the fact that the security situation has improved in the country. This raises questions about the motives behind it, particularly since the state of emergency, according to Tunisian law, allows the authorities to impose a curfew and ban labor strikes and public gatherings without judicial permission. Political analyst Nizar Maqni told Al-Monitor that this renewal can be interpreted at both the security and social levels. He said, First of all, this renewal is designed to counter terrorism and terrorist operations, particularly since the threats have persisted. This is in light of the dormant cells suspicious moves in the country, especially those affiliated with the Islamic State [IS], which acts to retaliate and respond to IS defeats in Libya at the hands of the Libyan presidential and national accord government forces, or in Syria and Iraq, especially under the Iraqi armys campaign against IS in Mosul. Also, the jihadi cells are still moving. Recently [Oct. 17], a plan was disclosed to assassinate the interior minister and target sovereign centers. This is added to the security services fears about the return of Tunisian fighters from the battles, at a time when the authorities are aware that they failed to control the border entirely, which has raised security concerns in this regard. Since early October, Tunisias security services have dismantled several jihadi cells, some of which are affiliated with Ansar al-Sharia, which has been banned since 2013, while others are affiliated with IS. According to media reports, security forces arrested IS emir in Tunisia, Iskandar Freij, also known as Abu al-Bara al-Tunisi. On Aug. 24, Tunisian authorities extended the military buffer zone along its eastern border with Libya for another year. The buffer zone was created in August 2013 to prevent the smuggling of arms and ammunition from Libya to Tunisia. The last terrorist attack that targeted Tunisia was the jihadi attack in Ben Guerdane near the border with Libya in March 2016, killing 54 people. Since then, the country has witnessed a remarkable security improvement. Yet the authorities renewed the state of emergency three times since March 2016, in July, September and October. Also, Western countries reiterated their concerns about Tunisias security situation. On Oct. 20, the French Foreign Ministry called on its citizens traveling to or residing in Tunisia to exercise caution and avoid crowds. On Sept. 30, the United States warned its citizens to avoid travel to southeastern Tunisia, near the border with Libya, and to the mountains in western Tunisia. Maqni said, Second of all, the renewal of the state of emergency came at a time when the current government needs to preserve a legal argument to suppress any social movements that could break out in the country, particularly any protest against the 2017 new budget law, if approved by parliament. This law had raised controversy over higher taxes and the freezing of salary raises." The Tunisian General Labor Union, the largest trade union in the country, organized an Oct. 21 strike and a series of demonstrations throughout the country in protest against government plans to freeze public-sector salary raises in 2017. Under such social tension, the state of emergency law grants the authorities the right to ban labor strikes and social protests. Violators can be sentenced to six months to two years in prison, in addition to fines. Human Rights Watch recommended in its Oct. 6 report, Ensure that measures taken under the state of emergency are not arbitrary, are strictly necessary for the exigencies of the situation and are ended as soon as they are no longer strictly necessary and that they are carried out with respect to the rule of law and provide the affected person with access to a meaningful review of any decision restricting his or her liberties, including the right to judicial review of any form of detention. Tunisian journalist Abdul Sattar Aydi told Al-Monitor, The renewal of the state of emergency and Western embassies warnings to their nationals indicate that there are security threats in the country and in the region in general, namely the volatile situation in Libya and war on IS. Yet this renewal is a negative indicator for the country's image abroad, and it weakens its chances of attracting foreign investment, which Tunisia is in dire need of. It also reduces the chances for the restoration of tourism activity following the setbacks in the wake of the attack on the Bardo National Museum in March 2015 and the attack on a Tunisian resort in Sousse in June 2015, which killed dozens of tourists. Aydi added, It is better to lift the state of emergency for a better domestic and international impression toward the country's image and better economic growth. It does not mean [that the authorities need to] be inactive in the face of security threats; security and judicial services have in hand a law regulating the fight against terrorism, it is namely the anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering act of 2015, and they do not need [to act] under the state of emergency law to arrest suspects or dismantle terrorist cells. This is true particularly since the government can take advantage of the state of emergency law to restrict individual freedoms, suppress social protests and labor strikes, or undermine freedom of expression, publication and press. In short, Tunisia is still facing huge security threats, especially with the deteriorating situation in Libya, its eastern neighbor, and ongoing clashes with jihadi groups in the western mountains on the border with Algeria. In contrast, social, labor and civil forces have demanded that the state not use the fight against terrorism as a pretext to suppress individual and public freedoms and postpone the achievement of development. How to balance between security and freedoms remains a challenge in Tunisia. Alabama will receive nearly $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor to improve initiatives related to its unemployment program. The federal agency announced this week it has awarded about $30.4 million in grants to 39 workforce agencies in the U.S. The funds will enhance unemployment insurance program operations, assist eligible recipients, prevent and detect improper payments and modernize old technology systems. "As America's economy continues to experience the longest stretch of job creation on record, we also need to rethink how best to administer programs and resources to help people transition into gainful employment," said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Portia Wu. "These grants will help states modernize their UI programs, and ensure system integrity, so that those who qualify are receiving the support and services they need." Tara Hutchison, spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Labor in Montgomery, said her organization's Unemployment Compensation Division will use the grant in a number of ways. One of the goals, she said, is to implement a new two-part improper payment prevention strategy to identify newly-hired employees and to verify that employers are reporting them as required by law. "This should help significantly reduce improper payments related to unreported benefit year earnings," she said. ADOL will target 20,000 employers to advertise the e-SIDES Response System, which should obtain more accurate and timely information related to separation issues. Hutchison said the agency will also use the funds to continue its Tax Offset Program (TOP) to collect unpaid revenues. Spanish-speaking claimants will benefit from the grant as ADOL works to implement a new Spanish Rights Benefits and Responsibilities Book, Interactive Voice Response system for telephone weekly claims, and an online portal with information provided in Spanish. Hutchison said ADOL will finish a contingency plan to ensure unemployment compensation is functional if a disaster hits. The state will also introduce work search automation into both the Interactive Voice Response and Internet Weekly Claims systems. Work search automation will result in a "significant reduction of improper payments related to work search issues," Hutchison said. Fiscal Year 2016 Awards Funding Category Recommended Amount Improved Operations $15,913,567.06 Consortium Projects $14,509,320.59 Total $30,422,887.65 Improved Operations Projects Recommended Amount Alaska $115,722.00 Alabama $499,000.00 Arizona $83,564.00 California $500,000.00 Colorado $500,000.00 Connecticut $500,000.00 District of Columbia $500,000.00 Delaware $331,060.75 Florida $500,000.00 Georgia $500,000.00 Hawaii $500,000.00 Iowa $500,000.00 Idaho $500,000.00 Illinois $499,999.65 Indiana $497,730.00 Kentucky $500,000.00 Louisiana $500,000.00 Maryland $485,997.81 Mississippi $500,000.00 Montana $500,000.00 North Carolina $500,000.00 North Dakota $259,332.85 Nebraska $500,000.00 New Hampshire $499,534.00 New Mexico $496,520.00 New York $500,000.00 Oklahoma $500,000.00 Oregon $500,000.00 Pennsylvania $500,000.00 South Dakota $500,000.00 Tennessee $500,000.00 Utah $403,026.00 Virginia $500,000.00 Wisconsin $500,000.00 Wyoming $242,080.00 Total $15,913,567.06 This is certainly the craziest presidential election that I've ever witnessed. While money is typically only one consideration as folks decide who to cast their vote for, it is often an important one. I asked two associates Brett Norris and Foster Hyde, CFP(r), CFA to scour each candidate's website and compare their proposed changes in tax policy. Higher Income Earners Trump: Mr. Trump would lower the top individual tax rate from 39.6% for income over $466,950 ($415,050 for single filers) to 33% for income over $225,000 ($112,500 for single filers). He has also stated that he would repeal: The estate (death) tax. However, large estates would not get the step-up in cost basis, so heirs will have to pay capital gains taxes when assets are sold, but with a $10 million exemption The 3.8% net investment income surtax The alternative minimum tax He has also said that he will cap deductions at $200,000 ($100,000 for single filers). Deductions are currently phased out beginning at an income of $311,300 ($259,400 for single filers). Trump would leave the top rate on capital gains at 20%, which would apply to taxpayers with incomes in excess of $225,000 ($112,500 for single filers) versus the current $466,950 (415,050 for single filers). Clinton: Mrs. Clinton would impose a 4% surtax on taxpayers with incomes exceeding $5 million per year and would also institute the "Buffet Rule", which ensures that taxpayers earning over $1 million per year pay an effective tax rate of 30%. She plans to retain the current 3.8% surtax on net investment income. Clinton would raise the top rate on capital gains to potentially 47.7% from the current 20%. A taxpayer earning more than $415,000 would have to hold a capital asset for six years under her plan before the top capital gains rate would come down to the current rate of 23.8%. Regarding estate taxes, Mrs. Clinton would lower the estate tax exemption to $3.5 million ($7 million for married couples) from the current $5.45 million ($10.9 million for married couples) and increase estate tax rates to as much as 65% for estates exceeding $500 million. Additionally, she would do away with the step-up in basis on assets being passed to heirs. Middle Incomes Trump: Income over $75,000 but less than $225,000 would be taxed at a rate of 25% (currently 25-28%), while households earning less than $75,000 would pay 12% (currently 15%). Brackets for single filers would be half of these amounts. Furthermore, he would raise the standard deduction available to households to $30,000 ($15,000 for single filers) versus the current $12,600 ($6,300 for single filers). Clinton: She has vowed to not raise taxes on the middle class. Her current proposals would have little impact on all but high income earners and wealthy families. Lower Income Trump: His plan would expand the earned income tax credit to benefit lower-income earners and would allow families to put aside funds in tax-exempt accounts to pay for child care and education. Clinton: Clinton has proposed unspecified tax credits designed to help limit child care expenses. It appears that Mrs. Clinton would keep the current seven income tax brackets (10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, 39.6%) and, in effect, add two more (43.6% and the Buffet Rule tax) which will make an already complex tax system, more complex. Mr. Trump's proposal, on the other hand, retools the current seven brackets into a 3 bracket framework (12%, 25%, 33%); increases the amount of standard deductions being taken; and cuts several other aspects of the current tax code such as surtaxes and the estate tax, effectively simplifying the tax system. Mrs. Clinton is proposing tuition-free college (in-state public community colleges) as well as plans to provide some relief for repayment of college loans. Lawyers for the state of Alabama made their case before a judge Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to invalidate a state law that prevents cities from raising their own minimum wages. William Parker, an attorney for the state, argued that there are many reasons for the state to prevent cities from changing minimum wages, including economic theory and the fact that more than a dozen other states have passed their own laws. Further, Parker said that all cities were prevented from raising the minimum wage, no matter their racial makeup, which makes the civil rights claim faulty. The outcome of the case could determine if Birmingham gets to raise its minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, a move the city council passed in August but hasn't been enforced because of a state law passed early this year. Since then, two groups have sued, alleging the law violates civil rights. At a rally before the hearing, around 30 people gathered to show support for the lawsuit. Sherrette Spicer called taking away Birmingham's right to set its own minimum wage was a slap in the face to workers. "It's brutality to make a child think they're going to receive something (they won't). Because they didn't just take this raise from us," Spicer told the crowd. "No one deserves to work 40 hours and still have the threat of being homeless." Workers gathered in front of the Hugo L. Black United States Courthouse chanting, "Put some respect on my check," and "We can't survive on 7.25." The Rev. Lawton Higgs Sr., a retired pastor, joined the demonstrators in full clergy robes. He said he was embarrassed to be the only white clergy in attendance, saying clergy from all over town should be joining the fight for higher wages. "I'm here to speak for God, and what's most holy is economic justice," Higgs said. The Alabama National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Greater Birmingham Ministries filed the suit in U.S. District Court in April, claiming that HB 174 is tainted "with racial animus" and that is violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. They added a new claim in June: that the law violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by transferring control over minimum wages from Birmingham's officials - who were voted in by Birmingham's majority black electorate - to state officials, who were elected by a majority white electorate. The suit claims this effectively disenfranchises Birmingham's voters. The Birmingham City Council voted in 2015 to raise the city's minimum wage to $10.10 per hour through incremental raises. The Republican super majorities in the legislature's House and Senate put a bill to void the increase on the fast track, prompting the council to expedite Birmingham's raise, but the law ultimately voided the ordinance. Gov. Robert Bentley Wednesday announced seven Community Development Block Grants for DeKalb and Jackson counties during a visit to Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainsville. The money will be used to replace sewer lines and improve road conditions to speed economic development for the northeast Alabama region. "Without CDBG funding, typical improvement projects would be too costly for many communities to attempt without borrowing money or reducing existing services or programs," Bentley said in a statement. The grants will benefit Stevenson, Section, Valley Head, Collinsville, Pisgah, Paint Rock and Scottsboro. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs manage the CDBG program in Alabama from funding made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ADECA Director Jim Byard, Jr. said ADECA this year received 108 applications for projects. In all, 54 projects totaling $17.5 million have been chosen for investments. Oceti Sakowin Camp, North Dakota, US The brittle sound of hard beans rattling in pots mingles with the chatter from the next table. Diane Hart gives everyone the time of day, even if she is constantly interrupted by people popping in to see if there is food, to drop off cans of home-smoked salmon, to let her know that there is fresh buffalo available over at the main kitchen if she can send a car, or to ask for a can opener. I was beginning to think, How am I going to stay the winter? and in walks this big tall man who says I have a teepee for the elder cook here, says Hart as she chops onions for tonights dinner of Indian tacos. Anything I think we need, it just appears. Its just a blessing. Hart runs Grandmas Kitchen, which serves two free meals a day to around 100 people at Oceti Sakowin Camp in North Dakota. The camp borders Standing Rock Reservation and is the place where the Dakota Access Pipeline water protectors, as they call themselves, have been camping for months. Indigenous volunteer security guards eat beside Aztec dancers and people from China and Venezuela. The planned construction of the $3.8bn, 2,500km Dakota Access crude oil pipeline through the area has seen large protests in recent months from the Standing Rock Sioux, other Native American tribes and their allies, who say the construction would contaminate the local water supply and encroach upon tribal burial and other cultural sites. My heart was drawn to here, says Hart, explaining why she made the nearly 2,000-mile journey all the way to North Dakota from California. As soon as I heard about it, I knew I had to come. Were outside the city of LA and weve fought for our water since 1939. A lot of reservations have problems with water. I know how important water is, and I know however this ends up it will set [a] precedent. I hope it will make a difference in our water situation. Rene Rodriguez is of Puerto Rican Taino heritage and drove to North Dakota from Baltimore, Maryland, to participate in the demonstrations. For the past week he has been helping out in the kitchen and anywhere else around the camp he can be of use, chopping wood, hauling bales of hay, and picking up rubbish. Grandma provides [the] camp with nourishment and a place where people can feel comfortable. It feels like home. People call her Grandma for a reason, Rodriguez says. Preparing to move in There is a sense at the camp that things are ramping up. On Saturday, October 22, 127 people were arrested during protests. In the past few days, talk has increasingly been focused on law enforcements amassing of manpower and vehicles nearby. You have planes flying over the camp every hour, during the day and throughout the night, says Tse Chi Chad Yen, a volunteer at the camp. We have heard law enforcement build up around Fort Rice, including the calling-in of the National Guard. A few days ago through the security radio we heard that at least four busloads of police were moving towards the frontline. This past weekend a new camp was set up directly in the path of the pipeline and witnesses said they saw police vehicles gathering at nearby Fort Yates, just a few miles north. Martin Bates, a volunteer with Veterans For Peace, a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to building a culture of peace, exposing the true costs of war, and healing the wounds of war, says he saw different kinds of police vehicles from different localities amassing near the camps. Medical and security volunteer Didi Banergi says she is worried by what she has seen. I was going into Bismarck and I went by the Fort Rice military camp and I cried before I came back because I was worried Why would they have that out there? On Wednesday, October 26, law enforcement officials, seeming to confirm what the protesters and volunteers had been reporting, announced that they were preparing to move in and remove the protesters from the camp but that they wanted to avoid any confrontation and violence. We have the resources. We could go down there at any time, said Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney. [But] were trying not to. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier added that authorities would continue seeking a peaceful resolution to the situation but that they were there to enforce the law as needed. READ MORE: Outrage as Dakota oil pipeline construction resumes A place of healing Grandmas Kitchen is housed in a large canvas tent, with stoves and counter tops on one side, and on the other shelves, boxes, and a solar-powered refrigerator. Before mealtime, an elder says a prayer. Children and elders are served first. With full plates, some people make their way to the campfire, although most stand, talk and eat together beside the large pot of Indian tea. A base fund of a few hundred dollars from the Owens Valley Water Commission and a few hundred dollars from Hart helped stock the kitchen. Since then, food has come in the form of donations. Today, there is an oversized grocery bag full of elk jerky, and small handfuls of cash, such as the $140 from the woman enjoying a bowl of beans and buffalo. Hart hands $100 to her granddaughter, 21-year-old Alexeya, to pick up eggs and vegetables in town. People back home are leery and distrustful. Here there is so much personal healing going on, says Hart. Were all here and not in our own community where were judged. People are free to talk about their problems in a way they never would back home. I met one man who was addicted to meth when he came here, she says. He has been here one month and had no cravings. The young men out here are so needed and theyre learning theyre appreciated. Theyre learning their self-worth. Hart spent much of her youth with her grandparents on the Bishop Paiute Reservation, in the Owens Valley north of Los Angeles. The first morning when I was here I saw a young boy racing up the hill on a horse with no saddle. When I was little, 58 or 59, my grandfather would tell me that someday all the natives were going to unite and be one tribe. We would rise again not a war with guns but a different kind of war, Hart recounts. That first morning it hit me like a thunderbolt. This is what my grandfather was talking about. He always hoped I would be alive to witness it. But the pipeline is closing in on the river that people have come here to protect. Its too damn close, Rodriguez says. We need more prayers and to be more active. If they cross the water all isnt lost, but they got in and we didnt stop them. Rodriguez, who served in the combat engineer unit of the army, says he took an oath to protect his nation from foreign and domestic threats. That respect I cannot combine with what some politicians are doing. Hart thinks the main push is coming soon. I am just hoping we can stop the black snake. As it nears the river things will get more and more intense, more and more volatile. Im praying no lives are lost. Prayer and spirit will succeed. It remains to be seen what will happen if the pipeline jumps the river. I just hope we dont have to find out, says Hart. Since the beginning of the uprising in Kashmir, volunteers have been helping at hospitals and offering free schooling. Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir When Kashmir erupted into protests on July 9, over the killing of rebel fighter Burhan Wani, ambulances began ferrying critically injured people to Srinagars SMHS Hospital. Intended only for transportation and with no life-support systems on board, they often carried as many as four patients. By the time they reached the hospital, some had already died; others were clinging to life. The hospital had never before witnessed such a rush. An army of volunteers arrived to help, unloading the wounded from the ambulances, putting them on stretchers and rushing them to operating theatres. Irshad Bashir, 20, a business administration student from Srinagar, came with his friends. Eleven weeks later, they were still volunteering at the hospiral, preparing soup for the patients and their families at one of several volunteer camps set up on the premises. On the first day we could only offer water to people, he said. [The] next day we collected money and bought some juice. But we wanted to do more. As donations poured in, Bashir and his 18 friends formed a fully fledged free kitchen. They named it Shehri Khaas Youth Welfare Relief Camp. READ MORE: A journey into the heart of Kashmirs crisis As Bashir spoke, Mohammad Umer, an engineering student, hauled cooking gas cylinders on a disused stretcher. Another volunteer, Tahir Ahmad, an undergraduate commerce student, washed dishes; somebody else prepared food packs. The camps daily offering to the patients and staff included tea, lunch at 1.30pm, mutton soup for patients at 6pm followed by dinner for everyone at 7.30pm. We have been doing this every day for the past two months. I dont know how much money we have spent. People came and gave us money, sheep, rice, vegetables and trust me, we have surplus supplies, Bashir said. Behind a makeshift wooden counter, Sajad Ahmad Zaz, a medical representative, explained the dosage of an antibiotic to the mother of a wounded boy. She said that she wouldnt have been able to afford the medicine had it not been for the volunteers. Zaz volunteers for Athrout, a local NGO whose name means helping hand. It had been difficult for the hospital to provide medicine to the high number of injured, he explained. READ MORE: The doctors treating Kashmiris blinded by pellets Free schooling and supplies People have come together in other ways, too. In villages and towns, community funds have been established to help the needy, while volunteers have opened free schools in homes, mosques and wedding halls. It would seem as if someone was organising all of this but no one is. Our past experiences and the repression we have faced have made us into a very cohesive community, said Nasir Patigaru, who has been teaching at a community school in Anantnag, a town in south Kashmir. Five such schools have been running there for the past two months and there are scores of others in the villages, he explained. The community school in Hasanabad, Srinagar, first started at a congregation hall for religious ceremonies, but as the number of students increased it relocated onto the premises of a religious school that had been closed for the past three months. It now has more than 400 students. Khalid Hussain Dar, 32, is one of the schools founders. Although he taught students free of charge during the 2008 and 2010 uprisings, this time he and his friends decided to give the effort an institutional form, he explained. According to Dar, who is a manager at a telecommunications company, of the 15 teachers at the school only a few are university professors, college lecturers or schoolteachers. We are educating ourselves while they are busy killing us. This is our effort to arrive at self-sufficiency and that is one of the most important things in the struggle for freedom, Dar said. At the compound of Ibrahim mosque in Srinagars Bemina area, a group of girls sit inside the adjoining religious school, studying chemistry and discussing conversion of mass into energy. Their teacher, Tania Ahmad, explained that she quit teaching after she got married two years ago, but when she heard about a community school in the neighbourhood, she wanted to contribute. We are all with Azadi [freedom] and we know that in our fight for Azadi we will see hard times, but we must keep education a priority and I think this is an effort toward that, she said. The students echoed their teachers sentiment. Nazneen Abid, an eighth-grade student, said that she took part in a protest march for the first time last month. It was all smoke and tears. My mother fell down when the police fired tear gas canisters into the protest. One of our neighbours was rushed to the hospital. I cried for the rest of the day. RELATED: Welcome to Kashmir Besides offering free community schools, the mosques and seminaries have also become distribution centres for essential supplies. We are an organisation of about 60 mosques that are in the Bemina area of Srinagar, and for the past three months we have been making, at each one of our mosques, a ration kit which contains 10kg of rice, one kilo of oil, a kilo or two of lentils and pulses, milk, spices, salt and other such things, explained Mohammad Shafi Shah, the chairman of the Bemina Coordination Committee. That is what a mosque is for, for being not only a place of worship but also a centre which looks after the people. Removing the volunteers But, for the volunteers at the SMHS hospital, things have not been going so well. At the end of September, police reportedly arrested more than a dozen volunteers and seized two ambulances. Saqib Bashir, a 17-year-old volunteer with the Social Reforms Organization, a group that provides free ambulance services, said: Two policemen got into our ambulance and asked us to drive to the police station. One of them started hitting me on my head. I pleaded with him that I had done nothing, that I was only helping the people. And he told me that I was being arrested for helping people too much. We were in lockup for the whole day. Bashir said that he had earlier been hit by pellets while ferrying patients, and raised his chin to show the scars. The police deny that they arrested volunteers. We only seized the ambulances because they did not have the requisite papers. They are lying about the arrests, Parvez Ahmad, the station house officer of the Shaheed Gunj police station, told Al Jazeera. But volunteers at the hospital say that on the night of October 2, they were evicted when the police arrived and asked them to vacate the premises within an hour. The Inspector General of Police Javed Mujtaba told Al Jazeera: We did not remove them. It is a matter of the civilian and hospital administration, we know nothing about it. But the SMHS Hospitals medical superintendent, Dr Nazir Chowdhary, said: It was the police that drove them out. Why would the hospital administration do it? The volunteers, he says, were a great help. A day after the volunteers left, the state health minister Bali Bhagat visited the hospital for the first time since the uprising began. As his car pulled into the parking lot, there was no longer free food or medicine for the patients inside. This is a unique opportunity to score a coup de grace by taking the Philippines out of the American strategic orbit. Goodbye America, declared the Philippines firebrand leader Rodrigo Duterte ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Shortly after, he dropped another bombshell. Ive realigned myself in [China] ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia there are three of us against the world China, Philippines and Russia. Its the only way. This was nothing short of geopolitical drama on steroids. Amid an intensifying rift between Washington and Manila over human rights concerns, Duterte embarked on a historic visit to China. Traditionally, Filipino leaders have visited the White House ahead of any major overseas seat of power, or at least the Zhongnanhai. This time, however, Duterte did not only engage in an unprecedented public squabble with Washington over his controversial campaign against illegal drugs, but also opted to postpone a scheduled visit to Tokyo in favour of Beijing. Alliance of sorts with China It was a decision that came against the backdrop of Dutertes suggested alliance of sorts with China, which has enthusiastically backed the Filipino leaders war on drugs and is negotiating a 25-year military deal with the Philippines. During his four-day visit, Duterte aimed to break the ice in frosty Philippine-China relations; expand areas of economic cooperation; and negotiate a modus vivendi in the South China Sea. OPINION: Rodrigo Dutertes pivot to China Showing that he means business, Duterte was accompanied by practically all Filipino business tycoons. More than $24bn in commercial agreements were signed between the two countries, eclipsing the economic dividends of recent overseas visits by any Filipino leader. The Chinese definitely rolled out the red carpet, showering him with praises and wooing the Filipino strongman with economic incentives, specifically big-ticket projects to revamp the Philippines decrepit public infrastructure. Most crucially, however, the two sides discussed, albeit surreptitiously, potential areas of compromise in the South China Sea, namely a joint fisheries agreement in the Scarborough Shoal and a joint exploration deal in the energy-rich Reed Bank. In their joint statement, the two former rivals agreed to make concerted efforts to cement the traditional friendship of the two peoples. Without a doubt, under Dutertes presidency, the Philippines is undergoing a seismic shift, both in its domestic political landscape and foreign policy predisposition. But whether the Filipino leaders diplomatic flirtation with China will translate into an enduring strategic partnership is far from assured. Duterte's pragmatic engagement and cordial exchanges with China represent a potential volte-face in Philippine foreign policy... by Quantum leap Dutertes pragmatic engagement and cordial exchanges with China represent a potential volte-face in Philippine foreign policy, at least rhetorically. Just a few months ago, under President Benigno Aquino, Manila stood as one of the fiercest critics of Beijings maritime assertiveness in adjacent waters. Dutertes predecessor, on multiple occasions, went so far as likening China to Nazi Germany in the hope of rallying international support against the Asian powerhouse. The newly elected government in the Philippines, however, has had an entirely different game plan in mind. Shortly after his election victory, Duterte called for an independent foreign policy that is less reliant on Washington. He also called for peaceful dialogue and joint development of contested features based on bilateral negotiations. OPINION: Barack Obamas pivot to Asia in tatters For Duterte, America has taken the Philippines for granted, given the Obama administrations equivocation on whether the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty covers Philippine claims in the South China Sea and the relatively limited military aid the Southeast Asian country receives in comparison to non-allied partners such as Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan. When confronted with Western criticism of his human rights record, Duterte upped the ante by threatening to expel American Special Forces stationed in the Philippines, terminate joint patrols and military exercises in the South China Sea, and, at one point, even imply an abrogation of bilateral security agreements. Meanwhile, he called for an alliance with China and Russia, an announcement that caught the Philippine security establishment by surprise. Beyond his bluster, it is likely that Duterte aims to extract maximum concessions from both China and America by playing them against each other. Specifically, he is offering China a downgrade in Philippine military relations with America in exchange for concessions in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, he is dangling the Beijing card to compel Washington to be more generous in military aid and less critical of his policies. This is a unique opportunity to score a coup de grace by taking the Philippines out of the American strategic orbit. by Strategic indeterminacy Dutertes overtures also represent a stark dilemma for China. On one hand, this is a unique opportunity to score a coup de grace by taking the Philippines out of the American strategic orbit. On the other hand, Beijing is worried about the durability and reliability of their Filipino counterpart, who is known as both prickly and highly populist in a country that harbours deep anti-Chinese sentiments and is largely pro-American. There is also a limit to Dutertes charm offensive. No matter how many economic incentives Beijing offers, if it refuses to grant the Philippines any major concessions in the South China Sea and/or reneges on its earlier pledges then Duterte is expected to shift gear and adopt a more strident approach towards Beijing lest he faces political backlash if not impeachment. Then you have constitutional restrictions on any joint development agreement within Philippine-claimed waters. Dutertes bigger concern is the Philippine security establishment, which is deeply suspicious of China and is broadly reliant on full-spectrum American military assistance. A full-fledged strategic alignment with Beijing will definitely not sit well with them. Nonetheless, Dutertes immediate objective, which is to peacefully manage maritime disputes with China and diversify Philippine relations, is sensible, though this shouldnt necessarily come at the expense of long-standing relations with all-weather allies such as America. Richard Javad Heydarian is a specialist in Asian geopolitical/economic affairs and author of Asias New Battlefield: The USA, China, and the Struggle for the Western Pacific. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. They may only be 600km apart but the types of warfare both cities are experiencing are markedly different. James Denselow is a writer on Middle East politics and security issues and a research associate at the Foreign Policy Centre. Even by the standards of a war-weary Middle East, there is an exceptional amount of urban violence currently in play in the region. In Iraq, the city of Mosul is heading for a final showdown between the Iraqi state and ISIL, while in Syria the eastern half of Aleppo remains cut off from the world and under fire. Two urban military campaigns both nominally aimed at defeating terrorists holding territory are being conducted in vastly different manners. In Mosul, the US are seemingly steering an Iraqi military towards prioritising civilian protection in a battle that is being live streamed on social media with international journalists embedded with the advancing troops. By contrast, in Aleppo, the Russian-supported Syrian regime campaign is characterised by siege tactics and overwhelming, and seemingly indiscriminate, bombardments. In a sense we are soon to see the difference between the current Russian counterterrorism efforts in Aleppo and the American way of doing things in Mosul. War crimes Meanwhile both Moscow and Washington have accused each other of war crimes. US Secretary of State John Kerry said crimes against humanity were taking place every day in Aleppo, while the Russians have criticised US-led operations in Iraq, claiming that far too often, weddings, funeral processions, hospitals, police posts and humanitarian convoys are targeted by the coalition. OPINION: The blending of Lebanon and Syria Syrias President Bashar al-Assad has promised to clean Aleppo, while Iraqs Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said that we will defeat [ISIL] whilst protecting our people. This is our priority. Short of the use of biological and nuclear weapons, Syria has seen the full spectrum of human destructiveness and Aleppo is currently in the centre of the storm. by UN human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein has described the Syrian city of Aleppo as a slaughterhouse. Last week 14 members of one family died in a single air strike on the city. A recent Russian-led humanitarian pause failed to evacuate a single injured civilian from the besieged east as it lacked both the coordination with humanitarian agencies, adequate time and trust of intent necessary to succeed. The hundreds of thousands of people who remain trapped in the city look warily at the news of the largest Russian navy deployment since the Cold War making its way towards them. The conflict in Syria has seen a steady escalation in the types of weaponry deployed from small arms to Scud missiles, bunker-busting bombs that threaten underground schools and hospitals and, of course, the repeated use of chemical weapons. Short of the use of biological and nuclear weapons, Syria has seen the full spectrum of human destructiveness and Aleppo is currently in the centre of the storm. Meanwhile, the Mosul operation is supported by some 4,800 US troops who are in Iraq, including more than 100 US special operations forces operating with Iraqi units. While ISIL has adopted a scorched earth strategy burning sulphur plants and trying to put as much smoke into the air to confuse coalition aircraft the coalition appears to be adopting a more methodical approach to the battle. Clearing village by village, conscious that they are up against a smaller force but one that uses asymmetrical tactics such as suicide bombers and bobby-trapped buildings. According to Human Rights Watch, Iraqi authorities have been calling on residents in and around Mosul to stay at home throughout the fighting and signal their civilian status by placing white flags atop their homes. Extreme risk UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen OBrien has warned that families are at extreme risk of being caught in crossfire or targeted by snipers. Tens of thousands of Iraqi girls, boys, women and men may be under siege or held as human shields. The military operation for Mosul is backed up by humanitarian preparations for a variety of scenarios that could play out. The UK, for example, is deploying some $17.1m in aid as part of a wider strategy to support the Iraqi government to retake the city in a way that protects civilians, minimises the humanitarian impact and helps stabilise the country. OPINION: ISIL wont be defeated on the battlefield However, big questions remain as to whether adequate resources and willpower exist when it comes to civilian protection. Indeed, some warn of a double standard at play in the coverage of the two battles. The Independents Patrick Cockburn wrote that both cities are being besieged by pro-government forces strongly supported by foreign air power. Yet the coverage is very different. Cockburns scepticism is partly driven by the huge destruction wrought in previous Iraqi operations against ISIL. Ramadi, where 80 percent of the buildings were destroyed in fighting, has also seen issues around residents being denied the right to return to the city. For all the talk over a more judicious use of heavy artillery and air power as well as the better deployment of intelligence assets and monitoring of targets, the proof will be seen only when battle is closed at the heart of Mosul. Both Aleppo and Mosul face the larger question as to what political compact will follow the military operations. After all, despite the role of foreign actors they are essentially civil conflicts between or at least involving a majority of their own nationals. These compacts will be influenced by the manner of the fighting and the legacy it leaves, and this is where the greatest difference in the two approaches could manifest itself. James Denselow is a writer on Middle East politics and security issues and a research associate at the Foreign Policy Centre. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Unprecedented rate of decline of animals because of human activity causing a global mass extinction, new report says. About 60 percent of the worlds fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have been wiped out over the past four decades, largely because of human activity, researchers say. The Living Planet Report 2016, released on Thursday, blamed deforestation, pollution, overfishing, and the illegal wildlife trade for pushing species populations to the edge. According to the report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in a collaboration with other international environmental advocacy groups, the five main drivers of wildlife decline are habitat loss, overconsumption, pollution, invasive species and disease. For the first time since the demise of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, we face a global mass extinction of wildlife, said Mike Barrett, director of science and policy at WWFs UK branch. We ignore the decline of other species at our peril for they are the barometer that reveals our impact on the world that sustains us. The findings are based on long-term monitoring of some 3,700 vertebrate species spread across more than 14,000 distinct populations. Victims include gorillas and orangutans, rhinos and elephants, tigers and snow leopards, but also faceless species such as corals a crucial cornerstone not only of marine life but also coastal human communities. Factory fishing has emptied the seas of 40 percent of sea life, and nine out of 10 fisheries in the world are either overfished or full-fished today. READ MORE: Bleaching kills off third of Great Barrier Reef coral Swathes of coral reef around the globe have already turned white, killed by warming waters, pollution and disease. On the current trend, the assessment predicts that by 2020 populations of vertebrate species could have fallen by 67 percent from 1970 levels unless action is taken to reverse the damaging effects of human activity. Global mass extinction The report detailed the strain that agriculture places on freshwater systems. Human behaviour continues to drive the decline of wildlife populations globally, with particular impact on freshwater habitats, said Ken Norris, director of science at Zoological Society of London, an advocacy group that took part in producing the report. This should be a wake-up call to marshal efforts to promote the recovery of these populations, he added. Freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers and wetlands have fared the worst, with an 81 percent decline in average population size between 1970 and 2012 for 881 species monitored. WATCH: Saving the Worlds Only Freshwater Porpoise Freshwater covers less than 1 percent of the Earths surface, but is home to nearly 10 percent of all the planets known species. Marine and land vertebrates have suffered at about the same rate with populations dropping 36 and 38 percent respectively over the same period but for different reasons. On land, the big threats are loss of land to agriculture and cities, followed by rampant hunting, mostly for food but also for commerce much of it in endangered species. African elephants, slaughtered mainly for their tusks, have dropped in number by more than a quarter since 2006. Experts now agree that Earth has entered only the sixth mass extinction event when species vanish at least 1,000 times faster than usual in the past half-billion years. Wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate, said Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International. Biodiversity forms the foundation of healthy forests, rivers and oceans. Take away the species and these ecosystems collapse, along with clean air, water, food and climate services they provide us. Deon Nel, WWF conservation director, told Al Jazeera that in addition to 30 percent of the worlds soil being degraded over the past 40 years, we have lost 50 percent of tropical forests which are critical in stabilising the climate and absorbing carbon. No deaths reported after twin earthquakes cause severe damage in the area that was hit two months ago. A series of strong earthquakes rocked a wide area of central Italy, striking fear among residents rattled by a deadly tremor in August, but there were no reports of casualties and few serious injuries. The earthquakes toppled buildings and injured dozens, according to initial reports, hitting the same region that saw nearly 300 people killed in August this year. The first 5.5-magnitude quake sent people running out of their houses on Wednesday, before the second, a more destructive 6.1-magnitude one, struck two hours later. Rescuers working through the night and in the rain were struggling to assess the full extent of the disaster. About five hours after the first quake, Civil Protection department chief Fabrizio Curcio said tens of people were reported hurt but only four suffered serious, non-life threatening injuries. The reports are not as catastrophic as we feared, he said. The quakes were felt in the capital, Rome, sending residents running out of their houses and into the streets. The second was felt as far away as Venice in the far north, and Naples, south of the capital. Many houses have collapsed. Our town is finished, Marco Rinaldi, mayor of the mountain town of Ussita, told Sky Italy television by telephone. The second quake was a long, terrible one, he said. The US Geological Survey (USGS) registered a first 5.5-magnitude quake at 19:10 local time (17:10 GMT). The mayor of Serravalle del Chienti, Gabriele Santamarianova, said the quake felt like bombs were falling. We saw a cloud of dust. We dont yet know what has fallen down. Well see once the sun comes up. Castel SantAngelo mayor Mauro Falcucci told Sky: There is no electricity. There are bound to be house collapses. On top of this there are torrential rains. In August, a 6.0-6.2 magnitude quake flattened the mountain town of Amatrice 70km from Visso killing 297 people and injuring hundreds of others. The area is also not far from LAquila, where a powerful earthquake killed more than 300 in 2009. After the second quake, Italian television channels broadcast images of collapsed buildings and people standing dazed in front of their toppled houses. It is not very easy to make assessments in the dark and the weather is bad in the whole region. We will have to see more precisely in the light of day, said Curcio. Amateur video footage on television showed clouds of dust rising as parts of buildings collapsed in some towns, including Camerino in the Marche region, where a bell tower fell on a building. Massive boulders, some the size of cars, fell on the main north-south road of the Nera River valley that links mountain communities. The historic late 15th-century rural church of San Salvatore in Campo, near Norcia in the Umbria region, which had been weakened by the August quake, collapsed. For people unable to return home immediately, civil protection arranged accommodation in gyms and prepared to reopen some of the tent camps which were set up after the August earthquake. Many residents prepared to spend the night in their cars. The US has charged 61 people and entities with taking part in a scam involving India-based call centres where agents impersonated American officials and demanded payments for nonexistent debt. The scam, which had operated since 2013, targeted at least 15,000 people who lost more than $300m. Twenty people were arrested in the United States on Thursday, while 32 individuals and five call centres in India have been charged, the Justice Department said. US Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said at a news conference that the United States would be seeking the extradition of those based in India and warned others engaged in similar schemes. Its really important for the scammers in India to know that the United States is looking at this, is watching them and they could, if they engage in that activity, be extradited to the US and could sit in jail for several years, she said. According to the indictment, operators of the call centres in Ahmedabad, in the Indian state of Gujarat, threatened potential victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay taxes or penalties to the government. The indictment outlines a complex web of criminal actors, each with a different role in the conspiracy. Callers posing as officials with the Internal Revenue Service and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement would tell unsuspecting victims on the other end that they had failed to pay taxes they owed, or that they were at risk of deportation, and a fast payment was needed to get them out of trouble. READ MORE: India arrests dozens over US call centre scam The names and personal information of the potential targets were purchased through data brokers. Runners would then be responsible for retrieving the payments of the scammed funds and then depositing them in bank accounts. The extorted funds were laundered through wire transfers or prepaid debit cards registered with misappropriated personal information, the Justice Department said. Though the calls would seem to be obviously bogus, officials say savvy and successful individuals have been duped, too. The callers would use information about their victims they learned through the internet to present a facade of authenticity, and the number that appeared on a caller ID seemed to come from a legitimate US government agency. Among the victims: an elderly San Diego woman who forked out $12,300 after she was threatened with arrest if she didnt pay a penalty for fictitious tax violations. And when a Colorado man did not respond to repeated demands that he pay supposed back taxes, scammers posing as him called the 911 emergency hotline and said he was armed and eager to kill police officers prompting law enforcement officers to surround him at home. The scammers in this case and so many like it are convincing. They are menacing and they are ruthless in their pursuit of their victims, said official Bruce Foucart. They convey authority that leaves their victims terrified. The two-week training in China was part of he countrys effort to boost its ties with the Middle East. Special forces from China and Saudi Arabia have held their first joint anti-terrorism drills, state media reported, in Chinas latest effort to expand security ties in the Middle East. The two-week training, which took place in Chinas southwestern city of Chongqing from October 10, was attended by 25 people from each side, the Peoples Liberation Army Daily said. This joint anti-terrorism training is directed at raising the two militaries ability to combat terrorism and non-traditional security threats, the paper said on Thursday. READ MORE: China targets parents with religion rules in Xinjiang Chinas President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia early this year, vowing to expand security cooperation and oppose terrorism. Chinese officials have long been concerned that instability in Afghanistan will spill over into Chinas western region of Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uighur people, where hundreds have died in unrest the government blames on separatists. Authorities in bordering Kyrgyzstan said a suicide bomb attack this August on the Chinese embassy in the Kyrgyz capital was ordered by Uighur fighters active in Syria. In the face of such threats, China set up an anti-terrorism alliance with neighbours Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, which all border Xinjiang, in August. OPINION: Is China changing its policy towards Uighur Muslims? From October 20 to October 24, more than 400 troops from China and Tajikistan held joint anti-terrorism drills along the remote mountainous Tajik border with Afghanistan, Chinese media reported on Tuesday. Human rights groups say violence in Xinjiang is more a reaction to repressive government policies and limits on Uighurs religious freedoms, accusations the government denies. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs have fled the unrest and travelled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey. New project aims to enable villagers to diagnose and treat conditions via drone-delivered test samples and vaccines. Drones, initially developed for warfare, are being co-opted to provide revolutionary off-grid healthcare to those who live in the most remote parts of the world. A fully autonomous drone recently flew blood samples from rural Madagascar to a central lab. The drone was developed by Vayu, a company founded by Daniel Pepper, which aims to bridge the gap between far-flung villages and healthcare that is so often centrally available, but out of reach for local inhabitants. Pepper discovered a chasm between medicinal availability and supply while working as a journalist in India. He recognised it was a major challenge for patients to travel to hospitals because of weather conditions, transport and family traditions there, and so he created Vayu with funds from governments, healthcare organisations and NGOs. Vayus drones, which took two years to develop, are used to serve and connect rural villages to central hospitals. The company hopes to enable the off-grid villages to diagnose and treat the conditions via drone-delivered test samples and vaccines, preventing unnecessary deaths and illnesses. The biggest hurdle has been regulatory rather than technical, said Pepper. Currently, no countries provide blanket permission for beyond-line-of-sight autonomous flight. This means that Vayu and its partners work individually with national governments to overcome bans. Though regulation was not the only issue that Vayu encountered. Years in development The team spent years developing a drone that would be able to fly far enough to make the technology worthwhile. In the areas that Vayu targets, there is not enough space for a runway or resting net; this lack of infrastructure means the drone has to take off and land vertically, said Pepper. The drone must therefore rise and touch down in helicopter fashion, though this hover method during flight would prevent the drone from making the 60km journey, Pepper said. Drones are 10 times more efficient in forward flight than during hovering, he said. The result is a model with helicopter-style propellers attached to static plane-like wings. This wing-and-propeller combination allows Vayus drone to land precisely while still flying long distances economically. Vayu are not the only ones who have identified this possibility similar projects are being launched by Zipline, which hopes to launch publicly this month. The company aims to provide each of Rwandas 11 million citizens with guaranteed 15-to-35-minute delivery of any essential medical product they need by releasing drones that drop medical supplies with a parachute. The Zipline base is centrally located and contains 15-20 drones. Each drone can fly a 150km round trip and carry 1.5kg of blood enough to save a persons life, said Justin Hamilton, spokesman for Zipline. Drones deliver blood to remote hospitals in Rwanda While such technology from Vayu and Zipline is revolutionary in providing marginalised communities with access to healthcare, its success will be hindered without a holistic approach. Vaccines are only useful if village health workers are able administer them, and diagnoses can only be made if samples are taken in sterile conditions and packaged correctly. Peter Small, founding director of Stony Brook University Global Health Institute, who has worked alongside Pepper in launching the Vayu project in Madagascar, said he was currently working on a full-circle project. The project trains village health workers to identify prolonged coughs and send for drones to deliver tuberculosis testing kits, he said. Upon return to the lab, the drone will fly back out with suitable medication should the samples test positive for TB. This delivery will also include a tablet containing video instructions to enable untrained individuals to administer the treatment. This kind of approach empowers small communities, said Small. User-friendly While Vayu is developed with the best intentions, the most important thing is the integration of these drones into local communities. Dean Irvine, communications director at Doctors Without Borders (MSF), explained the most important aspect of Vayu was user-friendliness. This is especially important if it needs to be operated by those in communities who have limited expertise and education of tech, he said. But they also need to be accepted in areas where that kind of technology might not be common, so working with communities to explain what all these things zooming overhead are actually doing. In that regard, we also really need to demilitarise UAVs [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles] in peoples minds. Following the current innovation, Vayu plans to launch pilot projects in Papua New Guinea, Peru and Nepal, among other countries. Pakistan High Commission official in Delhi given 48 hours to leave the country after brief detention. India is to expel a Pakistan High Commission official for espionage activities, the foreign ministry said, with tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours already running high. Indias foreign secretary, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, summoned Pakistans High Commissioner Abdul Basit to inform him of the decision to expel Mehmood Akhtar, who was briefly held in New Delhi on Wednesday. Delhi police crime commissioner Ravindra Yadav said the official had been detained on Wednesday with defence and other documents in his possession. The documents included information on deployment of Indias border security forces, Yadav told a press conference. FS summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) October 27, 2016 Two men from Rajasthan have been arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive documents to Akhtar, who was let off because of diplomatic immunity. The Pakistan High Commission official was the kingpin, said Yadav. He used to recruit Indians for spying and send information to Pakistan. The [spying] module was active for a year and a half. We were working [on] it for the past six months. We recovered documents on defence deployment and border area maps. They had lists of BSF men who were deployed, transferred or retired. A Pakistan High Commission official in New Delhi confirmed to Al Jazeera that Akhtar has been given 48 hours to leave the country. READ MORE: India claims striking suspected rebels in Pakistan The High Commissioner was summoned and informed about Indias decision, the official told Al Jazeera. Pakistan High Commission strongly denies and rejects the accusations levelled against the staff member by the India government. We strongly protested the decision as well as the detention and manhandling of our staff member. We also urge the government of India to ensure such harassment does not happen in the future. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan said: This act clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission.. The Indian attempts to escalate the tensions and divert the international attention from the grave human rights occupation forces in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir can never succeed, the statement added. Tensions between India and Pakistan have soared since a raid last month in Uri, an Indian army base near the de facto border dividing Kashmir, which killed 19 Indian soldiers, the worst such attack in years. Surgical strikes In response, Indias military said it had conducted surgical strikes against terrorist units on Pakistans side of the border. Pakistan rejected the claims as an illusion. The two countries have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947 two over Kashmir, the Muslim-majority region claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan. There has been regular exchange of fire across the LoC since the Uri attack. Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory fire by Indian forces along the disputed Kashmir border on Saturday, according to Indian officials, but Pakistan refuted those claims. On Monday, shelling across the border between killed two Pakistani civilians and an Indian soldier, military officials from the two sides said. Iraqi forces progress towards city limits despite heavy resistance from ISIL, as aid groups expect flood of refugees. More than 10,000 Iraqis have fled their homes since the start of an offensive to retake Mosul from ISIL this month, according to the UN. That figure is just a fraction of the displacement that aid groups expect to see when Iraqi forces reach the city limits and some of the million-plus people thought to be inside attempt to flee. As the fighting gets closer to more populated areas, were starting to see more and more families flee the fighting, Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Erbil in northern Iraq, said. At least 1,000 people were evacuated by [Iraqi] counterterrorism forces from their villages, Dekker added. These are terrifying times for those people their houses are shaking, and they are being caught in the crossfire. And while those evacuated by the elite Iraqi unit were guided to nearby camps, there are no humanitarian corridors to manage the thousands more being displaced, Dekker said. Many other people are making this terrifying journey on foot. READ MORE: Can Mosul survive ISIL? But, though the number of displaced Iraqis has increased rapidly over the past two days, there was no sign an exodus of larger proportions was beginning. The aid community has been scrambling to build camps and bring equipment to areas on the edges of the Mosul battlefield, a vast area where Iraqi forces are closing in on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS) from the north, east and south. Strong resistance from ISIL has made the battle slow and dangerous, but Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces have retaken 90 villages and Iraqi government troops have reached within six kilometres of Mosul on the eastern front. Iraqi forces on Thursday retook the town of Rutba in western Iraq, where Shia militias reportedly forcibly displaced 60 families who they accused of collaborating with ISIL. Meanwhile, the Peshmerga have concentrated their attack in the northeast, on the town of Bashiqa. US-led coalition forces have been supporting them by hitting parts of the town with air strikes. The US Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, said on Wednesday that despite the slow progress, there were no plans to add more troops to the battle. Killings meant to terrorise as fighters accused of surrounding themselves with civilians in Hamam al-Alil village. The Iraqi army was trying on Thursday to reach a town south of Mosul where ISIL has reportedly executed dozens of civilians to deter any support for the military offensive to recapture the groups stronghold. Eleven days into the biggest ground operation in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion, army and federal police units were fighting off sniper fire and suicide car bombs south of Hamam al-Alil the site of the reported executions. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters shot dead dozens of prisoners there, most of them former members of the Iraqi police and army, taken from villages the group has been forced to abandon as troops advanced. Battle for Mosul intensifies A Reuters news agency correspondent met relatives of hostages south of Mosul. One was a police officer who returned to see the family he left behind when his village fell under ISIL control two years ago. Im afraid they will keep pulling them back from village to village until they get to Mosul. And then they will disappear, he said, asking not be identified to protect family members still in the hands of the fighters. The executions were meant to terrorise the others, those who are in Mosul in particular, and also to get rid of the prisoners, said Abdul Rahman al-Waggaa, a member of the Nineveh provincial council. Some of the families of those executed are also held in Hamam al-Alil, he said. UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said on Tuesday that ISIL had reportedly killed scores of people around Mosul in the last week. READ MORE: Iraqi civilians may face abuse, torture in Mosul battle Reuters also spoke to a woman and an elderly man who were among a group of families forced to march two to three days to reach Mosul from the villages of Safiya and Ellezaga, about 30km and 50km, respectively, to the south. Children and the elderly were released when they arrived in Mosul on Tuesday and told to stay with relatives, they said, speaking on the phone from the citys edges. A resident of Mosul, Rayyan, said he saw the families when they arrived in the city, their bare feet bleeding and covered with dust as if coming from under the rubble. We cried when we saw them, he said. Local officials, activists, and a resident of Qayyara district told human rights group Amnesty International that civilians were kept in schools, homes, and other locations near ISIL fighters in Hamam al-Alil after being forced to move from their homes. ISIL deliberately prevented them from fleeing areas of conflict and fighters embedded themselves within the civilian population. Using civilians to shield yourself from attack is a war crime. But even in cases when IS fighters are holding civilians as human shields, this does not absolve Iraqi and coalition forces from the obligation to take their presence into account, take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians, and avoid launching attacks that could cause disproportionate harm to civilians, said Amnestys Lynn Maalouf in a statement. Iraqi and Kurdish forces are recapturing territory as part of the offensive to retake Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which is known by its opponents in Arabic as Daesh. On Thursday, Kurdish Peshmerga forces fighting alongside Iraqi soldiers and militiamen seized the northern Iraqi village of Fadiliya, which lies about 4km away from Mosul. Residents had hung up white flags on their homes, hoping to avoid being targeted by air strikes. Children joyfully ran through the streets singing songs and chanting Peshmerga, Peshmerga, Peshmerga. IN PICTURES: Knocking on Mosuls door One fighter named Ahmed arrived at his home to see his loved ones for the first time in two years. His sister stood in the doorway and wept and screamed while looking up to the sky. Daesh ruined our lives. Look what they have done to us, she said. As more and more people came out of their homes to taste freedom that had been unthinkable for so long, Khalid Abdel Hafiz tried to hold back tears as he recalled a knock on his door one week ago. ISIL fighters took away his 19-year-old son, Ihsan, along with 14 other young men. They just showed up and said We have security orders from high up, he said. I have no information about Ihsan. I am resigned to the fact I will never see him again. Jerusalem The top posts in Israels national police force are now in the hands of hardline religious settlers who are seeking to make alarming changes to policing in both Israel and the occupied territories, critics have warned. The growing influence of the settler movement was highlighted this month with the appointment of Rahamim Brachyahu as the forces chief rabbi. He lives in Talmon, a settlement close to the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the West Bank. Roni Alsheikh, who was made police chief late last year, lived for many years in one of the most violent settlements, Kiryat Arba, next to Hebron. According to Israels Haaretz daily, Alsheikh lobbied hard on behalf of Brachyahu for the chief rabbi position. READ MORE: Israels anti-terror law dangerous and anti-Arab Relations between the police and Palestinian citizens are already disastrous. But the situation will deteriorate much further if the ideology of the settlers becomes the norm among the police. by Aida Touma-Suleiman, member of Israeli Knesset It is the first time members of the religious settler community have held either of these top posts. Both have expressed their commitment to accelerating a programme called Believers in the Police, established five years ago, to recruit settlers and fast-track their promotion to officer rank. Brachyahu has described the influx of religious settlers into the police as a beautiful partnership, bringing something Godly into something that has historically functioned as not Godly. He has also declared his intention to place a stronger emphasis on Jewish religious law, or halakha, in policing work. His goal, he has stated, is to create a book of Biblical and rabbinical commandments for use by all police officers as they go about their duties. That has raised deep concern among Palestinian leaders because Brachyahu has defended a notorious rabbinical handbook for settlers known as the Kings Torah. It argues that Jewish religious law justifies killing Palestinians as a preventative measure including children in case they grow up to become terrorists. Religious fundamentalist, ultra-nationalist settlers are gaining power over many areas of public life in Israel, Aida Touma-Suleiman, a Palestinian member of the Israeli parliament, told Al Jazeera. But the transformation of the police is especially alarming, because it is supposed to be a civilian agency. Now there is a struggle in the police about which has priority Gods laws or the states laws. The gradual infiltration of religious settlers into the police has mirrored a similar process in the Israeli army that began two decades ago, noted Jafar Farah, director of Mossawa, a political advocacy group for Israels large Palestinian minority. Although the so-called national religious community who adhere to the ideology of the settlers make up only 10 per cent of Israels population, recent figures suggest that as many as half of all new army recruits are drawn from their ranks.There is a clear coalition of interest between the right-wing government and the settler leadership to get their people into high positions in the major state institutions, including the security services, the courts and the media, he told Al Jazeera. The goal is to control the decision-making processes and the public discourse in Israel. Believers in the Police targets settlers who have previously served in the army. The programme expects to produce 500 graduates over the next five years and move them into senior posts. Among those teaching on the two-year course are Dov Lior, the rabbi of Kiryat Araba, Alsheikhs former settlement. Lior was one of several senior rabbis to endorse the Kings Torah. In an effort to increase the enrolment of religious settlers in the Believers in the Police programme, a recruitment video was released earlier this year using footage exclusively of police actions against Palestinians. Activities included demolishing Bedouin homes, raiding the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, dealing with terror attacks, and checking Palestinian identity cards. Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman, declined to speak about the Believers in the Police programme, but told Al Jazeera Brachyahus appointment followed a careful selection process that chose him as the right person to fill this role in the national police. Israeli police operate both inside Israel and in parts of the occupied territories under Israels full control, including East Jerusalem and settlements in the West Bank. The force has long been criticised for corruption and the mistreatment of Palestinians. A judicial-led commission of inquiry concluded in 2004 that the police were institutionally racist, viewing the fifth of Israels citizens who are Palestinian as the enemy. Farah noted that dozens of Palestinian citizens have died in unexplained circumstances at the hands of the police over the past 16 years. But the growing presence of religious hardliners in the force is adding to concern. Relations between the police and Palestinian citizens are already disastrous, said Touma-Suleiman. But the situation will deteriorate much further if the ideology of the settlers becomes the norm among the police. Statistics released in the summer showed that in the four years to 2015 some 60 per cent of arrests made by the police were of non-Jews meaning that they were nearly three times more likely to be detained than Jewish citizens. Yossi Gurvitz, an Israeli journalist and researcher on the settlers, told Al Jazeera: Palestinians already face brutality from the police. There must be fears that the level of brutality will increase. In one of his first pronouncements after his appointment, Alsheikh argued that Palestinians did not suffer bereavement in the same way as Jews. He added: Our enemies chose to sanctify death. In March, he also ended a 12-year dialogue project that had sought to reduce friction between the police and Palestinian communities in Israel. READ MORE: How Israel aims to redefine ethnic cleansing Palestinian leaders fear that the growing presence of extremist settlers in police ranks has emboldened settler youths behind a recent wave of violence against Palestinians, both in the West Bank and Israel. The police have been accused of failing to investigate attacks that have included the torching of mosques and churches. Farah said the growing settler influence would contribute to a sense of impunity regarding violence both from the settlers and from police officers. In a sign of their growing confidence, violent settlers burnt down a home in the Palestinian village of Duma last year, killing three members of the Dawabshe family, including a toddler. Several settler leaders closely involved with Believers in the Police denied that the Duma attack was an act of terror. They include Eli Ben Dahan, a settler rabbi who is now the government minister in charge of the military administration ruling over the occupied territories. He has called Palestinians subhuman. Another likely flashpoint is policing of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalems Old City. Israeli police control access, and have been allowing ever larger numbers of religious settlers to enter the site. That has included settlers committed to the destruction of the mosque to replace it with a Jewish temple. Such visits have sparked repeated clashes between Palestinians and the police, and were blamed for triggering last year a spate of so-called lone-wolf attacks by Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Settler politicians involved with the Believers programme, such as Uri Ariel and Bezalel Smotrich, have demanded that Jews should have a legal right to pray in the al-Aqsa compound, despite the likely danger that it would spark regional turmoil. The settler leadership has made no secret of its intentions to dominate the police force. In a 2011 interview, Nahi Eyal, founder of Believers in the Police, said his aim was to help the settler community find our way into the command ranks. He told Israeli media he had reached that conclusion after his son was badly injured in clashes with police over the destruction of a handful of homes in a small West Bank settlement in 2006. If you want to change something, you have to do it from within the organization, he said, in apparent reference to foiling future police efforts to take on the settlers. You have to get inside [the police] and lead it. The settler movement has recently captured top posts in Israels other main security services, including the Mossad spy agency and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency. Gurvitz said the takeover of branches of the security services had become easier in recent years because of wider trends in Israeli society. The public has become far more religious and far less tolerant. The problem is in the society more than the police, he said. Foreign secretary summons high commissioner after India says it will expel Pakistani diplomat for spying. Pakistans foreign secretary summoned the Indian High Commissioner on Thursday to say the government would be expelling a diplomat. The apparent tit-for-tat move followed New Delhis announcement earlier in the day that it would be sending back a Pakistani diplomat it accused of spying. The foreign secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms, a statement said, naming the official as Surjeet Singh. India earlier said it would expel a Pakistan High Commission official for espionage activities, the foreign ministry said, with tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours already running high. Indias Foreign Secretary, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, summoned Pakistans High Commissioner Abdul Basit to inform him of the decision to expel Mehmood Akhtar, who was briefly held in New Delhi on Wednesday. Delhi police crime commissioner, Ravindra Yadav, said the official had been detained after defence and other documents were found in his possession. The documents included information on the deployment of Indias border security forces, Yadav told a news conference. FS summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) October 27, 2016 Two men from Rajasthan were arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive documents to Akhtar, who was let off because of diplomatic immunity. The Pakistan High Commission official was the kingpin, said Yadav. He used to recruit Indians for spying and send information to Pakistan. The [spying] module was active for a year and a half. We were working [on] it for the past six months. We recovered documents on defence deployment and border area maps. They had lists of BSF men who were deployed, transferred or retired. A Pakistan High Commission official in New Delhi confirmed to Al Jazeera that Akhtar had been given 48 hours to leave the country. READ MORE: India claims striking suspected rebels in Pakistan The High Commissioner was summoned and informed about Indias decision, the official told Al Jazeera. Pakistan High Commission strongly denies and rejects the accusations levelled against the staff member by the India government. We strongly protested the decision as well as the detention and manhandling of our staff member. We also urge the government of India to ensure such harassment does not happen in the future. More than 1,200 people have allegedly been shot dead in Kenya by police since 2009, monitoring group says. The original version of this story cited Human Rights Watch as the source for 1,200 deaths by Kenyan police over the last five years. That was incorrect. The source for this figure is the Independent Medico-Legal Unit. Kenyan police have been accused of more than 1,200 shooting deaths over the past five years amid calls for the government to investigate extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Only one police officer in Kenya has been successfully prosecuted and imprisoned for an unlawful killing in the past three years, according to the local group Independent Medico-Legal Unit, which monitors police violence. New York-based Human Rights Watch has also highlighted that at least 34 people were forcibly disappeared in counterterrorism operations during the past two years and urged the government to investigate. The Daily Nation, one of Kenyas top-selling newspapers, published the countrys first comprehensive database detailing hundreds of such alleged killings in the past two years. It hoped the database covering 262 killings since the beginning of 2015 would help policymakers tackle police impunity. High levels of cover-up Kenyas struggle to track such killings has many parallels with the US, the papers data editor Dorothy Otieno said earlier in October when the database was published. In both countries, the lack of official information about police killings prompted the national media to begin compiling their own statistics, she said. Peter Kiama executive director of Independent Medico-Legal Unit, which monitors police killings highlighted a report that showed police were responsible for 1,254 gun-related deaths between 2009 and 2013. Denial doesnt help. They need to acknowledge there is a serious crisis in the police service with regard to misuse of firearms and in the majority of cases no investigation is done, Kiama told Al Jazeera. What we find is very high levels of cover-up within the police service. INTERACTIVE: Inside Kenyas death squads The Kenyan Police Service refused to speak to Al Jazeera, but issued a statement on Twitter saying it strongly rejects accusations on alleged police killings peddled by some media houses. Mutuma Ruteere, director of the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies in Kenya, told Reuters news agency it was rare for police to face punishment. Theres a large number of people who get killed [by the police] but get buried anonymously. Nothing is done. Over time, that becomes a cancer and a virus within the police, he said. In June, hundreds of Kenyans demonstrated after human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client and their driver were shot dead after suing the police over a shooting. Moscow says it had no role in air strikes that killed dozens, including 22 children, in rebel-held Idlib province. Russia has denied carrying out air strikes on a school in Syrias rebel-held Idlib province that killed 36 people, including 22 children. The Russian Federation has nothing to do with this terrible tragedy, with this attack, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday, adding Moscow demanded an immediate investigation. Zakharova said claims that Russian and Syrian warplanes had conducted the deadly air strikes in Idlib on Wednesday were a lie. The raids hit a school and the surrounding area, killing 22 children and six teachers, the United Nations childrens agency said. The incident prompted outrage from UNICEF director Anthony Lake. This is a tragedy. It is an outrage and if deliberate it is a war crime, he said, adding the school complex had been hit repeatedly. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said warplanes either Russian or Syrian carried out six strikes in the village of Hass, including on a school complex. The White House also said on Thursday that either the Syrian government or Russia was responsible for a deadly air strike in Syria that hit the school. We dont know yet that it was the Assad regime or the Russians that carried out the air strike, but we know it was one of the two, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. Even if it was the Assad regime that carried it out, the Assad regime is only in a position to carry out those kind of attacks because they are supported by the Russian government. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Thursday for an immediate investigation of the attack. Ban said in a statement that the attack, carried out against rebel-held territory, may amount to a war crime if found to be deliberate. If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice. They must be proved wrong, he said. READ MORE: Aleppo Russia under fire at Human Rights Council President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia had no other option but to clear out what he called a nest of terrorists from Aleppo, despite the fact that civilians were also present in the city. Putin said civilian casualties in conflicts should be mourned everywhere, not just in Aleppo, pointing to what he said were civilians killed around Mosul in Iraq. Bells should toll for all innocent victims. Not just in Aleppo, said Putin. Russias defence ministry said on Thursday that Syrian and Russian warplanes had not bombed Aleppo in the past nine days. Meanwhile, the Syrian state media reported that at least six children were killed and 15 others wounded in the government-held west of Aleppo city by two rebel rocket attacks on Thursday. OPINION: Russia overplays its hand in Syria One of the attacks struck a school in Shahba neighbourhood, leaving three children dead and 14 others injured, SANA said. The second rocket attack hit a house in the Hamdaniyeh neighbourhood, killing three brothers and injuring a fourth. Rebel groups have not responded to the reports. Syrian forces backed by Russia, Iran, and the Lebanese group Hezbollah have waged an aerial and ground assault since late September to recapture eastern Aleppo, killing hundreds of civilians and destroying infrastructure, including hospitals. Also on Thursday, at least eight people were killed in government shelling on the rebel-held district of Douma in Damascus province, the Syrian Observatory said. Douma is regularly targeted by government fire, and in recent months regime forces have waged an offensive in the area, which has also been under siege since 2013. French aid group rescues 107 people off Libyas coast as death toll on Mediterranean this year reaches 3,800. The bodies of 29 people who perished in a pool of fuel and seawater on a crowded dinghy off Libya have been found by the French aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF). MSF said its chartered rescue ship, the Bourbon Argos, picked up 107 people aboard the inflatable boat 26 nautical miles off Libya on Tuesday. Its crew initially counted 11 corpses on the dinghys floor, which was flooded with a murky mixture of fuel and seawater. The Bourbon Argos was then called away to another rescue operation nearby, saving 139 people aboard another vessel. The crew returned to the dinghy and found 29 people had died, probably from suffocation, skin burns or drowning. The bodies were retrieved from the toxic mixture over a period of hours, with the help of a team from the German NGO Sea-Watch. The mixture of water and fuel was so foul that we could not stay on the boat for long periods. It was horrible, MSF project leader Michele Telaro said in a statement. Twenty-three survivors suffered burns from exposure to fuel, 11 of whom were seriously hurt. Seven survivors were taken to hospital, two of them by helicopter. H eadlong rush to the cemetery The find adds to the grim evidence of the hazards of crossing the Mediterranean a journey that the UN said on Wednesday has claimed more than 3,800 lives so far this year. To venture out to sea in such conditions, said Tefano Argenziano, in charge of MSFs migrant assistance activities, is a headlong rush to the cemetery. In a separate incident, more than 90 people were believed to be missing after their boat sank off the coast of western Libya, according to a coastguard spokesman. READ MORE: UN says 2016 Mediterranean refugee deaths hit record 3,800 Ayoub Qassem said coastguards had rescued 29 people about 26 miles off the shore east of Tripoli. Survivors said 126 people had been on the rubber boat before one of the sides was ripped and it started taking on water. Libya is the main departure point for mostly African refugees and migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. The route between Libya and Italy has become the busiest crossing point after a deal between Turkey and the EU in March largely closed off pathways to Greece. Smugglers arrange ill-equipped and overcrowded vessels that frequently break down or sink. They often send groups with just enough fuel to reach international waters and be picked up by international rescue vessels. The story of Somalias decline from stability to chaos and the problems facing its people at home and abroad. Scroll to watch Part 2 Filmmaker: Hamza Ashrif Somalias modern history is a tale of independence, prosperity and democracy in the 1960s, military dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s followed by a desperate decline into civil war and chaos almost ever since. The effect of the war has been to scatter the Somali people in their millions to refugee camps and neighbouring countries and in their hundreds of thousands to the UK, Canada and the United States. Somalia gained independence from Britain and Italy in 1960. It held free and fair elections and was ruled democratically from 1960 to 1969. Somalia has become a kind of catchword for a kind of violent, terrible situation. by Mary Harper, Africa Editor, BBC Once labelled the Switzerland of Africa, Somalia enjoyed almost a decade of democracy. The first elected president of Somalia, uniting the former British and Italian territories, was Adam Abdullah Osman who reigned for seven years. He was succeeded, freely and peacefully, by Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke. Sharmarke, however, was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards in 1969. Speaker of the Somali Parliament Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein took over, but his brief, six-day tenure was cut short by a military coup led by General Siad Barre, ending Somalias period of democratic government. Whatever its faults and there were many Barres 22-year rule effectively created modern Somalia, building one of Africas strongest armies and massively improving the literacy of the population. Yet Barre, who gained the support of the US and the Soviet Union, the superpowers of the day, also dissolved parliament, suspended the constitution, banned political parties, arrested politicians and curbed press freedom. From then, there was a downward trend. In everything. A disintegration. And every time things were going down, the military regime was becoming more brutal and more dictatorial, says Jama Mohamed Ghalib, a former Somali government minister. But when Barre launched the Ogaden war in 1977 to take the Somali majority region from Ethiopia, it provoked serious international opposition, including that of the Soviet Union which had once supported Barre but now sided with Ethiopia. The Somali army was forced to withdraw. Opposition to the Barre government gradually increased and in May 1988, encouraged by Ethiopia, the same northern tribes in what had once been British Somalia rebelled against Barres dictatorship. This provoked the full force of his military power and aggression and thousands of northern Somalis were killed. Three years later, in 1991, both the northern and southern tribes, again supported by Ethiopia, rose up against Barre. His grip on power had weakened, his former allies had abandoned him and he was finally brought down. One outcome was the northern region proclaiming its independence and declaring itself as Somaliland. It maintains its separatism today, but has hardly any international recognition. But the other long-lasting outcome was civil war, with myriad competing factions and frequent intervention by foreign powers and neighbouring countries. In 2006, the Islamic Courts Union split into several factions, one of which was Al Shabab. The radical group still controls large parts of the south of the country today. If Siad Barre was to leave power two years earlier and said, Now, Somalis, you have to organise new elections and I will be happy to leave none of this would have happened. But when he brutalised different groups of people in different regions of the country, people were just, literally, mindlessly trying to get rid of him, says Abdi Samatar, professor of geography at the University of Minnesota. A flood of UN aid in the 1990s and 2000s led to the collapse of Somali agriculture and has reduced many farmers to poverty. At the same time, fishing by large foreign vessels in Somali waters has led to the piracy off the coast which has become synonymous in many peoples minds with Somalia worldwide. PART 2 The ongoing civil war has caused serious damage to Somalias infrastructure and economy. Thousands of Somalis have either left as economic migrants or fled as refugees. Most spent months, if not years, in refugee camps. Around 200,000 Somalis refugees have fled to Yemen and roughly 50,000 to the UAE. There are around 150,000 Somalis living in Canada, 100,000 in the UK and 85,000 in the US. Within Somalia, more than a million people are internally displaced. There are more than 1.1 million people displaced from their homes and their original places of living; 1.1 million people. Theres certainly nearly that same number who are reliant upon food assistance from the United Nations agency and other donors, nearly a million people who cant meet their own food needs, says Nicholas Kay, United Nations special representative for Somalia. Somalia receives aid from both the UN and the Arab League of which it is a member, but how its allocated and where it goes can sometimes appear inconsistent. Many Somalis have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, hoping to return to Somalia once the civil war dies down. Ethiopia has become home to 4.6 million Somalis and Kenya to over 2 million. After a series of al-Shabab attacks in Kenya starting in 2011, the Kenyan government began ordering Somalis back into refugee camps and some to return to Somalia. Other Somalis have even fled to war-torn Libya, a hub for human traffickers. From there, they must make the often treacherous sea journey to Europe and then by land to onward destinations. Those who survive can encounter a wide range of problems but sometimes find help from established Somali communities. With the collapse of government, Somalis have often turned to their tribes, clans and sub-clans to fill the void, and clan allegiances can extend beyond Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya into the diaspora. The clan is a wonderful form of insurance, says the BBCs Africa Editor, Mary Harper. Because if I arrive in London and Im from a particular Somali clan, Ill find my Somali clan brothers and sisters and theyll look after me. If I dont have any money, theyll give me money to maybe start a business and maybe Ill pay it back. If I dont have anywhere to live, theyll help me find somewhere to live. So they really, really look after each other. The Somali community in the UK has been in existence long before the state collapsed, says Laura Hammond, senior lecturer in Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. As a community the Somali community is suffering quite a lot from a lack of integration which is caused not just by their own difficulties, learning the language or figuring out so-called British life. But its also about structural exclusions that are put in place. So its very difficult for them to find jobs, its very difficult for them to solve their immigration status. It can take them years to actually gain citizenship. Abdi Warsame and Abdirizak Bihi are part of the Somali community in Minneapolis in Minnesota state in the US. Warsame has become an elected member of Minneapolis City Council and has worked hard to ensure that his people are properly and evenly represented at the municipal level. Bihi runs the Somali Education Advocacy Center: In 1996 I moved here from Washington DC to work with the refugees Ive seen in camps. So I knew the challenges theyll face here. I became an interpreter, a counselor, a cultural broker. Wed train them to or help get Somali speaking personnel so they could address the issues that the new Americans were facing. And its not really easy to be black, Muslim and immigrant. When Aboukar Awale came to the UK in 1997, he found mafrishes, cafes where Somali men would drink tea and chew the addictive stimulant khat. He himself became an addict but the drug is now banned in the UK, thanks to the campaign spearheaded by Awale. However, its still a big problem among young Somalis and so hes now taken his campaign to the streets of Somalia itself: I thought if I am lucky, then what about the children of Somalia, and those being raised who think khat is a good thing? And thats how I started this campaign. Like many Somalis across the diaspora, Awale hopes deeply that one day hell be able to return to help re-build his homeland. It will happen inshallah. It might not happen in ten years; it might not happen in maybe 20 years. But one day It just breaks my heart. But inshallah, Somalia will come back. Someday Somalia will be back. Could a faltering economy, corruption and public disaffection over its relationship with Russia lead to an uprising? After a government crackdown on nationalist dissent and simmering tension with volatile neighbours, will recent changes to the constitution of Armenia enhance the future stability of this South Caucasus nation, or just help cement its presidents hold on power? FILMMAKERS VIEW By Glenn Ellis and Katerina Barushka In July 2016, Armenia experienced its biggest unrest for almost a decade when armed men seized the Erebuni police station in the capital, Yerevan, taking nine hostages, killing a policeman in the raid, and demanding the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan. Thousands poured on to the streets to support the hostage-takers. But what was behind the raid? People & Power sent us to find out. The first thing you notice when you arrive in Yerevan is Mount Ararat, towering above the tin roofs and skyscrapers to the west. Its a national symbol, yet its tantalisingly off-limits, being the other side of a closed border with Turkey, so that Armenians see it as a constant reminder of past glories and past atrocities most especially the killing of around 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915/16. Such emblems, memories and history matter here, because they speak to years of complex relations with the other states of the volatile South Caucuses. The latest crisis to hit the country comes in the wake of last Aprils four-day flare-up in a semi-frozen conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan about Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region claimed by both parties and the subject of a bitter six-year war between the two nations in the late 1980s and early 90s. Having recently spent $5bn on state-of-the-art weapons, Azerbaijan made significant inroads and captured precious territory. To rub salt in the wound, the new arms that led to Azerbaijans success had actually been bought from Russia Armenias long-standing regional ally. Yerevan-based political scientist Irina Ghaplanyan explained the relationship to Russia: From its inception the Armenian political arena was saturated with a strong narrative that we need to survive at any expense, given the geopolitical situation, and talking about Russia as the only strategic partner to be trusted. But following the April flare-up, as this once special relationship suddenly seemed less reliable, many Armenians struggled to understand why President Serzh Sargsyan was still so determined to maintain close relations with a Kremlin that appeared to flirting with the idea of changing sides and supporting their old enemy. This unhappiness had been compounded by growing discontent among the countrys army veterans. Armenia is intensely proud of its victory in the Nagorno-Karabakh war with the much larger Azerbaijan, and those who fought are generally venerated. They certainly make up an influential cross-section of public opinion. But now, with many veterans living in penury, political and strategic decisions that seem to negate their contribution and importance to the states affairs, or indeed diminish the near-sacred significance of Nagorno-Karabakh, are taken badly amiss. The countrys economy has been struggling for years and one third of Armenias population live below the breadline. Allied to concerns about the current administrations apparent enthusiasm to cling on to power and the violent suppression of peaceful protests this summer, its perhaps not surprising that many feel that even more turbulent times lie ahead. And the presidents enemies are keen to capitalise on that sentiment. Alec Yenikomshian is a member of the Founding Parliament Movement, an ultra-nationalist group that includes many war veterans. Since under this regime it is impossible to hold genuine elections, Founding Parliament considers that civic disobedience of the citizens of Armenia should topple the regime and establish a genuine democratic and sovereign country, he says. When this summer rumours spread that Moscow wanted Armenia to relinquish more lands around Nagorno-Karabakh and the president declared that the territories lost during the April war were of no tactical or strategic importance, it was too much for the charismatic leader of Founding Parliament, Jirair Sefilian. According to Yenikomshian, Sefilian, a veteran of the six-year war, said publicly: OK, it is your responsibility as president of Armenia to be the guarantor of Armenian land. You do not do it, so I myself am ready to do it. And he reportedly called upon his ex-comrades in arms of the Karabakh war to retake those territories. A month later Sefilian was jailed on charges of possessing weapons and organising mass disturbances as a prelude, the government claimed, to an attempted coup. Within weeks, the country was in the grips of the hostage crisis when armed men seeking Sefilians freedom seized the Erebuni police station, killing one person and taking nine hostages. What surprised many was the outpouring of public support for the armed groups demands, not just the release of Sefilian but also the resignation of the president. Peaceful protests grew until some 20,000 people were demonstrating in the capital. State forces responded aggressively with stun grenades, indiscriminate beatings and mass detentions. According to a plethora of NGOs, 100 people were hospitalised after the police used excessive force; 33 civilians received fractures; 47 had shrapnel wounds; seven civilians had burns; and a teenager lost his eye. The siege ended after two weeks when the gunmen surrendered and the crowds dispersed. But the crisis is far from over and the wounds are taking a long while to heal. When we were granted an interview with President Sargsyan to ask him about these issues, we found him in no mood to compromise to those he clearly saw as disruptive elements. Is there a country which does not have an aggressive minority? he asked. Its obvious that there are discontented people in our country, and maybe the most discontented are the representatives of civil society, and they have given their assessment, which does not mean its objective. He was even more scathing about those behind Jirair Sefilian: I need to tell you that their demand was not just about releasing the person you mentioned, but making him Armenias dictator. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for next May. Although Sargsyans final term as president will shortly end, a controversial new constitution changing Armenia from a presidential to a parliamentary democracy could in theory enable him to prolong his grip on the country by becoming its first prime minister. When asked, he refused to confirm whether he intended to run for PM, saying: You know, I find it too early for these conversations. Time, as they say, will tell. The Hippodrome State Theatre will host two weeks of international performances throughout the end of October and early November starting today. The performances will include world-traveling actors from the Workcenter of Jerzy Growtowski and Thomas Richards. But heres the kicker: The actors will not have microphones, lights or even a set to perform with. They will showcase the revolutionary method of Jerzy Growtowski, a 20th-century Polish dramatic theorist. Growtowskis method breaks boundaries between actor and audiences, creating an atmosphere that transforms audience from watchers into doers. The performances planned are highly structured and definitive. Each performance has a flow that is constantly changing and adapting each time they are performed. The tone of each days performance depends on what the actors are feeling. Their emotions make up a large part of emotion portrayed in a given performance. These events are meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. How did this come to be? About two and a half years ago, the Hippodrome faced the threat of closing its doors forever, said Michael Littig, a Hippodrome company member and coordinator of this two-week international residency. He found a solution to make sure the Gainesville institution stayed open. Letig said he asked the question, How can everyone in the community feel welcome? and wanted the Hippodrome to be the home of the community. Littig requested a grant to support international performances at the Hippodrome, the National Endowment for the Arts approved it and now the Workcenters performances will round off the past two years of international spectacle and give people of the community, including students, the chance to experience a truly moving performance with others from different backgrounds. Everyone is encouraged to attend. The performances planned for the next two weeks are open and free to the public. The audience will have a chance to be part of each days performances, and no prior knowledge is required in order to participate. This gives each performance a unique flow as it adapts to the environment it is being performed in. Each actor is accommodated for his or her work and needs, including residency, through the NEAs grant. The actors chosen to perform have been with the Workcenter for years, ranging from at least two to as many as 15, and are still thriving. There will be six performances in the upcoming weeks, starting with todays event, The Open Program Studio. Here, an international theatre company will sing and dance, and attendees are encouraged to participate and interact with the performers. Tickets to the events are free, and more information can be found at thehipp.org. Tampa Indie Flea will host its first indie flea pop-up market in Gainesville this Sunday. The pop-up event, which will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Old Gainesville Depot, has been in the works for more than three months, said Seanissey Loughlin, the curator for Tampa Indie Flea. Loughlin said he had been putting together smaller markets in Tampa, Florida, but wanted to do something larger within the community. However, Loughlin said he knew he would need to collaborate with someone else to provide a year-round indoor market setting. He worked with Rosey Williams, who had already launched St. Pete Indie Market, to create Tampa Indie Flea, a monthly market thats coming up on its one-year anniversary in November. Loughlin said part of the reason he wanted to create a market like this was to add to the already long list of interesting activities in Tampa. Theres a lot of really cool stuff happening, Loughlin said, and we just want to expose as many people as we can to that. However, because Tampa Indie Flea is only once a month, the curators wanted to expand it to other cities. Even though it took time and planning to make sure vendors were available and to determine a location, Loughlin said having Gainesville as the first pop-up market outside of Tampa was a great decision. Its exciting for us that we get to do it in a place that were so excited about, he said. People who havent been to an indie flea market before should expect to walk away feeling inspired to create, get their hands dirty and learn a new trade, Loughlin said. The markets are even an inspiring time for vendors who have the opportunity to be around other creative people. He mentioned a vendor who traveled from South Carolina to Tampa selling tintype photographs. Loughlin said what struck him was the passion this artist had for his niche art. I definitely walked away with a tintype and was telling everyone, This guy needs to be supported through and through, he said. He said 40 to 45 vendors are expected to attend the Gainesville pop-up market this Sunday. Local, independent Gainesville businesses like Bobby Foxx Designs, which specializes in jewelry and photography, and Vivi and Sam, which produces jewelry and decor, will be present at the pop-up. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Also included in the list of vendors is Upcycled Studio. Diana and Ken Swallow first got started at shows in 2012 with events like Tampa Indie Flea, where they sold prints by Diana and sculptures by Ken. I like to call the indie markets a lot of goodness all in one place, Diana Swallow wrote in an email. It has a vibe, a life of its own. First-time indie flea goers might come not knowing what theyre looking for but leave having found an artist who perfectly captures their aesthetic. You never know what youre going to find, Swallow said, from body care items to artisanal foods to one-of-a-kind clothing. Swallow said its the recurring customers who make it worthwhile. She said for her, seeing someone connect with something she created is one of the most satisfying feelings. Small-business owners are dreamers and doers, she said. We want to bring our customers a unique product theyd be proud to own or give as a gift. Loughlin said that the best part about buying things from independent businesses is the feeling of actively contributing to someones livelihood, as most people who participate in indie flea markets are doing this by picking up a trade and doing it part time. These are regular people; youre not filling the pockets of some fat cat, he said. When buying from local, independent businesses, patrons can know exactly where their money is going, Loughlin said. He said whether its helping artists buy more art supplies or putting food on the table for their children, the importance of supporting art and creativity is not lost on him. Why would it not be important? he asked. English News Chinas progress towards eradicating poverty is unprecedented Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 27 Octobre 2016 Looking towards the future, Chinas newly devised targeted poverty alleviation strategy has again demonstrated Chinas resilience in tackling poverty issues. Adopted at a time when China is confronted with the urgency to transform for further economic growth, the strategy has laid out different approaches. By Nicholas Rosellini Source: People's Daily October 17th marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, an opportunity to remind us that ending poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030 is an ambitious but achievable goal. Marking the day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stressed we are approaching the end of the first year of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a universal vision for peace, prosperity and dignity for all people, achieving this objective is inconceivable without fulfilling the mandate of SDG 1 to end poverty in all its forms. Having joined the UN 30 years ago and enjoyed over 20 years working in the Asia-Pacific region, I have watched China grow and develop into the worlds second largest economy. This year marks the third year China has also adopted today as the National Poverty Reduction Day. There is no doubt that China has made remarkable strides in reducing poverty levels. Once a country with over 942 million living in poverty, it has now reduced this to 55 million. Additionally, with a targeted poverty alleviation strategy in the 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP), poverty will become a history for China by 2020, leaving no one behind. The figures certainly highlight an impressive achievement but what further intrigues me is what actions have made this possible. Looking back we can see that China has evolved through varied stages of development. As social-economic and environmental contexts have developed, the drivers of poverty have changed, and so have the approaches to addressing it. Broadly speaking, poverty reduction has become increasingly institutionalized, more targeted and multi-dimensional. This means going beyond seeing poverty as merely a lack of income or what is necessary for material well-being such as food, housing and land and exploring other essential factors such as access to education, healthcare and inclusiveness in society. At the same time China has needed to address accompanying rapid economic growth, industrialization and urbanization. Looking towards the future, Chinas newly devised targeted poverty alleviation strategy has again demonstrated Chinas resilience in tackling poverty issues. Adopted at a time when China is confronted with the urgency to transform for further economic growth, the strategy has laid out different approaches ecological conservation, education, social protection and industrial development, that all highlight the importance of sustainability, particularly in social and environment spheres, when it comes to reducing poverty. These efforts are also well in line with the globally-adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and if the strategy is effectively implemented, it will contribute to realizing job creation, public services provision, sustainable urbanization and natural resources conservation, just to name a few. However the challenge still remains to make poverty reduction inclusive, while considering the integration of the SDGs and this is where the UN system can play a vital role in supporting China. First, the UN can continue bringing international perspectives and experience for China but it also provides a platform, through south-south cooperation, to disseminate Chinas experience and help other countries with poverty reduction efforts. Second, the success of poverty elevation and the broader SDGs agenda will happen at the local level. The UN has been supporting implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) locally, and has a vast experience to apply to the SDG era. Local governments play a leading role, and the UN will provide an integrated and long-term solutions for success. Third, the UN can help monitor the poverty achievements to support long-term strategies for sustainability of the efforts. Poverty is dynamic, and using innovative approaches to help identify and track the poor in a more real-time and real-place manner will be vital. The UN has experience globally, and can assist in China to experiment with alternative instruments, such as using Big Data, to complement the traditional household surveys that feed the national database. Moreover, with more and more financial resources being allocated for poverty reduction, the UN can assist with effective implementation, including through assessing the cost-effectiveness of public spending, via setting up an overarching appraisal system. Chinas progress towards eradicating poverty is unprecedented. Soon I will start my tenure in China and together with the UN system, I look forward to China continuing to move along the development path to achieve sustainable development economically, socially and environmentally. (The author is Designated United Nations Resident Coordinator in China) Dans la meme rubrique : < > More robots entering people's daily life China sees accelerated development of express delivery sector in rural areas China's FAST discovers largest atomic cloud in universe Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Peoples Daily criticizes US double standard toward Mosul and Aleppo Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 27 Octobre 2016 On one hand, it has sent troops to Mosul to fight against terrorism, and on the other, it is obstructing the strike on Aleppo and defends Al-Nusra Front. Whats worse, citing connection between Syrian opposition and the terrorist organizations as an excuse, it impeded the counter-terrorism efforts of Russia and Syria, and even accused the two countries of human rights violations. Zhongsheng, Peoples Daily The two ongoing battles in the Middle East, namely Mosul offensive and Aleppo strike, actually share some common features, but driven by its intention to pursue self-interest, the West, represented by the US, has adopted double standard toward the two conflicts, the Peoples Daily said in a commentary published on Thursday under the byline of Zhongsheng. The following is the translation of the article: Two battles have erupted in the Middle East, namely Mosul offensive launched by the Iraqi government and Aleppo strike by Syrian government. Based on an analysis, it's easy to find similarities between the two wars. The two cities are both second-largest in their countries with over one million populations. The Islamic State occupying Mosul and the Al-Nusra Front holding Aleppo have both been listed as terrorist organizations by the UN. In addition, both battles are military actions launched by governments to restore their lost territories with the support of big powers. However, the Western world, represented by the US, holds completely different attitudes toward the two wars. On one hand, it has sent troops to Mosul to fight against terrorism, and on the other, it is obstructing the strike on Aleppo and defends Al-Nusra Front. Whats worse, citing connection between Syrian opposition and the terrorist organizations as an excuse, it impeded the counter-terrorism efforts of Russia and Syria, and even accused the two countries of human rights violations. Pushed by Western countries in the name of human rights, the UN Human Rights Council has voted to start an independent special inquiry into the strikes on Aleppo, an attempt to prevent Russia and Syria from recovering the city. Apparently, interests are the drivers of the US double standard toward two battles. The mess in todays Iraq, a leftover of the US invasion, is a hot potato for Uncle Sam in the Middle East. Given the huge involvement of the US government, the countrys credibility would be questioned both domestically and internationally if chaos in Iraq continues. Therefore, the US places considerable emphasis on the Iraqi counter-terrorism campaign. Commentators pointed out that by supporting the Mosul attack of Iraqi government at this very time, Barack Obama can also solicit votes for the Democratic Party in the US elections When it comes to the Syrian crisis, the US and its Western allies set the resignation of Bashar Assad as a precondition of settlement and even present his stepping down as political correctness. But as a matter of fact, such requirement has impeded the effective resolution of the crisis. In terms of the geopolitical game, as the US calculation in the Middle East was disrupted by Russias aggressive intervention, the superpower would certainly make a counterbalance when devising its Syrian policy. The current strategic deployment on the battleground of Mosul apparently is effective in wiping out the terrorists, but the latter may flee to Syria if the way to the west is not effectively blocked. Russia and Syria have already warned on this. The Syrian crisis is more than a conflict between governments determination to maintain order and the publics demand for reforms, and involves national contradictions, religious conflicts, terrorism, and geopolitical game of big powers. The Aleppo war, for example, is also a wrestle between Russia and the US, and Mosul battle cannot deny its relation with Syrian crisis. If major powers continue to play such games, it would be more difficult to seek a final settlement, and the innocent Syrian people will be the real victims of the endless tug of war. Dans la meme rubrique : < > More robots entering people's daily life China sees accelerated development of express delivery sector in rural areas China's FAST discovers largest atomic cloud in universe Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Presidential election chaos unearths flaws in US political system Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 27 Octobre 2016 The US Supreme Court removed limits on corporate donations to campaigns in 2010, leading to $2 billion being spent in the 2012 elections - the most expensive presidential race ever. It is estimated that more money will be spent on this years' election, which suggests that money is gaining even bigger influence in politics. By Wu Xinbo Source: People's Daily The 2016 US presidential election, a choice between two undesirable candidates, has now devolved into a confrontation between supporters of the current political status quo and dissidents, as well as a reality show-like race challenging the culture of political correctness and the limits of social morality. The chaos of the election also unearthed the malpractices of the US political system. The chaos that has ensued from this race, first of all, has revealed the drawbacks to the Republican Partys presidential primary elections. In the Democratic Party primaries, besides ordinary pledged delegates, there are unpledged delegates who are appointed by the Party independently of the primaries' electoral process. These elite unpledged delegates, or superdelegates, are usually made up of members of the two houses of Congress, as well as federal and state government officials. The Democratic Party included this process with the aim to prevent the selection of extreme nominees who make it more difficult to attract middle-of-the-road voters in their fight against the Republican Party. However, the Republican does not have such a mechanism. As a result, the nations increasingly severe political polarization and dissatisfaction among US citizens towards the current political status quo was able to lead to the emergence of extreme nominees such as Donald Trump. Though core Republicans understood that Trump was not a good choice, and some of them even suggested a substitution, the Republican Party had to accept him as the final nominee to the lack of an effective mechanism to replace him. The presidential primary process adopted by the Republican Party ignores the importance of counterbalance, and so was finally kidnapped by this so-called intra-party democracy. Trump has taught the party a valuable lesson this time. Election chaos has also exposed the flaws of the US two-party system. Though Uncle Sam labels itself as a multi-party country, it is actually running a two-party system that benefits Democrats and Republicans while marginalizing other political powers. Though a two-party system is more stable, it bears the risks of political confrontation and polarization. In addition, under such a system, political powers outside the two parties are barely able to play a role when it comes to improving the political environment. When the political environment in such a system is favorable, the two parties are able to compete in a fair and healthy way through compromise for the sake of the overall national interest and there ensuring that the entire political system continues to function. But if the environment is not ideal, the two parties may push past boundaries, causing competition to become direct confrontation. Whats worse, the whole political ecosystem will end up deteriorating as the country cannot look to a third-party for further reform. The fierce confrontation seen during the 2016 election can be seen as an extension of the political polarization that has arisen in the US in recent years. Whats worse, no one can do anything to change this situation even though many are not satisfied with either candidate. This is because other candidates, either Gary Johnson from the Libertarian Party or Jill Stein from the Green Party, are not someone they can bet on. In the end though, US citizens should put more blame on the two-party system rather than these undesirable candidates. The chaos of this election has also revealed the defects in the US electoral process itself. For a long time now, the US presidential election has been criticized for the influence of money in politics. In todays presidential election, the huge amount of cash has been spent to advertise, campaign, and win votes, and as a result, cash usually ends up equaling votes, leading what is supposed to be a democratic political system to become a monetary political system. In such a system, candidates have to raise capital and then reward their investors after winning an election. This violates the basic principles of democracy. The US Supreme Court removed limits on corporate donations to campaigns in 2010, leading to $2 billion being spent in the 2012 elections - the most expensive presidential race ever. It is estimated that more money will be spent on this years' election, which suggests that money is gaining even bigger influence in politics. Congressional elections are not doing well either. The redistricting of congressional districts in 2011 carried out by the Republican-controlled congress enabled both parties to monopolize certain congressional districts, making it so supporters of other parties and independents could not elect representatives. To put it simply, the democratic rights of a certain portion of the public were sacrificed. Whats more, this gerrymandered congressional district system will give more extremist lawmakers from the two dominant parties more opportunities to be elected. These members, once elected, will further intensify party confrontation and political polarization. (The author is a professor and director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University) Dans la meme rubrique : < > More robots entering people's daily life China sees accelerated development of express delivery sector in rural areas China's FAST discovers largest atomic cloud in universe Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) 'Masculinize' for Success: A report on women in the financial services industry from Oliver Wyman helps illuminate some of the ways that gender is still a factor that keeps many from advancing even if the days of overt sexism may be over. A big reason why the career prospects of women in this industry are poor compared with other industries is that unconscious bias and gender role expectations still disadvantage women greatly. As one younger banker in the study observed, "We end up having to 'masculinize' our female traits." It goes beyond workplace tone and atmosphere to unstated ideas of qualities for success, which have been created predominantly by male executives over decades and tend to be characteristically male qualities. For those keeping track of the numbers, Oliver Wyman's analysis of SEC filings for 50 large U.S. financial services companies found that women have 22% of the board seats, 20% of the executive committee roles and 12% of the CEO jobs. The full article is well worth reading. Do What Works: Clearly, the effectiveness of gender diversity initiatives inside many financial institutions has plateaued, and two headhunters say the industry needs to respond with new tactics. Women make up half the industry, but there's still a retention problem that keeps the executive ranks predominantly male. If there weren't, more women would be in more positions of power. Scrap those ineffective programs, say Peter Gomez and Susan Medina, who are with one of the largest woman-owned executive search firms, Battalia Winston. Companies should take mentorship programs to the next level: sponsorship. A multicultural sponsorship study found men and women with sponsors are more likely to ask for stretch assignments, pay raises and promotions; 70% of those with sponsors were satisfied with their rate of advancement; 60% of people of color with a sponsor were less likely to quit within a year than those without sponsor support. Companies also need to "rewrite the playbook on on-the-job training" to incorporate stretch assignments. No Hollywood Ending: The last movie about female executives on Wall Street was "Working Girl" in 1983. The end of the movie left the audience feeling euphoric. But in creating the movie "Equity," screenwriter Amy Fox says sheset out to explore as authentically as possible the experiences women have in financial services, and the truths that she encountered in interviews were not pretty. Bingeworthy?: "Equity," the Wall Street thriller with all female lead characters, is being adapted by ABC for the small screen. It's worth noting that the film had many women behind the scenes too, including the director, the producers and the screenwriter. It also had female financial backers, such as Barclays' Barbara Byrne, who talked to us about why she gets involved in projects like this. Family Service: In the Middle East, the wealth management business tends to serve larger family units, according to Tara Smyth, managing director and head of the Middle East investments team at J.P. Morgan. Many of JPM's Middle East clients have banked with the firm for 40 years and are into the third generation of family business. "Those families work together and are focused on trying to make sure it is sustainable through generations," she said. Sometimes they bring daughters to meetings, because "they are interested for them to meet a woman in business," she added. "They encourage them to ask questions and participate." Smyth said for wealth to survive generations, "it is important to have the next generation well educated." Role Call Patti Husic, president and CEO of Centric Bank in Harrisburg, Pa., was elected to a three-year term on the American Bankers Association's board of directors. (Husic is on our list of the Most Powerful Women in Banking.) In Case You Missed It Bottom Line: Regular readers of this weekly news scan are familiar with the research demonstrating a link between companies' gender diversity and their financial performance. But Debbie Matz, who is on the board at Mutual of Omaha Bank and is the former chairman of the National Credit Union Administration, points out that only 23% of respondents in one study agreed that that there is such a connection. Matz also says that though diversity as a business priority can lead to financial benefits, there is a caveat: "Diversity without inclusion will not produce the desired results." Companies must not only seek a diverse workforce, but make sure their business culture is accepting of that diversity in order to really thrive. Gala Night: Scroll through the photos from American Banker's gala celebrating the Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance to see some of the 800 people who attended. One trend that stands out is the increasing presence each year of honorees who bring their daughters to the event. Beyond Banking Different Setting, Same Challenges: Today at the FBI, women hold 12% of 220 senior agent positions. In 2013, they held about 20% of senior agent jobs and 15 women ran field offices. What's up with that? The reasons for the drop-off might sound familiar: the FBI's path to promotion is often less appealing to women, as agents can be transferred at a moment's notice, having to uproot to new locations without their children and spouses for long stretches of time. Also, there is a lack of high-ranking female role models and mentors. A woman has never been in charge of a large operational division like counterterrorism and has never been deputy director or director. That Was Then: Sometimes it's easy to forget just how much women's lives have improved in recent decades. Check out this video on things women couldn't do before the 1970s. For example, they couldn't get credit cards in their name until 1974, keep their jobs while pregnant until 1987, or pay a man's rate for health insurance until 2010? When Andrew Varga joined Republic Bank & Trust Co. in Louisville, Ky., 16 months ago as its chief innovation and strategy officer, he was tasked with developing innovative products that would address the needs of current and future customers. In the early months, the former advertising executive and onetime chief marketing officer of Papa John's brainstormed with Steve Trager, Republic's chief executive, on various ways it could ramp up the bank's digital transformation. They discussed offering digital-only products to customers and investing more heavily in digital channels. The idea that they landed on was far more ambitious. They decided Republic would launch a digital-only bank, dubbed MemoryBank, that would stand alone from Republic and would aim to offer simplified products. And, in perhaps an unexpected twist, this digital bank is courting those in Generation X, as opposed to the digitally obsessed and oft-fretted over by marketers millennial generation. The bank launched this week. "Steve [Trager] is a forward-thinker, and we looked at opportunities to allow the bank to compete more aggressively," Varga said in a recent interview. "It was evident that this was the best opportunity for us, [Republic] has a small regional footprint, the digital bank model gives us the ability to have a national footprint. From a branding perspective, we thought it was better to establish an entirely new brand name," he added. By launching MemoryBank, the $4.2 billion-asset Republic joins a small but growing list of banks that have established digital-only arms. For instance, Customers Bancorp's BankMobile, a unit focused on millennials that has attracted 1.5 million customers since its January 2015 launch. Toronto-based Equitable Bank operates the digital only EQ Bank. BBVA operates Simple, a neobank it acquired in 2014 and earlier this year Groupe BPCE acquired Fidor Bank, a German challenger bank. Fintech partnerships, such as the one between TD Bank and Moven, are also good examples of how banks are eyeing the digital-only space. Despite tapping into clear trends towards bank customers adopting digital channels, a digital-only bank still faces an uphill battle to achieve mass success because many customers still like the face-to-face interaction the branch network provides, said Mark Schwanhausser, director of omnichannel financial services at Javelin Strategy & Research. "Even the Simples and Movens of the world, which have a great concept and execution, find it tough," he said. "I think a bank that has a combination of standout digital services, plus that branch network, is still going to have quite a bit of appeal." Where a digital-only bank can stand out from the pack, Schwanhausser said, is "around the principles of personal finance, and positioning the bank as a financial guide to the customer." "If you can bring that to the digital world, and offer the customer a deep, digital financial relationship, that could be very appealing," he said. While MemoryBank is envisioning a scenario similar to what Schwanhausser described, it is first product is a bet on simplicity. Its EarnMore deposit account collapses the functions of high-interest savings accounts and day-to-day checking accounts into one. It pays a 1% annual percentage yield, an additional 0.5% on all deposits for the first year, no minimum balance and Mastercard that offers cashback rewards. "The banking world has too many products out there, and too much confusion," Varga said. "We're aiming to de-commoditize financial products." MemoryBank has entered into agreements with ATM providers that give its customers access to some 80,000 ATMs nationally, Varga said. Also, it mobile app supports remote deposit capture, features Eyeprint ID and fingerprint ID login functionality. MemoryBank customers can also reach bank representatives via a call center or via live chat from their mobile device. According to Republic's third-quarter earnings, the bank has spent $754,000 on its digital bank initiative. Varga said that most of that was earmarked for MemoryBank, but some of it also went to improving Republic's digital offerings. Varga said the bank has "already gotten great feedback" from its beta customers. He added that the bank is aiming to have 20,000 to 30,000 active deposit accounts in the first year. "We'd feel really good about that," he said. Starting a digital bank can be an attractive option for those banks that want to break free of their existing legacy infrastructure and create new bonds with customers through a new brand, said Nicole Sturgill, principal executive advisor at CEB. "The challenge is to not just recreate the traditional products and services under a new name, but to offer new products and services that meet customers' needs better than anything on the market," she said. "Biometric security and personalized alerts are a good start." Trager said in an email that the team has put together "our best-in-class digital offering that opens us up to opportunity beyond our current geographic boundaries." "We are eager to serve more people in more places with products that are of great value to customers," he said. MemoryBank is also hoping to differentiate itself by 'zigging' where everyone else is 'zagging' by going after Gen-Xers. Varga said the bank sees Gen-Xers, defined loosely as those born from the late 1960s through the early 1980s, as the ideal customer. They are typically comfortable with technology, but have accrued more wealth than their millennial counterparts. "You have millennials on the one end. They are really digital but haven't accumulated much wealth yet. And the boomers on other end. They have money and are dipping their toe in the water [of digital] but not completely gravitating there," Varga said. "We felt Gen-X was where the greatest return on investment was." Sturgill agrees that courting Gen X is a smart move. "So much of the marketing bandwidth is focused on millennials and the transfer of wealth from boomers to millennials that it's easy to overlook Gen X, which has unique and vast financial needs at this stage of their lives," she said. But its approach has to go further than just marketing, Sturgill said. "To be revolutionary, MemoryBank will need to add services that meet Gen X-specific needs, such as college savings plans for their children and financial planning for elder care," she added. To get the word out on this new brand, Varga said MemoryBank is planning an integrated marketing and advertising campaign. In select markets, it is running television ads and using billboards, along with digital campaigns. It is working with digital marketing firm El Toro. Nationally, it is relying on "a mix of PR and social media" to raise brand awareness, Varga said. The advertising messaging will have a nostalgic aspect to it, Varga said. After all, 1990s nostalgia is trending and this demographic, just by the virtue of their age, has amassed more memories than its younger counterparts. Indeed, Varga said the name MemoryBank is meant to invoke "the literal idea of digital storage with the positive emotional memories collected over a lifetime." There's a lesson for banks in the cyberattack that took down PayPal, Netflix, Facebook, and other sites for hours and it's not just "have a backup domain name system provider." Hopefully every bank already has that part covered (so that if their main DNS goes down as Dyn did, they can quickly switch over). The less obvious moral is: pay more attention to internet-connected devices like printers, security cameras and point-of-sale terminals. They're often lightly protected and can be easily broken into and harnessed in botnets like the one that brought down Dyn. They can also be used as backdoor for malware to access your entire network. Banks have particular reason to be concerned because of the value of the data they secure, including customers' personal data and account information. And a handful, including U.S. Bank and Citi, have been experimenting with the use of internet-connected beacons for payments and identification, which will be appealing targets for hackers. (Both of those banks declined requests for interviews.) In the cyberattack last week, 493,000 internet-connected devices were recruited by a botnet called Mirai to act as its cyber-army and flood Dyn's servers with data requests, causing hours-long outages. The devices were mostly webcams, printers and DVRs. Some were made by a Chinese manufacturer, Hangzhou Xiongmai, which announced on Monday that it will recall millions of cameras sold in the U.S. in response to the DDoS attack against Dyn. But the problem extends far beyond one manufacturer. Like a car thief trying to open a door on each vehicle in a parking lot, the Mirai source code scans the web for devices from manufacturers including Toshiba, Samsung, Panasonic, Xerox, and RealTek to see what it can break into. Any device can be targeted. "Anything that has an IP address assigned to it and is connected to internet can be used," said Austin Berglas, head of cyber defense at the consulting firm K2 Intelligence and former head of the FBI's New York cyber branch. "It can collect data, it can disseminate data these are things people don't think about when they install a new network printer inside their organization. Most people are concerned about, how can I access that from my desktop? Is it networked correctly?" Every internet-connected device expands a company's attack surface and should be protected at the same level as a desktop computer, Berglas said. "If an IP address is connected to internet, it's a vulnerability," he said. "If a printer has an unpatched vulnerability, a bad guy can exploit that printer and navigate through and into the corporate network." Security blogger Brian Krebs has noted that although devices connected to the Internet of Things usually operate behind wired or wireless routers so they can't be directly reached over the web, "many IoT devices will use a technology called Universal Plug and Play that will automatically open specific virtual portholes or 'ports,' essentially poking a hole in the router's shield for that device that allows it to be communicated with from the wider Internet." This is not a brand-new problem, noted Jerry Dixon, chief information security officer of the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, but it's a rapidly scaling one. "Back in the late 90s I dealt with copiers and printers that were IP enabled, and phone PBX exchanges being compromised and used to gain access to networks," said Dixon, who until recently served as vice president, cyber threat intelligence and incident response at American Express. "Then you fast forward to today, our DVRs, TVs, just about everything is getting an IP address and there's not a lot of security built into those products, so it's easy to commandeer them to carry out DDoS attacks like we saw last week. It's a huge problem. They could quickly turn and use that against any organization." People have become a little too cavalier about internet-connected devices, said Adam Levin, author of the book "Swiped" and chairman and founder of IDT911, a cybersecurity firm. "I don't know if we've properly adjusted to the new paradigm: breaches have become the third certainty in life after death and taxes," he said. "Everywhere you turn, whether it's governments, businesses, consumers, media operations, you see instance after instance of hacks, people making mistakes, people not taking seriously the need to customize the passwords that come with all of these devices." Levin was referring to a key flaw in the devices used in this attack: they came with a factory default password that the user could not change and that hackers could easily find or guess. There are 6.4 billion IoT devices in the world today and that number will grow to more than 20 billion by 2020, the research firm Gartner predicts. "All these devices are tracking, gathering information, presumably to send it back to the manufacturer in order to improve and enhance the customer experience," Levin said. "Unfortunately it becomes a very bad customer experience when you realize your favorite websites have gone down." Extra Care Banks and other businesses need to take several precautions to secure their internet-linked devices. They could ask their manufacturers and resellers for better security, noted Al Pascual, senior vice president, research director and head of fraud and security at Javelin Strategy & Research. If the manufacturer provides only a default user name and password, it needs to provide a way to change it. It goes without saying the new password needs to be strong. Having "admin" for a user name and password is not ok this is often the first combination hackers try. (This is how hackers broke into Target's POS devices, through its HVACprovider, to steal credit card information.) Better password habits in general would also be helpful, Berglas noted. "We still have financial institutions where the system admin uses the same password for his organization's firewall as he does for his LinkedIn account," he said. "We still have companies that house passwords in a file that's labeled 'passwords' in clear text in a database that houses critical information. I think the way to look at it is not just this specific attack that focused on devices like video cams and video recorders that had default passwords, but about basic, ground-level cybersecurity health and hygiene." System administrators, like everyone else, tend to reuse passwords because they don't want to have to remember dozens of different ones. "The bad guys know that and exploit it," Berglas said. "They're looking to gain access into a financial institution where they've targeted someone in the organization and spear phish that person and get their user name and password." The manufacturer should also be committed to immediately patching any security vulnerability it finds. Levin cited the principles of privacy by design and security by design, popularized by Ann Cavoukian, the former information and privacy commissioner of the Canadian province of Ontario. "When you create a product or service, privacy and security is built into its core and it could be something as simple as, you have to put in a password in order for this thing to work," Levin said. "Businesses need to think about not only if they're going to use these things but how they customize them as quickly as possible with a password." Once installed, traffic to and from the device should be watched closely for any signs of strange behavior that could indicate it's being used in a DDoS attack or for reconnaissance. "This is something companies should be doing anyway because these devices are collecting information about their business," Pascual noted. A related risk is that a third-party provider with careless IoT policies could get hacked, and the perpetrators could use that as a conduit into the bank or to sensitive information like credit card data. "There has not been proper attention put on this," Levin said. Companies need to also be careful about their work-from-home and bring-your-own-device policies, which similarly tend to be less secure, giving hackers a possible route to sensitive information. "Whether it's the hack you'll read about tomorrow or DDoS attacks, it boils down to a lot of the same best practices," Berglas said. "Dyn was attacked by a malware strain whose source code was released and available to the public. Could it have been stopped if people practiced better hygiene and didn't accept default passwords and changed their passwords?" Editor at Large Penny Crosman welcomes feedback at penny.crosman@sourcemedia.com. The Japanese banking giant Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has launched a new aviation finance business in the Americas and has named aircraft finance veteran Olivier Trauchessec managing director of the unit. The $2.9 trillion-asset MUFG, which is the parent company for MUFG Union Bank in San Francisco, has a global aviation finance group. It said in a press release that the addition of a New York-based team responsible for activities across North America and South America complements its existing aviation finance hubs in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and London. Asked on Wednesday about MUFG's plan to expand in aviation at a time when some, such as CIT Group, are opting to exit that sector President and Chief Executive Nobuyuki Hirano said the company is looking to diversify its revenue. It is also looking to increase its activity in the United States, which it views as one of its two most promising growth markets along with Southeast Asia. Trauchessec joins MUFG from BNP Paribas, where he was in charge of global origination and structuring for aircraft finance transactions. He will report to Lance Markowitz, group head of leasing and asset finance in the Americas, a unit of MUFG's Investment Banking & Markets group. Trauchessec began his career at BNP Paribas in 1994 and created its New York-based aviation desk for the Americas in 2000. He was responsible for the product coverage of airlines and aircraft leasing companies, in addition to all aviation finance activities. In numerous public statements and interviews, Luke Cage producer Cheo Hodari Coker has explicitly connected his show with the #BlackLivesMatter movement, claiming that hashtag... is an extension of something weve always tried to do. However, his understanding of #BlackLivesMatter is only nominal: he considers any person who believes black lives have value to be a proud member. Fortunately, his rose-tinted viewpoint on that movements calls for violence and race-war is somehow utterly contradicted by the show that he created. In the world of black literature and film, Luke Cage is the most conservative work produced in decades. Not since Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man or DuBois Black Flame trilogy has any story made such a forceful case to black Americans for personal identity and virtue, racial healing, and cultural pride against the cult of victimization and race-war anarchy. Like all superhero tales, Luke Cage is a story about role models. Just as Clark Kent learned to love humanity through his adopted parents, and Peter Parker lived out Uncle Bens heroic values as Spiderman, Luke Cages journey would not have been possible without his guardian angel Pop, who holds a position of honor in Lukes Harlem neighborhood as the owner of the local barber shop. Pop regularly takes in troubled teens, letting them cut hair and play video games in his store to keep them off the streets. His yes you can tough-love approach sends some young thugs back to doing things their own way in the world of back-alley crime, but to the ones who stay, Pop is fanatically loyal. It is this example of loyalty that drives Luke to stay in Harlem and work to improve it, rather than blaming inequality or running from the overwhelming forces that seek to enslave Harlem in a cycle of crime and victimization. Luke faces his share of discrimination, including an inability to get a job after spending a few years unjustly incarcerated. It is that same loyalty which makes Luke Cage one of the few superheroes who refuse to wear a mask. He does not want to become another invisible man; he wants his people to know his face, to know that somebody is there to protect them. He refuses to let others call him the N word, even and especially fellow blacks. He never surrenders to the temptation of throwing his hands up at the worlds injustices or compromising his own morals to combat them. Rather, he puts in the effort to oppose evil with good, beginning within himself. The inner-city crime drama that makes up the majority of the plot in Luke Cage sends the anarchistic #BlackLivesMatter mentality an even more specific message. To create a multidimensional narrative, the show epitomizes how complex police officers relationships with the black community can be. Featuring a handful of characters who work at the Harlem precinct, Luke Cage reminds viewers that the world of law enforcement does not divide easily into black and blue. The Harlem police deeply care about the families they protect, even to the extent of bending their own protocols to help them: they stretch their powers of interrogation, fiercely hunt cop-killers, and build rapport with the community by putting their lives on the line. Their intensity, of course, has a flip side as well: some innocent detainees are beaten by overzealous or abusive interrogators; the man they think is a cop-killer turns out to be the shows eponymous protagonist; police community rapport drifts into corruption and bribery. Yet although no attempt is made to hide the ugly side, at no point does the narrative wholly depict the police as the problem. In fact, the people of Harlem themselves never respond by blaming the blue... within the world of the story, it wouldnt make any sense. Some people fear the police, other wish to keep them honest, yes; but hate them or depict them as the whole problem? Its just not reasonable. Could there be a better rebuttal to #BlackLivesMatters chants of Oink Oink Bang Bang and What do we want? Dead cops? Even these more subtle elements would have been a welcome surprise from a series creator who claims to have embraced the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Yet the most blatant beatdown that Luke Cage delivers to black anarchism appears in the form of Harlems city councilwoman, Mariah Dillard (Alfe Woodard), whose stated goal is to keep Harlem black and, incidentally, keep herself in power. She disdains her political rival, a fellow black man (albeit with lighter skin), and draws her strength from disingenuous hands-on community politics. Underlying these machinations is the black mafia money from her brother that drives her campaign -- and the series plot. When Luke cleans up Harlem, their criminal hypocrisy and racial division must go with it. But Mariah fights back and fights dirty, and it is in these moments that Luke Cage makes its most impressive statements about the turmoil of modern race identity politics. A local high school boy, gentle and intelligent, is unjustly beaten while being interrogated by the police in their search for a cop killer. Councilwoman Dillard immediately latches on to this event in order to win reelection in a close race. The irony, of course, is that she is intimately, even corruptly, connected to the Harlem precinct, and her own actions indirectly led to the police brutality. But Dillard holds rallies with signs protesting the police and calling for justice while shamelessly promoting her own political campaign. The spectacle should be all too familiar for audiences in Chicago, in Dallas, in Ferguson, and in New York. These elements of Luke Cage have drawn considerable ire from critics, who panned Cokers impressive series once they discovered its lack of anarchtivist rhetoric. It is the character of Luke himself, though, that is most conservative and most memorable. A soft-spoken and self-deprecating man with a troubled past, his commitment to personal enrichment and bettering his community exemplifies the conservative values of subsidiarity and liberal arts education. His refusal to let the ends justify the means, and his implacable conviction that all human lives are valuable sets him apart from other heroes in Netflixs Marvel universe in that he avoids unnecessary violence and is unwilling to give up on those who have turned to evil. It is easy to see why a hero like Luke Cage is unsatisfying to the #BlackLivesMatter program of unleashing black anger on the destruction of institutions that protect black lives. In an age where Hollywood rarely produces anything that deviates even slightly from left-wing orthodoxy, I hope against hope that more works as powerful as Luke Cage emerge from the woodworks and begin telling these stories honestly once more. Nathan Turner is Adjunct Professor of Literature at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Joni Mitchell wrote "Both Sides Now" in 1967. Though she wrote it in the midst of the '60s cataclysm of protests against the Vietnam War, the advent of free love and all that that entailed, and what seemed like an all-out rebellion against everything that had come before, it was a sweet song about clouds and how children see them. Like Peter Yarrow's "Puff the Magic Dragon", it was just a lovely song. Sure, there is wistfulness in it, regret and ambivalence can be read into the lyrics. But it was well and truly just a beautiful song. And that was the turbulent sixties. "Rows and rows of angel hair And ice cream castles in the air And feather canyons everywhere I've looked at clouds that way" Fast forward to 2016. There are no beautiful melodies to what is still called music but is not music at all. Consider Kanye West's latest, called "Facts": "Dirt and grime and filth inside The story of my lifetime Of cheating, stealing, never feeling Pain of a brother, your dirty mother..." We won't quote the rest because his lyrics are truly disgusting to anyone born before 1995. That millions of young people have made this man a millionaire is a sad commentary to say the least. West is vile, lewd, and rude -- everything we do not want our young people to become. But Kanye and his wife are good friends of Obama and are frequent guests at the White House along with numerous other rappers who spew equally offensive lyrics. West's lyrics could almost be sung to Joni Mitchell's music. But they instead reveal the dystopian version of our culture that the Left has successfully brought about; cynical shallowness, no respect for anyone or anything, braggadocio, and a celebration of a materialism and personal wealth never before known or embraced. Because rap and hip hop are the vernacular of the black left, it must not be criticized, no matter how profane, sexist, racist, anti-police, or pro-violence. No matter how much a majority of black citizens hate it, they cannot speak out against it any more than peaceful Muslims can speak out against Islamic terrorists. They are afraid of being politically incorrect or of offending members of their own "community." Some community. The level to which American culture has demeaned itself is a betrayal of the word "community." The transformation of American music naturally coincides with the transformation of American traditions on every level. The Left's agenda begun in earnest in the 60s has come to fruition with regard to music, culture, and of course, politics. Despite its responsibility for the election of Richard Nixon in 1972, (the public was horrified by the "radicals" demands and behavior) the adherents of the "new Left" succeeded in taking over nearly the whole of academia where it has been entrenched ever since. Those tenured radicals have done a good job teaching three generations of young people to loathe their own country and dismiss the Constitution as a document written by old white men without a shred of relevance for their lives today. Today speech must be restricted, trigger warnings provided, safe spaces afforded lest someone be offended. Today's millennials actually believe that George Bush killed more people than Stalin! They have purposefully been taught a falsified history of America (thank you, Howard Zinn). They have purposefully been taught that communism was not responsible for a hundred million deaths in the twentieth century. They have been lied to, those who went to school, about countless important events and issues in America's past and they have been thoroughly indoctrinated to hate everything great about this country. That is how Obama got elected -- he hates this country too. He, like so many young people, is not particularly skilled in the art of critical thinking. The current state of American politics has given us Colin Kaepernicks' ridiculous and self-serving anti-"Star Spangled Banner" nonsense, Black Lives Matter violence against law enforcement, and the rise of segregation on college campuses demanded by black Americans who are being taught that all whites are racist because they were born white. They are not being assigned to read Frederick Douglass or Booker T. Washington, Shelby Steele or Thomas Sowell. They are taught to revile Clarence Thomas. The left foments racial animosity. It's what they do. It serves their purpose. Martin Luther King is spinning in his grave. All of which brings us to the current election. Hillary Clinton is a known liar, a criminal of monstrous proportions; others have gone to prison for crimes she has committed over and over: lying to Congress, lying to the FBI, violating national security laws by which she was bound as Secretary of State, etc. It's a long list. Trump is a semi-outsider who has dallied throughout his adult life with both sides of the political spectrum. He has crossed the palms of anyone and everyone who could help smooth the many roads his businesses needed to be smoothed on their way to completion. That is what people like him do. It is sort of normal in our bureaucratic, overly-regulated world. What the Clintons did and do is not normal. Sure, politicians wheel and deal and find ways to make lots of money during and after they serve in office. But what the Clintons do is criminal because they do it wholly at the expense of the American people. And they feel thoroughly entitled to do it: gain power, use it to enrich themselves and their friends. They are amoral, immoral, and venal. Hillary has no core beliefs beyond power and money. That should be clear to every person on the planet by now. Trump, for a rich guy, is curiously clueless about the rules of civility in the rarefied world of wealth and power in which he operates. That must be what has drawn his supporters to him. He speaks in a way that endears him to them and offends the elites of DC and many others who hoped for a different candidate. Those enthusiastic supporters may just put him in the White House. They show up to see him in the tens of thousands. They are excited to vote for him. Hillary's supporters are lethargic and bored; they show up in only hundreds of people. They sort of know she should never get near the White House again but do not have the guts to vote Republican. She and her husband have done terrible damage to this country as has Obama. She will do much, much more damage if elected because she only cares about three things: herself, power, and her personal wealth. She has nothing but contempt for the everyday people of this country. But now it's just another show You leave them laughing when you go And if you care, don't let them know Don't give yourself away Hillary is all show, and she gave herself away long ago. No one paying attention is laughing. If elected, she will further devastate our economy and take us down the road to Marxism, the kind that has failed everywhere it has been tried with tragic consequences. Every year, there is some report of the blissful ignorance of American history demonstrated by the supposedly best and brightest at elite American universities. Suffice it to say the collected writings of David Horowitz on the American Left, which constitute part of a solid foundation for understanding the last half century of American politics, are nowhere to be found on any college or high school reading list. Horowitzs latest book, The Left in Power: Clinton to Obama, is the seventh volume in his nine-volume collection, The Black Book of the American Left. This new volume provides a collection of his writings over the last quarter century, focusing primarily on the Lefts control in our government and culture. As Horowitz reveals, even during the Bush years, conservatives were on the defense and leftists controlled the narrative as they attempted to destroy Bush and his chances for re-election in 2004. Their primary mode of attack was to undermine Americas efforts in Iraq almost from the start of the conflict, when just months earlier a majority of Senate Democrats and near half of House Democrats had supported the President. The Left then destroyed Bushs second term with bogus charges of racist neglect in the handling of Hurricane Katrina. There was plenty of incompetence in the response to Katrina, but local and state officials all Democrats, of course, and many of them African American were the principal operators on the ground during the crisis. The immediate abandonment of support for the Iraq war effort was a signal event in American history, sending a message that a large part of the Democratic Party was not remotely concerned about the morale of our men and women fighting overseas. The weak effort by some Democrats to hold onto an ounce of patriotic resolve -- end the war, support the troops -- was designed more for campaign speeches than any meaningful attempt to convey national unity for the effort underway by our armed forces. So too, the obsession with Abu Ghraib gave the lie to the Democrats support our troops message, as a broad brush was used to paint the incident as somehow what you would expect from our military on a routine basis. Horowitz outlines this narrative, faulting the Bush administration for failing to fight harder to present its story of why we went into Iraq and the risks if we had done nothing. Regrettably, the Bush administration never had a chance to get a better defense of the Iraq war out to the media. Most in the media considered the Bush administration illegitimate due to its narrow victory in the 2000 presidential contest, a lie to be sure. Unfortunately, it is almost certainly true that the media today are far more in the bag for the left than ten or twenty years ago and work harder at pushing the lefts agenda. The soft liberalism of Walter Cronkite has been replaced by cable and national network anchors who routinely bury stories embarrassing to their side and focus on those that can do damage to the other side. During the current Presidential election cycle, we have seen the most prestigious media organs explain why it is necessary and appropriate for them to be biased this year. It is a special time, they argue, because Trump is, in their view, a unique threat to the Republic. On the other hand, the media have been loath to consider the damage to the country caused by Barack Obama -- the loss of respect abroad for Americas will to fight, the degradation of our military readiness, the fraying of ties with allies, and the near obsessive outreach to Americas enemies that led to agreements such as the nuclear deal with Iran, best described as an abject surrender of American interests that will lead to the funding of fanatical nuclear regime. About 85% of those supposedly sensible pro-Israel Democrats walked the plank behind their great leader on that deal, with no visible regrets to date. There was simply too much political risk to oppose the first black president of their party. The media were happy to parrot the administrations talking points for the nuclear deal, something the manipulators crowed over at the White House. At least in the propaganda use of Abu Ghraib, the Left was honest in revealing what it thinks about the military. As Horowitz outlines in article after article, the Left is fighting a war that most Americans do not see, disguising its intentions through its aggressive, unceasing promotion of progressive policies to make America a better place. This commitment to deception emerges, Horowitz reveals, from the allegiance to the ideology of Saul Alinskys Rules for Radicals, a formative doctrine for both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The progressive goal is to achieve a new society that has never been seen before in this country, though it has been promised and has catastrophically failed in many places around the globe. In America, the Left is not only unconcerned with selling their program to the public, but also, Horowitz argues, it is fearful of the result of voters knowing what it is pursuing. One prime example was the admission of MIT professor and Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber that health care law would never have made it through Congress if it had been presented honestly. The Left is also busy at work making it easier for itself to win politically. Horowitz provides chapter and verse on the Lefts efforts to rapidly change the composition of the voting pool -- motor voter registration with no birth certificate required, fighting every effort to combat voter fraud with charges of racism and turning the clock back, even when states were willing to pay for potential voters obtaining the needed documents to register, support for open borders, expansion of legal immigration, and amnesty and citizenship (and voting rights) for more than ten million already in the country illegally. Here the Lefts mentor and financier is George Soros and his buddies, who have funded dozens of organizations which fight on multiple fronts every day to advance the left politically. And Horowitz has done a great public service by his Discover the Network listing of the people responsible for Americas steady drift to the radical Left. The Left uses the racism charge in many of the confrontations it creates. Of course, the problems of Americas inner cities, all under complete control of one political party for half a century, have never been of even near equal interest to the Democrats as their ability to continue to win enormous majorities among inner city voters, particularly African Americans. The Left has fully endorsed the teacher unions opposition to charter schools, and voucher programs, though both are popular with minority group parents and children. The two major teachers unions are simply too powerful a support group for the Democratic Party (campaign cash, votes, and volunteers) for the Left to support policies that might lead to a better future for kids as opposed to continued growth in expenditures for the teachers unions and their workforce. In the last two years, the Soros-funded Black Lives Matter movement has created a near national hysteria over the alleged systematic effort by police to kill unarmed black men. Between two and three dozen unarmed blacks are killed by cops each year, many of them in situations where the victims were almost certainly responsible for what happened to them -- Michael Brown in Ferguson is a prime example. One wonders where the news media are to report on the police shooting of unarmed whites, which greatly outnumber those of unarmed blacks. Perhaps because there are no riots, or looting, these incidents have no cachet. More likely, they do not fit the systemic racism charge now routinely thrown around by everyone from the current President to Hillary Clinton. In Chicago in 9 months this year, over 400 blacks, mostly men, have been shot and killed, almost exclusively by other black men. By year end, over 4,000 Chicagoans will have been shot. One might think this was a bigger story of urban calamity and civil society breakdown than a shooting in Charlotte. Chicagos mayor says that police have gone fetal, avoiding making stops in crime ridden neighborhoods, with the ACLU looking over their shoulder demanding a report for every stop, and activists in the neighborhoods treating the police with scorn and abuse, following a bad police shooting captured on video and kept hidden from the public by Chicagos mayor to protect his re-election bid. Rahm Emanuel must also have read Alinsky, for he knows whose hide to protect first and foremost. The victims of the police pullback in Chicago, Baltimore, St, Louis and other cities, called the Ferguson effect, are many more dead black men, killed in crime waves that are reminiscent of the 1990s. Even the FBI Director admits the Ferguson Effect is real, when not covering for Hillary Clinton. Horowitz latest book is full of insights and straight talk on the goals and the mission of the Left, and how it has advanced its cause this last quarter century. He provides the kind of arguments that keep his books from getting reviewed by the New York Times. And there is always a horrible slur available from the Left to describe a viewpoint that counters one of its missions. The Left chooses to ignore the argument and uses character assassination for the people making it. It argues that these are people (Horowitz included) unworthy of serious consideration, or respect. Silencing the critic or the dissident or limiting his visibility has been a long time weapon of the Left. So far, Horowitz keeps writing, and America is free enough that the Left, though it clearly wants to, cannot ban his books. George Soros and his family have another $20 billion to spend on changing America. The Alinsky acolytes have their mission laid out to make use of the funds and create an America where the smart bureaucrats can organize society and distribute its wealth, so results are all equal. And we can all sing along with the Pete Seeger songs as we turn away from any role overseas (where of course we have primarily been an agent of evil) and disinvest in defense every year. Lets hope that some of Americas young will read Horowitz books,and learn what their professors and teachers wont teach them. Richard Baehr is the co-founder and chief political correspondent for the American Thinker. A few months ago, God laid it upon my heart to launch a Blue Lives Matter Celebration tour to dispel the evil myth that America's cops murder blacks. This insidious lie is spread by the Left (Hillary, the Obama administration, Democrats, Hollywood and mainstream media). In essence, they have painted a bright red target on the backs of our brave men and women in blue who lay their lives on the line for us every day. Stats confirm that blacks pose the largest threat to black lives, killing each other in consistently-growing epidemic record-breaking numbers. Ironically, stats prove that cops are the biggest defenders of black lives. However, we seem to be living in a time in which facts and truth no longer matter in America; only narrative and political spin for evil political gain. Screw the consequences and toll on human lives. Our launch Blue Lives Matter event was top-shelf, a great production at the Ocean Convention Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. The mayor proclaimed it Celebrate The Blue Day in Daytona. However, I must confess that I was extremely disappointed. In my mind, encouraging cops and pushing back against lies causing them to be assassinated was a no-brainer issue which everyone would rally behind. Man, was I wrong. Shockingly, numerous powerful conservative media associates shied away from me. Local Republican, tea party and Christian groups which I have had great relationships did not support my efforts for police. Being the overly responsible first born that I am, I took my colleagues' rejection personally. Despite sending a zillion press releases, not one media outlet showed to cover our event. Though it was a struggle, thank God we raised $5000 to cover the cost of the event. Attendance for the debut event launching our Blues Lives Matter tour was low. As I was leaving the convention center after packing up everything after the show (set pieces and a banner I painted), an elderly security guard scolded me, You should have advertised, young man! I saw nothing in the newspapers. I smiled and got into my car. Did I misread God's leading, telling me to launch a Blue Lives Matter tour? Instantly, I thought, Stop doubting. You read God correctly. I thought about Noah whom God told to build an ark on dry land. Just because God tells you to do something does not mean everyone is going to rally behind you. Weeks later, I continued scratching my head wondering why so few seemed interested in supporting police. Then, I learned of the Democrat sleaze operative Bob Creamer's Leftist tactical handbook, Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win. The book exposes how the Left floods the airways with lies to discourage and demonize conservative thought; convincing conservatives that they are the weirdo minority. So, this is why so many are afraid to publicly support police. Despite the Left's insidious evil con-game, I am extremely excited about this recent poll citing a surge in Americans' respect for police. Three in four Americans (76%) say they have a great deal of respect for police in their area, up 12 percentage points from last year. I am thankful that God blessed me with a great team of volunteers, speakers, and entertainers who made our Blue Lives Matter tour launch a first-class event. They are pumped and ready to go to other states. With the presidential election in a few weeks, I decided to focus on getting Trump elected. Then, we will plan our next Blue Lives event. Joe Super Cop Sanchez sent me the following: NYPD/FDNY Retirees for Donald Trump. With the anti-cop Blacks Lives Matter movement and cop-basher Al Sharpton supporting Hillary Clinton for president, a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote for Al Sharpton and the anti-cop Black Lives Matter movement. Folks, I am fully committed to continuing God's call to spread the truth about our heroes, America's police. However, if there was any doubt about the dire need for what I am doing, check out these attacks on police just in the last few months by shooters who boldly proclaim they want to kill police officers. I must remind you that Black Lives Matter has sent out a clarion call to their minions proclaiming it open season on killing police and white people. July 10, 2016: White Cop Gets Ambushed, Shot During Routine Traffic Stop... July 18 2016: Ballwin Police Officer Ambushed During Traffic Stop is Paralyzed... August 26, 2016: Maryville Police Officer Killed in 'Ambush'... September 7, 2016: Widow of Ambushed Baton Rouge Cop Reveals She's Pregnant... September 17, 2016: Suspect Shoots Philly Cop Several Times -- Leaves a note saying he was targeting Philadelphia police officers. October 6, 2016 (St. Louis): Police Officer Ambushed and Killed... -- 33 years old, leaves behind wife and 2-year-old son. October 8, 2016: Three More Cops Ambushed in California... October 13, 2016: 11 Cops Ambushed and Shot, 2 in Critical Condition... October 17, 2016: Cops Ambushed in Vallejo After the presidential election, we will resume our Blue Lives Matter tour. My wife Mary and I have decided to purchase a state-of-the-art sound system to cut down the cost of our events. We will drive to as many cities as possible; fly when necessary. Please help fund our tour at my website. As Burke said, All that is needed for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing. Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American Chairman: The Conservative Campaign Committee http://www.lloydmarcus.com/ Etisalat commits to support 12 universities in Nigeria Etisalat Nigeria has listed 12 universities across the six geo-political zones as beneficiaries of the 2016 edition of its annual scholarship scheme, Etisalat Merit Award. Students from the identified universities will receive grants increased up to a 100% from the current year. Through the Merit Award Scheme, Etisalat will continue to strengthen its social responsibility to the community which the company highly values. The 12 beneficiary institutions are Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State; Akwa Ibom State University; University of Lagos; Federal University of Technology, Akure; University of Ibadan; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State; Benue State University; Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State; Bayero University, Kano and Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. Speaking on the 2016 edition of Merit Award, Director, Regulatory & Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Ikenna Ikeme, said the scheme is a significant component of the education arm of the Etisalats tripodal Corporate Social Responsibility which also includes health and environment. He added that the award of grants to schools and students demonstrates Etisalats unwavering commitment to the development of Nigerias education sector and the promotion of excellence among the youth in the country. In line with our passion for youth development, Etisalat is delighted to announce a 100 per cent increase in the grants to students from N100, 000 to N200, 000 beginning from the current year. Our objective is to ensure increased access of students to qualitative education as the grants will enable to buy needed books and research materials that will boost their capacity to do well in their studies, he said. Ikeme added that in order to have a more inclusive scholarship scheme and in aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Etisalat has expanded the scholarship scheme by adding another category that accommodates persons with disabilities. They are part of us and they need our love and care. This new category aims to identify and encourage physically challenged students that are performing well in their academics, he stated. The 2016 regional presentation ceremony of the award will hold in Ibadan, in November. Since it was launched eight years ago, the Etisalat Merit Award Scheme has awarded over 1,400 scholarships to outstanding Nigerian undergraduates with the highest CGPA in courses like Electrical Electronics Engineering, Computer Science and Management Sciences. www.itnewsafrica.com Donald Trump's plan to deport the 30 to 40 million illegal alien invaders living in America was met with howls of anguish from the left and legacy right. But the plan is eminently doable. The first thing to recognize is that the illegal alien problem arose because of the 1987 Reagan Amnesty nearly 30 years ago. By some estimates, up to 40 million people have entered the USA illegally since that time, so encouraging them to leave may take an extended period of time as well. With time, many concerns from the left about breaking up families and leaving children crying alone in the streets can be humanely and empathetically addressed, thus negating any moral arguments of cruelty to the families of illegals. Somehow, the left and corporatist right have come to believe that our country would collapse without illegal immigration and open borders. We should remind those bleeding hearts who support the invasion of our country by third-worlders that, for example, fresh produce somehow made its way to market before 1987 without illegals living here. Note also that countries with strict immigration policies and zero illegal immigration enjoy ample supplies of fruits and vegetables. Since produce appears to be readily available, just what is this Lettuce Anxiety all about, anyway? Why does America, out of all the countries in the world, require 30 to 40 million illegals in our country to ensure that we have salads to eat? Nobody else does. In answer to the liberal argument that we simply cannot deport 30 to 40 million people from a logistics standpoint, we should point out that America is the land of mobility. Using accurate data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, we find that 35.7 million people in America moved in 2014, or 11.5% of the population. That means 35+ million men, women, children, and families picked up stakes and moved to a new home in the period of one year alone. Tens of millions of homes were sold, tens of millions of schools got changed, as 35+ million people packed themselves into cars, trucks, buses, planes, boats, and trains and headed to some New Destination. Of these 35+ million, we also learn that nearly 2 million were overseas movers, meaning passports, work visas, customs, immigration, and international travel. Somehow deporting the 40 million illegal aliens, most of whom live in California and states bordering Mexico, does not seem like such a logistical nightmare when viewed in this light. And what help they could get! Our broken universities are graduating thousands of mindless liberal do-gooders eager to help the oppressedand who is more oppressed than illegal aliens (that's sarcasm)? Given the ample time discussed earlier, and surrounded by clouds of young bleeding-heart social workers, the illegals couldn't possibly encounter any family problems relocating south of the border. That is just liberal scare-mongering. And then there is the robotics argument. Increasingly, experts predict that robots and A.I. will take over much of our work, putting millions of Americans, beginning with those who perform manual work, out of a job. Why, then, do we need illegal aliens if their jobs are rapidly disappearing in a cloud of machine oil? At this point, liberals may whine that if we export the jobless back to their home countries, it will cause "social problems" there. First that is not America's fault or America's problem. Second, these countries should carefully consider China's model of development. Starting with low-wage jobs, China built a growth economy based upon attracting foreign businesses. Perhaps the affected countries could agree that living-wage assembly jobs are the first order of business on the ladder to personal and societal success. With logistics and security advantages as well, why can't these starter jobs be encouraged to migrate from China to Central and South America? The "social problem" argument vaporizes when we realize it is simply another example of liberal double-talk. Mexico, where most illegals originate, invites American retirees and tourists with siren songs of warm beaches, top-notch medical care, luxurious accommodations, social tranquility, exciting things to do, and plentiful amenities. At the same time, they tell our State Department that their country is a crumbling narco-state and that America is their only "safety valve" for illegal alien troublemakers. It cannot be both and is probably neither. The left and legacy right have demagogued the issue of illegal immigration for too long. We must confidently take the moral high ground, clearly present the facts, provide positive examples, and argue effectively for the future. When approached at in this manner, the problem of illegal immigration, the centerpiece of Donald Trump's presidential bid, yields to practical, Trump-centric solutions. For the first time in history, the U.S. has failed to defend its long held Cuban embargo policy at the U.N. as the General Assembly passed a resolution harshly criticizing U.S. foreign policy. Instead of voting "no" as it had every time the resolution was introduced, U.N. ambassador Samantha Power abstained. The resolution, "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," specifically criticized the 1996 Helms-Burton act that tied lifting the embargo with negotiations with the Cuban government to reimburse companies who had their property expropriated. It is extremely rare for a U.N. member state not to vote against a resolution that's highly criticial of its policies. The non-binding vote was 196-0, with Israel and the U.S. abstaining. CNN: President Barack Obama is in favor of lifting the embargo entirely as part of the countries' rapprochement. But the US Congress is opposed, citing in particular Cuba's human rights violations. Still, the White House has been able to open up some avenues of exchange, including regular plane flights between the two countries, unthinkable only a few years ago. In March, President Obama made the first visit to Cuba by a sitting president since 1928. US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power drew cheers at the UN when she explained the US switch in position Wednesday. And a tweet from Power put it in simpler terms, noting that every year the UN votes to end the US embargo against Cuba. "We've always voted 'no.' Today, for the 1st time ever, we abstained," she tweeted. Obama administration officials said the abstention was due to the continued isolation of its island neighbor being harmful to the people of Cuba. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes tweeted there "is no reason to vote to defend a failed policy we oppose." But Power still told the General Assembly that abstaining on the resolution didn't mean that Washington agrees with all the policies of the Cuban government. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla told the UN that despite progress between the two countries, the economic and financial blockade is seriously harming the Cuban people and hurting economic development. He added that lifting the embargo was the key to advancing towards normalized relations with the US. Power indicated Wednesday's abstention was a small step in efforts at further engagement with the Cuban people, even amidst the outstanding differences with the government. "May there be many more," she said, including "we hope, finally ending the embargo." The Obama administration has been silent about this vital issue of compensation for stolen property and assets by the Castro government. But then, they don't care about the stolen assets in Iran, either. Nor does the administration appear eager to defend the legal policies enacted by Congress to force the Cuban government to stop oppressing their own people. Has there ever been a more one-sided relationship with a tyrannical dictatorship? We have given the Cuban government recognition, breaks on remittances, and easing of export controls, and have soft-pedaled their brutal repression of dissent. What we've gotten back from Cuba is mocking words from the Castros and a ratcheting up the pressure on democratic activists. The word "bonehead" comes to mind when describing our Cuba policy. America has spent $1.5 billion on women's rights in Afghanistan. Here are the results: In rural areas, nothing has changed. Women are still imprisoned in their homes. Despite spending at least $1.5 billion on empowering Afghan women, the country is still viewed as one of the worst in the world for women. The West has helped Afghanistan to expand and improve maternal health care, as well as open up schools that girls can attend in urban and rural areas. But as Nimmi Gowrinathan, a visiting professor at City College in New York, said of educating girls, "That's the reality until the sixth grade, when they get married." ... a major investigation by BuzzFeed, released in July 2015, found female enrollment had been overstated by an average of 40 percent at U.S.-funded schools in Afghanistan. The investigation, based on visits to 50 U.S.-funded schools, internal U.S. and Afghan documents and more than 150 interviews, also found faulty construction and widespread corruption. At least a tenth of the schools were "ghosts," meaning they were either closed or never existed in the first place. USAID has said that it built 551 health clinics in Afghanistan. But when SIGAR examined the coordinates of the clinics, the location of 56 of them had "weaknesses," SIGAR explained in a June 2015 letter to USAID. Thirteen of the listed clinics were not in Afghanistan at all (one was located in the Mediterranean Sea); 30 were located in a different province from the one USAID had indicated; 13 were duplicated. For 189 of the coordinates, a physical structure could not be seen within 400 feet (81 of these showed no physical structure within a half-mile). Donald Trump has repeatedly commented that the polls are being rigged by the corrupt establishment and their lapdog media. Several months ago, he even warned that the election itself could be rigged. CNN, FOX reporters, and even President Obama mocked him, implying he was a sore loser or a "conspiracy theorist." Now, through the WikiLeaks data dumps and the Project Veritas videos, we have proof of electoral corruption and media collusion with the Clinton campaign. The Rigged Polls Beyond mere conspiracy theory or conjecture, we now have emails from John Podesta, the head of Hillary's campaign, instructing their minions on rigging the polls to create a false perception of Hillary's victory. Rigging polls serves two possible aims. The first aim is the most common: create a false perception of the public's support for a political candidate. When people see that their candidate is "behind" by 10 points, it demoralizes them. This demoralization then manifests itself by people not showing up to vote because it's a lost cause, or even switching to support the winning team, thus creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Here is just a small sampling of rigged polls designed to demoralize you and cause you to either stay home or jump on the bandwagon. CNN debate poll: Look at the details of this poll measuring who won the second debate. The subjects were prescreened, and a whopping 58% of them were Clinton supporters. Not just Democrats supporters. This is beyond ridiculous. You might as well walk into a Clinton rally and ask her campaign staffers who won (and she still got only 57% of the vote!). This was done to downplay the crushing defeat Clinton suffered in the second debate at the hands of Trump and help stem the bleeding. NBC poll (also pushed by CNN and WSJ): Here we have a poll done by a man, Peter Hart, who literally works for the Clintons. Just last month he accepted $225,000 in payment from the Clinton campaign, and we're expected to believe that this poll he has produced is legitimate. This is a common campaign tactic. Campaigns will pay for polling and release it to demoralize the opponent's base, or bait the opponent into switching tactics. What I've never seen before is the media then pushing the poll as if it were theirs and totally scientific. Reuters poll: Here we have not only an oversampling of Democrats, but an organization actually going back and editing voters out of previous polls to cook the numbers to its liking. This is insane. Unless, of course, truth and accuracy are not priorities of yours, and you want to curry favor with Empress Clinton. Voter Fraud However, psychology is not the only reason a political operative will rig a poll. There is a far more insidious reason. The second reason to rig polls is to create a narrative to cover up for fraud. If you have months of "polling" to show that candidate Smith is 10 points ahead of candidate Jones, you can just say, "See? All our polls were right!" when you steal the election. The most sophisticated version of this is to create an "October surprise" event that the focuses upon something seemingly negative about your opponent. Media outlets then pick up the story. Then you (or in the Clintons' case, their pals in the media) release a poll that oversamples your base support. This then creates the perception that the negative story is causing your opponent to lose support. The average American voter simply looks at the poll's results in the headline and draws conclusions from there. Thus, when you win by fraud, no one questions the results of the election because the "polling" confirms it. Many people want to cry "conspiracy theory!" when the subject of voter fraud or machine rigging is brought up. I understand. It's simply too disturbing to think the will of the people is being thwarted, but it happens every election cycle. Take a look at the Project Veritas videos, for example. This isn't new in our history. It is a documented fact that JFK stole the election from Nixon. In more recent times, my home state of Indiana has had to crack down on cheating several times in the past few years, including a current, ongoing fraud investigation in 56 counties. Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, etc. have all recently been in the spotlight for widespread voter fraud and weaknesses in their systems. Election fraud is a very real threat. In short, this is nothing more than one huge propaganda operation to sway you into not showing up to vote, switching your vote to the "winning" team, and pull the wool over your eyes to hide their theft. The good news is that you don't have to take it. Unplug from the television media, share this warning with all your friends, get involved at Stopthesteal.org, call the authorities if you see anything fishy on election day, and generally raise hell if there's any evidence of fraud come November 9. By exposing the hoax, you can reverse its effects. Remember: 60% of America gets its news via social media, so when you spread the word via Facebook and Twitter, you are making a difference. Most of all, go out and vote for Trump, and absolutely do not take this lying down if we wake up on November 9 and Hillary has stolen this election. Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Iran's ransom demand of $4 million to release a Lebanese-American permanent resident was entirely predictable based on our payment of $1.7 billion in cash for the release of other Americans in Iranian custody earlier this year. Washington Examiner: "Just as I feared, the Iranian regime now has more American hostages and wants more money," Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., told the Washington Examiner Wednesday. "The Obama administration's $1.7 billion cash payment to Iran wasn't just bad policy it put additional lives at risk. ... Iran should release all American hostages immediately and unconditionally," said Royce. Royce also noted that President Obama threatened to veto his bill to bar additional "ransom payments." Obama argued at the time that the measure is aimed at solving a problem, the "so-called ransom payments, that does not exist." Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen and permanent resident of the United States, has been imprisoned in Iran for more than a year and last month was sentenced to 10 years in Iranian prison on charges of spying, which he denies. On Tuesday, Zakka said through his attorney that Iranian officials told him it would take $4 million from the U.S. to win his release, and that he would remain in prison until the payment his made. Royce and other Republicans have argued for months that the Obama administration has given an incentive to Iran to take and host hostages in return for ransom payments by timing out a $400 million cash payment to Iran in January in order to ensure the release of four American hostages, along with a $1.3 billion cash payment just days later. The administration is refusing to acknowledge that the Iranians view these payments as "ransom." This denial of reality is surreal in the face of facts that totally contradict the administration's narrative: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., who formerly chaired the House Foreign Affairs panel, said Wednesday that the prisoners held in Iran are "pawns in a dangerous game as Iran continues to use the nuclear deal as leverage to extract more and more concessions from the U.S." "The obvious consequence of paying ransom to terrorists is that you have just demonstrated that hostage taking can be financially beneficial," she told the Examiner. "The administration and all responsible nations must take a stand and take immediate action to secure the unconditional release of all hostages and put an end to Iran's repeated violations of human rights." Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said the Obama administration's view of the $1.7 billion in cash payment matters far less than what the Iranians think about it. "What was more important to ask is whether the Iranians viewed it that way [as a ransom payment]," he said. "And now, it appears clear that they do." The main reason for the administration's delusions about the ransom is the fear that making Iran mad will cause them to nix the nuclear deal, thus destroying President Obama's "legacy." So the president pretends the money going to Iran has nothing to do with any ransom demands while the Iranians gleefully gorge themselves on cash and seize more Americans. Frankly, any American citizen or American holding dual citizenship with Iran who travels there should have his head examined. It's debatable whether the taxpayer should be paying ransom for the return of people who should have known better about showing up in Iran in the first place. But as long as Iran threatens to leave the nuclear deal if we don't keep it happy, the Obama administration will continue to pay the "non-ransom" to Iran and be humiliated by the fanatics in Tehran. We do not have soldiers in the forefront, as we did in Iraq and do in Afghanistan. However, we have soldiers near the battle, as we see in this report from CNN: The forces here -- US and Iraqi -- are now preparing for the next stage of the offensive that will bring Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to the gates of Mosul on three sides of the densely packed city, where as many as 1.2 million civilians still live under ISIS control. Al Jobouri slips out of the operations room for a quick cigarette; it's difficult to find a commander -- Iraqi or Peshmerga -- that doesn't smoke. He thinks the offensive is going well but worries about the next stage -- saying that as it retreats, ISIS is driving civilians back into Mosul from outlying villages, and using them as cover. The general is well aware that ISIS is a resourceful enemy capable of hitting back. He suddenly yells into his cellphone: "You guys need to get them out of there!" They have been flanked by 15 Daesh and I don't want to hear bad news." Let's review this, because our men are a lot closer to the action than the Obama administration, and the media in the tank for B.O., is letting on. Speaking of the media, we should remind you that we are actually fighting in a lot of places around the globe. Can you say five of them? Just curious, but what war resolution are they fighting under? Back to Mosul. First, let's pray for the soldiers and our Iraqi allies. My son recently completed his military service, and we need to stand with the troops. Second, I believe that ISIS will soon start testing President Obama's resolve. ISIS knows that the Western media will soon start publishing stories about the civilians they are killing. Third, ISIS will try to attack U.S. soldiers, or better than that, capture them. They hope that such actions will draw the U.S. into a broader war in Mosul and Syria, where it can get very complicated. Remember Vietnam? Does President Obama have the backbone to go into Syria as President Nixon did in Cambodia? We hope it all works out, but there are serious challenges ahead for the next president. Who knows what this will look when #45 is sworn in? My guess is that it won't look good and that further U.S. action will be required. Sadly, the media has not challenged the candidates. Mr. Trump promises to beat the heck out of ISIS. Mrs. Clinton, like LBJ in '64, promises that no ground troops will be sent and that her GOP opponent is scary. In the meantime, we watch Mosul and look forward to some very dark days in the region. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Against mounting evidence of an extremely tight race nationally, and of noticeable recent movement toward Trump in multiple battleground states, Americas corporate media (Goebbels/Pravda) continues the Big Lie that Clinton is far ahead and the race all but over. But traces of concern were visible on October 26 in the once unfailingly sunny visages looking down on the peasants from the offices of Goebbels/Pravda. A review of the CBS, ABC, NBC, and CNN websites for October 26 suggests that Americas collective propaganda ministry senses that people are not dancing to their drumbeat and that a different rhythm is detectable in recent numbers. A quick check of national polls, and those for a few key states, suggests the reasons for their slightly narrower grin. The startling gap between the national vote, as shown by unaffiliated polling organizations, on the one hand, and that shown by Goebbels/Pravdas darlings on the other persists: (All as shown by RCP and Rasmussen, 10/26/16) Independents LAT/USC Tracking (10/20-10/25): C 43 T 45 IBT/TIPP Tracking: C 43 T 41 Rasmussen Tracking C 44 T 43 Propaganda Ministry Polling ABC News: (10/21): C 51 T 43 So the three independents (all with polling data through 10/25) have the national vote essentially tied, while Goebbels/Pravda polls, of which ABC is just as good as any, containing polling data though 10/24, gives Clinton an 8-point lead. Gaps of this size simply dont occur without massive sampling or other methodological differences or deliberate tampering, which of course is another way of expressing targeted oversampling of a preferred group as measured against that groups expected actual turnout. Yet this massive discrepancy, between established and respected tracking polls released daily and those of Goebbels/Pravda released erratically, remains unnoticed and undiscussed at todays Propaganda Ministry websites. At the CNN website on the afternoon of October 26, for example, an article debunked the Trump campaigns claim that Goebbels/Pravda polls are a dishonest effort to suppress the Trump vote but contained no mention, let alone discussion, of the enormous difference between the ABC and other propaganda ministry polls, on the one hand, and IBT, LAT, and Rasmussen polls, on the other. Nor, of course, any mention of the significantly tightening Fox Poll (C 44 T 41, down from a seven-point spread last week). Nor is there discussion today at CNN about the obvious movement toward Trump, and consequent narrowing gap, in key battleground states, all as shown by late polls at RCP on October 26. In a fact-avoiding article at CBSs website, up on the afternoon of October 26, CBS references its own poll, claiming a 9-point Clinton lead nationally, but the article is mute on the three independent polls showing a neck-and-neck race. And, of course, CBS is also silent on the ominously narrowing gap in battleground states clearly evident in RCPs October 26 numbers. ABCs October 26 election wrap-up for October 26 is most revealing of Goebbels/Pravdas concern about the present state of the race: today, ABCs website carried an October 14 (!) article asserting a big Clinton lead in the Electoral College. When the present doesnt support your narrative, discuss the past, I guess. Good approach for a history course. For the last ten days of an American presidential race, the choice says more about the writers nerves than the actual state of the race. On October 26, NBC followed its ABC comrades lead. Or was it the other way round? Wed have to know where their news executives breakfasted this morning to decide. In any case, NBCs website yesterday, like ABCs, was silent on the state of the race nationally. The polling discussion in Goebbels/Pravda mirrors the countrys propaganda masters coverage of the candidates and their policy pronouncements: if the news is good, or can be made so, for Clinton (e.g., the Trump sex talk tape) run it hard; if its helpful to Trump (e.g., his enormously popular policy pronouncements at Gettysburg), black it out completely. Somewhere Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Goebbels are looking up approvingly at Americas would-be information masters. As I said several days ago: This race is extremely close. Better still, now there is detectable movement toward Trump. Disregard this centurys pupils of last centurys propagandists. Trump is campaigning furiously in the battleground states of Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida, which he must win, yet the election may be decided by Utah, which has six votes. Evan McMullin, a Mormon from Utah running as an independent , is close to Trump according to the polls: [I]n Utah, Evan McMullin, the Mormon independent candidate, is marginally second to Donald Trump and beating Hillary ... Donald Trump 32, Evan McMullin 29 and Hillary Clinton 28. According to the New York Times report of August 9, 2016: The first signs of Mr. Trump's troubles in Utah date to early March, when Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee and a Mormon who is beloved in the state, gave a speech here warning that Americans were being duped by Mr. Trump. Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee in 2012, a Mormon, is very popular in Utah. He received 72.8% of the vote in 2012, and McCain received 62.5% in 2008. There is no question that if Romney had endorsed and supported Trump, then Utah would be a safe state for him. But the polls show a close race, and Trump had to have Pence campaign in Utah on October 26 instead of Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina, and Florida. Romney chose not merely to remain silent about his preference, but to attack Trump. In addition, Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz had un-endorsed Trump. Romney has not formally endorsed McMullin, but McMullin sent out a fundraising appeal to Romney contributors based on a list of contributors supplied by Romney. Interestingly, George Romney, Mitt's father, refused to support Goldwater, the 1964 Republican nominee. If Mitt Romney does not want Hillary as president, then he should have not publicly attacked Trump. He should have put the interest of our country above his personal views about Trump. Trump's political agenda of repealing Obamacare, reducing taxes, border control, defeating ISIS, rebuilding the military, reducing regulations, and re-negotiating trade deals is closer to Romney's agenda in 2012 than Hillary's agenda. In summary, Trump will probably win the battleground states everyone says he has to win, but he may lose the election because of Utah's six votes. One hundred sixty kilometers north of Wellington, in New Zealand, at the junction of State Highways 1 and 3, lies the small town of Bulls. Youll know when you reach it when you see the welcoming sign: Herd of bulls? It's a town like no udder. Named after James Bull, an English settler who established the first general store in the town in 1862, Bulls' residents and businesses have made the most of its name with puns galore. Every local business, shop and even the town administration plays along with the punning. The police station is called Const-a-bull, the church Forgive-a-bull, and the medical center Cure-a-bull. Likewise, the town hall is Social-a-bull, the tourist information center Inform-a-bull and all the publics loos are Reliev-a-bull. The gift shop is Desire-a-bull, and a cold store Freeze-a-bull. The pun just never stops. Even its sister city is the cleverly picked Cowes, in England. Photo credit: Flickr users eyeintim, studio tdes, studio tdes, Tim Welbourn Other than its childish puns, theres not much to see around Bulls. There is a Bulls Museum, housed in a former stables building, containing an extensive collection of items used by the early settler as well as a large collection of mounted rifles exhibit about World War I. There is also an art gallery that also sells local art, gifts and antiques. Photo credit: Paul Kelly/Flickr Photo credit: studio tdes/Flickr Photo credit: studio tdes/Flickr Photo credit: Auckland Photo News/Flickr Photo credit: Tim Welbourne/Flickr Photo credit: studio tdes/Flickr Photo credit: Stephen Downes/Flickr Photo credit: Tim Welbourn/Flickr Sources: Wikipedia / www.newzealand.com / NZ Herald / NZ Museums Once upon a time, you could go to Alphabets main website and peruse the list of high-ranking executives. You could check out their names, pictures, jobs, and bios, all in one place, giving you a pretty decent look at who are considered the Googliest of the Googly. That page, however, is gone now. Trying to navigate to it will reward you with a 404 page for your efforts, sporting the by now ubiquitous panicky robot in the middle of doing some self-repair. The big question here is why? With this being Google were talking about, so the likelihood of the missing page being thanks to a hacker or hacking group is pretty unlikely, as is internal vandalism; such a thing would be spotted straightaway. According to Business Insider, there are indications that the page has been that way for a good few months now, without much notice. When Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat was hired, she immediately started working toward more transparency for investors. A good part of transparency for shareholders, when it comes to a large company, is knowing who should be reporting to you, what they do, and who reports to them. While this information is still available in bits and pieces through news sites and the like, the completeness and veracity of such information is, by virtue of not coming directly from Alphabet, not entirely trustworthy. This means that the page going missing is a pretty big deal, so why did it happen, and why has nobody noticed and raised the alarm until now? Its a genuine mystery, as are a good amount of things that Google has done over the years, but there are a few possible answers here. There is always the classic fall-back that the page is undergoing renovations, but if it has truly been gone for months, that could no longer be the case. Some speculate that the page is gone because Alphabet is waiting to see what names will need to be added and subtracted. A number of key players throughout Alphabet have been jumping ship lately, which means that the list will need to be changed. While inconvenient, maintaining a current list that includes changes to the roster is far from beyond Googles power, so this possible explanation has little to stand on. At this time, Alphabet has not said anything about the issue. Another day, another Moto M leak. This time around, we get to see images of whats said to be the retail box of Motorolas upcoming mid-range smartphone. Of course, this is definitely not the first time that images of the Moto M has been leaked online. In fact some of the earlier leaks have also given us a fair indication about the key hardware specs of the device. This leak, however, only gives us a little sneak peek at the retail box of the Moto M and the home screen of what looks like the stock launcher on the device. What we do get to see from one of the images, however, is that the phone will support 4G LTE+, while the Lenovo logo is also visible on one corner of the box. As mentioned already, the Moto M has been leaking out pretty consistently in recent times. The device is said to be an upcoming mid-ranger that will reportedly be accompanied by a more premium handset called the Moto M Plus. As for the Moto M, the device is expected to feature a 5.5-inch 1080p display panel with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection. The device is expected to be powered by the MediaTek MT6755 SoC, which comes with an integrated Mali-T860 MP2 GPU and a 64-bit octa-core CPU clocked at a max frequency of 2.1GHz. The device is also said to come with 4GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, depending on the variant. As for the cameras, the rear-facing primary shooter on the Moto M is expected to be a 16-megapixel unit, while the front-facing selfie-cam is said to come with an 8-megapixel sensor. The device is believed to weigh about 163 grams and should be around 8mm in thickness if the rumors hold up. Lenovo is expected to offer the Moto M in two different color options: Gold and Silver. As for the tentative launch date, some unconfirmed rumors seem to suggest that Lenovo may unveil the device this December itself. It remains to be seen if the Moto M will eventually make its way to the U.S. and other developed markets, but China and other developing economies in the region are rumored to get it either later this year or in early 2017. Amid slowing demand for telecommunication equipment from wireless carriers and fixed-line operators from around the world, Finnish telecom giant, Nokia, earlier this month had reported a net operating loss for the third successive quarter this year. Various charges and additional expenses related to the companys recent acquisition of French telecom equipment major, Alcatel-Lucent, had also reportedly added to the losses for the company. Nokias share price has been on a steady decline ever since analysts declared earlier this year that they were bearish on the stock going forward. However, earlier today, the companys share took a massive nosedive, falling as much as 8% in early trade at the Helsinki Stock Exchange in Helsinki, Finland. According to Nokias quarterly earnings report released earlier this month, the companys third-quarter network sales fell 12% YoY to 5.32 Billion, which is only marginally lower than the average market expectation of around 5.39 Billion ($5.89 Billion). More disconcertingly, the company reported a net loss of 125 Million ($136 Million) for the quarter, even though it still reported an operating profit of 432 Million ($472 Million). During the same period last year, Nokia had reported a net profit of 152 million, which is just over $165 million in todays exchange rate. As part of its revenue guidance, Nokias CEO, Mr. Rajiv Suri said that he expects network sales to decline even further going forward, thanks to a slowdown in demand for 4G equipment worldwide. The company also said that it does not expect demand for 5G equipment to pick up until 2020, making matters even worse for the sector. In a statement released to the media at its quarterly earnings call earlier this month, Nokia insisted that as a way to mitigate risks and offset a decline in the wireless infrastructure market, it would continue to broaden its product portfolio by actively expanding its fixed-line network business that it inherited from its Alcatel-Lucent acquisition. However, the company is yet to see any positive effect of its high-profile 15.6 billion ($17 billion) acquisition that it completed earlier this year after getting the necessary clearances from government regulators. As part of the mega-merger between Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent, Mr. Suri said that in a way to bring operating synergy to the merged entity and reduce overlap, the company will focus on efficiencies and costs going forward. The company is already cutting thousands of jobs worldwide in an effort to save 1.2 billion in 2018. While there are many different smartphone manufacturers out there, all offering something slightly different from one another, they all have one substantial thing in common; the silicon that keeps them going. English-based ARM Holdings is responsible for the CPU chip designs that power our smartphones and tablets, but its companies like Qualcomm that bring these designs to live in products like the Snapdragon 820, often adding in their own GPUs and modems to create a complete system-on-chip. Now, San Diegos Qualcomm Technologies looks to purchase NXP Semiconductor for $37.88 Billion in what would be the largest semiconductor deal of its kind. NXP Semiconductor, similarly to Qualcomm, is a firm that specializes in a particular industry; the automotive world. As cars become more and more connected, getting ever-friendlier with our smartphones, this deal appears to be a well-researched one. NXP Semiconductor, out of Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, purchase Freescale for $12 Billion back in December 2015 to make them the largest automotive electronics manufacturer in the world, which would make Qualcomm the worlds largest once the deal goes through. Qualcomm offers NXP $110 per share in cash, which is a premium upwards of 11 percent given NXPs current value. Funding the deal, Qualcomm will be using some of their own cash as well as debt taken on from Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan. The deal is said to create a single company that will make over $30 Billion a year. While the deal is the largest the industry has seen, its not much, as Avagos purchase of Broadcom for $37 Billion back in 2015 is a close second. This is the sort of deal that is a big deal for the wider industry, as it will allow Qualcomm to absorb even more patents into a portfolio that it use to make a lot of money each and every year, all the while taking off some of the pressure from competition in the smartphone space from Chinese firms like MediaTek and Huawei. As for NXP, this deal will allow them to better connect with the smartphone world, one which is constantly merging with the automotive one. The deal will need regulatory approval before going ahead, but given the precedent set by the Avago and Broadcom deal, its unlikely to face many roadblocks. Samsung has already killed off the Galaxy Note 7 in the wake of an explosion scandal and arguably botched recall, but some users simply wont get rid of the defective phones. Some statistics put the number of Galaxy Note 7 units still out in the wild at around 1 million globally. Samsung has made many efforts to get Galaxy Note 7s out of peoples hands and off the streets, but since the users physically possess the devices, the decision is ultimately in their hands, unless owning a Note 7 becomes illegal. One of the ways that Samsung has been encouraging Note 7 owners to turn in their devices and participate in the mass recall is by shortening their battery life, which doubles as a safety measure. Updates have gone out in multiple territories already that limit the Galaxy Note 7s battery charge to only 60%, and it seems that such a patch is now finally making its way to the land that the Galaxy Note 7 came from, South Korea. Updates have already gone out to warn users of flight bans and recalls, so lowering the possible battery life is essentially the last straw, short of outlawing the phone as mentioned above, or remotely bricking the phones outright. While a custom ROM or flashing an earlier firmware with updates disabled would fix these woes for those users who truly want to roll the dice, the safety issues and inconveniences still remain. Underclocking and undervolting the phones processor are not possible on the stock firmware and could possibly help with the possibility of an explosion, but they are no guarantee. Those who have stuck with the stock firmware or a fairly close derivative have found it a bit more difficult to crack the phone open and install something else after the 60% update dropped in their particular territory. People in South Korea who still have the device on a fairly unmodified system software can expect the mandatory update to drop and cut their battery life nearly in half on October 29, at 2 AM local time. From then on, the phone will not be able to charge beyond 60%, making it a little bit safer and far less appealing to keep despite Samsungs pleas to return the phones. The Galaxy Note 7 launch may not be the biggest catastrophe that ever occurred in the smartphone industry, but it sure seems like it at the moment. Due to a series of unfortunate circumstances that are yet to be officially explained, Samsungs latest phablet shipped with some flaw due to which the device was prone to catching fire and exploding. As if that wasnt bad enough, Samsung killed all hope of the phone ever succeeding on the market after it announced that a battery cell defect was responsible for initial fire reports, adding that the said flaw was eliminated and that Galaxy Note 7 replacement units were perfectly safe. As we all know by now, they werent. Cue an unprecedented second recall and permanent discontinuation of the device which many hailed as the best Android flagship of the year. Were still witnessing the aftermath of this fiasco so its probably too early to accurately predict what kind of long-term ramifications Samsung will suffer due to this entire ordeal. However, some short-term consequences are already coming to light. For starters, Samsung is currently under a lot of pressure from investors, consumers, and regulators regarding its business practices, transparency policies, and management structures. Its widely believed that all of those things played a hand in the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco and the spotlight is now on Samsung to make some changes. While were still waiting for news on major management alterations at Samsung, the South Korean tech giant is making moves on other fronts. Earlier today, the company announced that its planning to significantly change its quality assurance processes as a direct result of the second Galaxy Note 7 recall, Reuters reports. Unfortunately, Samsungs representatives didnt go into any specifics regarding this announcement but promised that more information would be announced shortly. This statement was made prior to an extraordinary shareholder meeting in Seoul during which the companys investors will decide whether to go through with a $1.05 billion sale of the tech giants printing operations to HP. In addition to that, Samsung founders grandson Lee Jae-yong is expected to be appointed as the conglomerates board director during the gathering. All in all, major changes at Samsung are on the horizon, and we can only hope that they lead to better products in the future. Samsung has been hit hard by the cancellation of the Galaxy Note 7, which was expected to be one of the best-selling smartphones of 2016. However, for reasons that have now been well-documented in the media and across social media over the past several weeks, the device had to be scrapped by the South Korean consumer electronics company. Earlier today, the company released its third-quarter earnings report, which revealed a massive 96% decline in quarterly operating profits for its mobile division; something that can be largely attributed to the cancellation of the ill-fated phablet. What it means is that Samsung doesnt have a new smartphone to go up against companies like Apple, LG and Google, whove all launched brand new flagship smartphones over the past few weeks. While the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are still pretty decent devices in their own right, they were launched back in March of this year after being unveiled at the MWC (Mobile World Congress) trade show in Barcelona the previous month. That being the case, the two devices are starting to get a bit jaded in an industry where six months is often a lifetime, what with new offerings from a whole bunch of manufacturers available to buyers, and often at the click of a button. Thats where Samsungs next flagship assumes huge importance not just for the company, but the entire smartphone industry in general. While some tidbits about the upcoming device have already started leaking out, what we now have is a statement from the vice president of Samsungs mobile-communications unit, Mr. Lee Jae-yong. According to him, the Galaxy S8 will feature a slick design and an improved camera, which would certainly be something to look forward to, given that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are already widely believed to have great imaging capabilities in all sorts of lighting conditions. Obviously, this isnt exactly big news and you wouldnt expect a Samsung executive to say anything different, but it does probably show that the company is working hard on the design language of its next-gen flagship. As for the camera, it will be interesting to see if the Samsung will also jump on the dual-camera bandwagon that is well and truly a thing circa 2016, or if the company will stick to its single-sensor camera modules for now. As for the Galaxy S8, the device is rumored to debut at MWC 2017 and will reportedly be the first smartphone to feature an optical fingerprint scanner. When Lenovo purchased Motorola from Google some time ago now, many were wondering what the Chinese brand intended to do with Motorola. Of course, we all know what Lenovo had in mind for the Motorola brand, and since then weve seen many more models of the Moto X, Moto G and now Moto Z devices launch than Motorola might have done before they were bought by Lenovo. The Moto M is an upcoming smartphone that has leaked out a number of times over the last few weeks, and while weve seen photos of the device in the wild, were now getting a clear look at the design of the phone thanks to accessory manufacturer, Skinomi. Skinomi has put up the Moto M on their website, with a range of different screen protectors and skins that will be available for the device once it launches. These listings from Skinomi dont offer us any more information about the phone itself, but it is nice to see the design of the device in much clearer images than weve seen before. Those that have seen the Huawei Nova Plus might see some similarities between the two phones, but its clear that the Moto M will be a more traditional phone than other Moto products. The XT1662 version of the phone that weve seen leak out a number of times before is apparently heading to China only, and will be propped up by Microsoft apps and services. As for the device itself, its a 5.5-inch affair that will be running a MediaTek CPU and feature a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, itself something of a first for a Motorola device. The Moto M might not launch here in the West, but it seems to be something of a successor to the Moto X. We have the Moto G4 on sale across much of the world, but theres nothing in between it and the Moto Z line, the everyday, down to earth Moto M might be that device. With a 5.5-inch 1080p display and a fingerprint sensor, it wouldnt be a bad device to help bridge that gap in the Moto lineup. Snapchat had a rather successful year so far. The company which recently rebranded itself into Snap Inc. now boasts over 150 million of daily active users who are enjoying its video-sharing social network and that number is expected to rise in the coming months. In addition to investing in user acquisition, Snap has also been putting in a lot of money into diversifying its portfolio and is now almost ready to enter the hardware industry with its upcoming pair of connected glasses called Spectacles. So, despite being in the industry for over half a decade, the company is still exhibiting signs of startup-like growth. Its executives are rather happy with the way things are going and want to continue fueling growth. However, such an ambitious endeavor requires a lot of liquidity and the best way to quickly acquire massive amounts of cash when youre a promising Internet company like Snap is to go public. And that brings us to today. As reported by Bloomberg, the Venice, California-based firm is actively preparing an initial public offering (IPO). While this isnt the first time weve heard rumors of Snapchat going public, these latest accounts suggest a level of ambition and optimism from Snap Inc. that has been unheard of so far. The first report of the company going public indicated that its IPO would value it at around $25 billion, but that number is actually on the lower end of the scale of what Bloombergs sources familiar with the matter are now claiming. More specifically, Snaps IPO will allegedly value the company at between $25 billion and $40 billion. The social media firm is planning to raise up to $4 billion in cash and is already preparing documentation necessary for a listing. No final decisions have yet been made, but sources claim that a listing is due in early 2017. In addition to that, Snap has allegedly already appointed Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group to head its IPO. That certainly doesnt seem like a bad choice given the fact that this finance group already has experience with ambitious Internet companies with increasingly diversified portfolios seeing how it also led Facebooks IPO back in 2012. Of course, these reports are still unconfirmed, and Snaps representatives continue to dismiss requests for comments. The French shipping company, which acquired Neptune Orient Lines and its APL subsidiary earlier this year, is seeking a buyer for the APL container terminals. French shipping company CMA CGM is seeking a buyer for the APL container terminals, according to a report in the Singapore Business Times by Bloomberg, citing people with knowledge of the matter. CMA CGM acquired Neptune Orient Lines and its APL subsidiary earlier this year. According to an APL fact sheet, the company owns terminals in Los Angeles; Dutch Harbor, Ala.; Kobe and Yokohama in Japan; and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. In addition, the company is involved in joint ventures in Qingdao, China; Laem Chabang, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Rotterdam, Netherlands. If APL is selling the Global Gateway South terminal in Los Angeles, it would be putting the facility up for sale at the same time Hanjin Shipping is seeking to sell its 54 percent stake in the Total Terminals International (TTI) operation in Long Beach to co-owner Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which owns the other 46 percent. An MSC spokesman confirmed this week that it is negotiating to purchase Hanjins stake in TTI. A CMA CGM spokesman said, We did not comment neither to Bloomberg nor to the Business Times. However, the CMA CGM spokesperson pointed to a press release the company published last year when it announced the NOL deal in which it said, CMA CGM intends to deleverage its balance sheet through synergies and assets sales for an amount of at least $1 billion, with the aim to reduce debt gearing ratio to below 0.8 times. Bloomberg said it was told by a third party that CMA CGM asked for first-round bids by next month. When Google finally, officially unveiled the Pixel and Pixel XL to the world, they announced that Verizon was to be the exclusive carrier in the United States. Given the memories some have of the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon, it was understandable that a lot of users were pretty surprised, and perhaps taken aback by it. Of course, the classic Nexus model of selling the device unlocked direct to customers is still very much intact, and Google even offer zero-interest plans for those looking to spread the cost of the device, too. For those that did take Google up on this offer, or purchase the device outright from another retailer, will now be able to head on over to T-Mobile to get 50 percent up to $325.20 off of their bill in monthly credits. T-Mobile is aggressive in their marketing here, and are positioning this as a way to free the Pixel which will no doubt please T-Mobile fans all over the nation, but there are a few caveats, sadly. First of which is that to take part in this promotion, users must sign up for the T-Mobile ONE plan, which might not be all its cracked up to be for some users. The second is that T-Mobile is only offering a maximum of $325.20, spread out over 24 months. This will result in a reduction of $13.55 each and every month, for two years. This is of course half he cost of the entry-level 32GB Pixel which costs $650, for those that went all out on a 128GB Pixel XL, they wont be saving 50 percent of that final total, just the aforementioned $325.20. On top of all that, T-Mobile requires some form of proof of purchase, which means that users will have to have purchased their Pixel new in order to best take advantage of the deal. This new deal from T-Mobile might not be perfect, but considering that a lot of users purchasing their phones outright will head to T-Mobile, its nice to see the firm play into the hands of an already captive audience. Its a shame that T-Mobile isnt deducting 50 percent of the higher-end Pixel XL models, but a saving of $13.55 each and every month isnt something to be scoffed at. It also gives T-Mobile a way to compete with Googles own Project Fi, which many Pixel users might have already signed up for. As'ad's Bio As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants. Answers Africa is one of a kind platform created for Africans both locally and in the diaspora and those seeking for more in-depth information about Africa. We have always focused on creating the highest quality informational contents right from the beginning. We share the most relevant information on the latest and trending news, events, people, and places in Africa. We produce contents across various categories including Politics, People, Love and Romance, Nature, Entertainment, Technology and pretty much everything else that Africans may find relevant. We aim to answer the most relevant questions about Africa in areas of entertainment, famous people, emerging technologies while we also engage with various distribution capabilities to connect with Africans in need of information who rely on our website to keep in touch with the world that is changing so fast. These are some of the articles you may be interested in reading: 10 Famous TV Personalities Born In Ethiopia Ethiopia is a country best known for its fast athletes like Dibaba and Bekele, breathtaking models like Liya Kebede and of course Haile Selassie but there are also famous TV personalities who are doing a great job in entertainment and pushing the country to civilization. The following is a list of ten most famous TV ... Top 10 African Authors of All Time The pace of present African literature is moving at a high-speed; more defiant in both style and tone than those of the great independence writers generation. Here, the subjects of taboo are widely explored. The emerging African authors of this generation are not afraid to go further afield for the literary fodder. Meanwhile, since the birth ... Maina Kageni Biography Daughter, Salary and Gay Rumors Maina Kageni is one of those Kenyans who has remained as interesting as ever in the eyes of the public. A strong Red devil fan and lover of football, the man is currently a Breakfast Show presenter with Mwalimu Kingangi on Nairobis Classic 105 Radio Station. Many questions have always emerged on the man in serious ... Kalekye Mumo Biography, Boyfriend and Salary Kalekye Mumo has been described as someone who is as vibrant as she is beautiful, a Kenyan radio queen, TV host and media personality, movie actress, Musician, businesswoman, and fashionista but what else is there to know about this Kenyan icon, Kalekye Mumo and her co-host Shaffie Weru have been among the most listened to radio presenters ... Julie Gichuru Bio Age, Husband & Children In Africa, women have a long history of bringing under control obstacles to keep their heads above the water. So, it comes as no surprise whenever African women are recognized and decorated across the continent and globe for performing brilliantly well in their various fields of endeavor. In Kenya for instance, a list of national ... Jeff Koinange Biography All About His Age, Wife Shaila Koinange & Family Jeff Koinange is a well-known Kenyan journalist. He currently hosts Jeff Koinange Live on KTN. Koinange has served as a journalist in the United States and has also worked for a few U.S. broadcasters. He was born in Kenya but attended college in the United States, which may explain his accent. There are several interesting ... Caroline Mutoko Biography Age, Daughter & House Caroline Mutoko is a Kenyan radio presenter, famously known for hosting a morning breakfast show on Kiss 100 FM. The station is based in Nairobi and ranks among the highly-rated radio stations in Kenya with online streaming services as well. Learn more about the Kenyan-born journalist. Caroline Mutokos Age and Bio Born on January 4, 1973, Caroline is ... The Most Stunning News Presenter In Kenya Discloses Her Real Age You Would Not Believe It In modern African societies, it is often regarded as impolite or outright lack of disrespect to ask a woman of her age. We also have seen celebrities lie about how old they are when asked their age. People, mostly women have refused to let people know their real age, despite being public figures. The few ... Demystifying Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies Biography, Husband & Education Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist, non-fiction writer, short story writer and actress. As a seasoned Nigerian writer, she has been called the most prominent of a procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors that is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature. She has been making Nigeria proud in the global scene ... Wole Soyinka Biography, Wife, Children, Family, Quick Facts Professor Wole Soyinka, a great and brilliant Nigerian writer and political activist, who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. The name, Wole Soyinka, is a household name both in Africa and beyond especially in the field of literature. With over 50 pieces of work, his writing includes poems, novels, memoirs ... 5 Most Vulgar Kenyan Radio Presenters It appears being vulgar is the real deal nowadays especially for the fact that the world is becoming more exposed and civilized. Sadly, but true, young people are constantly being exposed to images, discussions, and content that most people would deem detrimental to the African culture and moral statutes. This is because most of us ... 6 Sexiest News Anchors In Kenya Some news anchors have been stealing eyes every time they appear on-screen. Most of us hardly concentrate on the programme they present as our entire focus is usually on their striking physique and beautiful faces. It is common knowledge that Kenyan women are amazingly beautiful. From the celebrities to the everyday woman, they are all in ... Interesting Oprah Winfrey Quotes To Keep You Motivated Oprah Winfrey is one of the worlds most powerful women in the media and business sectors. Her life is the typical success story that motivates and lifts ones morale. One amazing thing about this media mogul is her sincerity about past hurts, mistakes, healing, and success. The renowned talk show host and media personality is the first ... Chinua Albert Achebe Biography- Family, Net Worth & Death Chinua Albert Achebe, of blessed memory, was a Nigerian prolific author best known for his inventive style of writing and simplicity of expressions. Famed as one of the finest writers Nigeria has ever produced, Achebe lived and died an international hero and a literary giant, who left behind unforgettable legacies and footprints in the sands of ... Steve Harvey His Wife, Kids & Height Steve Harvey is an American comedian, actor, radio and TV show host, producer and an author of different relationship advice books. Steve Harveys Early Life Born in Welch, West Virginia, on January 17, 1957, as Broderick Stephen Harvey, Steve was the last of five children. His family relocated to Cleveland when he was young and there, he attended Glenville High School from ... Intriguing Things You Should Know About Danny Kokers Rise to Fame and Who His Wife Is Danny Koker is popular as the star of the History Channel reality TV series, Counting Cars. Prior to him appearing on the show, the TV personality was a musician who had embarked on a number of national tours with his rock group, Counts 77. He and his group have released quite a number of songs ... Fun Facts You Didnt Know About Andy Cohens Rise to Prominence and His Partner Andy Cohen is one of Americas top media personalities who gained prominence after helping to bring the Bravo network back to life. He also hosted a couple of shows on the network, including the popular nightly series Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. After rising to the position of head of production and development at ... Tracing Isha Sesays Career Until CNN, Her Worth And Why She Divorce Her Husband As far as journalists of African origin go, Isha Sesay is one of the most famous on the continent and by extension, the world. The Sierra Leonean and British journalist has had a successful career since she joined the industry in 1998. In that time, she has worked for a host of major media ... Open Secrets of How Joanna Gaines Balances Her Career With Being a Wife and Mother Joanna Gaines is the co-founder of Magnolia Homes, a business she runs with one goal: converting houses to homes. She doubles as the lead designer of the company which she co-owns with her husband, Chip Gaines. Lady Gaines gained massive popularity when she became a co-star with her husband on the HGTVs show, Fixer Upper. ... Juicy Details of Ayesha Currys Love Story With Stephen, Her Family Members and Recent Pursuits When your husband is one of the greatest basketballers that the NBA has ever seen, then it bestows on you the status of a celebrity wife and may not even demand that you do anything extra to maintain that status. However, Ayesha Curry, the wife of multiple NBA champion, Steph Curry, is not one ... What Is Tarek el Moussas Ethnicity, Why Did He Divorce His Wife and Who Is He Dating? Tarek El Moussa has made himself one of the most recognizable men on reality television, especially to fans of HGTV. Thanks to his expertise in the world of real estate, Tarek has become a national star. But even to his hardcore followers, there are questions about Tarek El Moussa that remain unanswered, such as his ... Fun Facts About Natalie Beckers Lonely Childhood and Eventual Career Success Natalie Becker is an actress of South African descent who became famous for her appearance in films like The World Unseen and The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. A multitalented individual, Natalie is also a television/radio presenter. She is also a co-founder of the Thought Leader Global Media which she runs together with ... Top 3 Female CNN News Anchors You Didnt Know Were Africans CNN is one of the leading news agencies in the world. The satellite and cable news network was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and has been one of the best sources of news for a number of years. It also boasts of the best journalists and presenters all around in media broadcasting. The company is a ... Channels That Aided Katie Pavlichs Growth as a Journalist and All About Her Marriage To Friedson If you have ever come across any Fast and Furious featuring Barack Obama, it is the handiwork of Katie Pavlich. The book which claims to have exposed Obamas bloodiest scandal and the shameless cover-up thereof, has been earning Pavlich much praise and fame ever since it was published in 2012. Nonetheless, Pavlich is more famed ... Is Oprah Winfrey Married? Husband, Children, Biography, House, Facts Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire philanthropist, talk show icon, producer, actress, and writer. The media icon famously dubbed The Queen Of All Media owns and hosts the highest-rated television program in the media circle. Read more about the powerful television star below. Oprah Winfrey Biography Oprah was born as Orpah Gail Winfrey on January 29, 1954, to a ... Who Is Arsenio Hall, What Happened To His Talk Show and Why Do Fans Think He Is Gay? He is one of the funniest beings to have graced the comedy constituent of the American entertainment industry. Arsenio Hall has a reputation for the rib-cracking disposition always portrayed in his comedy roles. He is not just a comedian; he is also an actor and a former talk show host for his popular show, The ... What Is Woah Vicky Famous For and Who Are Her Family Members? Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Woah Vicky is one of those stars that have utilized the internet as a powerful tool to propel themselves to instant fame. The social media space, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc., offers lots of people the right opportunities and potentials to become superstars overnight. Not everyone achieves ... Where Is Michael Strahan Since His Retirement From The NFL and Who Is His Partner? Michael Strahan is a retired American football player turned media personality. He played the defensive lineman position and holds the record for most sacks in a single NFL season. He also only played for the New York Giants throughout the entire 15-year professional career that saw him win a Super Bowl ring. In February 2014, ... How Wendy Williams Went From Being a College DJ to Having Her Own Talk Show and More About Her Divorce Wendy Williams is a former radio personality, now talk show host, who is known for her outspokenness and brash no-nonsense attitude. She gained fame and notoriety for her on-air clashes with celebrities before moving on to host her own talk show. Since 2008, Williams has hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. ... Who is Sunny Hostin? Her Husband, Family & Net Worth Sunny Hostin is no ordinary Latina American lawyer but also a successful columnist, multi-platform journalist, and social commentator. A happily married woman and mother of two, Hostin is the Senior Legal Correspondent and Analyst for ABC News and co-host of ABCs popular morning talk show, The View. She is a legal expert popularly known as a former ... Who Is Robert Costa and Is He Married, Who Is His Wife? Robert Costa is a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC who is regarded as being part of Americas next generation of journalists. The University of Notre Dame graduate, who is of Italian/Portuguese descent, has been lauded for his fresh political perspectives in an industry full of old heads. In addition to his work listed above, Costa ... Team Valor Pokemon Go 7 Key Facts You Need To Know Team Valor Pokemon Go The craze of the new game Pokemon Go is one that took the gaming world by storm sending teenagers and adults alike into a frenzy and one of its teams Team Valor, has proven to be instrumental in making it so. Before the game was created, Pokemon was a cartoon ... Sheryl Underwood Husband, Family & Net Worth She is known for her trademark smile which can be described as the brightest and broadest smile ever seen on planet earth. She is none other than Sheryl Underwood the comedian, actress, and TV host whose funny wits has left America in great awe. Although Sheryl has risen to become an important personality in the industry, ... Team Mystic Pokemon Go: 7 Facts You Need To Know And Signs You Are One Team Mystic of the break out game Pokemon Go is a team that is full of sass and chivalry. With an enchanting monicker, Team Mystic stands out from the rest of its counterparts and deserves to take the crown as champion in the Pokemon gaming-verse. To be a member of this exceptional team of Pokemon battle ... Exploring Guy Beahms Dr Disrespect Persona, Wife and Why He was Banned Permanently From Twitch Guy Beahm who is popularly known by his online alias Dr DisRespect, is an award-winning Twitch.tv streamer. He has leveraged on the Twitch platform to become an internet personality that is quite widely known. His online success is just more proof that anyone who is good at what they do can attain celebrity status ... Critical Facts About Lee Ann McAdoo The Infowars Anchor Lee Ann Mcadoo is a conservative journalist and television host whose interests in conspiracies and astrology has established her as a famous American reporter. Often referred to as Wonder Woman, McAdoo is a reporter who works for InfoWars.com, a controversial right-wing website run by radio show host, Alex Jones. Who Is Lee Ann McAdoo? Lee Ann McAdoo was born on 7 ... Millie Weaver Age, Husband & Infowars Career Millie Weaver is an American model, journalist, political activist, and social commentator. The young and beautiful journalist rose to fame working as a reporter for a controversial right-wing website InfoWars.com. Also known as Millennial Millie, Weaver is a social media influencer with over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 35,000 followers on Twitter. Who Is Millie Weaver and What Is ... Is Jessica Tarlov Married? What Are Her Height & Weight? Jessica Tarlov is an American political consultant, strategist, and analyst whose influential and regular TV presence has made a popular figure. A good example of beauty with brains, Tarlov has appeared on various TV networks, mostly the FOX News Network where she is known for her liberal views on political analysis and insights. She is also the senior director ... Who Is Kelly Rebecca Nichols Alex Jones Ex-Wife? Kelly Rebecca Nichols is the ex-wife of controversial American radio show host, Alex Jones. She got nationwide attention following her divorce and subsequent custody battle with her estranged husband. Nichols, who worked with PETAs public relations department, was herself no stranger to controversies as she was involved in several publicity stunts of the non-profit animal rights ... Who Is Bree Morgan Cole Sprouse Ex-Girlfriend And What Is She Up To Now? Although Bree Morgan became famous through the Instagram, she also sapped some dose of popularity from Disneys sweetheart, Cole Sprouse of the Sprouse brothers. She is not only an Instagram star but also a YouTube vlogger whose popularity has long exceeded the ordinary level. Bree is conspicuously prominent on the internet and has her digital savviness ... Does Vanna White Have Husband or Children, What Is Her Net Worth / Salary? For over three decades, Vanna White has been a household name, famous as the co-host and letter turner of the iconic NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. The talented and beautiful television personality is also an actress with several TV series and films to her credit. Since making her Wheel of Fortune debut in 1982, she has become one ... Liz Wheeler Biography, Husband & Net Worth Liz Wheeler is the kind of girl who sets the room on fire whenever she comes around. In this situation, however, she sets our screens on fire each time she appears as the host of One America News Tipping Point. She is, therefore, a presenter, publisher, consultant and a member of the Board of Zoning ... Betty White Net Worth, Children & Husband The entertainment industry will remain indebted to personalities like Betty White who brought something extra to the table and kept the world entertained for donkey years. The comedienne, actress, and writer graced the big screens in the early 50s as a show host and has been a delight since then. She is the queen of ... Is Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Dead or Alive, What Are His Net Worth & Education? Everyone will always remember Bill Nye as the Science Guy. Besides his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, he is well-known for his Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World which started airing in 2017 as well as his appearances in many famous media projects as a science educator. The star studied mechanical engineering ... Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ... Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ... Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. Apart from his impressive stint at Fox News Channel which includes but not limited to his classic news delivery, upfront stance on virtually every issue and much more; he loves his job as much as he loves his personality. Smith ... Is Milo Yiannopoulos Gay? His Husband and Net Worth Milo Yiannopoulos is a popular writer, journalist, polemicist, public speaker, and political commentator who is also known as the founder of The Kernel, an online blog. He has been said to be among the list of 100 weird and influential people in the United Kingdom. He appeared on this list as a result of personal beliefs and ... Does Ryan Seacrest Have A Wife Or Girlfriend, What Is His Net Worth? From radio to television, Ryan Seacrest is a household name and a force to be reckoned with in showbiz. The radio personality, television host, and producer is best recognized as the host of the popular TV talent search contest American Idol. Heres how the media personality who always knew what his lifes ambition was and diligently pursued ... Is Anderson Cooper Gay, Who is The Boyfriend or Husband? For many, the thought of becoming a millionaire by writing and talking about other people appears unachievable but this is the reality of the prominent American journalist Anderson Cooper who gathered millions of dollars for conducting accurate political analysis and other vital reports on TV. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show Anderson ... Is David Muir Gay or Does He Have A Wife, What Is His Salary? David Muir is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for the ABC broadcast-television network and anchors the ABC World News Tonight with David Muir program while also co-anchoring the magazine program 20/20. The Ithaca College graduate, whose show has become the most-watched newscast in America, has covered stories from all across America and the world; reporting ... Joel Osteen Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ... Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ... Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ... Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ... Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ... Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ... Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ... Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ... Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ... Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ... Demystifying Pokimane Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ... A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ... Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ... Alex Aiono Biography Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ... Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ... Princess Love Bio Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ... Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ... Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ... Safiya Nygaard Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ... The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ... Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ... Inside Fred Armisens Life Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ... Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ... Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ... Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ... Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ... xChocobars Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ... Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ... Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ... Matpat (Matthew Patrick) Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ... Facts About Ricegum His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ... Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ... What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ... David Letterman Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ... Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ... Lester Holt Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ... What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ... The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ... Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ... The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ... Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ... The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ... Jeff Dunham Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ... Ellen DeGeneres Net Worth, Wife Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ... Revisiting Joan Rivers Death The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ... The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ... Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ... Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ... How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ... Madison Gesiotto Bio Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ... Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ... What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ... Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ... Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ... Carli Bybel Bio Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ... Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ... Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ... Norm MacDonald Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ... Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ... Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ... Samantha Bee Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ... What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ... Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ... A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ... Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ... Desi Perkins Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ... The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ... Connor Franta Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ... Rhett and Link Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ... A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ... What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ... David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ... Merrell Twins Bio Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ... Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ... Ninja Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ... What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ... Emma Chamberlain Biography Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ... Anna Akana Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ... Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ... Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ... Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ... Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ... Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ... The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ... Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ... PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ... Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ... Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ... LaurDIY Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ... Lachlan Ross Power Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ... Alfie Deyes Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ... Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ... Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ... Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ... Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ... How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ... 5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman) The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ... Grace Helbig Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ... Mark Wiens Bio Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ... Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ... CaptainSparklez Bio Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ... Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ... 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ... Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ... Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ... Jacksepticeye Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ... Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ... Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ... Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ... Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ... Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ... Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ... Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ... Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ... Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ... Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ... Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ... Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ... Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ... 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ... Lilypichu Bio Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ... KSI What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ... The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ... The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ... What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ... What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ... Matt Carriker Biography Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ... Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ... Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ... Gloria Govan Bio Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ... Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ... Who Is October Gonzalez Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ... Who Is Tony Berlin Harris Faulkners Husband: His Children and Family Facts Tony Berlin is a popular American media guru. He has variously worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for some of the biggest TV networks in America. They include CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC (where he hosted the popular Good Morning America). Berlin has now diversified into public relations and owns his own PR firm. ... The Progression of Gianna Tobonis Journalism Career and Details About Her Marriage to Kyle Buckley Gianna Toboni may not be your ideal newscaster but her unusual reporting is what made her a household name. The American journalist is renowned for her hard-hitting and authentic reportage. A motivator and activist for total press freedom, Gianna loves to explore pervasive cultural issues. Not only does this unique and ambitious journalist call for all ... Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ... Vicky Karayiannis, Chris Cornells Wifes Bio, Children and Family The world of showbiz is made up of different people who serve different roles, and function in a variety of capacities, and one of the most important people are those in the background. Publicists are undoubtedly one of these background people yet they are vital to the life and fame of most of our favorite ... Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ... Josh Gates and Wife Hallie Gnatovich Have 2 Kids But Who Has the Higher Net Worth? Best known for his explorations and adventures, Josh Gates, is a television presenter with a voracious appetite for seeing the world and the beauties in it. Some of that beauty, however, is in his home, in the form of two children he shares with his wife, Hallie Gnatovich. Not excluded is their marriage which has lasted ... Holly Sonders Wiki, Plastic Surgery & Why She Divorced Her Husband Erik Kuselias After trying everything within her capacity to have a low key wedding, Holly Sonders was drawn to the public because of her husbands controversy at his workplace. Well, the two are rumored to be divorced but the article below will give more light on how true these rumors are. Meanwhile, Holly Sonders is yet to ... Nadeska Alexis Bio Age, Boyfriend & Net Worth Journalism is one diverse profession that allows the practitioners to choose their area of specialty, build a career on it by reporting the truth and facts which in the long run will distinguish them as deserving commendation and recognition among their peers. Some choose to specialize in political journalism, while to others it is sports ... Media Platforms Charlamagne Tha God Has Explored and All The Controversies He Has Courted Charlamagne Tha God is an American on-air personality, radio presenter, and more recently, author. He is popularly known as a co-host on New York radios nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, a program he has been hosting alongside DJ Envy and Angela Yee since 2010. However, his early years had no connection to his current career ... A Look At Jimmy Fallons Net Worth and Family Including His Wife & Kids Sometimes, a childs passion for something is a pointer to what he/she would become in the future. As a child, Jimmy Fallon was literally obsessed with watching the late-night comedy program, Saturday Night Live (SNL). Then, his parents would tape the clean parts for him to watch and later, he and his sister would re-enact sketches from the ... Kay Adams Biography Does The Sportscaster Have A Husband or Boyfriend? When you hear the phrase sports enthusiast, women are hardly the first group that comes to mind. Well, thats changing pretty fast. Especially with the rise of female sports analysts and broadcasters like Kay Adams who is famed for knowing more about sports than most men do. And why not, shes paid handsomely for it ... Ben Shapiros Family Meet His Wife, Kids and Sister Who is Popular for the Wrong Reasons A multi-talented man, Ben Shapiro is a man of controversial nature, an attribute that has made him an unusual public figure. An intellectual whose career path was clearly defined even before he became a man, the Jewish conservative commentator has always had his way with words. He became popular by sharing his critical and often ... QVC Shawn Killinger Bio Husband, Net Worth & Facts To Know Shawn Killinger is a prominent TV personality who has worked her way to the top. Though not initially a journalist by training, she defied the odds and today has established herself as a household name, as well as, worked alongside some industry legends. More than just being a reporter, newscaster, and anchor, heres all you ... Liv Lo Dissecting the Ethnicity, Parents and Personal Life of Henry Goldings Wife While many are aware that Liv Lo is the better half to Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, only a few understand why his beautiful wife appears increasingly endearing to fans. A former model turned TV personality, and fitness star, Liv has an impressive resume which when combined with that of her statuesque spouse is considered a perfect ... Stpeach Age, Husband and Other Facts About The Twitch Streamer Lisa Vannatta, famously known by her online alias, STPeach is a Canadian video game streamer cum vlogger who has garnered fame through her appearances on different video-sharing/social networking platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Twitch, Reddit, and Twitter. The beautiful lady got her career to a start in August 2015 when she joined the live streaming video platform, Twitch. She rose to ... Insights into Seth Meyers Wife, Family and What His Net Worth Is Celebrities are mostly remembered and known for the work they do. For Seth Meyers, his career as a comedian, writer, actor, TV host, and producer is his biggest identifier. He was on Saturday Night Live SNL show as a head writer and cast member for more than ten years during which he built a reputation ... Who Is Jessica Gadsden Age, Net Worth & All About Charlamagne tha Gods Wife Jessica Gadsden is an American fitness coach as well as a personal trainer. She is better known as the spouse of popular American media personality, Charlamagne Tha God. Charlamange Tha God is a well-known TV and radio personality in the U.S. He has featured in several shows (both on the radio and TV) and is ... Who Is Collins Tuohy Michael Ohers sister ? Her Wedding, Husband & Net Worth Collins Tuohy is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, blogger, and social media personality. She is also better known as the adoptive sister of NFL player, Michael Oher, whose life story inspired the Hollywood blockbuster The Blind Side. The Blind Side tells the true life story of Oher who grew up in an impoverished background consisting of a ... Eye-Popping Facts About The Personal Life And Career Success Of Sportscaster Heidi Watney Heidi Watney is a media personality who has created a niche for herself as a sportscaster. Starting out as a radio presenter, the brilliant young lady has gone on to work for several prominent sports networks, and currently, she is with the MLB. The sportscaster is also known to have been an avid sports lady right ... Marty Lagina Bio Siblings (Martina and Rick Lagina), Net Worth and Wife Marty Lagina is an American engineer and businessman who has risen to fame as a reality TV star. This is thanks to his involvement in the adventure TV series, The Curse of Oak Island. The Curse of Oak Island is a long-running TV series which airs on the history channel. The show aims to solve ... Is Jordan Schlansky Just A Character or a Real Life Person and What Does He Do? The world of late-night television is an interesting one. Shows during that time are geared towards giving viewers comedic relief from a long day at work through interviews and comedy sketches. The often charismatic host of this show requires the balancing talent of a producer whose primary job is to deliver great episodes. It is ... Heres How Wealthy Jimmy Kimmel Is From All The Phases of His Career, Marriages and Sons Health Jimmy Kimmel is a renowned late-night talk show host known for his charm, wit, and the A-list guests he features on his show. As the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On ABC, Jimmy has been serving comedy to television viewers for years which played a pivotal role in launching him into mainstream fame and enabled ... Natasha Bertrand Biography Is She Married? Who Is the Husband & What Is Her Age? Natasha Bertrand is not just a young prominent journalist but a first-rate investigative reporter. With her natural beauty and smile, Natashas sharp, insightful political commentary also makes her a thorough reporter. Her sound political perspective and coverage in the country have made her a force to be reckoned with in the profession. Renowned for her ... What Happened to Shane Kilcher? His Injury Update, Net Worth and More Shane Kilcher is well-known thanks to the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier. It is a show that documents the daily lives of the extended Kilcher family, people who live without plumbing or modern heating. The episodes follow their routines as they rely on hunting and farming for their nutritional needs as well as ... Is Stephanie Gosk Gay or Lesbian, Who is the Wife or Partner Jenna Wolfe? In August 2013, NBCs Today viewers were greeted with two shocking news. Today weekend anchor, Jenna Wolfe, announced that she was as a lesbian, introducing her partner as NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk, and said the two are expecting their first child. A long time has passed since then and certainly, a lot of things ... Nikki Mudarris Bio and Net Worth: 5 Interesting Facts You Need to Know Nikki Mudarris, also known as Miss Nikki Baby, is a reality television star, model and fashionista. Shes best known for VH1s reality TV series Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood. Her entrepreneurial skills enable her to create and run a successful lingerie line Nude by Nikki. Not only that, but Nikki has also successfully run the Las ... 5 Interesting Things You Need To Know About Kelly Nash Ever heard of the lady who gained national prominence for taking a selfie with a dangerous ball just a few inches away from hitting her? Its no other person than Kelly Nash, an American sports broadcaster currently working as host of The Rundown show which airs on MLB Network every weekday at 2 pm ET. ... Understanding The Height of Fame John Oliver Achieved With The Daily Show and How He Met His Wife Without knowledge of who he is and his exemplary career, John Oliver cuts an unassuming figure of a regular man but he is one of the most influential personalities in America, especially on television. Since he began his career in 1998, he has been a loud and unapologetic agent of change, using his wit and ... Why Did Big Chief Leave Street Outlaws, Where Is He Now And Why Did He Divorce His Wife? Justin Shearer, otherwise known by his professional name Big Chief is a famous street racer and television personality. He is famously known for being one of the main characters on the racing reality television series, Street Outlaws. Justin, who had been a significant part of the show since its premiere in 2013, appeared in a ... Who is Josina Anderson of ESPN? Her Husband and Family Facts There has been a gradual paradigm shift in the world of sports which has today produced the likes of Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and other female athletes that are pulling great feats in different sporting fields. Their achievements have also been followed by the emergence of female sports journalists such as Jillian Mele, Eboni Williams, ... Is Brittany Wagner Married, Who Is The Husband, How Old Is She? Brittany Wagner has been an inspiration to a lot of sports youngster. She has won the hearts of many athletic students with her role as a life coach and an academic counselor. She is well groomed in her career and has worked over a decade for The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and The National ... Tati Westbrook Bio Age, Husband & Net Worth With five videos dished out every week, alongside running her own brand, beauty guru, and YouTube superstar Tati Westbrook has proved to the world that theres utterly no impossibility or limit to whatever one is passionate about. Tati is best known for being the owner and manager of the worlds most-viewed beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel, ... Cathy Areus Long Road to Becoming a Freelance Journalist and What to Know About Her Kids An American freelance journalist, news analyst, and author, Cathy Areu has built a lasting reputation for herself on cable television. Popular for her skillful and sassy presentation of professional views on varying topics including cultural and feminist issues, Cathy is an inspiration to many women across the globe. In addition to being a journalist, she ... Tucker Carlsons Love Story With Wife Susan Andrews, their Children and Net Worth Today On the TV screens, Tucker Carlson is that fiery fellow who passionately dishes out his conservative and often controversial views on issues of national importance. Such brazenness has fetched him many enemies, especially on the left-wing, but it has also helped him cement a reputation as one of the foremost broadcast journalists in America. His ... Paige Wyatts Net Worth, Boyfriend and Where She Is Now Paige Wyatt became popular after the Wyatt family began running the reality television show, American Guns. The Wyatt family comprises Rich Wyatt (father), Renee Wyatt (mother), Paige and Kurt Wyatt (children). Rich Wyatt originally ran a gun shop, the Gunsmoke Guns in Wheat Ridge, Colorado which is outside of Denver. The business which he ran together ... The Progression of Howard Sterns Career As A Media Personality And Why He Divorced His First Wife Howard Stern is a legendary American radio host, who has also done some notable work as an actor, producer, author, as well as photographer. The radio personality achieved worldwide fame as a result of his self-titled radio program, The Howard Stern Show. As a professional radio personality, he has worked in different radio stations. Since 2006, ... Lisa Joyners Biography Ethnicity, Net Worth and Other Key Facts Lisa Joyner is an American Journalist, TV talk show host, and actress. Some of her well-known works are her correspondences for the Los Angeles based TV KCBS, inFANity show, Find My Family Show including her film and television appearances in Brimstone, American Sweetheart, The Bold and The Beautiful among others. Lisas passion for reconnecting people with their biological families ... Amanda Balionis Rise Through the Ranks of Sportscasting and the Identity of Her Boyfriend Amanda Balionis is an American sportscaster currently working as a golf broadcaster for CBS Sports. Among so many of her works in the field of sports reporting, Amandas PGA Tour coverage seems to be the most popular so far. She covered the Super Bowl working with CBS Sports social media team in Atlanta, where she ... Dissecting Charles Paynes Sexual Allegations, Its After Effects and More About His Wife Charles Payne had a respectable career as an analyst on Wall Street before he made the transition to television and became a contributor and later a host on Fox. In that time, his expertise has come under scrutiny, and he has been at the center of at least one major controversy. The major controversy in question ... Erik Asla And Tryra Banks Split: Everything You Need To Know Tyra Banks and Erik Asla have called it quits! The couple, who began dating in 2013 and have a son named York Banks Asla, has decided to end what everybody taught was the perfect relationship. Neither person has come out to give a reason for the breakup, but what is obvious right now is that ... What to Note About Dr Terry Dubrows Qualifications, TV Works and Marriage to Heather Kent In the realm of people that we expect to see regularly on our screens, medical doctors are closer to the bottom of the list. Aside from the fact that their work has little correlation with TV, they are presumably too busy to pursue life as TV personalities. Yet, a few of them have usurped this ... Jessica Goch Bio: 5 Things You Didnt Know About Ninjas Wife Jessica Goch is the Schofield-born American Social Media Influencer who has worked as a model but is now better known as a host and interviewer of prominent Electronic sports celebrities at popular gaming events/tournaments. The screen queen also serves as the manager of her famous husband Ninja aka Tyler Blevins whose exploits on Twitch and Fortnite has ... CNNs Chris Cuomo Biography Wife, Family & Net worth Chris Cuomo needs no elaborate introduction as he has starred graced many prominent Television cable networks and his voice has been heard through acknowledged radio shows. He is a television journalist and Lawyer who has previously worked for ABC News as Chief law and justice correspondent as well as a co-anchor on 20/20. If you still ... Neil deGrasse Tyson Family, Religion & Net Worth Neil deGrasse Tyson is a distinguished American astrophysicist and author who has been able to achieve so much after falling in love with astronomy at the age of 9. He has since attended and become an alumnus of prestigious universities such as Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, and also recorded numerous achievements in his field of ... Is Simon Cowell Gay? Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend and Why is He Famous? Simon Cowell is a well-known talent show judge, TV producer, entrepreneur and one of the most popular TV personalities that Britain has ever produced. In conjunction with his company, Syco, Cowell is the brain behind hugely successful talent hunt shows such as The X-Factor UK, The X-Factor US, Britains Got Talent, Americas Got Talent and ... Everything To Know About Joanna Gaines Life With Chip Gaines, Their Business Pursuits and Kids Joanna Gaines and her husband Chip Gaines became celebrities after their television show Fixer Upper began airing back in 2013. The show which was about home renovation and decoration ran for about 6 seasons with a total of 79 episodes before the couple bade farewell to it in April 2018. Apart from their appearances on ... Who Is Larry The Cable Guy? What To Know About His Wife And Net Worth Larry the Cable Guy is a self-professed country kid renowned for his trademark Southern accent and sensational catchphrase Git-R-Done! The famous comedian who talks about anything under the sun has gone on to become one of the most memorable characters in comedy history. Join us in unearthing lesser-known facts about the former on-air-personality, standup comedy superstar, movie ... Who Is Patrick Starr, What Is His Net Worth and Gender? The make-up industry over the years has grown to become a billion dollar industry not just because there are probably more women wearing make-up but because a whole lot of men, especially the young ones, have become bold enough to wear it unlike before. A few of these men, like Patrick Starr, have even gone ... How Did Chris Jansing Become a Senior Correspondent at MSNBC and Who Is Her Husband? An award-winning American television news reporter and journalist, Chris Jansing has succeeded in carving a spectacular niche for herself in the field of TV journalism. Outstanding for not just her excellence in journalism, Chris is also cherished for her incredibly gorgeous looks post 60! For close to four decades, Jansing has continued to soar in her ... Jaclyn Glenn Biography Age, Height & Ex-Boyfriend American Youtuber, Jaclyn Glenn, rose to prominence through her self-titled YouTube channel Jaclyn Glenn. She has remained an acclaimed atheist and continues to air her views on hot issues from politics, religion, animal rights, to atheism. During the heated 2016 US Presidential elections, Glenn featured in Hump Trump: Official Donald Trump Song. Her parallel acting career ... Is Pat Sajak Married to a Wife or is He Gay With a Partner? Pat Sajak is one of the most popular TV game show hosts in America. He commenced his career as a radio disk jockey as well as a TV weatherman before being tapped to host Wheel of Fortune, the longest-running syndicated game show in the United States. Sajak has hosted the popular game show from 1983 ... Nayyera Haqs Bio What To Know About Her Husband, Parents And Family Nayyera Haq can take anyone on political debates as well as discussions on social issues affecting many. Her ability to masterfully deliver her stance on every issue or political debate has made her a regular face in morning and evening news media platforms. This is not a common feat especially for someone from her kind ... Inside Guy Fieris Family With Wife, Kids and Sister Who Died of Cancer Over the years we have seen men dominate the kitchen and churn out amazing delicacies from it. Some do it way better than their female counterparts and one of such men is Guy Ramsay Fieri an American TV host, celebrity chef, restaurant owner, bestselling author of four culinary books, and game show host. His ... Meet Phil Mudd of CNN The Former CIA and FBI Exec, Is He Married, Who Is The Wife? When it comes to discussing issues surrounding terrorism, American Counterterrorism and National Security Expert, Phil Mudd, occupies a globally significant position. He has voiced his interest in the fight against terrorism and insecurity on many popular media platforms, both print and broadcast, such as CNN, BBC, CBS, MSNBC, al-Jazeera, ABC, NBC, Fox, The New York Times, ... Jim Hoffer: Biography, Wife Mika Brzezinski, Children and Net Worth Jim Hoffer is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works as an investigative reporter for Eyewitness News, New York City. In his over two decades of investigative journalism, Hoffer has been at the front lines of several crucial stories from the 9/11 attack to the crash of American Flight 587 to the 2003 Blackout. On top of ... The Ups and Downs of Erin Mcpikes Journalism Career and Other Facts About Her Personal Life Erin McPike is a journalist working for the Independent Journal Review (IJR) as a White House Correspondent but she gained widespread recognition for her coverage of general news. Whether its breaking news or some mainstream story, McPike has a reputation of baring the facts. As a journalist, her work as a White House Correspondent for Independent ... Bert Kreischer Is Married To LeeAnn Kreischer With 2 Kids Meet His Family Those familiar with Bert Kreischer mainly have the image of a large-bellied party man whose college life inspired the National Lampoon film, Van Wilder. It is an image that one would not naturally associate with a wholesome family. The standup comedian still maintains his wild party animal image on stage. But, back at home, he is ... How Brendan Greene Became a Game Designer to Look Out For and Facts About His Failed Marriage The name Brendan Greene may not easily ring a bell in the larger society but for gaming enthusiasts, he is considered a god and this is because of his invention of the video game, Player Unknowns Battlegrounds, also called PUBG. Based on the popular last-man-standing/battle royale concept, Greenes creation has taken the gaming world by ... WFAAs Sonia Azad Bio Does The Reporter Have A Husband Or Boyfriend? Emmy Award-winning journalist and Health & Wellness reporter Sonia Azad is on the news segment News 8 Daybreak for the television station WFAA-TV in Dallas, Texas, a channel which she joined in October of 2015. Besides her time on the news, Azad is also a marathon runner and a certified yoga instructor. She has covered major news ... This Is Everything You Should Know About Caroline Heldman, Her Career Portfolio and Other Facts Love it or hate it, there is no escaping the fact that feminism has come to stay in our world. The movement has continued to garner momentum over the years and this is due to the sustained push by several women, and even men, including the likes of Caroline Heldman. A Professor of Politics at ... Understanding The Enigma That Is Gavin McInnes, The Controversies He Has Stirred and All About His Wife Gavin McInnes is a polemical English-born writer and TV personality, who is best known for his racist and fascist ideologies, as well as his co-ownership of Vice Media and Vice Magazine. He is also an actor a (ANSA) - Rome, October 27 - Italy and Spain are the two European countries making the most use of elderly organ donors, ANSA learned Thursday. "Half of organ donors are over age 60 and they are often people who have suffered a stroke. In at least a quarter of the case," ANSA was told by the director of an organ transplant center, Nanni Costa, on the sidelines of the 40th congress of the Italian Organ Transplant Society (SITO), "they are over age 70." Italy is also at the cutting edge of the use of machines that make it possible to "treat" damaged organs, he said, adding that in the case of elderly donors, "hearts and lungs are obviously excluded but livers can be donated". A 92-year-old set the record in 2016 for being the oldest organ donor. SITO chief Umberto Cillo added that Italy had begun study on a technique to oxygenize organs in 2004 and that this technique was currently in use primarily for the liver and lungs to repair damages. Transplanting parts of a single liver into two people is a technique that is used ever more frequently in Italy, with a rise in use of 80% over the past year alone. The congress announced that a foundation would be established to raise awareness on organ donation. Unlike hearts and lungs, the liver regenerates and makes it possible to take a part to transplant into another adult and a part to use for pediatric patients. Cillo added that this technique had been used a great deal since August 2015, when a new protocol on it came into force, "making it possible to drastically reduce waiting times for children and almost eliminate mortality rates" resulting from a lack of liver transplants, he said. The SITO chief said that there is a high level of professionalism in Italy but not enough donors. "The only sharp rise in the history of organ transplants was in 2004," Cillo said, "when the child Nicholas Green died and marked a milestone in the history of organ transplants, since the example of his family led to enormous and immediate awareness-raising among the population." The creation of the Fondazione Italiana per la Promozione dei Trapianti d'Organo (FIPTO) will focus on informing the public about issues related to organ donation, starting with focusing on the young through schools and social media networks. (ANSA) - Brussels, October 27 - A European Commission spokesperson said Thursday Italy can benefit from the EU Solidarity Fund for last night's earthquake as well as the one that struck its mountainous central regions last August 24. EU officials will assess whether solidarity funds can be requested twice for communities that have been struck twice, like the village of Amatrice. Italy has yet to file a request for the August 24 quake that claimed 298 lives, the spokesperson said. Countries have up to 12 weeks after a natural disaster to assess the damage and request EU solidarity funding, and Italy has been hard at work to submit a detailed request for the maximum amount of funding by a November 12 deadline. Damages must exceed 3.3 billion euros or 0.6% of a country's GDP for the maximum funding to become available. The August 24 quake caused an estimated five billion euros in damages as it razed entire villages to the ground and left thousands homeless. (ANSA) - Rome, October 27 - Relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia are very solid but there is room for improvement, Saudi Ambassador to Italy Khalid A. Krimly told an ANSA forum on Thursday. "Relations in the economic, political and intelligence fields are very solid, but there is still room for improvement," the ambassador said at the forum titled 'Italy and Saudi Arabia: Beyond the Crisis, Shared Challenges and New Opportunities'. His remarks touched on several issues including the Syrian civil war, relations with Iran, oil prices, and the launch of 'Saudi Vision 2030', a plan to diversify the economy and wean it away from its oil dependency. "Italy is one of the top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia, before Great Britain and after China, the US, Germany, Japan, France and the UAE," Krimly said. "Economic cooperation is increasing and there are many companies in our country that are working on important projects. And many Saudis visit Italy. I think, however, that our cooperation can expand into other sectors, including cultural and educational exchanges". He went on to say that both Italy and Saudi Arabia are involved in an international group working to combat the funding of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) extremist group. "Italians are ever more aware of the links between the Mediterranean and the Arab world, and your country represents a bridge between the Arab world, Africa and the rest of Europe," he said. On the issue of a possible overture to dialogue with Iran, he said that "we hope for this, but Tehran must stop financing terrorists as well as supplying them with weapons and training, and interfering in our affairs". "We're not questioning the importance of a role for Iran, but it must be a positive one in support of peace and security - not only for the region, but for the country itself," the ambassador explained. "A stable and safe Iran is in our interests and in theirs. We kept dialogue open with Iran for decades. We had a great deal of hope in (former Iranian leaders) Rafsanjani, Khatami and Ahmadinejad. With Rouhani, the issue is very much open. We must first see changes in behavior". On the next meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on November 30 in Vienna and on the related agreement on oil production levels as an attempt to avoid a further drop in global oil prices, the ambassador said that "the markets will be the ones to decide, but we're of course moving in the right direction, especially after the latest meetings between Russia and OPEC members". He stressed that oil price stability is in the interests of producers as well as the world economy at large. "In future we will need more oil than we currently consume, and the maximum possible investments must be made at current prices," he said. Asked about the ongoing bloodshed in Syria, he said the only solution is a political one. "We support every effort to achieve an end to the conflict, including (those made by) the United Nations," the ambassador said. "We need a Syria for all Syrians. What is happening in the country is terrible and it is unimaginable that the international community is not doing anything to stop the atrocities. We're talking about hundreds of thousands of deaths, of torture, rape, and millions of displaced people - which is causing problems for neighboring countries and the EU". (ANSA) - Camerino, October 27 - Italy is stronger than any earthquake and a quake decree must be passed as soon as possible to free up resources to repair the damage from two strong quakes Wednesday night as well as the August 24 trembler that killed almost 300 people, Premier Matteo Renzi said on visiting the quake zone Thursday. Renzi said on visiting this Marche town hit by two quakes Wednesday night that "the earthquake is putting us to a stiff test but Italy is there, it doesn't leave its citizens on their own, we are strong and we'll make it". Renzi said that "we urge parliament, in the full respect for (respective) roles, to act as quickly as possible to approve the decree on the earthquake because (the decree) has the resources and tools to go to work immediately". Renzi said that "a structural intervention is needed for the zones hit by the earthquake". He said "we must explain this to Italy, to Europe, to everyone". Renzi added: "Just as we are doing in Amatrice (the village most affected by the August 24 quake, Ed.), we mustn't let the focus on these places fade and the attention of politics fall". Renzi said the government has allocated 40 million euros to areas stricken by last night's earthquakes. "Of course, that won't be enough," he said during a visit to the areas where thousands were left homeless overnight. "They are in addition to the 50 million we already earmarked... We will try to activate the same virtuous mechanism we enacted for (the villages of) Accumoli and Arquata (after the August 24 quake)". Tents are not the solution for those left homeless last night, Renzi said on his visit to the stricken town. "It took us some time to convince everybody to leave the tents (after the August 24 quake)," Renzi said. It's not feasible for people to spend the winter in tents so alternative must be found, such as hotels or wooden temporary homes, he said. Renzi brought President Sergio Mattarella's "embrace" to the quake-hit population. He told residents of this town, which was severely damaged, that "Italy won't stop, all our country is at your side so as not to be stopped". He said he had spoken to Mattarella and "he embraces you". Camerino's historic university must "restart as soon as possible", Renzi said on his visit. He said it was "fundamental" that the university, "one of the oldest in the world", gets going again immediately." Renzi said "even if we are bowed, we can't give up". He said the university would reopen according to "procedures we have already established". (ANSA) - Camerino, October 27 - Italy is stronger than any earthquake and a quake decree must be passed as soon as possible to free up resources to repair the damage from two strong quakes Wednesday night as well as the August 24 trembler that killed almost 300 people, Premier Matteo Renzi said on visiting the quake zone Thursday. Renzi said on visiting this Marche town hit by two quakes Wednesday night that "the earthquake is putting us to a stiff test but Italy is there, it doesn't leave its citizens on their own, we are strong and we'll make it". Renzi said that "we urge parliament, in the full respect for (respective) roles, to act as quickly as possible to approve the decree on the earthquake because (the decree) has the resources and tools to go to work immediately". Renzi said that "a structural intervention is needed for the zones hit by the earthquake". He said "we must explain this to Italy, to Europe, to everyone". Renzi added: "Just as we are doing in Amatrice, we mustn't let the focus on these places fade and the attention of politics fall". (ANSA) - Camerino, October 27 - Italy is stronger than any earthquake and a quake decree must be passed as soon as possible to free up resources to repair the damage from two powerful tremors Wednesday night as well as the August 24 trembler that killed almost 300 people, Premier Matteo Renzi said on visiting the quake zone Thursday. Renzi said on visiting this Marche town that was partially destroyed by a 5.9 tremor Wednesday night that "the quake is putting us to a stiff test but Italy is there, it doesn't leave its citizens on their own, we are strong and we'll make it". Renzi said that "we urge parliament, in the full respect for (our respective) roles, to act as quickly as possible to approve the decree on the earthquake because (it) provides the resources and tools to get to work immediately". He added that "a structural intervention is needed for the zones hit by the earthquake - we must explain this to Italy, to Europe, to everyone". Renzi added: "Just as we are doing in Amatrice (the village most affected by the August 24 quake, Ed.), we mustn't let the focus on these places fade and the attention of politics fall". He also said government has allocated 40 million euros to areas stricken by last night's earthquakes, which left between two and three thousand people homeless. "Of course, that won't be enough," he said during a visit to the areas where thousands were left homeless overnight. "They are in addition to the 50 million we already earmarked... We will try to activate the same virtuous mechanism we enacted for (the villages of) Accumoli and Arquata (after the August 24 quake)". Tents are not an option this time around as winter is already setting in so alternatives must be found, such as hotels or wooden temporary homes, he added. Renzi brought President Sergio Mattarella's "embrace" to the quake-hit population. He told residents of this town, which was severely damaged, that "Italy won't stop, the entire country is at your side". He said he had spoken to Mattarella and "he embraces you". The premier added it is "fundamental" Camerino's historic university, among the oldest in the world, must "reopen as soon as possible". "Even if we are bowed, we can't give up," he said, adding the university would reopen according to "procedures we have already established". Reconstruction must be swift and efficient, he went on. "We must rebuild quickly and conscientiously," Renzi said at a meeting with Civil Protection Department heads. "I am optimistic that we'll be able to do so". The first 5.4 magnitude quake struck yesterday evening at 19:10 Italian time and was followed by an even bigger one, of magnitude 5.9, at 21:18. These were followed by at least 200 aftershocks, according to the National Institute of Geophysics (INGV). The quake was felt across the central Marche region, including around the cities of Ascoli, Ancona, Fabriano and Pesaro. It was also felt in the cities of Arezzo, Assisi, L'Aquila, Pescara, Perugia, Rieti and Rome, spanning the Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria regions. Up to 3,000 people have been made homeless, two were injured and one died of a heart attack. Also on Thursday, Italy's energy authority suspended payment of electricity, gas and water bills in the stricken areas, and a European Commission spokesperson said Italy can apply to the EU Solidarity Fund for last night's seismic events as well as the deadly quake that struck its mountainous central regions last August 24, claiming 298 lives and, leaving thousands homeless, razing entire villages and causing an estimated five billion euros in damage. (ANSA) - Reggio Calabria, October 27 - Some 385 kilograms of pure cocaine has been seized by Italy's financial police off the country's southern coastline after being carried onboard a ship that had left from Brazil. Nine crew members of the container vessel that had been heading for the Gioia Tauro port in the Calabria region have been detained. Investigations have made it possible to ascertain that the transport had occurred in agreement with the crew members that unloaded the cocaine. The drugs were kept in 17 large, waterproof bags tied together with buoys in an area of the sea some 16 miles from the port, with the aim of going back to get them later and avoiding port inspections. The cocaine seized would have brought in an estimated 77 million euros. (ANSA) - Rome, October 27 - Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni replied to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto's claim that Italy is breaking EU rules by saying "Hungary with walls and referendums has always claimed to be breaking European rules on migration. Now, at least, it should avoid giving lessons to Italy". Szijjarto said earlier it was Italy and not Hungary that was breaking EU rules, commenting on Premier Matteo Renzi's threat to veto the EU budget unless countries like Hungary do their bit in sharing the burden of the migrant influx. "Renzi has completely misunderstood the situation," Szijjarto told the MTI news agency. "Central European member countries are due European resources...It's Italy that's not fulfilling its obligations...if it respected norms and regulations better the pressure of immigration on the EU would be much less". Szijjarto said "Renzi is attacking the countries of central Europe who are respecting common rules while Italy is not meeting its obligations deriving from belonging to the Schengen zone". Renzi has repeatedly called on EU members including Hungary to do more to help it cope with a record influx of migrants and refugees. If the EU does not play its part, he has said, Italy could veto the EU budget for next year. - CAIRO - At least 97 migrants are missing after a boat carrying 126 migrants sunk off the coast of Libya, Libyan Navy Spokesman Ayoub Kassem told ANSA on Thursday. Kassem said 29 migrants were rescued after the boat sank on Wednesday off the coast of Tajoura, about 14 km east of Tripoli. He said the Libyan Navy reached the boat in an attempt to rescue the migrants, but specified that it doesn't possess boats capable of undertaking large at-sea rescue missions. BRUSSELS - The EU will begin training the Libyan Coast Guard as part of Operation Sophia, its anti-migrant smuggling operation in the Mediterranean, said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Thursday on the second day of the NATO Ministers of Defence meetings. Mogherini called it "a very important step" and said that the EU welcomes NATO cooperation, which will be discussed in meetings on Thursday. She said NATO participation could involve "intelligence sharing and logistical support". - TUNIS - The Tunisian Defence Ministry recently received a group of reconnaissance aircraft and drones from the United States in a partnership with the American government for more efficient control over the country's border with Libya in the fight against ISIS, said Tunisian state news agency TAP. "This material will be used by the Tunisian air force for border surveillance in the country's south, and to intercept any suspect movements," Tunisian Defence Minister Farhat Horchani told TAP. Horchani said the goal of the aircraft and drones is to provide air support to Tunisian ground and naval forces, specifically in border control and the fight against terrorism. "The fight against terrorism requires the mobilisation of all the human and logistical resources necessary in order to give the military protection and effectiveness during their missions," Horchani said. "The mobilisation of human and logistical resources must be accompanied as well by training programs that conform every time to the specific nature of the missions entrusted to the military and to the threats that weigh on the country". In that context, Horchani said that American and German experts are currently at work installing an electronic surveillance system for Tunisia's southeastern borders, and that progress has already been made in these efforts. On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the US Air Force has been using a Tunisian military base since June 2016 to launch Reaper drones as part of its offensive against ISIS in Libya. The Washington Post reported that the US presence at the Tunisian base is part of the US's security strategy for the North African region, where there has been an increase in terrorist groups. However, the Tunisian Defence Ministry has denied reports of US military bases in the country in anticipation of future attacks against terrorist sites in Libya, according to a statement by Defence Ministry Spokesman Col. Belhassen Oueslati reported by state news agency TAP. The US military base presence was reported by several media sources. Col. Oueslati said the Tunisian Defence Ministry announced its cooperation with the US military last March in a training and education programme by American experts to Tunisian military forces regarding the use of sophisticated reconnaissance and control technology. He said this programme is part of Tunisian efforts in the fight against terrorism and intercepting suspect movements in border areas. ROME - The parish priest of Aleppo, Ibrahim Al-Sabagh, called Thursday during a visit to Italy for a ''political solution'' to the conflict in Syria. ''The solution for Syria cannot come from inside of Syria, nor from the two enemy fronts on the field. It is instead in the hands of the world's most powerful. This is why we rely - despite the diffidence - on the maturity of the international community, which has gone through two world wars and must now halt before the risk of entering into another one,'' Father Al-Sabagh said. He added that two thirds of his congregation had become IDPs or had sought refuge abroad since the start of the war. To the question of whether he expected further escalation of the violence in Aleppo, the priest said that what Pope Francis had called WWIII in pieces was already a reality: ''this is really what we are living. It is already underway, and we are seeing this everyday in the ground troops, in the truck bombs that go in front of us, with the missiles targeting us all the time.'' He added that ''the choice is now in the hands of the powerful. Do we want to continue infinitely, extending this war to other countries, or do we want to withdraw the weapons and begin dialogue to seek a true solution outside of the interests of individual countries? Today all of humanity stands before this crossroads: total war or communion of peace?''. ANSAmed - Today' s events in the Mediterranean (ANSAmed) - ROMA, 27 OCT - These are the main events scheduled for today in the Euro-mediterranean area. PAESTUM - The 19th edition of the Mediterranean Bourse of Archaeological Tourism (until 30/10). MOSCOW - Syrian Foreign Minister meeting in the Kremlin. (also 28/10). ROME - Aleppo parish priest meets with journalists to present his book 'Un attimo prima dell'alba' (A Moment Before Sunrise) on the war in the Syrian city. ROME - La Sapienza University. International workshop on 'Linguistic Landscape of Migration'. (ANSAmed) CASABLANCA - Opening of Medinit Expo, an Italian design fair (until 29/10). FLORENCE - Opening of the exhibition 'E le Acque si Calmarono' ('And the Waters Were Calmed'), on Jewish heritage hit by the Arno. ROME - Seminar by the NATO PA Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group (GSM) (also 28/10). ROME - Presentation of the 2016 Immigration Statistics Dossier. BRUSSELS - NATO Defense ministers meeting. (ANSAmed). Green acceleration programme clicks with Moroccos businesses A project targeting young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas aimed at creating solutions to todays environmental challenges has attracted the attention of start ups and entrepreneurs with 22 companies having embraced it so far. The acceleration program, dubbed EMPACT, was launched by Enactus Morocco, in partnership with the OCP Entrepreneurship Network. Hydrobarley and Amendy Foods are just two of the 22 socially conscious businesses launched by the program to encourage self-employment among students and boost job creation. Both of these businesses provide practical solutions to address environmental challenges in the agricultural sector. Amendy Food, founded by three college graduates, focuses on the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products with a high nutritional value. This socially responsible business focuses specifically on the quinoa plant, seeing it as an opportunity to address nutritional challenges and poverty in Morocco, as well as a viable economic opportunity to generate considerable revenue. At Amendy, we are committed to working with small farmers in Chichawa area, where we are based, to help them live better through a sustainable agriculture that respects the people, animals and the environment, while allowing them to make considerable gains in terms of productivity and income, Le Matin, Amendys co-founder, Manal Mhada said. Hydrobarley, another environmentally and socially responsible business that sprang from the EMPACT program, has selected to focus on the production of animal feed. The company encourages farmers to diversify their agricultural activity through the production of so-called green feeds. Hydrobarley makes use of hydroponics, which economizes 1500 times more water and 4,000 times the land for fodder crops and makes the fresh forage it produces accessible to farmers around the village of Moulay Driss Aghbal, 60 km from Rabat. Hydrobarleys CEO, Hanane Rifaii said: This project has succeeded in changing the lives of farmers in this village by allowing them to develop new activities in their fields and have a new source of income to improve their living standards. www.enactus.org ROME - Relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia are very solid but there is room for improvement, Saudi Ambassador to Italy Khalid A. Krimly told an ANSA forum on Thursday. "Relations in the economic, political and intelligence fields are very solid, but there is still room for improvement," the ambassador said at the forum titled 'Italy and Saudi Arabia: Beyond the Crisis, Shared Challenges and New Opportunities'. His remarks touched on several issues including the Syrian civil war, relations with Iran, oil prices, and the launch of 'Saudi Vision 2030', a plan to diversify the economy and wean it away from its oil dependency. "Italy is one of the top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia, before Great Britain and after China, the US, Germany, Japan, France and the UAE," Krimly said. "Economic cooperation is increasing and there are many companies in our country that are working on important projects. And many Saudis visit Italy. I think, however, that our cooperation can expand into other sectors, including cultural and educational exchanges". He went on to say that both Italy and Saudi Arabia are involved in an international group working to combat the funding of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) extremist group. "Italians are ever more aware of the links between the Mediterranean and the Arab world, and your country represents a bridge between the Arab world, Africa and the rest of Europe," he said. On the issue of a possible overture to dialogue with Iran, he said that "we hope for this, but Tehran must stop financing terrorists as well as supplying them with weapons and training, and interfering in our affairs". "We're not questioning the importance of a role for Iran, but it must be a positive one in support of peace and security - not only for the region, but for the country itself," the ambassador explained. "A stable and safe Iran is in our interests and in theirs. We kept dialogue open with Iran for decades. We had a great deal of hope in (former Iranian leaders) Rafsanjani, Khatami and Ahmadinejad. With Rouhani, the issue is very much open. We must first see changes in behavior". On the next meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on November 30 in Vienna and on the related agreement on oil production levels as an attempt to avoid a further drop in global oil prices, the ambassador said that "the markets will be the ones to decide, but we're of course moving in the right direction, especially after the latest meetings between Russia and OPEC members". He stressed that oil price stability is in the interests of producers as well as the world economy at large. "In future we will need more oil than we currently consume, and the maximum possible investments must be made at current prices," he said. Asked about the ongoing bloodshed in Syria, he said the only solution is a political one. "We support every effort to achieve an end to the conflict, including (those made by) the United Nations," the ambassador said. "We need a Syria for all Syrians. What is happening in the country is terrible and it is unimaginable that the international community is not doing anything to stop the atrocities. We're talking about hundreds of thousands of deaths, of torture, rape, and millions of displaced people - which is causing problems for neighboring countries and the EU". ROME - Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Rome Rayed Khalid A. Krimly hailed relations with Italy at an ANSA Forum on Thursday. "Relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia are very solid - in the economic, political and intelligence fields," Krimly told the forum entitled 'Italy and Saudi Arabia, Beyond the Crisis, the Common Challenges and New Opportunities'. "But there are big margins for improvement". The ambassador explained that "Italy is among the top 10 exporter countries to Saudi Arabia". "Economic cooperation is on the increase and there are many companies present in our country working on important projects," he added. "In the same way, many Saudis visit Italy. We also benefit from Italian help regarding archaeology. "Nevertheless, I think that our cooperation can expand in many other sectors, including cultural and educational exchanges. "We are part of the international group to combat financing of ISIS with Italy and the USA. "The Italians are more aware of the links to the Mediterranean and to the Arab world and your country is an important bridge between the Arab world, Africa and the rest of Europe". Syria: Iran to relaunch 'Axis of Resistance' in Moscow 28/10 Russia rejects UN chemical arms report, publishes deal with US (ANSAmed) - TEHRAN, OCTOBER 27 - The tripartite meeting between the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Syria that will be held on Friday in Moscow will take stock of the ''Axis of Resistance against anti-Syrian terrorism'' and relaunch the three countries' strategy to defeat it once and for all, state-run news agency IRNA quoted Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying. Qasemi added that the three had ''made remarkable achievements in tackling terrorists'' and underscored ''the failure of Arabic-Western scenario's for overthrowing the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad''. The main results of the axis, the spokesman for the Islamic Republic of Iran said, are the ''weakening of terrorists, Daesh in particular, and the al-Nusra Front within the past year and limiting the activity centers of the terrorist groups''. One of the aims of the Moscow meeting, he noted, was to look into the most appropriate political approaches to foster convergence on counterterrorism strategies. Moscow has meanwhile said that the latest report by the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on chemical attacks by government forces in did not contain ''anything new'' and that all evidence provided in it was false. In response, Russia on Thursday sent a document to the UN Security Council and the Geneva-based body that it said was ''factual'' on the agreement with the US on Syria, and which it said would show that Washington had not complied with the agreements made. Ten more high-ranking members of the Syrian regime have also been added to the list of people and bodies subject to EU sanctions, the UN Security Council announced after a meeting of COREPER permanent representatives, which implemented what had been indicated in the conclusions by the foreign affairs council on October 17 on Syria and those of the European summit, which had decided to exclude the threat of fresh sanctions against Russia. (ANSAmed) . If youre considering a subscription to the Disney Plus streaming service, you may be wondering how much it costs. The service is available on both The company released its biennial World Air Cargo Forecast at TIACA (The International Air Cargo Association) Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition in Paris today. "The air cargo market has faced several years of below trend growth," said Randy Tinseth, vice president, Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "As trade continues to recover, we're confident the air cargo market will see growth over the long-term." Boeing projects the e-commerce market will be one of the primary factors driving that growth, reaching $3.6 trillion by 2020. Additionally, China's express market keeps expanding, with a five-year growth rate of 55 percent in volume and 39 percent in revenue. The forecast shows markets linked to Asia will lead all other international markets in average air cargo growth. Dedicated freighters still carry more than half of air cargo traffic and remain the leading cargo capacity provider. Boeing forecasts that the world air cargo fleet will expand by 70 percent by 2035, adding a total of 2,370 freighters to the market. The forecast sees demand for 550 large production freighters, 380 production medium widebody freighters, 400 widebody conversion freighters and 1,040 medium conversion freighters. Boeing products make up more than 90 percent of the world's dedicated freighter capacity. Boeing offers integrated solution for freighter operators, whether they carry express cargo or industrial goods. "Air cargo is critical to global trade, and Boeing offers the most comprehensive product lineup in the industry," said Tinseth. "Our airplanes provide capacity and reliability advantages that will help our customers adapt and succeed in the evolving air cargo marketplace." The Swiss-based aviation data and news service reported that the cargo specialist sent several representatives to Iran last week as part of a forty-strong business delegation led by Luxembourg's Economy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider to explore possible investment opportunities. "We are in discussions with them to explore if there are business opportunities," Cargolux told ch in a statement in an emailed statement. "At this stage nothing has been signed." Local press reports have also indicated Cargolux will likely resume its Iranian operations which were withdrawn in 2007 - with charter flights which could lead to scheduled services. The specialised programme will begin in January 2017 and applications will now be accepted on EAUs website. The Executive MBA curriculum was designed for students who plan to pursue a career in aviation management or want to transition from an operational role into a general management role. Professionals enrolled in the programme will benefit from the dynamic structure as the course is set to be delivered in both Dubai and the UK. As a growing aviation hub and home to one of the worlds fastest growing airlines, Dubai will be the ideal place for Aviation Management MBA students to learn about the industry. While in Dubai to study the first three modules, students will have the opportunity to visit and see first-hand the breadth of operations in aviation-relevant organisations such as Emirates, Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport and Dnata. In the UK, students will also have the opportunity for organised visits to a range of organisations within the aviation sector. All enrolled students will need to attend modules at both locations to complete the course. Consisting of six modules and set over the course of 12 months, the Executive MBA programme was specifically developed to fit the lifestyle of busy professionals. Teaching will be delivered in an intensive four-day block, followed by individual study and submission of coursework. Emirates Aviation University remains committed to offering new and industry-relevant programmes. Over the years, EAU has grown from a small college to a full-fledged university offering more than 44 programmes in various fields of study. The growth of EAU underscores the demand for quality higher education in the UAE and the rapid development of the aviation industry in the MENA region. EAU continues to expand and strives to cement its position as the centre of aviation education excellence both nationally and internationally. Some of the programmes offered by EAU include postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in aviation management, logistics and supply chain management, aeronautical engineering, aerospace technology, pilot training and a wide range of aviation and aviation related programmes. Dr Ahmad Al Ali, Vice Chancellor , Emirates Aviation University From early 2017, the two airlines will expand their services between the United Arab Emirates and India by adding 28 weekly flights [1] and three further Indian cities. These will enhance connections between India and the rest of the world though Etihad Airways convenient Abu Dhabi hub, and complement Jet Airways non-stop services to other cities. Etihad Airways currently operates 175 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 11 Indian cities. Together, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways offer 252 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities across India. With the newly-announced flights, the airlines cooperative services will cover 18 Indian cities with 280 flights each week. Etihad Airways will launch a fourth daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Kozhikode on 26 March 2017, capitalising on the strong traffic flows between the state of Kerala and the UAE, and beyond. The additional capacity will allow the partnership to better serve the important southern India market. Etihad Airways will also double its frequency between Abu Dhabi and Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat, from 1 February 2017 with the launch of a new daily service. Jet Airways announced a number of changes to its operations between India and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. These include the launch of daily flights between Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), in the state of Tamil Nadu, and Abu Dhabi on 1 February 2017, offering travellers another option from southern India. Jet Airways will also introduce daily services from Kannur, the fourth Kerala gateway to Abu Dhabi. It also plans daily services from the northern Indian city of Chandigarh to Abu Dhabi, which will benefit travellers to and from the state of Punjab. The two routes are due to begin in the second half of 2017, subject to the completion of operational readiness at these airports. From 15 January 2017, Jet Airways will introduce a second daily service between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. With Etihad Airways already operating three flights a day between the two capital cities, the enhanced operation will give guests a wider choice of departure times. James Hogan, Etihad Aviation Group president and chief executive officer, said: Todays announcement reflects how we have been working together to enhance our services to give the travelling public more and better choices by using each other's networks. Our partnership with Jet Airways has gone from strength to strength. Sharing resources and reaching decisions together are key to our success. Jet Airways is Etihad Airways leading equity partner in terms of revenue and passenger contribution, and this expansion is indicative of the years of friendship, strong bilateral relationship, and economic, trade and cultural ties enjoyed between India and the UAE. An MoU was signed between the two companies, with Honeywell set to provide commercial airlines and business aviation operators throughout the world with SwiftBroadband-Safety, an advanced new service from Inmarsat that will transform cockpit and aircraft operations through the use of secure broadband connectivity. SwiftBroadband-Safety utilises secure IP-based broadband connectivity that far exceeds the capabilities of other alternatives in the market and represents a paradigm shift in the advancement of aviation safety services. The always on and always secure solution enables a range of breakthrough aviation applications, including flight data streaming (Black Box in the Cloud) and real-time Electronic Flight Bag applications, such as networked graphical weather. It also enables air traffic management modernisation programmes throughout the world and fulfils the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)s Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS), including global flight tracking, by offering reliable and secure satellite surveillance and communications (FANS/ACARS). SwiftBroadband-Safety hardware is available for initial retrofit installation on existing aircraft today and will become a standard option on new aircraft deliveries from 2018. The service builds on Inmarsats reputation as a provider of high-quality voice and data service to 95% of the worlds trans-oceanic aircraft fleet. Inmarsats MoU with Honeywell marks the latest expansion of a successful partnership between both companies. Honeywell currently works with Value Added Resellers to provide the business aviation market with Inmarsats Classic Aero safety services and will now be able to provide migration options for existing customers to SwiftBroadband-Safety. It also provides the business aviation market with access to Inmarsats current in-flight broadband service for private jet passengers, SwiftBroadband, and its next generation offering, JetConneX. In addition, Honeywells JetWave system is the exclusive hardware that connects to Inmarsats new GX for Aviation Ka-band broadband solution for passengers. Frederik van Essen, Inmarsat Aviations Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, said: Honeywell is a formidable powerhouse in both the commercial and business aviation markets, and an innovator in in-flight safety equipment that is embracing the exciting new possibilities that cockpit IP services offer. We are delighted to build on our successful partnership and look forward to welcoming them as a distribution partner for SwiftBroadband-Safety, an advanced new service that enables commercial airlines and business aviation operators to fly with greater efficiency, reliability and capacity at a lower cost. The worlds aircraft fleet is expected to double by 2035, and substantial advancements in technology are introducing exciting new possibilities when it comes to safety and navigation. SwiftBroadband-Safety will deliver significant benefits for both the commercial airline and business aviation markets. The higher levels of efficiency, reliability and increased capacity provided by SwiftBroadband-Safety will also optimise cost control for airlines, while business aviation users utilise its applications to increase passenger comfort and maximise efficiency. John Peterson, director of marketing and product management at Honeywell Aerospace, said: Honeywell has a long history of working with Inmarsat to provide connectivity solutions from the cockpit to the cabin for air transport and business aviation. SwiftBroadband-Safety is a great addition to Honeywells GoDirect services portfolio as we anticipate strong demand in safety services from commercial airline and business aviation markets across the world. Inmarsat has also signed a pre-agreement to appoint Satcom Direct as distribution partner for SwiftBroadband-Safety. A pre-agreement between the two companies has outlined the intention for Satcom Direct to supply aviation operators worldwide with SwiftBroadband-Safety, an advanced new service from Inmarsat that will transform cockpit and aircraft operations. SwiftBroadband-Safety represents a paradigm shift in the advancement of aviation safety services by utilising secure IP-based broadband connectivity that far exceeds the capabilities of other alternatives in the market. The always on and always secure solution enables a range of breakthrough aviation applications, including flight data streaming (Black Box in the Cloud) and real-time Electronic Flight Bag applications, such as networked graphical weather. It also enables air traffic management modernisation programmes throughout the world and fulfils the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)s Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS), including global flight tracking, by offering reliable and secure satellite surveillance and communications (FANS/ACARS). Frederik van Essen, Inmarsat Aviations senior vice president of strategy and business development, said: SwiftBroadband-Safety combines the advantages of broadband connectivity with the proven, extremely reliable L-band spectrum to set a new standard in aviation safety. It offers greater efficiency, reliability and capacity to the cockpit at a lower cost per bit than our trusted Classic Aero service, reflecting Inmarsats commitment to delivering the best safety services to commercial airlines and business aviation operators. SwiftBroadband-Safety has received a lot of industry support, underscored by its recent selection by Airbus for its A320 and A330 aircraft families, and successful ongoing evaluations by Hawaiian Airlines. Other airlines are also excited and have been asking us how to enable these advanced capabilities. The global aviation industry benefits from embracing new standards and, along with our partner network, we will deliver. We look forward to welcoming Satcom Direct as a distribution partner. They are an agile, innovative player that will now apply their impressive sales experience in the business and general aviation markets to selling SwiftBroadband-Safety to commercial airlines and business aviation operators. Chris Moore, chief commercial officer at Satcom Direct, said: Inmarsats SwiftBroadband-Safety delivers unparalleled safety communication services to commercial airlines and the business aviation community worldwide. The next generation platforms flexibility opens up a vast amount of possibilities in terms of how customers can optimise their cockpit and aircraft operations. As a result, we can provide our customers with the most cutting-edge technology in the business, while continuing to provide unrivalled customer care and significant value-add. The lifting of nuclear-related sanctions against Iran may be a watershed moment for the countrys civil aviation sector, but not all domestic operators are seeing immediate benefits. Meraj Airlines, along with Mahan Air and Caspian Airlines, continues to be shackled by terrorism-related sanctions a handicap that stems from its alleged support for Iranian military activity in Syria. The company was founded in 2010 and partly functions as a scheduled passenger airline, deploying three Airbus A320s and two A300-600s from Tehran, Mashhad and Kish. But it also operates VIP flights on behalf of the Iranian Government with a mixed fleet of A320-family jets, A340s, Boeing 737-200s, 707-300s and Falcon 50s. It is this facilitating role for the government that has aroused the concern of the US Treasury, which accuses Meraj of ferrying illicit cargo, including weapons to the Syrian regime. While that designation stops the airline from dealing with western suppliers, management have no intention of resting on their laurels amid a wider opening up of the sector. Iraj Ronaghi, commercial vice-president, said that Meraj is in the market for up to 21 aircraft over the next five years evenly split between wide-bodies, A320s and regional aircraft with a view to adding 1,000 seats per year. The regional aircraft will be deployed at two new bases primarily catering for tourism traffic. We want to establish two new hubs in north-west and south-east Iran to specialise in 45-minute flights covering major cities and neighbouring countries, Ronaghi said. The northern hub will offer connectivity with Turkey, the Caucasus and Iraq, while the southern hub will cater for markets in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and some Persian Gulf islands. Meraj currently operates scheduled flights to about 10 domestic points plus four international cities: Istanbul in Turkey, Najaf in Iraq, Kuwait City, and Varna in Bulgaria (seasonal). Growth of the long-haul fleet will also facilitate a push into Asia, including a long-awaited service to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Notwithstanding his ambitious plans, Ronaghi admitted that sanctions against the company are limiting its procurement options. French-Italian manufacturer ATR went out of its way to deny speculation about an order from Meraj in February, stressing its compliance with US laws and regulations. We have to do it like we did in the past, the commercial chief shrugged, when asked how the airline can bypass obstacles to re-fleeting. Decades of sanctions have made Iranian carriers experts at procuring aircraft on the black market. Although relying on brokers could place Meraj at a disadvantage to its domestic rivals, Ronaghi is not overly concerned about losing market share. He stressed that national plans to acquire 500 aircraft represent a long-term vision that will take upwards of a decade to fulfil. I think [the target] is quite big. It depends on the size and the programme of introduction, the commercial chief explained. How can a company which owns maybe 50 aircraft all of a sudden operate 500 aircraft? Thats impossible. The best thing to do is to have a programme of replacement and gradually add to the fleet. And I'm sure our authorities will do that. Yet, even as he voiced doubts about the timeline for renewal, Ronaghi described 500 aircraft as not a very high goal for the national fleet. He pointed to a raft of advantages that make Tehran more attractive than other hubs in the region, including its geographical location, temperate climate, highly skilled workforce and comparatively low labour costs. In other Persian Gulf countries, you can see that most of the pilots and engineers are expatriates, so they are receiving high salaries, he noted. Here we have locals, so there will be big savings. When Iranian airlines were formed they were number one in the region. Im sure that in a short period this will be restored. At Saudia, NDC implementation is seen as a major transformation project focusing on revenue drivers, major cost reducing programmes and implementing ONE Order initiatives, beyond opportunities in distribution, said Rashed Al-Ajmi, Saudia Vice President Sales. NDC standards enable Saudia to offer guests the opportunity to have a consistent shopping experience, including access to rich content, ability to buy ancillary products and services and to be recognised and receive personalised offers, wherever they shop for Saudia products, especially from travel Agents and online travel agency channels. TPConnects will roll out Saudias NDC-based distribution platform and deliver live NDC transactions by the beginning of 2017. Saudia's vision is to facilitate a single reference number for a passenger holding all data elements in a travel cycle including flights, ancillaries and non-air products like hotels, cars, activities etc., which will simplify the travel experience of customers, said Praveen Kumar, Chief Technology Officer, TPConnects. IATA claims its NDC is a key transformation project to modernise airline distribution and its Program Director, Yanik Hoyles said more Middle Eastern carriers are likely to follow Saudias lead. The introduction of NDC could help travel agents to improve the offering to the customer, to upsell additional services including branded fares or fare families which are of value to both the traveler and the corporation and create business process improvements, he said. The plan was drafted following widespread stakeholder collaboration and an in-depth business environment analysis which focused on the global economy, the global aviation industry outlook, the UAE aviation industry, the hosting of Expo 2020 and technological developments within the industry. The plan lays out seven strategic objectives and 41 supporting initiatives. The strategic objectives are: Development and enforcement of safety and security regulations to international standards and best practices. Continuous improvements of safety and service standards in air navigation services provision. Elevate UAE aviation in the global arena. Continuous improvements in bi-lateral relations. Develop and implement contemporary resource management strategies to address business environment challenges. Ensure GCAA services are provided to quality, efficiency and transparency standards. Instill innovation culture within the corporate working environment. Introducing the strategy, His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, the GCAAs Director General said the 20172021 cycle will see a continuation of compliance enhancement through the creation of awareness, risk based audits, improvement of services through stakeholder engagement, global connectivity through continuous consultations, negotiations and infrastructure enhancements. We have committed ourselves to incorporate the Federal Governments initiatives related to 7 Star Services and Reading. We will continue to maintain our focus on organizational sustainability and performance underpinned by a strong focus on people, services and processes enabled through development and empowered with innovation, he said. The plan emphasizes that GCAAs top priority is to ensure safety within the aviation sector and especially the travelling public and says it is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Task Force on Risks and Civil Aviation Arising From Conflict Zones established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The plan also underlines GCAAs commitment to supporting improvements in operational efficiencies through airspace redesign, by creating awareness through promotional plans and by leading the state action plan implementation in the UAE. Further investment in the Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Centre is also on the cards with the plan citing further augmented ATM capabilities by modernising communication and navigational aids, as well as enhancing skills of our air traffic controllers to strengthen their knowledge and capabilities to better enable them to handle increasingly complex operations. The plan clearly outlines GCAAs intent to share safety data and says important initiatives are being put in place to share safety data with pertinent stakeholders. This, says the plan, puts the responsibility of the integrity and reliability of data management systems squarely on GCAA shoulders. We are putting initiatives in place to encourage interaction between various users of the data and that appropriate tools, processes and expertise are available to carry out actionable and meaningful data analysis activities, says the plan. Laila Hareb, (pictured right) GCAAs Assistant Director General Strategy & International Affairs, said the plan demonstrated the organisations commitment to meet the Federal Governments expectations of transforming the aviation sector as a major contributor to the countrys economic development. This, she said, would be achieved by improving the quality of regulation, including the ease of accessing GCAA regulatory services, as well as programmes to enhance services that improve service delivery, efficiency and effectiveness. Common to all three themes is the objective of strengthening the capabilities of the GCAA i.e. people, systems and processes to deliver greater effectiveness and efficiency. The GCAA seeks to enhance the capabilities of the aviation sector to contribute further towards the UAEs transition to a knowledge-based economy by promoting innovation, R&D, strengthening the regulatory framework and encouraging investment. The 201721 plan articulates our leaderships commitment towards the UAE National Agenda. We will manage our regulatory obligations in such a way that supports the growth of the aviation industry while ensuring the UAEs global standing for safe and secure civil aviation sector, she said. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire around 20 times in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact, the Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh told ARMENPRESS. The ministrys statement reads: Overnight October 26-27 Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire regime around 20 times in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. Azerbaijani forces fired more than 200 shots from various caliber small arms at Armenian positions. In addition to firing small arms, Azerbaijani forces also engaged automatic grenade launchers AGS 17 (12 grenades) and RPG-7 shoulder launched anti-tank grenade launchers (2 grenades). The Defense Army forces took countermeasures to suppress the attack and confidently continued carrying out their military duties. (from left to right): Yasser Al Yousuf, managing director, Etihad Guest; Darren Peisley, chief executive officer, Hala Group; Kamran Siddiqi, group executive Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa region, Visa; and Ihab Ayoub, visa general manager Middle East and North Africa region. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Donald Trump told CNN Wednesday he is prepared to open up his wallet and donate considerably more to his campaign in the closing days of the race, CNN reports. He claimed that by Election Day, he will have spent $100 million. Federal Election Commission records through September, however, show Trump has given far less to his campaign so far. The GOP nominee nevertheless paraded the fact that he remained competitive in the race despite being heavily outspent on advertising. "I will have over $100 million in the campaign, and I'm prepared to go much more than that," he told CNN's Dana Bash outside of his new hotel in Washington, D.C., declining to offer an exact figure. "In the old days, you'd get credit: If you would spend less money and have victory, that would be a good thing. Today, they want you to spend money." Trump also said he was confident of victory next month despite poll numbers showing him lagging behind Hillary Clinton. "We are going to have, I think, a tremendous victory," he said. "If I didn't think that, I wouldn't say it." Trump has given less than $60 million since the beginning of the race, records show, and his contributions have slowed considerably since he won the GOP nomination. He would have to have given more than $40 million over the final five weeks of the campaign to meet that number. Trump's personal giving will become clearer Thursday, when his contributions from October 1 to October 19 will be revealed. Donations after that date will not become public until December. Trump has long been under pressure from allies and top fundraisers to give more to Trump Victory. CNN is told that earlier this month, Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus asked him to put more of his own money into his campaign to better compete for advertising. A source familiar with the conversation said Trump did not do as Priebus asked. Many Republicans who believe that Trump has a good shot at beating Clinton have expressed dismay that they have been at a disadvantage in advertising, especially as polls appear to be tightening. Trump raised money for the RNC as part of a joint fundraising agreement, but the party has said even before Trump became the nominee that it would not run ads. The Trump ads would now cost much more than if they had been purchased in advance, even though he would receive the lowest possible rate under the laws. Trump also denied that his event Wednesday celebrating the hotel was an attempt to secure free advertising for the building, saluting the construction project as a model for building the country. He defended the break from the typically busy rally schedule to attend the event, at which his four children attended. "For you to ask me that question is actually very insulting because Hillary Clinton does one stop, and then she goes home and sleeps," he said. "I want to back my children." YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Lawmakers and staff of the Parliament of Armenia paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the October 27, 1999 crime. Lawmakers and representatives of the staff laid flowers at the Memorial in the Parliaments yard, eternalizing the memory of the October 27 victims. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters that October 27 was the biggest crime in the history of independent Armenia, it was terrorism which claimed the lives of eminent figures of the state, Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan and Parliament Speaker Karen Demirchyan. It was a double pain for us, because we lost the leader of our party, Sparapet Vazgen. The criminals, the ones who carried out that crime are arrested, in other terms I cant say anything, because I dont have complete information. The fact is, the criminal Hunanyan along with his accomplices is imprisoned, Sharmazanov said. Speaking on the consequences of the October 27 crime, Sharmazanov said the consequences were very serious for the state. If they were with us, we would have been a few steps ahead. I oppose when people say there are no irreplaceable people, that individuals dont have a role. Thats a Soviet-style mentality. Vazgen Sargsyan, and Karen Demirchyan are irreplaceable. Our work today must be maximally moving towards the Armenia which they dreamt about, he said. With regret he mentioned that almost a similar event took place in Yerevan 17 years after that terrorism, when an Armenian decided to raise hand against another Armenian. According to him, the main lesson from October 27 must have been the fact that issues are not solved with weapons, in that way. ANC faction MP Stepan Demirchyan said October 27 is the most painful page of the history of independent Armenia, the consequences of which arent overcome yet. I am convinced we would live in another Armenia if that horrifying crime wouldnt have happened, he said. Speaker of Parliament Galust Sahakyan who on October 27, 1999, was in the session hall of the Parliament said at first everyone thought that someone is making a joke, but few minutes later everything was clear. This was a very serious crime for our state and nation, Sahakyan said. Lawmakers paid tribute to the memory of the October 27 victims with a moment of silence before the Parliamentary session. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. YSU lecturer, doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor Elda Green has passed away, the Yerevan State University told ARMENPRESS. Elda Green was born in 1928 in Tbilisi. In 1943, she graduated Yerevans #8 school and then the Foreign Languages Faculty of the Russian Pedagogical Institute. In 1955 she started working in the Yerevan State University. In 1971 she received the Associate Professor degree, and in 2003 Professor Degree. Elda Green was mainly involved in Psychological Linguistics, social psychology and legal psychology. She has written more than 100 articles, numerous monographs, textbooks and educational books. In 1947, Green was awarded the Working bravery during the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War medal. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The decision of declaring the Patriarchal seat of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul as vacant and launching the process of electing a new Patriarch was a historic decision, Ara Gochunyan editor in chief of Istanbuls Agos told ARMENPRESS. We were informed by our source from the Patriarchate, that the decision was made with the consent of Archbishop Aram Ateshyan and Chairman of the Church assembly Bishop Sahak Mashalyan. The two high ranking clergymen decided to push the cart forward. Their cooperation and harmonious approaches were basis for the decision, Gochunyan said. He reminded that the Patriarchal seat of Istanbuls Armenian Patriarchate is practically vacant for 8 years. According to Church rules, 7 years of absence of the Patriarch is enough to dissolve the covenant. Based on the facts a decision was made to hold Patriarchal elections. The new, 85th Patriarch must be elected. The approval of the Interior Ministry of Turkey is needed for the elections to take place, Gochunyan said. Gochunyan says the list of possible candidates will be known gradually, however circulating names include Ateshyan and Mashalyan, Garegin Archbishop Bekchyan, leader of Germanys diocese. Khajak Archbishop Parsamyan and Vigen Archbishop Aykazyan are also among possible candidates. The Art of Clara Peeters, which travels from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, is a display of 15 still-lifes by one of the few women to work as a professional painter in 17th-century Europe. The Flemish artist is among just 41 women to be represented in the Spanish museums permanent collection (compared with more than 5,000 men). YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. A regular Cabinet meeting was held on October 27, chaired by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Armenian Government, before discussing the agenda, referring to the National Assembly Standing Committees 2017 State budget bill debate as scheduled for October 31, the Prime Minister stated in part, It is important that the performance reports be in a budgeting format and more consistent with the provisions of the program presented by the government. In particular, it is necessary to clearly describe to lawmakers and society those approaches and principles under which your budgets have been formulated. Funding should be presented based on the quantitative and qualitative indicators and programs carried out in order to have an idea of the purpose and necessity. I am hereby asking everyone to get prepared and show maximum attention. Then, the Prime Minister gave a number of instructions. I give 15 days to the ministers of Nature Protection, Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Public Services Regulatory Commission, to submit proposals to the National Water Council on the current situation in the field of water use permits and operating licenses granted to small hydropower plants. Specifically, 1. On revision of the small hydropower plants development scheme as approved at the Cabinet meeting of January 22, 2009 under Protocol Decision 3. 2. On the expediency of issuing new water use permits for construction of new hydropower plants in the basins of the rivers Akhurian, Dzoraget-Debed, Azat, Arpa, Vorotan. 3. We need to understand the tariff policy in the field of new pricing mechanisms for small hydropower plants in order to mitigate the environmental problems. I think we all understand the meaning of my assignment. In any case, we may have environmental problems on those rivers, where we have planned more hydropower plants than it probably should have been. I think there are solutions, namely applying restrictions on water use permit. The Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources is expected to address the matter in a way that no problems could arise associated with energy security. We have river basins with excessive small hydro power plants density, and there is a problem. The Prime Minister next referred to his instruction on the reduced number of government agencies. The Minister of Agriculture was told to submit a draft resolution within a weeks time on the dissolution of the State Inspectorate of Agricultural Machinery. In order to attract investments in the mining industry by removing the existing barriers, Karen Karapetyan instructed the Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources to explore the international experience within a months period and submit recommendations on the possibility of granting a land use right along with the mining permit. What is the point? After getting mining-related permits, businesses face numerous problems associated with the use of the land, the Premier stressed, adding that it is necessary to regulate this field. State support will be provided in accordance with the government resolution to the families of 37 Armenian nationals who were killed or injured in the Moscow-Yerevan passenger bus accident that occurred 6km off the Russian town of Beslan in North Ossetia on October 14, 2016. The decision provides that AMD10 million will be allocated from the governments reserve fund. The families of killed passengers will get AMD1.5 million each. 700 thousand drams will be allocated to those still undergoing medical treatment in the hospitals of Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, while the ones having received medical care shall be entitled to AMD200 thousand each. All the other passengers will receive 100 thousand drams. The decision also provides for the return to the Republic of Armenia of those passengers under treatment in RF hospitals by covering the transportation costs. Pursuant to the directive of the Prime Minister to launch a reform process, the government passed relevant decisions according to some public services will be delegated to non-governmental organizations. These non-public entities - Haypost, Ardshinbank, Ameriabank and Converse Bank will henceforth fulfill the functions of public service providing offices. The decision entrusts the government-authorized operators - the real estate cadastre, the state register of legal entities with the task of processing movable property-related State fee for services provided rights, registration authority and imposition of other charges provided for by law, as well as the necessary documents for services rendered acceptance, transportation and delivery of documents in the application where the list is not complete, to present a proposal to supplement, if necessary, providing advice to the applicant, the applicant shall ensure that the transfer function of the act adopted as a result of administration. The reform aims to facilitate access to public services for those citizens domiciled in remote, rural areas who will not be forced to get to Yerevan or a regional center for these issues and resolve their problems. Under another decision, money will be allocated to reimburse the tuition of Syrian Armenian students. According to the reference note, 400 out of some 500 Syrian Armenian students need settling their tuition fees in the Republic of Armenia. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Two Yazidi women who escaped sexual enslavement by so-called Islamic State (IS) in Iraq have won Europe's top human rights award, the Sakharov prize, BBC reports. Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar were among thousands of Yazidi girls and women abducted by IS militants and forced into sexual slavery in 2014. But both survived and now campaign for the Yazidi community. The freedom of thought prize is awarded annually in memory of Andrei Sakharov. Guy Verhofstadt, who leads the liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament, described the winners as "inspirational women who have shown incredible bravery and humanity in the face of despicable brutality." "I am proud that they have been awarded the 2016 Sakharov Prize," he added. Other finalists included the Crimean Tatars and a former Turkish newspaper editor. Last year's winner was Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence which includes 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam" online. The EUs highest human rights honour went to two young women who escaped repeated violence and abuse at the hands of jihadists. Both are "inspirational women because of their courage and humanity in the face of "despicable brutality. Today they are campaigning for the rights of their community. Strasbourg (AsiaNews) The European Parliament awarded the 2016 Sakharov Prize to two Yazidi women who escaped sexual enslavement imposed on them by the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq. The European Unions highest human rights reward went to Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar (pictured), who were among the thousands of Yazidi youth and women victims of IS sexual violence and enslavement in the summer of 2014. Yazidis, a non-Muslim ethno-religious minority in Iraq, are among those who suffered the most from the crimes committed by extremist IS Sunni militias, akin to genocide according to some. Both Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar managed to survive and are now campaigning internationally for the rights of their community. MEP* Guy Verhofstadt described the winners as "inspirational women who have shown incredible bravery and humanity in the face of despicable brutality". "I am proud that they have been awarded the 2016 Sakharov Prize," he added. Murad was abducted from her home in the village of Kocho, near Sinjar, and taken to Mosul, where she was tortured and raped. She later managed to flee, but lost six brothers and her mother in the Sinjar assault. Bashar, also from Kocho, attempted to flee her captors several times during her 20 months in captivity before she finally succeeded. She was just 16 when she was abducted. The Sakharov Prize comes with a 50,000 (US$ 55,000) monetary award, and is considered the EUs most important human rights prize, the European equivalent of the Nobel Prize for Peace. Named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, the prize has been given to people like Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, and, in 2013, Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai. Last year the prize went to Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence which includes 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam" online and a US$ 210,000 fine. When the prize was awarded, European Parliament speaker Martin Schulz launched an unsuccessful appeal for Badawis release. * Member of the European Parliament. Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Trade and military agreements, and renewed understanding for the Asia-Pacific stability were the issues at the center of the 70 minute closed door meeting between the Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe . The two met yesterday, on the second day of the Filipino head of states visit to mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations. The trip comes just days from Dutertes address in Beijing, in which he formalized his "separation" from the United States. According to many analysts Japan, a close US ally, has to play the part of the mediator to avoid a final rupture between Manila and the United States. In the joint statement published after a meeting between the two leaders, Japan granted the Philippines a loan of 21 billion yen (210 million dollars) for projects involving maritime security and other fields. Tokyo also promised to provide 5 billion yen to finance agricultural development and the promotion of peace in the island of Mindanao, from which Duterte comes. Speaking to the press, the Philippine president and Abe reaffirmed cooperation in the South China Sea (where the two countries have shared interests in containing the expansionist policy of Beijing) and the importance of their "friendship and alliance" with the United States . The latter aspect, however, was not included in the written agreement. In a mediation effort, Shinzo Abe praised the rapprochement between Manila and Beijing, saying that "the issue of the South China Sea is linked directly with the peace and stability of the entire region and affects the international community. For this reason, Japan welcomes the efforts of the President Duterte in visiting China in an effort to improve relations with Beijing. " However, Duterte seems to oscillate continuously between the traditional alliance with the US and a new friendship with China. During the first day of visit to Japan, Duterte said that, unlike Tokyo, Manila wants to rid their territory of US military forces (about 35 thousand soldiers): ""I want, maybe in the next two years, my country freed of the presence of foreign military troops. I want them out and if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, executive agreements, I will". Today Duterte should meet Emperor Akihito, who is still mourning the loss of his uncle, Prince Mikasa, who died today at 100 years of age. by Mathias Hariyadi Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Bernadette Saragih FSE is a Franciscan nun who for years has dedicated herself to saving young women from human trafficking. Her journey began in 1991, when she was sent to Batam Island, the most direct access to Singapore (just 30 minutes by boat). There, she met a lot of girls from the province of West Kalimantan who work as 'domestic maids' in Singapore. Sr. Bernadette tells AsiaNews: "In Batam, many young mothers and girls are involved in illegal soliciting without the ability to react. Most of them are offered a job as a 'maid' but then are manipulated and forced by the local underworld to work in local nightclubs and prostitution racket. They would like to end it, but do not know how to because doing so would mean no more money to send to their families. " Batam today is a safe haven for the exploiters of prostitution, which is an illegal activity in Singapore. This is where Sr. Bernadette, along with local NGO began to assist these desperate girls. "Often they come to the convent -s he says - the I take care of them and help them to go back home. I once helped a young girl who had just finished high school, I sent her to Medan and now she has graduated. " In February, the nun contacted AsiaNews - she was going to someone to Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara - asking for help to bring a young woman, a former maid' in Malaysia, home to her native village. Unfortunately, because of tight schedules, it was not possible. Four years ago, the sisters superior formally assigned Sr. Bernadette the task of dealing with issues of human trafficking. "I'm doing my mission together with the 'Association of Indonesian religious, the Socio-economic Commission of the Archdiocese of Medan and the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). In Medan, many of the victims are from the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. These girls are 'blocked' due to a lack of education. Sometimes, because of the abuses and violence, they decide to escape and taxi drivers or local police bring them to us. Seeing them in desperate situations touches me deeply inside, there are cases of tuberculosis, malnutrition, broken legs because of the violence. Sometimes we do not have time to save them and they die in our arms ... This is our vocation in today's world - concludes the nun to help those who are desperate in any way we can". Fighters targeted village of Haas, also hitting a school complex. 22 students among the dead. Syrian air or Russian force authors of the attack, but no official confirmation. In two years, the US-led coalition has caused at least 300 civilian casualties. Moscow hosts tripartite meeting between Iran, Syria and Russia on the conflict. Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) There are at least 26 victims, mostly children, from an air strike on a village controlled by rebel militias in the north-west of Syria after air force jets hit a school in Haas village in Idlib province. So far there is no official confirmation of who is responsible for the attack, believed to have been carried out by government or Russian ally fighters operating in Syria. A Syrian military source speaking to official state media reports that several "terrorists" died in the raid. However, senior UNICEF officials - the UN organization dedicated to childhood - say that "at least 22 children" were killed. Idlib is one of the last rebel militias strongholds and the province is the subject on numerous government air raids, supported by Russia. US fighter jets also operate in the area, which have carried out a series of attacks against jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda active in the region. The attack on the village in Idlib province comes amid the Russian-Syrian joint announcement of an extension of the moratorium on air strikes in the east of Aleppo. The area is controlled by rebel militias and Jihadi groups and has long been considered the epicenter of the conflict. Meanwhile, Amnesty International returned has charged the international US-led coalition, of carrying out at least 11 air strikes on Syrian territory in the past two years, killing around 300 civilians. Of these, at least a hundred died between June and July this year in three attacks in Aleppo province. The body's top directors launched an appeal to the US-led coalition, to carry out a thorough investigation into the violence against civilians. According to Amnesty's estimates, the number of civilian victims killed by the raid unleashed by the US and allies could have caused up to a thousand deaths. To date the US-led coalition has admitted causing civilian casualties through error. Moreover, as different Syrian Church personalities have denounced, it is the civilian population - in areas controlled by the rebels or by government who are the chief victims of this conflict. The war flared up in March 2011 as a protest against President Assad, and in five years, has caused 300 thousand deaths (430 thousand according to other sources) and millions of refugees. Meanwhile regional and international powers are making an effort to find a diplomatic solution to the war. According to reports from the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif a tripartite meeting between Russia, Syria and Iran to discuss the war is scheduled tomorrow in Moscow. The head of Tehran's diplomacy has also scheduled a face-to-face with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia will provide a 3.3 billion AMD intergovernmental loan to Nagorno Karabakh. Finance Minister Vardan Aramyan presented the decision during the Cabinet meeting. The decision is associated with the necessity of increasing the budgetary loan amount from Armenias state budget to NKR. Therefore, the allocations under the Intergovernmental loan to NKR project are increased by 3 billion 303 million drams, he said. Fr John Raju Nerella comes from Andhra Pradesh. He has worked in Brazil for 16 years, in the Amazon, on plantations, and lately in the slums of Sao Paulo. He is the "fruit of the PIME mission in India" and followed his fathers example, who was "a kind of missionary". The decision to go on a mission goes against the flow." Faith is the driving force. Rome (AsiaNews) Fr John Raju Nerella is an Indian priest with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) who has been in Brazil for the past 16 years serving first forest communities before moving to plantations (fazendas), and eventually landing in the slums (favelas) of Sao Paulo. Speaking to AsiaNews about his missionary vocation, he said that at first "I did not know that I would be sent abroad. I wanted to be like PIME missionaries who had come to India to do good. I also wanted to follow the example of my father, when I was a child, used to take me with him to the villages to lead prayers." Recalling his time evangelising among families of the Amazon, he said, "I had gone there for them, to bring Christ to these people. But little by little, even though they did not realise it, the natives were making me more human." Fr Nerella, 47, is originally from Annadevarapeta, a small village in the diocese of Eluru (Andhra Pradesh). He says he is "the fruit of the PIME mission in India" since he was among the first local missionaries to be admitted into the congregation through the initiative of Fr Benito Picascia, former regional superior in India. As a child he "breathed" the work of the mission because his father, who was married in a ceremony led by PIME priests, did "some theological training, a kind of diaconate (without ordination) to be ad tempus catechist and took me with him when he went to the villages to lead prayers. He did it for 45 years: he can be called a missionary." The missionaries "created everything in Eluru: schools, the church, help for the population," the clergyman said. At the age of 14-15 years he went to see Fr Picascia, and told him that he had a "spiritual desire". From that moment his phase of discernment began, lasting 20-21 years. During this time, he studied mathematics, physics and chemistry, which for him "are crucial, along with the philosophy, for religion. Because rationality and spirituality form the perfect combination for human beings." In August 2000, he was ordained priest and his superiors immediately told him that he would go to Cambodia. But he asked to be sent to another continent. "I am Asian, he explains, I have lived in Europe for my education, and I was hoping to go to Africa or Latin America. I wanted to bring Asia to a faraway country." A few months later, in January 2001, he got his wish, the Amazon forest of Brazil, a country with profound ethnic, social and development differences, especially between cities and country. Here, he spent the next 16 years. "My first mission, he notes, was in the north, Macapa, where PIME established the local diocese. Here, the Church was involved in the first evangelisation among the people living on the banks of the Amazon River and its tributaries. I worked in all pastoral outreach domains: catechesis, biblical training, baptisms, communions, weddings. The work was exciting; I was full of energy and desire to do things." Gradually, he admits, a certain empathy developed between us and I realised that I was changing. I had gone there for them, but it was the natives who were shaping me as a man and a priest. They made me more human." What triggered the involvement with the locals, he says, "was my way of doing things. I did not have the pretension of going there to teach, placing myself on a pedestal. I started at their same level; I lived with them; I ate with them." Later, starting in 2005, Fr Nerella worked in the State of Mato Grosso, on local plantations (fazendas). "Here the mission was harder because the area where I operated was far and wide. Catechesis was difficult because people are spread over larger areas, so when we went to the fazendas to teach the catechesis, we did it for everyone, young and old, together." In 2008 he was transferred to the State of Parana, where evangelisation changed again. "This is n urban environment, with an educated population. Here, missionary work had to keep up with society, becoming more 'intellectual', using the most advanced means of communication." For the next three years, the PIME missionary worked in prisons and trained a group lay people to visit detainees and their families, "Because families should not to be abandoned. If they improve their lives even the inmates are more serene." Finally, in 2011 his last move in Brazil is to the favelas or slums of Sao Paulo, home to millions of people. In the megacity, the mission was centred mainly on youth and families. What prompted him to go on mission abroad "was the example of PIME Fathers, who came to India to do something good for others, for me." However, in addition to the example of the Italian priests, going on a mission means to bear witness to ones faith in Christ. If you dont have faith, you dont move. If Christ doesnt push you, you dont get to make such a decision. It is a choice against the flow, almost an anti-gravitational force compared to the forces of life, society, that tell you to desist." A briefing outlines Franciss visit on 31 October and 1 November to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. The Joint Declaration on Justification notes no agreement on three points, relative to the ministry, the Church and the Eucharist. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Catholics and Lutherans are "on the right path" to reach an agreement on the outstanding issues related to Church, the ministry and the Eucharist, said Card Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, at a briefing today to present the visit the pope is set to make to Sweden for the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation of Martin Luther (1517), which falls next year. "Mentioning the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's Reformation would have been impossible just a few years ago," said Rev Martin Junge, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation. Responding to a question, Card Koch said that the newness of the trip "consists in the very fact that we have a joint commemoration. In the past we had denominational centennials with a somewhat triumphalist and polemical tone by both parties. Today we want to do this together, not only for the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, but also for 50 years of dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics." The theme of the pope's visit is From conflict to communion: together in hope. For Junge, "we understand because of our dialogues, because of the trust that has grown among us, because also we have been able to remove some of the obstacles of doctrinal differences among us, that the time is mature, is ripe, to move from conflict to communion." The trip entails the popes departure from Rome on the morning of 31 October for Malmo, followed by an official reception at the city's international airport at around 11 am. In the afternoon, two ecumenical events will follow a visit with the Swedish royal family at Kungshuset palace in Lund. The first will be an ecumenical prayer at Lunds Lutheran cathedral; the second will be a meeting with the 30 Lutheran delegations present at Malmo Arena. The city of Lund was chosen because it is the headquarters of the Lutheran World Federation and the papal trip will not only commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation but also 50 years of dialogue between the Federation and the Holy See. The next day, 1 November, the pope will celebrate Mass at Malmos Swedbank Stadion, and leave for Rome at 12.30 pm. During the briefing, Vatican Press Office director Greg Burke said the pope is not expected to make any announcements about intercommunion, noting that Francis has already taken significant steps during his visit to Romes Lutheran church in November 2015. On that occasion, responding to a question on intercommunion, the pontiff said, "I would never dare give permission to do this because I do not have the authority. One Baptism, one Lord, one faith. Speak with the Lord and go forward. I do not dare say more." Both Rev Junge and Cardinal Koch recognised that the Joint Declaration on Justification notes that there is no agreement on three points, relative to the ministry, the Church and the Eucharist. However, "On these issues, there is, at the regional level, an ongoing dialogue that is going well. We are on right path to resolve these three points, and we can get to the path of a new declaration on these issues." A proposal to create an "Atlantic sanctuary" for whales was not approved. Hunting will continue for Japan, Norway and Iceland. For the Japanese commissioner, whaling is sustainable. Preservation is important, but so are traditions. Portoroz (AsiaNews/France-Presse) The International Whaling Commission (IWC) met in Portoroz (Slovenia) recently with the participation of all the member states with a stake in the whaling industry. On Monday (24 October), it discussed a renewed bid by some states to create an Atlantic sanctuary for the endangered marine mammals hunted to near extinction. The proposal needed a 75 per cent majority, but mustered only 38 yes votes out of 64 cast. Its main adversaries were Japan, Norway and Iceland. The goal was to create a whale sanctuary of 20 million square kilometres in the South Atlantic Ocean. Backers say that more than two thirds of an estimated three million whales killed around the world between 1900 and 1999 were taken in southern hemisphere waters. As one of the main whaling nations, Japan profits from the hunt, whose estimated value is US$ 33 million. This explains why, together with Norway and Iceland, it backs no restrictions on whaling. In 1986, the IWC imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling, only authorising it in the case of small communities in Greenland and Iceland, or for scientific research. Norway, which carries out commercial hunts under a formal objection it had lodged to the moratorium, took 736 minke whales in 2014. Despite a drop in whale meat consumption, the latter is processed into feed. At the meeting, Japanese commissioner Joji Morishita told the IWC that whaling was fully sustainable. He noted that over the past 30 years, many Japanese coastal communities have been unjustly deprived of their main source of livelihood. The latter question was the most debated. There is this perception that we are asking (for the) total lifting of the moratorium, that is not the case, Mr Morishita told delegates. We are just asking for a small quota based on science, and of particular species in particular water. Thats it. The takings would be exclusively for local consumption in four coastal communities. I think that we all have to remember that those four communities in Japan that have been asking for quota [. . .] have a 5,000-year history of whaling, Russias representative said. Our task is not only to conserve biodiversity but also to conserve culture and traditions. Man Freaks Out When He Sees That Girl He's Never Met's Tinder Profile Picture Was Taken In His Bathroom Trending News: A Guy Realized This Girl's Tinder Pic Was Taken In HIS Bathroom Why Is This Important? Because you never know when, or how, Cupid will stick you with his pointy little arrow. Long Story Short Mark Kowalczyk, a 19 year old student in West Virginia, was flipping through Tinder photos and got a serious case of the heebie-jeebies when he stumbled upon a picture of a girl posing in his bathroom. Mostly because he had no idea who she was. Long Story Tinder is certainly delivering what it advertises. Its goal is to empower users around the world to create new connections that otherwise might never have been possible. There are plenty of stories on Reddit about people connecting through Tinder with car thieves, stalkers and cousins. Police also issue plenty of warnings, and point out that because Tinder is a geolocation app, users should be aware they are giving away their locations. Mark Kowalczyks location probably wasnt a huge issue. But the 19-year old West Virginia student freaked out when he found a picture of a girl on Tinder posing in his bathroom. A girl he'd never met, mind you. i've never see this girl before and yet, her tinder profile picture is in my bathroom pic.twitter.com/QmlVpSKSYM Mark (@m_d_k_34) October 17, 2016 He told BuzzFeed, I was like, Oh my god, thats my bathroom! Thatll raise the hairs on the back of your neck. After wracking his brain for an explanation, Marks best guess was that since he had hosted a couple of parties, the photo must have been from one of those nights. The girl, 19-year old Jenna Zagrodniczek, confirmed Mark was bang-on with his hunch. Safety tips include suggestions that you delay giving personal information until youre comfortable with your Tinder prospect. Meet in public, and tell friends and family about your plans. Mark might want to add another safety tip: get to know the people who come to your parties. Mark and Jenna apparently had mutual friends. She says, When I went into the bathroom, I felt the need to take a mirror picture and posted it later. When Jenna found out about the screenshot, she tweeted a photo of herself dancing on Marks porch. There are plans for the two of them to meet around Halloween and theres even talk of them snapping a selfie together in his bathroom. Hey, stranger things have happened. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Was it fate? Disrupt Your Feed Drop that dubious Tinder app and do it face-to-face. Drop This Fact One-third of US marriages begin with online dating and, according to one study, those couples might be slightly happier. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan attended the opening of the JUNWEX Yerevan show 2016 international jewelry expo in the Meridian expo center on October 27. The exhibition center is located in the free economic jewelry zone, where businessmen are granted tax and customs privileges. The President toured the exhibition, which is organized by the Armenian Jewelers Association (AJA), where famous jewelry companies from around the world are taking part, including individual jewelers and experts. President Sargsyan got acquainted with jewelry products of Armenian and foreign production, jewelry equipment, and was briefed on the activities and upcoming programs. The President also visited the opening of Yerevan trade center. The establishment of the center was initiated by SIL Group. Representatives of the SIL company briefed the President on the works, investments, created vacancies, and further plans for development. 250 employees were permanently involved in the construction of the center during January-October of 2016, their average salary was 200.000 AMD. 550 jobs will be created with the opening of the first part of the center. Investments at this stage amounted to 2 billion 500 million AMD. With the second stage of the construction, a 43.000 sq.m. trade center will be opened in Yerevan, with 850 retail points and 1000 jobs. Liberians Position to Join the Global Fashion System With the accession of the Republic of Liberia's membership to the World Trade Organization there has been considerable dialogue amongst Liberian nationals in the United States about the economic future of their West African nation. This past July, during the Liberian Independence Day celebrations in Washington, DC the Liberian Ambassador to the United States reminded his constituents that Liberian nationals abroad, particularly in the United States could do more by taking advantage of the unique trade relations among the United States and West African nations. With the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), there are still advantages for individual entrepreneurial opportunities that would stimulate more trade with West African nations. "Liberians need to take advantage of the AGOA act. How can Liberians turn AGOA into an opportunity?" expressed Hon. Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, (Liberian Ambassador to the US). During that same Independence Day celebration, there was a fashion presentation that displayed garments manufactured in Liberia, 'The Pride of Liberia Collection' by Tekay Designs. Each garment expressed brilliant color with elegant form. The dresses were manufactured using Liberian country-cloth. A soft, hand woven cotton textile that has natural dyes applied to produce a finished print fabric or garment. There were colorful tie-dye patterns applied to several of cocktail dresses and other semi-formal attire. As the cut of the dresses have an influence from western gowns. The fashion designer introduced herself as the Liberian Fashion Ambassador, appointed by Liberia's National Tailor's Union. Ambassador Kimma Wreh was expressing the idea of Liberians not only being fashionable, but also they should invest whole-heartedly into Liberia's apparel and textile manufacturing capabilities. Ms. Wreh is the daughter of the late Counselor Tuan Wreh. He was a former Liberian Senator of Grand Kru County. He was also a Dean of the Law School at the University of Liberia. Her father authored numerous labor law books, maritime law books and is most remembered by his book titled, The Love of Liberty. As Liberia's Fashion Ambassador, Wreh's mission is to tour key cities to present 'The Pride of Liberia Collection' to bring awareness about Liberia's manufacturing capabilities in order to better position Liberia within the global fashion system. The collection has been presented in Houston Texas, Washington DC and Addis Ababa Ethiopia before the African Union. There is a scheduled appearance in Paris, France for early this November and New York Fashion Week in 2017. "So, I am planning my first return trip to visit Monrovia this November, after twenty-seven years." Explains Wreh. "I plan to visit some of Liberia's apparel manufacturing facilities for producing ready-to-wear apparel. Through my non-profit organization, KDE Disability Africa Foundation, I will implement a training workshop to help Liberia's workers with disabilities enter the sewing and textile trade. Having a professional discipline is a key asset for Liberia's workforce to achieving the country's development goals. The people of Liberia are resilient, and every Liberian citizen matters in the future of Liberia's workforce." Wreh explains her vision further, "The honorable Ellen Johnson Sirleaf announced that while the market for some of Liberia's key natural resources, such as rubber and iron are now declining, the government would focus on stimulating agricultural growth and trade. Cotton... a natural resource, is agriculture. Liberia has the capability to produce cotton textiles for industrial applications, home fashions, garments and fashion accessories. There are numerous applications for the use of cotton goods. This is why I've created a contemporary fashion line with cotton garments and accessories made in Liberia." Wreh address her personal insights, "In the United States there is uncertainty about where manufactured goods will be produced. Political candidate, Donald Trump makes a point about pulling all US manufacturing out of China because he believes the United States current trade deals among China lacks integrity. I instinctively believe now is the time for West African nations, specifically Liberia, to step up trade initiatives with the United States. As the United States moves away from being a manufacturing nation, we Liberian nationals who live in the western markets should design products and create opportunities for manufacturing in Liberia. This is the most proactive way African nationals can help Africa raise economically. Now that Liberia has joined the WTO and the AGOA is renewed, I am excited! I foresee promising opportunities back home in Monrovia." Wreh's optimism about Liberia's role in apparel manufacturing is quite inspiring for a country that has been plagued with dooms day projections about its people. However, the reality about forging into the competitive apparel trade requires long-term economic stamina; and Wreh is seeking support. Ambassador Wreh has formed a strategic partnership between Liberia's National Tailors, Textiles, Garments and Allied Workers Union and, Excel Magazine International to help promote African fashions. Together the partners are looking to build a marketing and manufacturing cooperative with other fashion brands that wish to manufacture in Liberia, and leverage Ecxel Magazine's promotional distribution capabilities within the African diaspora. Excel Magazine projects positive images of Africa and excellence in people, places and events. Upon Ambassador Wreh's travel to Liberia this November, she is scheduled to visit the LNTTGAWU in Monrovia, as well as discuss plans with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; and Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism for creating a foreseeable International Fashion Week event in Monrovia. Wreh's thinking is to not only pronounce Liberia's manufacturing assets amongst Liberians, but to invite neighboring countries to Monrovia to stimulate local trade as a start. Wreh's formidable plans do include an outreach for western markets to visit the city; and this concept is certainly within the cross hairs of Monrovia's struggling hotel and resort industry. www.tk-designs.com YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. 17 years ago on October 27 the Speaker of the National Assembly, National Hero Karen Demirchyan, the Prime Minister, National Hero Vazgen Sargsyan, the Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly Yuri Bakhshyan, Ruben Miroyan, Artsakh War Hero, MP Armenak Armenakyan, MPs Mikayel Kotanyan, Henrik Abrahamyan and Minister Leonard Petrosyan fell victims of the crime in the Session Hall of the Armenian National Assembly. What they have done for the establishment of Armenian statehood, their great contribution and devotion to it are unforgettable and instructive. They are remembered until now. On October 27, 2016 the Speaker of the parliament Galust Sahakyan, the Deputy Speakers Eduard Sharmazanov and Hermine Naghdalyan, MPs, the close relatives of the assassinated state figures, the representatives of the Parliament Staff, the journalists accredited in the parliament laid flowers at the monument eternalizing the memory of the crime victims and paid their tribute to their memory in silence and bowing, "Armenpress" was informed from the press service of the parliament. The parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan characterized what happened as a tragedy for Armenia and its people. An employment lawyer has condemned the governments plan to alter the planned parental leave scheme which could mean many new mothers would be up to $12,096 worse off.Bianca Mazzarella of the law firm McDonald Murholme has told The New Daily that the plan to curb what is being called double dipping is unAustralian and will punish up to 50,000 pregnant women.Proposed legislation aims to stop mothers from claiming from both the governments and their workplace parental leave programs as early as January next year which would affect women who are currently pregnant.Currently, the program provides eligible working mums 18 weekly payments of $672, even if they also claim from their employers paid parental leave program. The new law aims to stop this double-dipping, only topping up employer payments if they fall below the $672 minimum.Many mothers-to-be have already planned their maternity leave, Mazzarella told The New Daily. Retracting the scheme will leave many families struggling to make ends meet.As many working mothers rely on the scheme, if this new legislation is passed it will affect the health and safety of expectant mothers as many will feel forced to work as close to their due date as possible, she added.Labor is opposing the proposed law, saying between 40,000 and 50,000 women who are already pregnant will be hurt by the measure.This is a direct attack on paid parental leave, a direct attack on those mothers who are trying to combine their work and family responsibilities, and will leave thousands and thousands of new mothers in this country worse off, said Labors family spokeswoman Jenny Macklin on Sunday.What this will mean is a very, very difficult choice for working mothers. Either they will have to cut short their paid parental leave to go back to work because they have to pay their bills and that will of course mean they have to spend less time with their babies. Or they decide to stay at home and of course that means they will be thousands of dollars worse off, she said.Senator Nick Xenophon has said that preventing mums from claiming from the Federal Government and their employers paid parental leave schemes is manifestly unfair.Social Services Minister Christian Porter has defended the proposal saying it would make the scheme fairer.This measure ensures that the taxpayer-funded PPL scheme acts as a fair safety net for those families who do not have access to substantial public-sector or corporate schemes, he said.Currently a parent earning $140,000 annually can receive a combined government and employer PPL amount of more than $44,000 this is more than another parent working a minimum wage will earn in an entire year and that is not fair. By Dr Andrew Smith Your map of the night sky this month. The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit. By Natasha Hurley-Walker, Radio Astronomer, Curtin University To the naked eye, the universe we can see on a clear night is dotted with thousands of stars, but what would it look like if human eyes could see radio waves? Deep in the Western Australian outback a radio telescope is demonstrating just that by painting a picture of the cosmos in all the colours of the radio. Its called the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), and over the past three years astronomers have used it to perform one of the largest sky surveys of all time, covering 90% of the southern sky. This is the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky MWA survey, or GLEAM for short. If you camped out for the night in Murchison Shire, and could open your eyes to radio light, this video of GLEAM shows what you might see. Unaided human vision and optical telescopes use only the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, a narrow window within a huge range. This optical view of the night sky shows the familiar stars of the Milky Way, and darkness where dust blocks our view of the galactic plane. But GLEAMs radio wavelengths show something completely different. With GLEAM we see that the Milky Way is glowing with synchrotron radiation, given off by high-energy electrons spiralling around magnetic fields spanning thousands of light years. Peering into the cosmos The colours that we see in GLEAM arent false. Red indicates the lowest radio frequencies (around the FM band of your car radio), blue indicates the highest radio frequencies (around the digital signals your TV receives), and green indicates the frequencies in between. This radio colour view allows astronomers to see different kinds of physical processes going on in our universe. For instance, in the galactic plane, regions of ionised plasma around the brightest stars are brighter at high frequencies and dimmer at low frequencies. These show up in blue, in contrast to the pervasive red synchrotron glow. Also visible in the Milky Way are features like soap bubbles, which mark sites of ancient supernova explosions. This is where massive stars ran out of hydrogen fuel, imploded, and then exploded outward, creating a shell of radiating plasma expanding into space. In the past, astronomers have found far fewer of these supernova remnants than are needed to account for the high-energy electrons that produce the synchrotron glow of the galaxy. Fortunately, GLEAM is perfectly suited to detecting these missing remnants, solving a cosmic puzzle. Natasha Hurley-Walker / Curtin University, International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research In the image above, the inset highlights show the shell-like remains of ancient supernovae (blue box), ionised regions around bright stars (orange box), and radio jets coming from the nearby galaxy Centaurus (purple box). All of these features are undetectable in visible light. Near the bottom right of the image is the Large Magellanic Cloud, our nearest neighbouring galaxy, which shines with synchrotron radio light, like the plane of our own Milky Way. But its not just our own galaxy that this survey shines new light on. Scattered across the sky are hundreds of thousands of smaller dots. These are not stars, but distant radio galaxies. They are super-massive black holes at the cores of galaxies millions to billions of light years away. The black holes accrete matter, destroying stars, and their strong magnetic fields turn the incoming matter into massive jets of plasma, launched into space at nearly the speed of light. It is this plasma that GLEAM detects, and again, the radio colour tells astronomers whether a jet is young and just starting (blue) or old and dying (red). A challenging viewpoint It wasnt easy getting to this point. The Murchison Widefield Array had to be built more than 300km from the nearest town, Geraldton, to ensure a radio-quiet environment. The array consists of thousands of radio antennas, similar to TV aerials and somewhat resembling an army of mechanical spiders. These observe low-frequency radio waves, from the lowest end of the FM (72MHz) up to the highest end of the digital TV band (300MHz). MWA Collaboration To build the survey, a team of 20 astronomers across Australia and New Zealand has painstakingly knitted together more than 45,000 images of the sky, inventing new algorithms at every turn in order to deal with the unique challenges of these data. For instance, while the wide field-of-view of the MWA makes an all-sky survey possible, the ionosphere distorts the signals of every observation, sometimes creating giant plasma tubes that render a night unusable. While the wide frequency coverage yields astronomers a scientific goldmine, it also makes source-finding and analysis more difficult. And of course, an all-sky survey isnt small - nearly half a petabyte of data and several million CPU-hours on cutting-edge supercomputers went into its making. The first data release was published this week in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. It comprises a catalogue of more than 300,000 radio galaxies and images spanning 25,000 square degrees, all of which is freely accessible to the world. There are yet more astronomical wonders lurking in the images such as collisions between galaxy clusters - some of the largest structures in the universe - to mysterious transient radio sources, and serendipitous discoveries that will take many eyes on the data to find. A great place to start looking is the GLEAM-o-scope, an easy-to-use interactive viewer that gives anyone in the world the power to see the sky with radio eyes. Natasha Hurley-Walker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above. Originally published in The Conversation. Issues like cultural diversity and safety are key factors being considered by international students when considering applying to study at a university in Australia, new research has found.Proximity to where they want to study is the top consideration, followed by multiculturalism and safety, especially in Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra, according to the fifth annual survey from student recruitment firm IDP Education. The survey of 2,800 IDP clients from 30 countries found that perceptions of Australia as a safe place to study has improved steadily in the last decade when some applicants had been deterred by high profile cases involving foreign students being attacked.There has also been an improved perception of the cost of studying in Australia which is often regarded as an expensive place to go to university. Last year's study suggested that students were unaware of the cost of living in Australia and it was a shock when they arrived in the country.It found that recent changes to visa processing seem to have had little impact on student flows and overall Australia, along with Canada and New Zealand, and unlike the United States and Britain, was perceived as a welcoming country.In a new area for the survey the respondents were asked for the first time if they knew anyone in the country where they applied to study. It found that two thirds of students knew somebody in Australia, and nine in 10 spoke to someone before they moved to the country.It is the vibrancy of Australian cities that attracts overseas students, in particular their international diversity and overall safety.'Australia is starting to see the collective effort of government, industry and community in changing the perceived value of studying abroad. At the same time, we've seen that assumptions about different regions in Australia have remained largely unchanged in the last few years, highlighting the challenge of shifting perceptions among international students,' said Lyndell Jacka, head of research for IDP Education.'Positively, Australia's multiculturalism should be seen as a continuing strength for the diverse and inclusive image it fosters, and for the strong family and friendship networks many students do in fact already have in the country,' she explained.'A collaborative effort will continue to help prepare students for life and employment in an increasingly connected and multicultural world, so that they are more likely to talk favourably about their experience in Australia,' she added. Hi all. My name is Johan from South Africa and my wife and I are considering the move. Hoping to find answers to questions I don't have yet. Cheers With an official unveiling just around the corner, this latest test mule looks as close to production-ready as weve seen so far. A woman from Portland , Oregon, discovered her 2001 Subaru Impreza wagon got stolen on the evening of October 25, 2016. She published a post on her Facebook page, which included security camera footage of someone getting into the vehicle and driving off with it.The apparent theft took place on Tuesday night, and she discovered it the next day and filed a police report. In an incredibly fortunate chain of events, a woman brought her Subaru back, and she was also stopped by police as she pulled over in front of Erin Hatzis driveway.She had left a written note in the passenger seat, along with $30 in cash for the fuel that was used while the car was not in the owners hands.After getting her car back, Erin Hatzi published another post on her Facebook wall, which included a photo and a transcript of the letter she found in her vehicle. The unintentional thief of the vehicle was a friend of the woman that had written the letter and returned the car.The letter explained that she also had a red Subaru, which was parked only a block away from the vehicle owned by Erin Hatzi. The unnamed person who also owned a red Impreza wagon had asked her friend to pick up her car and had given her the keys. Somehow, the person seen in the security camera footage mistakenly climbed into another Subaru and drove off with the vehicle.As Hatzi explained to KGW , she was surprised by the thief s mysterious behavior, which included idling the car in the owners driveway for about two or three minutes. No self-respecting thief would lose that much time when stealing a car, especially after the engine was already started.In her Facebook post, Erin Hatzi wrote that she inquired about the possibility of her car being opened by another Subaru key, and she says that police officers confirmed it was possible. If the key did not have a transponder and the car did not have an alarm on it, there is a possibility that a set of factory keys could open and even start two or more cars.We visited a locksmith website that featured a list of Subaru models and the types of keys they employ. The Japanese brand does not have a single model that was being made in 2001 and sold with a transponder key, at least when it comes to the U.S. market. Only cars made by Subaru after 2005 started offering that feature around the world. As you can see in the following video, the old Hilux was riding on 16-inch alloy wheels when it took evasive maneuver at 35 mph (56 km/h). The newcomer, however, is equipped with 18-inch wheels and performed the moose test at 37 mph (59 km/h). Notice any resemblance between the two tests?Oskar Kruger, the test driver at Teknikens Varld, explains that the Hilux feels like it gets way to much grip, I was totally focused on getting the car back in between the last cones and didn't notice it until we were very close to flipping over. By comparison, six other pickups tested during the same session fared better than the Hilux. Still, none of them made it past 43 mph (70 km/h).It should be noted that the Hiluxs bed was loaded with 1,830 pounds (830 kg) when the test was performed, significantly less than the maximum payload of 2,209 pounds (1,002 kg). A few days after the first moose test was conducted, the peeps over at Teknikens Varld tried their luck with another Hilux. The second time around, the test driver opted for 17-inch wheels shod in 265/65 rubber. Once again, the 2016 Toyota Hilux lifted the inside wheels.As expected, Toyota Sweden couldnt keep its eyes closed on this development. In a letter addressed to the Swedish motoring publication, the manufacturer told the following: We will take your evaluation very seriously, in the same serious way we do with the capacity for evasive maneuvers in the development of our vehicles. On an ending note, Toyota 's regional department also added that the current generation of the mid-sized workhorse aced the ISO 3888 standard for evasive maneuver tests. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Russian, Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers, Sergey Lavrov, Walid Muallem and Javad Zarif, will hold a three-party meeting in Moscow on Friday, Russian Foreign Ministrys official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters, TASS reports. "Tomorrow there will be a three-party meeting between Lavrov and his Syrian and Iranian counterparts," Zakharova said. "The ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East and the issues of fight against terrorism." The talks will focus on the Syrian crisis "taking into account the commitments of the three countries to uncompromising struggle against terrorists, ensuring ceasefire, ending the sufferings of civilians as soon as possible, solving humanitarian problems and launching political process on the well-known international-legal basis," she said. The diplomat said the ministers will also discuss the military and political situation in Iraq and the goal of efficient fight against the terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) group outlawed in Russia. On Friday, Lavrov is also due to hold a bilateral meeting with his Syrian counterpart, who is paying a working visit to Russia at Lavrovs invitation. The talks will "focus on the pace of developments in Aleppo and efforts of the Russian and Syrian military" who continue the fight against the Islamic State and Jabhat Al-Nusra terrorist groups. The top diplomats will also discuss providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian citizens, which includes foodstuffs, medical supplies and essentials. Lavrov is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Iranian counterpart to discuss the prospects of developing the Russian-Iranian relations in the context of implementing the agreements reached by the Russian and Iranian presidents in Baku, Azerbaijan, in August. "On October 28 Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will pay a working visit to Russia," the diplomat said. "That same day Russias foreign minister will hold talks with him." "The top diplomats will focus on the current state of and prospects for Russian-Iranian relations, in particular the implementation of the agreements reached by the two countries presidents on August 8 in Baku," Zakharova elaborated. Iran plays an important role in the events developing in the Middle Eastern region, she added noting that Russia considered this visit "rather timely and important, taking into account the current international situation, including the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan." The 2017 Ford Super Duty Trailer Reverse Guidance system features Magna International Inc.'s vision-based driver-assistance technologies, the company announced. Magna's Eyeris driver-assistance technology supports the Trailer Reverse Guidance system jointly developed by Magna and Ford. Image-processing software determines the angle between truck and trailer and provides the most appropriate view to the driver, depending on the trailer's trajectory. Three high-resolution cameras and a color-coded bird's-eye diagram of the truck help warn the driver of potential jackknife conditions. Additional technology shows the driver the required steering wheel movement for reversing in a straight line. The Magna camera technology helps make the Super Duty camera and display for Trailer Reverse Guidance exclusive in the pickup truck segment and best-in-class for any mass market vehicle. Magna has multiple patents on the trailer angle detection and guidance technology. Magna's back-up driver assistance systems are already used in the F-Series. When designing the all-new Super Duty, Ford Motor Company tapped Magna to build an even more sophisticated towing and trailering system to meet Super Duty customer needs. Because Ford Super Duty drivers tow frequently, Magna worked with the Ford team to develop advanced tools and high-definition cameras to create a 360-degree view for the driver. "Ford approached Magna to develop a solution for Super Duty customers, for whom trailering and towing is a priority," said Swamy Kotagiri, chief technology officer at Magna. "For two years, dozens of Magna engineers from the U.S., Germany and Canada worked together with Ford engineers to develop technology to enable Trailer Reverse Guidance, which makes trailering safer and more convenient. We are proud to support Ford with this innovation." Trailer Reverse Guidance is the latest driver-assist technology supplied by Magna, which supplies camera systems to more than 60% of major OEMs around the world. Airbus Helicopters said it will cut about 582 jobs at its facilities in France as the company continues to face lower demand along with the aftermath of a fatal crash of one of its H225 rotorcraft in Norway. The cuts, to be achieved through voluntary resignations, will amount to a small percentage of the aerospace giants helicopter division in France, which employs more than 9700 people there, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. The cuts are a result of falling demand from the oil and gas industry, which uses commercial-duty helicopters including the 11-ton H225, also called the Super Puma. The European Aviation Safety Agency grounded the model following the April 29 crash off the coast of Norway. That helicopter, carrying 13, was flying under contract for a Norwegian oil company when its rotor blades detached. EASA in recent weeks has allowed the Super Pumas to fly again, while authorities in Britain and Norway have not, prompting Airbus to challenge the U.K. ban, according to a Reuters report this week. Frankly we have to understand why they are not following EASA, an Airbus executive was quoted as saying to analysts. The remark raised questions over how industry regulations across Europe will be managed as Britain prepares to leave the European Union. We fully respect the right of the U.K. government to exercise their individual assessment of the H225 and were working with the authorities closely to also have the flight suspension there lifted as soon as possible, an Airbus Group spokesman told Reuters, which noted that the April crash remains under investigation. Armenian Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakian believes the October 27, 1999 shootings in the countrys National Assembly in which eight official, including the then prime minister and parliament speaker were killed, were organized from outside. Sahakian made the claim while speaking to RFE/RLs Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) during todays commemoration ceremony for the victims held in the National Assembly yard and attended by lawmakers and members of the slain officials families. This is the first time a high-ranking official in Armenia makes an assumption that the assassinations of Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian, Parliament Speaker Karen Demirchian and six other members of the government and parliament may have been orchestrated by forces outside Armenia. Seventeen years ago today a group of five armed men led by nationalist activist Nairi Hunanian stormed the Armenian parliament chamber while lawmakers were in session. They sprayed the hall with bullets, killing, among others, the then two influential political decision-makers whose bloc had won a majority in parliamentary elections five months before. The gunmen surrendered within hours after negotiations with the government led by then President Robert Kocharian. In subsequent trials Hunanian and other attackers, who insisted that they had been acting on their own, were convicted of murders and sentenced to life in prison. Still, relatives of the killed officials as well as many opposition politicians and members of the public continue to believe that the masterminds of the attack have never been found. All of those who perpetrated the attack are in jail. I figure that from somewhere somehow they managed to organize something, Sahakian said, without elaborating. To RFE/RLs clarifying question whether the attack was organized from outside, Sahakian said:Naturally, I dont think that anyone from among Armenians could do such a thing. After laying flowers at the memorial to the victims of the 1999 attack, Sahakian, who 17 years ago was one of the lawmakers in the chamber, recalled how the events unfolded. It is interesting that at first the entire chamber thought that it was some kind of joke. But a few minutes later happened what you all know, he said. The son of the assassinated parliament speaker, current opposition MP Stepan Demirchian, also did not rule out the involvement of outside forces, claiming that everything was done to cover up the case. But in any case the crimes were committed by the local villains, Demirchian said. We can say that there was no desire to disclose [all the circumstances of] the case. On the contrary, everything was done to cover it up. Leader of the opposition Armenian National Congress partys parliamentary faction Levon Zurabian also claimed a cover-up in the case that he said was not fully investigated under President Robert Kocharian and his successor Serzh Sarkisian. First of all, people from Armenia, from Armenias government who may have been accomplices in this crime, must be found. This is needed first of all to exclude future conspiracies and treasons against our state and, of course, it is the primary responsibility of any government to do so. But this was not done either under the second president or the third president, and this already shows that they dont want it to be disclosed, Zurabian claimed. 27 October 2016 10:11 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The Armenian militaries, taking advantage of unstable weather conditions, attempted to sabotage on the frontline last night and tried to approach the Azerbaijani positions in the southern direction of the front. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported on October 27 that the enemys actions were timely detected and the Azerbaijani side carried out pre-emptive strikes on the enemy positions. The Armenian side suffered losses and was forced to retreat. The Defense Ministry warns that the responsibility for the escalation of tension on the contact line of troops falls on the military and political leadership of Armenia. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Russia have launched a large-scale program on modernizing the T-71 main battle tanks, Izvestia.ru reports. The tanks will be modernized to the T-72B4 level, which was used by participants of the Tank Biathlon. It is noteworthy that earlier the Defense Ministry of Armenia had planned to sign an agreement on modernizing tanks with the Polish Bumar abedy company. According to Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan, the process has already begun. While Hovhannisyan says the number of tanks and dates of the process is yet to be clarified, a source from Izvestia said several dozens of tanks will be included in the works. 27 October 2016 10:33 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Iran Khodro (IKCO), the Islamic Republics giant carmaker, will launch a joint venture in Azerbaijan. Director of America, Asia, Europe and CIS Department at IKCO, Sabina Nobari announced about this while talking to Trend. Nobari mentioned that Iran Khodro has prepared a plan to invest in Azerbaijan by launching a JV as the Iranian manufacturer has already carried out an in-depth study on Azerbaijans car market. The car factory jointly founded by the two countries in Azerbaijans Neftchala industrial park is expected to produce its first cars as of late-May 2017. The JV will produce 1,000 cars including Iran Khodro brands of Samand, Soren, Runna and Dena in its first year of activity and the factory is projected to increase its annual output to 10,000 cars within three years, she added. Moreover, the talks are underway to export the joint ventures products to regional countries such as Georgia and Ukraine. Nobari further added that IKCO exported 26,500 cars to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) over the past decade. Some 5,000 of them were sold to Azerbaijan, Nobari said, adding that these cars, including Samand, Soren and Runna brands, went to Azerbaijan through a local distributor company. However, Azerbaijan's purchase of Iran Khodro cars dropped significantly following the national currency devaluation in Azerbaijan in 2015 due to the sharp drop in the world oil prices, she added. IKCO is Iran's major car manufacturer, producing about 600,000 cars a year. In 2008, the company was elected as the Top Exporter of Iran and received Export National Award. The manufacturer's production record was registered in 2010, when it produced over 750,000 cars. Noteworthy, Azerbaijan has a number of car manufacturing plants spread over several regions. The Ganja Automobile Plant specializes on assembling of Russian Oka and UAZ cars, Belarusian MAZ trucks and Belarus tractors, and Chinese Changan vans & trucks. The plant is capable of assembling up to 1,000 trucks and 2,000 tractors each year. The Ganja plant cooperates with a number of international partners, including German. Another big and the most modern plant of Azerbaijan is Nakhchivan Automobile Plant, founded in 2006 and put into operation in 2010. The plant possessing a wide area of 2.6 ha produces 5,000 Lifan cars a year. AzSamand, a factory founded in 2005 in Shamakhi, has already had experience of cooperation with Iran Khodro company. The plant assembles Samand and Runna cars. Agricultural machinery is manufactured in Mingechevir and Zeyem. Hence, car manufacturing is gaining momentum in Azerbaijan and more cars are expected to be produced in the country soon, both for domestic use and export. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 12:27 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijan, which enjoys advantageous geographic location at a crossroads between East and West and developed transport infrastructure, may soon become a hub for export of Croatian production. Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) has expressed its interest in the export of domestic production to Azerbaijan and other countries of the region. Head of Export Credit Insurance Department at HBOR Ante Alich told Trend that the Bank may provide financial assistance to Croatian exporters, who will be engaged in trade operations with Azerbaijan. In addition, the Bank may provide insurance services and secure Croatian entrepreneurs from possible risks of nonpayment by Azerbaijani companies. Alich mentioned that the Bank has an experience in working with Azerbaijan, adding that HBOR is interested in expanding its activity in the country. The Bank cooperates with pharmaceutical companies in Azerbaijan, particularly it provides a guarantee for a number of Croatian companies, engaged in the export of pharmaceutical production to Azerbaijan. Moreover, the institution is interested in cooperation in other spheres, including shipbuilding, construction and transport. Along with that, HBOR is also interested in supplies of Croatian output to other countries of the region through Azerbaijan. Alich went on saying that the Bank may also provide loans for Azerbaijani companies interested in the purchase of goods and services from Croatian companies, as well as in the export of Croatian production to other European countries, mentioning that the main criterion is 40 percent share of Croatia in the capital of produced output. Azerbaijan and Croatia enjoy good opportunities for expanding cooperation in different fields, including ICT, shipbuilding, energy sector, food and pharmaceutical industry. The trade turnover between the countries amounted to $191.98 million in January-September 2016, which is an increase of 72.7 percent compared to 2015, while Azerbaijan imported production worth 50.67 million manats ($ 31.10). Croatia ranks the 13th in the list of main importers from Azerbaijan. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 11:23 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijan Deposit Fund (ADIF) has so far paid compensations worth over 623.74 million manats ($ 382.87) to depositors of the recently closed Dekabank, Kredobank, Zaminbank, Parabank, Caucasus Development Bank, AtraBank, Bank of Azerbaijan, Ganjabank, Texnikabank and Standard Bank. Banks Volume of paid compensations (million manats/ million USD) Volume of the insured deposits (million manats/ million USD) Bank Standard 348.05 ($ 213.64 ) 460($287.5 ) Zaminbank 51.03($ 31.47 ) 60($ 37.5) Dekabank 2.86($1.80 ) 5.59($3.49 ) Kredobank 26.14($ 16.04 ) 30.21($ 18.88) Caucasus Development Bank 1.88($ 1.17) 2($1.25 ) Atrabank 14.14($ 8.67) 14.55($ 9.09 ) Bank of Azerbaijan 24.09($ 15.05) 24.2($15.12 ) Gandjabank 0.97($ 0.60) 1($0.62) Texnikabank 119.98($ 74.98 ) 122.6($ 76.62 ) Parabank 34.58($ 21.22 ) 43.79($27.36 ) Acceptance of applications from insured depositors of DekaBank, KredoBank, Zaminbank and Parabank began on August 1, 2016 and the payment of compensations has been carried out since that day. Compensations to the depositors of Caucasus Development Bank and AtraBank are being paid starting from August 23.Payments are being carried out at the branches the banks. Depositors of Caucasus Development Bank receive compensations at the banks main office. Payment of compensations to insured depositors of Bank of Azerbaijan has been carried out since January 29, 2016 at branches of Muganbank and Rabitabank, and since September 8 at ADIFs office. Clients of Ganjabank receive compensations since February 4 at the branches of Rabitabank, Unibank and Kapital Bank. ADIF launched payment of compensations to depositors of Texnikabank on February 12. Payment of compensations to the insured depositors of Bank Standard started October 11, 2016 at the banks main office and its branches in the regions of Azerbaijan and will continue for one year. The licenses of all the banks were revoked in 2016, as their assets were not classified in line with the law, and they didnt create adequate reserves and their aggregate capital did not meet the minimum requirements. Some 32 banks are currently implementing their activities in the country. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 15:20 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Azerbaijans State Fund for Development of Information Technologies (SFDIT) will allocate a grant in the amount of 15,000 manats ($9,100) to create a portal for startup projects. The creation of the portal is consistent with the principles of the State Program on Implementation of the National Strategy for Development of Information Society in 2016-2020, the Organizing Committee reported. The website, which is expected to be launched in the first half of 2017, will become an important element in the development of the startups in the country and will support the development of innovative business. The portal will function both in Azerbaijani and English languages, and will include a single platform for registration of the startups. Every new project will be able to create its own profile, to form teams and find investors. Moreover, experts from various fields will be able to create their online resume for employment in IT projects. The portal will also have Investors and Services for startups sections, and it will cover activities of local innovative business projects. The State Fund for Development of Information Technologies was established upon the presidential decree dated March15, 2012. It operates under the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan. The main objectives of the Fund are conducting of the state policy on development and support of small enterprises in scientific-technical sphere, providing them with direct financial assistance, training, which in turn will contribute to the creation of new jobs in the country. Currently, the Fund conducts competition on funding local IT projects. The funding includes a number of grants from 10,000 up to 300,000 manats ($6,200-187,000). Overall, the sector of information technologies has been intensively developed in Azerbaijan over the past years. Creation and developing of the e-Government system, expanding the broadband internet services, launch of the telecommunication and low-orbit satellites, and many other are the evidence of Azerbaijans success in this sphere. The income to be obtained in the IT sector in Azerbaijan is expected to hit $9 billion by 2020. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 16:34 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijan, which places a special emphasis on diversification of its economy, continues implementation of systematic measures with a view to bolster its non-oil sector. Economy Minister Shahim Mustafayev said that concrete measures on the promotion of the national brand Made in Azerbaijan will be taken starting from November, mentioning that work in this direction is being implemented efficiently. The country is aimed at succeeding in its objectives within a short period of time. Azerbaijan has necessary legal base and the government has already allocated funds with a view to reach the goals, he said. The minister emphasized that the measures will yield certain results in 2017. The government has recently determined main aspects of rendering the state support to exporters, and work in this direction is now underway. The country earlier developed a special mechanism to support the export of local output, while the promotion system will be applied only in reference to goods produced in Azerbaijan. Moreover, some 10 trade missions will be sent to different countries on a yearly basis to promote the national brand. The measures, which have already been implemented with a view to switch to a new economic policy focused on the development of non-oil sector, include cutting the number of necessary licenses from 59 to 37, introducing moratorium on business inspection, facilitating customs procedures, issuing investment incentives document, establishing FTZ, creating industrial parks and districts, and allocating soft loans to entrepreneurs. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 12:08 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The 40th session of the World Heritage Committee kicked off at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Azertac reported. An Azerbaijani delegation led by the countrys Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Anar Karimov, attended the session. The delegation also included representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as national expert on culture Rizvan Bayramov. The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, and consists of representatives from 21 of the States Parties to the Convention elected by their General Assembly. The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defining the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocating financial assistance upon requests from States Parties. It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. The committee examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed. It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger. In 2003, Azerbaijan and UNESCO signed the framework agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, science, education and communication, which allowed Azerbaijan to become one of the donors of UNESCO. The Icherisheher (Old City), Maiden Tower and Shirvanshah's palace was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000, while since 2007 the Gobustan National Historical-Artistic reserve also listed among these heritages. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 14:53 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Bakus Nizami Cinema Center hosted a gala-night of the Turkish film "Instead of both of us", Azertac reported. Cheered by movie lovers, the gala night was joined by actresses Serenay Sarikaya, who performed the leading part, and Zerrin Tekindor. The appearance of the Turkish stars caused an unprecedented stir among Azerbaijani fans. Replying to the reporters questions, Serenay Sarikaya said she was glad to visit Baku. "It's my first visit to Baku but I have already fallen in love with the city, enchanted by its beauty. Unfortunately, I had not too much time for a long walk across the city. I enjoyed Azerbaijan's national dishes. They are very tasty and delicious," said the actress. The film tells a story of Cicek, a girl who grew up in a small village. She has so many questions about her own life with no answers. And then her life is changed by Dogan, her literature teacher, who survived a personal drama. Dogan, who come from Istanbul, wasn't looking for love. But fate has other plans... Directed by Umur Turagay, the films cast included Necat Ishler (leading part, together with Sereney Sarikaya), Zerrin Tekindor, Ishtar Gokseven, Merve Chagiran and others. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 15:51 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova An International Ceramics Duet Symposium kicked off in Baku, Trend Life reported. The joint project of Azerbaijan Ceramics Center and Arts Council Azerbaijan is realized within the framework of the Regional Art and Culture Project in the South Caucasus, which is managed by the Culture and Management Lab with financial support of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the South Caucasus (SCO). Professional artists, ceramic masters from CIS countries and the rest of the world gathered under one roof in Baku to show all the beauty of contemporary art. The exhibition offers ceramicists an invaluable opportunity to exhibit ceramic production traditions of Azerbaijan. The event brought together two ceramic masters Mirteymur Mammadov and Moldavian artist Valentin Rusu. For two weeks, the artists will create a collection that will be based on contemporary art works of different types and genres. Last time, the duet symposium brought together two ceramic masters Mirteymur Mammadov from Azerbaijan and Artem Gorislavec from Kazakhstan. Media partners of the event are Trend, Day.az, and Milli.az. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 October 2016 17:19 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group plan to meet with Azerbaijani and Armenian ministers within the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting of December in Hamburg, with a view to meet the presidents of both countries at the earliest opportunity. The statement was made after the co-chairs visited the region on October 23-25. "Such a dialogue at the highest level is necessary to make progress towards a settlement," the Minsk Group stressed in its statement. Last meeting between the presidents was held in June in St. Petersburg. After that, they were expected to meet in August also, however, it did not take place due to ignoring from Armenian side which does not want the negotiations to make progress. During the regional visit, the Groups co-chairs, namely, Ambassadors James Warlick of the U.S., Igor Popov of Russia, and Pierre Andrieu of France, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, have met with the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and de facto authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh, and discussed the situation on the contact line after the April clashes, as well as clarified the current condition of the negotiation process. The trip started from Baku, where the Group held meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on October 22-23. The position of the Azerbaijani side on the conflict is quite clear the unacceptability and unsustainability of the current status quo in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Similar statement was voiced by James Warlick. Status quo is not sustainable, we need to work effectively further to find a peaceful solution, he said while being in Baku. Warlick also made another important and fair statement: There will be no agreement without the return of occupied territories of Azerbaijan, or without talks on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan supports this position, in the meantime allowing the possibility of giving Nagorno-Karabakh a status of autonomous republic if it will be returned by Armenian aggressors. For over two decades, 20 percent of Azerbaijani historical lands remain under occupation of Armenian troops. Due to the war, over 1 million of Azerbaijani population had to leave their homelands and become GDPs. Moreover, Armenian troops severely killed over 20,000 Azerbaijanis, including children, women and elders. By ignoring four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, as well as appropriate documents adopted by The European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement, Armenia intends to preserve the status quo in the region and freezes the needed settlement of the conflict. On October 25, the Minsk Group held talks also with the Armenian authorities. During the meetings in Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Minsk Group underscored the necessity of respect for the ceasefire regime on the contact line. Both presidents stressed their compliance with the decisions taken during their meetings in Vienna and St. Petersburg. They expressed their views on how to move the settlement process forward. The Presidents also affirmed their consent on expansion of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. The co-chairs also met with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to discuss the work undertaken by the organization on the exchange of data on missing persons. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 October 2016 19:23 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Herbert Salber discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts resolution, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry told Trend on October 26. The Azerbaijani minister informed Salber on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement process. The parties also exchanged views on the development of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the European Union. 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. German journalist Jurgen Gotschlich assesses the cancellation of the concert dedicated to the Armenian Genocide in Istanbul by the German Foreign Ministry as a shameful deed, Armenpress reports the journalist told Taz.de. The journalist noted that after the adoption of the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide by the Bundestag, the German Federal Government had promised to do everything to foster dialogue between Armenia and Turkey. One of those projects was the cancelled concert by the Dresden Symphony Orchestra called Aghet (tragedy) dedicated to the Armenian Genocide where German, Armenian and Turkish musicians would participate. The important project was funded by the EU and the German MFA. Its not accidental that it was the MFA that suggested the German Consulate in Istanbul as a place for performing the concert. But once again, like it was in 1915, when Germany was an ally for Turkey during the WWI, the German side sacrificed Armenians for more important benefits. At that time Germany did nothing to prevent the genocide, and today cancels the concert planned at the Consulate dedicated to that same genocide. This is a disgraceful act for a country that knows so much about the genocide and the Holocaust, the journalist said. Earlier, official representative of the German Foreign Ministry Martin Schaefer announced that the list of the guests invited to the concert has not been agreed with the ministry which is the reason the concert has been cancelled. He noted that the concert can take place later. Turkey has announced about its exit from the European Unions Creative Europe Program. According to reports, the pullout was in response to the concert in commemoration of the Armenian genocide. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has even announced about his support for the project. This project offers the audience to abandon the world of hatred. I am convinced that only people who get acquainted to the dreams and traumas of others can foster the establishment of a bright future, Frank-Walter Steinmeier had told. 27 October 2016 17:35 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Ankara expects not only economic, but also political results from trilateral formats of cooperation, new Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral said in an exclusive interview with Trend. The idea of creating the tripartite format of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia was initiated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the framework of his St. Petersburg meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in August. Ozoral said that trilateral formats will provide strong support for regional development by raising political and economic ties between three countries to a new level. Having noted the importance of trilateral formats of cooperation being implemented by Azerbaijan and Turkey with other states, the diplomat said that the bilateral co-operation carried out earlier by these countries will be of great benefit to peoples if implemented in a trilateral format. Ozoral added that the trilateral cooperation, on the one hand, will support the development of trilateral economic ties, on the other hand, will strengthen the three countries relations and bring them together for their political point of view. All this will play a major role in ensuring peace and prosperity in the region, said the ambassador, adding that work on creation of the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Russia trilateral format is underway. The diplomat said that for 25 years, Turkey and Azerbaijan jointly implemented such large-scale projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. "Now we face the challenge to implement projects such as the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP). TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The length of TANAP is 1,800 kilometers with the initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters. Around six bcm of this gas will be delivered to Turkey and the remaining volume will be supplied to Europe. After the construction of TANAP, Azerbaijan will become the second supplier of gas to the Turkish market, leaving Iran behind. "The most important among the tasks is to complete all the work in the shortest possible time, and enter these projects into operation," he said. Ozoral noted that the Azerbaijan-Turkey economic ties are relations built not only in the transportation and energy projects, but at the same time, in mutual investments. Now, Turkey intends to increase the volume of trade turnover with Azerbaijan up to $15 billion by 2023, by increasing investments in Azerbaijans economy. Ozoral added that the volume of Azerbaijani investments in Turkish economy has already exceeded $4 billion. He also noted that currently, about 2,600 Turkish companies operate in Azerbaijan, and nearly 25,000 people are currently employed by these companies. Turkish companies operate almost in all spheres of the economy including telecommunications, banking, insurance, transportation, food, textile sectors and in the field of construction equipment and furniture manufacturing, said Ozoral. On the other hand, Azerbaijan is also taking serious steps, becoming the biggest foreign investor in Turkey, added the envoy. It is expected that investments of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR in Turkeys energy and infrastructure sphere will reach $17-20 billion in the near future, he said, noting that $5.5 billion will be invested in the Star refinery, which is being built in Izmir. At the same time, Turkish construction companies have invested $11 billion in 350 projects implemented in Azerbaijan since 2003, he noted. Turkey is a major trade partner of Azerbaijan, and in January-September 2016 the trade turnover between the countries amounted to $1.67 billion, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. In terms of export and import operations, Turkey takes the second place. Azerbaijan exported goods to $842.2 million, while Turkish imports amounted of $830.8 million to Azerbaijan. Currently, there are several trilateral formats in the region such as Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey, Azerbaijan-Turkey-Iran and Turkey-Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan. It is noteworthy that Azerbaijan and Turkey are key states in all those interstate structures. The ambassador called the trilateral format of cooperation of Azerbaijan and Turkey with Georgia as the best example of this. The benefits of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline brought to the three countries are obvious, he said. Everyone knows what kind of benefits the project of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the construction of which is in the final stage, will bring to the three countries, as well as whole Eurasia, he said. Ozoral noted that cooperation of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the same format with Iran will also benefit all three countries. He said that with the diversification of routes leading to Central Asia by Turkey, Azerbaijan will become a main point in this direction. All this has a positive impact on the transportation by vessels through the Caspian Sea, Ro-Ro transportation and rail transportation in the region, noted the diplomat. During the interview, the ambassador also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which he called "a bleeding wound for both Azerbaijan and Turkey". Unfortunately, the negotiation process supported by Turkey hasnt given any positive results so far, he noted, hoping that the ongoing negotiations will become more constructive and concrete steps will be taken to address the issue. Turkey wants the Caucasus to be a region of peace and prosperity, the diplomat said. Turkey has long been suffering from issues and conflicts in neighboring countries, said Erkan Ozoral. In this context, we want the Caucasus to become an example for all humanity as an island of peace. He noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be fairly resolved within the framework of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Turkey has always supported and will support any path Azerbaijan will choose within the framework of these principles, the ambassador said. We are ready to provide every support to achieve peace. The great injustice that Azerbaijan is facing is aggravating as the settlement of the problem is getting protracted. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 13:28 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Head of the EU delegation in Azerbaijan Malena Mard has assessed the visit of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Herbert Salber, to Baku as constructive. Mard, talking to reporters on October 27, said that within his mandate, the special representative supports peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and pays regular visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is important for the EU to have contact with both sides, she noted adding that the EU supports the peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group. Salber, who arrived in Baku on October 25, was received by President Ilham Aliyev on the same day. Later, Salber met with Azerbaijani Deputy PM, chair of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov. Salber informed the Azerbaijani side that he will visit the countrys west to inspect the conditions created for refugees and IDP settled close to the frontline. Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war. Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal. Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. have produced no results so far. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 17:16 (UTC+04:00) An event on World Food Day was held at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku on October 27. Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Union, FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva attended the event, which was organized by IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, as well as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Azertac reported. Leyla Aliyeva, addressing the event, said the World Food Day is a great opportunity to draw global attention to the challenges of hunger and food security. The theme of this years food day covers two issues that I am especially sensitive about - both as FAO goodwill ambassador and as a passionate environmental activist, but more importantly as concerned global citizen. With the new reality of changing climate, we must fundamentally change the way we produce and consume food. Whether we like it or not, the worlds climate is changing. While the international community is making efforts to curb this process by cutting emissions, millions of people around the globe already suffer from its consequences. Unfortunately, it is mostly the poorest communities - people with least means to recover that hit hardest by weather-related disasters, which are becoming more and more common. Indeed, the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development last year was a crucial milestone. Nations have pledged to keep the temperature increase at below 2 degrees and achieve zero hunger by 2030, she said. The Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation further noted that achieving resilience, productivity and sustainability in agriculture is absolutely vital for ensuring the food security of the gradually growing global population. This is especially critical now, when climate change tightens its grip on our ecosystem and rural populations. In this regard, it is essential that FAOs climate smart agriculture approach is universally embraced in order to transform and reorient agricultural systems. Although people all over the world are realizing that nature and its resources are limited, and cannot be taken for granted. We believe in more action, education, creativity and positive thinking. Only knowledge can help to see the direct link between environmental degradation and human activity, and highlighting the urgency of matter. This is exactly why we launched IDEA (international dialogue for environmental action) campaign five years ago. During this period, we have achieved many positive results such as protecting endangered species of animals, planting 5 million trees, organizing science labs, lectures for students, schools and universities, exhibitions, publishing books and making documentaries, she said. The FAO Goodwill Ambassador said: Today I would like to tell you more about one specific project that has a special relevance both to the topic of food security and to the environment. As our modest effort to contribute to the welfare of our marine environment as well as help the rural communities that depend on it, IDEA has recently launched the multi-dimensional Kura river delta-cleaning project. Why this project is so important? Well, let me start by saying that Kura stretches almost 1000 kilometers from our western borders to the Caspian Sea and ensures vital livelihood for people living along the river. In addition, Kura river is considered the main spawn area for the Caspian sturgeon - one of the most ancient and rarest fish in the world. Meanwhile, during recent years, industrialization, lack of proper waste management, unsustainable tourism, unawareness of local communities and other factors led to increased pollution of the Kura river. Riverbanks especially near delta, are full of plastic, domestic waste and used gillnets. As a result, water quality and fish stocks in Kura and the Caspian Sea have decreased dramatically during the last decades. Our project will target to improve, fish stock, water quality and overall ecology, which will be beneficial for the environment and local population. Leyla Aliyeva further mentioned that today, one out of nine people in the world suffer from malnutrition Everyday children in the developing world die from hunger. Hunger is the number one cause of death in the world, killing more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined, while more than third of food is thrown away globally each year. The global warming is making the situation with global food security even more uncertain. We must constantly be aware that each of us can make a difference in combating climate change by protecting the environment, living sustainable lifestyles, being ethical consumers and not wasting food. We must do it for the sake of hundreds of millions of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition and for our own sake. I strongly believe that with action, hope, believe kindness and love we can solve all the problems and create a brighter future and life, she added. Other speakers at the event included Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyngulu Baghirov, head of FAO's Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan Melek Cakmak and Director General of FAO Jose Graziano da Silva. The event continued with panel discussions. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 15:28 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Crude prices jumped on October 27 amid the strong demand in Asia, despite the fact that doubts over OPEC's ability to effectively organize a coordinated production cut to stabilize the black gold market still weighed on the energy markets. International Brent crude oil futures were trading at $50.18 per barrel, while WTI futures stood at $49.33 per barrel, recording an increase of 0.31 percent compared to the previous settlement. Concerns over political stability in Venezuela, which is a major oil producer, gave the main trigger for the lift in the market, while another supportive sign for the price is the increase of refining activity in Asia. As crude is the main feedstock for oil refineries, strong refining activity is likely to increase the demand. But, some analysts say the oil prices will not rise due to doubts that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers like Russia will be able to effectively coordinate curbs in output to prop up prices. The skepticism about the possibility of OPEC deal is triggered by a number of uncertainties, including non-definite position of certain countries, willingness of a number of countries to be treated as an exception, as well as some players plans to pump at high levels. A cut is being pushed by Saudi Arabia, OPEC's biggest producer, and it is being supported by Russia, not a member of the cartel but the world's biggest oil producer, and Venezuela, which tries to persuade the non-cartel members to cut the production. The launch of production in Kazakhstans Kashagan field, which is viewed as one of the largest oil discoveries of the past 40 years, is also among the issues that raise concerns in the black gold market. Kashagan is expected to increase oil production in Kazakhstan, but it is considered to be a negative factor for the global oil market which suffers from oil glut. The country expects to get the volume of oil ranging from 500.000 to 1 million tons from Kashagan by late 2016. Energy Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev said that the volume of production may reach the level ranging from 4 to 7 million tons, mentioning that all will depend on the operation of drills and equipment. OPEC plans to cut output are not on the agenda of Kazakhstan. However, the country will participate in the OPEC meeting, while an officer of the Energy Ministry will represent Kazakhstan at the upcoming OPEC meeting. Azerbaijan has also confirmed its participation in the meeting, scheduled for late October saying that Energy Minister Natig Aliyev will represent the country at the meeting. The country has already expressed its position on the issue, announcing that it will not unilaterally increase oil production, even without waiting for decisions of OPEC member countries. The cartel earlier sent invitation for participation in the technical meeting to 12 non-cartel states, including Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Egypt, Bahrain, Colombia, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Bolivia, Norway and Canada. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 14:47 (UTC+04:00) By Trend More than 50 percent of steel pipes needed for construction of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) have been delivered in Greece and Albania, reads the message posted on TAPs Twitter page. TAP project envisages transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries. The 870-kilometer pipeline will be connected to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south. The length of the pipeline in Greece is approximately 550 kilometers. TAPs longest section, it will start at Kipoi, near the countrys border with Turkey, and finish at its border with Albania, south-west of Ieropigi. TAPs route through Albania is approximately 215 kilometers onshore and 37 km offshore in the Albanian section of the Adriatic Sea. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 17:47 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Oil-rich Azerbaijan, which enjoys a huge and successful experience in the energy sector, may share its experience with South Africa. Azerbaijans Energy Minister Natig Aliyev, who received South African Ambassador Pule Isaac Malefane in Baku on October 27, said that the country is ready to share its experience with South Africa and assist the country in the development of its energy potential. Aliyev said that the government of Azerbaijan is currently seeking to diversify its economy and enter new markets, while the objective allows the country to develop its cooperation with other countries. Malefane, in turn, hailed the relations between the two countries, mentioning that South Africa attaches importance to cooperation with Azerbaijan. South Africas oil and natural gas sectors are overshadowed by the coal industry, as the country possesses abundant supplies of coal that provide for over 70 percent of the countrys primary energy needs. However, the country has so far put considerable efforts to diversify its energy mix, introducing a number of initiatives and programmes to expand oil and gas production. Oil and gas reserves of the country are located offshore in Bredasdorp Basin, situated in south-east of Cape Town and west-south-west of Port Elizabeth and the Orange Basin, which is believed to hold significant oil and natural gas reserves. The potential has not been fully developed yet. Moreover, the country is estimated to have the eighth largest shale gas resources in the world. The country has a pioneering role as a gas to liquids (GTL) producer. GTL refinery at Mossel Bay remains the third largest GTL refinery among the five now operating worldwide. Azerbaijan has vast experience in the sphere and plays an important role in ensuring energy security both at regional and international scale. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and the South African Republic were established on April 29, 1992. The Azerbaijani embassy in the South African Republic was opened in August 16, 2011. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 12:51 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Hasanova Ankara and Tehran seek to up level of the bilateral ties, and also increase the trade volume through cooperation in the agriculture sphere. Turkey's Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Faruk Celik believes that Turkey and Iran should build on their shared $100-billion agricultural output. Speaking at a joint news conference in Ankara alongside Iranian Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati, Turkey's Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock emphasized potential opportunities offered by the agricultural trade. "We have decided to enhance collaboration in the agriculture sector to increase the trade volume between Turkey and Iran to $30 billion," said Celik. Celik is sure that there is more potential for businesses as the total population of Turkey and Iran is around 160 million. "For Turkey, Iran is a gate opening to Asia, and for Iran, Turkey is a gate opening to Europe. Considering the regional conflicts, we should focus on how to improve this potential together instead of concerning [ourselves with] unessential issues," Celik said. Celik further added that transportation problems in the agricultural trade were also discussed during Wednesdays meeting, noting that the two countries will share their own experiences for modernization of the agriculture sector. "Our region is in a ring of fire. If only we talked about agriculture in Damascus, Aleppo and Mosul, instead of terror The unity of the Muslim world is essential," the Turkish minister added. Hojjati, for his part, reminded that Turkey and Iran had been collaborating on political and economic areas as two friendly countries. "Turkey gave significant support to us during the embargo period, hence we are always grateful to Turkey," said Hojjati. "Similarly, Iranian officials did not sleep a wink when that treacherous coup bid was performed against Turkey, and they announced support for Turkey," Hojjati added. The Iranian minister further said Turkey and Iran had the potential to complement each other in terms of agricultural trade, and added: "We will try to seize this potential." Hojjati also said businesspeople from both countries during this weeks visit had made very fruitful talks and wanted to lead permanent collaboration. Commenting on regional conflicts, Hojjati said: "Making violence, which does not accord with Islam, in the name of Islam is worrying. Islam is a religion of mercy that promotes toleration and unity. The Turkish-Iranian bilateral relations are evolving on the basis of the principles of non-interference in domestic affairs, mutual respect and good-neighborliness. Efforts are made to further enhance the political dialogue both on bilateral and regional issues, through reciprocal visits and mechanisms such as High Level Cooperation Council and joint commissions in different sectors. Iran and Turkey are very close trade and economic partners. Both countries are part of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). The overall trade turnover between Turkey and Iran amounted to $2.9 billion in 1Q 2016. The figure was $9.76 billion in 2015. Moreover, Iran and Turkey have extensive tourism relations for years. Turkey receives one million Iranian tourists each year and economically benefits from Iranian tourism. As of 2013, tourists from Turkey comprise one of the largest that visit Iran, making up 391,283 registered tourists. --- Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 14:11 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Kazakhstan negotiates with several foreign airlines to launch new routes during Expo 2017 exhibition in Astana, Kazakh Prime Ministers official website reported with the reference to Investment and Development Vice Minister Berik Kamaliyev. He noted that Finnish airline will launch flight within signed agreements. Moreover Kazakhstan has held negotiations with Polish aviation authorities, an agreement on flights has been reached with Hungary. In addition, Austrian, Czech airlines will resume flights to Kazakhstan, Air China will fly from China, according to the vice minister. On December 12, Kazakhstan plans to meet with aviation authorities of Iran and China and request additional slots for Kazakh Air Astana and Scat airlines in order to increase international flights from Almaty to Chinese Xian and Iranian Tehran, Kamaliyev said. The vice minister noted that Kazakh capital Astana is connected by direct flights with 5 international financial centers - Frankfurt, London, Dubai, Hong Kong and Seoul. Moreover there are direct flights from Astana to the cities of Vienna, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Istanbul, Urumqi and other. In 2018 it is planned to launch direct flight from Astana to Tokyo, in 2019 in Singapore, in 2020 to New York, he said. The EXPO-2017 titled "Future Energy" will last from June 10 until September 10. Over 100 countries will take part in the exhibition. The World's Fair EXPO exhibition has been held since 1851. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 16:42 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Hasanova Iran has announced that the country will not authorize the European Union to open an office in Tehran. Human Rights Staff Chief Mohammad Javad Larijani made the remark while commenting on the recent EU strategy resolution on Iran. This office will be a "house of corruption ", and the judiciary of Iran will not tolerate this, ISNA quoted Larijani as saying. The report has many problems, Larijani said, adding that the EU is not entitled to tell us we have to mend ourselves. The statements come a day after the Iranian Foreign Ministry hailed the EUs resolution on normalization of ties with Iran. This issue [passing the resolution] demonstrates the positive will of the EU towards expansion and deepening of bilateral ties with Iran in all spheres, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said. As the report indicates, the EU passed a resolution on October 25 on the Islamic Republic, namely the EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement. Acknowledging the Islamic Republics international and regional role in establishing stability and peace in the region, the resolution emphasizes on the necessity of the constructive participation of our country in resolving regional disputes as well as fighting terrorism, in particular Daesh [the Islamic State terrorist group] and other similar groups, Qasemi said. The resolution also calls for expansion of ties with Iran in diplomatic, economic, energy, scientific, educational and research fields, according to the spokesperson. The EU announced its intentions to open an office in Tehran on the one-year anniversary of (JCPOA) the nuclear deal signed with Iran by the five world powers led by the United States. Relations between the EU and Iran have been through different stages and most recently, over the last decade, conditioned by the international dispute over Iran's nuclear program, and the consequent sanctions regime imposed against Iran. The total trade between Iran and the EU in the first five months of 2015 amounted to 2.976 billion Euros, showing a 6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2014. The value of Iran-EU bilateral trade in the corresponding period last year stood at 2.81 billion Euros, according to the Eurostat data. --- Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 October 2016 17:27 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Hasanova Turkmenistan and Qatar have considered ways to expand bilateral relations and cooperation for the development of business ties. The fuel and energy sector, transport and communication were named as the priority vectors of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Qatar, said the Turkmen government. The priority directions were defined during the meeting of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with Qatars Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, the head of Al Faisal Holding. President Berdimuhamedov and Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani stressed the huge potential for intensifying the mutually beneficial bilateral trade and economic partnership and promoting productive business relations in various spheres. The agreements reached at the highest level following President Berdimuhamedovs official visit to Qatar in October 2010 and Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thanis official visit to Turkmenistan in March 2016, giving an impulse to the bilateral relations, the report reads. In addition, the activities of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Qatari Commission play a significant role in the development of the relations between the two countries. Earlier, President Berdimuhamedov invited the representatives of the Qatari business community to participate in the construction of the transnational gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI). The president stressed that a new energy highway is designed to ensure a long-term supply of natural gas to the major countries of South-East Asia, contribute to solving the economic problems of the region and important social and humanitarian issues. Being the sixth in the world for the volume of natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan produces about 70-80 billion cubic meters of gas a year, while most of its proven gas reserves are located in the Amu Darya basin in the south-east and in the Murgab South Caspian basins in the western part of the country. Oil and natural gas account for about 55 percent of the Qatars gross domestic product. Petroleum has made the country one of the worlds fastest-growing countries with the highest level of income per capita. --- Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The joint project by ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank and Armenpress news agency had a unique place at ArmProdExpo. The two dozens of the photos told about unique human fates. A catalogue of photos was also published in the sidelines of the project which tells the brief stories of the heroes. The full stories can be found on the internet. Our main aim and wish is that our partner-customers make more successes. We are proud even of the smallest achievements of our partners and stand with them during all the hardships, and this is the reason why farmers take ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank as their best friend, Chief Executive Officer of the bank Hakob Andreasyan said. Actually, in a rapidly accelerating informational century, journalists telling human stories remain very few. In this context, the project will try to fill the gap. The series of the stories is about people who might never appear in the news line of news agencies, people who often have no time to follow the news, but this factor does never diminish the huge contribution they and thousands of others make by their hard work. Of course, it seems the acceleration of informational pace leaves less opportunity to touch upon the theme comprehensively. In this context, the joint project with ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank is long-waited and important. It draws peoples attention on one of the post-independence heroes Armenian farmers, Director of Armenpress news agency Aram Ananyan said. 27 October 2016 17:52 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova The Islamic Republic of Iran and Cyprus, the countries, which share a long history of good relations, seek to further expand their cooperation. Chairman of the chamber of representatives of Cyprus Dimitris Silluris will visit Iran on October 30, on the invitation of the speaker of Iranian parliament Ali Larijani. The official will hold meetings with his Iranian counterpart Larijani, foreign minister Javad Zarif and the head of the Discernment Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The countries step up relations significantly with the exchange of new ambassadors and several trips by high-profile delegates in 2014. Moreover, the two countries signed a significantly important agreement to avoid double taxation in 2015, opening new opportunities for cooperation, as well as new outlooks for investment and trade relations between Cyprus and Iran. Also, the CyprusIran Business Association was established on August 4, 2015, with a view to promote and strengthen trade relations between the two countries. The boosting of ties was also on agenda during the recent visit of Cyprus Transport Minister Marius Diametre Tidas to Iran. Tidas, in his tour to Tehran, met with Amir Hossein Zamaninia, deputy petroleum minister for international affairs and trading and Ali Akbar Safaei head of National Iranian Tanker Company. The meetings were held with the aim of discussing prospects for future cooperation in a number of spheres, including transportation and energy sphere. --- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz It is being reported that back in August of 2016 about two dozen of the countrys leading LGBT advocacy groups held an invitation-only phone call to talk about the future of the LGBT movement and work on a disagreement that has divided them namely the transgender bathroom issue that has been the major blocking point in nondiscrimination laws that would protect LGBT citizens in housing and employment. On the hour-and-a half phone call, one side of the self-appointed leaders argued they could make gains with Conservatives by accepting a compromise much like a bill in Pennsylvania that would ban LGBT discrimination in workplaces and housing but not in public places, like restaurants and stores. Many on the call believe this could emerge as a model for other swing states where theyve hit barricades namely in Ohio, Florida, and Arizona, and North Carolina. But other groups like including the ACLU and the Human Rights Campaign (SHOCK), have argued the short-term gain approach for the LGB community in housing and job security could amount to entering a box canyon and take years to pass laws that provide public protections in the future for the transgender community on the bathroom issue if ever. And leaving them out may even send a message that discrimination in public is acceptable. The Gill Foundation which gave more than $6.5 million to LGBT causes in 2014, Freedom for All Americans and the National Center for Transgender Equality, contend this sort of compromise may be their only shot of winning civil rights for millions of LGBT people at the state level in the next decade, even if those gains are incomplete. Leaders of those organizations say they can return to these legislatures in the future to finish the job of passing public accommodations. The ACLU sent a blunt letter to Pennsylvania lawmakers and organizations on June 10 letter detailing their objections to the compromise bill. It will not be lost on many in the advocacy and activist communities, as well as the LGBT-media, that dropping public accommodations now, in the midst of the current in-state and national conversation surrounding transgender people and restrooms/locker rooms, is compromising on critical protections because they are controversial, said an ACLU memo obtained by Buzzfeed. Surprisingly well known trans-activist Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, says that if they want to help transgender people in Pennsylvania and other Republican controlled states, they need to embrace the protections transgender people can get in housing and employment. Incrementalism is how policy gets done while other people are whining about incrementalism, she said. We have made it an have made an article faith over the past few years that if a bill lacks public accommodations, its useless. Thats not true. She said that was exactly the path employed by lawmakers in California, Nevada, and Hawaii states where legislatures passed bills that lacked public accommodations or gender identity, then patched the holes years later. Those patches were passed between 2005 and 2011, before marriage and before conservatives pressed bathrooms and religious freedom as their most potent arguments. I am not timid, Keisling said of this approach. This is not timidity. This is about moving the ball as fast as you can. Whats your thoughts? Is it alright to move the trans bathroom issues, an issues that effects just a small percentage of the LGBT community and has been essentially blocking other LGBT issues to the back burner and work on LGBT housing and employment protections which will protect thousands if not millions first and then go back to public accommodation issues? Sound off in the comments section below. Share this: Tweet More Email Print Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 72F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with rain ending overnight. Low near 50F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Belgian Brussels Airlines will start Yerevan-Brussels flights from March 31, 2017. At the starting period one flight will be conducted weekly, but after July-August the second flight will be complemented. The airline company has announced that Armenian passengers will be able to fly not only to Brussels, but also other European cities. People of Armenian origin who live in Belgium, the South of the Netherlands and the North of France needed to fly through connections via other airports to Yerevan. With the new direct flights, Brussels Airlines now responds to the important market demand of the Armenian Diaspora. Also Belgian tour operators and travel agents will make use of the new service in order to offer guided tours and holidays in Armenia, Armenpress reports reads the statements issued in the official website of the airline. Flights will be operated with modern Airbus A 320 aircraft and will leave Brussels Airport on Saturday and Tuesday. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan met on October 27 with a number of representatives of the Syrian-Armenian community and Armenian organizations, benefactors involved in community issues and responsible state officials. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, the President of the Republic noted that he invited the present to discuss new ideas for supporting Syrian Armenians both in Armenia and Syria. Unfortunately, it is already a prolonged period that Syria and particularly Aleppo appear in the newsline of international news agencies due to the tragic events happening there. For us, I mean Armenians, Syria and Aleppo are not merely familiar names, like for many others, but a country where our compatriots live. And this is the reason why our Consulate General still operates in Aleppo, when the diplomatic representations of all the other countries abandoned Aleppo long before. I can say without hesitation that our position was and remains the same: any Syrian-Armenian has the right to come to Armenia. Moreover, if he or she leaves Syria, its preferable that they arrive in Armenia. We are ready to do our best to create at least the minimal conditions so that these people integrate with our society with time and manage to solve their problems on their own, the President said. The Leader of the Berio Diocese of Catholicate of the Great House of Cilicia, His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian and the other participants of the meeting shared with their concerns over the situation in Syria caused by the ongoing war, made proposals of helping the Syrian-Armenians with consolidated efforts and thanked for the consistent support to the Syrian-Armenian community by the Republic of Armenia, as well as Armenian organizations. October 31, 2022 14:54 Armenias 2023 state budget envisages 35% increase in defense spending According to the 2023 state budget of Armenia, the defense spending will comprise 506 billion drams which is 35% more than that of 2022, Minister of Finance Tigran Khachatryan said during the session of the parliamentary standing committees dedicated to the debate of the 2023 state budget draft. The whole world is following with great interest the flood of internal emails released by WikiLeaks: over 400,000 emails of the Turkish ruling party (AKP), 2.8 million U.S. diplomatic emails, over 30,000 emails sent or received by Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State, and 27,000 emails and attachments hacked from the Democratic National Committee. October 26, 2016, 10:20 WikiLeaks Reveals Hillary Clintons Email Exchanges on Armenian Issues STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 26, ARTSAKHPRESS: A few out of the hundreds of leaked emails is singled out that touch upon Armenia or Turkey, Harut Sassounian Publisher of the California Courier reports. 1) On April 19, 2015, Jake Sullivan, Hillary Clintons foreign policy adviser, sent an email to a half dozen senior campaign staffers, including Chairman John Podesta, asking if they should issue a statement on the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Sullivan also wanted to know if Clinton would use the term genocide as she did as Senator and presidential candidate eight years ago, or will she avoid that term as she did as Secretary of State? Sullivan pointed out that the White House studiously avoided using genocide so far, and would probably continue to do so. Sullivan wondered whether Clintons campaign should proactively issue a statement on the Armenian Genocide or wait until asked to do so by Armenian groups. Sullivan ended his email by acknowledging that the Armenian Genocide issue matters enormously to Armenian-Americans. Within hours, Podesta suggested that a quotation from Pope Francis acknowledging the Armenian Genocide be included in the genocide statement which ultimately the Clinton Campaign decided not to issue! 2) Ismail Cobanoglu, First Counselor of the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., sent an email on September 9, 2015 to Campaign Chairman John Podesta, asking if Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu could pay a courtesy call on Mrs. Clinton, in New York, between Sept. 26 and 30. Strangely, Cobanoglu stated that he had first written to the State Department, but was told that Mrs. Clinton was no longer Secretary of State! Cobanoglu told Podesta that Davutoglu is making this request in light of his prior friendship with Secretary Clinton dating back to the time when they were colleagues as Secretary of State/Foreign Minister. On the same day, Podesta told Cobanoglu that Mrs. Clintons schedule is quite difficult, but this would be a priority meeting if at all possible. Huma Abedin, the campaigns Vice Chair, will follow up. Podesta then asked Ms. Abedin: How do you want to handle? She responded the next day to Cobanoglu informing him that Mrs. Clinton would be happy to meet with the Prime Minister but we arent certain that she will be in NY any of days you suggest. We will let you know as soon as we are more clear on her schedule. We will be in touch soon. It is not known if the requested meeting ever took place. 3) On December 17, 2010, Huma Abedin, who at the time was Secretary of State Clintons Deputy Chief of Staff, forwarded her news about a ruling by the Federal Appeals Court, allowing heirs of Armenian Genocide victims to seek compensation from three German life insurance companies. Interestingly, and ominously, the subject line of Abedins email stated that Foreign Minister Davutoglu referred to this court case in his earlier phone call to Clinton. The next day, Harold Koh, Legal adviser of the State Department, sent a copy of the court verdict to Jake Sullivan, Clintons Deputy Chief of Staff, and Joe MacManus, Executive Assistant to the Secretary of State, asking them to forward this important document to Secretary Clinton. Koh added that since FM [Foreign Minister] Davutoglu mentioned it in his phone call to her on Friday, we wanted to get this to her ASAP. Sullivan sent the court verdict to Secretary Clinton with the following note: Importance: High. In my opinion, this was an unwarranted and blatant interference by the Turkish Foreign Minister in the US judicial system, seeking to enlist the Secretary of State in pressuring the courts to reverse the verdict! It is not known if Mrs. Clinton took any action in this regard. However, the Federal Court of Appeals subsequently struck down the earlier decision! Finally, in a March 17, 2016 email, Campaign Chairman John Podesta listed 39 individuals as potential Vice Presidential candidates for Mrs. Clinton. One of the surprising names on the list was Muhtar Kent, a Turkish-American who is Chairman of The Coca Cola Company. His father, Necdet Kent, was Consul General of Turkey in New York City, where Muhtar was born. He attended high school in Mersin, Turkey. As we know, Mrs. Clinton ended up picking Tim Kaine as her running mate, not Muhtar Kent! Medical marijuana legalization in Florida looks to be headed for a win, if the latest Bay News 9/News 13 Florida Decides Exclusive Statewide Poll is indication. Exclusive poll says 65 percent back medical marijuana amendment Amendment needs 60 percent support to pass in Florida RELATED: Making sense of Amendment 2 IN-DEPTH: Marijuana in Florida Join us for exclusive coverage of the general election throughout October and through the Nov. 8 election. Heres your guide to our special coverage: Special editions of Political Connections Florida Decides 2016 election preview, Monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. Election day coverage on-air, online and on mobile starting at 7 a.m. The poll asked 1,251 likely voters whether they planned to vote for Amendment 2, and 65 percent said "Yes." Twenty-five percent said "No" and only 9 percent were "Not Certain." Amendment 2 needs 60 percent voter approval to become part of the Florida Constitution. Support for the amendment largely cuts across economic and racial backgrounds. Conservatives, evangelicals and those over 65 were more likely to vote against Amendment 2. Amendment 2 would broaden the legalization of medical marijuana in Florida. Currently, the state only allows for one strain of medical marijuana, known as "Charlotte's Web." The amendment legalizes medical marijuana, with a doctor's authorization, for a plethora of illnesses ranging from cancer to post-traumatic stress disorder. Patients would have to take that authorization to one of the state-regulated medical marijuana treatment centers. These centers, according to the amendment, are the only places allowed in Florida to cultivate, process and sell marijuana in a variety of forms. Only patients from Florida with a Florida medical marijuana card would be able to get the drug at these centers. The amendment also makes plain that the measure does not negate any other laws with regard to non-medical marijuana. The amendment would still require regulations to be created by the Florida Legislature and the Florida Health Department. We go into greater detail about the ballot measure in our Making Sense of Amendment 2 story. Q: On the ballot in November is Amendment 2, which would legalize medical marijuana for individuals with certain medical conditions. Certain to vote yes? Certain to vote no? Or not certain? All Gender Age Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 65% 67% 64% 73% 70% 70% 52% No 25% 25% 25% 19% 19% 24% 38% Not certain 9% 8% 10% 8% 12% 7% 10% Composition of likely November voters 100% 49% 51% 19% 26% 29% 27% Race White Black Asian/ Other Cuban Non- Cuban Hispanic Composition of likely November voters 80% 14% 7% 5% 7% Yes 66% 71% 55% 64% 60% No 26% 18% 33% 21% 31% Not certain 9% 12% 12% 15% 10% Party Affiliation Strong Rep. Republican Ind. lean Rep. Independent Ind. lean Dem. Democrat Strong Dem. Composition of likely November voters 16% 16% 13% 12% 9% 18% 15% Yes 44% 47% 53% 79% 85% 73% 85% No 48% 40% 37% 15% 7% 18% 7% Not certain 8% 13% 10% 7% 8% 9% 8% Ideology Very Conserv. Somewhat Moderate Somewhat Very Lib. Composition of likely November voters 19% 23% 30% 14% 12% Yes 45% 55% 68% 88% 89% No 46% 35% 22% 7% 9% Not certain 9% 10% 11% 6% 2% Evangelical Gun owner Yes No Yes No Composition of likely November voters 26% 67% 39% 56% Yes 49% 71% 63% 69% No 42% 20% 30% 21% Not certain 9% 9% 7% 11% Education Income High School Some College 4-yr College < $40K $40K - $80K > $80K Composition of likely November voters 15% 34% 50% 25% 35% 39% Yes 64% 65% 67% 71% 68% 61% No 23% 26% 25% 19% 24% 29% Not certain 13% 9% 8% 9% 8% 10% Surveyed: 1,251 likely November voters Margin of sampling error: 2.7% This Bay News 9/News 13 Exclusive statewide Florida Decides poll was conducted by SurveyUSA from Oct. 20-24. SurveyUSA interviewed 1,400 state of Florida adults, 1,314 of whom were registered to vote. Of those registered, 1,251 were determined by SurveyUSA to be likely to vote in the Nov. 8 general election. Just 1 percent of voters interviewed for this survey said they "almost always" vote in presidential elections but will not vote in 2016 because they do not like any of the candidates on the ballot. Five percent of voters said they "almost never" vote in presidential elections but will vote in 2016 because they were drawn to one of this year's candidates. Importantly: These "new" voters are spread across the political spectrum; they are not disproportionately Trump supporters. All of the interviews for this survey were conducted after the third presidential debate and at a time when Trump described himself as "unshackled." This research was conducted using blended sample, mixed mode. Respondents reachable on their home telephones (65 percent of likely voters) were interviewed on their home telephones in the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Respondents not reachable on a home telephone (35 percent of likely voters) were shown a questionnaire on the display of their smartphone, tablet or other electronic device. Lake Wales Police are investigating the shooting death of a convenience store worker. Victim identified as Mohamed Allam, 48 Allam was shot outside view of security cameras Crime Stoppers offering reward for information Police say that security video shows two men in hoodies confronting 48-year-old Mohamed Allam outside a QP store at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. The suspects forced Allam to take off his pants and then, out of the sight of security cameras, they shot him. The suspects can be seen running away from the store. Neighbor Charlie Gaines, a customer of the store, said Allam was a really nice man. Gaines said gunfire woke him up. "Well, I couldnt say what happened. All I know is I heard the gunshots, and I woke up. I heard a burst of three or four shots, he said. "By the time I got to the door, I heard another burst." Gaines thinks the gunmen knew Allam would be leaving the store and were waiting for him. It had to be somebody that was casing the place. Thats the only way I could figure it was," Gaines said. Police said they don't have any good leads in the murder but are hoping for the public's help. Just anyone who knows anything or had heard talk... Deputy Police Chief Troy Schultz said. Whether its a little or a lot, if they would call us. Crime Stoppers is offering a $3,000 reward and the Lake Wales Police Department is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. British media are reporting Thursday morning that the UK will deploy troops, tanks and jets to Eastern Europe to deter feared Russian aggression. According to the reports, the troops will remain six months and then be replaced by a similar force from another NATO country. They say this is the biggest military build-up in Eastern Europe since the Cold War. The destination of the force is Estonia, one of three Baltic states (Estonia and Lithuania are the others) which fear that Vladimir Putin is a Stalin in disguise. They cite his intrusions into the Ukraine. Former prime minister Harper believed that Putin had covert ambitions if not a precise plan for extensions of power. It is not known where the present Canadian government stands on that type of thinking. Related Ambassador Herbert Salber, European Union (EU) Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, makes regular visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia. October 27, 2016, 14:25 Malena Mard: EU supports Minsk Group efforts STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: Ambassador Malena Mard, Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, stated the above-said, reported APA news agency of the country. In her words, within his mandate, the special representative supports peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Contacts between the EU and the parties to this conflict are very important, Mard also noted. She added that the EU strongly supports a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the respective mediation mission by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group. Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas this week announced Jerry Kersey as its new chief human resources officer. Kersey was previously a human resources business partner at the University of Kentucky's Eastern State Hospital, according to a news release from the hospital. Kersey has also worked for Community Mental Health Center as a regional manager. Capital One Capital One on Wednesday announced the appointment of Shaheen L. Farah as Beaumont market president. Farah, a Beaumont native and Lamar University graduate, has spent the past 17 years with Capital One and its predecessor bank in Beaumont and has 35 years of banking experience, according to a news release from the company. In his new post, Farah will be responsible for the design, development and implementation of strategies for Capital One in Southeast Texas. Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) called on Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton (D) to fix the state's health insurance crisis or resign, the Duluth News Tribune reports. In a press conference, Mr. Daudt said, "If I find out these people aren't working 24/7 to find a solution for these people to get health insurance on Jan. 1, I am going to call for Dayton's resignation myself, personally. This is absolutely a dereliction of leadership." Here's what you need to know. 1. The controversy stems from rate increases by several of the state's insurers. Particularly, the insurers raised rates on individual policies by 50 percent to 67 percent, and are only accepting 25,000 new customers this year. Once the limit is reached, individuals seeking insurance will have to purchase a Blue Cross Blue Shield health maintenance organization policy. 2. State republicans are considering subsidizing the 2017 premiums to address the crisis. 3. Gov. Dayton is considering asking that $313 million be diverted to help Minnesotans pay for their insurance. More articles on coding, billing and collections: Anthem expected to add several thousand jobs to Atlanta market: 3 things to know Criticism of Vermont's proposed all-payer model continues: 5 things to know Arizona's lone insurer sees growth double from Medicaid expansion: 5 thoughts Here are seven updates to note: Rush University Medical Center & Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush receive approval for $21M ASC Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved Chicago-based practices Rush University Medical Center and Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush's plans to build a new building, featuring a surgery center, in Oak Brook. The practices estimate the surgery center will cost $21 million. NJ Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers sends members to Capitol Hill in support of access to care bills A delegation of the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers traveled to Washington to meet with New Jersey congressmens' staff members to advocate for two bills which would improve access to care in ASC settings. After meeting with staffers, the delegations went to Capitol Hill and spoke to representatives about the bills and the benefits of ASCs. Revenue totals $1.3B for Pennsylvania ASCs in FY 2015, up 4.3% Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council released its 2015 annual report. which found the number of surgery centers throughout the state fell from 288 centers in FY 2014 to 286 centers in FY 2015. Revenue during FY 2015 reached $1.25 billion for ASCs, up from nearly $1.2 billion the year before. Overall, ASCs in the state performed 949,284 outpatient procedures in FY 2015, up 2.2 percent from 929,192 procedures in FY 2014. Southern Eye Center in Mississippi performs free cataract procedures As part of a national day dedicated to making a difference in the community, Hattiesburg, Miss.-based Southern Eye Clinic performed five cataract surgeries for free. The physicians at Southern Eye Center called their day of service a "backyard" mission trip. Stryker courts ASCs with Ascential spine device, inventory management solution Stryker introduced a new implant delivery solution for low-acuity spine surgeries designed for the ASC. The new solution, Ascential, offers sterile-packaged implants, customized service levels and a streamlined distribution model. It is intended for operational efficiencies, competitive pricing and reduced operating costs for ASCs. 5 states with the highest employment of RNs California ranks No. 1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked the following states based on the highest employment of registered nurses. 1. California 255,010 2. Texas 198,650 3. New York 171,880 4. Florida 168,870 5. Pennsylvania 136,090 Average ACA premium to climb 22% next year Going forth into 2017, the average premium for ACA silver plans will increase 22 percent, on average. In 2017, the benchmark silver plan will cost consumers $296 each month for consumers in states using HealthCare.gov. The benchmark silver plan's premium climbed 7.2 percent, on average, in 2016. Roughly 25 percent of voters describe future federal policies on abortion as a healthcare issue that is extremely important to their pick for president, according to a new poll. The poll, conducted in September for Politico by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,492 likely voters on a number of healthcare topics. Here are three survey findings on abortion. 1. Sixty-seven percent of women are likely to say abortion policies are extremely or very important to their presidential vote choice compared to 46 percent of men. 2. The survey found 70 percent of Hillary Clinton voters and 48 percent of Donald Trump voters favor continued federal funding of Planned Parenthood. Twenty-six percent of Clinton voters and 47 percent of Trump voters favor ending all federal funding for Planned Parenthood although federal dollars do not fund abortions. Overall, 58 percent of likely voters favor continued federal funding of Planned Parenthood, while 37 percent favor ending all federal funding for Planned Parenthood. 3. Only 36 percent of likely voters favor allowing Medicaid funding to be used for abortion services, while a majority (58% percent) oppose. Clinton voters are slightly in favor (57 percent support, 36 percent oppose), while Trump voters are decidedly against (19 percent support, 77 percent oppose). More articles on leadership and management: Becker's Speaker Series: 3 questions with The CORE Institute CMO and CMIO Dr. Michel Dagher Clinton, Trump use ACA premium hikes as campaign fodder The image of an ad for funeral home and cremation services displayed at Royal Victoria Regional Health Center's cancer hospital in Ontario, Canada, grabbed international attention this month, reports The Washington Post. The image, uploaded to Facebook by Lori Waltenbury, shows a sign that reads "Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Services" posted over RVH's parking gate. "[The ad] just dampened our spirits," Ms. Waltenbury told The Washington Post. "It's completely insensitive, people are suffering and fighting for their lives every day ... But the sign says if [patients] choose not to fight this battle, or if they lose, we have a place for you." Ms. Waltenbury said hospital officials were dismissive when she first voiced her concern over the signage. Ms. Waltenbury proceeded to post the image online. It was shared more than 1,100 times within three days. Royal Victoria Regional Health posted an official response to the image on its Facebook page. "Please allow us to say 'we are sorry,'" the statement read. "The placement was insensitive and short-sighted. Although advertising revenue does support patient programs, this ad visible to vulnerable, brave patients and families who deserve nothing but our care and compassion was simply wrong. RVH staff removed the gate advertisement early this morning." The owner of Adams Funeral Home also responded. In a statement on its website, Adams said the ad was a way to support the cancer center, which helped the owner's wife fight cancer. Columbia Family Medical Group and University of Missouri Health Care, both in Columbia, Mo., are integrating healthcare resources through a formal affiliation. Here are six things to know about the affiliation. 1. The affiliation brings together MU Health Care and Columbia Family Medical Group, which has provided primary care in central Missouri for 40 years. MU Health Care has more than 500 university physicians, including approximately 70 family and community medicine providers. Columbia Family Medical Group, an eight-provider group, comprises six board-certified and board-eligible physicians, one advanced nurse practitioner and one physician assistant, along with 32 other health professionals, support and administrative staff. 2. Columbia Family Medical Group physicians have privileges at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia. With the new affiliation, they also will have privileges at University Hospital, MU Women's and Children's Hospital, and other MU Health Care facilities, according to a news release. 3. Under the new affiliation, Columbia Family Medical Group will keep its unique identity, and Columbia Family Medical Group physicians and staff will continue to serve patients at the same location, officials said. 4. MU Health Care will establish a separate corporation for the affiliation. 5. Mitch Wasden, CEO of MU Health Care, expressed excitement about the affiliation. "This affiliation will allow both Columbia Family Medical Group and University of Missouri Health Care to create new opportunities to collaborate, improve and promote high quality care for patients in central Missouri," he said in a statement. 6. George Prica, MD, medical director of Columbia Family Medical Group, echoed Mr. Wasden, saying: "This new affiliation between Columbia Family Medical Group and MU Health is a model for integrating healthcare resources to better serve patients, while preserving the historic strengths of Columbia's community physicians." More articles on healthcare industry transactions and collaborations: Shuttered NC hospital accepts Duke LifePoint's proposal Dignity Health, CHI ink agreement to explore further alignment CHS to sell controlling interest in home health business for $128M A Lewisville, Texas, mother recently welcomed a baby girl at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, 12 weeks after physicians partially delivered her to remove a spinal tumor and then returned her to the womb to allow for normal development, according to The Washington Post. Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox! The baby's mother, Margaret Boeme, and her husband first found about the tumor during a prenatal appointment. "[My prenatal physician] was very concerned about it because of the size of the tumor being that early along," the baby's mother, Margaret Boeme, told The Washington Post. "She felt like that there was a strong possibility that [the baby], Lynlee, would not make it to term." Medical professionals subsequently advised the couple to visit two more specialized hospitals in Houston for additional opinions. One hospital in Houston "strongly recommended" the Boemers end the pregnancy, and they were told performing open fetal surgery was too risky, according to the report. Physicians at Texas Children's Hospital meanwhile examined the tumor and agreed that in utero surgery was needed, and the couple found out that two physicians there Darrell Cass, MD, and Oluyinka Olutoye, MD, had previously successfully done such a procedure, reports The Washington Post. Mrs. Boemer ultimately went into surgery after careful consideration. Lynlee's heart stopped and needed to be restarted in the middle of the procedure, and the baby also required a blood transfusion, according to the report. However, the surgery, conducted by Drs. Cass and Olutoye and a team of about 20 others, was ultimately successful. After the surgery, Lynlee continued to grow, and last June nearly 36 weeks into her pregnancy Mrs. Boemer underwent a C-section, according to the report. "You can say she's seen the world twice," Dr. Olutoye said in the report. Lynlee underwent another surgery when she was eight days old to remove the rest of the tumor from her tailbone, according to the report. The report states that she may need to have some pelvic muscles reconstructed in the future, but is otherwise recovering well. In recent weeks, WikiLeaks got access to an email showing parts of a speech that Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton made to medical companies and trade groups in 2014, which showed the candidate taking a more "conciliatory" tone, according to Kaiser Health News. Here are four things to know: 1. In a 2014 speech to Advanced Medical Technology Association, Ms. Clinton said she understood the important role the company plays in the healthcare industry, and evaded a question probing her about a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices intended to fund that ACA. Following fierce industry lobbying, the tax was suspended until 2017. 2. A Clinton campaign spokesperson said Ms. Clinton has continually worked to make pharmaceutical companies accountable and asked for them to place patients above profits. The hacked emails show Ms. Clinton avoiding questions about policies companies may contest while also articulating her understanding of the vital role these companies play in healthcare, KHN reports. 3. Moving forward in her campaign, Ms. Clinton has taken a stand against the pharmaceutical industry. Her website called out Pfizer and Allergan during talks of a proposed merger for Pfizer moving its headquarters to Ireland, thereby "eroding the U.S. tax base." 4. The pharmaceutical and health product industry has provided Ms. Clinton nearly $11.6 million during her campaign and other groups supporting the candidate. Donald Trump also has accepted contributions from the healthcare industry, with health professionals providing the Republican candidate $1.5 million in contributions. Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Oct. 27, 2016. Mazor commercially launches Mazor X The company launched Mazor X commercially at the North American Spine Society Annual Meeting after the July 2016 pre-launch generated orders from U.S. customers. Medtronic entered into a co-marketing, promotion and training agreement with Mazor in May to move toward commercialization. The company expects the commercialization to drive further sales of the company's product portfolio, including the Renaissance robotic spine surgery system. NASS issues 1st coverage recommendations for electrical bone growth stimulators for spinal fusion The North American Spine Society issued the first coverage recommendations for electrical bone growth stimulators. The coverage recommendations support using pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation devices for spinal fusion surgery. These recommendations suggest using the devices for both cervical and lumbar spinal regions. Stryker courts ASCs with Ascential spine device, inventory management solution Stryker introduced a new implant delivery solution for low-acuity spine surgeries designed for the ambulatory surgery center. The new solution, Ascential, offers sterile-packaged implants, customized service levels and a streamlined distribution model. It is intended for operational efficiencies, competitive pricing and reduced operating costs for ASCs. Dr. Thomas Scully performs 1st surgery implanting PRO-LINK Ti system Thomas B. Scully, MD, of Northwest NeuroSpecialists in Tucson, Ariz., became the first surgeon to implant Life Spine's PRO-LINK Ti Stand-Alone Cervical Spacer System during an outpatient procedure on Oct. 20. The FDA cleared Huntley, Ill.-based Life Spine's PRO-LINK Ti in September. It is a low-profile, standalone cervical interbody device, featuring Osseo-Loc technology. Congress of Neurological Surgeons President Dr. Russell Lonser emphasizes big data in evolving neurosurgical field At the Congress of Neurological Surgeons annual meeting in San Diego, Russell Lonser, MD, delivered the presidential address with an emphasis on technology and big data. Dr. Lonser noted the neurosurgery field is quickly changing in light of information sharing. He encouraged neurosurgeons to get on board with the Information Age, as data acquisition, storage, analysis and sharing will enhance neurosurgery in clinical practice, education and research. 80% of physicians say their practices are at capacity or over-extended Eighty percent of physicians say they are at capacity or over-extended, according to the 2016 Survey of America's Physicians. Fourteen percent of those surveyed feel they have the time necessary to provide the "highest standards of care." Of those surveyed, 52.4 percent reported they are at full capacity and 28.2 percent said they feel overextended or overworked. Dr. Mark Giovanini performs 1st spine surgery with Avenue T Pensacola, Fla.-based NeuroMicroSpine's Mark Giovanini, MD, performed the first outpatient transformational lumbar interbody fusion with the FDA-approved Avenue T device from LDR. Avenue T is a standalone interbody device that doesn't require any other supplemental fixation. The surgeon can place the interbody device through a small incision with minimal blood loss. PA staffing models yield similar clinical outcomes JCOM published a study finding a hospitalist group with a high physician assistant-to-physician ratio yielded similar clinical outcomes when compared to a hospitalist group with a low PA-to-physician ratio. Researchers noted 14.05 percent of patients in the expanded PA group were readmitted within 30 days, compared to 13.69 percent of patients in the conventional staffing PA model. For the expanded PA group, the average charge to the patient totaled $2,644, less than $2,724 for the conventional group. Researchers concluded an expanded PA hospitalist staffing model at a community hospital yielded similar outcomes at a decreased cost of care. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Bombardier is bringing forward another 200 jobs losses in Belfast one year earlier than planned, it's emerged. It planned to slash 1,080 jobs in 2016 and 2017. Around half of those were supposed to go this year, with the remainder in 2017. The company has already brought forward 100 or so posts, but now the remainder around 200 additional staff will lose their jobs this year. It comes just after the Canadian plane maker announced a further 7,500 staff cuts globally, prompting fears of hundreds of job losses here in Northern Ireland. A spokeswoman for Bombardier said: "We have advised our employees that we are initiating the process to conclude the planned workforce reduction originally announced in February. We now expect to complete the release of those impacted within our Belfast workforce within the next few months. "This is a very difficult and challenging time for all our workforce and their families, but it is crucial to our long-term future that we continue to significantly reduce our costs and improve our competitiveness. "We will continue to explore ways to mitigate the number of compulsory redundancies in relation to the completion of this workforce reduction." Davy Thompson of union Unite, said: "Bombardiers announcement will mean that all 1,080 redundancies planned over a two year period will now happen in the current year; 200 more workers will receive redundancy in the months to come. This decision has been made against a backdrop where the companys corporate management are seeking an additional 7,500 job-losses globally. While we are disappointed at the news we recognise that it reflects the desire of local management to sustain more operations in Belfast for the long-term. Unite will continue working with management locally with the aim of securing jobs and defending terms and conditions, Mr Thompson continued." The plane maker, which employs around 5,000 staff in Belfast, is understood to be cutting two-thirds of the jobs in Bombardier Transportation. The rest of the cuts will be made in the aerospace division. But the company has not said how many Northern Ireland jobs will be affected. Bombardier's main operation here is in Belfast, but it also has factories in Newtownabbey, Dunmurry and Newtownards. A spokeswoman for Bombardier in Belfast said: "Following the update by Bombardier Inc on its five-year turnaround plan, we will be evaluating the impact on our Belfast operations and will communicate with our employees when that is completed. "We are not in a position to elaborate further at this time." U2 are among the acts which have played the SSE Arena in Belfast The Odyssey Pavilion in Belfast is planning to build a massive solar plant on top of the building, it can be revealed. Plans show a solar panel scheme spread across the top of the concert venue, now the SSE Arena, and right across the entire Odyssey complex, which would help power the facility. It will feature more than 1,200 roof mounted photo-voltaic panels, spread right across the entire building. The arena has played host to some of the world's biggest acts, including U2, Beyonce, Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen. The Odyssey Pavilion includes W5 along with several bars and restaurants. The solar scheme will provide around 6% of the complex's total energy needs, and will generate around 300megawatt hours of electricity each year. Brian Connolly, general manager, SSE Airtricity energy services, told the Belfast Telegraph: "As naming rights partner of The SSE Arena, Belfast and education partner of the W5 Science and Discovery Centre, we're proud to play our part in assisting the Odyssey Trust with improving their energy management at the Odyssey Complex, focusing on ways to decrease energy use and reduce carbon emissions. "Already, 100% of the energy we supply to the complex is from renewable sources. "We believe that we can further significantly reduce the complex's carbon footprint through the installation on-site of a roof-mounted solar photo-voltaic solution which, under the proposals submitted via the planning process to Belfast City Council. "This would have the capacity to generate over 300 megawatt hours of green electricity per annum, equivalent to around 6% of the total annual electricity load at the complex. "It's a prospect that both teams at SSE Airtricity and the Odyssey Trust are really excited to be exploring and together we look forward to the decision by the planning authorities." Documents also show a detailed analysis and study was carried out to determine whether the array would have any reflective impact on aircraft from Belfast City Airport. In an executive summary, the report says: "The analysis in this report has shown that no significant detrimental impact to the safe operations of aviation activity at George Best Belfast City Airport is expected." It's the latest major solar project to get under way here, after the Belfast Telegraph revealed Dale Farm's plans to add the multi-million pound solar array last year. Dale Farm, which is working with CES Energy, will switch to solar power for much of the energy requirements at its cheese processing facility in Dunmanbridge, Co Tyrone. Work is due to start during the middle of 2017 on the 37-acre site, which will be made up of 18,000 solar modules. It's estimated the solar farm will provide around a fifth of the company's energy needs. Last month, the Belfast Telegraph revealed a Co Antrim solar power firm is building a 24-bedroom 'green' hotel that will be powered entirely by renewable energy. Pearse McHenry, managing director of BHC Distributors, said it will run the new development solely with wind and solar energy. And Northern Ireland's first large-scale solar farm has been completed in Antrim. Lightsource Renewable Energy, a major European solar energy company - headed by Antrim man Nick Boyle - is behind the scheme, which will now provide power to the nearby Belfast International Airport. Those behind the scheme say it will provide as much as a third of the airport's power needs and at its peak capacity could power 1,200 homes. A British Airways plane on the runway behind cargo containers adorned with Britains New Runway, at Heathrow Airport as a third runway at the airport has been given the go-ahead by the government Northern Ireland construction firms could see "big opportunities" with the expansion of Heathrow Airport, it's been claimed. And during a visit to Belfast yesterday, the UK's Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad said the green light for the third runway "is a boon for the economy as a whole, and for the local economies". Asked whether there will be a visible impact and boost to Northern Ireland's economy, he said: "There will be over 60bn worth of boost to the UK economy as a whole. Yes, when you open up different gateways to different paths of the country, including, and sustaining and strengthening routes into Belfast, that will mean new investment, new opportunities and new businesses looking to Northern Ireland." Brian Ambrose, chief executive of Belfast City Airport, said aside from adding new routes, some of Northern Ireland's big construction firms could benefit from huge levels of work as a result of the third runway. "We are delighted with the decision. I think Heathrow is, and will always be, the main hub airport to give us connectivity to the rest of the world," he said. "I think the benefits will flow. There are a number of Northern Ireland companies with the expertise. In the construction phase, there will be big opportunities." And John Armstrong of the Construction Employers Federation said: "Not only is Heathrow the right decision for Northern Ireland, but its development also has great potential for our local construction industry. "Many local contractors already have significant expertise in this type of development and, from both a main contractor and supply chain perspective, the opportunities will be substantial. That being said, there are many hurdles that the scheme has yet to clear." Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Lord Ahmad said: "While it's a decision we have taken in the national interest, my being here underlines that this is an important decision for the whole country. "We want to not only strengthen those routes, but also with the build of the new runway it opens up new routes. And he said "there will be opportunity for Belfast International Airport". "In terms of regional connectivity... I think it's great news." In the short-term, Lord Ahmad said it will firm up and ensure businesses do not look elsewhere, knowing the expansion is on the way. Speaking about Brexit, he said: "We are not leaving Europe, and we will continue to have established and strong relations with our European partners, but not to the detriment of international relations - the message is a very positive one." Dr Esmond Birnie, senior economist of the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre, said: "Especially in a post-Brexit world, we need to connect and trade more with the most distant parts of the world economy. Increased airport capacity in the London area will help to achieve that." Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey has called on the government to guarantee slots at Heathrow for regional airports. Eurowings operates out of UK airports including Heathrow, Manchester and Glasgow German airline Lufthansa has cancelled hundreds of flights at its budget unit Eurowings, affecting 40,000 passengers, because of a strike by cabin crew. The airline said about 400 flights have been cancelled on Thursday, including most connections inside Germany. Many of its European flights have also been cancelled but long-distance services and those from Frankfurt and Munich are not affected. The UFO union called the 24-hour strike starting at midnight after arbitration failed to achieve an agreement late on Wednesday. Members are seeking concessions on issues including pay, working conditions and pensions. Eurowings, which also operates flights under the Germanwings brand, said customers should check its website to see whether their flight is affected. The airline operates out of UK airports including Heathrow, Manchester and Glasgow. Ofgem said Co-operative Energy let customers down in its complaints resolution, call handling and billing processes Co-operative Energy is paying out 1.8 million in compensation to customers after subjecting them to "unacceptable" levels of service. Ofgem said Co-operative Energy let customers down in its complaints resolution, call handling and billing processes. The regulator and Citizens Advice saw a steep increase in complaints after customers were unable to log into their accounts online, leaving them unable to submit meter readings or check their bill. Bills were delayed and direct debit updates stopped, and new customers also experienced delay transferring to the supplier. Ofgem said Co-operative also took too long to resolve a significant number of customer complaints. The issues were the result of the introduction of a new IT system in March 2015. Co-operative has already paid out 1.6 million, and any amount it cannot return will go to the charity StepChange to help energy consumers who are in financial difficulties. Ofgem senior partner Martin Crouch said: "While customers experienced unacceptable levels of service, Co-operative Energy has done the right thing by taking responsibility for the situation and paying out compensation to those people affected. "If trust is to be restored in the energy market suppliers must make amends to their customers when things go wrong. We want all suppliers to constantly ensure customers are treated fairly." Ben Reid, chief executive of Midcounties Co-operative, said: "As the UK's only member-owned energy supplier, we put our customers at the heart of everything we do and their interests first. "We have apologised to those customers who were affected by the problems we experienced when we introduced a new IT system last year. "The system issues are now resolved and we have made significant improvements to our service." Chief Ombudsman Lewis Shand Smith said: " We've been working closely with Co-operative Energy to help them improve their customer service following the difficult introduction of their new IT system earlier this year. Some good progress has been made, but there is still a lot of work to do. "In the first six months of this year, we received 692 complaints about Co-operative Energy, 3% of the total for the energy sector. A significant proportion of their customers have experienced issues, and we're committed to helping them get back in track following a series of IT glitches. "We encourage any consumer who has complained to Co-operative Energy but remains dissatisfied with their response to contact Ombudsman Services." Sophie Dekkers said the aviation industry employs 220,000 people and contributes 12 billion to the UK economy A director at budget airline easyJet said she is confident that a post-Brexit airspace deal can be reached between the EU and Britain - in light of the benefits to each economy. Sophie Dekkers, the firm's UK country director, played down concerns that an airspace deal would hang in the balance once Britain leaves the European Union. Current agreements allow operators to fly across the continent in a deregulated environment. "The risk of reduced access is a technical problem, but I think it will be solved because it's in the interest of both parties." She added: "There are a number of EU airlines that are lobbying from their side on it, so Air France, KLM and Lufthansa ... it's in their interest to have access to the UK market, too." Ms Dekkers said that aviation should be given special status during Brexit negotiations, adding that the industry employs 220,000 people and contributes 12 billion to the UK economy. "We would actually urge that aviation is looked at as a separate entity outside of the trade agreements because it's in both parties' interests. "It's not an import or export, it's an enabler, so certainty we would emphasize that as an approach," she said. EasyJet is currently in the process of establishing air operator certificates that allow the airline to separately operate in UK and EU jurisdictions, she explained. "But what that won't enable is the UK-to-EU connectivity. So there does need to be a bespoke agreement to establish that connection between the two ... it's not covered by the WTO (World Trade Organisation) so we don't have a backup, a fall-back interest, really." Ms Dekkers was speaking to the House of Lords EU Internal Market Sub-Committee on the future of services trade between the EU and the UK after Brexit. Reports have emerged that RBS is looking to settle some of the outstanding cases A group representing more than 27,000 retail investors is to press ahead with its compensation claim against the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) despite reports that the lender is looking to settle some outstanding cases. The RBoS Shareholder Action Group said it will continue its 1.25 billion compensation claim on behalf of investors who lost money after subscribing to shares during the RBS rights issue in 2008. The group claims that ex-directors at the bank had misrepresented its underlying strength at the time and failed to include "critical information" in its prospectus. The Edinburgh-based lender, which is 73% owned by the taxpayer, is said to have held discussions with a group of institutional investors in a bid to settle a number of cases against the bank, Sky News reported on Wednesday. A spokesman at the RBoS Shareholder Action Group said: "We note reports in the media that other shareholder group(s) may be close to settling their claims against RBS. "We wish those claimants well, but today's reports make no difference to our action group's litigation against the bank." Former RBS chief executive Fred Goodwin will be among the defendants when the trial is held at the London High Court on March 6 next year. As well as retail investors, RBoS represents a number of UK local authority pension funds and financial institutions, including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Abbey Life, Axa, Aberdeen Asset Management and Lloyd's of London. RBS declined to comment. Alphabet, the parent company of technology giant Google, has reported a 20% jump in revenue in its latest financial results. Meanwhile Amazon also reported positive numbers in its own results - with sales for the e-commerce giant up 29% on the same period last year to 32.7 billion US dollars (26.8 billion). Amazon chief Jeff Bezos suggested the launch of smart home assistant Amazon Echo in the US and UK, which is powered by artificial intelligence called Alexa, was a key part of the growth. "Alexa may be Amazon's most loved invention yet - literally - with over 250,000 marriage proposals from customers and counting," he said. "And she's just getting better. Because Alexa's brain is in the cloud, we can easily and continuously add to her capabilities and make her more useful - wait until you see some of the surprises the team is working on now." Alphabet's strong results were driven by revenue of 22.5 billion dollars (18.4 billion) for the last quarter, up from 18.7 billion dollars (15.3 billion) in the same period last year. As expected, the vast majority of this money came from the Google business, with only around 200 million dollars coming from the so-called "Other Bets" area of Alphabet as a whole, which includes the self-driving car business and technology it continues to test in California. Alphabet's chief financial officer Ruth Porat said: " We had a great third quarter, with 20% revenue growth year on year, and 23% on a constant currency basis. Mobile search and video are powering our core advertising business and we're excited about the progress of newer businesses in Google and Other Bets." The Other Bets segment of the company, which contains the so-called "moonshot idea" projects including driverless cars and WiFi signal-carrying weather balloons continues to operate at a loss, however this dropped from 980 million dollars (804 million) in the last quarter to 865 million dollars (710 million) in the latest results. The reports were in stark contrast to those of Twitter, who opted to release its latest financial report before markets opened in the US on Thursday morning. The firm made a net loss of 102 million US dollars (83 million) in the three months to the end of September, also announcing that it will be cutting more than 300 jobs globally as part of a shake-up of the business. Later the social media giant also revealed it was to discontinue video sharing service Vine "in the coming months". Tense: Jamie Dornan as the serial killer Paul Spector, and Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson in scenes from BBC thriller The Fall Tense: Jamie Dornan as the serial killer Paul Spector, and Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson in scenes from BBC thriller The Fall The serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan) and his wife Sally Ann (Bronagh Waugh) - (C) Artists Studio - Photographer: Steffan Hill Double trouble: John Lynch has loved working with Gillian Anderson in The Fall Arresting performance: John Lynch's character in The Fall, Assistant Chief Constable Jim Burns, has unfinished business with DSI Stella Gibson, played by Gillian Anderson Double trouble: John Lynch has loved working with Gillian Anderson in The Fall Role play: Jamie Dornan has admitted he stalked a woman on the underground for his part in The Fall, alongside Gillian Anderson HUNTING SEASON: Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson and Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector in The Fall The Fall - Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson's game of cat and mouse [Photos] Close The end is nigh and The Fall fans are bracing themselves with just two episodes left to find out what becomes of Paul Spector. There had been an excruciating wait after Spector (Jamie Dornan) lay shot in the arms of detective Stella Gibson in the excruciating cliff-hanger end of series two. But now, with Spector very much alive, attention is turning to how the series will wrap up. And with just two episodes left - there is a lot of ground to cover. The final two episodes will air on consecutive nights - Thursday October 27 and Friday October 28. The final chapter between Gibson and Spector will air across two nights, the 27th and 28th October, on BBC Two. #TheFall pic.twitter.com/ZsKAgn5eR4 BBC Two (@BBCTwo) October 20, 2016 The show stars Holywood's Jamie Dornan as serial killer Spector and X-Files FBI agent Gillian Anderson as tough-talking detective Gibson. Gibson, seconded to Belfast from the Metropolitan Police, is tasked to sniff out serial killer Spector who stalks the city streets for his female prey. Read more: Read More Speaking previously about series three, Dornan said: "You can expect the unexpected. There's quite remarkable turns in the third season that I really genuinely think people won't see coming that are hugely exciting." This series got off to a rocky start with many comparing it to a medical drama after a lengthy opening episode focusing on the hospital treatment for Spector. The serial killer claims he can't remember any of the heinous crimes he has committed and thinks he is in 2006 - but will a quizzing from Stella tonight jog his memory? The trailer for Thursday's night instalment hears Gibson say: "Drop the charade Peter, you remember everything". Who do you think will win the final fight between Spector and Stella? The final two episodes will air on Thursday October 27 and Friday October 28 at 9pm on BBC2. Abba are set to work on a project together for the first time since their split over 30 years ago Swedish supergroup Abba will be "reuniting" formally for the first time since their split over 30 years ago to work on a project with music mogul Simon Fuller. The popular quartet Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad parted ways in 1982 after a successful 10-year stint. The group has announced they will work with Fuller, who rose to fame managing the Spice Girls, on what is being described as a groundbreaking venture that will utilise the very latest in digital and virtual reality technology. Lyngstad said fans around the world always ask about a reunion, and added: I hope this new Abba creation will excite them as much as it excites me. Andersson said: Were inspired by the limitless possibilities of what the future holds and are loving being a part of creating something new and dramatic here. A time machine that captures the essence of who we were. And are. The full details of the new project have not been announced but the foursome will be involved in the creative process with a view to maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the bands original vision. Executive Artistic Director of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble Cleo Parker Robinson, international prodcuer and American choreographer Sean McLeod, and company manager and choreographer Winifred Harris were able to catch up during a tour to McLeods hometown. The resting place of Harriet Tubman. The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble came to Auburn hosted by Cayuga Community College and brought by CCC Student Activities Director Norman Lee. It was a reunion of friends Sean McLeod, Winifred Harris and Cleo, who had provided career opportunities and invitations to teach master classes and work with the company in Denver for McLeod the past 20 years. The Cayuga Community College hosted a master class with the African American Icon of dance Cleo Parker Robinson for college students and local dance students where she also graciously shared her light and introduced her friend Sean McLeod and the company manager and choreographer Winifred Harris. A letter written by John Lennon to the Queen explaining why he returned his MBE has been valued at 60,000, say auctioneers. The note remains in royal archives but a version of the letter was brought along by a member of public to a memorabilia event in Liverpool on Wednesday. The person, who wishes to remain anonymous, assumed it was a copy and said they found it tucked away inside the sleeve of a record contained in a collection of 45rpm singles they bought for 10 at a car boot sale 20 years ago. Recently unearthed in the owner's attic, the letter has been described by as an "incredible find" by Darren Julien of Los Angeles-based Julien's Auctions who believes it may be the original letter. Mr Julien has a theory that Lennon's letter was a draft version that he never sent to the Queen because the ink in the signature had been smudged. He said: "If you're writing to the Queen, you want the letter to look pretty perfect, you don't want the ink to be smudged. This suggests that he wrote a second version of the letter, which was the one that was actually sent to the Queen. "We'll be doing some further research but this could be the Beatles find of the year. There is no doubt that the handwriting is definitely that of John Lennon." In his letter, Lennon wrote: "Your Majesty I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the chart. "With love John Lennon "John Lennon of Bag." The letter was one of a number of items belonging to members of the public that were valued during the memorabilia day at The Beatles Story exhibition at the city's Albert Dock. Martin King, of The Beatles Story, said: "This is an absolute gem and we are thrilled to have seen a piece of memorabilia with such historical significance. Ironically, 26th October was the day that The Beatles received their MBEs from The Queen so it's quite fitting that the letter was brought into us on the exact same date many years later." Just write: author Sophia Hillan had her first novel published in 2014 and shows no signs of slowing down Not letting your children draw bunny rabbits or scribbles on your work is the best piece of advice Belfast author Sophia Hillan was given when she was a working mum balancing her career and family of two children, Judith and John King. Sophia (66), whose second novel The Way We Danced is out now, explains: "I was advised by a good friend when I was working to do it at the kitchen table beside them as they did their homework. That way everyone was included." Now, though, her children are grown up with careers of their own, and the Belfast writer is showing no signs of slacking off - in fact, she has just signed a three-book deal and has many speaking assignments lined up at various book and literary festivals. The latest offering from Sophia promises to be one of her best and has been well-received by critics. The story revolves around a bored female historian, Ruth Deacon, who inadvertently taps into an old woman's memories to unlock a wonderful love story. As the tale traverses both pre-war Germany and post-ceasefire Northern Ireland, an elderly woman tells of a romance which has dominated her life. While anyone reading Sophia's books will feel she is a natural writer, it has never been her main career. It was, though, a famous home-grown literary figure who proved an inspiration to her writing aspirations. When she studied at Queen's University she was taught by Seamus Heaney and the famous poet encouraged her to write and read widely in a bid to hone her craft. "I was so fortunate to have been taught by him," she adds. "After university I worked as an academic at Queen's University writing papers and lecturing, but I was always writing short stories in my spare time." And success soon followed for Sophia. "I was delighted when I was nominated for a Hennessy Award in 1980 and a prize in Sam Bell's BBC short stories and I was also published in David Marcus's New Irish Writing." As an academic Sophia wrote her PhD on famous short story writer and novelist Michael McLaverty, who was born in Carrickmacross but spent the last years of his life in the fishing village of Ardglass, and she published widely on Irish literature in the 19th and 20th centuries. Sophia's short stories attracted considerable attention, as she adds: "One of my short stories was read on BBC 4 by Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith in Downton Abbey which was a huge compliment. "The story was The Portrait of Elizabeth, written from the perspective of Jane Austen's sister-in-law Elizabeth Austen. "I was honoured when the BBC commissioned me to write this piece and even more delighted when Laura Carmichael agreed to read it. She was the perfect choice." A former associate director of Irish Studies at Queen's University, Sophia has been concentrating more on her writing since leaving the post in 2003. In 2011, Sophia's research lead her to writing a book about Jane Austen's three nieces who lived in Ireland. May, Lou and Cass was published by Blackstaff. "I always knew I wanted to write a novel and in 2014 the Friday Tree, my first novel, was published." And like all good writers the inspiration for her latest book is based on a real love story which was just waiting to be written. "A student of mine told me a true story about a Belfast lady falling in love with a German soldier and no one ever knew until later when some of their letters were found," she says. "I carried that story around in my head for 14 years and couldn't stop thinking about it so eventually I asked her if I could turn it into a novel and she gave me her blessing which was wonderful. "That became The Way We Danced which is about the war in Belfast and also the 1994 ceasefire here." Because of the historical significance of the novel which touches on the Second World War and the more recent Troubles - or rather the post-ceasefire years, Sophia went to painstaking lengths to ensure all the dates and details were accurate. "It took me three years to write as I wanted to get the research and all the history as the backdrop correct," she explains. And a fortunate twist of fate meant she could combine some all-important fact-checking while seeing her son. "During this time John was studying in Berlin and when he was there I went over to visit him and he took me to a beautiful old ballroom, which became an important place in my novel. It was bombed twice but it survived and people go there to dance by candlelight. It is truly magical and it is central to my story. "My ideas and inspiration come from all sorts of places and I can carry things around with me for years and then turn into a piece of writing. It is like the pearl in the oyster." Nowadays, her daughter Judith is a playwright and TV producer and John is a software engineer. Sophia says her children are both proud of her and all her work. "I am equally proud of them and their chosen career paths," she says. "We are a very close family and spend as much time together as possible. In the summer we all went on holiday together to Venice. "On the plane going out, Judith's iPad died so I gave her a proof of The Way We Danced and she never lifted her head to speak to me until she had it finished which was a true compliment. She loved it. "I admire her talents and completely trust her so it means a lot that she gave it her seal of approval." Sophia says putting pen to paper is not an effort but a labour of love. "I love writing and when I am working on something it consumes me," she adds. "I spend a lot of my time in libraries making notes and then I write for three or four hours a day when I am working on something. "Sometimes when it gets near the end and we are on the third or fourth draft of a piece and working with the publisher I can find myself working into the night. "I always carry a notebook with me in case an idea comes to me or I see something or read something of interest. "I make a point of writing it down and you never know what it might become later." And the good news is for Sophia Hillan fans is there is more to come. "I have a three-book deal with the publishers so I am already working on my third novel. "A lot of it is still in my head and hasn't made it onto paper yet but that is the way I work." Between writing and continuing to lecture, Sophia has little spare time on her hands. "I like to walk every day to keep myself fit and active, I do pilates every week and I have recently gone back to tai chi which I love," she says. "I also love to travel and have friends in England who I visit a lot. I used to travel further afield a lot more when I was younger." But at a time of life when most of us would think about slowing down there is no stopping this enthusiastic writer. "In June next year the Jane Austen Society from Australia will be touring Ireland and I will be part of the group taking them to see where the nieces lived. "I am also speaking at the Book Festival on World Book Day and my novel is being launched in November. It's fair to say I am pretty busy and there is never a dull moment. The Way We Danced, Amazon, 12.99, is published by Ward River Press A high profile Sinn Fein member has said she has quit the party over its stance on abortion. Anne Brolly is now a leading member of a new republican lobby group Cherish All Children Equally. The former Limavady Mayor who has served on the council for almost 15 years told the BBC she "can't compromise on principle". Last year Sinn Fein changed its policy on abortion to allow terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality. Unlike Britain, the 1967 Abortion Act does not extend to Northern Ireland, where abortions are illegal except where the life or mental health of the mother is in danger. Mrs Brolly said: "I also believe that the party has to be reflective of all the views of all the people who vote for them and I don't think that that is maybe happening. "It's an abuse of power to make people vote against their conscience, so it was from that perspective that I left Sinn Fein." She added: "It was difficult enough for me to walk away because, I think, Sinn Fein have done a lot of very good things. "They have brought us through a peace process and I became involved in Sinn Fein after the peace because I felt I had a contribution to make. "It was on the basis of community that I got involved with the party although ultimately I will always support them in their drive towards a united Ireland." A Sinn Fein spokeswoman said: "The Sinn Fein position on abortion has been debated and agreed over a long period of time at Ard Fheiseanna. Life-threatening new psychoactive substances which mimic the effects of drugs including cannabis are allegedly entering Hydebank Drugs are becoming more readily available at a young offenders' centre in Northern Ireland, an inspection has found. Unpredictable and life-threatening new psychoactive substances which mimic the effects of cannabis, heroin or amphetamines are allegedly entering Hydebank Wood College. Synthetic cannabis not detected by normal drugs tests was also used, prisoners and staff told reviewers. The supply is leading to bullying and intimidation, according to Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland. However the watchdog commended the Northern Ireland Prison Service for delivering significant improvements in outcomes and greater emphasis on rehabilitation. It said: " Nevertheless, more young men than at our previous inspection told us they felt unsafe. "Those we spoke to told us that the increased availability of drugs and concentrations of young men with very challenging behaviour were leading to bullying and intimidation. "There were early signs that new psychoactive substances were entering the prison, further adding to safety concerns." Hydebank houses young people aged 18-21 in Belfast and focuses on education and employment. Inspections of Hydebank and Ash House, Northern Ireland's women's prison, were conducted in May by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority and the Education and Training Inspectorate. The independent experts said w ork to address problems with drugs remained under-developed and needed to be urgently improved to ensure those held were kept safe and could maximise the opportunities presented . "In addition, violence reduction work needed to be more co-ordinated to ensure the challenges faced were better understood, and effectively addressed." It said initiatives to limit the drug supply were weak. There is a joint effort with the PSNI in an attempt to deter drugs being brought through visits. "The young men and staff said drugs, including synthetic cannabis (a man-made drug that mimics the effects of cannabis but is much stronger with no discernible odour and cannot be detected by drug tests) and illicit medication, were easily available. "Random Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT) positive rates were not excessive but when refusals were included, it did point to significant concerns about the illicit use of drugs." Brendan McGuigan, chief inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland and Peter Clarke, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales, said a major shift had occurred in the ethos of the facilities. "In contrast with the concerning findings highlighted in 2013, inspectors found there was a clear focus on providing enhanced educational and learning opportunities on the site. "This vision centered on helping both young men and women prisoners break the cycle of reoffending and offering assistance in the process of rehabilitation to help offenders live a more purposeful, law-abiding life on release." Inspectors found performance at Hydebank Wood Secure College and Ash House had improved or been maintained in areas like safety and resettlement compared to 2013. Justice minister Claire Sugden said: "The positive results of this latest inspection are testament to the work of all the staff at Hydebank Wood to transform the centre into the first secure college in the UK. "By placing education at the centre of its work, staff encourage people in custody to address their offending behaviour and help prepare them to play a constructive role when they return to the community." An Ulster Unionist peer has said he was left horrified after hearing evidence from former foreign secretary Jack Straw, which he said suggested the victims of Libya-sponsored IRA terrorism "were expendable". The former Labour minister told Westminster's Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that British negotiators with Libya decided they were unlikely to succeed in a bid for compensation for Colonel Gaddafi's support for IRA terrorism. The dictator's regime would have insisted republican atrocities like the Old Bailey bombing were not their direct responsibility, Mr Straw added. Victims of IRA attacks using Libyan Semtex are pressing for UK government support in their campaign for compensation from massive amounts of frozen assets seized from the toppled administration. Mr Straw said the north Africans had accepted culpability for the Lockerbie plane bombing and the fatal shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in 1984. He said: "They were directly responsible for those acts of terrorism. If you went to a British court on this issue and sought to argue liability for those two sets of matters and liability in respect of PIRA terrorism, you would have greater difficulty if the Libyans were to resist, as I suspect they would, in showing that there was a clear chain of causation between the supply of terrorism and the actual injuries and deaths which resulted. "That was the difficulty, that was what the Libyans were resisting, and that is why a judgment had been made, an overall judgment had been made that we were not going to get very far pursuing that." While the US, France and Germany negotiated multimillion-pound settlements with Muammar Gaddafi for its citizens impacted by Libyan-directed terrorism, the previous Labour government in the UK has been heavily criticised for not striking a similar deal. Mr Straw - who served as Foreign Secretary from 2001 to 2006 and helped secure a 2003 deal for Gaddafi to give up his weapons of mass destruction programmes - told the committee: "Although they admitted they had supplied the Semtex, there was no parallel acceptance of responsibility, and still less an acceptance by them of the case for compensation for those victims." Speaking afterwards, Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey said: "I was horrified at the lack of priority given to the interests of the victims of Gadaffi sponsored terrorism in the UK. "Jack Straw re-enforced the feeling among victims that they were expendable. To argue that as many victims already had received UK compensation their cases were less of a priority was outrageous. "Mr Straw failed to note that the compensation they were paid came from UK taxpayers. Gaddafi got away with it. Boat loads of weapons were sent by him and these weapons gave the IRA tremendous leverage." Kate Hoey, a Belfast-born Labour backbencher, asked why the deaths of 3,500 victims of Libyan Semtex were deemed less important to the government. Mr Straw said that was an outrageous suggestion. Mr Straw said compensation for IRA terrorism was never raised with him. He said: "Negotiators were trying to remove a serious palpable threat from Libya. Our focus was on getting the Libyans to admit to these holdings, to get inspectors in and have all the chemical weapons and nuclear facilities dismantled and made safe. Had we refused an agreement on the weapons of mass destruction agenda with the Libyans, all that would have happened is it would not have helped the victims of IRA bombings for a second, not remotely, it simply would have meant that Libya continued to be dangerous." Lord Empey has introduced a Bill in the Lords due to go through its committee stage next month. It is designed to free up some of the 9.5bn of Gaddafi frozen assets in London for the benefit of victims of Libyan sponsored terrorism. OWASCO A leading national environmental group is backing Colleen Deacon in her bid to unseat U.S. Rep. John Katko. Sierra Club President Aaron Mair visited Cayuga County Wednesday to announce his organization's support for Deacon, D-Syracuse, in the 24th Congressional District. At a press conference Wednesday at Emerson Park in Owasco, Mair cited Deacon's work on Owasco Lake issues as one of the reasons why the group endorsed her. Before Deacon ran for Congress, she served as U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's central New York regional director for six years. In that capacity, she worked on issues affecting Owasco Lake, including blue-green algae, invasive species and manure runoff. Mair said Deacon's focus on Owasco Lake is "putting the money where her mouth is." "You need to look no further than this great lake right here to look at the beauty that she seeks to preserve for this county as well as for the state of New York," Mair said. He added, "While working for Senator Gillibrand, Colleen has helped to lead efforts to address the invasive species and algae blooms here at the lake, but also has been a tireless advocate in advocating to clean up and the restoration of this important lake." Deacon has defended her record in recent days as Katko, R-Camillus, accused her of not being involved in efforts to protect Owasco Lake. At a televised debate Tuesday, Katko touted his own record on the subject he said his office has been working on it throughout his first term in Congress and claimed Deacon wasn't engaged until she held a press conference in Owasco earlier this month. Deacon said it's "dishonest" for Katko to suggest that she wasn't involved in Owasco Lake issues. She responded Wednesday by accusing Katko of not focusing on Owasco Lake and not being a "true champion" on lake issues. "We need somebody in Congress who's going to be a champion on this issue," she said. Hours after Deacon's press conference with the Sierra Club, Katko held a private meeting Wednesday with state and local officials to discuss the state of Owasco Lake. Owasco Lake has become a major issue in the final days of the 24th District campaign. Polls show Katko leads Deacon by 23 points. He also holds a large lead in Cayuga, Oswego and Wayne counties the district's more rural areas. Election Day is Nov. 8. Tributes have been paid to an equestrian centre boss who died suddenly in a tragic hunting accident yesterday afternoon. Former police officer Claire Lowe from Saintfield had been taking part in a hunt in the New Line area of Ballygowan when the 39-year-old came off her horse at a fence, and died from her injuries shortly afterwards. A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said a rapid response paramedic was called to the incident at around 3.20pm. However, it was too late to save the popular horse rider, who was well known in the local equestrian scene. Last night her friend Neil McCluskey paid tribute to her on social media. Tragic day today as lost a great friend in a freak hunting accident, he said. Claire Lowe was really an amazing person and will be dearly missed by us all. A family friend told the Belfast Telegraph: She was a very likeable and professional lady. Its dreadful. I feel sick thinking about it. Ms Lowe had worked as a constable for Lisburn PSNI, but after the death of her father last Christmas Gerry Lowe, the owner of the successful Lisburn company Lowe Refrigeration she had returned home to Saintfield to manage the Mill House Equestrian Centre in Saintfield. Paying tribute Lisburn and Castlereagh City District Commander, Superintendent Sean Wright said Claire was in the "prime of her life". Superintendent Sean Wright said: Claire was an experienced and professional police officer with 6 years service. Claire was in the prime of her life. We all knew of her love for horses and for her sport but we also knew her for being a committed police officer who found challenge and reward in serving the local community and in keeping people safe throughout the Lisburn and Castlereagh District. Claires untimely death has caused shock amongst her friends and colleagues across PSNI. She will be very much missed by all of us and her loss will be deeply felt for a long time to come. Our thoughts are with Claires family and friends at this tragic and difficult time. The Police Federation for Northern Ireland which represents rank and file officers also extended its "deepest sympathy" to Claire's family, colleagues and friends. Her work involved breeding Connemara ponies as well as running a tack shop business and online auction site. Many friends had not heard the sad news until late last night, and posted their condolences on social media. Friend Lynne Spence wrote that Claire had died doing what she loved. She added: Completely shocked and saddened. Cannot get over the sad news. Nicci Hall said: Such a tragic loss of a genuinely lovely person. Thinking of all your family and friends. Lyndon Steele said: I cant believe Im reading this about such a top girl whod helped me out more than once when I needed it. I will never forget you. Joanne Gray commented: Dreadful news. One of lifes genuinely lovely people. Another comment from Heather Brown read: So sorry for the loss of a dedicated young woman. TUV councillor for Comber Stephen Cooper said he was saddened to hear the news after a council meeting last night. The hunts been around for some time and I would extend my sympathies. Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster has declined an invite to attend next week's "civic dialogue" Brexit event in Dublin Stormont's First Minister has aimed a stinging broadside at the Irish government's all-Ireland Brexit forum, insisting she had better things to do than listen to a lot of "grandstanding remoaners". Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster has already declined an invite to attend next week's "civic dialogue" event in Dublin, which has been organised by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to discuss the fall-out from the referendum result. Explaining her reason for staying away, Mrs Foster, a Brexiteer, portrayed the gathering as little more than a talking shop for those who refuse to accept the UK is leaving the EU. "It's a complete grandstanding exercise," she said. "It will be full of people who quite frankly haven't accepted the referendum result going down to talk about how dreadful it is and how awful it is. "Mark my words that's exactly what will happen at the grandstanding forum that will come about. "I'm not going to be a part of that. I am in this to do real business and to have outcomes not to sit around talking about how dreadful it is." Mr Kenny has said the event will facilitate an all-Ireland conversation among the business community, wider civic society and politicians. Other unionist parties in Northern Ireland are also set to stay away from the day-long event in Dublin. Asked whether it would not be valuable to put the argument for Brexit to forum delegates, Mrs Foster responded: "To be a lone voice amongst a whole lot of remoaners? No thank you - I have better things to do with my time." Mrs Foster, who will address her first DUP autumn conference as leader on Saturday, has insisted the current north-south political structures are the appropriate places to raise issues around Brexit. On the wider issue, the First Minister said economic data indicated that "gloomy predictions" in the wake of June's vote had proved unfounded. She acknowledged some people were unsettled by what the decision would mean for the border, but she insisted political leaders in London, Belfast and Dublin were committed to secure "maximum movement" for people, good and services post-Brexit. "I accept the negotiations (with the EU) are going to be long, they are going to be complex, but what we need to communicate to people is that we will do what is best for Northern Ireland in all of those negotiations," she said. Mrs Foster also rubbished the suggestion that the United Kingdom had been weakened by Brexit. She highlighted Northern Ireland's link with Great Britain was more important, in trading terms, than relations with all of the European Union and branded moves for a second Scottish independence referendum as just "noise" that was unlikely to lead to an actual vote. "So the Union (UK) is critical for us in Northern Ireland and we shouldn't away from that and as unionist I would never shy away from that," she said. "But sometimes there is a lot of talk about how important the RoI market is and how important the EU market is - the most important market is the United Kingdom." Gerry Conlon outside the House of Commons in 2005 showing the media the letter of apology he received from Prime Minister Tony Blair over his conviction The sister of the Guildford Four's Gerry Conlon has called for secret papers on his case to be made public. The 60-year-old west Belfast man was one of four people wrongly imprisoned for the 1974 IRA Guildford pub bombings. Gerry Conlon and the rest of the Guildford Four Paddy Armstrong, Paul Hill and Carole Richardson got life sentences in 1975 for IRA attacks in Guildford which killed five people and injured 65, before their convictions were overturned in 1989. An investigation by Avon and Somerset Police found serious flaws in the way Surrey Police handled the case. It was considered one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British legal history. Mr Conlon died in 2014 weeks after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Now his sister Ann McKernan has said releasing the documents would help reveal the truth. It was her brother's dying wish to see the evidence gathered as part of an inquiry into the case made public. The first six files from Sir John May's five-year probe into the bombings were released to the BBC after a redaction process that took nearly a year. They were obtained through a freedom of information request. But more than 700 files remain closed at the National Archives at Kew. "Gerry had applied to get in the queue," she said. "They refused. They wouldn't let him. "He knew that there was stuff in there that had to be released to the public." The files so far include letters, memos and meeting minutes - which show some inquiry members refused to accept Mr Conlon's assertion that he was not in the IRA. Mr Conlon always denied the allegation of IRA membership. In the 1993 film, In The Name Of The Father, Gerry Conlon was played by Daniel Day-Lewis. He also carried Mr Conlan's coffin following at his funeral. Alliance Party's outgoing leader David Ford sits alongside deputy leader Naomi Long who is set to be elected as the new leader of the party at a special meeting of the party council in the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 26, 2016. See PA story ULSTER Alliance. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Alliance Party's outgoing leader David Ford sits alongside deputy leader Naomi Long who is set to be elected as the new leader of the party at a special meeting of the party council in the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast. Alliance Party's deputy leader Naomi Long who is set to be elected as the new leader of the party at a special meeting of the party council in the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 26, 2016. See PA story ULSTER Alliance. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Alliance Party's outgoing leader David Ford with deputy leader Naomi Long who is set to be elected as the new leader of the party at a special meeting of the party council in the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 26, 2016. See PA story ULSTER Alliance. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Alliance Party's outgoing leader David Ford at a special meeting of the party council in the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast, where deputy leader Naomi Long is set to be announced as the new party leader. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 26, 2016. See PA story ULSTER Alliance. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Alliance Party's deputy leader Naomi Long and outgoing leader David Ford (right), Long is set to be elected as the new leader of the party at a special meeting of the party council in the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 26, 2016. See PA story ULSTER Alliance. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Alliance Party's deputy leader Naomi Long is elected new leader of the party at a special meeting of the party council in the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast. PA Naomi Long with her husband Michael after she was elected leader of the Alliance Party last night Attempts to freeze Alliance out of opposition at Stormont will not work, new party leader Naomi Long has warned. The East Belfast MLA elected by the partys ruling council to replace David Ford last night also insisted she is neither a unionist or a nationalist. In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Mrs Long also said it will be for the party to decide whether her personal style suits Alliance. But the 44-year-old former Belfast Lord Mayor is already setting her sights on growing the party outside its traditional greater Belfast base and revealed she likes her ginger ninja nickname. Mrs Long said she believed the UUPs very public reach-out to the SDLP at its annual conference, attended for the first time by SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, may have been motivated by a bid to squeeze Alliance in the Assembly. Opposition parties present their own individual positions, and coalition governments have to withstand that pressure, she said. Alliance had in the past worked with both the SDLP and UUP and indeed with both parties in government the DUP and Sinn Fein on issues we care about. If it is their aim to freeze Alliance out, the temperature has not dropped sufficiently for it to work. And it wont work, she added. Writing in todays Belfast Telegraph, Mrs Long said she wants to reach out to people and areas which are not traditional Alliance supporters pledging to lead the renewal across Northern Ireland. She added: We have limited resources as a party and we recognise that is the case, so we have to target those resources in areas where we think the chance of a seat is greatest. That (in recent years) has been in the east of the province but there is now a break in the electoral cycle to allow us to look at other areas. I am not making a list of predictions at this point, but internally in the party we are looking at those targets. There are people out there who make a real difference in their local communities who have joined the party. After her former colleague Anna Lo this week reiterated that she could in certain circumstances support a united Ireland, Mrs Long shrugged off the unionist or nationalist label. The reality is I do not define myself in those binary terms, because it does not reflect my politics which is about the celebration of diversity, she added. It is not the politics of the border. If there is a border poll every citizen will cast their own vote. The border is off the table as a political issue. We are about the politics of hope and aspiration and focusing on the issues that actually matter to people of Northern Ireland. Asked if she sympathised with Mrs Lo on a united Ireland, Mrs Long said: I guess I am a liberal politician. Former Executive Minister Stephen Farry is now likely to be elected as deputy leader the position Mrs Long held until now at the next party council meeting in December. Judge said substantial costs have been incurred in funding and defending a "hopeless" appeal Legal aid authorities must be alerted to a "hopeless" challenge to the winding up of a family supermarket company with bank debts of nearly 5 million, a High Court judge in Belfast has ordered. Rejecting the appeal by Michael Quinn and his wife as directors of Cloughvalley Stores NI Ltd, Mr Justice Horner ruled it was based on a worthless promise to repay the money when they themselves are in "desperate financial straits". The judge described the couple, who ran Quinn's Superstore across the border in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, as grasping at straws with a case devoid of merit. "Like a drowning man, Mr Quinn (and his wife) were prepared to grab anything in the hope that it would keep him (and his wife) afloat," he said. A winding up order was made against Cloughvalley Stores NI at the Northern Ireland High Court in March 2015. Another company registered in the Irish Republic which owns 98% of its shares had been placed in receivership four years earlier. Mr and Mrs Quinn, who each own one share in Cloughvalley Stores NI, initially challenged a finding that its centre of main interest was north of the border. Ultimately, however, their appeal centred on a note given to the Northern Bank promising to pay the firm's full debt of 4.7m. During proceedings Mr Quinn dismissed his entire legal team after counsel indicated he was not prepared to advance arguments based on the contents of his affidavit. Dismissing the couple's grounds of challenge, Mr Justice Horner said: "They had no problem in making a case which was hopelessly flawed and which was doomed to fail." He continued: "When the legal aid budget is under such pressure, it is scarcely credible that the appellants should receive legal aid both for the hearing before the Master and for this appeal." Questioning how much the legal aid authorities knew about separate litigation in the Republic or the basis of the appeal, the judge endorsed claims by the bank that it was an abuse of process. "This criticism is compounded by the decision of the appellants to proceed with an appeal which was ultimately founded on the worthless promise that they would pay the amount of nearly some 5m outstanding to the bank when they had no money or assets to do so," he said. "A worthless promise to pay a debt can never extinguish it." Pointing to the 18-month period since the winding up order was made, he added that substantial costs have been incurred in funding and defending a "hopeless" appeal. Mr Justice Horner added: "I direct that this judgment be brought to the attention of the Legal Services Commission as I find it difficult to accept that it has been aware of all material facts." The man currently remains in custody assisting police with their enquiries A 20-year-old man has been arrested following a spate of armed robbers in Larne. The man was arrested on Wednesday October 26 in the Craigy Hill area on suspicion of three counts of robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances and one count of possession of a class B controlled drug. Detective Constable Rachel Gardiner said: The arrest is believed to be in connection with armed robberies at a business premises in the Upper Cairncastle Road area of Larne on Wednesday 13 January, Thursday 14 January and Monday 4 April 2016. A search was also carried out at a house in the Craigy Hill area where a number of items were seized. The man currently remains in custody assisting police with their enquiries. A man who police believe has links to a dissident republican terror group was ordered to keep three firearms at gunpoint, his solicitor has claimed in court. A PSNI officer told Craigavon Magistrates Court police objected to west Belfast man Edward Francis Corr being released on bail. He said he feared that if released, the 37-year-old would re-engage with the group, and referred to the recent shooting of a man in Poleglass. Corr, from Foxes Glen in Dunmurry, is accused of having a sub machine-gun and two pistols with intent to endanger life between September 1 and October 24 this year. A detective sergeant testified that he was aware of the circumstances and believed he could connect the accused with the charges. Opposing bail, the officer claimed the weapons seizure was linked to the dissident republican group Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH) and that the find may have saved the lives of police officers, the security forces and members of the public. He said police believed Corr was linked to ONH and revealed that his DNA had been uncovered on a cloth with an AK-47 magazine found in Dunmurry in November 2015. If released, even on stringent bail conditions, the officer claimed that Corr would re-engage with ONH and referred to the shooting of a man from this area. He added that the defendant could also be a flight risk because ONH operate on both sides of the border and Corr used to reside in Dublin. Defence solicitor Fearghal McIlhatton said the weapons had been found in a shed and his client had given police an account of how they came to be there. Mr McIlhatton claimed his client had been acting under duress. The lawyer revealed how Corr had been having a smoke at the side of his house when a man pointed a gun at his head and told him if he didnt keep the items he would be shot. In relation to his DNA being found on a cloth almost a year ago, Mr McIlhatton argued his client had never been charged in connection with that. Mr McIlhatton said Corr worked as a joiner, and had a wife and three children who resided in Dunmurry, so he had family ties in the jurisdiction. District Judge Mrs Bernie Kelly said that given the officer had expressed serious concern about a flight risk and the possibility of further offences, Corr was not a suitable candidate for bail but he could appeal her decision to the High Court. Corr was remanded into custody to appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court by videolink on Monday, November 14. A Northern Ireland primary school has asked parents to ensure their children leave their clown costumes at home in the wake of the 'killer clown craze'. Ballycastle Integrated Primary School sent a letter to parents ahead of their Halloween party tomorrow. It is their one non-uniform day of the term, where students can dress in costume. But this year they have been asked to avoid clown attire. Principal Diana Evans said she sent the letter because some parents had come to her with concerns. "The school acted as any reasonable parent would do in loco parentis, and in response to the concerns raised by parents directly with staff and the principal about the well-being of the pupils. We have a duty of care to these children," Mrs Evans said. She added that she hasn't gotten any negative responses from parents, who are instead thankful because the 'clown craze' was scaring their children and some were even having trouble sleeping. "Many parents have come forward to say thank you for looking after our children and thank you for preventing something that may be a stressful situation for them on Friday. So no parent has come to me with a complaint about this." Ballycastle Integrated Primary School isn't the only school that has asked parents to have their children leave the clown costumes at home, she said. "Because it was a matter affecting the whole community within Ballycastle and further afield, this letter was composed by Ballycastle Integrated Primary School and another school within the town," Mrs Evans added. The 'killer clown craze' originated in the United States following reports of people dressed as clowns and carrying knives. Expand Close The note sent to parents about clown costumes / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The note sent to parents about clown costumes The craze came to the UK earlier this month and, in Northern Ireland, two schools were closed and two schools had a police presence on their grounds after reports that "killer clowns" would be on their premises. The original letter to parents was sent on October 12 and on Monday a slip of paper was sent home with students to remind parents that their children should not wear clown attire. The full letter expressed the concern that had been caused and reassured parents that safety, security and well-being of the students is a top priority for the school. It urged parents not to dress their child in a clown costume or clown face, and clown wigs must not be worn. "If a child does come to school wearing any of these items they will be required to remove them. Face painting is acceptable - Not a clown face please!" it added. Female students in Northern Ireland are turning to sex work to help fund their studies, a report has claimed. The University and College Union and Queen's University Students' Union claimed some PhD students at Queen's are being paid below the minimum wage. One anonymous submission states that postgraduate women felt there was "little choice" but to go into sex work due to financial adversity. These students are frequently "from working-class backgrounds" with "no access to credit", it said. Some 250 of Queen's 1,365 postgraduate student population replied to the survey, which was hosted online by UCU. PhD study is the highest level of study that can be taken at university level. A full-time standard postgraduate research tuition fee, for a student commencing study this year, is 4,121. Some 40% of respondents said they are expected to undertake unpaid work such as office hours, meeting students, replying to student emails, marking essays and extra work for their supervisor. The report claims there is no standardised pay across departments, with fees for marking "normally around 3 per exam and anywhere from 4 to 11 per assignment." It states that the average hourly pay for teaching time is 33 a hour. However, with preparation time factored in, some students are "not receiving the minimum wage for each hour they work (6 compared with 7.20)." Each teaching assistant is spending "an average of 5.5 hours per week preparing for their class", the report adds. Other issues of concern raised include lack of payment, late payment, unrealistic workloads with tough deadlines, poor support for disabled students and threats of contract termination to students who challenge poor working conditions. UCU and Students' Union have made four key demands from the university. These include no more unpaid marking of exams or assignments and a ban on unpaid office hours. They also want payment for work, reflecting the time taken to do it, and a fairer pay scale for various tasks. Dr Fabian Schuppert, who is president of UCU at QUB, "hopes that Queen's will take the concerns the report raises seriously". He said: "The demands the report sets out are very reasonable: no unpaid office hours. Fair pay for the time actually spent on tasks. That does not seem too much to ask for." A spokesperson for Queen's refuted that PhD students are undervalued. They said: "The most recent Postgraduate Research Experience Survey recorded an overall satisfaction score of 82.8% by Queen's students. These satisfaction levels do not accord with the findings publicised by the UCU. "In particular, the university takes the issue of student welfare very seriously and is proud of its record in this area." A surgeon who served a jail sentence over the death of a patient from Northern Ireland at a private hospital is asking leading judges to overturn his "unsafe" conviction. David Sellu, now 69, was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter in November 2013 and handed a prison term of two-and-a-half years at the Old Bailey. He was present at the Court of Appeal in London yesterday to challenge his conviction over the death of father-of-six James Hughes. Armagh man Mr Hughes (66) died at the Clementine Churchill Hospital in Harrow, London, after falling unexpectedly ill following knee surgery. The retired builder had a planned left knee replacement on February 5, 2010. The operation went well, but while recovering from surgery he developed abdominal pain and was transferred to Sellu's care. At the start of the conviction challenge, Mark Ellison QC, for Sellu, told Sir Brian Leveson, Lord Justice Irwin and Mr Justice Globe, that Sellu, a "respected consultant colorectal surgeon", treated Mr Hughes between February 11 and 12, 2010. It was the standard of the doctor's care to Mr Hughes over a period of approximately 25 hours which formed the basis of the case against him. Mr Ellison said the prosecution case at trial "essentially reflected" the opinion of its two medical experts "as to Mr Sellu's care having been in a number of respects grossly negligent, in the context of a dramatically increasing risk of Mr Hughes dying over a 25-hour period leading up to the operation". He said the "essence" of the prosecution case was that the doctor should have performed an operation to repair a perforated bowel "at a much earlier time". After surgery Mr Hughes was transferred to the intensive care unit but he died on February 14, 2010. Mr Ellison said that Sellu, of Hillingdon, who served 15 months before being released in February last year, submitted that "his conviction for gross negligence manslaughter is unsafe" on a number of grounds. He told the judges that there was now new evidence "undermining the prosecution case as to Mr Hughes's increasing risk of mortality and the need for an earlier operation to have been carried out". The QC argued that the fresh evidence "casts serious doubt upon the accuracy and reliability" of the prosecution evidence. It is also argued on Sellu's behalf that the trial judge "misdirected" the jury in certain respects, including a claim that he "failed adequately" to explain to the jury the meaning of gross negligence. Mr Ellison, in written submissions before the court, states: "This was a highly complex gross negligence manslaughter case throwing up a plethora of expert issues." Sir Brian indicated that judgment would not be given immediately at the conclusion of the proceedings, expected to last two days, as the case involved "important issues both of law and fact". The appeal is being contested by the prosecution. At hearing. When tests in September showed low, but detectable levels of blue-green algae toxins in Auburn's and Owasco's public water supplies, the problem received attention from Cayuga County officials, the area's state legislative delegation and members of Congress. It also became, for better or worse, a political issue. The timing of the tests came less than two months before the election. And with Cayuga County in a traditionally competitive House district, each of the candidates U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon have sought to tout their efforts to protect Owasco Lake. In doing so, Katko, R-Camillus, accused Deacon, D-Syracuse, of not working on lake issues during her tenure as U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's central New York regional director. In response, Deacon has said Katko failed to address Owasco Lake's problems during his first two years in Congress. Who's right? And more importantly, are the claims true? Let's take a look. COLLEEN DEACON Before running for Congress, Deacon served for six years as Gillibrand's top aide in central New York. She covered a large territory on behalf of the senator an area that included Cayuga County. But on Owasco Lake issues, Katko thinks Deacon was "nowhere to be found." Those were the words he used at the Time Warner Cable News debate Tuesday in Syracuse. "All of a sudden she shows up at the last second and has a press conference a couple of weeks ago saying that I haven't even been involved," Katko said at the debate. "That shows she didn't even know I was involved for two years working with farmers throughout the area to work on the manure issue in the watershed." The press conference Katko referred to was Deacon's event with U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, an Albany-area Democrat, in early October at Emerson Park. At the event, Tonko said Deacon, if elected, will be a champion for the environment and advocate for Owasco Lake in Congress. Deacon's contributions on Owasco Lake matters haven't involved votes or press events. As a senator's aide, her role was limited to attending meetings and collecting feedback from stakeholders. Still, she was engaged. Cayuga County Legislator Aileen McNabb-Coleman, who represents Owasco, said she saw Deacon at a manure management public hearing held last year at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES in Aurelius. Deacon attended the meeting on behalf of Gillibrand. "I saw with my own eyes nearly 18 months ago Colleen Deacon as she communicated with all stakeholders about the health of the lake," McNabb-Coleman said. "Any statement that Colleen Deacon has not done anything for Owasco Lake over the past two years is inaccurate." Deacon's Owasco Lake record also includes an Emerson Park press conference she had a hand in organizing in 2013. Gillibrand joined then-U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei for an event focused on invasive species. Aside from the press conference, Deacon said she's attended Cornell Cooperative Extension and Owasco Watershed Lake Association meetings. (As a candidate, she was in attendance for a recent OWLA meeting.) She also helped organize a meeting between OWLA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "This is something I have been working on my entire time I was in Senator Gillibrand's office," she said. U.S. REP. JOHN KATKO When he was a congressional candidate in 2014, Katko made a pledge while participating in a televised debate. "Whatever that role is, I'm going to be up front of it," he said of focusing on Owasco Lake watershed issues. "I want to be there helping them. I've already met with the water authority out there and they've explained the situation to me." In February 2015, Katko held an agriculture listening session in Auburn. That event quickly turned into a discussion about the lake's health and actions needed to protect the city's source of drinking water. At the time, Katko proposed the creation of a task force to examine manure runoff issues that could, among other things, lead to the development of blue-green algae. A representative from Katko's office served on the panel the Cayuga County Manure Management Working Group that developed an action agenda. That wasn't enough to avoid criticism from Deacon, who accused Katko of not paying attention to Owasco Lake. Her response came after Katko's aforementioned comment that she was "nowhere to be found" on addressing lake issues. On Wednesday, Katko held a private meeting with state and local officials to discuss efforts to address blue-green algae in Owasco Lake. Following that meeting, he responded to Deacon's claims in an interview with The Citizen. "It's almost stunning to me that she didn't know we were doing all of this for two years," Katko said. "It's indicative to me of her lack of engagement on the issue." Katko wants his office to help bridge the gap between federal agencies and local and state officials. He's hoping to connect local and state representatives with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency. CONCLUSION Deacon and Katko have attacked each other for not spending a lot of time or any time on matters related to Owasco Lake. But it's not accurate to say either of the candidates haven't been engaged on these issues. From Deacon's perspective, she wasn't an elected official. But she was a top staffer and represented Gillibrand at meetings. She also played a behind-the-scenes role in setting up meetings between OWLA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She may not have been spending all of her time on this issue, but it's something she did address as Gillibrand's regional director. Since being elected to Congress, Owasco Lake has been on Katko's radar. A lot of what he cites relates to the manure runoff issues that have been a major issue for the watershed. If he couldn't attend a meeting, which is often the case for a sitting member of Congress, an aide served as his representative. Regardless, he, too, has worked on Owasco Lake issues. The question here isn't who's focused on Owasco Lake and who isn't. The question is who is better equipped to address these issues, which are now affecting drinking water for 45,000 Cayuga County residents. So far, the candidates haven't fully answered that question. Local officials and more important, Auburn-area residents, are concerned about what could happen next year if blue-green algae emerges and the toxins are detected in public water supplies. Will the toxins reach a level that raises public health concerns? That's what locals want to avoid. What will their congressional representative do to help them? That's the question that should be answered. A sinister threat from dissident republicans against Co Londonderry businesses who serve members of the PSNI has been widely condemned. The threat was made in a statement delivered to the County Derry Post newspaper and is purported to have been issued by the dissident republican group Oglaigh na hEireann. The warning was directed towards "shops, food outlets, garages and all commercial premises" who serve the PSNI. The statement also read: "We have been monitoring the situation of all these premises over the last number of months. They have 12 hours to desist. Do not come under our radar again." Ulster Unionist Party MLA and Policing Board member Ross Hussey condemned the attempt to intimidate businesses as the work of "cowards and bully boys". "They are so stuck in the past that they have no new ideas or tactics other than to attempt to carry forward a campaign that caused 30 years of misery and destruction and still did not break the link between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK," he said. "These threats are disgraceful and those responsible must be faced down and brought to book. This society has made its choice. It wants a police service and it wants normal policing. "Those who would seek to threaten businesses who serve members of the PSNI are nothing more than bully boys and fascists with nothing to offer." The threat has also been condemned as a throwback to the past by the Police Federation for Northern Ireland. In a statement, a federation spokesperson said: "Officers are every bit a part of the community as are the local businesses on the receiving end of these threats. "This won't prevent officers from doing their work on behalf of the entire community. Those behind the threats are a throwback to an era that thankfully is long since past." Derry City and Strabane District Policing Command confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph that they have not received any complaints from businesses. UDA boss Dee Stitt is set to announce that he is stepping down as chief executive of Charter NI amidst growing controversy over the awarding of public money to the group. Loyalist sources told the Belfast Telegraph that Stitt would today declare that he is resigning from the job. The decision follows a lengthy Charter NI board meeting yesterday held in the wake of increasing outrage at the loyalist's position in the group. Stitt's UDA gang in North Down has been linked to drug dealing, racketeering and intimidation. In a contentious interview in The Guardian last week, the UDA boss, who has enjoyed a 35,000 a year salary as Charter NI's chief executive, described his North Down Defenders flute band as "our homeland security" and added: "We are here to defend north Down from anybody". A loyalist source said that Stitt would issue a statement today announcing he was resigning his position in the group which has received 1.7m funding from the Stormont Executive. The UDA boss is set to say that he has made the decision to quit voluntarily and has not been pushed out by the board. However, pressure has been mounting over his continuing leadership of the group, which had become an embarrassment to the DUP. Read more Read More First Minister Arlene Foster was pictured standing alongside Stitt - a convicted armed robber - when a public funding announcement for Charter NI was made last month. Stitt's resignation follows comments earlier this week by the DUP's Sir Jeffrey Donaldson that he should not be the group's chief executive. Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show on Monday, the Lagan Valley MP strongly defended Mrs Foster over the photograph - but said that if he were in charge of Charter NI, he would not have Stitt as its head. "We support Charter NI, we didn't appoint the chief executive, that is a matter for Charter NI," he said. "Arlene would not have been aware of his [Guardian] comments [when she stood alongside Stitt to announce funding for his group]." Asked should Stitt remain as chief executive, Sir Jeffrey said: "Charter NI have to deal with it. We don't operate some kind of Soviet regime where diktats come down from Stormont saying 'sack this person or that person'. "I don't support the comments, of course I don't. I have opposed paramilitarism all my life. I believe the only people that protect communities are the forces of law and order and that is the PSNI. I have criticised what he said, it is a matter for Charter NI. "I do not support his comments in any way, I think they are highly regrettable. If I was in charge of Charter NI, I would not have him in charge in light of these comments. "But I am not in charge, Charter NI has a board and these things have to be done legally. This is not Soviet Russia." Sir Jeffrey continued: "Charter NI do some excellent work in east Belfast. The First Minister has supported the work of Charter NI because of its transformation efforts of communities in east Belfast. "And I am not going to condemn the work of an entire group of people because of the comments of one individual. I didn't appoint [Stitt], nor did the First Minister, nor did the DUP. Charter NI has the DUP's support." Charter NI was initially set-up to help UDA ex-prisoners. It expanded rapidly, and was controversially awarded a 1.7m from the Executive's Social Investment Fund. Stitt served five years in prison for an attempted armed robbery in the 1990s. In a 2013 radio interview, he admitted joining the UDA at the age of 15. Stitt has previously said that his paramilitary life belonged to his past. Among the North Down UDA's victims was popular community worker and father-of-three Aaron McMahon, who was attacked with hammers for opposing an illegal paramilitary bonfire last November. The Vatican has stated that ashes of Catholic followers should be stored in a sacred place A high-profile former priest has warned the Vatican to stop issuing "diktats that get up people's noses" after it said that Catholics who want to be cremated can't have their ashes scattered. Denis Bradley's comments come after the Church said ashes should instead be stored in a sacred, church-approved place - not kept at home, distributed at a special spot, turned into jewellery or put in a locket. In a new document released in time for Halloween and All Souls' Day on November 2 - when the faithful are supposed to pray for and remember the dead - the Vatican also said that Catholics who insist on the scattering of their ashes should be denied a Christian funeral. But speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Bradley, a former Policing Board chairman, said people should be allowed to choose what's right for them. And he urged the Vatican to stay out of the subject. "There's no reason in the world why people shouldn't have choices," he said. "There's a lot to be said for cremation, both economically and culturally and as a choice. I also think that the scattering of ashes is a known tradition in many religions. "Some people like it and some people don't and I don't think it matters all that much. If the Vatican has something to say, let them say it, but don't do it as if it was a diktat. That just gets up people's noses." Mr Bradley, who authored proposals for dealing with the legacy of the Troubles along with Lord Robin Eames, said he believed the decree authorised by Pope Francis was out of touch. "These decisions shouldn't be taken by the Vatican, they should be taken at local levels," the Londonderry-based former clergyman said. "There is nothing wrong with the church saying to people that they should consider burying their loved ones within a church ground. "The word decree itself is an unfortunate word; it sounds like a diktat and diktats don't go very well in the modern world among people who are more mature and can make up their minds around these things. "There's nothing theologically or dogmatically sacrosanct around where people are buried - that's a cultural thing that has happened throughout the years, so decrees about that type of situation would be best left to local customs and traditions." About 75% of people are cremated after death in the UK - a figure that has more than doubled since the 1970s as a result of the cost of buying a burial plot and a dearth of space in cemeteries. There has also been a surge in popularity of unusual ways of disposing of or converting ashes, with some companies offering to turn them into gemstones or combine them with paint or clay to make artworks. Indeed, the document issued by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) claims cremation practices increasingly reflect non-Christian ideas about "fusion with Mother Nature". Father Patrick McCafferty, who is based in Co Down, has voiced his support for the guidelines, which he described as "a specific reminder to Catholics of the importance of reverence for the bodies of the dead". He said: "It's an attempt to stop the encroachment of new-age mentalities, ideologies and philosophies into the Christian faith in the afterlife and what we believe happens when someone dies. "If a non-Catholic wants to scatter ashes on the Mourne mountains, that's entirely up to them, but this is specifically a reminder to Catholics about respect. "It is a basic reminder to the faithful and those who aren't faithful can do what they like." The Crossgar priest acknowledged that such a strict stance could turn people away from Catholicism. But he added: "If it does, it does. We teach what we teach and people are free to accept it or reject it and walk away from it if they wish. There's no-one forcing them to accept it. That's just Catholic teaching." The DUP has claimed another Ulster Unionist scalp after a senior local councillor dramatically defected. Former UUP Limavady councillor Aaron Callan is likely to be cheered to the rafters at this weekend's DUP conference. And there was speculation last night that a further UUP defection is imminent. Mr Callan's former UUP colleagues dismissed his departure, in a terse statement, saying he was "unlikely to be missed". Read More The defection came just a month after DUP leader Arlene Foster predicted new UUP recruits in a speech to young unionists. At the time Mr Nesbitt rejected the speculation and made a further appeal last weekend to "occasional whispers and malcontents" within his party ranks. Speaking at his own annual conference, Mr Nesbitt said: "To anyone looking to press the panic button; to the very few who have jumped ship; to the occasional whisperer and malcontent, I say this: are you so weak, you want to unravel four years work, just because we didn't get all we wanted first time around? "Are you so easily led that a siren voice in your ear is enough to make you change course?" Mr Callan yesterday set out the reasons for his departure, saying he had been "uncomfortable" with the direction and leadership of the UUP for some time. The Causeway Coast and Glens councillor said he had been "greatly disheartened" because it appeared east Londonderry was becoming increasingly irrelevant to the UUP Assembly group. "I am firmly of the view that the DUP is taking Northern Ireland forward in a positive way and under the leadership of Arlene Foster, is providing a confident vision for Northern Ireland underpinned by a plan that has widespread support," he went on. Welcoming the new member, Mrs Foster also predicted he will not be the last to defect. "He is a talented and enthusiastic public representative who cares deeply about his local area," the First Minister said. "Aaron's move is yet another indication that the DUP is now the only unionist party that is capable of commanding support across the province. "Many from an Ulster Unionist background are uniting around the DUP and have already joined with us since the Assembly election and I know Aaron will not be the last." In a statement issued before the resignation had been confirmed, Mr Nesbitt's party said: "We have built our success in recent years on teamwork. On that basis Councillor Callan is unlikely to be missed." Mr Callan is the first defector to emerge since North Down and Ards councillor Daniel Allen, who quit the UUP in a Assembly selection tussle and then announced he was joining the DUP. But there has also been travel in the other direction with former DUP MLA Maurice Devenney signing up to Mr Nesbitt's party group on Derry City and Strabane District Council. At the time he was the most high-profile 'defection' from the DUP to the UUP since Lisburn councillor Jenny Palmer, whose disclosures to a Stormont committee brought a DUP disciplinary threat for bringing the party into disrepute. Mr Callan was among 33 UUP candidates lauded by Mr Nesbitt four months ago as evidence that his party was reinvigorated. He was elected as a UUP councillor in Limavady two years ago after polling 452 first preference votes. The latest review of drinking water revealed 6,769 people are still having to clean their tap water at home by boiling it More than 100 public water supplies serving 830,000 people are at risk of being contaminated by dangerous bugs and bacteria, authorities have warned. The latest review of drinking water revealed 6,769 people are still having to clean their tap water at home by boiling it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that number came down from more than 25,000 on Tuesday after a major warning was lifted for villages and townlands in Co Galway. But its experts warned Irish Water to ramp up the amount it is spending on modernising and improving treatment plants to prevent further alerts being issued. Darragh Page, senior inspector of the EPA's office of environmental enforcement, said action would be taken if upgrade works are hit by avoidable delays. "Irish Water needs to accelerate the investment in remedial works at supplies listed on the EPA's Remedial Action List so that the threat of long-term water restrictions is eliminated," he said. The EPA said 108 drinking water supplies serving 830,000 people were at risk at the end of last year compared to 115 a year earlier. It said 37 of these supplies lacked the adequate treatment to stop cryptosporidium, a parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness, from contaminating tap water. Others are threatened by E.coli or chemicals and other supplies have no treatment except for chlorine being added. The EPA said that 86,000 people have had to boil their water this year to make it safe - twice as many as last year. One of those warning notices was issued to 46,500 people in Mayo getting water from Lough Mask after a cryptosporidium outbreak in late August. Mr Page said there was no obvious explanation for the outbreak. An audit in May 2015 warned of significant issues at the Lough Mask treatment plant which could result in cryptosporidium entering the water supply. The 17 boil notices still active across the country include homes and businesses in Ballyhaise in Cavan; Carron and Turlough in Co Clare; Kilconnell in Co Galway; Kiltyclogher in Co Leitrim; Loughill in Limerick; Longford; Baltrasna in Co Meathl; Ballinlough/Loughglynn supplies in Co Roscommon; Dundrum, Burncourt and Templetney, Co Tipperary; Nire, Dromore Upper and Ring/Helvick/Seaview supplies in Waterford; and Aughclare, Campile in Wexford and Johnstown South in Arklow, Co Wicklow. Irish Water said it was prioritising protection of customers against the risk of E.coli and cryptosporidium. It said since 2014 128,789 customers have been on boil water notices. Managing director of Irish Water Jerry Grant said: " It is essential that people have confidence in their drinking water and know that Irish Water is moving swiftly and decisively in co-operation with EPA and Health Service Executive wherever those high standards are not met. "That's why this report from the EPA is so important. Irish Water welcomes having an independent agency reviewing the work that we do to safeguard drinking water. This ensures the work of Irish Water is audited and held to the highest standards." Campaigners calling for a ban on fracking had expressed concern that the Government was trying to slow the reform A proposed nationwide ban on fracking has cleared its first hurdle. Cross-party TDs backed legislation put forward by Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim Tony McLoughlin to outlaw drilling for shale gas from rocks, sands and coal seams across the country. Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, warned that the proposed legislation may not achieve what is intended due to the complexities of gas exploration. But he added: "To be quite clear, there is no great strategic imperative or agenda by Government to pursue the use of fracking." "The primary aim, as legislators, is to ensure that we give proper consideration to the issues and evidence, avoid unintended consequences, and provide legal clarity." Even though the Government tried unsuccessfully to stall the legislation for eight months, potentially delaying an outright ban until 2018, Mr Naughten said it was " another step in protecting Ireland's environment and future". It is understood the minority Government cancelled proposals to stall the legislation until next June after Fianna Fail warned it would support any delay. Mr McLoughlin said agreement on the legislation was "a major win for the environment and for Irish politics". Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, involves drilling into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is forced into rock to release gas. Opponents fear the process can cause earthquakes, pollute water and lead to damaging development in the countryside. Supporters claim it boosts jobs, the economy and energy security. Mr McLoughlin, whose constituency is in one of the three regions identified for potential shale gas exploration, sought to ban energy companies trying to extract raw fuels from shale rocks, tight sands and coal seams. Three exploratory licences were granted in Ireland in 2011 for fracking but no extraction has taken place. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commissioned a report on the impact of the controversial gas extraction on the environment and human health. It is due in the coming months. The proposals to ban fracking will now be passed to an Oireachtas committee for further scrutiny within 12 weeks. Friends of the Earth Ireland described the cross party support for the legislation as " a crucial step to ban fracking". Eamon Scanlon, Fianna Fail TD for Sligo-Leitrim, said: "We were supporting the bill as it was. There was no question about that. "And I would like to see a ban in the next year." Campaigners fighting fracking including the Love Leitrim group were heavily involved in drumming up support for the legislation. Deputy director of Friends Of The Earth Kate Ruddock said: "This isn't just a crucial step towards banning fracking, it is an historic first step towards a fossil free future for Ireland. "It's a tribute to the local campaigners who have worked long and hard to raise concerns about fracking, to their democratic representatives who have responded to those concerns, and to the 2,500 people who emailed their local TDs in the last week asking the to #BackTheBill." A hostage is rescued in the major emergency training exercise at Drogheda Port in County Louth Members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit and Regional Support Unit take part in a major emergency training exercise in Drogheda Port Gardai learned from a major emergency training exercise to intercept a ship in the Irish Sea, a senior commander said. It simulated a scenario in which a vessel was detected interacting suspiciously with an unregistered fishing boat. The scene developed into a mock hostage-taking at a warehouse on the dock at Drogheda Port. Chief superintendent Sean Ward said: "I am happy with the way it went today, I think we learned a lot from it. "I have no doubt there were deficiencies at some stage along the line and they will be identified." The emergency response unit was tasked with boarding the vessel with the assistance of the Garda Water Unit. Later a suspect acting suspiciously on the dock watching the activity at sea took a man and woman hostage and sought refuge in a port warehouse. He had a firearm and brought two hostages into the warehouse with him. Gardai "negotiated" with him over a telephone which they threw into the building. Ultimately the two hostages were freed. The gunman was injured when police using arms, shields and smoke bombs raided the building using smoke bombs. Ch Supt Ward added: "It is a learning process so that people know that if something like this happens, and again it gave an opportunity for everyone involved, both from the Garda Siochana, the Dublin Port Company and the national units as well to get to know each other and to link together, so that if an emergency like this happens you know who you are dealing with and you can work better together. "The scenario is only the way you do the actual exercise. It could be any type of scenario." The operation, which began at around 9.30am and lasted several hours, involved members of the Garda command, air and sea units, emergency response and regional support. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have clashed over the Irish border as the Labour leader likened her Brexit plan to one devised by Blackadder's hapless sidekick, Baldrick. At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Corbyn joked that he feared Mrs May would say "Brexit means Brexit" again before insisting it would be helpful for her to provide clarity over the border. He asked: "Will we continue membership of the customs union or are we going to see border checks introduced between Northern Ireland and the Republic?" Mrs May said work is continuing. The Prime Minister told MPs: "We've been very clear, the Government of the Republic of Ireland has been very clear, the Northern Ireland Executive has been very clear - that none of us want to see a return to the borders of the past. "I'd simply remind (Mr Corbyn) that the common travel area has been in place since 1923, which was well before either of us joined the European Union." Mr Corbyn also mocked the PM by insisting Baldrick is the only "great philosopher" he could think of when assessing the Government's EU exit strategy. Baldrick was known for his regular suggestions of a "cunning plan" - which would often be anything but. Mr Corbyn told Mrs May: "On Monday, you told the House, 'We have a plan which is not to set out at every stage of the negotiations the details'. "I've been thinking about this for a couple of days." Tory MPs heckled Mr Corbyn, who added: "I think when you're searching for the real meaning and the importance behind the Prime Minister's statement, you have to consult the great philosophers." After a further delay due to shouts from Tory MPs, Mr Corbyn said: "The only one I could come up with is Baldrick, who says, 'Our cunning plan is to have no plan'. "Brexit was apparently about taking back control but the devolved governments don't know the plan, businesses don't know the plan, Parliament doesn't know the plan. "When will the Prime Minister abandon this shambolic Tory Brexit and develop a plan that delivers for the whole country?" To laughter from her MPs, Mrs May told Mr Corbyn: "I'm interested that you chose Baldrick. "Of course, the actor playing Baldrick was a member of the Labour Party, as I recall." Sir Tony Robinson, the actor who played the character in the BBC series, ridiculed Mrs May's "Brexit means Brexit" slogan by tweeting: "Baldrick means Baldrick." He also wrote on Twitter: "Haven't left (Labour), active member for 40 years. "But if (Brexit Secretary) David Davis needs any help with Brexit Baldrick stands ready to serve." A labor group with members employed at the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego County has endorsed U.S. Rep. John Katko in the 24th Congressional District race. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 97 cited Katko's role in ensuring FitzPatrick remained open. The plant was at risk of closing down before officials, including Katko, intervened. IBEW Local 97 represents more than 4,700 workers at power plants throughout the state, including FitzPatrick. "Congressman Katko was at the forefront of support for the FitzPatrick nuclear plant right from the beginning and that support has only grown," said Ted Skerpon, president and business manager of IBEW Local 97. "His enlightened leadership is refreshing and demonstrates an understanding of climate change and the major threats from increased carbon emissions, along with the enormous benefits from carbon-free nuclear energy. As such he has earned the support of IBEW Local 97, as well as district residents and those that are concerned about fuel diversity, stable power costs, low carbon energy and a strong economy. We look forward to his continued bipartisan leadership." Entergy, which owns FitzPatrick, announced nearly one year ago its intent to close the troubled Oswego County nuclear power plant, which has more than 600 employees. The company cited market conditions as a major reason why it needed to shutter the facility. Katko, R-Camillus, said he played a significant role in keeping the plant open. He was in regular communication with Entergy representatives and Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office. In a recent interview, Katko said he spent a chunk of his time on FitzPatrick. "A lot of it was just getting the discussions, understanding what the concerns are and then trying to come up with solutions," he said. The solution: Exelon, an energy company which operates Nine Mile Point Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego and the R.E. Ginna plant in Wayne County, announced it would acquire FitzPatrick for $110 million. Exelon plans to refuel the plant and retain its employees, many of whom are IBEW Local 97 members. "With four nuclear power plants in the 24th Congressional District, I'm honored to have earned the support of the men and women of IBEW Local 97," Katko said in a statement. "I have long recognized the importance of nuclear power to our district both as an economic driver and as an important source of emissions-free energy. That's why I stood beside the men and women of IBEW Local 97 to help save the FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant, and will continue to fight for them in Congress." Pressure on services has lead to "alienation", the report found Growing pressure on health services has led to a "state of unease" in the medical profession, a leading regulator has warned. A new report by the General Medical Council (GMC) also found there was a "dangerous level of alienation" felt by doctors in training which had increased because of industrial action. It highlights the "intense pressure" of 2 billion in hospital deficits alongside falling performance figures for access to A&E, planned operations and ambulance response times as having a corrosive effect on morale. Despite some bleak findings it stressed UK healthcare "remains among the best in the world" and the vast majority of doctors were not complained about to the GMC. Additionally, figures show women are edging closer to comprising half of all registered doctors and medicine is becoming more ethnically diverse as a profession. An NHS Employers spokesman welcomed the "insight the report gives into the huge financial and service pressures the NHS is under". The sixth annual report, The State Of Medical Education And Practice In The UK, was released on Thursday. The introduction reads: "There is a state of unease within the medical profession across the UK that risks affecting patients as well as doctors. "The reasons for this are complex and multi-factorial, and some are long standing. Yet the signals of distress are unmistakeable." The NHS Employers spokesman added: "We know insufficient social care funding is an immediate threat to the NHS and the wider health and care system putting increasing pressure on frontline staff and patients. "We need the Government to incentivise greater coordination between local authorities and the NHS and to invest more in out-of-hospital health and care. "This report also highlights our reliance on foreign-born workers who are a hugely valued and appreciated part of the workforce caring for service users and patients." The GMC sets regulations and standards, oversees medical education and training, and intervenes when doctors may be putting patient safety at risk. The report adds: "There appears to be a general acceptance that the system cannot simply go on as before - there does need to be early and concerted action. "Everyone wants a health service that is efficient, effective and compassionate." The regulator said it had begun a "special review" into making postgraduate training for doctors "more flexible" in the future. A Department of Health spokesman said: "The dedication and sheer hard work of our NHS doctors is absolutely crucial to delivering world-class care for patients. "As the report makes clear, the standard of care provided by doctors working in the UK remains among the best in the world - 1.6 million more NHS operations now take place each year compared to 2010 and hundreds of thousands more people are seen in A&E within four hours. "The Government is investing 10 billion to fund the NHS's own plan to transform services for the future - central to which is listening to the concerns of staff." Conservative former health minister Dr Dan Poulter, who still works part-time as a doctor, said there was concern in the profession that the training of doctors was taking second place to the need to fill gaps in rotas. "Morale is the lowest point I've known it to be during the last few years," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. "Because of increasing rota gaps, a lack of doctors at middle-grade level in paediatrics, in obstetrics and gynaecology, in A&E, that of course becomes the priority for many quite hard-stretched hospitals and that comes ahead sometimes of training and the wider well-being of doctors. It is a very difficult time." He condemned the "negative and unpleasant briefings" coming from the Government in the wake of the dispute over the junior doctors' contract. "That's something that needs to stop and we need to have a much more positive and supportive approach now to support doctors and help them with their training and make them feel valued in their work," he said. Nissan staff in 2014 with the two millionth Qashqai car produced at the Sunderland plant Nissan and the Government have denied that a "sweetheart deal" protecting the manufacturer from any post-Brexit EU tariff wall was behind the company's move to boost production at its Sunderland car plant. The Japanese giant's decision to build its next-generation Qashqai, and add production of the new X-Trail model, at the site has eased concerns about the future of the North East factory after the UK quits the EU. The news, which will secure thousands of jobs, is the first major UK automotive decision since the Brexit vote in June. Pressed on whether written assurances on compensation for any future EU tariffs had been given, Business Secretary Greg Clark told BBC Radio Four's World At One: "We have had, obviously, as you might imagine, lots of communication between us, but actually, what it rests on is a very strong mutual confidence. "There is no question of financial compensation over tariffs because we have said that they, what is necessary, is that we are going to maintain the competitiveness of the sector, and we are going to get the best deal possible. We think that the mutual interest between our European neighbours and ourselves is very strong in this way." Colin Lawther, Nissan's senior vice president for manufacturing in Europe, denied there was a special deal for the company. "No, there is no offer of exchange. It's just the commitment from the Government to work with the whole of the automotive industry to make sure that the whole automotive industry in the UK remains competitive," he told the programme. Asked if Nissan had received written assurances from the Government on what would happen if tariffs were imposed in the future, he said: "There's nothing, there's no special deal for Nissan. We are working within the whole of the automotive industry. We would expect nothing for us that the rest of the industry wouldn't be able to have access to." Mr Lawther said Brexit had created a host of uncertainties for the firm. "Now, clearly there is this massive basket of unknowns from triggering Article 50 to the end of the process, and it is a massive amount of potential outcomes, so it is not really productive for us to speculate on what could happen. We just trust that the Government will work through diligently to make sure, that as a whole industry, we end up competitive." As Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell warned about the damage that could be done by "secret deals behind closed doors", party leader Jeremy Corbyn insisted the Government must make any arrangements with Nissan known. "It must be made public, because it is public money that will be used if there are any inducements that have been offered and quite obviously, if you are offering big inducements to one industry or one manufacturer, then all the others will quite reasonably say, 'Well, what about us?'" Mr McDonnell said the lack of clarity about what level of support the Government had offered Nissan was a concern, and attacked ministers' approach to industry. "It's utterly chaotic at the moment. We have got a situation where we get leaks and rumours. Are they now going to decide, literally, factory by factory the support they are going to give?" Building the X-Trail in Sunderland is an unexpected boost to the factory. Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn went to Downing Street earlier this month for crunch talks with Prime Minister Theresa May. He said on Thursday that the manufacturer could make the production decision due to "support and assurances" from the Government. Mr Ghosn welcomed Mrs May's "commitment to the automotive industry" and to the "development of an overall industrial strategy". Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron welcomed the news but said it was "utterly ridiculous" that Mrs May was having to give "special assurances" to key manufacturers to deal with the "Brexit fallout her Government is creating". Keeping Nissan in the UK was regarded as vital to Mrs May's hopes for a successful Brexit. She described the announcement as "fantastic news for the UK" and said "families across the North East will be delighted". The Sunderland plant, which has been active since 1986, employs almost 7,000 people, producing around 2,000 cars a day. Nissan is part-owned by French manufacturer Renault, which had led to concerns that production could be moved to France to avoid any tariffs which might be introduced on exports to the EU if the UK leaves the single market in a so-called "hard Brexit". The Juke, Leaf and Infiniti models will continue to be made by Nissan in Sunderland. It emerged earlier this year that the car-maker was ending production of its Note hatchback in the North East. Officials said the move would have no impact on jobs. Chi Onwurah, shadow minister for industrial strategy, said: "We welcome the 7,000 jobs secured by this deal through the hard work and campaigning of many unions, businesses and organisations. But the fact it reached this point shows the chaos the Government is in, waiting for individual businesses across the country to hit crisis point before stepping in to help, rather than supporting business as a whole. The whole country is harmed by this incoherent approach. "The Government has no strategy for Brexit or for industry and we are all suffering as a result." Downing Street insisted there was no "special deal" either for Nissan or the wider automotive industry in the UK. There is no compensation package," a No 10 spokesman said. "What was made clear to Nissan and to others in the automotive industry is that what we want is a competitive environment for the whole of the industry." SNP international trade spokeswoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh MP said: "The UK Government have promised post-Brexit deals for Northern Ireland, the City of London and now exports from the North East of England. "If it's right that special treatment is merited in their respect, why can Theresa May not keep her promises and even consider a bespoke deal that keeps Scotland in the single market when this is supported by voters in Scotland, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament?" French government officials have declared the operation to clear the Calais 'Jungle' a success despite charities on the ground reporting that hundreds of child refugees had been left unregistered and with nowhere to go. Pascal Brice, head of the Office for Refugees and Stateless People, said everybody leaving the squalid camp had been registered at the processing centre on the edge of the site. He spoke as firefighters fought to tackle a series of fires blamed by officials on disgruntled refugees and migrants. But charities working with the refugees immediately contradicted the official declaration, claiming the warehouse used to register camp dwellers had been closed before many unaccompanied children living in the Jungle had been processed and transported to alternative accommodation elsewhere in France. And migrants and refugees could be seen still walking with their belongings towards the warehouse, while other groups sat waiting in the sun in the road leading to it. Demolition is expected to be scaled up today with larger machinery moving in. The red brick city hall in the Italian town of Amatrice survived the devastating summer earthquake that collapsed buildings all around it, only to crumble amid two lesser jolts on Wednesday night. The tremors also brought down a centuries-old church tower in Camerino that had withstood both a quake in 1997 and the one in August. The twin aftershocks may have exacted a lesser human toll than the August quake that preceded them, with no-one killed under rubble and no reports of serious injuries, but they revealed structural weakness in the mountainous quake-prone zone straddling the Marche and Umbria regions. Italian PM Matteo Renzi visited the picturesque hilltop university town of Camerino on Thursday, which is pledging to rebuild under the slogan: "The future doesn't collapse." His government has earmarked 40 million euro (36 million) to help house those displaced by the most recent quakes, and he promised to get to work on reconstruction started "soon and in a serious way". He said: "The earthquake is putting us to the test, but Italy is here and we will not leave citizens alone. We are stronger and we will make it." The first quake at 7.10pm local time, with a magnitude of 5.4, sent residents into the streets under heavy rain - which authorities said likely saved lives by getting people outside ahead of the second, much more powerful quake. That jolt, two hours later and eight times stronger, brought down weakened buildings including the bell tower in Camerino, and rendered countless homes unsafe. With no time to come up with adequate emergency shelter, thousands slept in their cars. In Ussita, mayor Marco Rinaldi said his town had been "devastated" with up to 80% of the houses no longer inhabitable. In Visso, the mayor estimated that two-thirds of the town's 1,500 houses had sustained some damage while the remaining residents do not want to return home until checks are made to ensure safety. Camerino mayor Gianluca Pasqui said the town's historic bell tower of the Santa Maria in Via church, dating from the Crusades, had collapsed, but emphasised that reconstruction work after a 6.1 -magnitude quake in 1997, including on the church and tower, appeared to have contributed to the absence of serious injury. "I can say that the city didn't have victims. That means that even if there is a lot of damage, probably the reconstruction in the historic centre was done in a correct and adequate manner. Because otherwise, we would be speaking of something else," he said. The town is home to 7,500 residents and 10,000 students at the Camerino University, one of Italy's oldest founded in 1336. The president of Umbria region, Catiuscia Marini, told RAI state television that officials are mindful that with winter approaching and temperatures dropping, tents cannot be deployed as they were after the August quake. She said that after the quakes many people will be fearful of staying even in hotels deemed safe, and that solutions like campers are being considered. "We don't have injured, we have people who are very afraid, who have anxiety, especially the elderly," she said. AP A man has been shot dead after stabbing a policeman guarding the perimeter wall of the US Embassy in Nairobi A man has been shot dead after stabbing a policeman guarding the perimeter wall of the US Embassy in Nairobi, officials in Kenya say. Vitalis Otieno, the officer in charge of the Gigiri area that hosts several embassies, said a pedestrian walking along the street stabbed the policeman on Thursday and attempted to take his gun. Mr Otieno said the identity of the attacker is known to police and says he is a Kenyan from the volatile region of Wajir. The US Embassy confirmed that there was a shooting and said no embassy personnel were involved. Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel were seen collecting evidence at the scene of the shooting. Wajir county has been cited by Kenyan authorities as a hot spot for recruitment by the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab from neighboring Somalia. Al-Shabab has vowed retribution on Kenya for sending troops to Somalia to fight the militants. The group has carried out a wave of attacks in Kenya that have left hundreds dead. The extremist group claimed responsibility for an attack on Tuesday in Mandera county that killed 12 people, saying its fighters were targeting Christians. Al-Shabab is al-Qaida's affiliate in the region, and it hosted Fazul Abdallah Mohammed, who was accused of masterminding the US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 that killed over 200 people. Mohammed was shot dead by Somali troops in 2011. Recently, Kenya has been battling the recruitment of youth by the Islamic State group, which is al-Qaeda's rival. Kenyan police have linked three women who were killed after they allegedly attacked a police station in Mombasa to the Islamic State. AP President Vladimir Putin has defended Russia's support for the Syrian army's siege of the rebel-held eastern districts of the city of Aleppo President Vladimir Putin has defended Russia's support for the Syrian army's siege of the rebel-held eastern districts of the city of Aleppo, saying it is necessary to crush the militants there. President Putin spoke to international foreign policy experts in Sochi, saing there is choice between "keeping a terrorist nest there or crushing that nest while minimising civilian casualties". Russia's air campaign in support of the Syrian troops' offensive on Aleppo has drawn international outrage. Moscow has denied striking civilians and has blamed Washington for failing to persuade the US-backed rebels in the city to cut their ties with fighters from al-Qaeda's branch. President Putin shrugged off the calls to end the onslaught on Aleppo, arguing that the US-backed, Iraqi-led siege of Mosul should also be halted then, and the prospective attack on Raqqa by the US-led coalition should not be launched at all. Abortion is a contentious and controversial issue - and not just in Northern Ireland. The subject is featured regularly in the media and there are many campaigns and lobbying groups both for and against abortion. It has been debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly in the past and will be debated again in the future. I was interested, therefore, to receive an email advertising a seminar in the Assembly on Abortion Policy and Law: Key Considerations. It is planned for November 16 and is part of the Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series (KESS), organised by the Assemblys Research and Information Service in partnership with Queens University, Ulster University and the Open University. The five invited speakers are all university academics and the subject is one in which I have an interest, so I put the date in my diary. But, out of curiosity, I decided to find out a little more. It was at that point that the reality of the planned seminar became clear. Because this is not the first time that the same five speakers have taken part in an event together. Back in June, they were at the Abortion and Reproductive Justice Conference The Unfinished Revolution II, an international conference hosted by the Institute of Research in Social Sciences at the Ulster University in Belfast. Indeed, three of the five speakers were on the organising committee. So, who did they choose as their keynote speakers for their conference in June? They chose Professor Marlene Gerber Fried, a strident pro-abortionist, who has been a socialist activist since the 1960s, and Professor Sylvia Estrada-Claudio, another pro-abortion activist. There was no attempt to provide academic balance; this was a single-track agenda to advance an abortion revolution that is, for them, as yet unfinished. Indeed, that title raises the question of what their end-goal really is. For example, one of the speakers invited by officials to Stormont actually wrote an article in the Guardian suggesting that, in Great Britain, sex-selective abortion may not always be illegal. Lest there be any doubt about the nature of the June conference, another of the organisers was Emma Campbell, who was described as being from the Ulster University Research Institute for Art and Design, but who also campaigns with the lobby group Alliance for Choice. This seems to have been a closed shop, where any view could be expressed ... so long as it was pro-abortion. The UU website described the keynote speakers as bringing a wealth of knowledge as academics and activists. And that is a very telling phrase: academics and activists. It is sometimes assumed that academics are automatically independent and objective, that they operate at a level above the partisan lobbyist and the political activist, and sometimes that may be true. But every so often, it isnt. As the university website emphasises, you can be an academic and an activist. You can be an academic and a partisan lobbyist. So, this raises questions about the forthcoming KESS seminar at Stormont, because all five speakers were previously associated with the Unfinished Revolution conference and all are on the pro-abortion or, as they describe it, pro-choice side of the debate. It also raises questions about the nature and culture of the academic world in Northern Ireland. Are there no university academics who hold a different view on abortion? Do they not exist? Or do they not get invited to university conferences and Assembly seminars? Moreover, if that is the situation in our universities as regards abortion, what is the situation in those universities as regards other contentious issues? The organisers of the proposed seminar have actually done us all a favour, because by being so totally unbalanced they have unwittingly exposed and highlighted issues that needs to be explored. What is proposed for the KESS seminar next month is shamelessly unbalanced and totally unfair. It is presented as the sharing of impartial academic expertise, but is simply providing a platform for academic activists. Next week the Assembly is in recess. But the week after could be very interesting. As he exchanges blows with his opponent over who did more or who didn't do anything at all to address issues affecting Owasco Lake, U.S. Rep. John Katko held a meeting Wednesday at Cayuga Community College in Auburn to discuss next steps for federal, state and local officials. Several local officials attended the meeting, which wasn't open to the public. The attendees included Auburn Mayor Michael Quill, Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Keith Batman, Cayuga County Administrator Suzanne Sinclair and Owasco Supervisor Ed Wagner. Latest Auburn and Owasco drinking water tests show no blue-green algae toxins Monday's samples of drinking water from the city of Auburn and town of Owasco showed no dete Three members of Cayuga County's state legislative delegation state Sen. John DeFrancisco and Assembly members Gary Finch and Bob Oaks also were at the meeting. And representatives from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health either attended the meeting or participated via telephone. Blue-green algal blooms found in the lake have caused concern after toxins from the algae were detected in Auburn's and Owasco's public water in September. The lake provides drinking water to roughly 45,000 Cayuga County residents. While recent tests have shown no detectable levels of the toxins, local stakeholders worry the problem will resurface next summer. Kathleen Cuddy, director of the Cayuga County Health Department, said Katko's meeting was similar to one on Monday. At that gathering, state legislators were briefed on how $600,000 in funding allocated for projects in the Owasco Lake watershed would be spent. The funding and other needs were mentioned at Wednesday's meeting. "It was a pretty healthy discussion about trying to open up the avenues better between the federal and state regulatory agencies," Katko, R-Camillus, said in an interview with The Citizen. Katko added that his office will help connect local and state officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency. He said that will help with information flow and determining how to secure more federal funding. One challenge, according to Katko, is that the Finger Lakes tend not to have the same levels of pollution as other bodies of water. That affects the grant opportunities available for Owasco Lake. With the rise of blue-green algae, though, that could change. "When you start talking about drinking water being affected, I think that might hopefully provide a catalyst," Katko said. While Katko's meeting was in his official capacity as the 24th Congressional District's representative, Owasco Lake has been raised as a major issue in his race against Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon. Earlier Wednesday, Deacon, D-Syracuse, held a press conference on the shores of Owasco Lake to respond to claims made by Katko's campaign that she wasn't focused on the lake during her time as U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's regional director. Deacon called Katko's critique "dishonest" and said she worked on Owasco Lake water quality issues as the senator's top aide in central New York. A similar attack has been levied against Katko by Deacon's campaign. He's responded by saying that he's worked on Owasco Lake issues for the past two years, including a meeting in Auburn early in his term that was intended to be an agriculture listening session but was dominated by conversations about the lake's health. "It's almost stunning to me that she didn't know we were doing all of this for two years," Katko said of Deacon. "It's indicative to me of her lack of engagement on the issue." County reporter Gwendolyn Craig contributed to this report. The annual open enrollment period for health insurance is now upon us. New York State of Health is entering its fourth year of facilitating health insurance enrollment on the New York State of Health Exchange (an online health benefit exchange marketplace). The marketplace offers two separate enrollment channels: The Small Business Health Options Program and the individual marketplace for individuals and families. Open enrollment will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 1, and conclude on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Since its start three years ago, New York State of Health has had tremendous success, enrolling more than 2.8 million New Yorkers in health coverage through the marketplace. The number of uninsured New Yorkers has declined by nearly 850,000. The rate of uninsured declined from 10 percent to 5 percent between 2013 and September 2015. Consumers are encouraged to shop for the best value. The amount of tax credits changes each year, and many individuals will find that they are eligible for increased federal financial assistance to help make coverage more affordable. The same plans are available to consumers in 2017 as in the current year. All qualified health plans offer the 10 essential health benefits, and some options offer additional services such as adult dental and vision coverage in 2017. New York State of Healths Essential Plan, designed for lower-income New Yorkers, launched in 2016 and has met with enormous success. The Essential Plan lowers premiums to $20 or less a month and provides comprehensive benefits with no annual deductibles, free preventive care and low co-payments. Small business Employers can enroll in health insurance through SHOP at any time of the year. The marketplace offers flexibility in the level of employer contribution, choice of insurance providers, benefit levels and coverage tiers. Bookkeeping is simplified in that the marketplace combines premiums from multiple companies into one monthly bill. The marketplace is the only place where employers can get tax credits (eligibility required). Employers with up to 100 employees and at least one common law employee can enroll in SHOP. Whether or not you offer health insurance to your staff, both you and your employees are subject to the Affordable Care Acts Individual Responsibility Mandate and are required to maintain minimum essential coverage. Employers can still support their employees by providing information about how they can enroll in health insurance on the individual marketplace. Individuals and families Those who are eligible to enroll on the individual market are: Sole proprietors with no employees Self-employed individuals Employees without access to employer-sponsored coverage Retirees not yet on Medicare Individuals Families and children The marketplace makes it easy to shop for, compare and enroll in health insurance. You can see all the available insurance carriers and compare plans side-by-side. It is the only place to receive financial assistance (subject to eligibility). If you miss the open enrollment period, you must qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Examples of qualifying events include getting married, having a baby or adopting a child, or losing employer-sponsored coverage. There are some exceptions to the SEP rule: people eligible for Medicaid, the Essential Health Plan or Child Health Plus can enroll all year long (all New York state children are eligible for CHP, although a waiting period may apply). There are three ways to enroll in health insurance on the marketplace: 1. Enroll with the help of a navigator. These in-person assisters have helped enroll almost 70 percent of applicants. Services are confidential and free. 2. Enroll over the phone using the call center. These helpful folks can answer your questions and help you complete your applications. They are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. The call center telephone number is (855) 355-5777. 3. Enroll in the comfort of your office or home. Go to nystateofhealth.ny.gov and choose either small businesses (for SHOP) or individuals and families (for everyone else). Read each screen carefully and follow the instructions. Use the call center for any questions in case you get stuck. The Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce and the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency have collaborated to provide in-person navigator assistance throughout Cayuga and Seneca counties. A current site schedule showing locations and times can be found at cscaa.com/health. For more information or to make an appointment, call the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce at (315) 252-7291, the CSCAA (Cayuga County) at (315) 255-1703 or the CSCAA (Seneca County) at (315) 539-5647. Myanmar said Thursday that photos showing alleged rights violations in Rakhine states Maungdaw township were fake, despite reports by the United Nations and rights groups that security forces have killed unarmed residents, burned down villages, and made arbitrary arrests in the region near the Bangladesh border. The U.N. and rights groups have accused soldiers and police of violating the rights of civilians during their sweep of the Muslim-majority area in northern Rakhine state following deadly raids earlier this month on patrol posts along the border with Bangladesh, and ensuing clashes between soldiers and police and groups of armed men. Some say the death toll from the violence has been greater that what has been reported. The government has accused an extremist Muslim terrorist organization funded by Islamic extremists abroad for the attack, and have locked down the area to search for the perpetrators. Muslim Rohingya groups have asserted that security forces deployed in Maungdaw have committed rape and other forms of violence under the cover of the antiterrorism campaign. People in other countries sent old photos and videos to the U.N., rights groups and international news organizations of communal violence that took place four years ago between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, and tried to pass the images off as current, Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay told the Myanmar Service of Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister entity of BenarNews. The clashes in 2012 left more than 200 people dead and displaced 140,000 Muslims who ended up in internal refugee camps. An estimated 300,000 Rohingyas are also believed to be living on the Bangladeshi side of the border, and are largely concentrated in Coxs Bazar. Some also posted them on social networks like Twitter as if they were [images of] the problems right now in Rakhine state, he said. And because they did this, the media might think they are current photos and videos of Rakhine state. We will explain to the media and organizations that these photos and videos are not from the problem in Rakhine state right now, he said. They are not real. I asked relevant officials and organizations in Rakhine state, and I know there are no cases like this in Rakhine, he said. After the attacks on the border guard posts on Oct. 9, which killed nine guards, the government mobilized army soldiers and border police in Maungdaw to conduct a sweep of the area for 400 other people, believed to be local Muslims, thought to have been involved in the attacks. From the beginning, we ordered relevant organizations and departments to do the security sweep operation very carefully in Rakhine state after the Maungdaw attack, Zaw Htay said. Following that attack, Bangladeshi officials said they had beefed up security along the southern border with Myanmar. On the Burmese side, soldiers and border police have also prohibited the media and the U.N.'s World Food Program from accessing Maungdaw for security purposes. There are many people who support terrorists, he said. They make big media campaigns, and it seems they get a lot of funding. As we already know about this, we are always warning relevant organizations to do things very carefully. Mid-East Connection Security forces have killed about 30 alleged terrorists and captured more than 50 others, but only regained 10 of the roughly 50 guns that the terrorists stole during the attacks on the border patrol stations, he said. Zaw Htay said there is a connection between the group accused of plotting and carrying out the attacks and an international terrorist network based in the Middle East. The Maungdaw attackers received military training from a terrorist organization and received funds from individuals who support terrorists, he said. We are coordinating with neighboring countries such as India and Bangladesh to work on this case, Zaw Htay said. We are also exchanging information with international antiterrorism agencies. The thousands of residents who fled their homes in Maungdaw out of concern for their safety have been returning to the area during the last week. The military and police are working together to ensure their safety and security, Zaw Htay said. We must protect them. They cant live in peace without our protection. We have long- and short-term plans to work for their safety and security. On Monday, U.N. experts urged the Myanmar government to address the growing number of reports of summary executions of civilians, including children, during the searches and raids, and of the burning of homes and mosques. Yanghee Lee, the U.N.s special envoy on the human rights situation in Myanmar, said that experts had received repeated allegations of arbitrary arrests as well as extrajudicial killings occurring within the context of the security operations conducted by the authorities in search of the alleged attackers. What troubles me most is the lack of access for a proper assessment of the true picture of the situation there at the present moment, she said in a statement. The blanket security operations have restricted access for humanitarian actors with concerning consequences for communities ability to secure food and conduct livelihood activities. Relatives of a person injured in a bomb attack at a noodle stall in the southern Thai province of Pattani react at a local hospital, Oct. 24, 2016. A new round of exploratory talks between Bangkok and southern Thai insurgents is under way in Malaysia and expected to go until Friday with the crucial issue of ceasefire zones on the agenda, a spokesman for the rebels told BenarNews. The Malaysia-facilitated meetings that aim to re-open formal peace talks between the two sides are the first since early September, when the negotiating teams agreed to future discussions about the so-called safety zones, or a limited ceasefire touted as being key to moving the peace process along. The latest round began on Tuesday with the delegations meeting in Putrajaya. Smaller, technical panels from both sides were to convene on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to discuss the safety zones and terms of reference (TOR) a set of ground rules for formal negotiations confirmed Abu Hafiz al-Hakim, a spokesman for MARA Patani, a panel representing rebel groups and factions from Thailands Deep South. Yesterday a meeting was held in Putrajaya by the main panels, Hafiz said by phone Wednesday. We both agreed to begin discussions on security zones, starting Wednesday for three days, as a step forward in building confidence of both parties. Asked to confirm whether a new round of informal peace talks was taking place, a spokesman for the Thai military command in the Deep South spoke generally about the peace process. We continue with peace talks and our task is to create a favorable atmosphere for peace talks in cooperation with civil society and academia, Col. Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the forward office of Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4, told BenarNews on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Malaysian state-run news agency Bernama reported on Tuesday that the two sides were meeting in Kuala Lumpur, and that Gen. Aksara Kerdpol was leading the Thai delegation. Both sides agreed to commence negotiations on the issue of the safety zones beginning tomorrow as a step in confidence-building, Bernama quoted a source with MARA Patani as saying. Very committed: Rebel leader Since 2015, Thailands junta has been trying to revive formal peace talks for ending a long-running separatist conflict in the countrys southern border region, and which were last held under a civilian-led government in 2013. More than 6,000 people have been killed during the past 12 years in violence associated with the rebellion in the predominantly Muslim and Malay-speaking Deep South. What I know is that both sides are very committed on the safety zone issue. Hopefully they will reach some points of agreement in this meeting in KL, Kasturi Mahkota, leader of the Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO), one of the rebel groups represented on MARA, told BenarNews on Wednesday. He said he was not at this weeks meeting in Malaysia. Bombing, shooting take place on eve of talks The latest round of talks began on the anniversary of the Tak Bai incident, an infamous event in the history of the troubles in the Deep South and that helped inflame the conflict. Eighty-five people who were arrested during a protest outside a police station in Narathiwat province, suffocated to death after being handcuffed and stacked on top of each other in a police vehicle on Oct. 25, 2004. The meetings took place against a backdrop of on ongoing violence in the Deep South. A day earlier, three people were killed and 22 injured in a separate bombing and shooting in the region. The attacks included a bombing of noodle stall at a night market in Pattani province on Monday evening when a 60-year-old woman was killed and small children were injured. On Tuesday, following a weekly meeting of his cabinet, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha commented about the bombing of the noodle stall. As long as the perpetrators try to seize a chance to attack, there will be violence, but we try our best to stop it. The assailants did not expose themselves but mingled with the people, Prayuth told reporters in Bangkok. Razlan Rashid in Kuala Lumpur and Nani Yusof in Washington contributed to this report. Malaysia on Thursday launched its first integrated special operations unit whose job is to respond rapidly to terrorist attacks and snuff out such threats, officials said. Officers from the Malaysian police, army, navy and coast guard are joining ranks in forming the new National Special Operations Force (NSOF), which will act as first responders in the event of terror attacks, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced, according to local media. Najib said the unit of 17 officers and 170 personnel, based at the Sungai Besi army camp in Kuala Lumpur, would respond to national security threats from Islamic State (IS) and other militant organizations, the New Straits Times reported. NSOF acts as a quick reaction force to curb terrorism in the early stages. The land, air and maritime units will be mobilized as the early group and will confront, fight and eliminate the threats, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement reported by Malaysian state news agency Bernama. Once the threat has been eliminated, NSOF will hand over the operation to security forces. Najib praised the integrated force and said it would strengthen the nations security. We are not apologetic for any measures taken by our security forces. This unit is based on the National Blue Ocean Strategy principle of sharing assets and capabilities, and acting under a single chain of command, Najib said at the official launch of NSOF. Without peace and security, all bets are off, he said, according to Asia One. The National Special Operations Force is almost fully operational and it functions in support of the controversial National Security Council Act implemented by Najibs government two months ago, according to a report published Thursday by Channel NewsAsia. The new law empowers the prime minister to declare any place a security area for six months at a time subject to renewal and it allows the council to authorize stops, searches and arrests of people, among other actions, according to legal experts. IS threats For many months, Malaysian officials have said that IS aggressively recruits young people to its ranks through propaganda spread via social media. Officials have also warned that those returning from combat stints with IS in the Middle East could mount terror plots on home soil. To date, a total of 250 Malaysians who are involved with Daesh militants, have been detained in the country, 32 people have died in Iraq and Syria while more than 60 people are still fighting for the retrograde ideology, Najib said, according to Bernama, referring to IS by another name. He said IS had pushed its ideology through social media, pointing to reactions to a grenade blast at the Movida nightclub in Puchong in June the first attack claimed by IS on Malaysian soil. Fortunately, no fatal casualties, only eight were injured. Are we sure this thing will not recur. With the establishment of NSOF, it will improve our preparedness, and our ability to eradicate any incidents at any time, he said. Malaysian suspect caught in Philippines The announcement about the new unit occurred a day after Malaysian Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed that authorities in the Philippines had taken a Malaysian man into custody at a port in the town of Maluso, in the southern Philippine province of Basilan. The man, whose identity has not been released, allegedly attempted to flee from the port to return to Malaysia after placing explosives at the port. Philippine media reported that the man had been seen at a camp run by Abu Sayyaf Group militants in an Abu Sayyaf camp in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. Authorities are investigating whether the man was training Abu Sayyaf members to make bombs. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. Mit den gewonnenen Informationen mochten wir verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden, und die Qualitat dieser Dienste verbessern. neue Dienste zu entwickeln und zu verbessern Werbung auszuliefern und ihre Wirkung zu messen personalisierte Inhalte anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen Wenn Sie Alle ablehnen auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies nicht fur diese zusatzlichen Zwecke. Nicht personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung werden u. a. von Inhalten, die Sie sich gerade ansehen, und Ihrem Standort beeinflusst (welche Werbung Sie sehen, basiert auf Ihrem ungefahren Standort). Personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung konnen auch Videoempfehlungen, eine individuelle YouTube-Startseite und individuelle Werbung enthalten, die auf fruheren Aktivitaten wie auf YouTube angesehenen Videos und Suchanfragen auf YouTube beruhen. Sofern relevant, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auerdem, um Inhalte und Werbung altersgerecht zu gestalten. Wir verwenden Cookies und Daten, umWenn Sie Alle akzeptieren auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch, umWahlen Sie Weitere Optionen aus, um sich zusatzliche Informationen anzusehen, einschlielich Details zum Verwalten Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellungen. Sie konnen auch jederzeit g.co/privacytools besuchen. Halloween is a holiday capable of generating quite a bit of nostalgia. Every year in late October, I remember the trouble I used to get in dressing up in crazy costumes with my friends. Pigging out on candy was only part of the adventure. There are ways to decrease the environmental impact of Halloween, an impact that has increased over the years, even since I was a kid. Let's go through a few ways you can lower the environmental impact of Halloween: First, the most important part of the holiday: the costume. It used to be very popular to make your own costume, an activity that has become less common perhaps due to the readily available and low-cost premade alternatives. My mother used to craft pretty impressive Halloween costumes, which of course requires some skills not all of us have. (I certainly cannot, for instance, sew together a Tigger costume.) But a little creativity can allow you to sport a great costume at a fraction of the cost to the environment and your own pocket. Get creative in what costume you are picking to begin with not everyone needs to be Iron Man with a fully functional lighting system. Think of something different, such as a clever play on words or a unique public character. From there, you'd be amazed at what you can create with household items, clothes you already own and trips to used clothing stores like Salvation Army. This strategy also applies to your Halloween decorations. You can do a lot with locally grown pumpkins, squash and corn stalks. A couple of dead branches can contribute to a spooky effect, and it is pretty easy to transform your porch into a place that looks abandoned with some sheets and old furniture. Using things you already own or that will decompose naturally (and even benefit the local economy) is a big step toward a green Halloween. Another huge part of Halloween is the candy. What you don't want to do is hand out apples and have a bunch of angry kids toilet-papering your house a few hours later. Believe it or not, it is possible to choose candy that is both better for the environment and healthier. Take a quick look at the ingredients list and try to avoid palm oil. I wrote an Eco Talk a few months ago about how palm oil production is destroying biodiversity in Indonesia, among other places. This is easy, as a few big manufacturers make sure to steer clear of palm oil. If you can, aim for fair trade candy this ensures the producers of ingredients are paid appropriately for their goods. There are also candy options that donate certain amounts of their profit to wildlife protection programs. The last big aspect of Halloween is the trick-or-treating. Walking around your neighborhood is a great way to not only reduce your environmental impact, but also get out and experience your community. Idling in a car and driving from house to house means you're puffing out greenhouse gases all night, instead of burning off some of that candy you will invariably steal from Junior when you get back home. Besides, it helps to create that sense of adventure that I mentioned earlier. Halloween isn't quite the same in the back of a car. For the first time in eight years, a Cayuga County farm has been awarded funds through the New York State Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program. Perry Farm in Aurelius will receive $484,050 to protect a 190-acre swath of land. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the award recipients Tuesday, which in total were given $4.9 million to help farmers protect 2,843 acres of land. That funding was divvied up among six farms, three of which are in central New York. Kari Terwilliger, planner with the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development, said she had worked with the owners of Perry Farms on the application, which was then sent to the New York Agricultural Land Trust for submission. She said the owners are elderly, last generation farmers. While no family members were interested in taking up the farming business, Terwilliger said the owners wanted to keep their property farmland and reduce its resale value so a first-time farmer can take it on. "That was the compelling story for us, and why our board made them our number one pick," Terwilliger said. "We're really excited. We haven't had a project anywhere in the county awarded this since 2008." Terwilliger said she is already looking to next year's applications, and hopes the county will be successful in securing more funding. Besides Perry Farm, two other farms in the region received grant funds. Stack Family Farm, located in the town of Onondaga and the town of Marcellus, was awarded $762,038 to protect 263 acres of its 250-cow dairy farm. The project will facilitate the transition of the farm from a father to his son, while also financing a robotic milking system, according to a release. And in Onondaga and Cortland counties, Birdsall Farm was awarded $1,190,261 through the grant program. Located both in the town of Scott and the town of Spafford, the project will protect the 620-acre beef operation as well as provide a buffer to the adjoining Ripley Hill Nature Preserve, protected by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. This is the farmland protection program's 20th anniversary, and is part of the state's Environmental Protection Fund. Grants are distributed by the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets. "The Governor's continued support of farmland preservation is having a significant impact in protecting and retaining the state's farmland today for our future New York farmers," said state Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball in a press release. "The projects awarded today will ensure the diversity of New York agriculture and, in many cases, will help farmers upgrade their operations." Do you feel marked for sorrow? Are you the target of the arrows of affliction? Are you punished more than others? Do not sorrow. The arrows of affliction are sent by covenant love to prepare you for a special work that will yield great blessing from your Heavenly Father. C.H. Spurgeon Our heavenly Father does a thousand things through the hard times he takes us through. He increasingly shapes us into the likeness of Christ. He creates humble dependence upon him. And in the fires and floods he draws near to comfort us. Hes the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Many times Ive cried out to him for his comfort, and have found it true that he comforts us in all our affliction. Our sad times and hard times arent wasted. Our Father also prepares us to be vessels of comfort for others. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christs sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 2 CO 1:37 When someones been through something it makes their sympathy that much more powerful. When someone whos never experienced a hard time like the one Im in offers comfort, I appreciate it, but if someone whos been through a similar experience encourages me it means so much more. When I was 26, my younger brother took his life. Numerous times over the years Ive been able to comfort people who lost loved ones because I know how it feels. My wife has suffered with depression and anxiety for over 20 years, and God has used her to help and strengthen many. Parents who have challenges with their children can sympathize and encourage other parents with kids who arent doing well. If we never have any challenges with our kids, its easy to become proud and not understand what other parents are going through. We can think that if those other parents just did the right things, their kids would turn out good like ours. But when weve been through the pain and sadness of a rebellious child, were much more sympathetic to other parents and much less likely to judge them. A police officer friend told me that before a policeman is allowed to use a taser he himself must first be tasered. When weve seen Gods faithfulness to us in our afflictions, then well be in a good position to promise others that God will be faithful to them in theirs. And Paul says that when we suffer well be able to comfort those in ANY afflictioneven though we dont experience their exact pain, we know what it is to suffer and we know what it is to find Gods comfort in that suffering. Your pain isnt meaningless. God has a great work ahead for you. The arrows of affliction are sent by covenant love to prepare you for a special work that will yield great blessing from your Heavenly Father. Mark Altrogge has been senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, Pennsylvania, since 1982. He has written hundreds of songs for worship, including I Stand in Awe and Im Forever Grateful. Mark and his wife, Kristi, have four sons and one daughter. Find out more on his blog, The Blazing Center. First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices For Immediate Release, October 26, 2016 Contact: Robin Cooley, Earthjustice, (303) 996-9611 Chris Eaton, Earthjustice, (303) 996-9616 Megan Mueller, Rocky Mountain Wild, (303) 704-9760 Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity, (801) 300-2414 Laura Welp, Western Watersheds Project, (480) 271-0349 Neil Levine, Grand Canyon Trust, (303) 455-0604 Tony Frates, Utah Native Plant Society, (801) 277-9240 Court: Fish and Wildlife Service Failed to Protect Rare Colorado, Utah Wildflowers Threatened by Oil Shale Mining Finds Conservation Agreement Inadequate to Address Threats From Uinta Basin Energy Development DENVER A federal court has ruled in favor of conservation groups in their challenge to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services decision to deny Endangered Species Act protection to two imperiled wildflowers that live only on oil shale formations in Colorado and Utah. Oil shale and tar sands mining, along with traditional oil and gas drilling, threaten 100 percent of known White River beardtongue populations and more than 85 percent of the known Grahams beardtongue populations. On Tuesday the court rejected the Services reliance on a 15-year conservation agreement negotiated behind closed doors with pro-industry stakeholders. In August 2013, the Service proposed to extend Endangered Species Act protection to the wildflowers and nearly 76,000 acres of their essential habitat, recognizing the threat posed by mining and drilling. One year later after lobbying by industry and its supporters, including the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) and Uintah County the Service reversed course and denied Endangered Species Act protections. The U.S. District Court for Colorado concluded that the Service could not reasonably rely on the agreement in denying Endangered Species Act protections. The court faulted the Service for failing to explain why the agreement would not simply leave the beardtongues in the same precarious state in 15 years as they were in when the Service proposed listing. The court also found that the agency did not base its decision solely on the best available science, as required by the Endangered Species Act. The court vacated the decision not to protect the plants and reinstated the proposed rule. This is the second time that a federal court has struck down the Services decision to deny Endangered Species Act protections to the beardtongues. This is a tremendous victory for these rare and beautiful wildflowers that are threatened by strip mining and drilling everywhere that they live, said Robin Cooley, an Earthjustice attorney who filed the legal papers on behalf of the conservation groups. FWS must go back to the drawing board and make a decision based not on politics, but on science, as the law requires. The science here is clear, these wildflowers must be protected from strip mining and drilling, said Megan Mueller, senior biologist with Rocky Mountain Wild. We urge the Fish and Wildlife Service to get it right this time and provide protections under the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act has an incredible record of saving species but it can only work if we use it. Weve known for decades that these wildflowers need federal protections if theyre going to survive, said Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological Diversity. Its deeply troubling that, in the face of global climate and extinction crises, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would illegally deny protections to imperiled species in order to accommodate one of the most carbon-polluting fossil fuels on earth. Beardtongues are facing climate change, grazing impacts, invasive species and other disturbances in addition to the threats of energy development and strip mining in their habitat, said Laura Welp, ecosystem specialist with Western Watersheds Project. It is clear they need the meaningful protection of the Endangered Species Act. It was recognized from the beginning that a 15-year agreement term was highly inadequate to protect these species, and we are grateful that the court has recognized this, said Tony Frates, conservation co-chair of the Utah Native Plant Society. Just in the past six months several very large-scale Uinta Basin projects have been given the green light and once started are each projected to last 25 years or more. Earthjustice filed the lawsuit on behalf of Rocky Mountain Wild, Center for Biological Diversity, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Utah Native Plant Society, Grand Canyon Trust, Western Resource Advocates, and Western Watersheds Project. United Kingdom International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, has pledged more help to create jobs, build livelihoods and support the poorest people in Africa to work their way out of poverty, during a visit to Kenya. Image by 123RF As the first Cabinet Minister to visit Africa since the UK voted to leave the European Union, Patel set out her vision for UK aid in the continent and announced new support to boost economic development. With Africa now home to the worlds fastest growing population, Patel outlined the importance of generating productive jobs and sustainable livelihoods, opening up markets, stimulating economic growth and increasing business opportunities to make the most of a young, vibrant working population. This provides a better alternative to risking the dangerous journey to Europe or turning to extremism, therefore tackling migration and instability, which is firmly in the UKs interests. New UK support includes: Launching a new Invest Africa programme to encourage at least 400 million of foreign direct investment into the most productive sectors such as manufacturing to create 90,000 direct and indirect jobs in Kenya and other African countries over the next decade. This builds on the UKs role as the largest European investor into Africa. Providing 95 million over the next four years to increase Kenyas trade by 1.3bn, building on the success of TradeMark East Africa founded by UK aid in breaking down the barriers to trade. This will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, stimulate further growth and generate additional revenue for the Kenyan authorities that provide basic services for those in need. Providing 35 million to help go beyond meeting the basic needs of refugees - focusing on creating trading opportunities and sustainable livelihoods closer to home. This support benefits not only those who have been displaced by conflict and persecution but also host communities, encouraging greater integration and stability. Patel further said: "No country can defeat poverty without sustained economic growth and in Kenya I saw how UK support is creating job and trade opportunities for the many, not the few. As we redefine our place in the world following the EU Referendum, it is vital that the UK deepens existing relationships with African countries and establishes new trade, investment and economic links that deliver in our national interests, by bringing new opportunities for British businesses and creating our trading partners of the future." Patel visited Mombasa Port the biggest port in East Africa serving 200million people where she saw how the UK is breaking down the barriers to trade and yielding results. This has contributed to a 75% reduction in the amount of time that it takes to move goods from Mombasa to neighbouring countries, a 10% increase in Kenyas exports, hundreds of millions of pounds worth of increased trade and a reduction in corruption through greater transparency and accountability. In Northern Kenya, she visited Kalobeyei settlement near Kakuma refugee camp, where new UK support is driving forward the Government of Kenyas progressive new approach to helping refugees access trading and livelihood opportunities. While still in its early stages, for the first time Kenyas local communities are better integrating with refugees and sharing the benefits of greater trade. This builds on landmark agreements at the UN General Assembly last month, including 20 million increase in UK support to help Somali refugees in Kenya safely and voluntarily return to livelihoods at home, building stability and security in the region. Patel also met local communities in the arid lands of Northern Kenya, where 94% of people are living in extreme poverty to see how the UK is leading the way in delivering smart, efficient and cost-effective aid for the poorest. By using innovative digital technology and providing regular payments directly into bank accounts, the UK is helping people purchase what they need, giving them economic empowerment and creating trading opportunities. In the last five years, UK aid in Kenya has: FLEMING Nearly three years after fleeing New York state to allegedly escape police, a Cayuga County man has been sentenced to prison for having sex with an underage girl. Joseph Kowal, of 5555 West Lake Road, Fleming, was 26 years old when he was accused in 2013 of raping a 16-year-old. According to Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann, after the rape was reported in December 2013, Kowal fled the state first to Texas, then Florida in an apparent attempt to avoid arrest. "It took over a year to get him back to face the charges," Budelmann said Thursday in Cayuga County criminal court, noting that Kowal was extradited to New York in April 2015 after an unrelated arrest in Florida. "He also faked a heart attack and racked up thousands of dollars in medical bills which (the county) had to pay." Upon his return to Cayuga County, Kowal who fathered a child as a result of his relationship with the victim was charged with two counts of third-degree rape and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. He was released from Cayuga County Jail a few days later after posting $25,000 cash bail. Then, in July 2016, Kowal pleaded guilty to one count of felony third-degree rape in exchange for the minimum sentence of two years in prison followed by five years post-release supervision. Still, at sentencing Thursday, Judge Thomas Leone said he was "a little uncomfortable with the arrangement," citing Kowal's extensive criminal history and his failure to return to Cayuga County on his own. "Joseph went to Texas, he went to Florida, and he should have come up to face these charges much sooner," Leone said. "What I see here is a pattern of stalling." In response, defense attorney Rome Canzano argued that there were efforts to get Kowal back to New York before his extradition. He also denied the district attorney's claims that Kowal was violent and addressed his client's issues with mental health. "This is a case involving a consensual relationship with someone of an inappropriate age," Canzano said. "There was no violence involved." But Budelmann disagreed, discussing Kowal's previous convictions for contempt, menacing, burglary, robbery and assault. "A walk through this defendant's criminal history shows he is extremely violent," he said. In the end, Leone denied Kowal's request to adjourn sentencing and agreed to go forward with the offer of two years in prison plus post-release supervision. In addition, Kowal will have to register as a sex offender and pay as much as $10,000 in restitution for his medical bills and the cost of extradition. Also in court: A Sterling man will spend the next two years in prison for violating the terms and conditions of his probation. Zachary Smith, of 974 Route 104A Lot 5, was originally convicted of second-degree rape in Wayne County and sentenced to 10 years probation in 2011. Then, just months after his sentence, Smith was arrested in Monroe County where he served six months in jail for a drug-related offense. In 2014, Smith moved to Cayuga County where the probation department reported several incidents in which the defendant was either unable or unwilling to provide urine samples. In addition, from the urine samples Smith did provide, there were some negative screens for alcohol and marijuana. According to Cayuga County Assistant District Attorney Chris Valdina, Smith's most recent violation occurred when he caused a car accident earlier this year and registered a .05 percent blood alcohol content. Although Smith was not intoxicated above the legal limit, the 25-year-old is prohibited from drinking any alcohol while on probation. "It's clear you did not take your probation sentence seriously," Leone said Thursday in court, noting that if Smith did not admit the violation he would be facing 3 1/2 years in prison. After talking with his family, Smith pleaded guilty to a handful of violations, including a failure to notify probation and failure to get a substance abuse evaluation. Leone sentenced Smith to two years in prison plus five years post-release supervision. An Auburn man has admitted to stealing more than $3,000 worth of jewelry and pawning it at a local business. Ronald McConnell, of 66 Holley St., pleaded guilty Thursday to third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and first-degree falsifying business records. The 49-year-old said he took the stolen jewelry to Pawn King in July where he signed false records in an effort to defraud the shop. McConnell who was previously convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine in 2014 could face up to seven years in prison as a second felony offender. However, Leone is expected to sentence him to two to four years in prison and $8,000 restitution. In addition, Leone remanded McConnell to Cayuga County Jail until his sentencing Jan. 5. What better way for lawyers to grab creatives' attention than by sending out a cease and desist letter of demand? Luckily in this case it was purely an invite to an event, but if you don't adhere to the legalities of advertising law you may not be as lucky. Here's what three of GALA's global legal lawyers had to say at the inaugural SA GALA event hosted by Adams & Adams. Adams & Adams is an authority on advertising, marketing and promotion law on the African continent, as Africas largest intellectual property law practice. Its also invested in local creativity as sponsor of Design Indaba and the Young Creative Award at the Loeries. Now, as the exclusive South African member of GALA, the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance, Adams & Adams were the ideal hosts to an event attended by the alliance of lawyers from around the world. Each offered expertise and experience in advertising and promotional law as a worldwide resource to individuals and corporations interested in solving legal issues affecting advertisers, marketers and creatives everywhere. Thats just what happened on Monday, 17 October when they demanded we cease and desist from all normal work activities to discuss and debate significant issues and trends affecting the advertising and marketing industry around the globe. Things got off to a humorous start with announcement that four of the five speakers were stuck in a lift at the Adams & Adams offices in Thibault Square luckily this was just a short drive from the Inner City Ideas Cartel, where attendees were chatting and downing a quick coffee while waiting. Luckily, as lawyers theyre well aware of the value of time, so they made up for the slight delay and still ended before the scheduled time, leaving attendees to mingle on the rooftop with champagne and canapes. But I digress Charne le Roux, partner with Adams & Adams Cape Town, kicked off by introducing the afternoon as a chance for: The brightest creative stars to rub shoulders with the sharpest legal minds globally. There was a real air of excitement as this marked the first time the event has taken place on African soil, with Cape Town a fitting location as it has not broken its stride since wearing the title of World Design Capital in 2014. Many of the top advertising houses are also based in and around the city, making it a top choice. She then introduced the afternoons first speaker, Jeffrey Greenbaum. Hes an advertising lawyer and managing partner based in New York at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, as well as GALAs global president. Greenbaum spoke us through the likes and unlikes of social media advertising in the USA, explaining that American advertising law falls under overlapping federal, state and local laws. For the most part, those laws are based on general principles, so the Federal Trade Commission offers guidance on unfair or deceptive practice, with self-regulation playing an important role. Also interesting to note is that priorities have shifted over the past decade, from consumer fraud and privacy breaches ten years ago to a renewed focus on whether the advertising environment still works. Greenbaum says its important to take a step back and consider what actually classifies as advertising. Some say it covers all social media and online communications from brands, but while advertisers are liable for what they post online, theyre not liable for content posted by others. To clarify this, Greenbaum played the cellphone popcorn video embedded below. He noted that while the video was definitely created to go viral, no advertisers or call to action is mentioned, its purely about sparking conversation, but is considered an advertisement as it was created by a Bluetooth headset manufacturer. Greenbaum added But cell phones dont do that, just because it doesnt look like an ad doesnt mean it isnt one. Are you asking for fake endorsements? Greenbaum says to keep in mind who you are creating the ad for and whether its format is misleading. This links to topics like native advertising, where promotional messages are sent in deceptive format. Greenbaum then shared two examples of native advertising that the FTC enforced. The first was against Lord & Taylor paying Instagrammers to photograph themselves in a certain dress and Nylon magazine writing about it without including editorial disclosure. The dress sold out in days. The second example was of Warner Brothers not disclosing upfront that it had solicited paid reviews and promotions for Shadow of Mordor, from big names like PewDiePie. The disclosure was only included near the end of the description box on YouTube, which the complainant said hardly anyone reads. Moving on to address the broader concept of influencers then, Greenbaum explained these include the brands employees. Once you build relationships with influencers, theyre more likely to write about you. Giving away free products to the media thus needs disclosure, especially if its material items. In how to phrase things, note that simply asking for a like isnt seen as endorsement, but the waters are a little murkier when you ask for a stronger emotion like love, and then use that to promote how much your brand is loved online. Heres how to disclose effectively: Greenbaum says the disclaimer must be clear and conspicuous, but it doesnt really matter where it is or what it looks like as long as it works. This can be problematic though as consumers are not obligated to seek it out and read a buried disclaimer, so consider where the ad will be viewed, if the language used is clear, and disclaimer hyperlinks are not good enough, as theyre avoidable. Greenbaum also says to use the disclaimer every time, not just in your first tweet or by placing it in your bio box as social media doesnt work that way. Online reviews and substantiation Moving on then to whether online reviews are reliable, Greenbaum says to check how they were solicited. Using social media responsibly must not cause substantial consumer harm. So even ifs nothing illegal, social media missteps can become a big PR problem. An interesting aspect of this is the use of celebrities on social media: You need their written permission to use their name, picture, voice or likeliness, but think of how everyone latched onto the #RIPPrince hashtag. Introduced as the UKs adlaw guru, Brinsley Dresden, partner at Lewis Silkin LLP, then presented the UK perspective on native advertising with a specific focus on gender issues in advertising. He agreed with Greenbaums point that the legal and regulatory issues of social media cover a true mixed bag of topics like consumer protection and intellectual property. My piece in Campaignlive today about what marketers need to know about TfL's new ad ban https://t.co/BoFhhXulvw Brinsley Dresden (@brinsleydresden) July 8, 2016 Dresden shared this example of the Daily Telegraphs Michelin insufficient labelling of sponsored content from 30 December 2015. He then highlighted gender issues in advertising as ranging from mild mocking to going so far as to reinforce stereotypes, sexualise the under-aged and promoting unrealistic body images. Whats interesting is that this type of offensive sexualisation is typical for perfume ads but raises consumer anger when seen in fashion or retail advertising. The fine line between funny and felony Rounding out the international perspective was Daniel Haije, partner with Hoogenraad & Haak advocaten in Amsterdam with a few advertising law lessons from Holland and the EU. As time was tight, he only shared three quirkily numbered examples with us: Lesson 7: Never assume the courts have a sense of humour. The following example from Burger King, showing an incognito Ronald McDonald ordering from competitor Burger King also resulted in legal trouble: Lesson 5: Dont underestimate the knowledge of Dutch consumers, especially when it comes to misrepresenting other destinations as South Africa... Lesson 23: Dutch courts seek world domination, now fighting unlawful cross-border comparative ad campaigns. Before, you could get away without an injunction if there wasnt a trademark. But on 6 August 2015, The Hague court ruled the Oculus/i-Optics an unfair comparison based on obsolete software with Pan-European or EU cross-border injunctions now fast, relatively cheap and effective. While entertaining, the presentations served as eye-openers for attendees. Watch this space for further coverage next week, click here for a gallery of the afternoon's proceedings, visit Adams & Adams for more and follow the speakers on Twitter. Greenbaum (@jeffgreenbaum) posts almost daily about adlaw, Dresden (@brinsleydresden) highlights the harm of gender stereotypes and Haije (@danielhaije) posts in Dutch. The banking sector strutted its creative spirit at the recent AMASA Awards with Nedbank and Standard Bank both taking top honours. Roger Garlick Award Winners - OMD Standard Bank won gold in the Best Contribution by a Media Owner with OMD and Primedia and Best Integrated: Financial with OMD, as well as walking away with the top honours on the evening, the Roger Garlick Grand Prix. The AMASA Awards are the industry standard ,says OMD South Africas MD Marco Santos. Therefore it is important for us to have a presence there. This presence paid off for OMD and its client Standard Bank. Santos says the Award was particularly rewarding because of their relationship with the client. We have had a relationship and partnership with Standard Bank for the past 16 years so winning the Grand Prix is a huge accolade and affirmation of our hard work. I am proud and honoured. He adds that the campaign would never have been possible without Primedia. They played a big role in the success of the campaign. The campaign, the Joy of Jazz, comprises a live billboard on the corner of William Nicol and Sandton Drive. I believe the campaign won for several reasons. Firstly, it was an out of the box, never been done before in South Africa idea. Secondly it drove experiential and experience and thirdly, it did so through a number of channels, including social media (twitter) and radio. This integration was key to its success. The campaign succeeded in cementing jazz with Standard Bank. Nikki Twomey, executive head of marketing and communications, Standard Bank, who was at the Awards, was also over the moon. Commenting on the Grand Prix winner, Wayne Bishop, head of the AMASA Awards portfolio says it had the perfect blend of impact, experience and amplification. With over 170 entries and over 60 shortlisted campaigns, OMD can be very proud of their achievement, out shining the many other entries this year, he adds. Nedbank, together with Joe Public won gold in the Best Integrated, Cause Related category for Go Sandile Twitter Track as well as gold in the Best Social for the same campaign. Also successful on the evening with Nedbank and taking gold in the Best Sponsorship Category for The Wonderland Project was M&C Saatchi Abel. Business director at M&C Saatchi Abel, Paul Coetzer, says it is always great to receive accolades that are based on more than just excellent creative or flawless execution. Recognising work where the right idea for the right target market is expressed through the right touchpoint and in the right way, is what AMASA Awards means to us. He describes Nedbank's The Wonderland Project as one that celebrates Nedbank as the green and caring and in line with the agencys belief that marketing for social good represents great opportunities for corporates and creatives; even more so in a developing country like South Africa. The Wonderland Project also challenged Design Indaba delegates to address societal concerns through the power of creativity, ideas and innovation. M&C Saatchi Connect also won gold in the Best Integrated, Cause Related category for its client Red Cross for the Give Childhood Back campaign. Commenting on their second Gold Award, for Integrated Campaign Cause Related Red Cross Childrens Hospital, Give Their Childhood Back, Coetzer says Its always great to receive awards even better when the work is for a worthy cause. This campaign is testament to the fact that an emotive campaign can yield great results, even on a limited budget. Gareth Leck, CEO, Joe Public United expressed his delight at the agency being acknowledged for their creative work and excellence. Achieving Gold is testament to our fantastic partnership with our client Nedbank and partner agency Native VML. The successful collaboration enabled us to create a campaign that made a meaningful difference to someone like Sandile as well as inspiring the broader country at large. We are grateful for the recognition. In total Nedbank was awarded four AMASA awards. We are pleased with this achievement as it demonstrates our long-standing commitment to creative and disruptive communications approach, designed to evoke an emotional connection with our audiences says Sydney Mbhele: executive head of group marketing at Nedbank. These accolades are symbolic of a great partnership with our creative agencies who bring our brand essence to life in a tangible manner. He adds that the brand is continuously seeking to explore meaningful and authentic ways to engage with their clients and broader consumers to ensure relevance through creative concepts that resonate with them. This complements Nedbanks brand essence which draws from different perspectives and experiences to tell our story. The Awards, held at Montecasino in Fourways, reward media and advertising excellence and innovation. In what was a record year for the Awards, this year saw the most entries, tickets sold and sponsorship raised. Wayne Bischoff, AMASA chairman, thanked the industry for their support that has seen this significant growth. From humble beginnings we invested in the Awards and it has paid off. He also paid homage to Gordon Patterson and announced that the AMASA learnership programmes would be named after him. OMDs sponsorship of the Ignition Award which recognises upcoming talent in the industry, is also in tribute to Patterson. Gordon played a huge role not only at OMD, but at AMASA and in the industry, as a whole and it is fitting that we pay homage to him in this way, says Santos. This is the second year OMD have sponsored the Ignition Award. View the full list of winners. The AstraZeneca Research Trust, a non-profitable trust which distributes academic medical research funding, has confirmed that it has R1,5m available for new research, and has opened the call for 2017 research proposals. Since its inception in 2014, the trust has disbursed R3m in grants. The funding is for local high-level non-interventional studies, including doctoral and post-doctoral work. Although in the past, the trust has made no attempt to limit the research areas, this year for the first time, a stipulation has been included and research must be geared towards non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to the World Health Organisation, NCDs kill more than 38m people each year. By far the leading cause of death in the world, 28m of all NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Its therefore accurate to say that Africa is sitting on a NCD time bomb and the need for research that will generate significant data currently not available, has never been greater. NCDs are generally slow to progress and fall into four main areas, including cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and stroke, which at 17,5m deaths annually account for the most NCD deaths. This is followed by cancers (8,2m), chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma (4m) and diabetes (1,5m). The curse of Africa The continent is ill equipped to fight these modern day illnesses and does not have the empirical data to properly manage and treat these potentially life-threatening diseases which are becoming increasingly prevalent and are the curse of Africa. Further complicating this, the pharmaceutical industry has not traditionally invested in this area of research with funding customarily being allocated to compound and chemical entity developments. With extensive investment into research on HIV infection and TB, there has been little investment and focus on non-communicable diseases. It is for these reasons the trust is encouraging the generation of this much needed epidemiological data on non-communicable and other diseases - for without current, accurate data, the extent of the problem cannot be ascertained. Submission deadlines Submissions for grant funding must be made by the 22 November 2016 deadline. All applicants should submit a letter of intent (LOI) however preference will be given to masters, PhD and post-doctorates. Successful applicants will be contacted in January 2017, whereby the full proposal will be requested for submission. Full study proposals must be submitted by 15 February 2017. A six- to eight-week review period will be allocated for the scientific steering committee to make the necessary decisions with a grant awards ceremony scheduled for May next year. AstraZeneca believes its grants will help meet a huge area of unmet need on the continent, ensuring the reprioritisation of healthcare initiatives and helping bring specific solutions to unique environments. Anchored on the corner of the R44 and De Beers Avenue, The Sanctuary, a R400m mixed-use retail and convenience development, has opened in Somerset West. The three-storey building is made up of 8,000m retail space on the ground floor, with a further 8,000m of optic fibre-connected office space and a gym on floors one and two. Designed by SVA International Cape Town, The Sanctuary features a formalised restaurant node for Somerset West, bringing with it Gauteng steakhouse franchise, Turn n Tender. Other restaurants include Java and Craft, set to open before the end of the year, Casa Bella, Cape Town Fish Market, Creme De Levain artisan bakery and patisserie, and Simply Greek (opening in January 2017). Abacus managing director Gavin Blows explains that a fibre optic backbone means high-speed connectivity for stores and office tenants alike, with 100Mbps speed and 250MB of free wifi data available to shoppers daily. This is a continuation of our national partnership with Vodacom which has resulted in cost-effective connectivity not only for office and retail tenants, but also for surrounding developments, he says. Scenic setting Adding to the centres appeal, says its developers, is The Sanctuarys scenic setting. Restaurants spill onto an outdoor deck, which overlooks a rehabilitated water body. Designed to be sensitive to the water body that borders the centre, the wooden decks and re-tractable shopfronts allow restaurants to trade internally or externally, depending on the weather. The water body, which serves as a storm water retention facility, has been rehabilitated, with the developers having removed polluted soil and implemented a water and landscaping maintenance programme to ensure the natural environment can propagate and provide a sanctuary for birdlife in the area. A built path that meanders around the edge allows bird watchers access to all sides and includes rest areas and benches. There will be ongoing monitoring of fauna specifically birds in partnership with local stakeholders, says Blows. NEW YORK - The slow global economy and the health-driven turn against sweet sodas dented Coca-Cola sales for the sixth straight quarter, delivering a 28 percent hit to net income, the company reported Wednesday. Coca-Cola said worldwide revenues fell in the quarter to 30 September by 7.0 percent from a year ago to $10.6 billion, with sharp declines in its Latin America and Europe-Africa-Middle East regions. Growth in North America was strong but Asia, another key market, only registered slight gains, the company said. Net profits for the quarter came in at $1.05 billion, a big drop from $1.45 billion a year ago. Earnings per share were down 27 percent at 24 cents, but on an adjusted basis came in at 49 cents, just beating analyst forecasts. The company said that operating margins gained 50 basis points, helped by restructuring and other initiatives. "We continued to see solid revenue results in our developed markets with two percent unit case volume growth and a continued focus on price realization. The United States, Japan and Western Europe delivered standout performance underpinned by innovation and world-class marketing," chairman and chief executive Muhtar Kent said in a statement. THE HAGUE - Dutch brewing giant Heineken toasted a 2.0 percent growth in global beer sales for the third quarter, boosted by a warm European summer and strong performances in Asia and Mexico. But the world's number two brewer also reported a 30.2 percent drop in net profit for the first nine months to 1.24 billion euros ($1.35 billion). Amsterdam-based Heineken stressed, however, that 2015 results included "the exceptional gain of 379 million euros" from the 1.2 billion euro sale of its Mexican packaging arm Empaque in February 2015. "Performance in the third quarter was robust despite strong comparatives in the Americas and Europe and a tough environment in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe," Heineken's chief executive Jean-Francois van Boxmeer said in a statement. "Strong performance continued in key markets such as Vietnam and Mexico and Europe also showing further positive momentum," Van Boxmeer added. In Europe, beer sales were "helped by good weather in most markets" while in Asia and the Pacific, sales jumped more than 15 percent, driven by the iconic Tiger beer brand. Beer sales also grew in Mexico and the Caribbean by 3.0 percent, boosted by brands such as Tecate Light and Dos Equis. Sales in Africa and eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and Poland remained flat, Heineken said. "Our full-year margin expectations remain unchanged, despite continued adverse economic conditions in some developing markets, as well as currency headwinds," said Van Boxmeer, who has been re-appointed as chief executive by Heineken's supervisory board. Founded in the 19th century, Heineken produces and sells more than 250 brands including Desperados tequila-flavoured beer, Sol and Strongbow cider and employs about 73,000 people around the world. A global imperative to drive down the cost of electricity and greenhouse gas emissions means people have turned to renewables as the solution to the current energy challenges that the world faces. But, are these solutions a realistic and affordable alternative to traditional energy supplies? In recent weeks, there seems to have been an about-turn in the department of energys attitude towards renewables and a strong drive towards resuscitating the nuclear build programme. Environmental advocates say this is a move by Eskom to hold onto its monopoly and save face about its ill-fated newbuild coal-powered projects, all of which ran way over budget and time during their construction phase. The renewable energy independent power producers programme (REIPPP) has so far proven to be a benchmark in public/private development partnerships. But not so long ago, Eskom CEO, Brian Molefe, stated that renewable energy was too expensive and the power utility would not be entering into any more purchasing agreements. While just yesterday, finance minister, Pravin Gordhan said in his mini budget speech that the nuclear programme would be going ahead with Eskom as the lead. Source: Solar Capital Yet according solar energy developer, Paschal Phelan, owner of the Phelan Energy Group and its subsidiary Solar Capital, solar power developers are competing to break world records to drive down the cost of solar power solutions. Phelan explains that in a recent tender submission for the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) PV project, three of the bids submitted broke the previous world record for the lowest solar tariff in the world of which the Phelan Tenaga Consortium bid was one. The project is planned to be the largest international PV solar facility on the planet, and at a cost of ca. US$700m, is already considered one of the worlds most significant achievements in renewable energy. Phelan says that the lowest weighted levelised electricity cost (WLEC) was 2,42 US cents per kWh for a proposed 1,170MW PV facility, with the Phelan Tenaga bid coming close to this at 2,598 US cents per kWh. He points out that the Phelan Tenaga bid was more than 10% lower than the previous record for lowest tariff for a large-scale plant, currently being built in Dubai. More importantly Phelan Tenaga and two other groups are the only solar energy developers ever to bid below 2,9 US cents per kWh. Phelan further clarified that prices will vary between regions depending on solar irradiation, local content, building costs, cost of funding and foreign exchange. The group successfully delivered large scale solar plants, in excess of 175MW in South Africa, in the very similar desert conditions. He adds that solar power is cheaper, safer and quicker with no ongoing carbon footprint. It is the energy of now and the future. Fossil fuels in regions of reasonable sunshine should have taken the trail of the dinosaurs. Phelan explains that the arrival of low cost solar power has taken many governments by surprise. With the enacting of carbon tax legislation under their COP commitments, however, they will soon realise that solar energy is the future. The cost of battery storage for solar energy is on a similar downward trajectory and is now market competitive. ADWEA is currently conducting due diligence of the three Preferred Consortia submissions and will announce the winning bid/s in November 2016. SAN FRANCISCO, USA: A US judge on Tuesday, 25 October 2016, granted final approval for a $14.7 billion class action settlement in Volkswagen's diesel emissions cheating scandal, the largest such automaker settlement in history. Simon via Pixabay The buyback deal at the same time also resolved some claims brought by US and California environmental regulators who had sought penalties for Volkswagen's violations of pollution laws. "Final approval of the 2.0 litre TDI settlement is an important milestone in our journey to making things right in the United States and we appreciate the efforts of all parties involved in this process," Hinrich Woebcken, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, said in a statement. The settlement offers compensation to nearly a half-million owners of polluting Volkswagen and Audi diesel-powered vehicles in the US which the German automaker has admitted configuring to deceive emissions tests. This allowed some cars to emit almost 40 times the permissible levels of harmful nitrogen oxides. Owners of 2.0 litre diesel-powered cars will be eligible for buybacks, penalty-free lease terminations or free modifications to fix the vehicles' emissions. All participants will also receive cash payments. In addition to $10 billion for compensation to owners, Volkswagen will create a $2.7 billion fund for environmental remediation, and provide $2 billion to promote the use of "zero emissions" vehicles within the United States. "The settlement adequately and fairly compensates class members," US District Judge Charles Breyer wrote in an opinion approving the deal. "While plaintiffs might ultimately prevail on their claims, the settlement provides benefits much sooner than if litigation were to continue. Moreover, litigation would cause additional environmental damage that the settlement otherwise reduces." Breyer had granted preliminary approval for the settlement in July, praising the "enormous efforts" by all sides to reach an agreement and avoid a trial. Volkswagen's parallel agreement with US authorities will require it to modify or remove 85% of the vehicles from the roads by June 2019 or face steep additional penalties. California will receive about $1.2 billion to mitigate environmental damage caused by the pollution, of which $381 million will fund projects to reduce smog, such as creating incentives for cleaner heavy-duty vehicles, according to the California Air Resources Board. "Today is a landmark day, when this innovative settlement can be put into action, investing billions of dollars into public health protections to remedy these serious violations," Cynthia Giles, head of enforcement at the US Environmental Protection Agency, said in a statement. Breyer's rulings were a major step in the German automaker's efforts to move past the scandal and revive sagging sales after admitting to the deceptive practices in the production of some 11 million vehicles worldwide. But the costs of the scandal have been considerable. Volkswagen reported a 1.6 billion euro ($1.74 billion) net loss for 2015, its first in more than two decades. The company has booked 18 billion euros to cover repairs, buy-backs and legal costs for the scandal, but commentators have said the final amount could be much higher. The company is in talks with US federal prosecutors to settle criminal allegations related to the emissions cheating. Prosecutors last month indicted James Liang, a Volkswagen engineer, who has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate as the United States builds its case. Volkswagen also still needs to conclude a separate settlement in the United States concerning about 80,000 Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche cars with 3.0 liter engines equipped with the emissions cheat devices. The company has been far less generous in Europe, pledging to bring affected cars there into compliance by next year. The company also faces billions of dollars in damage claims from investors. Empire State Development's tourism office is posting weekly fall foliage reports. Below is the report posted Oct. 26, 2016: Vibrant Peak Foliage Expected this Weekend in Finger Lakes, Greater Niagara and Hudson Valley Regions Albany, NY This is the seventh 2016 Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Fall Foliage Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon and are available at www.iloveny.com/foliage. Beautiful peak foliage continues to progress throughout the Finger Lakes region and into its final destinations in the Greater Niagara, Hudson Valley, Central New York, Thousand Islands-Seaway and Chautauqua Allegheny regions, while Long Island will see near peak foliage this weekend, according to spotters for Empire State Developments I LOVE NEW YORK program. Syracuse area over the past week. Near peak to peak conditions will remain through the weekend. Spotters reporting from Syracuse University campus expect just about 60 percent color change for the weekend, with a considerable amount of green leaves remaining. The brilliance of the leaves is average and the predominating colors include touches of yellows and oranges. Peak foliage will arrive in Schuyler County this weekend. Spotters in Watkins Glen expect 95-100 percent color change and yellow, orange and red leaves of mixed brilliance. In Wayne County, spotters reporting from Lyons expect near peak conditions and 75 percent color change. Look for shades of yellow, along with touches of red and orange, and some remaining green leaves. In the Finger Lakes region, color progression was slower than expected in thearea over the past week. Near peak to peak conditions will remain through the weekend. Spotters reporting from Syracuse University campus expect just about 60 percent color change for the weekend, with a considerable amount of green leaves remaining. The brilliance of the leaves is average and the predominating colors include touches of yellows and oranges. Peak foliage will arrive in Schuyler County this weekend. Spotters inexpect 95-100 percent color change and yellow, orange and red leaves of mixed brilliance. In Wayne County, spotters reporting fromexpect near peak conditions and 75 percent color change. Look for shades of yellow, along with touches of red and orange, and some remaining green leaves. Spotters reporting from Rochester in Monroe County predict 70-80 percent color change this weekend with near peak conditions. There was considerable leaf droppage due to heavy wind and rain over the weekend. Yellow is the predominate color, along with some orange, red and brown leaves of average brilliance. Spotters reporting from the Brighton area of the city predict 70-75 percent color transition and peak to just past peak foliage for the weekend. The brilliance of the leaves is average and the predominating colors are yellow, yellow-green, dark red, and orange. About 25-30 percent of the foliage is still green or has dropped.Near peak foliage is expected this weekend in Seneca County, with 75 percent color change and a bright mixture of yellows, oranges and reds, with small hints of purple in some spots. Cayuga County spotters reporting from Auburn predict near peak foliage with 50 percent change, and leaves of yellow and green with touches of gold and orange of average brilliance. In Yates County, foliage will be at the midpoint stage with about 60 percent change this weekend. Lots of green leaves remain along with orange, red and yellow leaves of exceptional brilliance, and some patches of muted brown. Foliage spotters in Steuben County predict nearly complete color change with bright to very brilliant shades of red, orange, gold and yellow and a mix of peak to past peak conditions for the weekend. In Livingston County expect just past peak foliage with 60-70 percent color change. Spotters reporting from Geneseo note that the brilliance is starting to fade, but the colors, including shades of red, yellow, orange, burgundy and green, are still vibrant in sunlight. In Ontario County, spotters reporting from Canandaigua expect nearly 100 percent color change and past peak conditions this weekend. Wind and rain have taken a lot of the leaves from the trees, however some muted to average shades of yellow, orange and tan remain, with occasional bright reds and deep, dark reds. Expect about 90 percent color change and past peak conditions in Cortland County. Leaves are still bright and the predominating colors are shades of red, green and orange. Dutchess County. Look for 80 percent change in the higher elevations and northern part of the county and 60 percent change along the river. Predominating colors are very rich oranges, many shades of gold and yellow leaves, and some deep shades of gold, along with some red and a little deep purple. Peak foliage will arrive in Westchester County. Spotters in White Plains predict 80 percent color change with bright yellow, red, orange and green leaves. Rockland County spotters reporting from the New City area expect peak foliage this weekend with 80 percent color change and very brilliant red, purple, yellow and orange leaves, along with some remaining green. Spotters at Bear Mountain State Park expect past peak conditions this weekend with 90 percent color change and dull orange, yellow and brown leaves. Foliage is past peak in Columbia County. Spotters reporting from Hudson expect golden yellows and oranges highlighted by deep reds, all of average brilliance. Orange County spotters reporting from Goshen expect past peak conditions with nearly 100 percent change and yellow, wine, orange and some red leaves of average brilliance. In the Hudson Valley , leaves will be peak this weekend in. Look for 80 percent change in the higher elevations and northern part of the county and 60 percent change along the river. Predominating colors are very rich oranges, many shades of gold and yellow leaves, and some deep shades of gold, along with some red and a little deep purple. Peak foliage will arrive in Westchester County. Spotters inpredict 80 percent color change with bright yellow, red, orange and green leaves. Rockland County spotters reporting from thearea expect peak foliage this weekend with 80 percent color change and very brilliant red, purple, yellow and orange leaves, along with some remaining green. Spotters atexpect past peak conditions this weekend with 90 percent color change and dull orange, yellow and brown leaves. Foliage is past peak in Columbia County. Spotters reporting fromexpect golden yellows and oranges highlighted by deep reds, all of average brilliance. Orange County spotters reporting fromexpect past peak conditions with nearly 100 percent change and yellow, wine, orange and some red leaves of average brilliance. Orleans County will be peak this weekend with nearly complete color change and leaves of shades of gold and orange. Peak foliage will arrive in Erie County this weekend. Buffalo area observers predict 65-75 percent color change. The colors will be closer to 75 percent changed in the south towns of Buffalo approaching ski country, while the city center will be closer to 65 percent along the Lake Erie shore where it is a bit warmer. Leaves are bright and include gold-yellow, red, orange and purples and some touches of remaining green. In the Greater Niagara region,will be peak this weekend with nearly complete color change and leaves of shades of gold and orange. Peak foliage will arrive in Erie County this weekend.area observers predict 65-75 percent color change. The colors will be closer to 75 percent changed in the south towns of Buffalo approaching ski country, while the city center will be closer to 65 percent along the Lake Erie shore where it is a bit warmer. Leaves are bright and include gold-yellow, red, orange and purples and some touches of remaining green. Chautauqua County can expect peak to just past peak conditions this weekend with nearly 100 percent color change and brilliant shades of orange and red. Niagara County is also expecting peak to just past peak conditions with 80 percent change and a bright mix of all fall colors. Foliage is mostly past peak in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region.can expect peak to just past peak conditions this weekend with nearly 100 percent color change and brilliant shades of orange and red.is also expecting peak to just past peak conditions with 80 percent change and a bright mix of all fall colors. Nassau County with 80 percent change and orange, red, purple and green leaves of average brilliance. Suffolk County foliage spotters expect near peak foliage with up to 70 percent color change depending on the area of the county. Leaves are average in brilliance and include colors of yellow, orange, red, purple and green. Foliage in Long Island will see near peak leaves this weekend. Look for near peak foliage inwith 80 percent change and orange, red, purple and green leaves of average brilliance.foliage spotters expect near peak foliage with up to 70 percent color change depending on the area of the county. Leaves are average in brilliance and include colors of yellow, orange, red, purple and green. Foliage in New York City will be midpoint to near peak over the coming week, with yellow, orange and red leaves of average brilliance. Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site expect 90 percent color change with bright yellow and orange leaves, and some shades of red and pink mixed in. Sections of the Towpath trail are really brilliant. With nearly complete leaf transition, Chenango County will be past peak this weekend, with muted yellow, red and orange leaves, according to spotters in Norwich. Look for muted yellow, red and orange leaves. Madison County spotters reporting from Cazenovia expect past peak foliage this weekend with 80 percent leaf transition and bright but slightly fading orange, yellow and red leaves. One of the best leaf peeping opportunities in the county will be at Chittenango Falls State Park. In Oneida County, Utica spotters report that the leaves are now past peak with nearly 100 percent color change. Some muted shades of dark gold and rust remain. Schoharie County is now past peak. Foliage reporters from Howes Cave note 70 percent color change and mostly muted colors of orange, yellow and dark purple, plus a few pockets of shades of red. Spotters reporting from Cooperstown in Otsego County project past peak foliage with 95 percent color change and some pockets muted yellow and brown leaves. In Central New York , travelers should be able to find some peak foliage in Montgomery County this weekend. Spotters atexpect 90 percent color change with bright yellow and orange leaves, and some shades of red and pink mixed in. Sections of the Towpath trail are really brilliant. With nearly complete leaf transition,will be past peak this weekend, with muted yellow, red and orange leaves, according to spotters in Norwich. Look for muted yellow, red and orange leaves. Madison County spotters reporting fromexpect past peak foliage this weekend with 80 percent leaf transition and bright but slightly fading orange, yellow and red leaves. One of the best leaf peeping opportunities in the county will be at Chittenango Falls State Park. In Oneida County,spotters report that the leaves are now past peak with nearly 100 percent color change. Some muted shades of dark gold and rust remain. Schoharie County is now past peak. Foliage reporters fromnote 70 percent color change and mostly muted colors of orange, yellow and dark purple, plus a few pockets of shades of red. Spotters reporting fromin Otsego County project past peak foliage with 95 percent color change and some pockets muted yellow and brown leaves. Oswego. Look for nearly 100 percent change with warm shades of purple, red, orange and yellow. Foliage in Jefferson County is now past peak, according to spotters in Alexandria Bay. Color change is complete and leaves are orange and red. In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, peak foliage should hold on in Oswego County through the weekend according to spotters in. Look for nearly 100 percent change with warm shades of purple, red, orange and yellow. Foliage in Jefferson County is now past peak, according to spotters in. Color change is complete and leaves are orange and red. Warren County, foliage is past peak, although some nice color, including shades of orange, yellow and rust, remains. Leaves are now past peak in Franklin County. Spotters reporting from Saranac Lake note nearly complete color change and some remaining leaves of mildly brilliant yellow and gold. Spotters checking in from Malone predict nearly complete color change and past peak color. Leaves are mostly yellow and gold of average brilliance. Most trees in the Adirondacks are now past peak. In, foliage is past peak, although some nice color, including shades of orange, yellow and rust, remains. Leaves are now past peak in Franklin County. Spotters reporting fromnote nearly complete color change and some remaining leaves of mildly brilliant yellow and gold. Spotters checking in from Malone predict nearly complete color change and past peak color. Leaves are mostly yellow and gold of average brilliance. Leeds note that the county will be past peak on the mountain this weekend with just some hints of red and orange left, and the valley and river regions will be just past peak with vibrant colors of red, orange and yellow. In the Catskills region, Greene County reporters checking in fromnote that the county will be past peak on the mountain this weekend with just some hints of red and orange left, and the valley and river regions will be just past peak with vibrant colors of red, orange and yellow. Foliage is now past peak in the Capital-Saratoga region. Volunteer Leaf Peepers The I LOVE NY team of volunteer Leaf Peepers, located throughout the states 11 vacation regions, are tasked with keeping track of the color change in their area as leaves progress each week. The information is then used for fall foliage reports, which are posted online each week, featuring a detailed map of color change throughout New York State, vantage points for viewing spectacular foliage, suggested autumn getaways and weekly event listings in each region. About Fall Foliage The weekly foliage report, a detailed map charting fall color progress, vantage points for viewing spectacular foliage, suggested autumn getaways and weekly event listings are available by visiting the I LOVE NEW YORK web site at www.iloveny.com/foliage . Reports are also available by dialing, toll-free, 800/CALL-NYS (800/225-5697) from anywhere in the U.S., its territories and Canada. To learn how to become a volunteer Leaf Peeper, e-mail your name, address and phone number to foliage@esd.ny.gov . Fall foliage reports are also available by dialing, toll-free, 800-CALL-NYS. Lester Bouah Trade Invest KwaZulu-Natals executive manager for export development and promotion, Lester Bouah, has coined it a success. This years Export Week was exceptionally well attended with participant figures on each day surpassing our expectations in some cases by 50%. There were many highlights from the week, including discussions on the impact of BREXIT on KZN based exports and investment and insights on BRICS with a particular focus on China and India. Healthy panel discussions on Day Two of Export Week also produced real case studies and discussions around emerging markets in Africa with representatives from the countries of Zimbabwe, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia contributing. Localisation key to growth But, in particular, one big take away from the full week of discussions was the need for our province to really encourage localisation and industrialisation. More manufacturers based in KZN need to investigate the opportunity of not only capitalising on manufacturing raw materials for products but, in addition, to see how they can be more involved from start to finish in the whole supply chain right down to the assembly of products before they are exported, stated Bouah. Bouah and many of the experienced speakers believe that the key to the growth of the region and countrys economy lies in companies taking a more aggressive interest in localisation. They believe it will not only bolster revenue generation for locally based companies who take advantage of this opportunity, but it will also have a direct impact on job creation. Exporting is crucial to the countrys economic health. Yet, only a small percentage of potential exporters take advantage of these opportunities. Since the Export Week started five years ago we have seen substantial growth in the interest of emerging exporters who have attended the week. This years turnout has been the best by far, which gives us hope that more people are starting to change the way they think about business and the opportunities presented to them through exporting. It is critical for more local businesses to think globally, further explained Bouah. Export week KZN is an annual programme of Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal that was developed to recognise, promote and assist with the growing of KwaZulu-Natals export businesses and industries. The 2016 Export Week that was co-located with African Ports Evolution and African Rail Evolution, also celebrated companies and individuals who have excelled in their fields with awards being presented to winners at the inaugural Women in Transport Awards and the sixteenth KZN Exporter of the Year Awards held at the Durban International Convention Centre. In the age of technology that we live in, the internet has revolutionised the property industry and how business is concluded. With over 26-million users connected to the internet in South Africa, it has become one of the main marketing and advertising tools used by real estate professionals to effectively reach large masses of people in a short time frame. Many prospective homebuyers use the internet because they are able to access large volumes of information without much effort. Rather than spending time and fuel on driving around looking for properties, most buyers would rather use online search portals to browse for property in the comfort of the current home office. Conversely, sellers would rather have a buyer see their home online and then make an appointment to view it in person than have their home open to strangers on show days. Both the homeowner and the agents safety is a concern, which is why the more modern media platforms have been favoured over the more traditional marketing methods. Still place for traditional marketing methods However, even though technological advancement has changed the face of the real estate market, there is still a place for the traditional marketing methods. Along with all the online marketing and advertising that a real estate agent will use to sell the property, a sign board outside a home is still an excellent lead-generating tool to attract buyers. Research reveals that even in todays internet age, a sign board outside a home is so effective that it can generate as many as ten buyer leads during the length of the listing agreement, provided, of course, it can be used in the area the home is situated in. In certain areas municipal bylaws, body corporates and homeowner associations restrict the use of sign boards and show day pointer boards. While there are certain challenges, a for sale sign is a simple and effective method of marketing a home and increasing its exposure. Although not all leads generated by a sign board will be consumers who qualify to purchase the home, it is still an effective marketing tool that increases the homes chance of being sold. Lead handling To ensure that the generated leads are handled in the correct manner, it is imperative that an experienced, knowledgeable agent is on hand to answer the calls from potential buyers and investors who are interested in the home. Irrespective of the methods used to market the property, be it modern or traditional, it is important to work with the right agent and brand. The homeowner should ensure that the agency they choose to list their property with has a system in place which forwards all lead calls coming into the office directly to the agent who is working with and marketing the home. The person who knows the property best should be the one who handles the calls from prospective buyers. This is the most effective way to ensure that the marketing strategy serves the goal of finding the right buyer. The Department of Basic Education in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), UNISA, SABC Education, AVBOB foundation with Monash South Africa will be hosting the 2016 National Spelling Bee Competition finals for Grade 4-6 learners at UNISA in Pretoria on Saturday, 29 October 2016. Spelling Bee supports the Integrated National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, an initiative to develop a culture of reading in the country through the Read to Lead campaign and also improving learners performance in languages especially English. Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Enver Surty will be honouring the event. This years competition has also opened doors for home schooled learners to participate in the event. Date: Saturday, 29 October 2016 Time: 9am Venue: Kgorong Conference Centre, UNISA Main Campus, Pretoria During the Essence EATS Culinary experience, visitors to the Essence Festival Durban set to take place from 8-13 November, will be taken on a culinary adventure of Durban's finest cuisine by top celebrity chefs who will conjure up a range of delectable meals that promises to appeal to the most jaded of palates. Chris Van Lennep via 123RF From 11 13 November, visitors will be taken on a tasteful three-day culinary extravaganza filled with local signature dishes from some of Durbans most popular restaurants as well as gourmets dishes from critically acclaimed New Orleans-based chef, Kenneth Temple. Facilitated by Studio 54, the Essence EATS Culinary Festival, will showcase local restaurants and business owners through the incorporation of the 'Flavours of Durban festival, a popular event on the Durban culinary calendar. "What we hope to do is to create a local festival supported by locals which will allow enormous growth opportunities for our local chefs and caterers. With our experience of having run Flavours of Durban 2015 we believe the three-day food festival will not only attract new markets but also help grow food enterprises in Durban," commented operations director of Studio 54, Gary Clayton. Cooking up a storm One of the celebrity chefs who will be giving demonstrations and imparting food knowledge is Chef Sherwyn Weaich, creator of The Gourmet Bushie Brand. He has travelled extensively throughout Europe and Africa cooking with both international chefs and the locals. He has featured in many high-profile culinary events and developed recipes and done brand placement for some of the country's biggest names. Indian cuisine, which is such a vital component to the culinary make-up of Kwa-Zulu Natal, will be well served by Hollywood, Cane Cutter, while Tati Kasi Grill, Max Lifestyle, and Keys Group will provide tasty Shisa Nyama menus. Three establishments, Sondela Restaurant, Royal Kitchen and Food Expert Company, will serve a wide range of African cuisine. A Durban African caterer, Sister Cities Chefs, will provide a few of their own African delicacies which are sure to be a hit with both visitors and locals alike. Those who favour more European-style food will also be catered for with Pizzetta, serving Italian cuisine, and Keys on Davenport offering experiential dining of the highest order. Seafood is popular in this coastal paradise, too, and Fish on Florida is bound to hit the spot with its tasty offerings, fresh from the ocean. Most of the restaurants will have their chefs on stage and cooking up a storm in demonstrations that will certainly whet the appetite. Encouraging small hospitality enterprises The festival won't only be about food and chefs enjoying themselves, but a key element will be the launch of the Small Business Development Programme which is aimed at encouraging small hospitality enterprises. One small eatery will be given guidance in terms of a day-to-day running of their restaurant. Clayton will spend two weeks at their stores helping with menu guidance and systems from a hospitality management perspective. The store will be given space on stage for a cooking demo. The chosen enterprise will be trained in-house at one of the Keys restaurants and taught how to manage both front and back of house, look at financial planning and learn how to market their everyday business. The lucky operator will be given guidance in terms of menu creation, business systems control, hospitality management, performance targets, stock control, budgets and cost of sales and pricing. For more information visit ESSENCE Festival Durban. A growing community of senior Airbnb hosts - aged 60 or older - in South Africa is using their homes to generate supplemental income. Airbnb data show senior hosts are increasingly joining the Airbnb community and opening their home to travellers from around the world. Ruslan Huzau via 123RF Seniors account for more than 4,000 listings across South Africa, up from 1,400 at this time last year. Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodation around the world online or from a mobile phone. Seniors, especially those who have retired, are joining to earn income while doing something they love meeting strangers from around the world and sharing the best of South African hospitality with them. Listings from seniors grew 182% year-on-year to September 2016, outpacing every other age group by at least 10%. By contrast, the 50 to 59-year-old demographic grew 173%, the 40 to 49-year-old group by 169% and the 30 to 39-year-old demographic by 157%. Not surprisingly, many of South Africas senior Airbnb hosts reside in popular coastal retirement destinations. There are 135 senior hosts in Hermanus, or 29% of the listings in the Western Cape seaside town. Other towns with a high proportion of senior hosts are: Port Alfred 28% Grabouw, Knysna and Swellendam 26% Mossel Bay 25% And the experience the more seasoned hosts provide to their guests is stellar: South African hosts in their 40s and 50s get the highest percentage of five-star reviews from guests. Seniors come in third. India is one of the largest containerised trade markets in the global Export-Import (EXIM) bank, registering a growth of 11% in the first half of the year according to the 2016 H1 Maersk Group India Trade Report , revealing that extensive opportunities exist for South African-India trade going forward. Increased use of the direct India-South Africa trade route According to Matthew Conroy, trade manager of Maersk Line Southern Africa - a member of the Maersk Group - increased use of the direct India South Africa trade route will unlock growth potential in South Africa by reducing transit times and stimulating new trade and business opportunities. He explains that India, one of the world's fastest-growing economies, will be a lucrative trading partner for South Africa going forward due to its expanding automotive, telecommunications and pharmaceutical sectors. He adds that increased use of this direct trade route will unleash vast trade and commercial opportunities for both countries. Although Maersk Group has been transporting cargo to India for many years, we only started calling directly to India from February 2015, having previously transported goods via the Middle East. The direct route was established due to increased demand, and we have subsequently experienced an increase in the volumes of various commodities transported to India since early 2015. India's growing industrial sector an opportunity According to recent trade statistics released by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), India is one of the top countries that South Africa imports from and exports to. He says that currently, the most common commodities being transported by Maersk Group to India is scrap metal, ore, and timber. The direct trade route to India will not only improve this trade relationship but also stimulate various industries in South Africa. By exporting more manufactured commodities to India in an attempt to meet the countrys growing demands, the local manufacturing sector can be boosted significantly. He explains that India has a growing industrial sector, importing mostly raw scrap metal, timber, and chrome from South Africa in order to manufacture final products such as vehicles themselves. In order to stimulate South Africas economy, the amount of manufactured goods exported to India needs to increase. This will, in turn, result in job creation and overall GDP growth. Boosting trade volumes, building stronger trade relationships Conroy says that increasing the trade levels of goods that can be sold in profitable quantities will boost trade volumes and promote balanced and sustainable development of bilateral trade between the two countries. However, various restrictions such as legislation, government regulations and high tariff duties on imported cargo hinder trade between the two countries. Regulations on perishable goods are also higher than any other country in the region. He says that by reducing the level of trade barriers and allowing open trade to commence, trade between the two countries will operate more efficiently and increase in volume. The direct trade lane will result in a stronger trade relationship between the countries and help unlock the path to rapid and inclusive growth for South Africa. The rich trade history between South Africa and India will only become stronger as this route grows, and continue to present commercial opportunities across various sectors. Promising to be bigger and bolder, the Cape Town Art Fair (CTAF) is returning in February 2017 with its 5th edition, where an extraordinary blend of top quality contemporary artworks from galleries in Africa and around the world will be exhibited. In keeping with its growth and positioning, the organisers have appointed globally recognised, South African-born curator Tumelo Mosaka as the chief art curator. Stimulating and challenging worldviews through contemporary art Mosaka is returning to the country after more than a decade to spearhead Cape Town Art Fairs rise to prominence on the international art fair scene. Currently working as an independent curator in New York, he has had an illustrious career in the United States, with positions as Associate Curator of Exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum and Contemporary Art Curator at the Krannert Art Museum in Champaign, Illinois. Mosakas curatorial projects have explored global and transnational artistic production especially from Africa, the Caribbean, and North America, examining themes such as racial injustice, migration, and identity - some of the most urgent social concerns of our time. His past exhibitions include Andrew Lyght: Full Circle at the Dorsky Art Museum (2016), described by the New York Times as stunning and long overdue; Poetics of Relation (2015) at the Perez Art Museum in Florida, and the 1st International Biennale of Contemporary Art (BIAC) (2014) in Martinique. He is deeply committed to advancing the ways in which contemporary art stimulates and challenges our worldviews, making him highly capable of curating a programme that will engage Cape Town Art Fairs local and international visitors. Solo presentations by emerging artists As Art Fair Curator, Mosaka will oversee the fair in its entirety, but his critical knowledge of art and the art world will be especially apparent in Tomorrows/Today. This section of the fair is dedicated to solo presentations by emerging artists from Africa and its diaspora, all chosen by Mosaka. He will also be using his global network to further develop the already international scope of the Cultural Platforms section and Talks programme. Mosaka commented, It is an honour to be charged with steering the course of Cape Town Art Fair. With each year the fair has gained considerable momentum that has generated respect and prestige for the city of Cape Town as a major contemporary art destination. This is an exciting moment for art, not just in South Africa but globally, as we seek to expand the impact and importance of Cape Town Art Fair. Duo to take Cape Town Art Fair to the next level The Art Fair has also appointed its Chief Operating Officer, Laura Vincenti, former project manager of Artissima and one of the key individuals behind the success of CTAF2016. Vincenti and Mosaka will work together to leverage their expertise and international network in taking the fair to the next level. The CTAF2017 edition is expected to reach a new high in contemporary fine art standards and performance. www.capetownartfair.co.za Shepherds and Butchers, Indignation, The Accountant, Ouija: Origin of Evil and The Threepenny Opera are the releases opening on the Big Screen this weekend. Daniel Dercksen gives some background to each of these films. Shepherds and Butchers Shepherds and Butchers is the true account of the legal process of capital punishment, and the inhumane treatment of prisoners on death row, which took place during the apartheid era in South Africa. When Leon, a white 19-year-old prison guard (Garion Dowds) commits an inexplicable act of violence, killing seven black men in a hail of bullets, the outcome of the trial and the courts sentence seems a foregone conclusion. Hotshot lawyer John Weber (Steve Coogan) reluctantly takes on the seemingly unwinnable case. A passionate opponent of the death penalty, John discovers that young Leon worked on death row in the nations most notorious prison, under traumatic conditions: befriending the inmates over the years while having to assist their eventual execution. As the court hearings progress, the case offers John the opportunity to put the entire system of legally sanctioned murder on trial. How can one man take such a dual role of friend and executioner, becoming both shepherd and butcher? Based on Chris Marnewicks award-winning novel, it is directed by Oliver Schmitz (Life Above All) from a screenplay by Brian Cox. Indignation Based on Philip Roths late novel, Indignation takes place in 1951, as Marcus Messner (Logan Lerman), a brilliant working-class Jewish boy from Newark, New Jersey, travels on scholarship to a small, conservative college in Ohio, thus exempting him from being drafted into the Korean War. But once there, Marcuss growing infatuation with his beautiful classmate Olivia Hutton (Sarah Gadon), and his clashes with the colleges imposing Dean, Hawes Caudwell (Tracy Letts), put his and his familys best-laid plans to the ultimate test. It is written and directed by James Schamus. The Accountant In The Accountant, Ben Affleck plays a math savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Behind the cover of a small-town CPA office, he works as a freelance accountant for some of the worlds most dangerous criminal organisations. With the Treasury Departments Crime Enforcement Division, run by Ray King (J.K. Simmons), starting to close in, Christian takes on a legitimate client: a state-of-the-art robotics company where an accounting clerk (Anna Kendrick) has discovered a discrepancy involving millions of dollars. But as Christian uncooks the books and gets closer to the truth, it is the body count that starts to rise. It is directed by Gavin OConnor (Warrior) from a screenplay by Bill Dubuque (The Judge). Ouija: Origin of Evil Inviting audiences again into the lore of the spirit board, Ouija: Origin of Evil tells a terrifying new tale as the follow-up to 2014s sleeper hit that opened at number one. In 1967 Los Angeles, widowed mother Alice Zander (Elizabeth Reaser of the Twilight franchise) adds a new stunt to bolster her seance scam business and unwittingly invites authentic evil into her home. When the merciless spirit overtakes her youngest daughter Doris (Lulu Wilson of Deliver Us from Evil), this small family confronts unthinkable fears to save her and send her possessor back to the other side. Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Hush) directs from a screenplay he wrote with his Oculus and Before I Wake collaborator, Jeff Howard. The Threepenny Opera The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill in collaboration with Elisabeth Hauptmann, in a new adaptation for the National Theatre by Simon Stephens, directed by Rufus Norris and filmed live at the Nationals Olivier Theatre, will have four screenings at Cinema Nouveau theatres: on 29 October, 2 and 3 November at 7.30pm, and on Sunday, 30 October at 2.30pm. A darkly comic new take on Brecht and Weills raucous musical, The Threepenny Opera stars Olivier Award-winner Rory Kinnear (Hamlet, Othello, Spectre) as Macheath, alongside Rosalie Craig (As You Like It, My Family and other Animals) as Polly Peachum and Haydn Gwynne (The Windsors, Drop the Dead Donkey) as Mrs Peachum. Its brought to you by a creative powerhouse adapted by Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) and directed by Rufus Norris, director of the National Theatre. In the musical, London scrubs up for the coronation. The thieves are on the make, the whores on the pull, the police cutting deals to keep it all out of sight. Mr and Mrs Peachum are looking forward to a bumper day in the beggary business, but their daughter didnt come home last night and its all about to kick off Mack the Knife is back in town. For more information on the latest film releases, visit The writing Studio Tanzania has banned the importation of banana plants from Mozambique following the outbreak of the strange, 'Panama Disease,' which is taking a toll on the plants in the Southern parts of the continent. According to the statement by permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishery, Dr Florence Turuka, the government is monitoring all entry points to ensure the banned bananas are not imported to the country. The permanent secretary's statement was presented before more than 15 delegates converging here. It was read by Mr Cornelius Fabian Mkondo, the assistant director in charge of Plant Health Services: Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishery. "We are checking and monitoring all entry ports including airports, territorial borders and other sensitive areas along our borders to ensure that alien banana plants do not cross into Tanzania," said Mkondo. Apparently, the banana fungal disease, 'Panama disease', has been present in Northern Mozambique for the past few years. However, there have been concerns among banana farmers in South Africa that the disease is spreading to their farms. Tanzania is thus intercepting the risk, terming it that should banana plants from the Northern Parts of Mozambique be brought here by farmers, it could put the whole banana industry in the country at risk. Millions of small-scale farmers in Tanzania and Uganda rely on the East African Highland Bananas as staple food and cash crop. The two countries produce more than 50 percent of all bananas being consumed in Africa and that the crop fetches up to 4.5 bn US dollars annually. A 33-year-old Locke man is facing charges after driving drunk and crashing his car into a tree, according to New York State Police. Jaymie K. Reese was driving on Route 90 in the town of Homer Wednesday when his car rolled down a hillside and into a tree. Reese was transported to Cortland Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. He consented to a blood alcohol test. Lab results are pending, according to a news release. State troopers said that Reese was unlawfully in possession of a small amount of marijuana. Reese was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. Troopers also issued him several traffic tickets, and he is expected to appear at the Town of Homer Court on Dec. 13. Corruption Watch has informed South African Revenue Service commissioner Tom Moyane that it will lay criminal charges against him. A letter was sent to Moyane on Tuesday, 25 October 2016, concerning his failure to act decisively on the findings of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) report detailing fraud and corruption by his deputy, Jonas Makwakwa, and Kelly-Ann Elskie. The FIC is a banking regulator and provided the report to SARS recommending investigations into whether R1.2m in "suspicious and unusual" deposits into Makwakwa's account were proceeds of crime, corruption or money laundering. Moyane sat on the FIC report on Makwakwa since May. SARS said last month that the FIC had not been co-operating. Makwakwa has been suspended over the allegations. Corruption Watch said on Wednesday that it was "disturbed" by the manner in which Moyane had handled the case and that his failure to take appropriate action was unlawful, as the commissioner was obliged to report Makwakwa and Elskie to the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). Failing to do this could result in imprisonment or a fine, it said. "We treat this in the most serious light," Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis said. "If the commissioner of our revenue-collecting agency cannot be entrusted to act against corruption, then who can? We are determined that the Hawks should act against him." Should the Hawks fail to do so, the anti-corruption organisation said it would examine its legal options in relation to the responsible law enforcement agencies. It alleged that Moyane had also contravened the FIC Act when he notified Makwakwa and Elskie of the FIC report, as the act prohibited the disclosure of suspicious and unusual transaction to certain persons, particularly those implicated in the report. "We will also lay criminal charges in respect of this contravention," Corruption Watch said. The organisation has given Moyane the opportunity to respond by 1 November. Source: Business Day On Wednesday, 26 October, the Home with Mapaseka show on Kaya FM delved into the complex and sometimes taboo world of surrogacy. The show dedicated Relationship Wednesday to unpacking the good and bad experiences of listeners in their journey to parenthood. Surrogacy is on the rise around the world and in South Africa the show carefully examined the real-life experiences of couples who are dealing with issues of infertility and looking at surrogacy as an option. Kaya FM has partnered with Ster-Kinekor to present the exclusive screening of the Sony Movies thriller, When the Bough Breaks at Rosebanks Zone Cinema Prestige. Sotho Meyer presented the Home with Mapaseka show at 7pm on Wednesday, interacting with a live audience on this delicate topic after the screening. Synopsis: John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall) are a young, professional couple who desperately want a baby. After exhausting all other options, they finally hire Anna (Jaz Sinclair), the perfect woman to be their surrogate but as she gets further along in her pregnancy, so too does her psychotic and dangerous fixation on the husband. The couple becomes caught up in Annas deadly game and must fight to regain control of their future before its too late. For the third year, Odgers Berndtson Sub-Saharan Africa ran its CEO for a Day Initiative, as a way for South Africa's top CEOs from the private sector to engage with some of the top MBA students from leading business schools. Leon Ayo The initiative serves as an opportunity for the CEOs to gain valuable insights into the millennial generation and how businesses of the future will be shaped by this new generation of talent. Through the programme, we are learning that millennials are not motivated by money only but are interested in a job that offers more in terms of travel and training as examples, says Leon Ayo, CEO of Odgers Berndtson Sub-Saharan Africa. We are therefore seeing a rise in the interim, the consultant and the fixed term contract. This is having an impact not only on the way organisations need to be structured but also the role and importance of company culture. Values are therefore critical in terms of the way organisations want to attract and retain millennial talent. The programme also allows students to gain first-hand experience in understanding not only what level of responsibility C-Suite executives hold but also how they create value for their organisations. A key lesson for the students is what it takes to be a CEO, such as having less technical skill and more around developing characteristics such as resilience, tenacity and how to get the most out of people. Many are surprised at how many of the CEOs come from similar backgrounds and this can be inspirational. The programme puts students through a rigorous recruitment process, including online assessments and face-to-face interviews with consultants from the executive search firm. Students were also given feedback on their interview and presentation skills. We applied the same robust and in-depth recruitment process as we would normally employ when hiring C-Suite executives for the JSEs top 40 listed companies, says Ayo. Experiences Mel Brooks, the regional president of G4S Africa Holding spent his day with Ozayr Ballim, an MBA student at the University of Stellenbosch Business School. Brooks oversees 120,000 employees in 29 countries within the region including Iraq and Afghanistan. Ballim says, I was most impressed by the high-performance leadership values which Brooks demonstrated and, for me, this is what underpins his success in business. I learned that adopting leadership values such as inclusivity, democratic consultation and constructive conflict improves organisational performance, as the people you lead are valued. Odgers Berndtson first launched the initiative in Germany 12 years ago, subsequently rolling it out across offices in other countries including Scandinavia, Spain, Finland, Brazil, Belgium and Canada. Including the South African programme, almost 350 organisations and over 700 CEOs and students will have participated in the programme, generating a wealth of insight on the changing nature of leadership. The UK joined the programme in 2016. For more information, go to http://ceox1day.co.za. In a meeting between the African Union and editors from across the continent, the African Union was called on to hold member states accountable and for the end to the "harassment, imprisonment and killing of media workers and journalists". Image by 123RF Pan African editors and press officers of the continent were hosted by the South African Government, at the invitation of the African Union Commission (AUC) and The African Editors Forum (TAEF), to consider the Popularisation of Agenda 2063 through The African Editors Forum, under the theme of Deepening Africas Narrative and Capacities to Deliver Agenda 2063. They also reportedly took the opportunity to reflect on the progress recorded in relation to the implementation of the outcomes of our first meeting in Kigali, on the margins of the 27th AU Heads of State Summit from 14 to 15 July 2016. The preamble from the Africa editors read as follows: Noting the progress in relation to the political commitment and the implementation of Agenda 2063, we call upon the AUC to consider mechanisms to strengthen the administrative and communications capacities so as to ensure a more effective communications and interaction with the media, civil society and the citizens. To pursue this we agree to set a joint AUC and TAEF steering committee which shall also explore the longer term relationship between the institutions. Pan African media Considering our commitment to Pan Africanism as well as the objectives and aspirations of Agenda 2063, we pledge our energies and minds towards the establishment of the mooted African broadcaster, a Pan African website and news agency. Reaffirming our commitment to Africas narrative and excellence we commit to celebrate the Windhoek Declaration (which we consider as Africas gift to the world) through the recognition of African Writers who have reported on Agenda 2063 and related initiatives. Appreciating the implementation of the 10 year plan of Agenda 2063, we also took the time to pay focussed attention to the Aspirations of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, with a view of positively impacting on their implementation. In reflecting on the Aspirations we paid attention to: Women and the Media; Aspirations 1 and 2; Aspiration 5, and; Broad media and public participation. We further call on the TAEF and AUC as well as interested private Pan Africanists to consider supporting a Pan African Media Award with a focus on womens empowerment In relation to women and the media, the editors agreed to collaborate on a programme with the African Union Commission and public broadcasters to promote the involvement of women in the newsroom and as media owners. To advance this the editors agreed to hold member states accountable for equality and equity in the work place. We further call on the TAEF and AUC as well as interested private Pan Africanists to consider supporting a Pan African Media Award with a focus on womens empowerment and young women. In relation to the broad media and public participation, we request the speedy implementation of the Africa Passport as a means of promoting free movement of people and goods as well as news. Free speech We further noted, that there are repressive legal regimes in some member states, and call upon the African Union to hold member states accountable in the implementation of all decisions and instruments directed at promoting free speech and the media. We call upon the end of the harassment, imprisonment and killing of media workers and journalists. In relation to a prosperous and integrated Africa, the editors noted the broad political commitment towards the implementation of Agenda 2063 as shown by the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration and the Domestication processes, and committed to promote the domestication of the Agenda in all member states. Buy Africa campaign They further committed to collaborate with the AUC in order to develop a survey and score card to measure progress and the extent of the penetration of the Agenda 2063 messages, in population. In relation to a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics, the editors further agreed to promote a buy Africa campaign which would unlock the potential of the creative sector. We also agreed to collaborate with the AUC on the implementation of the Great Africa Museum, the Africa Music Awards, and the African Encyclopedia, amongst others. We further commit to actively support our creative industries as well as the reformation of the education sector so that it integrates our culture in the education curriculum. Recognising the institutional limitations of the TAEF, we further commit to strengthening our own capacities by (amongst others) establishing regional offices in the five regions of the Union and hosting regional meetings and consultations. We hereby request the cooperation of the African Union Heads of State and Government, the African Union Commission, other continental agencies and member states. To ensure that the objectives of this declaration are met by 2018, and shall convene annually to take stock of progress, the preamble ended. State police investigators are still looking into what might have caused a 50-year-old Syracuse man to drown in Skaneateles Lake two weeks ago. Ulises Garcia dove into the lake Oct. 10 along the shore of Ten Mile Point, near Lourdes Camp in Spafford, and did not resurface. The search for Garcia continued the next day until he was found approximately 120 feet below the surface by a New York State Police SCUBA unit. Investigator Tom Quilter said the cause of Garcia's death is still under investigation, but there is no indication of foul play. Garcia dove from a pontoon boat belonging to an unidentified man who along with the man's son were with the diver at the time. The acquaintance was on the boat while his son was on shore. The acquaintance, concerned, called 911 since he and his son could not see any air bubbles along the water after Garcia dove in and did not resurface. Quilter said Garcia had been in the water for approximately one hour before 911 was called. An autopsy has also ruled out the possibility that Garcia suffered any health issues or trauma at the time, Quilter said. Further, the investigator said all of Garcia's equipment was found to be in order, while there was no indication of Garcia getting caught on anything below the surface. "It's looking like an accidental drowning due to probably diver experience and/or just the risks of diving at that depth," Quilter said. Garcia was diving certified through the National Aquatic Service in April 2009, according to state police. The Syracuse man had been diving at the time to help his friend recover a boat motor, Quilter said; Garcia's acquaintance had dropped the motor into the lake a few days prior. Dive teams did locate the motor in close proximity to where Garcia was found, but risk to the divers prevented the motor's recovery, Quilter said. State police plan to analyze Garcia's dive computer, which, they believe, might have data relevant to the investigation. It is a unique enterprise whatever in the world top 500 or in the automotive industry. This magnate with a 20% average growth in the recent 10 years produced all the auto parts except windshields and tires, even as an OEM for such big potatoes Daimler-Chrysler & BMW produced 0.2m vehicles, never use its own brand. That is the biggest auto components maker in North America--Magna, whose sale accounted 22.8b dollars in 2005, making a 10% growth while its main rivals Delphi & Visteon met with a hardship that year, which made it a third leading role in world auto components industry last year. Nowadays, facing with the on-rising Chinese market, Magna quickly adjusted the emphasis on its business as to meet the coming opportunities from China. GAS: Rick Wagoner, the President of GM visiting Shanghai said that Asia, especially China and Indian have advantages in produce the mini-size vehicles. He also mentioned that the demand of mini-size vehicles are being expanded in American market but the cost of making them is not the lowest. Does it mean more US corporation will transfer to make the mini-size vehicle in China? How do you think of the newly brought opportunities in China market? MARK HOGAN: China auto market with its consumer seeking for a mid or low performance made it a fact to scale-up the production of mini-size vehicles. As the growing of investment in China mini-size market by our global clients, we are enhancing our production capacity. Since we are the supplier, we will meet the client's demand, from North America, Europe, Asia, Japan and South Korea. We are going to support them wherever they make their mini-size vehicles, in North America or China. GAS: Now there are some Chinese companies sold their vehicles to the Europe or America market, though it's a small scale, it showed Chinese enterprises willingness to enter the Europe and America market. Their products may not suit European for they are unfamiliar with the market there. As a company owned its own auto engineering model, are there businesses for Magna? MARK HOGAN: The vehicles produced by Chinese company could be consumed yet in its domestic market. There are but a few for export. I believe we are capable to help them when they want to enter these mature markets. GAS: Li Shufu, the President of GEELY said that they will build a Europe & America auto park in China in the near future, of which the products are oriented at Europe & America market and they employed a famous engineer worked for Chrysler. Self brands are enthusiastic in entering American and European market. So, how do you make the business plan for Steyr? MARK HOGAN: Now both GEELY and CHERY are intending to export vehicles and rather ambitious. I think they will win out but it is unknown how long it will take since it is not very easy for them to know and to enter the Europe & America market. Steyr focuses on the final assembly for auto makers, meanwhile undertakes some engineering design work. We are entrusted to develop modularization for some models of auto makers, then as an OEM to process some models. Most of the models we do are in relatively small scale. They entrusted us in the consideration of cost reduction. Currently Magna Steyr works for Chrysler, BMW, and total four clients with an annual output of near 0.2m. Steyr also have its local clients in China and presented a growing business. Magna Steyr is helpful for Chinese enterprises in the final assembly and engineering R&D since they have great deal of experiences on this. They have a range of experience in this area from R & D to production, all the way to final delivery to consumers. If customers have a demand, Steyr still will be helpful. Though we have the ability to manufacture the whole vehicle, we merely plan to run a brand. With our experiences, it is rather risky. We intent to advance our clients, never seek to become the rivals but a companion. GAS: Some local manufacturers in China are regulating their strategies to produce some specially aiming at the Europe & America market with a high attention to the security and environment protection. How do you think of the main difficulties they would face when they start to enter the Europe & America market. MARK HOGAN: GEELY and CHERY are very young company in China that just have developed for several years. If they want to compete with the companies that have developed for 50 years in Europe and America market, first they should get technically matured gradually, besides, reform the structure systematically. GAS: From the recent 10 years performance, magna made an annual 20% growth in sale in average. As the most important auto components maker in the world, how can magna keep such a wonderful growth, and what makes its main power to compete and survive in a market? MARK HOGAN: Delphi and Wisteon have a strategic relationship with their parent company GM and Ford; they have some agreement such as a high salary for their employees, which makes a higher cost for production, which resulted in the problems today. Besides, their businesses are limited in North America market. The reason for Magmas success is lying on our structure, a decentralized structure; we also have no intention to rely on North American clients, we not only focus on our diversified customer in North America, Europe, and now emerging market, just like Asia and China. GAS: Magmas businesses are well developed in China and have made a rapid development, but its fame does not match its actual competence. It is a fact that magna is less known in China. Now some competitors like Delphi has moved their headquarters into shanghai. For Magna, what would the future position for Chinese market like to be, will it make a big change? MARK HOGAN: China is one of the most important markets in Asia. Not only have we many factories, but also are quite powerful in R&D here. We will continue to develop in China to enhance our integrated competitive strength in Asia. GAS: Magna have 19 entities in China at present, will it establish new factories in the coming years, and would it be fast? MARK HOGAN: Yes, we will establish some new factories in China. what impressed me the most is that Chinese market definitely is an increasingly advancing one, we are quite glad to have the chance to develop our business in China, trying to capture it. Gaming was doomed to arise since the first joint venture was found followed an idea to exchange techniques for markets brought by the government 20 years ago. It could be divided to 3 courses, one after the other as between the Chinese and foreign parties in a single joint venture, between the joint ventures, then the administration policy making and foreign capital application. In the period that the joint venture occupied the whole market, hot argument are always found in decision making between China and foreign parties in a joint venture era, in the interface of production layout, market strategy, brand running and hr arrangement etc. The 50% VS 50% stock holding application led much gaming in a joint venture; and the diversification of market competition and multilayer of competitive factors have the managers game on one thing in different space-time with different persons. Joint venture but with different purposes comes as a common feature of that time. For instance, some pursued to rule alone or just accepted the cooperators products, techniques but never intent to lead an innovation and reform. The gaming mainly featured inside a joint venture. When the foreign capitals were rooted in China and began to develop their business among the Chang Jiang, Jing Guang Railway, the joint venture gaming moved into a the second stage called the gaming between joint ventures. For example, there were south Volkswagen vs. north Volkswagen, and different partners of HYUNDAI & KIA in China. The battle of contesting production resources between Chinese parties provided the foreign entities the most favorable conditions to make a joined venture in china and benefited them a lot. When joint ventures were met with overproduction and less profits, they began to reconsider and then explore a more harmonious way to develop the business. The policy maker also was forced to rethink the winnings and losses of the strategy to exchange techniques for markets. The He Long argument (the former minister of mechanic administration He Guanyuan and the former negotiation representative for WTO entering Long Yongtu) in the HUADU Auto Forum in Aug, 2005 was an epitome. He Long argument heated the topic of self-owned brand, which was taken advantages by the foreign entities as a chance to boost their price. Thus the strategy to exchange techniques for markets was crumpled, which forced the policy maker to advocate the self-developed & self-owned brand. The scattered Chinese entities were ranged to practice the idea. Since that time the gaming between the administration policy making and foreign capital application emerged. Without question the change of game rule impacted enterprises. Some were sensitive to make a move to develop the self-owned brand, like Anhui JAC Auto ended its partnership with South Korea Hyundai. After this, many important industry policy published, official releases & actions proved that the self-R&D is no longer a slogan but being carried out smoothly. FAW Group, CHERY, Geely and Yutong Passenger this four were selected as the pioneers to test-run self-R&D. CHERY have successively gain a financial support nearly 0.3b Yuan from the Commission. When the administration and its favorable policy both leaned to the self-R&D enterprises, leaving the foreign entities discontent which turned into action in Mar, this year when The Measures for the Administration of Import of Automobile Components & Parts Featuring Complete Vehicles were issued in Feb, 2005. EU, America, Japan, Canada are preparing to bring an accusation against this. Meanwhile, it slows down the development of joint ventures by controlling the overproduction. The joint ventures must get to know that the new added production capacity should be used by both sides, the related department explained for the action. The joint ventures were in a temporary weak position in this gaming, and then they saught to take the advantages of the new policy: Dongfeng Citroen launched a new vehicle model named Kaixuan sharing the techniques and brand; Shanghai Volkswagen brought its self-designed and developed concept vehicle named NEEZA, even Japan auto makers, the most unwilling ones to raise a powerful opponent in its doorway turned to help FAW to generate its self-owned brands like Besturn and HONGQI HQ3---though they could still benefit from the procurement of auto components. After all it is a breach for itself. In Beijing Auto Show, Shanghai Auto, CHERY with the self-owned brands firstly have approached the same scale of the foreign brands. The confidence of the self-owned brands came from a good market record; for the first three quarters this year, the self-owned brands take a 26.1% proportion in the domestic passenger vehicle market, surpassed Germany, Japan and South Korea brands for the first time, and became the first in market. That is a tiny victory since the self-owned brands were advocated But, that is just the beginning of the battle said the GM of CHERY Yi Tongyao. The foreign entities are going to strive for the market lost and the South Korea autos are accelerating their development in China. It will turn to be a more severe market. The time for market reorganization may come in advance. Personal experience dealing in China Ive been dealing with the Chinese now for about ten years through two different companies, and probably made somewhere between 30 and 50 visits to China. Describe BorgWarners current China operations We have four manufacturing facilities in China. We currently have three joint ventures and one wholly-owned venture, and the joint ventures are the oldest of our facilities in China, and weve got one in Beijing. Weve also got one in Ningbo, which is a little south of Shanghai, and then we have what were going to call the BorgWarner Campus in Ningbo, which is a site that will house multiple manufacturing facilities, a technical center, and eventually a shared services center in Ningbo. Thats the center of the universe for BorgWarner right now in China. We also have a corporate office in Shanghai. How does China fit into BorgWarners global footprint? Clearly, that part of Asia is the fastest growing, and BorgWarner is fortunate to be participating in that growth. Relatively small growth in North America, a little more growth in Western Europe, but clearly Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia represent the biggest growth platforms for BorgWarner and will play a substantial role in terms of our future sales revenue. Any surprises you have encountered while doing business with the Chinese? I guess the biggest surprise is that we were aware of the fact that it would take a long time, but it takes a longer period of time than we even anticipated. That was a surprise to us, and we thought we were ready for that. The second thing that was a surprise to us was that a negotiation doesnt ever seem like its complete. So when you believe that you have a deal, its really just the start of the next negotiation. So you end up going back and renegotiating things that you had thought had been put to bed weeks, if not months, before. Probably the third thing that was a bit of a surprise to us was the not the lack of technical expertise, but the rate at which their technical expertise is growing. So when we first went to China probably ten years ago, customers relied on us very, very heavily for our product knowledge and our application engineering, and the rate at which that is changing, and theyre developing their own capabilities, is phenomenal, actually. Advice for suppliers on sourcing from China and setting up operations Probably the first recommendation is its always more complicated than you believe it will be no matter how complicated you think its going to be because theres its such a different market than any that weve participated in before that there are just things that we learn as we go along. Probably the second thing is dont ever take anything for granted. Again, assumptions can get you in trouble in China because its a very different market, and it makes good sense to make sure that everything is demonstrated. If someone says that they have the capability of doing something, make sure that they are able to demonstrate that to you, especially on the sourcing side. And then from the purchasing standpoint, make sure that youre ready to source product from China and all that comes with that because the Chinese today, in many cases, are receiving hundreds, if not thousands, of RFQs per month. So if youre only using China as a way of leveraging your existing supply base and are really not serious about resourcing, your proposal will quickly drop to the bottom of the page, and youre going to quickly find yourself in a situation where suppliers arent willing to quote your business. There isnt anything in it for them. Theyre very adept at finding out whos serious and whos not serious, and they have lots of opportunities to choose from. So they can start becoming very selective in terms of who they actually want to partner with in the future. What employee or HR recruitment issues have you found in China? Turnover is a big issue in China right now. Theres lots of capable people that have decent education, developing skills and really need to be part of a Western company for the next part of their education because the cultures are very different. So its relatively easy to attract people. Its more difficult to keep people because there are so many opportunities available. So the recommendation that I would certainly propose is that you have a long-term HR strategy thats carefully developed and that provides some level of differentiation between yourselves and whoevers competing for that labor in that particular market. When we first went to China we set up a factory, one of the differentiators, believe it or not, was having a shower facility that had warm running water, and we were able to attract some of the best employees in the region because that was something that nobody else offered. Clearly, thats not the case ten years later, but loyalty is important. And again, theres not a huge number of very skilled, very experienced people available so its you can spend a couple of years developing and training someone, and someone can attract that labor for 20 or 30 or 40 percent more than youre paying that person because they dont have to go to the trouble of training them. And even 20 or 30 or 40 percent more than what youre paying them is probably still a third of what they may be paying a comparable person in a Western culture. So being successful in China is largely dependent upon the talent that youre able to attract, and so having a carefully thought out strategy, knowing what youre willing to pay, and knowing what benefits youre willing to provide employees, and being part of a very successful company with a big name is extremely important in China. Any advice on dealing with the Chinese government? Dont leave them out of your plans. In China, the government has a very different role than it does in Western cultures, and its a big mistake not to keep them engaged in your plans and your processes. They wont necessarily help you negotiate a better deal with a particular customer, but they can certainly make life difficult, and they can make your business model unattractive if theyre not engaged and treated with respect as you develop your plans for China. So its always a good idea, whenever you have the opportunity and when youre in the area, to visit with them, invite them to dinner, invite them to lunch, make them part of your celebrations. And they clearly have a vested interest in attracting reputable, successful companies to their region because that means more employment and bigger tax revenue, and there are lots of incentives available for people. But again, you have to get to know the people involved, you have to gain their trust, and they have to know that youre serious and going to be there for the long term, just like any other relationship. But courting the government is almost as important as courting the customers in China, and companies fail because they fail to recognize that thats part of the equation. Final thoughts The only caution, and it took me a long time to understand this, is that I would have long conversations with Chinese employees or customers, and I would believe at the end of that conversation that I was very clear, I was very articulate, and they knew exactly what I wanted them to do. They listened very patiently. They nodded their head. They seemed to be in agreement. I got all the body language that said they understood and they were going to go out and do exactly what I asked them to do, and then it didnt happen. And it took me a long time to figure out that just because I said it and just because they listened patiently doesnt necessarily mean that they were going to do what I asked them to do. In their culture, what that meant is, I understood. I hear words coming out of your mouth, but that doesnt necessarily translate into Im going to do what youre asking me to do. And theyre not typically a confrontational society. So they tend to be more indirect. So theyll just not do what youve asked them to do and wait for you to come back and tell them a second or a third time, and its just part of their culture. Rather than to say, I disagree with you, or Id like to add a couple of different thoughts, or Frankly, this doesnt make sense, in China theyll agree, theyll nod their head, and then nothing gets done. And thats very frustrating for Westerners because were used to a very different kind of a reaction. So you really have to test for understanding repeatedly; not only, Did you understand what I said? but Are you going to is that going to cause you to do something different? Otherwise, youll be retracing the same steps over and over again. View Video Interview On the legacy of Vaclav Havel, introducing The After Party 27. 10. 2016 / Pieter De Buysser cas cteni 20 minut Archa Theater, Forum 2000 October 18, 2016 Dear ladies and gentlemen, I will have to break some eggs tonight. I already apologize for the discomfort, but I have to. Really living the legacy of Havel, with its uncomfortable constant request of living in the truth, means, here tonight, breaking some eggs. (I drop an egg) Oops, sorry. Luckily. By breaking the eggs, I think I express my true loyalty to Vaclav Havel' s legacy. You see: this picture expresses in an eggshell the legacy of Havel: you get to see a a landscape of beauty, harmony and peace, a paradise. To make such a beautiful work Havel did not ask for heroic actions. Havel recognized the revolutionary force of everyday examples: so in order to truly make this harmonious landscape, we need to break some eggs. To break an egg is that clumsy, vulnerable, sometimes unpleasant aspect of daily life. One has to do it, because of the bigger picture. If here tonight I break an egg, please always remind the bigger picture. Im not alone in thinking that the legacy of Vaclav Havel is more important today than it ever was and that it needs to be discussed more than ever before. I find myself in the significant company of, among others, the Republican US Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain. McCain, the man who thought that the Tea Party members were a great addition to American politics and as a result invited Sarah Palin to be his running mate yes, Sarah Palin, the woman who said: The news makes me sad so I dont watch it. The woman also who wore her fiery heart on her sleeve when she said: The people dont elect US presidents, God does. McCain, the fervent advocate of the US invasion of Iraq, said it a year ago already at the commemoration conference of the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in the Library of Congress: Vaclav Havel, its time to renew our vows. I radically disagree with McCain on many points, but in this I think hes absolutely right. I agree with McCain and his many sympathizers because Havel embodied like no other the turning point in twentieth-century European history. He symbolized the fall of Soviet totalitarianism. It is very important to keep commemorating this fall: what were the causes, what were the atrocities of the regime, the consequences, the fractures. Havel, the man of the theatre who wanted to live in truth, played a key roll in ripping off the death mask of communism 25 years ago. But whether we can now behold a human face is an open question. Because since that time Vladimir Putin has cast a frightening shadow across the world. Because of this false and dangerous figure, I entirely agree with McCain that we must keep the legacy of Vaclav Havel alive today more than ever. But truly commemorating Havels legacy has consequences that the dear senator who in the US political landscape can be called a moderate would probably rather not see. Living in truth has consequences that are inconvenient, living in truth is a pain in the ass. Theres nothing festive about commemorating Havel today. Im sorry. Im your official party-pooper. The year is 2016 and it is now clear: the defeat of totalitarian communism is complete. That is a cause for celebration. Cheers! But that doesnt mean that American false liberalism has won. I prefer the notion of false-liberalism to that of neo-liberalism. Because there is nothing new about this liberalism, and it has less and less to do with freedom. Since the financial crisis of 2008 we have been living in a permanent state of crisis. Those of us who are present here can probably all continue with our lives relatively undisturbed, but for millions of people in Europe and the US, the precariousness has become intolerable. The false-liberal belief in the laws of the free market has become an ideological foolishness that results systematically and structurally in fatalities. More so still, it is this ideological foolishness that is now undermining the foundations of democracy. Joseph Stiglitz, the American winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics: The global crises are the result not of too little market but of too much market. The ideological and non-democratically legitimized interventions of the World Bank, the IMF and the European Council increase the damage, with disastrous consequences for the citizens. Since the austerity measures in Greece, the suicide rate spiked by 35%. According to Stiglitz, neo-liberalism has delayed economic development in Africa by at least 25 years, has led to a lost decade in Asia, and in the Eurozone we are on track for more of the same. The euphoria that followed the fall of communism resulted in a triumphalism that has led the West to let itself be dragged into a speculative adventure that has seeped into the deepest fibres of the neo-liberal principles of faith. To live in truth today means just what Havel did: to unmask the false, repressive ideology. During my research into Havel over the past years, I was struck by the kind of people that praise him . His legacy seems to have fallen into the hands of close minded conservative forces. They lionize Havel and congratulate themselves. For the simple reason that he contributed to the fall of the Soviet Empire, the enemy of the West. If, as we all claim to do today, we want to take the legacy of Havel really seriously, then nothing is more misplaced than these self-congratulations. This is not a time for celebration, but a time for revolt. To live in truth means choosing an uneasy life. And it means presenting the truth to false friends. To describe the age we live in, the notion of a post-truth society is increasingly being used. The truth has become irrelevant. The spectacle, the soundbite, the commercial media mechanisms have taken over from democracy. Just look at Donald Trump and what he says, no matter how ludicrous: the truth is irrelevant. It is only when he makes sexist remarks which, dont get me wrong, are scandalous and have at last rightly caused an outcry that a somewhat broader consensus emerges among the neo-cons to block his path. That he has abused and misused the truth for months and still does didnt harm him at any time on the contrary. The same goes for the pro-Brexit campaign: it could put forward the most blatant lies. Despite the brave work of experts and intellectuals, their responses to the lies did not have the slightest effect, the plan is to just go ahead with Brexit. We are living in the triumph of the lie. And that the lie can triumph has all to do with a false-liberal state that is increasingly withdrawing from its obligation to democratize education and culture. The American and British youth that wish to study have to commit to a decade of financial debt. The greatest threat to the West is not so much Russian propaganda as Madeleine Albright, Havels special friend, claims as the results of an ideological foolishness that dictates that government must withdraw more and more from the democratically essential duties of education, culture and scientific research in order to provide knowledge, critical thinking that enable citizens to make the difference between truth and lies. Trumps voters and the Brexiteers are indeed themselves in part responsible for their choice. But if you first sacrifice these citizens to a starved government which trades in democracy for an oligarchy of a handful of speculators, then you cant criticize them on top of that for not making informed choices. They were not handed the means to pursue their quest for the truth. That quest is a slow, annoying and expensive struggle that no one can take on alone. A government, as the redistributing lever of the general interest, must make possible the citizens quest. Because a democracy without informed citizens cannot be valid. Affordable access to such education has been brutally cut back in the US over the past twenty years, the very period when the West ended up in a groggy state of victory-induced intoxication because it believed it had beat Soviet totalitarianism. That is not the case. Soviet totalitarianism collapsed. The West won precisely nothing. On the contrary, it disregarded the difficult, annoying relation to the truth in a quasi-totalitarian manner. Let me put it bluntly: the repressive methods of Soviet communism were incomparable and I here wish to defuse any ambiguity: the common barbarity of communism was horrible but it has to be said that when it comes down to living in a lie instead of in truth, the West has proved itself to be a good pupil of the Soviets. Im sorry to have to go into this but I have simply taken on the task of pursuing the legacy of Havel, that is, to live in truth, and if that means spoiling a party then Im so sorry, but its because I have my eye on a bigger, more genuine party. I dont want to limit myself to insinuations, so let me speak concretely. The truth as Havel knew does not take place in vague abstract considerations, but in a concrete situation in which a human being has to take on responsibility. So let me use the words of his contemporary and fellow playwright Harold Pinter. When Pinter was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, he delivered a remarkable lecture, one that is strikingly parallel to Havels spirit and concern to live in truth. The difference is that Pinter speaks from his position of the Westerner, as a British citizen. As every single person here knows, the justification for the invasion of Iraq was that Saddam Hussein possessed a highly dangerous body of weapons of mass destruction, some of which could be fired in 45 minutes, bringing about appalling devastation. We were assured that was true. It was not true. We were told that Iraq had a relationship with Al Qaeda and shared responsibility for the atrocity in New York of September 11th 2001. We were assured that this was true. It was not true. We were told that Iraq threatened the security of the world. We were assured it was true. It was not true. The US invasion that is jointly responsibly for the current geopolitical crisis was based on lies. Everyone knows what happened in the Soviet Union and throughout Eastern Europe during the post-war period: the systematic brutality, the widespread atrocities, the ruthless suppression of independent thought. All this has been fully documented and verified. But the US crimes in the same period have only been superficially recorded, let alone documented, let alone acknowledged, let alone recognised as crimes at all. I believe this must be addressed and that the truth has considerable bearing on where the world stands now. The motivation for these crimes: they needed oil to keep their false-liberalism running smoothly. The oligarchy runs on their oil. At present the greatest threat to the West comes from two sides: there are the suicide terrorists of ISIS, a spectacular and immediate threat. This threat has many causes, and picking out one is doing an injustice to the others: it is the result of primitive movements within Islam such as Wahhabism that are given free rein, it is a consequence of social discrimination of Muslims in the West, it is a psychiatric problem, and it is the consequence of the geopolitics of the West in the Middle East in which the distinction between offering brotherly help and imperialism is blurring, and it is the consequence of the free trade relations between the US and Saudi Arabia; the latter is the greatest exporter and financial backer of the most perverse forms of Muslim fundamentalism. ISIS is an obvious problem, it appears at first sight to be an external enemy, it is spectacular. And it offers the huge advantage to be a clear and evident enemy. It consists of suicide terrorists that are targeting the West. But there are still more attackers at work that are causing serious harm. There is the slow asphyxiation of every democratic principle by populists such as Trump and Farage: these are perhaps as dangerous. Their work is more surreptitious, intervenes more deeply, and is more lethal for the entirety of democratic well-being. Trump is asphyxiating the moral authority which the West so badly needs. They are spreading the ideology of the lie. And dont fool yourselves, the post-truth society of the false-liberalism kills, murders just as ISIS fighters kill innocent civilians. The geopolitical crisis with ISIS in which we find ourselves today finds its source in the invasion in Iraq. That invasion was based on a lie. We can disagree on foreign policy options, but we cannot disagree on the facts: they exist, despite what you might believe. Bush and Blair said there were weapons of mass destruction. There werent. Iraq was responsible for terrible crimes in Kuwait, yes, but nothing compared to what Indonesia did with the annexation of East Timor. And there was no so-called moral international engagement. The invasion of Iraq as an emblematic starring point- was a bandit act, an act of blatant state terrorism, demonstrating absolute contempt for the concept of international law. The invasion was an arbitrary military action inspired by a series of lies upon lies and gross manipulation of the media and therefore of the public; an act intended to consolidate American military and economic control of the Middle East masquerading - as a last resort - all other justifications having failed to justify themselves - as liberation. A formidable assertion of military force responsible for the death and mutilation of thousands and thousands of innocent people. The West has brought torture, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, innumerable acts of random murder, misery, degradation and death to the Iraqi people and call it 'bringing freedom and democracy to the Middle East. How many people do you have to kill before you qualify to be described as a mass murderer and a war criminal? One hundred thousand? More than enough, I would have thought. Therefore it is just that Bush and Blair be arraigned before the International Criminal Court of Justice. Harold Pinter. Dear Vaclav, with your support for the invasion, you were taken in. You fell for one of the Wests greatest lies. Dear Vaclav, your legacy now has bad friends. Yet they abuse your legacy, I consider it my task to make clear that the claws of the neocons cant get a grip on you. Your own work speaks for itself. Both your essays and plays contain detailed analyses of the workings of the totalitarian system and the way it should be resisted. Lets make a close reading of one of your best texts: The power of powerlessness. The post-totalitarian system touches people at every step, but it does so with its ideological gloves on. Capitalism also affects people in every step they take, except it does so with ideological gloves on. The glove of capitalism is besides quite easy to find: it is the glove on Adam Smiths invisible hand. The Scottish philosopher is considered the father of modern economics. In 1759 he wrote in The Theory of Moral Sentiments that an invisible hand is at work whereby the free market does not need to be regulated. The invisible hand would work due to rational self-interest and thus ensure that the inequalities of the free market become harmonised, all by itself, magically, his motto was: Let do and let pass, the world goes on by itself. For years, our history suffered from phantom pain. The fable of the invisible hand has enchanted and conjured us for centuries. This ideological glove has held us in a stranglehold. And it is a lie. There is a hand: ours. Havels analysis is painfully accurate, both in terms of the foolish ideology of communism as that of capitalism. Read on with me, and we will see a brilliant analysis of our capitalist post-truth society: Life in the system is so thoroughly permeated with hypocrisy and lies: the complete degradation of the individual is presented as his ultimate liberation. The uncontrolled capitalism as it runs for now, has nearly everything for sale. That's true as well for the heart of liberalism: freedom. Freedom became in false-liberalism one of the commodities that is for sale, and if you are affluent, you can have a lot of it. It shows up for instance if you get in trouble with the law. If you accept capitalist system, it makes sense to try to accumulate property, not just because you want material welfare, but because that guarantees your freedom, it makes it possible for you to amass that commodity. This is what it means today: the degradation of the individual, is presented as his ultimate liberation. depriving people of information is called making it available; This is how Havel describes the nightmare of the system that he fought against. We see some of this happening as well today in our current dominant false-liberal ideology. The proposal to live stream the discussions and meetings of the Euro Councill and the Eurogroup meetings, have been repeatedly rejected. Without knowing how your representatives behave on your behalf in Brussels and in Frankfurt, you have no control over them. Democracy then becomes a sham. PICTURE BRUSSELS Secrecy is the last resort of failed authoritarianism. Transparency is a sign of confidence in people, in the demos. Depriving people from information leads to apathy. And this as well gives way to populists to declare and to say whatever they think they need to say to catch the popular vote. Lets now talk about the media empire of Murdoch. Fox News. Its not Obama, but Murdoch, the owner of Fox News, who is the leader of the West. When they asked Murdoch why he was som much against EU, he answered: Thats easy, When I go into Downing Street they do what I say; when I go to Brussels they take no notice. the repression of culture is called its development In a meritocracy, everyone is responsible for his own development. Cutting back subsidies for art, culture, education and scientific research today is being sold to us as an act of intended to make us aware of our responsibilities, to activate us: we have to stand on our own two feet. Well, a governement pulling back from his duties to protect the common goods like education, culture and scientific research, pulls away the ground under the feet of there own citizens. farcical elections become the highest form of democracy; Oh no, you might think , is he now even telling is that our elections are farcical ? Yes I do. They are great, we need them, they are much greater then anything under communism, but it is a mistake to believe today that democracy is complete, just because every four years we colour in a little circle on a list that is drawn up by the leaders of a few parties. Our democracies struggle with populist leaders. Because so many people feel exluded, feel not represented. And they are right. Our elections are to a ever growing extent investment opportunities- I mean, to say it in a sentence, elections are occasions in which groups of investors coalesce and invest to have power. We need to improve. AGAINST ELECTIONS, video on David Van Reybroucks book HERE military occupation becomes fraternal assistance. the expansion of imperial influence is presented as support for the oppressed If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged. Im against hanging. This would be a terrible idea to apply Nuremberg laws. But: It is the fundamental duty of the citizen to resist and to restrain the violence of the state. That is what Havel means with living in truth and taking responsability in accordance to the truth. Those who choose to disregard this responsibility can justly be accused of complicity in war crimes, which is itself designated as a crime under international law in the principles of the Charter of Nuremberg. In Havels first speech as a president, he said that it was shared responsablity that it took so long befor the regime of lies has fallen. How long will it take for us? This is the legacy of Havel today. And smug self-congratulations should not belong here. We, ladies and gentlemen, are now once more standing with one leg on the wrong side of history. We, ladies and gentlemen, find ourselves once more already again halfway in the lie. We, ladies and gentlemen, you and I, cannot just continue with our nostalgic commemoration of a great president. If we wish to commemorate Havel today, then we need to get out into the streets. Then we should all become dissidents of this derailed system. Commemorating Havel has nothing to do with self-congratulatory ceremonies with the powers that be. That is misusing Havel to prove oneself right nostalgically. The party of capitalism-as-we-know-it is over. Its time for an After Party. An After Party that celebrates the enormous qualities and values capitalism has brought to us, but a celebration of the new. We cannot solve problems with the same thinking we created them. Both socialism and capitalism were a political philosophies that limit themselves to material processes, to the economy. The new system will be spiritual, poetically ambiguous, mythically sober or will not be. I started with saying that I had to break an egg tonight. I regret the discomfort. The advantage of breaking an egg is that one liberates whats inside. This story tonight ladies and gentlemen, has a happy ending. The broken egg tonight releases a very beautiful bird. The bird is a free bird. Yes, Im not crazy, lets renew here and now our vows to liberalism. But as it goes with free birds: you never get them completely, we only have this wing. Beauty, consolation, hope for renewal comes with pain. Under the protection of this wing, I start to make The After Party. A new morning sun. (trailer The After Party) In Divadlo Archa from March 22 onwards. 0 Maybe its time for a FORUM 3000 Censorship in the name of Vaclav Havel? 27. 10. 2016 / Pieter De Buysser cas cteni 6 minut When in 1997 Vaclav Havel founded FORUM 2000 with Elie Wiesel, it was a daring, forward-looking initiative. In 2016, FORUM 2000 still exists and still claims to be a global platform for discussion on the perspectives and challenges of democracy, human rights, and the development of civil society. It is an event for world leaders, statesmen, religious leaders, outstanding thinkers, and global opinion-makers, which describes itself as an active space where one can freely debate in an environment of tolerance and mutual respect. It wants to enhance democracy, respect for human rights, tolerance and freedom. If this sounds a little woolly, well, perhaps its because there is indeed a wolf lurking beneath: a fearful, wounded little wolfie that clumsily bared its teeth in Prague on 18 October 2016. We hereby publish a statement by Pieter De Buysser, a Belgian playwright, whose presentation at Forum 2000 in Prague recently was subjected to a censorship attempt by the organizers of the Forum. The Forum invited me to its closing event to introduce The After-Party, a play Im currently working on that is due to premiere at the Archa Theatre in Prague on 17 March 2017. I gave a lecture-performance in which I reflect on Havels legacy and introduce The After-Party. The play was commissioned by Ondrej Hrab, the director of Archa, who asked me what Havels legacy could mean for other European countries. I am a long-time admirer of Vaclav Havel. He is a witty, sharp, unconventional, playful and controversial writer. With an uneasy lightness he reveals uncomfortable truths. He is what Goethe termed a universal writer, meaning that his work is equally relevant to other times and other contexts. Today, his legacy is more important and meaningful than ever. Havel explored, and experimented with, the question of how to live in the truth while surrounded by lies. He joyfully, unconventionally and bravely unmasked the false, repressive ideology of his time. He himself learned that the attempt to live in the truth can have painful consequences. There are some striking parallels with today. Striking and important differences as well, yes. But we can apply his analysis of the workings of an ideological lie today. His work is a perfect tool by which to criticize our time and the misfunctions of our so-called liberal democracies. The euphoria that followed the fall of communism resulted in a triumphalism that has led the West to let itself be dragged into a speculative adventure that has seeped into the deepest fibres of the neo-liberal principles of faith. Out of the ashes of Soviet communism, a new ideology has risen, one that results in the commonly used term, a post-truth society. Havels essays and plays contain detailed analyses of the workings of the totalitarian system and the ways it can be resisted. One of these ways is simply to reveal the truth. So I shared some facts with the audience: for instance, that Bush and Blairs pretext for invading Iraq still one of the catalysts of todays geopolitical misery was the claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. Which was a lie. This is not an opinion, but a fact for many of us, not even an original one. Additionally, I shared with the audience the fact that liberal countries in the West are increasingly cutting funding for education, culture, the arts and scientific research because of the ideology of the Invisible Hand, that beautiful fully ideological tale that enchants and holds us spellbound. The people that vote for dangerous populists are not to be mocked; they are excluded by the mechanism of false liberalism that leads to a state of oligarchy. The term oligarchy is increasingly used by people like Francis Fukuyama; as far as I know, he could never be suspected of being an anti-American leftist. But anyhow, these few claims were enough to cause some people to exit the theatre, some of them shouting: This is what we were waiting for, anti-Americanism! I replied that I also take issue with the EU at which point I started to share some facts about how the EU Council refuses to exercise transparency so that it can continue on its course. Little by little, I continued with a reading of Havels extraordinary essay, The Power of the Powerless. The essay describes the ideological lies he suffered from and had to live through, and it is equally relevant to denounce our false-liberal ideology (I prefer the notion of false-liberalism because there is nothing new in it and it has nothing to do with liberalism). Criticizing this excess does not mean being ungrateful for the well-being brought to us by liberalism nor celebrating the fall of Soviet communism not at all; cheers and thank you! But lets move on. Democracy as we know it has to be constantly corrected. And for the record, doing this does not mean that I am a communist or that I support Putin. I made that very, very clear. When a person is diagnosed with a dangerous infection, that does not mean that his neighbour is declared healthy can we agree upon that? Its not because the Putin regime misuses self-criticism for its own purposes that, like cowards, we should stop being self-critical. The barbaric mechanisms of totalitarian communism are without compare. But it seems that what is comparable is the ideological lie, the demand for art to be an enchanting setting in which to celebrate the powers that be. That is, to help totalitarian regimes. To run away from the theatre or to make a caricature of what is being said there so that you dont have to deal with it, that amounts to helping totalitarian regimes. Openly, healthily dealing with critical performances is the best way not to help them. But the worst was yet to come. If I had said during my performance that at events like FORUM 2000 one can no longer express critical reflections, it could be said that I was exaggerating. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened. After I had said that under false liberalism freedom has, to a certain extent, become a commodity, Jakub Klepal, the director of FORUM 2000, walked onto the stage and asked me to stop speaking much to the consternation of a majority of the audience, who didnt agree and wanted me to continue. It is a profoundly sad turning-point in history that Havels legacy should now be misused by halting all self-criticism to the point of censorship. Certainly in todays Czech republic: the friends of Havel need now all the support they can find in order to resist the dark powers of president Zeman and his likes. The Havel friends shouldnt be shooting themselves in the foot. If today we claim that we want to take Havels legacy seriously, then nothing is more misplaced than such self-congratulating conferences. Now is not the time for self-celebrations but rather for convulsive, dangerously endless, beautiful and ambiguous art. Because before we realise it, we will again be standing on the wrong side of history. Maybe its time for a FORUM 3000? 0 European funds will be wasted in Plzen on a nonsensical "modernisation" of an unnecessary railway diversion 27. 10. 2016 / Frantisek Rezac cas cteni 3 minuty The Skoda Words industrial area was originally located to the north from the Cheb railway line. There was also a railway station whose steam plant has only recently been demolished. There is a well-known photograph of a visit by the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph to this place some time before the First World War. The situation changed when Skoda Works expanded to land located to the south of the Cheb railway line. Thus a section of the Domazlice railway line found itself within a walled-in Skoda Works area. The problem was solved by building an extra railway track within the corridor of the Cheb railway line, which lead to the right in the direction outside the city. This railway line rises from the rail corridor and at Skvrnany it elegantly shifts itself over a bridge to the left in the direction towards the original railway line beyond the Skoda Works area. This is what the situation is still today. (see point 2 on the contemporary map and the photograph of the railway crossing at Skvrnany). A map of the current situation: The Skoda Works section of the Domazlice railway line was used only as a branch line for the transport of coal into the ELU III coal fired power station and of the products of the Skoda Works from the factory to the main railway line. But recently, this branch line is no longer used for these purposes - the power station now uses liquid fuel, which is transported by a pipeline. Nevertheless, the branch line still exists. Plzen Jizni predmesti, originally a railway track leading to Domazlice, now just a branch line: A well preserved and little used branch line, originally the Domazlice railway line: But the history of the railway diversion line did not end in the 1920s. A tunnel was built in the southern part of the Skoda Works plant leading from the power station under the Cheb railway line towards the steelworks in the northern part of the Skoda Works plant. Thus three different railway tracks came to cross each other on different levels. And in the 1930s, a metal road bridge, designed by architect Faltus, was added to this convoluted railway track monster. This road bridge is no longer used (see photograph) because the southern approach to the bridge has been demolished and the northern approach is slowly disintegrating. A European transport curiosity: A former road is on top. Under it, along the wall painted with graffiti, the Domazlice railway line. Under it, a double track Cheb railway line. Still under it, a tunnel for the branch line (the tunnel is not visible in this photograph): This is where the branch line rejoins the original railway track: It looks as though this amazing railway curiosity will be retained when the Domazlice railway line is to be modernised in the near future. According to the documentation published by Czech Railtrack ("Sprava zeleznicni dopravni cesty", SZDC) , the existing railway diversion will be retained and "modernised". The Faltus bridge will be moved elsewhere and used as a footbridge. So the three railway lines, one above the other, will continue to exist. But does this really need to be so? Should not the modernised railway line be returned into the original, simple railway track? This would save maybe hundreds of millions of Czech crowns, and millions of euros from the European Union funds. However there seems to be a reluctance in the Czech Republic to opt for the simple solution. The modernisation of the historical rail monster on three levels will be much more expensive than the simple solution and as, local designers have admitted, will allow the firms who will modernise the railway to make much more money than if the simple option was used. 0 The two groups had experienced over 27 years of ceasefire. The last clash between the KNU and NMSP was back in 1988, fuelled by a land dispute over the Three Pagodas Pass area, on the Thai-Burma border. The NMSPs Tavoy District liaison office confirmed the above to Mon News Agency. Both sides exchanged fire after the KNU troops entered into the township divisions base in NMSPs Tavoy District in the territory of the NMSP and opened fire at the base. It was around 3:35 PM when they began firing at our office from rubber plantations located in front of, and beside, the office. They fired from those directions over 10 times. In return, we responded with 8 shots back at them. Eventually, they ran away. Due to the rapid exchange, no one was hurt. However, our office wall and roof received bullet holes, said an official of NMSPs Tavoy District. Concerned with the shooting, the NMSPs Tavoy District contacted and informed KNUs Myeik-Tavoy District liaison. I still cannot follow up this information. That was what the NMSP side confirmed and as I heard from news. However, we have already informed our headquarters about this. Now, we are in the process of checking through the headquarters, said Saw Win Khine, official in charge at liaison office of Myeik-Tavoy District. The township force of NMSPs Tavoy District No. 2 and KNUs Brigade (4)s force no 10 are active in Yebyu Township, Tenasserism Division. On September 8, KNU and NMSP troops opened fire at each other for 40 minutes in Tae Chaung Village. Consequently, the clash damaged several houses in Tae Chaung village including the village administrators house, according to locals of Tae Chaung Village. In the days following, officials from both sides met and announced that the shooting was not intentionally planned and proceeded to hold a district-level meeting to found liaison committee to prevent further clashes. The KNU signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the government. The NMSP has only signed at the state level and union level and is still yet to sign the NCA with the government. Speaking at a ceremony in Yangon, SNLD Chairman Khun Htun Oo said that the party has faced both good and bad days over the past 28 years, but is now mature enough to work towards for the betterment of the people. Khun Htun Oo was in 2005 sentenced to 93 years in prison on trumped-up charges, including treason and defamation. He was released in 2012 in a presidential amnesty towards political prisoners. Now 28 years old, if the SNLD were a person we would say that it is entering an age when it should be energetic and ready, Khun Htun Oo said. Undoubtedly we have faced good days and bad days; we have had our ups and downs. Throughout that time, some have sacrificed for the sake of the nation but some have also betrayed. The party chairman concluded: There is still a long way to go. We need to hold hands in order to reach our goal. We will learn the lessons of the past 28 years and use them in the future to help us achieve our goal with less difficulty. Khun Htun Oo also urged his party members and supporters to take part in the ongoing peace process. He told his audience that Burma is facing many challenges, including those in the political arena and on the battleground; nonetheless, he emphasized, it is the SNLDs duty to work towards peace in the country. Founded on October 21, 1988, the partys main policy has always been to serve the interests of the Shan people. The SNLD has stated that it is against the 2008 constitution, but that its ultimate goal is a federal system with eight states. The SNLD won the second highest number of seats across the country in the 1990 general election results which went unrecognized by the then ruling military junta. In the 2010 general election, the SNLD joined Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy in boycotting the polls. In 2012, following constitutional and government reforms, several SNLD leaders were among a number of political prisoners released. The SNLD was thereafter permitted to operate legally and re-register for elections. In the general election of November last year, the SNLD, also known locally as the Tiger Head Party, won the fourth largest number of seats in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw [Assembly of the Union]. It was also the second most successful party elected in the Shan State parliament. In total, the SNLD claimed three seats in the Upper House; 12 seats in the Lower House; and 26 seats in State and Regional assemblies (25 in Shan State; one in Kachin State). At the anniversary ceremony on Wednesday, party chairman Khun Htun Oo also noted that the SNLD was preparing to contest next Aprils bi-election, and urged all party members to look at their weaknesses and work for the good of the people. Ritambhara, A Fashion Extravaganza By IIT-Kanpur Pulse oi-Staff This year IIT-Kanpur hosted Ritambhara, the biggest College-level Fashion Extravaganza in North India, as a part of Antaragni, its cultural festival. Amassing a footfall of over 5000 people, the event demonstrated immense glamour and talents, especially in terms of fashion acumen. With over 12 colleges participating in 3 mega-events, spanning 3 days, the crowd experienced an intense competition and quality like never before. The fashion event was graced by eminent personalities of the fashion world, namely Ms. Anukriti Gusain (Miss Asia Pacific 2014), Mr. Hemant Sud (Managing Editor & Publisher, Abraxas Lifestyle), Mr. Yogesh Chaudhary (Designer, Surendri) and Ms. Tanya Mahendra (Blogger, Fashion Oomph), which added to the overall spectacle of the nights. Furthermore, the first round of the team contest was performed by Mad Boy Mink, a well-known pop-duo artist, much to the awe of the witnessing crowd. 'Funk Night', as the entire event was called, impressed and was applauded by judges and students alike. The managers had a very positive view of this year's Ritambhara, given that it was conducted smoothly without any hassles. "It was very difficult initially; we had our fingers crossed as to what to anticipate," said one of them. "But after it has been over, there is a sense of achievement and satisfaction in what we did." It is notable to mention the fact that Ritambhara, in fact the whole of Antaragni, is entirely managed and conducted by the students of IIT-Kanpur. Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) is looking forward to improve its systems and operations as it is expected to benchmark at the upcoming CEOs Forum for the World Federation of Development Financial Institutions (WFDFI) billed for next week. The forum, which is on its third leg, will be hosted by CEDA in Gaborone from November 2nd until 4th. CEDA Chief Operations Officer (COO), Andrew Madeswi said while it is important for DFIs to put in place sound corporate governance and risk management frameworks to ensure sound financial performance, they must never lose sight of their responsibility to the ordinary citizens. We must expand access to financing and work hard to maximize impact and social outcomes, he said. The event themed DFIs sustaining relevance in the age of disruption, will centre around ways, which the DFIs can adapt to changes in financial systems, policies as well as organizational and institutional frameworks. It will also discuss ways in which DFIs adopt new technologies to improve operational efficiencies, risk management and service delivery. There will also be discussions on thoughts and insights by CEOs on sustaining the relevance of the DFIs going forward. Quizzed on the lessons learnt from previous forums, Madeswi said the issues were mainly on environmental effects including how to contribute towards taking care of the environmental future. We also realized that, the banking environment has been rapidly changing and we need to look at relevance of service in terms of technology platforms. As CEDA we have launched mobile offices to serve the clients across the country. These are engagements we continue to look at when we meet with our counterparts, he explained. Meanwhile, the forum is expected to attract about 300 delegates. It is understood that already over 150 international delegates have confirmed attendance while more are yet to confirm. In addition 100 delegates have already confirmed. Botswana Railways (BR) is on a mission to deliver state of the art buildings for its stations, as part of the implementation of the reintroduction of the passenger train project. This week, BR Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dominic Ntwaagae told Botswana Guardian online that they are building new stations in Gaborone, Lobatse and Francistown. This is a state of the art infrastructure, which includes air conditioning and bath showers amongst other features. The showers will be paid for at a reasonable price if customers want to use them. All the projects are at an advanced stage, he said. In addition, BRs Corporate Communications Manager, Kebabonye Morewagae indicated that Mahalapye and Palapye projects have been deferred as a result of funding challenges, this financial year. The total budget for the above three ongoing projects was P25million. The plan is for the two deferred stations to be budgeted for in the financial year 2017/18, with the view to have them completed by March 31, 2018. Lobatse Train station progress Building construction is on-going and the actual overall project progress is 82 percent complete. The construction works were expected to be completed by November 30,2016. Gaborone train station progress The actual overall progress is 96 percent complete. The works are expected to be complete by November 30, 2016. Francistown train station progress Overall works progress on the terminal building is at 87 percent complete. The target completion date is November 30, 2016. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Brandon University was ranked third last out of 19 primarily undergraduate universities in Macleans magazines annual national rankings. Were not surprised we tend to bounce around the 16th to 17th mark, said Steve Robinson, vice-president academic at BU. You never quite know what to expect. Were always sensitive to what Macleans is measuring and we work to make sure they get accurate information. When it comes to student satisfaction, BU ranks dead last. The university was also ranked close to the bottom in a reputational survey as well. They are measuring things we know we can improve, so we understand why some of our rankings are as low as they are, Robinson said. Student satisfaction was particularly low in areas of residence living and its steps to prevent sexual assault. BU came under fire last spring, when a first-year student was made to sign a contract barring her from speaking about a complaint she made that she was sexually assaulted on campus. Robinson said BU is also ready to roll out consultations for a new, standalone sexual violence policy, and has a shovel-ready project for new, modern student residences. We know where those weaknesses are and were taking steps. I think were on the right track in doing what were doing, Robinson said. Experiential learning is another area that scored low. Students are increasingly reporting that they want experiential learning opportunities, Robinson said. Were not there yet, but we are developing co-op programming in a number of departments across arts and science and that should enhance opportunities for experiential learning. Brandon University also ended up at the bottom of the list for scholarships and bursaries available for students. The Manitoba Scholarships and Bursary Initiative, which the Progressive Conservative government promised to boost to $20 million through increased private-sector investments during the last campaign, should help, said Robinson. Certainly we welcome any new government money coming into the university to go into scholarships and bursaries. It will certainly make a difference, Robinson said. BU ranked No. 1 in student to faculty ratio, allowing for smaller class sizes. With a ratio of 12 to 1, it was also better than any university in the medical-doctoral and comprehensive categories. Our student-to-faculty ratio remains the envy of universities across Canada, Robinson said. We provide our students with exceptional access to their instructors in classrooms, in labs and in research opportunities. Small class sizes are a major draw for some students, according to BU president Gervan Fearon. Students tell us that they choose Brandon University for our close-knit and student-focused campus, with small classes that enable them to develop strong relationships with their professors, Fearon said. We are proud to see that those strengths are reflected in the data compiled and released by Macleans today. BU also scored high for its operating budget and library expenses. Were pretty proud of where we stand high in the rankings, Robinson said. University of Northern British Columbia took first place nationally among primarily undergraduate universities, with Mount Allison University and the University of Lethbridge following in second and third place. University of Winnipeg was ranked 13th among primarily undergraduate universities, whereas University of Manitoba, which was ranked among the medical-doctoral universities, tied for last place with the University of Saskatchewan. edebooy@brandonsun.com Twitter: @erindebooy Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. WINNIPEG Manitoba Hydros largest customer has written Hydro out of its future, and that could spell problems for Manitobans down the line. Xcel Energys 15-year plan states the Minneapolis-based utility intends to drop 850 megawatts worth of hydro import contracts when they expire in 2025, filling the gap with other resources. As big as those contracts are roughly 15 per cent of Hydros production Xcels decision is about something even bigger. It points to a new era. Manitoba Hydros existing model relies on exports. The Hydro system is designed to meet our needs even in prolonged drought, which means that absent such a drought, we have plenty of excess power. Even greater excess exists after a new dam is built, as it takes years for domestic demand to catch up with new supply. Some of the excess power is sold by means of firm contracts. Some is sold on the spot market, which is in a prolonged slump. Combined export sales have effectively subsidized our rates and helped pay for new dams. With its current $12 billion build-out, Hydro is leaning heavily on this model. Meanwhile, Xcel is moving on. Of course, Xcel could still buy our excess power on the spot market, and it may be quietly hoping to do just that at prices lower than contracted power. Xcel, and its predecessor Northern States Power, have been the dominant utility in the region and the mainstay of Hydro exports since the 70s. It knows Hydro very well and was undoubtedly lobbied intensely. But it opted to meet its significant new requirements with wind, solar and natural gas, Hydros main competitor for baseload, non-intermittent power. Natural gas is about a third the price it was in 2008 and holding steady in the basement. If those prices go up significantly, Xcel could change its mind, unless, of course, it has already built gas plants by that point. The long term is critical. Hydros case for the $7.2-billion Keeyask dam now under construction only outpaced other options beyond the 50-year mark, according to the Public Utilities Board. Xcel is, of course, not the only prospective buyer. The Alberta government has called for 5,000 MW of new generation by 2030 as part of a plan to phase out coal, but only Alberta-based companies qualify. Albertans are not big on exporting their energy jobs. Saskatchewan is another possibility. SaskPower signed a 20-year, 100-MW deal with Hydro in January. While important, it represents less than two per cent of our overall generation. Like Alberta, Saskatchewan needs to replace coal plants, but it is obviously hesitant to outsource too much new generation. To the east, Ontario has long been the prize just out of reach. Actually, 2,000 kilometres out of reach. The province has high demand and a need for low-carbon options, but transmission is lacking. To the south, Wisconsin Public Service is signed up for about 100 MW of our power until 2027. A 308-MW deal is supposed to kick in after that, but it is linked to construction of the Conawapa dam, which is currently on hold. Hydro had wanted a 500-MW deal and WPS partnership in new transmission. Neither materialized. Hydros keenest customer is Minnesota Power (MP) which is contracted to purchase 250 MW from 2020 to 2035. But MP is a relatively small utility, and the possibility of additional contracts may be limited. Hydro is presumably talking to other relatively small utilities. The review commissioned by the new Hydro board noted export contracts linked to the Keeyask dam have favourable terms, but it also reported Hydros own projections of export prices over the next decade dimmed by 19 to 28 per cent since it started building Keeyask. That could mean a $2-billion hit. Hydro costs have risen, while other sources have dropped. And the politics of energy are increasingly linked to local investment over imports. Where does that leave us? Xcel might change its mind. Premier Brian Pallister might convince Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to build his very own Bipole from Manitoba to southern Ontario. SaskPower might supersize its order, a couple times. Manitoba Hydro might lead a revolution to electrify planes, trains and automobiles, thus creating demand for its product. Hydro might have a well-concealed ace up its sleeve. Or we may just see our hydro rates go up and up and up as governments, CEOs and Hydro board members come and go. (And any government bailout would simply shift the burden from Hydro ratepayers to provincial taxpayers that is, from your left pocket to the right.) Our provincial utility may well have missed the change in eras because of its institutional bias toward building dams. What Pallister should consider is the need for a fundamental shift away from an old-school hydro company to a nimble new energy solutions innovator. That would not get us out of the current pickle, but it would decrease the chances of us missing the next phases of evolution. We need a utility that helps create a vibrant future rather than trying recreate the past. Will Braun works for the Interchurch Council on Hydropower. His column recently appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/10/2016 (2196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Abortion pill tough to swallow Regarding the abortion pill mentioned in the article Sexual Health Advocates Battle To Ease Abortion Pill Hurdles, in the Oct. 24 paper. I do not agree with making the abortion pill freely available. Repeat, I do not agree with making the abortion pill freely available. But I do agree with A.J. Roberts words: One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in my bank account, but the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child. Thanks for going above and beyond Thank you to the bus driver on Oct. 20 who stopped to help our mom. She had been grocery shopping and had fallen while walking and hit her head. You pulled over, called the paramedics and stayed with her. We are so very grateful to you for your help and to the passengers for their understanding. Many blessings to you all. Whats in a name? Some falsehoods about the naming of the Cleveland Indians are being discussed in the press. The Cleveland Indians were named in 1915 in a Cleveland newspaper name that team contest. One fan entered with the name Indians in honour of a former Cleveland Spiders player prior to 1900 (Louis Sockalexis), who was the first full-blooded native American player in the major leagues. He had incredible talent and brought the team some measure of success. Many fans thought naming their new team in his honour would give the team some extra inspiration to imitate the successes of the old team. This hardly sounds like objectifying a group of people. I hope that with this information, people arguing for the removal of the Cleveland Indians name and logo will take a second, long look at their argument. You missed out on a great concert My husband and I attended the concert Lunch at Allens with Murray McLaughlin, Cindy Church, Ian Thomas and Marc Jordan on Oct. 14. We really enjoyed the show as did everyone in the auditorium. I was surprised there wasnt more local coverage for this concert, which is too bad. These performers are very talented and have a really good sense of humour for telling stories, too. Very entertaining! Update 12.18pm: The Belgian government has reached an agreement to back the free trade deal between the European Union and Canada. The move comes on the day the agreement was supposed to be officially signed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel was able to announce the agreement following days of negotiations with the region of Wallonia. The region has veto power in Belgium and the broader EU needs unanimity among its 28 member states. The deal will go through regional legislatures by tomorrow night. Mr Trudeau has been due to travel to Brussels today to sign the deal, but those plans were effectively scrapped as the negotiations with Wallonia dragged on. Still, getting the agreement was a huge relief to EU leaders, who had started negotiating the pact with Canada seven years ago. "This is good news," said Mr Michel, adding that the new text of the deal provides guarantees for farmers and on a corporate dispute settlement system that "will allow us to sign the deal". EU President Donald Tusk said he would contact Mr Trudeau "only once all procedures are finalised for EU signing CETA", as the trade deal is called. Alex Lawrence, the spokesman for Canada's trade minister, said hours before that the country was prepared to sign the deal whenever Europe is ready. Mr Trudeau earlier told Parliament he is prepared to wait longer. "We are confident that in the coming days we will see a positive outcome for this historic deal," Mr Trudeau told Parliament. Beyond the Belgian regional parliaments backing the agreement, the adjustments would have to be vetted by the 27 other nations. That makes a signing ceremony today impossible. Politicians in Wallonia, which has a population of 3.6 million compared with over 500 million for the whole EU, argue that the proposed accord would undermine labour, environment and consumer standards. Proponents say it would yield billions in added trade through customs and tariff cuts and other measures to lower barriers to commerce. At the same time, the EU says it will keep in place the region's strong safeguards on social, environmental and labour issues. He said Wallonia's insistence on a better deal would bolster EU standards and set a strong precedent for other trade talks between Europe and trading partners like the United States or Japan. Earlier: A summit between the European Union and Canada to sign a landmark free trade deal has been postponed as talks continue on convincing a Belgian region to lift its veto. The EU presidency said that "the EU-Canada summit will not start today as planned". It left it open as to whether it would happen at all today, though it appeared highly unlikely. EU spokesman Preben Aamann said there is "no speculation on a new summit time. The next step is for the EU to agree to sign". The 28-nation EU can only sign the agreement if it has unanimity among its 28 member states and Belgium can only approve it if all its regions back it. The francophone region of Wallonia has for days refused to back the agreement. Wallonia leader Paul Magnette said that his region would still not be able to approve the deal in the coming hours. It and the Belgian government continued to fine tune the wording of the agreement to address Wallonia's concerns, including the impact on farming and corporate dispute settlements. Because Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would have to fly to Brussels for the summit, the prospect of signing the deal on today becomes more unlikely by the hour. The summit is likely to only be postponed since the differences between Wallonia and the national Belgian government, which wants to sign the agreement, are narrowing. But the situation is an embarrassment for the EU, which started negotiating the free trade deal with Canada seven years ago. "Now we have some legal consolidation to discuss," said Paul Magnette, leader of Wallonia. He said it was difficult to say how long it might take to reach a deal. Alex Lawrence, the spokesman for Canada's trade minister, said the country is prepared to sign the deal whenever Europe is ready. Mr Trudeau earlier told Parliament he's prepared to wait longer. "We are confident that in the coming days we will see a positive outcome for this historic deal," Mr Trudeau told Parliament. If the Belgian regional leaders find an agreement on the deal, the adjustments would have to be vetted by the 27 other nations and then still have to go back to the regional Belgian legislatures for approval. Politicians in Wallonia, which has a population of 3.6 million compared to over 500 million for the whole EU, argue that the proposed accord would undermine labour, environment and consumer standards. Proponents say it would yield billions in added trade through customs and tariff cuts and other measures to lower barriers to commerce. At the same time, the EU says it will keep in place the region's strong safeguards on social, environmental and labour issues. He said Wallonia's insistence on a better deal would bolster EU standards and set a strong precedent for other trade talks between Europe and trading partners like the United States or Japan. As the Cork Jazz Weekend approaches, employees at some bars, restaurants and nightclubs are praying for rain. While most of the population of Cork will be out pretending like they know ragtime from bebop, others will be pouring endless pints and wishing the Guinness marketing department wasn't so clever. The Cork Guinness Jazz Festival weekend is nearly upon us and one Cork pub has gotten to the heart of the celebration in their promo video released on Wednesday. In the 1.40 minute video two hefty muscular men from The Silly Goose, Paul Derham and Neil O'Connell, wearing tights and wigs, playing saxophones are filmed 'getting their jazz on' at various well-known locations around Cork city. Almost 300 migrants have been rescued from the Mediteranian by the Irish Navy. The LE Samuel Beckett took the group from a rubber vessel during a three-hour operation off the coast of Libya. The Taoiseach says reports he was prepared to sack Shane Ross are just rumours. Enda Kenny was responding to claims he told party colleagues he'd dismiss the Transport Minister if the Independent Alliance didn't adhere to collective Cabinet responsibility. Update 2pm: The country is facing "the complete and utter shutdown" of the education system next month unless an immediate solution is found to the school strikes crisis, the Government has been warned. Fiachra O Cionnaith of the Irish Examiner writes that Read More: Update 1.20pm: Teachers have accused Education Minister Richard Bruton of provocation and embedding inequality as they strike over pay. The union claims some recent graduates to the profession are earning 8,000 less than those whose careers began a year earlier. ASTI president Ed Byrne said: "Ireland's youngest and brightest second-level teachers are being targeted and demoralised through unequal pay. "The Government's failure to commit to achieving equal pay for young and recently qualified teachers is most alarming. The implications for education and for society are far-reaching. "Embedding inequality in the teaching profession can only lead to widespread morale issues amongst teachers. At best teachers will feel devalued, at worst the most talented and dedicated will leave the profession or the country. Students will lose out." Meanwhile, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said he was concerned about the threat of a prolonged strike. "That's not for the benefit of anybody. We have to have more concerted efforts to ensure that doesn't happen," he told RTE Radio. "One also has to see that anything that disrupts the school system, the education of young people, is disastrous. There's no profession that knows that better than teachers themselves." The ASTI has planned six other strikes in November on Tuesday 8, Wednesday 16, Thursday 24, Tuesday 29 and consecutive days in December on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7. Update 12.40pm: Teachers are claiming the Government has left them with no other option. The Department of Education wants the ASTI to sign up to the Lansdowne Road public pay deal. However Pat, who teaches at PobalScoil Neasain in Baldoyle in Dublin, says they are being bullied. He said: "The teachers had a choice to enter into an agreement or not, they chose not to. As a result of that they were punished in terms of the conditions for newly qualified teachers coming in. "After that they were no longer paid for substitution and supervision and the Goverment decided to punish them even further." Education Minister Richard Bruton has hit out at members of the ASTI union for rejecting a "substantial" deal in favour of today's strike action. Almost 70% of second-level schools have not opened today as ASTI members have taken strike action in a bid to fully restore pay for newly qualified teachers. Speaking as schools across the country remain closed today, Mr Bruton said: "I am very disappointed that it has come to a strike today. "I feel disappointed for students and parents, parents discommoded in their work but students more particularly, it's a tense time people are preparing for an important year in their career and this disrupts their learning." Today's strike is the first of seven days planned and teachers will also withdraw from supervision and substitution from next month. Mr Bruton said his department would continue to engage with the ASTI in a bid to come up with a solution and avoid the industrial action planned by members from November 7, but could not give an end point for these talks if agreement is not reached. "We have made huge strides in respect of restoring equality of treatment for young teachers, we have closed the gap by virtually three quarters at this stage. He said that over the next two years newly qualified teachers would receive a 22% pay increase bringing pay up to 37,700 for a teacher recruited last year. "We are well on the way to do that, but we cannot commit to an individual union, a sectoral deal for one union who has decided to not negotiate around these issues but to unilateraly withdraw from commitments that every teacher is committed to as part of their core duties." He said if the withdrawal from supervision and substitution from November 7, results in schools closing then teachers would be docked pay. "Where there is withdrawal of supervision and the school remains open then the industrial action hasn't resulted in the withdrawal of labour and they will continue to work and continue to get paid. "But where industrial action has resulted in the closure of the school that will be different," Mr Bruton said. Update 10am: The ASTI has denied using children as pawns in their pay row with the Government. A quarter of a million secondary students will be forced to stay home this morning as teachers take to the picket line. However, ASTI president Ed Byrne said they are being been left with no other choice. Every teacher whos in a classroom cares about their children, and they do not use them as pawns, he said. Thats cliched and I hate when I hear it, because thats not the case. At some point, you reach the point in the road where you cant get any further by talking. Its unfortunate, I have no interest in discommoding parents or their children. The children are our prime concern. Teachers Ann Piggott, Edel Farrell and Kevin Wall, on the picket line during the ASTI strike at Deerpark CBS in Turner's Cross, Cork. Picture: David Keane. Update 7.59am: The National Parents Council has appealed to the Government and teachers to resolve the pay dispute as quickly as possible. Some 507 out of 735 secondary schools are expected to close as members of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) begin strike action. I would say please think of the students, please think of our children, and especially the Junior Cert students and the Leaving Cert students, said Post primary PRO Rebecca Hemrych. They need to be put first at this stage. Earlier: More than 500 secondary schools are set to close today in the first of a series of crippling teachers' strikes over pay. The walkouts by the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) are the first of seven as the union seeks equal wages for staff qualified since 2011. Management bodies have told the Department of Education that 507 schools out of 735 will close. Education Minister Richard Bruton has said there is a "substantial" pay offer on the table. But he warned strikes could run indefinitely in the days after the mid-term as the ASTI's 17,000 members are refusing supervision and substitution duties and replacement staff will not be available. That action was taken after 800 pay penalties were imposed over the refusal of union members to hold meetings outside of normal school timetables, known as Croke Park hours. Mr Bruton said: "I am disappointed by the decision of the ASTI to take industrial action which will close schools unnecessarily." The Minister claimed the pay offer tabled is worth 15% and 22% by January 2018 for new entrant teachers along with other benefits. "It would not be equal or fair for us to conclude sectoral deals with particular groups of public servants to the exclusion of other groups of public servants," Mr Bruton said. "To do so would also mean that we do not have the money left in the public purse to provide increases in social welfare payments for vulnerable groups, tax reductions for people at work, or investments in improvements in public services that people rely on." The ASTI insists that some newly qualified teachers are being paid as much as 8,000 less than colleagues doing the same job. The union also claimed the Government's attempt to strike a deal would still leave a difference of up to 2,775 in the pay rates for teachers who took up their first jobs since 2011. The ASTI has planned strikes for Thursday, then in November on Tuesday 8, Wednesday 16, Thursday 24, Tuesday 29 and consecutive days in December on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7. Alongside the strike days ASTI members will also withdraw from supervision and substitution work from Monday November 7. This will force principals to shut the school gates unless suitable and vetted replacement staff can be found in time. Donald Trump's dubious claims that the US presidential election is "rigged" have taken root amongst most of his supporters, a poll found, with many saying they will have serious doubts about the legitimacy of the outcome if Hillary Clinton wins. In the Associated Press-GfK survey, just 35% of Mr Trump's supporters said they are likely to accept the result of the election as legitimate if Mrs Clinton wins, while 64% said they are likely to have serious doubts about the accuracy of the vote. "Of course I believe it's rigged, and of course I won't accept the results," said Mike Cannilla, 53, a Trump supporter from the New York borough of Staten Island. "It's from the top: Obama is trying to take over the country, he's covering up all of Hillary's crimes and he's controlling the media trying to make Trump lose." "Our only chance on November 9 is if the military develops a conscience and takes matters into its own hands." By contrast, 69% of Mrs Clinton's supporters said they will accept the outcome if Mr Trump wins. Only 30% of the Democrat candidate's backers expressed a reluctance to accept the result if she is not victorious Overall, 77% of likely voters said they will accept the legitimacy of the result if Mr Trump wins, while 70% said the same of a win for Mrs Clinton. In the final weeks of the campaign, Mr Trump has made doubts about the integrity of the US election system a cornerstone of his closing argument. Asked directly at the final presidential debate if he would accept the election result, Mr Trump refused to do so, saying: "I will keep you in suspense." But that extraordinary statement, with its potential to challenge the peaceful transition of power that is a hallmark of the American democracy, did little to harm him with his base of supporters. The poll found 44% of all likely voters said Mr Trump's stance makes them less likely to support him, but the vast majority of his supporters said it made no difference to them. "He should fight it all the way," said George Smith, 51, a Trump supporter from Roswell, Georgia. "Spend weeks in court if he has to. He can't let it be taken from him. That's his right." Mr Trump has also repeated inaccurate claims that vote fraud is a widespread problem, and the poll found most of his supporters share that concern. Fifty-six per cent think there's a great deal of voter fraud, 36% believe there is some, and 6% say there is hardly any. Most Clinton supporters, 64%, think there is hardly any voter fraud. Overall, just 27% of likely voters think there is a great deal of fraud. A third of voters overall believe there is at least some, while 38% say there is hardly any. While there have been isolated cases of voter fraud in the US, there is no evidence of it being a widespread problem. In one study, a Loyola Law School professor found 31 instances involving allegations of voter impersonation out of one billion votes cast in US elections between 2000 and 2014. Beyond allegations of fraud, 40% of Trump supporters said they have little to no confidence that votes in the election will be counted accurately. Another 34% said they have only a moderate amount of confidence, and just 24% said they have a great deal or quite a bit of confidence in the vote count. Among Mrs Clinton's supporters, 79% said they have a great deal or quite a bit of confidence in the vote count's accuracy. Many believe Mr Trump should voice support for the electoral system even in defeat. "Be an adult. Accept the results," said Shavone Danzy-Kinloch, 37, a Clinton supporter from Farmingville, New York. "If the shoe was on the other foot, he'd expect Hillary to do the same." The poll questioned 1,546 adults, including 1,212 likely voters, online between October 20 and October 24. Tear gas has been used, live bullets, stun bombs, there have been incursions and arrests, people have been shot, houses ransacked. We are scared of Israeli soldiers, we want it to stop. These are the words of Leyan, 14, a pupil at the UN school in the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank, reports Irish Examiner Political Correspondent Juno McEnroe from the West Bank Leyan and her schoolmates describe what it is like living under raids from Israeli soldiers and attacks from Israeli settlers in a camp that is home to some 10,000 refugees. Increasingly, as tensions rise amid the vacuum of the failed peace process, Palestinian refugee camps are under siege across the West Bank, as are Bedouin communities threatened with displacement. For some of the 1,300 girls and boys at Jalazones UN school, they have witnessed tear gas grenades and sound bombs which have even smashed through class windows or onto the school grounds. Across from the camp lies the Beit El Israeli settlement. There are often clashes between both communities on the road, but also random attacks from settler youths, say UN staff. Excessive force is used by Israeli soldiers: They set dogs on people and use live ammunition, say staff. The latter is especially worrying the UN relief and works agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) has recorded an 85% rise in the use of live ammunition by Israeli soldiers in incidents last year. A 10-year-old Palestinian boy was shot in the stomach, while a mentally ill man, who ran away from soldiers was also shot dead, say staff. Scott Anderson, director of operations for UNRWA for the West Bank, confirmed the increased incursions. Despite forwarding letters of complaint to the authorities, little has changed. Its a real challenge. The IDF [Israeli defence forces] come in with tear gas and sound bombs. Women are even sleeping clothed in their beds at night in case soldiers come. Mr Anderson says there are around 15 military incursions into West Bank refugee camps every day. Soldiers say they are looking for fugitives, weapons, or are there to make arrests. The biggest challenge in the West Bank is the protection of the refugees, says Mr Anderson. There are 19 such camps with some 200,000 Palestinians across the region. The two-state solution is not dead, but it is on life-support, he says, adding that Israeli military raids on homes and violence near the school are having long-term effects on children. In the village of Khan al-Ahmar, families live among desert and rocks, and sleep in makeshift shacks. A request to build a school was denied but they built one anyhow, made of 2,200 tyres. Paintings of animals and plants dot the mud walls and a canvass keeps the searing sun at bay. A case to demolish their 170-student school is before Israels Supreme Court. Villagers, NGO workers, and EU observers say its proposed destruction is part of a grand plan by Israelis to split the West Bank in two and cut off Jerusalem from Jericho by displacing Bedouin families. Community leader Abu Khames said: The Israeli narrative is it is an illegal school. If they demolish it, 170 students will be on the street what can that be other than apartheid? This is not the only Palestinian school facing demolition. There are 187 schools in what is known as Area C, part of the West Bank controlled by Israel but also the most fertile for farming. Others are also threatened with destruction, having been built without Israeli permits. So far this year, 11 students have been killed in the West Bank and 49 injured. Dozens of teachers were also injured and others detained, according to Kahraman Arafa of the Palestinian Ministry of Education. Some 34 schools have been attacked and there have been 55 demolition orders issued against schools. Attacks are carried out by Israeli soldiers or settlers, says Ms Arafa. Another herding community in the nearby village of Abu Nwer is also under siege. It is the biggest Bedouin community in the region but surrounded by settlements and Israeli military. The EUs humanitarian arm, ECHO, which aids Palestinian communities, says the Israeli military has destroyed three times as many structures built this year compared to 2015. EU representatives here say they are obliged to aid communities like Abu Nwer, supplying them with water, education, and health supports. Bedouin leader Dawood Jahaleen said families were living in conditions not even suitable for animals. Whatever Israeli occupation does to this community, we will never leave our land. The only way is if we go to the graveyard, he said. Hillary Clinton appears on the brink of a potentially commanding victory over Donald Trump, fuelled by solid Democratic turnout in early voting and increasing enthusiasm among her supporters. A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds that Mrs Clinton has grabbed significant advantages over her Republican rival with just 12 days left before Election Day. They include consolidating the support of her party and even winning over some Republicans. However, the highly-regarded IBD-TIPP poll, which includes other Libertarian Gary Johnson, Green Party candidate Jill Stein and others, has the contest much closer, with Clinton leading Trump 41.8% to 41.2%. "I'm going to pick Hillary at the top and pick Republican straight down the line," said poll respondent William Goldstein, a 71-year-old from Long Island, New York, who voted for Mitt Romney in 2012. "I can't vote for Trump." Overall, the Associated Press-GfK poll shows Mrs Clinton leading Mr Trump nationally by a staggering 14 percentage points among likely voters, 51-37. That margin is the largest national lead for Mrs Clinton among recent surveys, although most have shown her ahead of Mr Trump for the past few weeks. The AP-GfK poll finds that Mrs Clinton has secured the support of 90% of likely Democratic voters, and also has the backing of 15% of more moderate Republicans. Just 79% of all Republicans surveyed say they are voting for their party's nominee. With voting already under way in 37 states, Mr Trump's opportunities to overtake Mrs Clinton are quickly evaporating - and voters appear to know it. The new poll found that 74% of likely voters believe Mrs Clinton will win, up from 63% in September. Troubles with President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law have given Mr Trump a late opening to warn voters against putting another Democrat in the White House. And the poll was taken before the government projected sharp cost increases. But even Republicans question whether the rising price of insurance premiums is enough to overcome the damage the businessman has done to his standing with women and minorities. "Donald Trump has spent his entire campaign running against the groups he needs to expand his coalition," said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster who advised Florida Senator Marco Rubio's failed presidential campaign. Mr Ayres called Mr Trump's campaign "strategically mindless". Even if Mrs Clinton's support plummets in the contest's closing days, or she is unable to motivate strong turnout in her favour, it is not clear that Mr Trump could marshal the resources to take advantage and collect enough states to win the 270 electoral votes needed to claim the White House. Mrs Clinton's team has overwhelmed Mr Trump's campaign in its effort to turn out voters. An Associated Press review of campaign finance filings finds that her campaign, the Democratic National Committee and Democratic parties in 12 states have more than three times as many paid employees as Mr Trump's campaign and the main Republican organisations supporting him. The strength of the Democratic turnout effort appears to be paying dividends in states where voting is under way. Nationwide, more than 12 million voters have already cast ballots, according to data compiled by the AP, a pace far quicker than 2012. In North Carolina, a must-win state for Mr Trump, Democrats lead Republicans in early ballots, 47% to 29%. The Democrats hold an advantage even though turnout among blacks, a crucial voting bloc for Mrs Clinton in the state, is down compared to this point in 2012. In Florida, a perennial battleground, Democrats have drawn even with Republicans in votes cast, and Mrs Clinton also appears to hold an edge in Nevada and Colorado based on early returns. Buoyed by support from white voters, Mr Trump looks strong in Ohio, Iowa and Georgia, a Republican state where Mrs Clinton is trying to make inroads. But wins in those states would still leave him well short of the required 270 Electoral College votes. Mr Trump's senior advisers have conceded in recent days the businessman is trailing Mrs Clinton. But they point to his large rallies and enthusiastic supporters as an indication he could be poised for an upset. President Vladimir Putin says the claims of Russia's interference in the US presidential election are designed to distract public attention from real issues. The United States has accused Russia of coordinating the hacks of Hillary Clinton's campaign emails to influence the outcome of the election. Speaking to international foreign policy experts in Sochi, President Putin dismissed "the hysteria about Russia's influence on the US presidential election". He argued that US elites have used the "mythical and fictitious" issue to distract attention from real problems such as government debt and police violence. President Putin disputed that the US is "some kind of 'banana republic'" that could be susceptible to Russia's influence, calling America "a great power". He also said it's equally "ridiculous" to allege that Russia has aggressive military intentions. He called the claim that Russia favours Donald Trump in the race as "sheer nonsense" that has served as a campaign tool. President Putin added that it is not clear what stance the next US president will take toward Russia, but added that Moscow welcomes campaign statements about normalising ties. "We will work with any president who will be elected by the American people," he said. President Putin also asserted that the rise of popularity of nationalist parties in Europe was rooted in a widening gap between elites and the regular citizens, not the influence of Russian propaganda as many in the West have suggested. Rep Mike McCaul told Trump Russia's using hacked info to influence US electionsTrump 'didn't appear to believe him' https://t.co/e1V8IWI0LN pic.twitter.com/jt7RTwJ9uy Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 26, 2016 "I would like to have such propaganda machine in Russia, but, regrettably, there is no such thing," President Putin said with a note of sarcasm. "We don't have such global media as CNN, BBC and others." He also shrugged off allegations that Russia harbours aggressive military intentions in Europe. "Of course, it's quite pleasant and sometimes advantageous to cast oneself as a defender of civilization from some kind of new barbarians, but Russia has no intention to attack anyone," he said. "It's plain ridiculous." Russia-West relations have plummeted to their lowest point since the Cold War era amid the Ukrainian crisis and differences over the war in Syria. The US and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions on Russia in response to its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and support for a pro-Russia insurgency in eastern Ukraine. The US and its Nato allies have deployed their forces in the Baltics and Poland in response to Russia's moves. Moscow has described the deployments as a threat to its security and pledged to respond in kind. Speaking at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, US Secretary of State John Kerry insisted Washington has no doubts of direct Russian involvement in the hacking. "The president would not have authorised a release of the assessment to the intelligence community if we didn't feel that it was serious and also if we didn't feel that it was certain," he said. He also said separately in a CNN podcast that "the goal is to be disruptive, to interfere with our system, and be as annoying as people feel it is". Mr Kerry said he has confronted Russian counterparts such as foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on the matter. "Their response is to demand the evidence and to ask for it," he said. "And my response to that is, 'Let's not be foolish here. You know what we're talking about.'" The company that owns an Australian theme park where four people died on a ride has defended its safety record as police vetoed plans to reopen to the public three days after the tragedy. Dreamworld on Queensland's Gold Coast has been closed as a crime scene since two men and two women died on Tuesday when their raft flipped on the 30-year-old Thunder River Rapids ride. Neil Balnaves, chairman of Ardent Leisure Group, which owns Dreamworld as well as bowling and billiards centres across Australia, the US and New Zealand, told the company's annual general meeting yesterday that the ride had passed its annual safety inspection a month ago. "That's what confounds the tragedy even more for us, because it is ... absolutely surprising that a ride could get through that process and everything up to date," he said. "The park does not take its safety as a casual issue," he said, adding that the company uses international experts. A union has accused management of ignoring safety concerns raised by staff over years. Dreamworld announced on Wednesday that it planned to reopen with a memorial day and a service for the victims on Friday, with profits donated to charity and activities limited to smaller rides, animal attractions and the water park. Mr Balnaves told the meeting that operations would now return to normal from Saturday, although the Thunder River Rapids ride would remain closed until a coroner's inquiry reported on the cause of the incident. Dreamworld later said Queensland Police Service had advised that the park could not reopen this week. Police had warned that investigators were not prepared to risk the crime scene being compromised through the park being reopened too early. Officers have said the investigation could end in charges of criminal negligence. Ardent chief executive Deborah Thomas said she planned to contact the victims' families to express her sympathies and other financial assistance. "I take my family to Dreamworld. This could have been my family and I completely am sympathetic to what they must be going through," she said. She told the meeting that the revenue lost due to the tragedy would have a "significant impact" on Dreamworld profits for the remainder of the fiscal year, which began on July 1. Mr Balnaves told the meeting he expected the incident would continue to have a financial impact in the next fiscal year, but would not affect company assets other than Dreamworld. KARACHI: Gold prices on Friday continued to gain more value on the local market, traders said. Gold went up by Rs... LONDON: OPEC is likely to maintain its view world oil demand will rise for another decade, longer than many other... ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia have reportedly failed to reach any agreement for import of wheat from the latter on... ROME: New Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed support for Ukraine in her first phone call on Thursday... A man is assisting police with enquiries after the discovery of a suspicious backpack at the City Police Station forced the evacuation of the station. ACT Policing said the backpack was found to be no threat to public safety, despite also forcing the neighbouring courts into lockdown for more than two hours. Police officers deliver equipment to the City Police Station. The package, believed to be a bag at the police station, caused the evacuation shortly after 9am, but was "rendered safe" by 11.30am, according to police. The station was evacuated as a "precaution", an ACT Policing spokesman said, and London Circuit was closed in both directions between Farrell Place and Hobart Place. Knowles Place was also closed. ANZ Bank's bottom line will take a $360 million hit in the second half after the lender unveiled new charges for at-risk debts and restructuring costs. ANZ, which will report its full-year earnings next Thursday, said the results would include a new $168 million charge relating to derivatives exposures in its institutional banking business. ANZ Bank's results next week will be dragged down by $360 million in charges. Credit:Jessica Shapiro The charge, called a derivative credit adjustment, is similar to a provision for at-risk loans, or debts expected to go sour. It comes after chief executive Shayne Elliott had already unveiled more than $700 million of one-off charges when he delivered his first result in charge of the bank, six months ago, at which he reduced the bank's dividend for the first time since the global financial crisis. The award for the biggest punch-up of the AFL off season might just go to its chairman, Carlton legend Mike Fitzpatrick. He was the subject of what may be the biggest strike against executive pay packets in corporate Australia on Thursday. Investors in the boutique fund manager he chairs, Pacific Current Group, overwhelmingly rejected its remuneration report, with 85 per cent of shares voted against it at the company's shareholder meeting at Herbert Smith Freehills' Collins St offices. Some of Australia's best-known charities are urgently demanding explanations and are considering cutting ties with fundraising giant Appco, as young donation-collectors claim they were exploited, underpaid and bullied. A large class action lawsuit looms in the Federal Court against marketing company Appco to attempt to recover up to $80 million for up to 8000 former workers who rattled collection tins and sold merchandise in public places on behalf of major charities. They are alleging they were illegally classified by Appco as contractors instead of as employees, and some claim their overall wages were as little as $2.50 an hour. It is also alleged that employees were subjected to bullying when they raised questions about their workplace rights. Fifty years ago Charles Perkins did something no Aboriginal man had ever done. Donning cap and gown and before family and friends and hundreds of other students and their families, he strode up the steps in the Great Hall to greet the Chancellor of the University of Sydney to receive his degree. Graduating with a bachelor of arts, he became the first Aboriginal man in Australia to graduate with a university degree. Given the known potential of education to help people overcome other disadvantage, 50 years on it's worth reflecting, taking stock and thinking about the future. Charles Perkins and family at his University of Sydney graduation on May 11, 1966. Credit:G. Henderson Reflection involves serious thinking about what we have done and left undone, what we have learnt, what still confounds us and why. Reflecting reminds us that Charles' graduation anniversary coincides with other significant events in Aboriginal life. It is 50 years almost since the 1967 Constitutional Referendum, since the Freedom Rides in NSW, since the Gurindji walked off Wave Hill Station. It has been about 40 years since the Racial Discrimination Act was passed, since the Northern Territory Lands Rights Act, and since the Electoral Act guaranteed Aboriginal rights to vote in all state and territory elections. It has been 30 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and almost a quarter of a century since the Mabo decision. It's been 20 years since the Bringing Them Home Report, since the Native Title Act and the Wik Judgment. And it's been 10 years since the Northern Territory Intervention and just under 10 years since the National Apology. And let's not forget it is 70 years since the Pilbara strike by Aboriginal pastoral workers, Australia's longest strike. All of these big moments helped us think about how Australian society saw Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. And as these moments unfolded they illuminated the opportunity for Aboriginal people to see themselves in Australian society. Seeing and being seen are inseparable features of recognition. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has backed down from his total opposition to renewed examination of Australia's race hate laws, conceding possible changes are a legitimate area of discussion for the Coalition. Previously ruling out any change to controversial provisions in section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, Mr Turnbull said on Friday the government would consider a proposal put forward by West Australian Liberal senator Dean Smith for a parliamentary inquiry. Right-wing Coalition MPs and some high profile Australians are pushing Mr Turnbull to revive Abbott government plans to repeal provisions making it an offence to insult or offend people on the basis of their race. Mr Turnbull told Melbourne radio station 3AW the government had "no plans to amend section 18C" of the Act, but called for an open discussion. Warren Mundine, the chairman of the Prime Minister's Indigenous Advisory Council, has slammed the setting up of an Aboriginal incarceration inquiry, in an extraordinary attack on the government's approach to Indigenous affairs. Mr Mundine questioned which "dickhead" had thought up the Australian Law Reform Commission's inquiry into possible remedies to the incarceration crisis, announced on Thursday. "I just find this a joke, and I'm getting sick and tired of the crap that is coming out of this government in regard to Indigenous affairs, concerning incarceration rates, in regard to the juvenile detention area," he told Sky News. He said a lot of work had already been done on the issue. "I don't know who the dickhead is that thought up this incredible, brilliant idea; it's just a total waste of taxpayers' money," he said. Mermaids, according to the grandmother, live for 300 years. People live a shorter time, but when they die, their souls live on forever. Not so for mermaids. In Hans Christian Andersen's original, the mermaid of The Little Mermaid doesn't go back for her prince because he is such an irresistible dream-nugget, as in the Disney version. She goes back because she wants a soul. Credit:Disney This was the first that I had heard of mermaids (the book came into my life before the animated Disney movie), and the opening conversation between a bevy of teenage mermaid sisters and their grandmother hooked me immediately. The youngest sister, who has just witnessed a shipwreck and helped a drowning human prince to shore, wants to know: How long do humans live? How long do mermaids live? What happens when you die? Seven-years-old and driven by boredom to pillage our living room bookshelves in search of something to read, I knocked over a dusty, leather-bound book of short stories by Hans Christian Andersen. It fell open on the floor to The Little Mermaid. "Is there anything I can do to get an immortal soul?" the mermaid asks. Not much, the grandmother answers. You'd have to marry a human, but that's darn near-impossible because mermaids can't walk on land. Tough tail-fins, sister. Among the many ways the original short story differs from the cartoon film (see also: singing crabs, oyster-shell bikinis) there is one whopper of a distinction, and you get a hint of it in this line: "She could not forget the charming prince, nor her sorrow that she had not an immortal soul like his." See, in the story, the little mermaid thinks the prince is cute, but she doesn't go back for him because he is such an irresistible dream-nugget. She goes back because she wants a soul. The way I read it, she is not lovesick. She's ambitious. But to get what she wants, she has to strike a raw deal with a bad witch and trade away her voice to get feet. From there, everything goes wrong. Once she is on land, she can't tell anyone who she is or what she needs - she can't say anything - and she ends up standing mutely by as the prince meets and marries someone else. The real bummer is that, according to the witchy bargain, she can't cut her losses, grow her tail back and revert to mermaid life. Failing to seal the deal means she is doomed to die. The annual Northern Arizona Region College Night will be held tonight from 6-8 p.m. at the Flagstaff High School Dome. This event provides students with the opportunity to visit one-on-one with representatives from over 110 institutions which include various universities, trade schools, community colleges, and scholarship and financial aid personnel. All students and their parents in northern Arizona are encouraged to attend. Deborah Thomas, the chief executive of Dreamworld operators Ardent Leisure, says she will donate her $167,500 cash bonus to the Australian Red Cross. The charity will then distribute the money to those affected by Tuesday's tragedy that claimed four lives. "I have been deeply affected and saddened by the tragic deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi, and Cindy Low at Dreamworld on Tuesday, in particular the impact of this incident on their children and families," Ms Thomas said in a statement on Thursday night. "I will be making a personal donation of $167,500, which comprises my entire cash bonus, to the Australian Red Cross via the Dreamworld memorial day event. Michael Smith was approaching the broken western coast of Canada when he figured his long and solitary adventure and probably his life - was ending. Thick fog lay beneath his little plane, Southern Sun, and heavy cloud sat above. The two systems were closing fast. Michael Smith prepares to land his seaplane on the Hudson River in New York. Suddenly, he lost visibility. He didn't know which way was up or which was down. His plane spun out of control and reached such velocity his speedo rocketed into the red, way over its maximum reading of 120 knots (222km an hour). His perspex windscreen began caving in. "I thought it was all over," Smith remembers. Public service departments around Canberra remained in a state of shock on Thursday as they tried to come to terms with the tragic deaths of three of their own. The three public servants, Luke Dorsett, his sister Kate Goodchild and partner Roozbeh (Roozi) Araghi, all died in Tuesday's horror accident at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast. Shayne Dorsett said the unfairness of the deaths of his son Luke Dorsett and Luke's partner Roozi Araghi in the Dreamworld accident cannot be overstated. He regarded Roozi as another son. Credit:Melissa Adams Workers at the the Department of Human Services, where Mr Dorsett and his Ms Goodchild worked and at the Australian Bureau of Statistic where Mr Araghi was on secondment remained "shattered" on Thursday by the tragic deaths of their colleagues. Mr Araghi's "home department", Health, has established a virtual wall of remembrance on its intranet for colleagues to share photos and memories of their co-worker. The September 11 terrorist attack has been described as "delicious" in an edit made to a Wikipedia page linked to the Queensland Treasury's computer network. It is just one of dozens of unsavoury, offensive and political edits to the online encyclopaedia that appear to have been made anonymously by public servants and political staffers. Unsavoury anonymous edits made to Wikipedia have been linked to Queensland government networks, using the WikiWatchdog website. Credit:AP The changes were discovered using the WikiWatchdog website, which tracks anonymous edits made to Wikipedia and logs the internet protocol (IP) address the changes were made from. Dreamworld has hit back at criticism from the union representing its workers in the wake of a tragic ride malfunction that killed four visitors. After initially refusing to respond to claims that the union had raised concerns about the operation of other attractions for 18 months, the theme park on Thursday questioned the "nature and timing" of the comments. In a two-page statement, a spokeswoman for the Gold Coast operator detailed several safety measures in place, defended its safety policies and procedures and promised to work closely with investigators. Dreamworld said all its procedures and systems were benchmarked against international best practice, with rides and slides checked daily before opening. Dreamworld faced almost $2 million in lawsuits in the years leading up to the rapids ride tragedy, with former park workers among those airing safety concerns. Court documents revealed the Gold Coast theme park, under pressure after the shock accident claimed four lives this week, faced more than half a dozen lawsuits since 2010. In a claim filed last year, one former staffer suing for $400,000 claimed he hurt his back moving a "motor coaster" that park operators had known was defective for two weeks. In 2011, a visitor sued the park's operator, Ardent Leisure, for $750,000 over claims it was at fault for the dislocated shoulder he suffered in a 2008 accident on the FlowRider surf simulator, resulting in long term injury. "This has a lot to do with social norms changing and better available information for young people who are questioning their gender," he said. "Unfortunately, many young people who access Jelly Beans still face social exclusion and prejudices which puts them at a higher risk of poor mental health, homelessness and a higher risk of suicide. "It would be heartbreaking if we are no longer able to offer a service designed specifically to meet the urgent support needs of transgender young people." Mr Shandiman said Jelly Beans helped teenagers going through a major change in their life to navigate issues with their family, deal with mental health issues and provide referrals to other services. He said with the service at capacity, the only options were to either secure ongoing funding or close Jelly Beans. "Open Doors relies heavily on volunteers, but the majority of our work requires qualified social workers to assist clients," he said. Open Doors general manager Pam Barker said the service was unable to cope with growing demand and increasingly unable to meet the specific and complex needs of transgender young people. "Therefore we will be forced to close the service, unless ongoing funding can be sourced," she said. There will be efforts made to "absorb" clients into other funded programs, but some clients will be left without support. Mr Shandiman said there were other youth services in Queensland, but Jelly Beans was the only specific program for transgender young people in the state. "At the end of the day, we've got people who need us that we will have to turn away," he said. State member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace said she did not want to see Jelly Beans shut its doors. "Because it provides an invaluable service in my electorate by giving social support to young transgender people and young people questioning their gender identity," Ms Grace said. "I've met with management to assure them that we'll do everything we can as a government to help." Ms Grace said the Department of Communities would meet with Open Doors soon to discuss what funding might be available. "I look forward to being advised of the outcome of this meeting," she said. Federal member for Brisbane Trevor Evans, who is due to meet with Open Doors again next week, said he was a strong advocate of Open Doors and many Brisbane LGBTI support services, focusing on Brisbane's trans and intersex communities. "I have been speaking with the federal Health Minister Sussan Ley and other ministers about finding new funding to fill the program's shortfall, which provides valuable services to the community," he said. "Minister Ley's office has been extremely helpful in identifying options for funding and I'll keep working hard to try and secure the right outcome for Open Doors." Mr Evans said he had held meetings with Open Doors previously and was looking forward to the next meeting. Ingram, 19, a Jelly Beans client, has written a letter describing the group as a place where they belonged. "I've found people like me and I feel like it's my family," Igram writes. "The staff keeps us all safe. I can speak my mind, explore and express myself. "This gives me the confidence to transition and speak up on trans issues. "Without funding, young trans people won't be able to connect with their community and won't be able to (have) the happiness I have. I worry that the next generation will be left in the dark." Open Doors receives $220,000 each year from the federal government to fund its Reconnect program, which assists LGBT people aged 12 to 18 who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, and their families. Queensland Greens spokeswoman Kirsten Lovejoy said the closure of Jelly Beans would likely increase the risk of suicide among transgender youth. "Jelly Beans has been running on the smell of an oily rag for years now and it's time that its value is recognised more formally with funding to match," she said. Open Doors is also running a drive to save Jelly Beans for people interested in donating or holding a workplace morning tea. Visit givenow.com.au/saveourjellybean East Timor's former prime minister and president Dr Jose Ramos-Horta has appealed to Australia's sense of a "fair go", asking for a sea boundary to be changed to share $40 billion in oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea. Dr Ramos-Horta made the comments while in Brisbane for his keynote address to the two-day Age of Insecurities conference, organised by Griffith University to focus attention on human displacement, terrorism, refugee issues and problems facing emerging nations. Sharing oil and gas reserves in Timor Sea with East Timor would only make Australia greater, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta said in Brisbane. Credit:Tony Moore "Show your greatness, your traditional fairness and agree to the equi-distance," Dr Ramos-Horta said. "And do not agree in a grudging way. Proposed laws to remove abortion from the Queensland Criminal Code could breach the constitution, a lawyer has argued. The Health (Abortion Law Reform) Amendment Bill 2016 would penalise people for "prohibited behaviour" which would include a protest, by any means, during declared times or 7am to 6pm if not declared relating to the performance of abortions in the facility. Aspects of a bill to decriminalise abortion could breach the constitution, an expert says. Constitutional law professor Nicholas Aroney, from the University of Queensland, said banning protests about abortion near abortion facilities was "almost certainly unconstitutional". "It contravenes the implied freedom of political communication," Professor Aroney said. The mayor of Rockhampton has personally apologised to Malcolm Turnbull after the local paper depicted the prime minister as a clown ahead of his visit to the region. Thursday's The Morning Bulletin carries the headline "Stop Clowning Around Malcolm" and says it's time the prime minister got serious about giving Central Queensland a fair go. The homepage of the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin shows Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in an unflattering light. The paper says regional Australia is facing desperate times, and noted a number of reasons why Pauline Hanson's One Nation party is surging in the polls in the area. AAP "No, you can't do it." Special needs kids hear this a lot. But a Flagstaff theater program in its second year is working to change that by telling all kids, "Yes, you can do it." The Stage Buddies program will present "The Jungle Book" in three shows this weekend. Stage Buddies pairs special needs actors with a buddy to assist them in putting on the show. Following the success of last year's production of "Alice in Wonderland," Stage Buddies is back with a bigger cast and another classic family show. This year's show has a cast of 23 youth with eight buddy pairs. Youth are also managing all of the light and sound for the show. Viola Award-winner Areya Kugler, a junior at Coconino High School, will again direct the performance. Adapted from Disney's beloved animated film and the works of Rudyard Kipling, "The Jungle Book" tells the story of Mowgli. Banished by the ferocious tiger Shere Khan, a human boy named Mowgli and his panther friend Bagheera are on the run in the deepest parts of the jungle. During their journey, the two meet a sinister snake named Kaa, a herd of elephants and a giant bear named Baloo, who teaches them the musical rhythms of the jungle. After surviving a dangerous encounter with a band of monkeys led by King Louie, Mowgli and Bagheera are forced to run for their lives. When Shere Khan returns, our heroes must rally their fellow animals into battle and restore peace throughout the jungle. There are three performances: Friday at 7 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The show will be performed at the Doris Harper-White (Theatrikos) Playhouse, 11 W. Cherry Ave. Tickets are $10 and are available by calling 774-1662 or going to theatrikos.secure.force.com/ticket. Face your fears with "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil" Get in the Halloween spirit with this weekend's performances of "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil: Dances for Halloween." Presented by Canyon Movement Company with guests Velocity Dance Company, shows will be Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., at the Coconino High School mini-auditorium. The performance will include dances created by individual choreographers with story-telling woven into the dances, recounting nightmares and the demons within us. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for children/students and $1 off if you wear a costume. For more information, call 774-3937 or visit canyonmovementcompany.org. Border acts as artistic, musical inspiration Mexican composer-sculptor Guillermo Galindo creates musical instruments out of objects found in the borderlands. He will present a free lecture-performance titled Sonic Border today at 7 p.m. in NAU's Ashurst Hall as part of the 2016-2017 Horizons Concert Series. From Border Patrol bullet casings and drag tires to migrants toothbrushes, ladders and sections of the border wall itself, Galindo creates instruments to illustrate the border as a composition of interacting sounds and experiences. In addition to performing an original composition, Galindo will demonstrate and explain his project. In addition, Galindo will be signing copies of his book, "Border Cantos," with photographs by Richard Misrach. The book contains a compilation of two dozen sculpture-instruments, graphic scores, instrument designs and links to videos of performances by Galindo. This event is free but requires a ticket. For tickets, call 523-5661 or visit nau.edu/cto. For more information, visit nau.edu/music/horizons. Free guest parking in Lots P3, P4, Knoles and P8 is provided by the College of Arts and Letters. Visit nau.edu/maps for directions. Daniel Andrews reckons Steve Herbert's decision to repeatedly use his driver to chauffeur his two dogs 120km to his country house is different to the case of Geoff Shaw. Shaw, remember, got into serious strife for using his Ford Territory to ferry goods for his hardware business. In Opposition, Labor exploited the issue mercilessly, repeatedly demanding that the "rorting" member for Frankston be sacked. Several years on, Andrews claims the comparison with Shaw is not valid. Why? Because Shaw used his vehicle for personal profit and did not apologise. Whether or not Herbert financially "profited" by ferrying his dogs around in a chauffeur-driven car misses the point. He may not have made any money out of it, but he still derived a personal benefit at taxpayers' expense. The six double season passes to the Jewish International Film Festival in Melbourne (see 7.12am post) have been snapped up. Congratulations to the winning Melbourne Express readers. Enjoy the films. The "cowboy" developers who illegally knocked down Carlton's Corkman Irish Pub have apologised for their demolition of the 159-year-old hotel, and have said they will rebuild it. They have also hired well-connected Labor lobbyists and spin doctors to help them negotiate with the Andrews government. Late on Thursday afternoon, Raman Shaqiri and Stefce Kutlesovski sent a letter to Planning Minister Richard Wynne saying they were sorry for knocking down the historic pub without warning. "We want to make absolutely clear that we will rebuild the building at our expense," the pair said in their letter, which was given to The Age by Labor-linked lobbyist Erik Locke and former Labor lord mayoral candidate Will Fowles, whose firm Piper Communications is also working for them. The son-in-law of an elderly Perth couple left without power to their home overnight has lashed out at Western Power over its "lack of compassion". Neil Stone's parents-in-law, Joe and Hazel Johnson, 87, were on Wednesday night left in the dark by the state power provider after its contractors came to conduct a routine replacement of the Dianella couple's meter box. Western Power have come under fire for leaving the elderly couple powerless. Workers removed the old meter box, and discovered dangerous wiring into the house which, by law, required them to disconnect power to the property until it is fixed by the owner. Mr Stone told Radio 6PR on Thursday the elderly couple were "upset" and "not sure what to do" after the contractor left, leaving the power disconnected. Jakarta: Supporters of Byron Bay woman Sara Connor are calling for those who know her to write a character reference ahead of her trial over the alleged murder of a Bali police officer. The Denpasar District Court websites states the separate trials for Connor and her British DJ boyfriend David Taylor will begin on November 9. The couple both face charges of unpremeditated murder, group attack or assault leading to death, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years. "It is important that the court in Bali know what a wonderful woman Sara really is," her supporters said in a statement on the website thesarafund.com Washington: Get a good idea and someone always wants to blab even when it's a nasty one. And so it is with Republican Donald Trump's presidential campaign which, in acknowledging that he can't garner enough votes to win, has embarked on a sophisticated, individually-targeted social media campaign to drag Hillary Clinton's vote down to his level. "We have three major voter suppression operations underway," a Trump campaign official says of the plan, hatched at Trump's data centre in San Antonio, Texas, to discourage key Clinton demographics from voting young white liberals, young women and African Americans. The project was devised once Trump's limited in-house polling confirmed the trend in national polls he's losing. Published polls show Clinton generally hovering above a floor at about the 48 per cent mark; and Trump continues to bump against a ceiling at around 44 per cent. Flagstaff anesthesiologist Dr. Gary Christensen will spend 3.5 years behind bars and pay more than $1.5 million for tax evasion. U.S. District Court Judge David G. Campbell in Phoenix sentenced Christensen Tuesday to 42 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Christensen must also pay approximately $1.6 million in restitution to the U.S. government. Christensen was indicted in 2014 for concealing approximately $2.1 million in income from the Internal Revenue Service and failing to pay more than $500,000 in federal income taxes. A U.S. District Court jury in Phoenix convicted Christensen in May on seven counts of willful evasion of tax assessment for 2004 through 2010, as well as two counts of willful failure to file a tax return for 2009 and 2010. The accurate reporting of income is an important responsibility of all business professionals, said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. in a press release. In this case, Dr. Christensen instead used shell entities to attempt to conceal over $2 million dollars of income. IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to serve the American taxpayer by investigating individuals who hide their true income from the IRS. Christensen helped found Forest Country Anesthesia in Flagstaff in 1988. According to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court, Christensen used his positions as director and treasurer at Forest Country Anesthesia to make sure his income from the practice was not reported to the IRS. Court documents showed he arranged to have his paychecks either given to him in cash or directed to a phony health club called GSC 00 Club an account that listed Christensen as the only authorized signor. He admitted at trial that GSC 00 Club existed solely on paper. Christensen did continue to file individual and corporate tax returns, reporting income from investments and other business ventures, but falsely reporting that he had made no income from his job at Forest Country Anesthesia. The prison sentence Christensen received Tuesday was less than the five years U.S. Attorney for Arizona John S. Leonardo requested in an Oct. 19 court filing. (The) defendant still insists that he is not subject to income taxes, and it appears that he may be hiding assets to avoid collection, according to the filing. A significant term of incarceration is necessary to reflect the seriousness of (the) defendants offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment and afford adequate deterrence. The U.S. Attorneys Office also wanted Christensen to have to repay the IRS with interest, which would have brought the amount he owed up to approximately $2.6 million. Instead, the judge will only require him to pay the taxes he owes. Defense attorney, Marc J. Victor, had asked the judge to give Christensen only probation, rather than prison time, according to an Oct. 14 court filing. Victor highlighted Christensens long career as a doctor in Flagstaff and his involvement with charitable organizations in the community. Forest Country Anesthesia cut all ties with Christensen soon after his indictment in 2014. Christensen also served on the board of directors for Northern Arizona Healthcare and Flagstaff Medical Center prior to his indictment. Both boards approved his requests for a leave of absence in 2014. Latest News Reserve Bank decides on interest rates How November call will affect borrowers Property investors abandon Queensland market Government laws threaten investor control, says industry body National Australia Bank ( NAB ) has released its full year results for 2016 with the annual report containing some positive signs for the big four player.In the year prior to September 2016, the bank recruited 379 brokers across its three aggregators (PLAN, Choice and FAST ). This is a 10% increase with the total number of brokers now at 4,299.Volume of housing lending through brokers and other channels was laid out in the graph below:House lending volumes via the broker channel increased from $83.5 billion in September 2015 to $88.5 billion in September this year. Additionally, drawdowns attributed to brokers also went up during this period, rising from 32.6% to 34.4%.Describing its mortgage lending practices, NAB said all brokers were subject to licencing and accreditation requirements. The bank also monitored its brokers through triggers such as delinquency requirements. Finally, all broker applications are assessed centrally through verification and credit decisioning.Looking at the NAB loan book, 77.5% of balances were variable rates, 13.2% fixed rates and 9.3% lines of credit as of September 2016. Of these loans, 31.9% were interest only, 57.7% were owner-occupied and 42.3% were for investment.Breaking down the LVR into suitable bands, the profile for NAB is as follows: Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Book em! New York book lovers gobbled up fine hors doeuvres and boogied to fresh tunes at the Park Slope branch of the Brooklyn Public Library on Oct. 21, where two authors were awarded the Brooklyn Eagles Literary Prize for distinguished works of fiction and non-fiction. Author Mary E. Buser gasped as she was announced the recipient of this years prize in the non-fiction category for Lockdown on Rikers, a first-person account of her time spent as a mental health professional at the notorious jail complex. Im speechless. I cant believe that Im in this magnificent library, accepting an award that is so special, Buser said. The library would also award novelist Idra Novey for her tale Ways to Disappear, a fictional account of an American interpreters efforts to solve the disappearance of a Brazilian writer. An avid Park Slope Library patron, Novey was doubly honored to be receiving the prize at her home away from home, she said. Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixs on@cn gloca l.com or by calling (718) 260-4505. Put the finishing touches on your costume, it's time to celebrate Halloween! If you're looking for something to do, here are a few suggestions with options for all ages: Flagstaff Haunted Walking Tour: Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Flagstaff Visitor Center, 1 E. Route 66. Meet Johnny Anaya, licensed tour guide and local historian, for downtown haunted walking tours. 853-0792. $10. Freaky Flagstaff Foot Tours: Friday and Saturday, 8-9 p.m. Local historical walking tours with a haunted twist. Adults $12, students and military $10, children $7. 224-0518. freakyflagstafffoottours.com/. Howly Growly Owly Festival: Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Bearizona Wildlife Park, 1500 E. Route 66, Williams. Visitors are encouraged to dress up in costume. Those who dare can walk through our Growly bear cave (G-Rated) or our spooky haunted mine shaft (PG-13 Rated) and catch an Owly Raptor Show. More festivities taking place in the city of Williams during Alpine Harvest Festival, www.alpineharvestfestival.com. 635-2289. $20 adults $10 kids (Age 4-12). bearizona.com. Zombie Community Blood Drive and Fundraiser: Today and Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Donors can get temporary tattoos, zombie makeovers and other zombie treats. Food, drinks and other giveaways. There will also be a Hand Drop Fundraiser with cash prizes. Proceeds to benefit the Flagstaff Family Food Center. For more fundraiser information, contact Cathy Flores at 607-4601. NAU Hunted House - A Haunting at Knole's Manor: Today, Friday and Saturday, 8-11 p.m. The NAU Union Extension. The haunted house follows the story of a family living in Flagstaff in the early 1900s. The family faces a tragedy when the patriarch of the family dies in a terrible mill accident. The young widow takes out her grief on her son and the unsuspecting community members who are attending a wake for her deceased husband at the family's home. 523-2941. Free. Teens and older. Halloween at Lowell Observatory: Friday and Saturday, 5-10 p.m. Lowell Observatory, 1400 W. Mars Hill Road. Freaky Physics shows featuring spooky science demonstrations and experiments. Scary Astronomy presentations highlighting the mind-bending aspects of astronomy. Haunted observatory tours and telescope viewing. 233-3280. Lowell.edu. See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil: dances for Halloween: Friday and Saturday, 7:30-9 p.m. Coconino High School mini auditorium, 2801 N. Izabel St. Dances, poems and stories about things that scare us from Canyon Movement Company. 774-3937. $10/$6. canyonmovementcompany.org. Pumpkin Patch Festival: Daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Historic Hitchin' Post Stables, 4848 Lake Mary Road. Includes horse drawn hay rides, pumpkin patch picking, a hay maze, a petting zoo, a fun house, games and food. Admission ($12, free for kids ages 2 and younger) includes: hay rides, petting zoo, carnival games, photo head boards for pictures and hay maze. Extra fee for: pumpkins, trail rides, fun house and food. 774-1719. Rocky Horror Picture Show: Friday, 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen Ave. $9. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. The film introduces Tim Curry and features Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. Halloween Party: Friday, 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. The Green Room, 15 N. Agassiz St. Live circus performances, dance music, adult Halloween themed games, sexiest and scariest costume contest. facebook.com/events/1815934385353361/. Riordan Mansion Halloween Tours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 7-10 p.m. Tour through this beautiful historic house and hear tales of the fantastic and the factual. The tours are recommended for ages 12 and older. Tours begin on the hour at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. $12 advance ticket purchase is required. Call 779-4395 for reservations. Dowelloween Dash: Saturday, 9 a.m. Buffalo Park, 2400 N. Gemini Dr. Family fun 1 mile and 5k run for all ages. Come run in you costume. $20/child $30/adult. All proceeds go to the Poore clinic, Flagstaff's free clinic. Register at alandowelldds.com. Flagstaff City Scramble: Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Weatherford Hotel, 23 N. Leroux St. A scavenger hunt in the heart of Flagstaff. Join the fun as teams (2-4 persons per team) solve clues and find landmarks in downtown Flagstaff and NAU. Prizes for fastest team and best team costumes. Proceeds benefit the Artists' Coalition of Flagstaff. Register at http://flagstaff-arts.org. $15 per entrant. Annual Halloween Party: Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. American Legion, 204 W. Birch Ave. Lunch, games, prizes and Halloween bags. Costume contest for ages 4 months to 12 years. Four age divisions. Open to the public. Free. Halloween Trick or Treating: Saturday, noon-4. Warners Nursery, 1101 E. Butler Ave. Have your little ones trick or treat around the nursery from Noon to 4 pm. Crafts and games. Costume contest with prizes. Pumpkins for sale and pumpkin carving or painting stations. 774-1983. warnersnursery.com. Run for Your Life Haunted Trail: Saturday, 5 p.m. Fort Tuthill County Park. As Halloween draws near, the ghosts and ghouls are making their annual visit to the forests of Ft. Tuthill. The Mogollon Monster has come to reclaim the forest, and fears neither the living nor the dead. Walk if you dare, or run for your life! Costumes encouraged! Online registration: https://register.chronotrack.com/r/23556. $20, students $15, kids dash $5. 9th Annual Trick-or-Trunk: Saturday, 5-7 p.m. Shepherd of The Hills Church, 1601 N. San Francisco St. Twenty-five cars will be participating in the annual Trick-or-Trunk along with free food of walking tacos, cupcakes, and drinks. Halloween Kids Night Out: Saturday, 6-10 p.m. Summit Gymnastics & Children's Activity Center, 1926 N. Fourth St. Drop your kids off for a night of Halloween fun; for kids 4-12 years old. Come in your Halloween costumes for games, maze, trick or treating, costume contest and more. $20 for pre registration, $25 at the door. 526-0644. In a Dark, Dark Library - An After-Hours Halloween Adventure: Saturday, 6:30-8 p.m. Flagstaff Public Library - Downtown, 300 W. Aspen. Join library staff after the library has closed for some spooky stories, Halloween games and a little ghost-hunting. Ages 8-12 only. Registration required. 606-9276. flagstaffpubliclibrary.org. A Nightmare on Aspen Street 3: Saturday, 8 p.m. Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen Ave. Circus Bacchus' annual dirty, gritty, sexy, dark and scary show featuring aerials, acrobatics, juggling, murder, burlesque, contortion, partially decomposed clowns and more. Come in costume. $15.50. Haunted Theater: Sunday, 2 p.m. Doris-Harper White Community Playhouse, 11 W. Cherry Ave. Guides will lead tours through the theater detailing the locations and personalities of its ghostly residents. There will also be many visiting ghosts, ghouls and zombies popping in for a visit. Tours begin at 2 p.m. and continue every 10 minutes. Final tour is at 5:30 p.m. $5; come in costume and receive $1 off your admission. Fund-raiser for TheatriKids. Stories to Life: Stranger Things Have Happened: Sunday, 4 p.m. Coconino Center for the Arts, 2300 N. Fort Valley Road. Spoken word artists will perform scary stories and musicians Tony Norris and Bill Burke will play spooky music. Readings from Major Arandas Hand by Alfonso Reyes, the Open Window by Saki, and Roald Dahls Witches will be featured. For ages 8 and older. Free. 779-2300. flagartscouncil.org. "Bloody Border" Film Screening: Sunday, 8 p.m. Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen Ave. What do you get when you mix two hit-men brothers, their cocky protege, a couple of injured illegal immigrants, border patrol agents and a few colorful townsfolk in the small border town of Bisbee, whose water supply has been contaminated with MDPV otherwise known as 'bath salts'? A wild night of chases, gun fights, zombies and heated arguments touching on the controversial issue, AZ's SB1070. $5. Halloween Harvest: Monday, 4-7 p.m. Heritage Square, downtown on Aspen between Leroux and San Francisco. The City of Flagstaff Recreation Services is hosting the annual festival. Festivities will include creepy carnival games, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch, and spooky music. Little ghouls should bring their Halloween bags and visit local businesses for candy on our Downtown Trick or Treat Trail. All children's activities are free. There is plenty of parking at City Hall, Wheeler Park and the Phoenix parking lot. 213-2300. flagstaff.az.gov/recreation. Halloween Carnival: Monday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. The Peaks Senior Living Community, 3150 N. Winding Brook Road. Games, prizes, scary movies, refreshments, and of course trick-or-treating. All ages welcome. Free. 864-5139. Disney Trick-or-Treat Trail: Monday, 4-6 p.m. The Summit Center, 1485 N. Turquoise Dr. Explore Disney storylands and visit with some of Disney's favorite characters. Come dressed in costume and trick-or-treat indoors where it's safe and warm. 226-2936. Free. Halloween Trick or Treating: Monday, 4-6 p.m. Warners Nursery, 1101 E. Butler Ave. Have your little ones trick or treat around the nursery. Crafts and games. Costume contest with prizes. Pumpkins for sale and pumpkin carving or painting stations. 774-1983. warnersnursery.com. Fall Celebration: Monday, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Foresight Learning Center, 8245 Koch Field Road. We will play games, make a spooky art project, and enjoy some yummy treats. Costumes must be friendly in nature. RSVP at 527-8337. foresightlearningcenter.com. Horizons Concert Series - "Faust I": Monday, 7:30-9 p.m. Ashurst Auditorium, 624 S Knoles Dr., NAU campus. Jeffrey Swann will perform solo-piano music inspired by the disillusioned scholar Faust and his unholy pact with Mephistopheles. 523-5661. $20 adults, $12.50 seniors and NAU employees, free for children and NAU students with ID. nau.edu/cal/music/events/. Masquerade Bash: Monday, 9 p.m. Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen Ave. Halloween party with Captain Squeegee. $5. NOTE: Over the weekend and especially on Monday, please drive carefully and be on the lookout for stray witches and goblins, and probably a few Elsas. On the one hand, Criminal Minds gets to stay close to home in season 12 episode 4. On the other hand, theyre looking for a serial killer whose hunting ground is the Appalachian Trail, and theyve already had a case in the area (season 6 episode 9 Into the Woods) in which they never caught the UnSub. You dont really want to kick off a case by remembering one where the killer got away. Keeper also begins with Reid getting some good news about his mother, but things go downhill from there, unfortunately. But in happier news, Luke brings Roxy, his dog, to work with him, and I really want to see more of Roxy. Kicking Ass and Taking Names: 8 Strong and Inspirational Women on TV Right Now>>> Oh, and Hotch is still on TDY (temporary duty) and available to consult if needed, so we have no idea how theyre planning to write him out, but temporary duty has to end sometime or lead to a job change, right? In the meantime, it seems like Rossi has taken over as team leader without that really being addressed, which makes sense, given his seniority. Plus, Garcia finds out that Lukes Roxy is his dog, and he explains that he knew she didnt want to like him at first, so he made it easier on her. I like that they didnt draw that out, and Garcia really stands no chance once she meets Roxy. If Youre Going to Go Hiking, Be Smart, Safe and Avoid Body Parts A trooper investigating a homeless man who has been stealing dog food from a shop along the trail probably regrets looking into it once he finds the mans camp because theres a bag dripping with blood. I dont think he needed to look in the bag to know there were body parts inside. But theyre not the only body parts the man has on him; hes throwing ones from his backpack along the trail as he runs through the woods. Upon receiving the case, the team immediately begins to speculate as to why the man had these body parts. Trophies? Forensic countermeasure? Found the bodies and is collecting the limbs? The preliminary ME reports says that the body parts are from at least five different victims. But is this man the UnSub? Keeper clearly wants the audience to think so, since we see him standing over a man who is tied up and has a muzzle on and later shows him standing over the dead body, muzzle off, holding an axe, but Im not so sure. They find a muzzle among the homeless mans belongings, and they know what he looks like (thanks to security footage of him in the shop) stealing the dog food. Why didnt he take anything to eat for himself? J.J.s brain immediately goes to the bag of body parts. The ME reports that four of the victims were men between 40-50, while the sole female victim was in her early to mid 20s. That suggests hes only looking for victims of opportunity. One of the male victims was killed almost a year and a half ago, while the other three were killed eight months, five months and two months ago. The female victim was the most recent, killed a week ago. The rate of his kills is accelerating. Luke arrives at the Trail with the search dogs, and they find the mans backpack (with the initials KF on it) as well as more remains in the woods. Throwing away the body parts, which they assume the UnSub collects like trophies, suggests he knows where to get more. Abducting, killing and disposing of this many victims suggests a level of skill and sophistication that the man in the video doesnt seem to have, so does he have periods of intense focus? Working with someone else would mean being able to plan and coordinate, and again, thats not what theyve seen with this man. Maybe he did stumble upon a mass burial ground and just took body parts? Garcia finds a text from a Kylie Fleming (hence the KF on the backpack) to her parents saying that she accidentally saw something creepy on the trail and was going to get off it as soon as she could. That suggests that their initial assumption that the UnSub was taking victims of opportunity is incorrect; he does have a victim selection preference, and he only killed Kylie because she was a witness. While the police may have cleared the area of other hikers, Prentiss knows that wont stop the UnSub. Hell just look for his victims elsewhere. Thats exactly what he does, taking his next victim as hes getting into a car while picking up dinner for his family. And the Real UnSub Is While following a possible trail the UnSub took to head into town, Tara finds a plate with dog food (and the can) and is tackled by the homeless man. She manages to kick him off, then Luke punches him and cuffs him. But wheres the latest victim? Hes tied up and muzzled in a barn. All Tara manages to get out of the homeless man in interrogation is that his name is Todd and he was stealing the dog food to lure his lost dog back. Hes fixated on the dog, as Prentiss soon learns when she tries to talk to him. Dogs cant take care of themselves, he tells her. They need food and water, and he wants them to let him go. Whats his dogs name? Cormac, Todd says, but he didnt name him. Its always been his name. He was small at first, then big and hes younger than Todd. The missing victim is Howard Walker, pretty far from where Luke and Tara found Todd without a vehicle. DNA from the muzzle matches one of the original five victims, suggesting the UnSub makes his victims wear it, a way of dehumanizing them; its easier to kill an animal than a human. Criminal Minds: 5 Ways Taboo Showed That Bringing Prentiss Back Was the Right Move>>> Luke brings Roxy in to see if that can help with Todd since hes looking for a dog, but Todd insists shes not Cormac. When Roxy goes up to him, however, he pointedly looks away. He clearly doesnt want the dog near him, as the profilers note. Luke bets that they wont find canine DNA on the leash they found with his stuff. Even though the dog may be a delusion, Prentiss still thinks Cormac is real, possibly a younger brother, based on how Todd talks about him. And Prentiss is right. Todd and Cormac Burton lived out in the boonies, and while no ones there now, there is a stockpile of canned food and bottled water. Todd could have holed up there. As Garcia discovers upon digging, their mother drank herself to death, and their father beat her and both boys and died of a heart attack a year ago. Todd stayed in the area, lived on the streets and did drugs, while Cormac, once he turned 18, moved to the other side of the state and kept to himself, working at a store. When their father died, Cormac returned to the area and then disappeared, last seen 14 months ago. Its a classic case of transference: Cormac the dog and Cormac the brother. They think that Cormac may have been Todds first victim (though considering how early in the episode they have Todd in custody and Howard still missing, Im thinking Cormacs actually the UnSub), since he disappeared around the time that the first victim was killed. They think that Cormac moving back to town was Todds trigger, but why keep killing after Cormac was dead? Meanwhile, poor Howard is still tied up in the barn, but he does manage to get the muzzle off his face. Unfortunately, it doesnt seem like anyones going to hear him yelling for help. Prentiss tries to talk to Todd since he seems as clear-headed as hes been, but Todd doesnt want to talk about Cormac anymore. When she takes the muzzle they found with his belongings out, Todd remembers his father putting them in the back of his truck and holding a muzzle. If they acted like animals, he was going to treat them like animals. He made them live like pigs, Todd reveals to Prentiss. He put muzzles on them and forced them to stay with the pigs until the slaughter, until he killed them. As for the dog, it was his brothers, but his father took it from him and made Todd accompany him when he let it out into the woods. Cormac was different after that, like something broke in his head. (Oh, its clear where this is going.) Meanwhile, Rossi and Tara find out that Todd moved to the same area that his brother did because he couldnt give up his role as his protector. That includes protecting him once he realized he was killing people. Cormac is the UnSub, and Todd cut up the bodies to hide the evidence. He failed his brother in childhood, but he wasnt going to fail him again. Cormac is also with Howard, telling him that its almost time for the slaughter. Fortunately for the BAU, the boys fathers cousin owned a farm where he raised and sold pigs, so they know exactly where to find Cormac, and just in time too, since they arrive when he has a blade to Howards throat, placing him in the role of his father. Know what they say about a cornered animal, Cormac asks when J.J. and Luke burst in. He gives up. Cormac surrenders. Prentiss then tells Todd that they found Cormac and hes safe and happy. You saved his life, she says. Hes safe because of you, because of the food he left out. Its exactly what Todd needs to hear. Kirsten Vangsness Gives Criminal Minds Set Tour, Still Not Over Morgans Exit>>> Good News and Then Bad News for Reid and His Mother Before getting the case, Rossi finds Reid celebrating at his desk. The director of the assisted care home where his mother lives told him that shes going to be a participant in a groundbreaking clinical study on Alzheimers, Metabolic Enhancement for Neurodegeneration. Results from earlier testing are hopefully, not just to slow the disease, but to actually reverse it. This is better news than winning the lottery. So of course its too much to hope that it lasts. During the case, Reid receives a call from the Las Vegas police because his mother was found wandering around a casino near the assisted care home, and she didnt know who she was or how she got there. He spoke to her on the phone and she sounded normal, but embarrassed by all the fuss, he tells Rossi and J.J., who assure him that theyll be fine without him and he can go spend time with his mother. But just as hes leaving work and planning to head to Vegas the next day, he gets another call. His mother was one of the ones randomly cut from the clinical trial due to budget constraints. Rather than go and see her, Reid wants to stay and try to find her something else. However, Rossi advises him to not lose sight of the bigger picture. He only has a finite amount of time left with his mother, and he shouldnt waste that by being focused on trying to find a fix. The best medicine he can give his mother is being with her. After Rossi leaves, Reid calls a doctor about another clinical study. Did you guess that Todd wasnt the UnSub? What did you think of Roxy? What do you think is going to happen with Reids mother? Criminal Minds season 12 airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on CBS. Want more news? Like our Facebook page. (Image courtesy of CBS) On this episode of Frequency, Bleed Over, Raimy and Frank both question the daughter of a missing woman believed to be one of the Nightingales victims, Raimys investigation of a missing person leads her to a detective with whom she has a personal connection and Julie continues to dismiss Franks warnings. Frank catches another possible break in the Nightingale case. A missing woman, Carmen Salinas, went missing in July of 1996. Her daughter Eva, witnessed the abduction. Police questioned the young girl, but all she said was that a man took her mommy. The cops investigated the husband, but he came up clean. Frank thinks it may be worth a shot talking to Eva again. Satch doesnt hold out hope that Frank will uncover anything new but gives him the okay to try. Frank Finds a Witness In order to get to Eva, Frank has to go through her dad, Marco. Frank explains that after four months, Eva may have remembered something new, but Marco is very protective of his daughter. Theyve had a rough time since Carmens disappearance and, finally, Eva seems to be coming to terms with her mother being gone. Marco doesnt want to do anything to jeopardize what little progress shes made by dragging her through it all again so soon. Being a dad to a young girl himself, Frank is sympathetic and gives Marco his card just in case Eva says anything. Frequency Recap: Raimy and Frank Try to Take Down Thomas Goff>>> Raimy looks up Eva in 2016 and learns that she wrote a book about the Nightingale killings that came out four months ago. Someone on the task force read it, but the book didnt offer much in the way of insight. Eva focused on the victims stories and different theories. Frank encourages Raimy to speak to Eva, but because the Nightingales next victim disappears in nine days in 1996, thats where she thinks they should focus their attention. Frank knows its a longshot, but maybe it stops them before the killer gets his next victim. Raimy heads to Brooklyn and learns from Evas landlord that the young woman has been missing for three days. Raimy tracks down the officer handling the case and introduces herself much to his bemusement. Raimy has a flashback and realizes that she hooked up with the detective, Kyle, some time ago. Raimy pushes past any discussions about their encounter and questions why Kyle wouldnt notify the Nightingale task force about Evas disappearance. Kyle didnt believe it to be pertinent information since Carmens body was never found, and she was never confirmed as one of the Nightingales victims. Also, Eva isnt a nurse. But Kyle says that if Raimy wants the case, she can have it. Raimy wants to question Marcos and thinks it would be a good idea if Kyle came along as long as they can put their past dalliance on the back burner. Frank Uses Raimy Frank isnt quite done with Marco himself. He feels for the guy and stops by to invite Eva and Marcos do go to the park with him. Frank introduces Marcos to Julie, and after a few awkward moments, Julie leaves for work. Marco asks how long Frank and Julie have been separated, and Frank tells him its still new. It turns out Frank and Marco have a lot in common. In addition to both of the men being born and raised in Queens, Marco and Carmen were having marital problems before her disappearance. Frank is curious what Raimy and Eva talked about at the park. He senses his daughter is holding back, and she admits Eva confided in her, and she promised not to tell. Frank presses, and Raimy reveals that Eva saw the face of the man who took her mom. Frank goes to see Marco, telling him what Eva said to Raimy. Eva denies everything. Marco thinks Frank is a good guy, and he wants to believe that Frank didnt set up the playdate to further his investigation, but we all know he did, and so does Marco. History Repeating In the present, Raimy is trying to retrace Evas last steps. Marco tells her the last time they spoke, his daughter was going for a run, and they were supposed to have dinner after. Eva never showed. Marco and his wife went to Evas apartment where they found her purse, phone and keys. Thats when they called the police. Eva has disappeared before. Five years ago, Eva took a surprise trip to Thailand, following her fathers remarriage. Two years ago, she turned off her phone and holed up in a hotel room. Last year, when Eva was writing the book, there was a suicide attempt. After her mothers disappearance, Eva never really got her life together. Marco says that its always been hard for Eva to trust people. Raimy questions if Eva trusts Marco. Daughters dont always tell their dads everything. Maybe there was somebody in Evas life Marco didnt know about. Marco swears to Raimy that his daughter has no secrets from him. He asks Kyle what Raimy is even doing there since he already spoke to the police. When Kyle reveals Raimy is part of the Nightingale task force, Marco wants to know if Raimy thinks this is a Nightingale case. She responds they have no reason to believe it is at this point, but given what happened to Carmen, they cant rule it out. Marco breaks down at the thought of having to go through the Nightingale nightmare all over again. Quiz: Which TV Vigilante Are You?>>> But just like 20 years ago, Eva turns up having escaped from the Nightingale. Kyle and Raimy question Eva who says the Nightingale snatched her while she was running near her apartment. She passed out, and when she came to, she was in a room with her arms and legs bound with duct tape and a cloth in her mouth. Eva used a rusted nail to free herself from her constraints, pulled some boards off one of the windows and ran as fast as she could. Eva believes she was held in some kind of old factory. She remembers a sign for a street called Barnell. Eva didnt see her abductors face because he was wearing a mask. Raimy questions how Eva knew the man was the Nightingale, and Eva claims he told her that he took her mother. Raimy and Kyle head to the area of town that matches the description Eva gave them. They find a room in an old warehouse with evidence to corroborate Evas story. The case is officially now in the hands of the Nightingale task force which means Kyle is out. Hes still feeling a bit confused and hurt as to why Raimy cut him loose, and she assures Kyle he didnt do anything wrong. After telling Kyle shes just got a lot on her plate right now, the two shake hands and part ways, for now. A Hoax Leads to a Revelation Raimy gives Eva the news that they found where she was held. Raimy also has a vague recollection of them playing together as kids. She brings up the fact that Eva admitted to having seen the Nightingales face, but Eva doesnt remember so much of that time was a blur. But she does recall that he had a scar on his left hand between his thumb and forefinger. Eva promises to contact Raimy if she thinks of anything else. Eva is curious if the press are outside. Raimy warns Eva that its important for Eva to keep any details quiet, preventing the Nightingale from gaining an advantage. But later that night, Raimy spots Eva spilling every detail on the evening news. Raimy and Satch bring Eva back in for questioning, and the forensic evidence doesnt match up with her story. Eva made the whole thing up. She apologizes for the elaborate hoax, and when Marco questions why she would do such a thing, all Eva can say is I dont know. Raimy fills Frank in on their latest setback. Shes pissed she fell for Evas story. Frank still believes Eva knows something, but now Raimy is convinced everything that comes out of Evas mouth is a lie. Franks asks Raimy to read him a transcribed description of the Nightingale taken from a witness in 2009. He gets a police sketch artist to draw a pic and hides it for Raimy to find. Its almost identical to the one adorning the task force headquarters. Frank manages to sneak a moment alone with Eva without Marco around. He shows Eva the sketch, and she confirms its the same man. Eva reveals that the man doesnt always wear the hood, and shes seen him around before. Marco catches Frank questioning Eva before he can learn anymore and drags his daughter away. The cops havent told the press that Evas story is BS, yet. Raimy offers Eva a way out. If Eva cooperates, Raimy will strike a deal with the district attorney, spin it with the press and make the whole thing go away. Raimy remains sympathetic towards Eva who is a reminder of how Raimys life could have turned out. And all of Evas feelings about whatever hell Carmen must have endured have been the same ones driving Raimy. Raimy demands to know why Eva didnt give the police a description of the man who took her mother back in 1996, and Eva replies that she was too scared at first. After a while, the less she said, the more people talked about her. She was on the news; she was getting attention and she liked it. The night the Nightingale took Carmen, he wore a hood, but Eva had seen him other times without it. Eva couldnt tell the police because then the cops and her dad would know that Carmen was having an affair. Carmen wasnt sleeping with the Nightingale. Her affair was with an accountant, but Carmen would take Eva with her as cover and leave her at the playground across the street from the mans house. It was standing there that Eva spotted the Nightingale. He would drive by the house in a blue truck with a white camper shell on the back. The killer had short brown hair and always wore sunglasses. Raimy reports back to Frank that Eva saw the Nightingale at least seven times. This means the Nightingale is stalking his victims beforehand over the course of months. Frank remembers watching Julie leaving the park when he came with Marco and spotting a vehicle matching Raimys description driving past. Frank Confronts a Killer Frank goes to the park the following day to keep an eye on Julie and Raimy. As he sits in his car, he spots the truck parked down the street. He approaches the vehicle, shows his badge and instructs the driver to step out of the truck. The driver takes off, and Franks tries to chase him down but doesnt get far on foot. (Perhaps a stealthier approach would have been the way to go) Julie witnessed the whole thing and has a lot to say to Frank. Marco called to cancel a playdate between Raimy and Eva, telling Julie that Frank was hounding his daughter for information about the Nightingale killer. Frank swears he didnt introduce Raimy and Eva for any reason other than he feels bad for Marco, but Julie doesnt believe him. Julie also wants to know who was in the truck, and Frank tells her about the truck Eva saw prior to her moms disappearance. This isnt enough evidence for Julie who is convinced Frank has gone off the rails and is harassing everyone in a blue truck. She assumes the guy sped off because Frank was shouting and waiving his gun. Julie does ask Frank if shes really in danger. I guess the multiple times hes warned her of that very fact just didnt register. Once again, Frank makes it clear that Julie has every reason in the world to be afraid. Julie tries to calm Franks fears. She carpools to work, she never goes out alone, and from now on, shell even keep an eye out for the blue truck. But Julie doesnt want Raimy to know anything about whats going on. Frank tries to give her a gun, but Julie refuses to take it. No Guarantees Marco brings a young Eva in to give a description, but Raimy and Frank arent that much closer to finding the killer. Frank tells his daughter that she shouldnt put her life on hold. Theyre doing their best, but there are no guarantees. Theres always a chance they could mess things up and things dont go back the way they were. Thats the reality that Raimy has to start dealing with. Raimy isnt willing to accept the possibility, not yet, but Frank says she has no choice but to prepare for it. This advice motivates Raimy to go ask Kyle out for a drink. Frank is also doing what he can to help young Raimy by giving her a knife his father gave him. Its just their little secret. Aside from an utterly generic sketch, the only thing Frank and Raimy had going for them was the blue truck. Thanks to Franks confrontation with the Nightingale, the killer destroys the vehicle. Did you think Eva wasnt who she seemed? Is Franks attitude about Julie insensitive or realistic? Are father and daughter destined to fail in their mission to save Julie? Frequency airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW. Want more news? Follow our Frequency page on Facebook. (Image Courtesy of The CW) World Series Game 3 postponed due to rain in Philly Rain is moving into Philadelphia and it could impact Game 3 of the World Series A mailer recently sent to voters touts the work of lawmakers in Legislative District 6 in improving education in Arizona. The political ad in support of Reps. Brenda Barton and Bob Thorpe and Sen. Sylvia Allen, who are all running for re-election, features a picture of children and the statements, Increased Teacher Pay, Billions of New $ for K-12 Without Raising Taxes, More $ for Classrooms, Improving Test Scores and Arizona now has 3 of the Top-10 High Schools in the USA. The Daily Sun analysis shows that most of the claims relate to the legislators support of the school funding measure Proposition 123 but doesnt account for votes that either cut education dollars or have not restored them to pre-recession levels, leaving Arizona near the very bottom of the 50 states in per-pupil funding. The measure was opposed by a majority of Flagstaff voters but passed statewide by a narrow margin. Increased teacher pay: All three legislators backed Proposition 123, which allocates about $3.5 billion in funding for schools over 10 years above the $40 billion base in part through increasing the amount withdrawn from the state trust land permanent funds. The measure was an alternative to a lawsuit brought by school boards that accused state lawmakers of failing to make inflation payments under a citizen initiative that, if enforced in court, would have resulted in higher funding than under Prop. 123. All three legislators backed Proposition 123, which allocates about $3.5 billion in funding for schools over 10 years above the $40 billion base in part through increasing the amount withdrawn from the state trust land permanent funds. The measure was an alternative to a lawsuit brought by school boards that accused state lawmakers of failing to make inflation payments under a citizen initiative that, if enforced in court, would have resulted in higher funding than under Prop. 123. While the Yes on 123 campaign said passage would mean a "needed and necessary pay raise" for teachers, that wasn't a requirement of the ballot language. It was up to the schools to determine how the money should be used. The Arizona Republic surveyed district spending plans and found that in some places, less than 20 percent of Prop 123 funding will go to increasing teacher pay, with many districts instead putting a large chunk of that money toward things like textbooks, computers and school buses. The pay increases also were relatively minor in many areas. In the Flagstaff Unified School District, teachers received a 1 percent retroactive pay increase and a one-time payment of $415 for last school year as well as a 0.5 percent pay raise and a $210 one-time payment for this school year. Except for Prop. 123, there were no other recent measures that directly increased teacher pay, said Stacey Morley, the government relations director with the Arizona Education Association. Billions of New $ for K-12: The ad is likely referring to Proposition 123, although the $3.5 billion over 10 years is an increase of 8 percent and is only a partial restoration of funding cuts made to schools since 2008, Morley said. According to a state auditor report per-pupil operational funding in Arizona remains $1,077 below the $8,735 it was eight years ago, and Arizona still ranks in the bottom three states in the nation for state spending on K-12 schools. The legislators provided their thoughts about future school funding in emailed responses to the Daily Sun. Allen wrote that as revenues improve "education is at the top of the list and that she is looking at reforming Prop 301, the education sales tax increase passed by voters in 2000, with a goal of more teacher compensation. The measure raised $624 million last fiscal year for education at all levels, with about $200 million allocated to K-12 teacher pay. Thorpe and Barton didnt mention wanting to pursue any special school funding initiative. Thorpe said an improving economy will allow the state to put more money to education, however "the school districts must do a much better job utilizing limited taxpayer dollars." Barton also didnt mention a desire to pursue additional education funding outside of what would come with an improving state economy. "However we must do a better job at allocating where that funding goes. Not enough education funding is making it into Arizonas classrooms to empower our students and educators," she said. More $ for classrooms: While Prop. 123 does provide more funding for schools in general, there is no evidence that more of it is going to classrooms than elsewhere. In terms of general education funding, legislators did approve a budget this year that put $39 million toward delaying funding formula-related cuts that were scheduled to take effect and put $60 million toward enrollment, inflation and other required annual baseline adjustments, but many argued that wasnt any net gain for schools. This years budget also failed to make up for $166 million in school funding that was cut in the fiscal year 2016 budget. Morley also noted that the budgets approved last year and this year continued to suspend between $350 million and $370 million in additional assistance funding that is meant for things like textbooks, technology, curriculum and school buses. In that way, then, LD6 legislators, who voted for those budgets, were voting for a spending plan that actually reduced money for things that directly impact classroom learning, Morley said. She added that anytime legislators vote for tax cuts, they are hampering the states ability to put money toward education. There have been tax cuts every year for the past 20 years except for in 2003 and thats one of the reasons why there's never enough money to fund education, she said. Improving test scores: Statewide, the standardized test scores of Arizona's students did nudge upward by a few percentage points. Test results released this fall showed 38 percent of students were proficient in the math and reading portions of the test, which is up from 34 percent who passed in English and 35 who passed in math last year. Despite those improvements, 62 percent of students still failed to pass the AzMERIT test, falling into the partially proficient and minimally proficient categories. Its hard to say how LD6 legislators would have been responsible for improving test scores. Statewide, the standardized test scores of Arizona's students did nudge upward by a few percentage points. Test results released this fall showed 38 percent of students were proficient in the math and reading portions of the test, which is up from 34 percent who passed in English and 35 who passed in math last year. Despite those improvements, 62 percent of students still failed to pass the AzMERIT test, falling into the partially proficient and minimally proficient categories. Its hard to say how LD6 legislators would have been responsible for improving test scores. Arizona now has 3 of the top 10 high schools in the nation: Three Arizona high schools did rank among the top 10 according to a U.S. News and World Report ranking based primarily on median test scores. All of those schools are part of the Basis charter school system that attracts students wanting Advanced Placement college preparatory courses, with substantial supplemental funding from private foundations. Cairn India, the Vedanta group company, would be investing $100 million (Rs 67,000 crore) this year, with focus on its Rajasthan gas fields. The capital investment is estimated for this financial year, with 80 per cent focus for development of the Raageshwari Deep Gas (RDG) project and completion activities of the Mangala field's enhanced oil production, a company spokesperson said. India's biggest cigarette maker on Wednesday criticised the government's decision to impose bigger health warnings on cigarette packets, saying there was little evidence to link smoking to diseases depicted in those pictures. has been awarded $270 million (Rs 1,780 crore) in compensation by a three-member international arbitral tribunal in its dispute with the Maldives government. The award followed a ruling in February which upheld GMRs case, on cancellation of an airport development contract there by the Maldives government in November 2012. stated the compensation covered the debt, equity invested in the project and a return of 17 per cent, beside termination payments and legal costs. The compensation is net of the taxes it might be required to pay in the Maldives. A subsidiary of had signed an agreement in 2010 with the government there and Maldives Airport Company Ltd (MACL) for modernisation and operation of the airport at Male, the capital city. The GMR company had won the right to build and operate the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport for 25 years, extendable by another 10 years. GMR had planned to invest a little over $500 million in the project, including a debt component of $358 mn, arranged by Axis Bank. India has allowed to raise up to $3 million each in a fiscal year via the external commercial borrowings (ECB) route, the country's central bank said in a statement on Thursday. Overseas branches or subsidiaries of Indian banks will not be allowed to lend to via the ECB framework, the Reserve Bank of India statement (RBI) said. The RBI did not specify the maximum cost at which can raise money via ECB and said it will be mutually agreed between the borrower and the lender. Typically, the central bank specifies the maximum cost for financial institutions to raise money via ECB. Coconino Community College (CCC) is requesting an override (Prop. 410) to take effect in 2019. This override is critical to the survival of Coconino Community College, as well as future educational opportunities for the citizens of Coconino County. In 1991 Coconino Community College began with 500 learners. The college now serves more than 7,500 learners per year despite the state continually cutting funding. Twenty-five years ago the State contributed 45 percent of the colleges budget. Today the legislature contributes 10 percent toward helping improve the educational opportunities of the citizens of Coconino County. Coconino Community College has the lowest tax rate of any community college in the state. The only way to keep providing accessible education to the countys citizens has been to raise tuition, resulting in the highest tuition rate in the state. Attendance at Coconino Community College for two years is one-third the cost of two years at a university. CCC graduates 42 percent of the nurses, 43 percent of the law enforcement officers and 51 percent of the firefighters that are hired each year in the County and provide the county an annual economic impact of $167 million. Passage of Prop. 410 will allow Coconino Community College to: Expand programs throughout the county; Provide Job Training; Create New Workforce Development Programs; Create more training and opportunity for veterans; Remain a valuable educational and economic resource for Coconino County. Support Coconino Community College. It's about education. It's your college. Its your choice. Vote Yes on Prop. 410. PATRICK HURLEY Flagstaff Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. As this years edition of came to a close on Thursday, one could not but wonder if the start-up summit was heading in the right direction and witnessing the desirable evolution. While the prominent poster boys of Indias start-up ecosystem gave it a miss this year, there was also a glaring dearth of woman speakers on panels. In hindsight, senior executives say, it always seemed that all was not well between the ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry and now interim chairman Ratan Tata. But, no one expected that Mistry would be replaced. It was a bolt from the blue. What happens in Tata Sons board meeting is a well guarded secret. Some of it trickles down through the grapevine, they say. They may or may not have been able to read the tea leaves but the return of Ratan Tata at the helm has brought much relief to old timers within the group. While the automobile market grew 17% in India, registrations were multiplied sevenfold, one of the highest among the markets where the company has its presence. The surge was driven by its compact hatchback Kwid. Since the beginning of the current year, 82,771 Kwids have been registered, including 34,350 in the third quarter alone. In the winter of December 2014, months before the Modi governments crackdown on over 13,000 NGOs started, the Ford Foundations offices in New Delhi learnt through informal sources that its funding of an organisation run by activist Teesta Setalvad had drawn the interest of Gujarat state police. Hyderabad-based Sagar Cements Limited has decided to raise Rs 300 crore by way of issuance of securities, including the issue of equity shares on a preferential basis to promoter and promoter group and to others. Tata Motors has been unable to shut down the loss making small car Nano due to "emotional reasons" and doing so would also stop the supply of "gliders" to an entity that makes electric cars in which Ratan Tata has a stake, Tata Sons' ousted Chairman has alleged. ALSO READ: Full text of Cyrus Mistry's letter to Tata Sons Board Analysts have given the change of guards at a miss by calling it an event that will not have much impact on the group's long term valuations. It is not easy being Cyrus these days. Just ask Cyrus Mistry, the former chairman of the $100-billion Tata empire, with nearly half a million employees across 100 countries, who was unceremoniously sacked on Monday by the Tata Sons board. Mistry, who was chosen by himself as his successor in December 2012, has publicly reacted to his sacking by saying he was shocked beyond words, describing the board proceedings as invalid and illegal. ADB has refused to commit funds for Pakistan's USD 14 billion dam project on Indus river in Pakitan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), two years after the World Bank declined to fund the project following Islamabad's refusal to seek a no obection certificate (NoC) from India. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao said on Wednesday while addressing a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar after the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation programme. Underlining that the project on Indus river in the Gilgit- Baltistan region of PoK was very important for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, Nakao called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, expected to generate a power output of 4,500 MW. "We haven't decided [whether to fund] this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date, the Dawn reported. He said presently the United States Agency for International Development was conducting a feasibility study on the dam. Islamabad has consistently failed to attract foreign lenders for the project. Repeated efforts to rope in World Bank as a co-lender had failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a NoC from India for the project. Instead, Pakistan accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha. The ADB also advised the government to adopt a professional approach towards the construction of the big dam that cannot be funded by a single institution, country or group given its mammoth financial requirements and the risks involved. As a way out, the ADB advised Islamabad to restructure the Diamer-Bhasha dam project by separating power generation, land acquisition and main dam structures and their various modes of financing. The ADB chief also cautioned Pakistan to wisely implement projects under the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), another strategic project opposed by India as it passes through the PoK, and utilise their funds well so as to avoid debt or repayment problems. If the second quarter results of auto are anything to go by, the rural economy is beginning to show signs of reviving. In an interview with PTI, the Infromation and Broadcastinng (I&B) Minister, M Venkaiah Naidu, said there can be no regulation of media in a democracy, adding, that self-regulation is good. "In a democracy, in a free society where freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution, you cannot have regulation of the media, this is my conviction," said Naidu. According to Naidu, the social media is "going haywire" and while self-regulation is good, what is required is not a new bill but political will and administrative skill that is lacking at some places. The minister, however, added that if at the end of the day, there are violations, there are laws of the land meant to tackle them. Freedom of expression is best utilised only when the value of such freedom is fully appreciated, he added. "When this freedom is not exercised is judiciously, our existing laws provide for necessary interventions. We are not thinking of any new restrictions on any media. But the government expects all stakeholders to be responsible in using different platforms." the I&B minister said. Naidu said further that the media should follow regulations that call for abstinence from anti- preachings or those that propgate views against the interest of the country. The media, he added, should also steer clear of promoting aspects like obscenity, vulgarity, encouraging violence, etc. "For mainstream journalists, there is some regulation by their organisations and management. But for social media there is no censorship, things go directly, he said. "There is slowly a growing feeling (that the) social media (is) going haywire (a)nd we have to find ways and means to go about it. But at the same time if you start regulating media, the effect will not be positive. Keeping that in mind, regarding social media those laws (that are already in place) should be effectively and properly used," Naidu said. Naidu said futher that there is a lack of poltical will in implementing the exisiting legal framework meant to tackle media excesses. "Media is so powerful and some of the politicians are so weak they don't want to use the law which is already available - Why should I quarrel with them? I say it is not a quarrel, as long as you are within line, you have every right, you must fight. Speaking about social media, Naidu said it is an area of concern because it is immensely popular and while there are concerns about the unregulated content within social media, he emphasised that regulation was unlikely to bring any positive result. Speking on what the role of media is, Naidu spoke in favour of factual reporting instead of opinionated news. As far as credibilty is concerned, he said news organisations should not identify with any particular party. Citing his own experience in Parliament, Naidu criticised sensationalism in media saying, "If Naidu had torn some papers or gone to the Well of the House, then it becomes news. This is a development of recent years, which is bad," he said. Media should try to support the constructive, he said. He said that social media is a new tool of communication with its own distinct features and advantages. "It is spontaneous and interactive. Such a medium is both an opportunity and a challenge. While we believe in people taking full advantage of this new medium, we expect them to make judicious use of it in the larger and individual good," Naidu said. wrote a 2,101-word letter on the affairs of the Tata group. But, two words that stood out and found its way to front page in papers, if not on the banner headlines themselves, was 'lame duck' "I hope you do realize the predicament that I found myself in. Being pushed into the position of a "lame duck" chairman, my desire was to create an institutional framework for effective future governance of the group. I believe I had to be true to myself and the best interests of the organization. While I would be lying if I said I am not disappointed, I have a sense of pride and dignity intact in the efforts I have taken to professionalise and institutionalise, regardless of the outcome of effort, I now witness," the 48-year old wrote in the concluding paragraphs of his explosive letter. The phrase 'lame duck' caught on as it accurately described and summed up the position the former chairman found himself in the $100 billion group. Often used in politics to describe underperforming leaders, the word has its origins in the stock market. Several accounts, including in the US Press, said the term originated in the London Stock Exchange. Ed Quinn wrote in Denver Post quoting "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable," that the expression referred to "a stock-jobber or dealer who will not, or cannot, pay his losses" and has to "waddle out of the alley like a lame duck." It also applies to a defaulter on a loan, and goes back to 18th-century London. But, Mistry is not the first businessman to seek refuge in fowl and fauna to articulate his situation or strategy. Almost eight years before Mistry took interest in letter writing, it was Satyam founder Ramalinga Raju who wrote an equally sensational letter. Unlike Mistry, Raju saw the national animal. He did not see himself as one. But, he saw himself riding one. "It was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten," he wrote referring to the widening gap between the real and artificial numbers in the company's books. Raju's letter did not surface first in the Press like Mistry's. It was sent to the exchanges sending the regulatory apparatus into a tizzy. Sebi swung into action to ensure it was not some prank before unleasing the 'tiger' on an already beaten down stock market. Unlike the other two, Mukesh Ambani was not in any sort of trouble, when he invoked the spotted jungle cat to describe his strategy. In an interview with The Economic Times in 2011 the Reliance Industries chairman said: "I love the leopard. It sits on top of a tree. It doesn't take any risk. Whenever it sees it can make a kill, it rapidly makes the kill. It just happens in a flash," said Ambani, who often sat observing leopards for hours in many forests. "After getting the kill, the leopard goes back to the top of the tree and sits there aaram se," he added. He wanted his company to institutionalise leopard like execution capabilities. These are not the only animals in what some describe as the dog-eat-dog world of big business. There are some 'wily old foxes', who can trick you before you blink. There are those promoters and top executives, who run away with 'Lion's share' of the company's profits. And, then there are scapegoats. Less talk about them, the better. India on Thursday declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer as persona non-grata for activities after he was caught red handed by Delhi Police with documents relating to defence deployment.This was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to his office following brief detention of the staffer who was later released. A Pakistan High Commission staffer was on Thursday detained after he was found in possession of defence documents while two others were arrested on espionage charges, police said. Pakistan High Commissioner has been summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs. On intelligence inputs, Delhi Police Crime Branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar in custody. He was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity, they said. The Crime Branch also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the staffer. "The spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. The spies were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information," said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir. The dismissed a petition of Spot Exchange (NSEL) for relief against a high court (HC) order on the applicability of the Maharashtra Protection of Interests of Depositors (MPID) Act on its affairs. Simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly would benefit parties but dwarf the role of smaller regional ones which is not a good sign for a healthy democracy, according to experts. The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday gave an "in-principle" approval to strategic sales and disinvestment in a number of state-owned companies, kick-starting the process of valuing these entities and finding interested buyers. A day after Indias position was reported at 130 among 190 nations in the World Banks ease of doing business rankings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked top bureaucrats to study the findings by the multi-lateral agencies and report within a month on the areas where there is scope for improvement in their respective departments and states. At a time when the banking sector is grappling with a possible systemic risk brought upon by the data breach of 3.2 million cards, banking technology experts at the Business Standard Banking Technology Round Table said should collaborate to tighten the security framework. Business Standard Banking Round Table, 2016, started on Thursday, with the finest minds in Indian banking coming together and sharing their thoughts on digital disruption in the financial services sector in the second session of the day. Business Standard Banking Round Table, 2016, started on Thursday, with the finest minds in Indian banking coming together and sharing their thoughts on some of the critical issues in not only the banking industry but also the economy at large. AMCDRR Film Festival: Stories of hope and future A short films competition on the theme of Risk Sensitive Development for Community Resilience will be organised at the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) 2016. The Conference is being organised from November 3-5, 2016 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi by the Government of India in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). It will set the direction of implementation and monitoring of Sendai Framework in the region. Short films and educational documentaries have proved to be one of the effective mediums to strengthen understanding disaster resilience by showcasing community participation, success stories and best practices on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Without a greater awareness, understanding and knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of disaster resilient development, it will not be possible to achieve the overall goal of the Sendai Framework of preventing and reducing disaster risk. A highlight event of the AMCDRR 2016, this competition aims to showcase benefits of DRR policies, communities to nations and other stakeholders and to encourage increased investments in prevention and mitigation measures. Entries were called for under three categories: Positive Human Impact of DRR, DRR for Development and Adapting to Climate Change. The entries will be played at the venue throughout the conference duration on November 3 & 4, 2016. Three winners, one from each category, will be felicitated on the closing day of the Conference. AMCDRR 2016 will focus on collaboration, consultation and partnership with governments and stakeholders to mainstream DRR in the region's socio-economic development. Centre Condones Odisha Govts delay of four and a half months in submission of yield data based on crop cutting experiments for paddy crop for Kharif 2015 The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh today informed that Central Government has condoned Odisha State Govts delay of four and a half months in submission of yield data based on Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) for Paddy Crop for Kharif 2015. Shri Radha Mohan Singh informed that the matter was of the yield data based on Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) for Paddy Crop for Kharif 2015 which was submitted by the state Government to the Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC) only on 10th August, 2016 after the delay of around four and half months against cut-off date 31st March, 2016. The matter was referred by AIC to our Department. Certain classifications were sought from the Government of Odisha with regard to justification for condonation of delay in submission of yield data by State Govt. to AIC. Response of the State Govt. which has been received only on 24th October, 2016 has been examined and it has been decided to condone the delay in submission of yield data. Government of India share of claims shall be released once the State Govt. releases it share to AIC. Shri Singh said that response of State Govt received on 24 October, 2016 and delay condoned by centre on 26 October, 2016, which is fastest in the history. The Minister reiterated that Centre is committed to welfare of farmers. EPFO joins network of Common Services Centers To expand the reach of convenience offered to EPF members, Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has joined the network of Common Services Centers (CSC). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between EPFO and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC SPV) on 25th October 2016. The MoU is initially for a period of five years. To start with, the pensioners of Employees Pension Scheme of EPFO can submit their digital life certificates via Jeevan Pramaan Patra programme through a large number of points of Presence (PoP) of CSC networking in addition to those available at EPFO offices. The pensioners living in remote areas can avoid cost and inconvenience of travelling down to the EPF offices or their banks for filing paper based life certificate. In near future, it is also planned to enable various other online services namely aadhaar seeding with Universal Account Number (UAN), e KYC operated upload and update facility, UAN card related services and online claim related services. Common Services Centers (CSC) network is one of the largest government approved online service delivery channel in the world. CSC are broadband enabled rural service delivery points established by District e Governance Societies (DeGSs), selected by the State Governments, for aggregating content and offering relevant Government to Customers (G2C), Business to Customers (B2C), Business to Business (B2B) and other services. More details about Common Services Centers (CSC) and its network can be accessed at csc.gov.in EPF subscribers may access these services at their convenience from the nearest CSC network. Establishment and operationalization of new Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at Berhampur, Odisha The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the following: i. Ex-post facto approval for formation of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Berhampur Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860; ii. Establishment and operationalisation of IISER, Berhampur in a transit/ temporary campus from the Academic Year 2016-17, which will involve a cost of Rs. I52.79 crore, for the initial three years (2016-19), and ex-post facto approval of starting the academic session of 2016-17 from 1st August, 2016; iii. Accepting land, free of cost, from the State Government of Odisha; iv. Creation of the post of Director of the Institute in the Pay Scale of Rs.80,000 (Fixed); and v. Introduction of a Bill, namely, the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Appendix-Ill) in Parliament for inclusion of IISER, Tirupati and IISER, Berhampur in the Second Schedule of National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (NITSER) Act, 2007 (29 of 2007) with such modifications/ changes of the drafting and consequential nature as may be considered by the Legislative Department. Background: The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) have been declared as Institutes of National Importance under the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education & Research (NITSER) Act, 2012. These Institutes are envisaged to carry out research in frontier areas of science and to provide quality science education at the Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate level. Earlier there were five IISERs at Kolkata, Pune, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram. After coming to power this Government started an IISER at Tirupati in 2015. To increase the presence of IISERs in various States/ geographical locations to cater to the need for quality education in science and research, the Union Finance Minister, in his Budget Speech (2015) had announced setting up of an IISER in the State of Odisha. Accordingly, today the Cabinet approved the setting up of IISER Berhampur at the transit/ temporary campus at academic-cum-workshop building of the Government ITI, Berhampur. The student strength intake for this year in the BS-MS course is 60 which will progressively go up and the cumulative student strength is envisaged as 665 in the 3rd year, including MS Degree, MS-Ph. D, Ph. D and Post-Doctoral Fellowships. The total cost of the project for temporary campus is Rs. 152.79 crores. EdCIL, a PSU of Ministry of HRD, Government of India has been asked to submit a proposal for preparation of detailed Project Report for the permanent campuses. Thereafter the process for setting up of the campus would start. Foundation stone of new building of Institute of Archaeology will be laid tomorrow The Foundation stone laying ceremony of the new building for Institute of Archaeology of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under Ministry of Culture will be held tomorrow i.e. 28 October, 2016 at Plot No. 2, Institutional Area, Knowledge Park-II, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR. The foundation stone will be laid by Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister in the gracious presence of Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism. The Institute of Archaeology (IA) is an academic wing of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture. This Institute provides an outstanding environment for the academic research through its Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology, continuing its long established reputation for distinction in this field. Here students are provided with a supportive, enthusiastic and challenging academic atmosphere which enables them to achieve their full potential. The Institute along with two years Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology also conducts professional workshops on different fields of archaeology. The foremost aim of this institute is providing an opportunity for students to achieve excellence in their passionate fields of archaeology. Since the space of the present Institute building in the Red Fort premises is not sufficient enough for its functioning it was therefore decided to come up with a new building at Plot No. 2, Institutional Area, Knowledge Park-II, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR with state of the art facilities. The Government has decided to dedicate the new building to Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay so as to commemorate the birth centenary of this great Indian leader. About 38,000 m2 area has been chosen for the proposed Institute out of the existing 25 acres of land. The new building has been proposed to house a state of the art design concept having conference hall with a capacity of 1000 people, an archaeological museum with an area of 14,000 m2, residential buildings, hostel facilities for both boys and girls and a cafeteria. This building shall be sustainable, environment friendly accessible to the differently abled persons and will be equipped with disaster resistant measures. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Indian Naval Ships Visit Phuket (Thailand) Indian Naval Ships Tir, Sujata, Sail Training Ship (STS) Sudarshini alongwith Indian Coast Guard Ship Varuna, comprising the 1st Training Squadron, visiting Phuket, Thailand from 27 31 Oct 16 as part of their Overseas Deployment during Autumn Term 16. The Senior Officer of the 1st Training Squadron, Captain DJ Revar, is embarked on board INS Tir. India and Thailand have a close, long-standing relationship covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions, which has strengthened over the years. The present deployment of the Training Squadron to Phuket provides opportunities for extensive maritime engagement, contributes to the maintenance of good order at sea and further cements the close relations between the two nations and the two navies. The First Training Squadron forms part of Southern Naval Command (SNC) and comprises Indian Naval Ships Tir, Shardul, Sujata, ICGS Varuna and two Sail Training Ships Sudarshini and Tarangini, all of which have been built in India. The primary aim of the Squadron is to impart training to Naval and Coast Guard trainees, with a 24 weeks ab-initio sea training being imparted. The trainees are imparted training in Seamanship, Navigation, Ship Handling, Boat Work, Technical aspects, etc whilst being exposed to the rigours of life at sea, so as to earn their sea legs. Southern Naval Command is the Training Command of the Indian Navy, which provides both basic and advanced training to officers and sailors of the Indian Navy. Vice Admiral AR Karve, AVSM is the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. The Indian Navy has also been providing training to personnel from Friendly Foreign Countries for more than four decades, wherein more than 13,000 personnel from over 40 countries have been trained. The Indian Navys focused approach for providing high quality training by constantly adapting to evolving tactics and technologies, has gained it a reputation of being one of the finest training destinations. National Ayurveda Day to be celebrated throughout the Country on 28th October Mission Madhumeha through Ayurveda" to be launched On the occasion of National Ayurveda Day, the Ministry of AYUSH is organizing a one day National Seminar on Prevention and Control of Diabetes through Ayurveda on 28th October 2016 at New Delhi. The Minister of State (IC) PMO, DoNER, DOPT, Dr. Jitender Singh will inaugurate the seminar and Minister of AYUSH (IC) Shri Shripad Yesso Naik will preside over the programme. The Ministry of AYUSH is also going to launch Mission Madhumeha through Ayurveda" on the occasion. The Mission Madhumeha will be implemented throughout the country through a specially designed National Treatment Protocol for effective management of Diabetes through Ayurveda. The national treatment Protocol will be also released on the occasion of National Seminar. In this regard , Ministry of AYUSH has communicated to various State Governments (Department of AYUSH/Department of Health/Department of Medical Education), State AYUSH Directorates, All Ayurveda Educational Institutes, Ayurveda Pharma to celebrate the National Ayurveda Day in a befitting manner by organizing Public lectures/Seminars/Exhibitions on the theme of Prevention and Control of Diabetes through Ayurveda. Several State Government AYUSH departments have taken proactive steps in this regard and have planned for various activities on this day by providing free Ayurvedic health care services for the patients of Diabetes by organizing health check-up camps, public lectures for creating awareness in public regarding Diabetes etc. Government of India has decided to celebrate National Ayurveda Day every year on the occasion of Dhanwantari Jayanti. NB/SK Naval Commanders Conference concludes The second edition of this years bi-annual Naval Commanders Conference concluded today after three days of fruitful deliberations. The Honble Raksha Mantri had addressed the Naval Commanders on the inaugural day (25 Oct 16) and complimented all personnel of the Indian Navy for ensuring maritime security of the country. Taking note of the wide expanse of naval activities spread across the oceans, he appreciated the high tempo of operations sustained in the last six months and efforts put-in for maritime security and coastal security. The Honble Raksha Mantri also reviewed the pace of modernisation of Indian Navy, progress of various acquisition and infrastructure related cases. Chairing the conference, Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff, addressed the Naval Commanders on various important issues pertaining to operational readiness, capability enhancement, infrastructure development and human resource management. Coming in the close aftermath of recent events, the Conference provided an invaluable opportunity for the top-level leadership of the Indian Navy to review the operational environment and readiness of the maritime forces to deal with the entire range of prevailing as well as emerging threats. The Conference, held over three days deliberated the ever increasing dynamism in the maritime sphere, especially in Indias neighbourhood, and the enhanced range of taskings and expectations of the Indian Navy as a result of it. The deliberations included a comprehensive review of operational preparedness, training and resource-availability. Commanders also took stock of the progress achieved in integrating newly inducted naval platforms into the overall operational design and their deployment as force multipliers in any future scenario. The CNS also reviewed the progress of various infrastructure projects that are in the pipeline and shall contribute towards capacity building. Coastal Security construct was deliberated and reviewed during the conference. The Admiral was satisfied with the steady progress made in strengthening the coastal security apparatus viz. induction of FICs, ISVs and NC3 I project. He asserted the need to remain ever vigilant and focussed towards our coastal security responsibilities through proactive coordination with other maritime agencies and coastal states in light of the increasing variety of asymmetric threats. One of the focus areas discussed during the conference was the induction of manpower, aspects pertaining to training and skill development, and welfare of personnel. Consequent to 2016 being observed as the Year of the Civilian Personnel in the Indian Navy, progress of various policy initiatives taken with regard to enhancing transparency in personnel policies and improving the ease of doing business in the service were also reviewed. The CNS stated that men and women behind the machine are the Navys greatest strength and are our greatest asset and their morale and well-being should always remain our primary concern. The discussions also focused on the future roadmap for employment of women in Navy. The Conference also provided the Naval Commanders an opportunity to interact with Ministry of Defence officials and Defence Research & Development Organisation wherein a range of issues were discussed. In his closing address the CNS complimented all personnel of the Indian Navy for their professionalism and patriotism and exhorted them to prepare themselves and the Navy to meet all future maritime security challenges before the country. Combat readiness should remain our collective focus at any given time and operational effectiveness should be the touchstone of all our efforts,he said. The Navys role is not only vital for national security, but also for national prosperity and development, he concluded. The Rt. Honble John Key, the Prime Minister of New Zeland called on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday (October 26, 2016). . . Welcoming the Prime Minister of New Zealand and his delegation to India, President Mukherjee said India values its relationship with New Zealand. The sustained momentum of high level contacts reaffirms the growing strength and dynamism of bilateral engagement between India and New Zealand. . . The President said India and New Zealand share a unique bond based on shared values and synergies, being two multicultural, vibrant democracies that believe in and respect the rule of law. New Zealand can be a key partner in Indias quest for food security. Bilateral trade in goods and services has nearly doubled in the last eight years. Currently, total trade in goods and services in 2015 amounted to US$ 1.45 billion. India and New Zealand can be partners in promoting security, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond. The two countries can work together in areas such as maritime security, ensuring freedom of navigation and in countering terrorism. The President said there exists a strong desire amongst the people of the two countries to improve relations. . . The Prime Minister of New Zealand reciprocated the Presidents sentiments and said his Government would like to grow and strengthen bilateral relations. He thanked President Mukherjee for his visit to New Zealand earlier this year and said Indias economic growth provides many opportunities. There is a strong and growing Indian community in New Zealand. He said the high level contacts between the two countries provide the foundation stone for a better understanding of each others perceptions. . . Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh to attend the 55th Raising Day Parade of ITBP The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force will organise their 55th Raising Day Parade at Greater Noida tomorrow. Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh will attend and review the Ceremonial Parade. ITBP has completed 54 years of dedicated service to the Nation on 24th October, 2016. The Force was raised on 24th October 1962. Presently, the Force has 60 Battalions with 90,000 personnel primarily deployed to secure 3,488 kms India-China Border in five bordering States from Karakoram Pass in Jammu and Kashmir to Jechap La in Arunachal Pradesh. Workshop On Forest Rights Act, 2006 - its Implementation, Benefits to Tribal and other Traditional Forest Dwelling Communities held A Workshop on Forest Rights Act, 2006 - its Implementation, benefits to tribal and other traditional forest dwelling communities and its challenges? was held in New Delhi today as part of National Tribal Carnival 2016. The Workshop was Chaired by Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs and co-chaired by Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs in the presence of Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ms. Marina Walter, UNDP Deputy Country Director. The panelists for the Workshop were Dr SM Jharwal, Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Shri Noyal Thomas, DIG (Forests), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Dr. Farhad Mollick, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Anthropology at Mahatma Gandhi Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Maharashtra and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The Workshop was attended by approximately 250 delegates including Ministers from the States Members of Parliament, Members of State Legislatures and other dignitaries. A contextual presentation was made by Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, JS, Ministry of Tribal Affairs delineating the critical aspects and key features of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 also known as Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. A presentation was also made by Shri Noyal Thomas, DIG (Forests) focused on Community Forest Resource guidelines for protection and management of Forest by the Gram Sabha as also other essential attributes vis-?-vis Forest Protection Laws. Dr. Jharwal and Dr. Mollick also spoke in detail on the challenges in implementation of Forest Rights Act while bringing out the protective rights granted under FRA. Minister of State for Tribal Affairs spoke on the landmark legislation which protects and recognizes the forest rights of tribal and other traditional forest dwelling communities. He emphasized that the processes in this regard are being constantly monitored and reviewed at level from time to time. He also appreciated the extensive presentations by the panelists. Shri Oram, while summing, up thanked various stakeholders and complimented the contributions by the panelists. The backdrop of legislation and how the Act has empowered the forest dwelling communities including the tribal communities was emphasized. The contents of various issues were widely appreciated by audience and there were a number of interventions which were responded to by the panel. A Tribal Diary titled Tribal Faces in India? was also released on the occasion. Air strikes on Syria's rebel-held Idlib province hit a school and the surrounding area on Wednesday, killing at least 35 civilians including many children, a monitor and activists said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "warplanes -- either Russia or Syrian -- carried out six strikes" in the village of Hass, including on a school complex. Eleven schoolchildren were among the dead, said the Britain-based monitor. The White Helmets civil defence group released pictures of four rescue workers clambering over a mound of rubble in search of survivors after what it said was a "double-tap" strike on the school. The raids hit Hass around 11.30 am (local time), an activist with the opposition Idlib Media Centre told AFP. "One rocket hit the entrance of the school as students were leaving to go home, after the school administration decided to end classes for the day because of the raids," the activist said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Other activists from the province circulated a photograph on social media of a child's arm, seared off above the elbow, still clutching the strap of a dusty black rucksack. Shaky video footage depicted rescue workers sprinting towards the site of the raids and pulling a frail, elderly man out of a collapsed building. The authenticity of the pictures and footage could not be independently verified. The latest attacks took to 89 the number of civilians killed in air strikes on Idlib province in the past seven days, said the Observatory. Syrian government forces and their Russian ally have been accused by rights groups of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure. A leading opposition group condemned the raids. The Istanbul-based National Coalition said Russian and regime warplanes "targeted children in their schools, deliberately and intentionally hitting civilians with high-explosive material". Idlib province is controlled by the Army of Conquest, an alliance of rebel groups and jihadists including the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after breaking off ties with Al-Qaeda earlier this year. Syrian and Russian warplanes regularly bomb Idlib, but air strikes have intensified in recent weeks, according to the Observatory. Swathes of eastern Syria is controlled by the Islamic State group. Today, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter and his British counterpart Michael Fallon said an offensive to drive IS out of its Syrian stronghold of Raqa would begin in the next few weeks. The French aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF) said on Wednesday, it had found the bodies of 29 who perished in a pool of fuel and seawater on a crowded dinghy off Libya. The find adds to the grim evidence of the hazards of crossing the Mediterranean a journey that the UN said on Wednesday has claimed more than 3,800 lives so far this year, a record. MSF said its chartered rescue ship, the Bourbon Argos, picked up 107 people aboard the inflatable boat 26 nautical miles off Libya yesterday. Its crew initially counted 11 corpses on the dinghy's floor, which was flooded with a murky mixture of fuel and seawater. The Bourbon Argos was then called away to another rescue operation nearby, saving 139 people aboard another vessel. The crew returned to the dinghy and found on closer examination that 29 people had died, probably from suffocation, skin burns or drowning. The bodies were retrieved from the toxic mixture over a period of hours, with the help of a team from the German NGO Sea-Watch. "The mixture of water and fuel was so foul that we could not stay on the boat for long periods. It was horrible," MSF project leader Michele Telaro said in a statement. Twenty-three survivors suffered burns from exposure to fuel, 11 of whom were seriously hurt. Seven survivors were taken to hospital, two of them by helicopter. The MSF team also provided psychological help to survivors, including a man who was left clutching his eight-month-old baby after his wife died. "It's a tragedy, but sadly one cannot say that this was an exceptional day in the Mediterranean," said Stefano Argenziano, in charge of MSF's migrant assistance activities. "Last week was terrible for our teams. They were engaged around the clock in rescue operations in which too many men, women and children lost their lives." To venture out to sea in such conditions, said Argenziano bluntly, "is a headlong rush to the cemetery." In Geneva, the UN's refugee agency said fatalities on the Mediterranean migrant route had set a new, tragic record. "We can confirm that at least 3,800 people have been reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean Sea so far this year, making the death toll in 2016 the highest ever recorded," spokesman William Spindler told AFP in an email, as the figures passed last year's mark of 3,771. In Rome, Pope Francis pleaded on behalf of and foreigners seeking a better life or safe haven abroad. A US drone strike targeted a senior leader in northeastern Afghanistan and his deputy on Sunday, a senior US military official said. The strike in Kunar province targeted Farouq al-Qahtani, Al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan, and his deputy Bilal al-Mutaybi, the official said. The US military believes the men were killed but has not confirmed the strike was successful. "We feel pretty confident," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. The Pentagon has been tracking Qahtani for years. Military officials had him in their sights in 2012 and almost conducted a strike then, but the mission was scrapped at the last minute because of the risk of civilian casualties. Qahtani and his deputy were in Hilgal village in Kunar's Ghazi Abad district, officials said. They were in two separate buildings a few hundred meters (yards) apart and were targeted almost simultaneously with multiple drones. Provincial spokesman Abdul Ghani Mosamem told AFP at least 15 insurgents were killed, including two Arabs. A number of Pakistani Taliban fighters were also among the fatalities, he said. An Afghan intelligence official in the province also confirmed two Arabs were killed in the strikes. Qahtani and Mutaybi are well-known senior commanders in Kunar, and had been actively involved in recruiting local young people for the group. The has become the latest African nation to announce its withdrawal from the Criminal Court, accusing the war crimes tribunal of "persecuting" Africans. The shock move announced late yesterday was condemned by rights groups as a "drastic blow" for victims of serious crimes across the world. Banjul's decision follows similar action by South Africa and Burundi this month that have shaken the only permanent war crimes court. Gambian Information Minister Sheriff Bojang charged that the ICC had been used "for the persecution of Africans and especially their leaders" while ignoring crimes committed by the West. "Not a single Western war criminal has been indicted," he said on state television, naming former British prime minister Tony Blair as one who should have faced prosecution in the court. "The ICC, despite being called Criminal Court, is in fact an International Caucasian Court for the persecution and humiliation of people of colour, especially Africans," he said. The Hague-based court, set up in 2002, is often accused of bias against Africa and has struggled with a lack of cooperation, including from the United States, which has signed the court's treaty but never ratified it. Banjul's announcement will be a personal blow to the tribunal's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, a Gambian lawyer and former justice minister. UN chief Ban Ki-moon's spokesman said the body had not received any official communication from either The or Burundi but added that Ban would "very much regret it" if they left. "The ICC is a key component of the international justice system," he said. "There is obviously a debate going on about the functioning of the ICC but those concerns should be raised within the assembly of state parties before taking any drastic action like leaving the ICC." Human Rights Watch said The Gambia's withdrawal "is perhaps not surprising," accusing its government of having a "long track record of abuse, including torturing and forcibly disappearing political opponents and journalists". Babatunde Olugboji, HRW's deputy programme director, said the move "risks being a real loss for victims. Withdrawal from the ICC would block a crucial path to justice when national courts fail to act." Amnesty International said the move would deal a "drastic blow" to victims all over the world. [ zinn2 ] 2016-10-26 20:12:52 . 1. This country started with 13 English colonies, which were established by immigrants. All these colonies were dominated by people immigrated from England. Most of them were white Christians. Hence, the founding culture/faith is the heritage of white Christians from England (maybe different from the mainstream culture/faith in England then). This country grew with continuous immigration and merging with other colonies (e.g., Louisiana purchase and Alaska purchase, Texas and southwest states). They were still dominated by white Christians. As this country started with all people being immigrants, (disregarding Native American Indians), the founding principles were the consensus for a population dominated by immigrants. After a few hundreds year, the population is not dominated by immigrants anymore. As a citizen society, policy of this country should reflect the founding principles and interests of its current citizens. Founding principles should be respected in todays politics, but founding principles should not be used as dogma to override the interest of its current citizens. To me, we cannot always use founding principles to argue for policies (e.g., gun control). Argument 1: This country is founded on the principle that the immigrant can come and thrive, that the immigrant is a part of this country.(my son's reply to my former email) It used to be a free country to immigrants (no regulation on immigration, no border control). Immigration is regulated now. To me, immigration should be regulated. Free immigration and open border for USA now? Only insane or irresponsible people will agree. Why this country has deviated from the principle that the immigrants can come and thrive? Conditions have changed. First, it used to be hard to come to America Continental. Hence, most people arrived had overcome hardship, which served as a natural validation of good purpose. Which thief will hike 30 miles to steal a computer? If he has hiked 30 miles to my house, I trust him that he will not steal my computer. Now, it is piece of cake to come to USA. Many mean people will arrive too. Hence, we need to regulate. Second, generally speaking, it used to be wilderness. Now, most of the land has been occupied and has properties on it. Any new comer will inevitably affect some people who are there already. Hence, regulation is indispensable to avoid conflicts. Third, it used to be that new comers live by themselves without any government welfare (even no protection of personal safety). Now, theoretically, anyone living in USA is enjoying welfare from government this way or that way (at least protection of personal safety by legal system and policing). Government welfare is sustained with tax collected from people who are in this country already. Definitely, tax payers have right to regulate immigration. Most politicians are discussing immigration without differentiating legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. To me, as an immigrant through legal path, there is big difference between legal immigrant and illegal immigrant. For legal immigrants, they respect the current condition (including all laws) of this country and try to fit in. For illegal system, they do not respect the current condition (or only partially) and try to take advantage. Sure, I am against any policy to abuse immigrants (including point fingers at immigrants for many problems). To me, lawfully forcing illegal immigrants to leave is not to abuse them. I believe this country should continuously accept a significant number of legal immigrants. How many and what types of immigrants are the questions to be discussed. I believe many immigrants positively contribute to this country. However, there are some immigrants with mean purposes when they come and there are some immigrants have negative impact on this country. The government should have procedures to distinguish them and deny their immigration application. Also, this country can accept some immigrants based on mercy and grace (e.g., refuge). Again, how many and what types are questions to be discussed. Actually, this country is accepting immigrants with a number bigger than any other country. 2. This country became the top developed country before 1950, when all economy and politics was dominated by white Christians. I will not say such a fact was fair to all people lived in USA. On the other hand, none can deny the fact that a system dominated by white Christians had led to a prosperous and strong country. I will not say the system in 1950 was ideal. On the other hand, none can deny the fact that, according to the global standards around 1950, such a system was the best system existed that time. The important characteristics of this system include: democracy, capitalism, and high-tech industry. Such a system was attractive to people in Asia, in Africa, and in other countries in America Continental. For non-white new immigrants around 1900 and afterwards, they have been disadvantaged comparing with white people born here or new white immigrants, but almost all of them have felt that life in this country has been better for them than their homelands. Sure, there are many problems in such a political system. The most serious problem is racial issue. Hence, I totally support the Civil Right Movement in 1960s. Colored people should be treated equally so that they can compete in job market fairly and share any government resources equally. Immigration should be open to citizens from all foreign countries based on qualification to job market needs without race or country quote. Unfortunately, civil right movement after 1980s has been changed to favoritism, allotting special arrangement to certain races. If such favoritism was necessary for the first generation minorities after Civil Right Movement, it should not exist anymore after 1990. Unfortunately, recent civil right movement is promoting more favoritism. Frankly speaking, I do not agree with most civil right movements undergoing. Hence, my view for the future of USA is: 1) we need to improve the politics in this country continuously, but still centered on white Christian culture; 2) we should not take culture/politics in any minority to make USA more like his/her homeland. First, to be practical, NOT BREAK, DONT FIX. We should stay with white christian heritage. Second, for the large groups of minority ( black people, Latinos, or Asians), none has developed a successive political system in their homelands (not including those strongly influenced by USA, such as Japan). Third, if you believe your homeland has a better system, please just enjoy it in your homeland. Why have you immigrated? Hence, the big picture of todays multi-culture policy is a big mistake. On national policy level, it is much better for minorities to accept principles based on white Christian culture. I am not confusing culture with politics because culture is the infrastructure of politics. I hope minority groups can fit in rather than change the politics because of their voting power. The later may make them comfortable now but likely hurts the future of this country. When I lived in China, I was not prosecuted. I immigrated to USA voluntarily because USA is prosperous. Hence, it is important for USA to be prosperous continuously (at least for 2-3 generations for my offspring). If not, my effort in immigration is wasted. While hoping USA to be prosperous, I am trying my efforts for myself and my sons to climb up in the social status. Contrarily, some immigrants and some minority just try to get as much as their share in this country without consideration of the long term prosperity of the whole country. I will not say white people have been very nice to legal immigrants or minorities. However, I do not believe minorities in power will be nicer to other minorities than white people. I have heard many examples that AA are very mean to Asians. Asians have been easy pick targets of crimes by some AA. I expect Asians in power in USA will be mean to other Asians in USA too as Asians in power in Asia are very mean to their citizens. Under such conditions, I have to hope white people in power to get the best for me as a Chinese immigrant. For example, AA and Latinos in California continues their efforts to enroll fewer Asians in UC campuses. I agree human being is born to be equal. However, culture/politics of a race or a nation, which has been formed over hundreds years, is not equal. For example, at the age of exploration and imperialism, Spain and England both set up multiple colonies. Several modern countries are developed from colonies set up by Spain and several modern countries are developed from the colonies set up by England. English speaking countries have performed much better than Spanish speaking countries. Do you believe this is solely caused by random history events? Leaving faith value alone, worldly, a culture/politics based on protestant and industrialization is better than a culture/politics based on Catholic and agriculture (in 15-17th century, Spain was still dominated by agriculture). To handle a person and the heritage of his culture/politics, we need to use a theory similar to the teaching in church that we should not despise a sinner but we should criticize the sin that a sinner is with. Hence, USA should welcome immigrants from different cultures, but not let their heritage significantly affect the progress of the mainstream culture/politics. Not to mention the heritage of some immigrants with culture/politics in whose homelands being generally hostile to core values in USA. Also, I do not believe that IQ of certain race is significantly inferior to another race. However, the culture of AA has just dragged them behind. I do not think AA after 1990 (one generation after 1965 when most racial based bans removed) can complain their failure to the politics. Families in my village had been disadvantaged for > 200 years as farmers in small village without any special resources. As soon as the opportunity opened to us in early 1980s (enrollment to college only by test score and allowance of migrate working), averagely, we became as successive as other regions in X'X'X Province in 20 years. The values of their culture damage them more than anything else. I do not want Asians and AA become hostile to each other by comparing them. As this is communication among family members, I can say it. I will not say Asians are more moral in all aspects, but apparently Asians have much more family values. People used to be able to succeed with merely physical strength (ready ~14 years old) and wisdom in common sense. However, now, people are much more likely to succeed with professional training (ready after ~22 years old and paid education), which is much more available with family support. Such family support is based on how rich your family is and how much sacrifice your family will take. Many AA families are not rich and do not want to sacrifice. Asian immigrants are much more believing in knowledge (especially STEM). A person without knowledge to compete in this society is similar to an army to fight without tanks, airplanes, missiles after 1950. After I have compared between China and USA for years, I believe the success of Chinese economy is most importantly due to the total openness to STEM knowledge (sure it may be bad without any moral, environment, and faith consideration). Today, pushing changes outside AA will not improve their society as much as promoting changes internally. However, it is politically incorrect to propose such movement (e.g., strengthen families in AA community, push them to study). According to methodology, change is always dependent on both external conditions and internal conditions. Actually, internal condition is more critical. Today, many movements for AA are just to give them nicer policy. For example, the movement of black life matter is against policing and regulation. Frankly speaking, policing and regulation is actually helping disadvantaged groups (including Asian immigrants). Without policing and regulation, AA can be abused by white gang groups easily. I believe minorities should fight for tolerance so that 1) they can compete with all other people in job market and professional training fairly (with the same criteria); 2) they can practice some life habits in private life. For example, they can have their food habits without discrimination. They can set up business for their convenience. However, it is not wise to use their culture to influence national politics or to use their voting power to override national interest. For example, Latinos should not use their voting power to legalize illegal immigrants. Immigrated Chinese and ABC should not influence foreign relationship with China either. Many people will say multi-culture policy will promote understanding by promoting events for original culture of immigrants. With international travel becoming easy, it will be more effective to use these resources to promote international travel to these countries. To understand Chinese culture, it is much better to order a box of in a street side restaurant in Shanghai than to have some orange chicken in a multi-culture fair in County Fair. 3. Recently, many young people are misled by liberal social science. They want to change as quick as possible. They believe policy fit idealism always works (e.g., free tuition for public college; accept as many refugee as possible). They want to criticize history events and history heroes using todays standards (e.g., many students in Yale want the name of President Wilson be removed from the campus). Additionally, some just want to change so that they can take advantage under the slogan of love, fair and share. A country as big as USA is similar to a fast running train. It is painful to feel that speeding is dragged behind. However, it is more painful for the train to be derailed due to fast braking or fast turning. Idealism often leads to bad results. Revolution introduced more problems than problems solved. Communism movement has given us a failed example of idealism, which got into power just 100 years ago and phased out just 30 years ago. Some people used some dark side of USA history to mislead young people. First, every person who succeeded has dark side of his past. Also, every country has its dark sides in history. Sure, we should reform so that we do not repeat the dark side. However, it is not wise to use confirmed or not confirmed dark side of our history to remove our respect and pride for our precedents, or even worse dissolving unity among the people. More importantly, the success of this country has not been determined by such called dark sides. Fact 1: black slave I admit that AA had not been treated nicely or fairly. However, exploitation of them is not the keystone of the economy development of this country. First, this country became one of top developed countries mainly because of the industrialization, which mainly occurred in north with white workers, but exploitation of black slaves mainly occurred in the south farms. Second, black people were treated even worse in their homeland. Third, African rulers who had exploited their citizens more cruelly had not developed any successive country. A similar story: there are about 400 K Chinese came to USA ~ 1850 and were used similarly as slaves to build the railroad from east to California. They had not been treated nicely and fairly either. The same argument: first, poor Chinese ~ 1850 in China itself were treated even worse than these Chinese in California. Many of them were admired as successive men in their villages because of the gold coin they sent back, which worth a lot in China. I have heard such heroes in villages <5 miles from my village. Second, they could not accomplish any if not worked in the system of USA. There ~ 400 million people in China then. At least 10% (~ 40 million) worked similar to salve as these Chinese in California. There was no railroad or other engineering projects built ~ 1850 in China. Fact 2: USA took Texas and California from Mexico directly or indirectly by imperial invasion. These two states contributed a lot to USA. Texas and California are not better in natural conditions than the lands in todays Mexico. Why Texas and California became rich and Mexico did not? One explanation for the success of USA is that USA contacts both Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Does Mexico contact both Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean too? Fact 3: USA policing the world If USA does not do anything to a world crisis, many people will complain that USA is not responsible as the #1 power in this world. Such a dilemma of many liberal people is similar to a joke: many wish God sees any good thing he did, but blind to any bad thing he did. I agree that, as #1 power in the world, USA polices the world based on not only righteous principles but also its interest. But, what is the alternative? The world has experienced the leadership of Russia when Russia was strong (1930-1990). AS a Chinese, I have read about the leadership of Strong Japan in East Asia (1850-1945). Japan tried to be leader in East Asia, but so brutal to Chinese, their biggest neighbor. The hate between these two countries will not dissolve in 100 years. Some people expect the leadership of strong China. I am not optimistic about it. As we have seen, while USA can have peace with its neighbors, China has trouble with most of its neighbors. I do agree: 1) the difference among peoples income is too big. With the progress of globalization, the benefits are almost all taken by businessmen and management elites, but little to workers. USA should help poor workers, not just have welfare for unemployed and economy expansion for businessmen. recalled its ambassador to UNESCO for consultations on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, after a second resolution accused of denying the Jewish connection to Jerusalem. "The theatre of the absurd continues and I decided to recall our ambassador for consultation," Netanyahu said in a statement. "We will decide what the next steps will be." The UNESCO World Heritage Committee adopted a resolution earlier today saying it was "deeply concerned" by Israeli building works and archeological excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem. It refers throughout to the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif religious complex, without using the Israeli name "Temple Mount," according a copy seen by AFP. The site is the third holiest in Islam and the most holy in Judaism. Senior Palestinian figure Saeb Erekat hailed the resolution, saying it "aims at reaffirming the importance of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam." The heritage committee, made up of 21 member states, adopted by consensus the text proposed by Kuwait, Lebanon and Tunisia. The vote comes eight days after a resolution of UNESCO's Executive Council on the same theme that infuriated . A man with an axe destroyed Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday in a video protest over sexual misconduct allegations dogging the Republican presidential candidate. The protester, dressed in city construction worker overalls, can be seen on footage posted to YouTube and several other websites hacking away the gold lettering and camera logo from the tribute. Giving his name as James Otis, he calmly explains he is "terribly upset" with 70-year-old Trump, who vigorously denies claims by almost a dozen women that he groped or was sexually aggressive toward them. "Four of my family members were sexually assaulted," he says in the video, an amateur clip which appeared to show at least one professional crew filming the incident. The man told a local news agency he had originally intended to remove the entire star from the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard. He said he was going to auction it and donate the proceeds to Trump's alleged victims -- every single one of whom the real estate tycoon has vowed to sue after the November 8 election -- but was unable to lift the slab. "It was very difficult. The stone was like marble -- hard to get through," he said about an hour after the 5.45 am attack on the star, awarded in 2007 for Trump's work on "The Apprentice". He added that he planned to surrender to police, either today or tomorrow, but was still working out arrangements with his attorney. "I'm not frightened of jail and I'm certainly not frightened of Mr Trump," he said, claiming to have been arrested around two dozen times for protesting various causes. There was no immediate response from Trump, but the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which awards the honours, said the star would be repaired in the coming days and would remain covered in the meantime. "When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalise a California state landmark," chamber head Leron Gubler said. This is not the first time Trump's Walk of Fame star has been targeted. In July, a Los Angeles street artist built a tiny wall of wooden planks topped with barbed wire around it, in protest at Trump's campaign vow to build a wall on the Mexican border. Last year, excrement was left on the star and someone drew a large yellow X over it. A swastika and a mute symbol were also drawn on the red tile earlier this year. Russia angrily accused the United Nations' aid chief of bias and arrogance after he told the Security Council that had become a "kill zone" under Russian and Syrian bombs. The accusations in turn drew sharp responses from the United States, Britain and France in one of the stormiest council sessions on Syria in weeks. Russia is facing pressure at the United Nations to rein in its Syrian ally and halt the air strikes in rebel-held east Aleppo, where 250,000 civilians have been living under siege since July. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien yesterday said he was "incandescent with rage" over the council's failure to take action, deploring that "nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering." With food growing scarce, "civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow," said O'Brien. " has essentially become a kill zone." Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin shot back, accusing O'Brien of making "arrogant remarks" and failing to recognise that Russia had declared a humanitarian pause that he maintained had been holding for eight days. "If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church," Churkin quipped. The ambassador blamed opposition rebels and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists for the failure at the weekend of a UN plan to evacuate the wounded from and charged that the UN official was not objectively presenting the facts. "Please leave this kind of report to a novel that you might write one day," said Churkin. The pause declared by Damascus and Moscow ran out at 1600 GMT on Saturday, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported there were air strikes afterwards against an opposition-controlled district in Aleppo. Yesterday, air strikes hit a school in rebel-held Idlib province, killing at least 35 civilians including many children, according to the observatory. US Ambassador Samantha Power took the floor to criticise Russia, saying it had never worked cooperatively with the United Nations during the pauses to ensure humanitarian relief. "You don't get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week," said Power. The US ambassador insisted the goal of the Russian and Syrian bombing campaign was to "make civilians relent and cry uncle" and again challenged Moscow's argument that it is fighting terrorists. Senator Bernie Sanders is calling on the government to block a proposed $85 billion merger of communications giants AT&T and Time Warner. The Vermont independent and former contender for the Democratic presidential nomination warned in a yesterday letter to President Barack Obama's Justice Department that the merger would lead to less "competition and diversity of content" and would "provide consumers less while charging them more." There is bipartisan opposition to the proposed acquisition by broadband and wireless provider AT&T of Time Warner, which owns CNN, HBO and Warner Bros. "When one giant company owns both the content and the means of distribution, there is a clear disincentive to provide additional choices to consumers," Sanders said. Sanders warned that the proposed deal could lead to a wave of mergers in an already concentrated media industry. "The media and telecommunications landscape is changing. It is important that public policy concerns guide these changes, so that we may preserve our democratic discourse and open competitive markets for speech and commerce," Sanders wrote. Donald Trump has swung against the merger but Hillary Clinton has been more cautious. A Clinton spokesman said Sunday that there are "a number of questions and concerns" about the merger "but there's still a lot of information that needs to come out before any conclusions should be reached. The crash in prices over a month, due to a better than expected crop and increased arrivals, has had exporters starting to look at signing of contracts for future shipments. The price of in the current Samvat (the Hindu year now coming to a close) broke a three-year losing streak, when investors in and silver were losing money. Hours after the Delhi Police arrested a staffer of the Pakistan High Commission on espionage charges, another Pakistani spy has been arrested from Rajasthan. The arrested Pakistani spy identified as Shoaib is being brought to the capital for further interrogation. This comes as the Indian authorities arrested two citizens and expelled Pakistani High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar for "espionage activities" on Thursday. Earlier today, a Delhi Court sent the two arrested Pakistani spy to 12 days police remand. Crime Branch Joint Commissioner Ravindra Yadav told the media in New Delhi that the documents recovered from the High Commission staffer include defence deployment maps, details of BSF staff and other visa-related documents. Islamabad, however, strongly rebuked the allegation and condemned India's move to declare the Pakistan High Commission's staffer as Persona Non Grata (PNG). Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit also denied the accusations of espionage levelled by the Indian Government, saying Islamabad never indulges in activities that are incompatible with its diplomatic status. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 26 people, most of them school children, have been killed in airstrikes by Syrian or Russian warplanes in a village in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province, rescue workers and a monitoring group have said. The Syrian civil defence rescue workers' network said on its Facebook account that a residential area and a school in Haas village were hit by raids on Wednesday. Syria's civil war pits President Bashar al-Assad - backed by Russia, Iran and Shia Muslim militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan - against an array of mostly Sunni Muslim rebel groups, including some backed by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the US, reports the Guardian. Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said: "It's horrible, I hope we were not involved. It's the easiest thing for me to say no, but I'm a responsible person, so I need to see what my ministry of defence is going to say." Idlib holds the largest populated area controlled by rebels - both nationalist groups under the banner of the Free Syrian Army and Islamist ones including the former al-Qaida affiliate Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. According to the civil defence network, which operates in rebel-held areas in the country, 20 children had died in Wednesday's attacks. Visuals of the site showed buildings were reduced to rubble, including what appeared to be a school with upturned desks and chairs covered in dust. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, has said that several locations in Haas were struck by the warplanes including an elementary and middle school, killing at least one teacher as well as children, though it gave a lower toll of 15 children killed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal Prime Minister Kamal Dahal has accepted an invitation from the United Arab Emirates to attend the Future Energy Summit from January 16, 2017. According to a statement issued by the Nepal's PM's Secretariat, UAE Ambassador to Nepal Al Naqei handed over a formal letter of invitation to Dahal, reports the Himalyan Times. Assuring Nepal that it could take a great benefit from the summit, Ambassador Al Naqei also made it clear that the Nepal has been invited for the first time to the event. Prime Minister Dahal expressed his interest to attend the programme. Bilateral relationships and mutual interests between Nepal and the UAE were also discussed between the two. Ambassador Al Naqei was requested by Prime Minister Dahal to provide blanket amnesty to Amar Bam of Darchula district who is on death row in the UAE for the last eleven years. Bam has been languishing in the Al Abira Central Jail in Dubai as he was accused of murdering an Indian national, Sharad Shetty in 2003. Mentioning the friendly relations between the two countries since long, Ambassador Al Naqei said he would be discussing the issue once he reaches the UAE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The WWF's Living Planet Report 2016 has ranked India fifth in terms of bio-capacity - an ecosystem's capacity to produce resources such as food, fibre and renewable raw materials and absorb carbon dioxide. While Indians have a low personal carbon footprint at an individual level, it is a challenge when aggregated by population size. This equation will be further affected as wealth grows and consumption patterns change. India's carbon footprint currently makes up 53 percent of the country's overall ecological footprint. Speaking on the same, Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF-India said, "Our consumption patterns and the way we look at our natural world are constantly shaping the future of our planet. At WWF-India we believe that the power to build a resilient planet for future generations lies in our understanding of how we are moving into this new epoch that scientists are calling the Anthropocene and adopting sustainable practices that decrease humanity's impacts on the planet. We need to come together as a global community and address the threats to biodiversity to protect our environment, as well as our economic and social structures." The report also says that global wildlife populations could decline by an average of 67 percent between 1970-2020, as a result of human activities. It indicates that global populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have already declined by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012, the most recent year with available data. This places the world on a trajectory of a potential two-thirds decline within a span of the half-century ending in 2020. The report also highlights the magnitude of human impact on the planet and highlights the changes needed in the way society is fed and fuelled. "Wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate," said Dr. Marco Lambertini, International Director General, WWF. "This is not just about the wonderful species we all love; biodiversity forms the foundation of healthy forests, rivers and oceans. Take away species, and these ecosystems will collapse along with the clean air, water, food and climate services that they provide us. We have the tools to fix this problem and we need to start using them now if we are serious about preserving a living planet for our own survival and prosperity." According to the report, the top threats to species are directly linked to human activities, including habitat loss, degradation and over exploitation of wildlife. The report's findings provide additional evidence that the planet is entering completely unchartered territory in its history in which humanity is shaping changes on the Earth, including a possible sixth mass extinction. Researchers are already calling this period the Anthropocene - an era in which human activities are influencing changes in the climate and the environment. The 2016 edition of the Living Planet Report states that food production to meet the complex demands of an expanding human population is the primary factor responsible for the destruction of habitats and over-exploitation of wildlife. At present, agriculture occupies about one-third of the Earth's total land area and accounts for almost 70 per cent of water use. Looking ahead, however, 2020 is also a year of great promise. In that year, commitments made under the Paris climate deal will kick in, and the first environmental actions under the globe's new sustainable development plan are due. If implemented, these measures, along with meeting international biodiversity targets set for 2020, can help achieve the reforms needed in the world's food and energy systems to protect wildlife across the globe. The Living Planet Report 2016 highlights the fact that we need to rethink how we produce, consume, and value the natural environment. It also illustrates the positive momentum that is building by highlighting recent global agreements on climate change and sustainable development. In particular, the report recognizes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as an essential guide to decision-making that can ensure that the environment is valued alongside economic and social interests. Living Planet Report 2016: Risk and resilience in a new era is the eleventh edition of WWF's biennial flagship publication. The report tracks over 14,000 vertebrate populations of over 3,700 species from 1970 to 2012. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking a strong note of growing political interference on the triple talaq issue, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) executive member Dr. Asma Zehra on Thursday said the rights given by the Constitution of India to the followers of Islam cannot be taken away from them either by the government or the court. "We have assembled here to send a message across the nation that Muslim women are happy with the Muslim Personal Law, they are secured and all their rights are protected. And no one should try to interfere in that," said Dr. Zehra at a press conference here. She warned that any interference in the Muslim Personal Law in the name of triple talaq would not at all be tolerated by the Muslims Earlier, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "polarising voters" in the name of triple talaq and construction of Ram temple to ensure that the Bharatiya Janata Party wins the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Owaisi said the Prime Minister wants to make triple talaq the core issue for the 2017 elections instead of focussing on delivering good governance and corruption. "The Prime Minister's statement clearly shows that the BJP wants to make triple talaq an important issue for the upcoming UP elections. Instead of making governance, corruption, the Samajwadi Party infighting, the Prime Minister wants to make triple talaq and the construction of Ram mandir core issues of the BJP's campaign in UP," Owaisi told ANI. "Why didn't the Prime Minister say that separation in divorce is not highest among the Muslims; why didn't he talk about that agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh should also be given to daughters of all religion and the Muslim Personal Law Board has passed the resolution asking the UP government to give it to Muslim girls; why didn't he say that marriage laws in Goa would be removed, because he is facing elections in Goa, where limited polygamy is allowed to our Hindu brothers," he added. However, founder of the Haji Ali Sabke Liye movement Feroze Mithiborwala has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his statement that the triple talaq issue should not be treated as a Hindu-Muslim matter, adding that this comment signals the emergence of a positive and liberal climate across the country. Mithiborwala also lashed out at the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) for creating fear psychosis among Muslims on the issue of the Uniform Civil Code. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday ordered the capital administration not to allow a shutdown of the city on November 2 during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)'s proposed lockdown on November 2. Government authorities have been directed by the court to follow all legally available courses to stop the protest in any part of the capital other than the designated "Democracy Park and Speech Corner," reports the Dawn. The space has been designated by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in 2014 for political activities such as sit-ins and protests. The directions were issued by the court while hearing four petitions, seeking the PTI to withdraw its decision to lockdown Islamabad. The petitions had also sought an immediate arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan who has been declared absconder by an anti-terrorist court. While hearing the case, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, issued orders to summon PTI Chief Imran Khan in person on October 31 and also directed PEMRA authorities to produce records of Khan's speeches in which he had announced plans to shut down Islamabad on November 2. Justice Siddiqui in his remarks has expressed displeasure over Imran Khan's announcements and the administration's behaviour. The judge questioned that under which law Imran Khan has been announcing plans to shut down Islamabad on Nov 2. He remarked that "Only Judiciary is the third umpire," He further stated that the government has been paralysed and the administration and police are busy in only holding meetings. The capital city administration has been directed by Justice Siddiqui to ensure smooth running of daily business in Islamabad on November 2 and hospital, schools, markets will remain open on the day. He added that no container should be placed on roads on November 2. Justice Siddiqui said that they will not let rights violation of any citizen happen. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Arunachal Pradesh governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul's reported suicide. Talking to ANI, Rajkhowa said, people of Arunachal are generally very skeptical about the facts and circumstances leading to the unwanted, uncalled for and most sudden death of Kalikho Pul. "I won't call it suicide, nor call it murder because judiciary has to decide this. People have been demanding, the intellectual, senior citizens, intellectuals, various public organization on media and social media that there should be thorough investigation on death of their popular leader Kalikho Pul. He was named the 'peoples chief Minister' by the people of Arunachal Pradesh. There should be investigation with an agency like CBI because there is public outcry without any political pressure As a governor, I have to send reports. There should be a thorough investigation," he said. "He (Kalikho Pul) has done miracles..People are very agitated over his sudden death in a tragic manner which has never happened to any Chief Minister. Many senior citizens and intellectuals met me after I resumed that the matter has to be taken very seriously. Some people claims that it is a suicide and some others say it wasn't," he added. Pul's body was found hanging at his Itanagar chief minister's bungalow on August 9. Pul had led a group of dissident Congress legislators against then chief minister Nabam Tuki before taking over the reins of the state on February 19. He had to give up his Chief Minister's post in July following the Supreme Court's reinstating the government of Nabam Tuki who made way for Pema Khandu as the 10th Chief Minister of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police crime branch on Wednesday detained Pakistan's High Commission official Mehmood Akhtar in connection with espionage. Mehmood Akhtar, who holds a diplomatic passport, has been detained at the crime branch office in Chanakyapuri and is being questioned. Arrest was made on the tip-off by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The official has the diplomatic immunity so the final decision would be taken by the Ministry of External Affairs, said police sources. Police sources claimed that the Pakistan High Commission official was arrested with confidential documents. Taking into account the seriousness of issue, the Ministry of External Affairs has summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit. Akhtar has been working with the Pakistan High Commission in India for the past three years. Police suspect an insider of leaking information, plans and strategy papers to Akhtar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A majority of political parties in Pakistan have opposed the proposed ban on public rallies and advertisements during the 2018 elections and expressed reservations over various other clauses of the draft code of conduct prepared by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The representatives of 16 parties had expressed their concerns in the parliament during a consultative meeting held on the proposed code of conduct for 2018 elections, reports the Dawn. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), retired Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan, presided over the meeting. However, the meeting was not attended by any party heads. Speaking to reporters, ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad said that all political parties have been asked by the commission to submit written proposals on the code of conduct. Confirming that most of the parties had reservations over the proposed ban on public rallies, he said a suggestion was made during the meet that the commission should allow one public rally in each constituency However, political parties agreed on a proposal for ban on panaflex and banners. The ECP secretary said that all the parties had expressed their determination to empower the commission. During the meeting, CEC Justice Raza observed that by imposing a ban on public rallies and processions the loss of precious lives and excessive use of money in polls could be prevented. He said that the ECP is empowered by the Constitution to conduct free and fair elections and guard against corrupt practices. Citing the provisions of Representation of Peoples Act, Raza said that the commission has the authority to stop the blatant use of money in electoral exercises. The CEC stated that they are making preparations to hold free, fair and impartial elections in 2018 and added that the draft code of conduct had been prepared in the light of the Supreme Court's verdict in the Watan Party case. Claiming that transparent census and delimitation were a must for fair elections, Senator Usman Kakar of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party said that 30 per cent delimitation had been made at the whim of influential people. Latif Khosa of the Pakistan Peoples Party stated that returning and district returning officers should be drawn from among the ECP officials. Terming the proposed ban on public rallies during election campaigns against democratic norms, he said that a big public gathering must be allowed in each constituency, in addition to corner meetings Besides consulting political parties, a public hearing on the code of conduct was propsed by Dr Arif Alvi of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. He said that an announcement should be made by ECP that an action would be entailed by documentary evidence about violation of the code of conduct. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Pranab Mukherjee will pay a three-day state visit to Nepal beginning on November 2 at the invitation of his counterpart Bidya Devi Bhandari. A high-level delegation will accompany the President. This will be the first visit of a President of India to Nepal in 18 years. During the visit, President Mukherjee will hold talks with his Nepalese counterpart and have meetings with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and other leaders on a wide array of issues of mutual interests. The state visit reflects the priority that India attaches to further strengthening its age-old, unique partnership with Nepal and shared historical and cultural linkages and wide-ranging people to people contacts. Apart from official engagements in Kathmandu, President Mukherjee will also visit Janakpur and Pokhara. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Pranab Mukherjee today paid floral tributes to former President of India Kocheril Raman Narayanan on the occasion of his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan here. The President, officers and various staff members paid tributes in front of a portrait of Narayanan in the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Narayanan was the tenth President of India. He served as ambassador to Japan, United Kingdom, Thailand, Turkey, People's Republic of China and United States of America and was referred to by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as "the best diplomat of the country". He entered politics at Indira Gandhi's request and won three successive general elections to the Lok Sabha and served as a Minister of State in the Union Cabinet under former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Elected as the ninth Vice President in 1992, Narayanan went on to become President in 1997. He was the first - and, so far, only - member of the Dalit community, to hold the post. Narayanan died on November 9 in 2005 at the age of 85. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On 9 November 2016 Amit Spinning Industries will hold a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company on 9 November 2016, to consider and approve Unaudited Financial Results of the Company for the half year ended 30 September 2016. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratification of an Agreement between India and Estonia on the transfer of sentenced persons. Signing the Agreement shall facilitate the Indian prisoners imprisoned in Estonia or vice-versa to be near to their families, for serving remaining part of their sentence and shall facilitate their social rehabilitation. Background: Prior to 2004, there was no domestic Legislation under which foreign prisoners could be transferred to the country of their origin to serve the remaining part of their sentence, nor was there a provision for the transfer of prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court to serve their sentence in India. The transfer of such prisoners to their own native countries shall facilitate their social rehabilitation. Hence, the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 was enacted for serving the above purpose. For achieving the objectives of the Act, a Treaty/Agreement is required to be signed with countries having mutual interest with India and later to the notified in the Official Gazette. The Government of India has so far signed bilateral Agreements on Transfer of Sentenced Persons with United Kingdom, Mauritius, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Brazil, Israel, Bosnia & Herzegovina, UAE, Italy, Turkey, Maldives-, Thailand, Russian Federation, Kuwait, Viet Nam, Australia, Hong Kong, Qatar, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Bahrain. So far total 65 prisoners have been exchanged, out of which 55 were Indians. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Transfer of land to Government entities also approved The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the budgetary support to HMT for payment of outstanding salary / wages and other employee related dues. It also approved closure of HMT Tractor Division by offering attractive VRS / VSS at 2007 notional pay scales. It will have a financial implication (cash outgo) of Rs. 718.72 crore for payment of outstanding salary, wages and statutory dues, VRS/VSS ex-gratia payments and clearing of Tractor Division's liabilities towards Bank, creditors etc. The Cabinet has also given its approval for transfer of selected small parcels of HMT land at Banglore and Kochi to different Government entities for their use in larger public interest. Background: HMT, a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises of the Government of India was established at Bangalore in 1953 with the objective of producing machine tools required for building an industrial edifice for the country. HMT played a key role in laying the foundation for evolution of engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the country. HMT Tractor Division was established in Pinjore, Haryana in 1971 to manufacture HMT Tractors. Performance of the company started to decline in the '90s, in the post liberalisation economic environment with rising costs, stiff competition from international players and availability of imported goods at cheaper rates. Several efforts were made in past to arrest the declining trend but it could not succeed to turn around. HMTL's profit making tractor business was affected due to poor off-take, under-utilisation of capacity and working capital constraints, etc. It was observed that continuation in Tractor Business with its insignificant market share in the sector may not be a financially viable and sustainable option for HMT Ltd., and hence it would be prudent to close the tractor business, make an exit from this segment and focus on the core sector of machine tools. The Tractor Division has been incurring losses continuously and is unable to pay the salaries and other statutory dues of its employees. The employees of Tractor Division based at Pinjore have not been paid salary since July, 2014 and other statutory dues are also pending since Nov., 2013. The statutory dues (Terminal benefits, PF, Gratuity, Leave encashment etc.) are also pending for the employees of other Divisions of HMTL [Corporate Head Office(CHO), Common Service Division(CSD) and Food Processing Machinery unit, Aurangabad (FPA)]. In view of the deteriorating position of the company and hardship being faced by the employees due to non-payment of salary / wages and other retirement dues, it has been decided to close down the Tractor Division of HMT Ltd by offering attractive VRS / VSS to its employees and clearing all their dues. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for one time relaxation of Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) cost norms for implementation of PM's Special package for Jammu & Kashmir towards restoration of damaged horticulture areas and development of horticulture in State. CCEA approved the following: a. Import of planting material at the maximum rate of Rs.460 per plant for 329 hectares of new apple orchards and restoration of 3900 hectares of old damaged apple orchards. The rate of financial assistance shall be 90% i.e 90% shall be borne by the Government and 10% by the beneficiary farmer. b. Import of 4 wire trellis system at the rate of Rs.9.8 lakh per ha for 329 ha of new apple orchards. The rate of financial assistance shall be 50% i.e. 50% shall be borne by the Government and 50% by the beneficiary farmer. c. Applicability of MIDH cost norms for the interventions approved for implementation of PM's Package in J&K till financial year 2018-19. d. Additional fund requirement of Rs. 111.89 crore, Rs. 171.66 crore, and 166.48 crore amounting to Rs. 450 crore in FY 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively as 90% Government of India share in the overall package of Rs.500 crore. PM's special package for J&K included Rs.500 crore towards restoration of damaged horticulture areas and development of horticulture in the State. One time relaxation in MIDH cost norms was approved for import of special varieties of plants for better survival, early flowering and enhanced fruiting apple planting materials and four wire trellies system which may increase the productivity 3-4 times. It will benefit about 21,000 orchardists located in more than 491 villages where horticulture areas of more than 5200 ha. was severely damaged by floods/landslides in September 2014. CCEA approval would help in setting up of 329 ha of new apple orchards and restoration of 3900 ha of damaged orchards over a period of 3 years with overall financial implication of Rs. 500 crores with Rs. 450 crores as central share. High and medium density apple plantation would generate round the year employment for 3300 and 18,000-20,000 people respectively. These initiatives will also result in employment in allied sectors such as grading/packing units. CA/Cold storage units and transportation sector etc. As the high density plantation involves technology and regular up keep of orchards, therefore, it will also result in wage enhancement n overall horticulture sector due to the increase in the farmer's income as a result of the increase productivity. It may be recalled that in 2014, the State had suffered due to the devastating floods of September, 2014. The infrastructure was destroyed due to floods. After the floods, the Prime Minister visited Kashmir on 23rd October, 2014 to spend time with those who were affected by floods and understand their problems and status of their relief and rehabilitation work. He met many delegations, from political parties, from trade representatives, from NGOs and citizens groups. During his visit he talked about improving road connectivity and overall development of the State. He also announced to provide Rs.570 Cr. under Prime Ministers' National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for providing assistance for construction of houses of the affected families. An amount of Rs. 565 Cr. has been already provided to 2.18 lakh affected families directly through their bank accounts. The Government of India has been working on post flood long term reconstruction measures to improve the infrastructure in the State. The Government has been proposing to work towards development of key infrastructure in thrust sectors like Power, Health, Roads and Highways, Tourism, Textile, Food processing, HRD and Water resources etc. Considering above, and the commitment for development of the State of J&K, the Hon'ble PM on his visit to J&K State on 07.11.2015 announced Prime Minister's Development Package for the State of J&K with financial assistance of over Rs.80,000 Cr. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the side lines of the visit of the Prime Minister of New Zealand to India. The MoU is for collaboration for organizing an Education Summit 'Edutech 2017-Knowledge, Skill, Technology' in Auckland in 2017. Since education has been identified as one of the focussed sectors for collaboration between the two countries, the Summit would provide an ideal platform for bringing the people involved in the education sector on a common platform. The Summit is supported by the New Zealand Government. It is noteworthy that a number of members on the official business delegation of the Prime Minster of New Zealand are from the higher education sector and key members were present at this MoU signing. FICCI also signed a MoU with India Trade Alliance, New Zealand, to work together for taking initiatives for further enhancing India-New Zealand trade relations. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hero MotoCorp's net profit rose 27.74% to Rs 1004.22 crore on 15.33% increase in total income to Rs 8601.10 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin improved to its highest-ever 16.20% in Q2 September 2016, as against 14.91% in Q2 September 2015 aided by softer commodities and cost control measures. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp, said the highest-ever volume sales during the quarter is a reiteration of the overwhelming customer preference of the company's products. At the same time, the company has also delivered on its commitment of further strengthening its profitability by crossing the threshold Rs 1000 crore in PAT for the first time in a quarter. The domestic market has seen a revival in the past two quarters due to an above-average monsoon and positive consumer sentiment. The trend is expected to continue through the year and likely to result in double-digit growth for the industry. In the global markets, however, the industry continues to face headwinds due to volatile business environment driven by continued weakness in crude prices and sharp depreciation of local currencies. Meanwhile, in a separate announcement, Hero MotoCorp said that its board of directors approved an investment of up to Rs 205 crore, in one or more tranches, for approximately 26-30% shareholding in Ather Energy. Ather is a Bangalore-based technology start-up engaged in the business of designing and manufacturing smart Electric Vehicles (EV) and associated charging infrastructure. The said strategic investment is subject to execution of definitive agreements and completion of certain conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. As the market leader and a global automotive major, Hero MotoCorp takes the lead in many areas that benefit the environment, customer and the industry. Adoption of environment-friendly fuel is a priority for Hero MotoCorp, as is propagating sustainable manufacturing through green facilities. Hero MotoCorp intends to enhance its participation in the EV space by pursuing its internal EV program in addition to partnering with Ather. GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), JSW Steel, Jubilant Life Sciences, Maruti Suzuki India, ONGC, Tech Mahindra and TVS Motor Company will declare July-September 2016 quarter results today, 27 October 2016. Hindustan Unilever's (HUL) net profit rose 11.54% to Rs 1095.60 crore on 2.22% growth in total income to Rs 8733.09 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016. During the quarter, in a challenging context where market growth continued to be under pressure, HUL's domestic consumer business grew at 2% and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization) margin expanded by 60 basis points (bps), the company said. HUL's profit after tax before exceptional items, PAT (bei) grew by 9% to Rs 1082 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. Harish Manwani, Chairman of HUL commented that in challenging market conditions, the company delivered another quarter of profitable growth. The company remains focused on market development, consumer led innovations and an even sharper drive on operating efficiences. With a good monsoon, the company expects a gradual improvement in market demand and remain positive on the mid-long term outlook for the industry, Manwani said. HUL's strategic agenda of delivering consistent, competitive, profitable and responsible growth remains unchanged, he added. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries announced after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016, the execution of definitive agreements by its wholly owned subsidiary for the acquisition of 100% of Ocular Technologies, Sarl (OTS), a portfolio company of Auven Therapeutics (Auven), an international private equity company focused on accelerated development of breakthrough therapeutic drugs. OTS owns exclusive, worldwide rights to Seciera (cyclosporine A, 0.09% ophthalmic solution). Sun Pharma will pay Auven $40 million upfront, plus contingent development milestones and sales milestones as well as tiered royalty on sales of Seciera as consideration for this acquisition. Seciera is currently in a Phase-3 confirmatory clinical trial for the treatment of Dry Eye Disease, an inflammatory ocular disease affecting approximately 16 million people in the United States alone. Seciera is a patented, novel, proprietary formulation of cyclosporine A 0.09%. It is a clear, preservative-free, aqueous solution. In a completed Phase 2b/3 clinical trial in 455 patients, Seciera demonstrated a rapid onset of action and was well tolerated by the study population. Based on the published data in literature, the efficacy and safety endpoints in these trials compared favorably to other formulations of cyclosporine A. The transaction is subject to approval of the US Federal Trade Commission as required under the Hart-ScottRodino Act and other closing conditions, and is expected to be completed by end of 2016. State Bank of India (SBI) announced after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016, that a meeting of the central board of the bank is scheduled to be held on 29 October 2016 to consider raising of equity share capital through preferential issue of equity shares to the Government of India. Cummins India's net profit declined 0.53% to Rs 196.90 crore on 5.64% growth in total income to Rs 1429.13 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The company's gross sales rose 5% to Rs 1331 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016. Anant J. Talaulicar, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Cummins India said that the company's exports continue to face headwinds due to the macroeconomic situation. The company continues to make inroads and gain market share domestically, Anant said. Government led investments in roadways and railways continued to drive Cummins' sales growth in the industrial engine segment, the CMD added. Despite exports revenues remaining depressed, the company's strong focus on cost optimization and efficiency improvement has helped it sustain its profitability, Anant said. Cummins remains committed to investing in customer-centric, fit-for-market products and technologies as well as in leadership and diverse talent development to continue delivering profitable growth in the future, Anant said. Tata Power Company will be in focus. With reference to media report suggesting, "Ousted Tata Chief Says Group Faces $18 Billion in Writedowns," the company clarified after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016, that it has examined the news article with comments purported to have been made by ex-chairman of Tata Sons regarding the company's Mundra ultra power project. The company has always made all relevant disclosures, as required, and has no further comments to offer. Lakshmi Machine Works announced after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016, that its board of directors has approved the buyback of 3.11 lakh equity shares, or 2.76% equity, of the company at Rs 4,450 per share, aggregating to an amount of Rs 138.39 crore. Edelweiss Financial Services after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016 announced that ICRA has assigned the rating of '[ICRA]A1+' (ICRA A one plus) to the proposed short term debt programme of Rs 3000 crore of the company. CRISIL has assigned the rating of 'CRISIL A1+' (CRISIL A one plus) to the proposed short term debt issue of Rs 3000 crore of the company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sales reported at Rs 51.95 crore Net profit of Hinduja Ventures declined 0.04% to Rs 28.19 crore in the quarter ended September 2016 as against Rs 28.20 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2015. Sales reported to Rs 51.95 crore in the quarter ended September 2016. There were no Sales reported during the previous quarter ended September 2015.51.950109.86044.2328.5443.9428.2328.1928.20 Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the ground, there have been significant changes in Ease of Doing Business which are insufficiently captured in the latest World Bank Doing Business rankings. The Government has made much effort to improve the investment climate through a range of measures, including small enterprises, labour regulations, environmental clearances, and company registrations, among others, said Dr Naushad Forbes, President, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). This year's Doing Business report takes into account the position as of June 1, and therefore does not include crucial changes such as GST and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code which are taking effect later, noted Dr Forbes. The Doing Business report recognizes India's reforms in key parameters, but measures the investment climate only in Delhi and Mumbai. Many reforms that have taken place with the monitoring of DIPP at the state level are not considered and do not reflect in the countrywise ranking, pointed out Dr Naushad Forbes. CII has been working closely with all stakeholders including the World Bank, DIPP, and state governments as also industry to identify and resolve roadblocks to Ease of Doing Business. We find that the situation has significantly improved and we appreciate DIPP's constant focus on improving the investment climate, added Dr Forbes. The World Bank Doing Business 2017 report includes reform policies completed by June 1, 2016. Further, it considers the investment climate and procedures implemented in two cities of Mumbai and Delhi. As such, most of the progress taking place across the state governments is not incorporated in the Report. The Central Government has undertaken major policies in areas pertaining to legislation, which will translate into outcomes shortly. The progress on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an outstanding example of Center-State coordination and the introduction of the tax next year will transform the business environment and add to growth rates. Besides, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code will enable businesses to exit smoothly, said CII in its release. Noting the pace of reforms under DIPP's Ease of Doing Business mission, CII added that online administrative processes have been introduced rapidly. The Single Window Interface for Trade (SWIFT) provides approvals and integrates nine departments for facilitation of imports. INC-29 merges getting Director Identification Number, Name Approval and Incorporation into a single form, thereby reducing time taken for incorporation of a company. The World Bank does not recognize this since a third of new companies have used this platform from its inception in 2015 rather than half as required by the metric. Several measures introduced by the Central Government to facilitate micro, small and medium enterprises such as streamlining of inspections and self-certifications are also not part of the ten indicators covered by the World Bank. There has been considerable progress in these areas, said CII. In addition, online registration of ESIC and EPFO, as also other simplifications in labour regulations are not included in the ranking list. On environmental and forest clearances too, the Central Government has taken steps for fast-tracking approvals. The states have undertaken many reforms for Ease of Doing Business, emphasized CII. For example, in starting a business, Punjab, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and others have set up centers to clear new proposals in a time-bound manner. Many states have moved quickly on land acquisition, industrial clusters, and land banks. On labour reforms, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have worked on registration and licensing under various labour Acts. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, and other states have introduced best practices in resolving commercial disputes, while Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have facilitated payment of taxes. The spirit of competitive and cooperative federalism is kindling focus by states on attracting investors by building facilitative investment climates, noted Dr Forbes. As these procedures take time to evolve across the country, we are confident that the World Bank Doing Business Report in later years would reflect the improvement in Ease of Doing Business, concluded the CII President. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key benchmark indices extended losses and hit fresh intraday low in early afternoon trade. At 12:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 128.51 points or 0.46% at 27,708. The losses for the Nifty 50 index were higher in percentage terms than those for the Sensex. The Nifty 50 index was currently down 54.50 points or 0.63% at 8,560.75. Weakness in Asian stocks affected sentiment adversely. The Sensex and the Nifty, both, hit their fresh lowest level in more than a week. The Sensex lost 170.91 points or 0.61% at the day's low of 27,665.60 in early afternoon trade, its lowest level since 18 October 2016. The barometer index rose 7.11 points or 0.02% at the day's high of 27,843.62 in early trade. The Nifty lost 65 points or 0.75% at the day's low of 8,550.25 in early afternoon trade, its lowest level since 18 October 2016. The index fell 5.35 points or 0.06% at the day's high of 8,609.90 in early trade. In overseas stock markets, most Asian stocks dropped as investors reacted to a slew of earnings at companies from Samsung Electronics to Nintendo. Data showed that profit growth in China's industrial firms slowed in September from the previous month's rapid pace as several sectors showed weak activity, suggesting the world's second-biggest economy remains underpowered despite emerging signs of stability. Profits in September rose 7.7% to 577.1 billion yuan, slowing sharply from August's 19.5% jump, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). US stocks edged lower yesterday, 26 October 2016 as health care companies fell and Apple pulled technology companies down. Closer home, the broad market depicted weakness. There were more than two losers against every gainer on BSE. 1,631 shares fell and 776 shares rose. A total of 170 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently down 1.34%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently down 1.07%. The decline in both these indices was higher than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms. Capital goods stocks dropped. BEML (down 0.81%), Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) (down 1%), Havells India (down 0.23%), L&T (down 1.2%), Crompton Greaves (down 0.8%) and Siemens (down 1.33%) declined. Bank stocks dropped. Among public banks stocks, Canara Bank (down 0.86%), Union Bank of India (down 0.59%), Bank of India (down 0.57%), Punjab National Bank (down 1.08%) Syndicate Bank (down 0.27%), Indian Overseas Bank (down 0.19%), Andhra Bank (down 0.8%), Oriental Bank of Commerce (down 0.35%), Dena Bank (down 0.27%), and Indian Bank (down 1.59%) declined. State Bank of India (SBI) dropped 1.41%. The bank announced after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016, that a meeting of the central board of the bank is scheduled to be held on 29 October 2016 to consider raising of equity share capital through preferential issue of equity shares to the Government of India. Among private sector banks, Axis Bank (down 0.69%), ICICI Bank (down 0.74%), Kotak Mahindra Bank (down 0.86%), Yes Bank (down 2.47%), HDFC Bank (down 0.68%) and IndusInd Bank (down 1.41%) edged lower. Indian Hume Pipe Company rose 2.14% after net profit rose 208.65% to Rs 21.76 crore on 96.47% rise in net sales to Rs 450.28 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. In a separate announcement, Indian Hume Pipe Company said that its board recommended issuing bonus shares in the proportion of one bonus share for every one equity share held (1:1). The announcements were made after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016. Infibeam Incorporation rose 5.13% after the company said that it has entered into an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IL&FS Township & Urban Assets (ITUAL) for undertaking and implementing projects in digital space and e-commerce for Central Government, various State Governments and Private Partners. Infibeam Incorporation shall set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) which will be located at GIFT Two Building, GIFT City, Gandhinagar wherein the company will provide its state-of-the-art technology and office premises for expanding and implementing digital projects that would be implemented by SPV. The SPV will target indicative achievable revenue opportunity of Rs 1250 crore over a period of five years starting from year ending 31 March 2018 (FY 2018). The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With investment comittment of upto Rs 2.90 crore Reliance Capital has acquired more than 5% voting rights in iMonitor Solutions India. The company is engaged in home automation remote monitoring (Internet of Things). Reliance Capital has committed to make an investment of upto an amount of Rs 2.90 crore. The investment comprises of 235990 Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS), both at a price of Rs 123.49 per share. Upon allotment of 235990 CCPS, the voting right of Reliance Capital in iMonitor Solutions India on fully diluted basis is 19.94%. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A divergent trend was witnessed in key benchmark indices amid volatile session as traders rolled over positions in the futures & options (F&O) segment from the near month October 2016 series to November 2016 series. The near month October 2016 derivatives contracts expired today, 27 October 2016. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex rose 47.38 points or 0.17% at 27,883.89, as per the provisional closing data. The Nifty 50 index shed 2.30 points or 0.03% at 8,612.95, as per the provisional closing data. The Sensex rose 121.62 points or 0.43% at the day's high of 27,958.13 in late trade. The barometer index lost 170.91 points or 0.61% at the day's low of 27,665.60 in early afternoon trade, its lowest level since 18 October 2016. The Nifty gained 9.60 points or 0.11% at the day's high of 8,624.85 in late trade. The index lost 65 points or 0.75% at the day's low of 8,550.25 in early afternoon trade, its lowest level since 18 October 2016. In overseas stock markets, European stocks edged lower in volatile trade. Data showed UK GDP grew 0.5% in Q3, beating forecasts. Asian stocks witnessed mixed trend amid a slew of earnings. Data showed that profit growth in China's industrial firms slowed in September from the previous month's rapid pace as several sectors showed weak activity, suggesting the world's second-biggest economy remains underpowered despite emerging signs of stability. Profits in September rose 7.7% to 577.1 billion yuan, slowing sharply from August's 19.5% jump, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). US stocks edged lower yesterday, 26 October 2016 as health care companies fell and Apple pulled technology companies down. Closer home, the market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was weak. On BSE, 1,602 shares fell and 1,064 shares rose. A total of 260 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index provisionally dropped 1.04%. The BSE Small-Cap index provisionally fell 0.77%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex. The total turnover on BSE amounted to Rs 3251.98 crore, lower than turnover of Rs 3597.50 crore registered during the previous trading session. ONGC fell 0.02% after the company reported 6.27% rise in net profit to Rs 4974.92 crore on 9.76% decline in total income to Rs 19578.65 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced during market hours today, 27 October 2016. ONGC said that the board of directors of the company at a meeting held today, 27 October 2016 recommended 1:2 bonus issue. The board also approved Interim Dividend of Rs 4.50 per share for the year ending 31 March 2017 (FY 2017). Hero MotoCorp declined 3.12% after the company reported Q2 results. The company's net profit rose 27.74% to Rs 1004.22 crore on 15.33% increase in total income to Rs 8601.10 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin improved to its highest-ever 16.2% in Q2 September 2016, as against 14.91% in Q2 September 2015 aided by softer commodities and cost control measures. The company reported highest ever quarterly sales of 18.23 lakh units in Q2 September 2016, up 15.8% compared with 15.74 lakh units in Q2 September 2015. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp, said the highest-ever volume sales during the quarter is a reiteration of the overwhelming customer preference of the company's products. At the same time, the company has also delivered on its commitment of further strengthening its profitability by crossing the threshold Rs 1000 crore in net profit for the first time in a quarter. The domestic market has seen a revival in the past two quarters due to an above-average monsoon and positive consumer sentiment. The trend is expected to continue through the year and likely to result in double-digit growth for the industry. In the global markets, however, the industry continues to face headwinds due to volatile business environment driven by continued weakness in crude prices and sharp depreciation of local currencies. Meanwhile, in a separate announcement, Hero MotoCorp said that its board of directors approved an investment of up to Rs 205 crore, in one or more tranches, for approximately 26-30% shareholding in Ather Energy. Ather is a Bangalore-based technology start-up engaged in the business of designing and manufacturing smart Electric Vehicles (EV) and associated charging infrastructure. The strategic investment is subject to execution of definitive agreements and completion of certain conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. Maruti Suzuki India fell 0.07% to Rs 5,868 after net profit rose 60.18% to Rs 2398 crore on 30.52% growth in total income to Rs 21109.40 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced during market hours today, 27 October 2016. The stock hit a high of Rs 5,950.20 in intraday trade, which is a record high for the counter. Shares of Maruti Suzuki India saw pre-result upmove, gaining 4.71% in five trading days to settle at Rs 5,871.95 from its close of Rs 5,607.70 on 19 October 2016. Maruti Suzuki India's other income surged 71.58% to Rs 812.60 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The company's sales rose 18.4% to 4.18 lakh vehicles in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. Maruti Suzuki India's operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 35.3% to Rs 3037.40 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. Operating EBITDA margin expanded 80 basis points to 17.3% in Q2 September 2016 from 16.5% in Q2 September 2015. Maruti Suzuki India said that higher volumes leading to higher capacity utilisation, lower expenses on sales promotion and marketing and higher non-operating income contributed to increase in Q2 September 2016 profits. This was partially offset by foreign exchange movement, Maruti Suzuki India said. Hindustan Unilever shed 0.09% after net profit rose 11.54% to Rs 1095.60 crore on 2.22% growth in total income to Rs 8733.09 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016. During the quarter, in a challenging context where market growth continued to be under pressure, Hindustan Unilever (HUL)'s domestic consumer business grew at 2% and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization) margin expanded by 60 basis points (bps), the company said. HUL's profit after tax before exceptional items, PAT (bei) grew by 9% to Rs 1082 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. EBITDA rose 5.1% to Rs 1405 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. Harish Manwani, Chairman of HUL commented that in challenging market conditions, the company delivered another quarter of profitable growth. The company remains focused on market development, consumer led innovations and an even sharper drive on operating efficiences. With a good monsoon, the company expects a gradual improvement in market demand and remain positive on the mid-long term outlook for the industry, Manwani said. HUL's strategic agenda of delivering consistent, competitive, profitable and responsible growth remains unchanged, he added. HUL said that in the near term, it expects gradual improvement in market growth due to good monsoon. HUL expects sales growth to be positively impacted by recovery in markets. Further, it expects rising trend in input costs. The company said it will focus on volume growth and on improving operating margin. Dr Reddy's Laboratories rose 2.39% after the company announced that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with Gland Pharma, a globally recognized developer and manufacturer of sterile dosage forms, to market and distribute a diverse portfolio of eight injectable Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs). The portfolio is a mix of filed ANDAs pending approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and ANDAs that will be filed imminently, and comprised of generic injectables administered in hospitals and clinics in the US. The combined sale of branded and generic versions of the products in the US is approximately $1 billion MAT for the most recent twelve months ending in August 2016 according to IMS Health. Dr. Reddy's is aggressively developing its US injectable business and recently launched Paricalcitol Injection, a therapeutic equivalent generic version of Zemplar. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 October 2016. MRF slumped 6.34% after net profit fell 14.36% to Rs 385.29 crore on 0.62% increase in total income to Rs 3736.70 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015. The result was announced during trading hours today, 27 October 2016. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 10,500 people have to date been recorded as internally displaced as a result of the Mosul military operation in Iraq, a UN spokesman told reporters here Wednesday. "The majority of the displaced are sheltering in host communities while others are sheltering at three displacement camps outside of Mosul," Xinhua news agency quoted UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying. Humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance to displaced families and wherever access allows, he said. Iraqi security forces recaptured more villages last Tuesday from the IS militants, as part of a major offensive which started on October 17 in a bid to liberate the city of Mosul, the last major IS stronghold in Iraq. Mosul, nearly 400 km from Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control. --IANS vgu/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An engineer with the Nebraska Department of Roads visited with the Gage County Board of Supervisors this week to address ongoing and upcoming projects in the county. NDOR District 1 engineer Tom Goodbarn took questions from board members. County Board member Terry Jurgens expressed concern that work in southern Gage County is causing more traffic on Odell Road. He cited two traffic counts taken a year part as part of his concern. The first was done on April 28, 2015 and total trucks for the one-week period was 232, Jurgens said. On Oct. 4, 2016, total trucks was 698. Theres been a substantial increase in that truck traffic. Our concern is the Odell highway is going to look like yours pretty quick. That takes a lot of truck traffic, a lot of commerce, a lot of going down that road. In addition to concerns that added traffic that would otherwise be on the highways will damage roads, Jurgens also questioned why fines for speeding in those areas prompt a fine thats double what it would otherwise be. I dont understand why it says fines have to be doubled because it says road construction in that area if youre caught speeding over 45, Jurgens asked. Theres nobody working on that road. Goodbarn addressed this, saying statue requires fines to be doubled when changing a speed limit. The statues are written as such that the only way we can reduce the speed limit to 45 is if we put the signs up and the law says 'when workers present' so if somebody wants to come in and argue that, their ticket would be reduced, he said. Additionally, the work on Highway 112 between Highway 8 and Highway 77 should wrap up next year. These are the notices that are going to go out -- letters are going to go to the landowners, probably this week, he said. Everybody who lives on the route. Its all the way from (Highway) 8 to 77 and each individual will get this letterI got approval just yesterday that were going to be able to cash flow this one out so well be able to start in the spring and get it done next year. Also, a project on Highway 136 east of Beatrice is planned, but likely wont begin for around two years. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) declined to commit funds for a $14 billion dam project in Pakistan, authorities said. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," ADB president Takehiko Nakao said on Wednesday at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. He said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the Diamer-Bhasha dam on the river Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that while it was a very important project for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, it called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, Dawn online reported. "We haven't decided (whether to fund) this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date. The ADB was originally seen by Pakistan as the lead financier of the strategic project, which would have a water storage capacity of over six million acre feet and a power output of 4,500MW. Repeated efforts to rope the World Bank in as a co-lender failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from India for the project. Instead, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha, saying the government would simultaneously go ahead with both projects. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a two per cent hike in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, with effect from July 1 this year, said Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The decision will benefit more than 50 lakh government employees and more than 54 lakh pensioners, he said. "The cabinet has given its approval to release an instalment of DA to central government employees and DR to pensioners from July 1, representing an increase of two per cent of the revised basic pay/pension, to compensate for price rise," Jaitley said. He said that the increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, based on 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations. As per the formula, the government increases DA on the basis of the 12-month average of retail inflation, but does not consider price rise rate beyond a decimal point for reaching the deciding the DA rate. The government pays DA as a proportion of the basic pay to mitigate the impact of inflation. The pensioners too get the DR. The hike would cost the exchequer Rs 5,622.10 crore per annum. For the eight months (July 2016 to February 2017), the cost to exchequer will be Rs 3,748.06 crore. The government had last hiked the DA in March this year by six per cent to 125 per cent of the basic pay. In 2015, the DA was hiked in April by six per cent to 113 per cent of the basic pay and then to 119 per cent in September. --IANS mak/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the signing and ratification of an agreement between India and Estonia on the mutual transfer of persons convicted for various crimes. The agreement will facilitate repatriation of Indian prisoners imprisoned in Estonia or vice versa to be jailed at facilities near to their family homes for the remaining part of their incarceration and also facilitate their social rehabilitation, an official statement said. Prior to 2004, there was no legislation in India under which foreign prisoners could be transferred to the countries of their origin to serve the remaining part of their sentence, nor was there any provision for the transfer of prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court to serve their sentence in India. India has so far signed bilateral agreements on transfer of convicts with the United Kingdom, Mauritius, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia. So far, 65 prisoners have been repatriated under the agreement, of which 55 were Indians, the statement said. --IANS sk/tsb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fences are being erected in some countries to keep out migrants and refugees, but this only aids the criminal organisations who traffick human beings, said Wednesday. "Today, the current economic crisis, unfortunately, fosters attitudes of closure instead of welcome," Francis told pilgrims at his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square. "In some parts of the world walls and barriers are being built. But this actually ends up favouring criminal trafficking," he stated. The only solution to the phenomenon of migration is solidarity, Francis said. "Solidarity with the migrant, solidarity with the 'foreigner'. It appears that the silent work of men and women who, in different ways, do what they can to help and assist refugees and migrants, is being drowned out by the noise made by those who give voice to an instinctive egoism." The growing influx of refugees fleeing war, famine and dire poverty requires Christians to welcome and care for them, as they have done through the ages, said Francis. "Dioceses, parishes, religious institutes, organisations and individual Christians: we are all called to welcome our brothers and sisters who are fleeing war, hunger, violence and cruel conditions of life. "As followers of Christ, may we never close our hearts to those in need." The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday ordered the capital administration not to place any containers or block roads during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)'s scheduled "lockdown" of Islamabad on November 2. The court directed government authorities to follow the legal course in case of protest anywhere in the capital other than the designated spot called "Democracy Park and Speech Corner", Dawn online reported. The space was designated by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in 2014 for political activities such as sit-ins and protests. The court issued the directions while hearing four petitions, seeking the PTI to withdraw its decision to lockdown Islamabad. The petitions also sought immediate arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan who was declared absconder by an anti-terrorist court. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, while hearing the case, issued orders to summon Khan in person on October 31. He also directed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) authorities to produce records of Khan's speeches in which he announced plans to shut down Islamabad. Justice Siddiqui directed the capital city administration to ensure smooth running of daily business in the capital city. Hospital, schools, markets will remain open on the day, he added. --IANS ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Urging policymakers and experts attending an international conference here to find new solutions for tuberculosis -- new diagnostics, new drugs, shorter regimens and an effective vaccines -- Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, a TB survivor, said everyone has a role to play in ending the epidemic. In his video message to nearly 4,000 delegates and participants from 130 countries at 47th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Liverpool on Wednesday, Bachchan stressed on the importance of ending the stigma and discrimination associated with the TB. "Each of us has a role to play. We need our political leaders to commit at the highest level, in each of our countries, to provide the much-needed services to the most marginalised and vulnerable populations. We need to pool our resources to find effective solutions," said Bachchan. The four-day conference with the theme -- Confronting Resistance: Fundamentals to Innovations -- will continue till October 29. "We need new diagnostics that make it easy to detect TB and new drugs that can shorten the course of treatment. And most importantly, we need an effective vaccine," Bachchan, who is also Ambassador for 'Call to Action for TB-Free India', added. In April 2015, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, launched the Call to Action For A TB-Free India to unite important stakeholders in collaborative efforts to put an end to the disease Bachchan spoke of how he was diagnosed with TB of the spine in the year 2000, at a time when he was hosting a popular Indian television show. He underwent rigorous treatment and was thankful for the exceptional support he received from his doctors and family that helped him recover and resume work. The superstar pointed out that unfortunately, not all patients in India have access to the same quality of care that he received, and many with TB or multidrug resistant TB are not diagnosed early enough and/or drop out of treatment because of side effects or the long duration. He highlighted the fact that though TB disproportionately affects the poor, it is not only the poor who suffer from TB as it is an airborne infectious disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is home to 2.8 million people with TB. "Over a quarter of all patients with TB are in India. Basic TB programmes must be effectively carried out, patients should receive treatment as soon as possible and there should be increased funding for TB research and development. Any and all resistance to the TB epidemic must be ended," said Jamie Tonsing, Regional Director, The Union South East Asia Office. --IANS rt/gb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Marking a sharp downturn in ties, India on Thursday asked a junior Pakistani diplomat to leave by Saturday for running a spy ring. Pakistan retaliated with a similar move, asking an Indian official in Islamabad to leave. Hours after Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in New Delhi to protest against Mehmood Akhtar, a visa officer at the Pakistan High Commission, who India accused of spying, Islamabad hit back. In the evening, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale in Islamabad and declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non grata and asked that he leave the country by Saturday. Pakistan denied the espionage charges levelled against Akhtar as "false and unsubstantiated", and alleged that Indian police "manhandled" him. Akhtar, detained on Wednesday and let off because of diplomatic immunity, had served in the mission for over two years during which he recruited Indians to spy for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Delhi Police Joint Commissioner Ravindra Yadav said. He was caught near the Delhi Zoo receiving defence-related vital information from two Indian nationals, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, who were also allegedly working for the ISI, Yadav said. One more person, Sohaib Nagaur, was arrested in Jodhpur on Thursday evening. The three are residents of Rajasthan and were being interrogated. "They had collected information regarding defence, BSF (Border Security Force) deployment on the borders" in Rajasthan and Gujarat and also carried deployment charts and maps of some Indian positions, Yadav said. The documents, including information about several retired Indian Army personnel and BSF officers serving on borders, were given to Akhtar in exchange of money, he said. The police officer said Akhtar initially presented himself as an Indian citizen and also showed a fake Aadhar card, claiming he was Mehboob Rajput of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. Yadav said after sustained questioning he admitted that he was a soldier with Pakistan Army's 40 Baloch Regiment since 1997 and was deputed to India by the ISI in 2013. "He was a kingpin" of the spying network that was active for 18 months, the police officer said, adding the involvement of other staff members in the ring was not being ruled out. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry said the diplomat was detained for three hours on "false and unsubstantiated" charges of espionage before he was returned to the mission. "We condemn the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official," a statement said. "This act clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of the Pakistan High Commission," the statement. It noted that Akhtar's detention violated the Vienna Convention. India categorically denied that the accused officer was mistreated. "He was treated with courtesy befitting his diplomatic status," Swarup said. "In fact, it was Akhtar who resorted to subterfuge by concealing his real identity. Pakistan must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status." Conveying the decision to expel the Indian high commission official, the Pakistan Foreign Secretary also expressed "deep concern" over the activities of the Indian official, which he said, was in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms. The Indian High Commission was asked to make necessary arrangements to make Surjeet Singh and his family leave Pakistan by October 29. The tit-for-tat expulsions come as India and Pakistan are locked in bitter diplomatic tension after militants attacked a military base in Jammu and Kashmir last month. The attack prompted the Indian Army to carry out surgical strikes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, destroying seven terror launch pads and killing an unknown number of terrorists and their sympathizers. --IANS team-rn/lok/pgh/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The second bi-annual Naval Commanders' Conference ended here on Thursday with top navy officers holding discussions on operational, strategic, planning and procurement issues as well as the overall national security and maritime environment, an official statement said. Navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, addressed the Naval Commanders on various issues including operational readiness, capability enhancement, infrastructure development and human resource management, the statement added. The commanders also reviewed operational preparedness, training and resource availability with the Navy. They also took stock of the progress in integrating newly-inducted naval ships into the operational fleet and how they would add to the capability of the Navy. The three-day meet was inaugurated on Tuesday by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who appreciated the high tempo of operations sustained in the last six months and efforts put in for maritime security and coastal security. Speaking to journalists, he had lauded the Indian Navy for embarking on the Make in India programme in a big way, and expressed hope that whatever lacunae are there would be overcome soon. --IANS rs/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a tit-for-tat measure, Pakistan on Thursday night declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non grata and asked that he leave the country by Saturday. In a statement, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry had summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale and conveyed the decision to this effect. The Foreign Secretary also expressed "deep concern" over the activities of the Indian official, which he said, was in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms. The Indian High Commission was asked to make necessary arrangements to make Surjeet Singh and his family leave Pakistan by October 29. The move comes hours after Indian authorities detained a Pakistani High Commission official, Mehmood Akhtar, in New Delhi on charges of running a spy network. The Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned the Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit and asked that Akhtar, a visa officer, be sent back within 48 hours. --IANS rn/tsb/pgh (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Pranab Mukherjee will pay a three-day state visit to Nepal from November 2 in the first presidential visit from India to the Himalayan neighbour in 18 years. Mukherjee is paying the visit on the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Bidhya Devi Bhandari, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said at a briefing here on Thursday. "A high-level delegation will accompany the President. This will be the first visit of the President of India to Nepal in 18 years," he said. President Mukherjee's visit to Nepal is expected to further cement bilateral ties, which saw an upswing during the India visit of new Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' last month. The talks between the two sides during Prachanda's visit, who chose India for his first overseas tour, helped dispel the unease that had crept into the bilateral ties over the earlier few months. During his visit, Mukherjee will hold meetings with the Nepali President, Prime Minister 'Prachanda' and other leaders of Nepal on a wide array of issues of mutual interest, said Swarup. President Mukherjee will also visit the holy town of Janakpur and the lake city of Pokhara during his stay in Nepal. The warming of India-Nepal ties comes amidst the backdrop of Chinese President Xi Jinping cancelling his maiden visit to Kathmandu, which was earlier scheduled for October. The cancellation came after Prachanda chose to visit India. China has been reportedly miffed with Nepal going slow on implementing some of the bilateral road and rail projects inked during the tenure of previous Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who markedly leaned towards Beijing. --IANS rs/lok/rn/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Exmark Manufacturing planted trees around the Beatrice community with local kids on Wednesday in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of the Big Rock project. Kids learned about the significance of trees and will now be able to look to the tree that they helped plant and watch it grow as they do. The manufacturing company took a tree to plant with students at Freeman Public School and a tree to plant outside the YMCA Beatrice as part of the afterschool program in the afternoon on Wednesday. Eight other trees were donated to areas involved in the Big Rock project. Trees are a sign of life and growth and a symbol of the deep roots we are establishing within the community, said Patty Kaufman, Financial Planning Manager at Exmark Manufacturing. The program helps to teach the kids the importance of trees to the environment. The Big Rock project was founded in 2007 to preserve and beautify outdoor landscapes that are in need of additional resources, according to the company website. Exmark has contributed both financially and with volunteers to nine projects within a 30-mile radius of Beatrice. Available funding from Exmark is up to $25,000. Exmark looks to build strong (ties) within the community, Kaufman said. The company is always looking for opportunities to help in the community and the YMCA is very important to the community. Toro (the Exmark parent company) has a long history of giving to the community and the company loves seeing employees out helping in the community, she said. Toro wants to support what the employees support. At the YMCA, the children gathered around the newly planted tree and discussed the importance of trees in the environment as well as other fun facts. Nicole Stoner, educator with the 4H extension agency, gave a presentation to the kids and asked the kids what they liked most about trees. Some of the kids answered that they give people shade and have beautiful fall colors, and other kids simply said they give people air. Stoner also gave examples of what comes from trees, which included honey, chocolate and tooth paste. The state government's ambition to make Goa defecation-free, is bound to aid more than four million tourists who visit the state's beaches, most of which are not equipped with toilets, according to tourism minister Dilip Parulekar. Speaking to IANS on Wednesday, Parulekar said that his ministry was in the process of spending Rs 13 crore to setup e-toilets across the 105 km long coastline, on nearly every popular beach. "We have already issued a work order for construction of e-toilets, which will help to keep our beaches clean and work as an important facility for tourists coming to Goa for the state's beaches," Parulekar said. "Each e-toilet cluster on the beaches would be built on an integrated mini-sewage treatment plant, which would ensure that the beaches stay clean," he said. "We are in the process of building world-class infrastructure on our beaches. We have already installed some of the e-toilets on Miramar, Baga and Calangute beaches," Parulekar added. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar announced earlier this week, that the state would be 100 per cent defecation-free by the end of 2017 and added that the government was in the process of identifying sites for construction of community toilets. Goa, one of the most popular beach tourism destinations in the country, attracts about four million tourists every year. Of these half a million are foreigners. --IANS maya/vgu/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two unidentified assailants riding a motorbike looted Rs 5 lakh from a trader's employee in Jharkhand's Giridih district on Thursday, police said. According to police, Dileep Singh, a staff of Sanjay Store, was on his way to a shop after withdrawing money from the bank when two motorbike-borne assailants snatched the bag containing it from him. The incident took place near Giridih court situated under Nagar police station of the district. Police have launched an operation to nab the criminals. --IANS ns/sm/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian Defense Ministry denied the involvement of the alleged airstrikes on a school in Idlib in Syria, saying the evidence spreading among media was "fabricated." "The video of an alleged airstrike that appeared in a various foreign media was made of ten clips put together, and shot with a different resolution at different time," the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Thursday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Wednesday that an air raid, allegedly carried out by Russian warplanes, targeted civilian areas in Idlib, including a school compound, killing at least 26 civilians, Xinhua news agency reported. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund Anthony Lake said, calling the strike "the deadliest attack on a school" in the five-and-a-half-year-long crisis in the war-raged Middle East country. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for "an immediate and impartial investigation" into the attacks. "If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing.--IANS vgu/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Personal values of students are often influenced by school Principals and become more similar to those of them with time, a new study has found. The findings indicate that principals' values are linked with aspects of school climate which are, in turn, linked with students' own values. "Given the vast amount of time children spend in school, it is important to assess the impact that schools have on children, beyond their impact on children's academic skills. Our findings show that schools contribute to the formation of children's values," said Yair Berson, Researcher at the New York University. For the study published in the journal Psychological Science, the researchers collected data from 252 school Principals, over 3,600 teachers and almost 50,000 students in public elementary and secondary schools. Focusing on four categories of values -- self-enhancement, self-transcendence, openness to change, and conservation -- school Principals filled out a questionnaire in which they read statements about a hypothetical individual and rated how closely they aligned with their own values. At the same time, students completed age-appropriate measures that tapped into the same values. The students completed values measures again two-years later. Teachers also rated the degree to which students in their homeroom displayed various behaviours that reflected the same values. The researchers found that students' values became more similar to those of their Principal over the two-year study period. "Principals' personal outlook on life is reflected in the overall school atmosphere, which over time becomes reflected in school children's personal outlook and eventual behaviour," said Shaul Oreg, Researcher at the Cornell University. This pattern was consistent for all of the values except for one: conservation values. "Values that have to do with maintaining the status quo -- emphasising tradition, conformity and security - showed a different pattern, whereby Principals' values are associated with children's values, but without the mediating role of the school climate," Oreg added. Ultimately, determining whether Principals' influence on students' values is good or bad will be up to the individual observer, the study suggests. --IANS som/ss/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of people took to streets here demanding a referendum against President Nicolas Maduro and to show support for the opposition leaders, media reports said. Dressed in white and waving banners and signs demanding Maduro's resignation, they gathered at seven points across the city to march through the streets, converging in the east of the capital, the Telegraph reported. Protestors also blocked the main Francisco Fajardo highway, for the first time in many years chanting slogans against the President. "We are absolutely convinced of the need for change - peaceful, but profound change in the government," said Jesus Torrealba, a leader of the opposition. The protests come a day after Venezuela's National Assembly voted to start legal proceedings to remove Maduro from power after his government indefinitely suspended an attempt by the opposition to remove him from power in a recall referendum. The legislature's move was mostly symbolic, because the Supreme Court, which is allied with Maduro, has banned the congress from passing any laws or measures, Wall Street Journal reported. Maduro responded to Tuesday's vote by calling it a "parliamentary coup," and has called all top public officials to an emergency meeting in Caracas on Wednesday afternoon. On October 19, after the National Assembly's plan to hold a referendum to recall Maduro failed, the opposition coalition is now using its power base in congress to begin legal action against the President. Maduro made a trip to the Vatican on October 24, where Pope Francis attempted to reconcile the diametrically opposed factions in Venezuela, but even this seems to have failed as opposition supporters are rallying for "The Takeover of Venezuela". --IANS vgu/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistani embassy official was questioned and two Indian nationals were arrested on alleged espionage charges and working for the ISI, a police officer said here on Thursday. Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistan official in the High Commission, was briefly detained and let off because of diplomatic immunity, the police officer told IANS on condition of anonymity. However, the two Indians, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Rajasthan, were still being questioned for working with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The arrests were made late Wednesday night by the interstate cell Crime Branch following a tip off from the Intelligence Bureau, sources said. This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India. Last years, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested. --IANS rak-vv/sar/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Indian nationals working for Pakistani intelligence ISI were arrested for leaking sensitive information, a police officer said on Thursday. The officer said the two, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, are residents of Rajasthan and worked for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for some time. The arrests were made late Wednesday night by the interstate cell of Crime Branch following a tip off from the Intelligence Bureau. On condition of anonymity, the police officer told IANS that they also held a Pakistan High Commission staffer along with the two men. However, the Pakistan official, identified as Mehmood Akhtar, was later let off due to diplomatic immunity. --IANS rak-vv/in/ksk/mr/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The second part of a report by an independent commission headed by Richard McLaren on alleged doping abuse in Russia will be published in early December, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has said. In July, a WADA commission led by McLaren presented a report based on the investigation results, in which Russia was accused of running a state-wide doping programme. It urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consider a blanket ban on the entire Russian team, reports Sputnik. On July 24, the IOC decided against imposing a blanket ban on all Russian athletes. "Professor Richard H. McLaren announces that he expects to release the 'McLaren Investigation Report, Part II', in early December 2016. More details will follow in the weeks ahead," WADA said in a statement on Wednesday. In turn, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) banned all Russian Paralympic athletes from the 2016 Summer Paralympics and 2018 Winter Games. --IANS sam/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Health Minister and son of former chief ministers Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, Tej Pratap Yadav (pictured), is worried about women not joining the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He squarely blames rowdy members of the RJD. Women join all other political parties but none are willing to associate with the RJD, Yadav told a gathering of party workers at his official residence, 3 Desh Ratna Marg, in Patna. Have you ever thought why? Yadav said workers would often fight for a seat on the stage and there was widespread indiscipline. Urging party workers to not display firearms, he said: Our image will go for a toss if there is no discipline. Yadav also said he would ask his father to create a separate place for women workers in the RJD. We have to encourage them to come forward, said Yadav. Amid the strife in the party over the leadership tussle, the Samajwadi Party workers have hastened to make preparations for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's arrival in Kanpur on November 3 for his 'Vikas Rath Yatra'. Gottfried Lindauers New Zealand: The Maori Portraits Edited by Ngahiraka Mason & Zara Stanhope Four different covers - choose your own ! Co-produced with the Auckland Art Gallery to tie in with a major exhibition of Lindauers Maori portraits. From the 1870s to the early twentieth century, the Bohemian immigrant artist Gottfried Lindauer travelled to marae and rural towns around New Zealand and commissioned by Maori and Pakeha captured in paint the images of key Maori figures. For Maori then and now, the faces of tupuna are full of mana and life. Now this definitive work collects those portraits for New Zealanders. The book presents 67 major portraits and 8 genre paintings alongside detailed accounts of the subject and work, with essays by leading scholars that take us inside Lindauer and his world: from his artistic training in Bohemia to his travels around New Zealand as Maori and Pakeha commissioned him to paint portraits; his artistic techniques and deep relationship with photography; Henry Partridges gallery on Aucklands Queen Street where Maori visited to see their ancestors; and the afterlife of the paintings in marae and memory. , $75.00 Auckland University Press Hardback, 310 x 206 mm, 284 pages, colour illustrations, 978 1 86940 856 5 About the editors: Ngahiraka Mason was born and raised in Te Urewera and was Maori curator at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki from 1999 to 2015. was born and raised in Te Urewera and was Maori curator at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki from 1999 to 2015. Zara Stanhope is principal curator at the gallery and has written a number of books, articles and exhibition catalogues. Contributing writers include Len Bell, Nigel Borrell, Chanel Clarke, Jane Davidson-Ladd, Ngarino Ellis, Ales Filip, Sarah Hillary, Ute Larsen, Roman Musil and Kahu Te Kanawa. is principal curator at the gallery and has written a number of books, articles and exhibition catalogues. Contributing writers include Len Bell, Nigel Borrell, Chanel Clarke, Jane Davidson-Ladd, Ngarino Ellis, Ales Filip, Sarah Hillary, Ute Larsen, Roman Musil and Kahu Te Kanawa. The Exhibition: More than 150 historic oil portraits of Maori and Pakeha will be shown at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki in the largest ever exhibition of work by artist Gottfried Lindauer. The Maori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauers New Zealand will feature artworks from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It opens Saturday 22 October and entry is free. NOT TO BE MISSED - QUITE WONDERFUL. The exhibition celebrates artist Gottfried Lindauer (18391926), New Zealands pioneering and most prolific portrait painter and a key cultural figure in the countrys art history. It will bring together an array of finely-detailed portraits of Maori rangatira (men and women of standing in their communities) in both traditional and western dress, portraits of colonial settlers, and large paintings depicting Maori life and customs. Three pilgrims were killed when their vehicle turned turtle in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir this evening. The incident occurred in Bhanderkoot area of the district when the driver of the matador lost control over the vehicle after it developed some technical snag and turned turtle late this evening, a police officer said. Three persons died on the spot, he said, adding police reached the spot and evacuated the dead from the site of the accident and the bodies will be handed over to their relatives after conducting legal and medical formalities tomorrow. The vehicle, carrying pilgrims of Mata Sarthal Devi, was on its way to Tagood area of the district, he said. A case has been registered and further investigations started, the officer added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Warships from the US Navy and allied nations have intercepted four weapons shipments from Iran to war-ravaged Yemen since April 2015, a US admiral said today. Yemen has been rocked by conflict since Iran-backed Huthi rebels overran the capital Sanaa and other large parts of the country in 2014, prompting military intervention by a Saudi- led coalition in March last year in support of the internationally recognised government. The United States and Saudi Arabia have accused Iran of arming the insurgents, and while Tehran denies the charges, the coalition has since enforced maritime and air controls over the Arabian Peninsula country. "Either US ships or coalition ships... Intercepted four weapons shipments from Iran to Yemen," said US Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan. "We know they came from Iran and we know the destination," he told reporters at an undisclosed military base in Southwest Asia. Donegal said the shipments contained thousands of AK-47 assault rifles, anti-tank missiles, sniper rifles and "other pieces of other equipment, higher-end weapons systems". Naval officials were able to determine the destination of the boats' by analysing GPS settings and interviewing the crew. One of the shipments had been validated by the United Nations as being an illegal weapons shipment, said Donegal. His comments come after the US military's Central Command chief General Joseph Votel said last week Iran may have played a role in suspected Huthi missile attacks this month against US warships in the Red Sea. "We believe that Iran is connected to this in some way," Donegan said. Given the heavy volume of traffic around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf, the three-star admiral said "plenty" of other shipments would have gone through to Yemen. The arms seizures came after Iran in April 2015 tried to send a convoy of seven ships, guarded by two Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels, to Yemen. Donegan said these were filled with coastal-defence cruise missiles, explosives and other weapons. The Shiite Huthi rebels are believed to be behind this month's attacks in which surface-to-surface missiles were fired at the USS Mason on at least two occasions. In response, US cruise missiles on October 13 struck Huthi radar sites believed to have been used to target the weapons. The Mason and two other warships were likely targeted in a third missile attack on October 15, but officials have not conclusively confirmed what the threat was or where it was coming from. Yemen's conflict has killed nearly 7,000 people, wounded more than 35,000 and displaced at least three million since the Saudi-led coalition launched military operations, according to the United Nations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 41-year-old Indian woman, reportedly a beauty parlour owner in New Delhi, has been sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court for trafficking over 1.6 kg of drugs. Sangeeta Sharma Brahmacharimayum was found guilty of trafficking in 1,637.1 gm of methamphetamine on October 7, 2013 at the Penang International Airport. She was charged under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a mandatory death sentence on conviction. Sangeeta, who appeared subdued when the decision was conveyed to her by a court interpreter in George Town in Penang State, broke down later, the Star Online reported. Judicial Commissioner Azmi Ariffin ruled that the prosecution had succeeded in proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He said that he found Sangeeta, the former sister-in-law of a senior police officer, had knowledge of the drug in the suitcase she was carrying and, hence, was not an "innocent carrier" as was raised in her defence, the report said. Sangeeta was a beauty parlour owner in New Delhi, media reports said. Azmi said that Sangeeta had testified in court that she came to Malaysia to start a business, buying and selling clothes from India to Malaysia, on the encouragement of a Nigerian man named Prince. "Prince had instructed the accused to hand the suitcase containing clothes to his brother and sister-in-law who would meet her at the Penang International Airport upon arrival," the Star Online report said. Azmi noted that the accused had only known Prince for a year and had met with him several times in that period. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five developers, including KRC Infrastructure and Projects, and GAR Corporation, have sought the governments approval to set up new special economic zones (SEZs). These applications will be considered at the meeting of the Board of Approval, headed by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia, on November 3. KRC Infrastructure and Projects, and Gera Developments have planned to jointly set up an IT/ITeS SEZ in Pune, over an area of 4.03 hectares. The BoA meeting agenda said, A joint developer SEZ proposal has come for the first time. However, there is no guideline as to how it would be operational. Hence it has been submitted to the Board for consideration. GAR Corporation, too, has proposed to set up two similar in Telangana. EON Kharadi Infrastructure has also sought a nod for its IT/ITeS zone in Pune. On the other hand, Vaxenic India plans to set up a biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals SEZ over an area of 11.47 hectares in Telangana. Phoenix Embassy Tech Zone, too, has proposed two IT sector zones in Telangana. Further, the Board will also consider Balaji Infra Projects proposal, which has sought permission to surrender its multi-product zone in Raigad. The developer has not shown adequate interest in implementation of the SEZ, even after being given appropriate opportunities. Development Commissioner SEEPZ (Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone) has proposed for cancellation of formal approval, the agenda said. Exports from logged a marginal growth of 0.77 per cent to Rs 4.67 lakh crore in 2015-16. The exports from such 204 zones were Rs 4.63 lakh crore in 2014-15. Acoording to the commerce ministrys data, as on March 31, these zones have attracted investments worth Rs 3.76 lakh crore and has generated employment to 1.6 million people. The highest number of are operational in states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra. Five persons were killed and eight others injured in two road accidents in different parts of the district, police said today. Three people were killed and eight injured in a tanker-tempo collision near the Ambedkar Park culvert under Pipri police station this morning, police said. Three passengers of the tempo -- Raja Ram (55), Vikas Gupta (21) and an unidentified woman -- were killed in the incident, they added. The injured were admitted to a hospital from where, three of them, whose condition was stated to be serious, were referred to Varanasi, police said. In another accident, two motorcyclists were killed after being hit by a truck at the Hindwari turn under Robertsganj police station last night, police said, adding that one of the deceased was identified as Amarnath (35). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six persons were arrested for allegedly abetting a cyber fraud by providing their bank account details to hackers who cheated the public and transferred money into those accounts, police said today. Cyber Crime police station, attached to Hyderabad police, arrested Mangesh Tribuvan, Akshay Ashok Nikam, Yaseen Ahmed Ali Shaik, Dhananjay Singh, Ajaz Muneer Khan and Tushar Laxman S -- all residents of Mumbai -- and brought them to Hyderabad on transit warrant, police said, adding that they were remanded to judicial custody today. According to police, the six accused used to provide their bank account details for a 10 per cent commission on every transaction. "On September 2, police received a complaint from a city-based 50-year-old woman, who alleged that on August 30, she had received a mail purportedly from the Income Tax department, informing her that her I-T return had failed and she would have to apply again (on a website link) to get a refund of Rs 19,246. "On August 31, she furnished her debit card number, CVV number, password, date of birth and mobile number on the website," police stated in a release. Police said when the woman checked her email on September 2, she was surprised to find that an amount of Rs 1.90 lakh was transferred from her account to various bank accounts. "The fraudsters had sent her a fake mail, which appeared as if it was from the Income Tax department, on the pretext of refunding income tax amount. Assuming it to be genuine, she furnished all her bank details on the webpage and got cheated to the tune of Rs 1.90 lakh," police said. During investigation, Cyber Crime police obtained the details of bank accounts where the amount of Rs 1.90 lakh was fraudulently transferred. After ascertaining the details of the account holders, a police team went to Mumbai and nabbed the six accused, the release stated, adding that efforts were on to nab the other accused. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced a crackdown against liquor consumption in the public, the Delhi government today launched inspection of city's liquor shops and got an FIR registered against a restaurant for illegal serving the drink. According to officials, seven teams of Excise Department conducted inspections at Nehru Place, Paharganj, Motipur, Rajendra Place, Rohini and Gujranwala Town. "An FIR was registered at the Alipur Police Station (Outer Delhi) against a restaurant under the Excise Act on the GT Karnal Road for illegally serving alcohol on its premises without a valid licence of running a bar," a senior government official said. The move comes a day after Sisodia announced a crackdown on consumption of liquor in the open area around alcohol shops from November 8. During the inspections it was found that liquor vends had installed CCTV cameras in accordance with directions issued to them and these were found to be functional. All liquor vends inspected today were directed to strictly report all cases of illegal consumption of liquor to the Excise Department control room immediately. "No major violation was found in the departmental stores during inspections. It was noticed that chillers in majority of departmental stores were found to be non-functional," official further said. Yesterday, the Delhi government announced it would strictly enforce the Excise Act post November 7 under which consuming alcohol at public places attracts a fine of Rs 5,000 and if the offender creates nuisance than the fine will be upto Rs 10,000 with a jail term of three months. Sisodia had said the government will run awareness campaign against public drinking near liquor shops till November 7 and women safety and law and order situation will remain focus during the practice. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ADB has refused to commit funds for Pakistan's USD 14 billion dam project on Indus river in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), two years after the World Bank declined to fund the project following Islamabad's refusal to seek an NoC from India. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao said yesterday at a joint conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. Underlining that the project on Indus river in Gilgit- Baltistan in PoK was very important for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, Nakao called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, expected to generate a power output of 4,500 MW. "We haven't decided [whether to fund] this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date, the Dawn reported. He said presently the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the dam. Islamabad has consistently failed to attract foreign lenders for the project. Repeated efforts to rope in the World Bank as a co-lender had failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No objection Certificate from India for the project. Instead, Pakistan accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha. The ADB also advised the government to adopt a professional approach towards the construction of the big dam that cannot be funded by a single institution, country or group given its mammoth financial requirements and the risks involved. As a way out, the ADB advised Islamabad to restructure the Diamer-Bhasha dam project by separating power generation, land acquisition and main dam structures and their various modes of financing. The ADB chief also cautioned Pakistan to wisely implement projects under the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), another strategic project opposed by India as it passes through the PoK, and utilise their funds well so as to avoid debt or repayment problems. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US airstrikes this week in eastern Afghanistan killed several al-Qaida militants, including two Arabs and four Pakistanis, Afghan officials said today, but added that authorities cannot definitively identify the slain militants because of the area's inaccessibility and remoteness. The officials also gave conflicting information on the time and number of the alleged airstrikes, which they said were carried out with drones. Kunar's governor, Wahidullah Kalemzai, said a 2.00 AM strike on Monday hit in the remote Haygal Valley, killing four militants, as well as the wife and child of one of them. According to Kalemzai, al-Qaida has been present for years in Kunar, with authorities having little or no control over remote areas such as this particular valley. Meanwhile, Kunar's provincial council chief, Jamaluddin Sayar, said there were two airstrikes on Sunday night that killed eight people, including the two Arab and four Pakistani militants. Sayar said local intelligence reports indicate that the drones struck two houses where militants had gathered. There was no immediate comment from Islamabad on the four alleged Pakistani militants killed in the strikes. Yesterday, the US Defense Department said airstrikes in Afghanistan targeted two al-Qaida leaders, including one described by a Pentagon official as the group's top leader in the northeastern part of the country. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook issued a written statement, saying US officials are still working to determine whether the men targeted were killed. He identified the two as Faruq al-Qatani and Bilal al-Utabi and said they were targeted in strikes conducted on Sunday. Cook also said al-Qatani was a senior planner for attacks against the US and has had a hand in deadly attacks on American forces. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah will address three rallies in poll-bound Uttarakhand as part of the party's 'Parivartan Yatra', scheduled to begin on November 12 to galvanise party cadres and generate public opinion against the Congress-led Harish Rawat government. Announcing the revised schedule of the yatra, state BJP chief Ajay Bhatt said it will formally begin on November 12 and will be flagged off beyond Dehradun by Shah after addressing a rally here on November 13. Shah will address two more rallies in the state during the course of the yatra, one in Almora on November 22 and the other in Haldwani on December 7, he said. Conceived as a "preparatory exercise" ahead of the Assembly elections next year, the yatra will help party cadres gear up for the polls and convince the people to get rid of a corrupt government, Bhatt said. The yatra will cover a distance of 3,781 KM in Garhwal and Kumaon regions during which 92 public meetings will be addressed by prominent Central BJP leaders including Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan and J P Nadda. Besides accusing SP and BSP of not giving enough attention to the development of the state, Shah also mocked at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his promise to farmers that he will help set up 'potato factories' in the state. "Rahul Baba does not know that potato grows in soil and farmers of Mainpuri, Saifai and Etawah do not need a factory to cultivate it. What they need is a factory to make potato chips and it will be set up by BJP," he said. Stressing that Modi government was working for development of the state and was launching several schemes, Shah said the "fasal bima yojna" has not been able to succeed in the state as there is a dispute over commission between "chacha-bhatija" because of which even the agency has not been finalised. Noting that Modi government was sending Rs one lakh crore a year to UP, Shah said, "Nothing will come your way as it will all be eaten up by chacha-bhatija and even if something is left over it will be gobbled by Azam Khan." Seeking support of people for BJP the way they extended in 2014, Shah said his party will provide good governance and law and order like the time when Kalyan Singh was the chief minister. Claiming that his party will get two-third majority in the coming assembly polls, Shah asked BJP workers to resolve to end the "gondagardi" of SP and BSP and ensure that development became the order of the day with good employment opportunities for the youth. Referring to state BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya's speech in which he had said that goondas will not be allowed to take over polling booths in the coming elections, Shah said though Central forces will be deployed, youths associated with the party will take a vow not to let anti-social elements to come out of their homes. Shah also referred to the martyrdom of a local youth Nitin Yadav recently on the border. 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." Traders wing of Aam Aadmi Party today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase import duty on Chinese products even as it appealed its fellow community members to not import goods from a "hostile" country. They also held protest march from Town Hall in Chandani Chowk to Lal Qila against the use of Chinese products. "China supports Pakistan which has been perpetrating terror in India. It is doing so because of its sheer economic and military might. If we stop using Chinese products it will create awareness among people and China can feel the pinch," AAP's Traders Wing convenor Brijesh Goyal said. "The trade imbalance between India and China is huge. We also urge the Prime Minister to impose a heavy import duty on Chinese products in order to minimise imports from the country," Goyal added. He said it was also upon the traders to minimise Chinese imports and focus on self-reliance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is appalled by an attack on a school in Syria that killed 22 children and is calling for an immediate investigation, his spokesman said today. "If deliberate, this attack may amount to a war crime," Ban said in a statement from his spokesman. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "warplanes -- either Russia or Syrian -- carried out six strikes" yesterday in a village in rebel-held Idlib province, including on a school complex. UNICEF said the school compound in the village of Hass was "repeatedly attacked," leaving 22 children and six teachers dead. Ban called for an "immediate and impartial investigation" and raised concerns about a series of attacks on civilian targets in Syria, now in its sixth year of war. "If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice," he said. "They must be proved wrong." Russia, which is backing Syria in its military operations against opposition rebels and jihadists, said it had nothing to do with the air strikes and also demanded an immediate investigation. Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who is the UN envoy for global education, earlier called on the Security Council to ask the ICC prosecutor to open up an investigation of the attack, describing it as a war crime. Russia used its veto in 2014 to block a resolution demanding that the ICC investigate war crimes in Syria. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Deputy High Commissioner Bruce Bucknell today said Assam has some of the "best" tea in the world and he will ask his fellow countrymen to drink higher quality leaf tea and less blended one. "Tea remains one of the main businesses of Assam, but is very competitive and in some way it resembles the Scottish whisky industry with increasing competition from other types of beverages," Bucknell said at an interactive session with members of the Confederation of Indian Industry and UK as partners in Technology and Innovation. He pointed out that most companies have moved to exclusive niche areas and as such branding and developing of niche products was required. "I will be very willing to tell my fellow Britons that Assam has some of the best tea in the world and that they should drink higher quality leaf tea and less blended teas," the Deputy High Commissioner said. He hoped that more British companies, technology institutions and tourists come to the north-east region. North-east India was closer to new emerging markets its proximity to Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh is a great asset for the region, Bucknell said. The plans to improve interconnectivity and more infrastructure would also be an added premium. "I will also like to hear about the obstacles to the development of the region beyond the geographical location or perhaps it is no longer an obstacle," he said further inquiring about the main technologies needed for the development of Assam and the rest of the north-east region and in which areas Britain could provide the solution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has made a passionate appeal to end the "stigma and discrimination" associated with tuberculosis and called for better treatment of the disease for everyone. In a video message aired at the 47th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Liverpool earlier this week, the 74-year-old actor also stressed on the importance of ending the "stigma and discrimination associated with TB" in his capacity as ambassador for the "Call to Action for TB-Free India". "Each of us has a role to play. We need our political leaders to commit at the highest level, in each of our countries, to provide the much-needed services to the most marginalised and vulnerable populations. "We need to pool our resources to find effective solutions," Bachchan, himself a TB survivor, said in his message. "We need new diagnostics that make it easy to detect TB and new drugs that can shorten the course of treatment. And most importantly, we need an effective vaccine," he added. The conference, which concludes on Saturday, attended by nearly 4,000 delegates from 130 countries,is themed around Confronting Resistance: Fundamentals to Innovations. Drawing on personal experience, Bachchan spoke of how he was diagnosed with TB of the spine in the year 2000, at a time when he was hosting 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'. He underwent rigorous treatment and was able to recover and resume work. However, he pointed to many in India who do not have access to the same quality of care. Global health experts at the conference called for initiation of greater efforts in India to deal with Tuberculosis (TB). According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India is home to 2.8 million people with TB. An estimated 10.4 million new TB cases were recorded worldwide in 2015, with India as one of the six nations which accounted for 60 per cent of the new cases in 2015. Six countries that accounted for 60 per cent of the new cases included India, Indonesia, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa. A new treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis patients, that reported a success rate of 82 per cent in a study, was hailed as a "breakthrough" at the UK meet. Results showed patients across nine African countries responded remarkably well to the nine-month treatment. Of the 1,006 TB sufferers who participated in the observational study of the treatment, all of whom were all resistent to TB medicine rifampicin, 734 were deemed fully cured and in a further 87 cases the treatment appeared to have worked. "These results have now been replicated in many different settings and with a large number of patients, showing conclusively that this is the most effective treatment for drug-resistant TB discovered to date," said Valerie Schwoebel, the Union's programme manager for Francophone Africa. The Union worked alongside the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, Italy, and local researchers to carry out the study of the treatment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former president took in more than $50 million from "for profit" activities over the years as he led the Clinton family foundation, a close aide said in a hacked memo released by WikiLeaks. The aide, Douglas Band, detailed his own moneymaking efforts both on behalf of personally and on that of the foundation, in a 2011 memo sent in response to complaints by the Clintons' daughter Chelsea. The latest disclosures have added to a drip-drip of WikiLeaks revelations plaguing Hillary Clinton in the final stretch of her run for the White House as the Democratic nominee. They come from a trove of emails stolen from the account of John Podesta, who played a leading role in the foundation before becoming Clinton's campaign chairman. Podesta has refused to authenticate the emails, which US intelligence believes were stolen by Russian hackers to disrupt the US elections. But neither he nor the Clinton campaign has challenged their authenticity. They show the foundation had become a source of tension between aides to and his daughter Chelsea, who accused them of taking "significant sums of money from my parents personally" and hustling clients for their own business at foundation events. In the memo, Band defends his use of his private consultancy Teneo to raise funds for the foundation, saying it brought in large corporate donations from Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, and Swiss bank UBS among others. "Independent of our fundraising and decision-making activities on behalf of the foundation, we have dedicated ourselves to helping the president secure and engage in for-profit activities -- including speeches, books, and advisory service engagements," the memo said. "In support of the president's for-profit activity, we also have solicited and obtained, as appropriate, in-kind services for the president and his family -- for personal travel, hospitality, vacation and the like," it added. He said he had received no fees or percentages of "the more than $50 million in for-profit activity we have personally helped to secure for president Clinton to date or the $66 million in future contracts, should he choose to continue with those engagements". Ruling BJD MLA Muktikant Mandal today surrendered before the district court here in connection with a murder case of 2002 and was granted bail. Additional district judge A K Chandan granted bail to Mandal on a surety of Rs 25,000 after he surrendered following an order of the Orissa High Court on October 20. The high court had rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the legislator from Dhamnagar in Bhadrak district and directed him to move his regular bail application in the lower court. The lower court was also instructed to consider his bail application in parity with other accused in the murder case of Niranjan Jena, who was lynched on November 3, 2002 allegedly by around 20-25 followers of Mandal. Although the FIR had named Mandal and others as accused, the MLA's name was dropped in the charge sheet. The session's court, however, after examining two relatives of the deceased, issued summons to the MLA asking him to appear before it on October 21. Mandal then moved the high court seeking anticipatory bail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Decomposed bodies of a man and his daughter were found inside a well situated in a field in Thana Amar Singh village under Raya Police Station here, police said today. The incident came to light yesterday when a farmer informed the police about foul smell emanating from a well situated in a field outside Thana Amar Singh village, said Arun Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police (Rural), Mathura. Both the bodies were fished out of the well with the help of a JCB and identified as that of 54-year-old Gopal and his daughter, through an Aadhar card recovered from one of them, the police officer said. Later, the elder daughter of Gopal also identified the bodies and alleged that her brother's in-laws were behind the "murder", the officer added. Both the bodies have been sent for post-mortem, said Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Mohit Gupta, adding that the police is probing all the angles including the allegations levelled by the elder daughter of the deceased man. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In escalation of armed confrontation on the International Border, BSF today said it had killed a Pakistani paramilitary jawan and wounded another while it lost one of its own personnel and 9 civilians were injured in Pakistan shelling and firing in Jammu region. Pakistani forces pounded Indian border outposts and hamlets along the International Border in Kathua, Hiranagar sectors in Kathua district, R S Pura and Arnia sectors (Jammu), it also targets forward Indian posts and villages along LOC in Balakote and Mankote sectors (Poonch) and Sunderbani sector (Rajouri) today. Over 30 BoPs and Army posts and 35 civilian hamlets along IB and LoC in Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts were targeted by Pakistan today, reports said. "At 1230 and 1315 hours today,BSF troops in Arnia and R S Pura sectors killed one Pakistani Ranger and seriously injured another in the retaliatory firing," a senior BSF officer said here. Pakistani Rangers somehow managed to evacuate their grievously injured colleague in the vehicle amidst exchange of fire, officer said. "Pakistani has resorted to very heavy firing which is being responded in the befitting manner," he said. Earlier, a BSF jawan died and 9 civilians were injured when Pakistani troops shelled over 15 Indian border outposts and 29 hamlets with mortar bombs and fired heavily from automatic weapons overnight in R S Pura and Arnia sectors along the International Border (IB) in Jammy district. "One BSF jawan was injured when he was hit by a bullet in R S Pura sector of Jammu district during the night," the BSF officer said. He died on his way to hospital. "There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BoPs and villages along IB in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till this morning," a police officer said. In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in R S Pura this morning, he said, adding the injured have been taken to hospital fortreatment. In the evening today, Pakistani Rangers opened fire and resorted to mortar shelling in Kathua and Hiranagar sectors along IB, BSF officer said, adding that a befitting reply was being givenn. Pakistani troops also resorted to firing along LOC in Balakote and Mankote sectors of Mendhar of Poonch district this evening, a senior army officer said. Pakistani troops also resorted to firing along LOC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri late afternoon, the army officer said, adding troops guarding the border retaliated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A farmers' association today staged protests outside Union Health Ministry and WHO office here demanding boycott of the global anti-tobacco conference to be held in the National Capital next month. The 7th Conference of Parties (COP7), to be held here on November 7-12, will review the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) and the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products. "Showing their resentment towards the WHO-FCTC regulations, farmers today protested outside the Ministry for Health ... The farmers also staged a protest outside the office of WHO demanding transparency in FCTC decision making," the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) said in a statement. The farmers' body appealed the Prime Minister and all other ministers concerned to uphold Indian tobacco farmers' respect by boycotting the WHO-FCTC COP7, it said. "Adhoc decisions on tobacco control at this Conference, as in previous such meetings, will affect the livelihood of millions of tobacco farmers and farm labourers involved in tobacco cultivation in the country," FAIFA said. Till date, despite making several representations, concerns of tobacco farmers have completely been ignored by WHO. The farmers have also not received the observer status as part of the official Indian delegation in the upcoming conference, it said. FAIFA urged the Centre to include tobacco farmers in the official Indian delegation to the upcoming conference or else boycott the conference, it said, adding that FAIFA has also written to the UN General Secretary requesting to be invited to the WHO-FCTC conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BSF today said it had killed a Pakistani paramilitary jawan and wounded another after a BSF jawan died and six civilians were injured in shelling and firing from across the International Border in R S Pura and Arnia sectors since last night. Pakistani troops also violated ceasefire along LoC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district today. "At 1230 and 1315 hours today,BSF troops in Arnia and R S Pura sectors killed one Pakistani Ranger and seriously injured another in the retaliatory firing," a senior BSF officer said here. Pakistani Rangers somehow managed to evacuate their grievously injured colleague in the vehicle amidst exchange of fire, officer said. "Pakistani has resorted to very heavy firing which is being responded in the befitting manner," he said. Earlier, a BSF jawan died and six civilians were injured when Pakistani troops shelled over 15 Indian border outposts and 29 hamlets with mortar bombs and fired heavily from automatic weapons overnight in R S Pura and Arnia sectors along the International Border (IB) in Jammy district. "One BSF jawan was injured when he was hit by a bullet in R S Pura sector of Jammu district during the night," the BSF officer said. He died on his way to hospital. "There was heavy firing and mortar shelling on BoPs and villages along IB in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district overnight and continued till this morning," a police officer said. In the shelling, six civilians were injured in Khopra Basti belt in R S Pura this morning, he said, adding the injured have been taken to hospital fortreatment. Pakistani Rangers started firing heavy mortars and small arm fire towards the Indian side from 2035 hours last night, the BSF officer said. Pakistan troops also violated ceasefire on the LoC by resorting to firing in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district. "Pakistan troops have violated ceasefire and resorted to firing along LoC in Sunderbani sector today," a senior Army officer said. Troops guarding the border retaliated, he added. Yesterday, an Assistant Sub-Inspector of BSF was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him during overnight ceasefire violation in RS Pura sector along the InternationalBorder in Jammu. As many as 16 people mostly women have been injured in the cross border firing in the RS Pura sector in past two days. 8 civilians were injured shelling in R S Pura and Arnia on October 25. Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International Border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border. Border residents are migrating to safer locations in the wake of the heavy firing, Singh said. A six-year-old boy and a BSF Jawan were killed in the cross border shelling in the RS Pura sector on October 24. Over 55 ceasefire violations have taken place since surgical strikes by Indian Army against terror launch pads in PoK on September 29. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Cabinet today approved a new productivity-linked reward scheme for port and dock employees for the period 2015-16 to 2017-18, a move that would benefit about 37,870 workers. "The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to New Productivity Linked Reward Scheme for all major Port Trusts and Dock Labour Board employees/workers for the years 2015-16 to 2017-18," an official statement said. The new PLR scheme applicable from FY2015-16 to FY2017-18 will benefit about 37,870 port and dock workers/employees in all the Major Port Trusts and the yearly outgo will be Rs 49.58 crore, it said. "PLR will be calculated on the enhanced wage ceiling for calculation of bonus at Rs 7,000 per month. PLR shall be paid annually on the basis of 50 per cent weightage given to all India Performance and 50 per cent weightage given to the individual Port Performance," the statement said. "The arrear payments of PLR for the year 2014-15 to the employees/workers by the Major Port Trusts and Dock Labour Board will be calculated on the enhanced wage ceiling of Rs 7000 per month for calculation of Bonus instead of Rs 3,500 per month on the existing methodology of combined All India Port Performance," it said. For the fiscal 2014-15, an amount of Rs 25.93 crore has already been paid to about 41,492 Major Ports and Dock workers/employees as per wage ceiling of Rs 3500. The total additional outgo for all Major Ports & Dock workers/employees on account of payment of arrear of PLR for the year 2014-15 as per enhanced wage ceiling of Rs 7000 will be about Rs 25.93 crore, it said. There is an existing scheme of PLR for the employees/workers of Major Port Trusts and Dock Labour Board, wherein Productivity Linked Reward was granted on yearly basis based on the settlement arrived at between Management and the Labour Federations of the Major Port Trusts. The new PLR Scheme will foster better industrial relationship and congenial work atmosphere in the port sector, apart from stimulating better productivity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government today decided to extend stock limits on sugar traders by another six months till April 2017 in order to check sweetener prices, which at present are ruling around Rs 40 per kg. A decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The Union Cabinet has given its approval for extending the validity of the existing Central Order in respect of Sugar for a further period of six months from October 29, 2016 to April 28, 2017," an official statement said. The main objective of the decision is to enable states to issue control order with the prior concurrence of central government, for fixing stock limits/licensing requirements in respect of sugar, whenever need is felt by them, it said. "This is expected to help in the efforts being taken to improve the availability of these commodities to general public at reasonable rates, and control the tendencies of hoarding and profiteering," it noted. The Centre will notify the current decision and will communicate to all the States/UTs. Early this year, the government had reimposed stock limits on sugar traders after a gap of five years due to rise in sugar prices following drop in domestic production. The stock limits on sugar traders were imposed for six months ending October. Traders were allowed to hold sugar stock of up to 10,000 quintals in Kolkata and 5,000 quintals in other parts of the country. As per the stock limit order, a dealer was allowed to stock up to 10,000 quintals of sugar in Kolkata, which is the largest trading centre for the commodity in the country. However, the limit was kept 5,000 quintals for rest of the country. It had also prescribed that a trader has to sell his stock within 30 days from the date of receiving the sugar. Retail sugar prices are ruling around Rs 40 per kg in most places due to likely fall in domestic production due to back-to-back drought. Sugar production of India is likely to decline to 23.2 million tonnes in 2016-17 marketing year (October-September) from 25 million tonnes in the previous year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Candor Management Services today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation to set up a new business incubation centre at the 'Namma Metro' Trinity Station. Branded "candorHUB", the centre will nurture startups in bringing their innovations to market efficiently, providing them with an array of startups advisory, business support, co-working space and structured training programs, Candor said. It would extend much needed linkages with industry sponsors, mentors, investors, and accelerators, the company said in a statement here. "We will extend full support to Candor in setting up their new business incubation centre at Trinity metro station," said U A Vasanth Rao, General Manager Finance (Taxation & Resources), Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited. "By spurring creativity and mitigating avoidable risks in early stage startups business lifecycle, the startup incubation ecosystem will increase rate of success and time taken to gain customer traction for new innovations," said Thirumurugan Subramanian, Managing Director Candor Management Services and Principal, candorHUB. Candor Management services offers manpower staffing, learning and leadership development, technology and automation (Smart factory/IoT) and corporate services to clients across retail, manufacturing, healthcare, education, IT and ITES industry verticals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With several lives being lost in in incidents of 'celebratory firing', a PIL seeking tougher norms for acquiring of arms licence by individuals today led the Delhi High Court to seek the response of the Centre. A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal issued notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking its reply by January 16 next year, the next date of hearing. The plea was moved by NGO, Fights For Human Rights, which alleged that while issuing license for arms under the Arms Act, officials of the licensing authority do not check the antecedents of the applicants, as a result of which licenses are granted even to anti-social elements and terrorists. The NGO, in its public interest litigation filed through advocate K R Chitra, has said such license owners also include those with criminal background and illegal arms dealers. The plea also contended that acts of celebratory firing at weddings and other functions was an "obnoxious practice" which "causes terror" among the general public. "In India, there are many instances of misuse of firearms on occasions like marriages, celebration of success in elections etc. Due to misuse of fire-arm, lot of mishappenings take place resulting in loss of precious life and property," the PIL said, adding there was urgent need to regulate the use of firearms for purposes for which the licences are issued. In its plea, the NGO has sought directions to the MHA to "frame stringent policy/rules/guidelines to curb obnoxious practice of celebratory firing." "Strict penal provision should be incorporated in the arms licence and strict implementation of the penalties for violations of the terms and conditions of the arms licence is very much necessary," it said, adding that there "can be no relaxation in this regard". The petition sought directions to the MHA to cancel all licenses issued till date without proper verification and identification as per the provisions of the Arms Act. "Before issuing license, report should be called from an officer not below the rank of SHO," the petition urged. The NGO also sought strict guidelines to ensure proper verification of the antecedents of the applicants. The counsel for the NGO told the court that she herself had witnessed free use of firearms in marriages and other celebrations in Delhi. "Wedding celebrations are supposed to be happy events but in northern India, a shocking number end tragically due to celebratory gunfire. In many of the instances, due to unauthorised firing, loss of human lives and grevious injuries have been caused to innocent people," the petition said. The petitioner also said that possession and use of firearms in celebrations has become "a status symbol" as there is no check and guidelines for using firearms in India. "It is entirely illegal against public policy and public interest," it said. Celebrity visitors including veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja and lyricist Vairamuthu today visited Apollo Hospital, where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment, and enquired about her well-being. Bharathiraja exuded confidence that Jayalalithaa will return in good health following prayers of scores of people. He said people's prayers had helped AIADMK founder and former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran when he was hospitalised in the 80s, adding "it will be the same for Madam (Jayalalithaa) also." National award winning lyricist Vairamuthu said Jayalalithaa will return with the help of medicines and "her determination." Veteran actore Sheela said she was confident that the Chief Minister will return soon as "she is an iron lady." Meanwhile, AIADMK supporters continued to hold prayers in different parts of the state for the speedy recovery of their party General Secretary. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospital here on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. Later on, the hospital had said she was being treated for infection with respiratory support among others. In its latest medical bulletin, issued on October 21, the hospital had said the Chief Minister was interacting and progressing gradually. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A square-shaped probe dubbed as "Little Bee" and placed atop China's second space lab currently orbiting the Earth issearching for gamma-ray bursts, the strongest explosions in the universe. The formal name of the probe, placed on Tiangong-2, is POLAR (an abbreviation of Polarimetry of Gamma-ray Bursts), state-run Xinhua agency reported. Tiangong-2,an experimental space lab launched by China with two astronauts, is currently orbiting the Earth. The device will help open a new window in the study of gamma-ray astronomy, said Zhang Shuangnan, principal investigator on the POLAR project and a chief scientist at the High Energy Physics Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. POLAR is the only international cooperation project on Tiangong-2, involving scientists from the University of Geneva, Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland and Poland's Institute of Nuclear Physics, the report said. "The 30-kgs device can be regarded as a telescope, but it is different from other telescopes, as it consists of 1,600 sensitive components to detect the polarisation of gamma-ray bursts. They are like the 1,600 facets in the compound eyes of bees. That's why we call it 'Little Bee'," Zhang said. Zhang said the project was aimed to "better understand the process of how the violent explosions happen." Gamma-ray bursts are explosions that have been observed in distant galaxies. They are the brightest electromagnetic events known to occur in the universe. Bursts can last from 10 milliseconds to several hours. The intense radiation of most observed gamma-ray bursts is believed to be released during a supernova or hypernova as a rapidly rotating, high-mass star collapses to form a neutron star, quark star or black hole. Another aim of "Little Bee" is to determine whether gamma-ray bursts are related to gravitational waves. "If we can detect gamma-ray bursts at the same time gravitational waves happen, it will help us better understand gravitational waves," Zhang said. (REOPENS FGN5) Scientists will research large-scale structure and interaction models of solar wind and the magnetosphere, and the response to magnetospheric substorm change process, it said. Shijian-10 recoverable satellite, Chang'e lunar probes, Shenzhou spacecraft, Tiangong-2 space laboratory and Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft are to be used to implement scientific experiments and research in biology, life sciences, medicine and materials in the space environment. The paper said China will enhance the space debris basic database and data-sharing model, and advance the development of space debris monitoring facilities. China will activate the heavy-lift launch vehicle project in next five years. "Endeavours will be made to research key technologies and further study the plans for developing heavy-lift launch vehicles," said the document. Breakthroughs are expected in key technologies for the overall system, high-thrust liquid oxygen and kerosene engines, and oxygen and hydrogen engines of such launch vehicles. China will also develop and launch medium-lift launch vehicles which are non-toxic and pollution-free, improve the new-generation launch vehicle family, and enhance their reliability, it said. China will improve the standardisation system for space debris, near-earth objects and space climate in the next five years, it said. Efforts will be made to improve the space environment monitoring system and to build a disaster early warning and prediction platform to raise the preventative capability, it said. It said that China will conduct studies on the building of facilities for monitoring near-earth objects, to elevate the country's capability to monitor and catalog such object. China also plans to carry out quantum experiments in space besides basic research into sun-earth space environment, space climate and solar activity and its impact on space climate, and implement space-related interdisciplinary research as well, it said. The White Paper said China is to perform experiments on new space technologies to provide solid technological support for its space industry. It said China has seen smooth implementation of major projects, including manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, the BeiDou Navigation System and high-resolution earth observation system,new-generation launch vehicles and other important projects, it said. In the next five years, China will continue to enhance the basic capacities of its space industry, and strengthen research into key and cutting-edge technologies. The Chinese government holds that all countries in the world have equal rights to peacefully explore, develop and utilise outer space and its celestial bodies, the white paper said. Speeding up its efforts to acquire a second aircraft carrier, China today said the process of the installation of equipment and facilities was on for the nation's first domestically-built carrier after completion of construction of its hull. China's first home-built aircraft carrier is in the development stage, with the hull having already been assembled in a shipyard, Wu Qian a spokesman of China's Ministry of Defence told a media briefing here. "The over all design is completed and the main body has taken a shape in the dock. Equipment and facility installation is going on," he said. The carrier is reportedly being built at Dalian shipyard. Recent reports in the Chinese media said as the construction of the second aircraft carrier picked up pace China has stepped up preparations for the deployment of its first aircraft carrier force by putting in place a new batch of carrier-based fighter pilots. China commissioned its first aircraft carrier Liaoning in 2012 which was a former Soviet ship brought from Ukraine and later refurbished locally. It is reportedly being used mainly for training of landing and take off for its pilots specially flying the newly-built J-15 aircraft to operate from the decks of the carriers. With plans to build two more carriers, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has built up its largest carrier-based pilot team after more than three years of intensive training, official media reports said in August. After an effective ground-based training, a new batch of pilots got the aircraft carrier flight certification. In order to earn the certification, these pilots successfully handled the carrier based J-15 fighter planes to carry out interrupted landings, and also managed ski-jump take-offs using the Liaoning carrier. One of the pilots was killed when practicing the carrier landing during training this April. Speculation is rife that China may deploy one of the aircraft carriers in the disputed South China Sea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CISF chief O P Singh today took a Delhi Metro ride and reviewed security arrangements in the wake of heightened vigil in such public places due to the ongoing festive season. The Director General (DG) of the paramilitary force travelled from the Race Course station to the heavy footfall receiving Rajiv Chowk on the Yellow Line, during which he also interacted with commuters, including women travellers. Singh, accompanied by senior officials led by Delhi Metro Deputy Inspector General Raghubir Lal, inspected the bomb detection squads, canine teams, Quick Reaction Teams, women commando units, electronic and CCTV surveillance and functioning of special operation groups in the rapid rail network that caters on an average to over 25 lakh commuters per day. The DG directed his officials to deploy additional resources and remain alert to ensure security and hassle-free travel for the commuters during the ongoing festive season and Diwali at the end of this week, officials said. They also said he was also briefed about the foot patrol and intelligence paraphernalia of the force deployed to secure over 150 stations in the National Capital Region that includes Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon. Singh, who has recently taken over the top charge of the force, also interacted with women travellers. They requested him to increase the number of uniformed and plainclothes women commandos (Alpha teams) and also to ensure better queue management at busy stations. He also asked the CISF security 'morchas' (posts) at the stations to be kept fortified, equipped and alert, they said. The security apparatus at Delhi Metro, apart from other vital facilities, is on high alert following the surgical strikes conducted by the Army last month across the Line of Control. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mumbai Fire Brigade has asked the city police to ban the use of flying lanterns during Diwali celebration in a bid to avert possible threats caused by them. Chief of Fire Brigade, BMC, P S Rahangdale in a letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner, has drawn the attention of police department towards accidents caused due to 'flying lanterns' every year. "Flying lanterns in large number are released in air during Diwali and Makar Sankranti (festivals), which pose serious threat to aircraft, high rise towers, slums, installations of HPCL and BPCL refineries etc. Even terrorists activities cannot be ruled out by its use," the letter sent yesterday, read. It is, therefore, essential to ban the use of flying lantern so that possible threats can be averted, it said. Referring Nation Fire Protection Associations's (NFPA) recommendations, Rahangdale said countries like the US, Thailand have also supported the ban on such flying objects. He also asked the police to take action against those found selling and flying such item under the relevant sections of the IPC. The Fire Brigade chief also cited data of calls received at their stations during Diwali in the last three years. A total of 217 calls were received in three years from 2013 to 2015. Out of 217, 103 calls reported fire at refuse area of buildings. In as many as 80 incidents (calls), fire took place in godown and other parts of house. Besides, the city fire brigade has also launched a campaign to sensitise Mumbaikars to observe a safe and secure Diwali. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos postponed peace talks with the ELN rebels today, hours before they were due to open, insisting they first release an ex-lawmaker being held hostage. Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize this month, said the government remained committed to making peace but would not budge from its demand for the ELN to first release former congressman Odin Sanchez. "The formal installation of the negotiating table with (the ELN) is postponed until they release Odin Sanchez safe and sound," Santos said in a speech. He said he had ordered the government's negotiating team to "suspend" its trip to the Ecuadoran capital Quito, where the talks had been due to formally open at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT). Earlier, Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo said the government was prepared to reschedule the start of talks to Friday, Saturday "or whenever we are certain that Odin Sanchez has been freed." The National Liberation Army (ELN) is Colombia's second-largest rebel group after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which has been in talks with the government for nearly four years. The ELN talks are meant to open a new, decisive front in Santos's efforts to end an armed conflict that has lasted more than half a century and killed more than 260,000 people. Santos has already signed a peace deal with the FARC, but voters rejected it in a referendum this month - sending negotiators back to the drawing board. And the ELN talks are shaping up to be even trickier. The ELN had promised to free its hostages before the talks - as the FARC did before starting negotiations in Cuba in 2012. But it bristled last week when the government's chief negotiator, Juan Camilo Restrepo, gave it an ultimatum to free Sanchez. The ELN accused Restrepo of "torpedoing" the talks. Since then, there has been no on the fate of the hostage - or hostages, according to some sources - still being held by the leftist guerrillas. Sanchez voluntarily went into ELN custody in April to take the place of his brother Patrocinio, a former governor who had fallen ill after three years in captivity. Sources in the Catholic Church, which has played a part in preliminary negotiations, say the rebels are also holding a doctor named Edgar Torres. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Colombia's ELN rebels have begun the process of releasing a hostage at the center of a dispute threatening planned peace talks with the government, a top official has said. "We have been informed by the Red Cross that the operation to free (hostage ex-lawmaker Odin Sanchez) has begun," said Juan Camilo Restrepo, the government's chief negotiator for the talks. The negotiations had been due to formally open at 5:00 pm (local time) until President Juan Manuel Santos suspended them with just hours to go because of the dispute over Sanchez. Restrepo said he believed the hostage handover would be completed by November 3, when the first round of actual negotiations had been scheduled to begin. "The government celebrates this news, and notes this operation, which it hopes will come to a satisfactory conclusion," he said yesterday. The International Committee of the Red Cross often facilitates the handover of hostages from Colombian rebel groups after their release has been agreed. It was not immediately clear how long Sanchez's release would take. Santos earlier said the talks could not begin "until (the rebels) release Odin Sanchez safe and sound." The president, who won the Nobel Peace Prize this month, is working on two fronts to end a half-century conflict gripping Colombia. His government is also in talks with a larger rebel group, the FARC. The two sides are racing to save a peace deal that voters rejected in a referendum this month. Colombia's conflict has claimed more than 260,000 lives and left 45,000 missing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several Hindu outfits, including VHP and Bajrang Dal, have come out in protest against the move of Congress chief whip in Karnataka legislative council Ivan d'Souza to organise 'Bhavaikyata Diwali' (Diwali for unity) in the Sri Manjunatha temple at Kadri here on October 29. The organisations felt that D'Souza's entry into the temple would 'defile its sanctity' and contended that Hindu religious places should be limited to Hindus only, VHP regional working president M B Puranik said in a statement. "However, they have no qualms about district-in-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai organising a similar event in the temple. If D'souza is so particular, let him celebrate Diwali in a church," he said. Puranik said VHP and all Hindu organisations strongly condemned the move to organise a 'politically motivated' programme inside the temple and urged the district administration, police and the Endowment department to stop it. It was the contention of the outfits that non-Hindus should not organise any religious programme in a Hindu temple managed by the Endowment department. Puranik demanded action against officials who gave permission for the programme. Holding that cancellation of the event was the only way to ensure justice to Hindus, he said VHP had the support of all Hindu outfits on this issue. VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders also submitted a memorandum to Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner K G Jagadeesh opposing the programme on the ground that Hindu religious institutions should not be allowed to be 'misused'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, a body under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, today expressed apprehension that a larger conspiracy is unfolding to defame Indian pharma industry in international markets. Referring to some media reports, PV Appaji, Director General of Pharmexcil, said eight out of top 20 generic drug makers are located in India and it shows the strength of the country in world pharma market. "In the given background, Pharmexcil is noticing a disturbing trend. In the recent past, much of adverse propaganda is taking place against the Indian companies with an intention to malign the image of Indian pharma and ultimately depriving the developing world to have an access to the quality drugs manufactured by Indian companies at affordable cost. "There is a serious and strong lobby working against the interests of Indian pharma industry and India," Appaji told reporters in a press conference. Appaji was referring to certain media reports which highlight environmental issues of a section of Indian drug makers, including Aurobindo Pharma, and the alleged creation of "super bug" during the production of some drugs intended for supply to a British Agency, in their manufacturing plants. Underlining strengths of Indian pharma, Appaji said that as on February 2016, as many as 631 sites have complied with EU GMP while 605 sites were registered with USFDA as on April 2015. He said approximately 1,400 WHO GMP certified plants are in India. "Indian pharmaceutical industry is controlled by a strong regulatory mechanism for GMP and environmental controls. This is being enforced by regular audits so as to ensure adherence to the regulatory compliance," he said. Pharmexcil will also seek the guidance and intervention from various agencies of the Central Government for the future course of action, Appaji added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amending the new Constitution is the top priority for the Nepal government and a federal commission will soon be formed to resolve the issue, Prime Minister Prachanda said today, underlining the need for flexibility to accommodate demands of the agitating Madhesis. "On Constitution amendment, I personally feel we need to be more flexible on key issues to accommodate the demands of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front and other ethnic groups," Prachanda told reporters on conclusion of the meeting between the ruling alliance -- Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-Maoist Centre -- and main opposition CPN-UML. Prachanda said that the coalition government has accorded high priority to the task of Constitution amendment and election. The Prime Minister also underlined the need to bring on board the Madhesi parties and their alliances, which have been demanding Constitution amendment, before holding the election of the local bodies. The election of the local bodies could not be held for more than 16 years due various reasons. "We will have to redraw boundaries of some provinces and the issue of national language also needs to be worked out." He said an earlier understanding between N C and CPN-UML on the number and demarcation of provinces could be considered a basis for redrawing the provinces for the time being. Re-demarcation of the provincial boundary is the major demand put forth by the agitating Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin and other ethnic minority groups. "A federal commission will soon be formed to recommend and settle the issue of provincial boundaries in the long run." Prachanda said the tricky issue of citizenship could be resolved by reverting to the provisions of the interim constitution. Differences between the ruling coalition and the main opposition parties are narrowing and the three parties are nearly on the same page on the issues of Constitution amendment and its implementation, said sources close to the Prime Minister. Talking reporters shortly after his one-and-a-half hour meeting with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman K P Sharma Oli, Prachanda said "this was the first meeting between the three top leaders after I became prime minister for the second time." He also hinted that relations have improved among the major political forces at the recent time. "The impeachment motion against Lok Man Singh Karki could bring the three parties together to push for constitution amendment," Prachanda said. The Parliament has recently started discussion on motion relating to impeachment of Karki, the chief of anti-graft body. "I am now turning my focus on forging alliance with political parties, warming and normalising relations with immediate neighbours, speeding up reconstruction and giving people a sense of good governance in the run-up to the elections," Prachanda said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Consul General of Thailand in Chennai Krongkanit Rakcharoen led a team on a visit to Sri City Special Economic Zone here as part of exploring trade and business opportunities. Rakcharoen accompanied by Consul-Commercial Jittima Nakamano, Trade Officer Lawrence Edward, visited Sri City at Tada situated about 120 kms from here yesterday, a press release said. Sri City Foundation, President, Ramesh Subramaniam briefed them about the infrastructure and the features available at Sri City. "I never imagined that it (Sri City) will be so big hosting these many international companies. I thank Sri City for assisting our Thai company Rockworth in running the business successfully.", the Consul General said. "I would share my experience and observations of the visit with the potentail Thai companies interested in investing in India", she said. The Consul General visited the factory of Rockworth at the SEZ engaged in manufacturing of office furniture. According to website of Thailand embassy, bilateral trade between India and Thailand stood at USD 8.65 billion in 2014. India ranks 10th as export destination for Thailand and was the overall 16th trading partner of Thailand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit Arunachal Pradesh early next year, a move which may raise the hackles in the official establishment in China that claims the state to be a part of southern Tibet. Dalai Lama will travel to Arunachal at the invitation of state's Chief Minister Pema Khandu and the visit is understood to have been cleared by the Centre. The spiritual leader is likely to visit Tawang, the seat of a Buddhist monastry. Last week, China has reacted strongly to American envoy Richard Verma's October 22 tour to Tawang, saying the Ambassador visited a "disputed region". When asked about the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said he is a "guest of India" and is free to travel across the country. "Dalai Lama is a revered spiritual figure and an honoured guest of India. He is absolutely free to travel to any part of the country. "It is a fact that he has a sizeable following among the Buddhists in Arunachal Pradesh who like to seek his blessings. He has visited the state in the past as well and we see nothing unusual if he visits again," Swarup said. Arunachal government sources said the state was looking forward to the Dalai Lama's visit. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet and routinely protests visits by Indian leaders, foreign officials as well as the Dalai Lama to the area. In the wake of the US envoy's visit, China had gone to the extent of warning the US that any interference by it in the Sino-India boundary dispute will make it "more complicated" and "disturb" the hard-won peace at the border. Sources said the Dalai Lama's visit is likely to take place in March. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Commission for Women has summoned officials of CBI and Delhi Police again in connection with the suicide of tainted senior government official BK Bansal and his son allegedly due to harassment by a few officials. The commission has also warned the two agencies of initiating civil court proceedings if the information sought by them is not provided. "CBI and Delhi Police were summoned by the commission earlier for non provision of information in the alleged suicide case of BK Bansal and family. Inspector rank officers appeared on behalf of both organisations," a DCW official said. "CBI requested the Commission to grant it exemption from appearance for it has sought clarification from the central government as to whether it can be summoned by the commission," a DCW official said. "The panel has informed CBI that Section 10 of the DCW Act clarifies that the commission has the powers to take suo moto cognizance in cases concerning welfare of women. Therefore the request for exemption has been rejected and the AIG has been summoned again on November 2," he added. DCW had earlier issued notices to CBI and Delhi Police, seeking action taken report in the case. But the commission was not satisfied with the responses received prompting, it to issue summons. "Police has given an evasive reply to DCW but has informed that it is in possession of two suicide notes - both from wife and daughter of Bansal. The panel has again summoned DCP East and sought copy of the suicide notes and reasons for non registration of FIR in the case besides other information," the official said. Bansal, 60, was arrested on July 16 for allegedly accepting bribe from a prominent pharma company. Three days later, his wife Satyabala and daughter Neha committed suicide. Two months after their suicide, Bansal, former Director General Corporate Affairs, and his son Yogesh had also allegedly hanged themselves on September 27. In their purported suicide note, Bansal had alleged that a CBI DIG, two women officers and a "fat" havaldar of the agency had tortured his wife and daughter to the extent that they ended their lives soon after his arrest on corruption charges in July. "If CBI and Delhi Police will not provide complete information, the Commission will initiate civil court proceedings against them which will include issuing arrest warrants and attachment of salary of the officers summoned," he said. "An FIR can also be registered against the officers for denial of information to the commission," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To regulate the entry of commercial vehicles into the national capital and curb air pollution, the Delhi government has started the process of installing Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFIDs) and Weigh-in-Motion machines at all 13 border entry points. PWD Minister Satyendar Jain has directed officials concerned to take immediate steps to bring down the rising air pollution in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines of levying Environmental Compensation Charge (ECC) on commercial vehicles entering the national capital. He held a meeting today with all the departments concerned - MCDs, Transport, VAT, PWD, Environment, DPCC, DSIIDC - on the matter and issued instructions to the officials. It was decided in the meeting that a foolproof system will be ensured for implementation of the Supreme Court guidelines without any pilferage or lack of clarity, a senior government official said. RITES (a central government enterprise under the Railways) will prepare the bidding documents for the process so that the work for the installation of RFIDs and Weigh-in-Motion equipments can begin at the earliest. According to the official, the apex court has already made it clear that the ECC collected ought to be used exclusively for augmenting public transport and improving roads in Delhi. "The government is also in the process of implementing a series of steps to check air pollution, which assumes serious proportions during winter months. (Announcements in this regard will be made very soon)," the official further said. In December last year, the ECC had been doubled by the Supreme Court, following which light commercial vehicles with two axles loaded with goods have to pay Rs 1,400 and loaded commercial vehicles with three and four axles have to pay Rs 2,600 to enter the national capital. The Environment Department has already ordered a crackdown and strict enforcement of imposition of Rs 5,000 fine for burning garbage and dry leaves in the open. Ahead of a possible spike in pollution levels during Diwali, the city administration had recently directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to monitor air quality and check noise before and on that night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi took firm control of the proceedings after a collective performance from bowlers saw them bowl out Odisha for a lowly 237 in a Ranji Trophy group B encounter, here today. At stumps, Delhi comfortably reached 43 for no loss in 10 overs with skipper Gautam Gambhir reaching 26 in company of Unmukt Chand, who was batting on 13. Earlier, Gambhir won the toss and put Odisha into bat. Veteran seamer Sumit Narwal (2/34) used the new ball to good effect as he remnoved Ranji Singh (4) with an outgoing delivery and Sandeep Pattanaik (7) with an incoming delivery. Once Gobind Poddar (24) and Anurag Sarangi (18) were dismissed in quick succession, Odisha were in trouble at 59 for 4. Seasoned Biplab Samantray (62) and Subhranshu Senapati (76) added 145 runs for the 5th wicket as Odisha recovered at one stage to be 204 for five. While Biplab hit eight fours and a six in 112 balls, Senapati hit 10 boundaries in 153 balls. But a lower-order collapse initiated by left-arm spin duo of Varun Sood (3/23) and Manan Sharma (2/52) saw Odisha lose last five wickets for only 33 runs. Ishant Sharma, who opened the bowling, sent down 14 overs with a wicket for 29 runs to show for his efforts. Ishant has now sent down a total of 35 overs in the two innings that he has bowled so far since his comeback from Chikungunya fever. More than the number of wickets that he gets, Ishant's fitness and the number of spells that he bowls will be important for the national selectors with the first Test against England, only a fortnight away. Brief Scores: Odisha 1st Innings 237 (Biplab Samantray 69, Subhranshu Senapati 76, Varun Sood 3/23, Sumit Narwal 2/34, Ishant Sharma 1/29) Delhi 1st Innings 43/0 (Gautam Gambhir 26 batting). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The man, whose address was mentioned in the forged Aadhar card of a Pakistan High Commission staffer detained for his involvement in an espionage ring, was "shocked", saying he got to know about the case only after his house had a beeline of journalists. The Pakistan High Commission staffer, Mehmood Akhtar, was picked up along with his two accomplices from Delhi Zoo by the police yesterday for their involvement in the espionage ring. Their activities involved sharing of sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with the Pakistani spy agency ISI. Akhtar claimed to be a resident of Chandani Chowk and produced a forged Aadhar card bearing the house address 2350, Gali Near Madari, Rodgran Mohalla. However, Mohd Asif, who owns the house, said, "I don't know how and why my address was there in the card. We only got to know about it after mediapersons came to my house to ask me about how my address was there in that person's Aadhar card. It's shocking for us." Asif said he and his family have been living in the area for the last 40 years and that the house is a part of their family legacy. "Our forefather lived here and now my family is staying here and it will pass on to my kids. I don't know this person who has my address on his card," he stressed. He also said if the police questions him, he will tell them the truth. "Police haven't questioned us till now. We have nothing to hide. Whatever is the truth, we will tell them," said Asif,who has a business of selling electric water motors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Incumbent House Majority Leader Hager resigned after the primary, leaving Republican Rogers to face unaffiliated candidate Edwards Spindale Town Councilman Ben Edwards said he was agitated when he learned House Majority Leader Mike Hager was running unopposed in House District 112, which the Republican had represented since 2011.Edwards, who's registered unaffiliated, expected someone else to step up to oppose Hager. When nobody filed, he went about the task of collecting the requisite 1,983 signatures from registered voters to gain ballot access.The response was "humbling and inspiring," Edwards said - he gathered 2,300 signatures by the deadline, as more continued to flow.Then Hager announced he was stepping down, citing family reasons, and the local Republican Party chose attorney David Rogers to serve the remainder of Hager's term. Rogers is running to keep the seat in Republican hands.Rogers said the party considered him a good replacement because, like the hard-working Hager, he was known to be conservative, and was considered a good prospect forThe district in the southwestern foothills covers Rutherford County and takes in part of Burke County. The North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation, which tracks state elections, rates it as a strong Republican district, even though 37.3 percent of its electorate is registered Democratic, 34.3 percent Republican, and 28.1 percent unaffiliated.Although Hager frequently spoke fondly in defense of his district during legislative debates, Edwards said he believed Hager wasHe recalled a time Hager made what he calledEdwards didn't like the "We know better than you attitude" coming out of Raleigh, citing General Assembly action changing the allocation of seats on the Isothermal Community College Board.lawmakers to make that move, he said.Conversely, he said, the Spindale Town Council once asked the state for help getting affordable health care for employees.Edwards said the race with Rogers has turned out to be "much more amicable" than he expected.Edwards said they received a lot of positive feedback at debates about how they canRogers spelled out some of those differences.Rogers said.Rogers supports House Bill 2, requiring people to use bathroom and shower facilities matching their birth anatomy,He puts the blame for the passage of H.B. 2 on the Charlotte City Council.Rogers said, and EdwardsRogers said he wouldEdwards, a gun owner and recreational shooter, advocatesbut not just among legislatorsWith four children, Rogers is enthusiastic about education reform. He said the legislature should support and implement improvements that help to push North Carolina school performance into the top 10 states nationally.To promote business, Rogers would continue to look at lowering the corporate tax rate.Rogers said government incentives "weren't working as well in our county," citing Facebook's shortfall on hires, and the bankruptcy of Horsehead, a zinc production facility.Edwards has a different take.in the General Assembly, he said.Edwards isn't promulgating particular issues so much as trying to represent his district. He cited his campaign sign slogan,He said good government is a facilitator.Edwards is a codes and standards consultant in the construction industry. He said it's his job to decipher bureaucratic verbiage, and to make sure it works in the real world.he said.Both candidates express a love for the district and said they are perturbed that coal ash generated in Asheville is being dumped there. has sold 60.09% stake in Essar Shipping to Essar Africa Steel Holdings by way of inter-se transfer. "This is to inform you that we have sold 12,43,62,408 equity shares of Rs 10 each in Essar Shipping (ESL), representing 60.09% of the equity share capital of ESL to Essar Africa Steel Holdings Ltd, by way of inter-se transfer," the company told BSE. "This constitutes disclosures of promoter(s) to the stock exchange and the target company for encumbrance of shares in terms of Regulation of 31(2) of the Sebi Takeover Regulations, 2011," it said. Essar Shipping is an integrated logistics solution provider with investments in logistics services, sea transportation, and oilfield drilling services. Gulf carrier Etihad Airways and Jet Airways investment partner Etihad today announced expansion of its flight services and route network here and said it would add 28 additional flights per week and three new destinations between Abu Dhabi and India, starting early next year. Etihad currently operates 175 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi from 11 Indian cities. However, together, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways offer 252 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities across India. The addition of three new cities would increase Etihad-Jet Airways' Indian network to 18 cities with 280 flights per week, a release said today. Etihad Airways holds 24 per cent stake in Jet Airways, which is the second largest domestic carrier in terms of market share. The expansion aims at further strengthening the partnership between the two carriers in one of the world's fastest growing aviation markets, the release said adding it would also enhance connections between India and the rest of the world though Etihad Airways' convenient Abu Dhabi hub, and complement Jet Airways' non-stop services to other cities. "Today's announcement reflects how we have been working together to enhance our service... Jet Airways is Etihad's leading equity partner in terms of revenue and passenger contribution," Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said. As part of the expansion plans, Etihad Airways will launch a fourth daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Kozhikode, starting March 26 next year 2017, which would help the two airlines better serve the important southern India market, the release said. Etihad Airways also plans to double its frequency between Abu Dhabi and Ahmedabad from February 1 with the launch of a new daily service (subject to government approval). Meanwhile, Etihad's partner Jet Airways also announced a number of changes in its operations to Abu hub from India. These include the launch of daily flights between Trichy and Abu Dhabi from February 1, 2017, besides introduction of daily services from Kannur in Kerala to Abu Dhabi as well as daily services between Chandigarh and Abu Dhabi, starting from second half 2017, the airline said in the release. In addition, from January 15 next year, Jet Airways will introduce a second daily service between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi in addition to the three flights which are currently in operations on the route. Etihad currently flies to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram from its hub Abu Dhabi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 10 kg of explosives, including gelatin sticks, detonators and an unidentified powdery substance, were seized from coastal Palghar district today, Maharashtra Police said. "The explosives were seized by Anti-Terrorism Squad at Manor near the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway," Director General of Police Satish Mathur told PTI tonight. "The explosives have been sent to the forensic lab," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Special Cell of Delhi Police has seized fake Indian currency notes of the face value of Rs 3 lakh which were smuggled into the country through Bangladesh border and arrested two persons. A team of Special Cell working under supervision of ACP Govind Sharma was working to bust the syndicate of FICN racketeers for some time. On a specific input, the police team laid a trap at Jharodha Kalan road and caught Sajjan Sharma (32), on the evening of October 25. Fake notes of the face value of Rs 2 lakh in 1000 denomination were seized from him. During interrogation, Sajjan gave up the name of a key member of the gang Narender (42), who was apprehended near MDR public school on the same day. His search led to seizure of fake notes of the face value of Rs 1 lakh. Narender was kingpin of the gang who received the FICN from Mohmmad Samayul of New Farkaa, Malda in West Bengal. Narender has over a dozen criminal cases against him in his home state Haryana. He was arrested thrice in connection with FICN trafficking from Hisar, Faridabad and Rohtak in 2015. During interrogation, the accused told police that members of this syndicate keep changing their hideouts and places of delivery very frequently to avoid getting caught by the police. Both were circulating the fake notes in the busy markets of Delhi and NCR. Sajjan was jailed for two years in a case of rape and an attempt to murder case was also regsitered against him at Dadri, added the officer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FBI has reportedly questioned actress Angelina Jolie for four hours over the incident aboard a private plane, in which her estranged husband and actor Brad Pitt allegedly became physical with their 15-year-old son, Maddox. The 41-year-old actress is believed to have "fully cooperated" with the investigation department, who also spoke to "some of her kids", reported Us Weekly. "The agents wanted a breakdown of everything that happened from when the plane took off to when it landed. They're looking into charges of assault," a source said. The source added that the FBI "will likely investigate for another few weeks" and will subsequently present the case to the prosecutor, who will further evaluate the matter. On the other hand, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services is also looking into the allegations made by Jolie on the 52-year-old actor. According to another source, both stars do not want get involve in any kind of court case as "everything the FBI and DCFS investigate, will potentially be made available to the public". It was earlier reported that the "Fight Club" star got "verbally abusive and physical" with the his kids. Jolie also filed for divorce from him on September 19, citing irreconcilable differences, and requested sole custody of the kids under the influence of alcohol during a flight from France to California on September 14. The former power couple have since reached a temporary custody agreement, which allows Pitt supervised visitation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor-director Rahul Bose believes people need to view films through the lens of gender and see if men and women are given equal importance in stories that are brought on the big screen. "It is very important for people to relook at movies through lens of gender and ask ourselves are we taking certain misogynistic attitudes for granted and not thinking about it at all?" Rahul told PTI. The 18th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star has instituted an award for 'Oxfam India - Best Film on Gender Equality'. Rahul, who was part of a panel discussion on cinema as an influencer on gender based social norms, feels an award to honour a film showing gender equality is a great move. "An award like this will start to create awareness that we need to see films in the light of gender (and raise questions like) are men and women treated same? Do they have same importance in a story? Does our writing process give them equal importance?" Rahul says while there has been a considerable rise in films with female protagonists, there's a long way to go before Bollywood treats men and women equally. "Things are moving in the right direction if we look at recent movies... But they need to be sustained for a long lasting change. There's still a long way to go." The "Dil Dhadakne Do" actor says audience should outrightly reject misogyny in films. "Audiences should reject misogyny in movies and if they don't watch such films then producers won't make them. The audiences need to be taught that will you accept such misogyny in real life? If not, then don't watch it as well. "It is the responsibility of art to turn the society into more compassionate and civilised." Agreeing with the actor, Nisha Agarwal, CEO Oxfam India, says, "The panel discussion was so exciting to see all these amazing women, who are all trying to break the social norms and create new positive society norms of what society would look like and what gender equality would mean. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The owner of the cracker shop in Sadar Bazar, whose employee died in the cracker blast in Naya Bazar area, has been arrested from Meerut, police said today. The accused, identified as Mukhtar Ahmed (50), was absconding after Motalip Mirza, who was carrying two packets of crackers from Ahmed's godown in Gali Zakaria Mohalla Fatak Hawas Khana to one of his shops was killed in the cracker burst, police said. "He (Ahmed) was absconding after the incident on October 25 and was hiding in Meerut at his relatives' place. He was arrested today from there," said DCP(North) Madhur Verma. Ahmed had switched off his mobile phone and was using a relative's phone to communicate with people, said the officer. Ahmed owns three shops in Sadar Bazar area. He had made the bundles from his godown which contained the ring caps and had first asked one of his employees Anzarul to take them to his shop but after Anzarul said he was busy, he asked Mirza to take them to one of his shops. Mirza was killed when the packets containing crackers had burst in the Naya Bazar area setting off panic in the area with initial reports suggesting a terror angle to the cracker blast. Later, police ruled out a terror angle to the blast and said that the blast happened due to high pressure and the huge quantity of crackers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Twelve days after the brutal murder of an RSS worker here, police today claimed to have cracked the case with the arrest of four persons in connection with the incident,which had triggered a political controversy. Rudresh, a 35-year old RSS worker, was hacked to death by two motorcycle-borne men onKamaraja Road on October 16 when he was with his friends,after attending a Sangh event. Police said special teams formed by city Commissioner of Police NS Megharikh to probe the case effected the arrests today on the basis of credible information and added that all fouraccused are residents of the city. They said that on the day of the incident, the accused had come intwo bikes- one team to attack and other as a support team. "We have arrested four accused. Wasim was the one who attacked, while Mazar was the bike rider and the other two Irfan and Majeeb were in the supporting team," Megharikh told reporters. Calling them "hardened criminals", he said the two motor bikes had been seized. "They have agreed (having committed the crime)- that is a different matter, but it is supported by the evidence," he added. Police said further investigations are on and they were also looking into whether any other individualsor organisations were involved. To a question on the motive, Megharikh said"these fellows were known to the deceased.... He was growing too fast and was giving trouble to a lot of people in the community... that is what their perception was." Stepping up its attack on the Congress government inthe wake of the murder, BJP had petitioned GovernorVajubhai Vala, demanding an enquiry by the NIA into killings ofparty and RSS activists. BJP, which also had staged strong protests here after the incident, had blamed the "unholy nexus" of "Jihadists" and Marxists for the killing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Haryana State Pollution Control Board has decided to honour and reward a girl from Jind district for reporting the case of stubble burning by her father to the authorities. Sonali Sheokhand, from Dhakhal village of Narwana, will be given a cash award of Rs 11,000 for her exemplary contribution to the cause of prevention of crop residue/ stubble burning in the state, an official release said here today. Her complaint recently had attracted her father a penalty of Rs 2,500. The Board officials hope that this recognition will serve as a motivating factor for other children, youth and farmers to play a role in the prevention of stubble burning. "It should also encourage children to take a vow for a Green Diwali with a firm no to fire-crackers to reduce air pollution in the state and in the NCR areas," the release said. The cash award and a certificate of appreciation will be given to Sonali at a function, it said. According to the release the girl had advised her father against burning the paddy crop residue as it would damage the environment. However, when her father went ahead with the stubble burning she promptly reported it to the district pollution control committee constituted by the Environment Department for for prevention of crop residue burning. The National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, had directed both the Pollution Control Board and the state government to constitute district level committees to monitor cases of stubble/crop residue burning and prevent them through awareness campaigns and enforcement measures. Notably, ignoring warnings by state authorities on burning crop residue, many farmers in Haryana and Punjab are still continuing the banned practice, leading to health risks and adversely affecting soil health. Both the Haryana and Punjab governments have imposed a ban on burning of paddy residue and the erring farmers can also be prosecuted by authorities. In the last few years it has been noted that when stubble is burned in the two leading agrarian states, the pollutants enter Delhi, adversely affecting the air quality in the national capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government today said it is committed to providing quality education in all areas, including the maritime sector. Addressing students and faculty of Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai, Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, and Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Lal Mandaviya said that "he saw a lot of potential in the university." He urged the management to provide for more international exposure and interaction so that the quality of its output can be at par with the best in the world, Ministry of Shipping said in a statement. The minister called for on-board training for students to provide them with the best practical knowledge about the industry. He also called upon private players to participate in the training as this would help bridge the demand supply gap of marine experts. The university was established through an Act of Parliament (Act 22) in November 2008 as a Central University, and is poised to play a key role in the development of trained human resource for the maritime sector, the statement said. Mandaviya also urged IMU to start a new course in ship breaking and hazardous waste management. Environment friendly ship breaking is in high demand and IMU should cater to this, he said. In order to boost maritime education, the government has increased the budget for IMU to Rs 40 crore per year, from the earlier allocation of Rs 6 crore for five years under the previous administration. The minister assured students that many opportunities awaited them as the Centre is taking many initiatives to boost the maritime sector. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress today expressed disappointment over government action of merely declaring a Pakistan High Commission staffer 'persona non-grata' for spying and asking him to leave the country within 48 hours. Party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters that Mehmood Akhtar should have been detained and interrogated as it is a "extremely sensitive matter" and he was caught with sensitive defence documents, including those about deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. "All that they have detained is a pigeon", he said apparently referring to Punjab police recently detaining a pigeon in the border district of Pathankot for carrying a note threatening Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He recalled that a jawan Chandu Chavan and another Indian Kulbhushan Yadav were in Pakistan custody and Yadav is not even being given counsellor access by Pakistan. Mehmood Akhtar issue should have been dealt with a "firm hand" and the Pakistani should have been "detained and interrogated" and the government decision is "disappointing", he added. (REOPENS DEL 106) To a question of granting renewal permission to NGO of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, Surjewala said any one found indulging in activities against security establishment or interest of India should be acted against in accordance with Law. "Zakir Naik's NGO, as far as I remember, was granted renewal by Home Ministry. They are still taking action there upon. No final decision has come as yet. Any action taken in national interest is welcome", he said. On the question that Modi Government's order has resulted in lowering the equivalent ranks of the Army Officers vis-a-vis civil officers, Surjewala alleged Modi Government has systematically and by design discriminated against India's Armed Forces. "Truth is 'One Rank One Pension' has become 'One Rank Many Pensions'. The soldiers of this country are feeling cheated", he added. For the second year in a row, Somalia topped the list of countries where the killing of journalists is most likely to go unpunished, a prominent media watchdog said today. The Committee to Protect Journalists said in a report that al-Shabab militants were responsible for the majority of media killings in Somalia. In Iraq and Syria, the countries that ranked second and third for impunity in media killings, the Islamic State group was responsible for most of the deaths. "Impunity in the murders of journalists emboldens would-be killers and forces the media to operate in a climate of fear, which in turn restricts information available to the public," said Elisabeth Witchel, author of the report and CPJ's consultant for the Global Campaign Against Impunity. "States need to urgently address this situation with robust mechanisms to protect, investigate, and prosecute when journalists are threatened or attacked." The report found that although most of the unpunished killings of journalists were carried out by militants, criminal groups and government officials are also behind the killings of journalists in other countries, including the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Russia and India. Despite the continued impunity six countries, out of 13 on the list - Bangladesh, Brazil, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia and Somalia - convicted people charged with killing journalists in the past year. The list is made up of 13 countries where there have been five or more unsolved killings of journalists over the past decade. CPJ said around 95 per cent of the victims were local reporters, most of them covering politics and corruption. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 47.88 lakh tonnes of paddy has arrived in the Haryana grain markets until yesterday whereas 38.03 lakh tonnes of paddy had arrived in the 'mandis' during the corresponding period last year. Out of total paddy arrivals, 46.29 lakh tonnes was leviable. The government procurement agencies have procured about 46.02 lakh tonnes of paddy and 1.85 lakh tonnes was procured by millers and dealers, an official spokesman said here today. Referring to arrival of paddy in the mandis of various districts, he said that more than 10.52 lakh tonnes paddy has arrived in Kurukshetra, more than 10.04 lakh tonnes in Karnal and over 6.71 lakh tonnes in Ambala. The spokesman said that more than 19.93 lakh tonnes of paddy has been purchased by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, 15.97 lakh tonnes by Hafed, over 5.35 lakh tonnes by the Haryana Agro-industries Corporation, over 4.54 lakh tonnes by the Haryana Warehousing Corporation and 22,257 tonnes by the Food Corporation of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court today extended till December 2 the stay on trial in Communist leader Govind Pansare murder case to enable the Special Investigation Team to file a supplementary charge sheet. Public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde informed the court that SIT of Kolhapur police had made Virendrasing Tawde, alleged member of conservative Hindu group Sanatan Sanstha, an accused in the case. SIT would be filing a supplementary charge sheet naming him, so the trial should be stayed further till then, he said. Tawde is also an accused in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case, being probed by CBI. Justice Revati Mohite-Dere then granted further extension to the stay. Pansare, a noted rationalist, was shot by two motorcycle- borne assailants near his house in Kolhapur on February 16, 2015. He died a few days later. The high court stayed the trial before Kolhapur court in June, 2016 on a petition filed by Pansare's family so that SIT could obtain a ballistic report from a forensic laboratory in UK. The high court today also directed the lower court to defer framing of charges against Sameer Gaikwad, another alleged member of Sanatan Sanstha, who was arrested earlier in Pansare case. The laboratory report is awaited to find out if there was any link between the killings of Pansare, anti-superstition activist Dabholkar and Kannada writer-scholar M M Kalburgi, all three of whom had faced threats from right-wing extremist groups. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court today fixed the hearing on December 5 in a suit filed by Jaidev Thackeray, son of late Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray, over his father's Will. On December 5, Sanjay Raut, MP and the editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', will be examined by the lawyers of Jaidev Thackeray. Justice Gautam Patel, who is hearing the matter, today deferred the hearing to December 5 when Raut would be examined. On October 10, Raut had not appeared as witness before the court and the matter was deferred till today to enable the Court fix a date for next hearing. The court had also warned that if Raut remained absent at the next hearing, the court might consider issuing a warrant against him. Jaidev has challenged Bal Thackeray's last Will, made on December 13, 2011, which did not give him anything but bequeathed a substantial share of the property to Jaidev's brother and the incumbent Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. Jaidev, whose relations with Bal Thackeray were strained, alleged that his father was of unsound mind and under Uddhav's influence when he made the will. Bal Thackeray passed away in November 2012. The High Court had earlier asked the two parties to try and settle the dispute amicably, but they failed to reach a compromise. A witness had told the court earlier that Thackeray had made several wills since 1997. In all those wills, the beneficiaries remained the same but the assets given to each beneficiary kept changing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat High Court today granted bail for a week to Babu Bajrangi, a former Bajrang Dal leader serving life imprisonment in the Naroda Patiya riot case. He had sought 30-day bail citing his wife's ill-health. Justice A S Supehia, however, granted him a one-week bail. Bajrangi is lodged at Sabarmati Central Jail here. He was convicted by a special fast track court in 2012 for his role in the post-Godhra violence at Naroda Patiya here in 2002, and sentenced to life imprisonment till death. Former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani too was convicted in the case. Ninety-six people had died at Naroda Patiya in one of the worst massacres of post-Godhra Gujarat riots. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court today issued notices to Goa government and a hotel company owned by former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda on a plea challenging the state government's decision to renew the licence to the firm which owns an off shore casino anchored near here in Mandovi river. Social activist Aires Rodrigues had moved the High Court challenging state government's decision to renew licence granted to Kanda's Golden Globe Hotels Private Limited. The Goa government has sought time to file a reply. The matter would be now heard next week. Rodrigues has in his petition sought recall of the order passed by the Bombay High Court at Goa onAugust 1, 2016 which was passed after an alleged misleading statement made by Additional Advocate General Dattaprasad Lawande. Rodrigues has in his petition claimed that the court was wrongly informed by Lawande that the government had favourably considered the representation made by Golden Globe Hotels Private Limited to renew their license from 2011-2016. Stating that Lawande could not have made a statement contrary to the official position of the government, Rodrigues has drawn the attention of the court to the affidavit filed by the Under Secretary (Home) on December 7, 2015 that the expired Casino License could not be renewed. The casino licence owned by Kanda had expired in 2011. Rodrigues has also drawn the High Court's attention to a Cabinet decision taken by the Goa Government in 2013 not to renew expired casino licences. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of Diwali festivities, a local outfit Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has started a campaign against Chinese firecrackers across Goa. The HJS activists are touring all cities of the coastal state and requesting traders selling Chinese firecrackers not to put them on the shelves "for the sake of the nation". "When you buy Chinese firecracker, you are helping economy of China, who is our enemy because they are supporting Pakistan. Purchasing Chinese firecracker means funding people who kill our soldiers," alleged HJS Goa Coordinator Manoj Solanki. "When we educate people against buying Chinese fire crackers it serves two purpose. One is that we desist from supporting economy of China and we also save the environment. The pollution levels go high during Diwali due to burning of fire crackers," he said. According to Solanki, HJS is also requesting traders to boycott other products which are 'Made in China' and go for "Swadeshi" items. However, a member of an industry body in the state believes that the campaign will not impact much as sale of firecrackers is an "unorganised business". "The containers of firecrackers arrive in Mumbai from where they are brought to Goa by road. There is no exact record of how many of them actually arrive in the state," said Manguirish Pai Raikar, member and former president, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). Goa does not have homegrown industry producing firecrackers except for few families in Mardol village near Ponda town. Raikar claimed those families too are now dwindling as fire crackers are either imported from China or Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of home guards today held a dharna at Indira Park here and later marched towards the Secretariat demanding regularisation of their jobs and fulfilment of other demands. The home guards have been demanding that their jobs be regularised, salaries be increased and they be paid on par with police constables. "We are demanding job security first," a home guard, who was on dharna said. Some of the protesting home guards claimed that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had assured of regularising their job and requested him to look into the matter. Earlier, a delegation of home guards met Telangana Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma. After the dharna, they marched towards the Secretariat. However, police foiled their attempt to lay siege to the Secretariat, prompting the protesters to hold a sit-in in front of the Secretariat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking a tough stand against striking National Health Mission (NHM) employees, the Haryana government today dismissed 53 leaders for allegedly instigating others, preventing them from performing their duties and creating problems for patients. The development comes close on the heels of the government dismissing six leaders of the National Health Mission Employees Association (NHMEA) on Tuesday. "The government has also imposed section 144 of the CrPC in a radius of one km of all hospitals to keep striking employees away," Health Minister Anil Vij said here today. Three from Bhiwani district, four from Faridabad, two each from Hisar and Karnal, six each from Sonipat and Palwal, three from Rewari, nine each from Gurugram and Sirsa, five from Panchkula and four from Jind have been dismissed, he said. "They were also creating hindrances for those employees who wanted to perform their duties. Earlier the government had dismissed six NHMEA leaders," he said. Orders have been issued to all Civil Surgeons to replace drivers of referral transports, who are on strike, with fresh recruitments, so that patients do not suffer, the minister said. "It is ironical, NHM employees admit and know that their services cannot be regularised but still they are agitating, he said, blaming the previous Congress government for appointing several NHM workers allegedly by ignoring rules. "Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, during his regime, had appointed his workers in NHM by setting aside all rules. Now these employees are instigating and forcing others to go on strike," Vij alleged in an official statement here. He said the present BJP government is a well-wisher of its employees and he himself has taken initiatives for their welfare. "Even then they are insisting to continue the strike," he said, adding adequate arrangements have been made in hospitals so that patients do not suffer and today a number of striking employees have decided to return to work in many districts. Action would be taken against those who would go on strike, which has been declared illegal by the government, he added. On Tuesday, the Haryana government had terminated the services of six office-bearers of the NHMEA for going on strike, instigating others and disrupting government health services in the state. The association had last week given a call for state-wide indefinite strike to press for their regularisation. "These employees had been hired on contract under the NHM for completing a specific task within a specified period," he said. "In view of the prevailing season of malaria, dengue, chikunguya and other vector-borne diseases, the strike was not only against moral responsibility, but also risked the health of patients," he said, adding "some external forces were instigating the employees." "External forces" would not be allowed to "instigate" employees, officers and doctors of the health department," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One-Third Of Recent High School Graduates Need Remediation Last year, 34 percent of 2015 high school graduates enrolled in one or more developmental math and/or English courses at a North Carolina community college. This is a sharp decrease from the year before when 42 percent of 2014 high school graduates enrolled in at least one remedial course. Both figures include public, private, and home school graduates from North Carolina and a handful of other states.Remediation rates have been on the decline since the rate hit 65 percent during the 2011-12 academic year. The rate began to drop after a change in the NC Community College System (NCCCS) developmental course placement policy.In 2010, NCCCS began a review of student placement and remedial course design. Based on the recommendations of policy and subject-area experts, system leaders approved a number of new initiatives designed to better serve underprepared high school graduates.Three years later, NCCCS leaders introduced a multiple measures policy that changed the way that the state's community colleges identify incoming students who may need to enroll in remedial English and mathematics courses. According to the NCCCS SuccessNC strategic plan, students who graduated in the last five years will be exempted from remediation placement testing if they completed four years of math (including Algebra II) in high school and earned a grade point average (GPA) of 2.6 or higher. Today, all NCCCS institutions have implemented this placement policy.While the policy revision was responsible for the initial decreases, it does not explain the 8 percentage point drop in the rate over the last two academic years. The reasons for this trend require further investigation.Obviously, schools may be doing a better job of preparing students for college-level English and math. State testing data, however, indicates that only around half of high school students were "career and college ready" in math and English. These scores may not reflect the skills and knowledge of the community college populations in question. Moreover, one must consider the possibility that state tests are inaccurate indicators of career and college readiness.Moreover, it is not due to a change in the number of high school graduates enrolled in a community college. The number of 2015 high school graduates enrolled during the 2015-16 academic year was nearly identical to the number enrolled the year before. There also does not appear to be significant changes in the number of students who graduated from low-performing high schools and subsequently enrolled in a North Carolina community college. It's possible that the students in the 2015-16 population are significantly different than those in the 2014-15 population, but there is not enough data available to know for sure.Another plausible explanation is that an increasing number of students may qualify for the exemption, that is, complete four years of math and earn a GPA of 2.6 or higher. Again, it would require additional data to prove or disprove that hypothesis.Regardless of the reasons why the community college remediation rate dropped, it is encouraging that fewer high school graduates appear to need developmental coursework in English and math. That said, NCCCS institutions still required around one-third of recent high school graduates to enroll in one or more developmental courses. The remediation rate may be on the decline but remains worrisome, particularly for those who believe that a high school diploma should infer that recipients possesses basic English and math skills. Healthcare technology startup Idea Bubbles today said it has raised Rs 4.5 crore in equity funding from 1Crowd and Eureka Forbes along with its parent Shapoorji Pallonji & Company. "Idea Bubbles...Has recently raised Rs 4.5 crore (about USD 700,000) in equity funding from early stage funding platform 1Crowd, and leading health and hygiene company Eureka Forbes Limited, along with its parent Shapoorji Pallonji & Company," a company release said. The co-investors, Eureka Forbes and 1Crowd, are both contributing to the venture in terms of operational and strategic guidance, the release added. Eureka Forbes is working with Idea Bubbles on sales, distribution, operations and brand building, while 1Crowd is associated with the company on financial strategy and corporate customer acquisition, it added. Founded by IIT Delhi-IIM Calcutta alumnus and serial entrepreneur Gururaj Potnis, Idea Bubbles has developed a proposition around the core theme of monetising doctor's professional time in a smartphone-centric world. Its Eureka Forbes Good Health (EFGH) platform enables doctors to offer patients tele-consultation services along with a suite of offerings including digitised medical records and plugins to other healthcare providers. "With India having a very low doctor-patient ratio, EFGH is a powerful and convenient enabler of family health services and health data management for individuals, and all employers are keen to improve their employee productivity," Raman Venkatesh, CEO, Technology & Corporate Development, Eureka Forbes said. "Eureka Forbes...Sees big potential in the healthcare enablement sector," he added. The statement further said that Idea Bubbles' platform - HappiDoc ties into EFGH by providing doctors a curated stream of medical research and case articles while also facilitating market research for pharma companies and sponsored continuous medical education programmes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) today inaugurated its community outreach project 'SMILE Centre' wherein students and faculty members of the premiere institute would impart formal as well as informal education to children of underprivileged families. The SMILE (Student Mediated Initiative for Learning to Excel) Centre operates from an empty space under a flyover in front of the institute. The Centre was inaugurated today by Chairman of Wagh Bakri Group Piyush Desai in the presence of IIM-A Director Ashish Nanda and several other faculty members and students. City-based Wagh Bakri group has provided financial support while Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has alloted the space to start the Centre. As of now, 89 students of Class VIII to Class XII, both Commerce and Arts streams are enrolled for the current academic year, said IIM-A Professor Rakesh Basant, Dean (Alumni and External Relations) and Faculty Coordinator for SMILE project. "These 89 students of underprivileged families, including 35 girls, are from urban slum areas of different parts of city. Our aim is to provide them education which would help them in their regular studies. In addition, we will also teach them English communication and computer skills," Basant said. 38 students of IIM-A along with seven faculty members and three research associates have agreed to give their time for this project, he added. "This Centre is more than a tuition class, as our students and faculty members would also provide them guidance about career opportunities, personality development and other skills which would prove beneficial for their overall development. We do not charge any thing from the families of these kids," the professor said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid reports that job creation in India remains inadequate, technology investor T V Mohandas Pai has suggested that the country must incentivise job-intensive industries to boost opportunities. "India is creating large-scale jobs. New members of EPF and ESI clearly show decent job creation, but this is inadequate for our needs," Pai, a former board member of Infosys, said. "To boost employment, the government must incentivise employment-intensive industries like garments, textiles, auto and infrastructure and not capital-intensive ones as done hitherto," he told PTI. "Our wrong policies of favouring capital intensity instead of employment intensity has hurt us badly." According to Pai, the government has taken many initiatives to generate jobs, but they are not bearing fruit as investment is down, especially in the private sector. "Agriculture has been stressed and that has pulled down growth," he added. Pai made a pitch to reduce the number of people dependent on agriculture. Today, about 52 per cent of Indians depend on agriculture which, at 15 per cent of GDP, is growing at 3 per cent per annum whereas some 48 per cent are dependent on industry. The services sector is growing at over 10 per cent, Pai added. "The wide disparity in growth is creating greater divergence and social stress. There is a need for more than 30 per cent to shift to industry and services if their income has to grow. There is no way agriculture can sustain such a large number of people as their primary source of income," he said further. Pai, a former chairman of Sebi Primary Markets Advisory Committee, also said formal jobs being created are inadequate to meet India's needs. "I estimate that 60-80 lakh formal jobs are being created every year which pay PF or ESI. This is against 1.8 crore who need jobs every year." The chairman of Manipal Global Education Services and Aarin Capital Partners is of the view that sectors such as financial services are prone to technology disruption and automation, especially with many new start-ups coming up. "In banking, over the last 15 years, both assets and liabilities have grown by over 10 times, but employment by only five per cent. This is the result of automation and very high increase in labour costs. The technology sector is seeing reduction in employment as it adjusts to more automation, severe competition, a slowing global economy and stress in the financial sector," Pai added. Pai termed the World Bank research as "grossly exaggerated" which predicted that automation threatens 69 per cent of the jobs in India. "With 7-8 per cent GDP growth, India is creating new jobs. We must remember that India has great scope in creating job opportunities... The pace of job creation could be impacted and reduced, but this figure is grossly exaggerated," he added. On what Indian IT needs to do in the age of automation, Internet of Things, cloud computing and the overall move towards going digital, he said: "To catch trends as they emerge and invest ahead of need, to lead than be led, to innovate faster to lead the market." Pai does not see any significant increase in IT manpower working on back-end applications, but also not an overall reduction of installed base as new work needs to be done. "As more back-end work gets automated, more work also becomes the back end. (But) growth of manpower is coming down," he added. He is on the same page as analysts who have projected that traditional customers would spend lesser and lesser on traditional services, predicting that there is going to be only marginal growth in traditional services till 2020, and incremental spending would go to newer areas thereafter. On doomsday prophecy of "death of code", Pai said: "Code will continue, huge legacy of around USD 4 trillion of code to work on. A large part of new code is getting automated, but building blocks (are) available. The breadth of need is so large that code will never die but can be done easier because of building blocks and automation." A former chairman of Sebi Primary Markets Advisory Committee, Pai termed as "premature" talk in some quarters that computers in future "will not be programmed but trained as dogs". "Training a computer by AI, ML (artificial intelligence, machine-learning) needs large number of cases to be out into databases to enable pattern recognition. Analytics would be needed on top and interpretation of analytics and decision making. Rule-based work would be diminished," he added. India and Estonia will soon sign a pact on transfer of each other's sentenced prisoners with the government giving its approval for it. A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing and ratification of an agreement between India and Estonia on the transfer of sentenced persons. Signing of the pact will facilitate the Indian prisoners imprisoned in Estonia or vice-versa to be near to their families, for serving remaining part of their sentence and shall facilitate their social rehabilitation, an official statement said. Prior to 2004, there was no domestic Legislation under which foreign prisoners could be transferred to the country of their origin to serve the remaining part of their sentence, nor was there a provision for the transfer of prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court to serve their sentence in India. Transfer of such prisoners to their own native countries shall facilitate their social rehabilitation. Hence, the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 was enacted for serving the above purpose. For achieving the objectives of the Act, a Treaty or Agreement is required to be signed with countries having mutual interest with India and later to the notified in the Official Gazette. India has so far signed pacts on transfer of sentenced persons with United Kingdom, Mauritius, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Brazil, Israel, Bosnia & Herzegovina, UAE, Italy, Turkey, Maldives, Thailand, Russian Federation, Kuwait, Vietnam, Australia, Hong Kong, Qatar, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Bahrain. So far total 65 prisoners have been exchanged, out of which 55 were Indians. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid growing strain in relations, India and Pakistan today declared a staffer each at their High Commissions in New Delhi and Islamabad 'persona non-grata' and sought their recall in tit-for-tat action after Indian police busted an ISI-run spy ring involving an employee of the Pakistani mission. Mehmood Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the High Commission and had diplomatic immunity, was procuring critical details including those about deployment of BSF personnel along the Indo-Pak border from two other accomplices who were arrested in Delhi, police said. Described as the kingpin of the spy ring, 35-year-old Akhtar belongs to the Baloch regiment of Pakistani Army and was on deputation to spy agency ISI since 2013, investigators said, adding they also probing possible involvement of more people from the Pakistani mission. Akhtar and two others -- identified as Subhash Jangir and Maulana Ramzan-- were picked up from Delhi Zoo yesterday at around 10 AM. Akhtar was released after around three hours of interrogation as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. A fourth person Shoaib, who is a Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent, was detained by Rajasthan police this evening and was being brought to Delhi. India asked Akhtar to leave the country within 48 hours. "Today morning Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and informed him that India had intercepted an official of the Pakistan High Commission in the pursuit of espionage and that he was being declared persona non-grata," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. "The Pakistan High Commission has been informed that Mehmood Akhtar and his family must return to Pakistan by October 29. The Foreign Secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pak High Commissioner that the Pak High Commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status," Swarup said. In swift tit-for-tat action, Pakistan also declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours. A Pakistan Foreign Office statement said the decision was conveyed to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale who was summoned to Foreign Ministry in Islamabad. "The Foreign Secretary (Aizaz Chaudhry) summoned the Indian High Commissioner today and conveyed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to declare Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non-grata," the statement said. The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms, it said. The Indian High Commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by October 29. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India today said it will welcome Pakistan's participation at the Heart of Asia (HoA) conference to be held in Amritsar on December 4 although it has not received any official confirmation from it so far. "We are yet to receive an official confirmation from Pakistan and also the level of participation," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said when asked whether there will be a Indo-Pak bilateral meeting as Pakistan's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has already announced his country will attend the conference. He also said HoA was a ministerial-level meeting and a multilateral conference to discuss peace, development and economic cooperation for the prosperity of Afghanistan. "We will certainly welcome all countries to Amritsar because we are totally committed to peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. HoA process is a very important process for taking that particular narrative forward....And how international community can partner... "We will welcome the participation of Pakistan," he said while noting that India was expecting more than 40 countries and organisations to attend the meet." Last year in December, the meeting of the HoA process was hosted by Pakistan and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had attended it after which she had a bilateral talks with Aziz. The two sides had also announced resumption of Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD), which never took-off due to terror strikes, including Pathankot attack by Pakistan- based elements. India had recently boycotted the SAARC summit which was scheduled to be held in Islamabad. Citing continuous cross-border terrorism from Pakistan following the Uri attack, India had said, "in the present circumstances" it was unable to take part in the SAARC summit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The political situation in Nepal and ways to speed up implementation of India-sponsored infrastructure projects in the Himalayan nation was the focus of a high-level meeting on Thursday between the two countries. The fourth session of the India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting also conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral engagement in diverse areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, border management and infrastructure development. The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar and Nepal's Minister of Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat. "The Joint Commission provided an opportunity to review political exchanges and bilateral cooperation in all areas and to provide necessary political guidance for further enhancing the traditionally warm and close relations," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. During his visit here last month, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kumar Dahal 'Prachanda' had said a solution to the Madhesi problem was in sight soon and noted that legitimate demands will be accommodated within the framework of the Constitution. The issue is understood to have figured in today's meeting, which was also attended by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Nepalese counterpart Shankar Das Bairagi. Swarup said the Joint Commission reviewed the progress in projects covered under the Lines of Credits extended to Nepal by India, and agreed to expedite their implementation. "Both sides agreed to closely monitor progress of all development and infrastructure projects such as the Terai roads, the cross-border rail links, development of integrated check-posts, cross-border transmission line projects, hydro-power project, cross-border oil pipeline, and address any bottlenecks on both sides to expedite the implementation of these projects," he said. Swarup said the Commission "reviewed and positively assessed" implementation of decisions emerging from high-level exchanges, including during visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nepal in August and November 2014 and visits of Nepalese PMs to India in February, September and October this year. "The intensive interaction at the highest political levels and regular meetings of important bilateral mechanisms demonstrate the priority that India attaches to furthering relations and cooperation with people and Government of Nepal," said Swarup. The joint commission reviewed the political situation in Nepal. The Madhesis, mostly people of Indian origin, has been strongly opposing certain provisions of the Constitution, saying those will politically marginalise the community. The Madhesis have been seeking India's intervention on the issue. Swarup said both sides acknowledged the significant progress made since the last meeting of the Joint Commission in taking forward bilateral initiatives in areas such as trade, transit, economic, mutual investment, defence and security, border management, power and water. He also said deliberations were held on cross-border transport facilitation, education, cultural and youth exchanges, tourism, railways, infrastructure development, capacity building and human resource development, and promotion of people-to-people contact, among others. India conveyed its readiness to move forward expeditiously on post-earthquake reconstruction projects in partnership with the Government of Nepal, within the inter- governmental framework of India's assistance package of USD one billion. "Both sides decided to convene bilateral mechanisms at an early date to promote cooperation in areas such as trade, transit, civil aviation, water resources," said Swarup. The third session of the Joint Commission was held in Kathmandu in July, 2014. Sidharth Malhotra says the controversy surrounding Karan Johar's directorial venture "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil," which features his "Kapoor & Sons" co-star Fawad Khan, was "unfortunate". "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil," starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Fawad was caught in storm after Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) threatened to stall the release of movies with Pakistani actors. However, after the intervention of the state government, MNS agreed to let the film release peacefully with the condition that they don't hire any talent from across the border in future. "It is unfortunate how our industry is getting involved in bigger national issues, which I feel films were never a part of. I feel film industry has always stood against terrorism and we do not promote it. "The filmmaker (Johar) had made the film in different climate. It takes at least one year to complete a film and that actor (Fawad) had a release with me which people have loved and liked," Sidharth told PTI. The 31-year-old actor, who made his Bollywood debut with Johar's "Student of the Year", is happy that the movie is finally releasing as per the schedule. "We all are really excited that the film is releasing, otherwise, it would have been very unfortunate. We are happy that it is being released in a very peaceful manner." Sidharth says his grandfather was in army and he feels soldiers don't give any importance to the films being released and are only concerned about the safety of the nation. "My grandfather was in army. Soldiers are not concerned what film is coming in the theatres. They are concerned about their country and what is happening to the people. I think we are not looking at the bigger picture, this is a very small part of it." The Producers Guild have decided to ban Pakistani artistes but the actor believes the call taken by the guild is not a permanent solution. "We do respect what the Producers Guild have decided but that being said I don't think this is the solution and I hope our authorities do something to resolve the issue. I hope in future things will be peaceful and happy again. We keep making good content and releasing films without offending anybody culturally or creatively." Sidharth has already seen "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" and the actor can't stop praising the cast and the filmmaker's interpretation of unrequited love. "I have seen the film. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think Karan's take on one sided love has a very bitter-sweet feeling. You feel like crying but you are smiling. Ranbir has done a fabulous job. Anushka has given an exceptional performance. And even Aishwarya and Fawad are amazing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The world's most famous fictional spy, James Bond, would never have been hired by Britain's security services in the real world due to his 'morally dubious character', the boss of MI6 has said. In a rare interview with Black History Month website, Alex Younger said: "We know that if we undermine British values, even in the name of defending them, then we have failed. Our staff are not from another planet. They are ordinary men and women operating in the face of complex moral, ethical and physical challenges, often in the most forbidding environments on earth. Bond's 'morally dubious character' would rule him out as a real-life MI6 spy despite his tenacity and patriotism, he added. Younger said: "In contrast to JamesBond, MI6 officers are not for taking moral shortcuts. In fact, a strong ethical core is one of the first qualities we look for in our staff. "It's safe to say that JamesBondwouldn't get through our recruitment process and, whilst we share his qualities of patriotism, energy and tenacity, an intelligence officer in the real MI6 has a high degree of emotional intelligence, values teamwork and always has respect for the law... Unlike MrBond." The chief of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, which is referred to as MI6, also used the interview to appeal to the youth to join the ranks. "My ultimate goal is for more people to consider a career in MI6 and to get rid of the myth that it's all about having studied at Oxford or Cambridge or having advanced hand-to-hand combat skills. That stereotype really couldn't be further from the truth," he said. "What is true is that our work at MI6 is exciting, intellectually challenging and it matters. We are Britain's secret frontline, operating upstream in the shadows to keep our friends, families and fellow countrymen and women safe," Younger added. Bond's character, created by Ian Fleming, has proved the most enduring image of British spies around the world. However, it seems the promiscuous vodka martini enthusiast made famous in a series of film adaptations has very little to do with the real world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed today to step up pressure on North Korea as they stick to their goal of persuading the communist state to abandon its nuclear weapons. Their pledge comes just two days after US National Intelligence Director James Clapper publicly called that goal a "lost cause." He said the best hope is capping its capability instead. The deputy foreign ministers who held talks in Tokyo made clear that North Korea now poses a new level of threat and requires broader international pressure and tougher sanctions. US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, said their policy has not changed. "We will not accept North Korea as nuclear state, we will not accept North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, period," Blinken said. "We are focused on increasing the pressure on North Korea with one purpose: to bring it back to the table to negotiate in good faith. Denuclearisation. That is the objective." Getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program has long been a headache in multilateral diplomacy with Pyongyang. Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama, who hosted Thursday's talks, cited North Korea's recent tests showing the country's missile and nuclear capability had entered a new level of threat. "We need to respond differently than in the past," he said. Officials cited the sanctions and missile defense that have been already in place, but did not elaborate on their different approaches other than fresh sanctions pending at the United Nations and possible separate additional measures by the three countries. Meanwhile, South Korea said today it plans to restart talks with Japan on a military intelligence sharing agreement to better cope with threats from North Korea. Information from Japan's network of satellites and other intelligence-gathering systems would be critical in monitoring and preparing against North Korea's fast developing nuclear weapons and missile programs, South Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said in Seoul. The United States, South Korea and Japan signed a joint intelligence-sharing pact in 2014, but under the frame work Seoul and Tokyo only share intelligence about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs via Washington. A bilateral agreement between South Korea and Japan would enable a quicker transfer of information between the countries in urgent situations. South Korea and Japan nearly signed a bilateral intelligence sharing pact in 2012, but Seoul backed off at the last minute following political outcry at home. Many South Koreans hold resentment over Japan's brutal occupation of the Korean Peninsula before the end of World War II and express uneasiness about the country's military role in the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed today to step up pressure on North Korea as they stick to their goal of persuading the communist state to abandon its nuclear weapons. Their pledge comes just two days after US National Intelligence Director James Clapper publicly called that goal a "lost cause." He said the best hope is capping its capability instead. The deputy foreign ministers who held talks in Tokyo made clear that North Korea now poses a new level of threat and requires broader international pressure and tougher sanctions. US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, said their policy has not changed. "We will not accept North Korea as nuclear state, we will not accept North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, period," Blinken said. "We are focused on increasing the pressure on North Korea with one purpose: to bring it back to the table to negotiate in good faith. Denuclearization. That is the objective." Getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program has long been a headache in multilateral diplomacy with Pyongyang. Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama, who hosted today's talks, cited North Korea's recent tests showing the country's missile and nuclear capability had entered a new level of threat. "We need to respond differently than in the past," he said. Officials cited the sanctions and missile defense that have been already in place, but did not elaborate on their different approaches other than fresh sanctions pending at the United Nations and possible separate additional measures by the three countries. Meanwhile, South Korea said today it plans to restart talks with Japan on a military intelligence sharing agreement to better cope with threats from North Korea. Information from Japan's network of satellites and other intelligence-gathering systems would be critical in monitoring and preparing against North Korea's fast developing nuclear weapons and missile programs, South Korea's Defense Ministry said. The United States, South Korea and Japan signed a joint intelligence-sharing pact in 2014, but under the framework Seoul and Tokyo only share intelligence about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs via Washington. A bilateral agreement between South Korea and Japan would enable a quicker transfer of information between the countries in urgent situations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Consul General of France in Kolkata Damian Siyed today said the mineral-rich Jharkhand is a perfect place for investment and has enough potential for growth. "I will encourage industrialists of France to invest in the state as it has a conducive atmosphere for it," Siyed told reporters here after interacting with the members of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Jamshedpur chapter. The state has a stable government and its approach is positive, Siyed, who held a meeting in Ranchi yesterday, said. Referring the discussions he had with Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Siyed said "We have discussed the investment possibility sector, but our priority was the renewable energy sector, mainly Solar and Hydro energy as France was the leading country in the world in this sector." "Besides, France is keen to explore possibilities in sectors such as IT, healthcare, higher education, water and waste management," Siyed, who has also visited and had discussions with the Director of B-School XLRI here, said. The Consul General said he would encourage industries from sectors across to take part in a business summit to be hosted by the Jharkhand government in February next year. "We want to cooperate with the Indian Government to make its 'Make in India' concept a success," he said. Appreciating the abundance of rich mineral deposit, he said Jharkhand was an essential state for the country's economic growth. About the meeting with Das yesterday, Siyed said it was fruitful. He said he was satisfied with the meetings during his maiden visit to Jharkhand and was optimistic that he would be back to take part in the summit with a delegation of industries from his country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rapper Kevin Gates has been sentenced to 180 days in jail on a battery charge for kicking a female fan during a 2015 performance. The 30-year-old Paper Chasers star, real name Kevin Gilyard, was onstage at Rumor's Nite Club in Lakeland, Florida last year when audience member Miranda Dixon reportedly tugged at his shorts mid-performance. In video footage of the incident, Gates appeared to strike the woman in her abdomen with his foot, and police subsequently filed a criminal complaint against him. According to TMZ, a jury of six women took just two hours of deliberation before finding Gates guilty of battery and sentencing him to 180 days in a Polk County jail and one year probation. His lawyer Jose Baez had previously asked for the case to be dismissed under Florida's Stand your Ground Law, which allows an individual to defend themselves if threatened. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today met the family members of BSF constable Sushil Kumar, martyred in Jammu district on October 24, and announced a government job for a family member. Khattar, who went to the martyr's house at Pehowa near here, said all type of help would be provided to the family. The Chief Minister said sacrifice of Sushil Kumar would not be allowed to go waste. He consoled martyr's widow Sunita as well as other family members. Later, addressing mediapersons, the Chief Minister said Sushil Kumar's sacrifice will give new energy to the youths to protect nation. Mortal remains of Sushil Kumar (47) were consigned to flames with full military honours in his hometown Pehowa on Tuesday. Kumar was killed in heavy shelling and firing from automatic weapons by Pakistani troops along the International Border in Jammu district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya today directed the officials to file state's affidavit before the Supreme Court regarding the boundary dispute with Karnataka before January 2017. Maharashtra has been long claiming Belgaum and some other border areas in Karnataka which have Marathi-speaking population. The directions were given at a meeting of the high-powered committee on the boundary dispute. Chief of the committee Prof N D Patil and Additional Chief Secretary (General Administration) Bhagwan Sahai were among those present. Kshatriya also directed the Law and Judiciary department to appoint a legal expert in place of Prabhat Ranjan Tiwari who passed away recently. Arvind Datar and Harish Salve are representing the state in the apex court. Kshatriya said all documents related to the case should be scanned and sent to the legal office in a month's time. A request would be made to the Supreme Court to conduct hearing of the case on a fast-track, he said. Maharashtra Government would soon appoint a nodal officer to assist the legal team in Delhi, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lokayukta police today raided three premises of a veterinary officer, who is accused of amassing wealth, disproportionate to his known sources of income. "We raided three places including the residence of Dr Sharique Mohammad Sheikh, assistant surgeon and administrative officer of veterinary department following complaint against him for indulging in corruption and amassing wealth," a Lokayukta officer said. "Besides, we also raided the house of the in-charge of Indore Municipal Corporation-run Zoo Dr Uttam Yadav, the alleged business partner of Sheikh," he added. The raids have disclosed that Sheikh and his wife and relatives own three houses, three tracts of lands, two agriculture lands, a goat farm, a farm house, hotel at Pachmarhi hill station in Hoshangabad district and three four wheelers, he added. The official said that during the raid at Sheikh's house, Rs 1.25 lakh in cash and gold jewellery worth nearly Rs 11 lakh was seized. He said they have got hold of documents disclosing that the veterinary officer was having 10 banks accounts and claimed that the accused has amassed huge wealth. The official said that Sheikh has joined veterinary department in 1997 and he has fetched Rs 70 lakh as salary so far. "We are calculating his income disproportionate to his known sources of income, the officer said. The veterinary officer has been booked under the relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police today filed charge sheet in the Louis Berger pay-off scandal naming senior Congress leader and former Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat as the "prime conspirator". Six others, including the then PWD minister Churchill Alemao, were also listed in the charge sheet in the scam in which the US firm has been charged with bribing Indian officials to win two water developmental projects in Goa and Guwahati. The charge sheet, running into around 1,000 pages, was filed by Crime Branch before special court here. Police also named Louis Berger official James McClung, former India Vice-President of the company Satyakam Mohanty, head of (Japan International Cooperation Agency) JICA-aided project in Goa Anand Wachasunder, suspected Hawala dealer Raychand Soni and former Margao municipal council chairperson Arthur D'Silva. The accused are charged under section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC, and under sections 7,8 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. On July 21, 2015, the Crime Branch had registered an FIR against unknown ministers of then Congress government of 2010. The alleged bribery had come to light after Louis Berger company admitted to the violations under US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and agreed to pay penalty of USD 17.1 million to resolve the charge that it had bribed foreign officials. The Rs 1,031-crore project, funded by JICA, was approved when the Digamber Kamat government was in power for augmenting water supply in south Goa and laying sewerage lines in the state's major cities. Louis Berger was part of a consultancy consortium appointed by two Japanese firms and an Indian partner for managing USD 311 million Goa Water Supply and Sewerage Project awarded in 2009. Crime branch had interrogated Kamat many times during the probe. He had secured anticipatory bail from local court on August 19, 2015. Alemao was arrested on August 5, 2015 after he was called by crime branch officials to record his statement. In the interim charge sheet filed on September 29 last year, police charged Alemao and others under various sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. Kamat's name was not included in that charge sheet though he was shown as a suspect. In the charge sheet filed today, crime branch has termed Kamat as the prime conspirator. "Kamat was instrumental in aiding then PWD minister Churchill Alemao in formation of different committees by approving the same for JICA project, contrary to JICA guidelines. "Prime conspirator Digambar Kamat is also the criminal conspirator in concealing the main noting file of awarding JICA consultancy in Goa in connivance with other co-accused Alemao in order to hide the notings in the main file which would put light on the misdeeds of accused Wachasunder," the charge sheet stated. The charge sheet further said that documents of "immense wealth in crores and different bank accounts accumulated by Kamat all over India in his name as well as his proxy has been traced and scrutiny of the same will be done upon custodial interrogation of Kamat." His anticipatory bail has been challenged by police in the Supreme Court. "Upon scrutiny of all the documents of the properties and bank accounts in different banks all over India, corroborative evidence will be submitted before the court as per provisions of CrPC," the charge sheet stated. The Maharashtra government has to give a go-ahead for procurement of tablets for paperless functioning of the state Legislature. With this move, the upcoming session of the Legislature to be held in Nagpur from December 5, will go paperless. The committee set up for procurement of tablets has given a go-ahead for it along with financial sanction, MLC Manikrao Thakre, one of the committee members, told PTI today. States like Goa and Haryana are already using tablets during sessions of their respective Legislative Assembly, he added. "The tables are going to be used in the upcoming Winter Session. The Maharashtra government spends around Rs 50 crore annually for publication of various committee reports, official surveys, reference reports and daily reports for the members of Assembly and Council. Compared to it, at present the tablet cost is not over Rs five crore. Once the tablets are procured, the cost of (publishing) documents will be saved forever," Thakre said. There are 288 members in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly while there are 78 members in the state Legislative Council. "The high speed Internet service will reduce the waste of time in searching the information and presenting it before the House", Thakre, a senior Congress leader said, adding the government needs to ensure higher Internet speed through Wi-Fi service. "All the modalities including whether to fix the tables inside the both houses will be finalised at the Committee meeting after Diwali," Thakre added. A committee of administrative officers had already studied the functioning of Haryana and Goa Assemblies and hence the state government gave its nod to the proposal, said the MLC. The Budget and the Monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature are held in Mumbai while the Winter session is held in Nagpur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police has arrested a Law graduate for impersonating as an IAS officer serving at Chief Vigilance Commission(CVC) here, from Mumbai. Accused Vinay Kumar Khatu, a resident of Santacruz East in Mumbai, was arrested in connection with a case registered by an under secretary of CVC at Kotla Mubarakpur police station on August 8, said Ishwar Singh, DCP(south). The police complaint mentioned that Khatu impersonated as an IAS Officer posted at the Central Vigilance Commission and defrauded people on large scale. The complaint mentioned that no such officer is working in the Central Vigilance Commission. A police team supervised by Additional DCP(south) Manishi Chandra nabbed the accused from Mumbai recently, said the officer. The police team also seized visiting cards having emblem of Government of India bearing the description, Vinay Kumar Khatu, IAS, Deputy Director-Admin, Central Vigilance Commission, and ID Card of Bar Council, the officer said. During interrogation, Vinay told police that did his LLB from Pune in 2004 and started practice as an advocate at Alibag Court. He also started dealing in property alongwith preparation for Civil Services Examination. When his relatives and friends started asking him about his clearing the exams, he felt embarrassed as he failed to clear the prestigious exam, he said After some time, he announced that he has cleared IAS exam and was posted as Deputy Director in Central Vigilance Commission, New Delhi. He got his visiting cards printed and also updated his status as an IAS officer on various social sites and also while uploading his videos on YouTube, added the officer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shoaib, the Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent allegedly involved in espionage racket, was detained near his home town this evening, police said. A Pakistan High Commission official, identified as Mehmood Akhtar, was detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage racket involving sharing of sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. Two people, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir were also arrested for sharing sensitive information and defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. "He (Shoaib) was responsible for recruiting Subhash and Maulana in the module. He was detained near Jodhpur today evening," said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police(Crime). Shoaib had come in contact with Maulana around one-and-a-half year back, who lured the latter to join him in collecting vital information about the installations of army and para-military forces in Gujarat and Rajasthan, the officer said. Yesterday, after getting a tip-off about the presence of Akhtar along with Shoaib, Ramzan and Jangir at Delhi Zoo, the police had nabbed Akhtar along with Ramzan and Jangir but Shoaib had managed to escape, said the officer. "We had sent a request to Jodhpur Police about detaining Shoaib and today evening he was detained. He will be brought to Delhi soon," said the officer. Shoaib's questioning is likely to reveal about the network of other spies who were recruited in the module. Police has also got to know Nagaur-based Ramzan used to recruit locals which included army and para-military forces personnel to pass on information/documents, said Yadav. He had introduced Subhash as a para-military officer to Mehmood for getting high money for sharing of important documents, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A district court today sentenced a 60-year-old man to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a divorced woman two years ago. Thane district judge Mridula V K Bhatia, while pronouncing the quantum of sentence this afternoon, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Harish Samad Ali Shaikh and one more year in jail in case of default. Additional public prosecutor Buleshwar Hinge had argued that the victim and the accused were neighbours living in Shanti Nagar slum at Kalwa in the district. The victim and the daughter of the accused were friends. The alleged incident had taken place in September 2014. The victim, who was 26 years old at that time, had got a divorce from her husband, and her minor daughter lived with her mother in Kolkata. The victim lived with her sister, who supported her. The court was told that the accused, who was jobless, lived with his wife, daughter and two sons. On the eve of the incident, the daughter of the accused called the victim to her place as her mother and brothers had gone out. On a request made by her friend, the victim went to sleep at the former's place. Early morning, when his daughter left for work, the accused raped the victim and threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed it to anybody. He also promised to marry the victim. As a result of the rape, the victim got pregnant. When the victim was six months pregnant, she lodged a complaint against Shaikh as she realised that he would not marry her. He was arrested and booked under IPC Section 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation). The victim delivered a baby mid last year, after which a DNA test was conducted. The DNA samples of the newborn matched with that of the accused's. While convicting the accused, the judge rejected the defence that FIR was filed after a delay. She must have waited for the accused to fulfil his promise of marrying her and eventually decided to file a complaint, the court said. "Not not only has the accused committed rape, but the prosecutrix will have to live with the stigma of having a child out of wedlock and will also have to provide for him. The sympathy of the court cannot be misplaced," the court said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia's High Commissioner to India, Harinder Sidhu held discussions with Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar to boost tourism ties between the two destinations. "The meeting was held earlier this week where Sidhu shared her pleasant experiences while visiting Goa and discussed issues on how footfalls from Down Under to Goa could be enhanced," a press note from Tourism Department today said. The Consul General of AustraliaTony Huber and Managing Director ofGoa Tourism DevelopmentCorporation Nikhil Desai were also present at the meeting. Parulekar and Sidhu discussed various aspects of enhancing tourism ties between Australia and Goa. Sidhu also complimented Goa Tourism for working on a Tourism Master Plan and Policy which would help Goa become an attractive tourism destination. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Fisheries and Cashew Minister J Mercykutty today rejected Congress-led UDF Opposition's allegation of irregularities in the import of raw cashew nut and said she would quit if the charges were proved. "Opposition is spreading false charges in the import of raw cashewnut. I came to this position with hard work. I will quit the job if charges are proved," she told the state assembly. She was responding to V D Satheesan (Congress), who raised the matter in the assembly during the debate on Kerala Appropriation Bill, 2016. Intervening, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanrejected the opposition demand for a Vigilance probe and said there was no need for it. Satheesan alleged that Kerala Cashew Development Corporation had imported raw cashew nut at a higher price when the same was available at a cheaper rate. "This has caused heavy burden on the Corporation," he charged demanding a Vigilance probe into the matter. Later talking to reporters, Satheesan said he would take legal action if his demand was not. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hot on the heels of Tata Group's ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry alleging fraudulent transactions at AirAsia India, the Aviation Ministry today said all issues would be looked into and "law of the land will have to be followed" in case of any violation. "Laws as per policies have to be followed. Whatever (issue) anybody raises, they will have to be looked into," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told reporters. The comments come a day after Mistry's allegations, contained in a confidential letter dated October 25, became public wherein he wrote about certain financial irregularities regarding AirAsia India, where Tatas are a partner, including a "fraudulent transaction" of Rs 22 crore. Asked whether the ministry would take any action in this matter, Raju said: "If anyone violates laws, laws of the land will have to followed everywhere." He, however, did not give any direct reply about specific allegations made in Mistry's letter which he had written soon after being ousted as Chairman of Tata Sons, the main holding company of over USD 100 billion conglomerate. Raju said: "The regulator provides the licence. So that was the point of that time. If there are violations in it, the courts are there to look at it. Our concern here is that we should keep Indian skies vibrant. We have sustained a 20 per cent growth. Why should we put a stop to it. Laws as per policies have to be followed. "Whatever anybody raises, they will have to be looked into." Earlier in the day, the ministry officials had said they are keeping a close watch on developments related to the purported disclosures made by Mistry about AirAsia India and will act if something actionable is brought to its notice. "We are waiting for any input from any quarter," Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said, adding "we have not received anything so far". While another civil ministry official said: "If anything new is brought to the ministry attention, appropriate authorities will look into it". Mistry had raised "ethical concerns" in Tata group's aviation joint venture with AirAsia and alleged that forensic investigation revealed fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore involving non-existent entities in India and Singapore. He was removed abruptly as chairman of the Tata Group on Monday and replaced by his predecessor Ratan Tata, who will lead India's biggest conglomerate for the next four months till a permanent replacement is identified by a specially- created committee. Mistry's family firm, Shapoorji Pallonji, is a construction major and one of the largest stakeholders in the Tata Group. (Reopens DEL 74) In a letter written to the Board members of Tata Sons yesterday, Mistry alleged that due to the interim Chairman Ratan Tata's passion for aviation, Tata Sons board increased capital infusion in the aviation sector at multiple levels of the initial commitment. "Board members and trustees are also aware that in the case of AirAsia, ethical concerns have been raised with respect to certain transactions as well as overall prevailing culture within the organisation. "A recent forensic investigation revealed fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore involving non-existent parties in India and Singapore," Mistry had said in the letter. Mistry went on to allege that "executive trustee Mr Venkataraman, who is on the board of AirAsia and also a shareholder in the company, considered these transactions as non-material and did not encourage further study". It was only at the insistence of the independent directors, one of whom immediately submitted his resignation, that the board decided to belatedly file a first information reports, the letter had noted. He claimed it was Tata who completed negotiations with Air Asia but early in his tenure as the Chairman of Tata Sons he was asked to table a proposal for the JV with AirAsia at a Tata Sons board meeting. Claiming that in the case of JV with AirAsia, he was able to extract a "promise of no debt to be raised at the level of JV, as well as limiting Tata Sons investment to 30 per cent of the USD 30 million equity", Mistry had said. In 2013, Tata Sons had joined hands with Malaysian carrier AirAsia and Arun Bhatia's Telestra Tradeplace to start low cost carrier AirAsia India. The carrier had to wait for nine months before taking off. Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has appealed to the Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju to continue Air India flights between Mizoram's Lengpui airport and Imphal in Manipur. Air India had earlier announced its decision to discontinue flights between Lengpui and Imphal from October. Lal Thanhawla, in his letter to Raju yesterday, termed the decision of Air India as unfortunate while the centre has been making arrangements to connect even smaller towns. He said that air link was extremely important for states like Mizoram, which has difficult terrain, denying it with good connectivity with its neighbouring states. "The people of Mizoram and Manipur have close affinity with relatives on both the sides, making it necessary to have good connectivity," he said. He added that students of Mizoram's Regional Institute of Para Medical and Nursing Science (RIPANS) and College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, under the Central Agriculture University, Imphal, would be facing serious problems if the flights are discontinued. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Country's top manganese ore producer MOIL today signed a pact with Madhya Pradesh government to conduct mineral exploration in the state. "The company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) jointly with government of Madhya Pradesh, Mineral Resources Department and Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation Ltd (MPSMCL), a PSU under government of Madhya Pradesh, to conduct exploration and prospecting works by MOIL in Madhya Pradesh," the company said in a BSE filing. The MoU also envisages formation of a joint venture company between MOIL (51 per cent), and MPSMCL (49 per cent) in case of availability of ore is proved in any area. The pact is aimed at increasing the mineral resources in Madhya Pradesh. The MoU shall be placed before the board in ensuing meeting, it added. "Ministry of Mines, Government of India has notified MOIL for conducting exploration of various minerals all over the country. In view of this, the company was in discussion with government of Madhya Pradesh to carry out exploration of identified areas under different modes," the company said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of tyre manufacturer on Thursday plunged 6.5% after the company reported a 14.36% decline in its second quarter net profit. The stock tumbled 6.35% to settle at Rs 46,455 on BSE. Intra-day, it tanked 6.86% to Rs 46,202. On NSE, shares of the company declined by 6.51% to close at Rs 46,403.60. The stock plunge resulted in a fall of company's market valuation by Rs 1,335.77 crore to Rs 19,702.23 crore. on Thursday reported a 14.36% decline in standalone net profit at Rs 385.29 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2016. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 449.92 crore in the July-September quarter a year ago, said in a BSE filing. Total income from operation was down 1.04% to Rs 3,614.63 crore during the quarter under review as against Rs 3,652.78 crore of the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Mumbai Police today banned the use of flying lanterns during Diwali celebration in a bid to avert possible fire and security threats caused by them to high rise buildings. The city police also decided to let people use sound-producing firecrackers till midnight on Laxmi Pujan (October 30), extending the deadline by two hours - from 10 PM to 12 AM. "The use of fire lanterns in Mumbai skies during the Diwali festivities has been banned after a suggestion from the Fire Brigade," city police spokesperson DCP Ashok Dudhe said. Such lanterns had caused fires in some buildings in the past, the official added. Chief of Fire Brigade of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), P S Rahangdale, in a letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner, had drawn the attention of the Police Department towards accidents caused due to 'flying lanterns' every year. "Flying lanterns in large number are released in air during Diwali and Makar Sankranti (festivals), which pose a serious threat to aircraft, high rise towers, slums, installations of HPCL and BPCL refineries etc. Even terrorists activities cannot be ruled out by its use," he said. It is, therefore, essential to ban the use of flying lanterns so that possible threats can be averted, he said. Referring to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommendations, Rahangdale said countries like the US and Thailand have also supported the ban on such flying objects. He also asked the police to take action against those found selling and flying such item under the relevant sections of IPC. The Fire Brigade chief also cited data of calls received at their stations during Diwali in the last three years. A total of 217 calls were received in three years from 2013 to 2015. Out of 217, 103 calls reported fire at refuse area of buildings. In as many as 80 incidents (calls), fire took place in godown and parts of house. Besides, the city fire brigade has also launched a campaign to sensitise Mumbaikars to observe a safe and secure Diwali. Meanwhile, talking about the extension of firecrackers deadline, Dudhe said, "Police have decided to allow people to use sound-generating fireworks till midnight on Laxmi Pujan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Security cover of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is being stepped up in the wake of a letter purportedly written by the outlawed CPI(Maoist) threatening to "take revenge" on him over the Malkangiri encounter this week in which 28 ultras were killed. Currently, Naidu is under 'Z plus' category protection and his security detail includes members from the elite National Security Guard apart from AP Police's Intelligence Security Wing. He had survived a claymore mine attack by Naxals way back in October 2003 at Alipiri, on the foothills of Tirumala. Strangely, the letter, issued in the name of Maoist leader Shyam, spoke about "suicide attacks" which was hitherto unheard of in any of their communications. Hence, the veracity of the letter was being questioned. The letter, threatening to avenge the "Malkangiri killings" by specifically targeting the Chief Minister and his son Lokesh, was sent to a Telugu media house in Hyderabad. Incidentally, owner of the media house had a meeting with the Chief Minister in Vijayawada yesterday afternoon. "We will review the security systems currently in place for the Chief Minister and increase the security accordingly," Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) A B Venkateswara Rao told PTI today. According to police sources, there were "two schools of thought" over the alleged Maoist letter. "Going by the language, the letter must have been written by one of the front organisations of Maoists and not the main organisation as such. It was the first time that they spoke about suicide attacks. "It only exposed the frustration in the outlaws' ranks after the deadly blow at Malkangiri," a top police official observed. Interestingly, its on a similar point that groups sympathetic towards the Maoists are terming the letter as "fake". "The letter in the name of Maoists is totally fake. Suicide attacks are not Naxalites' style. They only wage an ideological fight," Revolutionary Writers' Association leader Kalyan Rao, one of the Maoist emissaries who took part in the 2004 peace talks with the State Government, pointed out. The gun-battle took place in Odisha's Malkangiri district on the border with Andhra Pradesh on October 24. The anti-Naxal offensive was a joint operation by Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actors Nat Wolff and Alexander Skarsgard will star in a film adaptation of war documentary "The Kill Team." Wolff will take on the role of Private Adam Winfield, a US soldier who told his parents members of his platoon were murdering Afghan civilians, while Skarsgard will play Sergeant Deeks. Dan Krauss' film is in pre-production, reported Contactmusic. "When we first saw Dan Krauss' documentary, we were shocked by this story and blown away by his direction," a statement from producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey read. "His film's scope and tension, combined with these morally ambivalent characters, made it irresistible to watch. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CANNON BALL, N.D. Law enforcement officers dressed in riot gear and firing bean bags and pepper spray evicted protesters Thursday from private land in the path of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, dramatically escalating a monthslong dispute over Native American rights and the project's environmental impact. In an operation that took nearly six hours, hundreds of armed state and local police and National Guard - some on foot and others in trucks, military Humvees and buses - pushed past burning barricades to slowly envelop the camp. At least 117 people were arrested. No serious injuries were reported, though one man was hurt in the leg and received treatment from a medic. Among those arrested was a woman who pulled out a .38-caliber pistol and fired three times at officers, narrowly missing a sheriff's deputy, State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong said. Officers did not return fire, she said. Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said the camp had been cleared by nightfall although police were still dealing with protesters on the perimeter. Though officials earlier said they planned to turn the site over to private security, Kirchmeier said police would stay for now. "We're not leaving the area," he said. "We are just going to make sure that we maintain a presence in the area so the roadway stays open, and to keep individuals from camping on private land." Opponents of the pipeline over the weekend set up camp on private land owned by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners, which is working to complete the 1,200-mile pipeline to carry oil from western North Dakota to Illinois. The route skirts the Standing Rock Reservation and the tribe says it could endanger water supplies and disturb cultural sites. The state of North Dakota says no sensitive cultural sites have been found in the area. The tribe has gone to court to challenge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision granting permits at more than 200 water crossings. A federal judge in September denied their request to block construction, but three federal agencies stepped in to order construction to halt on Corps-owned land around Lake Oahe, a wide spot of the Missouri River, while the Corps reviewed its decision-making. Construction was allowed to continue on private land owned by the developer, with a goal of completion by the end of the year. Thursday's operation to push out the protesters began a day after they had refused to leave voluntarily. Law enforcement repeatedly asked protesters to retreat, at one point using a high-pitched whistle they said was intended to "control and disperse" protesters. The camp cleared on Thursday is located just to the north of a more permanent and larger encampment on federally owned land that has been the main staging area for hundreds of protesters, including Native Americans from across North America, environmentalists and some celebrities. Many protesters openly defied the officers, while others took part in prayer circles and burned sage. Enough people were arrested that Morton County sheriff's spokeswoman Donnell Hushka said the county needed additional jails to house them. She said those charged with felonies would be held pending court appearances. Cody Hall, a spokesman for the protesters, vowed a new camp would be built elsewhere in the pipeline's path, but on federal land. "It's going to take a lot to move them (protesters) from there," he said. Authorities said protesters set fire to four large pieces of construction equipment. At least two cars were also burned. Aaron Johnson, 50, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux in South Dakota, said he and other protesters weren't happy with the day's outcome. "I came here for peace and prayer," he said. "When somebody sets something on fire, that's not peace and prayer." NATO and the European Union are partners in defence, not rivals, top officials said today, downplaying any suggestion EU military ambitions might undermine the US-led alliance which has protected Europe for decades. "I strongly believe it is absolutely possible to strengthen European defence without duplicating efforts by NATO," alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said. "EU leaders have (also) conveyed that this is not about the EU doing collective defence, the EU building structures that would compete with NATO," Stoltenberg said after EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini met NATO defence ministers in Brussels. Mogherini has drawn up a Global Strategy which says the EU should seek "strategic autonomy" to face multiple security threats, ranging from conventional to hybrid warfare, from the Ukraine crisis to Syria, from poverty in Africa to massive migrant flows. Her proposal for an EU military headquarters in Brussels -- also home to NATO's HQ -- has especially sparked concerns that the bloc is seeking a more independent role. Mogherini today insisted this was not the case at all. "Let me clarify that immediately -- I have to do that again and again -- first of all we are not planning a European army," she said as she arrived for the defence ministers meeting. "We are not planning to have any headquarters, as for instance NATO has SHAPE," she said, referring to the alliance's military HQ. At the same time, Mogherini said the EU does have civilian and military operations, such as in Africa or in the Mediterranean, and needs to improve command and control centres to run them. "But this can be done ... Without any kind of overlaping or duplication with NATO," she said. Britain, a major power itself, has traditionally opposed any idea of a European army or EU military arm but after the shock Brexit vote, France and Germany said the bloc should be more ambitious. Britain's defence minister Michael Fallon said yesterday there could be no question of the EU taking on NATO's collective defence mantle, and there was "very strong opposition to that kind of duplication" in the bloc. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen meanwhile said there was room -- and benefit -- for both in an increased EU defence effort. "I will make clear that NATO and the European security and defense union have different profiles and different tasks but that we need them both," von der Leyen said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The three-day naval commanders conference, during which key issues such as operational readiness, capability enhancement, infrastructure development and human resource management was discussed, came to an end today. Coming in the close aftermath of "recent events", the conference provided an invaluable opportunity for the top-level leadership of the Indian Navy to review the operational environment and readiness of the maritime forces to deal with the entire range of prevailing as well as emerging threats, a statement by the Navy said. The Conference, held over three days deliberated the ever increasing dynamism in the maritime sphere, especially in India's neighbourhood, and the enhanced range of taskings and expectations of the Indian Navy as a result of it. The deliberations included a comprehensive review of operational preparedness, training and resource-availability. Commanders also took stock of the progress achieved in integrating newly inducted naval platforms into the overall operational design and their deployment as force multipliers in any future scenario. Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba also reviewed the progress of various infrastructure projects that are in the pipeline and shall contribute towards capacity building. Coastal security construct was deliberated and reviewed during the conference, the statement said adding that Lanba asserted the need to remain ever vigilant and focused towards our coastal security responsibilities through proactive coordination with other maritime agencies and coastal states in light of the increasing variety of asymmetric threats. He also asked his personnel to prepare themselves and the Navy to meet all future maritime security challenges before the country. "Combat readiness should remain our collective focus at any given time and operational effectiveness should be the touchstone of all our efforts, he said. The Navy's role is not only vital for national security, but also for national prosperity and development," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid wrangling on the no-trust motion passed by NCP-ruled Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) against its Commissioner, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today indicated support for the "efficient" official while ally Shiv Sena wanted him to be removed. Fadnavis, who has to now take a decision on removing the civic Commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe, said the state government cannot allow such resolutions to be implemented as he heaped praises on the civil servant who is considered upright. On the other hand, BJP ally Shiv Sena asked the Chief Minister to give up his "stubborn stand" on the issue and go by the will of the elected representatives of the civic body. "I think, Tukaram Mundhe is a very efficient officer. He tried to change the systems which were not legal and were leading to corruption. That has made some people restless and they have come together to remove him," Fadnavis told PTI. "There are some issues about his communication with the elected representatives. I have told him that in a democracy, one should respect the elected representatives. If demands are illegal, they should not be attended to but otherwise, they (the elected representatives) should get respect and he has understood it," he said. The Chief Minister advised the corporators, who have expressed their lack of faith in the IAS officer, who has launched a demolition drive against illegal structures in the satellite city, to revisit their stand. "I think, the corporators who supported the resolution (no-confidence motion) should rethink about it and allow the Commissioner to work in a transparent and an efficient way," he maintained. "Targeting an officer for doing his duty, exposing irregularities and preventing wrong happenings is absolutely wrong," Fadnavis said. Earlier this week, a no-confidence motion was passed by the Navi Mumbai Corporators against Mundhe with support from the ruling NCP and opposition Shiv Sena and Congress. BJP, the party to which Fadnavis belongs, however, opposed the motion. The corporators, barring those from the BJP, charged Mundhe with "undemocratic functioning" even though his drive against illegal constructions has reportedly made him popular in the fast-growing city which is witnessing a realty boom. The rare move by the civic body has made the role of Fadnavis, who holds the Urban Development portfolio, crucial as it is for him to take a decision on removing the 2005-batch civil servant. Navi Mumbai Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane had demanded immediate removal of the officer, alleging that he had been exercising his powers "autocratically". Joining the issue, the Shiv Sena asked Fadnavis to take the "democratic route" and remove the officer rather than being "unnecessarily stubborn" on the issue. "In a democracy, majority holds immense significance and the no-confidence motion has been passed with majority. Thus, the Chief Minister should not show unnecessary stubbornness. If all elected representatives have stood up against the civic chief, the state government has to respect their decision," the Sena today said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'. "An officer is a representative of the government who has to abide by the Constitution. Even the Chief Minister talks respectfully with the members of the opposition parties. Elected representatives have an immense responsibility towards the people and it is not right to try and get them in trouble by using your position," the Sena said. The NCP leaders have demanded that Fadnavis act upon the motion as it reflected the "majority will" in the municipal corporation. Terming the visit of BJP leader Yashwant Sinha-led civil society delegation to the Valley as a positive development, NC president Farooq Abdullah today said his party is a strong votary of sustained political engagement between New Delhi and various stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. Abdullah, however, warned that the continued political stalemate and unrest in the Valley, if left unaddressed, could take Jammu and Kashmir back to the precipice of violence and turmoil. "NC is a strong votary of sustained political engagement between New Delhi and various stakeholders in Kashmir, including Hurriyat leaders, and would welcome any forward movement in this direction. Every small step is welcome...This complex political issue will require a sustained, sensitive and structured engagement that works its way towards an effective resolution. "I'm glad Hurriyat leaders decided to meet members of the delegation and hope this will set the tone for the future and I hope the broad-based feedback gathered in meetings with other organisations and individuals is also conveyed to relevant quarters," Abdullah said. The former Chief Minister welcomed the "unofficial outreach" by the delegation and said he hopes this gesture would in turn pave way for the initiation of official talks to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. Addressing party functionaries and activists during an organisational function at party headquarters here, Abdullah impressed upon the Centre to engage with stakeholders of diverse ideological views to end the ensuing political stalemate in the state. "This is a welcome gesture of outreach and it is a positive development. It is also a good sign that Hurriyat leaders warmly welcomed the delegation and held discussions with them. While this is an unofficial initiative, we hope this paves way for a credible, meaningful and formal dialogue between New Delhi and various stakeholders," he said. The National Conference President said the continued political stalemate could take the state back to the precipice of violence and turmoil. "We have seen the consequences of uncertainty and turmoil and the people of Jammu and Kashmir have paid enormous human, economic and social costs. "They have rendered innumerable sacrifices and all political organisations irrespective of their ideological differences are obligated to find a sustainable solution to the political issue," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP's Jharkhand unit today termed Bihar government's decision of tax holiday to liquor factories in that state as "contradictory' while demanding a ban on booze in other states. "On one hand Bihar Chief Minister is going to other states and giving statements on liquor ban and on the other he is giving a tax holiday to liquor factories," BJP Jharkhand unit spokesman Prem Mittal said in a release, adding, these were contradictory decisions. Mittal asked why Kumar had remained silent on a reported letter by Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das to his Bihar counterpart questioning the tax holiday. Echoing Mittal's statement, another BJP leader Praveen Prabhakar accused Kumar of encouraging foreign liquor production and bottling through the tax holiday and said Kumar's claim on a complete ban on liquor was "hollow". NMDC Ltd today announced signing of a tripartite pact with Government of Madhya Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation Ltd for geological and geophysical exploration for various minerals in the state. "NMDC Ltd...Has signed a tripartite MoU with government of Madhya Pradesh (Directorate of Geology and Mines (DGM) through Mineral Resource Department (MRD))and Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation Ltd (MPSMCL) on October 27," the company said in a filing to BSE. The MoU is for geological and geophysical exploration of various minerals in Madhya Pradesh. "NMDC made intentions to invest during the Global Investors Summit held in October, 2016 for exploration of different minerals in various districts of Madhya Pradesh over an area of approximately 7,200 square kilometers," it said. NMDC has explored several deposits for over five decades within and outside the country and has established deposits of iron ore, copper, limestone, dolomite, bauxite, diamond, sapphires etc. NMDC is having the expertise in multi-disciplinary exploration and has recently tied up with Department of Space for remote sensing and GIS studies using geospatial techniques and is setting up its own laboratory for remote sensing and GIS studies at Hyderabad. NMDC would be using latest techniques involving remote sensing and GIS studies, interpretation of airborne multi-sensor geophysical data, geological, geochemical and geophysical studies for the forthcoming exploration activities in Madhya Pradesh for discovering new deposits. "As per the MoU, on successful establishment of mineral blocks through this proposed exploration, NMDC would be forming a JV with MPSMCL with equity 51:49 (NMDC-MPSMCL) for mining of such blocks," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Colombian government reiterated today it would not hold peace talks with the ELN rebels until they release an ex-lawmaker they are holding hostage, just hours from the scheduled start of negotiations. Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo said the government was prepared to postpone the talks until it was "certain" that former congressman Odin Sanchez had been freed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will lay the foundation stone tomorrow for the construction of "financial and administrative cities" in Andhra Pradesh's new capital region, but the very construction of Amaravati seems to have gone back to square one after hitting roadblocks. The Centre has released Rs 1,500 crore in the last two years for the construction of the Andhra Pradesh government's new Secretariat, High Court and other buildings in the new capital, but the state has not spent a single rupee so far, though it has been seeking the release of more funds. Jaitley may be laying the foundation stone tomorrow, but it will be many more months before the actual construction activity starts as the state government has to first finalise the designs for the buildings that are to come up in the administrative city. In June 2015, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had conducted a 'bhoomi pujan' to symbolically launch the works and on October 22, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the actual construction works. Since then, not a single brick has been laid for the development of the capital, except the construction of the Interim Government Complex (temporary Secretariat). In July last year, agencies of the Singapore government had submitted a masterplan for the development of Amaravati and in March this year, the state government had "approved" the designs submitted by Maki and Associates of Japan for the government buildings in the capital. In June, a Singapore consortium had proposed to build the "start-up" area of the capital as a purely commercial venture under the Swiss Challenge method. Based on that, the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) had invited counter bids in August from other firms for the development of the start-up area, but that ran into legal trouble as the CRDA did not disclose the revenue share offered by the Singapore consortium. After the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad stayed the Swiss Challenge method, the state government yesterday finally agreed to cancel the notification and invite fresh tenders. In the meantime, the government also "rejected" the Maki designs for the buildings at the capital and decided to invite fresh designs by issuing a new notification. "We have set a 21-day deadline for the submission of new designs and immediately thereafter, we will start the designs. By the end of December, we will approve the designs and by middle or end of January 2017, we will start the works. Our target is to complete the construction activities in two years," Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana told New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and his wife Bronagh Key today visited Jama Masjid and Sis Ganj Gurudwara here to pay their obeisance. The couple spent about 15 minutes in Jama Masjid, one of the largest in the country, and visited its various areas. They were given a shawl as a mark of respect by the mosque's administrators, officials said. Later, they went to Sis Ganj Gurudwara and spent about half an hour there, they said. The New Zealand Prime Minister also served food at the 'langar' (common dining facility) in the gurudwara, officials said. Heavy security arrangements were made for the visits. The New Zealand Prime Minister had been on a four-day visit to India from October 24-27. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Zealand Prime Minister John Key today made a brief stopover at the Cochin International Airport near here and inspected various facilities, including hi-tech security systems installed by a company from his country. Key and a delegation accompanying him inspected the baggage handling system and integrated inline Explosive Detection System installed at the new international terminal by New Zealand company Glidepath. The company had secured a contract, close to USD 22 million. Key, who walked around the new international terminal, hailed the construction of the new airport and global standard technology being installed there to facilitate the comfortable journey. Addressing the mediapersons, Key, on a four-day visit to India ending today, recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted the 'growing' ties between India and New Zealand. He said companies in New Zeland offered sophisticated engineering solutions. He also spoke about the pilot training institute and other academic institutions in his country. Earlier, the 81-member New Zealand delegation headed by Key was given a warm welcome at the airport by top Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) officials including Additional Chief Secretary and airport managing director, V J Kurien and Airport Director A C K Nair, Executive Director A M Basheer and Ernakulam District Collector Y Safarulla. Key later left for Indonesia from here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West High Drama Department is presenting a dramatic retelling of William Shakespeares "Julius Caesar" in the school auditorium Oct. 17-29. Show time is 7:30 p.m. The tickets are priced at $5 for students and $7 for adults. This classic tragedy is brought to life against the backdrop of modern-day Rome. Tensions are high as a potentially dangerous Julius Caesar is gaining power in the government. In an effort to save the Republic, Brutus along with other senators conspire to assassinate the leader, stabbing him one morning during a Senate meeting. Rome breaks out in civil unrest as the people, led by Mark Antony, riot against the conspirators tearing the country apart. In the midst of our current political climate, this play relevantly examines the volatile nature of power and the people who possess it, director Myra Nurre said. "Through this genderbent interpretation, audiences will be challenged about their perceptions of male and female roles in government and relational turmoil," Nurre said. The production features students Samuel Huffard, Kyla Gause, Maxwell Haight, Emma Webber and Hailey Heitz. "This play is the perfect way to celebrate the horror of Halloween and anticipate the upcoming presidential election," Nurre said. Due to some violent images, this show is not recommended for young children. There will be a brief talk-back session following the Oct. 28 show where audience members will have a chance to speak with actors, designers and the director regarding the show. A 35-year-old worker was killed and nine others were injured today in a fire that broke out at a solvent plant in Mahasamund district in Chhattisgarh, police said. The fire broke out in the wee hours at Radhakrishna Oil Mill located in Baitari village under Saraipali police station area, Station House Officer (SHO) of Saraipali police station Rajesh Singh told PTI. "Ten workers suffered burn injuries in the incident and one of them, identified as Chandrakant Mishra, died during treatment at Raipur," he said. The plant officials informed the police and shifted the injured to a local hospital, he said. "A police team along with fire brigade rushed to the spot and fire tenders were pressed into service. After providing preliminary treatment, the injured were shifted to Raipur for further medical treatment," he said. The injured were identified as Rajkumar Sai, Tula Patel, Vinod Kumar, Arun Singh, Ramashankar,Pintu, Janardan Mishra, Lav Kumar Mahapatra and Sant Lal. They are undergoing treatment at Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur, the SHO said adding that most of them were said to be in a critical condition. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, the officer said adding that it could be due to some explosion. A case has been registered in this condition and further probe was on, Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Zoological Park, here which reported one more bird death today taking the overall toll to 70, may remain out of bounds for visitors for the next three months, an official said today. Zoo authorities identified the dead bird as a 'rosy pelican'. Samples of it have been sent for testing and the Centre-appointed committee has been apprised, they said. "The standard protocol of H5N1 prescribes a closure period of at least 45 days. H5N8 does not have any protocol but norms will be followed and the zoo may remain shut for a longer period, may be for around three months," a government official said. Sources said authorities will greenflag the reopening of the zoo after they are convinced that it is virus-free. The origin of the viral strain will also have to be established. A Delhi government official said there were reports of pigeon deaths from the Old Delhi area but the cause could not be immediately ascertained. "The likelihood of it being a case of flu death is less," the official said. Union Agriculture secretary also reviewed the actions taken for control of the avian influenza. "The monitoring committee constituted by the Environment Ministry for overseeing outbreak of avian influenza reviewed the situation regarding the control and containment of the avian influenza," an official statement said. A team of scientists from National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune have already visited the zoo and collected samples, sensitised and trained zoo staff about bio-security measures against avian influenza. The zoo had reported the death of a grey partridge yesterday. Zoo curator Riyaz Khan, however, had refused to equate the death with bird flu, saying it was a captive bird that died of fighting among the birds in the enclosure. A total of 13 water birds, including painted storks, ducks and pelicans died of H5 Avian influenza at its premises since October 14. A team of Central Zoo Authority is stationed at the zoo to monitor the situation. Earlier this year, the zoo had also reported the death of around 46 spotted deers. It also lost its sole King Cobra recently. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over one lakh child death and loss of a whopping Rs 3.6 lakh crore is caused every year in India due to poor sanitation and hygiene issues, according to a presentation made by an IAS officer before Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today. A direct connect between corporates and urban local bodies besides expanding definition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been cited as measures to promote 'swachh bharat' (clean India). The presentation 'Swachh' (Swachhata augmentation through corporate helping hands) by Swadha Dev Singh, who did three-month stint as Assistant Secretary in Urban Development Ministry beginning August 1, said over 12 per cent urban households in India defecate in the open. "India loses USD 54 billion (Rs 3.6 lakh crore as per present market value) per year due to inadequate sanitation (health related, access, tourism). "Poor sanitation and hygiene cause 100,000 child deaths per year in India," the presentation mentions. Only 21.5 per cent of solid waste generated in India is processed, it said, without giving the quantum of solid waste. As per the presentation, CSR funds of Rs 6,000 crore was spent on various activities and it was projected to collect Rs 15,000 crore as voluntary corporate donations. It said a swachh portal formed by the Centre promotes 'Jan Bhagidaari' (public contribution) by expanding definition of CSR beyond financial contribution and through corporates support project in cities and localities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a tit-for-tat action, Pakistan on Thursday declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours. The Pakistani Foreign Office said in a statement that the decision was conveyed to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale, who was summoned to the foreign ministry. "The Foreign Secretary (Aizaz Chaudhry) summoned the Indian High Commissioner today and conveyed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to declare Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non-grata," the statement said. The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms, it said. The Indian High Commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by October 29. Earlier on Thursday, a Pakistan High Commission staffer in New Delhi was declared as persona non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents, including deployment details of Border Security Force along the India-Pakistan border. India today declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer 'persona non-grata' for spying and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents, including those about deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. "Today morning Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and informed him that India had intercepted an official of the Pakistan High Commission in the pursuit of espionage and that he was being declared persona non-grata," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. "The Pakistan High Commission has been informed that Mehmood Akhtar and his family must return to Pakistan by October 29. The Foreign Secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pak High Commissioner that the Pak High Commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status," Swarup said. He also rejected Pakistani allegations of "mishandling" Akhtar, saying he was treated with "utmost courtesy". "When he was handed over to the Pakistan High Commission in the presence of a ministry official, Akhtar himself said he was treated well," he added. Swarup said Akhtar told the police that he had joined the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1997 and came on deputation to the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) in 2013 and posted in September 2013 to the Pakistan High Commission where he is presently working as Assistant to Farukh Habib, Counsellor (Trade). Asserting that terror has become the "central motive" in India's interactions with Pakistan, Swarup said it was important that Pakistan takes action to honour various commitments it has made, including at the highest level, that it will dismantle the terror infrastructure and will not allow its soil to be used for such activities against any country, including India. "The terrorist attack in Uri and continuing attacks with repeated frequency in parts of Jammu and Kashmir are being carried out with the support of Pakistan. It is a matter of great concern that instead of taking action against the cancer, Pakistan takes shelter under denial and abjuration. LeT, JeM are active under various aegis and find support from state organs of Pakistan," Swarup said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Thursday declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer as persona non-grata for suspected activities after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of Border Security Force (BSF) along the Indo-Pak border. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to his office to convey India's action following brief detention of the staffer who was later released. Foreign Secretary summoned the Pak high commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non- grata for activities," said Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. Basit strongly protested with Indian Foreign Secretary the "detention and manhandling" of Pakistan High Commission staffer yesterday (Wednesday) in violation of 1961 Vienna Convention, according to Pakistan Foreign Office. The Pakistani envoy also strongly rejected the accusations, terming them false and unsubstantiated. Acting on inputs, Delhi Police crime branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar in custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity, police said. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar, they said. The alleged spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistans ISI. They were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information, said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, he said. Reacting strongly to Pakistans denial of charges as false and unsubstantiated and that it was an attempt by India to divert attention from Kashmir issue, Swarup said there was no rationale behind the claim as Akhtar was caught red-handed committing an illegal act. "We are happy that we nipped the ISI spy ring in the bud," he said, adding that "denial that has come out from Pakistan is something which has by now become quite characteristic (of that country)." On remarks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan that India was trying to "implode" Pakistan, the Spokesperson said if today that country is feeling isolated, it is because of "misguided policies". Giving details of how Akhtar was caught, Swarup said following intelligence inputs for the last six months relating to involving vital installations of army and paramilitary forces, Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi Police in the forenoon yesterday while he was receiving sensitive documents pertaining to national security from two persons. Although initially Akhtar masqueraded as an Indian national and even produced a fake Aadhar card, he later admitted that he worked at the Pakistan High Commission and requested that the mission be informed of the developments. Earlier, at a press conference, Delhi Police said acting on inputs, its crime branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar into custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity, police said. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar, they said. "The alleged spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. They were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information," said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, he said. Amidst the ongoing hostilities with India, Pakistan will not send it representative to the Asian ministerial conference on disaster risk reduction to be held here early next month. Pakistan has conveyed its inability to send its Minister for Disaster Risk Reduction for the Asian conference to be held on November 3-5, a senior Home Ministry official said. No reason for Pakistan's non participation in the event has been specified but the ongoing hostilities between India and Pakistan could be the prime reason for Islamabad's non- participation in the conference to be held in New Delhi. Bilateral relations between India and Pakistan has been strained after Islamabad openly eulogised Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter on July 8. India blamed Pakistan for the September 18 killing of 19 soldiers in Uri by four heavily armed terrorists, who had come from Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Following the Uri incident, Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on terror launch pads in PoK. There have been frequent firings by Indian and Pakistani forces towards each other's posts leading to casualties on both sides. Reflecting the current Indo-Pak tensions, a staffer of the Pakistan High Commission, described as the kingpin of a spy ring working for ISI, was detained by police for alleged possession of sensitive defence documents and was immediately declared persona non-grata today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's human rights watchdog today appealed to President Mamnoon Hussain to halt the imminent execution of a mentally-challenged death row prisoner. In a communication, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) brought to Hussain's attention the disposal by the Supreme Court last week of a plea in support of death row prisoner Imdad Ali who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The court concluded that simply because schizophrenia was a "recoverable disease", it did not fall within the definition of "mental disorder" under the Mental Health Ordinance, 2001. HRCP expressed serious concerns regarding the reasoning of the court in the matter and stated that the decision raised the question whether judges could decide on matters which by their very nature needed to be judged on the basis of expert advice. HRCP said in reaching this conclusion, the apex court had disregarded universally recognised diagnostic tools, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and jurisprudence under Pakistani case law on mental health, and had instead relied upon Indian case law, in particular on a reported judgment by India's Supreme Court on the Hindu Marriage Act regarding dissolution of marriage. It said the court ruling also sets a dangerous precedent for the treatment of accused persons with schizophrenia by the criminal justice system. It called upon the president to urgently intervene to ensure that Ali's imminent execution is halted and the hanging of mentally challenged persons is abandoned. The Supreme Court ruled that schizophrenia is "not a permanent mental disorder" but a "recoverable disease" that could be treated by drugs. Ali was diagnosed with schizophrenia in prison in 2012. He will now be executed on November 2 in a prison in the city of Vehari, 300 kms from Lahore. Ali, aged 50, was sentenced to death for the murder of a religious cleric in 2002. Pakistan reinstated the death penalty and established military courts after suffering its deadliest-ever terrorist attack when Taliban gunmen stormed an army school in Peshawar in December 2014 and killed 150 people, mostly children. Since executions restarted, over 425 death row prisoners mostly convicted of terrorism have been hanged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan today deplored India declaring its High Commission staffer in New Delhi as persona non-grata for espionage activities, terming charges against the diplomatic official as "false and unsubstantiated". Foreign Office in a statement said, "We condemn the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official". The Indian action has been accompanied by an "extremely negative and orchestrated media campaign", it said, adding the move "clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission". "A staff member of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was lifted by the Indian authorities yesterday (26 October 2016) on false and unsubstantiated charges. He was, however, released in about three hours on intervention by our High Commission," the statement said. "We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which is indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere. "Pakistan High Commission has always been working within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms," the statement claimed. It also alleged that India's attempts to escalate the tensions and divert the international attention from the "grave human rights violations" being perpetrated in Kashmir can never succeed. It urged the international community to "take notice of the Indian designs". India's decision to declare a Pakistan High Commission staffer in Delhi as persona non-grata was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan's envoy Abdul Basit. Delhi Police crime branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar in custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid the strife in the party over the leadership tussle, the Samajwadi Party workers have hastened to make preparations for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's arrival here on November 3 for his 'Vikas Rath Yatra'. "The Chief Minister is likely to spend the night at the circuit house. He might also address the party workers during his Kanpur stay," a party spokesperson said. "This yatra will be welcomed at different places in the city. Many 'swagat dwar' (welcome doors) will be constructed across the city for this purpose," he added. The district administration has also instructed that the route of the Vikas yatra should be cleared. The Rath yatra will depart for Kannauj the next day. The yatra holds significance in the light of events that have transpired within the Samajwadi Party fold in the past few weeks as the power struggle between Akhilesh and his uncle Shivpal Yadav has turned murkier. The yatra is being seen as an opportunity for Akhilesh to exert his claim as the "undisputed" political heir of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Montana game wardens are seeking information about a headless elk carcass discovered in the Poe Park area of the Elkhorn Mountains outside of Radersburg. The bull elk was found Tuesday by hunters on horseback. They called Montanas poaching hotline (800-TIP-MONT) and described the elk as having been shot and left to waste, with only its head removed. The hunters also said they had met a man earlier in the day who was hunting on foot with a large backpack, orange T-shirt and camouflage pants. They reported he indicated he was from the Whitefish area. Wardens would like to speak to this individual and others who might have information about the case. This is a disgusting act of wildlife poaching. The criminal who committed this crime needs to be held accountable, said Warden Sgt. Dave Loewen. We need the publics help. The Elkhorns are considered a trophy elk hunting district requiring a special permit available by drawing only. Many hunters consider it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Anyone with information is asked to call 800-TIP-MONT or Loewen at 406-439-5688. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today alleged that Congress will "dump" the issue of debt waiver once it comes to power in the state as the party has a "notorious past" of back-tracking from the promises made to people. Addressing a gathering during a 'Sangat Darshan' programme in Dera Baba Nanak assembly segment here, he alleged that Congress had never fulfilled the promises made to people, including the promise of 'Garibi Hatao' (removing poverty). "Despite promising Chandigarh and Punjabi speaking areas to Punjab along with big projects, Congress never stood by its words," Badal said, alleging that the party "has a notorious past of back-tracking from the promises made to people". "Though the then Prime Minister had promised in the Parliament to hand over Chandigarh to the state in 1980s, it never materialized as Congress backtracked on the issue," he added. "Despite making tall promises, even the present Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh withdrew the facility of free power given to farmers during his regime (as chief minister of the state)," he added. "As a leopard cannot change its spots, I can easily foresee that Congress will dump the issue of debt waiver after gaining power," the Shiromani Akali Dal leader claimed. He alleged that Amarinder was misleading people on the issue and there was no guarantee of Congress fulfilling this promise "as they neither have vision nor the will to do this work". Targeting both Amarinder and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the five-time Punjab Chief Minister said, "Neither Amarinder Singh nor Kejriwal have any sympathy for the state." "Both these leaders want to attain power in the state for their vested interests," he alleged and asked the people to be cautious of both these leaders "who have never struggled for safeguarding the interests of the state". "Their only contribution is that they lead those parties which are inimical to the interests of the state and its people," he alleged. The Chief Minister said Punjab, once a prosperous state, had allegedly suffered a lot due to the "discriminatory attitude of the successive Congress governments at the Centre". He said the state had fought the nation's war against militancy but also had to bear the expenditure of the central security forces. Likewise, Badal said the state's economy received a "fatal blow" when the neighboring states were granted incentives by the Congress government "which led to mass exodus of industries from the state". The Chief Minister alleged that Congress had meddled in the political, social, economic and even religious affairs of people of the state. Later, while interacting with the media persons, the Chief Minister said the state government has constructed several memorials to preserve the cultural heritage of the state. Badal said the state government was fully sensitised towards ensuring proper maintenance of these projects for which they had already made requisite arrangements. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte left Japan today without meeting Emperor Akihito as their scheduled meeting had to be canceled because of the death of the emperor's uncle. Before ending his three-day visit, Duterte proposed joint military exercises with Japan, while reiterating that he will not conduct them with Americans in his presidency. Duterte made the proposal during his visit to a coast guard unit to observe an exercise from one of the patrol vessels Japan pledged to provide the Philippines to upgrade Manila's maritime security capabilities amid South China Sea disputes with Beijing. The president told reporters in an unscheduled interview that he discussed a possibility of the joint exercise "in general terms" when he held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday, according to a statement released by the Philippine presidential palace. Duterte also reminded reporters that allowing American military to stay in his country would be "difficult" and that he planned to review the military cooperation agreement and ask them "one of these days" to leave the country. He did not elaborate on his comment on joint exercises with Japan, which could have mixed implications because of Japan also has tensions with China over East China Sea islands, history and other issues. Duterte has criticised Washington's foreign policy while reaching out to Beijing. His criticism to US and its military presence in the Philippines have raised concerns in Washington and Tokyo, a top American ally. He said yesterday he wants foreign troops out of his country possibly within the next two years, referring to visiting US troops. The Philippines hosts US troops in five military camps under a security deal signed by Duterte's predecessor as a counter to China's growing military assertiveness in the region. But in Manila, Philippine officials revealed today that despite Duterte's opposition to further exercises with the US, the two countries held navy exercise October 17-26 on mines and humanitarian underwater search missions. Philippine navy Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado, commander of the military's Western Command, said the maneuvers including emergency diving procedures and operating sonar equipment were held in the western Philippine province of Palawan facing the disputed South China Sea. Duterte said Abe asked him to explain his US policy but did not offer to mediate the chilling relations between the US and the Philippines. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Pranab Mukherjee will pay a state visit to Nepal next week, the first by an Indian head of state in 18 years to the neighbouring country. The three-day visit will begin on November 2 and a high-level delegation will accompany him. "During the visit, the President will hold talks with the President, Prime Minister and other leaders of Nepal on a wide array of issues of mutual interest. "The state visit reflects the priority that government of India attaches to further strengthen its age-old unique partnership with Nepal and our shared historical and cultural linkages and wide-ranging people to people contacts," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said here today. He said apart from his engagements in capital Kathmandu, Mukherjee will also visit Jankapur and Pokhara adding Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari had invited the Indian President to her country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ace French footwear designer Christian Louboutin today remembered his first brush with Indian cinema and his chance encounter with iconic filmmaker Satyajit Ray, whose Bengali drama "Devi" is one of his all-time favourite films. "I was 16 and I wanted to go to India as I was interested in cinema. I remember the first Indian director I met was Satyajit Ray. I saw his film 'Devi'. A friend dragged me to see the film. I was tight, I had hangover of the last night," Louboutin said at a panel discussion at the 18th Jio MAMI festival here. "I saw the film and I liked it. I had no idea what I am going to see but it (film) was fantastic. Then in the end Satyajit Ray was in a room... Some questions were asked. It was quite fascinating. It was a beautiful moment. 'Devi' is my all time favourite film. Seeing this film was one of my biggest moments in Indian cinema," he said. Filmmaker Karan Johar, who was moderating the event, expressed his happiness over Louboutin's revelations. "He got to be in a same room with him (Ray) which is great. It was a spectacular thing. We all would have died to be there," Karan said. Besides, Louboutin has also seen films of Guru Dutt. The French fashion designer also got opportunity to act in a film during his visit to India. "I was supposed to go see studios here and I landed in Madras along with a friend. I managed to get into a studio. The shoot was going on and I was asked to sell ice cream in the film. So, I did that. I don't know what happened to this film and that historical scene," he said. The very first film that Louboutin saw was Mehboob Khan's 1952 film "Aan" (1953). It is also one of Louboutin's all-time favourite films. "I found the Indian film posters fascinating. I did see 'Aan' in a theatre in France that used to screen Indian films. I immediately fell in love with the film, the story, songs, the actors, Dilip Kumar, Nimmi," he added. The 52-year-old designer, who is a Bollywood enthusiast, stunned everyone when he hummed a few lines of hit number "Laila O Laila" from "Qurbaani". Louboutin, who is known for his trademark red-lacquered soles in shoes, said, "Fashion is a tool of communication to engage a conversation. I feel flattered when people like my stuff. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RSS is hopeful that the Supreme Court will give an early verdict to pave the way for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader said today amid renewed focus on the issue in the run up to assembly elections in UP. The Sangh also favours a ban on Pakistani artistes amid high tensions along the borders. However, issues like prohibiting import of Chinese products should be left to society, RSS' Delhi state general secretary Bharat Bhushan told mediapersons. "The Ram temple is central to our faith and a temple should come up at the Ram Janmabhoomi site, which has been made clear by the Allahabad High Court verdict. It is a matter of few days, months or years. "The country wants that a big temple is set up. The matter is before the Supreme Court and we expect that the court gives an early verdict in the matter. We expect this issue should be resolved early," Bhushan said. Asked about demand made by some for day-to-day hearing, he said, "It has nothing to do with Uttar Pradesh elections". On banning Pakistani artistes, the RSS leader said though art is a universal subject, "artistes coming here and not condemning terror and criticising those who raised the issue should be banned", especially in view of the heightened tensions along the borders. Asked if Chinese products should be banned, he said, "Some things are best left to society and the issue of Chinese products should also be decided by the society and not by us". Bharat Bhushan stressed that the country should be self reliant in manufacturing all products and cited the example of RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch raising the issue of banning import of Chinese medicines. The RSS leader was speaking about the just-concluded RSS National executive meeting, where the Sangh passed two resolutions against the violent attacks on its leaders and workers in Kerala and West Bengal, besides against the spread of terrorism in the country and other problems faced by society. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A agency affiliated to the Islamic State group said today that one of the suspects in a weekend explosion in Russia that injured police was a member of the jihadist outfit. The Amaq agency released a video saying that "one of those who carried out the attack on the military base in Nizhny Novgorod", a city around 400 kilometres east of Moscow, belonged to IS. The video referred to an explosion that reportedly injured two officers from the special police during an security operation on Sunday. An unnamed source told TASS agency that law enforcement officers had stopped a car that contained explosives and shot dead two of its occupants who resisted arrest. A third suspect was detained alive, according to reports. The operation reportedly took place in a residential area of Nizhny Novgorod, an industrial city of more than one million people on the banks of the Volga River. The local branch of the FSB security service said Monday that it was investigating the incident and that it had opened a criminal case. Russia's NTV television quoted a source as saying the suspects were IS members who had come to Nizhny Novgorod to prepare a terror attack and were renting a flat in one of its suburbs. Such special security operations are frequent in Russia's volatile North Caucasus against Islamist insurgents but are rare in the central region. In March, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed a policeman in Russia's restive Dagestan region. And last year the group claimed responsibility for a shooting at an ancient citadel in Dagestan that killed one and injured 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moscow today denied any involvement in bloody air strikes on a Syrian school as its relations with the West took another hit and the EU slapped more sanctions on its ally Damascus. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon demanded an immediate probe into Wednesday's attack on the school in rebel-held Idlib province that he said "may amount to a war crime". The tensions mounted a day after the United States and Britain said they expected an assault to drive the Islamic State jihadist group out of Raqa, its de facto capital in Syria, within the next few weeks. Syria's conflict broke out in March 2011 with peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government but has evolved into a complex war involving regional and international powers. One complication has been the involvement of Turkey, whose President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced today that his country's military operation supporting opposition fighters in Syria will also target Raqa. Russia, whose military intervened in Syria in September last year, denied having played any role in air strikes on the school that the UN children's agency UNICEF said killed 22 students and six teachers. "The Russian Federation has nothing to do with this terrible tragedy, with this attack," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, adding that Moscow demanded an immediate investigation. Zakharova said claims that Russian and Syrian warplanes had conducted the deadly air strikes in Idlib on Wednesday were "a lie". According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, "warplanes - either Russian or Syrian - had carried out six strikes" in the Idlib provincial village of Hass, including on a school complex. On a nearby front, Russia's defence ministry said today that Syrian and Russian warplanes had not bombed Aleppo in the past nine days. A ceasefire meant to allow civilians and armed combatants to leave rebel-held eastern Aleppo ended at the weekend, with Moscow on Monday ruling out an extension of the unilateral measure for the time being. Idlib province is controlled by the Army of Conquest, an alliance of rebel groups and jihadists including the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after breaking off ties with Al-Qaeda earlier this year. Syrian and Russian warplanes regularly bomb Idlib, but air strikes have intensified in recent weeks, according to the Observatory. Children were reportedly caught in the crossfire again on Thursday, with Syrian state media saying at six were killed and 15 wounded in rebel rocket attacks on the government-held west of Aleppo city. The rocket fire in Aleppo hit two neighbourhoods in the west of the divided northern city, with one of the attacks striking a school, said the SANA state agency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia has handed over to the Netherlands raw radar data from the area where Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was downed over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in 2014, Moscow confirmed today. "We gave the Dutch side raw radar data which we discovered a month ago," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told AFP. She spoke after Dutch Justice Minister Ard van der Steur told parliament yesterday that Russian prosecutors had handed "a packet of information" to the Dutch embassy in Moscow. He said he could not give details because the contents needed to be assessed to see if they were useful for the investigation. Russia's defence ministry in late September released what it claimed were new radar images showing that there was no missile fired from rebel-held territory on the day of the MH17 flight in July 2014, contradicting some of its earlier declarations. The ministry released the images to journalists two days before the Dutch-led international team of criminal investigators released initial findings on September 28 into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that found the missile was transported from Russia. The Dutch-led investigative team, which has spent two years investigating the crash that killed all 298 people on board the Boeing 777, said at the time that Russia had not given them this new radar data. Ukraine and the West insist pro-Russian rebels blew the jet out of the sky with a Russian-made Buk missile system likely supplied by Moscow. The tragedy saw the European Union slap tougher sanctions on Russia -- blamed by the West for being behind the rebellion. The punitive measures remain in place as the fighting drags on. But Russia and the rebels have consistently denied any role in downing the plane, and have instead blamed Ukrainian government forces. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hollywood star Tom Cruise says Scientology has helped him in achieving his goals in life. The 54-year-old actor, who rarely speaks about his belief in the religious practice, said he is proud of being a follower, reported Female First. "It's something that has helped me incredibly in my life; I've been a Scientologist for over 30 years. It's something, you know, without it, I wouldn't be where I am. So it's a beautiful religion. I'm incredibly proud," Cruise said. The actor said the methods developed under the religion have helped him overcome his dyslexia. "I asked myself if I was normal or an idiot.I would try to concentrate but I felt anxiety, frustration, boredom. When I graduated from high school in 1980 I was functionally illiterate." Cruise was first introduced to the church by his first wife Mimi Rogers, whom he was married to from 1987 until 1990, while he was still trying to make it as a global star. The actor is one of the highest-ranking Scientologists has been hailed by leaders of the faith as the "chosen one" who will spread the word of the religion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid specualtions of Navjot Singh Sidhu joining hands with AAP or Congress, Union minister and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said it will have no bearing on her party's prospects in Punjab Assembly polls and exuded confidence of staging a record hat-trick of victory. Sidhu, who quit his Rajya Sabha seat and BJP sometime ago, is engaged in talks with AAP and Congress ahead of crucial Assembly polls in the state slated early next year. The wife of Punjab's deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and a senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader also dubbed AAP and Congress as "unreliable parties" who have no agenda and can do no good to Punjab. "Whichever party Sidhu joins, it will have no effect on SAD's performance in Punjab polls... Zero plus zero will make zero," Badal told reporters when asked about Sidhu engaged in talks with AAP and Congress. "Akali Dal will go to people on the basis of its performance in last 10 years. It will make development as the poll agenda and will seek votes on its performance and promises fulfilled, unlike AAP and Congress which have nothing to talk about except making false allegations. Akali Dal will stage a hat-trick this time based on its performance," she said. Terming AAP and Congress as two sides of the same coin, Badal said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has not yet fulfilled his promise of putting former chief minister Sheila Dikshit in jail. "AAP and Congress are two sides of the same coin. Kejriwal talked about putting Sheila Dikshit behind bars, but then formed a government with the same Congress. It has been three years, he does not even mention about putting Dikshit in jail. They are unreliable parties who have no agenda," she said. Attacking Congress, she said, Amarinder Singh has done nothing during his five-year term as chief minister and that is why he is only hurling accusations and abuses at others. Taking on AAP, she said, "There has been no performance in Delhi. What have you done? You got your salary hiked by four times and advertisement budget was raised. He (Kejriwal) is unable to perform in his state, that is why he is running out to other states like Punjab, Goa and Gujarat." "They have befooled the people of Delhi and now they are wanting to befool the public in other states," she alleged. Taking on Kejriwal, Badal said, "He is a university in making false allegations. Ask Kejriwal to first stop his MP from taking drugs, then he should talk about Punjab's youth." She accused him of "defaming" the youth of Punjab as being addicts, and claimed that during a recent police recruitment out of 3.5 lakh youth who came forward only 1.27 per cent were found to be associated with drugs. "It is a party which has stooped so low for its personal gains, that its leaders are out to defame the entire youth of Punjab. You can defame the Akali Dal, but atleast do not defame and dub the poor youth of Punjab as drug-addicts," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Billings couple admitted federal drug charges in Idaho this week after a traffic stop in June by an Idaho State Police officer turned up almost 2 pounds of methamphetamine in their vehicle. The defendants, David Vance Taylor, 62, and Bambi Sue Tomlin, 54, admitted they had picked up the meth in Las Vegas and were transporting it through Idaho along Interstate 15 to be delivered to a person in Billings, said Barbara Layman, a public information officer with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Idaho. Taylor and Tomlin pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possession with intent to distribute meth during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Pocatello. They were indicted on July 26. Prosecutors said the couple was arrested in Bingham County by the Idaho State Police after a traffic stop on June 7. During the stop, the officer smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and conducted a search. The officer found more than 800 grams, or 1.75 pounds, of meth and two grams of marijuana. Taylor and Tomlin face a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is set for Jan. 5 before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. At least six persons, including three women, from nearby areas of Monday's encounter site, where 28 Maoists were killed, are reportedly missing, police said today. A group of villagers, mostly from Panasput and Jodamba gram panchayats on Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border, today met Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra and told him that the ultras had picked up six persons, including three women, from their villages. They appealed to him to help trace the missing persons. Suspecting their possible death in the October 24 encounter, police showed the villagers the bodies of the ultras which remained unclaimed so far. However, they could not recognise any of the bodies as those have started decomposing, a police official said. The villagers also appealed to the SP to release Laikhan Golari, a youth from Khajuriguda village who was arrested after being found near the encounter site on Monday. The villagers claimed that Golari was innocent with no record of any association with the Maoists and he might have gone to the site out of curiosity. Meanwhile, state Home Secretary Asit Tripathy said of the 28 people killed in the encounter, 18 have been identified and the bodies were handed over to their family. Revolutionary poet Varavara Rao, who accompanied the family members of the slain Maoists, said 18 of the 28 killed are rebels and the remaining 10 are from local villages. They might have come to the Maoist camp to cook and do odd jobs, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) City-based Srei Group today announced launch of iQuippo, a digital marketplace startup for construction equipment machinery and services. "iQuippo is an independent markeplace model for construction equipment and this is the first of its kind. This is an e-commerce startup from Kanoria Foundation and Srei group," Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd vice-chairman Sunil Kanoria said. "Construction equipment business has begun to be revitalised with 30-40 per cent growth registered in the first six months of the current fiscal. I think the sector size is growing to Rs 50,000 crore by 2020 from Rs 20,000 crore annually," he said. "The used equipment market in India is pegged at USD 2 billion annually. Around 20 per cent of equipment is available for hire. IQuippo aims to alleviate the information asymmetry, enabling fair price discovery and transparent transactions which is currently constrolled by the unorganised sector," Srei CEO - Financial Services, Devendra Kumar Vyas said. He said the revenue model will be fee from the trasactions take place on the marketplace. The company will now aggressively tieup with the partners of the eco-system like manufacturers, financiers, brokers, insurers among others to make this online platform one of its kind in India and globally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A crime reporter with Rupert Murdoch owned 'Sun' tabloid in the United Kingdom today won an appeal against his conviction of an 18-month sentence, over a charge that he bribed anti-terrorism officers for story tip-offs. Anthony France, 42, had his May 2015 conviction quashed. "I am delighted that this serious miscarriage of justice has ended today," he said outside court. He was the only journalist to be successfully tried under Operation Elveden, Scotland Yard's probe into payments to public officials for story tip-offs. Lady Justice Hallett, who heard the appeal with Justice King and Justice Dove, announced that France's conviction would be quashed and said there would not be a re-trial. France - who was at the Court of Appeal in London to hear three judges allow his challenge against his conviction - was embraced by fellow journalists from the 'Sun' after the ruling. France was convicted of aiding and abetting PC Timothy Edwards to commit misconduct in public office between March 2008 and July 2011 following a trial at the Old Bailey last year. PC Edwards sold 38 stories and tip offs to France between March 2008 and July 2011 in exchange for more than 22,000 pounds. He pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office and was jailed for two years in 2014. France's appeal centred on the directions given to the jury at the trial by Judge Timothy Pontius. In a written ruling, Lady Justice Hallett said they concluded that the jury "were not provided with legally adequate directions tailored to the circumstances of the case and that the conviction was unsafe". "In the course of the last five years, 19 journalists from 'The Sun' were prosecuted as a result of Operation Elveden and not one has resulted in any conviction being upheld," said a spokesperson for UK, the company which owns the tabloid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Home Finance plans to raise Rs 1,750 crore this year in order to meet its growth plans, a top company official said on Thursday. "We plan to raise around Rs 1,750 crore in the second half of the year to fund the growth plans," Sundaram Home Finance CFO G Sundararajan said in a statement. The total deposit base crossed Rs 1,000 crore last financial year and remains an integral part of the financing mix. "Around 65% of the funds will be raised through debentures and short-term market borrowings", he said. Commenting on the outlook for the coming quarters, Home Finance, Managing Director, Srinivas Acharya said, "while the small sized (housing) projects and upper end premium segment have done well in first half, we are yet to see the real demand coming back in the mid-segment". "We believe the second half of the financial year will provide a clear picture of the recovery in this sector", he said. is 50.1-49.9% joint venture between city-based Sundaram Finance Ltd and BNP Paribas, France. The Telangana government will come up with IoT and Smart Technology Policy that will encourage startups and IoT based product development companies, a senior official said today. "The Telangana government will be coming up with IoT and Smart Technology Policy, which will be encouraging the start-ups, home grown players and the IoT based product development companies," Telangana IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said here. He was speaking after inaugurating a conference on Internet of Things (IoT) with the theme 'Current and Future Trends - Managing Data, Devices and connectivity in Digital world' organised by CII Telangana. "IoT has come a long way with immense social impact. No technology is worth its name unless it has social impact," he said. Ranjan shared some of the examples on how IoT is impacting the society, quality healthcare in rural areas, real time scientific information to farmers, prior prediction of severe heatwave conditions, besides others. He also spoke about five parameters to identify best IoT solutions impacting society - relevance, ease of usage, value proposition, replication and inter-operabilty. The conference discussed and addressed the challenges and opportunities present in IoT and data analytics for transforming India into digital economy. V Rajanna, Vice Chairman, CII Telangana and Vice President & Regional Head, TCS, in his address said the transformational value of IoT is significant, especially in the areas of healthcare, agriculture and retail. CII Telangana Chairman Nrupender Rao also spoke on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 19-year-old, who was arrested by counter-terrorism officers for plotting an attack on the London Underground network, was today remanded in custody for three weeks by a local court. Damon Smith is accused ofunlawfully and maliciously making or having in his possession an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. The student from London Metropolitan University appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today and smiled and waved towards the public gallery. Senior district judge Emma Arbuthnot refused bail and said Smith would be remanded in custody until his next hearing at the Old Bailey court in London on November 17. "He has been charged following the discovery of a suspicious item on a tube train at North Greenwich Underground Station on Thursday, 20 October," a Scotland Yard statement said. North Greenwich station in south London was shut down on October 20 after passengers spotted an unaccompanied rucksack. It was initially treated as lost property and handed to the driver, who looked in the bag and saw it contained a homemade explosive device, at which point he raised the alarm. The Metropolitan Police has described the device as "viable". A second suspicious but un-viable device was discovered by detectives at the back of a garage at an address in Newton Abbot, south-west England, on Saturday, causing evacuations of nearby properties as counter-terrorism officers sealed off the street. Smith has been charged under the UK's Explosive Substances Act 1883 with making or owning an explosive substance with intent to injure or endanger lives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An environmental protection project in Tibet, launched amid criticism that China's mining projects were affecting its fragile ecosystem, is now beginning to bring about improvements, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has said. "Tibet has one of the best quality environments in the world," Wang Haizhou, vice chairman of Tibet autonomous regional government said. China central cabinet had approved the "Plan for Ecology Safety Barrier Protection and Construction in Tibet (2008-2030)," in 2009 to improve the environment in the region. The project was launched amid criticism that China's mining projects were affecting the fragile environment of Tibet, regarded as the roof of the world. A report issued yesterday by the CAS outlining the progress achieved by the projects, said the plateau environmental system in Tibet is generally stable and the vegetation coverage has been on the rise. Areas suffering from desertification have decreased by 107,100 hectares, state run Xinhua agency reported. Measures to return grazing land to grassland have also been lauded and have had the upshot of increasing the incomes of farmers and herdsmen. There has been a significant rise in the use of clean energy to support farming and breeding while the lives of farmers and herdsmen have considerably improved. The usage of new clean energy has reached 65.6 percent, mitigating damage to forest and grasslands, the report said. Tibet's natural reserve area now covers 413,700 square kilometers. The area of wetlands under protection is now 4.31 million hectares, or 65.98 percent of all wetland in Tibet. Rare animals and plants are also being effectively protected, the report said. "The quality of the water, air, soil and environment atop of the Tibet Plateau remains in good condition," Wang said. Wang added that the water quality of many main rivers and lakes, such as the Yarlung Zangbo River and Namtso Lake, are at Grade I or Grade II, the top two water quality levels. The air quality in major cities and towns is mostly good, and most of the forests, grasslands, wetlands and wildlife across Tibet are still pristine, Wang said. According to CAS vice president Zhang Yaping, for the project CAS researchers took three years, inspected over 10 major zones, collected about 1,300 samples from three different areas and 20 monitoring sites and reached the conclusions stated in the report. CAS also analysed remote sensing data in three periods since 1990 and studied environmental changes in Tibet over the past 20 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tamil Nadu government today launched a mobile app to create awareness on dengue, its causes and prevention in the backdrop of recent cases of fever reported from various parts of the state. The app, launched by state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar here, features content on awareness, causes and prevention of dengue. Pictorial depictions of the conducive atmosphere for the growth of ATS mosquitoes, frequently asked questions, steps to prevent the disease through traditional Siddha medicine are parts of the app. It also features video clips of celebrities speaking on dengue awareness. The app can be downloaded from google playstore. The clips of celebrities will be forwarded through WhatsApp to the people as part of efforts to create better awareness. Also, 24x7 emergency numbers for assistance, including 104, have been provided in the app. Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and a host of other senior officials were present at the launch function held at the Tamil Nadu government multi super speciality hospital. In the last two months, deaths due to fever have been reported from various areas, including Tiruvallur district. Last month, the Health Minister had said the incidence of dengue was under control in Tamil Nadu and had urged the people not to panic. Awareness programmes for the public, which were part of precautionary measures, and steps to curb mosquito breeding through fogging were being done, he had said. Also, neem concoction 'Nila Vembu Kudineer' was being provided to the people to help boost their immunity levels, he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a boost to the Congress, two prominent BJP leaders from Rajasthan -- former Union Minister Subhash Maharia and former MP Hari Singh today joined the party. The two Jat leaders said they were "disillusioned" over the working of the Vasundhara Raje government in the state and Narendra Modi dispensation at the Centre. At the AICC headquarters, they were welcomed to the party fold by senior party leaders including party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala, Rajasthan PCC Chief Sachin Pilot and state CLP leader Rameshwar Dudi. Pilot said that the entry of the two leaders would strengthen the Congress and was indicative of the way political winds are blowing in the state. The PCC chief insisted that Congress is on a comeback trail in Rajasthan was clear from the results of the panchayat polls which showed that there is not much difference in the poll percentage of the ruling BJP and Congress. This, he said, was significant in view of the fact that BJP had won all the 25 seats in the Lok Sabha polls in May 2014 and had secured 163 out of a total of 200 seats in the last Assembly polls held nearly three years back. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two criminals involved in several extortion cases in the name of different extremist groups were apprehended in a joint police and Army operation in central Assam's Karbi Anglong district, a senior police officer said today. A joint operation by the police and Army's 8 Jat Regiment apprehended the duo identified as Resim Teron and Rock Bey from near the TV centre here in Diphu last night, district Superintendent of Police Debojit Deuri said. Two 7.56 pistols along with 39 rounds of ammunition were seized from them and a case under Arms Act was registered against them, Deuri said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 32-year-old Wyoming man who refused repeated orders to drop a handgun was shot and killed in a hotel lobby by a Billings police officer early Thursday. The man's identity will not be released until after the coroner notifies family members, Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said during a press conference Thursday. Seven-year department veteran Officer David Raschkow shot the man three times in the chest with a .223-caliber patrol rifle, St. John said. At about 4 a.m., Billings Police got a call from a Days Inn desk clerk saying a man had come in with a semi-automatic handgun. The man at one point held the gun to his own head, St. John said. The clerk got out of the office, and police arrived at the Days Inn, 843 Parkway Lane, within minutes of the 911 call, St. John said. Officers tried for at least 25 minutes to persuade the man to put the weapon down, St. John said. With his back to the officers, the man continued to watch the security television that showed feeds from multiple cameras inside the hotel, St. John said. The man made statements he was going to start shooting. Most of what the man said did not make sense, the chief said. A police negotiator arrived about 15 minutes after police and also did not persuade the man to disarm. Eight to nine officers were in the lobby with the man, with more officers outside the building, St. John said. The man stood up and began to turn around, St. John said. The man had a gun in his left hand and did not obey orders from officers to drop the weapon, St. John said. Raschkow shot the man out of fear for his fellow officers, St. John said. The man was responsive when officers pulled him out of the lobby office, but died at St. Vincent Healthcare, St. John said. Police were notified of the man's death at about 7:30 a.m. Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office will assist with the investigation, in order to make the investigation more transparent, St. John said. Raschkow will meet with mental health professionals, and there will be an independent review by the Police Departments Office of Professional Standards before Raschkow returns to duty. According to Gazette archives, Raschkow was placed on paid leave May 3, 2012, when the department initiated an internal investigation into a complaint of excessive force. St. John said the complaint was generated from within the department and was not from a citizen. The investigation determined Raschkow's actions were "proper and within department policy and procedure," St. John said. The chief was notified about the shooting at about 4:30 a.m. He has contacted Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito, and a coroner's inquest will be held sometime after the investigation into the shooting is completed. Raschkow will be on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. Billings Mayor Tom Hanel, City Administrator Tina Volek and representatives of the Billings City Attorney's office were also at the press conference, though none spoke. This is the fifth fatal officer-involved shooting in Montana this year. In January, Sean O'Brien, 37, was shot by Livingston police. A May coroner's inquest found the two officers, Kevin Engle and Andrew Emanuel, were justified in their actions. In March, Carbon County Sheriff deputies shot and killed 42-year-old John Charles Graham. A coroner's inquest found deputies Chad Glick and Jeremy Neibauer were justified in the shooting. In June, Butte Police officers shot and killed 36-year-old Peter Grandpre. A coroner's inquest has not yet been held. The officer was wearing a body cam during the incident. In July, a Phillips County sheriff's deputy shot and killed 20-year-old Ambrose Mecklenburg after Mecklenburg pulled a knife on the deputy. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigations looked into 22 officer-involved shootings between 2012 and July 2016, according to Montana DCI statistics. Out of 22 suspects, 14 died as a result of the encounter. The US today commended India for helping it in unearthing a multi-million dollars transnational scam originating from India-based call centres that cheated thousands of American citizens into paying fictitious debts. "We want to commend the Indians for having done that because we think it's important that they come in addition to our enforcement efforts, that they engage in enforcement efforts and they have the people there in India and we have do to the extradition process," Assistant Attorney General Leslie R Caldwell told reporters here. Caldwell accompanied by a battery of enforcement officials and prosecutors announced indictment of 61 individuals and entities, including 31 from India. Twenty of these individuals were arrested in the US, while 31 of these individuals and five call centres were charged for their alleged involvement in the scam. An additional US-based defendant is in the custody of immigration authorities. However, these arrested and indictment are not part of the 70 arrests made by India from call centers in Mumbai recently, Caldwell said as she praised the Indian authorities for prompt and effective actions in this regard. "That's a different scheme. This is a different one," she said when asked about the recent arrests in Mumbai. The US government is approaching India for their arrest and finally extradition, she said. "These crimes took place in the US and under our laws, we have jurisdiction over fraud that occurs in the US, whether the perpetrators are inside or outside the US. These people are calling the US, taking money from people in the US, engaged in various financial transactions in the US to get that money back to the scammers. All that happens in India is the calls in the bulk of the activity is in the US," she argued. John Roth, Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security, said while the call centre schemes are extensive, many of them target the US, but not all of them. "Because of the arrests in India a few weeks ago, and I think because of the publicity, we have seen a drop off in the success rate of these scams. It is important to know the US is looking and watching them and they could, if they are going to engage in that activity, they could sit in jail in the United States," Roth warned. According to US officials, the money scammed unlikely went out of the US, but those behind this gained access to the money through "hawala" racket. "The money in this case did not leave the US," a US official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has sought to outflank his opponents in their bid to drive him from power, vowing to crush a threatened general strike. The socialist leader is resisting growing pressure from the opposition, which blames him for the South American oil-rich country's plunge into economic chaos. He said authorities would seize control of companies that join in a general strike called for by the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD). "If a company stops, it will be taken over," he said yesterday in a televised speech. At the same time, he moved to placate hard-up citizens by promising to raise the minimum wage by 40 per cent. Maduro was on the counterattack a day after the opposition staged anti-government protests that drew hundreds of thousands of people across . The president and the opposition have accused each other of mounting a "coup." Opposition leaders sharpened their tone after authorities infuriated them last week by halting procedures to hold a referendum on removing Maduro. The MUD coalition called a 12-hour general strike for today and vowed to march in protest to the presidential palace on November 3. Maduro called on his own supporters to mobilise to "defeat the parliamentary coup." A crowd of his followers rallied yesterday outside the National Assembly legislature, where the MUD has held a majority since January. Opposition lawmakers were inside hearing declarations from civil groups about the crisis. Maduro's supporters yelled angrily and scuffled with riot police guarding the assembly. Clashes broke out at some of Wednesday's protests. The government said a police officer was killed in the northern state of Miranda. Maduro blamed that on his rivals. He called opposition leader Henrique Capriles a "murderer" and accused him of plotting an "attack" on the presidential palace. The opposition's vow to march on the palace next week raised the tone in the power struggle. The palace was the scene of a short-lived opposition coup attempt in 2002 against Maduro's late mentor, Hugo Chavez. The current head of the military and defense minister, Vladimir Padrino, has declared loyalty to Maduro. Two seasoned, left-handed Bengaluru-born players -- Amit Verma and Sreenath Aravind -- representing rival teams, stole the honours on day one of a Group B Ranji Trophy match between Assam and Karnataka here. While pacer Aravind wrecked the Assam batting line-up after they chose to bat first at the Bandra-Kurla complex ground with his career's second five-wicket in an innings haul, his former statemate Verma stood rocklike to prop up Assam's first innings by notching his 11th first class hundred in his 62nd game. At stumps, Assam were 268 for six after recovering from 16 for three and then 166 for six by riding on no. 4 batsman Verma's diligent, unbeaten knock of 125 in 340 minutes that contained 18 fours and a six and came off 259 balls. The other unbeaten batsman at close was Sarupam Purkayastha, who was on 56 after having batted for 140 minutes, facing 88 balls and hitting seven fours and one six. Aravind finished with figures of five for 49 in 21 overs, shouldering the pace bowling responsibility in lion-hearted style following the early exit of partner Abhimanyu Mithun, who bowled only four balls in his second over before leaving the field. He didn't bowl again during the day. The 32-year-old Aravind's first spell read an impressive 6-1-17-3 and then he came back to end the fourth wicket partnership of 76 between Verma, who was dropped on 2 by substitute Arjun Hoysala at point off Stuart Binny but thereafter batted extremely well, and K B Arun Karthik (35) by clean bowling the latter. Binny broke another stubborn stand for the fifth wicket between 29-year-old Verma, who played some glorious drives to the off side, and Tarjinder Singh after the duo added 54 runs. Aravind then dismissed Syed Mohammed for a duck to complete his second five-wicket haul in his 47th game. Verma batted confidently and with great responsibility at the other end to reach his 100 with a straight driven four off unimpressive leg spinner Shreyas Gopal, in 203 balls, inclusive of a six and 16 fours in four and a half hours. Verma also added an unconquered 102 runs for the seventh wicket with Purkayastha, taking full advantage of the weakened Karnataka attack in which Aravind, who has played one T20 game for India, was the lone bright spot. Brief scores: Assam 1st innings: 268 for six (Amit Verma 125 batting, S Purkayastha 56 batting; S Aravind 5/49). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A waiter working at the prestigious British Museum knocked the thumb off a priceless Roman sculpture, it has emerged. The accident occurred in December last year, according to The Art Newspaper, but has only just come to light. The waiter, who was from an external company, had bent down underneath the Townley Venus and knocked its right hand while getting up again. The thumb was knocked clean off the statue and fell to the floor intact. The statue has now been restored. The British Museum said it had taken the incident "seriously", the BBC reported today. "This was an unfortunate incident. The preservation of the collection is of fundamental importance," a spokesman for the museum said in a statement. "Our expert conservators have been able to fully restore the object and it has remained on public display. We have retrained all individuals responsible for events." The Townley Venus is already missing its index finger, which was broken before the sculpture came to the British Museum. The sculpture, which depicts a half-naked figured of the goddess of love, is a marble copy of the Greek original and dates from the 1st or 2nd Centuries. It was excavated in 1775 from the baths at the port of Ostia in Rome and bought by English collector Charles Townley. It was sold to the British Museum in 1805. The Greek original dates back to the 4th Century BC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said the AAP government will implement 'equal- pay-for-equal-work' principle for its contractual employees vis-a-vis regular ones. The Chief Minister's announcement on Twitter comes a day after the Supreme Court held contractual employees are entitled to wages on par with permanent staff under the 'equal-pay-for-equal-work' principle. "Landmark judgement by SC. Will immediately implement it in Del and simultaneously expedite the process of their regularisation (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted. Meanwhile, Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai has convened a meeting of all departments on November 8 to discuss implementation of 'equal-pay-equal-work'. Rai has directed his department to furnish suggestions on measures for implementation. Earlier in the day, the Labour Minister convened a meeting of department officials at Delhi secretariat. "Government has decided to hold a meeting of all departments on November 8 to implement the Supreme Court order on equal pay for equal work," Rai tweeted after the meeting. The AAP government has sought proposals from its various departments by November 15 regarding regularisation of contractual employees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wipro Limited today said it has won a five-year engagement with Speciality Restaurants Ltd for energy management services. Speciality Restaurants is a leading fine dining operator in the country, with 107 restaurants spread across India, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Doha in Qatar. Wipro will offer energy management services to Speciality Restaurants, which is expected to help pare energy and operational costs, the company said. The EcoEnergy business of Wipro will implement its Managed Restaurant Energy Services (MRES) programme across the client's full service restaurants, it said in a statement. Indraneil Palit, Executive Director (Project, Business Development & Strategic Planning) Speciality Restaurants Ltd. said, "Currently, we have rolled out the Wipro Managed Restaurant Energy Services (MRES) programme across 12 of our restaurants with positive results. This engagement will further strengthen our endeavour to deliver extraordinary experiences to our clients whilst caring for our environment." Syed Mansoor Ahmad, Vice President and Head - Wipro EcoEnergy, Wipro Limited, said, "Spiralling energy costs is an area of concern in the QSR (quick service sector) sector worldwide. We are happy to have been chosen by Speciality Restaurants as their energy management partner and are confident that we can help them set new energy saving benchmarks, reduce operating expenditure and enhance end-customer experience. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police is on the lookout for a person accused of raping a woman, whom he had befriended on social media, an official said today. The woman lodged a complaint with Beniapukur police station alleging that the man, whom she became friends with on a social media network a few months ago, had raped her. She alleged that the accused had identified himself as a senior officer of a private firm and offered her a job. She said that she was called for an interview at an hotel in the eastern part of the city yesterday, and was raped by him inside a room there. "We have acquired the photocopy of the identity card used by the person to book the room. We are also checking the CCTV footage," an officer of the police station said. The woman has been sent for a medical test, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taj Mahal has served as the backdrop for pictures of many Heads of States and the monument of love was equally enchanting to the personal cooks of these leaders who could not resist posing in their immaculate white uniforms during their trip here. Chefs of Heads of State from across the globe are on a cultural and culinary tour of India as part of 'Le Club des Chefs des Chefs' (CCC) Annual General Assembly, which is taking place in the country for the first time since its inception in 1977 in Paris by French chef Gilles Bragard. The club, which is touted as the world's most exclusive gastronomic society, is enjoying the much-talked about Indian hospitality. Besides visiting Taj Mahal, they also sampled Mughlai delicacies and watched a performance of Kathak, Montu Saini, Executive Chef to President Pranab Mukherjee, told PTI. "They had great fun in Agra. We wanted a picture in our official club caps and one without caps in front of Taj Mahal. One of the members told me that he had read about the monument in his school books and ever since he wanted to visit Agra, so he was very happy to come here. ITC Mughal organised a gala dinner where they sampled Mughlai dishes and then there was a Kathak performance," Saini said. The chef has now taken the members to a trip to Jaipur where they are meeting for a lunch hosted by Princess Diya Kumari at the City Palace in Jaipur. Saini said he is happy that the club, which travels every year to the country of one of the members, has finally made its long due trip to India. "It took me months to organise this trip. The members met the President and the Prime Minister. The attempt is to showcase the best of Indian culture and culinary traditions," said Saini. The members, including Cristeta Comerford, Chef to the President of the United States of America, Indo-Canadian Neil Dhawan, who is Chef to the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Flanagan, Chef to the Queen of the United Kingdom, Christian Garcia, Chef to Prince Albert II of Monaco and the President of the club, are in the country till tomorrow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Xi Jinping was today elevated as the "core leader" of China's ruling Communist Party, conferring on him a status similar to that of party founder 'Chairman' Mao Zedong that dilutes the three-decade- old collective leadership principle to avoid personality cult. Reinforcing the solid power base built by Xi, since he assumed power in November, 2012, the plenary meeting of CPC which concluded its four-day in-camera meeting here today called on its over 88 million members to "closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core". 63-year-old Xi heads the party as general-secretary of the CPC, and the military besides the presidency since 2013, a privilege denied to his predecessor Hu Jintao who was saddled with a nine-member powerful Standing Committee were he was treated as first among equals. In contrast, Xi who heads a seven-member Standing Committee, already established his stamp of authority by seriously diluting its status. He is now set to rule China for the remaining six years of his 10-year term during which observers say he can even extend his tenure, if he chooses to. The term "core leader" was synonymous with highest ranking leader. Only party founder Mao, reformist leader Deng Xiaoping and his successor Jiang Zemin were regarded as "core leaders" of their generations. Though Jiang "retired" after a 10-year tenure he continued to head the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC)- the high command of the Chinese military - for two more years undermining the powers of his successor Hu Jintao. Observers say Xi is set to emerge even more powerful as five of the seven members of the Standing Committee - the epitome of collective leadership - are to retire next year. The only survivor is Premier Li Keqiang who in the last four years confined himself to the management of the slowdown of the Chinese economy leaving the leadership solely to Xi. While conferring the "core" leader status to Xi, the plenum also referred to the "combination of collective leadership with individual responsibility". The collective leadership was incorporated as an important regulation of the CPC in 1981 to avoid the personality cult of Mao, leading to "mistakes" like the Cultural Revolution that killed millions. The plenum upheld the principle of democratic centralism stating that the collective leadership system "must always be followed and should not be violated by any organisation or individual under any circumstance or for any reason". But seasoned CPC observers view it as mere reassertion of an important guiding principle as Xi with enormous power base is no longer first among the equals of the Standing Committee. He is expected to replace the retiring five members of the Standing Committee with his own handpicked men next year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Yazidi women who survived a nightmare ordeal of kidnapping, rape and slavery at the hands of Islamic State jihadists won the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize today. Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar have become figureheads for the effort to protect the Yazidis, followers of an ancient religion with more than half a million believers concentrated in northern Iraq. "They have a painful and tragic story" but "they felt compelled to survive to bear witness," European Parliament chief Martin Schulz told the assembly in Strasbourg. "The courage of these two women, the dignity they represent defies all description." According to UN experts, around 3,200 Yazidis are currently being held by IS, the majority of them in war- ravaged Syria. Given each year by the European Parliament, the award is named after the dissident Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov, who died in 1989, and honours individuals who combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression, often falling foul of their governments as a result. Murad, a slight, softly spoken young woman, was taken by IS from her home village of Kocho near Iraq's northern town of Sinjar in August 2014 and brought to the city of Mosul. As a captive of the reviled extremist group, Murad, who today is 23, said she was tortured and raped. Bashar, who was just 16 when she was taken and is also from Kocho, witnessed family and friends being slaughtered by IS jihadists before being enslaved and sold. After 20 months in captivity she escaped but then fell into the hands of an Iraqi hospital director who also abused and raped her and several other victims. In a final tragedy, Bashar suffered horrific burns to her face and lost her right eye when one of her friends stepped on a landmine following their flight from the hospital director. The 2014 massacre perpetrated against the Yazidis by IS fighters in Sinjar forced tens of thousands to flee and left an already vulnerable community under perilous threat. UN investigators have said the IS assault on the Yazidis was a premeditated effort to exterminate an entire community -- crimes that amount to genocide. In speeches and interviews, Murad has voiced deep frustration with the international community for abandoning her people in the hands of grotesquely violent criminals. Last year, the European Parliament awarded the prize to Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi, jailed for "insulting" Islam. Past winners include Pakistani education campaigner Malala Yousafzai, late South African rights icon Nelson Mandela and Myanmar activist Aung San Suu Kyi. Exiled Turkish journalist Can Dundar and Crimean Tatar activist Mustafa Dzhemilev were also shortlisted for prestigious award. The prize, worth 50,000 euros (USD 55,000), will be presented at a ceremony on December 14 in Strasbourg. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) America's youngest voters are overwhelmingly supporting Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for president but a majority of them say they are "fearful" about the country's future anddo not feel hope,a Harvard poll has said. The national poll of America's 18 to 29 year olds by Harvard's Institute of Politics (IOP), at the prestigious John Kennedy School of Government found Clinton leading Donald Trump by 28 per cent. Clinton captured 49 per cent of likely young voters' support while Trump received 21 per cent in a four-way race. In a two-way match-up between Clinton and Trump, the former Secretary of State received 59 per cent to Trump's 25 per cent among likely voters. Clinton is also polling ahead of President Obama's 2012 polling numbers among key groups within this demographic. The poll also shows that a majority of 18 to 29 year olds are fearful about the future of America, with 51 per cent of young Americans saying that feel "fearful" and only 20 per cent "hopeful". Every demographic surveyed felt more fearful, with white women (60 per cent) and white men (54 per cent) exhibiting the most anxiety. The poll said these concerns about the future of America are focused on the attainability of the "American Dream". Less than 32 per cent white females believe they will be better off financially than their parents. When asked why they were fearful, one young respondent said, "Everything seems out of control, and our politicians care more about themselves than doing the right thing for all Americans. We're extremely divided, and very few seem to have any interest in trying to unite us." Harvard Institute of Politics Polling Director John Della Volpe said "young voters are fearful about the future of America, and that is moving them to action. I am hopeful that the next president and leaders in Congress will empower and engage them after the election to move our country forward." The survey found that 49 per cent of the young millennials surveyed indicated they will "definitely be voting" in this election, one point higher than the 48 per cent who indicated the same in 2012. Notably, 51 per cent of young females indicated they will definitely vote, up from 45 per cent in 2012, while 47 per cent of young males indicated the same, down from 51 per cent four years ago. Clinton is performing better among woman, white and non-college voters, while Trump is under-performing by 17 percentage points among young Republicans. The poll also found that an overwhelming majority of young people of color believe they are "under attack" in the US. Nearly nine in ten young African Americans and 72 per cent of Hispanics believe that "people of [their] own racial background are under attack in America". While there is little confidence that race relations will improve dramatically under a potential Clinton administration, there was significant concern it could worsen under a potential Trump administration, the poll said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Alissa de Carbonnel BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will lift a cap on Friday that curtails Gazprom's use of its Nord Stream pipeline link with Germany, European Union sources said, removing a hurdle for Russia's plan to double the pipeline and bypass Ukraine as a gas transit route. Together with a separate move to settle an antitrust case against Gazprom, the resolution of key disputes with Moscow angers some EU nations who want a tougher stance towards Russia over its military engagement in Ukraine and Syria. Friday's decision on Opal, which provides a land link from Russia's undersea Nord Stream pipeline to Germany and the Czech Republic, allows Gazprom to reroute more of its gas supplies now going through Ukraine to Europe. Under the exemption from EU competition law, Russia's state gas exporter will retain access to 50 percent of the pipeline. But it will gain the right to bid at auction to pump more gas via another 30 to 40 percent, sources said. At least 10 percent and as much as 20 percent of Opal must be available to other suppliers in case of demand, they said. Since its completion in 2011, Gazprom has only been allowed to use 50 percent of Opal's 36 billion cubic meters of annual capacity, under an EU ruling to prevent energy suppliers from dominating infrastructure. In giving ground on Opal, the Commission is seeking guarantees Gazprom will retain transit through Ukraine after it contract expires in 2019, an EU source said. It also wants three-way talks with Kiev over winter transits, the source said. European energy chief Maros Sefcovic said on Thursday he was "making a maximum effort" to broker a deal between Russia and Ukraine to ensure uninterrupted gas supplies for Ukraine this winter. "So far we haven't been successful, but I plan to meet with the Russia partner soon," Sefcovic told . Striking a conciliatory tone, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia was ready to resume gas supplies to Ukraine at "any second" if Kiev agreed to pre-pay for supplies. NORD STREAM 2 Clearing Opal's legal limbo is key to plans by Gazprom, which supplies around a third of the EU's gas, to expand the pipeline in a 9.9 billion-euro project known as Nord Stream 2. With Russia's gas routes to Europe increasingly politicised since its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, many eastern European countries and the United States have opposed the project. They argued it would undermine Ukraine's efforts to reform its economy by sidelining it as a transit route, depriving Kiev of billions of dollars in transit fees. Before Friday's decision, the Polish state-owned gas company PGNiG threatened to sue the Commission over the Opal decision, saying it threatened energy security. The decision will be applicable until 2033 and be binding on Germany's energy regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur. It modifies an exemption proposed by Germany in May that would have allowed Gazprom full access to the pipeline. "We are taking a cautionary approach. We are not trading in a void or inflicting ourselves a wound when we could be taking a stronger stance on Russia," an EU source said. EU approval of Nord Stream 2 is still in doubt, the source said. Gazprom's partners in the Nord Stream-2 project are Uniper , Wintershall , Shell , OMV and Engie . But the company has said it will consider cancelling the agreement with European partners after Poland's anti-monopoly watchdog objected to the consortium which was to finance, build and operate the new pipeline. (Additional reporting by Tatiana Jancarikova in Bratislava, editing by Larry King) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japanese carmaker will build two new models in Britain despite the vote to quit the EU, giving Prime Minister Theresa May her most important corporate endorsement since the Brexit referendum in June. The decision to build the next generation of its popular Qashqai and X-Trail SUVs at Britain's largest car plant, rather than elsewhere in Europe, was won with what a source described as a government promise of extra support to counter any loss of competitiveness caused by Britain leaving the EU. "This vote of confidence shows Britain is open for business and that we remain an outward-looking, world-leading nation," May said. employs around 7,000 people in Sunderland, where it built nearly a third of Britain's 1.6 million cars last year. May's spokesman said Nisan was offered reassurances that conditions would remain competitive, but was not given explicit promises to compensate for any tariffs that might be imposed once the country leaves the bloc. Such a step could potentially open the floodgates to ultimatums from other . The prime minister's opponents accuse her of failing to spell out her aims before talks to exit the EU, and of risking damaging tariffs on British exports in a so-called "hard Brexit" in order to impose limits on immigration that the EU would reject. The opposition Labour Party said an ad hoc deal to protect a single factory was no substitute for a coherent strategy, and proved the government's policy was in "chaos". "Are they now going to literally decide factory by factory what support they're going to give?" finance spokesman John McDonnell told an audience in London on Thursday. "We need a comprehensive strategy on access to the single market." FOREIGN OWNED Britain's big carmakers are nearly all foreign-owned and ship more than half of their exports to the other 27 countries in the European Union, making the industry's future one of the big question marks hanging over Britain's plan to quit the bloc. The major car and their labour unions had collectively warned that the June vote would make Britain a less-attractive destination for foreign investment. in particular had threatened to halt spending unless the government guaranteed it would be protected. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn, who met May earlier this month, said the British government had promised to ensure the competitiveness of the plant. "The support and assurances of the UK government enabled us to decide that the next generation Qashqai and X-Trail will be produced at Sunderland," he said. Japan's Nissan is part of an alliance with French carmaker Renault, its biggest shareholder. Ghosn runs both . Other automakers have made clear they would be looking for similar reassurances from the government for their future investments. The chief executive of Britain's biggest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India's Tata Motors, told Reuters last month that it would want a level playing field were Nissan to get a compensation deal. The Sunderland plant has been a point of pride for May's Conservative Party since then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher lured Nissan to open it in 1986, beginning a recovery in British carmaking that had nearly collapsed in the 1970s. Since then, Nissan has invested nearly 4 billion pounds ($5 billion) in the site, supported by many tens of millions of pounds worth of government aid. The Qashqai has been built there for a decade. The decision to build the new X-Trail there could create hundreds of jobs in the next few years, a Nissan spokesman said. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT The Nissan spokesman said discussions were also ongoing between the firm and the government over how Britain could support and encourage the uptake of electric vehicles, a key area for the company. Nissan made the formal announcement on the long-awaited Qashqai decision after it was reported by Reuters. A company source told Reuters that the decision had been taken at a meeting of the company's executive committee this week, following a visit to Japan last week by British business minister Greg Clark. A separate person familiar with the situation told Reuters that the British government had pledged in writing to provide additional relief to Nissan in the event that Brexit makes the Sunderland plant less competitive. Assurances from the government had helped the firm bring forward its decision, which had originally been expected early next year, the company spokesman said. The Sunderland area, like other parts of England's industrial north, voted heavily in favour of Brexit on June 23, despite car manufacturers and their unions campaigning to stay in. Alexander Taylor, a 65-year old Sunderland pensioner who backed Brexit, told Reuters that Thursday's announcement proved that those campaigning to stay in the European Union had exaggerated the threat of a business exodus if Britain left. "It just goes to show that the Remainers got it 100 percent wrong," he said. "What it shows is that Nissan is not stupid." Oil settled higher on Thursday, as commitments from the Gulf Opec (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) members to cut production assuaged some lingering doubts in the market about cooperation from other producers. The benchmark Brent crude was up 49 cents, or 1 per cent, at $50.47 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 54 cents, or 1.1 per cent, to $49.72. "Another day, another market being pushed and prodded around by Opec rhetoric," said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at energy data provider ClipperData. Energy ministers from Saudi Arabia and Gulf allies told their Russian counterpart this week they are willing to reduce peak oil output by 4 per cent, sources familiar with the matter said. The Opec said last month it would restrain output to boost prices, which have been slumping at less than half their mid-2014 levels due to a persistent supply glut. Iraq, however, has called for an exemption, adding to the list of members seeking special treatment. The expectation was that Libya, Nigeria and Iran should be exempt as their output had been hit by wars and sanctions, Opec sources said. Smith noted that the overall Opec exports have been rising, which would normally be bearish for the commodity. While doubts linger about the Opec's ability to implement its production cut, the market has been leery of reading too much into it ahead of a meeting scheduled for the end of November, said David Thompson, executive vice-president at Powerhouse, an energy-specialized commodities broker in Washington. "The market is reluctant to get significantly short in front of that because, obviously, a political decision could catch them on the wrong side," he said. The Opec members are expected to have a technical meeting on Friday and a meeting with officials from non-member countries on Saturday. The cartel's oil ministers meet on November 30 and are expected to work out how much individual countries should cut. Prices were also boosted by a fall in US crude stockpiles at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery base, which showed a weekly decrease of 650,000 barrels, traders said, citing data from energy monitoring service Genscape. On Wednesday, the US Energy Department said domestic crude stocks fell 553,000 barrels last week, the seventh such decline in the last eight weeks, adding to hopes that a long-awaited market rebalancing is taking place. Venezuela's national oil company Petroleos de Venezuela has agreed to supply oil on a monthly basis to India to help settle dues which Venezuela owes to India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd, Chairman D K Sarraf said on Thursday. "They (PDVSA) would give us a volume of crude every month total dues will be squared off in a couple of years. We should be able to finalise it (agreement) very soon," he said. Videsh Ltd, the overseas subsidiary of ONGC, invested $190 million in 2009-10 in the San Cristobal project in Venezuela. Sarraf said PDVSA currently owes pending dues of about $600 million to the company. Videsh had committed to invest $400 million in the development of the oilfield - $200 million in cash and $200 million as a redeployment of the dividend that it was scheduled to get from PDVSA. However, it has not received any dividend since 2010-11, he said. An ONGC official said on condition of anonymity that PDVSA wanted ONGC to support the further financing of the project once agreement is reached on the crude for pending dues. The issue of pending dues was discussed during a visit to India by Venezuelan oil minister Eulogio del Pino and his Indian counterpart Dharmendra Pradhan, Sarraf said. Venezuela is India's fourth largest source of crude oil. In 2015-16, India imported 23.6 million tonne of crude from Venezuela, accounting for around 12% of India's crude imports. ONGC Videsh, state-owned refiner Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Oil India Ltd have stakes in two Venezuelan oil blocks. Venezuela had been battling a major economic crisis due to the price of crude falling by over half since 2014. The country is in desperate need of funds and hence was unable to pay the dues to ONGC, analysts said. By Promit Mukherjee MUMBAI (Reuters) - Tata Steel Ltd's plans for its European steel business are unchanged and the debt-laden firm is still seeking a partner for a joint venture to run the assets, according to a source present at a closed-door analyst briefing on Thursday. In March, Tata Steel decided to put its British steel operations on sale following heavy losses linked to a flood of cheap Chinese imports and low demand in the region. The process was suspended in July because of uncertainty over Britain's vote to leave the European Union. The company has since said it is exploring opportunities for a partnership for its entire European steel business, which also includes a steelworks in the Netherlands. Tata Steel has previously said that Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG is one of the companies with which a partnership is being discussed. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Tata Steel officials told analysts there were no concerns about the group's steel business stemming from the departure of its former chairman Cyrus Mistry as boss of Tata Sons. Analysts had said the departure of Mistry from the chairmanship of the group could hurt the prospects of the merger or sale of the European steel business as he played a big role in discussions. Sources in Britain and Germany said it was too early to know the implications of the boardroom changes, but they had not heard talks were off. In any case, discussions have been slow and difficult as negotiators face big obstacles, such as dealing with a very expensive pension scheme Tata Steel inherited when it bought the British operations. Mistry, in a letter to the board of Tata Sons on Tuesday, criticised the group's foreign acquisitions, saying the investments in loss-making businesses could lead to writedowns of $18 billion. He also said in the letter that an aggressive acquisition strategy, during Ratan Tata's previous tenure as chair, led to the company's European steel business suffering "potential impairments in excess of $10 billion, only some of which has been taken as of date." In response, Tata Steel said on Thursday that its financial statements presented a true and fair value of the company. In an interview with Mint newspaper on Thursday, the head of ThyssenKrupp India, Ravi Kriplani said the discussions with Tata Steel on a joint venture were at a preliminary stage and far from fruition. Alex Flynn, a spokesman for Unite the Union, said the body that represents British steelworkers was seeking clarity concerning protection of jobs under any new owner and had no knowledge that talks had been called off. The Welsh and British governments declined to comment. (Additional reporting by Barbara Lewis in London and Georgina Prodhan in Frankfurt; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and David Evans) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government faces growing criticism for slashing the militarys pay, status and disability pensions even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reaps political benefits in on-going election campaign from the surgical strikes the army launched on Lashkar-e-Toiba launch pads in September. The ongoing spat between the Tata Group and ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry got uglier on Thursday with the company releasing a strongly worded response to Mistry's leaked email. In a statement published on its website, the Tata Group said a confidential letter had been made public in an "unseemly and undignified manner". Cyrus Mistry had expressed his disappointment over his removal from the position of the Chairman and cited reasons behind the poor performance of some of the Tata projects in the letter. Without naming Ratan Tata, the company said Mistry's allegations against "respected individuals" in the company would be responded in an "appropriate manner". Mistry had written in his letter that his predecessor had constantly interfered in decision making of the company. "The correspondence makes unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations, casting aspersions on the Tata group, the Tata Sons board and several Tata companies and some respected individuals. These will be responded to in an appropriate manner," Tata Sons' statement said today. Tata Group also said it was "unfortunate" that Mistry made the allegations after his removal from the position of the chairman. "It is unfortunate that it is only on his removal that allegations and misrepresentation of facts are being made about business decisions that the former Chairman was party to for over a decade in different capacities," it added. Tata Group said that directors of the company had lost confidence in Mistry and had "repeatedly raised queries and concerns on certain business issues". The statement also accused Mistry of "repeated departures" from the culture and ethos of the Tata group. Tata Sons also added that the "public spat" with Cyrus Mistry was "beneath the dignity" of the company. The statement accused Mistry of releasing "selective information" in the public domain to defend his point of view. Tata Sons said that it had a "multitude of records" to show that the allegations made by Mistry was "unwarranted" and these records would be "duly disclosed before appropriate forums". The ADB has refused to commit funds for Pakistan's USD 14 billion dam project on Indus river in Pakitan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), two years after the World Bank declined to fund the project following Islamabad's refusal to seek an NoC from India. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao said on Sunday at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. Underlining that the project on Indus river in Gilgit- Baltistan in PoK was very important for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, Nakao called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, expected to generate a power output of 4,500 MW. "We haven't decided [whether to fund] this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date, the Dawn reported. He said presently the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the dam. Islamabad has consistently failed to attract foreign lenders for the project. Repeated efforts to rope in the World Bank as a co-lender had failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No objection Certificate from India for the project. Instead, Pakistan accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha. The ADB also advised the government to adopt a professional approach towards the construction of the big dam that cannot be funded by a single institution, country or group given its mammoth financial requirements and the risks involved. As a way out, the ADB advised Islamabad to restructure the Diamer-Bhasha dam project by separating power generation, land acquisition and main dam structures and their various modes of financing. The ADB chief also cautioned Pakistan to wisely implement projects under the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), another strategic project opposed by India as it passes through the PoK, and utilise their funds well so as to avoid debt or repayment problems. Ahead of Diwali, the Centre on Thursday approved 2 per cent dearness allowance and relief benefitting about 50.68 lakh employees and 54.24 lakh pensioners. The decision to provide 2 per cent DA on basic pay was taken by the Union Cabinet and will be effective from July 1, 2016. The 2 per cent DA will result in annual burden of Rs 5,622.10 crore, though for period of 8 months (July-February in 2016-17), it would be Rs 3,748.06 crore. The central government had increased DA by 6 per cent to 125 per cent in March this year. DA was later merged with the basic pay following the implementation of 7th Pay Commission. The Union Cabinet has given its approval to release an instalment of DA to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Pensioners from July 1, 2016 representing an increase of 2 per cent of the revised Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise, a press statement said. According to statement, the increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs 5,622.10 crore per annum and in the Financial Year 2016-17 for the period of 8 months (i.e. from July 2016 to February 2017), it would be Rs 3,748.06 crore. Northern Ireland's High Court will rule on Friday on a challenge against British plans to leave the European Union without a vote in parliament, the first judgment in legal cases that are being closely watched by politicians and markets. A cross-party group of politicians, including members of the British province's largest Irish nationalist parties, brought the challenge earlier this month, arguing that a vote in the Northern Ireland regional assembly should also be required. Justice Paul Maguire told the three-day hearing that he would consider the case and reconvene at an unspecified date. One of the plaintiff told Reuters on Wednesday that the judge had notified them that he was ready to give his ruling. "The legal teams have to come down to court on Friday morning at 10am for the judgment," said Raymond McCord, the father of a man killed by loyalist paramilitaries in 1997 whose case was heard in parallel with the politicians'. "We are confident. I believe and my legal people believe we have a very strong case." The politicians pursuing the High Court case argue that the British government is legally obliged to maintain the statutory recognition of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement between Britain and Ireland, which contains references to the EU. The agreement ended three decades of tit-for-tat killings between Catholic Irish nationalists, who want the province to unite with Ireland, and Protestant unionists, who want to remain part of the United Kingdom. The conflict left 3,600 dead. While overall, 52% of the United Kingdom voted in favor of leaving the EU in June's referendum, a majority - 56% - of those voting in Northern Ireland backed remaining in the bloc. Lawyers for the British government told the court that it was not "illegitimate" for Britain's prime minister to begin the process of leaving the EU without parliamentary approval Campaigners have taken similar action in London to argue Prime Minister Theresa May and her ministers do not have the authority to invoke Article 50 of the EU Lisbon Treaty, the mechanism by which a nation can leave the bloc, without the explicit backing of parliament. One of the applicants in that challenge, Northern Irishman Fergal McFerran, told Reuters that he understood that the judgment in the London case was expected next week. Whatever the result in either case, the losing side will almost certainly appeal to the Supreme Court, the UK's highest judicial body. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie About us It was announced today that Irelands first Personal Peer-to-Peer Business, Initiative Ireland, will create 25 new jobs in the coming years. The news comes as the company prepares to raise 2m in investment, under the Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme, supporting the launch of their new Personal Lending Platform across Ireland. Scheduled for launch in 2017, Initiative Ireland aims to connect everyday people, empowering them to borrow and lend money direct to each other. Initiative Ireland plans to achieve the creation of 25 new jobs over the next 3 years. These roles will include a mixture of experienced specialist roles and some graduate opportunities, supporting the companys Irish and European sales targets, as they seek to transform Personal Lending through their innovative lending platform. The Initiative Ireland platform will enable everyday consumers to borrow and lend money to each other using its online lending platform. Initiative Ireland will perform credit assessments, apply credit scores to applications and facilitate the funding of each loan by multiple lenders, managing all approved loans thereafter. Using risk-based pricing models, Initiative Ireland hopes to offer favorable pricing to approved borrowers with the best rates offered to those applicants who secure the best credit-scores. In this way, the platform has been designed to attract and approve high quality loans on behalf of its personal lenders, balancing risks with rewards. Founded in 2015, Initiative Ireland has already been recognized by Enterprise Ireland, as a High Potential Start Up, receiving support from the State Agency. In Sept 2016, the company was also recognized by the MetLife Foundation at this years Inclusion Plus Awards, for their innovative lending model, which promotes financial inclusion for lenders and borrowers alike. The company is currently working to secure regulatory approval, aiming to launch Irelands first regulated Peer-to-Peer Lending Platform by May 2017. Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O'Connor says, "Supporting innovative High Potential startups is a key part of the Government Action Plan for Jobs. Initiative Ireland are working to bring impactful innovations to the market at home and abroad. I welcome Initiative Irelands peer-to-peer lending platform which will create 25 jobs and I wish the team the very best for a successful future." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Irish businesses are needlessly losing 2bn a year by continuing to embrace workstyle practices that are out-of-sync with the ethos of todays employees according to a 2016 workstyle innovation survey carried out by Ricoh Ireland. The survey was commissioned by Ricoh and carried out by TechPro in September 2016 among 135 senior IT professionals and decision-makers in Irish-based businesses. It reveals the average Irish employee wastes seven days annually searching for business documents. Some 76% of businesses in Ireland report that they are under pressure from employees to enable mobile working. However, just one-third of employees have the authorisation and tools to work remotely. A significant 38% of Irish businesses had employees that could not make it to the office during the recent strikes in transport operators including Luas and Dublin Bus. With many employees unable to work from home, such reluctance to mobilise the workforce is inhibiting business success and growth opportunities. Furthermore, 78% of businesses admitted that they see fundamental differences between the workstyles of various generations within their organisation. Despite this, almost half (46%) of these businesses admit that they dont have the correct IT tools or processes to facilitate different generational workstyles. When it comes to the leading barriers to workstyle transformation, businesses cited a lack of desire to change (47%), followed closely by technology issues such as security and legacy systems (46%), along with overly rigid culture and organisational structure (46%). More than half (58%) of businesses agree that mobile workstyles increase employee productivity, while 46% say it helps them to attract and retain talent. A further 56% believe that increasing investment in digital infrastructure and tools to facilitate new work styles will increase profitability. Speaking about the findings, General Manager at Ricoh Ireland, Gary Hopwood said, "Increasingly, employees are demanding more flexible work conditions and those requests must be met if businesses want to grow and retain talent. Irish businesses dont need to look at our survey to learn that the workforce is changing they see it every day themselves. But our findings show that despite this awareness, there is still a reluctance to transform the workplace." Source: www.businessworld.ie It was announced yesterday that Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has awarded 6m in funding to University College Dublin (UCD) to increase Irelands capability as a Global centre for nanomanufacturing. Prof Fengzhou Fang, regarded as one of the Worlds pioneers in developing nanomanufacturing, has an impressive track record of combining leading academic research with successful commercialisation of the resulting intellectual property. Prof Fang will lead a cutting edge research programme in UCD designed to make Ireland a Global centre for nanomanufacturing. His current research addresses ultra-precision machining of complex surfaces, at micro and nanometre scales, and in soft and hard materials. These surfaces are used in the global, multi-trillion euro medical devices industry. His UCD research programme could lead to key technical breakthroughs to enhance the processing efficiencies in manufacturing such complex surfaces. Commenting on the investment, Director General of SFI, Prof Mark Ferguson said, "The appointment of Prof Fang epitomises Science Foundation Irelands commitment to strengthening Irelands international reputation for high-quality engineering and manufacturing research. Prof Fang has an exceptional international record in both academic publications and industrial collaborations." He added, "His expertise will enhance the engineering community in UCD and Ireland, improve Irelands appeal as a destination of choice for world-class researchers and industrial collaborations and strengthen the industrial manufacturing base in Ireland." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Irelands Internet Day 2016 took place at the Mansion House this morning. The event was hosted by the .ie Domain Registry (IEDR) to mark International Internet Day. At the event, Irish SMEs learnt how to take advantage of e-commerce and grow their revenue and customer base, what tools and software to use to build an engaging, e-commerce-enabled website and how to overcome common challenges and pitfalls like exporting to international markets, lack of skills and time and keeping pace with digital trends. The event was moderated by entrepreneur and Newstalk presenter, Bobby Kerr. Emma Sinclair MBE who at the age of 29 became the youngest person ever to float a company on the London Stock Exchange, commented, "Everyone in Ireland is shopping overseas. Irish consumers are expected to spend 487 billion across Europe in 2016, but Irelands share of this digital marketplace is worth only 9 billion." She added, "Only 25 percent of Irish SMEs can sell online. There are so many online free resources that can help you build a website. Im a massive believer in going to market before youre ready; get out to market quickly, even if that means a substandard website. You will be doing yourself a disservice if you wait around for everything to be perfect." A number of Irish and international SMEs also contributed to the discussion, including speakers from Hailo, AppliancesDelivered.ie, Avoca, Bizimply and many more. Source: www.businessworld.ie About us GREAT FALLS As wind blew up from the Missouri River just to the east, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry sat on an observation platform snapping cellphone photos while the Republican trying to be Montana's next governor, Greg Gianforte, shot orange clays at this gun club north of town. Perry, a two-time presidential hopeful, is making his second Montana swing on behalf of Gianforte, with stops including three high-priced fundraising dinners in Whitefish, Missoula and Billings. He was at the Blue Creek Sport Shooting Complex in Billings with Gianforte on June 9, also shooting clay pigeons. With just 12 days left before the election, the Texan made his argument for why Gianforte is the best choice to be Montana's next governor. "I don't tell people how they should vote. I just bring to their attention what I know works, after being the governor of another successful state," Perry said. "I just come up and say, 'Hey listen, I know what works and what you got going on right now isn't working.'" Both political parties are weighing in on Montanas tightest races by bringing in big names and spending big cash in the final stretch before Election Day. On Sunday, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan will make a brief stop in Billings to appear with Rep. Ryan Zinke, reportedly part of a western tour to help fellow Republicans hold onto their U.S. House seats. Zinkes challenger, Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, has been bolstered by the House Majority PAC, a national Democratic group that recently made an almost $500,000 television ad buy. In the Montana Supreme Court race, even more cash has been dropped into the race by the Republican State Leadership Committee since Mondays campaign disclosure filings. Its all turnout now, said Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Nancy Keenan. Thats where races are won or lost. GOP Chairman Jeff Essmann agreed, noting the particular importance of final campaign plays in the closest races. The governors race is neck-and-neck, he said. Perry is here for us to earn some media attention for Mr. Gianfortes campaign and to help us raise some money for our final election efforts to get out the vote. National Democrats aim to pick up 30 seats in the U.S. House. Analysts describe the goal as ambitious because it would require Democrats to win a handful of solidly red states in addition to toss-up races that lean Republican. A Democrat hasnt held Montana's U.S. House seat since 1997. Juneau has been courted by national Democrats and is a member of the red-to-blue program to gain control of GOP seats. The $500,000 ad buy by the House Majority PAC could suggest Democrats think Juneau has a good chance of winning the race despite a recent polling gap. A Mason-Dixon poll of 1,003 registered voters commissioned by Lee Newspapers two weeks ago showed Zinke with a 13-point lead over Juneau. It may mean they looked across the country at a variety of House races and came to the conclusion that Juneau has a good or better chance than other candidates theyve given money to, said University of Montana political scientist Christopher Muste. Another possibility is that the ad buy to support Juneau might not be about this race. This might be about roughing up Ryan Zinke in advance of a potential Senate race, said Montana State University political scientist David Parker, referencing wide speculation that Zinke may challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in 2018. Perrys visit to Montana might also be about more than just his support of Gianforte. If (Perry is) contemplating a future run for the presidency, it would be nice to have someone with a fair amount of money like Greg Gianforte think positively about Perry, Muste said. Its also probably part of the dynamic where national Republicans are looking around the country for races where they might have an impact. Parker pointed to the recent Lee poll, which showed Gov. Steve Bullock with a tenuous 2-point lead, well within the 3.2 percentage-point margin of error. This has always been one of the most important gubernatorial races in this country. It definitely is a strong opportunity for Republicans to try to flip a seat, he said. Its no surprise they have somebody coming in now to try to get the Republican base excited. In Great Falls, Perry echoed Gianforte's campaign mantra: job creation. "This is an amazing state," Perry said. "The resources that it has available, the natural resources, it is a beautiful state. If you added an economic environment that was just as appealing, then Montana would be on the list of places where people would look to relocate, to expand their business. It's not today. As a matter of fact, you have got kids leaving the state." Democrats have worked to counter the GOP push, hosting their own rallies and making additional ad buys. The Democratic Governors Association, via its Good Jobs Montana PAC, purchased another $406,466 in television ads on Friday, according to state disclosure records. Other races have seen more national groups buy ads in recent days. Because the last campaign finance report deadline was early this week, it is likely some waited to make purchases so they would not have to disclose details until the next reports. Regardless of the race, not all last-minute spending has equal value. Were in the period where candidates get the lowest rate, Parker said. Contributions to candidate campaigns are more valuable than equal dollar amounts given to independent groups. Federal rules guide the rates television stations set for candidates buying ads. Others, like the House Majority PAC or Republican State Leadership Committee, are often charged more. It means you need to have a lot of money to have as much impact because the cost of buying advertising so close to the election is extremely prohibitive, Muste said. The reward, however, can be high, especially in races like the Montana Supreme Court where more than a third of voters have yet to make a decision, according to the Lee poll. Parties are hoping to fill the void by running ads that expound on the virtues of their preferred candidate or, probably more emphatically, that decry the flaws in the candidate they dont want to see elected, Muste said. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) A federal judge considered Tuesday whether a Utah ban on hidden cameras at slaughterhouses that was passed amid a wave of similar measures around the country violates the right to freedom of speech. U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby said hes spent hours considering the issues raised by the case, including the balance between private property rights and the First Amendment. Animal activists argue the law is an unconstitutional attempt to keep them from exposing inhumane or unsafe practices at factory farms. The state of Utah contends the First Amendment doesnt allow people to enter private property under false pretenses and record however they want. I dont think theres a constitutional right to spy, said Kyle Kaiser with the Utah Attorney Generals Office. The law makes farm facilities safer by barring unskilled undercover operatives, he said. Shelby questioned both sides closely. He asked whether theres any evidence of activities asking activists seriously disturbing safety at farm facilities, and Kaiser conceded there was none. On the other side, the judge asked activists whether business competitors, for example, should be able to plant recording devices to steal trade secrets. Lawyer Matthew Liebman with the Animal Legal Defense Fund said corporate espionage wouldnt pass legal muster and property owners do have the right to remove someone caught with a camera. But its different when the state gets involved, he said. What were trying to protect against is a government motive to silence speech, Liebman said. The Utah law was part of national push to stop embarrassing videos from animal-rights groups, not agricultural safety, he said. The hearing came after a judge in Idaho found a similar law violates the First Amendment a win for activists that theyre aiming to repeat in eight states with similar rules. Idaho is appealing that ruling. At least five people have been charged under the Utah law since it was passed in 2012, though those cases have since been dropped. Four were animal activists from California who were cited outside a large Iron County hog farm in 2015. The charges were later dropped because the farm didnt want to pursue them. A woman who once faced a misdemeanor count after being accused of filming a front-end loader dumping a sick cow outside a slaughterhouse in 2013 is a plaintiff in the case challenging the law, along with Animal Legal Defense Fund and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Media groups have also joined the lawsuit, saying the law violates the First Amendment. The Animal Agriculture Alliance, U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and other groups have lined up to support the state. In a press conference held early Wednesday evening the Utah Board of Regents announced the 16th President of Utah State University, Noelle Cockett, who becomes USUs first female president. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President and Provost at USU and has held that position since 2013. Prior to that, Cockett served USU as Vice President for Extension and Agriculture from 2006 to 2013, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences from 2002 to 2013, and director of the Utah Agriculture Experiment Station from 2009 to 2013. In making her opening remarks, Cockett said because of her emotions surrounding her appointment she would read some prepared comments. Im deeply humbled and honored to be named the 16th president of Utah State University by the Utah Board of Regents. My husband John and I arrived in Cache Valley in 1990 intending to remain only a few years. However, I soon learned how very special Utah State University is and came to realize this is exactly where I wanted to be both professionally and personally. She received masters and doctorate degrees in animal genetics from Oregon State University. Cockett replaces Stan Albrecht, who served as Utah States 15th president and announced his retirement earlier this year. He will continue to serve until Cockett is in place. In addition to its main campus in Logan, Cockett will be responsible for Utah States three regional campuses, a comprehensive regional college, Extension offices in 28 of 29 counties in Utah and at the USU Ogden Botanical Center, Thanksgiving Point, the USU Botanical Center in Farmington and the USU Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter in Park City. If Montana voters had approved Initiative 182 in 2004, they probably wouldnt be voting again this year on medical marijuana. I-182 would decriminalize the medicinal use of marijuana by Montanans with specific medical problems without the loopholes exploited several years ago in the original initiative. In September, there were 12,730 medical marijuana cardholders in Montana, but 11,850 didnt have any legal provider for their marijuana, according to Montana health department statistics. Unless the cardholders can grow their own, and wait for the plants to produce usable marijuana, they arent getting it. On Sept. 1, the court ruling upholding the Legislatures 2011 rewrite of the original 2004 initiative took effect. The biggest change is that legal marijuana providers are limited to serving only three patients. So even though there were still 457 providers registered with the state last month, they could serve a maximum of 1,371 patients. Who are these cardholders? More than 2,600 live in Gallatin County and 1,300 live in Yellowstone County, but DPHHS reported cardholders in all 56 counties. Last month, the Montanans who could legally use marijuana included nine in hospice care, 511 suffering wasting syndrome, 845 with cancer, glaucoma or HIV; 1,153 suffering central nervous system disorders, 177 with Crohns disease, 400 with epilepsy, 1,221 with intractable nausea or vomiting, 186 with multiple sclerosis, 1,791 with painful peripheral neuropathy, and 7,842 with severe chronic pain. (Some had more than one type of ailment that qualified them to legally obtain marijuana.) The biggest change I-182 would make is giving those seriously ill Montanans access to legal marijuana by getting rid of the three-patient limit imposed by the 2011 legislation. If voters approve it, the initiative would continue existing law that: Limits patients to having no more than four plants or 1 ounce of usable marijuana in their possession at a time. Bans advertising marijuana or products made with the drug. Forbids doctors to be affiliated with marijuana providers. Forbids people with criminal records from being legal marijuana providers. Bans public use of marijuana. I-182 doesnt allow marijuana use in health care facilities, on school property and in public transportation, public parks, youth centers or churches. Provisions new in I-182 include: The premises used to grow, process and store legal marijuana would be subject to state health department inspections. Legal marijuana would be tested by state-approved labs to determine the potency and purity of the drug provided to patients. Providers and patients would pay fees to cover costs of inspections and administration of the medical marijuana program. Since I-182 garnered enough signatures for the Nov. 8 ballot, weve heard the stories of Montanans who never thought they would use marijuana until they got very sick and other medicine didnt help, or had worse side effects than marijuana. We heard from Bob Ream, a former Montana legislator battling terminal cancer, about how marijuana helps him sleep. Katie Mazurek, a young wife and mother in Bozeman, shared her story of being unable to access marijuana legally for lack of a provider. Mazurek is in the fight of her life against advanced breast cancer. I-182 would add post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of diseases for which medical marijuana can be recommended by a licensed physician and legally used by a registered card holder. The addition of PTSD is of particular concern for Montana veterans who returned from war with the invisible wounds of this disorder. If voters approve I-182, marijuana will still be illegal in Montana. Use of the drug will only be legal under the medical conditions it was back in August with the addition of PTSD. The question on the Nov. 8 ballot is basically whether Montanans want state law to keep small quantities of marijuana legally available to Montanans with pain, nausea, insomnia and other suffering from serious disorders. If your answer is yes, vote for I-182. | BY Ricki Green | Independent data-driven media, CX and advertising agency Affinity has boosted its strategic, analytical and evidence based thinking with the appointment of Laurette Douglas in head of research role. Douglas comes to Affinity, in the newly created role, with 15-years experience in market research gained in South Africa, UK and Australia. She joins the Sydney agency from UMR Strategic Research (now Essential Media Group) where she was head of research. For more than seven years she was with global research agency TNS, and prior to that was a founding member of London-based social research agency CGA. A member of the Australian Market and Social Research Society, Douglas areas of expertise include government and social research, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and social marketing and behaviour change. She has extensive knowledge of working with federal and state government departments and agencies such as the AFP, ATO, Department of Education, Cancer Institute of NSW and Diabetes Australia. Joining Douglas at Affinity as senior planner is Susanna Kass, who was most recently a senior strategist at M&C Saatchi brand agency Re. She has 11 years experience working at creative agencies in the UK and Australia including Principals, BWM and Landor. Says Luke Brown, CEO, Affinity: Were delighted that Laurette is bringing her analytical mind and extensive research experience to Affinity. There are many agencies talking a good game when it comes to using data, but we live it and more importantly execute on it. As one of the most awarded effective agencies in Australia, Laurette as well as the very talented Susanna, will expand our offering as the agency that delivers real return for marketers. Affinity was recently awarded five Australian Effie Awards, including a gold in Best Use of Data, for a big data campaign for Narellan Pools that delivered an ROI of $54 for every $1 spent or in other terms a return of 5,400%. The work has also won a prestigious IPA Effectiveness Award in the UK, in addition to MFA, MSix and Asian Marketing Effectiveness awards. | BY Ricki Green | This week sees the launch of a new campaign for NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services, created and produced by The Hallway. Answer The Call is an integrated campaign designed to entice young adults to get out and experience NSWs National Parks. A series of arresting video executions combine epic natural landscapes with ambient soundscapes, offering urbanites an immersive taste of the states national parks. Says Simon Lee, ECD and partner, The Hallway: There is scientific evidence that all human beings experience Biophilia a deep rooted urge to connect with nature. NSWs National Parks provide the perfect opportunity to answer this innate call of the wild hence the invitation to Answer The Call'. Shot by award-winning artist Murray Fredericks in the Blue Mountains and Tomaree National Parks, each execution employs stills, video and post production techniques to draw the viewer into a spectacular landscape. Says Lee: We specifically selected digital outdoor as the medium to bring this idea to life. The creative contrasts dramatically with the locations of the outdoor media, and with the added sensory element of soundthis is truly Affective advertising. Says David Annesley, marketing and campaign unit manager, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services: This is our first major campaign push in recent years. The campaign is built on a powerful insight that brings to life our spectacular NSW National Parks through this cutting-edge execution. This ownable combination will undoubtedly encourage young adults to get out and experience all that parks have to offer. This multi-year campaign aims to increase awareness of NSW National Parks and the range of experiences on offer, as well as build an engaged community of young adults that support National Parks, the environment and nature conservation. The campaign is spearheaded by digital outdoor, with significant online and social components. Client: The Office of Environment & Heritage Creative Agency: The Hallway Photography: Murray Fredericks @ FLIPP Production Company Producer: Clinton Bell Post Production: Make Mountains | BY Ricki Green | News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller, News DNA managing director Nicole Sheffield along with Unrulys CEO and co-founder Sarah Wood, has today unveiled the companys new Future Media Lab. Future Media Lab is an innovation and collaboration workspace that has been designed as a place where News Corp Australia clients and partners can explore, discover and create with News Corps brands, products and audiences. Future Media Lab builds on the successful launches of Unruly Future Video Labs around the globe and is a first for the southern hemisphere. Says Miller: Future Media Lab gives us a unique way to demonstrate all the information and content that News has access to and how that can be used to provide insights for advertisers. Im proud we can offer our clients and partners a space that combines data, resources and proven processes to assist us in achieving a better outcome together. Says Sheffield: At News DNA we are all about reimagining the new and innovative ways in which clients, brands and marketers access their audiences. It is our mission to supercharge the companys digital, video and content verticals into the most compelling, addictive and effective networks Australia has ever seen. Future Media Lab gives us a space where we can showcase all that content and work with clients to challenge how they best appeal to their customers. The Lab has been designed to provide an environment that is adaptable to a range of scales and forums from intimate presentations to interactive group workshops. Situated at the base of News Corp Australias head office on Holt Street in Sydney, the Lab is a complete transformation of a space that for 30 years was the News Shop. Last year Unruly surveyed 3,200 consumers globally, to help advertisers understand what consumers want from online video advertising. Brands and agencies can explore these findings, together with Unrulys Future Video Manifesto 7 steps to future proof their advertising strategy within the lab. As one of the lead attorneys advocating for stream access in Montana, elections involving the Montana Supreme Court are very important to me. Indeed, a candidates position on stream access is my litmus test for who should be elected to the high Court. I believe that a justices position on stream access is the best measure for determining how that justice will decide other important issues to Montanans. I encourage you to vote for District Court Judge Dirk Sandefur. He has a long history of serving Montanans as a police officer, private practice lawyer, deputy county attorney and district court judge. He understands and supports stream access. In my opinion, he is the best qualified candidate for the Montana Supreme Court. Sandefurs opponent is Kristen Juras. Before becoming a Supreme Court candidate, Juras criticized Montanas stream access cases and the public's right to use our rivers and streams. Dark money PACs are again piling huge sums of money into the Montana Supreme Court race trying to sway your vote. Many of those PACs are generously supported by extremely wealthy out-of-staters who own land along Montanas rivers and streams. Their aim is to fill the Montana Supreme Court with justices who will undermine, and ultimately undo, Montanas stream access laws. Montanans must resist the PACs and vote for candidates who support our constitutional right to stream access. If you recreate on Montanas rivers and streams, I encourage you to vote for Judge Dirk Sandefur. J. Devlan Geddes Bozeman The fate of affirmative action In one of the most controversial cases this year, the Supreme Court heard arguments over the use of race-conscious admissions at American colleges. It's Monday's news. Like many others who have come to the Paradise Valley since the homesteading era, Michael Werner is hoping to make money and provide for his family. Its the way Werner has proposed making money that has drawn fire from some locals, lawmakers, conservation groups and a few nonresidents by opening a gold mine just north of Yellowstone National Park. Everyone has an angle, he said of his detractors. Everyone is after something. Under its plan of operations submitted to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality last October, Werners Crevice Mining Group has proposed a low-impact program that would conduct 36,000 feet of continuous exploratory drilling for 18 months. The end goal would be to open an operational gold mine. Last week, Werner spoke to the Gazette from his Spokane, Wash., office to respond to some of the charges critics have leveled at his mining proposal. Time out Werners proposal is on hold after the DEQ this summer issued a deficiency letter seeking more information on his application to drill just outside of Gardiner. Im going to let it sit for a little bit, he said, although he questioned what has changed with the proposal to make DEQ so nervous. He also noted that the best evidence that the project can be done in an environmentally conscious manner is that although theres been mining all over the Crevice Mountain area over the past 150 years, there have been no environmental impacts such as acid mine water leakage. There has, however, been reclamation work in the area that continues today. Kinross Gold Corp. is reclaiming the Mineral Hill Mine, on the east side of Crevice Mountain. Kinross inherited the cleanup when it bought out TVX Gold Inc. in 2003. Chasing gold Exploration geologist Steven Koehler, who works in the mining industry and opposes the Crevice Mine, said the fact that Kinross chose not to develop the Mineral Hill Mine should tell us something. The easy gold has been found, he said. Its getting tougher and tougher to find prosperity. He noted that mining companies struggle mightily to make money when gold is valued at $1,100 an ounce. Right now the price is just above $1,200 an ounce. Koehler also said that theres not enough credible data to know if the Crevice Mine could be profitable. Thats why they have to drill, he said. Werner, who worked for TVX when it was mining in Jardine, said the project would be a hard sell for a publicly traded company like Kinross because of the controversy it might stir up, a problem Crevice Mining Group doesnt have. Theres a massive amount of gold up there, Werner said, with some concentrations as high as 8 to 15 ounces per ton. If this was Nevada wed have an open pit. Water worries One of the concerns critics have voiced about mining on Crevice Mountain is that proposed mine shafts could hit water, saying little is known about the 8,800-foot high mountains aquifer. If that were to happen, Werner said mining would have to stop since the company doesnt have a state water discharge permit. The permits for exploratory drilling that Crevice Mining is seeking would help Werner decide the best places to look for gold in the mountainside, which in the region is often associated with veins of quartz. He called his proposal a surgical extraction. I need to know where Im doing my surgery, he said. We know theres enough to go today. Although Crevice Mining has a small miners exemption that would allow it to do a limited amount of work without a DEQ permit, Werners plans are much grander the extraction of about 1.8 million tons of rock. To do that would require operating at full production around the clock. At that scale Werner said the mine would inject $7.5 million in wages a year into Park County. Wages for workers would run from $102,000 to $150,000 a year, with salaried workers earning up to $1.5 million a year. That compares to a $42,500 median household income in Park County in 2014, according to the U.S. census. If I can mine in an environmentally sensitive way, what is the downside of this? he said. Singled out Neighbors to the mine have said the downside is traffic, noise and the possibility of water pollution. Werner has proposed hauling all of the rock off the mountain to be milled somewhere else. There are currently three mill sites in Montana: Golden Sunlight near Whitehall, which has plans to close next year; the Contact Mill near Philipsburg; and the Moen Mill near Virginia City. Although off-site milling removes the threat of a heap leaching extraction process that involves cyanide or acid near Yellowstone, it still means heavy truck traffic up and down a narrow mountain road. Werner said he can empathize with his neighbors who will be affected by the mine, but he also said hes been unfairly singled out because some of the mine opponents are business people like him who are simply protecting their own interests. So if I own a business in Montana and mining isnt going to do anything for me, am I going to be for it or not? he questioned. Probably not. He also noted there are other businesses already operating in the Paradise Valley that he claims are just as disruptive and destructive as the Crevice Mountain gold mine would be. As an example he pointed to a large gravel pit located on the banks of the Yellowstone River about 6 miles north of Gardiner. Werner said that some people are already profiting from his proposal. Almost half of the 500 acres Crevice Mining has leased on the mountain is owned by a Butte company, Crevasse Mountain Mining Co. The corporations annual report, on file at the Secretary of States office, lists Rick Lyons, a Butte CPA, as the companys president and director. Lyons did not return a phone call by press time. His mother, Sandra Lyons, is treasurer and secretary. Frank Mischkot, a retiree who used to work at a Butte industrial supply and machine shop, is another director along with Ron Kautzman. All are residents of Butte. So when somebody says they dont want mining, they are pitting Montanan against Montanan, he said. Buyout Werner dismissed the rumor that he proposed the mine in hopes that the federal government or some conservation group might buy out the leases providing him with a profit without ever mining an ounce of gold. In 1996, the Clinton Administration oversaw the purchase of the New World Mining District near Cooke City to avoid mining near Yellowstone National Park. Since he doesnt own the mining patents which gives the owners title to the minerals and land Werner said he wouldnt benefit from a buyout. Besides, Werner said he never would have borrowed money for the project with such an ill-defined and uncertain outcome. This is all about money and providing for my family, he said. In my opinion, you have a few people telling me what I can and cannot do for my livelihood in the Paradise Valley. The two companies serve around three-quarters of the Czech market and began cooperating in 2011 in an attempt to expand their rollout of 3G and 4G. It covers all of the Czech Republic except Prague and Brno. Vodafone is the only other operator in the country, and is smaller than the others. It is not part of the network sharing deal. The EC said it will look at how the agreement impacts quality improvements in existing infrastructure, and whether it causes delays to the deployment of new technologies or services. If the investigation finds it is in breach of competition rules, O2 and the Deutsche Telekom subsidiary may have to end the arrangement, or modify it. CETIN is an infrastructure firm that was span off from O2 Czech Republic last year when the company was split in to two. It runs the fixed-line access network, mobile access network and international services previously offered by O2 Czech Republic. In a statement to Reuters, T-Mobile said: We are closely cooperating with the European Commission in the given matter. We are convinced that cooperation in the area of network sharing does not curb competition nor innovations. On the contrary it brings benefits to end-customers." DICKINSON, N.D. The Dickinson Police Department and Stark County Social Services have begun investigating the use of padded rooms at the elementary schools in Dickinson Public Schools after a parent brought it to the attention of officials at the agencies. Rachel McCabe, a mother of a child within the district, went to authorities after she found out that the school had been allegedly putting her child into a padded quiet room without her consent. She claimed she did not find out that these padded rooms existed until she came into the school to help her child through a particularly bad episode and was directed to the resource room. There she discovered the padded rooms. The school had been telling her that her child was in their office, she said, which she feels is a misrepresentation of what was actually happening. The districts assistant superintendent Vince Reep and the schools principal declined to comment on the investigation. No policy across school district The padded rooms are small spaces with mats on the walls. The rooms do not lock and have a two-way window on the door. Some have a chair or bean bags, while others do not. Dickinson Public Schools Superintendent Doug Sullivan said that there are time-out rooms in the K-6 buildings across the district, though he did not know how many in total there are. He stressed that the rooms are used as preventative measures and are used as a last resort. In many instances they are for students to self-regulate their behavior, and if the student begins to feel like they might be getting out of control, they can voluntarily use the room to calm down, Sullivan said. The information I have is that they do provide an effective intervention for students to self-regulate their behavior and for situations of the safety of the people in the building, he added. He said he did not know how long the rooms have been in the district but noted that they existed before he assumed office. This is his eighth year as superintendent. The procedure is that the room is not utilized without the consent unless parents give consent and are fully informed, he said. And our procedure is that if they are utilized, parents are to be notified. School administrators, faculty and the parents sit down together and develop a behavioral intervention plan for a student who might need to self-regulate their behavior or use the room if they pose a safety risk to themselves or others, Sullivan said. Parents are consulted before a child is allowed to go into the room at all, and then is notified each subsequent time the room is used. I think they help to provide a learning environment that provides for the safety of all the people in the building, and I also think that its an intervention that helps students learn how to self-regulate their behavior, and its important to remember its a last resort type of thing in a sequence or series of interventions, Sullivan said. Parents are not alerted that the rooms exist unless faculty and staff determine that the students behavior may benefit from the use of such a room, Sullivan said. A child could go through K-12 in Dickinson Public Schools without any behavioral issues and their family may never be aware of the rooms existence. There is not a district-wide policy regarding the use of these rooms, Reep said. We dont have a policy on padded quiet rooms, Reep said. Each building has their own procedures that they follow. Parents can see rooms Tammy Praus, principal of Lincoln Elementary School, said that only staff members who received training by the Crisis Prevention Institute were allowed to use the rooms in her school. Many times these staff members will ask the student if they would like to go to the quiet room, allowing the student to make the decision on their own. Two of these trained staff members are present at all times. Students may not use the room at all, even if they are out of control, unless the parent has signed off on a behavior plan which includes the rooms use they helped create with the schools staff, she said. She also encourages parents to see the quiet rooms. When students use the room she tries to prevent them from shutting the door completely preferring to keep the door even slightly ajar. In most cases the child stays in the room for about 10 minutes, she said. If a child remains more than 20 minutes the school calls their parents and asks them to come in and talk to their child, even take them out for an hour or so to calm down and then return to school, Praus said. Its a calming environment, she said. They just kind of find their own little corner in there, and they just want their quiet time away from their peers or away from the learning environment at times just so that they can do some self-reflection and regulate themselves and get back on track. The room can serve as a relaxing space for children to calm down and compose themselves, something a classroom or hallway may not be conducive to, she said. Only a small number of students use the room, she said. I think it takes away some of that stimulation, said Gregg Bertelsen, the crisis intervention trainer for the district. Some kids just get overstimulated and being in the hallway its hard to control those emotions, and this is a place, they figure out they know they can go there, and they dont have all that stimulation and it can help them self-regulate and get calmed down so that they can get back to learning. Rooms are tools Roosevelt Elementary has two padded quiet rooms that are viewed as tools to help the children, said school strategist Jennifer Nokes. The room is only for students that have documented parent permission to utilize, and then we have written plans for all of our students that have documented permission to utilize these rooms and on that plan people are either contacted immediately, however we have set it up with them, Nokes said. The parents are notified when the room is used unless the student voluntarily requests to visit the room to calm down, Nokes said. But it is recorded each time a room is used, she said. Its not a solution to anything, its just a tool, Nokes said. And when its used appropriately as a tool it could be effective just like any of them though. The rooms are never used as a disciplinary measure or as a consequence but rather to help de-escalate situations, said Roosevelts principal Henry Mack. Everything that we do, we do with parents and with teachers and as a team, Nokes said. We never make decisions on anything based on something that we think would be right. Its all part of what the team has decided. And so if its an intervention, its a child thats on a plan that were looking at, Okay, these are serious concerns that are affecting their own education, the education of others. Lets call the parents, lets talk about this, lets talk about this as an intervention for the student to say, I need a break. Parental and community concern But other community members were concerned over the existence of the rooms in general. When they say its used with the full knowledge and consent of the parents, how many people do you think in this town know that there are padded cells in the schools? said Patrick McCabe, Rachel McCabes uncle. I like Roosevelt, but just walking by every day, it would never occur to me that they take 6-year-olds and put them in a room like that, he added. Rachel McCabe claimed that, since the beginning of the school year, her child has spent time in the padded rooms on a nearly daily basis. One of her biggest concerns is that there was no record of how often the room was being utilized, but she claimed to have confirmed it with both her child and his strategist how frequently her child visited the padded rooms. She claimed that the school contacted her only a handful of times. I grew up in a place where these types of rooms were illegal, Rachel McCabe said. I had no idea that they would be used, and I didnt find out until two months after they started using them. She is now filing to homeschool her child as a result. Quiet rooms used across the state North Dakota State law along with Idaho, Mississippi, New Jersey and South Dakota does not address the issues of restraint and seclusion in the school leaving the policies up to the school, though there are laws in place applying to people in non-school settings. Mandan and Bismarck public schools also use these quiet or calming rooms. Bismarck Public Schools has information about their calming spaces on its website under the districts restraint and seclusion policy, said Cindy Wilcox, director of special education for the district. I think it is pretty common to have some place where kids can calm themselves down, you know, if they need a minute to give them some time to pull themselves together, said Mike Bitz, Mandans superintendent. He said the rooms are almost always used voluntarily and that the parents of the students who use the rooms are aware of their existence. They are not used as a punishment. Sometimes these episodes can disrupt a whole classroom, and if that can be avoided by a student calming themselves down perhaps by visiting a quiet room then that is not a bad thing, he said. School board: rooms keep students safe Dickinson School Board President Sarah Ricks said that the school board would have to decide whether or not this was an issue that the board needed to review, though she said she hoped that the concerns would be addressed at the administrative level within the schools. I dont want there to be a feeling among parents that theres any sort of secrecy or anything like that about it, she said. I think because it impacts so few children that this issue has never come up before, so maybe its something that well have to look at in the future. Ultimately she said that she thought the rooms were there to keep students safe. As a special educator I have seen situations when I was teaching before in which a room like that would have really helped keep a student safe, and so I think thats what the focus should be on, Ricks said. Its not there as a punishment tool. Its not there to be secretive or sneaky. Theyre just there as a last resort for safety concerns. [Your Business Name] Contact Info Phone: Fax: Email: Web: CAPITOLHILLCUBANS.COM Business Overview Geographic Area Line of Business Brands We Carry Products and Services Discounts Offered Additional Information Business Hours Timezone We Accept Beneath a blond wig and a quarter-inch of orange foundation, 17-year-old Kevin Milburn did an imitation of Donald Trump that made Alec Baldwins running shtick on Saturday Night Live seem amateur. Micah Miller, an 18-year-old senior with a small mustache growing on his upper lip, didnt even try to imitate Hillary Clinton. Being interrupted by Trump and wearing a womens business suit was enough to tell the crowd who he was satirizing. The mock debate and fundraiser Tuesday night at Natrona County High School was much like the real ones that preceded it. For $3, or canned goods, students of the school could access their own version of the U.S. presidential election. Tuesday night was a lighthearted rebuke by student organizers of the tawdry exhibition of American politics this year. I think the NC student council wanted to do something in order to show what type of political season its been, said assistant principal Christopher Dresang. Comedic distractions Kevin and Micah put on a spectacle that had their friends screaming in delight, but it was a fairly accurate portrayal of the three debates the real candidates recently waged in their battle for the U.S. presidency. Trump promised a raucous crowd that he would make America great again. Clinton used a moderators question on the gender pay gap in Wyoming as an opportunity to tout her record on womens issues. But beneath the mockery was disappointment in the candidates, Dresang said. Instead of approaching their first presidential vote with enthusiasm, many young people are being told their vote doesnt matter, he said. They grow up their whole lives to be citizens and their first vote is for kind of a joke really, he said. So, I think a lot of them feel disenfranchised. Dressing up in womens close and donning high heels handed Micah enough laughs. But this election is far from funny to him. In November, Micah will cast his first vote for a president of the United State, and he will give his vote to Clinton, he said. He originally supported Bernie Sanders, a favorite among younger voters who lost to Clinton in the primaries. Micah was drawn to the senator from Vermont because he was a Washington D.C. outsider and a grass roots champion, he said. He hopes the mock debate shows his fellow students that the comedic distractions are less important than the issues. While Kevin fired up the crowd and threw out Trumps most famous catch phrases, Micah talked about policy choices and climate change. He wants his peers to participate in politics and vote when theyre old enough. I hope they realize that this really isnt a normal election and that they should look at it in terms of what is really happening and not in terms of something thats funny or has a wow factor, he said. Absolute bedlam The crowd Tuesday included parents and younger siblings. An elementary-age boy wearing a straw cowboy hat, Harry Potter glasses and a big brass belt buckle sat on his fathers knee and watched as Kevin hovered behind Micah. It was joke hearkening back to the second debate, when some say Trump impeded Clintons personal space. The boy wore a Trump-Pence sticker on his white t-shirt. Teachers at NC were nervous that the spectacle would cross the line, and that Micah and Kevin would parrot some of the offensive language used by Trump, Dresang said. The principal spoke to both boys before the debate, advising them not to use certain terms. It was an odd moment, he said. I have to talk about two of the people running for president and say Dont use those words, because they are not appropriate at our public high school, he said. The debate veered in that direction all the same. Kevin threatened to send Micah to prison. Micah brought up the former beauty contestant that Trump recently insulted via Twitter. Even though it is absolute bedlam, its pretty entertaining because I feel its pretty accurate the interrupting and the not really answering questions, Dresang said. It seemed clear from the number of Trump signs in the crowd that there was the favorite from Casper, but Micah didnt think so. The support is more for Kevin. Hes an amazing kid, Micah said. Id like to think that I dont go to a high school filled with avid Trump supporters. Kevins Trump impersonation has been delighting the school for a week. The junior took to the intercom every morning with a message. This is Donald J. Trump, he would say in the raspy, drawl of the New York real estate mogul. You are going to witness the greatest debate of all time. But the event Tuesday was a sincere effort for Kevin. Though hes still too young to vote, he wants others to use that right. The mock debate was his idea. I love politics, he said. I feel like I need to do something, especially in this election where people are losing hope and effort to actually go out and vote. The mock debate was the only thing he could think of to bring people together and make them feel involved, he said. An educated citizenry Frustrated they may have been, but the teenagers at Natrona County were far from oblivious. Not only did the crowd seem to care about the candidates, they knew them. They laughed and booed at all the right moments, a generation of high schoolers that knew the gaffes, the key moments and the controversies of Trump versus Clinton. And if the student councils choice of questions were anything to go on, there was an attempt to advance issues, if only to watch Micah and Kevin dance away from them. Someone had even nodded to one of the third party candidates holding on with single digits in the polls. Scrawled across a sheet of notebook paper a boy had written, Let me debate, please, and signed it Gary Johnson. They stuck it on Hillary Clintons podium during intermission. Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Bangalore, October 27, 2016: The Anita Borg Institute (ABI), a non-profit organization focused on the advancement of women in computing and technology, today announced 200 scholarships awarded to under-graduate, post-graduate and PhD female students from Computing and IT backgrounds across India. The scholarships provide these students an opportunity to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration India (GHCI) 2016 conference from 7-9, December, 2016 in Bangalore. GHCI 2016 is produced by the Anita Borg Institute and presented in partnership with ACM India. The scholarships cover expenses associated with attending the GHCI conference, including the registration fee, meals and lodging for each recipient. Travel (by train or bus) is reimbursed up to a maximum of Rs 2,000 for each recipient. The GHCI 2016 Scholars were chosen by a committee comprising of experienced professionals from the industry and academia. The committee reviews and scores each application on academic achievement, potential in the field, quality of essay and financial need. There is a definite need to increase the percentage of women in the technical workforce and build a larger pipeline for the future. ABI India offers the GHCI scholarships to inspire, connect and guide young talented women from technical backgrounds, providing them with an opportunity to build rewarding careers in technology. At GHCI, the scholarship winners have the opportunity to meet experienced and highly-accomplished professionals for career guidance and get inspired by role models. Scholarship recipients also get access to GHCI's Student Career Fair (for women students only), where bright and dynamic students can meet top recruiters from global technology companies. Students can explore internships as well as full-time job opportunities. Click here to view the list of organizations present at the Student Career Fair: http://ghcindia.anitaborg.org/ghci-2016-sponsors/ "We are proud to support and encourage these young women as they pursue their passions in the technology field," said Geetha Kannan, Managing Director, Anita Borg Institute (ABI) India. "GHCI is a source of inspiration for all attendees, but especially for these young women who will be beginning their technology careers soon. There is nothing more powerful than to hear firsthand about the work of the industry stalwarts, connect with them and get inspired." GHCI is the largest gathering of women technologists in India and is expected to attract over 3,000 participants from the industry, academia, and government. About The Grace Hopper Celebration India (GHCI) The Grace Hopper Celebration India (GHCI) is the largest gathering of women technologists in the country. ABI India has been successfully organizing this annual conference since 2010. GHCI focuses on the career, research and entrepreneur interests of women in computing and technology.For further information, visit ghcindia.anitaborg.org About the Anita Borg Institute (ABI) The Anita Borg Institute (ABI) connects, inspires and guides women in computing and organizations that view technology innovation as a strategic imperative. Founded in 1997 by computer scientist Anita Borg, our reach extends to more than 67 countries. For more information, visit www.anitaborg.org. The preliminary examination for the civil services posts has been preponed by the Union Public Service Commission. The civil services prelims will be held in June instead of August next year. The civil services prelims are being held early in June rather than August after a gap of 3 years. According the UPSC's calendar, the UPSC preliminary examination for 2017 is scheduled to be held on June 18, 2017. According to an official, the change in date of the examination is to ensure that the entire process of the UPSC examination is completed in time. UPSC 2017 Exam Calendar The prelims were for 2016, 2015 and 2014 were held during the month of August, while the examination for 2017 will be held in June. In 2013, the UPSC civil services prelims was held in the month of May. About UPSC Civil Services: The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a National level competitive examination in India, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India. Read more at: careerindia.comhttps://www.careerindia.com/upsc/ The sun shone to the east, and the geese and cranes were circling around from the northwest. They just werent landing where the Haus brothers wanted them. The brothers, Mark, Chuck and Neil, were set up last week near the Kidder County-Stutsman County line in a patch of grass surrounded by their decoys and 4-year-old yellow lab, Rex. It was close to 10 a.m., and after bagging a pair of Canada geese, they were ready to move on for the day. But the brothers from the St. Cloud, Minn., area werent discouraged. Its hard to be discouraged when on vacation. You dont do anything else, Neil Haus said about the brothers annual hunting trip to North Dakota. You just hunt. Just as the Haus brothers make a trip every fall down Interstate 94 to hunt birds on North Dakotas prairies, thousands of others from places near and far arrive to try their hand at any number of the states hunting seasons. The influx boosts small-town businesses and helps retailers weather the slow patch from summer to Christmas, said Mike Rud, a co-chair of Hunting Works for North Dakota and executive director of the North Dakota Retail Association. Mark Haus was the first of the brothers to head west. He used to hunt in the Bismarck area but has been stopping in Stutsman County for the past eight seasons after hearing about the quality duck hunting in that area. For the past six years, Chuck Haus has come, too, while Neil Haus has come for three. Neil Haus explained that the area is situated on the migration route for multiple northern birds, giving them a variety of hunting experiences in a few days. Theyre away from home for five days, hunting for four of them. The ability to do nothing but hunt makes the trip a highlight of their year. And our wives arent here, Mark Haus said as his brothers laughed nervously. Rud said word-of-mouth brings hunters to the state; slick advertising campaigns arent necessary. We dont really have to promote hunting in North Dakota because it promotes itself, he said. North Dakota has become a destination point. Mark Haus said the variety of potential game birds to encounter in North Dakota is part of the attraction, but its also about having land open to hunting. Federal and state lands are plentiful, and having the opportunity to hunt on land that isnt posted provides more opportunities, Chuck Haus said. According to statistics from the North Dakota Department of Tourism, 39,947 non-residents hunted small game in the state in 2013. Another 3,641 participated in deer firearm hunting, 2,826 in deer archery hunting and 2,500 in furbearer hunting. The department pegged the direct expenditures for all hunting and fishing in the state at $642.9 million and said non-resident hunters spend more than $100 per day in the state. The Haus brothers try to keep their expenditures down. They dine on sandwiches they pack out when theyre in the field, and, at night, they make duck and goose chili or sloppy Joes. But they do stay at a hunting lodge, and there are some expenses they cant avoid. We go through plenty of gas, Chuck Haus said. The tourism department lists Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, Illinois and Iowa as the states with the most non-resident licenses in 2013. Rud said sitting at an airport in the state can be surprising this time of year with the amount of camouflage and orange getting on and off planes. Its really nice to have that influx of people coming into the state, he said. That helps the small towns, and the people in the small towns work to show the hunters a good time, he said. We roll out the red carpet for them, he said. Drastic budget cuts are coming at North Dakota State University. The schools new president said in a campus-wide email Tuesday that significant reductions will be necessary due to decreasing enrollments over the past several years. David Cook describes the cuts as incredibly difficult. The north Fargo campus is facing a $10.5 budget shortfall for the next biennium. Cook says he has asked the school's deans to help with rightsizing and reorganizing the academic enterprise and creating new programs to meet workforce needs. The email does not mention layoffs. Cook says most of the NDSUs money comes from tuition and state revenue, both of which are dependent on student numbers. Enrollment at the university is at a 15-year low. Produced alongside the Volkswagen Sharan ever since it was launched six years ago, the Seat Alhambra faces the axe in its current form. At least thats what the Spanish brands design chief, Alejandro Mesonero, told AutoExpress: We do not want to do that body style anymore. We will replace it, but not with the one-box design we have now. Seat will launch a seven-seater, but that is not desirable now everyone is buying SUVs right now. In plain English, what Seats boss is trying to say is that, if theres a next generation Alhambra (regardless if it retains its current name), it will be transformed into a crossover with a seven seat layout. Even if British publication doesnt say it, it will share many nuts and bolts with the Skoda Kodiaq, slotting above the Ateca. The 20V20 Concept (pictured) shown last year in Geneva along with the companys first-ever SUV could provide styling inspiration. If Seat goes ahead and retires the Alhambra minivan in favor of a new 7-seater crossover, Volkswagen could follow the same path with the Sharan, as its unlikely that the Germans will develop a new generation without additional support from another carmaker to share some of the production costs. PHOTO GALLERY Before we jump into the contenders, lets review the voting process Rule Refresher The Academy holds multiple rounds of voting before selecting its nominees in the animated short category. A review process is currently underway by volunteer active and life members of the Academys Short Films and Feature Animation branch. This group will view all 70 shorts, and rate the films. The 10 most-highly rated shorts will be put on the shortlist, which the Academy will announce publicly sometime in November. Those 10 films will be screened again, this time by a larger group of the Short Films and Feature Animation branch. This round of voting determines the five nominees, which will be announced on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. The final voting to determine the winner of the Academy Award is open to the entire Academy membership. The Contenders One of the shortest films that qualified is BAFTA-winner Ainslie Hendersons Stems (Scotland), a sweet little meditation on the beauty of stop motion animation. Short shorts have been nominated in the past, like PESs Fresh Guacamole and Ted Petoks The Crunch Bird, so a brief running time isnt necessarily a handicap in this category. On the other hand, the longest film this year is Rob Valleys Pear Cider and Cigarettes (Canada), which has a running time of 35 minutes. (A short film is defined by the Academy as having a running time of 40 minutes or less.) Valley, a much-admired animator and designer whose work has influenced plenty of commercial animation over the past decade, proves himself to be an impactful director on top of all of his other skills. Pear Ciders great strength and weakness is its authenticityits a grittier and tawdrier personal narrative than typical animated shorts, which could work against it because the Academys Short Films and Feature Animation branch is comprised of older, more conservative voters. But dont overlook Pear Cider because of its lengthits a one-of-a-kind story uniquely suited to Valleys style and production techniques, and counts as one of the real animated gems of 2016. Another short to keep an eye out for is Erlking, from Swiss animation legend Georges Schwizgebel. Based on Goethes poem Erlkonig and set to the music of Schubert and Liszt, the film is filled with mesmerizing patterns of motion and color that will be familiar to fans of Schwizgebels work. Erlking is an accessible entry point to Schwizgebels filmmakingit was one of the most well liked shorts of 2015 by festival programmers and criticsand it would be an ideal time for the Academy to acknowledge his work, especially since theyve never recognized any of his dozen-and-a-half previous films. The National Film Board of Canada has two films in contention this year: Franck Dions The Head Vanishes and Theo Ushevs Blind Vaysha. Like Schwizgebels film, Ushevs Blind Vaysha counts among his more accessible and straightforward narratives, telling the story of a girl who can see the future out of one eye and the past out of the other. The expressionist linocut style that Ushev used in Blind Vaysha is not the only film that harkens back to a printmaking style. Celine Devauxs Le Repas Dominical (France) uses a printmaking style to relate a more contemporary story about a young gay man trying to survive an awkward weekend brunch with his family. The short won the French film industrys highest honorthe Cesar Awardin February of this year. Four of the five nominees of the Cartoon dOr alos qualified for this years Academy Award, including the beautifully stylized winner Yul and the Snake by Gabriel Harel (France). The other three films are Sous tes doigts (Under Your Fingers) by Marie-Christine Courtes (France), Peripheria by David Coquard-Dassault (France), winner of two prizes at Annecy, and Alike by Daniel Martinez Lara and Rafael Cano Mendez (Spain), which won the Goya Award earlier this year. Stop motion shorts, for whatever reason, often deliver stories and ideas that veer away from conventional storytelling, and some of 2016s quirkiest Academy Award contenders use stop motion techniques, including Kangmin Kims Deer Flower (South Korea), Simon Cartwrights BAFTA-nominated Manoman (U.K.), Joanna Rytels Moms on Fire (Sweden), and Alyx Duncans The Tide Keeper (New Zealand). Patrick Osborne, who won the Oscar a few years back for Disneys Feast, is back with another quality effort, Pearl, a vr experience created for Googles Spotlight Stories. The custom-created cinematic version of the film follows the same storyline as the vr version, and works well as a theatrical viewing experience. Speaking of Disney, the company is pushing two shorts: Leo Matsudas Inner Workings and Alan Barillaros Piper, made through its subsidiary Pixar. In the last six years, Disney or Pixar has received a nomination every single year (accounting for 20% of all the nominations in this period), irrespective of whether theyd actually produced an Oscar-worthy film. (Its won two out of those six nominationsfor Paperman and Feast.) This year, Disney will face competition from its own employees: Pixar artists Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj, who qualified their Western-themed Borrowed Time, which won best in show at SIGGRAPH, and since being posted on Vimeo a couple weeks ago, has become one of the most-viewed animated shorts ever posted there with over 8 million views. A couple of former Pixarians are also in the race: Dice Tsutsumi and Robert Kondo, whose first short The Dam Keeper was nominated for an Oscar in 2015, are back with a cg short, Moom. The French fund more short-form animation than any other country and the maturity of their shorts industry is evident in their entries. Fabrice Luang-Vijas He Who Has Two Souls is a sensitively told story of an Inuit man coming to terms with gender identity; Donato Sansones Journal anime is a creative tour de force that examines the darkness of contemporary global events through a French lens; and The Empty (France/South Korea), the latest from Dahee Jeong, who won the Cristal grand prize at Annecy in 2014, attempts to visualize a subject matter not easily portrayed: memories. Heres some other films worth noting: With i5 and i7 Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce graphic cards, the Surface Studio is ready for heavy-duty graphics work. It has a hinge that allows the user to easily tilt the screen from an upright angle down to a nearly-flat angle for drawing. Its centerpiecea 28 screen that Microsoft says is the worlds thinnest LCD monitor ever builthas a 10-point multi-touch and 45003000 resolution (higher than 4K), easily besting any offering from Wacoms Cintiq line. Microsoft is so confident that its device exceeds the Cintiqs specs and performance that the companys hardware chief, Panos Panay, told Fast Company, I dont want to say [the Cintiq] is gone because Im a big fan of Wacom but, fundamentally what this product is doing is replacing that. The key sticking point preventing artists from abandoning Wacom completely might be the Surface Pen, which, despite its 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, has been criticized by some illustrators for lacking the accuracy that can be achieved with Wacom stylus pens. As impressive as the Surface Studio looks, its most revolutionary aspect isnt the computer itself, but rather the accompanying $100 puck-like peripheral Surface Dial, a physical scroll-wheel with haptic feedback that aims to change the way artists interact with technology by creating a more natural and physical experience. The Dial, which was a big hit with the tech community at its unveiling today, is most easily understood when seen in action: The Surface Studio starts at $2,999, a relative bargain considering that a 27 Wacom display (minus the computer) costs only slightly less. Microsoft will start shipping the Surface Studio in limited quantities this holiday season, followed by general availability in 2017. It can be pre-ordered on the Microsoft web site. The early reaction within the animation community has been extremely positive, although it should be cautioned that the device isnt out yet and artists still havent offered their thoughts based on actual usage of the computer: Surface Studio is not an iMac killer. It's a Wacom killer. Wahyu Ichwandardi (@pinot) October 26, 2016 It's a hard sell to get me back on a Windows machine for work after all these years but I gotta admit the Surface Studio looks rad Zac Gorman (@zacgormania) October 26, 2016 Who would have thought Microsoft would be out-innovating Apple AND Wacom w creatives-first design philosophy. Surface Dial is interesting. Ryan Summers (@Oddernod) October 26, 2016 HYPED for the surface studio, already adore my surface pro 3! if they have the drawing accuracy pinned down, i'm pulling wacom off the cards Domareen Fox (@DommiFox) October 26, 2016 Today is the first day I've ever regretted leaving Microsoft. https://t.co/HdEAguTdVZ JasonCampbell (@JasonCampbell) October 26, 2016 The key specs for the Surface Studio: Photo: Kate Bouey - File photo Ghosts, super heroes and princesses galore will be roaming the city centre Monday for the annual Downtown Treat Trail. Hundreds of children are expected at the Oct. 31 event that has more than 60 merchants handing out goodies to trick or treaters 12 and under from 3-5 p.m. We thoroughly enjoy hosting the Downtown Treat Trail," said Hailey Rilkoff, promotions co-ordinator for the DVA, but our main concern is the childrens safety because the treat trail does take place on busy streets during business hours. We havent had any issues in the past and we hope to continue with that. Rilkoff urged the community to keep safety in mind while driving during the Treat Trail. Slow down and be alert, have patience with pedestrians and make sure that you watch for excited children that might not be watching where they are going, she said, adding parents should ensure their children follow regular pedestrian rules by using the appropriate crosswalks and holding hands while crossing. Kids get so excited and forget that its a busy downtown, we want everyone to be safe and have fun, said Rilkoff. A map of the participating businesses on the Treat Trail can be found online. Photo: Contributed First Nations groups are planning to file a lawsuit Thursday against the federal government and Malaysian state-owned oil firm Petronas in an attempt to stop a liquefied natural gas project on British Columbia's northern coast. The $36-billion Pacific NorthWest LNG project which includes a pipeline and terminal proposed for Lelu Island, near Prince Rupert, received conditional approval from the federal government last month. Chief Negotiator of the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs Glen Williams says the project could have a severe impact on communities in the area by destroying habitat for local salmon stock. Williams says Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs want the Federal Court to declare that proper consultation with First Nations did not occur, and subsequently cancel approval for the project. He says he hopes a B.C. Supreme Court judgment that blocked the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline earlier this year because First Nations weren't properly consulted will set a precedent for success in this suit. A spokesperson for Pacific NorthWest LNG was not immediately available for comment on the First Nations claim. Photo: Getty Images Car thieves beware: Surrey RCMP are ready for you. Police in the Lower Mainland community continue to make a significant impact on auto-related crime with the third installment of Project Hot Wheels an enforcement initiative where multiple police units collaborate to target not only prolific auto crime offenders, but also high auto crime areas. Cpl. Scotty Schumann said from Sept. 20 through Oct. 14, Project Hot Wheels resulted in 24 arrests, 75 charges being laid and 187 recovered stolen vehicles. Schumann said notable investigations included the arrest of a male with warrants in Surrey and Delta that involved the police dog services; two prolific offenders were arrested in a stolen vehicle with several packages of illicit drugs and suspected in many auto crimes across the Lower Mainland and the arrest of two individuals suspected in multiple theft from vehicle and robbery files. While our most recent crime statistics indicate a slight decline in theft of vehicles this past quarter, our theft from vehicles were on the rise, as they have been across the Lower Mainland, said Insp. Shawna Baher, proactive enforcement officer. Once again, this project helped keep a number of prolific auto crime offenders in check and reduced the likelihood of more crimes being committed in our communities by these same criminals. As the cooler weather arrives, police remind residents to do their part and not leave vehicles unattended while theyre running. Keys left in the ignition, glove box and on the dashboard provide a regular source of vehicles for thieves. Photo: Carmen Weld The BC Wildfire Service is looking back at the last 13 years to see what went well, what needs work and what the future has in store. In the months that followed the Okanagan Mountain wildfire of 2003, the B.C. government had an outside study done to see what it could have done better. According to B.C.'s chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek, one of the biggest identified issues following 2003 was the lack of public information. Following that report, Skrepnek says the agency worked diligently to change and improve its communication mandate. Where you can get caught, in general, is waiting too long to have the perfect set of information. You've got to work with what you've got, ensure you are protecting your organization, but also ensure the public gets the information, said Skrepnek. There is a vacuum there and if we don't fill it someone else will, and chances are it will be inaccurate information. The next large fire year, 2009, saw another post-mortem analysis done and this time, public communication was identified as one of the successes. Skrepnek explained at the Wildland Fire Conference in Kelowna this week that the BC Wildfire Service is the only arm of the provincial government with a public communications mandate, and he believes it is working well. The latest busy fire season, 2015, saw the BC Wildfire Service complete an estimated 3,000 interviews with the media. That is a highly conservative number, said Skrepnek. It is probably close to 5,000. If we talk to a journalist nine times a day about one incident, which is common, we count that as just one interview. While he said they do try their best to communicate information quickly and effectively, they are more hesitant than other lead agencies may be. We tend to be more risk adverse and open to litigation, something that is becoming more and more real, said Skrepnek. Sometimes we are more guarded about the information we are sending out. With a goal of continuing a timely and open dialogue, Skrepnek says the organization is now looking ahead. They forecast four major challenges in coming years; an increase in major fires, an increase in expectation for information, an increase in incident complexity and ensuring all agencies adapt. People are expecting information immediately and we need to have something to offer, said Skrepnek. A key tool, he said, is working together. A unified command with all levels of government and different agencies is the key to success in disaster time. An emergency is not a time to make new friends, said Skrepnek. An emergency should feel like 'getting the band back together'. Skrepnek said they are also continually working on their social media strategy to get information out quickly. He noted that some of their successful messaging on Facebook has allowed them to reach 1.2 million people in a province where 2.8 million use Facebook. But, he warned, social media is not a silver bullet and should be used carefully in alignment with other established communication strategies. A rezoning request for the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House was tabled Wednesday by the Bismarck Planning and Zoning Commission after a 3 1/2-hour hearing that mirrored the heated testimony three years earlier when the original request was denied. Planning commissioners asked representatives of Ruth Meiers to return with more information about how much more use the facility at 1100 E. Boulevard Ave. would get if services currently offered there were expanded to the public. Residents lined up before the planning commission, complaining of rising crime activity around the facility and questioning how much more traffic they would get, whether training meetings were really a disguise for a soup kitchen, and whether security at the property warranted protection for them. Veronica Schneider, a resident of a nearby condo, voiced concerns about older children not in the day care program provided by the Ruth Meiers: The bigger kids have nowhere to go. One couple who reside at the facility praised the day care services for helping them get jobs and move toward independence. Planning Commissioner Brian Bitner said he could not support the plan as proposed after weighing the neighborhood testimony against it. "It seems to them they had a noticeable increase in problems to their neighborhood." "Really, the change in my mind is it is really the same operation, but it's basically opening doors to allow more people," said Commissioner Doug Lee. "I'm thinking this is a way Ruth Meiers reaches out to the neighborhood." Three years ago, Ruth Meiers Hospitality House applied to rezone its facility to open a soup kitchen, but it was met with opposition from people who live in the neighborhood. The major concern at the time was that it would become a "beacon" for transients. People spoke at a public meeting about the safety of their children who may come into contact with homeless people who may have mental health issues and drug or alcohol addictions. On Wednesday, Steve Neu appeared before the Bismarck Planning and Zoning Commission on behalf of Ruth Meiers, seeking to rezone the facility. This time, the primary purpose is to make the building and some of its underutilized space available to the public. Under the proposal some of its current services, such as the health care clinic, would be offered to low-income people and families at risk of homelessness at no cost. A free salon also would open to serve people in need. The current day care center would expand to take in 45 children per day. When we purchased the building, this was kind of the vision," Executive Director Jaclyn Hall said earlier this week. The reason for rezoning is to provide services to people who work with other agencies, such as Youthworks, the Abused Adult Resource Center and Heartview, Hall said. The facility would undergo a face-lift, and an additional door would be installed on the west side of the building for the public to use. The building would be renamed the Ruth Meiers Transitional Living and Community Service Center. In addition to having a greater reach, the intent of the center is to provide people who are at-risk services to help them gain independence, as well as to reduce the number of homeless people who come back to the shelter, Hall said. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure they dont come back to us," Hall said. We can then assist them by being able to receive some of those services here and expand some of those services to individuals in the community who may be in need but dont know where to go. In 2013, Ruth Meiers moved into the building on Boulevard Avenue, which was the site of the former Baptist Home. The organization now provides more than 200 shelter beds and 100 affordable housing units and also has a men's emergency shelter on North 23rd Street. Hall said she hopes to be successful with the rezoning application this year. Our request this time is a lot more transparent. We have placed additional restrictions onto the zoning by providing Lukes Kitchen on 23rd Street; theres no need for us to have a soup kitchen here, she said. That was one of the major concerns from the neighbors. In December, Ruth Meiers will start an "open table kitchen" called Luke's Kitchen at the North 23rd Street shelter. More than a year ago, a family lost a son in a vehicle accident and asked to open a community kitchen in his honor, Hall said. The son was a relative of the Meiers family. It kind of fit," she said. The men's shelter will be separated by a wall, sectioning off the shelter area and the kitchen. Luke's Kitchen will provide a free noon meal seven days a week to anyone who comes to the facility. You dont have to be in need; you can just come for that meal," Hall said. We normally open up our shelters on 23rd Street all day in the wintertime because of the cold. This now will just provide that warm meal; this will provide additional community engagement. If approved by the city, the Ruth Meiers Center would provide classes and training opportunities for low-income adults and families, including free classes on budgeting and home ownership. The proposal would allow Ruth Meiers to establish outreach sites and partner with a network of other similar agencies to provide services on site. Though the rate of homelessness was thought to be decreasing in recent years, the numbers are now slowly increasing, Hall said. In 2014, Ruth Meiers provided more than 43,000 nights of shelter, and that number dropped to 35,000 last year. Now, Hall said they're starting to see that number steadily climb back up again. Ultimately, the goal is to help people who are in need of services at Ruth Meiers before they become homeless, Hall said. People who are coming here and needing that additional service, thats our target," she said. The costs associated with expanding Ruth Meiers' services shouldn't be too significant, Hall said. There will be additional staff on hand once the day care expands, and, in total, the organization would hire 10 to 15 more staff members. Photo: Greater Vernon Museum and Archives Getting a clean shave is taking a step back in time. The Greater Vernon Museum and Archives is teaming up with the Gentlemens Shop and Shave Parlour to teach people how to use a straight razor while raising money for Movember charities. Popular for hundreds of years, the straight razor fell out of fashion in the 1950s with the development of the safety razor. The museum is working with local businesses, organizations and experts who have historic skills to present their new educational series for adults called 'The Vernon Museum Field School'. I created the Field School to highlight and celebrate these great sources of historical practical knowledge we have in this community. It is one thing to talk about history, it is another thing entirely to do, said Gabriel Newman, museum educational co-ordinator. Three times a year, the GVMA will organize an educational event around the Okanagan where participants can learn different historical skills. This season, the field school will begin at the Gentlemens Shoppe and Shave Parlour, 2902-31 Ave., on Nov. 20 at 10 a.m., for a demonstration on shaving with a straight blade. Space is limited, so interested parties are urged to purchase their tickets early at the museum, 3009-32nd Ave. Cost is $10 person with all proceeds going to Movember charities. Spend Time in an Inventors Workshop will be held in March and in late June, a hands-on field demonstration by Fieldstone Grainery will be held on using a scythe - the traditional way of harvesting wheat. Newman plans to make the field school an annual series. For more information call 250-542-3142 or go to the museum's website. Photo: nlc.com Northern Lights College is taking a leap forward with the start of construction on a new $33-million trades training facility at its Dawson Creek campus. A ground-breaking ceremony was held Wednesday at the facility that will replace the Second World War-era structure currently in use by trades students and instructors. Trades programs at the Dawson Creek campus are spread out in a number of separate buildings and sites, with programs in buildings not originally designed for trades training. The Government of Canada is contributing $14.57 million and the Province of British Columbia is providing $15.06 million toward the cost of the project. Northern Lights College and private partners will contribute an additional $3.39 million. The project will see a new 3,995-square-metre facility and the demolition of 4,000 square metres of existing facilities. The construction contract was awarded to Ledcor Group. The new trades centre is expected to be ready for occupancy in early 2018. The project will generate about 133 direct and 102 indirect jobs during development. Nearly one million job openings are expected throughout the province by 2025, due to retirements and economic development, and nearly eight out of 10 of those openings will require post-secondary education and/or skilled trades training Photo: Kate Bouey A dramatic vehicle rollover on the 8500 block Tronson Road Wednesday afternoon is being blamed on a deer. Vernon Fire Rescue was called to the scene at 3:46 p.m. The driver of an SUV with Alberta plates said he swerved to avoid the large animal and ended up rolling his vehicle three times before it came to a rest on its roof near a lakeside property, according to Fire Captain Reinhard Mann. Three male occupants escaped with minor injuries and lacerations and were treated by residents in the area before the arrival of a BC Ambulance crew. "It is extremely lucky for them to have been able to get out of that vehicle without serious injuries," said Mann. All three were said to be wearing seatbelts. The RCMP were called to the scene. Photo: Google Street View A former constituency employee for Victoria member of the legislature Rob Fleming has pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud over $5,000. Three other charges of theft or fraud against 45-year-old Marni Offman were stayed when she appeared in court Wednesday to make her guilty plea. The court heard the offences occurred between 2009 and 2015 and were tied to work at Fleming's constituency office. Special prosecutor Dirk Ryneveld says the judge granted a request that a psychiatric assessment be completed on the woman before sentencing. He says it's important to know why this happened and what may have promoted the crime. Another court date has been set for Jan. 11, when the court will receive the psychiatric report and set a date for sentencing. Photo: Darren Handschuh Two people have been ordered to stand trial in provincial court next year on a charge of kidnapping in connection with an incident in Cherryville last May 25th. Angela Kathleen Fisher, 35, and Abd'l-Malik Loubissi-Morris, 20, have been scheduled to appear for a two-day trial in a Vernon courtroom on March 15 and 16, 2017. Police and Crown counsel have refused to release details of the case. Both Fisher and Loubissi-Morris face charges including; kidnapping without the use of a firearm, using an imitation firearm to commit an indictable offence and assault. Fisher faces a further charge of uttering threats to burn, destroy or damage while Loubissi-Morris faces a charge of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. Photo: The Canadian Press A Minnesota judge ruled Wednesday that a woman and girl who claim to be Prince's niece and grandniece will not be considered heirs to the late music superstar's estate. Carver County Judge Kevin Eide ruled that Brianna Nelson and her niece, Victoria Nelson, are excluded as Prince's heirs as a matter of law. The decision means the pair won't share in an estate that some experts projected could be worth up to $300 million in the wake of Prince's death April 21 of a fentanyl overdose. Brianna and Victoria Nelson claimed descent from the late Duane Nelson Sr., who they say was a half brother to Prince. Court documents indicate Prince's father was not Duane's biological father. The Nelsons argued Minnesota law allowed for a claim because Prince's father, John L. Nelson, long treated Duane Nelson as his son. They cited a 2003 case in which the Minnesota Supreme Court agreed with a claim involving a longstanding father-son relationship in which the older man had pleaded guilty in 1959 to the crime of "illegitimacy" in the younger man's birth, then treated the younger man as a son for many years. Eide rejected that argument. He said that the earlier case implied a genetic relationship. He also said revisions to Minnesota probate law since the 2003 decision now require that parent-child relationships may be established only by genetics, adoption, assisted reproduction or a presumed relationship that was legally established before death. In his ruling, the judge said "there is no case law in Minnesota, or, to the Court's knowledge, anywhere in the United States that establishes a parent-child relationship for intestacy purposes where there is no genetic relationship but the parties to the relationship held themselves out to be parent and child." Andrew Stoltmann, an attorney for the Nelsons, declined to comment. The judge said another man Corey Simmons who claims to be Prince's nephew via his descent from Duane Nelson has until Nov. 25 to provide evidence for his claim. If he doesn't, he'll also be excluded as an heir. Photo: The Canadian Press The prospect of a police raid on an encampment protesting the Dakota Access pipeline faded as night fell Wednesday, with law enforcement making no immediate move after protesters rejected their request to withdraw from private land. Unmarked aircraft that had been monitoring protesters were withdrawn late in the day, and some activists who had been on hand for a possible confrontation headed back to a larger protest camp on federal land. Law enforcement officials said they were ready to remove about 200 protesters who this weekend set up teepees and tents on land owned by the pipeline company. Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney told reporters that authorities don't want a confrontation but that the protesters "are not willing to bend." "We have the resources. We could go down there at any time," he said. "We're trying not to." Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said authorities would continue to try for a peaceful resolution but that "we are here to enforce the law as needed." Protesters vowed to stay put, at one point chanting "Stand in peace against the beast." "We're going to hold this ground," said protester Mekasi Camp Horinek. "I'm here to die if I have to. I don't want to die but I will," said Didi Banerji, who lives in Toronto but is originally from the Spirit Lake Sioux reservation in North Dakota. Activists fear the nearly 1,200-mile pipeline could harm cultural sites and drinking water for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Energy Transfer Partners, which is building the $3.8 billion pipeline, said Tuesday that the protesters were trespassing and that "lawless behaviour will not be tolerated." Photo: The Canadian Press A conservative students group's bake sale parodying affirmative action has drawn a crowd of 300 protesters at the University of Texas in Austin. The Young Conservatives of Texas mounted the anti-affirmative action bake sale on campus about 11 a.m. Wednesday. Items were priced in three tiers, one each for white, black and Hispanic customers. The Daily Texan, the independent campus newspaper, reported that protesters began to gather about an hour later to debate with the sale participants. Protesters chanted, "Racists go home!" The sale drew criticism from Gregory Vincent, the university vice-president for diversity and community engagement. He accused the Young Conservatives of "creating an environment of exclusion and disrespect" among the university students, faculty and staff." Photo: Getty Images An official says the family of a then 7-year-old who was suspended from school from nibbling his breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun has reached a settlement with the school department. A spokesman for Anne Arundel County schools and the boy's family's attorney confirmed the settlement Tuesday to local news media, but neither would release any details. In 2013, school officials said Park Elementary student Josh Welch nibbled the Pop-Tart-like pastry into the shape of a gun and pointed it at another student. The boy was suspended from the Brooklyn Park-based school for two days. The suspension drew widespread media attention as the boy and his father, B.J. Welch, appeared on CNN and Fox News. Welch family attorney Robin Ficker says public schools shouldn't be allowed to suspend a student "unless there's actual bodily injury or a weapon brought onto campus." Photo: Contributed A front page of The New York Times from Sept. 12, 2001, showing the burning World Trade Center and autographed by five U.S. presidents sold for $11,000 on Wednesday at an auction of presidential papers. The page was signed by Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush when they were attending a national day of remembrance and prayer event for Sept. 11 victims at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., days after the attacks. Its headline above a photograph of the burning twin towers says: "U.S. Attacked: Hijacked Jets Destroy Twin Towers and Hit Pentagon in Day of Terror." The front page's presale estimate was $6,000 to $8,000. The auction house will donate all of its commission from the proceeds of the sale of the page to the Sept. 11 charity Tuesday's Children. The auction by Lion Heart Autographs also featured John F. Kennedy's scribbled notes for a 1960 campaign speech and a fragment of George Washington's draft of his first inaugural address. JFK's fragmented notes reference his famous campaign slogan "The New Frontier" with the words "to ask you to join me on the path toward the new frontier." They were used for a speech at a 1960 rally in Los Angeles and sold Wednesday for $3,750. The Washington fragment failed to meet the reserve price and went unsold, auction spokeswoman Caroline Galloway said. The fragment, among a small number surviving from Washington's handwritten draft for his first inaugural speech, contains the words "Let us advance directly forward in the path of our duty. Should the path at first prove intricate and thorny, it will grow plain and smooth as we go." It carried a pre-sale estimate of $130,000 to $150,000. Another highlight was a 1993 letter on White House stationery signed by Clinton thanking New York U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan for his support for the renewal of China's Most Favored Nation status. It states that China "will be held accountable for its human rights record and its trade and weapons proliferation practices." It fetched $700, in line with its presale estimate. Myrt Armstrong passed away on Oct. 24, 2016, at her home in Bismarck. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as she peacefully went into the Lords arms. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 106 Osage Ave., Bismarck, with the Rev. Craig Schweitzer officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service at the church on Friday. Myrtle Irene Olson Armstrong was born in Moorhead, Minn., on Aug. 10, 1931. She attended school in Fargo and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1949. She went on to attend Interstate Business College in Fargo. She married Arnold Douglas Armstrong at First Lutheran Church, and in 1957, they moved to Bismarck. When asked about Myrt, one friend said that, She led from the heart. This has never been more true of anyone than it was for Myrt. She was passionate about many things, but for her, absolutely nothing was more important than her family. She lived a life dedicated to the service of others, and she always put her family first. Myrt was extremely proud of her childrens and grandchildrens accomplishments; she celebrated each persons milestones, achievements and life events with genuine pride and loving enthusiasm. When asked in an interview what she considered her major accomplishments, Myrt replied, Number one my children, number two my grandchildren Only then did she start to list her legislative and political accomplishments. In 1970, Myrt joined the Mental Health Association of North Dakota as a fund raiser, and she went on to become the executive director for 25 years. One of her co-workers referred to her as a force to be reckoned with, as she proceeded to lead the association in passing new state commitment laws and insurance rights for the mentally ill. During the difficult farming years of the 1980s, she helped develop Farm Stress Workshops that drew national attention. In 1989, Gov. George Sinner nominated Myrt for the prestigious National Caring Institute Award, and she received that award in Washington, D.C. She returned to Washington, D.C. in 1990 to receive the Jefferson Award for exemplary public service. During her lifetime, Myrt was also recognized with the United Ways Lifetime of Caring Award, the Ruth Meiers Child Advocacy Award, the Abused Adult Resource Centers Love Without Fear Award and the North Dakota Childrens Caucus Award. Additionally, she was acknowledged for her lifetime commitment to the service of others when the Myrt Armstrong Recovery Center in Fargo was named after her. For over three decades, Myrt presided over what became known as her Kitchen Cabinet, a group of spirited women who sat at her famous oval kitchen table in the evening exchanging ideas and developing strategies to obtain services for abused women, the mentally ill and the underserved. This group moved mountains to help the most vulnerable in our society as they wrote legislation, lobbied to get that legislation passed and raised money to help those in need. All of this took place while Myrt also answered the Crisis Hot Line for emergency calls that she staffed from her home for years. Hers was a world in which the most powerful and the most vulnerable were not only equal, but one in the same. Most recently, Myrt volunteered her time working at Seeds of Hope, where she developed and ran the Christmas Store. Additionally, Myrt helped her daughter, Shelly, with her in-home daycare. She was loved and considered a grandmother by all of the families at Shellys daycare, where she was everyones Grandma Myrt. According to one friend, (Myrt) was a champion whenever you needed one, (and she) could cajole or embrace with equal fervor. Her lifes work was speaking truth to power, and she pursued everything with untempered love, fearless passion, and confident humility. Myrt was strong, vibrant, opinionated and never at a loss for words or ideas. Her energy, wit, wisdom, laughter and love will be missed by all. She is survived by five children, Steven Douglas (Connie Jean), Michael Jeffrey (Connie Ann), Craig David (Monika), Susan Lynn (Mark) Winkelman and Michelle Lee (Theron) Martel; 11 grandchildren, Kelly (Kjersti), Mitchell (Teryl), Jackson (Marisa), Sylvia (Paul), Jeremy (Whitney), Jesse (Jason), Lacey (Zach), Tyler (Amber), Steven (Laura), Ciara (Tyler) and Jacob; 13 great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Josie, Brooks, Anna, Elias, Mara, Roman, Ryder, Eva, Annika, Parker, Landry Myrt and Benjamin; her sister, Beverly Olson Ferguson; her niece, Kevlyn Pastorius; and numerous cousins and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Esther Dewey Olson; and her father, Casper Olson. Memorials in Myrts honor may be sent to Seeds of Hope Thrift Store, 520 E. Main Ave., Bismarck, N.D. 58501. Go to www.parkwayfuneral.com to share memories of Myrt and sign the online guest book. Photo: The Canadian Press The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a Chinese man attempting to set a sailing record after a crew did not find him aboard his boat off the Hawaii islands. In a statement Wednesday night, the Coast Guard said a crew from the USS Makin Island went aboard Guo Chuan's trimaran about 620 miles northwest of Oahu and only found Guo's life jacket. Guo, 50, was attempting to set a sailing record from San Francisco to Shanghai. Guo "was a professional mariner with a deep passion for sailing. Our thanks to our Navy partners who helped us search for this vessel in a timely manner so far from shore in an attempt to locate Mr. (Guo) Chuan. Our deepest condolences go out not only to his family and friends but also to his racing team and the sailing community," said Capt. Robert Hendrickson, who directed the Coast Guard's search. Guo's sailboat, the Qingdao China, is adrift, and its main sail has been taken down, the Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard says it broadcast a warning to mariners to beware of the drifting boat. Guo's racing team plans to cover the sailboat, the Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard located his 97-foot trimaran on Tuesday about 600 miles northwest of Oahu. Photo: The Canadian Press Members of a First Nation on British Columbia's central coast say they're angered and dismayed by a federal minister's response to a fuel spill in the area. Fisheries and Oceans minister Dominic LeBlanc has issued a statement saying crews have finished pumping oil from a sunken tug boat near Bella Bella, B.C., and are now turning their attention to removing the Nathan E. Stewart from the waters. The statement says environmental monitoring and shoreline cleanup are also underway. But Marilyn Slett, chief of the Heiltsuk Nation, says in a release that there is an extensive amount of work to be done, and it's still unclear what environmental impact the fuel spill has had on the area. Slett says the minister needs to come to Bella Bella to see the situation first hand. The tug had more than 200,000 litres of diesel on board when it ran aground and sank on Oct. 13, and representatives say about 110,000 litres of an oil-water mixture have been recovered. UPDATE: 3 p.m. The head of the North Okanagan RCMP detachment has stated that officers are pleased additional charges have been laid against a suspect in connection with a series of arson attacks in Vernon between May to November, 2014. "The arsons were a significant safety concern for our community," said Supt. Jim McNamara. "Were very pleased that additional charges related to our investigation have been laid, as it underscores the gravity of these offences." In 2014, the community experienced a rash of arsons, where targets ranged from dumpsters, vehicles, boats and building structures. Extensive property damage was done. William Munton, 55, was arrested in June and charged with four counts of arson. On Oct. 24, Munton appeared in court where an additional 15 charges were laid, police said. The charges relate to fires that occurred from May to November 2014 including; vacant buildings, boats, a motorhome, vehicles, pallets and a shed. The most visible arson fire occurred on July 9, 2014 when the grandstand at Kin Race Track burned. There was also an apple crate fire at BC Tree Fruits Cooperative on July 21st of that year that was deemed to be arson. The RCMP also pointed out that one charge is connected to a fire at a duplex under construction at 2706 41st Avenue that was occupied at the time. Munton has been released from police custody on conditions, and is next due to appear in court Nov. 3 in Vernon. UPDATE: 10:30 a.m. Fifteen additional charges of arson laid against a Vernon man include the July 9, 2014 fire at Kin Race Track. Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel for the Criminal Justice Branch in Victoria, has confirmed that a grandstand fire is referenced in new information laid against William Munton, 55. Munton had already been facing four arson charges. Munton was scheduled for a first appearance on the new charges in Vernon provincial court Thursday morning but only his lawyer, Julian van der Walle, appeared to ask for a one-week adjournment. At the time of the grandstand fire, Vernon Fire Rescue officials and the RCMP were trying to determine if there was a link between that fire and several arsons in the city over a number of weeks. "Obviously with the rash (of fires) we have had it's the first thing people are going to think about," deputy chief Jack Blair said at the time. All of the alleged incidents are connected to fires in the Vernon area between May and November 2014. More than a dozen new arson charges have been laid against a Vernon man, already facing several similar counts as well as separate child pornography charges. William Murray Phelps Munton, 55, was arrested June 1 and charged with four counts of arson. However, police said at the time their investigation was continuing and more arson charges were possible. A provincial court charge list shows Munton is due in a Vernon courtroom this morning to make a first appearance on 19 charges of arson 18 for arson damaging property and one for arson in relation to an inhabited property. The alleged incidents are recorded on the new list as having taken place in Vernon between May and November 2014. Munton is also facing two charges of making or publishing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Munton is a former school teacher in the Salmon Arm area who was fired "with cause" in 2005, according to a spokesperson with the North Okanagan Shuswap School District. Photo: Randy Millis A crash at the corner of Highway 97 and Gellatly Road in West Kelowna tied up traffic Wednesday night. It appears no one was injured in the incident about 10:30 p.m., but it's unclear if it was a single-vehicle accident or if it was a hit and run. A Dodge Charger sedan received significant damage to the rear driver's side of the vehicle. Police, ambulance paramedics and two tow trucks attended the scene. Send your news, photos and video to [email protected] Photo: CTV Four fired members of the Vancouver School Board are demanding a retraction and an apology from British Columbia's education minister, saying he made defamatory statements about them. Mike Bernier dismissed all nine board members on Oct. 17 after months of bullying allegations cited by six senior managers who went on medical leave at the end of September. The four trustees alleging defamation are with the reigning Vision Vancouver party, while another four are members of the Non-Partisan Association, and one is from the Green party. A statement released Wednesday on behalf of the Vision trustees Mike Lombardi, Patti Bacchus, Joy Alexander and Allan Wong said their lawyer sent Bernier a letter saying the minister seriously defamed his clients' good names and reputations in a series of letters, media releases and leaks to the press. "Your defamation of my clients culminated in your press conference on Oct. 17 when you accused my clients in the last few months of causing the workplace to become toxic for staff and then went on to use that (as) an excuse for dismissing the entire board," lawyer Brian Baynham said in the letter. Bernier did not comment on the accusations of defamation levelled against him. "I have just received their lawyers letter," he said in a written statement, adding he will respond appropriately after the letter has been reviewed. Bernier said last week that he fired the entire board because it had failed to pass a balanced budget, as is required by law. He said the results of an audit he ordered on the board deepened his concerns. The trustees are also seeking an apology from BC School Superintendents Association president Sherry Elwood, alleging she was the source of the bullying and intimidation allegations. Photo: The Canadian Press Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton campaigns in Lake Worth, Fla., Wednesday. Donald Trump pushed his business empire to the centre of his political campaign Wednesday. Taking a break from battleground states, he made the case at his newest hotel that all Americans should look to his corporate record for evidence of how well he'd run the country. "Under budget and ahead of schedule. So important. We don't hear those words so often, but you will," said Trump, linking the hotel redevelopment just blocks from the White House to his promised performance as president. "Today is a metaphor for what we can accomplish for this country." Hillary Clinton agreed, but not the way he meant it. She used campaign events in Florida to attack the GOP nominee for having "stiffed American workers," saying he built his empire with Chinese-manufactured steel, overseas products and labour from immigrants in the country illegally. "Donald Trump is the poster boy for everything wrong with our economy," she told several thousand supporters in Tampa, Florida. "He refuses to pay workers and contractors." Photo: Contributed The Fraser Health Authority is issuing a stern reminder to occasional drug users as weekend Halloween parties approach, urging them to reduce the risk of an accidental overdose. The health authority has released a public service announcement reminding everyone to be safe when choosing to consume alcohol or drugs. Drinkers are asked to make a plan to get home safely, set consumption limits and stick to them and to have one soft beverage for every alcoholic drink consumed. Those expecting to use drugs are cautioned not to mix drugs, to use less if they are not familiar with the substance, to have a naloxone kit handy and to bring a sober buddy who can help if needed. Fraser Health is also targeting occasional illicit drug users with a social media campaign offering details of how to reduce risks when consuming, how to recognize signs of overdose and where to find naloxone kits that can reverse opioid overdoses. The latest report from the BC Coroners Service shows the province recorded 555 deaths from illicit drugs between January and the end of last month, a nearly 61 per cent increase over the 345 deaths recorded during the same period last year. Fraser Health medical health officer Dr. Ingrid Tyler wants users to take responsibility, but says everyone can play a significant role in reducing the carnage. "This Halloween season, Fraser Health is reminding people to take precautions if they choose to consume substances of any kind and to be aware of friends or family who may require support," she says. Highway 1 near Field remains closed Thursday morning following a rockslide that brought down 10,000 cubic metres of debris on Tuesday. Two workers were injured in the rock-blasting incident. DriveBC is reporting the road is expected to reopen later Thursday afternoon. Until then, a detour is available via Highway 95 and Highway 93. Meanwhile, Highway 97 south of Penticton near Airport Road is open again after a police incident closed the route overnight. In the North Okanagan, traffic was reduced to one lane northbound on Highway 97 after a crash involving an SUV towing a travel trailer. If youre headed up Highway 97C, watch for fog patches throughout the day from Brenda Mine to Pennask Summit. A former government official of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation accused of accepting bribes and kickbacks from a construction contractor has pleaded guilty to federal charges in North Dakota. Randall Phelan was an elected representative of the governing body of the Three Affiliated Tribes from the end of 2012 to the middle of 2020. Investigators say Phelan used his official position to help the contractors business by awarding contracts, fabricating bids and managing fraudulent invoices. His trial had been scheduled to begin Tuesday. Phelan and two others were originally charged with receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bribery scheme on the oil-rich Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The contractor has pleaded guilty to bribery. YEDP: Stimulus For Job Creation, Growth And Economic Development The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele has said that the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP) has the potential of becoming the stimulus for job and wealth creation, growth and economic development through improved access to finance by young entrepreneurs. Mr. Godwin Emefiele made the statement while welcoming guests to the commencement of loan disbursements to Nigerian youths under the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP) launched by the Bank on March 15, 2016. He stated that the programme was aimed at providing affordable credit to identified youth entrepreneurs with expected multiplier effect on job creation and economic growth. This, according to him, was also to ensure that the creative energies of the over 64 million Nigerian youths were harnessed to stimulate growth, address restiveness and promote economic development. He noted that globally, access to credit had been recognized as a powerful instrument to enable entrepreneurs build assets, increase income, reduce vulnerability, economic stress and grow sustainable businesses. To realize this objective, the Governor said that the Bank in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Heritage Bank began the pilot seven months ago, to inspire and harvest the entrepreneurial abilities of Nigerian youths towards creating over 1 million direct jobs by 2020. The Governor, represented by the Deputy Governor (Corporate Services), Alhaji Suleiman Barau thanked the Director General (DG) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig Gen. Sule Kazaure for granting waiver of fees for the authentication of Corp members details, Heritage Bank Ltd for the provision of the portal for the pre-qualification and screening of applications, and all other stakeholders that have supported and bought into our vision of youth empowerment to reduce unemployment in Nigeria. In his remarks, the DG NYSC thanked the CBN for its effort in empowering youths in the country, noting that collaboration between the CBN and the NYSC had existed since 2006 through entrepreneurship and skill acquisition development. He noted that the collaboration that led to the YEDP led to increase in the number of beneficiaries, funding business plans of corps members to encourage and motivate youths in the culture of entrepreneurship, facilitate access to other funding agencies and possibility of corps members to access CBN intervention programmes such as the MSME. Highlight of the event was the presentation of symbolic cheques to some of the beneficiaries. In attendance at the event was the Deputy Governor (Financial System Stability), Dr. Joseph Nnanna with representatives of the Managing Director, Heritage Bank; Director General National Directorate for Employment and staff of the CBN. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier has declared the north camp cleared of protesters and Gov. Jack Dalrymple said progress has been made. "We are not leaving the area. We are holding it," Kirchmeier said. "We are continuing to clear Highway 1806," said Kirchmeier, adding that most protesters are returning to the main camp but arrests are ongoing. So far, 16 arrests have been made. At least one piece of construction equipment remains on fire. More arrests are expected. "This situation has been well handled from start to finish," Dalrymple said. "Going forward, hopefully we have persuaded protesters that public roadways and private property is not the place to hold a protest." Kirchmeier said the action taken today is a result of the failure of negotiations on Wednesday. "It forced our hand to make sure the laws are followed," he said. "This has been a slow, deliberate exercise." Construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline resumed today as law enforcement slowly pushed protesters south toward a main overflow camp on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' land that has been populated by hundreds of demonstrators since August. As police have pressed people off the construction site along Highway 1806, entering the north camp on the easement of the Dakota Access Pipeline, sporadic tussling occurred as law enforcement pulled down tents and spray painted a teepee with an "X." Some pepper spray has been used, and one protester threw a stick at officers, then took off running. At least one person has been arrested when he rushed officers. A Taser has been used on at least two protesters. Heated discussions among protesters had been taking place late this afternoon between those who wish to maintain a more peaceful presence versus those who would like to step activity up a notch. Officers warned protesters to clear their belongings from tents, teepees and camp equipment. "If they take it from me, they take it," said Trenton Casillas Bake Berg. "We'll be back." Leraiine Horstmanshoff, of Utah, said she was moving some things to the main camp. "We got some gear out," she said. As armored vehicles and police were heading in, one protester told Bismarck Tribune journalist Caroline Grueskin that he was ready to die for the cause. As construction on the pipeline continued, he said prayer was not working. Another woman was urging others to move onto the active work site: "We might as well get arrested defending the sacred." As sirens were blaring, camp leaders told protesters, who have covered their faces, to pray at the frontline camp. Authorities were using a Long Range Acoustic Device, which sends a high-pitch warning tone to control and disperse the crowd of protesters, according to a post on the Morton County Sheriff Departments Facebook page. Highway 1806 continues to be closed between Fort Rice and Cannon Ball, the sheriff's department said. "Violence will be by them. We are here to protect the sacred, the water. Stand in prayer," protest leader Mekasi Camp-Horinek urged followers during the protest. "We have the moral high ground." Earlier today, one woman was gathering the names of potential arrestees to provide to the camp's legal team. Meanwhile, talk circulated of transit vans on their way to take protesters to jail as surveillance planes circled overhead. Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the states Department of Emergency Services, said medical staffing is in place should any injuries occur at the protest sites. She said law enforcement will likely issue a warning to protesters congregating at a camp along State Highway 1806, where pipeline opponents have set up teepees and staged hay bales, logs and barbed wire to block the road, if necessary. However, Fong said she didnt know the timing of any law enforcement action planned, and officers want protesters to leave the northern camp, which is on private property recently purchased by the pipelines developer, Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners. Protesters will be encouraged to return to the southern camp on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land. By Thursday morning, protesters set up an additional halfway roadblock on Highway 1806 between their main barricade and the frontline camp where theyve promised to hold their ground. At the halfway roadblock, pipeline opponents staged tires, plywood, sheet metal and logs all ready to move onto the highway should law enforcement approach. The additional roadblock provides more time for those at the main camp to leave or join the protesters at the frontline camp. Sam Wounded Knee, from Crow Creek Nation in South Dakota, spent the night at the halfway roadblock. He said a plane flew overhead through the night, and it appeared two people were in the surrounding hills to the west and using flashlights to signal back and forth with the plane. Asked if he expects violence in a confrontation, from the police, yeah, definitely, he said. All were trying to do is protect our people, Wounded Knee said, adding that women and children were asked to leave the frontline camp Wednesday night. About 200 people are at the frontline camp. With the new roadblock established by protesters, Highway 1806 has numerous staging areas, camps and road blocks stretched out over several miles, starting with an equipment staging area set up by law enforcement about a mile south of Fort Rice. Traveling south on 1806, in succession, there is a law enforcement barricade, followed by the protesters main barricade, halfway roadblock, frontline camp and main camp. On Wednesday, negotiations between pipeline opponents and law enforcement officials broke down, setting up a possible clash as hundreds of protesters vowed to hold their ground at a the frontline camp directly in the path of the four-state oil pipeline. A contingent of law enforcement and National Guard officials met with camp representatives on Highway 1806. Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney of Fargo, who is helping Morton County coordinate the law enforcement response, made one last plea for protesters to remove their roadblock on 1806. Were here telling you this is private property and you have to leave, Laney told camp coordinator Mekasi Camp-Horinek on Wednesday. We dont want a confrontation. Please stand your people down and go back to the main camp. Mekasi pointed at the road our no surrender line, he said and then back at the frontline camp standing in the way of the four-state, $3.8 billion oil pipeline their no retreat line. Thats your final word? Laney asked. Thats my final word, Camp-Horinek said, walking away. Good day, gentleman, Laney said, turning toward the staging area about five miles away near Fort Rice, where a mass of law enforcement and military forces has gathered. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said authorities will continue to do everything they can to resolve the situation peacefully, but he said discussions with camp leaders Wednesday reached an impasse. Kirchmeier emphasized that the last thing we want to do is do it forcefully. If we have the chance for open dialog, thats what we want to continue, he said. Pipeline opponents say theyve reclaimed land under the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851, noting the Sioux never ceded that territory. But Kirchmeier said Morton County authorities have to enforce existing laws and treaty issues would need to be resolved by the federal government. He added that currently the protesters are infringing on other residents rights by blocking the highway. Check back for developments to this story. CANNON BALL -- Dozens of Dakota Access Pipeline protesters arrested over the weekend were sent to several jails across North Dakota, with the possibility of another mass arrest looming, an attorney representing arrested protesters said Wednesday. The Morton County Sheriffs Department said 126 protesters, including two juveniles, were arrested Saturday. Another person was arrested Sunday, bringing the total count since Aug. 10 to 269, according to a news release from the Sheriffs Department. Those arrested were sent to at least eight jails in North Dakota: the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center in Devils Lake, the Southwest Multi-County Correction Center in Dickinson, as well as jails in Morton, Burleigh, Cass, Stutsman, McLean and Mercer counties, said Donnell Hushka, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriffs Department. As far as using them in the future, I guess we could say that we will reach out to jails as additional bed space is needed, she said. Angela Bibens, an attorney stationed at the camp who is representing those arrested during the protest, confirmed the transfers to other prisons, stating there is potential for another mass arrest. Protesters have gathered in Morton County to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline, a project that would ship 470,000 barrels of oil per day from the Bakken play in northwest North Dakota to Patoka, Ill., so it could be shipped to market in the Gulf Coast. The 1,172-mile, 30-inch-diameter pipeline crosses the Missouri River just north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. People from across the country, including movie stars and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, joined the protest aimed at stopping the project, calling themselves water protectors. The charges against multiple protesters include trespassing on private property, breaching law enforcement lines and failing to follow orders from officers, but other illegal activity, according to Morton County, include using a drone to attack a helicopter and shooting arrows in the direction of law enforcement. This week, protesters barricaded N.D. Highway 1806. Law enforcement met with protest representatives but negotiations to find a resolution broke down Wednesday, with camp coordinator Mekasi Camp-Horinek saying, This is our last stand. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Cass County Sheriffs Office, Grand Forks Sheriffs Department, Stutsman County Sheriffs Office and Grand Forks Police Department, have sent officers to assist Morton County. Its unclear how much the arrests and housing protesters in custody has cost the state of North Dakota. The Southwest Multi-County Correction Center, which serves multiple counties in southwest North Dakota, has a contract to house prisoners for Morton County if the latter is over capacity, SWMCCC Operations Administrator Doris Songer said. The jail, which has 124 beds, averages about 90 prisoners but had 103 inmates Wednesday, she said. It was the first time SWMCCC housed prisoners arrested during the protest, Songer said. All of the pipeline protesters in the jails custody had been released from her facility on bond. When asked if the jail would be prepared to handle any protesters who could be arrested in the coming days, Songer said the jail would take prisoners if there was room and if they were able to be housed in a dorm-style facility. Usually we only take residents that, for the most part, can be housed in a dorm situation, she said. They would have to be able to get along with other people because we dont have as much individual housing. The likelihood of rancid tortilla chips as the source of illness in this outbreak serves as a reminder to consider alternative sources of illness other than foodborne pathogens during outbreaks of unknown gastrointestinal illness. When rancidity is suspected as the source of illness, specific food testing methods are needed that might not be readily available at state public health laboratories. On October 12, 2015, a county health department notified the Wyoming Department of Health of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness among residents and staff members at a local correctional facility. The majority of ill persons reported onset of symptoms within 13 hours after eating lunch served at the facility cafeteria at noon on October 11. Residents and staff members reported that tortilla chips served at the lunch tasted and smelled like chemicals. The Wyoming Department of Health and county health department personnel conducted case-control studies to identify the outbreak source. Consuming lunch at the facility on October 11 was highly associated with illness; multivariate logistic regression analysis found that tortilla chips were the only food item associated with illness. Hexanal and peroxide, markers for rancidity, were detected in tortilla chips and composite food samples from the lunch. No infectious agent was detected in human stool specimens or food samples. Extensive testing of lunch items did not identify any unusual chemical. Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence implicated rancid tortilla chips as the most likely source of illness. This outbreak serves as a reminder to consider alternative food testing methods during outbreaks of unusual gastrointestinal illness when typical foodborne pathogens are not identified. For interpretation of alternative food testing results, samples of each type of food not suspected to be contaminated are needed to serve as controls. Wyoming Department of Health investigators were notified that a total of 16 residents and staff members at a local mixed-sex correctional facility were evaluated at the facilitys medical office on October 11, 2015, after reporting stomach cramping, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and burping. Active case finding was conducted during October 1228, using a standardized questionnaire administered by telephone or in-person, or self-completed. Because facility residents were continually being admitted and released, investigators could not assess exposures in the entire population at the time of the outbreak; therefore, an initial case-control study was used to identify specific meals and food items associated with illness. A case was defined as the onset of nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, gas, or bloating in any facility resident or staff member during October 912. Controls were defined as residents or staff members who consumed food from the facility cafeteria during October 811 and did not report any of these symptoms. To substantiate the link between consumption of one food item and illness, investigators performed a nested case-control study focusing on persons who became ill with more severe symptoms on or after October 11. A case of severe illness was defined as the occurrence of vomiting or diarrhea in any facility resident or staff member during October 1112. Controls were defined as residents or staff members who consumed meals from the facility cafeteria during October 1011 and did not experience any illness. The age and resident status of case-patients and controls were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and Fishers exact test, respectively. Meals served at the correctional facility during October 811 were included in univariate analyses. Meals significantly associated with illness in univariate analyses were included in multivariate logistic regression models. Stool specimens were collected from four case-patients and tested by the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory for enteric pathogens. Because samples of food items served at every meal were frozen and stored by the correctional facility for an extended period of time, investigators were able to obtain frozen samples of all food items served at the October 11 lunch meal for testing. The Wyoming National Guards 84th Civil Support Team examined frozen food samples using gas chromatographymass spectrometry to assess for possible chemical contamination or unusual added substances. A private food testing laboratory tested a frozen mixture of beef and beans, nacho cheese sauce, tortilla chips, and Spanish rice (composite sample) for bacterial toxins and peroxide levels. At the time of investigation, there were an estimated 254 residents and 75 staff members at the facility. The questionnaire response rate among residents was 62% (157 of 254) and among staff members was 84% (63 of 75). Overall, 220 (67%) of the 329 facility residents and staff members completed the questionnaire; 109 (33%) were unavailable or did not participate. During in-person interviews, residents reported that tortilla chips served at lunch on October 11 tasted and smelled like chemicals. Although the tortilla chips reportedly smelled and tasted foul, many persons consumed them. Among 220 persons interviewed, 133 (60%) met eligibility for the initial case-control study with 79 case-patients and 64 controls identified. The median age of the case-patients (30 years; range = 2077 years) was slightly less than that of the controls (36 years; range = 1963 years) (p = 0.02). The percentage of residents among case-patients (76 of 79, 96%) was similar to the percentage among controls (59 of 64, 92%) (p = 0.47). Among case-patients, the predominant symptoms reported were nausea (65 of 79, 82%), gas/bloating (61 of 79, 77%), stomach cramps (59 of 79, 75%), and diarrhea (57 of 79, 72%); a smaller number reported vomiting (17 of 79, 21%). Most case-patients experienced short-lived illness and recovered fully with a median illness duration of 24.5 hours (range = 2 hours14 days). More than half of the case-patients with known illness onset times (48 of 78, 62%) became ill within 13 hours after eating lunch on October 11, indicating that the outbreak likely was caused by a point source exposure (Figure). Lunch on October 11 was the only meal significantly associated with illness in multivariate analysis (adjusted odds ratio = 22.8) (Table 1). Food items served included nacho cheese sauce, tortilla chips, beef and beans, Spanish rice, salad, ranch dressing, a cookie, and multiple drink options. Certain food items served at the meal were often consumed together (e.g., tortilla chips and nacho cheese sauce) and associated with illness in univariate analysis; these items were included in multivariate modeling. Tortilla chips were the only food item associated with illness in multivariate analysis (adjusted odds ratio = 9.7) (Table 2). A total of 55 case-patients and 57 controls were identified for the nested case-control study. The median age among case-patients (30.5 years; range = 2077 years) was similar to that of controls (median = 35.5 years; range = 1963 years) (p = 0.07). No difference in the percentage of residents among case-patients (52 of 55; 95%) and controls (56 of 57; 98%) was observed (p = 0.36). Multivariate modeling identified the lunch on October 11 (adjusted odds ratio = 10.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.290.1) and tortilla chips (adjusted odds ratio = 7.9; CI = 1.445.3) as exposures associated with illness. No enteric pathogens were identified in stool specimens tested by the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory, and no bacterial toxins were detected in a composite sample of food items served at the October 11 lunch meal. Because no infectious source was identified and epidemiologic association of tortilla chips with illness existed, investigators tested the tortilla chips for chemicals to identify potential contamination. On October 30, testing of frozen samples of tortilla chips, nacho cheese sauce, and a composite food mixture (beef, beans, nacho cheese sauce, tortilla chips, and Spanish rice) by the Wyoming National Guards 84th Civil Support Team for possible chemical contamination did not yield any unusual chemicals; however, hexanal, which is used as a measure of rancidity (1,2), was detected in the tortilla chip sample. On December 10, 2015, the private food testing laboratory measured the peroxide value, another marker for rancidity, in the composite sample of frozen lunch items. The peroxide value of the composite food sample was 377 meq/kg. Laboratory staff members reported that the peroxide value of the composite food sample was markedly high, but they could not provide any reference ranges because of a lack of food not suspected to be contaminated but produced at approximately the same time to serve as control samples. The tortilla chips were purchased from a food distribution center, and the production and expiration dates were unknown. All remaining bags of tortilla chips were discarded before investigators could obtain them for testing. The State Board of Higher Education voted to approve a new tuition plan intended to make state public campuses more attractive to out-of-state students with the aim of alleviating a chronic shortage for skilled workers. The changes, approved Thursday are slated to be implemented in fall 2019, but can be altered or delayed if problems arise as more information becomes available. The new tuition rate structure would decrease the state university systems annual tuition revenues by about $13 million from their 2014-15 levels, a projection that doesnt take into account anticipated enrollment increases. North Dakota State University could see revenues drop by almost $3.3 million per year, and is one of two campuses that could require a 3 percent tuition increase to keep the changes revenue neutral. The other campus that could require a 3 percent tuition increase is the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton. The University of North Dakota could see tuition revenues plunge by $10 million, according to the analysis. Six of the states 11 public campuses have indicated they will seek exceptions to the new policy because of adverse revenue effects. The long lead time before the new tuition plan is implemented in fall 2019 is intended to determine whether the new, per-credit tuition rates can be revenue neutral to campuses without imposing an undue burden on rates charged to North Dakota students. But questions about the ramifications of the tuition changes drew concerns from some board members. Nick Hacker, a board member from Bismarck, argued for delaying the new tuition rates until more information is in hand. I think more study needs to be done, he said. Instead of passing the new plan, and adjusting it later, if necessary, Hacker asked: Why dont we study it and get it right, or almost right, the first time? But other members said it was important to move ahead with the tuition changes, given the severity of the states ongoing workforce shortage. Kevin Melicher, a board member from Fargo, called the workforce challenge a huge issue, and gave as an example the statewide shortage of nurses. Melicher said he favors reducing out-of-state tuition to help draw students from other states. Surveys have shown up to 40 percent of out-of-state students remain in state after graduation. Don Morton, a board member from Fargo and the site manager of the Microsoft campus in Fargo, said revenues can be increased from enrollment growth. He also said there is a great need for skilled workers, including those from outside the state. I think it would end up being revenue neutral, with increased enrollment, Morton said. The state competes in a global economy, he said. We cant put a fence around North Dakota. By bringing these out-of-state students in, its a huge win for North Dakota. Except for Minnesota, which has a reciprocity agreement with North Dakota, out-of-state students would pay $1.20 for every $1 that North Dakota residents pay for tuition, a decrease from $1.25. Minnesota students pay $1.12. International students, except for those from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, will pay $1.75 in tuition for every $1 paid by North Dakota residents. Students from the two neighboring Canadian provinces would pay the out-of-state tuition rate. Mark Hagerott, chancellor of the North Dakota University System, said the intent of the new plan is to allow flexibility to the individual campuses to respond to their unique circumstances. Campuses will be allowed to propose tuition rates, but the state board will have to approve tuition levels. The earliest tuition levels could change would be next spring, when tuition will be set for 2017-18, although it is more likely the changes would come in spring 2018. By then, the board will know how much state funding will be provided for higher education by the state Legislature, which will grapple with declining state revenues. Theres a lot of factors at play, said Tammy Dolan, the university systems chief of finance. PEMBINA -- Opening a day care center in Pembina took a lot of effort, but 20 months of work has paid off, city leaders said. The city-owned day care facility Rugrats opened in early October with the hire of day care director Wynn Brabazon of Grand Forks. As of Wednesday, the facility had four children under its care, but it should begin to fill up as parents look for places to send their children and employees are approved by North Dakota agencies, Brabazon said. Its a great idea, she said, adding the facility could hold up to 26 children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. There are companies here in town that are working on hiring parents that are out of town or that live in town and offering them an incentive of day care, that they help pay for day care. Rugrats is the brainchild of the Pembina Growth Committee, a city group designed to spur the development and growth of the city that sits on the Red River just miles south of the Canadian border. With a population of roughly 560 residents and an aging workforce, city leaders hope to attract families to the area, said Corie Koropatnicki, a City Council member who is the chair of the Growth Committee. We want to bring in young couples with kids, she said. Our whole goal is to build the schools, build the jobs -- lets maximize our community to the best we can. The committee, which was adopted several years ago, was revitalized after Koropatnicki was elected to the City Council two years ago. Committee members gathered information from the community to decide what factors and improvements would help the city grow. The No. 1 priority for the city about 75 miles north of Grand Forks was day care, she said. There are in-home day care providers, but there were no other child care centers in Pembina, forcing some parents to find services in other cities. Its a problem several towns in rural areas have faced, but Pembina took the initiative to bring day care to its community, hoping it could help spur economic activity and growth in the city. We started down the path of what does it take, what do we need, she said. Its been a long haul. The committee received help from the Red River Regional Council in applying for a North Dakota Chamber of Commerce grant that, when awarded, covered 75 percent of the project. For every dollar spent, they would reimburse us 75 cents, she said. Through fundraising, donations and funding from the Pembina County Job Development Authority and city funds, the committee was able to turn a house into a day care facility. The projects estimated cost was $123,000, but that was not all spent, Koropatnicki said. More than $112,000 has been spent on the project, and any extra money is expected to be used for future additions for the facility. Brabazon and her husband, John Bommelman, run the day care, and they are eager for more children to come. The facility could play host to nine full-time employees and a couple of part-time care providers. The facility -- disguised as a house features a large, fenced backyard with a playground, beds for children and infants, a colorful indoor play area, locker area to store childrens belongings and more. Surveys pointed to a need for about two dozen spots for day care in Pembina, Koropatnicki said. I would love to outgrow that day care, she said. If we outgrow that facility, then that means we did something right, very right. Brabazon said she believes the facility could fill up quickly, adding more children will need care once they are out of school for the summer. Parents are definitely going to be looking for day care, and I dont know if we will have enough space for all of the kids to come here, she said. I think at some point, the town will need another day care. The next step to grow the community is expanding housing development in Pembina, Koropatnicki said. For more information, contact Brabazon at (701) 330-7951 or email her at wbrabazon@outlook.com. Catholic Family News A Monthly Journal Preserving our Catholic Faith and Heritage Home Latest Archives Subscribe CFN Media - videos Contact Us CFN Bookstore Oltyn Library Services 2017 CFN Daily Blog Originally started as a daily Blog update of news reports on the Papal Conclave and ongoing news on Pope Francis, it is now a general Blog updated daily on traditional Catholic topics Updated Regularly Book mark this page click here Luxury hotels in the historic center for a Catholic family. Only luxury hotels can provide a paradisiacal vacation for a big Catholic family. A high-level vacation for families, children and not only. The gorgeous views, divine service, and the best location are all luxury hotels. Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, and more. Everyone will find their place in this corner of paradise. Popular destinations Breckenridge, CO, United States In Breckenridge, Colorado, there are plenty of places to visit, whether you're a nature lover or thrill seeker. For nature lovers, the Blue River runs right through town and there are plenty of trails to explore. If you're looking for a thrill, Breckenridge is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country. There's also plenty of shopping and dining options in town, so you'll never run out of things to do. Breckenridge Luxury Hotels Savannah, GA, United States Savannah, Georgia is a beautiful city with lots of places to visit, including Forsyth Park, River Street, and the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Another place to visit is the Savannah History Museum, which is jam-packed with interesting exhibits on the history of the city. Savannah Luxury Hotels Naples, FL, United States Naples is known for its stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Its also home to a wide variety of attractions, including world-class golf courses, vibrant nightlife, and interesting cultural experiences. Here are five places to visit in Naples, Florida: Naples Pier: Stroll along the pier and enjoy panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico. Fifth Avenue South: This popular shopping and dining district is home to eclectic boutiques, award-winning restaurants, and lively bars. The Ritz-Carlton, Naples: This luxurious resort is set on 26 acres of pristine waterfront property and offers superb amenities, including a world-class spa and championship golf course. The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens: This zoological park is home to more than 700 animals representing 150 species, including flamingos, lemurs, and tigers. Tin City: This eclectic shopping and dining district is housed in a series of restored waterfront warehouses and features eclectic shops, galleries, and award-winning restaurants. Naples Luxury Hotels Naples Luxury Resorts Louisville, KY, United States Louisville is in the heart of Kentucky and is known for being the home of the Kentucky Derby. There are a lot of great places to visit in Louisville, including the Louisville Zoo, the Muhammad Ali Center, and the Frazier History Museum. There are also a lot of great restaurants and bars in Louisville, and it's a great place to visit for a weekend getaway. Louisville Luxury Hotels Galveston, TX, United States Galveston is a Texas coastal town that is rich in history and offers visitors a variety of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include the Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and Historic Downtown. There are also a number of museums and other historical landmarks, as well as plenty of shopping and dining options. Galveston Luxury Hotels Galveston Luxury Resorts Omaha, NE, United States The birthplace of Warren Buffett, Omaha, Nebraska, is a great place to visit. There are plenty of things to see and do in Omaha, from touring the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium to visiting the Durham Western Heritage Museum. Other popular tourist destinations in Omaha include the Joslyn Art Museum, the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, and TD Ameritrade Park. Omaha Luxury Hotels Columbus, GA, United States Columbus is a charming small town in Georgia that is worth a visit. There are several places to visit in Columbus, including the Riverwalk, the Chattahoochee River, the National Infantry Museum, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The Riverwalk is a beautiful walkway along the Chattahoochee River that is perfect for a relaxing stroll or a bike ride. The Chattahoochee River is a great place to go fishing, swimming, or kayaking. The National Infantry Museum is a museum dedicated to the infantry of the United States Army. It is a must-see for history buffs. The Coca-Cola Space Science Center is a museum dedicated to space science. It is perfect for kids and adults alike. Columbus Luxury Hotels Anchorage, AK, United States Anchorage is a great place to visit if you're looking for an adrenaline rush. From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to rafting and fishing in the summer, Anchorage has something to offer everyone. In addition to its outdoor activities, Anchorage also has a variety of cultural and historical attractions, including the Anchorage Museum and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Anchorage Luxury Hotels Portland, OR, United States Portland is a city that is located in the US state of Oregon and it is known for its art scene, food, and coffee. There are a lot of interesting places to visit in Portland, such as the Portland Art Museum, where you can see a variety of art from all over the world. Another place to visit is the Powell's City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world. If you're looking for a place to eat, Portland has no shortage of amazing restaurants, such as Pok Pok, which serves Thai cuisine, and Le Pigeon, which serves French cuisine. And, of course, no trip to Portland would be complete without trying some of the city's famous coffee, such as Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Portland Luxury Hotels Florence, Italy No trip to Italy is complete without a visit to Florence. This historic city is home to some of the country's most famous attractions, including the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Michelangelo's David. There's also plenty to see and do outside of the city center, including the picturesque Tuscan countryside and the vibrant university town of Arezzo. Florence Luxury Hotels Florence Luxury Villas Asheville, NC, United States Asheville is a city in western North Carolina. It is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Buncombe County. Asheville is home to the Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the United States. The city of Asheville proper had a population of 84,236 in 2010. The city is known for its art deco architecture, mountain scenery and outdoor activities, and as the birthplace of American novelist Thomas Wolfe. It is also home to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, the second largest craft brewery in the United States. Asheville Luxury Hotels Asheville Luxury Cottages Long Beach, CA, United States There's plenty to do in Long Beach, California without ever having to leave the city limits. If you're looking for a little adventure, head to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a glimpse of the ocean's creatures or take a walk on the boardwalk at Rainbow Harbor. If you're more of a history buff, the Queen Mary is a must-see. This retired ocean liner is now a hotel and museum with plenty of stories to tell. And no trip to Long Beach is complete without a visit to the iconic Vincent Thomas Bridge. Long Beach Luxury Hotels Long Beach Luxury Villas Cincinnati, OH, United States Cincinnati is a city located on the Ohio River in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Ohio. The city was founded in 1788 and named after the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of Revolutionary War officers. Cincinnati is a major U.S. city and the metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million people. The city is well-known for its German heritage, Oktoberfest celebration, and its variety of chili dishes. Cincinnati is home to three major sports teams: the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, MLB's Cincinnati Reds, and the NBA's Cincinnati Cavaliers. The city is also home to the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. The city's historic neighborhoods include Over-the-Rhine, Mount Auburn, and Hyde Park. Cincinnati is a popular tourist destination and offers a variety of attractions and places to visit, including the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Newport Aquarium, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Cincinnati Luxury Hotels Laughlin, NV, United States Laughlin, Nevada is a great place to visit if you're looking for a fun and affordable vacation. There are plenty of casinos and resorts to choose from, as well as plenty of outdoor activities and attractions. Be sure to check out the local nightlife, and don't forget to take a trip down the mighty Colorado River. Laughlin Luxury Hotels Laughlin Luxury Resorts Anaheim, CA, United States Anaheim, California is home to both Disneyland and California Adventure Park. The parks are just a short walk away from each other, and make for a great day of exploration. Anaheim is also home to the Anaheim Angels and the Anaheim Ducks, so there's always a game to catch. If you're looking for something a little more low-key, Anaheim has a great shopping district and a variety of restaurants to choose from. Anaheim Luxury Hotels Santa Cruz, CA, United States Santa Cruz is a great place to visit! There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of my favorite places to visit are the Boardwalk, the wharf, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Boardwalk is a great place to go for a walk, ride on the amusement park rides, and eat some of the delicious food. The wharf is a great place to go for a walk, eat some seafood, and listen to the street performers. The University of California, Santa Cruz is a great place to visit to learn about the history of the area and to see some of the beautiful architecture. I highly recommend visiting Santa Cruz if you are looking for a fun and interesting place to visit!. Santa Cruz Luxury Hotels Eugene, OR, United States Eugene, Oregon is a great city to visit with a lot of places to see and things to do. One of the most popular attractions is the University of Oregon campus, which is home to a number of museums and a large football stadium. The city also has a vibrant arts scene, with a number of theaters and art galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the dozens of parks and hiking trails in the area, and there are also a number of wineries and breweries in the area. Eugene Luxury Hotels Branson, MO, United States There's plenty to see and do in Branson, Missouri, from state parks and amusement parks to theaters and shopping. Here are some of the most popular places to visit: Silver Dollar City is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." Table Rock State Park has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. The Titanic Museum features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. Branson Landing is a shopping and entertainment complex on the waterfront. There's something for everyone in Branson, Missouri come visit and see for yourself!. Branson Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach, FL, United States The white sand beaches and emerald waters of Panama City Beach, Florida, are a popular tourist destination. The city is home to numerous hotels, resorts, and restaurants, as well as amusement and water parks. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, kayaking, and surfing. Panama City Beach Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach Luxury Resorts Monterey, CA, United States Monterey is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, United States. It stands at the southern end of Monterey Bay, on the Pacific coast. The city is also the home of the Naval Postgraduate School. Monterey is the largest city in the Central Coast region of California. The main attractions in Monterey are the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and the downtown area. Monterey Luxury Hotels Norfolk, VA, United States Norfolk, Virginia is a great place to visit for its historical places and military bases. Some places to visit in Norfolk are the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and the Norfolk Naval Station. Norfolk Luxury Hotels Palm Springs, CA, United States Palm Springs is a vibrant city located in the Coachella Valley and is known for its year-round sunshine, resort atmosphere and Mid-Century Modern architecture. Top places to visit include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs Art Museum, Indian Canyons and Moorten Botanical Garden. For a truly unique experience, be sure to check out the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale the worlds largest vintage furniture and design event. Palm Springs Luxury Hotels Palm Springs Luxury Resorts Palm Springs Luxury Villas Rochester, NY, United States Rochester is a city in western New York State and is the county seat of Monroe County. Rochester is known for its annual festivals, including the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Rochester Fringe Festival, and the Holiday Folk Fair International. Places to visit in Rochester include the George Eastman Museum, the Strong National Museum of Play, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, and the Seneca Park Zoo. Rochester Luxury Hotels Pigeon Forge, TN, United States Visit the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge for a unique experience. This museum is dedicated to the Titanic, one of the most infamous ships in history. Tour the ship and learn about the passengers and crew who were on board. You can even see the actual artifacts recovered from the shipwreck. If you're looking for a little more excitement, head to Dollywood. This amusement park is home to roller coasters, a water park, and plenty of other rides and attractions. Plus, the park is themed around the life and music of Dolly Parton. No trip to Pigeon Forge is complete without a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. These mountains offer a variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Plus, the natural beauty of the area is simply breathtaking. Pigeon Forge Luxury Hotels Jacksonville, FL, United States Jacksonville is less than an hour's drive from the beaches of Amelia Island and St. Augustine, and a little more than two hours from Orlando. The city has a lot to offer visitors, including a riverwalk, museums, and a vibrant arts scene. Jacksonville is also home to the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team. Jacksonville Luxury Hotels Minsk, Belarus Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is a city that has something for everyone. If you're looking for a little history, Minsk has plenty of it, with churches and monuments dating back to the 12th century. If you're looking for a lively nightlife, Minsk has that, too, with plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants. And if you're looking for a little nature, Minsk has parks and gardens to enjoy. Here are just a few of the places you can visit in Minsk: The Holy Spirit Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Minsk, is a must-visit for history buffs. The National Library of Belarus is a huge library with more than 18 million items in its collection. The Opera and Ballet Theatre is a beautiful building that hosts performances of both opera and ballet. The Victory Park is a large park with a war memorial, a children's playground, and a lake. And for a little bit of nature in the heart of the city, the Botanical Garden is a great place to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Minsk. Minsk Luxury Hotels Jaipur, India Jaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is known for its palaces, forts and temples. Some of the places to visit in Jaipur include the Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar Observatory and the Hawa Mahal. Jaipur is also a great place to shop for traditional Indian handicrafts. Jaipur Luxury Hotels Chicago, IL, United States Chicago is a city full of culture and history. There are plenty of places to visit, such as the Willis Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicago is also home to many restaurants and bars, so there is something for everyone. Chicago Luxury Hotels Auckland, New Zealand Auckland is a beautiful city located on the north island of New Zealand. There are many places to visit in Auckland, including the Sky Tower, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the Auckland Domain. The beaches in Auckland are also worth visiting, especially Karekare and Piha. Auckland is a great place to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Auckland Luxury Hotels Auckland Luxury Villas Amsterdam, Netherlands If you're looking for a city that's got it all, Amsterdam should be your go-to destination. From the city's lively and vibrant nightlife to its charming and quiet neighborhoods, Amsterdam has something for everyone. Be sure to check out the Anne Frank Huis, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum, as these are some of the most popular attractions in the city. And if you're looking for a little bit of nature, be sure to take a walk or bike ride through Amsterdam's many parks. Amsterdam Luxury Hotels Berlin, Germany There are so many great places to visit in Berlin that it can be hard to know where to start. From the iconic Brandenburg Gate to the fascinating Reichstag Building, there's something for everyone in this vibrant city. If you're looking for a bit of history, make sure to check out the Berlin Wall Memorial or the DDR Museum. And for those looking for a bit more fun, there's always the Alexanderplatz Christmas Market or the Zoologischer Garten. No matter what your interests, Berlin is a city you won't want to miss. Berlin Luxury Hotels Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok is a city of contrasts with its gleaming temples and skyscrapers, chaotic markets and tranquil canals. While it's a popular tourist destination, Bangkok is a city that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Some of the top places to visit in Bangkok include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, the floating markets and the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Bangkok Luxury Hotels Bangkok Luxury Resorts Bangkok Luxury Villas Bruges, Belgium Bruges is a city in Belgium that is worth visiting. It is full of medieval charm and there are a lot of things to see and do. Some of the places to visit include the Markt, the Belfry, and the Begijnhof. Bruges Luxury Hotels Brussels, Belgium Brussels is a city in Belgium that is best known for its chocolate, waffles, and beer. But there is much more to see and do in Brussels than just indulge in the local cuisine. There are a number of interesting historical landmarks to visit, such as the Grand Place and the Atomium, as well as a variety of parks and gardens. And, of course, Brussels is also a great city to explore on foot. Brussels Luxury Hotels Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Hungary's capital, is a city of thermal baths and medival, baroque and art nouveau architecture. Crowded with tourists, the city is bisected by the Danube River into the hilly Buda and the more developed and flat Pest. Among the main places of interest are the neo-Gothic Parliament, the Chain Bridge linking Buda and Pest, the Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion on the Buda bank, and the State Opera House and Heroes' Square on the Pest side. Budapest Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen, Mexico Home to some of the best beaches in Mexico, Playa del Carmen is a favorite tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. With its lively nightlife, gorgeous coastline and ample shopping opportunities, there's something for everyone in this tropical paradise. Don't miss the opportunity to visit some of the area's most popular attractions, such as the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba, or the eco-friendly Turtle Beach. With its friendly people, delicious food and stunning scenery, Playa del Carmen is a place you'll never want to leave. Playa del Carmen Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen Luxury Resorts Playa del Carmen Luxury Villas Denver, CO, United States Denver is a great city for visitors. There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of the top places to visit include the 16th Street Mall, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and the Colorado State Capitol. There are also plenty of great restaurants and shops to explore. Denver is definitely a city worth visiting!. Denver Luxury Hotels Dublin, Ireland Dublin is a city located in Ireland. It's a city full of culture, with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist spots are the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, and the Dublin Castle. There are also plenty of pubs and restaurants to discover. Dublin Luxury Hotels Dusseldorf, Germany Dusseldorf, Germany is a city with many different places to visit. The city has a mix of old and new buildings, and a variety of activities to do. The best places to visit in Dusseldorf are the Konigsallee, the Rhine Tower, and the Oktoberfest. The Konigsallee is an open-air shopping mall that has many high-end stores. The Rhine Tower is the tallest building in the city and offers great views of Dusseldorf. The Oktoberfest is a week-long festival that celebrates German culture and food. Dusseldorf Luxury Hotels Edinburgh, United Kingdom Edinburgh, Scotland is a beautiful city to visit. The architecture is very old and unique, and there are plenty of historical places to visit, like Edinburgh Castle. There are also plenty of parks and gardens, and lots of shops and restaurants. Edinburgh Luxury Hotels Rome, Italy Rome is a city rich in history and filled with beautiful places to visit. Make sure to stop by the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Also be sure to visit St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel while in Rome. If youre looking for a little more nature in your trip, head to the Villa Borghese gardens or the Janiculum Hill for some wonderful views of the city. And of course, no trip to Rome is complete without a gelato!. Rome Luxury Hotels Rome Luxury Villas New York, NY, United States There are many amazing places to visit in New York State. Some of my favorites are the Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Finger Lakes. If you're looking for a city break, New York City is definitely worth a visit. There's endless things to see and do, from touring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to visiting world-famous museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. No matter what your interests are, you'll be able to find something to enjoy in New York State. New York Luxury Hotels New York Luxury Villas London, United Kingdom London is a city rich in history and full of amazing places to visit. Some of my favorite places are Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. There is so much to see and do in London, you could spend weeks here and never run out of things to do. If you're looking for a city full of culture and history, London is the place for you. London Luxury Hotels London Luxury Cottages Madrid, Spain Madrid is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in the world. From the Royal Palace to the Prado Museum, theres plenty to see and do in Madrid. If youre looking for a little bit of nature, Madrid has plenty of parks, like the Buen Retiro Park, to relax in. And dont forget to try some of the delicious tapas and wine while youre in town. Madrid Luxury Hotels Memphis, TN, United States The birthplace of rock 'n' roll, Memphis is a city rich in history and culture. From Graceland to Beale Street, there are plenty of places to visit in Memphis. Be sure to check out Sun Studio, where rock 'n' roll was born, and the National Civil Rights Museum, which tells the story of the African-American civil rights movement. Memphis is also home to some amazing food, so be sure to try some of the city's famous barbecue and soul food. Memphis Luxury Hotels Miami Beach, FL, United States There is much to explore in Miami Beach, from the famous Art Deco district to the vast beaches and crystal-clear waters. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, while history buffs can explore the ancient burial mounds at Miami Beach. Shoppers and foodies will find plenty to keep them busy, with vibrant neighborhoods like Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive offering unique boutiques and award-winning restaurants. And of course, no trip to Miami Beach is complete without a visit to world-famous South Beach. Miami Beach Luxury Hotels Miami Beach Luxury Resorts New Orleans, LA, United States You can't visit New Orleans without trying some of the local food. Beignets, Po' Boys, and gumbo are just a few of the must-try dishes. While you're in town, be sure to check out the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral. If you're looking for some nightlife, Bourbon Street is the place to be. And, of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to Mardi Gras!. New Orleans Luxury Hotels Milan, Italy Milan is a city located in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is a popular tourist destination because of its historical and artistic heritage. Some of the places you should visit while in Milan are the Duomo, La Scala, and Castello Sforzesco. Milan Luxury Hotels Naples, Italy Naples is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Italy. There are countless places to visit, such as the Royal Palace, the Museum of San Martino, and the Church of Gesu Nuovo. Naples is also home to excellent shopping and dining options. Be sure to enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the city's many cafes and take a stroll through the picturesque streets. Naples Luxury Hotels Paris, France Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It's home to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, as well as a thriving nightlife and restaurant scene. If you're looking to explore all that Paris has to offer, here are some of the top places to visit: The Eiffel Tower: This iconic landmark is a must-see in Paris. Climb to the top for stunning views of the city, or take a ride on the elevator to the bottom for a closer look at the structure. The Louvre Museum: This world-famous museum is home to some of the most famous works of art in the world, including the Mona Lisa. The Notre Dame Cathedral: This beautiful cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Paris. Make sure to climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. The Champs-Elysees: This famous avenue is a popular destination for shopping and dining. Be sure to wander down the street and take in all the sights and sounds. The Arc de Triomphe: This towering arch is another iconic landmark in Paris. Climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. Paris Luxury Hotels Paris Luxury Villas Prague, Czech Republic Prague is a city rich in history and culture. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy, and the nightlife is vibrant. Prague is a truly unique city and a must-visit for anyone traveling to the Czech Republic. Prague Luxury Hotels Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is known for its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. This paradise is a favorite destination for travelers looking for a Caribbean getaway. Punta Cana is home to a wide variety of resorts and activities, from enjoying the sand and surf to golfing, spas, and shopping. Nature lovers can also explore the areas jungles, caves, and waterfalls. Punta Cana Luxury Hotels Punta Cana Luxury Resorts Punta Cana Luxury Villas Marbella, Spain If you're looking for an idyllic and luxurious Spanish escape, look no further than Marbella. Located on the country's Costa del Sol, Marbella is home to stunning beaches, top-notch resorts, world-class golfing, and much more. A visit to Marbella is the perfect way to experience all that Spain has to offer. Marbella Luxury Hotels Marbella Luxury Villas Marrakesh, Morocco Marrakesh is a city in Morocco that is full of culture and history. There are several places to visit in Marrakesh, including the Palace of the Bahia, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Saadian Tombs. The souks (markets) are also a must-see, where you can find everything from souvenirs to spices to traditional clothing. Be sure to enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants or cafes in Marrakesh; the food is delicious and the atmosphere is always lively. Marrakesh is a wonderful city to explore and definitely worth a visit!. Marrakesh Luxury Hotels San Francisco, CA, United States San Francisco is a popular tourist destination, and for good reason. There are plenty of things to see and do in this vibrant city. Here are some of the top places to visit: 1. Fisherman's Wharf: This neighborhood is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a popular pier where you can enjoy views of the bay. 2. The Golden Gate Bridge: This iconic bridge is a must-see for any visitor to San Francisco. 3. Alcatraz Island: This former federal prison is now a popular tourist attraction. It's a must-see for fans of history and crime dramas. 4. Chinatown: This colorful neighborhood is home to some of the best food in San Francisco. Be sure to check out the Dragon Gate entrance. 5. The Mission District: This trendy neighborhood is home to hip restaurants, bars, and art galleries. San Francisco Luxury Hotels Moscow, Russia Moscow, Russia is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some of the most popular tourist attractions are the Kremlin, Red Square, and Saint Basil's Cathedral. Other great places to see include the Bolshoi Theatre, Gorky Park, and the Tretyakov Gallery. There are also many churches and other historical buildings to explore. Moscow is a lively city with a lot of culture and nightlife. There is something for everyone to enjoy in Moscow. Moscow Luxury Hotels Venice, Italy Venice is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The city is built on a lagoon in northeast Italy and is known for its canals and gondolas. There are many places to visit in Venice, including the Grand Canal, St. Marks Square, and the Rialto Bridge. Venice is also home to many museums, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Venice Luxury Hotels Vienna, Austria Vienna, Austria is a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Vienna, including the Hofburg Palace, the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Vienna is also home to some of the world's best shopping, including the Karntner Strasse and the Graben. Finally, no visit to Vienna is complete without experiencing the city's world-famous nightlife. Vienna Luxury Hotels Zurich, Switzerland Zurich is a marvelous city located in the heart of Switzerland. It is a city that has something to offer for everyone. From amazing restaurants and beautiful architecture to exciting nightlife and gorgeous parks, Zurich has something for everyone. Some of the most popular places to visit in Zurich include the Bahnhofstrasse, which is the city's most famous shopping street, the Lindenhof, which is a beautiful park with amazing views of the city, and Grossmunster, which is a stunning Romanesque church. Zurich is also home to some of the best museums in the world, including the famed Museum of Art and the Swiss National Museum. With its mix of old-world charm and modern amenities, Zurich is a city that is definitely worth exploring. Zurich Luxury Hotels Acapulco, Mexico If you're looking for a Mexican vacation spot with plenty of history and culture to explore, Acapulco is a great option. From the archeological wonders of the ancient city to the stunning coastal views, there's something for everyone in Acapulco. Plus, with its temperate climate, it's a great escape from colder winter weather. Acapulco Luxury Hotels Acapulco Luxury Resorts Acapulco Luxury Villas Nashville, TN, United States One of the United States' most interesting places to visit is Nashville, Tennessee. There's plenty to see and do there, from the Grand Ole Opry to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Music is a big part of the city's history and culture, so be sure to catch a show while you're in town. Other popular attractions include the Ryman Auditorium, the Parthenon, and the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Nashville is also a great place to eat, with a wide variety of restaurants serving up everything from barbecue to Mexican food. So if you're looking for an exciting and diverse city to visit, be sure to add Nashville to your list. Nashville Luxury Hotels Nashville Luxury Villas Atlanta, GA, United States What's not to love about Atlanta? From the iconic Georgia Aquarium to the World of Coke, from the Fox Theatre to Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta offers a wealth of destinations for tourists. Sports fans will want to check out the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and history buffs will enjoy the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Braves fans can take a tour of SunTrust Park, and shoppers will enjoy the many boutiques and malls in the city. There's also a great restaurant scene in Atlanta, and music lovers will want to check out the many venues offering live music. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation spot or a place to explore on your own, Atlanta is a great choice!. Atlanta Luxury Hotels Miami, FL, United States The Magic City is a top tourist destination for a reasonthere are endless things to do in Miami! From exploring the trendy neighborhoods and dazzling beaches to soaking up the Latin culture and nightlife, Miami is jam-packed with amazing places to visit. Here are a few of our favorites: 1. Wynwood Walls: This outdoor art exhibit is a must-see for any art lover. The colorful murals are awe-inspiring and definitely Instagram-worthy. 2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: This estate is dripping with luxury and opulence, from the grandiose architecture to the expansive gardens. It's the perfect place for a day of relaxation. 3. South Beach: This world-famous beach is a must-visit for any sun-seeker. The crystal-clear water and soft sand make for the perfect day-long beach getaway. 4. Little Havana: Experience Cuban culture at its best in Little Havana. From delicious food to lively music and dance, there's something for everyone in this vibrant district. 5. Art Deco District: This district is home to Miami's most iconic architecture. Take a stroll down the charming streets and admire the colorful buildings that make Miami so unique. Miami Luxury Hotels Miami Luxury Villas Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is a must-see destination in Japan. There are endless places to explore in this city - temples, shrines, gardens, and more. The Shinjuku district is a great place to start, with its neon-lit streets and myriad shops and restaurants. For a taste of traditional Japan, visit the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa or the Imperial Palace. Nature lovers will enjoy the Hamarikyu Gardens or the Hama-rikyu Teien Garden. And for a unique experience, take a trip to Mount Fuji. Tokyo Luxury Hotels Tokyo Luxury Villas Buenos Aires, Argentina There are plenty of places to visit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some popular tourist destinations include the obelisk, the Casa Rosada, and the Puerto Madero district. Every barrio (neighborhood) has its own unique culture and flavor. San Telmo, La Boca, and Palermo are some of the most popular barrios. There are also many parks and plazas, such as Plaza de Mayo and Plaza de la Republica, that are worth checking out. Buenos Aires Luxury Hotels Hamburg, Germany One of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany is Hamburg. From the lively and colorful harbor district to the grandiose City Hall, there is plenty to see and do in Hamburg. Some of the other popular places to visit include the Reeperbahn district with its pubs and nightlife, the Planten un Blomen botanical gardens, and the architecturally stunning Rathausmarkt square. Hamburg Luxury Hotels Lisbon, Portugal The capital of Portugal, Lisbon is a city of fascinating contrasts. From its coastal location, visitors can enjoy stunning ocean views, while its hilly, narrow streets are home to a maze of charming traditional homes and lively nightlife. A city of 7 hills, Lisbon is a bustling metropolis with something for everyone. Here are some of the top places to visit: The Belem Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Lisbons most iconic landmarks. This 16th-century fortress and lighthouse is a must-see for visitors. The Alfama district, with its winding streets and tile-roofed homes, is the oldest district in Lisbon. This is the perfect place to get lost and explore the citys history. The Lisbon Zoo is a great place to enjoy a day out with the family, with over 2,000 animals from around the world. The Christ the King statue, located atop a hill in the suburb of Almada, offers impressive views of Lisbon and the river Tagus. The Lisbon Oceanarium, located in the Parque das Nacoes district, is home to more than 12,000 marine creatures and is one of the largest aquariums in Europe. Lisbon Luxury Hotels Lisbon Luxury Villas Malaga, Spain Malaga is an attractive seaside city in southern Spain with a long history. There are many places to visit in Malaga, including the Gibralfaro Castle, the Alcazaba fortress, and the Malaga Cathedral. Malaga is also home to a variety of museums, including the Picasso Museum. The city is well known for its beaches, and there are many delightful places to relax and enjoy the sun and the sea. Malaga Luxury Hotels Malaga Luxury Villas Munich, Germany When planning a vacation to Munich, Germany, be sure to include these top places to visit: The Marienplatz is a must-see square in the city center, featuring a beautiful Glockenspiel show and the Old and New Town Halls. The Englisher Garten, Europes largest city park, is a great place for a relaxing stroll or a picnic. OlympiaPark is home to the famous 1972 Olympic Stadium as well as a huge amusement park. The Frauenkirche is a stunning church in the old town with a Glockenspiel of its own. Beer lovers will want to visit the Hofbrauhaus, the worlds most famous beer hall. For a bit of history and culture, check out the LudwigMaximilians-University and the Deutsches Museum. There is so much to see and do in Munich these are just a few highlights!. Munich Luxury Hotels Granada, Spain Granada is a city in southern Spain that is known for its Moorish architecture and history. The city is home to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress that was constructed in the late 1300s. Visitors can also enjoy the citys many churches, including the Cathedral of Granada. Granada is also a convenient base for exploring the other cities and towns in Andalusia. Granada Luxury Hotels Bucharest, Romania Bucharest is a city full of history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Palace of Parliament, which is the world's largest civilian building. Other places to visit include the old city center, which is full of charming streets and buildings, and the Botanical Garden, which is the largest botanical garden in Romania. Bucharest Luxury Hotels Bologna, Italy Bologna, Italy is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist destinations include the Piazza Maggiore, the Tower of Asinelli, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. There are also plenty of museums and churches to explore, and the city is full of charming restaurants and cafes. Bologna is an excellent destination for a vacation, and there is something for everyone to enjoy in this amazing city. Bologna Luxury Hotels Porto, Portugal Porto is a port city in Portugal that is well known for its wine. It's also a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Porto, including the old city center, the Dom Luis I Bridge, and the Clerigos Tower. Porto is also home to the famous Port wine caves, which are a must-visit for wine lovers. Porto Luxury Hotels Cologne, Germany Cologne, located on the Rhine River in western Germany, is a city well worth visiting. The city has a long and rich history, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Some of the city's most popular tourist attractions include the Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, and the RheinEnergieStadion. Additionally, Cologne is home to a wide variety of museums, shops, and restaurants. In fact, the city has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Germany. So, if you're looking for a great European city to visit, be sure to add Cologne to your list. Cologne Luxury Hotels Istanbul, Turkey If you're looking for an exotic and affordable vacation destination, look no further than Istanbul, Turkey. Filled with historical places to visit and bargains to be found, Istanbul offers something for everyone. Be sure to visit the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque while you're there. Don't forget to bargain for the best prices when shopping in the bazaars, and enjoy some delicious Turkish cuisine while you're at it. Istanbul is sure to leave you with a lasting impression. Istanbul Luxury Hotels Istanbul Luxury Villas Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai is a fascinating and exotic city that offers visitors a mix of traditional Middle Eastern culture and modern, cosmopolitan life. There are plenty of places to visit in Dubai, from the towering skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai to the luxury shopping malls and luxurious hotels of the Palm Jumeirah. Don't miss a chance to experience an Arabian night out on an epic dhow cruise, or take a trip out into the Arabian Desert to see the stunning sand dunes. Dubai Luxury Hotels Dubai Luxury Resorts Dubai Luxury Villas Antwerp, Belgium Antwerp is a city located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital of the province of Antwerp and has a population of over half a million people. Antwerp is a popular tourist destination due to its many historical buildings, museums, and art galleries. Some of the most popular places to visit in Antwerp are the Cathedral of Our Lady, the City Hall, the Rubenshuis, and the Antwerp Zoo. Antwerp Luxury Hotels Lyon, France Lyon is a beautiful city in the south of France that is full of culture and places to visit. Some of the most popular places to visit in Lyon are the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, the Place Bellecour, and the Vieux Lyon. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere is a beautiful cathedral that is a must-see when visiting Lyon. The Place Bellecour is a large square in the heart of Lyon that is full of restaurants and cafes. The Vieux Lyon is a district in Lyon that is full of old buildings and is a great place to wander around and take in the sights. Lyon Luxury Hotels Athens, Greece If you find yourself in Athens, there are definitely some spots you won't want to miss. The Acropolis, Parthenon, and Olympic Stadium are all essential stops, but there are plenty of others, too. If you're looking for a bit of history, the National Archaeological Museum is a must-see, while nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the botanical gardens. If you're looking to relax, take a walk along the beach in Glyfada or head to the Plaka district for a charming and picturesque setting. No matter what you're interested in, Athens has something for you. Athens Luxury Hotels Athens Luxury Villas Helsinki, Finland While in Helsinki, make sure to visit these popular tourist destinations: The Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral The Sibelius Monument Ateneum Art Museum Market Square Helsinki Zoo. Helsinki Luxury Hotels Vilnius, Lithuania The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, is a picturesque city with a rich history. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of charming churches, narrow streets, and pretty squares. There are also lots of museums and other places of interest to visit, including the Hill of Crosses, Gediminas Tower, and the Presidential Palace. Vilnius is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars to enjoy in the evening. Vilnius Luxury Hotels Reykjavik, Iceland A city of remote beauty, Reykjavik is teeming with interesting places to visit. One of the worlds most northern capitals, Reykjavik offers stunning landscapes and a wealth of cultural experiences. From the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church to the popular Golden Circle tour, theres plenty to see and do in Reykjavik. Be sure to check out the citys lively nightlife scene, too you wont be disappointed!. Reykjavik Luxury Hotels Glasgow, United Kingdom Some of the most popular places to visit in Glasgow include the Gallery of Modern Art, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. There are also many wonderful parks and gardens to explore, including the Botanic Gardens and Glasgow Green. For those interested in history and architecture, there are many fascinating old buildings to see, such as the Glasgow Cathedral and the University of Glasgow. And for those looking for a lively nightlife, Glasgow has no shortage of pubs, clubs, and restaurants. Glasgow Luxury Hotels Los Angeles, CA, United States As the birthplace of Hollywood and home to some of the world's most recognisable landmarks, there's no shortage of places to visit in Los Angeles. Start by exploring the city's iconic neighbourhoods like Beverly Hills and Hollywood, then venture out to attractions like the Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach and Disneyland. And don't forget to savour the city's world-famous cultural scene, with its abundance of museums, theatres and restaurants. Los Angeles Luxury Hotels Los Angeles Luxury Villas San Diego, CA, United States San Diego is a city located in California and is a major tourist destination. One of the main reasons people visit the city is for its many beaches. Coronado Beach, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach are some of the most popular and are all within close proximity to the city center. Other attractions in San Diego include the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and the USS Midway Museum. Restaurants, bars, and shopping can be found throughout the city, and world-renowned museums, like the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, are also located in San Diego. San Diego Luxury Hotels San Diego Luxury Resorts San Diego Luxury Villas Washington, DC, United States Washington, D.C. is a city full of history and places to visit. Some popular places to visit are the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the Smithsonian. D.C. is also home to a number of monuments and memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. There are also a number of museums in D.C., like the American History Museum and the National Air and Space Museum. Washington Luxury Hotels Cancun, Mexico Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. Aside from its beautiful beaches, there are plenty of places to visit and things to do in Cancun. Some of the most popular attractions include the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, the eco-park Xcaret, and the nightclubs and bars in the resort district. Cancun Luxury Hotels Cancun Luxury Resorts Cancun Luxury Villas Virginia Beach, VA, United States Virginia Beach is one of the top tourist destinations on the East Coast. From the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to the miles of sandy beaches, there's something for everyone to enjoy. There are also plenty of restaurants, shops, and other attractions to keep visitors busy. Some of the most popular places to visit in Virginia Beach include: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk: This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. First Landing State Park: This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. Cape Henry Lighthouse: This lighthouse is one of the oldest in the country and offers stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay. There are plenty of other things to do in Virginia Beach, including dolphin and whale watching tours, kayaking, and golfing. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation or a romantic getaway, Virginia Beach is sure to please. Virginia Beach Luxury Hotels Virginia Beach Luxury Resorts Beijing, China If you're looking for an amazing cultural experience, be sure to add Beijing, China to your travel bucket list! With beautiful temples, charming hutongs (traditional alleyways), and a lively food scene, there's something for everyone in this bustling city. Plus, Beijing is home to some of the most iconic attractions in China, like the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. So if you're looking for an unforgettable East Asian adventure, be sure to add Beijing to your list!. Beijing Luxury Hotels Seoul, South Korea Seoul is a metropolitan city that is home to over 10 million people. It is a city full of culture, history, and a vibrant nightlife. There are plenty of places to visit in Seoul, including the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and N Seoul Tower. The Jeongdongne district is a must-see for anyone interested in art and culture, and the Itaewon district is a great place to go for a night on the town. Seoul Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe, CA, United States Known for its dramatic lake and mountain scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers visitors plenty of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include floating down the river on a tube, hiking the trails in the summer and skiing or snowboarding the slopes in the winter. The city also has a variety of restaurants and nightlife options, as well as casinos for those looking to try their luck. South Lake Tahoe Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe Luxury Resorts Daytona Beach, FL, United States Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It is approximately 40 miles northeast of Orlando, and 85 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The city is known as "The World's Most Famous Beach." Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Fun Coast region of Florida. The Daytona Beach area is a popular tourist destination. It is well known for its beaches, sports events, and motorsports. Daytona Beach was the birthplace of NASCAR and home to its first track, Daytona International Speedway. Dayton Beach also features a large number of tourist-oriented businesses, such as motels, restaurants, and bars. Daytona Beach Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The coastline of Rio de Janeiro is breathtaking, and the views from Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain are unforgettable. Rio's world-famous beaches are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun and the surf. The city's rich culture and history can be experienced in its many museums and in the lively nightlife. Rio is also a great place to shop for souvenirs. Rio de Janeiro Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro Luxury Villas Jaco, Costa Rica Jaco is a town on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It's about an hour drive from San Jose and is a popular spot for surfers, sunbathers, and tourists. There are a number of beaches in the area, as well as restaurants, bars, and hotels. If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy the Costa Rican sun and beaches, Jaco is a great option. Jaco Luxury Hotels Oslo, Norway Oslo, Norway is a city with plenty of places to visit. You can find the peace and tranquility of nature parks and green spaces, experience the city's vibrant nightlife, or take in the historical and cultural sights. Here are a few of the top places to visit in Oslo: The Royal Palace: Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Vigeland Park: Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. The Maritime Museum: This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. The National Gallery: The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. Aker Brygge: Aker Brygge is a popular waterfront district in Oslo, home to a variety of bars, restaurants, and shops. The area is a great place to people watch and enjoy the view of the Oslo Fjord. Oslo Luxury Hotels Lima, Peru If you're looking for a city that's bursting with culture and flavor, Lima, Peru is the place for you! This vibrant destination is home to some of the most amazing places to visit in all of South America. From ancient ruins to lush rainforests, there's something for everyone in Lima. Here are just a few of the must-see attractions in this amazing city: The Larco Museum is one of Lima's top tourist destinations. This incredible museum is home to one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian art in the world. The Historic Center of Lima is a must-see for any history lover. This vibrant area is home to some of the oldest architecture in Lima, including the iconic San Francisco Monastery. If you're looking for a little bit of jungle in the city, head to the Parque de la Reserva. This lush park is home to beautiful gardens, a zoo, and even a butterfly farm! No trip to Lima would be complete without a visit to Machu Picchu. This ancient Inca citadel is one of the most iconic sites in all of South America. Lima Luxury Hotels Ankara, Turkey Ankara is the cultural and political center of Turkey. The city is home to many museums, including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and is a popular destination for tourists. The Citadel, the Ataturk Mausoleum, and the War of Independence Museum are all popular tourist destinations in Ankara. The city is also home to a vibrant nightlife and is a popular destination for students. Ankara Luxury Hotels Birmingham, United Kingdom There are plenty of great places to visit in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Some of the most popular places to go include the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the Black Country Living Museum. These places are all great for tourists, as they offer a variety of attractions, including beautiful gardens, interesting art, and a recreation of an old-fashioned town. Additionally, there are plenty of other great places to visit in Birmingham, such as the Jewellery Quarter and the German Christmas Market. Birmingham Luxury Hotels York, United Kingdom With a rich history that spans back over 1,000 years, York is a must-visit destination in the United Kingdom. Explore the city's medieval architecture and narrow cobblestone streets, or enjoy a leisurely walk along the River Ouse. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of cultural experiences, such as the York Minster cathedral, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National Railway Museum. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy in York. York Luxury Hotels Inverness, United Kingdom Inverness, Scotland is a must-see destination on any traveler's list. Filled with rolling green hills, historical sites, and plenty of outdoor activities, there's something for everyone in this charming town. Start by exploring the city center, which is home to a variety of shops and restaurants. Make sure to check out the Inverness Castle, which offers commanding views of the area, and the Inverness Cathedral, a beautiful example of medieval architecture. Outside of the city center, there are plenty of other attractions to explore. The Loch Ness Monster is said to make its home in the loch here, and visitors can take boat tours to hunt for the mythical creature. If you're looking for a more active adventure, take a hike in the hills or go fishing on the loch. No matter what you choose to do, Inverness is a beautiful and welcoming town that is sure to charm you. Inverness Luxury Hotels Marseille, France The Vieux Port (Old Harbor) is the oldest port in France. It is a beautiful place to visit with its sailboats, restaurants, and cafes. The Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica is also worth a visit. It offers stunning views of the city. If you're looking for a more lively atmosphere, head to the La Canebiere. It's a wide avenue with plenty of shops and restaurants. Marseille Luxury Hotels Marseille Luxury Villas Honolulu, HI, United States Honolulu is a city located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. It is the most populous city in the state of Hawaii and the county seat of the City and County of Honolulu. Honolulu is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world and is located in Honolulu. Other places to visit in Honolulu include Diamond Head, the USS Arizona Memorial, and Hanauma Bay. Honolulu Luxury Hotels Honolulu Luxury Resorts Honolulu Luxury Villas Bar Harbor, ME, United States Famous for lobster and stunning ocean views, Bar Harbor is a popular destination in Maine. There are plenty of things to do in the town and its surroundings, including hiking, biking, whale watching, and exploring Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor Luxury Hotels Colorado Springs, CO, United States There are many places to visit in Colorado Springs. Garden of the Gods is a popular park with beautiful rock formations. Pike's Peak is a 14,115 foot mountain that offers great views and outdoor activities. The Broadmoor is a world-renowned resort with lovely gardens and a championship golf course. Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and a popular tourist spot. Colorado Springs Luxury Hotels Fort Myers Beach, FL, United States Just an hours drive from the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach is a popular tourist spot, especially in the winter when the snowbirds migrate down. The seven-mile-long beach is known for its white sand and clear water and is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking. There are also a number of restaurants and bars in the area, as well as a few stores. Fort Myers Beach Luxury Hotels Biloxi, MS, United States There are plenty of places to explore in Biloxi, Mississippi from the citys iconic Beaches to the picturesque Bay Saint Louis. Venture into the citys downtown area to check out the many shops and restaurants, or take a walk along the shoreline. No matter what you choose to do, youre sure to have a great time in Biloxi. Biloxi Luxury Hotels Palermo, Italy If you're looking for a city with a rich and diverse history, Palermo is the place for you. This coastal city in Italy is teeming with medieval architecture, churches, and cathedrals. Be sure to check out the Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Europe, and the Palazzo dei Normanni, the seat of the Sicilian government. Don't miss out on the city's vibrant nightlife and vast array of restaurants that serve up some of the best food in the country. Palermo Luxury Hotels Palermo Luxury Villas Manila, Philippines The capital of the Philippines, Manila is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. There are plenty of places to visit in Manila, including the walled city of Intramuros, the Rizal Park, and the Manila Bay. The city is also home to a large number of churches, including the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. Manila is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy. Manila Luxury Hotels Zermatt, Switzerland Zermatt is an alpine village in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is famous for its ski resort, mountaineering and hiking trails. The views of the Matterhorn from Zermatt are iconic. The village is car-free, making it a cyclists' and pedestrians' paradise. There are many places to visit in Zermatt, including the village's beautiful churches, impressive museums, and great restaurants. Zermatt Luxury Hotels Basel, Switzerland Basel is a city located in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine. Basel has a population of about 176,000 and is the third most populous city in Switzerland. Basel has many interesting places to visit, including the Basel Munster, the Basel Rathaus (town hall), the Basel Zoo, and the Munsterhof, the old town square. Basel also has a number of art museums, including the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Fondation Beyeler, and the Schaulager. Basel is a great city to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Basel Luxury Hotels Copenhagen, Denmark There are a number of places to visit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, and the Rosenborg Castle Gardens. Tivoli Gardens is a beautiful amusement park that has something for everyone. It is perfect for a day of fun with family or friends. Nyhavn is a charming canal district that is popular for its brightly colored houses and lively atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing cruise down the canal or take a seat in one of the many cafes and restaurants. The Rosenborg Castle Gardens are home to a majestic castle as well as beautifully landscaped gardens. There is plenty to see and do in Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen Luxury Hotels Steamboat Springs, CO, United States Steamboat Springs is located in northwestern Colorado. The town is named for the steamboats that traveled up the Yampa River in the 1800s. Today, the town is a popular tourist destination, known for its skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and rafting. Steamboat Springs Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is home to many tourist attractions. Some popular places to visit in Abu Dhabi include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Ferrari World Theme Park, and the Yas Island Waterpark. There are also a number of museums and shopping malls in Abu Dhabi, making it a great destination for those looking for a mix of culture and leisure. Abu Dhabi Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi Luxury Resorts Abu Dhabi Luxury Villas Bogota, Colombia There's a lot to see and do in Bogota. Some of the top places to visit include the historical La Candelaria district, the cobblestone streets of Plaza de Bolivar, the Monserrate mountain, the Bogota Botanical Garden, and the Gold Museum. La Candelaria is home to many brightly-colored colonial buildings, churches, and plazas. Plaza de Bolivar is the center of Bogota and is surrounded by important landmarks like the Presidential Palace and the National Capitol. The Monserrate mountain is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning views of Bogota. The Bogota Botanical Garden is the largest in Colombia and features a wide variety of plants and trees. The Gold Museum is home to the largest collection of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts in the world. Bogota Luxury Hotels Cebu, Philippines Due to its location and its rich history, there are plenty of places to visit in Cebu. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include the Cebu Taoist Temple, the Fort San Pedro, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, and the Magellan's Cross. Cebu Luxury Hotels Cebu Luxury Resorts Lagos, Portugal Lagos is a small town in Portugal with a population of around 22,000. It's located in the Algarve region and is a popular tourist destination. Some of the places to visit in Lagos are the beaches, the old town, and the Marina. The beaches are beautiful and there are a lot of them to choose from. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways with lots of shops and restaurants. The Marina is a great place to walk around and watch the boats. Lagos Luxury Hotels Medellin, Colombia Some places to visit in Medellin, Colombia are: the Botanical Garden, the Ethnographic Museum, the Jardin Botanico, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Park of Lights, and the San Pedro Claver Church. Medellin Luxury Hotels Genoa, Italy While there are many places to visit in Genoa, one of the must-sees is the city's cathedral. Dedicated to San Lorenzo, the church features an intricate Gothic facade and a Renaissance interior. If you're looking for a place to take in some stunning views, head to the Genoa Aquarium, which is located on the promenade stretching along the city's harbor. Genoa Luxury Hotels Hoi An, Vietnam Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam. Its a bridge town thats best explored on foot. The narrow streets are a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architecture. There are tailors, artisans, and lantern shops galore. The food is also some of the best in Vietnam. Be sure to try the local specialties, like Cao Lau and White Rose dumplings. Hoi An Luxury Hotels Hoi An Luxury Resorts Baku, Azerbaijan Baku, Azerbaijan is a city with a lot of culture and history. There are a lot of places to visit, like the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower. There are also a lot of great restaurants, like the Flame Club, which has a great atmosphere and delicious food. Baku Luxury Hotels San Luis Obispo, CA, United States San Luis Obispo is a city located in the central coast of California. It's known for its natural beauty, relaxed vibe, and abundance of things to do. Some of the top places to visit in San Luis Obispo include the Madonna Inn, Hearst Castle, and the Paso Robles wine country. The city is also home to a variety of beaches, parks, and other attractions. In addition, San Luis Obispo is a great place to live, with plenty of restaurants, shops, and other amenities. San Luis Obispo Luxury Hotels Colombo, Sri Lanka Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The city is located on the west coast of the island and is the administrative, commercial, and industrial center of Sri Lanka. Colombo is also the center of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with numerous Buddhist temples. There are a number of places to visit in Colombo, including the Galle Face Green, the Dutch fort, the Pettah Bazaar, and the Sri Lankan National Museum. Colombo Luxury Hotels Yogyakarta, Indonesia The city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia is home to some of the most stunning temples and historical landmarks in the country. The city is also a great place to enjoy traditional Javanese culture and cuisine. Some of the must-see places in Yogyakarta include the Borobudur Temple, the Prambanan Temple, and the Sultan's Palace. Yogyakarta Luxury Hotels Cefalu, Italy Looking for a beautiful and historic place to visit in Italy? Look no further than Cefalu. This town is teeming with history and stunning architecture, and its location on the coast makes it the perfect place to relax and take in the stunning scenery. Don't miss the Duomo di Cefalu, a 12th century Norman church that is definitely worth a visit, or the Palazzo dei Normanni, a former royal palace. Cefalu Luxury Hotels San Jose, CA, United States San Jose, California, is home to a variety of tourist destinations. Some popular places to visit include the Winchester Mystery House, the Tech Museum of Innovation, and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. There are also a number of lovely parks, such as Kelley Park and Plaza de Cesar Chavez, that are well worth a visit. San Jose is also home to a number of great restaurants, so be sure to check out the local cuisine. Whatever your interests, San Jose has something to offer visitors. San Jose Luxury Hotels Hong Kong, China Hong Kong is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in China. There are many places to visit in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Victoria Peak, and the Temple Street Night Market. Hong Kong is also a great place to shop, with many high-end malls and markets. Hong Kong Luxury Hotels Hong Kong Luxury Resorts Orlando, FL, United States Orlando is a city in the central region of Florida, in the United States. The city is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the metropolitan area also known as Greater Orlando. Orlando is well known for its theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. Other tourist destinations in Orlando include the Holy Land Experience, the Orlando Science Center, and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, one of the largest universities in the United States. Orlando Luxury Hotels Orlando Luxury Resorts Orlando Luxury Villas Philadelphia, PA, United States If youre looking for a place thats rich in history and culture, Philadelphia is the place for you. The city is home to numerous iconic landmarks, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Theres also a great variety of museums and other attractions to explore, such as the Philadelphia Zoo and the Please Touch Museum. And, of course, Philly is the birthplace of Americas favorite sandwich, the cheesesteak. So why not visit Americas most historic city and see for yourself what all the fuss is about?. Philadelphia Luxury Hotels Nice, France France is known for its many beautiful places to visit, and Nice is no exception. With its stunning coastline and mild climate, Nice is a popular tourist destination. Some of the most popular places to visit in Nice include the Promenade des Anglais, the Castle Hill, and the Old Town. There is also a wide variety of shops and restaurants to enjoy in Nice. If you're looking for a beautiful and relaxing place to visit in France, Nice is definitely worth considering. Nice Luxury Hotels Nice Luxury Villas Singapore, Singapore Singapore is a popular tourist destination, brimming with cultural and natural attractions. From award-winning restaurants to serene gardens and pristine beaches, there is much to explore in this diverse city-state. Here are some of the top places to visit in Singapore: 1. Marina Bay: This iconic waterfront district is home to stunning architecture, world-class landmarks, and a vibrant nightlife. 2. Gardens by the Bay: These stunning gardens feature a mix of plants from around the world, as well as towering sculptures and a biodome. 3. Chinatown: This lively district is home to traditional Chinese shops and restaurants, as well as vibrant street markets. 4. Little India: This neighborhood is known for its vibrant culture and colorful temples. 5. Sentosa Island: This resort island is home to sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and a variety of entertainment options. Singapore Luxury Hotels Singapore Luxury Resorts Nottingham, United Kingdom Nottingham is a city in the East Midlands of England. It is one of the United Kingdom's major cities, with a population of over 321,000. The city is home to two universities, Queen's Medical Centre, and seven football grounds. Nottingham is known for its lace-making and bicycle manufacturing. The city has a rich history, dating back to the Bronze Age. There are plenty of places to visit in Nottingham, including the Nottingham Castle, the Sherwood Forest, and the National Ice Centre. The city also has a lively nightlife, with a variety of pubs and bars. Nottingham Luxury Hotels Cannes, France Cannes is a city located in the south of France. Some of the places to visit in Cannes are the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, the Boulevard de la Croisette, and Le Suquet. Cannes Luxury Hotels Cannes Luxury Villas Park City, UT, United States Park City, Utah, offers visitors a wealth of places to visit and things to do. Main Street, with its charming shops and restaurants, is a must-see. The Park City Museum tells the town's fascinating history, and the Park City Utah Temple is a beautiful sight. For outdoor enthusiasts, there's plenty of skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. And don't forget to visit the Olympic Park, where the 2002 Winter Olympics were held. Park City Luxury Hotels Park City Luxury Resorts Port Angeles, WA, United States If you're looking for a quaint, small town to visit in the US, Port Angeles is worth a stop. Located in the state of Washington, it's right on the Pacific coast with stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. There's plenty of things to do in the area, from hiking and fishing to whale watching and enjoying the local restaurants and breweries. Port Angeles Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States If you're looking for a fun-filled Florida getaway, look no further than Fort Lauderdale! With its miles of pristine beaches, world-famous shopping and vibrant nightlife, there's something for everyone in this seaside city. Here are some of the top places to visit in Fort Lauderdale: Las Olas Boulevard: This popular shopping and dining district is home to some of Fort Lauderdale's most upscale boutiques and restaurants. The Beach: With its wide, sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, Fort Lauderdale's beach is a major draw for visitors. The Everglades: Just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale, the Everglades are home to an abundance of wildlife, including alligators, bald eagles and manatees. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts: This world-class performing arts center is home to a variety of theater, dance and music performances. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Fort Lauderdale today!. Fort Lauderdale Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale Luxury Resorts Myrtle Beach, SC, United States Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to visit in the area, including amusement parks, beaches, and golf courses. Myrtle Beach also has a lively nightlife, with plenty of bars and restaurants. Myrtle Beach Luxury Hotels Myrtle Beach Luxury Resorts Salzburg, Austria Salzburg is one of the most visited places in Austria. It is a city rich in history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Mirabell Palace, and the Salzburg Cathedral. There are also many hiking trails and parks to enjoy. Salzburg Luxury Hotels Pattaya, Thailand Pattaya is an amazing city with plenty of places to visit and things to do. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Pattaya offers something for everyone. There are lovely beaches, interesting temples, great shopping, and exciting nightlife. With its moderate climate and affordable prices, it's no wonder Pattaya is a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. Pattaya Luxury Hotels Pattaya Luxury Resorts Pattaya Luxury Villas Dallas, TX, United States Dallas is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the ninth most populous city in the United States and the third most populous city in the state of Texas. Dallas is also the main city of the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The city's prominence arose from its historical importance as a center for the oil and cotton industries, and its position as a major transportation hub for the South. Dallas is home to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. The city's economy is primarily based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare and medical research, and transportation. The city is home to the world's largest airline hub and the third largest cargo airport in the United States. Dallas Luxury Hotels Kolkata, India Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is located on the east bank of the Hooghly River. It is the second most populous city in India, after Mumbai, and the third most populous metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai and Delhi. The city is notable for its colonial architecture, art and culture, and for its overwhelming poverty. Kolkata is home to the Indian Museum, the Calcutta Stock Exchange, the National Library of India, and the Indian Statistical Institute. Kolkata Luxury Hotels San Antonio, TX, United States San Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas. There are plenty of places to visit in this city, from the well-known River Walk to the exquisite Spanish missions. If you're looking for a fun place to spend the day, you can't go wrong with San Antonio. San Antonio Luxury Hotels Seattle, WA, United States There are many wonderful places to visit in Seattle, Washington. Some of the most popular attractions include Pike Place Market, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Museum of Pop Culture. There are also many parks and gardens, such as Volunteer Park and Seattle Chinese Garden, as well as plenty of restaurants and shops. Located on the other side of the world, Western Australia is a great place to visit for those looking for something different. Some of the most popular attractions include Rottnest Island, the Margaret River region, and Monkey Mia. There are also plenty of beautiful parks and gardens, such as Kings Park and Botanic Garden, as well as restaurants and shops. Seattle Luxury Hotels Liverpool, United Kingdom Liverpool is a city located in North West England and is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom. The city is known for its football teams Liverpool and Everton, The Beatles, and its maritime history. Liverpool is a popular tourist destination and is home to various tourist attractions including Mersey Ferry, Liverpool Cathedral, and Albert Dock. Liverpool Luxury Hotels Malmo, Sweden Malmo is Sweden's third largest city with a population of over 310,000. It is located in the province of Scania on the country's southern tip. Malmo is a vibrant city with a strong arts and cultural scene. There are plenty of places to visit in Malmo, including the Malmo Castle, the Botanical Gardens, and the Turning Torso skyscraper. Malmo is also home to a large shopping district and a lively nightlife. Malmo Luxury Hotels Gothenburg, Sweden Goteborg, Sweden's second largest city, is a major port on the country's west coast. It's a popular tourist destination, known for its lively nightlife, beautiful architecture and delicious seafood. Some of the city's highlights include the Liseberg amusement park, the Botanical Garden, and the charming old town district. Goteborg is also home to a large number of museums, including the Volvo Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Universeum science center. Gothenburg Luxury Hotels Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia and is a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Ljubljana, such as the castle, the old town, and the cathedral. The city is also home to many museums, art galleries, and parks. Ljubljana is a great city to explore on foot, and there are many restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Ljubljana Luxury Hotels Sydney, NSW, Australia Australia is a vast country with plenty of stunning places to visit, but Sydney is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations on the continent. From the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge to the beautiful beaches and lush national parks, there's something for everyone in this lively city. There's also a thriving food and nightlife scene, so you'll never run out of things to do in Sydney. Sydney Luxury Hotels Sydney Luxury Villas Melbourne, VIC, Australia There's a lot to love about Melbourne its lively arts and culture scene, its parks and gardens, its diverse range of restaurants and cafes, and its stunning architecture. Here are some of the best places to visit in Melbourne: - Federation Square: This iconic square is a great place to people-watch and take in the city's impressive architecture. It's also home to a number of museums and galleries, including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the National Gallery of Victoria. - Queen Victoria Market: This vibrant market is a must-visit for foodies and shoppers alike. It's the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, and offers a vast array of fresh produce, meat, seafood, and souvenirs. - Melbourne Cricket Ground: If you're a sports fan, be sure to check out the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It's also home to the Australian Football League, and has hosted a number of major sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby Union World Cup. - Royal Botanic Gardens: These beautiful gardens are a great place to relax and take in some of Melbourne's natural beauty. They're home to a number of different gardens, including the Australian Garden, the Sculpture Garden, and the Japanese Garden. Melbourne Luxury Hotels Melbourne Luxury Villas Vancouver, BC, Canada The top places to visit in Vancouver are Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, and Chinatown. These are all must-see attractions that offer an array of activities, scenery, and history. Stanley Park is a world-famous urban park that features greenery, beaches, gardens, and a stunning view of the North Shore Mountains. Granville Island is a vibrant neighbourhood with unique shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Gastown is the city's oldest neighbourhood and is home to charming cobblestone streets and funky boutiques. Chinatown is one of the largest and most vibrant Chinatowns in North America and offers delicious food, interesting history, and vibrant culture. Vancouver Luxury Hotels Toronto, ON, Canada From the CN Tower and Hockey Hall of Fame to the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Distillery District, there are plenty of amazing places to visit in Toronto, Canada. With something for everyone, Toronto is a great city to explore. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!. Toronto Luxury Hotels Montreal, QC, Canada Montreal is a vibrant city with something for everyone. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Notre Dame Basilica, the Olympic Stadium, and Mount Royal. The city is also home to a lively arts and culture scene, with theatres, art galleries, and music venues. Montreal is a great place to visit year-round, with festivals and events happening throughout the year. Montreal Luxury Hotels Seville, Spain Seville is one of the most visited places in Spain for a plethora of reasons: its stunning architecture, tapas bars, flamenco and great weather. The Giralda Tower is a must-see when in Seville as is the Plaza de Espana. Andalusian culture is heavily present in the city and is best experienced by wandering the narrow streets and alleyways, popping into a lively tapas bar for a drink and some snacks or enjoying a flamenco show. Seville Luxury Hotels Seville Luxury Villas Ocean City, MD, United States Ocean City is a seaside resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, on the Atlantic coast. It is well known for its long promenade, its fishing, and its crab cuisine. There are plenty of places to visit in Ocean City, including the boardwalk, amusement rides, shopping, and restaurants. You can also visit the Assateague Island National Seashore, which is home to wild horses, or head to the nearby town of Berlin for more shopping and dining options. Ocean City Luxury Hotels Cambridge, MA, United States If you're looking for a quintessential New England town to visit, Cambridge, Massachusetts is the place for you. With its elaborate architecture and Colonial history, Cambridge is a lively town with plenty of things to see and do - perfect for a weekend getaway. Some of the places you won't want to miss include the Harvard University campus, the charming and lively shops and restaurants in Harvard Square, and the leafy paths of the Cambridge Common. Cambridge Luxury Hotels Laguna Beach, CA, United States Laguna Beach, California is a place known for its stunningly beautiful coastline, excellent restaurants, and art galleries. But there's more to Laguna Beach than meets the eye. Here are some of the best places to visit in Laguna Beach: Crystal Cove State Park: This state park is known for its coves, tidepools, and bluffs. It's a great place to go hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. Heisler Park: This park is a great place for a walk or a picnic. It's also home to some of the best views of the Pacific Coast. Downtown Laguna Beach: This charming downtown area is home to art galleries, boutique shops, and excellent restaurants. Aliso Beach: This beach is known for its excellent surfing and swimming conditions. It's also a great place to take a walk or enjoy a picnic. Laguna Beach Luxury Hotels Hot Springs, AR, United States In downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, you'll find historic buildings, antique shops, and art galleries. For nature lovers, there are also plenty of places to visit, including the Garland County Arboretum, Ouachita National Forest, and Hot Springs National Park. Spa enthusiasts can enjoy a relaxing day in one of the area's hot springs. And no trip to Hot Springs is complete without a visit to the world-famous Bathhouse Row. Hot Springs Luxury Hotels Sedona, AZ, United States There are many places to visit in Sedona, Arizona. Among the most popular are the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. The town's unique red-rock formations and ancient ruins offer plenty of photo opportunities. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Sedona is a great place to relax and take in the natural beauty of the Southwest. Sedona Luxury Hotels Sedona Luxury Resorts Boulder, CO, United States Boulder, Colorado is a breathtaking city nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The city is home to stunning views, ample outdoor recreation, and a lively arts scene. Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring the city's many trails, parks, and open spaces. History buffs will enjoy checking out the city's museums and historic sites. Culture seekers will appreciate the city's many theaters, art galleries, and restaurants. No matter what your interests, you'll find something to love in Boulder. Boulder Luxury Hotels Key West, FL, United States Key West is a small island off the coast of Florida that is filled with history, charm, and fun places to visit. Its lush tropical setting and the laid-back vibe of the island make it a popular destination for those looking for a relaxing getaway. There are plenty of places to explore in Key West, from the charming historic district to the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys. Here are some of the top places to visit in Key West: -The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: This iconic museum is dedicated to the life and work of Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Key West for over 20 years. -Duval Street: This lively street is the heart of Key West's nightlife and is home to many bars and restaurants. -The Southernmost Point: This landmark is located at the end of Duval Street and is the southernmost point in the continental United States. -The Key West Lighthouse: This picturesque lighthouse is a popular spot for tourists and offers stunning views of the island. -The African American Heritage House: This museum is dedicated to the history and culture of African Americans in Key West. -The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory: This attraction is home to over 2,000 butterflies and a variety of other tropical plants and animals. Key West Luxury Hotels Key West Luxury Resorts Key West Luxury Cottages Key West Luxury Villas Stockholm, Sweden Stockholm, Sweden is a city with many places to visit. One place is the Vasa Museum, which is home to a ship that sunk in 1628 and was raised from the ocean floor 333 years later. The ship is preserved and on display in the museum. Another place to visit is the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish monarch. The palace is open for tours, and visitors can see the royal apartments, the throne room, and the Hall of State. Stockholm Luxury Hotels Destin, FL, United States Looking for a place to visit in Florida? Look no further than Destin! This city is home to beautiful beaches, wonderful restaurants, and plenty of places to shop. No matter what you're looking for, you can find it in Destin. Be sure to check out the Destin Harbor and the fishing pier for amazing views and plenty of things to do. If you're looking for a place to relax, head to the beach and enjoy the sun and sand. There's something for everyone in Destin, so be sure to visit this amazing city!. Destin Luxury Hotels Destin Luxury Resorts Ashland, OR, United States There are many places to visit in Ashland, Oregon. Some of the most popular places are the Shakespeare Festival, Lithia Park, and Mt. Ashland. The Shakespeare Festival is a great place to see some of the best plays in the world. Lithia Park is a beautiful park with a river running through it. Mt. Ashland is a great place to go skiing in the winter. Ashland Luxury Hotels Seaside, OR, United States One of the most beautiful places on the Oregon Coast is Seaside. With its wide, sandy beach and majestic promenade, Seaside is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to eat and shop, and the Seaside Aquarium is a must-see. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, whale watching, or just taking a leisurely stroll along the beach. Seaside Luxury Hotels Newport, RI, United States Newport is a picturesque town located in southern Rhode Island that is home to some of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States. The city is known for its miles of beaches and historic mansions that line the coast. Some popular places to visit in Newport include the Cliff Walk, the Breakers Mansion, the Museum of Yachting, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Newport Luxury Hotels Siena, Italy Siena, Italy is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its well-preserved medieval city center. The city is famous for its art, food, and wine. Siena is located in the heart of Tuscany, making it the perfect base for exploring this beautiful region of Italy. Don't miss the Duomo (cathedral), the Piazza del Campo, and the Torre del Mangia. Siena Luxury Hotels Reno, NV, United States Home to the University of Nevada, Reno and a wide variety of cultural and natural attractions, Reno is a great place to visit. Some of the top places to see in Reno include the Nevada Museum of Art, the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, and the Reno Events Center. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking and skiing at Lake Tahoe and biking and kayaking on the Truckee River. In addition, Reno is home to a diverse array of restaurants and nightlife venues. Reno Luxury Hotels Atlantic City, NJ, United States Atlantic City is a popular East Coast tourist destination, known for its boardwalks, beaches and casinos. There are plenty of places to visit in Atlantic City, from the Boardwalk Hall and the Absecon Lighthouse to the Atlantic City Aquarium and Lucy the Elephant. For a more thrilling experience, head to one of the city's casinos, where you can try your hand at blackjack, slots, roulette and more. Atlantic City also offers a wide variety of restaurants, from seafood spots to pizza places, so you're sure to find something to your taste. And if you're looking for some nightlife action, the city has you covered there too. Atlantic City is definitely a place worth visiting!. Atlantic City Luxury Hotels Atlantic City Luxury Resorts Lake George, NY, United States Looking for a place to visit in upstate New York? Look no further than the stunning Lake George. This picturesque locale is located in the heart of the Adirondacks and is known for its pristine beauty and terrific recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and skiing, among other activities. Don't miss the chance to take in the spectacular views from the summit of Prospect Mountain or from the water's edge. Lake George Luxury Hotels Buffalo, NY, United States If you're looking for a city that has it all, Buffalo is the place to be. From its vibrant downtown district to its abundance of parks and nature preserves, there's something for everyone in Buffalo. Here are some of the top places to visit in Buffalo: 1. The Buffalo Zoo - One of the top zoos in the country, the Buffalo Zoo is a must-visit for animal lovers of all ages. 2. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery - Buffalo's answer to the Louvre, the Albright-Knox is home to some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. 3. The Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village - This living history museum offers a glimpse into what life was like in Buffalo in the 1800s. 4. The Buffalo River - Take a walk or bike ride along the Buffalo River, one of the city's most picturesque areas. 5. Delaware Park - This large park is home to a variety of attractions, including a zoo, a golf course, and a nature preserve. Buffalo Luxury Hotels Rochester, MN, United States Rochester, Minnesota is a city with plenty of places to visit. There's the Mayo Clinic, the Apache Mall, and several other shopping areas, as well as a variety of restaurants. There are also a few parks and golf courses. For those who love the outdoors, Rochester is also close to several state parks and the Mississippi River. Rochester Luxury Hotels Duluth, MN, United States If you're looking for an amazing place to visit, Duluth, Minnesota should definitely be at the top of your list. This city is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, and there are plenty of things to do here that will keep you entertained for days on end. Some of the most popular places to visit in Duluth include the Aerial Lift Bridge, the Glensheen Mansion, and Chester Creek Park. Additionally, there are a number of excellent restaurants and shopping areas in the city, so be sure to explore everything that Duluth has to offer. Duluth Luxury Hotels Maputo, Mozambique Maputo is the capital of Mozambique and a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Maputo, such as the Jose Eduardo dos Santos Museum, the Maputo Cathedral, and the Rua da Independencia. Maputo is also home to the Maputo Bay, which offers beautiful beaches and great seafood. Maputo Luxury Hotels Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, located on the northeast coast of Spain, is a renowned tourist destination and one of the most popular cities in the world. There are plenty of places to visit in Barcelona, such as the Gothic Quarter, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parc Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and more. The city is also home to a lively nightlife and some of the best restaurants in the country. Barcelona Luxury Hotels Barcelona Luxury Villas Split, Croatia Split is a city on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. It is the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest city in Dalmatia. It has a population of over 200,000 inhabitants. The metropolitan area, which includes the City of Split and the surrounding towns, has a population of over 330,000. Split is a popular tourist destination and is the home of the Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other popular tourist destinations include the Riva, the Peristyle, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and Sustipan. Split Luxury Hotels Split Luxury Villas Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik is a city on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the administrative center of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Dubrovnik is nicknamed "The Pearl of the Adriatic". Dubrovnik Luxury Hotels Dubrovnik Luxury Villas Byron Bay, NSW, Australia Byron Bay is a magical place. It's no wonder that it's one of the most popular destinations in Australia. The town is set in a beautiful location, surrounded by rolling green hills and the bright blue ocean. There's plenty to do in Byron Bay, whether you're looking for a relaxing beach holiday or an adventure-filled trip. Some of the top places to visit in Byron Bay include the iconic lighthouse, the stunning beaches, and the lush rainforest. There's also a great nightlife and plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy. If you're looking for an amazing Australian getaway, be sure to add Byron Bay to your list!. Byron Bay Luxury Hotels Wellington, New Zealand If you're looking for a little slice of heaven on earth, look no further than Wellington, New Zealand. With its gorgeous landscape and plethora of activities, there's something for everyone here. Whether you're a nature lover or a city slicker, Wellington has something special to offer. Top Wellington attractions include the Zealandia eco-sanctuary, the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens, and the sprawling Te Papa museum. For those who love getting out into the great outdoors, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails, as well as lovely seaside towns and villages to explore. And of course, no trip to Wellington would be complete without trying some of the delicious local cuisine be sure to sample a traditional Maori hangi feast! So what are you waiting for? Book your flight to Wellington today and start planning your perfect holiday!. Wellington Luxury Hotels Saint Louis, MO, United States If you're looking for a fun place to visit with a rich history and plenty of things to see and do, look no further than Saint Louis, Missouri. This vibrant city is home to a variety of interesting attractions, including the Gateway Arch, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. There's also no shortage of restaurants and shopping options in Saint Louis. So, whether you're looking for a place to explore new cultures and cuisines or you're just looking for a place to have some fun, Saint Louis is a great option. Saint Louis Luxury Hotels Bloomington, IN, United States The city of Bloomington, Indiana is home to a variety of attractions and places to visit. The Indiana University campus is a popular destination, as is the city's historic downtown district. Monroe County Courthouse MORTON COUNTY -- Negotiations between Dakota Access Pipeline protesters and law enforcement broke down Wednesday morning, leading to a long and tense day of anticipation over whether police would raid the new camp, which its denizens are calling a "no-surrender line." The camp was established Sunday directly atop the pipeline easement. The land was recently purchased by Dakota Access LLC, but protesters say it belongs rightfully to the Sioux people. For a time Wednesday, a law enforcement raid seemed imminent. Later, rumors circulated that President Barack Obama had stopped the surge. By midafternoon the tension had eased, but people still kept watch. The events followed a conversation between top law enforcement officials and protest leaders near the new camp. Law enforcement wanted to convince the activists to voluntarily remove barriers, including an on-and-off human blockade, from the public road and clear the camp. But the conversations failed as protesters maintained they would not back down. "No surrender, no retreat!" protest organizer Mekasi Camp-Horinek, of Oklahoma, called out to those gathered nearby as he walked away from the negotiations. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier indicated he would continue trying to work with the protesters, but conceded at a press conference that talks failed Wednesday. Basically, we came to an impasse," he said. Kirchmeier said he advised the protesters that highways and county roads cannot be blocked. He did not designate any particular timetable other than asking that the activities end peacefully. Camp-Horinek said he told police the group did not intend to relocate, then warned protesters to expect 300 officers to remove everyone from the camp and take them to jail. "We will be peaceful, we will be prayerful, we will not retreat," he said. Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, who is leading operations, said he encouraged protesters to return to the main camp on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land. We have the resources. We can go down there, and were trying everything we can to not have to do that," Laney said. "At some point, rule of law needs to be enforced." Dozens of protesters formed a human blockade on N.D. Highway 1806 backed up with horses and hay bales. Many wore bandannas over their faces, and a few carried goggles in case of pepper spray as they waited for the police to come. They planned to stand their ground, even if that meant getting arrested. "We've got to make our bodies a living sacrifice," said John Perko, a protester from South Dakota. "This is the most honorable thing I could be doing right now." Protester Andy Kilchrist, 71, who was arrested Saturday in the biggest one-day roundup to date by law enforcement, carried a bag with fleece pajamas in anticipation of being cuffed again and taken to jail. "So what? What am I going to do with the rest of my life?" she said. One activist walked up and down the roadway calling out a lawyer's phone number. "Write it on your body," he told protesters, and at least one man rolled up his pants and wrote the number on his calf. Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson joined the demonstrators in the chilly Wednesday morning fog on Highway 1806. Standing in a deep group, he led prayers for hope and strength, drawing connections between the history and struggles of African Americans and Native Americans. "America can never be whole until the Native Americans are treated with justice," Jackson said. Opponents of the $3.8 billion, four-state oil pipeline worry a leak could contaminate the drinking water for millions of people and construction could disrupt sacred sites. It is nearly complete in North Dakota, but does not yet have permission to cross under the Missouri River. Protesters say the property where they recently set up at least 15 tents, 100 teepees and one semi-permanent structure is unceded land from the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie. They are claiming eminent domain in the hopes of retaking it and stopping the pipeline from crossing the highway and, ultimately, the river. Law enforcement has repeatedly called the new camp illegal, and Dakota Access LLC said Tuesday in a statement that "all trespassers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and removed from the land." Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II said the pipeline protest is "in a corner" and he wishes the company would slow down and give the process more time. As far as the treaty dispute, Kirchmeier said that is beyond his job parameters. "That cannot be worked out in Morton County," he said. "That has to be worked out with the federal government." Early Wednesday afternoon, a rumor began to circulate that Obama had stopped an impending police raid, but that remained unconfirmed by evening. "The sun is coming out, so maybe it is true," said Vanessa Dundon, a member of "the expendables" -- the security team that camps by the barrier at night, ready to block traffic if law enforcement appears. But others were more wary. "It would be a blessing, but it's just hearsay right now," said Cody Saint, another security team member. Saint stood at the blockade all day as it transitioned from a line of people to a cluster around an altar with burning sage and a medicine stick, which protesters said marked the no-surrender line. "We expect them to do whatever at any minute," he said. The Rev. Jesse Jackson did not have to spend a long time at the Dakota Access Pipeline protest to make a big impression on Wednesday. The man most closely associated with civil rights in America came to the scene on N.D. Highway 1806 and gathered the self-proclaimed water protectors into a tight, deep prayer circle. Asking people to repeat his words, he said: "Suffering breeds character, character breeds faith, and, in the end, faith will prevail. We will not leave. We will hold out, one day longer, to stop this pipeline." A smudge pot of sage sent aromatic smoke into the circle when Jackson finished speaking, and drumming and singing filled the foggy morning air. One of the first to embrace him afterward was actor Mark Ruffalo, co-founder of the Solutions Project, which promotes clean and renewable energy. Ruffalo delivered a pair of Navajo-made solar trailers to help power the encampments. He also told the group his brothers and sisters in the film industry supported the cause. "Leo is coming," he said, referring to actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who has been on the list of expected visitors for nearly two months. Simon Cummings, of Arkansas, said he appreciated Jackson's appearance and its timing. "He saved our bacon is what he did. (The police) were about to roll in on use," Cummings said. Tom Abe, of Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, said it was good to see Jackson support the anti-pipeline movement. "It's encouraging. The people here are doing this for everybody," Abe said. CROSBY -- A North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper testified Thursday in Crosby that video of a crash that killed three family members in Divide County appears to show a pickup slamming into the back of a stopped car at highway speed. Trooper Kenton Kossan testified a preliminary hearing for William Koehler, who pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in connection with the crash, which killed two children and their father. Kossan also said surveillance cameras on a nearby business captured the impact from two separate angles. The videos show a car coming to a stop at the direction of a flagger in a construction zone on Highway 5 near Crosby, followed by Koehlers pickup rear-ending it at what appeared to be highway speeds. A 2-year-old girl and her 8-year-old sister died from the impact, and their father, Lesley Gunderson, 31, of Noonan, who was behind the wheel, died two days later in an area hospital. Gundersons 4-year-old son was the sole survivor of the Aug. 23 crash. Koehler, 49, of Florida, was arrested in September on three charges of manslaughter. According to court records, he admitted to investigators that hed been using his cell phone before the crash. Investigators found no evidence that Koehler tried to slow down, Kossan testified. There were no pre-impact skid marks that would indicate there was any braking, he said. An airbag control device taken from his truck showed that Koehler was traveling at 74 miles per hour about five seconds before the crash, but had slowed to 62 miles per hour half a second before impact, Kossan said. Prior to the hearing, attorneys, citing worry over the amount of media attention that the case has received, argued that reporters should not be allowed in the courtroom. I certainly understand and respect the media, but by the same token Id be shocked if we could get a fair and impartial jury, Divide County States Attorney Seymour Jordan told Northwest District Judge Robin Schmidt. Schmidt acknowledged attorneys concerns but did not reverse an order issued Wednesday allowing cameras in the courtroom. Schmidt ruled that there was enough evidence for the case against Koehler to move forward. by Ketan Gala TIMOR LESTE, OCT 27, 2016: Delegates from nine countries attended the 11th East Asia Oceania Congress of Salesian Past Pupils entitled 'Serving God through our fellows' by promoting good education, economic solidarity and social justice that was held at Dili, Timor Leste from October 4 to 8. This Congress is held every four years and in this edition 26 delegates represented the Indian National Federation (the biggest). Ketan Gala, the National President, Father Noel Madhichetty, the Salesian Family Delegate of South Asia joined other SDB Provincial Delegates and Past Pupils from the various provinces as participants at the congress. The participation and presentation of the Indian Delegation made an impact at the Congress. Father Jayapalan Raphael, Provincial of Chennai, attended the Congress as the World Delegate of the Past Pupils. Michal Hort, the President of the World Confederation of the Past Pupils made a presentation of the Strategic Plan of the World for the next five years. Presentations were also made on the four flagship projects, namely, the Permanent Secretariat, Business Platform, Exallievi Academy and Exallievi Voluntary Service. All participating Nations also presented their reports and the report discussed by India's delegation was considered the best among all the nations. The Various National Presidents and Secretaries along with the National Delegates then had closed-door meetings with the World President and his team. After two days of discussions, a resolution was signed by representatives from Australia, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and the World Confederation Presidency members. The resolution stated, "We, the Alumni of Don Bosco of East Asia Oceania region commit ourselves to care about the world, making it a worthy dwelling place for us and for those coming after us, and with a clear social concern and justice, taking into consideration the seven key priorities of the World Confederation Strategic Plan." "We resolve that every National Federation will prepare by 31.1.2017 their development or strategic plan, indicators and timeframe based on the seven key priorities of the Past Pupils Association." "We resolve that every National federation will work actively on the networking of their Past pupils by completing the preparing of the database within one year based on the format suggested by the World Confederation of the Past Pupils." The National Federations formulated seven priorities after the group discussions. They included formulating a growth and sustainable structure, networking in vocational and career guidance, formation in leadership, financial management, marketing and time management. Gex Promotion was singled out as another priority. Funding and fundraising was also underlined as essential, while the need to tap Family formation was stressed upon. They also prioritised the need to establish various communication channels using all available means such as online social media applications. The Congress concluded with promises from all to attend the next East Asia Oceania Congress at Japan in 2020. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions John Nunes has made history as the first African American president at Concordia College. On October 22, 2017, the Acton Alumnus and long-time Acton friend was installed as the ninth president of Concordia College-New York. Nunes is the only African American college president serving at an orthodox Christian college in the United States. An ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), Nunes was most recently the Emil and Elfriede Jochum Chair at Valparaiso University and prior to that, he was the president and CEO of Lutheran World Relief, a $40 million-dollar organization that seeks solutions to global poverty and injustice. Concordia College is ranked 4th for Most International Students and top 5 for Campus Diversity in the North Region according to US News and World Report. Nunes installation was a historic event and was treated as such by the many students, faculty, and staff that attended. The afternoon began with congratulatory praise from many of Nunes former colleagues and friends, highlighting the great achievements and friendships that he has built throughout his career. The ceremony concluded with a short talk by Nunes that stressed the importance of Concordia College students, faculty, and staff being present a phrase from the poem, Song of the Open Road, by Walt Whitman. The powerful words shared by Nunes and his friends served as a testimony to both his character and leadership abilities. Before serving as President and CEO at Lutheran World Relief, Nunes provided consulting support to the Acton Institute as a Research Fellow writing widely on topics related to urban mission, social theology, and ministry among youth. The Acton Institute is proud to have played a role in Johns development both intellectually and professionally and were thrilled for John as he begins his tenure at Concordia College. My colleagues and I would like to personally congratulate John and his wife Monique as they embark on this new journey. Clerck, Carl. Svenska Spindlar. 1757. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51379398. Arachnophobia (the fear of spiders and other arachnids) is one of the most prevalent phobias in the world, and some estimates suggest that over 30.5% of people in the United States alone have a fear of arachnids (Health Research Funding 2014). Given the pervasiveness of this phobia, we thought it only appropriate to spend some time on the subject of spiders as part of our Page Frights celebration. Being the science-focused organization that we are, we decided to look at the topic of arachnids from a taxonomic point of view. Clerck, Carl. Svenska Spindlar. 1757. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51379410. The founding text on spider nomenclature is Svenska Spindlar. It was published in 1757 by Carl Clerck, a member of the Swedish nobility. If youre familiar with the history of taxonomy, you may notice something interesting about the date of this publication. The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature considers Carl Linnaeus Systema Naturae, published in 1758, to be the starting point of zoological nomenclature. How then could a book published in 1757 be considered the starting point of spider nomenclature? Leslie Overstreet, Curator of Natural History Rare Books at the Smithsonian Libraries (who recently digitized this title for BHL), helped shed some light on the situation. Clerck became a friend and correspondent of Linnaeus after attending Uppsala University, where Linnaeus had received most of his own higher education and served as a professor beginning in 1741. In 1753, Linnaeus applied his binomial system for botanical names within Species Plantarum. When Clerck went to publish his descriptions of the large number of Swedish spiders that he had collected and studied, he did so following Linnaeus binomial system. As Linnaeus would not publish his own foundational text on zoological nomenclature until 1758, Clercks spiders became the first animals in modern zoology to receive valid scientific names according to the Linnaean system. Clerck, Carl. Svenska Spindlar. 1757. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51379414. Clercks Svenska Spindlar describes and illustrates 70 species and includes 6 hand-colored plates containing 89 figures. Artists for the work include Eric Borg and L. Gottman, and the plates were engraved by Carl Bergquist. The text is printed in both Swedish and Latin, and for each species, Clerck uses the single generic name Araneus followed by a specific, one-word name (constituting the species name). Clerck then provides detailed information about each species, from the dates that he collected his specimens to descriptions of anatomical features and differences between sexes. Clerck also restricted his use of the term spider to those species possessing eight eyes and separated prosoma and opisthosoma. As such, he, unlike many previous authors, excluded Opiliones (harvestmen) and other arachnids from his treatment of the subject. Clerck, Carl. Svenska Spindlar. 1757. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51379402. The International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature recognizes Clercks names as having precedence over any varieties that may have been proposed by Linnaeus, and as such the names in Svenska Spindlar have the unique distinction of being considered valid despite having been published a year before Linnaeus Systema Naturae. For example, while Linnaeus used the generic name Aranea, Clercks Araneus is considered the valid generic name. In 1793, the first English translation of Clercks Svenska Spindlar appeared under the title Aranei, or, A natural history of spiders, by Thomas Martyn. Martyn supplemented the text with additional illustrations originally published in Eleazar Albins Natural history of spiders (1736). Martyn, Thomas. Aranei, or, A natural history of spiders. 1793. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51378856. So, as you gear up for Halloween this weekend, take a moment to look through the book that started it all when it comes to spider nomenclature. If youre one of those 30.5% of U.S. people with arachnophobia, youre sure to consider it a true Page Frights experience! Special thanks to Leslie Overstreet, Curator of Natural History Rare Books at Smithsonian Libraries, for providing information about this title for this post. Reference Health Research Funding. 2014. 7 Uncommon Arachnophobia Statistics. September 22. Accessed October 25, 2016. http://healthresearchfunding.org/7-arachnophobia-statistics/. The Georgia Department of Labor announced on Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region in September was 5.3 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.2 percent in August. The rate in September 2015 was 5.5 percent. The rate rose as the labor force and number of new layoffs increased. The rate rose as the labor force increased by 2,955 to 407,084. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. While the number of employed increased by 2,597 to 385,533, the number of unemployed also rose by 358 to 21,551, which contributed to the rate hike. Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, rose by 212, or 8.3 percent, to 2,764 in September. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were up by 214, or 8.4 percent, from 2,550 in September 2015. Metro Daltons unemployment rate in September was 6 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.9 percent in August. The rate in September 2015 was also 5.9 percent. The rate rose as the labor force and number of layoffs increased. The labor force increased by 491 to 61,525. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. While the number of employed increased by 453 to 57,857, the number of unemployed also rose by 38 to 3,668, which contributed to the rate hike. The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 284, or 39.5 percent, to 1,003 in September. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were up by 93, or 10.2 percent, from 910 in September 2015. The number of jobs increased by 100, or 0.2 percent, to 68,400. Most of the job gains came in professional and business services and local government. Over the year, Dalton lost 100 jobs, a 0.2 percent loss, down from 68,500 in September 2015. Most of the job loss came in textile manufacturing. Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 6.7 percent. Meanwhile, Georgias seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in August. It was 5.6 percent in September 2015. Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOLs online job listing service,www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employers. In September, 4,583 new job openings in the Northwest Georgia region were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 82,056 new job openings were posted. Local labor market data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available atwww.dol.georgia.gov To learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers, and to connect with us on social media, visit www.dol.georgia.gov. For the better part of the decade, BMW and Mercedes have found success expanding into just about every segment you can think of. Between GTs and X- models, BMW just might offer more crossovers and SUVs than any other automaker. Hell, you can even spec a Mercedes Metris work van into an honest-to-God minivan. But neither German brand has attempted to tackle a pickup truck until now. Late last year, Mercedes unveiled the X-Class as a concept in Stockholm, Sweden. But dont let the concept designation fool you; the X-Class will see production. Its just a matter of whether or not itll ever come stateside. Mercedes has been developing the truck for at least a year through a partnership with Nissan. So far, its unlikely it will come to the U.S., but if the demand for luxury trucks continues, it just might. Pickup trucks are moving consistently upmarket, but while American buyers still largely flock to domestic brands, a high-end German model might go over well with well-heeled buyers that are already OK with spending $70K on a loaded hauler. Skipping the American market doesnt mean that Mercedes has it easy, either. The global market is intensely competitive, with rugged, go anywhere models like the Toyota Hilux, Volkswagen Amarok, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Navara (which the X Class is based on) jockeying for sales as the demand for trucks continues to grow worldwide. Despite the X-Classs recent unveiling, its near-production status means that we already have a good picture of what the production version is going to be. Here are five things you need to know about the Mercedes-Benz X-Class. 1. Itll be here sooner than you think Unlike the usual deflections about a concept cars chances of production, Mercedes has already announced that the X-Class will enter production in late 2017. Itll reach Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, and South Africa first, but with a strong demand for Mercedes SUVs in the Middle East, expect it to appear there soon after. 2. Dont let the Nissan DNA fool you The X-Class is closely related to the Nissan Navara, something thats most evident when you look at it in profile. It will even be built in the same plant, along with the closely-related Renault Alaskan. But thats where the comparisons end: The X-Class will feature a unique bed and sheetmetal from the A-pillars forward, as well as a unique interior. Whats more, it will feature Mercedes powertrains. In essence, Mercedes has expedited its development process by finding a platform that works, and doing the rest. 3. Powertrains are all Mercedes Like the bodywork, the powertrain options in the X-Class will be all Mercedes. The company announced that the range-topping powerplant will be a six-cylinder diesel mated to a full-time all-wheel drive system, but promised that a range of engines will be available. Expect two-wheel drive entry-level models, as well as a host of other four- and six-cylinder gas and diesel engines to be sold around the world. 4. Its all truck As the Navara and Alaskan have already proven, Mercedes is working with a seriously capable truck platform. When the project was announced last year, the company declared that it would be able to haul as much as or more than any other midsize truck in the world. With the ability to haul 2,200 pounds, and tow up to 7,000, it looks like Mercedes has made good on its claim. 5. It will appeal to truck buyers everywhere The X-Class was unveiled in two different trims: The off-road ready Powerful Explorer, and the urbane Stylish Adventurer. Wed be surprised if those trims made it to production full-stop, but they show what the X-Class can be. Buyers at the top end will almost certainly be able to option their trucks as either a luxury vehicle or rugged off-roader, but expect the vast majority to just be pickup trucks. Remember, Mercedes has a long and successful history selling entry-level and work vehicles around the world. Regardless of whether its hauling farm equipment in Argentina, or parked on the streets of Berlin, X-Class is likely going to become an important part of Mercedess global lineup very soon. 60 people were indicted in a scam in which individuals posing as IRS extorted $300 million from 15,000 victims across the country. Oct. 27, 2016. (CBS Chicago) At least six individuals in Illinois are among nearly 60 people indicted in a call-center scam in which individuals posing as agents of the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies extorted a total of $300 million from 15,000 victims across the country, the federal government said Thursday. The indictment, unsealed Thursday by the U.S. Justice Department, lists three defendants in Willowbrook, and one each from Midlothian, Schiller Park and Glendale Heights. Advertisement The call-center operators allegedly threatened potential victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if victims didn't pay purported taxes or penalties to the government. Some victims also were local. Advertisement According to the 81-page indictment, one Niles victim lost $3,683 in 2013 to someone posing as an IRS employee, demanding payment for alleged fines and fees for alleged tax violations and threatening the victim with arrest and deportation. The victim allegedly was ordered to buy eight prepaid MoneyPak cards loaded with $3,683 and to transmit the cards' PINs to the callers. One Chicago resident lost $5,070 in 2013 after callers posed as immigration officials and members of the Illinois State Police, threatening arrest and deportation if MoneyPak cards weren't purchased and PINs transmitted, the indictment says. Law enforcement involved in the case included police in Hoffman Estates and Naperville, and the U.S. attorney's office for northern Illinois. Charges in the case include wire fraud and money laundering. The indictment alleges that the defendants were involved in a scheme organized in India, including a network of call centers in India. Using information from data brokers and others, call-center operators allegedly called potential victims while impersonating government officials, the indictment says. If the victims agreed to pay, the call centers would then immediately turn to a network of U.S.-based co-conspirators to launder the extorted funds as quickly as possible, according to the indictment. The Willowbrook defendants were listed as Miteshkumar Patel, Rajubhai Patel and Asmitaben Patel. Also named as defendants were Bharatkumar Patel in Midlothian, Vijaykumar Patel in Schiller Park and Montu Barot in Glendale Heights. They couldn't be reached for comment. Advertisement byerak@chicagotribune.com Twitter @beckyyerak One woman engineer said she was reprimanded for raising her voice, while her male colleagues yelled without consequence. Another woman recalled male co-workers rejoicing that a new female hire would keep the lab tidy. Advertisement A mother reported that her colleagues think she's a slacker, despite the evenings and weekends she spends working to make up for time she misses because of her kids. Authors of a new study released this week said they weren't surprised that women and people of color working in engineering report an unfriendlier workplace climate than their white male peers. But they were surprised that nearly a third of the 3,000 survey respondents left optional comments describing their personal experiences, indicating their strong reactions to the topic and offering an inside look at how implicit bias those subconscious assumptions even egalitarian people make that can lead to unfair treatment plays out in the engineering workplace. Advertisement Despite concerted efforts to engage girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) starting in grade school and programs designed to draw women into the field in college and retain them once they are in the workforce, the industry still struggles with gender diversity, particularly in engineering. Women represent only about 15 percent of the engineering workforce. Nearly 40 percent of female engineers leave engineering by midcareer, according to the Society of Women Engineers, which partnered with the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California's Hastings College of Law to produce the study. Social psychology experiments on implicit bias have shown that hiring managers both men and women are more likely to prefer male over female candidates for certain STEM jobs despite identical resumes. The new study explores how implicit bias molds a workplace culture in the male-dominated sector that could be driving or keeping women away. The study points to three patterns of bias. One, which the researchers called "prove-it-again bias," found women are nearly twice as likely as men to say they have to prove themselves repeatedly to get the same respect and recognition as their colleagues. "Women have to look more professional and demonstrate technical prowess at all times to receive the same respect as a male engineer who is just an average engineer," one woman said in the comments. Engineers of color were even more likely to express that view. Another pattern, dubbed "tightrope bias," describes how women must operate within a narrow range of acceptable behavior that is neither too feminine nor too masculine to avoid being branded "emotional" on the one hand or "difficult" on the other. Women were twice as likely as white men to say they felt pressured to let others take the lead and to do office "housework" like taking notes and planning office parties. They were less likely to say they could show anger without pushback. Advertisement "It is exhausting to have to constantly fight gender roles and play the balancing act of being assertive but not bitchy, helpful but not a doormat," one female respondent said. "It is exhausting on the good days, soul-crushing on the bad days." The third bias pattern, called "the maternal wall," refers to assumptions that the ideal worker is always available for work and that mothers do not or should not remain committed to their careers. Women with children were less likely than white men with children to report that having children did not change their colleagues' perceptions of their work commitment or competence. "This new manager told me directly that I would not 'want' a promotion because it requires more responsibility, and I am a mom so I wouldn't want to travel," said one woman, describing what is called "benevolent bias" because the assumptions are based on what someone thinks is best for the other person. Both women and men with children commented on the stigma against using flexible arrangements, and, relatedly, both men and women without children described resentment at having to pick up the slack for their colleagues with kid commitments. Another pattern, which had weaker evidence, showed that there was tension between women. A quarter of women said they felt some other women didn't understand the level of commitment that it takes to be a successful engineer. Others said everything is fine if you assimilate into the "boys club." "The best way to succeed is to be seen as 'one of the guys,'" one woman wrote in a comment. "Don't be offended easily or you will be avoided." Advertisement In addition to gender bias, the study showed a tougher workplace climate for engineers of color of both sexes and engineers over age 45. Engineering is not the only field grappling with an underrepresentation of women and issues of implicit bias. But the researchers noted differences between the engineering study and another administered recently among lawyers suggesting that gender bias is a touchier subject among male engineers. While more men in both studies expressed support for gender diversity, 17 percent of male engineers said they felt diversity efforts are threatening the quality of the profession, giving women unfair advantages, or they attacked the survey generally, compared with 4 percent of male lawyers. The difference may reflect the high value engineers place on merit. "This survey is a great example of why women engineers are having issues in the workplace," one male respondent wrote. "As an engineer, I don't care who I work with (male, female, ethnicity, etc.) all I expect is someone to work to the best of their abilities. The 'poor me' attitude (as shown throughout this survey) will not help gain respect in this field, engineers by nature are results oriented." The study was released as the Society of Women Engineers announces its second STEM Re-entry Task Force, a program that helps women and men re-enter the workforce through temporary "returnships" internships for returning workers after time away to care for children or other needs. Ford Motor Co., GE Power, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Northrop Grumman and Schneider Electric are the companies participating in 2017. Advertisement aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com Twitter @alexiaer The west front of the U.S. Capitol is photographed near dusk Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, in Washington. (Alex Brandon / AP) For every chair occupied by a woman in the corporate C-suite, six are filled by a man. In the federal government, it's 1 out of every 3. Advertisement Women are gradually advancing to the highest levels of government, where they now represent 33.7 percent of the leaders known as senior executives. These are the mostly career managers who carry out the mandate of the White House, occupying key roles just below top presidential appointees. In the civilian world, they're the generals and admirals who run their agencies day-to-day. Women and men have not reached parity in the top ranks of government. But among the 7,187 career senior executives, they've reached pay parity, with women getting a slight edge. Their $175,451 average salary is $479 more than men's. Advertisement Women have climbed further than their male counterparts at private companies, where just 16 percent of executives are women, according to an analysis by McKinsey & Company, working with the Partnership for Public Service. In the federal government, how likely is it that a woman will make more than a man? (Leslie Shapiro and Ted Mellnik / The Washington Post) The Government Accountability Office, a little-known agency that acts as the government's fiscal watchdog, has quietly cultivated a culture that has helped women thrive. The result? Women make up 41 percent of the senior executives there, substantially above the government-wide average. The GAO has what's best described as an unglamorous mission: It audits government programs for Congress to ensure that taxpayers get the most efficient and accountable spending for their money. The audits released this month include titles such as "Agencies Have Sound Procedures for Managing Exchanges but Could Improve Inventory Monitoring" (on nuclear material) and "Guidance Needed for Completing Required Impact Assessments Prior to Presidential Drawdowns" (on security assistance). Arcane as the work is, it gets results: Federal agencies act on about 80 percent of the GAO's recommendations to improve their operations, even if some guidance takes years to be implemented. Yet the GAO is not just a good place to work (it consistently ranks near the top among midsize agencies in the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government annual rankings) but a good place to work for women. Of the agency's 121 senior executives, 50 are women, including the general counsel and chief operating officer. "With the wide variety of work we're doing, you want to have a representative workforce," Eugene Dodaro, the comptroller general of the United States and GAO head, said in an interview. Government agencies have long prided themselves on helping their employees balance their work and personal lives. The GAO's approach is more serious than most: day care on site at the Washington headquarters, a student loan repayment program, a generous telework policy - 65 percent of the staff worked from home one day or more per pay period last year - and a flexible relocation policy. Advertisement When she was hired 26 years ago as an entry-level analyst right out of graduate school, Orice Williams Brown told herself she would do this for a few years until the financial markets, still reeling from a crash, recovered. Her first assignment was to investigate why the Internal Revenue Service was not using interest on municipal bonds that local governments had returned to the federal government. "I was totally hooked," she recalled. She was promoted to senior executive in 2005, in charge of the team that audits financial markets and community investment. Five years ago, she was made a managing director. "The work is extremely appealing," Williams Brown, 50, said. "It's a family-friendly culture. I've seen people advance regardless of where they are in their personal life. I've seen people promoted who are out on maternity leave." She said that by having employees work in teams with experts from different disciplines, the GAO puts a premium on collaborative skills and coming to collective decisions. "That's one of the things women are really socialized to do." For Susan Poling, the GAO's stable leadership is a big factor in why she and other women thrive. The agency is not run by a political appointee whose face changes every four years, but by a nonpartisan civil servant who serves a 15-year term. Advertisement Like many lawyers, Poling found that government gives women opportunities to advance without working the 70-and 80-hour weeks that are essential to making partner at corporate firms. "One of the things I bring is that I've been a working mother, and I have other men and women on my staff who are working parents," she said. When she was hired to the GAO in 1990 from the Department of Education, she worked part time so she could spend more time with her young son. "But they didn't shunt me over and not give me great things to do," she said. Today, as a full-time senior executive, Poling supervises 156 lawyers. And at 68, she has no plans to retire anytime soon. "I'm still enjoying myself." The condition of Pizza the polar bear (pictured above) is indicative of a growing trend in China where captive animals are put on display at shopping malls to entice customers and to trump an online-shopping experience. Photo by Maizi/VShine 1.0K shares Inside a glass-fronted enclosure at a bustling mall in China, a polar bear named Pizza paces around restlessly, swinging his head in frustration over and over. He finds neither comfort nor companionship; only throngs of gawking people, mainly kids, running back and forth, banging on the glass for his attention as they take selfies. Its just one creature in a world with billions at risk, but its heartbreaking nonetheless. There are hot lights overhead and a fake plastic iceberg, but no companions, no offspring, and no snow or ice or arctic winds or currents. He spends hours a day sniffing and tapping at the air vent his only hint of an outside world that is farther away than he can possibly know. Pizzas condition is indicative of a growing trend in China where captive animals are put on display at shopping malls to entice customers and to trump an online-shopping experience. At the Grandview Shopping Mall, where Pizza is caged, there are allegedly thousands of animals belonging to some 500 species, including an arctic fox, walruses, and beluga whales, all kept in similarly deficient conditions. Humane Society International this week released footage showing the sad conditions that Pizza lives in, even as 50 Chinese animal welfare organizations wrote a letter to Governor Zhu Xiaodan of Guangzhou, China, to demand that Pizza, who has been dubbed the worlds saddest polar bear, be rehomed. In the open letter, the animal groups urged the governor to take action to close the exhibits and find happier homes for all the animals. They also appealed to the nations industrial and commercial sectors to help stop this cruel trend of displaying animals at malls. HSI, Care2, Born Free Foundation, and the Hong-Kong-based Animals Asia Foundation have also collected one million signatures on a petition asking that Pizza and the other animals at the Grandview Mall be rehomed. The footage of Pizza was obtained in September by an investigator hired by HSI who visited the mall and took photos and video of the animals trapped there. The footage shows disturbing evidence that Pizza is exhibiting the repetitive behavior typical of animals struggling to cope with traumatic, stressful situations. According to Professor Alistair MacMillan, who worked with HSI on this case, these behaviors including head swaying and repetitive pacing are evidence of frustration and mental decline. Polar bears are notoriously difficult to keep in captivity their welfare needs are very challenging to meet in captive situations. Our experts believe Pizzas welfare is at serious risk and that unless he is rehomed somewhere that is more suited to meet his welfare needs, he will slip further and further into mental decline and depression. In September, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in the United Kingdom offered Pizza a home in its 10-acre enclosure, but Chinese authorities refused the offer, stating the bear will not leave China. In fact, China has made foreign interference an excuse for its lack of action, and so it is now strategically important that Chinese animal groups take the lead on this issue. This week, at a press conference in Beijing, our Chinese partner groups, VShine and Capital Animal Welfare Association, made it clear that they are ready and able to negotiate for the animals release. There is no recourse under the law because China currently has no animal protection laws to stop animals like these being subjected to this kind of deprivation. The Grandview Mall has tried to make the case that the animals in its exhibit are part of a legitimate educational aquarium experience, but nothing could be further from the truth. The only lesson that visitors are learning is that human beings are in fact capable of delirious cruelty, with animals forced to endure a monotonous existence in entirely unsuitable environments. Pizza is a sentient, emotionally complex being. He doesnt exist for the amusement of shoppers. BRIELLE - October 26, 2016 - Shoreline Energy Advisors, LLC of Brielle, NJ, today announced construction has begun on the installation of a natural gas microgrid in Bridgeport. The microgrid is part of a municipal pilot program funded partially by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP); natural gas microgrids are designed to provide continuous power to critical public facilities in the event of a major power failure. The Bridgeport MicroGrid will provide an independent and local generating facility to supply and distribute power in island and parallel modes to City Hall, Police Headquarters and the Golden Hill Senior Center. The MicroGrid will power critical facilities which service almost 150,000 citizens of Bridgeport. In addition, the generators' waste heat will be utilized to provide heating and cooling to City Hall, Police Headquarters and heat to the neighboring Cabaret Theatre. Shoreline Energy Advisors also gained regulatory approval to utilize another Connecticut pilot program "Virtual Net Metering" to defray capital costs by qualifying for a credit from United Illuminating (the local electric utility) for any excess electricity generated by the project for use at additional city facilities. This was the first time Virtual Net Metering was approved for use by a non-solar project in Connecticut. The project was also designed and structured to qualify for Renewable Energy Credits which will further defray its cost of production. Shoreline Energy Advisors is a long-time advisor to Bridgeport's Energy Improvement District and worked as co-developer in the initial design, structuring, financing and negotiation of various contracts including power and thermal energy purchases, utility interconnection, operation and maintenance and fuel supply, from project inception through to financial closing. "Shoreline Energy Advisors was formed to provide large scale energy users with expertise in the development of renewable and conventional power projects when the technical, economic and transactional skills required for larger scale development are not resident in their clients' organization. These skills are especially relevant in the development of distributed power generation and resiliency projects which utilize the increasingly popular public-private-partnership model" said Fred Fastiggi, Principal and Managing Director for Shoreline Energy Advisors. "This was an extremely complex project to develop having the seemingly opposing goals of competitively priced power for the city and, reasonable returns to investors. It is an excellent example of how public-private partnerships can be utilized to develop infrastructure at no cost to taxpayers while improving services and economy. The project will have a positive effect on the people who live in Bridgeport and those responsible for providing critical municipal resources to the city." Power Island Energy, LLC of Jacksonville, Florida led a team which formed Bridgeport MicroGrid LLC to build, own, operate and maintain the project and to facilitate future advancements and improvements to the microgrid as the market evolves. Other Investors in the transaction include OR&L Construction of Branford, Connecticut along with representatives from Controlled Air, also of Branford. Primary financing for the project was provided by First Niagara. Bridgeport MicroGrid, LLC also received $500,000 in sub debt from the Connecticut Green Bank. The City of Bridgeport working with Shoreline Energy Advisors secured a $2.975 million grant from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to support the project. Construction is currently underway and the microgrid is expected to be operational by July, 2017. About Shoreline Energy Advisors, LLC Shoreline Energy Advisors, LLC is a consulting organization specializing in the development of distributed generation, cogeneration, renewable energy and energy storage projects. About Bridgeport MicroGrid, LLC Bridgeport MicroGrid, LLC is a special purpose entity created by Power Island Energy, LLC to handle the funding for the CCHP portion of the MicroGrid project. Media Contacts Fred Fastiggi Shoreline Energy Advisors, LLC fgfast@optonline.net (732) 528-1639 Steve Wilson Bridgeport MicroGrid, LLC s.wilson@powerislandenergy.com (904) 285-7154 Earlier this week, we highlighted one of the most interesting congressional races in the country when it comes to education: The attempt by Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau to become the first Native American woman to be elected to Congress . Juneau, a Democrat, is seeking Montanas at-large congressional seat. Shes running behind in the pollsby a lot or a little, depending on which poll you look atand is losing the fundraising game to her opponent, Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican whos wrapping up his first term in Washington. A skeptic of many (but not all) of President Barack Obamas signature education initiatives, Montanas chief is running on her rejection of Washingtons education agenda as well as the states increasing graduation rate. However, that signature accomplishment isnt an outlier in the grand scheme of thingsthe graduation rate has been rising nationwide as well. Juneau was first elected to the states top K-12 post in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. Theres not a huge precedent for Juneaus attempt to go from state superintendent to Congress. Since 2000, at least four others who were serving or had served as state K-12 chiefs have run in congressional electionsall of them were Democrats. Only one was successful: former Democratic Rep. Bob Etheridge of North Carolina, who served as the Tar Heel States schools chief before being elected to Washington. Nancy Keenan sought Montanas at-large congressional seat in the House in 2000 also after serving as the state superintendent. But Keenan lost that year to Denny Rehberg, a Republican. The Dominant Culture Juneau has carried on a family legacy in education and politics. Her father, Stan Juneau, was at one time the Browning schools superintendent. He has been active in Native American educational issues nationally. (Denise Juneau spent much of her childhood growing up in Browning and attending the schools there on the Blackfeet reservation.) Meanwhile, her mother, Carol Juneau, also worked in Browning schools before serving as a Democratic state senator. Stan Juneau wrote a history of Native American education in the state for the Montana education department back in 2001 that was updated about four years ago. Heres what he had to say about the changing face of Native American education in Montana: It was simple when Indian people were left to educate themselves using a time-proven model developed over thousands of years. It became complex because of the education process imposed over the past five hundred years from the dominant, non-Indian society which has tried to force American Indians to adopt the dominant culture. It is complex when the American model determines the outcomes of teaching and instruction; it is complex when a government system determines the curriculum and standards for learning. When shes talking to voters, Denise Juneau frequently cites her skepticism of top-down federal programs. In fact, she rates Obama education policy just a 3 out of 10, although Montana did adopt the Common Core State Standards. And Juneaus a big fan of the U.S. Department of Educations support for additional preschool. Stan Juneau thinks some of the influence he had on his daughter wasnt necessarily due to a dramatic moment or glamorous work in Browning schools. I think she saw us being change agents in the education system, getting up, going to work, putting in long hours, hours you dont get paid for, being part of the decision-making group with the schools, Stan Juneau said. And its easy to see a strong connection between her parents work in education and her specific emphasis on increasing graduation rates in Montana. Her mother Carol, who also worked in federal programs in Browning schools, said she worked hard to keep children from dropping out. Its particularly important, he said, in Native American communities often beset by drug, health, and other socioeconomic issues. If you take a group of kids that havent graduated from high school ... Thats where you find the poverty rates. Thats where you find all the issues that we need to find some solutions to, Carol Juneau said. As our longer print story notes, Juneau highlights the decreasing dropout rate of Native American students on her watch as one of his biggest accomplishment when it comes to educating that group of children, although their dropout rate remains the highest in the state among student subgroups. For an in-depth and award-winning look at Native American education, check out our colleague Lesli Maxwells stories on Education in Indian Country from 2014 . Poverty and Assistance Although Juneau thinks Obamas education policies in many instances were designed with big urban districts in mind and not a rural state like Montana, she told us she does like the administrations focus on poverty, which impacts all communities in essentially the same way. When you have those four components of poverty anywhere in the country, youre going to have schools that really struggle, students that really struggle, and communities that really just need a lot of assistance, she said in an interview. That goes for our inner cities and our reservations. Juneau plays up her work to put local communities at the front and center of her tenure as Montana chief. For example, as part of her Graduation Matters initiative, individual districts decide the best strategies for increasing graduation rates (including those that can start as soon as elementary school) and which local nonprofit organizations and businesses to partner with. And there are no state-level consequences or interventions attached to these efforts, Juneau pointed out, because she doesnt want to do things to communities, but work with them instead. By contrast, she sees a more proactive role for her state and for government in general when it comes to issues like teacher recruitment. Juneau praised one bill from Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, designed to help the recruitment of teachers in Native American communities . Our little towns cannot recruit and retain [teachers] right now, she said. Young people coming out want the amenities like they get in a bigger city. As for members of Congress she looks up to? Juneau highlighted Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., and Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn. And one final thing: At an Oct. 5 debate between Juneau and Zinke , as well as Libertarian Party candidate Rick Breckenridge, the Montana chapter of the American Association of University Women released responses from Juneau and Zinke to policy questions. Several of them pertain to education issues like Title IX, vouchers, and student loans. Check out their answers below: Education Week Library Intern Teresa Lewandowski contributed research for this blog post. Photos: Stan and Carol Juneau, the parents of Montana Superintendent Denise Juneauboth were educators in Browning, Mont.; Denise Juneau visiting students at Rose Park Elementary in Billings, Mont., earlier this month. (Photos by Andrew Ujifusa) Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Interviewer: Zhou Qian Payroll covers all aspects of paying a companys employees. This includes making sure that salaries are paid in the correct amount and on time, that income tax is withheld, and that social security contributions are made. Underpaying a valued team member by accident can impact staff retention. Paying salary to an employee that has already left is equally problematic, though for different reasons. One would be surprised to learn how often these issues occur, or more shockingly, how often employees are involved in defrauding these funds. With a country as fast-paced and dynamic as China, regulations affecting payroll change quickly. If employers do not closely follow these developments, its easy to miss an update and suddenly fall out of compliance. In this way, a minor oversight can have major ramifications. Depending on the jurisdiction, strict fines may be imposed for incorrect or late payments of individual income tax withholdings, or social security contributions. At the same time, payroll is a tedious task that can distract from a companys main purpose. Especially when a company is quickly expanding its operations in China, it may not be the best use of time to have the local manager personally handle payroll transactions. Outsourcing payroll then offers a solution. It takes valuable time off the hands of local managers to have these processes automated. Entrusting the matter to an experienced payroll outsourcer also reduces the risk of error and non-compliance. When payroll is handled externally, reports can be sent directly to HQ, ensuring confidentiality of sensitive information. RELATED: Payroll and Human Resource Services Question: What information would a company have to provide to a payroll outsourcer? Adam Livermore: This depends on what information one expects from the payroll provider. A key maxim in payroll (which is mainly IT) is garbage in, garbage out. Providing only the most basic data will only enable your payroll provider to make payroll calculations for you, such as salary, leave and bonuses. The more detailed HR information you can provide, the more sophisticated analysis your payroll provider can provide. Q: Can a payroll provider explain how much a new hire is going to cost, or how much terminating an employee will cost? Or how to track employees leave? AL: Mostly, yes. A payroll outsourcer can provide you with estimates of how much a new hire would cost in total. A payroll provider with a presence in multiple countries can for example assist you with determining where actual labor costs would be the most favorable, and provide the information necessary for decision-making. However, costs like terminating an employee, maternity leave or a work-related injury often highly depend on the situation or profile. Some of these considerations fall in the legal realm. Assessing these and negotiating with employees is a highly specialized task. Payroll outsourcers can configure platforms which allow their clients to manage the leave their employees are taking, although it is recommended this data is cross-referenced with a physical attendance management system where possible. Q: Do companies have to manually submit staff changes to the payroll provider? AL: For things like staff changes, the payroll outsourcer needs have some way to know you have employees joining or leaving. If you have an internal system that tracks this, it should be able to generate a change information file to upload into the payroll system. Often, the payroll provider will also have such a system for its clients to use. The same goes for expats visa status. The client has to store visa renewal dates somewhere, and agree with the outsourcer on a way to track this information. One way or another someone inside your organization should be submitting these kinds of details into some platform, ideally subject to an approval process to increase the reliability of the data. Q: Can a payroll provider assist with document retention or the handling of staff access to documents? AL: For original documents normally the ideal method is to use a specialist storage company. However, the payroll outsourcers system should have the option of uploading various documents, and setting access and security controls for these. Typically, HQ will want to have as much access to information as possible, while restricting certain information to the local team. This article is an excerpt from the April issue of China Briefing Magazine, titled How IT is Changing Payroll Processing and HR Admin in China. In this edition of China Briefing magazine, we examine how foreign multinationals can take better advantage of IT in the gathering, storing, and analyzing of HR information in China. We look at how IT can help foreign companies navigate Chinas nuanced payroll processing regulations, explain how software platforms are becoming essential for HR, and finally answer questions on the efficacy of outsourcing payroll and HR in China. Human Resources and Payroll in China 2016-2017 A firm understanding of Chinas laws and regulations related to human resources and payroll management is absolutely necessary for foreign businesses in China. This edition of HR and Payroll, updated for 2016/17, navigates Chinas laws and regulations related to HR and payroll management essential information for foreign investors looking to establish or already running a foreign-invested entity in China. Labor Dispute Management in China In this issue of China Briefing, we discuss how best to manage HR disputes in China. We begin by highlighting how Chinas labor arbitration process and its legal system in general widely differs from the West, and then detail the labor disputes that foreign entities are likely to encounter when restructuring their China business. We conclude with a special feature from Business Advisory Manager Allan Xu, who explains the risks and procedures for terminating senior management in China. Internet Challenges & Solutions When Doing Business in China In this special edition of China Briefing magazine, we highlight how and why foreign companies will be negatively affected by Chinas internet, and provide methods to help solve these problems. We discuss ISP selection, internet connection types, CDNs and VPNs, and internal control systems. Finally, we examine the importance of network security in China and how it can help augment a companys internet connection. Theres no hard-and-fast evidence that Race to the Top, the Obama administrations $4 billion, signature K-12 initiative had a long-term impact on student achievement or state policy, according to a report released Wednesday by the Institute for Education Sciences, the U.S. Department of Educations research arm. Differences in student achievement between [Race to the Top] states and other states may be due to other factors and not to the program said Lisa Dragoset, a senior researcher at Mathematica, which performed the evaluation for IES. For example, she said, Race to the Top states differed from other states before receiving the grants in a number of ways, and other changes that occurred at the same time as [Race to the Top] reforms may also have affected student achievement. Whats more, the report concluded, it is difficult to discern whether Race to the Top had a long term impact on state policy. While there were differences between states that got the grants and those that didnt, other factors could explain those differences. For instance, some states embraced policies encouraged by Race to the Top even before the grants were allocated. It is not clear whether the [Race to the Top] program influenced the use of policies and practices promoted by the program in [Race to Top] states, the report says. Although some differences between [Race to the Top] and other states were observed, other factors could explain those differences. In particular, some differences in use of policies and practices promoted by RTT existed prior to states receipt of [Race to the Top] grants. Race to the Top rewarded states for embracing policies like rigorous standards, revamped data systems, dramatic school turnarounds, and teacher evaluation through test scores. Nearly every state applied for one of the grants and ultimately, 11 states and the District of Columbia were declared winners. The department gave smaller awards to an additional seven states that just narrowly missed winning one of the original grants. See the full list here . Mathematica took a look at states that won the grants in the earlier round, states that won the smaller awards later, and states that didnt win Race to the Top at all. Heres a graphic that summarizes the reports findings on Race to Tops impact on policy, based on interviews with state officials in the spring of 2013. Key takeaways: The original Race to the Top states were more likely to use policies and practices promoted by the program than states that didnt get any Race to the Top money in four areas: school turnarounds, rigorous standards and tests, creating conditions for charter school success, and improving educator effectiveness. There werent big differences between states that got the grants and those that didnt when it came to creating data systems to measure student achievement and build state capacity. States that got the smaller grants were more likely than non-Race-to-the-Top states to adopt the programs policies in one area: teacher effectiveness. So what do the reports conclusions mean for the programs future? Nothing. Congress has already gotten rid of the program and made it virtually impossible for any future secretary of education to resurrect it. The Obama administration tried to get a permanent authorization for the program in an early version of legislation that eventually became the Every Student Succeeds Act. But lawmakers rejected that idea, and for good measure, stopped providing funding for Race to the Top. Whats more, ESSA even specifically bars the secretary of education from using competitive grants to influence states when it comes to teacher evaluation, school turnarounds, or standards. Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . China has great potential as a wine export market for Argentina, due to growing demand, Argentinean experts said on Wendesday. "Wine has recently become fashionable in Asia. If we look at China, the market remains relatively small, but presents great potential for the coming decades," Cristobal Lapania, director general of the Don Cristobal wine company, and Lucia Espejo, an oenologist with the company, told Xinhua. They remarked that "in China, wine is frequently used as a gift, to welcome someone or as a status symbol. It is very common for wine to be given as a gift for the Chinese New Year." Furthermore, wine imports into the northern port of Tianjin increased in the first nine months of this year by 46 percent to reach 62 million liters, for a value of over 130 million U.S. dollars, according to the Tianjin Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. The Don Cristobal firm was also awarded one of the top prizes of the Decanter World Asia Wine Awards 2016, held in Hong Kong, and organized by the prestigious Decanter wine magazine. The winning wine was the Triana Cosecha 2011, elaborated with three types of grapes, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. "It is always good, especially in new markets, to obtain important prizes as we obtained from Decanter. Frequently, such prizes are what influence people at the moment of buying," said Lapania and Espejo, who added that Don Cristobal takes part in at least two wine fairs in Asia a year. The National Museum of Chinese Writing on Thursday launched an award program to encourage people from around the world to help decipher oracle bone inscriptions. According to the museum based in Anyang City in central China's Henan Province, where oracle bones and script were discovered from the Ruins of Yin over 110 years ago, the program will offer 100,000 yuan (14,700 U.S. dollars) for each unknown character to be deciphered. Inscriptions on tortoise shells and animal bones represent the original characters of the Chinese written language. They date back to the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC). Chinese characters constitute the oldest continuously used writing system in the world. The logograms convey both meaning and pronunciation. To date, archaeologists around the world have discovered some 4,000 bone inscription characters by studying 160,000 relics, but only 1,600 of the characters have been deciphered. Oracle bone inscriptions were first discovered in 1899 by Beijing academic and antiquarian Wang Yirong, although farmers had been unearthing the artifacts in Anyang, Henan Province for many years. Wang noticed symbols that looked like writing on the animal bones and tortoise shells. According to the museum's announcement, the process of deciphering the oracle bone inscriptions has entered a "bottleneck" period and needs enthusiasm and innovation to help tackle the mysterious characters. The museum's incentive program requires each report submitted by award applicants to have recommendations from two academic experts before they hand in their entries to the museum's expert panel. It encourages oracle bone enthusiasts to use cloud computing and Big Data to analyze and support their interpretation of a particular character. If plagiarism or falsification are found, applicants will be considered disqualified to receive the award, the museum warned. Endi A resident withdraws new 100-yuan banknotes from ATM machine at the Beijing Branch of the Bank of Communication in Beijing, capital of China. [Xinhua] The State Council has agreed to establish an inter-ministerial joint meeting system to reduce enterprise leverage, and experts predict the equipment manufacturing industry might be the top priority in the debt-for-equity swap pilot, the National Business Daily reported. Led by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the joint meeting will consist of 17 ministries and commissions, including the Ministry of Finance, People's Bank of China, China Banking Regulatory Commission and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. The joint meeting will be responsible for developing related documents for reducing corporate leverage and organizing debt-to-equity swap pilots. Xu Shaoshi, head of NDRC, will serve as the convener. The State Council released a guideline early this month on the long-discussed debt-for-equity swap, pledging to "orderly" conduct the program as the country steps up efforts to tackle high corporate debt. Companies in "temporary difficulties" but with "long-term potential" will be able to exchange their debt for stocks, according to the guideline. However, poor-performing "zombie enterprises", and those with bad credit records, will not be allowed to participate. High corporate leverage in China has been a major threat to companies' profitability and to broader financial stability. The country's total debt surged after the 2008 global financial crisis and its debt-to-GDP ratio was reportedly around 250 percent at the end of 2015. "Debt-for-equity swap pilot is a win-win strategy," Hu Xingdou, an economics professor at Beijing Institute of Technology told the newspaper. "Banks could reduce bad loan ratio, while enterprises could make a better loan." If the government chooses some pilots to promote the program, sectors with better assets, such as machinery manufacturing and high-tech, will be the top priority, Hu added. A Taiwan sailor who had been abducted and held hostage by Somali pirates for almost five years returned home Wednesday. Shen Jui-chang, the chief engineer of the Oman-flagged fishing vessel Naham 3, arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. Shen, who was in bad physical shape, dropped to his knees after alighting the airplane to express his wholehearted gratitude to those who had saved him. He said he will share his experience with the public once he is in better health. Shen, along with 25 others on board, which included nine from the Chinese mainland, were released Saturday after almost five years in captivity. A total of 29 men were snatched from the vessel when it was hijacked just south of the Seychelles in March 2012. Three of the captives, including one from the Chinese mainland and one from Taiwan, died after the hijacking. An environmental protection project in Tibet is taking shape, and beginning to bring about improvements, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced Wednesday. "Tibet has one of the best quality environments in the world," said Wang Haizhou, vice chairman of Tibet autonomous regional government. The State Council in 2009 approved the "Plan for Ecology Safety Barrier Protection and Construction in Tibet (2008-2030)," to further improve the environment in this southwestern region. To evaluate the implementation of the plan, CAS issued an assessment report Wednesday on the progress achieved between 2008 and 2014. According to the report, the plateau environmental system in Tibet is generally stable and the vegetation coverage has been on the rise. Areas suffering from desertification have decreased by 107,100 hectares. Measures to return grazing land to grassland have also been lauded and have had the upshot of increasing the incomes of farmers and herdsmen. There has been a significant rise in the use of clean energy to support farming and breeding while the lives of farmers and herdsmen have considerably improved. The usage of new clean energy has reached 65.6 percent, mitigating damage to forest and grasslands. Tibet's nature reserve area now covers 413,700 square kilometers. The area of wetlands under protection is now 4.31 million hectares, or 65.98 percent of all wetland in Tibet. Rare animals and plants are also being effectively protected, the report said. "The quality of the water, air, soil and environment atop of the Tibet Plateau remains in good condition," Wang said. Wang added that the water quality of many main rivers and lakes, such as the Yarlung Zangbo River and Namtso Lake, are at Grade I or Grade II, the top two water quality levels. The air quality in major cities and towns is mostly good, and most of the forests, grasslands, wetlands and wildlife across Tibet are still pristine, Wang said. According to CAS vice president Zhang Yaping, for the project CAS researchers took three years, inspected over 10 major zones, collected about 1,300 samples from three different areas and 20 monitoring sites and reached the conclusions stated in the report. CAS also analyzed remote sensing data in three periods since 1990 and studied environmental changes in Tibet over the past 20 years. Police officers escort Li Huabo, a former finance official from Jiangxi province, at Beijing Capital International Airport after he was repatriated from Singapore in May last year. The 54-year-old fled China in 2011 after being accused of embezzling 94 million yuan ($13 million). [Xinhua] The government is stepping up efforts to recover billions of yuan in assets illegally transferred overseas by corrupt officials via money laundering platforms and underground banks. Statistics provided by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the nation's top anti-graft watchdog, show that from 2014 to July, the police confiscated illicit assets sent overseas worth 7.62 billion yuan ($1.14 billion). Last month, during Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Canada, the two countries signed a bilateral agreement to share illegally transferred assets, a move that is being seen as a milestone in China's program to recover misappropriated funds and assets. Similar agreements are now under negotiation with the United States, Australia and France. "Such agreements provide a legal framework for the countries involved to share the proceeds of stolen assets with China, once they are able to confirm that the money was transferred illegally by corrupt individuals or criminal organizations," said Hong Daode, a professor of criminal law at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing. Chain of evidence According to the Ministry of Public Security, a lack of bilateral extradition treaties and differences in national legal systems have seen the US, Canada, Australia and Singapore become popular destinations for corrupt officials in recent years. You Xiaowen, deputy director of the ministry's economic crimes investigation department, said the Chinese police face practical difficulties in repatriating fugitives and recovering funds: "It's the result of a lack of signed extradition treaties, political differences and complex legal procedures." Huang Feng, a professor of international criminal law at Beijing Normal University, stressed that evidence is crucial in such cases. "The most difficult issue is that we can't provide sound evidential documents to our foreign counterparts, such as the US and Canada, to form a 'complete chain of evidence'," he said. Evidence of this kind, prepared to better meet the requirements of judicial systems in Western countries, is expected to break the gridlock of technicalities that has been the biggest obstacle to cooperation on law enforcement between China and other countries, he said. Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director-general of the judicial assistance and foreign affairs department at the Ministry of Justice, said solid information is essential when requesting judicial assistance from other countries in "identifying, freezing and confiscating ill-gotten assets that have been transferred overseas". According to Zhang, the information mainly includes proof of bribes accepted by officials who abused their power to obtain assets illegally and transfer them to other countries. Lei Ming, a senior officer with the ministry's economic crimes investigation bureau, said more agreements will smooth the way for the recovery of stolen assets. "When bilateral agreements have been signed with more Western countries, they will facilitate the return of the money transferred by fugitives and the recovery of losses, which will help to combat crimes of this nature," he said. Amended laws Under the revised 2014 Criminal Procedural Law if corrupt fugitives are at large in foreign countries, and therefore unable to attend court hearings in China, prosecution lawyers will apply to the Supreme People's Court, the country's top legal tribunal, to rule on the confiscation of assets they have moved overseas. "Then we will offer the necessary legal documents, such as asset-restraining orders, to other countries to request their judicial assistance in accepting the verdict of the court, and take immediate action to freeze and confiscate the illegal funds," said Zhang, from the Ministry of Justice. Before the revised law came into force, if suspects failed to attend hearings, the courts were unable to pronounce sentences or arrange for their illicit gains to be confiscated. In a recent high-profile case, Li Huabo, a former finance official from Jiangxi province, returned to China in May last year after spending four years on the run in Singapore. Li, 54, who embezzled 94 million yuan, fled China in 2011 and obtained permanent residence in Singapore, but was later arrested by local police at a casino. In 2014, a court in Singapore sentenced Li to 15 months in prison for "dishonestly accepting bribes" and illegally transferring the money to Singapore via underground channels. A court in China ruled that the assets Li had sent overseas should be confiscated, even though he didn't attend the hearing, and provided solid evidence to the Singaporean authorities, including an asset-restraining order, which was crucial for his successful repatriation and subsequent trial. Shift of focus Since November 2012, when China's new leadership was elected and President Xi Jinping launched a sweeping anti-graft campaign targeting both high and low-ranking officialsor "tigers and flies"the battle against corruption has become a national priority. In 2014, the government set up the Central Anti-Corruption Coordination Group, led by the CCDI, and launched Operation Sky Net to detain economic fugitives overseas. In April last year, Interpol issued red noticesinternational arrest warrantsfor 100 major fugitive officials. By this month, 35 had been repatriated from 16 countries and regions, including four from the US and eight from Canada, according to the CCDI. Two of the 35 have already been convicted and sentenced. As part of a new focus in the hunt, the police will not only repatriate officials who have absconded overseas, but will also place more emphasis on recovering the assets they obtained illegally, according to the Ministry of Public Security. That will see public security authorities working closely with the People's Bank of China's anti-money laundering department to monitor suspicious flows of assets to other countries and take measures to prevent such crimes, according to Lei Ming, a senior ministry official. Authorities will also improve communication and conduct joint investigations with other countries on a case-by-case basis to repatriate and try more corrupt officials. They will also share intelligence with their foreign counterparts to locate, freeze and recover stolen assets, he said. You Xiaowen, deputy director of the economic crimes investigation department, said fugitives will have nowhere to hide: "No matter where they escape to, we will use every means to bring them back to face the music." Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda was all agog when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a lounge of hotel in Goa on the sidelines of the recent BRICS Summit. The Indian PM suddenly entered the room when Prachanda and Xi were holding talks. PM Prachanda called the meeting as rare and happy coincidence and utilized it to sell his idea of trilateral cooperation between Nepal, China and India. "I expressed Nepal's desire to be a dynamic bridge between India and China," said the Nepalese PM, adding that he put forward the idea of trilateral strategic cooperation and that both leaders described the proposal as positive. The news of the meeting was greeted with an explosion of media interest at home. Of course, it was an unusual and symbolic parley that reflected the amity and cordiality between the leaders of the three neighboring countries. Sadly, Prakash Dahal, the personal secretary of PM Prachanda, exaggerated the meeting to score diplomatic points only to receive backfire on social media. He wrote on his Facebook page that it was a trilateral meeting. In fact, it was a meeting that happened by coincidence, but the ham-fisted approach of Dahal dampened the positive vibes generated by it. Vikas Swarup, spokesman for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, was quick to comment that it was not a trilateral event. On the other hand, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had not commented on the nature of the meeting. Interestingly, a section of Nepalese media and commentators raised their eyebrows over the abrupt entry of Indian PM Modi into the room where Prachanda and Xi were talking. Some detractors called his dropping in an encroachment of privacy and violation of diplomatic norms. Some other argued that Modi could not enter the lounge without informing Xi. Nonetheless, disputation over the "trilateral meeting" hardly casts a shadow on the importance and prospect of trilateral cooperation and partnership between Nepal, India and China, which Nepal has been pushing for since 2008. China is positive about the concept while India is still hesitant to accept it. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that trilateral partnership would be good for regional stability and development. "Nepal and India are China's friendly neighbors. We believe that positive interactions will promote economic and social development for the three countries," she said during a regular press briefing on Oct. 17. India is not ready to buy the notion, largely because of its colonial mindset. It still thinks of Nepal as its traditional domain and does not like to include China in its dealings with Nepal. India seems to think that it does not need to walk down the "dynamic bridge" of Nepal to execute economic relations with China under a trilateral partnership. A sense of trepidation gripped India when China pushed for closer economic ties with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives, pouring large investments into their strategic projects. Now economic cooperation between China and these three South Asian nations has grown significantly. With this, they have regained more confidence and a stronger position vis-a-vis India. Against this backdrop, the three nations should begin exploring the possibility of trilateral cooperation. "Nepal should convince India of the benefits of trilateral cooperation. It should offer convincing logic and bases to rope the southern neighbor into the trilateral framework," said Dr Jay Raj Acharya, Nepal's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations while talking to this author. "The trilateral cooperation should mainly cover trade, energy and communications. This will tremendously benefit Nepal," he said. But, there is lack of vision and clear thinking from the Nepalese leadership in realizing the ambitious proposal. As a result, the grand idea has merely been confined to informal talks. PM Prachanda first put forth the idea with former Chinese President Hu Jintao during his first premiership some eight years ago. Since then, there have not been any serious deliberations on the subject. Nepal should first take the two neighbors into its confidence with regard to the feasibility of trilateral cooperation. They should reach a tripartite consensus and form a mechanism for the concept to take off. It is beyond doubt that the proposal holds huge potential to boost connectivity, economic and cultural cooperation, while reducing geopolitical tension in the region. Ritu Raj Subedi is an associate editor of The Rising Nepal. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash Turkey will continue its involvement in Syria and Iraq, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. "We are determined to stand by our brothers and sisters, who are fighting against terrorist organizations, through our diplomatic and military might if necessary," Erdogan said at the Presidential Complex. The president noted that Turkey would not allow Iraq to be drawn into a sectarian war. He added that Turkey had never made any demands about taking any territory from Mosul. "We are determined to clear Democratic Union Party (PYD) from Manbij as soon as possible," he said, adding that if the terrorist group did not withdraw east of the Euphrates River, Turkey "will do the necessary." Erdogan also indicated that Turkey would be active in Syria to build a security corridor on the west side of the Euphrates, to fight against Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Islamic State (IS). Turkey considers PYD, the Syrian offshoot of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that controls a continuous area south of its border, a national security threat. The PKK and the PYD are both listed as terrorist groups by Turkey, while the U.S. and the European Union only regard the PKK as a terrorist organization. Turkey launched the Euphrates Shield operation in August to rid the north Syrian border area of IS terrorists and prevent YPG to extend its control over these towns. Flash China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday wrapped up the third meeting of a joint border commission in Pyongyang. China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday wraps up the third meeting of a joint border commission in Pyongyang. [Photo/Xinhua] The two sides reviewed the implementation of the agreement on the border management system since the second meeting and had an in-depth exchange of opinion on law enforcement and control of the border, cross-border infrastructure, cooperation in border regions and ports opening, where consensus was made. The DPRK side appreciated the assistance given by the Chinese side in relief efforts after the flooding of the Tumen River and post-disaster reconstruction. The two sides expressed their willingness to continue to make good use of the joint commission mechanism and strengthen communication and collaboration to jointly safeguard peace and stability of the border areas. They also exchanged views on other issues concerning bilateral relations. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Guk attended the meeting. Present at the meeting were officials of public security, environmental protection, transport, water conservancy, national defense and port affairs from the two countries. Flash A Syrian field commander warned Wednesday that Syria's army and allies will retaliate against any advances by Turkish-backed rebels toward areas under its control in Aleppo, according to the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen. The commander, whose name was not mentioned in the report, said that any advances by the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) toward the posts of the Syrian army and its Russian-Iranian and Syrian allies in northern and eastern Syria will be confronted "firmly and decisively." The commander added that any military operation attempting to fight the Islamic State (IS), whilst threatening the Syrian army and its allies in Aleppo will be crossing a red line. This comes as Turkish media reported that a Syrian helicopter struck FSA posts in northern Aleppo on Tuesday, with no comment from Syria. Turkey has been supporting the FSA in an operation dubbed the "Euphrates Shield" which overtly aims to fight the IS, while covertly aiming to prevent the Kurdish-led Syrian rebels from advancing into areas close to the Turkish-Syrian borders. Syria's government has accused Turkey of supporting the rebels aiming to topple the Syrian administration, and the government's concern recently increased as FSA Turkish tanks and special forces entered into Aleppo's northern countryside to fight the Kurds and the IS. The Syrian army said in a statement this week that it will deal with Turkish forces as "an occupation force" which needs to be fought against by any possible means. Three Los Angeles charter schools up for renewal may be shuttered because of administrators penchant for hiring Turkish educators on temporary work visas, reports the Los Angeles Times . This comes amid broader nationwide concern about some charter schools importing Turkish teachers. The newspaper reports that Los Angeles Unified School District will recommend to the Los Angeles Board of Education that the five-year-old schools contracts not be renewed. While district staff hasnt publicly disclosed the reasons for the closures, the newspaper reports that sources say that the composition of the teaching staff was key to the decision. Over the years, California-based Magnolia Public Schools, which runs the three schools in question as well as seven others, has gotten visas for nearly 100 teachers, almost all from Turkey, to work at their schools. The schools currently employ 37 teachers on visas, according to the Times. The schools are part of a loosely organized nationwide network of charter schools with Turkish ties. These schools can be found all across the country, including New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Ohio and Louisiana . They are often run by Turkish immigrants and employ Turkish teachers on work visas. In August, New York State United Teachers Spokesman Carl Korn told WNYC , New Yorks NPR station, that he thinks the practice violates U.S. visa regulations. The visa program is supposed to be used to fill jobs that cannot be filled by American workers, he said. Theyre filling positions for biology teachers, physical education teachers, English teachers, guidance counselors, with Turkish nationals. Each Magnolia employee on a visa set the schools back about $3,000, according to the L.A. Times. All together, the schools have paid nearly $1,000,000 to bring Turkish educators over. Los Angeles school board president Steve Zimmer told the newspaper that he found the schools actions troubling as Magnolia didnt originally tell the board, which authorizes the charters, that they planned to import large numbers of educators from Turkey. The role of an authorizer includes making sure that a charter follows the instructional and business practices outlined in its petition, Zimmer told the Times. Magnolia has also found itself in the middle of international politics. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused American charter schools with Turkish ties of supporting American-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the administration blames for fomenting a recent coup attempt. Umit Yapanel, the president of the board of directors of Magnolia Public Schools, has openly professed his admiration for the cleric . WNYC talked to Robert Amsterdam, an attorney working with the Turkish government on a lawsuit against Gulen, about the proliferation of charter schools with Turkish ties. They all have majority Turkish board members, Amsterdam told the station. Number two, they only take foreign teachers from Turkey. Number three, around 75 percent of all vendors are Turkish, and normally have strong ties to Gulen. In the aftermath of the failed summer upraising, the Turkish government fired as many as 50,000 educators . You are here: Home Flash At least 22 people were killed on Wednesday in airstrikes which targeted a rebel-held town in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, a monitor group reported. Half of those killed where children, as the airstrikes targeted a schools compound in the town of Hass in the countryside of Idlib, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UK-based watchdog group said it is believed that Russian warplanes were behind the airstrikes. It added that the death toll could likely rise, as tens of wounded people are in critical conditions. The report couldn't be verified independently with the absence of official confirmation, or denial. Much of Idlib is under the control of the ultra-radical groups. That area was a target for many airstrikes that hit the rebel positions there. Flash Kenya has announced measures to tighten security in the northeastern region, which borders Somalia, after two deadly attacks claimed by Al-Shabaab militants. Militants used grenades and improvised explosive devices in an attack on a guesthouse in the northeastern border town of Mandera early Tuesday, killing at least 16 people. Earlier this month, six people were killed in an attack on a residential area in Mandera town. Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said Wednesday they were collaborating with the Kenya Defence Forces to set up a border command unit to counter the infiltration of Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants. Nkaissery said the unit would assist in setting up road blocks and check points, boosting security in border towns including Mandera. "We are working around the clock putting appropriate measures to ensure citizens across the country are secure and safeguarded," said Nkaissery. Nkaissery said more police officers had been deployed to hunt down those behind the Tuesday attack. He commended police for their "swift response" to the attack. He said bomb experts were analyzing the scene to establish the source of the explosives and gather evidence. Recently Chief of Defence Forces Samson Mwathethe said additional military personnel would be dispatched along the Mandera-Lamu border. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday cancelled an official visit to Angola after the attack in Mandera to attend a security summit "in solidarity with the families who have lost their loved ones and those injured." Al-Shabaab militants have carried out a series of attacks in Mandera county in which they often target non-locals or non-Muslims. Kenya has been facing a threat from Al-Shabaab since it sent its troops to Somalia to battle the militants in 2011, as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force. Al-Shabaab militants killed more than 140 people, mostly students, in an attack on northeast Kenya's Garissa University in April 2015. Flash The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that more than 10,500 people have to date been recorded as internally displaced as a result of the Mosul military operation in Iraq, a UN spokesman told reporters Wednesday. "The majority of the displaced are sheltering in host communities," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "Others are sheltering at three displacement camps outside of Mosul." Humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance to displaced families and wherever access allows, he said. Meanwhile, oil smoke and sulphur dioxide from oil and sulphur fires near al-Qayyarah continue to cause health risks for the civilian population in the area, he added. Iraqi security forces recaptured more villages last Tuesday from the IS militants, as part of a major offensive which started on Oct. 17 in a bid to liberate the city of Mosul, the last major IS stronghold in Iraq. Mosul, some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions. Flash A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on the United States to repeal its policies of embargo against Cuba at an early date and develop normal state-to-state relations with Cuba. Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Liu Jieyi (C, front) addresses a UN Security Council meeting on Syria at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct. 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the appeal ahead of a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution urging an end to U.S. embargo on Cuba. The General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt the resolution with the United States abstaining for the first time in 25 years. It is the 25th time that the UN General Assembly has adopted such a resolution. This year, there is a change in vote of the United States since it voted against in the past 24 votes. "China has noticed the measures taken by the United States to ease the limits regarding Cuba in commerce, trade and tourism and hopes that the United States and Cuba continue to work towards the normalization of their relations," said Liu. Liu said in current world, countries should work on the basis of equality and seek common development through win-win cooperation. "Under such circumstances, the United States should immediately end its economic embargo and sanctions on Cuba," he added. Washington decreed the blockade against Havana officially on Feb. 3, 1962, following the intensification of the political differences that emerged between the U.S. and the fledgling socialist government led by Fidel Castro. Full diplomatic ties were restored between the United States and Cuba as an agreement to resume normal relations took effect on July 20, 2015. However, the United States has not repealed the embargo yet. Liu said China always stands for respect for the right of countries to freely choose their social systems and paths towards development, and China opposes unilateral sanctions against other countries by military, political, economic or any other means. "We hope that the United States will comprehensively repeal its policies of embargo against Cuba at an early date and develop normal state-to-state relations with Cuba in accordance with the purposes of United Nations Charter and basic norms governing international relations," he added. Flash The visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte held a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the prime minister's office Wednesday. Abe told a press conference after the meeting that the Philippines is an important partner of Japan and the two sides agree to improve bilateral ties to a higher level than before. He said that Japan will support infrastructure development in the Philippines, both in rural areas and in the cities. He also said that the Philippines will serve as ASEAN chair next year and Japan would provide its utmost support to the Philippines in this regard. Duterte, for his part, said that Japan is an important dialogue partner for ASEAN and the Philippines will cooperate closely with Japan on issues of common concerns. Duterte started a three-day visit to Japan from Tuesday. He is expected to meet with the Japanese emperor and empress on Thursday. Flash The UN General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution urging an end to U.S. embargo on Cuba, and the United States abstained for the first time in 25 years. Voting result is seen as the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution urging an end to U.S. embargo on Cuba, and the United States abstained for the first time in 25 years, at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct. 26, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Altogether 191 UN member states voted in favor of the resolution, while the United States and Israel abstained. It is the 25th time that the UN General Assembly has adopted such a resolution. This year, there is a change in vote of the United States since it voted against in the past 24 votes. Full diplomatic ties were restored between the United States and Cuba as an agreement to resume normal relations took effect on July 20, 2015. However, the United States has not repealed the embargo yet. The resolution welcomed the progress in relations between the two countries and the visit of the U.S. President Barack Obama to Cuba in March 2016. It also noted that "the steps taken by the United States Administration towards modifying some aspects of the implementation of the embargo, which, although positive, are still limited in scope." Therefore, the General Assembly once again urged the repeal of the blockade measures as soon as possible, said the resolution. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, foreign minister of Cuba, told the General Assembly that "the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba persists, seriously harming the Cuban people and impairing the country's economic development." "Lifting the blockade is the key to be able to advance towards the normalization of relations with the United States; it is what will give some meaning, depth and soundness to what has been achieved so far," he said. While ahead of the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said the U.S. abstention is due to Obama's new approach to Cuba, but it does not mean that the United States agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government. Washington decreed the blockade against Havana officially on Feb. 3, 1962, following the intensification of the political differences that emerged between the U.S. and the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro. Arrested for Vaping? There aren't many places left for the cigarette smokers of the world. Pushed out of offices, airplanes, bars, and even some sidewalks, the choice is either to quit or to smoke at home. Or, find something that isn't "smoking." Many new and long-time smokers are turning to vaping instead, in the hopes of circumventing anti-cigarette ordinances. The question then becomes, what's the difference between smoking and vaping, and can you get in trouble for vaping the same way you can get in trouble for smoking cigarettes? Burning vs. Vaping A recent New York case seemed to go in vapers' favor earlier this year when a New York judge ruled that vaping and puffing on e-cigarettes does not constitute "smoking" under the state's anti-smoking law: "Smoking" means the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco. An electronic cigarette neither burns nor contains tobacco. Instead, the use of such a device, which is commonly referred to as "'vaping,' involves "the inhalation of vapourized e-cigarette liquid consisting of water, nicotine, a base of propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin and occasionally, flavouring." This does not fit within the definition of "smoking" under the law. It's lucky for this defendant that he was charged under the state's anti-smoking statute, rather than New York City's Smoke Free Air Act, which also bans e-cigarettes. When it comes to vaping and e-cigarette legislation, cities are generally ahead of states, which have themselves been ahead of federal regulations on vaping. Dora Explores Vaping in the Girls' Room Another place where anti-vaping rules may differ is in schools. Fatima Ptacek, the 15-year-old voice of the eponymous lead character in the Dora the Explorer cartoon, was suspended for three days from her NYC private school after being caught vaping in the girls' bathroom. Ptacek was caught with another girl, puffing caramel-flavored water from a vaporizer that she claims contained no tobacco or drugs. "At first, we didn't know how to turn it on, but then we figured it out," she said. "We both sucked in from the vaporizer, but I was a little scared, so I didn't inhale into my lungs but kept it in my mouth." Regardless of the general differences between smoking and vaping, or what was in this particular vaporizer, schools are generally allowed to set their own regulations when it comes to on-campus behavior, especially private schools. The other girl's parents are suing the school, but because they believe their daughter was unfairly expelled as the "scapegoat" in the incident and Ptacek received special treatment based on her celebrity status. Laws and regulations on vaping can vary from city to city, state to state, and school to school. So before your puff your way into an arrest, check with a local criminal defense attorney about smoking and vaping laws in your area. Related Resources: Officials raid a house church gathering in Guizhou province. (Photo: China Aid) China Aid Reported in Chinese by Qiao Nong. Translated by Carolyn Song. Written in English by Brynne Lawrence. (Changji, XinjiangAug. 25, 2016) A local Procuratorate returned the case of five detained Christians to the public security bureau for further investigation in late July. On March 5, more than 200 government agents surrounded and raided a meeting consisting of church leaders from several house churches at the home of Zheng Lan, a Christian whose residence doubled as a meeting place for an unofficial church. Police took Zheng and four other ChristiansLiu Yan, Chen Yajie, Wang Lulu and Yang Zhaocuninto custody and administratively detained them the next day for gathering a crowd to disturb public order. The public security bureau transferred the case to the Procuratorate for prosecution, but the Procuratorate ruled that the officials had insubstantial evidence and returned the case for further investigation last month. China Aid supports persecuted Christians in China by exposing abuses the Communist Party enacts against them, such as those suffered by house church members. ChinaAid Media Team Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985 Email: [email protected] For more information, click here China Aviation Daily | Oct. 27, 2016 Embraer will showcase two executive jets -- Legacy 650 and Lineage 1000E -- during the 11th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition taking place in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. During November 1 to 6, these two aircraft will be put on static display, while Embraer will also present audiences with a unique virtual reality experience of the E-Jets E2, using cutting-edge VR technologies. In a designated area, audiences can put on a VR goggle and have the chance to "board" the E2 aircraft and observe its state-of-the-art cabin and cockpit designs closely. Embraer will hold a press conference elaborating the company's status quo on both commercial jets and executive jets, in Room 210, at 2:00-4:00 p.m., November 1. The company will also release a market outlook on China's commercial aviation market for the next 20 years. Guan Dongyuan, Senior Vice President of Embraer and President of Embraer China, said: "The year 2016 inaugurates China's 13th Five-Year Plan, and we have seen strong dedication of the Chinese government to develop the aviation industry, with new airports planned and various favorable policies implemented. As the world's only aircraft manufacturer that produces a full range of executive jets from entry-level to ultra-large, and a world leader in the commercial jet segment with up to 130 seats, we are striving to contribute to China's aviation industry by providing reliable, efficient, and comfortable products, as well as committed customer support and services." For years, Embraer has been leading the Chinese regional aviation industry with a market share of around 80 percent. Recently, Embraer has secured a new order of five E190s from Colorful Guizhou Airlines and two Phenom 300 from Colorful Yunnan Airlines. To date, Embraer has logged 228 firm orders in China, including 190 commercial aircraft, 21 of which pending for government approval, and 38 executive jets. By the end of October, 170 aircraft have been delivered. Embraer is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial jets with up to 130+ seats. The Company has over 100 customers all over the world operating the ERJ and E-Jet families of aircraft. For the E-Jets program alone, Embraer has logged more than 1,700 orders and around 1,300 deliveries, redefining the traditional concept of regional aircraft by operating across a range of business applications. Contributed by Embraer DUI and Immigration Status The last thing you want to do if you are applying for citizenship is get a DUI. Even if you're in the country legally on a visa or green card, immigration officials may deport you or downgrade your status on the basis of a criminal conviction, especially for a felony. Here's what you need to know about a how a DUI conviction could affect your immigration status. DUI and Deportation If you are a foreign national, a DUI might not necessarily lead to deportation. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) generally considers a number of factors with regard to the penalties faced by an immigrant to the U.S., and deportation is generally reserved for aggravated felonies like battery, theft, filing a fraudulent tax return, and failure to appear in court. Of course, if your DUI is charged as a felony, you could run the risk of deportation. A DUI could become a felony if you have had prior DUI convictions, had an extremely elevated blood alcohol concentration, had children in the car, were driving on a suspended or revoked license, or caused death or injury in a car accident. Status Update Even if you do not get deported, your immigration status could be altered after a DUI conviction. If you're a legal permanent resident, you could be deported or detained during removal proceedings, or be barred from becoming a naturalized citizen in the future. Refugees and asylees could be deported after a criminal conviction, even if they would be in grave danger in their home country, and a conviction may result in the inability to obtain legal permanent resident status. Non-citizens with temporary lawful status (including individuals with nonimmigrant visas and those with temporary protected status) could lose that status and be removed from the country for any felony conviction or two or more misdemeanor convictions. And because undocumented immigrants are not authorized to be in the U.S., any criminal offense can result in deportation. In some legal proceedings, like immigration or deportation proceedings, even an expungement of a DUI may still be considered as proof of a prior conviction. To know for sure how a DUI will affect your immigration status, contact a local DUI attorney today. Related Resources: A mineworker looks at a train loader at the Rio Tinto West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara, northwest of Perth, Australia. [Photo provided to China Daily] Rio Tinto will continue to reduce its production costs as an oversupply in iron ore is expected to last for seven to 10 years, said Jean-Sebastien Jacques, chief executive officer of the company. "Rio Tito's strategy has not changed, which is to keep our iron ore products at very low cost so that whatever the condition is, we will remain profitable," Jacques told China Daily in a group interview on Tuesday. Jacques, who took the helm at Rio Tinto in July, said that the company has removed $6 billion of costs from its system since 2012. The iron ore spot price was around $58 per metric ton in mid October, compared with $184 per ton in January 2011. Jean-Sebastien Jacques, CEO of Rio Tinto. [Photo/Agencies] The company's iron ore sales volume in the third quarter fell by 5 percent year-on-year to 80.9 million tons, compared with the forecast 83.5 million tons. Its output increased 2 percent year-on-year to 83.2 million tons. The company forecasts total annual iron ore output of between 325 and 330 million tons. Jacques said that he is "cautiously optimistic" about the prospects for the Chinese economy. "China is very important for Rio Tinto as our largest customer in iron ore and our largest shareholderChalco (Aluminum Corp of China Ltd) holds around 10 percent of Rio Tinto's shares," he said. Wang Liqun, vice-president of the China Iron & Steel Association, said earlier that 86.7 percent of the country's iron ore was imported in the first two months of this year, compared with 64 percent in 2010. "Three years ago, China's annual iron ore output was 400 million tons. This year, production is expected to be 230 to 250 million tons. The difference of 150 million tons must be reached by imports from Australia and other places," said Jacques. A bank clerk tells a customer how to seek helps with service machines at an outlet of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province. [Photo provided to China Daily] China's central bank is conducting a trial monitoring of banks' off-balance-sheet wealth-management products under its macro-prudential assessment system, banking sources said. The WMPs will be included in calculating broad-based credit, the sources said, asking not to be identified discussing non-public information. Currently, the products aren't included in the assessment framework, and it's not clear when or if the People's Bank of China will add them, the sources said. Citigroup Inc estimated that 13 trillion yuan ($1.9 trillion) of the products, which are a key building block in China's shadow-banking system, could be covered. Extra scrutiny could cool growth in the products as China tries to rein in financial risks that could tank the economy. Adding the products to the central bank's calculations could help to emphasize requirements for lenders to limit dangers and maintain sufficient capital. A change would mean regulators would be better able to "control the pace of broad-based credit supply," Judy Zhang, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Citigroup, said in a note. WMP issuance and yields may shrink as lenders pass on extra costs to investors, she said. The central bank's macro-prudential system already encompasses banks' loans, bond and equity investments, repurchase agreements and placements with other financial institutions when calculating lenders' overall levels of credit. The central bank didn't immediately reply to a fax seeking comment. The system assesses individual banks' risks, looking at factors such as capital adequacy, broad-based credit growth, leverage and asset quality. Chinese households, companies and banks held a record 26.3 trillion yuan of wealth-management products as of June 30 and the China Banking Regulatory Commission has been tightening rules on WMPs since late 2014. Most of the products are non-principal guaranteed, which means they reside off banks' balance sheets. Bloomberg A worker directs a cargo train returning from Europe into the station in Chongqing. The Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway is driving the fast growth in cross-border trade. [Photo/Xinhua] Fifteen days after departing Chongqing in southwestern China on Sept 29, 139 parcels arrived in a processing center in Frankfurt for delivery to people across Germany. The packages included storage boxes, stuffed toys and Chongqing local specialties. Though the parcels were few in number, their delivery marked the successful test of mail delivery via the China-Europe railway system. Cross-border e-commerce platforms such as DHGate have been notified to prepare for another test, during which their products will be sold and shipped to Russia and Germany via the railway. The past few years have seen burgeoning sales in cross-border online shopping, but traditional sea and air postal routes have hampered its expansion. China's total transaction volumes in cross-border e-commerce reached 5.4 trillion yuan ($810 billion) in 2015, up 28.6 percent year-on-year, said a report issued by China e-Business Research Center. Global trade growth has been slower than economic growth for four years, but cross-border e-commerce has grown quickly because it has reduced trading costs and streamlined the international trading chain, said Lu Pengqi, deputy head with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade at the 19th China International Fair for Investment and Trade in September. According to the municipal railway authority, a parcel sent from Chongqing will arrive in Germany at least 20 days faster via China-Europe regular trains than by sea. The cost is just one-fifth of that by air, making the train highly cost-effective. However, a 1956 convention passed by members of the Organization for Co-operation between Railways prohibited mail delivery through international railway cargo transport. In early June 2014, the OSJD finally deleted the related clause. During a postal service forum in April in Chongqing, a declaration was made to guarantee international cooperation in mail servicesvia the China-Europe railwayand to provide road routes compatible with cross-border e-commerce. Following the declaration, in May Chongqing became China's first pilot city approved by the General Administration of Customs to run the China-Europe railway mail service. Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe regular cargo trains were assigned to carry out the service. According to an official at the Chongqing Customs, the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway transports nearly 50 percent of freight from China to Europe every year. The volume of cross-border e-commerce in the city exceeded 6 billion yuan last year, up from 60 million yuan two years ago. The test run also highlighted innovations in management. Improved "smart" customs locks were used for monitoring parcels and facilitating clearance at the departure, the transfer depot and exit. It was the first time Chinese customs officials and the postal service shared data. The China-Europe railway mail service has adopted electronic customs clearance, rather than manual clearance, allowing the parcels to remain unopened and stay on the same train for the entire trip. Exports of high-quality refined oilproduced using domestically manufactured equipment by Sinochem Quanzhou Petrochemical Co Ltd's huge refinery-have been increasing among the Belt and Road countries, said General Manager Zhang Qiang. Zhang said that oil overcapacity currently in China mostly involves lower-quality crude and outdated capacity, and high-quality oil is, in fact, in short supply. The Sinochem Quanzhou is located in the Quanhui Petrochemical Industrial Park of Quanzhou, Fujian province. It has total installed capacity for processing 12 million metric tons of crude oil per year. In 2015, Sinochem Quanzhou refined 9.97 million tons of crude. "Our company's main goal is to produce high-quality oil for the domestic and overseas market," Zhang said. The refinery, which began operations in 2014, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinochem Group, a State-owned enterprise whose portfolio spans oil, agriculture and chemical services. Sinochem Quanzhou's oil is produced under the national V emission standard for automobiles, equivalent to the Euro 5 emission standard for acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in the European Union from September 2009 to January 2014. China is following the national IV emission standard. The national V emission standard will be implemented nationwide in January 2017. Zhang said that two-thirds of his company's exports are to the Belt and Road countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Netherlands. In order to guarantee the quality of its product, the company is using a high level of advanced and modern processing equipment, 95 percent of which was produced in China. Wang Yucui, chief designer of the project in Quanzhou, said that multinational companies have dominated the high-end petrochemical equipment market. "Relying on foreign equipment is a huge burden on China's petrochemical industry," Wang said. "Having the equipment made in China of the same quality is critical for China to produce high-quality oil at competitive prices," Wang added. Chinese refineries used to import 4M150 hydrogen compressorsa key component for high-grade oil refining. Sinochem Quanzhou has developed the same equipment, together with Shenyang Blower Works Group Corp. For the first time, China's private education sector may obtain access to the domestic stock market, because the top legislature will review an amendment of the law on the promotion of nongovernmental education next week in Beijing. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is scheduled to discuss the third version of the law from Oct 31 to Nov 7. If the revised law is approved, it may go into force early next year. This law would allow educational companies to choose whether they will operate as nonprofit entities or as commercial companies and will remove the prohibition on listing of commercial education companies. "It is not surprising the law would reaffirm the social fairness function of the nine-year compulsory education, which would still be under strict supervision. But it would also let go of other parts of the education system like preschool, high school and international education, " Liu Zhangming, an analyst at Tianfeng Securities. Private educational institutions that have clear asset ownership and a tax record would directly benefit from the change, he said. Education-related stocks have been rising since early October. For example, Shanghai-based Xin Nanyang Co Ltd reached 34.3 yuan ($5.12) on Wednesday, a record high for the year. "Once approved, the law would help create a healthy education industry ecosystem," said a staff member from the investor relation department of Xin Nanyang, who declined to give her name. "And we do not worry about healthy competition, even though more players would join in." She disclosed that the company would keep focusing on its main business of education and may expand the business in the coming years. Xin Nanyang, backed by Shanghai Jiaotong University, is a leading education company whose main business includes vocational education and language and management training. Its revenue in the first half of 2016 reached 654 million yuan, up 24.96 percent from the same period last year. Statistics from CITIC Securities show that China's education industry market was about 6.8 trillion yuan in 2015. But, there are only 23 education-related companies listed on A-share market as of the end of this June. And, their main businesses are not teaching, but textbook publication and information products sales. The leading companies in the teaching sector, like New Oriental, 51talk and Tomorrow Advancing Life, all transferred to US stock markets in the past years. "Investors should be cautious about the law due to China's special education management system. We should not jump to a decision but wait for the final result," said Hu Yali, a researcher at CITIC Securities. If you want to learn about English manners and social etiquette, why not go straight to the top? Baron Fermoy, a cousin of the late Princess Diana and sixth baron in an Irish peerage created by Queen Victoria in 1856, will go to Guangzhou next month for a week to brief eager Chinese entrepreneurs on how the upper crust lives in 21st-century England. The British television series Downton Abbey, a huge hit in China, has inspired wealthy Chinese to find out more about how Britain's nobility lives. Fermoy, born Maurice Burke Roche, announced details on Wednesday of his Nov 6 to 12 visit. "My purpose is to bring the best of British culture to a Chinese audience," Fermoy said. "There is clearly a fascination in Chinese society as to why the British behave as we do, with the grace and the manners we bring. "This is a two-way street. I hope to bring the best of Chinese culture to the UK," he said. Fermoy said he has already taught some Chinese students basic etiquette in the UK. In China, things such as English afternoon tea, formal balls, country house weekends or dressing up for formal dinners, with polished silver plates and cutlery and served by butlers and maids, are becoming fashionable. Growing wealth in China means that many who can now afford to aspire to live the British aristocratic life-style, creating a huge market of people paying big money for authentic British etiquette classes. Fermoy's trip is being organized by Peak Group Global, a cultural exchange organizer based in London and founded in 2005. He will be talking to a group of no more than 35 entrepreneurs and their families, a group ranging from primary school children to parents in their 30s and 40s. Events traditionally accessible only to the British upper classes, like the Royal Ascot races and Queen Charlotte's Ball, have attracted attention from Chinese living overseas, and their social media postings have become big talking points in China. In 2014, Britain's 250-year-old heritage etiquette organization, Debrett's, established an office in Beijing, teaching Chinese secondary school students British etiquette in partnership with Dulwich College Beijing. Grant Harrold, a former butler to heir-to-the-throne the Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, established an etiquette school in London with the exiled Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Serbia. One-fourth of the students in its afternoon tea and dinner etiquette classes come from China. "Chinese students are very quick learners and ask lots of questions," Harrold said. A growing number of Chinese etiquette schools are also entering the competition. Lessons with teachers flying in from the UK can cost 9,800 yuan ($1447.9) for two days, but lessons with Western teachers based in China are 6,800 yuan for a package of 10 short classes. KIEV - Ukraine is in talks with two Chinese companies to pursue possible investments in building a solar farm near the destroyed Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukrainian Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Ostap Semerak said Tuesday. "According to preliminary estimates, the companies are ready to invest more than $1 billion into the Chernobyl Solar project over the next two years," Semerak wrote on Facebook, referring to the two Chinese companies GCL and China State Construction Engineering Corporation. The representatives of the two companies are already working in the Chernobyl area to evaluate the technological and infrastructure capabilities of the site, Semerak said. Ukraine's Chernobyl Solar project, based on the 2,500 hectares of land 10 km south of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, is expected to generate up to 1,500 GWh of electricity per year. The nuclear power plant, located some 130 km from Kiev, witnessed one of the worst nuclear accidents in human history on April 26, 1986. The disaster has caused irreparable damage to the local environment and public health. For decades, the 30-km-radius territory around the plant has been designated as an exclusion zone. Ordinary people have been prohibited from entering it. As the toxic radiation levels in the area decreased, the Ukrainian government rolled out an initiative to turn the area into an industrial zone. In June, Semerak said there is a total of 6,000 hectares of land near the Chernobyl power plant that could be used for industrial purposes. KAMPALA - China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and France's Total are in final talks over the construction of Uganda's oil pipeline that will run up to the Tanzanian seaport of Tanga. Li Yong, executive vice-president of CNOOC limited, in a meeting with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni said the oil firm was ready to undertake the $4 billion pipeline project. Li, according to a State House statement issued on Wednesday, said they are in talks with Total regarding the necessary modalities to ensure the take-off of the project. East African Community (EAC) leaders in April agreed that an oil pipeline be built to link oil wells in western Uganda and the east African coastline through Tanzania. EAC is an economic bloc that brings together Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan. Uganda plans to start commercial production of its so far discovered 6.5 billion barrels of oil. It plans to refine some of the oil and transport the rest to the east African coast for export. A worker assembles a robotic arm at a factory in Foshan, Guangdong province. [Provided to China Daily] BEIJING - China's industrial profits rose 7.7 percent year on year to 577.13 billion yuan ($85.25 billion) in September, official data showed Thursday. The growth rate was slower than the 19.5-percent increase registered in August, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The NBS attributed the deceleration to slowing profit growth of electronics, steel and power sectors as well as the weakening effect of a low base. "The September deceleration shows that industrial profits return to stable growth," said NBS statistician He Ping. In the first nine months of the year, industrial profits expanded 8.4 percent year on year, same as the January-August period. The bureau's calculations include companies with annual revenues exceeding 20 million yuan. The NBS statistician said factory prices edged up 0.1 percent year on year in September, ending a 54-month run of declines, which indicated the contradiction between supply and demand in domestic industrial sector is easing. Mining enterprises turned to gains in September as data showed profits of these companies rose 30.3 percent year on year in September, ending monthly declines since October 2013 and compared to a 25.3-percent drop in August. Profits of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) increased 47.6 percent in September, the data showed. The growth rate was a new high since January this year. The data, together with continous declines in inventory, leverage and unit costs, showed the country's ongoing supply-side structural reform drive was productive, said He. During the first eight months, 31 of 41 industrial sectors reported year-on-year rising profits, with those of the petroleum processing, coking and nuclear fuel processing and the ferrous metal smelting and rolling processing industries both more than doubled. In contrast, electricity, thermopower production and the supply industry witnessed a 5.7-percent decrease in profits during the same nine-month period. Oil and gas exploitation also posted losses. Despite the positive profit data, He Ping warned of a grim outlook for industrial enterprises partially due to sluggish demand at home and abroad as well as corporate debt risks. Justin Timberlake Takes Illegal Polling Place Selfie If there was a game show category for 'laws that probably, most definitely, won't be enforced against Justin Timberlake,' the pop star's illegal polling place selfie would likely be a clue. On Tuesday, Timberlake broke Tennessee election law when he took a selfie in his polling place. Timberlake, who traveled from Los Angeles to Memphis, Tennessee in order to vote in person, luckily is not being investigated or charged. While some might think that there is a double standard at play for celebrities, well, you might be right, but not enforcing polling place selfie laws is seemingly the new normal. There was one in Michigan recently struck down and it didn't involve celebrities. The law in Michigan prohibited voters from photographing their ballots and sharing their photographs on social media. The challenger cited First Amendment protections and the court agreed. Is Timberlake's Selfie Really Illegal? The selfie Timberlake took was posted on social media site Instagram with a non-partisan message encouraging voters to vote. He explains that he took the time to fly home to vote in person and encourages everyone else to make the time to also do so. However, his photo inside the polling place violates a Tennessee law prohibiting pictures from being taken at polling places. The prohibition was originally designed before selfies or cell phone cameras were a thing, which is why the law may seem odd and outdated. When the laws against taking photos in polling places were passed, the purpose was to protect voters from intimidation and unwanted harassment. In olden days, having a picture taken was a much more significant event that usually required someone looking through the camera lens. Selfies were still rare enough to not be considered when these laws were put into effect. Times and Camera Phones are Changing With the proliferation of cell phone cameras, digital photography, the internet, and social media, sometimes old laws just don't seem to fit. For instance, the law that was recently left unenforced in Michigan was written before a time when a person could reasonably take a photo of their ballot without feeling like they just wasted film. Polling place selfie laws across the nation are changing to fit the times. At this point, it looks like more states allow polling place selfies than don't. The AP has compiled this list of which states do and don't have polling place selfie laws. Related Resources: An employee counts yuan banknotes at a bank in Huaibei, Anhui province June 22, 2010.[Photo/Agencies] The State Council has agreed to establish an inter-ministerial joint meeting system to reduce enterprise leverage, and experts predict the equipment manufacturing industry might be the top priority in the debt-for-equity swap pilot, the National Business Daily reported. Led by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the joint meeting will consist of 17 ministries and commissions, including the Ministry of Finance, People's Bank of China, China Banking Regulatory Commission and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. The joint meeting will be responsible for developing related documents for reducing corporate leverage and organizing debt-to-equity swap pilots. Xu Shaoshi, head of NDRC, will serve as the convener. The State Council released a guideline early this month on the long-discussed debt-for-equity swap, pledging to "orderly" conduct the program as the country steps up efforts to tackle high corporate debt. Companies in "temporary difficulties" but with "long-term potential" will be able to exchange their debt for stocks, according to the guideline. However, poor-performing "zombie enterprises", and those with bad credit records, will not be allowed to participate. High corporate leverage in China has been a major threat to companies' profitability and to broader financial stability. The country's total debt surged after the 2008 global financial crisis and its debt-to-GDP ratio was reportedly around 250 percent at the end of 2015. "Debt-for-equity swap pilot is a win-win strategy," Hu Xingdou, an economics professor at Beijing Institute of Technology told the newspaper. "Banks could reduce bad loan ratio, while enterprises could make a better loan." If the government chooses some pilots to promote the program, sectors with better assets, such as machinery manufacturing and high-tech, will be the top priority, Hu added. Xinhua contributed to this story. A venture capital platform, dubbed Pitch@Palace China Club, was launched in Beijing on Wednesday, in a bid to promote innovative cooperation between China and the United Kingdom. The parent venture, Pitch@Palace, was established by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, aiming to bring together global industry leaders from various fields o provide entrepreneurial guidance for startups. The Pitch@Palace China project will provide opportunities to Chinese entrepreneurs participating in the final in the UK. It will also introduce entrepreneurial projects from Pitch@Palace UK, providing support and helping implement strategic plans in China. "I am hugely proud to be invited to bring Pitch@Palace to China. The Pitch@Palace China Club will enable, encourage, showcase and develop Entrepreneurs both in China and the UK and build important links between our two countries," the Duke said. Li Guangrong, Chairman of the Pitch@Palace China Club, said: "The club will provide strong support for outstanding entrepreneurs in terms of resources, platforms, opportunities, mentors and funds. More importantly, we will launch a venture fund for selected startups, offering funding and financial support." Over the past three years, the Pitch@Palace project has supported hundreds of entrepreneurial projects across the world. Among them are several projects acquired by leading international companies, such as Apple and Twitter, garnering more than 240 million pounds ($293 million) from investors. After the official establishment of the Pitch@Palace China Club, a series of follow-up activities will be launched regarding aligning entrepreneurial resources and markets between China and the UK. As China and the United States agreed at the G20 Leaders Summit to enhance cooperation on cybersecurity issues, Chinese internet specialists called on the government to improve its network constructions and accelerate cybersecurity legislation. President Xi Jinping met US President Barack Obama during the summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where they discussed several bilateral issues, including the global economy and cybersecurity. Both leaders spoke of joint efforts in fighting online crime in June and research on cybersecurity in August. They agreed to conduct further discussions on the combat of internet crimes in the US in December, adding that another seminar on how to make use of technical and telecom skills to fight cyberterrorism will be held in October. They said they valued efforts made by network specialists from both countries and hoped to hold a second meeting of experts later this year. Shen Yi, a professor specializing in cyberspace management and cybersecurity at Fudan University, said that Sino-US cooperation on cybersecurity has played a significant role in improving relations between the two nations. "Since 2008, cybersecurity has played a pivotal role in relations between the two nations, as it is tied to security and economic developments," Shen said. "Discussing differences and reaching agreements through dialogue is a positive move, so it is necessary for both countries to continue holding such meetings," Shen added. China and the US have agreed to fight cyberterrorism, "because both nations realize terrorists are a big threat to national security," he said, suggesting that China accelerates cybersecurity legislation. "Our cybersecurity legislation should be sped up, while how to review online services or products as they enter the Chinese market must also be addressed," he said. "It will be hard for the two nations to reach solid and practical agreements if one of them lacks relevant laws." Fan Yuan, a cybersecurity specialist and president of DBAPPSecurity, a company providing cybersecurity services, said Chinese technology enterprises should improve their own technical skills to enhance cybersecurity. Passengers use the self-service boarding system at the Beijing Capital International Airport. [Photo/China Daily] As the middle class takes to the skies, the country's carriers use TravelSky's software Beijing-based China TravelSky Holding Co, a State-owned aviation information provider, plans to expand its research and development efforts so as to innovate and upgrade its electronic ticket system, the first such China-made software. Flag carrier Air China Ltd transferred to the completely home-developed TravelSky system in April. Barring a few, most other domestic airlines also use it now, saving more than 60 percent of costs that imported software entails. TravelSky has ensured safe custody of passenger, flight and airline data collected so far. TravelSky's R&D investments for the system now account for more than 35 percent of its total costs. "For every flight ticket that is sold through our e-ticket system, we charge only one-sixth of commission charged by foreign e-ticket systems," said Huang Yuanchang, chairman of the board of supervisors at TravelSky. "Our average profit margin is 35 percent to 40 percent, and this is the best performance compared with the peers globally." In 2001, the China Civil Computer and Information Center brought all airline companies together to establish TravelSky Technology Ltd, to provide them with accurate and authentic information on airports and flights. It is China's main e-ticket system and the world's third-largest in terms of business-handling capacity. A passenger can search flight information, buy tickets, change or cancel flight reservations, and modify remarks. Last year, TravelSky netted sales revenues worth 5.5 billion yuan ($825 million) and generated profits of more than 2 billion yuan, the company said. Sales have surged in recent years as the Chinese have been overcome by wanderlust of late. The surge will continue in the next decade as China's emerging middle class takes to the skies. Passengers will increase by threefold, according to a report by global consulting firm McKinsey & Co. Peng Mingtian, deputy chief engineer of the R&D center at TravelSky, said: "At the moment, the 24x7 ticketing software is taking a lot of pressure. If the backup system malfunctions or stops for whatever reason, nearly all domestic airlines will face problems. "Our biggest challenge, therefore, is to preempt problems because any problems would erode customers' confidence, which would make it difficult to promote the system again. We need to ensure its safe operation even as we upgrade it." More than a decade ago, TravelSky started trials of the software. It also developed China's first self-check-in system at airports. Back in 2003 and 2004, major airlines started using electronic systems to sell tickets online. In the first few years, volume as well as sales surged 300 percent annually. TravelSky completed restructuring its main business and assets, and got listed in Hong Kong in 2008. In its niche, TravelSky doesn't have any rivals domestically as entry barriers for private players are high. "We aim to lure more foreign airlines to shift to our system. We also want to further improve the system quality and lower the costs," Huang said. A man interacts with an artificially intelligent (AI) robot at the 2016 AI World Expo, held in Beijing on Oct 18, 2016.[Photo/People's Daily Online] Race on to hire expertise, researchers with big salaries to boost AI and other tech sectors Chinese companies are actively targeting overseas scientists and researchers in California's Silicon Valley, in a move to attract them to China and boost the development of the country's information technology industry, according to a recent report. The quarterly report for October to December, released by Hays, a leading global specialist recruitment group, shows that the rapid development of the country's IT industry is providing golden opportunities for well-educated overseas Chinese nationals to seek developing their careers back in their home country. "Artificial intelligence scientists with broad experience are highly in demand by Chinese companies," said Simon Lance, managing director of Hays in China. "In order to boost their future skills pool, Chinese companies are also looking to form partnerships with top international engineering universities in a bid to secure future graduates." Lance added that as information technology has become one of the main driving forces of China's economic progress, employers were trying to lure more overseas returnees to help them tap into a market with huge potential. "In the so-called 'first year' of new technologies, virtual reality, augmented reality, intelligent driving and other new technologies gradually have entered into the public's sight," said Zhao Ziming, an analyst at Beijing-based internet consultancy Analysys International. "Backed by abundant funds, IT firms and internet companies now have a high demand for expertise," Zhao added. "Compared with Western countries, China is more likely to develop and introduce these new technologies, which to some extent attract more overseas Chinese to seek opportunities back in China." Hays also noted that with a belief that the burgeoning local market would benefit their career development, there was now a trend of overseas Chinese returning home. "Aside from the lure of potentially higher salaries offered by Chinese employers, overseas candidates are also convinced about the potential of the market, given the rising popularity of the internet and the fast-growing penetration of smartphones," Lance said. "They also have a sense of achievement, since their knowledge and skills are critically needed by Chinese organizations to spur economic growth." A report released by 2016 China (Shenzhen) IT Leaders' Summit Organizing Committee showed that last year the revenue of China's IT industry totaled 15.4 trillion yuan ($2.3 trillion), an increase of 10.3 percent year-on-year. According to the report, technological innovation will promote industrial restructuring, and intelligent technology will open up a new industrial era. In addition, drones, self-driving technologies, artificial intelligence and other intelligent technologies were expected to enter the stage of application and large-scale production. Angelababy, a Chinese celebrity, shows up at the launch of a Meitu cellphone event in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/CFP] Firm's 446 million active users could lead to a high valuation Meitu, the developer of a Chinese mainland selfie app, is said to seek a hearing within this week with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange's listing committee that would set the stage for its initial public offering (IPO) next month. The move marks almost the final step in a process expected to pave the way for the second-biggest tech listing in Hong Kong, triggered by a prospectus filed in August this year. The Xiamen-based company, founded in 2008, is also a manufacturer of mobile phones and cameras. It is said to plan to raise between $500 million and $1 billion from its Hong Kong float, putting the tech firm on course to be valued at $5 billion, next only to online game developer Tencent, which went public at about $2 billion in Hong Kong back in 2004 and now is worth nearly $260 billion. The company completed five rounds of venture financing over the past three years, raising as much as $500 million and pushing its value all the way up to $3.8 billion. The monthly active users of Meitu reached 446 million as of June, up 81 percent year on year, according to its filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Compared with 800 million users of Tencent's messaging platform WeChat, 500 million of Instagram, and 280 million of China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, Meitu is looking to further cash in on its user base. Charles Ma, a Hong Kong-based consultant at one of the "Big Four" accounting firms, said Meitu's valuation remains relatively low, given that a potential US IPO could value the photo-sharing app Snapchat, with 150 million monthly active users and projected revenue up to $350 million, at a staggering $25 billion. Last year, Meitu recorded revenue of $110 million. The company failed to make a profit over the past three fiscal years, with the accumulated adjusted net loss amounting to $180 million. Adjusted net loss in the six months ended June 30 this year was $38 million, compared with $43 million in the same period last year. Hannah Li Wai-han, a strategist at UOB Kay Hian (Hong Kong), said the company may still have a long way to go to tap the potential of its user base. So far, hardware sales, mainly smartphones, stand as its dominant source of revenue, accounting for 89.9 percent in 2015 and 95.1 percent in the first half of this year. "This appears to be too high for an internet company," said Li. Visitors walk past the stand of Huawei during PT/EXPO COMM CHINA in Beijing.[Photo/IC] BAKU - Huawei Technologies, China's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, has launched a 4G mobile communications network in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, local media said Wednesday. Speaking at the ceremony, chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan AR Vasif Talibov said that now people living in most distant villages of Nakhchivan can enjoy a high-speed internet thanks to a support provided by Global ICT solutions provider Huawei. He said a new mobile network will provide consumers with advanced mobile internet services. Addressing the ceremony, Dongliang Zhang, VP at HUAWEI Caucasus & Central Asia Region, said that the Ministry of Communication and New technologies of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and China's Huawei Technologies have started cooperation since 2002. According to Zhang, the company has assisted the Nakhchivan State University to build a modern system of education, completed an installation of GSM and LTE network here. Huawei, Chinese multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services company, pledged to assist Azerbaijan in developing a long-term national strategy for the improvement of the information and communication technologies sector. The company has previously presented the given initiative in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey by proposing assistance to the governments of these countries in developing a 10-year national strategy in ICT sector. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. License for publishing multimedia online 0108263 Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Chinese people's health will improve to the same level as people living in high-income countries by 2030, according to a plan released by China's central government. The blueprint, released by the State Council on Tuesday, calls for building a "healthy China" and lists targets to be achieved before 2030, including longer life expectancy, lowered mortality rates and healthier lives. All central government departments and local governments are required to implement the plan and will be responsible for meeting major targets in their jurisdictions, according to a statement released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on Wednesday. Average life expectancy for Chinese is expected to reach 79, more than two years longer than last year, the plan said. The premature death rate for people with major diseases such as cancer will also be reduced, and they are expected to live longer, the plan added. Individual expenditure on healthcare will be reduced to about 25 percent of China's total health expenditure, from the current 29 percent, the plan said. The government will carry out national strategic programs on the prevention and control of chronic diseases such as cancer and stroke, a major threat to the health of Chinese, and improve services for key groups, such as pregnant women, the elderly and disabled, the plan said. China will also continue promoting equal access to healthcare services and give more support to impoverished areas in the middle and western parts of the country to improve healthcare for poor people, it said. Liu Yuanli, dean of the School of Public Health at Peking Union Medical College, said a major threat to Chinese people's health is chronic diseases. "Incidences of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension are increasing rapidly," he said. "The key lies in prevention." Although the government invests heavily in medical care, most of it is spent on disease treatment rather than prevention, and this does not address the rapid rise of chronic diseases, he said. More than 260 million people in China suffer from chronic diseases, which cause 85 percent of all deaths in the country, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The nation's top anti-graft bodies are working to retrieve more than $1 billion sent to foreign bank accounts by corrupt officials. Zhang Yan reports. Police officers escort Li Huabo, a former finance official from Jiangxi province, at Beijing Capital International Airport after he was repatriated from Singapore in May last year. The 54-year-old fled China in 2011 after being accused of embezzling 94 million yuan ($13 million). [Photo/Xinhua] The government is stepping up efforts to recover billions of yuan in assets illegally transferred overseas by corrupt officials via money laundering platforms and underground banks. Statistics provided by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the nation's top anti-graft watchdog, show that from 2014 to July, the police confiscated illicit assets sent overseas worth 7.62 billion yuan ($1.14 billion). Last month, during Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Canada, the two countries signed a bilateral agreement to share illegally transferred assets, a move that is being seen as a milestone in China's program to recover misappropriated funds and assets. Similar agreements are now under negotiation with the United States, Australia and France. "Such agreements provide a legal framework for the countries involved to share the proceeds of stolen assets with China, once they are able to confirm that the money was transferred illegally by corrupt individuals or criminal organizations," said Hong Daode, a professor of criminal law at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing. Chain of evidence According to the Ministry of Public Security, a lack of bilateral extradition treaties and differences in national legal systems have seen the US, Canada, Australia and Singapore become popular destinations for corrupt officials in recent years. You Xiaowen, deputy director of the ministry's economic crimes investigation department, said the Chinese police face practical difficulties in repatriating fugitives and recovering funds: "It's the result of a lack of signed extradition treaties, political differences and complex legal procedures." Huang Feng, a professor of international criminal law at Beijing Normal University, stressed that evidence is crucial in such cases. "The most difficult issue is that we can't provide sound evidential documents to our foreign counterparts, such as the US and Canada, to form a 'complete chain of evidence'," he said. Evidence of this kind, prepared to better meet the requirements of judicial systems in Western countries, is expected to break the gridlock of technicalities that has been the biggest obstacle to cooperation on law enforcement between China and other countries, he said. Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director-general of the judicial assistance and foreign affairs department at the Ministry of Justice, said solid information is essential when requesting judicial assistance from other countries in "identifying, freezing and confiscating ill-gotten assets that have been transferred overseas". According to Zhang, the information mainly includes proof of bribes accepted by officials who abused their power to obtain assets illegally and transfer them to other countries. Lei Ming, a senior officer with the ministry's economic crimes investigation bureau, said more agreements will smooth the way for the recovery of stolen assets. "When bilateral agreements have been signed with more Western countries, they will facilitate the return of the money transferred by fugitives and the recovery of losses, which will help to combat crimes of this nature," he said. Amended laws Under the revised 2014 Criminal Procedural Law if corrupt fugitives are at large in foreign countries, and therefore unable to attend court hearings in China, prosecution lawyers will apply to the Supreme People's Court, the country's top legal tribunal, to rule on the confiscation of assets they have moved overseas. "Then we will offer the necessary legal documents, such as asset-restraining orders, to other countries to request their judicial assistance in accepting the verdict of the court, and take immediate action to freeze and confiscate the illegal funds," said Zhang, from the Ministry of Justice. Before the revised law came into force, if suspects failed to attend hearings, the courts were unable to pronounce sentences or arrange for their illicit gains to be confiscated. In a recent high-profile case, Li Huabo, a former finance official from Jiangxi province, returned to China in May last year after spending four years on the run in Singapore. Li, 54, who embezzled 94 million yuan, fled China in 2011 and obtained permanent residence in Singapore, but was later arrested by local police at a casino. In 2014, a court in Singapore sentenced Li to 15 months in prison for "dishonestly accepting bribes" and illegally transferring the money to Singapore via underground channels. A court in China ruled that the assets Li had sent overseas should be confiscated, even though he didn't attend the hearing, and provided solid evidence to the Singaporean authorities, including an asset-restraining order, which was crucial for his successful repatriation and subsequent trial. One of China's most-wanted fugitives will return from New Zealand to stand trial, according to the authorities. Yan Yongming, former chairman of Tonghua Jinma Pharmaceutical Industry Group in Jilin province, is accused of fraud and embezzlement valued at $250 million. Last month, the 47-year-old turned himself in to Chinese judicial authorities and said he will return voluntarily to face trial. "He has reached an agreement with police in both New Zealand and China, and will return to face the courts. He is willing to return the money he received illegally," said a senior official from the Ministry of Public Security, who declined to be identified. In addition, judicial officers in both countries are in advanced negotiations about sharing $31 million that Yan allegedly stowed in New Zealand, the official said. However, he was unable to provide details of how China's judicial authorities will conduct the investigation into Yan, who holds New Zealand citizenship under the name of William Yan. According to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, China's top anti-graft watchdog, Yan fled to New Zealand in 2001 after charges were brought against him. In 2005, Interpol issued a red noticean international arrest warrantfor him. In April last year, Yan was fifth on Interpol's list of the 100 most-wanted Chinese fugitives at large overseas. In August, the New Zealand High Court decided to end a money laundering investigation into Yan, and ruled that his alleged illegal earnings, thought to be as much as NZ$43 million ($30 million), will be forfeit, according to a statement released by New Zealand police. The judgment followed a complex three-year investigation into Yan that targeted large sums he allegedly collected via a number of frauds and corrupt activities perpetrated between 1999 and 2001, the New Zealand police said. The statement said the police will end their investigation and unfreeze Yan's assets once he has returned the money, which will be shared between China and New Zealand. According to Stuff, an online news portal in New Zealand, the two countries will soon open negotiations related to a bilateral extradition treaty. However, the Ministry of Justice said the complex procedures involved mean it is unlikely the treaty will be signed anytime soon. The bilateral treaty signed by China and Canada to facilitate the recovery of assets salted away overseas by corrupt officials or businesspeople is the first of its kind between the People's Republic and a Western country, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The agreement provides a new legal basis for the return of assets illegally sent to either country and opens a new channel for China's cooperation with other nations," said Sun Ang, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Sun, if a court rules that illegally transferred funds or assets belong to a specific person or enterprise within their own country, the recipient country will return them in accordance with the law. If the courts are unable to identify the rightful owners, judicial officers will confiscate the assets and determine the proportion that should be shared with the other country. Lei Ming, a senior official at the Ministry of Public Security's economic crimes investigation department, said the agreement reflects "the Chinese government's resolute determination to recover illegal funds and sends a strong signal that other countries will never be safe havens for the fugitives' criminal earnings". "Fugitives should never believe that it is safe to place their ill-gotten gains overseas, and if they insist on defying the law, they will eventually receive severe punishments and their illegal assets will be confiscated," he said. In recent years, a large number of corrupt officials have fled China and headed for popular destinations, including the United States and Canada, to avoid punishment, while illegally transferring billions of yuan to overseas bank accounts via money laundering channels and underground banks. In April last year, Interpol issued red noticesinternational arrest warrantsto find the top 100 corrupt Chinese officials overseas and confiscate their assets. Since then, 35 have returned to face trial, including eight from Canada. However, only a small portion of the illegally transferred funds has been recovered. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China will improve cooperation on law enforcement with the relevant countries, and sign similar bilateral agreements with more Western countries, including the US, France and Australia, to recover and share misappropriated assets. "No matter where they go and how much they have transferred in ill-gotten gains, we will use every means to bring them back," Sun said. A Chinese electronics company whose devices were linked to a massive cyberattack on Friday in the United States has assured the public that there is a low possibility of similar cases using its upgraded gadgets elsewhere in its market. Hangzhou Xiongmai Technology Co, a video surveillance manufacturer, is recalling four kinds of webcams sold in the US after a widespread cyberattack blocked access to websites in the US, including Twitter and PayPal, last week. Around 10,000 of the company's webcams will be recalled, according to media reports. Unidentified hackers seized control of gadgets, including Xiongmai's webcams, and directed them to launch an attack that temporarily brought down the websites. Liu Yuexin, Xiongmai's marketing director, said the company entered the US market very early, and the recalled webcams were manufactured before April last year with easy-to-guess default passwords. The company had noticed the vulnerability of the older version and fixed the problems for the newer webcams. Users of the updated webcams have been required to change the default password. The main cause for Friday's attack was that users had not changed the webcams' default passwords, making them easy to hack, according to the company. While the company's surveillance cameras exported to the US market account for 10 percent of its total output, most of the others exported worldwide were made after April last year. These had been fixed and no longer constitute a danger, and the risk of being attacked by hackers is very low, Liu added. Security experts said a rising number of cybersecurity risks involve interconnected hardware devices, including home gadgets, appliances and automobiles. Zhang Tianqi, an expert with Tophant Security Co, an internet security solutions provider, said, "Intelligent-device manufacturers should pay attention to the security problem of their products apart from their functionality, and related authorities should enhance supervision of the devices' safety." Li Tiejun, of security software maker Cheetah Mobile, said, "The devices of the internet of things have some defects in the aspect of security, which could easily be found and controlled by hackers." He added that if a user installs a webcam at home and uses a mobile phone and computer to operate the camera, there is a possibility that the camera can be controlled by hackers. Tibetan antelopes cross grasslands at Nagqu prefecture in the Tibet autonomous region. The species' population has risen to 250,000, leading to a downgrading of its level of protection. [Photo/Xinhua] The rebound in numbers of the once-endangered Tibetan antelope has come with some unintended consequences, a conservation official said on Wednesday. While the species' survival is more assured now, its growing numbers also have put some pressure on fragile mountain grasslands. The antelope population had declined to about 70,000 in the early 1990s from poaching, but it has reached about 250,000 nationwide, including 150,000 in the Tibet autonomous region, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Sciences released on Wednesday. The antelope was downgraded last month from "endangered" to "near threatened", dropping two levels, at the sixth World Conservation Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Honolulu, Hawaii. "On one hand, certainly, it is good to see the protection measures are effective," said Yan Xun, a senior wildlife conservation official with the State Forestry Administration. "But on the other, we've received some reports that the animals have done damage to grasslands in some areas." The damage has not been acute enough to suggest the antelope population should be controlled, Yan said. The population, which reached almost 1 million a century ago, was in harmony with nature. Now, some habitat has been occupied by people and thus the antelope are more concentrated in certain areas, putting pressure on grasslands, he said. An academy report based on a three-year study said the ecosystem of the Tibetan plateau has been stable over the past 20 years, although grasslands have decreased by 0.13 percent. Wang Xiaodan, who co-authored the report, said rehabilitation techniques for degraded grasslands are not well developed and the terrain and climate of the plateau pose extra challenges. Other challenges remain: Reports show the population of black-necked crane, or Tibetan crane, is 7,000. There are about 10,000 Tibetan yaks, and the Tibetan red deer number 1,000. A nuclear-powered submarine is berthed at a port of the Chinese Navy Museum in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Oct 15. The vessel will be displayed at the museum soon. [Photo by Lai Yonglei / For China Daily] Chinese military enthusiasts can see tanks, artillery guns and fighter jets in military museums around the nation, but what is coming is probably beyond their expectations-a nuclear-powered attack submarine. According to an announcement by the North Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy, China's first nuclear-powered submarine was towed to a port of the Chinese Navy Museum in Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong province, in mid-October. "This boat, which sailed oceans for more than 40 years, will soon be presented as an exhibit to you at the museum," the announcement said. "Before arriving at the museum, the submarine's nuclear parts have been removed, in accordance with international standards, so the boat is completely safe." The decommissioning of the submarine, together with the safe disposal of its nuclear reactors and waste, indicates China is able to not only develop and operate nuclear submarines, but also properly handle them when they retire, it added. Though the announcement did not reveal the type and name of the retired submarine, an earlier report by PLA Pictorial said it is the CNS Long March-1, a Type-091 nuclear-powered attack submarine. As the PLA Navy's first nuclear submarine, the boat was built and commissioned in the early 1970s, the magazine said. Xinhua News Agency reported that Type-091 submarines were produced based on technology from the 1950s and 1960s, and have short-range weapons. With a displacement of 5,000 metric tons, the Type-091 submarine is usually equipped with six torpedo tubes, it said. The PLA Navy has at least 10 nuclear-powered submarines remaining in service, according to the industry bible Jane's Fighting Ships. Yin Zhuo, director of the PLA Navy's Expert Consultation Committee, said the display of the nuclear submarine will enable the public to increase their knowledge and understanding of the Chinese Navy. "The Type-091 nuclear submarine had been of great importance because it conducted combat-ready patrols," he said. "Showing such a significant weapon will arouse the public's interest in the PLA Navy's history and future." The expert also suggested that displaying advanced ships, submarines and weapons at domestic maritime exhibitions would establish a closer connection with the public. However, Yin said the odds are very low of a Type-092 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine being displayed at the Chinese Navy Museum after it retires, because such equipment will still be a top secret for many years. No navy in the world has ever put a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine on display in a museum, he added. Editor's note: Corruption Fight Is Always Underway, a documentary produced by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and CCTV, continues to broadcast the stories of former senior officials accused of corruption during the country's anti-graft drive. The series, which began on Monday last week, consists of eight episodes over nine days (Saturday was excluded) at 8 pm on CCTV-1. The interviews were conducted while the former officials were detained, but before any court action. "I was aware of the regulations that prohibit the offspring of officials from doing business (in the areas or the same city where the officials are in charge). It was the lust for money that clouded my judgment." Liu Tienan, 62, former deputy head of National Development and Reform Commission Liu was found guilty of accepting about 35.6 million yuan ($5.8 million) in return for granting favors to businesses. According to the documentary, Liu was sentenced to life in prison on Dec 10, 2014, for misusing his power for personal benefit. The documentary showed that a businessman from a chemical firm set up a company for his son, Liu Decheng, and gave him 825 million yuan with fabricated business contracts. The businessman was granted a chemical engineering project as a reward. "I've committed heinous crimes. I caused a huge loss for the country's natural resource development and tainted the reputation of the Communist Party of China. I plead no contest to the conviction." Jiang Jiemin, 61, former head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission According to the documentary, Jiang was sentenced to 16 years in prison in October last year for taking bribes, possessing large amounts of assets of unknown provenance, and abusing his power as an employee of a State-owned company. Jiang misused his power as the former chairman of China National PetroleumCorp to grant nine oil fields development franchises, which led to 3 billion yuan in illegal gains. The value of seven of the fields hadn't been assessed before the franchises were granted. Student lovers are seen at a university in Shaanxi province on June 25, 2016. [Photo/VCG] (ECNS) -- A private university in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao has made national headlines for banning public intimacy between student lovers as part of its controversial code of conduct. Qingdao Binhai University, founded as a private vocational college in 1992, has named and shamed students said to break school rules, detailing their private information as well as unapproved behavior such as holding hands and hugging in public. A student told Beijing Times that males can't publically help carry bags for females and lovers can't share one tray at the canteen or an earphone. Another student, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he received a "serious warning" from the university after a teacher caught him holding hands with his girlfriend. The student was required to clean a "dirty, outdated" toilet as punishment. "I can't even give her a hand on campus if she is ill," said the student. Some reported that there are no sanitation workers at the university and students found to violate disciplinary rules are often sent to clean toilets. The university also has strict requirements on personal appearance, banning male students from dying their hair without good reasons. A student's hairstyle is also carefully recorded, noting yellow color or damage. Sanctions are based on a score system starting at 100, and students would fail if they have less than 60 points. But as a reward, a student can earn extra points for donating county annals about their hometown to the school library. A manager in charge of student affairs said the university placed strict requirements on students from the day of its opening. He also said the university neither advocates nor bans student relationships but demands "students mind manners". He admitted that the university employs no sanitation workers, but not for financial reasons, adding that students can form good habits of cleanliness by cleaning for eight minutes a day. The manager also denied forced donation of county annals. 1 When underground bankers receive funds from clients, they divert the money to numerous bank cards under their control and then arrange for the funds to be placed in bank accounts they have opened overseas. If the value of assets is low, the funds will be handled by small underground banks run by family groups. 2 Underground banks often send money to casinos in Macao to be laundered. The casinos then transfer "clean money" to clients' bank accounts overseas disguised as legal winnings from gambling. 3 Money dealers notify their foreign counterparts through instant-messaging platforms, such as QQ and WeChat. Suspects use false documents to simulate business or export activity. Their accomplices overseas then send US dollars to their offshore bank accounts, with the sums based on the daily exchange rate. Usually, money dealers charge 3 to 5 percent of the value of the assets. However, if the dealers are part of a gang or are involved in other criminal activities, there is no guarantee that the proceeds will arrive in bank accounts overseas. Howard Milstein, chairman of the Milstein Medical Asian American Partnership Foundation, was presented with the Marco Polo Award on Wednesday in Beijing. The award was granted to him for his and his foundations outstanding contributions to international personnel exchanges. The MMAAP Foundation was founded by the Milstein family in 2011, with the aim of improving world health by fostering mutually beneficial partnerships between the United States and China, as well as elsewhere in Asia. In 2013, the foundation began to provide financial support to research in the fields of geriatrics and dermatology in China. Over the following two years, it also gave its support to research in hematology, translational medicine and reproductive medicine. Currently, the foundation invests almost $1 million annually to the five fields of research in China. Milstein, who is also chairman, president and CEO of New York Private Bank & Trust and its operating bank, Emigrant Bank the largest privately owned, family-run bank in the US said it was a privilege to accept the Chinese governments highest honor for a foreign business leader. The Marco Polo Award was founded in the 1990s to honor organizations or people contributing to the exchange of international personnel between China and other countries. So far, more than 30 entrepreneurs, social activists and politicians from across the world, including former US President George H.W. Bush, have received the award. Human activities could cause global biodiversityto decline even further, with forecasts it will drop by 67 percent by 2020, the World Wildlife Fund revealed on Thursday. According to its latest report, Living Planet Report 2016, global fish, bird, mammal, amphibian and reptile populations have already declined by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012. It's forecast to decline up to two-thirds in 2020, said Li Lin, WWF China's executive director of Program, on Thursday. "Wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate," said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International. "This is not just about the wonderful species we all love; biodiversity forms the foundation of healthy forests, rivers and oceans. Take away species, and these ecosystems will collapse along with the clean air, water, food and climate services that they provide us. We have the tools to fix this problem and we need to start using them now if we are serious about preserving a living planet for our own survival and prosperity," he said. The top threats to species identified in the report are directly linked to human activities, including habitat loss, degradation and overexploitation of wildlife, the report found. "Human behaviour continues to drive the decline of wildlife populations globally, with particular impact in freshwater habitats. Importantly however, these are declines, they are not yet extinctions and this should be a wake-up call to marshal efforts to promote the recovery of these populations," said Professor Ken Norris, Director of Science at Zoological Society of London, according to the statement from WWF. The VMware Customer Experience and Success Blog Hub offers valuable insights, learning and development opportunities to help you unlock the power and potential of VMware technology and drive better business outcomes. Contributors are our own experts VMware consultants, architects and educators. Benefit from their hands-on experience and subject matter expertise. More than 400 top professors in life science from around the world, including 13 Nobel Prize winners, will gather in Beijing for the 2016 World Life Science Conference, which will start next Tuesday. It is the first time that China will hold such a top level academic conference in the area of life science, the organizers announced on Tuesday. The theme of the conference is "Health, Agriculture and Environment". Tu Youyou, the Chinese pharmaceutical chemist and Nobel Prize winner of 2015, and Marcia McNutt, the President of the American Academy of Sciences, are among the list of participants. According to organizers, 66 sessions will be held throughout the three-day conference, covering topics such as neuroscience, genetic programming and nanobiotech. Each session will be co-chaired by a renowned Chinese scholar in the field and a foreign one. Apart from the conference, an interactive session between Brian Kobilka - winner of 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry - and high school students will also be held during the conference. An exhibition will demonstrate the newest achievements in the field as well as science popularization presentations. "China is now the leader or the co-leader in some specific areas in the life sciences, like stem cells and nanotech," said Liu Pingsheng, deputy secretary of the conference and a member of Chinese Association of Science and Technology, the head organizer of the event. "But in terms of general academic status worldwide and contributions of innovation, we are still trying to catch up." "We expect the conference [will] help facilitate the world-class scientists to appear in China, for we've achieved a series of original accomplishments," said Wu Chen, an oncologist at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and a deputy secretary of the conference. Measures adopted at the sixth plenary session will give the CPC fresh impetus, experts say Xi Jinping, CPC general secretary, and othermembers of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committeemeet the press on Nov 15, 2012. The new leadership promised to take decisive steps to end corruption, improve living standards, forge closer links with the people and continue with reforms. XU JINGXING / CHINA DAILY Comprehensive, strict governance of the Communist Party of China is expected to inject fresh impetus into the 95-year-old Party and ensure faster economic growth that will contribute more to the global economy. By Xi Jinping, from plenary session communique With strengthened discipline and rules for intra-Party supervision as its focus, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, held from Monday to Thursday, has attracted attention around the world. The Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee was held from Monday to Thursday in Beijing. ZHANG DUO / XINHUA The determination indicated by the Party's latest move to improve its health and leadership in State governance has been hailed by experts from a number of countries. Dmitry Novikov, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, praised China's anti-corruption efforts. The moves are expected to help China remain on the path it has chosen to succeed, and has led to new achievements in its drive to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, said Novikov, who is also a member of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament. Ahmed Wali, a former Egyptian foreign minister assistant and an economics expert, said the CPC's bid to strengthen Party governance will push forward China's anti-corruption drive and create an environment conducive to the country's development. "China's Belt and Road Initiative has brought new developmental opportunities for countries along the route, including Egypt. We hope the Communist Party of China will continue its anti-corruption work, ensure the continued rapid development of the Chinese economy and propel global economic growth," he said. The CPC's intra-Party democracy and ability to advance with time have long helped make it a success and a mainstay in China, rallying widespread support from the Chinese people, Wali said. Li Zhuohui, a political analyst from Indonesia, noted the link between the CPC's self-improvement and China's economic achievements under its leadership and said the ruling party has a long tradition of maintaining strict Party governance. He added that a ruling party has to advance with time, as all political parties face new challenges in the course of development. Zheng Yongnian, director of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, said the conference enabled the CPC to raise rule of law in Party governance to new heights. He said he believes strict, comprehensive Party governance is the CPC's priority in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Phosy Chanhming, director of the China Studies Center at the National University of Laos, hailed the CPC's efforts to impose tougher self-discipline. "Strict supervision is important for keeping a party and its members clean and trusted by the public," Phosy said. Professor Macharia Munene, a diplomacy scholar in Nairobi, Kenya, said the CPC has scored a unique achievement in growing from fewer than 100 members to more than 88 million. As a result of its strict governance, the CPC has managed to maintain positive and rapid development since its birth, he said, noting that fresh discipline and rules adopted in light of the new situation will make the Party stronger. The CPC's efforts to combat corruption and uphold Party values are key to winning the hearts and minds of the Chinese people, he said. A man in his 60s picks cotton in Aksu in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on October 14, 2016. Most of the people engaged in the laborious work were born in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and the younger generation born in the 1990s seldom do it because of the intensity of the work. [Photo/IC] Every year during the 80 days between mid-September and the start of November, about 400,000 migrant workers leave their hometowns in the rural areas of the provinces of Henan, Sichuan, Gansu and Heilong for the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to help the locals harvest cotton. Each cotton flower is estimated to weigh five grams on average and each cotton harvester needs to bend 10,000 to 20,000 times if they want to harvest 100 kilograms to 200 kilograms daily with both hands working at the same time. Xinjiang is a major cotton production base in China. With an output of over 3.5 million tons, Xinjiang contributed 62.5 percent of the nation's total output of cotton of over 5.6 million tons in 2015, much higher than the national provincial contribution rate of 24.6 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. With mechanization underway, special machines are expected to replace people to harvest cotton in Xinjiang in five to 15 years. However, there are both pros and cons to mechanization. Hiring people to pick cotton often means a greater cost but cleaner and better cotton. It is not easy for cotton farmers to find the right people to help with the laborious work. But using harvest machines requires different cotton seeds and different ways to grow and process the cotton. The five employees are officials in-charge of the company contract at Mawlmyine Cement Limited (MCL), which is located in Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State. Since they havent broken immigration law before, they petitioned to the union minister for a pardon from deportation. Accordingly, the union minister granted the pardon only if they promised to sign up, follow the countrys laws and rules and avoid breaking any of them again, said U Shein Win, head of Mon States Ministry of Immigration and Population. U Shein Win continued to explain that a foreigner could face charges under the 1947 Immigration Law Act article 13 (1) for breaking any law in the country and if he/she committed a crime, he/she would violate article 7 (1) of the 1947 act and must be deported from the country. However, whether to deport the individual or pardon them would be decided by the Union Government. Five officials in-charge of MCLs company contract failed to report to the township immigration office regarding 11 Chinese employees who arrived on September to work at MCL, and as a result, the five officials were fined 100,000 Kyat each for violating the 1940 Foreign Registration Law act article 5 (1) and a further 300,000 Kyat each for breaking the 1947 Immigration Law act article 13 (1). This is the first time that we have charged foreign employees at MCL for breaking the visa rules. It is in the law that we have to charge them since they failed to report a guest list and we detected that, said U Ko Ko Lwin, assistant township head of Kyaikmayaw Township Immigration and Population. Of the five charged for breaking immigration law, four are from China and one is from Thailand. They include Mr. Sun Zhenbin, who is in charge of Citic Company, Mr. Yu Jun Young of YNJG, Mr. Zhi Xu, of ACK company, Ms. Chen Cuiping of Huaxin Company and Mr. Thawan Mopongpeng of MCLs human resource supervising manager. Currently, MCL has a total of 322 foreign employees; comprised of 213 from China, 107 from Thailand, and 2 from Cambodia. Last June, the Economist ran this chart: "Lies, Damned Lies, and Directives," which documents decades of flat-out lies about EU regulations that were published in the tabloid press (many invented by the UK's post-Brexit foreign minister and Trumpian hairclown Boris Johnson, whose press colleagues considered him most reckless confabulist on European matters in their ranks). The lies were debunked by a tepid truth squad employed by the European Commission, who managed to get an average of about 1,000 visits to each of their articles. The Daily Mail gets 225 million visits/month. The Economist also provides a hand league table ranking the British tabloids by their propensity for lying, with the Daily Mail at the very top (of course). THE Brexit campaign has been plagued by little white lies, half-truths and disinformation. Neither side has showered itself in glory in its attempts to persuade the British public of the benefits or drawbacks of EU membership. But Britain has a long and well-observed tradition of fabricating facts about Europeso much so that the European Commission (EC) set up a website to debunk these lies in the early 1990s. Try our interactive quiz below and see if you can spot the myths. Since then the EC has responded to over 400 myths published by the British media. These range from the absurd (fishing boats will be forced to carry condoms) to the ridiculous (zippers on trousers will be banned). Some are seemingly the result of wilful misunderstandings. A story published by the Sun, a tabloid, in 1999 claimed that the queen would suddenly have to make her own tea because of new EU rules. Not only is this inaccurate, as a patient EC official pointed out, but the laws that this referred to were enacted by Britain itself in 1993. Another article in the Daily Star in 2004 reckoned that the EU was going to limit the speed of children's playground roundabouts. This voluntary guideline, it turned out, was not proposed by the EU at all, but rather by a different organisation with the word "Europe" in its name. Other myths do not originate from anything close to reality, such as the allegation that the EC would ban darts from pubs or outlaw unwrapped sweets. Debunking years of tabloid claims about Europe [The Economist] (via John Naughton) PHILADELPHIA -- "Some day, someone will write the full epic of this exciting expedition," thus wrote Edgar Snow, on his pages of Red Star Over China, a historical account of the birth of Communist Party of China published in 1937. Snow never had the chance to write about the expedition in its entirety. That went to another American reporter, Harrison Salisbury, with his book titled The Long March: the Untold Story. The book was published in 1985, over 50 years after this turbulent part of history. "And 30 years later, it is still an in print, it is still read, it is still an incredibly exciting story," said Stephan Salisbury, son of the author, when Xinhua interviewed him in the year commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Long March. "A LIFELONG LOVE AFFAIR WITH THINGS CHINESE" "My father was interested in China since he was a small boy in Minneapolis Minnesota," Stephan said. At that time, there was one store in the city run by a Chinese immigrant, and it sold Chinese delicacies of all kinds, like candy ginger and caramelized lilac flowers, items that fascinated his father. "It kind of started a lifelong love affair with things Chinese," said Stephan. By the time Harrison went to college, he was convinced that he would become a reporter. It was then he had decided that he wanted to travel to China and report on events there. Harrison came of age during the time of the Russian Revolution and the first and second World Wars. "Anybody who was a reporter and was interested in the war would have to have an interest in the Soviet Union, the Communism, and the revolution," said Stephan. "That was sort of a background interest." Harrison Salisbury spent nearly 20 years with United Press, and later worked as the New York Times' Moscow bureau chief from 1949-1954. It was during this time that his interest in the Soviet Union and Communism was sparked. According to Stephan, Harrison knew and admired Edgar Snow, who interviewed Chairman Mao in the caves in Yan' an, the cradle of the Chinese Revolution. Snow wrote in his book that he hoped someone would be able to tell the story of the Long March in detail. "So my father got that idea, and once he got an idea, he couldn't let go of it, he kept pressing it," said Stephan. "He wrote letter after letter and importuned every official he could get his hands on, that he wanted to come to China, he wanted to take the Long March." In August 1983, word finally came from Beijing. The door to the Long March was open for Harrison. In March 1984, Harrison and his wife Charlotte flew to Beijing. A LIFETIME VENTURE From April to June 1984, the Salisbury couple travelled 7,500 miles by foot, by car, by minibus, by jeep, by horse, and by donkey, following the entire route of the Long March. "He did have a heart problem then, he had a pacemaker," Stephan says, recalling his father's health at the time. "What he suffered was what many of those in the Red Army suffered during the Long March due to lack of oxygen, over-exertion, dehydration," Stephan said. "Especially when he was that old, it can take a real toll." Harrison suffered a heart attack during an 11-mile footpath in the mountains to get to the Golden Sands River, where Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De miraculously crossed in 1935. Harrison' s heart was beating irregularly; fortunately though, the Chinese he was traveling with were able to get him to a hospital in Chengdu, where he recoverd. The route of the Long March remained elusive back in the 1980s, and the Salisburys were some of the first foreigners to explore it. Still, they managed to get a round of interviews with surviving senior generals, widows of Party figures, archivists and historians. "My stepmother was very reluctant to take this trip," said Stephan. "But in the end she said, it was a venture of a lifetime." And at the end of the trip, Harrison got the story he wanted, all the drama, the heroism, and the treachery, the human aspects of it, all contained in the book. "I think it is truly an epic," said Stephan of his father' s book. "So I think his lifelong dream of seeking to understand and report on China was completely fulfilled and beautifully so." "The story is an epic. Not only because of the heroism of the simple soldiers and their commanders but because it became, in effect, the crucible of the Chinese Revolution," Harrison writes in the preface to the book. "It forged the brotherhood that fought Chiang Kai-shek to a standstill and came to power under Mao' s leadership." THE STORY AS IT WAS The Long March: the Untold Story was published in 1985 during the Reagan years, toward the final years of the Soviet Union and turbulence in the East. "There could be many different views and many different political forces," recalled Stephan. "So you can' t have one mentality promoted by the government on the one hand, and a reporter that comes in with the very heroic story about the same people on the other." "The two don't go together." Still, the book received favorable reviews and was considered one of the great epics of human history. Harrison had a great influence on his son, who later became a reporter too, with the Philadelphia Inquirer. "His example is something I can't ignore," said Stephan. And there were lessons from his father about getting the right story. "If you persist, and you are open, you are straightforward with people - "this is what I want to do, I want to tell your story, I don't want to impose my story on you ..." Then ultimately, if you are fortunate, they will believe you. You can get the story." From a record-breaking initial public offering 10 year ago to a clutch of industry accolades today, the past decade witnessed the greatest and fastest development of the highest quality for Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, according to the bank, the country's largest lender. With a solid domestic focus, the bank has expanded its global outlook to more than 60 countries and territories. The assets of ICBC overseas institutions amounted to $279.83 billion in 2015. Since it established its first overseas institution in Singapore in 1992, the bank's foreign agents now cover 95 percent of countries and regions that have business ties with China. Last month, a new branch of ICBC opened in Queensland, Australia. "The new ICBC branch will be able to fully support businesses engaged in trade between China and our state," said Curtis Pitt, Queensland's acting premier and treasurer. Along with its expansion of overseas operations, ICBC also provides impetus for renminbi internationalization. In 2015, the group's crossborder renminbi business totaled 4.41 trillion yuan ($652 billion), up by 20.6 percent year-on-year, hitting a new record high. The People's Bank of China announced last month that it has authorized ICBC's Moscow office as a renminbi clearing bank in Russia. The bank's Moscow branch has become the biggest Chinese bank in Russia, according to Xinhua News Agency. In addition, it was also designated the overseas renminbi clearing bank in Singapore, Luxembourg, Canada, Qatar, Thailand and Argentina. The two-way renminbi crossborder fund pool has attracted more than 200 contracted customers and its cross-border renminbi settlement total approached 300 billion yuan in 2015. In the past decade, the compound growth rate of ICBC overseas institutions' assets reached 29.82 percent. It is also the world's first commercial bank to provide 24-hour, uninterrupted renminbi clearing services. Besides its international business, ICBC also launched a number of new products for exporters of large integrated equipment and engineering services. In March 2015, during the Indonesian president's visit to China, ICBC reached multiple agreements, including a 5-billion-yuan agreement, with Indonesia Eximbank. ICBC has also signed a $5.5 billion financing strategic cooperation agreement with China Railway Corp, with the funds used to build a special railway line for coal in Indonesia. A $20 billion strategic cooperation agreement with Indonesia's Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises was also reached during that time. ICBC's Warsaw branch worked closely with Chinese enterprises to participate in projects with a total investment of 10 billion euros ($10.88 billion) in Central and Eastern Europe. Those projects led to the signing of nine strategic cooperation agreements or financing agreements with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. "There are many demands and growth potentials available in Belt and Road Initiative regions, especially in terms of connectivity and infrastructure," said Yi Huiman, chairman of the board of directors of ICBC. "ICBC will leverage its strength in internationalized operation to facilitate infrastructure construction, international production capacity cooperation and development in other key sectors," said Yi. "We will also implement initiatives to meet the demands of enterprises for globalized and diversified financial services." In addition, ICBC's German institutions have been supporting Chinese enterprises to invest in Germany, acting as a mergers and acquisitions financing consultant and loan arranger. The branches assisted Wuhan Iron and Steel Corp to acquire ThyssenKrupp AG's laser welding business. They also provided euro financing and letters of guarantee for Weichai Holding Group Co Ltd, a major Chinese automobile and equipment-manufacturing group, to acquire and increase its shareholding in Kion Group AG. "ICBC is at a critical phase in transforming its business model to fit into China's overall economic transition," said Zeng Gang, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Finance and Banking. A mobile phone app called ICBC Direct has recently been released in the Netherlands, becoming a new element to ICBC (Europe) SA Amsterdam Branch. For overseas Chinese banks with limited outlets, the service model of "direct account opening and online customer service" available through direct banking may not only extend their service coverage but also enhance market penetration and customer stickiness. Moreover, the bank is also making efforts to localize its business and optimize its assets structure. By leveraging Hong Kong's market opportunities as an offshore renminbi center, ICBC (Asia) has expanded and innovated its renminbi business and cross-border banking services among Asia-Pacific institutions. With its solid growth, ICBC (Europe) has won the Best Bank of Luxembourg award, the first among overseas institutions of Chinese-funded commercial banks. Li You contributed to this story. zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn Industrial and Commercial Bank of China promotes the issuance of 20 billion yuan treasury bonds in Hong Kong as a leading bank for individual investors in 2011.Provided To China Daily (China Daily 10/27/2016 page7) Kris Wu wins the Gold Crane award at China Film Week in Tokyo on October 26, 2016. [Photo:Weibo] Chinese-Canadian actor Kris Wu was honored as Best Actor at China Film Week, an event that's allied with the ongoing Tokyo International Film Festival. The 25-year-old pop star expressed his excitement while receiving the Gold Crane Award. "Firstly, I want to thank the organizer for giving me such a great honor, as an appreciation of my performance. I'm very happy to attend the Tokyo International Film Festival, and China Film Week. This is a great opportunity of enhancing cross-border cultural exchanges. I hope in the near future, more Chinese films can be screened around the world, thus to reach a wider range of audiences." Wu won the title for his performance in Sweet Sixteen. Actress Jiang Qinqin has been crowned Best Actress for her role in A Fool. Renowned filmmaker Guan Hu won the Best director award for the action comedy film Mr. Six. Related: 29th Tokyo International Film Festival kicks off [Photo provided to China Daily] To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March, an album featuring some 150 military generals' portraits was released last week in Beijing. The album includes military officials who contributed the founding of New China in 1949 and were promoted to the rank of general in the early 1950s. Many of them participated in the Long March, a military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of Communist Party of China to evade encirclement by the Kuomintang army starting from 1934. The generals featured in the album include Xiao Jingguang (1903-89), Yang Zhicheng (1903-67) and Chen Shiqu (1909-95). [Photo provided to China Daily] The creation of the album was initiated and sponsored by the Sanwu General Museum in Harbin, in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, whose founder Wang Jun is himself a military veteran. Family members of the generals featured attended the launch ceremony of the album on Oct 20 and received a copy as a gift. Related: Long March items go on display at National Museum of China Reputed as one of the most popular emojis on Tieba, the "funny" emoji has received much attention since its release in 2013. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] "Funny", a made-in-China emoji, inclusively used on Tieba, the largest Chinese communication platform provided by the search engine giant Baidu, seems to have recently moved beyond just China. Now, it is more than an emoji, but a cultural derivation. Reaching global markets A series of "funny" emoji-based bolsters have attracted the attention of Japanese customers through Amazon Japan, an online shopping center. Even if one bolster costs about 1,750 yen ($16.73), more than three times the price in China, it doesn't dampen their desires to buy it. One Japanese customer Miki said: "They are just so cute and I bought three bolsters at one time for my family. And every time I see them, my mood just brightens suddenly." "I think the emoji implies very complicated meanings. Different people can read different things from it. For example, my dad will send it on the occasion when he did not agree with someone but he has to say something and behave politely. But one of my friends think it is nothing but an expression of fun," said one Japanese netizen Kiro Kara. President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony to greet Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Beijing, October 20, 2016. Xie Huanchi / Xinhua During his four-day state visit to China last week, and his first to a country outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte proved to be more than a man of his words. His acerbic remarks on the Manila-Washington alliance apart, Duterte made genuine efforts during his visit to China to put Beijing-Manila ties back on track after his predecessor Benigno Aquino III soured the relationship between China and the Philippines by blatantly siding with the United States to initiate arbitral proceedings against Beijing over their maritime dispute in the South China Sea. Interactions between Chinese and Philippine leaderships, for starters, are likely to resume after Duterte's visit to China, when he and his host President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of many a cooperation deal. Duterte's visit should help the two sides restore the damaged mutual trust and revitalize their cooperation in infrastructure building, and combating drug trafficking and terrorism. In particular, the two countries pledged to resolve their dispute in the South China Sea through consultations and negotiations by the directly concerned sovereign states, according to a joint statement issued on Friday. In this context, Duterte, unlike his predecessor, is expected to adopt a more independent, flexible and comprehensive foreign policy to strike a balance between major regional powers. However, it is impossible for Duterte to seek full "separation" from the US, even though he is unhappy with the Philippines' long-time ally. Take the Philippines' military dependence on the US for example. Most of the weapons used by the Philippine military are supplied by the US and many military personnel have been trained in the US. That Duterte hinted at forging a new "alliance" with China and Russia and buying weapons from the two countries was more like emotional talk rather than a warning to the overreaching US. Given the close economic ties between Washington and Manila, a breakup between the allies seem unlikely. As of 2015, the US had more direct investment in the Philippines than any other country; and at least 30 percent of the 10 million Philippine expatriates work in the US. The joint statement by Beijing and Manila does avoid any mention of the South China Sea arbitration case initiated by the former Philippine government against China, but that does not mean their territorial dispute is settled. The Philippines is unwilling to make compromises and needs the US to endorse its claims. And although Washington has basically stayed calm in the face of "dramatically" improving Beijing-Manila relations, which can reduce the possibility of the US rooting for its Asian ally in the South China Sea issue, it is unlikely to sit idle while the ties between Beijing and Manila improve. The USS Decatur's intrusion into China's territorial waters near Xisha Islands on the last day of Duterte's China visit sent a signal to the international community that Washington will continue to intervene in the South China Sea issue on the pretext of protecting "navigational freedom" despite the improvement in the Beijing-Manila ties. Besides, the US welcomes Japan and the Philippines, its two close allies, to strengthen their maritime cooperation, in an attempt to consolidate its regional leadership without directly confronting China. But its intervention in the South China Sea issue would only backfire should all parties directly involved manage to reach a consensus on shelving their disputes to deal with more urgent issues. The author is a researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Red flags on the Tian'anmen Square and atop the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua] The ongoing Sixth Plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is very important, because the core documents of the four previous sixth plenums of the Party Central Committee led to, respectively, the promotion of culture, building of a harmonious society, improvement in Party work style, and boosting of social morale. The ongoing Sixth Plenum, instead of being only a political showpiece, will come up with rich, substantive contents. This observation is based on two considerations. First, the Sixth Plenum will make new political rules for the Party's rank and file and revise the rules on intra-Party supervision after taking into consideration participating CPC officials' comprehensive evaluation of the Party's work over the past four years, the anti-corruption campaign in particular. And as the crackdown on corruption enters the stage of prosecution and trial, people will begin to shift focus on long-term mechanisms. Top leader Xi Jinping made two vital remarks at the beginning of the anti-corruption campaign. One was to "lock corruption into the cage of systems" and the other was to "make leading officials 'dare not', 'cannot' and 'do not want' to engage in corruption". On his part, Wang Qishan, who heads the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, pledged at the time to "win time for the establishment of anti-corruption mechanisms with heavy blows". Through the series of rectification moves and harsh punishments meted out to corrupt officials, the political biosphere in the CPC has more or less been purified. Besides, public anger against corruption has gradually turned into anticipation for durable anti-corruption mechanisms. As such, enactment of rules and regulations reflecting rigid restraint as well as strict oversight has become a matter of course. The second, and more important, reason the ongoing Sixth Plenum will propel substantial changes is that it is necessary for every Party member and organization to share common ideals and abide by the Party's discipline. Such an imperative has to do not only with the CPC's present state, but also with the tremendous pressures created by China's stagnating economy and rising social contradictions. Behind the slowing economy is a reality: economic restructuring, reducing overcapacity, ensuring healthy investment levels at home and abroad, and maintaining a basic balance between imports and exports are not only difficult to achieve tasks but also come with financial risks. Severe challenges also confront urbanization, poverty alleviation, unemployment reduction, environmental protection, food and drug safety, and public security, especially when it comes to addressing problems such as telecom scams that involve personal information. Such challenges are a combination of the historical contradictions accumulated since the beginning of reform and opening-up, and the recent contradictions, are the logical outcomes of the country's intensive reforms, and a severe test for public administration. Fortunately, the CPC is a party of nearly 90 million members and a total of 4.36 million grassroots organizations. With members accounting for nearly 10 percent of Chinese above the age of 18 years and cells across the country, from every village and urban neighborhood to every State organ, and public and private enterpriseeven foreign companies with Chinese staffthe Chinese government need not worry much about implementing its policies. Some may see this as the Party performing the government's functions. But judging from the extensive and strict nature of Party organizations, and from its 67 years' experience of leadership, the CPC has developed quasi-government capabilities for governing, organizing and integrating Chinese society. The essence of the ongoing Sixth Plenum and the documents it endorses, therefore, will be general mobilization of the Party's rank and file in the face of practical difficulties. The author is a research scholar at the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies. Source: chinausfocus.com Samsung's got problems: its Galaxy Note devices are bursting into flames, and have been banned from the skies. This headline-seizing bad news has prompted plenty of humor, including some gallows satire in the form of a Grand Theft Auto 5 mod that allows you to throw bombs that look like Galaxy Note phones, which explode spectacularly. As you'd expect, players are delighted with this, and have posted many videos of the mod in action to Youtube, whose Content ID system is notoriously friendly to copyfraud, where someone makes largely consequence-free copyright claims in order to remove something that they would prefer the rest of the world didn't get to see. But as the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Daniel Nazer points out, copyfraud is getting some consequences, thanks to EFF's landmark 2015 victory in the Lenz/Dancing Baby case, which established that companies that knowingly send out fake copyright notices can be made to pay their victims' legal fees, meaning that those who've been censored can take their pick of slavering, no-win/no-fee contingency lawyers who are only too glad to go up against deep-pocketed bullies. Lenz is up for consideration at the Supreme Court right now, and we'll find out any day whether they'll hear it if they do, we'll get a chance to strengthen the principle even further, so that companies that should know that their copyright claims are bogus are also liable. If it doesn't have a viable copyright claim, why did Samsung send DMCA takedown notices? We asked Samsung's counsel (the notices were sent on Samsung's behalf by the 900-lawyer firm Paul Hastings LLP) but received no response. It appears that Samsung took the easy path to removing content it did not like by making a copyright claim where none existed. DMCA takedown notices are, by far, the quickest and easiest way to get speech removed from the Internet. That makes them irresistible for companies, individuals, and even governments eager to censor online speech. DMCA abuse flourishes because, in practice, companies that send improper notices don't face sufficiently serious consequences. This issue is currently before the Supreme Court in Lenz v. Universal. In that case, EFF represents Stephanie Lenz who posted a short video to YouTube showing her toddler son dancing to a Prince song. After Universal sent a takedown notice, Lenz sued arguing that the video was clearly fair use and the notice was sent in bad faith. Last year, the Ninth Circuit ruled that copyright holders must consider fair use before sending a takedown notice. Unfortunately, the appeals court also set a very high bar for enforcing that standard. It held that senders of false infringement notices could be excused so long as they subjectively believed that the material was infringing, no matter how unreasonable that belief. Lenz has asked the Supreme Court to review that aspect of the ruling. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 [Bomb] [Hitman Niko/GTA 5 Mods] Samsung Sets Its Reputation on Fire With Bogus DMCA Takedown Notices [Daniel Nazer/EFF] Fu Ying, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, discusses with Professsor Thomas Fingar of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Standford Unversity, at a seminar titled Rebuilding Trust: China-US Relations at the university in Palo Alto, California, on May 10. Provided to China Daily The world order quo vadis? This is a question that has attracted diverse opinions. There is obviously no consensus yet on how the existing order should be adjusted. More importantly, there is a lack of trust among major countries. In the history of international relations, trust has been a rare commodity, and the lack of trust remains an impediment to genuine partnerships in today's world. Take Russia and the United States, for example, 25 years after the end of the Cold War, it is hard to say they have greater trust in each other now. The relationship between China and the US is also often troubled by the lack of trust. In the 30-plus years of its reform and opening-up drive, China has established strong economic ties with the US. However, the South China Sea has brought our conflicting security interests into focus, reminding many in China that in spite of our inseparable interdependence, we are far from partners in the security field. Am I right to say that the world order the US claims to lead is a power structure, founded on US values, rejecting other ideologies and supported by a military alignment, which does not take into consideration the security interests of others? In the economic field, the power structure is not that distinct. While it seeks to maintain a global economic framework centered on the US dollar, it has also encouraged globalization which has led to the opening-up of the world economic structure. The UN institutions, G20 and many other organizations are also being encouraged to play growing roles in global economic governance. China does not have a strategy to challenge the US-led world order, but when it ostracizes the Chinese political system and ignores China's security interests, it is hard for China to support it. Is the US willing for the world order to be adjusted? I have discussed this with many US scholars and the answer they have given is no. I remember when talking to Professor John Mearsheimer (professor of political science at the University of Chicago), he told me that "China should either submit or challenge" and that it is only natural that China would seek to replace the US hegemony and the US should counter it. But is it really an either-or choice? Does it mean when the people in developing countries are lifted out of poverty and start pursuing their dreams of prosperity, there is no avoiding the Thucydides trap? The Chinese people have their own view of the world order. It is one in which the international order centered on the UN. Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that China "firmly upholds the international order and system underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter" and together with other countries wants to "make the international order more just and equitable". You may notice the term we use is "international order". China is among its founders, is a beneficiary, as well as its active supporter and reformer. This international order overlaps, to some extent, with the US-led world order, though each does not include the other in its entirety. Today's world has long shifted its agenda from bloc politics to development and cooperation. Globalization has facilitated the flow of goods, capital, technology and resources, enabling countries such as China to achieve unprecedented growth. According to the World Bank, from 1992 to 2014, the world economy more than tripled, growing from $24.7 trillion to $78 trillion, while the global trade volume more than quadrupled, growing from $5.1 trillion to $23.8 trillion. The contribution of emerging markets and developing countries to world growth has risen from 26.97 percent to 61.4 percent. Both the developed and developing world have benefited greatly from this growth. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures while delivering a speech during the 115th Police Service Anniversary at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Quezon city, metro Manila, Philippines August 17, 2016. [Photo/VCG] For many accustomed to orthodox statesmanship, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is proving to be perplexingly, if not annoyingly, offbeat. If the alleged extra-judicial approach of his anti-drug campaign has driven a wedge between himself and some traditional Philippine allies, most noticeably the United States, his foreign policy statements have left Washington nonplussed, trying to lip-read the intentions behind his explosive and often contradictory remarks. To such an extent that Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay has reportedly just assured Washington of Manila's continuous commitment to the Philippine-US alliance following Duterte's words in Beijing to "separate" from the latter. During his ongoing visit to Japan, Duterte will not be able to avoid explaining to his hosts his just-concluded state visit to China, a move decried as "cozying up" to Beijing by both Tokyo and Washington. Both wanted him to carry to Beijing his domestic tough-guy public persona and focus on the South China Sea issue and the recent arbitration that went in Manila's favor. But while the Philippine leader's informal, unorthodox style may be hard to navigate, particularly linguistically, it would be safe to bet that Duterte is a shrewd pragmatist. Despite Japan's high expectations that the Philippines remains unyielding against China on the South China Sea issue, Duterte is highlighting the business aspect of relations in Tokyo. Much as he did in Beijing. And in spite of the harsh words Duterte has uttered, all the way from Manila to Beijing to Tokyo, the Philippines is not cutting off its military or economic partnership with the US, as Yasay has just assured Washington. What Duterte has been doing via his sensational utterances is sending the simple message that he is "not a lapdog of any country", and his country is not "a dog on a leash". He wants diplomatic independence, because that is in his country's best interests. Tokyo and Washington do not have to worry too much about Duterte's "realignment" statements, because he is only seeking to maximize his country's gains from the turbulence. While confronting Beijing pleases Washington and Tokyo, it costs the Philippines dearly at least economically. Remember one remark that Duterte has not changed is war brings no benefit. At least at this point, neither Tokyo nor Washington seems ready to deliver to Manila what Beijing has come up with. Duterte's China visit has offered proof that shelving the disputes and concentrating on mutually beneficial development cooperation is the most rewarding choice. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a pro-government rally at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela October 25, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] CARACAS - Venezuela's national assembly (AN), which is controlled by the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), declared Tuesday it would begin a political trial against President Nicolas Maduro, but Maduro said this is a "parliamentary coup", calling for dialogue. At the conclusion of a two-day parliamentary session, the MUD majority said that Maduro had caused the political, economic and social crisis engulfing the country and said it would begin a "political and criminal trial" for him defying the constitution. The MUD is accusing Maduro of defying the constitution after a process to begin a recall referendum against him was suspended by electoral authorities on Oct. 20. In a statement, the AN announced the beginning of procedures against Maduro and summoned him to appear before the assembly on Nov. 1. During the debate, MUD legislator Juan Miguel Matheus said that "structures of corruption" in the government had left the country in a crisis. Others accused the government of wasting millions of U.S. dollars on trips abroad while having ruined the country's economy. However, unlike Brazil, where former President Dilma Rousseff was impeached by Congress, this trial is unlikely to have a real impact since the presidency and the Supreme Court have refused to recognize the AN's authority. In response to the news, Maduro, who returned from a trip abroad on Tuesday, said that "we will not allow a parliamentary coup in Venezuela." In a public speech to a crowd of supporters in Caracas, the president said that moves against him were "a lash" from U.S. President Barack Obama, who "wants to hurt Venezuela before leaving office." Adding that the Constitution empowers the president to defend democracy, Maduro nevertheless made a call for dialogue. "I call on all the sectors who want dialogue to not let themselves be swayed by hate. On Sunday, we will dialogue with all the powers of the state in the name of the Venezuelan people," he added. He invited the presidents of the National Electoral Council, of the Supreme Court and of the National Assembly, MUD lawmaker Henry Ramos Allup, to meet with him. The US Coast Guard said it is searching for a 50-year-old Chinese man Guo Chuan reported overdue while sailing his 97-foot super trimaran in a record-breaking attempt from San Francisco to Shanghai, Tuesday. US Coast Guard photo by Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point was dispatched to search for the mariner along with vessels in the area. Tuesday morning, watch standers at Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received notification from Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) China personnel that the vessel Qingdao China, with one person aboard, had not been heard from for 24 hours. The Qingdao China is actively transmitting on an automatic identification system which gave the vessel's position at the time as 620 miles northwest of Oahu. The mariner is regarded as a very experienced sailor and is reportedly in good health. He has been attempting to set a non-stop solo trans-Pacific sailing record from San Francisco to Shanghai. He departed San Francisco on Oct. 18. He had been in constant contact with MRCC China and family on the voyage and has not been likely to miss scheduled calls. Diseases come and go in Africa, but China's help continues, with such efforts as the public health center it launched in Sierra Leone during West Africa's Ebola crisis in 2014. Although Ebola has faded, the China-built public health center, the only one in the country so far, is being made permanent to support local epidemic control, a senior health official told China Daily. Wang Yu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said five Chinese CDC specialists now work in the facility in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. "More Chinese doctors are planned," he said. Tasks of the public health center include surveillance and detection, lab work and regular immunization against infectious diseases. Thomas Samba, a regional director of Sierra Leone's National Public Health Agency, said that with China's help, the nation can train more public health workers and be better equipped to defend itself if there ever is a comeback of Ebola or other infectious diseases. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, China sent aid worth $120 million and dispatched more than 1,200 medical workers, including public health specialists, to 13 affected countries, including Sierra Leone, to help combat the disease. Wang of China CDC said that "it's important to empower Africa" and to let it accumulate local capability, because there's no telling when Ebola or another infectious disease might make a comeback. Samba said there was a lack of public health services before the Ebola outbreak. In the country of 7 million people, there are only 20 to 30 public health specialists, nearly all trained abroad, although China is helping to improve the situation, he said. "The concept and procedures to contain Ebola fit all other emerging pathogens as well," Samba said. "Capacity-building in public health is a major part of our nation's full recovery plan." According to Wang, the West African countries hit hard by Ebola, which killed more than 11,000 people in the region, have all seen their development process wobbling, if not entirely halted. So "any small help can make a whole world of difference," he said. After the Ebola crisis, China made an offer to the African Union to help build a disease control and prevention center in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, where the organization has its headquarters. The center will cover 54 countries in Africa, many of which have no functional public health system, he said. "It's a project endorsed by the presidents of China and the US and carried out by personnel from both countries," Wang said. More Chinese specialists will soon be commissioned to aid the operation of the African Union's CDC. China also helps itself by helping others, said Gao Fu, deputy director of China CDC. "Our experience in Africa helps us make our disease prevention more effective." Gao also urged the Chinese government to build a new lab of the highest biosafety level, known as p4, in North China. China-trained Thomas Samba from Sierra Leone serves as a senior regional director of the country's National Public Health Agency. He said Chinese health workers have now become his colleagues. Supported by the Chinese government, in 1995 he attended Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, majoring in general practice, and studied in the city for more than five years. According to him, public health specialists from China stayed in Sierra Leone after the 2014 Ebola outbreak to help the nationwhose citizens have a life expectancy of 50to build capacity in outbreak response. "We are struggling to recover from the Ebola epidemic, which killed nearly 4,000 in the country, and China's assistance in public health is highly appreciated," he said. It's important for the country of 7 million people to master how to handle emerging outbreaks, as infectious diseases like malaria remain major disease killers, he added. With China's help, the country is able to monitor and record the prevalence of various diseases, particularly contagious ones, and the number of deaths caused by them. Also, the country has begun offering public health education at the only higher education institute of medicine. "Two or three more are planned," he said. "We don't know if or when Ebola will come back," he said. The country is carrying out a post-Ebola recovery program and continuous care for Ebola survivors is a crucial part. "Their situation is miserable, as many lose the ability to work after recovering from the virus," he added. Common complications include a slow processing speed, aches, worsening eyesight and lower libido, which were reported by at least 2,000 survivors. Due to limited knowledge of Ebola, "we have no treatment or cure targeting the virus itself, only supportive measures. That involves a lot of uncertainties", he said. To assure them of better care, the government offers free healthcare services to all Ebola survivors. Others entitled to free services are pregnant and breast-feeding women, and children under 5 years old. Samba said there is a vaccine against Ebola which showed great promise, but it remains very expensive. "We are talking with global organizations like the WHO about the possibilities to use the vaccines in our country," he said. Although global funding for venture capital-backed companies declined in the third quarter, Chinese investors and companies remain on the lookout for potential deals especially in Israel, according to a recent analysis from accounting and consulting concern KPMG International. Global venture capital (VC) investment in the third quarter fell 14 percent from the previous quarter, to $24.1 billion, the lowest quarterly funding total since the third quarter of 2014, the report said. Global deal activities, however, climbed slightly from the second quarter to 1,983, according to Venture Pulse, the quarterly global report on VC trends published by KPMG and CB Insights. Irene Chu, head of the High Growth Technology and Innovation Group at KPMG China, said that Chinese VC investors are focusing on markets outside of China, taking advantage of government incentives. "In particular, Chinese companies have recently acquired or invested in technology companies in Israel, Canada and the United Kingdom. Israel-based companies have been especially keen to work with tech VC funds in China in order to promote their technologies to the Chinese market for their mutual benefit," Chu said in a statement. Earlier this month Lenovo Group Ltd, the world's largest personal computer maker, said it would invest about $100 million in Israeli startups over the next three years to better tap into local talents and cutting-edge technology to grow its core business. "We will focus on the internet of things, cloud computing, cyber security, image recognition and other areas which Israel excels in," Song Chunky, vice-president of Lenovo, said in an interview with China Daily. Israel, known for its innovative engineering, has become one of the most popular destinations for Chinese investment as China seeks to upgrade from a manufacturing hub into a tech center. In China, 84 VC investment deals were recorded in the third quarter totaling $3.9 billion, compared to 79 deals and $5.7 billion three months earlier, according to KPMG. "It's becoming more of a buyer's market in China. There's less bidding going on and VCs are taking more time to evaluate each company. Investment committees are asking deal teams to put personal funds into projects to ensure they have a real stake in a company's success," said Lyndon Fung of the US Capital Markets Group in KPMG China in a statement. Ma Si contributed to this report BISHKEK - The Kyrgyz Parliament's majority coalition collapsed Monday after the withdrawal of the ruling Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK). The SDPK decided to withdraw from the majority coalition at a party meeting on Monday and issued a statement on its withdrawal, which was related to policy disputes on constitutional reforms within the coalition. But the SDPK will announce its withdrawal during the session of the parliament on Wednesday. In the statement the SDPK thanked some parliament members, who worked for strengthening the coalition. "The SDPK calls on deputies of the Kyrgyz Parliament to form a more stable coalition, to continue the constructive work to fulfill the country's strategic objectives, and expresses readiness to cooperate with all political forces in parliament, which will also contribute to sustainable social and economic development on the path of democracy and to strengthen the independence of the Kyrgyz Republic," said the statement published on the website of the Kyrgyz Parliament. The withdrawal of the SDPK will lead to resignation of the cabinet, which will perform their duties until the formation of a new government. According to the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, a party's withdrawal from the majority coalition will result in cabinet resignation. Within three days after the resignation, the country's president will authorize one of the parties in parliament to form a new majority coalition. The SDPK has become the largest party in parliament with 37 out of 120 seats since elected on Oct 4, 2015 and formed a majority coalition with Ata-Meken, Kyrgyzstan Party and Onuguu-Progress Party in November 2015. Disputes within the coalition started when Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev proposed to change the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic and hold a referendum. The Kyrgyz leader explained the necessity to change some constitutional articles about threats to sovereignty and national security. Kyrgyzstan's present constitution was adopted in June 2010 after a referendum. Students pose for a selfie in front of a screen which reads "Cuba versus the blockade" during an event at the Havana's University in Havana, Cuba, October 26, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] UNITED NATIONS - The UN General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution urging an end to U.S. embargo on Cuba, and the United States abstained for the first time in 25 years. Altogether 191 UN member states voted in favor of the resolution, while the United States and Israel abstained. It is the 25th time that the UN General Assembly has adopted such a resolution. This year, there is a change in vote of the United States since it voted against in the past 24 votes. Full diplomatic ties were restored between the United States and Cuba as an agreement to resume normal relations took effect on July 20, 2015. However, the United States has not repealed the embargo yet. The resolution welcomed the progress in relations between the two countries and the visit of the U.S. President Barack Obama to Cuba in March 2016. It also noted that "the steps taken by the United States Administration towards modifying some aspects of the implementation of the embargo, which, although positive, are still limited in scope." Therefore, the General Assembly once again urged the repeal of the blockade measures as soon as possible, said the resolution. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, foreign minister of Cuba, told the General Assembly that "the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba persists, seriously harming the Cuban people and impairing the country's economic development." "Lifting the blockade is the key to be able to advance towards the normalization of relations with the United States; it is what will give some meaning, depth and soundness to what has been achieved so far," he said. While ahead of the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said the U.S. abstention is due to Obama's new approach to Cuba, but it does not mean that the United States agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government. Washington decreed the blockade against Havana officially on Feb. 3, 1962, following the intensification of the political differences that emerged between the U.S. and the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro. Last April, the Icelandic government nearly toppled when Parliament was dissolved, after the Panama Papers revealed that Prime Minister Sigmundur Davi Gunnlaugsson was laundering money with Mossack Fonseca only fear of the popular groundswell for the Pirate Party drove the establishment to keep the government limping along until now. With the election only days away, the Pirates are polling above 22% and have vowed to form a coalition that will not include either of the establishment parties rather, they will govern with the smaller progressive parties, such as the Left-Greens and the Social Democratic Alliance. The party has pledged to provide a passport to Edward Snowden (though it's not clear how he'd get from Russia to Iceland without being kidnapped by a vengeful America just as Bolivian President Evo Morales. Less headline grabbing but even more important is the Pirate platform for Iceland: passing the country's long-delayed, massively popular crowdsourced constitution; renationalizing the resource industry, and enacting the Pirate agenda, "direct democracy, transparency, and net neutrality." The Pirate Party is led by 48-year-old Birgitta Jonsdottir, who describes herself as a "poetician." Before co-founding the party, she did legal work for WikiLeaks. If the Pirates indeed sail to victory, it's not a given that Jonsdottir would take the job as the country's next prime ministershe said earlier this year that she'd do it only if "nobody else can do it or wants to do it." What's more, the Pirates have said they will not form a coalition government with either of the two parties that currently form the government, but would seek an alliance with a number of smaller parties, like the Left-Greens and the Social Democratic Alliance (a more complicated proposition). Iceland's Pirate Party looks likely to take the country's election next weekend [Jill Petzinger/Quartz] File photo shows Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reviews the honor guard during a reception ceremony at Havana's Revolution Palace January 15, 2008. [Photo/Agencies] RIO DO JANEIRO - The defense team of Brazil's former President Quiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday the United Nations accepted their complaint against Judge Sergio Moro for violating Lula's civil and political rights. Moro is in charge of Operation Car Wash, a probe into the corruption scandal involving the state-controlled oil company Petrobras, and Lula was accused of money laundering and corruption in connection with the Petrobras investigation. Lula's lawyer Cristiano Martins said Moro is persecuting the former President for political reasons in an attempt to pin on him crimes he did not commit. Martins said the UN High Commissary for Human Rights admitted the case against Moro and the Brazilian government was ordered to present information on the case. The government has a two-month deadline to provide related information. Lula's defense filed the case in the UN in July. Moro is accused of violating Lula's rights and acting arbitrarily in the investigation, such as forcibly taking Lula to testify, even though he had not refused to testify before, the defense said. In addition, illegally recorded conversations between Lula and then-President Dilma Rousseff were leaked to the press, even though presidential conversations should never be handled by a regular court like Moro's, as the president has the privilege of being attended by the Supreme Court under Brazilian law. "We advanced another step in the protection of the former president's individual rights with the UN's acceptance of our registration. It is especially important to know that from now on, the UN will be taking note of the gross violations committed against Lula every day," Lula's defense said. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will visit China next week, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang announced on Thursday. During his week-long visit, starting on Monday, Najib will meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC. Leaders of the two countries will have in-depth exchanges over China-Malaysia ties and issues of common concern, and will attend the signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents, according to Lu. Malaysia is an important cooperative partner and neighbor, and bilateral ties have been developing in a healthy, stable and rapid way, Lu said, adding that bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and the financial sector has achieved spectacular progress. This will be Najib's third visit to China since he became Malaysia's prime minister. "We believe the visit will further enhance mutual trust and deepen the friendliness between the two countries," Lu said. An artists impression of BYD's electric single-decker bus Enviro200 EV. [Photo/provided to China Daily] Chinese automotive manufacturer BYD and British bus maker Alexander Dennis won their first order together outside of the capital when they were asked to deliver electric single-decker vehicles to Liverpool, at a time when green technology buses are becoming more popular throughout the UK. The partnership will see them deliver a fleet of emissions-free buses to work routes around Liverpool city center. The order, which was placed by Merseyside operator Arriva North West, is for 12 Enviro200 EV 12-meter buses. They will work city-center routes by day and be recharged overnight. The buses are expected to cover between 240 km and more than 300 km each day and will also power integral USB chargers fitted inside the vehicles for the use of passengers. In line with all BYD-Alexander Dennis joint products, the vehicles have been designed to complete a full day's work on a single charge and will not need to be topped up during the day. Therefore, they will be able to take advantage of cheaper of-peak electricity when charged at night. Frank Thorpe, a senior manager with BYD's UK operations, said: "Merseyside is pointing the way for other British cities wishing to tackle their air-quality issues through pollution-free city center buses. We look forward to more such orders." Arthur Whiteside, head of UK sales for Alexander Dennis, said several other cities are watching. "It's the first joint order from outside London and opens the door to a range of provincial cities wishing to upgrade their bus fleet to pure electric, emissions-free standard," he said."The Enviro200EV provides a stylish, cost-effective and proven bus to meet their needs." Emissions-free transport is becoming increasing important in the UK as a result of policies promoting low-carbon use. Several other clean-energy buses have been ordered. Earlier in September, BYD started to provide 51 new single-decker electric buses for London, which it said will become Europe's largest electric fleet. The move should save London 700 metric tons of CO2 emissions a year. The partnership between the manufacturers is said to be "well advanced" in fulfilling the order, which was placed by operator Go-Ahead. BEIJING - China said on Thursday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's recent remarks during his visit to Japan accord with the consensus he reached with Chinese leaders during his China visit last week. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks in response to a question regarding Japanese media reports saying Japan and the Philippines reached agreement during Duterte's visit on respecting an international arbitration tribunal ruling over the South China Sea. Lu said China and the Philippines reached consensus during Duterte's state visit to China, and both agreed to focus on cooperation, put aside their differences and bring the South China Sea issue back to the correct track of bilateral negotiation and consultation. "The consensus has been made clear in the statements of the meetings of the two countries' leaders, their talks as well as in the China-Philippines joint statement," Lu said at a routine press briefing. The consensus meets the common interests of the two countries and peoples and helps regional peace and stability, he added. Currently, the situation in the South China Sea is moving in a positive direction, with joint efforts from concerned parties, including China and the Philippines, Lu said, citing their efforts to properly settle the issue through dialogue. "If some countries still have unrealistic illusions, it's better to give up (the illusions) as early as possible," Lu said. DAMASCUS - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday extended an amnesty for three more months for rebels to disarm and surrender themselves, state news agency SANA reported. The extension of the pardon, first issued last July, offers more time for rebels to clear their "criminal records" by laying down their weapons and surrender to the government. The amnesty also offers kidnappers a chance to clear their records by releasing their captives unharmed and without ransom. An unspecified number of rebels around Damascus have benefited from the amnesty, while others chose to leave for rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib. The government renewed its calls recently for rebels to surrender in the northern city of Aleppo, where the Syrian army and Russia declared a unilateral cease-fire earlier October, or to leave for other rebel-controlled areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo or Idlib. Only seven rebels took advantage of the brief truce and left eastern Aleppo, as the cease-fire was largely rejected by rebel groups who tried to prevent rebels and civilians from leaving. The Syrian army and Russia have since renewed a broad offensive against rebels in eastern Aleppo. BEIJING - Chinese and US armies will stage a joint military drill featuring rescue and disaster alleviation in southwest China from Nov 13 to 18, China's military spokesperson Wu Qian told a press briefing on Thursday. A total of 134 land forces from the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army and 89 from US Pacific forces will take part in the drill at a training base in the Southern Theater Command in Kunming, Yunnan Province. The drill will be carried out in line with the consensus reached by the two armed forces, and the participants will undertake humanitarian rescue and disaster reduction operations at high altitude, Wu said. The spokesperson also confirmed salary rises for Chinese servicemen, saying it would inspire them to perform their duties better. (Photo : Getty Images) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte described Tokyo as a "special friend who is closer than a brother" in a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Advertisement Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sought to assure Japan on Wednesday that his landmark visit to China was completely driven by economics and also vowed to stand by Tokyo over the South China Sea dispute. "You know I went to China for a visit. And I would like to assure you that all there was, was economics. We did not talk about arms. We avoided talking about alliances," Duterte told the Japanese business community. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The assurance is expected to calm down Japan, which traditionally has aligned with Manila to counter China's domination in the region. Duterte made more overtures by describing Tokyo as a "special friend who is closer than a brother" in a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The Philippines leader also said that Manila would closely cooperate with Tokyo on regional issues affecting both countries and will uphold the value of democracy. Speaking on the sensitive issue of territorial disputes, Duterte said that he supports the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes including the South China Sea. Japanese Prime Minister ABE was equally forthcoming in cementing his country's ties with the Philippines. Abe welcomed Duterte's visit to China and his efforts to improve ties between the two countries. The Philippine leader's visit to Japan comes at a critical time when ties between Manila and the U.S. have hit a new low, with the former trying to overhaul it's foreign policy and opening a new chapter in the country's bilateral relationship with China. Duterte made no bones about his intention to change his country's traditional foreign policy when he announced his intention to break ties with the U.S. during his visit to China last week. However, experts say Japan may not have been happy with Duterte's public tirade against the U.S. Japan and the U.S. have been traditional supporters of the Philippines in countering China's so called aggression in the South China Sea. Advertisement TagsRodrigo Duterte, Philippines, Philippines and Japan, Rodrigo Duterte's Visit to Japan (Photo : YouTube) South Korean tech giant Samsung recently announced that the companys mobile payment system Samsung Pay will soon support online shopping. Advertisement Samsung recently announced that the company's mobile payment system, Samsung Pay, will soon support online shopping. The South Korean tech giant revealed this after it signed a deal with MasterCard, which will allow the former to use Masterpass, a digital payment system supported by thousands of online retailers in 33 countries. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Aside from online shopping, Samsung Pay users in the United States can also use the service in paying for in-app purchases. Samsung Pay is also collaborating with local stores to give its customers discounts and other perks. According to The Verge, Samsung Pay already supports online payments, but this feature is only available in the company's native country of South Korea. Samsung said online payments account for 25 percent of Samsung Pay's total processed payments. By expanding Samsung Pay to support online payments in other international markets, users should be able to use the mobile payment system once paying online with the use of smartphones, tablets and personal computers. The company said online payments will be activated first, followed by in-app payments and discounts, which will arrive sooner. Among the first to support in-app payments through Samsung Pay are Hello Vino and Velocity. Through Hello Vino, users can easily purchase wines, while the Velocity app allows users to book tables in supported restaurants. Samsung has yet to release a detailed statement regarding the promised deals and discounts for users of Samsung Pay online payment system app. Through this program, Samsung Pay users will receive discount and other perks whenever they use the system in paying for certain services and products. Advertisement TagsSamsung Pay, Samsung, mobile payment, mobile payment service, MasterCard, visa (Photo : Getty Images) Fonterra head office in Fanshawe St, Auckland on March 23, 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand. Advertisement Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. has suspended its distribution agreement with China's Jiawa following the arrest of 19 people suspected of repackaging and reselling expired milk powder from New Zealand. Jiawa is Fonterra's authorized China distributor since March. The expired products were believed to be sold by a former Jiawa employee before any contact with the New Zealand firm, the NZ Herald reported. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "It is our understanding from reports that part of the current investigation in China relates to Fonterra product that a former Jiawa employee may have sold to others prior to our contract with them," Teh-Han Cho, President NZMP, Greater China, said. The expired milk products were reportedly sold by a Shanghai-registered trading firm named Jiang Di International Trade Co. and not all of the 276 tons of milk products were sold via online channels, Scoop New Zealand noted citing original reports. A Fonterra representative said the dairy maker is being "hyper-vigilant" considering the sensitivites of China's new food safety policies. "Because we aren't part of the official investigation, we have very limited access to the real facts and need to be overly cautious, as a result, we've suspended Jiawa's status as an authorized distributor. It's important to remember that in this case Jiawa was not one of our authorized distributors at the time of the alleged activity," Teh-Han noted. Meanwhile, Fonterra said it is giving Chinese authorities its full support to investigate and arrest the people believed to be responsible for the scam. On the other hand, Fonterra has also initiated an internal probe following the arrest and will review the case internally. Advertisement TagsFonterra, milk scandal, milk scam, Jiawa, china, food safety (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese Paramilitary police wear masks to protect against pollution, a rare occurrence, as they march during smog in Tiananmen Square on December 9, 2015 in Beijing, China. Advertisement At least five environmental officials in China's northern city of Xi'an have been detained for tampering air quality monitoring equipment and falsifying results to avoid being fined, state-backed Xinhua News agency reported. The report was confirmed by the Xi'an Environment Protection Bureau, saying that local monitoring station personnel were found stuffing sensors with cotton to lower emission readings. A bureau official allegedly reported the anomaly to officials on Friday. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Investigation revealed that aside from stuffing cotton gauze, the surveillance videos since March have also been deleted to cover the deception, the Straits Times reported. The deception was allegedly carried out as Li Sen, head of the monitoring station, made a copy of a key and held onto computer password that have access to the station while it was being relocated to the Xi'an University of Posts and Telecommunications last February, the Global Times reported. The unauthorized access allowed employees to enter the station and block the samplers that altered the sampling system and resulted to data exceptions. It also disrupted the normal function of the national air quality monitoring system, Global Times reported citing the China Business View. The alteration to the system's data triggered an alert to the National Environmental Monitoring Center, which immediately dispatched inspectors to investigate the station. A source said the officials manipulated results to make the data "look better" and avoid being penalized since environmental protection officials oversee factories with high pollution levels and are responsible for shutting them down. Meanwhile, an official from the Shaanxi Provincial Environmental Protection Department said the government will implement measures to prevent the issue from recurring again. For instance, it will install a long-distance surveillance system that will alarm if data exceptions are detected and carry out surprise inspections for the stations. Advertisement TagsMinistry of Environmental Protection, air quality, air pollution, china air quality, National Environmental Monitoring Center, Fraud (Photo : Getty Images) Visitors visit the stand of Samsung to watch the Galaxy Note 7 at the 2016 IFA consumer electronics trade fair on September 2, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Advertisement While many airline companies and governments have already banned the Galaxy Note 7 onboard flights, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is yet to officially prohibit the phone starting Thursday (Oct. 27). The ban is part of China's effort to ensure the safety of its passengers from the device's defective battery, which has been linked to overheating and catching fire accidents, the Android Authority noted. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement CAAC previously moved to prohibit passengers from using and charging the Note 7 aboard flights from China on Sept. 14, according to Reuters. China's recent decision to ban the Galaxy Note 7 came after latest reports reveal that Samsung has been rather arrogant towards its Chinese customers, the Phone Arena reported. Such attitude was also reportedly shown in the United States, prompting several Galaxy Note 7 owners to file a lawsuit. Samsung initially assured Chinese customers that the Note 7 handsets sold in the country were not affected with the exploding battery problems, because it was earlier assumed that the battery made by Samsung SDI were causing the fire-related issues, Ubergizmo noted. However, that assumption turned out to be wrong after replacement units were also reported to be also susceptible to catching fire. The South Korean giant still cannot determine the source of the issue and has yet to conclude its in-depth investigation, Android Headlines reported. Furthermore, reports reveal that it will suspend its Galaxy S8 development so it could continue and focus on figuring out what really went wrong. Samsung has already cut its losses after reports of replacement units and was forced to permanently stop the production of its latest flagship units. The South Korean company is still in the process of issuing refunds and alternative units, according to the Android Headlines. Advertisement Tagschina, Civil Aviation Administration of China, Samsung, Galaxy Note 7, Samsung Galaxy Note 7, Note 7 airplane ban (Photo : Getty Images) China and Saudi Arabia have conducted joint military drills near the south-western city of Chongqing. Advertisement China and Saudi Arabia have conducted their first-ever joint anti-terrorism military exercise, Chinese state media reported on Thursday. The operation is seen as a part of China's diplomatic pursuit to increase its cooperation with Middle Eastern countries. The People's Liberation Army Daily reported that 25 army personnel's from each side participated in a drill that lasted for two weeks near China's south-western city of Chongqing. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The training focused on anti-terrorism combat skills and other military tactics. "This joint anti-terrorism training is directed at raising the two militaries' ability to combat terrorism and non-traditional security threats," the paper said. Terrorism is a mutual threat for both China and Saudi Arabia. While Saudi Arabia is engaged in a battle against Iran in the war-torn Syria, China is busy fighting against the Muslim Uighur insurgents in its western region of Xinjiang. To defeat terrorism among Uighurs, China set up an anti-terrorism alliance in August with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. China is working with these three Muslim countries partly because they share borders with the Xinjiang region. The Chinese government believes that its anti-terrorism alliance with these countries will prevent any insatiability from spilling over into the Xinjiang region. In August, China blamed Uighur militants for a suicide bomb attack on the Chinese embassy in the Kyrgyz capital. The attack took place barely two months before Beijing conducted joint anti-terrorism drills with Tajikistan near Tajik-Afghan border. Afghan army officials reportedly part of this operation. China, meanwhile, is also stepping up an anti-terrorism alliance with its neighbor cum rival India. Last month, China held first-ever counter-terror dialogue with India in Beijing. Advertisement TagsChina and Saudi Arabia, china, China and Saudi Arabia Conduct First Joint anti-Terror Drills, China terrorism (Photo : USMC) An F-35B, the SVTOL variant Taiwan wants. Advertisement Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) will be deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan in early 2017 as the U.S. Navy bolsters its presence in Asia by transferring more of its combat-ready units to Japan. VMFA 121, also known as the "Green Knights," flies the Marine Corps version of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the F-35B. This variant is short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) the jet that will replace current inventories of both the F/A-18 Hornet and the AV-8B Harrier II in the fighter and attack roles. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement VMFA-121 will be the first F-35 squadron permanently based in Japan. Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo, commanding officer of VMFA-121, said Marines with the squadron are both excited and honored to be part of this move. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW). On Nov. 20, 2015, VMFA-121 accepted delivery of the first three F-35B jets becoming the first operational F-35B squadron in the Marine Corps Operating Forces and the first operational F-35 squadron in any service. The squadron currently has 10 of its 16 F-35Bs already based in Iwakuni. The remaining six stealth jets will be delivered in June 2017 by the USS Wasp (LHD-1), a Landing Helicopter Dock amphibious assault ship of the U.S. Navy. The Marines are excited to have the F-35B. "I can't wait to get the airplane out to the Pacific," said Lt. General Jon Davis, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps. "It's tailor-made for that part of the world with its fifth generation capability and its expeditionary capabilities to land on a small ship or strip, and flow back and forth between those." Gen. Davis said the Marines' F-35s are ready for combat now if needed. He revealed the F-35s are doing a lot better in combat exercises than expected, achieving kill ratios of 24 to zero in mock aerial combats against other jets, and surviving every sort of simulated enemy attack. "It is like watching a velociraptor going through. Everything in its path is killed," he said. The deployment of VMFA-121 and Wasp to Japan is part of Washington's rebalancing strategy to increase the navy's presence in the Pacific. Once in Japan, Wasp will be part of the United States Seventh Fleet Forward Deployed Naval Forces. Advertisement TagsVMFA-121, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, U.S. Marine Corps, Green Knights, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo (Photo : US Army) US and Polish troops in training. Advertisement The largest build-up of NATO troops since the Cold War has now seen NATO and the United States steadily and heavily reinforcing its military units in eastern European states threatened by Russia with invasion. UK Secretary of State for Defense Michel Fallon confirmed the Royal Air Force will deploy Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter jets to Romania in 2017 while the British Army will deploy 800 men to Estonia by May 2017. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "Backed by a rising defense budget, this deployment of air, land and sea forces shows that we will continue to play a leading role in NATO, supporting the defense and security of our allies from the north to the south of the alliance," said Fallon. Tensions between Russia and NATO have been increasing ever since Russia annexed the Crimea region in 2014. Some analysts claim Russian president Vladimir Putin is bent on resurrecting the Soviet Union's communist empire, either by threatening war or going to war against NATO. Those tensions have been worsened by Russia's role in the Syrian civil war and by deploying large number of warships from the Russian Navy to the Mediterranean Sea. That number will rise top 18 with the arrival in November of a naval task force led by the heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov (063). The presence of a powerful Russian fleet off the southern flank of NATO is an altogether visible attempt to surround NATO with Russian firepower on the pretext of assisting Russian ally, Syria. NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said that recent tactics by Moscow had forced NATO to respond. "Russia has tripled defense spending," he said. "Russia has invested heavily in a modern military equipment. They are conducting a large scale no notice exercises close to NATO borders, but perhaps most importantly Russia has been willing to use military force against neighbors. "We have seen that in Georgia and we have seen it in Ukraine with illegal annexation of Crimea and the continued destabilization of Eastern Ukraine. So therefore NATO has to respond. " The UK in July confirmed it will deploy one of four battalions to NATO's enhanced forward presence in the Baltic States and Poland. The deployment will include armored Infantry, equipped with Warrior armored fighting vehicles, tactical UAVs and a troop of our Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks. Several NATO member states have promised troop contributions to a force of 4,000 soldiers to be spread across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. To begin in early 2017, the deployments are key to NATO's effort to reinforce territory threatened by Russia. "Close to our borders, Russia continues its assertive military posturing," said Stoltenberg at the start of talks among NATO allies. "It is important and it is necessary that NATO responds when we see the substantial and significant military buildup of Russia over a long period of time." Advertisement TagsNATO, United States, Russia, Invasion, Secretary of State for Defense Michel Fallon, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland A Seventh-day Adventist lay minister who says he was fired by Georgias Department of Public Health because of his sermons says he will not turn over his sermons for review by state attorneys. Dr. Eric Walsh had been appointed to President Obamas Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/Aids and was hired by the Georgia state agency in May 2014. He was supposed to start working in June 2016. But the DPH found out that LGBT activists had protested Walsh when he was selected as the commencement speaker at Pasadena City College. The agency launched an investigation into his preaching and he was asked to hand over copies of his sermons. DPH employees watched the sermons, and later the agency rescinded the offer of employment after Walsh had been employed for only a week. Walsh then filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission in September 2014, arguing that he was fired for his sermon content. The state of Georgia then filed for a Request for Production of Documents, asking that Walsh turn over his copies of sermon notes and transcripts. "No government has the right to require a pastor to turn over his sermons," Walsh said in a statement. "I cannot and will not give up my sermons unless I am forced to do so." Walshs attorney, Jeremy Dys, of First Liberty Institute, called the filing for the sermon notes a government overreach. Publication date: October 27, 2016 Justice Tom Parker Continues Constitutional Challenge Contact: Liberty Counsel, 800-671-1776, Media@LC.org, Press Kit ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Following the Judicial Inquiry Commission's (JIC) dismissal of the complaint against Alabama Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker, he has asked the federal courts to rule on the merits of his constitutional challenge to the speech restrictive Judicial Canon 3(A)(6) and the automatic removal provision. The lower court abstained from deciding the legal merits because the complaint was pending in the JIC. Parker appealed his challenge to the Federal Court of Appeals. Now that the JIC complaint has been dismissed, he has asked the Federal Court of Appeals to send the case back to the lower federal court to rule on the merits of his constitutional challenge. The JIC recently dismissed the complaint filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) against Justice Tom Parker. The SPLC complained that Justice Parker was interviewed on the American Family Radio talk show regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's marriage opinion, claiming that any comment on any case anywhere in the country violated Canon 3(A)(6) of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics. Canon 3(A)(6) purports to prohibit Alabama judges from making "any public comment about a pending or impending proceeding in any court," even if such a proceeding is not pending before the judge making the comments, and even if the judges comments do not have a reasonable likelihood of affecting the outcome or impairing the fairness of that proceeding. The American Bar Association has stated this broad speech restriction violates the First Amendment. Parker was not charged by the JIC, but, if charged, he would have been suspended pending a hearing. Liberty Counsel filed a federal lawsuit challenging Canon 3 and the automatic removal provision. Parker's federal lawsuit alleges that the speech restrictive judicial canon violates the First Amendment and the automatic removal violates due process and other constitutional provisions. Alabama is the only state to have this automatic removal provision that removes a judge for any charge. "We are pleased that the complaint against Justice Tom Parker has been dismissed," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "Now we will focus on challenging the unconstitutional speech restriction in the judicial canon. This provision is so broad and such a clear violation of the First Amendment that no one can defend it. We will continue to challenge the automatic removal provision because it gives too much power to the JIC and that power has often been abused. This provision turns our justice system of 'innocent until proven guilty' on its head," said Staver. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. home US 2016 Electoral College Map Projections: Clinton most likely to win Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will most likely win the election on Nov. 8, according to most electoral college map projections. The electoral college map from Real Clear Politics shows Clinton leading against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump with 252 to 126 electoral votes. The map marks Pennsyvania, Texas and Georgia as toss-ups leaving 160 electoral votes available to both candidates. Clinton gets 333 electoral votes in the "No Toss Ups" map while Trump has 205. A candidate must secure at least 270 to win the election. The latest forecast from FiveThirtyEight predicts that Clinton will win against the Republican candidate at 337.6 to 199.1 electoral votes. She has 49.7 percent of the popular vote while Trump has 43.1 percent. The Democratic candidate currently has an 85.7 chance of winning while Trump only has 14.3 percent. Princeton Election Consortium shows the former secretary of state securing 218 electoral votes while Trump has 164. Both leading candidates are tied in Ohio. Clinton is far ahead with 352 electoral votes against Trump with 173 in Sabato's Crystal Ball. Utah and Indiana with 6 electoral votes each are marked as toss-ups in the electoral college map. The latest forecast from Upshot says Clinton has a 92 percent chance of winning the election leaving Trump with only 8 percent. The Democratic candidate got 98 percent from Huffington Post and 90 percent from PredictWise. She is also favored to win in the forecasts from Princeton, Daily Kos and the Cook Political Report. Clinton is maintaining her lead in the latest polls as reported by Real Clear Politics. In the Fox News poll, Clinton is ahead by 4 points against Trump at 49 to 44 percent. She has a 6-point lead against the business magnate at 43 to 37 percent in the Reuters/IPSOS poll. Trump leads by one point against Clinton at 45 to 44 percent in the L.A. Times/USC tracking poll. Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence has voiced his skepticism about some of the poll results while speaking to an audience at Catawba College in North Carolina. "It's frankly obvious what the media's trying to do, just over the last few days. They're trying to refer to some polling data to try to roll this campaign up. Well, the polls I'm looking at a Rasmussen's got us up 2 across the country," said Pence. "Investor's Business Daily has us up 1 across the country, and here in North Carolina, it's a 1-point race. This race is on, North Carolina. Don't let them spin you any other way. Don't be fooled. This race is on," he added. home World Catholic Church bans the scattering of cremated ashes The Vatican issued guidelines that prohibit the scattering of the ashes of cremated Catholics. The newly released instructions also said that the ashes should not be divided or kept at home but at a sacred place approved by the Church. Cremation was approved by the Vatican in 1963, stating that it is only allowed as long as it does not entail a denial of the resurrection. The guidelines warned against "new ideas contrary to the Church's faith." It stated that the Church would not "condone attitudes or permit rites that involve erroneous ideas about death, such as considering death as the definitive annihilation of the person, or the moment of fusion with Mother Nature or the universe, or as a stage in the cycle of regeneration, or as the definitive liberation from the 'prison' of the body.'" The instructions further stated that ashes can only be kept at home in extraordinary cases. It also forbade the division of the ashes among family members or keeping the remains in lockets or other mementos. The document noted that scattering the ashes in the air, land or sea gave the appearance of "pantheism, naturalism or nihilism." It maintained that those who chose to be cremated for reasons that contradict Christian beliefs must be denied a Christian funeral. The document was authored by Cardinal Gerhard Mueller. It was dated Aug. 15, 2016 and it said that Pope Francis approved it on March 18, 2016. At a Vatican briefing, Mueller was asked if the pope had any reservations about the new instructions especially about prohibiting family members from keeping the cremated ashes at home. "The dead body isn't the private property of relatives, but rather a son of God who is part of the people of God. We have to get over this individualistic thinking," he replied. The Cremation Association of North America has reported that the U.S. cremation rate reached 48.6 percent in 2015. It predicted that the rate will reach 54.3 percent by the year 2020. home US Georgia pastor refuses to surrender his sermons despite orders from government Dr. Eric Walsh, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor from Georgia, is refusing to hand over copies of his sermons despite orders from the state's attorney general. Walsh was previously hired as the District Health Director of the Georgia Department of Public Health in 2014. After a week, he was asked to provide copies of his sermons for review. His attorneys said that the government wanted to know the contents of the sermons Walsh delivered about health, marriage, homosexuality, world religions and creationism. He was fired two days later after he complied with the request. The pastor filed a lawsuit against the state officials for religious discrimination. "He was fired for something he said in a sermon," said First Liberty counsel Jeremy Dys, the attorney representing Walsh. "If the government is allowed to fire someone over what he said in his sermons, they can come after any of us for our beliefs on anything," Dy added. According to World, the subpoena ordering Walsh to submit his sermons was issued by Attorney General Samuel Olens on Sept. 27. Walsh said he will not comply with the order. "I really don't want that precedent set in this country. I do this for the purpose of, hopefully, protecting someone who comes after me," he said at a press conference on Wednesday. Dys said that the state officials have acted illegally when it requested copies of the sermons when they hired Walsh. He added that it is also illegal for them to subpoena the sermons after they were sued by the pastor. "The government is demanding that a pastor hand over copies of all of his sermons, notes, and transcripts, without limitation," Dys said in a statement. "This is an excessive display of the government overreaching its authority and violating the sanctity of the church," he continued. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, expressed his support for Walsh. He said that the government's efforts to scrutinize speech made at the pulpit is unconstitutional. home US Max Lucado says he was not consulted to be in Anti-Trump Ad Best-selling Christian author and preacher Max Lucado said that the progressive Christian group Faith in Public Life (FPL) did not consult him about featuring some of his statements criticizing Donald Trump in an advertisement. Lucado denounced Trump's behavior in an interview with National Public Radio (NPR) last March. FPL featured excerpts of the interview in an anti-Trump video titled "Lucado." "I would not have said anything about Mr. Trump if he didn't call himself a Christian. Here's a man who holds up a Bible one day and calls a lady 'bimbo' the next," the preacher said in the video. A spokesman for Lucado told The Christian Post (CP) that the preacher was not consulted by FPL about the video. In a Facebook message posted on Tuesday, Lucado cautioned his readers that his comments are being used by some groups without his approval. "Certain groups are using my words in political ads without my permission. Please do not take what I've said as an endorsement of any candidate. I hope you will pray and vote!" he said. FPL executive director Rev. Jennifer Butler said in an interview with CP that the organization simply took what was available in the public domain when it included Lucado's remarks in the advertisement. Butler, who is also a Presbyterian minister, said that the advertisement featuring Lucado's statements against Trump was well received by the evangelicals. "Evangelicals are his biggest audience and in looking at his popularity among evangelicals, that was certainly important," she said. The minister noted that Christians are conflicted between Trump and Hillary Clinton in the coming elections. She said that the organization was merely pointing out that Trump's character is not consistent with Christian values, adding that the Republican candidate has demeaned women, immigrants and several others. Butler stressed that Christians have other options than voting for Trump. She said that they can either vote for Clinton, a third-party candidate or just stay at home. home US Ray Comfort says atheists down-voted "Atheist Delusion" on movie ratings website Evangelist Ray Comfort said atheists down-voted his latest movie "The Atheist Delusion" on the film ratings website IMDB after it premiered at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky last Saturday. Comfort stated on Facebook that 61 atheists have already rated "The Atheist Delusion" as a one-star movie just 24 hours after it was released. "This pulls the average down to a 3.5 stars. That means to someone wanting to know, it's really bad," he wrote. The evangelist said that his other movies also received low ratings from atheists but he believes that his latest film will be unusually targeted because it "disproves atheism with one scientific question." "They are worried that people will watch it and realize the insane nature of atheism," he continued. "Watch the atheists swarm in like a bunch of nasty bees, to try and pull it down," Comfort said. In an interview with Christian News Wire, he said that over 1,000 Christians have already given his movie a 10-star rating while 500 atheists rated it with one star. It has received an average rating of 5.8 with a total of 1,791 votes as of Wednesday. The full movie is now available for free on YouTube. Comfort said that the YouTube comments section of the movie has amassed more that 7,000 comments, most of which are abusive. "This is because atheists resort to character attacks when they have no answer to an argument. They shed other arguments like water off a duck's back, but 'The Atheist Delusion' had ripped the feathers off the duck," he said. Comfort has previously admitted that the film is unlikely to change the minds of hardened atheists but he believes that there are others who would be willing to consider the existence of God. The movie has been endorsed by prominent Christian figures such as best-selling author Francine Rivers, Hollywood actor Kevin Sorbo, TV host Jason Benham, World Net Daily CEO Joseph Farah, Reasons for Hope founder Carl Kerby and Sen. Ryan Gatti. home US Rick Warren opens newest Saddleback campus in San Diego Saddleback Church Senior Pastor Rick Warren just opened the newest campus of the megachurch in San Diego last Sunday. The San Diego community will now be able to hear inspiring messages of hope and take part in Sadddleback Worship every week without driving to other cities. "Saddleback San Diego is one we've been wanting to do for a long time," said Warren. "We have members who drive every week from San Diego to our other campuses, but there's no reason for that in the future, because we're starting Saddleback San Diego," he added. The new campus will also be offering services such as food pantry, Celebrate Recovery and other support groups and events. Warren revealed that the campus will be led by Pastor Jeff Gonzales, who has previously served as a volunteer in Saddleback San Clemente, Christian News Wire reported. "We've been waiting for the right pastor, and I'm happy to say that Jeff Gonzalez is coming back on our staff to become the new campus pastor at Saddleback San Diego." Gonzalez, a former marine, also served as a pastor while he was deployed in Afghanistan. He said that the newest campus is a prayer come true for the San Diego community. "The launch of this Saddleback church family will provide an epicenter of hope and resources for our San Diego community," Gonzalez added. The church in San Diego is the 17th Saddleback Church campus, including four international campuses. It is located at Canyon Crest Academy, 5951 Village Center Loop Road. The services will be held on Sundays at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Rick Warren just performed the 45,000th baptism of Saddleback Church earlier this month. He personally baptized 600 people over the weekend. The ministry celebrated its 35th ministry last year and it was named the top megachurch in the U.S. in a list of 50 churches compiled by Newsmax. Warren has been dubbed as the "evangelical pope" due to his popularity and influence. He even delivered the keynote address when Pope Francis visited the U.S. for the World Meeting of Families in September 2015. home US Russell Moore says religious right must either refocus on the Gospel or die Russell Moore, president of Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, issued a harsh rebuke to the religious right saying that it must get back to the Gospel instead of advancing its political goals. "A Religious Right that is not able to tie public action and cultural concern to a theology of gospel and mission will die, and will deserve to die," he declared at a lecture on Oct. 24. His speech titled "Can The Religous Right Be Saved?" was delivered at the 2016 Erasmus Lecture sponsored by First Things magazine. Moore narrated that he grew up in the Bible Belt and he became a witness to the hypocrisy displayed by his fellow believers who turned a blind eye to racial injustice. He recalled how fruitless cultural Christianity became when it was embroiled in politics. He acknowledged that people are facing hard decisions in the coming election and some have thought of it as a choice between the "lesser of two evils." He said that some are forgetting the Gospel in their attempt to gain political influence. "The Religious Right turns out to be the people the Religious Right warned us about," he stated. Moore also decried the use of "apocalyptic language" every time a presidential election is held. He characterized it as "the sort of theological liberalism that makes no sense in a religion in which Augustine wrote the City of God in the context of a collapsing Rome." Moore asserted that the younger generation of evangelicals are prioritizing the furtherance of the Gospel over right-wing politics. He said that younger Christians will have to abandon alarmist eschatology and prosperity gospel in order to become effective in the current cultural climate. "A Christianity without a clear gospel is just moralism; but a Christianity also without visible churches is backward looking and seething with rage with what has been lost," he said. In an earlier interview with Bloomberg, Moore predicted that evangelical conservatives will be deeply divided even after the election in November. He said that the older generation in the religious right establishment is very different from the younger generation who are more theologically oriented and multi-ethnic. Bowalley Road Rules The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place. So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules. These are based on two very simple principles: Courtesy and Respect. Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned. Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym. Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse. However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen. 4 Countries Where Christians Are Persecuted For Their Faith Today marks International Religious Freedom Day, which commemorates the execution of a group of Quakers the Boston martyrs who were executed in the 17th century. Two of them were hanged on October 27, 1659, and the day was chosen to recognise the importance of religious liberty. A report from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warned that religious freedom had come under "serious and sustained assault" across the world in the past year, highlighting religious freedom violations in more than 30 countries, including China, Sudan, North Korea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq and Syria. A report released by the US State Department in August then said that a staggering three-quarters of the world's population suffer from severe restrictions on religious freedom through "government policies or the hostile acts of individuals, organizations, or societal groups". The report placed particular emphasis on blasphemy laws around the world, which ambassador at large for international religious freedom, David Saperstein, said had a "chilling, sometimes deadly effect". To mark International Religious Freedom Day, here are four countries where Christians suffer significant persecution for their faith. Laos USCIRF last month said Laos had "myriad human rights challenges", but highlighted "the policies and decrees at the central and local levels of government that restrict religious practices" as of particular concern. These undermine "not only the Lao constitution but also international human rights standards", chairman Thomas Reese said. Christianity is one of four religions officially recognised by the Lao government, but just 1.5 per cent of the country's nearly seven million population practise the faith. According to USCIRF, suspicion is directed at Christians by some local officials because of a perceived link with the West and the US, and some in the Christian community believe they are viewed by the government as "enemies of the state". North Korea North Korea continues to be considered the worst place in the world in which to be a Christian. A damning report released by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) in September said Christians face rape, torture, enslavement and being killed for their faith. Freedom of religion or belief "is largely non-existent" under dictator Kim Jong Un's leadership, CSW said. "Religious beliefs are seen as a threat to the loyalty demanded by the Supreme Leader, so anyone holding these beliefs is severely persecuted," the report said, noting: "Christians suffer significantly because of the anti-revolutionary and imperialist labels attached to them by the country's leadership." Among the documented incidents against Christians are "being hung on a cross over a fire, crushed under a steamroller, herded off bridges and trampled underfoot". Sudan USCIRF has accused the Sudanese government of continuing "to engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of freedom of religion or belief". Designated by the commission as a 'country of particular concern' since 1999, Sudan's population is over 97 per cent Muslim and the country's criminal code restricts religious freedom for all citizens. It also imposes sharia law on Muslims and Christians, allowing the death penalty for apostasy, stoning for adultery and prison sentences for blasphemy. This month, six Christians were jailed for refusing to hand over church property to the government, and five other churches three belonging to the Sudan Church of Christ, one to the Presbyterian Church and the other to the Episcopal Church have been told their buildings will be demolished. The Maldives The Maldives ranks 13th on persecution charity Open Doors' list of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian. It is illegal to "propagate any religion other than Islam" and breaking this law can result in a prison sentence of up to five years. A law passed in August legalised criminal defamation, a move that was strongly critcised by the UN, rights groups and Western nations. The new legislation criminalised defamatory speech, remarks, writings and other actions including a gesture and targets actions against "any tenet of Islam". A spokeswoman for the Rule of Law branch at the UN human rights office said the law crippled "freedom of expression including on the basis of defamation of religion, national security and social norms". Anglican Church In Egypt 'Under Heavy Attack' - By Other Christians A long-running legal battle between Anglicans in Egypt and a separate denomination, the Evangelical Church Association (ECA), has culminated with a court decision that could see the Anglicans' separate legal identity vanish. The Anglican Episcopal Diocese of Egypt is appealing the decision, reached after 14 years of legal struggle. According to ACNS, the Bishop of Egypt, Dr Mouneer Anis, has called on Anglicans to pray and advocate with their local Egyptian consulates and embassies to get the ruling reversed. A judge has ruled that the Anglican Church in Egypt and its buildings belong to the ECA. Anis, who is also the Archbishop of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, told ACNS: "They further claimed that they can take possession of all of the Episcopal/Anglican Church properties as their own. They are now forcing us to take their approval before we notarise any document in the government. Moreover, we need to receive the approval of the ECA before we ask immigration to grant or renew visas to our workers. This is causing us a great deal of trouble." He said that earlier this month the diocese had applied for a visa for one of its workers and had been told it needed a recommendation from the ECA. "This has never happened before, at least in my time as a Bishop from 2000," Anis said. The secretary general of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said he was "greatly saddened" by the situation. "There is a very long tradition of Anglicanism in Egypt," he said. "We simply cannot lose our identity as Anglicans there. We hope and pray that the Egyptian government and the legal authorities will recognise that we are an independent denomination." In a prayer letter to supporters, Dr Anis said that the diocese was "under heavy attack" from the ECA. "For more than two hundred years, the government recognised us as an independent denomination, but now the ECA is asking the different governmental offices not to deal with us directly but through them," he said. A letter from the Province has been sent to the President of Egypt and to Pope Tawadros II, leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, in a bid to resolve the issue. Anis told ACNS he was asking Anglicans and Episcopalians to pray for the Church in Egypt. "We feel deprived from our legal rights and our role as a Church, and our freedom, may be compromised," he said. In particular, he asked for prayer for a fair judgment in the current court case; and for prayers for people in the church, "who are sad about this situation". C of E's First Woman Bishop Questions Appointment Of 'Wonder Woman' As UN Ambassador The Church of England's first woman bishop has questioned the appointment of the comic book character "Wonder Woman" as an honorary ambassador for the United Nations. Bishop of Stockport Libby Lane said: "We live in a world where there are women who are everyday heroes in all walks of life. "We don't need fictional action heroes or comic book characters to inspire our daughters or to reflect the reality of the daily wonders carried out by women across the world." Earlier this month, the UN announced that Wonder Woman would become an honorary ambassador in support of the UN's sustainable development goal number five "to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls". Staff at the UN created a petition protesting at the cartoon woman's "overtly sexualised image", complaining that it is not "culturally encompassing or sensitive". It has been signed by more than 11,000 people. The petition states: "Wonder Woman was created 75 years ago. Although the original creators may have intended Wonder Woman to represent a strong and independent 'warrior' woman with a feminist message, the reality is that the character's current iteration is that of a large breasted, white woman of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a shimmery, thigh-baring body suit with an American flag motif and knee high boots the epitome of a 'pin-up' girl." Bishop Libby said at last night's William Temple lecture that sustainable transformation is more likely to come about through "real world research, real world resources, and real world leadership" rather than the appointment of "Wonder Woman" as a United Nations honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls. Gal Gadot stars as Diana, Princess of the Amazons, in the Warner Bros Wonder Woman movie about the DC Comics series being released next year. Young British child star Emily Carey, known as Grace Beauchamp BBC's Casualty series, plays the young Diana. Lane's lecture was on the subject of "the difference women make in society" and what keeps millions of women, and other groups, marginalised and disenfranchised. She removed the reference to Wonder Woman from the final version of the lecture. Reflecting on her position as a woman bishop, she told Christian Today: "It is human nature to be seduced by a sense of our own importance. There is truth in the adage that power tends to corrupt, even those of us who are women who are trying to be alert to these pressures." Women such as herself needed to be "reminded" of this reality by people on the margins in ways that "we no longer are". She said: "The truth is, yes, we are bishops in the Church of England, we are in the centre, we are not on the margins any more. So yes, I do think that women bishops have to be careful not to be seduced by the sense that what really matters is what happens around us." "Though I am a woman, I am not on the margins of my community and society. I am a well-educated white middle-class woman recently entrusted with senior leadership in the Church, and I don't want to collude with the misuse of power, and be seduced by its idols," she said. "My own experience of exclusion and influence, my observation of those on the margins discerning and using their own capacities to be the change they want to see, and my reflection on the scripture and the wisdom of others brings me to suggest that sustainable transformation, indeed the Kingdom of God, is found in and from the margins. "And that is difficult because I am coming to the conclusion that the kingdom of God is found in and from the margins and bishops, even women bishops, are at the centre of things and in perpetual danger of misusing, abusing our power and control." In her lecture, she said: "We live in a world today too, where there are women, in all walks of life, who bring about sustainable transformation. In them, through them, too, the kingdom of God is near. "I'd like to mention a couple of initiatives I've become aware of that seem to me to reflect this. Kashif is a Pakistan-based microfinance organization which, when it was founded, lent exclusively to women in groups of 25. Its members guarantee one another's debts. They meet every 2 weeks to make payments and discuss a social issue. What is wonderful about this project is that it now lends to 'bottom-of-the-pyramid' families including men. Its mission statement is 'Financial Services for all in a poverty-free and gender-equitable society'." She also mentioned the Afghan Institute of Learning. "Aid campaigns in Afghanistan mostly focused on towns, not countryside. The perception of outside aid workers is often threatening. However, significant change has come from grass roots action. Dr Sakeena Yacoobi, founder and director of the Institute, says the project is 'an Afghan organization run mainly by women, that seeks to help all Afghans rebuild their lives and society through transformation at the individual and community level.' The work of the institute began with secret schools under Taliban, and now provides education, healthcare and legal services for 350,000 women and children in Afghanistan. It has 480 staff, 80 per cent of whom are women." Cathedral Lit Red In Solidarity With Persecuted Christians This November Brentwood Cathedral will be floodlit red, to highlight the ongoing persecution of Christians in the Middle East. Brentwood will stand alongside Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey which have previously announced that they too will be floodlit in red, in a display organised by the Catholic Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Speaking to the Catholic Herald, the Dean of Brentwood Cathedral, Fr Martin Boland, said: "At present, Christians suffer greater hostility across the world than any other religious group. A recent report suggests that 200 million Christians, or 10 per cent of Christians worldwide, are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs. This is deeply disturbing and the floodlighting of the Cathedral in red is to remind people of this. "If the right to express religious beliefs freely is taken from people, then their humanity and dignity will be as well." Boland urged government action, saying: "It is time for governments and international bodies to highlight the human rights abuses faced by Christians in the Middle East and to respond to them. If they don't, then Christianity will be wiped out in this region in a systematic and violent way. "In November, nobody passing Brentwood Cathedral at night will be able to turn a blind eye to it and nobody, believer or non-believer, Christian or non-Christian, should turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East." This floodlighting follows a tradition set out by previous public landmarks: on 29 April Rome's historic Trevi fountain was also dyed red to honour Christian martyrs around the world. This display was also organised by ACN, which hoped it would mark "the start of a long lasting, concrete reaction everywhere so that the persecuted people of the 21st century can as soon as possible return to fully enjoying their natural right to religious freedom". A 2013 report by ACN, entitled 'Persecuted and Forgotten' presented testimonies from persecuted Christians and investigated 30 countries where Christianity is under threat, concluding that in some areas the faith is at risk of being completely wiped out. There is especially severe persecution of Christians in Iraq and Syria where ISIS thrives and subjects believers to forced conversions, violence, enslaving, and displacement. Christians in Nigeria are also being subjected to constant attacks from the Boko Haram terrorist group. Alongside the floodlighting, ACN has invited people to wear red on November 23. It said: "This profound act of solidarity will be joined by other faith groups as a tribute to all who, in recent times, have suffered injustice and risk their lives for their faith. Make a stand against religious persecution and for peace and tolerance." Christian Woman Captured By Boko Haram Tells Of Healing And Joy A Christian woman who was captured for five weeks by Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria has told of her joy after being adopted by a foster family following a period in an internally displaced people's (IDP) camp. Mercy James, 23, from Gyoza in Nigeria's north-eastern Borno State, was seized along with four other women in June 2014 when militants took over the town and declared it an Islamic caliphate. She was separated from her father and she presumes he was killed for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. "My first day was like hell," she told Open Doors. "I cried all day and all night. I prayed like never before and asked God to give me courage." Open Doors met Mercy last year, when she had been left to live in an internally displaced people's (IDP) camp. "She was destitute, injured and deeply traumatised," said Open Doors, which sought to help her with counselling, medical expenses, income generation and encouragement through letters from the charity's supporters. Now, Mercy no longer lives in the IDP camp but has instead been taken in by a foster family. Open Doors said that "within the context of distrust and isolation often experienced by former Boko Haram captives, this is an extraordinarily fortunate situation". A serious injury that Mercy had sustained to her leg during an aerial bombardment has healed. With the support of Open Doors, Mercy has started a successful tailoring business. "The transformation has been so radical, that was hard to recognise her," wrote an Open Doors worker. "The sewing machine and monetary support I received helped me a lot," Mercy told Open Doors. "I started up my own business and now have a shop. A lot of people bring their clothes for me to sew; I can now cover my needs and those of my [foster] family." Open Doors, together with international visitors, recently went to see Mercy in order to pray with her, encourage her, and deliver letters of support from the charity's supporters. "I am so happy because I know that I am not alone and that other believers out there are praying for me," Mercy said. One letter-writer included a bracelet. "I was deeply touched by the bracelet I received," she told Open Doors. "Though it's just a bracelet, it has a deeper meaning. All the colours on it speak about Psalm 23." She added: "I am overwhelmed and my heart is filled with joy seeing Open Doors here again. Words cannot express the joy and peace I have. All I can say is, may God continue to bless your charity and all those who are out there praying for us in northern Nigeria. "For other believers who are being persecuted because of Christ, I have this to say: though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, fear no evil for God is with you. If God delivered me, He will do the same for you." EU Parliament Votes To Protect Christians In Iraq After ISIS Is Defeated A resolution to protect religious minorities including Christians and Yazidis in Iraq following the expected defeat of ISIS has been passed in the European Parliament. The European People's Party Group, the largest political group in the European Parliament, tabled this week a joint motion for a resolution in Iraq once the offensive to retake Mosul from Islamic State is completed. The resolution passed on Thursday morning by an overwhelming majority, with 488 votes in favour, 11 against, and around 100 abstentions. Charlie Weimers of the Swedish Christian Democrats told Christian Today it was "now or never" for religious minorities in Iraq. The motion highlighted ISIS' "draconian regime in Mosul", the jihadist group's last stronghold in Iraq. It noted that those who have managed to escape the city "report that people are starving and desperate to be liberated" and "strongly condemned" mass executions perpetrated by militants. The motion also said the Nineveh Plain, Tal Afar and Sinjar regions have been "the ancestral homeland of Christians (Chaldeans/Syriacs/Assyrians), Yazidis, Sunni and Shia Arabs, Kurds, Shabak, Turkmen, Kaka'i, Sabaean-Mandeans, and others where they lived for centuries in a spirit of general pluralism, stability and communal cooperation despite periods of external violence and persecution, until the beginning of this century". Before the Iraq invasion of 2003 there were more than 1.5 million Christians living in Iraq. There are now believed to be only around 200,000. "The extinction of these minorities in the region will have a further destabilising effect," the resolution said. The European Parliament in February recognised the atrocities committed by ISIS against religious minorities including Christians, Yazidis and Turkmen as genocide. Member states must ensure "the necessary security conditions should be ensured for all those who have been forced to leave their homeland or have been forcibly displaced, to make effective their right to return to their homelands as soon as possible", the motion continued. Article 125 of the Iraqi constitution gives religious minorities the right to have their own province, and this was guaranteed by the Council of Ministers in January 2014. The motion urged member states to "give their practical and diplomatic support to a sustainable and inclusive post-conflict structure for the region, with particular reference to the possibility of an autonomous province including the Nineveh Plain, Sinjar and Tal Afar, to be politically presented by the indigenous peoples of the region". Groups acting on behalf of religious minorities in Iraq have long called for a self-governed province to be created in the Nineveh Plain post-ISIS. "The coming liberation of Mosul is... the defining moment when it comes to the future of Iraq's indigenous peoples," said Lars Adaktusson, who initiated the resolution. "Now that Islamic State is on its way to being driven out of Mosul, it is indispensable that the EU, together with other countries, shows solidarity with minorities and, within the framework of Iraq's federal structure, formulates an action plan on the future of Christians, Yazidis and Turkmen. "That means the creation of maximum regional autonomy in Northern Iraq for Christians Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians Yazidis and Turkmen indigenous populations, and providing the necessary training support and security guarantees, including support for local security forces, in order for such an administration to be politically, socially and economically viable." Though the motion is non-binding, there is precedent for the European Parliament to take action following the passing of such resolutions and the European Commission is obliged to respond at a later stage. When the resolution branding ISIS' actions a genocide was passed earlier this year, an amendment to the motion called for the appointment of an EU special representative for the freedom of religion and belief. Although this, too, was non-binding, the Commissioner appointed someone to the position in May. After today's vote, Adaktusson told Christian today he was "very happy" with the support showed in Parliament. "The important issues the resolution is dealing with have been highlighted," he said. "We need on the European side to take responsibility and do what we can in order to stabilise the situation [in Iraq] and make it possible for refugees and IDPs to return to their homelands." Though the resolution is non-binding, it will "mean a lot" to religious minorities in the Middle East, Adaktusson added. "The Christian groups, Assyrians, Syriacs and Chaldeans, as well as Yazidis and Turkmen have been fighting for autonomy within the framework of the Iraqi Constitution for a long time. Nineveh was upgraded to a province just prior to the invasion of Islamic State in 2014, so this has been an issue for a long time for these groups," he said. The passing of the resolution shows both political and moral support for persecuted minorities, he said. "I also think it's necessary to underline that if we want to preserve the Christian heritage, if we want to keep the Christian tradition within this region, it's essential that these groups will be able to return, and that's not possible without international support." For a rough introduction to my philosophy of blogging, including the Code of Amiability Ito follow on this weblog, please read my fifth anniversary post . I consider blogging to be a very informal type of publishing - like putting up thoughts on your door with a note asking for comments. Nothing in this weblog is done rigorously: it's a forum to let my mind be unruly, a place for jottings and first impressions. Because I consider posts here to be 'literary seedings' rather than finished products, nothing here should be taken as if it were anything more than an attempt to rough out some basic thoughts on various issues. Learning to look at any topic philosophically requires, I think, jumping right in, even knowing that you might be making a fool of yourelf; so that's what I do. My primary interest in most topics is the flow and structure of reasoning they involve rather than their actual conclusions, so most of my posts are about that. If, however, you find me making a clear factual error, let me know; blogging is a great way to get rid of misconceptions. Exorcist Shares 6 Tell-Tale Signs of True Demonic Possession What are the tell-tale signs of true demonic possession? Father Gary Thomas of the Archdiocese of San Jose, California who has been performing exorcisms for over a decade, said there are six signs that people need to watch out for. "The first is an aversion to the sacred. For example, a Catholic could have incredible difficulty receiving the [Eucharist], to the point where it's burning as she's consuming it," he shared with Cosmopolitan. "Another sign would be speaking in a language that they have no competency in. I've had people speaking Korean, in Chinese or Russian or Spanish, who have no understanding of those languages." Thomas said people should be suspicious as well of individuals exhibiting inordinate strength. Just recently, he performed an exorcism on a woman who required five people just to hold her down. People who are possessed by demons also have foam coming out of their mouth. Thomas said this is actually a good sign because it means the demon is reacting to the prayer. "Another is the knowledge of hidden things, so the demon would begin eliciting information that the person wouldn't have any access to," he added. "The last thing would be a kind of epileptic reaction involving the distortion of the face histrionic out-of-control movement in the arms and the legs." Thomas said the one thing people must know about demons and demonic possession is that it is the work of Satan. A lot of people mistakenly think that Satan does not exist, but he does and this is the reason why Jesus Christ came into this world, he said. "Jesus didn't come just to be a nice guy. His death and resurrection defeated Satan," he said. "Satan is not a metaphor. Satan is real. He'd like you to believe he doesn't exist, and that's his greatest deception. People need to buck up and realise that we're not the masters of our own destiny. We have to put ourselves at the disposal of God." Freed Pastor Saeed Abedini Says Donald Trump Gave $10K to Help His Family While He Was Suffering in Iranian Jail For His Faith Iranian-American Pastor Saeed Abedini is brimming with gratitude for one U.S. presidential aspirant: Donald Trump. In a surprising revelation, Abedini said the Republican presidential nominee helped provide for the needs of his family in Boise, Idaho while he was locked up in an Iranian prison for his faith. The pastor said Trump gave his family $10,000 while he was imprisoned for three and a half years. "I am finally free in a free country. Last year on the same day I was sick and in chains for Christ, and now I can vote to choose my next president," Abedini said in a post on his Facebook page on Sunday. "And most amazingly, I can vote for someone that I know fought for me and called my name so many times. He met my family and gave them a $10,000 gift. I think his ideas are more biblical than the other candidates," he added. In contrast, Abedini said Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton did not do or say anything to help secure his release from Iranian prison. The pastor said Clinton never spoke his name or met his family. "As a woman who says she stands for women's rights when she was foreign minister, she never contacted my mom, wife, sister or my daughter. She never did anything to help when I was in prison as an American pastor who was detained in Iran as a hostage," he wrote. Abedini strongly defended Trump from attacks on his character, saying God used flawed men to lead nations in the Old Testament, likening him to King Cyrus of Persia, a figure mentioned more than 30 times in the Bible. According to Bible experts, Cyrus was a great pagan king who ruled Persia from 539 to 530 B.C. Under his rule, Jews were first allowed to return to Israel after 70 years of captivity. "In the past few months, we have seen how media is attacking Donald Trump's past. I have even heard so many people said he is not a Christian. Of course, only God knows this for sure, but what I see is God is using him and anointed him. It seems to me that he is the Cyrus of our modern day, but like you and me, he is a flawed man, in the process of spiritual growth," Abedini said. The pastor pointed out that those who are condemning Trump for his past are forgetting that America is also a nation "saved by grace." "When we hear that this candidate or that candidate is not a strong Christian or has a past that disqualifies him to be the President of the United States, my answer is that we are a nation, a people who are also sinners, saved by grace," he wrote. Last week, Abedini said he already cast an early vote for Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Jesus' 'Burial Slab' Uncovered For First Time In Centuries A stone shelf believed by many Christians to have held the body of Jesus after his crucifixion has been uncovered for the first time in centuries. Located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the stone slab has for years been encased by marble. "The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it," Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, told the organisation's website. "It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to tradition, the body of Christ was laid." The church is visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year and its ownership and maintenance is shared in a complex arrangement between the Armenian, Greek Orthodox and Catholic Churches. It is currently undergoing restoration work after being damaged by many years of exposure to humidity from the condensation from the breath of visitors, and thermal stress caused by candles burning for hours nearby. The shrine at the heart of the complex called the Aedicule, the supposed location of the tomb of Jesus, is being renovated at a cost of $3.4 million and the monument, which in its present form dates back to 1810, is being completely rebuilt. The restoration is expected to be finished in 2017. The renovations will see the marble slabs taken off, the 12th century Crusader shrine beneath the Aedicule repaired and the cracks in the rock-hewn tomb under that filled. The noisy work is being undertaken at night to minimise the disruption to pilgrims. Professor Antonia Moropoulou, the chief scientific supervisor of the project, told National Geographic that his team had reached "the critical moment for rehabilitating the Aedicule". "The techniques we're using to document this unique monument will enable the world to study our findings as if they themselves were in the tomb of Christ," he added. The Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilus III, was waiting outside the Aedicule when Jesus' supposed burial shelf was exposed. He said the "atmosphere was special". "Here we have Franciscans, Armenians, Greeks, Muslim guards, and Jewish police officers," he added. "We hope and we pray that this will be a real message that the impossible can become the possible. We all need peace and mutual respect." Jim Wallis: It's An Embarrassment That Any Christian Would Vote For Trump Donald Trump is "antithetical to every Christian value" and it's an "embarrassment" that he's received widespread support from Christians, Jim Wallis has said. In an interview with Christian Today, Wallis a leading evangelical figure and founder of Sojourners magazine said Trump's campaign has been run by "stoking and fuelling racial, gender and religious bigotry". Since announcing his candidacy for president last year, Trump has campaigned hard for the evangelical vote and initially appeared to have been very successful. He won the support of a number of high-profile evangelicals including the president of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell Jr, Eric Metaxas, Wayne Grudem and Robert Jeffress. But in the last few weeks, that support appears to be crumbling. The release of a video tape from 2005 in which Trump can be heard openly speaking about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman caused waves among his conservative supporters. Although some have remained firmly in Trump's camp Jeffress maintains that supporters aren't "endorsing necessarily his [Trump's] lifestyle" and Falwell said he would continue to support Trump even if the allegations of sexual assault proved to be true others have since pulled their endorsements. Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt urged the Republican candidate to withdraw from the race. Grudem announced that he had reversed his support but then said he would vote for Trump after all. Indeed the evangelical voice against Trump seems to be growing. More than 2,000 Liberty students have signed a petition opposing his candidacy, condemning his "flagrant dishonesty, consistent misogyny and boastful unrepentance". Beth Moore spoke publicly of her own experience of sexual assault and said to evangelical leaders who still supported Trump: "Try to absorb how acceptable the disesteem and objectifying of women has been when some Christian leaders don't think it's that big a deal." Russell Moore, of the Southern Baptist Commission's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, reiterated his own opposition to Trump. What's more, Wallis says that though the narrative has long been that Trump enjoys majority evangelical support, that's actually never been the case. "When the media in the US talks about evangelical support for Trump, it's talking about white evangelicals," he explains. "When you bring into conversation evangelicals who are African Americans, Hispanic, Asian Americans, it changes the whole picture. It's like they've been erasing the voices of 35 million people." The word evangelical, Wallis says, has been "hijacked... by the religious right". He wrote in USA Today this week that it has become "political shorthand for white political conservatives who profess to be evangelicals and vote overwhelmingly for Republican political candidates, based almost solely on their opposition to abortion and gay marriage". This isn't the full story, he tells Christian Today. "When you add up all the evangelicals, including the young white evangelicals who clearly don't support Donald Trump... that's a whole generation we've been leaving out." Wallis believes that in reality, support for and against Trump will be split about 50/50 among evangelicals in America, but though this is lower than some polls have predicted it's still too many. "Donald Trump is literally antithetical to every Christian value. It's embarrassing that Christians would support Donald Trump, to be honest," he says. "He's run a campaign by stoking and fuelling racial, gender and religious bigotry. What is often implicit in American politics racial bigotry he's made explicit. What is often covert, he has made overt... It's incredible that he has won the nomination for Republicans, and even more incredible that any Christian would support him. "But black evangelical Christians don't, Hispanics don't, many of us don't, younger white evangelicals don't. We're correcting the record here. We've suffered identity theft from the religious right, and we're trying to restore it. This isn't just about the election or defeating Donald Trump, it's about restoring the integrity of the word 'evangelical'." Wallis is among nearly 80 evangelical leaders to sign a petition on change.org that condemns Trump. The letter warns that the "meaning and integrity" of the Christian faith in the US hangs in the balance. "We believe that racism strikes at the heart of the gospel; we believe that racial justice and reconciliation is at the core of the message of Jesus," it reads. "We believe the candidacy of Donald J Trump has given voice to a movement that affirms racist elements in white culture." The Christian leaders distance themselves from any definition of "evangelical" as associated with mostly white, politically conservative, older men. "We are not those evangelicals," they say. "We are Americans of African and European descent, Latino/a, Asian American, and Native American. We are women and men, as well as younger and older evangelical Christians. We come from a wide range of denominations, churches, and political orientations." Evangelicals who do support Trump often say that they don't support his lifestyle, but that they prefer his polices to rival Hillary Clinton's whose stance on abortion is cause for particular alarm. But Trump, Wallis says, doesn't actually "have any policies to speak of". "He's a sexual predator, he has bragged about sexual assault against women... he's violated his marriage vows time and time again with three wives. He exemplifies the worship of money. It's not policy, it's who he is. He doesn't have any policies to speak of this is a campaign run on racial resentment and white nationalism... he's not even a true conservative, as many conservatives have pointed out." "This is a moral moment," he continues. "In the end, Christian leader are going to be held to account for their support of Donald Trump." Wallis has not officially endorsed Clinton however, or indeed any candidate in previous elections. He admits she is "a real mixed bag as a candidate" though some of her policies particularly in favour of women and children are "very consistent with Christian values". Many Christians will vote "to be most effective against Donald Trump", he adds. What it comes down to, Wallis says, is that the "bigotry" at the heart of Trump's campaign is intolerable. "If white Christians acted more Christian than white, then black parents would be less fearful for their children. That's the issue.... Racism cuts to the core of the gospel. Racial justice and racial reconciliation are at the heart of the message of Jesus," he says. "Reporters often ask 'what does evangelical mean?' I take them back to how Jesus defined it in his opening statement at Nazareth, I call it the Nazareth Manifesto. He said: 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, release the captives, and let the oppressed go free'." Wallis points to the origin of the word 'evangelical', which is drawn from the word for 'good news'. "That means any gospel that isn't the good news to the poor simply isn't the gospel of Jesus Christ." New Poll: Are Churches Welcoming Towards LGBT People? The question whether gay people are accepted in church has dogged Christian leaders for decades. But a new poll out on Thursday reveals the same proportion of people think gay people are welcome in UK churches as those who think they are unwelcome. A YouGov poll highlighted that 30 per cent of Brits believe churches are welcoming towards gay people with 33 per cent saying they are not welcoming. Younger people were more likely to think LGBT people are unwelcome in church, with 38 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds saying churches were not hospitable to gay people and 36 per cent of 25 to 49-year-olds agreeing. Those over 60 were almost twice as likely to think the LGBT community was welcome in church than unwelcome. The poll did not define what a "welcome" meant and left open the question whether churches that are opposed to same-sex relationships in what they teach can still properly welcome gay couples. Churches in the UK hold a wide variety of positions on homosexuality but most do not agree that same-sex couples can marry. The Methodist Church in Britain is reviewing its teaching and while some Baptist churches do conduct gay weddings, the Baptist Union of Great Britain has emphasised the teaching that marriage is "a union between a man and a woman". The Church of England's current position is also that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman but bishops are under talks whether to offer gay couples a form of acceptance or blessing. The survey also revealed that 47 per cent think the Church of England in particular is there for everyone, with less than one fifth (17 per cent) saying the opposite. Jayne Ozanne, an LGBT campaigner and member of the C of E's ruling body, the General Synod, commissioned the research and said the "greatest concern" was that young people and those with no religion tend to think the C of E is not there for everyone and that UK churches generally are not welcoming to gay people. "If the Church is serious about its commitment to mission, it needs to heed the concerns and perceptions of those it wants to attract, otherwise no one will want to listen," she said. Peter Ould, a statistician and conservative C of E priest based in Canterbury, told Christian Today: "The comments from the liberal campaigners in the Church of England disguise the interesting detail of the YouGov survey which contradicts their political posturing. "There is no specific question about the welcome of Anglican churches, rather the hospitality of all churches is explored and here those who associate with the Church of England say, by a ratio of 2.5 to 1, that it is welcoming to LGBT people. "This should be an encouragement to Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has launched a number of initiatives in Church of England parishes and schools to tackle homophobia. It demonstrates that the Church of England can both hold to a conservative theology on human sexuality and move forward in providing safe and welcoming spaces for those of minority sexualities and gender identities." But the Dean of Christ Church, the Very Rev Martyn Percy, said it was a "tragedy for our mission and ministry that the Church of England continues to denigrate and discriminate against lesbian, gay and transgendered people". He warned if the Church clings to "its own institutional homophobia" and capitulates to "reactionary conservative lobby-groups" it would "impede all efforts to evangelise future generations". Another LGBT campaigner the Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, said: "The Church of England must learn to listen to those it seeks to serve." Charlie Skrine, a minister at the conservative church St Helen's Bishopgate and a member of the C of E's synod, welcomed the survey and said as UK "moved on from terrible past homophobia" all churches have had to "repent of failing to welcome LGBTI people in the past". But he added: "The larger issue here is what it means for an established Church to 'serve' the nation. My experience of working with younger people in the centre of the most cosmopolitan and diverse city in the world is that a welcome of love and respect for every person, can be combined with offering them the teaching of Jesus and his apostles. We serve people best when we hold out their words without feeling the need to change them to fit in with what people want to hear. We have a significant number of LGBTI people at our church; those in same-sex partnerships who have come to our church over the last 10 years have described us as welcoming, loving and caring, and they have thanked us for helping them investigate the Christian message for themselves, even when they disagree with what they are reading in the Bible. "The most concerning feature of the recent debates on sexuality in the Church of England is the number of people in the nation at large who think the job of the established Church is to change the message of Jesus until it no longer disagrees with our culture. Once that is true, then we have ceased to serve the nation at all." Persecution 'All Too Familiar' As World Marks International Religious Freedom Day Western Christians have become immune to those suffering religious persecution, Bishop Angaelos, the head bishop of the Coptic Church in the UK, warned on Thursday. In a statement to mark International Religious Freedom Day 2016, Angaelos said the oppression of faith minorities has become "an all-too familiar occurrence". But despite the importance of freedom of belief many have become "desensitised or disheartened" by the struggle. Angaelos has been a long-standing campaigner for persecuted religious groups and called on Christians to "not lose heart" and "speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves". He added: "Regardless of what many may want to believe, religion is not only hugely significant but fundamentally core to the vast majority of the world's population. Accordingly, the opportunity to have and practise one's religion unencumbered, and without imposition on others, is a right that must be protected for all those who believe and practise peacefully and faithfully. "The Christian message is one of hope, and at these times of seemingly increasing darkness, that gospel message of hope and promise is most needed. God has graciously and indiscriminately bestowed humanity with the freedom to choose or reject Him, and did not make His image and likeness, the right to dignity or the basic right to exist, conditional upon choosing Him. It is upon that foundation that we must accept one another's diversity, and advocate for all who are denied the right and freedom to practise their chosen faith, or none." Angaelos was speaking ahead of an event in the House of Lords on Thursday to assess the state of religious freedom around the world. Jan Figel, the EU's special envoy on religious freedom will speak as well as Baroness Berridge. The Sunday programme on BBC Radio 4 will also focus on religious freedom, with Benedict Rogers from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) highlighting the case of Alexander Aan, an Indonesian atheist jailed for his beliefs, and Liberal Democrat peer Sal Brinton speaking on the persecution of Shia Muslims in Pakistan. Vatican To Host Concert For The Poor And Homeless The Vatican will next month host a concert for the poor and homeless of Rome, inviting poor people as guests of honour and using any funds raised to go towards Pope Francis's charities. The concert, called 'With the Poor and for the Poor,' will take place on November 12 in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. Voluntary donations collected at the end will benefit the building of a new cathedral in Moroto, Uganda, and an agrarian school in Burkina Faso in West Africa. After the concert, volunteers of the Jubilee of Mercy and members of the choir of the Diocese of Rome will hand out a meal and a small gift to the invited guests, the Catholic News Agency reported. Performances will be by the Roman Symphonic Orchestra and the National Choir of Saint Cecilia, directed by the Academy Award-winner Ennio Morricone, performing excerpts from some of Morricone's most famous works. Msgr Marco Frisina will also direct the choir of the Diocese of Rome in performing several sacred songs and will lead those present in reflections on the theme of charity in honour of the end of the Jubilee of Mercy. Last May, guests at a similarly-themed concert included detainees from Rome's Rebbibia prison as well as the elderly, the sick, families and young people from Roman parishes, particularly in poorer areas. News of the concert for the poor came as Pope Francis urged Christians to welcome refugees and migrants and said that in doing so we are welcoming Christ in them, and helping to restore their full dignity as humans, adding that failure to do so encourages human trafficking. "These works, in fact, make evident that Christians are not tired and lazy in waiting for the final encounter with the Lord, but every day go out, recognising his face in the many people asking for help," the Pope said at his general audience yesterday. Francis, preaching on Matthew 25:35-36 - "I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me" - said that works of mercy related to strangers are "timelier than ever", adding that "the economic crisis, armed conflict and climate change drive many people to emigrate". He went on: "However, migration is not a new phenomenon...The history of mankind is the history of migrations in all latitudes, there is no people that has not known the phenomenon of migration." But, he added: "Today, the context of economic crisis unfortunately favours the emergence of attitudes of closure and not welcome. In some parts of the world walls and barriers arise...Closure is not a solution, in fact, it ultimately benefits criminal trafficking. The only solution is that of solidarity." Pope Francis explained that clothing the naked can mean helping those who "do not have a job, a house, a just wage", or those who are discriminated against because of their race or faith. These "are all forms of 'nudity' before which we as Christians are called to be attentive, vigilant and ready to act," the Pope said. Calling on the whole Church to act, Pope Francis said: "It is a commitment that involves everyone, without exception. Dioceses, parishes, institutes of consecrated life, associations and movements, as individual Christians, we are called to welcome the brothers and sisters fleeing war, famine, violence and inhumane living conditions." He continued: "Dear brothers and sisters, do not fall into the trap of closing in on ourselves, indifferent to the needs of brothers and worried only about our own interests." Together, he said, the Church can be a "great strength of support for those who have lost home, family, work and dignity...And to clothe the naked, what is it but to restore dignity to those who have lost it? It is precisely to the extent that we open ourselves to others that life becomes fruitful, society regains peace and people recover their full dignity." Why Pope Francis May Get The Cold Shoulder In Sweden Pope Francis is likely to receive a muted reception when he arrives in Sweden next week for the first papal visit there in 30 years. The Scandinavian nation is one of the most secular countries in the world with openly gay Lutheran bishops and cemeteries for atheists. Howver, Bishop William Kenney, the co-chair of the Catholic-Lutheran dialogue, described the visit as "a matter of great symbolic significance" in an interview with Christian Today this week. "The Lutheran-Catholic dialogue has progressed in leaps and bounds since the 1999 document," said Kenny, referring to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification signed between the two Churches. That agreement "removed most of the things that people thought caused the Reformation the excommunications on the Catholic side, and the condemnations on the Lutheran side and we said sorry, both sides got it wrong. This left us with the big reasons for the Reformation not being there but it's [about] finding out what that means." Kenney described last year's follow-up document, From Conflict To Communion, as "more popular and easily read" adding that "it lays out some of the ways in which we are coming towards each other". But a group of 50 prominent evangelical theologians have released a "statement of evangelical convictions" ahead of the trip. The document disputes whether "fundamental theological differences between Catholics and Protestants/Evangelicals disappeared". Entitled 'Is the Reformation Over?' it concludes: "The issues that gave birth to the Reformation five hundred years ago are still very much alive in the twenty-first century for the whole Church. While we welcome all opportunities to clarify them, Evangelicals affirm, with the Reformers, the foundational convictions that our final authority is the Bible and that we are saved through faith alone." While in Sweden Francis will take part in a joint Catholic-Lutheran service in Lund to mark the start of the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's anti-Catholic Reformation that led to a bloody schism in Europe. While trips to countries like the Philippines attract huge crowds, Francis's attempt at dialogue with Lutherans may go either unnoticed or criticised by Scandinavians whose views on sexuality and abortion are among the world's most liberal. "This is really the first time Francis will have spoken so directly to the secular West, and he will do so in the country that is considered the world's capital of irreligion," said Austen Ivereigh, a papal biographer and Catholic commentator, according to Reuters. Ecumenical efforts have been stepped up between Anglicans and Catholics with the Archbishop of Canterbury meeting Francis for the third time in three years earlier in October. The two leaders "sent out" 19 pairs of Anglican and Catholic bishops from around the world to join together in mission. The visit to Sweden could see Francis make a similiar symbolic attempt to help unite Lutherans and Catholics. This could include allowing non-Catholic partners in a Catholic-Lutheran marriage to receive Communion at Catholic Masses. "It's easy to perceive this as a papal visit when it's not. It's about the meeting of Lutherans and Catholics," said Antje Jackelen, Lutheran archbishop of Uppsala and Sweden's first woman archbishop. Polls show Sweden, nominally Lutheran, is one of the world's most irreligious nations. In a WIN-Gallup survey last year, around eight in 10 Swedes said they were either "not religious" or "convinced atheists." Surveys show Swedes trust institutions like the tax agency more than the Lutheran Church. An atheist cemetery opened this year, where Swedes can be buried without religious symbols like the cross, star of David or Islamic crescent. David Thurfjell, professor of religion and history at Sodertorn University, said for many Swedes it may be easier to come out as gay than to come out as religious. "Swedes are just uneasy with the word," said Thurfjell. "You would just never call yourself religious." It is a trend seen across the Nordics. After making it possible to exit from membership on-line, Norway's Lutheran state Church saw 25,000 people exit in August, the biggest one-month drop in its history. Swedes still take part in Christian sacraments such as baptism and many still pay small voluntary tax contributions to the Lutheran Church of Sweden. Some also say that a wave of new immigrants - many Christians and Muslims who have fled war in the Middle East - is changing attitudes. Around 17 per cent of Swedes are now foreign-born. "It has been secularised for so long, that people start to get tired and sick of it," Sweden's only Catholic archbishop, Anders Arborelius, said. "The new situation with a massive immigration of people who are often more religious has also changed the mentality." Multi-culturalism has challenged Sweden's comfortable secular identity. This year Sweden faced controversy when former schools minister Aida Hadzialic, herself an immigrant, said religious schools that separate boys from girls should not be allowed. That backlash against any perception of religious interference may mark Francis's visit. "I hope they'll [Swedes] be opposed to the Middle Age dogma the papacy represents," former ABBA band member Bjorn Ulvaeus and member of Sweden's Humanist Association said in an email. "But, I fear, they'll be mostly indifferent." Additional reporting by Reuters. Gary Coronado/Houston Chronicle Houston is one of four metro areas where app-based grocery delivery service Instacart will expand its service area, according to the company. In Houston, 14 new ZIP codes go into effect Thursday. The ZIP codes roughly span an arc that traces northward and eastward along and between Beltway 8 and the Grand Parkway, from Interstate 10 to Interstate 45. A developer owned by a Chinese parent company is seeking to build headquarters along U.S. 59 northeast of Houston, which would become the base for hundreds of employees, according to a Houston Business Journal report. McKinley Development Co., a residential and commercial developer, wants to build a 40,000-square-foot building near the Eastex Freeway and East Martin Drive in Porter, where it plans to bring a few hundred employees in coming years. John Somerhalder II has been named to the board of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., the company has announced. Somerhalder has extensive experience with energy-related companies. He was president and CEO of AGL Resources, a public energy services company that was acquired by Southern Co. He retired from AGL Resources in 2015. If Texans are pleased with the state's nearly 17 percent growth in private-sector jobs in the past eight years, they're not giving credit to the policies of Democratic President Barack Obama. The Lone Star State is likely to back Republican Donald Trump on Election Day, Nov. 8, political analysts say. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate "This group gets bigger and more beautiful ever single year," said mistress of ceremonies Ilona Carson during the 15th annual Nancy Owens Memorial Foundation luncheon. It's true, more than 840 pink-clad supporters predominantly real estate professionals - packed into Hilton Americas-Houston last week in honor of Owens, who lost her 20-year battle with breast cancer in 2001. After moving to the Bayou City in 1976, she worked for John Daugherty Realtors before co-founding Turner-Owens Properties, and eventually, starting Nancy Owens Properties. Her eponymous foundation is run by a dedicated committee of former colleagues and friends. "The theme of this luncheon is conquering adversity and staying positive during life's challenges," Carson continued. "It's been made possible by Amy (Bernstein's) magic touch." Bernstein, the foundation's chairmen, embraced keynote speaker Henry Winkler's "Happy Days" calling card to the fullest. Each table setting included a bag full of candies Razzles, Milk Duds, Lemonheads, Junior Mints, Bazzoka Gum, Tootsie Rolls, Atomic Fireballs, Candy Buttons, Bit-o-Honey, Twizzlers - that were popular in the 1950s. Winkler, who spent most of the luncheon mingling and posing for photos with adoring fans, spoke candidly on his rise to stardom despite early struggles with dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. "In 2003 I started writing childrens' novels about the world's greatest underachiever," he said of his "Hank Zipzer" series. "And I'm in the bottom three percent academically." Winkler shared that his high school music teacher, Mr. Rock, once gave him pivotal advice that changed the Emmy Award-winning actor's life. "He said, 'when you get out of here, you're going to be OK,'" Winkler recalled. "I held onto that one sentence, that one positive thought, like Leo DiCaprio hold onto that piece of wood when he sank on that boat." The actor, director, producer, "New York Times" best-selling author, and philanthropist best known for his role as Arthur "the Fonz" Fonzarelli also touched on his experiences filming "Happy Days." Afterward, well-known restaurateur Tony Vallone graced the stage to present his wife, Donna Vallone, with the prestigious Nancy Owens Spirit of Courage Award. "We always call this our annual luncheon, but I hope the end of this annual luncheon will come soon," Donna said during her brief yet powerful acceptance speech. "Once these three (Drs. Matthew Ellis, Alessandro Grattoni, and Elizabeth Mittendorf) come up with the cure we can make a new tradition." The luncheon raised $205,000 with three checks totaling $120,000 presented to the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Cancer Center at the Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Houston Methodist Research Institute, the Department of Nanomedicine. Two bundles of concert tickets for an upcoming Barbra Streisand performance each brought in $4,000. "I start chemo on Wednesday, so I may as well go to Streisand," one package winner proudly proclaimed from her chair to thunderous applause. Houston Police chased down three men accused of breaking into a car early Thursday morning. The chase left one officer injured. At about 1 a.m., the suspects were observed hopping over a fence to enter a parking garage at an apartment complex at 5700 Almeda, and police at the scene saw them breaking into a vehicle, Lt. Larry Crowson said. It's that time of year again. The Cleveland Advocate is hosting its Facebook Halloween costume contest for kids 11 and under and pets of any age. Just send us a photo of your entry, along with the child or pet's name, child's age and hometown. If you would like to include a few details, such as if the costume is homemade (made by grandma, etc.), please do so. Many recreation areas and other venues in the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas will be free to the public on Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day. "We honor our veterans each Nov. 11 and every other day of the year," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "We hope that this time will serve as a way for our veterans and other visitors to find our national forests and grasslands as a year-round respite, a place where they can take time out for themselves." More than one hundred students took their place in line with their projects in hand awaiting the bark of the auctioneer to help sell their projects at the Trinity Valley Exposition Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 22. The annual TVE Rodeo and Fair attracts Future Farmers of America clubs and 4-H groups from all over the Liberty and Chambers county areas to earn both experience in showing their projects and in hopes of earning money for scholarships for college. Rice University's Moody Center for the Arts won't open until Feb. 24, but the forthcoming arts complex has revealed its opening lineup, an eye-opening first slate of exhibitions and programs by artists whose work fuses ideas about society, politics, technology, science and the humanities. "It's like art-plus, the conversations it can engender," said Alison Weaver, the center's director who curated the lineup. She was talking about the work of Mona Hatoum, the Lebanese-born Palestinian superstar who will be in residence next spring, working on an exhibition that will open at the Menil Collection next fall. But Weaver could just as easily have been describing the intent of the Danish-Icelandic conceptual artist Olafur Eliasson's "Green light An artistic workshop," which will occupy the Central Gallery; the large-scale photographs of Thomas Struth's "Nature & Politics," which will fill the premier Skylight Gallery; Diana Thater's nine-channel video "The Starry Messenger" in the Reception Gallery; and interactive digital works by the Tokyo collective teamLab in the two Media Arts Galleries. New York's Dusan Tynek Dance Theater will perform a new site-specific work at the nearby James Turrell sky space, with a chorus from the Shepherd School of Music. As the Moody's inaugural season progresses through mid-May, its Studio Theater will host two theatrical productions: David Auburn's "Proof" (a collaboration between the schools of visual art and drama and math), then Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare's "An Iliad," with original music written and performed by Shepherd School students. All exhibitions and lectures at the Moody will be free and open to the public. Theater performances will be ticketed. The first shows could draw Rice's brainiac engineers and scientists as well as the broader community like moths to light, literally. You can find out what we mean by that, as well as more about the artists involved at HoustonChronicle.com. As the first in her family to graduate high school and attend college, Humble High School senior Kate Hernandez has big plans for the future. The Rotary Club of Humble awarded Hernandez with the Leader of Tomorrow award during their Oct. 12 luncheon meeting for her continued engagement in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Executive Officer, Health Occupations Students of American, Key Club and UIL Academics Team. She is also a part of the International Baccalaureate Certificate Program at Humble High School. Hernandez is busy in the community as well. She currently volunteers as a Youth Group Leader for the 2016-17 Confirmation class at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Key Club's mission is also a student led community service club, so she does many community events such as car washes, seasonal festivals, fundraisers, and more. In addition, she became a nursing home volunteer beginning Oct. 26 with HOSA. Hernandez is on course to graduate in the top 10 percent of her class and plans on attending Texas A&M College Station next fall for their Health Science and ROTC programs. She wants to major in Biology or Chemistry and minor in Psychology. Furthermore, she aspires to attend medical school at Baylor College of Medicine to receive her Doctorate, and hopefully start a career as a trauma surgeon or trauma nurse. When asked what is the most thing she has learned so far in life, she responded, "working hard for what you want in life, no matter what obstacles are placed during that lifetime. If you are truly passionate about what you want, you will not give up and you will achieve that goal." As previously stated, Hernandez will be the first in her family to graduate high school and attend college, which will be a major and proud accomplishment. Throughout her high school career, she has seen herself improve mentally and emotionally, especially when she has been presented with various obstacles and hard tasks. She now has the desire to help those in need, which is why she wants to go into the medical field. Hernandez acknowledges that her parents, Karen and Juan Hernandez, have played a critical role in her success to date. The Leader of Tomorrow award is a monthly student recognition program. There are six awards given out during the year. Each high school in the Humble Independent School District will have a recipient that is chosen. Selection of the student is based on characteristics of leadership, academic success, service and good citizenship. It will be important for the student to have demonstrated respect to others and the ability to set challenging goals and attain them. The Humble ISD Police Department representative at each high school will lead the process to select the student on campus. News / National by Staff reporter JUDGMENT in the case of two Zimbabwean cross-border transporters and South African woman who are believed to be part of a syndicate terrorizing fellow countrymen in South Africa has been set for November 3 at the South Gauteng High Court.Jaheni 'Satan' Luphahla (28) of Old Lobengula in Bulawayo and Phathumuzi 'KK' Sibanda (27) of Emakhandeni in Bulawayon and Madida Petition Sicelo (30) alias Sister (South African) proceeded to trial after they initially denied the charges when their trial opened two weeks ago.Their alleged ring leader Charles Cecil Brewer, alias Boss of Nketa 7 in Bulawayo has already been jailed for an effective 20 years after pleading guilty to 62 charges of crimes ranging from murder, rape, robbery, extortion and assault among others.Brewer who is married to Sicelo had initially been slapped with 350 years in prison, but was left with 20 years to serve following a plea bargain with the state. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Painted red with books on the side, Woodland Hills Elementary's Little Free Library will offer students and community the chance to take a book and give a book to encourage reading. The school revamped an old newspaper box into the library which will be placed in front of the school It was named Patricia Hagy's Little Free Library in honor of the school's longtime librarian who retired last year. During the school's storybook parade and performance Oct. 27, Hagy's fellow teachers surprised her with the redone box. It moved her to tears. "This is awesome," Hagy said. "All my memories and my families memories have been made right here at this school. My son started kindergarten here, my daughter went to school and taught at Woodland Hills Elementary and I've worked here for more than 30 years. Having the chance to work with my daughter, teaching at Woodland Hills Elementary was an amazing opportunity. It has been full circle." The Little Free Library is open 24/7 to allow any child or community member to take a book and either return it or replace it with another book for other readers to enjoy. This is the second such library in the community. The other is near the Kingwood Laundromat on Loop 494. The mission of the Little Free Library is "to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide and to build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations. There are nearly 40,000 Little Free Library book exchanges around the world, bringing curbside literacy home and sharing millions of books annually," according to information provided by the Little Free Library. Hagy and her husband have plans to donate and install benches near the library to provide a place where kids can read the books they get from the library box. The couple plan to dedicate those in memory of their son, Shaun Hagy, who died in 2014. "These benches will be very special and there just for our students and community," Hagy said. "They had first presented me with the newspaper box the end of last year, but I hadn't seen the painting and the redone library box. I didn't know they were going to redo the box; it's so great. This will be incredible for these kids. I have a lot of history here and it's great to have a peaceful place for our kids to enjoy reading. It has hard to retire, but now we can visit as many times as we want." For more information on the Little Free Library, visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/. It was difficult for Porter resident Paul McCullough to make his doctor's appointments or to go anywhere outside his home because it had no wheelchair ramp. So the Montgomery County Hospital District's Community Paramedicine program partnered with the Porter Fire Department, Conroe Regional Hospital, the Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable's Office, Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark and local businesses to build a ramp at McCullough's house to allow the wheelchair user to enjoy the outdoors more often and to make it easier to go to see his doctor. Crews first started working on the ramp Oct. 25 and finished Oct. 26. "I'm speechless; this is totally remarkable," McCullough said. "The thought that someone would come out and do something like this, that is so nice and now I can go outside anytime I want to. The doctor said I was lacking in Vitamin D and I told him I drank a lot of milk, but it was because I needed to be outside; I just couldn't get there." The MCHD Community Paramedicine program first started three years ago with the initial goal of enrolling 25 patients, to reduce 911 calls and prevent hospital readmissions. The program, according to the MCHD website, is designed to benefit those who use the 911 system regularly for preventable conditions, are at high risk for hospital readmissions, do not qualify for home health assistance, and/or are chronically ill and require education and support. Patients are selected for the program based upon EMS crew referrals and 911 call volume data. It is free for patients and funded through grants. "We start with identifying the highest 911 users in the county and work with those patients to see if they wanted our help, complete an assessment, see why they have called 911 frequently and connect them with resources in an effort to decrease the amount of calls," Sarah Horton, MCHD community paramedic, said. "Two years ago, three more of us community paramedics were added to the program and we were able to enroll 140 patients. "Last year, Angie Hoffart joined us and we still focus on the same goals. We want to prevent them from having to go to the hospital for things that could have been prevented and be proactive versus reactive." McCullough is one of Hoffart's patients and after meeting with him and his family, she realized the need for a wheelchair ramp to allow him to enter and exit his home with ease. Hoffart became tenacious to find resources to help McCullough and dozens of local first responders and businesses also jumped at the chance to help. The efforts to build the wheelchair ramp and help McCullough is one of the largest projects they have undertaken. This project also will include education on disease processes as well as finding a doctor, insurance and transportation, some of the biggest needs. "The problem is McCullough was going to the doctor once a month because he had a hard time getting down the steps," Hoffart said. "We were worried about other injuries if he fell when trying to get into the vehicle to go to a doctor's appointment. We first got with Porter Fire Department, the Porter Home Depot, Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable's Office and the Pct. 4 Commissioner's Office and before I could even get out the whole story, they were all on board. McCullough and his family were very thankful for all of the help. The payment we receive is the smile on the patient's face; that's what makes it all worth it." More than 20 volunteers pitched in to help build the ramp. "It was amazing; everyone was working side-by-side to build the ramp and even some of the neighbors came out to bring water to the volunteers," Nieva Wheat, MCHD community paramedic, said. "Regardless of who's patient it is, we all come together as a group to make sure they are taken care of. Sometimes we run into these situations where we are working to change the quality of someone's life with a project which makes it even more important." Texas T's and Vinyl made T-shirts for the volunteers and family, Freddy's Taco Shack and the Porter Whataburger donated food for the volunteers, the Academy in New Caney donated water and the Porter Home Depot donated lumber and supplies. "All the people here that have helped to build this for the past two days; it's great," McCullough said. "Hoffart is something else when she wants to get something done, she gets it done. She is our angel." For more information, visit www.mchd-tx.org. Yi-Chin Lee/Chronicle By the end of 2016, the private law school in downtown Houston will have yet another new name, attorneys said on Wednesday. Houston College of Law, formerly known as South Texas College of Law, has agreed to change its name one more time in the next two weeks to avoid going to trial in a federal trademark lawsuit brought by the University of Houston, which said the new name and red-and-white color scheme was confusing to consumers. One person died in an apartment fire near Hobby Airport on Wednesday afternoon, according to a spokesman with the Houston Fire Department. The fire started around 3:11 p.m. at Thai Xuan Village apartments at 8200 Broadway. The person who died was on the second floor, but has not been further identified. News / National by Stephen Jakes A ZIMBABWE Republic Police (ZRP) officer is currently on trial before his superiors for allegedly accusing President Robert Mugabe of being "too old to rule" the country and questioning the nonagenarian's leader's marriage choice.Sergeant Thompson Joseph Mloyie of ZRP is undergoing a ZRP trial for allegedly contravening paragraph 35 of the Schedule of the Police Act (Chapter 11:10), that is, acting in an unbecoming or disorderly manner prejudicial to the good order or discipline or reasonably likely to bring discredit to the Police Force.The ZRP accuses Mloyie of uttering the words: "President Mugabe achembera haachakwanisi kutonga nyika ino. Ndiye arikuonzera (sic) kutambura munyika ino uye akaroora hure Grace Mugabe," which ZRP translated to mean "President Mugabe is old and incapable of leading this country. He is the cause of the suffering going on in this country and is married to a prostitute, Grace Mugabe."Mloyie, who is represented by David Hofisi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) was arrested on Saturday 05 March 2016 and charged with contravening Section 33 (2) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 for undermining the authority of or insulting the President.Prosecutors claimed that Mloyie uttered the words "President Robert Mugabe is too old to rule and married a prostitute Grace Mugabe.While his trial is pending at Harare Magistrates Courts, ZRP has instituted a police trial before Superintendent Makunike.Through his lawyer, Hofisi, of ZLHR, Mloyie has petitioned the Constitutional Court which on 14 November 2016 will determine a constitutional application filed by the ZRP officer, where he is contesting why low ranking officers do not have the option of being tried by a Magistrate for offences allegedly committed under the Police Act like higher ranking officers in ZRP.Hofisi is arguing that Mloyie is entitled to enjoy the right to equal protection and benefit of the law as provided in the Constitution under Section 56 (1) and freedom of thought under Section 60 (1) and freedom of expression under Section 61 (1) of the Governance Carter.Since 2010, ZLHR has attended to close to 200 cases where clients have fallen foul of this law and the bulk of the victims are residents and villagers residing in the politically volatile Mashonaland Central province.ZLHR has challenged the constitutionality of Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) on several occasions, on the basis that it infringes on freedom of expression, particularly of a public figure, and one who must be subjected to scrutiny as a political candidate.In courts, the National Prosecuting Authority has in recent years and months been withdrawing charges against several suspects after declining prosecution and conceding before Constitutional Court judges that the allegations do not disclose the commission of an offence.This would be after ZLHR would have petitioned the country's apex court seeking orders challenging the constitutionality of the insult laws. Opinion / Columnist ITEM NUMBER ONE ON ZMBABWE AGENDA. ITEM NUMEBER TWO ON ZIMBABWE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE ON ZIMBABWE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE ON ZIMBABWE AGENDA CONCLUSION No doubt the world is somehow dazzled by a multifarious of individuals and faces that seek to be spokesperson for Zimbabwe people an/or groups for both at home and in the Diaspora. Always such people have narrow narrative however they may strongly voice concern over Mr.Mugabe poor governance legacy. Occasionally some do not even want to tell as it is on such aspects as the gloom the regime brutality and oppressive measures over the country masses has killed rule of law, industrial initiatives that create employment and the retardation of global investment in Zimbabwe.It still remains amazing though why the world big nations diplomacy wants to hunt for a candidate they prefer to use on Zimbabwe? No nation not even the United Nations, has encouraged Zimbabweans to come together and sponsor a conference initiated by Zimbabwean groups into a voice based on evidence on poor governance and break down of law and order in Zimbabwe. Neither has there been advocacy to listen to the voices citizens speak on their country and life concerns so as to drive a human rights based agenda on people's will for Transition to good governance supported with financial and logistics packages helping Zimbabwe political impasse culminate in a democracy.Much as we may call it international upholding of international conventions on sovereignty, the world is changing and tyranny uses states funds to undermine every rule of democracy while Embassies are powerless to stand for what is fair or speak against unfair laws. The world body need revise the concept of sovereignty even though I concede to the fact that with more dictators sitting at UN and African Union forum benches, hope for revision to standard rules that are a constraint to dictatorship and tyranny appears remotely to be raised soon if not forever.Irrespective Zimbabwe community both at home and abroad need a concept paper on which to rally for direction and concerted efforts to constitutionally change our politics from an autocracy and tyranny to a democracy.Considering the silence on Zimbabwe affairs from the grass roots of Zimbabwe communities, we have to leverage this silence with honesty and open observation of how evil Mr. Robert Mugabe regime has generally been to any one who, without their consent, criticize Zanu history let alone the failure by those in leadership to execute just and developmental decisions on the economy and people relations irrespective of an political opinion, a religious difference or race and tribe differences.The attempt to put out an agenda could be as anathematic as Zanu openly talking of succeeding Mr. Robert Mugabe. Zimbabweans have become so smart that sometimes we deny the obvious for selfish expedience and defy precepts of National Interest beyond practice of any real life. Studies though have shown that we work hard, have common sense to be loyal and follow rules once such parameters are set but with higher probabilities for individualism that sometimes mitigate for failure to cooperate.We now need an agenda than ever before. This has to be based on history of human rights abuse, multiple imprisonments of many citizens for nothing but in order to protect poor governance promoted by Mr. Mugabe and his Zanu cohorts.Remove Corruption by Identifying Beneficiaries and expose them assuming political renewal in national goodwill, commitment and integrity has to exist and proudly promoted far and beyond current levels.What ever fails Zimbabweans to come together on the issues that has:- degenerated the economy,-persistently demeaning our human rights voices to silence on abuse and brutality,-watching with a give up mentality to the corrosive belittling of the rule of law in the country,-the cause for selective modes on condemning of corruption,-and, the absence of strong persistent voices on why Mr. Mugabe and Zanu have to retire immediately:Should, in my opinion, cause a Zimbabwe national agenda until change is come.INDENTITY OF CORRUPTION BENEFICIARIES: There is need to identify those who have benefitted from the regime and are yet still meddling in the affairs of Zimbabwe as though seeking to set the country free when actually they are instruments of oppression and surrogates to either the Zanu government or world war lords that seek to establish sectoral divisions of Africa.SCRUTINY OF STATE MACHINERY: While it is difficult to call corruption people by names it should be easy to identify those who have worked legally in accruing wealth in Zimbabwe The government reports on taxes it also underlines the hardships in separating political chaff from deserving citizens who know the truth but are silenced by corrupt minority' who have gradually taken control of the senate, Parliament, Police, Secret services and the army under direct control of Zanu as a liberation struggle political party. Let it be known too that Zapu was another political party during the liberation struggle, that people irrespective of who they supported took a decision to obtain freedom at any cost. Corruption elements cannot therefore selfishly claim supremacy even above the constitution of Zimbabwe the land's supreme law.Summary to Agenda Item Number One is therefore that all citizens MUST and OUGHT to fight CORRUPTION with intensity in all echelons of public and private sources of power. Irrespective of political affiliation ALL of US, irrespective of geographical location SHOULD and MUST echo demand for an END to:-Corruption in governance-Corruption in rigging elections-Corruption in distribution of food on tribal and/or party affiliation basis-Corruption in appointments of unqualified people-Corruption in retiring Army Generals leaving those who support the establishment-Corruption in policing work benefiting the top guys-Corruption in disappearance of Billions into coffers of those who know how-Corruption in silencing people who have issues against government failure to deliver serviceLEADERSHP to take command of the COMMON NARRATIVE on People Exploitation, Oppression, and Suppression of Freedom of Expression has to rise to a higher level with sentiments similar to Trade Union style of Advocacy in the name of the flag of Zimbabwe is needed. To overwhelm Zanu corrupt and incompetent leadership NATIONAL SENTIMENTS ON PEOPLE GRIEVANCES have to rise above political Party because of political immaturity of upcoming political parties whose objective is power for its own sake.In Summary of Agenda Item two Zimbabweans have to see: The need for a Common Narrative on:-abuse of power,-abuse of citizens,-poor governance,-lack of transparency and officials' accountability through out all management hierarchies through out the country; by every church, social organization, schools, public service etc. at every stratum of our community in Zimbabwe.-abuse of traditional chiefs and the culture to advantage Zanu at the expense of cohesive national integration-Misallocation of funds which are benefiting Zanu a political party when they are people's taxes-None balancing budgets years after year and failure to manage revenue and expenditure of government-delayed payments of government creditors and civil servants when Mr. Mugabe birthday collects millions from public coffers every year remaining with surpluses-why Diaspora is not allowed to vote when budgets take into account their revenue contributions?-all negatives coming out as a result of failure to account and be transplant has to be given full publicity.Everybody is listening to a clarion call and yet leaderships have lacked except to struggle for control of none existing authority and benefit from being a better surrogate to ZanuCommand of civilians at home and abroad to work together on making common narrative a daily language disparaging failures of Zanu is an agenda on which the country has use to establishing good governance, the rule of law and constitutional supremacy in Zimbabwe.TRANSITIONAL government to help smooth the way into dealing and handling of a democracy after cleansing the traumatic experiences many Zimbabweans, have and are, undergoing mentally and emotionally is the bench mark of a systematic and progressive democracy.Genuine solutions will come from managing the failure of Mugabe to run the country which needs budget, time for the country to raise her incomes from minerals, and wake up the level of industry and commerce of prior to independence level.The putting to an end corrupt practices by retraining and retiring of certain positions who were notarial on holding Zanu political cards while also serving as government civil servants and actively enjoying to do down democracy.Reorientation of banking system and renegotiation of loans previous government committed the country into including establishment of new friends on the diplomatic front who can give mature economical advice to progress the economy and increase employment creation.There is good transition to leave Zanu methods and assure people mentality that the trauma of force and violence will not run government again.Zimbabwe is a bruised and country in pain estranged from its citizens by acts of violence forced upon citizens who today are either abroad or wasting away at home unable to do anything for fear of crossing Zanu government dictatorial whims.The national Agenda for Zimbabwe today should be to share common ground on issues affecting us all whether one is in Zimbabwe or outside of Zimbabwe. Remembering it is our loved ones being beaten, denied jobs, decent way of live while Zanu government few are made rich through corrupt empowerment methods. We need rise to a national level on matters affecting national income, peace and security of every citizen. We need a voice so the world can hear us as a people displaced whether inside or outside. We need one language, one focus and one action to bring Zanu government on her knees so we hold free and fair election. We need not replace Zanu by another dictatorial party, but need to grow political participatory methods founded on peaceful transitory benchmarks which will favour implementation of rule of law and respect of the constitution. It can be done it ought to be done. Opinion / Columnist THOSE who live by the sword, die by the sword.In a classic case reflecting this adage, the embattled leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Tendai Biti has been left nursing wounds after several party officials deserted his relatively new political outfit.The deserters have either gone back to their old political parties or warmed up to the mushrooming political parties preparing for a potentially nail-biting election in 2018.Those watching the events obtaining in the PDP from the outside, reason that what goes around comes around.In 2014, Biti was the architect of a split from the mainstream Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) led by Morgan Tsvangirai.The fallout resulted in at least 21 legislators cutting ties with Tsvangirai's party, thereby weakening the movement's position in Parliament.The move necessitated by-elections, after the deserters were recalled from Parliament.Because the MDC-T did not participate in the resultant by-elections, citing an uneven electoral playing field, Zanu-PF had a field day at the polls, winning all of them.In a little less than two years since its formation, PDP has suffered an almost similar setback as its top members have left.Over the past three weeks, Biti has lost more than two dozens of key members, beginning with 20 members of the Matabeleland North provincial executive, who defected to Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), citing Biti's lack of political stamina.Before Biti could barely recover from the setback, senior official and former legislator Paul Madzore and two other officials crossed the floor, to rejoin the MDC-T without shedding light on reasons behind their decision.The development coincided with the defection of deputy party secretary general Tongai Matutu to the MDC-T. Vice president Samuel Sipepa Nkomo and deputy national chairperson Watchy Sibanda have also jumped ship to join former vice president Joice Mujuru's ZPF.This begs the question: Is this the end of the PDP and what next for Biti?From his early years, activism and leadership qualities could be seen in young Biti, who between 1988 and 1989 was the secretary general of the University of Zimbabwe Student Representative Council, which led student protests against government censorship in academia.Barely a decade later, he was instrumental in the formation of the MDC-T in 1999, the first real opposition party to pose a serious threat to Zanu-PF's rule since independence in 1980.Following the formation of a Government of National Unity on February 13, 2009, Biti assumed the finance minister's post and played a significant role in stabilising the economy, which had gone through a devastating economic crisis the previous year.However, relentless dog fights with his party boss, Tsvangirai, led to the veteran lawyer parting ways with the former trade unionist.It is undoubted that Biti has had an eventful political life.But as a typical politician, he has kept a brave face in the face of a crumbling political life.He has vowed that both he and the PDP are not going to throw in the towel as yet and will never yield on matters of principle."In a few weeks time we will unveil new leaders whom we have no doubt are cadres who will upgrade our struggle to a higher level. The struggle continues and the PDP family remains a key cog in it," said Biti in a statement.The Financial Gazette understands that PDP would announce a new vice president at the party's national policy conference to be held in Harare next month to replace Sipepa-Nkomo.For now, the party's provinces are seized with the selection of names of possible candidates to take over the vacant post.Party insiders recently told the Financial Gazette that seven names have been put forward for possible replacement to Sipepa Nkomo.This publication has it on good authority that the frontrunners for the vacant post include: Patrick Thaba Moyo, George Mkhwananzi, Philani Moyo, Kucaca Pulu, Sikhumbuzo Ndiweni, Dumiso Matshazi and Mqondobanzi Magonya.PDP's constitution allows for either the nomination of candidates or for elections from the provinces to be held.It is understood that many of the potential candidates are interested in the vacant post, although others have raised work commitments as a challenge to taking up the post.The contest is likely to be one that will go to the wire, given that all the candidates sit on the party's national executive and are therefore well placed to fill in the vice presidency position.Patrick Moyo, the former mayor of Bulawayo, is a national executive member and current secretary for industry for the party.Mkhwananzi is the former president of Imbovane Yamahlabezulu, former vice chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly and current PDP deputy spokesman.Philani Moyo is a national executive member and current secretary for research and policy; Pulu is a former provincial chairman; Ndiweni is a national executive member and secretary for security and special projects; Matshazi is a national executive member and secretary for party projects and investments; and Magonya is national executive member and party representative in Europe.Party national spokesperson, Jacob Mafume, said PDP members have the task of putting forward the names of their choice and none would be imposed."It's up to the membership of PDP to come up with names and any in the party can be suggested," he said.The position of PDP vice president is not the only vacancy; there are other senior positions that are up for grabs that include those of deputy national chairman, left vacant by the exit of Watchy Sibanda, the deputy organising secretary, formerly held by Gift Mabhena and women's assembly chairperson post formerly held by Gladys Mathe.Defections in PDP have sparked debate among opposition political parties given that the growth strategy of parties like ZPF seem to be anchored on raiding other opposition camps.Political commentator, Zibusiso Dube, said Sipepa-Nkomo's action, for instance, was typical of self-seeking politicians, who are after high position."Some opposition leaders are after positions and not really driven by any ideology or personal conviction. Sipepa Nkomo serves as a good case study of this given the number of times he has defected," said Dube, adding: "This amounts to the opposition shooting itself in the foot. What is needed right now is for opposition leaders to come together to challenge Zanu-PF."Recently, Sipepa-Nkomo described his departure from PDP as "excruciating and heartbreaking", given that he had played a key role in the formation of the party."To me, I see People First as a sincere and genuine party, which can bring change in Zimbabwe. Mujuru does not have positions. We all know that those people who want positions are subjected to elections."What becomes imperative is ascertaining that one positions himself in an environment that is conducive to embark on vigorous strides to dismantle the incumbent tyrannical system of governance," he said.Despite the latest developments in the ranks of the opposition, other opposition party officials this week said they were still sleeping easy at night and were not anxious over ZPF's strategy of raiding its rival's rank and file for new membership.But what will PDP do next?Ibbo Mandaza, the director of SAPES Trust, a local think-tank, said in light of the high profile defections in PDP, Biti needed to do an introspection about the future of his political outfit."Biti is not a politician, he is a technocratThe PDP has failed to become a political party and it is a group of technocrats. It will be sad if this marks their end, but they would do well to transform PDP into a lobby group," said Mandaza, who believes that despite the defections, Biti remained an important thought leader."There is a craze in this country about high office and the need to get into office, what they see as an imminent election is what is pushing people to defect. The thinking is to try and position themselves well ahead of the elections," he added.Political commentator, Pedzisai Ruhanya, said the current wave of defections in PDP cannot be used as a yardstick to declare the party's political fortunes as over."I don't think defections can be linked to the doom of the PDP, it is differences and contradictions in a political party on points of policy, political direction and other issues; which is only but normal, it can only become fatal if the whole executive leaves the party, say if the chairman and secretary-general leavewe can only then talk about a party going into extinction. The PDP must reassess itself, look at its policies and the way it goes about its business. What has happened naturally weakens the party, but does not destroy it," Ruhanya said.Other analysts canvassed by the Financial Gazette expressed further divergent views about Biti's future in opposition politics.Rashweat Mukundu, a political observer, believes Biti is a brilliant and brave politician, but his lack of grassroots appeal is his major let down."In this regard, a reunion with Morgan Tsvangirai will be the best move for Biti. If he remains outside MDC-T he will be in the same group of politicians (such) as Simba Makoni brilliant politicians with no support base or public appeal," opined Mukundu.Asked whether he thinks Biti would swallow his pride and return to reunite with Tsvangirai, Mukundu retorted: "Nothing is impossible if a genuine assessment of one's capacity and weaknesses is done. It's either that route or the end of his political career."Political scientist, Eldred Masunungure, said political careers are situational and despite the current setback, Biti can still turn around his political misfortunes."While his party is on the verge of collapse, it is too early to write his political obituary."It is wise for him to allow the PDP ship to sink, while he swims to the shore and carefully assess his options. He can retrace his roots back to the MDC-T or join ZPF where many people are going," Masunungure told the Financial Gazette. Kautman-Jones endorses Davis Please support Meredith Davis in her re-election to the Genesee County Board of Commissioners - 8th District. I have had... Writer recommend Delor, Jones for GB school board I have met heard April Delor and Patricia Jones for the Grand Blanc School Board. They both have many years... Chairman Matt Smith reminds you to vote It is important that the voters of Genesee County show up and cast their ballot on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022.... This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A plan to switch Dowling Street to Emancipation Avenue won approval from Houston planning commissioners Thursday, following a community outpouring against keeping the city road named for a Confederate soldier. "This street is a symbol of unfairness," Third Ward resident Delores Rogers said. "How can you continue to honor a man who fought to continue slavery?" The planning commission approved changing the name with no discussion, after roughly 90 minutes listening to speakers for and against the move. If City Council approves, Dowling Street - named for Confederate Lt. Richard Dowling - would be renamed Emancipation Avenue within 90 days. The planning commission approval followed an unapproved revised public process to rename a Houston street. City planning officials are using the Dowling renaming as a test of a proposed city-initiated street name change, which can be done absent the citizen-initiated name change petition process. The new rules require "sufficient" community support for the street name revision, though there is no set amount of support or percentage of support needed to demonstrate that. The opinions of property owners also are considered, said Brian Crimmins, chief of staff for the city's planning department. These revised street renaming rules also require separate council approval. Crimmins told planning commissioners Thursday fewer than half of property owners polled favored the Dowling Street renaming in early gauges of public reaction. In the latest inquiry, however, property owners were roughly evenly split. Community response - likely buoyed by intense support of the Third Ward neighborhood - showed more than 60 percent supported the Dowling change to Emancipation Avenue. The street renaming isn't free, or without hassles. Residents and businesses along Dowling will have to change their addresses, advertisements and related materials. The city will pay to replace street signs. Kevin Baker, who owns property and lives on Dowling, worried a name change to Emancipation might harm property values, noting the word's association with slavery has a "negative connotation." He said he understood the desire to change from Dowling. "Change is fine, just not that change," Baker said. Residents, mostly in the Third Ward, sought the street renaming to both remove Dowling's name and honor bordering Emancipation Park. City leaders named the street after Dowling in 1892, as the area's African-American population was growing. Some suspect the change from East Broadway to Dowling Street was motivated by placing a Confederate's name on the street near Emancipation Park. Black residents bought the park in 1872 so they would have a place to celebrate Juneteenth, the end of slavery in Texas. Dowling, born in Ireland, moved to Houston and was active in the Confederacy. He is credited for overseeing an artillery strike at Sabine Pass that kept Union ships from establishing a foothold in eastern Texas. Houstonians related to Dowling and others said removing his his name from the street would be unjust, noting Dowling did not own slaves and saved Houston from Union incursion. "Dick Dowling was a hero," said Sarah Duncan, a descendant of Houston mayor Thomas William House, a contemporary of Dowling's. "Atlanta, the union soldiers burned Atlanta and he was a hero of Texas. I think he deserves to keep his name on our street." Others vigorously disagreed. "This is not to write history, but right a wrong," said Bianca Mahmoud, who noted despite his war record, Dowling fought for the side trying to uphold slavery. Emancipation Park, after Dowling's side lost, became a cornerstone of Third Ward's African-American roots. The park is now undergoing a $33 million renovation and is set to reopen in January. The celebration of the park reopening will happen at the annual Juneteenth celebration on June 18, 2017. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two prominent Houston attorneys got into the mix of the contentious race for Harris County District Attorney on Thursday, with one accusing the Democratic challenger of producing misleading ads and another accusing the Republican incumbent of discriminatory comments. Defense lawyer Rusty Hardin, one of Houston's most renowned litigators who said he was outraged at political ads put out by Democrat Kim Ogg, said the entire criminal justice system not DA Devon Anderson failed a mentally ill rape victim who was jailed for almost a month last year while waiting to testify. RELATED: Outrage over jailed rape victim spurs new legislation Hardin is representing Nicholas Socias, the trial prosecutor at the center of the controversy. "What happened to the victim is incredibly horrible," Hardin told reporters on Thursday. "But Nick was confronted with the problem, absolutely convinced that if this man was not tried in this particular case, that he not only would continue to rape again, but his rapes were getting more and more violent." At issue is the plight of a mentally unstable rape victim who made headlines this summer after filing a federal lawsuit because she was jailed over the Christmas holiday after breaking down on the stand while testifying against a serial rapist. The woman, known as Jenny, was first taken to the mental health ward at St. Joseph's Hospital and then was transferred to the Harris County jail to be held as a material witness. She was accidentally misclassified as a suspect, instead of a witness, and put in general population, where, she said, she was beaten by another inmate and assaulted by a jail guard. She has filed a federal lawsuit over the handling of her case. Anderson was roundly criticized for her office's action but has maintained that the rapist would not have been convicted if the woman had not testified. The criticism has carried through to campaign mailers and television commercials from Ogg, Anderson's rival in the general election for district attorney, and Ogg's supporters. One commercial features Jenny's mother, in shadows, detailing her daughter's ordeal and urging voters to support Ogg. READ MORE: Billionaire makes $500K ad buy for Ogg Emails he released on Thursday showed that Socias did work to get Jenny out of the jail's general population, and that Jenny could have been released to her mother. Jenny's mother, who is battling cancer, has maintained that she did not have the strength to deal with her adult daughter if she chose to go home to her residence in East Texas. After Hardin's press conference, Wayne Dolcefino, a spokesman for Ogg, said he has tried unsuccessfully to get all of the emails about the incident released. "Devon Anderson and her prosecutors just don't get it," he said. "You don't jail a rape victim. Now they're attacking the mother of a mentally ill woman and that's just sad. It smacks of desperation." Later Thursday, defense attorney Randy Schaffer released an open letter to Anderson criticizing a comment she made earlier this month about Ogg's sexual orientation in an interview with conservative podcaster Vlad Davidiuk. In response to a question about criticism she has received from fellow Republicans for her actions in a well-publicized case involving Planned Parenthood, Anderson said, "They have a problem with me on one, maybe two cases. When they get a liberal, pro-choice, lesbian district attorney, I wonder how many cases they'll have a problem with, with her?" Anderson said last week the "feigned outrage" about her comments were not newsworthy, and said the description is factual. For more on the heated race for district attorney, go to HoustonChronicle.com. Bats and spiders always get the spotlight for being the staple Halloween critters, but it seems other creatures can join in too: The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi recently released Halloween-themed photos of its animals. The photoshoot, which took place on Wednesday, is in preparation of the aquarium's annual holiday event, "Green Halloween," were visitors can except a costume contest, face painting and spooky educational activities. Donald Trump, in his notorious twitter feed, took aim at Texas Thursday morning, suggesting that something scandalous was afoot with early voting in the Lone Star State. Trump's tweet cited reports of "vote flipping at the voting booths" and "BIG lines" then posed the question, "what is going on?" Although Trump did not explicitly stipulate that the Texas vote was "rigged"--a word he has used repeatedly to describe the entire election process--his tweet was meant to convey to his nearly 13 million followers that said rigging was a possibility. -- OVERNIGHT: Trump leads Clinton by 3 in Texas If you havent seen it, heres the new UT/Texas Tribune poll, released at midnight, which shows a tightened race Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, had the support of 45 percent of likely Texas voters, compared with 42 percent for Clinton and Tim Kaine; 7 percent for Libertarian Gary Johnson and William Weld; and 2 percent for the Green Partys Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka. The remaining 5 percent said they would vote for someone else for president and vice president. This is the trend that weve been seeing in polling for the last two weeks, said Jim Henson, co-director of the UT/TT Poll and head of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. -- Todays reality check comes from Texas Monthlys Dave Mann: That isnt just a Texas phenomenon: Other reliably Republican states like Utah, Arizona, and Georgia have also become competitive, and swing states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Colorado now appear out of reach for Trump. All of which makes the close race in Texas look like a flukethe product of a weak Republican candidate running a disastrous campaign. Many Democrats may already know this, but for anyone tempted to misread this election as a sign that something is fundamentally shifting in Texas politics, lets run through a few more reasons why this close race is likely fools gold. -- ICYMI What happened at the CPS hearing yesterday, per the Chronicles Mike Ward: In an unprecedented move, a special squad of state police is slated to fan out Thursday to locate more than 2,800 children statewide who are reported to be at a high risk of being abused or neglected, all of whom have been on lengthy waiting lists for state intervention, officials confirmed. The development came after members of the powerful Senate Finance Committee during a fiery hearing Wednesday demanded that Henry Whitman Jr., commissioner of the state Department of Family and Protective Services, take immediate action to locate the children. -- More good signs for Clinton in key states, by the APs Hope Yen: The strong early-voting turnout by those likely to support Clinton registered Democrats, minorities, and young people among others could leave Donald Trump with virtually no path to the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. Clinton is showing strength in Florida and North Carolina, both must-win states for Trump, as well as the battleground states of Nevada, Colorado and Arizona. There are even favorable signs for Clinton in Republican-leaning Utah and Texas. >> Former Perry lawyer Buzbee is done with Trump completely, Express-News -- LATEST from Brian Rosenthals Denied investigation: Straus calls for end to limitation on special ed enrollments Students should not be denied the services they need, said Straus, R-San Antonio. I urge you, immediately, to either make significant changes to the specific indicator in the monitoring system that is being cited as a reason schools are denying needed services to students, or to suspend use of this indicator in the monitoring system until the Legislature and the agency can come up with a more lasting solution. -- Officials deny voting machine problems shared on social media, per the Chrons Dylan Baddour In the counties in question, election officials denied any problems with the voting machines and ascribed the reported snags to user error. In Chambers County, however, the county clerk acknowledged in a news release Monday that software problems had resulted in one race for the statewide court of appeals being omitted from straight-ticket voting for both the Republican and Democratic parties. The county switched to paper ballots until the error was resolved, and the machines were brought back online Wednesday morning, the news release said. >> Cruz: Historical precedent to keep Supreme Court seat vacant, The Dallas Morning News CAPITOL DAYBOOK - No meetings SPEED READ Record-busting early voting and a new poll, Houston Chronicle LGBT group rallies small Texas businesses to protect rights, Houston Chronicle Houston's future: denser, hotter and up to us, Houston Chronicle Texas congressman wades into murky Moldova election saga, Houston Chronicle Sanders urges government to kill AT&T-Time Warner merger, AP These Texas counties suffer the most from tornadoes, Houston Chronicle Tense standoff at Dakota Access protest encampment, AP Big Bend Residents Fighting Trans-Pecos Pipeline Feel Left Behind by Candidates, Texas Observer RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE -- Texas on the national scene Could Trump blow it in Texas? According to some Republican and nonpartisan pollsters, Donald Trump is turning off enough core GOP constituencies and motivating Hispanic voters in ways that could pump up Clintons performance to higher levels than a Democratic nominee has seen in decades. In 2012, Mitt Romney won the state in a 16-point blowout. The current spread is just five points, according to the the RealClearPolitics polling average. (Brendan) Steinhauser still expects Trump to end up on top. But the very idea that Texas which gave Romney a nearly 1.3 million-vote winning margin might be in play is an affront to some Republicans, a notion that would have seemed preposterous at the beginning of the election year. Texas is the beating heart of the modern Republican Party, and the cornerstone of any GOP nominees electoral strategy. Its also home to the last Republican president, George W. Bush, and to two serious recent GOP contenders for the White House, Sen. Ted Cruz and former Gov. Rick Perry. (Politico) -- Donald Trump remains unconvinced that Russia is behind a series of cyberattacks against American political targets, he said in an interview that aired Thursday morning, and said the U.S. governments public assignation of guilt to the Kremlin amounted to public relations. (Politico) -- Donations to foundation vexed Clinton aides, emails show, per the NYTs Steve Eder and Amy Chozick In the years before Hillary Clinton announced she would run again for president, her top aides expressed profound concerns in internal emails about how foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation and Bill Clintons own moneymaking ventures would affect Mrs. Clintons political future. The emails, obtained by hackers and being gradually released by WikiLeaks this month, also are revealing how efforts to minimize potential conflicts at the foundation led to power struggles and infighting among aides and Mrs. Clintons family. >> Republican women increasingly fear party is alienating female voters, The Washington Post The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Meet the Kung-Fu Grandmas Of Kenya Who Are Fighting Back Against Rapists Screenshot via AJ+ A group of elderly women in Kenya are learning how to defend themselves against the rape epidemic spreading throughout their slum. These karate grannies, ranging from the ages of 60 to 85, first began meeting in 2007 after a group of young bandits began lurking through Korogocho. The boys robbed and would, oftentimes, rape their elderly victims because they believed that these older women were less likely to have HIV+. Now, these grandmas are fighting back. Under the instruction of Sheila Kariuki, 29, these grandmothers learn a mix of kung-fu, karate and taekwondo. However, given their age, the focus of their training isn't so much on strength as it is on accuracy and attracting attention. As Kariuki explained to The Telegraph, You dont need to hit hard to be accurate. Accuracy is the key to the technique. In their weekly classes, these women are taught about different vulnerable points such as the nose, collarbone, chin and, of course, the crotch. ADVERTISEMENT When the women start hitting punching bags, they repeatedly yell No! as each blow lands. "I teach them to yell, which is the opposite of screaming, Kariuki says, "When you yell, you are in control, relaxed, telling the world that you don't like what these young boys are doing to you, and telling them to stop. All 150,000 residents in Korogocho are crammed together within a space of 1.5 kilometers. Just eight miles away from Kenyas capital, Nairobi, a majority of the residents live in squalid conditions. Electricity is patchy and theres no running water. Crimes, such as rape, are common and the police can do very little to stop them given the small number of officers. Many of Kariukis pupils live alone, but this self-defense training has helped ease their fears. One of these elderly women, Jane, is 55-years-old and, thanks to the program, she was able to fight off an attacker. She told her story to AJ+: He touched my neck. And then I boxed him, and another one and another one. Meet Kenya's karate grannies. They fight off sexual predators in the slums of Nairobi. pic.twitter.com/6YeB99ISYd AJ+ (@ajplus) October 25, 2016 The oldest student, Gladys Wanjiku, has been lucky so far. I pray so much for them not to come, she told The Telegraph, but if a young man wants to rape me, I know where to hit. According to the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, nearly 14% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 have been the victims of sexual violence. In a neighborhood where even a trip to fetch water can be risky, these elderly women are empowering themselves, now able to walk around freely and confidently with their training. ADVERTISEMENT Kariuki has expanded her self-defense classes to offer some for younger girls as well, and already her teachings have made an impact on women. "Our program does make a difference. We have testimonies of old women now able to defend themselves using verbal or physical techniques. Were so proud of badass grannies for kicking ass and keeping their community safe. You can check out an interview with some of these awesome ladies below: More from BUST Mexico City Is Giving Out Rape Whistles To All Women, But Is It Enough? Race, Rape, And Unwelcome Dick Pics In The 2016 Election Emma Sulkowicz, A Year And A Half After 'Mattress Performance': BUST Interview I have a long list of friends and a long list of enemies, and I am proud of both, Admiral Elmo R. Bud Zumwalt once told me. He was in a reflective mood, and was reminiscing about one of his enemies, another retired admiral. That officer hadnt been happy about Zumwalts selection as chief of Naval operations. President Richard Nixon had chosen Zumwalt over 33 more senior admirals, convinced that the man who had commanded the brown-water Navy in Vietnam could help the transition to an all-volunteer military. Nixon wasnt wrong about Zumwalts ability to change the Navy. His Z-gramsmessages sent to the entire fleetwerent the go-slow, incremental tinkerings of a conservative, tradition-bound institution. The changes were seen as radical, controversial, and dramatic. Perhaps most importantly, Zumwalt truly integrated the Navy. He ended job restrictions based on race, sex, and national origin. He changed discriminatory housing policies. Then he did away with Mickey Mouse regulations that were more a function of tradition than sound management practice or military readiness. He appointed the first black and the first female admirals, not because of their skin color or gender but because they were good. He admitted women to the Naval Academy and allowed them to become Navy pilotsagain, not because they were women but because they were good. Time magazine featured Zumwalt on its cover with the headline: determined to drag the Navy kicking and screaming into the 20th century. Two weeks ago, the Navys most technologically advanced ship, a 15,000-ton guided-missile destroyer, was commissioned in Baltimore. The USS Zumwalt looks more like a spaceship than a traditional Navy ship, and is both twice the size and cost of the Navys mainstay destroyers, the Arleigh Burke class. In a strange twist, the Zumwalts first commanding officer is Captain James T. Kirk. Its a fitting ship for the twenty-first century. The Zumwalt is as radical in design as the man she is named after. Designed to be stealthy, the 610-foot ship features an all-electric propulsion system, tumblehome (backward-slanting) bow, uncluttered deck, and superstructure presenting a radar image that mimics a 50-foot fishing boat. Her futuristic weapons systems include lasers, missiles, andeventuallyan electromagnetic railgun that can fire 23-pound projectiles at speeds of Mach 7 without using gunpowder. The Zumwaltlike the admiralis controversial. The cost of this lead-in-class vessel soared to $4.3 billion from an initial estimate of $1.4 billion. The cost overruns led Congress and the Navy to scrap plans for 32 ships in the class to just three. There is just too much new technology in one package, says retired Navy captain Jerry Hendrix, a senior fellow at the Center for New American Security. The newly designed electrical propulsion system has delayed construction and the electromagnetic railgun is not ready for the first two ships. None of these improvements are bad by themselves, but all together they posed a bridge too far. Congressman Randy Forbes, the chairman of the House subcommittee on seapower, disagrees. The Zumwalt class should serve as a testbed for new technologies. We should use the lessons we learn from the Zumwalt class to inform our thinking about the future large surface combatants we will need to reinforce and replace our existing ships. The need for real-world testing of new platforms and weapons systems has never been greater. Defense research and development has fallen to just 0.4 percent of GDP, down from 0.8 percent in 1986. (Non-defense federal R&D has remained constant at 0.4 percent.) No Navy Officer in history was more ahead of his time than Elmo Zumwaltwho led the Navy into the twenty-first century decades before it actually arrived, said retired admiral James Stavridis, dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Much like Admiral Zumwalt, the destroyer design may be a decade or two earlybut we will look back on its commissioning as the beginning of a new era of progress and technology at sea. No history of Admiral Zumwalt can ignore the tragedy inherent in one of his greatest successes. In Vietnam, he reduced the casualty rate among sailors serving on Swift boats in the Mekong Delta from 80 percent to 10 percent. He did so by removing the dense foliage along the riverbanks in which enemy snipers hid. At the time, the preferred defoliant was believed to be safe to humans. Agent Orange was later proven to cause cancer. The admirals sonElmo R. Zumwalt IIIwas among the victims. The admiral spent years helping to create and run a national registry of bone marrow donors, but never publicly second-guessed his Vietnam-era orders. Agent Orange, he believed, saved many more lives than it cost. As the USS Zumwalt enters the fleet, its mission is noble and its task hard. Her sailors deserve that traditional naval blessing: may you have fair winds and following seas. Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images Engaged readers appreciate deep and nuanced reporting on education and race relations in Birmingham, but they also wish news outlets had the resources to send reporters to all the board meetings of the areas 25 school systems. That was one takeaway from a book-club style luncheon on Tuesday sponsored by BirminghamWatch, Columbia Journalism Review, and the Institute for Nonprofit News. We need you to be a witness, said Cameron Vowell, a semi-retired nonprofit manager. The luncheon, part of a collaboration between CJR and local nonprofit news outlets to engage readers in conversations about local news, attracted an overflow crowd. Three journalists who have worked for BirminghamWatch, along with Executive Director Carol Nunnelley, a board member, and I, were joined by retired educators, businessmen and women, a civil rights lawyer, and others. A county school board president even showed up. Aubrey Miller, president of the Shelby County School Board, hadnt actually received an invitation, sent out to BirminghamWatch readers, but hed heard about the luncheon. I thought I should be here for this, he said. Most attendees received a packet of news stories before the luncheon to prepare for what turned out to be a lively discussion. The packet included four stories from BirminghamWatch on local education issues: Marie Sutton on a devastating year at a long-struggling elementary school; Trisha Powell Crain, who recently left her nonprofit education website, Alabama School Connection, for a job covering schools at Alabama Media Group, on years of dysfunctional relationships between adults in the administration of another struggling elementary school; and two stories by Powell Crain diving into specific data setsone on the stubbornly high number of Alabama high school graduates who have to take remedial courses in college and another on the unexpectedly high test scores at an elementary school many with a high level of poverty among its diverse students. The packet also included the Tampa Bay Times series on the resegregation of five Pinellas County schools, Failure Factories, which won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting. Taken as a whole, the packet represented a range of journalistic possibilities, from what one reporter armed with a spreadsheet can do in a few weeks to what an investigative team can accomplish over a year. Each story made the point that adults can and need to do more in struggling schools. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project Powell Crain may have put it best in the story she wrote on the Trace Crossings school in Hoover, Ala.: School officials, board members, teachers and parents in Hoover through the years have blamed shifting demographics of children for Trace Crossings decline, but court documents now reveal there were many problems among the grownups inside the school. Luncheon attendees were interested in how journalists come up with stories. Sutton explained that she often starts with an anecdote, something someone tells her that sounds worth checking out, to see if its an outlier or representative of something bigger. Powell Crain said she often finds a spark of an idea when she looks for data that would explainor possibly refutewhat those involved in education take as truth. Nunnelley, a veteran of The Birmingham News, where she was managing editor, asked the attendees what type of education stories theyd like to see more of, and jotted down notes about unifying themes the attendees offered, ideas that might interest readers across the Birmingham region. Some attendees said theyd like to see more stories told in digestible chapters, the way the Tampa Bay Times rolled out Failure Factories. Nunnelley called the luncheon a success, and said she hopes to do more. Ive come away with a sense of how important writing about education can be, and about ways to reach people in the media clutter, she told the attendees. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Susannah Nesmith is CJRs correspondent for Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. She is a freelance writer based in Miami with more than 25 years working for regional and national outlets. Follow her on Twitter @susannahnesmith. RV Salesman Caught on Camera in Workers Comp Scam Must Repay State Over $81,000 A Washington recreational vehicle salesman who claimed he couldnt work because of an on-the-job injury has been ordered to pay back more than $81,000 in state disability benefits. Bobby Ray Johnson, 48, pleaded guilty to felony first-degree theft in Pierce County Superior Court. Judge Stephanie Arend sentenced the Tacoma-area man to 45 days in jail, but allowed him to serve the time in electronic home monitoring. Arend also ordered Johnson to repay the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for the cash benefits he wrongfully received. The Washington Attorney Generals Office prosecuted the case based on an L&I investigation. Johnson originally injured his lower back and chest when he fell in an icy parking lot while working at an RV company in Poulsbo. Based on what Johnson told them, physicians confirmed he could not work because of the injury, and L&I eventually began paying Johnson cash benefits to replace part of his wages. Over a two-year period starting in May 2013, Johnson received $81,453 in workers comp payments. To receive the benefits, Johnson regularly signed official forms declaring he did not, and could not, work because of his on-the-job injury, according to charging papers. However, charging papers said, he worked for three employers during that period. L&I began investigating Johnson when a routine cross-check of state Employment Security Department records revealed that Johnson was receiving workers comp benefits while also working stints as a home caregiver in Pierce County and as an RV salesman in Fife. An investigator filmed Johnson walking, raising his arms and showing trailers to customers at an RV show in the spring of 2015. The investigator overheard Johnson tell a customer he had worked long hours all weekend, selling a good amount of trailers, charging papers said. Louisiana Couple Wanted in Flood Contractor Fraud Scheme Tangipahoa Parish sheriffs deputies say a man and a woman with numerous aliases are wanted in a flood contractor scheme that has taken more than $35,000 from two victims already in the Ponchatoula and Robert areas. Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Dawn Panepinto said in a news release Amber Contractors has been bidding jobs for home improvement work related to the August flood, accepting the initial step payment, employing unknowing subcontractors to do the work and then failing to pay those subcontractors. Panepinto says Amber Contractors is not licensed in Louisiana or anywhere else. She says arrest warrants have issued for 50-year-old Michael Evans Auxier and 51-year-old Maria Lee Avare. The pair is wanted in Tangipahoa Parish on felony counts of home improvement fraud and misappropriation of contractor funds. Michigan Doctor/Former Lawmaker Gets Probation for Insurance Fraud A Lansing, Mich., doctor who is a former state lawmaker has been placed on probation for making false statements to an insurer. Judge Robert Jonker gave a significant break to Paul DeWeese, whose clinic, NBO Medical, performed nerve block injections. Federal prosecutors wanted a prison sentence Monday. DeWeese was required to tell Blue Cross Blue Shield that he had signed off on procedures performed by nurse practitioners. But he sometimes gave his log-in information to others. DeWeese has repaid $173,000 to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Separately, he agreed to pay $289,000 to the federal government to settle other allegations. Prosecutors say DeWeese ignored professional standards, dismissed a multitude of warnings about his medical practices and engaged in criminal fraud. DeWeese says hes deeply ashamed of his actions. Attorneys for Don Blankenship and the federal government are back in court this week as the former coal operator appeals his misdemeanor conviction in connection with the deadliest U.S. mine disaster in four decades. Blankenship reported to a California federal prison May 12 to begin serving the maximum one-year sentence for conspiring to willfully violate safety standards at West Virginias Upper Big Branch mine before the 2010 explosion that killed 29 men. Defense attorneys say the jury pool was biased, the prosecution was politically motivated and trial judges rulings were unfair. Other coal mining executives have a different concern: Industry groups from Illinois, Ohio and West Virginia filed a brief urging the appeals court to avoid setting a precedent they fear could unfairly expose them and other mining leaders to criminal conspiracy charges. We cannot sit idly by and allow the expansion of criminal law to the point that mere involvement of company management in certain affairs can serve as a basis, in whole or in part, for criminal prosecution, they wrote. Blankenships lead attorney sidestepped a question about his prospects of winning the appeal ahead of Wednesdays arguments before a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia. It does not matter how I feel, Bill Taylor told The Associated Press in an email. What matters is what the judges feel. Blogging from behind bars, a defiant Blankenship declared himself an American political prisoner and blamed others for the explosion. The former Massey Energy CEO also wrote a 67-page defense of his reputation and said he was distributing 250,000 copies in booklet form. Blankenship, 66, wrote that politicians imprisoned him for political, self-serving reasons. He claimed misconduct by prosecutors, judges, law clerks, the FBI, President Barack Obama, Sen. Joe Manchin and the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Blankenship noted the jury found him not guilty of all three felony charges and said his indictment was the federal governments poster child case of what is wrong with the American judicial system. At trial, Blankenship steadfastly proclaimed his innocence, saying just before sentencing that it is important to everyone that you know that Im not guilty of a crime. Prosecutors called Blankenship a bullish micromanager who immersed himself in the smallest details of Upper Big Branch. They said Masseys safety programs were just a facade never backed by more money to hire additional miners or take more time on safety tasks. Former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin, who brought the governments case, resigned late last year to run for governor, and lost in the May Democratic primary. He said hes extraordinarily confident that the United States will prevail on appeal. Goodwin said U.S. District Judge Irene Berger, who presided over the trial in Charleston, was about as careful as she possibly could have been. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby declined comment ahead of the hearing. If the conviction stands, Blankenship is expected to serve his entire year, since time off for good behavior applies only to longer sentences, Ruby said. In his blog, Blankenship said that according to prison staff, hes the lone inmate at the 2,000-prisoner facility not serving time for a felony. Three California district attorneys announced they had obtained a $925,000 settlement in a consumer protection lawsuit brought against the Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. and Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which offers Liberty Mutual auto insurance in California and nationwide. The civil complaint, filed in Riverside Superior Court under Californias Unfair Competition Law and false advertising law, alleges that Liberty Mutual car insurance ads failed to properly disclose that the Accident Forgiveness benefit featured prominently in the ads was not available in California. Under the legal mandate of Californias Proposition 103, the California Department of Insurance prohibits offering accident forgiveness provisions in auto insurance policies in California. In 2014, Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., launched a nationwide television ad campaign for auto insurance featuring the Statue of Liberty in the background behind its spokespersons. Many of these ads focused exclusively on the consumer benefits of Liberty Mutuals Accident Forgiveness car insurance program. Liberty Mutual officials estimate that this ad campaign reached 70-80 percent of the households in California. California law requires that all advertising must clearly and conspicuously disclose any material facts that viewers need to avoid being misled. It is alleged in complaint filed in the case that the disclaimers in the Liberty Mutual Accident Forgiveness ads were unlawful under the advertising disclosure standards of Californias false advertising law and Unfair Competition Law, because these ads could convey an overall impression that California consumers would receive this benefit as part of Liberty Mutual car insurance. Under the terms of the judgment, which will be entered without admission of liability, Liberty Mutual will be subject to an injunction requiring full compliance with Californias advertising laws in its Accident Forgiveness advertising, including clear and conspicuous disclosure of the fact that such programs are not available in California. In the stipulated final judgment, Liberty Mutual also agreed to pay $925,000, including agency investigative costs of $95,000 and civil penalties of $830,000. (The Riverside County DAs Office will receive one-third, or $276,666, of those civil penalties and $31,666 of the costs. The rest will be split between the San Diego and Los Angeles District Attorneys Offices ) Liberty Mutual and its counsel worked cooperatively with the prosecutors to resolve this case and to implement new advertising practices. Source: Riverside County District Attorneys Office akron police.jpg An 87-year-old Akron man was killed Wednesday afternoon after he was hit by a car on Interstate 77, police said. (File photo) AKRON, Ohio - An Akron man was killed Wednesday after he was struck by a car on Interstate 77 in Akron, police said. The 87-year-old was killed about noon near the Vernon Odom Boulevard exit ramp, Akron police said in a news release. The man had parked his car along the road and got out to grab one of his license plates which fell off the car. The car that struck the man was driving in the high-speed lane, police said. He died instantly. Traffic investigators don't believe speed or alcohol are factors in the crash, the release says. The victim will be identified by the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office once family is notified, police said. If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. Reach-Center.jpeg Next to Summit Lake, the Reach Opportunity Center, operated by the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, Akron Public Schools and Akron Summit Community Action Head Start, is the educational hub for many programs. Its overarching goal is to help families move beyond poverty through education, training and support for both parents and kids. (Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority) AKRON, Ohio - Most housing authorities simply provide shelter for low-income residents. But the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority and its partners have been nationally recognized for their attention to the region's most at-risk babies and moms. The housing authority works to promote care and education for the nearly 3,000 kids under age 5 living in the authority's facilities across Summit County. That's nearly 10 percent of the county's children. "What we see is, when they come to us in kindergarten, they don't have the requisite skills that will indicate success in third-grade reading or eighth-grade algebra," said Akron Public Schools Superintendent David W. James at an event Wednesday to help raise $1.5 million for the housing authority's Reach Opportunity Center. "And all of that early learning, way before preschool, as soon as kids are born ... those interactions with children are extremely important." The Summit Lake neighborhood figures prominently in the housing authority's work because it is a high poverty area, with 44 percent of residents earning less than $15,000 per year. One-third of people are under 18 and 70 percent of households have no man present, according to the housing authority's annual report. Built two years ago next to Summit Lake, the Reach Center is operated by the housing authority, Akron Public Schools and Akron Summit Community Action Head Start. For the youngest kids, the Reach Center houses two classrooms - pre-kindergarten and kindergarten - paid for by Akron Public Schools, and offers four classrooms for Akron Summit Community Action Head Start and Early Head Start. For parents and caregivers, the Reach Center offers career training, a computer lab and other services. Supporting both parents and kids has resulted in higher achievement for both generations. *** Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan visits with Summit County's youngest residents at the Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake. Here's a look at the housing authority's Early Childhood Initiative programs, supported by money raised through the campaign. Home visitation - Parents as Teachers Voluntary home visitation is offered to all housing authority families with children from birth to age 5, and to families not in housing authority properties but living in the Reach Center's target area. Through the Parents as Teachers curriculum, the program helps parents learn how they can be their child's first and most important teachers. Home visitation also provides annual screenings for kids, assessing health, vision and hearing, as well as important developmental domains, including social and emotional, language and literacy, cognition, physical well-being and motor skills. For parents, mostly moms, the program helps them set and meet their top goals. And, through its many Summit County partners, the housing authority can refer families to local agencies for help basic needs and economic self-sufficiency. Family outreach events From 2010 to 2015, family participation in the housing authority's special events in the Summit Lake neighborhood has increased by 148 percent. The events, with themes deigned to engage the youngest children, help build a sense of community among families, while exposing them to the housing authority's partners, such as Akron Public Schools, Akron Children's Hospital, the Akron-Summit County Public Library, Akron Summit Community Action and others. The events also offer on-site kindergarten registration in the spring, safety education in the summer, arts exposure in the fall and pictures with Santa in the winter. Mom-ME Time In assessing single mothers, the housing authority found 42 percent show signs of maternal depression. "It has such an effect on the child as far as attachment and bonding, and subsequently development," said Chris Yuhasz, the housing authority's director of strategic engagement. Mom-ME Time aims to reduce the prevalence of depression through interaction and support. Support begins with a family meal, followed by the mom spending time alone for assessment with a professional from Child Guidance & Family Solutions. Moms can then be referred to a mental health provider for further treatment, and have access to monthly on-site support groups at several housing authority sites. Last year, 95 moms participated in the program, and about a quarter of them attended more than 12 sessions. Results show that the combination of a mother's participation in Mom-ME Time and a family's adherence to Parents as Teachers requirements improved parenting practices and engagement. *** The housing authority has been recognized by several national organizations for its Early Childhood Initiative program, including the Council for Large Public Housing Authorities , the National Organization of Housing and Redevelopment Officials and Parents as Teachers. Over the past five years, participation in authority programs has increased by 85 percent, while expenses have increased by 24 percent. Visit the website to learn more about the housing authority's programs and the Reach Opportunity Center. Robbery, West Bridge Street: A Berea man, 34, was arrested Oct. 15 after he, claiming to have a weapon, robbed Fifth Third Bank, 30 West Bridge. Nicholas Turner, 34, of Stanmary Drive, faces charges of robbery and felony theft. As of Thursday, he was in Cuyahoga County jail. Bond was set at $50,000. A grand jury is scheduled to hear the case Nov. 1. Here is what happened, according to bank workers and police: A man later identified as Turner entered the bank just before 1 p.m., which was closing time. He stood at a writing table until all bank customers left. Turner, wearing a hoodie, then handed a teller two deposit slips, saying he wanted to cash one check and deposit another. But the account numbers Turner wrote on the deposit slips didn't register with the bank's system. The teller told him he could return later or call once he gathered the correct information. Turner walked into the bank lobby and made a call on his cell phone. He ended the call by saying, "I love you, I love you." Then he walked back to the teller and handed her a note, saying he had a weapon and was robbing the bank. He did not show a weapon. The teller emptied her money drawer, which contained about $1,900, into an envelope. Turner apologized to the teller, saying he was robbing the bank to save his family. Afterward, bank workers told police they thought they recognized Turner as the son of a regular customer. Coincidentally, police had encountered Turner one day earlier, and showed the bank workers body-camera video of him. The workers positively identified Turner. About six hours later, police executed a search warrant at Turner's house. He wasn't home, but police found some of the money he had stolen. They did not find a weapon. Police eventually pulled over Turner's car as he was arriving home. He confessed. Police did not find a weapon on him. Damaged property, Seminary Street: A residential fence was damaged late Oct. 22 or early Oct. 23. The victim said she's had problems with rowdy college students - presumably from Baldwin Wallace University - over the past two years. During the night of Oct. 22, she heard yelling outside her house. The next morning, the victim noticed three wooden boards were missing from her yard fence. Also, part of the fence was detached from its post, and a metal bracket on the fence gate was bent, as if someone had tried to pull off the gate. Petty theft, Barrett Road: A toolbox was reported stolen at about 3:55 p.m. Oct. 23 from the bed of a pickup truck. The toolbox was later found by North Olmsted police. Fraud, West Street: On Oct. 25, a woman told police that her ex-husband had fraudulently filed a joint tax return that included her name. The tax return included a fake signature. The IRS mailed the woman a letter, stating she owed $1,600 in taxes, based on the return she said was fraudulent. The woman filed a report with IRS Criminal Investigation, as well as Berea police. To comment on this story, please visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section. IMG_1139.jpg Bar Louie, a new bar and restaurant at SouthPark mall in Strongsville, is marking its grand opening at 11 a.m. Friday with $10 Bar Louie Hook-UP cards for the first 100 customers who drop by with the first, middle or last name of Lou, Louise, Luigi, Luis, or any other variation of Louie. The cards are redeemable at any Bar Louie in Ohio. (Courtesy Frank Como) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bar Louie, a new bar and restaurant at SouthPark mall in Strongsville, is marking the grand opening of its fourth Northeast Ohio location at 11 a.m. Friday with an invitation to all "Local Louies": The first 100 people who come to the Strongsville location with the first, middle or last name of Lou, Louise, Luigi, Luis, or any other variation of Louie will get a $10 Bar Louie Hook-UP Card, a gift card redeemable for food or drink at any Ohio Bar Louie. "What a World Series grand opening weekend we have planned with a tailgate brunch to salute the Indians in the World Series and Browns at home against the Jets," said Frank Como, general manager of the Strongsville Bar Louie, in a written announcement. He is also the GM of the other three Northeast Ohio locations. Besides the Strongsville restaurant at 10 SouthPark Center, which employs 70 people, Bar Louie also has locations at 1352 West 6th St. in downtown Cleveland, 24337 Cedar Rd. at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst, and at 9 Main St. at Crocker Park in Westlake. All together, the four restaurants employ about 230 people, but Como said he is always looking for new employees, especially those with experience. He said the Strongsville location is most similar to the Westlake Bar Louie, because it is attached to the mall and next to the movie theater. Including patio seating, the Strongsville Bar Louie can accommodate 260 people. "We are so excited to meet our new community and welcome them into our bar and restaurant to drink and dine on the very best we have to offer," Como said. "We hope the new location will become a place where residents and employees of Strongsville organizations and nearby communities can come together to relax and enjoy a quality experience." Bar Louie serves martinis, beer and wine, and shareable plates until 2 a.m. seven days a week. Bar Louie, founded in downtown Chicago in 1990, now has more than 115 restaurants in 25 states, both franchises and locally owned locations. Bar Louie's menu offers 32 martinis, margaritas, and sangrias, beer and wine, shareable plates, salads, burgers, and sandwiches, and its kitchen stays open until 2 a.m. seven days a week. Signature items include a Spiked Bulleit Bourbon Burger with bourbon that requires an ID to order. CINCINNATI, Ohio -- A former Solon doctor who fled to Pakistan before being charged with running a pill mill and now wants back the $4.8 million the government seized from him lost an appeal this week. The three judges who heard his case sent Dr. Syed Jawad Akhtar-Zaidi a clear message: If you wanted your money, you should have come back and fought for it. The panel from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld Cleveland federal Judge Dan Polster's August 2015 decision to order the forfeiture of Akhtar-Zaidi's assets -- including 139 pieces of jewelry worth more than $90,000 -- which were seized by the government. Polster repeatedly ordered Akhter-Zaidi and his wife, Erum Zaidi, to return to the U.S. for court proceedings, but neither did so. "The court repeatedly cautioned that it would not allow Claimants to litigate their claims from abroad," the appeals court wrote. "Though Claimants were on notice that the court was contemplating dismissal of their actions, they repeatedly flouted its orders." (You can read the full opinion here or at the bottom of this story.) A grand jury indicted Akhtar-Zaidi, 61, in August 2014 on charges that he doled out thousands of doses of prescription painkillers such as Percocet, Oxycontin and Opana to people with no legitimate medical need for the drugs. He is accused of doing this while operating Pain Management of Northern Ohio on Solon Road. Akhtar-Zaidi missed his arraignment in September 2014. He is now a fugitive and the criminal case has not been able to proceed. The U.S. Attorney's Office filed its forfeiture case in January 2014, about nine months before Akhtar-Zaidi was charged. The couple never appeared in person in the civil forfeiture case and told the judge that because their assets were frozen, they were forced to move to Pakistan to live with family. Akhtar-Zaidi claimed a heart condition precluded him from flying back to Cleveland, though Polster did not believe that explanation. "Though the court acknowledged Dr. Zaidi's claimed heart condition, it noted that his medications consisted of 'a beta blocker, nitroglycerin, and an aspirin' and that 'millions of people ... travel all the time with those same medications,'" the appeals court noted. Erum Zaidi refused to travel to participate in a deposition, saying that doing so would violate her constitutional right against self-incrimination, even though the government said she was not a target in the criminal investigation. Polster said she couldn't use this as an excuse. Judge Eugene Siler, on behalf of the panel that heard the appeal, wrote that Erum Zaidi's refusal to be deposed "constituted defiance of its orders and authority." Siler also wrote that Polster tried to accommodate the couple's travel concerns and Akhter-Zaidi's medical condition by rescheduling proceedings and offering to free up some of the seized money to pay for treatment the doctor said he needed. U.S. Attorney Carole Rendon said in an emailed statement Thursday that "the courts have made it clear that you cannot flee the country to avoid facing criminal charges and then try to get back your drug profits from abroad." Patrick McLaughlin, the attorney representing the couple, said he was disappointed in the appeals court's decision. He had argued in court filings that the government did not fully prove its case and that Polster should not have thrown out Akhtar-Zaidi's claims just because he was a fugitive. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section. NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio --A North Ridgeville man called 911 after shooting and killing a woman Tuesday night, police said. Randy Hamilton, 50, is now behind bars at the Lorain County jail on a charge of murder. He called police about 10 p.m. Tuesday to report the shooting. "Get the cops now, please, please, send the ambulance and everything...right now," he told police dispatchers, according to audio from his 911 call. When officers arrived at the home on Avon-Belden Road, near Sugar Ridge Road, they found Hamilton waiting outside his garage, a North Ridgeville police report stated. Inside the house, police found the body of Michelle Ryals, 45, in a bedroom, police said. A shotgun was laying on the garage floor. Ryals suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest, police said. Her name was not immediately released early Wednesday, as officials were still working to notify her family. While on the line with dispatchers Tuesday night, Hamilton said he'd thrown the gun back into the bedroom after the shooting. He told dispatchers he'd move it to the garage, and agreed to wait outside for police with his hands up. "I will do anything you (expletive) want me to do," he said, according to the 911 audio. "I swear to God I will." Hamilton said no one else was inside the home at the time of his call. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section. An Oct. 26, 2016 article about a North Ridgeville homicide incorrectly stated the nature of the relationship between suspect Randy Hamilton and the victim Michelle Ryals. This article has been updated to reflect that two were not married. 12levert3.jpg Cuyahoga County jail inmates will pay more for phone calls under a new contract approved by Cuyahoga County Council. (Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County jail inmates will soon pay 42 percent more for phone calls, under a contract with a new company. Officials say additional services, such as video visitation, will help their families save money. But the county's current provider says it could provide cheaper services. Inmates currently pay 18.5 cents per minute for an in-state call -- or $2.77 for a maximum 15-minute call -- under the current contract with Global Tel Link Corp. The new in-state rate will be 35 cents the first minute and 24 cents for each additional minute, for a total of $3.95 for a 15-minute call. The charges will begin in about two months under the new contract with Securus Technologies Inc. The county currently receives a 9.5-cent commission per minute, officials said. That adds up to more than $800,000 a year from Global Tel Link. The county is guaranteed $3 million a year for the first two years by Securus for all services, including commissions from video kiosks, and expects to receive at least $1 million a year in commissions after that, officials said. Council approved an eight-year contract in September with Securus to provide phone calls and new technology, including video visitation and the ability to add money into commissary accounts with credit cards. What does Global Tel Link say? Global Tel Link's bid was rejected and the company was allowed to review Securus' bid after the contract was awarded. "What those records make clear is that the county has pivoted since the RFP (request for proposals) was issued on whether to use the inmate communication system as a revenue generator for the county or whether it wanted to provide these county services to inmates at the lowest possible rate," Leo Spellacy, an attorney representing Global Tel Link, told county council members this month. Global Tel Link's bid offered interstate calling rates between 9 and 14 cents per minute, he said. "The county has chosen to enter into a more expensive solution for inmates, their friends and their families," he told council. Council members did not respond to his remarks. What does the county say? Inmate phone costs and revenue were not part of the scoring of the bids, Sheriff Clifford Pinckney said Wednesday. "We scored on the product and we preferred the whole package of Securus," he said. "It fit what we needed better. Once we selected the company we negotiated money and costs." Pinckney said the increased cost of inmate phone calls should not be a concern because families will save money by visiting via video. That service will cost $9.95 for 15 minutes. "When you look at it, if it is a five-minute phone call the difference is 38 cents," he said. "A 10-minute call difference is 76 cents. When you consider everything we got with the package it will be a savings for everybody, especially their loved ones. Family members do not have to come downtown and pay for parking." Inmate phone calls may one day be regulated by the FCC. The FCC has set new limits for rates that can be charged on inmate interstate calls. The commission's caps on local and long-distance calls, proposed in October 2015, have been challenged in courts. The caps would reduce the average rates from $2.96 to no more than $1.65 for a 15-minute in-state call for most calls. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Turning 21 is a big deal for anyone, and the Tri-C High School Rock Off is no exception. The annual battle of the bands that began as a way for promoter Live Nation to keep the cash register ringing during the slack touring times has morphed into an institution in Northeast Ohio. In 2017, it will return to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with preliminary rounds on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27 and 28; Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4; Saturday, Feb. 11; and Saturday, Feb. 18. The Final Exam, which will feature three bands from each of the preliminary rounds, is set for Saturday, Feb. 25. Of course, all that could change; it is, after all, rock 'n' roll. New this year is a partnership with Reverbnation, which will cover the $60 entry fee of six Reverbnation artists or bands selected by the organization. To enter, go to tinyurl.com/rockoff2017, or through reverbnation.com. Live Nation will continue to accept entries through Friday, Dec. 9. Entry forms are available at rockhall.com/rockoff - a new website being implemented this year as well. Entry forms are also available at Live Nation by phone at 216-912-4925. Entries, which must include either a two-song demo via soundcloud.com/high-school-rockoff or a compact disc, plus that $60 entry fee, should be mailed to Live Nation, 44 N. Main St., Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022, or delivered to the organization at 10 Bell St., Chagrin Falls, by 5 p.m. Dec. 9. Bands or artists not selected to compete will receive a refund of the $60 entry fee. As usual, the competition will see each band or artist play a 15-minute set during the preliminary rounds in order to win one of three spots per round in The Final Exam. All finalists will record an original song at the Tommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts at Cuyahoga Community College's Metro campus. Those songs will be available for free download at rockhall.com/rockoff. First place is worth $1,000 in cash and $250 for the high school music program as well as a $1,000 Guitar Center gift card. Second gets $250 cash and $100 for the school program. Third place is worth $100 cash. The first-place band also will get a slot on the 2017 Vans Warped Tour stop at Blossom Music Center. Live Nation again is conducting a simultaneous contest for local graphic arts students to design a cover for the downloadable CD, the official Rock Off T-shirt and poster. Winners in each category will receive $100 in cash. Entries must be submitted to Live Nation at the above address by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. Contact annabross@livenation.com for artwork questions. Cash prizes for the Rock Off and the artwork contests are courtesy of the School of Rock. As part of its partnership with the Rock Off, the Rock Hall is offering discounted memberships to the museum for those who mention the promo code HSRO16. Two-time champion First to Eleven of Erie, Pennsylvania, is expected to return to defend the band's crown. Grant takes aim at infant deaths INFANT Nurses to visit, advise low-income moms from A1 Injuries in "pre-cruising" children, those younger than six months old, are often signs of child abuse. Many older victims of child abuse had these earlier injuries in their record but did not receive the appropriate follow up care that could have prevented further harm. A group of Ohio child advocates and doctors is hoping to help fix that by training more doctors to recognize the signs and react in the appropriate way. (Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Doctors and nurses at 19 Ohio hospitals, including four in Northeast Ohio, will soon receive training on how to screen for signs of child abuse in the state's most vulnerable residents -- infants six months and younger. About one in 10 child abuse victims in Ohio have a record of an early injury that should have raised red flags and triggered followup care, but less than a third of children receive this care. Those are the findings of a coalition from Ohio's six major children's hospitals who have been studying how to cut down on repeat child abuse with the support of a $1 million grant from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. The group of child advocates and pediatricians, called the Timely Recognition of Abusive Injuries (TRAIN) Collaborative, released their recommendations Tuesday. At the 19 hospitals who have signed on to receive the training, the group aims to help anyone who treats infants to screen for a comprehensive list of injuries including bruises, burns, swelling on the bones, blood clots in the eyes, and injuries on or in the mouth or genitals, among others. These so-called "sentinel injuries" in infants younger than six months of age are a red flag for abuse because children that young are not yet mobile, said Dr. Lolita McDavid, medical director of child advocacy and protection at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital. "Those are things that you see that make you concerned that this is not an accident," McDavid said. "When you think about what a child under 6 months can do, there's not a lot they can do to themselves. So you have to ask questions." In Ohio each year, more than 30,000 children are victims of abuse or neglect. In one recent study, more than a quarter of abused children had previous sentinel injuries, while none of the non-abused children had such injuries. Sentinel injuries in infants should trigger an X-ray to check for current or healing bone fractures, a family assessment, and a referral to the appropriate child protective services. But rates of follow-up care when one of these injuries is identified vary greatly by hospital and the type of injury, according to recent research. Babies with rib fractures are more likely to receive the recommended skeletal X-rays, for example, than babies with other types of injuries. The TRAIN Collaborative hopes to make the whole process more routine, and comfortable, for healthcare providers who may not have extensive training in child abuse, McDavid said. "In our children's hospital we're pretty routine with this. I think for people who don't do this kind of work it's hard to believe that people would do these kinds of things to kids." The Ohio hospitals partnering with the collaborative to implement the recommendations are: Bay Park Community Hospital Memorial Fremont Wood County Hospital St. John's Westshore University Hospitals/Elyria University Hospitals/Ahuja Medical Center University Hospitals Avon St. Joseph Warren Hospital St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital Aultman Medical Center Fairfield Medical Center Adena Regional Marion General Springfield Regional Upper Valley Medical Center Atrium Medical Center Mercy Anderson Mercy Fairfield Fort Hamilton "It is our responsibility to protect children who are too young to understand their injuries or even to speak for themselves," DeWine said in a news release. "The work we are doing with the children's hospitals and extending to the community hospitals, and the resulting action being taken at the diagnostic level, are lending a voice to children and are advocating for improved efforts when caring for Ohio's next generation." SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio: Disturbance, Mayfield Road: Several 911 calls were received around 2 a.m. Oct. 20 about gunshots being fired in the area near Sherbrook Road. Those reporting only heard the gunshots and saw multiple cars leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Officers found shell casings in a parking lot behind a vacant property. They spoke to people in two area bars, but nobody witnessed the incident. They also checked with area hospitals to see if any patients came in with gunshot wounds, but none had. Theft, Mayfield Road: A Get Go manager said Oct. 12 a former employee was found to have failed to pay for gasoline transactions on two separate occasions. Officers contacted the University Heights woman, 21, who agreed to make restitution. The store was reimbursed by the woman Oct. 17 and she was given a trespass warning. Suspicious activity, Wyncote Road: A woman said Oct. 9 she received a package in the mail that contained three $100 bills in an envelope addressed to her. The envelope had the name of a credit union on it and the package came from an unknown woman in Dayton. Officers contacted that credit union, but were told they would need a subpoena to obtain any information about the unknown woman. Recovered vehicle, South Green Road: Officers attempted to stop a vehicle around 1:15 a.m. Oct. 17 that was listed as stolen out of Cleveland. The driver continued on through several streets before finally exiting the vehicle and running. He left the vehicle in neutral and it came to a stop after rolling into a tree in a resident's yard on Montford Road in Cleveland Heights. Inside the vehicle was a baggie of what appeared to be crack cocaine. The driver was not located. Theft, Cedar Road: A PetsMart employee said Oct. 17 there were two women in the store and she suspected one of them stole her iPhone from an employee drawer in the aquarium section. She said she saw one of the women go into the drawer and she confronted her about it, but she denied it. Officers found the vehicle in which the women left in, is registered to a Cleveland resident. They went to her home and asked her about the incident. She said she was in the store and the manager was rude to her. She would not provide the name of the other woman who was with her. Officers showed the employee a photo of the woman they spoke with, but she said she was not the woman that was in the drawer. Disturbance, Mayfield Road: A woman said Oct. 15 her daughter, 15, was pushed by a manager while she was working at McDonald's. Officers spoke to the manager, a 59-year-old woman, who said she had asked the girl to get out of her way, but she refused. She said she only touched her arm to get her to move. A witness corroborated her story and surveillance video also appeared to suggest the girl was not pushed. The girl's mother was told there would be no further police action because there was no assault. Criminal damage, East Antisdale Road: A woman reported Oct. 15 her ten-year-old grandson was shot in the leg with a BB gun. Officers learned the boy was walking with a friend when a vehicle drove by and an unknown male teenager in the backseat shot at them. His leg was hit twice and had a welt on it. No suspects were identified. Criminal damage, East Antisdale Road: A woman reported at 9:12 p.m. Oct. 15 someone threw rocks at a window on her home and damaged it. She did not see who threw them, but suspects a man who lives on the street did it because he uses drugs and because she has a reputation for calling the police. She could not explain why she believed he uses drugs other than saying "he is too skinny and always wears dark glasses." Theft, Liberty Road: A woman reported Oct. 13 her wedding band was stolen from her home and she believed a Sears delivery man stole it when delivering a new dryer. She said two men delivered the dryer while her mother was at the house and they would have had to walk past the fireplace mantle, where she had last seen the ring. She said the ring is valued at $6,500 and she filed a claim with Sears. Theft, South Green Road: A woman said Oct. 13 she believed someone had stolen two ring sets from her home during a sale of items there in August. In advance of that sale, she said she took the rings off her fingers because they were getting snagged on furniture. She last saw them on the kitchen counter. She waited to file the report in hopes the rings would be located. Theft, Eastway Road: A woman reported Oct. 15 a collection of jazz records, valued at $75,000, was stolen from a garage of a home she was moving out of and she suspected a Warrensville Heights man, 55, stole them. She had hired the man to do some electrical work in the home and she said he was there unattended with a co-worker on multiple occasions. Officers spoke to the man and he denied stealing the seven plastic totes, which contained the records. He also said he would take a lie detector test. Officers were also able to speak with the co-worker, who also denied stealing the records. The incident is under investigation. Theft, Freemont Road: A woman reported Oct. 9 someone stole a purse and two pairs of shoes from her vehicle while it was parked in her driveway. She said a window had been left down enough that someone could have reached in and unlocked the vehicle. She learned credit cards that were inside the purse had been used fraudulently to make purchases totaling $400 at several gas stations in Cleveland. Officers are following up with those gas stations to try to learn the identity of the person who used the cards. The woman said her daughter used the vehicle that night to attend homecoming and it was possible one of several kids that rode in the car may be responsible for the theft. Unwanted guest, Hinsdale Road: A man and woman reported Oct. 13 they arrived home to find their 23-year-old son inside the home. They said they kicked him out of the home months ago but he continues to come there and enter through unsecured windows. Officers arrested him for criminal trespass and reminded him he had been given a warning in September. He said he didn't remember being warned. See more South Euclid news at Cleveland.com/south-euclid. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Police investigating a street gang tied to dozens of smash-and-grab ATM thefts raided three homes in Cleveland and two in Euclid early Thursday. SWAT teams with assault rifles stood outside the homes while investigators conducted the searches about 9 a.m. Officers took several bags of evidence from each home. An officer in Euclid carried out a large plastic container with evidence. Two men -- Derielle Jones and Dayshawn Garner, both 18 -- were charged early Thursday in connection with an armed smash-and-grab on Sept. 19 at the Gas USA on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland's University Circle neighborhood. Their homes were among the five that were raided. In that case, a group that included a third man charged in the case, Jesse Cunard, 26, crashed a stolen van into the Gas USA across the street from the University Circle Police Department on Euclid Avenue. The group used a stolen Dodge minivan to crash through the front of the 24-hours-per-day gas station, according to police reports. The group got out of the van and forced two employees, ages 30 and 24, to the ground at gunpoint. The men tried to load the ATM into the van before University Circle police arrested them. Cleveland police said they raided homes connected to the Wade Park gang, which is linked to more than 50 smash-and-grabs in the Cleveland area, according to court records. Police arrested a suspected Wade Park gang member, Troskey Banks, 19, on Oct. 17 on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. The gang steals vans and uses them to crash into businesses, some of which are open at the time, according to court records. The group has also pulled guns on employees working during the thefts, court records say. Banks was accused of being part of at least two smash-and-grabs -- one at a Cleveland Bureau of Motor Vehicles and another at a Cleveland Heights business. On July 25, Banks and five others crashed a car into the Ohio BMV in the Church Square Shopping Plaza on Euclid Avenue near East 79th Street, records say. The car smashed through the front waiting area and crashed into an ATM against the office's back wall. The group broke open the ATM inside the office and stole cash, officials said at the time. During the robbery, the ATM fell on a masked man that police later identified as Banks. On Sept. 9, Banks and several others smashed into the Loan Max on Cedar and Lee roads in Cleveland Heights, according to court records. Police reviewed the surveillance video from that incident and saw Banks, according to court records. Investigators found a brick inside the van used in the smash-and-grab. Banks' DNA was found on the brick, according to court records. It's the second large-scale investigation into smash-and-grab ATM thefts this year. Cleveland and Parma police also launched an investigation into a different smash-and-grab ring that culminated in raids and a 74-count indictment in August. Eleven men were charged in connection with that smash-and-grab ring. Prosecutors said at the time the group could be tied to 50 other smash-and-grabs throughout Northeast Ohio in an 18-month span. The 74-count indictment focused on the men conducting 10 of the burglaries in 2015 and 2016 in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Summit and Stark counties. Two others have been since charged in that smash-and-grab ring. tricmetrolitt.jpg Cuyahoga Community College expects to save $70,000 by partnering with other colleges for help desk services. (Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State University will save tens of thousands of dollars by hiring the same firm to provide help desk technical assistance to faculty, staff and students. Lorain County Community College may join the consortium, which could be offered to all public two- and four-year colleges, officials said. Tri-C trustees on Thursday approved a contract with Blackboard Inc. How did the partnership occur? Tri-C's contract with Ellucian, which had provided help desk services since 2009, expires at the end of this year. Such services include learning management systems, password issues and other technical requests. Tri-C officials asked colleagues at other colleges if they were interested in issuing a collaborative request for proposal. Tri-C combined with Kent State and LCCC, "leveraging the call volume of the three schools in order to get a higher total value from the bidding firms," according to the information presented to Tri-C trustees. What happened? Eight vendors bid, and a committee chose three to present proposals to representatives of all three colleges. After evaluating all proposals, the committee awarded the contract to Blackboard. Tri-C will pay $358,500 a year, with two optional one-year extensions. It is estimated the college will save $70,000 a year, officials said. The college may save more if additional colleges adopt the so-called Master Service Agreement, which will be offered through the Inter-University Council of Ohio's group purchasing consortium. What about Kent State and LCCC? Kent State's help desk contract expires at the end of June. "We are currently reviewing the Master Service Agreement and Blackboard Student Services is drafting the order form, so we should have the contract finalized soon," Paul Albert, executive director of information systems, said in an email. Kent State expects to save $48,000 a year, he said. LCCC has not yet confirmed it will hire Blackboard, said Tracy Green, vice president of strategic and institutional development. "We are looking at all of our technology and it is one component," she said. "We are always looking for any affordability opportunity." Airport's $36 million renovation arrives on time airport Construction finished well in advance of RNC from A1 Renovated terminal with control tower seen at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Friday, June 24, 2016. (Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer) (Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport now can treat ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft the same way it handles taxis, shuttles and limousines. Cleveland City Council on Monday adopted an ordinance that grants the airport the authority to regulate Uber and Lyft like it does any other form of ground transportation service permitted to use the airport. "What we're really trying to accomplish is that we ensure we level the playing field for all modes of transportation," said Fred Szabo, interim director for Cleveland Hopkins. Uber and Lyft will be charged a $4 fee for every pickup and drop off completed at the airport, the same per-fare fee paid by taxicab companies. "All forms of ground transportation at the airport are regulated by the airport," Szabo said. "Over the past few years, the Uber and Lyft services have grown...It turns out that they are the only ground transportation units not regulated by the airport." A new state law allows airports in Ohio to regulate ridesharing companies - referred to as transportation network companies. That law, House Bill 237, puts ridesharing companies under regulation by the state's Public Utilities Commission and requires them to obtain $5,000 permits from PUCO to operate in Ohio. HB 237 was passed in December 2015 and went into effect March 23. A permanent place at the airport Prior to the Republican National Convention, the airport set up a staging area for Uber and Lyft and designated a drop off and pickup location. The staging area is located on Brookpark Road, across from NASA Glenn Research Center. There, Uber developed a geofence, which means that vehicles need to be parked in the lot in order to respond to ride requests originating at the airport. Overall, the new per-ride fees for Uber and Lyft create a "fairer system," Szabo said. There had been tension among other ground transportation companies, and Szabo hopes this move will alleviate that. In response to the new ordinance in Cleveland, Uber and Lyft each issued a response. "We look forward to working collaboratively with the airport to bring more safe, affordable transportation options like Lyft to CLE," said Mary Caroline Pruitt, a Lyft spokesperson. "Uber looks forward to providing Cleveland residents and visitors access to a convenient, safe, reliable and affordable transportation option at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport," an Uber spokesperson said. It's unclear yet how much of the fee assessed to Uber and Lyft will be passed on to customers. However, when a similar structure was put in place at Reagan National Airport and at Dulles International Airport, Uber directly passed on the fee to passengers, issuing a surcharge to customers on rides to and from the airport. PARMA, Ohio -- A woman is accused of running a brothel disguised as a massage parlor, police said. Chameka Sherman, 27, of Euclid, is charged with a fourth-degree felony count of promoting prostitution. She is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday. Sherman ran the Creative Touch massage parlor out of a suite in a medical building in the 5500 block of Ridge Road, police say. The city law department forwarded a complaint to the police department about the business being a front for a brothel. Police found that Creative Touch advertised prostitution services via the online classified advertisement website backpage.com that is being investigated by the U.S. Senate. Detectives conducted surveillance on the business. An undercover police officer went to the business and found Sherman running the business with four prostitutes working. Police arrested Sherman on Oct. 2. She is free on $5,000 bond. No one arrests were made during the investigation, according to police. If you would like to comment on this story, visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section. AntiViolence.jpg Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed is sponsoring an forum at the Wolstein Center today to identify solutions to the city's youth violence epidemic. (Leila Atassi, cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio - Anti-violence experts, public health officials and community outreach workers will convene this morning at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center to brainstorm solutions to inner-city violence - an epidemic that has claimed the lives of more than 100 people so far this year in Cleveland. The event, which is free and open to the public, is the third of its kind sponsored by City Councilman Zack Reed, who for years has urged city and civic leaders to rally around the violence problem. In a recent interview, Reed said this year's forum is different from years past in that he hopes it will sound a call to action to the city's hospital systems and corporate community, provoking them to consider the roles they could play in solving the social problems that beget violence. Specifically, Reed said, Clevelanders need jobs and a chance to share in the prosperity enjoyed by the corporations that call the city home. And when victims of violence find themselves in hospital emergency rooms, resources must be invested in intervention - both to prevent retaliatory violence and to steer the victim to a better path, Reed said. "Corporate Cleveland has got to understand that this problem is their problem," Reed said. "They can no longer sit on the sidelines and pretend it doesn't exist." Panel discussions at today's event will focus on innovations in youth outreach and anti-violence programming and the expansion of Cleveland's healthcare systems and the effect it has had on surrounding neighborhoods. Also, students from Cleveland's John Adams High School and Warrensville Heights High School will present the results of a project in which they were given cameras and instructed to take photos of elements of their environment that make them feel either safe or in danger. Reed said he expects the presentation to be an enlightening look into the world of youth in Greater Cleveland. Today's keynote speaker will be Dr. Edward Barksdale, chief of pediatric surgery at University Hospitals. Barksdale has been a voice in the movement to approach violence in Cleveland as a public health crisis that can be treated through intervention. The city is expected soon to award a $75,000 grant to a service provider to embed an interventionist, or "violence interrupter," in a UH emergency room. The Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance recently was awarded a grant from the United Way of Greater Cleveland to implement a similar program in MetroHealth Medical Center's emergency room. The forum will conclude at 4 p.m. today. SKYWEST A pilot for SkyWest Airlines was arrested Wednesday in Rapid City, South Dakota, on suspicions of being drunk. (Stephen Hilger, Bloomberg News file photo) RAPID CITY, South Dakota -- A pilot for SkyWest Airlines was arrested and removed from a plane Wednesday after he arrived for a flight smelling of alcohol, reports say. TSA agents at Rapid City Regional Airport called police after Russell Joseph Duszak, 38, arrived at 8 a.m. to fly SkyWest Flight 4574 to Salt Lake City, NBC News reports. Duszak was already on the plane when police arrested him on a charge of operating an aircraft while intoxicated. A pilot is legally drunk with a blood-alcohol level above .04. The flight was delayed for more than two hours until another pilot arrived. SkyWest operates out of Rapid City as a connection for Delta Airlines, reports say. SkyWest apologized in a statement and said Duszak has been placed on leave as the investigation continues. NBC News reports Duszak was released from jail after posting $300 bail. He could be sentenced to a year in jail and fined $2,000 if convicted. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section. watch now Deutsche Bank , the troubled German lender, announced better-than-expected revenue and income for its third quarter on Thursday, helping to alleviate concerns over its litigation issues and its current capital position. The embattled bank and an important part of the global financial system announced third-quarter net income of 278 million euros ($303 million), which compares favorably to a 6 billion euro loss for the same period a year ago. The number also beat market expectations, as did revenues which came in at 7.49 billion euros ($8.17 billion). It noted improved bond trading in the quarter a trend seen across the whole banking sector, especially in the U.S. and the results also showed that it raised its legal provisions slightly to 5.9 billion euros by the end of September. Shares of the firm rose 3 percent as the European trading session began on Thursday but quickly trimmed gains to trade flat. 'Working hard on achieving a resolution' watch now The fresh results come after a roller-coaster ride for its share price in recent weeks after the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) suggested it pay $14 billion to settle a number of investigations related to mortgage securities. "The results for the quarter demonstrate well the strengths of our operating businesses and the outstanding work of our people. We continued to make good progress on restructuring the bank," CEO John Cryan said in the earnings report. "However, in the past several weeks, these positive developments were overshadowed by the attention around our negotiations concerning the Residential Mortgage Backed Securities matter in the United States. This had an unsettling effect. The bank is working hard on achieving a resolution of this issue as soon as possible," he added. 'Market was forecasting a loss' The market expectation is that Deutsche Bank needs to raise cash to pay the penalty, which is still yet to be resolved. This has also led to speculation that the German government could intervene to help prop up the bank, although officials have denied that they are working on a rescue plan. Initial worries about Deutsche Bank actually surfaced earlier in the year, with investors detailing concerns over its exposure to the energy sector and a possible cash crunch. In July, the bank announced that its second-quarter net income was down 98 percent from the same period in the previous year, to 20 million euros ($22 million), The bank has repeatedly defended itself over recent weeks, however, telling CNBC that there was "no reason to worry" and that the bank had a "comfortable cushion." Deutsche Bank's stock has slid over 41 percent so far this year and the cost of insuring exposure to its debt has risen sharply. It has come under pressure from aggressive short-selling, notably from some large hedge funds. Speaking on the increased litigation reserves, Paul Kavanagh, CEO at Patronus Partners, told CNBC Thursday that the bank not try to preempt the amount of the final settlement with the DOJ by increasing their reserves. "So the way they have moved their reserves number today has two meanings one is that it actually means nothing in relation to the conversation that is in focus and second this sort of slightly lower increase in provision rate expected in (the third quarter) has meant that they are able to report a small operating profit in (the third quarter) whereas the market was forecasting a loss," he said. Liquidity reserves watch now China and Japan are competing to invest in $1 trillion worth of mineral resources in the Philippines, shedding light on one of the economic incentives behind President Rodrigo Duterte's headline-grabbing Asia pivot. Both Asian heavyweights are interested on building out the southern province of Mindanao, Carlos Dominguez, finance secretary of the Philippines told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Thursday. As the Philippine's second-largest island, Mindanao is home to half of the country's mineral wealth, including copper, gold, iron, aluminum in addition to significant natural gas and oil deposits. The region's untapped resource wealth could be worth as much as $1 trillion, according to a 2011 leaked cable from the U.S. embassy in Manila released by Wikileaks. Mindanao is also a famed biodiversity hot spot, teeming of valuable vegetation such as forests and rainforest soil, and a leading producer of bananas, papayas, and mangosteens, earning the nickname 'Fruit Basket of the Philippines.' From food to minerals, "the entire gamut of resources are open to development," Dominguez said. The investment opportunity comes as Duterte, currently on tour in Japan following a visit to China, embarks on a radical shift of Philippine foreign policy as he seeks deepened integration with North and Southeast Asia while distancing Manila from Washington. The mining settlement of Barangay on Mount Diwata (known as Diwalwal), in Compostela Valley, Mindanao. The mountain contains the largest gold deposit in the Philippines, and perhaps one of the largest in the world. The total area it covers is 8100 hectares, but the richest deposits lie in an area of just 729 hectares. Andrea Pistolesi | Getty Images Dominguez compared his country's alignment to Asia to other regional alliances such as the European Union bloc, NAFTA and Mercosur. "Of course, there are political implications, but they will merely foster more cooperation and friendlier ties," he continued. Outspoken Duterte has vowed to snap foreign policy with the U.S. and on Wednesday, declared his wish to eject American troops from his country within two years. Speculation is high that he may end the bilateral Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCO) but according to Dominguez, the President would stand by existing commitments, suggesting that the treaty will stay in place. When asked who was more keen on tapping Mindanao's resource abundance, Dominguez said "the Chinese have expressed interest but they don't have too much activity." "Our previous administration barely spoke to the Chinese government while we have been in close cooperation with the Japanese for over 60 years," he continued. Indeed, Japan certainly appears to have a head start. In March, state aid agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) injected $9.42 million into the island's infrastructure development while a group of Japanese food companies said they were pumping $500 million to process aquacultured products in certain Philippine regions, including Davao. China's presence on the island includes a power plant as well as various mining companies, but a number of deals are expected following Duterte's newfound alliance with Beijing. Both China and Japan, in addition to South Korea and Philippine firms, are pitching to build a railway system that would connect the entire Mindanao island. watch now Former Cheniere Energy boss Charif Souki says the answer to the glut of natural gas is even lower prices, which he says his new exporter Tellurian Investments will supply. hit a more than one-month low this week due to warm weather in the U.S., as well as a persistent global oversupply. But Souki told CNBC that low prices were key to rebalancing the market. The founder and former chief executive of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) pioneer Cheniere Energy, Souki co-founded Tellurian Investments this year with Martin Houston, the former chief operating officer of BG Group. Souki said Tellurian would look to undercut competitors' prices by about 17 percent when it started shipping in six years' time - a price reduction Souki told CNBC could be achieved by engaging producers early in the process and through better engineering. Tellerian's LNG terminal in Louisiana is expected to be operational by 2022, by which time Souki said he expected supply-side dynamics to have tightened up as the abundant current supply reduced prices, spurring demand. Record natural gas volumes being exported by Russia to Europe were contributing to the current glut, while new markets were coming on board on a "weekly basis," Souki said. Emerging producers included India, Abu Dhabi and Vietnam, he said. In February 2010, a study from the foundation and the GSMA Development Fund found that women in low or middle-income countries were 21 percent less likely than a man to own a mobile phone. At the time, there were some 300 million fewer female mobile subscribers than male subscribers. "Technology is a way of giving the poor that access to the global world, to the global economy that they otherwise don't have through mobile phones," the founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women told CNBC on the sidelines of the BNP Paribas Sustainable Future Forum . Mobile phones can play a crucial role in empowering women through technology , according to Cherie Blair. Cherie Blair (R), wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair and chairperson of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and Vodafone Foundation's global director Andrew Dunnett are briefed on a mobile application during their visit to an agricultural processing centre in India A 2015 GSMA study found that women on average were 14 percent less likely than men to own a mobile phone. The gap between male and female mobile subscribers narrowed to 200 million. The foundation has embarked on a program to bring business tips to women using a mobile phone app. In Malaysia, together with Qualcomm, the foundation worked with a local organization to link women with mentors via the Internet. Their sponsored mobile phones came with free internet access for a year. The programme was a win-win. "Once the women actually used the internet and saw how much their businesses increase, they were able to sustain that and pay for that access to the internet the following year," Blair said. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. A picture shows rubbles in the village of Borgo Sant'Antonio near Visso, central Italy, after earthquakes on October 26, 2016. Two strong earthquakes rocked a wide area of central Italy on Wednesday, striking fear among residents rattled by a deadly tremor in August, but there were no reports of casualties. The quakes, which struck about two hours apart, caused the collapse of several old structures, including a number of historic rural churches that were empty at the time. The second quake was measured at 6.0 magnitude by the U.S. Geological Survey and the first measured 5.4. More than three hours after the first quake, Civil Protection department chief Fabrizio Curcio said only one person was slightly injured. All indications were that the damage would not approach that caused by the major quake that struck the Marche, Lazio and Umbria regions on Aug. 24, which devastated several towns and killed nearly 300 people. Amateur video footage on television showed clouds of dust rising as parts of buildings collapsed in some towns, including Camerino in the Marche region, where a bell tower fell on a building. Massive boulders, some the size of cars, fell on the main north-south road of the Nera River valley that links mountain communities. Athit Perawongmetha | Reuters A Bank of America fund manager survey found cash levels were at 5.8 percent in October the highest they've been since 2001. On Wednesday, the largest weekly outflow from equity funds in five years was reported by the Investment Company Institute close to $15 billion. Investors are worried about bonds as the Fed moves closer to a rate hike, about the election, and about a bull market now in its eighth year and supported by a so-so economy. The nervousness has fueled an increase in cash holdings. Hedge fund billionaires, including David Tepper of Appaloosa Management, have commented on how much cash they're holding. But famed value manager Bill Miller of Legg Mason says he's holding no cash and stock values abound. So whom does the retail investor trust? Simple answer: None of the above. The investor should trust and know themselves, and understand what "going to cash" should and shouldn't mean. "Investors have lots to be nervous about," said Mitch Goldberg, president of investment advisory firm ClientFirst Strategy. "But then again, for as long as I've been in this business, there has always been something to be nervous about. ... What we're really talking about is risk tolerance and how one should react to that." If nervousness about the market is the motivation to increase cash allocation, then it should be obvious which investments that extra cash should be pulled from: the highest-risk positions. Here are five more basics about holding cash that, for investors, it pays to understand. 1. The most important role of cash isn't downside protection it's upside opportunity. Todd Rosenbluth, director of mutual fund and ETF research at CFRA, said holding too much cash will drag down performance when markets rally, but noted that it serves as downside protection and is useful when buying opportunities arise. "You want some cash available," he said. "It gives you flexibility." Neena Mishra, director of ETF research at Zacks Investment Research, elaborated. She said the most important role that cash serves in a portfolio is that it enables investors to take advantage of opportunities that may arise suddenly. "While cash also provides diversification and stability, holding too much cash can be a big drag on portfolio return as cash earns a negative real return. Some of this cash could be put to work if a sudden market sell-off say, after the presidential election results in attractive bargains," Mishra said. There's a big caveat to this approach the troubling result many investors experience when they go to cash. Most investors get out when it's too late and wait way too long to get back in, compounding losses and missing out on gains. But this market reality does reinforce how investors need to be opportunistic, and active in managing their portfolios, to make a move to cash rewarding. And investors need to understand the difference between buying specific assets that are attractively valued after a dip, and the odds of successfully timing the market as a whole. Those odds are stacked against them and always have been. 2. It's not about being a market coward: Going to cash requires real guts. Preparing to get back into stocks when there are buying opportunities isn't the only way that going to cash can be reinterpreted as a more active, or even more aggressive, approach to investing. Goldberg believes that making the decision to go to cash means being aggressive, at least in the sense that a small allocation to cash isn't going to help much. "A 1 percent to 5 percent cash holding probably won't change much in terms of reducing risk," he said. "Ten percent to 20 percent will help with that. Over 20 percent cash is quite a nervous reaction but not necessarily overboard. You are responsible for you, so you need to consider the extent to which you could be down in stocks and for how long; that's the essence of risk tolerance." 3. There's one question no expert can answer about a cash allocation. Investment horizon, risk tolerance and emergency needs all make it impossible for there to be a single answer to the question, How much cash should an investor hold? "The percentage of cash that should be in someone's investment portfolio is really impossible to give without knowing that person's circumstances," Goldberg said. Mishra said that for most other investors, a 3 percent to 5 percent cash allocation is enough. But investors who are going to cash for opportunistic reasons waiting for the right moment to get back into stocks could keep a 5 percent to 10 percent cash allocation during uncertain times to give them the flexibility to buy on dips. For the nervous investor with almost zero risk tolerance, then probably a cash allocation as high as 15 percent to 20 percent makes sense. "If that helps you sleep better at night," Mishra said. watch now 4. Age doesn't matter. Thinking about cash in terms of risk tolerance could lead younger investors to think going to cash isn't ever for them. But it is. Goldberg said younger investors should hope for a market retreat as an opportunity to accumulate stocks that are marked down. "Remember, every bear market has recovered and gone on to make new all-time highs. For the younger set, with many years until retirement, a down market would be more helpful than an up market," he said. For boomers and seniors, cash is a "critical part of asset allocation," Goldberg said. But the use of cash is something that investors of all ages need to understand and implement. "I explain it like this: A portfolio is somewhat like an accordion; its stock holdings expand and contract to the opposite of cash. Not trading, just rebalancing positions a little along the way. I advise my clients that this is a gradual process and that they shouldn't bother looking for the Sunday punch; it isn't a binary decision of either all cash or all stocks." 5. Every investor should always have an allocation to cash just not the way the market wants you to think about it. With the U.K.'s membership of the single market looking increasingly precarious, the country's trade relationships outside of the European Union are shifting into focus. For Priti Patel, the U.K.'s international development secretary, the country's aid budget is one area which could enhance international trading ties. Speaking to the BBC in Kenya earlier this week, Patel said that: "British soft power is exactly where DfID (the Department for International Development) our aid and other relationships around the world come together to deliver in our national interest when it comes to free trade agreements (and) life post-Brexit." Patel added that she and British International Trade Secretary Liam Fox would work together to gather "intelligence" overseas to inform British firms about new opportunities. But Richard Whitman, a visiting senior fellow of the Europe Program at the independent policy institute Chatham House, has expressed doubt about these intentions and their potential for success, telling CNBC via telephone that the comments were made in uncertain conditions as "the government doesn't really know what it wants its foreign policy to be post-Brexit." In Washington, making the ask is a delicate thing politicians and power brokers need to make asks all the time: politicians ask donors for money, lobbyists ask politicians for legislative favors, and on and on. It has to be done carefully, without crossing ethical lines or coming across as unseemly. But it has to be done. And that's why a figure like Band can be so important it allows the principal to ride above crass commerce, engaged in more high-minded discussions of ideas and policies. Someone else is nearby to make the ask. Band had begun his career as Bill Clinton's "body man" the young staffer who carried bags, took notes and navigated Clinton through the day. But over the years, he became the man Bill Clinton relied on to make "the ask" requests for money for the Clinton Foundation, Clinton's charitable initiatives and most sensitively, for Bill Clinton himself. Band was a longtime aide to former President Bill Clinton, instrumental in the early days of setting up Clinton's post-presidency and establishing the operating patterns of the Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative and later, a for-profit company of his own called Teneo. By 2011, the relationships at the core of that system inside the Clinton universe were fraying, and Band was forced to explain himself in a 12-page memo to the lawyers, the Clinton family and members of the Clinton Foundation board. Top Clinton executives had brought in an outside law firm to audit the Clinton Foundation as part of an effort to streamline and professionalize Clinton's various enterprises, and Band's memo would be a lynchpin of that effort. Titled "Background on Teneo and Foundation Activities," the 12-page memo was never intended to go public the phrase "Attorney Client Privilege" was emblazoned on the top of the document. But Band emailed the document to Clinton special advisor John Podesta for his input. And when Podesta's emails were hacked and posted for the world to see on WikiLeaks, Band's confidential assessment of the inner workings of Clinton's finances went massively public. "Given concerns that have been expressed about the role of Teneo in the Foundation's and the President's activities, as well as regarding support I provide for President's for-profit business activities, I wanted to take this opportunity to share information and help clarify my activities on behalf of the President," Band wrote. "This memorandum strives to set forth how I have endeavored to support the Clinton Foundation and President Clinton personally." Band laid out his entire history as he saw it with the Clinton family, beginning with a seven-year effort to raise money for the Clinton library and endowment. Ultimately, Band said, he put together a strategy that raised well over $150 million, "much of it from people who did not know President Clinton when he was in office." What was that strategy? In a footnote, Band says it boiled down to him making the ask. "This strategy included engaging the President's time to undertake specific speeches, events, targeted donor meetings, and other activities, after which Justin [Cooper] and I would follow-up to seek support for the Foundation." Eventually, Band decided to make the ask for himself, too. In 2011, he established Teneo, a private firm with three partners: Band, Declan Kelly and Paul Keary. From the beginning, the private money-making activities of Teneo were closely intertwined with the charitable efforts of the Clinton Foundation, and the private money-making efforts of Bill Clinton himself. "Teneo partners have raised in excess of $8 million for the Foundation, more than $5.25 million of which is in the bank. Teneo partners also have generated over $3 million in paid speeches for President Clinton," Band wrote. Teneo kicked in large sums for the Foundation. According to Band, that included: $4.3 million from Coca-Cola , $780,000 from the Dow Chemical Company , $540,000 from the Swiss bank UBS and more. Figuring out where Teneo ended and the Clinton Foundation began could be complicated. When Bill Clinton famously went to North Korea to negotiate the freedom of prisoners there, Dow Chemical Company CEO Andrew Liveris provided Dow's plane for Clinton and his staff. The Foundation paid for airfare, but the loaner plane saved the Foundation $100,000 in travel costs, Band wrote. In a statement, a Dow spokesperson said, "Dow's participation and engagement with CGI dates back to 2007 and is well aligned to core business and citizenship strategies that have positively leveraged the resources and capabilities of our company." Dow also became a sponsor of the Clinton Global Initiative, a significant fundraising effort, and gave $150,000 to the Clinton Foundation "for President Clinton to attend a Dow dinner in Davos." What's more, Dow was a private client of Band's firm Teneo. At the center of it all was Band, ready to make the ask for more money. He called it: Bill Clinton, Inc. But Chelsea Clinton didn't appreciate all of that. She complained to others about Band's company Teneo "hustling" business for themselves at Clinton events. And when Band fought back, Clinton, using an email alias, struck back: "Doug called and yelled and screamed at my dad," Chelsea Clinton wrote in an email to Clinton aides. "I cannot believe Doug did this on the day my grandmother died." Fresh off an earnings beat, Bristol-Myers Squibb CEO Giovanni Caforio told CNBC Thursday he is confident in the company's pipeline and its portfolio. The drugmaker, who saw its high-profile Opdivo immunotherapy fail an important lung-cancer trial last summer, sharply raised its 2016 profit forecast after strong quarterly sales of other leading medicines. "I feel really good about where we are as a company. I feel really good about where we are going," Caforio said in an interview with "Power Lunch." Opdivo had been considered the leader among a new class of cancer drugs called PD-1 inhibitors until August, when researchers said it failed to slow progression of symptoms in previously untreated patients with advanced lung cancer. Then earlier this month, researchers said Merck 's Keytruda prolonged the life of similar patients, and on Monday, it became the first of new immunotherapy drugs approved in the United States for initial lung cancer treatment. Caforio said that while Opdivo has been established as foundational therapy for lung cancer in second-line treatment, "Unfortunately, now we know monotherapy is not going to be an option for many patients in the first line," he said. "It doesn't really change our strategy. We are committed to combination therapies and we are very confident we are very well positioned with combinations," he added. Caforio went on to stress the "really exciting, potentially innovative medicines" in areas like oncology, heart failure, immunoscience and fibrosis that are moving forward. On Thursday, Bristol-Myers announced it earned $1.2 billion, or 72 cents per share in the quarter, compared with $706 million, or 42 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue jumped 21 percent to $4.9 billion, about $200 million above forecasts. Excluding special items, it earned 77 cents per share, well above expectations of 65 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company also predicted 2016 earnings of $2.80 to $2.90 a share, up from its previous forecast range of $2.55 to $2.65. It said it expects 2017 earnings of $2.85 to $3.05 per share. In addition, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced it was looking at a streamlined business model going forward. While Caforio wouldn't say whether that meant job cuts or narrowing its therapeutic areas of focus, he told CNBC it was all about focusing the company's resources on where it can make the most difference. "As an industry and a company we actually have to change all the time. This is a very dynamic market," he told CNBC. "It's going to be all about focusing resources on the highest priorities." Reuters and CNBC's Meg Tirrell contributed to this story. watch now With only a dozen days to go before the election, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has ratcheted up her lead over Republican nominee Donald Trump to 9 points, according to the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey, nearly doubling her advantage from the last poll. After weeks and months of what many Republican strategists called verbal and strategic missteps by Trump, and despite potentially ruinous revelations from leaked Clinton campaign emails, the Democrat leads the Republican nominee by 46 percent to 37 percent among registered voters in a two-way race and by the same margin among likely voters. In June, Clinton led by just 5 points. The CNBC survey of 804 Americans around the country, including all age and income groups, was conducted by Hart Research Associates on the Democratic side and Public Opinion Strategies on the Republican side. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 points, meaning Clinton's lead could be as large as 16 points or as small as 2 points. It was conducted Oct. 21 to 24. Hillary Clinton Carlos Barria | Reuters One hope for the Trump campaign: Among the 17 percent who are undecided, 31 percent are Republicans, compared to just 22 percent who are Democrats and 36 percent who are independents. "A chunk of people could move to Trump and close the gap,'' said Micah Roberts, the Republican pollster for the survey. "These people are going to have to show up." But Roberts thinks it's doubtful enough could break for Trump to put him over the top. The poll appears to tell a story of a candidate who has been incapable of capitalizing on any of his perceived advantages. For example, its shows plenty of anger in the country, with 79 percent angry or dissatisfied with the political system, but an inability by Trump to harness that anger and turn it into political support. Nowhere is that failure more apparent than on the economic front. It shows that Americans' views on the economy have barely budged from the mediocre levels of optimism that have prevailed since the recession ended. Yet Clinton leads Trump 44 percent to 36 percent among those who are dissatisfied with their own financial situation in life. And she has a commanding lead among those who believe the economic system is rigged for the wealthy, 54 percent to 28 percent. "Trump has lost whatever advantages his business background had afforded him," said Jay Campbell, pollster with Hart Research. Clinton widened her lead on several major issues, including immigration, trade and the budget deficit. She's even turned around a perceived advantage Trump had on who is best for the stock market, to a 1 point lead from a 9-point deficit. WHEN: Today, Wednesday, October 26th WHERE: CNBC's "Closing Bell" Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC EXCLUSIVE interview with Oracle Co-CEO Mark Hurd on CNBC's "Closing Bell" (M-F, 3PM-5PM ET) today, Wednesday, October 26th. Video will be available on CNBC.com. All references must be sourced to CNBC. EVANS: THE CLOUD WARS ARE ALIVE AND WELL AMONG SILICON VALLEY TECH GIANTS JUST LAST MONTH ORACLE'S EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN LARRY ELLISON TOOK THE STAGE AT THE COMPANY'S OPEN WORLD CONFERENCE AND CRITICIZED AMAZON WEB SERVICES ONE OF ITS BIGGEST COMPETITORS IN THE CLOUD SPACE, OF COURSE. THE EMERGENCE OF AMAZON HAS PUSHED ORACLE TO GROW ITS CLOUD EXPOSURE, LEADING TO A POTENTIAL TAKEOVER DEAL WITH NETSUITE WHICH HAS AN APPROVAL DEADLINE OF EARLY NEXT MONTH. JOINING US NOW MARK HURD, THE CEO OF ORACLE. WELCOME. HURD: THANKS, KELLY. EVANS: WHERE DO THINGS STAND IN THE NETSUITE DEAL? A DONE DEAL THERE'S BEEN SOME ISSUES WITH THEIR INVESTORS WANTING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON PRICE? HURD: IT'S DONE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. WE HAD SPECIAL BOARDS, SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF BOTH BOARDS NEGOTIATE THE TRANSACTION. WE THINK WE'VE MADE A FAIR OFFER OF $109 A SHARE. THE TENDER OFFER EXPIRES NOVEMBER 4, I BELIEVE. IT'S OUR BEST AND FINAL OFFER. EVANS: AND THE EARNINGS WERE JUST A LITTLE BIT PATCHY. HURD: YEAH. BUT I WANT TO REITERATE, IT'S OUR BEST AND FINAL OFFER. WE'LL ABIDE BY WHAT THE SHAREHOLDERS SAY. IF THE SHAREHOLDERS DON'T WANT TO TEND TO THEIR SHARES, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS. EVANS: THAT'S PART OF YOUR STRATEGY TO TAKE ON AMAZON, CORRECT? BECAUSE NETSUITE MAYBE A SMALLERT MEDIUM SIZED ENTERPRISES HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU GUYS HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO COMPETE AT THE SCALE OF AMAZON? HURD: I WOULD SAY IT A BIT DIFFERENTLY, KELLY. NETSUITE IS MORE A APPLICATIONS COMPANY, SO IT REALLY HELPS US ON THE SAS PART OF THE CLOUD. EVANS: SOFTWARES AS A SERVICE. HURD: EXACTLY. SO SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE TYPICALLY MEANS SO THERE IS REALLY 3 LAYERS TO THIS CLOUD THERE ARE APPLICATIONS, PLATFORMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. AMAZON IS MORE OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE IAAS PLAYER. IT IS NOT AN APPLICATION OR INFRASTRUCTURE. THE NETSUITE WOULD BE MORE OF AN APPLICATIONS PLAY. EVANS: I'VE SEEN CHARTS WHEN THEY LAY OUT THE BIGGEST PLAYERS IN THE CLOUD. IT'S THE TYPICAL IT'S AMAZON, IT'S GOOGLE, IT'S IBM, IT'S MICROSOFT. THEN I SEE ORACLE AND EVERYBODY ELSE. ARE YOU TRYING TO CHANGE THAT OR ARE YOU FOCUSED MORE TACTICALLY ON THE SERVICES YOU ARE OFFERING? HURD: KELLY, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY. WE'VE BOOKED MORE IN THE CLOUD, IF YOU WILL, REVENUE THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE INDUSTRY LAST YEAR. THE CLOUD INDUSTRY HAS PROBABLY GROWN 45, 50%. LAST QUARTER WE CLOCKED IN AT 80% PLUS. SO OUR GROWTH RATE IS PRETTY HIGH, DRIVEN A LOT BY APPLICATIONS AND BY PLATFORMS. SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH OUR GROWTH IN THE CLOUD. WE THINK WE CAN ACTUALLY DO YET BETTER, AND THIS ANNOUNCEMENT YOU REFERRED TO EARLIER THAT LARRY MADE IN OPEN WORLD WAS REALLY ABOUT ROUNDING OUT OUR COMPLETE SUITE OF CAPABILITIES WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. EVANS: MICROSOFT HAS GONE AND BOUGHT LINKEDIN. THAT DEAL MAKE SENSE TO YOU? HURD: LISTEN, I'VE GOT MY OWN ISSUES, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON MICROSOFT'S M&A. EVANS: WHAT ABOUT A COMPANY LIKE TWITTER, WHICH IS STILL OUT THERE. WOULD TWITTER BE A GOOD STRATEGIC FIT FOR YOU GUYS? HURD: WE ARE I DO NO I'M SURE YOU'RE EXPECTING ME TO GET INTO ALL SORTS OF M&A DISCUSSION, BUT NO, WE'RE NOT MAKING A BID FOR TWITTER RIGHT NOW. EVANS: LET ME PUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE BROADLY, THEN. IS THERE A PLACE FOR SOCIAL NETWORKS IN YOUR COMPANY? HURD: YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR US, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE ENTERPRISE. WE'RE REALLY B2B. SO KELLY, WE FOCUS ON OUR CUSTOMER SET, WHICH IS REALLY NOT CONSUMERS. SO THE CONTEXT FOR US OF WEAVING TOGETHER ENTERPRISE DATA, ENTERPRISE INFORMATION, APPLICATIONS PLATFORM AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED. THE BEST PREDICTOR OF OUR FUTURE BEHAVIOR IS REALLY WHAT YOU'VE SEEN FROM US OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I WOULD ARGUE THAT WHILE SOME OF THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS SEEM NEWSWORTHY, IN MANY RESPECTS, THEY ARE JUST FURTHER ADVANCEMENTS OF THE STRATEGY WE LAID OUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. LARRY, REALLY, IF YOU DIAL BACK TO A DECADE AGO, WAS TALKING ABOUT CLOUD BEFORE IT WAS CALLED CLOUD. AND SO REALLY, ALL OF THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT FIT INTO THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK WHICH IS REALLY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS AND ENTERPRISES WITH A COMPLETE SET OF CLOUD OFFERINGS. EVANS: AND WHEN NETSUITE, AS YOU JUST SAID, BEING YOUR BEST AND FINAL OFFER HURD: BEST AND FINAL. EVANS: BEST AND FINAL. WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT DOESN'T COME THROUGH FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEN? IS THERE A PLAN B? ARE THERE MANY PLAN B'S? HURD: WE WILL MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO EXECUTING OUR STRATEGY. LISTEN, WE'LL ABIDE BY WHAT THE SHAREHOLDERS SAY. BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO DO, SUCH A GREAT PORTFOLIO. IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR US. THIS IS A GENERATIONAL CHANGE IN IT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THIS COME AROUND AGAIN. OUR PART OF IT, IF YOU WILL, THE ENTERPRISE SIDE, IS ABOUT A TRILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY. ONLY ABOUT 40, 50 BILLION OF THAT IS YET SO FAR IN THE CLOUD. THERE IS A LOT TO COME. EVANS: I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION, MARC BENIOFF HAD SAID HE'S LOOKED AT HUNDREDS OF COMPANIES AND NEVER HAD A LEAK BEFORE. REFERRING TO THE DOCUMENTS AND WE ALL NOW HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE ABOUT THEIR POTENTIAL TARGETS. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT CYBER SECURITY BROADLY SPEAKING, JUST IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, OR AS PART OF THE ENTERPRISE MOVE THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING? HURD: IT'S ABOUT AS IMPORTANT TO US AS ANYTHING ELSE WE DO. WHEN YOU LOOK FROM A SECURITY PERSPECTIVE, THE WAY WE PATCH OUR DATA, THE WAY WE SECURE DATA, THE WAY WE HELP OUR CUSTOMERS SECURE DATA, IT IS ABOUT AS PREVALENT A SUBJECT AS THERE IS OUT THERE WITH CUSTOMERS TODAY. EVANS: YEAH, I IMAGINE YOU GUYS ARE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE YOUR EMAILS AND PRESENTATIONS AREN'T THE NEXT ONES LEAKED OUT THERE. HURD: ENTERPRISE DATA, KELLY. I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DATA SITS IN OUR CUSTOMERS' DATABASES AND IT'S OUR JOB TO HELP THEM SECURE. EVANS: ABSOLUTELY. MARK, THANKS FOR JOINING US DOWN HERE. HURD: THANKS, KELLY. EVANS: MARK HURD, CEO OF ORACLE. About CNBC: With CNBC in the U.S., CNBCin Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and CNBC World, CNBCis the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-timefinancial market coverage and business information to approximately 381 millionhomes worldwide, including more than 94 million households in the United Statesand Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million householdsacross China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming inNorth America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC'sglobal headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBCNews bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new realityprogramming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC anda number of distinctive in-house documentaries. CNBC also has a vastportfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news andinformation across a variety of platforms including: CNBC.com; CNBC PRO, thepremium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides live access to CNBCprogramming, exclusive video content and global market data and analysis; asuite of CNBC mobile products including the CNBC Apps for iOS, Android andWindows devices; and additional products such as the CNBC App for the AppleWatch and Apple TV. Members of the media canreceive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBCUniversalMedia Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/programming/cnbc. For more information aboutNBCUniversal, please visit http://www.NBCUniversal.com. The decision to take down the bonuses is aimed at saving costs as the bank struggles with a $14 billion settlement negotiation with the U.S. Department of Justice over mis-selling of mortgage backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis. However, this may be contradictory to Deutsche Bank's chief executive officer John Cryan's thinking that the share price does not impact the daily functioning of the bank. When asked if he was worried about the stock price, Cryan said "I don't try and manage the share price ever, I manage the bank." "We have taken down cash bonuses that we planned for this year," Schneck said, adding that tying the compensation of senior employees to share price made sense, but no decision had yet been taken. Embattled German lender Deutsche Bank is looking into tying compensation of senior employees to share price development, the bank's chief financial officer, Marcus Schneck told investors Thursday. Speculation is rife over the bank's new compensation strategy. A source familiar with the matter who wanted to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the situation told CNBC that the bank might be looking at deferred stocks as part of compensation. This means paying the bonus in parts through the year in the form of stocks. However this may be risky as it exposes the employee to the performance of the stocks. Deutsche Bank shares have had a fairly volatile performance this year with the stock down more than 40 percent since the start of the year. Some analysts have also said that while the bank may be able to save costs by scrapping bonuses, it might dampen employee morale and lead to staff moving out of the bank. "It is key for investment bank to keep its staff. In any change with what has been agreed with staff will impact morale," Gildas Surry, partner at Axiom Alternative Investments told CNBC Thursday. "I think it is a very constructive debate because you have got 2.4 billion euros of deferred bonus to be paid under cash. And some other banks have chosen to pay via contingent convertible bonds, especially Credit Suisse with actual equity stakes in portfolios of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). Maybe European banks need to take the approach of paying in the traditional ways to its staff. " The bank announced better-than-expected revenue and income for its third quarter on Thursday. The bank's third-quarter net income came in at 278 million euros ($303 million), which compares favorably to a 6 billion euro loss for the same period a year ago. The number also beat market expectations, as did revenues which came in at 7.49 billion euros ($8.17 billion). Deutsche Bank also set aside $6.4 billion for legal fees. Clarification: This article has been updated since first published following clarification from Deutsche Bank. Dow Chemical Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris said that although international regulatory processes for his company's merger with rival are complex and often lengthy, the value prospects are worth the wait. In a "Squawk on the Street" interview on Thursday, the CEO said that while the company waits for the deal to be processed, it is actually preparing for what's to come. "We are gaining time on the other parameter, which is readiness. Synergy readiness, organizational readiness and speed to spinning these three businesses out readiness," Liveris said, referring to Dow Chemical's proposed expansion to Europe, Brazil and China in light of the merger. Dow Chemical reported earnings Thursday that beat analyst estimates, with earnings per share coming in at $0.91 versus estimates of $0.79 and revenue at $12.48 billion versus the predicted $11.95 billion. Growth in Dow's agriculture segment, where sales have been sluggish this year, helped edge revenue growth higher. Shares of Dow were up nearly 2 percent Thursday morning, trading at $54.78. The merger with DuPont, which also reported better-than-expected earnings this week, was announced in December 2015. Liveris said that he expects the deal to close, and that its timing will be determined within the next several months. "A few months in the context of $30 billion in value creation is nothing in the scheme of things," Liveris said. And, as the companies continue talks with antitrust officials in the states and abroad, Liveris said Dow Chemical's business in China is flourishing amid demand for food safety and quality preservation. "We're not just chemicals, right, we're materials," the CEO said. "And the materials like packaging films, films that can actually preserve food, in China, those are growing through the roof." Dow Chemical's earnings report showed plastics sales, Dow's largest segment, rising 0.8% to $4.7 billion. Pollution in major cities and geographic expansion are driving factors in the company's growth in China, Liveris said, despite the country experiencing lags in other sectors. "I would agree that there is, in industrial China, in commodity China, in asset-intensive China, there is a slowdown, and there's also a lot of money going into property again," the CEO said. "It's not even." A barge being loaded with nickel ore at a private port in Pangasinan province, north of Manila. A suspended Philippine nickel miner said on Wednesday it has sued government environment agencies for a nearly four-month stoppage of its operations, in the first legal challenge to the state's environmental crackdown on the mining sector. The Philippines is the world's top nickel ore supplier and an environmental audit that has halted a quarter of its 41 mines plus the risk that 20 more may be shuttered has fueled a rally in global nickel prices. Benguetcorp Nickel Mines's (BNMI) mine in Zambales province, north of the capital Manila, is among 10 suspended for environmental infractions in a government clampdown on damage from mining in July and August. "Seeing that BNMI is left with no other viable administrative remedy, it is constrained to elevate to the Courts the matter of the unlawful suspension of its nickel mining operations," the company said in a statement. The company filed a "petition for certiorari with injunction to assail the suspension order" jointly issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional offices with a regional trial court in Pampanga province, said Anna Montes, spokeswoman for parent firm Benguet. A voting sign points early voters to the polling station at the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office on Oct. 24, 2016 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Getty Images Many of the schools across America that house polling booths will not be open on Election Day for the first time after parents raised fears over violence. Public schools, with their ample parking, handicapped-accessible spaces, and capacity to hold large crowds, have always made for popular polling places. And while numerous states or cities have always closed schools on Election Day in past years, the particularly contentious nature of this presidential campaign has brought up more concerns than usual. More from NBC News: Trump Holds Six-Figure Stake in Dakota Pipeline Firm Trump Congratulates Gingrich on Exchange With Megyn Kelly Pence Campaigns in Utah to Stave Off McMullin Momentum "Elections are always going to raise a little bit of tension between people, but with the candidates this year, it's obviously a little more heated," said Sara Andrioitis, a mother of two who lives in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. They're expecting more than we've ever had ... just to err on the side of caution, we decided to close those schools. Nathanael Shelton Director of communications for Johnson County schools Her school district in Easton, Pa., decided to cancel classes on Election Day after Andrioitis and other parents brought up fears that violence could break out at the schools' polling places. There's no official tally of how many schools will be closed nationwide on Nov. 8, according to the National School Boards Association. But in various districts from New Jersey to Nebraska, officials have canceled classes, or moved polling out of schools to other buildings this year. In North Carolina, another battleground state, the Johnson County school board opted to close schools after local election officials warned that turnout would be higher than ever. "They're expecting more than we've ever had," Nathanael Shelton, director of communications for Johnson County schools, told NBC News. "Just to err on the side of caution, we decided to close those schools." The fears stem from a tense election season in which a Hillsborough, North Carolina, GOP campaign office was firebombed and voters have made a habit of holding up posters threatening violence against the candidates. A USATODAY/Suffolk University poll released Wednesday found that 51 percent of likely voters are concerned about the possibility of Election Day violence. Even federal officials have expressed apprehension as Election Day approaches, with one telling NBC News that authorities were particularly worried about the "I'm a patriot and if it comes to it, I'll grab my weapons and defend my flag" Trump supporters. But the idea of Election Day school closures isn't new or unique to this election. In New York state, many districts have been closed for years, including those in New York City, the largest school district in the United States with 1.1 million students. Supporters point to student safety as the number one reason for closing schools, citing the high number of outsiders flowing in and out of buildings. Many also believe closing schools helps voter turnout and emphasizes the importance of civic duty to students. It's important that they have adequate provisions in place to address the issue of increased activity around the school. Ronald Stephens Executive director of the National School Safety Center Belgium has lifted its opposition to a trade deal between the European Union and Canada on Thursday, paving the way for national parliamentary approval across the bloc. However, this does not mean that concerns over Europe's trade policy have disappeared. Charles Michel, the Belgian prime minister, said on Twitter: "Belgian agreement on CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement). All parliaments are now able to approve by tomorrow at midnight. Important step for EU and Canada." Canada's trade ministry applauded the news as a "positive development" but added that there was still work to do. "Canada has done its job," it said in a statement. "We negotiated a progressive agreement that will create jobs and growth for the middle class. Canada remains ready to sign this important agreement when Europe is ready.The trade partnership, which have been negotiated for seven years, nearly collapsed after the Belgian region of Wallonia voiced concerns over CETA's impact on the agricultural sector and welfare standards." Such opposition was preventing individual EU parliaments from giving the green light to the deal. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada even cancelled a trip to Brussels this Thursday on fears that the deal would no longer be signed. With the U.K.'s future on uneven ground following the vote to leave the European Union, the country's leading business body is calling on the government to give the economy a "shot in the arm." While third-quarter U.K. GDP figures came in above market expectations, one key event investors are now looking towards is November 23 when the government releases its Autumn Statement. Here, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, will outline the government's future spending plans, while commenting on the state of the economy. With businesses and foreign investors fearful of what lies ahead, Hammond should make it a "top priority" to set out a program that will get British regions "firing on all cylinders" and that supports businesses "to innovate, invest and create jobs" in the years to come, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said Thursday. In its submission to the government, the business lobby group called upon the U.K. finance minister to set out an "ambitious pro-enterprise agenda" which inspires confidence and kick starts investment, putting forward their own recommendations on how the government could capitalize on the U.K.'s core strengths. "This is a really important Autumn Statement and we think what should really be prioritized is investment. We need a shot in the arm for investment in the U.K. economy," CBI Director-General, Carolyn Fairbairn told CNBC on Thursday. With its soon-to-be parent company waiting in the wings, LinkedIn reported quarterly earnings and revenue that beat analysts' expectations on Thursday. The social media company posted profit of $1.18 a share ex-items on revenue of $960 million. The company's stock ticked up slightly in after-hours trade. Analysts expected LinkedIn to report earnings of 91 cents a share on revenue of $959 million, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters. LinkedIn is still in the process of being acquired by Microsoft in a $26.2 billion cash deal for $196 per share. Antitrust regulators in the United States, Canada and Brazil have already approved the deal. Microsoft filed for EU approval earlier this month, and hopes for the transaction to close prior to the end of 2016. Business software company Salesforce is calling on European regulators to investigate possible antitrust issues with the acquisition, suggesting the deal threatens innovation and competition. Salesforce lost out to Microsoft in the bidding to buy LinkedIn. The company's membership rate grew to 467 million, up 17 million from last quarter and up 18 percent year over year. Its talent solutions, marketing solutions and premium subscriptions saw mixed revenue results this quarter. Talent solutions saw revenues of $623 million and premium subscription sales increased to $162 million. Marketing solutions revenues dropped $6 million to $175 million this quarter, with sponsored content accounting for nearly two-thirds of total marketing revenue. Correction: This story was updated to reflect that LinkedIn's third-quarter revenue was $960 million. The Macquarie Group puts the chances of OPEC reaching a credible crude output agreement that boosts oil prices at 60 percent, but closely followed investor Dennis Gartman thinks those odds are too generous. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries may produce a deal when it meets in Vienna on Nov. 30, but it's doubtful such an accord would achieve its aim of bolstering oil prices following a two-year downturn, The Gartman Letter's publisher told CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Thursday. Gartman ticked off a number of obstacles to putting a floor under oil prices: The chief of Russian oil giant Rosneft continues to insist it will increase output; Iran is intent on restoring production following the lifting of sanctions this year and China's crude demand appears to be moderating. "I think it's going to be difficult even if they get an agreement to put prices very much higher at all," Gartman said. Sentiment surrounding an OPEC deal has dominated moves in crude prices since top exporter Saudi Arabia announced the effort last month. Futures came under pressure this week as Iraq said it wanted to be exempt from production quotas. The behemoth super PAC backing Hillary Clinton is targeting two vulnerable Republican senators in the final push to Election Day. Priorities USA Action reported spending nearly $500,000 this week on television ads opposing Sens. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, according to a Federal Election Commission filing Wednesday. The PAC has shelled out about $700,000 total in those races. Both incumbent senators are locked in tight contests that will help to determine which party controls the Senate. The Pennsylvania race has drawn huge cash from independent groups and is already the most expensive Senate contest ever. The New Hampshire race has seen the second-most money of this cycle's Senate contests, also driven mostly by the flow of independent money. The pro-Clinton Priorities USA has drawn huge sums from mega donors like George Soros, Haim Saban and Donald Sussman as it does not face the contribution limits Clinton's campaign committee does. Priorities USA Action has broken super PAC fundraising records with nearly $175 million raised, The Washington Post reported this week. The PAC had spent more than $130 million in this election cycle at the start of October, with most of that cash directed to the presidential race. But it has started to direct some of its resources to Senate races as the Democrats attempt to take control of the chamber. The Democrats need four Senate seats to gain a majority if Clinton wins the presidency and five if she does not. Pennsylvania and New Hampshire will prove crucial in determining the balance of power. Averages of recent surveys show both Toomey and Ayotte with roughly 1-point leads in their races, according to RealClearPolitics. watch now Shares of Samsung Electronics finished higher Thursday despite the Note 7 recall crisis causing a 96 percent plunge for the operating profit of the company's mobile division in the third quarter. Rather than a sell-off of Samsung's stock on the back of earnings, investors remain bullish for a number of reasons. Profit plunge baked into price Earlier this month, Samsung had already warned that it would take a more than $5 billion hit to operating profit from the third quarter of 2016 up to the first quarter of 2017. Samsung had slashed its operating profit guidance, with final results on Thursday coming in line with expectations. The South Korean electronics giant now said that it aims to boost fourth-quarter earnings through its flagship Galaxy S7 smartphone as well as lower-tier models. Investors are expecting the third quarter to be the bottom for Samsung. Also, if the fire issues had not plagued the Note 7, Samsung would have shipped around 11 million of these devices. That is a small fraction of the total 310 million smartphones globally it's expected to ship this year, according to analysis firm Counterpoint Research. So investors see little long-term impact. The only unknown is whether this will damage Samsung's brand and affect the sales of other smartphone models. Strength in new display and memory tech Samsung's semiconductor and display business were bright spots in the third quarter with the company pioneering new chips and screen technology. "In memory they are the global leader, and we have heard demand trends are strong, supply is constrained which is good for pricing," Neil Campling, senior research analyst at Northern Trust Securities, told CNBC by phone. George Frey | Getty Images In addition, Samsung is the market leader in so-called organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology for small screens used in smartphones and other devices. Campling said mobile devices are moving from liquid crystal display (LCD) technology to OLED. This should help Samsung. "In small size OLED Samsung is the 600 pound gorilla," Campling said. Heir apparent appointed to the board On Thursday, shareholders approved the appointment of Lee Jae-yong to Samsung's board. He is the grandson of Samsung's founder and the move is seen as an important step as Samsung navigates the choppy waters post-Note 7 recall. He is the South Korean giant's heir apparent and was said to be a key player behind the scenes since his father was unable to lead after a heart attack in 2014. His appointment comes just weeks after activist hedge fund Elliott Management called on Samsung to simplify its complex ownership structure, which is made up of around 70 "chaebols" or subsidiaries. Investors feel that the younger Lee will be the person who can bring more clarity and transparency around the company's corporate governance. The company said it would respond to Elliott Management's letter by the end of November. Share buybacks tempting Samsung said on Thursday that it was also considering a share buyback plan. This involves the company purchasing shares from investors. The prospect of this is tempting, because it could lead to Samsung cancelling those shares it buys back. This would help support the company's share price. However, no exact details about the process were disclosed. Potentially undervalued African-American voters should give Donald Trump a chance, because Hillary Clinton's extension of President Barack Obama's policies would continue to get them nowhere, Bruce LeVell, a conservative community leader in Georgia, told CNBC on Thursday from Atlanta. "What do we have to lose. If we [Republicans] don't do a good job, get us out in four years. Give us a shot," said LeVell, executive director of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump. While the group is not affiliated with the Trump campaign, LeVell said he's working to get the GOP presidential nominee elected. Responding to critics who accuse Trump of being racist, LeVell said he disagrees, claiming he's never heard Trump make any derogatory comments about African-Americans. In a continuation of his recent outreach to African-American voters, Trump on Wednesday in the battleground state of North Carolina unveiled what he called the "new deal for Black America," based on three principles: safe communities, great education and higher-paying jobs. Clinton leads Trump by 2 percentage points in North Carolina, according to the Real Clear Politics average of major statewide polls. But in the battleground state of Georgia, Trump leads Clinton by 3.3 percentage points. On Election Day, LeVell predicted Georgia won't be a battle, because he expects Trump to win the state in a blowout over the Democratic nominee Clinton, with strong support from black voters. "There's a huge silent majority of African-Americans who are going to vote for Donald Trump." Nationally, the RCP polling average puts Trump's African-American support at just 5.6 percent and Clinton's at 84 percent. The race among all likely voters favors Clinton by 5.4 percentage points, according to the RCP average. Brunell Donald-Kyei, vice chair of diversity outreach for Trump, told FOX on Wednesday the campaign expects between 16 and 25 percent support among black voters. But history is not on Trump's side. In 2012, Obama got 93 percent of the black vote, while GOP challenger Mitt Romney got 6 percent, according to exit polls, which mirrored a similar split in 2008 between Obama and John McCain. The "Fast Money" traders debated how to play a slew of quarterly results from major technology companies including Amazon , Alphabet and Twitter . Trader Guy Adami said he was slightly disappointed by what Amazon reported on Thursday. He said, however, that consumers are still likely to do their holiday shopping on Amazon. Trader Brian Kelly said that Google parent Alphabet, which reported results that easily topped estimates, is still reasonably valued compared to the rest of the market. Trader Dan Nathan agreed and said it's a stock that has growth at a reasonable price. Trader Tim Seymour said he was surprised Twitter shares didn't climb higher on Thursday. The company's forward guidance was actually rather upbeat, which he said is atypical for Twitter. Trader Guy Adami agreed and said that this past quarter might have been a turning point for the company. In the latest episode of the CNBC Conversation, CNBC's Tania Bryer sits down with iconic fashion designer and punk priestess Dame Vivienne Westwood to discuss the British icon's career, her passions and how she got to where she is today. While many know Westwood for her fashion empire and coming up with the original look for punk rock in the 1970s, the designer is also an avid environmental activist, having teamed up with numerous campaigns to promote a greener economy. "One thing that I think that activists need to do is to try to tell people what this new world would be if we swapped this terrible financial system for a fair financial system because this would. We've got to have a green economy and a green economy is a fair economy." In conversation with CNBC, Westwood tells Bryer what she believes U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May could do to fix today's "rotten financial system" and how the U.S. government isn't resolving this issue either. Speaking of the U.S., Westwood throws in her opinion on the upcoming U.S. election and why she wouldn't vote for Donald Trump or "evil" Hillary Clinton. "To me Hillary's evil and I think she's a war-mongerer. I don't expect the world to change with Hillary Clinton. You know we're all going for climate change. I'm not Pro-trump. If I would be American would not vote for either of them which I wouldn't not be able to vote for either of them except if there's a green person I would vote for a Green Person." Younger, more agile, faster, and more efficient new businesses are proposing solutions to improve access to electric-ity for populations in need. Among them is SHS, Solar Home Systems, which builds small networks called Microgrids that produce and distribute electricity, very often using renewable resources like wind and solar. Read more on the same topic: Solar kiosks for villages without electricity The California-based start-up Powerhive has been specializing in microgrid technology for five years now. How did they do it? The company drew on advances made in solar panels, batteries, electrical equipment and techniques linked to smart meters and mobile payments. While they have not, strictly speaking, made technological innovations of their own, Powerhive did devise an effective combination of new technologies developed by others, adapting them to the particular conditions of their target markets. First, solar energy has become less expensive and more competitive compared to other means of generating electricity. At the same time, satellite visualization tools like Google Maps have made it easier to pinpoint areas where the popula-tion is most concentrated and identify the optimal locations to equip. Finally, from a more technical perspective, the use of LED lighting systems allows for lower energy consumption the batteries perform better and can be used with smart meters. Above all, the rate of mobile phone usage is very high. All of these ingredients were in place to suggest a solution in which the end-user pays in advance for a set quantity of electricity that's reliable, affordable, and environ-mentally-friendly. It's the principle of "pay-as-you-go." Read more on the same topic: BBOX, a new player in the access to energy in Africa Powerhive combined individually simple components in an innovative way, adding a strong field presence to the mix. They were able to convince local authorities to grant them development licenses authorizing them to generate, deliver, and sell electricity to local populations. Their solution has made Powerhive the number-one private company and the number-two provider of electricity in Kenya today. Other 1912 campaign collectibles include a jugate button and ribbon, the button depicting William Howard Taft and his running mate, James " Sunny Jim" Sherman, and right, a 1.25-inch jugate button depicting Socialist Party candidate Eugene V. Debs and his running mate, Emile Seidel. Some political items collectors consider this the "Holy Grail" of political "coattail" buttons, a difficult to find item where a candidate for, say, governor connects himself to a popular presidential candidate. This 1.5-inch piece made by the Ohio Badge Co. depicts Woodrow Wilson and James Cox, the eventual 46th and 48th governor of Ohio. The button sold for $3,220 in 2005. Intended to appear to be a token or medal depicting Theodore Roosevelt, this cigar cutter was produced as a 1912 Progressive Party political souvenir by The Hillsdale Novelty Co., Hillsdale, N.J. Cigar cutter featuring a portrait of former President Theodore Roosevelt is superimposed over a 1912 photo of Roosevelt as he delivers a speech during his unsuccessful campaign to return to the White House. This is the fifth part of a multi-part series on Presidential campaign collectibles from the Nov. 7, 2016, monthly issue of Coin World: Presidential campaign banners, badges, tokens, medals and more from America's 200-plus years of elections provide windows into the quadrennial campaigns and their eras. Depending upon the campaign and candidates, available items may be abundant and cost only a few dollars each, or scarce, some costing thousands of dollars regardless of condition. The 1912 presidential race featured four veteran politicos the Republican incumbent, William Howard Taft; former President Theodore Roosevelt, who had handpicked Taft, his secretary of war, as his successor for the 1908 campaign; the leading Democrat, New Jersey Gov. Thomas Woodrow Wilson; and the Socialist Party candidate, Eugene V. Debs. Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter For each man, a vast array of campaign items badges, buttons, ribbons and more, all of which fall under the broad category of numismatics were issued during the election. Some items can be obtained for less than $100 each, but some of the rarest trinkets from the campaign can cost thousands of dollars, if you are lucky enough to even find an available example. The 1912 election witnessed the establishment of a new political entity, Roosevelts Progressive Party, also dubbed the Bull Moose Party. Roosevelts decision to seek election (he had grown dissatisfied with Tafts policies) under a new political party banner after losing the GOP nomination served to polarize the Republican Party, eventually split the popular vote and almost single-handedly contributed to the White House being won by Wilson. The campaign also witnessed an Oct. 14, 1912, assassination attempt on Roosevelt in Milwaukee. Roosevelt was shot by John Schrank while en route to a campaign speech, which he delivered while still bleeding from his wound. After eight days of hospitalization, Roosevelt went back to campaigning. During his hospital stay, the other presidential candidates suspended their campaigns, as called for by Wilson. During the campaign moratorium, Taft went on a short vacation before returning to the White House, delivering several short speeches along the way. Wilson continued to govern New Jersey. The voters made the campaign outcome final for Wilson on Election Day, Nov. 5, 1912. Wilson won the presidency with 41.84 percent of the popular vote. Roosevelts second place polling was, however, only 27.4 percent, while Taft, in third carried 23.17 percent. Debs pulled just 5.99 percent of the popular vote. Wilson became the only elected president to represent the Democratic Party between 1892 and 1932, and only the second Democrat elected between 1860 and 1932. The 1912 election was the last presidential contest in which anyone beyond the Republican or Democratic parties was a runner-up in either the popular vote or the Electoral College. It was the first election in which 48 states of the United States participated. New Mexico became the 47th state on Jan. 6, 1912; Arizona, the 48th, on Feb. 14, 1912. The 1912 election provided the launch pad for woman suffrage and significant contributions by women in politics; and marked the first presidential primaries. Read our entire series so far on collecting Presidential election materials: The presidential election that might have been the nastiest on record: So nasty were the personal attacks between Jackson and the incumbent, John Quincy Adams, during the 1828 campaign that Jackson blamed the stress of the attacks for contributing to the death of his wife. The election of 1800 saw a number of firsts among American presidential races: The presidential election of 1800 was a particularly uncomfortable one in political circles, pitting Vice President Thomas Jefferson against the president he was currently serving under, John Adams. Abraham Lincoln faced more than one opponent in the 1860 presidential election: While it is not uncommon today for political candidates in state and national contents to stump in any small community that will host them, during the 1860 campaign the tactic was considered somewhat tacky. Sounds like jewelry, so why was a cross of gold not considered a good thing in 1896?: The hotly contested presidential race of 1896 pitted former Ohio Gov. William McKinley, a Republican, against Democratic contender and perennial presidential wannabe William Jennings Bryan. How Theodore Roosevelt helped deliver the White House to Woodrow Wilson: The 1912 election witnessed the establishment of a new political entity, Roosevelts Progressive Party, also dubbed the Bull Moose Party. Four-time winner Franklin Roosevelt generates opposition collectibles: The election of 1932 put Democrat and former New York governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt into the White House for the first of his unprecedented four terms. The 2016 presidential election hitting new heights, or depths, of nastiness: Campaign collectibles are trying to promote the 2016 presidential candidates amid all the mudslinging. More Information The ballot language for Constitutional Amendment 2: Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: establish limits on campaign contributions by individuals or entities to political parties, political committees, or committees to elect candidates for state or judicial office; prohibit individuals and entities from intentionally concealing the source of such contributions; require corporations or labor organizations to meet certain requirements in order to make such contributions; and provide a complaint process and penalties for any violations of this amendment? It is estimated this proposal will increase state government costs by at least $118,000 annually and have an unknown change in costs for local governmental entities. Any potential impact to revenues for state and local governmental entities is unknown. For more information on this amendment and other issues that on the November ballot, check out the Missourian's voter guide. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Report details family's care for Santulli Danny Santulli's family has created a hospital room for him in the living room of their Eden Prairie, Minnesota, home, his dad wrote in a report. Led 26th Amendment Ratification in 1971, Urging Millennial Voters to Turn Out in 2016 Common Cause yesterday filed an amicus curiae brief in One Wisconsin Inst. v. Thomsen before the 7th Circuit urging the appellate court to take a fresh look at Wisconsins cuts to election reforms previously utilized by youth voters. Months earlier, the Western District of Wisconsin struck down the states photo ID law on 14th Amendment grounds but failed to resurrect a number of provisions 8 in total struck down by the state in violation of the 26th Amendment, that made voting easier for youth. We applaud the lower court for cutting the photo ID requirement, given that it could keep hundreds of thousands of eligible voters from participating in our elections, said Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn. But the court needed to go farther. It needed to undo the legislatures limitations on younger voters. Millennials, in particular, by virtue of sheer numbers, have a lot of clout these days. Our youth have an important role to play in national politics, just as they did in 1971, when the 26th Amendment was passed. Its time for the courts to acknowledge their full right to the franchise, and stop these state efforts to curb their participation. Between 2011 and 2015, the Wisconsin legislature imposed a strict photo ID requirement and cut a number of strong reforms that made voting more accessible for younger people, particularly students. Since Wisconsins birth in 1848, higher education and our university and college students have been a central element of our development as a beacon for democracy and enlightenment in the nation, said Jay Heck, Executive Director of Common Cause Wisconsin. The recent, unconstitutional abridgement of college and university students ability to vote in this state is in an affront to our tradition and a barrier to our ability to produce engaged and informed citizens and a brighter future for Wisconsin. State legislatures must acknowledge the contributions of youth and put an end to the vote suppressive tactics passed across the country over the past few years. As we note in our report, Tuning In and Turning Out, strict photo ID laws can hurt young peoples turnout, just as they do people of color and working Americans. Other states, though, are moving in the right direction, adding strong reforms such as preregistration to ensure that eligible youth start voting and continue voting. Our democracy has too much at stake to have it any other way. The 26th Amendment, which passed in 1971 quicker than any of our others, reduced the voting age from 21 to 18. As then-President Nixon noted when certifying it, The reason I believe that your generation, the 11 million new voters, will do so much for America at home is that you will infuse into this nation some idealism, some courage, some stamina, some high moral purpose, that this country always needs. Common Cause fought hard then to ensure young people could vote, and continues to do so today as an organization of 625,000 members, including thousands of youth to ensure the franchise is accessible to all eligible voters, no matter their age. The Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown Law represented Common Cause in this matter. To read the brief, click here. The court will rule on whether to accept the brief. Oracle has taken its bid for up to US$9 billion in damages to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after a judge in a federal court in California recently struck down its bid for a retrial in a copyright infringement suit against Google over the use of Java code in the Android operating system. A jury had cleared Google of copyright infringement in May this year, upholding the companys stand that its use of 37 Java APIs (application programming interfaces) in the Android mobile operating system constituted "fair use" under the Copyright Act, which allows copying of creative works under certain circumstances. Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California entered a final judgment in favor of Google on June 8. Oracle had subsequently asked the district court for a new trial, which would be the third in this dispute. The company claimed, among other grounds, that Google had concealed information during discovery on its plans to integrate Android apps with the Chrome OS running on desktops and laptops, thus extending the scope of the infringement beyond smartphones and tablets. Judge Alsup last month denied Oracle a new trial. He wrote in his decision that Google had produced at least nine documents discussing the goals and technical details of its ARC++ project in 2015, at least five months before trial, but the information was in any case not relevant to the trial which was limited to infringement in smartphones and tablets. Oracle provided notice to the court Wednesday that it appeals to the Federal Circuit the June 8 final judgement, the order denying a retrial and other decisions by the court. Google could not be immediately reached for comment. An Oracle lawyer had said after the trial that the company planned to appeal the jury verdict in the Federal Circuit. Apple today reworked its notebook line, boosting the touch-ability of the MacBook Pro line, not by letting users smudge the screen but with an adaptable bar above the top row of keys. The expected replacement for the row of function keys got the name "Touch Bar," without the "Magic" moniker some thought would lead of the label. But with the new hardware came new, higher prices: Apple raised the entry-level prices of the new 13- and 15-in MacBook Pros with the Touch Bar by $500 and $400, respectively, from their bar-less predecessors. The price hikes represented increases of 39% (13-in.) and 20% (15-in.). "This is very much a redesign, not a refresh," said Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticule Research. Traditionally, Apple has kept prices stable, even lowered them, when it replaces a component or two with a faster or more capable successor. Rubin's argument was that the new models went far beyond that modest swap. Carolina Milanesi, an analyst with Creative Strategies, had similar thoughts. "Apple is repositioning the product, reinventing the [MacBook Pro]," she contended, acknowledging that the hikes were unusual for Apple. "Normally they keep the price the same, but it's not just a refresh. They're trying to find a different place in the market for the MacBook Pro." Today was the first live event since March 2015 where Apple focused on the Mac, and it followed months of rationalizing by analysts that the long stretch since the last hardware refresh had been the root cause of a four-quarter sales slump. CEO Tim Cook promised to make up for the omission. "For 25 years we've been defining and redefining what a notebook is," Cook said, citing the October 1991 debut of Apple's first PowerBook, a clunky, brick-thick portable. "Today, we're going to do it again." Cook ceded the stage to others, including head of marketing Philip Schiller and Craig Federighi, the top software engineering executive: The two unveiled the redesigned 13- and 15-in. MacBook Pro laptops, then demonstrated the models' most notable addition, the Touch Bar. The laptops are slimmer, lighter versions of their predecessors, each model dropping about half a pound and losing between 14% and 17% of its thickness. "It is the gold standard in notebook computers," Schiller asserted. "This is the thinnest and lightest MacBook Pro we have ever made." Both the 13- and 15-in. MacBook Pros sport a trackpad doubled the previous size, and a keyboard whose underlying technology was brought over from the 2015 MacBook. But the star of the new laptops was clearly the Touch Bar, a mutable strip above the top row of keys, where traditional notebooks feature the F1 through F12 function keys. The strip responds to the Apple-esque multi-touch gestures, and adapts to the active application. With Safari, for example, the Touch Bar shows icons representing favorite sites. Apple Craig Federighi, Apple's top software engineering executive, shows how the new Touch Bar can be customized. Also imbedded in that bar is Touch ID. "We're bringing Touch ID to the Mac for the very first time," said Federighi. The integrated fingerprint scanner works just like the one on iPhones; users can log in -- dropping account password typing -- and validate online transactions using Apple Pay by pressing a finger or thumb to the bar. The Touch Bar, Apple emphasized, kept the input area near the keyboard, where the hands were, implying that's more efficient than reaching out to a touch-enabled screen. The Cupertino, Calif. company has rejected touch screens on the Mac, and defended its decision to limit that to iOS. But it's impossible not to see the Touch Bar as a touch-is-input enhancement, an addition to the well-worn Touch Pad and its library of gestures. Whether Apple moves beyond the strip, and to the screen itself, is unclear. "I've learned never to say never about Apple," said Milanesi. "Right now, Apple is saying that not every screen needs to be touch-enabled. But over time, perhaps this is a stepping stone." Although Apple's own applications will have a jump on third-party software in supporting the Touch Bar, outside developers will be able to access it as well. Microsoft is working on supporting Touch Bar in its Office suite, and Adobe is planning to add support to Photoshop by year's end. "What will be important is how much developers are going to push [supporting the Touch Bar]," Milanesi added. Like the MacBook, the new MacBook Pros have ditched the traditional USB ports for a quartet of ports that serve multiple duty, including USB-C, Thunderbolt and charging. For many, that will require new adapters to fit existing peripherals -- external keyboards, printers and displays, for instance -- after a MacBook Pro upgrade. Apple also dropped the 11-in. MacBook Air, leaving only the $999 13-in. version, and adding a less expensive 13-in. MacBook Pro that features the traditional function keys -- no Touch Pad -- a slower processor and only a pair of ports. The Apple online store also continued to list the 2015 versions of the 13-in. MacBook Pro ($1,299) and 15-in. MacBook Pro ($1,999) for sale. The 13- and 15-in. MacBook Pros with the Touch Bar start at $1,799 and $2,399 respectively. Customers can pre-order those notebooks beginning today, but the systems won't ship for approximately two to three weeks, Cook said. The new 13-in. MacBook Pro sans the Bar is available immediately at $1,499. Read more articles by Margaret Jackson. Margaret is a veteran Denver real estate reporter and can be contacted here Brexit 1) Gove, Raab and Whittingdale elected to Select Committee Leader of the victorious Vote Leave campaign Michael Gove will scrutinise the Government on its Brexit strategy. He is among a total of eight Tory Leave backers who were elected to the powerful new Brexit committee tonight. But despite a clear majority of the British public voting for Brexit, the committee will be controlled by a majority of Remain MPsProminent Brexit campaigners Dominic Raab and John Whittingdale were elected alongside Mr Gove, the former Justice Secretary who led the Vote Leave campaign alongside Boris Johnson. Daily Mail Brexit 2) Fox and Downing Street dont see eye to eye on trade deal Liam Fox risked Theresa Mays fury yet again after demanding Britain must have a new EU trade deal in place within the two year exit process. His warning came despite the PM demanding there would be no running commentary about Brexit. The Trade Secretary told MPs that the disastrous Canadian/EU trade deal proves Britain must reach agreement on a new deal before we leave in the best interests of everyone. Last night No10 distanced themselves from the comments, saying: There is a discussion around the Canada deal and how that is perceived, and there is a range of perceptions about that. Despite Downing Street refusing to rule out a transitional deal with the EU ahead of Britains departure from the bloc, Dr Fox said Britain must legislate prior to leaving the EU in order to provide ourselves with trade defence from day one. The Sun () May shuts Johnson up The Sun () The PM changes her definition of what Brexit means The Guardian Leader New FCO adviser says a deal will take longer than two years The Times () Fox accuses Brussels of putting politics before prosperity The Guardian Nissan stands by UK production FT WTO chief promises to ease the pain of the process The Times () Glaxo gains 1 billion windfall from Brexit The Times () >Today: Bank of England scrutinises UK exposure to faltering Eurozone banks The Bank of England has asked large British lenders to detail their current exposure to Deutsche Bank and some of the biggest Italian banks, including Monte dei Paschi, amid mounting market jitters over the health of Europes financial sector. The request was made in recent weeks by the BoEs Prudential Regulation Authority as investors sold off Deutsche and Monte dei Paschi, both of which have been the subject of scrutiny over their capital levels. Supervisors worldwide have attempted to curtail the links between large institutions since the 2008 banking crisis, when the collapse of Lehman Brothers and other big groups threatened to drag down the entire global financial system. FT Thatchers Big Bang could protect the City Daily Telegraph Italy seeks another fiscal reprieve FT Leader McDonnell will defend the Banks independence FT Low interest rates fuel borrowing boom Daily Mail EU student applications fall The Sun () Samuel: The Jungle must never be allowed to rise again Letting people live for years in camps with no basic amenities, no ability to support themselves and, in the Jungles case, no intention of entering the formal system for processing refugees, is intolerable to locals and miserable for camp residents. It allows an isolated sub-population to take root in a country without participating in any of the normal rights and responsibilities of living there. Allowing this temporarily might be unavoidable for some populations stranded on the edge of horrendous war zones, but its certainly not necessary in Europe. Juliet Samuel, Daily Telegraph Labour luvvies still dont get it on immigration Stephen Glover, Daily Mail Villiers: The Heathrow decision is a disaster Heathrow is already the biggest noise polluter in Europe and the Davies report accepted that noise from an expanded Heathrow would be greater than its five European rivals combined. Expanding Heathrow is fraught with risk. It will be delayed for years in the courts over air quality. Whether it is a bridge or a tunnel for the M25, you can bet that means years of transport misery on one of the nations most important stretches of motorway. TfL estimates surface transport infrastructure will cost more than 15 billion, but Heathrow says it will pay no more than a billion, leaving the taxpayer with a huge bill. Unfortunately the establishments long-standing fixation with expanding Heathrow looks as if yet again it will stop the UK getting the new runway it desperately needs. Theresa Villiers, The Times () >Yesterday: ToryDiary: Goldsmith in Richmond. A stupendous majority, a vulnerable position. Corbyn and May are united in wishing Boles well in his fight against cancer Nick Boles, who beat cancer nine years ago, told his Twitter followers that doctors at Kings College Hospital A&E found the cancerous tumour, before joking people might think that explains a lot about my recent behaviour. The Grantham and Stamford MP added: I fought cancer off nine years ago and I am sure I can do it again. Mr Corbyn said: I just want to pay tribute to Mr Boles for the social media message he sent out this morning. It shows amazing humour and bravery and we wish him all the very best and hope he fully recovers from this. When Mrs May took the stand she also shared her warm wishes. She said: Can I also join you in commending my honourable friend for being willing to be so open about the health problem that he has, and we wish him all the very best for the future and for his place here in this House. The Sun () >Yesterday: Andrew Gimsons PMQs sketch: Corbyn is outshone by a Welsh nationalist British troops join new NATO deployment to Eastern Europe Britain is to deploy troops, tanks and jets to Eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression. In the biggest military build-up in Eastern Europe since the Cold War, an armoured force will be deployed to Estonia. RAF planes are also being dispatched to patrol Romanian airspace for the first time. The moves are designed to stop Moscow taking over or undermining its former Eastern European satellites as it has with Crimea and Ukraine. Daily Mail Outrage as Baroness Tonge chairs anti-semitic event in the Lords A meeting hosted by Baroness Tonge, a former Liberal Democrat MP who sits as an independent, provoked concern about the level of antisemitic discourse in mainstream politics. She was launching a campaign for Britain to apologise on the hundredth anniversary of the Balfour declaration of 1917, which pledged support for a home for the Jewish people in Palestine. A spokesman for the Israeli embassy described the House of Lords gathering as a shameful event, which gave voice to racist tropes against Jews and Israelis alike. An audience member was applauded after suggesting that Hitler only decided to kill all the Jews after he was provoked by anti-German protests led by a rabbi in Manhattan. The Times () Hayes: The state of mental health services is a national disgrace The state of our mental health services, particularly those for young people is a national scandal. The 2015 youth select committee report on young peoples mental health is a rigorous, evidence-based report written by young people, on behalf of young people. It makes clear recommendations across three areas of policy funding and the state of services; A role for education; and awareness, stigma and digital culture. The governments response to the report, published in January 2010, was very weak. It accepted very few recommendations, and refers mostly to the approach the government is currently taking. Helen Hayes, The Times () Patients admitted to the NHS at weekends are 15 per cent more likely to die The Times () Corbyns team are furious after he cancelled their holidays The Times () Labour has lost touch with its core vote James Morris, The Times () New police training to reduce Stop and Search bias Police forces are to reduce the use of stop and search further under new training designed to address controversy around officers unconscious bias. Officers will be trained to ignore coppers nose and gut instinct in favour of evidence-based evaluations of suspects and situations when using the powers, the policing standards watchdog said yesterday. The College of Policing has introduced guidance for forces in England and Wales after decades of complaints that young men from black and ethnic minority communities were being targeted. The Times () Whitewash UKIP report lets Hookem off hook An internal inquiry into the Ukip altercation which left Steven Woolfe in hospital has cleared Mike Hookem of punching his fellow MEP. The partys chairman Paul Oakden says the true facts of what took place in the European Parliament will never be known.The whitewash report was released just hours after the fracas was referred to the French police, much to Nigel Farages anger. The Sun () Loads of women say Im sexy, explains Kassam The Times () Nuttall is the best potential leader Steve Crowther, Daily Telegraph News in Brief How long does it take for the Liberal Democrats to learn a lesson? In 2004, Jenny Tonge said she would consider becoming a suicide bomber if she were a Palestinian. When challenged on it, she said she could understand why people choose to become civilian-targeting terrorists. Her partys response was weak: Charles Kennedy simply asked that she step down as spokeswoman for children. Her party appointed her to the House of Lords a year later. In 2006, she wheeled out an anti-semitic trope about financial power, claiming the pro-Israeli lobby has got its grips on the western world, its financial grips. I think theyve probably got a grip on our party. Menzies Campbell was weaker than Kennedy he sent a letter he referred to as a severe reprimand, and then failed to act any further when she doubled down by repeating the allegation. Again, her party didnt seem to view this as a stain on her record. In 2009, Nick Clegg appointed her as their Lords spokeswoman on health. She evidently hadnt changed her views. In early 2010, she demanded that Israel launch an independent inquiry into false and unfounded allegations that an IDF aid mission to Haiti was harvesting organs from Haitians, a reiteration of the blood libel. Clegg went no further than Kennedy had six years earlier; he removed her from her front bench job but allowed her to continue sitting as a Liberal Democrat peer. Entirely predictably, by 2012 she returned to her favourite theme. Calling Israel Americas aircraft carrier in the Middle East, she said Israel is not going to be there forever and predicted that Israel will lose support and then they will reap what they have sown. Given that she had previously met with the leader of Hamas, an anti-semitic terrorist movement with genocidal ambitions towards Israels Jews, it seems hard to believe that she can have thought that what they would reap would be very peaceful or pleasant. This time, eight years after the first offence, Clegg got a little tougher. He told her to apologise or resign the whip, and she chose the latter. Since then, the Lib Dems have largely been spared the repeated embarrassment of Tonges increasingly bonkers pronouncements because they are able to say that she is no longer a Lib Dem peer. But theres a troubling detail while she is technically an independent member of the House of Lords, it seems that she is still a member of the Liberal Democrat party. Like many others who tout anti-semitism, she has apparently been tempted by Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party, but hasnt yet defected. Last night, she chaired an appalling meeting in the House of Lords. The occasion was (of course) the launch of her campaign for Britain to apologise for ever having supported a homeland for the Jewish people in the first place. But things got worse as the event was opened to the floor. As The Times reports: An audience member was applauded after suggesting that Hitler only decided to kill all the Jews after he was provoked by anti-German protests led by a rabbi in Manhattan. The speaker, described on a blog as an ultra-orthodox Jew, said that in the 1930s Rabbi Stephen Wise, whom he described as a heretic, made the boycott on Germany, the economic boycott . . . which antagonised Hitler, over the edge, to then want to systematically kill Jews wherever he could find them The speaker compared Israel to Islamic State, and said the best way to atone for the declaration was to prevent such things happening in future. Just as the so-called Jewish state in Palestine doesnt come from Judaism, this Islamic State in Syria is nothing to do with Islam. It is a perversion of Islam just as Zionism is a perversion of Judaism. Another audience member suggested that the Zionist movement had power over the British parliament comparable to the power which was once believed to have been wielded internationally by Jews. Ive chaired plenty of political meetings over the years, and I know that you can never completely rule out the possibility of there being a nutter in the audience. Thats rather different from what went on at Tonges event, though. For a start, this wasnt a lone nutter it was several, and the audience apparently saw fit not to challenge them at all. Nor did the chair, Tonge, seem to object to what was being said. If someone stands up in a meeting Im chairing and when starts to spout racist rubbish, I will shut them down, tell them theyre unwelcome and move on to someone sane. In this instance, the very opposite happened video from the event shows her thanking the speaker who recounted the slur that American Jews provoked the Holocaust and then using it as an opportunity to plug the idea of boycotting Israel. To reiterate, despite her history of poisonous slurs, Tonge is still a member of the Liberal Democrats. And apparently they welcome her with open arms, having tweeted a picture yesterday of her campaigning alongside their candidate in the Richmond Park by-election. Isnt it time indeed, wasnt it time some years ago for the Liberal Democrats to expel this person from their party properly, and have nothing more to do with her? Tim Farrons three predecessors failed to settle the matter he should kick her out once and for all. **UPDATE** Only 12 years overdue, the Liberal Democrats have suspended Baroness Tonge. Cllr Andrew Wood represents the Canary Wharf Ward on Tower Hamlets Council No taxation without representation was the battle cry of the American colonialists as they threw off the British yoke in the 18th Century. But today there are people living and working in the UK who have no right to vote despite paying tax. For citizens of the United States you could argue there is a perverse satisfaction, in that, they should have stayed with the Crown. But increasingly there are citizens of other countries who have made the UK their home, who work, pay taxes, own property here but who are not able to participate in the democratic process. Currently EU and Commonwealth citizens can vote in our local elections. Usually while out campaigning in my ward, Canary Wharf in East London, the three main groups who fall into the disenfranchised category are from the United States of America, South America, and those from East Asia, especially China. That will change when we leave the EU at which point some 3.5 per cent of English and Welsh residents (excluding the Irish) may lose the vote. In my ward I estimate that perhaps up to a quarter of residents will be unable to vote for me as a councillor post-Brexit if you include EU and non-Commonwealth citizens. Does that mean they are not deserving of my support or should not have the opportunity to exercise their opinion of the work I do at the ballot box? Through Brexit we should not disenfranchise existing EU voters but actually we should go a step beyond. Paying council tax should enfranchise you to vote locally whether you are a US, Brazilian or Chinese citizen. It is perverse that we expect people to pay Council tax but have no say in how it is spent. This is not an argument for extending the franchise to national issues as the issues are different. By signalling that EU citizens wont lose the right to vote locally we send a signal that their contribution is welcome at a time when they are feeling a little unloved. Given the localism agenda, this is also not just about local council elections anymore but also about referendums on Neighbourhood Plans or the setting up of new parish councils. I have two American citizens who are making a very active contribution to the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Plan but wont be able to vote in the referendum. This would also set a clear example, that we welcome the contribution of citizens from other countries. The additional cost would be minimal and it means all residents can hold their local politicians to account. It would also set an international example as many countries do not involve long standing residents in their political process at all. Given that most foreign residents paying council tax are here to work they should welcome voting for a party dedicated to providing the best local services at affordable levels of council tax. It would also help protect the position of British citizens living in other European countries who are active in local politics in their adopted countries. Close The newest release of Android only means one thing: getting impatient over when you phone will receive it. The newest version of Android, called the Nougat comes with many upgraded features. For starters, it comes with necessary cosmetic changes like on-screen buttons. It comes with added multitasking features like multi-screen built in, which was only available to Samsung Galaxy lineup at first. Android 7.0 also comes with quick switching between apps. You only have to double tap the recent apps button on screen to switch between apps. The notifications have been bundled together, and most of the texts you receive can be replied from the notification tray itself. Perhaps the most important feature of Android Nougat is the inclusion of Google Assistant, which is a step up from Google Now. The newest mobile assistant shows even greater dexterity, adapting to user preferences quickly and showing outputs preferred by the user. So how will you ever get the Android 7.0 (or 7.1) up and running in your smartphone? Reports suggest that a Nougat update for the S7 and S7 Edge is already underway, and would be available for download in Q4 this year or by Q1 2017. The 2015's Note flagship, the Note 5 is also in line to get the update sometime next year. As per rumors, Galaxy S8 would ship with Android Nougat 7.1 out of the box. For HTC, the story is a little different. HTC as we know, was quick to release the Android Marshmallow on its devices, and this time it has to deliver the updates quickly, for HTC's newest flagship the HTC 10 is up against Android heavyweights. This year HTC is rumored to be making the Nexus phones, and therefore has more access to Nougat. Having said that, you can expect your HTC flagship to be rocking the newest update by December 2016 or January 2017. Other handsets like the HTC One M10, the HTC One M9, and the HTC One A9 would also receive the OTA update for Android Nougat. So hold onto your watches and closely monitor the official release dates for Android Nougat on HTC and Samsung flagships. The newest version of android cannot simply be missed. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Close Long overdue, the hit manga and anime series, 'Hunter X Hunter' Chapter 361 is expected to return in mid-2017, according to latest buzz. Christian Today reported that the show's creator Yoshihiro Togashi, who has been ailing with a back pain, has sought help from his wife, Takeuchi to to take charge of the series. Like Togashi, Takeuchi is also a manga author and she is behind the highly successful, 'Sailor Moon' series. There had been several rumors in the past suggesting Togashi being unable to put in long hours of work on the long impending chapters of 'Hunter X Hunter, owing to his back pain. However, if the latest rumor is to be believed, then with Takeuchi taking over the series, 'Hunter X Hunter' might finally return by mid-2017. It is speculated 'Hunter X Hunter' Chapter 361 will take off from the last cliffhanging Chapter 360 of the series which ended with Kurapika investigating about the Nen user behind the killings on the ship. Fans have been eagerly waiting to see what will happen next since then. It can be recalled that 'Hunter X Hunter' went on a long hiatus for two years after Sept. 2014 only to return back two years after in 2016. After it was announced that the series would once again go into a hiatus because of Togashi's back problems, rumors suggested that Viz media, the publisher of the manga series, hired a couple of writers to work on it. Togashi supposedly acted as a consultant on it, having the last word on the final product. However, rumors claim further that Togashi was not satisfied with the end result of the collaboration with the writers and decided to put the series on hold until he recuperated better. There has been no official confirmation from Togashi's team as such that 'Hunter X Hunter' will be returning soon in mid-2017, but the latest rumor has rekindled hope in fans who thought that the hit series would be cancelled and not move ahead at all. Stay tuned to Counselheal for latest news, updates and spoilers on 'Hunter X Hunter' Chapter 361. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare India's ranking across eight factors The regulatory enforcement factor measures the extent to which regulations are effectively implemented and enforced without improper influence by public officials or private interests. India also does quite well in open government factor, ranking 28th, which means that basic laws and information in legal rights are publicized, and the quality of information published by the government. It falters in the absence of corruption factor, which considers three forms of corruption: bribery, improper influence by public or private interests, and misappropriation of public funds or other resources. Here, it ranks 69th. In the fundamental rights factor, India ranks 81st, suggesting, there is failure to protect fundamental human rights, including effective enforcement of laws that ensure equal protection, right to life and security of the person, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of belief and religion, the right to privacy, freedom of assembly and association, and so on. In the order and security facto, which measures threats to order and security, including conventional crime, political violence, and violence as a means to redress personal grievances, India again ranks a poor 104th. In the civil justice factor, which measures whether it is the civil justice system is accessible and affordable, free of discrimination, corruption, and improper influence by public officials, India ranks 93rd. And, in criminal justice factor, which measures criminal investigation, adjudication, and correctional systems, India ranks 71st. According to the report, Effective rule of law reduces corruption, combats poverty and disease, and protects people from injustices large and small. It is the foundation for communities of peace, opportunity, and equity underpinning development, accountable government, and respect for fundamental rights. In the latest rule of law index (RLI), worked out by World Justice Project (WJP), a Washington-DC based independent, multidisciplinary organization, has ranked India 66th among 113 countries it has analyzed, far better than all neighouring countries except Nepal. The nearly 300-page report ranks Pakistan 106th, Bangladesh 103rd, Sri Lanka 68th, Nepal 63rd, and Myanmar 98th.Among the comparable BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries, India ranks better than two of the five thus, Brazil ranks 52nd, Russia 92nd, China 80th, and South Africa 43rd.The Scandinavian ranks the best, with Denmark topping with No 1, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands. Then come Germany, Austria, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The United States ranks 18th, while Canada ranks 12th and Australia 11th.Calculated on a scale of 1, Indias RLI is 0.51.The country scores and rankings for the WJP Rule of Law Index 2016 are derived from more than 110,000 households and 2,700 expert surveys in 113 countries and jurisdictions, says the report.It further says, Scores and rankings organized around eight themes: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice.It adds, A ninth factor, informal justice, is measured but not included in aggregated scores and rankings.While India does quite well in the constraints on government powers factor, ranking 35th, suggesting it has effective of the institutional checks on government power by the legislature, the judiciary, and independent auditing and review agencies, it does falters in regulatory enforcement, ranking a poor 104th. Continue Reading Below Advertisement They might complain about getting up early and doing homework, but they'll thank us when they're older ... or if they're older. We say that because an extensive 90-year study found that kids who start school really early live shorter lives. Researchers think the fact that kids are developing so fast at that age is exactly why it's a terrible idea to start them too early. There's a huge difference between 5- and 6-year-olds; on average, 6-year-olds are going to be much bigger, and 5-year-olds much less socially advanced. Throw them into the same classroom and they're going to find it hard to relate to each other in a way that doesn't involve the taking or giving of wedgies. Getty "You deserve this because you're different from me." Continue Reading Below Advertisement By analyzing the lives of thousands of test subjects from the 1920s onward, the researchers found that being ostracized as a kid leads to lifelong emotional problems, which leads to unhealthy behavior, which leads to a shorter lifespan. In fact, starting age is so important that you don't even have to be a full year younger than your classmates to be screwed for life. In countries like Australia, Norway and the U.K., where there's a mandatory starting age, the kids whose birthdays fall in the summer are less likely to get good grades and go to college than their classmates. All because of when their birthday is. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Romand wanted a career in medicine, and despite repeatedly failing all of his classes, he managed to land a satisfying, if completely imaginary, role as research scientist at the World Health Organization HQ in Geneva. His lies bled into his personal life when he convinced his on-again, off-again girlfriend Florence to marry him with the ol' "I have cancer" gambit, though his friends and family likely found it suspicious when he never mentioned it again. 17 Juin Media He preferred to focus on the real killer ... by looking into the mirror. Up until its bloody crescendo, Romand's day-to-day life was a straight-up sitcom plotline. He spent his days in town, often doing nothing but sitting in his car and reading magazines, other times going on hikes. Romand even occasioned his supposed workplace, where he'd acquire a visitor pass and hang out in the library, write letters, or plan vacations through the in-house booking agent. To maintain the ruse at home, Roman pilfered or bought WHO stationery from the gift shop, and supplied his parents a photo of his office (taken from the outside, of course). 17 Juin Media Continue Reading Below Advertisement "WHO are you?" -- security when he'd try to sneak in To make ends meet, Romand convinced other members of his family to give him money -- as a high-ranking member of WHO, he could invest their funds at an 18-percent return. Because the World Health Organization includes everything, even the health of your bank account. Ultimately, he scammed his wife's parents out of their retirement, sold her uncle a phony cancer cure, and when those wellsprings dried up, he took a mistress and embezzled from her too. 17 Juin Media Family values don't stand a chance against dollar values. On January 9, 1993, Romand decided he couldn't keep up the lies any longer, but rather than come clean, he instead began systematically murdering his family. He bludgeoned his wife with a rolling pin. He poured his kids a farewell bowl of Cocoa Pops, they watched the Three Little Pigs together, then Romand shot them both. He drove to his parents' place and murdered them as well. He tried to kill his mistress, but that, of all things, turned out to be murder he couldn't go through with. He went back to his house and staged a suicide by taking a nonlethal dose of pills and setting a fire, knowing that the firemen would arrive in time to save him. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1996, leaving behind a saga of petty deception and brutal violence that even the most time-crunched SVU producer would reject. Channel programs News Widespread Windows 10 Adoption in the Enterprise Powers PCM's Record Revenues in Q3 Michael Novinson Share this PCM reported a record-breaking third quarter, shattering its previous high marks for earnings and revenues, thanks to a Windows 10-driven resurgence of its PC business. "I think Windows 10 is getting adopted widely," PCM president Jay Miley said during the solution provider's earnings call Wednesday. "Quite a few of the new [device] models that will be coming out in the future will be requiring you to adopt Windows 10." Although Windows 10 doesn't represent "a return to the glory days," PCM expects that PC sales going forward will be healthier than they have been over the past couple of years. The company is enjoying an expanded refresh cycle in the near-term, and a massive refresh at some point in the future, said company chairman and CEO Frank Khulusi. Khulusi said PCM was wise to continue focusing on client devices. [RELATED: PCM To Hire 100 Salespeople Over Next 12 Months To Drive SMB, Public Sector Business] "Clearly, the phone does not replace the computer," Khulusi told investors Wednesday. "There was a lot of speculation about the tablet replacing the computer. I was always skeptical of that and as evidenced by decreases in tablet sales, I think we were more right than wrong in that area." PCM's client business got an apparent boost from the December 2015 acquisition of Systemax's TigerDirect business, contributing to 49 percent year-over-year sales growth in PCM's notebook and tablet sales. "Generally, we are seeing positive trends in that strategic area," said Miley, adding that notebooks and tablets now make up 19 percent of PCM's overall business. The El Segundo, California-based company, No. 28 on the CRN Solution Provider 500, saw sales in the quarter ended Sept. 30 climb 44 percent to to a record $584.9 million, compared to $404.9 million during the year-ago quarter. That boost came from three major acquisitions in 2015 as well as strength around advanced solutions, public sector and larger accounts. Analysts expected PCM to report just $549.8 million, so the company enjoyed an upside surprise. PCM reported net income of $53 million, or 43 cents a share, compared to a net loss of $785,000 during the third quarter last year. On a non-GAAP basis, earnings from continuing operations jumped to $6.5 million, or 52 cents a share, up about 421 percent from the $1.6 million reported last year. That, too, beat analysts expectations of 31 cents a share. PCM is very capable of helping clients navigate through increasing complexity in the services space, Khulusi said, and can meet most end user needs around hybrid cloud and security. In the rare instances where PCM isn't able to meet a client's services needs on their own, Khulusi said the solution provider would partner with another company that can. "People needs consultants by their side and not just people that move boxes," Khulusi said. "And we've positioned ourselves extremely well to be the consultant of choice for customers." Organizations are looking to harvest more enterprise data to boost their productivity, Miley said, and PCM is working with vendor partners to help end customers better harness data. Advanced solutions have grown from 41 percent to 43 percent of PCM's overall portfolio over the past year, Miley said, despite the acquisition of TigerDirect, which primarily sells outside of the advanced solutions space. PCM saw sales in its commercial segment climb by 37 percent from $336.4 million last year to $459.6 million this year due to strong organic growth in its field sales team which supports commercial, mid-market and enterprise accounts as well as sales added from the acquisition of Systemax's North American technology solutions business. Public sector sales improved by 31 percent from $68.6 million last year to $89.7 million this year thanks to a strong performance from PCM's state, local and education practices, partially offset by a small decrease in the company's federal business. And Canada sales which comprise the Acrodex assets as well as the Canadian portion of Systemax's TigerDirect business came in at $35.7 million. PCM saw massive growth across the board, with networking sales up 58 percent and software sales up 23 percent. The company's top vendors are Microsoft, Cisco Systems, HP Inc., Dell, Lenovo, Apple and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which collectively represented 58 percent of PCM's gross billed revenue in the quarter, said CFO Brandon LaVerne. PCM's stock remained unchanged in after-hours trading Wednesday at $18.58 per share, leaving its market capitalization at around $217 million. So far this year, the company's stock price is up 87 percent. For the coming quarter, PCM expects adjusted earnings of between 40 and 48 cents a share on revenues of between $565 million to $580 million. Analysts from Roth Capital were projecting earnings of 32 cents per share. Cloud News Evolve IP Acquires Xtium To Further Expand Managed Services Portfolio Joseph Tsidulko Share this Cloud services provider Evolve IP closed its acquisition of Xtium on Thursday, giving the company a complementary business serving customers in highly regulated industries. Guy Fardone, Evolve IP's president and founding partner, told CRN that Xtium, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, adds to his company's expertise in specific verticals, particularly health care. Xtium is the latest in a string of cloud-focused acquisitions for Philadelphia-based Evolve IP, which bought A.P.T., Paragrid, and IPiphany. Evolve IP has acquired eight companies since its founding in 2006 and Great Hill Partners, a private equity firm, took a majority stake in the company in May. [Related: The 10 Biggest Managed Services Trends Of 2016 (So Far)] Both Evolve IP and Xtium started their cloud hosting businesses around the same time, Fardone said. "Our respective teams have literally known each other since day one, with a ton of mutual respect," Fardone told CRN. Both companies focus on delivering industry expertise in hosting customer applications on compliant infrastructure. "The two teams coming together really solidifies our approach to the health care and financial space in a really compliant and targeted way," Fardone said. The current market for cloud services is driving consolidation, he said. "It's about scale, about growth and delivering what the ecosystem needs," Fardone told CRN, adding customers are demanding specialization by segments, such as health care. "This makes a lot of sense," Fardone said. "Acquiring a straight IaaS company for us right now makes zero sense. A company that has known customers, expertise, products and a proven track record makes it all better." Fardone said customers and VARs could expect to see more M&A activity from Evolve IP in the future. Internet of things News Qualcomm To Acquire NXP Semiconductors In Massive $47 Billion Deal As Company Expands Sales Channel For IoT Lindsey O'Donnell Share this Qualcomm is acquiring NXP Semiconductors for $47 billion the biggest deal yet in the chip industry as the company looks to amp up its sales channels around the Internet of Things. NXP Semiconductor's broad customer base and global network of distribution channel partners is essential for expanding Qualcomm's Internet of Things, automotive, security and networking footprint, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said in a statement. By joining Qualcomms leading SoC [System on Chip] capabilities and technology roadmap with NXPs leading industry sales channels and positions in automotive, security and IoT, we will be even better positioned to empower customers and consumers to realize all the benefits of the intelligently connected world," said Mollenkopf. [Related: Microsoft Supercharges Its Azure IoT Suite With New Upgrades, Capabilities For Partners] Eindhoven, Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors specializes in developing chips for automotive systems including automotive radar, digital radios and transceivers. NXP also offers ARM-based, low-power microcontrollers for the IoT space, secure identification products, network processing and RF power products. Qualcomm, meanwhile, has long been a leader in the mobile space, but the company is beginning to look beyond the mobile market to the Internet of Things specifically through channel relationships. In September, Qualcomm announced it is using a distributor for the first time Arrow Electronics to offer initial sales and support for new embedded Snapdragon chips the Snapdragon 410E and Snapdragon 600E series that are designed to reach a broader market and target low-power, scalable IoT applications. Qualcomm said in a release that its acquisition of NXP will lead to "enhanced go-to market capabilities" through the combination of the two companies' ecosystem relationships and distribution channels, which will "enable the ability to deliver leading products and platforms at scale in mobile, automotive, IoT, industrial, security and networking." The combined companies are expected to have annual revenue of more than $30 billion, according to a Reuters story. Qualcomm's NXP acquisition gets the company an instant footprint into more automotive and IoT, said Patrick Moorhead, president and principal Analyst of Moor Insights & Strategy, a leading tech analyst firm based in Austin, Texas. Qualcomm is a giant in smartphone and tablet SoCs, modems, and WiFi. NXP is a giant in low-power analog, NFC, Bluetooth, low-end IoT SoCs and automotive. The two make a good combination. The San Diego, Calif.-based company's acquisition of NXP marks the largest semiconductor deal ever, surpassing Avago Technologies' acquisition of Broadcom Corp. earlier this year for $37 billion. Qualcomm is paying $110 per share for NXP's stock, which closed at $98.66 per share Wednesday. The equity value of Qualcomm's offer is worth about $38 billion, according to Reuters, which, combined with debt, puts the total value of the deal at $47 billion. The deal is expected to close by the end of calendar 2017, according to Qualcomm. The deal also marks the latest in a slew of consolidation and acquisitions in the semiconductor industry over the last few years, including Western Digital's purchase of SanDisk, Intel's acquisition of Altera, and NXP Semiconductors' purchase of Freescale Semiconductor. Security News Pushing Further Into The Cloud, FireMon Acquires Security Broker FortyCloud Jimmy Sheridan Share this A little more than a year after launching its first cloud infrastructure security management offering, FireMon has acquired cloud infrastructure security broker FortyCloud in a move that boosts its capabilities across all major cloud platforms. The addition of Tel-Aviv-based FortyClouds product to Firemons portfolio will improve the companys capability to effectively secure cloud infrastructure and connectivity, making the transition to cloud easier for enterprise clients starting to move more of their infrastructure to the cloud. As companies start adopting cloud, they are in a hybrid environment, you have to manage both environments and we give them visibility to both their cloud and their local infrastructure, Jody Brazil, FireMon co-founder and chief product strategist, said in an interview with CRN. [Related: Sources: Firemon Executive Exodus Sees CEO, CTO And CISO Departures ] With the addition of FortyCloud, Brazil said, FireMon has added a number of capabilities that allow it to automate more of its cloud security, policy enforcement, and encrypted, secure connectivity between different public clouds and between an organizations data center and its new cloud environment. Those are all new capabilities that FortyCloud has given to customers in a very consumable way, he said, adding that those new capabilities were the biggest reason FireMon moved to acquire the company. In addition, Brazil said the acquisition will also augment a number of capabilities FireMon already provides, including the ability to help manage and bring visibility to cloud infrastructure, improving Firemon's automated discovery and enforcement offerings in the cloud environment. Brazil went on to say that FireMon has been impressed with FortyCloud and the customer and market acceptance of its product, noting that FortyClouds success in real-world environments makes this acquisition an important one for FireMon. Financial details of the acquisition were not released. All of FortyClouds 10 employees joined FireMon when the acquisition closed earlier this month. This acquisition continues the Overland Park, Kan.-based companys push into cloud, which Brazil said was part of the companys ongoing evolution as its enterprise clients move into more complex, hybrid environments. We dont think this acquisition is trivial, this is a significant investment for us and a significant commitment to our customers to be ready for them as they move into next-generation infrastructure, he said. Brazil said that FireMons evolution has been consistent and ongoing, even though the companys management has gone through a number of significant changes the last two years. In May of this year, FireMon saw the departure of three of the company's top executives, including CEO Jim Lewandowski, who was originally hired as president and COO in June of 2015 and moved into the role of CEO in July, replacing Brazil. At the same time, Firemon also lost CTO Brandy Peterson and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Mark Carney. Lewandowski "was not working out" in his role as CEO, chairman Gary Fish said in an email to CRN at the time, noting that "it was decided he wasn't a fit for the business." Fish also said both Peterson and Carney had been contemplating leaving FireMon when their positions were created, so their departures were not unexpected. In September FireMon hired security industry veteran Satin H. Mirchandani as the companys new CEO. Also in September the company hired former Blue Coat Systems channel chief Kurt Mills as FireMons VP of worldwide channels. And In October it hired former Surescripts CISO Paul Calatayud as the companys new CTO in October. New IoT Products And Platforms Vendors gathered at the Internet of Things Solutions World Congress this week in Barcelona to show off their new connected products, security offerings and IoT platforms. The conference occurred only a few days after a Distributed Denial of Service attack was launched through vulnerable connected devices, blocking off more than 1,200 websites across the U.S. and putting IoT security at the forefront of the IoT arena. Beyond security, however, companies including ARM, Intel and others lifted the curtain on new chips, modules and partnerships. Following are 10 new products and partnerships that caught our eye at IoT Solutions World Congress. JPMorgan has downgraded its stock rating for Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in a note to investors. In both cases, the companies went to a neutral rating from overweight, with the company citing limited upside in net yields and pricing. JPMorgan held its neutral rating on Carnival Corporation. Price targets were cut for all three stocks, with Royal Caribbean being cut from $96 to $73, Norwegian from $62 to $44 and Carnival from $58 to $46. The cruise stocks were considerably down at market close on Thursday, with Norwegian dropping 5.95 percent to $35.71 and Royal dipping 2.65 percent to $68.05. The note said: While we see positive attributes such as sizable YTD underperformance, undemanding valuations relative to history, and apathetic investor sentiment in the sector, we do not see a meaningful fundamental turn in net yields/pricing, which, in our view, would be the biggest potential reason for investor sentiment to turn positive and/or the multiples to move higher. And while our EPS estimates are generally below sell-side consensus, we dont believe they are meaningfully lower/different than where our sense of where buy-side expectations lie. Our projected net yields account for mix resulting from capacity changes, our proprietary cruise pricing survey work, and in-house JPM forecasted GDP growth for both developed markets and emerging markets, and our opex assumptions account for volatile FX and rising fuel. In short, we see Norwegian as having relatively attractive EPS growth, though largely capacity driven in 2017, and with its exposure to Europe and the Caribbean, which we expect to exhibit soft pricing in the near term, we see it having the most EPS risk, and therefore requires an undemanding 2017E P/E valuation. Carnival trades at a premium to Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, we believe reflective of its less pervasive Europe exposure, solid balance sheet and div. yield. We view Royal Caribbeans risk-reward as in between Carnival and Norwegian. ST. JOSEPH, Minn. The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team looked like it was on a mission to ruin Augsburg's undefeated MIAC season Wednesday night.CSB took a 2-1 lead on the Auggies in Claire Lynch and, even after losing the fourth set, came out strong in the fifth set, and led 9-7 midway through the set.Augsburg had other ideas, however, and took a 14-11 lead late in the fifth set.had a pair of kills to get CSB within one, 14-13, but an Augsburg kill ended the set and the match, 3-2 in favor of the Auggies.With one game left in the regular season, Saint Benedict is now 12-12 overall and 5-5 and in sixth in the conference. A win at Concordia Saturday would secure CSB a spot in the MIAC Tournament, and a tie would put them in a tie with up to three other teams, all vying for the fifth and final postseason slot.Augsburg secured the conference title outright and finished the regular season 11-0 in league play. The Auggies, along with Gustavus, St. Thomas, Saint Mary's and Bethel have all secured a spot in the six-team postseason tournament.CSB got off to a solid start Wednesday thanks to six first-set kills by Mathews en route to a 25-19 win. Augsburg came back to win the second set 25-21, but a kill from Mathews and another fromdown the stretch helped Saint Benedict bounce back to win the third set 25-22 to go up 2-1.After a back and forth start to the fourth set, Augsburg went up 10-6 and never gave up the lead. The Auggies pushed their lead to 18-12 and then 20-14 before pulling away for the win.The fifth set was equally as close to start, and CSB took a 9-7 lead on a kill byand an Augsburg attack error, but the Auggies came from behind to win the set and the match.Mathews finished with 15 kills to lead CSB, which had 62 kills to Augsburg's 45. The Auggies, however, had four service errors to CSB's 15. Schmiesing added 14 kills andfinished with 13. Pekarek had 50 assists, 12 digs and eight kills, andled the team with 29 digs.(23) and(15) also hit double-digit digs.CSB wraps up the regular season and determines its postseason fate Saturday when it travels to Moorhead, Minn., for a 3 p.m. game against Concordia. The MIAC Tournament starts Tuesday, Nov. 1. We can't seem to find the page you are looking for. You may have typed the address incorrectly or you may have used an outdated link. contributed / contributed University of Bridgeport student organizations, along with area restaurants, invite the community to a fundraising luncheon to support the people of Haiti in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The all-you-can-eat buffet runs from noon to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 2 at the John J. Cox Student Center, 244 University Avenue, Bridgeport. Contributed Photo / Contributed Photo MONROEPolice said that a fraudulent phone call placed in September was a suspects latest attempt to illegally obtain controlled drugs without a prescription. The suspect, Lisa Hunter, 35, of Stamford, allegedly called a Rite Aid Pharmacy in Monroe pretending to be a physicians assistant. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The latest national science assessment released Thursday shows an achievement gap that has nothing to do with student backgrounds and everything to do with the test taken. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a test given to a representative sample of students around the country, 38 percent of Connecticut fourth-graders and 35 percent of Connecticut eighth-graders are proficient or better when it comes to physical, life, earth and space sciences. Both percentages put state students about on par with the national average. But the results differ sharply from those released this summer on a state-administered science test. Those results show roughly 60 percent of both fifth- and eighth-graders taking the test were proficient. Although the tests were given a year apart the national test in 2015 and the state test in 2016 the results of both are supposed to tell parents, teachers and the public how many students know their stuff when it comes to a field many are counting on to reinvigorate the states economy. State officials on Wednesday maintained the tests cannot be accurately compared. The national test, they concede, is more rigorous than the one given in Connecticut. These results show that Connecticut students are holding their own nationally in science, but that we need to do more to ensure that all students have access to high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education that prepares them to take on the advanced jobs of the future, state Commissioner of Education Dianna R. Wentzell said. More Information Stacking the states Fourth grade: The percentage of students who were proficient or better New Hampshire 51% Vermont 48% Massachusetts 47% Maine: 39% New Jersey 39% Connecticut 38% Rhode Island 36% New York 33% Mississippi 23% Eighth grade: The percentage of students who were proficient or better Utah 50% New Hampshire 46% Massachusetts 44 % Vermont 44% Maine 38% Connecticut 35% New Jersey 35% Rhode Island 32% New York 30% Mississippi 20% See More Collapse As it did with math and reading, Connecticut is in the process of implementing new science standards, which were adopted by the state Board of Education in November 2015. Implementation is expected to take five years. The new standards still cover all the basic sciences, but place a greater emphasis on critical thinking and less on rote memorization of facts or terminology. There is more investigation of real-world problems. The Next Generation Science Standards have a greater focus around 21st-century learning and engineering practices, thus better preparing our students for college and career pathways, said Tina Henckel, a district test coordinator and assistant director of STEM programs in Shelton. Henckel and others called it a period of transition, during which districts are complying with state and national mandates. Along with the new science standards will come a new state test, ready for a tryout in the 2018-19 school year. Federal gains called encouraging Nationwide, the scores were relatively good news. In 2015, 38 percent of fourth-graders scored proficient or above in the national test, compared to 34 percent when the test was last given in 2009. The test was given to 115,400 fourth-graders across 46 states between January and March 2015. In the eighth-grade test, 34 percent nationwide scored at or above the proficient mark in 2015, compared to 30 percent four years earlier. About 110,900 eighth-graders took the test in early 2015. U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr., talking to reporters in a conference call Wednesday, said he was encouraged. A well-rounded education that includes science, King said, is not just nice to have. Its essential, he said, if the nation wants more problem-solvers. The national gains extended to all racial and ethnic groups, and have led to a 2- to 3-point narrowing of the achievement gap between black and white students, and as much as a 5-point narrowing of the gap between Hispanic and white students. Some 11,000 students in 12th grade were tested by NAEP and their results show no significant change, with just 22 percent scoring at or above proficiency in 2015. Officials say that is likely because seniors have not been exposed as long to the new science curriculum that is making a difference in the lower grades. King and others admitted being concerned that two-thirds of students in the lower grades are still not proficient. Still, Peggy Carr, acting commissioner of the National Center for Educational Statistics, said there is cause for optimism. One encouraging pattern we are observing is an increase in 12th-grade students taking biology, physics and chemistry in 2015 compared to 2009, Carr said. Treading water for now While the nationwide percentage reaching proficiency rose, Connecticuts NAEP science scores were static. And while on the last NAEP reading test Connecticut students are among the top performers, in science, scores are in the middle of the pack. In the fourth grade, Connecticuts 38 percent proficient sits amid a range of 23 to 51 percent among participating states. In eighth grade Connecticuts 35 percent rests between state averages of 20 to 50 percent. In Trumbull, curriculum director Jonathan Budd said Connecticut will get there. Its a five-year plan, he said. Districts are already realizing the value of integrating disciplines that have traditionally been understood to be separate. lclambeck@ctpost.com; @lclambeck This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The beleaguered head of the states largest union stepped down Thursday for signing off on a political ad claiming the lone survivor of the 2007 Cheshire home invasion had mounted an attack on women and families. Paul Filson resigned as executive director of the 55,000-member Service Employees International Union Connecticut State Council following a meeting of the groups leadership, Hearst Connecticut Media has learned. The union also fired the consultants responsible for the online ad, which showed a photo of a gesticulating Trump with the message, Stop Donald Trump and Republican William Petits attack on women and families. Vote on 11/8. The union identified the consultant as DKC, a media strategy and public relations firm with offices in New York City. The house-cleaning came as the union looked to blunt criticism from Republicans and Democrats over the ad comparing the victims advocate turned legislative candidate to Trump. Petits wife and daughters were sexually assaulted and murdered in the home invasion, which garnered national attention for its heinous nature. We offer our sincere apology to Dr. Petit and feel strongly this ad should have never run in his district under any circumstances, the union said in a statement. It is extremely regrettable that such poor judgment was exhibited by those tasked with running the independent expenditure and we have taken action to remove those responsible from the campaign. Comparison backfires Petit, who is running for the state House in Plainville and part of New Britain, lamented the episode. I certainly never like to see anyone lose their job, but its good to know that someone has taken responsibility for this and that an apology has been offered for what was clearly libel, Petit told Hearst Thursday. Unfortunately, its part of a greater systemic problem in national and state politics where people feel they need and must do anything to win at all costs. From coast to coast this year, Republicans have faced a litmus test on their allegiances to Trump, whose gender gap problem worsened with this months release of a 2005 Access Hollywood tape of him bragging about groping women. But the choice of Petit as a Trump facsimile backfired on the union, which used the same ad against 12 other GOP legislative candidates. The endocrinologist is well known for his charity work through his family foundation, which helps victims of violence. He also is a board member of Men Make A Difference, Men Against Domestic Violence, an awareness campaign started by Interval House, a domestic violence shelter in Hartford. A request for comment was left for Filson at his West Hartford home, as well as at DKCs New York office. Filson was with SEIU for about 15 years. The ad appeared on the website of the Hartford Courant from Oct. 17-25. Campaign filings show it was part of a $2,112 online ad buy of Labor United for Connecticut, a political action committee set up by SEUI. Bipartisan criticism Filson initially stood by the message Wednesday, but acknowledged it could have been handled better. He said that Republicans have been obstructionists on raising the minimum wage, passing paid sick leave and other legislation critical to women and families. Sources close to the situation told Hearst that Filson faced intense pressure within the ranks of union leaders, who said the ad was completely out of character with the values of SEIU. Both Democrats and other labor groups denounced the ad, which Petits fellow Republicans characterized as tone deaf. Nobody wants to get anybody fired, but what happened with this ad is despicable, House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, the GOPs top female office holder in the state, said Thursday. Of all things, theyre saying that he doesnt support women and families, this man whos committed his whole life to women and families and lost his family. Petit, who is remarried and has a 2-year-old son, has not endorsed Trump, and termed his vote for president as a private matter. We really should be focused on the issues and trying to work together, Petit said. In the end run, were all on the same team. Were all trying to make Connecticut a better place to live. neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate With less than two weeks left until the 2016 election, the number of active eligible voters in Connecticut is at a high. The office of Connecticut's Secretary of State announced recently that the state has passed the 2 million voter threshold, with 2,080,383 active voters. This compares to 1,923,103 active voters recorded in Oct. 2015. The office reported that 261,166 voters have registered since the beginning of 2016. Check out the gallery above for a voter count of Connecticut's major and third parties. Since the beginning of 2016, Democratic voter registrations have outpaced Republican voter registrations, 97,792 to 49,609. But the two pale in comparison to unaffiliated registrations, of which the state has recorded 107,708 so far this year. The three leading registration types each saw an increase from last year. Active Democrats jumped from 703,851 to 785430 (+81,579), active Republicans increased from 400,216 to 448,750 (+48,534), and unaffiliated voters went from 798,426 to 820,603 (+22,177). More News '#MyVoteCT' leads to surge in Connecticut voter registration While unaffiliated voters may not have seen the largest increase over the past year, they continue to be the biggest section of Connecticut's voter population. Though Christopher Kukk, professor of political science at Western Connecticut State University, said the trend in unaffiliated voters in Connecticut is practically a tradition by now. "It's kind of this 'land of steady habit' thing," Kukk said. "We kind of have this yankee spirit that's been around 100 years or so. People don't want to be tied down." The current political climate is alsoperhaps, most obviouslyat play. "There's a lot of people protesting the two-party system," Kukk noted. "One of the big surprises for me was seeing some of the Sanders supporters going over to Trump. They were giving this 'Sopranos salute' to the two-party system." According to the state, new voters between the ages of 18 and 29 are leading the charge with almost 110,000 new registrations in 2016, most of which were as unaffiliated. Despite this, state figures show that active voters over the age of 60 are the largest voter segment, with 700,481 registered active voters. Next are voters 45 to 59, with 614,886 registered active voters and voter 30 to 44, with 416,850 registered active voters. Active voters, compared to inactive voters, have voted in at least two consecutive federal elections. Minor parties in Connecticut retained a foot hole as well, the statistics show. However, these parties may offer little to change the climate even locally, Kukk said. "It's a way of moving the system, especially on the local level to your party position," Kukk said. "I think some of it is local politics...Even having these small parties doesn't make a dent in terms of constructing policy." The state saw a surge in voter registration on Sept. 27, after running a social media campaign, "#MyVoteCT," to encourage residents to register. The state saw 6,099 new voter applications, compared to 696 new applications during the same period a week before. The state also registered 15,000 new voters thanks to a three-day Facebook campaign from Sept. 23 to 26. "More people are registering to vote in Connecticut than ever before," Secretary of State Denise Merrill said in a release. The office also said this is the first presidential to use online voter registration, which was introduced in 2014. "We will reach out to people however we can to register every eligible citizen in Connecticut." The optimists of America would hope this surge in Connecticut voters would translate into high voter turnout, which is typically the case anyways in federal elections compared to state elections. Kukk said "optimism" may be all those figures provide. "I wish that was the case. But we've seen these blips before," Kukk said. "My hope is that we have a civically-engaged population. But our recent history has shown this isn't the case. "I'm cautiously optimistic." Residents still have until Nov. 1 to register to vote online or by mail. Residents can also register in-person on Election Day, though are being warned to expect long lines. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT The art work has been sent and the anti-leech socks are packed. In a matter of weeks, eight high school seniors from Fairchild Wheelers Biotech Research High School, along with chaperones, will be traveling to the Brazilian rain forest to study watersheds. Dear Doc Fox, Whats the best way to replace a radiator? I ripped out the old one, as you advised, but now the water is just spraying out all over the room and I dont know how to stop it. Its a disaster! Tom, Lyme Regis. Liam Fox, left, and Michael Gove, right, are here to answer your DIY questions...as told to Craig Brown DOC FOX SAYS: There will always be those who try to tell you that water spraying all over a room is some sort of disaster. Next thing you know, theyll try to tell you that the house being flooded is a sign that things are somehow not going according to plan. What nonsense! So allow me to make things clear. Pulling out the radiator presented us with a shining opportunity to make history. Theres bound to be a bit of spray along the way. But now, all we need do is install a new radiator! So lets shop around! Let us meet this challenge! Let us send out a signal to the world that we are open for flooding! Dear Doc Fox, Yes, but how do I install the new radiator once it finally arrives? Tom, Lyme Regis. DOC FOX SAYS: Of course I know how to install a new radiator, but at this point, I am not prepared to tell you. No experienced plumber ever puts all his cards on the table. Thats no way to get the best deal from your radiator! While the water is liberated, we have the perfect opportunity to work out exactly what type of new radiator we would prefer or whether it might be better in the long term to plump for the no-radiator-and-extensive-flooding option! Dear Mr Gove, I am hooking up a 220V breaker to a new outlet box that has a 30 amp 250V receptacle. Which wires other than the ground wire should I hook up? Jeff, Wantage. MIKE SAYS: Thats a very interesting question. Lets be quite clear about this. Ignore what the so-called experts may have told you. Weve heard quite enough from those egg-heads over the past few months! Instead, just pull all the wires out, any old how, and stick them in wherever you think they should go. Others might call it self-extermination, but I prefer to call it self-determination! Dear Mr Gove, You may recall I just asked you which wires I should hook up to my 220V breaker. Having followed your advice, I found myself shooting up into the air with my hair at right angles from my scalp and a burning smell coming from my feet. To be honest, this was not what I was expecting. Are you sure you gave me the right advice? Jeff, Wantage. MIKE SAYS: With the benefit of hindsight, and the opportunity to spend more time at home reflecting on some of the key issues raised by your recent experience, I would say this to you. At the time, I argued that you should pursue your absolute and inalienable right to pull all the wires out and stick them wherever you may so choose. However, with the benefit of hindsight, I would now argue that, knowing what I know now and without wishing to go into the rights and wrongs of my original advice, youd be a good deal better off taking an entirely different course. In fact, I now have no hesitation in recommending my formidable mate, Boris, who is, as you know, excellent at all things DIY. 'I now consider Boris [Johnson] (pictured) a formidably talented DIY expert, whom our nation would be wise to entrust with all the most important electrical challenges that lie ahead' Dear Mr Gove, But just a few weeks ago, you told me Boris had a screw loose and that he couldnt tell his nuts from his bolts. Jeff, Wantage. MIKE SAYS: With the benefit of hindsight, Jeff, I realise that, whatever I may or may not have argued, I now consider Boris a formidably talented DIY expert, whom our nation would be wise to entrust with all the most important electrical challenges that lie ahead. When all is said and done, Boris is one of the most original and exciting electricians to have ever placed his finger in a socket. Dear Mr Gove, So youve changed your mind? Jeff, Wantage. MIKE SAYS: No, Jeff, I havent just changed my mind. Ive changed my mind about changing my mind. In fact, I would go further than that. I have changed my mind about changing my mind about changing my mind. And with the benefit of hindsight and time to reflect I have also changed my mind about my esteemed works manager, Theresa May, who is, I now believe, far better at changing her mind than I shall ever be. So now let us go forward with one voice. Today, we change our minds! Tomorrow, we change the world! Before the referendum, voters heard endless pious talk from Remainers about the EUs supposedly vital role in keeping the peace in Europe. In fact, as this paper argued, the continent owes its seven decades of relative freedom from conflict since the Second World War almost entirely to Nato. Today, as Vladimir Putin flexes his military muscles on a scale unseen since the Cold War, this truth remains plain. British Royal Navy type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, and it's Wildcat helicopter as it shadows the Russian Carrier Task Group in the English Channel Indeed, its not the EU rallying to protect its eastern members against Russian sabre-rattling. As in the past, the job is being done by the American-led Atlantic alliance. And, as ever, Britain is making a contribution that puts most of our European partners to shame. Yesterday, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon pledged to commit tanks, drones and 800 troops to Estonia, while confirming plans for the first ever deployment of RAF Typhoons to the Black Sea. Meanwhile, the UK is almost alone in Europe in meeting the Nato target of spending 2 per cent of national income on defence. So let nobody accuse Britain of failing to pull our weight in defence of common European values. Unlike our soon-to-be-ex-partners, this country believes action speaks louder than words. NHS weekend factor Anyone who still questions the need for a full NHS service, seven days a week, should read todays chilling survey of the weekend effect. Based on 16.3million patients, this first official study not only confirms that those admitted to hospital on Saturdays and Sundays are, on average, 15 per cent more likely to die than mid-week admissions. Shockingly, the figure rises to nearly 50 per cent at some hospitals. Whats more, a similar effect is evident among patients discharged on Sundays, who are 40 per cent more likely to be readmitted to hospital within a month suggesting they are sent home too soon by inexperienced staff on weekend duty. True, as the BMAs Dr Mark Porter argues, the bare figures dont detail reasons for the disparities, which may include the greater likelihood that weekend admissions will be emergencies. But the differences are so vast that common sense tells us the absence of senior doctors and staff to carry out vital tests must be a significant factor. Indeed, coming after yesterdays evidence of a higher death-rate among weekend babies, this survey makes unanswerable the case for new doctors contracts, aimed at delivering a full range of treatments, every day and night. Like the onset of labour, illnesses and accidents have never respected the working week. Doctors shouldnt either. Out-of-control BBC Lovers of justice will shudder at the cringe-making collusion between police and the BBC to destroy Sir Cliff Richard over spurious allegations of child abuse. As court papers make clear, the Corporation collaborated with officers every step of the way to turn what should have been a tactful investigation into a lurid and live TV extravaganza. Imagine the BBCs outrage if a newspaper had broken the story in such an invasive and sensationalist manner, with such disturbing disregard for the presumption of innocence. BBC Reporter Dan Johnson BBC news crew reporting from The entrance to Charters estate in Sunninghilll, near Sunningdale, Berkshire where Cliff Richard owns a property Yet, after a cosy in-house inquiry, director-general Tony Hall insisted the BBC had no need to apologise for its coverage. This weeks court papers tell a very different story. We hear a great deal from self-professed liberals about the need for state control of the Press already the most strictly regulated in the free world. Brianna Creenaune feels lucky to be alive. Ten months ago a devastating house fire ripped through the 17-year-old's family home. As she ran to escape the flames the verandah roof collapsed on top of her, setting her alight and causing burns to 60 per cent of her body, that's life! reported. Queensland teenager Brianna Creenaune, 17 (pictured), suffered burns to 60 per cent of her body in a horrific house fire Due to the nature of her injuries doctors placed the Queensland high school student in a medically induced coma. She had countless operations, including skin grafts, to treat the burns. But Miss Creenaune has fought back, telling that's life! she has learned to find beauty in her scars as they tell her story of survival. Ten months after the incident, the high school student is on the road to recovery and is not afraid to show her scars 'I felt unbelievably ugly,' she told the publication. 'But I'm gradually coming to terms with how I look. 'While I thought I'd always hate my appearance, I'm grateful for what I see. 'I've finally leaned to feel beautiful again and I'm proud of my scars. 'They've made me who I am today - a survivor.' The brave teen spoke out 10 months after the horrific fire destroyed their Ipswich home, in Brisbane's west, in a matter of minutes, killing five of their dogs. Pictures taken at the time show how fire engulfed the family home in Ipswich, Brisbane's west, killing five of their dogs Miss Creenaune woke to the screams of her mother Robyn Thomas, 51, and stepfather Brett Ward, 49, telling her to get out of the house. As she ran through the home, the verandah roof collapsed on top of her, setting her alight. Her mother and Mr Ward pulled Miss Creenaune's melting clothes off her body before dousing her in water under the shower. But with the flames still engulfing the house around them the family were forced to flee, making it outside to the back yard before the roof collapsed. In a previous interview with Daily Mail Australia Miss Creenaune's father Tony, 53, said 'it all happened in a matter of seconds'. Miss Creenaune, pictured, suffered burns to one side of her face, back, legs, arms and hands He said his daughter suffered minor burns to her face, but sustained serious injuries on her back, legs, arms and hands that required multiple skin graft operations. Five of the family's seven dogs, which were specially trained by Ms Thomas for the Australian Outback Spectacular, perished in the flames. Miss Creenaune told that's life! it was six weeks before she saw the extent of her injuries. The burns to her hands were so severe the tendons were visible and doctors were forced to amputate one of her pinky toes and half of another toe. Her long hair was shaved so they could perform a skin graft on her head. The brave teen said she has come to feel proud of her scars and is grateful for her appearance. She is pictured before the incident Miss Creenaune shared her story with that's life! available on newsstands now She underwent 'countless' operations, and said her friends and family are what kept her strong. Four months after she was admitted, she was discharged from hospital. For the next two years she will have to wear compression bandages and a face mask that will help minimise scarring. While she was initially hesitant to wear the face mask at school, she found everyone was supportive. In the future, she hopes to get laser treatment to further treat her scarring. Julie Bishop is a fashion powerhouse in every sense of the word. The Minister for Foreign Affairs recently travelled to Indonesia, where she spoke at Jakarta Fashion Week about Australia's $12 billion fashion industry. There she wore a dress by Australian label Rachel Gilbert, the same dress she wore to meet human rights lawyer Amal Clooney last month. Fashion powerhouse: The Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop travelled to Indonesia to attend Jakarta Fashion Week Power dressing: She wore a black lace dress by Australian label Rachel Gilbert for the event, which she paired with statement earrings 'Speaking at @jfwofficial #Jakarta showcasing Australian fashion industry worth $12 billion to our economy,' Bishop wrote on Twitter. According to The Jakarta Post, Bishop said the collaborations between Australia and Indonesia in the fashion world were 'exciting'. 'Australia and Indonesia are neighbors, we collaborate across a broad range of areas, but I think one of the most exciting, dynamic and innovative notions is our teamwork in the world of fashion,' she told reporters. Building relations: Bishop said the 'most exciting' collaborations between Australia and Indonesia were in the world of fashion Big business: She said in Australia the fashion industry contributes $12 billion to the economy and creates 220,000 jobs She went on to say Australia's fashion industry is worth $12 billion to the economy and created 220,000 jobs. In Indonesia, she said the fashion industry contributed $15 billion to the economy and employed four million. Jakarta Fashion Week runs from October 22 to 28. A number of Australian labels have shown at the coveted event, and The Jakarta Post reported Bishop hoped to see more Indonesian designers showcase at Australian Fashion Week. Recycled fashion: She wore the same Rachel Gilbert design to meet with human rights lawyer Amal Clooney in New York in September All white: Bishop is known for her style, having previously attended the G'Day USA event in a white gown with a sparkly overlay (left) and wore an all-white suit at the White House (right) Statement: Julie wore a black lace gown with feathered shoulders at the G'Day USA 10th Anniversary Bishop, who turned 60 this year, attended the event in a black lace Rachel Gilbert dress from their Resort 16 collection. It is the same dress she wore to meet human rights lawyer Amal Clooney in New York last month. The Foreign Minister and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party has previously spoken out about her love of fashion, saying she Armani has her measurements and credit card on file. Fashions on the field: She turned heads at Flemington in a lime-green top in 2014 (left) before opting for a more demure black dress and hat in 2015 (right) Bold and bright: Not afraid to take a fashion risk, Bishop wore a red sequinned gown in 2013 In an interview with Stellar magazine she said: 'I dont think we should apologise for our interest in fashion'. 'I have always loved fashion and beautiful clothes and magazines and all of that, that doesnt mean I cant have a serious career and hold deeply complex, serious conversations about world events with people. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has met a group of her biggest (and youngest) fans at the opening of a hospital wing in Randers, Denmark. The 44-year-old royal was all smiles as she arrived at the Regional Hospital and was greeted by a sea of young children wearing tiny gold crowns and excitedly waving the Danish flag. Always one to take the time to meet her fans, the Princess accepted a bunch of flowers from a little girl in a wheelchair and posed for photos with a number of the children and their parents. A real life Princess! Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has met a group of her biggest (and youngest) fans at a hospital wing opening in Randers, Denmark The 44-year-old royal was all smiles as she arrived at the Regional Hospital and was greeted by a sea of young children wearing tiny gold crowns and excitedly waving the Danish flag Stunning: True to her elegant style, the mother-of-four was beautifully dressed in a simple black dress from Hugo Boss and rugged up in a chic pale grey tweed coat True to her elegant style, the mother-of-four was beautifully dressed in a simple black dress from Hugo Boss and rugged up in a chic pale grey tweed coat. She paired the look with a pair of burgundy Louboutin heels and accessorised with a stylish pearl bracelet from Dulong Jewellery. For a classic twist, the Princess donned a stylish grey head piece from one of her favourite designers, Susanne Juul. All smiles: Always one to take the time to meet her fans, the Princess accepted a bunch of flowers from a little girl in a wheelchair and posed for photos with a number of the children Chic: She paired the look with a pair of burgundy Louboutin heels and accessorised with a stylish pearl bracelet from Dulong Jewellery Demo: Princess Mary was given a tour of the facility by hospital director Jonas Dahl and was shown around the emergency room, trauma unit and ambulance bay After spending time greeting fans, Princess Mary then opened the second emergency wing of the hospital - the first opening in 2014. She was then given a tour of the facility by hospital director Jonas Dahl and was shown around the emergency room, trauma unit and ambulance bay. The Princess then joined paramedics, doctors and nurses as they talked her through a staged example of how they would treat a patient who presented with serious cardiac problems. A little concerned? The Princess then joined paramedics, doctors and nurses as they talked her through a staged example of how they would treat a patient who presented with serious cardiac problems Thorough tour: The patient Princess appeared to be genuinely engaged in the demonstration and took time to chat with doctors and patients Passionate: Princess Mary is a passionate advocate for healthcare and is a patron for a number of health organisations including The Danish Cancer Society and Healthcare DENMARK The patient Princess appeared to be genuinely engaged in the demonstration and took time to chat with doctors and patients. She then posed for photos as she officially opened the facility by snipping a red ribbon at the entrance. Ms Liang said while she was shocked at first, she is still very much in love The couple now have a 20-month-old son, Lucas, and are happy together She went away and did some research into transitioning online Her husband, Andrew (now Andrea), told her he wanted to be a woman Susanna Liang, from Brisbane, was happily married when she had a shock When Susanna Liang's husband, Andrew, started speaking in a higher-pitched voice, she sensed something was different. It was at that point that Ms Liang, 29, from Brisbane, sat down with her partner, and asked Andrew what was up. '"You're going to hate me, but I want to be a woman," he told her. '"I can't look my own child in the eye and tell him to be true to himself when I'm a hypocrite." 'I was in total shock - I didn't know how to react,' Ms Liang told Daily Mail Australia. 'But I said: "Okay, sure", and decided to go away and research it,' she continued. Susanna Liang and Andrew (both pictured) had been happily married and were trying for a baby when Andrew told Ms Liang he wanted to be a woman '"You're going to hate me, but I want to be a woman," he told her, before she then began to take homones and transition (pictured after together) While Andrew, who now goes by the name of Andrea, had once told Ms Liang that he wanted to be a girl when he was a child, she had thought nothing of it. Andrea had always had a kind, soft, gentle personality, but I had no clue 'Andrea had always had a kind, soft, gentle personality, but I had no clue,' Ms Liang told Daily Mail Australia. 'I went away from the conversation still shocked, but I decided to do some Internet research. After I read some more information, I felt better equipped, but I was still worried. 'Would she still be the same person when her voice and body changed so much?'. While Andrew (pictured with Susanna), who now goes by the name of Andrea, had once told Ms Liang that he wanted to be a girl when he was a child, she had thought nothing of it While she was shocked, Ms Liang told Daily Mail Australia she did some research on it and she felt better equipped The couple, who were undergoing IVF for a baby at the same time, then had a baby, who is now 20 months old and called Lucas (pictured) According to Ms Liang, she was worried that Andrea's personality would change afterwards (pictured before), but they are now happier than ever Until that point, Susanna Liang and Andrea's relationship had evolved like many others. They met online in 2008, while Andrea was a student in New Jersey, America, and Ms Liang a student in Queensland, and they then messaged each other for two years before Andrea later visited Australia and they met in real life. 'We only spent five days together, but she was such a kind person,' Ms Liang said. 'I was struck by handsome she was, and how nice. 'Two years later, when we were still talking, I went to the US for a visit, stayed for another two years, and then we got married.' At the start it wasn't major - Andrea's hair grew a little, she started dressing differently and things... Later on, things like her voice and body started changing shape, too Since that point, the couple have together returned to Australia, where they simultaneously started taking hormones - Ms Liang for IVF, and Andrea for her transition. 'We'd always wanted to have a baby, but couldn't because Andrea had a low sperm count,' Ms Liang said. 'As soon as we both started taking the hormones it was strange because both of our bodies were changing. 'At the start it wasn't particularly major - Andrea's hair grew a little, she started dressing differently and things. 'Later on, things like her voice and body started changing shape, too.' The reception from family and friends has also been positive, which Ms Liang says was surprising but good The couple would love to grow their family (pictured: baby Lucas) in the future, and are currently saving funds for full transition surgery While Ms Liang says she had some trouble adapting at the beginning, and felt 'a bit panicked' as to whether Andrea's overall personality would change, these days, she says things are much the same as they always were: 'The main thing that's changed in our relationship is that we have a 20-month-old son, Lucas, now,' she giggled. 'So we have to look after him! When he's old enough to talk, we're going to get him to call us both mummy. 'And as soon as he starts asking questions, we've been advised to tell him the entire story.' Meanwhile, Ms Liang told Daily Mail Australia that she aims to tell her son the entire story as soon as he starts asking questions (both pictured) 'Breaking the news to Susanna was very scary but it felt a weight was lifted when everything was finally out in the open,' Andrea said To Ms Liang's surprise, people's reactions have been hugely positive since she shared the news about Andrea. 'My family, friends, and even people I hardly know have been really positive,' she said. 'It's great. We're both really happy together and hope to grow our family in the near future. 'The aim is for Andrea to undergo full transition surgery in the next two years, but at the moment we don't have the funds so are saving and have a GoFundMe page. 'We've obviously got pretty different tastes when it comes to some things, as I like to be comfortable and slouchy and wear jeans, whereas Andrea prefers tighter-fitting, more glamorous clothes. 'But now, we get to go shopping together, which is a new and fun thing to do.' Speaking to that's life! magazine about the experience, Andrea said: 'Breaking the news to Susanna was very scary but it felt a weight was lifted when everything was finally out in the open.' The first lesson one teaches at charm school is that the word 'posh' is anything but. It's actually worse than 'common'. So I proceeded with caution when I was sent the results of a new survey, which kindly lets us know what we Brits consider 'posh'. Apparently, buying champagne on a night out is 'posh' but, according to William Hanson, 'Buying Champagne for friends isn't posh. It's crass and showy' I'm not really sure who PoshFlooring.co.uk asked to do this survey. Clearly the GBP (Great British Public) are confused as to what is and what is not 'posh' (or 'smart' as upmarket people prefer to say). Today, the word posh is too freely bandied about. As with the letters 'VIP'. Nowadays these roughly translates to 'bit like a hen do'. Perhaps it was the Spice Girls who firmly sealed the social fate of the word 'posh'? (The only thing Victoria Beckham has in common with 'posh' people is her lack of desire to express emotion. But there the similarities end.) William Hanson explains what is 'posh' Accent The new survey's respondents said that the Home Counties accent is the 'poshest'. Yes, really. It's hysterical. I, too, was creased up for minutes when I read that. (Sorry, Surrey, but surely everyone knows the Home Counties is the pinnacle of suburbia and far from smart?) Received Pronunciation is by far the smartest accent, although diction is generally not one of the smart set's strong points. Let them eat cheese Serving a cheeseboard at the end of a dinner is also tres poshe, if you'd believe it. I suppose they'd have us think this dairy selection is to be offered on one of those slates, too. Traditionally, cheese was/is not served at very smart dinners because in medieval times, together with loaves of bread, it was what was served to peasants to keep them fuller for longer. Yes, as much as that jars with modern thinking, it was the case. Traditionally, cheese was/is not served at very smart dinners because in medieval times, together with loaves of bread, it was what was served to peasants to keep them fuller for longer The Royal Household do not serve cheese at state banquets, but this may not just be because of a medieval hangover but because The Queen, reportedly, does not care for it. Domestically, cheese may be served but often in lieu of a sweet pudding. If there's a cheeseboard present it will be wooden or a marble lazy Susan. SURVEY RESULTS Having a second/summer house (41%) Having a nanny (39%) Expensive cars (38%) Double barrel surnames (38%) Shopping at Harvey Nichols (37%) Having a distant royal relative (33%) Attending a private or grammar school (33%) Having an interest in polo (32%) Designer label clothing and handbags (31%) Buying champagne on a night out (27%) Advertisement Being double-barrelled 38% of those questioned said that having a double barrelled surname made a person upmarket. Well, granted, sometimes. But the surname must have been double barrelled many, many generations ago. Woe betide anyone who marries and decides they need to hence forth conjoin surnames (gay couples are currently the worst for this just keep it simple and be Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones, chaps.) Let us not forget the everlasting words of the great Hyacinth, 'What an affectation! She was a Barker. He was a Finch. Suddenly they're hyphenated.' Champagne Apparently, buying Champagne on a night out is 'posh'. This really only happens in the 'VIP' area of a nightclub. And we all know what that means. Buying Champagne for friends isn't posh. It's crass and showy. Why not hand everyone a 50 note whilst you're at it? Champagne is fine when celebrating an anniversary, engagement or graduation but day-to-day it's a bit much, don't you think? Top gears Again, the survey said that 'posh' can be spotted by having an expensive car. Not so, as I wrote earlier in the year, upper class cars tend to be rather beaten, bruised and caked in bucolic residue. Buying an overly flashy car is new money. The etiquette expert thinks what so many Brits seem to get confused is having money and spending it excessively does not equate someone with being 'posh' The parent trap This week's survey did get something right. 24% were correct when they said referring to parents as 'mummy and daddy' made a person more likely to be well bred. Although younger PLUs will refer, in conversation, to their 'mum and dad' this is because they don't wish to be laughed at by their proletariat colleagues. But amongst their own kind, or in the privacy of their own house, it's back to the softer, more correct, mummy and daddy. Socially, the only thing worse than the three letter abbreviations for parents is calling them by their first names, as if they are your poker buddy. (Mama and papa with the long A sound are also smart, but it's really only the older generations who still use these terms.) In essence, what so many (including this survey) seem to get confused is having money and spending it excessively does not equate someone with being 'posh'. She's had a change of career, been on holiday, completed a triathlon, lightened her hair and partied with friends - all the tried and tested remedies for heartbreak. And last night Princess Beatrice showed that she's continuing to enjoy adjusting to the single life as she stepped out for dinner in New York. The royal, 28, paid a visit to the trendy West Village eatery the Waverly Inn with designer Peter Dundas, the outgoing creative director of Roberto Cavalli. Scroll down for video Princess Beatrice, 28, showed that she's continuing to enjoy adjusting to the single life as she stepped out for dinner in New York last night Beatrice looked chic in an all black ensemble consisting of a leather pannelled jacket and casual skirt. She covered up against the winter chill in opaque black tights and wore and on-trend pair of lace up brogues with thick white soles. Clutching two mobile phones in one hand and sporting a navy leather backpack, the royal was all smiles as she made her way into the restaurant. Beatrice and Peter have been spotted out together on the party circuit, and the designer has shared photos of them together on Instagram on several occasions. Beatrice was joined by Peter Dundas, the outgoing creative director of Roberto Cavalli Their outing comes just 24 hours after Beatrice's ex, Dave Clark, was spotted leaving London's Chiltern Firehouse with a blonde Abbey Clancy lookalike. It appears the Uber executive may be moving on from the end of their ten-year relationship after they split in August this year after crisis talks over marriage. The pair first got together after they were introduced by Bea's cousin Prince William. Princess Beatrice with her ex-boyfriend Dave Clark in April this year, a few months before they called time on their 10 year relationship Beatrice's ex Dave was spotted getting into a cab with a blonde Abbey Clancy lookalike after a night at London's Chiltern Firehouse He and US-born Dave became friends at the University of St. Andrews where William was studying geography. However, the relationship later cooled and rumours have long circulated that the Prince did not approve of the relationship. He is said to have considered Dave an 'indiscreet' addition to the extended family and was opposed to the prospect of his little cousin marrying him. Norwegian-born designer Peter Dundas is the outgoing creative director of Roberto Cavalli and has been spotted out on the party scene with Princess Beatrice But pressure for Dave to propose intensified in May last year after the birth of Princess Charlotte pushed Beatrice down to seventh in line to the Throne, meaning she no longer had to seek permission to marry from the Queen, who would most probably have taken William's advice on the matter. However Beatrice's family, including sister Princess Eugenie and parents Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew, were said to be 'completely shocked' by the news. Sarah, the Duchess of York, in particular was said to feel as though she had lost a son. Their split came after Beatrice followed Dave to both coasts of America as he pursued his career with taxi app Uber. She enrolled in a finance course in San Francisco, where Uber has its headquarters, before taking an investment banking job in Manhattan where Dave was based. She's known for her love of a color co-ordinated outfit and today Queen Maxima of the Netherlands took her enthusiasm for matching to the max. The Dutch monarch, 45, stepped out in a teal dress with voluminous sleeves as she visited Almelo and Northeast Twente in Oud Ootmarsun. She matched her fluffy mohair coat to her dress, and stylish wore it draped around just one shoulder. Scroll down for video Queen Maxima of The Netherlands, 45, stepped out in a teal dress with voluminous sleeves as she visited Almelo and Northeast Twente with King Willem-Alexander Courtesy of Carlo ter Ellen Even her earrings, which were elaborately beaded statement pieces, matched the outfit. And she topped it off by accessorising with a 1920s style turban hat in mustard velvet and clutch bag in a similar fabric and shade. She teamed the ensemble with brown Gianvito Rossi suede pumps and leather gloves in a matching colour. Maxima was accompanied on the visit by a more soberly dressed King Willem Alexander. The Queen clutches a bunch of colourful flowers during a regional visit to Almelo The Dutch King gallantly lent his wife a hand as they made their way through a forest during the visit, which focused on heritage as future capital Hats off to her! Maxima opted for an unsual 1920s stlye turban and accessorised with some very elaborate earrings made up of green beads The Dutch Queen greets well wishers on a walk about with King Willem-Alexander Youngsters had lined the streets, excited to get a chance to meet the royal visitor He gallantly lent his wife a hand as they made their way through a forest during the visit, which focused on heritage as future capital. The pair received a warm welcome from well wishers at Polman Stadium as they met participants in a social project. It's been a busy week for Queen Maxima who attended the 15th Dutch Design Week (DDW) in Eindhoven on Tuesday. Maxima has been reunited with her husband King Willem-Alexander following a recent trip to her native Argentina The Queen gives a cheerful wave to well wishers during a day of official engagements in Almelo and Northeast Twente The Queen looks momentarily surprised by her husband during an official royal visit The style savvy monarch looked chic in a camel coat, which highlighted her trim figure. She offset the look with some killer accessories in the form of matching suede court shoes, suede clutch and eye-catching gold jewels. Maxima is one Europe's busiest royals and just last fortnight she paid a visit to her hometown of Buenos Aires . Queen Maxima attended Dutch Design Week yesterday, wearing a camel coloured shawl over her coat of the same colour It's been a busy week for the royal who was on duty in Eindhoven on Tuesday After delivering a speech as a conference, she joined the Argentine President Mauricio Macri for a private meeting at the Olivos presidential residence. It meant she missed out on the Duchess of Cambridge's visit to the Netherlands as duty called in the Argentinean capital. Every weary singleton has been plagued with a crude one-liner or lewd photo at some point during their Tinder experiences. And one man exposed just how bizarre the chat-up lines used in the dating app sound in real life when he applied them to complete strangers. Actor Jolyon Rubinstein, 35, took to the streets of London to ask baffled women: 'Are you down to f***' and 'Do you give b******* on the first date?' in an eye-opening video. Actor Jolyon Rubinstein, 35, took to the streets of London to expose just how bizarre Tinder chat-up lines sound in real life The British actor used many of the lewd openers used in dating apps on a series of unimpressed women In the clip, created by dating app TrueView, Jolyon wears a giant human Tinder costume - bearing the name 'Zach'. Approaching his first stranger, he asks: 'Maybe we should go on a date.' He is rebuffed with a curt: 'I'm married', but refusing to be deterred he replies: 'I'm married as well, it doesn't matter anymore!' To another he says: 'You just crossed my path', to which the embarrassed women quickly apologies. He insists: 'No, no, I think it was meant to be.' On his human Tinder screen, he shows women combinations of aubergines, peaches, locks and keys - and asks them to decipher the explicit meaning The response varies from mild irritation to outright anger He is spurned by a number of women in the street who are shocked at his forthright attitude He moves on to a woman at a book stall, and asks: 'Do you like stuff like this? 'Sex And Destiny' - do you know what I mean? Do you like nude photography?' He is quickly spurned by one browsing woman who asks: 'Do you work here? Are you just wandering around talking to girls?' Jolyon then begins mocking the casual nature of dating apps as he asks one stranger: 'Do you want to be my next gratification? I just wandered if you wanted to have a distorted online interaction? 'A couple of months of confusing and quite cryptic text messages before coming to meet me and realising I'm not exactly who I said I was.' Delivering a killer blow in satire, he then adds: 'I feel like connection really lies in a perfectly executed string of emojis.' In the clip , created by dating app TrueView, Jolyon wears a giant human Tinder costume - bearing the name 'Zach' He moves on to a woman at a book stall, and asks: 'Do you like stuff like this? 'Sex And Destiny' - do you know what I mean? Do you like nude photography?' Jolyon then begins mocking the casual nature of dating apps as he asks one stranger: 'Do you want to be my next gratification? I just wandered if you wanted to have a distorted online interaction?' The BBC's The Revolution Will Be Televised actor then taps into the world of sexually suggestive emoticons. On his human Tinder screen, he shows women combinations of aubergines, peaches, locks and keys - and asks them to decipher the explicit meaning. The response varies from mild irritation to outright anger, as some women exclaim: 'That is so rude!' and 'What the hell is that?' Jolyon then explores the stereotypes of different profiles on Tinder, from the group photos to the snaps of men helping children in orphanages. Soon, the chat-up lines get progressively more X-rated, with the writer and producer venturing: 'You've got such beautiful teeth - I'd love to see them around my c***'. Jolyon then explores the stereotypes of different profiles on Tinder, from the group photos to the snaps of men helping children in orphanages The satirical video was created with this message in mind: 'You wouldn't date like this offline - so why do it online?' He adds to a series of appalled women,' Are you down to f***' and then offers: 'Or I could just go down on you?' The clip ends with the caption: 'You wouldn't date like this offline - so why do it online?' Matt Verity, co-founder of TrueView said: 'People looking for love are finding themselves trudging through conversations with people who aren't serious about dating, or worse, are lying. He also mocked profiles that use solely group photos - saying: 'All of my photos are of me with my friends, so you can't tell who I am' He adds to a series of appalled women,' Are you down to f***' and then offers: 'Or I could just go down on you?' 'This is a huge issue across a number of today's dating apps. While some may claim to be about finding real relationships, none of them actually protect people from fake profiles, or make any effort to weed out those wanting to use online dating for the wrong reasons.' It comes as research found that Britons spend on average 1 minute and 45 seconds connecting with potential life partners while online dating almost a minute less than it takes them to make a cup of tea. People also take more time making a sandwich (3 minutes 16 seconds) or choosing what to watch on TV (4 minutes and 54 seconds). Soon, the chat-up lines get progressively more X-rated, with the writer and producer venturing: 'You've got such beautiful teeth - I'd love to see them around my c***' At one point in the clip, Jolyon begins chasing women in the street and sticking 'like' tabs on their back The research of over 2,000 Brits, conducted by TrueView, sheds a light on today's online dating scene, revealing its murky side. A fifth of daters actually admitted to spending 10 seconds or less to connect with a potential partner, and two in five (41 per cent) respondents admitted to lying on their dating profiles, with more men (47 per cent) lying than women (35 per cent). Perhaps most shockingly, one in three said they have been on a date with someone who was posing as single. Meanwhile, some Brits lie about their age or weight (15 per cent) but one in 10 men admit to having lied about their relationship status in their dating profile Her personal style is so admired that she has the ability to create a shopping frenzy as soon as she steps out in a new outfit. But Princess Diana's personal designer Paul Costelloe, 71, has admitted that he doesn't get the hype surrounding the Duchess of Cambridge. The outspoken Irishman, 71, blasted Kate's Vogue shoot in an interview with the Irish Independent, saying he felt very 'disappointed' as it didn't measure up to Diana's covers for the magazine. Scroll down for video Diana's personal designer Paul Costelloe has revealed he was disappointed with Kate's Vogue cover and said she is just not as exciting as the late Princess Diana arriving at The Institute For The Study Of Drug Dependence in June 1993 wearing a polka dot dress and cream jacket by Paul Costelloe 'Kate's not as individual as Princess Diana. She's not offering the excitement, unexpectedness and vulnerability that Princess Diana did,' he said. 'She's filling the perfect daughter-in-law role. She's very obedient.' The designer suggested that it might be due to a difference in backgrounds. Father-of-seven Paul Costello, pictured after presenting his collection at London Fashion Week in September 2016, was Diana's personal designer from 1982 'Diana's mother was an aristocrat while Kate's was an air hostess,' he said. But he had words of praise for Princess Charlotte and Princess George saying they were 'gorgeous' and almost 'too perfect'. And he said that he would still like to dress Kate, despite her not measuring up to Diana. Paul Costelloe, a father-of-seven, was Diana's personal designer from 1982 to her death in 1997. Princess Diana wearing a pink suit designed by Paul Costelloe during a royal tour of Canada in 1991 Kate wears a green coat by high street retailer Hobbs at Whitehorse Airport, Canada during last month's royal tour Zara Phillips wore a silver coat dress by Paul Costelloe to William and Kate's wedding in 2011 He still works with members of the royal family such as Princess Ann and Zara Tindall, and designed the silver coat dress the latter wore to William and Kate's wedding. It's unlikely that Kate will be perturbed by his comments, as she's said to want to actively avoid becoming a fashion icon like Diana. Indeed, on today's Lorraine show Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman revealed that the Duchess was determined to be dressed down when she posed for the magazine. When asked why Kate had been shot in a relaxed country setting in casual clothes, she replied: 'I think it was very much her feeling that she wanted to be what she felt she was comfortable with being. She is not a clothes horse. The idea that she is a kind of silent mannequin that just wants to put on expensive clothes is so not what she is. Earlier this month, Bristol captured a photo of her son Tripp, seven, holding an unidentified baby and celebrated her 26th birthday Bristol also shared a throwback photo of her and her husband Dakota Meyer, 28, on vacation in Hawaii The 25-year-old took to Instagram on Wednesday to post a photo of Sailor Grace standing on someone's lap in the driver's seat of a car Bristol Palin's daughter Sailor Grace isn't even a year old yet, but she is already itching to drive. The 25-year-old mom took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a heartwarming photo of her smiling little girl posing with her hands on the steering wheel of a car. 'Happiest 10-month-old,' Bristol captioned the image, which sees Sailor standing on someone's lap in the driver's seat of the vehicle. 10-months going on 16! Bristol Palin took to Instagram on Wednesday to share an adorable photo of her daughter Sailor Grace standing in the driver's seat of a car Throwback: Earlier this week she also posted a snapshot of her and her husband Dakota Meyer, 28, on vacation in Hawaii Sailor, who turns one in December, happily flashed her two bottom teeth as she smiled for the camera, leaving her hand firmly on the steering wheel. The little girl was all ready for winter in an olive green anorak jacket featuring a a fur hood. Bristol often dresses her daughter in adorable outfits, and this casual Wednesday was no exception. While waiting in the parking lot, Sailor donned skinny jeans and a sunny yellow headband featuring a tiny bow. Celebration: Bristol shared a photo of her kids Tripp and Sailor Grace with a newborn, who is thought to be the son of her brother Track's girlfriend Jordan Loewe, last week 'Walking is close': Dakota also took to Instagram last week to share a photo of Sailor trying to stand up And Bristol may be missing the warm summer weather. Just a few days ago she shared a throwback photo of her and her husband Dakota Meyer, 28, in Hawaii on vacation. In the image Bristol is flashing her engagement ring and wedding band while holding a drink. Dakota is on the phone behind her wearing a tank top and board shorts. 'Wishing I was at the pool with you boo,' she wrote. Last week Bristol celebrated what appeared to be the newest addition to her family by sharing a photo of her seven-year-old son Tripp holding an unidentified baby boy while Sailor watched with delight. All together: Last month Bristol posted a family photo that saw her brother Track with his arm around a heavily pregnant woman who appeared to be his girlfriend Jordan Sisterly love: Willow Palin (left), 22, celebrated Bristol's birthday on October 18 by sharing a photo of them with their 15-year-old sister Piper (center) The baby, whom one commenter referred to as Charlie, is thought to be the son of her older brother Track's girlfriend Jordan Loewe. Both Tripp, Bristol's only child with her ex-fiance Levi Johnston, and the little boy are wearing camouflage, which is a popular pattern for the Palin family. Last month Bristol shared a family photo of her and Dakota posing with their children, her parents, her siblings, and heavily pregnant woman who appears to be Jordan. In the photo Track has his arm around her and it has been noted online that Jordan had registered for items for a baby boy at The Bump, which stated her due date to be October 7. Loving mother: Meanwhile, Bristol's mom Sarah posted this heartwarming collage on her Facebook page October is also Bristol's birthday month, and on the 18th Dakota honored his wife turning 26 by sharing a photo of them together. 'Happy birthday to my wife, best friend, and the greatest gift ever to me. You're truly amazing @bsmp2 I'm so thankful to have you. I hope you have the best day ever,' he wrote. Meanwhile, her sister Willow, 22, posted a photo of them with their younger sibling Piper, 15, to wish her a Happy Birthday, using the hashtags '#sisterfriends, #lovehate ,and #lottahatelittlelove.' True love: Dakota shared this throwback photo and wrote a touching tribute to his wife, calling her his 'greatest gift ever' Another year older: Bristol later shared photos of her birthday cards and gifts while admitting that she is having trouble getting used to being 26 And her mom Sarah took to Facebook to share a photo collage of her oldest daughter. 'It's a great day! Oct. 18 is "Alaska Day", celebrating America's purchase of Alaska from Russia,' she wrote. 'Even better (for me!) it's the birthday of Tripp and Sailor Grace's mom. Happy, happy birthday Bristol! We love you.' Despite the well wishes, Bristol admitted she was having a hard time turning a year older. While many adults have felt comfortable with brushing off the many, many offensive comments that Donald Trump has made about women, it's important to note that they are not the only ones who are listening. Being such a public figure who is regularly reported on in the media, it's undeniable that Trump's comments have reached the ears of children across the country - and, according to a new video, they aren't liking what they hear. In the clip, created by Cosmopolitan.com, several young boys are asked to read aloud some of the things that the Republican nominee has said over the years. Scroll down for video Like they heard it: Little boys are made to read aloud comments Donald Trump has made about women in a new Cosmopolitan.com video The task: The boys are made to read things the Republican nominee has said about his rival Hillary, such as calling her 'such a nasty woman' The new video gives parents the opportunity to imagine how they would feel if they heard their own young sons speaking words like those used by Trump. Among others, the boys repeat things that Trump has said about his rival Hillary Clinton, such as when he called her 'such a nasty woman' during the third and final presidential debate. Another awkward little boy is made to read: 'Does she look presidential fellas? Give me a break.' 'Take a look at her, she's a slob,' repeats another boy, reading from a comment Trump made about actress Rosie O'Donnell. The video also covers plenty of quotes from Trump about women in general, as well as his tendency to dismiss vulgar talk about sexual assault as 'locker room talk'. A long line: Donald Trump's derogatory comments about women are well documented Uncomfortable: The boys look awkward as they are made to talk about women in the way that Trump does Adding insult: One of the boys is even made to say about Ariana Huffington 'I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man' Of course, they also covered things Trump has said about members of the media, such as when he said of Ariana Huffington: 'I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man.' One boy repeats a quote from Trump talking about reality star Kim Kardashian in 2013, saying: 'Does she have a good body? No.' But when the filmmakers prod him to repeat the second part of the quote - 'Does she have a fat a**? Absolutely' - the boy stands awkwardly and says: 'I don't wanna say that.' The producers then ask the boys how they would feel if someone had said any of those things to their mother. 'I would feel like I'd wanna beat them up,' explains one, while another says that he would want to 'scare them away' because 'that's being mean to my mom. And I love my mom.' 'I don't want to say that': This boy refuses to continue reading a particularly offensive remark Trump made about Kim Kardashian Hitting back: When asked how they would feel about someone talking about their moms that way, one of the boys said he would 'wanna beat them up' Standing up for mom: This boy says he would try to 'scare them away' because 'that's being mean to my mom. And I love my mom' The issue of misogyny has become a central issue of the 2016 election, with Trump more often than not doubling down on his comments when confronted by the press. While campaigning for for Hillary in New Hampshire earlier this month, Michelle Obama discussed the very issue covered in the video. 'And how is this affecting men and boys in this country - because I can tell you that the men in my life do not talk about women like this and I know that my family is not unusual,' she told the crowd. Howard Stern, whose show Trump was speaking on when he made some of the comments, has even claimed that there's nothing shocking about Trump's lewd comments about women. 'None of this was hidden,' Stern in a Tuesday broadcast. 'This is who Trump is. He was always bombastic. He always rated women. Embarrassing tattoos used to haunt us for life - constantly reminding us of our drunken mistakes and poor decisions. But thankfully technology exists to help remove the ink, allowing us to live without being scared someone will see the butterfly on our arm. Tattoo removal used to involve painful dermabrasion, acidic skin peels or literally cutting the image out and then patching the area with skin grafts. All these methods could leave horrendous scars. But such drastic action is no longer necessary. Scroll down for video New 'picosecond' technology works by blasting particles onto the skin at a trillionth of a second to split tattoo ink into smaller pieces for the body to remove naturally Laser technology was first used for tattoo removal 20 years ago and has come a long way since then. Now, a new 'picosecond' technology is used across the country - taking half the time and often producing better results, The Times reports. It works by using a laser that searches for abnormal colours on the skin as a result of tattoo inking. Particles are then blasted onto the skin to split the ink into smaller pieces at a trillionth of a second. The body then removes them through its lymphatic system. The treatment is then repeated after six weeks and is said to leave no marks. Unlike traditional lasers, it can remove blue and green ink, the newspaper reported. The treatment is then repeated after six weeks and is said to leave no marks and unlike traditional lasers, it can remove blue and green ink Actresses Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox and Eva Longoria are among thousands who have chose to remove their body art. While last year Victoria Beckham had one of her tattoo's removed by lasers - but experts believe it was the new technology that was used. Dr Tijion Esho, who has clinics in Newcastle and Harley Street, told the newspaper he had seen a surge in people wanting the new method to rid them of their body ink. But Andrea Catton, 55, who uses the picosecond lasers at her Burnley clinic cited concerns over the lack of regulation. 'They are very powerful machines and need to be operated by people who know what they are doing,' she said. New figures suggest one in three young people in the UK now have a tattoo. But Yale researchers found they had no 'significant' effect in a study Experts say flavonoids can help to fight off any urinary tract infections The berries are known to contain a high amount of beneficial compounds Cranberries are often regarded as a superfood but they may not be as good as scientists first thought. Experts say the fruit - which contains a high amount of beneficial compounds known as flavonoids - can improve heart health and the immune system. It is also thought to reduce urinary tract infections (UTIs) of the bladder, kidneys and the tubes among elderly women. But the berries had little effect on reducing any such infections, new evidence suggests. Cranberries made no significant difference on reducing any signs of a urinary tract infections compared to a placebo, scientists found Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut, gave older women in nursing homes cranberry capsules or a placebo. The study randomly assigned 185 women with an average age of 86 two oral berry capsules or a fake pill. Both capsules contained 72mg of the active ingredient proanthocyanidin, equivalent to a pint of cranberry juice. They found the berries made no significant difference in presence of bacteria and white blood cells in the urine (pyuria), a sign of UTIs. Previous research found the berries helped to reduce the infections of the bladder, kidneys and the tubes among elderly women Nor were there a difference in the number of episodes of the infections over the course of a year. Lead researcher Dr Manisha Juthani-Mehta said: 'Many studies of cranberry products have been conducted over several decades with conflicting evidence of its utility for UTI prevention. 'The results have led to the recommendation that cranberry products do not prevent UTI overall. 'This trial did not show a benefit of cranberry capsules in terms of a lower presence of bacteriuria plus pyuria among older women living in nursing homes.' The study was published in the journal JAMA. Her parents were told it was touch and go 5 times as a result of her burns Tilly Sawford was given just a five per cent chance of survival and was told she would never walk again. But now she has taken her first steps thanks to her prosthetic leg A nine-year-old girl who doctors said would never walk has taken her first steps after having her leg amputated. Tilly Sawford, from Nottingham, was given just a five per cent chance of survival after falling into a scalding hot bath as a baby. She suffered 86 per cent burns and her parents were told she was close to death five times as she was treated in intensive care for six months. She has had more than 500 operations, including having shark cartilage and cow collagen grafted onto her skin - but doctors still said she would never walk again. Earlier this year surgeons amputated her right leg and replaced it with a prosthetic limb to try and help her walk. And incredibly, two weeks ago she took her first steps unaided - and even played a toy foot-piano. Her mother, Emma, 30, said: 'I was a little bit upset at first when the doctors first gave us the news that she needed to have her leg amputated in order to walk again. 'You don't usually think the best way to walk is to have your leg cut off but that was the reality we were faced with. 'The doctors explained it was the best option for Tilly and it has proved it so far. Scroll down for video 'She took a while to get used to her "robot leg" and said she wanted to be able to chase people around. Mrs Sawford added: 'When Tilly took her first few steps it was an enormous moment. Up to then she'd put her hand against the hospital rail or wall for support but then she just stood on her own. 'She had a huge grin on her face and looked so determined. It was an amazing moment and we just hope this is the start of things to come. She has had more than 500 operations, including having shark cartilage and cow collagen grafted onto her skin - but doctors still said she would never walk again, forcing her to rely on a walking frame 'We are just so happy to see Tilly take her first steps. She is a very determined girl and we are so proud of her achievements.' Incredibly, despite falling head-first into the bath of scalding water, the only place she did not get burned was her face. But the scars from the third-degree burns are so deep they affect her walking. She had her knee cap removed in September last year before having her leg completely amputated at the start of this year. She received the prosthetic limb in June but walked on her own for the first time in her life two weeks ago. Tilly, who has been nominated for a Pride of Britain award, said: 'It was fun standing on my own. I can't wait to walk some more. 'My dream is to run and play tag with my friends in the playground.' Tilly suffered 86 per cent burns when she fell into the bath when she was just 15 months old. Doctors didn't expect her to survive (pictured in hospital after her ordeal having treatment) Tilly suffered the horrific injuries when she was just 15 months old after her brother accidentally turned the hot tap on while she climbed on a beanbag which was next to the bath. Because of a fault with the boiler, the water was scalding after a few seconds - moments before she tumbled into the half-full bath in the family home. Mrs Sawford said: 'I heard a scream and ran back upstairs. Tilly was in the bath tub. 'She must have leaned over and fallen in. Her eyes rolled back and she went unconscious with the pain. 'I picked her up straight away and pulled the plug out. Her skin was coming off in my hands. Earlier this year surgeons amputated her right leg and replaced it with a prosthetic limb to help her walk. Two weeks ago she took her first steps unaided - and even played a toy foot-piano Speaking about the moment Tilly walked for the first time, her mother, Emma, 30, said: 'She had a huge grin on her face and looked so determined. It was an amazing moment and we just hope this is the start of things to come' 'I think I started to go into shock, I couldn't speak properly, it was awful.' Tilly was only in the water for seconds but it was enough to cause her to pass out with the pain. After being rushed to hospital, doctors turned round to them and said she wouldn't make it through the next few hours. 'It felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, my world started to fall apart. I genuinely thought I'd lost my daughter,' Mrs Sawford added. Her family have been told she might need to have her left leg amputated in the future if it grows the wrong way. Cuba's groundbreaking lung cancer vaccine is being tested for approval in the US. The island has a global reputation for high-quality healthcare and innovations at the forefront of research in diseases, including Ebola and cancer. Now, since the recent thaw in relations between America and Cuba, US medical leaders are seizing the opportunity to snap up the best of Cuban developments. Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, has received approval from the FDA to begin clinical trials after a trade trip to Havana in 2015 with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Havana's Center of Molecular Immunology has developed an immunotherapy vaccine that starves cancer - and has been proven to boost life expectancy. Now it is bound for the US HOW DOES THE LUNG CANCER VACCINE WORK? THE MAIN IDEA The vaccine manipulates the body's immune system to block a type of protein that cancer cells need to grow. Unlike treatments like chemotherapy, it does not aim to 'kill' the cancer cells directly. Instead, it starves them, making it impossible for the protein to attach to the cell's receptor. Without this connection, the cell cannot grow and multiply, and eventually it will die. THE DETAILS The vaccine attaches to another kind of protein that triggers an immune response. It causes the body to produce antibodies that hamper cancer-fueling proteins. Consequently, the amount of cancer-fueling proteins in the body diminishes, starving the cancer. DOES IT WORK? The vaccine has been tested in a number of countries around the world including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Cuba. All of those countries have approved the vaccine. So far, more than 4,000 lung cancer patients have received the vaccine in trials. The tests showed a significantly higher rate of survival, better quality of life for patients, and overall tumor stabilization. Advertisement On Wednesday, Governor Cuomo joined Roswell Park officials to announce the trial - the first of its kind. The treatment, called CIMAvax-EGF, is a form of immunotherapy - training the body's immune system to attack and destroy cancer. It was developed by Havana's Center of Molecular Immunology. The trial, expected to begin next month, will involve 60 to 90 adult patients who have Stage IIIB or Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. They must have a life expectancy of at least six months, and must have already tried first-line systemic chemotherapy. The vaccine manipulates the body's immune system to block a type of protein that cancer cells need to grow. Unlike treatments like chemotherapy, it does not aim to 'kill' the cancer cells directly. Instead, it starves them, making it impossible for the protein to attach to the cell's receptor. Without this connection, the cell cannot grow and multiply, and eventually it will die. The vaccine attaches to another kind of protein that triggers an immune response. It causes the body to produce antibodies that hamper cancer-fueling proteins. Consequently, the amount of cancer-fueling proteins in the body diminishes, starving the cancer. The vaccine has been tested in a number of countries around the world including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Cuba. All of those countries have approved the vaccine. So far, more than 4,000 lung cancer patients have received the vaccine in trials. The tests showed a significantly higher rate of survival, better quality of life for patients, and overall tumor stabilization. The vaccine is at the cutting edge of cancer research. In a report last month, the government's 'cancer moonshot' panel of expert researchers said immunotherapy is our best bet for combating the disease. Celebrating the breakthrough, Roswell Park President Candace Johnson said: 'It's the first time in the modern era that a Cuban and an American institution have been allowed to come together.' Jose Ramon Cabanas Rodriguez, Cuban ambassador to the US, wrote to Cuomo to congratulate him on the partnership. Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, has received approval from the FDA to begin trials after a trade trip to Havana in 2015 with New York Gov Andrew Cuomo. Pictured: Roswell president Candace Johnson announcing the new with Gov Cuomo on Wednesday He said that it represented 'not only a contribution to the improvement of the health of the peoples from our countries but to the health of all the peoples in the region and the world as well.' The clinical trial validates efforts to lure top-tier research to upstate New York, Cuomo said. 'Cuba could have gone anywhere in the United States,' he said. A gunshot wound to the head is not a death sentence, research has revealed. A new study has found 42 per cent of victims survive penetrating head wounds - a larger proportion than researchers expected. It is one of the first comprehensive accounts on survival rates of non-military victims. The paper, analyzing more than 400 patients at two major trauma centers, was commissioned after the 2011 shooting in Arizona of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords - who survived. As scientists began studying her particular case, they realized the majority of data on gunshot wounds to the head were drawn from military situations. Not a death sentence: A new study has found 42 per cent of victims survive penetrating head wounds - a larger proportion than researchers expected 'The survival rate was much higher than we anticipated,' senior author Dr Kevin Sheth, a neurosurgery professor at Yale University, said. 'Consistent with other diseases in recent years, these results suggest that seemingly futile presentations may actually be a reservoir for hope.' Better motor control of limbs, pupil response, and lower overall trauma score all predicted higher chances of survival, the study found. Those with self-inflicted wounds had a worse prognosis - only 20 per cent of people can survive self-inflicted wounds to the head. Somewhat surprisingly, women had a 76 per cent higher chance of survival than men - something the study could not provide an explanation for. Those who were transferred from another hospital also had a better chance of survival. 'I think that it is important for doctors to be aggressive in transferring these patients to higher-level trauma centers,' Dr Sheth said. For the study, published online by the journal Neurology, researchers looked back at 10 years of figures from two level-one trauma centers, one in Massachusetts and one in Maryland. To analyze survival rates, Dr Sheth worked with Dr Susanne Muehlschlegel of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. Dr Muehlschlegel has developed new way of predicting the survivial chances of shooting victims. The paper, analyzing more than 400 patients at two major trauma centers, was commissioned after the 2011 shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (pictured) who survived The first tool of its kind allows medics to predict a person's chance of surviving a gunshot wound to the head or other part of the body. It's called the SPIN-Score, which stands for Surviving Penetrating Injury to the Brain. 'Gunshot wounds are the number one cause of penetrating traumatic brain injuries,' Dr Muehlschlegel said. 'Much of our knowledge about surviving such injuries comes from the battlefield, not from shootings among civilians. 'Being better able to determine the average person's chance of survival could help doctors and families make important decisions about medical treatment.' They examined the medical records of 413 people, 87 per cent men, 56 per cent black, with an average age of 33. They had all been treated for a penetrating injury to the brain, in most cases caused by gunshots. The researchers then looked to see what factors were associated with surviving the injury, both in hospital and six months later. Two factors were by far the strongest predictors of survival: how well a person's pupils responded to light and how well the person could move in response to stimuli, such as obeying commands or withdrawing from pain. The researchers found several other predictors of survival, but the first two were so strong that the rest improved the accuracy of their prediction only slightly. Overall, the SPIN-Score correctly predicted whether people would survive with an accuracy of 96 per cent. The survival rate overall was 42 per cent; no participants died in the six months after leaving the hospital. The SPIN-Score for those in the study ranged from four to 52, with higher scores indicating a greater chance of survival. For this group, 98 per cent of those with a score 35 and higher survived while only three per cent with a score of 20 or less survived. No patients in the group with a SPIN-Score of 16 or less survived. Dr Muehlschlegel added: 'More research is needed to validate the SPIN-Score, so for now, it remains a preliminary prediction tool. 'Still, developing this tool is an important step toward improving overall outcomes.' Researchers from the University of Maryland Shock and Trauma Center also contributed to the study. A FLORENCE DIARY by Diana Athill (Granta 9.99) Almost 70 years ago, in August 1947, Diana Athill and her cousin Pen set off on an adventure. To celebrate the end of World War II, Dianas aunt Joyce had paid for the two young women to travel to Florence for two weeks. It was Dianas first excursion abroad. I, of course, was thrilled by this wonderful gift, she writes. In an age where we can hop on a cheap flight in the morning and be in Paris, Madrid or Stockholm by lunchtime, it is hard to imagine the sheer exoticism of abroad after the cruel bottling up of six years of war. Almost 70 years ago, in August 1947, Diana Athill and her cousin Pen set off on an adventure. To celebrate the end of World War II, Dianas aunt Joyce had paid for the two young women to travel to Florence for two weeks So many decades later, Diana recalls how thrilling it was to wake on a train that had stopped in the middle of the night, push a blind aside and see a lantern carried along an unknown platform by a man talking to another in an unknown language those voices, the tiny glimpse of foreign ordinariness giving you such a tingle of excitement. Before the cousins left, Dianas mother asked her to keep a diary, and it is this account of an Englishwomans experiences in post-war Italy that is published in this charming short book. The excitement and relish with which she greets so many new experiences have the freshness of someone who has escaped from the gloom and privation of wartime Britain into the sunlit warmth and grace of Italy. Diana and Pen could hardly have been more different, but we travelled together as comfortably as a pair of old bedroom slippers. A FLORENCE DIARY by Diana Athill They set off from London Victoria Station on the Golden Arrow the boat train that would take them to Paris. There they changed on to the Orient Express, which proved less luxurious than its glamorous name, and very crowded. Diana found herself sharing a carriage with several families and a Roman prince with the glorious name of Alfonso Caracciolo di Forino. He was extraordinarily nice corduroy trousers and knapsack and of an extremely sociable disposition. Gallantly escorted by Alfonso, they arrived in Florence (pictured) at midnight and woke to find that he had sent them a huge bunch of flowers. As the beginning of an adventure, it could hardly have been more promising. Like Britain, Italy was recovering from the ravages of war, but there is little sense of this in Dianas rapturous accounts of exquisite Florentine art and equally exquisite food. Back home, ingredients such as sugar and butter would continue to be rationed until 1954, but in Florence, Diana found pastry shops full of the most miraculous little objects, that are as exotic as sweets and not much bigger, but more varied in taste and texture. I could eat them for ever. The only dull moment was a meeting with a fellow Brit with a passion for sharing his holiday snaps. He was such an old bore... He lives with his mother and sister... Gosh! What a frightful week theyll have when he gets home. After two weeks of la dolce vita, the return journey seemed an uninviting prospect: We became sadder and sadder the nearer we got to home. The trip was brief, and so is the journal. But its vivid intensity and Athills joy at being young and alive and abroad make it perfect for travellers of any age. A IS FOR ARSENIC: THE POISONS OF AGATHA CHRISTIE by Kathryn Harkup A IS FOR ARSENIC: THE POISONS OF AGATHA CHRISTIE by Kathryn Harkup (Bloomsbury 9.99) During World War I, a young Agatha Christie volunteered as a nurse at her local hospital in Torquay, where she qualified as an apothecarys assistant, or dispenser. She would later put the detailed knowledge of poisons she had acquired to imaginative use in her murder mysteries. Christie was writing during the golden age of poisons, when strychnine, cyanide and arsenic were readily available for domestic use. As a chemist and an admirer of Christies fiction, Kathryn Harkup is ideally qualified to examine the writers descriptions of the effects of toxins. From arsenic to Veronal, she offers an alphabetical account of Christies fatal pharmacopeia, with descriptions of symptoms, antidotes and anecdotes of real-life murders. So precise were Christies descriptions of the effects of poisoning that the lives of two people were saved when their symptoms were recognised by her readers in time for antidotes to be given. REST IN PIECES by Bess Lovejoy REST IN PIECES by Bess Lovejoy (Duckworth Overlook 10.99) What did journalist Hunter S. Thompson have in common with the 18th-century philosopher Jeremy Bentham? The answer is to be found in Bess Lovejoys cheerfully macabre volume of anecdotes about the curious fates of celebrity corpses. Surprisingly often, it turns out, the eventful lives of the famous were matched by the equally colourful adventures of their mortal remains after theyd died. Thompson spent a good deal of his life planning his own funeral a magnificent extravaganza in which his ashes were shot into the sky in a starburst of fireworks. And like Thompson, Bentham wanted his death to honour the principles by which he had lived. Following his philosophy of utilitarianism, he demanded his corpse should be dissected, then preserved and put to good use as an exhibit at the Anatomy Museum of University College, London, where it remains to this day. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS by Ruth Whippman THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS by Ruth Whippman (Windmill Books 9.99) When the journalist and film-maker Ruth Whippman moved to California, she found herself surrounded by people obsessed with happiness. Discovering that Americans as a whole invest more time, money and energy in chasing happiness than any other nation on Earth, Ruth decided to undertake her own quest. It wasnt easy: a seminar with the self-help group the Landmark Forum involved a bullying hard sell; workplace happiness training in Silicon Valley seemed sinisterly bent on blurring the lines between work and personal life. Meanwhile, social media turns happiness into a challenge that excludes anyone whose life isnt perfect, and the parenting happiness rat race is as grim as it sounds. HISTORY SIKUNDER BURNES: MASTER OF THE GREAT GAME by Craig Murray (Birlinn 25) Craig Murray was controversially sacked as British Ambassador to Uzbekistan in 2004. Murray had revealed that Britain was receiving information gained from victims of the barbaric tortures inflicted by the Uzbek state an early sign that MI6 was involved in the gruesome practice of so-called extraordinary rendition, the kidnap and torture of terror suspects. Spy and adventurer: Alexander Burnes was killed in Kabul In the months that followed, he found himself accused of drunkenness, financial corruption and issuing British visas in exchange for sexual favours. Today, the British establishment continues to regard Murray as a scoundrel; others prefer to see him as a radical hero in the tradition of Roger Casement, the British diplomat who blew the whistle on Belgian atrocities in the Congo and was executed for treason for his role in the Irish independence struggle. Since his sensational departure from the Foreign Office, Murray has established himself as an author, blogger and well-informed critic of British foreign policy. His latest book is a rollicking life of Alexander Burnes, the British adventurer, diplomat, warrior and spy, whose life was straight out of George MacDonald Frasers Flashman novels. A great-nephew of Scotlands national poet Robert Burns, Alexander was only 16 when he signed up for the private army of the East India Company. A brilliant linguist, he was soon dispatched on a series of secret missions through Persia, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the Punjab and Sindh in modern Pakistan. He often travelled in disguise, taking incredible risks. Murray identifies with his subject, perhaps not least for the way that Burnes inveigled himself into the harems of the rulers he visited along the way. However, there was a deadly serious purpose to his travels. The British were convinced the Russians planned to send an army across the Khyber Pass to conquer India. The aim of Burness exploration was to survey the terrain and assess tribal alliances in order to combat the Russian menace. 1 Number of British survivors out of 4,500 soldiers inthe 1842 retreat from Kabul Advertisement Burnes argued that Britain should ally with Afghan ruler Dost Mohammad Khan in order to create a barrier against Russia. However, his bosses overruled him. They believed the only way of stopping a Russian invasion was by getting rid of Khan altogether and replacing him with a puppet ruler supposedly loyal to Britain. In 1839, with many misgivings, Burnes agreed to play a leading role in a military expedition to overthrow Khan, a man he liked and admired. At first, the British Army met with success. Kabul fell, and by the summer of 1840, British forces were in occupation of the Afghan capital and the puppet ruler was duly installed. However, deposed Khan proved an astute enemy and his Afghan tribes combined to rise up against the invader. The story of Burnes ends with him being hacked to death by a tribal mob in his home in Kabul the prelude to a grisly period which saw the expulsion of all British soldiers from Afghanistan. He was only 36. The parallel with Britains 21st-century overseas misfortunes are astonishing. Murray shows how Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston, architect of the Afghan invasion, deliberately misrepresented Burness advice to persuade MPs of the case for invasion. The comparison with Tony Blair and Sir John Scarletts dodgy dossier ahead of the 2003 Iraq invasion is even more mind-boggling. SIKUNDER BURNES: MASTER OF THE GREAT GAME by Craig Murray (Birlinn 25) Like Blair and Scarlett, Palmerston paid no price for his deception, rising to become one of Britains most celebrated prime ministers. It is also remarkable that nearly 170 years after Burness death, British forces were once again dragged into Afghanistan. Tony Blairs calamitous decision to send British troops to Helmand Province in the south of the country led to a similar uprising to that by the very Afghan tribes which did for Burnes in 1841. And today, just as in 1841, the British military and political establishments are convulsed by Russophobia. Apart from its scholarly merits, Murrays book is a terrific read. He has done full justice to the life of a remarkable British hero, without ignoring his faults. M urray shows, for instance, how in Burness final months he grew arrogant, aloof and brutal as his personality was warped by the fatal decision to invade Afghanistan. Yet Murray challenges the established view, accepted by all modern historians, that Burnes inflamed Afghan opposition by taking liberties with the native women. He certainly does not challenge the notion that Burnes was a womaniser, but he shows that, alive to the danger of alienating Afghan pride, Burnes brought with him to Kabul a harem of beautiful Kashmiri women to cater for his needs. For all his failings, Burnes remains one of the great heroes of the British imperial adventure, and Murray has done him proud. India's child protection agency has urged parents not to let children take part in potentially dangerous religious rituals, after a teenager who fasted for 68-days died. The appeal follows public outcry over the death of 13-year-old Aradhana Samdariya from the minority Jain community in the southern city of Hyderabad. She died due to cardiac arrest on October 3, a day after her family held a procession in which she rode on a chariot dressed in bridal finery to celebrate the end of the ritual of surviving only on water. Scroll down for video Aradhana Samdariya, 13, died after her family allegedly forced her to observe 'chaturmas fast' for 68 days "We are appealing to all communities to ensure that they do not adopt customs and rituals like fasting or self flagellation that will harm their children," Stuti Kacker, chairman of the National Commission for the Protection of Child's Rights told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "There is an urgent need to change mindsets." The commission has drawn up a plan to raise awareness about religious rituals that it says children shouldn't be involved in for their own safety. These range from self-flagellation and festivals in which tongues, cheeks and skin are pierced to walking on embers and child marriage. Kacker said spiritual leaders would be called upon to help make sure such incidents don't happen again. Child rights activists have called for the arrest of Samdariya's parents on charges of murder, saying they likely coerced her into participating in the fast. The class 10 St Francis school pupil's parents, devoted followers of Jainism, a religion that celebrates acts of renunciation, have denied they forced her to fast during the holy period of Chaumasa, observed from July. "The parents should have known better," said Achyuta Rao of child rights charity Balala Hakkula Sangham, which filed a police complaint. "In cases of hunger strike also, the police shift people to hospitals after a few days to make sure they don't die. This was just a 13-year-old girl. How can parents get away by saying the fast was voluntary?" The Communist Party of India has also written to the Supreme Court, asking them to "take appropriate measures to stop this absurd orthodoxy". Police have registered a case of culpable homicide against the parents. They are also seeking legal advice on whether to arrest them, given that the body has been cremated without a postmortem. Chaturmas is a holy period followed by the Jain community in which the Jain saints fast and pray "Her parents are in deep sorrow. No parent wishes this on their child," said Lalit Gandhi, president of the All India Jain Minority Cell. "Many of our children go on short fasts of 10 to 20 days. It is a normal ritual. This incident was very unfortunate but certainly not intentional." Gandhi added that the incident has started a debate within the community on whether children should be allowed to go on fasts at all. "We are discussing it with our spiritual leaders," he said. It's not the first time that religious rituals and festivals in India have come under scrutiny. In November last year, there was also public outcry when a picture emerged of a small boy with a gash in his head as part of a Shi'ite Muslim Ashura ritual in Mumbai. Similar photos emerged of children smearing themselves in blood on the streets of Chennai earlier this month, with one little girl's head being held as she too prepared to have her scalp sliced open. The tradition, which commemorates the death of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, in battle 1,300 years ago, is seen by some Shi'ite Muslims as away of washing away their sins. It is marked by 10 days of mourning, in which many devotees whip and cut themselves with chains and knives and some drive knives into their scalps and is seen as a way of washing away their sins. Similar scenes are witnessed in Muslim countries including Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan each year. An Shia Muslim boy stares intently at a sharp knife before he is flagellated during the mourning procession As a child cries in the background covered in blood, this young girl is preparing to feel a blade slice open her skin The pictures were taken in Chennai earlier this month during the mourning procession on the tenth day of Muharram, which marks the day of Ashura The act of punishing oneself is part of the Muslim festival, and as the women line the streets beating their chests, topless men and boys whip themselves with knives and razorblades leaving to give themselves nasty back wounds A 22-year-old man was allegedly caught red-handed by locals performing an act of bestiality on a dog he had choked to death in Hyderabad. The suspect has reportedly confessed to killing the animal and having sex with the dead canine alongside another man, according to the Times of India. The incident is said to have happened at about 7am on Monday in Shastripuram, Mailardevpally. Scroll down for video Photo for representation: A pregnant dog was allegedly killed by a man who then had sex with its carcass with an accomplice In a seperate case of animal cruelty earlier this week, a motorist has been captured on camera 'deliberately' running over a dog in Mumbai "We have sent the carcass of the pregnant canine to the government veterinary hospital at Rajendranagar for post mortem," Mailardevpally sub-inspector (SI) J Nagachary told the Times of India. He added that the accused "claimed that the other man killed the dog and had sex before him". The suspect, thought to be from Delhi, reportedly arrived in the state at the weekend As the dog writhed around in agony, other pooches were seen rushing over to help it Police are understood to have taken the suspect, thought to be from Delhi, to a hospital for tests and registered a case against him and the other man under sections 429 (mischief by killing or maiming an animal) and 377 (unnatural offence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The man caught by locals was arrested and a manhunt has been launched to find the other accused in the case. There has been increasing concern among animal rights activists in India following a string of high profile cruelty cases. The dog, which suffered a broken back and limbs, was taken to a veterinary clinic Earlier this week, footage emerged of a motorist 'deliberately' running over a sunbathing dog - who he believed had urinated on his car. The video shows the driver running over the animal after coming out of a car park in Mumbai. Witness Nanda Mahadik took the dog, which suffered a broken back and limbs, to a veterinary clinic. The dog has now been transferred to a specialist veterinary centre. The footage was posted on Facebook by Bala Mani and has been shared over 10,000 times. Meet Ashar, from PETA India, said police had issued an arrest warrant for the motorist. He said: 'We will be sending a letter to the employer of the accused about this gruesome act of animal cruelty'. In July, animal lovers were left shocked by a video apparently showing callous students throwing a helpless hound off the roof of a five storey building in Chennai. Although it suffered horrific injuries, it managed to survive the fall and the thugs responsible are thought to have handed themselves into police. There has been public uproar after news of this latest case of animal cruelty, allegedly involving the death of a dog and bestiality, broke In the footage - from Tamil Nadu - allegedly filmed by Ashish Paul, 23, classmate Gowtham Sudharshan, 23, poses to the camera before launching the dog off the side. The pair laugh as the dog lets out a tragic yelp when it hits the ground - before falling silent. It was believed that the animal had died at the scene but animal activists later found the dog alive and treated her injuries after naming her 'Bhadra'. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) youth workers have put up posters in various parts of Mumbai, blaming the Shiv Sena for the death of a penguin in the city. The campaign follows the death of an 18-month-old penguin on Sunday and targets the Sena, which is the leading partner in the ruling alliance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Posters have appeared outside the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar; Matoshri, which is Shiv Sena chief Udhav Thackerays residence in Bandra east; and near Byculla zoo, where the penguin died. One of eight Humboldt penguins that arrived at the city's Byculla zoo from South Korea on July 26 has died One of the posters shows a penguin pleading not to be brought to Mumbai again, after eight Humboldt penguins arrived in the city from South Korea on July 26. An NCP youth wing leader questioned the wisdom of keeping the endangered species in the harsh tropical climate of Mumbai. This is the pet project of Yuva Sena chief Aaditya, son of Uddhav Thackeray. MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) corporator Sandeep Deshpande has written to Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta demanding that the remaining seven Humboldts be immediately sent back to ensure their survival. Humboldt Penguins can only thrive in cold climates, and the MNS and environmentalists had been protesting against the arrival of such exotic creatures right from the beginning. An animal rights body called Humane Society International (HSI) India on Wednesday demanded an investigation into the permissions granted for import of the flightless birds. Comparisons are already being made to the needless death of 17-year-old gorilla, Harambe, at Cincinnati Zoo that sparked outrage in the US. Delhi is all set to take a leaf out of the Philippine capitals book on water resources management. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will soon replicate Manilas highly successful and world-renowned Walk-the-line campaign. Under this, at least 3,000 of its staff of varying ranks will walk the entire length of its pipeline network. People gather around a water tanker to fill their buckets in New Delhi - the project to repair leaks across the city's water network is set to improve supplies This amounts to no less than 14,000km from Narela in the north to Arjangarh in south Delhi. They will inspect it for leakages and points of contamination from mud and sewage, which will then be plugged and old pipes replaced. Officials hope that this exercise will lead to a partial refurbishment of the whole network system, resulting in smooth supplies for Delhiites in the summer of 2017. At present, DJB supplies 903 million gallons per day (MGD) of treated water to the citys 9.8 million population. Plastic containers are filled with drinking water earlier in the year when Delhi's water supply was affected when protesters damaged a key canal in a neighbouring state Of this, 40 per cent is lost in leakages due to old and corrosive pipes, and illegal pluggage points created by the citys poor and migrants who lack a water connection. In summers, the peak demand goes up to 1,080 MGD, creating a water crisis situation. DJB CEO, Keshav Chandra, told Mail Today: The citys raw water source is only Yamuna with few borewells. "So water supply has reached a plateau at 903 MGD and we definitely need ways to save what we get and augment our service. A resident pushes a bike loaded with containers filled with drinking water at a slum in New Delhi, India "While looking for suitable models, we found the Manila Walk-the-Line campaign. Its a simple solution, yet very effective. In the year 1997, after suffering water issues for decades, Manila decided to corporatise its Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). The private company that took over proposed the Walk-the-Line campaign, whereby officials involved locals in creating a database for leakages and fixing them. A woman carries a plastic container filled with drinking water from a water tanker at a slum in New Delhi, India The campaign was so successful that Manilas water loss reduced from a staggering 63 per cent in 1997 to 14.2 per cent in 2010. Chandra said: We are actually a step ahead of Manila. We already have a Geographic Information System (GIS) Map of our entire water pipeline network with some leakage points identified. Our officials will update this map. Furthermore, we are clubbing this exercise with a hydraulic modelling which would reveal if pipes of wrong dimension (meaning pipes of lesser capacity vis-a-vis the population it is catering to) are still in use. A man fills drinking water from a roadside hand pump in Kolkata, India. Across the country as a whole, international charity Water Aid says 75.8 million people are forced to either buy water at high rates or use supplies that are contaminated with sewage or chemicals "All old and defunct pipes made of galvanised iron will now be replaced with High Density Polyethylene (HDP) and Medium Density Polyethylene (MDP) pipes." Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra said: Though Delhis water problem is age-old, unfortunately nothing has been done about it in the past decades. It is very important to restore public confidence now. I believe this Walk-the-Line campaign would prove fruitful here. On October 6, the Australian government expelled leading Pakistani cleric Muhammad Raza SaQib Mustafai for advocating that all Jews should be killed to establish world peace. Mustafai has said the following on record: Jews are the enemies of Islam As long as there are Jews in this world, peace cannot be established in the whole world. Mustafai is not alone. Hatred of Jews is rooted in Islamic history. It is also taught by Islamic clerics in India. Over the past centuries, the enmity between Muslims and Jews has developed into lasting hatred that has become part of the global Muslim consciousness History A new book, Understanding Islam, by BB Kumar, carries four chapters on Islams experience with Jews. In the book devoted to the early Islamic era, he argues that Prophet Muhammad expected not only the assent, but the enthusiastic support of the Jews for Islam but the Jews stubbornly resisted every attempt to convert them to Islam. When repeated attempts to convert (them) failed, Kumar writes, there was parting of the ways between the two. The ouster and destruction of the Jews followed. Muhammad Raza SaQib Mustafai is pictured being greeted at Sydney Airport When the Prophet migrated to Medina, three Jewish tribes - Al-Nadir, Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Qurayza - lived in the citys neighbourhood. Two of them were expelled while up to 900 adult members of Banu Qurayza were massacred despite having surrendered. The author notes how numerous Quranic verses disparaged Jews in the eyes of Muslims. Citing Sahih Muslim, a book of Hadiths (sayings of the Prophet), Kumar quotes the Prophet as saying: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim(s). Kumar, whose book is based on Islamic sources and the works of reputed authors, cites six reasons for the enmity that ensued between Muslims and Jews: I) a refusal to recognise Muhammad as the prophet, II) inconvenient questions asked by Jewish rabbis, III) resurgent Islam was not ready to accept any other creed, IV) the expulsion and destruction of Jews was politically needed by the Prophet, V) Jews unsympathetic behaviour towards poor Meccan refugees; and VI) expulsion of Jews made local resources available for war and for the Muslims who came from Mecca. Pakistani Australian leaders have denounced Mr Mustafai's words in the 2012 video Enmity Over the past centuries, this enmity between Muslims and Jews has developed into lasting hatred that has become part of the global Muslim consciousness, despite the fact that there have been times when Jews were treated well by some Muslim rulers. In present times, Morocco treats its Jews well. However, overall it will not be inaccurate to say that Muslim children grow up nursing a negative view of Jews. Some Muslim politicians and Islamic clerics in India nurse a hatred of Jews, often also failing to distinguish between Jews, Israel and Zionism. On September 12, leading the Eid-ul-Azha (Feast of the Sacrifice) prayers at Marine Drive in Kochi, Islamic cleric Ismail Kangarappady blamed imperialists, Zionists and fascists for creating the Islamic State (ISIS) to defame Islam. One cannot even regard the ISIS as an Islamic terrorist outfit. The ideals they propagate have nothing to do with real Islam, Ismail Kangarappady told the worshipers. Coverage According to Roznama Urdu Times of July 24, Rashtriya Janata Dal politician Ashfaqur Rahman, speaking in Patna, blamed the Zionist secret agency Mossad and self-proclaimed domestic nationalist RSS for the Indian medias reports on Zakir Naiks role in radicalisation of Muslims. A promotional image for Mr Mustafai's speaking tour of Australia Roznama Inquilab of August 8 carried a four-column report titled: ISIS is an anti-Islam mischief birthed by the Jews. As per the report, Islamic cleric Maulana Mustaqeem Ahsan Azmi described the Jews as the worlds most devious nation. Of the three Jewish tribes, the massacre of Banu Quraiza is barbaric. The fighters had laid siege to the Banu Quraiza for 25 days due to which their children and women were hungry, thirsty and distressed. They surrendered, offered to leave their property behind and begged to be allowed to leave. But 900 of their adult men were massacred after verifying that they had grown pubic hair. This massacre is justified by Islamists even now by saying that Judaic laws also prescribed such punishment. For example, Roznama Urdu Times of August 26 gave a laudatory headline marking the massacre and described it as a Ghazwa (holy war) Ghazwa-e- Banu Quraiza When Muslims for the first time sent Jews to the guillotine. See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome Manohar Parrikar gave approval for creation of three new posts of ADGs for The Indian Army may have been seeking parity with babus in terms of status and salary, but when it comes to giving equal treatment to civilians working under them, they are not so generous. While military officers are complaining over downgrading of their status vis-a-vis civilian officers in the Defence Ministry headquarters, they are creating obstacles for appointment of civilian officers over them in the Military Engineering Services (MES). In an apparent attempt to maintain Army officers superiority in the MES, Armys Engineer- in-Chief is not even implementing Defence Ministrys orders to appoint three Additional Director Generals there. The MES is one of the largest government construction organisations, undertaking works worth over Rs 16,000 crore annually, which is much more than the work done by the Central Public Welfare Department (Picture for representation) The MES is one of the largest government construction organisation which carries out works worth over Rs 16,000 crore annually, which is much more than the work done by the Central Public Welfare Department (CPWD). The MES is an inter-service organisation and functions directly under the Defence Ministry and is manned by both civilian and military officers. However, MES is headed by a Lt General-rank Army officer known as the Engineer-in-Chief. According to civilian officials of the Indian Defence Service of Engineers cadre, their officers were under-utilised and despite their seniority, they were not involved in any decision-making or policy formulation in MES. Based on the frequent complaints and representations by officers of Indian Defence Service of Engineers Association (IDSE), Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar gave approval for creation of three new posts of ADGs for our officers, the officials said. In view of the given directions, Defence Ministrys Joint Secretary (Works and Lands) Manish Thakur- an IAS officer, issued an order on August 16, stating: Defence Ministry has approved the creation of posts of Additional Director General (North-east Infrastructure) for overseeing work of Command Chief Engineering Services of Army located in the North-east. Based on the frequent complaints of Indian Defence Service of Engineers Association (IDSE), Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar gave approval for the creation of three new posts of ADGs Similarly, the Ministry also informed the Engineer-in-Chief that approval has been granted for creation of such posts in the Coast Guard and Northern Command also and the orders should be carried out with immediate effect. Military officers in the MES not only defied the Defence Ministry orders, but are also trying to get the orders scrapped in their favour, the officials alleged. Military officers in MES contend that the Defence Ministry move may prove to be counter productive and may create command and control problems in the organisations functioning. Civilian officers claim that the Army officers looking after MES functioning in military commands also have combat responsibilities, and IDES officers would have helped in reducing their work load. The conflict situation in MES has led to a situation in field areas where civilian and military officers are not taking orders from each other and are waiting for the issues to be resolved at the top level, adversely impacting the functioning of the MES, the officers alleged. The two warring factions have now reached the Defence Ministers court after the civilian officials complained. Manohar Parrikar is now trying to settle the issues between the two parties, Defence Ministry officials said. It is learnt that the Minister has held meetings with the Engineer- in-Chief to resolve the issue for the smooth functioning of the Defence Ministry agency. Despite the continuing India-Pakistan tensions and a volatile border situation where Pakistani forces continue to violate the ceasefire, Islamabad has decided to take part in the Heart of Asia (HoA) conference on Afghanistan in Amritsar, on December 4. The conference aims at speeding up reconstruction in war-torn Afghanistan and bringing peace and normalcy to the nation. Though in India many would be tempted to focus primarily on the visit of the Pakistani delegation, the HoA conference will see participation from around 14 countries - Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the UAE. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj makes a speech on the first day of the Heart of Asia conference in Islamabad in 2015 Target The HoA process, which is being supported by the wider international community, originated under the aegis of the Istanbul Conference in November 2011. This underscored the need for regional cooperation and confidence-building to resolve underlying problems facing Afghanistan and anchoring the states development in a regional environment that is stable, economically integrated and conducive to shared prosperity. India, too, has repeatedly underscored the need for improving connectivity in the region to help Afghanistan harness its trade and transit potential. But for Pakistan, this participation will largely be about showcasing its positive involvement in the larger regional reconstruction. For a nation that is now more isolated than it has ever been, it is a foreign policy imperative to underline its positive role in Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, left, walks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif upon his arrival at Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan The HoA conference comes at a time when Afghanistan has taken an increasingly hard-line position vis-a-vis Pakistan, and unflinchingly supported the Modi governments agenda of envisioning regional cooperation in South Asia by marginalising Islamabad. It was the Afghan government which first suggested that South Asian states should come together to boycott the SAARC summit in Islamabad over Pakistans role in destabilising the neighbourhood. In his address to a joint session of Afghanistans two houses of parliament earlier this year, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had threatened to lodge a formal complaint against Pakistan. In a departure from his earlier stand, Ghani called on Pakistan to forego attempts to bring the Taliban to negotiations and take military action against the terrorist groups. Despite Pakistans repeated assertions that it would go after Taliban, negotiations have repeatedly been stalled and deadly attacks in Afghanistan have increased with the Taliban carrying out their offensives. The government in Kabul is also struggling to hold the overdue parliamentary elections this fall, amid the worsening security situation. American commanders have asked Washington that US troop numbers remain at the current 9,800, and not drop to about 5,500 by the end of the year. Political tensions are rising with Afghan Vice-President General Abdul Rashid Dostum accusing President Ashraf Ghani of treating him and the Afghan Uzbek minority he represents like the enemy, issuing veiled threats of violence if the situation doesnt improve. Politics Dostum complained that the government wasnt providing sufficient security assistance to northern Afghanistan to deal with the Taliban, taking a swipe at senior security officials by saying that, leadership and management are non-existent. Dostum also appeared to issue a challenge to NATO countries, warning them vaguely that another bomb might explode here, they should be wise. Amid all this is Pakistan, which for fear of India has continued to scuttle even those regional initiatives that seem purely commercial. Its military-intelligence-complex has monopolised the discourse to an extent where Islamabad sees no win-win situations. Its objective is to ensure that India doesnt win, even if it means a loss for the entire region. In that spirit, Pakistan has repeatedly blocked the use of its roads for trade between Afghanistan and India. In a departure from his earlier stand, Ghani called on Pakistan to forego attempts to bring the Taliban to negotiations and take military action against the terrorist groups. (File picture) This has resulted in growing ill-will for Pakistan in Afghanistan, even as the latters relations with India continue to deepen. Every day that ordinary Afghans lose opportunities for easy, direct trade with India, Pakistan generates more resentment among them. Initiatives Indias policy vis-a-vis Afghanistan also needs to evolve with these changing ground realities. New Delhi has been demanding dismantling of safe havens and terror sanctuaries in the region, besides pressing for deeper engagement of various stakeholders for Kabuls stability and security. That is easier said than done. Indian interests are being repeatedly targeted in Afghanistan. The attack on the Indian consulate in Jalalabad in March this year had been the fourth such assault since 2007. Other Indian consulates in Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif and the one in Kabul have also been attacked. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Afghanistan to inaugurate the new Afghan Parliament and the decision to gift Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghan forces were meant to underline Indias seriousness to preserve its equities in the troubled neighbourhood. Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani listens a reporter's question during a press briefing with Sartaj Aziz, an adviser to Pakistan's prime minister India signed the TAPI pipeline agreement to showcase its continuing commitment to Afghanistans economic viability. India has also signed a deal to develop the strategic port of Chabahar in Iran and agreed on a three-nation pact to build a transport-and-trade corridor through Afghanistan that could potentially reduce the time and cost of doing business with Central Asia and Europe. New Delhi has so far shown an unusual tenacity in its dealings with Kabul. It now needs to move beyond the binary of economic and military engagement and evolve a comprehensive policy which involves all dimensions of power. Afghanistan is a tough country, and only those who are willing to fight on multiple fronts will be able to preserve their leverage. Two days after the fierce encounter in Malkangiri district of Odisha in which 27 Maoists including several of its top leaders were killed, the Left Wing extremists are looking for revenge. The CPI (Maoist) on Thursday issued a threat in which they have pledged to target Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his son N. Lokesh following the encounter on the AP-Orissa border. In a press release sent to the media and signed by CPI (M), Andhra Pradesh State committee official spokesperson Shyam said Naidu escaped the attempt on his life at Alipiri (Chittoor district) in October 2003, but he would not be able to escape this time. CPI (Maoist) have issued a statement threatening to kill CM N Chandrababu Naidu (left) and his son N Lokesh (right) If necessary, we will use a suicide bomber to attack you. No police or military force can save you this time, the release addressing Naidu reads. N Chandrababu Naidus Alipiri escape was a miraculous one, with minor injuries while three more members who were sitting in the convey were injured and rushed to hospital. Maoist leader Hari Bhushan (centre/ back to the camera) is interviewed by a journalist in a training camp in a forested area of Bijapur District in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh Suspected Peoples War naxalites exploded improvised claymore mines targeting Naidus motorcade on the Tirumala ghat road. Alleging that Andhra Pradesh chief minister is behind the killings in Malkangiri, Shyam said the Maoists were poisoned before they were indiscriminately shot at. Shyam also stated that Maoist-turned gangster Nayeem, who was recently killed by the Telangana police near Hyderabad was also groomed to kill Chandrababu Naidu. Female partners, large sums of money, and expensive gifts: these were the tools used by a ring of Pakistani spies to lure Indian defence personnel and extract sensitive details about the deployment of forces. The multiple ISI modules running across the country have their headquarters inside the safe confines of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi. The revelations emerged after the Delhi Police crime branch detained a Pakistan embassy staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar, and arrested two Rajasthan residents over allegations of spying and stealing defence-related documents. Subhash Jangir (left) and Maulana Ramzan, who were arrested for alleged espionage activities, at Delhi Police headquarters on Thursday Crime branch sleuths are also probing the role of two Delhi-based women, who were alleged to be too friendly with embassy staffer Mehmood Akhtar. Officials are trying to establish if they were used to gather defence-related classified information. Akhtar was declared persona non grata for espionage activities and asked to leave India. But, Pakistan cried foul, saying Akhtar was not involved in any espionage activity. However, cops have recovered sensitive documents from Akhtars possession including a fake Aadhaar card. According to a senior police officer, ISI operatives were using women to lay 'honey traps' for defence personnel. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and crime branch are now scanning the operations of directorate of defence forces and paramilitary forces as they are the ones who handle sensitive information about exact deployment and the movement of soldiers across the frontiers. ISI has frequently used 'honey trap' techniques to compromise Indian officers. In December last year, Indian Air Force (IAF) officer Ranjith KK was arrested from Punjabs Bathinda city as he allegedly passed on secret information to a honey trap agent set by the Pakistani agency. The spies had created a fake profile in the name of Damini McNaught, who claimed to be an executive of a UK-based media firm. McNaught claimed that she required IAF-related information for an article she was writing for a news magazine. Pakistan's national flag blows in the wind at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi The role of several defence and BSF personnel is under the scanner over suspicions of having leaked sensitive documents to the two arrested men, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Nagaur in Rajasthan. Shoaib, a Jodhpur-based passport agent allegedly involved in the espionage racket, was detained near his home town this evening, police said. Akhtar was strategically posted at the visa department of the high commission so that he could cultivate possible recruits. The two women and those arrested from Rajasthan came in touch with Akhtar when they approached the Pakistan embassy for visa. His main job was to spread his tentacles of influence across Gujarat and Rajasthan. "Akhtar was an important asset of the ISI as he was a havildar in the 40 Baluch Regiment of the Pakistan army. "He was recruited and trained by the ISI three years ago," said an officer. Akhtar trapped poor and needy people to work for the ISI by promising them money and easy access in Pakistan. The Indians were deployed to gather secret information about the movement of Indian forces. Akhtar would meet the spies at some public place once a month and pay them a minimum of Rs 30,000 for each piece of information. The concern is that Indian military personal are being 'honey trapped' into revealing secret information about the movement of Indian forces A senior officer said they have found the involvement of at least 10 other staffers of the embassy, but since they have not been caught red-handed criminal action against them have not been initiated. But the ministry of external affairs has been informed about the conduct of the other people. Technical surveillance and physical shadowing was used for several months to track Akhtars movements. "Though he had been cultivating sources for a long time and meeting them at public places in Delhi this was the only second time that he was exchanging bundles of documents near Delhi zoo, said Delhi Police officials. An Indian soldier keeps watch over the army barracks Gingal Uri, Kashmir On being arrested, Akhtar said he was an Indian citizen and showed an Aadhaar card bearing a Chandni Chowk address. When probed further, he claimed he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. Police then contacted the foreign ministry and Pakistani officials identified him. Cops found information related to the deployment of the Indian Army and BSF in border areas. Akhtar had maps of BSF movement in his possession. See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ruling BJPs ideological fountainhead, has termed triple talaq an internal problem of the Muslim community, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the instant divorce law is destroying women's lives. While the Sangh condemned gender-based discrimination, it also pushed for the Uniform Civil Code adding that cultural traditions and social fabric must also be respected. Speaking at the end of the Hyderabad meet of the RSSs All India Executive Council, or the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (ABKM), the outfits second-in-command Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi also expressed concern at the recent spate of brutal communal violence by radical jihadi elements and the inaction of state governments of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The RSS, the ruling BJPs ideological fountainhead, has termed triple talaq an internal problem of the Muslim community, days after PM Modi said the instant divorce law is destroying women's lives. What is triple talaq? Triple talaq is a controversial practice called the talaq or 'triple-talaq' whereby if a man's wife is not menstruating, a husband may divorce her by saying, 'I divorce you, I divorce you, I divorce you,' effectively throwing her out on the street. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the instant divorce law is destroying women's lives in India. The woman no no rights under Islamic law, once a marriage is consummated, to divorce her husband without his permission. Advertisement The issue of triple talaq is an internal problem of the Muslim community. "Discrimination based on gender is not right. Its a challenge before the society to safeguard interest of women and society should review it closely. "The judiciary should take a humane approach while deliberating on this issue, Joshi said. The development comes on the heels of the Supreme Court last year initiating a historic exercise to examine if controversial practices such as instance divorce and polygamy allowed by Islamic personal law results in gender discrimination. Triple talaq is a controversial practice called the talaq or 'triple-talaq' whereby if a man's wife is not menstruating, a husband may divorce her by saying, 'I divorce you, I divorce you, I divorce you,' effectively throwing her out on the street Since then a number of Muslim women have come forward to challenge the legitimacy of the practices. Triple talaq has been banned in more than 20 Muslim countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. Modi this week criticised the practice that allows a Muslim man to part from his wife by saying "I divorce you" three times, in a speech in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. On the long-standing right-wing demand for a Uniform Civil Code for the country, Joshi said, Law must be upheld without discrimination and without disturbing cultural traditions and social fabric". The Sangh though came down heavily on whether or not Pakistani artists should be allowed in India. Art is universal and so is an artists domain. However, when the artist refuses to respect our country, why should he or she be allowed? Joshi asked. The RSS was mellow on the Ram temple issue that has come into prominence ahead of the 2017 UP polls. Its a matter thats close to heart of Hindu society and has been in the Sanghs focus for over 30 years. After the Allahabad High Court judgment, it is clear that the Ram Mandir should be built there. Joshi mentioned that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had elaborately explained the organisations view of Gau Seva and Gauraksha "However, we are waiting for the Supreme Court to deliver its verdict. Joshi confined the majority-minority chasm in the country to the realm of politics, denying that the divide actually exists. The Constitution begins by stating We the People of India. The distinction between minority-majority does not find place in our Constitution. "By twisting the meaning, we have ended up in minority-majority politics". The Sangh though came down heavily on whether or not Pakistani artists should be allowed in India (pictured - filmmaker Karan Johar) The Sangh reiterated its support for cow protection that has emerged as a contentious issue in recent months with sporadic violence perpetrated by vigilantes on suspected cow killers or smugglers. Joshi mentioned that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had elaborately explained the organisations view of Gau Seva and Gauraksha. Gauraksha should not only be viewed from a religious angle, but we must also take into consideration that the desi-gau (desi-cow) forms the backbone of Indias rural economy. "Deterioration of soil due to excessive use of pesticides can be addressed only by cow-based farming". The sarkaryavah also backed the Narendra Modi government on the Armys surgical strikes in PoK. For national security, the government took a strong decision and the Army bravely executed it. HSBC's vastly wealthy head of global banking Matthew Westerman has been throwing his ample girth around since arriving from Goldman Sachs in May. Having cleared out several senior members of staff, he's now ruffled feathers by implementing an Orwellian-sounding system, which tracks how bankers use their time, how many clients they visit and how many deals they bring in. Is pinguid Westerman, 51, carefully setting out his stall? He's mooted as the bank's next chief when brusque Stuart Gulliver finally shuffles off. The fate of British steel, battered by cut-price Chinese imports, is of great concern to the Queen. I'm reliably informed HM has instructed courtiers to keep her abreast of developments in the crisis-hit industry. Did the bungling Duke of York raise the subject during his visit to China this week, I wonder? We must excuse steelworkers who aren't entirely brimming with confidence if so. Barclays 8.25million-a-year boss Jes Staley was chatty and affable with journalists as he announced the bank's third-quarter results yesterday. Quite unlike his equally well-remunerated Lloyds counterpart, Antonio Horta-Osorio, who the day before made his first media appearance since his alleged tryst with sexy femmes d'affaires Dr Wendy Piatt. Tetchy and irritable, the erstwhile smoothy, 52, behaved like he had a hornet in his tights. Trouble a casa Antonio? Deutsche Bank trader Selasi Gbormittah, who was eliminated from the BBC's Great British Bake Off semi-final, was said on this week's final episode to be embarking on an 'epic motorbike trip around Europe'. Has the charming Ghanaian packed in his job in the city? 'No comment,' says a Deutsche spokesman. Faced with a whopping 11.5bn fine for mis-selling securities, it's possible there may be more pressing matters being dealt with at the struggling bank. Incoming Moneysupermarket boss, stylish ex-John Lewis retail director Mark Lewis, says he's looking forward to delivering 'a clear mission' to customers of the price comparison website. Private hands: The Government reduces its Lloyds stake to under 9% BANK STOCK The Government has reduced its stake in Lloyds to under 9 per cent as it seeks to put the bank back into private hands. Ministers have disposed of around 635million shares worth 357million since October last year. The Government, which took a 43 per cent stake in the bank in a 20.5billion bailout during the financial crisis, has now recovered nearly 17billion by selling shares. CIDER CHEER Magners maker C&C is on the acquisition trail after the falling value of sterling boosted its financial firepower. The Irish drinks maker, whose brands also include Bulmers and Tennent's, posted an 8 per cent fall in operating profit to 49million for the six months to August, due to higher marketing costs. MEDIA LISTING Snapchat wants to raise as much as 3.3billion in a stock market listing, which could value the social media giant at up to 28billion. The photo-sharing app is thought to be aiming for a float in New York in the first quarter of next year. It would be the biggest social media listing since Twitter in 2013. CHIEF LEAVES BHP Billiton has revealed its chief commercial officer, who led the miner's response to the Samarco dam disaster, will leave the company after four decades. Dean Dalla Valle has been based in Brazil since the Fundao dam collapse last November, which led to the death of 19 people. Shares fell 1 per cent, or 12.5p to 1227.5p. BUMP START The fall in the value of the pound has helped car dealership Inchcape deliver a bumper update. The firm, which sells vehicles in Europe and Asia as well as the UK, posted a 15 per cent increase in third-quarter revenue to 2billion. The shares were unchanged at 643.5p. REVENUE RISE RELX, the information and research firm that used to be called Reed Elsevier, posted a 4 per cent rise in revenues during the first nine months of the year. The FTSE 100 firm said it had bought 15 data and exhibition firms during the period costing 330million. Shares rose 2.3 per cent, or 33p to 1462p. PROFITS SOAR Biomass and aviation giant Stobart Group has struck a deal with Cityjet that will see the regional airline operate a base at the Stobart-owned London Southend airport. Stobart half-year profit rose to 10.8million from 600,000. Shares rose 1 per cent, or 1.5p to 155.75p. ASSETS MOVE Retail investors pulled 1billion out of asset manager Henderson Group in the three months to September 30. The FBI is searching for a man who they say robbed an Oklahoma bank while wearing a T-shirt depicting a cat posing for a mugshot. The FBI says the robbery happened Monday afternoon at a BancFirst bank in Norman, about 20 miles south of Oklahoma City. Special Agent-in-Charge Kathryn Peterson says a man walked into the bank and gave a teller a note demanding money, then ran off with the cash. The FBI is searching for a man who they say robbed an Oklahoma bank while wearing a T-shirt depicting a cat posing for a mugshot Video courtesy of KJRH Peterson says the man's note said he had a gun but no weapon was observed. The FBI says the man was wearing a black shirt featuring a cat posing for a jail booking photo. The FBI says the suspected bank robber also wore dark sunglasses and cargo shorts. The FBI says the suspected bank robber also wore dark sunglasses and cargo shorts The bizarre robbery follows an incident in July in which a transgender woman pulled off a bank heist just so she could return to prison. Linda Patricia Thompson pleaded guilty to a robbery charge after the heist in Wyoming. Thompson told a district court judge in Cheyenne that going back behind bars would be like going home. The 59-year-old was arrested July 27 after a US Bank branch in Cheyenne was robbed by a woman who tossed the money into the air outside and offered some to passers-by. Thompson was released in June from prison in Oregon, where she had served time on a robbery conviction. She said she unsuccessfully protested her release in Oregon. Thompson previously said she had suffered facial fractures after strangers beat her at a Cheyenne park last month. Garcia could face the death penalty after being found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder A former doctor could face the death penalty for murdering four people - including the 11-year-old son of a faculty member he blamed for firing him - in a horrific revenge attack. Anthony Garcia has been found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder. He stabbed Thomas Hunter, son of Creighton University School of Medicine faculty member Dr William Hunter, to death in 2008 at the family home in Omaha. Also killed in that attack was the family's housekeeper, 57-year-old Shirlee Sherman. Their bodies were discovered by Dr Hunter. He also was found guilty of two other murders in a separate incident five years later - the 2013 Mother's Day deaths of another Creighton pathology doctor, Roger Brumback, and his wife, Mary, both 65, in their Omaha home. Police said the stabbing patterns on the Brumbacks were strikingly similar to those on Thomas and Sherman - deaths that to that point had remained unsolved. If voters decide to keep Nebraska's death penalty on November 8, Garcia, 42, could be killed for his crimes. Alternatively he faces a life in jail. Thomas Hunter, 11, left, and housekeeper Shirlee Sherman, were killed by Garcia in 2008, as he blamed Dr William Hunter for his being fired Married doctors Roger and Mary Brumback were also murdered by Garcia five years later, and similarites between the killings led investigators to the killer Garcia, dressed in a gray suit, showed no emotion as the verdicts were read, and his mother sobbed quietly a couple of rows behind him. Miker Sherman, Shirlee's ex-husband and father of her children, said as he left the courtroom: 'Our justice system worked today.' Other family members of the victims and those of Garcia declined to comment after the verdict was announced. A police task force was formed to look into possible ties between the 2008 and 2013 murders. Mike Sherman, ex-husband of murder victim Shirlee Sherman, said: 'Our justice system worked today' Garcia, flanked by deputies at the Douglas County Court in Omaha, was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder Courtesy of WOWT News Investigators soon focused on Garcia, of Terre Haute, Indiana, who they said acted on his long-simmering rage over being fired by Dr Hunter and Brumback from the medical school's residency program in 2001. Prosecutors said Garcia blamed the doctors for informing other medical schools around the country of the firing, meaning he was not accepted to several of them, and he was also not approved for medical licenses in other states. Garcia's credit card purchases and cellphone records revealed he had been in and around Omaha on May 12, 2013, the day the Brumbacks were killed. Garcia, pictured at an earlier hearing, was arrested in 2013 after police discovered similarities between the two double murders and established a link to him Garcia was arrested on a southern Illinois highway about two months after the Brumback killings. A search of the Brumbacks' home address was found on Garcia's smartphone the day of their deaths, prosecutors said, and authorities linked him to an attempted break-in at another Creighton pathology department doctor's home earlier that day. In the 2008 Hunter home killings, neighborhood witnesses had told police they had seen an olive-skinned man in the neighborhood and at the door of William Hunter's home. The jury will reconvene tomorrow to decide if aggravating factors exist to merit the death penalty Family and friends of the victims, including Brad Waite (center), brother of Shirlee Sherman, were in court to hear the trial verdict They also reported a silver Honda CRV with out-of-state plates. Police later found that Garcia drove that type of vehicle in 2008, when he lived in and had the vehicle registered in Louisiana. Garcia's Chicago defense team accused police of carelessly handling evidence and questioning the truthfulness of an exotic dancer who testified that Garcia once told her he 'had killed a young boy and old woman'. Defense attorney Robert Motta Sr. strongly hinted that the cases were the work of an unknown serial killer instead - saying that a fifth victim in the area, who had nothing to do with Creighton, also died from neck stabbing. But the jury took just six hours over two days to find Garcia guilty of the murder and deadly weapon counts. Garcia's parents Estelle and Frederick Garcia, pictured with son Fernando, looked distraught after the former doctor was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder 'With what they had, the jury made their decision,' defense attorney Robert Motta Jr said, promising to appeal. 'It was a tough case.' The jury will reconvene tomorrow afternoon to determine whether aggravating factors exist to merit the death penalty. Prosecutors have cited several aggravating factors, including the number of killings, the heinous nature of the crimes and their belief that Garcia killed the victims to keep from being identified. She decapitated Anastasia Meshcheryakova and set her home on fire A nanny's admission that she beheaded a four-year-old child to avenge Vladimir Putin 'spilling the blood' of Muslims in Syria has been removed from the evidence at her Moscow trial. In shocking testimony soon after she decapitated the girl with a kitchen knife, Gyulchehra Bobokulova, 39, told her police interrogators that Kremlin military actions had triggered her horrific attack. After beheading helpless Anastasia Meshcheryakova, the burka-clad babysitter strode around the city waving the girl's severed head in the air, shouting 'Allah Akbar' and threatening to blow herself up. Her leaked statement on the murder, to which she immediately confessed on 29 February, suggested a direct political motive. Gyulchehra Bobokulova, the nanny who beheaded the four-year-old disabled girl she was caring for, will not be tried as a terrorist because she has been deemed mentally ill. Pictured: Bobokulova being brought into court Gruesome footage showed Bobokulova (pictured) parading the little girl's severed head through the streets of Moscow in February The Uzbek babysitter claimed God ordered her to kill Anastasia Meshcheryakova (pictured), four, but prosecutors in her case are not expected to submit evidence to suggest she is an extremist She also claimed God ordered her to kill the disabled girl. Clutching the severed head, she shouted: 'I am a terrorist' As her trial started this week, her court-appointed lawyer Alexander Goverdovsky revealed prosecutors will offer no evidence suggesting she acted under the influence of radical Islam or on behalf of a terror organisation. He told reporters that he 'did not see any information' suggesting such a motive in the case files which form the court testimony, which he has studied in detail. Instead, Bobokulova has been diagnosed with a 'chronic psychiatric disorder', namely paranoid schizophrenia, and ruled not mentally capable. The court is not expected to investigate whether she had any political or religious motive or whether her vendetta against Putin was a factor - despite her earlier statements. On Monday she told judge Viktoria Koteneva, 'I plead guilty', when asked how she responded to charges of murdering a child, arson, and making bomb threats. Soon after her trial began on Monday, the judge went into closed sessions, so the media and public could not follow it. Bobokulova's (right) court appointed lawyer revealed she has been ruled mentally incapable of standing trial after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia The court is no longer investigating whether the attack was politically or religiously motivated even though Bobokulova claimed she was avenging the Muslim blood spilled by Putin in Syria Bobokulova will most likely be sent to a psychiatric hospital rather than prison to undergo 'forced compulsory medical measures'. In her initial testimony - which was leaked to the Moscow media - she told an unnamed police investigator that she had a clear motive. She said: 'I took revenge. Putin spilled [the blood], he bombed with planes. Why on Muslim people? Why are you bombing? She also claimed to have watched beheadings by militant groups on her computer, saying: 'I saw online how they were cutting off heads. This hatred. 'I saw how they cut off heads and I did it. There was a voice in my head: "Do it to the girl". I killed the girl, yes. But I don't need treatment.' Anti-Putin campaigner Anexei Navalny has claimed that Bobokulova looked lucid and 'not very crazy'. But Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: 'I'm not an expert or a judge but it is obvious that we are definitely talking about a woman who is mentally unsound. 'You need to regard anything that such a deranged woman says accordingly.' The court will investigate whether Bobokulova was 'pushed over the edge' after finding out her husband already had a wife. Pictured: Anastia's decapitated body in her cot The little girl's mother Ekaterina Meshcheryakova (left) and father Vladimir (right) have been left devastated by the loss of their cherished daughter Bobokulova's teenage son Rakhmatillo claims his mother became radicalised after meeting her husband and told him of her plans to join ISIS in Syria. Pictured: The Moscow flat she burned down after killing little Anastasia The court will instead hear evidence that she became upset because she found out that her Tajik lover, Mamur Dzhurakulov, who she married under Sharia Law, already had a wife. This 'pushed her towards the crime', it is claimed. The Investigative Committee - Russian equivalent of the FBI - will tell the court that there is no evidence she committed the crime at the behest of a terrorist group or was in touch with militants. Her teenage son Rakhmatillo testified to say his mother became radicalised after meeting 48-year-old Dzhurakulov . He said she told him of her plans to go to join ISIS, adding:'She told me that she wanted to do the Hajj and move to Syria because she would be able to wear a hijab, live in line with Sharia Law, study Islamic law. 'Once I'd trained in a militant camp, I could become a mujahedin fighter and do jihad.' Media reports that contacts of extremists were found on her mobile was denied by the committee. Detectives scoured 500 pages of transcripts from her social media conversations but found no evidence of terror links, it is reported. The nanny is a citizen of Uzbekistan. Bobokulova is expected to be sent to a psychiatric hospital rather than prison to undergo 'forced compulsory medical measures' She has boasted that being sent to a psychiatric hospital is an easier option than prison where she might have served 25 years. 'I know everything,' she said. 'I have to undergo compulsory treatment for three years and then they will let me go.' A psychiatrist working with her said: 'She has not attacked anybody (in jail) during the last three months. 'But this is thanks to intensive therapy only. The study found the share of births from foreign-born mothers from Latin America dropped from 64 per cent of foreign mothers in 2008 to 54 per cent in 2014 Asian immigrant women are increasingly accounting for a larger share of foreign mothers who give birth to children in the U.S., signaling a changing landscape of immigrants in America as Asians continue to outpace Latinos in growth. The Pew Research Center released new data Wednesday showing that Asian immigrants account for 22 per cent of U.S. births by foreign women, up from 16 per cent in 2010. The lengthy report said: 'The largest share of births to Asian-born mothers in the U.S. are to those from China and India. 'Mothers from each of those countries account for about 5 per cent of all births to foreign-born mothers.' It continued: 'Mothers from other regions of the world account for much smaller shares of foreign-born births in the U.S. 'Those originally from Europe account for 7 per cent of births to foreign-born women, with the largest share coming from mothers born in Eastern Europe. 'Some 5 per cent of births to foreign-born women are to those born in sub-Saharan Africa, and another 5 per cent are to those born in the Middle East or North Africa. 'Just 1 per cent of births to foreign-born women are to those from North America or from Oceania.' Trish La Chica migrated from the Philippines to the United States six years ago in search of the American experience and a graduate degree. La Chica got her master's in public administration and is now the policy director at a nonprofit health organization in Hawaii. Two weeks ago, she gave birth to a boy, joining the ranks of the rising number of Asian women who give birth to children in the United States. La Chica, who is 30, said she came to the United States, first San Francisco and later Hawaii, to experience living here. Asian immigrant women are increasingly accounting for a larger share of foreign mothers who give birth to children in the U.S., signaling a changing landscape of immigrants in America as Asians continue to outpace Latinos in growth (stock) Her mother lives in California and helped her get permanent legal residency; La Chica is now an American citizen. 'I'm planning on raising and living and working here. We now own a house,' La Chica said. 'I think Hawaii is a perfect place to raise a family.' Meanwhile, fewer Latin American immigrants are having babies in the U.S. The study found the share of births from foreign-born mothers from Latin America dropped from 64 per cent of foreign mothers in 2008 to 54 per cent in 2014. Women from sub-Saharan Africa have the highest annual fertility, with 106.4 births per 1,000 women, according to the Pew study (left). Among the report's findings, the majority of new foreign-born mothers speak English well (right) It said: 'Just over half (54 per cent) of births to foreign-born women in the U.S. in 2014 were to those born in Latin America, with the biggest share 32 per cent being moms from Mexico.' About 7 per cent of all births in the U.S. are from immigrants lacking legal status. The report also found that immigrants are the driving force behind births in the U.S. The number of American women who gave birth in 2014 has dropped 11 per cent since 1970, while immigrant women have tripled the number of births they gave. The report comes amid a heated presidential election in which Republican nominee Donald Trump has garnered support and drawn ire by claiming he will build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and by expressing largely anti-immigrant sentiment. But demographers say immigrants are key to growth in the U.S. Fewer American women are having children, while immigrant women have disproportionately high birth rates compared to their U.S.-born counterparts. Women from sub-Saharan Africa have the highest annual fertility, with 106.4 births per 1,000 women, according to the Pew study. The rate for Latin American women is 80.6 per 1,000, accounting for over half of births to immigrant mothers in the U.S. According to the Pew Research Center, immigrant women are driving the annual increase in US births 'We in the United States have been and are going to be dependent on immigrants and the children of immigrants in the growth of our population,' said William Frey, a senior fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. 'I think this adds to that in that the immigrant population of women is helping move that along.' Frey says that if it weren't for immigrants, the country's birth rate would be much lower, which could result in future problems as the current population ages. Demographers say a low birth rate can result in a deficit in the labor force and strained social security and social welfare programs, among other economic problems. The report details a changing makeup of immigrants in the United States, even if Latina immigrants still have far more children than any other foreign-born mothers. A Pew study last month found that U.S. Hispanic population growth has slowed considerably while the Asian-American population grows. Another report last year found that for the first time, more Mexicans are leaving the U.S. than coming in, and migrants from Central American countries like Honduras and El Salvador account for a higher share of new immigrants from Latin America. 'The American immigrant population has changed throughout our history and it's changing again,' said Kenneth M. Johnson, a senior demographer at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey School of Public Policy. 'This is just part of the continuing story of America.' Advertisement A pretty French village of just 2,500 people which said 'non' to hosting Calais Jungle migrants in a 19th Century chateau has lost its bitter battle with the French government to keep them out. Picturesque Allex, the gateway to Provence, has become an emblem of the backlash against the French government's plan to bus migrants cleared from the Jungle into communities throughout France. It fought against the authorities who wanted to move 50 migrants into the elegant old manor house in the village in southern France. But now the village has been forced to admit defeat as the first of the new arrivals moved in to the stone chateau. However Gerard Crozier claimed a small victory after the French government agreed to send only families to Allex and no single men travelling alone. Mr Crozier, 56, said he felt tired, frustrated and steamrollered by the state, but added that at least his fight had made the government listen. 'I was forced to accept that migrants will come to Allex, but it is a victory that no single men will come,' he told MailOnline. New home: A 19th Century chateau in the village of Allex is at the centre of a migration row in France. Fifty migrants from the Calais Jungle are moving into the former school against the will of the majority of people living there. The first 11 refugees have already arrived with the remaining 39 expected in the coming days. Protests: Picturesque Allex, the gateway to Provence, has seen a wave of protests against the decision to move 50 migrants into the chateau. The anger of the local people, pictured, has become an emblem of the backlash against the French Government's plan to bus single men cleared from the Jungle into communities throughout France. 'Tired and angry': The migrants' arrival has been met with fury by village mayor Gerard Crozier, above, who spent months negotiating with the French government to stop the move. Mr Crozier says the will of people in Allex has been steamrollered. Despite being upset, he has claimed a small victory after the government agreed to send families only, not single men Resentment: The chateau, a former school, was previously owned by 89-year-old Madame Salvignon, pictured left with her carer, who ran it as a farm for 35 years before selling it to an addicts recovery organisation in 1996. Now she lives in a small house next door. Nobody asked us what we thought about migrants being moved in here, she said 'My role now is to maintain the peace in the village because the silent majority is worried and afraid,' he added. But residents in the sleepy French village are furious at the move. They say they have not been consulted and that the Calais Jungle has just been dumped on their doorstep. One angry resident had to be restrained during a confrontation at a public meeting held to discuss the new arrivals when he shouted: 'What will you do when someone rapes our daughters?' Jean Marie Brun, who lives opposite the 19th Century Chateau de Pergaud where the migrants will be housed, is alarmed at the decision. The retired stonemason told MailOnline: 'When we heard that 50 migrants are coming, and will be given access to jobs and healthcare, it was difficult to understand.' Its hard to find a job around here, and you have to wait two or three months to find a doctor. How can they think it's rational to bring migrants to this place? People who are against migrants are poor people who ask for help from the State but dont get it. His wife, Bernadette, added: 'We are a little bit afraid because we saw the jungle on TV and we are worried it is coming here.' Many people living in Allex are struggling to understand why the council is spending taxpayers' money on housing 50 migrants in the manor house at the same time as making major cuts in spending on public services. New home: One of the first to arrive, Javeed, 20, pictured above, an Afghan who lived in the Jungle for several months, told MailOnline: 'I like it here. It is peaceful and good.' Javeed is the first of 11 to arrive with more expected in the coming days The historic chateau, pictured, is a former school and since 1996 had been used a treatment centre for alcoholics and drug addicts, which was closed last year due to a lack of funding. Residents are angry that the council has been forced to accept 50 migrants at taxpayers' expense at a time when they have also cut public spending A little boy, pictured, one of 11 of the new arrives from the Calais Jungle, looks out of the window of his new home. They have arrived at a time when the council has cut back on school trips for local children. The council is also spending 1million on a nursing home in the town, while residents say the elderly could live in the chateau, pictured Public spats: The town is divided over the agreement, with residents clashing at public meetings to discuss the plans. The mayor called a referendum, which was scrapped after the government said it did not have the authority to hold a vote. In unprecedented scenes, the far right and the hard left fought in the street at a public meeting and were separated by police The building itself, a former school, was used as a recovery centre for alcoholics and drug addicts until last year when it was closed due to insufficient funding. The council is also cutting back on school trips for local children because there is no money to pay for them. Meanwhile local government is spending about 1million on a new nursing home when the elderly could have been housed in the chateau, residents say. Despite claiming victory, Mr Crozier, a conservative mayor, can barely contain his resentment at what he sees as the French Governments disregard for local people's views - 27 per cent of whom voted for the far-Right Front National in elections last year. Last month, Mr Crozier was forced to cancel a referendum on whether to accept migrants in Allex after a French court ruled that the local council had no powers to stage such a vote. Speaking at his office in the mayoralty building, the mayor said: Our voice has been gagged by the authorities. The people have been gagged, and I have been gagged, too. We have been gagged with Sellotape. This is the reality. It is not a good time for democracy.' Eleven migrants have been housed there so far, including two women and three children. The remaining 39 are expected to be transferred to the chateau in the coming days. One of the first to arrive, Javeed, 20, an Afghan who lived in the Jungle for several months, told MailOnline: 'I like it here. It is peaceful and good.' He was standing outside the chateau listening to music on his iPhone. Inside, five other more male migrants were playing pool in a communal area and listening to Middle Eastern music on a stereo. A child was seen peering out of an upstairs window. The chateau, a former school, was previously owned by 89-year-old Madame Salvignon, who ran it as a farm for 35 years before selling it to an addicts recovery organisation in 1996. Now she lives in a small house next door. Nobody asked us what we thought about migrants being moved in here, she said. The police only told us at the last minute, and brought them in at 4am so nobody could see what was going on. What are they trying to hide? The local government is spending 1million of tax money on a new retirement home in Allex, when there is a beautiful chateau here which it is giving to the migrants. Veronique Durin, 52, her carer, added: Im single and Im afraid for my security when the migrants come. They are all from the Calais jungle and many of them are aggressive. Im afraid they will damage my car or harm me. We cannot solve the problem of the Calais jungle by spreading it all over France. In a draconian effort to assuage local peoples concerns about crime and disorder, the mayor is setting up an eight-person committee to monitor every detail of the migrants lives. People can get paranoid, but they are right to be afraid, Crozier said. We will know everything about each and every migrant their mentality, their health problems, if they are happy or not. We want to be very close to what happens in their building. Welcome: Not everyone in the village is bristling at the newcomers. Claude Chiari, 84, a retired writer, pictured, told MailOnline: I am open to migrants. I want to welcome them with dignity. They are human and I welcome any human on earth.' But the majority of people in Allex, pictured, are angry at refugees being dumped on their doorstep. Celine Vignal, 45, a mother-of-five, who refused to be pictured, estimate that it will cost 400,000 to move the migrants in. Vignal said: The local government has just cut school trips to save money, but they can find money for the migrants.' A major operation is ongoing to move 8,000 migrants to all corners of France - and beyond - as the Calais Jungle is cleared Most of the residents said that they were against the arrival of the migrants. However, Claude Chiari, 84, a retired writer, has clashed with his neighbours over their bristling at the newcomers. I am open to migrants. I want to welcome them with dignity, he said. They are human and I welcome any human on earth. I regret the ignorance of the French people. People here are not educated on this question. We have to learn about the cultures of other countries. Migrants are the victims of problems. My parents welcomed refugees from Spain in 1936, during the Spanish civil war. They taught me we need to assume our responsibility. I have arguments with my neighbours about this every day, and some of them wont speak to me. But I have had a long life, and I am a cosmopolitan. The move to house them there, replicated across France where 8,000 migrants have been moved from the Jungle to 600 reception centres around the country, has divided Allex. After a recent town meeting, far right activists had to be separated from hard-Left protesters by police as they clashed in the street. Celine Vignal, 45, a mother-of-five, and her husband, Olivier Soubeyrand, 43, founded Collectif pour la Sauvegarde dAllex (CSA), a community pressure group which campaigns against the transfer of migrants to the village. The local government has just cut school trips to save money, but they can find money for the migrants, Vignal said. It will cost 400,000 to move the migrants in. The economy is very difficult, and the only people being helped are the migrants. In the beginning, we had good will towards them, but now its hard to understand the governments attitude. We are not racist, we are just worried. Vignal said she is a centre-Left voter, while Soubeyrand aligned himself with the centre-Right. They stressed that neither of them support the Front National, and they set up their group to distance themselves from the far-Right party after it hijacked anti-migrant demonstrations in the village. France is a country of revolution, and now it we are seeing a borderline revolution, Soubeyrand said. We are the silent majority, and we are losing our patience. We work and pay our taxes, and the fruit of our work is going to pay for migrants. The economy is bad and a lot of farmers are becoming very poor. There is a high suicide rate in rural areas. We get no help, but the migrants are helped. Most of them are economic migrants from Africa. Why defend and support these people? Theres no logic. They refuse to listen to us, and this is very dangerous for democracy. France is supposed to be a democracy, not a dictatorship, yet they wont give us a referendum. Im worried this will end in civil war. Allex is one of a growing number of French towns and villages which are resisting moves to re-house migrants from the Calais Jungle. Residents of Forges-les-Bains, a town of 3,700 people, voted by 61 per cent to reject migrants in a referendum held in September. The poll was deemed invalid by central government, and 91 African migrants have now been housed in the town. Backlash: Allex is one of a growing number of French towns and villages which are resisting moves to re-house migrants from the Calais Jungle. Residents of Forges-les-Bains, a town of 3,700 people, has protested against the planned arrivals, pictured Fightback: In Forges-les-Bains, pictured, they voted by 61 per cent to reject migrants in a referendum held in September. The poll was deemed invalid by central government, and 91 African migrants have now been housed in the town Other examples include the villages of Croisilles and Pierrefeu-du-Var, south of Allex, both of which have seen anti-migrant demonstrations. Local leaders in these and other municipalities may now seek pledges from the authorities that no single men will be transferred to their areas. The mayor was adamant that Allex was not a racist village, and emphasised that it was merely a matter of fair play. Two local families had taken migrants in voluntarily, he added. A Saudi Arabian hunter who outraged animal lovers by slaughtering a giraffe in Africa for his guests and recording the butchery has made matters worse by saying he planned to kill and eat a baby elephant. Rashed al-Hajri, 42, is the latest in a stream of big game hunters who have been vilified for bragging over their kills. But unlike American dentist Walter Palmer - who apologised after a video emerged last year of him killing Cecil the lion - al-Hajri is unrepentant. Rashed al-Hajri is pictured posing with the carcass of the giraffe, which was hunted and killed in Tanzania In an interview with alAlArabiya.net al-Hajri said the giraffe killing was completely legal because he had an official permit from the Tanzanian state. He said the slaughtering of the giraffe was done by the book, and in accordance with the law. The Saudi hunter said he had the utmost respect for his critics but then added 'they are probably vegetarians, who dont eat meat all together'. Rashed al-Hajri (pictured, left) has outraged animal lovers but he said he had an official hunting permit from the Tanzanian government Al-Hajri assured his supporters among the hunting community he planned many more grisly surprises and said he dreamed of slaughtering a baby elephant, and tasting its flesh. The Saudi butcher said: 'I respect all opinions. We did indeed slaughter and eat the giraffe; nevertheless we donated the meat to the less fortunate and the poor. God willing, there will be more surprises along the way.' The family of a New Jersey man with cerebral palsy who was sexually assaulted by a former Rutgers University professor has been awarded $4 million by a judge. The mother and brother of the victim, identified as only 'DJ' in a related criminal case, sued Dr Anna Stubblefield and Rutgers in February 2013. A federal court judge dismissed the complaint against Rutgers. Judge Dennis F. Carey III awarded DJ's legal guardians, his mother and brother, $2 million in compensatory damages and another $2 million in punitive damages on October 19. 'My clients are victims of a horrible predator, and they're wonderful people,' said attorney Charles S. Lorber in a phone interview Tuesday to NJ.com. The family of a New Jersey man with cerebral palsy who was sexually assaulted by a former Rutgers University professor, Dr Anna Stubblefield (above), has been awarded $4 million by a judge The disabled man's family successfully argued that Stubblefield's (right) communication with him was an act and she violated his rights by abusing him DJ, who is unable to speak, needs help eating and walking and is forced to wear diapers, is intellectually disabled, according to his mother and brother. The lawsuit stated that DJ's brother attended one of Stubblefield's classes at Rutgers-Newark in 2008 and Stubblefield, a proponent of facilitated communication, offered to help DJ, 35, at his brother's request. Facilitative communication is a contentious technique used by educators that helps the disabled communicate, often through typing. The West Orange, New Jersey, woman claimed that DJ communicated his consent to sexual activity to her and that she had only been acting out of love. She was put on trial after being accused of raping the mute, diaper-wearing man in her office in Newark, New Jersey in 2011. The 46-year-old woman was convicted in 2015 of sexually assault. His family successfully argued that Stubblefield's communication with him was an act and she violated his rights by abusing him. The West Orange, New Jersey, woman claimed that DJ communicated his consent to sexual activity to her and that she had only been acting out of love. Stubblefield (left) was convicted in 2015 of sexually assault Stubblefield (right), who was at one time the chair of Rutgers-Newark's philosophy department, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for the sexual assault conviction Stubblefield, who was at one time the chair of Rutgers-Newark's philosophy department, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for the sexual abuse conviction. In Stubblefield's written explanation of her sexual interactions with DJ, she wrote he had 'he lowered himself off the bed on to the floor and scooted out the door down the hall to the front room'. During the criminal case, the prosecutor said DJ uses 'scooting' as a method of communication, to get to the fridge if he is hungry or to the sink if he is thirsty. Plant suggested DJ used 'scooting' during the sexual interaction with Stubblefield in order to get away. 'He did not understand what was going on, did not have the ability other than to scoot out,' Plant said. During the trial the prosecution had questioned how DJ could communicate if he wanted to stop during another sexual incident on the floor of Stubblefield's Newark office. Stubblefield said he could bang on the floor. Prior to sentencing, Stubblefield (center) told a judge in a letter that her actions 'were motivated by love, and my love was grounded in my belief in (the disabled man's) intelligence and humanity' The prosecutor said DJ uses 'scooting' as a method of communication, to get to the fridge if he is hungry or to the sink if he is thirsty. It was then suggested by the prosecutor during the criminal trial that DJ used 'scooting' during the sexual interaction with Stubblefield in order to get away. In addition, during the trial the prosecution had questioned how DJ could communicate if he wanted to stop during another sexual incident on the floor of Stubblefield's Newark office. Stubblefield said he could bang on the floor. Prior to sentencing, she told Superior Court Judge Siobhan Teare in a letter she wrote from the Essex County Correctional Facility that her actions 'were motivated by love, and my love was grounded in my belief in (the disabled man's) intelligence and humanity'. The December 26 note, obtained by NJ Advance Media, was sent to the judge prior to sentencing and stated the same arguments she had used while giving evidence during her trial. 'I believed that he and I were intellectual equals and that our romantic relationship was consensual and mutually loving.' She added that she was 'raised by parents who are committed to the cause of equal rights for people with disabilities'. Stubblefield wrote that she originally saw the man as a friend but that 'then something happened that took me by surprise we fell in love.' She said she would have 'waited' had she foreseen his family's negative reaction to the relationship. Stubblefield added: 'I regret and sincerely apologize for the distress my actions have caused to his family.' Chesterbrook's parent company said in a statement its schools are dedicated to serving a 'diverse student population' School set a deadline for the girl to be potty-trained, even though her doctor wrote she has developmental delays Suit claims the girl was moved to an intermediate, non-diapering class, without being provided proper accommodations Complaint alleges three-year-old girl with Down Syndrome was expelled last year because she was not toilet trained The New Jersey attorney general's office is suing a preschool it says unlawfully expelled a 3-year-old girl with Down syndrome because she wasn't potty-trained. The civil complaint alleges Chesterbrook Academy in Moorestown unfairly discriminated when it expelled the child, named 'Jane' in the court filings to protect her privacy, but not others who were not fully toilet trained. It alleges school administrators elevated the toddler to an intermediate, non-diapering class even though she wasn't potty-trained without providing the proper accommodations for her. SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL COMPLAINT Sued: The New Jersey attorney general's office has filed a lawsuit against Chesterbrook Academy in Moorestown, New Jersey (pictured), claiming the school unlawfully expelled a 3-year-old girl with Down syndrome because she wasn't potty-trained The suit states the school permitted other non-disabled intermediate students who required toilet assistance to remain in the program, according to a press release put out by the Office of the Attorney General. The three-count complaint includes a reference to a note from a doctor at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia explaining that the toddler could not be expected to be toilet-trained 'until age 5 or older' due to her condition. Chesterbrook is part of Nobel Learning Communities, a national preschool chain. Nobel issued a statement Wednesday saying it couldn't comment on the case specifically but said Nobel's schools are dedicated to serving a 'diverse student population.' The complaint, filed in Superior Court of New Jersey on Wednesday by the state Division on Civil Rights, alleges that Chesterbrook Academy failed to provide a reasonable accommodation for Jane's disability as required under the Law Against Discrimination (LAD). According to the complaint, Chesterbrook officials were not persuaded by the letter, nor by a request from the girls parents that she return to the Beginner B class, where she would have access to diapering services not available in the Intermediate program. Instead, Chesterbrook expelled the girl in early April 2015 after she failed to meet a deadline for becoming toilet trained. This is not the first time we have made allegations against Chesterbrook, said Attorney General Christopher Porrino. The states position is that Chesterbrook had a duty under the law to accommodate this three-year-old girl who had been enrolled there since infancy and that doing so would not have been significantly burdensome or fundamentally disruptive to its services and programs. The companys hardline corporate decision has harmed this child and her entire family. According to the court documents, in January 2015, the Moorestown school told Janes parents that it had decided to advance her to an Intermediate. The parents did not request that she be moved up. Soon after Jane was advanced, the newly-appointed acting principal at Chesterbrook sent her parents an e-mail citing a corporate policy that required Jane to be toilet-trained by April 1, explaining that there was no diapering available at the Intermediate level. The school principal set a deadline for the girl to be potty-trained, even though her doctor wrote in a note she has developmental delays and could not be expected to be toilet trained until age five or later (stock image) In response, the childs parents forwarded a note from Janes doctor at Childrens Hospital stating: Due to her Down syndrome, [Jane] is developmentally delayed and will not be able to fully potty train until age 5 or older. Despite that March 23, 2015 note, the complaint alleges, the parents received notice two days later from the school principal saying that Jane would be disenrolled if not toilet-trained within seven days. When the April 1 deadline arrived and Jane still was not potty trained, Chesterbrook officials expelled her. Chesterbrook officials later told state investigators that Jane had exhibited disruptive behavior prior to making the transition to the intermediate class, but they could only document two examples of her alleged misbehavior, both of which occurred after she had been moved up a level. No other educators who have encountered Jane had a problem with her behavior, the investigation by the state attorney generals office has found. The director at the Moorestown-based day care Puddle Jumpers described Jane as having no aggression issues and said she was a loving child who gets along well with the other children. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as a court-ordered requirement that Chesterbrook submit to training and monitoring for five years. Other Chesterbrook Academy locations had faced similar accusations of discriminatory conduct over the past decade. In 2006, the Division on Civil Rights issued a Finding of Probable Cause against a Chesterbrook location in Glassboro, Gloucester County, for refusing to enroll a child with a spina-bifida-related disability. Hillary Clinton appears on the cusp of a potentially commanding victory over Donald Trump, fueled by solid Democratic turnout in early voting, massive operational advantages and increasing enthusiasm among her supporters. A new Associated Press-GfK poll released on Wednesday shows Clinton leading Trump nationally by a staggering 14 percentage points among likely voters, 51-37. That margin is the largest national lead for Clinton among recent surveys. Most have generally shown her ahead of Trump for the past several weeks. The poll also finds that Clinton has grabbed significant advantages over her Republican rival with just 12 days left before election day. Among them: consolidating the support of her party and even winning some Republicans. Scroll down for video Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton appears to be on the cusp of a potentially commanding victory. She is pictured on her campaign plane Wednesday A new Associated Press-GfK poll released on Wednesday shows Clinton leading Donald Trump nationally by a staggering 14 percentage points among likely voters, 51-37 'I'm going to pick Hillary at the top and pick Republican straight down the line,' said poll respondent William Goldstein, a 71-year-old from Long Island, New York, who voted for Mitt Romney in 2012. 'I can't vote for Trump.' The AP-GfK poll finds that Clinton has secured the support of 90 per cent of likely Democratic voters, and also has the backing of 15 per cent of more moderate Republicans. Just 79 per cent of all Republicans surveyed say they are voting for their party's nominee. With voting already underway in 37 states, Trump's opportunities to overtake Clinton are quickly evaporating and voters appear to know it. The AP-GfK poll found that 74 per cent of likely voters believe Clinton will win, up from 63 per cent in September. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted from October 20 to October 24 and released on Wednesday, it found Clinton is four points ahead of Trump. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted from October 20 to October 24 and released on Wednesday, it found Clinton is four points ahead of Trump. The graph above shows how likely voters would vote with 43 per cent in favor of Clinton and 37 per cent for Trump Clinton has 43 per cent of the vote to her Republican rival's 39 per cent, according to the poll. Libertarian Gary Johnson holds steady at seven per cent while the Green Party's Jill Stein gets two. The poll also found that 41 per cent of Republicans expected Clinton to win the election, versus 40 per cent who picked Trump. That reflected a sharp decline in confidence from last month, when 58 per cent of Republicans said they thought their party's nominee would win, versus 23 per cent who expected Clinton to prevail. Among Trump's supporters, 49 per cent in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll said they believed Trump would win, down from 67 per cent who felt that way at the beginning of the month. Some 83 per cent of Democrats said in the poll they thought Clinton would win, while only 8 per cent predicted Trump would become president. Among Clinton's supporters, 92 per cent expected her to win, up from 83 per cent a month earlier. 'There's still hope, I guess. I just don't have a great deal of faith in a good portion of the American public,' said Bert Horsley, 38, of Belgrade, Montana, who said he planned to vote for Trump even though he believed Clinton would win. Horsley said he felt the country was leaning increasingly socialist and that voters were more inclined to focus on Trump's problems than on issues facing Clinton, including allegations she mishandled classified emails while secretary of state. Trump holds a narrow two-point lead over Hillary Clinton in battleground Florida, as the two camps fight over a state that both are calling a big prize. Trump leads Clinton by 45 to 43 in the latest Bloomberg News poll in a race where third party candidates are included. In New Hampshire, Clinton has jumped to a nine-point lead in the battle ground state, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll. In New Hampshire, Clinton has jumped to a nine-point lead in the battle ground state, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll However in Nevada, the poll shows she is tied with Trump among likely voters in at 43 per cent The poll shows she has the support from 45 per cent of likely voters while Trump has 36 per cent. Meanwhile, Libertarian Gary Johnson is at 10 per cent and the Green Party's Jill Stein is at 4 per cent. However in Nevada, the poll shows she is tied with Trump among likely voters in at 43 per cent. Johnson is at 10 per cent while Stein is not on the ballot in the state. New Hampshire's four electoral votes are important because if Clinton loses Florida, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio, she could still win with New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. 'In Las Vegas terms, the contest for Nevada's six electoral votes is a 'push' right now,' Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, told NBC News. 'Odds are that Clinton can bank on New Hampshire's four electoral votes.' Troubles with President Barack Obama's signature health care law have given Trump a late opening to warn voters against putting another Democrat in the White House. But even Republicans question whether the rising price of insurance premiums is enough to overcome the damage the businessman has done to his standing with women and minorities. 'Donald Trump has spent his entire campaign running against the groups he needs to expand his coalition,' said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster who advised Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's failed presidential campaign. Ayres called Trump's campaign 'strategically mindless.' Trump and Clinton battled it out at the last presidential debate on October 19 ahead of the upcoming November 8 election Even if Clinton's support plummets in the contest's closing days, or she's unable to motivate strong turnout in her favor, it's not clear that Trump could marshal the resources to take advantage and collect enough states to win the 270 electoral votes needed to claim the White House. Clinton's team has overwhelmed Trump's campaign in its effort to turn out voters. An Associated Press review of campaign finance filings finds that her campaign, the Democratic National Committee and Democratic parties in 12 states have more than three times as many paid employees as Trump's campaign and the main Republican organizations supporting him. Clinton and Democrats had about 4,900 people on payroll in September, while Trump and Republicans had about 1,500. Both sides benefit from legions of volunteers knocking on doors and making phone calls to voters, as well as outside forces such as unions and super PACs pitching in on voter turnout operations. But key Republican groups such as the ones funded by the conservative billionaire Koch brothers are sitting out the presidential race because of their distaste for Trump, further extending Clinton's likely advantage at getting out the vote. The strength of the Democratic turnout effort appears to be paying dividends in states where voting is underway. Nationwide, more than 12 million voters have already cast ballots, according to data compiled by the AP, a pace far quicker than 2012. In North Carolina, a must-win state for Trump, Democrats lead Republicans in early ballots, 47 per cent to 29 per cent. Clinton campaigned in Tampa on her 69th birthday. A new poll found that Clinton has grabbed significant advantages over her Republican rival with just 12 days left before election day The Democrats hold an advantage even though turnout among black voters, a crucial voting bloc for Clinton in the state, is down compared to this point in 2012. Strategists in both parties attribute the lower black turnout in part to an early reduction in polling stations, though more sites are to open in the days leading up to November 8. In Florida, a perennial battleground, Democrats have drawn even to Republicans in votes cast, reaching that milestone faster than in 2012. Traditionally, Republicans do well initially with mail-in ballots. But Democrats were able to keep it close, putting Clinton in position to run up the score during in-person voting. Clinton also appears to hold an edge in Nevada and Colorado based on early returns. David Flaherty, a Republican pollster based in Colorado, said the data signal 'a Democrat wave in the making.' Buoyed by support from white voters, Trump looks strong in Ohio, Iowa and Georgia, a Republican state where Clinton is trying to make inroads. The AP-GfK poll also finds that Clinton has grabbed significant advantages over her Republican rival with just 12 days left before election day. Among them: consolidating the support of her party and even winning some Republicans (crowd pictured during Clinton rally) But wins in those states would still leave him well short of the required 270 Electoral College votes. Trump's top advisers have conceded in recent days the businessman is trailing Clinton. But they point to his large rallies and enthusiastic supporters as an indication he could be poised for an upset. Clinton draws smaller crowds to her events and has been perceived by some voters as the lesser of two evils. 'We have a couple of different paths to get to 270 and we're actively pursuing them,' Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, told MSNBC on Monday. The AP-GfK poll suggests Clinton's advantage is about more than just voter dislike for Trump. Clinton supporters are more likely than his backers to list their candidate's leadership, qualifications for the presidency and positions on issues as major factors in their support. Although voters are still more likely to have an unfavorable than a favorable view of Clinton, her ratings have improved slightly in the past month. Forty-six per cent of likely voters now say they have a favorable view of the former secretary of state, up from 42 per cent in September. Just 34 per cent of all likely voters have a favorable view of Trump. In Washington, Trump and his family appeared celebrated the grand opening of his new hotel Trump International Hotel in a ribbon cutting ceremony Trump's unpopularity has opened surprising opportunities for Clinton as the White House race barrels toward its finish. Her campaign is actively competing for Arizona, a state that has voted for the Democrat in only one presidential race since 1952, and she is also spending money in Georgia, a reliably Republican state over the past two decades. Both states have been on Democrats' wish lists in recent years given their increasingly favorable demographics, though the party had little expectation they might flip this year. Hispanics are a growing share of the Arizona electorate, while Georgia is on its way to becoming a majority-minority state. The real electoral map surprise this year is Utah, one of the most conservative states in the country. Utah's heavily Mormon population has turned its back on Trump, providing an opening for third-party candidate and Utah native Evan McMullin to carry the state. Stripping Trump of six Electoral College votes Republicans have never had to worry about would further narrow his already slim path to victory. With so much appearing to lean in their favor heading into election day, the Clinton campaign's biggest concern is that some supporters take victory for granted and don't show up to vote. Hillary Clinton headlined a major fundraiser for a political action committee shortly before the group steered nearly $500,000 to the wife of the FBI official who oversaw the Clinton email investigation, DailyMail.com has learned. Clinton's ties to the Common Good VA - a Virginia state PAC run by Clinton's long-time friend and advisor Terry McAuliffe, its governor - came under scrutiny this week after the Wall Street Journal reported that the group donated heavily to the state senate campaign of Jill McCabe. Her husband Andrew McCabe led the FBI investigation into Clinton's emails. Andrew McCabe, now the deputy director of the FBI, told the Wall Street Journal that he complied with federal ethics rules and was not promoted to lead the Clinton probe until months after his wife's unsuccessful state senate bid ended. So close: Hillary Clinton headlines a fundraiser for the Common Good VA and walks on stage with Terry McAuliffe, the Virginia governor who controls its cash. That month it started channeling money to Jill McCabe's campaign Show me the money: Clinton was used to get donors to have over cash to Common Good VA - and then it handed it to the FBI boss's wife's campaign Husband and wife: Jill McCabe ran for Virginia state senate with PAC cash from a fund linked to McAuliffe, while her husband Andrew investigated Clinton's email scandal But Republicans said the large payments from McAuliffe's PAC to Jill McCabe raise questions about the impartiality of the FBI's investigation, which determined that Clinton and her aides did not violate any laws while using a private email server to conduct government business. Common Good VA was the largest single donor to Jill McCabe's campaign, election records show, giving her $467,000 between June and October of 2015. She was the third-largest recipient of money from the group, which can only contribute to Virginia state candidates. Her campaign also received an additional $207,788 from the Democratic Party of Virginia, a group over which McAuliffe exerts significant control. Combined, the money made up nearly one-third of her total funding. McAuliffe has been a Clinton insider for decades, working for them as a fundraiser, a top aide, and a board member at the Clinton Foundation. He also chaired Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. But Clinton's ties to Common Good VA go beyond her relationship with McAuliffe. In June 2015, she headlined a key fundraiser for the group, which reportedly brought in over $1 million for the PAC and the Democratic Party of Virginia. In the four months that followed, five-and-six-figure donations poured into Common Good VA from out-of-state Clinton supporters and aides. Common Good VA, which McAuliffe founded in 2014, also appeared to act as a holding zone for future Clinton campaign staffers. Over the past two years, at least five employees left the small PAC to take senior roles in Clinton's campaign, according to Virginia election records reviewed by the DailyMail.com. The National Legal and Policy Center, a Virginia-based government watchdog group, said the financial trail raises significant concerns about the neutrality of the FBI investigation overseen by Andrew McCabe. 'The fact that Hillary Clinton's inner circle was raising substantial funds for Gov. McAuliffe's PAC and this same PAC gave close to a half-million dollars to the campaign of the wife of the senior FBI official involved in the Clinton investigation sure looks like a payoff - a major payoff,' said Ken Boehm, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center. Close links to Clinton henchmen: Doug Band (left) was Bill Clinton's closest aide and gave cash to the Common Good VA PAC - while Robby Mook is Hillary's campaign manager and was previously on its payroll 'What was already a serious corruption story now looks much worse.' Clinton was the feature speaker at a June 26, 2015 ticketed joint fundraiser for the Common Good VA and the Democratic Party of Virginia. Although the speech was billed as Clinton's first official event after her campaign launch, none of the money raised went to her own campaign. In her speech, Clinton praised McAuliffe and urged attendees to support Democrats in the state legislature. 'Virginia, let's work together to make sure this beloved commonwealth is blue, that we have Democrats in the state legislature to work with the governor, and that we do have a Democratic president in the White House in 2017,' Clinton told the crowd. The Clinton campaign and Common Good VA did not respond to requests for comment about the June 2015 fundraiser, and whether Clinton met with Jill McCabe at the event. The Virginia Democratic Party claimed at the time that the fundraiser pulled in over $1 million. According to state election records, a number of high-dollar donations that week to Common Good VA came from Clinton's close friends and aides. The fact that Hillary Clinton's inner circle was raising substantial funds for Gov. McAuliffe's PAC and this same PAC gave close to a half-million dollars to the campaign of the wife of the senior FBI official involved in the Clinton investigation sure looks like a payoff - a major payoff' Ken Boehm, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center Although Common Good VA is only allowed to fund state-level candidates, many of its largest donations came from outside of Virginia including $50,000 from Clinton Foundation official Doug Band in New York, $100,000 from Clinton loyalist Robert Johnson in Maryland, and $10,000 from Clinton mega-donor Stephen Cloobeck in Nevada. In the following months, Common Good VA received several major donations from other close Clinton associates, including $100,000 from Bill Clinton's business partner Ron Burkle in California and $50,000 from Leonard Lauder in New York. In October 2015, both Hillary and Bill Clinton returned to Virginia for campaign stops. Bill Clinton spoke at a private fundraiser for his wife, and Hillary Clinton joined McAuliffe at a campaign rally in Alexandria on Oct. 23. Election records show that the week after Clinton's October speech with McAuliffe, Common Good VA made two large contributions to Jill McCabe's campaign $125,000 on Oct. 27 and $175,000 on Oct. 29. The PAC had previously given Jill McCabe $150,000 on Oct. 1, and several smaller donations in June and August. Brian Zuzenak, the executive director of Common Good VA at the time, praised Clinton's October speech, saying it would 'help show Virginians what's at stake this November on issues like women's health and preventing gun violence. 'While Republicans race to the extreme right, Virginia Democrats are building a new Virginia economy for everyone to succeed.' Zuzenak, who oversaw the donations to Jill McCabe, left Common Good VA last May to join the Clinton campaign as its Virginia field director. He isn't alone in the move. Common Good VA's executive director Michael Halle also joined the Clinton campaign as battleground analytics director in the spring of 2015. The group's former fundraiser, Amanda McTyre, is now a finance director for Clinton, and staffer Marissa Astor left to become an assistant Clinton campaign manager. Virginia election records show that Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook, a former McAuliffe aide, was also on the Common Good VA payroll before he joined her presidential campaign. Already raising questions: The Trump campaign asked whether Clinton was aware of the contributions to Andrew McCabe's wife McAuliffe told the Wall Street Journal that he encouraged Jill McCabe to enter the state senate race in March 2015 during a meeting with her and her husband. Andrew McCabe has denied he had a conflict of interest in the Clinton investigation, saying he sought and followed advice from FBI ethics officials on issues related to his wife's political campaign. The FBI official was promoted to assistant deputy director in July 2015. Several months after Jill McCabe lost her state senate race to the Republican incumbent, her husband was promoted to deputy director and tasked with overseeing the Clinton email investigation. The investigation ultimately found that classified information was sent and received over Clinton's private email server while she was running the State Department, but the FBI said there was not enough evidence of wrongdoing to pursue charges. Director James Comey, in announcing the decision, said his investigators did not find indications of clear criminal intent by Clinton and her aides. The Donald Trump campaign has already slammed the Democratic candidate amid the revelations, and questioned whether Clinton was aware of the contributions to Andrew McCabe's wife. Vincent Kane, 19, was a part-time student at Villanova in Philadelphia. He has been charged with child pornography and invasion of privacy for allegedly spending the last two years secretly recording women with cell phone cameras inside public bathrooms A student from a Philadelphia college is charged with possessing child pornography and invasion of privacy charges after allegedly planting cellphone cameras in public restrooms to secretly record women. Prosecutors say Vincent Kane, 19, who is a part-time student at Villanova University, was caught after cops found a cellphone camera recording inside one of the college's public bathrooms. Authorities say the camera was used to secretly video in public restrooms and a classroom on the school's Main Line Philadelphia campus. It didn't take long before police were able to trace the cellphone back to Kane's home where they found a hard drive with 51,000 images and videos. Prosecutors say some of the material is described as 'up-skirting.' Some of the footage also depicted the sexual assault of toddlers. Police executed a search warrant at Kane's house and allegedly found a hard drive with 51,000 images and videos described as 'up-skirting.' Much of the pornographic material was created at Villanova, an area high school and the CVS where Kane worked The investigation into Kane began Sept. 26 when police found a cell phone camera recording inside a bathroom at Villanova It's believed that most of the footage was filmed at Villanova, as well as a CVS pharmacy where Kane worked and a nearby high school. 'He would place the phone underneath where the candy typically is stored, It's very hard to see, but the camera would be focused on ladies that were wearing skirts,' D.A. Jack Whelan said. The Delaware County District Attorney say police arrested 19-year-old Vincent Kane on child pornography-related charges. Kane, a part-time student, surrendered to police and was released after posting a percentage of his bail. He also allegedly told detectives he had been making these types of videos for about two years. Police found a hidden cellphone recording in a university bathroom on September 26. Kane allegedly admitted he hid the phone in the bathroom at Villanova and that he masturbates to videos and images he has been capturing over the past two years. Kane had even posted pictured of a hard drive to his Facebook page. He allegedly revealed to police that a majority of his 51,000 files had been moved to an external hard drive One female victim who was approximately 12 years old, appeared more than 300 times among the images in attempts to obtain a photo up her gym shorts, according to investigators. 'For his own sexual gratification, Vincent Kane surreptitiously recorded countless victims, including his fellow students, violating and breaching their personal security which can never be restored,' Whelan said. Kane's Facebook page features numerous posts about anime cartoons and in one picture he is even seen dismantling a hard drive. Kane was arraigned on $50,000 bail on Wednesday after posting bond. As conditions of bail, Kane must undergo a psychosexual evaluation, must not use the internet, or contact minors and he has no access to Villanova University. A determined elderly woman is about to sit her high school exams at the tender age of 70, after she dropped out of school in the 1950s because her mother said 'education was not for girls'. Melbourne's Joan Oliver is the oldest student in the state to sit her Victorian Certificate of Education exams her high school credentials. While she recognised she stood out like a sore thumb amongst her peers at Footscray Tafe Melbourne, Mrs Oliver said sitting her high school exams was something she always wanted to do. Scroll down for video Melbourne's Joan Oliver (pictured) is the oldest student in the state to sit her VCE exams Mrs Oliver dropped out of school in the 1950s when she was just 13-years-old. She said the decision was made by her mother, according to Nine News. 'My mother decided that I needed to go to work to help finances for the family, and education was not for girls,' she said. 'So it's just something I've always wanted to do.' Mrs Oliver (right) dropped out of school in the 1950s when she was just 13-years-old at her mother's (centre) wishes Mrs Oliver (centre) was forced to drop out of school when she was 13-years-old because 'education was not for girls' Mrs Oliver acknowledged she brought the median age of the class up, but said she didn't think her friends at school minded too much. 'I think they got a bit of a shock, but I don't think I cramped their style too much, or I hope I didn't,' she said. And while Mrs Oliver said her years of wisdom brought a special edge to the class, she said she was also learning a thing or two from her classmates. 'Their use of the word 'like' for instance I can't get my head around that,' she told the Courier Mail. Mrs Oliver (pictured) said going back to school was something she always wanted to do Mrs Oliver (pictured) said she was surprised by some of the changes between school now and school when she attended in the 1950 - for example the use of the word 'like' Mrs Oliver said she brought the median age of her class up, but didn't think they minded too much It wasn't just language that had changed over the years either, with the school's approach to discipline vastly different to what she remembered enduring in the 1950s. 'There's no strap, where I went to school the strap ruled,' she said. Now buckling down to study for her exams in Health and Human Development, Legal Studies and Sociology, Mrs Oliver said diving back into the academic pool was one of the best decisions shed ever made. Mrs Oliver (pictured) said she was so fond of study that she might not stop with her year-12 exams and go on to study a university degree in criminal justice She also said she was so fond of study that she might not stop with her year-12 exams and go on to study a university degree in criminal justice. Mrs Oliver shared some words of advice for anyone else who wanted to take the leap and go back to school. 'Go and do it, you'll love it,' she said. A pick-up driver smashed through the wall of a city council chambers, sending furniture flying, and leaving the vehicle embedded in the side of the building. Officials in Orange City will need to find a new place to meet, at least temporarily, while building is repaired. The crash occurred in the small central Florida city yesterday morning. The pick-up truck crashed into the walls of the council chambers in Orange City, Florida A 29-year-old man was driving on nearby road when he lost control of his Chevy truck Video courtesy of WFTV Police Lt. Jason Sampsell told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that a 29-year-old man was driving on nearby road when he lost control of the silver Chevy truck. He veered through a gas station parking lot, hit two other vehicles and smashed through the building's wall. The truck was completely inside the council chambers when it came to a stop. 'We got in there, it was filled with smoke,' Sampsell told the newspaper. 'He was still in the vehicle, the vehicle still accelerating when we were inside the building trying to get him out and turn off the vehicle.' The driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. No one else was in the building at the time of the crash. The driver of the vehicle is believed to have escaped the crash with only minor injuries The truck was completely inside the council chambers by the time it had come to a stop Emergency services were straight on the scene as the police department sits at the end of the building south of the Council Chamber. Officers heard a loud thud and what sounded like an explosion, and ran out to find the truck inside the chambers, Sampsell said. The driver is thought to have suffered a medical episode that led to the crash, he added. He was taken to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City by ambulance, as a precaution. The city has contacted its insurance company, but estimates on the cost of the damage have yet to be calculated. A South Korean-born man who was adopted by an American couple at the age of three is set to be deported and separated from his wife and children - because his parents did not apply for US citizenship for him. Dean Crapser arrived in the US 37 years ago, but now faces being sent to a country he knows little about. His plight has been branded 'wrong and inhumane', after he was confined in an immigration detention center for the past nine months. Dean Crapser, pictured with wife Anh and daughters Christal, one, and Christina, five, is being deported to South Korea, the country he left at the age of three Crapser, 40, who lived in Washington with his family, was told by a judge that he must return to Korea, leaving behind wife Anh Nguyen and three children, who are US citizens. He said he was physically abused by his adopted parents, having been separated in the care system from his older sister. Dae Joong Yoon, executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, said: 'It's heartbreaking news. I'm sure he doesn't have any idea what he can do in Korea.' Without knowing the language and the culture, it will be so difficult to survive Becky Belcore Lori Walls, from the Washington Immigration Defense Group, told NBC: 'Adam and his family are heartbroken at the outcome. 'He was eligible for a discretionary form of relief called "cancellation of removal", and the immigration judge decided he did not deserve this relief.' She said Crapser had waived an appeal because he is desperate to get out of detention. Becky Belcore, who was adopted at the age of one and brought to the United States from South Korea, said she was with Crapser in the courtroom. She said: 'He has been in detention for almost nine months. He's been separated from his children. It is really hard for him.' And she said it was 'wrong and inhumane' to send Crapser back to South Korea. 'Without knowing the language and the culture, it will be so difficult to survive,' she said. Crapser in the family's Washington home with daughter Christal, aged one Belcore said the immigration center seems worse than jail because visitors are not allowed to touch or hug detainees, and must talk on a telephone. Belcore added that Judge John C. O'Dell appeared very matter-of-fact when he told Crapser he will be deported. Seven years after he and his older sister were adopted, Crapser's first US parents abandoned them, and the siblings were separated in the care system. He moved between foster and group homes before moving in with Thomas and Dolly Crapser. In 1991, the couple was arrested on charges of physical child abuse, sexual abuse and rape. They denied the charges. It's heartbreaking news. I'm sure he doesn't have any idea what he can do in Korea Dae Joong Yoon Thomas Crapser's sentence included 90 days in jail, and Dolly Crasper's included three years of probation. Adam Crapser got into trouble with the law after he broke into his parents' home. He claimed he was trying to retrieve the Korean Bible and rubber shoes that came with him from the orphanage. He was later in more trouble for stealing cars and assaulting a roommate. Federal immigration officials say they became aware of Crapser after he applied for a green card. His criminal convictions made him deportable. The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium says an estimated 35,000 intercountry adoptees do not have US citizenship, and has called for legislation to address this. to kill some major crime figures and their relatives Hamad Assaad, 29, was gunned down in front of his son in Sydney's south-west A gangster shot dead in his driveway was a contract killer who turned from attempting to kill major crime figures and their relatives to ripping off major drug syndicates because his job became 'too easy'. Hamad Assaad, 29, was fatally hit by a hail of bullets in Georges Hall in Sydney's south-west on Tuesday, in front of his 12-year-old son who he was taking to school. Assaad was believed to be the key suspect in the shooting of gangland figure Walid 'Wally' Ahmad, who was gunned down in April in the car park of Bankstown Central this year. However, the man known as 'H' among organised crime circles was previously investigated by police for three other shootings. Assaad is believed to have had a $250,000 bounty on his head for attempting to kill convicted killer Michael Ibrahim, the younger brother of nightclub boss John Ibrahim, the Daily Telegraph and the Sydney Morning Herald report. Scroll down for video Assaad was a contract killer who was paid to kill major crime figures and their relatives. Assaad (pictured) was shot dead in his driveway on Tuesday Assaad reportedly had a $250,000 bounty on his head for attempting to kill convicted killer Michael Ibrahim (left), brother of John Ibrahim (right) Assaad was linked to the attempted shooting of Pasquale Barbaro (pictured) Ibrahim was shot in the shoulder outside of his central Sydney apartment in Macquarie Street in February 2015 while on parole. He was rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Later that year in November, Assaad was linked to the attempted shooting of Pasquale Barbaro, whose criminal relatives were shot dead, in Sydney's inner-west. Barbaro, 35, managed to escape the hit by running through the streets of Leichardt. Assaad is also believed to have attempted to kill a relative of Bassam Hamzy, the convicted killer and founder of notorious street gang Brothers 4 Life. Maha Hamze, who is the aunt of Bassam Hamzy, was shot in the legs by eight bullets outside the Auburn property in Sydney's west following a dispute about collecting debt. Assaad lived with his mother in a house flanked by high-definition surveillance cameras. Michael Ibrahim (centre) was shot in the shoulder outside his apartment in Sydney city in February 2015 Michael Ibrahim was rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life -threatening injuries Assaad was the key suspect in the murder of gangland figure Walid 'Wally' Ahmad Walid 'Wally' Ahmad was shot in the car park of Bankstown Central in April this year The hitman made a move to rip off major drug figures because he reportedly found the killing business 'too easy'. Assaad reportedly stole 36kg of methamphetamine with an approximate street value of $350,000, from Asian drug cartel. He initially purchased the drugs to check the quality before returning the stash with a hidden tracking device because they weren't of his standards - before making his move. He also managed to scam 20kg of cocaine from a Sydney brothel owner in February. Disturbing footage showed paramedics performing CPR on Ahmad after he was fatally shot in April 2016 Assaad is also believed to have attempted to kill the aunt of Bassam Hamzy, the convicted killer and founder of notorious street gang Brothers 4 Life Donald Trump claims he could teach the former dean of the Army War College 'a couple of things' after the military expert said the billionaire 'doesn't know a damn thing about military strategy.' The Republican candidate tweeted on Sunday that the ongoing operation against ISIS in the terrorist stronghold of Mosul in northern Iraq was a 'total disaster.' 'We gave them months of notice. U.S. is looking so dumb. VOTE TRUMP and WIN AGAIN!' he tweeted. Scroll down for video Donald Trump claims he could teach the former dean of the Army War College 'a couple of things' The Republican candidate tweeted on Sunday that the ongoing operation against ISIS in the terrorist stronghold of Mosul in northern Iraq was a 'total disaster' Jeff McCausland, the former dean of the Army War College, had criticized Trump after the tweet claiming it showed that the real estate mogul's lack of understanding about military strategy. 'What this shows is Trump doesn't know a damn thing about military strategy,' he said. During an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, the Donald said he could teach the retired U.S. Army colonel, who was a director for defense on the National Security Council during the Kosovo crisis, a few things about military strategy. Jeff McCausland, the former dean of the Army War College, had criticized Trump after the tweet 'You can tell your military expert that I'll sit down and I'll teach him a couple of things,' Trump said. 'The element of surprise,' he announced as his own suggestion for a better military strategy. 'I've been hearing about Mosul now for three months. 'We're going to attack. We're going to attack.' Meaning Iraq's going to attack but with us. Okay? We're going to attack. Why do they have to talk about it?' Trump blamed Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama - who he has previously called the founders of ISIS, as the reasons why the U.S. need to reclaim Mosul. 'We had Mosul. We have to take it because Hillary Clinton and Obama left that big vacuum and ISIS went in and they took Mosul,' he said. He even claimed that if he had been president in 2004, he could have prevented some of the tragic losses the U.S. military, and the families of service men and women, have suffered. That includes the death of Captain Humayun Khan who died in combat in Iraq. 'Had I been president, Captain Khan would be alive today,' Trump said, 'because I wouldn't have been in Iraq. We wouldn't have been in this horrible, horrible mistake, the war in Iraq.' Trump claimed that if he had been president in 2004, he could have prevented the loss of Khizr Khan's (pictured) son Captain Humayun Khan who died in combat in Iraq The Iraqi army's retaking of Al Qayyarah town from ISIS during the operation to retake Iraq's Mosul Trump has made regular assertions during his campaign - without any evidence - that he was against the war in Iraq from the start. Capt. Khan's father, Khizr, who is out on the campaign trail with Clinton today, shot back after hearing Trump's comments, saying: 'This is the most cruel thing you can say to grieving parents, that if I was there this would not have happened.' Khizr Khan first gained national attention from the podium of the Democratic National Convention when he paid homage to his son. Khan had held up his pocket-sized Constitution and said Trump has sacrificed 'nothing.' Trump later outraged many Republicans when he responded by attacking Khan's sincerity, suggesting that Clinton's speechwriters scripted his speech. He also claims that Khan's wife, who stood with her husband at the podium probably wasn't allowed to speak to him. Khan is now back on the campaign trail with Clinton and has appeared in a new advert where he challenges Trump: 'Would my son have a place in your America?' During an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, the Donald said he could teach Jeff McCausland, a few things about military strategy He added he believed that the ISIS leaders who the U.S. and its allies had been targeting have left Mosul after they announced they were going in. 'As soon as they heard they're gonna be attacked, they left,' Trump added. 'The resistance is much greater now because they knew about the attack. Why can't they win first and talk later?' However, the people on the ground disagree with Trump. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who is currently in Iraq, said that the U.S. military were making progress against ISIS and the battle was 'going according to plan.' The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee has revealed that he told Donald Trump that Russia was trying to influence the presidential election by hacking but the Republican nominee rejected it. Texas Congressman Michael McCaul recently told the Dallas Morning-News that he personally briefed Trump on Russias actions just two days before the final presidential debate. But at the debate last week, Trump insisted that no one definitively knows if Russia was behind the cyberattacks. Scroll down for video Texas Congressman Michael McCaul (above) said he personally briefed Trump on Russias actions just two days before the final presidential debate And at an event hosted by The Texas Tribune in Austin on Tuesday, the Tribunes CEO Evan Smith recalled what McCaul had said. I think he has in his mind that theres not proof, McCaul replied, according to Politico. Now he hasnt had the briefing Ive had, but I made it clear that in my judgement it was a nation-state. But at the debate, Trump said 'anybody' could be behind the hacks. She has no idea whether its Russia, China or anybody else, Trump said at the final debate, referencing the leaked emails from Hillary Clintons campaign that have been published by WikiLeaks and other sites. Earlier this month, the Obama administration accused the Russian government of hacking political groups and people in an attempt to sway the election. McCaul said he personally briefed Trump (above) on Russias actions just two days before the final presidential debate In a joint statement, the Department of Homeland Security and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said: The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations. It added that the recent publication of hacked emails are consistent with the methods and motivations of Russian-directed efforts. These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process, the statement continued. Such activity is not new to Moscow - the Russians have used similar tactics and techniques across Europe and Eurasia, for example, to influence public opinion there. We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities. In September, McCaul a Trump supporter - said that Russians had also hacked into Republican National Committee computers, but the RNC denied it and McCaul later said he misspoke. The Russians... basically have hacked into both parties at the national level. And that gives us all concern about what their motivations are, McCaul told CNN in an interview. At the final presidential debate (above) last week, Trump insisted that no one definitively knows if Russia was behind the cyberattacks I misspoke by asserting that the RNC was hacked. What I had intended to say was that in addition to the DNC hack, Republican political operatives have also been hacked, McCaul added in a statement. At the time, the head of the Democratic National Committee, Donna Brazile, said the organization had been hacked by Russian state-sponsored agents who were trying to influence the November 8 election. Teresa Kirk, 71, pictured, was jailed for six months for refusing to return a man, 80, from a Portuguese care home to Devon where he would be put into council care A grandmother jailed for refusing to move an elderly man from the care home he loves has been denied access to lawyers. In a case described as Kafkaesque, Teresa Kirk, 71, was sentenced to six months in prison by the secretive Court of Protection for refusing to return the man from the home in Portugal to council care in Britain. But details of the case have been kept secret and her sentence was only made public two weeks ago, two months after the ruling. Now she plans to appeal against her sentence but her lawyer says she has twice been denied access to the legal papers she needs to sign to start the process. Yesterday, Mrs Kirks barrister Colin Challenger told the High Court it made him shudder that she was stuck in jail for doing what she thought was best for the man. Former Lib-Dem MP John Hemming said: This case is shrouded in secrecy. Its Kafkaesque. Do we live in England or North Korea? He added: Its sad that the judiciary wont take a more robust approach to defending the rights of people who are in prison to appeal. The man, 80, who has dementia and whose relationship to Mrs Kirk cannot be disclosed, lives in a care home in his native Portugal where she believes he is happy. Devon County Council wants to move the man, who lived in England for 50 years, to a care home in Britain chosen by social workers but Mrs Kirk has refused. At the Court of Protection which looks at cases involving those who lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves a judge jailed her for contempt of court despite conceding she acted because of deeply held, sincere beliefs she was protecting the man. Yesterday, Mr Challenger told Mr Justice Ouseley that he could not get the appeal paperwork to her at the high security Bronzefield prison in Surrey, which was once home to serial killer Rosemary West. The barrister asked the judge to order prison bosses to bring Mrs Kirk to court so he could take instructions from her but the judge said he should first write to the prison. She has been denied access to her lawyer and has urged the High Court to order prison bosses to let her attend so she can give instruction to her barrister Mrs Kirk has been in jail since September 25. She wrote to Mr Hemming to tell him she was coping reasonably well and is taking higher education classes. Mr Hemming said the jail couldnt find her prisoner number so she couldnt be contacted. He said the cost of keeping her in prison was a waste of taxpayers money, adding: Shes not a threat to anyone. If the man is forced to return to the UK, I think theres a chance he could die. Gable Tostee's new girlfriend has claimed the couple are planning to move to New Zealand once he finishes studying architecture. Daily Mail Australia this week revealed the identity of Lizzi Evans, the mystery blonde who was Mr Tostee's shoulder to cry on through his murder trial. The pair are understood to have been in a relationship since at least April, when he was on bail accused of Tinder date Warriena Wright's murder. But the Gold Coast man and his new beau successfully managed to keep their love affair under wraps until after he was cleared of responsibility for Ms Wright's death. Scroll down for video Diligent shoe repairman: Gable Tostee's girlfriend Lizzi Evans shared this picture of her beau repairing her high heels with A Current Affair earlier this year Ms Evans reportedly told the program she and her boyfriend were planning to move to New Zealand together once he finished studying architecture. Mr Tostee has previously told friends he plans a 'fresh start' Gable Tostee used to meet many women through the dating app Tinder (screenshot pictured) Earlier this year, Ms Evans spoke to A Current Affair about her partner in an interview about a dodgy pair of shoes she purchased from an online store this year. 'He's been a good guy and trying to make the girlfriend happy,' Ms Evans laughed. 'I'm sort of upset about these shoes, I'm ranting and raving - "I'm never going to wear these" 'And he said to me let me see if I've had a go, and I'll see if I can modify them into something potentially you can wear'. She revealed the pair were planning to move New Zealand once her boyfriend wraps up his architecture studies - and shared a picture of him fixing her shoes. Daily Mail Australia had previously been told Mr Tostee was hoping for a 'fresh start' in life and thinking of leaving the Gold Coast. New Zealand woman Lizzi Evans was one of Gable Tostee's closest supporters throughout the nine-day murder trial at the Brisbane Supreme Court Ms Evans (left) sat with his family in the public gallery of the courthouse throughout the trial and revealed online she was his girlfriend Ms Evans has since mounted a defence of her 'partner' online - sending a woman who added Mr Tostee on Facebook recently a message confirming she was his partner Ms Evans accidentally revealed her identity when she posted a Snapchat of her and Mr Tostee at the weekend. 'All Gable ever does is read about himself,' she commentated, as Mr Tostee apparently flicked through a news story about his life. 'I'm not up myself or anything,' Mr Tostee replied dryly. In an angry post to a New Zealand journalist, she also described death plunge victim Warriena Wright as a 'drunk phyhco' (psycho). Other messages seen by Mr Tostee was acquitted of Ms Wright's murder and manslaughter last week, bringing an end to a two-year ordeal for him and his family. Ms Evans, pictured, shot a Snapchat video of Gable at the weekend - inadvertently revealing her identity Public school districts in the United States are struggling to cope with what the federal government says is a chronic problem of teacher absences. The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights has accumulated data that it says indicates that more than one in four teachers miss over 18 days of regular classes. The information, which applies to 2014 since it was the latest that the figures were provided, was gleaned from data that was reported by the school districts themselves, according to The Washington Post. That represents a steep increase from the previous academic year. According to the National Council on Teacher Quality, 16 per cent of teachers were classified as chronically absent those who missed 18 days or more in the 2012-2013 school year. The government learned that the problem was more acute in poorer, rural areas of the country as well as in a number of major cities, where as many as 75 per cent of teachers were chronically absent. A federal study say that teacher absenteeism is on the rise, particularly in school districts located in poorer, rural areas and in some major cities. A teacher is seen here with students One rural area that was hard hit by teachers missing work days was North Carolina's Alamance-Burlington School District. In the 2013-2014 school year, this district, which is located between Greensboro and Chapel Hill, saw an astounding 80 per cent of its 1,500 teachers miss more than 10 days. In Cleveland, Ohio, 84 per cent of the teachers there were chronically absent. Clark County School District in Nevada reported that over half of its 17,000 teachers missed over 10 days. Education experts and observers say that just as student absences adversely impact academic performance and graduation rates, teacher absences have the same effect. The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights says that more than one in four teachers missed over 18 days of regular classes in the 2013-2014 academic year Analysts say that apart from personal absences such as sick days and maternity leave, teachers are feeling less motivated to come to work due to the climate and work environment that they encounter at the schools. One former teacher at a Washington, D.C., area middle school told the Post that he was mostly healthy on the days that he did not report to work. 'I would wake up in a panic and feeling like there was a pit in my stomach,' Sean McGrath, a former social studies teacher at the Stuart Hobson Middle School, said. 'It was a feeling of dread and despair.' McGrath said that the feeling was mostly fueled by a combination of the rampant misbehavior by the students as well as what he and other teachers perceived as a lack of support from the principal and administrators. Nonetheless, teacher representatives say the data paints a misleading picture. Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, a nationwide union representing teachers, said that the root cause of the problem is the work conditions with which teachers have to cope. She also says that because most teachers are women, they are forced to be at home since they are the primary caregivers in their families. 'The data also doesn't address some other basic conditions faced by teachers the stress, the need to work beyond the school day and the juggling of work and home that interferes more with their family life than most professions,' Weingarten said. 'To better address absenteeism, we need to understand root causes.' The figures were compiled for the 2013-2014 Civil Rights Data Collection, a survey of public schools and school districts in the US. The study seeks to highlight issues impacting the quality of education provided in public schools as well as factors that contribute to it. The survey also found that black preschool children were 3.6 times more likely to be suspended at least once than their white counterparts. Among pupils enrolled in public kindergarten through 12th grade, black children were disproportionately more likely to be suspended than white pupils. Controversial Frankenfoods could be grown on English soil after a minister signalled he could give them the green light following Brexit Controversial Frankenfoods could be grown on English soil after a minister signalled he could give them the green light following Brexit. The case for GM crops is being further considered for when the UK leaves the European Union. New rules are being developed by the Government to regulate genetically modified foods after Britain is freed from Brussels red tape. George Eustice, the agriculture minister, said that the Government was looking at possible future arrangements for the regulation of genetically modified organisms. Mr Eustice, a former strawberry farmer, added that this would happen as part of the preparations for EU exit. He insisted that any new rules should be science-based and proportionate. Companies and scientists would have to prove that GM crops are not damaging to human health. However, if the Government approves further cultivation of Frankenfoods, England could be the only part of the UK where GM crops are permitted to be grown. Last year, the EU allowed individual member states and regions to impose bans on growing GM crops. So far, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not allow cultivation of the controversial strains. Half of all other EU countries have also banned the cultivation of GM. Just one GM product, a pest-resistant maize, has been licensed in the EU since 1998 because of political opposition to the crops. But Mr Eustices remarks, made in a written parliamentary answer, could signal the start of a GM explosion in the English countryside. Campaigners warned that allowing GM crops could actually harm the UKs ability to trade. Clare Oxborrow, farming campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: Ministers will know how vital the European market is to British farmers, so any change in policy to allow GM crops to be grown here would be a devastating own goal. Campaigners warned that allowing GM crops could actually harm the UKs ability to trade However, Ottoline Leyser, director of the Sainsbury Laboratory at Cambridge University, told The Times: The system is supposed to be science and evidence-based but in reality ideology has had much to do with it. It would be difficult not to argue that if the UK post-Brexit decided to develop its own system for licensing all crops that was truly science-based that would be a good thing. The Westminster government has supported GM crops, and wants to see the controversial food rolled out. But in America, where GM crops are widely grown, a new strain of superweeds has developed that are more difficult to control. A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said: It is being considered as part of a package of when we leave the EU. Humans have wiped out so many animals that the planet is on the verge of the first mass extinction since the age of the dinosaurs, conservationists have warned. By the end of the decade, seven out of every ten of the worlds mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds will have been wiped out, according to the biggest ever report into extinction. Some of the most threatened species include African elephants, tigers, mountain gorillas and giant pandas, said the report by the WWF and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Its grim findings were described as a wake-up call to help save Earths remaining animals before it is too late. Several iconic creatures, pictured, are under threat from humankind with the world's wildlife population expected to drop by 70 per cent between 1970 and the end of the decade The study assessed 14,152 populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles. Numbers fell by 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012 and are dropping by around 2 per cent every year, with no sign of any slowdown. By 2020, populations of vertebrate species could have fallen by 67 per cent over the 50-year period unless action is taken to reverse the damaging impacts of mankind, the Living Planet report found. These include poaching, farming, over-fishing, deforestation, climate change, the ditching of waste plastic, chemical and air pollution behaviours that are affecting humans too. Mike Barrett, director of science and policy at WWF-UK, said: For the first time since the demise of the dinosaurs ... we face a global mass extinction of wildlife. We ignore the decline of other species at our peril for they are the barometer that reveals our impact on the world that sustains us. Humanitys misuse of natural resources is threatening habitats, pushing irreplaceable species to the brink and threatening the stability of our climate. The world's African Elephant (pictured) population has dropped by 111,000 in the past decade due to poaching, often for ivory There are only 1,864 giant pandas (pictured) left in the world after loss of habitat due to expansion of farms and the need for timber But he added: We know how to stop this. It requires governments, businesses and citizens to rethink how we produce, consume, measure success and value the natural environment. The African elephant population has fallen by 111,000 in the past decade, mainly down to poaching, with just 415,000 left. Other animals are even more rare. There are now just 3,900 tigers in the world and 1,864 giant pandas. Shockingly the numbers of one of the most at risk species, the Amur leopard, are down to just 70. Overall, terrestrial species have seen populations drop by 38 per cent between 1970 and 2012. Freshwater species fared even worse, falling by 81 per cent. For marine creatures based on 6,170 populations of 1,353 species of fish, birds, mammals and reptiles the report found a 36 per cent decline. The Amur leopard, pictured, is one of the most endangered species in the world, with just 70 left in the wild following years of over-hunting The worst years were between 1970 and 1980, however the decline has been stabilised thanks to efforts to stop overfishing. On a positive note, animal species living in African grasslands have increased slightly since 2004, thanks to conservation efforts. The report also highlights the success of habitat protection and strict hunting controls in Europe. Professor Ken Norris, director of science at ZSL, said: Human behaviour continues to drive the decline of wildlife populations globally, with particular impact on freshwater habitats. Police officers will be barred from using gut instinct to stop and search crime suspects in a major shake-up of the controversial powers. Bobbies on the beat will also be educated to recognise unconscious bias against minorities such as children, black people and eastern Europeans. The move that will fuel criticism that forces are more concerned with pandering to political correctness than cutting crime. Police officers are being educated to recognise 'unconscious bias' they may have against certain groups, especially black people, eastern Europeans and even youths In February last year then Home Secretary Theresa May ordered forces to curb their use of stop and search amid concerns they fuelled resentment as they were disproportionately targeted against ethnic minorities. But police chiefs, MPs and victims families claim that limiting checks on youths had led to an increase in knife crime. Under a crackdown on unjustified use of the powers, police in England and Wales will no longer be able to search people simply on gut instinct if they look suspicious, and will instead be told to record the reason and explain it to the potential suspect. The drive, prompted by research by the College of Policing, is designed to place extra focus on fairness, legality, professionalism and transparency. Garth Stinson, the Colleges stop and search lead, said the application of stop and search powers was a mixed bag across different forces. He said: Were trying to get back to basics - just because you have got information about somebody, doesnt mean you should walk with the assumption that youre going to search them. We should see a reduction in the number of searches that have to be carried out. But make no bones about it, were also telling the officers - because the vast majority of officers are doing a tough job - [the public] expect us to search people if they have the grounds. What we want to do is give the officers confidence. If theyve got reasonable grounds and theyve got the power that they can search people, they must do it. Theres a massive step between Ive got a gut instinct hes a wrong un through to that gives me the evidence to get in their pockets. Members of the public who are stopped should feel theyve been treated with dignity and respect. Details of the training come ahead of the release of stop and search statistics by the Home Office on Thursday. Last years figures showed the number of stop and searches carried out by police had fallen by 40 per cent in a year. Police fill in stop and search forms on a young man taking part in a Freedom to Protest demonstration in London A record low of 540,870 checks were made after Mrs May introduced reforms to reduce the excessive and inappropriate use of the tactic. In 2013-14, there were 904,089 stops. Stop and searches against black and ethnic minorities fell by 38 per cent since last year, and 68 per cent since March 2011. Richard Bennett, the College of Polices uniform policy lead, said: Because people from ethnic minority backgrounds very often live in disadvantaged areas, they quite often live in high crime areas, and they are disproportionately both victims of crime and if policing activity occurs in that area then there is likely to be a degree of disproportionality. We can have these arguments until the cows come home, but what we need to do is make sure officers have the guidance and training so that every single stop and search they carry out is fully justified in terms of there being appropriate levels of suspicion. The research for the roll-out was based on a trial involving more than 1,300 police officers. The research was commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission two years ago. In October last year Mrs May became embroiled in a row with Britains top police officer by accusing him of lying over curbs to stop and search leading to rising violence. She said Sir Bernard Hogan-Howes claim that reducing checks on youths had led to an increase in knife-crime was simply not true. He had blamed a rise in stabbings and violence on the reduction in stop and search, insisting it had inflamed tensions among gangs. Footage from a police body camera shows the moment officers first encountered the man accused of setting off bombs in New Jersey and New York before a shootout with police that sent him to the hospital. In video released by authorities on Wednesday, Ahmad Khan Rahimi, is seen curled on the steps outside a bar in Linden, New Jersey, on September 19 as rain falls. Officers were called to Merdie's Tavern that morning, the Monday following the weekend bombings, after the owner reported someone was sleeping in the doorway. Footage from a police body camera shows the moment cops first encountered New Jersey and New York bombing suspect Ahmad Rahimi (picturd in the doorway) before a police shootout 'You can't be sleeping on somebody's door,' Linden Police Officer Pete Hammer shouts to Rahimi from his patrol car. He then gets out and starts questioning 28-year-old Rahimi, an Afghan-born U.S. citizen, on why he is there. The officer asks Rahimi for his name but he responds giving a fake, 'Ahmad Khan'. Hammer then asks the bombing suspect if he has ID but he says no. As the questioning goes on, Rahimi tells the officer he used to live in Perth Amboy and that he is homeless, adding he has not had a house for two weeks. 'I had lost my job and couldn't pay my rent,' Rahimi tells the officer. Rahimi is seen curled on the steps outside a bar in Linden, New Jersey, on September 19 as rain falls. It was the Monday following the weekend bombings in New York and New Jersey During the encounter, Linden Police Officer Pete Hammer starts questioning Rahimi from inside his patrol before getting out and walking over to him Hammer is then heard calling for additional police to come to the scene. '705 and any other units, you can just head this way, standby,' he says. During the encounter, Hammer does not give any indication as to whether he knew Rahimi was the bomb suspect. The footage ends before the shootout between Rahimi and officers at the scene. The shootout footage was not released because it is considered evidence, according to ABC News. During the police shootout, Rahimi allegedly shot at the five officers at the scene, who all suffered minor injuries. FULL EXCHANGE BETWEEN NEW JERSEY OFFICER AND BOMBING SUSPECT AHMAD RAHIMI Linden Police Officer Pete Hammer: 'You can't be sleeping on somebody's door. Ahamd Rahimi: [Inaudible]. Hammer: Who said you could stay here? Rahimi: [Inaudible]. Hammer: What's your name? Rahimi: What? Hammer: What's your name? Rahimi: Ahmad. Hammer: What's your last name? Rahimi: Khan. Hammer: Huh? Rahimi: Khan. Hammer: You got ID on you or no? Rahimi: No, no ID. Hammer: You don't have anything with ID? Rahimi: No I don't. Hammer: Where do you live? Rahimi: Hey, I'm homeless. Hammer: What do you mean you're homeless? Rahimi: I haven't had a house for two weeks. Hammer: Where did you used to live? Rahimi: I lived in Perth Amboy. Hammer: In Perth Amboy? Rahimi: Yeah. I had... Hammer: Huh? Rahimi: I said I had lost my job and I couldn't pay my rent. Hammer: [speaking to officers in his walkie talkie] 705 and any other units, you can just head this way, standby. Advertisement Hammer was grazed in the head while Officer Angel Padilla was shot in the torso, however she was saved by his bulletproof vest, according to CBS. Meanwhile, Rahimi was hospitalized with gunshot wounds during the exchange that led to his capture. He is charged with five counts of attempted murder of a police officer and weapons offenses. Earlier this month, he pleaded not guilty from his hospital bed in New Jersey to charges he tried to kill police officers before they captured him. During the police shootout, Rahimi (pictured left and on a stretcher at the scene) allegedly shot at the five officers at the scene, who all suffered minor injuries. He was hospitalized following his arrest It was Rahimi's first public appearance since last month's bombings and police chase. He has since been released and remains jailed on $5.2 million bail. Rahimi is accused of detonating a pipe bomb along the route of a Marine Corps charity race in the New Jersey shore town of Seaside Park and a pressure cooker bomb in New York City on September 17. No one was injured in the New Jersey blast, and 31 people were hurt in the New York blast. A second pressure cooker bomb did not explode. Rahimi is being held while awaiting court appearances on federal charges in New York and New Jersey. Earlier this month, Rahimi pleaded not guilty to charges he tried to kill police officers. He appeared in court via a video feed from his hospital room (shown above) Big news from PMQs, for some saps, was that Jeremy Corbyn compared Theresa May to Baldrick, the Black-adder character forever claiming to have a cunning plan. Surely the bigger news was that Mrs May actually knew who Baldrick was. Can we be sure Margaret Thatcher or Gordon Brown would have been that plugged in to TV culture? Big news from PMQs, for some saps, was that Jeremy Corbyn compared Theresa May to Baldrick, the Black-adder character forever claiming to have a cunning plan Mrs T might have thought he was some East German economist. Ah yes, Herr Baldrick, the Leipzig Keynesian. Gordon would probably have misheard and thought he was being compared to Stanley Baldwin. Under Prime Minister May, PMQs has changed. Gone is the stag-rutting we had of old. In its place is something less theatrical. That is why Mr Corbyns little sally about Baldrick created such fevered excitement. It offered a few seconds relief from the seriousness of the exchanges. Reporters fell on it with pathetic gratitude, gannets diving on a single cocktail shrimp. Much of the half-hour more closely resembled a medical consultation as MPs raised various plagues, boils and other ailments, physical and psychological. Gone is the stag-rutting we had of old. In its place is something less theatrical. That is why Mr Corbyns little sally about Baldrick created such fevered excitement Much of the half-hour more closely resembled a medical consultation as MPs raised various plagues, boils and other ailments, physical and psychological They brought these woes to Mrs Mays door and they trusted she would cure them. She did her best to sound sympathetic but she is not as good at that as her predecessor was Helen Hayes (Lab, Dulwich & W Norwood) mentioned the stresses of survivors of sex abuse. Jim Dowd (Lab, Lewisham W & Penge) spoke of the continuing and alarming increase in average alcohol consumption (this occasioned some cheery elbow-lifting gestures from observers of always-sober Mr Dowd). Karl Turner (Lab, Hull E), Alison McGovern (Lab, Wirral S), Helen Whately (Con, Faversham & Mid Kent) and Luciana Berger (Lab, Wavertree) were worried about mental health and talking therapies. On it went. Yasmin Qureshi (Lab, Bolton SE) brought sorry news of Kashmiris being blinded by pellet guns. George Freeman (Con, Mid Norfolk) plunged us further into misery with a question about cystic fibrosis and rare cancers. Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds W) spoke about tuberous sclerosis. They brought these woes to Mrs Mays door and they trusted she would cure them. She did her best to sound sympathetic but she is not as good at that as her predecessor was. The House also doffed its cap to Nick Boles (Con, Grantham & Stamford), who has just been found to have a tumour in his head. And so, amid all this sorrow, to Baldrick. Mr Corbyn began by mulling on the elusiveness of Mrs Mays public position on the Brexit negotiations and her Brexit means Brexit slogan. He said: Ive been thinking about this for a couple of days Cue hoots of mirth from the Tories, who consider old Jeremy incapable of serious thought. Mr Corbyn continued that in order to understand Mrs Mays stance, we should consult the great philosophers and the only one I could come up with was Tory heckler: Mao! Another: Marx! A third: Rupert Bear! Mr Corbyns engines juddered as he overcame these breakers. He continued: The only one I could come up with was Baldrick, who said his cunning plan was to have no plan. Mrs May, by way of response, noted that of course, the actor who played Baldrick was a member of the Labour Party. Indeed he was Sir Tony Robinson. Knighted! He was a member of Labours National Executive Committee. Tory MPs were thankful she had produced some form of comeback, no matter how pointless. It was certainly more than she did, later, to the SNPs Angus Robertson when he asked if she agreed that Spanish ports should refuse to refuel the Russian fleet currently steaming into the Mediterranean. She merely said that there should be a political solution to the Syria crisis. Talking of ships, the House of Lords discussed briefly the notion of a new royal yacht. Once, the Upper House would have been resolutely Monarchist and engaged by eccentric ideas. Yesterday it scoffed. There were loud hear-hears when Lord Howe, for the Government, doused down the idea. A Lib Dem, to hilarity, said any royal yacht would need to be manned by foreigners, we had so few matelots. The Commons has been politer about the royal yacht idea. If this Japanese theme park is anything to go by, Dreamworld could soon be an abandoned wasteland. Expoland, in Osaka, Japan, was filled with the excited screams and laughter of thrillseekers for more than 30 years before tragedy struck. A 19-year-old woman died in an horrific high-speed accident when a rollercoaster derailed, injuring another 18 people in 2007. The amusement park struggled on for another couple of years but ultimately was unable to persuade families - and sponsors - to return to its rides, leading to its eventual demise. Japanese theme park Expoland was left abandoned after a 19-year-old was killed when a rollercoaster derailed. Pictured, the abandoned park Expoland (pictured abandoned), in Osaka, Japan, was filled with the excited screams and laughter of thrillseekers for more than 30 years before tragedy struck The amusement park struggled on for another couple of years but ultimately was unable to persuade families - and sponsors - to return to its rides. Pictured, the abandoned park After the deaths of four people at Dreamworld on Tuesday afternoon, the Gold Coast park could face a similar fate. Kate Goodchild, 32, Cindy Low, 42, Luke Dorsett, 35, and his partner Roozi Araghi, 38, were all killed when their raft on the Thunder River Rapid ride flipped. Ebony Goodchild, 12, and Kieran Low, 10, were thrown from the craft and survived, only to watch as emergency crews pulled their mothers' bodies from the wreckage. Dreamworld is set to open for a memorial day tomorrow, but other parks to suffer serious accidents have struggled to resume normal service so quickly. Expoland was one of the most popular theme parks in Japan before Yoshino Kogowara was killed in the rollercoaster crash on May 5, 2007. The teenager was thrown from the 120km/h Fujin Raijin II ride along with other passengers and was killed instantly when her head collided with a guardrail. An investigation found that an axle that had not been replaced in 15 years had not been properly inspected. The park reopened its doors after the tragedy, but attendances were so low over the next two years that it was forced to close. Expoland was one of the most popular theme parks in Japan before Yoshino Kogowara was killed in the rollercoaster crash on May 5, 2007. Pictured, the abandoned park's entrance The park reopened its doors after the tragedy, but attendances were so low over the next two years that it was forced to close. Pictured, the abandoned park 'We couldn't regain the people's trust,' an Expoland spokesman said at the time, blaming the accident on the park's inability to regain sponsorship. The park has since reopened again as a retail park, with a ferris wheel the only ride left on the site. Three of Expoland's staff were found guilty of professional negligence causing death and claiming the rollercoaster had been inspected. It remains to be seen whether anyone at Dreamworld will face charges, however it will soon become clear how severely the accident will affect visitor numbers. Alison Barrett, a personal injuries principal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers', told Daily Mail Australia that the park could face fines of up to $3million - but a plummeting reputation could cost them more. Three of Expoland's staff were found guilty of professional negligence causing death and claiming the rollercoaster had been inspected. Pictured, the abandoned park Victims: Two mothers, Kate Goodchild (left), 32, and Cindy Low (right), 42, died in the Dreamworld tragedy David Goodchild (left) waited for his wife Kate Goodchild (right) and daughter Ebony as they were thrown from ill-fated ride and witnessed the horrific accident unfold Kieran Low (left) and Ebony Goodchild (right) witnessed their mother's deaths after being thrown from the malfunctioning ride as their father's ran to the scene 'Potentially a bigger impact on them is other financial implications - the knock on effect in relation to people not wanting to attend the park,' Ms Barrett said. 'I've got two young children, I live on the Gold Coast. Like me, every other Queenslander who has visited Dreamworld want answers and want a level of reassurance this ride, and other rides, will be safe.' Officials are keen to ensure families keep coming to Dreamworld. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was 'essential to have the coroner's report findings and to build confidence back' 'It's very important so we can move on and help support the theme park and get it back to the point where people have the confidence to come and have those wonderful memories again,' she told ABC radio. Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson said the children involved in the accident 'will have our support into the future'. Doctors are being told to stop thinking they know best and let patients decide if they need treatment in hospital. They should sit down with patients for 40 minutes before operations to discuss the risks and likely chances of success. Guidelines today warn doctors that they face being sued by patients if they feel they were kept in the dark about possible complications and other consequences. The advice is being issued by the Royal College of Surgeons, who warned that doctors were inclined to be paternalistic or patronising. Too often they rush through the risks minutes before a patient is wheeled into theatre and fail to talk through any alternatives, the College said. Doctors are being urged to let their patients decide whether they want hospital treatment (file picture) The elderly are being urged to have major operations such as heart bypass surgery, for example just because surgeons have decided it will help them live longer. But many may not want to go through the ordeal - particularly if it means many painful weeks afterwards being bedbound - and may prefer an alternative that allows a less disrupted and healthier life in the short-term. The advice is being issued following a high-profile case last year whereby a mother sued the NHS for failing to inform her of the risks of having a natural birth. Nadine Montgomery was awarded 5million from a Scottish health board after her son suffered brain damage during the labour. The mother, now 40, suffered from Type 1 diabetes and was also of petite build and claimed doctors had not properly informed her of the risks, The case was settled last year at the Supreme Court in London and prompted a change in law in how doctors tell patients about possible dangers. But the RCS claims many doctors arent aware of this and risk being sued by patients who claimed they werent warned of dangers. The advice tells doctors and surgeons to sit patients down for up to 40 minutes and make them aware of the likelihood of success. They should also inform patients about the possible risks of things going wrong and the expected recovery time. Currently patients are briefly told about the risks during one of their check-ups and sometimes only a few minutes before they go into the operating theatre. They are then issued with a form a few days before the operation listing all the possible side effects and instructed to sign, to give their consent. Leslie Hamilton, a former heart surgeon from Newcastle and council member of the Royal College of Surgeons said, doctors and surgeons needed to stop being too paternalistic. He gave the example of elderly patients being urged to have heart bypass surgery just because it would help them live longer. The Royal College of Surgeons say doctors should take more time to explain the risks of treatment to guard against legal action (file picture) Following discussions, some said they didnt want to live for a long time and would rather be back on their feet as soon as possible to enjoy time with their grandchildren. They might instead opt for angioplasty, a more minor form of heart surgery which involves unblocking a blood vessel. The RCS said: Youve got to tailor it to the individual patient. We feel the NHS and doctors havent woken up to this yet. We need a cultural shift from surgeons and we hope our guidance will do that. Nigel Poole QC, a barrister who specialises in clinical negligence who helped draw up the guidelines said: Doctors and surgeons have a duty to advise and patients have the right to decide. Patients who do suffer harm from risks they would have avoided may well sue for compensation. Patients often - in my experience consult lawyers when something has gone wrong in their treatment and they feel theyve been kept in the dark. The advice comes days after another major organisation told doctors to avoid 40 treatments ranging from plaster casts for broken wrists to chemotherapy for the terminally ill. Reverend James Meredith Day has been defrocked after his wife exposed his dark sexual fantasies and love of violent pornography A priest has been defrocked after his wife alerted church authorities to his sex addiction, visits to gay saunas and library of horrific pornography. Reverend James Meredith Day gave the appearance of respectability but those closest to him learned of his dark sexual fantasies and fondness for violent images. Speaking at a Church of England tribunal in London, Birte Day said her husband had taken part in group sex, visited gay saunas and attempted to set up meetings with prostitutes. Mrs Day, who is now estranged from the vicar, said he grew 'powerful and menacing' and even strangled her with a scarf until she couldn't breathe and spanked her for wearing shorts around workmen. 'While he was holding the ends of the scarf he pulled me close and spat in my face,' she said. 'It temporarily stopped me from breathing.' US citizen Reverend Day has now been banned from the ministry for life as a result of the tribunal, which was triggered by a complaint made by his wife. Since their split in 2012, Mrs Day has collected a mass of evidence, including pornographic images that had been taken from his computer and references to a number of homosexual liaisons. Some of the images and videos showed extreme scenes. The image allegedly involved a woman and two men, one of whom was also a vicar. The behaviour of the former Reverend (right) was reported by his estranged wife, Birte (left) After shocking the tribunal with her revealing statement, Mrs Day announced that 'the two most important elements in his life were God and sex'. A church safeguarding officer, who carried out the investigation, detailed the shocking catalogue of images found on Day's computers. The tribunal heard that Day, who was also a psychology professor and had been educated Cambridge, had sexual images of 'young teenage' boys and girls and sketches of women being burned at the stake. Day, who was originally from America and studied at Oberlin College, Ohio, moved his family to Cambridge in 2001 while he completed theological training. Two years later he was ordained as a deacon before moving to Brussels. In 2012 Mrs Day made the decision to split from her husband and started to look into divorce proceedings, which was when she began to notice a change in his behaviour. She said the father of three began 'neglecting' her and started to spend an increasing amount of time online. His estranged wife said he grew 'powerful and menacing' and even strangled her with a scarf until she couldn't breathe and spanked her for wearing shorts around workmen Mrs Day said that others outside the marriage would not have been aware of his behaviour because he 'projected himself to be a successful and respectable person'. In an email to his wife, she said that he revealed that he had an addiction. Mrs Day said: 'James said that he had a "sexual addiction" and a dependency on sex. He referred to being bisexual and to engaging in sexual activity in gay saunas.' She explained to the tribunal that she had also found receipts and business cards from gay saunas in foreign cities. When she confronted him to ask about the visits, he replied: 'Am I not allowed to go to the sauna and do something for myself and be a free man?' Mrs Day said she had also seen another email to one of the vicar's friends in which he said: 'You must never desist on account of my priesthood. Perhaps I should send you photos from a gang bang I participated in to assuage your guilt.' Although Day did not attend the tribunal, he claimed in an email that he had collected dozens of letters that would cast serious doubt on the credibility of his wife She told the tribunal he created the alter ego, Henry Olsen, which he used to secretly meet men and women, including one called Amanda in Brussels who charged 130 euros an hour. 'I think James wanted to hurt me with his sexual activities and was making me feel guilty as I was just "not good enough",' Mrs Day told the tribunal. 'Sometimes he did not close off websites that he had visited, so I was able to see what those websites were - some were of gay clubs,' she added. Mrs Day discovered that her ex-husband had been involved with a number of men. She also told the tribunal how he was violence towards her, including when she had taken some bags of rubbish to workmen who were collecting garden waste from her home. She said: 'James rushed out of the house and spanked me on the bottom. He said that I had not to wear indecent clothes, in particular not in front of these men.' Rev Day was assistant chaplain at the English Church in Ostend, Belgium at the time The tribunal found that Day, who worked at the English Church in Ostend from 2003 to 2005, had not committed any crimes but that the allegations of assaults made against him by his wife had been 'proven in its entirety'. Church leaders were also provided with details of the images found on Day's computer, which was not brought to Britain during the investigation over fears it was illegal. The tribunal, headed by retired judge Samuel Wiggs, found: 'We accept that much of the conduct, such as the possession of pornography which is not criminally lawful and the seeking of sexual relations with others while he himself being married, would not in many professions or walks of life be unacceptable. Standards for the clergy are however and must be different.' Although Day did not attend the tribunal, he claimed in an email that he had collected dozens of letters that would cast serious doubt on the credibility of his wife. Justice Clarence Thomas said Wednesday that the Supreme Court confirmation process is an example of how the nation's capital is 'broken in some ways'. Thomas reflected on his 25 years as a justice while speaking at the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank where his wife once worked. The 68-year-old Thomas went through a very contentious confirmation in 1991, when he faced allegations that he sexually harassed Anita Hill when they were colleagues in the federal government. Justice Clarence Thomas said Wednesday that the Supreme Court confirmation process is an example of how the nation's capital is 'broken in some ways' At the time, Thomas, who would become the second African-American to serve on the court, called televised Senate hearings about Hill's claim a 'high-tech lynching'. Looking back, he said Wednesday that 'I think we have decided that rather than confront disagreements, we'll just simply annihilate the person who disagrees with me. I don't think that's going to work in a republic, in a civil society.' He did not mention the stalled Supreme Court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland. President Barack Obama nominated Garland in March to take the seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Thomas defended his willingness to question Supreme Court rulings more often than anyone else on the court. He said justices often are selective about what they want to preserve. The 68-year-old Thomas went through a very contentious confirmation in 1991, when he faced allegations that he sexually harassed Anita Hill (pictured) when they were colleagues in the federal government 'When people get what they want, then they start yelling stare decisis,' he said, using the Latin term for respecting precedents. He delivered one barbed quip about Obama's health care law, which Thomas voted to strike down in 2012. He said the title of the law, the Affordable Care Act, 'seems like kind of a misnomer considering all the things that are going on'. The administration this week announced rate increases for health insurance plans under the law. Thomas fondly recalled Scalia as someone he could trust, even when they disagreed. Their disagreements often could be about cultural issues. Scalia, a hunter from the North, teased the Georgia-born Thomas about his dislike of hunting. 'I told him no good comes from being in the woods,' Thomas said. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (pictured last month) has raised the possibility that Republicans would decline to fill the Supreme Court's vacancy if Democrat Hillary Clinton is elected president Then there was opera, a passion of Scalia's. Using Scalia's nickname, Thomas related that he would tell his friend: 'Nino, I like opera. I just don't want to be around the people who like opera.' Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is raising the possibility that Republicans would decline to fill the Supreme Court's vacancy if Democrat Hillary Clinton is elected president. Cruz is the second Republican to suggest that the GOP will simply block any Democratic nominee to replace Scalia, who died in February. Arizona Sen. John McCain made a similar assertion earlier this month. Speaking to reporters while campaigning for Republicans on Wednesday, Cruz was asked about Supreme Court vacancies. 'There will be plenty of time for debate on that issue, there is long historical precedent for a Supreme Court with fewer justices, just recently Justice (Stephen) Breyer observed that the vacancy is not impacting the ability of the court to do its job, that's a debate that we are going to have,' Cruz said, in a quote later provided by his office. Breyer said this week on MSNBC's Morning Joe program that 'the mechanics works about the same' with a 4-4 split on the court as they do with the normal 5-4. President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland for Scalia's seat in March. They are pictured together in this file image President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland for Scalia's seat in March, but Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, declined to even hold hearings as they insisted the voters choosing the next president would have the final say on the vacancy. Cruz said the best way to ensure conservatives are nominated to the court is to put a Republican in the White House and keep the GOP in control of the Senate. 'For those of us who care passionately about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, who care about free speech and religious liberty and the 2nd Amendment, the best way to protect those rights is to win on Election Day so that we see strong conservatives nominated to the court, and maintain a Republican majority in the Senate to confirm those strong conservatives,' Cruz said. Outgoing Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid used Cruz's comments in a fundraising email Wednesday night. 'Ted Cruz and John McCain may have given away the Republican game plan on the Supreme Court,' Reid wrote in the email sent by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. 'And we need to treat it like the constitutional crisis it will be if Democrats don't take back the Senate majority.' Cruz, who lost the presidential primary to Donald Trump, endorsed the nominee recently after telling Republicans to vote their conscience at this summer's Republican convention, a move that drew condemnation from some in the GOP. The size of the court is set by federal law and has changed over the years, but has been nine justices for most of its existence. Initially, there were six justices. The court reached its highest number, 10, during the Civil War. There has been a nine-justice court since 1869. When vacancies arise, they usually are filled within months, if not weeks. But there have twice been stretches of more than two years where the court was one justice short. Another six vacancies lasted more than a year. Cruz (pictured with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham last month) said the best way to ensure conservatives are nominated to the court is to put a Republican in the White House and keep the GOP in control of the Senate The most recent of those was in 1969 and 1970, when Justice Abe Fortas resigned and the Senate rejected two of President Richard Nixon's nominees before confirming Justice Harry Blackmun. McCain's comments came in an interview on a Philadelphia radio station to promote the candidacy of Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, a vulnerable Senate GOP incumbent. 'I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up,' McCain said. He added, 'This is the strongest argument I can make to return Pat Toomey, so we can make sure there are not three places on the United States Supreme Court that will change this country for decades.' An aide to McCain, R-Arizona, later clarified that he will examine the record of anyone nominated for the high court and vote for or against that person based on their qualifications. Neolithic man would understand. This weekend, near St Neots in Cambridgeshire, a brand new burial barrow will open for business only the second to be built in this country for thousands of years. Crafted out of stone to a low-slung, beehive design, the Willow Row barrow will have 400 candlelit alcoves, each with space for one or more urns of human remains. The barrow, with its ceiling rough hewn from rounded stone and with its grassed-over roof, will likely have the atmosphere of a catacomb, and maybe the mustiness of a World War II air-raid shelter. This weekend, near St Neots in Cambridgeshire, a brand new burial barrow will open for business only the second to be built in this country for thousands of years Visitors will be able to walk around its passages and central chamber, provided they are not too tall. They will be able to inhale the still air, run fingers over chiselled stones and commune with their dead. Is there, for those of us still with breath in our bodies, anything more humbling? Barrows were common in the Middle Bronze Age. It is interesting, to say the least, if they are coming back into vogue. And that does seem to be the case. Two years ago, the stonemasons behind the Willow Row barrow built a similar burial mound in Wiltshire. They did so on a hunch that this sort of retro burial chamber might not only solve the problem of 21st century graveyard shortages, but also meet a desire for something more emotionally satisfying more spiritual than is provided by non- church funerals. The hunch was proved right. The Wiltshire barrow was astonishingly popular. You could almost say people were dying to get in there. Who can blame them? Too many of todays municipal crematoria are desperately soulless places. Often sited on the outskirts of a town, invariably with Sixties architecture and windswept car parks, they have slots of 20 minutes or so for each cremation. Outside these production lines of body disposal you can see shivering huddles of black-clad mourners. From inside comes the electric warble of a perfunctory hymn, quite possibly played on a tape recorder, before another whimpering group is hustled towards the back exit, there to light fags and have a proper cry. Thats your lot, folks. Press the buttons. Re-set the tape for I Did It My Way. Its time for the next funeral party. The staff who run such places do their best to be sympathetic, no doubt, but the system and its functional design is against them. How impersonal, how metallic this modern procedure can be. It is as if officialdom has become deaf to the poetry of ceremonial. As if utilitarianism has replaced Christianity as our national creed. Some opinion formers and political leaders certainly seem grimly determined for that to happen. Reaction to the Wiltshire barrow, which was so eagerly embraced by bereaved families, suggests the public want better. There is something deep-rooted in human nature that cries out for a greater connection to our regiment of the dead. Recent intellectual fashion has tried to dismiss this, arguing that life is no more than a biological function and that the moment of death is as utter as the cessation of an electric current. The businessman behind the St Neots barrow, where a 99-year alcove occupancy for one urn will costnearly 2,000, is Toby Angel For all the talk of atheist rationalism by the likes of Prof Richard Dawkins and his angry supporters, they have not crushed that innate yearning for a place where we can venerate, remember and perhaps try to pray. As so often in life, the past has shown us the way. In this case, the past happens to be a burial practice that would have been known to spear-chucking, mammoth- dragging cave dwellers. They may not have known Christ nor even almost unimaginable to todays youth have had access to the internet, yet early humans had something to teach us. The businessman behind the St Neots barrow, where a 99-year alcove occupancy for a single urn will cost just under 2,000, is Toby Angel. Its not a bad surname for a man in his line of work. Though he has described his Sacred Stones company as having an ethos based on secular beliefs, he says the barrows are non-denominational, but full of faith. This, he adds, chimes with the people who have beaten a path to the door of his long, narrow, pre-historical-style burial chambers. Chime is a good verb. It suggests a tingling resonance, something we feel as much as we hear. Such sensations defy the rationalism of the militant secularists. Mr Angel observes that modern cremation services can lack sincerity and are hurried, impersonal and frankly unsatisfactory. Families seem to relinquish responsibility to the commercial devil that is box-ticking and prescribed process. Having seen the success of Tim Daw, the farmer and part-time Stonehenge steward who commissioned that first modern barrow in Wiltshire in 2014, Mr Angel decided there was a need for more. You can find Bronze Age barrows in various rural parts of our British isles, often in woods or atop scarps where they would have been nearer to the heavens and the souls of the departed could have soared like hawks. Relations would revisit these barrows. They would sometimes hold revels there. There was an ancient barrow near us when we lived on the cusp of the Cotswolds. On glum days, I would visit it and push my way under its 4ft-high tunnel mouth. Once inside it was possible at a crouch to work your way along the snaking passageway, your nostrils assaulted by the smell of mud and of rotting leaves that had been blown inside. Id pause and reflect on the day the burial party had deposited the corpse, behind these same stones I was touching. It created a powerful bond with history. Toby Angel reports that in his modern barrows the sound of the wind passing the passage opening can create a low-frequency hum which imbues a meditative state in visitors. When I used to visit that ancient barrow in Gloucestershire, I remember being able to hear the weather outside and feeling a sense of protection. There was something womb-like about the low structure. It was immensely reassuring. Death is the great and necessary leveller. Todays society particularly its most successful members forgets this. In this allegedly post-Christian age, there has been an attempt to tidy away death, to make it invisible. Those of us who still consider ourselves Christian, and proudly so, may be rather less terrified of it. In that St Neots barrow there will be no escaping the realisation that we are all going to die. Britain is more shy of death than other countries. My beloved Uncle Christopher, who lived in Spain, is buried in a multi-tier, above-ground cemetery on a hillside above Santa Eulalia, Ibiza. His coffin is visible through a pane of glass. Visiting that cemetery is deeply affecting. After doing so, I have come away determined to make more of my few years on earth. One side of my mothers family lived in Ireland and there is a family mausoleum, recently restored, in Co. Cavan, where you can observe the coffins of various 19th and 20th century relations. Is this ghoulish? No. But it does make you think about your own mortality. The same happens at church funerals. You have only to attend an Anglican burial conducted to the rites of the Book Of Common Prayer to be reminded its 16th century language will lift goose-pimples on your neck that Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live. I attended such a funeral in rural Herefordshire two weeks ago. Our village elder, John Edwards, had died aged 86. Neolithic barrows are being built again as burial mounds for modern Britons John was a tiny ball of energy, a church warden for more than 50 years, chairman of the county council, a great man of the community and a good friend; such a tiny coffin he had, yet it bore so many memories. I watched his grieving widow and children stand by the open grave, wind ruffling their hair, and was struck by the timelessness of grief. Modern mankind has no more been able to escape it than was the grunting Neanderthal. Later, I went and stood by Johns deep grave and threw some dirt on the coffin, as one does. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, the priest had intoned. Johns grave is just to the south-east of How Caple church, within yards of the path. We will pass it every Sunday on our way to worship. Each time, perhaps, we will remember John, think of his long and useful life, and perhaps improve our own. That, in large part, is the function of burial shrines, be they Christian graves or non-denominational barrows to act as a commemoration of the past and as a comfort and caution to the living. Atheists will harrumph that this is pointless, that we are mere atoms, soon to disappear. I disagree. And whatever our fate, would it not be instructive for our princes and potentates, our billionaire business tycoons on their yachts in Monaco, our political posh boys, our celebrity posturers, to be reminded of the impermanence of mortal life? The Royal Mail has promised a major crackdown on the scourge of letter frauds after the scandal was exposed by the Daily Mail. Bosses have been under growing pressure since we revealed how the firm was making millions delivering scam post that targets the elderly and vulnerable. In a major victory for the Mail last night, the company unveiled a comprehensive set of measures to stop operators using its system to distribute fraudulent letters. Postmen forced to deliver letter frauds say they fear they will lose their jobs if they refuse FILE IMAGE Crucially, the new terms will allow the firm to rip open post believed to be a con a measure we called for. Royal Mail will also demand that all suppliers sign a new industry-wide code of practice. Clients will have to commit to working with regulators to help stop frauds. It includes sharing information about operators who may be distributing scams a move some postal operators have resisted in the past. Under the code they must also ban suppliers who may be based abroad from sending fraudulent letters into the UK. A spokesman for the Royal Mail said two of its biggest partners had already signed up to the code. Left penniless by 'clairvoyants': After Vicki Westwood died her son Russell Eaton found scam letters stuffed into every cupboard and drawer in her house (pictured above with them) One is Whistl, which the Mail found had been distributing thousands of scam letters. The company will also raise the issue next month at a Europe-wide meeting of postal operators, called PostEurop, said the spokesman. Theresa May has already called for more action following our expose, in which we revealed how vile swindlers were using the Royal Mails lucrative bulk mail contracts to flood the UK with threatening scam letters. Elderly people are losing vast sums through vile frauds sent through the post, with some frail victims being conned out of more than 100,000. Some even lost their homes. The mass mailings aimed at very elderly and vulnerable victims such as those with dementia include fake prize draws and scam catalogues for illegal unlicensed medicines. There were also threatening letters telling the addressee that they are at risk of harm and need to pay a clairvoyant for protection. The Daily Mail revealed the conmen behind the illegal letters with undercover footage showing how they boasted of ripping off their suggestible victims and openly traded suckers lists of the most vulnerable. Fraudsters were also able to get Royal Mail branding on their envelopes making it easy to gain the trust of their British victims and even able to take advantage of the companys discounted bulk postage rates. Not guilty: Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) is unlikely ever to become Prime Minister but the current incumbent has warned the Royal Mail is must 'do more' to stop mail fraud In the wake of the revelations, the Prime Minister warned Royal Mail it must do more to stop fraudsters targeting the elderly while MPs, campaigners and charities accused Royal Mail of knowingly profiting from fraud. Stephen Agar, of Royal Mail, said the company would do all it can to protect our customers from these heartless criminals. Bosses have also been summoned to an urgent meeting with business minister Margot James and UK Trading Standards to explain themselves. The minister said she wanted to see the new code of practice adopted across the industry as soon as possible. She added: Im encouraged that industry has now taken direct action with a new code of practice which I want to see implemented as quickly as possible. The thumb of the Townley Venus, pictured, was damaged by an external catering worker at a corporate event at London's British Museum One of the British Museums priceless Roman sculptures had a thumb knocked off by a clumsy waiter who was preparing to serve food and drink to guests. The Townley Venus, a Roman copy of a fourth-century BC Greek sculpture, was damaged when catering staff were setting up for a corporate event in one of the museums galleries, it has emerged. A member of staff from an outside firm had bent down underneath the sculpture, and bumped into the statues right hand as they got up again, the Art Newspaper reported. The thumb was knocked clean off and fell to the floor, but it is understood the broken piece was not damaged further. A spokesman for the museum in Bloomsbury, central London, said it had taken the incident seriously, and the sculpture - which depicts a half-naked figure of the goddess of love - had been fully restored by conservators. The damage to the artefact took place last December but was not made public at the time. Officials at the British Museum kept the damage under wraps - with only an oblique reference to the incident in minutes of the trustees meetings. The incident is likely to raise questions about how the museum rents out its galleries for corporate functions. The Townley Venus is a marble copy of the Greek original. A spokesman for the museum in central London, pictured, said the statue had been 'fully restored' It stands just over two metres tall and dates from the first or second centuries AD. The artwork was excavated at Ostia, Italy, in 1775 and bought by the distinguished English collector Charles Townley in Rome. In 1805 his descendants sold it to the British Museum, where it is now prominently displayed in the Greek and Roman galleries. ARTWORK ACCIDENTS In 2012 a parishioner in Zaragoza, Spain, tried to restore a fresco of Jesus, turning Christ into a hairy monkey. A man fell over his shoelaces at Cambridges Fitzwilliam Museum in 2006, shattering three Qing dynasty vases. A boy, 12, put his hand through a 1.2million painting in Taipei, Taiwan, last year after tripping. In 2010, a woman fell into and ripped Picassos The Actor in New York. In June a priceless clock fell from the wall of a US museum after a visitor touched it. Advertisement It is not the first time the statue has been damaged. In 2012 a visitor knocked off part of a hand from the sculpture, which broke along an earlier break. This, too, was restored. A finger on the right hand was broken off before the Venus came to the British Museum, and its arms were restored in the 18th century. A British Museum spokesman said: This was an unfortunate incident. The preservation of the collection is of fundamental importance. Our expert conservators have been able to fully restore the object and it has remained on public display. We have taken the incident seriously and have retrained all individuals responsible for events. Michael Barrymore is poised to claim a legal victory over police who wrongly arrested him for the murder of a man found drowned in the entertainers swimming pool in 2001. Barrymore, now 64, said a massive weight had been lifted from his shoulders after a police force reportedly admitted he was wrongfully detained and questioned for murder. The comedian has endured years in the wilderness after Stuart Lubbock, a father-of-two, was found dead at his 2million home in Roydon, Essex. The comedian (left) has endured years in the wilderness after Stuart Lubbock (right), a father-of-two, was found dead at his 2million home in Roydon, Essex A post-mortem examination found that Mr Lubbock had suffered severe internal injuries indicating sexual assault, and his blood contained ecstasy, cocaine and alcohol. Barrymore was kept in police cells for 36 hours after being arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual assault in 2007. He was released without charge and three months later the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. Barrymore has always maintained his innocence. However, Essex Police previously claimed that he was with-holding information. The force said that the TV personality had failed to give a full or clear account about what happened on the night of Mr Lubbocks death. However, according to the Daily Mirror, Barrymores lawyers have now signed High Court papers in an agreement with Essex Police. The papers reportedly read: Judgment be entered for the Claimant [Barrymore] on the issue of liability. Pictured is the swimming pool at the home of Michael Barrymore where the body of Stuart Lubbock was found dead in 2001 The ruling means Barrymore can now make a claim for damages and it could pave the way for a major TV comeback. Barrymore has recently alluded to the end of the lengthy legal battle telling social media users that he was preparing for a big week and Mission Impossible has been a complete success. When asked by a Twitter follower if he was likely to return to television he responded: I have turned down all offers for a few years now till this was done and dusted looks like I will be able to. He later wrote that he got news thats taken 15 years to get to, saying: Be interesting if all those that chose to believe one thing find they got it wrong and apologise mmm, well see. The multi-million pound deals quickly began to disappear following the death of Mr Lubbock (pictured) He told fans he would comment properly when the times right adding that it was a massive weight off his shoulders. On the night of Mr Lubbocks death, the comedian had spent the evening at a club in Harlow, Essex, with his then boyfriend, Jonathan Kenney. He later invited locals back to his home and at 5.46am guest, Justin Merritt, dialled 999 to say a man had drowned in the pool. Barrymore had already fled the scene, later claiming he panicked. It is claimed that Barrymore is demanding at least 25,000 aggravated and exemplary damages for wrongful arrest and detention which led him to suffer loss and damage namely distress, shock, anxiety and damage to his reputation. Barrymore had previously been a household name with programmes such as Strike It Lucky and Kids Say The Funniest Things earned him 2.5million a year with ITV. However the multi-million pound deals quickly began to disappear following the death of Mr Lubbock. The star lodged the claim form three years ago, saying police had no right to arrest him because there was no evidence of his involvement in the death Mr Lubbocks father, Terry, 71, who has campaigned for justice for his son, told The Mirror: This is not closure or justice for me. That will not come until I find out what really happened to my son. Where did those injuries come from? Stuart didnt inflict them on himself. Princess Beatrice has been adapting to her new single status by enjoying nights out with her girlfriends. But the same cannot be said for her ex-boyfriend Dave Clark, 32, who rather insensitively paraded a mystery blonde at the Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone this week. Dave, who works in San Francisco as an executive for the taxi app Uber, was all smiles as he left the celebrity hotspot with his new companion, who wore black leather trousers and a turtle neck, before they both hopped into a taxi. Dave Clark, 32, paraded a mystery blonde (pictured) at the Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone this week Beatrice, 28, split from Dave (pictured together) in August after ten years together When Beatrice, 28, split from Dave in August after ten years together, her mother the Duchess of York was said to feel as though she had lost a son. But thankfully her youngest daughter, Eugenie, is proving to be luckier in love. On the same night Dave was cavorting around with his new woman, the 26-year-old hosted a charity gala in Kensington with her long-term partner, Jack Brooksbank, by her side. The pair are rumoured to be preparing for marriage in the near future. Actress Olivia Williams admits her dreams of writing a novel have been crushed by her experience judging this years Man Booker Prize. Having been a judge for this years prize, Id now never, ever, ever, ever write a novel myself, says The Sixth Sense star. Ive always had an idea of how beautiful it could be and I dont think I could do it, because now I have an idea of how bad a novel could be, and I think Id probably do that. Reading all these brilliant novels was so daunting. Ive realised that its not something you can just wake up and go, Im going to write a novel! You know, quite a lot of people come up to me and say, Yeah, I could have been an actor, and now I realise its just not that easy. You cant be good at something just because you want to be. 'No one would accuse Downton Abbey creator Lord Fellowes (pictured) of being a shrinking violet' No one would accuse Downton Abbey creator Lord Fellowes of being a shrinking violet. But the Oscar-winning writer tells me he hides his portraits from guests at his Dorset pile, Stafford House. I have a number of portraits of me on the walls, but not in terribly obvious places, he tells me at the Heads At The Tower private view. I always feel when I go into someones house Im hit over the head when theres a huge picture of my host staring at me. Its rather inelegant. Instead, he insists the purpose of his pictures is to benefit his son Peregrine, 25. Theyre more for my son, to promote them if he wants to, after Im dead, the 67-year-old adds. The Duke of York (pictured) clearly needs to put some distance between himself and his mother. He is in China trying to persuade companies to settle in the UK The Duke of York clearly needs to put some distance between himself and his mother, after the Queen apparently refused to give his daughters taxpayer-funded roles. Two days after news of their disagreement emerged, Andrew flew to China, where the globetrotting royal is trying to persuade companies to settle in the UK. The Palace tells me it is a privately funded visit. Perhaps the Chinese can put Bea and Eugenie on the payroll, too. Alfie star Sienna Miller (pictured) appears to have found herself a new clique in New York, where she now lives She left London this summer because she found the capital too cliquey, but Alfie star Sienna Miller appears to have found herself a new clique in New York, where she now lives. The 34-year-old blonde mingled with, from left, American actress Katie Holmes, The Affair star Ruth Wilson and Emily Mortimer, daughter of Rumpole creator John Mortimer, at a glamorous filmmakers luncheon. However Sienna, who was sporting a 3,850 Chanel red tweed jacket and black leather shorts, may not be sticking in the U.S. for long. Vodafone has been fined a record 4.6million after billing thousands of pay-as-you-go customers and providing nothing in return. Some 10,453 lost out when the mobile phone giant failed to credit their accounts after they paid to top up their mobile phone credit. Those affected lost 150,000 in total as Vodafone took almost a year and a half to fix a problem with its billing systems, which occurred after a botched upgrade. Vodafone has been fined a record 4.6million after billing thousands of pay-as-you-go customers and providing nothing in return. Stock image The telecommunications watchdog Ofcom, which issued the fine, also said Vodafone had failed to handle complaints from customers properly. Poorly trained staff were not given sufficiently clear guidance on what constituted complaint. The firms processes to deal with disgruntled customers were also insufficient, according to Ofcom, with complaints not escalated or dealt with in a fair, timely manner. Vodafone was fined 3.7million for the billing gaffe and 925,000 for the flaws in its complaints handling process. The total 4.625million penalty is the biggest ever imposed on a telecoms operator. The problem started at the end of 2013 when Vodafone started moving more than 28million customer accounts from seven separate old systems onto one new system. The result was that thousands of customers who had topped up a PAYG mobile which had been unused for nine months or more received a confirmation message that the credit had been added to their account. Some 10,453 lost out when the mobile phone giant failed to credit their accounts after they paid to top up their mobile phone credit But the mobile in question continued to be flagged as disconnected on our systems. This meant that customers who had paid Vodafone in order to resume using a previously inactive mobile were led to believe - incorrectly - that they would be able to make calls, send texts and use data on Vodafones network. Ofcom consumer group director Lindsey Fussell said: Vodafones failings were serious and unacceptable, and these fines send a clear warning to all telecoms companies. The fine must be paid to Ofcom within 20 working days, and the money will be passed to the Treasury. A spokesman for Vodafone, which said: We deeply regret these system and process failures. But the huge fine marks yet another blow to the reputation of Vodafone, which has twenty million mobile customers in the UK. Vodafone claims the problem was fixed in April last year. But Money Mail has been swamped by more complaints about Vodafone than any other company. Many have complained about being handed wildly inflated bills to poor complaints handling. Other complaints include missing direct debits, agreed tariffs reneged on, wrongly being chased by debt collectors, handsets mistakenly disconnected and unfairly damaged credit ratings which affect a persons chance of being granted a mortgage or credit card. Furious customers hit with an inflated bill have been forced to call Vodafone multiple times, spending hours on the phone. The company yesterday said it has fully refunded or recredited more than 10,422 customers an average of 14.35 each, and has made a 100,000 donation to a number of UK charities in lieu of being able to track down the remaining affected customers. It also said it has invested an extra 30 million in customer service training and hired 1,000 new UK call centre personnel. A spokesman said: This has been an unhappy episode for all of us at Vodafone, we know we let our customers down. We are determined to put everything right. Dreamworld staff reported a 'culture of fear and intimidation' before four people were killed in a catastrophic ride tragedy this week. And the Australian Worker's Union had concerns about the number of workers manning the rides at the Gold Coast theme park, it has been revealed. 'People have a perception about a culture of fear and intimidation within the workplace,' Queensland union secretary Ben Swan told Radio 2UE. Scroll down for video GHOST TOWN: The car park was deserted outside Dreamworld and White Water World Not a single person was aboard the Dreamworld roller coaster as the park grinded to a halt Devastated staff laid flowers out the front of the theme park memorial Wednesday HOW THEME PARK CATASTROPHE HAPPENED: Four people - two men and two women - were killed in a raft ride disaster at the Gold Coast's Dreamworld on Tuesday. Miraculously, two children were catapulted out of the fatal raft and survived with only minor injuries '(That) acts as an inhibitor to the exchange of important bits of information which might actually effect how things are operated, the way things are maintained and that affects safety.' About 2.20pm, mothers Kate Goodchild, 32, and Cindy Low, 42, were killed in the tragic incident; as were Luke Dorsett, 35, and his partner Roozi Araghi, 38. Meantime, children Ebony Goodchild, 12, and Kieran Low, 10, were miraculously 'flung' from the ride and survived with only minor injuries. The accident is believed to have occurred due to a conveyor belt malfunction which led their six-person raft into toppling over. An 18-year-old woman was reportedly on her first shift manning the Thunder River Rapids Ride on Tuesday, the tragic day the disaster occurred. Mr Swan said reports of a novice being behind the emergency controls of the ride were 'concerning'. Victims: Two mothers, Kate Goodchild (left), 32, and Cindy Low (right), 42, died in the tragedy Ms Goodchild's brother Luke Dorsett (on right) and his partner Roozi Araghi (left) were also killed The account has not been confirmed by Dreamworld, which has turned to a crisis management agency to handle its public relations. In the days since the crisis, the park has issued statements defending the safety of the 'moderate thrill' ride. In a statement Wednesday, a park contractor said the ride's annual mechanical and structural safety inspection was 'successfully completed' last month. Shareholders of the park's parent company Ardent Leisure confirmed a securities bonus $860,000 for CEO and former model Deborah Thomas. The company could face a barrage of civil lawsuits and there is also the possibility or prosecution by the workplace health and safety regulator. The park will open its gates for a memorial on Friday, opening smaller rides, animal attractions and its water park. Lawsuit claims the product is really 'petroleum jelly mixed with a number of hazardous and toxic chemicals' Women said they were lured into using the product after it was endorsed by an RHOA actress and Michelle Obama's hairstylist His practice said there were already 100,000 plaintiffs listed in the suit Celebrity attorney Mark Gergaros filed a class action lawsuit against the company over the same product in September A New York woman is suing L'Oreal for $5million in damages after a hair relaxer allegedly left her head covered in bald spots and burns. Delicia Taylor is claiming the SoftSheen-Carson Optimum Amla Legend No-Mix, No-Lye Relaxer caused large patches of her hair to fall out. Taylor also said the product, which promises 'fuller, silkier hair', caused her scalp to blister and scab, according to the lawsuit. Delicia Taylor (left) is suing L'Oreal for $5m in damages and claims the company's hair relaxer left her head covered in bald spots (pictured right is her head 'after' using the product) Taylor is alleging the company's SoftSheen-Carson Optimum Amla Legend No-Mix, No-Lye Relaxer caused large patches of her hair to fall out Taylor shared photographs of herself after using the treatment with TMZ that show multiple large bald spots on the top of her head. This isn't the first lawsuit L'Oreal is facing over the hair relaxer. A class action lawsuit filed against the French cosmetics company in September also claimed the product caused hair loss. Celebrity attorney Mark Gergaros filed the lawsuit, which already had 100,000 plaintiffs at the time, in Los Angeles. The suit claims women were lured into buying the product thanks to endorsements from the likes of Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Cynthia Bailey, Black-ish actress Tracee Ellis Ross, and even Michelle Obama's hairstylist, Johnny Wright. L'Oreal promoted the No-lye relaxer, which is sold at Wal-Mart and CVS Pharmacy, as one of the safer relaxers on the market due to the presence of Amla oil. Taylor shared photographs of herself after using the treatment with TMZ that show multiple large bald spots on the top of her head L'Oreal promoted the No-lye relaxer, which is sold at Wal-Mart and CVS Pharmacy, as a safer relaxer on the market due to the presence of Amla oil The oil, which is derived from an Indian gooseberry fruit, is supposed to be a less toxic alternative to the lye ingredient found in many relaxers, according to the National Law Journal. But Ben Meiselas, an attorney at Gergaros' practice, said there was hardly any Amla in the product at all. 'Amla is really the last ingredient, and only trace amounts of Amla are in the product itself,' he told the Journal. 'The product is really petroleum jelly mixed with a number of hazardous and toxic chemicals.' Meiselas said the suit's penalties could exceed 'several' hundred million dollars and told AFP the practice was open to settlement talks with L'Oreal. 'It's up to them if they want to avoid a trial,' he said. A spokesman for L'Oreal said the company could not comment on legal action but noted that L'Oreal USA was 'investigating the situation'. A class action lawsuit claims women were lured into buying the product thanks to endorsements from the likes of Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Cynthia Bailey (pictured) Black-ish actress Tracee Ellis Ross and Johnny Wright, Michelle Obama's hairstylist (both pictured together) also endorsed the product The suit cited numerous consumer complaints about the product that were listed on Amazon.com, where it currently has a two-star rating. 'My daughter is upstairs crying her eyes out because her hair is gone,' one reads. 'We followed directions, she has been relaxing for years. We did not leave it on too long. She now has no hair on the sides or back of her head.' Another woman said her scalp felt like it was 'on fire' immediately after she applied the relaxer to her head. As she rinsed it out, the woman said 'all the hair' at the front of her head fell out. 'Now I am completely bald on the front portion of my head, from the crown to my forehead,' she continued. A young boy was caught by the neck after getting his foot stuck on a Dreamworld ride during the school holidays, a report has revealed. Documents released by the Workplace health and Safety Queensland claimed the child was stuck under a partition on the FlowRider ride on January 18 this year. The incident was classified as a 'potential significant event' - but after inspecting the ride on February 10, there were no safety notice or audit issued for the ride. 'There were a lot of children on the ride, so the staff put up a partition in the middle. The wave pulls them back and riders try to balance,' the dossier claimed. '[The rider] got caught from a wave and his foot got caught under the partition and then his neck got stuck.' The January incident was the first of three at the Gold Coast theme park this year. Scroll down for videos A young boy was caught by the neck after getting his foot stuck on Dreamworld's FlowRider (pictured, stock image) during the school holidays, a report has revealed Safety concerns at Dreamworld were repeatedly raised in the years leading up to the doomed Thunder River Rapids ride (pictured) that claimed the lives of four tourists In April, a teenager nearly drowned after falling from the Rocky Hollow Log Ride. Samson Sherrin, 19, was knocked unconscious when he was run over by two other boats after he reportedly stood up on the ride, which breached ride regulations. The 19-year-old Brisbane man is still recovering after suffering severe neck and head injuries, hip, rib and foot fractures and acute respiratory failure. The incidents comes after concerns were repeatedly raised for years leading up to the tragedy on the Thunder River Rapids ride that claimed four lives. The dossier into 13 rides at the park reveal claims rides were covered in rust, of a passenger 'ripping open' his knee on a damaged rollercoaster and that workers had suffered injuries including a dislocated shoulder and whiplash, The Australian reported. The 2012 report declared air compressors on 13 rides, including Thunder River Rapids, at the amusement park were 'not fit for service' after an examination. On Wednesday, members of work health and safety examine the seats of the Thunder River Rapids ride where four people were killed at Dreamworld on Tuesday afternoon HOW DOES THE THUNDER RIVER RAPIDS RIDE WORK? * Riders board six-person circular rafts which follow initial path through a cave before experiencing the rapids section of the ride * Takes four minutes in total and hits top speed of 45 kilometre per hour * Riders are usually splashed with water as rafts spin through the rapids and hit walls * Conveyor belt takes rafts back to start of the ride for passengers to hop in and out * The ride is located in the Gold Rush section of Gold Coast's biggest theme park and considered one of Dreamworld's most 'family friendly' * Opened in 1986 and remains one of park's oldest rides Advertisement 'I told them (staff) they were taking a risk and if I was a paying customer I wouldn't go on any rides, the condition they were in,' inspector Shaun Langdon, who compiled the 2012 report told The Australian. 'They asked me to change that from all non-compliance to yes, they did comply, but I told them I wouldn't. I refused to change the report.' The owner of the park, Ardent Leisure Group, sought to block the release of the 143 pages of documents. It's not suggested air compressors were responsible for the deaths of two men, aged 38 and 35, and two women, aged 42 and 32, who were killed after their raft flipped on Tuesday afternoon. Police are investigating after a malfunction with the ride's conveyor belt is suspected to have caused the raft to flip, crushing and drowning the group of four The victims were identified as Canberra woman Kate Goodchild (right), 32, her brother Luke Dorsett, 35, his partner Roozi Araghi (left), 38, and their friend, a 42-year-old woman A member of the public lays flowers at a makeshift floral tribute at the Gold Coast theme park Following the incident, Ardent claimed the fatal ride had completed its annual mechanical and structural safety engineering inspection on Sept 29. 'As per regulations, this safety audit was conducted by a specialist external engineering firm,' Ardent said in a statement. Police are investigating after a malfunction with the ride's conveyor belt is suspected to have caused the raft to flip, crushing and drowning the group of four. Kate Goodchild, 32, Cindy Low, 42, Luke Dorsett, 35, and his partner Roozi Araghi, 38, were all killed when their raft on the Thunder River Rapid ride flipped. Ebony Goodchild, 12, and Kieran Low, 10, were thrown from the craft and survived, only to watch as emergency crews pulled their mothers' bodies from the wreckage. The park has confirmed the gates will not reopen to the public on Friday as Queensland Police continue their investigations. Four adults were killed after the ride's malfunction is suspected to have caused the raft to flip Panicked commuters on a Boston subway train smashed through windows to escape due to smoke that resulted from an overheated motor, witnesses said. Five people were treated for minor smoke inhalation on Wednesday after masses of riders poured out of an Orange Line train at Back Bay station in Boston, The Boston Globe reported. Three of those injured were taken to hospital for evaluation, though their injuries are not believed to be serious. Transit officials said the incident was caused by an overheated motor that began to fill the station with smoke just before 5pm, the Boston Herald reported. Scroll down for video Commuters on the Orange Line in Boston are seen evacuating a car after smoke filled the station due to an overheated motor, according to Massachusetts transit officials One passenger is seen here exiting the subway as it stalled after beginning to pull out of Back Bay station. Transit officials said the doors were sealed shut once the subway began moving Here a passenger on the platform (center) is seen helping another commuter (left) escape from the train 'Everyone was calm and there was a ton of smoke outside the train and then a police officer starts hammering the window without warning ... and another police officer (was) screaming for everyone to calm down and... everyone then started panicking,' one witness told the Herald. One commuter said he noticed a crush of people fleeing the station as he was making his way toward the platform. 'I noticed a haze coming from the platform and got to the top of the stairs and people were running up,' a witness, Chris Herring, told the Globe. '[There was] thick smoke on platform. People had to get freed from the train.' Boston transit officials said their operations center 'was called about a report of a propulsion issue on a northbound Orange Line train which had started to depart Back Bay Station which resulted in visible smoke to riders onboard.' According to a statement put out by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, 'some passengers began to self evacuate and were assisted by Transit Officers and the motor person.' The passengers were forced to break through the windows because the doors were not opening. A passenger climbs out of one of the train's windows (left). Commuters faces long delays (right) The stalled subway car caused delays throughout the Orange Line. Here masses of commuters are seen at the North Station platform six stops away from Back Bay Twitter user Dylan Martin was also at North Station, where he was waiting for an outbound train Firefighters are seen outside the Orange Line station at Boston's Back Bay. Five people were treated for smoke inhalation Transit officials said the reason for this was that the train had begun to pull out of the station when the motor overheated, causing the doors to seal shut. 'The Orange Line experienced a mechanical problem causing an electrical type incident that lit some trash on fire, causing quite a bit of smoke as the train was leaving the station,' Transit Police Deputy Chief Preston Horton told WBUR. 'I had no idea what was going on, I thought the T was on fire, people were coughing, there was a ton of smoke so the first thing on my mind was just getting out of there,' Brie Shelley, a passenger, told WBZ. Another passenger on the train was a first responder who decided to break the window in order to allow air into the subway car. 'I'm a first responder, so I'm trained as much as [transit officers] are,' Tracy Taylor told WBZ. 'I'm on a car that's full of people and these people need help. I saw people panicking and when you're a first responder you don't think, you just do and you're trained and my thought was, we need some fresh air.' The latest hacked email released by WikiLeaks details how one of Bill Clintons closest aides helped rake in tens of millions for the former president while his wife was serving as Secretary of State. The 12-page memo was sent by Clinton's former aide Doug Band in 2011 to him, his daughter Chelsea, several board members of the Clinton Foundation and its lawyers as well as its then special advisor John Podesta. Published on Wednesday by Wikileaks, after a hack of thousands of emails from Podestas account, it details how Band helped run what he called Bill Clinton Inc. Band and another aide helped secure $66million from ventures, including speaking fees, according to the memo. Scroll down for video A hacked email released by WikiLeaks details how Doug Band (above, with Clinton in an undated photo), one of Bill Clintons closest aides, helped rake in millions for the former president after he left office He wrote that, using his role as the president of his own consulting firm Teneo, Band worked to raise funds for the Foundation and Clinton personally. The 12-page memo was sent by Clinton's former aide Doug Band (above) in 2011 Band also wrote that he helped obtain in-kind services for the President and his family for personal, travel, hospital, vacation and the like. Throughout the past almost 11 years since President Clinton left office, I have sought to leverage my activities, including my partner role at Teneo to support and raise funds for the Foundation, Band wrote. This memorandum strives to set forth how I have endeavored to support the Clinton Foundation and President Clinton personally. Under a section called For-Profit Activity of President Clinton (i.e. Bill Clinton, Inc) Brand said he and another aide, Justin Cooper brought Clinton all four of his advisory arrangements at the time. These yielded more than $30million in personal income with a further $66million to be paid out over the next nine years should he continue with them. One of these roles was serving as honorary Chairman of Laureate International Universities, a chain of for-profit colleges, which paid Clinton $3.5million a year from 2010 until 2015, when the contract ended and his wife started her run for president. Band also mentioned that neither he nor Cooper were compensated for the work. They were not paid a fee or percentage of the income, but only received their Foundation salaries. Band also said that Teneo was responsible for negotiating a number of speaking fees for Clinton, including $1.15million from Ericson and $900,000 from UBS. The deals are concerning considering Clinton's wife was serving as Secretary of State at the time. Above, the Clintons in January 2010, when Hillary was still Secretary of State He said he also used his partner role at the company, established in June 2011, to solicit clients to donate to the Clinton Foundation. This included $4.33million over six years (from 2004 through 2010) from The Coca-Cola Company and more than $1million from Barclays Capital over four years. Band's partner at Teneo, Declan Kelly, helped introduce Clinton to several top executives of clients including UBS Global Wealth Management and Dow Chemical. After these meetings, these companies often upped their contributions to the Clinton Foundation. For example, Kelly introduced Clinton to a top executive at UBS Global Wealth Management in 2009, at a charity dinner. In the following years, the UBS upped its contributions to the foundation, started paying Clinton for speeches and signed on as a Teneo client. The company's records show that they paid Clinton $2million for speaking fees between 2011 and 2015 and also paid Hillary $225,000 for one 2013 speech. Another complicated relationship was between the Clinton Foundation and Dow Chemical. Band's memo came as Chelsea Clinton (pictured above with her husband Marc Mezvinsky in May 2015) took a bigger leadership role in the foundation and expressed concerns about Band's role in the charity While Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, she assigned Kelly as an unpaid economic envoy to Northern Ireland (from 2009 until 2011). During this time, Kelly was the head of a separate consulting firm that had clients including Coke, UBS and Dow. Hillary then lauded Dow at a State Department event in 2010, for creating jobs in Northern Ireland. She thanked Kelly for his work on the issue as well. Meanwhile, Kelly arranged for the former president to meet the company's CEO Andrew Liveris in August 2009, over a round of golf. After this day at the links, the company increased it's support in the foundation. contributing $705,000 in 2010 and 2011. Dow has tried to brush off these contributions, saying that they had contributed to the foundation as early as 2007 and that the charity was 'aligned to core business and citizenship strategies that have positively leveraged the resources and capabilities of our company'. At the same time, Dow was signed on as a Teneo client, paying the firm $2.8million for consulting services in 2011, and then increasing that amount to $19.4million in 2012. Again the company tried to excuse the suspicious jump in fees, saying that the drastic increase reflected an internal decision to consolidate several consulting contracts with one firm. Teneo partner Declan Kelly (center, at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2009, introduced former President Clinton to the heads of major companies like Coca-Cola, UBS Global Wealth Management and Dow Chemical Those fees nonetheless raised flags for an internal investigator at the company, who wrote that: 'It appears Dow is paying Teneo for connections with Clinton.' Bands memo was also sent to lawyers who were conducting a review of the charity. It came as Chelsea Clinton was taking a bigger role in leading the foundation and after she expressed her concerns about Bands roles at the charity as well as at Teneo. Chelsea became extremely concerned when she learned that a member of his staff - who reported to Band - was making calls to British lawmakers 'on behalf of President Clinton' for Teneo clients including Dow Chemical. She said her dad did not know about the calls and that they would 'horrify' him. She added that she feared Teneo was 'hustling business at CGI'. After voicing her concerns, the foundations went through changes and Clinton separated from Teneo, returning all but $100,000 of the money he had been paid. In a statement to the Post, Teneo said as the memo demonstrates, Teneo worked to encourage clients, where appropriate, to support the Clinton Foundation because of the good work it does around the world. The 12-year-old girl who miraculously survived the Dreamworld tragedy lived so she could tell her little sister 'how wonderful her mum was', her grandmother believes. A teary Gillian Turner told reporters she hoped Ebony Goodchild would tell her eight-month-old sister Evie about her mother, Kate Goodchild. The 32-year-old was one of four people who died in the tragedy, along with Ebony's uncle and his partner. Reading a prepared statement to various media outlets, Ms Turner described the accident as 'a devastating and horrific disaster'. She said her son, David Turner, was Kate's childhood sweetheart - and she 'died in his arms while his 12-year-old daughter looked on screaming in the background'. 'I would like to believe my 12-year-old granddaughter was saved so she could tell her little sister what a wonderful mum Kate was.' Scroll down for video Gillian Turner, mother of Kate Goodchild's husband, made the statement on Thursday Ebony Goodchild, 12, (left) and Kieran Low (right) witnessed their mothers' deaths after being thrown from the malfunctioning ride as their father's ran to the scene David Turner (left) waited for his wife Kate Goodchild (right) and daughter Ebony as they were thrown from ill-fated ride and witnessed the horrific accident unfold Kate Goodchild was the mother of two daughters - Ebony and her baby sister, who is just eight months old. The terrified screams of Ebony and fellow raft occupant Kieran Low, 10, rang out in the Gold Coast theme park as the ride malfunctioned about 2.20pm Tuesday. Fathers David Turner, who was holding eight-month-old Evie, and Mathew Low dropped everything and desperately ran to the scene, reports said. But the children could only watch as the bodies of the two mothers - Ms Goodchild and New Zealand born victim Cindy Low, 42 - were pulled from the water. Police said the chilling final moments of the ride were captured on the park's CCTV cameras. More than 30 detectives have scoured the scene of the incident and a pile of floral tributes is mounting out the front of the popular theme park. Victims: Two mothers, Kate Goodchild (left), 32, and Cindy Low (right), 42, died in the tragedy Ms Goodchild's brother Luke Dorsett (on right) and his partner Roozi Araghi (left) were also killed Tributes have amassed out the front of the popular Gold Coast tourist attraction It comes as the park defended its decision to reopen at 11am on Friday, with proceeds going to the Red Cross. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the park would have to meet with police to see if it can go ahead with the plan. 'The police commissioner and the organisation will be having a conversation and it is up to those parties to make that decision,' Ms Palaszczuk said. Under the plan, smaller rides and the water park will remain open and a memorial service will be held. The park closed in the wake of the tragedy but the parent company hopes to reopen it Friday Rebel outlaws patrol the deserted streets, arms raised in salute, while their leader bellows death threats to his enemies. It could easily be a scene from the Wild West, but in fact this is Ngaruawahia, New Zealand, which is in the midst of a war between the Tribal Huk bike gang and local meth dealers. Now dramatic new footage has emerged showing leader Jamie Pink marching through 'his' town while warning an unknown drug dealer: 'Nobody can save him.' Pink is also seen wearing an eye patch for the first time since claiming his eyeball was shot out during a failed assassination attempt. Jamie Pink, the leader of the Tribal Huk bike gang, has been filmed patrolling the streets of Ngaruawahia, in New Zealand, as he continues to wage war on meth dealers As the footage starts, Pink can be heard yelling before he appears on camera wearing his leathers while marching up and down in the road. He appears to be talking about a specific meth dealer as he says 'he's the last motherf***er gunna be in town. 'Well maybe you people can tell him... you'll be f***ing lucky!' Anybody got a problem, get the f*** over here now. 'This is for your children. You fellas tell [blank], f*** off I don't wanna know you. 'He got real lucky today. Maybe the Lord saved them, or maybe he f***ing didn't. In the footage Pink, who is wearing an eye-patch after he claims his eyeball was shot out, shouts death threats to a dealer, saying: 'Nobody can save him' The footage emerged days after Pink claimed all the meth dealers were gone, though police have disputed his claims 'Hear these words, because we love our children. No fear! I don't care ... they have got to go. Love. Respect. Nobody f***s with our kids. 'You tell him that nobody can save him. Be scared!' It is not known who the gang leader is talking about in the footage. The video appeared after New Zealand Police questioned his claim to have rid the town of meth, and it seems from the footage as if they were correct. Pink began his campaign against meth dealers almost two weeks ago after issuing a threat at a community meeting, saying drug runners had 24 hours to leave. He said: 'We ask nicely first, then they've got to go. We've got no choice.' Since vowing to rid his town of meth almost two weeks ago, Pink says his gang have raided 14 homes, while being shot at in the process Tribal Huk have used violence against meth dealers before, back in 2007, after Pink claimed his own daughter was offered the drug Since then, Pink claims to have cleared out 14 homes while almost being killed himself in the process. As evidence, he drove a bullet-riddled van filled with weapons to a newspaper office while wearing an eye patch, a bloodied jacket and with his arms in bandages. In 2007, he used violence to shut down dealers after his then 13-year-old daughter was offered methamphetamine. Advertisement Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has stepped away from her glamorous look and instead donned some tights and a cap as she took part in an Indonesian flash mob dance during a fun walk before turning to business. In the second day of her trip to Indonesia, Ms Bishop seemed relaxed with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi as they swayed their arms and legs to the line dance, Poco Poco, which became famous from a pop song. Her change in attire comes just a day after she made an appearance in a black lace dress by Australian label Rachel Gilbert and spoke about Australia's fashion industry at Jakarta Fashion Week on her first day. But Ms Bishop was not far behind from her ministerial duties as she met with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to discuss that Australia was 'increasingly focused' on the Indian Ocean. Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (second from left) and Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (second from right) enjoy a fun walk before attending the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) ministerial meetings Julie Bishop (center right) and Indonesia's Foreign Minister (center left) do Poco-Poco, an Indonesian flash mob dance Ms Bishop enjoys the sun in Bali, on the second day of her trip to Indonesia, by taking part in a traditional dance She explained the region is and strategic and economic system in which Australia's future prosperity depends. Australia and Indonesia also pushed for a 'roadmap' for Indian Ocean countries amid a backdrop of sluggish economic growth, terrorism and mass migration. 'We cannot underestimate the costly impact of terrorism and extremism in all its forms to regional and international peace and security... I hope to see discussions on this and other important issues,' she said In Bali on Thursday. She welcomed Indonesia's push for a IORA Concord to be implemented next year, saying it could provide a 'roadmap' for the region which needed to build 'stronger and better corridors for cooperation'. The walk came ahead of a ministerial meeting where Ms Bishop noted that Australia was 'increasingly focused' on the Indian Ocean She also received a traditional lotion to her hand as Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi looked on Ms Bishop wore a dress by Australian label Rachel Gilbert on her first day in Indonesia for Jakarta Fashion Week Australia and Indonesia also pushed for a 'roadmap' for Indian Ocean countries amid a backdrop of sluggish economic growth, terrorism and mass migration Opening the conference, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the region was facing the challenges of sluggish economic growth, terrorism, mass migration and international and interstate conflicts. IORA was strategically placed to tackle these challenges, she added. Ms Marsudi, along with Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, was scheduled to meet with Ms Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne on Friday, however the death of her father meant she left the IORA conference early. In a 2013 report, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) noted 'the Indian Ocean, in its totality, carries around one third of the bulk cargo traffic and around two thirds of the world's maritime oil shipment'. Ms Bishop also said the region needed to build 'stronger and better corridors for cooperation' Advertisement Tom Cruise is reportedly moving into a double-level luxurious penthouse owned by the Church of Scientology at the organization's 'spiritual headquarters' in Florida. The penthouse fills the top two floors of a 10-story condominium, dubbed The SkyView, and features an entire room dedicated to a flight simulator. A church official admitted the penthouse was for Cruise after development plans were submitted by millionaire Scientologist Moises Agami, according to The Underground Bunker. Tom Cruise will reportedly move into this double-level luxurious penthouse (pictured here in a mockup) owned by the Church of Scientology at the organization's 'spiritual headquarters' in Clearwater, Florida The penthouse fills the top two floors of a 10-story condominium dubbed The SkyView, whose amenities will include this luxurious community pool The plans also show the luxurious pad in Clearwater will feature a private entrance with a car elevator as well as a personal garage that can fit up to nine vehicles. Amenities for residents of the building itself will include the Sky Lounge community pool, a playroom for children and a lounge dubbed 'The Vault'. Agami, whose family has donated $10million to the church in recent years, originally set aside the building's top two floors for five separate units. The tenth floor was also set to include a pool deck and bar, according to plans from 2012. Cruise's reported penthouse (pictured in this mockup) will feature stunning views of the Intercoastal Waterway It will also have a private entrance, an entire room dedicated to a flight simulator, and a nine-car private garage Agami reportedly wanted to offer the condo units for between $300,000 to $350,000 for 1,300 sq ft units with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. But in 2015 Agami's plans underwent drastic changes as the 52 planned units suddenly whittled down to 40 to make way for the deluxe penthouse and private garage. Around the same time, Cruise listed or sold six of his own properties in the span of two years - including his primary home in Beverly Hills. In 2013 the Top Gun star put his two New York homes, a $3million apartment and $28million townhouse, on the market. And in 2015 he listed his Hollywood Hills home, Telluride, Colorado estate, Beverly Hills mansion and home in Southern England. The penthouse will be just across the street from the organization's 'worldwide spiritual headquarters' Cruise has not commented on the potential future move, but recently made a rare public defense of his faith at the London premiere of his latest film Jack Reacher 2: Never Go Back on Friday (pictured) Cruise has not commented on the potential future move, but recently made a rare public defense of his faith. The 54-year-old, who is the most high profile member of the church, said he was 'incredibly proud' to be part of the controversial organization founded by L. Ron Hubbard. Speaking to ITV News in London at the UK premiere of his latest film Jack Reacher 2: Never Go Back on Friday, the movie star talked about the impact Scientology has had on his life. Cruise was asked about his thoughts on the upcoming Louis Theroux's documentary My Scientology Movie, which does not paint the church in the most positive light. The actor, who first encountered Scientology in 1986, responded by talking about his personal experience with the organization. 'It's something that has helped me incredibly in my life,' he began. 'I've been a Scientologist for over 30 years.' 'It's something, you know, without it, I wouldn't be where I am,' he continued. 'So it's a beautiful religion. I'm incredibly proud.' Cruise has previously credited the methods developed by Hubbard, who before founding Scientology was a prolific science fiction writer, with helping him overcome his dyslexia. Mimi Rogers, who was married to Cruise from 1987 to 1990, introduced the Top Gun star to The Church Of Scientology when he was a budding actor in 1986. They came eager to learn how to flip homes, but instead walked away embittered over having their wallets emptied. Would-be real estate investors who attended pricey seminars endorsed by reality television stars say that not only were they were misled into thinking that the celebrity spokespeople would be there, but that the sessions were really sales pitches intended to make them spend thousands more on informational products. The controversy centers on Tarek and Christina El Moussa, the stars of HGTV's hit show Flip or Flop. The show explains how viewers can make profits by 'flipping' homes or buying relatively cheap properties, renovating them, and then selling them at a price that was greater than what they paid. Tarek (right) and Christina El Moussa, the stars of HGTV's hit show Flip or Flop, market educational products and seminars that aim to teach people how to flip homes The El Moussas' likeness appear in online advertisements for a seminar in which attendees are encouraged to come and learn the real estate secrets that helped make them rich. Instead, the El Moussas were nowhere to be found at the event, according to people who spoke to the Associated Press. One of them, Doug Stephens, said that he had gone there expecting to see the El Moussas only to be disappointed when a pre-recorded video of them was played instead. Undeterred, Stephens paid $1,997 for three days of classes and $1,000 for real estate software. But the classes turned into a sales pitch to buy additional courses that cost thousands more, said Stephens, a pastor and teacher from Havana, Florida. 'They weren't really teaching at all,' he said. TV hosts Tarek El Moussa , right, and his wife Christina El Moussa, second from right, talk during filming of Flip or Flop The AP interview nearly a dozen people who claim that they were promised a course on how to implement a number of money-making practices. At free events in hotel ballrooms, instructors tell attendees that if they pay to enroll in three-day courses, they'll learn how the couple flips homes and also gain access to investors who will give them cash to buy properties, even if they have low credit scores or a weak job history. They'll earn back their money quickly, the instructors say, and will get refunds if they don't flip a home within a certain amount of time. The El Moussas are being accused of misleading customers by making them think they teach a seminar when instead a pre-recorded video of them is played there But about a dozen people interviewed by The Associated Press said those promises did not pan out. Although class leaders offered some instruction, a lot of time was spent pushing them to buy more classes, they said; some complained that getting refunds for the sessions was difficult. Stephens said his instructor avoided answering questions, told attendees not to speak to each other and spent a lot of time hyping the program. The homework on the first day was for attendees to call their credit card companies and increase their credit limits, he said. On the last day, Stephens said, the instructor pushed them to buy training sessions, some of which cost around $26,000. The federal government has received dozens of complaints on products connected to Zurixx LLC, the Utah-based company that runs the El Moussas' educational seminars, which go by the title Success Path Education. The El Moussas are a big draw, with 'Flip or Flop' ranked as HGTV's second-most watched show. And home flipping is hot off TV, too: The number of flips, considered a property sold twice within 12 months, rose this year to the highest point in six years, according to RealtyTrac.com. Roger Behle, the El Moussas' attorney, said the couple did not have time to be interviewed for this story. Zurixx said the complaints represent a tiny percentage of the more than 370,000 people who have attended its events and the 75,000 who have paid for its products. The company said that nearly all its students have filled out positive evaluations about the classes and the company provided copies of more than 2,300 of those evaluations. It also said that it does not mislead people or push attendees to buy additional classes. Billy Batson of North Port, Florida, told AP that he has successfully flipped 17 properties after paying $25,000 for a Zurixx mentor and attending one of the company's classes. 'It's been a really great life-changing experience,' he said. Batson's experience greatly contrasts with that of Patricia Briggs. Earlier this year, Briggs paid $1,798 for a three-day Success Path class, hoping it could change her life, too. The day after she finished the classes, Briggs found three properties to try to flip near her home in Roseburg, Oregon. She said she called Success Path several times to help her connect with the promised investors, but that no one ever picked up the phone. (The company said it had no record of the calls.) A few weeks later, Briggs said she received calls from Success Path representatives who told her that they could put together a team from the El Moussas to help her, but only if she paid another $8,000. She said no and asked for a refund of her $1,798. She was offered half and she took it, she said, but still wants the balance back. When she sees the El Moussas on TV now, Briggs said, 'I want to go through my screen and shake the both of them.' Susan Martin went to a free Zurixx event featuring reality TV stars Andy and Candis Meredith of Old Home Love, a show that aired on HGTV and its sister channel the DIY Network. She ditched day two of her $1,997 three-day class, she said, because she was told to raise her credit limit and buy $23,000 in additional education. Brian Samuels, a manager for the Merediths, said the couple did not have time to be interviewed because of their shooting schedule. Susan Martin (above) went to a free Zurixx event featuring reality TV stars Andy and Candis Meredith Martin ditched day two of her $1,997 three-day class, she said, because she was told to raise her credit limit and buy $23,000 in additional education Martin, a retired bookkeeper from Chico, California, received a refund after she wrote a negative review on the Better Business Bureau website. Two months later, she received an invite to another free event that featured a picture of the El Moussas on the front, under the sentence: 'Do you have the courage to retire rich?' 'These people are so stupid that they actually invited me again after I complained,' Martin said. This emotional video shows what happens when men are urged to shed a tear instead of bottling up their emotions. The moving clip shows men trying to stop themselves from crying, before eventually letting it all out after being encouraged to show their softer side. The video starts with with a baby crying onscreen as viewers are told: 'Before we can talk, we cry. It's how we survive. 'So why do we tell boys to stop crying?' the advert ponders as a young boy is seen wiping away tears and stifling his emotions. Suicide among Australian men has reached an alarming rate, with a new campaign aiming to get men to talk about their emotions. The video starts with a crying baby The latest video from the Man Up campaign shows men and boys of all ages holding in their tears as their frustration grows inside of them The video continues: 'To harden up. To grow a pair. Well f*** that. If you feel down, speak up, because silence can kill. 'It takes guts to show pain. It takes a man to feel. It takes balls to cry.' The video is part of a campaign by Man Up, which hopes to cut the rate of suicide in Australia. Suicide among Australian men has reached an alarming rate, with more than 2,000 Australian men taking their own lives every year. The advert ends with a short poem which lists a myriad of people that will miss a man should he choose to take his own life. Of the more than 3,000 men who committed suicide in 2015, 2,292 were men. The Man Up campaign hopes to reduce that figure The advert (pictured) ends with a short poem which lists a myriad of people that will miss a man should he choose to take his own life 'Written and authorised by your mum, your dad, and every mate you've ever had.' it reads. 'Your wife, your son, your daughter, your brother, your sister, they'll all miss ya. 'Your girlfriend, your boyfriend, the girl in the milk bar, neighbours near and far. 'Your teacher, your dog, your barber, your boss, they'll be sorry for your loss. 'Those little words are hard to find, with love from those you'll leave behind.' Of the more than 3,000 men who committed suicide in 2015, 2,292 were men. Radio host Gus Worland's Man Up campaign hopes to cut that figure, with a previous video showing schoolboys reducing each other to tears by opening up about their lives. For confidential help in Australia, call Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. Sally Faulkner was shocked to find that her son Noah was circumcised Sally Faulkner has claimed that in the hours following the ill-fated abduction attempt of her two children from her ex-husband Ali Elamine in the Lebanon with a 60 Minutes crew that her son had been circumcised. The distraught mother was left stunned after she realised that his father had ensured the three-year-old had the Muslim religious procedure, but without her knowledge or consent, Women's Weekly reports. 'That was a complete shock,' says Sally. 'It was all I could do not to cry. How could Ali do that without letting me know, without discussing it. It was just another reason to detest the man who'd taken our children.' Circumcision is not compulsory in Islam but it is an important ritual aimed at improving cleanliness. Scroll down for video Sally Faulkner (left) has revealed her son Noah (right), three, was circumcised without her knowledge or consent. Her other child is Lahela (pictured centre), five Faulkner's children Lahela, five, and Noah, three, remain in Lebanon with their 32-year-old father Elamine after the Brisbane mother returned home to Brisbane six months ago. In May she wrote an open letter about 'the hardest struggle' of her life, and revealed her 'promise' to bring to bring them 'home' in Australia, she wrote in Mamamia. She had enjoyed ice-cream with the youngsters in Beirut before she boarded a flight home with Tara Brown and the Nine Network's 60 Minutes crew. 'I made a promise to them in that last conversation: 'Mummy will find a way to bring you back to Australia, everything will be okay don't cry',' Ms Faulkner wrote. 'Failures can be expected, but I will never accept that I cannot keep my promise to my children,' she wrote. 'My fight will carry on long after the media coverage is gone and I guarantee you one thing. I will bring my children home.' The children, five-year-old Lahela (right) and three-year-old Noah (left), are now living in Beirut, Lebanon, with their 32-year-old Ali Elamine (centre) 32-year-old Ali Elamine with five-year-old Lahela (right) and three-year-old Noah (left) Following the bungled kidnapping attempt in Lebanon Mr Elamine forced Ms Faulkner to exchange her right to the children for the charges to be dropped Ms Faulkner said Lahela had told her in their final meeting: 'Mummy, I want to come back but Daddy won't let me'. She said she then told the children Beirut would be 'just a fun holiday with Daddy, and Mummy will come and bring you both home very soon'. Ms Faulkner thanked all those who 'cried tears with my children'. She is collecting letters from strangers to 'explain their perspective on my mission' for the children to read when they are old enough 'to fully understand how hard I fought and that their mummy never, EVER gave them up or wanted this'. Ms Faulkner spent two weeks in the Lebanese prison alongside Tara Brown and the 60 Minutes crew after the kidnapping attempt before she was released and returned to Brisbane (pictured after release in Beirut) In exchange for the charges against her being dropped Ms Faulkner was forced to sign over the custodial rights of their children (Mr Elamine pictured) In May a family source said Mr Elamine had kept their children from contacting Ms Faulkner. 'No Skype, no photos, blocked on Whatsapp ... and (Mr Elamine) is not answering phone calls from her,' the source said. Ms Faulkner spent two weeks in the Lebanese prison alongside Tara Brown and the 60 Minutes crew after the kidnapping attempt before she was released. In exchange for the charges against her being dropped Ms Faulkner was forced to sign over the custodial rights of their children. At the time Mr Elamine insisted Ms Faulkner would be allowed to visit her children in Lebanon. Ms Faulkner said Lahela had told her in their final meeting: 'Mummy, I want to come back but Daddy won't let me' Tara Brown (pictured) and her crew spent time in a Beirut prison following the bungled kidnapping The Brisbane mother returned to Australia without the children after her botched attempted at getting them back Sally Faulkner (pictured) was released on bail after relinquishing custodial rights to the children Described himself as an 'ascendant master', wrote a spirituality book Australian Sean Haywood named himself after Greek and Egyptian gods This is 'Eros Ra Sunandra' also known as Sean Haywood the man accused of stabbing a security guard through the eye as he allegedly tried to deliver a letter to supermodel Miranda Kerr. Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal the extraordinary and deeply spiritual background of the heavily tattooed 29-year-old man allegedly behind the bizarre incident at the Kerr family home in Malibu on October 14. Haywood was seen around the world, prone, shirtless and covered in blood, after apparently being shot by a security guard at the Californian property. He had allegedly grabbed a guard's knife and slashed him in the face before being shot four times. A buff athlete and scholar of 'ancient religions' from the Central Coast region north of Sydney, Haywood recently started using the names of the Greek god of lust, Eros, and Egyptian sun god, Ra. Scroll down for video 'Eros Ra Sunandra' formerly known as Sean Haywood allegedly broke into Miranda Kerr's Californian property, stabbing a security guard Gruesome photos of the incident show a man kneeling over what appears to be a prone and shirtless Shaun Haywood, who had blood covering his head and torso Miranda Kerr lives with her five-year-old son at the Malibu ranch, was not at home during the incident. She is pictured in Los Angeles on September 10 The former professional boxer shares inspirational, spiritual words online to his 11.5K followers He describes himself online as an 'ascendant master', sharing religious words with his 11,500 followers on Instagram and even purportedly writing a 'guide to spiritual enlightenment' under his pseudonym Eros. And he also collected pictures of the former Victoria's Secret model Kerr in folders online and followed her on every social media account possible - on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Daily Mail Australia understands Haywood, who once sold himself as a 'celebrity trainer', has been living between Australia and the United States in recent years following the death of his mother. A relative said he had been estranged from his family for many, many years'. An acquaintance, who knew him from his home region and spoke to him about spiritual matters, said Mr Haywood had been studying ancient religions which had multiple gods, such as the Egyptian belief system. Haywood recently adopted the names of the Greek god of lust, Eros, and Egyptian sun god, Ra He once sold himself as a 'Celebrity Trainer' and promised world class personal training The 29-year-old collected photographs of Miranda Kerr in folders online and followed her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter He said Mr Haywood was quite popular at home at the beachside suburbs near Gosford where he grew up. 'He was always talked about,' said the friend. 'I saw a whole lot of girls going up to him saying hey, its that guy everyone knows.' He was always the popular sort of cool guy. He was always smiling and good energy. But he was shocked to hear he was under investigation for attempted murder based on what he knew of his spiritual beliefs. It is alleged he wanted to deliver the former Victoria's Secret model a letter - she wasn't home at the time of the incident The ripped Australian was popular in his hometown, according to an acquaintance So its interesting he took that turn into... (the) spiritual world and stuff. Mr Haywood has a tattoo sprawling over his left pectoral muscle which said: 'Let us pray not to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them'. His Pinterest account includes a board titled 'PsychewenuFlyn filled with photos of Miranda Kerr. Pinterest account includes a board titled 'PsychewenuFlyn filled with photos of Miranda Kerr, he also follows her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Sean, known as 'Esra', is a spiritual scholar and former professional boxer from Gosford on the NSW central coast The Sheriff's Department's booking sheet shows his bond has been set at more than $1M Another folder collected pictures of 'models', who he described as 'kingdom archangels'. Haywood was arrested on October 20 following the frightening ordeal at Kerrs mansion on October 14. He was charged with attempted murder, aggravated mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon. Neither the supermodel or her five-year-old son Flynn were at home at the time of the intrusion. Haywood was arrested on October 20 following the frightening ordeal at Kerrs mansion on October 14 He wrote a book on spiritual enlightenment under the pseudonym 'Eros' Both Haywood and the security guard who was stabbed were taken to hospital for treatment Both Haywood and the security guard who was stabbed were taken to hospital for treatment. 'There were no occupants in the house at the time of this incident. The incident took place on the property, but not inside the house,' said Sergeant James Braden from the LA County District Attorney's Office. Haywood was arraigned on Tuesday at the LA County Superior Court in Van Nuys, California. The Australian was often pictured surrounded by women - and wearing a silver cross Shirtless photographs revealing his ripped physique are staple's of his online presence A tattoo of the words printed on his left pectoral muscle read 'Let us pray not to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them He is currently residing in the Mens Central Jail in Los Angeles and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. According to Haywoods booking sheet, bail is set at $1,050,000. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted. It is not clear how long Haywood has been on his quest for enlightenment or living in America. Haywood's details were released by the LA County District Attorney's Office as 'Shaun' however the Daily Mail understands it is spelled Sean. Fire fighters and police descended on the property in north Malibu on October 14 The guard allegedly shot Haywood four times after he scaled a fence onto Kerr's $2million Malibu property. Pictured, a gun at the scene covered in blood Chilling audio of a mother laughing while she reported her two-year-old daughter missing has been released, as her ex-partner faces trial for the young girl's murder. Peta-Ann Francis admitted to the Victorian Supreme Court that she lied during a police interview after she was heard making conflicting statements about the last time she saw her daughter when she reported her missing on August 25, 2015. Ms Francis told Triple Zero operators she put Nikki Francis-Coslovich down for a nap at 11am, leaving the two-year-old with her then-partner John Torney. CCTV footage played in court shows the mother running errands before she returned home to find Nikki's bed empty and claimed she had assumed the little girl had walked out the door. Officers found young Nikki's body crammed in the roof cavity of her home with injuries akin to those seen in a high-speed car crash and the couple were taken in for a police interview. Scroll down for video Harrowing audio of Peta-Ann Francis (pictured) laughing while she reported her two-year-old daughter missing has been released, as her ex-partner faces trial for the young girl's murder Nikki's body was discovered in the roof cavity of the family's Mildura home after Ms Francis reported her missing around 3.30pm on August 25 last year Initially both denied taking any part in the young girl's gruesome murder, but have since pointed the finger at each other. Mr Torney pleaded not guilty to Nikki's murder in the opening of his trial in Mildura last week and made explosive allegations that Ms Francis had killed her daughter and asked him to hide the body. But she told police she 'did not hurt Nikki' and had no idea how her body ended up in the roof of her home. Ms Francis can be heard laughing on the phone after explaining that she had put Nikki down for a nap and only discovered she was missing upon returning after picking up her other children from school. 'I put her down at 11 o'clock for a sleep because she had an early lunch,' she told the operator. John Torney, Ms Francis's boyfriend, is facing trial for the girl's murder Peta-Ann Francis (pictured) has admitted lying to a triple zero operator while reporting her daughter missing Ms Francis is pictured on CCTV the day her two-year-old daughter died 'She was up at four this morning so tryin' to get her to have a longer sleep this afternoon and I just went and got my kids from school 'cause I'm a single mum you know, got to get the older ones first,' she said, giggling. When asked by defence barrister Julie Condon if that was a lie, she said: 'Yes.' She admitted she told four lies to the triple zero operator and that she giggled during the call. She also admitted telling a series of lies to the police officers who took her statements. Mr Tonrney's lawyer slammed the single mother as she gave evidence on Wednesday, claiming she had beaten the young girl to death. In a police interview played to the Victorian Supreme Court on Wednesday, Ms Francis said she didn't know what had happened to Nikki but asked how Torney, who treated her 'like an angel', could bash her two-year-old to death. Ms Francis admitted lying, however, denied several other accusations put to her by Torney's barrister Peta-Ann Francis leaves after giving evidence in the murder trial of her former partner, John Clifford Torney, at the Victorian Supreme Court in Mildura PETA-ANN FRANCIS' CALL TO POLICE ON AUGUST 25, 2015 Operator: Hello. Where do you need the police? Francis: Um, my daughter just walked out the front of my house 11 Oram Court Operator: 'Ill bring up the location, one moment. Francis: 'She's only two' Operator: Just bear with me I need to bring up the location Operator: 11 Oram Court in Mildura, Victoria, near Lily Drive Francis: Yeah Operator: How long ago did she walk out? Francis: We don't know when we were in the room she went to bed for an afternoon nap so I don't know when she walked out she must've left when I was home Operator:How long ago did you last see her? - SILENCE - Operator: Hello? Francis:When I put them to ah Operator: How long ago was it? Francis: I put her down at 11 o'clock for a sleep because she had an early lunch she was up at four this morning so tryin' to get her to have a longer sleep this afternoon and I jsut went and got my kids from school coz I'm a single mum you know, got to get the older ones first - FRANICS LAUGHS - Operator: So was she last sighted at 11? Francis: Yeah when I put her to bed. As far as I knew she went to sleep. And I went and just checked on her before I could go get the kids from school so Operator: Okay one moment Operator: And just your name please? Francis: Peta Ann Francis Operator: Okay does she have any phiscal or mental health problems? Francis: No she is a perfectly fine two-year-old Operator: Could I have a description? Francis: Blone hair, blue eys curly hair Francis: Black long sleeved shirt with a pattern on the front, blue and white pants with pink hearts underneath and she was swearing socks I cant remember what colour when I put her to bed.. I didn't even check to see if she put shoes on Advertisement 'He's treated my children with more respect and that than their own father has,' she told homicide detectives. She denied ever harming her daughter and said she did not yell at, smack or throw the the young girl on the end of the bed on the day she died. 'I didn't hurt Nikki, I didn't hit Nikki,' Ms Francis said. Ms Condon suggested Ms Francis told Mr Torney she had 'gone to far with Nikki' and didn't think she was breathing, but Ms Francis denied this. Ms Condon then alleged Ms Francis told Torney they 'need to get rid of the body' and asked him to do it. The body of the toddler was found in the ceiling of the home 'You lost control with your little daughter, didn't you?' Ms Condon said. 'No,' Ms Francis replied. In her August 28 police interview, Ms Francis broke down when detectives told her Torney would be charged with murder. 'Why,' she said through her tears in the video played for the jury. 'How could he do it... my baby... how?' She told police she didn't know anything about what had happened the day Nikki died and Torney hadn't told her anything. 'When? Do you know how she died?' she said. 'I need to know.' She said she didn't know how Nikki got into the roof cavity, adding her daughter had never seen the manhole and wouldn't know what the manhole looked like. 'When I found out she was missing, I searched everywhere a little child would go to,' Ms Francis told police. Ms Francis pictured right with Nikki's father and her three other children A post-mortem examination found Nikki had died between 11am and 2.30pm that day, while her mother was captured on CCTV running errands, the court heard She said she had never been into the roof, that she didn't have a ladder, and couldn't stand on a chair because she doesn't have any cartilage in her knees. The court had previously heard Sergeant Kaare Anderson, who responded to the missing person report, thought it was 'very odd' that Ms Francis was smiling and appeared happy when telling police her daughter was missing. Ms Francis told the trial 'having the cops at my house makes me nervous'. 'It's a nervous smirk that I have,' Ms Francis said. She denied Ms Condon's assertion that she referred to her daughter as 'the little cow'. Ms Francis had told the court earlier she sometimes psychically disciplined her children but never laid a hand on her two-year-old daughter. 'Not hard, it was just a tap. I've never hurt my children,' Ms Francis said. The trial continues before Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth. CCTV verified Ms Francis had left the house after she claims to have put Nikki down for a sleep about 11am Advertisement A young woman was gang raped during the destruction of the Calais Jungle, French prosecutors revealed today. Five men set upon the Ethiopian refugee, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as police and volunteers were clearing the sprawling slum. The victim was examined by a forensic doctor but had difficulty explaining the attack, on Tuesday morning, because she only speaks an Ethiopian dialect. She is currently still staying in Calais until a translator can be found, said a source. It came as prosecutors said three suspects involved in the knifepoint rape of a 38-year-old Afghan interpreter around the squalid shantytown last week could have been people smugglers. Scroll down for video A young woman was gang raped during the destruction of the Calais Jungle, French prosecutors revealed today. A riot police officer is pictured during the clearance yesterday The attack took place on Tuesday morning when five men set upon the Ethiopian refugee, who cannot be named for legal reasons They may now have escaped to Paris, along with hundreds of others displaced by the destruction of the Jungle, which at one point had up to 10,000 residents. It became notorious for a range of crimes during the past few years, including rapes and other sexual assaults. 'The latest rapes are both being investigated as a matter of priority,' said a source close to both investigations, which are being led by prosecutors in nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer supported by judicial police. 'In both cases those responsible are likely to be a long way from Calais by now, but everything is being done to try and find them.' Discussing the October 18 rape of the interpreter, who is married and lives with her husband and two children in Paris, the source said: 'She has produced a description of the three men who attacked her, but it is unreliable so will not be released as a portrait. 'The men wore hoods, and there is very little chance of finding them in Calais now. It is thought that many of the traffickers have headed for Paris in the short term.' Massive fires were lit across the Jungle on Wednesday, hastening the end of the camp, as more than 4000 migrants were transported to centres all over France. Today a few hundred stragglers were left in the still smouldering wreckage, as riot police wearing full body armour patrolled. There have been migrant camps in the Calais area for at least 20 years, as thousands of residents used them as a springboard to reach the UK, where they claimed asylum or disappeared into the black economy. But the French authorities have pledged that no more camps will be allowed, and that they will maintain a zero tolerance approach to those trying to get to Britain illegally. Last night, French authorities declared the Calais migrant camp empty after fires set by departing migrants and anarchists accelerated plans to evacuate the slum. But a special camp nearby for unaccompanied children is full, leaving dozens with nowhere to spend the night. Massive fires were lit across the Jungle on Wednesday, hastening the end of the camp, as more than 4000 migrants were transported to centres all over France The white containers on the right are a temporary reception centre which has been set up for unaccompanied children whose fate will be decided in the next few days. The adapted shipping containers were designed to hold 1,000 children but are now full As the three-day operation to raze to the ground the squalid shantytown ended there were fears many children would be forced to sleep out in the cold tonight because a camp, made up of white converted cargo containers, is full to the brim. 'The container camp where registered minors are sleeping is full,' said Samuel Hanryon, a Doctors without Borders spokesman said. He said: 'There is simply nowhere for unregistered minors to go. They are wandering around, lost, wondering where they will spend the night.' Head of the France Terre d'Asile charity, Pierre Henry, confirmed: 'There is no more space in the container camp.' The container camp was designed to house up to 1,000 unaccompanied children, whose fate is being decided by the French and British authorities. Local officials announced the total destruction of the Jungle, where thousands fleeing war and poverty have lived in squalor as they waited for a chance to sneak across the English Channel into Britain. 'Mission accomplished,' Calais' regional prefect Fabienne Buccio told Reuters. 'There are no more migrants in the camp,' he said. Buccio said about 5,000 migrants had gone through a processing centre in the camp before being transferred away by bus around France to seek asylum, and another 1,000 were still queuing there. Authorities said they would stop processing people by Wednesday evening. Plumes of smoke rise into the sky over the Jungle, which has been cleared of migrants after a three-day operation The sun sets tomorrow on a scene of destruction with the Jungle virtually empty, the shacks all burned On the ground there is nothing but debris. The Jungle is now uninhabitable A Sudanese migrant, one of the last to remain, waves a Union flag, determined to cross the Channel Afghan migrants hang around in the burnt out remains of the Jungle but most migrants have now left As darkness fell tonight the remains of the Jungle is not a safe place for children A French riot police officer forbids migrants to access the makeshift camp 'The Jungle' after several fires set the whole area on fire during its evacuation in Calais on Wednesday A migrant goes back in the makeshift camp 'The Jungle' to retrieve some of their belongings, cheating the police who evacuated them after several fires set the whole area alight on Wednesday Migrants run past a fire after tents and shacks were set alight in the makeshift camp the 'Jungle' during its evacuation As the reality of the mass evacuation took hold, fearful migrants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria and Pakistan braced for a new reality. Some pledged to just keep moving. 'This jungle is no good,' said Muhammad Afridi, 20, from Pakistan. 'We go to a new jungle.' The main alley through the camp near the city of Calais burned overnight, leaving skeleton-like hulks on either side of the road. Firefighters delved into the camp's deepest recesses, trying to prevent a massive conflagration. British anarchists were blamed for the massive fire that destroyed a large part of the Jungle. Steve Barbet, a spokesman for the regional authorities, said one migrant was hospitalised. About 100 migrants were evacuated. French Police have been told anarchists from the protest group 'No Borders' were responsible for starting the fire, which created a huge cloud of black smoke above the sprawling shantytown. Commissioner Patrick Visser-Bourdon said migrants had told his officers members of the group sneaked into the camp in the early hours of the morning to set the blaze as an 'act of resistance'. Gas canisters used by the migrants to cook and heat their homes were targeted, according to Visser-Bourdon. Mechanical diggers start to crush shelters in the makeshift migrant camp near Calais on Wednesday A police officer stands guard while mechanical diggers start to crush shelters. French authorities declared the Calais migrant camp empty on Wednesday Makeshift shelters are seen buring during the explosion of a gas bottle in the 'Jungle' on the third day of the evacuation Raging fires, throughout the night and day, have destroyed many parts of the camp including shacks and makeshift shops Police stop a migrant returning to the notorious Jungle camp as the authorities begin to demolish the site on Wednesday A volunteer tries to extinguish a fire in the notorious Jungle camp, believed to have been started by departing migrants and anarchists This aerial photo shows how the fire was started near an entrance to the camp and has since spread through the make shift shelters French police walk as smoke rises from fires at the camp in Calais, northern France, on Wednesday Migrants go back in the makeshift camp 'The Jungle' to retrieve some of their belongings before the camp is declared 'empty' Migrants takes selfies of the burning camp that was once a make shift home to more than 7,000 migrants Migrants stand on a hill overlooking the 'Jungle' as smoke rises during a massive operation to clear the squalid settlement where 6,000-8,000 people have been living in dire conditions Calais burning: Migrants watch on as a huge fire rips through tents and huts in the heart of the Calais Jungle this morning More than 200 migrants had to be evacuated from the squalid camp as a fire raged through the makeshift buildings while rescuers were reportedly pelted with stones as they tried to tackle the blaze A fierce fire spread among tents and caravans (pictured) as a mass clear-out of the camp continued this morning More than 100 migrants had to be evacuated from the squalid camp as a fire raged through the makeshift buildings while rescuers were reportedly pelted with stones as they tried to tackle the blaze Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud blast as flames ripped through tightly packed tents and huts Thick black smoke covered the Jungle today as multiple fires raged through the almost deserted migrant camp in Calais British anarchists have been blamed for a massive fire that destroyed a large part of 'Jungle' in Calais and injured several migrants He said: 'Migrants say No Borders activists came into the camp in the middle of the night and set off the canisters,' said Mr Visser-Bourdon. 'We are investigating these claims, and trying to find those responsible. The migrants were not responsible but we are investigating.' However, Hamid, 30, from Afghanistan, said he had been among those setting fire to shelters. 'We don't care about problems that are to come after this. We did it because we don't want to stay in France, he said. 'We want to go to England and England only. It doesn't matter if I go to jail here.' Charred camp beds, toys and other items left behind by fleeing migrants could be seen among the wreckage. Dozens of gas canisters that had not exploded made the scene even more hazardous. The stench of melted plastic hung over the camp while in one building a burst water pipe sent water cascading over the ground. The fire seemed to have a demoralising effect on many of the migrants still left in the camp on Tuesday. Like a defeated army dozens trudged away from the burnt out building dragging their few possessions and lining up to be sent to a new resettlement camp in other parts of France. Fire ripped through the camp this morning. Those Migrants still at the camp have little choice but to register with the French authorities and be moved to one of over 400 new centers across the country Commissioner Patrick Visser-Bourdon said migrants had told his officers anarchists sneaked into the camp in the early hours of the morning to set the blaze as an 'act of resistance' Volunteer fire fighters attempted to contain the blaze and prevent gas cannisters from exploding but many of the ramshackle buildings were left to burn A migrant with his belongings walks past a burning makeshift shelter in the Jungle on the third day of their evacuation Gas canisters used by the migrants to cook and heat their homes were targeted, according to local police French Police have been told anarchists from the protest group 'No Borders' were responsible for starting the fire, which created a huge cloud of black smoke above the sprawling shantytown Fire-crews came under attack from migrants who threw stones at them as they tackled the blaze, which spread from building to building Protesting migrants were injured by exploding gas bottles and emergency services personnel were stoned as a massive fire broke out across the Calais Jungle today. Emergency crews are pictured tackling the blaze last night The worst fires took hold from around 12.30am, when two gas canister exploded. Fires cut through a swathe of the Calais Jungle on Wednesday, sending migrants fleeing as French authorities prepared to ramp up demolition of the notorious camp Pictures show the aftermath of a massive fire at the Calais Jungle overnight. The blazes spread just hours after workers protected by police moved in Tuesday to clear the squalid camp Migrants were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, while some 200 had to be removed from the camp as the fires spread. Migrants are pictured wrapped in blankets as they wait to be transported across France Located next to the port of Calais, the Jungle has for years been a launchpad for migrants attempting to make it to Britain by sneaking onto lorries or jumping onto trains heading across the Channel The worst injured was a Syrian man in his 20s who was rushed to hospital with an 'injury to the eardrums'. Others were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, while some 200 had to be removed from the camp as the fires spread. Regional prefect Fabienne Buccio said it was difficult to prevent the fires. 'Some migrants follow traditions - we asked them not to do it - but they set ablaze their tents and their shelters when they leave,' she said. 'We told them not to do it, but some... do it anyway. We are on standby, the fire brigade is in the vicinity to guarantee security and to prevent the fire from spreading. It's part of a tradition. Even if we would like them to refrain from doing it, they do it.' Migrants have been transported by bus to more than 400 centres around France, where they can consider their options. A spokesman for the French interior ministry said it 'does not want to use force but if there are migrants who refuse to leave' then the forces of law and order would intervene. Gas canisters can be seen lying on the ground at the site of a huge fire in the Calais Jungle. A Syrian man was taken to hospital with injuries to his ear drums after a cylinder exploded in the flames, which ravaged one of the main thoroughfares in the camp Tents and other facilities are set on fire as the demolition of Calais' Jungle camp has entered the second day yesterday Migrants leaving the camp for the process centre pass by burnt shacks and tents that are still smoking On Tuesday workers in hard hats and orange overalls used power saws to reduce shacks to piles of wood and plastic that were removed by diggers A local official downplayed the blazes, saying: 'It's a tradition among communities who set fire to their homes before leaving' The main row of shops in the Calais Jungle are burnt to the ground as police suspect that migrants burnt them down in the night Workers begin dismantling tents in the Calais jungle migrant camp and are pictured taking gas cylinders away from the site Britain took in around 200 teenagers in the week before the clearance began as an eleventh-hour gesture, with the transfers resuming on Tuesday after a hiatus on Monday Around half of the camp's estimated population of 6,000 to 8,000 migrants have been transferred out since Monday, boarding buses to centres around France Migrants queue on the third day of their evacuation and transfer to reception centres in France Moving out: A migrant runs with a British flag above his head inside the Jungle camp near Calais. As part of the camp's clearance, 3,242 adults have been transferred to centres around France since Monday and 772 unaccompanied minors have been moved to shipping containers converted into temporary shelters in the Jungle, the interior ministry said French CRS anti-riot police officers are silhouetted in the light of a truck at the Jungle. Authorities have said those who agree to be moved can seek asylum in France. Those who refuse risk deportation A French anti-riot police officer stands guard by migrants wrapped in blankets. Police in Calais have battled near-nightly attempts by migrants to reach Britain over the past year Taking action: A fireman attempts to douse a blaze as fire takes hold in the notorious Jungle camp this morning Migrants watched on from a safe distance as the place they had called home went up in flames this morning A fire fighter unleashed a jet of water in a bid to dampen fierce flames that took hold of the camp A father has been left red-faced after managing to completely miss his child's dance performance, instead filming the teacher's bottom. A video of the wiggling pert posterior has gone viral, clocking up 160,000 views after it was filmed at a Russian nursery school when the youngsters put on a show for their parents. But as the children start dancing along to Psy's worldwide hit Gangnam Style, the dad's smartphone camera suddenly veers to the left and focuses on the teacher's bottom, and stays firmly pointed at it for the duration of the dance. The video starts as it is meant to, with the father filming the pupils in the class as they begin their performance But it isn't long before he realises the teacher is next to him and the camera angle starts to change For the rest of the film, the father is focused very much on the class's teacher and her red dress She is wearing a tight fitting red dress, with a sequinned top and shakes her hips to the music Her red skirted rear covers almost the entire frame as he pulls an extreme close up on her gyrations. In fact, he focuses so hard on her performance that he does not capture a single step of the children's dance. Wearing a red sequinned top the teacher can be seen dancing to the music as she shakes her hips and her long, brown, wavy hair. The father was sure to have been left red-faced when he realised he had not captured any of his child's routine Online commentators speculated about what the father's partner might say when she saw the video A Russia-wide hunt has been triggered to look for the teacher and the father as it is not clear where this was filmed But the smartphone film - titled 'Daddy is Filming an Event at the Kindergarten'- has triggered a Russia-wide hunt for both the shamefaced dad - and the teacher. One watcher known as 'ElCampion777' said: 'Wonderful teacher, and great moves.' Another called 'Leha Cool' added: 'The cameraman definitely chose the right angle.' A radio host who made an 'unacceptable' joke about the tragedy at Dreamworld theme park which killed four people has been taken off the air. Anna Dare, host of Hobart's 7HOfm breakfast radio show, has been suspended indefinitely for making an off-colour remark on Thursday morning. During a 'secret sound' segment, she had asked: 'It's not getting stuck in a conveyor belt at a theme park is it? ... Too soon?' Anna Dare (pictured), host of Hobart's 7HOfm breakfast radio show, has been suspended indefinitely for making an off-colour remark on Thursday morning Two men and two women were killed on Tuesday when a raft on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Gold Coast's Dreamworld upturned because of a 'malfunction' Dare's on-air colleagues audibly gasped before awkwardly throwing to a song. 'That's what it sounds like to me when I first heard it,' Dare said, according to News.com.au. Two of the four people killed on Tuesday had become trapped in the conveyor belt of the Thunder River Rapids ride. The chief executive of Grant Broadcasters, Grant Cameron, said the unacceptable comment demonstrated a serious lapse in judgement and did not reflect the values of 7HOfm or its parent company. During a 'secret sound' segment, she had asked: 'It's not getting stuck in a conveyor belt at a theme park is it? ... Too soon?' 'We sincerely apologise to our listeners, the broader community and everyone affected by the Dreamworld tragedy,' Mr Cameron said. 'This was a dreadful mistake and the announcer is devastated at such a lapse. As employers, we must also consider her well-being,' he said. He confirmed Dare was taken off the air immediately, has been suspended and will be counselled. A decision will be made at a later date about when she might return to an on-air role, he said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted 7HOfm radio. Two of the four people killed on Tuesday had become trapped in the conveyor belt of the Thunder River Rapids ride A selfie of a white student in blackface which was shared on Snapchat has sparked protests at a campus in Ohio. The image, shared by a student at Xavier University in Cincinnati, was captioned: 'Who needs white when black lives matter?' It came as another image of a skeleton wearing a dashiki - a traditional Western African garment - was seen hanging in a window at the same university. The image of a white student in blackface which sparked the protests at Xavier University in Cincinnati after being shared on Snapchat The plastic skeleton, positioned as if it had been lynched, was hanging next to a flag stating: 'TRUMP, Make America Great Again'. University chiefs have condemned 'racist images' connected to Xavier students, and pledged to take action. Posting a picture of the Snapchat image, Xavier student Brianna Chenault wrote: 'We are tired. This is not okay. A simple apology will not do. 'There are too many resources readily available to explain why blackface is never acceptable, no matter the reason behind it, for this to ever be okay. 'Something needs to be done. Silence is acceptance and acceptance of this behavior will not be tolerated.' Another image showing a plastic skeleton wearing West African clothing was seen hanging in a dorm window Another student, Maia Manney, posted on Facebook that a meeting would be held to work out a response to the image. She called on Xavier students to 'be aware of your surroundings especially you POC (people of color), as recently many situations like this have been happening'. A woman named on Facebook in connection to the blackface image has since deleted her social media account. Within a day of the blackface picture circulating, the image of the skeleton sparked outrage. The university branded racist behavior 'unacceptable' and posted an email on Twitter vowing to take action Former Xavier student Ryan O'Toole shared the picture, stating he was 'hurt, disappointed and disgusted'. He said: 'My heart is with Xavier's black community today. I cannot imagine what they are feeling. This is ignorant. This is dangerous. 'This is subhuman behavior. That's all I really am gonna say about it. But this hurts.' In an email circulated to students after the images were shared, University President Michael Graham wrote: 'I am outraged and deeply troubled by recent racist images connected to Xavier students. 'Racist actions are unacceptable on our campus, and we have mechanisms to respond in a responsible and thoughtful manner. 'When one of us falls short, we all fall short.' 'We can, must and will do better': Events have been held on campus opposing racism He said the incidents were being 'addressed on campus through a variety of channels.' Jeremiah Pennebaker, president of Xavier's Black Student Association, wrote in a letter reported by WCPO: 'We condemn the White supremacy that makes it okay to mass incarcerate Black men and women, kill Black children with no repercussions, and makes incidents such as this one seem funny or light-hearted to some. 'These are simply reoccurrences of America's lack of respect for Black life.' He called for improved diversity training, saying that expelling the student who posed in blackface 'doesn't do away with the problem'. Simone Fluker, a Xavier sophomore, said the image had made her feel 'speechless'. But she said she felt bad for the student pictured in blackface, because 'she has made a mistake that will be with her for the rest of her life'. Kevin Gates has been sentenced to serve six months in jail Rapper Kevin Gates has been sentenced to 180 days in jail after he was convicted of kicking a female fan at a Florida concert last year. A Polk County jury found Gates guilty of battery after he was captured on cellphone video kicking 19-year-old Miranda Dixon at Lakeland's Rumors Nightclub, where he performed last August. Dixon, who was in the crowd, testified that she tugged on Gates' pants twice to get his attention for her friend. After the second time, she said Gates kicked her so hard that she fell backwards and passed out. Dixon, who was then 18, admitted herself to the hospital following the incident and had to undergo a CT scan. Following a one-day trial, Gates was sentenced on Wednesday to serve six months in prison, with credit for any time served, and ordered to pay fines and court costs. Scroll down for video He was found guilty of kicking a young female fan in the face during a nightclub performance In a previous court hearing Gates claimed he kicked the teenager in self-defense, testifying, 'I kicked them, I wanted them off me,' adding that after the girl had grabbed him many times. The rapper attempted to have the charges dropped using the Stand Your Ground defense, WFLA reports. Gates' attorney Jose Baez argued that his client was battered by the woman before Gates kicked her and that Dixon has a financial motive in the case, saying that she had a civil lawyer. 'Her credibility is to be questioned and you will not be able to beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt in this case believe her and that is why you should enter a verdict of not guilty in this case,' he said, according to Fox News. The jury of six white women, convicted Gates after two hours of deliberation. A doting pageant mother has defended her decision to allow her three-year-old daughter to wear fake tan, false nails and skimpy outfits - claiming 'it's innocent fun'. Sami Bushell, 28, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, spends more than 5,500-a-year dressing her toddler daughter Hallie Mai in glamorous and 'over-the-top' outfits. The mother-of-two also allows the youngster to wear full make-up - applying foundation, blusher and false nails to her, before coating her skin in a bronzed glow. Sami Bushell, 28, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, spends more than 5,500-a-year dressing her toddler daughter Hallie Mai in glamorous and 'over-the-top' outfits (pictured above) Sami Bushell, 28, defended her decision to allow her three-year-old daughter (pictured together) to wear fake tan, false nails and skimpy outfits - claiming 'it's all innocent fun' She said: 'Everything is very skimpy and over the top. 'It's very blingy and glitzy, but pageants are a controlled environment. 'It's not like anyone can just walk in and sit and watch. It's all innocent fun.' From an early age, Hallie Mai preferred the finer things in life and she has always turned her nose up at jeans and plain t-shirts. Ms Bushell, who also has a son, Harry, six, spends thousands on designer outfits for her daughter, including a Louis Vuitton handbag and Ralph Lauren t-shirts. She also spares no expense for her son and he has a wardrobe to rival his sister. Hallie Mai's pageant journey started when she was two-and-a-half years old after Ms Bushell came across photos of a child beauty pageant advertisement on Facebook. She said: 'We were hooked straight away.' The mother-of-two (left) also allows the youngster to wear full make-up - applying foundation, blusher and false nails to her, before coating her skin in a bronzed glow for beauty pageants Ms Bushell said: 'Everything is very skimpy and over the top. It's very blingy and glitzy, but pageants are a controlled environment. It's not like anyone can just walk in and sit and watch.' Hallie Mai's pageant journey started when she was two-and-a-half years old after Ms Bushell came across photos of a child beauty pageant advertisement on Facebook and applied for it Now Hallie Mai has eight colourful outfits for the catwalk. She has an Elsa inspired costume from the Disney movie 'Frozen' and a tummy-baring cowgirl outfit. The three-year-old also has a show-stopping sparkly red nurse's dress, with stomach cut outs and glamorous feathers. The look is completed with diamantes and fake crystals. The themed outfits cost up to 100 each, but are upstaged by her 'beauty dress'. One pink and purple frilly number, covered in jewels, costs 600 plus another 80 for delivery. Ms Bushell also spares no expense when it comes to Hallie Mai's make-up and hair. The three-year-old also has a show-stopping sparkly red nurse's dress, with stomach cut outs, glamorous feathers, diamantes and fake crystals. The themed outfits cost up to 100 each Ms Bushell, who also has a son, Harry, six, spends thousands on designer outfits for her daughter (pictured), including a Louis Vuitton handbag and Ralph Lauren t-shirts She covers her daughter's mousey brown hair with a lustrous wig, costing 55, which was shipped in from America. And the night before a pageant, Hallie Mai is primped and preened - being covered in St Tropez fake tan to give her a sun-kissed glow. 'I have to make sure it's not streaky,' Ms Bushell said about her daughter's enhanced skin tone. 'Then she'll have her nails done and get her hair done. 'Her hair piece is massive.' Once they arrive at a pageant most are in Yorkshire, Peterborough and five hours away in London - Hallie Mai is made to look 'perfect'. Ms Bushell uses foundation, blusher, bronzer and lip gloss to complete the look. Ms Bushell also spares no expense when it comes to Hallie Mai's make-up and hair-styling The mother is quick to defend her parenting skills. 'I say to the negative people that Hallie Mai loves pageants and loves the tan, makeup and outfits and she's very strong willed,' she said Her daughter is also becoming a dab hand with a make-up brush, often giving her mother a makeover backstage. But while Ms Bushell claims her little one adores pageants, she has faced a fierce backlash from doubters. She said: 'When people ask me about pageants, some turn their nose up and start being funny. 'They think I parade Hallie Mai in skimpy outfits and fake tan and give her fake hair.' The mother is quick to defend her parenting skills. 'I say to the negative people that Hallie Mai loves pageants and she loves the tan, makeup and outfits and she's very strong willed,' she said. While Ms Bushell claims her little one adores pageants, she has faced a fierce backlash from doubters. She is pictured left, and right with her two children - Hallie Mai and son Harry Ms Bushell's Facebook is often inundated with crude comments about her daughter, and claims that she is an irresponsible mother. But she said: 'I do what I want and if people don't like it they don't have to look' 'If she didn't want to do it she'd run off stage. I don't force her she goes on her own and loves it.' Ms Bushell's Facebook is often inundated with crude comments about her daughter, and claims that she is an irresponsible mother. But neither mother nor daughter will be deterred from their pageant ambitions. She added: 'She's not your typical pageant girl. If she doesn't want to do it she will kick off. We get stick, but it's part of pageant life. 'Hallie loves it, she loves getting crowns and medals. The shop owner Erden Ucar couldn't believe they spent two hours playing Footage shows the pair tuning the instruments and having a jam The teens didn't realise they were being recorded on CCTV Two schoolboy burglars have become the unwitting stars of their own music video - after being caught on camera having a jam during a music shop raid. The young thieves broke into the shop in the Sarkisla district of central Turkey's Sivas Province and the footage shows them proceeding to casually tune the instruments after forcing the door open. The aspiring musicians are seen browsing the store's wares, before one of the youngsters takes down a baglama - a Turkish stringed instrument - from the ceiling. The duo appear to lose any sense of urgency as they are seen happily strumming away together. A pair of young thieves desperate to make sweet music were caught on camera breaking into a music ship in the Sarkisla district of Turkey's Sivas Province Rather than opting for a grab-and-run strategy, the duo peruse the shop's instruments, and find two baglamas (Turkish string instruments) that they take a shine to And the rhythm appears to have got them as the footage shows the two youngsters enjoying a jam session. The criminal teens only noticed the cameras as they were making away with their haul, and are seen attempting to tamper with them The shop's owner Erden Ucar said: 'It is unbelievable, they took the baglamas down from the shelf and then tuned the instruments and started playing them. 'They spent about two-and-a-half hours in my shop.' But they were later arrested when police identified a local 15-year-old and a 12-year-old accomplice from the CCTV footage. During their spree, stole six baglamas, two flutes, one mellotron keyboard, a darbuka drum, a clarinet, a clarion, a laptop, a microphone and PA equipment from Mr Ucar's shop. It was only as they left with their haul that they spotted the CCTV cameras, which had recorded the entire burglary - complete with the musical number. And despite their willingness to perform, the pair didn't seem too happy to be centre stage - they tried to destroy the cameras, but were unsuccessful. A 15-year-old and a 12-year-old were arrested in a neighbouring village two days later after their stash of stolen goods were found by police 'It's unbelievable,' said store owner Erden Ucar afterwards. 'They spent about two-and-a-half hours in my shop' Mr Ucar's music market was not the only shop targeted, according to Turkish police. The pair are also accused of stealing from a souvenir shop and an electronics store Police say the suspects, who they have named only as S. G., 15, and, S. D., 12, broke into a number of shops that night. They are also accused of stealing two stringed instruments and a memory card from a souvenir shop, and six mobile phones and two tablet computers from an electronics store. Police arrested the pair in a neighbouring village two days later and found their stash of stolen goods. Police later released S. D. because of his age but handed over S. G. to police in the Gemerek district of Sivas Province where he was wanted in connection with another burglary. A stricken motorist has been left without a car after he mistook a deep pool of water for a puddle. Video footage has captured the moment the man tried to park on a construction site in the Ardesen district of north-eastern Turkey's Rize Province - with disastrous results. CCTV from the scene shows the driver attempting to park up on a section of tarmac seemingly covered in rainwater - but it was in fact a water-filled pit which completely swallowed his vehicle. CCTV footage shows the driver approaching the water-covered tarmac, completely unaware it is a deep pool Within seconds, his car is dragged beneath the surface but he managed to escape unscathed Fortunately, the driver managed to jump out of his vehicle just in time to watch as it became submerged in the water. Bystanders simply watched in horror as the scene unfolded, evidently as dumbstruck as the motorist who stumbled out of the water coughing and spluttering. A passer-by can be seen rushing to the aid of the shocked driver, helping him as they watch the car disappear beneath the surface. The driver has since been left without a car after his became completely water-logged Bystanders simply watched in horror as the man stumbled out of the water coughing and spluttering A passer-by can be seen rushing to the aid of the shocked driver, helping him as they watch the car disappear beneath the surface The accident was captured on CCTV cameras and later uploaded to video-sharing websites. Nobody was hurt but the man has been without a car ever since and according to local media reports, he is still waiting for his car to dry out. Rize, which lies between the Pontic Mountains and the Black Sea, is the wettest part of Turkey with high levels of rain all year round. This is the tragic moment a terminally ill mother records 25 years of birthday wishes for her newborn daughter. 26-year-old Lin discovered she was pregnant however she had to decide whether to continue with the pregnancy as she was suffering from osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. She decided to continue with the pregnancy and gave birth to a girl, reports Huanqiu, an affiliation with the People's Daily Online. Knowing that she did not have long left to live, she recorded messages for her daughter. 25 years of wishes: 26-year-old Lin recorded birthday messages for her newborn daughter Tragic story: She gave birth to her daughter on September 1, two months early After she delivered the baby, doctors told her that she did not have long left to live Lin knew that even if the child was born healthy, she would have little time to spend with her daughter. On September 1, she gave birth to the baby which was two months premature. Doctors then told Lin that she did not have much time left to live. So she decided to record 25 years worth of birthday wishes for her daughter. Footage posted by CCTV News shows the woman lying in her hospital bed sending her baby a first birthday message. Horrifying: In the footage, the child's grandmother can be seen crying Many people on Chinese social media have shared their wishes for the family Lin tells the camera: 'Mum will leave for a while to a particularly far away place' The baby's grandmother can be seen crying in the background as Lin sings Happy Birthday to her daughter. The footage then cuts to the newborn daughter lying in a bed with breathing apparatus. Lin tells the camera: 'Mum will leave for a while to a particularly far away place.' She ends the message with 'Be good my baby.' Many people on China's social media site Weibo have been left upset by the woman's story. One user commented: 'She must be very sad when she was recording her message.' While another wrote: 'This courageous mother gave birth to her kid, this is her personal choice. We have to respect her decision.' And one said: 'If she brought the kid to the world, but she could not nurture her, its very unfair for the kid.' At one point she sings Happy Birthday to her newborn daughter Tragic story: She ends the message with 'Be good my baby.' This devoted mother otter found a novel way of keeping her newborn pup dry by letting the baby ride on her belly. Nature photographer Suzi Eszterhas, 40, spotted the adorable pair of southern sea otters swimming in Monterey Bay, California. The mother otter lifted the pup out of the water and on to her belly to keep it warm and dry. The loving mother also blew air into the young pup's fur to groom it. Scroll down for video The mother otter lifted the pup out of the water and on to her belly to keep it warm The mother otter also blew air into the young pup's fur to groom it Ms Eszterhas said she was surprised to see the otters come close to where she was standing. She watched as the mother left her child to float alone in the water. Young otters have a layer of natal fur that helps them to float unaided while their mother hunts for small animals below the surface. Ms Eszterhas used a long telephoto lens to photograph the mother and pup without disturbing their activities. The California-based photographer said: 'I have been photographing sea otters for over 20 years, so I know sea otter behavior well. 'Most sea otter mothers are quite shy with their babies, but this mother was very habituated to people and she was very relaxed as she lovingly raised her pup in a busy harbor. Ms Eszterhas used a long telephoto lens to photograph the mother and pup She watched as the mother left her child to float alone in the water 'Sometimes, she swam right up to the dock and left her pup floating on the water's surface right in front of me while she foraged for food. 'She did this so many times; it made me feel like a babysitter. It was adorable and it also really showed how vulnerable and trusting wild animals can be.' There are almost 3,000 sea otters living along the California coast - all of which are descendants of a colony of 50 otters discovered in 1938. Sea otters consume more than 100 different species, including crabs, mussels and even octopuses. A furious father has branded his daughter's school racist after the 14-year-old girl was sent home after getting a dreadlock-style hair cut. Chenise Benson, 14, claimed her friend of Jamaican origin was allowed by school authorities to keep a similar hair style. Beyonce-fan Chenise, 14, had dreamed about getting exotic box-braids like the ex-Destiny's Child singer for months - but was left in tears at the school gates after staff wouldn't let her in. Chenise Benson, 13, pictured, got the dreadlocks while on her half term holiday Chenise's father Darren Benson claims school authorities are discriminating against his daughter as she has friends of Jamaican heritage who are allowed to have dreadlocks Chenise, pictured left before her dramatic transformation, insisted on the new look for her sister's birthday, but faced trouble when he attempted to return to school after the break Her friend Jamila, who is of Jamaican origin said their hair was exactly the same. A policy document on the school's website states: 'Please note we do not allow extreme, unnatural hairstyles or colouring. Any hair accessories should be of a practical nature and should not be decorative. 'If you are in doubt please contact your childs tutor at the school. Hair should be no shorter than a Grade 3 cut. 'Please be aware that what is and is not acceptable will be decided by the school in line with this policy and the schools decision is final. 'Please note that in sending your child to George Pindar School that you are agreeing to ensure your child abides by this policy. 'If you have any queries or questions regarding any aspect of uniform, jewellery, hairstyle, please could you contact the school.' Chenise's father Darren, 39, said: 'I'm not racist in any shape or form - but this is like racism against their own. Chenise, pictured right, along with her mother Lindsey Calam, used to have brunette hair The teenager, pictured, came home from school and told her father what happened 'Chenise is being picked out here because she's white - if she was black or mixed-race they wouldn't have a problem. 'Chenise's friend whose dad is Jamaican even told the teachers "look at my hair, I'm still allowed in". 'In this country we're so bothered about upsetting other people that we're upsetting our own.' He explained that Chenise had seen pictures of Beyonce's new hair cut before she plucked up the courage to ask a lady with the same style where she got it done. The teenager then saved up her pocket money by doing chores to raise the funds - so she could get the locks she pined for. Mr Benson explained that Chenise had wanted the new style for her sister Billie-Ann's 16th birthday last Saturday. Chenise spent around five hours having the extensions but in on October 19 and went into school the following day, Thursday, October 20. He claimed staff at the George Pindar School said the 140 hairstyle was against regulations Mr Benson insisted his daughter would keep the 140 hairstyle which lasts for a year Mr Benson said at 8.30am, he got a call from Chenise who was in floods of tears. Chenise told her dad that Teachers said she would have to take her new braids out because she was breaking school rules. Asked what happened when he picked his daughter up, Mr Benson said: 'When I went down to the school a teacher read out the school guidelines to me about hair - which infuriated me. 'They said she would have to take the braids out - otherwise she couldn't go to school.' Mr Benson then took Chenise home for the Thursday and did not attend school on the Friday. The angry father said that he will let Chenise keep her hair braided for the start of school again - Monday October 31. Speaking about the hairstyle, Mr Benson said: 'I think it looks beautiful, she [Chenise] looks great. 'Part of me agrees it is over the top - but they are going to get it done whatever aren't they. 'My youngest daughter Chenise is quite dark and tanned anyway - so it doesn't look too bad. 'But that's not the point is it - I was furious because of the principle of it and she [Chenise] was crying down the phone to me.' Chenise Benson, left, pictured with her sister Billie-Ann, 16, right, along with comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown, centre, in August, before she radically changed her hair style Mr Benson said he looked at the school's uniform code and said his daughter's hair complies Chenise's hair consists of of synthetic white hair which is wrapped around her own hair in a tight weave - officially called box-braiding. The pricey 140 hair style was due to the fake hair needing to be bought and ordered from London. Mr Benson, who is a shop assistant said: 'The hair style isn't going to stop her from learning is it? 'It wasn't to be smart - she just wanted something different. 'But the school shouldn't be dictating now what pupils can and can't have. 'I agree with no make-up - but hair is different and no one should ever be forced to have their hair one way or another.' Mr Benson said that Chenise's sister Billie-Ann will also be having the same style done to her hair. 'She can have her hair like that - her sister is having it done tomorrow. 'I can't let her have it multi-coloured.' According to the school, all students have to abide by their uniform and hair policies Speaking about her own hair, Chenise said: 'I wasn't bothered what other people thought of my hair - but it was the teachers who upset me. 'Why would they pick me out like that - all because I want to be different. 'People did say I looked "minging" when I was walking around the shops - but other people told me they wanted it doing just like mine - and were asking for the number for the lady who did it. 'I was like looking through some pictures of Beyonce who had it done and I thought the style she had was really nice. 'I asked the woman in the street where she got her hair done and she gave my mum's number to the braid woman.' She added: 'I saved up my pocket money for it so I wanted it to be special.' Chenise's mother Lindsay Callum, a former council worker, 38, said: 'A few mums said we would have problems at school when we posted the picture of Chenise's hair on Facebook - but we didn't think it would be this bad.' The exotic hairstyle looks the one sported by the Henchmen Twins from the Matrix movies The school's website claims students can ask for guidance about the rules from their teachers Asked what the family will do now and what the future holds, Mr Benson said: 'For her [Chenise's] education - all this is just not worth the hassle. 'She had been asking for the braids for a long time and we said before Christmas and Billie-Ann's birthday she could have it done. 'But education is important - so she'll have to get it taken out if the school don't back down.' Mr Benson said George Pindar School has since told him that they would accept Chenise's braids - if they were all one colour. He added: 'The school have gone back on what they said and say they can stay if she dyes the synthetic hair - but that could rip Chenise's hair out. She added: 'It would also cost a fortune.' Extraordinary green flashes of light have been spotted in the sky above Siberia, baffling experts and residents as they question whether it was a meteor, a missile, or even aliens. The spectacle lit up the sky around Lake Baikal in the early evening on Tuesday. Initially, people thought the green flash with a tail was a missile launched by Vladimir Putin's military in Orenburg, which 'successfully' hit its target of the Kamchatka peninsula near the Pacific. Drivers on this road going through Siberia noticed the incredible flashes of light in the evening sky The bright light looks like it could have been a meteor or part of a falling missile as it hurtles across the sky The object was described as white with a green tail by some of the witnesses who were a little spooked by the sight However, it was last discovered that the timing appears wrong as the ICBM RS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile would have crossed this part of Siberia several hours earlier. This incredible footage shows the moment people spotted the flashes in the sky as they drove home in the early evening. While social media buzzed with claims of visitors from outer space with comments like 'Maybe aliens?' and 'Soon there will be reports about mutants' experts disagreed sharply over the unidentified flying object seen low in the sky. A witnesses reported that 'a comet fell from the sky - it was glowing bright green (and quite large)....' Another witness said: 'At 19.30 in the sky a comet or a meteor was flying. There was a powerful flash. Who else saw it?' Mikhail Ovdin said: 'In the area of Goryachinsk we saw a sharp light of bright green colour. 'And then we saw the object flying, leaving behind a trail. Experts have been left baffled and many disagree with one another as to what the object is, with some arguing manmade and some arguing it is space matter One expert said there would have been a shockwave and people would have felt it if the object had been a meteor and it must therefore be manmade 'It flew within five seconds, and disappeared over Lake Baikal. I think it burned down in the atmosphere.' The head of the Astronomical Observatory at Buryat State University in Ulan-Ude, Liliya Mironova, insists the object was manmade. She told The Siberian Times: 'I myself did not witness the incident, but I saw the videos. 'I can say with certainty that it was not a meteorite, nor a meteor or a comet. 'It is clear that we are talking about some sort of man-made object. 'Firstly, if it reached the ground, there would be a shock wave, and everybody would have felt it. 'But it did not reach the ground.' In contrast to other experts, she said it was travelling 'very slow' in the sky. She disputed the object was burning out in the sky. Several people suggested it was a missile, which would have been launched from Yasnenkoye, but some said the missile would have been seen much earlier in the day The director of the Observatory of Irkutsk State University, Sergei Yazev, disagreed and said: 'Without doubt, we are talking about a space bolide.' A bolide is a meteor that explodes in the atmosphere rather than falling to the ground as a meteorite. The images of the object were 'typical' of a bolide, he said. He said: 'It was burning in the atmosphere, the green glow was because of the high temperature....' He also ruled out other manmade objects like a satellite falling to Earth from space orbit. 'We can assume that the size of the meteor was about 50 centimetres,' he said. This would make it ten times smaller than the Chelyabinsk meteorite of 2013 which shattered windows in the Urals before falling into a lake. 'It may well be that it was not all burned out and some small stone debris could fall to the ground,' he said. If so, it could have splashed into Baikal. Dr Gohar Rahman, 57, grabbed her by the hair, hit her on the bottom with his stick A heart doctor attacked his teenage daughter with a walking stick and labelled her a 'prostitute' after she disobeyed his orders and went to a Halloween party, a medical tribunal heard. Dr Gohar Rahman, 57, grabbed her by the hair, hit her on the bottom with his stick and then punched her head after he accused her of 'bringing shame' on his family. The daughter, then 17, had earlier gone to the party after falsely telling her father she would be home from a friend's house by 9.30pm. During the same evening she also went for a night out in her hometown before sleeping over at a male friend's house. Her defiance enraged married father-of-three Rahman, a consultant cardiologist at Wigan Infirmary, who attacked his daughter when he and his wife, also a doctor, went to collect her the following morning. As his wife looked on, Rahman shouted: 'I can't believe what you have done - sleeping at a boy's house' and said he no longer 'recognised' her as his daughter. During the assault back home she was was ordered to take off her party dress and put on traditional Islamic clothing instead before being ordered to pray. Colleagues of Rahman spoke of their disbelief and described his as a 'calm and quiet' man. Police were called after the daughter sent out a SOS message on social media using a Nintendo DS. Doctors discovered she had bruising to her forehead, lower back, shoulder, abdomen and three parallel lines on her buttocks where he had hit her with the stick. A clump of her hair fell out when she was being examined. The girl - who is now 18 - later described her father as 'looking like a monster' and described the beating as 'awful'. She said her studies had been disrupted as she struggled to sleep and was receiving counselling. Earlier this year Rahman, who formerly worked with the United Nations, was given a suspended jail term after he admitted assaulting his daughter. Rahman, a consultant cardiologist at Wigan Infirmary (pictured), attacked his daughter when he and his wife went to collect her (stock image) He faces being struck off at a disciplinary hearing in Manchester today after he was reported to the General Medical Council (GMC). The incident occurred after Rahman's daughter - who was referred to only as 'A' in the hearing - left the family home in Standish, Greater Manchester, on October 31 last year to go out for the evening with a college friend. Noel Casey, lawyer for the GMC, told the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service: 'She wanted to go to a Halloween party that night but she knew her parents wouldn't let her go. 'So told them she was going to a friend's house and said she would come back at 9.30pm. She admitted that she had no intention to be back at 9.30pm and intended to stay out all night. 'She went to a friend's house to get ready for the party but what followed was a set of phone calls from one set of parents to A's parents. She recalls them telling her that it is time to return home. 'Initially she spoke to her mother but she then recalls her father shouting at her telling her to come home. She refused to give the address of the party and he told her he wanted her to come home to teach her a lesson. At the time of banging her head on the back of the seat her father called her a prostitute Noel Casey, lawyer for the GMC 'She said she would get a lift home later that evening at around 11 to 11.30pm and continued to the party. She then was going on a night out in the town of Wigan. She met a friend there and returned to that friend's house, it was a male friend where she stayed the night.' The daughter woke at 11am having received numerous messages that her parents were looking for her. Her parents arrived and took her inside their car despite a taxi already waiting outside for her at 11.30am. Once inside the car she was attacked by her father. Mr Casey added: 'Dr Rahman leaned back in the car and grabbed her long hair and banged her head on the back of the passenger seat two or three times. 'At the time of banging her head on the back of the seat her father called her a prostitute and said: "I can't believe what you have done - sleeping at a boy's house." 'Her mother was making calls during the journey home and on arrival, 'A' said her father grabbed her by her hair began dragging her into the living room. 'She was saying say sorry to her dad to make it stop. A's father threw her on the floor and kicked her while she was on the floor. 'He told her to get up, so she did but he dragged her up from the floor by her hair. He was slapping and kicking her back and arms so she fell to the floor again. She remembers being hit with a shoe and was assaulted to her arms back and bottom.' Dr Rahman then came into her bedroom and repeatedly hit her with a walking stick because she would not tell him her PIN code to use her mobile phone. Rahman appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in February where he wad given 10 months jail suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 100 hours' unpaid work Mr Casey added: 'He picked up a walking stick and hit her with it each time she refused to give the phone passcode. 'A' said he was looking around for something else to use and mentioned a curling iron - but it would not detach from the wall. 'He also said that he would smash her teeth in before hitting her on her arms back and backslide. She describes this continuing for 10 minutes while her mother was in her own bedroom opposite. Dr Rahman then asked 'A' to pray which she did.' Rahman appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in February where he wad given 10 months jail suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 100 hours' unpaid work after he admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He is currently suspended by the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Foundation NHS Trust - but remains on the payroll. Work colleague Dr Ahmed Ismail, a consultant radiologist, told the hearing: 'He was shattered and full of regret. He admitted it was the biggest regret of his life. 'He is such a calm and quiet person. I have known him for over 10 years. I have known I'm as a friend, a colleague and a neighbour. I have known his family, his wife and his three children. It was very odd. 'When it happened he came to speak to me. When I opened the door he was very weak. I let him in the reception and he started crying. It is something very odd for Gohar. 'I believe it is a big lesson that he did learn. I believe he would never do such a silly thing again. He said he did hit his daughter and this resulted in injuries and she had to go to the hospital.' Rahman graduated from Khyber Medical University, a worldwide renowned medical institute in Pakistan; obtained field experience with the United Nations and then a worked in Pakistan before moving to the UK in 1998. A fundraising page set up to try and raise 1.5million in an attempt to 'prosecute' the parents of Madeleine McCann is being investigated over fears it is a scam. The GoFundMe page was set up in the last 72 hours and pledges to raise enough money to hire lawyers to build a case against Kate and Gerry, whose daughter went missing in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. Supporters had pledged almost 18,000 to the cause, which was set up by Facebook user Adam Cruz, before concerns were raised that it could be a scam. One Facebook page has suggested it is not an authorised fundraising campaign and questioned where the cash was going. Kate and Gerry are not suspected of any wrongdoing in relation to their daughter's disappearance and have always vigorously denied neglecting her. Responding to the claims, a source close to the couple said: 'They don't respond to anything these nuisance trolls say or do. 'It just fuels it and gives them a sense of self importance.' The GoFundMe page pledges to raise 1.5m to build a case against Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter went missing in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. It received more than 17,000 in 48 hours before being removed by administrators Supporters had pledged almost 18,000 to the cause, which was set up by Facebook user Adam Cruz, before concerns were raised that it could be a scam. Pictured: A Facebook site which discusses the McCann case suggested it was not a real campaign Clarence Mitchell, spokesperson for the family, added: 'There will be no comment at all from Kate and Gerry. ' Mr Cruz's set up the fundraising page on Tuesday evening and he had posted links to the GoFundMe page across social media. Administrators of one Facebook site dedicated to the McCann case claimed Mr Cruz's GoFundMe was not a legitimate website and questioned where the cash would be going. In a statement, they said: 'We do NOT endorse any post by Adam Cruz regarding a GoFundMe page against the McCanns and urge anyone who reads his plea to NOT donate to this. 'It has not been verified and our group has NO association with this fund or person. 'Adam only became a member today. There was nothing to say Adam is who he said he is, or indeed where any money would be going. ' 'We don't want our members to be out of pocket to someone who took it upon themselves to make a page and ask for money.' The GoFundMe page was set up by Facebook user Adam Cruz, who later took to his own profile page to hit back at claims the page was a scam. He said he had been trying to 'seek justice' Maddie vanished at the age of three while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007 and, despite a high-profile international hunt, no trace of her has ever been found In response, Mr Cruz wrote on his profile: 'This page blocked me for actively seeking justice for an innocent and defeceless (sic) child. 'I would strongly urge them to unblock me. 'As you can imagine, the high profile case that this is, lawyers from the UK would work with Portuguese and American Lawyers. We are currently in talks with British Lawyers. 'Please tap to donate.' The GoFundPage was removed this morning after reports it was a scam. It is understood police are investigating. Kate and Gerry have campaigned tirelessly for help in solving the disappearance of the youngster Maddie vanished at the age of three while on holiday with her parents in 2007 and, despite a high-profile international hunt, no trace of her has ever been found. Hopes were high when the UK investigation into the little girl's disappearance was launched in 2011, with Scotland Yard detectives later highlighting a sex offender who had targeted British families with young children staying in villas in the same area where Madeleine was last seen. Despite no obvious progress since then, the head of Scotland Yard's murder squad, Detective Chief Superintendent Mick Duthie, remained optimistic earlier this year. He said: 'There is ongoing work. There is always a possibility that we will find Madeleine and we hope that we will find her alive.' However, the British operation into her disappearance has since been scaled back from seven officers to four and the forensic operation has concluded altogether. Madeleine McCann disappeared from an apartment block in Praia da Luz in 2007 Kate and Gerry have campaigned tirelessly for help in solving the disappearance of the youngster. Last year a former Portuguese detective was ordered to pay nearly 360,000 to the couple after a long-running libel trial. Goncalo Amaral had been on trial over claims he made in a book and a documentary that the couple were involved in their daughter Madeleine's disappearance. In a written verdict, a Lisbon court agreed that Amaral should pay Mr and Mrs McCann 250,000 (179,000) each in damages and banned further sales of his book The Truth Of The Lie. The couple's lawyer Isabel Duarte also revealed that Amaral had been told to pay interest which she said stood at present at 106,000 (76,000). The McCanns told the court last summer they were left 'devastated and crushed' by his book, which sold around 120,000 copies before it was withdrawn when the couple won an injunction against the ex-police chief. Afghanistan's spy agency has confirmed that two top Al-Qaeda leaders in the country were killed in a drone attack, in a significant blow to the militant group. The strikes on Sunday in Kunar province targeted Farouq al-Qahtani, Al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan, and his deputy Bilal al-Utabi. 'Faruq al-Qahtani, Bilal al-Utabi and a third member of the group were killed in a coalition strike in... Kunar province,' the National Directorate of Security said in a statement on Thurdsay. 'The strike was carried out in coordination with NDS.' American officials said on Wednesday that US drone strikes had targeted two top Al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan, calling it the most significant attack against the militant group in the country in several years. Multiple Hellfire missiles 'levelled' two different compounds in Kunar where the men were believed to be hiding, the military said, voicing confidence that they were killed. The strikes on Sunday in Kunar province targeted Farouq al-Qahtani, Al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan, and his deputy Bilal al-Utabi 'We are still assessing the results of the strikes, but their demise would represent a significant blow to the terrorist group's presence in Afghanistan, which remains committed to facilitating attacks against the United States, our allies, and partners,' said Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook. Another US official said the attack represented the 'most significant strike' against the Al-Qaeda leadership in Afghanistan in years. The Pentagon has been actively hunting for Qahtani for four years. He had longstanding ties with Osama Bin Laden before his death in the 2011 US raid on his Pakistan compound. Qahtani has operated in Afghanistan since at least 2009 and led a Qaeda battalion since at least mid-2010, officials said. 'He was seeking to reestablish (Al-Qaeda's) control in Afghanistan,' the US official said. 'He was charged with the requirement to establish AQ safe-havens throughout Kunar and Nuristan provinces.' His deputy Utabi, was seen as the second- or third-most senior Al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, the official said. National Directorate of Security (NDS) officials take position during an operation against Taliban militants in Panjaw Kala area of Helmand province on 20 October In October 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks, the US launched military operations to dislodge the Taliban from Afghanistan and capture or kill Al-Qaeda militants they were harbouring. Their numbers have since been decimated, but the United States continues to target the remnants of the group. In June, the White House restored the Pentagon's authority to strike at insurgents. The new authority has given the US-led NATO troops greater latitude to order air strikes against a web of militant groups in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, Islamic State jihadists and Al-Qaeda. Qahtani and his deputy men were in Hilgal village in Kunar's Ghazi Abad district when they were attacked, US officials said. They were in two separate buildings a few hundred meters (yards) apart and were targeted almost simultaneously by multiple missiles. Provincial spokesman Abdul Ghani Mosamem told AFP at least 15 insurgents were killed, including two Arabs. A number of Pakistani Taliban fighters were also among the fatalities, he said. An Afghan intelligence official in the province also confirmed two Arabs were killed in the strikes. Qahtani and Utabi are well-known senior Al-Qaeda commanders in Kunar, and had been actively involved in recruiting local young people for the group. Qahtani was born some time between 1979 and 1981 in Saudi Arabia and is a Qatari national. In February this year, the US Department of the Treasury labelled Qahtani a specially designated global terrorist. AnISIS commander who heads a femalesuicide bomb squad has gone on the run after leaving Mosul with millions of dollars. It is believed that Abu Mu'taz Qahtani, the terror group's head finance officer in Iraq, has fled the city as Iraqi forces try to liberate it from ISIS rule, taking massive amounts of cash with him. It comes as coalition forces working to free Mosul have confirmed up to 900 ISIS militants have been killed in the last week and hinted that an offensive to liberate the ISIS Syrian stronghold of Raqqa could be next. An Iraqi soldier stands next to a detained man accused of being an ISIS fighter in Mosul. His arrest comes as a female ISIS commander has gone on the run after leaving Mosul with millions of dollars Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are pushing towards Mosul along several axes and have been detaining ISIS fighters with 900 of them killed in the battle Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are pushing towards Mosul along several axes and have made relatively quick progress as they approach Iraq's second city. Along the way, many jihadis have been killed or arrested with others fleeing the terror group and trying to blend in with the general population. And according to al-Sumaria News, one of those that has left the jihadis is Qahtani, who was responsible for recruiting female foreign fighters. It is believed he is on the run with a German woman having swiped important ISIS documents as well as millions of dollars in cash. People stand at a check point outside Qayyara, south of Mosul as smoke in the background is from burning oilfields set ablaze by ISIS fighters Two women and a child leave their homes in Mosul as fighting intensifies. Many in the city say some of the 5,000 jihadis there are trying to disguise themselves It comes as people in Mosul say some of the 5,000 jihadis thought to be in the city are trying to disguise themselves. One resident Abu Saif told AFP: 'I saw some Daesh (ISIS) members and they looked completely different from the last time I saw them. The brother of a man who was executed by ISIS pauses to remember his sibling as he leaves Iraq. He says that ISIS killed women and young children too 'They had trimmed their beards and changed their clothes. They must be scared... they are also probably preparing to escape the city.' While General Joseph Votel, who heads the US military's Central Command confirmed up to 900 ISIS fighters have already been killed in the battle for Mosul. He said: 'Just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate they've probably killed about 800 to 900 Islamic State fighters. Votel cautioned it was hard to provide precise numbers as ISIS fighters move around the city and blend in with the local population. Meanwhile US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday an attack on Raqqa, the ISIS stronghold in Syria, would start while the battle of Mosul is still unfolding. He predicted it would only be weeks before forces start an offensive to liberate the Syrian city. Armed members of Shi'ite militia Hashid Shaabi ride a motorbike near Qayyara. Coalition forces have hinted they could also launch an offensive to liberate the ISIS Syrian stronghold of Raqqa A farmer tries to move his sheep to safety as fighting rages around his farm on the outskirts of Mosul And Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend also added that American intelligence has detected indistinct signs of terrorists plotting against the West from Raqqa, adding urgency to coalition plans to encircle and eventually assault the city. He explained: 'We know they're up to something, and it's an external plot. We don't know exactly where' they intend to strike. We don't know exactly when.' 'We know this plot-and-planning is emanating from Raqqa. We think we've got to get to Raqqa pretty soon.' Theresa May hailed a 'vote of confidence' in post-Brexit Britain today after Nissan signalled a major expansion of its plant in Sunderland. Doubts had been raised about whether the firm would push ahead with production of the new Qashquai at the huge plant in the North East in the wake of the Brexit vote. There had been anxiety that the risk of tariffs being imposed on exports to the EU could make the site less attractive for investment. But the firm has now confirmed that the Qashqai SUV and X-Trail will be made in Sunderland. The news comes after Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn met the Prime Minister in Downing Street earlier this month. He emerged saying he was 'confident' the UK would 'remain a competitive place to do business'. The Nissan plant in Sunderland produces the flagship Qashqai, but the company had suggested it was rethinking its investment after the Brexit vote Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn waves to journalists as he leaves 10 Downing Street following the talks earlier this month It is not clear whether the Japanese carmaker has received reassurances about a compensation package if tariffs do materialise. In another positive development, official figures showed GDP rose by 0.5 per cent in the three months after the nation voted to cut ties with Brussels. The preliminary numbers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) exceeded the expectations of many economists, and are in stark contrast to the doom-laden predictions by George Osborne. The Treasury is now facing demands to disown its forecast produced during the referendum campaign suggesting that UK plc would shrink by up to 1 per cent. Mrs May said today: 'This is fantastic news for the UK. Nissan is at the heart of this country's strong automotive industry and so I welcome their decision to produce the Qashqai and a new model at their Sunderland plant. 'It is a recognition that the Government is committed to creating and supporting the right conditions for the automotive industry so it continues to grow now and in the future. This vote of confidence shows Britain is open for business and that we remain an outward-looking, world-leading nation. 'The Government will continue to work closely with employers and investors in creating a global Britain, a country where there are new opportunities for jobs and rewarding careers. Families across the North East will be delighted at this news today and I share in their enthusiasm for what this means not just for them, but for the whole of the UK.' It is unclear what reassurances Mrs May gave to Nissan when she met the company's boss in Number 10 Nissan announced its decision on production of the new models on Twitter The Sunderland factory, which opened in 1986, employs around 7,000 people producing some 500,000 Juke, Qashqai and Leaf vehicles a year. It accounts for around a third of the UK's total car manufacturing. Nissan is part owned by the French manufacturer Renault, fuelling speculation that it could move operations to the continent due to Brexit. Mr Ghosn said in Paris in September: 'If I need to make an investment in the next few months and I can't wait until the end of Brexit, then I have to make a deal with the UK government. 'If there are tax barriers being established on cars, you have to have a commitment for carmakers who export to that there is some kind of compensation.' But after talks with Mrs May on October 14 he said: 'Following our productive meeting, I am confident the government will continue to ensure the UK remains a competitive place to do business.' Britain must defy EU and start negotiating trade deals NOW, says former minister Britain risks being 'pushed over a cliff' with a bad Brexit deal unless it insists on negotiating independent trade agreements now, prominent Leave campaigner Lord Owen is warning. The former SDP leader is also using a speech in Switzerland to say the Government should carry over all EU law into UK domestic law, and make provisions to forge its own trade deals in the process. 'The UK has to be able to start negotiating international trade agreements before exit. This is a non-negotiable issue. So is the UK having full World Trade Organisation membership in our own right. 'To fail to have these two issues put into operation and sanctioned under UK law in the European Communities Act legislation would be gross negligence. 'Under any of the options for negotiating we must have these safeguards, or we otherwise face being pushed over a cliff edge after waiting for an EU decision in 2018-9 which might prove to be unacceptable,' he said. Lord Owen is insisting that if the EU blocks British trade negotiations with non-EU members, the Government should refuse to exit under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, but instead use the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties to withdraw. The peer is calling on the Government to switch EU law into British legislation. 'The Government will introduce UK legislation on the European Communities Act 1972. If they are wise through one clause they will carry over all EU law into UK domestic law. A Texas grand jury has indicted a 23-year-old man in the death of his wife who was found decapitated hours after officers visited the couple on a welfare check. Davie Dauzat was indicted yesterday on a murder charge in the death of 21-year-old Natasha Dauzat. Authorities say she was killed on August 25 at the couple's home in Bellmead, which borders the central Texas city of Waco. Davie Dauzat (right) was indicted Wednesday on a murder charge in the death of 21-year-old Natasha Dauzat (left) Authorities say the killing occurred while the couple's three and one-year-old children were in the home. Bellmead police Sgt. Kory Martin said officers visited the couple on Thursday, August 25 at their mobile home after a relative called police. Dauzat is being held at the McLennan County jail on a $500,000 bond Officers found no trouble and left. Yet just two hours later, a relative called police once again two hours later to say Dauzat had killed his wife. Police returned and found Natasha Dauzat had been decapitated and her head had been placed in the freezer. A hostage negotiator made contact with Davie Dauzat, who came out of the home covered in blood, police said. A source close to the investigation said Natasha had been stabbed before she was decapitated. 'He was still inside with the children at one point, said Sgt. Martin. 'We had a hostage negotiator who made contact with him and as soon as we made contact with him, asked him to come outside, he voluntarily came outside and we were able to get him into custody and we quickly had units run inside that home and secure those children and the crime scene.' Police found Natasha Dauzat had been decapitated and her head had been placed in the freezer The Facebook page of Natasha Tagliarino Dauzat recently stated 'I'm the happiest girl ever with an amazing Husband and kids and I love them'. A large police presence was visible throughout the neighborhood after the killing, and roadways were barricaded around the mobile home park. Dauzat is being held at the McLennan County jail on a $500,000 bond. His attorney did not return a message seeking comment. The Dauzats were married on August 23, 2014 and had just celebrated their second anniversary. The lawsuit has been launched on behalf of model Michelle Kalinkina A model is suing a stylist to the stars - claiming he was 'careless, negligent and reckless' while he was cutting her hair. A $5million lawsuit filed on behalf of Michelle Kalinkina claims that Martino Cartier chopped away too fast to be safe during a public demonstration. She was left, documents lodged at a court in Manhattan claim, with a scar when he nipped her neck. The botched haircut, the lawsuit states, happened on March 7 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The suit, which was filed yesterday, alleged Cartier was 'careless, negligent and reckless while in the course of cutting (the model's) hair'. It claims the stylist cut Kalinkina's hair 'at too fast a pace that can be considered safe' and alleges he 'failed to show proper care', The New York Daily News reports. The suit said Cartier had a duty to be 'safe, prudent and careful'. The model is suing Martino Cartier (pictured) for $5million, claiming she has suffered 'pain, shock and mental anguish' after her neck was nipped during a haircut Kalinkina, 23, who is 5ft 10ins, claims the incident has caused her 'pain, shock and mental anguish'. New York-based Cartier and his salon have featured in numerous publications, including Vogue, and at The Golden Globes. He has not commented on the lawsuit thus far. Advertisement The number of UK-bound migrants sleeping in illegal camps in Paris has increased by a third since the destruction of the Calais Jungle, it was warned today. It raises the prospect of the French capital turning into the new hub for thousands of asylum seekers seeking a new life in Britain. A total of 5,596 people have been evacuated since the operation to raze the Jungle shantytown in Calais began on Monday morning. At least a hundred child migrants hoping to be sent to Britain are sleeping rough in no-man's land after French riot police barred them from returning to the dismantled Calais camp. Scroll down for video The number of UK-bound migrants sleeping in illegal camps in Paris (pictured today) has increased by a third since the destruction of the Calais Jungle, it was warned today It raises the prospect of the French capital (pictured today) turning into the new hub for thousands of asylum seekers seeking a new life in Britain A total of 5,596 people have been evacuated since the operation to raze the Jungle shantytown in Calais began on Monday morning, but many have travelled independently and ended up in Paris (pictured) While most migrants have been bused to some 450 resettlement centres around France, up to 5,000 more are thought to have travelled away independently and some have gone to Paris (pictured) Young refugees were seen shivering in sleeping bags on the ground on the edges of the burnt-out camp overnight as French authorities continued to rip the settlement to pieces. While most migrants have been bused to some 450 resettlement centres around France, up to 5,000 more are thought to have travelled away independently. Heloise Mary, a member of Frances office for the welcome and accompaniment of migrants, said numbers in Paris had shot up. Referring to a camp close to the Stalingrad Metro in the north of Paris, she told the BFM news channel: We've gone from two thousand to three thousand in two days with the closure of Calais. Regular train services from Calais to Paris take just over two hours, while it is relatively easy to get lifts in cars and lorries too. Today there were plenty of Calais migrants on board the Paris trains, and they said they would stay there while working out how to get to Britain as quickly as possible. Big cities like Paris are a good place to wait, said Aamir, a 22-year-old originally from Kandahar in Afghanistan. There is food and warmth, and there are more camps being set up. We can stay there, and then get aboard lorries heading for Britain. Even public parks, once green spaces for the people in the city to enjoy, have been taken over by tents as the migrants look for a place to set up camp This street is now a sea of tents as many of the migrants from Calais flocked to Paris, some claiming it is ab obvious choice A total of 5,596 people have been evacuated since the operation to raze the Jungle shantytown in Calais began on Monday morning, but many remain Young refugees were seen shivering in sleeping bags on the ground on the edges of the burnt-out camp overnight as French authorities continued to rip the settlement to pieces Migrants wearing blankets stand next to French policemen standing guard over the area after the camp was razed We do not have a chance in Calais at the moment, so Paris is the best option. We will be fine there. Pariss first official refugee camp is due to open within the next few days, and it is expected to become a magnet for even more refugees. The new facility will be men only, and only take 400 migrants at a time. Even then, they will only be able to stay for a maximum of ten weeks at a time. It will open near the Gare du Nord Eurostar hub, from where high speed trains travel to and from London. A Paris police source confirmed that illegal camps closed by court order in recent months were springing up again. Tents and huts are set up overnight, and then hundreds of people are sleeping rough in a matter of days, he said. More than 5,600 migrants have been given shelter, either in centres around France or at a container park in the Jungle set aside for young people since the operation began on Monday. But today, around 100 youths, who slept on the ground in biting cold, gathered outside the hangar where migrants were registered in the past three days for relocation, and their path was barred by riot police. It comes as the charity Help Refugees UK rubbished claims that the camp had been cleared, tweeting: 'Do not listen to reports saying the #calaisjungle is clear. It's not. People with no other options are back in the camp now.' At least a hundred child migrants hoping to be sent to Britain are sleeping rough in no-man's land after French riot police barred them from returning to the dismantled Calais Jungle Young refugees were seen shivering in sleeping bags on the ground on the edges of the burnt-out camp overnight as French authorities continued to rip the settlement to pieces More than 5,600 migrants have been given shelter, either in centres around France or at a container park in the Jungle set aside for young people Demolition: It comes as French authorities vowed to clear remaining shelters and debris by Monday A guitar is left inside a migrant shack in the now nearly deserted Jungle migrant camp in Calais, Northern France A pair of Asics trainers are left on a tree after French authorities dismantled the refugee camp in France Water bottles, tinned food, blankets and towels are left behind in the make-shift living quarters inside the Jungle Felt tip pens are left inside caravan in the now nearly deserted migrant camp in Calais where more than 5,000 people lived A child's drawing left on the wall reading entitled 'Love and Hope' which says 'May God give you a better life, may you always be like one of us. God will always be with you' A Christmas sack left behind in the Jungle just inside a tent which is still full of sleeping bags An english translation dictionary is left inside a migrant shack in the now nearly deserted 'Jungle' migrant camp on October 27, 2016 in Calais, France The Calais Jungle camp which has largely been cleared of migrants as the bulldozers move in to clear the camp 'I spent the entire night here!' a young Afghan said. 'I am in the queue for minors to go to England. I have family there.' 'I slept here and not in the Jungle as it's too dangerous,' said 16-year-old Abdelhadi, another Afghan. 'The Jungle is finished.' There was a smaller line for adults waiting to be registered. The head of the French immigration office said that 10 buses had been kept by to take the last of the migrants away on Thursday. 'It's our final offer,' Didier Leschi said. A mechanical digger and other machines tore at makeshift shelters to clear up the settlement. The slum outside the port of Calais had smouldered through the night from countless fires, causing some to flee without their possessions. Save The Children said it was a 'recipe for disaster' for the children left outside, many of whom fled or were exposed to the risk of people smugglers. Abandoned teddy bears and torys could be seen lying on the ground as French authorities continued to clear the camp today Dozens of migrants were seen queuing for buses as they waited to be transported to hostels around the country today Pictures purportedly showed unaccompanied minors waiting to be processed this morning Spokeswoman Dorothy Sang, who is in the camp, said: 'What happened yesterday put children in a serious amount of danger. 'Yesterday afternoon we saw fires rage through the camp and as children ran out, they ran out to find the registration process had been closed for a couple of hours, so there was nowhere for them to register to go and stay safe. 'Not only this but the containers were full, so you had this situation where children were running away from fire, couldn't register and the containers were full - so there was literally nowhere for children to go.' She said the streets that lead to the camp were lined with at least 60 youngsters, but other estimates had put the numbers a lot higher. A handful of them were allowed to stay in a warehouse, but some were turned away, she added. 'This is a recipe for disaster in terms of child protection, because there have always been people who want to exploit the vulnerable in the Jungle camp - and now never have they been more vulnerable,' she said. Charity Help Refugees added in a post on Thursday: 'This morning, at least 100 children were waiting in the minors' line to be processed at the registration centre. The centre was closed, and no officials present.' Around 100 children hoping to be moved to Britain were still waiting to know their fate this morning and were seen wandering around the outskirts of the site The head of the French immigration office said that 10 buses had been kept by to take the last of the migrants away on Thursday Top regional official Fabienne Buccio, announcing the end of the evacuation last night, said a 'page has been turned' for the camp Flattened: A mechanical digger and other machines tore at makeshift shelters to clear up the settlement Top regional official Fabienne Buccio, announcing the end of the evacuation last night, said a 'page has been turned' for the camp, which was a magnet for migrants hoping to sneak onto lorries or trains heading across the Channel to Britain. But the fate of unaccompanied minors - a source of deep concern and a bitter blame game between Paris and London - was shrouded in uncertainty. Some 1,500 are being housed temporarily in an on-site park of specially fitted shipping containers that is now full, according to the group France Terre d'Asile, responsible for their care. 'There is no more space in the container camp,' said Pierre Henry, the group's director. He said that 40 children were due to be transferred to Britain on Thursday, adding to more than 200 that London took in last week. Another 40 have been sent to a temporary centre in eastern France awaiting news on their cases. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said that all minors 'with proven family links in Britain' would eventually be transferred there. He added that London had committed to reviewing all other cases where it was 'in the child's interest' to settle across the Channel. Most of the migrants hoping to reach Britain had fled conflict or persecution in countries such as Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan. The fate of unaccompanied minors - a source of deep concern and a bitter blame game between Paris and London - was shrouded in uncertainty Some 1,500 are being housed temporarily in an on-site park of specially fitted shipping containers that is now full, according to the group France Terre d'Asile, responsible for their care French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said that all minors 'with proven family links in Britain' would eventually be transferred there Most of the migrants hoping to reach Britain had fled conflict or persecution in countries such as Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan Estimates of the camp's population ranged between 6,400 and 8,100 before the operation began Monday 'We left our nations behind us in flames, only to find the Jungle go up in flames too,' said Aziz Yaacoub, a 25-year-old from the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur. The authorities have said those who agree to be moved can seek asylum in France. Estimates of the camp's population ranged between 6,400 and 8,100 before the operation began Monday. Migrants and officials alike said the fires in the camp were set deliberately, while gas cylinders previously used for cooking had exploded and caused the blazes to spread. Police said four migrants had been arrested on suspicion of arson. Many locals fear new settlements will simply spring up in the area once the Jungle is razed. Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart said the announcement of the end of the camp was premature, pointing to the remaining unaccompanied minors and perhaps hundreds of former residents who have slipped out into the surrounding area. Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart said the announcement of the end of the camp was premature, pointing to the remaining unaccompanied minors Operation: Many locals fear new settlements will simply spring up in the area once the Jungle is razed A resettlement centre that has been sending camp inhabitants on to reception centres across France as part of the shutdown process was now closed Earlier in the day, a group of about 100 migrants, mainly young people, were seen filing past a group of riot gear-clad police who have been overseeing the camp clearance since Monday Migrants walk in the Jungle migrant camp in Calais during a massive operation to clear the squalid settlement 'We have to be vigilant and make assurances that the camp is not replicated (and) stop migrants coming back,' the right-wing mayor said. It comes as the government prefect for the region said migrants arriving at the Jungle since demolition of the camp began cannot expect to be resettled by the local authorities. A resettlement centre that has been sending camp inhabitants on to reception centres across France as part of the shutdown process was now closed, Prefect Fabienne Buccio told reporters at the site. 'It is not Calais' role to receive all the migrants of Europe. We do not want to create a vacuum. We have asked (those newly arrived) migrants to disperse.' Earlier in the day, a group of about 100 migrants, mainly young people, were seen filing past a group of riot gear-clad police who have been overseeing the camp clearance since Monday. Advertisement An Indian island is in danger of sinking and disappearing within 10 years after being hit by raging ideal floods. Mousuni, an island of the Sundarban Delta Complex in the Bay of Bengal, is drowning along with several others due to fierce floods that have already destroyed 75 per cent of the land. Experts say the rise in the frequency and intensity of tidal waves are causing the floods, that have left thousands of people homeless. A woman walks back to her house in the floodwaters which have been engulfing the Indian island of Mousuni in the Bay of Bengal The island is sinking after being hit by a torrent of huge tidal floods that have destroyed much of the land on Mousuni A man carries bricks across the water. Thousands of people have been made homeless due to the water levels A man stands in thigh high water after flooding almost destroyed his home on the Indian island of Mousuni Due to the increasing tidal floods, salt water enter 5kms into the island, making the fertile land almost a wasteland for any cultivation A woman sits at the entrance to her home, which is covered in mud following heavy tidal floods in the Bay of Bengal When seawater engulfs the shore, some can reach up to three miles inland, destroying any fertile land, meaning people have to try and make a living from fishing. And now the United Nations has also urged neighbouring Bangladesh to halt the construction of a huge coal-fired power plant nearby, warning of a serious threat to the delicate eco-system. The UN's culture and science agency UNESCO said there was a high chance pollution from the plant would 'irreversibly damage' the Sundarbans, which straddles the border of India and Bangladesh and is home to endangered Bengal tigers and rare dolphins. It also provides a barrier against storm surges and cyclones that have killed thousands of people in impoverished coastal villages and islands in recent years, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Researchers have said that within a decade or so, these islands will have no physical existence due to the flooding A worried family look on after trying to barricade their home from the raging flood waters on the island of Mousuni A couple try to build their own flood defences in a bid to protect their home from the incoming floods on the island The planned 1,320 megawatt Rampal plant, a joint project by India and Bangladesh, would be powered each year by nearly five million tons of coal transported by boat along the ecosystem's fragile waterways. Scheduled to open in 2018, the plant would also discharge nearly 125,000 cubic metres a day of chemically-tainted water used to cool generators, according to design specifications. But in a report published last week, UNESCO said the plant's construction would result in a substantial increase in shipping and dredging in the area. Children play in the flood waters as boats sail in the background. Many have turned to fishing in order to make a living The United Nations has also urged neighbouring Bangladesh to halt the construction of a huge coal-fired power plant nearby, warning of a serious threat to the delicate eco-system A man casts his fishing net in the water in a bid to make a catch. Fishing is one of the only viable industries on the island Local people do everything they can to try and keep the floodwaters at bay including trying to make their own flood barriers It recommended that the plant be relocated 'to a more suitable location, where it would not impact negatively on the Sundarbans'. UNESCO has asked the government for a progress report by December on the state of conservation of the section of the Sundarbans that is a World Heritage site. These are the shocking scenes as a group of yobs target innocent cyclists and pedestrians on an east London street with lit fireworks. The incident is filmed by a self-styled 'proactive neighbourhood watch' group who uploaded the footage on the internet. The incident happened in Springfield, Hackney, where two-bedroom former council flats regularly sell for more than 350,000. A group of yobs threw a lit firework at a cyclist in Hackney east London last weekend A group called Shromrim uploaded the footage on Twitter, claiming the incident took place around 9.50pm on October 22. Shulem Stern witnessed the incident and said it had been a 'normal quiet evening' until then. The 30-year-old witness said there had been a few youths gathering and chatting peacefully until fireworks began to be thrown. He said: 'From across the road one of them shot a live firework directly at them, and it literally missed one of the cyclists by inches and it went towards where the youths were running. 'I know these things happen especially around this season but it is just so dangerous. It just needs to hit someone and it could cause serious burns.' The shocking incident happened in the Springfield area of Hackney, east London Following the incident he said the group 'scattered'. Mr Stern said he has seen the same thing happen before, adding: 'It is literally a case of something terrible waiting to happen.' Mark Hazelton, group manager for community safety at London Fire Brigade, condemned the actions of those in the footage. He said: 'Using fireworks in this way is incredibly dangerous and can cause serious injury or worse. People should never throw fireworks and should never put them in their pockets.' Indigenous Australians have threatened to 'close down' Uluru, which is visited by thousands of tourists each year. The remote Anangu tribe, who live close to the iconic landmark, told the Northern Territory royal commission into juvenile justice on Thursday their people have been neglected and children have been denied basic housing, plumbing, food and health care. Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal Corporation chairman Rameth Thomas said: 'The oldest living culture in the world has been kicked to the curb by the government.' A remote indigenous tribe has told a Northern Territory royal commission into juvenile justice they will 'close down' Uluru (pictured) if their people continue to live in poverty Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal Corporation chairman Rameth Thomas, pictured speaking during a community meeting, said it was disgusting how the government had treated their children 'It's disgusting how the government has treated our children. They should be ashamed,' he told the royal commission. 'If they dont start listening to us, we will close the rock.' The monolith, which is located the heart of Australias 'red centre', is sacred to Indigenous people - but it is also popular with large numbers of tourists from around the world, who clamber up its sides and take dramatic dawn and sunset photos. Uluru's land title was handed back to its traditional owners 30 years ago, but was then immediately leased to the federal government to be managed as a national park for 99 years. 'There's a company making money off a UNESCO-listed natural living landscape and 26km away there is a living culture thats dying,' said Mr Thomas. 'On one side of the rock we are in poverty and the other side is some sort of dream world. They are exploiting our culture here and making millions.' Mr Thomas claimed government representatives had visited his community 'time and time again' since he was a child. The Anangu tribe, who live close to the iconic landmark, told the Northern Territory royal commission into juvenile justice on Thursday their people have been neglected and children have been denied basic housing, plumbing, food and health care Mr Thomas is now 40 years-old and nothing has changed. He said service providers were 'running amok' in the area and 'kicking us in the guts'. The government inquiry is due to resume formal hearings in November. If Indigenous Australians living near the rock believe their pleas for more finance and for improvements to be made to their conditions have fallen on deaf ears, their threat to stop travellers visiting the large sandstone rock will have a devastating effect on the Northern Territorys tourist industry. A letter John Lennon wrote to the Queen when he turned down an MBE is expected to fetch up to 60,000 at auction. The letter, written on November 25, 1969, was discovered in the sleeve of a record bought at a car boot sale 20 years ago. The musician wrote: 'I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts.' Scroll down for video Honour: All four members of the Beatles were awarded the MBE in the Queen's 1965 birthday honours. Pictured from left, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr Returned: Lennon, right, later turned down his MBE in protest over British military action. His chauffeur returned the insignia along with a letter addressed to the Queen, left this month Rare: Experts believe the letter could be a draft of the final version sent to the Queen as the smudged signature might have prompted the musician to throw it away He signed the letter 'John Lennon of Bag', referencing Bag Production, the public relations company he shared with wife Yoko Ono. Experts believe the note could be a draft of the final version sent to the Queen as the smudged signature might have prompted the musician to throw it away. All four members of the Beatles were awarded the MBE in the Queen's 1965 birthday honours. The group collected the awards at Buckingham Palace on October 26. JOHN LENNON'S NOVEMBER 1969 LETTER TO THE QUEEN Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britains involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. With love John Lennon of Bag Advertisement On the morning of November 25 Lennon's chauffeur Les Anthony returned the insignia along with letters addressed to the Queen, Prime Minister Harold Wilson and the Secretary of the Central Chancery explaining his decision. Auctioneer Darren Julien said the owner 'almost wet himself' when he learned the rare document could be worth between 40,000 and 50,000 at auction. The letter was valued at a Memorabilia Day at the Beatles Story museum in Liverpool yesterday. Mr Julien, of Julien's Auctions, Los Angeles, said: ' We are stunned and shocked about the discovery - it's one of those finds that is almost too good to be true. High value: Auctioneer Darren Julien said the owner 'almost wet himself' when he learned the rare document, pictured, could be worth between 40,000 and 50,000 at auction 'We still have a lot of checks to do to find out the full history being it but the smudge on the signature would appear to suggest that it was written and then scrapped before Lennon wrote another one. 'The guy who brought it in was stunned when we told him it was possibly worth between 40,000 and 60,000 - he almost wet himself. The Lib Dems have suspended a peer after she hosted an event in the House of Lords where it was claimed that Jews were responsible for the Holocaust. Baroness Tonge launched a campaign earlier this week demanding the British Government apologises for the Balfour declaration of 1917, which called Jews to be given a home in Palestine. Tonight she announced she was quitting the Lib Dems after hearing of her suspension. But the event was condemned as 'shameful' by Israel after an audience member suggested Hitler decided to kill six million Jews because he was 'antagonised' by a Rabbi in New York who urged people to boycott German goods. And Cabinet minister David Lidington said he was 'genuinely horrified' that the event was allowed to be held in Parliament. Scroll down for video Footage of a House of Lords even hosted by Baroness Tonge (pictured in the red top, centre) earlier this week shows audience members clapping after a man told the meeting: 'If anybody is antisemitic, it's the Israelis themselves' A spokesperson for the Lib Dems said the party had suspended Baroness Tonge's membership and a one-month investigation into her conduct will be carried out. 'We take her comments very seriously and have acted accordingly,' the spokesperson added. The male audience member, described as an ultra-orthadox Jew, said Hitler was antagonised 'over the edge' by the American Zionist Rabbi Stephen Wise, who caused the Nazi leader to 'systematically kill Jews wherever he could find them'. Footage of the hugely controversial meeting chaired by Baroness Tonge, who is still a Lib Dem member, also showed the male audience member referring to a famous quote regularly used by Holocaust deniers to suggest the figure of six million Jews killed by the Nazis was a hoax. He won more applauds after telling the meeting: 'If anybody is antisemitic, it's the Israelis themselves.' And he compared Israel to ISIS, saying: 'Isis is a perversion of Islam just as Zionism is a perversion of Judaism.' A spokesman for the Israeli embassy described the House of Lords gathering as 'a shameful event' that 'gave voice to racist tropes against Jews and Israelis alike'. The spokesman added that it was 'hard to believe that this happened at [the] House of Lords'. Tory MP David Davies said Britain should apologise to Israel and the Jewish people following the 'outrageous' event, while Cabinet minister David Lidington said he was 'genuinely horrified' after hearing about the reports. Mr Lidington, Leader of the House of Commons, called on the Lib Dems to launch an 'immediate and thorough investigation' into why Baroness Tonge was allowed to host such a controversial event in the House of Lords. Baroness Tonge (pictured) is a controversial peer and was forced to resign the Lib Dem whip in 2012 after claiming the state of Israel was 'not going to be there forever' Baroness Tonge is a controversial peer and was forced to resign the Lib Dem whip in 2012 after claiming the state of Israel was 'not going to be there forever'. But until today she remained a member of the Lib Dems. When MailOnline contacted her about the Balfour campaign event this morning she hung up the phone. Later she finally broke her silence and defended her actions, insisting she did not hear the full 'rant' by the audience member. She said: 'I was chairing, I did not make any speeches, I introduced the speakers and in the course of that meeting there was a great rant. 'I remember the rant very well but I don't remember hearing very much of it. It was a rant. I didn't know what this person said. 'You do get ranters at these meetings and I think the best way of dealing with them - if you challenge them they go on and on and on and on - the best way is to just say 'yes, thank you very much, next speaker'.' Her suspension as a Lib Dem member comes four years after she was forced to resign the party whip by Nick Clegg for saying Israel would not last 'for ever'. Baroness has since sat in the Lords as what she describes as an 'independent Liberal Democrat'. Her 'apology for Balfour' campaign aims to put pressure on the Government to issue an apology for signing a pledge to give Jews a home in Palestine on the hundreth anniversary of the declaration next year. An audience member at the House of Lords event said Hitler was antagonised 'over the edge' by the American Zionist Rabbi Stephen Wise (pictured), who caused the Nazi leader to 'systematically kill Jews wherever he could find them' The campaign is launching a petition on the Government's website, which if it reaches 100,000 signatures will be considered for debate by MPs. And the campaign is planning to hold a public demonstration in Trafalgar Square on the hundreth anniversary on November 2 next year. The audience member at the centre of the row repeated a famous quote from the American Zionist Rabbi Stephen Wise, who wrote in the New York Times in 1905: 'There are six million, note the number, bleeding and suffering reasons to justify Zionism'. The 'note the number' quote has been used by Holocaust deniers to claim that Jews had already decided on the six million figure 40 years before the Nazis carried out the Holocaust. They claim that this quote from Rabbi Wise proves that the Holocaust is a hoax. Explaining how he believed Hitler was 'antagonised' into killing Jews by Rabbi Wise, the audience member continued: 'Thirty years later, he made the boycott on Germany, the economic boycott on Germany which antagonised Hitler, over the edge, to then want to systematically kill Jews wherever he could find them. 'As opposed to 'Judenrein', to make Germany free of Jews, a Jew free land. Which is enough, but that is noted by one of our Rabbis, that is what pushed him over the edge. 'His personal secretary Ribbentrop was in Nuremberg trials, he said to Rabbi Wise: This is what, he became a madman after this boycott, Judea declares war on Germany. In Manhattan they had 100, 000 people marching in the economic boycott in 1935, it was the same heretic rabbi who caused that.' The footage of the meeting was posted online by the Palestinian Return Centre. Advertisement These haunting images offer a glimpse into an abandoned funeral home that has been left to deteriorate for three years after having helped to bury the dead since the 19th century. The vivid pictures were taken inside the eerie former Moulton and Kyle Funeral Home in Jacksonville, Florida by photographer Bullet from Miami. The crumbling building dates back to 1851 when Calvin Oak moved to Jacksonville and started a marble and mortuary business with his son in 1856. The company eventually became the Moulton and Kyle Funeral Home and is the oldest business continuously operated in the city of Jacksonville. It was bought by another funeral business in the 1990s and when they moved out of the building in 2013, it was left to fall into disrepair. Bullet, 27, managed to gain access to the historic building, and captured the creepy photographs. He said: 'I thought this place was amazing, photography-wise. There is so much decay on the bottom floors, to then just almost pristine caskets just sitting in storage on the second floor. The abandoned funeral home helped to bury the dead in Jacksonville since the 19th century, and the building still contains some of its original features There front lobby of the building leads into the chapel, which has now fallen into disrepair, with broken pews, crumbling walls, and rubble strewn in the aisle The photographer who gained access to the building found old vials, embalming tools, photos, and more inside The crumbling building dates back to 1851 when Calvin Oak moved to Jacksonville and started a marble and mortuary business with his son in 1856 In the upstairs showroom the roof had collapsed, most likely due to water damage, and wooden ceiling panels had come crashing to the floor An old burial license, still in its wooden frame, was among the items that had been left behind when the business moved out of the building in 2013 A vase full of flowers as still on show at the abandoned funeral home, standing tall against a background of peeling walls Although the building has been left to fall into disrepair, many of the items inside it have stood untouched for three years The power was still on so some of the pictures were lit using the original light bulbs in the funeral home. Photographer Bullet flicked the switches and realized the lights were still working Glass bottles found inside the abandoned funeral home may once have held embalming fluids used by undertakers The company is the oldest business continuously operated in the city of Jacksonville, and was set up way back in 1856 Photographer Bullet found an area that was used as either a workshop or storage area, where caskets had been stored away The company was bought by another funeral business in the 1990s and they later moved out of the building, which dates back to 1851 There was also a basement in the funeral home but due to the amount of water damage in the building, it had flooded A Coca-Cola machine was evidence that although the building dated back hundreds of years, it was still in use just a few years ago The turbulent trade deal between the EU and Canada is set to be sealed after a last-ditch compromise with a region of Belgium. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the assembly in Wallonia was finally ready to rubber-stamp the arrangement after tortuous negotiations. It means all 28 nations have now given assent and the CETA arrangement should be completed tomorrow at a signing ceremony with Canadian premier Justin Trudeau. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau had been due to sign the deal today, but it is now likely to happen tomorrow after tortuous negotiations in Belgium The breakthrough could be a positive sign for the UK's prospects of striking a deal, which had been thrown into doubt by the chaos that engulfed the seven-year process with Canada. Mr Trudeau had been due to travel to Brussels on Thursday to sign the deal, but those plans were effectively scrapped as the horse-trading with Wallonia - which had the power to veto the entire package - dragged on. EU President Donald Tusk said he would contact Mr Trudeau "only once all procedures are finalised for EU signing CETA". Mr Trudeau told the Canadian parliament: 'We are confident that in the coming days we will see a positive outcome for this historic deal.' After the Belgian regional parliaments back the agreement, the adjustments will need to be vetted by the 27 other nations. Wallonia, which has a population of 3.6 million compared with over 500 million for the whole EU, argue that the proposed accord would undermine labour, environment and consumer standards. Supporters say it will yield billions in added trade through customs and tariff cuts and other measures to lower barriers to commerce. Advertisement Rogue developers who illegally razed a Melbourne pub built during the gold rush say they will rebuild it at their own expense. In a letter to Planning Minister Richard Wynne, developers Raman Shaqiri and Stefce Kutlesovski said they were sorry for knocking down The Corkman Irish Pub, built in 1857. 'We want to make absolutely clear that we will rebuild the building at our expense,' the pair said in their letter, given to The Age. The developers said they ignored the rules because of a combination of 'legal advice, engineering advice, weather forecast and injury litigation'. Rubble at the old Corkman Irish Pub (pictured above) which was demolished in breach of heritage and work safety rules The Corkman Irish Pub built in 1857 (pictured above) before a demolition crew started pulling it down on Saturday morning The planning minister said the Corkman was pulled down despite a council 'stop work' notice and heritage overlay, which requires a Melbourne City Council permit for significant changes. 'Two cowboys come along, ignore all demolition and planning permits rules ... and just knock the place over,' he told radio station 3AW on Tuesday. Earlier on Thursday, Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the government and council would demand the developers rebuild the pub and that he would continue his action in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. 'We will not withdraw the VCAT action launched with Melbourne City Council,' he said. 'We want an enforceable order on the pub owners to reinstate the building within 12 months.' He also put a planning control in place to stop anything over two storeys being built on the site for two years. Developers face a maximum fine of $200,000 but that could be flouted with large profit margins, he said. 'I'm very happy to have a look at what other opportunities there are for us to consider much stronger penalties when clearly you have a commercial development here for which the developer is going to make a lot of money,' Mr Wynne told ABC radio. The 159-year-old pub was not listed on the more powerful Victorian Heritage Register. The old Corkman Irish Pub was razed and turned into rubble (pictured above) despite a stop-work order from council Melbourne Heritage Action president Tristan Davies said demolition work started on one of Carlton's oldest buildings on Saturday, in breach of heritage and work safety regulations. 'Obviously, it's outrageous,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'There was a mysterious fire there last weekend and this weekend they've come and started knocking it down without any kind of permit. 'Council went there and ordered them to stop half way through and it seems like they've continued anyway on Sunday. 'The way it was done was just so brazen. It's really quite shocking.' But the pair say in their letter that the fire at the Carlton pub was not of their doing. 'We do not know what the cause of the fire was beyond the fact that we had nothing to do with it,' their letter said. An empty block (pictured above) is all that remains of the old Corkman Irish Pub, which was a key venue for Irish music Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne (pictured) has ordered an investigation into the demolition Chris Fitzgerald was a licensee at the Corkman for 14 years but moved out a month ago after finding a new venue a block away. 'We had no idea what the plans of the owners were, we just gave notice once we purchased The Last Jar,' he told AAP. 'We were there for 14 years. It's a long time. It was a great venue. It accommodated the uni crowd, both students and staff and academic groups.' He said he was sad to see the destruction of the building, previously known as the Carlton Inn. 'Of course I was surprised to see that occur, but there's nothing else I can really say,' he said. 'It was one of the key venues for Irish music in Melbourne.' Attempts to contact the company behind the building's destruction were unsuccessful. The venue was popular with students from the nearby University of Melbourne before it closed in August. Some of those students want the developers to be forced to fully restore the building. 'The council has the power to order restoration, and it needs to exercise that power,' a student, Duncan Wallace, posted online on Monday. A Carlton resident, who declined to be named, said the circumstances of the demolition appeared suspicious. 'This makes me really angry,' he said. 'Beware thug developers.' Advertisement Vladimir Putin has dismissed claims he is planning to invade another country calling warnings of a new Cold War 'stupid' and 'unrealistic' as Russia launches a new super stealth submarine. The Russian leader has been speaking at the Valdai Club in Sochi at a time of rising tensions between his country and Western leaders. It comes as it has been revealed that British troops have taken part in international military drills in Germany after Russia bumped up its European border forces. Russian president Vladimir Putin who has dismissed claims he wants to attack Europe calling them 'stupid' and 'unrealistic' But during his interview today, Putin insisted he didn't want world domination or a confrontation with any country, adding that Russia 'values its independence.' He also added: 'We have seen some countries pushing globalisation serving only them, but not all countries. 'Convenient for some countries to paint themselves as defenders of civilisation and bend allies [to their will].' Putin made the speech as the Russian navy unveiled their new super-stealth submarine, which will be deployed in the Black Sea. The Veliky Novgorod is the latest addition to the Black Sea fleet and is capable of striking land, sea and underwater targets. Putin made the speech as the Russian navy unveiled their new super-stealth submarine, which will be deployed in the Black Sea The Veliky Novgorod is the latest addition to the Black Sea fleet and is capable of striking land, sea and underwater targets Putin's speech came as the Russian Navy launched their new super stealth submarine as part of the Black Sea fleet Meanwhile in Russia, video has emerged of elite Russian soldiers who can parachute out of a plane before using special equipment to plunge 30m below water with underwater submachine guns. The speech comes as RAF personnel are among a 600-strong training group at Lechfield Air Base in Bavaria working with others from France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy. The European Air Group members are working with Norway to test their readiness to deploy as a multi-national task force. It comes as Russia's military escalation on Europe's border triggered the West's biggest show of force in the region since the Cold War. However, in Germany members of 34 Squadron RAF Regiment carried out Air Traffic Operations and Force Protection exercises alongside forces from other nations. British troops have taken part in international military drills in Germany after Russia bumped up its European border forces amid rising tensions between Vladimir Putin and Western leaders RAF personnel are among a 600-strong training group at Lechfield Air Base in Bavaria working with others from France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy The European Air Group members are working with Norway to test their readiness to deploy as a multi-national task force The Volcanex Dobex aimed to 'improve the RAFs ability to respond to crises and conflicts with our close allies, and reflect the UKs commitment to extending our defence relationships and capabilities with European allies.' It comes as it emerged Britain is to deploy troops, tanks and jets to Estonia to deter Russian aggression while UK and Romanian forces will also join a US battalion in Poland. As part of the biggest military build-up in Eastern Europe since the Cold War, RAF planes are also being dispatched to patrol Romanian airspace for the first time. The moves are designed to stop Moscow taking over or undermining its former Eastern European satellites as it has with Crimea and Ukraine. The US is hoping for European nations to fill four battle groups of some 4,000 troops as part of Nato's response to Russia. More troops will be sent to the Baltic states and eastern Poland early next year. They will be backed by Nato's 40,000-strong rapid reaction force. France, Denmark, Italy and other allies are expected to join the four battle groups led by the United States, Germany, Britain and Canada to go to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, with forces ranging from armoured infantry to drones. It comes after Russia unveiled pictures of its largest ever nuclear missile Satan 2 which is capable of obliterating the UK. Members of 34 Squadron RAF Regiment carried out Air Traffic Operations and Force Protection exercises alongside forces from other nations The Volcanex Dobex aimed to 'improve the RAFs ability to respond to crises and conflicts with our close allies, and reflect the UKs commitment to extending our defence relationships and capabilities with European allies' Some 600 personnel from eight nations have been taking part in the military drills at a base in southern Germany Prepared: A number of specially trained dogs took part in the drills, including explosives search dog Borik, a German Shepherd The UK is sending 800 troops to Estonia as part of a Nato reaction to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, with both sides increasing their military capability in eastern Europe in the biggest military build-up since the Cold War Yesterday, Putin also reportedly launched an RS-18 ballistic missile, understood to be a test to see if it could defeat US defence systems. And today, 130 military centres were put on high alert in Russia and six surrounding countries for drills on the region's ability to respond to attacks from the West. In other developments: Vladimir Putin upgraded the firepower of his Baltic Fleet with more ships and missiles; 40million Russians took part in four days of nuclear defence drills; Spain cancelled plans to refuel Russian vessels heading for Syria. Several Nato states, including Estonia, fear they could be next on President Putin's hit list. And fellow members, including the UK, have a legal duty to defend them. The alliance's build-up will see 800 UK troops deployed to Estonia for six months from May. They will be relieved by soldiers from another Nato nation to keep up a continuous presence. Sir Michael Fallon said the British mission would incorporate Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior vehicles and hand-held drones. The Royal Navy was placed on red alert last week after it emerged Russia was sailing a fleet of warships along the British coast en route to Syria British Royal Navy type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan is pictured with its Wildcat helicopter as it shadows the Russian Carrier Task Group in the English Channel last week Speaking at Nato headquarters in Brussels, the Defence Secretary added: 'This is Britain stepping up in Nato, beefing up the reassurance that we are able to offer. 'Although we are leaving the European Union, we will be doing more to help secure the eastern and southern flanks of Nato.' An MoD spokesman added: 'The UK is stepping up its package of measures to support its allies in Europe, in the face of a more assertive Russia.' Tensions between Russia and the West have escalated due to Moscow's indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Aleppo. President Putin sent a fleet of eight Russian warships through the English Channel to assist the assault on the besieged Syrian city. But yesterday, following pressure from its Nato allies, Spain withdrew permission for the ships to refuel because Moscow was unable to pledge the vessels would not be used to bomb Syria. Lev Gudkov, head of the Russian polling group Levada-Center, said most of his countrymen 'believe that the Third World War has begun'. Pictures have emerged showing how the Kremlin completed a nuclear drill for 40 million citizens France, Denmark, Italy and other allies are expected to join the four battle groups led by the United States, Germany, Britain and Canada to go to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, with forces ranging from armoured infantry to drones He added: 'Right now we are still in the cold phase of the war, which may or may not turn into a hot war.' Footage emerged yesterday of Russian emergency workers wearing protective suits and gas masks as part of their doomsday exercise the biggest in decades. Mr Putin has demanded sufficient bomb shelters to protect the entire population of Moscow. The arrival of extra Russian warships in the Baltic last night sparked concern among Nato members. A Russian newspaper cited a military source saying the Serpukhov and the Zeleny Dol were the first of five vessels to be deployed. They are to form a new division in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. Another source said the vessels were armed with Kalibr long-range cruise missiles. 'The fleet's potential targeting range will be significantly expanded in the northern European military theatre,' the source told Interfax. Rockets point towards the sky during the 2016 Army Games, an international event organised by the Russian Defense Ministry A fortnight ago, Hillary Clinton launched an open attack on Russia in a presidential debate, saying Vladimir Putin wants Trump to win and accused the regime of 'war crimes' in Syria Russia's defence ministry, which said earlier this month the two ships were en route to the Mediterranean, did not respond to a request for comment. Nato and the Swedish military confirmed the two warships had entered the Baltic. 'Nato navies are monitoring this activity near our borders,' said Dylan White, the alliance's spokesman. The cruise missiles on the Buyan-M class corvettes are known by the Nato code name Sizzler. The Russian military says they have a range of at least 900 miles. Though variants of the missile are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, the ships are believed to be carrying conventional warheads. 'The addition of Kalibr missiles would increase the strike range not just of the Baltic Fleet, but of Russian forces in the Baltic region, fivefold,' said Ben Nimmo, a defence analyst. He said the Baltic Fleet's coastal defences would also be beefed up with Bastion and Bal land-based missile systems. SPAIN SHUTS OUT RUSSIA: PLANS TO REFUEL PUTIN'S WARSHIPS CANCELLED Spain last night cancelled plans to refuel Russian warships heading for Syria after Britain warned it would have civilian lives 'on its conscience'. The Russian flotilla led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov had been expected to take on fuel and supplies tomorrow at the port of Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the north coast of Africa. But officials in Madrid yesterday said Russia had withdrawn its request amid mounting pressure on the government to cancel the stop. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon had warned Britain would be 'extremely concerned' if a Nato member assisted a carrier group that later carried out attacks on Syrian civilians. Speaking in Brussels, where Nato defence ministers are meeting, Sir Michael said: 'Our concern is that any Nato member should consider assisting a Russian carrier group that is heading for Syria and might end up bombing Syrian civilians. 'That clearly wouldn't be right and runs counter to the solidarity of Nato. Eight of Vladimir Putin's warships were expected to take on fuel and supplies from the Spanish port of Cueta this week 'If that carrier group heads down to the eastern Mediterranean, as Moscow has announced, and then gets involved in striking in Syria and bombing civilians then that will be on Madrid's conscience.' Last night Spain said it had withdrawn its permission for the refuelling after Russia was unable to pledge that the warships would not be used to launch bomb attacks in Syria. It is not known where the boats will now take on fuel. Greece, another Nato member, and Malta, which is part of the EU but not Nato, have previously allowed Russian navy ships to use their ports. Last week Royal Navy vessels monitored the flotilla as it moved through the English Channel. The fleet was shadowed by the Navy as it passed through the Dover Strait. Spain, a Nato member, regularly allows Russian warships to stop in Ceuta, which faces the British territory of Gibraltar on Spain's southern tip. But Nato said the prospect of Russia's only aircraft carrier heading to the region did not 'inspire confidence' that Moscow is seeking a political solution to the Syrian crisis. Advertisement Sweden's defence minister said his country was worried by the presence of the warships in the Baltic. He said the move was likely to keep tensions in the region high. 'This is worrying and is not something that helps to reduce tensions in our region,' said Peter Hultqvist. Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said he was concerned by the Iskander ballistic missiles deployed in the Kaliningrad region earlier this month. The UK force in Estonia will be joined by French and Danish companies. At least two RAF Typhoons will be sent from RAF Coningsby to the Black Sea region for four months as part of an air policing mission over Romania. And a 28-strong team will go to Kosovo to provide reassurance in the Western Balkans and troops will be dispatched to Poland next year. Russia has unveiled chilling pictures of its largest ever nuclear missile, capable of destroying an area the size of France. A contract for the weapons was signed in 2011, and they are expected to be ready in 2018 Each missile contains 16 nuclear warheads, according to pictures revealed online from the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau. It is also able to evade radar. The Russian flotilla led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov had been expected to take on fuel and supplies tomorrow in Ceuta, a Spanish territory in Africa. But officials in Madrid yesterday said Russia had withdrawn its request amid mounting pressure. Sir Michael had warned Britain would be 'extremely concerned' if a Nato member assisted a carrier group that later carried out attacks on Syrian civilians. Earlier this week, Russia unveiled chilling pictures of its largest ever nuclear missile, capable of destroying an area the size of France. The RS-28 Sarmat missile, dubbed Satan 2 by Nato, has a top speed of 4.3 miles (7km) per second and has been designed to outfox anti-missile shield systems. The new Sarmat missile could deliver warheads of 40 megatons - 2,000 times as powerful as the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The Russian President is reportedly planning to replace the country's older SS-18 Satan weapons with the new missiles amid a string of recent disagreements with the West. The tests are the latest in a line of policies and incidents carried out by Putin to antagonise the West. Western leaders have been quick to slap him down and accuse him of war-mongering. A fortnight ago, Hillary Clinton launched an open attack on Russia in a presidential debate, saying Vladimir Putin wants Trump to win and accused the regime of 'war crimes' in Syria. British soldiers will be by sent to Estonia in the spring and will be joined by forces from Denmark and France, according to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon (pictured) Clinton went on the offensive during the combative head-to-head showdown, apparently riled after she fell victim to leaks which she attributed to Russian hackers. In some of her strongest words yet aimed at Russian President Putin, Clinton rebuked the country for its bombing of Aleppo, home to some 250,000 people. 'There is a determined effort by the Russian air force to destroy Aleppo in order to eliminate the last of the Syrian rebels who are really holding out against the Assad regime,' she told the crowd. 'Russia hasn't paid any attention to ISIS. They're interested in keeping Assad in power,' she went on. 'I do support the effort to investigate for crimes - war crimes - committed by the Syrians and the Russians, and try to hold them accountable,' she told the crowd. She also alleged that Russia wanted to see Trump in power rather than her. 'But I want to emphasise that what is at stake here is the ambitions and the aggressiveness of Russia,' she said. 'Russia has decided that it's all in in Syria, and they've also decided who they want to see become president of the United States too - and it's not me.' The FBI said in July that it was looking into the hacking of the Democratic National Committee computer system, after WikiLeaks published nearly 20,000 internal emails on the eve of the party's convention. The White House and the Kremlin have been at loggerheads for weeks over the Syrian civil war with the US backing rebel groups attempting to overthrow the government and Putin supporting President Assad At the debate the subject of Russian hacks also came up in a separate voter question about a WikiLeaks document published earlier this month, which showed that Clinton allegedly said in a Wall Street speech that 'you need both a public and a private position on certain issues.' Clinton went on to blame the leak on Russian meddling, saying: 'We have never, in the history of our country, been in a situation where an adversary, a foreign power, is working so hard to influence the outcome of the election.' The recent criticism has clearly rubbed Putin up the wrong way, who reacted today by saying: 'If somebody out there wants confrontation this is not our choice but this means that there will be problems,' according to The Mirror. The White House and the Kremlin have been at loggerheads for weeks over the Syrian civil war with the US backing rebel groups attempting to overthrow the government and Putin supporting President Assad. Both have accused each other of air strikes on aid convoys and civilians. Though the Russian military said Tuesday the weeklong halt of Russian and Syrian air strikes on the besieged city of Aleppo will continue and humanitarian corridors will remain open even as the Syrian army has unleashed a new offensive on the rebel-held neighborhoods. As well as a bulging stock of nuclear missiles in Russia itself, Putin is looking to flex his muscles around the world. Russia is considering reopening military bases in Vietnam and Cuba as Putin looks to assert his army's presence around the world. and faces charges of Medicaid fraud, neglect of a care-dependent person and more Stacey Ann Cunnius (above), 43, has been charged with homicide in the 2015 death of Jessie McCrimmon A former Pennsylvania caregiver has been charged with homicide after authorities say she failed to properly treat a man with a congenital defect who died after his foot wounds became severely infected and filled with maggots. The state attorney general's office says 43-year-old Stacey Ann Cunnius of Reading was paid to care for Jessie McCrimmon, who had spina bifida, but she neglected to do so. McCrimmon, 43, was admitted to the emergency room at St. Joseph Medical Center in septic shock with injuries to both feet last year, the Reading Eagle reported. Investigators say he had wounds in his feet that were severely infected and filled with maggots and he was missing toes on one foot and had bone exposed. The other foot was being held on by necrotic flesh. Doctors amputated both of his legs below the knee and after the procedure he suffered from acute respiratory distress syndrome. McCrimmon also had severe hypoxia, septic shock and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. Authorities say Cunnius failed to properly treat a man with a congenital defect who died after his foot wounds became severely infected and filled with maggots (file above) The decision was made to end medical treatment, which resulted in his July 2015 death. His death was ruled a homicide by the Berks County Coroner's Office who said his paid caregiver, Cunnius, 'failed to provide necessary medical intervention' and the infection he had was the result of 'extreme neglect.' 'It is clear this man endured considerable pain at the end of his life because he did not receive the care that he needed,' state Attorney General Bruce R. Beemer said Wednesday in a statement. 'The defendant's failure to provide adequate treatment led to this tragic death.' In addition, prosecutors say McCrimmon died last year because he didn't receive proper care and 'endured considerable pain.' Cunnius, who was charged with homicide, also faces charges including Medicaid fraud, neglect of a care-dependent person and recklessly endangering another person. She is in the Berks County jail Thursday with no attorney listed in court records. This is the tearjerking moment police reunited a father with his newborn daughter who had been snatched from a hospital just moments after she was born. The girl was kidnapped from the San Jeronimo Hospital in Monteria in northern Colombia by a woman who was later arrested. The kidnapper, identified in local media as Elida Luz Salgado, had managed to trick the baby's mother and grandmother while they were in the hospital, saying that she was there visiting a relative. A policeman carries the baby girl back to the hospital after she was kidnapped moments after birth The officer then handed the infant to her father who had an emotional reunion with his new child The police officer comforts the father as he breaks down in tears as he holds his daughter The babys father, Brian Acosta, told media that the grandmother of the baby had asked Salgado to watch the baby while she tended to her daughter, who had undergone a caesarean. But within a few seconds of the request, Salgado had disappeared with the baby. She was then captured on CCTV leaving the health centre with the baby in a bag and she was not stopped or controlled while going outside the building. When the mother, named Kelly Paola Garavito Cordero, and the grandmother noticed what had happened, they called hospital authorities and police started an immediate search for the kidnapper. The father then cuddles the child who was later checked by medical staff and said to be healthy Later the mother was also reunited with the child. Earlier she had been sedated because of the stress caused by the shock of the abduction It included a complete lockdown on the hospital with police not realising that the kidnapper had already left. The search operation was then spread to the rest of the city and taken up on social media, with a 10 million COP (2,791) reward offered by the city council for any information. The huge operation resulted in a tipoff that then led police to the arrest of the kidnapper and the recovery the child, seen sleeping as she was handed to her father four hours after being snatched. Salgado was arrested and according to official sources, the woman was pregnant some months ago but she lost her baby. The hospital's CCTV camera captured the woman holding the baby and taking her away from the hospital Later, the woman was arrested and according to official sources, had been pregnant some months ago but she lost her baby In her Facebook profile she is seen participating in a baby shower party and even recently posted online the pics of the newborn pretending to be her newborn daughter named Mariangel. According to medical reports, the baby was healthy, although the mother had to be sedated because of the stress caused by the shock of the abduction. Salgado was arrested and the baby was taken with her parents who received her with open arms in an emotional moment recorded by police. Hundreds are at risk of measles infection after a man flew into Perth from Japan carrying the deadly virus. The traveller landed in Perth Airport at 5.15am October 21 on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 225 after arriving in Singapore from Tokyo on flight SQ 633 at 11pm the day before. He then visited five other locations over the next three days where health authorities warn people could also have been infected, according to PerthNow. Hundreds are at risk of measles infection after a man flew into Perth from Japan carrying the deadly virus The traveller landed in Perth Airport at 5.15am October 21 on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 225 after arriving in Singapore from Tokyo on flight SQ 633 at 11pm the day before Perth Airport international terminal arrivals area Friday on October 21 at 5.15am to 6am. Mead Medical Centre in Forrestfield on Friday October 21 between 11am and 12pm. St John of God Pathology collection centre in Forrestfield, next to Mead Medical, on Friday October 21 between 11.20am and 12.30pm. Pathwest Collection Centre at Kalamunda Hospital on Monday October 24 between 4.30pm and 5pm. Jetts 24 Hour Fitness in Forrestfield on Monday October 24 between 11.30am and 12.40pm. Dome cafe in Kalamunda on Monday October 24 between 2pm to 4pm. He was at St John of God Pathology collection centre in Forrestfield, next to Mead Medical, on Friday October 21 between 11.20am and 12.30pm He was also at Jetts 24 Hour Fitness in Forrestfield on Monday October 24 between 11.30am and 12.40pm WA Health Medical Epidemiologist Gary Dowse said anyone on either of the flights, especially seated near the sick passenger, or at any of the other locations at the same time could be infected. He said health authorities were contacting people who could have been exposed directly but it was not possible to warn those in public places. 'Measles is contagious for about four days before and after the development of the rash. Children and adults who have been unwittingly exposed are at risk of developing measles if they are not immune,' he told PerthNow. Dr Dowse said anyone with measles symptoms after exposure to someone with measles should see their doctor and call ahead so they could be isolated on arrival. The last location was Dome cafe in Kalamunda on Monday October 24 between 2pm to 4pm The characteristic measles rash usually appears three to seven days after the first symptoms, and generally starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body Measles has an incubation period of up to 18 days, and people remain infectious for many days. The infection usually begins with common cold symptoms such as fever, sore throat, red eyes and a cough. The characteristic measles rash usually appears three to seven days after the first symptoms, and generally starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body. About 40 per cent of cases need hospitalisation and 10 per cent develop complications like ear infections and pneumonia, and occasionally encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. It is potentially deadly to the elderly and infants. People should get two booster shots in their life to guard against infection. Measles was eradicated from Australia 20 years ago but occasional cases still pop up when patients are infected elsewhere and arrive in Australia. Ex-Congressman Joe Walsh has vowed to 'grab a musket' if Donald Trump loses the election. On Wednesday night, Walsh - a former Republican representative for Illinois - tweeted: 'On November 8th, I'm voting for Trump. On November 9th, if Trump loses, I'm grabbing my musket. You in?' And in an interview with Yahoo News, he added that if Trump lost he hoped to start his own third party. Controversy: Joe Walsh (pictured in 2011), who served one term as an Illinois Representative, tweeted Wednesday that he would 'grab (his) musket' if Donald Trump loses the election Angry: Walsh's tweet was interpreted by many as inciting violence in the event of a Hillary Clinton win 'Civil disobedience': Walsh later claimed that he only meant 'acts of civil disobedience' including protests, marching on Washington and not paying taxes When pressed by Twitter users on what he meant in his initial tweet, Walsh - who represented Illinois' 8th congressional district for a single term between 2011 and 2013 - denied that he was inciting violence. 'It means protesting,' he tweeted. 'Participating in acts of civil disobedience. Doing what it takes to get our country back.' His thoughts didn't go down well online, with scores of people blasting Walsh for what they saw as inciting violence and treason. And many were unimpressed by his explanation that his 'musket' remark was just a metaphor, with some sending his tweet to official police and secret service accounts. 'Grabbing a gun isn't "civil disobedience" you f***ing imbecile,' @jytlerconway tweeted. 'Imbecile': Some mocked him for his remarks, including this sports writer, who called him an 'imbecile' and pointed out that it's not 'civil disobedience' if people are armed 'Rigging': Walsh's remarks appear to be a response to Trump's recent comments that the only way he can lose the election is if the vote is rigged Speaking to Yahoo, Walsh elaborated on his ideas, saying he wanted people to picket, march on Washington, DC and stop paying taxes, adding that 'all hell's going to break out' if Trump loses. He also mocked the negative reaction to his musket remark. 'For the life of me, its like the left has no sense of humor,' he said. 'I mean, a musket - what damage could a musket do? What if i had said grab your slingshot?' But most of his ire, he said, was directed at Republicans who 'sold out.' He called for 'another party,' adding that 'The Republican Party of [House Speaker] Paul Ryan and these squishballs... The Republican Party that's let us down, they would have to be replaced.' Predictably, Walsh's incendiary rhetoric earned him not just criticism but also an outpouring of mockery online. 'Joe Walsh's congressional career, like a musket, was done after one shot,' joked @Pappiness. And @Wadatahmydamie cracked: 'He won't be shooting anybody, he just discovered his prostate.' Mocked: Walsh came under fire from Twitter jokers after his remarks, including this user who made fun of his single term as an Illinois representative Joker: This user cracked wise about the 54-year-old man's age and phallic imagery This isn't the first time the Tea Party politician has sparked controversy with his tweets. In the wake of the Dallas shootings in July, Walsh remarked: '3 Dallas Cops killed, 7 wounded. This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you.' He later tweeted that he 'wasn't calling for violence against Obama or anyone.' But he added: 'Obama's words & BLM's deeds have gotten cops killed. Time for us to defend our cops.' Walsh's account was suspended after those remarks, and he told press that he was only allowed to have it reinstated if he deleted them. Twitter didn't comment at the time, citing privacy reasons, but a spokesman told CNN that Twitter users 'may not make threats of violence or promote violence, including threatening or promoting terrorism.' The murder trial of an Australian woman and her British boyfriend accused of killing a Balinese police officer on a beach will begin on November 9. Sara Connor, 45, a mother-of-two from Byron Bay, and David James Taylor, 34, from Stoke Newington who also goes by the name 'Dj Nutzo', will stand before panels of three judges for their high-profile cases, which will run separately. The couple are charged with three separate charges of murder, torture and assault leading to the death of policeman Wayan Sudarsa, who was fatally bashed on Kuta Beach in the early hours of August 17. According to news.com.au, two out of the three judges presiding over Connor's case were also on the panel which put Australian paedophile Robert Ellis behind bars earlier this week. He was sentenced to 15 years for the sexual abuse of Balinese girls. Scroll down for video British man David Taylor (middle) and Australian woman Sara Connor (left) will face separate murder trials beginning on November 9 (pictured being escorted to prison earlier this month) British national David Taylor (pictured) looked remarkably different as he arrived at jail earlier this month with his long dreadlocks shaved off in exchange for a short crew cut Australian mother Sara Connor (pictured) will stand before nearly the exact same panel of judges that sentenced Australian paedophile Robert Ellis to 15 years behind bars this month Taylor has admitted to police that he struck Sudarsa with a pair of binoculars during a late-night altercation at the tourist hotspot on Bali island. The Briton believed the policeman had attacked Connor, his girlfriend from New South Wales, and tried to steal her bag. Police say he flew into a rage and hit the policeman repeatedly over the head with a beer bottle, although his defence lawyer says he was first pushed by the officer. The pair fled the scene, but were later tracked down after witnesses reported the incident to police. Connor has maintained her innocence in the ordeal, claiming that her only involvement was to pull her boyfriend off the police officer when she spotted them fighting. Connor (left) and Taylor (right) are charged with the murder of Balinese police officer Wayan Sudarsa, who was fatally bashed on Kuta Beach in the early hours of August 17. Australian Sara Connor (C) is escorted by police officers as she is handed over to prosecutors in Denpasar, Bali On August 31 David Taylor was asked to re-enact the alleged 'scene' on Kuta beach as a police officer posing as alleged murder victim lay starfished in front of him Police have finalised their case against the pair, meaning their trial can now proceed. If found guilty of murder, they face a maximum sentence of 15 years behind bars. The separate charges of assault leading to death and torture carry maximum sentences of 12 years and seven years, respectively. The pair - who had been staying at Denpasar Police Station since their arrest - were taken via tactical vehicles to the district's prosecutors' office on October 17. After the pair were processed by prosecutors they were taken to the notorious Kerobokan prison where they will await trial. The conditions inside the jail are said to be overcrowded, squalid, and incredibly dangerous. Connor has maintained her innocence in the ordeal, claiming that her only involvement was to pull her boyfriend off the police officer when she spotted them fighting Connor and Taylor (pictured) - also known as DJ Nutzo - are accused of murder and destroying evidence Connor looked tense, wearing a grey t-shirt and long pants, as she was escorted to the notorious Kerobokan Prison earlier this month A former inmate of the jail - where Australian members of the Bali Nine including Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were held before their execution - claimed he had seen people get murdered inside the prison walls. 'I've seen people get murdered in there, I've seen people get bashed, I've seen drug overdoses, one guy died in my arms from sickness,' Conibeer told New Zealand's Campbell Live in 2015. 'You could never kick anything in there - you take two steps forward and you get smashed back 25.' He also claimed that despite some of the inmates serving life sentences for drug offences, the prison was full of illegal substances. On Monday, ahead of Connor and Taylor being taken to the notorious prison, Denpasar Police Chief Hadi Purnomo said they had been a 'little late' in handing the pair over to prosecutors as DNA tests had taken longer than expected to complete. 'We had to send the DNA (sample) to Jakarta to make sure,' Colonel Purnomo told reporters. As well as handing over the accused pair, he said police had also brought a number of other key pieces of evidence, including the clothes they were allegedly wearing during the killing and later burnt in a bid to cover their tracks. The overcrowded Kerobokan Prison houses some of the country's most dangerous criminals The Dreamworld ride that killed four people allegedly has a dangerous history, with numerous horror stories of near misses coming to light in the wake of the tragedy. From an almost identical mishap six months ago to a woman left clinging to the walls after being flipped from her raft, the Thunder River Rapids ride has seemingly long been anything but a 'family friendly' attraction. The revelations come following the deaths of Kate Goodchild, 32, her brother Luke Dorsett, 35, his partner Roozbeh Araghi, 38 and tourist Cindy Low, 42, on the ride on Tuesday. As questions remain over the safety of the theme park, it can be revealed the ride has malfunctioned on a number of occasions since being opened in 1986. 'The same thing happened six months ago to family friends of mine on the same ride at Dreamworld,' Morgana Watson claimed on Thursday. Scroll down for video The Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast allegedly has a dangerous history according to a number of former visitors to the theme park who have come forward in the wake of Tuesday's incident (pictured) Ms Watson took to a Queensland Police Service post on Facebook to share her story from earlier this year which was similar to the deadly incident this week. She claimed friends of hers were 'flipped under water and got stuck on the conveyor belt' Christine Parsons (left) said in the late 1980s her teenage sister Ruth Chalk (right) was thrown from a raft on the ride after it became banked up on slow rafts in front of it Commenting on a Queensland Police Service post on Facebook, she claimed Tuesday's incident wasn't a one-off. Ms Watson said just months ago, friends of hers were involved in a similar incident to the one that led to the death of four people on Tuesday. 'They were flipped under water and got stuck on the conveyor belt,' she wrote. 'They almost drowned and suffered concussions, were lucky to be alive (and) all Dreamworld did was call an Ambulance and made them sign something. 'The ride remained open and now this has happened it's no surprise,' the post ended. Police replied to Ms Watson's comment saying they had passed the information on to investigators. Christine Parsons from Brisbane, said in 1987, less than one year after the ride opened, her then-teenage sister Ruth Chalk was thrown overboard. Ms Chalk, a friend and others on the ride were forced to cling to the side of the lagoon to avoid being swept away in the surging water. 'They were on that same ride and the rafts were getting stuck and banking up on each other,' Ms Parsons told Daily Mail Australia. Ms Parsons said it was now scary to think what could've happened to her sister 30 years ago The raft (pictured) carrying a total of six people overturned after a malfunction on the Thunder Rapids ride on Tuesday afternoon More than 30 detectives as well as health and safety personnel inspected the park and ride this week as part of an ongoing investigation into the incident 'Somehow they got flipped out of the raft and they were all hanging onto the sides. 'It's now scary to think what could've happened back then - I could've not had a sister for the past 30 years.' Ms Parsons - who has informed police of the incident - said her sister was left traumatised and soaked, but walked away relatively unharmed. A former Dreamworld employee also claimed the 'family' ride had been plagued by technical problems since its opening in 1986 and had a 'potentially fatal flaw.' More than 30 detectives, including specialist engineers and scientific police, as well as health and safety personnel, inspected the park and ride this week as part of an ongoing investigation. HOW THEME PARK CATASTROPHE HAPPENED: Four people - two men and two women - were killed in a raft ride disaster at the Gold Coast's Dreamworld on Tuesday. Miraculously, two children were catapulted out of the fatal raft and survived with only minor injuries It comes as details emerged about the moment the husband of Kate Goodchild dove into the muddy water of the Thunder River Rapids ride in an effort to save her - but could only hold her in his arms as she died. WHAT IS THE THUNDER RIVER RAPIDS RIDE? Thunder River Rapids opened in 1986 and remains one of Dreamworld's oldest rides Ride located in the Gold Rush section of Gold Coast's biggest theme park and considered one of Dreamworld's most 'family friendly' Riders board six-person circular rafts which follow initial path through a cave before experiencing the rapids section of the ride Thunder River Rapids lasts four minutes in total and hits top speed of 45km/h Riders are usually splashed with water as rafts spin through the rapids and hit walls Conveyor belt takes rafts back to start of the ride for passengers to hop in and out Source: AAP Advertisement David Turner stood near the ride's finish with his eight-month-old daughter Evie in a pram waiting to greet his high-school sweetheart. Watching on in horror as disaster struck the raft containing Ms Goodchild, their daughter Ebony, 12, and four other people, was flipped over, Mr Turner instantly ran to rescue his wife. Throwing his keys and wallet from his pocket, the husband heroically scaled a fence and dove into the muddy water, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Mr Turner's mother revealed on Thursday that while he couldn't save Ms Goodchild, her valiant son was able to hold and comfort his wife in her final moments. 'My son managed to get to Kate who died in his arms, with Kim and my granddaughter screaming looking on,' Gillian Turner said. David Goodchild (left) dove into the muddy water of Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids ride in an effort to save his wife Kate Goodchild (right) after watching the horrific accident unfold from near the end of the ride with his baby daughter Evie Mr Turner's mother Gillian (left) said her son held his wife in his arms as she died, while their 12-year-old daughter Ebony Goodchild (right) watched on in horror after being thrown from the malfunctioning ride Victims: Two mothers, Kate Goodchild (left), 32, and Cindy Low (right), 42, died in the tragedy Ms Goodchild's brother Luke Dorsett (on right) and his partner Roozi Araghi (left) were also killed Kieran Low, 10, (left) was thrown from the raft when it tipped while his father and Mrs Low's partner Matthew (right) watched on with their young daughter Isla, six 'I would like to believe that my 12-year-old granddaughter was saved so she could tell her little sister what a wonderful mum Kate was.' I would like to believe that my 12-year-old granddaughter was saved so she could tell her little sister what a wonderful mum Kate was. Gillian Turner, Michael Turner's mother Mr Turner's father Graham said he still hasn't uttered a word about the accident, but has taken his daughter's back home to Canberra as they prepare for three funerals. 'They haven't even told us completely what happened but I know that tonight there are two very traumatised children coming back home,' he told the Courier Mail. Ms Goodchild and Mr Dorsett's mother earlier said her she was heartbroken after learning her family had been 'completely wiped out'. Only the couple's daughter Ebony and Kieran Low, the 10-year-old son of killed mother Cindy, survived the incident when they were 'miraculously' thrown clear of the raft as it flipped. The terrified screams of the two children filled the Gold Coast theme park as they watched emergency services drain the ride and pull their mother's bodies from the water, the Courier Mail reported. A malfunction with the Thunder River Rapid's water pump caused a raft to flip on the conveyor belt, crushing and drowning two men, aged 38 and 35, and two women, aged 42 and 32. Dreamworld advertised the ride as 'moderate thrill' and punters said it was 'lame but fun' Chilling images revealed the mangled wreckage of a six-person raft being lifted away from the Thunder River Rapids ride on Wednesday night It's believed the raft, with dangling seatbelts and a torn-up frame, is the same raft that flipped backwards on the ride's conveyor belt on Tuesday afternoon - killing four people Emergency services at the scene following the tragedy at the Gold Coast theme park The theme park had planned to reopen on Friday, but on late Thursday afternoon backflipped on its plans. A statement released on Thursday said both the planned reopening and memorial service for the four people killed at the Gold Coast theme park had been stopped so Queensland police could continue their investigations. However late on Thursday a police spokesperson refuted those claims, saying it 'was not an accurate description of how the decision was made to not reopen the park'. The park had planned to reopen to the public less than three days after staff were forced to usher thousands of tourists from the amusement park following the tragic incident on Tuesday. The decision came just hours after Dreamworld chief executive Deborah Thomas said she would donate her annual cash bonus of $167,500 to charity after being 'deeply affected' by the incident. After dodging questions about receiving a potential $800,000 annual bonus earlier on Thursday, Ms Thomas released a statement saying she would be dipping into her own pocket to donate her 'entire cash bonus' to Australian Red Cross. 'I have been deeply affected and saddened by the tragic deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi and Cindy Low at Dreamworld on Tuesday, in particular the impact of this incident on their children and families,' she said in a statement. Deborah Thomas told the room full of reporters on Thursday she hoped to have a 'chance to talk to the family' as all communication to date had been done through a police liaison officer 'I will give them my sympathies and condolences ... I am a mother, I have a family. I take my family to Dreamworld,' Ms Thomas said The donation will go towards supporting people affected by the tragedy, including Dreamworld staff who have been told that counselling is 'compulsory', as well as family members of the victims. Lawyers told Daily Mail Australia park owners could face substantial negligence claims and employees who may have been responsible could be sentenced to up to five years behind bars. Dreamworld has since mounted a defence of its safety standards in response to intense scrutiny from the Australian Workers Union, which claim it had warned about problems as recently as three weeks ago. Australian Workers' Union Queensland Secretary Ben Swan said there had been an 'ongoing tussle' with Dreamworld relating to the park's safety procedures. He said a number of reports had been made since November 2014. 'I do not necessarily agree that all of the rides have been in proper operating order,' he said during an interview on Sunrise on Thursday. But a statement from the park refuted Mr Swan's claims, stating it complied with all safety standards and tested every ride each morning. On Wednesday, the Gold Coast park said the gates would open up to the public at 11am on Friday, with entry proceeds going to Australian Red Cross charity. However late on Thursday afternoon that decision was changed, with the theme park operators claiming the decision was forced on them by police - claims police have since refuted. The reopen date of the park is unknown and follows revelations the ride's emergency stop switch was reportedly being controlled by an 18-year-old woman on her first day on the job. Members of work health and safety examine the seats of the ride on Wednesday Investigations continue at the theme park after the tragedy, which as left the Gold Coast community devastated Police say the investigation will be a lengthy process as the park remains closed Investigators say the six-person raft flipped, crushing and drowning its passengers at about 2.20pm on Tuesday. Mrs Low's family released a statement following the freak accident. 'The family of Ms Cindy Low has requested privacy and respect at this time of loss and sadness,' the statement read. 'The family are traumatised and kindly request that their privacy be respected as they try to come to terms with this tragic loss.' Dozens of bouquets line the entrance at Dreamworld as school students and tearful parents paid tribute to the four people who died on the Thunder River Rapids ride. Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said he had viewed graphic CCTV footage of the incident in a media conference. 'I have seen CCTV footage. It seems from what I've seen it's almost a miracle anyone came out of it,' he said. Mourners have flocked to the theme park to leave tributes for Kate Goodchild, 32, Luke Dorsett, 35, Roozbeh Araghi, 38 and Cindy Low, 42, who were killed on Tuesday More than 500 bouquets of flowers were placed at the entrance to the Gold Coast park 'If we're going to be thankful for anything, I'm thankful for that. 'Two of those (rafts) have come together and as a result one has flipped backwards and it has caught and tossed some of the people that were on the ride backwards on the conveyor belt. 'They (the children) were thrown at one part from the ride and then managed to extricate themselves.' He added that the investigation would be thorough to ensure that such a horrific accident would never happen again. The Gold Coast community has been rocked by the tragic news. 'We come here all the time. My mum was pretty upset to be honest. I think everyone has been on that ride,' Jasmin said as she laid a pink bouquet of flowers. Locals, friends and loved ones have flooded the patch of grass out the front of the Australian theme park with floral tributes - creating a moving tribute to the dead FOI unearthed by Labour who say it shows she is 'taking us all for a ride' and even 2 for biscuits Boss: 400,000 University of Bath professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, 64, occupies a magnificent grace-and-favour property - but still claimed 20,000 in expenses A 400,000-a-year university vice-chancellor claimed 20,000 expenses in 12 months - including 2 for biscuits - despite living for free in a grand Georgian flat on one of Britain's best streets. University of Bath professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, 64, occupies a magnificent grace-and-favour property on the famous Lansdown Crescent in the city with its own 8,000-a-year housekeeper. The five-bedroom flat built in around 1793 overlooks Bath but despite being free Dame Glynis also claims her bills back too. Professor Breakwell, who is one of Britain's highest-paid academics, has been accused of taking the public 'for a ride' over her expenses last year. Her 20,000 bill included claims for a vacuum cleaner and steam mop, laundry service, gas, electricity, council tax, water and sewage - and even 2 for biscuits. Her expenses were uncovered in a Freedom of Information request by local Labour councillor Joe Rayment, who accused her of 'taking us all for a ride'. Mr Rayment used to work in student funding at the university and has previously criticised Dame Glynis over pay inequality and scholarships for refugees. He said: 'The University of Bath is a fantastic asset to our city, but its Vice-Chancellor is taking us all for a ride. 'Staff, students and the public should be rightly outraged by these revelations.' Freebie: The five-bedroom flat built in around 1793 overlooks the city from Lansdown Crescent but despite being free Dame Glynis also claims her bills back too Professor Breakwell, who is one of Britain's highest-paid academics, has been accused of taking the public 'for a ride' over her expenses last year A university spokesman said Prof Breakwell's home was used for university business, including hosting events with honorary graduates, academics and industry partners. DAME'S EXTRAORDINARY 20,000 EXPENSES BILL Housekeeping (staff costs) and laundry service 8,738 per year Electricity 713 Gas 4,767 Water and sewage 290 Contribution to railing maintenance in the crescent 550 Council tax/ rates 1,933 Cleaning products 406 Hospitality (biscuits) 2 Maintenance/ repairs 2,485 Hoover and steam mop 132 Total 20,016 Advertisement President of the University of Bath UCU branch Dr Michael Carley said: 'The growing gap between senior management and ordinary staff shames the university. 'The University of Bath leads the country in casual and zero hours contracts, subjecting many staff to conditions which would disgrace a fast food chain. 'Many staff struggle to get by on a bare minimum living wage, paid only grudgingly by an overpaid elite increasingly isolated from the concerns of the people who do the work which makes this university one the city of Bath can be proud of.' Dame Glynis currently earns 406,000-a-year - an 11,000 pay rise over her 2013/14 salary of 395,000. She holds senior positions on other bodies including director of Universities UK, the Student Loans Company and non-executive director of the NHS Improvement Board. A university spokesman said: 'The property in Lansdown Crescent is owned by the university and is used for university business. 'This includes hosting events with visitors to our university such as honorary graduates, academics from other institutions and industry partners.' 'The University of Bath is the second largest employer in the city of Bath providing jobs for more than 3,000 people. 'We use all our buildings, whether it be on campus at Claverton Down, the new hub due to be opened in Manvers Street or the property in Lansdown Crescent, to build new partnerships and promote our excellent teaching and research.' Well paid: Dame Glynis currently earns 406,000-a-year from the university - an 11,000 pay rise over her 2013/14 salary of 395,000. The FOI request revealed that in the last 12 months Dame Glynis claimed 8,738 for housekeeping and laundry, 713 for electricity and 4,767 for gas. She claimed 290 for water and sewage, 550 towards maintaining the iconic railings on the crescent, 1933 for council tax, 406 for cleaning products and 2 for biscuits. Two adorable best friend baby bear cubs have won a legion of fans thanks to their playful bath-time antics. Zoll and Zelda are 10-month-old rescued Syrian brown bears who choose to spend most of their time together bathing at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, USA. The inseparable sisters can be seen clawing at each other and even attempting to dunk one another under the water during their bathing sessions. Best friends: The adorable baby bears enjoy nothing more than splashing around in the bath tub Zoll and Zelda are 10-month-old rescued Syrian brown bears who choose to spend most of their time together bathing at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, USA In video footage of the pair uploaded today, their playful bout is concluded with a firm shake-off from both bears, before they jump back in the tub for one final wrestle. Though it may look as if they're fighting, Pat Craig, executive director at the sanctuary, insists it's all good fun. He said: 'The cubs are care free and love life. 'They run and play all day together, but enjoy themselves most when they're bathing and playing in water. 'They do actually have bigger ponds and tanks to play in but they prefer sitting in the small tub because it holds them up so they can play back and forth.' The inseparable friends can be seen clawing at each other and even attempting to dunk one another under the water during their bathing sessions In video footage of the pair, their playful bout is concluded with a firm shake-off from both bears, before they jump back in the tub for one final wrestle The adorable furry friends are said to spend all of their time together at the sanctuary Zoll and Zelda were born into a state-run holding facility in Ohio, after their then-pregnant mother was rescued from an illegal roadside zoo. The Wild Animal Sanctuary is currently home to more than 175 bears and a number of other animals including lions, tigers and wolves, who like Zoll and Zelda's mother, were rescued from illegal and abusive situations. Pat added: 'It's our job to rehabilitate these animals and release them into large acreage natural habitats so they can live and roam freely with others of their own kind. 'Zoll and Zelda will be hibernating with their Mother this winter in an underground den. 'They will live the rest of their lives here roaming freely, where they are expected to reach an age of up to 40-years-old.' Zoll and Zelda relaxing in the sun: The Wild Animal Sanctuary is currently home to more than 175 bears and a number of other animals including lions, tigers and wolves Advertisement A Berlin museum has unveiled a scale model of the bunker where Hitler spent his final days at the end of the Second World War and also recreated the office where he shot himself. The model went on display today in a former air-raid shelter, just a mile from the site of the real underground hideout, which has now been demolished. Curator Wieland Giebel says that the model can only be seen on a guided tour beginning in a shelter that was meant for 3,500 people but by the end of the war housed 12,000 people. Scroll down for video The scale model of part of the bunker shows where Hitler spent his final days at the end of the Second World War The scale model of part of the 1944-built Fuehrerbunker which has gone on display at an air raid shelter in Berlin However, the museum has come under fire for the project, with some saying the model is in bad taste given its location to the original bunker Curator Wieland Giebel says that the model can only be seen on a guided tour beginning in a shelter that was meant for 3,500 people but by the end of the war housed 12,000 people As well as the model, the museum has also recreated Hitler's personal study where he committed suicide in 1945. It shows the sofa where his lifeless body was found alongside his mistress Eva Braun and the picture hung on the wall of his personal hero - Frederick the Great of Prussia. However, the museum has come under fire for the project, with some saying the model is in bad taste. The nearby Topography of Terror museum, which documents Nazi crimes, criticised the reproduction as showmanship. But Mr Giebel insisted that the Berlin Story Bunker isn't staging a 'Hitler show.' The museum has also created a model of Hitler's personal study in the bunker where he hung a portrait of his hero Frederick the Great The model also shows the sofa where his lifeless body was found alongside his mistress Eva Braun in April 1945 The bunker became the base for the Nazi regime's failing military campaign as the Allied forces advanced in 1945 The bunker was built in 1944 and designed as an air-raid shelter for Hitler during the Second World War. He moved into the underground cave in January 1945 with most of his henchmen joining him soon after as well as Braun. The bunker then became the base for the regime's failing military campaign and with the Allied forces advancing it became the place where Hitler, 56, and Braun 33, married on April 29, 1945. Afterwards, he cited his last will and testament and the next day on April 30, the pair then both committed suicide. Hitler and his Nazi henchmen take dinner in the bunker. Most of them moved into the underground cave in January 1945 Weeks later, a photographer gained access to the bunker and took a series of haunting images showing the bunker Day later, Berlin surrendered on on May 8, 1945, the Allied Forces celebrated Victory in Europe. Weeks later, a photographer gained access to the bunker and took a series of haunting images. They showed ripped pictures hanging on the walls, piles of broken furniture lying scattered around the room and a burnt and blood-stained sofa surrounding a desk. Ivanka Trump has finally broken her silence about the push by some to boycott her brands, revealing she has no desire to try and speak with or communicate with those women. 'The beauty of America is that people can do what they like, but I'd prefer to talk to the millions, tens of millions of American women who are inspired by the brand,' said Ivanka on Thursday morning as she and her siblings appeared on Good Morning America. 'The message that I've created - my advocacy of women, trying to empower them in all aspects of their life - started long before this presidential campaign did. I've never politicized that message.' Ivanka then added: 'People who are seeking to politicize it because they may disagree with the politics of my father, there's nothing I can do to change that.' She did not however acknowledge the fact that the boycott is not in response to her father's political beliefs, but rather his alleged sexual assault of over 10 women and the comments he made in a 2005 Access Hollywood interview with Billy Bush. Moving on: Ivanka Trump addressed the boycott of her brands by women upset by her father's misogynistic comments and allegations of sexual assault Criticism: 'People who are seeking to politicize it because they may disagree with the politics of my father, there's nothing I can do to change that,' said Ivanka Ivanka said at the top of the interview how happy she was for her father as they neared the election, saying: 'We are very proud of our father and what he's accomplished. He's amazing.' She and her brothers Eric and Donald Jr. also said they would stay on at Trump even if their father wins the election. The talk also turned to the possible problems facing the family's own brand in the wake of this election, with some reports claiming Donald's political views have angered and upset many of his upscale and wealthy customers. 'I think we have the hottest brand in the world right now,' said Eric Trump, dismissing reports that profits were down. When asked about the current movement by one building in new York City to have 'Trump Towers' removed from the structure, Donald Jr. said: 'I think the brand is much more than New York City, this is a global brand.' He then said that the brand was not what was important at this juncture. 'When you look at the people that he is touching on a daily basis. The presidency, fixing America, is so much bigger than any of that regardless,' said Donald Jr. Donald himself then added: 'I think the brand is hotter than it's ever been but it doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter to me, I don't care. I don't care about the brand, I care about the country.' Tiffany was also present for the interview, and said that she was applying to law schools. bros: She and her brothers also revealed in an interview on Thursday that they would stay at Trump even if their father wins the presidency (Eric and Donald Jr. above) Rare appearance: Tiffany (above) also joined her siblings in the interview and said she is applying to law school Shannon Coulter, the woman behind the boycott of Ivanka's brands, spoke about the movement in an interview with The Guardian last Friday. She started the hashtag #GrabYourWallet earlier this month on Twitter, asking that women boycott not just Ivanka's brands but stores that sell her eponymous lines of clothing, footwear, jewelry, perfume and accessories. It was in direct response to Donald's Access Hollywood comments, and Ivanka's support of her father and defense of his misogynistic remarks in the past, even though she did call what he said on Access Hollywood 'offensive.' 'It was a feeling of recoiling. It was emotional, visceral. Then I had a pounding headache for a few days. I was filled with nausea,' said Coulter of hearing Donald's words on the audio from his hot mic. Coulter then explained that this was because she too had been in a similar position in the workplace. 'I was in an office belonging to a firm I was working for in Silicon Valley and my bosss boss came breezing through,' said Coulter. 'Suddenly he came up behind me and pressed himself right up against me and said "Why is it you always look so good?" He had a colleague with him and it was so humiliating.' Coulter then added: 'And when I heard Donald Trump talking on that tape, I recognized in his words the same feeling that I had that day of being nothing more than an object. No matter how smart you are or how hard you work, they can do that to us.' Police probing the death of a British man found at Malaga Airport bound to a bench with his trousers pulled down have arrested a man on suspicion of his manslaughter. Steven Allford, 51, was found dead last Friday. A slice of ham had been placed on each of his buttocks and his genitals put inside a tuna can. A Finnish national aged around 50 was held on Wednesday at an undisclosed location. He has been remanded in jail pending an ongoing judicial probe following a private court hearing before an investigating judge. A source close to the case described the suspect as a 'well-built giant.' It is not known what his relationship, if any, was to the dead man. Scroll down for video Shocked tourists filmed the moment Mr Allford's body was put onto a stretcher and taken away after police searched the area for clues to the suspected killing The source said: 'He is being investigated at this stage on suspicion of a crime of manslaughter although that could change as the judicial probe progresses.' Further arrests have not been ruled out. News of the detention came shortly after it emerged a prosecutor specialising in hate crimes had agreed to take on the bizarre case and police were hunting three men seen with Mr Allford, who was sleeping rough at Malaga Airport, on the night he died. The specialist prosecutor agreed to investigate the strange death after a complaint from a homeless support organisation. Observatorio Hatento, an amalgamation of several charities across Spain which work with homeless people, says Mr Allford's death could be a hate crime based on hobophobia - a fear of vagrants. A post-mortem revealed Mr Allford had choked to death on his own vomit. Steven Allford, 51, was discovered bound to a bench in a landscaped area by an airport train stop with his trousers and pants pulled down Murder squad detectives are probing the bizarre death of the British man at Malaga airport A sexual attack has not been ruled out because of the circumstances in which he was found - tied face-down to the bench with his trousers pulled down and a slice of ham placed on each of his buttocks. The fact the suspect is being investigated at this stage on suspicion of manslaughter means the authorities think Mr Allford may have been bound to the bench before he died. His body was discovered just before 9am last Friday in a landscaped area of Malaga Airport by a train stop well-used by tourists and opposite the arrivals lounge. It is not known where in the UK Mr Allford was originally from, although he is believed to have spent some time living in Spain. Investigators have discovered he has a conviction for fraud from a court in Catalunya. The prison the unnamed Finnish suspect has been sent to - Alhaurin de la Torre near Malaga- is understood to be the jail Mr Allford also served part of his sentence in after being convicted. Advertisement Military tribunals quizzed people about their tea-drinking habits in a bid to send them to fight in the First World War, a new exhibition has revealed. While many would view tea as a cornerstone of British culture, admitting to drinking it was deemed by tribunals to be a sign of hypocrisy and cowardice if a person was a conscientious objector. It appeared that the tribunals tried to argue that as a taxed good, drinking tea was a contribution to the war effort. Thousands of conscientious objectors refused to perform military service, usually on moral or religious grounds, as conscription laws enlisted 2.5 million extra British troops from 1916 onwards. Francis P White is pictured as a student and conscientious objector, as a new exhibition at the university's St John's College reveals military tribunals quizzed people about their tea-drinking habits in a bid to send them to fight in the First World War By March 1916, the British Government was desperately short of soldiers, conscription was introduced and all able-bodied men, aged between 18 and 41, were ordered to join the war effort. To be exempted from the fighting, conscientious objectors had the task of publicly proving to an often hostile tribunal that it was conscience and not cowardice that spurred their refusal to fight. The only others who could be exempted were the sole carers of dependants. Papers featured in a new exhibition at St John's College at the University of Cambridge reveal that tribunals asked questions about tea-drinking habits in an attempt to undermine and ridicule people who applied to prove their conscientious objection. Francis P White was a 23-year-old undergraduate at St John's College in 1916, and he was a conscientious objector on religious grounds. He kept a diary and collected press clippings, including one from the Cambridge Weekly News, 1916, which reports on his own hearing along with those of three other students from St John's. All four men had already been granted exemption from combative service, but the military was appealing against the decision on the grounds that they were not 'bona fide conscientious objectors'. Bizarrely, the crux of the argument seems to have rested on whether or not they drank tea. As a taxed good, consuming tea was seen as a contribution to the war effort, which, for the tribunal, equated to 'providing money for someone else to fight'. Francis P White was a 23-year-old undergraduate at St John's College in 1916, and he was a conscientious objector on religious grounds. Pictured: An invitation to a meeting with the Fellowship of Reconciliation at St John's College, Cambridge Francis P White kept a diary and collected press clippings, including one from the Cambridge Weekly News, 1916, which reports on his own hearing along with those of three other students from St John's. Newspaper clipping is pictured above When the appellants queried how it was possible to live without paying these taxes, they were told that there was always water - 'nature's drink'. During his tribunal, Francis was asked if he had attended meetings for a society of conscientious objectors at St John's College. He denied any knowledge of such things, leaving his interrogators stumped as to 'how it is they all come from St John's?'. However, hidden between the pages of his diary, Francis kept his invitations to secret meetings to 'consider procedure before the tribunals', which were held in the rooms of Fellow of the College, Ebenezer Cunningham. Years later, when he came to write his memoirs at the age of 90, the only thing that Ebenezer - who was also a conscientious objector on religious grounds - could remember about his own tribunal was a baffling question about tea: 'The chairman asked me, 'Do you drink tea?' I said I did, to which he replied, 'Well, if I had a conscience, I would not drink tea.' I did not quite understand his objection.' The diaries will be displayed as part of the Cambridge Festival of Ideas. Ben Affleck broke out his Boston accent to urge New Hampshirites to vote this week, in a hilarious PSA for Funny or Die and NextGen Climate. In the two-minute video, the Massachusetts-native actor - wearing a flannel shirt and down vest - claims that New Hampshire's practically his home state. 'I'm from Boston, and Boston is in New England, which means that New Hampshire is just like my kid brother. You know what I mean? I love Hampshire. 'Back in the day, me and Tommy and Johnny and Bobby and Ricky and Tommy and Marcus and Tommy and Ricky and Bobby used to drive across the state lines to buy tax-free booze at the packies. I'm basically from New Hampshire. Have you ever been to New Hampshire? It's f****** beautiful,' Affleck says, before listing off a list of famous New Hampshire landmarks. Scroll down for video Ben Affleck filmed a PSA for Funny or Die and NextGen Climate, urging New Hampshire residents to register to vote In the video, Massachusetts-native Affleck speaks in a Boston accent and says that New Hampshire 'is just like my kid brother' Affleck then goes on to stress the importance of the upcoming presidential election, and New Hampshire's 'wicked f****** important' role as a key swing state. 'I've been loving on New Hampshire since I was just little baby Pats fan. I took my first steps in New Hampshire, figuratively. 'So if you give a s*** about women's rights, you care about keeping the environment safe for future generations, you care about people getting to p*** in the f****** bathroom of their choice, then guess who's got your back in this election? That's right, my basically-home-state New Hampshire,' Affleck says. 'Honestly, normally I would say that the great people of New Hampshire are too good for this f****** election. New Hampsharians are so nice they don't even yell at you in the car. At least not north of Manchester. The Boston Celtics supporter even slipped in a joke about how the presidential election 'is a bigger disaster than the New York Knicks' He turned serious when the word 'curse' showed up in the script. Making a veiled reference to the Boston Red Sox's 'Curse of the Bambino' 'But seeing at how this election is a bigger disaster than the New York Knicks (ha!) the people from New Hampshire are gonna have to register to vote, otherwise this whole damn nation is gonna be cursed,' Affleck says. That's when the green screen behind him cuts and Affleck drops the accent, going on a tangent about how he doesn't like to talk about 'curses'. Affleck is of course referencing the 'Curse of the Bambino,' a superstition that the Boston Red Sox were cursed by trading Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. For 86 years after the trade, the Red Sox - a previously very successful team - didn't win a single World Series. 'Woah I don't talk about curses,' Affleck says, as a picture of Ruth pops up in the background in a Yankees cap. 'Don't put the word curse in the teleprompter. Take that s*** out, it's not funny. This is supposed to be funny. There's jokes and then there's curses.' 'Register to vote New Hampshire, all of New England is counting on you,' Affleck says in the video The Town star then ends the video by entreating all New Hampshire residents to register to vote so that they can do their civic duty in this upcoming November 8 election. 'Register to vote New Hampshire, all of New England is counting on you,' Affleck says. Donald Trump is pitching 'a new deal for black America,' as he attempts to woo a crowd that hasn't shown him much love before, with less than two weeks to go until the presidential election. Yesterday in Charlotte, Trump promised to 'grow the African-American middle class,' by make communities safer, improve education and bring in higher-paying jobs. 'Here is the promise I make to you: whether you vote for me or not, I will be your greatest champion,' Trump told the invite-only crowd, where about a quarter of the audience was black. Scroll down for video Donald Trump tried to reach out to the African-American community by giving a speech yesterday in Charlotte, North Carolina Donald Trump held an invitation-only speech in Charlotte, North Carolina, and laid out a three-point plan to help black voters achieve success Charlotte, North Carolina had been rocked by protests earlier this year, after a black man was killed by a white police officer - the dynamic that originally inspired the 'Black Lives Matter' movement. In his remarks, Trump continued to preach law and order, but explained how those policies could help black communities as well. 'I want every poor African-American child to be able to walk down the street in peace,' Trump said. 'Safety is a civil right.' 'The problem is not the presence of police, but the absence of police,' he continued, pledging to invest in police training and bump up funding to remove the 'gang members, drug dealers, and criminal cartels' from neighborhoods. 'The war on police urged on by my rival is reckless, and dangerous, and puts African-American lives at risk,' Trump said, hitting Democrat Hillary Clinton. 'We must work with our police, and not against them.' He hit Clinton again, while seemingly backing criminal justice reform. 'I have heard and have listened to the concerns raised by African-American citizens about our justice system and I promise that under a Trump Administration the law will be applied fairly, equally and without prejudice,' he said. Instead of talking about how the law is often applied differently depending on if a citizen is white or black, he noted how justice was applied unequally, in his view, to Clinton's email case and how the government would treat everyone else. 'The best evidence of unequal justice is that Hillary Clinton could violate so many laws, bleach and delete 33,000 emails after a Congressional subpoena, lie to Congress and the FBI - put our national security at grave risk - and not even face as much as s fine,' Trump complained. He pointed a finger more broadly at Democrats and suggested that the party, which wins black votes by leaps and bounds over the Republicans, has actually failed the voting bloc. 'They've trapped children in failing government schools, and opposed school choice at every turn,' Trump said, reciting an education plan immensely popular with Republicans. On jobs, Trump talked about how he would lower business taxes to bring new companies into the country, while also promoting tax holidays for businesses who took root in 'blighted American neighborhoods.' He also promised to make it easier for black-owned businesses to get credit. Trump played up his own business-savvy to the crowd, having just come from the ribbon-cutting of his new Washington, D.C. Trump hotel, located in the Old Post Office building. 'I've been very lucky and have led a great life,' Trump said. 'Now I want to give back to the country, which has been so good to me.' 'I just left a hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., delivered under budget, and ahead of schedule, creating thousands of jobs, including construction,' he said. He also reminded potential black voters that their votes used to trend toward the GOP. 'I am humbled beyond words to be the nominee for the Party of Abraham Lincoln,' Trump said. 'And it is my highest and greatest hope that the Republican Party can be the home of the African-American vote once again.' At last polling, Trump was receiving 3 percent support from black voters, according to Sunday's ABC News poll, which showed Clinton, overall, 12 points ahead. Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee, ended up doubling that performance, receiving 6 percent of the African-American vote. From Charlotte, Trump would move on to Kinston, North Carolina, a town with a population that is 68 percent black. A day before, on his two-day tour of North Carolina, Bill Clinton walked down the main street, popping his head into black-owned barber shops and restaurants, shaking hands and taking selfies with members of the largely African-American crowd that had gathered. Trump got a large raucous crowd to greet his 'Hair Force One' plane at an airplane hangar. Two Fort Campbell soldiers are being held by police over the disappearance of US Army Private First Class Shadow Branice McClaine. The 25-year-old was reported missing on September 6 when she failed to show up for duty at the Kentucky military base. Her car was later found abandoned in a parking lot in Nashville, Tennessee, more than 60 miles away. Police would not reveal the identities of those being held over her disappearance on Thursday as it emerged she was facing court for stalking her ex-husband, Sergeant Jamal Rashad Williams McCray, when she vanished. Two soldiers are being held over the disappearance of US Army Private First Class Shadow Branice McClaine (left) who vanished in September. Her ex-husband, Jamal Rashad Williams McCray (right) was taken into custody on October 11 but police will not reveal if they believe he was involved in her going missing The woman, who also called herself Branice Willis and Shadow McClaine, had been arrested for contempt, vandalism and stalking in 2015 and 2016 but insisted she was being framed by her former spouse and his new lover. Her ex-husband was taken into custody in Tennessee's Montgomery County Jail on October 11 on unknown charges. He is still in custody and listed on the jail's inmate log. Fort Campbell Police would not confirm if he is one of the two people being held over her disappearance. McCray is an Air Traffic Control Operator stationed at Fort Campbell. He joined the army in 2012 and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013. Before Fort Campbell he was stationed at Fort Still in Oklahoma. It came as a Facebook account being used by McClaine shortly before her disappearance revealed she believed she was under attack. McClaine, 25, was facing charges for stalking her ex-husband, contempt and vandalism. She is seen above in mug shots taken in June McClaine was reported missing when she failed to report for duty at Fort Campbell in Kentucky (above) on September 6 Her mother London Wegrzyn said on Tuesday she hoped the two people being questioned would lead police to her daughter's whereabouts Calling herself Shadow McClaine, she told friends that her ex-husband and an unnamed woman had lied to police to 'label her crazy'. In a stream of rants, she accused them of tampering with her car brakes and setting her up for arrest. On Thursday, her mother said she hoped the two new persons of interest might lead police to answers. 'I'm praying that if they know something that they will tell anyone where she's at,' London Wegrzyn said. Six months ago, posts on a website which names and shames cheating spouses exposed Shadow McClain's acrimonious relationship with her ex-husband. McClaine's car was found abandoned in a parking lot in Nashville, Tennessee, last month. Right, missing posters appealed for her safe return McClaine complained on social media that she was being harassed by her ex-husband In several public messages on the website Liars Cheaters R Us, it was alleged that McCray had an affair with a Tennessee police officer before separating from his wife. She also claimed that one woman, who she said was romantically involved with her ex-husband, contacted her superiors at Fort Campbell to report her. McClaine said in one post, dated four months ago, that she had moved on with a boyfriend. She said her former spouse was under investigation by the military for alleged sexual offences during their marriage. The US Army could not immediately confirm her claim when contacted by Daily Mail on Thursday. McClaine enlisted in 2011 and is believed to have served in South Korea and Afghanistan. A former adviser to Schapelle Corby has been questioned at Denpasar Police Station after bullets were found in his luggage at the airport. Australian man Vasudevan Rasiah, who is working as a property developer in Bali, worked with Corby's legal team as a 'consultant' following her arrest in 2004. The 64-year-old was held at Denpasar International Airport on Wednesday after a security official allegedly found six .32 calibre and five .22 calibre bullets housed inside a hard, black case in his luggage. A former adviser to Schapelle Corby, Australian man Vasudevan Rasiah (pictured), has been questioned at Denpasar Police Station after bullets were found in his luggage at the airport A security official allegedly found six .32 calibre and five .22 calibre bullets housed inside a hard, black case in Mr Rasiah's luggage (pictured) He was on his way to Malaysia at the time. After questioning Mr Rasiah on Thursday, Denpasar Police Detective Chief Reinhard Habonaran Nainggolan said the property developer claimed he had not used the bag for a long time. 'He said that once he had firing exercises with Klungkung police chief (in Bali). We need to dig deeper in to this. We have searched his house and found nothing. 'Up to now, he's still being investigated to make sure whether there is a criminal element or not.' Mr Rasiah was involved with Corby's defence after her arrest in Bali in 2004 with 4.1 kg of cannabis inside a bodyboard bag. Denpasar Police Detective Chief Reinhard Habonaran Nainggolan said Mr Rasiah (pictured) claimed he had not used the bag for a long time Corby was sentenced to 20 years in 2005 but was released from Bali's Kerobokan Prison on February 10, 2014. She has remained on parole on the island for more than two years. She allegedly confessed she had been trained in 'how to deal with men' was captured in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic A woman nicknamed Ukraine's Mata Hari has been detained by pro-Vladimir Putin rebels who claim she was sent to seduce and abduct their servicemen. Liliya Kots, 28, is suspected of being a member of staunchly nationalist Ukrainian organisations and to be working undercover on behalf of Kiev's SBU intelligence service. She was seized in Donetsk after befriending a 'serviceman' belonging to the forces of the breakaway region's pro-Moscow regime. In an alleged confession she was quoted as saying she had been trained in 'how to deal with men'. Liliya Kots, 28, is suspected of being a female agent schooled in the art of seduction working undercover on behalf of Kiev's SBU intelligence service Her training as a 'swallow' - a KGB-style female agent schooled in seduction - allegedly included having sex with key targets. 'We had to get as close to the indicated people as possible - and find out as much as we could - including having sexual intercourse,' she said. 'We were recording conversation on video and voice recorder.' She was also trained to shoot, plant explosives, and read maps, it is claimed. It is not known under what pressure she made her alleged 'confession' but she said her findings were passed to the SBU via controllers who were senior members of Right Sector, a Ukrainian nationalist grouping. In Donetsk, she was accused of befriending a 'serviceman' to organise his abduction using her 'spying and female skills'. She was seized in Donetsk after befriending a 'serviceman' belonging to the forces of the breakaway region's pro-Moscow regime It is not known under what pressure she made her alleged 'confession' under She planned to drug him, and hand him over to her conspirators who would smuggle him to Kiev-controlled territory, it was claimed. Pictures appear to show her in paramilitary uniform with a Ukrainian nationalist group. She also uses the name Lilya Kashtan. Right Sector spokesman Artem Skoropadskyy said Liliya Kots, who was detained in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, was neither an activist nor a volunteer of their organisation. The commander of the volunteer battalion OUN [Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists], Mykola Kokhanivskyy, said: 'I saw her once near the battalion's boot camp. However, she never joined our ranks.' Liliya Kots was detained in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic This is the moment when unsuspecting residents of a Swiss village may well have crossed themselves as they spotted a 36-foot-tall statue of Jesus soaring through the sky. The 2.4 tonne replica of Rio de Janeiro's famous Christ the Redeemer statue was lifted by helicopter to its new home on the Guschastein hill above Pfaefers, near St Gallen in eastern Switzerland. The statue was previously resident in the nearby Swiss village of Bad Ragaz, where he stood atop a different mountain. But a local referendum was held in April which saw residents decide to boot the 2.4 tonne sculpture out,FM1Today reported. Jesus will be allowed to stay in his new home next to the Wartenstein castle ruins for the next five years, perching more than 800 feet above the nearby valley, according to Swiss paper Tagblatt. A 36ft tall replica of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue that dominates the skyline of Rio de Janeiro arrived in Pfaefers, eastern Switzerland today The view of rolling Swiss hills is quite a departure from the bustling cityscape and ocean of Rio de Janeiro that the original statue overlooks Though giant, this Swiss incarnation of Christ the Redeemer doesn't come close to matching its namesake in size - the original statue towers over Rio de Janeiro at 124 feet. The Art Deco sculpture has become the face of Brazil's capital city and is the fifth largest monument to Jesus in the world. Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss first proposed building a religious monument in Rio in 1850. But the idea was dismissed until 1920, when a public appeal was made for donations to fund the project. The construction of the statue took nine years to complete. The 2.4 tonne replica was stood atop a nearby mountain for around a year, but locals decided they wanted it gone in a referendum earlier this year Having landed safe and sound, workers make sure the statue is secured in its new home next to the ruins of Wartenstein castle Donald Trump ratcheted up his warnings about election fraud on Thursday, tweeting about 'vote flipping' on touch-screen voting machines in Texas. 'A lot of call-ins about vote flipping at the voting booths in Texas,' the Republican presidential nominee wrote on Twitter. 'People are not happy. BIG lines. What is going on?' There are at least two reports of from the Lone Star State of votes being changed from Trump to Hillary Clinton when ballots are finalized on the machines. Trump has warned for months about a 'rigged' election that could deny him a victory, and this week he chided President Barack Obama for criticizing that claim. But Thursday morning's tweet marks the first time he has tied his predictions of voter fraud to a specific report that suggests he could be right. Scroll down for video 'A lot of call-ins about vote flipping at the voting booths in Texas,' the Republican presidential nominee wrote on Twitter. 'People are not happy. BIG lines. What is going on?' There are at least two reports of from the Lone Star State of votes being changed from Trump to Hillary Clinton when ballots are finalized on the machines On Monday a Texas woman named Shandy Clark posted a Facebook entry that became the talk of conservative radio shows, describing a family member's early voting experience in the city of Arlington. '[S]he voted straight Republican. She checked before she submitted and the vote had changed to Clinton! She reported it and made sure her vote was changed back. They commented that it had been happening,' Clark wrote. In an interview that aired Thursday morning on ABC's 'Good Morning America,' Trump seemed to soften his claim about a rigged election, saying more generally that 'I think the system is rigged.' But that interview was taped on Wednesday. Eighteen hours later, the social media-driven candidate appears to have doubled down on his warnings about election fraud. Shandy Clark posted a Facebook message describing a family member's early voting experience in the city of Arlington Touch-screen balloting machines are susceptible to errors, but election officials typically blame voters for 'user errors.' Tarrant County, Texas Elections Administrator Frank Phillips told Fox 4 in Dallas that 'we always call the sites and speak with the election judge to see if they have been told about this issue. 'If the judge can confirm that someone has brought this issue up, we then take that machine out of service until we can test it.' But 'we have never been able to replicate the issue, either at the site or in our office,' he claimed. The problem has not been limited to Texas. In 2014 a YouTube video showed, on camera, a Virginia touch-screen voting machine recording a vote for a Democratic congressional challenger several times when a voter touched the check-box representing the Republican incumbent. In 2014 a YouTube video showed, on camera, a Virginia touch-screen voting machine recording a vote for a Democratic congressional challenger several times when a voter touched the check-box representing the Republican incumbent Texas officials say such 'flipping' problems can occur when voters incorrectly indicate that they intend to vote a 'straight party' ticket and choose the wrong party Texas officials, however, say such problems can occur when voters incorrectly indicate that they intend to vote a 'straight party' ticket and choose the wrong party. In a case like that, when a voter inadvertently chooses the Democratic ticket instead of Republican, the software would reject attempts to override that choice by picking individual Republicans. But one voter told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that a voting machine at a Dallas County library recorded her straight-ticket Republican vote and was surprised to see that it had recorded her as a straight-ticket Democrat. In that case, she was able to avoid submitting the ballot when she saw the error on a summary screen. She said a poll worker apologized and told her to use another machine. 'My question is how many other people didn't know,' she told the newspaper. The problem could actually be helping Trump in some cases, a wrinkle that didn't make it into his Thursday morning tweet. Texas Democratic Party chairwoman Deborah Peoples told CBS 11 in Dallas that she has heard of 'multiple examples' of vote-flipping that takes votes away from Clinton. The next EnVision Bus Read more [...] Harris says Cooper's death was an accident. He is charged with first degree murder and if found guilty would face life in prison The car is both a crime scene and a murder weapon, after Harris' young son Cooper died inside of hyperthermia in Marietta, Georgia in June 2014 Jurors in the trial of Justin Ross Harris were shown his silver Hyundai Tucson on Thursday Justin Ross Harris began to make reservations for a summer resort holiday for two adults and no children, the day before his son died Ross Harris may have been considering a divorce. He was also searching for information about a name change. And on the day before his son died, Harris began to make reservations for a vacation in July and August at a resort - for two adults and no children. That evidence emerged Thursday afternoon from Jim Persinger, a specialist in forensic evaluation of digital devices who testified for the state about data he recovered from Harris' computers and cell phone. Persinger told jurors that Harris had visited an internal Home Depot webpage for employees in May titled, 'Divorce/ Legal Separation Checklist.' Harris had searched 'name change' to access the page, he said. He said the data recovered also revealed reservation inquiries at a Sandals resort for July 22 and another for August 22. The queries indicated reservations for two adults but no children, he said. On the day before his son died, Harris began to make reservations for a vacation in July and August at a resort - for two adults and no children Harris is accused of deliberately leaving his toddler son Cooper locked inside the car in 2014 while he worked for seven hours on a hot summer day at his web-development job near Atlanta. Jurors circled the car on Thursday Persinger said Harris researched Georgia law on the age of consent on his phone but found no evidence that Harris had searched for 'murder,' 'homicide' or 'divorce attorney.' He also said Harris used Chrome and Firefox as browsers. The search history on Chrome had been deleted and was not recoverable. Harris was 'crafty' for intentionally hiding items on his computer, he said. Assistant Prosecutor Chuck Boring said he hopes to present the state's final witnesses Friday morning. Harris claims that the hot car death of 22-month-old Cooper in 2014 was an accident. But prosecutors say he did it deliberately to get his son out of his life. Earlier jurors were shown Harris' silver Hyundai Tucson, in which Cooper died. They quietly circled the SUV several feet away in a supervised and well-guarded spot outside the Glynn County Courthouse Thursday morning. They could look but they couldn't touch. It was a both a crime scene and a murder weapon in the hot car death case. But even if the jurors had been permitted to lean in for a closer look, they would have detected little more than the staleness of a car kept dormant in police custody for more than two years. The controlled, real-life viewing was the among the last of the states evidence to be offered in the case of Harris, accused of deliberately leaving his toddler son locked inside his car while he worked for seven hours on a hot summer day at his web-development job near Atlanta. Sheriffs deputies and court bailiffs escorted the jurors to a car park just outside the courthouse. They viewed the vehicle, displayed with all doors closed as well as the driver's door open. The entire viewing lasted ten minutes. Jurors were there to absorb for themselves the reality of the scene, for deliberation still weeks away. The jurors circled the SUV in silence under the overcast skies. There were no witnesses present. There were neither questions nor answers from either the prosecution or the defense teams. No one was permitted to talk. Harris wept in court last week when this image - one of the last taken of Cooper before his death - was shown to the jury There was only the SUV - and the child seat that had been carefully placed in the precise spot where Cooper died. Ross Harris himself opted to stay away from the viewing and remained under guard inside the courthouse. The jurors filed single file as they entered the parking area. They circled the car twice with the car doors closed and twice again with the driver's door open. They viewed the SUV for just under 9 minutes. Several jurors peered inside as their viewing time neared the end. One juror returned to the front of the car and then again to the driver's door to soak up the view before they were escorted back to the courtroom. Back inside, an agitated defense attorney Maddox Kilgore asked the court to declare a mistrial, citing the difference in weather conditions for this viewing, compared with that day in June 2014. He called the jury's viewing of his defendant's car 'an absolute disaster.' The car was parked outside Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Georgia The red Chicco car seat that held infant Cooper Harris as he died - now evidence in the murder trial of his father. Jurors viewed the car with the seat placed in its exact original position on Thursday Judge Mary Staley Clark reminded Kilgore that the courtroom wasn't big enough to accommodate the car inside and they jury had every right to view the crime scene. She denied Kilgore's motion. The car had been transported earlier in the week from a police evidence facility in Marietta, Georgia to this coastal town more than 300 miles to the southeast. Court officials directed a recovery truck to a spot near the courthouse and pushed it into position once it had been offloaded. Also on Thursday, Angela Cornett testified she texted with Harris on June 18, the day Cooper died. She had met Harris several months earlier on the Skout app. Cornett said Harris indicated he was interested in sex and wanted to meet, but she found him 'creepy and sketchy'. Harris told her he wanted to sleep with as many people as possible, she told the jury. The jury has already heard from a series of young women on the witness stands, including a teen and a prostitute, who testified to conducting relationships with the married father-of-one and sexting with him on the day that Cooper died. Carlos Rodriguez, defense attorney, discusses enhanced and enlarged images at Home Depot Tree house car park that show Harris at his SUV on day Cooper died In testimony on Wednesday lead Detective Phil Stoddard t old the court that Harris could have spotted Cooper earlier in the day. Stoddard said he believes Harris had a clear view of Cooper in the car when he went to the vehicle after lunch to drop of a bag of light bulbs he'd purchased. But Harris might not have seen his son when he opened the door to toss the light bulbs inside, because his head was above the frame of the car, he conceded. The jury was also shown enhanced still photographs made from security video at the Home Depot Tree House car park. The images were fuzzy and grainy due to the amount of enlargement, but did show Harris' head at the frame of his car door, court observers said. What remained unclear is how far his head may have entered or what Harris was able to see when he placed his purchase in the front seat. Also on Wednesday another Cobb County investigator, Det. David Raissi, said he thought Ross Harris' use of legal language while in questioning was strange. Harris calmly argued there was 'no malicious intent,' Raissi explained. 'I thought it was strange. It triggered in my mind how he knew that language,' Raissi continued. The wording wasn't something someone who wasn't a police officer would use, he said. Raissi told the court he was reviewing his notes this morning before testifying and discovered that the phrase 'malicious intent' is not used in Alabama's legal code. It is used in Georgia's legal code, he said. Harris moved from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Georgia in 2012. Police also questioned the behavior of Ross Harris' wife Leanna. Det. Stoddard said she didn't show emotion or react in the way he thought she should when police allowed her to see her husband in the interrogation room. Leanna did not even ask to see her dead son's body, Stoddard said. But while that raised eyebrows and led police to suspect she played a part in young Cooper's death, Leanna was never arrested. She is expected in court next week as a defense witness. Harris with his wife Leanna. She is expected in court next week as a defense witness His double life was detailed by Stoddard on Tuesday, as he gave testimony on the graphic sexual text messages he discovered as he examined Harris' iPhone after his arrest. 'I keep my two lives separate,' Harris wrote in one. 'I'm addicted to using sex with strangers to keep me sane,' another message read. It is the last week of the prosecution case in the trial, which has attracted national media coverage. Harris's defense attorneys are preparing to lay into the state's case against him, as they try to convince the jury that the hot car death was an accident. Harris's defense rests on convincing the jury that he forgot his son was in the family vehicle. They are expected to attack Stoddard - whose shocking testimony two years ago helped turn public opinion against Harris - as well as the Cobb County police department. A jury even had to be found 300 miles away in Brunswick because a judge ruled that no impartial one could be found in Harris's hometown. The jury has had to see crime scene photos of Cooper's body and sat through a medical examiner's testimony of his agonizing death during the seven long hours he was in the car outside his father's office in Marietta, Georgia in 2014. A mother has slammed Ikea after a security guard pulled a 'disgusted face' and asked her to stop breastfeeding because a customer had complained. Katy Scrigna was in the Manchester Ashton branch feeding her seven-week-old daughter when she was told to move to the store's 'designated breastfeeding area'. She said the security guard then pulled a face and referred to her as 'you people', which she said was an 'inhumane, rude, shameful, and derogatory way to refer to a breastfeeding mother.' Furious by the store's response, Ms Scrigna wrote an impassioned Facebook post where she attacked Ikea and accused them of breaking the law. IKEA have admitted their staff were at fault and insisted mothers were free to breastfeed anywhere in their stores. Katy Scrigna was in the Manchester Ashton branch feeding her seven-week-old daughter when she was told to move to the store's 'designated breastfeeding area' In her post to Ashton IKEA, which has been shared hundreds of times since she posted it yesterday evening, Ms Scrigna hit out at her treatment. She wrote: 'Sadly, my view on Ikea has been tarnished. While walking, I was feeding my daughter as I do often. I was then approached by a security guard and told it was Ikea's policy to not have any breastfeeding throughout the shop as you have a dedicated area for this. 'Now although I don't believe that is truly your policy, as I don't think it could be anybody's policy, I am disgusted and saddened that you have employed such people.' She then spoke to the security guard's manager, called 'Dale', who she claimed referred to her as 'you people' She added: 'I was still currently feeding my seven-week-old daughter as she was still hungry, nothing else for me to do! I held my hand out to introduce myself. 'Dale paused, made a disgusted face and thought about how to proceed. 'He eventually took my hand. I introduced myself as Katy. I then informed him that requesting I breastfeed elsewhere was against the law. He informed me Ikea has a designated breastfeeding area. The mother-of-two, with her son and husband Matthew, has slammed IKEA's response 'I then informed him it was my choice not to use that, and once again he was breaking the law, I wasn't sure if he was hard of hearing. Dale then informed me a costumer had complained. I once again said he was breaking the law and should I phone the police? 'It was obvious then Dale isn't hard of hearing and was just choosing to ignore myself, the law, and common human rights. He then chose again to try get me to breastfeed in the Ikea's designated area as he liked to call it. He continued to say Ikea caters for 'you people', she alleged. Ms Scrigna, who is originally from Durban in South Africa, wrote: 'Exact quote. Dale said "You people" to me three times. What a disgusting, inhumane, rude, shameful, and derogatory way to refer to a breastfeeding mother.' The Ashton furniture store, which opened in 2006 and employs 500 people, is one of Manchester's busiest retailers Ms Scrigna, who was also with her husband Matthew and son when the incident happened yesterday afternoon, said she was glad it happened to her and not a first-time mother. The mother-of-two, who lives in Ashton Under-Lyne, said: 'As many, many woman do, I had a rough start with feeding my first baby. It is tough. Feeding while out did not come easy. The first place I ever fed in public was on the couch, next to my husband, in the Ikea Ashton cafe. 'I felt safe there. The last 20 months of my life breastfeeding at Ikea I have had nothing but smiles from employees. Sadly today, your very own health and safety manager Dale ruined that. He took that away from all breastfeeding mums.' The Ashton furniture store, which opened in 2006 and employs 500 people, is one of Manchester's busiest retailers. A spokesman for Ikea confirmed that yesterday's incident had taken place, saying: 'Unfortunately, a member of staff gave the wrong information and the manager has now reiterated IKEA's open breastfeeding policy to all members of staff. 'We have an open approach to breastfeeding in all of our stores, with nursing facilities located in the restaurants and baby care areas. President Vladimir Putin on Thursday slammed as 'hysteria' claims that Russia has attempted to interfere in the upcoming US presidential elections by hacking American political institutions. 'The number of mythical, dreamed-up problems includes the hysteria I can't think of another word that has broken out in the United States about the influence of Russia on the current elections for the US president,' Putin said at a Valdai Discussion Club meeting of political scientists in Sochi. 'Does anyone seriously think Russia can somehow influence the choice of the US people? Is the U.S. some kind of banana republic? The United States is a great power. Please correct me if I'm wrong,' Putin said to laughter in the audience. Scroll down for videos 'Does anyone seriously think Russia can somehow influence the choice of the US people?' Russian President Vladimir Putin asked Thursday in Sochi Hillary Clinton and her campaign have insisted Russia is behind the hacks and other cyber attacks in order to harm her campaign and see Donald trump elected Washington last week formally accused the Russian government of trying to 'interfere' in the 2016 White House race by hacking US political institutions, charges the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed. Putin has vehemently rejected the accusations, saying they are meant to divert American voters from domestic problems. 'It's a lot easier to distract people's attention towards Russia's so-called hackers, spies, agents of influence and so on,' Putin said Thursday. The Kremlin strongman however adopted a hard line against cyber attacks, saying these are 'unacceptable'. Russian authorities have slammed Washington for 'unprecedented' threats after US Vice President Joe Biden told NBC this month that Putin would receive a 'message' in response to the alleged hacking. NBC later reported that the CIA was preparing a retaliatory cyber attack 'designed to harass and embarrass the Kremlin leadership.' Trump has insisted that it's impossible to know who is behind the attacks, citing as possibilities China, North Korea, and a lone actor working in his basement Russia's foreign ministry at the weekend said that an old version of its website had apparently been attacked after a US hacker claimed he broke in and posted a mocking message. The Kremlin was propelled to the heart of US politics in July after Hillary Clinton's campaign blamed Moscow for a damaging leak of emails from the Democratic National Committee. Russia has been accused of favoring Republican candidate Donald Trump -- who has praised Putin and called for better relations with Moscow -- over the more hawkish Clinton. Putin has offered what appears to be veiled support for Trump, but he said Thursday that claims the Kremlin would like to see the Republican candidate win were 'absolute nonsense.' 'This is just a method of political struggle, a way to manipulate public opinion on the eve of the US elections,' he said. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hasn't said where his anti-secrecy organization got the emails that have proved extraordinarily damaging to the Clinton campaign Putin nonetheless praised Trump for appealing to disenchanted American electors. 'He represents the views of a significant part of society in the United States that is tired of those elites who have been in power for decades,' he said. 'He just represents the interests of such ordinary people, and he presents himself as an ordinary guy who criticises those who have already been in power for decades.' He accused the West of building up a 'mythical and made-up' threat of Russian aggression to justify increasing military spending and bolstering NATO forces in countries neighboring Russia. 'It's very pleasant and profitable to make yourself out to be defendants of civilisation from some new barbarians, but the thing is Russia doesn't plan to attack anyone,' he said. 'It's unthinkable -- simply stupid and unrealistic,' he added. 'It's just funny to talk about it.' WikiLeaks has published thousands of emails hacked from the Gmail account of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta Putin also took a jab at the West for its 'mistakes' in its military interventions in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and now, Syria. 'The fight against terrorism has not yielded a global result while the threats are only growing,' he warned, complaining that Russia's calls to unite forces against terrorism have been ignored. He pointed the finger of blame at the United States for the ongoing violence in Syria, saying that 'stopping bloodshed and launching a political process (in Syria) has not been possible.' A judge has told a troubled teen facing 49 burglary charges to be like 50 Cent and rise above tragic circumstances. The Aboriginal boy, 16, was facing Geraldton Magistrates Court in regional Western Australia for stealing more than $10,000 worth of property. But Magistrate Dean Potter saw potential in the teenager to 'rise above' circumstances like black American rapper 50 cent, ABC News reported. 'Like you, 50 Cent came from the most tragic, traumatic circumstances,' Magistrate Potter told the teenager in court. Scroll down for video A judge has told a troubled teen facing 49 burglary charges to be like 50 Cent (pictured) and rise above tragic circumstances 50 Cent, the American rapper, was arrested when he was in the 10th grade (police photo pictured) 'He was able to rise above them through sheer hard work and dedication. 'I think you have the potential to do the same and avoid a life in that criminal justice system.' 50 Cent's drug dealing single mother was murdered when he was eight-years-old and 'Fiddy' began dealing when he was a teenager. He was arrested in the 10th grade but continued selling crack and heroin before his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' went platinum nine times. He was arrested in the 10th grade but continued selling crack and heroin before his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' went platinum nine times He was shot nine times in 2000. 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, filed for bankruptcy in July last year. He has branched out to become an actor and businessman. Magistrate Potter said the 16-year-old teenager in court had witnessed domestic violence and addiction. The boy had never been through the judicial system before, which the magistrate said was a 'miracle' and said 'something [about] your character'. 'If people were able to walk a mile in your shoes, I think they'd be as astounded by you as I am.' 50 Cent's drug dealing single mother was murdered when he was eight-years-old and 'Fiddy' began dealing when he was a teenager 50 Cent, who has branched out to become an actor and businessman, filed for bankruptcy in July last year Magistrate Potter sentenced him to a six-month intensive supervision order and 40 hours of community service for 14 burglary charges. He was not sentenced for the remaining 35 charges for the mother to punish him instead. In his sentencing remarks, the magistrate said prison would make circumstances worse for the teenager. 'As an Aboriginal man, if you end up in that system, your chances of turning your life around will only grow slimmer,' he said. 'You don't want to be part of the problem, you want to be part of the solution. 'In 10 years I want to look you up and see your successes.' 'As an Aboriginal man, if you end up in that system, your chances of turning your life around will only grow slimmer,' Magistrate Potter told the teenager at Geraldton Court (pictured) On Thursday, the Federal government announced the Australian Law Reform Commission would examine high Indigenous incarceration rates. Indigenous made up 27 per cent of the national prison population in 2015. Indigenous children and teenagers are 24 times more likely to be incarcerated than their non-Indigenous, Attorney-General George Brandis said. If aliens ever decide to land on earth, the French town of Chateauneuf-du-Pape is probably worth avoiding. A 62 year ban on flying saucers will remain in place, meaning any life forms which emerge from one face immediate arrest. The town's mayor said he would not be lifting a decree made in 1954, which was put in place after a reported sighting of a spaceship. Since then the unusual law - banning the 'flying over, landing, or taking off of flying saucers' - has remained in place. Not welcome here: A ban on flying saucers in Chateauneuf-du-Pape remains in place, the town's mayor has announced And the edict, issued by then-mayor Lucien Young continued: 'Any aircraft, known as flying saucer or flying cigar, which should land on the territory of the community will be immediately held in custody.' The current mayor in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which is well known for its vineyards, Claude Avril, told France Bleu: 'I'm not going to touch the ban. It spices things up a bit. It creates a harmless kind of buzz and no one is getting tricked.' In the age before the internet, the original ban still made headlines around the world, with journalists travelling from far and wide to speak to Mr Young. Flying saucers are banned from flying over, landing in or taking off from Chateauneuf-du-Pape His son, Elie Jeune, said the move had been a success. 'He wanted to make a bit of an advertisement for Chateauneuf,' he said. He said that the account was closed because, 'they can't handle the truth' Danney Williams (pictured), who claims to be Bill Clinton's son, says his YouTube account was shut down overnight The man who claims to be Bill Clinton's illegitimate son was 'temporarily banned' from social media on Wednesday night. Danney Williams, 30, claimed he received a message that his YouTube account had been permanently suspended due to 'repeated or severe violations' of the network's policy. Williams posted a picture of an alleged notice from YouTube, along with the message: 'My youtube account has been deleted... They can't handle the truth!' However, the account was back online on Thursday morning. One video Williams posted on his page earlier this month, 'Bill Clinton's Black Son BANISHED - The Story of Danney Williams,' has been viewed more than one-million times. In the nine-minute clip, Williams says he has 'no doubt he is Bill Clinton's son', and claims it is 'common knowledge'. It then goes on to accuse Hillary Clinton of 'chasing Williams' mother away' and 'threatening her'. The other five videos Williams posted in the last two weeks each had less than 250 views. Williams has been thrust into the spotlight throughout the election, and earlier this month he revealed plans to sue Clinton to force him to provide a new DNA sample to determine once and for all whether the former president is his father. 'I would love a DNA test to be done,' he said at the time. Williams posted this picture to his Facebook page on Wednesday night, claiming it was proof his account had been shut down Williams published a video, 'Bill Clinton's Black Son BANISHED - The Story of Danney Williams,' earlier this month and it has been viewed more than one-million times A DNA test was carried out in 1999 and it found it was not possible for Clinton to be the 30-year-old's father, according to Star Magazine. However, some still question the test, saying it relied on 'imprecise' data. Despite the test results, Williams and others have continued to make the unproven allegations. It had been rumored that he would be a guest of Donald Trump's at the third presidential debate, but instead Williams held a press conference in Las Vegas. Danney Williams posing for a photo with his mother, Bobbi Ann Williams, while holding a picture of Bill Clinton. Williams says his mother had sex with the former president 13 times while she was a prostitute in Little Rock, Arkansas The 30-year-old (right) has shared pictures of himself on social media, placing them next to images of Bill Clinton to back up his allegations Williams (right, as a young boy) says he has 'no doubt he is Bill Clinton's (left, as a child) son', and claims it is 'common knowledge' During his media appearance, Williams said he was not trying to damage the Clintons by holding the conference moments before Hillary was due to take the stage in the final debate, and he also denied having received money from the Trump campaign. Williams, who is a father-of-five, was born on December 7, 1985. He claims Clinton met his mother, Bobbie Ann Williams, when she was working as a prostitute in Arkansas. He says his mother told him she and the former president had sex 13 times. DailyMail.com contacted YouTube for comment. Williams (pictured during a press conference ahead of the third presidential debate this month) has threatened to sue Clinton to get a DNA test The head of a rival theme park company was spotted at Shanghai Disneyland scoping out the competition. Wang Jianlin, the richest man in China and the head of the Wanda Dalian real estate group, has in the past expressed his wish to push Disney out of the theme park market. According to his company's website, Wang Jianlin, who is worth 32.6 billion (26.7 billion), visited the park on October 26 to 'study'. Be our guest: Wang Jianlin, head of rival theme park visited Shanghai Disneyland, October 26 Taking a look around: He took a tour of the $5.5 billion resort with Disney Executives Wang Jianlin (pictured) with personal assets worth 26.6 billion is the richest man in China CRI reported that Wang toured the $5.5 billion (4.5 billion) resort with Disney executives: Andrew Bolstein, vice president of operations, and Murray King, vice president of public affairs at Shanghai Disney Resort, according to a Disney spokesman. Earlier this year Wang Jianlin, chairman of real estate conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, raged war on Disney, telling reporters that he wanted Disney to be unable to make a profit in this sector in China for between 10 and 20 years. He opened his second theme park in Hefei, east China's Anhui province on September 24, costing some 34 billion yuan (3.9 billion) to create. Wang, who is a mega-rich property tycoon, wants to open six more theme parks in the next three years and have 15 in China by 2020. On the Wanda Group's website, it said that Wang was there to 'study' Disney's rival: The second theme park belonging to Wanda opened in September Wang Jianlin at his theme park: The resort opened in September this year Disneyland opened its first theme park on the mainland on June 16 Earlier this year, Wanda opened a Shanghai theme park which has already enraged senior Disney officials after Captain America and Snow White characters were spotted milling around with guests at their rival's site. The massive Wanda City complex in Nanchang, in south eastern China, includes a giant mall and 200-acre park which claims to have the highest and longest roller coaster in the country. 'This craze for Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck is over, the period when we would blindly follow where Disney led has been gone for years,' he said. 'A tiger cannot take on a pack of wolves,' he added. Shanghai Disneyland opened on June 16. Most of around 6,000 migrants have been removed from 'Jungle' camp French police have adopted a 'zero tolerance' policy against migrants at the Calais 'Jungle' camp as more than 100 refuse to leave. Police commissioner Patrick Visser-Bourdon said those who refuse to be relocated away from Calais will be arrested and charged with being in the country illegally. As smoke hung over burned out sections the camp, former home to 8,000 migrants, a small minority evaded police by hiding in the mass of tents. Commissioner Visser-Bourdon told MailOnline: 'We have given the people from the camp three days to leave. They either cooperate or they will be arrested.' Scroll down for videos French police have adopted a 'zero tolerance' policy against migrants from the Calais 'Jungle' camp because around 100 are refusing to leave Police commissioner Patrick Visser-Bourdon told MailOnline anyone who refuses to leave willingly will be arrested and charged with being in France illegally. Pictured: Police overseeing the evacuation Migrants and police alike said the fire which broke out at the camp today (pictured) was started deliberately As smoke from the blaze hung over the camp and heavy equipment removed the charred shells of makeshift homes, around 100 migrants hid in tents to evade police 'There are just about 100 left and if they refuse to leave they will be arrested and charged with having no papers and being in the country illegally.' The Commissioner, flanked by four heavily armed officers, said the zero tolerance approach would apply to any migrant attempting to set up a new camp in the Calais area. There are just about 100 left and if they refuse to leave they will be arrested and charged with having no papers and being in the country illegally. Police commissioner Patrick Visser-Bourdon Migrants arrested would be charged with being illegally in France and face the threat of being deported. The thousands of migrants who had been living in the camp for months have now been relocated to reception centres around France. The final stragglers waited patiently for buses to ship them out to their new homes while queues of children were marshalled by aid workers and stood in a line waiting to picked up. The 100 who sneaked back in hid among the thousands of shacks and tents as two mechanical diggers swept through the area, its giant metal claws ripping down make-shift homes. Teams of demolition workers checked each tent before signalling for the diggers to move in and begin the clearance of the site. Most of the 6,000 migrants who once called the camp home have been bused off to relocation centres across France, but the 100 straggles seem determined to stay put. Pictured: Migrants waiting for buses Any migrants arrested in the camp would be charged with being illegally in France and face the threat of being deported, the police commissioner told MailOnline 100m-long lines of police vans parked on the perimeter of the camp waiting for the order to move in and make arrests. Pictured: A riot policeman speaking to some migrants The final stragglers waited patiently for buses to ship them out to their new homes while queues of children. Pictured: An armed officer overseas the evacuation Police officers stood around smoking and chatting while watching the destruction of the camp. Pictured: Police helping migrants board buses 100m-long lines of police vans parked on the perimeter of the camp waiting for the order to move in and make arrests. Police officers stood around smoking and chatting while watching the destruction of the camp. I spent the entire night here! I am in the queue for minors to go to England. I have family there Young Afghan migrant French authorities said the clear-out progressed smoothly with thousands of migrants choosing to accept their fate and leave willingly for one of 450 reception centres across France. Dozens of child migrants hoping to start a new life in Britain are stuck in no-man's land after French riot police barred them from returning to the dismantled Jungle. 'I spent the entire night here!' a young Afghan said. 'I am in the queue for minors to go to England. I have family there.' They were seen shivering in sleeping bags around the edges of the camp overnight as French authorities continued to rip the settlement to pieces. Dozens of child migrants hoping to start a new life in Britain are stuck in no-man's land after French riot police banned them from coming back to the camp 'I spent the entire night here!' a young Afghan said. 'I am in the queue for minors to go to England. I have family there,' Pictured: Toys left behind by child migrants French authorities said the clear-out progressed smoothly with thousands of migrants choosing to accept their fate. Pictured: Migrants waiting to leave the camp as riot police watch on Teams of demolition workers checked each tent before signalling for the diggers to move in The children, still waiting to learn their fate, huddled outside a hangar where adult migrants have been registered for relocation over the last few days. Even though migrants have effectively been removed from the Calais area for the first time in over 20 years, work on a concrete wall protecting the Channel Tunnel and Ferry port continued. Officials in Calais expect small groups of migrants to try and return while locals fear new settlements will simply spring up in the area once the Jungle is razed. Prosecutors in the murder trial of a Texas man accused of killing his fiancee in 2013 told the court this week that the defendant shot the woman twice in the face to stop her from testifying against him in an earlier kidnapping and rape case. Michael Kevin Adams, 53, of Frisco, was arrested in February 2014 on a capital murder charge in the slaying of his stockbroker ex-fiancee Nicole Leger, 34, who was found killed in her Melissa, Texas, home by her 17-year-old son, in September 2013. The prosecution in the murder case contends that Adams murdered Leger to prevent her from pursuing the sexual assault case against him, but the defense claims that the investigation has been compromised because the victim was in a sexual relationship with a police detective assigned to the case. Capital murder: Michael Adams, 53 (left), is on trial in Texas for the shooting death of his ex-fiancee, stockbroker and mother-of-one Nicole Leger, 34 (right), who was killed in 2013 Leger allegedly was raped by Adams at his Frisco home in March 2013 when she went to pick up her belongings following their split a month prior. Adams allegedly laced the woman's food with drugs, restrained her in his garage and raped her. Leger pressed charges against Adams, leading to his arrest in March on criminal counts of aggravated sexual assault and unlawful restraint. The woman told veteran Frisco Detective Scott Greer that her ex-fiance kept her tied up for more than a day. She eventually convinced him to let her go after she promised to go to couples' counselling with him. Instead, she went straight to police, according to reporting by DallasNews.com. Speaking to Greer from her hospital bed after the sexual assault, Leger said she was shocked Adams set her free and claimed that he cannot control his anger. The detective recorded his conversation with Leger. When Adams was released on bail, the victim was granted an emergency protective order against him. 'Bad cop': Defense says the case against Adams has been compromised by the involvement of former Frisco, Texas, detective Scott Greer, who has admitted that he and Leger had exchanged lewd photos In April of that year, Adams reportedly violated the no-contact order by sending Leger a bouquet of flowers with a card. I feel like he will show up at my door or car at any time, she was quoted as saying in a police statement. Trey Leger, then 17 years old, reportedly told police that Adams had threatened to kill his mother. Then on September 9, 2013, the teenager came home from school to discover his mother shot twice in the face. In court this week, Adams' attorneys labeled former detective Scott Greer a dirty cop. The officer, who stepped down in May 2014 after 17 years on the Frisco police force, has admitted to exchanging lewd photos with Leger. Greer was the detective who collected a DNA sample from Kevin Adams, leading the man's lawyers to allege that the criminal investigation has been tainted. The defense also revealed in court that rape kit evidence collected at Nicole Leger's home after her killing showed that the woman had sex with at least two men, which did not include Adams, before she died. A 'beautiful' 14-year-old schoolgirl was killed in a horror crash during a night out which left her friend fighting for her life and three others injured. Neringa Narusyte was in the back seat of a Vauxhall Corsa which collided with another car on the B9016 in Moray, north-east Scotland, at 11pm on Wednesday. Her 14-year-old friend suffered life threatening injuries in the crash and two other female passengers, aged 16 and 17, were also injured. But the 17-year-old male driver suffered only minor injuries. Neringa's mother broke down in tears as she paid tribute to the 'lovely' schoolgirl at the family home in Buckie. Neringa Narusyte (shown) was killed in a horror crash during a night out yesterday which also left her close friend fighting for her life 'I still can't believe that she's gone,' Ilona Narusute, 34, said. 'She was a lovely, nice girl. She was just a teenager. She's always going to be loved and remembered.' Ms Narusute said her daughter had been out with friends during on Wednesday and had known the 17-year-old driver of the car. Shocked family and friends brought floral tributes to the house as word spread throughout the close knit community about their devastating loss. Neringa was in this back seat of a black Vauxhall Corsa which collided with another car on the B9016 in Moray, north-east Scotland, at 11pm on Wednesday Neringa's mother (second from right) broke down in tears as she paid tribute to the 'lovely' schoolgirl (second from left) at the family home in Buckie. Also pictured is Neringa's stepfather Colin Milne, her baby brother Jay, and sister Erika The family moved to the Moray coast 11 years ago from Lithuania. Neringa was a third year pupil at Buckie High School and had just started back to classes after the October holidays. Her sister Erika added that her Snapchat loving sister was popular at school and had a lot of friends. Erika said she would always remember Neringa as an outgoing and loving sister. School friends took to social media to pay tribute to the 14-year-old, with one tweeting: 'Worst things happen to the best people has never been so relevant.' Her friend, aged 14, suffered life threatening injuries in the crash and two other girls, aged 16 and 17, who were also in the car, were injured The Corsa collided with a grey Nissan Terrano which was driven by a 42-year-old man. He suffered minor injuries Neringa and three other girls were being driven in the Vauxhall Corsa by a 17-year-old boy. It collided with a grey Nissan Terrano which was driven by a 42-year-old man. He suffered minor injuries. The crash happened shortly before 11pm at Braes of Enzie on the B9016 between Keith and Buckie. Police said two other injured girls, aged 16 and 17, were taken to Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin by ambulance after the crash and were believed to be in a stable condition. The other 14-year-old girl suffered multiple injuries and arrangements were being made for her to be airlifted down to Glasgow for specialist treatment. Road Policing Sergeant Rob Warnock appealed for witnesses to come forward yesterday. He said: 'My thoughts, and that of my officers, are very much with the family and friends of the 14-year-old girl who sadly died in this tragic collision. This is the shocking moment a Michigan man pulls a shotgun on a police officer and forces the cop to open fire, killing him. Marquette County Sheriff's Office deputy Keith Romback was called out to the home of Clifford Leroy Tucker in Ishpeming Township on July 9 after he reportedly made suicidal statements. The officer's bodycam, which was uploaded to LiveLeak Wednesday, shows the shocking scene that followed - ending in Romback's death. Scroll down for video Threats: Clifford Tucker (pictured) was visited by bodycam-wearing officer Keith Romback in June after calling a hospital and threatening suicide. Footage shows Tucker being aggressive Escalation: Romback can be seen trying to talk to Tucker, but the situation escalates until Tucker is brandishing a shotgun and shouting 'Shoot me!' at the officer According to TV 6, Romback was called out to Tucker's home at 245 Silver Street when the incident occurred. The footage begins as Romback parks up and approaches Tucker's home. After Tucker opens the door, the cop - who appears to be familiar with the man - says he needs to come in, as Tucker has been 'making threats to the hospital.' Romback says they need to talk, but Tucker, standoffish, tells him to stay away, becoming increasingly aggressive. 'If I want to hurt myself there's not a f***ing thing you can do about it,' he says. 'Nothing.' 'We got along so well yesterday,' Romback says, seemingly changing tack after realizing aggression would get him nowhere. 'What happened? Please...' Tucker sits on his sofa and admits that he made a call to the hospital but adds: 'When I get ready to blow my f***ing head off, there's nothing you can do about it.' Armed: Tucker initially sits down in his home and stews as Romback tries to talk to him, then gets up and grabs a shotgun from his back room The man seems to stew while Romback talks on his radio, then gets up from a couch and goes to a back room. Sensing that something is wrong, Romback follows him - only to see him grab a shotgun. 'Clifford, don't!' Romback shouts several times, while Tucker, in an increasingly agitated voice, shouts back 'Shoot me! Do it!' The footage freezes as Romback fires four shots, and calls in the shooting. Tucker was pronounced dead at UP Health System Marquette; Romback was not hurt in the incident. On June 15, Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Wiese declared that there would be no charges against Romback, as he was in danger of death or serious injury from Tucker. Futuristic 'flying' taxis could soon be ferrying passengers along the Seine in Paris - and London and Geneva could be next. Tests of the vessels, named the Sea Bubble, will be carried out in the French capital next year, it has been announced. Yachtsman Alain Thebault, who invented the solar-powered shuttles along with Swedish windsurfer Anders Bringdal, said the unusual vehicles will be able to float two feet above the water, and reach speeds of 30km per hour. The futuristic boats will float two feet above the water and reach speeds of 30km per hour, say designers Sea Bubbles will be tested on the Seine in spring, and then could be available around the world Paris was selected for the tests because Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo supported the project when it got underway, Thebault said. He told The Telegraph that he hopes Sea Bubbles - which can hold up to four passengers and a driver - will be ordered on apps like Uber. The inventor said: 'Once we have gone beyond the prototype and have fully developed the Sea Bubble, we might, after Paris, begin with London or Geneva.' Each 'flying taxi' will carry up to four passengers and a driver - although inventors hope one day to make them driverless He said that officials from London had not been in touch about hosting tests of the new technology in Britain. Journeys will cost less than 10, and Thebault said he one day hopes the futuristic fibreglass and high-density pods will be driverless. And explaining the project to The Local, he said: 'The idea actually came from my daughters after I sailed from LA to Hawaii recently. The design includes wing-like arms under the futuristic boats, which will lift them from the water. 'They told me to invent a zero-emission cab because they were sick of seeing the pollution in Paris, London, and in the US.' A prototype will be tested in the spring after Thebault collected 445,000 to fund the project. He said: 'Next spring we will hold a public demonstration on the Seine in front of the National Assembly (Parliament) in Paris with five Sea Bubbles.' At the time of the assault Das' wife sat beside him unaware on Suman Das, 46, was arrested at Manchester Airport after the 18-year old victim claimed he touched her An Indian businessman who molested a British woman during a seven hour flight to the UK whilst his wife was sat beside him was jailed for 20 weeks. Suman Das, 46, was arrested at Manchester Airport after the 18-year old victim claimed he touched her between her legs whilst she was dozing in her seat. She said she woke up to feel a 'rubbing sensation' and fled to the back of the plane in tears. At the time of the assault at 30,000 feet aboard a Qatar Airways Boeing 787, Das' wife Sonia was sat beside him unaware of her husband's behaviour. He initially claimed he must have touched the girl by accident whilst fidgeting in his seat and offered to apologise - but he later said he could not have carried out an assault as he was asleep. At Manchester magistrates court Das, who has been staying with friends in Bolton since his arrest, looked confused and muttered to himself as District Judge Sam Goozee told him: 'This was a sexual assault in circumstances where you took advantage of the victim. 'She was travelling on her own, and it took place next to your own wife in what was a brief but traumatic assault where you touched her extremely intimately. This cause the victim extreme distress. No doubt you are having difficulty facing the consequences of what you did that night. 'But the consequences for her have affected her greatly. You are a man of good character, your references speak of that. This is a very serious offence and you have not demonstrated any remorse or faced up to your actions on that night.' Das who born in India was self employed and had volunteered as an aid worker in the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake which killed 9,000 people. The incident occurred in July five hours into the flight from the Qatari city of Doha to Manchester. Das and his wife were visiting the UK for a 'holiday of a lifetime' whilst the unnamed girl was returning to Britain after spending two months travelling in Thailand. The victim told the hearing: 'He knew exactly what he was doing and he wasn't sleeping. He was looking at me, I saw he was looking at me. 'He must have been looking at me to see if I was awake. He did move very quickly once he saw that I was awake.' The girl alerted a member of cabin crew and went crying to the back of the plane. In a statement Das said later: 'I may have touched accidentally - but I didn't touch her intentionally.' Prosecuting Holly Holden said: 'In this case the victim has zero motivation to make a false claim. Her evidence has been consistent and credible throughout. This was an 18-year-old flying alone. She said that the defendant touched her between the legs over her clothing. 'One person sitting next to another may jostle someone with their elbow but to touch them between the legs without knowing is a deliberate action. He gave two versions of events and said he was very concerned that this could prevent him from getting a UK visa and would destroy his life.' At the time of the assault at 30,000 feet aboard a Qatar Airways Boeing 787, Das' wife Sonia (pictured) was sat beside him unaware of her husband's behaviour Das and his wife were visiting the UK for a 'holiday of a lifetime' whilst the unnamed girl was returning to Britain after spending two months travelling in Thailand (stock image) During the hearing Das' wife of 23 years said she had 'complete faith in her husband' and added: 'I have had no concern. Until today I have faith in my husband and still today I have total faith in my husband.' She also told the court that Das told her following the flight that if he saw the girl and her mother he wanted to talk to them to apologise. He denied sexual assault but was convicted after a trial. In mitigation Das' lawyer Miss Ellie Akhgar said: 'He has been self employed for a considerable number of years. He also volunteered for the earthquake in Nepal. He got a group of friends together to give aid and water and food to help people in the aftermath of the earthquake. 'Without him these projects have failed, as they have been unable to get the funding without him there. He is saddened to find himself in this position. Before this flight he considered himself to be a proud man. He could hold his head up high and enjoy his holiday of a lifetime. 'Boarding that flight has destroyed his life, it has destroyed his employment and his reputation and it has been discussed on a very public level. It should also be noted that it has contributed to the deterioration in his wife's health. 'I assure you Mr Das will never forget this experience. He knows as he describes himself that he is marked for life. He is of previous good character. She plans to buy a house and set up college funds for her A woman in North Carolina who wanted to teach her husband a lesson that lottery tickets are a waste of money ended up having to eat her words when she scooped a $1 million prize. Glenda Blackwell's husband, Buddy, had asked her to buy two Powerball tickets over the weekend but instead she decided to buy one $10 scratch-off ticket for herself. Mrs Blackwell, from Leicester, said she wanted to prove to him that the tickets were a waste of money to stop him from playing the lottery. Glenda Blackwell had only bought a scratch-off ticket to prove to her husband that gambling was a waste of money, but she ended up winning a huge prize The 57-year-old opted to take the money as a lump sum, and will receive more than $415,000 However, her plan backfired when she ended up winning a life-changing amount of money. She opted to take her prize as a lump sum, and will receive more than $415,000, after taxes. The 57-year-old said she plans to buy a home and some land with the money. Mrs Blackwell, who said her family has struggled financially in the past, also intends to set up college funds for her two granddaughters. She said she and her husband will no longer be playing the lottery after winning the huge prize 'I was going to be ugly and buy a scratch-off to show him they didn't hit,' Mrs Blackwell told WLOS. 'Sometimes I get aggravated with him, so I tell him, "You're just wasting your money." 'I had to eat my words, but they were worth eating,' she added, saying that she was 'very happy' with her win. She opted against taking 20 yearly payments of $50,000 because has some health issues and is not sure she will live that long. Chelsea also said she would be able to get $50,000 from her 'Soul Cycle community' Abedin explained that it was not logical given the limited runway space and demand for New Clinton Foundation emails reveal that Chelsea Clinton and her husband Marc Mezvinsky wanted to get a plane down to Haiti with alternative doctors suggested by Donna Karan to help with disaster relief in the wake of the 2010 earthquake that killed over 100,00 people. In an email sent to Mezvinsky on January 14, 2010, Jimmy Buffet's wife Jane writes: 'I got a call from donna karen's [sic] organization and they asked if my plane could fly some alternative care physician's down there. They want it quick.' Jane goes on to write that it would cost 'about $25,000' while asking Mezvinsky, who at the time was engaged to Chelsea, if he thinks that would be the best use of the money. Scroll down for video Newly released emails reveal that Chelsea Clinton and then-fiance Marc Mezvinsky (above in 2012) wanted to send alternative doctors to Haiti after the 2010 quake Mezvinsky was contacted by Jimmy Buffet's wife Jane who said in an email that Donna Karan had doctors she wanted to fly down Mezvinsky responds by saying he believes it would a 'very worthy cause' before adding: '[L]et me check w the president's office quickly as he's the UN special envoy to haiti (as I'm sure you know) and would by the ultimate authority.' He then emailed wife Chelsea, Clinton Foundation director Hannah Richert and Bill Clinton adviser Jeffrey Cooper to ask their thoughts. Chelsea in turn emails her mother Hillary's top aide Huma Abedin who shoots down the idea and explains why it would not be possible given the severity of the situation. In her response, Abedin tells Chelsea that 'the airport in Haiti is overwhelmed with planes' and since there is not enough room to even land on the tarmac 'priorities are being given to medical supplies.' Abedin also explains that there are a number of medical doctors who are looking to travel down to Haiti, and that priority there is being given to surgeons and trauma doctors. 'I think trying to get alternative medicine doctors will be almost impossible in the near future, writes Abedin. Huma Abedin explained that it was not logical given the limited runway space and demand for surgeons and trauma doctors Karan has been a longtime supporter of both Hillary and Bill Clinton Chelsea, who emails under the name Diane Reynolds, also wrote to Abedin about collecting money from her 'Soul Cycle community,' saying she thinks she could get about $50,000 to help with the relief. Raven Lynn West (pictured), who admitted to snorting heroin the day before she delivered a full-term stillborn baby, could be jailed on child endangerment charges A woman who admitted to snorting heroin the day before she delivered a full-term stillborn baby could be jailed on child endangerment charges. Raven Lynn West, 23, from Alabama, delivered the stillbirth on October 9, just days after being released from jail on bond. She had first been arrested and jailed for child endangerment charges on May 4, 2016, but was released the same day, before again being put behind bars on August 19 after failing to appear before court, Alabama.com reports. The warrant she was arrested for was issued in 2015, and was linked to the birth of her first child. Police became aware in July 2015 that West had tested positive for drugs, while her newborn child at the time was also found to have heroin and codeine in its system. West was released from jail on bond on October 6, when she was 37 weeks pregnant, and taken to a facility for drug-addicted pregnant women. However, court documents reveal the 23-year-old confessed to walking away from the center on October 8 to buy a bag of heroin. She then snorted it in the bathroom of a local business in Birmingham, the newspaper reports. West told police as she inhaled the drug, she could feel her baby kicking. Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff District Attorney Bill Veitch has asked the court to revoke the 23-year-old's bond, citing her continued drug use as a breach of her release. Veitch is asking the court to hold West without the option of bond until her trial, according to Alabama.com. West, 23, from Pleasant Grove, Alabama, delivered the stillbirth on October 9, documents reveal Attorney Bill Veitch (pictured) has asked for bond granted to West to be revoked, and says she should be jailed until her trial for child endangerment charges 'The defendant is a danger to herself and to the community,' he wrote in his submission. West had just been arrested this May after her previous, older newborn baby tested positive for drugs in 2015. Pleasant Grove Police Lieutenant Danny Reid also called on the court to take action, while comparing West's case to that of Alexandra Nicole Laird. A court ruled Laird, 21, should be jailed last month without bond until her baby is born in about 14 weeks. The 21-year-old had previously been indicted after her first daughter was born addicted to heroin, and was hit with child endangerment charges related to her unborn second child. However, the mother's doctors at UAB Hospital opted to hold her there until she gives birth rather than send her back to jail. Veitch and Pleasant Grove Police Lieutenant Danny Reid compared the case to Alexandra Laird's (pictured), who was ordered to be jailed until giving birth to her second child after her first was born addicted to drugs 'This is the exact scenario that police and the District Attorney's Office was (and still are) trying to prevent in the recent Laird case,' Lt. Reid told the newspaper. 'The Alethia House, while well-intentioned, does not have control of its patients, who use their sympathy and lack of control to simply walk away when they get the slightest urge to use drugs. 'In this case, West, who was nine months pregnant, was released from jail to go to the Alethia House where she promptly left and took a large blast of heroin. 'Less than 12 hours after she admitted that she snorted heroin, she delivers a dead baby that she said she felt kicking just earlier that day. A dead, viable, 7-pound baby. I am absolutely sickened and heartbroken over this. ' Hillary Clintons State Department aides batted around a series of proposals to let wealthy and influential entrepreneurs and investors tag along for Clintons overseas trips as she engaged in shuttle diplomacy that took her all over the world. The emails, released by Citizens United, come from official State Department archives as opposed to hacked emails that have roiled the Clinton campaign for weeks. Dennis Cheng, who is Clinton's campaign fundraising chair but used to hold a protocol post at the State Department (he later directed development at the Clinton Foundation) emailed Huma Abedin one such proposal in October 2010. Aides to Hillary Clinton passed on requests by major donors to gain access to her trips as secretary of state, newly released emails reveal 'Not urgent, but question for you,' Cheng wrote as he introduced the idea. 'Do you know if theres ever been or if theres been talk of organizing business delegations for S trips abroad? in an apparent reference to the then-secretary of state. Not to travel on the plane with her, but to coincide with her trip schedule and to participate in appropriate events during trips.' He continued: 'Marc Lasry mentioned that he would be very interested in helping with that if that something we would want to do.' Lasry is a billionaire hedge fund manager who runs Avenue Capital and is co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. The agency released the emails through freedom of information requests and litigation. Hillary Clinton won plaudits for traveling thousands of miles through her diplomacy. Some contributors wanted to tag along, new emails reveal COME FLY WITH ME? It isn't clear from the emails whether those who sought to go on trips, including hedge funder Marc Lasry, went on foreign trips CURRY FAVOR? Bal Das, a member of the 'Indian diaspora' who is a major Clinton donor, sought to hop on a trip to India GOOD NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY: Clinton staff aides at the State Department forwarded the requests by donors Abedin responded that in the past 'business' delegations had been handled by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative but sounded keen on the idea. 'BUT why couldnt we do something like that. I think in white house days we used to do it when potus traveled,' she added. 'Cool,' Cheng replied, asking Abedin to put together a 'draft proposal.' An earlier email from Cheng to Abedin in July 2010 asks: Does HRC invite people to join her on overseas trips? Bal is asking re: India trip. Cheng had received an email about an hour earlier from Bal Das, vice chairman of Kailix Investment Advisors on Madison Avenue. Das had inquired: Is Secretary Clinton considering having selected senior members of the Indian Diaspora join her in her first trip to India later this month.If she is I would like to submit my name for consideration. Abedin replied: She doesnt for private citizens unless theres a delegation for something (inauguration, funeral etc.). But then she added: We will need to start inviting members soon but we havent done a lot of that either in what could be a reference to Members of Congress. She said the India plane was at capacity. Das was a HillRaiser for Hillary Clintons 2008 campaign for president. The Washington post described him in 2007 in a profile as a valuable power within the Democratic Party, and particularly in Hillary Rodham Clinton's run for the presidency. As a senior partner and general counsel for a small, highly profitable specialty finance company called InsCap, he doesn't go running for a mention in Page Six and doesn't mug for nightlife photographer Patrick McMullan, according to the profile. Instead, he's someone people-in-the-know know, someone who, by raising oodles of money for Democrats, is routinely courted by politicians across the country. Another email from Cheng in March 2009 appears to respond to a query asking who our strong Hispanic supporters could we nominate for Amb to the Vatican? Chen offered a suggestion redacted and then gave Another suggestion: [also redacted]. Three Albanian prisoners are on the run after escaping from a jail in Rome, amidst the chaos caused by two devastating earthquakes on Wednesday night. The men, including a convicted murderer, tied bed sheets to broom handles and climbed out of a window near a watchtower during their dramatic escape in the early hours of Thursday morning. The escapees were spending their sentences in the high-security Camerino prison but were evacuated and moved to the lower security Rebibbia Nuovo jail as tremors from two huge earthquakes in central Italy were felt as far as the Italian capital. Local media report the men covered up the window bars they'd hacked off by hanging clothes in front of them. They are also believed to have made 'puppets' in their beds so it appeared they were still sleeping. Left to right: Escapees Ilir Pere, 40, Basho Thesis, 35, and Mikel Hasanbelli, 38, are on the run after breaking free from a prison in Rome in the aftermath of Wednesday's earthquake Italian news service Ansa reports this is the bedsheet and broom handle contraption the prisoners constructed to climb out of a window at the prison Italian police have launched a manhunt to find the dangerous men. Mikel Hasanbelli, 38, is convicted of pimping and drug traffic, Ilir Pere, 40, is convicted of drug and arms trafficking and attempted murder and Basho Thesis, 35, is serving a life sentence for murder, weapons and prostitution, La Repubblica reports. Other prisoners have previously escaped from Rebibbia using strikingly similar methods. In February 2016, Catalin Ciobanu, 33, accused of murder, and Mihai Florin Diaconescu, 28, convicted of burglary, sawed through window bars of a storage room and then used tied-together sheets to safely lower themselves to the ground. Care homes, hospitals and university residences were also evacuated on Wednesday night as thousands ran screaming from their homes. The escapees were spending were evacuated from their normal jail and moved to the lower security Rebibbia Nuovo jail (pictured). This is the jail they escaped from Italy is now counting the cost of another major earthquake but 'miraculously' it did not cause any fatalities. Two powerful shocks, measuring 5.5 and 6.1 on the Richter scale, ripped through the mountainous, sparsely-populated central region. They came two months after a quake left nearly 300 dead in the country's tremor-prone central spine. 'Given the strength of the shocks the absence of any deaths or serious injuries, which we hope will be confirmed, is miraculous,' Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said. The national civil protection agency described the damage as 'very significant' but said they were not aware of anyone trapped under rubble. A firefighter with a rescue dog searches a collapsed building for anyone trapped under rubble in Borgo Sant'Antonio near Visso A picture shows a destroyed house in the village of Borgo Sant'Antonio on Thursday This picture shows the late 14th century San Salvatore church in the town of Campi di Norcia after it was destroyed by the earthquakes on Wednesday Rescue workers began a major clean-up operation and hundreds of families were unsure where they would be living for the forseeable future. More than 100 aftershocks rattled the area through the night after the initial two were felt in Rome, some 175km (110 miles) away from the epicentres. Marco Rinaldi, mayor of the village of Ussita, described 'apocalyptic' scenes. 'People were in the streets screaming. Many houses have collapsed. Our town is finished,' he said. A group of groomsmen adopted a malnourished dog and her litter of puppies after finding them in a hole in the woods during one of the group's Bachelor parties. The men from Vicksburg, Michigan, had traveled to Tennessee to celebrate Mitchel Craddock's forthcoming wedding when the dog appeared at the door of the log cabin they had rented. They followed her into the woods where they found her seven puppies hiding in a hole, covered in dirt and flees. A group of seven friends adopted a litter of puppies after finding them during a friend's Bachelor party in the woods A Bachelor party adopted a litter of seven puppies and their malnourished mother after finding them hiding in the woods (above) The men and their families each took in one of the dogs, bringing them home to Michigan after the weekend-long party. Craddock told ABC how the puppies' mother approached the house on their first day after smelling bacon from the kitchen. 'We were cooking bacon with the door open. The next thing you know, theres this dog sitting right at the front door. 'She wouldnt come inside but she sat right there. 'After we gave her a bunch of food and water she started producing milk again. So we figured if shes making milk, her pups cant be that old,' he said. The dogs' mother approached the house while the men were cooking bacon (left) She led them to her litter in the woods and the men took them in, caring for them in their cabin and dedicating their beer fund to dog food The eight men divided the puppies and their mother up between them to take back to Michigan. One of them, Trevor Jennings, is seen holding his new pet, right. Jake Rowe with his dog, Knox Mitchel Craddock, the groom, named his puppy Brimmie, left. Right, Alex Manchester poses with his dog, Rosie Dexter Jennings poses with his dog, Gunner, and right, Brent Witters with Finn The group of eight men followed her into the woodland to a patch in the ground she was closely guarding, he said. There, they found her seven puppies in a hole. The group washed the dogs of fleas and dirt and took them back to the cabin to look after them. Their beer fund was put towards dog food by the end of the trip, Craddock added. Now all of the dogs live with the men in a five-mile radius. Doug Craddock, the groom's father, adopted the mother and named her Annie A young man stumbled into a Tesco Express covered in blood after he was injured in the fourth east London knife attack in nine days. The victim, believed to be in his late teens, staggered into the supermarket in Kingsland Road, Dalston, shortly after 10.45am today. It is believed he was stabbed three times. The incident comes after three stabbings around the nearby Mayville Estate in just over a week. Scene: The victim, believed to be in his late teens, staggered into the supermarket in Kingsland Road, Dalston, pictured, shortly after 10.45am today Store manager Maz Mohamed told the Hackney Gazette: 'There was lots of blood. 'A lady behind him told him to come into the store because it would be safe. At first we didn't know he was the one bleeding but then a customer left the till and saw him bleeding.' He added: 'Some people were talking to him but he didn't say anything the whole time about being hurt or in pain. 'According to the ambulance and police he had been stabbed three times.' Police said the injuries are not life threatening. An investigation has been launched but no arrests have been made. The victim's next of kin have been contacted, Scotland Yard said. On October 19 an 18-year-old was knifed in King Henry's Walk, Islington, leading police to set up a 48-hour dispersal zone on the estate. On Monday night two men in their 20s were found injured in Templeton Close, Dalston, one had been stabbed. Police later found a boy, 17, in Stoke Newington Road, Hackney, who had been slashed with a knife. A boy was later arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon with the intent to endanger life and possession of class A drugs. The Law Office of Autumn Witt Boyd announced on Wednesday, it has joined Nextlaw Global Referral Network, enabling it to connect its clients to high quality lawyers around the world. Nextlaw Global Referral Network is the largest legal referral network in the world, with 283 member firms, 18,600 lawyers covering 160 countries. Ms. Boyd said, By joining Nextlaw Global Referral Network, I can now access top tier lawyers outside of Tennessee where my clients may need legal assistance, or with lawyers who have other areas of expertise. As a solo attorney, I now have a huge resource to offer my clients who need services or guidance outside of my own specialties of intellectual property and business law. Jeff Modisett, Nextlaw Global Referral Network CEO said, Were proud to have The Law Office of Autumn Witt Boyd as part of our network. Were only as good as the quality of our member firms and Ms. Boyd makes us stronger and better able to meet the needs of our other members clients in business and intellectual property matters. Nextlaw Global Referral Network was created by Dentons, the largest law firm in the world. The network, which is free to join, employs a detailed screening system to guarantee the quality of its member firms and has developed proprietary technology to allow members to identify lawyers at other member firms with the appropriate experience where clients need legal counsel. Ms. Boyd has been helping creative entrepreneurs in Chattanooga and across the United States protect their rights with copyright, trademark, and business guidance for more than 12 years. Prior to opening her own practice, she served as an associate with the law firm Harmon & Seidman LLC, where she represented photographers, visual artists, and stock photography agencies in copyright lawsuits, including a successful jury trial. She also worked for two years at local firm Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C., helping businesses and individuals who had been sued over business deals or products, or who needed to file lawsuits to protect their own patents or copyrights. Ms. Boyd began her legal career as a law clerk to United States District Court Judge Curtis L. Collier with the Eastern District of Tennessee, the federal trial court in Chattanooga. Ms. Boyd obtained her law degree at Vanderbilt University Law School, where she graduated as a member of the Order of the Coif, and her bachelor of arts in Journalism and English with high honors at Indiana University in Bloomington. Ms. Boyd serves on the executive committee of the Intellectual Property section of the Tennessee Bar Association and is active in the Brock Cooper American Inn of Court, the Copyright Society of the USA, Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts, and Southeast Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women. She also is active in the local nonprofit community, currently serving as the President of Chattanooga Friends, a service organization for young professionals. Ms. Boyd may be contacted by e-mail at info@awbfirm.com or by telephone at 423 756-6013. Police handed out 86% fewer penalties for drivers caught flouting the law and texting or calling on their phones between 2011-15 Reckless drivers are getting away with using their mobile phones behind the wheel after a huge fall in the numbers of prosecutions, road safety groups warn. Police handed out 86% fewer penalties for drivers caught flouting the law and texting or calling on their phones between 2011-15. The statistics released by the government today have provoked an outcry from safety campaigners at a time when the number of motorists who think it is acceptable to call whilst driving has doubled. They warn a cut in the number of traffic police has let drivers get away with the offence which was first made illegal in 2003. In 2011, 123,100 notices were given, compared to just 16,900 in 2015-16. The RAC warned the number of penalties being handed out had 'fallen off a cliff'. RAC spokesman Pete Williams said: 'The figures lay bare the scale of the handheld mobile phone epidemic that has been allowed to sweep across the country largely unchallenged. 'The simple truth is the problem of illegal handheld phone use at the wheel is undeniably getting worse, with fewer and fewer people being caught. 'RAC research released in September showed that the number of motorists that think it is acceptable to make a quick call doubled from 7% in 2014 to 14% in 2016 , while a fifth (20%) now believe it is safe to check social media on their phone while stopped in traffic. 'Law-abiding motorists who regularly see others using a handheld phone at the wheel, putting lives at risk, want to know that the law is being enforced. 'With a 27% decline in full-time roads policing officers since 2010 and little chance of an increase in numbers in the near future, we need to see all police forces giving greater priority to the enforcement of this offence.' There is concern the problem is spiraling out of control as 43% fewer notices were handed out between 2014-15. A Home Office spokeswoman said: ' While enforcement of road traffic offences is an operational matter for the police, we are clear that the illegal use of handheld devices while driving is totally unacceptable. ' We take this extremely seriously and will be shortly announcing tougher penalties for using mobile phones at the wheel.' The RAC warned the number of penalties being handed out had 'fallen off a cliff' Antolin Garcia-Torres (pictured), who facing the death penalty for allegedly killing a 15-year-old girl, will argue she is not dead and instead ran away from home A man facing the death penalty for allegedly killing a 15-year-old girl will argue she is not dead and instead ran away from home. Antolin Garcia-Torres, 22, is charged with the murder of Sierra LaMar, who disappeared on her way to school in Morgan Hill, California, in 2012. The 22-year-old has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers are attempting to introduce a note they claim was written by LaMar as evidence she was planning to leave home, NBC Bay Area reports. Court documents obtained by the network claim the note, which was written in Spanish, reads: 'I hate my life... I will be in San Francisco by 3/16/12'. LaMar was last seen on March 16, 2012. Video courtesy: KRON The note was reportedly taken from the 15-year-old girl's locker at school by fellow students and then given to officials, the documents state. However, prosecutors have dismissed the note as a prank, saying it is clear it was not written by LaMar. Antolin Garcia-Torres (left), 22, is charged with the murder of Sierra LaMar (right), who disappeared on her way to school in Morgan Hill, California, in 2012 A reward of $25,000 was offered after LaMar went missing, however her body has never been found Prosecutors claim LaMar's DNA was found in Garcia-Torres' car - including on a rope he stored in the trunk The young girl's sister said it is not even in LaMar's handwriting. Authorities have previously rejected the theory LaMar vanished because she ran away, based on interviews with more than 100 of her friends and relatives, according to the San Jose Mercury News. The 15-year-old girl's body has never been found. Sierra LaMar's parents speak during a press conference in May 2012 after Antolin Garcia-Torres was arrested However, prosecutors claim her DNA was found in Garcia-Torres' car - including on a rope he stored in the trunk, and that his DNA was on her discarded clothing that was found by the side of a road. Garcia-Torres has claimed the reason for his DNA being on the clothing could be because he masturbated into tissues and threw them out of his car window while driving. A news reporter who was convicted after a controversial investigation into the payment of public officials has been cleared of all wrongdoing today. Sun crime reporter Anthony France, 42, from Watford, was accused of having a four-year 'corrupt relationship' with a police officer but saw his conviction quashed by three judges at the Court of Appeal in London on Thursday. He was initially found guilty at a trial at the Old Bailey last year and given an 18-month suspended sentence. Mr France was investigated under the high-profile, multimillion-pound Operation Elveden, which was launched in 2011 to investigate payments by journalists to public officials. The CPS and Met Police have been strongly criticised today for 'making up a law on the hoof' to prosecute journalists over payments to public officials. Anthony France, pictured celebrating his acquittal, has been cleared of having a 'corrupt relationship' with a police officer after being found guilty in a 30million police probe into the payment of public officials The Metropolitan Police operation, which cost 14.7 million, led to 90 arrests and 34 convictions, including police officers and 21 public officials. But, out of 29 cases against journalists brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, the only jury conviction to remain standing was that in Mr France's case. A number of reporters were cleared by juries. Others had charges against them dropped, or they launched successful appeals following conviction. After the ruling, Mr France said: 'I am delighted that this serious miscarriage of justice has ended today, allowing me to rebuild my life after 1,379 days of sheer hell.' A News UK spokeswoman added after the ruling: 'Today, Anthony France's conviction has been overturned on appeal and we are delighted that these proceedings are now over for him. 'In the course of the last five years, 19 journalists from The Sun were prosecuted as a result of Operation Elveden and not one has resulted in any conviction being upheld.' The ruling led to criticism of both the police and CPS from within the journalism and legal industries. Mr France, pictured outside the Court of Appeal, said he was the victim of a 'serious miscarriage of justice' Lawyer David Allen Green, who has a column for the Financial Times, wrote on Twitter that the CPS 'cobbled together' a piece of 'legal daftness' to go after journalists and that 'serious questions should be asked' over the decision to prosecute. He said: 'When evidence of reporters paying public officials came to light, there was a legal problem for the police/cps. 'The problem was to identify what offences had allegedly been committed. What would be the charges? A basic point, you could say. 'The alleged offences took place before the Bribery Act was in place. So that Act couldn't be used. 'The public officials were therefore prosecuted for the ancient but vague offence of "misconduct in public office". Many pleaded guilty. 'But that left the reporters. They were not public officials and so could not be prosecuted for that (primary) offence. 'But the CPS decided to prosecute the reporters anyway: and used a strange legal means for doing so. The CPS constructed an elaborate (secondary) offence of aiding/abetting/conspiring with he public official to commit misconduct. 'The courts and juries could not make much sense of the offence - what was the requisite criminal intention? And so on. So in case after case in this "Operation Elveden", at great public expense, all the reporters (but one) were acquitted.' He added: 'Some may say it is unfair to criticse the CPS over any acquittal. But this failure by CPS was wide-ranging and systemic. 'With France's acquittal, serious questions can and should now be asked of CPS over its prosecutions of reporters under Elveden.' Press Gazette Editor Dominic Ponsford also wrote a column taking aim at the police and CPS over the 'shameful episode in the history of the UK criminal justice system'. He wrote: 'The Met Police and Crown Prosecution Service effectively made up a law on the hoof. 'They used the obscure offence of misconduct in public office against journalists who paid state employees for stories.' Mr Ponsford added: 'What sort of a country puts journalists who wrote true stories about matters of public interest behind bullet proof glass at its top criminal court?' Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, said: 'The appeal court's decision shows why there needs to be far wider protection for journalists reporting in the public interest. 'In most of the cases in which journalists were charged, ordinary members of the public who made up juries clearly decided that journalists were working in the public interest. 'The police and the Crown Prosecution Service need to think more carefully before they charge journalists for informing the public. 'Careers and lives were destroyed by the over-long and hugely expensive police investigation.' Three appeal judges at the Court of Appeal, pictured, overturned the verdict today In May last year Mr France was given a jail sentence of 18 months, suspended for two years, after being convicted of aiding and abetting PC Timothy Edwards, who worked at Heathrow Airport in SO15 counter-terrorism command, to commit misconduct in public office between March 2008 and July 2011. Mr France, described by the sentencing judge at his Old Bailey trial as a journalist of 'hitherto unblemished character' who was 'essentially a decent man of solid integrity', had his conviction overturned by Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice King and Mr Justice Dove. Lady Justice Hallett said Mr France was 'one of a number of journalists and public officials whose conduct was investigated by police during Operation Elveden'. She said: 'He was employed as a junior crime reporter at The Sun newspaper. The Sun openly advertised the fact it would pay money for stories.' Between March 31 2008 and July 1 2011, Edwards 'sold them 38 pieces of information'. Political commentator David Allen Green said there was a 'wide-ranging and systematic failure' by the CPS He added 'serious questions' should be asked of the body following the prosecutions She added: 'The applicant wrote the articles that followed and submitted the necessary forms to his employers for Edwards to be paid. 'The forms had to be approved first by the news editor and then by an editor or deputy editor. In total, The Sun paid Edwards over 20,000.' Edwards pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office and was jailed for two years in 2014. The jury at Mr France's trial heard that Edwards passed on details ranging from airline pilots being breath-tested to a drunken model flying into a rage after 'catching her boyfriend romping with a woman next to him'. The appeal centred on directions given to the jury at the trial by Judge Timothy Pontius. Lady Justice Hallett said: 'Taking any one of those criticisms in isolation, we may not have been persuaded the summing-up rendered the conviction unsafe. 'However, we must consider their cumulative effect and read the summing-up as a whole. 'Having done so, we are driven to the conclusion that the jury were not provided with legally adequate directions tailored to the circumstances of the case and that the conviction is unsafe.' Mr France said afterwards: 'Having spent more than three years and nine months fighting to clear my name, this is not a time for celebration. 'Nobody has 'won' and the public are less informed.' Howard Stern says there's nothing shocking about audio that's been unearthed of Donald Trump making lewd comments about women. For nearly 20 years, Trump called into Stern's show and talked about his playboy lifestyle. 'None of this was hidden,' Stern in a Tuesday broadcast. 'This is who Trump is. He was always bombastic. He always rated women.' 'He always talked in a misogynistic, sexist kind of way, but he did it sort of proudly and out in the open; and he still won the Republican primary.' YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE: For nearly 20 years, Donald Trump called into Stern's show and talked about his playboy lifestyle. 'This is who Trump is. He was always bombastic. He always rated women,' Stern said The long-time broadcaster says it's clear to him that the things Trump said on his broadcast are at the core of who he is as a person. 'We do an interview and people's personalities come out, I'm very proud of that,' Stern said. He said, 'Now those words are biting him in the a**, but in general, we have a different kind of interviewing process than any other place. 'Which is why, all of the sudden, everyone, CNN, NBC, Fox, they have to turn to our tapes because it's a real conversation.' Stern is voting for Hillary Clinton because he agrees with her on key issues like immigration and abortion. But he's not looking to knife Trump by releasing the tapes of their tawdry on-air talks. 'I certainly wasn't going to f*** him over by releasing those tapes,' Stern said in the broadcast. The Sirius XM radio host said Trump 'was a very good sport and he was in the spirit of the show.' 'He's been very friendly toward me, friendly toward the show, always coming on,' Stern said. For that reason, Stern said he wasn't going to do further damage to Trump's White House bid by re-sharing their conversations. 'Those tapes are out there on the internet anyway, so that was my stance.' The long-time broadcaster says it's clear to him that the things Trump said on his broadcast are at the core of who he is as a person. 'We do an interview and people's personalities come out' Like Trump, he 'certainly, in a million years' didn't expect that the billionaire would ever 'seriously run for president' and make this an issue. Without Stern's help, reporters have managed to get their hands on the Trump tapes all on their own. Some of the more troubling clips have had Trump saying things like , 'A person whos flat-chested is very hard to be a 10.' 'Do you like girls that are five-foot-one?...They come up to you-know-where.' He told Stern in 2005, after marrying Melania, 'The sex is extraordinary.' Trump noted that his wife is beautiful on the inside as well as the outside, 'which is almost as important.' 'Not really,' Stern replied. 'No, probably not,' Trump said. In a September 2004 interview Stern asked Trump if could call his daughter, Ivanka, a 'piece of a**.' 'Your daughter... Can I say this? A piece of a**,' Stern says to him. 'Yeah,' Trump replied. Trump apologized for the 2005 Access Hollywood hot mic 'grab them by the p***y' tape but says it was nothing more than 'locker room' talk. Twelve women have since accused him of sexual assault. Above, 77-year-old Cliff Smith, protests Trump outside his DC hotel on Wednesday Hillary Clinton has called the Republican nominee a sexist and a misogynist over his comments about women, including to his face at a presidential debate. Trump apologized for the 2005 Access Hollywood hot mic 'grab them by the p***y' tape but says it was nothing more than 'locker room' talk. Twelve women have since accused him of sexual assault. The billionaire says their stories are 'made up,' and they may have been instigated to speak out by Clinton. If Donald Trump loses the election in 12 days to Hillary Clinton, there's chatter that he may just launch a Trump TV network though it's something he's denied. The idea for a Trump-branded, right-leaning television network blossomed from a threat the candidate's son-in-law Jared Kushner made to Fox News' Roger Ailes, when his right-leaning network wasn't giving the now-Republican nominee positive coverage. Bloomberg Businessweek reported this anecdote in a deep dive of Trump's digital affairs, noting that Trump is positioned to harness his voters' support into a media network, or a new version of the Republican party. Scroll down for video A Bloomberg Businessweek piece revealed that Donald Trump's (pictured) son-in-law used the prospect of 'Trump TV' to threaten Roger Ailes, when Fox was saying negative things about the GOP nominee Donald Trump said he's not actually going to launch 'TrumpTV,' though he's set himself up to do so with the hire of Steve Bannon (left) and with Roger Ailes (right) advising him Trump, in an interview with Cincinnati radio host Scott Sloan, denied that the makings of a network were afoot, telling Ohio voters that his only interest was winning the presidential election. 'I have no interest in Trump TV,' he said. I hear it all over the place. You know, I have a tremendous fan base. We have the most incredible people. But I just don't have any interest in that.' 'I have one interest, that's on November 8th,' he continued. But with Ailes out at Fox amid sexual harassment lawsuits, Trump now has the longtime Fox News Channel head honcho at his disposal, along with Breitbart News Network's Stephen Bannon, who has taken time off from the right-leaning website to be the Trump campaign's chief executive officer. The source that spilled the genesis of the Trump TV idea, also noted to Bloomberg's reporters that Trump had become 'enamored' with his power to draw so many eyeballs to the TV and to computer screens, though not a natural landing place for that viewership. 'One thing Jared always tells Donald is that if the New York Times and cable news mattered, he would be at 1 percent in the polls,' the source said. 'Trump supporters really dont have a media outlet where they feel theyre representedCNN has gone fully against Trump, MSNBC is assumed to be against Trump, and Fox is somewhere in the middle. What we found is that our people have organized incredibly well on the web,' the source continued. 'Reddit literally had to change their rules because it was becoming all Trump. Growing the digital footprint has really allowed us to take his message directly to the people,' the Trump insider added. If Trump wanted to take advantage of this audience, the simplest way would be to simply merge with Bannon's Breitbart News Network, which is all digital, and doesn't have a broadcast or cable TV news component. And even one of his top critics, suggested there would be an appetite for just that. 'Trump will get 40 percent of the vote, and half that number at least will by his claim that the election was rigged and stolen from him', explained Steve Schmidt, Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign chief to Bloomberg. An Inside Edition investigation of housekeeping at hotels across the country has unveiled a dirty truth about Donald Trump's newest hotel in Washington, DC. The Donald took time off from the campaign trail Wednesday morning to officially open the Trump International Hotel in the nation's capital, calling it the finest building in the city, 'with the notable exception of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue'. But Inside Edition reporters stayed in the hotel and found that housekeeping wasn't quite up to par yet. Scroll down for video An Inside Edition investigation found that housekeeping at Donald Trump's new hotel didn't wash a bathrobe between guest stays Reporters sprayed linens in a $900-a-night Trump International Hotel room with an invisible spray paint that washes off. They then checked out and checked in under another name the next night Before checking out, they left the bed messed up and the bathrobe tossed over a chair as if both had been used Above, a view inside one of the luxe rooms at the new hotel in Washington, DC The show's crew booked a $900-a-night room at the new hotel and used a special spray paint to soil the sheets and bathrobe found in the room. The spray paint is only visible with a UV light and it completely disappears if washed. The next day, the crew checked out of the room, leaving the bed messed up and the bathrobe flung over a chair. While the sheets were washed between stays, the Inside Edition logo was still painted on the inside of the bathrobe when the reporters checked in the next day Trump took time off from the campaign trail on Wednesday to officially open the hotel with members of his family Above, an exterior view of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, which used to be the city's old post office The crew then booked the same room for the next stay, and inspected the room to see if the linens had indeed been washed between guests. The UV light showed that the pillowcases and sheets had been cleaned but not the bathrobe - which still had the Inside Edition logo spray-painted on it with the invisible ink. Representatives for the hotel did not comment on the story. He was arrested in July for identity fraud offences at the age of 63 Hoagland remarried in 1995 and had another child with his new wife He had been living by the name of Terry Symansky for more than 20 years In July 2016, police tracked him down in Zephyrhills, Florida His car was later found at the airport but he had not boarded any flight Told his wife he had to go to the emergency room before he disappeared Richard Hoagland vanished from his family home in Indianapolis in 1993 Richard Hoagland was arrested in July in Florida at the age of 63, 23 years after vanishing from his family home in Indiana A married father who vanished from his home without a trace 23 years ago was found living in a different state with an entirely new family. Richard Hoagland disappeared from the house he shared with his second wife Linda and their two sons, Matthew and Douglas, in Indianapolis in February 1993. He was declared legally dead in 2003 and his wife remarried. In July this year, police in Pasco County, Florida, contacted Linda to say they had arrested him for identity fraud. Hoagland had moved to the state and assumed the identity of Terry Jude Symansky, a fisherman who died in a freak accident in 1991. He remarried and had another child, living quietly in the town of Zephyrhills, where he obtained a pilot's license. Hoagland was exposed when the real Terry Symansky's nephew found a marriage record stating his uncle had married in 1995, four years after his death. Now aged 63, Hoagland is facing a string of fraud charges. His third wife, Mary Hickman, discovered a briefcase in their home which contained his real identity after police informed her of his arrest, The Tampa Bay Times reported. She also found the deed to a property he had bought in Louisiana in 2015 and a key to a storage unit. His second wife Linda told ABC's 20/20 how he vanished after telling her he had to go to the hospital in a panicked phone call in 1993. He left behind his wife, Linda, and their two sons Matthew and Doug (above together) when he vanished 'He called me at work and told me that he was ill and that he needed to go to the emergency room. 'And I said, "Well, why dont you just wait, and Ill go with you?" He said, "No, I dont have time to wait.' She checked hospitals in the area frantically but found no trace of him. At the time Hoagland, who had already been married once before, had a successful insurance job. He vanished without taking any of his clothes or his passport. Hoagland took on the identity of Terry Symansky, a fisherman who died in a freak accident in 1991 At first Linda thought he would return, she said, but gave up hope as the years passed and remarried. She claims she was interrogated by police who felt she may have had something to do with his sudden disappearance. Over the years he sent birthday cards to the pair's sons with $50 enclosed. In one, he wrote: ' I love you and miss seeing you. Let your mom help spend this money, you might want to put some away. 'Maybe sometime soon we will get to see each other. I bet I won't even know you it has been so long. 'Mind you mother. Bye, Dad.' Terry Symansky's nephew had been compiling research on his family on Ancestry.com when he realized someone had been using his dead uncle's name. Symansky, a childless and unmarried fisherman, died in 1991 in a freak accident. Hoagland rented an apartment from his father in Palm Beach, which is what inspired him to steal his identity, detectives said. Hoagland settled in Zephyrhills, Florida, with his third wife, Mary. They had a child and lived in this house Linda (above with her second husband) remarried. She was informed her first husband was alive and had been arrested in Florida in July The couple's sons Matthew (left) and Doug (right) are now adults. They received birthday cards from their father when he was on the run When Edward Symansky, his father, died in 1994, Hoagland began using the fisherman's name. He applied for birth certificates and drivers licenses in different states and used his new adopted name when he married his third wife, Mary Hickman, in 1995. The pair had a son together and settled in Zephyrhills where he worked as a landlord. Neither he nor his mother have publicly addressed Hoagland's deception. Neither were available for comment on Thursday. In July, Pasco County police branded him a 'selfish coward' for his two-decade-long deceit. 'This is a person who has lived his life destroying others,' said Sheriff Chris Nocco. Hoagland was facing theft charges at the time of his disappearance, The Indy Star reported. He told police he simply wanted to get away from his second wife when he was arrested, but could not contemplate another divorce. Primary school pupils were 'forced to recite Muslim Allahu Akbar prayer', according to an angry father. The parent said his daughter was told to learn the Islamic prayer at the school in German ski resort Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where it has been reported residents are 'suffering' due to a migrant influx. A handout allegedly given to pupils read: 'Oh Allah, how perfect you are and praise be to you. Blessed is your name, and exalted is your majesty. There is no God but you.' Primary school pupils were 'forced to recite Muslim Allahu Akbar prayer', according to an angry father The parent said his daughter was told to learn the Islamic prayer at the school in German ski resort Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where it has been reported residents are 'suffering' due to a migrant influx The girl was given the prayer during an ethics lesson at the school, according to the Express. Headteacher Gisela Herl said the school would issue a statement within a week but did not confirm the incident. With migrants now outnumbering native children in many German schools, tensions have risen in Bavaria. Last week a woman told MailOnline she did not feel safe in the ski resort town. The woman living in Garmisch-Partenkirchen hit by a 'major migrant crime wave' has told how she carries pepper spray for protection because she no longer feels safe. Barbara Plant said she will not go out alone at night in the town amid concerns over 250 migrants being housed in a disused army complex in the town. Many other women in the Bavarian resort also say they are worried for their safety in what the mayor called 'an explosive situation' after police blamed a record increase in crime on asylum seekers. 'When it gets dark I stay indoors,' said Ms Plant, 59, who showed her can of pepper spray to MailOnline. 'I don't feel safe walking out at night anymore and that is because of the refugees. 'I have not experienced anything, but seeing groups of young men just makes it uncomfortable.' Barbara Plant, pictured, who lives in a picturesque German ski resort hit by a 'major migrant crime wave' has told how she carries pepper spray for protection as she no longer feels safe Ms Plant, 59, said she will not go out alone at night in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, pictured, amid concerns over 250 migrants being housed in a disused army complex in the town Many other women in the Bavarian resort, pictured, say they are worried for their safety in what the mayor called 'an explosive situation' after police blamed a record increase in crime on asylum seekers Ms Plant, who has lived in the town for over 30 years, is not alone in her fears. Such were the large number of calls from worried residents to the town's mayor Dr Sigrid Meierhofer she was compelled to write a letter pleading for help to try and calm what she called an 'explosive situation'. The letter sent to Bavarian politician to Maria Els was leaked to the local press leaving town officials to launch a damage limitation exercise. In the bombshell note Meierhofer said her town of 27,000 people had 'massive problems' caused by the presence of the migrants. She was worried about public order and security in the town and in a cry for help added 'this is not to be ignored or tolerated.' Meierhofer and other regional officials held a crisis meeting this week where it was announced police would step up street patrols in a bid to reassure residents. The rising fear of crime stems from young male asylum seekers, the majority of whom are from Africa, living in series of disused US army buildings known as the Abrams Complex on the outskirts of the town. Many have been in the secure camp for over two months surviving on a 120-a-month handout from the German government while they await notification of their asylum status. Ingrid Keiner, pictured, told MailOnline that she stays indoors - adding: 'I used to go to the ice rink and help out and all the young girls talked about their worries of the refugees.' There are 250 migrants being housed in a disused army complex in the town and claiming 120-a-month in state handouts. Police there said they had responded to more incidents in and around the refugee camp in the past six weeks, than in the last 12 months Police said much of the crime was restricted to fights inside the complex but violence has also spread to the streets of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, pictured, with arrests made over the summer for assaults and drunken behaviour Police said much of the crime was restricted to fights inside the complex but violence has also spread to the streets of Garmisch-Partenkirchen with arrests made over the summer for assaults and drunken behaviour. In the past six weeks police have responded to more incidents in and around the refugee camp than in the last 12 months. Ethnic rivalries, frustration and boredom among the asylum seekers has been blamed for the spate of violence. Thomas Holzer, the town's deputy police chief, said: 'There are brawls, fights and property damage. The migrants occupy the best Wi-Fi places, chose who sleeps in what room' He said troublemakers have been moved out to other refugee camps in southern Germany but many residents in Garmisch-Partenkirchen fear the situation is only going to get worse if more arrive. The town, less than 80 miles from Munich, close to the base of Mt Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, is heavily dependent on tourism - with 400,000 holidaymakers arriving to ski and hike. The spate of violence in the camp has been blamed on ethnic rivalries, frustration and boredom among asylum seekers. Pictured: Mukta Jalloh (right), 23, and Idris Kallon (left), 18, from Sierra Leone, say they are struggling to adapt to life in the town The Abrams complex where the migrants are being housed, pictured, are made of mostly young men from Africa under the age of 30. Many of the men in the complex have no desire to live in the Bavarian town and are dreading the freezing winter months Nigerian migrant Hassan Jamiu, pictured, who was born with both arms deformed, said he came to Europe as there were more opportunities for disabled people than in Nigeria. 'I do want to stay here in Germany and make a life,' he said. Many business owners have now expressed concern that visitors will be put off from staying in the town if it gains a reputation for trouble involving migrants. Thomas Helmbrecht runs a guesthouse less than half a mile from the Abrams Complex where the asylum seekers are housed. He said he fears tourism will be hit when people learn about the problems with the refugees. The 70-year-old is scathing of German Chancellor Angela Merkel for opening the countries border and allowing the mass influx of foreigners. 'We are in a mess. This town now has problems that it did not have before,' he said. 'You hear people talking all the time about how they do not feel safe. I am glad the letter from the Mayor is out in the open as it means it will be discussed. The authorities can no longer keep it quiet.' Mr Helmbrecht, who rents rooms for 45-a-night, predicted Chancellor Merkel will be ousted from power as a result of her migrant policy at next year's federal election. Crime or the fear of crime in the pretty Barvarian town led to such a large number of calls from worried residents to the town's mayor Dr Sigrid Meierhofer, pictured, she was compelled to write a letter pleading for help to try and calm what she called an 'explosive situation' The letter sent to Bavarian politician to Maria Els was leaked to the local press leaving town officials to launch a damage limitation exercise. In the bombshell note Meierhofer said her town of 27,000 people had 'massive problems' caused by the presence of the migrants It's a view shared by Ingrid Keiner who said she made a point if staying indoors after dark. 'I used to go to the ice rink and help out and all the young girls talked about their worries of the refugees,' she said 'A lot of what is said might just be talk, but no one wants to take any chances.' Walking her dog near the refugee camp, which was used as a recreational centre for US troops after the end of the Second World War, Barbara Plant said she was only too aware of the trouble inside the complex. She said: 'There are five or six police cars at the complex three or four times a week. 'All you hear are the sirens as they raced into the complex. The neighbourhood was always very safe, but it has changed. 'People talk about not being safe at night because they don't like to see groups of young men gathered together on the streets.' The ski resort attracts 400,000 holidaymakers a year - but many business owners have now expressed concern that visitors will be put off from staying in the town if it gains a reputation for trouble involving migrants Her home is in a street that runs alongside the complex which with its stunning views of the Kramer mountain range must rank among the most picturesque of any refugee camp in Europe. One resident said her best friend in her 30s, would no longer come into Garmisch-Partenkirchen after dark despite living only two miles away because she no longer felt safe. 'That is down to the problem with the refugees. There are so many stories and rumours about crimes that people start to believe them. 'I have no idea if they are true, but the feeling in the town has changed since the refugees were put here. 'There is an uneasiness, particularly among women. I think a lot of it has to do with other reports of migrants sexually assaulting women like over the New Year in Cologne.' Another woman in her mid 20s, said she and her friends avoided walking through the town centre at night. 'I don't feel safe anymore I'm sorry to say,' she said. 'When I talk with my friends they all feel the same way. I know we have to live with the asylum seekers but I do have my concerns.' Police in Garmisch-Partenkirchen said crime figures would be made available. But when MailOnline contacted the police HQ in Rosenheim a spokesman said they would not give out a breakdown on crimes committed in the town. Instead the spokesman confirmed there had been a 'record number' reported during September but the numbers were back to their usual level in October. Guesthouse owner Thomas Helmbrecht, 70, who rents rooms in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, pictured, for 45-a-night is scathing of German Chancellor Angela Merkel for opening the countries border and allowing the mass influx of foreigners. 'We are in a mess. This town now has problems that it did not have before,' he said. Police said most of the violence episodes took place within and around the refugee complex - but they have imposed a curfew at the local park, pictured, to stop migrants gathering there after dark While local police said most of the violence episodes took place within and around the refugee complex they had imposed a curfew at the local park to stop migrants from gathering there after dark. They have not revealed what crimes, if any, the migrants have been involved with. Much of the fear among the residents stems from clash of cultures and colour. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is predominantly white, with most residents middle aged to elderly and there is little change of any integration. The refugees are free to come and go from the Abrams complex and many choose to sit in the town centre chatting and making calls on their iPhones. Last year those housed at the complex were mostly Syrian families. Now two thirds of the 250 refugees are from Africa and 80 per cent young men under the age of 30. Refugees living there said there had been violent brawls at their complex with many of the fights over access to the Wi-Fi. Nigerian Hassan Jamiu, 32, who has been in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the past two months. Like many men in the complex he has no desire to live in the Bavarian town and is dreading the freezing winter months. 'I did not want to come here but was transferred from Munich. The people here don't really want us.' The town, less than 80 miles from Munich, close to the base of Mt Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, is heavily dependent on tourism. But guesthouse owners have expressed fears that rising crime will hit tourist numbers Jamiu, who was born with both arms deformed, said he came to Europe as there were more opportunities for disabled people than in Nigeria. 'I do want to stay here in Germany and make a life,' he said. Nearby were Mukta Jalloh, 23, and his friend Idris Kallon, 18, who were from Sierra Leone. They admitted they were economic migrants rather then fleeing any oppression or conflict. Jalloh, who was a taxi driver in his native country, said many of those in the refugee complex were struggling to adapt. Unable to work and with their asylum applications taking months to process they said many of the young men were bored and unhappy. 'All we can do is sit in the town and talk just to get out of the complex,' he said. Jalloh said the 120 payment he receives in a state handout does not stretch very far in a town where the average home costs over 500,000 and the shops are packed with designer ski gear. 'Like many of us I want to go to a town where I have a chance of getting work,' he said. Local business owners said it was reckless of the German Government to open a refugee camp and doubt that any of those currently house there would stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. 'What will they do here? There are no jobs for them to do if they cannot speak German,' said the owner of the shop selling tourist items such as traditional Bavarian lederhosen and alpine style hats. 'All the young people have to leave to go the city like Munich to find work. The only industry here is tourism and many of the migrants will not fit in.' The unease felt by many in the pretty Bavarian town is mirrored across Germany where Chancellor Merkel decision to open Germany's border to almost a million migrants has led to political and social unrest. The unease felt by many in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, pictured, is mirrored across Germany where Chancellor Merkel decision to open Germany's border to almost a million migrants has led to political and social unrest A further 300,000 migrants are expected this year with the reduced number due to neighbouring European countries such as Austria and Hungary sealing off their borders for easy passage to Germany. The country's justice system is already struggling to cope after tens of thousands of court cases involving migrants filing lawsuits to bring their relatives to Germany. In the first eight months of this year more than 17,000 cases were filed with the majority of those from Syrian refugees. Prosecutors have charged a groom and 12 Israeli wedding guests, including the groom, with inciting violence after they were caught on camera celebrating the murder of a Palestinian toddler and his parents, who died after their home was firebombed by Jewish settlers. Ali Saad Dawabsha, who was 18 months old, died when his home in the village of Duma in the occupied West Bank, was attacked in July 2015. Ali's parents died later from severe burns. His badly burned brother Ahmed, aged five, was the sole survivor. In December last year the suspects - eight men and five teenage boys - were filmed waving guns and stabbing a photograph of the dead child at a wedding. The Israeli wedding guests were filmed stabbing a photograph of the dead toddler, Ali Saad Dawabsha (pictured) and singing anti-Palestinian songs A Star of David and the words 'revenge' and 'long live the Messiah' were spray-painted on a wall near the Dawabshas' small house. A Jewish settler, Amiram Ben-Uliel, 21, was charged in January with murder, attempted murder, arson and conspiracy to commit a hate crime. A boy, who cannot be named, was charged with being an accessory to committing a racially motivated murder. The Times of Israel said Ben-Uliel claimed to have carried out the firebombing in retaliation for the murder of another Jewish settler, Malachy Rosenfeld, by a Palestinian gunman. The video of the far-rightists singing anti-Palestinian songs and celebrating Ali Saad's death (pictured) was leaked to the Israeli press a few weeks after the wedding Palestinians inspect the damage at the house in the village of Duma where 18-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha died in July last year. His parents both succumbed to their injuries later The video of the incident at the wedding shocked many people in Israel, even those who are aware of far-right elements who have preached genocide against Arabs. The 13 men, who have not been named, were filmed at the wedding wearing shirts with anti-Arab slogans and singing songs praising setting fire to mosques. Some waved pistols, automatic rifles, knives and bottles fashioned to look like firebombs and stabbed pictures of the dead members of the Dawabsha family. Ali Saad (pictured, centre), his father Sa'ed Muhammad (left) and mother Riham (right) all died in or shortly after the firebombing A statement from the Israeli Justice Ministry says the groom and the 12 guests 'called for the carrying out of acts of violence or terror or praised, sympathised or encouraged acts of violence or terror'. The statement went on that given the timing and circumstances of the wedding there was a 'real possibility' their behaviour could 'cause acts of violence and terror'. The footage of the wedding prompted condemnations from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said it showed 'the true face of a group that constitutes a danger to Israeli society and to the security of Israel'. Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond announces the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office has officially been awarded a 2016-2017 RIDD Grant from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office for $76,000. The RIID Grant, (Remove Impaired-Intoxicated Drivers), allows the HCSO the opportunity to use additional federal funds to support traffic enforcement operations for the sole purpose of removing impaired and/or intoxicated drivers from the roads in order to protect the community from crashes that may occur as a result of alcohol or drug impairment. Every year, traffic safety advocates, non-profit organizations, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, District Attorneys offices, and other state agencies across Tennessee seek funding through grant applications offered by THSO. Applicants who meet the required data-driven criteria and highway safety standards are awarded grant funds to support THSOs mission to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. Grant funding provides essential highway safety training and equipment for law enforcement agencies, sophisticated crash data collection analysis technology, specialized DUI prosecutors, resources for emergency response personnel, and educational tools to help improve driver behavior. This is not the first time the HCSO has received one of the RIDD Grants. Last years RIDD Grant allowed the HCSO to utilize overtime and additional hours for traffic enforcement. A total of 30 arrests were made during the 2014-2015 grant period verses a total of 23 DUI arrests made during the 2013-2014 grant period. During the 2014-2015 grant period Hamilton County Sheriff's Office investigated a total of three fatal crashes in the unincorporated areas with one of them being alcohol related. Thanks to the additional RIDD Grant funding, deputies are removing more impaired and intoxicated drivers from the roads and it is clear lives are being saved, said officials. Prior RIID Grants have allowed deputies and traffic personnel to also see improvements due to the higher visibility of more law enforcement personnel and increased enforcement measures. RIID Grants have allowed the HCSO to have additional manpower on the streets and the citizens in Hamilton County have been able to see an increased presence of law enforcement personnel. A cruel father who killed his three-year-old son by force-feeding him food was jailed at the Old Bailey in London A cruel father who killed his three-year-old son by force-feeding him porridge, cereal and spaghetti until he drowned in his own food has been jailed for nine years. The 32-year-old dad, from north west London, is believed to be the first adult in Britain to remain anonymous after being imprisoned for the homicide of a child. The Old Bailey heard how he caused 'extreme suffering' to the toddler, whose little stomach and lungs filled with food as his father held him down. The evidence showed a pattern of cruelty as he force-fed his son a porridge-like mix of bread, milk, Weetabix and oats for about a year before his death on 27 November last year. Prosecutor Simon Denison said the child didn't like the porridge, was scared before he was fed and would cry, kick and struggle as his father pinned him down, pinched his cheeks and poured the mixture in. The QC said: 'On 27 November last year, he was restrained and force-fed in the same way, he suffered in the same way and on that occasion he was rendered unable to choke and unable to breathe, so he inhaled the food he was being made to take. 'His stomach was full and both his lungs were full. His suffering must have been extreme and it must have been obvious to the defendant. 'It is difficult to comprehend the scene on that afternoon.' The 32-year-old was yesterday found guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty by a jury following an Old Bailey trial. Two members of the jury which convicted him returned today (Thurs) to see him sentenced to nine years. Mr Justice Singh, referring to the man as X, said: 'X has shown no remorse for what he did to his young son. 'Rather he has tried to absolve himself of all responsibility by lying throughout, from when he was first asked what happened when paramedics and the police arrived at his house up to and including his evidence at this trial. 'Further, he has forced two of his children, B and C, to give evidence at this trial. 'They are already traumatised by the death of their little brother.' Mr Justice Singh said that the child has 'aspirated' the mixture, breathing it into his lungs, and had so on a previous occasion. 'It is also clear from the medical evidence that there had been past aspiration. There was chronic inflammation in the lungs. 'In effect, [the child] drowned in his own food. 'I take the view that A was particularly vulnerable, not only because of his young age, but because the defendant had to restrain him in order to force feed him. 'I am also sure on the evidence at the trial that there were occasions when the defendant would slap him.' Mr Justice Singh also noted that the child's siblings would have witnessed 'at least some of what the defendant did to their younger brother.' He also highlighted the evidence of the man's daughter to the trial, who remembered asking her mother 'can you tell dad to stop feeding A like that because I think something's going to happen to A. 'The harm involved in a case where human life is lost has to be acknowledged by the law, even in cases of manslaughter. His suffering must have been extreme and it must have been obvious to the defendant Prosecutor Simon Denison 'I also have to take into account that what happened on 27 November, with its fatal consequences, was not the first occasion on which X had force-fed A.' But the killer will be free within four-and-a-half years without his name ever having been linked to the death of his child, who can also not be identified. The judge made a court order to ban identification of surviving children, but gave the unusual direction that neither defendant nor deceased could be named. The name of both father and son had been reported in coverage of preliminary hearings in the case and both prosecution and defence admitted they had not made any application for a reporting restriction before the beginning of trial. The Press were free to name convicted murderer Ben Butler, 36, and the six-year-old daughter he killed, Ellie, throughout a high-profile Old Bailey trial. But Mr Justice Singh said: '[There's an] important distinction to be drawn from the case of Ben Butler, not least that the surname is a much more common one. 'This court well understands the importance of freedom of the Press, not least to be able to report what happens in public proceedings in the courts in this country. 'However this is not simply a question as might be the case normally of balancing the right of freedom of expression with the right of privacy.' The direction effectively grants anonymity to a child killer who could go on to father more children with women who would have no idea of his criminal past. The name of the tragic toddler who died will also never be known to the public. The youngster was found covered in vomit after his father called for an ambulance on the afternoon of 27 November last year. But the boy was pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital. Jurors heard the defendant would regularly blend a meal of bread, milk, Weetabix and oats - sometimes with rice pudding or spaghetti - before pouring it into a mug. He would then lay his son on his lap and force open his mouth by pinching his cheeks together before pouring the mixture in. Food would get into the little boy's nose and face as he struggled to resist, and he would sometimes vomit. The prosecutor said: 'The defendant would become angry, and slap him or send him to bed. 'On 27 November last year, the defendant fed [his son] in that way, lying across his lap, forcing his mouth open, resisting [his] struggling, and pouring the food into his mouth, forcing the food into his mouth. And it went terribly wrong.' Jurors heard no one else was present at the time of the incident, but the defendant called for an ambulance at 5.20pm. Paramedics, who arrived within 10 minutes, found the three-year-old lying on the floor. 'He was cold to touch, and his heart had stopped. There was no sign of life.. He was wearing a nappy,' said Mr Denison. Prosecutor Simon Denison said the child didn't like the porridge, was scared before he was fed and would cry, kick and struggle as his father pinned him down, pinched his cheeks and poured the mixture in The court heard there was porridge-like vomit on his face, chest and the floor, and more of the substance in his throat. The boy was rushed to hospital, but pronounced dead at 6.32pm. The prosecutor said that if the toddler had been eating normally and upright he would have been able to clear his throat if some food had gone down 'the wrong way'. But he added: 'On 27 November, [he] was laid across his father's lap, the defendant squeezed his cheeks to force [his] mouth open, and because he was restrained, [he] would not have been able to lean forward, cough and clear the food. 'His distress would have been obvious as he kicked and wriggled to try to free himself, and he being a large three-year-old boy it would have taken force to restrain him. 'But then as more food went into his airways and into his lungs he would have been unable to breathe, and he would have gone limp, and lost consciousness, with food blocking his lungs and his upper and lower airways.' Giving evidence, the father rejected witness descriptions of him often 'pouring' the food into the child's mouth from a red mug. He told jurors: 'I don't understand why they said that. I never fed my son in that way.' He said he first began making the porridge mixture when the boy was two years old and claimed it was smooth enough to drink. The father said that the boy used to 'feed himself' by tipping the mug into his mouth. 'I was not really holding [the mug], just supporting it.' His barrister Sally O'Neill asked: 'Did you ever feed him yourself using the mug or pour the porridge down his mouth using the mug?' The father replied: 'No, never.' Ms O'Neill said: 'It's not alleged he ever intended to cause him harm. His treatment in every other way was of a loving parent.' Advertisement First lady Michelle Obama pleaded with North Carolina voters to keep 'working your hearts out for my girl' Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton then declared: 'First ladies, we rock.' Obama, who broke tradition by deftly wielding the hatchet to take apart Donald Trump on the campaign trail, eased off some of her harshest attacks as she delivered a glowing tribute to Clinton, who was seated behind her during lengthy remarks. But she declared Hillary Clinton, a one-time bitter rival of her husband, 'my friend,' and cast grave doubts about Donald Trump's fitness for the job of president. 'We want a president who takes this job seriously,' Obama said. 'And has the temperament and maturity to do it well. Someone who is steady. Someone who we can trust with the nuclear codes.' And she implied that Trump who was revealed talking about grabbing women by the crotch in an infamous 'p****' tape was a bad influence on the nation's tots. Scroll down for video Star power: The joint appearance in Winston-Salem of Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton is a sign of the Democratic candidate's campaign's desire for her appeal to rub off First ladies united: Michelle Obama used a rally in North Carolina to offer her warmest endorsement of Clinton yet - appearing alongside her and enthusing a large crowd She's with her: Clinton drew crowd of thousands at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum at Wake Forest University but it was Michelle Obama who was the real draw Look at the crowd: Clinton appeared delighted by the scale of turnout at the rally Enthusiastic response: Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton's joint appearance was met with warmth from a crowd of supporters Together: 'I wish I didn't have to say this, right, but indeed dignity and respect for women and girls is also on the ballot in this election,' Clinton said introducing Michelle Obama 'We know the influence our president has on our children,' she said. 'They turn on the TV and they see the most powerful role model in the world someone who shows them how to treat others. How to deal with disappointment. Whether to tell the truth. They're taking it all in,' she said. Clinton welcomed the assist from one of the most popular political figures in the country in her effort to portray Donald Trump as unacceptable as she tries to drive up turnout in a state that helped sweep Barack Obama into office. 'Is there anyone more inspiring than Michelle Obama?' Clinton gushed at the start of her remarks before a huge student crowd - far larger than the ones the Democratic candidate is used to. And, Clinton added, 'I do know something about being first lady of the United States.' Clinton drew crowd of thousands at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum at Wake Forest University though it's not clear how many came to see the first lady, who uncorked a withering attack on Donald Trump over his treatment of women this month. The crowd was 11,000, according to the Clinton campaign, a large gathering for a campaign that focuses on deftly-presented smaller events that don't match Donald Trump's large rallies. The first lady made references to some of Trump's policies and statements, like a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, but steered clear of policy. 'We want someone who is a unifying force in this country. Someone who sees how differences not as a threat but as a blessing,' she said, as a seated Hillary Clinton nodded repeatedly in approval. She acknowledged the unprecedented role of her unrestrained campaigning while a sitting first lady, a job with no salary and no official description. 'That may be true. But what's also true is that this is truly an unprecedented election. And that's why I'm out here. I'm out here first and foremost because we have never had a more qualified and prepared candidate for president then our friend Hillary Clinton,' she said. She spoke about her husband's victory here in 2008, noting that Obama won by about 14,000 votes, a narrow margin in a populous state. She told the crowd to keep 'working your hearts out for my girl.' 'I wish I didn't have to say this, right, but indeed dignity and respect for women and girls is also on the ballot in this election,' Clinton said introducing Michelle Obama, who sat next to her during Clinton's remarks. In a signal of the political punch provided by President Obama's wife, it was Clinton who introduced the former first lady. Clinton ran through her agenda, and pleaded with students and young people in the audience: 'You've got to turn out and vote in this election.' And she praised her for what she called 'a mean round of carpool karaoke' - a reference to Obama appearing on James Corden's CBS late-night show and singing along to Beyonce. The first lady is a potent weapon for Clinton. Her positive approval rating was 59 per cent in a recent Fox News Poll and hit 95 per cent among Democrats. 'She's been an absolute rock star,' Clinton campaign press secretary Brian Fallon said this week. Clinton jetted to Winston Salem, in a state that is essential to Donald Trump's narrow path to victory, and where polls have Clinton leading. Clinton and her team have been warning about 'complacency' among her supporters who might let up on their efforts following widespread reporting after the final presidential debate that challenger Donald Trump is behind. The first lady has delivered some of the most effective attacks on Trump of any Clinton surrogate, after a series of women came forward to accuse him of groping them or kissing them without permission. Enthusiastic response: Clinton needs to maximize turn-out in North Carolina among women, African-American and younger voters and deployed the First Lady to that end Embrace: Michelle Obama has put aside years of frosty relations with Hillary Clinton to campaign for her, first by herself, and on Thursday, with her Stronger together: Clinton appeared energized by appearing alongside the First Lady, acknowledged as the country's most popular political figure Let's move the polls: Clinton is hoping the impact of Michelle Obama on the race will be in her favor 'This is not normal. This is not politics as usual,' Obama said last month in New Hampshire. 'This is disgraceful, it is intolerable, and it doesn't matter what party you belong to.' Trump, who calls himself a counter-puncher, hasn't hit back directly. He did say during the final presidential debate: 'I've gotten to see some of the most vicious commercials I've ever seen of Michelle Obama talking about you, Hillary,' in reference to comments dating to the 2008 primary election. The White House brushed back and warned Trump that it would be a mistake to hit back. 'I can't think of a bolder way for Donald Trump to lose even more standing than he already has than by engaging the first lady of the United States,' White House spokesman Eric Schultz said this month. The First Lady's warm endorsement of Clinton is however a departure from their previously chilly personal relations. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Clinton was offended by Mrs Obama saying: 'If you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House.' Earlier this year it was said that she wanted Joe Biden to run for the White House. Clinton referenced Donald Trump's criticism of 'gold star' father Khizr Khan, saying it would ' rub salt in the wounds of military families.' Donald Trump attacked the Clintons on Thursday over the latest blockbuster hacked email released by WikiLeaks, which details how a close Bill Clinton aide helped rake in tens of millions for the former president while his wife was serving as secretary of state. Doug Band sent the 12-page memo in 2011 to Bill Clinton, his daughter Chelsea, several Clinton Foundation board members and lawyers, and 'special adviser' John Podesta whose email was hacked and who is now Hillary Clinton's campaign manager. 'Just today we read about Clinton confidant Doug Band bragging that he had funnelled tens of millions of dollars to "Bill Clinton, Inc." through the Foundation donations, paid speeches and consulting contracts,' Trump said in a farm animal expo center in rural Springfield, Ohio. 'Mr. Band called the arrangement "unorthodox",' Trump said. 'The rest of us call it outright corrupt.' Scroll down for videos Donald Trump attacked the Clintons during a campaign rally on Thursday in Springfield, Ohio, for WikiLeaks revelations about how two aides helped Bill Clinton rake in millions in speaking fees and engagements In fact, he continued, 'the Clinton Foundation even hired a law firm to find out if their pay-to-play scheme would jeopardize their charitable status with the IRS.' 'If the Clintons were willing to play this fast and loose with their enterprise when they weren't in the White House, just imagine what they'll do if given the chance to once again control the Oval Office!' Trump, cheered on by a crowd estimated at 7,000 people, blasted Hillary Clinton as the new figurehead leading what amounts to an organized crime family. 'The more emails WikiLeaks releases, the more lines between the Clinton Foundation, the secretary of state's office and the Clintons' personal finances they all get blurred, the Republican presidential nominee said. 'Honestly, I think we've had enough of the Clintons, in all fairness, right?' he asked. 'Don't you think? Had enough!' The 12-page memo was sent by Clinton's former aide Doug Band (above) in 2011 'I mean, at what point at what point do we say it? Hillary Clinton is the most corrupt person ever to seek the office of the presidency.' Wikileaks published the Doug Band memo on Wednesday, opening up a new window into the financial links between the Clinton Foundation, the former president's personal fortune and his wife's tenure as America's highest ranking diplomat. Band and another aide, the memo states, helped secure $66 million from ventures including speaking fees. Using his role as the president of his own consulting firm Teneo Holdings, Band wrote, he worked to raise funds for the foundation and Clinton personally. Band also wrote that he helped obtain 'in-kind services for the President and his family for personal, travel, hospital, vacation and the like.' A hacked email released by WikiLeaks details how Doug Band (above, with Clinton in an undated photo), one of Bill Clintons closest aides, helped earn the former president millions after he left office 'Mr. Band called the arrangement "unorthodox",' Trump said at the Ohio rally. 'The rest of us call it outright corrupt' 'Throughout the past almost 11 years since President Clinton left office, I have sought to leverage my activities, including my partner role at Teneo to support and raise funds for the Foundation,' the close friend-of-Bill wrote. 'This memorandum strives to set forth how I have endeavored to support the Clinton Foundation and President Clinton personally.' Under a section titled 'For-Profit Activity of President Clinton (i.e. Bill Clinton, Inc),' Band said he and deputy Justin Cooper brought Clinton all four of his advisory arrangements at the time. Band's memo came as Chelsea Clinton (pictured above with her husband Marc Mezvinsky in May 2015) took a bigger leadership role in the foundation and expressed concerns about Band's role in the charity These yielded more than $30 million in personal income, added to another $66 million to be paid out over the following nine years as part of Teneo's consulting arrangement. One of these roles was serving as honorary chairman of Laureate International Universities, a chain of for-profit colleges that paid Bill Clinton $3.5 million per year from 2010 until 2015, when the contract ended and his wife started her run for president. Band said neither he nor Cooper were compensated directly for their work. It's common for Washington power-brokers to make money 'on the back end' of such arrangements, using them to build their client lists for other contracts. Both men did receive salaries from the Clinton Foundation. Band also said Teneo was responsible for negotiating a number of speaking fees for Clinton, including $1.15 million from the Swedish telecom giant Ericson and $900,000 from banking behemoth UBS. Band at the same time solicited clients to donate to the Clinton Foundation. This included $4.33 million over six years from the Coca-Cola Company and more than $1 million from Barclays Capital. The deals are concerning considering Clinton's wife was serving as Secretary of State at the time. Above, the Clintons in January 2010, when Hillary was still Secretary of State Teneo partner Declan Kelly (center, at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2009) introduced former President Clinton to the heads of major companies like Coca-Cola, UBS Global Wealth Management and Dow Chemical Band's partner at Teneo, Declan Kelly, helped introduce Clinton to several top executives of clients including UBS Global Wealth Management and Dow Chemical. After these meetings, these companies often upped their contributions to the Clinton Foundation. Bands memo was also sent to lawyers who were conducting a review of the foundation as Chelsea Clinton was taking on a larger role with the philanthropy, and after she raised red flags about Band's dual roles at Teneo and the foundation. Chelsea became concerned when she learned that a member of his staff - who reported to Band - was making calls to British lawmakers 'on behalf of President Clinton,' for Teneo clients including Dow Chemical. She said her dad did not know about the calls and that they would 'horrify' him, and that she feared Teneo was 'hustling business at CGI' the foundation-operated Clinton Global Initiative. Advertisement Aid workers have warned of a major humanitarian crisis when fighting begins in earnest for Mosul, which is home to more than a million people, but thousands have already been fleeing surrounding areas. Iraq's ministry of displacement and migration said Thursday that more than 11,700 people had been displaced since the operation began. Some are in refugee camps where TVs and mobile phones are banned and with ISIS slaughtering Iraqi soldiers and prisoners in villages surrounding Mosul, more are expected to flee. Iraq's elite counterterrorism forces gather villagers for preliminary investigation before taking them to displaced people camps in the village of Tob Zawa, about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from Mosul, Iraq Children use taps to fetch water at a newly opened camp for people who have been forced to flee their homes due to the current offensive on Mosul Tents line a newly opened camp for people who have been forced to flee their homes due to the current offensive on Mosul Children play near a water tap-stand in a recently opened camp for people who have been forced to flee their homes due to the current offensive on Mosul Boys walk through a newly opened camp for people who have been forced to flee their homes Karl Schembri, regional media adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council, said: 'There's been quite a dramatic upturn in the last few days. 'As the Iraqi troops get closer to Mosul, more people are getting displaced, there are more populated areas.' At a camp in Khazir, about mid-way between Mosul and the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, Massud Ismail Hassan peered through a chainlink fence, looking for family members as peshmerga fighters registered the displaced. 'Once all these procedures are finished we will be able to give them food and drink and blankets we brought with us,' he said. Other families had already found each other, and tearful relatives clutched hands through the links of the fence. Saddam Dahham, who lived under IS control in a village near Mosul for more than two years, fled to Khazir with his wife and their three children. 'We were not allowed to smoke, to use phones, not allowed to watch TV and we had to let our beards grow long,' the 36-year-old said. One of the first things he did after arriving at the camp was joyfully shave the 'heavy thing dangling from my chin,' Dahham said. 'I'm finally going to resume a normal life,' the former truck driver said. A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter takes a selfie with children after recapturing the Fadiliya village from Islamic state militants, in Nawaran North of Mosul, Iraq Newly displaced Iraq's who fled from the city of Mosul, Iraq's last major Islamic State (IS) group stronghold, cry as they meet their relatives who came two years ago to the refugee camp in the Khazer area, near near the Kurdish checkpoint of Aksi Kalak The Iraqi army was trying on Thursday to reach a town south of Mosul where Islamic State has reportedly executed dozens to deter the population against any attempt to support the US-led offensive on the jihadists' last major city stronghold in Iraq. Eleven days into what is expected to be the biggest ground offensive in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003, army and federal police units were fighting off sniper fire and suicide car bombs south of Hammam al-Alil, the site of the reported executions, an Iraqi military spokesman said. The militants shot dead dozens of prisoners there, most of them former members of the Iraqi police and army, taken from villages the group has been forced to abandon as the troops advanced, officials in the region said on Wednesday. The executions were meant 'to terrorise the others, those who are in Mosul in particular', and also to get rid of the prisoners, said Abdul Rahman al-Waggaa, a member of the Nineveh provincial council. Some of the families of those executed are also held in Hammam al-Alil, he said. UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville on Tuesday said Islamic State fighters had reportedly killed scores of people around Mosul in the last week. A family grieves over the grave of a family member at a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul, Iraq Smoke raises after Kurdish Peshmerga fighters disabled IED?is and recaptured from Islamic state militants the Fadiliya village in Nawaran, north of Mosul, Iraq Abdel el Razak Talab carries a gravestone at a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul Islamic State fighters are keeping up their fierce defence of the southern approaches to Mosul, which has held up Iraqi troops there and forced an elite army unit east of the city to put a more rapid advance on hold. The fall of Mosul would mark Islamic State's effective defeat in Iraq. The city is many times bigger than any other that the ultra-hardline militant group has ever captured, and it was from its Grand Mosque in 2014 that the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a 'caliphate' that also spans parts of Syria. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday an attack on Raqqa, Islamic State's main stronghold in Syria, would start while the battle of Mosul is still unfolding. It was the first official suggestion that U.S.-backed forces in both countries could mount simultaneous operations to crush the caliphate. The front lines east and north of Mosul have moved much closer to the edges of the city than the southern front and the combat ahead is likely to get more deadly as 1.5 million residents remain in the city. Worst-case U.N. forecasts see up to a million people being uprooted. U.N. aid agencies said the fighting had so far forced about 16,000 people to flee. 'Assessments have recorded a significant number of female-headed households, raising concerns around the detention or capture of men and boys,' the office of the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq said on Wednesday. The coordinator, Lise Grande, told Reuters on Tuesday that a mass exodus could happen, maybe within the next few days. A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter looks through a Milan missile before recapturing from Islamic state militants the Fadiliya village in Nawaran, north of Mosul, Iraq Kurdish peshmerga fighters celebrate after recapturing the Fadiliya village from Islamic state militants, in Nawaran, north of Mosul, Iraq It was also possible that Islamic State fighters could resort to 'rudimentary chemical weapons' to hold back the impending assault, she said. The militants are suspected of setting on fire a sulphur plant south of Mosul last week, filling the air with toxic gasses that caused breathing problems for hundreds of civilians. A senior U.S. official said about 50,000 Iraqi ground troops are taking part in the offensive, including a core force of 30,000 from the government's armed forces, 10,000 Kurdish fighters and the remaining 10,000 from police and local volunteers. About 5,000 to 6,000 jihadists are dug in, according to Iraqi military estimates. Roughly 5,000 U.S. troops are also in Iraq. More than 100 of them are embedded with Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces advising commanders and helping coalition air power to hit targets. They are not deployed on front lines. The warring sides are not giving casualty figures in their own ranks or among civilians, each claiming to have killed hundreds of enemy fighters. The Iraqi army said it killed 772 insurgents since the start of the offensive on October 17, and captured 23. About 100 towns, villages and hamlets were taken back, it added in a statement, including Fadiliya village Miranda Kay Rader, 19 (pictured), was arrested Wednesday night after drunkenly rear-ending a cop car while Snapchatting a topless picture to her boyfriend A college freshman was arrested Wednesday night, after drunkenly crashing into a cop car while Snapchatting a topless photo to her boyfriend. Miranda Kay Rader, 19, was driving in Bryan, Texas around 8:30pm when she rear-ended a police cruiser parked outside of a residence, where there had been a disturbance call. Bryan Police Officer John Sartell said he heard 'a vehicle braking very hard' so he ran back to his car where he found Rader's SUV smashed into his own. When he approached Rader's Acura, he noticed that the Texas A&M freshman's bra was 'unclasped' and that she was 'attempting to put a black blouse on'. He asked Rader why she 'was not dressed while driving' and she said that she had been 'taking a Snapchat photo to send to her boyfriend while she was at the red light'. In a further search of the car, Sartell found an opened bottle of wine in the center console. Rader admitted that she drank about a quarter of the bottle at a friend's house and was driving back to her dorm. Bryan is a neighboring town of College Station - where Texas A&M is located. The Texas A&M freshman rear-ended a police cruiser that was parked outside of a home where there had been a disturbance call. No one was injured in the crash The teen agreed to perform a field sobriety test, which she failed. Sartell arrested her with driving while intoxicated and Rader was booked in the Brazos County Jail, where her blood was drawn. She was later released after posting $2,000 bail. In addition to the misdemeanor charges, Rader was also cited with being a minor in possession of alcohol. Rader's Facebook profile shows she was a cheerleader in high school. When the officer approached Rader's car, he found her trying to put her shirt back on An energy company lawyer claims that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas 'groped' her in 1999 at a dinner party in suburban Washington, D.C. Moira Smith, who at the time was 23 years old, told the National Law Journal about the alleged incident involving Thomas, who denies the allegations. 'Justice Thomas touched me inappropriately and without my consent,' Smith said. Smith, now vice president and general counsel of Enstar Natural Gas in Anchorage, Alaska, was then a recent graduate of Georgetown University who was spending the year as a Truman Foundation scholar in Washington. 'He groped me while I was setting the table, suggesting I should sit 'right next to him,'' Smith said. Moira Smith (left) says that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (right) groped her in 1999 at a dinner party in suburban Washington. Thomas said the claim is 'preposterous' and 'it never happened' The year Smith claims the alleged incident happened, Thomas was already serving on the Supreme Court and had been married for over a decade to his wife Virginia 'Ginni' Lamp Thomas (above together) 'He was 5 or 6 inches down and he got a good handful and he kept squeezing me and pulling me close to him.' Two of Smith's roommates back then confirmed to The Associated Press that Smith told them what happened just after the dinner. Smith didn't go public until this month. Thomas said the claim is 'preposterous' and 'it never happened.' Smith's story and Thomas' denial were first published by Law.com. Thomas' high court confirmation in 1991 was nearly derailed by Anita Hill's claims that Thomas sexually harassed her. During his 25 years on the court, there have been no other allegations against Thomas, who has been married to his second wife Virginia 'Ginni' Lamp Thomas since 1987. Smith first described the incident publicly on her Facebook page, saying 'he groped me while I was setting the table' at a dinner hosted by her boss. Of the alleged incident, Smith said: 'Justice Thomas (above) touched me inappropriately and without my consent. He groped me while I was setting the table, suggesting I should sit 'right next to him'' Smith said she has since deactivated her Facebook page, but law.com reprinted the posting with its story. Smith said she was moved to share her experience after hearing that Donald Trump had been caught on tape making crude comments about women and then seeing an Internet meme that made light of the situation. Smith said on Facebook that she also had been the victim of date rape and was later groped by an acquaintance in a bar. 'As the mother of a young daughter and son, I am coming forward to show that it is important to stand up for yourself and tell the truth. When powerful men commit sexual assault, they count on their victims keeping it a secret,' she said in the statement. When Smith returned home from the dinner in June 1999, she recounted what happened to her three roommates, said one of the women, Carrie Farmer. 'I can't recall if it was that night or the next morning, but she told us that she went to this dinner and then this awful thing happened,' said Farmer, a health policy expert with the Rand Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 'I don't recall our reaction to it, except I guess we were young and we didn't know what to do with that kind of information.' Another roommate, Laura Fink of San Diego, would only say that the account published in law.com was accurate. Fink is a Democratic consultant who made similar claims against former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, for whom she worked when he was running for Congress. Thomas' high court confirmation in 1991 was nearly derailed by Anita Hill's (above) claims that Thomas sexually harassed her In 2013, Filner resigned as mayor amid sexual harassment allegations and eventually was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement on charges related to the claims. Smith's account became public just as Thomas and his supporters were marking his 25th anniversary on the court. The commemorations included an event at the Heritage Foundation Wednesday night, where Thomas was asked whether there is hope for the Supreme Court confirmation process. Carrie Severino, a former Thomas clerk, said the justice treated his clerks with 'the utmost respect' and allowed her to defer her clerkship for a year because she was pregnant. But this draft comes as Vladimir Putin and the West are building up militaries amid rising tensions The men were given medical examinations and identical uniforms in Omsk before kissing families goodbye for bi-annual draft which has taken place in spring and autumn since 1967 Advertisement Some had smiles on their faces while others looked concerned as they left home for an uncertain future. Dozens of young men lined up in Omsk for the annual Russian autumn conscription where men aged 18-27 are obliged to spend a year in national service. Drafts take place twice a year - one in spring and one in autumn - but the timing of this one comes as President Vladimir Putin is beefing up his armed forces amid rising tensions with the West. Goodbye kiss: A soldier is bid farewell by a loved one, pictured, as he embarks on a year of national service for Russia Physical: Men aged 18-27 were called up in a bi-annual draft and were given medical checks in a recruitment centre in Omsk, pictured We'll meet again: Once they completed procedures, the men were packed onto a train at a station in Omsk, pictured, and sent off to be deployed, as their families crowded around the departing carriages Brave soldier: A woman kisses a smiling conscript, pictured, as he heads off to an uncertain future with tensions rising between Russia and the West High spirits: Many looked chirpy as they answered the bi-annual draft - which takes place in spring and autumn - and lined up to go through the process at the Omsk centre, pictured Chilly: The city is south-west Siberia and the conscripts quickly donned their coats and winter caps, pictured, to keep warm It comes days after Russia launched wide-spread nuclear defence drills while the country has also tested an RS-18 ballistic missile allegedly to see if it could defeat US defence systems. Meanwhile NATO has responded with plans to deploy the biggest force in Eastern Europe since the Cold War. The conscripts were pictured lining up for medical tests in their underwear where they opened their mouths for doctors to inspect, had their chest size taken and general fitness assessed. Once in dark green uniform, they all began to look the same due to the standard 'buzzcut' haircuts they were given. They proceeded to sit on long benches eating meals out of metal trays and plastic cups, although the recruitment centre was not quite as basic as it appeared as many troops were seen charging their smartphones in plug sockets. Breathe in: One of the first steps conscripts have to go through is a physical exam in their underwear, with one young man having his chest size taken pictured here Say ahh: Doctors and nurses checked out each trooper, pictured, to see whether they were able to complete national service Open wide: The men were pictured lining up one-by-one to enter the doctors' office to be given the once over Say what you see: Eye tests, pictured, were also given to make sure they were fighting fit to serve their country Once their forms and papers had been approved they began to be shipped out, although they were allowed to say goodbye to loved ones, with many tearing up as they kissed their parents and partners farewell. Many wrapped up in thick coats to stay warm and smoked cigarettes together before boarding a train to be deployed, with conscripts usually sent far away from their home towns on assignment. They sported traditional Russian winter caps and were seen examining their weaponry before boarding the huge train, where soldiers waved through the windows at their families as it left the station. As reported by MailOnline, Britain is to send 800 troops, tanks and jets to Estonia to deter Russian aggression while UK and Romanian forces will also join a US battalion in Poland RAF planes are also being dispatched to patrol Romanian airspace for the first time in a move designed to stop Moscow taking over or undermining its former Eastern European satellites as it has with Crimea and Ukraine. Papers, please: Another step in the process was bringing their passports and papers to be inspected by officials, pictured Paperwork: Each conscript was given a pack of forms to fill out, likely about their medical histories Identity: Each conscript had to bring their IDs and were given military service record books at the centre in Omsk One size fits all: Once they completed their medical checks the troops were fitted for their uniforms, including traditional Russian military caps, pictured It goes on your head: The young men will likely need the headgear to keep warm considering many of them have had their heads shaved, pictured Lace-up: A conscript ties his boots up as he puts on his military uniform at the Omsk recruitment centre, pictured Sir Michael Fallon said the British mission would incorporate Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior vehicles and hand-held drones. Tensions between Russia and the West have escalated due to Moscow's indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Aleppo. President Putin sent a fleet of eight Russian warships through the English Channel to assist the assault on the besieged Syrian city. But he dismissed claims he is planning to invade another country calling warnings of a new Cold War 'stupid' and 'unrealistic' even as Russia launched a new super stealth submarine. Line-up: There is little to distinguish between the men in their identical uniforms and near identical hairstyles Grubs up: The men were taken into a large cafeteria where they were served food in tin plates and drinks in plastic cups, pictured Tasty: They were each given a slice of bread to go with a bowl of soup and what appears to be a rice dish, pictured Modern way: What sets this group of conscripts apart from those who have passed through the Omsk centre decades before is the raft of mobile phones plugged in to charge, pictured Tip of the hat: Conscripts adjust their winter caps in the mirror as they ensure they look prim and proper in their uniforms Deadly: Soldiers examine machine guns and pistols, pictured, they will use for training in the coming year Smoking: Another common sight throughout the history of warfare, these Russian soldiers are quick to light up cigarettes as they stand around in the cold of Omsk, pictured In an interview earlier today, he said he didn't want world domination or a confrontation with any country, adding that Russia 'values its independence.' He added: 'We have seen some countries pushing globalisation serving only them, but not all countries. 'Convenient for some countries to paint themselves as defenders of civilisation and bend allies [to their will].' Putin made the speech as the Russian navy unveiled their new super-stealth submarine, which will be deployed in the Black Sea. The Veliky Novgorod is the latest addition to the Black Sea fleet and is capable of striking land, sea and underwater targets. Eskimo kiss: Although they are parting, both this soldier and his loved one, pictured, seem happy at his call-up despite the lingering threat caused by military expansion in the West and East All smiles: Most of the conscripts could not take the smiles of their faces as they headed off to to their part for Russia Miss you: But some looked far more solemn as they said their goodbyes and embraced, pictured, ahead of a long separation Russian ships were expected to stop in Spain to refuel but the country withdrew permission for the ships to dock earlier this week under pressure from NATO because Moscow was unable to pledge the vessels would not be used to bomb Syria. The UK force in Estonia will be joined by French and Danish companies. At least two RAF Typhoons will be sent from RAF Coningsby to the Black Sea region for four months as part of an air policing mission over Romania. And a 28-strong team will go to Kosovo to provide reassurance in the Western Balkans and troops will be dispatched to Poland next year. Bi-annual conscription in Russia has been a tradition since 1967 under the Soviet Union, although the duration was cut from two years of service to one in 2008. There are some exceptions, with full-time students attending university or in military school exempt from the draft. Luggage: Soldiers were loaded up with bags and boxes as they boarded their train to take them on deployment Forlorn: For some sitting down on the train and looking at their families out of the window was the moment the seriousness of the situation appeared to sink in , pictured Man, 29, has been charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm A 23-year-old man remains in hospital after he was hit in a suspected one-punch attack as he tried to break up a violent brawl. Emergency services were called to Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise in the early hours of Friday morning where they found the man convulsing on the ground. The victim was treated for a serious brain injury after he was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital. He was initially thought to be in a serious condition but has since been downgraded to non-life threatening. A 29-year-old German national, who is in Australia on a tourist visa, has been charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. Scroll down for video A 23-year-old man has suffered a serious brain injury after a suspected one-punch attack The man was allegedly struck with a blow to the head after he intervened to stop an altercation between two other men outside a nightclub around 3am. He was punched from behind, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Police could not confirmed whether the victim knew those involved in the fight, who fled the scene. However, police located the men at The Esplanade a short time later. The man was allegedly struck with a blow to the head after he intervened to stop a bitter fight Police were called to Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise in the early hours of Friday morning The 29-year-old Home Hill man is expected to face the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon. A second man, aged 27, who was questioned over the incident, has been charged with public nuisance. He will face the same court on November 16. Investigations are continuing. A suspected suicide bomber was led away in her bathrobe after police foiled an ISIS plot to blow up the Austrian Defence Ministry in Vienna. The woman is understood to be the wife of a 25-year-old who was arrested last month on suspicion of supporting Islamic State. It is thought the woman, 36, was planning a suicide bombing attack in the name of the terror group and was arrested in the Lower Baden district of Austria Wednesday night. The woman is understood to be the wife of a 25-year-old who was arrested last month on suspicion of supporting Islamic State Her husband was arrested in September on terrorism charges after detectives found links to Belgian terrorists in his apartment, according to Krone. A month later, the officers returned and handcuffed the woman, who was led away in her bathrobe. Police discovered the couple had been talking on Skype, where she revealed her terror plot. She had planned to walk into the defence ministry with an explosive belt and detonating it. The couple's lawyer, Wolfgang Blaschit, told Austrian paper Krone this was not a serious threat and that it had been made after the woman had been drinking. The brother of Roozi Araghi who died in the Dreamworld tragedy has revealed his family were forced to call triple-0 to try and get details about his death. The revelations come as it was revealed the Gold Coast theme park had been sued for almost $2 million since 2010. Simon Araghi said police did not speak to his family after reports emerged of the four people killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride. 'We resorted to even ringing 000 and trying to get through to the police station via that,' Mr Araghi told the ABC. Scroll down for video The brother of Roozi Araghi who died in the Dreamworld tragedy has revealed his family were forced to call 000 to try and get details about his death Simon Araghi (pictured) said police did not speak to his family after reports emerged of the four people killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride 'We had three of us on hold for well over an hour.' A Queensland Police spokeswoman said police had been 'in contact with members of the family from the beginning of this tragic event'. 'The Queensland Police Service understands that this is a very difficult time for the Araghi family,' the spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. '[Officers] will continue to maintain contact and support with the family through the investigation team's dedicated Family Liaison Officer.' Previously Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said police did their best to track down Roozi's family to tell them of his death. He insisted they had been spoken and supported families affected by the tragedy. Just days after the tragedy, news has emerged that Dreamworld has been sued for almost $2 million since 2010 in more than six different legal actions, the Brisbane Times reported. One of the latest incidents was initiated last year by a former staff member chasing $400,000 worth in compensation after he claimed to have been injured by a 'motor coaster' that had been broken for a fortnight. Another case happened in 2011 when a patron took legal action against Ardent Leisure. The patron claimed they had dislocated their shoulder during a 2008 incident on the FlowRider surf simulator and was seeking $750,000. Roozi (right), 38, along with his 35-year-old partner, Luke Dorsett (left), were killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride on Tuesday Mr Dorsett's 32-year-old sister, Kate Goodchild, was also killed on the ride The other cases did not go any further and any settlements reached are unknown. Roozi, 38, along with his 35-year-old partner, Luke Dorsett, and his 32-year-old sister, Kate Goodchild, were killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride on Tuesday at Gold Coast's Dreamworld. Another 42-year-old woman, Cindy Low (pictured), was also killed Another 42-year-old woman, Cindy Low, was also killed when their six-person raft overturned and killed them. Ms Goodchild's 12-year-old daughter, Ebony, and Ms Low's 10-year-old son, Kieran, were thrown from the raft and miraculously survived. Dreamworld owner Ardent Leisure has also come under fire for not contacting families of the four people killed. The company's chief executive Deborah Thomas revealed on Thursday she had not spoken to the Dorsett family after brother and sister Mr Dorsett and Ms Goodchild were killed. The furious family were watching Ms Thomas' press conference from home and text their phone number to a journalist in the crowd demanding a call after the high-profile executive said the company 'didn't know how to contact them'. 'I will not call her now in front of the media, but I am very happy to call her very soon after this meeting,' Ms Thomas said, adding that she thought 'our people would be with them today'. Ms Goodchild's 12-year-old daughter, Ebony, and Ms Low's 10-year-old son, Kieran, were thrown from the raft (pictured is the scene on Tuesday) and miraculously survived Dreamworld owner Ardent Leisure has also come under fire for not contacting families of the four people killed. Pictured is chief executive Deborah Thomas Ms Thomas earlier told the room full of reporters she hoped to have a 'chance to talk to them' as all communication to date had been done through a police liaison officer. 'I will give them my sympathies and condolences ... I am a mother, I have a family. I take my family to Dreamworld,' Ms Thomas said. 'This could have been my family and I completely am sympathetic to what they must be going through.' With Thursday's opening of the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institutes (TNACI) new flagship riverfront facility, the Southeasts rich but imperiled aquatic biodiversity is going to receive a much-needed shot in the arm. Located near a natural wetland along the banks of the Tennessee River just downstream from downtown Chattanooga, the 14,000-square-foot facility will serve as the headquarters for a newly expanded staff of conservation scientists as well as visiting experts. Featuring an environmentally conscious design that informed every aspect of its construction, the building provides access to cutting-edge equipment, including morphology and genetics laboratories, and offers much-needed space for staff to centralize and streamline ongoing projects, initiate critical new research, and host educational programs. Were surrounded by amazing animal communities in our rivers and streams that are unparalleled for diversity and beauty, said TNACI director Dr. Anna George. Its why our region is so exciting to the scientific community and why we are committed to protecting our aquatic treasures so they can continue to be enjoyed by all. This new science center will give us more capacity to expand our research, restoration and education programs. Since TNACIs foundation in 1996, its staff has pursued projects to study and, in some cases, restore, some of the regions most imperiled species, including long-term captive propagation of Lake Sturgeon and Southern Appalachian Brook Trout. Previously, those programs were managed at separate off-site locations, some more than 45 minutes away from Chattanooga. They now will be housed on the first floor of the new building in a space specifically designed for the animals needs. Even with the newly relocated programs, additional square footage has been reserved at the site to expand TNACIs propagation efforts in the future. The buildings dedicated genetics laboratory will ease the research process and increase the capabilities of TNACI staff. Formerly, institute researchers conducting DNA testing worked at a makeshift station in a corner of the Aquariums Animal Care Facility. By bringing together formerly far-flung projects and offering access to lab equipment that can more effectively handle research needs on-site, the new facility eliminates many of the obstacles that previously hampered TNACIs conservational efforts, said Dr. Bernie Kuhajda, director of TNACIs science programs. Just getting together to work collaboratively with our team was always logistically challenging since we were in separate buildings, he said. Now, we'll have all our field gear, all our labs and offices in one place. A huge part of the benefit is this new shared space, which not only helps us work together more closely, but also gives us space to bring together fellow scientists from across the country to discuss conservation solutions. Although it is just now officially opening its doors, the new facility already is the hub of numerous active conservation programs, including: An ongoing population analysis and newly funded genetic study lead by Drs. Kuhajda & George of the Laurel Dace, an endangered fish whose habitat is restricted to a small system of waterways on Walden Ridge. A new study funded by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife grant to establish the population genetics of the Cumberland Darter, an endangered fish found in only a handful of tributaries of the Upper Cumberland River in Tennessee and Kentucky. A three-year project initiated earlier this summer by TNACI aquatic biologist Dr. Josh Ennen in partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Southeast Missouri State University to study and determine the conservation status of Alligator Snapping Turtles in Tennessee. A new on-site program utilizing an artificial stream with controllable water temperatures to gauge the potential impact of climate change on salamanders and other small stream species. An ongoing survey initiated in September and lead by Dr. Kuhajda of six threatened and endangered fish species living in the Mobile Basin, including the Blue Shiner, the Cahaba Shiner, the Goldline Darter, the Rush Darter, the Vermillion Darter and the Watercress Darter. In addition to its scientific initiatives in the field, TNACIs new facility also will serve to bolster the institutes educational outreach. A large teaching lab on the first floor will target regional high school and college students who hope to pursue or who are pursuing a degree in a scientific field and connect them with freshwater scientists and educators. The site also will serve as a nexus for conservation science beyond Chattanooga, with office and research space on the second floor specifically designated for use by visiting scientists. TNACIs facility sits at the heart of a region whose aquatic diversity is unrivaled in the temperate world. More than 1,400 aquatic species reside in waterways within a 500-mile radius of Chattanooga, including about three-quarters (73.1 percent) of all native fish species in the United States. More than 90 percent of all American mussels and crayfish species live within that same area, as do 80 percent of North Americas salamander species and half of its turtle species. The increased research and outreach capabilities offered by the TNACI facility arrive at a critical time for this aquatic profusion, which increasingly are imperiled by human encroachment and a lack of federal funding. The Southeast has fewer protected lands than western states, and the absence of buffer zones and heavy development around local waterways place already-fragile freshwater ecosystems at even greater risk. Habitat destruction in the region is exacerbating the withering experienced by all freshwater species, whose rate of extinction is two to five times higher than that of terrestrial and marine animals. Federal spending on research to protect the Southeasts freshwater species is pauper-poor and drastically out of proportion to the regions ecological diversity, which conservationists liken to an underwater rainforest. Between 2012 and 2014, total expenditure on programs to study freshwater fish species in the Southeast averaged $6.2 million. During the same period, just 12 species outside the region received a combined $636 million in funding, more than 100 times the average budget for the entire Southeast. With so much attention being focused on less biodiverse areas, TNACIs new home offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to raise the profile of the local aquatic ecosystem and lead the charge on conservation science in the region. And as an arm of a nonprofit aquarium, TNACI is ideally positioned to pursue this mission across the region, said TNACI Director Dr. Anna George. We have a special ability to work across traditional borders on collaborative projects that bring people together to protect the exceptional aquatic life of the southeastern United States, Dr. George said. We can then share our scientific work with the Aquariums large and diverse audience to inspire others to join us in celebrating and protecting the animals living in the rivers and streams of our backyards. Castro, 52, and his brothers were later arrested on suspicion of kidnapping called the police after becoming suspicious about goings on at neighbor Ariel Castro's home Pannell was arrested but Lugo fled the scene and is wanted by police Police say Lugo and Deonica Pannell were drag racing when they crashed and hit the victim, killing him Israel Lugo Jr. is wanted by police over the death of of disabled 55-year-old John Kudryk, killed crossing the street in his wheelchair on October 13 The neighbor who claimed he called police to Ariel Castro's house years before the three women he captured broke free, is accused of a deadly hit-and-run. Israel Lugo Jr., is wanted for vehicular manslaughter after he hit and killed disabled 55-year-old John Kudryk who was crossing the street in his wheelchair, police say. The 42-year-old had been drag racing with 21-year-old Deonica Pannell down West 25th Street in Cleveland at 11.30pm on October 13, Cleveland.com reports. Scroll down for video Israel Lugo Jr., (left) is wanted for vehicular manslaughter after he hit and killed disabled 55-year-old John Kudryk. He had been drag racing with 21-year-old Deonica Pannell (right) who has been arrested The 42-year-old had been drag racing down 21-year-old Deonica Pannell down West 25th Street in Cleveland (pictured) at 11.30pm on October 13 when he hit the victim, police say But Pannell's Ford Fusion and Lugo's Nissan Maxima collided during the race, sending both vehicles spinning out of control. The cars hit Kurdryk, before one was sent barreling into a utility pole and the other hit a building. Kudryk, who was in a wheelchair and only had one arm which he is believed to have lost while serving in the Army, was killed. Lugo fled the scene of the crash before the cops arrived, leaving behind his disabled victim and injured fellow racer. Pannell and her passenger were taken to a nearby medical center for treatment. She was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicular homicide charge on her release and is being held on $100,000 bond. Cleveland police are now hunting for Lugo, of Seymour Avenue, and have issued a warrant for his arrest. They are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to him being taken into custody. Castro hanged himself in prison in September 2013, just one month into a life sentence after he pleaded guilty to dozens of charges The back of the home of Ariel Castro on Seymour Ave: One neighbor says she once saw a little girl looking out of the house's attic window This is not Lugo's first dealing with the cops. He previously claimed that he had called the police on infamous kidnapper Ariel Castro - two years before three captured women eventually escaped from his home. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were finally freed in May 2013 after Berry managed to escape from Castro's house of horrors and call 911 from a neighbor's home. The trio had all disappeared about a decade ago, when they were in their teens or early 20s. The women shared horror stories of being chained up and raped up to five times a day by Castro who forced them to tell him they 'want it, love it' and that he was 'sexy'. They were all physically abused, hit on the head and slapped around the face. Both Amanda and Michelle said that they watched when Castro slammed Michelle Knight, who is just 4'7', into walls. Lugo, who lived two houses down from Castro, said he heard pounding on some of the doors of the house, which had plastic bags on the windows, in November 2011. In that instance police responded, but officers only knocked on the front door and left when no one answered. 'They walked to the side of the house and then left,' he told USAToday . Lugo also said that his family members and other n eighbors had seen three naked young girls crawling in the backyard of his house on all fours with dog leashes around their necks and three men controlling them. But he says police never responded to their call. Police at the time said they found no documentation of receiving those calls. Castro hanged himself in prison in September 2013, just one month into a life sentence after he pleaded guilty to dozens of charges. Meanwhile, neighbors are mourning the loss of hit-and-run victim Kudryk. Amir Samhan, who works at a nearby sandwich store, told WKYC he spoke to the victim everyday. 'Everybody in the neighborhood liked him. I never saw him have a problem with anybody,' said Samhan. He explained that Kudryk, who only had one arm, got around in his wheelchair by pushing it with his feet facing backward. The mother of Chandra Levy has said she believes Gary Condit is 'running scared' after he denied having a relationship with the murdered intern. Fifteen years after Levy's unsolved murder, Condit the married former congressman who was once a prime suspect in her death broke his silence about the case on Dr Phil on Thursday. Levy vanished in 2001 and her body was found the following year in Washington's sprawling Rock Creek Park. Condit was believed to have been romantically linked to Levy at the time and was initially identified as a suspect but later cleared by police. He has now told his side of the story in a new book Actual Malice: A True Crime Political Thriller, which was released this week. Scroll down for video The mother of Chandra Levy has said she believes Gary Condit is 'running scared' after he denied having a relationship with the murdered intern on Dr Phil (above) Condit had been romantically linked to Levy (pictured together) at the time and was initially identified as a suspect but later cleared by police In an interview with Dr Phil that aired on Thursday, Condit at first declined to discuss his relationship with Levy. He reportedly told police in 2001 that he was having an affair with her, but has never discussed the matter in public. 'I'm not going to change my position or my view on that today or probably any time in the future,' he told Dr Phil about discussing his relationship with Levy. 'Not only is it not relevant, I think people are entitled to some level of privacy.' Condit also said he had no interest in writing a book or telling his version of events, but that his children had encouraged him to set the record straight. But when pressed, he conceded: 'I did not have a romantic involvement with her. I was not involved in her disappearance in any way.' Susan Levy (left) contradicted Condit's claims that he was not involved with her daughter (right) But Levy's mother Susan Levy contradicted his claims that he was not involved with her daughter. 'That's not true,' she told People. 'I think he's running scared. I think he's trying to clear his name.' She added: 'There was definitely something going on between my daughter and him, unfortunately.' But Condit said police 'made a big leap that, because we were friends, because she came by the condo, that I must have something to do with [her murder].' He said that he gave Levy a bracelet, but insisted he routinely have gifts to constituents, including cufflinks, lapel pins, hats and jewelry. Condit, who made his appearance on Dr Phil with Breton Peace, the co-author of his book, said he retained a lawyer in 2001 because he felt the police were trying to set him up. 'It began to have a nefarious feel to it,' he said. And on the show, Dr Phil said Condit suffered 'one of the most egregious character assassinations I've ever seen.' Dr. Phil said on the show that Condit suffered 'one of the most egregious character assassinations I've ever seen' Condit leaves District of Columbia Superior Court in Washington after testifying in the trial of Ingmar Guandique in 2010. Guandique was convicted of Levy's murder in 2010, but the conviction was recently tossed out and prosecutors said they wouldn't retry him But Condit added: 'I'm not the victim in this. The real victim is Chandra and her family and there's no justice for what happened to her.' Another man, Ingmar Guandique, was convicted in Levy's death in 2010. But he won a new trial on appeal, and prosecutors announced they wouldn't retry him. Condit's attorney says prosecutors have said the former Democratic congressman from California is neither a subject nor a target of the Levy investigation. Levy's 2001 disappearance became a national obsession when her relationship to Condit, a California Democrat, was exposed. His book contains no explicit admission of a sexual relationship between the two. In it, Condit details his final interactions with Levy and claims that the 24-year-old came onto him at his condo during their last meeting. Condit told his side of the story in a new book Actual Malice: A True Crime Political Thriller, which was released this week He also revealed Levy shared explosive information with him about Oklahoma City federal building bomber Timothy McVeigh during his trial. Levy told him about McVeigh when the two met for dinner at Tryst, a Washington coffee shop, Condit writes. 'I heard something interesting from today from my boss,' Condit writes that Levy told him. 'He told me the FBI hid documents, from the defense, a lot of them, and it's coming out. The AG might delay McVeigh's execution.' Condit writes he responded by telling her this would be 'opening a wound for a lot of good people.' The book also details the last meeting between the pair, with Condit writing that she came by his condo unannounced one morning to bring him candy. She told him she wanted to get a new job, and seemed to be inquiring about whether or not she could maybe stay with him after she moved out of her apartment. Condit wrote that he was getting ready for work, and says at that point in the conversation, Levy 'stepped closer to him' and asked: 'You've got to get ready for work?' When he replied he did, Condit writes that Levy then asked: 'Right now?' Condit writes that he then said his assistant was on the way and Levy left to go home. Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States government should abandon the conclusions of an FBI investigation that cleared Hillary Clinton of accusations related to her homebrew email server that once hosted thousands of classified documents. During an afternoon campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio, he recounted some of the more devastating features of the scandal, ultimately declaring: 'We need to reopen the investigation!' 'Hillary Clinton 'bleached' and deleted 33,000 emails, lied to Congress under oath, made 13 phones disappear some with a hammer and then told the FBI she 'couldn't remember' 39 times,' Trump told about 2,500 supporters at the SeaGate Convention Centre. Scroll down for video Onslaught: Trump used a rally in Toledo, Ohio, to call for the non-prosecution decision at the end of the FBI probe be overturned Critique: 'Hillary Clinton 'bleached' and deleted 33,000 emails, lied to Congress under oath, made 13 phones disappear,' Trump said - justifying why the FBI finding should be set aside And citing more recent news, he told fans that 'the Clinton crew gave more than $675,000 to the wife of the deputy FBI director overseeing the investigation into Hillary's illegal server.' He called that development 'more devastating than anything you've seen so far.' 'It pertains to what they knew,' he said, 'and it makes all of them they're already liars but it confirms it for the 75th time.' The crux of Trump's claims about Clinton's basement server is that the Democratic presidential nominee intentionally kept her sole email account outside the view of government archivists and public-records officials so she could mask bribes and other graft. The Republican has woven pieces of evidence together, largely from a 2015 book titled 'Clinton Cash,' to charge that donors to the Clinton Foundation and underwriters of Bill Clinton's speaking fees often received special favors from Clinton when she ran the U.S. State Department. 'Hillary Clinton put the office of secretary of state up for sale!' Trump boomed. 'And if she got the chance she'd put the Oval office up for sale also.' His charge is bolstered by the drip-drip of new revelations from Wikileaks' publication of the personal emails of John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman, and the publication of other emails from her time as Secretary of State. The decision not to prosecute was made by James Comey, the FBI director, in July, after the attorney-general, Loretta Lynch, had to recuse herself because of an extraordinary meeting with Bill Clinton on a plane. Trump is on a three-city Ohio swing before vising New Hampshire, Maine and Iowa on Friday. A campaign aide said Thursday morning that the real estate tycoon will likely hold another 30 rallies in at least seven states before Election Day. On the trail: Former FBI target Hillary Clinton went campaigning with Michelle Obama in the hope that her star power will boost turnout in North Carolina. Decision maker: James Comey decided against prosecuting Hillary Clinton He hopes to beat a 'rigged system' that he believes is tilted against him because he has promised to disrupt Washington's institutionalized relationships between campaign donors and government decision-makers. 'The special interests, the donors they control the politicians,' Trump said in Toledo. 'But I have a message for them: The future belongs to the dreamers, not the cynics and not the critics.' 'I want the entire corrupt Washington establishment ... to hear and heed the words I'm about to say,' he said. 'If we win on November 8 ' His crowd shouted 'When!' 'Okay,' Trump conceded. 'Are you ready? When we win ... we are going to Washington, and we are going to 'drain the swamp'.' Thousands chanted the three-word catchphrase along with him. 'I think we're going to win even bigger than people understand,' he told the Ohioans. 'It's time for new leadership. We cannot have another four years of Barack Obama.' He promised 'the biggest tax cut since Ronald Reagan' along with a slash-and-burn attitude toward anti-business regulations, school choice, a pro-police criminal justice platform and a staunch defense of gun rights. Hours after Tuesday's tragedy, he took to Facebook to make series of posts Benn Rattray was employed by Dreamworld to work on Lego World A scaffolder employed by Dreamworld has been slammed for his insensitive Facebook posts he shared just hours after four tourists died on a ride. Four people tragically lost their lives on the Thunder River Rapids ride just after 2pm on Tuesday and hours later Benn Rattray uploaded a picture of the ride with the caption: 'Oops I knew I forgot something'. 'On a positive note. At least they died having fun,' he wrote. Mr Rattray's Facebook friend commented on the post saying they knew the victims and 'was not laughing'. Scroll down for video Scaffolder Ben Rattray (pictured) employed by Dreamworld has been slammed for his insensitive Facebook posts just hours after four tourists died on a ride Hours after four tourists died, the worker uploaded a picture of the ride with the caption: 'Oops I knew I forgot something' The posts have since been deleted and Mr Rattray's employer is believed to be meeting with Dreamworld bosses on Friday morning. Earlier this month, he uploaded a photo of himself standing in front of the Dreamworld globe at the entrance after completing a safety induction. Mr Rattray worked on Dreamworld's upcoming Lego World for two days. After the park confirmed four people had died on the 'family' ride, a friend wrote on his Facebook page to ask if he was alright. He then made a joke about forgetting to tighten the conveyor belt after a smoking break. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Rattray for further comment. The posts have since been deleted and the scaffolder's (pictured) employer is believed to be meeting with Dreamworld bosses on Friday morning Hours after four tourists died, the worker uploaded a picture of the ride with the caption: 'Oops I knew I forgot something' A spokesperson for Ardent Leisure said they were 'horrified and sickened' by the Facebook posts. Pictured are mourners laying flowers at Dreamworld on Wednesday A spokesperson for Ardent Leisure said they were 'horrified and sickened' by the Facebook posts. 'We have made contact with his employer and asked them to remedy the situation,' she said, according to The Courier Mail. Kate Goodchild was on the Thunder River Rapids with her brother, Luke Dorsett, and his partner, Roozi Araghi, when their six-person raft overturned and killed four people on-board on Tuesday. Another woman, Cindy Low, also died in the heartbreaking tragedy that has raised safety concerns about the theme park. An email with the subject line 'Greetings!' set in motion an effort to persuade Hillary Clinton's campaign chair, John Podesta, to meet with the head of a mining conglomerate about 'environmental' projects. The email is included in the latest batch of emails from a massive hack posted on Wikileaks. The emails are believed to have been hacked from Podesta's personal gmail account. 'As always, I am proud of you my friend,' begins Orson Porter, a former Bill Clinton and White House aide who joined Teneo Holdings, the global communications firm headed by two Clinton confidants, Declan Kelly and Doug Band. 'As you may know I recently departed Nike and joined the Teneo group,' Porter continues in his note to Podesta, writing that he reached out to offer 'my support.' Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta agreed to take a meeting with the head of an international mining firm after getting an online plea from Bill Clinton-linked aides Doug Band and Olson Porter, hacked emails reveal Then he followed with a pitch: asking Podesta to please meet with the CEO of BHP Billiton, an Australian-based international mining conglomerate. The CEO, Andrew Mackenzie, planned to be in Washington in March. 'BHP Billiton employees nearly 5,000 employees across the nation and will be making some additional investments,' he wrote. 'The purpose of the meeting will be to educate you on the company's expanding U.S. footprint and possible environmental partnerships,' Porter wrote. He attached an article in the Newscorp-owned paper, The Australian, that declared the firm, BHP, to be on a 'free trade crusade.' According to the article: 'Andrew Mackenzie has declared that an evangelism'' is required to resist protectionism and capture the benefits of free trade that underpin economic growth and jobs creation.' Porter also appears to have forwarded the appeal to his business partner, Band, with the message: 'Will call you on this one.' GREETINGS! Orson Porter of Teneo made the pitch to John Podesta in 2014 'FOR YOU I'LL TRY': Podesta agreed to Band's request to try to make a meeting happen A hacked email released by WikiLeaks details how Doug Band, president of Teneo Holdings, reached out to Clinton campaign chair John Podesta to urge him to meet with a mining company CEO Band, a longtime Bill Clinton aide, followed up with Podesta. 'Sorry to pester. Would really appreciate if you could see andrew, important to me,' he wrote. Podesta sounds like he agreed as a favor. 'For you, I'll try,' he wrote. He then writes Eryn Sepp, his longtime special assistant, with the subject heading 'for scheduling.' The firm on its website does not mention environmental partnerships in its main description of what it does. It notes that it is 'among the world's top producers of major commodities including iron ore, metallurgical coal, copper and uranium. 'We also have substantial interests in oil, gas and energy coal. We extract and process minerals, oil and gas from our production operations located primarily in Australia and the Americas,' according to the firm's web site. Podesta is a trusted counselor to Clinton, having previously run the Center for American Progress and served as chief of staff to Bill Clinton in the White House. He has been floated as a possible chief of staff for Hillary Clinton. The authenticity of the email couldn't immediately be confirmed, although Teneo confirmed the authenticity of another email including a 12-page memo by Band. Doug Band penned a 12-page memo about 'Clinton Inc.' Band is the same aide who wrote a 12-page memo where he referred to Bill Clinton's post-presidential activities as 'Clinton Inc.' in another Wikileaks email. U.S. security officials say Russia is behind the hack. Band wrote that, using his role as the president of his own consulting firm Teneo, Band worked to raise funds for the Foundation and Clinton personally. Band also wrote that he helped obtain 'in-kind services for the President and his family for personal, travel, hospital, vacation and the like.' 'Throughout the past almost 11 years since President Clinton left office, I have sought to leverage my activities, including my partner role at Teneo to support and raise funds for the Foundation,' Band wrote. 'This memorandum strives to set forth how I have endeavored to support the Clinton Foundation and President Clinton personally.' Under a section called 'For-Profit Activity of President Clinton (i.e. Bill Clinton, Inc)' Brand said he and another aide, Justin Cooper brought Clinton all four of his advisory arrangements at the time. The appeal brought together a top aide to Hillary Clinton, and two aides close to Bill Clinton These yielded more than $30million in personal income with a further $66million to be paid out over the next nine years should he continue with them. Coalition says data demonstrates the need to rein in welfare spending Families with more than one child could receive New data shows some parents on benefits are better off not getting a job, with some claimants earning more than $50,000 a year - as much as teachers or nurses. The top 10 per cent of those on parenting benefits - about 43,200 people - received at least $45,032 in 2014-15, the statistics obtained by The Australian show. Families with more than one child could receive an even greater sum as they are eligible for more than one entitlement. The government says new data shows some parents on benefits are better off not getting a job Coalition ministers say the data shows the need to reform welfare spending. 'We do have a generous safety net, but also, people need to be part of our society, part of our community, working and making a difference,' Coalition minister Christopher Pyne told the Nine Network on Friday. The government is embarking on wide-ranging overhaul of the welfare system by limiting access to some payments and implementing a new data-led approach to focus attention on people at risk of long-term welfare dependency. Social Services Minister Christian Porter, who is leading the welfare changes, told The Australian depriving people the incentive to work was in no one's interest. 'It is morally incumbent upon us in that in developing policy ... and in making the welfare system fairer we look at mutual obligation and the requirement to prepare for, search for and accept work,' he said. A solo parent with four children who did not work or receive child support could get more than $50,000 a year by claiming multiple benefits, The Australian reported. Social Services Minister Christian Porter says the government has a moral responsibility to reform Australias benefit system The amount was in line with someone earning $65,000 a year before tax, like a teacher or nurse. Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said the opposition will examine the impact of government's proposed welfare changes. He pointed to the coalition government's planned wind back of paid parental leave to stop some women from 'double-dipping'. Donald Trump criticized his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, for 'speaking very badly' of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The remarks are the latest instance in which Trump has curiously come to the defense of the authoritarian Russian president, who is being blamed for meddling in the US election while pursuing aggressive, militaristic policies in Europe and in Syria. 'She speaks very badly of Putin, and I don't think that's smart,' the Republican nominee for president told a crowd of thousands during a rally in the crucial battleground state of Ohio. 'How do you speak so badly of someone?' he asked, noting that Russia possesses nuclear weapons. Scroll down for video Donald Trump, seen here speaking during a campaign rally in Springfield, Ohio, Thursday, criticized Hillary Clinton for being too hard on Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump's warm words for Putin are at odds with the position taken by his running mate, Mike Pence (above), who called the Russian leader a 'small and bullying leader' Trump has been criticized throughout his campaign for failing to denounce Putin, even as US intelligence officials say they've found evidence linking Russia to recent hacking efforts that appear aimed at influencing the outcome of November's election. The New York real estate mogul's warm words for Putin are also at odds with traditional Republican Party orthodoxy that has always advocated for taking a hawkish, adversarial posture toward Moscow. During the most recent presidential debate last week, Clinton said that Trump would be a 'puppet' of Putin if elected. Trump has long argued that the US would be better off if it had a more productive working relationship with Russia. He has called for the two countries to work together to take on Islamic State militants, despite their differences over Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, has taken a harder line on Putin, describing him during the vice presidential debate as a 'small and bullying leader.' Clinton (seen here at a rally in North Carolina on Thursday) said that unlike Trump, she would not be a 'puppet' of Putin if elected to the White House Russian President Vladimir Putin denied claims of Russia's interference in the US presidential election Trump has said that Putin is a stronger leader than President Barack Obama and praised him for exerting 'strong control over his country.' The US has accused Russia of coordinating hacks on Clinton's campaign emails. But Putin on Thursday dismissed those claims, saying the allegations were designed to distract the public from real issues. He said suggestions that Russia was trying to bolster Trump were 'sheer nonsense.' 'It's just an instrument of political struggle, a way of manipulating public opinion,' he said in Sochi. Still, the Russian leader added that while Trump may sound 'extravagant,' he was trying to reach out to people who are tired of elites. Suspected activists from hard-Left group No Borders were arrested by police in Calais yesterday after members were accused of starting blazes that burnt down the Jungle. A group of anarchists, thought to include Britons, were detained after being found in what remained of the migrant shanty town, while others were held in a squat just miles away. French authorities earlier warned that members of the shadowy group had infiltrated the camp and were planning violent protests as demolition crews prepared to move in. Blazes: The anti-capitalist, pro-free movement network has been involved in violent protest before and have today accused of setting fires that exploded gas canisters in the Jungle No Borders anarchists were accused of starting a series of fires on Tuesday that led to the early evacuation of the Jungle when huge swathes of its rickety structures went up in flames. Onlookers also described how gas cyclinders were planted in wooden huts as booby traps to explode when the buildings caught fire. Police union spokesman Gilles Debove said: Three suspected activists were arrested for going into the Jungle which is now a restricted area. The other four were arrested for trying to squat an abandoned house in Calais. Demolition crews used diggers to flatten surviving Jungle buildings yesterday as police launched special patrols to ensure migrants were not setting up breakaway camps nearby. A large number of those previously living in the camp are said to be planning to disperse across France before regrouping at Calais in the coming months, with claims that as many as 1,000 have moved to Paris. Hundreds of supporters of jailed Royal Marine Alexander Blackman will rally outside Parliament today. The Ministry of Defence has banned serving military personnel from attending the show of solidarity for Sergeant Blackman, who has just passed his third anniversary behind bars. His bid for freedom has been held up by a series of bureaucratic delays at the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which has the power to order a fresh appeal. Sergeant Alexander Blackman (pictured) has spent three years in prison after being jailed for life in 2013 Today hundreds of retired Marines - forming a sea of green berets - and other former soldiers and members of the public will gather for a peaceful demonstration in Parliament Square starting at 11.30am. Known as Marine A at his court martial, Sgt Blackman was jailed for life for killing a Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan in 2011. He was jailed in 2013, and has now spent more than three years in prison. Daily Mail readers have raised money to fund a new legal team to mount a fresh appeal. Ten months ago, Sgt Blackmans family submitted an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to have his case reviewed. A comprehensive report delivered by Blackmans legal team, headed by Jonathan Goldberg QC, set out eight significant arguments in support of a case review by the Appeal Court. They include the fact that his troop had suffered six months on the tour from hell under-manned, under-resourced and under daily Taliban assault, before Sgt Blackman snapped. His lawyers argue there was significant combat stress which could support his conviction being commuted from murder to manslaughter. The case has been dogged with delays, despite the CCRC giving it top priority. As they await the decision, his army of supporters has organised a show of support in Parliament Square to let him know that he has not been forgotten and to call on the CCRC to hurry things up. Tory MP Richard Drax said: We meet again in Parliament Square to stand by former Royal Marine Al Blackman and of course his wife Claire. Last year dozens of former Royal Marines, all wearing the distinctive green beret - and supported by ex-paratroopers in red berets, attended a protest in Birmingham for Sgt Blackman, otherwise known as Marine A While I am delighted that his case is being treated as a top priority by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, it does appear to be taking an inordinate amount of time to conclude. Meanwhile, a good man continues to rot in jail, a man whom I believe has not received justice, a man whom has served his country with distinction, a man whom we have turned our backs on when he needed us most. Serving personnel have been ordered not to attend the show of support because it is political. But former members of the Royal Marines Band will entertain those gathered in Parliament Square and former servicemen and women will ride past in a motorcycle salute. At 11.30am, former Drill Leader Bob Sturtivant will form up the parade. Short speeches will be delivered at 12pm by supporters of the campaign for justice. The denial of justice to Al Blackman has gone on for far too long Major General Malcolm Hunt OBE They include Major General Malcolm Hunt OBE, former Commander of 40 Commando Royal Marines in the Falkland Islands, who said: The denial of justice to Al Blackman has gone on for far too long. I am very pleased to be supporting Claire Blackman and her husband in their bid to urge the CCRC to bring their nightmare to a speedy conclusion. Major General John Holmes, former Director of UK Special Forces, added: I am honoured to be back in Parliament Square supporting Al Blackman. This is not just a Royal Marine issue, everyone in Her Majestys Services should take note and press for a speedy resolution and seek assurances that future cases of this nature are handled in a more appropriate and sympathetic manner. Major General Julian Thompson, former Commander of 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands War, is unable to attend the event as he is recovering from an operation. But he said in a message: I want to publicly declare my support for Al Blackman and his legal team in the effort to present his case to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Iain Duncan Smith will today urge ministers to reverse a 3.4billion benefit cut imposed by George Osborne. In a surprise move, the former work and pensions secretary will speak out publicly against the planned cut to Universal Credit (UC), warning that it will cost three million people more than 1,000 a year each. Cuts to the flagship welfare scheme were pushed through by Mr Osborne in 2015 as part of a wider drive to reduce Britains bloated benefits bill. Time flies: Earlier this year George Osborne (pictured, second from the right) and Iain Duncan Smith (to his right) fell out over cuts to Universal Credit Plan to impose academies dropped Ministers have abandoned plans to force all schools in under-performing areas to become academies. The controversial pledge, outlined in the Queens Speech in May, would have meant any school in an area with poor results would be taken out of local authority control by 2022. It was one of several academy proposals by former education secretary Nicky Morgan outlined in a flagship Bill due to pass through Parliament this year. However, the Bill was quietly dropped in a ministerial statement by her successor, Justine Greening, yesterday. It is understood the Government wants to shift its focus towards raising attainment among disadvantaged children by consulting on the creation of new grammar schools. The ministerial statement said: Our ambition remains that all schools should benefit from the freedom and autonomy that academy status brings. Our focus, however, is on building capacity in the system and encouraging schools to convert voluntarily. Labour politicians, teachers unions and local councils welcomed the announcement. Richard Watts of the Local Government Association said: Councils have been clear from the outset that the proposals within the Bill focused too heavily on structures, when our shared ambition is on improving education for all children. Advertisement Iain Duncan Smith remains an influential thinker in the Conservative Party but it remains to be seen if Theresa May will pay attention to his views The former Chancellor was forced to abandon identical cuts to tax credits following a rebellion by Tory MPs. But the cuts will still be phased in as people are shifted from tax credits to UC over the next few years. Mr Duncan Smith today warns that the proposed cuts are so deep they risk wrecking the fundamental principle of the Universal Credit scheme that it should always pay people to take more work. He suggests the cuts could be avoided if ministers freeze manifesto plans to raise the starting threshold for paying income tax. Most people on benefits want to work, he says. They want a regular routine, an interaction with a community outside the home, a stake in society and a sense of purpose. Work gives this to them and it is crucial that we make sure people are always better off because they are in work. Every penny invested in Universal Credit will go to low-paid workers, yet this is true of just 25 pence of every 1 invested in the income tax personal allowance. Investing in Universal Credit is a far better way of supporting those who need it most. This is why we must restore Universal Credits original budget, and help those who are just about managing to properly provide for themselves and their families. The intervention belies the caricature of Mr Duncan Smith as the architect of the Governments welfare cuts. Friends say his reforms were always driven by a desire to change behaviour rather than just save money. He is said to have railed against repeated raids on his budget by Mr Osborne during his time in government. Mr Duncan Smiths decision to go public on his concerns could spell trouble for the Government, and will be seized on by Labour, which also opposes the reductions. His intervention coincides with the release of a report on the issue by his think tank, the Centre for Social Justice, which did much of the original work on UC. NOTICE: The Hamilton County Registers Office did not publish this data. All information in the Registers Office is public information as set out in T.C.A. 10-7-503. For questions regarding this report, please call Chattanoogan.com at 423 266-2325. GI numbers, listed when street addresses are not available, refer to the location of transactions (book number and page number) in Hamilton County Register Office records. Anyone who has seen footage captured by a drone will know the stunning effects created by the soaring machines. But there is bad news for people in Sweden with such devices. The use of drones with cameras will now require a licence under Sweden's surveillance laws. The use of drones with cameras will now require a license under Sweden's surveillance laws (stock image) WHAT CAN DRONES DO? High-end drones can fly up to and beyond 6,000ft, travel up to 50mph and stay in the air for 25 minutes. They cost between 25 and 20,000, with electrical store Maplin alone reporting sales of more than 15,000 drones in the UK last year. Last year Domino's posted a video of a drone delivering a pizza, and online store Amazon has looked into using the technology to speed up deliveries. They are also used by broadcasters such as the BBC for filming. The US Air Force collected so much data from drones during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it employed 65,000 people just to process the information, while police in Texas use drones than can carry small weapons, including tasers. Advertisement The court finds that drones with cameras are 'regarded as surveillance cameras,' which could violate the privacy of those below. A Swedish industry group says the court ruling 'is a huge blow' to recreational and commercial users. Gustav Gerdes, head of Unmanned Aerial System Sweden, says the decision by the Supreme Administrative Court could put 5,000 jobs in danger. This includes drone operators themselves, and those handling footage. He said: 'It is a bad decision for Sweden as an entrepreneur country and ominous for the Swedish labor market that is constantly affected by new obscure and complicated regulations from the state and its agencies.' Sweden is among the first countries to ban camera drones with no surveillance licence. And it isn't just a case of nipping out to get a permit - these can be difficult and expensive to get. The European Aviation Safety Agency recently released a rough, non-binding text for drone regulation, leaving it up to EU member states to decide whether to require licences for drones with cameras. Elsewhere around the world, the UAE made drones with cameras illegal in 2015 after recreational drones strayed onto flight paths at the Dubai airport, grounding several flights. Japan also tightened its rules on drone used in 2015, after a drone carrying radioactive materials was landed on the roof of the Japanese Prime Minister's house. Japan also tightened its rules on drone used in 2015, after a drone carrying radioactive materials was landed on the roof of the Japanese Prime Minister's house The UK's Civil Aviation Authority issued a warning in July 2015 after seven incidents where drones had flown near planes at different British airports in less than a year. Recognising the threat, the European Commission conceded in 2015 that 'drone accidents will happen' and has charged its aviation safety agency arm with developing common rules for operating drones in Europe. Speaking to MailOnline previously, a spokesperson for the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) said: 'Pilots say they welcome the growth in drone technology and can see important applications for them commercially and recreationally, but a collision with a commercial airliner or helicopter could be catastrophic.' Israeli archaeologists have unveiled a 7th century BC text they said contains the earliest mention in Hebrew of Jerusalem outside the Bible. The reference, part of a wine-shipping order, was written in ancient Hebrew on a small piece of papyrus. It reads: 'From the king's maidservant, from Na'arat, jars of wine, to Jerusalem.' Scroll down for video An ancient papyrus manuscript from the time of the First Temple during a press call in Jerusalem. The discovery has prompted officials to stress the Jewish connection to the city WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE SCROLL Israeli archaeologists have unveiled a 7th century BC text they said contains the earliest mention in Hebrew of Jerusalem outside the Bible. The discovery has prompted officials to stress the Jewish connection to the city. The antiquities authority said the papyrus, found near the Dead Sea, was seized from traffickers after a lengthy investigation as it was about to go on sale on the black market. It proved 'Jews were in this city 2,700 years ago,' said Amir Ganor of Israel's antiquities authority. Advertisement The papyrus, or scroll, like the Dead Sea Scrolls found nearby decades ago, was preserved thanks to the Judean Desert's extremely dry climate. 'The document represents extremely rare evidence of the existence of an organized administration in the Kingdom of Judah,' Eitan Klein, deputy director of the robbery prevention unit, told USA Today. 'It underscores the centrality of Jerusalem as the economic capital of the kingdom in the second half of the seventh century BC.' Klein said according to the Hebrew Bible, one of three kings could have been the wine's intended recipient. The discovery has prompted officials to stress the Jewish connection to the city. 'For Israeli archaeology, this is the first mention in Hebrew of the city of Jerusalem outside the New Testament,' Amir Ganor of Israel's antiquities authority said, as the papyrus was presented in Jerusalem. Israeli archaeologists have unveiled a 7th century BC text they said contains the earliest mention in Hebrew of Jerusalem outside the Bible. The discovery has prompted officials to stress the Jewish connection to the city An employee shows a digitized version of the writing on a papyrus bearing the word 'Jerusalem' An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man looks a this mobile phone after photographing displayed fragments of a papyrus bearing the word 'Jerusalem' The antiquities authority said the papyrus, found near the Dead Sea, was discovered in the Judean Desert in an area that is now the West Bank THE BURIAL SLAB WHERE CHRIST'S BODY WAS LAID The burial slab that many Christians believe once held the body of Jesus Christ has been uncovered by scientists for the first time in centuries. The original surface was exposed during the restoration work being done at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, according to the National Geographic. Christian tradition says Christs body was laid on a slab cut from a limestone cave after his crucifixion by the Romans more than two thousand years ago. The burial slab was enclosed in a structure known as the Edicule a word derived from the Latin term aedicule meaning little house. An ornate structure with hanging oil lamps, columns and oversize candlesticks, the Edicule was erected above the spot where Christian tradition says Jesus' body was anointed, wrapped in cloth and buried before his resurrection. It stands a few hundred yards from the site of Jesus' crucifixion. Advertisement The antiquities authority said the papyrus, found near the Dead Sea, in an area that is now the West Bank, was seized from traffickers after a lengthy investigation as it was about to go on sale on the black market. It proved 'Jews were in this city 2,700 years ago,' said Ganor. He said the timing of the announcement, amid a row with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, was a coincidence as it had been held up by the trafficking investigation. A UNESCO resolution passed on October 18 criticised the Jewish state for restricting access to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in annexed east Jerusalem, angering Israel which said it denied Judaism's historical connection. Culture Minister Miri Regev pounced on the find as 'proof that Jerusalem has been and will forever remain the eternal capital of the Jewish people'. Israel is furious the UNESCO resolution refers to the holy site in Jerusalem's Old City only by its Muslim name, Al-Aqsa or Al-Haram al-Sharif. Jews refer to the site as the Temple Mount and it is considered the holiest site in Judaism. An employee stands near a display box containing fragments of a papyrus. The antiquities authority said the papyrus, found near the Dead Sea, was seized from traffickers after a lengthy investigation as it was about to go on sale on the black market The papyrus, or scroll, like the Dead Sea Scrolls found nearby decades ago, was preserved thanks to the Judean Desert's extremely dry climate A woman looks at an ancient papyrus manuscript dating back to the time of the First Temple (seventh century BCE). The rare find was exposed in an enforcement operation initiated by the Israel Antiquities Authority Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery The discovery has prompted officials to stress the Jewish connection to the city. 'For Israeli archaeology, this is the first mention in Hebrew of the city of Jerusalem outside the New Testament,' Amir Ganor of Israel's antiquities authority said Advertisement The burial slab that many Christians believe once held the body of Jesus Christ has been uncovered by scientists for the first time in centuries. The original surface was exposed during the restoration work being done at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, according to the National Geographic. Until then, marble had encased the slab since at least 1555 AD. The burial slab (pictured being revealed from its marble case) many Christians believe once held the body of Jesus Christ has been uncovered by scientists for the first time in centuries. The original surface, partially shown in this picture, was exposed during restoration work at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem THE BURIAL SLAB WHERE CHRIST'S BODY WAS LAID Christian tradition says Christs body was laid on a slab cut from a limestone cave after his crucifixion by the Romans more than two thousand years ago. The burial slab was enclosed in a structure known as the Edicule a word derived from the Latin term aedicule meaning little house. An ornate structure with hanging oil lamps, columns and oversize candlesticks, the Edicule was erected above the spot where Christian tradition says Jesus' body was anointed, wrapped in cloth and buried before his resurrection. It stands a few hundred yards from the site of Jesus' crucifixion. With its stone staircases, gilded ornamentation and many dark chambers, the church is one of Christianity's holiest shrines. Advertisement The organization is filming the work being done at the church, which is considered the most sacred site in Christianity. Fredrik Hiebert, the National Geographic Societys archaeologist-in-residence, said: The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it. It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to tradition, the body of Christ was laid. Christian tradition says Christs body was laid on a slab cut from a limestone cave after his crucifixion by the Romans more than two thousand years ago. He was resurrected three days after his death, according to scripture, and the women who came to anoint his body said no remains were found. The burial slab was enclosed in a structure known as the Edicule a word derived from the Latin term aedicule meaning little house. An ornate structure with hanging oil lamps, columns and oversize candlesticks, the Edicule was erected above the spot where Christian tradition says Jesus' body was anointed, wrapped in cloth and buried before his resurrection. It stands a few hundred yards from the site of Jesus' crucifixion. With its stone staircases, gilded ornamentation and many dark chambers, the church is one of Christianity's holiest shrines. But that hasn't stopped clerics from engaging in turf rivalries over the years. This picture shows workers removing the top of the tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The burial slab was enclosed in a structure known as the Edicule a word derived from the Latin term aedicule meaning little house Christian tradition says Christs body was laid on a slab cut from a limestone cave after his crucifixion by the Romans more than two thousand years ago. This slab had been encased in marble since at least 1555 AD. Worshippers are pictured praying to the slab underneath the marble casing, before it was uncovered An ornate structure with hanging oil lamps, columns and oversize candlesticks, the Edicule was erected above the spot where Christian tradition says Jesus' body was anointed. With its stone staircases, gilded ornamentation and many dark chambers, the church is one of Christianity's holiest shrines The Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches are responsible for maintaining separate sections, and each denomination jealously guards its domain. While the clergymen who work and pray at the church generally get along, tensions can rise to the surface. In 2008, an argument between Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks erupted into a brawl. This time, the clergymen put aside their differences a reflection of the dire need for the repairs. Last year, Israeli police briefly shut down the building after Israel's Antiquities Authority deemed it unsafe, prompting the Christian denominations to join forces. The Edicule and the tomb are currently being restored by scientists from the National Technical University of Athens. The universitys chief scientific supervisor Professor Antonia Moropoulou told National Geographic that it is the critical moment for restoring the Edicule. The original surface was exposed during the restoration work being done at the Church (left, in June, and right, in May) What and where: A floor plan of Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with the Edicule chamber marked in red on the left This file photo shows what the tomb of Jesus in the Holy Sepulchre church has looked like for the past 200 years. It was last reconstructed in the early 19th century after a fire destroyed it. But repairs were long overdue as the structure it was damaged in an earthquake in 1927 The Edicule and the tomb are currently being restored by scientists from the National Technical University of Athens. Using cotton swabs dipped into a solution of liquid soap and water, centuries-old layers of wax and carbon dioxide are scrubbed away by a restoration expert The Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches are responsible for maintaining separate sections, and each denomination jealously guards its domain TURBULENT HISTORY OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE The church, one of the world's oldest, was built in 325 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Constantine. That structure was destroyed in 1009 by Muslim Caliph al-Hakim. A 12th-century restoration by the Crusaders gave the Holy Sepulchre its current appearance, while in 1808 a fire all but destroyed the Edicule. In 1852, the Ottoman authorities then governing the Holy Land provided a framework for resolving disputes inside the church. But repairs are long overdue as the structure it was damaged in an earthquake in 1927. Advertisement It was last reconstructed in the early 19th century after a fire destroyed it. But repairs are long overdue as the structure it was damaged in an earthquake in 1927. Lack of financial resources prevented the work from being done, but donors to the project - estimated at more than $4 million (3.26 million) - include Jordan's King Abdullah II, and Mica Ertegun, who gave $1.3 million (1.06 million) to the World Monuments Fund to support it. Earlier this year, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as well as the the Roman Catholic Church, and the Armenian Orthodox Church (the three main out of six Christian sects that have custody of the church) invited the NTU to lead the restoration project. Work is expected to be complete in the spring of 2017. The church, one of the world's oldest, was built in 325 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Constantine. That structure was destroyed in 1009 by Muslim Caliph al-Hakim. A 12th-century restoration by the Crusaders gave the Holy Sepulchre its current appearance, while in 1808 a fire all but destroyed the Edicule. In 1852, the Ottoman authorities then governing the Holy Land provided a framework for resolving disputes inside the church. They put into effect the 'status quo,' a set of historic laws and power-sharing arrangements that rigidly regulates the denominations' activities inside the Holy Sepulchre. Christian nuns watch as renovations of Jesus' tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's old city began earlier this year Earlier this year, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as well as the the Roman Catholic Church, and the Armenian Orthodox Church (the three main out of six Christian sects that have custody of the church) invited the NTU to lead the restoration project. While the tomb is stable, it needs urgent attention after years of exposure to environmental factors like water, humidity and candle smoke More than two centuries have past since the last time any restoration work was done in the chamber, partly because it is a holy site for many branches of Christianty RESTORATION WORKS The shrine is being carefully restored. Its marble slabs have weakened over centuries, with the weight of thousands of daily visitors adding to the strain. Broken or fragile pieces will be replaced and those sections which can be preserved will be cleaned, and the support structures reinforced. Advertisement The Rev. Athanasius Macora, a Franciscan monk who represents the Catholics at the inter-church commission that negotiates disputes at the Holy Sepulchre, said the renovation might have been more ambitious if not for the status quo rules. 'I personally would have liked to maybe contemplate some alternative to simply restoring the current structure. But because the status quo is so conservative in its nature . we had to more or less accept the fact that there would be no change whatsoever to the current structure, and it would be restored as it is now,' he said. Still, for pilgrims like Italian Claudio Pardini, the restoration is 'an important sign' that all of the Christian churches are getting together to preserve their faith's traditions. 'It's good to take care of our churches so that we can leave the next generations a sign, something to visit,' he said. 'Because Christ isn't an idea. He's a story.' An ornate marble carving of Jesus Christ decorates the tomb where his body is believed to have been laid A Franciscan friar peers into the exposed tomb during the conservation work done by a team of Greek team of preservation experts in Jerusalem The earliest known complete stone inscription of the Ten Commandments has been put up for sale for 500,000 ($611,275). The square tablet, that weighs 200lbs (91kgs), is believed to date back to the fourth century BC and adorned an ancient synagogue in Israel that was destroyed by the Romans between 400 AD and 600 AD. The 'thou shalt' commandments were chiseled into the white marble slab in 20 lines of letters in the early Hebrew script called Samaritan. The earliest known complete stone inscription of the Ten Commandments has been put up for sale for 500,000($611,275). The square tablet (pictured) that weighs 200lbs (91Kgs), is believed to date back to the fourth century THE HOLY AUCTION The earliest known complete stone inscription of the Ten Commandments has been put up for sale for 500,000 ($611,275). It has a starting estimate of 200,000 ($244,510) but experts think it will end up selling for much more. The sale will take place on November 16. Advertisement The 2ft (0.6m) by 2ft tablet was uncovered in 1913 during excavations for a railway station near Yavneh in Israel. Years later it emerged the Biblical tablet was acquired by an Arab man who set it in the floor of his courtyard. Over the years foot traffic wore down some of the letters set in the centre of the slab. In 1943 it was acquired by a Mr Y. Kaplan, who owned it for 50 years before it was bought by antiquities dealer Robert Deutsch in the 1990s. The square tablet, that weighs 200lbs (91Kgs), is believed to date back to the fourth century A prominent rabbi obtained it for his Living Torah Museum in New York in 2005 where it has since been displayed with the blessing of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Now 50 important items from the museum's collection have been put up for sale at auction, with the tablet leading the way. But the IAA has made it a condition of its sale is that would be buyers must agree to place the object on public exhibition. It has a starting estimate of 200,000 ($244,510) but experts think it will end up selling for much more. 'There is nothing more fundamental to our shared heritage than the 10 Commandments,' said David Michaels, director of antiquities for Los Angeles-based Heritage Auctions which is selling the tablet. 'We are privileged to be entrusted with the sale of this remarkable piece of Biblical history. 'The Samaritans are widely known to Christians through the parable of the Good Samaritan. 'Their sect has endured through the centuries alongside traditional Jews, Pagans, Christians, and Muslims, so the 10 Commandments Stone is uniquely important to many different faiths and cultures. 'We seek either an institutional buyer or a private one who will agree to exhibit the 10 Commandments Stone so that all can see, enjoy and learn from it.' The tablet actually lists nine of the 10 commonly known Biblical Commandments from the Book of Exodus, omitting 'Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain'. The tablet was first discovered in Yavneh in Israel (shown on a map) in 1913. But it has resided in the Living Torah Museum in New York since 2005 The 'thou shalt' commandments were chiseled into the white marble slab in 20 lines of letters in the early Hebrew script called Samaritan. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Thou shalt have no other gods before me Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy Honour thy father and thy mother Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness Thou shalt not covet Advertisement This is replaced with a commandment commonly employed by the Samaritan sect exhorting worshippers to 'raise up a temple' on Mount Gerizim, the holy mountain of the Samaritans, located near the West Bank city of Nablus. Other artefacts in the sale which is entitled Property Of the Living Torah Museum include a nine-spouted ceramic oil lamp dated to the first century AD. Mr Michaels said: 'Most of these objects date to Biblical times and have particular relevance to the Old and New Testaments. 'All have been researched, vetted, and carry the appropriate provenance and export paperwork. Anyone with an interest in Jewish, Christian, or Classical history will find something in this sale.' But after practicing, Bob was much more successful in reading the text At first Bob and Eve showed a similar ability to decipher Alice's messages They created networks Alice and Bob, who had to hide a message from Eve Experts like Professor Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk have warned of the dangers of artificial intelligence becoming too smart and turning against humanity. Now it seems a team at Google has brought computing another step towards this nightmare becoming a reality, by teaching its networks to keep secrets. The computer systems have learn how to protect their messages away from prying eyes. Ateam at Google has taught its networks to keep secrets. The computer systems have learn how to protect their messages away from prying eyes COMPUTER CAN TELL WHO YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT Reading minds is an ability only found in comic book heroes. But new research has revealed that computers can now analyse brain scans and work out who a person is thinking about. The AI system can even create a digital portrait of the face in question. Researchers at the Kuhl Lab at the University of Oregon used an innovative form of fMRI pattern analysis to test whether lateral parietal cortex actively represents the contents of memory. Using a large set of human face images, the first extracted latent face components, known as eigenfaces. Then machine learning algorithms were used to predict face components from fMRI activity patterns and reconstruct images of individual faces in digital portraits. Advertisement Researchers from the Google Brain team, Martin Abadi and David Andersen, published a paper showing how computer networks can work out how to use a simple encryption technique. The Google research group specialises in the area of deep learning, using huge amounts of data. The computing system was designed based on the way neurons work in the brain, a type of computer called a 'neural network'. In a paper published on the preprint server arXiv, the researchers said: 'We ask whether neural networks can learn to use secret keys to protect information from other neural networks. 'Specifically, we focus on ensuring confidentiality properties in a multiagent system, and we specify those properties in terms of an adversary.' The team created a system that 'may consist of neural networks named Alice and Bob, and we aim to limit what a third neural network named Eve learns from eavesdropping on the communication between Alice and Bob,' they said. Alice, Bob and Eve are names computer scientists and physicists always use to name parts of their experiments. To make sure the message remained secret, the network named Alice had to convert her original plain-text message into something unintelligible. This meant anyone who intercepted it, including Eve, would not be able to understand the message. This 'cipher text' had to be decipherable by Bob, but nobody else. At first the networks were not good at hiding the messages, but after some practice they got better and were able to hide the messages from Eve. This is a big step, the researchers said, because neural networks, or 'neural nets', were not designed to be good at encryption. At first the networks were not good at hiding the messages, but after some practice they got better and were able to hide the messages from Eve while Bob deciphered them with no errors, after around 15,000 attempts (pictured) NIGHTMARE MACHINE Scientists at MIT have developed a system that is trying to find the scariest image out there. Dubbed the 'Nightmare Machine' the algorithm created by the team is making photographs of famous landmarks appear scary. In another part of the spooky research, t he AI system learns what makes images frightening using feedback from humans. Every time a vote is cast, the AI learns more about what humans consider a scary image. Advertisement 'Computing with neural nets on this scale has only become possible in the last few years, so we really are at the beginning of what's possible,' Joe Sturonas of encryption company PKWARE in Milwaukee, who was not involved in the research, told New Scientist. Just last week, Professor Stephen Hawking warned artificial intelligence could develop a will of its own that is in conflict with that of humanity. It could herald dangers like powerful autonomous weapons and ways for the few to oppress the many, he said, as he called for more research in the area. But if sufficient research is done to avoid the risks, it could help in humanity's aims to 'finally eradicate disease and poverty', he added. Scientists at MIT have developed a system that is trying to find the scariest image out there. Dubbed the 'Nightmare Machine' the algorithm created by the team is making photographs of famous landmarks appear scary like the Eiffel Tower, pictured Professor Hawking warned that AI could herald dangers like powerful autonomous weapons and ways for the few to oppress the many (like the plot of Terminator, pictured) REPORT CALLS FOR BAN ON KILLER ROBOTS The report by Human Rights Watch and the Harvard Law School International Human Rights Clinic was released as the United Nations kicked off a week-long meeting on such weapons in Geneva earlier this year. The report called for humans to remain in control over all weapons systems at a time of rapid technological advances. It says that requiring humans to remain in control of critical functions during combat, including the selection of targets, saves lives and ensures that fighters comply with international law. 'Machines have long served as instruments of war, but historically humans have directed how they are used,' said Bonnie Docherty, senior arms division researcher at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. 'Now there is a real threat that humans would relinquish their control and delegate life-and-death decisions to machines.' Some have argued in favor of robots on the battlefield, saying their use could save lives. But last year, more than 1,000 technology and robotics experts including scientist Stephen Hawking, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak warned that such weapons could be developed within years, not decades. In an open letter, they argued that if any major military power pushes ahead with development of autonomous weapons, 'a global arms race is virtually inevitable, and the endpoint of this technological trajectory is obvious: autonomous weapons will become the Kalashnikovs of tomorrow.' According to the London-based organization Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, the United States, China, Israel, South Korea, Russia, and Britain are moving toward systems that would give machines greater combat autonomy. Advertisement The mystery of whether there is an undiscovered planet at the edge of our solar system is one that has gripped the imagination of astronomers since the start of this year. Dubbed 'Planet Nine' by some, the world was predicted by two Caltech astronomers in January, based on the peculiar clustering of six previously known objects that orbit beyond Neptune. Now more evidence has been published suggesting the hypothetical world is responsible for the strange orbits of these distant objects. Scroll down for video The mystery of whether there is an undiscovered planet at the edge of our solar system is one that has gripped the imagination of astronomers since the start of this year. Now new evidence suggests the world is responsible for strange orbits of objects beyond Neptune An increasing number of distant icy rocks have been found past Neptune, the last known official planet of the solar system, including Eris, which was discovered in 2005 by the CalTech team and was the death blow for Pluto's planetary status, due to its larger size. Among these trans-Neptunian ice worlds are a growing number like Sedna and L91, whose distorted orbits take them far out from the sun, in a place called the Kuiper Belt, taking thousands of years to make a single pass. Renu Malhotra, a Professor of Planetary Sciences at the University of Arizona, and his team looked at these Kuiper Belt Objects. EVEN PLANET NINE'S NAME IS CONTROVERSIAL Even the mysterious planet's name causes controversy. Mike Brown is Professor of Planetary Astronomy at Caltech. He is best known for his discovery of Eris, the most massive object found in the solar system in 150 years - and the object which led to the debate and eventual demotion of Pluto from a real planet to a dwarf planet. Alan Stern is an engineer and planetary scientist. He is the principal investigator of Nasa's New Horizons mission to Pluto. He is famously a defender of Pluto's planet title, which was stripped from it in 2006. The two scientists are 'at loggerheads' with each other over the classification of Pluto, according to some astronomers. The mysterious planet has always been termed 'Planet X', X being the Roman numeral for ten, suggesting a tenth planet. But when Professor Brown and his team published the paper in January, they controversially named the planet 'Planet Nine' instead of Planet X, as a nod to Professor Brown's work towards declassifying Pluto. 'Calling it Planet Nine is very mischievous,' Professor Monica Grady told MailOnline. Advertisement They found the four with the longest known orbital periods revolve around the sun in patterns most readily explained by the presence of a hypothetical 'Planet Nine', approximately 10 times the mass of Earth. Professor Malhotra presented the results at the 48th meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society in Pasadena, California. According to the researchers' calculations, such a hypothetical planet would complete one orbit around the sun about every 17,000 years. At its farthest point from our central star, it would be more than 660 astronomical units (AU), with one AU being the average distance between the Earth and the sun - around 92 million miles. 'We analysed the data of these most distant Kuiper Belt Objects,' Professor Malhotra said, 'and noticed something peculiar, suggesting they were in some kind of resonances with an unseen planet.' In the new paper, Professor Malhotra along with co-authors Kathryn Volk and Xianyu Wang pointed out peculiarities of the orbits of the extreme KBOs that has been unnoticed until now. They found the orbital period ratios of these objects are close to ratios of two small whole numbers. An example of this would be one KBO traveling around the sun once while another takes twice as long or four times as long, for example, but not 2.7 times as long. The distant worlds is thought to be roughly four time the size of Earth and ten times the mass, with its gravitational pull dragging small bodies further out towards its huge elliptical orbit (stock image) According to the authors, this kind of ratio could arise most naturally if the extreme KBOs orbital periods were in small whole-number ratios with a massive planet, which would help to stabilise their highly elliptical orbits. Another paper published earlier this year presented the results of numerical simulations providing a range of possibilities for the mass and orbit for such a hypothetical planet, which could account for the observed clustering of eKBO orbits. 'Our paper provides more specific estimates for the mass and orbit that this planet would have, and, more importantly, constraints on its current position within its orbit,' Professor Malhotra said. The authors added their results should not be considered as proof that Planet Nine exists yet. The KBOs have such long orbits that they may appear unusual for some time during their orbit, and they have not been observed for long enough to get a full understanding of the forces at play yet. Nintendo fans will have to need to hold out until January to get more information about the latest console. Details of the new games machine, called the Nintendo Switch, emerged in a preview video last week. But Nintendo president, Tatsumi Kimishima, has said that major details of the console - including a launch date and details of the first games to become available - will be revealed at a live event in Tokyo on 13 January 2017. Scroll down for video Nintendo president, Tatsumi Kimishima, has said that major details of the console - including a launch date and details of the first games to become available - will be revealed at live event in Tokyo on 13 January 2017 Sampling events for media, partners, and consumers will take place in the US and Europe after the event. The Japanese firm also said it will provide opportunities for the public to get some hands-on time before the launch as well, with details to be confirmed. Nintendo gave the public its first look at the console last week in a promotional video, showing a shape-shifting console that allows players to switch instantly between home and mobile gaming. Called Nintendo Switch, the new system connects to the TV when mounted in its dock and when removed, it transitions to portable mode to be played through a handheld device. With removable Joy-Con controllers, it is capable of both single and multiplayer use whether youre playing at home or on-the-go. President of Nintendo, Tatsumi Kimishima (pictured), said sampling events for media, partners, and consumers will take place in the US and Europe after the event. The public will also be able to get hands-on time with the console before the launch in March Nintendo has unveiled a shape-shifting console that allows players to switch instantly between home and mobile gaming. Called Nintendo Switch, the new system connects to the TV when mounted in its dock NINTENDO SWITCH The console connects to the TV when mounted in its dock and when removed, it transitions to portable mode to be played through a handheld device. The Switch controller can be used much like a traditional Nintendo controller. But, side components can be removed to create two independent Joy-Con controllers as well. Advertisement The console is set to be launched in March, according to the firm, and many details still have yet to be released. The tablet-like console clicks into the Nintendo Switch Dock, connecting it to the TV. In this version, the controller can be used much like a classic system, with grips and buttons on both sides. But, these components can be detached to create two independent Joy-Con controllers as well. For single player use, one person can play with a controller in each hand. Or, two people can play using one Joy-Con controller each. With removable Joy-Con controllers, it is capable of both single and multiplayer use whether youre playing at home or on-the-go The video also shows how the console can be used for mobile gaming by simply lifting the device out of the dock. This immediately switches it to portable mode, and the Joy-Con controllers slide onto each side of the screen. In this mode, as well, the controllers can be removed in both single player and multiplayer scenarios. The video shows how a supporting arm pulls out from the back so it can stand upright on a flat surface. The tablet-like console clicks into the Nintendo Switch Dock, connecting it to the TV. In this version, the controller can be used much like a classic system, with grips and buttons on both sides, as pictured The video also shows how the console can be used for mobile gaming by simply lifting the device out of the dock (pictured left). This immediately switches it to portable mode, and the Joy-Con controllers slide onto each side of the screen (shown on right) According to the firm, the system will also support multiplayer face-to-face competition by bringing numerous Nintendo Switch systems together. Nintendo Switch allows gamers the freedom to play however they like, said Reggie Fils-Aime, President and COO, Nintendo of America. It gives game developers new abilities to bring their creative visions to life by opening up the concept of gaming without boundaries. In the months leading up to its official release this coming March, the firm says it will be unveiling full game demonstrations, the list of launch window titles, the configuration and specs. For single player use, one person can play with a controller in each hand. Or, two people can each play using one Joy-Con controller each, as seen above It's already the fastest bird recorded in level flight, now researchers have confirmed the common swift can fly for 10 months a year without coming down. While scientists have long suspected the bird spends most of its life on the wing, the evidence collected has set a new record. And the bird's incredible journey may mean it travels as far as seven round-trips to the moon over its lifetime. It's already the fastest bird recorded in level flight, now researchers have confirmed the common swift can fly for 10 months a year without coming down SWIFT BY NAME AND NATURE The common swift is the fastest bird recorded in level flight. It's able to reach speeds of 69.3mph (111.6km/h) when flying horizontally and upwards. So while peregrine falcons - the fastest birds - are speedier when diving, the common swift is the fastest flying under its own power, the BBC reported. Scientists at Lund University filmed the birds using two high speed cameras in 2010 to make the finding when one bird pulled out all the stops. The birds typically fly at speeds of 22 to 26 mph (36-43km/h) but boost their speed to show off to potential mates. Despite the high energetic costs associated with all that flight, common swifts also manage to live surprisingly long lives, contrary to popular belief that suggests they live fast and die young. There are documented cases of common swifts living to the age of 20. In that time, 'the accumulated flight distance equals seven round-trip journeys to the moon,' Professor Hedenstrom said. Advertisement It's already known that some birds remain in flight for periods of months, including frigate birds and alpine swifts and that the common swift (Apus apus) is adapted to an aerial lifestyle, where food and nest material are captured in the air. Observations have prompted scientists to believe that common swifts stay airborne for their entire non-breeding period, including migration into sub-Saharan Africa. To find out, researchers from Lund University in Sweden, developed a new type of micro data logger capable of recording acceleration to monitor the birds' flight activity, and attached it to 19 birds that were later recaptured. The data showed that common swifts spend more than 99 per cent of their time during their 10-month non-breeding period in flight. 'When the common swifts leave their breeding site in August for a migration to the Central African rainforests via West Africa, they never touch ground until they return for the next breeding season 10 months later,' said Anders Hedenstrom, a professor of ecology at the university. 'Some individuals may roost for brief periods, or even entire nights in mid-winter, but others literally never landed during this period.' The birds' flight activity often appeared lower during the day than at night, according to the study, published in the journal Current Biology. Professor Hedenstrom believes the birds probably save energy during the day by gliding in upward currents of warm air, as well as ascending to high altitudes at dawn and dusk. However, the team does not know for sure whether or how the birds sleep. Data showed that common swifts spend more than 99 per cent of their time during their 10-month non-breeding period in flight 'The fact that some individuals never landed during 10 months suggests they sleep on the wing,' he said, adding there is also a possibility the birds may find time to nap during slow descents at dawn and dusk. It is this theory he and his colleagues hope to explore in future research. Despite the high energetic costs associated with all that flight, common swifts also manage to live surprisingly long lives, contrary to popular belief that suggests they live fast and die young. There are documented cases of common swifts living to the age of 20. Using Facebook Live just got a whole lot creepier, thanks to a new range of virtual face masks. The latest feature for the social media platforms video streaming service superimposes a selection of ghoulish masks, like the filters on Snapchat. Users will be able to get into the spirit of Halloween by giving themselves a skull face and reacting to posts using a new set of spooky buttons. Scroll down for video Facebook is rolling out a temporary update enabling users to of the platforms video streaming service to superimpose a selection of ghoulish masks on their face and react to comments using ghoulish buttons Facebook says the temporary seasonal updates are to help people celebrate Halloween online. 'Whether your Halloween style is scary or silly, we hope these features help you celebrate with friends near and far,' it said in a statement. The masks will be rolled out over the next few days to Facebook Live users on iOS in the US, UK and New Zealand. The feature will be rolled out to other countries and to Android users in the coming months. In order to use the new masks, users simply have to tap the Live Video icon at the top of their Timeline, News Feed or Page. Once live, tap the magic wand in the upper left corner of the screen. To give things a Halloween edge, these reactions have been joined by a witch, ghost, Frankensteins monster and a scary pumpkin (pictured) Select the masks icon in the creative tools tray at the bottom of the screen. To pick a mask, live users scroll through the options and tap on masks to have them automatically appear on their face when they are live. To remove the mask, users simply have to scroll left in the mask trap and tap the 'no mask' sign. The reaction buttons have been updated as well, with the longstanding thumbs up and the heart icon, which was introduced with the buttons in February. To give things a Halloween edge, these reactions have been joined by a witch, ghost, Frankensteins monster and a scary pumpkin. User will soon see their reaction buttons have been updated as well, with the longstanding thumbs up and the heart icon, which was introduced with the buttons in February (pictured) HOW TO USE THE NEW FACEBOOK FEATURES Facebook's new temporary features are designed to help users celebrate the scary season. The social media firm said in a statement:'Whether your Halloween style is scary or silly, we hope these features help you celebrate with friends near and far. It will be rolling out the update to enable users to of the platforms video streaming service to superimpose a selection of ghoulish masks on their face and react to comments using ghoulish buttons. To use the masks: Tap the Live Video icon at the top of your Timeline, News Feed or Page. Once you are live, tap the magic wand in the upper left corner of your screen. Select the masks icon in the creative tools tray at the bottom of your screen. Scroll through the options and tap on masks to have them automatically appear on your face when you are live. To remove the mask, simply scroll left in the mask trap and tap the no mask sign. Advertisement Facebook said: 'Were also launching a set of limited-edition reactions to people in a select set of countries in the days leading up to and through Halloween. 'From a cackling witch to express laughter, to a grimacing jack olantern to show anger, youll be sure to get into the holiday spirit with these fun and playful reactions.' Earlier in the year, Facebook acquired quirky face-tracking app MSQRD - which powers the creepy update - enabling users to try on masks and swap faces with friends and even celebrities. The first emojis were released in 1999 and were mainly popular in Japan Back in the day before cars could drive themselves and phones could send stickers and animations, a Japanese phone company released a set of 176 emojis. The year was 1999 and the tiny 12-by-12 pixel designs of smiley faces, hearts of the intact and broken variety and cute animals were mainly popular in Japan. Now, 17 years later, New York's Museum of Modern Art has acquired the original set of 176 emojis. Scroll down for video New York's Museum of Modern Art has acquired the original set of 176 emojis (pictured). When they were first introduced the tiny 12-by-12 pixel designs - smiley faces, hearts of the intact and broken variety, cats, and so on - were mainly popular in Japan A HISTORY OF EMOJI Back in the day before cars could drive themselves and phones could send stickers and animations, a Japanese phone company released a set of 176 emojis. The year was 1999 and the tiny 12-by-12 pixel designs - smiley faces, hearts of the intact and broken variety, cats, and so on - were mainly popular in Japan. Now, 17 years later, New York's Museum of Modern Art has acquired the original set of 176 emojis. Advertisement In 2010, Unicode Consortium, which now controls emoji standards, translated the emoji into the Unicode standard, which means that a person in France, for example, can send an emoji to a person in the U.S. and it will look the same, no matter what brand of phone or operating system they use. The original set of 176 emojis were a gift to the museum from the phone company, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone. 'From the start (in 1929), part of MoMA's mission has been to display and collect the art (and design) of our time,' said Paola Antonelli, senior curator of the Department of Architecture and Design at the museum, in an email. 'Our time is lived today in both the digital and the physical space.' The museum's other digital acquisitions have included the '@' symbol and video games. As to how a museum acquires something as ubiquitous as a keyboard symbol or an emoji, Antonelli noted design works differently to art, which in many cases is unique - think of a painting, or a statue. Some design elements, such as the '@' symbol, are in the public domain, which means anyone can use them and the museum can simply display them. The museum will show the emojis in its lobby until the end of the year, using 2D graphics and animations. In May last year, emoji was named as the worlds fastest growing language. Today, the Unicode Consortium recognizes nearly 1,800 emojis Unicode Consortium, the official body responsible for setting a standard of characters across the computing industry, released the new images today, although it may take manufacturers a little longer to add them to handsets IS EMOJI THE FASTEST GROWING LANGUAGE? In May last year, emoji was named as the worlds fastest growing language. TalkTalk Mobile teamed up with Vyv Evans, linguistics professor at Bangor University to launch the study and improve understanding of emoji with the 'Emoji IQ' tutorial. 'Emoji is the fastest growing form of language ever based on its incredible adoption rate and speed of evolution,' said Professor Evans. 'As a visual language emoji has already far eclipsed hieroglyphics, its ancient Egyptian precursor which took centuries to develop.' The most popular emoji, according to the study, is the 'smiley face' followed by the 'crying with laughter face'. Advertisement Today, the Unicode Consortium recognizes nearly 1,800 emojis. There's wine, a baby bottle, a dancing woman in a red dress, and, of course, poo. There have been emoji-controversies, such as Apple's decision to replace the gun symbol with a bright green toy pistol. The human faces in emoji have grown more racially diverse in recent years, and over the summer 11 new emojis were added representing female professionals, rounding out their male counterparts, thanks to a proposal from Google. New emojis are added regularly, and continue to evolve and reflect our changing times. '(Emojis) as a concept go back in the centuries, to ideograms, hieroglyphics, and other graphic characters, enabling us to draw this beautiful arch that covers all of human history,' Antonelli said. 'There is nothing more modern than timeless concepts such as these.' First Tennessee Bank has paired with Operation HOPE, a financial literacy and economic empowerment nonprofit, to open two new HOPE Inside locations in Chattanooga. The new office is located inside the First Tennessee branch at 5526 Brainerd Road. The office will provide free credit and money management, homeownership, and small business counseling. A grand opening event is scheduled for Monday from 3:30-5 p.m . One of the programs that will be available at the new Chattanooga offices, called the HOPE 700 Credit Scores Initiative, focuses on raising client credit scores to 700 through active counseling. On average, credit scores have risen 120 points over the 18-month training course, officials said.HOPE Inside leaders counsel clients on the language of money, transforming established financial mindsets, and creating action plans to improve the way they manage money.District 6 Councilwoman Dr. Carol Berz said of the launch, The effect HOPE Inside will have on Chattanooga is huge. By empowering individuals to make well-informed decisions with their money, the community as a whole will become stronger. Im excited to have the first HOPE Inside located in my District and appreciate First Tennessee working so hard to promote financial literacy.First Tennessee Chattanooga market president Jeff Jackson also stated, We are proud to pair with Operation HOPE to bring financial literacy and training to the underserved communities of Chattanooga. First Tennessee understands that a successful community begins with knowledge and understanding of finances, and we are prepared to offer these tools through the HOPE Inside offices. Construction is underway for Amazons first drive-up grocery store in Seattle, but the location at 51st street is just the beginning of a much larger vision. The e-commerce giant is planning to open 20 grocery store locations across the country by the end of 2018, according to documents reviewed by Business Insider. These internal documents also reveal that Amazons goal is to open up 2,000 Fresh-branded grocery stores over the next decade - and they will open 200 every year to hit the mark. Scroll down for videos The e-commerce giant is planning to open 20 grocery store locations across the country by the end of 2018, according to documents reviewed by Business Insider. These internal documents also reveal that Amazons goal is to open up 2,000 Fresh-branded grocery stores over the next decade THE GROCERY BUSINESS Internal documents reveal Amazon plans to open 20 grocery stores by the end of 2018. They will be located in major cities like Seattle, Las Vegas, New York City, Miami and the Bay area. Half of the stores are set to be click-and-collect facilities that customers drive-up to and grab their online orders. And the other will traditional grocery store with shopping carts, aisles and cashiers. The documents also say Amazon wants to open a total of 2,000 grocery stores over the next 10 years and will launch 200 a year to reach that goal. Advertisement DailyMail.com contacted Amazon for comment regarding the documents and an Amazon spokesperson replied, 'We dont comment on rumors or speculation.' Leaked images surfaced earlier this month showing a partially finished storefront near Ballard Bridge at NW 51st Street and 15th Avenue NW with Amazon Ballard scribbled in two places. These little clues suggest the Seattle-based firm is in the middle of developing its own stores and drive-in locations for AmazonFresh members. These brick-and-mortar stores, known internally as Project Como, are expected to sell fresh produce, milk, meats and other perishables, The Wall Street Journal reported on the topic earlier this month. People close to the matter revealed that customers will be able to order items with longer shelf lives for same-day delivery using a mobile app or touch screens placed throughout stores. Amazon has been selling groceries since 2013 via the platform with its AmazonFresh, which works similar to FreshDirect, but hasnt really taken off because of a $299 yearly membership fee Amazon announced this month that Prime users now pay $15 per month. But it seems that the e-Commerce giant has plans to push deeper into the grocery business. The documents viewed by Business Insider reveal that these 20 grocery stores will be located in major cities like Seattle, Las Vegas, New York City, Miami and the Bay area. The documents viewed by Business Insider reveal that these 20 grocery stores will be located in major cities like Seattle, Las Vegas, New York City, Miami and the Bay area. These locations will be treated as a pilot program allowing them to experiment with different types of stores. Although it may seem like the firm has a full-blown grocery business, these locations will be treated as a pilot program this allows them to experiment with different types of stores. Half of the stores will be designed as click-and-collect facilities that customers drive-up to and grab their online orders. The other half will be traditional grocery stores with shopping carts, aisles and cashiers. Amazon has yet to confirm or deny the documents, so there is not telling how many grocery stores, if any, the firm will actually end up opening. AMAZON OPENING MORE BRICK-AND-MORTAR BOOK STORES Amazon is planning to launch a brick-and-mortar bookstore in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago store is scheduled to launch in 2017 and 'will be in the trendy neighbourhood of Southport Corridor', the Financial Times reported in August. The Amazon Books is going have 3443 N. Southport Ave as its address, according to the Chicago Tribune. The company has already announced plans for brick-and-mortar stores in San Diego, California and Portland, Oregon. Amazon launched a physical bookstore in Seattle, Washington, in November 2015. The company says on its website: 'Amazon Books in University Village, Seattle, is a physical extension of Amazon.com. Advertisement Business Insider does say that the documents list a launch schedule of 200 stores a year in order to hit the 2,000 mark in 10 years. This move is also part of the firms attempt to reinvent itself they are breaking away from being just an e-Commerce giant to a giant that offers more tangible services. Amazon began opening physical brick-and-mortar book stores in 2015 starting with its hometown Seattle. They have also adding pop-up stores in malls that displays its own line of hardware products. Half will be designed as click-and-collect facilities that customers drive-up to and grab their online orders. The other half will be the traditional grocery stores. These stores are a way for Amazon to compete with other stores, as they only own 1.1% of the market However, these stores, including its grocery establishments, will put Amazon head-to-head with major retailers who started with physical locations, such as Wal-Mart, which has more than 5,000 stores across the US. Wal-Mart also owns 17.3 percent of the grocery business compared to Amazons 1.1 percent. About a fifth of consumer spending goes to groceries in the US, but only two percent of sales account for online grocery purchases, according to Morgan Stanley Research. Amazons secretive drive-up grocery store takes shape in Seattle neighborhood https://t.co/IKHvIixvxx pic.twitter.com/DbQxQv9Hut Norm Gregory (@NormGregory) October 10, 2016 Leaked images surfaced earlier this month showing a partially finished storefront near Ballard Bridge at NW 51st Street and 15th Avenue NW with Amazon Ballard scribbled in two places The investment firm estimates the online grocery market could more than double to over $24 billion this year. For its new convenience stores, like the one in Ballard, Amazon is taking a page from discounters such as Aldi and Lidl, as well as dollar stores, according to the people familiar with the matter. Yes, Amazon is behind that drive-up grocery store coming to Ballard #Seattle https://t.co/BuvHBrjdFj r/SeattleWA pic.twitter.com/hyClVDrxUN Seattle Reddit (@rSeattleWA) October 10, 2016 Business Insider does say that the documents list a launch schedule of 200 stores a year in order to hit the 2,000 mark in 10 years. Pictures is a leaked image of Amazon's alleged convince store in Seattle They said these brick-and-mortar stores could take a year or more to open while Amazon explores new locations. But the firm could be just a few weeks away from opening its first drive-in grocery location in Seattle, one said. GeekWire published documents that show the e-commerce firm is working on a storefront in Seattles Ballard neighborhood. Could this be a new model of grocery shopping? Amazon are set to launch a drive-up grocery #store https://t.co/DZlGpFrkr9 pic.twitter.com/SxU8Q2KRQ0 Hattie Jenkins (@HattieJenks) October 11, 2016 Sources said the convince stores could take a year or more to open while Amazon explores new locations.But the firm could be just a few weeks away from opening its first drive-in grocery location in Seattle (pictured) Prior to this citing, the newspaper discovered a permit document that was filed with the city of Seattle that read: storage racks insulation plans on main floor for Amazon. The work site is near the Ballard Bridge at NW 51st Street and 15th Avenue NW. and understands how we think Artificially intelligent robots can now understand the way humans think. At the 2016 World Robot Conference in Beijing, exhibitors for the Xiao I bot revealed the AI can mimic the functions of the human brain, allowing it to analyze massive amounts of data and respond to instructions. They say the robot can analyze human languages and even understands the inner workings and thought processes of the human brain. Scroll down for video Artificially intelligent robots can now understand the way humans think. Pictured above is the Ares, a humanoid bipedal robot designed by Chinese college students with fundings from a Shanghai investment company, displayed during the World Robot Conference in Beijing XIAO I GOES UP AGAINST SIRI In recent years, the Xiao I bot has gone head to head with Siri in a string of lawsuits. In a 2012 lawsuit, Xiao I developer Shanghai Zhizhen Network Technology claimed Apple had infringed upon its intellectual-property rights, Bloomberg reported in 2014. Apple later filed a suit against the Patent Review Committee while the verdict for the initial case was pending, arguing that a 2006 patent filed by Xiao Is developer was invalid but had remained upheld. Apple lost the second case in July 2014. Advertisement Xiao I uses a massive database comprised of decades of accumulated information to analyze the context of a given set of instructions, The Mirror reports. This provides it with built-in knowledge on daily life and industry. And according the creators, its abilities surpass those of other major competitors, including Siri and Cortana. The top four companies representing the best human-computer interaction technology were voted for at a summit in Orlando the day before yesterday, an exhibitor at the Xiao I booth told The Mirror. Xiao I ranks as the top one, and others include Apples Siri, Microsofts Cortana, and Amazons Echo. Xiao I was just one of many smart robots on display at the World Robot Conference. Pictured above, a child shouts at the companion robot 'Canbot,' also on display at the World Robot Conference Above, a woman demonstrates the ability of Baxter, an industrial robot from U.S. company Rethink Robotics, to follow her hand movements Creators revealed scores of robots with advanced capabilities, including the humanoids Canbot and Ares. Without artificial intelligence a robot will be nothing but a machine, Sheng Licheng, deputy director of Beijings Yizhuang Development Zone Administration told The Mirror. Most robot-related research is developing towards the direction of artificial intelligence, which will enhance the sensory ability of robots and enable them to offer better services. In the exhibition area, a badminton robot demonstrated a badminton match with staff, while a bionic bird and butterfly was also on display. And, in some cases, the robots were eerily life-like. Dubbed the 'robot goddess', Jia Jia is being taught deep learning abilities, including understanding human language, and detecting facial expressions. The life-like cyborg was displayed at the 2016 World Robot Conference, where she pulled in huge crowds Alongside Jia Jia, several other advanced robots were showcased at the World Robot Conference, including the Ares, pictured In the exhibition area, a badminton robot (pictured) demonstrated a badminton match with staff, while a bionic bird and butterfly was also on display HOW DOES JIA JIA WORK? It took a team three years to complete the robot, which can speak, show micro-expressions, move its lips and body, yet seems to hold its head in a submissive manner. The humanoid is programmed to recognize human/machine interaction, has autonomous position and navigation and offers services based on cloud technology. This humanoid has natural eye movement, speech that is in sync with its lip movement and refers to its male creators as 'lords'. Advertisement With long flowing hair and rosy red cheeks, you might do a double take when you see Jia Jia, a humanoid robot. Dubbed the 'robot goddess', Jia Jia is being taught deep learning abilities, including understanding human language, and detecting facial expressions. The life-like cyborg was displayed at the 2016 World Robot Conference, where she pulled in huge crowds eager to see her abilities. Jia Jia is the brain child of researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China, who displayed her at the World Robot Conference in Beijing this week. The humanoid robot is programmed to recognise human and machine interaction, with autonomous position navigation and services based on cloud technology. At the event, JiaJia demonstrated her ability to communicate with humans, detecting facial expressions and responding to questions. Visitors crowd around Pepper, a companion robot from e-commerce giant Alibaba, during the World Robot Conference in Beijing When asked by an audience-member 'What kind of skills do you have?', Jia Jia replied: 'I can talk with you. I can recognise faces. I can identify gender and age of people standing front of me, and I can detect your facial expressions.' But these skills are no mean feat for Jia Jia's developers. Speaking to The Mirror, Lu Dongcai, who leads the Jia Jia project, said: 'There are a few challenges about her. 'Firstly, she has to receive not only language but also facial expressions. When asked by an audience-member 'What kind of skills do you have?', Jia Jia replied: 'I can talk with you. I can recognise faces. I can identify gender and age of people standing front of me, and I can detect your facial expressions' Another human-like robot at the World Robot Conference impressed visitors with his calligraphy skills, by using a similar style of calligraphy used by legendary philosopher Wang Yangming The humanoid robot is programmed to recognise human and machine interaction, with autonomous position navigation and services based on cloud technology. It is pictured at the unveiling in April 'Like what she showed just now, she can observe your facial expression, and give a natural response, so that you can see her intelligence.' Alongside Jia Jia, several other advanced robots were showcased at the World Robot Conference. At last year's World Robot Exhibition, an eerily life-like robot named Android Geminoid F was unveiled, with some fans even describing her as 'sexy' At last year's World Robot Exhibition, an eerily life-like robot named Android Geminoid F was unveiled, with some fans even describing her as 'sexy.' The 5ft 6 inch android is capable of eye movements, response to eye-to-eye contact and can recognise body language. Geminoid F has already taken the film industry by storm, becoming the first android to star in a film. Earlier this year, she co-starred in a Japanese movie named 'Sayonara', about the after-effects of a nuclear power plant meltdown. Robot engineer Hiroshi Ishiguro (left), US actress Bryerly Long (2nd right) and Japanese actor Nijiro Murakami (right) help android actress Geminoid F wave to the audience before the premiere of new movie 'Sayonara' Most people do not have the patience to wait a few seconds for the elevator doors to shut, so they push the 'close' button to speed up the process. However, some say this feature has been obsolete since the 1990s, suggesting the button is a complete fake it will not close the doors any faster. Experts reveal that there numerous buttons in the world that do not live up to their name, but are present to make us feel in control. Most people don't have the patience to wait for the elevator doors to shut, so they push the 'close' button to speed up the process. However, this feature has been obsolete since the 1990s, suggesting the button is a complete fake it will not close the doors any faster THE TRUTH ABOUT BUTTONS Elevator 'close' buttons went obsolete in the 1990s, which means the ones you see are fake. New York City figures state that out of the 3,250 crosswalk buttons, 2,500 of them were replaced with non-functioning mechanisms. And a majority of the thermostats installed in offices that are easily accessible are decoys. Expert say that these buttons or fake thermostats are in place to promote the illusion on being in control. Having a lack of control has been found to spark depression among many individuals. Advertisement The Americans With Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, mandating that elevators stay open long enough for someone with a physical disability, such as on crutches or in a wheelchair, to make it inside, Karen W. Penafiel, executive director of National Elevator Industry Inc., told Christopher Mele with The New York Times in an interview. Although these buttons are useless to the average person, they do perform their proper function for firefighters and maintenance workers but only with a code or designated keys. Penafiel explains since an elevator's lifespan is around 25 years, it is safe to say that a majority, if any, do not have a functioning 'close' button but the 'open' button works when it is pushed. As bizarre as it seems to place fake buttons in an elevator or other devices, they are there for good reasons. 'Perceived control is very important,' Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard University who has studied the illusion of control, told Mele in an email. 'It diminishes stress and promotes well-being.' Another expert, John Kounios, a psychology professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said that these buttons are there to add an illusion of control if they weren't, people would feel a lack of control which is linked to depression. When pushed, these decoy buttons, including most crosswalk buttons in New York City, give people a sense of being in control. It also diminishes stress and promotes well-being And those people who know the little white lie will still continue to push these decoy buttons because the doors eventually close and that is the desired reward, he said. However, elevators aren't the only deceitful devices - crosswalk signals in New York City are also on the list. The New York Times revealed in 2004 that the Big Apple pulled the plug on a majority of its pedestrian buttons long ago, as a result of computer-controlled traffic signals. City figures state that out of the 3,250 crosswalk buttons, 2,500 of them were replaced with mechanical placebos, or non-functioning mechanisms . The reason the buttons are still in place is because it costs about $1 million to remove them. Some office thermostats that can be easily accessed are also fake, but experts say it makes individuals feel better to know they have the ability to control the temperature in the office But New York City isn't alone in this let down, as ABC conducted a survey in 2010 that found only one working crosswalk button in Austin Texas, Gainesville, Florida and Syracuse, New York. Depending on where you work, you may not want to trust the thermostat that everyone has access to. In 2003, the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News found that many offices install 'dummy thermostats' 51 out of 71 people in the survey confirmed their office in fact has one. One respondent David Trimble of Fort Collins, Colorado, wrote The News that individuals 'felt better' that they have the ability to control the temperature in the office following the installation of a decoy thermostat. Salma Hayek looked sensational on the front cover of GQ Mexico. The Mexican-American actress, 50, wore nothing but a sheer lace bralette showcasing her ample cleavage. Her freshly chopped tresses looked bouncy and healthy as she covered half her face with her hair. Beauty: Salma Hayek looked sensational on the front cover of GQ Mexico She went for a very natural palette of make-up, showing off her innate beauty. Her dark brown eyes were enhanced with a slick of eye liner and some mascara but nothing more. The actress has also recently weighed in on the dramatic presidential election (seen here in June) Her flawless skin and decolletage looked picture perfect as she stuck out her arm and balanced her hand on the side of her head. All the actress decided to wear was a very revealing minuscule lace bralette. The bralette had a small string holding in her ample assets in the middle as the lace just about covered her modesty. Clearly proud of her cover, the stunning beauty shared the photo with her 2.1m followers on Instagram. She captioned the photo: 'Happy to be on the cover of the 10th anniversary of @gqmexico #GQMX10 Feliz de protagonizar la portada del decimo aniversario de @gqmexico.' Meanwhile it isn't just magazine covers the beautiful actress has been busy with - she also just recently weighed in on the dramatic presidential election. After all these sexual accusations came to light against Donald Trump thanks to his leaked video with Billy Bush, many women have expressed their concerns about him running the country. She downplayed her own personal interactions with Trump, calling them 'insignificant,' as she blasted the Republican nominee for other misdeeds on a press call for Hillary Clinton. Snooki and JWoww have known each other for years, and on Tuesday the ladies showed some major sense of humour as they celebrated the 50th episode of their web series in style. Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, 28, fed her BFF a giant meatball while feasting on a bowl of spaghetti inside Buca di Beppo restaurant in New York City. Her bespectacled pal, 30, flashed a very silly expression as she dug into the bowl. Scroll down for video Dinner is served! Snooki, 28, fed her BFF JWoww a giant meatball nside Buca di Beppo restaurant in New York City on Tuesday Eating aside, Snooki got a little hands-on with her friend, whose real name is Jenni Farley. The reality star pressed her hands into a tub of red paste before placing them onto apron-clad JWoww's chest. Snooki took to Instagram to share the moment, telling her fans in the clip, 'Hey guys, we're at Bucca di Beppo in the city, and I'm going to saturate Jenny's boobies!' The mother-of-two made her way to JWoww and left two red hand prints upon her friend's chest. Big day: The ladies had gathered at the Italian restaurant to celebrate the milestone 50th episode of their web series, Snooki & JWOWW: Moms With Attitude Dig in! Her bespectacled pal, 30, was already busy digging in her fork into the giant bowl Working up an appetite: The stars feasted on the scrumptious bowl of spaghetti 'Looks great!' Snooki declared after leaving her hand print mark. Snooki and her gal pal were dressed to the nines, with the petite reality star shining in a beige jumpsuit teamed with a pair of black peep toe boots. Her pal sizzled in a black jumpsuit with slashed sleeves and a very low-cut neckline. Dressed to the nines! The petite reality star shone in a beige jumpsuit teamed with a pair of black peep toe boots while her pal sizzled in a black jumpsuit with slashed sleeves Close indeed! Eating aside, the star got pretty hands-on with her friend as well The ladies had gathered at the Italian restaurant to celebrate the milestone 50th episode of their web series, Snooki & JWOWW: Moms With Attitude. The web series is now in it's second season, and it follows the hilarious duo as they navigate their unusual lives as moms, wives and reality stars. Snooki and JWoww rose to prominence as fun-loving party girls in the MTV hit Jersey Shore. Making her mark: The reality star pressed her hands into a tub of red paste before placing them onto apron-clad JWoww's chest They've come a long way since that show wrapped in 2012. Snooki wed her longtime fiance Jionni LaValle on November 29, 2014, two months after the birth of their second child, daughter Giovanna. The couple also share a son, Lorenzo, four. JWoww wed Roger Mathews on October 18, 2015, and they have two children together, daughter Meilani, two, and son Greyson, five months. Advertisement Her unquestionable sense of style has all too often equalled what has been a hugely successful film career, and so it proved on Wednesday evening as Gwyneth Paltrow outshone her rivals with another dazzling red carpet display. The American actress, 44, stole the show in an intricately designed Gucci dress as she made a welcome appearance at an ELLE magazine party in Madrid, Spain. Featuring a sheer chest panel embellished with a large, modesty protecting floral design, the striking evening wear ensured Gwyneth commanded attention a she sashayed into the event. Scroll down for video Leading the way: Her unquestionable sense of style has all too often equalled what has been a hugely successful film career, and so it proved on Wednesday evening as Gwyneth Paltrow outshone her rivals with another dazzling red carpet display at an ELLE magazine party in Madrid, Spain A cinched waistline and elegantly pleated semi-sheer skirt gave the overall look a distinctive flourish, while frilly, tiered shoulders rounded it off. The Academy Award winner embellished her look with smart Jimmy Choo heels - barely visible beneath the wide hems of her striking dress. A sparkling bejeweled bracelet and statement earrings from high-end jewelry chain Tous completed her ensemble - and helped to ensure she claimed the lions share of attention from onlookers on Wednesday evening. Glitz and glamour: A sparkling bejeweled bracelet and statement earrings from high-end jewelry chain Tous completed her ensemble - and helped to ensure she claimed the lions share of attention from onlookers on Wednesday evening Terrific trio: Gwyneth was also joined on the red carpet by the Tous Family who she has been working with on their new advertising campaign in Spain recently In good company: Gwyneth was joined by James Costos, United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra Red carpet rival: The actress had good company on the night in the form of Elizabeth Hurley, whose own choice of outfit guaranteed she was not overshadowed Dripping in diamonds: A bold statement necklace gave the look a striking focal point, while its tastefully fitted upper-half drew attention to Elizabeth's undeniably toned physique Looking good: Both Gwyneth and Elizabeth accentuated their naturally pretty features with subtle make-up ahead of their appearance at the event Special guests: American socialite Olivia Palermo (L) and veteran Czech model Eva Herzigova (R) added an extra sprinkling of glamour to proceedings on Wednesday evening Keeping it simple: Olivia opted for simple, understated colours in the form of a conventional white blazer and pleated sheer skirt combination Simple style: Eva's printed black blouse and generously cut skirt proved to be surprisingly low key on a night dedicated to bold style statements The actress had good company on the night in the form of Elizabeth Hurley, whose own choice of outfit guaranteed she was not overshadowed. Opting for a classically styled sleeveless black gown by Marchesa, with a daring thigh thigh split, the seemingly ageless 51-year old looked stunning as she posed for photos before making her way inside. A bold statement necklace gave the look a striking focal point, while its tastefully fitted upper-half drew attention to Elizabeth's undeniably toned physique. Striking: Actress and dancer Monica Cruz, the younger sister of international star Penelope Cruz, dazzled in a glittering sequinned gown In attendance: Models Ines Sastre (L), Mar Saura (C) and Eugenia Silva (R) made a memorable entrance at the Spanish event Pretty in purple: Laura Sanchez oozed glamour in a plunging plum coloured gown with a black sash Red carpet glamour: Spanish sports journalist Sara Carbonero (L) model and actress Ines Sastre (C) and model Lulu (R) were all in attendance on Wednesday evening A sparking clutch and simple strappy heels completed the look, while a simple approach to make-up and hair ensured her wardrobe was not overshadowed. Elsewhere American socialite Olivia Palermo, 30, kept it simple by opting for subtle colour tones in the form of a white blacker jacket and sheer black shirt combination. A T-shirt bearing the single word 'REVOLUTION' gave the look a casual twist, while a tightly wound necktie and simple earrings proved to be the only visible accessories. Sheer delight: Spanish model Ariadne Artiles looked stunning in a heavily embellished see through dress Glitz and glamour: Ana Albadalejo, Aida Domenech, Judit Masco and Dalianah Arekion had all eyes on them Three's company: (L-R) Cosima Ramirez, Designer Modesto Lomba and Maite de la Iglesia wowed at the party Leggy ladies! Belen Rueda, Alba Carrillo, Cristina Castano and Marta Espa all opted for a thigh high split With her hair held in a tightly braided top knot, Olivia was a typically stylish sight as she rubbed shoulders with her fellow guests at the Spanish event. Other guests on the night included Czech model Eva Herzigova, 43, whose printed black blouse and generously cut skirt proved to be surprisingly low key on a night dedicated to bold style statements. Elsewhere Spanish model and actress Monica Cruz, 39, the younger sister of celebrated international star Penelope Cruz, caught the eye in a dazzling, off the shoulder sequinned gown. Local stars to attend the exclusive event included models Ines Sastre, Mar Saura, Eugenia Silva, and stunning actress Eva Gonzalez. Alright in white: Spanish actress Eva Gonzalez put on a stylish display in sequinned trousers and a flowing, floor-length top He is currently globe-trotting his way around the promo trail for new Marvel movie Doctor Strange. But it's an entirely different Benedict Cumberbatch project which sent fans wild on Wednesday night. As the handsome star - who announced last week that he was expecting a second child with wife Sophie Hunter - hit Berlin to promote his latest big screen outing, it was his TV stint as Sherlock which put social media in a frenzy. Scroll down for video Popular man: Benedict Cumberbatch hit the red carpet in Berlin on Wednesday night to promote his new Marvel movie Doctor Strange Just minutes after the BBC's final episode of Great British Bake Off aired, a teaser trailer for the fourth series of the crime hit aired. Back in Germany, however, Benedict looked dapper as ever in a Giorgio Armani Made to Measure velvet jacket as he hit the red carpet alongside co-star Tilda Swinton. The Oscar winning actress looked as ecclectic as ever, opting for a pale blue silk long jacket worn with cream trousers and killer stilettos. The pair appeared in high spirits despite the tiring stint on the promo trail, with Tilda laughing hysterically and waving at fans. Dynamic duo: Benedict looked dapper as ever in a Giorgio Armani Made to Measure velvet jacket as he hit the red carpet alongside co-star Tilda Swinton Fun times: The pair appeared in high spirits despite the tiring stint on the promo trail, with Tilda laughing hysterically and waving at fans Busy: The pair have already been to Hong Kong, LA and London for events to promote the film Silking it: Tilda looked as flamboyantly fabulous as ever in a long pale blue silk jacket with cream trousers and killer shoes Meanwhile, Benedict - who donned a custom made Giorgio Armani suit for the cinematic event - had plenty to smile about - as well as being 'joyous' over the news he's set to be a dad of two, the actor's return to Baker Street as wowed his fans. The short teaser sparked a barrage of comments on Twitter on Wednesday night, with viewers being warned that everything they know will be 'tested' when the detective returns to screens on January 1 2017. The teaser, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as the contemporary adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, gave glimpses of upcoming scenes with the mysterious lines: 'Everything they know will be tested...Everyone they know is under threat.' Hitmaker: As well as on the big screen, Benedict was making waves on TV as a teaser trailer for the fourth series of his huge hit Sherlock aired on BBC1 Frenzy: Fans went wild at the short clip, which warned viewers that everything they know would be 'tested' The British star, 40, revealed this week that there could be a longer gap than normal between installments after the forthcoming episodes. He said on Tuesday: 'I think there will be a lull. I don't think it will be in a year and a half necessarily but we will wait and see and maybe it will be. 'First and foremost we have got a fourth series for people to watch and understand and when they watch it they might go 'Oh yeah, maybe there does need to be a break now' because of what happens in it. No spoilers!' It was recently revealed model Jessica Gomes has been secretly dating fellow Australian in Hollywood, Xavier Samuel. Now, back Down Under for the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne, the brunette beauty has spoken for the first time about her budding romance with the Twilight actor. Ahead of her David Jones ambassadorial duties at the social event of the year, the 32-year-old told Thursday's The Daily Telegraph: 'I am very happy in my life at the moment, very happy'. Scroll down for video 'Very happy': Jessica Gomes has spoken for the first time about her budding romance with Twilight actor, Xavier Samuel, admitting she's 'very happy' in her life at the moment Her comments confirm the pair's coupling, which was first reported earlier this month, after photos of the duo kissing in Los Angeles surfaced. The Perth-born beauty and the Victorian hunk are believed to have been set up by a mutual friend. They were first spotted out together among Jessica's stylish friends as they celebrated her birthday last month but the full extent of their relationship was not known at the time. Notoriously private Xavier, 32, who doesn't use social media, recently spoke to Daily Mail Australia about his love life. Confirmed: Her comments confirm the pair's coupling, which was first reported earlier this month, after photos of the duo kissing in Los Angeles surfaced Dating: The Perth-born beauty and the Victorian hunk (pictured) are believed to have been set up by a mutual friend Celebrating: The pair were first spotted out together at the David Jones model's birthday dinner last month but the full extent of their relationship was not known at the time 'I am single, but I don't often talk about my private life,' he said ahead of a Q&A session for his new film Love And Friendship. And while he didn't spill much else on the topic, the Victorian-born star said he was open to the idea of dating an older woman. Asked how he feels about dating someone older, he answered: 'Only in the movies... but not that I have any aversions to the idea. 'It's just not really happened for me... But you never know what the future holds... Love knows no boundaries.' Xavier has previously dated Pretty Little Liars star and fellow Australian Phoebe Tonkin, as well as German model Shermine Shahrivar. She has hit the big time after landing a role in the all-female Ocean's Eleven spinoff. But Mindy Kaling still had time to stop and sign autographs for her fans as she jetted out of California on Wednesday. The comedienne looked in good cheer as she doled out signatures while preparing to head for her flight at the busy Los Angeles International Airport. Scroll down for video Signing off: Mindy Kaling gave out autographs as she got ready to jet out of LA on Wednesday The 37-year-old Mindy Project beauty looked in fine form for her age in a black leather jacket, ripped jeans and trainers. Filming started in New York on Monday for the starlet's latest project, Ocean's Eight. The film is a spinoff of the successful gangster heist Ocean's Eleven series of films, but this time with an all-female cast. A stellar cast of stars have been drafted, including Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Helena Bonham Carter. Shady lady: She underlined her new-found movie star status by wearing trendy sunglasses Here's your pen pal: She was kind enough to give her fan his marker back before heading off They followed Oscar-winners Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett, who were the first big names to be announced. The George Clooney-led original trilogy, itself a reboot of the Frank Sinatra movie of the same name, grossed $1.12 billion worldwide. The Warner Bros film is being directed by Gary Ross and is produced by Oceans Eleven director Steven Soderbergh. The original 1960 hit featured Old Blue Eyes as suave conman Danny Ocean alongside Rat Pack sidekicks Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. Hell bent for leather: The wealthy comedienne was wearing a trendy cowskin jacket Mindy Project fulfilled: The fan looked overjoyed to have got his heroine's signature She graced the Victoria's Secret fashion show runway in 2011, 2012 and 2014 and 2015. But it looks like Shanina Shaik won't be making a triumphant return to to the lingerie label's lineup during this year's show. Meanwhile fellow Australian models Kelly Gale and Bridget Malcolm have confirmed they will will be hitting the runway, by sharing their exciting news on social media on Wednesday. Scroll down for video No return? It looks like Shanina Shaik won't be making a triumphant return to the Victoria's Secret Runway Show to be held in Paris this year Taking to Instagram, 25-year-old Shanina shared a photo of herself backstage at last year's show, and took the opportunity to congratulate model pal Jas Tookes, who will be wearing the 'Fantasy Bra' this year. 'Congrats my bestie @jastookes You made me tear up watching your surprise video #VSfantasybra #dreamscometrue (sic),' she captioned the image. However Shanina failed to make any reference regarding herself returning to the runway show. Catwalk stunners: Meanwhile fellow Australian models Kelly Gale and Bridget Malcolm have confirmed they will will be hitting the runway in the French capital Her mother Kim also shared a cryptic message on Instagram, reading: '@shaninamshaik never allow one door closed to discourage you to step outside and seek other opportunities ahead. 'Never allow people to make you feel less cause you're far from less, you're amazing! 'I'm forever proud of the person you are and how far you've come....I'm always right beside you to guide and support you, to achieve what ever goals you wish to pursue #alwaysgotyourback#alwaysawinnerinmyeyes'. Encouraging: Shanina's mother all but confirmed the news, sharing this message to her daughter on social media Shanina was the fifth Australian stunner to appear for the luxe lingerie line when she first made her appearance in 2011. Other local stunners who have hit the runway include Miranda Kerr, Jessica Hart, Elyse Taylor, Abbey Lee Kershaw and Sarah Stephens. The following year Shanina appeared in print campaigns for the company, sporting some seriously sultry bras and briefs from the latest collection and also hit the catwalk again for the runway show. In 2014 she made an appearance on the catwalk at the brand's annual fashion show, and did so once again last year, while sporting sophisticated butterfly wings. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Shanina's representatives for comment. Excited: Bridget shared this snap of her and Kelly on Instagram, along with a message confirming the pair will be walking the runway Stoked: The pair pictured earlier this week after attending the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show call backs in New York Meanwhile this will be the second time that Australian model Bridget Malcolm walks the catwalk at the show. On Wednesday the 24-year-old shared a snap of her and model Kelly Gale on Instagram, alongside the caption: 'When you're shaking so much post @victoriassecret show casting but luckily the only photo in focus is cute AF... so excited to be sharing this adventure with one of my favorite people!! @kellybellyboom next stop Paris #vsfsparis (sic)'. Kelly, 21, also expressed her excitement. Runway sensation: Kelly pictured on the Victoria's Secret catwalk in November 2013 Social media post: The 21-year-old was gracious for the opportunity She shared a solo snap of herself on the Victoria's Secret runway last year, along with the caption: 'Paris Baby- I'm coming for you! Aaaaaaah a dream come true once again, It's such an incredible feeling to be able to tell you guys that I am back For my third VSFS this year. 'Thank you @victoriassecret @ed_razek @johndavidpfeiffer @10magazine and Monica Mitro for giving me this opportunity and for believing in me! And thank you, all 474 000 of you, for your endless support! This is going to be legendary, I can't wait!!! #VSFS16 #victoriassecret #croissants (sic).' The 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will be held in Paris on December 5. Cushman & Wakefield announced on Thursday that the firm brokered the sale of the Springs at Chattanooga apartment community to PointOne Holdings for $31 million. PointOne will rebrand the complex as Hunters Point upon the acquisition. Cushman & Wakefield Executive Managing Directors Jimmy Adams and Tyler Averitt joined with Vice Chair Marc Robinson to represent the seller. The Springs at Chattanooga community, encompassing more than 15 acres within one mile of the citys principal core, was built in 2015 and includes 260 units. Springs at Chattanooga, newly named Hunters Point, has a unique design with ground-floor entry for all units and two-story buildings, Mr. Adams said. Like other recently delivered deals in Northeast Chattanooga, this asset leased up very quickly. The buyer, PointOne Holdings, was able to obtain almost 80 percent leverage with Freddie Mac, despite recently stabilized occupancy and collections, and they have planned an amenity upgrade campaign. Modest to a fault, Hugh Laurie said he felt incredibly lucky when he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame this week. Stephen Fry, however, was characteristically gushing as he attended the event, happily basking in his close friends glory. While he may not be the first wise and kind star to be set in a paving slab in old Hollywood, I venture to suggest no star was ever wiser or kinder. I can say like Doctor Watson of his friend Holmes, the kindest and wisest friend I ever knew, said Fry. The friends famously started performing together as students at Cambridge before launching themselves as a TV double act that could take on anything from comedy sketches to the greatest creations of P.G. Wodehouse. But while theyve remained close their careers have diverged drastically. Laurie, 57, is a household name in America thanks to his award-winning role in medical drama House and is currently promoting his latest TV series. As for Fry, 59, he has deserted Britain, where he has polarised opinion like no other celebrity, to have what might be his last crack at breaking Hollywood and getting his own name on that famous pavement. Hugh Laurie honored with star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, pictured with his old Cambridge friend Stephen Fry, with whom he started his career The friends (pictured in 1990) famously started performing together as students at Cambridge before launching themselves as a TV double act that could take on anything from comedy sketches to the greatest creations of P.G. Wodehouse SCHOOLDAYS FRY: The son of a physicist and inventor, Fry had a troubled adolescence. He was expelled from two private schools, one of them Uppingham, where he committed a series of misdemeanours which culminated in bunking off to London where he binge-watched X-rated films in a cinema. While studying for his A-levels, he spent three months behind bars on remand after stealing a family friends credit card. LAURIE: Born to strict Scottish Presbyterian parents. Lauries father, an Oxford GP, was an Olympic rowing gold medallist and, at Eton, son Hugh followed family traditions. CAMBRIDGE FRY: Winning a scholarship to Queens College, he showed off his intellect on the TV quiz show University Challenge. He joined the universitys drama society, Cambridge Footlights, where he was introduced to Laurie by Emma Thompson, Lauries then girlfriend. Their TV career kicked off in 1982 when the Footlights review won the inaugural Perrier comedy award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was later broadcast on TV. LAURIE: He rowed for Cambridge and was tipped for the British Olympic squad before illness forced him to turn to acting instead. Thompson described him as lugubriously sexy but, even in Footlights, he was playing second fiddle to Fry. THE COMEDY DUO FRY: His first BBC comedy series with Laurie and Thompson, a 1983 spoof science programme called The Crystal Cube, was scrapped after one episode. But the Beeb gave the men a second chance with A Bit Of Fry & Laurie, a popular sketch show that ran between 1986 and 1995. The same period saw Fry star in the long-running BBC comedy Blackadder, in which Laurie also appeared. They reunited in Jeeves And Wooster on ITV, between 1990 and 1993. This was Frys TV golden age but for Laurie the best was still to come. LAURIE: Typecast as the amiable but twittish toff to Frys more knowing characters, Laurie was far more anxious than Fry to break into serious roles. In 1985, he starred in ITVs Letters From A Bomber Pilot, a dramatisation of the letters home of an RAF pilot killed in action in 1943. Laurie and Fry as Jeeves and Wooster on ITV in 1990 SEPARATE WAYS FRY: In 1995, Frys career took a nosedive when he walked out on West End play Cell Mates (about the spy George Blake), secretly fleeing to Belgium. He blamed stage fright but sceptics claimed he had bailed out in a fit of pique after poor reviews. Without him, the play folded. Fry later said that he had been so depressed he had considered killing himself. Next, he played a small-town solicitor in the ITV Sunday night drama series Kingdom, where he was criticised for playing Stephen Fry. But the BBC clasped the reliably Left-wing Fry to its bosom, commissioning him to make an endless string of factual shows on both TV and radio. On television, they included a series about manic depression (from which he suffers), another about homosexuality and a six-part travel series about the U.S. In 2007, the BBC even made a TV programme to celebrate Frys 50th birthday. This February, he stepped down from hosting QI, the comedy panel quiz show, after 13 years. Laurie became an international star with US medical drama House, in which he takes the starring role LAURIE: In the same year as Fry went AWOL from the West End, Laurie was burnishing his credentials as a serious actor in Sense And Sensibility, the acclaimed adaptation of Jane Austens novel starring Emma Thompson. In 2004, Laurie got the acting job that would change his life in House, a new U.S. drama series. The main role of Dr Gregory House was written for an American, but Laurie had just the right British cynicism to play a misanthropic medic. And his U.S. accent was so convincing that the director of the pilot episode praised this obscure American actor. The show which ran from 2004 to 2012 became a huge hit, earning Laurie two Golden Globes and, by the end, an eye-watering $700,000 (483,000) an episode. HOLLYWOOD FRY; Has been dipping his toe into Hollywood since the mid-Eighties without scoring a break-out role. He came closest playing Oscar Wilde in the 1997 film Wilde, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe. Otherwise he tends to be cast as conceited, oleaginous characters. He was the voice of the Cheshire Cat in Tim Burtons Alice In Wonderland and the weaselly Master of Laketown in Peter Jacksons film adaptation of The Hobbit. In 2013, he made a pilot episode of a TV comedy, SuperClyde, about an aspiring superhero. CBS dropped it after a single episode, but announced last year it would give it a second try without Fry. LAURIE: His film roles have shown a versatility that is somewhat lacking from his best friends, including action flick The Man In The Iron Mask, Disneys live-action version of 101 Dalmatians, sci-fi fantasy Tomorrowland and the comedy Maybe Baby. His biggest movie success was playing Frederick Little, the father of the mouse hero of the Stuart Little films. His accolade on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame comes five years after Guinness World Records listed Laurie as the most watched lead man on television. Back in the UK, his portrayal of villainous arms dealer Richard Roper in the gripping BBC thriller The Night Manager in March was yet another triumph. Laurie and Fry in one of their first BBC ventures, A Little Bit Of Fry and Laurie HOME FRONT FRY: After struggling to hide his homosexuality at school, he claimed he spent his adult life from 1979 to 1995 celibate. But he was saved from depression and his celibacy by Daniel Cohen, a make-up salesman 12 years younger than him. They lived together for 15 years until Fry, then 52, dumped him for a 26-year-old actor, Steven Webb. Within three years, Fry had moved on from Webb as well. He married Elliot Spencer, 30 years his junior, at a secret ceremony in Norfolk in January 2015, after they met at a house party. On their first anniversary, Fry gushed on Twitter that he was still deliriously happy! As long as Ive got my hair dryer with me, we dont argue, Spencer, 28, says of life with a man the same age as his father. Fry hosted multiple series of QI (pictured), a comedy quiz show that asks questions about myths that most people take to be true LAURIE: Married his girlfriend Jo Green, a theatre administrator, in 1989 and they have three children: Bill, Rebecca and Charlie. In 1997, they survived revelations of Lauries affair with film director Audrey Cooke on the set of childrens adventure film The Place Of Lions and remain together, sharing the family home in Belsize Park, North London. Due to his work, Laurie spends most of his time at his Los Angeles home while his wife and children remain in the UK. He, too, has suffered from depression I get anxious about everything although, unlike Fry, he is reluctant to talk about it. Laurie has acknowledged how tactless it is for a millionaire celebrity to be complaining about his lot. VICES FRY: In 2014, in his autobiography, More Fool Me, Fry boasted of the unlikely places where he had taken cocaine, including Buckingham Palace, the House of Commons and Windsor Castle. After first taking the Class A drug in 1986, he wasted tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds, and as many hours snorting it. LAURIE: The raciest revelation has been that he admitted experimenting with Vicodin, a painkiller for the purposes of research, as his character on House took it for leg pain. IN THE LIMELIGHT FRY: For all his griping about media intrusion, Fry revels in public attention, keeping himself in the headlines with sensational revelations about his private life and by sounding off about the latest bien pensant cause. In 2008, he opposed celebrating Israels 60th birthday. The following year, he was widely condemned for comparing Polish conservatives to the Nazis after the former announced an alliance with the Tories. Attacking Polands history of Right-wing Catholicism, Fry called it deeply disturbing for those of us who . . . remember which side of the border Auschwitz was on (the concentration camp was built by the Nazis in occupied Poland). He later issued a grovelling apology. He has a history of deeply distasteful misogynistic remarks, announcing that women dont really like sex, for if they did, they would go to Hampstead Heath and meet strangers to shag behind a bush. The pair in Alfresco, a sketch show starring Ben Elton, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson and Siobhan Redmond. Hosting the Bafta awards this February, he kept up his tradition of lewd remarks, leching over Eddie Redmayne as a trangender woman in the film The Danish Girl. He has been a man trapped in his own body, a woman trapped in a mans body and, if I had my way, a man trapped in my basement, he said. The same ceremony saw him flounce off Twitter (for the third time) after Fry called acclaimed costume designer Jenny Beavan a bag lady. As Twitter exploded in fury, Fry responded: Will all you sanctimonious f****** f*** the f*** off. A few months later, Fry launched an extraordinary attack on victims of sexual abuse, telling them to grow up because self-pity is the ugliest emotion in humanity. This from a man who has wallowed in self-pity throughout his life. Amid the subsequent outcry, the mental health charity Mind, of which Fry is president, said it would be speaking to him to discuss its supporters concerns. LAURIE: Like Fry, Lauries a long-time Labour supporter, but he is infinitely more reluctant to foist his views on others. If Frys public utterances have long amounted to what one critic called an orgy of self-pity and weird words plucked from the pages of obscure novels, Laurie is almost painfully reticent. He has cited the Scottish Presbyterian values he inherited from his parents, who taught him to despise boastfulness and feel guilty about success. When House turned him into a sex symbol, Laurie dismissed this new image as pish and tosh. WHAT NEXT? FRY; Together with his young husband, he has bought a $1.8 million home in the Hollywood Hills, a base for another attempt at U.S. television success. He has a part in a CBS comedy series, The Great Indoors, playing the founder of a travel magazine. He also plays a character called Cuddly Dick, described as a mysterious elder, in the latest season of Skys surreal fantasy comedy Yonderland. The Missing Rating: Grand Designs Rating: Julien Baptiste played by Tcheky Karyo Television has never forced viewers to think so hard. We used to call it the idiot box, but these days you need a masters degree in sudoku to unravel the complexities of some primetime dramas. Westworld, the sci-fi cowboy thriller based on a Michael Crichton movie, currently showing on the American cable network HBO and, in Britain, on Sky Atlantic, is confusing enough to melt the brain circuits of the average android. Set in a theme park where visitors can enjoy shoot-outs with robot gunslingers before boozing the night away with electric goodtime girls in the saloon, the story is both thrilling and incomprehensible. The robots flicker in and out of dream states, the scientists have the power to suspend time, every day begins with the same script, and the whole vast mechanism is apparently controlled by a hole-punched paper roll in an automatic player-piano. Anthony Hopkins is impishly mesmeric as the mad inventor whose only friends are the oldest androids, his first experiments in creating life. It is already HBOs biggest hit since True Detective nearly three years ago, and execs hope its viewing figures will soon rival their blockbuster, Game Of Thrones. To achieve that, Westworld will have to start making more sense, at least by the end of the first series. Fans love to be bamboozled at first, but they also want to know that eventually the puzzles will be resolved and the mysteries will unravel. The Missing (BBC1) has reached that point, where baffling details suddenly make sense as they are seen from new angles. This gut-wrenching drama about the reappearance of a young woman, a decade after she was taken prisoner by a sexual predator, has teased us long enough as it zigzags between 2014 and today, dropping cryptic clues. By the end of the episode, we knew how the girls father, Sam (David Morrissey), got those disfiguring burns though we still dont understand why hes having a loveless affair with military detective Eve (Laura Fraser) or what became of her baby. Julien Baptiste and Stefan Andersson, played by Olafur Darri Olafsson, encountering a soldier in the BBC 1 drama We discovered why Sams wife Gemma (Keeley Hawes) is obsessed with photos of people riding a rollercoaster. But we dont yet know exactly what French detective Julien Baptiste (Tcheky Karyo) hopes to learn from a young soldier in an Iraqi warzone, or why he believes the mans father was murdered. The jigsaw is coming together, with plenty of puzzling gaps yet to be worked out. How fast you fill them in depends on whether youre truly paying attention it took a sharp eye, for instance, to spot that the campervan abandoned on the outskirts of a Swiss town had flecks of yellow beneath its dull red paint-job. And if you dont know why the yellow is significant, you might need to watch the first episode again. I had to. Presenter Kevin McCloud visited Pembrokeshire to see a stunning home set into the hillside The house was very reminiscent of The Hobbit, with floors made of packed earth polished with beeswax The whole effect, as the various plotlines overlap and diverge, is like watching multiple screens simultaneously. At least a dozen questions are unanswered. Who were the vigilante thugs in animal masks? Is Roger Allams bluff brigadier really going senile? The Missing has been making our heads spin. Now it is beginning to deliver on its promise that, by the end, we will understand everything. But well have to concentrate. Patience was rewarded in Wales, too, as the series of Grand Designs (C4) ended with a spectacular house a hobbit mansion dug into a Pembrokeshire hillside, built from straw bales, wool and wood. The floors were made of packed earth, made shiny with linseed oil and beeswax. The insulation was polystyrene packaging, smashed up into granules. All the timber was grown on the site, and the roof was layered in turf. Even with the aid of hundreds of part-time volunteers (who were paid in meals of home-grown vegetables), it took parents Simon and Jasmine years to build. Well finish it, Simon promised his ten-year-old daughter, before you leave home. Four years after they first started digging into the hill, the couple still dont have a bedroom just an open floor with spectacular views. Season five is almost upon us. And some of the cast of Vanderpump Rules were in a celebratory mood on Tuesday night as they gathered at SUR restaurant in West Hollywood for a costume party. A handful of the Bravo stars, including Scheana and Michael Shay, got dressed up to host Freixenet's 1st Annual Black Magic Halloween with restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump. Vanderpump Rules stars Lisa Venderpump and Scheana Shay hosted the Freixenet's 1st Annual Black Magic Halloween on Tuesday Getting down: Scheana put on a raunchy display at the bash with her husband of two years, who appeared to forgo the fancy dress theme Scheana, 31, stood out from the crowd as JEM in a metallic pink leotard and silver velvet boots along with matching sequinned jacket. The reality star was almost unrecognizable in a neon pink wig which fell in waves around her shoulders. Scheana put on a raunchy display on the dance floor with her husband of two years, who appeared to forgo the fancy dress theme. What a workout! Mike appeared to have worked up a sweat as he took a breather while Scheana showed off her moves Bringing back the 80s! The 31-year-old star dressed as JEM in a metallic pink leotard and velvet knee-high boots Taking the mic: Scheana was joined by pals as she entertained the crowd with some singing Also at the bash was Tom Sandoval, dressed as a vampire and girlfriend Adriana Madix as a very convincing ice queen with full face makeup. Lisa, 56, who owns the venue along with other West Hollywood restaurants Pump and Villa Blanca. Vanderpump Rules follows the lives of several servers at SUR under the watchful eye of boss Lisa. Going all out: Tom Sandoval and girlfriend Ariana Madix came as a very convincing vampire and ice queen The whole family: Of course it wouldn't be a SUR party without Lisa, her husband Ken and their adorable pooches The couple that parties together: Scheana and Mike married in 2014 and the wedding was documented on season three of the Bravo show The new season of the hit show will see Katie Malone and Tom Schwartz tie the knot after getting engaged during series four. Jax Taylor's girlfriend Brittany Cartwright will be starting work at the restaurant after moving from Kentucky to live with the reformed ladies man. No doubt Lala Kent and James Kennedy will be back to stir up more drama. Vanderpump Rules returns on November 7. Reality stars: The cast will be back on screen for season five of Vanderpump Rules when it premieres on November 7 They're one of the golden couples in Hollywood who this year celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. And Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have put recent split rumours to rest, by putting on a united front in celebration of Keith's 49th birthday. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, country musician Keith shared a photo of the married couple, alongside the caption: 'Best birthday EVER!!! Love u baby xxxxxxx (sic)'. Scroll down for video Celebrations: Nicole Kidman cuddled up to Keith Urban while celebrating his 49th birthday in this Instagram snap uploaded by the country musician on Wednesday He continued in his post: 'And to ALL the fans, friends and loved ones for gorgeous birthday wishes, prayers, videos, and songs (yep, people actually sang ME happy birthday...) I say THANK YOU and I love you all. I feel incredibly blessed. - KU (sic)'. In the sweet snap, the pair cosied up to each other, with Nicole wrapping her arms around her man. The 49-year-old actress, who appeared to be makeup free for the occasion, sported a black and white long-sleeved blouse. Sweet treat: Keith also shared a photo of a chocolate birthday cake on his Twitter account, with the iced message on the top reading: 'Happy Birthday Big Cat Daddy' Out and about: The couple pictured just a few days earlier at the InStyle Awards in LA Keith also shared a photo of a chocolate birthday cake on his Twitter account, with the iced message on the top reading: 'Happy Birthday Big Cat Daddy'. The lovely social media post comes after the couple stepped out at the LOS InStyle Awards in Los Angeles on Monday. Earlier this month Woman's Day magazine reported friends close to the couple thought they're heading for a split. What split? Earlier this month Woman's Day magazine reported friends close to the couple thought they're heading for a split A source told the publication: 'You have to wonder if there are fresh problems in their marriage, especially as they always make a big noise about how they hate spending time apart.' The insider added: 'There have been plenty of opportunities for them to be together lately and they certainly haven't been rushing into each other's arms.' The Nashville-based couple share two young daughters together, Sunday Rose, eight, and Faith, five. Court order: Lena Headey has been told to return her son to LA after signing him up at an English school She plays controlling mother Cersei Lannister in Game Of Thrones. But actress Lena Headey has been ordered by a custody judge to return to the US with her son after she enrolled him a school in her native England without her ex-husband's permission. Her former spouse Peter Loughran attended court in the city on Wednesday to complain the star violated their 2013 custody agreement by signing their six-year-old boy Wylie at an educational institution in Yorkshire. According to TMZ she had been hoping to keep their son in England permanently as she feels American schools are inferior to their British counterparts. However the 43-year-old's Irish ex is supposed to see their boy 10 days per month under their custody agreement. She has however been allowed to keep him in her native country until filming on the hit HBO show is completed bringing him home to the States. She was supposed to return with him on September 5. Until then she has been ordered to foot the bill for her musician former spouse's travel expenses. The former couple tied the knot in 2007 before separating in 2011 and divorcing in 2013. Free Wylie: Her ex-husband Peter Loughran, here with Lena in LA back in May, attended court to request she return with their boy Lena, who last year welcomed a daughter named Teddy, has endured a contentious split with her former husband. The tattooed beauty, citing her ex's past driving issues, asked the court to make him download an app that would prohibit him from texting while driving (which she agreed to download as well). The Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles star also brought to the court's attention his social media posts showing him posing with an AK-47 in a successful petition from keeping him from taking the boy on a holiday trip to his native Ireland. Split: The English beauty married the Irish musician in 2007 but they divorced six years later Jennifer Meyer looked ready to mingle on Wednesday at a fashion event in Los Angeles. The newly single jewelry designer rocked a little black dress for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund party. Jennifer, 39, completed her ensemble with open-toed tan heels. Newly single: Jennifer Meyer kept it classy in a little black dress on Wednesday at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund party in Los Angeles She accessorised with several bracelets and a blue heart-shaped pendant necklace. Jennifer had her long brown locks down straight around her shoulders. The mother of two let her natural beauty shine with just a hint of makeup. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was established in 2003 as an annual competition to cultivate the next generation of American designers. Jewelry designer: The mother of two was supporting the annual competition to cultivate the next generation of American designers Winners receive a monetary prize and business mentoring. The Council Of Fashion Designers of America is a nonprofit association representing more than 500 American designers of clothes, jewelry and accessories. The annual event also drew January Jones, Nikki Reed, Amber Valletta and Jourdan Dunn. Happier times: Jennifer is shown with estranged husband Tobey Maguire in February in Los Angeles It was announced earlier this month that Jennifer and actor Tobey Maguire, 41, had split after nine years of marriage. Tobey and Jennifer got engaged in April 2006 and married in September 2007. They share nine-year-old daughter Ruby and seven-year-old son Otis together. Lupita Nyong'o wore yet another vibrantly-patterned creation while attending the Manhattan premiere of Loving on Wednesday. Stylist Micaela Erlanger dressed the 32-year-old Oscar winner in a Kenzo for H&M off-the-shoulder, floral flounce frock. As usual, the Jungle Book actress looked luminous with blue eyelids and glossy lips with her natural hair coiffed in a plaited updo. Scroll down for video Rosy: Lupita Nyong'o wore yet another vibrantly-patterned creation while attending the Manhattan premiere of Loving on Wednesday Duro Olowu design? Stylist Micaela Erlanger dressed the 32-year-old Oscar winner in a Kenzo for H&M off-the-shoulder, floral flounce frock Glowing: As usual, the Jungle Book actress looked luminous with blue eyelids and glossy lips with her natural hair coiffed in a plaited updo Two nights earlier, Lupita got emotional discussing how she went from intern to star with her Queen of Katwe director Mira Nair. 'This is what I do best by the way, cry,' Nyong'o joked (according to LA Times) while accepting her ELLE Women in Hollywood Award in Los Angeles. The Mexican-born, Kenyan-raised beauty currently plays Harriet, the mother of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) in Queen of Katwe. Disney's critically-acclaimed biopic has only earned $8.1M back from its $15M budget since opening last month. At the podium: Two nights earlier, Lupita got emotional discussing how she went from intern to star with her mentor and Queen of Katwe director, Mira Nair While accepting her ELLE Women in Hollywood Award, Nyong'o joked: 'This is what I do best by the way, cry' Already in UK/US theaters! The Mexican-born, Kenyan-raised beauty currently plays Harriet, the mother of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) in Queen of Katwe Also at the Landmark Sunshine Theater was Loving filmmaker Jeff Nichols posing with his leading man and lady, Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga. The Australian 42-year-old and the half-Ethiopian, half-Irish 34-year-old play real-life couple Richard and Mildred Loving in the Supreme Court film about interracial marriage. Ruth - best known for her roles in AMC's Preacher and Warcraft - dressed her petite 5ft3in frame in a bizarre, black asymmetric cocktail creation. Loving it! Also at the Landmark Sunshine Theater was Loving filmmaker Jeff Nichols (R) posing with his leading man and lady, Joel Edgerton (L) and Ruth Negga (M) Oscar bait: The Australian 42-year-old and the half-Ethiopian, half-Irish 34-year-old play real-life couple Richard and Mildred Loving in the Supreme Court film about interracial marriage Yikes: Ruth - best known for her roles in AMC's Preacher and Warcraft - dressed her petite 5ft3in frame in a bizarre, black asymmetric cocktail creation They were joined on the red carpet by Nick Kroll - who plays Bernie Cohen - in a chocolate suit, and associate producer Oge Egbuonu in a clingy pink mini-dress. Underground's Alano Miller - who plays Raymond Green - suited up in all-black alongside his actress wife of seven years, DeWanda Wise. The critically-acclaimed historical drama, also featuring Michael Shannon, finally hits US theaters November 4 and UK theaters February 3. Cast and crew: They were joined on the red carpet by Nick Kroll - who plays Bernie Cohen - in a chocolate suit, and associate producer Oge Egbuonu in a clingy pink mini-dress Couple: Underground's Alano Miller (R) - who plays Raymond Green - suited up in all-black alongside his actress wife of seven years, DeWanda Wise (L) Their tit-for-tat rivalry played out on The Bachelorette as Rhys Chilton butted heads with fellow model Sam Johnston. And Rhys seems to have raised the stakes by uploading a nude photo of himself straddling a stool- just like Sam did in his famous 'furniture' photo-shoot. Oiled up and wearing nothing but a stern expression, the muscle-bound reality star's photo made sure to imitate Sam down to the last detail. Break the internet! Rhys Chilton stripped down, oiled up and straddled a stool for the sake of humour this Thursday when he uploaded a very racy photo that mimicked Bachelorette rival Sam Johnston's famous snap Rhys made sure to wrap his legs around the stainless steel leg of the chair, while keeping a firm grip on it's curved back. The masterful photographer behind the side-splitting image, Brisbane-based artist Joel Devereux, also managed to capture the same green-hued tone and lighting style present in Sam's photo. In the caption, he joked: 'So I just got my new stools delivered from @freedom_australia but I've no idea how to use them... is this right @samuelrjohnston? The amazing @devereuxxo (who enjoyed oiling me up waaay too much). Double take! The masterful photographer behind the side-splitting image, Brisbane-based artist Joel Devereux , also managed to capture the same green-hued tone and lighting style present in Sam's photo A model troller? 'I would definitely not consider myself a fine a** model,'he joked, adding: 'I would consider myself an ultimate troller' Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Rhys explained that he shot the copycat photograph as a memento to Sam, who is signed to prestigious agency Chadwick models. 'I feel Sam copped some flack from the media and the audience in general when he was just doing his job, being a fine a** model!' Rhys explained. 'I would definitely not consider myself a fine a** model,'he joked, adding: 'I would consider myself an ultimate troller.' Tongue-in-cheek: When quizzed about his current relationship with his on-screen rival Sam, the hunky entrepreneur assured fans: 'Clearly its full of banter, but isn't that what friendships are built on?' What will he do next? Earlier this week, Rhys took a cheeky swipe at Megan Marx and Tiffany Scanlon, of Bachelor fame, by mimicking a recent bedroom photo depicting the girls playfully wrestling in their lingerie When quizzed about his current relationship with his on-screen rival Sam, the hunky entrepreneur assured fans: 'Clearly its full of banter, but isn't that what friendships are built on?' It's not the first time the self-described 'ultimate smarta**' has poked fun at fellow reality stars by mimicking their social media posts. Earlier this week, Rhys took a cheeky swipe at The Bachelor's Megan Marx and Tiffany Scanlon, who recently began dating, by mimicking a recent bedroom photo depicting the girls playfully wrestling in their lingerie. In Rhys' homage, which was shared to his Instagram page, he and fellow Bachelorette hunk Tommy Saggus are seen posing in nothing but underpants as they perform the same gravity defying wrestling move as seen in Megan and Tiffany's photo. He subsequently uploaded another Instagram snap, this time mimicking another one of Megan and Tiffany's bed-bound lingerie snaps. They're the stunning models who are ready to put their best fashion foot forward track-side at this year's Melbourne Cup Carnival. An Myer ambassadors Rachael Finch and Jodi Anasta launched the Myer Marquee at Flemington's Birdcage enclosure on Thursday. Dressed in elegant figure-hugging designs, the pair posed together against a pastel pink wall with floral accents in Melbourne. Scroll down for video Stunning! Pregnant Rachael Finch showed off her baby bump as she and fellow Myer ambassador Jodi Anasta launched the Myer Marquee at Flemington's Birdcage enclosure on Thursday Jodi, 31, and Rachael, 28, appeared excited to join forces to launch the marquee. Now in her third trimester, the former Miss Universe Australia cradled her baby bump as she showed off her figure in a loose-fitted floral long-sleeve design by White Suede. She was positively glowing with flawlessly applied makeup and a rose gold headband drawing back her hair from her face. Baby on board: Now in her third trimester, the former Miss Universe Australia was positively glowing, dressing her baby bump in a loose-fitted floral long-sleeve design by White Suede Beautiful! Meanwhile, Jodi wore a unique white garment with a corset-style waist that showcased her slim figure Jodi meanwhile wore a unique white garment that featured a corset-style waist that showcased her slim figure and a large skirt. She toted a customised Mon Purse clutch with the her name 'Jodi Lee' embroidered. Her brunette tresses were styled in loose curls with a headband with two white flowers resting on either side of her head. She opted for a more crafted makeup look than Rachael, with dark eye makeup and a rich purple-toned lipstick. Exclusive marquee: Rachael and Jodi posed with Myer designer Alex Perry, who helped launch the exclusive marquee, which will be by appointment only this year in its new location Rachael, a Seven presenter, appeared on Sunrise to provide insight into the new marquee. 'We have an elevated marquee this year, which is great, because it is one where we can see the race is happening. We love that. It is great. It is exclusive and by appointment only, so it feels luxurious and special,' she said. At almost 23 weeks, she says she'll be steering clear of the bubbles in the birdcage: 'No champagne for me this year.' Rachael posted a snap of herself after the shoot and promo on Channel Seven, saying: 'See you all trackside very soon.' Kathy Bates was involved in another series of gruesome bloodbaths on Wednesday on American Horror Story: Roanoke. In a vile twist the Oscar-winner managed to murder herself, by stabbing one of the characters she plays in the face with a wooden stake. Bates, who plays both The Butcher and Agnes Mary Winstead (the schizophrenic actress who re-enacts The Butcher), went on a homicidal spree. Scroll down for video Meta murder: Kathy Bates murdered herself, sort of, on Wednesday's episode of American Horror Story This culminated in the real Butcher killing Agnes. The show opened at the North Carolina production office of Return to Roanoke: Three Days in Hell, with the producer Sidney (Cheyenne Jackson) refusing to search for his co-producer Diana (who was murdered in the last episode by a pig man). 'I'm not wasting my energy on someone who doesn't want to be part of history,' he announced. Some suspicious activity occurred on the CCTV cameras and they heard a blood curdling scream. Psychotic actress: Agnes, played by Kathy, dropped to her knees in front of The Butcher, also played by Kathy Splitting headache: The Butcher buried her blade deep into Agnes Their assistant Melissa was outside, bleeding profusely from the neck. The Butcher then appeared, stabbing Sidney and his camera man and removing their guts. 'I am the tree and the lightning that strikes it,' growled The Butcher. Back at the haunted house English Audrey Tindell (Sarah Paulson) was searching for her flame-haired toy boy Rory (Evan Peters). English actress: Audrey Tindell, played by Sarah Paulson, was looking for her toy boy Rory They discovered a pool of blood that 'didn't smell like corn syrup' but Audrey wouldn't believe it was real. 'Oh my God, Brad Pitt! Rory got a better offer, he's left us to go back to L.A. for a movie, Sidney put him up to this to give us a good scare for the camera,' she said naively. Meanwhile a crazed and blood-splattered Agnes was having a meltdown in the basement. Losing it: Agnes was losing her mind down in the basement 'It was my destiny, they chose me, I was the fan favourite,' she hissed. She then lit a fire to discover lots of Blair Witch-style twigs hanging all around her. Shelby (Lily Rabe) and her former lover Dominic (Cuba Gooding Jr.) were arguing, but Matt (Andre Holland) overheard and intervened. Freaking out: The actress discovered ominous wood signs around her 'You want her, you can have her, f*** her right here for all I care,' he said, slapping the table next to them. In a side confessional Dominic revealed that he was wired up to be 'the bad guy'. His M.O. was to collect ratings by secretly recording extra footage with his own personal cameras. Bad guy: Dominic revealed that he was going to be the 'bad guy' on the reality show Shelby was sobbing in the bedroom when Agnes The Butcher entered with a meat cleaver. 'No one cares about me anymore,' she yelled, before violently hacking at Shelby's shoulder. Dominic steamed in to save her and Agnes vanished. Tense talk: Dominic and Shelby were arguing and were overheard by Matt Boozy cop Lee (Adina Porter) announced that the phone lines had been cut and no assistance was sent. Lee, Audrey and Monet (Angela Bassett) then tried to escape the house to fetch help. In the underground passage they were confronted by a ghoulish version of Rory (the home's 16th-century builder, Edward Mott) who Lee shot four times. Escape route: Monet joined Lee and Audrey in an attempt to escape the house 'What was that thing?' they asked as they fled to the woods with the 'Blood Moon' looming ominously overhead. At the production office they found the corpses of Sidney and his crew. 'I'm not American, I'm not used to all this carnage,' howled Audrey. Brutal killing: Diana was found dead outside the production office Agnes came running out of the undergrowth and Lee managed to shoot her, but their troubles amplified when a posse of hillbillies came at them. Audrey was making a fraught video message for Rory when blood started dripping down her face. They looked up to see a corpse hanging from the trees overhead. Blood stains: Audrey was making a video message for Rory when she discovered blood on her face The Butcher (Agnes) then pulled the bullets out of her shoulder with pliers to prepare for another round of insanity. 'This house and everything in it will be consumed by fire. Only the ashes will remain at the end of this night,' she bellowed. Matt, who had been lying with injured Shelby arose in the night for another terrifying sexual encounter with the Scathach, aka the Witch of the Woods, (Lady Gaga). Bullet removal: Agnes pulled bullets out of her own shoulder Shelby attacked the Scathach but Matt was angered by the intervention. 'I'm in love with her Shelby, she's the reason I came back,' he said. Shelby was so jealous she bludgeoned him to a pulp with a crow bar. 'I came back for him,' she sobbed. Brutal beating: Shelby got jealous and bludgeoned Matt to death Dominic advised her to turn herself in. 'Best thing for you to do is confess and go quietly,' he told her. Out in the woods Lee, Audrey and Monet were captured by the cannibalistic hillbillies of the Polk family (Frances Conroy and Chaz Bono) Cannibalistic hillbillies: The hillbillies prepared to feast on Lee Proper seasoning: The drug growing cannibals seasoned up Lee first Lee was chopped up first and they made the other two taste her raw flesh. The ghostly 'Lost Colony of Roanoke' then appeared and Agnes was murdered by the real Butcher who drove a wooden stake into her face. 'You're my idolI'm so sorry, I just wanted to be on TV,' whimpered Agnes before she was impaled. AHS, which was recently renewed for a seventh season, returns next week on FX. Herman Walldorf & Co, Inc. is the first Chattanooga real estate office to earn the Safety Certified Office certification. The company earned that certification by establishing safety protocols for their Realtors to follow. After Arkansas realtor Nancy Carter, was abducted and killed in 2015, I started looking around at the realtors who make up Herman Walldorf & Co. I realized that we have many female realtors, and Id never want that to happen to any of our Walldorf & Co. realtors, said Walldorf & Co., Inc. Secretary-Treasurer Nathan Walldorf. I was also in a position as the president-elect of GCAR to help spearhead a Safety Certified Office program, which GCAR just launched." The Safety Certified Office program helps keep realtors and their clients safe. It consistently gives realtors safety tips that they can pass on to their clients. It also makes sure that realtors are getting information about the people they meet before meeting them. The 2016 GCAR president, Nathan Walldorf, said, The public needs to get used to the fact that Realtors are going to ask them for a copy of their ID before showing them homes. Realtors will have an office buddy system in this program, so that someone else knows where and with whom they are showing homes. There are also safety apps and tools that are available to realtors to help them be located by police in case of danger. Lastly, every Safety Certified Office will have its doors open to realtors from other companies to meet clients for the first time at their office when needed. Realtors cannot take a phone call asking for a property showing, pick up, and meet an absolute stranger at a vacant property any more. They have to be smart and protect themselves. Herman Walldorf & Co., Inc. has more history in Chattanooga than any other real estate firms. The company was founded n 1926 by Herman Walldorf. Hermans sons Charlie and Rudy Walldorf run the firm now and have both been in the business for over 50 years. Nathan Walldorf is Hermans grandson, who sells real estate and trains residential realtors in his office. She's the Australian runway model who rarely puts a fashion foot wrong. So it was no surprise Jessica Gomes cut a stylish figure at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Thursday. Flaunting her stunning physique in white lace mini dress, the 32-year-old beauty's long slender pins were on full display in the chic number. Stunner: Jessica Gomes cut a stylish figure at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Thursday Posing in the Lexus marquee at the Birdcage Enclosure at the famous racetrack, she paired the flattering dress with a pair of strappy heels, further accentuating her flawless pins. She highlighted her deep brown eyes with a thick black mascara and eyeliner, while defining her lips with a soft nude lipstick. Her luscious brunette locks were held away from her face with a studded headband, and left to fall over her slender back. Leggy display: the 32-year-old beauty's long slender pins were on full display a white lace mini dress The stunning display comes after it was revealed the sought after model has been secretly dating fellow Australian in Hollywood, Xavier Samuel. Ahead of her David Jones ambassadorial duties, the 32-year-old told The Daily Telegraph: 'I am very happy in my life at the moment, very happy'. Her comments confirm the pair's coupling, which was first reported earlier this month, after photos of the duo kissing in Los Angeles surfaced. 'Very happy': Jessica Gomes has spoken for the first time about her budding romance with Twilight actor, Xavier Samuel, admitting she's 'very happy' in her life at the moment The Perth-born beauty and the Victorian hunk are believed to have been set up by a mutual friend. They were first spotted out together among Jessica's stylish friends as they celebrated her birthday last month but the full extent of their relationship was not known at the time. Notoriously private Xavier, 32, who doesn't use social media, recently spoke to Daily Mail Australia about his love life. Confirmed: Her comments confirm the pair's coupling, which was first reported earlier this month, after photos of the duo kissing in Los Angeles surfaced Dating: The Perth-born beauty and the Victorian hunk (pictured) are believed to have been set up by a mutual friend Celebrating: The pair were first spotted out together at the David Jones model's birthday dinner last month but the full extent of their relationship was not known at the time 'I am single, but I don't often talk about my private life,' he said ahead of a Q&A session for his new film Love And Friendship. And while he didn't spill much else on the topic, the Victorian-born star said he was open to the idea of dating an older woman. Asked how he feels about dating someone older, he answered: 'Only in the movies... but not that I have any aversions to the idea. 'It's just not really happened for me... But you never know what the future holds... Love knows no boundaries.' Xavier has previously dated Pretty Little Liars star and fellow Australian Phoebe Tonkin, as well as German model Shermine Shahrivar. The Kardashian clan have been keeping a lower profile since Kim was robbed at gunpoint. And Kris Jenner and boyfriend Corey Gamble looked like they were trying especially hard to go incognito on Wednesday when they arrived at The Forum in Inglewood wearing camouflage. The 60-year-old momager donned a heavy military jacket bearing a Netherlands flag, which she matched with a pair of military-esque heavy black boots. Blending in! Kris Jenner and boyfriend Corey Gamble matched in camouflage as they arrived for the second night of Kanye West's show at The Forum in Inglewood on Wednesday night Her 35-year-old boyfriend Corey fell into step behind her and obediently followed suit in a similar oversized sweater. The couple were on hand for the second night of her son-in-law Kanye's West's Pablo Tour. The night before they had turned up - not matching alas - with Kris opting for an all-black ensemble with a bomber jacket, while her toyboy donned a blue denim shirt. Attention: The 60-year-old momager donned a heavy military jacket bearing a Netherlands flag, which she matched with a pair of military-esque heavy black boots. Snap: Her 35-year-old boyfriend Corey Gamble fell into step behind her and obediently followed suit in a similar oversized sweater Daughters Kim, Kendall and Kourtney on the first night, as were Amy Schumer, Katy Perry, and Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber. Kaia in fact might have been the one to give Kris - and therefore Corey - the idea, herself arriving on opening night wearing an army jacket, albeit a more patriotic US one. Joining Kris on night two was a slightly more mature crowd featuring the likes of Melanie Griffith and Maria Shriver, but Kanye's brother-in-law-elect Tyga and a group of his mates kept the median age down. Family: The couple dutifully supported Kanye for two out of two nights so far Over it: Kris hasn't been as reclusive as her daughter Kim since she was robbed in Paris earlier this month Golden oldies: Joining Kris on night two was a slightly more mature crowd featuring the likes of Melanie Griffith and Maria Shriver Youth vote: Kanye's brother-in-law-elect Tyga and a group of his mates kept the median age down Kim's emergence this week to attend her husband's concerts are among the the first times she has been seen in public since her harrowing ordeal in Paris earlier this month. A group of armed robbers broke into her luxury apartment, bound her and held her at gunpoint, before making off with $11million worth of jewelry. 'She is slowly getting back to a normal life step by step,' a source told DailyMail.com this week. 'Kim is still shaken up, but she's gradually bouncing back.' First: The night before Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber might have been the one to give Kris - and therefore Corey - the idea, arriving wearing an army jacket, albeit a more patriotic US one It's just hours before The Bachelorette's grand finale episode hits screens across Australia. And a theory revealed by Mamamia suggests that it's Matty Johnson, the 29-year-old marketing manager from New South Wales, that has captured Georgia Love's heart. The website claims that the last contestant you hear speak in the promo at the beginning of episode one of each season, is the winner. Scroll down for video Is this THE clue that suggests Matty J as the winner? A theory revealed by Mamamia suggests that it's Matty Johnson, the 29-year-old marketing manager from New South Wales, that has captured Georgia Love's heart According to the site, previous seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, have revealed the winner as the last one to speak in the first promo aired before episode one. During Sam Wood's stint on The Bachelor, Snezana Markoski, was the last one to speak in the short clip, and subsequently went on to capture the personal trainer's heart. And during the last season with Richie Strahan at the helm, Alex Nation was once again the last to speak during the very first promo. The theory comes just as it's realised that Matty Johnson was the last to speak as well. Did he just reveal he's the winner? Matty J hinted that he won the competition by suggesting he was familiar with Georgia Love's secret code name 'Michael' on Thursday's KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show The theory comes shortly after Matty J hinted he had won the competition during an appearance on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Does the name Michael mean anything to you? Jackie slyly asked Matty and fellow contestant Lee Elliott during the live interview on Thursday morning. Lee, who Skyped in to the interview from the Melbourne KIIS FM studios, simply responded with: 'I'm lost.' 'Go on': While Lee confessed he was 'lost' with the suggestion, Matty hinted he knew exactly what Jackie was talking about, saying: 'Go on' However, Matty hinted he knew exactly what Jackie was talking about, saying: 'Go on.' In an attempt to redeem himself, the Sydney-sider quipped: 'He was runner-up last year,' referring to former Bachelorette star Michael Turnbull. Smirking, Kyle piped up: 'Not Turnbull, nope. Good one there Jackie, I know what you're doing.' Georgia's decision to use the name Michael when referring to her chosen man was perhaps ill-conceived, considering she is rumoured to have 'hooked up' with Michael Turnbull before she became The Bachelorette. Scandal: Georgia's decision to use the name Michael when referring to her chosen man was perhaps ill-conceived, considering she is rumoured to have 'hooked up' with Michael Turnbull her before she became The Bachelorette Speaking to Woman's Day, a source claimed the pair exchanged more than just numbers at a Melbourne Cup breakfast, saying they were overheard planning to meet up again later that night. 'They spent the night together,' the source alleges. 'Georgia was keen to see where things would go, but Michael was enjoying being single on the back of his Bachelorette fame.' Sources told Woman's Day the pair made a decision not to speak about their brief encounter after the Melbourne Cup in light of Georgia's newfound fame. When asked about the night, Michael told the publication: 'We had a lot of fun together, but as you'll understand I won't comment further.' Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Michael and Georgia for comment. Former flames? Sources told Woman's Day the pair made a decision not to speak about their brief encounter after the Melbourne Cup in light of Georgia's newfound fame She's set to reveal her chosen winner on the finale episode of The Bachelorette on Thursday. And despite being in the midst of a devastating family heartbreak, Georgia Love will still fulfill media rounds on Friday. Last week, it was speculated that the 28-year-old former news anchor would skip promotional duties after due to her mother Belinda being admitted to palliative care amid her ongoing battle with an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. Scroll down for video Staying strong: Despite being in the midst of a devastating family heartbreak, Georgia Love will reportedly still fulfill media rounds on Friday, following the Bachelorette finale on Thursday However, in a tweet posted on Thursday, an account for Nova radio show Fitzy & Wippa confirmed that the Hobart-native will make an appearance following the finale. 'TOMORROW: The Bachelorette winner and plus win your way to with Wheel Of Wishes! BYEEEEE!' the tweet read. Daily Mail Australia also reached out to a representative at Nova, who confirmed that Georgia will be on the show on Friday. Business as usual: A tweet posted on Thursday by Nova radio show Fitzy & Wippa confirmed that the Hobart-native will make an appearance following the finale The news comes days after it was revealed that Belinda, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer around the same time her daughter Georgia was approached to star on The Bachelorette, was recently admitted to palliative care. Network Ten told The Daily Telegraph in a statement: 'Georgia and her family are going through a very difficult time with seriously family health issues.' It's currently unclear whether or not Georgia, 28, will continue with previously scheduled media commitments for The Bachelorette finale as she supports her mother's battle against the 'aggressive' cancer. Heartbreak: Georgia continues to stay strong during this devastating time Belinda appeared on the first episode of the dating competition in a touching scene that saw Georgia discussing her journey to find love. Georgia - who gave up her journalism job for the show - said to Belinda how she wanted to find a love like her mother and father share. 'I'm doing this because I realise that family and love is what is important at the end of the day,' Georgia said to the camera. On camera: Belinda appeared on the season premiere of The Bachelorette, where her battle with cancer was briefly mentioned She then said to her mother: 'I think, especially with everything you're going through at the moment, and have been going through, I've seen what it's like to be, you know, loved.' 'Seeing how Dad has been with you has made me realise how important family is, and having loved ones, that that's what I want.' Belinda was receiving chemotherapy while Georgia filmed season two of the popular reality series. Health battle: Her mother went to the doctor suffering abdominal pain and a 'massive tumour' was discovered Flashback: Georgia is pictured here as a young child with her mother Close bond: The family appear to have a close relationship Speaking to the Herald Sun in September, Georgia said: 'It has been particularly hard for me, having been away filming, to then come back and see her 10 weeks into chemo, but she is being very positive.' Her mother went to the doctor suffering abdominal pain and a 'massive tumour' was discovered. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the same time Georgia was approached to be The Bachelorette. Who will she choose? Viewers will finally learn who the winner of the Bachelorette is during the finale episode on Thursday night Will it be Lee? The Mechanical Plumber is a favourite to win Or Matty J? The Marketing Manager dropped the L-word this week and fans are backing him as the winner 'The fact it was all happening at the same time made me decide "yes, I want to do this"... It puts it into perspective how important family and love are.' The Bachelorette finale will air Thursday 7:30pm on Channel Ten. She's never been afraid to show off her phenomenal figure. And Charli XCX dared to bare all as she slipped into a sexy devil costume for the Veuve Clicquot Widow Series Halloween party in London on Wednesday. Joined by Winnie Harlow, the stars ensured all eyes would be on them as they hit the red carpet in their flesh flashing ensembles. Scroll down for video Devilishly good! Charlie XCX dared to bare all as she slipped into a sexy devil costume for the Veuve Clicquot Widow Series Halloween party with Winnie Harlow in London on Wednesday Sheathing her phenomenal figure, Charli, 24, donned a floor-length scarlet gown that showed off her perky assets - whilst her modesty was protected with the addition of X-shaped nipple pasties. Adding to the glamour, she wore a pair of patent red heels which complemented her glittering devil horns. Not content with her ensemble in its form, she also painted her hazel-coloured peepers with a swathe of sparkling blood red glitter. Chest a glimpse! Charli, 24, donned a floor-length scarlet gown that showed off her perky assets - whilst her modesty was protected with the addition of X-shaped nipple pasties All about the accessories: Adding to the glamour, she wore a pair of patent red heels which complemented her glittering devil horns Finishing touches: Not content with her ensemble in its form, she also painted her hazel-coloured peepers with a swathe of sparkling blood red glitter Meanwhile, whilst Winnie may not have dressed up, she still looked equally as glamorous as her pal. The model - who suffers from the skin condition vitiligo - slipped into a plunging black blazer that she layered over monochrome shorts. Injecting some glitz into her ensemble, the starlet donned a pair of glitter lined black heels, which complemented her dazzling diamond earrings. No costume needed! Whilst Winnie may not have dressed up, she still looked equally as glamorous as her pal All eyes on her: The model - who suffers from the skin condition vitiligo - slipped into a plunging black blazer that she layered over monochrome shorts Glitz and glamour: Injecting some glitz into her ensemble, the starlet donned a pair of glitter lined black heels, which complemented her dazzling diamond earrings Two of a kind! Winnie wasn't the only model at the star-studded bash, and seemed delighted to bump into fellow runway queen, Suki Waterhouse Lovely ladies: The pair seemed in excellent spirits as they cuddled in greeting Beautiful in black: Whilst they may not have dressed up, both starlets opted for all-black ensembles at the Halloween-themed bash Strike a pose: The models worked their angles expertly as they posed for snaps together Winnie wasn't the only model at the star-studded bash, and seemed delighted to bump into fellow runway queen, Suki Waterhouse. Looking every inch the biker chick, the blonde beauty teamed a black leather jacket with skinny jeans and thigh high boots. Keeping her accessories just as chic as her outfit, she also donned a black leather baker boy cap. Cool rider: Looking every inch the biker chick, the blonde beauty teamed a black leather jacket with skinny jeans and thigh high boots Making an exit: All eyes were on Suki as she slipped in and out of the glamorous bash Making the most of it: Keeping her accessories just as chic as her outfit, she also donned a black leather baker boy cap Chirpy: The starlet looked in great spirits as she beamed broadly at the bash Model moment: The star proved why she's so successful as she looked beautiful whilst posing for snaps in her low-key ensemble Raise a glass: Suki looked just as tempting as the champagne behind her However, whilst the models oozed glamour in their low-key ensembles, it was undoubtedly Charli who stole the show in her vibrant costume. The brunette beauty is known for her sultry ensembles, and recently explained that whilst she may dare to bare, she doesn't dedicate her life to fitness. Asked if there was a secret to attaining her toned and trim figure, the raven-haired beauty told MailOnline that there really wasn't anything special about her routine. 'I mean I like curves, and I dont really watch my weight too much,' she began, before adding: 'Im into the gym but more for the outfits'. Blonde beauties: The model was delighted to run into fellow model and actress, Clara Paget Lovely in lace: Clara's black gown featured lace sleeves, whilst Camille Cherrier's ensemble featured risque swathes of the fabric which flashed glimpses of her figure And rather than hitting the weights or sweating her socks off in a bikram yoga class, Charli explained her fascination with the gym was more to do with the clothing. When asked if she had a routine down at the gym a Charli confessed: 'When I say "into the gym"... I went to the gym for the first time last night, and I was way more into what I was wearing than what I was actually doing.' But not one to be pressured into a point of view the Boom Clap hit-maker explained her positive outlook on enjoying the small things in life - explaining 'everyone is human'. 'I think youve just got to do your thing. I mean I love pizza, and I think everyone is human and they go for that stuff,' she said, before saying there's no point stressing 'about that stuff'. Guessing game: Daniel Lismore's costume was slightly confusing, but he ensured he carried his trademark oversized birkin bag Ram it in: Tom Beard jazzed up his suit with some ram ears as he posed with Victoria Williams Bopping along: India Rose James (L) donned a sparkly headband to join her pal at the party Biker business: FKA twigs and Eric Underwood both looked ready to rumble in their ensembles He was sent packing by Georgia Love on Wednesday's episode of the hit dating series. And The Bachelorette's Jake Ellis has now revealed to Mamamia, that he finds talk over his iconic gold pinky ring rather surprising. 'I found [the fan chatter] quite amusing,' the 30-year-old shared. Scroll down for video 'I found [the fan chatter] quite amusing': The Bachelorette's Jake Ellis, 30, revealed to Mamamia, that he found talk over his iconic gold pinky ring quite surprising After revealing his surprise of the online chatter, Jake shared the sentimental meaning of the ring. 'Myself, my brother and my dad, we have initials on a gold ring and that gold ring is melted down from my grandmother's gold after she passed away,' the Queensland-based sales professional said. And since his departure on The Bachelorette, Jake also shared that he's surprised people would even be bringing up his name. 'The fact that they're even talking about me is quite surreal,' he said. Sentimental meaning: Jake shared to Mamamia that the gold ring was melted down from his grandmother's gold after she passed away The comments come after Georgia Love had a difficult decision to make when choosing her final two on Wednesday night's episode. The newsreader-turned-reality star was reduced to tears as she sent Jake home, revealing her final two as Matty Johnson and Lee Elliott. As she said her goodbyes, she reassured Jake: ' You're amazing and you've made me feel amazing and I can never, ever, ever underestimate that. Emotional: Georgia Love (left) was reduced to tears as she sent Jake home on Wednesday's The Bachelorette, revealing her final two as Matty Johnson and Lee Elliott 'Meeting your family meant so much to me. And to take you away from your family when I know what you're going through I would want to be 100% certain. And that's really hard to say.' Jake simply replied, 'It's hard to hear that,' before adding: 'Look after your family and I hope you find the love you're after, that you're looking for. And that's really hard just for me to say right now. It really is.' In his piece to camera, he admitted he was 'devastated' by his elimination because he could see a future with the 28-year-old. As she said her goodbye, she reassured him: 'You're amazing and you've made me feel amazing and I can never, ever, ever underestimate that' She continued to tell him: 'Meeting your family meant so much to me. And to take you away from your family when I know what you're going through I would want to be 100% certain' 'That hurts. That sucks. I don't like goodbyes. And, yeah, it was a goodbye. It wasn't a "I'll see you soon". Yeah, that's the end of that,' he said. 'I really showed Georgia the true me and really wore my heart on my sleeve for the first time in quite a long time. I'm not sure what to think or feel and I'm sure it's gonna hit me like a freight train soon,' Jake concluded. Aftermath: In his piece to camera, he admitted he was 'devastated' by his elimination She is known for always throwing her support behind a good cause. And on Thursday, Samantha Armytage was at it again as she attended the Sony Foundations Wharf 4 Ward lunch in Sydney. At the charity event, the 40-year-old showed off her glowing tanned skin as she arrived in her usual choice of a little black dress. Beauty: Samantha Armytage showed off her glowing skin as she arrived in her usual choice of a little black dress at the Sony Foundations Wharf 4 Ward lunch in Sydney The sleeveless garment hugged tightly around the Sunrise co-host's torso before flaring outwards and finishing inches below the knees. The designer ensemble featured an oversized pleat on the left-hand side, giving the piece an over-fold. Samantha accessorised her elegant choice of attire with a pair of bright pink peep-toed heels and a black leather clutch, which had her initials embroidered on it. Simple: For the special occasion, the 40-year-old wore her blonde shoulder length hair out and parted to the right while styling them straight She also added a touch of blind with large silver hoop earrings and a matching silver band watch. For the special occasion, the TV personality wore her blonde shoulder length hair out and parted to the right while styling them straight. Samantha opted for a natural-base makeup with a well-blended foundation and a light pink blush. Complexion: She also opted for a natural-base makeup with a well-blended foundation and a light pink blush and lipstick She also defined her lips with a light pink lipstick while highlighting her eyes with a black mascara and eyeliner. Samantha's appearance at the event comes a month after she returned from in Mykonos in Greece. The journalist holidayed at the picture-perfect destination for three weeks, where she celebrated turning the big 4-0. On Saturday she went all out as she attended the Maxim Halloween party in a skimpy Greek goddess costume. And Tara Reid went casual chic during a night out with pals in LA on Wednesday, putting on a very slender appearance. The 40-year-old American Pie actress displayed her miniscule waist in a pair of low-slung ripped jeans as she arrived at celeb-favourite restaurant Catch. Scroll down for video Night out: Tara Reid went casual chic during a night out with pals in LA on Wednesday The figure-hugging jeans clung to her very slender legs, a rip exposing part of her knee. Holding up the low-waist trousers with a black Gucci belt, she wore a cropped tiger-emblazoned vest which exposed her tiny midriff. Teaming it with a waterfall neck leather jacket and matching handbag, she added a splash of colour with tan Louboutin ankle boots and a yellow LA cap. Girls! The 40-year-old American Pie actress displayed her miniscule waist in a pair of low-slung ripped jeans as she arrived at celeb-favourite restaurant Catch Rocking a bold red lip and lining her bright blue peepers with statement eyeliner, she wore her blonde tresses poker straight. Coordinating with her pretty gal pals, the whole crew sported matching bright caps. Wearing coordinating black jackets, the girls put on a cheery display for the cameras. Small: The figure-hugging jeans clung to her very slender legs, a rip exposing part of her knee And on Saturday Tara displayed her tiny frame at the Maxim magazine Halloween Party in Los Angeles. The Sharknado star put on an eye-popping display in a racy Greek goddess costume. Donning a black halter-style bra with gold shimmering leaves adorned along the bustline, she put on a racy display. Eye-popping! Tara attended the Maxim magazine Halloween Party in Los Angeles on Saturday And flashing a hint of cleavage in the push-up garb, the outfit exposed her tiny torso and slim stems. Channeling glamour, she wore her platinum blonde tresses styled stick straight and swept to one side and accessorized with a dainty garland. The Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars participant donned sky high platform heels, adding extra height to her 5ft 5in frame. Blonde beauty! The Sharknado star put on an eye-popping display in a racy Greek goddess costume A Snapchat video she then posted to Instagram showed her posing for cameras on the red carpet. In 2014 Reid hit back after social media commenters slammed her for being 'too skinny'. 'I'm just a small-boned girl. I eat, I eat, I eat,' she told TMZ at the time. 'Some people that eat too much, you yell at them that they're fat. You want to get mad at me because I'm skinny? Great, get mad at me. I am what I am.' Documented: Reid shared behind the scenes clips on Snapchat She's nearing the final end of her pregnancy with only 10 weeks to go. And on Wednesday, Teresa Palmer looked simply radiant as she attended the premiere of Hacksaw Ridge in New Orleans. The 30-year-old actress sported a flowing red frock that skimmed over her large baby bump. Radiant in red! Teresa Palmer, 30, looked beautiful in a flowing frock as she attended the New Orleans premiere of Hacksaw Ridge on Wednesday Teresa stunned on the red carpet in a floor-length gown that accentuated her large baby bump. Sweeping her signature blonde locks into an effortless up-do with several strands framing her face, the Los Angeles-based star opted for an elegant makeup palette of a flawless base, defined brows, lashings of mascara and a soft pink lip. Teresa was joined by the film's director Mel Gibson, World War II veterans Joe Clapper, RV Burgin, Desmond Doss Junior and actor Vince Vaughn. Beautiful: Sweeping her signature blonde locks into an effortless up-do with several strands framing her face, the Los Angeles-based star opted for an elegant makeup palette of a flawless base, defined brows, lashings of mascara and a nude lip Just days prior, Teresa revealed her plans to tackle this birth differently to her last. In a post uploaded on her website, Your Zen Mama, she detailed her new birth plan, stating: 'I chose a hospital birth over a home birth this time round.' Teresa explained the decision meant she'll labour at home 'for as long as possible' before transferring to the hospital for birth with her midwife. Famous faces: Teresa was joined by the film's director Mel Gibson (centre),World War II veterans Joe Clapper, RV Burgin, Desmond Doss Junior and actor Vince Vaughn (far right) 'A water birth has always been a dream of mine, I was unable to do that with Bodhi last time and I would love to experience that this time if it feels right in the moment.' 'Its quite rare that a woman is allowed to have a water birth in a hospital so I was really excited to know that this program allows for that,' she said. Despite only having 10 weeks to go until she welcomes her second son, Teresa said she's 'feeling calm and prepared' and has already begun prepping a playlist and compiling a list of 10 natural pain relief remedies she can use during labour. Planning ahead: In a post uploaded on her website, Your Zen Mama, Teresa detailed her new birth plan, stating: 'I chose a hospital birth over a home birth this time round' They've been riding high on the success of their new number one hit, Shout Out To My Ex. But Little Mix found themselves at the centre of an awkward gaffe on Thursday as they accidentally shared the wrong snap on their Instagram account. Whilst promoting a competition held by Superdrug, the group mistakenly posted a picture of themselves at an event held by their biggest rival company, Boots. Scroll down for video Oops: Little Mix found themselves at the centre of an awkward gaffe on Thursday as they accidentally shared a snap of themselves at a Boots event while promoting Superdrug The post - which has since been deleted - was captioned: 'Tag @superdrugloves and tag your bestie telling us why they deserve to have their wishes come true to WIN! #LMWishmaker.' Whilst it may not have been the desired snap, there was no denying the foursome looked sensational in the snap. All clad in black, the X Factor winners oozed glamour at the launch of their perfume, Wishmaker at the high street beauty store in July this year. Fantastic four: The girls (L-R) Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson and Jade Thirlwall have been riding high on the success of their new number one hit Little Mix have been out in force for the last few weeks, promoting their latest chart-topping hit. However, the girls were forced to defend themselves recently after fans claimed that Shout Out To My Ex was a copy of GRL's Ugly Heart. In an interview with Belgian radio station Qmusic, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall addressed the furor and told the other girl band to 'stop trying to hop on the bandwagon'. Shout Out: The girls (pictured in their new music video) were forced to defend themselves recently after fans claimed that Shout Out To My Ex was a copy of GRL's Ugly Heart The claims were first made during Little Mix's debut performance of number one single, Shout To My Ex, on the X Factor earlier this month. GRL made their views about the two songs clear, when their official Twitter account used the hashtag #ShoutOutToUglyHeart following Little Mixs appearance. However, Little Mix - which consists of Jade, Perrie, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock - hit back at the US group's claims during their interview on Friday. 'We're actually friends with Emmalyn from GRL and she loves the song,' said Jade. 'Every song is going to have a similar chord sequence, slightly similar lyrics and melodies it happens all the time. It doesn't mean that they're not both incredible songs.' Sounds familiar: Fans noticed a similarity between Little Mix's new single and GRL's 2013 hit, Ugly Heart. GRL made their views clear, when they tweeted, #ShoutOutToUglyHeart Fighting back: In an interview, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall addressed the furor and told the other girl band to 'stop trying to hop on the bandwagon' GRl released Ugly Heart in 2013 with the tune reaching number two in the US charts and 11 in the UK. The song also became a chart hit a year later after band member Simone Battle was tragically found dead in her Hollywood home. Meanwhile, Shout Out To My Ex is the first single to be taken from Little Mix's upcoming fourth album, due for release this November. The Alzheimers Association invites caregivers from the Chattanooga area to attend the annual fall caregiver conference on Nov. 18 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Ooltewah United Methodist Church in Ooltewah. "Caring for a loved one is a 24/7 job that comes with ever-changing responsibilities and unique needs. The Alzheimers Association provides programs and services to those living with Alzheimers disease and their loved ones," organizers said. There are 426,000 caregivers caring for someone with Alzheimers disease in Tennessee, said Amy French, senior manager of programs for the Alzheimers Association. A diagnosis of Alzheimers disease can lead to many questions from the person diagnosed as well as their family members. Our conference can provide information and answers to help caregivers understand more about the disease. Dr. Terry Melvin, palliative care expert, will be the keynote speaker and speak on Alzheimers disease and caregiving. This conference will include discussions on topics related to Alzheimers disease, community resources, lunch and door prizes. This event is free, but registration is required. For more information and to register contact Amy French at 423-265-3600. "November is National Family Caregiver Month. Throughout November we honor recognize the impact of caregiving and honor more than 15 million Americans caring for someone with Alzheimers disease. If you are providing care for someone with Alzheimers disease or another dementia and have questions, contact us at 800-272-3900 or at alz.org," officials said. Lee Elliot dropped the L-bomb on the final single date of The Bachelorette 2016. The 35-year-old told Georgia Love exactly how he felt in a bid to seal the deal in their last moments together before she chose between him and Matty Johnson. As they wrapped their arms around each other, Lee confessed: 'This moment couldn't possibly be any more perfect...There's been something I've wanted to tell you all day. Scroll down for video L-bomb: Lee Elliot laid all his cards on the table in a bid to win Georgia Love's heart on The Bachelorette 2016 'You know, I have so fallen in love with you. I dont want to go home without you. I no longer can see a future without you,' he concluded before Georgia pulled him closer to share a passionate kiss. In the aftermath of Lee's revelation, a number of Twitter users concluded that Lee was now the favourite to win. One user commented: 'There's nothing and no one I wouldn't sacrifice to switch places with G right now. I love Lee #BacheloretteAU' Connection: Georgia and Lee have both expressed their feeling for each other, referencing their 'deep connection' Another posted: 'Lee's got Georgia in the bag!#BacheloretteAU' The pair's last single date came after fellow bachelor Matty had spent his last day with the brunette beauty. Next up was Lee's final single date with Georgia. Smooth talker: The 35-year-old received a less than favourable review from Georgia's sister, who said Lee was 'too smooth' The pair went for a ride around the town on a raffle before going on a traditional bumboat through the marina of Singapore. As they explored the town, Georgia said in her piece to camera: 'When I'm with Lee, I feel like there's no-one else in the world. It's just this ease. He's the Queensland salesman who failed to capture Georgia Love's heart on The Bachelorette. And despite acquiring loads of female fans around Australia after being dumped on the Channel Ten dating series this week, Jake Ellis, 30, said he's too shy to begin dating again. During an appearance on Thursday night's edition of The Project, ahead of the Bachelorette finale, the genetically blessed hunk was asked: 'Are you having better form than you've ever had in your life?' Too shy: Despite acquiring loads of female fans around Australia after being dumped on The Bachelorette this week, Jake Ellis, 30, revealed on The Project on Thursday that he's too shy to start dating again 'Better form, it's only recently so I think I'm still a little gun shy. You might have to give me tips,' he replied. The reality star also revealed his shock at being eliminated as he was certain that he could win the competition. 'I wouldn't say I had it in the bag ... I was definitely quietly confident but there was still some stiff competition with the guys there in the mansion,' he said. 'I'm still a little gun shy': Jake opened up about life after The Bachelorette Despite getting dumped, Jake recently told POPSUGAR that he walked away with no regrets - while admitting 'it still hurts' after watching the penultimate episode. After Georgia got on well with his family during hometown visits, Jake felt confident going into the second-to-last rose ceremony on the back of a day cruising around Sydney Harbour with the brunette beauty. The Queensland-native believed he would be getting a rose from the woman he had a 'deep connection' with. The long goodbye: Jake was sent home by Georgia Love in the penultimate episode of The Bachelorette Final three: The 30-year-old (middle) joined Lee Elliot (L) and Matty Johnson (R) in the final three but found out his time was up on Wednesday night 'What we had was so special,' he told the publication. 'Coming in to the last single date, real relationship questions needed to be asked, as they do in the real world.' Those questions eventually led Georgia to the conclusion that she couldn't take their relationship any further. Both of Jake's parents are not well and the 28-year-old didn't want to take him away from his family in order to be closer to her in Melbourne. Pucker up: Jake said he saw a 'real future' with Georgia, revealing the pair have a 'deep connection' Plain sailing: Jake was confident heading into the penultimate rose ceremony after a day sailing around Sydney Harbour Despite the situation being beyond his control, Jake said he harboured no ill-feelings towards the journalist for the reasons behind her decision. He said: 'It definitely wasn't frustrating, it was something I really did appreciate and respect. And it's more power to her; it's why Georgia's such an amazing woman.' Jake admitted he was shocked when The Bachelorette first chose Matty and then Lee over him, but he was adamant that it wouldn't tarnish his memories of his time with Georgia. While he revealed he's still recovering from the hurt, Jake reflected positively on the experience as a whole. Water works: The news reporter was reduced to tears as she bid farewell to Jake Speaking about his heartbreak, he said: 'It's still something you're always going to hold with you but at the same time I'm forever grateful for the time I did spend with Georgia. 'I still believe it was a real relationship no matter what people think watching it. It's something I will always cherish and that I'll always be happy I got to experience.' She's never been considered a wallflower. So it comes as no surprise to see Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage busting a move on Thursday. The 40-year-old, clad in a chic black frock, was spotted dancing to a Guy Sebastian track at the Sony Foundations Wharf 4 Ward fundraiser in Sydney. Letting loose! Samantha Armytage, 40, was seen busting a move to a Guy Sebastian track as she mingled with the crowd at the Sony Foundations Wharf 4 Ward fundraiser in Sydney on Thursday Samantha sported a chic black dress with a sleeveless design that exposed her bronzed arms. The garment came in at the waist before flaring outwards and finishing just below the knee. Keeping accessories to a minimum, the breakfast television presenter donned a pair of strappy pink heels, statement gold earrings, a silver watch and delicate midi-rings on her right hand. Black to basics: The Sunrise co-host sported a chic black dress with a sleeveless design that exposed her bronzed arms Effortless: The blonde beauty kept accessories to a minimum, donning a pair of statement gold earrings, a silver watch and delicate gold midi-rings on her right hand Allowing her semi-straight tresses to fall around her face and shoulders, Samantha opted for an elegant makeup palette of defined brows, lashings of mascara, a touch of bronzer and a glossy pink lip. Appearing in high spirits, the media personality was seen singing the lyrics to a Guy Sebastian track and showing off some of her dance moves. The event which was held by the Sony Foundation to raise money for youth cancer program You Can - saw various celebrities in attendance. Social: Samantha happily danced with the jovial crowd In style: The media personality made sure to jazz up her black attire with a pair of strappy pink heels Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy each took to the stage, and notables such as Bachelor's Keira Maguire, Bachelorette's Sam Johnston, and former Big Brother star Aisha Jade happily posed for photos. Samantha's appearance at the charity event comes a month after she returned from a vacation in Mykonos, Greece. The journalist holidayed at the picture-perfect destination for three weeks, where she celebrated turning the big 4-0. Curves ahead: The elegant frock skimmed over the star's hourglass curves She is the Australian model who is currently taking the world by storm. And on Wednesday, Bambi Northwood-Blyth returned to Sydney and attended the annual Sunglass Hut Summer Launch along with DJ Tigerlily. At the event, the 25-year-old put on a stylish display as she wore a tanned and beige playsuit, which featured a plunging neckline. On show: Bambi Northwood-Blyth put on a stylish display on Wednesday as she wore a tanned and beige playsuit to the Sunglass Hut Summer Launch in Sydney The sleeveless ensemble, which had a number of large frills, fell loosely over her slender figure and tied up tightly around her waist. The garment showcased her long toned legs as it finished at the upper thigh. Bambi added some height to her chosen look with a pair of cream peep-toed heels. Stunner: The sleeveless ensemble, which had a number of large frills and a plunging neckline, fell loosely over her slender figure and tied up tightly around her waist Solid: Also at the launch was DJ Tigerlily - real name Dara Hayes, who flaunted her rock hard abs as she opted for a black strapless tube top Stylish: She (M) paired the dark garment with a pair of white high-waisted flared slacks She wore her chocolate brown locks out and styled with a loose curl while parted to the left. The model also displayed her blemish-free complexion through her nude-base makeup, which included a tanned lipstick and a light brush of black mascara. Also at the launch was Australian disc jockey, Tigerlily - real name Dara Hayes. The Sydney-based musician flaunted her rock hard abs as she opted for a black strapless tube top and white high-waisted flared slacks. She tied her faded blue hair back into a slick bun, providing a clear view of her makeup face. Trendy: Reality TV star Lisa Clarke also left an impression as she opted for a classic black off-the-shoulder top, which she tucked into a matching long skirt All black: Model Erin Holland (L) also attended wearing a black plunging dress, while Taleisha Bo (R) also opted for an all-black look An eye full: Male model Luke Casey was also present, along with a female companion For the evening, she highlighted her eyes with a black eyeliner and mascara while defining her lips with a tanned lipstick. Reality TV star Lisa Clarke also left an impression as she opted for a classic black off-the-shoulder top, which she tucked into a matching long skirt. The skirt fell loosely over her legs and featured two high-splits at the front. She made sure to get into theme on the night, wearing a pair of dark shaded sunglasses in front of the picture wall while her blonde hair fell beside her face. Model Erin Holland also made an appearance, rocking a black plunging neckline gown - which she also wore to the Who Sexiest People Party later that night. She was reported to have earned herself a place in the upcoming Victoria's Secret presentation after a show staffer leaked the news. And Bella Hadid showed just why she was selected as she shared a clip from her audition video on Thursday, while confirming the news. Gushing in the caption, the 20-year-old model wrote: 'I can't believe it !!!!! There is no better feeling than being confirmed for the @victoriassecret fashion show !!! [sic]'. Scroll down for video Enviable: Bella Hadid showed off her stunning figure in her audition tape for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show as she confirmed her selection on Thursday She continued: 'What a dream come true..I feel so appreciative and excited! Thank you for this opportunity to walk next to some of the most inspiring and incredible women in the world! 'Thank YOU from the deepest part of my heart @ed_razek @johndavidpfeiffer @10magazine #MonicaMitro thank you @gothamgym for whipping me into shape and @imgmodels @annemarieleonie for supporting me always !! 'So much love !!!! #VSFashionShow [sic].' The height of fashion: Bella will be joining an array of top models at the show including Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Lily Aldridge She did it! Bella Hadid finally confirmed the news that she would be walking in the Victoria's Secret show as she took to Instagram on Thursday and shared a sweet clip from her audition Strutting her stuff: Bella showed she can walk the walk on her audition tape The news was leaked on Tuesday after a staffer at the lingerie giant, Jen Waldman, shared a snap of them both on social media saying: 'One of us made the fashion show cut.' It followed a day of call backs as the company whittled down its final choices. In a behind the scenes clip from the audition, Bella revealed she had 'no idea,' if she got the part, adding: 'I kinda feel like I black out in there. I'm happy with it, I think.' Celebration: Bella described her inclusion as being a 'dream come true' Nervous: In a behind the scenes clip from the audition, Bella revealed she had 'no idea,' if she got the part, adding: 'I kinda feel like I black out in there' Bella is following in the angel-wing footsteps of big sister Gigi who starred in her first VS show last year. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows normally take place in New York City but this year will take place in Paris. Whilst it is typically held in America, the runway show has appeared in London and Cannes. One to watch: Bella continued her successful streak as she scored another style hit while jetting into Paris' CDG airport hours earlier on Thursday She's on fire! Clad in a flame-printed co-ord, the 20-year-old model sheathed her phenomenal figure as she strolled through the terminal, but still looked effortlessly chic Eternal flame: Off the shoulder in design, Bella's jumper featured flames across the cuff which matched her printed trousers and complemented her delicate gold necklace All about the accessories: Opting for comfort as well as style, the Vogue covergirl donned a pair of black canvas shoes and carried a small cross body bag Bella's post came minutes after she jetted into Paris' CDG airport on Thursday. Clad in a flame-printed co-ord, the starlet sheathed her phenomenal figure as she strolled through the terminal, but still looked effortlessly chic. Off the shoulder in design, Bella's jumper featured flames across the cuff which matched her printed trousers. Brunette beauty: Adding to the glamour, she wore a pair of cat eye sunglasses and small gold hoops, whilst her raven coloured locks were slicked into a chic topknot Hell for leather: Bella was spotted leaving her Parisian hotel in casual but striking leggings Top of the crops: She showed off her toned tummy in the high necked white sweater Rising star: Bella has become one of the most in-demand models worldwide Opting for comfort as well as style, the Vogue covergirl donned a pair of black canvas shoes and carried a small cross body bag. Adding to the glamour, she wore a pair of cat eye sunglasses and small gold hoops, whilst her raven coloured locks were slicked into a chic topknot. Bella had a smile on her face as she strolled through the terminal, no doubt due to her landing a spot in the upcoming Victoria's Secret show. He's the baby-faced hunk, whose been pictured getting close to various celebrities. And Wednesday was no different for Jordan Barrett, 19, with the model enjoying an outing with former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, Carine Roitfeld, 62, in New York. The duo were pictured making their way to the exclusive launch of her collection at UNIQLO, where Australian model Jordan looked dapper in head-to-toe black. Suave: Jordan Barrett, 19, attended former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, Carine Roitfeld's collection launch in New York on Wednesday Sporting fall attire and a blank expression, the IMG model showed off his symmetrical facial features and neatly-styled blonde mane. He stepped out in black fitted jeans and a simple T-shirt, while paring the look with a designer coat. 'Seb Is jealous. My date @carineroitfeld,' he captioned an Instagram shot of the pair. Hunk: Sporting fall attire and a blank expression, the IMG model showed off his symmetrical facial features and neatly-styled blonde mane Friends in high places: Jordan and Carine, 62, shared a ride to the event The genetically blessed hunk was discovered at age 13 and he has since gone on to feature in fashion campaigns for the likes of Tom Ford and Versace. He's also covered American Vogue, which hailed him Super Model it Boy earlier this year. On a personal front, The Gold Coast native's social life is equally as active with the model often seen partying with famous socialites. Famous circle: Last year he was linked to DJ Paris Hilton, after the pair were pictured together at the Roberto Cavalli fashion show Hanging out: The pair looked cosy as they posed for a selfie Last year he was linked to DJ Paris Hilton, after the pair were pictured together at the Roberto Cavalli fashion show. '[He's] a bit of a free spirit, and a bit of a party animal ... he is not shy, he would have no problem chasing someone like Paris,' a source previously told The Sydney Morning Herald. He's also been photographed rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kate Moss, Megan Blake Irwin and Hailey Baldwin. Jordan is the son of on of convicted drug dealer Adrian Barrett. Success: The genetically blessed hunk was discovered at age 13 and he has since gone on to feature in fashion campaigns for the likes of Tom Ford and Versace Kate Bosworth was stylish as ever as she arrived at LAX on Wednesday. The 33-year-old actress opted for an effortless boho look in a floral dress as she was accompanied by husband Michael Polish on her way to catch a flight. Adding some edge to the feminine look the Still Alice star teamed the frock with chunky black boots with gold studding. Scroll down for video On the go: Kate Bosworth was spotted at LAX on Wednesday preparing to jet off somewhere with her husband Michael Polish The blonde beauty covered up with large sunglasses as she held hands with her spouse of three years. She carried some essentials in a small leather handbag which she dangled casually off her left arm. Michael, also an actor, rocked a thick bushy beard and opted for a darker wardrobe than Kate. Flower power: The 33-year-old actress wore a floral dress with some chunky studded boots Jet-setter: Kate was pictured landing in Los Angeles on Friday after her trip to New York The 45-year-old Big Sur star carried a backpack for the journey. Kate will soon be seen in BBC miniseries SS-GB which follows the exploits of a British homicide detective who must investigate a murder in a German-occupied England during World War II. She is is also set to star in The Domestics, which has been described as a thriller and a survival love story. A young husband and wife must fight to return home in a post-apocalyptic mid-western landscape plagued by brutal gangs. She's the transgender model who was once shockingly referred to by FHM as a 'thing.' And as Andreja Pejic, 25, continues to break barriers in the fashion world, the Australian beauty recently acknowledged just how far she's come after winning an award at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2016 event in Portugal last week. The leggy blonde took home the gong in the International Female Model category. Breaking barriers: As Andreja Pejic, 25, continues to break barriers in the fashion world, the transgender model recently acknowledged just how far she's come after winning a GQ award in Portugal last week 'On a scale of possibility receiving a GQ award would never have been very high for me but I'll certainly take it, run home to NY and show off to all my shady friends!' she recently gushed on Instagram. 'Thanks #GQportugal! Side note: those of you who have been with me for a while it's kinda cool to know that we've come a long way since that FHM magazine situation back in 2011, if you get my drift. #GQawards #GQ.' The Australian model hit the red carpet in a plunging brown Balmain wrap and mini dress, which cinched at the waist and revealed her trim pins. Acknowledgment: The leggy blonde took home the gong in the International Female Model category She paired the glamorous look with matching pointed-toe pumps, which elongated her shapely legs. Her luscious blonde locks were swept up in a sleek ponytail and she opted for dewy makup, consisting of bronzer, smokey eyes and a nude lip. The award comes five years after the US edition of lads' magazine FHM was forced to apologize to Andreja, after insulting her in an online profile. Stunning: The Australian model hit the red carpet in a plunging brown Balmain wrap and mini dress, which cinched at the waist and revealed her trim pins Andreja was shockingly referred to as 'blonde gender bender', a 'professional cross-dresser' and a 'thing.' The publication apologized fr the incident weeks later. 'Regrettably the copy accompanying Andreja's online entry wasn't subbed prior to going live,' the website wrote. Wow: She paired the glamorous look with matching pointed-toe pumps, which elongated her shapely legs 'Once we realised, we removed it immediately and apologised for any offence caused. The statement continued: 'FHM has spoken to the individual concerned and taken steps to ensure this can never happen again.' Andreja was discovered as a model at age 17, while working at McDonald's. 'On a scale of possibility receiving a GQ award would never have been very high for me but I'll certainly take it, run home to NY and show off to all my shady friends!' she recently gushed on Instagram She has since gone on to appear in various fashion campaigns for the likes of Jean-Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs. In 2014, the Bosnian-born beauty underwent gender reassignment surgery. Most women don't bother with make-up and wear jeans when they go on a grocery run. But not TV star Eva Longoria. The 41-year-old stunner was made up to the nines when she stopped by Whole Foods in New York City on Thursday. Scroll down for video She carries her own bags too! Eva Longoria got glammed up to shop at Whole Foods in NYC on Thursday She was also styled nicely in a black outfit and high-heeled boots. The Desperate Housewives vet even carried her own bags out of the store. She looked weighed down by the two paper bags, but then a nicely dressed driver stepped in to take them off her hands. Nice guy: Her driver stepped in and helped her with her bags as she left the supermarket. He also held an umbrella over her head on the rainy day The man also kindly held a large black umbrella over her head to keep the rain off. Eva kept warm against the chilly, New York weather in a chic, black overcoat, tied at the waist with a belt. The recently-married actress and clothing designer added extra height to her 5ft 2in frame with a pair of over-the-knee, high-heeled boots. What a good fellow! Eventually the driver took both bags so the star could wave to fans Keeping cosy: Eva kept warm against the chilly, New York weather in a chic, black overcoat, tied at the waist with a belt Having appeared on The Wendy Williams Show early that morning, Eva was nothing short of glamorous. Her hair was styled in loose waves and her make-up featured a bronzed, smokey eye. Eva stopped by the show to promote her line with The Limited. A preview: The actress, who was recently announced as co-executive producer of a new family comedy for ABC, hosted a fashion show for her viewers Keeping up appearances! Early in the morning, Eva stopped by The Wendy Williams Show to promote her line with The Limited The clothing: Her collection, From Work to Wine , ranges in price from $59.95 to $149.95 and features jeans, blouses, skirts, blazers, trousers and sweaters The actress, who was recently announced as co-executive producer of a new family comedy for ABC, hosted a fashion show for her viewers. Her collection, From Work to Wine, ranges in price from $59.95 to $149.95 and features jeans, blouses, skirts, blazers, trousers and sweaters. While on the show, the Devious Maids executive producer also discussed her recent marriage to Televisa president, Jose Baston. Love life reveal: While on the show, Devious Maids executive producer also discussed her recent marriage to Televisa president, Jose Baston, 48 Talk show host Wendy, 51, noticed Eva's stunning ruby ring and her matching earrings. Eva, noted that she 'didn't want traditional' when it came to her engagement ring. She noted that ruby is both her and her mum's 'favorite colour.' 'This was engagement,' she said pointing at her ring. 'This was Christmas,' she concluded, as she motioned towards her earrings. Newlyweds: The Texas native married her husband of five months in the backyard of their Mexico lake house on May 21, 2016. They are pictured in France on May 21, 2015 'He's a good man. He's a good man,' she noted. 'But let me tell you, I do pretty well myself,' she joked, to which both Wendy and Eva pointed out that women should be secure themselves. 'That's why I don't stop working. Cause I love working!' The Texas native married her husband of five months in the backyard of their Mexico lake house on May 21, 2016. Eva was later seen arriving back at her New York hotel, still sporting her elegant black ensemble. She returned from a sun-soaked break in Ibiza earlier this month. But it seems Lauren Pope is already missing the idyllic island as she posted a bikini throwback snap to her Instagram on Thursday. The 34-year-old showed off her incredibly slender and toned frame in a chic black bikini for fans as she sexily posed for the mirror selfie. Scroll down for video Abs-olutely incredible: Lauren Pope, 34, showed off her incredibly slender and toned frame in a chic black bikini for her Instagram fans on Thursday Dressed in a skimpy black two-piece, the former TOWIE star displayed her rippling washboard abs for all to see in the saucy shot. The bra top plunged into a deep V to flash a hint of her cleavage before splitting into separate straps underneath, resulting in further sexy cut-outs under her bust. She paired the top with a set of very skimpy matching bottoms, leaving most of her toned and incredibly tanned frame on show. Slender: Lauren is known for her enviable figure, admitting she went 'hardcore' in the gym after being left dissatisfied when she looked in the mirror Leaving her blonde tresses in loose, voluminous waves and dressing her face with simple bronzed make-up, the star looked every inch the beach babe as she cocked her hip for the cameras. Lauren jetted to Ibiza earlier this year to perform a string of DJ sets on the popular club scene there - having left TOWIE to venture other projects in 2015. As well as turning her hand to music, the Torquay-born blonde has also spent much of her new-found free time in the gym - often posting intense workouts and flaunting her impressive figure on her social media pages. Talking to MailOnline last week, the beauty said that she was delighted to be able to showcase her stunning figure on her Ibiza trip, after she worked hard in the gym following her first trip where she wasn't entirely happy with her physique. She said: 'When I went out to Ibiza at the start of the summer I didn't look my best. I was partying a lot and when you're drinking you're then hungover and the next day you eat more. 'I used unflattering pictures of myself from then to motivate myself to keep in shape and I went hardcore. Taken! Having achieved and maintained such an enviable figure, it is no surprise that Lauren has also found love once again - revealing to MailOnline she was dating again 'I now do four to five sessions in the gym and sometimes even six. I mix it up between weights and cardio.' Having achieved and maintained such an enviable figure, it is no surprise that Lauren has also found love once again - after a string of failed relationships with the likes of Kirk Norcross and Lewis Bloor. Speaking about her new man, she told MailOnline: 'It's in the early stages at the moment - he's a nice, normal guy and it's really nice that he's not famous. 'He messaged me on Instagram and we've been on four or five dates so far'. Lauren, who previously dated ladies' man Lewis Bloor, then joked: 'It's great that he's unknown because if he cheats on me the whole world won't know about it.' Success: Her career is also moving from strength to strength alongside her personal life, as the founder and designer of Hair Rehab London - a premium brand of clip in hair extensions 'I'm very happy to wait for the right man rather than pop one out with some random loser. I'm very independent and I think some people in general tend to settle too easily. 'It's hard to find the right man - there are a lot of a**holes out there,' she concluded honestly.' Her career is also moving from strength to strength alongside her personal life, as the founder and designer of Hair Rehab London - a premium brand of clip in hair extensions. She recently announced fellow reality star Olivia Buckland, who rose to fame on ITV2's Love Island earlier this year, was to be the face of the range's new 'dirty blonde' colour. Advertisement Lauren Conrad has treated fans to a peek inside her stunning marital home. The 30-year-old paid a cool $4.4 million for her new property in summer 2015 and has now unveiled the results of an incredible remodel. She opened the doors of her Pacific Palisades house for a photo shoot forMyDomaine.com. 'My favourite room': Lauren Conrad has given a sneak peek inside her beautifully renovated $4.4 million home in Pacific Palisades. She created a chef's kitchen with plenty of seating around a giant island because 'when you have people over, everyone ends up in the kitchen' The Spanish-style house stands on 1.5 acres in the Highlands area of the upscale neighborhood. 'I think when youre in LA, its nice to sort of step away to a place thats a little quieter at the end of the day,' Lauren told MyDomaine. 'So that was a major draw for us,' she added referring to her husband of two years, former musician and law school graduate William Tell, 36. TV free: The clothes designer, who has her own range at Kohl's, created her living room to be a peaceful space, using neutral colours - without any kind of electronic device 'It feels like a getaway, but its home. So I just wanted it to feel like a very relaxing space.' As soon as Lauren moved in, she redid the kitchen ('my favourite room in the house'), repainting the cabinets, adding white subway tile, and installing marble countertops, a La Cornue range and a giant island. 'When you have people over, everyone just ends up in the kitchen so I thought that this was great not only for entertaining but also for food preparation,' she dished. Media room: If she and her husband of two years, former musician and law school graduate William Tell, 36, want to watch TV they retreat to the plush sectional in the media room The clothes designer, who has her own range at Kohl's, also created her living room to be a peaceful space, using neutral colours. 'I love our living room because there are no electronics in there,' Lauren shared. 'We arent watching television or glued to our phones. We are talking or playing board games in front of the fire.' Her cosy media room includes a white sectional for lounging when she and William do watch TV. Spa time: Lauren's luxurious master bathroom boasts a huge white tub with stainless steel claw feet and a walk-in shower that would take two easily Building her empire: This home is part of her $20 million property portfolio The website also shared a shot of her luxurious master bathroom that boasts a huge white tub with stainless steel claw feet and a walk-in shower that would take two easily. All this adds up to the 'very calm' feel the celebrity said she wanted for her five-bedroom home. Her Pacific Palisades place adds to Lauren's growing $20 million property portfolio, according to Variety. Back in June 2015 the showbiz bible reported that she owns two houses in Laguna Beach, a duplex penthouse in Beverly Hills and a home in Brentwood. She put her career as a journalist on hold to support her husband and raise their children. But now Cassandra Thorburn is getting ready to re-enter the workforce following her split from Karl Stefanovic, with the help of controversial celebrity agent Max Markson. Confirming the news to Daily Mail Australia on Friday, Max said: 'Cass is an outstanding journalist with over 20 years experience in radio, television and of course writing.' Scroll down for video Relaunch: Cassandra Thorburn (left) has signed with renowned celebrity agent Max Markson following her split from Karl Stefanovic (right) Confirmed: The owner of Markson Sparks, Max, confirmed Cassandra's deal with the agent to Daily Mail Australia on Friday The Sydney PR king went on to explain that the mother-of-three will be 'using her experience as an opinionated columnist and on-air TV and radio presenter' to relaunch her career. It comes after the 44-year-old broke her silence on her split from the Today host in an emotional Facebook post. The post read: 'Apparently Today Show finally won a year. This took a huge toll on my family and I, and Im congratulating myself today for all the effort that went into making that [ratings] happen. Under fire: Cassandra was forced to defend herself after she shared a Facebook post, where she congratulated herself for contributing to the success of Karl's show 'The suggestions, the story ideas, the constant counselling of questions for years. 'I'm giving myself a pat on the back tonight, as I know many people will also know how much effort I put into it,' she continued. The former journalist was forced to defend herself, telling the Sydney Morning Herald: 'I didn't think there was anything wrong with saying the Today show has won the ratings and I am going to have a drink to celebrate the contribution I made.' The cause: Her defensive comments comes after Channel Nine's Today show reached number on the ratings, beating rival station Channel Seven's Sunrise 'There was no malice intended. This is the father of my three children... and my husband has always acknowledged me. I don't need acknowledgement from anyone else.' During the interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Cassandra refused to comment on her split with Karl but told the newspaper the separation came as 'a shock'. Despite her marriage breakdown playing out in the public-eye, Cassandra insisted she was now feeling 'good' about the future. Helping hand: She told: 'I didn't think there was anything wrong with saying the Today show has won the ratings and I am going to have a drink to celebrate the contribution I made' The day earlier, she described the break-up as 'one of the hardest times of mine and my children's lives' in a passionate open letter published by Popsugar. Karl also seemingly broke his silence on the alleged split last week while hosting the Channel Nine breakfast show. During a segment on Thursday's Today show, he jumped in when co-host Lisa Wilkinson asked viewers: 'How much do you think your partner is worth?' 'Heaps,' Karl quickly responded. It comes after a source close to Karl and his wife told New Idea, Cass plans on fighting to keep the $7 million mansion, which the pair purchased a month before splitting. No shocker: Earlier in the month, it was reported 'no-one' at Channel Nine were surprised by the news of Karl and Cassandra's split Earlier in the month, the publication also reported 'no-one' at Karl's workplace were surprised by the news of Karl and Cassandra's split. 'They have been having issues for ages, and no-one at Nine was surprised when they heard they had split,' a source told the magazine. Karl has recently been spotted on and off air without his wedding ring amid reports of a marriage breakdown. He has also reportedly moved out of his Sydney family home and is staying with his younger brother Peter Stefanovic at his Bondi apartment. The couple share three children - Jackson, 16, Ava, 11, and 10-year-old River. She took a recent step away from the spotlight in order to work through her marriage problems with husband Kieran Hayler. But as Katie Price continues to repair the residual damage caused by his infidelity with two of her closest friends, the couple made a surprise appearance at Londons SSE Arena on Thursday evening. The pair were joined by Junior Savva, 11, and nine-year old Princess Tiami Katies children with former husband Peter Andre for a Halloween themed haunted house party at the sprawling venue, hosted by KISS FM. Scroll down for video Night out: Katie Price made an appearance at a a Halloween themed haunted house party hosted by KISS FM at SSE Arena in north London on Thursday evening Katie, 38, proved to be an eye-catching sight despite covering up in a busty black top as she posed for photos shortly after arriving ahead of the exclusive event. The former glamour model added to her look with a pair of matching black leather leggings, while vivid animal print trainers rounded things off. In keeping with her low key look Katie styled her hair with a simple centre parting and her make-up selected from a natural colour palette. Quality time: She was joined by husband Kieran Hayler and her two children with ex Peter Andre, daughter Princess Tiami and son Junior Savva Mummy on the march: The former glamour model led the way as she guided her children into the venue on Thursday evening Step by step: Katie and Kieran are continuing to repair the residual damage caused by his infidelity with two of her closest friends Like mother, like daughter: Katie walked hand-in-hand with her eldest daughter Princess Walk on the wild side: Katie donned a pair of leopard print Adidas trainers for the concert Looking ripped: Former stripper Kieran sported a pair or torn jeans and box fresh white high-tops for his appearance at the Halloween party The TV personality still sported the golden tan she picked up during a recent trip to Barbados with Kieran, 29, after relinquishing her work commitments in a bid to focus on their marriage. Katie and former stripper Kieran headed to the stunning island - where they were first married in 2013 - in order to work on their recent relationship difficulties. A source told The Sun: 'She and Kieran have left the kids at home and intend to work on their marriage.' The star recently revealed on an episode of Loose Women that the tour for her autobiography Reborn, and discussion of her cheating husband, had become too much for her to bear. Hard to miss: Katie proved to be an eye-catching sight in a busty black top that accentuated her prodigious breasts Cheeky: Katie flashed her pert derriere in a pair of Freddy jeans while getting into her waiting car Her chariot awaits: Katie slipped into her waiting car alongside husband Kieran All smiles: The busy mum beamed as she sat next to her husband Bronzed: The Loose Women panellist still sported the golden tan she picked up during a recent trip to Barbados with Kieran Careless whisper: Kieran whispered into Katie's ear as they watched acts perform at the gig Love-up: Katie looked lovingly at hubby Kieran as daughter Princess and son Junior Andre were immersed in the gig Happy out: Junior and Princess looked spellbound by the concert Kieran had embarked on affairs with her best friends Jane Pountney and Chrissy Thomas while Katie was pregnant with their second child together - an issue she discusses in her new book. She admitted she now aims to heal her heartbreak and marriage tension away from the public eye with couples therapy sessions and quality time together - such as their Caribbean break. She explained: 'We had therapy at the time (of Kieran's cheating) and I thought I was over it... The past two weeks, I've been back on my book tour, it's reopened new wounds. I've had to talk about it.' Keeping it simple: In keeping with her low key look Katie styled her hair with a simple centre parting and her make-up selected from a natural colour palette Finishing touches: The former glamour model added to her look with a pair of matching black leather leggings, while vivid animal print trainers rounded things off Making history on The Apprentice is a rarity after eleven eventful series and so many candidates bizarre behaviour. But Aleksandra King achieved it after only five minutes of the latest episode when she became the first contestant to ever leave before a task had even started. It was just a pity it was of her own volition rather than Lord Sugars decision, and that she didnt look in the mirror, point at her reflection, and tell herself Im fired! Scroll down for video A first for everything: Aleksandra King made The Apprentice history after only five minutes of the latest episode when she became the first contestant to ever leave before a task had even started Instead she told her colleagues: I just want to go home to my kids and my husband. Now. Right now. Perhaps it was because Aleksandra had deprived him of the chance to say his famous phrase than Lord Sugar was not exactly sympathetic. On the positive front Ive saved myself a cab fare, he told the others later. As I said to you a few weeks ago, the process is very, very tough and if you cant hack it, get out ! And thats exactly what Aleksandra did. Team Nebula had just begun discussing Grainnes nomination to be Project Manager for the task at prestigious London store Liberty when Aleksandra made her announcement. Master of her own fate: It was just a pity it was of her own volition rather than Lord Sugars decision, and that she didnt look in the mirror, point at her reflection, and tell herself Im fired! Her highlight: It was certainly the only thing Aleksandra had done of any note Guys I just have to say something, she interrupted as if she couldnt wait to contribute her ideas about selling scarves and handbags. Im going to leave the process. Im just not enjoying it. Is this a joke? demanded Grainne, the team leader treating her as a traitor. Mukai was even less sympathetic, worried more about how his own prospects would be affected. Were just starting a task, he chastised her. Its not exactly the ideal time to leave. Looking out for number one: Mukai was worried more about how his own prospects would be affected Only she knows: Why Aleksandra had waited until the start of the task, having got up at 5 in the morning and left the house to be briefed by Lord Sugar, wasnt clear Why Aleksandra had waited until the start of the task, having got up at 5 in the morning and left the house to be briefed by Lord Sugar, wasnt clear. She seemed to have suddenly realised I have found the process overwhelming and stressful. It was certainly the only thing Aleksandra had done of any note and even then walking out at the end rather than the beginning would have made more impact, as Scott Saunders proved with his sensational exit. Despite Aleksandras action it was one of the shows more boring nights or because of it. After her dramatic departure in virtually the opening scene, everything else was disappointing. The losing side: Admittedly Grainne somehow managed to lead Team Nebula to defeat even though she had not only worked in departments stores like Liberty but in Liberty itself For once the traditional (comical) fights and feuds between colleagues were kept to a minimum and were annoyingly well mannered. Even the most eccentric candidates were danger of behaving almost normally. Yes, even Jessica and Karthik. Above all both teams were uncharacteristically efficient, failing to mess anything up catastrophically, and returning to the boardroom after two days selling having made 10,000 profit between them quite easily and impressively. In short it was a disaster. Critics of the show complain that the contestants on The Apprentice are entertainingly idiotic buffoons rather than astute, ambitious, business boffins but when its like this, you can see why it isnt. For the most part everything passed without incident. Or interest. Bland: For the most part everything passed without incident. Or interest Admittedly Grainne somehow managed to lead Team Nebula to defeat even though she had not only worked in departments stores like Liberty but in Liberty itself. Her stubborn refusal to follow Mukais advice and attract punters by putting Rebecca in their window display was crucial. Perhaps she thought she would have the opposite effect, or that it might look like Amsterdams red light district. Appointing Karthik to be part of the sub-team offering wealthy customers a Personal Shopping service was certainly bizarre. What are loafers? he asked Frances. And what is swede? Sadly these turned out to be suede shoes rather than loafers made of swede. Not his strong point: Appointing Karthik to be part of the sub-team offering wealthy customers a Personal Shopping service was certainly bizarre The boardroom was also unusually dull. Lord Sugars decision to get rid of Mukai Noiri was inevitable given it was Mukais third time in the firing line. Mukai, you know your Helmut Lang from your Vera Wang, he told the bag expert, showing off. But when you talk to me I feel Im listening to a consultant dishing out advice but never actually doing anything himself, Sugar snarled, before dispatching him. Even the traditionally barbed parting shot was mild albeit wrong - as Mukai departed in the back of the taxi musing I didnt feel that I put a foot wrong. The only plus point from such a dud was that it cannot last and the candidates will be back to their ludicrous, laughable, inept, best (or worst) next week. You're fired! Lord Sugars decision to get rid of Mukai Noiri was inevitable given it was Mukais third time in the firing line Here are the highlights from this episode. Understatement of the Week award Hes a little bit arrogant - Paul on Mukai Best Product of the Week award Umbrellas that change colour in the rain Sales Pitch of the Week award At the end of the day what is money compared to happiness? They say happiness is priceless. This handbag is a mere 1050 Karthik nearly makes a sale Tribute of the Week award Karthik has suddenly become a fashion guru and believe it or not the customer is accepting it ! Claude Littner Insult of the Week award Someone might have mistaken you for the store detective Lord Sugar to JD on his contribution to the Personal Shopping team Philosophy of the Week award I believe the ability of a fish should not be judged on how well it can climb a tree. Monkeys climb trees. Fish swim in the sea Karthik. Who else? Philosophy of the Week award 2 He always says trust me. Anyone who says trust me, I dont trust them Courtney on Sofiane Words Not To Say To Lord Sugar or on The Apprentice award You admit that you struggle working with people who think differently to you. Especially if they are in a position of power above me - Karthik to Lord Sugar Break It To Him Gently award That colour on me is hideous. I hate this one. And that one. And that will make me look like a fat art teacher - Personal Shopper customer on Frans selection. Apart from that she loved them Missed Opportunity of the Week award Im a little bit upset that we dont have Rebecca sitting in the window - Mukai Confused Candidate of the Week award Cool For Cats doesnt make any sense! What is that? Explain yourself. Cool For Cats doesnt make sense! - Samuel speaks for anyone under the age of 30 who has never heard of Squeeze Natural Born Leader of the Week award Im a natural born leader. Im definitely going to put myself forward. Did you put yourself forward before? Yeah of course I did.... Did I ? - Sofiane demonstrates true leadership qualities. Worst Gag of the Week award You spent two years selling bras. Did you give much support to the team? Lord Sugar to Rebecca. Her mother Belinda was absent from The Bachelorette's grand finale episode as she battles an aggressive pancreatic cancer. And Georgia Love, 28, has spoken about her mother's health struggles for the first time since the finale aired, revealing to KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O on Friday that there will be 'difficult times ahead'. Jackie asked Georgia whether her mother was OK during the interview, prompting Georgia to make the heartbreaking admission: 'No, she's not really.' Scroll down for video 'Difficult times ahead': The Bachelorette's Georgia Love, 27, spoke about her mother Belinda's struggles with pancreatic cancer on Friday during an interview with KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O 'We're all just being as strong and positive as we can be in this situation,' she explained. Georgia also thanked her newly-revealed boyfriend Lee Elliott for his support in recent weeks, saying: 'So the only thing I'm really thankful for is that I've finally got Lee to be by my side through all of this because it's been extremely difficult going through all this. 'Just having him on the other end of the phone,' she sighed. 'We're all just being as strong and positive as we can be in this situation': Belinda's cancer battle prevented her from travelling to Singapore for the Bachelorette's grand finale episode 'Just having him on the other end of the phone': Georgia also thanked her newly-revealed boyfriend Lee Elliott for his support in recent weeks 'We've got a lot of difficult times ahead,' the brunette beauty added. Earlier this week, Channel Ten confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that Belinda had been admitted to palliative care. She was receiving chemotherapy while Georgia filmed season two of the popular reality series. Georgia recently revealed that she, unlike other contestants, had been given permission to speak to her mother while she filmed the show due to her ill health. Cancer struggle: Earlier this week Channel Ten confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that Belinda (far left) had been admitted to palliative care Speaking to WHO magazine, the journalist said: 'The circumstances were unique. So the production team was very good with keeping me in touch with mum.' Despite the leeway provided to Georgia during filming, the reality star confirmed to WHO that she was banned from discussing the contestants with her mother. 'Advice was off-limits, but I was able to talk to her about her health, our family and our home,' she confirmed. 'The circumstances were unique': Georgia recently revealed that she, unlike other contestants, had been given permission to speak to her mother while she filmed the show due to her ill health She's set to welcome her second child via a surrogate based in the US. And Sally Obermeder will be embarking on maternity leave two weeks earlier than planned, with her last day on The Daily Edition being Friday, The Daily Telegraph reports. 'I'm going a little earlier because I'm finding there is a lot of stuff to organise,' the 43-year-old revealed. Scroll down for video Making preparations: Sally Obermeder is set to start her maternity leave on Friday, two weeks earlier than planned, to fly to the US for the upcoming surrogate birth of her second child Sally added: 'The logistics of having a birth in another country, organising formula, prams and to get everything organised and sorted has been more than I initially thought.' The TV presenter went on to explain that she initially thought she could continue working 'right up until the birth' but didn't consider the planning that would be involved leading up to her baby's arrival. The brunette beauty has been co-hosting the Channel Seven morning talk show alongside Tom Williams since 2013. Stepping in: Sarah Cumming (middle) will be co-hosting with Tom Williams (left) in Sally's absence for the next year Taking a break: Sally has been co-hosting the Channel Seven morning talk show for the past three years Sarah Cumming will be acting as co-host for the next year. In August, Sally confirmed she's expecting her second child with husband Marcus. Taking to Instagram, Sally shared a photo of herself and Marcus with their five-year-old daughter Annabelle, who's holding up a sign confirming the news. Baby news: The 43-year-old confirmed she's having a second child via a surrogate with a sweet Instagram snap in August 'I'm going to be a big sister,' it read. Sally, who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2011, revealed to New Idea previously that she could only have another child through surrogacy. She said doctors had warned her that another pregnancy could risk her life. Thrilled: The TV presenter's doctors warned her of the dangers of becoming pregnant again after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2011 'I've been told in no uncertain terms that it's far too dangerous for me to be pregnant again, in terms of the cancer returning,' she told the publication. 'I acknowledge that I'm extremely lucky to have one child ... But the yearning and desire to be a mum again is so strong and it has not passed,' she said. 'Before I was sick I always pictured I would have two or three children, if I was lucky enough, and I still want that for Annabelle.' Jennifer Lopez seems to be aging backwards. The 47-year-old songstress posted three selfies on Wednesday, looking youthful with minimal makeup, and rocking a fur-trimmed hoodie. Soon the mother-of-two will be trading in the New York cold for the Miami sun as she heads to perform a free concert for Hillary Clinton's campaign. Scroll down for video Let's hope it's faux: Jennifer Lopez looked vibrant underneath her fuzzy hood in this Instagram snap shared on Thursday 'Fall but feels like winter,' she captioned the up-close-and-personal shot. The mother-of-two opted for flattering, minimal makeup that gave her a youthful glow. A heavy-handed application of mascara enhanced the brunette beauty's light brown eyes and a swipe of lip gloss showed off her ample pout. Family bond: The songstress smilesd as she posef with her male backup dancers Goodbye rain: The international pop star and her feamle back up dancers In two of the selfies, J-Lo smiled and posed with her beloved backup dancers, all of which were also dressed to brave the cold New York weather. The international pop star and her back up dancers will be packing their winter clothes away and heading to sunny Miami this Saturday. They will join presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to perform a free benefit concert. A-List support: Lopez has long supported Clinton, seen here on October 19 The starlet has been a longtime supporter of Clinton's campaign for president. She even featured the presidential hopeful's 1995 women's empowerment speech in her Ain't Your Mama music video. This Saturday, October 29 at 7:30 pm, Lopez will be declaring a big 'I'm With Her' while performing a free GOTV concert for the Clinton campaign in Miami. Powerful friends: As far as celebrity endorsements go, Clinton has the upper hand The Democratic nominee will be joining the All I Have performer onstage at the Bayfront Park Amphitheater to encourage fans to take advantage of early voting in Florida. Tickets are being distributed by Clinton's South Florida campaign offices and can also be requested online at hillaryclinton.com/jlo. Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Meryl Streep and more have also sided with the presidential hopeful. She usually plays it safe in the style stakes. But Lara Stone, 32, opted for a rather risque number to attend Edward Enninful's VIP dinner in Mark's Club, Mayfair on Thursday night, donning a perilously plunging black dress. The model showed off a little more than she bargained for in the low-cut number, narrowly avoiding spilling out of her dress before flashing her Spanx as she exited her taxi. Scroll down for video Seriously risque: Lara Stone, 32, opted for a rather risque number to attend Edward Enninful's VIP dinner in Mark's Club, Mayfair on Thursday night, donning a perilously plunging dress Oops! The model showed off a little more than she bargained for in the low-cut number, narrowly avoiding spilling out of her dress before flashing her Spanx as she exited her taxi Lara was joined by fellow model Irina Shayk, 30, also showcasing plenty of cleavage in a similar slinky number. The two dresses were knee-length with long sleeves, but Irina's fabric had a satin sheen, while Lara's matte number clinched at the waist and was embellished with a belt. Irina upped the glam stakes with a pair of black heels with chunky metallic detailing and a sleek black clutch. Meanwhile Lara opted for more subtle strappy heels, which she accessorized with a black and gold Sophie Hulme clutch bag. The Russian beauty tied her brunette locks back from a middle parting, while Lara let her blonde tresses fall freely over her shoulders. Busty: Lara went braless in her very low-cut dress, which boasted an extreme plunging neckline Helping hand: The blonde beauty was given a little assistance as she clambered out of her taxi Daring to bare: Lara ensured she was the centre of attention in her dramatic dress Effortless: The blonde beauty recovered from her malfunction very speedily Battle of the boobs: It was a case of who wore it best for Irina Shayk, 30, and Lara, 32, on Thursday night Making an entrance: The stunning duo attracted plenty of attention as they pulled up in their car Following his lead: Irina made her way to the venue holding hands with a male pal Stunning: Irina upped the glam stakes with a golden clutch and black heels with chunky metallic detailing Glamorous: Irina's knee-length number had a satin sheen Irina decorated her eyes with a peach shadow and opted for a similar tone on her plump lips. Mother-of-one Lara favoured dark eyeliner and pale pink lips. Inside the plush venue, Irina looked to be having a blast as she posed with fashion trailblazer Enninful, who organised the event to celebrate being made an OBE earlier in the day. It was an occasion to see and be seen as the likes of Madonna, Naomi Campbell and Winnie Harlow were also in attendance. Glam: Lara's blonde mane was coiffed a sleek and straight style and she opted for nude lipstick and heavy kohl lining her eyes She's got some front! Lara ensured she was the centre of attention in her dramatic dress, which she accessorized with a black Sophie Hulme clutch Busty display: Lara's dress clinched at the waist and was embellished with a belt Life's a drag: Lara stepped outside to have a cigarette Made-up: The leggy blonde opted for dark eyeliner and pale pink lips Flawless: The Russian beauty tied her brunette locks back from a middle parting Man of the hour: Inside the plush venue, Irina looked to be having a blast as she posed with fashion trailblazer Enninful This year alone, Irina has covered Vogue Turkey, Vogue Japan, and Vogue Germany, and in the past has taken the front of the brand's Mexico, Spain, and Brazil publications. Lara split from husband David Walliams in February 2015 - who she has three-year-old son Alfred with - after six years together. Since being single, Lara went public with one boyfriend in February; a fellow model Andrew Gray. Model material: Irina lit up the night as she stood outside the venue holding her hands in front of herself Who wore it breast? Both beauties showcased plenty of cleavage as they went braless in the stylish ensembles Side by side: The striking pair no doubt turned plenty of heads on their way to the venue Here come the girls: The models brought plenty of glamour to proceedings Congratulations: Edward proudly displayed his OBE medal on the breast of his jacket Ravishing: Irina decorated her eyes with a peach shadow and opted for a similar tone on her plump lips But things seemed to fizzle out fast since she stopped posting about the hunk not long after their Instagram debut. She also seemed to be getting close to 19-year-old Australian Jordan Barrett in May when they were pictured cosying up after the Vogue 100 Gala. But most recently, she appeared smitten with wealthy art dealer Helly Nahmad after sightings on numerous London dates. Making a statement: Adwoa Aboah (left) rocked quirky red earrings and a pale pink pinstriped blazer She has managed to keep her exciting news secret for six months. Now Shahs Of Sunsets Asa Soltan Rahmati has revealed that she and her longtime love Jermaine Jackson Jr. are expecting their first baby. The excited 40-year-old actress shared the happy news with People magazine on Thursday. Their secret's out: Shahs Of Sunsets Asa Soltan Rahmati revealed that she and Jermaine Jackson Jr. are expecting their first child in an Instagram she posted on Thursday 'I feel amazing,' she dished. 'Being pregnant has been such a beautiful experience.' Asa also took to Instagram to give her 533,000 followers her fabulous news. She posted a snap of herself in a tight black dress that showed off her baby bump as she snuggled up to Jermaine, 39, who is the son of the late Michael Jackson's brother, and the nephew of Janet Jackson, 50, who is also expecting her first child. Asa captioned it: 'My beautiful lovers, I'm so excited to finally share with you that my Beloved soulmate Jermaine and I are expecting our first baby. We are 6 months pregnant. Before the baby bump: The 40-year-old reality star showed off her curvaceous shape in a figure-hugging red dress at the iHeart Radio Music Awards in Los Angeles in January 'This has been the happiest news of our lives and we are beyond excited and graceful. Some of you know about our relationship and others do not as we are deeply private with our relationship. I wanted to share with you all this beautiful news.' The couple don't yet know the sex of their little one, but Asa said in her Instagram blast: 'Can you lovers guess boy or girl?! We will find out soon,' adding emojis of hearts and babies. 'We decided to wait a little longer to find out the gender,' Asa explained to People. 'We have a few names in mind, but were waiting to meet the baby to actually name him or her!' Longterm lovers: She and Jermaine, pictured at an event in Beverly Hills in 2014, first met in high school when they were 15. They have been an item for six years The Bravo star and Jackson scion have been dating for six years but they have known each other since they were 15. They met in high school after the Iranian refugee moved to the US with her family. Meanwhile, Asa dished to People: 'We are so excited and Jermaine will be the absolute best father.' Jermaine returned the compliment saying: 'Asa is an incredible person; she will be a wonderful mother.' Matty Johnson was left heartbroken by Georgia Love during The Bachelorette finale on Thursday, when she revealed she was in love with Lee Elliot instead. And devastated fans have taken extreme measures to see if the situation can be rectified. The Queensland Police Service Unit has responded to viewers online asking for its assistance, tweeting in the early hours of Friday morning: 'We're aware of these disturbing reports. Working to determine if we have jurisdiction & why it took an hour to filter in #TheBacheloretteAu'. Scroll down for video Devastated: Matty Johnson, 29, was left heartbroken after being dumped by former news anchor Georgia Love during the show's finale on Thursday night At your service: The Queensland Police Service Unit has responded to viewers online asking for its assistance, tweeting this in the early hours of Friday morning The amusing tweet was posted in response to an initial message by a viewer of the show, reading: 'Hello, @QPSmedia I have some information on a robbery. There's a bloke called #mattyj and he's been robbed blind. #BachelorAU'. On Thursday night, Matty was left heartbroken after being brutally dumped by the former news anchor and the Sydney Marketing Manager admitted that he was 'devastated.' 'I'm so sorry because you are so amazing. And I've really genuinely loved every single moment that we've had ... And you deserve... ..someone who's gonna give you back everything that you give and more,' a tearful Georgia said. Rejection: 'I'm so sorry because you are so amazing. And I've really genuinely loved every single moment that we've had ... And you deserve... ..someone who's gonna give you back everything that you give and more,' a tearful Georgia said As Matty tried his best to keep his composure, he expressed his disappointment. 'I guess it's.....it's, you know... I'm absolutely devastated,' he said nervously. Viewers watched the charming reality star lean over in agony as he struggled to process Georgia's words. With his hands resting on his thighs, Matty struggled to breathe as Georgia gently explained that she had instead chosen fellow contestant Lee Elliot. As the pair stood face-to-face in Singapore, he eventually put his own pain aside to wish the beauty well. The exact moment Matty's heart broke? The contestant doubles over as he struggles to come to terms with the news 'You know, this... this has been the most.....unforgettable experience. And... ..not because we've been on these incredible dates, not because I've done things that I've never done before, but just because I've got to hang out with you and get to know you and... You're the reason this has been so unforgettable,' he said. 'I wanted to meet someone here who I thought I could spend the rest of my life with and... ..I have. But... Yeah, it just... ..it sucks you don't feel the same way. He continued: '..I'm so happy you... ..you've found what you were looking for. So... And I'm sure you're gonna make Lee the happiest man in the world. And I wish you guys all the best.' Disappointed: 'I guess it's.....it's, you know... I'm absolutely devastated,' he said nervously Humble: As the pair stood face-to-face in Singapore, Matty put his own pain aside to wish 28-year-old Georgia well, after she revealed that she had chosen fellow contestant Lee Elliot Matty admitted that he was hesitant to leave her after building such a strong bond with the brunette beauty, which prompted her to cry. 'I really don't want to let you go. See you, Georgia Love,' he said softly. 'See you, Matty J,' she said between sobs. Bye: A heartbroken Matty made a tearful exit with his head in his hands Tough: Georgia cried as she watched Matty J walk away On Wednesday, fans watched Matty J drop the L-word during a cheeky swim with Georgia. On Twitter, people cited the exact moment they thought Matty J's heart broke. 'When he bent over that was the exact moment his heart broke in two,' one cited. 'That was brutal. I can see his heart breaking,' another lamented. How could she? On Wednesday, fans watched Matty J drop the L-word during a cheeky swim with Georgia Reality sinking in: He appeared tense after being dumped by the beauty Elsewhere, viewers vented their outrage despite Lee having been a favourite to win throughout the Channel Ten dating series. 'Why do people on the bachelor and Bachelorette always pick the wrong people like OMG wtf,' one seemingly unimpressed user wrote. 'Honestly heartbroken/mad watching that bachelorette final #wrongguy,' another tweeted. 'Wow never did I think that an episode of the bachelorette could break my heart like this #BacheloretteAU #teammatty,' one tweet read. Happily ever after: Georgia picked Lee Elliot as her winner Jim Steinman (pictured at home) created the music and lyrics for the album Bat Out Of Hell Jim Steinman doesnt keep live bats. In fact, he has never actually seen one, in the flesh. But he does have a mechanical bat, which he keeps in a cage. And he has a lot of bat paraphernalia, which he keeps in what he refers to as the Great Room at his Connecticut home but which others call the Bat Cave. Whatever you want to call it, its an amazing space: high ceilinged, with sofas scattered with spider-web patterned cushions. There is a lot of vampire stuff; crystal sculptures; imaginatively designed glittery skulls; an immense papier mache throne; Wagner collectibles from Bayreuth and the Yamaha piano at which he composed some of his rock phenomenon, Bat Out Of Hell. Steinman created the music and lyrics for the album, which made a star out of Meatloaf, and which celebrates its 40th anniversary next year with a stage musical version: telling the story of rebellious lovers Strat (named for the Fender Stratocaster guitar) and Raven. (The world premiere will be at the Manchester Opera House, with previews starting on February 17.) He had been studying audition footage when I visited him and later officially approved director Jay Scheibs choice of leads. Pennsylvania native Andrew Polec will play the angry youth Strat (Polec describes him as a teenager who just chases what he wants: girls, motorbikes, and lots of rock n roll). And Belfast-born Christina Bennington will play Raven, the teen willing to risk everything to be with Strat the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. This is raw teenage love and lust and the struggle between parents and expectations, said Bennington, who was in the Sheffield Theatre production of Showboat which closed recently at the New London Theatre. The album Bat Out Of Hell turned Meat Loaf (pictured on stage) into a worldwide star After its run in Manchester, Bat Out of Hell will wing its way down to the Coliseum in London for a limited run from June 5 through July 22. Steinman always meant Bat Out Of Hell to wind up in theatres. No one believed in it for the stage, then, he told me, wistfully. When the album came out it was an instant hit; and since then has sold in excess of forty million discs and a few million downloads. It still moves a staggering 200,000 units a year. There are few adults who havent heard Meatloafs heroic tenor belting out Paradise By The Dashboard Light, You Took the Words Right Out Of My Mouth and Two Out Of Three Aint Bad. Steinman, who was sporting a spiked dog collar and a spooky designer T-shirt emblazoned with a shadowy skull when I dropped by, described the title track as the most dangerous song to drive by. He added, proudly: Its also the most karaoked number; the most sung in the shower and the most sung at funerals. Bat Out of Hell started as a sci-fi version of Peter Pan. Its a story about kids who never grow up; and who fight authority, Steinman said. With its young lovers and warring gangs, it also channels Romeo And Juliet. The songs are anthems to the essence of rock and roll, in a world that loves passion and rebellion. Steinman always meant Bat Out Of Hell to wind up in theatres. No one believed in it for the stage, then, he told me, wistfully All the forces that influenced Steinmans early years can be found in the Bat Out Of Hell numbers. Little Richard, Jerry Lewis, Elvis obviously! and that led to the Beatles, the Stones and the Kinks. Theatre was a vital component. When Jim was nine years old his parents rather daringly took him to Samuel Becketts Waiting For Godot, starring John Lahr, the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard Of Oz film. He was enthralled. Not long afterwards he saw the US premiere of Long Days Journey Into Night (I cried my eyes out); watched Glenda Jackson and Ian Richardson in Peter Brooks production of Marat/Sade; and caught some of Edward Albees early works. The dramas infused him with a sensibility about broken families, and troubled offspring. He loved classical music, too; particularly Wagner. But when he mixed them all together, and came up with Bat, not everyone was impressed. Super producer Clive Davis dismissed the work, saying Steinman didnt know the basic rules of songwriting. He told me the songs didnt have a hells chance of being published, he recalled, in his slightly halting speech the result of a stroke. Despite Daviss criticism, the first album made millions, although Steinman insisted very little came to him (he told me he wound up out of pocket to the tune of $23 million). Andrew Polec and Christina Bennington pose for portraits as the lead cast for the musical When he noticed me eyeing up the art in the Bat Cave he shook his head and said: This is the house that Bat Out of Hell TWO built! He and Meatloaf didnt speak for years, because they were arguing over royalties and credits. He was just Marvin Lee Aday! he exclaimed. I totally created the Meatloaf persona. They did work together again in 1993, and collaborated on a Bat-related LP, which was released in September. At one point, Harvey Weinstein wanted to produce an animated screen version; but he turned him down. I love dance and you cant really dance in animation, he said. And you cant do sex in animation, either. Steinmans manager David Sonenberg and rock producer and promoter Michael Cohl have joined forces to help Steinman finally realise his stage dreams for Bat Out Of Hell which, as this column first told you several months ago, will be officially launched in London next week. Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton will play Ravens parents Falco and Sloane; and the cast will also include Aran MacRae, Danielle Steers, Dom Hartley-Harris and Giovanni Spano. Roles will also be played by Patrick Sullivan, Jemma Alexander, Emily Benjamin, Stuart Boother, Georgia Carling, Natalie Chua, Jonathan Cordin, Amy Di Bartolomeo, Jordan Lee Davies, Olly Dobson, Hannah Ducharme, Phoebe Hart, Rosalind James, Michael Naylor, Eve Norris, Tim Oxbrow, Andrew Patrick-Walker, Benjamin Purkiss, Anthony Selwyn, Courtney Stapleton and Ruben Van Keer. Visit www.batoutofhellmusical.com for ticket details in Manchester and London. The Tom-Toms are heading straight into the West End The message from the Tom-Toms thats Stoppard and Hollander is that the hit production of their play, Travesties, is transferring into the West End. Unless you were smart enough to have booked several months ago, its virtually impossible to get a ticket to see the scorching revival of Stoppards play, which stars Hollander at the Menier Chocolate Factory. However, take heart, because David Babani, who runs the Chocolate Factory, has found a theatre in the West End into which to move Travesties. Tom Hollander plays Henry Carr a British civil servant, working in Switzerland, who finds himself at a fascinating historical intersection and delivers a masterclass in comic timing He told me that he and producer Sonia Friedman have joined forces to transfer the show, which is directed by Patrick Marber, into the Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue, for a limited run from February 3. Tickets for Chocolate Factory members will be available from Monday; while seats will go on general sale on Wednesday. Hollander plays Henry Carr a British civil servant, working in Switzerland, who finds himself at a fascinating historical intersection and delivers a masterclass in comic timing. Its one of the years best stage performances. The actor, star of the comedy TV series Rev, enjoyed particular success when cast against type earlier this year as the brutish Corky Corcoran in the BBC hit The Night Manager (he had it in for Tom Hiddlestons character . . . and with good reason). Hollander starred in the popular television series The Night Manager alongside stars such as Tom Hiddleston I asked Babani if Travesties would move to New York after the West End. Broadway would be a lovely thing, if possible, Babani said, coyly. And theres precedent: the Meniers production of The Color Purple, with Cynthia Erivo, has become a smash in New York. The theatre has had other West End transfers this year, too, including The Truth and David Baddiels My Family: Not The Sitcom. Its been a wonderful year, said Babani, who also presented (again with Friedman) Funny Girl, starring Sheridan Smith. That is due to tour the UK next year. Dr Strange (12a) Verdict: Marvel, but not quite marvellous Rating: The clue is in the title. The team behind the latest outing in what is so grandiosely known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe evidently decided that their new film, Doctor Strange by name, should be deeply strange by nature. Of course, superhero movies are nothing without imagination but here, with Benedict Cumberbatch playing along enthusiastically in the title role (and energetically staking a lucrative claim for parts in future Avengers movies), it takes flight in downright hallucinogenic fashion. A series of druggy-style trips are enabled by an overdose of computer-generated imagery, almost as if director Scott Derrickson was determined to use his own superpower, deploying all the CGI bells, whistles, knobs and levers at his disposal. Benedict Cumberbatch is the latest heavyweight actor to net himself a comic book character role with Dr Strange, pictured Behind the CGI is a straightforward story, or as straightforward as Marvel ever gets. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) is a brilliant but incorrigibly arrogant neurosurgeon, certain of his own godlike status in New York society. But his charmed life is ended abruptly by a near-fatal road accident, in which those precious hands are damaged, seemingly beyond repair. After rejecting the sympathy of his colleague and sometime lover, Dr Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), Strange spends the rest of the film being rebuilt and rehabilitated, learning humility along the way. True, he also learns how to levitate, bend time and grapple with the forces of evil, but without all that the basic narrative could be the framework for a standard hospital melodrama, along the lines of the 1991 film The Doctor, in which William Hurt played the high-handed surgeon. Anyway, with his glittering career in pieces, Dr Strange talks to a chap whose devastating spinal injuries were miraculously cured by a guru in Nepal. So off he heads to Kathmandu, where he finds himself ushered into the preternaturally calm presence of the Ancient One, otherwise known as the Sorcerer Supreme, otherwise known as Tilda Swinton with a shaven head. This is where the really trippy stuff begins. The Ancient One runs a Buddhist monastery that is effectively (and a trifle derivatively) Hogwarts for grown-ups. It is Zenwarts, if you like, where there are no invisibility cloaks or wizards wands, but there is a cloak of levitation and a kind of fancy knuckleduster, imparting special gifts. Fellow Brits Tilda Swinton, left, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, right, also star in the movie which follows a doctor's journey into the mystic world of magic Overcoming Stranges scepticism by pushing your astral form out of your physical form, the Ancient One sends him on the kind of nightmarish journey that would once have been powered by too much LSD. This convinces him that he is in the right hands. With the help of her disciples, Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Wong (Benedict Wong), the Ancient One turns the Strange One, now for some reason wearing a Victorian frock coat, into an expert in both martial and mystical arts. Best of all, he learns how to manipulate time and space by using his knuckleduster to step through what looks, with nice seasonal timing, like a fizzing Catherine wheel. The big question, as he flits in and out of these fiery portals, is whether he can now outgun another of her proteges, who has turned seriously rogue and stolen some pages from a hallowed book in the hope of finding the secret to everlasting life. This is Kaecilius, played by Mads Mikkelson in Halloween eye make-up. So, with Stranges arrogance never too far from the surface, we now have a match-up, effectively Kaecilius v Supercilious, the latter supported by the Ancient One, the former by the Dark Dimension, a kind of malevolent, space-dwelling hologram who yearns for control of the entire multiverse. Mads Mikkelsen, centre, plays imposing villain Kaecilius who seeks to destroy reality With Manhattan inevitably the backdrop for their clash, Derrickson goes CGI-crazy again, folding buildings in on each other in sequences that dont look even vaguely realistic. Digital trickery is all very well, but surely, even in the overblown superhero genre, it has to look as if it might actually be happening. Still, for all that, Doctor Strange is mostly a blast. As always, its fun to look out for nonagenarian Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee making his traditional Hitchcockian walk-on, which here boldly underlines the druggy sub-text. The old boy pops up as a New York commuter scoffing at the book The Doors Of Perception, in which Aldous Huxley wrote about his experiences with the hallucinogen, mescaline. Cumberbatch gets plenty of witty lines, too, which he delivers with characteristic aplomb, although actually it is Ejiofors Mordo who gets to deliver the best one-liner after handing the newly arrived Strange a small scrap of parchment bearing the word Shamballa. Whats this, my mantra? asks Strange. No, its the wifi password, comes the reply. Were not savages. DR STRANGE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT ON HIS DEBUT Ellis Barnes-Church, pictured, reviews Dr Strange Doctor Strange (12a) Verdict: Its magic! Rating: By Ellis Barnes-Church, 12. Doctor Strange had to deliver a lot in his debut in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe): introduce a magical element, explain about the different dimensions, and still be a good action hero in a standalone movie. And he did not disappoint. This is Inception meets The Matrix, meets Iron Man, meets Harry Potter. The story follows Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a renowned neurosurgeon who shares many personality traits with Tony Stark/Iron Man (he takes risks, boasts a bit and cares mostly about himself). After a life-changing car crash destroys his hands, he travels the world looking for a cure. He eventually finds Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), who teach him the mystic arts, in order to stop Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) from destroying not just the world, but reality itself. Even though Marvel has a track record of ropey villains, Kaecilius is certainly one of the best: an intimidating mental and physical threat for Strange. Trying to help the Doctor is Christine (Rachel McAdams), who is a fellow surgeon and love interest. There is also plenty of humour, with some of the best jokes involving the Ancient Ones librarian Wong (Benedict Wong) and Doctor Strange. This is the first movie to introduce magic into the MCU, and on an epic scale. While Thor previously explained it as science humans dont understand, the same cant be said now. The mystical element fitted in perfectly and all the dodging from one dimension to the next was pretty easy to follow. The visuals are also amazing from the way the different dimensions look, to the way the city is warped and changed, it delivers a new and exciting style to the MCU and continues what pavement-bending Inception did so well. It is also does a lot right for long-time Marvel fans and I cannot count how many times my inner nerd freaked out when something big happened, or was mentioned, that connected to other movies or the comics. The inclusion of multiple magical items, ranging from the Eye of Agamotto to the Cloak of Levitation, was rewarding for fanboys. And the inclusion of the Sanctum Sanctorum, which was so well-recreated from the comics, will make many people very happy. A blast from start to finish. Advertisement Starfish (15) Verdict: Gruelling but great Rating: Joanne Froggatt, left, and Tom Riley, right, play parents in Starfish whose lives are turned upside down when he contracts sepsis and has his limbs amputated Putting together the funding for small, independent British films is never easy, but if a pair of releases this week are anything to go by, its easier when you have a Downton Abbey stalwart in a leading role. Starfish has Joanne Froggatt (Anna the ladys maid in Downton), while Burn Burn Burn (reviewed below) features Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith). Both are splendid. A FOND, FUNNY FARWELL... Burn Burn Burn Verdict: Darkly comic Rating: Burn Burn Burn is an engaging black comedy in which two young women, Seph (Laura Carmichael) and Alex (Chloe Pirrie), head off on a road trip round Britain, to scatter the ashes of their friend Dan (Jack Farthing), who has succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Accompanying them and his ashes, is a video Dan made before his death. Mostly through his irreverent interventions, the two friends learn more about each other, and themselves. Nicely scripted by Charlie Covell and ably directed by first-timer Chanya Button, its funny and moving, with an impressive supporting cast that includes Alison Steadman and Jane Asher. Advertisement Starfish tells the harrowing true story of Nicola and Tom Ray (Froggatt and Tom Riley), a young East Midlands couple who were pootling along quite happily in life, awaiting their second child, when suddenly he contracted sepsis, the form of blood poisoning that can lead to multiple organ failure. Tom ended up having both lower arms and legs amputated, and with severe facial disfigurement. The film gets its poignant title from a bedtime story Tom tells his little girl, before sepsis strikes, about a starfish that regrows its limbs. Riley is terrific in an extremely demanding role, as Tom wakes up from a coma to find that his life has changed profoundly. And Froggatt, also the executive producer, is similarly strong as the wife who overcomes the challenges of sticking by her man and raising the funds needed to manage their new existence. Being married to poor, lugubrious Mr Bates in Downton was a breeze, by comparison. S. Korea task-force to probe scandal over Park's aide South Korean prosecutors on Thursday set up a high-powered "task-force" to probe a widening scandal involving alleged influence-peddling by a close confidante of President Park Geun-Hye. Choi Soon-Sil, an enigmatic woman with no government position, was already part of an investigation into allegations that she used her relationship with the president to strong-arm conglomerates into multi-million dollar donations to two non-profit foundations. The scandal snowballed when it emerged that Choi had also been given advance access to presidential speeches and other documents -- a revelation that forced Park to make a televised public apology. People watch a television news report showing South Korean President Park Geun-Hye making a public apology, at a railway station in Seoul. Jung Yeon-Je (AFP) Prosecutor General Kim Soo-Nam told the new task force to "investigate thoroughly and reveal the whole truth", a public affairs official told AFP. Led by the head of the powerful Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office, the new unit will absorb the smaller team investigating the earlier allegations against Choi. South Korean media reports have suggested Choi revised Park's speeches and may have influenced key government appointments and even the president's North Korea policy. The scandal has been extremely damaging for Park whose approval ratings have slumped to record lows at a time of elevated military tensions with the North, and problems with skyrocketing household debt and falling exports at home. Choi left the country in early September for Germany and, in her first interview since the scandal broke, said she was suffering from serious stress-induced health problems. In the interview with the Segye Times, owned by the Unification Church, she admitted receiving presidential documents but denied intervening in state affairs or coercing donations from conglomerates. "I am suffering from a nervous breakdown and I have been diagnosed with heart issues," she told the newspaper. "I could take poison and die here". Choi is a daughter of the fifth wife of a mysterious religious figure, Choi Tae-Min, who acted as a mentor for Park Geun-Hye from the mid-1970s to his death in 1994. Choi Tae-Min, who had seven different names and was convicted of fraud, set up a cult-like group known as Yongsaeng-gyo (Eternal Life Church), and proclaimed himself a "Maitreya" or future buddha. Opposition lawmakers have suggested the president had fallen "under the spell" of Choi and his daughter. Even the conservative Chosun Ilbo daily has come down on Park, with an editorial Wednesday suggesting she had "collapsed beyond recovery". "Angry voices demanding her impeachment are flooding the street ... This is not an ordinary lame-duck phenomenon. This represents a collapse of the president's state administration," the editorial said. Park has just over a year left in office, with presidential elections slated for December, 2017. Japan spared blushes as Duterte's Emperor meet cancelled Protocol-conscious Japan dodged a potential diplomatic minefield Thursday when a meeting between profanity-prone Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the country's revered Emperor Akihito was cancelled following a death in the imperial family. Akihito's 100-year-old uncle Prince Mikasa died Thursday and the Emperor will begin seven days of mourning, "cancelling a series of events scheduled during the period including his meeting with President Duterte", a palace spokesman told AFP. Duterte is on his first trip as president to Japan and was due to visit the palace and meet the 82-year-old figurehead as his final appointment before going home. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) is escorted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after reviewing the guard of honor at the latter's official residence in Tokyo on October 26, 2016 Kimmasa Mayama/Pool (POOL/AFP) The scheduled meeting had Japan on faux pas alert with concerns about Duterte's possible misbehaviour spiking after a video of him meeting President Xi Jinping in China last week showed him apparently chewing gum -- considered rude in Japan on such an occasion. Duterte, who has launched a controversial, deadly crackdown on crime in the Philippines, was also seen standing at the event with his hands in his pockets, another no-no in Japan. Since arriving in Tokyo Tuesday, Duterte has avoided any major trouble, though the acid-tongued president has kept up his habit of hurling sharp, sometimes profane, insults at world figures, with a fresh tirade against Washington. Still, a summit meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday went off without a hitch. Retired diplomats and officials had expressed concern that the tough-talking former mayor of Davao would offend Akihito -- the most revered person in the country -- which they warned could have affected bilateral ties. But on social media, many expressed frustration that Duterte would now not have a chance to prove himself. "Was worried before that Duterte-san might misbehave in front of His Majesty, but was assured that he is the kind of man who can maintain his manners after seeing his talks with Prime Minister Abe," one user posted. "I am a bit disappointed that it was called off," another said in a tweet. "I was looking forward to see how the Philippine president's meeting would go with the emperor," they added. Duterte, who had told Japanese media how much he was looking forward to meeting Akihito, said he understood the last-minute cancellation. "I'd like to express my deepest condolence," he told reporters. "The protocol officer said I should not go there because they are in mourning and I respect that because I would ask for the same request if I were in his shoes." Japan's emperors were once worshipped as living demigods and the throne is still venerated by much of the public, despite being largely stripped of its mystique and quasi-divine status in the aftermath of World War II. Iran FM to meet Russian, Syrian counterparts on Friday Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will travel to Moscow on Friday for three-way talks with his Syrian and Russian counterparts on the situation in Syria, his ministry said. Zarif will also hold a one-to-one meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said late Wednesday. Iran and Russia are key financial and military supporters of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. While in Moscow for talks on Syria, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is also due to hold a one-to-one meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Juan Barreto (AFP/File) More than 300,000 people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests calling for Assad's ouster. Search suspended for star Chinese sailor lost in mid-Pacific The US Coast Guard has suspended its Pacific Ocean search for star Chinese sailor Guo Chuan, it said, after rescuers found his drifting yacht and confirmed he was not there but aboard his lifejacket. Guo "was a professional mariner with a deep passion for sailing", the Coast Guard's Captain Robert Hendrickson said in a statement on Thursday Chinese time. "Our deepest condolences go out not only to his family and friends but also to his racing team and the sailing community." Chinese skipper Guo Chuan has gone missing in the Pacific Ocean during an attempt to set a new solo world record Jean-Sebastien Evrard (AFP/File) Footage released by the US Coast Guard showed Guo's 97-foot trimaran Qingdao China drifting across the waves hundreds of kilometres west of Hawaii, its red sail emblazoned "Peace and Sport". During two days of searches over around 12,000 square kilometres both a US Navy helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Hercules aircraft overflying the vessel had been unable to contact Guo, it said. Guo, by far the country's biggest sailing star, became in 2013 the first Chinese sailor to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe. The 51-year-old set off from San Francisco on October 18 in an attempt to set a record solo crossing of the Pacific, but his team lost contact with him on Tuesday afternoon Beijing time. They alerted US authorities, and rescuers from the USS Makin Island amphibious assault ship reached the Qingdao China on Thursday Beijing time. "The boat crew confirmed Chuan was not on the vessel although his life jacket remains aboard," the Coast Guard statement said. They lowered the mainsail and left the Qingdao China -- originally built as the Idec 2 for French yachtsman Francis Joyon -- at sea, it added, saying his racing team was arranging to salvage the vessel. On a verified Weibo social media account Guo's team said his personal items had been recovered. In a sailing diary entry for October 20 posted by the team he said that listening to a recording of his two sons' laughter on his computer was "the world's most beautiful song, the song that puts me most at ease". Guo had previously said that his greatest fear was to fall in the water, China's official Xinhua news agency reported, citing him as saying: "I fear being separated from the ship when I am sailing solo." If he was to be thrown into the sea, he said, "I would never catch up with the ship. My chance of survival would be none." - Eternal rest - What happened to Guo remained unclear. Guo's team said they had observed his speed slowed on Tuesday and attempted to contact him, but he did not answer either satellite calls or internet communication. The US searchers had found a broken sail in the water, they added. The US Coast Guard said it was called when Guo's team had not received notification from him for 24 hours. The sailor had previously been "in constant contact" with his shore team and family and was "not likely to miss scheduled calls", it added. Chinese fans expressed fears for the mariner, with one writing that it was "likely he was adjusting or repairing the sail when he was struck or an accident occurred and he fell". Others urged rescuers to continue the search. "Absolutely do not stop the search and rescue! It's only 24 hours, the water is warm enough, Guo Chuan's physical abilities are fine, if money's an issue the shore team must immediately open a donation account... You can't give up!" But a tone of mourning and tribute also appeared, with one writing that sailors, like mountain climbers, embraced challenge to access a vast perspective, with "captains' hearts always facing the sea". The writer added: "To rest eternally in the Pacific now, that's a respectable fate!" India, Pakistan expel diplomats over 'suspicious activities' New Delhi announced Thursday it was expelling a Pakistani visa official for suspected spying, with Islamabad responding by saying it would send back an Indian diplomat in an apparent tit-for-tat move. The expulsions come as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours are running high over their disputed territory of Kashmir. New Delhi police said the Pakistani official had been recruiting Indian nationals for two and a half years to spy for Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in return for cash. Indian policemen stand guard outside the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi Sajjad Hussain (AFP/File) "Delhi police crime branch has busted an espionage racket run by a kingpin working in the Pakistan high commission," said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police on crime. The official, named as Mehmood Akhtar, was detained on Wednesday with documents in his possession on Indian troop deployment along the border, Yadav told a press conference in Delhi. "They used to meet once in a month at a pre-decided place to exchange documents and money," he said. Akhtar was later released, he added. India's foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar summoned Pakistan's high commissioner to inform him of the decision to expel the official within 48 hours. "FS (foreign secretary) summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter. Pakistan's foreign secretary then summoned the Indian High Commissioner on Thursday night to say Islamabad would also be sending back a diplomat over alleged improper activities. "The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms," an official statement said. It named the official as Surjeet Singh and added he and his family would also be required to leave within two days. Tensions between India and Pakistan have soared since a raid last month on an Indian army base near the de-facto border dividing Kashmir killed 19 soldiers, the worst such attack in more than a decade. India blamed militants in Pakistan and said it had responded by carrying out strikes across the heavily-militarised border, although Islamabad denies these took place. Indian and Pakistani troops regularly exchange fire across the border known as the Line of Control in Kashmir, but sending ground troops over the line is rare. - 'Spies' to meet at zoo - Yadav said two Indian nationals from the northern state of Rajasthan were also arrested, and that Akhtar had planned to meet his Indian co-conspirators at the Delhi zoo to exchange the information and cash. He said Akhtar was carrying maps that showed the deployment of India's Border Security Forces (BSF) and army soldiers. "A list of jawans (soldiers) posted at the border along with soldiers who had retired from service was also recovered," Yadav said. Another Indian national was arrested late Thursday from the western Jodhpur city on charges of helping the Pakistan official, a senior police officer said. Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit lodged a "strong protest" on Thursday with the Indian foreign ministry and said the detention of the official contravened diplomatic conventions, a Pakistani diplomatic source said. The expulsions came as two Indian soldiers died on Thursday during two separate gunfire incidents on the border with Pakistan in Kashmir region. Such incidents have increased in recent months as relations between the rivals have plummeted. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan since the army base attack that India would push to make it a pariah state, accusing it of being a "mothership of terrorism". Tensions were already high before the attack, with deadly violence in Kashmir over the death on July 8 of a popular militant leader. Nearly 90 people, most of them young protesters, have been killed in clashes with security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947. Both claim the territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region. Indian police officials pose with Subhash Jangir (C/L)and Maulana Ramzan (C/R) in New Delhi on October 27, 2016, after they were arrested for alleged espionage activities for South Asian neighbour Pakistan STR (AFP) Up to 900 jihadists killed in Mosul battle, US says The United States said Thursday up to 900 Islamic State group jihadists have been killed in the offensive to retake Iraq's Mosul, as camps around the city filled with fleeing civilians. Iraqis who fled their homes expressed joy at escaping IS's brutal rule as they were given shelter and assistance, in some cases reuniting with relatives they had not seen in more than two years. The offensive, launched on October 17, is seeing tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north in a bid to retake the last major Iraqi city under IS control. Iraqi security forces and Kurdish peshmerga fighters have made relatively quick progress as they approach Mosul Ahmad al-Rubaye (AFP/File) Backed with air and ground support from a US-led coalition, federal forces allied with Kurdish peshmerga fighters have taken a string of towns and villages in a cautious but steady advance. General Joseph Votel, who heads the US military's Central Command, told AFP the offensive was inflicting a heavy toll on the jihadists. "Just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate they've probably killed about 800-900 Islamic State fighters," Votel said in an interview. There are between 3,500 and 5,000 IS jihadists in Mosul and up to another 2,000 in the broader area, according to US estimates. Votel also said he had spoken with Iraqi military leaders late Tuesday who told him that as of that time, 57 members of the Iraqi security forces had been killed and another 255 or so wounded. For the Kurdish regional peshmerga forces, numbers were lower, with about 30 killed and between 70 and 100 wounded. - Families reunited - The offensive has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, with Iraqi forces later expected to breach city limits and engage the jihadists in street-to-street fighting. Aid workers have warned of a major humanitarian crisis when fighting begins in earnest for Mosul, which is home to more than a million people, but thousands have already been fleeing surrounding areas. The International Organisation for Migration said Thursday that 15,804 people have been displaced since the operation began, the vast majority from Nineveh province, of which Mosul is the capital. "There's been quite a dramatic upturn in the last few days. As the Iraqi troops get closer to Mosul, more people are getting displaced, there are more populated areas," said Karl Schembri, regional media adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council. At a camp in Khazir, about mid-way between Mosul and the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, Massud Ismail Hassan peered through a chainlink fence, looking for family members as peshmerga fighters registered the displaced. "Once all these procedures are finished we will be able to give them food and drink and blankets we brought with us," he said. Other families had already found each other, and tearful relatives clutched hands through the links of the fence. Saddam Dahham, who lived under IS control in a village near Mosul for more than two years, fled to Khazir with his wife and their three children. "We were not allowed to smoke, to use phones, not allowed to watch TV and we had to let our beards grow long," the 36-year-old said. - Not enough room at camps - One of the first things he did after arriving at the camp was joyfully shave the "heavy thing dangling from my chin," Dahham said. "I'm finally going to resume a normal life," the former truck driver said. Schembri said the Norwegian Refugee Council, other aid agencies and the United Nations were planning for 200,000 people to be displaced in the next few days, though it may not reach that figure. If anything close to 200,000 people are displaced in the immediate future, there would be a major shortage of places in camps. "In terms of... camp facilities, there are only spaces available for 60,000" people, Schembri said. After seizing control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in mid-2014, IS declared a cross-border "caliphate", imposed its harsh interpretation of Islamic law and committed widespread atrocities. Its rule was especially harsh for religious minorities. On Thursday two Yazidi women activists who survived a nightmare ordeal at the hands of IS won the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize. Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar have become figureheads for the effort to protect the Yazidis, against whom IS pursued a brutal campaign of massacres as well as enslavement and rape. Murad hailed the prize as a "profound message to the (IS) terrorist group that their criminal inhumanity is condemned and their victims are honoured by the free world". Allied forces move closer to Mosul Newly-reunited relatives clutched hands through the links of the fence at a camp for the displaced in Khazir Bulent Kilic (AFP) Yazidi survivors of IS torture win Europe rights prize Two Yazidi women who survived a nightmare ordeal of kidnapping, rape and slavery at the hands of Islamic State jihadists won the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize on Thursday. Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar have become figureheads for the effort to protect the Yazidis, followers of an ancient religion with more than half a million believers concentrated in northern Iraq. "They have a painful and tragic story" but "they felt compelled to survive to bear witness," European Parliament chief Martin Schulz told the assembly in Strasbourg. Nadia Murad (left) has become a figurehead for the effort to protect the Yazidi community after having survived a nightmare captivity at the hands of the Islamic State group Yannis Pavagopoylos (Eurokinissi/AFP/File) "The courage of these two women, the dignity they represent defies all description." Murad hailed the prize as a "profound message to the ISIS terrorist group that their criminal inhumanity is condemned and their victims are honored by the free world". In a statement she said the award told "our people and particularly to the more than 6,700 women, girls, and children who became victims of slavery and human trafficking under ISIS, that the genocide will not be repeated". According to UN experts, around 3,200 Yazidis are currently being held by IS, the majority of them in war-ravaged Syria. Bestowed annually, the award is named after the dissident Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov, who died in 1989, and honours individuals who combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression, often falling foul of their governments as a result. The prize, worth 50,000 euros ($55,000), will be presented at a ceremony on December 14 in Strasbourg. Murad, a slight, softly spoken young woman, was taken by IS from her home village of Kocho near Iraq's northern town of Sinjar in August 2014 and brought to the city of Mosul. As a captive of the reviled extremist group, Murad, now 23, said she was tortured and raped. Bashar, who was just 16 when she was taken and is also from Kocho, witnessed family and friends being slaughtered by IS jihadists before being enslaved and sold. After 20 months in captivity she escaped but then fell into the hands of an Iraqi hospital director who also abused and raped her and several other victims. - Lived through a nightmare - In a final tragedy, Bashar suffered horrific burns to her face and lost her right eye when one of her friends stepped on a landmine following their flight from the hospital director. The 2014 massacre perpetrated against the Yazidis by IS fighters in Sinjar forced tens of thousands to flee and left an already vulnerable community under perilous threat. UN investigators have said the IS assault on the Yazidis was a premeditated effort to exterminate an entire community -- crimes that amount to genocide. In speeches and interviews, Murad has voiced deep frustration with the international community for abandoning her people in the hands of grotesquely violent criminals. Bashar said in a voicemail message left with Mirza Dinnayi, founder of the German-Iraqi aid group Air Bridge Iraq: "I am so happy about the prize because I won it in the name of the Yazidi victims. "It is important that the world does not forget the women and children imprisoned by IS and that such crimes are not perpetrated against anyone," she said in Kurdish. Dinnayi, who has been looking after Bashar since her arrival in Germany in April, translated the message into German. Last year, the European Parliament awarded the prize to Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi, jailed for "insulting" Islam. Past winners include Pakistani education campaigner Malala Yousafzai, late South African rights icon Nelson Mandela and Myanmar activist Aung San Suu Kyi. Exiled Turkish journalist Can Dundar and Crimean Tatar activist Mustafa Dzhemilev were also shortlisted for the prestigious award. Separately, the EU assembly called on Turkey to free all journalists detained without solid evidence, saying in a resolution that the failed coup in July should not serve as a pretext to silence the media and opposition. Former Islamic State group (IS) hostage Nadia Murad gives an interview in Stuttgart, southern Germany on September 12, 2016 Bernd Weissbrod (dpa/AFP/File) Almost 100 migrants missing off Libyan coast The Libyan navy said Thursday that almost 100 migrants were missing after their Europe-bound boat sank off the country's coast, while 29 others were rescued. "According to information received on Wednesday afternoon, 20 illegal immigrants of African nationalities have been rescued," General Ayoub Qassem, a navy spokesman in Tripoli, told AFP. "They were on an inflatable dinghy which tore and filled up with water," he said. The UN estimates the perilous journey across the Mediterranean for migrants desperate to reach Europe has so far this year claimed a record 3,800 lives Aris Messinis (AFP/File) Qassem quoted a survivor as telling his rescuers that the boat had set off with 126 migrants on boat from Garabulli, 70 kilometres (45 miles) east of Tripoli, and went down battered by high waves. Three women and a child were among the 97 missing, he said. The United Nations says the perilous journey across the Mediterranean for migrants desperate to reach Europe has so far this year claimed more than 3,800 lives, a record. On Wednesday, French aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF) said it had found the bodies of 29 migrants who perished in a pool of fuel and seawater on a crowded dinghy off Libya, probably from suffocation, skin burns or drowning. EU approves new Syria sanctions, targets 10 top officials The European Union on Thursday added 10 top Syrian officials to its sanctions blacklist for their role in the "violent repression" of the civilian population. "The persons... include high-ranking military officials and senior figures linked to the regime," it said in a statement. EU leaders agreed last week to increase sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, citing devastating attacks on Syria's second city of Aleppo. EU leaders agreed last week to increase sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, citing devastating attacks on Syria's second city of Aleppo George Ourfalian (AFP/File) Suggestions they might also sanction Russia, which has backed long-time ally Assad's offensives against rebel forces and flown many of the missions against Aleppo, were dropped after sharp differences emerged. The European Council of member states said the new Syrian sanctions would hit those "responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria, benefiting from or supporting the regime, and/or being associated with such persons". The decision brings to 217 the number of individuals hit with travel bans or asset freezes, it said. Another 69 entities are affected by asset freezes while the EU also has in place other sanctions against Syria as a whole, including arms and oil embargoes plus investment restrictions. These broader measures were extended in May and run through to June 1 next year. Japan's Abe queries Duterte on anti-US stance Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked him to explain his anti-American rhetoric during summit talks. The acid-tongued Duterte has launched repeated tirades against the United States and President Barack Obama for criticising his deadly crime war, which has claimed more than 3,800 lives in nearly four months. Duterte's comments, backed by repeated praise for China, have thrown into doubt the Philippines' 70-year alliance with the United States. Japan is one of the top US allies in Asia, and Rodrigo Duterte (L) said Shinzo Abe (R) had raised the issue with him in a meeting Kimimasa Mayama (POOL/AFP) Japan is one of the top US allies in Asia, and Duterte said Abe had raised the issue with him in a meeting the previous day in Tokyo. "Yes, of course," Duterte told reporters when asked if Abe had asked for clarification about his criticisms of the United States. "I told him they were mere words. Why would you give these things any importance," Duterte said in the port city of Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, where he observed Japanese coast guard rescue drills. However, Duterte said he then repeated his anti-American grievances to Abe, including that Washington unfairly raised human rights concerns and treated the Philippines like a "dog". US officials have said they are baffled about Duterte's comments, but point out that none of his rants have been backed up by concrete policies. Duterte has also repeatedly given contradictory or confusing positions on the United States. On a state visit to Beijing last week, Duterte announced the Philippines' "separation" from the United States and declared his support for China. But immediately after returning home, Duterte walked back from those comments, saying he would not sever US relations. Duterte has used his three-day trip to Japan to highlight close economic and investment ties, and has gone out of his way to praise the country and its people. Al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan killed, spy agency confirms Two top Al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan were killed in a US drone attack, the nation's spy agency confirmed Thursday, in a major blow to the group as it seeks to re-establish safe havens in the country. Washington said the strikes on Sunday targeted Farouq al-Qahtani, Al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan, and his deputy Bilal al-Utabi, calling it the most significant attack against the group's leadership in several years. Multiple Hellfire missiles "levelled" two different compounds in Kunar province where the men were believed to be hiding, US officials said Wednesday, without confirming if the strikes were successful. Afghanistan's spy agency confirmed that two top Al-Qaeda leaders in the country were killed in a drone attack, in a significant blow to the militant group Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security offered confirmation of their death on Thursday, adding that a third senior member of the group had also been killed. "The attack was carried out in coordination with NDS," the spy agency said in a statement, without naming the third leader. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook had earlier said their demise would deal a blow to the militant group's presence in Afghanistan. "Eliminating these core leaders of Al-Qaeda will disrupt efforts to plot against the United States and our allies, reduce the threat to our Afghan partners, and assist their efforts to deny Al-Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan," Cook said. The Pentagon had been actively hunting Qahtani for four years. He had longstanding ties with Osama Bin Laden before his death in the 2011 US raid on his Pakistan compound. Qahtani had operated in Afghanistan since at least 2009 and was responsible for planning attacks against US and coalition forces in the country, officials said. "He was seeking to re-establish (Al-Qaeda's) control in Afghanistan," a US official said. "He was charged with the requirement to establish AQ safe-havens throughout Kunar and Nuristan provinces." His deputy Utabi, was seen as the second- or third-most senior Al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, the official said. - 'Deadly attacks' - In October 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks, the US launched military operations to dislodge the Taliban from Afghanistan and capture or kill Al-Qaeda militants they were harbouring. Their numbers have since been decimated, but the United States continues to target the remnants of the group. In June, the White House restored the Pentagon's authority to strike at insurgents. The new authority has given the US-led NATO troops greater latitude to order air strikes against a web of militant groups in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, Islamic State jihadists and Al-Qaeda. Qahtani and his deputies were in Hilgal village in Kunar's Ghazi Abad district when they were attacked, US officials said. They were in two separate buildings a few hundred metres (yards) apart and were targeted almost simultaneously by multiple missiles. Provincial spokesman Abdul Ghani Mosamem told AFP at least 15 insurgents were killed, including two Arabs. A number of Pakistani Taliban fighters were also among the fatalities, he said. An Afghan intelligence official in the province also confirmed two Arabs were killed in the strikes. Qahtani and Utabi are well-known senior Al-Qaeda commanders in Kunar, and had been actively involved in recruiting young locals into the group. Qahtani was born some time between 1979 and 1981 in Saudi Arabia and is a Qatari national. In February, the US Department of the Treasury labelled Qahtani a specially designated global terrorist. Qahtani "has a long history of directing deadly attacks against US forces... along with plotting Al-Qaeda terrorist operations in the United States and around the world," Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam Szubin said at the time. Iraqis search for loved ones at camp for displaced Leaning against his car, Massud Ismail Hassan peers through the chain-link fence surrounding a camp for Iraqi civilians fleeing the assault on Mosul. He is looking for family members he has not seen for two years, since jihadists from the Islamic State group seized their village on the edge of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Hassan says his brother, sister-in-law and their three children were finally able to flee the village, Bazwaya, as Iraqi forces advance in a major offensive to retake Mosul, IS's last major stronghold in Iraq. Newly displaced Iraqis who fled from the northern city of Mosul are reunited with their relatives in a refugee camp in the Khazir area, near the Kurdish checkpoint of Aksi Kalak Bulent Kilic (AFP) Hassan, who lives in Kurdistan, has had little contact with his brother since mid-2014 and is anxious to see him again. "The IS men stopped them from contacting us, though sometimes they managed to get a bit far away, find a signal and quickly call us," says Hassan, 61, dressed in traditional Kurdish garb. Issam Saadu is also keen to see his relatives after fleeing to the camp in Khazir, about mid-way between Mosul and the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil. The 22-year-old student has not seen six of his 10 siblings since the summer of 2014. He called them as soon as he arrived at the camp and was waiting for a visit. "The jihadists accused the Kurds in villages they controlled of giving information to the peshmerga," he says, referring to the Kurdish force that has joined Iraqi federal troops in the battle for Mosul. Other families have already found each other, and tearful relatives clutch hands through the links of the fence, firing barrages of questions. The peshmerga register the arrivals. "Once all these procedures are finished we will be able to give them food and drink and blankets we brought with us," Hassan says. Seeing his father in the distance making his way towards the peshmerga, another man worries. "My father is sick, I don't even know if he'll survive long enough for me to hug him," he says. The offensive, launched on October 17, is seeing tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north. The assault has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul from where thousands have been fleeing. Iraq's ministry of displacement and migration said Thursday that more than 11,700 people had been displaced since the operation began. The refugees fleeing Mosul Sri Lanka to sell white elephants to cut $1 bn in debt Sri Lanka said Thursday it will reduce its foreign debt by $1 billion by selling off former strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse's vanity projects. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament he wanted to privatise a $1.3 billion port and a $210 million airport in Rajapakse's home constituency which have become huge white elephants. "By turning the debt into equity and forming a public-private partnership to run the airport and the harbour, we will reduce our foreign debt by a billion dollars," Wickremesinghe said. Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse waves as he arrives at an anti-government May Day rally in Colombo on May 1, 2016 Laruwan Wanniarachchi (AFP/File) He did not disclose whether any investors had been lined up for the facilities in Rajapakse's home constituency of Hambantota in the island's deep south, which were built with Chinese loans and named after the former leader. Only one airline operates flights to the airport in the sparsely-populated area while the harbour is also one of the emptiest in the world. The new government which came to power in January last year has been trying to renegotiate terms of its $8 billion Chinese debt, which includes the construction costs of the airport and the harbour, but with no success. The former administration relied heavily on China to build ports, highways and railways as Western nations shunned it over its dismal human rights record. Sakharov Prize a condemnation of IS 'criminal inhumanity': Murad Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman who survived enslavement by the Islamic State group, welcomed the Sakharov prize for human rights Thursday as a "profound condemnation" of the jihadists' "criminal inhumanity." The European parliament awarded Murad and fellow Yazidi Lamia Haji Bashar the prestigious human rights prize for their courage in the face of IS atrocities against their people in Iraq and Syria. "This acknowledgement of the suffering of the Yazidi women and the Yazidi people is a profound message to the ISIS terrorist group that their criminal inhumanity is condemned and their victims are honored by the free world," Murad said in a statement, using an alternate acronym for the jihadist group. Nadia Murad was kidnapped in 2014 and endured months of sexual abuse by Islamic State militants before escaping from Mosul Julian Stratenschulte (dpa/AFP/File) Murad and Bashar were taken from their homes near the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar and enslaved by IS jihadists, enduring a months-long ordeal of rape and torture. Since their escape they have emerged as leading advocates for the rights of other Yazidi survivors. Murad, who is 23, said she and Bashar accepted the Sakharov Prize "on behalf of thousands of kidnapped Yazidi women and girls and on behalf of all victims of the Yazidi genocide." "This award is a powerful message from the democratically elected representatives in Europe to our people and particularly to the more than 6,700 women, girls, and children who became victims of slavery and human trafficking under ISIS, that the genocide will not be repeated," she said. Tunisia denies providing base for US drones over Libya Tunisia on Thursday denied a US news report it has allowed Washington to operate unmanned planes from its territory for missions in neighbouring Libya against the Islamic State group. "As part of Tunisian-US bilateral cooperation, we have acquired drones to train our military personnel to use this technology and to control out southeastern border with Libya and detect any suspicious movement" there, a defence ministry spokesman said. But "Tunisian soil has never been and never will be used to strike targets in Libya. The drones are used by Tunisians and no one else," Belhassen Oueslati said. Tunisia's Defence Minister Farhat Horchani told the Mosaique FM radio station: "We were one of the few first countries to oppose a foreign military intervention in Libya." Fethi Belaid (AFP/File) The Washington Post on Wednesday reported that the Pentagon had "secretly expanded its global network of drone bases to North Africa, deploying unmanned aircraft and US military personnel to a facility in Tunisia to conduct spy missions in neighbouring Libya". The "drones began flying out of the Tunisian base in late June" and "played a key role in an extended US air offensive against an Islamic State (jihadist group) stronghold" in Libya, the newspaper said. Since August 1, the United States has carried out 351 air strikes in Libya in support of loyalist forces fighting to retake the coastal city of Sirte from IS, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on Thursday. Tunisia's Defence Minister Farhat Horchani told the Mosaique FM radio station on Thursday: "We were one of the few first countries to oppose a foreign military intervention in Libya." "We don't -- and won't -- have a foreign military base in Tunisia," he said. An AFRICOM spokesman did not deny that US drones had taken off from Tunisia but said: "There are no US bases in Tunisia." "There are US service members working with the Tunisian security forces for counter terrorism and they are sharing intelligence from various sources, to include unarmed aerial platforms," Colonel Mark R. Cheadle said. Tunisia "requested additional military equipment and training from Washington after deadly militant attacks last year in Tunisia and the US has provided more than $250 million in security assistance". Tunisia has suffered from a wave of jihadist violence since the 2011 revolt that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. IS claimed brazen attacks last year on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis and a beach resort that killed a total of 59 foreign tourists. World body moves to curtail Japan's 'science' whaling The world's whaling watchdog moved Thursday to curtail Japan's annual whale hunt, conducted under scientific licence but blasted by critics as a commercial meat haul. A resolution on "improving" the review of deadly research programmes, which Japan alone conducts, split the 70-year-old International Whaling Commission (IWC) into familiar camps -- pro- and anti-whaling. Just two days earlier, the pro camp defeated a bid to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic, which had required 75 percent of IWC member votes. Tokyo cancelled its 2014/15 hunt, only to resume it the following year, killing an estimated 300-plus animals. Thursday's resolution, however, needed a simple majority to pass. It garnered 34 "yes" votes to 17 cast by the camp that includes Japan and commercial whalers Norway and Iceland. Championed by Australia and New Zealand, it will lead to the creation of a permanent "working group" to assist the IWC and its expert scientific committee to assess whaling programmes conducted in the name of science. The outcome was hailed by conservation groups which accuse Japan of abusing an exemption for research hunts under a 30-year-old moratorium, which also allows controlled aboriginal subsistence whaling. "Todays vote shrinks the... loophole that Japan has exploited ever since the global moratorium on commercial whaling came into effect," said Kitty Block of the Humane Society International. "In defiance of the ban, Japan has issued itself a license to kill more than 15,000 whales under the guise of science" since 1986. Resolutions are not legally binding on members of the commission, which has no policing function and cannot impose penalties. "We will abide by the convention itself," Japan's commissioner to the IWC, Joji Morishita told AFP after the vote, referring to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, the IWC's founding document. Japan's whaling is a deeply divisive and recurring quarrel at the IWC's biennial meetings. Under the scientific exception, national governments determine their own catch limits and issue whaling permits. - 'Not justified' - In 2014, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that permits issued by Japan were "not for purposes of scientific research" and instructed the country to halt its JARPA II programme. Japan cancelled its 2014-15 hunt, only to resume it the following year under a new programme called NEWREP-A (New Scientific Whale Research Program in the Antarctic Ocean). It killed 333 minke whales in the Southern Ocean that year -- many of them pregnant, according to observers. The Southern Ocean hosts one of two whale sanctuaries in the world. The meat from Japan's hunts ends up on supermarket shelves and in restaurants, in line with an IWC stipulation that whales taken for research must be eaten. Morishita defended Japan's whaling, insisting it was to gather science data, and did not violate the ICJ judgment. In its ruling, "it is clear that the ICJ assumes there can be future research activities," the commissioner told fellow delegates. "The ICJ also said... that the use of lethal sampling per se is not unreasonable in relation to the research objectives." But his New Zealand counterpart, Amy Laurenson, insisted that NEWREP-A was clearly "not in fact for purposes of scientific research. "Japan has still not justified the use of lethal sampling," she said. Under the new resolution, a working group will be appointed to consider the reports of the IWC's scientific committee on all new, ongoing and completed scientific whaling programmes. It will report to the commission, which will express itself on the validity of every programme. The International Fund for Animal Welfare welcomed the move as a further obstacle to Japan "unilaterally" issuing its own permits. "We all know that scientific whaling is sham science, and simply commercial whaling by another name," said the organisation's Matt Collis. IWC members put their differences aside just long enough on Thursday to pass a separate resolution on trying to save the critically endangered vaquita -- a small porpoise sometimes called Mexico's "panda of the sea". There are fewer than 60 known individuals left in the Gulf of California, the vaquita's only home. They perish in illegal nets used to catch totoaba, large fish whose swim bladders are believed in China to hold medicinal powers. The vaquita decision urges IWC members to provide financial and technical assistance for Mexico to police a permanent gillnet ban, compensate affected fishers, and replace outdated fishing gear with safe alternatives. Endangered whales Gustavo Izus, Esther Poveda, Anella Reta (AFP) Japan's International Whaling Commissioner Joji Morishita (L) and the International Whaling Commission's Executive Secretary Simon Brockington talk on October 24, 2016 Jure Makovec (AFP/File) US official calls for vigilance against IS refinancing Vigilance must be maintained against the Islamic State group's ability to finance itself even as it loses territory in Iraq, a senior US treasury official said in Riyadh on Thursday. "It has the ability to, with relatively small amounts of financial resources, to rebuild capability," said the official, who sought anonymity to speak more freely during a meeting with foreign reporters. Tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters are advancing on the city of Mosul, the last major city under control of the Sunni extremists in that country. Iraqi pro-government forces advance towards the village of Sin al-Dhuban, south of Mosul, on October 27, 2016 Ahmad al-Rubaye (AFP) If Mosul falls, Syria's Raqa will be the only significant city in either Syria or Iraq under IS control, the vestige of a cross-border "caliphate" the jihadists declared after seizing large parts of both countries in mid-2014. IS, which inspired attacks around the world and whose atrocities included the beheading of foreign hostages and enslaving Yazidi women, derived illicit proceeds from its occupied territory. A report last year by the inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force said those sources included bank looting and extortion, control of oil fields and refineries, robbery of economic assets, and kidnapping for ransom. "Our sense is that we have made considerable progress limiting ISIL's access to multiple forms of ongoing financial support," the official said, using another acronym for IS. But he added "we are very conscious of the fact that it's a very resilient organisation and a creative one that finds new pathways". IMF calls on Egypt to pursue reforms amid protests The International Monetary Fund said Thursday that Egypt should press ahead with economic reforms needed for a $12 billion loan despite rising public discontent at the cost of living. The government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is rolling out an austerity program and seeking billions in financial support from other countries in order to meet conditions necessary for the IMF's loan program -- moves which threaten to increase public anger. "We think that the reforms that the government is undertaking are headed in the right direction," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters in Washington. Egypt is reeling after six years of political and economic turmoil involving the ousters of two presidents "That doesn't mean they're easy to do. They're difficult. There's going to be disagreement and differences and maybe even protests." Egypt is reeling after six years of political and economic turmoil involving the ousters of two presidents. Loans from Saudi Arabia and China will help Egypt gather the $5-$6 billion in additional financing required to complement the IMF lending, according to Rice. Given that "good progress" toward securing the bilateral funds, the IMF program could come before the Fund's board of directors for approval "in the next few weeks," he said. Rice said Cairo had adopted a new budget, approved a value-added tax, and developed a plan on energy subsidies, and that the central bank planned a gradual move toward a more flexible exchange rate. He stressed however that the IMF's planned $12 billion loan program did not call for cuts to food subsidies. Egyptian consumers have faced stinging shortages in rice, sugar, cooking oil and baby formula. "A lot of the protest seems to be aimed at the issue of food subsidies, and I just want to make clear that the IMF program does not call for any cuts in food subsidies," said Rice. "In fact, it provides for increases in the food subsidy budget to help people get through the early months of adjustment. Of course, it's up to the Egyptian government to decide which subsidies will be increased." New Website Aims To Make Filing Complaints Against Chicago Cops Easier By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 26, 2016 8:54PM Tripp Chicago From new oversight agencies to the recent, second anniversary of Laquan McDonalds extra-judicial killing, the topic of police accountability is never far from mind in Chicagoa city with a long, tangled history of police violence. Now, a new web tool aims to enforce police culpability by allowing Chicagoans to more simply and accurately identify officers before filing official complaints. The tool is called OpenOversight and it was developed by local activist-technology collective Lucy Parsons Labs, the same group behind the Chicago Readers exposA last month of CPDs controversial civil forfeiture tactics. The site allows users to search for key, identifying details about specific officers that will make it easier to file complaints: names, badge numbers, and estimated age, race, and gender. OpenOversight, which launched in early October and is currently in beta, consolidates that officer information (including officer photos), which is gathered from Freedom on Information requests and CPD social media accounts. "The deck is stacked against people harmed by Chicago police," Jennifer Helsby, CTO of the Lucy Parsons Labs said in a release. "Despite a long history of proven abuses, including torture, Chicago police are almost never held accountable for misconduct or crimes they commit. To file a misconduct complaint, the burden is on the public to provide as much detailed data about the officer as possible. OpenOversight aims to empower Chicagoans with tools that make it easier to identify officers and hold them accountable." The claim that an officer-related information-hub tool such as OpenOversight is dangerous or invasive to police is unfounded, argues Freddy Martinez, of Lucy Parsons Labs. I dont think theres anything unusual or different in our database, Martinez told Chicagoist. Its just more centralized. With police violence and abuses, including serious torture, not having more tools for transparency makes it difficult. You can wee why people are frustrated with the system as is. The more tools that are developed for accountability the better. (The Department of Justice is conducting an ongoing investigation of the Chicago Police Department.) Independent, technology-based tools designed to assist with oversight indeed appear to be on the rise. Excuse Me Officer, an app that allows users to search and upload encounters with police, launces in December and the Invisible Institute used Genius to create an annotated analysis of CPD Use of Force Guidelines. People wonder why cities themselves dont have tools like this, Martinez said. Burundi notifies UN of ICC pullout Burundi on Thursday formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, dealing a blow to the tribunal seen as a pillar of international justice. South Africa was the first to take the formal step at the United Nations last week and Gambia has also said it plans to pull out of the Rome treaty that created the ICC. Burundi's Justice Minister Laurentine Kanyana personally delivered the formal letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office. People demonstrate against the European Union and the International Criminal Court in Bujumbura on October 8, 2016 The withdrawal takes effect one year after the letter is received. The United Nations is calling on South Africa and Burundi to reverse their decisions. "That withdrawal can be withdrawn," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Burundi's move came after a UN envoy was dispatched to Bujumbura for crisis talks. UN envoy Jamal Benomar was in Bujumbura meeting with leaders to try to defuse tensions over the ICC pullout and the government's decision to break ties with the UN rights office. Set up in 2002, the ICC is often accused of bias against Africa. The ICC in April launched a preliminary investigation of allegations of killings, torture and other rights abuses in Burundi. A report by UN rights experts has blamed President Pierre Nkurunziza's security forces and police for the violence that has torn the country since 2015. The UN Human Rights Council decided last month to set up a formal commission of inquiry that could help identify those responsible for the violence. Burundi has been in turmoil since Nkurunziza announced plans in April last year to run for a third term, which he went on to win. Fears rise of Election Day intimidation tactics With Donald Trump warning darkly of a plot to "steal" the White House from him next month, the specter of intimidation on Election Day, including by vigilante-style armed citizens, is now seen as a serious threat. Thousands of election observers and civil rights activists are being deployed for the November 8 presidential vote -- while the Republican nominee has urged his supporters to monitor the vote in person to prevent fraud. The Democratic Party this week asked a judge to block the Republican Party from working with Trump's campaign on so-called "ballot security" measures -- which it says violate a decades-old agreement not to engage in voter intimidation. The caustic climate surrounding one of the most bitter campaigns in American history, combined with the right in some states to carry weapons at polling places, has raised significant fears of violence Nova Safo (AFP/File) The caustic climate surrounding one of the most bitter campaigns in American history, combined with the right in some states to carry weapons at polling places, has raised significant fears of violence. In Prince William County, Virginia, just outside the capital Washington, the electoral board weighed a single-day ban on weapons at polling stations -- they are already banned in schools and courts -- but the effort was shot down by a pro-gun state lawmaker. The powerful National Rifle Association lobby, which endorsed Trump's White House candidacy and vigorously defends Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms, is headquartered in the state. "It's up to the owner of the private polling place to forbid it or not," pro-gun Virginia state delegate Robert Marshall told AFP. More generally, observers have warned of a return of intimidation tactics targeting African Americans, especially in the once-segregationist South, and other minorities. Those fears have been stoked by Trump's unprecedented claims of a conspiracy to commit fraud in favor of Democrat Hillary Clinton -- prompting his threat not to recognize the outcome if he loses. The Republican nominee has suggested in particular certain "communities" were planning to cheat -- widely understood to be a reference to African American and Hispanic minorities who overwhelmingly back Trump's rival. - Blacks and Latinos targeted - US history is rife with voting restrictions on minorities, though systemic racial discrimination has been illegal since the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The law, the culmination of efforts by Martin Luther King Jr and other civil rights leaders, requires jurisdictions to obtain US Justice Department authorization before enacting any local electoral reform. But the very heart of this critical law was partially invalidated in 2013 by the US Supreme Court, which then had a conservative majority, and southern states quickly followed by implementing voter identification laws seen as restricting minority access to the polls. "This is the first presidential election in 50 years without the full protection of the voting rights act of 1965," Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel for the Legal Defense and Education Fund of the major civil rights group NAACP, said in an interview. "The removal of that key provision has led, in the last two-three years, to the proliferation of voting practices and procedures that are designed specifically to inhibit and restrict African Americans, Latinos and other racial minorities from being able to participate equally in the political process." North Carolina, for example, passed a law in 2013 barring voters from registering to vote on the day they cast their ballots, and requiring a certain type of photo identification. But a federal court struck down various provisions of the law in July, saying they "target African Americans with almost surgical precision." In recent months across the country, courts have amended similar pieces of legislation, whose stated aim is to fight electoral fraud. - Concerns in Deep South - Activists are calling for maximum vigilance on Election Day. The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday issued a special resource to help voters identify and prevent intimidation "in response to heightened concern regarding voter intimidation at polling places." Ifill's group is also raising the alert over people "who are there to question minority voters about whether in fact they are registered to vote, whether they are eligible to vote, whether they have the proper ID." Of particular concern, Ifill said, is the prospect of intimidation by people who in many cases are legally entitled to be armed. She said her group was in constant communication with the Department of Justice to alert them to possible problems. Efforts need to focus, she said, "on these deep south jurisdictions where a lot of this mischief we expect to happen." Because of the Supreme Court decision three years ago, the Justice Department will only be able to send specially trained observers in four states, down from 13 in 2012. The department also plans to send to 25 different states several hundred monitors -- but these would only be allowed to enter polling stations if authorized to do so by local authorities. Overall, numerous organizations are sending thousands of independent observers and lawyers to ensure fair voting conditions, joining monitors from the Democratic and Republican representatives. "We will do our best to be there, but the truth is we can't be everywhere on Election Day and so we have real concerns," Ifill said. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump urged supporters to monitor the vote in person, while Democrats asked a judge to block the Republican Party from working on "ballot security" because it violates an agreement against voter intimidation Joe Raedle (Getty/AFP/File) Appalled UN chief demands probe into Syria school attack UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is appalled by an attack on a school in Syria that killed 22 children and is calling for an immediate investigation, his spokesman said Thursday. "If deliberate, this attack may amount to a war crime," Ban said in a statement from his spokesman. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "warplanes -- either Russia or Syrian -- carried out six strikes" on Wednesday in a village in rebel-held Idlib province, including on a school complex. A Syrian man checks the damage at a school after it was hit in an air strike in the village of Hass, in the south of Syria's rebel-held Idlib province on October 26, 2016 Omar haj kadour (AFP) UNICEF said the school compound in the village of Hass was "repeatedly attacked," leaving 22 children and six teachers dead. Ban called for an "immediate and impartial investigation" and raised concerns about a series of attacks on civilian targets in Syria, now in its sixth year of war. "If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice," he said. "They must be proved wrong." Russia, which is backing Syria in its military operations against opposition rebels and jihadists, said it had nothing to do with the air strikes and also demanded an immediate investigation. Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who is the UN envoy for global education, earlier called on the Security Council to ask the ICC prosecutor to open up an investigation of the attack, describing it as a war crime. IMF chief says Egypt in currency 'crisis' IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Thursday that Egypt is going through a currency "crisis," suggesting a quick devaluation to tackle a widening gap between the official and black market rates. Egypt has been struggling to shore up its foreign currency reserves in the political and economic turmoil following the January 2011 uprising that toppled former ruler Hosni Mubarak. The government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is rolling out an austerity programme and is seeking billions in support from abroad in order to meet conditions for a $12 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund and boost investor confidence. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, pictured on October 8, 2016, applauded the planned reforms, including the austerity programme, in Egypt Zach Gibson (AFP/File) The country's foreign currency reserves stood at $19.6 billion in September, an increase from previous years but less than 50 percent of the level in early 2011. "In terms of exchange rate, there is currently a crisis, because if you look at the official price if you look at the grey market price, there is a 100 percent difference so that needs to be addressed," Lagarde said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Lagarde applauded the planned reforms, including the austerity programme, saying the IMF was ready to support the government if it takes the measures needed to meet the loan conditions. "If they decide to move forward we will certainly support that move, we will certainly accompany it, we'll put money on the table to help them along the way. But it's their call and it's their decision," she said. Responding to a question on whether a total free float or gradual devaluation might be the best, Lagarde said the right conditions were "going to be dictated entirely by the circumstances". "When you have very low reserves, when the difference between official and unofficial rate is very wide, historically we have seen rapid transitions being most efficient," said Lagarde, adding that "in other cases it has been gradual". Loans from Saudi Arabia and China would help Egypt gather the $5-$6 billion in additional financing required to complement the IMF lending, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters in Washington on Thursday. "I think they're very close and clearly the financing is one of the aspects that they need to lock in," Lagarde said, commenting on the loans. Residents of Iraq town want answers on deadly strike Residents of the Iraqi town of Daquq on Thursday demanded answers about who is responsible for an air strike on a Shiite place of worship that killed 15 people last week. The US-led coalition that is carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq said it had "definitively" determined that it did not carry out the strike in the northern town. And while the Iraqi government has announced the launch of an investigation into the strike, no results have been released so far. An Iraqi man stands on top of a damaged building on October 27, 2016, a few days after an air strike hit a Shiite place of worship in the Iraqi town of Daquq, south of Kirkuk Marwan Ibrahim (AFP) "The government sent an investigation committee to check the site and obtained the remaining pieces of the missile... and its serial number," said Aryan al-Bayati, who lost his mother, sister and niece in the bombing. "Where are the results of their investigation until now," Bayati asked. Daquq residents "are still feeling huge sadness and pain," as they have been for seven days, he said. The strike hit a Shiite place of worship that is known as a husseiniyah in Daquq on the afternoon of October 21, also wounding dozens of people. Murtada Abbas Daquqi, who lost his sister and his daughter in the blast, also demanded answers. "Who bombed Daquq and tore our women and our sisters to pieces?" Daquqi said. "We don't want statements and condemnations... We want an international investigation into the incident," he said. Yaljan Mahdi Sadiq, a leading figure in the Daquq community, said that families of the victims had refused compensation from the Iraqi government. IS trickling out of Mosul as losses mount: US general Islamic State group fighters are trickling out of Iraq's Mosul as the jihadists suffer heavy casualties, the general overseeing American military operations in the region told AFP on Thursday. Army General Joseph Votel, head of the US military's Central Command, said groups of half a dozen or fewer IS fighters have been seen slipping out of the city as US-backed Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces close in. Some of them dump weapons and try to look like civilians, making it hard for coalition drones and planes to track them, Votel said, but some presumably are headed toward Raqa, the IS group's Syria stronghold. Iraqi forces gather near the village of Sin al-Dhuban, south of Mosul, on October 27, 2016, during an operation to retake the main hub city from Islamic State group jihadists Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP) "They don't have uniforms, so it is a little bit of a challenge. These aren't big groups, they aren't moving in military formations," the four-star general said, speaking from an undisclosed military base in Southwest Asia. "There are some that will get away, and I think that happens in a lot of cases. Nothing is 100 percent, but in this case we are doing a pretty good job." Between 800 and 900 jihadists have been killed in and around Mosul since the Iraqi-led operation to recapture the city began 10 days ago, he added. Earlier US estimates had put the total population of IS fighters in Mosul itself at between 3,500 and 5,000. Up to another 2,000 were thought to be in the broader region. Votel cautioned it was hard to provide precise numbers as IS fighters move around the city and blend in with the local population. The jihadists have quit Mosul from the west side, which has not been sealed by Iraqi forces. Some strategists question the Iraqis' decision to leave part of the city open, but Votel said there were advantages to doing so. "It certainly provides a way for the refugees of the population to get out of there," the general said, and "it does provide an opportunity to limit destruction in the city itself". Aid groups are bracing for an exodus of Mosul residents as the battle enters the city proper. The United Nations says more than 10,000 people have already been displaced. Votel said he had spoken with Iraqi military leaders late Tuesday who told him that, as of that time, 57 Iraqi security forces had been killed and about 255 wounded. For the Kurdish peshmerga, numbers were lower, with about 30 killed and between 70 and 100 wounded. - 'Know what we are shooting at' - Despite the heavy casualties, the jihadists still think they can retain control over Mosul, Votel said, because "some of their fighters don't understand what is taking place around them". The offensive is seeing tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north in a bid to retake the last major Iraqi city under IS control. Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces are pushing along several axes and have made relatively quick progress as they approach the city. The offensive has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, and resistance may get heavier as Iraqi forces break through IS defences and enter the city itself. Security forces have complained about insufficient air support from the US-led coalition, but Votel said strikes were only delayed if there is a concern of causing civilian casualties. "We do have a responsibility to make sure we know what we are shooting at... That does require some time to do that," he said. Votel's job is arguably the most complex in the US military, as he is responsible for an area including Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, as well as war-torn Yemen, Iran and the rest of the Middle East. The US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces is also trying to defeat the group in Syria, where they retain parts of the north and the key city of Raqa. Pentagon chief Ashton Carter this week said the battle for Raqa would begin within a few weeks, and Votel cautioned the fight could take longer than Mosul because the US-backed opposition forces are not as well armed or resourced as the Iraqis. "We've long recognised that our greatest desire would be to orchestrate (operations in) Mosul and Raqa... almost completely simultaneously," he said. But "we can't do things as simultaneously as perhaps we would like to." The US military's Central Command chief Army General Joseph Votel speaks to AFP at an undisclosed military base in Southwest Asia on October 27, 2016 Thomas Watkins (AFP) Mass arrest as North Dakota police, pipeline protesters clash Police in the US state of North Dakota arrested oil-pipeline protesters en masse after a tense standoff and bursts of violence that continued into the night. Authorities said they had arrested 117 people and confirmed two instances of gunshots in the latest flare of tensions over a controversial oil pipeline project. One person was shot in the hand after being "run off the road by protestors," said the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. Police used a sound cannon on October 27, 2016 to disperse protesters of the Dakota Access Pipeline, pictured September 3, 2016 Robyn Beck (AFP/File) Another protester was arrested after firing three shots at police. No injuries were reported. Law enforcement reported late-night incidents of Molotov cocktails being thrown at officers and fires being set. The chaos began erupting in late morning when police started moving in to break up protest encampments on public roads and on private land. Demonstrators moved to block two roads over the weekend and camped on private land in an effort to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline -- the subject of a months-long protest by Native Americans and supporters. Police in riot helmets used a sound cannon device and pepper spray during operations that initially lasted more than five hours, before authorities said most of the several hundred protesters left voluntarily or were arrested. "Hopefully, we have persuaded these protesters that our state highways and county highways, private property, is not the place to carry out a peaceful protest," North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple said at a news conference. Dallas Goldtooth, a protester at the scene of the Thursday standoff, said police were "very aggressive" and had also used bean bags and a "concussion grenade." "The police action today was to remove protectors from this land," he said. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier could not immediately confirm Goldtooth's account, saying operations were still ongoing. He said protesters were free to exercise their free speech rights "as long as it was done legal and lawful." The Native American-led protest has grown into a larger movement in the United States, drawing in other tribes, environmentalists and advocates for Native Americans. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, whose reservation is close to the pipeline's route, objects to the project, saying it would endanger the tribe's water supply by crossing the nearby Missouri River, and destroy sacred Native American sites. The tribe criticized the police actions Thursday. "We have repeatedly seen a disproportionate response from law enforcement," Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Dave Archambault said in a statement. The tribe has asked the Obama administration to intervene to stop the pipeline construction and for the Justice Department to oversee local law enforcement. The federal government has twice asked the pipeline operator to voluntarily pause construction near the tribe's reservation while the authorities reconsider the project's route. But courts have refused to compel a halt. Energy Transfer Partners, which insists the pipeline complies with the law, resumed construction on October 11. Call to bolster UN force in DRCongo, amid unrest fears Leaders of the Great Lakes region called Thursday for the UN peacekeeping force in strife-torn DR Congo to be bolstered, as fears rise of an upsurge in violence linked to delayed presidential polls. At the end of two-day talks, they called for more contributions to the UN mission MONUSCO from members countries of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) blocs. The goal is to "strengthen the operations" of MONUSCO in fighting the "negative forces" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said a statement after talks in the Angolan capital Luanda. Soldiers of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo patrol a street in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo on April 21, 2016 Pablo Porciuncula (AFP/File) The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) has more than 20,000 troops in the country protecting civilians and disarming dozens of rebel and splinter groups after two decades of conflict in the east of the country. The mission's troops and police personnel are drawn from over 50 countries including regional nations. At the end of the summit, presidents Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, Joseph Kabila of the DR Congo and Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville met in private, a source close to the presidency told AFP. Luanda and Brazzaville "pledged to send, before the end of Joseph Kabila's tenure (December 20) additional military" to boost the UN peacekeeping mission, said the source. The DR Congo is mired in crisis and political tensions have been mounting with the delay of presidential elections which were due to be held this year. DR Congo authorities and fringe opposition groups last week reached a deal to postpone the elections in the hope it will lead to a credible vote. But the main opposition has rejected the agreement that would effectively keep Kabila in power until the election in April 2018. The constitution requires that Kabila, in power since 2001, steps down in December. The Latest: Student's attorneys ask public to wait for facts MADISON, Wis. (AP) The Latest on a University of Wisconsin student charged with sexually assaulting and choking a woman (all times local): 6:45 p.m. Attorneys for a University of Wisconsin student charged with sexually assaulting an acquaintance are asking people to wait for the facts. Twenty-year-old Alec Cook of Edina (ee-DYE'-nuh), Minnesota, is facing nine charges, including false imprisonment and strangulation, in a case involving a female acquaintance. Cook is expected to face additional charges after investigators say they were contacted by dozens of other women. Cook's attorneys said in a statement Wednesday that Cook "seemingly has been charged, tried, and convicted." The attorneys add that "blind acceptance" of accusations "leads to the stigmatization of innocent people." Cook has denied the allegations. He's scheduled to appear Thursday in Dane County Circuit Court. ___ 11:15 a.m. A University of Wisconsin student charged with sexually assaulting and choking a woman is expected to face additional charges after investigators say they were contacted by dozens of other women. Police say officers searching Alec Cook's Madison apartment found a black book with names of women he had met and what he wanted to do with them, including his sexual desires. The 20-year-old student, who has been suspended by the university, faces nine charges involving a woman who says she was strangled and assaulted at his apartment Oct. 12. Cook has denied the allegations. A call to his attorney by The Associated Press wasn't immediately returned. Rubio, Murphy hit hard during Florida Senate debate DAVIE, Fla. (AP) Sen. Marco Rubio and his re-election opponent, Congressman Patrick Murphy, went hard at each other during their final scheduled debate Wednesday night, accusing each other of being ineffectual and accomplishing little in Washington. The Republican incumbent accused Murphy of never sponsoring a bill that passed during his four years in Congress and of doing little to help Florida while Murphy attacked Rubio's attendance record during his unsuccessful run for the Republican presidential nomination. The Palm Beach-area Democrat pointed out that Rubio missed 40 percent of the Senate's votes during his campaign. Both attacked the other as being an embellisher. Rubio went after Murphy for saying when he ran for Congress four years ago that his experience as an accountant would be beneficial, but said Murphy didn't have his Florida CPA license. He also disputed Murphy's claim that he got $2 billion for the Everglades and his work to save Medicare Advantage, saying Murphy did nothing and those bills would have passed without him. Sen. Marco Rubio, right, and Rep. Patrick Murphy, chat during a break in a debate, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, at Broward College in Davie, Fla. Rubio and Murphy held their second and final debate, 13 days before the election. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) "Why does he make things up? You make things up because you don't have anything real to point to," Rubio said. Murphy shot back, "Senator, if you voted as much as you lied, you might actually be a decent senator." He said fact checkers have backed his claims. Murphy, who is trailing in the polls, also repeatedly tried to tie Rubio to GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump while Rubio tried to attach Murphy to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. ___ HEALTH CARE When asked about how they would deal with the expected 25 percent increase in premiums under Obama's Affordable Care Act, Murphy said he would work to improve the program while Rubio said he would scrap it. Murphy called the act "a huge step forward for our country but the emphasis now has to be on getting it right" and making the plan more affordable. He called for an expansion of Medicaid to cover more low-income Americans and for the government to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs. He accused Rubio of wanting to "take us back to the days where you could get dropped from your health insurance plan if you got sick. You could be denied coverage if you had a pre-existing condition. Where women were being charged more than men because they were women. Where seniors were being charged more for their prescription drugs." Rubio said he would allow companies to give their employees tax-free money to buy their own insurance and allow taxpayers who don't receive employer subsidies to get a full tax credit to pay for private coverage. He said the government's only role should be to create a high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions who otherwise couldn't get insurance. ___ SUPREME COURT Murphy attacked Rubio and the Senate's Republican majority for refusing to vote on Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, who was nominated in March to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. "Merrick Garland, by all accounts, is as qualified as anybody to be on the Supreme Court but there hasn't been a hearing. In fact, Sen. Rubio hasn't even taken the time to meet with Merrick Garland. I guess he is too busy running for president," Murphy said. Rubio said he would support any nominee who follows the Constitution as its writers envisioned. "I want a record that they understand what the proper role of the Supreme Court is," Rubio said. "The Supreme Court's role is not to write laws. That is the role of the legislative branch." ___ LAW ENFORCEMENT Rubio and Murphy both agreed that more needs to be done to improve relations between police officers and the nation's minority communities. While both praised police officers, both called for them to be equipped with body cameras as a way to protect them and the public as encounters would be videotaped. "It is impossible to ignore that there are many communities in this country, primarily minority communities, who do have a terrible relationship with police departments and a huge level of distrust," Rubio said. Murphy agreed. "There is no question there has been a breakdown in trust in many of our communities," Murphy said. "Not only does this tear apart a community, it tears apart an entire family. We have to do more." The hour-long debate at Broward College near Fort Lauderdale was sponsored by the Florida Press Association and Leadership Florida, a group founded by the state chamber of commerce. Sen. Marco Rubio, right, gestures as he and Rep. Patrick Murphy, left, answer questions from a panel during a debate, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, at Broward College in Davie, Fla. Rubio and Murphy held their second and final debate, 13 days before the election. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) Rep. Patrick Murphy, left, listen as Sen. Marco Rubio answers a question during their Senate debate, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, at Broward College in Davie, Fla. Rubio and Murphy held their second and final debate, 13 days before the election. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) Rep. Patrick Murphy, left, and Sen. Marco Rubio shake hands before the start of a debate, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, at Broward College in Davie, Fla. Rubio and Murphy held their second and final debate, 13 days before the election. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) Ex-Congressman Joe Walsh Says He's 'Grabbing My Musket' If Trump Loses By Rachel Cromidas in News on Oct 27, 2016 2:28PM Eighth District Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Illinois) Donald Trump supporter and former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh Tweeted Wednesday night that he would be "grabbing my musket" if Donald Trump loses the presidential race next month. Maybe he thought the comment was more patriotic than violent and upsetting, because he made little attempt to roll it back once the Tweet started gaining traction: On November 8th, I'm voting for Trump. On November 9th, if Trump loses, I'm grabbing my musket. You in? Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) October 26, 2016 You see, a musket is an old-timey rifleit's not like it's a gun you could actually hurt someone with, right?so Walsh has his bases covered: Im not talking about inciting violence. Im saying, If Trump loses, man, game on, grab your musket. Were going to protest. Were going to boycott. Were going to picket. Were going to march on Washington. Were going to stop paying taxes. Were going to practice civil disobedience. Whatever it takes, Walsh told Yahoo News, by way of clarification. What the heck! A musket! For the life of me, its like the left has no sense of humor. I mean, a musket, what damage could a musket do? What if I had said grab your slingshot? Walsh served in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 8th district of Illinois from 2011 to 2013, but now he's a talk radio host. This is not the first time he's said something unbelievably misguided on Twitter: In July, he said that President Barack Obama and the Black Lives Matter movement should "watch out" for "real America" because "this is now war." But not like, a war you'd fight with muskets and rifles, of course, just a metaphorical war. Either way, Twitter was not amused: The Latest: Pilot describes search for Chinese sailor KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) The Latest on the search for a missing Chinese mariner (all times local): 5 p.m. One of the U.S. Coast Guard pilots who helped search waters off Hawaii for a Chinese man attempting to set a sailing record says rescuers had to contend with 4-to-6-foot waves and darkness. Lt. Ben Powers was the air commander of the search for Guo Chuan, who was reported missing while trying to set a sailing record from San Francisco to Shanghai. Powers said Thursday it was frustrating to not find Guo. Rescuers located his 97-foot trimaran about 620 miles northwest of Oahu. Powers says rescuers tried to radio Guo every 15 to 30 minutes. There was no response. Crewmembers from a US Navy ship went aboard and only found Guo's life jacket. The Coast Guard suspended the search Wednesday night. Powers says it's difficult to search for someone in the open ocean, especially when there's low illumination, wind and waves. ___ 8:30 p.m. The U.S. Coast Guard says it has suspended its search for a Chinese man attempting to set a sailing record after a crew did not find him aboard his boat off the Hawaii islands. In a statement, the Coast Guard says a crew from the USS Makin Island went aboard Guo Chuan's trimaran about 620 miles northwest of Oahu and only found Guo's life jacket. Guo, 50, was attempting to set a sailing record from San Francisco to Shanghai. Capt. Robert Hendrickson, who directed the Coast Guard's search said: "Our deepest condolences go out not only to his family and friends but also to his racing team and the sailing community." The Coast Guard says Guo's sailboat, the Quindao China, is adrift, and its main sail has been taken down. Guo's racing team plans to cover the sailboat. ___ 2:25 p.m. The U.S Navy is sending a ship to see if a Chinese man attempting to set a sailing record from San Francisco to Shanghai is aboard his boat off Hawaii. The U.S. Coast Guard began searching Tuesday for Guo Chuan after the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center China reported not hearing from him in 24 hours. Coast Guard spokeswoman Tara Molle says a Coast Guard airplane and a Navy helicopter flying above the 97-foot trimaran have tried to contact him via radio, but he hasn't answered. The USS Makin Island is heading to Guo's vessel to see if he's onboard. Molle says Guo's racing vessel has an automatic identification system that showed it was 620 miles northwest of Oahu. The 50-year-old sailor is trying to break a solo nonstop trans-Pacific world record. ___ Man's last name is corrected in this item. This item corrects that the Coast Guard aircraft is an airplane, not a helicopter. ____ 9:30 a.m. The U.S. Coast Guard in Hawaii is searching for a Chinese man attempting to set a sailing record from San Francisco to Shanghai. The Coast Guard located Guo Chuan's 97-foot trimaran Tuesday. Rescuers continue to search for the 50-year-old sailor, who is trying to set a solo sailing record. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center China contacted the Coast Guard in Honolulu on Tuesday after not hearing from Guo in 24 hours. Coast Guard spokeswoman Tara Molle says the China rescue coordination center had been in constant contact with Guo, who was not likely to miss scheduled calls. Molle says Guo's racing vessel has an automatic identification system that showed it was 620 miles northwest of Oahu. Molle says knowing that Guo is a healthy and experienced sailor gives rescuers hope. ___ Man's last name is corrected in this item. Study: Asian immigrants to US giving birth at higher rates PHOENIX (AP) Trish La Chica migrated from the Philippines to the United States six years ago in search of the American experience and a graduate degree. La Chica got her master's in public administration and is now the policy director at a nonprofit health organization in Hawaii. Two weeks ago, she gave birth to a boy, joining the ranks of the rising number of Asian women who give birth to children in the United States. Asian immigrant women are increasingly accounting for a larger share of foreign mothers who give birth to children in the U.S., signaling a changing landscape of immigrants in America as Asians continue to outpace Latinos in growth. This Oct. 12, 2016 photo by Cricket La Chica shows his wife, Trish, and their son, Francisco Gabriel La Chica, nicknamed Foggy, at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Honolulu. Trish La Chica migrated from the Philippines to the U.S. six years ago in search of the American experience and a graduate degree. She got her master's in public administration and is now the policy director at a nonprofit health organization in Hawaii. Two weeks ago, she gave birth to a boy, joining the ranks of the rising number of Asian women who give birth to children in the United States. (Cricket La Chica via AP) The Pew Research Center released new data Wednesday showing that Asian immigrants account for 22 percent of U.S. births by foreign women, up from 16 percent in 2010. La Chica, who is 30, said she came to the United States, first San Francisco and later Hawaii, to experience living here. Her mother lives in California and helped her get permanent legal residency; La Chica is now an American citizen. "I'm planning on raising and living and working here. We now own a house," La Chica said. "I think Hawaii is a perfect place to raise a family." Meanwhile, fewer Latin American immigrants are having babies in the U.S. The study found the share of births from foreign-born mothers from Latin America dropped from 64 percent of foreign mothers in 2008 to 54 percent in 2014. About 7 percent of all births in the U.S. are from immigrants lacking legal status. The report also found that immigrants are the driving force behind births in the U.S. The number of American women who gave birth in 2014 has dropped 11 percent since 1970, while immigrant women have tripled the number of births they gave. The report comes amid a heated presidential election in which Republican nominee Donald Trump has garnered support and drawn ire by claiming he will build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and by expressing largely anti-immigrant sentiment. But demographers say immigrants are key to growth in the U.S. Fewer American women are having children, while immigrant women have disproportionately high birth rates compared to their U.S.-born counterparts. Women from sub-Saharan Africa have the highest annual fertility, with 106.4 births per 1,000 women, according to the Pew study. The rate for Latin American women is 80.6 per 1,000, accounting for over half of births to immigrant mothers in the U.S. "We in the United States have been and are going to be dependent on immigrants and the children of immigrants in the growth of our population," said William Frey, a senior fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. "I think this adds to that in that the immigrant population of women is helping move that along." Frey says that if it weren't for immigrants, the country's birth rate would be much lower, which could result in future problems as the current population ages. Demographers say a low birth rate can result in a deficit in the labor force and strained social security and social welfare programs, among other economic problems. The report details a changing makeup of immigrants in the United States, even if Latina immigrants still have far more children than any other foreign-born mothers. A Pew study last month found that U.S. Hispanic population growth has slowed considerably while the Asian-American population grows. Another report last year found that for the first time, more Mexicans are leaving the U.S. than coming in, and migrants from Central American countries like Honduras and El Salvador account for a higher share of new immigrants from Latin America. Here's what occurs if Californians legalize recreational pot GARBERVILLE, Calif. (AP) Proposition 64 would legalize the recreational use of marijuana starting Jan. 1, 2018. The ballot measure is 62 pages long and aims to regulate the entire cannabis industry, from seeds to pipe. Here are highlights: Permits adults who are at least 21 years old to possess up one ounce of marijuana buds and eight grams of concentrate. Permits adults who are at least 21 years old to grow up to six marijuana plants. In this Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 photo, Swami Chaitanya lights a "grower's joint" marijuana cigarette at his home near Laytonville, Calif. Chaitanya and his wife, Nikki Lastreto, who grow their "Swami's Select" medical marijuana, support the passage of Proposition 64, the Nov. 8 ballot initiative, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Requires licensing for growing and selling marijuana. Imposes a 15 percent tax on retail sales. Also taxes farmers $9.25 for every ounce of bud sold in addition to $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Allows cities and counties to impose their own regulations and taxes on recreational marijuana. Cities and counties are also free to ban recreational marijuana businesses within their borders. Provides funds to develop driving-while-impaired guidelines All taxes collected are placed in the California Marijuana Tax Fund, which the state Legislative Analyst estimated could reach $1 billion annually. Creates packaging, labeling and advertising standards. Changes state marijuana crimes and penalties. ___ This article has been corrected to say that Proposition 64 would permit adults who are at least 21 years old to possess eight grams not eight ounces of concentrate. In this Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 photo, Rolie Gonzalez III displays a branch of marijuana buds taken for a plant on the farm of grower Laura Costa, near Garberville, Calif. Though Costa and many illegal farmers say they have yearned for the legitimacy and respectability that can come with legalization, they fear the passage of Proposition 64, on the Nov. 8 ballot, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana, will not only cost them money, but could put them out of business. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) In this Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 photo, Nikki Lastreto trims "little buds" from last season's harvest at her home near Laytonville, Calif. Lastreto and her husband, Swami Chaitanya, who grow their "Swami's Select" medical marijuana, support the passage of Proposition 64, the Nov. 8 ballot initiative, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Australian theme park cancels opening 3 days after 4 deaths CANBERRA, Australia (AP) The company that owns an Australian theme park where four people died on a river rapids ride defended its safety record on Thursday as police vetoed plans to reopen to the public three days after the tragedy. Dreamworld park on Queensland state's Gold Coast has been closed as a crime scene since two men and two women died on Tuesday when their raft flipped on the 30-year-old Thunder River Rapids ride. Neil Balnaves, chairman of Ardent Leisure Group that owns Dreamworld as well as bowling and billiards centers across Australia, the United States and New Zealand, told the company's annual general meeting on Thursday that the ride had passed its annual safety inspection a month ago. In this image made from video, rescue vehicles are parked outside Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, Australia, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. Four people were killed while on a river rapids ride at the popular theme park on Australia's east coast. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation via AP) "That's what confounds the tragedy even more for us, because it is ... absolutely surprising that a ride could get through that process and everything up to date," Balnaves said. "The park does not take its safety as a casual issue," he said, adding that the company uses international experts to set up the program. A union has accused management of ignoring safety concerns raised by staff over years. Dreamworld announced on Wednesday that it plans to reopen with a memorial day and a service for the victims on Friday. Profits would be donated to charity and activities limited to smaller rides, animal attractions, and the water park. Balnaves told the meeting that operations would return to normal from Saturday, although the Thunder River Rapids ride would remain closed until a coroner's inquiry reported on the cause of the tragedy. Dreamworld later said the Queensland Police Service had advised that the park could not reopen this week. Police had warned that investigators were not prepared to risk the crime scene being compromised through the park being reopened too early. Police have said the investigation could end in charges of criminal negligence. Ardent chief executive Deborah Thomas said she planned to contact the victims' families to express her sympathies and other financial assistance. "I take my family to Dreamworld. This could have been my family and I completely am sympathetic to what they must be going through," she said. She told the meeting that the revenue lost due to the tragedy would have a "significant impact" on Dreamworld profits for the remainder of the fiscal year, which began on July 1. Iraqis find bomb factory, tunnels on long road to Mosul KHAZER, Iraq (AP) Iraqi forces explored a network of tunnels and uncovered a bomb-making facility on Thursday in a village near Mosul that was recently retaken from the Islamic State group, offering a glimpse of the challenge they will face as they move closer to the city. Ten days into the offensive, the special forces are still at least 4 miles (6 kilometers) east of the city and have faced stiff resistance, with IS firing mortars and machine guns, and sending armored suicide truck bombs trundling across the arid plains. Once inside the small, sparsely populated villages that ring Mosul, Iraqi forces must contend with explosive booby-traps and hidden snipers. The fortifications are expected to grow even more lethally daunting once they enter Iraq's second-largest city. A soldier with Iraq's elite counterterrorism force inspects a tunnel made by Islamic State militants in Bartella, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. The town of Bartella in northern Iraq lays about 20 kilometres east of Mosul. (AP Photo/Ali Abdul Hassan) The extremists captured Mosul in a matter of days in 2014, and have had more than two years to build up its defenses and brutally root out any internal opposition. The operation to retake the northern city is expected to take weeks, if not months. Iraqi forces approaching Mosul from the south, meanwhile, are still 20 miles (35 kilometers) from the city, and the special forces to the east said they will not push ahead until the other forces are able to tighten the noose. Iraqi army Maj. Gen. Najim al-Jabori said forces south of Mosul retook the town of Staff al-Tut in the Tigris River valley on Wednesday, and said local tribal and militia forces have been deployed to protect the gains while his troops regroup for their next advance. Special forces Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil nevertheless insisted things were on track. "The operation has not been stopped and is proceeding as planned," he said. During cleanup operations in the area of Tob Zawa, his men found a tire shop that had been converted into a factory for making roadside bombs and attaching armor to vehicles. They also found a tunnel equipped with fans and lights that ran from beneath a mosque out to a road. Iraqi forces have found extensive tunneling networks in areas retaken from IS, which the militants used to elude U.S.-led coalition warplanes. Many fear IS may resort to more brutal tactics as the forces converge on the city, which is still home to more than a million people. The U.N.'s public health agency says it has trained 90 Iraqi medics in "mass casualty management," with a special focus on chemical attacks. The extremist group is believed to have crude chemical weapons capabilities, and Iraqi forces say they are prepared to encounter them on the battlefield. The World Health Organization said that of the 700,000 people expected to flee Mosul, some 200,000 will require emergency health services, including more than 90,000 children needing vaccinations and 8,000 pregnant women. The International Organization for Migration says around 9,000 people have fled so far. It's a relatively small number, but until now, the battles have taken place in small farming communities that were mostly abandoned. The United Nations' refugee agency is shipping tents, blankets and other aid from the United Arab Emirates to northern Iraq to help those affected by the military campaign. Soliman Mohamed Daud, a senior UNHCR supply officer, told The Associated Press that 7,000 units of the relief aid will be sent to northern Iraq starting Thursday. The Mosul offensive is the largest Iraqi military operation since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, and involves more than 25,000 Iraqi soldiers, federal police, Kurdish forces, Sunni tribal fighters and state-sanctioned Shiite militias. It marks the first time that Iraq's largely autonomous Kurdish region has allowed federal forces to operate in its territory since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, but the two sides remain deeply divided over the boundaries of the Kurdish region and the sharing of the country's oil wealth. Ammar al-Hakim, the Shiite cleric who leads Iraq's largest parliamentary bloc, visited a staging area near Mosul on Thursday and held a joint news conference with Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, hailing their alliance against IS. "There's no doubt that this great security and military cooperation will be an important beginning and a window to address all the pending issues," al-Hakim said. "The liberation of Mosul will be the beginning of a new Iraqi reality, with more cooperation." ___ Krauss reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writers Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad, Susannah George in Qayara, Iraq, and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Joseph Krauss on Twitter at www.twitter.com/josephkrauss . His work can be found at www.bigstory.ap.org/journalist/joseph-krauss . A soldier with Iraq's elite counterterrorism force walks through a tunnel made by Islamic State militants in Bartella, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. The town of Bartella in northern Iraq lays about 20 kilometres east of Mosul. (AP Photo/Ali Abdul Hassan) A soldier with Iraq's elite counterterrorism force inspects a tunnel made by Islamic State militants in Bartella, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. The town of Bartella in northern Iraq lays about 20 kilometres east of Mosul. (AP Photo/Ali Abdul Hassan) A soldier with Iraq's elite counterterrorism force inspects a tunnel made by Islamic State militants in Bartella, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. The town of Bartella in northern Iraq lays about 20 kilometres east of Mosul. (AP Photo/Ali Abdul Hassan) Russia to destroy all of its chemical weapons by end of 2017 MOSCOW (AP) A top Russian official says Russia will destroy all of its chemical weapons by the end of next year, a year earlier than previously announced. Col.-Gen. Valery Kapashin, a military official in charge of storage and elimination of Russia's chemical stockpiles, told news agencies on Thursday that the remaining weapons will have been disposed of by December 2017. Armed with faith: Gibson film shows WWII feats of medic NEW ORLEANS (AP) When Desmond Doss climbed up Hacksaw Ridge a 400-foot high escarpment on the island of Okinawa with a wall of dug-in Japanese soldiers at the top he carried his Bible, his combat medic supplies and the weight of his moral convictions, but no weapon. When the wounded American Army private eventually came back down for good, he was credited with repeatedly braving harsh enemy fire to treat fellow troops, carry them to the cliff's edge and lower them to safety. For his heroics, he was awarded the Medal of Honor a rarity for a conscientious objector. Now his exploits on Okinawa and his struggles to serve both his country and his conscience have been made into a film, "Hacksaw Ridge," directed by Mel Gibson. For Gibson, telling the story of a man whose Medal of Honor citation goes on for two full pages and includes a wounded Doss giving up his stretcher to another wounded man, the challenge was almost having too heroic of a story to work with. Mel Gibson poses for a photo at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Gibson directed a film about Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss in a new movie titled, "Hacksaw Ridge." (AP Photo/Max Becherer) "You couldn't even tell everything the guy did because it becomes almost unbelievable," said Gibson, speaking Wednesday before a screening at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. "You're talking about a man here who really stuck by his conviction and his faith and he went into a situation like hell on earth, an ordinary guy doing extraordinary things." Doss, a Seventh-day Adventist, felt his beliefs barred him from even carrying a weapon, let alone killing. But he wanted to serve his country and ended up in a combat infantry unit, tending to the wounded under some of the war's most dangerous conditions. The movie details how his fellow troops initially extremely suspicious of Doss came to admire his moral and physical courage. In Europe, the war with Germany was all but over when Doss' unit arrived on Okinawa in late April. But in the Pacific, it was a bloody slog against the Japanese to capture island after island. His unit was trying to take Hacksaw Ridge formally called the Maeda Escarpment and push out dug in Japanese troops. Doss' Medal of Honor citation describes how his unit was driven back down the cliff by a barrage of mortar, artillery and machine gun fire but Doss voluntarily stayed behind, evacuating the wounded by rope over the cliff, all under intense enemy fire. While the movie focuses mostly on that one event where Doss is credited with rescuing 75, the citation notes how he repeatedly risked his life until he was wounded nearly a month later. For Gibson, another challenge was making the movie realistic without being ghoulish. Referring to the audience, he said: "I don't want them running out screaming. You want them to stay in there with you, so you have to find a way to temper it, but keep it real." The title character of Desmond Doss is played by Andrew Garfield. Vince Vaughn plays the tough Sgt. Howell tasked with bringing the new recruits up to snuff and leading them into battle. As Gibson puts it: "This is not 'Wedding Crashers Vince.' This is 'Sgt. Howell Vince.' Different man, tougher." "It was nice to really just be in a movie that's about something," Vaughn said. "You don't really get those a lot. I've made some really fun movies but it was definitely great for me to get a chance to work with such a great story teller as Mel and then also have a purpose behind the movie that's actually about people and something that's inspiring." At the beginning of the movie, the tough sergeant he portrays is openly skeptical of Doss and questions whether anyone would "want to be in the foxhole with him." "As a sergeant you're there for the unit, and ... it's a very odd thing to come across ... someone (who) would want to go into a war without a gun," Vaughn said. But like the other troops in the movie, Vaughn's character comes to respect Doss' moral courage even before his brave feats on Okinawa. Vaughn, who has made repeated visits to Afghanistan and Iraq to visit American troops stationed there, said they screened the movie for some veterans who found it "very cathartic" and praised it for bringing awareness to post-traumatic stress disorder through the character of Doss' father, playing by Hugo Weaving. Weaving's character is a troubled, heavy-drinking World War I vet who frequently visits the graves of men he served with in France. Doss' son, Desmond Doss Jr., was in New Orleans for the movie screening. Growing up he said he heard his father's story hundreds of times as the elder Doss, who died in 2006, went to various functions to share it. The younger Doss said his father like many others who perform heroic feats often said he was just doing his job. But the son said his father also felt it was for the glory of his God and he needed to share his story. For Doss Jr., the movie is an "incredible love story" wrapped in carnage. "It's about a man that loved his mother. He loved his church. He loved his wife. He loved the men that he worked with even when they often times didn't much care for him. He never wavered in coming from this place of compassion, love and forgiveness," he said. ___ Follow Santana on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ruskygal . __ On the Internet: http://www.desmonddoss.com/ http://www.cmohs.org/ Director Mel Gibson, center, interviews Desmond Doss Jr., the son of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss, at a screening of the movie "Hacksaw Ridge" at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. The film depicts the life of conscientious objector and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Actor Vince Vaughn, left, and director Mel Gibson pose for a photo at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Vaughn plays the character of Sgt. Howell in the film "Hacksaw Ridge," directed by Mel Gibson. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Actor Vince Vaughn poses on the red carpet for the premier of the movie "Hacksaw Ridge" at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. The film depicts the life of World War II medic and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Desmond Doss Jr., the son of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss, talks about his father at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Desmond Doss is the subject of a new Mel Gibson directed movie titled, "Hacksaw Ridge." (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Director Mel Gibson poses on the red carpet for the premiere of his movie "Hacksaw Ridge," at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. The film depicts the life of World War II medic and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Actress Teresa Palmer poses on the red carpet for a screening of the movie "Hacksaw Ridge," at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Palmer plays the role of Dorothy Schutte. The film depicts the life of World War II medic and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Actress Teresa Palmer poses on the red carpet for the premiere of the movie "Hacksaw Ridge," at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. The film depicts the life of World War II medic and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Actor Luke Bracey, second from left, actress Teresa Palmer, director Mel Gibson, World War II veterans Joe Clapper, RV Burgin, Robert Akins, and Desmond Doss Jr. and actor Vince Vaughn pose on the red carpet at a screening of the movie "Hacksaw Ridge," at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. The film depicts the life of conscientious objector and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Actor Vince Vaughn, right, shakes hand with World War II veteran RV Burgin on the red carpet with director Mel Gibson, second from left, actor Luke Bracey, left, and other World War II veterans Joe Clapper, third from left and Robert Akins, second from right, at a screening of the movie "Hacksaw Ridge," at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. The film depicts the life of conscientious objector and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Actor Vince Vaughn looks on as Charles Googe, center, and Dr. Charles Knapp, right, show two Congressional Medals of Honor given to Desmond Doss, at a screening of the movie "Hacksaw Ridge," at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. The film depicts the life of conscientious objector and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) World War II veteran Robert Akins is recognized by the audience during a screening of the movie "Hacksaw Ridge" at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Akins is the grandfather of New Orleans Saints quarter back Drew Brees, seen in background. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) A plaque describing the personal story of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond Doss, is part of the Okinawa display at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. The film "Hacksaw Ridge," directed by Mel Gibson, depicts the life of conscientious objector, Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) A plaque describing the personal story of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond Doss, is part of the Okinawa display at The National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. The film "Hacksaw Ridge," directed by Mel Gibson, depicts the life of conscientious objector Desmond Doss. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Some waver from Trump in deep-red Ohio suburbs MASON, Ohio (AP) James Stepp says he is an Ohio Republican who is supporting Democrat Hillary Clinton. His reason? A Trump presidency, he says, would damage the GOP for years to come. "The party needs to jettison Donald Trump in order to survive," said Stepp, 29, of Franklin, in Warren County. Voting for a Democrat in order to save the Republican Party is not a common thread of presidential campaigns, by any means. But this is no ordinary election, and many Republicans are finding reasons to back away from a nominee whose provocative rhetoric and treatment of women appall them. FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, file photo, Hillary Clinton campaign volunteer Cynthia Herman, left, helps register Nasim Shafie, right, as she canvasses the neighborhood in Mason, Ohio, a northern Cincinnati suburb in strongly Republican Warren County. The furor from Donald Trumps provocative rhetoric and his treatment of women has helped shake usually rock-solid Republican support in Ohio suburbs. As a result, Hillary Clinton campaigns hopes are rising about taking a swing state thats must-win for him. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, FILE) Chasing those votes, the Clinton campaign has been working GOP-dominated suburban areas for months in Ohio, finding cracks in their usually rock-solid support for their party's presidential nominee and raising Clinton's hopes for blocking Trump in a must-win swing state for him. "I think a couple weeks ago we would acknowledge that we faced some headwind," Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said of the state. Now? "Wind is at our backs in Ohio." Polls have indicated the state looks like a toss-up. The three counties around Cincinnati typically provide 2-to-1 margins and strong turnouts for the Republican nominees, and were credited with delivering the votes George W. Bush needed to clinch his 2004 re-election. In his book "The Bellwether," Ohio native Kyle Kondik, of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, describes Butler, Warren and Clermont as a Republican "super-county." But Kondik thinks Warren in particular and Delaware County, a heavily Republican suburban area near Columbus, offer potential for Clinton among college-educated, affluent voters. Trump's Ohio campaign director, Bob Paduchik, expresses confidence that Trump's support will hold up in traditional Republican regions while he outperforms typical Republican candidates in areas such as the Mahoning Valley region in northeast Ohio. Trump's tough talk on trade deals and immigration has appealed to blue-collar workers there, and in Ohio's southern Appalachian region, where Trump ran better than home-state Gov. John Kasich in the March primary. But Trump's effort to pile up enough votes in a state Democrat Barack Obama won in 2012 gets tougher if Clinton siphons some from GOP strongholds. Clinton's state campaign director, Chris Wyant, said he was already seeing more support this year than usual in the GOP-dominated suburbs, when the tape of Trump's 2005 comments about women drew attention just as early voting was beginning. Out for a stroll on a recent pleasant afternoon in her neighborhood in Mason, Nasim Shafie was listening in disbelief on her phone to Trump's "terrible" comments about women on the tape. Shafie, 36, said she didn't vote in the last election but is motivated to vote for Clinton. "I don't want Trump," said Shafie, whose husband is a Trump supporter. "Many, many, many things are adding up." A Clinton campaign volunteer canvassing the Warren County neighborhood of $350,000-plus homes gave her a voter registration form. Clinton supporter Amy Rasmussen, taking a break from yard work at her Mason home, said that like her, many Republican neighbors are probably having awkward conversations with their young daughters about Trump and women. She said she expects most will still vote Republican, "but they're a lot quieter about it this time." Karen Scipione Gray, used to being "the token Democrat" on her block in Mason, sees offbeat indicators: While her Obama yard signs frequently disappeared, no one has taken her Clinton sign. Even better, she said, her house, egged three times in 2012, had remained yolk-free this year. Gray said she's trying to persuade some staunch Republican neighbors to vote for Clinton, but they tell her they just won't vote for president. Trump campaigned in Butler County during the primary season and led a large rally this month in downtown Cincinnati. Running mate Mike Pence and Trump's adult children have also campaigned in the area. But he lacks the endorsement of the popular Republican governor as well as Sen. Rob Portman and has had strained relations with some other GOP leaders. Obama and Bill Clinton both twice won Ohio, a state no Republican has reached the White House without. In the GOP suburbs, Clinton has had prominent supporters such as actresses Kristin Davis and Amber Tamblyn making appearances for her. Meg Whitman, a Hewlett-Packard executive and longtime GOP fundraiser, recently campaigned for her in Cincinnati. Warren County Republican Lori Viars, an anti-abortion activist, said she could "count on one hand" people she knows who say they won't vote for Trump in an area with many evangelical Christians. Like her, they are focusing on the next president's potential to fill the Supreme Court vacancy and other federal judgeships, and what that could mean for abortion law and religious expression. "I absolutely do not approve of some of the things that Trump has said," Viars said. "But people are going to vote for him because the alternative could change our lives forever." Dorothy Nicholas, 50, stopped by a Trump office in West Chester the other day to pick up yard signs. "I think he can change America," said Nicholas, who said she lost her auto parts factory job when the work was moved to Mexico. "If we elect her, she's just going to continue this administration." Down the road in Butler County, Victoria Alvarez had a Clinton sign up. She said strangers who saw her number on a sign for rental space above her art gallery called her to thank her for showing support for Clinton. In the county represented by John Boehner when he was Republican House speaker, she said, "We're that glimmer of hope for Hillary." In Mason, Scott Wertz had a Trump-Pence sign in his yard, along with one for his first choice, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, whom Trump defeated in the primary. He said he doesn't really like Trump, "but he just happened to win." Another sign in his yard says, "Hillary For Prison." ___ Follow Dan Sewell at http://www.twitter.com/dansewell To see some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/dan-sewell FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, file photo, Karen Scipione Gray holds an early voting flier while being interviewed at her home in Mason, Ohio, a northern Cincinnati suburb in strongly Republican Warren County. The furor from Donald Trumps provocative rhetoric and his treatment of women has helped shake usually rock-solid Republican support in Ohio suburbs. As a result, Hillary Clinton campaigns hopes are rising about taking a swing state thats must-win for him. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, file photo, Hillary Clinton campaign volunteer Cynthia Herman, right, offers early voting information to Amy Rasmussen, left, as she canvasses the neighborhood in Mason, Ohio, a northern Cincinnati suburb in strongly Republican Warren County. The furor from Donald Trumps provocative rhetoric and his treatment of women has helped shake usually rock-solid Republican support in Ohio suburbs. As a result, Hillary Clinton campaigns hopes are rising about taking a swing state thats must-win for him.(AP Photo/John Minchillo, FILE) FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, file photo, Hillary Clinton campaign volunteer Cynthia Herman canvasses a neighborhood in Mason, Ohio, a northern Cincinnati suburb in strongly Republican Warren County. The furor from Donald Trumps provocative rhetoric and his treatment of women has helped shake usually rock-solid Republican support in Ohio suburbs. As a result, Hillary Clinton campaigns hopes are rising about taking a swing state thats must-win for him. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) Worth it? A faster transplant but a kidney with hepatitis C WASHINGTON (AP) A bold experiment is giving some patients a chance at cutting years off their wait for a kidney transplant if they agree to a drastic-sounding option getting an organ almost sure to infect them with hepatitis C. Betting on new medications that promise to cure hepatitis C, two leading transplant centers aim to use organs that today go to waste, a bid to put a dent in the nation's long transplant waiting list. Pilot studies are underway at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University to test transplanting kidneys from deceased donors with hepatitis C into recipients who don't already have that virus. If the groundbreaking research eventually pans out, hundreds more kidneys and maybe some hearts and lungs, too could be transplanted every year. Irma Hendricks has blood drawn at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, on Oct. 6, 2016. Hendricks received a kidney transplant from a donor with hepatitis C, and took medications after surgery that cleared away the virus and left her feeling healthy again. Hendricks is part of a pilot study testing if new drugs that promise to cure most hepatitis C could allow use of organs that today go to waste, and speed transplants to people who might otherwise die waiting. (AP Photo/Jessica Kourkounis) "We always dreaded hepatitis C," said Dr. Peter Reese, a Penn kidney specialist who is helping lead the research. "But now hepatitis C is just a different disease," enough to consider what he calls the trade-off of getting a new kidney years faster but one that comes with a hopefully treatable infection. It's a trade-off prompted by an organ shortage. More than 99,000 people are on the national kidney waiting list, but only about 17,000 people a year get a transplant and 4 percent a year die waiting, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). "If we had enough organs, we wouldn't do this," said Dr. Niraj Desai, who is leading the Hopkins study. But, Desai said, "most patients are pretty open to the idea once they hear what the alternatives are." Doctors had told 66-year-old Irma Hendricks of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, to expect at least a five-year wait for a kidney transplant. Dialysis three times a week was keeping her alive, but leaving her with no energy for even routine activities. "I call it the zombie syndrome," she said. She jumped at the chance to enroll in Penn's study, even though doctors made clear they hoped for but couldn't guarantee a hepatitis cure. "My son said, 'Mom, this is a no-brainer. Just do it,'" Hendricks said. She swallowed an anti-hepatitis pill daily for three months, in addition to the usual post-transplant medications. Testing showed the drugs rapidly cleared hepatitis C out of her bloodstream. With her new kidney functioning well, she now has enough energy to play with her toddler grandson. "This is giving people in my situation new hope," Hendricks said. Kidney transplant specialists are closely watching the research. "It makes sense to me," said Dr. Matthew Cooper, a transplant surgeon at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital who is not involved in the research. He cautioned that the studies should use only kidneys that are young and otherwise high-quality, and that patients must understand the risks. "They need to know you place their safety as the highest priority," Cooper said. "But at the same time, recognize that we have these obstacles. We don't want people to die on dialysis, and there are not enough organs available for everybody." Hepatitis C is a simmering infection that, if untreated, over two to three decades can quietly destroy someone's liver. At least 2.7 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis C. Until a few years ago, it was treatable only by medications with grueling side effects and poor cure rates. Now, breakthrough drugs promise to cure 95 percent of hepatitis C cases with fewer side effects for people who can afford them. Treatment costs tens of thousands of dollars. Normally, hepatitis C-infected organs are transplanted only into patients who already have hepatitis C themselves, so as not to further spread the virus. Giving hepatitis C-positive organs to hepatitis C-negative recipients is allowed if the patient agrees, but it's rare, said Dr. David Klassen, UNOS' chief medical officer. UNOS statistics show a few dozen such transplants, mostly kidneys, last year, presumably when doctors feared their patients wouldn't survive the wait for a healthier organ. More often, hospitals discard hepatitis C-infected organs. Reese and fellow Penn physician Dr. David Goldberg found only 37 percent of hepatitis C-positive kidney donations between 2005 and 2014 were transplanted. The discards could have helped more than 4,000 patients during that time period, they reported in the New England Journal of Medicine last year. The opioid epidemic is prompting a jump in donations from people who died of drug overdoses typically young organs that, absent an infection risk, would be sought after. The small Penn and Hopkins trials are a first step. Much larger studies are needed to prove whether more routine use of these organs in immune-suppressed transplant recipients really works. Cost also is a question. Merck & Co. is helping to fund the pilot trials, donating its medication Zepatier, which costs $54,000 for a round of treatment. That's still cheaper than a lifetime of a dialysis, which costs about $75,000 a year, UNOS' Klassen noted. While the studies began with kidneys because of their demand, "I don't think there's any reason, if it proves safe and effective in kidneys, that we wouldn't want to try it in other organs," Penn's Goldberg noted. Even if the hepatitis C-infected organs prove useful, the nation still is "desperate for more donors," cautioned Hopkins' Desai. "It's a practical solution to help some of the people. It won't solve the problem." ___ Associated Press writer Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report. In this photo taken Oct. 13, 2016, Irma Hendricks poses for a portrait with her grandson, C.J., at her home in East Stroudsburg, Pa. Hendricks received a kidney transplant from a donor with hepatitis C, and took medications after surgery that cleared away the virus and left her feeling healthy again. Hendricks is part of a pilot study testing if new drugs that promise to cure most hepatitis C could allow use of organs that today go to waste, and speed transplants to people who might otherwise die waiting. (AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam) Support for 'my girl' Clinton is personal, Mrs. Obama says WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) As first ladies they could hardly have been more different. But as Democrats looking to fire up female voters, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton were firmly bonded on Thursday. In their first joint appearance on the campaign trail, Mrs. Obama and Clinton talked up their shared respect, common values and singular goal: Defeating Republican Donald Trump. They papered over a somewhat rocky history and their vastly different paths through public life. With Mrs. Obama aiming to secure her husband's legacy and Clinton needing to propel women to the polls, the two women sought to celebrate their political marriage of mutual interest, and reassure voters it's real. First lady Michelle Obama and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton hug after speaking at a campaign rally at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) "Seriously, is there anyone more inspiring than Michelle Obama?" Clinton asked, as a crowd in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, answered with cheers. Mrs. Obama declared the feeling mutual. She referred to Clinton as "my girl" and offered reassurance that her testimony for Clinton is both personal and political. Since she's emerged as Clinton's headline-grabbing surrogate, people wonder one thing, Mrs. Obama noted. "Yes, Hillary Clinton is my friend," she answered. It's a reasonable question. In the East Wing, Clinton dived into policy, undertook a massive project and failed under a harsh spotlight. Mrs. Obama largely steered clear and enjoyed quieter, modest success. Both Ivy League-trained lawyers with their own careers, Clinton bridled under the stereotypes associated with the office, while Mrs. Obama declared herself "mom-in-chief." While Clinton held onto her maiden name, her Democratic successor let it be known she preferred the "Mrs." title. And when her time in the White House was ending, Clinton began plotting her return to Washington. Mrs. Obama hasn't hidden her readiness to leave. The White House has quickly and repeatedly shot down any talk of the first lady continuing in politics. Acknowledging her reluctance in the political spotlight, she said, "I would not be here" if she didn't believe so strongly Clinton would be a president she would trust. "I believe with all of my heart that Hillary Clinton will be that president," she said. Clinton's day in North Carolina turned into a college tour, as she tried to push young voters to the polls. After the rally, Clinton drove to Greensboro, where she greeted students at an early voting site at University of North Carolina-Greensboro. She then dropped in on a homecoming pep rally at the historically black North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University nearby. The former secretary of state was greeted by a DJ blasting hip-hop, a dance troupe, a marching band and deafening cheers at the surprise stop. "The Aggies are in the house!" she cheered back. "I hope you will all vote in this election because it's so much about you!" she said. Mrs. Obama's appearances have become a key part of Clinton's effort to fire up women particularly black women, for whom she's a model and a source of pride. And Democrats have relished Mrs. Obama's speeches as high points of the campaign cycle. Her passionate response to Trump's vulgar comments about women brought an emotional resonance that Clinton, who rarely gets personal on the stump, doesn't often deliver. Both Clinton and Mrs. Obama on Thursday revived a line from the latter's speech at the Democratic National Convention "When they go low, we go high" turning it into a call and response. The Winston-Salem event drew some 11,000 people, according to the fire marshal, one of largest crowds of Clinton's campaign. Trump repeatedly boasts that his crowds are generally larger than hers. The audience roared as the two women walked onstage, turned to each other and embraced, the first lady towering over the shorter candidate. The new partnership has made for a striking odd couple on substance, too. As first lady, Mrs. Obama has largely dodged controversial issues. She's stayed focused on her projects involving healthful eating, exercise, support for military families and education for girls avoiding public opinions on thornier subjects. She's mastered the art of advocacy through popular culture, while in recent years all but ignoring the possibility of policymaking through legislation. She's cultivated a brand built on style, glamour and fashion. It's a tenure that bears little resemblance to her Democratic predecessor in the East Wing. Clinton came in promising, along with her husband, a new kind of partnership in the White House. Hillary Clinton was a veteran of the feminist movement and ready to expand the office of first lady to suit her experience and passion for policy. She had an office in the West Wing, took over the health care overhaul effort and ultimately became a target of investigations and criticism alongside her husband. That's something Mrs. Obama and her aides sought to avoid. Asked to cite role models, Obama has named Eleanor Roosevelt and Jacqueline Kennedy. The Clintons and Obamas themselves have a fraught history, one that includes both spouses. While Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton battled in 2008, Michelle Obama raised questions about her husband's opponent, framing the choice between the two as "about character." Since then the women have publicly buried the hatchet. The differences between Clinton's and Mrs. Obama's tenures speak in some ways to the differences in their generations Clinton representing the first wave of baby boomers eager to push boundaries, while Obama benefited from lessons learned, noted Carl Sferrazza Anthony, a historian at the National First Ladies Library. "Beneath the surface they both brought a sense of rigor and structure and focus," he said. "They were very objective-oriented." Those objectives were clearly different, he said. "I think Michelle Obama may end up being perhaps one of the most influential first ladies when it comes to influence on the American public, whereas Hillary has been one of the most important in terms of achievement in terms of policy." Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is hugged by first lady Michelle Obama during a campaign rally in Winston-Salem, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a homecoming pep rally at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton prepares to hug first lady Michelle Obama during a campaign rally in Winston-Salem, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) You are here: Home Chinese-Canadian actor Kris Wu was honored as Best Actor at China Film Week, an event that's allied with the ongoing Tokyo International Film Festival. Kris Wu wins the Gold Crane award at China Film Week in Tokyo on October 26, 2016. [Photo:Weibo] The 25-year-old pop star expressed his excitement while receiving the Gold Crane Award. "Firstly, I want to thank the organizer for giving me such a great honor, as an appreciation of my performance. I'm very happy to attend the Tokyo International Film Festival, and China Film Week. This is a great opportunity of enhancing cross-border cultural exchanges. I hope in the near future, more Chinese films can be screened around the world, thus to reach a wider range of audiences." Wu won the title for his performance in Sweet Sixteen. Actress Jiang Qinqin has been crowned Best Actress for her role in A Fool. Renowned filmmaker Guan Hu won the Best director award for the action comedy film Mr. Six. Philippine leader's meeting with Japan emperor canceled TOKYO (AP) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte left Japan on Thursday without meeting Emperor Akihito as their scheduled meeting had to be canceled because of the death of the emperor's uncle. Before ending his three-day visit, Duterte proposed joint military exercises with Japan, while reiterating that he will not conduct them with Americans in his presidency. Duterte made the proposal during his visit to a coast guard unit to observe an exercise from one of the patrol vessels Japan pledged to provide the Philippines to upgrade Manila's maritime security capabilities amid South China Sea disputes with Beijing. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, center, accompanied by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, right, and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, left, clap their hands at the end of Japan's coast guard drills in Yokohama Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. Duterte is on a three-day official visit to Japan, his first as Philippine leader. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP) The president told reporters in an unscheduled interview that he discussed a possibility of the joint exercise "in general terms" when he held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the Philippine presidential palace. Duterte also reminded reporters that allowing American military to stay in his country would be "difficult" and that he planned to review the military cooperation agreement and ask them "one of these days" to leave the country. He did not elaborate on his comment on joint exercises with Japan, which could have mixed implications because of Japan also has tensions with China over East China Sea islands, history and other issues. Duterte has criticized Washington's foreign policy while reaching out to Beijing. His criticism to U.S. and its military presence in the Philippines have raised concerns in Washington and Tokyo, a top American ally. He said Wednesday he wants foreign troops out of his country possibly within the next two years, referring to visiting U.S. troops. The Philippines hosts U.S. troops in five military camps under a security deal signed by Duterte's predecessor as a counter to China's growing military assertiveness in the region. But in Manila, Philippine officials revealed Thursday that despite Duterte's opposition to further exercises with the U.S., the two countries held navy exercise Oct. 17-26 on mines and humanitarian underwater search missions. Philippine navy Vice Adm. Ronald Joseph Mercado, commander of the military's Western Command, said the maneuvers including emergency diving procedures and operating sonar equipment were held in the western Philippine province of Palawan facing the disputed South China Sea. Duterte said Abe asked him to explain his U.S. policy but did not offer to mediate the chilling relations between the U.S. and the Philippines. Because of Duterte's informal style, Japanese officials had been worried if he may chew gum in front of the emperor. But during his visit in Japan, he was not seen doing that during his talks with Abe and other officials. Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of former Emperor Hirohito, died Thursday at the age of 100. "I'd like to express my deepest condolence," Duterte said. He told reporters that his protocol officer advised him not to proceed with the call on the emperor "because they are in mourning and I respect that because I would ask for the same, maybe request, if I were in his shoes." ___ Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila, the Philippines, contributed to this report. Follow Mari Yamaguchi at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Find her work also at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mari-yamaguchi Japan Coast Guard security team display tracking and capture drills by rigid-hulled inflatable boats against an unidentified ship at sea in Yokohama Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 while Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte inspect. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, second left in white outfit, and Satoshi Nakajima, front right, commander of Japanese coast guard, shake hands at a Japan Coast Guard base in Yokohama, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. Duterte is on a three-day official visit to Japan, his first as Philippine leader. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Japan Coast Guard rescue team display hoisting rescuer and drifter at sea in Yokohama Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 while Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte inspect a coast guard drill. Duterte is on a three-day official visit to Japan, his first as Philippine leader. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, center, accompanied by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, fifth from left, and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, third from left, inspect Japan's coast guard drills in Yokohama Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. Duterte is on a three-day official visit to Japan, his first as Philippine leader. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left, and a coast guard officer shake hands at a Japan Coast Guard base in Yokohama, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. Duterte is on a three-day official visit to Japan, his first as Philippine leader. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, second from left, is escorted to get off a Japan Coast Guard ship at its base in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. Duterte is on a three-day official visit to Japan, his first as Philippine leader. Japanese reads: "Coast Guard." (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) California city to pay $100K to settle pot shop raid lawsuit SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) A California city will pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging police harassment during a raid on a marijuana dispensary. The city of Santa Ana will also drop misdemeanor charges against a dozen people accused of unlawfully operating Sky High Holistic, the Orange County Register reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/2eLDNmS ). Attorney Matthew Pappas said the money will go to two Sky High volunteers and an unrelated doctor whose nearby office was affected by last year's raid. The suit was filed after surveillance video showed police playing darts and an officer making demeaning comments about a woman in a wheelchair. Another officer can be seen eating what appears to be a pot-laced edible, according to the lawyer. Santa Ana Deputy City Manager Roberto Cortez declined to discuss the settlement, the newspaper said. The suit alleged that Mayor Miguel Pulido and other city employees favored certain dispensaries. It said the city put up a ballot proposal, Measure BB, for the November 2014 election, soliciting payments from collectives with the promise of winning a spot in an eventual marijuana permit lottery. Sky High Holistic did not win a spot in the lottery and its patients allege that because Pulido and other city employees had financial ties with competing dispensaries, they used their positions to close down the competition. Pulido denied the allegations and said the city hired a firm to conduct the lottery. Earlier this year, three police officers were charged with misdemeanor petty theft and one with vandalism for allegedly stealing snacks and damaging surveillance cameras. They are no longer employed by the city's police department. ___ 2 Eritrean pilots defect to Ethiopia with jets, group says ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) Two Eritrean pilots have defected with their fighter jets to neighboring Ethiopia, an Eritrean opposition group confirmed Thursday, in a dramatic exit from one of the world's most closed-off states. "The two pilots flew their small-sized fighter jets to Mekelle on Wednesday morning," Nasredin Ahmed Ali, spokesman for the Ethiopia-based Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization, told The Associated Press. The spokesman identified the pilots as Afeworki Fisehaye and Mebrahtu Tesfamariam and described them as being very experienced with Eritrea's air force. He said Ethiopian fighter jets accompanied them upon their entry into the country's air space. One witness, Abiy Chelkeba, a lecturer at Mekelle University, said Ethiopian jets were flying very low and conducting unusual turns in the northern city Wednesday morning. Local media also reported the defection. An Eritrean official based in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, said he was not aware of the defections. Ethiopia's government spokesman, Getachew Reda, declined to comment. This is the first time Eritrean pilots have defected to Ethiopia with their jets, but there have been reports of the East African country's pilots defecting to Saudi Arabia since 2012. Eritreans are one of the largest groups trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, with the U.N. saying more than 47,000 applied for asylum there in 2015. Eritrea's government has been under criticism for what a U.N. commission of inquiry has said are numerous abuses including enslavement, rape and torture. President Isaias Afwerki, in power since 1991, is described by rights groups as increasingly repressive in the country of about 6 million. Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a border war between 1998 and 2000 that killed tens of thousands of people. Border skirmishes occur often, and the two countries have not had diplomatic ties since 1998. Advertisement As roaring flames consumed an apartment building in New York City early Thursday, a firefighter dangling from a rope plucked a trapped person from a window on the fifth floor and lowered him to safety. James Duffy, 81, was saved with just seconds to spare from the blaze that killed one person and injured 12 others. The rope that firefighter Jim Lee used in the rescue burned through just 15 seconds after he and Duffy safely touched the ground. Scroll down for video Firefighters work to put out a blaze at an apartment building on the Upper East Side in New York City that killed one person and injured 12 others on Thursday morning Roaring flames completely ruined the apartment and displaced 18 families in the Yorkville neighborhood Duffy didn't believe he would make it out alive when he realized he was trapped inside his apartment as the fire tore through the building on E 93rd Street in Manhattan's Upper East Side around 3.30am on Thursday. 'The smoke was so black and dark and heavy, I really didn't they I'd make it,' Duffy told CBS New York from his hospital bed. 'Couldn't get to the roof cause that was on fire, couldn't get down the stairs because the smoke was dark and very thick.' 'Couldn't see anything, so I just waited at the kitchen window, hoping and waiting that the fireman would come up, and he did.' 'To me that is the miracle on 93rd street.' Flames quickly spread throughout the building and, at one point, were shooting out the roof, sending burning embers onto nearby buildings. James Duffy, 81, (pictured) was saved with just seconds to spare from the blaze when firefighter Jim Lee, just dangling from a rope, plucked him from the kitchen window of his fifth story apartment and carried him to safety Firefighters on the building's roof lowered Lee (pictured) down to the window in a harness so his arms would be free to grab Duffy. The rope that he used in the rescue burned through just 15 seconds after he and Duffy safely touched the ground The dangerous 'roof rope rescue' (pictured in a witness' video) is the FDNY's last resort when there's no other way to rescue someone from a burning building They were moving so fast that Lee had to do the dangerous 'roof rope rescue' technique, the last resort when there's no other way to rescue someone from a burning building. A witness said they heard Duffy scream 'I'm burning' from his kitchen window before Lee said they were coming to get him. Firefighters on the building's roof lowered Lee down to the window in a harness so his arms would be free to grab Duffy and carry him down to safety. 'I told him to stay calm and when we got down, I said "I hope you enjoyed the ride"', Lee said. 'He sort of smiled and he was thankful.' 'Right when we got to the ground, the flames came right through the window.' 'If he didn't come in at that time, I would've been a goner,' Duffy added. 'It was that close.' It was the first time Lee had ever done a roof rope rescue in the field and it had been five years since the FDNY rescued a victim with the lifesaver rope. 'I told him to stay calm and when we got down, I said "I hope you enjoyed the ride"', Lee (pictured talking to reporters on Thursdsy) said. 'He sort of smiled and he was thankful' Four other residents in addition to seven firefighters suffered minor injuries in the blaze. One firefighter was hospitalized 'That's probably one of the most dangerous evolutions that we do, and that's why we train so much on it,' he said. Duffy, who is in critical condition, was burned on his arm, back and leg but said he will be okay. 'He's an angel from heaven, you did a great job Jim,' Duffy said. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the roof rope rescue 'simply heroic' and Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said it was an 'extraordinary rescue'. 'I cant say enough about the danger involved in that type of rescue,' he added. Four other residents in addition to seven firefighters suffered minor injuries in the blaze. One firefighter had to be hospitalized. The name of the man who died in the fire has not yet been released. He was reportedly trapped on the third floor during the blaze. Residents of the block gathered together in the foyer of an apartment building early Thursday during the blaze Seven of those injured in the blaze were firefighters who had been working to control the flames The name of the man who died in the fire has not yet been released. He was reportedly trapped on the third floor A resident who lives in a nearby building said she evacuated her apartment when she realized there was a fire. 'I smelled smoke and then by the window I saw sparks and then I saw flames', she said. 'That's when me and my husband just decided to leave the house.' Witnesses reported seeing other residents flee the burning building in their pajamas. It would be three more hours before the flames was finally brought under control, with firefighters still putting out hotspots late Thursday morning. The building was completely destroyed. The Red Cross is now assisting the 18 families who have been displaced. The cause of the fire is under investigation. FDNY firefighters work on rooftops in the aftermath of the fatal apartment building fire on Thursday morning Carrier filmed dumping letters no longer delivering mail DECATUR, Ga. (AP) The U.S. Postal Service says a worker who was filmed dumping letters into a ditch outside Atlanta is no longer delivering mail. The mail carrier was seen dumping mail he was supposed to be delivering to residents in a Decatur subdivision. Officials didn't release the name of the accused mail carrier. Postal service spokesman Rick Badie tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://on-ajc.com/2ee38V6) the worker was a part-time employee. Kellie Campbell, the subdivision's homeowners association president, said she recorded the postal worker walking near a fence and dumping several bins of mail there. Roughly thousands of letters were estimated to be scattered near the ditch last week. No other details were released concerning the worker. Badie says an investigation continues in the mail dumping case. ___ For UK's Europeans, post-Brexit attacks bring shock and fear HARLOW, England (AP) When his friend Arek was killed in the street, Eric Hind had sickening evidence that the country he'd come to call home had changed. But the Polish IT consultant had started to feel uneasy even before that, as Britain prepared to vote earlier this year on whether to remain in the European Union. As debate heated up about the U.K.'s place in Europe, Hind's outsider status was made all too clear to him. It started when an Englishman he knew who had lived in Spain for five years returned to Britain and made an unexpected comment. In this photo taken on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016, Eric Hind pose for photograph during an interview with the Associated Press in Harlow, England. When his friend Arek was killed in the street, Eric Hind had sickening evidence that the country he'd come to call home had changed. But the Polish IT consultant had started to feel uneasy even before that, as Britain prepared to vote earlier this year on whether to remain in the European Union. (AP Photo/Jonathan Shenfield) "He got back and the first thing he did, before the referendum, was ask me when I am going back to Poland and saying he's going to vote for 'leave,'" said Hind, 33. Hind was among hundreds of thousands of Poles who seized the opportunity when the EU expanded into eastern Europe in 2004 to move to Britain, regarded as a welcoming country with a flexible labor market and relatively high wages. Twelve years on, he'd settled in Harlow, near London, with a family and a good job. After the June 23 vote, Hind says he received text messages that said things like, "What time is my bus back home, have I got my passport and good luck in Poland." Free movement among member states is a key principle of the EU, and millions of Europeans have become used to studying, working or retiring abroad. Britain's vote to quit the bloc after a "leave" campaign that urged people to "take back control" is in part a renunciation of that borderless ideal. The support for leaving the EU was swelled by citizens who felt the presence of so many people from other EU countries was making Britain less "British" and making it harder for Britons to find jobs, housing, and medical care. One campaign poster featured a long line of migrants beside the slogan "breaking point." Anti-racism groups say the vote also unleashed a wave of xenophobia that has brought insults, abuse and physical attacks. Much of the recorded abuse has been aimed at eastern Europeans, who have come to Britain in the hundreds of thousands over the past decade and particularly Poles, the largest group, who number a million in the U.K. "'Polish' has become a derogatory word for anybody who is from Europe," Suresh Grover of the Monitoring Group, a charity that works with victims of hate crime, said. "It's not just against eastern Europeans. We have cases of Germans, Italians and French people," Grover said. "The victims are people who speak a different language." Britons from ethnic minorities also say they have been getting more abuse. Grover said the anti-immigrant tenor of the Brexit debate "has legitimized unacceptable forms of racism that I thought couldn't exist again." "We have cases where the n-word is used frequently," he said. Official figures back up anecdotal evidence of a rise in hate crime since the referendum. According to the Home Office, police recorded 1,546 racially or religiously aggravated offenses in England and Wales in the two weeks before referendum day, and 2,241 in the two weeks after it. The total for July was up 41 percent from the same month a year earlier. August's level was lower, but still higher than before for Brexit vote. Incidents reported around the country include offensive graffiti daubed on a Polish community center; cards saying "no more Polish vermin" left on cars; a Polish man punched and kicked in Yeovil, southwest England; another Polish man beaten by a gang of teenagers in the northern city of Leeds; and a 21-year-old Polish student stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle in the English Midlands town of Telford. On Aug. 27, a Saturday night, Hind's friend Arkadiusz Jozwik, known as Arek, was involved in an altercation with youths outside a pizza parlor in Harlow, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of London. The 40-year-old was felled by a single punch, hit his head and died in hospital two days later. Police said they were investigating the death as a hate crime, and arrested six teens aged 15 and 16. Five have been released for lack of evidence, while one remains on bail. Poland's ambassador to Britain, Arkady Rzegocki, said he was "shocked and deeply concerned" by the hostility toward a community whose presence in Britain goes back to World War II, when Polish pilots fought in the Battle of Britain and a Polish government-in-exile was based in London. "The hospitality of British society was very famous, and we appreciate it," he said. Rzegocki said he is confident that common sense and British decency will prevail. He said the embassy has received many supportive letters from Britons condemning the attacks. And he points out that Britain is a country with low unemployment whose economy relies on migrants, including armies of Polish plumbers, nannies and fruit-pickers. "I am sure that most of British society is very welcoming to immigrants especially to the Poles which had, and still have, a huge contribution to the British economy and to the British culture," he said. He notes that for Europe, the 20th century was the era of "borders and protectionism and it wasn't a good century in European history." No one is arguing that the referendum introduced prejudice to Britain earlier groups of immigrants, from Jews 100 years ago to West Indians after World War II, also experienced hostility. In the 2014 British Social Attitudes survey, about a third of people admitted to being a little or very prejudiced against other races. "You've only got to hear people's conversations on the bus over the years, saying 'What's all these foreigners coming in?'" said Dorothy Spriggs, an 85-year-old who has lived in Harlow for almost 50 years. Harlow is a post-World War II "new town" whose first residents included bombed-out Londoners. Over the years they've been joined by others Chinese, Indians and more recently eastern Europeans, whose shops and delis sit alongside the town's fish-and-chip shops, Indian restaurants and kebab takeaways. Spriggs stopped recently beside a makeshift memorial near the spot where Jozwik died: bunches of flowers, a candle and three large stuffed animals lined up neatly on benches. "I think people should be more tolerant," she said. That appeal may be too late to keep Hind in Harlow, or in Britain. He's stopped going into town after 6 p.m. He's planning to leave the U.K., so his 2-year-old British-born daughter can grow up somewhere she will feel safe. "When I first moved to the U.K. I felt like it was a dream come true," he said with quiet sadness. "It's the country where there are no differences, people just get on with each other, there are no questions asked about where you're from. "But now I just have to watch my back. People are worried to use their own language in the streets. It's not what it is supposed to be like, or what it was like before." Hind worries he won't be allowed to remain in Britain even if he wants to. The government has refused to guarantee that the estimated 3 million EU nationals in Britain can stay unless U.K. citizens elsewhere in the EU get the same right. Europe's borders are firming up again. "It's just not nice to live in a country where you don't know where you stand ... if you don't know what will happen tomorrow, if someone will come to your door and say, 'OK, time for you to pack your bags and go home,'" Hind said. "Everyone wants to feel safe and I don't think this is the case now in the U.K." Follow Jill Lawless on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless In this photo taken on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016, flowers and candles are seen in a memorial to Arkadiusz Jozwik in Harlow, England. On Aug. 27, Arkadiusz Jozwik, known as Arek, was involved in an altercation with youths outside a pizza parlor in Harlow, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of London. The 40-year-old was felled by a single punch, hit his head and died in hospital two days later. Police said they were investigating the death as a hate crime, and arrested six teens aged 15 and 16. Poland's ambassador to Britain, Arkady Rzegocki, said he was "shocked and deeply concerned" by the hostility toward the Polish community. (AP Photo/Jill Lawless) Polish ambassador to Britain Arkady Rzegocki speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Polish Embassy in London, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016. Ambassador Rzegocki, said he was "shocked and deeply concerned" by the hostility toward a community whose presence in Britain goes back to World War II, when Polish pilots fought in the Battle of Britain and a Polish government-in-exile was based in London. "The hospitality of British society was very famous, and we appreciate it," he said. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) The Latest: Russia says Syrian rebels kill 3 kids in Aleppo BEIRUT (AP) The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 10:10 p.m. The Russian military says three children have been killed in rebel shelling of a school in the western part of the city of Aleppo, controlled by the Syrian government. This frame grab from video provided by Muaz al-Shami, Syrian Revolution Network, an opposition activist media organization, that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows a child on a hospital bed, with a bandage around his head after airstrikes killed over 20 people, in the northern rebel-held village of Hass, Syria, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016. A team of first responders, the Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib, said at least 50 were wounded in the raids that used parachute mines, targeting the residential area and schools in the village of Hass. Most of those killed were children, the group said on its Facebook page. (Muaz al-Shami, Syrian Revolution Network, via AP) Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov says another 10 children were wounded in Thursday's shelling. He says the Syrian rebels also fired on a humanitarian corridor leading out of eastern part of the city, killing 12 and wounding 20 people. Konashenkov says Russian and Syrian warplanes didn't fly closer than 10 kilometers (6 miles) to Aleppo, observing a moratorium on military flights in the area that Moscow declared 10 days ago. He says the rebels took advantage of the halt on flights and intensified the shelling of the government-held part of Aleppo. ___ 9:40 p.m. The Russian military says the claim of a deadly airstrike on a school in Syria's rebel-held northern province of Idlib is a sham. The U.N. children's agency said Wednesday's raid left 22 children and six teachers dead in the village of Hass, the deadliest raid on a school in the conflict. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov says Russian warplanes didn't fly over the area the previous day. He says a Russian drone flew over the school building on Thursday and found its roof intact and no bomb craters around it. Konashenkov accused the Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, of fabrication. He says the images that appeared in the media show desks standing intact next to a wall blown out, while an air strike would have caused more extensive damage. ___ 9:20 p.m. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for an immediate and impartial investigation of an attack on a school complex in Syria's Idlib province the day before which left at least 22 children and six teachers dead. Ban said in a statement on Thursday that he is appalled by the attack that, if deliberate, may amount to a war crime. Ban says: "If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice. They must be proved wrong." ___ 8:40 p.m. An Iranian news website says a senior commander from Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has been killed in Syria. Thursday's report on Mizanonline.ir says Gen. Gholamreza Samei, whose service dates back to the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, was killed in Syria on Wednesday. Samei was also formerly posted to a remote area in east of Iran. The report says he was in an advisory assignment in Syria. It did not elaborate. Iran is a main ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Tehran has provided his government with military and financial backing for years and has kept up its support since the uprising there began in 2011. ___ 6:45 p.m. President Vladimir Putin is defending Russia's support for the Syrian army's siege of the rebel-held eastern districts of the city of Aleppo, saying it's necessary to crush the militants there. Putin spoke on Thursday to international foreign policy experts in Sochi. He says there is choice between "keeping a terrorist nest there or crushing that nest while minimizing civilian casualties." Russia's air campaign in support of the Syrian troops' offensive on Aleppo has drawn international outrage. Moscow has denied striking civilians and has blamed Washington for failing to persuade the U.S.-backed rebels in the city to cut their ties with fighters from al-Qaida's branch. Putin shrugged off the calls to end the onslaught on Aleppo, arguing that the U.S.-backed, Iraqi-led siege of Mosul should also be halted then, and the prospective attack on Raqqa by the U.S.-led coalition should not be launched at all. ___ 5:45 p.m. Syrian activists and rescue workers say at least eight people have been killed in attacks on a rebel-held suburb of the capital, Damascus. The Syrian Civil Defense team of first responders says the eight who died in Thursday's heavy government shelling of Douma, east of Damascus, included a child. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll may increase further as rescue efforts are continuing. The rescuers said their work is hampered by continued shelling. Syria's government and their allies have increased their campaign against the steadily shrinking zone of rebel control in Damascus' suburbs. U.N. aid official Jan Egeland said on Thursday that the Syrian government denied access for aid in November to another Damascus suburb, the rebel-held al-Nashabiyeh. ___ 4 p.m. A U.N. humanitarian aid official for Syria says efforts will be renewed to secure the evacuation of nearly 200 wounded and allow medical and food supplies into the besieged rebel-held part of the city of Aleppo. Jan Egeland says the U.N. team is "not giving up." He says lack of trust, fear and misunderstandings as well as unacceptable preconditions have spoiled the efforts in the past. He spoke on Thursday in Geneva. Airstrikes by Russian and Syrian government planes on Aleppo have been halted for nine days now in expectations of the evacuations but efforts have failed because Syrian rebels say there have been no safety guarantees for the evacuees. The rebels also say Russia and the government are not allowing aid into the besieged, eastern rebel-held districts of Aleppo that are home to some 275,000 people. ___ 3:50 p.m. Turkey's defense minister has reiterated Ankara's objections to having Syrian Kurdish fighters' participate in an operation to capture the Islamic State group stronghold of Raqqa. The minister, Fikri Isik, suggests that instead of the Kurds, Turkish-backed forces can present an "alternative." Isik also said on Thursday that Turkey "would insist until the end" that the Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG be kept out of the battle for Raqqa. Ankara views the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish force, which has battled the IS, as a terror organization and claims it's linked to Turkey's outlawed Kurdish group. The United States, however, considers the Syrian Kurdish fighters as the most effective force against the IS and U.S. officials have said the YPG will be part of the offensive. Isik says that "Turkey has the capacity to form an alternative ... a sufficient force will be formed with the people of the region" especially the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition. His comments were carried by the state-run Anadolu Agency. ___ 3:45 p.m. The European Union has added 10 more Syrians to its sanctions' list, seeking to punish those that have been involved in the attacks on the contested city of Aleppo. The EU said in a statement on Thursday that the new individuals were listed "for being responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria" or benefiting from links to the Syrian regime. Last week, EU foreign ministers said that the attacks on Aleppo could amount to war crimes. Overall, EU sanctions on Syria were extended at the end of May until June 2017. With Thursday's additions, 217 people and 69 entities, including companies and associations, have been targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze over the violent repression of civilians. ___ 2:30 p.m. Turkey's president is telling his American counterpart that Turkey is ready to kick the Islamic State group out of their capital Raqqa in Syria. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey-backed opposition fighters inside Syria will eventually reach Raqqa after securing the towns of al-Bab and Manbij. "Last night we had a long conversation with Obama and shared our plans with him . We said, 'Come let's kick Daesh out of Raqqa together,' " he said referring to the Arabic acronym for the IS group. Erdogan added that he urged that the operation take place without involvement of Syrian Kurdish forces. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish militias an extension of its own outlawed Kurdish rebels, though the U.S. regards them as the most effective ground force in the fight against IS. ___ 10:15 a.m. The U.N. Children's agency says airstrikes in Syria's rebel-held northern Idlib province a day earlier may be the deadliest attack on a school since the country's war began nearly six years ago, leaving 22 children and six of their teachers killed. A team of first responders, the Syrian Civil Defense, and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday that the Wednesday airstrikes killed at least 35, mostly children, when they struck in the village of Hass around midday. Initially, the estimated death toll was at 22. The airstrikes hit in a residential area housing a school complex, as children gathered outside. UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake called the airstrikes an "outrage." He added if it is determined that the airstrikes were deliberate, "it is a war crime." This photo provided by the Revolutionary Forces of Syria, an opposition activist media organization, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows an airstrike that killed over 20 people in the village of Hass, Syria, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016. A team of first responders, the Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib, said at least 50 were wounded in the raids that used parachute mines, targeting the residential area and schools in the village of Hass. Most of those killed were children, the group said on its Facebook page. (Revolutionary Forces of Syria, via AP) This frame grab from video provided by Muaz al-Shami, Syrian Revolution Network, an opposition activist media organization, that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows two bodies lying down in the open back of a pick-up truck after airstrikes killed over 20 people, in the northern rebel-held village of Hass, Syria, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016. A team of first responders, the Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib, said at least 50 were wounded in the raids that used parachute mines, targeting the residential area and schools in the village of Hass. Most of those killed were children, the group said on its Facebook page. (Muaz al-Shami, Syrian Revolution Network, via AP) NATO allies advance plans for east Europe troop deployment BRUSSELS (AP) Faced with an ever-more belligerent and unpredictable Russia, NATO allies are advancing with plans to deploy thousands of troops and military equipment to the Baltics and Poland. In recent weeks alone, Russia has moved battleships toward the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas, shifted nuclear-capable missile-launchers into its Kaliningrad enclave neighboring Poland and continued flying bombers down the western European coast. The plans to send troops and equipment into Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland were agreed by NATO leaders in July. But Alliance defense ministers, ending two days of talks in Brussels on Thursday, have been fleshing out the contributions that will be stationed near Russia's borders. NATO defense ministers are seated during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council Defense Ministers session at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss tense relations with Russia, how to help Middle East nations combat extremism and cooperation between the military alliance and the European Union. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) "We are responding in a measured and responsible way because we are not seeking a new Cold War. We want to keep tensions as low as possible," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday. A day earlier, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that the U.S. will boost its presence in Europe with a brigade usually some 1,500-3,000 troops being deployed to Poland in February, among other contributions. The brigade will take part in military exercises there and send units from the force to Bulgaria, Romania and the Baltic States. Britain is to send typhoon fighter jets to the Black Sea area, while a battalion of troops, tanks and light armor will deploy in Estonia in the spring, backed by French and Danish troops. Starting in February, Germany will send 400 to 600 soldiers and battle tanks to Lithuania. Albania, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia are also playing roles in what NATO has dubbed its Enhanced Forward Presence. The force is meant to reassure Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland that all 28 NATO allies will defend them in case of attack. As Russian fighters have buzzed Alliance planes and ships, and its troops have launched snap exercises one such lot of unannounced war games was used as a pretext for troops to enter Ukraine, Stoltenberg said little dialogue has taken place between Moscow and the world's biggest military alliance. Their main forum for airing disagreements the NATO-Russia Council has only met twice this year. Indeed the allies do not seem to share a common vision of what Russia is trying to tell them or how to respond. On Wednesday, Spain came under pressure for offering to resupply a flotilla of Russian warships suspected to be bound for the eastern Mediterranean to help ramp up Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes. Malta was thought to be another possible stopover, but it announced Thursday that the vessels could not resupply there either. Greece was thought to be another possibility. "What we are observing is Russian military practice that diverges widely from NATO practice in scale, scope, content, purpose, and transparency," NATO's top military commander, U.S. General Curtis Scaparrotti, told the ministers. "We need to be strategic and coherent in our approach to defending our citizens. Now is the time for the Alliance to remain strong," he said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg talks during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council Defense Ministers session at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss tense relations with Russia, how to help Middle East nations combat extremism and cooperation between the military alliance and the European Union. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, greets U.S Secretary of Defense Ash Carter prior to a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Defense Ministers session at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. NATO defense ministers met in Brussels to discuss tense relations with Russia, how to help Middle East nations combat extremism and cooperation between the military alliance and the European Union.(AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, pool) Portugal's Defense Minister Jose Alberto Azeredo Lopes, left, talks with Britain's Secretary for Defense Michael Fallon during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council Defense Ministers session at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss tense relations with Russia, how to help Middle East nations combat extremism and cooperation between the military alliance and the European Union. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) NATO defense ministers take part in a group photo for the media after a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Defense Ministers session at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels to discuss tense relations with Russia, how to help Middle East nations combat extremism and cooperation between the military alliance and the European Union. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) European court rejects German far-right party's complaint BERLIN (AP) A European court has dismissed a German far-right party's claim that it has been stigmatized to the point that it faces a de facto ban. The ruling by the European Court of Human Rights on Thursday comes as Germany's highest court considers a bid by state governments to ban the National Democratic Party. Officials accuse the group of promoting a racist and anti-Semitic agenda. At the European court, the party cited members' dismissal from public service and its inability to open bank accounts as alleged rights violations it lacked the means to redress. But the human rights court found sufficient remedies were available and the party's case was "manifestly ill-founded." Latest: More than 100 arrests as pipeline protesters moved CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) The Latest on the Dakota Access oil pipeline protest (all times local): 9:30 p.m. Authorities say more than 100 people have been arrested during an operation to force Dakota Access pipeline protesters off private land. Dakota Access pipeline protesters confront law enforcement on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, near Cannon Ball, N.D. The months-long dispute over the four-state, $3.8 billion pipeline reached a crisis point when the protesters set up camp on land owned by pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners. The disputed area is just to the north of a more permanent and larger encampment on federally-owned land where hundreds of protesters have camped for months. (Caroline Grueskin/The Bismarck Tribune via AP) Donnell Hushka, a spokeswoman for the Morton County, North Dakota, Sheriff's Department, says as of 8:15 p.m. Thursday there have been 117 protesters arrested. She says Morton County will be using other jails to house people. She says those arrested for misdemeanors can bond out, but those facing felonies will have to be held for initial court appearances. Hushka says the possessions of those arrested are being collected and protesters can identify the belongings and claim them later. ___ 7:15 p.m. Charges are pending against a woman who allegedly fired three shots at law officers during an operation to force Dakota Access pipeline protesters off private land. State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong says the woman was being placed under arrest when she pulled out a .38-caliber pistol and fired three times, narrowly missing a sheriff's deputy. Officers did not return fire. It wasn't immediately clear exactly when the incident happened. Law enforcement officers moved in on Thursday to evict protesters from a camp on private land owned by the pipeline developer. Several protesters were arrested. ___ 6:40 p.m. A spokesman for protesters opposing the Dakota Access oil pipeline says they will continue efforts to block the project despite being forced from a camp they set up on land owned by the pipeline developer. Cody Hall says protesters likely will set up a new camp to the east, on federally owned land that's also in the path of construction. The main camp of the protesters is on land owned by the Army Corps of Engineers. The agency has taken no steps to evict protesters from that camp, citing free speech reasons. Authorities did evict the protesters from the camp on private land, arresting several in the process. Hall says it won't be so easy to move the protesters off a new camp on the pipeline path if it's on federal land. ___ 6:20 p.m. North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple is pleased with the success of an effort to oust Dakota Access pipeline protesters from private land where they had set up a camp to try to block construction. Dalrymple says the operation that involved 200 law officers and soldiers was "well-handled from start to finish" and resulted in no serious injuries. Authorities launched the operation at midday to oust the protesters, a day after they refused to leave voluntarily from the camp they set up on land owned by the pipeline developer. The protesters were cleared from the camp by late afternoon. Dalrymple says the protesters were given "more than ample time" to move on their own, and that those who didn't leave voluntarily needed to be dealt with "as we have." ___ 5:30 p.m. Authorities say they have ousted Dakota Access pipeline protesters from a camp they had set up on land owned by the pipeline developer. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier says authorities will maintain a presence in the area for the time being to keep protesters off private land and prevent them from blocking a nearby highway. About 200 police and soldiers launched the operation at midday to force out the protesters, a day after they refused to leave voluntarily from the camp. Kirchmeier said late in the afternoon that the camp was secure, though officers were still dealing with some protesters in the surrounding area. Kirchmeier said there had been 16 arrests and that total would increase. ___ 4:50 p.m. The governors of three states crossed by the Dakota Access pipeline are pressing the federal government to allow construction to continue, saying further delay would negatively impact their states and citizens. The Republican executives of Iowa and the Dakotas said in a Tuesday letter to the Army Corps of Engineers that pipeline construction delays will adversely affect landowners and farmers in their states. The Army is reviewing concerns raised by Native American tribes protesting the project. Federal agencies have ordered a temporary halt to construction on Corps land around and underneath Lake Oahe one of six reservoirs on the Missouri. Govs. Jack Dalrymple of North Dakota, Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota and Terry Branstad of Iowa say it's their understanding the project meets the federal requirements necessary to move forward. ___ 4:20 p.m. Authorities trying to force Dakota Access protesters from a camp on private land in the path of pipeline construction are firing bean bags and pepper spray. State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong says officers are responding to "aggressive" tactics by protesters, including some throwing rocks at officers and threatening them. Fong said she wasn't aware of any serious injuries to either officers or protesters. A male protester was seen holding his leg after what an Associated Press reporter described as a loud boom. A protester with a medic bag tended to the man's leg, and he was up and walking a short time later. Fong said she wasn't aware of any serious injuries to either officers or protesters. Fong didn't immediately have details of what happened. ___ 3:50 p.m. Authorities say that once they clear an oil pipeline protest camp on private land it will be up to the company building the pipeline to secure the site going forward. The protesters set up the camp over the weekend on land owned by Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline company trying to complete the project. The erected teepees and tents and brought personal property to the site. State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong says once the protesters are cleared from the site, it will be turned over to pipeline developer since it's the company's property. She says decisions on what to do with the protesters' property will be up to the company. Company spokeswoman Vicki Granado didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. ___ 3 p.m. Authorities have begun arresting some Dakota Access pipeline protesters at a camp the demonstrators set up on private land in the path of pipeline construction. An Associated Press reporter says law enforcement officers formed a horseshoe-like loop around the camp in North Dakota. Several protesters were arrested on the perimeter of the camp as authorities slowly moved in. Police and soldiers launched the operation at midday to oust the protesters, a day after they refused to leave voluntarily. Many of the protesters were openly defying the authorities, yelling at them as they approached. Others were taking part in prayer circles. ___ 2:35 p.m. A woman who's been helping handle security for Dakota Access pipeline protesters says some of them are determined to be arrested while praying. Vanessa Dundon, an Arizona Navajo, says many want to be arrested when authorities arrive to remove them from a camp in the path of the pipeline construction. Officers are converging slowly on the camp from two directions, telling protesters through loudspeakers to leave or they'll be arrested. Many protesters are continuing to defy the authorities, while others are taking part in prayer circles. The effort to oust the protesters from the private land involves dozens of officers in riot gear, many armed with guns and clubs, along with trucks, police cars, military Humvees, buses and aircraft. ___ 2 p.m. Dakota Access pipeline protesters have retreated from a direct confrontation with law enforcement officers and soldiers who are advancing to force them from a camp on private land in the path of pipeline construction. About 200 protesters remain in the area, listening to elders speak, burning sage and praying while law officers approach the camp from two directions. Authorities at mid-day launched an effort to force out the protesters, a day after they refused to leave voluntarily. The operation involves dozens of officers in riot gear, many armed with guns and clubs, along with trucks, police cars, military Humvees, buses and aircraft. Protesters earlier put on the highway near the camp and set a small fire to slow authorities. ___ 12:45 p.m. Authorities have moved in to remove Dakota Access pipeline protesters camped on private land in the path of the pipeline in North Dakota. The operation that commenced at midday involves dozens of officers in riot gear, some of them armed, along with trucks, police cars, military Humvees and buses. At least two helicopters and a fixed-wing airplane monitored the operation from the air. Officials told protesters over a loudspeaker to move out. Protesters parked cars on the highway near the camp and slashed the vehicles' tires to try to slow the authorities. They also set a small fire at one of two blockades they set up on the highway. The forcible removal began a day after protesters refused to leave voluntarily. ___ 12:20 p.m. Authorities say they have begun taking steps to remove Dakota Access pipeline protesters camped on private land in the path of the pipeline in North Dakota. The Morton County Sheriff's office says law enforcement began the operation at 11:15 a.m. local time Thursday, a day after protesters refused to leave voluntarily. About 200 activists supporting the Standing Sioux Tribe moved onto the site last weekend, setting up teepees and tents and saying the land is rightfully theirs under a more than century-old treaty. But the pipeline's developer, Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners, says the protesters are trespassing and demands they leave. The almost-complete $3.8 billion pipeline passes through North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa to Patoka, Illinois. Opponents worry about its negative effect on drinking water, as well as the potential destruction of cultural artifacts More than 260 people have been arrested since demonstrations began in August. ___ 11:15 a.m. Authorities have issued arrest warrants for two Dakota Access pipeline protesters who allegedly were involved in an attack on three journalists covering the months-long protest in south central North Dakota. Authorities say the Oct. 18 attack on the journalists involved protesters taking a reporter's microphone, blocking a vehicle in which the journalists locked themselves, and shaking and hitting the vehicle. Law officers eventually rescued the journalists after they called 911. James White, of Fort Yates, is charged with felony restraint and reckless endangerment, along with fleeing police. Kareen Lewis is charged with felony restraint. Court documents don't list a hometown for him, and documents don't list an attorney for either man. Authorities say they're still trying to identify three other protesters considered "people of interest" in the case. ___ 10:20 a.m. Protesters against the Dakota Access pipeline are gearing up for a confrontation with authorities over a patch of private land on the pipeline route. Protesters constructed two barricades Thursday on a highway near the camp they have established on property owned by the pipeline's developer. They barricades are made of tires, hay bales, logs, plywood and barbed wire. Protesters also are moving from their main camp, which is on federally owned land, to the camp on the private property. Riders on horseback are monitoring the movements of authorities. On Wednesday, authorities gathered in the area with heavy equipment including Humvees and buses and demanded the protesters leave the private land. The protesters refused. Protester Robert Eder says if authorities clear out the camp, "there will be twice as many tomorrow." ___ 6:45 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration is restricting flights over an area of North Dakota where law enforcement and people protesting the construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline are bracing for a confrontation. The restriction went into effect Wednesday and will last until Nov. 5. Authorities say only aircraft affiliated with the North Dakota Tactical Operation Center are allowed within a radius of about 4 miles of Cannon Ball, where the protesters have set up camp. The FAA has also banned drones in the airspace. A months-long dispute over the pipeline reached a crisis point at the weekend when some 200 protesters set up camp on land owned by pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners. On Wednesday, authorities gathered in the area with heavy equipment including Humvees and buses and demanded they leave. The protesters refused. ___ 12:10 a.m. Protesters trying to stop construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline are bracing for a confrontation with police after the demonstrators refused to leave private land in the pipeline's path. A months-long dispute over the four-state, $3.8 billion pipeline reached a crisis point when some 200 protesters set up camp on land owned by pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners. Law enforcement officers demanded that the protesters leave on Wednesday and they refused. It appeared that only thick fog and cloudy skies kept a large contingent of law enforcement officers from moving in. Officials have frequently monitored protesters by air. Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said Wednesday that the rule of law must be enforced. Dakota Access pipeline protesters defy law enforcement officers who are trying to force them from a camp on private land in the path of pipeline construction on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, near Cannon Ball, N.D. The months-long dispute over the four-state, $3.8 billion pipeline reached a crisis point when the protesters set up camp on land owned by pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners. The disputed area is just to the north of a more permanent and larger encampment on federally-owned land where hundreds of protesters have camped for months. (AP Photo/James MacPherson) Dakota Access pipeline protesters confront law enforcement on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, near Cannon Ball, N.D. The months-long dispute over the four-state, $3.8 billion pipeline reached a crisis point when the protesters set up camp on land owned by pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners. The disputed area is just to the north of a more permanent and larger encampment on federally-owned land where hundreds of protesters have camped for months. (Caroline Grueskin/The Bismarck Tribune via AP) Dakota Access oil pipeline protesters burn debris as officers close in to force them from a camp on private land in the path of pipeline construction, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 near Cannon Ball, N.D. Soldiers and law enforcement officers dressed in riot gear began arresting protesters who had set up a camp on private land to block construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline. (AP Photo/James MacPherson) A Dakota Access oil pipeline protester shows where he was hit by a shotgun bean bag round fired by officers trying to force protesters from a camp on private land in the path of pipeline construction, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. near Cannon Ball, N.D. Authorities say protesters threw rocks at officers and threatened them on horseback. Soldiers and law enforcement officers dressed in riot gear began arresting protesters who had set up a camp on private land to block construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline. (AP Photo/James MacPherson) A Dakota Access oil pipeline protester who identified himself only as Smokey shows where he was hit by a shotgun bean bag round fired by officers trying to force protesters from a camp on private land in the path of pipeline construction, on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 near Cannon Ball, N.D. Authorities say protesters threw rocks at officers and threatened them on horseback.Soldiers and law enforcement officers dressed in riot gear began arresting protesters who had set up a camp on private land to block construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline. (AP Photo/James MacPherson) A Dakota Access pipeline protester defies law enforcement officers who are trying to force them from a camp on private land in the path of pipeline construction, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 near Cannon Ball, N.D. Soldiers and law enforcement officers dressed in riot gear began arresting protesters who had set up a camp on private land to block construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline. (AP Photo/James MacPherson) A Dakota Access pipeline protester defies law enforcement officers who are trying to force them from a camp on private land in the path of pipeline construction, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 near Cannon Ball, N.D. Soldiers and law enforcement officers dressed in riot gear began arresting protesters who had set up a camp on private land to block construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline. (AP Photo/James MacPherson) Somalia's al-Shabab in comeback as Ethiopia pulls troops MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) Somalia's Islamic extremists, al-Shabab, appear to be making a comeback, having recently seized four towns and attacked a guesthouse in neighboring Kenya, killing 12. The resurgence of Al-Shabab, which is allied to al-Qaida, could affect Somalia's plans to hold elections next month and further destabilize what is already one of the world's most fragile states. The rebels had steadily lost ground over the past five years, first losing control of the capital, Mogadishu, in 2011 and then being pushed out of virtually all of Somalia's other major cities and towns. This was largely the work of the African Union force of 22,000 soldiers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti, which is supported by the U.N. The relatively weak Somalia army, with 35,000 troops, also participated in the operations. FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011 file photo, hundreds of newly trained al-Shabab fighters perform military exercises in the Lafofe area some 18 km south of Mogadishu, in Somalia. Somalia's Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabab, are making a comeback in 2016, having recently seized four towns and attacked a guesthouse in neighboring Kenya, killing 12. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh, File) Al-Shabab was reduced to roaming around Somalia's vast, arid scrubland and staging deadly suicide bombings in Mogadishu and other centers. In recent months there have been more attacks on hotels, and al-Shabab has directly attacked African Union bases. But this month, Ethiopia which has 2,000 troops in the African Union force and an unknown number operating independently in Somalia pulled its forces out of the towns of Halgan, El-Ali and Mahas in the Hiran region of south-central Somalia. Al-Shabab wasted no time, and within hours its fighters had seized control of the towns and raised their black flags. On Wednesday, Ethiopian troops withdrew from a fourth town, Tiyeglow, in the southwestern Bakool region, and al-Shabab retook it. Al-Shabab's swift seizures of the newly exposed towns are worrying for Somalia, which faces a presidential election in late November. It is not known how many Ethiopian troops have been pulled out of Somalia, but analysts say they were withdrawn in response to Ethiopia's need for troops at home to enforce the state of emergency imposed this month to quell months of anti-government protests. "Returning a large number of troops back home left the Ethiopian army overextended in Somalia, so abandoning some ground in Somalia is inevitable," said Mohamed Sheikh Abdi, a Somali political analyst. Meanwhile, Somalia's civilians are bearing the brunt of the withdrawals, with militants executing suspected government collaborators in each location they recapture, say residents. "They left without informing us, only to find al-Shabab here and killing our elders," a resident told The Associated Press by telephone, on condition of anonymity for security reasons. "We would rather have al-Shabab here than having unpredictable soldiers leaving us in the open." Ethiopia's government spokesman, Getachew Reda, said Ethiopia's recent pullout from certain places in Somalia did not include relocating the country's forces that are part of the multinational African Union mission. "But the troops that we sent to Somalia on our own do not necessarily have to stay there as long as (the African Union mission) does," Getachew said Wednesday. He said the troop pullout is not related to his country's six-month state of emergency, declared on Oct. 8, and he said the troops that were moved from Halgan were transferred to other bases in Somalia. But he urged the international community to step up and "take up the slack from us" in Somalia, saying that "for our forces to remain there indefinitely would be the height of irresponsibility." Somalia and African Union officials were not available for comment on this month's withdrawals. "Ethiopia has more pressing troubles on its hands now, so it cannot focus on outside missions much. The focus should be to avoid the Arab Spring-style violence" at home, said Ahmed Mohamed, a retired Somali military colonel in Mogadishu. Somalia's security forces are supposed to be taking on more responsibility as the African Union force prepares to withdraw by the end of 2020, but this month's attacks indicate that the Somali forces may not be able to hold the gains made by the African Union troops that deprived al-Shabaab of large parts of territory. This week, al-Shabab also attacked a guesthouse in Kenya and killed 12 non-Muslims in Mandera County, near the Somalia border. Al-Shabab's resurgence comes after the extremist group recently splintered, with some former members forming an offshoot allied to the Islamic State group, instead of al-Qaida. The fighters allied to IS this week claimed control of a town in the north, in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, but then withdrew on Wednesday night, according to residents. ___ Associated Press writer Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, contributed. FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 file photo, Ethiopian soldiers patrol in the town of Baidoa in Somalia. In Oct. 2016 Ethiopia - which has 2,000 troops in the African Union force and an unknown number operating independently in Somalia - pulled its forces out of four towns in Somalia and within hours al-Shabab fighters had seized control. Somalia's Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabab, are making a comeback, having recently seized four towns and attacked a guesthouse in neighboring Kenya, killing 12. (AP Photo, File) Slovenia reburies 800 bodies from post-WWII mass grave MARIBOR, Slovenia (AP) Slovenia on Thursday reburied the remains of some 800 people found in a mass grave containing the bodies of thousands believed killed in the aftermath of World War II by the communist authorities. The remains were laid to rest in a memorial park in Maribor, northeastern Slovenia, alongside other victims of post-WWII summary executions. The victims are believed to be mostly Croats and Slovenes from WWII pro-Nazi groups killed by the victorious communists. Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic laid a wreath as part of commemoration ceremonies. Grabar Kitarovic said the victims of communist executions should be treated with dignity. "Historic truth must be established because it presents a basis for a better future," said Grabar Kitarovic. "Each victim deserves respect." The so-called Huda Jama mass grave was discovered in 2009 in an abandoned mine east of Ljubljana. Experts say it contains the remains of up to 5,000 people. Pavel Jamnik, a senior policeman working on the excavations, said most of the 800 victims uncovered so far were soldiers but civilians and women also were found in the pit. "Most of bodies are mummified, but due to enormous number of victims and big pressures in the shaft bodies are torn," Jamnik said. "To see so many bodies at once . that changes you." Authorities are hoping to unearth and rebury the remaining victims from the grave by the end of 2017. There are around 600 mass graves in Slovenia linked to post-WWII executions. Thousands of pro-Nazi collaborators were killed after the German defeat and liberation by anti-fascist, pro-Communist troops. Austrian police seize 47 puppies in car at Hungarian border BERLIN (AP) Austrian police say they have seized 47 puppies found in a car at the Hungarian border. The driver was headed for France, where authorities suspect he planned to pass off the animals as French-born. Police in Burgenland province say they found the puppies in the trunk and back seat of the 33-year-old Romanian's car during a routine check on Wednesday. They did not disclose the breed of the dogs. They said the driver handed officers 24 European Union pet passports, which turned out to contain forged data. A vet determined that the puppies, which were about six weeks old, hadn't been microchipped. Oklahoma officer fatally shoots man during disturbance call BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) Authorities say a police officer in northern Oklahoma fatally shot a man while responding to a domestic disturbance call. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says 36-year-old William Clifford Cole was shot Wednesday after officers arrived to find Cole attacking a woman outside a home in Bartlesville, about 125 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. The OSBI says Cole then attacked the officer who eventually shot him. Cole was pronounced dead at a hospital. The officer's name was not released. The OSBI says both the officer and the woman were taken to a hospital. Bartlesville Police Capt. Jay Hastings has said an officer was treated for wounds to his face. The woman's condition was not released. Senior member of Rwandan rebel group arrested, Congo says KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) The Congolese army has arrested a senior member of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a rebel group that includes members accused of carrying out the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, a military official said Thursday. Col. Habyarimana Mucebo Sofuni, who had been in charge of intelligence for the rebel group known by its French initials, FDLR, was captured in Rutshuru in Congo's North Kivu province, said Guillaume Ndjike, a military spokesman in eastern Congo. Habyarimana is being interrogated over his alleged crimes as part of the rebel group, Ndjike said. More than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered by extremist Hutus in the 1994 genocide. Many of the Rwandan perpetrators fled across the border into Congo and have been blamed for destabilizing the region ever since. Rwandan Justice Minister Johnson Busingye called the arrest of Habyarimana "highly welcome" and said the suspect should be sent to face justice in Rwanda. The minister called the rebels a menace to the region. The presence of FDLR rebels in eastern Congo often has been a cause of friction between Rwanda and Congo. The rebels have been known to carry out deadly attacks inside Rwanda. Arkansas court disqualifies 2nd medical marijuana proposal LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday disqualified a medical marijuana proposal from the ballot less than two weeks before the election and with thousands of votes already cast, but voters will still be able to consider a competing plan. In a 5-2 ruling, the court sided with opponents of the proposed initiated act known as Issue 7 that would have allowed patients with certain medical conditions and a doctor's recommendation to purchase marijuana from dispensaries. The proposal was one of two medical marijuana proposals on the ballot, and justices earlier this month rejected a challenge to a competing measure. The ruling comes after nearly 142,000 people have already cast ballots through early voting, which began Monday in Arkansas for the general election. Justices tossed out more than 12,000 signatures that were approved by election officials for the proposal, saying supporters didn't comply with laws regarding registration and reporting of paid canvassers. The decision left the group nearly 2,500 signatures shy of what was needed to qualify for the ballot. Arkansans for Compassionate Care, the group behind Issue 7, said it would fight the decision but didn't elaborate how since the ruling took effect immediately. The group urged its supporters to vote for both measures anyway. "We will keep fighting, ensure that no patient faces arrest for using a safe and effective medicine, whether that protection comes from Issue 6 or Issue 7," Ryan Denham, the group's deputy director, said in a statement. Two justices disagreed with the opinion, noting that a retired judge assigned by the court to review the petitions had said more than enough valid signatures were submitted. "The people should be permitted to vote on the initiative on November 8, and their votes should be counted," Interim Chief Justice Howard Brill wrote in the dissenting opinion. Both measures called for allowing patients with certain medical conditions to buy the drug, but they differed in their restrictions and regulations. For example, the proposal struck down Thursday would have allowed patients to grow their own marijuana if they didn't live near a dispensary. Arkansans United for Medical Marijuana last week began airing TV ads statewide in favor of its proposal, Issue 6. The head of that group said he believed the ruling would help his proposal. "It eliminates some of the confusion on which one to vote for," David Couch said. "If you want to help sick and dying patients in Arkansas, then you have to vote for (Issue 6)." Arkansas voters narrowly rejected a medical marijuana proposal four years ago despite national groups spending big in favor of legalization. National support for medical marijuana has grown since then, and half of U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized the drug in some fashion. But the medical marijuana push faces more obstacles this year in Arkansas. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who headed the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, has spoken out against the measures. A coalition of the state's most powerful lobbying groups including the state Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas Farm Bureau have been campaigning against them. A Republican lawmaker has said he'll propose legislation next year legalizing a limited strain of the drug for some patients if voters reject legalizing medical marijuana next month. State Surgeon General Greg Bledsoe, a spokesman for the anti-medical pot coalition, said the ruling doesn't change the group's strategy and that he was concerned about the court striking a ballot measure so close to the election. The court earlier rejected separate lawsuits by the coalition against both proposals, but those challenges focused on the proposals' language and not its petitions. "Honestly, at this point in the stage, 12 days before the election, it sounds kind of strange, but I actually kind of wish it would have gone to the voters and let them vote it up or down at this point," Bledsoe said. The state Democratic Party's platform includes general support for legalizing medical marijuana, but the platform is silent on the two ballot measures. The state's Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, former federal prosecutor Conner Eldridge on Thursday announced he supported Issue 6 after the court's ruling. ___ Average US 30-year mortgage rate eases to 3.47 percent WASHINGTON (AP) Long-term U.S. mortgage rates declined this week, moving closer to historically low levels. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday the average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage eased to 3.47 percent from 3.52 percent last week. The benchmark rate is down from 3.76 percent a year ago and close to its all-time low of 3.31 percent in November 2012. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, popular with homeowners who are refinancing, ticked down to 2.78 percent from 2.79 percent. FILE - In this Tuesday, June 9, 2015, file photo, a "Sold" sign is displayed in the yard of a newly-constructed home in the Briar Chapel community in Chapel Hill, N.C. On Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, Freddie Mac reports on the week's average U.S. mortgage rates. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) The low rates have continued to lure buyers into the market. Data issued Thursday by the National Association of Realtors showed that more people signed contracts to buy homes in September, an increase that likely points to rising sales in the closing months of the year. The Realtors' seasonally-adjusted pending home sales index rose 1.5 percent last month to 110. Pending sales contracts are a barometer of future purchases. A sale is typically completed a month or two after a contract is signed. To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country at the beginning of each week. The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. The average fee for a 30-year mortgage rose to 0.6 point from 0.5 point last week. The fee for a 15-year loan was unchanged at 0.5 point. Nigeria pursues $30 billion loans to be spread over 3 years LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) Nigeria's finance ministry says proposed foreign loans of $30 billion for infrastructure and other projects would be spread over three years, meaning Africa's biggest economy would not violate a self-imposed limit for public debt. President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking Parliament's approval to borrow $29.6 billion more than Nigeria's $20 billion budget for projects to help overcome recession in this oil-producing nation. The official News Agency of Nigeria had reported that the Debt Management Office advised the government not to borrow above $22.08 billion dollars in 2017. Finance Ministry spokesman Festus Akanbi clarified Thursday that the loans would be phased over three years and sought from multilateral institutions. Failure on casino expansion could be boon for Atlantic City ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) Casino expansion throughout the Northeast has been blamed for much of Atlantic City's struggles, and New Jersey's first attempt to cash in on those same expansion benefits seems destined to fail. But that failure could mean a win, at least temporarily, for Atlantic City. Many casino and southern New Jersey business leaders fear the resort town could lose up to three of its surviving casinos if in-state competition is authorized in a statewide referendum next month. Atlantic City casino and business leaders held a rally Thursday against the expansion proposal, which is trailing badly in polls thanks partly to more than $11 million spent by interest groups against the referendum. Those groups include casinos and unions in New York and Atlantic City. Organizers arrange rows of T-shirts opposing a referendum on whether to allow two new casinos in northern New Jersey before a rally in Atlantic City, N.J. on Thursday Oct. 27, 2016. The measure is designed to recapture gambling dollars being lost to casinos in neighboring states, but opponents say it could cause three of Atlantic City's seven casinos to shut down.(AP Photo/Wayne Parry) "If they allow this to happen, we will be done down here," said Shari Schugar, a cocktail server at the Tropicana casino. "We get so much of our business from north Jersey." "It would devastate us," added her co-worker Joann Lardizzone, who has served drinks at the Tropicana for 33 years. "So many people came here to find a good job to raise a family. New Jersey should help us, not hurt us." The Nov. 8 referendum comes as Atlantic City's casino industry continues to shrink. In 2006, when the first casino opened in neighboring Pennsylvania, Atlantic City's casinos took in $5.2 billion. By last year, that had fallen to $2.56 billion, and five of the city's 12 casinos have gone out of business since 2014, most recently the Trump Taj Mahal, which closed Oct. 10. Supporters say northern New Jersey casinos are needed to recapture gambling dollars being lost to neighboring states. New gambling houses have been added in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland recently, and Connecticut and New York are considering further expansion. In particular, the northern New Jersey casinos are aimed at heading off a threat from a possible casino in Manhattan. Massachusetts and Rhode Island are considering casino expansion, as well. The referendum doesn't say where the casinos would go, but proposals have been floated for casinos at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, where the NFL's New York Jets and Giants play; Jersey City; and Newark. Some of the tax money raised from the new casinos would go to help compensate Atlantic City for the expected loss of business to in-state competitors. But the tax rate the new casinos would pay and how the money would be allocated have not yet been decided by legislators. The proposal is losing by a 3-to-1 margin in many statewide polls; in southern New Jersey, the margin is more than 9-to-1. Ron Simoncini, executive director of North Stars New Jersey, which supports expansion, says heavy lobbying by opponents including the Malaysian-based Genting Group seeks to protect its existing casino at the Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. The vote-no camp has tied the casino proposal to frustration with state government. A record $20.8 million had been spent by interest groups for and against the referendum as of early October, and officials predicted that total could double by Election Day, making it the costliest ballot question in New Jersey history. "The state will be deprived of economic development at the Meadowlands sports complex, as well as an opportunity to provide needed resources for the recovery of Atlantic City and the revival of our horse racing program," Simoncini said. "It is pathetic that New Jersey's self-esteem has fallen so low as to abrogate our own interests over our frustration with our government." Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian urged hundreds of casino workers at the rally to make sure the referendum is soundly defeated. "What we're talking about is protecting 20,000 families who have someone who works in casino, and another 20,000 families who have someone who sells products or services to the casino industry," he said. ___ Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC Stickers opposing a referendum on whether to allow two new casinos in northern New Jersey sit on a table before a rally in Atlantic City, N.J. on Thursday Oct. 27, 2016. The measure is designed to recapture gambling dollars being lost to casinos in neighboring states, but opponents say it could cause three of Atlantic City's seven casinos to shut down.(AP Photo/Wayne Parry) Joann Lardizzone, a cocktail server at the Tropicana casino, holds signs opposing a referendum on whether to allow two new casinos in northern New Jersey at a rally in Atlantic City, N.J. on Thursday Oct. 27, 2016. The measure is designed to recapture gambling dollars being lost to casinos in neighboring states, but opponents say it could cause three of Atlantic City's seven casinos to shut down. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry) Actress Raven-Symone leaving 'The View' NEW YORK (AP) Actress Raven-Symone is the latest host to leave the daytime chatfest "The View." She announced on the show Thursday that she'll be gone before the end of the year. She's producing and starring in a remake of the sitcom "That's So Raven" for The Disney Channel, where she said her character will now be a single mom of two children, one of whom has "visions." "The View" audience can be forgiven for not getting too attached: Raven-Symone has been on the show since June 2015 and with her Hollywood obligations, has been appearing as little as once a week. FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2015, file photo, Raven-Symone attends the Broadway opening night of "Hamilton" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York. Actress Raven-Symone is the latest host to leave the daytime chatfest "The View." She announced on the show Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, that she'll be gone before the end of the year. She's producing and starring in a remake of the sitcom "That's So Raven" for The Disney Channel, where she said her character will now be a single mom of two children, one of whom has "visions." (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File) Germany arrests Afghan, 19, suspected of Taliban membership BERLIN (AP) German authorities say they have arrested a 19-year-old Afghan man suspected of fighting for the Taliban. Federal prosecutors said in a statement that the suspect, identified only as Wajid S., was arrested on Thursday. They gave no further details, and didn't specify when or how he arrived in Germany. He is suspected of membership in a foreign terrorist association. Prosecutors say that he is believed to have joined the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2013 and was repeatedly involved in fighting. Filmmaker claims self-defense in San Francisco killing SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A San Francisco filmmaker arrested on suspicion of murder earlier this week says an intruder was shot and killed in self-defense. The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/2eQ1dqZ ) Kevin Epps says 45-year-old Marcus Polk intruded in his home and made "serious threats." The newspaper reports 48-year-old Epps was arrested after the Monday shooting. Prosecutors decided Tuesday not to file charges, at least for now, suggesting evidence of self-defense was a consideration. Police have not elaborated on what preceded the killing of Polk, who was homeless and knew Epps. Epps would not describe what happened or confirm if he had pulled the trigger on the advice of his attorney, Mark Webb. Epps is acclaimed for movies about violence and poverty and best known for his film "Straight Outta Hunters Point." ___ Burundi informs UN it is quitting international court UNITED NATIONS (AP) A spokesman says that the U.N. has received a letter from Burundi formally indicating their desire to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. Stephane Dujarric said Thursday that the letter will now go to the legal department to be studied and processed if everything appears to be in order. "Obviously we regret the decision by South Africa and now by Burundi and the one that's reported to have been taken by the Gambia. We have not received any official communications by the Gambia," Dujarric said. Los Angeles firefighters rescue man from deep excavation LOS ANGELES (AP) Firefighters rescued a delivery truck driver Thursday from a deep and narrow hole at a Los Angeles construction site. The 30-year-old man fell up to 50 feet down the 24-inch-diameter hole and landed feet-first on compacted soil, according to Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Urban search and rescue specialists responded along with firefighters when the accident was reported at the residential construction site in the Beverly Crest area of the Santa Monica Mountains. In this still frame from video provided by KTTV Fox11 News, Los Angeles firefighters hoist a delivery truck driver from a deep and narrow hole at a construction site in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. The 30-year-old man fell up to 50 feet down the 24-inch-diameter hole and landed feet-first on compacted soil, according to Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Firefighters pumped fresh air into the hole and lowered a radio to the man, who remained conscious and was able to put on a harness attached to a rope. Firefighters used a fire truck's ladder like the boom of a crane to hoist the man up. (KTTV Fox11 News via AP) Firefighters pumped fresh air into the hole and lowered a radio to the man, who remained conscious and was able to put on a harness attached to a rope. Firefighters used a fire truck's ladder like the boom of a crane to hoist the man. The man had head and face lacerations and was taken to a hospital for examination. Humphrey said the driver had brought steel rebar to the construction site when he apparently stepped on plywood covering several deep holes. Dolphus Morrison, breeder of Rachel Alexandra, dies at 82 COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Dolphus Morrison, a longtime horseman and the breeder of the great filly Rachel Alexandra, has died. He was 82. He died Wednesday at a nursing home and had Alzheimer's, his wife, Ellen, said. Morrison was involved in thoroughbred racing for more than three decades when he and trainer Hal Wiggins struck gold with Rachel Alexandra in 2009. The champion filly, named after a granddaughter of Morrison's, won the Preakness that year and became the face of his breeding program. "He was kind, he was smart, he was generous," breeder and longtime friend Dede McGehee of Heaven Trees Farm told The Blood-Horse, a thoroughbred racing trade publication. "He was a little unorthodox at times, but he was a father figure to me. He was kind to everyone who worked on the farm, he was kind to everyone who worked on the track. He treated everybody with respect." After Wiggins decided to switch jockeys to Calvin Borel, Rachel Alexandra took off on a nine-race winning streak. Rachel Alexandra soared to victory in the Kentucky Oaks by a record 20 1/4 lengths and became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Other victories in 2009 included the Haskell and Woodward, and she was honored as Horse of the Year. This past August she was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. Morrison nearly sold Rachel Alexandra when she didn't display early signs of the champion she would become. She finished sixth in her 2-year-old debut in May 2008 at Churchill Downs and won only two of her first five starts. He and partner Mike Lauffer finally sold her to Stonestreet Stables before the Preakness. Morrison ended his breeding operation in 2012. The Latest: Officer in Montana shooting had 2012 complaint BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) The Latest on the fatal shooting of a Wyoming man by a police officer in the lobby of a hotel in Billings, Montana. (all times local): 4 p.m. A police officer who fatally shot a Wyoming man in a Montana hotel was put on paid leave in 2012 following an internal complaint of excessive force. Investigators work at the scene of an officer-involved shooting at the Days Inn on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, in Billings, Mont. A police officer shot and killed a Wyoming man at the hotel early Thursday, Police Chief Rich St. John said. (Casey Page/The Billings Gazette via AP) Billings Police Captain Kevin Iffland said Thursday that an investigation found the complaint against Officer David Raschkow was unfounded. Raschkow was on leave for roughly three months. Iffland says other previous complaints against Raschkow were found to be legitimate but none involved excessive force. He declined to provide further details on any of the complaints. Authorities say Raschkow shot an unidentified suspect three times in the chest Thursday after 25 minutes of negotiations failed to convince the man to drop a handgun. It was the seventh fatal shooting by law enforcement in Montana's largest city since 2012. Five of the prior victims were determined to be high on methamphetamine. The sixth had just escaped from prison. 12:30 p.m. The police chief of Montana's largest city says an outside law enforcement agency will investigate the fatal police shooting of a man in a hotel office after he turned toward officers with a gun. It was the seventh fatal shooting by law enforcement since 2012 in Billings, which has about 110,000 people. All of the prior shootings were ruled justified. Billings Police Chief Rich St. John says the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office will lead the investigation into Thursday's shooting in the lobby of a Day's Inn hotel. St. John says an outside investigation into the officer's actions was needed given the heightened attention for recent police shootings across the country. Authorities say Officer David Raschkow shot the unidentified suspect three times in the chest after 25 minutes of negotiations failed to convince the suspect to drop his handgun. __ A police officer shot and killed a 32-year-old Wyoming man at a Billings hotel early Thursday. Police Chief Rich St. John says the man was in the hotel clerk's office with a handgun, had refused orders to drop the weapon and was turning to face officers when Officer David Rashkow fired three shots, hitting the man in the chest. No one else was injured. Rashkow was placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. St. John says the clerk called police at about 4 a.m. Thursday to report that an armed man was at the Days Inn making irrational statements. St. John says when officers arrived the man was in the hotel office, where he could see the security camera feeds. The man threatened to start shooting. St. John says efforts to negotiate with the man failed due to his uncooperative and erratic behavior. The man's name and hometown have not been released. Feds: Pooper scooper pretended to be Secret Service agent PITTSBURGH (AP) A man whose company scoops up pet poop has been charged with flashing a fake Secret Service ID and badge during a traffic stop and using it to get the "government rate" for a hotel room. Christopher Diiorio, 53, pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges of conspiracy, using a false badge and a fraudulent official seal. Reserve Township police said Diiorio flashed the ID card after an officer pulled him over for a faulty brake light July 22. The hotel incident occurred a month earlier. Diiorio and his attorney, William Difenderfer, didn't respond to calls or emails. Messages left at Doodle Scoopers, Diiorio's Bethel Park business, also were not returned. A federal indictment alleges Diiorio emailed his photograph and information to "a foreign producer of false identification documents" between March 2014 and June 18, the date he is accused of using the badge at a hotel. The foreign entity which was not identified by name or country then shipped fake Secret Service identification cards to Diiorio, the indictment said. He originally faced state charges of forgery and impersonating a public servant stemming from the traffic stop, but those were dropped when federal authorities took over the case. According to the police complaint, the officer who stopped Diiorio took pictures of both sides of the identification card, which included a hologram, and sent them to a Secret Service agent related to the officer. The agent advised police the ID was fake, and the Secret Service was assigned to investigate. Mosul Today: Iraqi forces find bomb factory, tunnels BAGHDAD (AP) Iraqi special forces probed a network of underground tunnels and uncovered a bomb-making facility on Thursday east of Mosul as their allies battled Islamic State militants in a push toward the city from the south. Here is a look at the main developments on the 11th day of the Mosul Offensive. 'PROCEEDING AS PLANNED' A family grieves over a grave of a family member at a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. When IS overran Qayara more than two years ago, the extremist group began destroying headstones at the local graveyard, telling residents they were forbidden because they did not exist at the time of the prophet. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) Special forces commanders east of Mosul said the operation was proceeding as planned, but that they were waiting for forces in the south to advance further before resuming their push toward the country's second largest city, which fell to IS in 2014. "The operation has not been stopped and is proceeding as planned," special forces Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil said. Iraqi army Maj. Gen. Najim al-Jabori said forces south of Mosul retook the town of Staff al-Tut in the Tigris River valley the day before, and are now 20 miles (35 kilometers) from the city. He said local tribal and militia forces have been deployed to protect the gains while his troops regroup for their next push toward the city. TUNNELS AND BOMBS The special forces continued cleanup operations in the Tob Zawa area, some 5 1/2 miles (9 kilometers) east of the city, which was retaken from the Islamic State group earlier this week. They found a tire shop that had been converted into a factory for making roadside bombs and attaching armor to vehicles. They also found a tunnel equipped with fans and lights that ran from beneath a mosque out to a road. Iraqi forces have found extensive tunneling networks in areas retaken from IS, which the militants used to elude U.S.-led coalition warplanes. IS has also rigged homes and other buildings with explosives to slow the troops' advance. CHEMICAL WEAPON FEARS The U.N.'s public health agency said it has trained 90 Iraqi medics in "mass casualty management," with a special focus on chemical attacks. IS is believed to have crude chemical weapons capabilities, and Iraqi forces say they are prepared to encounter them on the battlefield. The World Health Organization said that of the 700,000 people expected to flee Mosul, some 200,000 will require emergency health services, including more than 90,000 children needing vaccinations and 8,000 pregnant women. The International Organization for Migration says around 9,000 people have fled so far. 'A NEW IRAQI REALITY' The Mosul offensive marks the first time that Iraq's largely autonomous Kurdish region has allowed federal forces to operate in its territory since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. But the two sides remain deeply divided over the boundaries of the Kurdish region and the sharing of the country's oil wealth. Ammar al-Hakim, the Shiite cleric who leads Iraq's largest parliamentary bloc, visited a staging area near Mosul and held a joint press conference with Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, hailing their alliance against IS. "There's no doubt that this great security and military cooperation will be an important beginning and a window to address all the pending issues," al-Hakim said. "The liberation of Mosul will be the beginning of a new Iraqi reality, with more cooperation." Abdel el Razak Talab carries a gravestone at a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. When IS overran Qayara more than two years ago, the extremist group began destroying headstones at the local graveyard, telling residents they were forbidden because they did not exist at the time of the prophet. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) A family grieves over the grave of a family member at a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. When IS overran Qayara more than two years ago, the extremist group began destroying headstones at the local graveyard, telling residents they were forbidden because they did not exist at the time of the prophet. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) A man sits inside a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. When IS overran Qayara more than two years ago, the extremist group began destroying headstones at the local graveyard, telling residents they were forbidden because they did not exist at the time of the prophet. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) A family grieves over a grave of a family member at a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. When IS overran Qayara more than two years ago, the extremist group began destroying headstones at the local graveyard, telling residents they were forbidden because they did not exist at the time of the prophet. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) A woman prays over a grave of a family member at a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. When IS overran Qayara more than two years ago, the extremist group began destroying headstones at the local graveyard, telling residents they were forbidden because they did not exist at the time of the prophet. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) Displaced people walk on a road in the village of Al Hut, some 40 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. The U.N. says it is closely monitoring the Mosul operation and the treatment of internally displaced civilians, or IDPs. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) A family visits a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. When IS overran Qayara more than two years ago, the extremist group began destroying headstones at the local graveyard, telling residents they were forbidden because they did not exist at the time of the prophet. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) A family visits a graveyard damaged by Islamic State extremists in Qayara, some 31 miles, 50 km, south of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. When IS overran Qayara more than two years ago, the extremist group began destroying headstones at the local graveyard, telling residents they were forbidden because they did not exist at the time of the prophet. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) Lawyer says Justice Thomas groped her in 1999; he denies it WASHINGTON (AP) An energy company lawyer said Thursday that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas touched her inappropriately at a 1999 dinner in suburban Washington. Thomas denied the allegation. Lawyer Moira Smith said in a statement that she was 23 when "Justice Thomas touched me inappropriately and without my consent." Smith, now vice president and general counsel of Enstar Natural Gas in Anchorage, Alaska, was then a recent graduate of Georgetown University who was spending the year as a Truman Foundation scholar in Washington. Two of Smith's roommates back then confirmed to The Associated Press that Smith told them what happened just after the dinner. Smith didn't go public until this month. FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2012 file photo, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas speaks at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. Thomas says the Supreme Court confirmation process is an example of how the nations capital is broken in some ways. Thomas reflected Oct. 26, 2016, on his 25 years as a justice, at the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank where his wife once worked. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File) Thomas said the claim is "preposterous" and "it never happened." Smith's story and Thomas' denial were first published by Law.com. Thomas' high court confirmation in 1991 was nearly derailed by Anita Hill's claims that Thomas sexually harassed her. Smith first described the incident publicly on her Facebook page, saying "he groped me while I was setting the table" at a dinner hosted by her boss. Smith said she has since deactivated her Facebook page, but law.com reprinted the posting with its story. Smith said she was moved to share her experience after hearing that Donald Trump had been caught on tape making crude comments about women and then seeing an Internet meme that made light of the situation. Smith said on Facebook that she also had been the victim of date rape and was later groped by an acquaintance in a bar. "As the mother of a young daughter and son, I am coming forward to show that it is important to stand up for yourself and tell the truth. When powerful men commit sexual assault, they count on their victims keeping it a secret," she said in the statement. When Smith returned home from the dinner in June 1999, she recounted what happened to her three roommates, said one of the women, Carrie Farmer. "I can't recall if it was that night or the next morning, but she told us that she went to this dinner and then this awful thing happened," said Farmer, a health policy expert with the Rand Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I don't recall our reaction to it, except I guess we were young and we didn't know what to do with that kind of information." Another roommate, Laura Fink of San Diego, would only say that the account published in law.com was accurate. Fink is a Democratic consultant who made similar claims against former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, for whom she worked when he was running for Congress. In 2013, Filner resigned as mayor amid sexual harassment allegations and eventually was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement on charges related to the claims. Smith's account became public just as Thomas and his supporters were marking his 25th anniversary on the court. The commemorations included an event at the Heritage Foundation Wednesday night, where Thomas was asked whether there is hope for the Supreme Court confirmation process. Carrie Severino, a former Thomas clerk, said the justice treated his clerks with "the utmost respect" and allowed her to defer her clerkship for a year because she was pregnant. Michigan men adopt stray dog, puppies at bachelor party VICKSBURG, Mich. (AP) A group of men from Michigan have returned from a bachelor party in Tennessee with a stray dog and her litter of puppies in tow. Groom-to-be Mitchel Craddock and his friends were on a five-day trip at a cabin in the woods when a stray dog approached their front door, MLive (http://bit.ly/2e1fCSd ) reported. The dog, they named Annie, wolfed down food and water the men gave her. "We were cooking bacon with the door open. The next thing you know, there's this dog sitting right at the front door. She wouldn't come inside, but she sat right there," said Craddock. In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 photo, Annie and Doug Craddock pose for a photo in Vicksburg, Mich. It all started the morning of Craddock's 5-day bachelor getaway, a four-wheeling trip to Tennessee arranged by the Best Man in Mitchel Craddock's Oct. 8 wedding. Friends of Craddock, the bridegroom-to-be, each came home from his bash with a puppy. (Bryan Bennett/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP) Eventually the men noticed that Annie was producing milk, Craddock said. They found her seven puppies in a den down the road from the cabin. The puppies appeared to be 5- to 6-weeks old and were very healthy, Craddock said. "Once we got the puppies out of the hole, we knew we couldn't just leave them, so we started figuring out where they would go," he said. Craddock, who already owned a chocolate Labrador retriever, said he didn't intend to keep any of the puppies for his new household. However, his bride-to-be insisted they keep one. Each of the men took one of the puppies, whom they named Brimmie, Rosie, Daisy, Knox, Gunner, Bear and Finn. Craddock's grandparents took the mother as well as a puppy. ___ Information from: The Grand Rapids Press:MLive.com, http://www.mlive.com In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 photo, Jake Rowe and Knox pose for a photo in Vicksburg, Mich. It all started the morning of Craddock's 5-day bachelor getaway, a four-wheeling trip to Tennessee arranged by the Best Man in Mitchel Craddock's Oct. 8 wedding. Friends of Craddock, the bridegroom-to-be, each came home from his bash with a puppy. (Bryan Bennett/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP) In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 photo, Dexter Jennings and Gunner pose for a photo in Vicksburg, Mich. It all started the morning of Craddock's 5-day bachelor getaway, a four-wheeling trip to Tennessee arranged by the Best Man in Mitchel Craddock's Oct. 8 wedding. Friends of Craddock, the bridegroom-to-be, each came home from his bash with a puppy. (Bryan Bennett/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP) In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 photo, Brent Witters holding Finn pose for a photo in Vicksburg, Mich. It all started the morning of Craddock's 5-day bachelor getaway, a four-wheeling trip to Tennessee arranged by the Best Man in Mitchel Craddock's Oct. 8 wedding. Friends of Craddock, the bridegroom-to-be, each came home from his bash with a puppy. (Bryan Bennett/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP) In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 photo, from left, Jake Rowe holding Knox, Joe Gruber holding Bear, Alex Manchester holding Rosie, Doug Craddock with Annie, Mitchel Craddock holding Brimmie, Brent Witters holding Finn and Dexter Jennings holding Gunner pose for a photo in Vicksburg, Mich. It all started the morning of Mitchel Craddock's 5-day bachelor getaway, a four-wheeling trip to Tennessee arranged by the Best Man in Craddock's Oct. 8 wedding. Friends of Mitchel Craddock, the bridegroom-to-be, each came home from his bash with a puppy. (Bryan Bennett/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP) In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 photo, Alex Manchester and Rosie pose for a photo in Vicksburg, Mich. It all started the morning of Mitchel Craddock's 5-day bachelor getaway, a four-wheeling trip to Tennessee arranged by the Best Man in Craddock's Oct. 8 wedding. Friends of Craddock, the bridegroom-to-be, each came home from his bash with a puppy. (Bryan Bennett/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP) Recorded statements of 2 officers in custody death released BALTIMORE (AP) The videotaped statements of two of the Baltimore officers charged in the death of a young black man whose neck was broken in the back of a police transport wagon have been made public for the first time. WBAL-TV used a Maryland Public Information Act request to obtain the April 17, 2015 statements from the office of Democratic State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. In their voluntary declarations to investigators, Sgt. Alicia White and Officer Garrett Miller recount the events that led to Freddie Gray's death earlier that month, an event that prompted protests, as well as looting and rioting, across Baltimore. Gray's name also became a rallying cry for the growing Black Lives Matter movement, and resulted in the ouster of then-Police Commissioner Anthony Batts. Six officers were charged with Gray's death. Miller and White were charged with assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. White also faced a manslaughter charge. Their cases, as well as one for another officer, were dismissed after three other officers were acquitted. The van driver, Caesar Goodson, is the only officer who did not make a voluntary statement. He faced the most serious charge of second-degree murder. All of the officers except for Goodson have filed civil lawsuits against Mosby for defamation. The statements show that White, a supervisor who saw Gray during the final stops of the 45-minute van ride to the Western District station house, did not believe Gray was in need of medical care. Handcuffed with his legs shackled but unrestrained by a seat belt, Gray was unconscious when the van arrived at the station house. Miller was one of the arresting officers. Prosecutors said Officer William Porter, whose first trial ended in a mistrial, told White, his superior, that Gray asked to go to the hospital at the wagon's second-to-last stop. They argued that White erred when she directed the wagon back to the Western District instead of to a hospital. White said in her statement that Gray "didn't appear like he needed a medic" at that time, and that no officer ever mentioned taking Gray to a hospital. Miller and White said they believed Gray was faking symptoms to avoid going to jail, and nobody used excessive force. "They kind of used the terminology like, 'Oh, he just has jail-itis.' You know, that's all they basically said. You know, like, 'He really didn't want to go to jail,' whatever," White said, adding that he was making "kind of like a little noise or whatever" at the fifth stop at North Avenue. "It was not like he was verbally saying anything. So, I just figured at that point, he didn't want to cooperate," she said. Miller was among the first officers to encounter Gray after Gray ran from Lt. Brian Rice, who was patrolling the area with Miller and Officer Edward Nero on bicycles. Miller told investigators that he put Gray in handcuffs, but when Gray complained that he couldn't breathe he "sat him up." Miller told investigators that he didn't realize Gray had been injured until later when he received a call. USA Today publisher Gannett posts loss as print ads sink MCLEAN, Va. (AP) USA Today publisher Gannett, suffering from the ongoing print-ad declines that have hurt the broader newspaper industry, is cutting jobs as it reported a loss in its latest quarter. The company said it is cutting 2 percent of its staff. Gannett had nearly 19,000 employees at the end of 2015, suggesting more than 300 jobs were lost. Gannett spokeswoman Amber Allman did not reply to a question asking how many employees are losing their jobs. CEO Robert Dickey said on a call with analysts Thursday that layoffs "touched across all areas" of the company and will mean $10 million a year in savings. He said that the company is trying not to cut reporters to keep up the quality of its journalism. FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2014, file photo, specialist Michael Cacace, foreground right, works at the post that handles Gannett on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. USA Today publisher Gannett, suffering from the ongoing print-ad declines that have hurt the broader newspaper industry, is cutting jobs as it reported a loss in its latest quarter, the company announced Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) Aside from USA Today, Gannett owns papers like The Arizona Republic, Cincinnati Enquirer, Detroit Free Press and The Tennessean. It's the country's biggest newspaper company by paid circulation, according to Dirks, Van Essen & Murray, a firm that helps newspapers with merger transactions, and has been buying up more newspapers as a defense against shrinking ad dollars. It has pursued Tronc, the company formerly known as Tribune Publishing, for months. Tronc has rejected public offers from Gannett, but is reportedly considering a higher bid. The company did not comment on that deal Thursday. Dickey said more broadly that Gannett wants to add more local-news properties, but it has to make sure acquisitions make sense for shareholders. In the quarter, other acquisitions in 2016 boosted overall revenue. But the company said that excluding deals and the impact of changing currency values, ad revenue sank 12 percent and circulation revenue fell 6.4 percent. Digital ad revenue alone, excluding acquisitions, did rise 4.4 percent. Print ad sales are still about three times the size of digital ad sales. McLean, Virginia-based Gannett posted a third-quarter loss of $24.2 million, or 21 cents per share, compared with a profit of $39.2 million a year ago. Excluding one-time costs, Gannett said it posted a 6-cent profit on a per-share basis, short of the 17-cent estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research. Revenue rose 10 percent to $772.3 million; Zacks predicted $769 million. Gannett Co. shares tumbled 17 percent to $8.21 Thursday. The stock is down about 43 percent over the past year. _____ Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GCI at http://www.zacks.com/ap/GCI _____ Ex-Bill Clinton aide memo roils wife's campaign over ethics WASHINGTON (AP) A 2011 confidential memo written by a longtime Bill Clinton aide during Hillary Clinton's State Department tenure describes overlap between the former president's business ventures and fundraising for the family's charities. The former aide also described free travel and vacations arranged for the Clintons by corporations, reinforcing ethics concerns about the Democratic presidential nominee. The 13-page memo, by Doug Band, was included in hacked emails from the private account of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta that were released by WikiLeaks. Band, describing the former president's management of "Bill Clinton Inc.," laid out the "unorthodox nature" of how he and other aides navigated between Bill Clinton's dual interests in seeking out speaking and consulting ventures around the world while he raised funds for the Clinton Foundation. In the November 2011 memo, Band described "more than $50 million in for-profit activity we have personally helped to secure for President Clinton to date." FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2016, file photo, former President Bill Clinton campaigns for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, at Washington Park in Cincinnati. A 2011 confidential memo written by a longtime Bill Clinton aide during Hillary Clinton's State Department tenure describes overlap between the former president's business ventures and fundraising for the family's charities. The former aide also described free travel and vacations arranged for the Clintons by corporations, reinforcing ethics concerns about the Democratic presidential nominee. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) The Clinton Foundation has been among the biggest vulnerabilities in Hillary Clinton's campaign for the White House. Clinton calendars and emails released by the State Department showed ongoing coordination among Clinton's top aides and Bill Clinton's top aides at the foundation and his private office. Her critics have accused her of providing favors to foundation donors, though there has been no evidence of this. She frequently met privately with people who had ties to the foundation. Band wrote the memo to lawyers hired by the Clinton Foundation to audit the organization's structure and operations. It did not specifically cite ethics concerns, and in a new statement Thursday Band told The Associated Press that his firm, Teneo, "never received any financial benefit or benefit of any kind" for its work for the Clinton Foundation. Band did not elaborate about what gifts Bill Clinton obtained from his speech and consulting clients, Hillary Clinton met with or spoke to representatives of at least 15 companies and organizations that paid her husband for speaking engagements during her tenure as secretary of state, according to a review of her planning schedules from the State Department. Meanwhile, in hacked emails published Thursday: Months after Hillary Clinton acknowledged she had used a private email server for work messages, a long-time confidante of Podesta lashed out: "Do we actually know who told Hillary she could use a private email? And has that person been drawn and quartered?" asked Neera Tanden, president of the pro-Clinton think tank, the Center for American Progress. Top State Department officials have said no one in the agency provided such permission and they did not become aware until as late as 2014 that she had used a private server to conduct all her government business. Band's memo described how he and Justin Cooper, another long-time Bill Clinton aide, helped the former president and his family obtain gifts of "personal travel, hospitality, vacation" and air travel arrangements. Financial records Hillary Clinton filed between 2009 and 2013 listed speeches and limited business income that Bill Clinton earned during her government service but did not list any travel, vacation or other gifts that Band cited in his memo. Under federal disclosure rules overseen by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, federal officials and office seekers are not required to list gifts provided to a spouse if the gifts are "independent of their relationship to you." Norman Eisen, a Democrat who oversaw ethics matters for the Obama administration and in 2011 was also appointed ambassador to the Czech Republic under Hillary Clinton, said OGE rules did not require Hillary Clinton to divulge any gifts provided to Bill Clinton by his business clients. "There's no there there," Eisen said, adding that he is disturbed that "ethics become weaponized in the course of an election campaign." Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has touted the WikiLeaks releases of Podesta's emails, while the Clinton campaign has repeatedly warned that the releases have exploited emails stolen by hackers working for the Russian government. "Mr. Band called the arrangement 'unorthodox.' The rest of us call it outright corruption," Trump said Thursday. The Clinton campaign did not immediately respond to questions from the AP about the Band memo. It said in a statement, "The Clintons are extremely proud of the work of the foundation that has helped millions of people around the world." Richard Painter, the top ethics official during the administration of President George W. Bush, said he was concerned with Bill Clinton's use of aides who dealt with his private business clients as well as Clinton Foundation donors. In cases Band outlined in the memo, Clinton's speech clients ended up as donors to his family's charity. "The two should not be conflated because the Clinton Foundation cannot be used for the personal enrichment of anybody including the former president," Painter said. At the time he wrote the memo, Band had co-founded Teneo Holdings, a New York-based global consulting firm, and was defending his work for his own firm even as he continued working for Bill Clinton and the foundation. Like the former president, other foundation officials also worked both for the charity and Bill Clinton's private office. Critics have raised concerns about the multiple roles of Clinton aides. Texas officials refute 'vote-flipping' after Trump tweet AUSTIN, Texas (AP) In his latest attempt to cast doubt on the election process, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump raised suspicions Thursday about the voting machines in reliably Republican Texas despite producing no evidence of an actual problem. "A lot of call-ins about vote flipping at the voting booths in Texas. People are not happy. BIG lines. What is going on?" Trump said in a message to his followers on Twitter. An email sent to his campaign to determine where the candidate got his information was not immediately returned. Early voters stand by campaign signage as they wait in line at a voting location, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, in Dallas. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is again raising the possibility of election rigging in a tweet that follows unsubstantiated claims in Texas of voters having their ballots changed.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos, a Republican, said on Facebook that there was no evidence of vote-flipping, a term generally used to describe a correctable technical glitch on older electronic voting machines. Cascos' spokeswoman said he was responding to speculation circulating on social media. "Our office has received reports concerning rumors that some voting machines may be changing candidate selections when voters cast straight party ballots," Cascos said in his statement, which was posted a day before Trump sent his Twitter message. "We are actively monitoring the situation, and have yet to receive any verified reports of machines changing votes." Cascos' spokeswoman added that the reports the office has received have not come from voters who personally experienced a problem. Local election officials have said the machines are not malfunctioning and some voters may be inadvertently making errors. "The machines work exactly as intended. There was no vote-flipping," said Shannon Lackey, the elections administrator of Randall County, in the Texas Panhandle. Vote-flipping generally describes a circumstance in which a voter claims an electronic voting machine usually of the touchscreen variety changed the selection from one candidate to another. Election officials say those claims usually are traced to user error. When they do occur, it is typically during a process called straight-ticket voting that is used to select all candidates from one party. Voters might press the button next to a candidate a second time to affirm their choice, but instead wind up de-selecting the candidate. If voters notice a wrong selection, they can correct it before submitting their ballot. The case cited in Randall County involved straight voting on a machine made by Hart InterCivic that uses a wheel to make selections. In many instances, calibration errors on touchscreen machines the Diebold AccuVote is the most famous for this have led to flipping. The machines simply need to be recalibrated. In Georgia, a voter this week reported trying to cast an early ballot for Clinton but said Trump's name kept showing up instead. A spokesman for Secretary of State Brian Kemp said it appeared the county improperly tested the machine but said its office was confident machines were not flipping votes. Trump has claimed over the final weeks of the presidential campaign that the election is rigged against him and suggested the possibility of widespread voter fraud. The billionaire has provided no evidence supporting those claims. In the meantime, voting rights groups in Texas said there is actual evidence of misinformation at some polling places over a newly weakened voter ID law. Voters who do not have one of seven previously required forms of photo ID can cast a ballot this year by signing an affidavit, but some polling locations put up outdated signs listing the old rules. A hotline set up by voting rights watchdogs has received about 300 calls since early voting started in Texas on Monday, said Zenen Jaimes Perez, a spokesman for the Texas Civil Rights Project. He said some callers said they were mistakenly turned away because they didn't have a photo ID. Perez said the problems do not seem to be an overt attempt to suppress the vote. "I don't think we've seen a trend of intentionally trying to get people out" of line, he said. The stricter ID law was passed in 2011 by the Republican-led state Legislature and was found by a federal appeals court this summer to disproportionately affect minorities and poorer people, who tend to vote Democratic. Texas had enforced the full law in previous elections but was under court order to let voters without a photo ID cast a ballot this time. Trump's suggestion of problems in Texas is all the more unusual because the state is so reliably Republican. While polls show a tighter than normal presidential race, Texas has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Hillary Clinton is not campaigning there. ___ Associated Press writers Frank Bajak in Houston and Kathleen Foody in Atlanta contributed to this report. ___ Follow Paul J. Weber on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pauljweber After voting machine issue, Georgia officials blame testing ATLANTA (AP) A Georgia voting machine apparently malfunctioned as a voter tried to cast an early ballot for Hillary Clinton, but Donald Trump's name kept showing up instead. But election officials say they still have confidence in the state's voting machines. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://on-ajc.com/2fbzNPM ) first reported the account on Thursday. The newspaper says an unnamed Bryan County voter complains that a touch-screen machine incorrectly showed his presidential selection. The voter said he touched the screen to vote for Democrat Clinton, but instead it selected Republican Trump twice. On his third try, the voter said he was able to select Clinton. A spokesman for Secretary of State Brian Kemp says the county improperly tested the machine. "We are confident that machines are not 'flipping' votes," said Kemp Chief of Staff David Dove in a statement. Every county in Georgia began using electronic voting machines in 2002. The process includes a summary screen, giving voters a chance to review selections before submitting a ballot. Merle King, executive director of the Center for Election Systems at Kennesaw State University, said the voter acted appropriately by using the summary screen to check that his selections were accurate. County officials also were right to remove the machine from use, he said. Ballots cast on that machine will be counted with all others after polls close on Nov. 8. Bryan County Elections Supervisor Cindy Reynolds said in a written statement that all machines "were correctly calibrated" and passed required testing. She said county officials don't know what caused "the initial voting issue," but the machine was taken offline as a precaution. "This incident has been the only reported event during the early voting cycle in Bryan County which has seen much higher turnout than previous elections," Reynolds said. "Having your ballot count as you voted is our primary goal and our training, procedures and dedicated staff are all aligned with that goal." King said the center, which certifies all voting machines in Georgia, has received no other reports of problems with the devices this year. Early voting began last Monday, and more than 800,000 people had voted in person as of Thursday morning. Cyberattacks put new focus on search-warrant rule change WASHINGTON (AP) The Justice Department is citing last week's internet outages caused by widespread cyberattacks to support allowing U.S. agents to search online devices in faraway locations with approval from a single judge. Lawmakers on Thursday expressed renewed reservations about a change some see as expanding the FBI's authority to hack devices. An amendment to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which governs search warrants, goes into effect on Dec. 1 unless Congress steps in to stop it. Google and civil liberties groups have argued that the amendment grants the government overly broad powers to hack into computers across the country, with potentially unintended consequences. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., have proposed legislation to stop the amendment from taking effect. On Thursday, 23 lawmakers wrote to Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking how the Justice Department "intends to use its proposed new powers, and the potential consequences to our digital security before these rules go into effect." The amendment is intended to deal with scenarios where certain technology makes it difficult to determine a computer's physical location, or cases when swarms of private computers, known as botnets, are used to coordinate digital attacks against targets. When the computers can't be located physically to be searched, agents could search them remotely by hacking into them and looking for clues. The amendment would allow a judge to issue one warrant for computers or devices in multiple districts at once. Generally judges can issue a warrant for a search only in their district. "Significant botnets operate in every single judicial district in the United States," Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell told The Associated Press. "Absent this amendment we'd have to go through all 94 judicial districts ... to get the judge in each of these districts to sign the exact same search warrant. It would be extremely inefficient and it just doesn't make any sense." Caldwell said last week's cyberattacks were "exhibit A" for the need for the rule change. The attacks on Dyn DNS Co., which helps internet traffic reach its destination, used an army of 100,000 internet-connected devices around the world, such as DVRs and security cameras, to flood Dyn's connections and cause temporary internet outages to sites that included Twitter, Reddit and Spotify. Lawmakers including Wyden; Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah; and Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, said in their letter to Lynch that the Justice Department should explain how it will prevent judge-shopping, what tests it's conducted to guard against unintended consequences of hacking devices and whether the U.S. government would "clean" infected devices. Cybersecurity researchers said botnet attacks are expected to grow because there is little incentive for owners or manufacturers to fix vulnerable devices. Attacks are launched against a third party and the unwitting owner usually doesn't realize their computer is infected and taking part in the attack. The Justice Department said it has always had the power to seek warrants that could impact millions of people as long as it deals with households that fall under a judge's federal district. But now that hackers can commit crimes in multiple districts, department officials said investigators' rapid response could be hampered. Civil liberties advocates said the change would magnify the Justice Department's investigatory powers because of the interconnected nature of the internet and increasingly large number of internet-connected devices. They believe Congress should weigh in on these questions before a new rule is in place. "The big policy question going forward is, what do we want the government to do? When the government knows about many thousands of hijacked computers all around the world, what best practices should guide its response?" said Orin Kerr, a law professor at George Washington University, who called for congressional hearings to discuss such policy questions. Kerr was involved in the amendment process, and he ultimately voted in favor of the rule change. ___ 4 men arrested in theft of $1 million worth of water heaters CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) Four men have been arrested in the theft of $1 million worth of tankless water heaters from a western Michigan warehouse. The Kent County sheriff's office says Thursday that the thefts started several months ago in Cascade Township, near Grand Rapids. On Saturday, deputies stopped two vehicles leaving the warehouse with Bradford White water heaters valued at more than $100,000. Other Bradford White water heaters valued at more than $750,000 were later recovered. They were being sold by word-of-mouth and over the internet. Some models retail for more than $1,500 each. Authorities say a former employee had been using a key to gain access to the warehouse. Fishing managers to meet with industry on lobster plan BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) Fishing managers will reach out to the members of the fishing industry before seeking public comment on a proposal to rebuild the southern New England lobster population, an interstate panel decided on Thursday. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission determined it was best to take the additional step before possibly releasing the plan to the public in February. The commission has been working on fishing management measures to preserve the lobsters. Scientists have said southern New England lobsters are in decline while the species is thriving off the coast of Maine. They have cited factors such as warmer temperatures in some ocean waters. Lobsters remain readily available to consumers in New England and elsewhere despite the drop. Management measures detailed in the proposal include strategies such as seasonal closures, reducing the number of lobster traps and changes to the minimum and maximum harvesting sizes of lobsters. How significant the changes will be would be determined at a later date. Mexico chief state judge takes leave; ran over woman in 1984 MEXICO CITY (AP) Apparently background checks didn't impede a man convicted of a form of manslaughter from becoming the chief justice of the western Mexico state of Jalisco. Chief magistrate Luis Carlos Vega took a leave of absence Thursday after the newspaper Reforma published a June 1984 newspaper clipping saying Vega ran over a woman and killed her while driving a stolen car. Vega called the death an "unfortunate incident from my youth" in a letter posted by the Jalisco Supreme court. He said he was convicted of a charge equivalent to recklessly causing death, injury and damages. Such convictions were often punished by reparation payments, which Vega said he made. He did not mention the alleged car theft. Wyoming authorities plan to search landfill for baby's body CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) Wyoming law enforcement officials are planning to search a northern Colorado landfill for the body of a 13-month-old Cheyenne boy who's been missing since Saturday, authorities say. Capt. Linda Gesell of the Laramie County Sheriff's Office said Thursday investigators interviewed someone at the boy's home in the early morning hours Thursday who confirmed the boy was dead. Gesell said the person told investigators they had dumped the boy's body into a trash container at a local community college. Gesell said investigators regard the case as a homicide and have been interviewing people throughout the day. She said no criminal charges have been filed yet. Investigators worked with a sanitation company to determine that trash from the container is taken to a landfill in Ault, Colorado, Gesell said. "The latest is we're still trying to work out logistics of us being able to get into the landfill to conduct searches," Gesell said. She said her agency has reached out to other agencies to muster a large number of people for the search. "We've determined where the three trucks from Cheyenne have dumped, and it happened to be somewhat of a new area in the landfill," Gesell said. "So we've narrowed down a fairly smaller area where we're hoping and thinking that this child might be located." Stranded Jungle migrants being housed in camp's church, says charity Around 70 people facing a second night of sleeping rough around the Calais "Jungle" are being allowed into the camp's church and school, according to a charity. Volunteers from Help Refugees said they are taking blankets and food to the stranded group - perhaps half of whom are children - as temperatures turn colder at night. Home Secretary Amber Rudd has reminded French authorities of their duty to "properly protect" children, amid reports that youngsters were forced to sleep rough around the smouldering remains of the camp. Migrant children on the roadside at the 'Jungle' camp in Calais (Liz Clegg/PA Wire) Charities also claimed several young people had been taken away by police on Thursday morning. It is unclear whether the children were arrested, but volunteers said they had not seen them since. It comes after French officials declared the clearance complete, with the site evacuated of 5,596 people since the operation began on Monday. Dozens of unaccompanied children were exposed to "serious amounts of danger" in the process, a spokeswoman for Save the Children said, leading many to flee or exposing them to the risk of people smugglers. A Home Office spokesman said: "The Home Secretary has today spoken again with her French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve to stress the need for children who remain in Calais to be properly protected. "Any child either eligible or not in the secure area of the camp should be cared for and safeguarded by the French authorities. We understand specialist facilities have been made available elsewhere in France to ensure this happens." A total of 234 minors have been resettled to the UK since October 17, the French ministries of housing and the interior said. Pascal Brice, head of the Office for Refugees and Stateless People, said on Wednesday that everybody leaving the camp had been registered at the processing centre on the edge of the site. Labour pledges to update national curriculum to reflect LGBT issues A gay history month in schools could be brought in as part of changes to the national curriculum aimed at presenting a more positive image of homosexual men and lesbians to pupils, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said. Mr Corbyn pledged that a future Labour government would "actively update" the national curriculum to reflect LGBT historical figures, and the fight for gay rights. The Labour leader also said that if elected prime minister he would issue a formal apology to all gay men who were convicted under restrictive sex laws which have now been abolished, as he does not believe the proposed pardons go far enough. Jeremy Corbyn suggested schools could hold a gay history month similar to celebrations of black culture Mr Corbyn insisted children should be taught about the persecution of figures like Oscar Wilde, and Enigma code breaker Alan Turing, not just their successes. Asked if schools would have a gay history month modelled on Black History Month, Mr Corbyn told the Press Association: "There could be that, or there could be part of the core curriculum to understand the change in law, the way in which we have changed homosexual law from the illegality of homosexual acts until the 1960's, when the original homosexual law reform came in. Then through to the period when same sex marriage was agreed by Parliament two years ago. "I want it to become part of the norm of discussion in schools, so discussing it in literature, discussing it in history, so that we don't treat it as separate. "To say, 'well look, Oscar Wilde was a gay man, Oscar Wilde wrote great poetry, great literature, and suffered the most appalling treatment'. As did Alan Turing, who was chemically castrated, which is unbelievable in this day and age. "So, bring forward those figures as the heroes they were of the time, and help to bring forward an atmosphere of people respecting each others sexuality." Asked if the proposals could provoke criticism in some quarters, Mr Corbyn said: "It might well, but then I do remember a time when there was great controversy over all kinds of legislation that has now become the norm in our lives." Mr Corbyn used a speech at the PinkNews awards to push his policy of changing the school curriculum to better reflect gay issues. "Let's get a new generation to rejoice at the huge contribution LGBT people have made throughout history," he said. Mr Corbyn said gay rights group Stonewall was correct to call for an apology to men convicted under outdated sex laws. "I agree with Stonewall on this, the pardon is important from the legal point of view, but I think the apology has to be given. I think an apology is well in order." 'Most wanted' alleged drugs baron hands himself in complaining of 'pressure' A suspected drug dealer from Liverpool has handed himself in, complaining that the "pressure of being on the run had got too much for him" after he was named in a Most Wanted list of on-the-run criminals. Robert Gerrard, 53, made arrangements through his solicitor to meet National Crime Agency (NCA) officers at Central Park Police Station in Manchester. He was arrested and charged with conspiracy to import cocaine in a 60 million drugs plot. Robert Gerrard, a suspected drug dealer from Liverpool, who has handed himself complaining that the "pressure of being on the run had got too much for him" after he was named in a Most Wanted list of on-the-run criminals Gerrard is the third Most Wanted fugitive arrested in less than a week after suspected paedophile Matthew Sammon and convicted rapist Mohammed Alam, 33, were both captured in Spain in recent days. Gerrard's mugshot featured in Operation Return, a campaign to capture some of Britain's most wanted criminals on the run in the Netherlands. The NCA appealed for help to find him following a raid in October 2013 on a Rotterdam cafe used as a front for a global operations centre for international drug traffickers. Cafe de Ketel, which could only be entered via a buzzer system and was strictly for known faces, provided a meeting place where criminals negotiated with cartel members and arranged the financing and transportation of drugs. NCA officers believe Gerrard, who could not be located at the time of the raid, used the cafe as part of a plot to import large quantities of cocaine into the UK. Greg McKenna, regional head of investigations for the NCA, said: "Robert Gerrard handing himself in shows the impact we are having with our Most Wanted campaigns. Three arrests in under a week is a tremendous result. "We don't know at this stage how long Gerrard has been back in the UK for, but he told our officers that the pressure of being on the run had got too much for him. "The fugitives on our Most Wanted list really do have nowhere to hide. I would urge any of the remaining ones to take note - save yourself the trouble and hand yourself in because we will never stop hunting you and you will face justice." As part of Operation Return, Gerrard's picture appeared in the news both at home and overseas in 2014. Since the appeal, officers from the NCA had been pursuing him with the help of the Dutch National Police, following up numerous leads on locations in the Netherlands and the UK where he was thought to be hiding. Roger Critchell, director of operations for Crimestoppers, said: "The fact Robert Gerrard handed himself in to police is again an indication that when the pressure mounts, hiding places become harder to find. "This is a great result as it follows two fugitive arrests in the last week from our sister campaign targeting those on the run in Spain. These campaigns really do work." Equalities minister voices Government concerns about Sharia courts' powers Women and Equalities Minister Justine Greening has said the Government is taking concerns around Sharia courts "extremely seriously" amid fresh calls to abolish them. Ms Greening did not rule out supporting legislation curtailing the powers of Sharia courts, also known as councils, which settle disputes using Islamic religious law. The Government launched an independent review into the application of Sharia law earlier this year, while Baroness Cox has brought a Bill through the Lords which could seriously limit the power of the dozens currently operating across the UK. Justine Greening has not ruled out backing legislation curtailing Sharia courts' powers Speaking during questions to the Minister for Women and Equalities, Tory backbencher Philip Davies (Shipley) urged the Government to support Baroness Cox's Bill. In response, Ms Greening said: "I want to assure him that I believe the issue he's raised is one of the utmost importance. "We know that there are concerns about Sharia councils, including those that have been raised by Baroness Cox's Bill as he says, and we take those concerns extremely seriously. "The Government will respond to that Bill at the second reading, and will continue to consider the issue in light of findings from the independent Sharia review, which he will be aware was launched in May by the previous home secretary, now the Prime Minister." The independent review is set to complete in 2017, while Baroness Cox's Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill is awaiting its second reading in the Commons. Mr Davies said: "Baroness Cox has long campaigned in the Lords for Sharia councils to be abolished, largely because of the unfair way many women are treated by them. Andy Murray comes from behind to beat Gilles Simon in Vienna Top seed Andy Murray moved into the Erste Bank Open quarter-finals on Thursday as he came from behind to defeat France's Gilles Simon in Vienna. The Briton bounced back from losing the the first set to register a 4-6 6-2 6-2 victory in just over two hours and 40 minutes, and will now face American John Isner in the last eight. Murray will make it three tournament triumphs this month, following on from the China Open and Shanghai Masters, should he win the Vienna title. Andy Murray, pictured, beat Gilles Simon 4-6 6-2 6-2 in Vienna And if he can keep in form, he could still move up a place and be world number one for the first time in his career before the end of the year, such is the points situation between him and Novak Djokovic, who is not playing this week. The Wimbledon and Olympic champion looked in trouble in the first set as world number 24 Simon responded to being broken in the opening game by winning the next four in a row, with a third break then sealing the set. But Murray then dug deep to claim a second set that saw him win each of the last four games. A drug that targets the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis slows irreversible lung damage by more than 40 per cent, scientists have found. It was tested for long-term effectiveness for more than two years in 1,000 trials patients, both children and adults. Marketed as Orkambi, the drug reduced the rate of lung decline by 42 per cent and caused a 35 per cent drop in the number of serious infections. Death rates were also found to be halved by patients taking the medication. But NICE has recommended that the drug shouldn't be offered free to sufferers of the lung disease. A drug that targets the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis slows irreversible lung damage by more than 40 per cent, scientists have found Professor Stuart Elborn, from the Royal Brompton Hospital, London, who treated a number of the patients, said: 'Long-term follow-up data has indicated that this treatment can prevent disease progression. 'Initially, we were able to show that you can make people a bit better. Now we're seeing exciting and reassuring long-term improvement.' He hoped the new results would tip the balance towards making the treatment more cost-effective. 'There are likely to be reductions in the cost of hospital visits and other treatments,' he added. Another drug, Kalydeco, used to treat a different and much less common strain of cystic fibrosis, was also found to halve death rates. In addition, so-called 'real world' data on this drug, showed it roughly halved the number of UK patients having to receive lung transplants. Both Kalydeco and Orkambi contain molecules that alter the balance of salt and water in the lungs. The latter is a combination of two molecules, ivacaftor and lumacaftor. But Kalydeco only contains ivacaftor. Marketed as Orkambi, the drug reduced the rate of lung decline by 42 per cent and caused a 35 per cent drop in the number of serious infections A NICE spokesperson said: 'NICE published guidance in July which did not recommend Orkambi to treat cystic fibrosis. 'Based on the evidence available at the time, a NICE appraisal committee concluded that compared to the current standard of care, the benefit Orkambi offered did not justify its considerable cost. 'If significant new evidence that is likely to change our recommendations becomes available then our guidance can be reviewed.' Professor Elborn said such treatments were needed while scientists searched for more permanent solutions to managing the condition. Initially, we were able to show that you can make people a bit better. Now we're seeing exciting and reassuring long-term improvement. Professor Stuart Elborn, from the Royal Brompton Hospital, London One route actively being explored is gene therapy designed to fix the underlying genetic fault that causes the disease. A new experimental treatment called QR-010 delivers a snippet of error-correcting genetic material via a nasal inhaler. Newly reported results from a study of seven patients has produced evidence that the nasal spray is able to modify activity of the target gene. 'Progress in gene therapy is encouraging, but for the medium-term, drug treatment is the best way to go,' Professor Elborn added. About 10,500 people in the UK have CF, a genetic condition which affects one in every 2,500 babies born. The condition clogs the lungs up with thick, sticky mucus, leading to repeated infections and ultimately shortening life. Sonia Rykiel cuts a quarter of staff, ends Sonia by Sonia line PARIS, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Sonia Rykiel is axing nearly a quarter of its staff and shutting down its Sonia by Sonia Rykiel line, hit by a drop in tourist spending in Europe and lower demand from Russia, the fashion brand said on Wednesday. The company, known for its tongue-in-cheek style and brightly striped sweater dresses, said it would cut 79 positions out of 330, recentre its activities on its original Sonia Rykiel line and introduce more accessibly priced products. "Refocusing the business's resources on the main collection will strengthen its distribution and enable the organisation to adapt to the challenges of tomorrow," the company said in a statement. Sonia Rykiel's move echoes comments this week by Hugo Boss , which is planning to ditch efforts to move the brand upmarket and widen its offering of more accessible products. In 2012, the Rykiel family sold an 80 percent stake to Fung Brands, an investment company backed by Hong Kong billionaires Victor and William Fung. Now called First Heritage Brands, the holding company bought the balance from the Rykiel family earlier this year. It also controls Belgian leather goods firm Delvaux and French shoe brand Robert Clergerie. Trafigura executive arrested at Brazil airport in graft probe -sources SAO PAULO, Oct 26 (Reuters) - A London-based executive at Dutch trading company Trafigura Beheer BV was detained at an airport in Brazil as part of a corruption investigation into state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA , two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. According to one of the sources, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, the executive Mariano Marcondes Ferraz was cited in a 2014 plea deal by Petrobras director Paulo Roberto Costa in connection with a bribery allegation. Representatives for Trafigura and the federal judge overseeing the long-running Petrobras probe did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trafigura executive arrested at Brazil airport in graft probe -sources SAO PAULO, Oct 26 (Reuters) - A London-based executive at Dutch trading company Trafigura Beheer BV was detained at an airport in Brazil as part of a corruption investigation into state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA , two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. According to one of the sources, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, the executive Mariano Marcondes Ferraz was cited in a 2014 plea deal by Petrobras director Paulo Roberto Costa in connection with a bribery allegation. Representatives for the federal judge overseeing the long-running Petrobras probe did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "The company is following the case and in search of more information regarding the episode," a press representative for Trafigura Beheer said in a statement on Wednesday. A delusional British banker dangled off the 31st floor balcony of his Hong Kong flat during a 20,000 cocaine binge before killing a second prostitute, a court heard. Rurik Jutting said he took huge quantities of the drug before clambering on to the balcony of the apartment in the Wan Chai district with some vodka and an energy drink - fearing special forces were in his home. After struggling to cut the throat of one of his Indonesian victims, he then shouted at passers-by down below and waved a knife at them. The court heard how the 31-year-old then called police to end his nightmarish descent in to torture and killing. In one police video played to the court, Jutting said that before he killed his second victim 'I took as much cocaine as I would take in one or two days in the space of about an hour'. Scroll down for video British banker Rurik Jutting, 31, pictured in 2014, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of two Indonesian sex workers Rurik Jutting (shown in a court drawing) said he took huge quantities of cocaine before clambering on to the balcony of the apartment in the Wan Chai district with some vodka and an energy drink - fearing special forces were in his home Jurors viewed harrowing iPhone footage showing his attacks on Sumarti Ningsih (pictured), whose body was later found dead in a suitcase in his Hong Kong flat Officers discovered Ms Mujiasih's naked body with knife wounds to her legs and buttocks He added: 'I climbed onto the balcony with some vodka and some Red Bull and was hanging off in case they came for me so I could jump. 'I thought the police were inside the room and were going to arrest me.' Jutting blew more than 20,000 on cocaine in three weeks before he killed two prostitutes, the court heard. The banker admitted in police interviews following his arrest that he was spending 1,000 a day on the drug in the run up to the slayings in Hong Kong. He said a drug dealer called Marvin delivered the substance to him daily at his flat near the red light district in Wan Chai, where he killed two Indonesian vice girls. Cambridge graduate Jutting admitted the extent of drug abuse in a police video shown to his murder trial in Hong Kong. The filmed interviews were shown as the prosecution finished its case and Jutting's barrister, Tim Owen QC, revealed the defendant would not be giving evidence Instead the defence will be calling two medial witnesses - a psychiatrist and a doctor from the UK - as part of their case. The defence is due to start on Monday. THE TWISTED 'CONFESSIONS' OF BANKER RURIK JUTTING In a series of videos and police interviews, Rurik Jutting revealed how he tortured and killed two women in his Hong Kong flat. Here are some of the twisted 'confessions' he made: 'I just killed someone, first person I ever killed, I cut her throat in the bathroom ... to be precise I cut her throat while she was bending over licking dirty toilet bowl.' 'I treated her as a non person, a sex object. And that turned me on.' 'She died here alone. She died after being tortured and raped and just mentally brutalised. Threats of death and mutilation. I have never seen anyone so scared.' 'She would voluntarily eat faeces out of the toilet and then smile. That is how scared she was. She just did anything.' 'Do you want me to hit you? If you say 'Yes', I hit you once. If you say 'No' I hit you twice'. If you scream I will punch you, you understand?' In a series of videos and police interviews, Rurik Jutting revealed how he tortured and killed two women in his Hong Kong flat. Armed police are pictured outside the court in Hong Kong 'Its better than being beaten isn't it? Do not cry, take it like a good girl.' 'This doesn't really hurt does it? You deserve some water don't you? Just one more before some water.' 'Killing her may have been kindness, living with that would have haunted her.' 'At the moment I am supposed to feel pretty disgusted and pretty bad but at the moment I am feeling hungry. That is not the mind of a sane person.' 'Initially I felt disgusted but now I feel more positive than negative.' 'I knew before I killed her that I was planning to restrain her and keep her captive and be more rough. I was not planning to torture her. I was planning to tie her up and be more rough.' 'Actually she was a really, really nice person, lovely.' 'It's Monday night. I've held her captive since early Saturday, I've raped her repeatedly, I tortured her, tortured her badly.' 'Although not feeling guilty, I feel sick. Body has a soul, but the mind has not.' 'I genuinely feel sexually happy after the event, (even) when not under the influence of alcohol.' 'I have killed two. The first one I tortured. There will be no redemption. But they are dancing on (sic) Angels.' A Hong Kong Correctional Services van carrying double murder suspect Rurik George Caton Jutting leaves the High Court in Hong Kong 'Newly unemployed, soon to be unemployed, part time rapist and murderer,' (after musing over future plans to kidnap, torture and rape young girls). 'They would be, say, 15 years old and I would basically turn these three girls into my sex slaves, it would be good to psychologically play them off against each other.' (on plans to abduct three pupils from 36,000-a-year Wycombe Abbey girls' school in Buckinghamshire). 'I would like to be clear here - to kidnap and keep captive and torture and rape young girls - under 18 and over 13. A variety. Different kinds. Build up experience.' Reveals aim to 'push the boundaries of complete and utter abnormality.' 'I've always had dark fantasies.' 'Some people may see this as the narcissistic ramblings of a torturer and murderer. I hope someone, somewhere finds this (video) vaguely useful to understand basic abnormality.' 'When I am high on coke, I have a propensity to do stupid stuff.'. 'I didn't know I would go as far as I did. I killed someone. Jesus.' 'One of the triggers (for killing his victim) was when I made her shave her eyebrows. That made her less like an attractive hooker and more like a thing.' 'How the f*** does a single man with no dependants spend more than a million dollars in two years? The answer is drugs and prostitutes.' 'Mum and dad, don't blame yourself... There is nothing you could have done. Regular phone calls would not have changed who I am.' 'Essentially from Friday to Monday I would phone up and take large amounts of cocaine, getting high and drinking. Visiting sex workers or them visiting me.' '(Killing Miss Ningsih) had awoken something I didn't think existed but once it was awoken I knew there would be more.' 'She was unlucky to be the person in my flat when I realised that physically hurting someone when under cocaine was something I gained satisfaction from.' Advertisement In police video interviews shown on the fourth day of the murder trial, Jutting calmly detailed his last moments before police arrived - and how he brandished a knife at people walking below. 'When I decided to surrender, I dropped my knife,' the Cambridge University, former investment banker said, describing how he barricaded himself into his bedroom and called police. He also dropped and smashed a bottle of vodka. The court viewed video footage of police interviews with Jutting as he talks through photos of Ningsih taken by him on his iPhone. When shown the pictures by police he carefully described their content. 'She is currently tied up by me... she is being restrained here against her will. She absolutely did not consent,' Jutting told officers when asked about one of the photos. He adds: 'This photo was taken during around three days that she was captive against her will in my flat.' Jutting told police in the interview that he was 'in a state of extreme sexual aggression' during that time. In other clips from the police interviews in which he is describing photos from his iPhone, Jutting says the images showed Ningsih bound and gagged, and she had marks on her body from being beaten with a belt by him. When shown a photo of his bloodstained bathroom he described to police in the video how he cut her throat there, tied her body with a rope, then wrapped her in a plastic bag, a bed sheet and a throw before putting her in a suitcase. Jutting told police interviewers that after he attacked his second victim, Mujiasih, he collapsed 'physically exhausted'. Jurors were shown iPhone footage of Rurik Jutting (pictured) taken by him during and after he killed two Indonesian women in his luxury Hong Kong flat 'She was I think still alive and still moving. I collapsed outside on the balcony. When I went back in she wasn't moving. I didn't specifically check whether she was dead or alive,' he said in the interview. Jutting said he had considered jumping from the balcony and at one point he climbed over to a neighbour's balcony, waving a kitchen knife and carrying vodka, cocaine and Red Bull. Jutting then went back inside where he rang police. Dressed in a light blue shirt, Jutting, 31, sometimes shut his eyes and tilted his head upwards when confronted with the video evidence on Thursday. Jutting has admitted killing Sumarti Ningsih, a 23-year-old single mother, and another Indonesian woman, Seneng Mujiasih, 26 after six weeks of rapidly escalating cocaine usage. But he has pleaded not guilty to murder on grounds of diminished responsibility, while pleading guilty to the lesser crime of manslaughter. Jutting was charged with the murders of Sumarti Ningsih (left) and Seneng Mujiasih (right), whose bodies were found in his upmarket apartment near Hong Kong's red-light district After surrendering, Jutting gave police his phone, which contained photographs of both victims as well as four hours of video footage. 'I told them there's evidence in there,' he said during the police interview. The jury was earlier shown footage that Jutting filmed himself during the sexual torture and killing of Ningsih, capturing his taunts and boasts as well as his remorse. A toxicologist, called as an expert witness by the prosecution on Wednesday, described the quantities of cocaine consumed by Jutting during a six-week binge as unbelievably high. Murder carries a mandatory life sentence in Hong Kong, while manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of life. The High Court trial is due to continue next week. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) published a groundless report on Aug. 29 claiming that Australian company Austrade "suffered significant cyber infiltrations in the past five years by hackers based in China." Parts of the Australian media have recently stirred up an inexplicable Sinophobia to drag China into the latest battle of words with neighboring countries, following the China-Japan tension over the East China Sea, China-South Korea difficulties over the THAAD deployment, and the open debate regarding the South China Sea between the Chinese media, the Global Times, and the Singapore Embassy in China. Sinophobia is among the growing pains China is suffering during its rise, and the only solution lies in accelerating its own development. This wave of anti-China sentiment started when the state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) published a groundless report on Aug. 29 claiming that Australian company Austrade "suffered significant cyber infiltrations in the past five years by hackers based in China." The well-known business periodical Australian Financial Review closely followed suit. It published 11 articles in September alone to propagate a "China threat" theory and inflame the Sinophobe wave. In one of the articles, it bluntly said that the Australian intelligence agency, which has been collaborating with the CIA, did not trust the current Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull due to his business relations with China and his pro-China remarks. It was the Sydney Morning Herald that pushed the sentiment to a climax. Quoting China's national hygiene drive called the "Four Pests (rats, flies, mosquitoes and sparrows) Campaign." The paper said that a "'Four Pests Campaign' of our own is required to defend against agents of foreign influence," including to be vigilant "against foreign manipulation of its democracy." In a highly racist and politically biased tone, the article labeled the "politicians compromised by China's embrace" as "rats," "unwitting paid-mouthpieces for the interests of the Chinese regime" as "flies," the business people "so captivated by their financial interests that they demand Australia assume the kowtow position" as "mosquitoes" as well as comparing the "front organizations, apparently innocuous friendship societies or NGOs, set up specifically to spread Beijing's influence" as "sparrows." The article demanded the Australian government remove the influence of these organizations and personnel. The extreme remarks stirred strong opposition in Australia. Some scholars stood up to criticize it as "political persecution and liquidation." The recent Sinophobia in some sections of the Australian media is a reflection that Australia, among other countries that neighbor China, is stuck in a strategic misunderstanding about China's rise. It is an apparent effect of the U.S.' East Asia-Pacific Rebalancing Strategy. If it is fair to say that Barack Obama was logical and sincere in his China policy during his first term as the U.S. president, his second term was characterized by indecisiveness between cooperating with, or containing China. Therefore, Asian countries were left guessing about Obama's ideas and subsequently formulated their own China policies. In particular, the narrow-minded Japanese government directly interpreted "rebalancing" as "containing China," and hence became willing to be the pawn. Sinophobia in the Australian media also reflected the concern shared by conservative political groups in Australia over the country's enhanced political and economic ties with China. Deeming Australia as a "democratic power," these groups find it difficult to accept the rise of China, which represents a totally different political system. Noticeably, these voices - although difficult to accept - does not represent the mainstream Australian media, and the outbreak of Sinophobia cannot hinder the continuous advancement of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. Just as the United States cannot contain China forever, Sinophobia is just one of "growing pains" China will suffer during its rise. The only solution lies in accelerating its own development and to build the "community of shared future," to let the world share the dividends of China's rise. Only through this way can China respond, give the so-called Sinophobia a self-defeating result, and silence those who incite Sinophobia. The author is a vice research fellow at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations. The article was translated by Chen Boyuan. Its original unabridged version was published in Chinese . Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Romania - Factors to watch on Oct. 27 Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Thursday. DEBT TENDER Romanian debt managers tender 600 million lei ($145.49 million) worth of Feb. 2019 treasury bonds. CEE MARKETS The Czech two-year government bond yield dropped further into the negative on Wednesday, trading well below safe-haven Bund yields. GERMAN FINMIN Romania has one of the most dinamic growth rates in the European Union, which is remarcable, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in Bucharest on Wednesday. But it should not put its current public debt levels of below 40 percent of GDP at risk. He also said that Britain must make observe all the rules of the EU's single market if they want to be a part of it. M&A Romania's mergers and acquisitions market recorded a fall of almost 50 percent in the first half of the year to $1.1 billion, a study by Ernst&Young showed. Romania ranked fifth among central and Shoutheastern European countries, with 56 transactions. EU FUNDS MINISTER Romanian European Funds Minister Cristian Ghinea resigned his post on Wednesday to run in the Dec. 11 parliamentary election on the lists of the newly formed Save Romania Party (USR). For the long-term Romanian diary, click on For emerging markets economic events, click on For an index of all diaries, click on Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Oct 27 PRAGUE, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA========================== Real-time economic data releases.................... Summary of economic data and forecasts........... Recently released economic data.................. Previous stories on Czech data............. **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/2E/events-overview ==========================NEWS================================== BUDGET: The lower house of the Czech parliament passed the 2017 state budget draft in the first of three readings on Wednesday, setting the deficit target at 60 billion crowns ($2.41 billion), compared to a small surplus expected this year. Story: Related stories: CEZ: Financing for a major new coal-fired power plant in Montenegro has collapsed and alternative funding is being sought, local power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) and the Czech project contractor said on Wednesday. Story: Related stories: Story: Related stories: CEE MARKETS: The Czech two-year government bond yield dropped further into the negative on Wednesday, trading well below safe-haven Bund yields. Story: Related stories: ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change close on day in 2016 vs Euro 27.003 27.017 0.05 -0.02 vs Dollar 24.762 24.731 -0.13 0.4 Czech Equities 919.18 919.18 -1.59 -3.88 U.S. Equities 18,199.33 18,169.27 0.17 4.44 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 GMT ======================PRESS DIGEST============================= HEDGING: A growing number of companies hedge themselves against future strenghtening of the crown versus euro, including Pegas Nonwovens, the paper said. The central bank is expected to abandon its weak crown policy, in place since 2013, around mid-2017. Hospodarske Noviny, page 12 (Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.) For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX For updates on CEE currencies TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets Prague Newsroom: +420 224 190 477 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom) Australia's Rinehart, China's Shanghai CRED lift bid for Kidman cattle empire By Jonathan Barrett SYDNEY, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Australia's richest woman Gina Rinehart and a Chinese partner raised their offer to buy the country's largest private land holding on Thursday, with Rinehart pledging to buy it outright if the joint bid was rejected on national interest grounds. The fate of S. Kidman & Co, which runs cattle and pastoral activities on tracts of land the size of South Korea, has been a lightning rod for concerns about the sale of Australian agriculture and other key assets to foreign investors. The latest A$386.5 million ($295 million) bid by Rinehart and Chinese developer Shanghai CRED, up from A$365 million, just tops a rival A$386 million bid by four of Australia's wealthiest outback cattle families, triggering an intriguing battle between outback dynasties. Unlike the rival, all-Australian bid, the Rinehart-led bid requires regulatory approval. The Australian government has twice rejected foreign offers for Kidman. Rinehart, however, said should regulatory approval not be obtained, she will buy S. Kidman solely - removing any need for regulatory approval. "I hope this provides shareholders with significant comfort and that when they consider the offer they can do so in the knowledge that there is no [Australian Foreign Investment Review Board] or [People's Republic of China] execution risk, and further that we have the money to invest to properly maintain the stations and their hard-working staff," she said. Rinehart is Australia's richest woman with a net worth of $11.7 billion, according to Forbes, based on an iron ore empire in Australia's mineral-rich Pilbara, where she grew up. The ultimate sale decision will be made by the 53 Kidman shareholders, a spokeswoman for Kidman said, operating on a Dec. 9 bid deadline. A spokesman for the so-called BBHO consortium - referring to cattlemen Tom Brinkworth, Sterling Buntine, Malcolm Harris and Viv Oldfield - said the sale process was still live. "The BBHO consortium remains strongly committed to our bid," the spokesman said. "BBHO is considering upping its offer." A successful bid by BBHO for the country's largest private landholding would create one of the world's biggest cattle businesses with more than 500,000 head of cattle. Slovak Republic - Factors To Watch on Oct 27 BRATISLAVA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA======================== Real-time economic data releases.................. Summary of economic data and forecasts......... Recently released economic data................ Previous stories on Slovak data.......... **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/1C/events-overview =======================EVENTS================================== BRATISLAVA - European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer and EU Energy Union Chief Maros Sefcovic speak at an investment conference. Related stories: BRATISLAVA - Volkswagen Slovakia launches construction of a new logistics centre for its automotive plant. Related stories: =========================NEWS================================== ROAMING FEES: EU states agreed a preliminary compromise on Wednesday on lowering the caps for how much mobile telecoms operators can charge each other to keep their customers connected while abroad, easing concerns that a flagship EU policy to end retail roaming fees could backfire. Story: Related stories: IMMIGRATION: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Wednesday threatened to block the European Union's next budget with a "veto" should Eastern European countries fail to take in their share of refugees. Story: Related stories: CORRUPTION: Slovakia has banned companies with undisclosed ownership from doing business with the state as part of a package of anti-corruption measures, the justice minister said on Wednesday. Story: Related stories: ====================PRESS DIGEST================================ IKEA: Swedish furniture maker Ikea will launch an e-shop in Slovakia in March, the company said. Hospodarske Noviny, page 1 (Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.) For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jason Hovet on +420 224 190 476 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom) India's Tata group accuses ousted chairman of malice By Aditi Shah and Promit Mukherjee NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Tata Sons accused its former chairman, Cyrus Mistry, of making "unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations" against the Indian conglomerate as the gloves came off in a bitter and highly public row over his sacking earlier this week. The acrimonious exchanges have prompted aides to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urge restraint in a dispute that could sully the reputation of one of India's oldest and most respected business houses. Tata Sons has had only six chairmen since it was founded in 1868, growing into a $103 billion international group spanning cars, steel and information technology. Mistry's parting shot, in a blistering 5-page letter written after he was ousted in a boardroom coup late on Monday, accused the company of failures of governance that he said had destroyed billions of dollars in shareholder value. He also alleged inappropriate interference by Ratan Tata, the 78-year-old patriarch who hired him and has come out of retirement to run the business in a caretaker role. Tata, in an 8-paragraph statement on Thursday, dismissed Mistry's claims. "The correspondence makes unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations," Tata Sons said in the statement emailed to reporters a day after Mistry's letter was leaked to the press. "These will be responded to in an appropriate manner," the company said without elaborating, raising the prospect that the war of words could lead to a legal battle. The country's two largest stock exchanges demanded clarity from Tata's more than two dozen listed units in what could herald scrutiny over why investors were not told of Mistry's concerns earlier. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the capital markets regulator, is looking into whether Tata Sons flouted corporate governance rules, as Mistry alleges in his letter to the board, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. SEBI has also asked the National Stock Exchange and BSE Ltd for price movement data on all listed companies under the Tata umbrella, one of those people said. SEBI could not immediately be reached for comment. At least one unit, Tata Steel, dismissed talk of writedowns. But shares in all the group's major listed companies fell on Thursday. Public confrontations of this nature are rare in Indian corporate life, particularly when they involve established conglomerates and business elders like Ratan Tata, who ran the Tata group for over two decades before hand-picking the 48-year-old Mistry. "It's taken everyone by surprise. Nobody would have thought such things could happen at Tata," said J. N. Gupta, a former executive at India's markets regulator and now managing director at Stakeholders Empowerment Services. Nalin Kohli, a national spokesman for Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party and a Supreme Court lawyer, said: "The larger question will remain whether a legal battle will serve the interests of shareholders." CULTURE CLASH Inside Tata, a company that promotes its roots in the heritage and social values of the Parsi community, some workers have bristled at the board's treatment of Mistry. But executives also questioned Mistry's efforts to restructure the group. "It is like a bunch of finance or hedge fund guys that have walked in and decided to cut everything. This is not the Tata way of doing business," said one source close to the Tata group in response to the letter. "If you're picking things that are not working and then trying to get rid of them, where is growth going to come from?" Ratan Tata was an acquirer in his time at the top, overseeing deals like the $12 billion acquisition of Corus, formerly British Steel, in 2007, and the purchase of Jaguar Land Rover a year later. Mistry accused the board of failing to give him "room to move", and argued that Ratan Tata had acted as an alternative power centre, in particular driving deals that created two airline businesses. Its Tata Motors arm extended credit too easily to fuel sales, Mistry said, and when fraudulent dealings surfaced at AirAsia India, they were not acted on fast enough. In its rejoinder, Tata stated that Mistry, who was appointed a director in 2006 and made executive chairman in 2012, would have been "fully empowered" to lead the group and its companies. "He would be fully familiar with the culture, ethos, governance structure, financial and operational imperatives of the Tata Group as well as various group companies," the company said. "It is unfortunate that it is only on his removal that allegations and misrepresentation of facts are being made." "The record, as and when made public, will prove things to the contrary," it added. One lawyer said Mistry's letter appeared to be presenting arguments that both he and the interests of the company had been the victim of "oppression and mismanagement" as cited in India's Companies Act, 2013. "It would not be unprecedented for a managing director or chairperson to proclaim oppression - even if he was in charge," said the lawyer, Amir Singh Pasrich, managing partner of I.L.A. Pasrich and Co, a New Delhi-based law firm. He is not advising either side. Mistry remains a director of Tata Sons and could by law only be removed by shareholders after being given due warning. He also chairs several listed units and his Pallonji family owns nearly a fifth of Tata Sons. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a senior lawmaker from the opposition Congress party and lawyer who has been retained by Tata, dismissed Mistry's allegations and questioned his motivation in going public with them. "I don't see any reason to have allegations and counter allegations," Singhvi told Reuters Television, adding that the "maligning and bad mouthing should stop". PNG court dismisses Australia asylum seeker resettlements on technicality By Colin Packham SYDNEY, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed an application to send asylum seekers held on an isolated island to Australia on a paperwork technicality. A ruling in favour of the 302 detainees would have ordered the PNG and Australian governments to transfer them to Australia within 30 days, a political nightmare for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Under Australia's tough immigration laws, asylum seekers intercepted trying to reach the country by boat are sent for processing on PNG's Manus island and the tiny South Pacific island nation of Nauru. The policy has won past elections and has bipartisan political support. Lawyer Ben Lomai confirmed the case had been dismissed and that the detainees planned to refile the application. The case was dismissed because the court filings were signed by the principal lawyer, Lomai, instead of the direct claimants, Ian Rintoul, a spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition, who was present at the hearing, told Reuters. "The reality is the refugees are facing longer in detention and that's extremely disappointing," he said. "The legal issues have not been resolved and it does not change the fact that these men are detained illegally." The group will go back to Manus next week to collect the signatures but getting a hearing at the Supreme Court may be difficult, Rintoul added. "We lost trust in any court or lawyer or justice," Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian who has been on Manus for more than three years, told Reuters. Australia has vowed the asylum seekers will never set foot in the country after being intercepted by its navy and shipped to Manus. Many of the asylum seekers have spent three years in the centre, which the Supreme Court ruled in April was unconstitutional and must close. For men like Abdul Aziz, 24, who fled his home in Sudan amid a bloody civil war, the court case had stirred hopes of finally leaving the centre after 38 months. "I'm optimistic that after the court case, I will be sent back to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed," Aziz told Reuters by telephone before the case was dismissed "We sought asylum from Australia, not PNG." A ruling in favour of the 302 detainees would have set a precedent for all 823 detainees, asylum seekers predominately from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The United Nations and human rights groups have condemned Australia's immigration policy, citing human rights abuses in the centres. Many asylum seekers on Nauru are being driven to attempt suicide to escape the prison-like conditions they face in indefinite detention, Amnesty International said last week, amid reports of assaults and sexual abuse. Duterte says Philippines could join sea exercises with Japan, again vents anger at U.S. By Minami Funakoshi YOKOHAMA, Japan, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday his country could join naval exercises with Japan, but repeated there would be no more war games with long-time ally the United States and again gave vent to his anger against Washington. Duterte also said he had explained to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in talks on Wednesday just why he resented the United States, reiterating that Washington treated the Philippines like "dogs on a leash" and lectured about human rights in connection with his domestic campaign against drugs. The Philippine leader's visit to Japan coincides with jitters about his foreign policy after weeks of verbal attacks on the United States, including threats to end military agreements, and overtures towards China. Duterte last week announced in China his "separation" from the United States, but then insisted ties were not being severed and that he was merely pursuing an independent foreign policy. "Joint exercise with Japan in general terms is not a problem. Stationing of Japanese troops was not discussed and with the Americans, it's problematic," Duterte told reporters one day after saying he wanted foreign troops out of his country "maybe in the next two years". "I don't want to embarrass my defence secretary but the exercises with the Americans will be the last," he said. Duterte, on the final day of a three-day visit to Japan, made the comments after watching Japan Coast Guard activities in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo. Duterte's recent comments pose a headache for Abe, who has tightened ties with Washington while building closer security relations with Manila and other Southeast Asian countries as a counter-weight to a rising China, which has maritime feuds with several countries in the region including Japan. In their Wednesday talks, Duterte and Abe agreed on the importance of settling maritime disputes peacefully. Duterte said he had explained to Abe why he was angry with the United States. "I had told the prime minister some of my sentiments against the Americans. They are treating us like dogs on a leash," he said. "The prime minister understands that." Also on Thursday, Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez told Reuters his country was still a good place for foreign investment and that the Philippines would welcome investment from the United States though it was particularly interested in trade agreements with Asian neighbours. Coked-up British banker imagined police behind curtains after cutting woman's throat By Venus Wu HONG KONG, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Moments before he surrendered after killing a second victim in his Hong Kong apartment, British banker Rurik Jutting ingested up to 20 grams of cocaine and imagined police were behind the curtains, a court heard on Thursday. In videoed police interviews shown on the fourth day of his trial for the murder of two Indonesian women, Jutting impassively described the paranoia he felt moments before calling police to come and get him. Jutting has admitted killing Sumarti Ningsih, a 23-year-old single mother, and another Indonesian woman, Seneng Mujiasih, as he acted out violent fantasies. But the former investment banker pleaded not guilty to murder on grounds of diminished responsibility, while pleading guilty to the lesser crime of manslaughter. Collapsing bloodsoaked and exhausted on his balcony after struggling to cut the throat of 26-year-old Mujiasih, the Cambridge University graduate told how he then yelled and waved a knife at people on the sidewalk 31 floors below. "When I decided to surrender, I dropped my knife," Jutting said, describing how he barricaded himself into his bedroom and called police. He also dropped and smashed a bottle of vodka. "I saw the curtains moving and I thought they (the police) were there," he said. "I took the amount of cocaine for one or two days in half an hour." The video evidence showed Jutting telling police that he was consuming 10 packs of cocaine a day - each costing HK$1,000 ($128.95). In earlier evidence, he said he was getting through 10 grams per day, washed down with red wine and Red Bull energy drinks. He complained of insomia. After surrendering, Jutting gave police his phone as "evidence", which contained photographs as well as four hours of video footage chronicling his cocaine and alcohol fuelled spiral into an abyss of sexual torture and killing. Dressed in a light blue shirt, Jutting, 31, sometimes shut his eyes and tilted his head upwards as the interviews played before the jury of four women and five men. FINDING A COKE DEALER During the police interviews, Jutting said he had enticed both victims back to his apartment by offering to pay for sex. He also described the drug dealer who sold him the cocaine. "It is all provided by Marvin, he's a black man," Jutting told police. "I was introduced to him by a sex worker...on a daily basis he has been selling me cocaine." Jutting said he primarily "snorted" the drug but also inserted it into his rectum. He removed his shirt to show self-inflicted scratch marks, which he said was an effect of cocaine. A toxicologist, called as an expert witness by the prosecution on Wednesday, described the quantities of cocaine consumed by Jutting during a six-week binge as unbelievably high. The jury was earlier shown footage that Jutting filmed himself during the sexual torture and killing of Ningsih over the course of three days, capturing his taunts and boasts as well as his remorse and moments of self-loathing. In videos played earlier in the trial, Jutting had described how he had crammed Ningsih's mutilated body in a suitcase which police found on the balcony. She had been visiting Hong Kong on a tourist visa, while Mujiasih had been working there as a domestic helper. The High Court trial is due to continue next Monday, when the defence is due to open its case. Malaysia's Najib aims to take China ties to "new highs" on visit By Praveen Menon KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minster Najib Razak heads to China next week to build closer ties and seek investment, which may further dent U.S. aims in Southeast Asia after a push by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines to bolster China ties. Najib is travelling to China with dozens of government leaders and business people. In statement on Wednesday, he said Malaysia was committed to strengthening friendship with China and pushing ties to "new highs". "We will be signing many new agreements and understandings that will elevate the relationship between our two nations to even greater heights," the prime minister said. The Oct. 31-Nov. 6 visit comes days after Duterte's Beijing trip, where he declared a "separation" with old ally the United States and said he had "realigned" with China. Both Malaysia and the Philippines are in dispute with China over rival claims in the South China Sea but Duterte has softened the Philippine position in his push to build China ties and China could ease the dispute with Malaysia by offering economic benefits, an analyst said. "If it wields its cheque-book diplomacy shrewdly, it may either tie Malaysia's hand on its dispute over the South China Sea, or even split ASEAN further on the South China Sea," said Yang Razali Kassim, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), of Nanyang Technology University in Singapore. The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which both the Philippines and Malaysia belong to, has struggled in recent years to present a united front to China on the South China Sea. Vietnam and Brunei are also ASEAN members and also have South China Sea claims. "There are implications should Najib move to get deeper into Beijing's embrace," said Yang Razali. Najib is eyeing more Chinese investment in infrastructure and manufacturing. Defence deals may also be discussed. China's increased assertiveness in the South China Sea has heightened U.S.-China tension, with the two trading accusations of militarising the waterway through which some $5 trillion in trade passes each year. Last week, a U.S. navy ship undertook the fourth of what the United States calls freedom-of-navigation operations in the past year, to challenge what it sees as overreaching maritime claims by China in the South China Sea. The United States has seen the Philippines as an important ally in its "rebalance" to Asia in the face of a rising China but Duterte's threats to cut U.S. ties while making overtures towards China has raised questions over the U.S. strategy. CHINESE INVESTMENT Ties between Malaysia and China reached a new peak in December when China came to Najib's rescue with a $2.3 billion deal to buy assets of scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), helping ease Najib's concern over the firm's mounting debt. China has since been pumping more funds into Malaysia. For the first three months of 2016, Chinese investment in Malaysia's manufacturing sector reached 1.5 billion ringgit ($356 million), making it the largest foreign investor in its manufacturing. Chinese firms have also secured major deals in Malaysia, including a $7.3 billion port deal in the city of Malacca last month. China is widely expected to win a contract to build a high speed railway. Malaysia's China push comes amid strained U.S. ties after the U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits linked to a money-laundering investigation at 1MDB, the advisory board of which Najib chaired until recently. Najib dismissed foreign interference in Malaysia's affairs and questioned why the United States publicised the issue. "The lawsuits were a strategic mistake by the U.S. ... China will look at this situation with glee," said a person familiar with the matter but not authorised to speak to the media. Ian Storey, senior fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute think-tank said there would not be a Duterte-style about-turn in Malaysia's foreign relations under Najib. Nissan to build new models in UK after May offers support post-Brexit By Costas Pitas and Laurence Frost LONDON/PARIS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Japanese carmaker Nissan will build two new models in Britain despite the vote to quit the EU, giving Prime Minister Theresa May her most important corporate endorsement since the Brexit referendum in June. The decision to build the next generation of its popular Qashqai and X-Trail SUVs at Britain's largest car plant, rather than elsewhere in Europe, was won with what a source described as a government promise of extra support to counter any loss of competitiveness caused by Britain leaving the EU. "This vote of confidence shows Britain is open for business and that we remain an outward-looking, world-leading nation," May said. Nissan employs around 7,000 people in Sunderland, where it built nearly a third of Britain's 1.6 million cars last year. May's spokesman said Nisan was offered reassurances that conditions would remain competitive, but was not given explicit promises to compensate for any tariffs that might be imposed once the country leaves the bloc. Such a step could potentially open the floodgates to ultimatums from other companies. The prime minister's opponents accuse her of failing to spell out her aims before talks to exit the EU, and of risking damaging tariffs on British exports in a so-called "hard Brexit" in order to impose limits on immigration that the EU would reject. The opposition Labour Party said an ad hoc deal to protect a single factory was no substitute for a coherent strategy, and proved the government's policy was in "chaos". "Are they now going to literally decide factory by factory what support they're going to give?" finance spokesman John McDonnell told an audience in London on Thursday. "We need a comprehensive strategy on access to the single market." FOREIGN OWNED Britain's big carmakers are nearly all foreign-owned and ship more than half of their exports to the other 27 countries in the European Union, making the industry's future one of the big question marks hanging over Britain's plan to quit the bloc. The major car companies and their labour unions had collectively warned that the June vote would make Britain a less-attractive destination for foreign investment. Nissan in particular had threatened to halt spending unless the government guaranteed it would be protected. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn, who met May earlier this month, said the British government had promised to ensure the competitiveness of the plant. "The support and assurances of the UK government enabled us to decide that the next generation Qashqai and X-Trail will be produced at Sunderland," he said. Japan's Nissan is part of an alliance with French carmaker Renault, its biggest shareholder. Ghosn runs both companies. Other automakers have made clear they would be looking for similar reassurances from the government for their future investments. The chief executive of Britain's biggest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India's Tata Motors, told Reuters last month that it would want a level playing field were Nissan to get a compensation deal. The Sunderland plant has been a point of pride for May's Conservative Party since then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher lured Nissan to open it in 1986, beginning a recovery in British carmaking that had nearly collapsed in the 1970s. Since then, Nissan has invested nearly 4 billion pounds ($5 billion) in the site, supported by many tens of millions of pounds worth of government aid. The Qashqai has been built there for a decade. The decision to build the new X-Trail there could create hundreds of jobs in the next few years, a Nissan spokesman said. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT The Nissan spokesman said discussions were also ongoing between the firm and the government over how Britain could support and encourage the uptake of electric vehicles, a key area for the company. Nissan made the formal announcement on the long-awaited Qashqai decision after it was reported by Reuters. A company source told Reuters that the decision had been taken at a meeting of the company's executive committee this week, following a visit to Japan last week by British business minister Greg Clark. A separate person familiar with the situation told Reuters that the British government had pledged in writing to provide additional relief to Nissan in the event that Brexit makes the Sunderland plant less competitive. Assurances from the government had helped the firm bring forward its decision, which had originally been expected early next year, the company spokesman said. The Sunderland area, like other parts of England's industrial north, voted heavily in favour of Brexit on June 23, despite car manufacturers and their unions campaigning to stay in. Alexander Taylor, a 65-year old Sunderland pensioner who backed Brexit, told Reuters that Thursday's announcement proved that those campaigning to stay in the European Union had exaggerated the threat of a business exodus if Britain left. Flash A second strong quake hit central Italy late on Wednesday, soon after a 5.4-magnitude temblor had struck the same areas located in the province of Macerata in the Marche region. The latest quake hit at 9:18 p.m. local time (1918 GMT) and carried a magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter scale, according to Italy's National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (INGV). The first one had struck at 7:11 p.m. local time (1711 GMT). The epicentre of both tremors was registered in the Valnerina valley, a mountainous area between the cities of Macerata and Perugia, the capital of the Umbria region. It was at a relatively shallow depth of 9 km, and the nearest urban areas were the villages of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Visso, Ussita, and Preci in the province of Macerata, the INGV stated. The events wreaked havoc among the local population, which had already gone through a powerful quake only two months ago. Some buildings partly collapsed in the villages around Macerata, and one people were reportedly injured in Visso, but no further casualties were immediately reported, according to Italy's civil protection head Fabrizio Curcio. Some makeshift camps were being set up for panicked residents, who left their homes for fear of further events, RAI News 24 state broadcaster reported citing local authorities. Communications and power lines were disrupted on Wednesday evening, and a major highway connecting the affected areas was closed, according to the Italian civil protection agency. Both quakes were clearly felt in other provinces of Marche region, in the central cities of Perugia and Ancona, and as far as in the capital Rome, which lies some 230 km to the west from the epicentre. The new tremors would be linked to a major quake that occurred in central Italy in August, La Repubblica newspaper reported citing an INGV expert. "This quake occurred within the area already hit (by the previous one). It might be the opening of a new fault line," seismologist Alessandro Amato told La Repubblica online. On Aug. 24, the central regions of Lazio and Marche were hit by a 6.0-magnitude earthquake. Some 298 people were killed and 400 injured, while several thousands were left displaced. World's first albino beauty pageant in Kenya defies deadly stigma By Amanda Fisher NAIROBI, Oct 27 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - With its evening gowns, celebrity judges and tears of joy, the beauty pageant in Kenya's capital was like others elsewhere, except for one thing - all 20 contestants who strutted, sashayed and swaggered down the catwalk had albinism. In the world's first contest of its kind, 10 men and 10 women competed in the Mr and Miss Albinism Kenya pageant this month in Nairobi. Its motto was "Beauty Beyond the Skin". The competition, which drew a crowd of about 1,000 including Deputy President William Ruto, was designed to celebrate people with albinism - who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes - and challenge stigma and persecution. "Even when I was dating, it was difficult for girls to say I'm handsome," said Isaac Mwaura, Kenya's first parliamentarian with albinism and founder of the Albinism Society of Kenya, which organised the pageant. "I knew I was handsome (but) people with albinism are seen as not beautiful, as not good-looking, and that has an effect on their self esteem," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. People with albinism are frequently shunned, attacked and even killed across Africa. In many countries, their body parts are believed to bring wealth and good luck and are prized in witchcraft for use in charms and magical potions. Albinism is a congenital disorder affecting up to one in 15,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa. Witch doctors are willing to pay as much as $75,000 for a full set of albino limbs for use in black magic, according to the Red Cross. Attacks on albinos in Africa rose at the end of last year, linked to a growing demand from political hopefuls seeking good fortune in the run-up to elections in several countries, according to the U.N.'s first human rights expert on albinism. Mwaura said albinism is seen as a curse in Kenya and all contestants have been taunted and called "zeru", which means "ghost", or "pesa", a Swahili word for money, in reference to the value of their body parts. "Our girls are not getting married," Mwaura said. "They are beautiful women, and you find people don't want to walk around town with them, so we thought, 'Let's use this opportunity to confront stigma and discrimination.'" GLITTER AND TEARS Like the other contestants, 19-year-old Lucianah Nyawira took part in a week-long boot camp to get ready for the competition. There they practised poses and got preened and plucked into shape. With high cheekbones, pouty lips and blue doe eyes, the pageant's youngest contestant had been modelling for the past two years, while studying international relations in Nairobi. The girl from the rural county of Kirinyaga recently landed a six-month contract in Paris that she will take up in January. But success abroad doesn't match her treatment at home. "Recently the judges told me, 'You can never be a model,'" she said. "'We just want dark-skinned models.' They told me I'm wasting their time and my time so I should just pack my things and go." Nyawira said rejection began with her first breath. When her father saw his wife had given birth to an ostensibly white baby, he kicked them out, imagining his daughter was the product of an affair with a "mzungu" - a white foreigner. "I feel if I have the crown people will listen to me," she said before the final judging. "If I have the crown, I can go to my governor and tell him, 'I'm Miss Albinism Kenya,' and ask him questions: 'What are you doing for people with albinism in this county?'" In the end, Nyawira didn't win. "I'll just concentrate on high fashion from now," she said, her face stained with tears and glitter. DREAM COME TRUE At 28, the contest's oldest male competitor, John Ngatia, has a boyish charm and a refusal to acknowledge limitations. Married with a five-month-old son, Ngatia has achieved something that eludes many Kenyans - he has a permanent job, working for Kenya's Water Resource Management Authority. But he said the beauty pageant brought to life something he had long yearned for. "This is my dream come true. Now I feel like a professional model. I can even teach people how to catwalk." Ngatia said his successes in life had a lot to do with attitude. "I do anything (others) are doing. Sometimes I even forget I'm a person with albinism, unless a person starts reacting differently. That's when I remember, 'Oh, I'm different.'" After the pageant, Ngatia was upbeat about taking the first runner-up position and magnanimous in defeat. "I feel nice, even though I didn't get Mr Albinism - I don't have any grudge with my friend (winner Jairus Ongetta). I'm making jokes with him." Pageant organiser Mwaura wasn't worried the event risked damaging already delicate self-esteem. "They're competing amongst themselves so there's no room for somebody to say, 'I was discriminated against.'" He said he had high hopes for the pageant's future, including producing a Miss Kenya with albinism. He also wants to make the pageant pan-African, and eventually global. Yazidi women win EU Parliament's Sakharov Prize By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The European Parliament awarded its Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought on Thursday to two Iraqi Yazidi women who were held as sex slaves by Islamic State militants and now campaign for human rights. Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar were among thousands of women and girls abducted, tortured and sexually abused by Islamic State fighters after the militants rounded up Yazidis in the village of Kocho, near Sinjar in northwest Iraq, in 2014. The Yazidi are a religious sect whose beliefs combine elements of several ancient Middle Eastern religions. Islamic State considers them devil-worshippers. "This is a very symbolic and significant decision to support these two survivors who came to Europe as refugees and found shelter in the European Union," European Parliament president Martin Schulz told a news conference after the announcement. He added the prize meant the parliament was now supporting them in their fight not only for dignity but to give testimony as witnesses to atrocities. The prize is 50,000 euros ($54,595), with an award ceremony scheduled for December. Islamic State insurgents overran Sinjar in August 2014, systematically killing, capturing and enslaving thousands of Yazidi inhabitants Murad, now aged 23, was held by IS in Mosul but escaped her captors in November 2014, reached a refugee camp and eventually made her way to Germany. She has since become active as an advocate for the Yazidis, and refugee and women's rights in general, as well as campaigning against human trafficking. She has briefed the U.N. Security Council on the problem of human trafficking and last month launched Nadia's Initiative to help victims of genocide. She has called for the massacre of Yazidis to be recognised as genocide. Bashar, 18, was captured in the same raid as Murad and also kept as a sex slave by IS. She escaped in March but was badly disfigured and blinded in one eye when a landmine went off as she fled. Two companions were killed. She now lives in Germany, where she has undergone treatment for her wounds, and works as an advocate for the Yazidis. GENOCIDE Mass Yazidi graves have been uncovered in the area north of Sinjar mountain, which was taken from IS in Dec. 2014. Kurdish forces retook Sinjar town in November 2014 in a two-day offensive backed by air strikes from a U.S.-led coalition U.N. investigators said in a report in June that Islamic State is committing genocide against the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq to destroy the religious community of 400,000 people through killings, sexual slavery and other crimes. Such a designation, rare under international law, would mark the first recognised genocide carried out by non-state actors, rather than a state or paramilitaries acting on its behalf. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after the late Russian dissident and scientist Andrei Sakharov is awarded each year by the European Parliament. Set up in 1988, it honours individuals and organisations defending human rights and basic freedoms. Murad and Aji Bashar were selected by Schulz and political group leaders from a shortlist with two more political nominees. The others were Can Dundar, a leading Turkish journalist sentenced to six years in prison for publishing state secrets involving Ankara's Syria operation, and Mustafa Dzhemilev, a senior Crimean Tartar politician and human rights activist banned by Russia from entering the annexed Crimea peninsular. Turkey asked U.S. not to allow Kurdish militia into Raqqa, minister tells TRT Haber ANKARA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Turkey asked the United States to keep the Kurdish YPG militia from entering the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, adding it was ready to provide military support to take over the Syrian town, Defence Minister Fikri Isik told TRT Haber on Thursday. The top U.S. military commander said on Wednesday that Kurdish YPG fighters would be included as a part of the force to isolate the Islamic State-held Syrian city of Raqqa. Turkey strongly opposes any Kurdish formation in the region. Nigeria launches infrastructure programme to tackle insurgency in oil delta By Felix Onuah and Ulf Laessing ABUJA/LAGOS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Nigeria launched a $10 billion infrastructure programme on Thursday in its restive Delta region as part of a plan to end an insurgency that has hobbled oil production. President Muhammadu Buhari will meet representatives of militant groups and community leaders from the Niger Delta in Abuja next week in a bid to end the attacks, Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said. Speaking to a forum in Abuja aimed at outlining strategy for the petroleum industry, Kachikwu described bringing the insurgency to an end as the first goal of a seven-point plan. "Our target is to ensure zero militancy in the area," he said. "This planned meeting shows the level of interest the president has to ensure peace in the area." The $10 billion investment is "not necessarily" going to come from the federal government, but rather from "oil companies, investors, individuals", he said. Militants fighting for a greater share of the OPEC member's wealth complain of poverty and a lack of development across the Niger Delta region, where most of Nigeria's oil is pumped. NATIONAL IMPERATIVE The seven-part strategy also envisages passing a long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill by December. The bill, which covers everything from an overhaul of state oil company NNPC to taxes on upstream projects, was delayed by violence in the Delta, which at one point cut production to 30-year lows. The first part of the bill is already pending in the senate, and Kachikwu said the second part, which deals with fiscal aspects of the petroleum industry, is "almost completed" and will be presented to the oil industry in the next week or two. While the government has emphasized diversifying the economy, Buhari said on Thursday it would be impossible to move forward without the oil industry. "Oil and gas resources still remain the most immediate and practical keys out of our present economic crisis," Buhari said, and the plan for the industry is "a national imperative and a core thrust of our economic policy". To drum up financing and oil investments, Nigeria will hold a roadshow in the Gulf in January and in the United States by mid-2017, Kachikwu told reporters. One area of investment would be in improving outdated refineries to stop costly fuel imports, he said. "We are going to be licensing private refineries, to look at investing in private refineries." Kachikwu said Nigeria's oil output stood at 1.8 million barrels a day, compared with the 1.9 million bpd the Petroleum Ministry announced earlier this week. Still, he added that the government hoped to get back to 2.2 million bpd next year - the level seen at the start of 2016. Goodbye Shanghai, hello Qianhai: HKEx's quest for a metals connector: Andy Home By Andy Home LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - When Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEx) bought the venerable London Metal Exchange (LME) in 2012, the narrative was all about China. HKEx was, it claimed, uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the world's oldest marketplace for trading base metals and the world's largest market for those metals. The exchange was already far advanced in constructing a stocks bridge between Chinese and international markets, subsequently realised in the form of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Connect pipeline. That, it was hoped, would be a template for something similar in the metals and wider commodities trading space. Yet four years on and there is no similar metallic product. That is largely because the obvious Chinese partner, the Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE), which dominates industrial metals trading on the mainland, has shown a conspicuous lack of interest. So time for Plan B. HKEx is going to launch its own mainland Chinese metals exchange with which to connect. But will it work and, equally importantly, what will it mean in terms of the uneasy stand-off with the Shanghai market? GOOD-BYE SHANGHAI! While the purchase of the LME was all about China, it wasn't a Chinese company that was actually doing the buying. Hong Kong has its own unique history and place within China, a relationship famously dubbed "one country, two systems" by former Chinese premier Deng Xioaping. Indeed, HKEx chief executive Charles Li, speaking to Hong Kong investors in the original unveiling of the LME deal, stressed that the purchase "really consolidates our strategic relevance to China," helping to dispel nagging fears about "marginalisation". And at the LME Week Asia meet in June 2013 he reached out to potentially wary mainland exchanges. Switching from English to Mandarin, he assured mainlanders HKEx would not "develop products that threaten to capture their existing business". Rather, "it is our long-term goal to seek co-operation with them to develop new products together and share the profit." At least one member of his audience was apparently unconvinced. The battle-ground for Chinese metals market share had already been defined by the issue of listing LME warehouses on the mainland. The LME's previous attempt to open warehouses had run into a brick wall in the form of a ruling from China's regulator, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), explicitly prohibiting any overseas exchange from doing so. It was seen at the time, and is still seen, as a barricade erected to protect ShFE from overseas competition. HKEx and Li were initially optimistic they had sufficient political leverage in Beijing to break the impasse. But two years later Li, speaking at the LME's annual London event, conceded "that battle has huge machine guns and bunkers that are very hard for you to take." No deal then? HKEx then decided to offer a mini bridge to the mainland in the form of "mini" yuan-denominated contracts mirroring in scaled-down size the core base metals products traded on the LME. But initial enthusiasm for these products has flagged. Total volumes of 26,265 lots in the first nine months of this year were down by 33 percent on last year. Open interest has fallen 28 percent to 229 lots over the same period with two contracts, tin and lead, closing out September with zero open interest. Quite evidently, if HKEx is going to make good on its promise to open up the Chinese metals markets, it needs to find a new connection point. HELLO QIANHAI! And this time it's looking closer to home. The Qianhai free trade zone is part of the city of Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong. A memorandum of understanding was signed in September with the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, to give it its full title. At the heart of the tie-up is a proposed "well-regulated, transparent and reliable spot commodities trading venue on the Mainland backed by physical delivery and a warehouse system to support the Mainland's real economy," according to HKEx' Li. Last month came news that the new platform will be headed up by Guo Xiaoli, who has held senior positions at both the Dalian and Zhengzhou exchanges in the past. First trading is scheduled for some time in the first half of 2017. It's a neat way of side-stepping the protective wall thrown around the Shanghai market. As a spot trading platform Qianhai poses no direct threat to Shanghai and falls below the radar of the CSRC, which has jurisdiction only over futures trading on the Chinese mainland. Moreover, physical delivery will be effected not by LME warehouses but by what Li has described as a "unique LME warehouse kind of system". Something presumably along the lines of LME Shield, the build-out of the existing LME Sword electronic warranting system to the non-warrant, off-exchange part of the market. YOUR MOVE! This is obviously a fall-back plan in response to the Shanghai Future Exchange's rejection of any thought of connecting with Hong Kong. It's also a move into an already congested space. Even Li concedes there are more than 1,000 commodity trading platforms on the Chinese mainland. However, many of these are little more than localised trading hubs and some little more than dressed-up "get rich quick" investor scams. Think of the Fanya Metals Exchange in the city of Kunming, described by local authorities as a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme. There is a palpable need for some sort of authoritative cash pricing benchmark in China. The 2014 Qingdao scandal, involving the multi-pledging of metals stored in some of the port's warehouses, has also revealed the need for a more trustworthy storage mechanism. On paper at least, HKEx can leverage the credibility of the LME's existing benchmark pricing, already used by many of China's heavyweight industrial players, and its Shield depository receipt system to offer both. And if it can make a success of the Qianhai platform, it will have created something with which to connect. Emphasis on the word "if" in that sentence. But how will the Shanghai Futures Exchange react? Having used the CSRC to block previous attempts to import LME pricing onto the mainland, what will it make of this latest move? Because it's clear that in this particular game of chess, or maybe this being China, mahjong, it's being challenged to make the next move. Swiss talks will clarify if Cyprus deal possible this year-UN ATHENS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Talks in Switzerland between rival communities on ethnically-split Cyprus in November will offer clarity on whether a peace accord can be reached this year, a United Nations envoy said on Thursday. Estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders are engaged in peace talks on reuniting the island under a federal umbrella. The sides are scheduled to take their negotiations to Switzerland in early November to discuss territorial trade-offs defining boundaries between Greek Cypriots in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north. "It's ambitious, but I believe it is still possible," the United Nations special adviser for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, said of the deal. "The meeting in Switzerland will be significant because it will show with more clarity whether this aim (of a solution) will be possible within the timeframe," he was quoted by the semi-official Cyprus News Agency as saying, referring to the end of this year. The east Mediterranean island was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Its division is a source of tension between NATO allies Greece and Turkey and an obstacle to Turkish aspirations to join the European Union, in which Greek Cypriots represent Cyprus. Eide said progress in negotiations had been made, but there were still issues which needed to be settled including security and guarantees. The security issue relates to the presence of the Turkish army on the island, and the guarantees to a decades-old treaty allowing Turkey, Britain and Greece intervention rights over Cyprus. Greek Cypriots want the system abolished. Turkish Cypriots want a form of Turkish guarantees to remain. Switzerland has hosted a number of rounds of negotiations on Cyprus through the decades, the latest long-haul talks being held at the mountain resort of Burgenstock in March 2004. ESM chief says Spain-style bailout possible in any bank crisis By John O'Donnell FRANKFURT, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The euro zone's rescue fund could give a Spain-style bailout if a fresh banking crisis were to unfold, the head of the European Stability Mechanism said on Thursday. Klaus Regling's remarks may reassure investors by showing how Europe could respond any future emergency, including in a larger country such as Italy. Europe is slowly recovering from a debt crisis triggered by the collapse of banks but an overhang of almost 1 trillion euros ($1.1 trillion) of bad loans threatens further trouble ahead. Asked about Italy, Regling, who heads the ESM fund that helped stricken countries such as Spain with a financial-sector bailout, said it could do the same again - although he played down the chances of any imminent move. "What could we do if something were to go wrong? The ESM can intervene," Regling told journalists in Frankfurt when answering a question about Italy's banks. "For one, in the way we did in Spain, a credit via the Spanish government, but used solely to restructure the Spanish banking system. That can be done in other countries," he said. Regling said such a step was not now needed as the problems in Italy were limited to individual lenders rather than being across the sector. Nonetheless, his remarks show how Europe could respond in an emergency - assisting countries with a scheme that requires reform of their banks rather than the entire economy. That in turn would stop any banking crisis in, say, Italy, from reverberating across the 19-member euro zone, whose economy remains fragile. The ESM also has the option of taking a direct stake in banks but Regling said this would first require large losses for the lenders' investors, making it unlikely. "I am working on the assumption that this instrument will not be used in the near term," he said. Regling vouched for the stability of the banking system in Italy. "The Italian banking system is not in danger, nor is it on shaky grounds," he said. "It concerns some, few banks and is not across the board." Separately, Regling voiced concern over Portugal's reversal of earlier reform, pointing to its rising borrowing costs since a new government took office. "We have to be very careful that the competitiveness that was won at great effort ... that this won't be put at risk," he said. Hedge fund Anchorage Capital seeks controlling stake in Ireland's eir DUBLIN, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The largest shareholder in Irish telecoms firm eir, hedge fund Anchorage Capital Group, plans to acquire additional shares to secure control of the company, according to a regulatory filing published on Thursday. Anchorage held a 36.4 percent share of eir's parent company Eircom Holdco S.A., according to a filing in June. Ireland's competition watchdog, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, on Thursday said on its web site it had been informed of "the proposed acquisition by Anchorage Capital Group L.L.C. of sole control of Eircom Holdco S.A.". A spokesman for eir declined comment on whether Anchorage would require over 50 percent ownership to secure control over voting rights. The Irish Times reported an ownership stake of between 45 and 49 percent might be enough to give it control. eir said in a statement that Anchorage planed to purchase shares from an existing shareholder, but did not say how much or from whom. In June, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC controlled 16.3 percent, Davidson Kempner Capital had 11.8 percent and York Capital Management had 9.8 percent. A spokesman for Anchorage did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. France tells migrants to forget Calais as "Jungle" camp razed By Matthias Blamont and Temis Tormo CALAIS, France, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Bulldozers cleared mounds of debris and demolished makeshift shelters in the "Jungle" migrant camp on Thursday, and French authorities said more than 6,000 people had been evacuated from the squalid site. Charities said hundreds of migrants might have fled the camp rather than take part in a programme to rehouse them in towns across the country. A Reuters reporter on Thursday saw dozens of migrants, including children, still in the western part of the camp, where the dismantling had not yet started. The Jungle, a ramshackle, overcrowded shanty town, came to symbolise Europe's difficulty in dealing with record inflows of migrants from impoverished and wartorn regions of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, many of them bent on crossing the sea from Calais to Britain. Socialist President Francois Hollande, facing an election six months from now, decided under local pressure to close the Jungle and relocate its inhabitants in towns and villages throughout the country pending examination of their cases. "By next Monday, the camp will be no more. It is already gone but the (demolition) job will be finished by Monday evening," local government prefect Fabienne Buccio told reporters as earthmovers flattened the camp, where the evacuation started on Monday. She said more than 6,000 migrants had signed up to be taken to other parts of the country as planned, and that matched the number of people who had been living there. One high-ranking local official, speaking on condition that he not be identified, said the camp was not totally empty. "There was panic over the unaccompanied minors, we knew we'd be back today to try to sort this out," he told Reuters. "And I think some migrants are still going to remain inside the camp in coming days." A British charity called Help Refugees said police had arrested some minors on Thursday. Police patrolled the camp and other parts of Calais, where dozens of migrants were wandering. "Lots of children are sleeping outside. We had a group of Eritrean boys, 13 and 14 years old, last night, who slept outside," said Dorothy Sang, a worker with the Save the Children charity. "Other children fled. They lost faith in the system." A young man from Sudan who said his name was Clinton told Reuters he had arrived overnight from Germany and was "here for England" as a final destination. "But it is also okay if I can file an (asylum) request in France. It doesn't matter where I sleep tonight," he said. Buccio said she wanted to make clear to any would-be new arrivals in the French port that the camp was shut for good and the rehousing exercise finished. "It is not Calais' role to receive all the migrants of Europe," she said. BACK TO PARIS? There were signs that some migrants might have fled from Calais to Paris to avoid being roped into official processing of asylum requests. Heloise Mary, working to help migrants at a smaller camp under a bridge in north Paris, said numbers there had suddenly shot up. "We've gone from 2,000 to 3,000 in two days with the closure of Calais," she told BFM TV of the makeshift camp, where a railway bridge provides cover for hundreds of tents and mattresses. The numbers of irregular migrants reaching Europe are sharply down on the 1.3 million who arrived in 2015. But more than 300,000 have made the hazardous Mediterranean crossing in 2016 so far, and many are likely to head for Britain for work, language and family reasons. The British referendum vote this year to quit the European Union was in large part driven by worries over immigration, and stoked by scenes of the Calais migrants trying to force their way in. Now that Britain is leaving the EU, right-wing French politicians with an eye on next year's election want to tear up the agreement under which Britain's border controls are conducted in France. In the western corner of the Jungle, amid trash and the smouldering embers of Wednesday's fires, a group of young teenagers wandered with a trolley, searching tents. "We are looking for food because we want to make provisions. And we want to go to England!" said Awaldjan, 17. Muhammad, 13, added: "We will make it to England, all of us." At the opposite end of France, Zefir, who said he had left wartorn Afghanistan after hundreds died in his village, was one of a busload of people to arrive from Calais in Chandourene, a village north of the Riviera coast. Germany stalls Osram unit sale to Chinese buyers - WirtschaftsWoche FRANKFURT, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The German government has turned down a Chinese request for approval of a takeover of Osram's light bulbs unit Ledvance pending a review of the deal, German magazine WirtschaftsWoche reported on Thursday, citing financial sources. Shares in Osram extended losses to 4 percent following the report and closed down 2.3 percent, one of the day's biggest decliners in the German midcap index, which closed unchanged. Osram is switching focus from light bulbs to lighting technology, selling Ledvance and investing 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in a new factory in Malaysia to make chips for LED lights. The group agreed earlier this year to sell Ledvance to a group of Chinese buyers, including lighting company MLS , for more than 400 million euros ($437 million). WirtschaftsWoche said Berlin would review the planned acquisition, meaning it could be months until there is clarity over whether the deal will go through. Responding to the report, the German economy ministry said it was examining the deal as was standard procedure, declining to elaborate. Osram declined to comment on the report, which came days after Berlin put on hold the sale of semiconductor manufacturing equipment maker Aixtron to China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund, citing security concerns. Osram has said it expected to complete the transaction in the course of its 2017 fiscal year. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, submitted late in the evening Beijing time. Concern is growing in Berlin about losing technology to China after a string of Chinese acquisitions of German companies including industrial robots maker Kuka. Scrutiny of deals with Chinese buyers also casts a shadow over prospects for talks between Osram and Chinese chipmaker Sanan Optoelectronics about a possible takeover or cooperation. Sanan said earlier this month it had been in preliminary contact with Osram. ($1 = 0.9160 euros) Into the heart of godlessness, Pope Francis heads for Sweden By Alistair Scrutton STOCKHOLM, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Usually feted ecstatically by Catholics across the world, Pope Francis may face a far more muted reception when he arrives next week in Sweden, one the world's most secular nations, with openly gay Lutheran bishops and special cemeteries for atheists. Add to that the fact that Francis will be there to take part in a joint Catholic-Lutheran service in Lund to mark the start of the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's anti-Catholic Reformation that led to a bloody schism in Europe. In the first papal visit to the country in nearly 30 years, Francis, who is seen as breathing freshness into traditional Catholic doctrine and reaching out to other religious communities, will also hold a public Mass in Malmo, a gateway for thousands of immigrants who have fled from Middle East wars over the last few years. While trips to the likes of the Philippines attract huge crowds, Francis's attempt at dialogue with Lutherans may go either unnoticed or criticised by Scandinavians whose views on sexuality and abortion are among the world's most liberal. "This is really the first time Francis will have spoken so directly to the secular West, and he will do so in the country that is considered the world's capital of irreligion," said Austen Ivereigh, a papal biographer and Catholic commentator. The visit could see Francis make a symbolic attempt to help unite Lutherans and Catholics, such as allowing non-Catholic partners in a Catholic-Lutheran marriage to receive Communion at Catholic Masses. But that could be lost on most Swedes. "It's easy to perceive this as a papal visit when it's not. It's about the meeting of Lutherans and Catholics," said Antje Jackelen, Lutheran archbishop of Uppsala and Sweden's first woman archbishop. Media coverage ahead of the visit - which starts on Monday - has been minimal, although the mass at a 26,500 seat capacity stadium in Malmo has been nearly sold out. IRRELIGIOUS Polls show Sweden, nominally Lutheran, is one of the world's most irreligious nations. In a WIN-Gallup survey last year, around eight in 10 Swedes said they were either "not religious" or "convinced atheists." Surveys show Swedes trust institutions like the tax agency more than the Lutheran Church. An atheist cemetery opened this year, where Swedes can be buried without religious symbols like the cross, star of David or Islamic crescent. David Thurfjell, professor of religion and history at Sodertorn University, said for many Swedes it may be easier to come out as gay than to come out as religious. "Swedes are just uneasy with the word," said Thurfjell. "You would just never call yourself religious." It is a trend seen across the Nordics. After making it possible to exit from membership on-line, Norway's Lutheran state Church saw 25,000 people exit in August, the biggest one-month drop in its history. Swedes still take part in Christian sacraments such as baptism and many still pay small voluntary tax contributions to the Lutheran Church of Sweden. Some also say that a wave of new immigrants - many Christians and Muslims who have fled war in the Middle East - is changing attitudes. Around 17 percent of Swedes are now foreign-born. "It has been secularized for so long, that people start to get tired and sick of it," Sweden's only Catholic archbishop, Anders Arborelius, said. "The new situation with a massive immigration of people who are often more religious has also changed the mentality." Multi-culturalism has challenged Sweden's comfortable secular identity. This year Sweden faced controversy when former schools minister Aida Hadzialic, herself an immigrant, said religious schools that separate boys from girls should not be allowed. That backlash against any perception of religious interference may mark rancis's visit. Syrian army says it takes town near Hama BEIRUT, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Syria's army regained the town of Soran, north of Hama, from rebels on Thursday, a Syrian military source and a war monitor said, part of a push back against insurgent gains in the area over recent weeks. "Units from our armed forces in cooperation with the people's defence forces regained control over the municipality of Soran and the farms surrounding it," the source said. Militia forces from both Syria and other countries in the region have fought alongside the Syrian army in its fight against rebels seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad, a war that is in its sixth year. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor of the war, said the army's advance into the town was aided by a heavy bombardment since dawn on Thursday, including with rockets, mortars and barrel bombs dropped by helicopter. Rebels, including hardline Islamist groups, had captured a number of villages in northern Hama province in the centre of the populated west of the country, in recent weeks. Britain will leave the single market-UK minister for Scotland By Elisabeth O'Leary EDINBURGH, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Britain's decision to leave the European Union will also mean leaving the EU single market, one of Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet ministers said on Thursday. "If we are leaving the EU, we are leaving the single market," Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell told Scottish lawmakers at a special hearing on the implications of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. He went on to say that he believed Britain could retain tariff- and barrier-free access to the single market. The implications of Britain's EU exit for its access to the bloc's 500 million-consumer single market remain unclear. Businesses and financial markets believe that if Britain loses unfettered access to the single market the economy will suffer, and such fears have sent the pound sharply lower. Mundell told a devolved Scottish parliamentary committee that Britain's future relationship with the EU would not replicate current structures. His comments touch upon one of the biggest unknowns thrown up by the June EU referendum - what type of trading relationship does Britain want with its biggest economic partner? Mundell has a seat at May's cabinet table but is not considered one of her closest advisers. Asked whether Mundell's comments were government policy, PM May's spokesman said: "We haven't started the process of exiting the EU yet ... clearly we will then engage in a process of negotiation with the EU and issues like that will form part of that dialogue. "What we're trying to get here is the best possible arrangement for trade and operation within Europe across business in goods and services." May has indicated that she wants a bespoke deal that allows Britain to end free entry of EU nationals into the country - a demand which is widely seen by other EU states as scuppering the possibility of full access to the single market. The prime minister told parliament this week that access to the single market was important, without saying what form that access would take. "I have been clear ... (about) the importance that we place on being able not just to trade with but to operate within the European market, and that is for both goods and services," she said. The centuries-old union between England and Scotland has been strained by the result of the June referendum because Scotland voted to stay in the EU while England voted to leave. Nicola Sturgeon, the head of Scotland's devolved government, has called for a "coalition" across Britain in support of single market membership, and said that if Scotland's links to the EU are not maintained as part of a Brexit deal, then another referendum on Scottish independence is an option. India, Pakistan to expel diplomats amid Kashmir tension By Tommy Wilkes and Amjad Ali NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD, Oct 27 (Reuters) - India and Pakistan on Thursday announced they would each expel one of the other's diplomats amid growing tension between the nuclear-armed arch-foes over the disputed region of Kashmir. India said it would expel a Pakistani diplomat based in New Delhi who allegedly ran a spy ring that collected sensitive information about Indian security operations along its border. Late on Thursday night, Pakistan's foreign ministry said it had declared an Indian diplomat, Surjeet Singh, persona non grata and given him 48 hours to leave the country. Police in the Indian capital said the Pakistani diplomat was detained on Wednesday outside the gates to Delhi Zoo, where he had met two Indian associates whom police believe he had recruited to spy for him. The Pakistani diplomat, who reportedly worked in Pakistan High Commission's visa section, and his alleged Indian accomplices were found with forged documents, defence-related maps, deployment charts and lists of officers working along India's border with Pakistan, Indian police said in a statement. "There was high probability that the information passed on by these anti-national elements to PIO (Pakistan intelligence operative) is being used against the national interests and could be highly detrimental for national security," they said, adding they had been trying to break the spy ring for six months. An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said the man, who was released from custody under diplomatic immunity rules, must leave the country by Saturday. Pakistan's High Commission in New Delhi rejected the allegations, saying in a statement it "never engages in any activity that is incompatible with its diplomatic status". Later on Thursday, Pakistan's foreign ministry announced it had declared Singh persona non grata and informed the Indian High Commission he had until Saturday to leave the country. The statement said Singh was accused of activities "that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms" but did not elaborate. An aide to India's prime minister in New Delhi said the government was looking into the matter. India's external affair's ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment. India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads since a group of gunmen killed 19 Indian soldiers in September at an army camp in Kashmir, an attack India blamed on Pakistan-based militants. India said it had sent special commandos into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to kill militants in a retaliatory operation that sharply soured relations between the neighbours. Pakistan says the operation never happened and accuses India of inventing it to distract attention from its crackdown on protests in the part of Kashmir it controls. Violence flares in Turkey's tense southeast after mayors' arrest By Ayla Jean Yackley ISTANBUL, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Five members of Turkey's security forces and five Kurdish militants were killed on Thursday in clashes in the southeast, where unrest has flared since the arrest this week of two popular mayors. Two soldiers were killed in a clash near Hani, a town outside Diyarbakir, the region's biggest city, security sources said. A third died in a firefight near Cukurca near the Iraqi border, where five militants were also killed, they said. A soldier was killed by a homemade explosive device in Bingol, 140 km (85 miles) north of Diyarbakir, and a member of a state-backed militia was killed in Batman province to the east. Violence has escalated in the 15 months since the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) called off a two-year ceasefire, and the arrest of Diyarbakir Mayor Gultan Kisanak and her co-mayor Firat Anli late on Tuesday on terrorism charges has caused further resentment. A lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) accused the government of blocking the internet throughout the mainly Kurdish southeast after the arrests. President Tayyip Erdogan has said the removal of elected officials and civil servants accused of links to the PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, is a vital part of the battle against it. The U.S. State Department urged Turkey to "act with due restraint and respect for freedom of expression," spokesman John Kirby said late on Wednesday. "We would, again, note the importance of due process." Senior officials in the European Union, which Turkey aspires to join, described the arrests as worrying. FIRST FEMALE MAYOR The local prosecutor said Kisanak, a member of parliament before becoming Diyarbakir's first female mayor in 2014, and Anli had given speeches sympathetic to the PKK, called for greater political autonomy for Turkey's estimated 16 million Kurds and incited violent protests in 2014. Three city officials in Diyarbakir were also detained on Thursday after hanging a banner outside city hall in support of Kisanak and Anli, municipal officials said. The banner had pictures of the two politicians and read: "Respect the will of the people, free our mayors". It was later removed by police. A PKK leader urged Kurds to "rise up" in solidarity, reported Firat News Agency, a mouthpiece for the group. Rebel commander Cemil Bayik said the importance of Diyarbakir, a city of 1.7 million people, meant actions against its elected officials were attacks on all Kurds, Firat said. On Wednesday, the prosecutor invoked an emergency power to bar Kisanak and Anli from seeing a lawyer for five days. HDP lawmaker Meral Danis Bestas submitted a parliamentary motion on Thursday asking why internet service in 12 provinces had been cut since 10.30 a.m. (0730 GMT) on Wednesday. A witness in Diyarbakir reported connectivity was restored at 5 p.m. A spokeswoman at the state agency overseeing the internet was unable to comment on widespread reports of outages. Colombia delays peace talks with ELN rebels until captive freed BOGOTA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Colombia delayed peace talks with Marxist ELN rebels until they free a politician held captive for six months, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Thursday, as he struggles to refloat another peace deal with FARC guerrillas after it was rejected in a plebiscite. The National Liberation Army (ELN), the nation's second-biggest insurgent group, must release Odin Sanchez to the International Committee of the Red Cross before talks can begin in Ecuador, Santos said, reiterating a condition he set months ago. The opening ceremony had been scheduled to take place in Ecuador's capital at 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT) but it was canceled at the last minute. The government said the talks could still go forward as early as Friday or Saturday if the rebels free Sanchez, however. The 2,000-strong ELN, considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union, has kidnapped hundreds of people during its 52-year insurgency to raise war funds and use hostages as bargaining chips with the government. Santos won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize earlier this month for his efforts to end a conflict with the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a surprising choice given voters narrowly shunned the deal he signed with them. More than 220,000 people have been killed in Colombia's long-running armed conflict, which has pitted leftist guerrillas against right-wing paramilitary groups and the security forces. Founded by radical Catholic priests and inspired by Cuba's 1959 revolution, the ELN has been in on-and-off closed-door talks with the government since 2014 on how the two sides would conduct negotiations. The rebels have remained active during that time, kidnapping and bombing oil installations, though in recent months they have released some captives. Formal peace talks would likely mirror those held with the FARC. The peace agreement, signed on Sept. 26 with the FARC, was internationally lauded but criticized by many in Colombia for being too lenient on the rebels. Former President Alvaro Uribe is now leading the effort to change the agreement that would have given the FARC guaranteed congressional seats and immunity from traditional jail sentences. The "no" side won the plebiscite by less than half a percentage point. Peace with the two groups is unlikely to put a complete end to violence in a country also ravaged by unrest from drug trafficking and other crimes, but it would allow economic development in once off-limits areas and shift more military resources to fight growing criminal gangs. GRAINS-Soybeans hit 2-month high on export sales, soymeal gains By Michael Hirtzer CHICAGO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - U.S. soybean futures were narrowly higher on Thursday, reaching two-month peaks as they extended gains on the back of big export sales to China and as soymeal futures surged 2 percent. Chicago Board of Trade corn futures rose for the third straight session, while wheat futures were mostly higher, with many agriculture commodities climbing on technical and investment fund buying despite abundant global grain supplies. Thinly traded Chicago Board of Trade oats futures soared 7 percent for their biggest gains since May. Heavy unwinding of soymeal-soyoil spreads remained a dominant theme, with weakening palm oil prices dragging down soyoil futures and prompting traders to buy back short soymeal positions. "Bean oil and palm seem to have temporarily run out of positive news, and so you set off some profit-taking in meal," Agrivisor LLC analyst Dale Durchholz said. Rising soymeal prices boost profit margins for processors, potentially increasing demand for soybeans to crush. CBOT November soybeans settled 4-1/4 cents higher at $10.14-1/4 per bushel, after earlier reaching the highest levels since Aug. 22. CBOT December soymeal was up $8.50 to $327.60 per ton, also the highest since late August, while December soyoil eased 0.61 cent to 35.11 cents per lb. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said exporters within the past 24 hours sold 396,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans to China and 129,000 tonnes to unknown destinations. The announcement followed earlier weekly U.S. soybean export data showing 2.045 million tonnes of soybeans sold last week. CBOT December corn settled 3-1/2 cents higher at $3.57-1/2 per bushel, extending gains after surpassing its 100-day moving average. CBOT December wheat was 3 cents higher at $4.14-1/2 per bushel. The International Grains Council raised its forecast for the 2016/17 world corn crop to a record-high 1.035 billion tonnes, boosted by upward adjustments for the United States, Argentina and India. The intergovernmental body, in a monthly report, also increased its forecasts for wheat and total grains to record levels, with global stocks expected to climb. For the first time after his outburst on the functions of the Independent Commissions President Maithripala Sirisena has personally explained his stand to the media. Earlier it was Cabinet Spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne and newspaper reports that quoted ministerial sources that defended the President, but in an interview with the Sunday Lankadeepa the President had defended his controversial speech made on October 12 at the Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF). Confirming the said ministerial sources and the Cabinet Spokesman, President Sirisena had told during this interview that he was concerned about hauling the former Navy commanders to the courts and detaining the Army intelligence officers suspected in the abduction and disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda for more than 16 months without any progress in the case. However, he denied that he criticised the authorities for taking former Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa to court. He had also accused the authorities concerned for ignoring corruption cases involving a huge amount of money and bringing forth cases involving relatively small amounts such as distribution of T-shirts by ministers during elections, and relief material during a flood. The President said if State Minister A.H.M.Fowzie has to be sued for using a vehicle belonging to his former ministry, all present and former ministers would have to be haulled to the courts as this is the normal practice followed by any minister when their portfolios are changed. He confirmed minister Senaratnes claim that he was concerned about not informing him of matters pertaining to the cases involving security forces commanders and personnel by the investigating institutions. The President justified this point contending that mishandling of these cases might create unrest among members of the security forces. However, the Presidents explanation while justifying some of his stands raises more questions about some other matters he touched. For instance, he blasted the officials concerned for sitting on the files of large-scale corruption. He said that the officials, while just making accusation against alleged perpetrators of large-scale corruption, were hauling former Navy Commanders to court. Though the progress of many high profile cases is negligible as the President says, the Avant Garde case in which the former Navy commanders have been accused was in fact a case involving billions of rupees. On the other hand, nobody who listened to the Presidents controversial speech got the impression that he was concerned about the delay in high profile cases. The United National Party (UNP) and the members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), who supported President Sirisena at the last Presidential Election claimed during the last major elections that huge amounts of money had been plundered by the Rajapaksa family and leaders of the previous regime. However, the large majority of complaints against the leaders of the Rajapaksa government were lodged with the Bribery Commission by the members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). In spite of the President wanting rapid progress in high profile cases the UNP and the SLFP group that supported the President were very lethargic in gathering evidence and lodging complaints. The investigating institutions do not initiate any case. It is the people, who lodge complaints of irregularities, who initiate these cases. Once a complaint is received by the CID or the Bribery Commission against State Minister Fowzie, the investigating authorities cannot drop that case just because all other ministers had committed the same offence. However, since there is a valid point in Presidents concern about State Minister Fowzies matter, government could have engaged the complainant for a remedy. One has to agree with the President that many allegations made by the leaders of this government about corruption involving billions of rupees have been forgotten or investigations into them are dragging on. However, whenever journalists questioned the delay in investigations of these allegations ministers including Rajitha Senaratne had justified them claiming that people cannot be haulled to the Police stations under the good governance as done during the previous regime. The crux of Presidents speech seems to be the possible unrest among the armed forces due to the investigations against the members of those forces. In the Sunday Lankadeepa interview the President refers to this in several places. If the commanders even the retired ones- are to be arrested I must be informed. That is what I mean by institutional balance. Do those, who act in this manner, take the responsibility in cases of unrest among the security forces? I have to defend and protect the security forces. I have to safeguard the dignity of the war heroes. There is no problem in investigating crimes. But there is a way to do it, he says at one point. One of my major responsibilities is to manage the affairs of the security forces. We have a very capable security force. One should not take these things as simple matters and underestimate them. People respect them. If legal action has to be taken against one of them, we must enlighten the people so that they would not accuse us. These remarks indicate a more difficult situation that the President and the government are to face when it comes to the investigations into the alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, under the resolution adopted in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) last year with the governments co- sponsorship. The response by the armed forces in respect of the accountability issue could be inferred through the case with regard to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. The Magistrate hearing the case had to warn the Army commander that he would order the arrest of the latter unless cooperation was forthcoming in arresting the suspects of the case, who happened to be Army personnel. At the same time, the pressure emanating from the international players seems to be mounting. This was clearly indicated by the difference in the stands taken by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Raad Al Hussein on the accountability issue, in February and June this year. Despite the government agreeing to institute a hybrid court to investigate into the allegations of human rights, the President had told the BBCs Sandeshaya programme in January I will never agree to international involvement in this matter. Surprisingly, Al Hussein also during his visit to Sri Lanka in February was seen amenable to this stance and said though the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) makes a recommendation on the judicial process into alleged war crimes or on the involvement of foreign judges, it was the sovereign right of Sri Lanka to decide. However, in his report on Sri Lanka presented to the UNHRC in June he had this to say. The High Commissioner remains convinced that international participation in the accountability mechanisms would be a necessary guarantee for the independence and impartiality of the process in the eyes of victims, as Sri Lankas judicial institutions currently lack the credibility needed to gain their trust. The report also had a slight departure in its tone as well compared to the last years report. It was full of praise, last year, on the governments actions towards reconciliation and accountability, whereas in the latest report Al-Hussein, in a very mild diplomatic language, casts doubts on certain actions by the government and finds fault with the insufficient progress in certain areas, while showering praises for many actions government had taken. When the Presidents explanation to his controversial speech is taken up together with this backdrop one can infer that the government is going to have tough times in the years to come. By Shabiya Ali Ahlam Sri Lankas operational environment will continue to be bogged down with errors and mishaps, hindering international trade performances, if the public administration remains resistant towards embracing e- signatures. While the government has a vision of becoming a digital economy that would support its objective of becoming a regional hub, it is noted that the bureaucracy has failed to take the first step towards that goal with a wide section of government agencies refusing to acknowledge e- signatures, and thus accepting e-documents. Shedding light on the reality of the current context, Verite Research, an independent economic think tank, yesterday pointed out that even when a functioning electronic platform is available for use, public agencies still demanded manual documents signed by hand for their records, negating the benefits of the electronic system. According to Verite Research Head of Economic Research Subhashini Abeysinghe, the nations shortcomings in moving to paperless trade does not stem from a lack of activity. Speedy resolution of any issues that prevent acceptance of e-signatures and electronic documents is one small step the government can take even tomorrow, which will result in a giant leap forward for the country in terms of trade competitiveness, said Abeysinghe. She added that not only is acceptance of electronic signatures a prerequisite for improving Sri Lankas trade dynamics, it is also a crucial element of all key economic policy objectives set forth by the government. The countrys attempts in this regard date back to over 20 years, when Sri Lanka established a working group called the National EDI Committee in 1995 with representation from 20 public and private organisations to serve as a forum on adopting Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). The most recent was the Ministry of Finance together with Sri Lanka Customs launching a Single Window Platform, which is meant to facilitate electronic communications between traders and respective government agencies. Noting that the setup currently only covered a few government institutions, Abeysinghe said greatest failing is that it has failed to replace the need for a duplicate process of manual documentation in multiple copies. The documents will only be accepted with signatures on hard copies, not in electronic form. The law enabling acceptance of electronic signatures was passed in 2006 with the enactment of the Electronic Transactions Act, No. 19 of 2006 (ETA 2006). Abeysinghe asserted that the lack of initiative and inability on the governments part to move the country towards acceptance of electronic documents and electronic signatures, despite Sri Lanka having an enabling legislation and other core requirements in place for almost a decade, is letting down the nations cross border traders at many different levels. Not only is this costing the country millions of rupees every year, its also doing irreparable damage to Sri Lankas trade dynamics so that the country may never fully recover from.It is mandatory for the government and the private sector to make adoption of electronic platforms a national priority and work towards successful implementation of electronic documents and signatures in the trade process to ensure that Sri Lankan traders reap the benefits of moving the Sri Lankan economy into the 21st century, stated the senior economist. Sri Lankas economy during the last 60 years has been suffering from, Kala-Sarpayogaya, a term widely used in astrology to describe erratic ups and downs in a persons life and his inability to maintain peak performance for longer period, according to an economist. Sri Lankas economic growth since independence is characterized by boom and bust cycles, which Dr.Priyanga Dunusinghe, an Economics professor at the Colombo University, attempted to attribute to vast resource gaps, particularly in the budget. Whenever the country recorded a higher growth, it was followed by a poor performance. To a certain extent we can say, this is a self-killing growth path; in the sense, we failed to maintain the growth momentum. The country finds it difficult to sustain it (growth) for a longer period. If I put it in Sinhala, this is called the Kala-Sarpayogaya in terms of Sri Lankas economic performance. Our good performance has been followed by a weak or poor performance. So, we have failed in managing this situation, Dr. Dunusinghe said, presenting a paper at the recently concluded annual sessions of the Sri Lanka Economic Association. Meanwhile, former Central Bank Deputy Governor Dr. W.A Wijewardena said Sri Lankas economic growth has averaged 4.6 percent per annum from 1950 to 2015, but a growth of over 7.0 percent was recorded only in 6 years during this period. If you draw this growth rate, you will find certain spikes. So, you will see, we have long troughs and spikes and only in several occasions we have had above 7.0 percent (growth), so that Sri Lankas economy has failed to generate a sustained growth in the past, Dr. Wijewardena who delivered the keynote address at the event noted. A study undertaken by Dr. Dunusinghe, using data of over 50 years, has found that this erratic growth path was due to resource gaps seen in foreign exchange, savings and investment and more importantly, the budget. The growth will remain slow or constrained if fiscal gap acts as a binding constraint even if the other two do not, he explained using the three-gap model which uses fiscal gap as an extension to the two-gap model used in economic theory. Nevertheless, Sri Lankas economy over the years has been driven by higher budget deficits and it has been a main source of economic instability as such instant booms could not be sustained for long. The course of correction successive governments followed in such instances was to resort to tough adjustments in the economy, such as austerity and monetary tightening, which are generally considered anti-poor measures. This is completely opposite to how some of the South East Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have attained economic prosperity through surpluses in current accounts of their external accounts i.e. higher goods and services exports compared to imports. Sri Lankas budget has been in deficit every year since the state budget development began except in 1954 and 1955 and more importantly the current account of the budgetthe gap between the income and the recurrent expenditurehad been in deficit since 1987, meaning Sri Lanka had been borrowing even for its day-to-day expenses. UNP Parliamentarian and a scholar, M.D.H Jayawardena, who served at the Ministry of Finance in early 1950s, stood strongly against unsustainable deficit financing as the country couldnt afford to do so. But the policy was reversed when S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, the fourth Prime Minister of Sri Lanka came to power in 1956. Based on his study Resource Gap and Public Investments Dr. Dunusinghe argues that there is a positive relationship between public investments and private investments, which is identified as the, crowding in effect. Public investment attracts private investment and hence accelerates the (economic) growth process, he explained. Sri Lankas public investments have been hovering around 6 percent of GDP but the Treasury has been in the habit of slashing such investments every year when they realize they are going to overshoot the deficit target. But this practice ends up hurting the countrys economic growth and peoples well being, as todays investments yield higher returns in the future. This is an opposite notion to crowding out effect, where higher budget deficits chase away private sector investments in an economy as the government absorbs funds if otherwise available to the private sector for investments. Sri Lankas domestic savings rate has been around 25 percent of GDP while the bulk of it is contributed by the private sector. The public sector has been a dis-saver, consuming more than it has been generating. This has forced the government to borrow from the domestic market as well as from abroad i.e. domestic and foreign savings, to fund its public sector investments. But successive governments have failed in their selection of the projects on which these moneys are invested in, as majority of such projects have failed to generate sufficient return to service the borrowed moneys and as a result the country faces the risk of heading towards a debt trap, Dr. Wijewardena cautioned. But the countrys headroom for further foreign debt is very much limited as Sri Lanka has already breached many or all of the debt matrices and thus should be prepared only to borrow to roll-over the US $ 5.0 billion sovereign bond obligations that are coming for due every year for three years from 2019. The proclamation issued by the British Government naming 19 Sri Lankans including Kepptipola Disawe as traitors almost 100 years ago was yet to be cancelled, Parliament was informed yesterday. Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs and Wayamba Development Palitha Thewarappurma, who responded to an oral question raised by MP Buddhika Pathirana in the House said there was a legal barrier to do way with the proclamation. There is a legal barrier which is going to be complicated as the lands recovered from these persons have to be released to their descendants. However, he said the government was ready to remove the proclamation if any descendants came forward with the appeal. Further the Deputy Minister said the Ministry of Justice had to deal with it as a legal matter. There is no need to create any issue as these persons, including Keppitpola Disawe are considered national heroes now," he said. (Yohan Perera) While people the world over are more interested in the November 8 US presidential election and all the succulent stories coming from the campaign trail, a crisis of nuclear war proportions is gathering pace behind their backs. Hostilities between Russia and the United States are on the rise. Since the Ukrainian crisis of 2014, relations between the two countries have been marked by fiery exchanges of words and moves and counter moves aimed at checking each other on the chess board of global conflicts. The developments surrounding the present cold-war-like situation evoke memories of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis that brought the world perilously to the brink of a nuclear war. On Wednesday, Nato rushed four battle groups to the Russian border in a move that is seen as linked to the ongoing Syrian war. In Syria, the unexpected entry of Russia last year upended the US plans which were set in motion on behalf of its West Asian allies such Israel, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to oust the Bashar al-Assad regime. When President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian fighter jets to attack ISIS positions, describing the terror group as an existential threat to Russias security, the US and its Middle Eastern allies had no option but to grudgingly welcome it. What else could they do? Could they have rushed in to defend ISIS from Russian bombs? Could they have convened the United Nations Security Council to condemn Russia just as they tried to do this month to prevent Russia from freeing Aleppo from the clutches of the extremists? Global public revulsion against ISIS was so overwhelming then that it placed the US in an untenable situation and forced it to allow Russia into West Asia, a region which the US considered as its exclusive domain. Russias war against ISIS in Syria was quite different to the US war on the terror group, which was ironically supported by Washingtons allies. The recent Hillary Clinton emails leaked by Wikileaks exposed their run-with-the-hare-and-hunt-with-the-hounds antics. Outsmarted, the architects of the Syrian war gnashed their teeth and waited for the opportune moment to hit back. Turkey, part of the US-led alliance in Syria, fired the first shot by shooting down a Russian fighter jet on the border with Syria in September last year. Russias response was measured and more focused. The economic sanctions Russia imposed on Turkey eventually brought Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Moscow with an apology. This came in the aftermath of the failed military coup in August and against the backdrop of allegations that the US supported the coup. Turkey then inked a pipeline deal with Russia on October 10 when Putin was in Istanbul for the World Energy Congress. This was another masterstroke by Russia. The new pipeline will eventually replace the South Stream pipeline which goes through Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. The latter two states have backed the European Union sanctions on Russia following President Putins annexation of Crimea in the wake of the US-instigated coup against Viktor Yanukovych, the democratically elected pro-Russian president of Ukraine, in 2014. The new pipeline means these countries would lose their transit fees. Pipeline politics is certainly a casus belli for the Syrian civil war. It was not so much the Arab Spring that turned the peaceful country into a hellhole. Rather, it was Syrias rejection of a Saudi-Qatari proposal to accommodate a pipeline that would take the two Gulf countries gas to Europe via Turkey. This prompted the war under the guise of a people power protest campaign. The Saudi-Qatari pipeline, if constructed, would have adversely affected Syrias key ally Russia also, because Russia, hit by western economic sanctions and the oil-price plunge engineered by Saudi Arabia -- is now heavily dependent on its oil and gas exports to Europe for economic survival. There is another less-talked about oil story. In 2013, an Israeli-American joint project was set up to extract new found oil in the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory occupied by Israel following the 1967 war. Israel has no right under international law to exploit the territorys resources. Israels interests would be served if a pro-Israeli government is set up in Damascus a government that would cede the Golan Heights to its Zionist neighbour. The entry of Russia into Syria to prop up the Assad regime has shattered the dreams of the wars architects who did not care about the suffering they would inflict on civilians. They thought that just as they got rid of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya within a few months, they could throw out Assad also what a costly mistake by a greedy few! In the ongoing Mosul war by Iraqi troops under US guidance, the Syrian war architects find another opportunity to hit out at Russia. The strategy is to drive the ISIS fighters from Iraq into Syria to make them fight Russia and thereby prevent a Russian-Syrian victory in Aleppo. If Aleppo is liberated, it could mean the Syrian war is all but ended in favour of Assad. Not unaware of this strategy, Russia, in a bid to increase its fire power in Syria, is sending a flotilla of warships, including an aircraft carrier and nuclear-powered submarines to the Mediterranean. As Russia frustrates the designs of the Syrian war architects, Nato, on Wednesday, launched a countermove, urging its members to contribute to its biggest military build-up on Russias borders since the Cold War. Its call signalled the opening up of another protracted quarrel with Moscow. Nato could now tell Russia that if it wants Nato out of its backyard, then it should get out of Syria. On Wednesday, Britain sent tanks, drones and 800 troops to Estonia as part of this Nato build-up. France, Denmark, Italy and other members were expected to join the four battle groups led by the United States, Germany, Britain and Canada to go to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. In anticipation of this buildup, Russia has already deployed its nuclear-weapon capable Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad near the Polish border. On Tuesday, Russia unveiled its largest ever nuclear missile which is capable of destroying the whole of France. The unveiling of the RS-28 Sarmat missile, which Nato scornfully calls Satan 2, came weeks after the Kremlin held a mega military drill over four days. The drill which involved a mock evacuation of 40 million people, raised questions whether Putin was preparing for a nuclear war. Russia has also fortified its defences in the Black Sea region which Turkish President Erdogan has said is becoming a Russian lake. With Hillary Clinton, the war partys favourite, set to win the US elections, the situation is only likely to be exacerbated, warranting the watchers of the doomsday clock to bring the long hand a minute or two closer to midnight. The clock was set to three minutes to midnight in January because of the threats posed by climate change and nuclear war. The only redeeming feature is that nuclear powers do not go to war. But thats not a rule. The Syndicat National des Agences de Voyages (SNAV), now referred as Les Entreprises du Voyage (LEV) will be staged in Sri Lanka from October 30 -November 5, at BMICH (Colombo). This is a significant landmark for Sri Lanka, since this the first time in 10 years that the congress is to be held at a long haul destination. Created in 1944, LEV is a professional organization with the membership of 5,700 state approved travel agencies and tour operators of France representing more than 5,000 sales points in France. On a European level, the LEV is a member of the ECTAA (European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Associations). Its mission is primarily to defend the profession, and in particular its negotiations with public authorities (national and European) including other stakeholders, such as Airlines, rail or sea. The LEV Congress is an annual event held in a top tourism destination where over 300 delegates, majority of them being outbound travel agents in France, attend the congress. Sri Lanka Convention Bureau together with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and all private sector tourism stakeholders will have the opportunity to showcase Sri Lankas unique tourism products and services to the French market. In a bilateral aspect, France is one of the key countries for Sri Lanka in tourism and travel standing at over 86,126 French travelers to the country in 2015. The exposure to be received from this prestigious event to Sri Lanka, will consolidate and strengthen the bilateral bonds of friendship between the people of Sri Lanka and France. According to Paddy Withana, Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, hosting the French Conference in Sri Lanka has a positive impact on the country as the agents will share their experience of Sri Lanka with their customs and promote Sri Lanka as a great tourist destination. Over 300 French travel agents are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka for this historic event and they will be visiting Negombo, Colombo with excursions to the cultural triangle during the six days of the Congress. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today addressed the General Debate of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva. The theme of this years debate was Human Rights abuses as precursors of conflict: Parliaments as early responders. Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama, who was remanded in connection with the assassination of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, was granted bail by Mount Lavinia Magistrate Mohammed Sahabdeen today. The sergeant major was released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 with three sureties of Rs. 500,000 each. However, he was re-remanded due to absence of sureties. He was barred from visiting any army camp or involve in any army intelligence service activities. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on the suspect. The next hearing was fixed for November 24. (Dayaratne Pathirana) Video by Buddhi The diversified regional plantation company, Watawala Plantations PLC, saw its September net profit jumping to Rs.309.3 million from Rs.131.1 million a year ago, an increase of 136 percent, as the palm oil business pushed both top-line and the bottom-line performance. The company made Rs.1.31 a share profit against 55 cents during the same quarter last year. Sri Lankas plantation companies saw their financial performance being severely impacted particularly by the low volumes and prices of tea. In recent times, the production was affected due to estate sector workers resorting to trade union action demanding higher wages. The matter was resolved last week when the workers agreed for a Rs.805 a day wage, an increase of 17 percent effective from October 15 under the new plantation workers wages collective agreement. Meanwhile, the adverse weather conditions also impacted the tea production of the company leading to a crop loss of 873, 098 kilograms during the six months to September from the corresponding period last year. As a result the Watawala Plantations said it was shifting its tea strategy to focus on quality from quantity. The management made a decision to change the tea sector strategy and adopted the quality drive instead of quantity drive in order to gain advantage in a sliding market, said V. Govindasamy, Managing Director of the company. According to the segmental analysis, tea, still the largest segment of Watawala Plantations saw its net losses widening to Rs.178.3 million from Rs.106.3 million. The revenues narrowed to Rs.818.6 million from Rs.896.4 million recorded a year ago. The company said it would continue to enhance the quality of its teas to gain a price advantage. Watawala Plantations, a Sunshine group company, in total earned a revenue of Rs.1.65 billion, an increase of 5 percent from a year ago. Cost of sales rose by 8 percent year-on-year to Rs.1.23 billion, resulting in a gross profit of Rs.421.7 million, a 79 percent jump from a year ago. Meanwhile, the palm oil segment posted a net profit of Rs. 446.7 million from Rs.209.5 million a year earlier on a revenue of Rs.719.6 million vis-a-vis Rs.396.7 million earned during the same quarter last year. The growth in revenue is primarily due to the higher NSA recorded as result of increase in duty component and 15 percent growth recorded in volume, Govindasamy said.. Exports, the next largest segment of the company, saw its net profits sliding by 54 percent Year-on-Year to Rs.10.3 million while the revenue dropped 61 percent to Rs.101.6 million from a year ago amid slowing orders. The company saw its net profit for the six months ended September 30, 2016, rising 109 percent to Rs.547.9 million from a year ago with an earnings per share of Rs.2.31. The revenues for the six months were up by 2 percent to Rs.3.3 billion. As of September 30, Estate Management Services (Pvt) Limited held 75.65 percent stake in the company while the high net worth investor, Dr. T. Senthilverl held 10.93 percent stake being the second largest shareholder. World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough (right) presenting the book to Higher Education and Highways Ministry Secretary D. C. Dissanayake Pic by Pradeep Pathirana The World Bank will be providing Sri Lanka US$ 85 million in funding to improve the countrys Research and Development (R&D) due to the lack of external funding into the field. We will be providing US$ 75 million for higher education through the country partnership framework, World Bank Sri Lanka Lead Education Specialist Dr. Harsha Aturupane said recently at the launch of Promoting University-Industry Collaboration in Sri Lanka book launch held in Colombo, this week. He added that US$ 10 million will also be granted to the government over 3 years to provide PhD scholarships in foreign universities for deserving candidates. Dr. Athurupane said the World Bank had previously given US$ 800,000 in funding for R&D, which had not been an adequate boost. According to the World Bank studies published in the book, just 49.7 percent of academia in Sri Lanka had received external funding for their research in 2015, compared to 65.2 percent in 2007, showing that more research is being done in academic isolation with university funding, than before. Sri Lanka had spent just 1.6 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on R&D according to 2010 statistics, which is significantly low compared to the rest of Asia. The countrys GDP is growing faster than research funding, World Bank Senior Education Specialist Kurt Larsen, who was a co-author of the book added. He noted that most of the countrys research is done in the public sector, such as universities, and that the private sector has not shown much interest in investing in R&D, though a slow improvement has been witnessed of late. Of the 49.7 percent of academics who received external R&D funding, 57.3 percent had received funding from private industries in 2015, compared to 40 percent in 2007, and public corporations had funded 35.4 percent of the academics in 2015, compared to 27 percent in 2007. Private foundations have increased their participation in funding academics during this period, while international agencies and non-governmental organizations have witnessed decreased frequencies of funding. Larsen noted that Sri Lankan researchers do not have an entrepreneurial knack, compared to their contemporaries in universities in the US, Korea, China, Israel, etc. Many of these universities are good at transferring research into patents and deriving revenue, he said. He added that Sri Lankan academics should stop being isolated, and interact, in order to research areas which can create patents and commercial products, but also noted that theres a lack of a critical mass in the number of private companies and researchers to create momentum. University Grants Commission Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council Director Professor Deepthi Bandara, who is another co-author of the book, noted that the government manifesto calls for the promotion of University-Industry Partnerships. Researchers noted that institutes such as SLINTEC and Moratuwa University have taken considerable steps towards creating intellectual property, spin-off companies and commercial applications of research, while the Colombo University is now starting to move towards this direction.(CW) Flash The migrant camp in the French northern port city of Calais, also called "the jungle", will be totally evacuated and closed by Wednesday evening, according to a regional official. Migrants with their suitcases leave the shanty town in northern Calais, France, on Oct. 24, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] "Our mission is accomplished. Today is the end of the jungle. There are no more migrants," Calais regional prefect Fabienne Buccio said. "A page has been turned...These people are welcomed in France and will be able to start a new life," she added. Buccio said about 5,000 migrants had been transferred to centers across the country and another 1,000 were still queuing up to leave the camp. On Monday, France started to clear the migrant camp in the port city where thousands of people fleeing war and poverty have been living for 18 months in difficult conditions. The French government pledged that 9,000 places will be made available at 460 "reception and orientation centers" for refugees. They will be divided into groups of 40 to 50 people for a limited period of between three and four months. Migrants who fit the asylum criteria will stay in France while those who do not will be repatriated. The following companies are subsidiares of American Tower: 10 Presidential Way Associates LLC, 3267351 Nova Scotia Company, 3286208 Nova Scotia Company, 3298099 Nova Scotia Company, 52 Eighty Partners LLC, 52 Eighty Tower Partners I LLC, ACC Tower Sub LLC, AT Atlantic Holding LLC (1), AT Iberia C.V. (2), AT Kenya C.V., AT Netherlands C.V., AT Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., AT Rhine C.V. (2), AT Sher Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., AT South America C.V., ATC Africa Holding B.V., ATC Africa Shared Services (Pty) Ltd, ATC Antennas Holding LLC, ATC Antennas LLC, ATC Argentina Cooperatief U.A., ATC Argentina Holding LLC, ATC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ATC Atlantic C.V. (2), ATC Atlantic I B.V. (2), ATC Atlantic II B.V. (3), ATC Atlantic IV B.V. (2), ATC Backhaul LLC, ATC Brasil Servicos de Conectividades Ltda., ATC Brazil Holding LLC, ATC Brazil I LLC, ATC Brazil II LLC, ATC Burkina Faso S.A., ATC CSR Foundation India, ATC Chile Holding LLC, ATC Colombia B.V., ATC Colombia Holding I LLC, ATC Colombia Holding LLC, ATC Colombia I LLC, ATC EH GmbH & Co. KG (2), ATC Ecuador Holding LLC, ATC Edge LLC, ATC Ethiopia Infrastructure Development Private Limited Company, ATC Europe B.V. (2), ATC Europe C.V. (1), ATC Europe Cooperatief U.A. (2), ATC Europe LLC, ATC European Holdings Inc., ATC Fibra de Colombia S.A.S., ATC France Holding II SAS, ATC France Holding SAS, ATC France Reseaux SAS, ATC France SNC, ATC France Services SAS, ATC GP GmbH, ATC Germany Holding I B.V. (3), ATC Germany Holding II B.V., ATC Germany Holdings GmbH, ATC Germany Munich GmbH, ATC Germany Services GmbH, ATC Ghana ServiceCo Limited, ATC Global Employment B.V., ATC Green Grass LLC, ATC Heston B.V., ATC Holding Fibra Mexico S. de R.L. DE C.V., ATC IP LLC, ATC Iberia Holding LLC (3), ATC India Infrastructure Private Limited (1), ATC Indoor DAS Holding LLC, ATC Indoor DAS LLC, ATC International Cooperatief U.A., ATC International Financing B.V., ATC International Financing II B.V., ATC International Financing II Holding LLC, ATC International Holding Corp., ATC Iris I LLC, ATC Kenya Operations Limited, ATC Kenya Services Limited, ATC Latin America S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., ATC MIP III REIT Iron Holdings LLC, ATC Managed Sites Holding LLC, ATC Managed Sites LLC, ATC MexHold LLC, ATC Mexico Holding LLC, ATC Niger Wireless Infrastructure S.A., ATC Nigeria Cooperatief U.A., ATC Nigeria Holding LLC, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited, ATC On Air + LLC, ATC Operations LLC, ATC Outdoor DAS LLC, ATC Paraguay Holding LLC, ATC Paraguay S.R.L., ATC Peru Holding LLC, ATC Polska sp. z o.o., ATC Ponderosa B-I LLC, ATC Ponderosa B-II LLC, ATC Ponderosa K LLC, ATC Ponderosa K-R LLC, ATC Rhine Holding LLC (3), ATC Scala Operations S.L. (3), ATC Scala Spain Holding S.L. (2), ATC Sequoia LLC, ATC Sitios Infraco S.A.S., ATC Sitios de Argentina S.A., ATC Sitios de Chile S.A., ATC Sitios de Colombia S.A.S., ATC Sitios del Peru S.R.L., ATC South Africa Investment Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, ATC South Africa Services Pty Ltd, ATC South Africa Wireless Infrastructure (Pty) Ltd, ATC South America Holding LLC, ATC South LLC, ATC TRS I LLC, ATC TRS II LLC, ATC TRS III LLC, ATC TRS IV LLC, ATC Tanzania Holding LLC, ATC Telecom Infrastructure Private Limited, ATC Tower (Ghana) LTD, ATC Tower Services LLC, ATC Uganda Limited, ATC Uganda ServiceCo (SMC) Limited, ATC Watertown LLC, ATC WiFi LLC, ATS-Needham LLC, ActiveX Telebroadband Services Private Limited, Adquisiciones y Proyectos Inalambricos S. de R. L. de C.V., Agile Airband Ohio LLC, Agile Connect LLC, Agile IWG Holdings LLC, Agile Network Builders LLC, Agile Networks Indiana LLC, Agile Networks Site Development LLC, Agile Towers LLC, Alternative Networking LLC, American Tower Asset Sub II LLC, American Tower Asset Sub LLC, American Tower Charitable Foundation Inc., American Tower Chile I S.A., American Tower Chile II S.A., American Tower Delaware Corporation, American Tower Depositor Sub LLC, American Tower Espana S.L.U. (3), American Tower Guarantor Sub LLC, American Tower Holding Sub II LLC, American Tower Holding Sub LLC, American Tower IB Participacoes Imobiliarias Ltda., American Tower Inmosites S.L.U., American Tower International Holding I LLC, American Tower International Holding II LLC, American Tower International Inc., American Tower Investments LLC, American Tower LLC, American Tower Latam SLU, American Tower Management LLC, American Tower Peru S.A.C., American Tower Servicios Fibra S. de R.L. de C.V., American Tower T. Torres do Brasil Ltda., American Tower Tanzania Operations Limited, American Tower do Brasil - Cessao de Infraestruturas Ltda., American Tower do Brasil Communicacao Multimidia Ltda., American Towers LLC, Appleseed Holdco LLC, BR Towers, Blue Sky Towers Pty Ltd, Blue Transfer Sociedad Anonima, Broadcast Towers LLC, CNC2 Associates LLC, California Tower Inc., Cell Site NewCo II LLC, Cell Tower Lease Acquisition LLC, Central States Tower Holdings LLC, Colo ATL LLC, Colo Atl, Communications Properties Inc., Comunicaciones y Consumos S.A., Connectivity Infrastructure Services Limited, CoreSite Real Estate 12100 Sunrise Valley Drive L.L.C., CoreSite Real Estate 1656 McCarthy L.P., CoreSite Realty Corporation REIT Qualification Trust, Coresite, DCS Tower Sub LLC, Digital Access Ohio LLC (1), Eaton, Eaton Towers Ghana (M) Limited, Eaton Towers Ghana Limited, Eaton Towers Holdings Limited, Eaton Towers Kenya Limited, Eaton Towers Limited, Eaton Towers Uganda Limited, Essar Telecom Infrastructure, GTP Acquisition Partners I LLC, GTP Acquisition Partners II LLC, GTP Acquisition Partners III LLC, GTP Costa Rica Finance LLC, GTP Infrastructure I LLC, GTP Infrastructure II LLC, GTP Infrastructure III LLC, GTP Investments LLC, GTP LATAM Holdings B.V., GTP LatAm Holdings Cooperatieve U.A., GTP Operations CR S.R.L., GTP South Acquisitions II LLC, GTP Structures I LLC, GTP Structures II LLC, GTP TRS I LLC, GTP Torres CR S.R.L., GTP Towers I LLC, GTP Towers II LLC, GTP Towers III LLC, GTP Towers IV LLC, GTP Towers IX LLC, GTP Towers V LLC, GTP Towers VII LLC, GTP Towers VIII LLC, GTPI HoldCo LLC, Ghana Tower InterCo B.V., Global Tower Assets III LLC, Global Tower Assets LLC, Global Tower Holdings LLC, Global Tower LLC, Global Tower Partners, Global Tower Services LLC, Gondola Tower Holdings LLC, Grain HoldCo LLC, Grain HoldCo Parent LLC, GrainComm I LLC, GrainComm II LLC, GrainComm III LLC, GrainComm LLC, GrainComm Marketing LLC, GrainComm V LLC, Haysville Towers LLC (1), IW Equipment LLC, IWD Equipment LLC, IWG Holdings LLC, IWG II Holdings LLC, IWG II LLC, IWG Towers Assets I LLC, IWG Towers Assets II LLC, IWG-TLA Australia Pty Ltd., IWG-TLA Canada Corp., IWG-TLA Encanto 1 LLC, IWG-TLA Encanto 3 LLC, IWG-TLA Holdings LLC, IWG-TLA Media 2 LLC, IWG-TLA Media LLC, IWG-TLA Telecom LLC, InSite (BCEC) LLC, InSite (MBTA) LLC, InSite Borrower LLC, InSite Co-Issuer Corp., InSite Guarantor LLC, InSite Hawaii LLC, InSite Issuer LLC, InSite Licensing LLC, InSite Tower Services LLC, InSite Towers Development 2 LLC, InSite Towers Development LLC, InSite Towers International 2 LLC, InSite Towers International Development LLC, InSite Towers International LLC, InSite Towers LLC, InSite Towers of Puerto Rico LLC, InSite Wireless Development LLC, InSite Wireless Group, InSite Wireless Group LLC, Invisible IWG Holdings LLC, Invisible Towers LLC, JT Communications LLC, Kirtonkhola Tower Bangladesh Limited (1), LAP Inmobiliaria Limitada, LAP Inmobiliaria S.R.L., LL B Sheet 1 LLC, Lap do Brasil Empreendimentos Imobiliarios Ltda, Lease Advisors-AU PTY LTD, Loxel SAS, MATC Digital S. de R.L. de C.V., MATC Infraestructura S. de R.L. de C.V., MATC Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., MC New Macland Properties LLC, MCSU Properties LLC, MHB Tower Rentals of America LLC, MIP III U.S. Iron LLC, Microwave Inc., Mountain Communications LLC, Municipal Bay LLC, Municipal-Bay Holdings LLC, New Towers LLC, PCS Structures Towers LLC, R-CAL I LLC, RSA Media Inc., Repeater Communications Group I LLC, Repeater Communications Group II LLC, Repeater Communications Group III LLC, Repeater Communications Group IV LLC, Repeater Communications Group LLC, Repeater Communications Group V LLC, Repeater Communications Group VI LLC, Repeater Communications Group of New York LLC, Repeater IWG Holdings LLC, Richland Towers LLC, Signum/IWG Tower Corp., Southeast Network Access Point LLC, SpectraSite Communications, SpectraSite Communications LLC, SpectraSite LLC, T8 Ulysses Site Management LLC, TLA PR-2 LLC, Telecom Lease Advisors Management 2 LLC, Tower Management Inc. (4), Towers of America L.L.L.P., Transcend Infrastructure Holdings Pte. Ltd., Transcend Towers Infrastructure (Philippines) Inc., Turris Sites Development Corp., Turris Sites IWG Corp, Tysons II DAS LLC, U.S. Colo. LLC, UNIsite, Uganda Tower Interco B.V., Ulysses Asset Sub I LLC, Ulysses Asset Sub II LLC, UniSite LLC, UniSite/Omnipoint FL Tower Venture LLC (1), UniSite/Omnipoint NE Tower Venture LLC (1), UniSite/Omnipoint PA Tower Venture LLC (1), and Viom Networks. Read More Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The Health Care segment offers medical, pharmacy benefit management service, dental, behavioral health, and vision plans on an insured and employer-funded basis. It also provides point-of-service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, and indemnity benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts and consumer-directed health plans. In addition, this segment offers Medicare and Medicaid products and services, as well as other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers' compensation administrative services, and products that provide access to its provider networks in select geographies. The Group Insurance segment offers life insurance products, including group term life insurance, voluntary spouse and dependent term life insurance, group universal life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance products; and long-term care insurance products, which provide the benefits to cover the cost of care in private home settings, adult day care, assisted living, or nursing facilities. The Large Case Pensions segment manages various retirement products comprising pension and annuity products primarily for tax-qualified pension plans. The company provides its products and services to employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Aetna Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut. Assured Guaranty Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides credit protection products to public finance, infrastructure, and structured finance markets in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Insurance and Asset Management. It offers financial guaranty insurance that protects holders of debt instruments and other monetary obligations from defaults in scheduled payments. The company insures and reinsures various debt obligations, including bonds issued by the United States state governmental authorities; and notes issued to finance infrastructure projects. It also insures and reinsures various the U.S. public finance obligations, such as general obligation, tax-backed, municipal utility, transportation, healthcare, higher education, infrastructure, housing revenue, investor-owned utility, renewable energy, and other public finance bonds. Further, it is involved in insuring and reinsuring of non-U.S. public finance obligations comprising regulated utilities, infrastructure finance, sovereign and sub-sovereign, renewable energy bonds, pooled infrastructure, and other public finance obligations; and the U.S. and non-U.S. Structured finance obligations, including residential mortgage-backed securities, life insurance transactions, consumer receivables securities, pooled corporate obligations, financial products, and other structured finance securities. Additionally, the company offers specialty insurance and reinsurance that include life and aircraft residual value insurance transactions; and asset management services comprising investment advisory services, including management of collateralized loan obligations, and opportunity and liquid strategy funds. It markets its financial guaranty insurance directly to issuers and underwriters of public finance and structured finance securities, as well as to investors in such obligations. Assured Guaranty Ltd. was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. DTE Energy Company engages in the utility operations. The company's Electric segment generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity to approximately 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. It generates electricity through fossil-fuel, hydroelectric pumped storage, and nuclear plants, as well as wind and other renewable assets. This segment owns and operates approximately 698 distribution substations and 449,800 line transformers. The company's Gas segment purchases, stores, transports, distributes, and sells natural gas to approximately 1.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout Michigan; and sells storage and transportation capacity. This segment has approximately 20,000 miles of distribution mains; 1,304,000 service pipelines; and 1,305,000 active meters, as well as owns approximately 2,000 miles of transmission pipelines. The company's Power and Industrial Projects segment offers metallurgical coke; pulverized coal and petroleum coke to the steel, pulp and paper, and other industries; and power, steam and chilled water production, and wastewater treatment services, as well as supplies compressed air to industrial customers. Its Energy Trading segment engages in power, natural gas, and environmental marketing and trading; structured transactions; and the optimization of contracted natural gas pipeline transportation and storage positions. The company was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare. The company offers pharmaceutical products comprising medicines in the therapeutic areas, such as respiratory, HIV, immuno-inflammation, oncology, anti-viral, central nervous system, cardiovascular and urogenital, metabolic, anti-bacterial, and dermatology. It also provides consumer healthcare products in wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health categories. The company offers its consumer healthcare products in the form of nasal sprays, tablets, syrups, lozenges, gum and trans-dermal patches, caplets, infant syrup drops, liquid filled suspension, wipes, gels, effervescents, toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, denture adhesives and cleansers, topical creams and non-medicated patches, lip balm, gummies, and soft chews. It has collaboration agreements with 23andMe; Lyell Immunopharma, Inc.; Novartis; Sanofi SA; Surface Oncology; Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.; Alector, Inc.; and CureVac AG., as well as strategic partnership with IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. The company was formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline plc and changed its name to GSK plc in May 2022. GSK plc was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Brentford, the United Kingdom. The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V.. Read More 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 personal blog of Peter Lee a.k.a. "China Hand"... Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel, and an open book to those who read. You are welcome to contact China Matters at the address chinamatters --a-- prlee.org or follow me on twitter @chinahand. The board members of the School District of Menomonie Area recently approved a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley that will enable the Menomonie Center to reopen. The approval by the school board combined with more than $85,000 in generous donations from members of the Menomonie area will help to provide children in the community with a safe and structured experience during afterschool and summer programming. The club is expected to reopen at River Heights Elementary School sometime after Jan. 1. Thanks to the combined efforts of the school district and the clubs Menomonie Advisory Council, sufficient funding has been secured to reopen the Club in January. However, the council is continuing to work with the community with the goal of securing pledges of a minimum of $10 per month from 1,000 individuals to ensure the clubs sustainability for years to come. Those interested in supporting the club can donate online at www.cvclubs.org or by mailing their donation to 1005 Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire, WI, 54703, with a note indicating the donation is for the Menomonie Club. 700+ served In 2015, the Club served more than 700 youth through membership and community outreach. Sixty-four percent of members qualified for free or reduced-priced school lunch, showing the club was reaching those in need. In addition, 44 percent of members family income was $26,000 or less. The reopening of the Boys & Girls Club in Menomonie is good news for the children and families in our community, said Joe Zydowsky, SDMA District Administrator. Thanks to tremendous support from many individuals and businesses in Menomonie and the partnership that has been established between the school and the Club, our children will be provided with greater opportunities for effective and affordable afterschool and summer programming. This is a tremendous value for our school district. The reopening of the Menomonie Club will also bring job opportunities. In addition to the need for volunteers, the club will be hiring a center director and a programming coordinator. Those interested in these volunteer and paid positions can find more information at www.cvclubs.org. About the program The Boys & Girls Club Menomonie Centers afterschool program runs after school from 3 to 7 p.m. and during the summer months. All members participate in mandatory homework time or a planned educational activity from club staff and volunteers. Programming includes various activities in the core areas of Character and Leadership, Education and Career, Health and Lifestyles, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness, and Recreation. All of this is available to children in grades 3 through 5 living in the communities served by the School District of the Menomonie Area for $15 per year per child or $30 per year per family. Children who are home-schooled or attend private school in the Menomonie area are also eligible to participate. For information, contact Sara Antonson, Chief Executive Officer, at 715-514-5115. I read an article by Rosalyn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, in which she said there are four kinds of people those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who expect to be caregivers and those who may need a caregiver. What I am writing about today is therefore of importance to all readers of Generation Us. In the article, Mrs. Carter kept saying us to the reader, but I felt I was somehow exempt. Then, one day, the phone rang, and the message said my mom, who had Alzheimers, had fallen and suffered a fracture. It also said she was coming to live with my three teenagers, my spouse and me. Thus began my unexpected career as a caregiver. I went from being her son to being her caregiver. The magnitude of this change was vast and would have longstanding effects on all of us. Mom died well before the current technology revolution of iPhones and iPads, Skype, telemedicine and the internet. While she was with us, I remember being unbelievably stressed, feeling alone, spending huge amounts of time organizing her medications and appointments and especially worried about her wandering and fall safety. The other day, I was remembering this difficult time and said to myself, What if todays digital technology had been available? Digital technology presents caregivers with many possible solutions and time savers that can assist in lowering caregiver stress. Things are different now in the age of technology, and I mention here some examples of apps and products to assist with common caregiver problems. Digital technology can never replace needed hands-on care, nor solve every problem, but can help in locating services, arranging services, medication management, socialization, maintaining safety and education. Mention of these products is no endorsement for any of them. Each caregiver should look for ones to address specific problems and that are easy to install, simple to use, free or reasonable in cost and that are kept current. For example, my moms wandering could have been monitored using either a GPS garment or shoe sole that would set off an alarm when she exceeded pre-set boundaries This technology is available today. To begin, I would recommend going on the internet to Senior Navigator at www.VirginiaNavigator.org. This includes Disability Navigator and soon-to-be-added Veterans Navigator. There is also a link to the Lindsay Institute for Innovations in Caregiving. This site provides a wealth of caregiver information and assistance. For those with no computer, Senior Navigator has 740 community sites across Virginia manned by a volunteer to assist you in getting help and information. This information is also broken down on a regional basis. Next, I would contact the Jefferson Are Board for the Aging (JABA) at (434) 817-5222, a great source of help and information for caregivers. JABA also offers an outstanding respite care program, allowing caregivers a break. Another outstanding resource for dementia caregivers is the Central and Western Chapter of the Alzheimers Association, reachable at (800) 272-3900, which is a 24/7 helpline. The Family Caregiver Alliance at Caregiver.org is a rich source of help and advice about technology and other caregiving information. For general information, try AARP Caregiving. For help organizing friends and family, try Lotsa Helping Hands. For medication management, there are many choices, such as Phillips Medication Dispensing Service and the National Library of Medicines Pillbox. For safety products, examine Medical Alert and Phillips Lifeline. For caregiver relaxation, try Stress Stopper Pro and A Home Exercise Program. For help managing appointments and tasks, try Google Calendar. Skype offers video or voice calls and allows group video for contacting distant family members. There are also many devices like Grand Care that permit distant caregiving; can detect falls, motion and medication adherence; and allow visual contact. It also allows wellness monitoring and can alert the caregiver when values like blood pressure are abnormal. The future will offer more monitoring of wellness using wearable garments that measure respiration and blood pressure and the ability to send this information to your doctor or family caregiver. Dont forget: You are not alone, and using technology can link you up with fellow caregivers. In 2015, the AARP reported that, in 2013, there were more than 40 million family caregivers providing 37 billion hours of care to adults with limitations in daily activities in the U.S. This unpaid care was valued at $470 billion. In short, the family caregiver is the absolute foundation upon which our countrys long-term care service and support system is dependent It is predicted that by 2050, the U.S. will have as many as 78 to 82 million individuals older than 65. With this increase, the demand for caregivers will skyrocket. Frighteningly, the 2010 caregiver ratio of 10 caregivers available for each 80-year-old will decrease to 3:1 by 2050. This gives a glimpse of the impending caregiver crisis and threat to our health care system. This country has underemphasized the burden caregiving places on the caregiver, which often leads to sickness of the caregiver. The problem has been magnified by the fact that we now ask caregivers to provide complex medical and nursing care, like injections, dialysis and severe wound care with little training. In addition, the majority of caregivers are women, many of whom are now employed full time and still give 25-plus hours of caregiving weekly. The Lindsay Institute for Innovations in Caregiving was created to focus on the health of caregivers and to find solutions to improve their health. We chose to leverage technology to do this. The Institute sponsors an annual Hackathon with teams made up of college students and a caregiver, charging them to develop a product or app that will improve caregiver health. Remembering again, Mom was a Lawrence Welk fanatic, and being able to watch at any time his shows on an iPad would have brought smiles, laughter, peace and calm into her disturbed existence. So, in conclusion, get busy and start preparing to be a caregiver. Dr. Richard W. Lindsay is professor emeritus of internal medicine and family medicine at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center and is founder and former head of the division of geriatric medicine at UVa. He is also a past president of the American Geriatric Society and co-founder of The Lindsay Institute for Innovations in Caregiving. Chippewa County Highway Department workers are being cautioned not to use county property for the employees personal use. Highway Commissioner Brian Kelley told the county Highway Committee on Wednesday he had sent a memo to employees telling them to end the practice. The only thing employees had been using (that belongs to the county) were small hand tools, Kelley said.Its not happening any more. The county has a policy on the books prohibiting the practice, but it hasnt been enforced. It has been an issue that has been ignored, County Administrator Frank Pascarella said. Committee Chairman Glen Sikorski said people demand transparency of the department and its workers. Cobban Bridge Work has started with on an environmental review for the Cobban Bridge, located between Jim Falls and Cornell, said Fred Anderson, project manager for the county. The bridge was built in 1908 by the Modern Steel Structural Company of Waukesha, and then moved in 1916 with the creation of Lake Wissota. The bridge was installed in its current location in 1919. The County Board has already endorsed a route for a replacement bridge south of the current bridge. The new route would link County TT and 180th Avenue. Since the bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, it falls under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. That has triggered an environmental review at the implication of tearing down the bridge and replacing it. Anderson said that review is expected to take a long time. However, he said the county having to do the review doesnt shut the door to the county eventually replacing the aging bridge. Were finding cracking and corrosion where it wasnt last year, Kelley said. The county will lower the weight limit on the bridge to five tons and reduce the height of vehicles allowed to cross the bridge. A June 22 inspection by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation found: Some bolts missing, stringer to floor beams. Trusses are moving away from center pier. Floor beams on ends and bearings are twisting and bowing and stressings the connection at the lower cord. Stringers are showing signs of stress with cracking in flanges and webs. All fixed bearings anchor bolts are pulling out because of movement of trusses. Paint is starting to fail throughout. Cracked eyebar. Kelley said the county expects to complete the environmental review in the spring and then in June apply to the state Department of Transportation for 80 percent funding for a new bridge. The project cost is expected to be about $7 million. Kelley said the county has serious bridge issues, with seven to eight bridges eligible for replacement. Its going to be a hot button issue for the Highway Department for a number of years, he said. He also updated the board on the damage a September storm did to roads in the county. He said $445,000 of the damage is eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency aid. FEMA representatives will return to the county on Nov. 2 to look at cost figures and documentation for aid. In other action, the committee voted 3-1, with Supervisor Buck Steele voting against, to recommend the County Board approve three surplus parcels near the County SS and Highway 40 intersection. Kelley said the parcels have been appraised at total of $12,300. RICHMOND Longwood University would absorb New College Institute in Martinsville as an affiliate location and eventually take over its assets under the latest recommendation for the higher-education center. NCIs board of directors is scheduled Thursday to consider the plan recommended by Peter Blake, director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, that would establish an 18-month timeline for bringing the institute under Longwoods control. Longwood President W. Taylor Reveley IV said Wednesday that the plan is still very early in gestation, and though his board has been briefed on the proposal, no vote has been taken. Ultimately, this is really a decision for the General Assembly and the governor, he said, and not something to be decided solely by NCI and Longwood. On SCHEVs recommendation, NCI asked Longwood to explore the possibility, he said. Its a natural fit, Reveley said, given that Longwood is NCIs longest-running partner. NCI provides access to bachelors degree completion programs, masters degrees, teacher recertification courses and other certification programs through partnerships with colleges and universities. Leanna B. Blevins, NCIs acting executive director, said Longwood was the centers first academic partner when it opened in 2006 and has remained committed to growing programs at NCI and in the region through technology to off-campus sites. Blevins said the board has explored other options recently, such as keeping NCI as a higher-education center; partnering with area community colleges and private colleges; and affiliating with the Virginia Community College System if it is authorized to offer baccalaureate degrees. Longwood which is located in Farmville, about two hours from Martinsville was not one of the options five years ago when NCI explored becoming a branch campus of a public university. At that time, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia State, Old Dominion, Radford and George Mason universities were under consideration as part of a search led by retired VCU President Eugene P. Trani. In September 2011, NCIs board backed away from the search, citing the uncertain economic climate but said establishing a branch campus would remain the ultimate goal. Reveley said that if the new plan is approved, NCI would become administratively a part of Longwood, similar to how the university offers classes at off-campus locations, rather than a branch campus. Branch campus is a technical term of art from an accreditation standpoint, he said. Establishing a true branch campus would require a duplication of administrative functions he does not foresee immediately. But he noted that many of Virginias public universities got their start as administrative parts of a home university, mainly either the University of Virginia or the College of William & Mary. Its still genuinely very early in the whole realm of considerations, he said. Blake said he recommended Longwood because of its commitment to educational partnerships, not just in the Martinsville region but throughout southern Virginia. This approach is fully aligned with its mission for regional prosperity and advancement, he said by email. Longwood also has the leadership needed to make this a successful endeavor. Under SCHEVs proposal, Longwood would retain NCIs partnership with Patrick Henry and Danville community colleges. The plan also envisions unifying all or parts of existing educational assets in the region under a single-governance unit. NCI was established to offer educational opportunities in a region economically devastated by the collapse of manufacturing. It is state-supported but received a $50 million commitment from the Harvest Foundation, a nonprofit organization established using proceeds from the sale of Martinsvilles Memorial Hospital. I see this as part of our public mission to increase baccalaureate opportunities in Southside Virginia, Reveley said. A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper from Chippewa Falls is being honored for courageous actions and exemplary service. Trooper Bill Lindeman is one of six people being honored with a Wisconsin State Patrol Division Award for his lifesaving efforts when a woman in an Eau Claire County residence collapsed and stopped breathing while in a cardiac attack on Nov. 18, 2015. An Eau Claire County Sheriffs deputy, Dave Riewestahl, arrived at the scene and found the woman had no pulse. He applied an automated external defibrillator (AED) to the stricken woman while her daughter started chest compressions. Lindeman then arrived and took over the chest compressions. Lindeman and Riewestahl continued to administer AED shocks and chest compressions until medical personnel arrived. The womans pulse and breathing were restored and she was taken to a hospital. Others honored by the State Patrol included Trooper Steven Wojcik of Strum, Daniel Restrepo of Ripon, Aaron Gross of Whitewater and Department of Transportation workers Jennifer Schmidt and Susan Fuszard of Madison. home Tech 'iMac 2016' specs, launch date rumors: Apple to unveil new iMacs at Oct. 27 event? Apple made the last update on its iMacs on Oct. 13, 2015 when they brought Retina display to the smaller models and equipped the larger models with new Skylake processor chips. That was a year ago and consumers are itching to find out what new upgrades and features will roll out for this year's iMacs. One rumored update on the 2016 iMac is a 5K ultra HD display. Aside from this, the upcoming iMac is also expected to feature Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Radeon Polaris Graphics. Rumors are also expecting it to support virtual reality because of its new graphic chips. Another speculation going around is that Apple is putting in Kaby Lake processors in the 2016 iMacs. Although these processors are planned to be released in 2017, Apple, which is usually ahead in acquiring or coming up with new technologies, is likely to use such. All these speculations will persist until the release of the 2016 iMacs, but when will the launch actually be? Based on previous launch records, it may be noted that the latest iMac was released October last year. It is believed the 2016 iMacs should come out by the same time this year. Besides, Apple has already sent out an invitation to an event to be held at their Cupertino campus on Oct. 27. Best Buy, Best Buy has also leaked an early listing of the 2016 iMac at the beginning of this month. Now, it was probably a mistake by an employee who was trying to create a placeholder for the product, but it could also strongly suggest that the retailer has had advance notification of an imminent launch and posted a listing slightly too early by mistake. It could also be a speculative listing created on the basis that it would probably be needed at some point. Whichever it is, iMac consumers better keep their eyes peeled for the Oct. 27 event. The Nomad Martial Law is the tenth regular production blend launched by Fred Reweys Nomad Cigar Company. Rewey has incorporated a slogan for his company called Be Nomad Be Anywhere. This slogan very much applies to his approach with Nomad Cigar Company as he has produced cigars in two different countries (Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic) with several different factories. With Martial Law, Rewey turns to his fourth different factory, James Browns Fabrica Oveja Negra located in Esteli, Nicaragua. Working with Brown is a logical step as Reweys Nomad brand along with Browns Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studio are both distributed by Boutiques Unified. Recently Ive had an opportunity to smoke the Nomad Martial Law cigar. Rewey has built an impressive portfolio in his 4+ years in the cigar business. With the Nomad Martial Law, this could represent his best regular production release to date. When the Nomad Martial Law was announced, Rewey discussed why he led him to Fabrica Oveja Negra: I was very impressed with Fabrica Oveja Negra during a visit last year. Frankly, I have not seen anyone get a new factory up to speed as fast as they did. With attention to detail and excellent tobacco, a project there was inevitable at some point. The Nomad Martial Law was announced just prior to the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show and was released right around the time the trade show opened. The cigar itself is also one of the more premium offerings in the Nomad portfolio priced at $12.00. Without further ado, lets break down the Nomad Martial Law and see what this cigar brings to the table. Blend Profile According to Rewey, The genesis for the Martial Law blend came as a result of blending a bolder version using the profile of the Nomad Esteli Lot 8613 as a starting point. The Esteli Lot 8613 has been one of my most popular blends. I love the rustic nature of it but also wanted something with a bit more punch or complexity. Basically the Martial Law blend started as my wanting a double ligero version of the Lot 8613 and kind of grew from there, commented Rewey. The cigar incorporates tobaccos from the four major growing regions of Nicaragua: Jalapa, Condega, Esteli, and Ometepe. The cigar also features a Habano wrapper. Wrapper: Habano Binder: Jalapa Filler: Nicaraguan Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Fabrica Oveja Negra) Vitolas Available Nomad Martial Law comes in one size a 6 x 50. The cigars are packaged in 12 count boxes. Appearance The Nomad Martial Laws Habano wrapper has a medium brown color with a slight rosado tint to it. There was some oil on the surface of the wrapper. While a mostly smooth wrapper, there were a few bumps on the surface. There are some thin visible veins and thin wrapper seams. There are two bands on the Nomad Martial Law. The primary band of is similar to the one found on the Nomad C-276 and Nomad S-307 offerings. This band features a black, silver, and red color scheme. The background is black in color. Highlighting this band is the winged Nomad logo with a navigator symbol at the top. The text NOMAD is on the logo in a white colored modern style font. To the right of the band is the text @GODFADR (which is Reweys Twitter handle). There is a black colored secondary band around the footer of the Martial Law. The cigar has the text MARTIAL LAW in a bold orange-red font. There are two orange-red pinstripes just above and below that text. Toward the upper and lower edge of the band is a slightly thicker orange red-pinstripe. Preparation for the Cigar Experience I started my cigar experience with the Nomad Martial Law with a straight cut. After the cap was removed I commenced the pre-light draw. The cold draw delivered a mix of chocolate, floral, and slight cedar note. Overall I considered the pre-light draw of this cigar to be very good. At this point I was ready to light up the Nomad Martial Law and see what the smoking phase would have in store. Flavor Profile The Nomad Martial Law started off with an array of assorted pepper spices, chocolate, and natural tobacco notes. The chocolate notes became primary early on. As the cigar moved through the first third, there was almost a malt quality to these notes. The pepper notes were a close secondary note with the natural tobacco notes a little more distant. Meanwhile there was an additional layer of red pepper on the retro-hale. During the second third, the natural tobacco notes slowly increased. As the cigar crossed the midway point, the natural tobacco notes replaced the chocolate in the forefront. Shortly after the midway point, i noticed an increase in the assorted pepper spices on the tongue. By the last third, the pepper notes reached the forefront joining the natural tobacco notes. The spices were not overpowering, nor did they exhibit any harshness. There were still some chocolate notes that were present in the background. This is the way the cigar experience came to a close. The resulting nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature. Burn and Draw In many reviews of the various offerings in the Nomad cigar portfolio, Ive commented on the excellent construction. Nomad hasnt missed a beat working with Fabrica Oveja Negra, but this wasnt a surprise to me as this factory in a short time has been produced some top quality blends. This excellent construction was reflected on scores of the burn and draw. The burn path had no trouble remaining straight from start to finish. There was a slight amount of waviness on the burn line, but this wasnt a burn line that showed any hints of meandering. The resulting ash had a light gray color. This ash was firm and came off the cigar in clean chunks. As for the burn rate and burn temperature, both were ideal. The draw of the Martial Law was excellent as well. This had a slight amount of resistance to it and this is something that I like. This made for an ideal cigar to puff on. Strength and Body The Martial Law was positioned as a bolder offering compared to the Nomad Esteli Lot 8613 cigar, and I agree with this assessment. This was a cigar that started out medium strength. There was definitely an uptick in the last third with the strength just crossing the threshold into medium to full territory. Meanwhile this cigar came out medium to full-bodied right out of the gate. I actually found a slight decrease in body early in the second third, but the Martial Law was still very much in the medium to full-bodied range of the spectrum. Later in the second third, the body kicks up again and kicked up enough to progress to full-bodied territory. When it comes to strength versus body with the Martial Law, I gave the edge to body throughout the smoking experience. Final Thoughts There is a lot to like about this cigar. Nomad has delivered some excellent blends in the past four years. This is a cigar that excels in the most important category flavor. The Nomad Martial Law is not an overly complex cigar, but the notes produced play very well together. This particular cigar is going to be a spicier offering, so thats something to keep in mind when considering this cigar. Quietly, Fabrica Oveja Negra has put together a very solid year for a factory and now the Nomad Martial Law becomes another great part of this story. Martial Law is going to carry a higher price point, but I felt it delivered the value I would expect from a $12.00 cigar. This is a cigar Id probably steer toward a more seasoned cigar enthusiast, but its also one of those cigars where a novice can graduate to something a little fuller. As for myself, its a cigar I would easily smoke again and its worthy of a box purchase. Summary Burn: Excellent Draw: Excellent Complexity: Medium Strength: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Last third) Body: Medium to Full (1st 2/3), Full (Last third) Finish: Excellent Assessment: 4.0 Box Worthy Score: 92 References News: Nomad Martial Law to Launch at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show Price: $12.00 Source: Purchased. (*) Stogie Geeks Podcast: Episode 208 Stogie Feed: Nomad Martial Law Toro Brand Reference: Nomad Cigar Company * An additional sample was provided by Nomad Cigar Company at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, but this was not used for a formal review. Businesses typically spend heavily to defend themselves against state ballot initiatives that boost taxes or increase regulations. This year, businesses and industry trade groups are scrambling to oppose a new and increasingly worrisome movement sweeping the countrymarijuana legalization. As rates of drug use among job applicants rise, and firms contemplate their potential liability from accidents caused by workers under the influence, industry is emerging as a key opponent of the campaign to legalize it in pivotal states. In November, voters in ten states will get a say on whether to liberalize laws governing marijuana use. In Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, full legalization is on the ballot. Much of the support for these initiatives comes from national groups like the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project and the New Approach PAC, which are funded by the likes of Napster co-founder Sean Parker and Cari Tuna, the wife of Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. In California, Parker has raised about $8 million for the pro-legalization campaign. Advocates are hoping this year to capitalize on the momentum generated by previous legalization victories in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Colorado. Polls show that a majority of Americans favor legalization. If all five legalization campaigns succeed in November, more than a fifth of the American populace will live in states where recreational pot use is legal. One of the most contested battles is unfolding in Arizona. Advocates have targeted the Grand Canyon State for legalization because it borders Colorado, where voters passed an initiative to legalize pot in 2012. Big contributions from businesses have enabled opponents of the Arizona initiative nearly to match the more than $3 million that legalization supporters have thrown into the campaign. Large donors to the anti-legalization campaign include Discount Tirethe Scottsdale-based owner of hundreds of tire-service centers across the countryPhoenix-based U-Haul, and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. Also opposing legalization are trucking firms worried about impaired drivers, construction companies fearing on-site accidents, and hospitals and other health employers that regularly test job applicants for drug use. Steve Sanghi, CEO of Chandler, Arizona-based Microchip Technology Inc., told the Arizona Republic that failed drug tests and absenteeism are a growing problem at the companys Colorado facility. I would never move my business from Arizona to Colorado today and wouldnt expand the business in Colorado because of the problems theyre having, Sanghi said. A Quest Diagnostics study found that the number of job applicants testing positive for marijuana increased by one-fifth in Colorado and nearly one-fourth in Washington after both states approved ballot initiatives legalizing recreational use. Staffing firm BBSI told the Tacoma News Tribune that the number of applicants failing drug tests has increased to 30 percent, from about 20 percent before legalization. Legalization supporters in Arizona have adopted a slogan: Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol. Businesses say thats misleading. Though the initiative doesnt prohibit firms from banning marijuana from the workplace, theres no legal standard in the ballot measure for what constitutes impairment. All states, by contrast, have laws on the books defining what constitutes impairment due to alcohol use, so that a worker who comes to the job drunk can easily be tested. While traces of alcohol disappear from the body rapidly, signs of marijuana use linger for weeks, making it more difficult to determine if a worker is actually impaired on the job. That leaves some business experts worried that firms will face difficulty firing workers for use of a legal substance. Were concerned about being able to run a drug- and alcohol-free workplace, the head of the Arizona Builders Alliance told the Arizona Republic. The legalization fight in Massachusetts appeared set to cruise to victory earlier this year. Polls showed a large majority of residents favoring legalization while businesses sat on the sidelines, reluctant to spend money on what seemed a hopeless crusade. In May, Governor Charlie Baker, Boston mayor Marty Walsh (a former trade union leader and recovering alcoholic), and Attorney General Maura Healey formed a bipartisan coalition to oppose the constitutional amendment. In a joint op-ed in the Boston Globe, they warned that legalization threatened to reverse our progress combating the growing opioid epidemic. Business jumped into the fray, including builders, retailers, and the states major medical institutions. Billionaire and Boston-native Sheldon Adelson has been a big contributor. The casino magnatewhose son died of a drug overdosehelped bolster the campaign with a $500,000 donation, and he has supported other opposition campaigns in Florida and Nevada. In socially liberal Massachusetts, businesses fear that legalization would leave them stuck in a grey area. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and government rules require that federal contractors must have a drug-free workplace. That creates numerous state versus federal legal conflicts, [which] would cause significant ambiguity for businesses to regulate a drug-free workplace, the head of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce wrote in opposition to the legalization initiative. Uncertainty about workplace effects has even sparked opposition to several medical-marijuana initiatives that businesses complain are too broadly written. The Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, hospitals in the state, and agricultural trade groups have all united to oppose the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act. A clause in the measure could protect employees who use medical marijuana even if they showed up to work impaired. In other states, advocacy groups have fought to allow employees to use medical marijuana at work. In Ohio, businesses only lifted their objection to a medical-marijuana bill that passed earlier this year after the legislature added employer protections to the bill, including the right to maintain a drug-free workplace. That upset advocates. One of the real weaknesses of this law that we had opposed all along was the fact that it really doesnt make any allowances for people to use medical marijuana within the workplace, a spokesman for the ACLU of Ohio told the press after Governor John Kasich signed the bill. Similar restrictions on employers rights helped doom a 2010 legalization initiative in California. That initiativewhich contained a clause prohibiting employers from disciplining a worker even if they could prove that using pot had impaired his performancewas leading in the polls until business groups rose up against it. Voters defeated it by a margin of 53.3 percent to 46.5 percent. This year, however, sponsors of Proposition 64 have been careful not to include that kind of a poison pill clause in their legalization initiative. Proponents also tout the $1 billion in new taxes that will potentially be collected from the pot industry. California businesses, facing other pressing issues, are largely sitting on the sidelines. Polls show that 60 percent of Golden State voters favor legalization. That leaves the opposition largely to social conservatives and public-safety organizations like the California Police Chiefs Association. Beyond concerns about businesses liability under legalization are the larger social issues. As the New York Times recently observed, the legalization movement represents a shot in the dark, a vast public health experiment that would be carried out with relatively little research on the risks. In Colorado, for instance, pot-related emergency room visits jumped 30 percent during the 18 months following legalization, while ER visits by children related to marijuana have soared. Some recent research, moreover, suggests that marijuana is significantly more addictive than alcohol, contradicting other studies. Supreme Court justice Louis Brandeis observed that the states are laboratories of democracy. Businesses are rightly worried that states latest lab experimentmarijuana legalizationwill prove to be industrys newest headache. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images Wanda Thomas Bernard, a professor at Dalhousies School of Social Work, has been named to the Senate of Canada. Dr. Bernard, who also serves as the universitys special advisor, diversity and inclusiveness, becomes the first African Nova Scotian woman to serve in the Senate Chamber. Following changes made to the Senate selection process by the federal government in 2015, Dr. Bernard applied to represent Nova Scotia in the Chamber this past summer. On Wednesday evening, she received a phone call from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informing her that she had been chosen. Its very exciting, but its also very humbling, because I take this responsibility very seriously, she says. Pushing for "equity for all" Dr. Bernard has taught and conducted research in the area of anti-oppression and diversity at Dalhousie since 1990, served as director of the School of Social Work from 2001-2011 and took on the role of special advisor, diversity and inclusiveness earlier this year. She says her academic work will inform her approach as a Senator. My interest in being part of the Senate is to continue to do the work Ive been doing around equity and diversity and inclusiveness. Equity for all is my primary goal in life. To be able to enter the Senate with that perspective and contribute to the country is an incredible privilege, one that I know I will be accountable for. Dr. Bernard also cites her achievement as a historic moment for her home community of East Preston, the second-largest of the indigenous Black communities to settle in the province in the 18th century. The East Preston community will be celebrating with me and I know that when I go forward into the Senate, I go with the blessing of my community, says Dr. Bernard, who is an elder in the East Preston United Baptist church. One of the things I take a lot of pride in is that I have a really solid integration of my academic work and my spiritual walk. And I carry that with me into the Senate as well. An "inspired appointment" Dalhousie president Richard Florizone says he was delighted to learn of Dr. Bernards appointment. This is an inspired appointment thats wonderful for Dal, for Nova Scotia and for the entire country, says Dr. Florizone. Dr. Bernard credits the support of her family, her community and the people who encouraged her to apply. As an African Nova Scotian woman, I know that Im standing on the shoulders of others whove gone before me. Im standing on the shoulders of people from my community that never dreamt of these kinds of opportunities. Also appointed to the Senate from Nova Scotia is Dan Christmas, who received an honorary degree from Dalhousie in 2005. Dr. Christmas is senior adviser for the Mi'kmaw First Nation of Membertou. Mumbai: Shares in Tata companies fell Thursday after the Indian giant's ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry warned it may face $18 billion in asset write-downs and accused directors of wrongfully dismissing him. Tata Motors and Tata Power were down nearly three per cent each, while Tata Steel was nearly two per cent lower in early trade on the Bombay Stock Exchange after details of the email to the holding company's board emerged. In the email, Mistry said India's largest conglomerate may face 1.18 trillion rupees ($18 billion) in write-downs because of unprofitable businesses he inherited when he took over the job in 2012. Mistry was the first head of the multinational from outside the Tata family and the group, founded under British colonial rule in 1868, hit headwinds during his time in charge with lacklustre performances at several companies. In his email, a copy of which AFP has seen, Mistry cited the steel arm of the sprawling $100-billion conglomerate, which is struggling to offload its loss-making British assets, as well as its carmaking business which has long been plagued by weak sales. He said the small, cheap Nano car spearheaded by the company's leader of 21 years, Ratan Tata, should be scrapped because it was unprofitable. "As there is no line of sight to profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company requires to shut it down," Mistry wrote. "Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision." Tata said on Monday it was replacing Mistry as its chairman after four years, in a surprise announcement. It said the 78-year-old Ratan Tata had been appointed interim chairman until a successor could be found. Mistry, in his email, said he was trying to turn things around at the group, but found himself in the position of a "lame duck chairman". "I cannot believe that I was removed on grounds of non-performance. I hope you do realize the predicament I found myself in. "Being pushed to the position of a lame duck chairman, my desire was to create an institutional framework for effective future governance of the group," he wrote. Responding to Mistry's claims on Thursday, the conglomerate told the Bombay Stock Exchange its financial statements represented a "true and fair view" of the state of affairs. Mistry succeeded Ratan Tata in December 2012 after being announced as its heir more than a year earlier. He is related to the famous Indian family through his sister's marriage. Tata Group's revenue slipped 4.6 per cent for the financial year ended March to about $103 billion. One of its worst performers is Tata Steel, which last month reported a quarterly net loss of almost 32 billion rupees, as it winds back its European operations. The company announced earlier this year that it was selling its loss-making British assets owing to a global oversupply of steel, cheap Chinese imports into Europe, high costs and currency volatility. Global tobacco firms have criticised the biennial event for not being transparent, in part because proceedings have in the past not been open to the public, including industry representatives. New Delhi: India 's $11 billion tobacco industry has urged the government to take a softer line on tobacco control efforts when it hosts a World Health Organization conference in New Delhi next month, but officials say the government will not bow to "pressure tactics". Delegates from about 180 countries will attend the Nov. 7-12 WHO conference on the sole global anti-tobacco treaty: the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). In force since 2005, the treaty aims to deter tobacco use that kills around 6 million people a year. The industry in India , the world's third-biggest tobacco producer, wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to soften its stance on what it says are tough FCTC measures that threaten livelihoods among the estimated 46 million people linked to the sector. In documents obtained by a Reuters reporter under India 's Right to Information law, industry and farmer groups wrote to officials across government asking to attend the conference and be part of India 's delegation, in an effort to protect their interests. Global tobacco firms have criticised the biennial event for not being transparent, in part because proceedings have in the past not been open to the public, including industry representatives. The tussle comes at a time when the Indian industry is smarting from measures imposed this year forcing companies to print bigger health warnings on tobacco products. A tobacco farmers' group this month questioned the legality of India implementing the FCTC treaty, and asked the Delhi High Court to compel the government to allow farmers to attend the WHO conference. A judge last week asked the government to "consider" the plea, but did not rule on the other requests. "If we take them in the delegation, the government of India may feel embarrassed," said one health ministry official, who didn't want to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. "We will not act on these (lobbying documents)". The FCTC secretariat in Geneva told Reuters it welcomes India 's decision, saying its guidelines state that no country should have delegation members linked to the tobacco industry. Conference decisions on treaty provisions - designed for eventual implementation at national level by signatories - have a direct bearing on the global tobacco industry that Euromonitor International estimates is worth $784 billion this year. Topics for debate at the conference include alternative livelihoods for tobacco farmers, e-cigarettes and trade and investment issues. Letters, Signature Campaigns The nation's main cigarette industry body, the Tobacco Institute of India (TII), and farmer groups wrote to the agriculture ministry demanding to have their views represented and to be allowed into the WHO conference. In a Sept. 28 letter, the TII said "there is no obligation on any signatory to the FCTC to comply with or implement any provision of the FCTC". The WHO, however, says the treaty is legally binding on its member countries. The ministry also received a near-6,000-page petition signed by more than 100,000 farmers seeking protection from FCTC rules. The TII - which represents cigarette makers including ITC, which is part-owned by British American Tobacco; and Godfrey Phillips, the local partner of Philip Morris International - also sent the health ministry a 'handbook' detailing how FCTC proposals are a threat to farmers' livelihoods. It asked the government to ensure that "unreasonable and impractical" proposals are not adopted at the FCTC conference. The TII did not respond to Reuters queries on the make-up of the Indian delegation or the legality of the FCTC. In another letter, a group representing traditional Indian cigarette makers urged Modi to ensure the health ministry does not make any anti-tobacco commitments before or after the conference, fearing the potential impact on those tied to the industry. The health ministry official said the government would consider farmers' views, but there was "no soft corner for the industry". Mumbai: Farhan Akhtar, known to be a conscientious celebrity, has spoken out strongly against Karan Johar having to pay 5 crores to the Army Relief Fund. The actor-director, whos busying himself with the promotions of his upcoming Shujaat Saudagar helmed Rock On!! 2, said to Indian Express, The only word, I think, that comes to mind is unfortunate, because it has set a terrible precedent. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had played mediator between Karan Johar and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. The MNS had earlier said that it wont allow the film to be released, if Karan was not going to replace Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the film. Its not even the government telling you what you should be doing and not doing. So who are you listening to? You are listening to the people who are threatening you with violence. Now, when you have the threat of violence, its not only about you. You have kids at home, you have a family. Why do you want to subject them to that? At the end of the day, its really unfortunate that this is the state of affairs, Farhan further elaborated. The army itself had shunned the money and condemned Thackerays extortionist politics. Farhan, whos been busy with the promotions of his film, queried, By all means pass a law. If you pass a law, you are representing the voice of the people. Weve elected you to do it, so by all means pass a law. But dont hold that standard only for the film industry. Why only the film industry? Because we are easy targets. Why dont you stop business between India and Pakistan, this two billion dollars of business that happens every single year. Stop it, go the whole hog. This is like window dressing. The Wazir actor also said that Johar had signed Fawad at a time when cultural exchange and peace between the neighbouring countries were being encouraged, with prime minister Narendra Modi himself visiting Pakistan. People were encouraging exchange, our Prime Minister travelled there. It was an air, an environment of optimism, an environment of wanting bridges to be made. Thats the environment you started functioning in. Now, if thats changed, you cannot hold this person by his throat and say that what you have done is wrong, and force you to say things and force you to pay money, he concluded. Mumbai: We all know that SRK is undoubtedly one of the busiest humans to have lived on the face of the Earth. But, that does not make him any less accessible. Atleast, not anymore! In a recent Facebook chat, our ever-witty Shah Rukh Khan revealed the secret route to his home and heart. When a fan asked him how she can find someone like him, the superstar replied in the quirkiest way possible. He asked her to come outside his mansion Mannat in Bandra (Mumbai) and call out his name. Not just scream, the 'Fan' star also requested her to sing Tu Kahaan, yeh baatan is nashili raatme, mane na mera dil deewana. Once the song is over, he promised to come out and that, he said, is the best way to find someone like him as he has no other addresses to give. How does he manage to sound so convincing every time, we wonder. The fan must be on cloud 9 and rightly so. SRK's latest movie 'Dear Zindagi' with Alia Bhatt will release on November 25. Karan Johar and Ajay Devgn have had some serious issues in the past and still do. Mumbai: The controversy involving Karan Johar, Kamaal R Khan and Ajay Devgn does not seem to fade out. The upfront 'Shivaay' director, recently made a statement that might add fuel to fire. Ajay, who is all set to release his film on October 28, made a remark about KJo that might not be accepted smoothly by him. On being asked during an interview with AVS Television Network, what would he do if he woke up as Karan Johar, the 'Drishyam' actor replied, "I won't want to wake up as him." Things got a bit bitter between the two when the 'Singham' star leaked an audio clip of KRK where he confessed taking money from Karan Johar to badmouth 'Shivaay' and praise the Ranbir Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' that is also set to release on the same date. On a related note, 'Shivaay' also marks the debut of film's leading ladies, Sayyeshaa Saigal and Erika Kaar. Priyanka is seen here with Ellen DeGeneres who had asked her to down tequilla shot. Mumbai: Priyanka Chopra, the sport that she is, was warm and entertaining at The Ellens Show and got along really with the host. Ellen not only made her down tequila shot but also questioned the fact that she won Miss World with that hand wave. DeGeneres compared her wave to unscrewing of a light bulb. PeeCees fans, who are huge in number, did not like the rather rude jokes of Ellen and felt that she had taken Priyanka for granted. So, Ellen was talking about how Hollywood is mesmerised with her beauty and talent. She said, People were so excited because you are beautiful and can act, to which Chopra replied 'that doesnt happen'. This one comment of Priyanka, which was more of a joke, irked the host and she hit back at her saying, It does happen often, happens all the time as a matter of fact. I am just complimenting you like I should." While Priyanka took everything as joke and was seen giggling all along, her fans were upset with Ellen for being rude and mean to their favourite star. Understandable! Ever since Priyanka Chopra went Hollywood, theres no stopping her. After giving a powerful performance in the first season of Quantico, the actress is currently busy shooting for the shows ongoing second season. In Quanticos first season, the actress not only dazzled everyone with her power-packed action sequences but also managed to raise a few eyebrows with her sizzling scenes with co-star Jake McLaughlin who plays the role of Ryan Booth, her character, Alexs love interest in the series. In the shows first episode itself we saw the two locking lips and now, in second season of Quantico, an episode features the lovebirds Alex and Ryan lost in an intimate moment. Still, it looks like Priyanka is not just up for skin show. A close source reveals, Priyanka is happy doing kissing and love making scenes on screen but is not ready for the kind of nudity these shows demand. She has informed her Hollywood talent company about this concern. Recently also heard speaking out against the no-pregnancy clause in an interview, it would seem that PeeCee is more than holding her own in Hollywood. On the film front, Priyanka has finished shooting her first Hollywood feature venture Baywatch. A source was also heard saying, The actress has planned to host a Diwali bash at her New York house for her Quantico crew and especially requested the DJ to play the Bollywood numbers. With this new titbit coming our way, we have all the more reason to watch the film. Mumbai: One of the best things about the trailer of Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' was a heartbroken Ranbir Kapoor ranting about unrequited love. "Ek tarfa pyaar ki taaqat hi kuch aur hoti hai ... Auron ke rishton ki tarah yeh do logon mein nahi batti ... Sirf mera haq hai ispe," said his voice brimming with heartbreak as he turns his back to Anushka Sharma on her wedding night. The dialogue instantly clicked and has a loyal recall value today. But turns out Ranbir isn't really the one who'll be seen speaking the lines in the film. Karan Johar's controversy-laden romantic drama, which also stars Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Fawad Khan, has a not so secret cameo by Shah Rukh Khan. And if reports are to be believed, the line will be mouthed by him in the film. Now, since it's common knowledge that no one can belt out those hard-hitting romantic lines like Shah Rukh Khan can with his inimitable baritone. Karan, who's not known to do films without SRK, had broken the pattern with 'Student of the Year,' but he got his self-confessed mentor to play a crucial cameo in the highly anticipated film. With this new titbit coming our way, we have all the more reason to watch the film. Los Angeles: FBI has reportedly questioned actress Angelina Jolie for four hours over the incident aboard a private plane, in which her estranged husband and actor Brad Pitt allegedly became physical with their 15-year-old son, Maddox. The 41-year-old actress is believed to have "fully cooperated" with the investigation department, who also spoke to "some of her kids", reported Us Weekly. "The agents wanted a breakdown of everything that happened from when the plane took off to when it landed. They're looking into charges of assault," a source said. The source added that the FBI "will likely investigate for another few weeks" and will subsequently present the case to the prosecutor, who will further evaluate the matter. On the other hand, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services is also looking into the allegations made by Jolie on the 52-year-old actor. According to another source, both stars do not want to get involved in any kind of court case as "everything the FBI and DCFS investigate, will potentially be made available to the public". It was earlier reported that the 'Fight Club' star got "verbally abusive and physical" with his kids under the influence of alcohol during a flight from France to California on September 14. Jolie also filed for divorce from him 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. Experts have said that ingesting water containing more than 0.07 parts per billion coal ash over the course of a lifetime created a one-in-a-million chance of causing cancer. (Photo: Pixabay) Raleigh, N.C.: A cancer-causing heavy metal found in water wells near coal ash pits and other industrial sites is much more widespread and naturally occurring than previously thought, university researchers said Wednesday. The presence of hexavalent chromium is more related to volcanic rock found in North Carolina and nearby states than the pits used to store the waste left after burning coal, Duke University geochemistry professor Avner Vengosh said. Badly tainted groundwater was found in wells more than 18 miles from a coal ash storage basin in central North Carolina's Piedmont region, according to the study published in the American Chemical Society's publication Environmental Science & Technology Letters. "The most import thing is to make sure the industry, the coal ash issue, is not off the table," Vengosh said. "Groundwaters near coal ash ponds are contaminated. We see evidence for that. But the issue with hexavalent chromium, we're finding, is unrelated and much larger than we thought." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says hexavalent chromium is likely to be carcinogenic when ingested. The chemical was portrayed as poisoning residents in a California town in a Hollywood movie describing the work of former legal clerk and sleuth Erin Brockovich. The findings mean it's urgent that the EPA set uniform safety limits for hexavalent chromium in drinking water, said Vengosh, who studies coal ash contamination at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment. The EPA's current standard for all variations of chromium is 100 parts per billion, while California's limit specifically for the more toxic hexavalent form is 10 parts per billion. The heavy metal is at the center of concerns about whether massive coal ash basins are polluting nearby groundwater. North Carolina last year warned more than 300 neighbors of Duke Energy Corp. coal plants against drinking their well water. That was based on calculations by state scientists that ingesting water containing more than 0.07 parts per billion over the course of a lifetime created a one-in-a-million chance of causing cancer. North Carolina officials reversed those warnings last spring as too strict, adding that if the same threshold were applied evenly statewide it would apply to about 900,000 wells and millions of people would be urged against drinking their groundwater. Duke Energy, which is not related to the university, said the study bolstered its position that its coal ash pits are not responsible for groundwater pollution. "When combined with previous research, there is overwhelming evidence that coal ash basins are not impacting water quality in neighbor wells," said Harry Sideris, Duke Energy's senior vice president of environmental, health and safety. The country's largest electric company is required by state law to close all 14 of its North Carolina coal-burning power plants. About half could be dried out, covered with earth and left in place, but the company must provide alternative water supplies to neighbors who now use well water. It is also excavating and moving coal ash from its South Carolina pits. Association between psychopathic personality traits and violence was consistent across both students and psychiatric patients (Photo: AFP) Washington: A UBC study has found that people with higher levels of psychopathic tendencies are more likely to assault their romantic partners. They are even more likely to drink alcohol. The study, which was conducted at UBC's Okanagan campus, involved looking at data and police reports involving 700 US civil psychiatric patients in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as 870 students at UBC's campus in Kelowna, BC. "In this research, we noted that having higher levels of psychopathic personality traits is an important predictor of how likely someone is to engage in intimate partner violence," said Zach Walsh. "While we also found that people with psychopathic tendencies tended to drink more alcohol, the data tells us it is their personality traits more than substance use that is associated with violence." "With further investigation, this research may be able to assist policy makers and service providers in their efforts to both predict and reduce violence among couples," Walsh explained. The research also found that association between psychopathic personality traits and violence was consistent across both students and psychiatric patients. Walsh's study, conducted with Jenifer Langille of UBC and Marisa Okano of McGill University, was recently published in the journal Law and Human Behaviour. For Noelia Garella, Down Syndrome has done nothing to diminish her optimism and self-belief. (Photo: AFP) Cordoba, Argentina: When Noelia Garella was a child, a nursery school rejected her as a "monster." Now 31, she is in a class of her own. In the face of prejudice, she is the first person with Down syndrome to work as a preschool teacher in Argentina -- and one of the few in the world. Garella's case set a precedent after the school confronted a taboo: could a person with a cognitive syndrome be in charge of a class? Her two- and three-year-old pupils crowd around her affectionately in her classroom in the Jermonito nursery. At her bidding, they sit down for a story and watch engrossed as she reads, following her lead as she imitates a shark, baring her teeth. "I adore this. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be a teacher, because I like children so much," she tells AFP. "I want them to read and listen, because in society people have to listen to one another." 'Teaching Vocation' Garella's determination inspired her colleagues to hire her at the preschool in the northern city of Cordoba, despite reservations in some quarters. One party "in a position of responsibility" judged that she should not take classes because of her condition, said Alejandra Senestrari, the former director of the school who hired Garella. Teachers, parents and even the city's mayor weighed in. They decided there was no reason Garella could not teach early-learning reading classes. "With time, even those who had been opposed joined in the initiative to hire Noe as a teacher," said Senestrari. "We very quickly realized that she had a strong vocation. She gave what the children in the nursery classes most appreciate, which is love." 'Self-Belief' A genetic condition, Down syndrome typically affects a person's physical and intellectual growth. In Garella's case, it has done nothing to diminish her optimism and self-belief. Standing by her side, her mother, Mercedes Cabrera, looks tearful when her daughter tells the story of the day care center director who told Garella's parents: "No monsters here." But Garella smiles. "That teacher is like a story that I read to the children," she says. "She is a sad monster, who knows nothing and gets things wrong. I am the happy monster." 'Lesson In Life' Other countries have stories of people with Down syndrome who have become teachers. But Garella's case is thought to be the first in Latin America, where disagreement over whether pupils, let alone teachers, with Down syndrome should be accepted in public schools has generated controversy in the past. Garella's colleagues have been moved by her case. "It has been a unique experience for the staff," says Susana Zerdan, current director of the preschool. "The way the children accept her, incorporating her naturally into the school -- there is a lesson in life there for us all." 'Motherly Love' Garella first joined the Cordoba public education system as an assistant for reading classes in 2012. "I always feel good with the children. Their parents love me and the other teachers and principals I have had are wonderful," she says. She likes to do Latin dancing in her spare time. She dreams of having children of her own and lately has been feeling flutters because she has "met someone." She has been jointly in charge, with another teacher, of a class in the Jermonito preschool since January. "I have a boy with Down syndrome in my class. He is wonderful," she says. "Oh, it is lovely when someone like me is born." Chandigarh: Unable to bear the incessant physical and mental torture from her in-laws, a 19-year old rape victim, who was forced to marry her rapist, committed suicide by hanging herself on Tuesday. According to reports, the girl was raped in October 2015, following which her family filed a case against her rapist Anuj. She eventually married her rapist earlier on March this year on the intervention of the local khap panchayat. In July, she was also forced to depose in favour of her rapist-turned-husband in court, thus clearing him of all charges. But the girl was subjected to severe mental and physical abuse by her in-laws, seeking dowry, to settle the debts that they had incurred fighting the rape case. The victims mother also alleged that the girl was killed by her husbands family and was later hanged. A case has been filed at the local police station. New Delhi: A 58-year-old woman was brutally killed, stabbed multiple times, allegedly by her husband who also tried to behead her in a car in a posh Delhi locality on Wednesday after she reportedly spoke to another man over the phone, police said. Mukesh, 60, attacked Manju with a knife following an altercation in the car around 11. 30 am in South Delhi's Satya Niketan. He had slashed her neck, stabbed her multiple times before bystanders rushed to the woman's rescue, a senior police officer said. Mukesh was arrested after a guard posted nearby called the police. The couple lived in Hari Nagar and has two children - a 29-year-old son and a 30-year-old daughter - who told the police that their mother was supporting the family and their father didn't have a permanent source of income. He works in his sister's institute as a guitar instructor. They also told police that Mukesh was not present at home on Tuesday and suddenly turned up on Wednesday morning and accompanied their mother to drop her at the boutique in Anand Niketan where she worked. While the police said they were trying to ascertain what triggered Mukesh's violent behavior, neighbours said that Mukesh was an alcoholic and used to physically assault Manju. "The family is in a state of shock and we haven't been able to question them in detail. The accused, however, claimed that he was angered by his wife's reply when he asked her who was on her phone," the officer said. Police said the presence of a knife in the car leads to the suspicion that Mukesh could have pre-planned the murder. A case has been registered and investigation is underway to determine whether the accused had planned to kill his wife or it was an outcome of "sudden provocation", the officer added. The woman said her 50-year-old husband who is her cousin divorced her around eight months ago after 25 years of marriage. Jaipur: In a shocking incident, a Muslim man from Jaipur lost his wife in a bet, then forced her to sleep with his friend on the pretext of nikah halala. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the angry 42-year-old woman filed a rape complaint following the incident. Nikah halala mandates that if a woman wants to go back to her husband after a divorce, she must first consummate her marriage with another man. However, the woman alleged that her husband had got her raped by his friend. I cannot get over the insult and shame meted out to me. I feel angry, depressed and scared, she was quoted as saying. The woman said her 50-year-old husband who is her cousin divorced her around eight months ago after 25 years of marriage. She claimed that he tried to convince her to sleep with other men, but when she refused, he gave her triple talaq. But he continued to live with me and had conjugal relations. So why the need for halala? she questioned. The man however, defended his decision to invoke halala. The womans husband drove her to his friends house on August 5 on the pretext of going for a drive. Because she was feeling ill, he gave her some tablets to eat. However, after consuming those tablets, she began to feel dizzy. After reaching the friends house, the man gave his wife more tablets. The next thing she remembered was waking up naked on the floor next to the mans friend. The husband warned her not to approach the police, even as he showed her a video clip of the rape. However, the victim approached the police and sought Muslim civil rights campaigners help. She filed a case of rape against the mans friend. The man and his friend are now on the run. BENGALURU: It was a scary and harrowing experience for a group of girls who had gone to wish their close friend on her birthday in Cooke Town early Wednesday. An unidentified man allegedly flashed at them and masturbated in their presence. The pervert didnt stop there. He chased the girls down the street, entered their residential society, and followed them to the II floor, while still exposing his private parts, till he was hounded away by one of the girls father. The incident took place in Cooke Town in the Pulikeshinagar police station limits. The sexual predator was caught on the CCTV camera installed on the building premises. The Pulikeshinagar police who have viewed the CCTV camera have launched a manhunt to nab the pervert. The father of one of the girls who was chased has shared the CCTV footage on a social media platform urging people to help nab the sexual predator. R.D, father of the girl told DC, It was my daughters birthday on Wednesday. Her friends and colleagues had arrived in two cars to wish her at around 12 am, when a pervert came behind them masturbating. Shocked at the sudden turn of events, my daughter and her friends ran for safety inside the building and immediately took the lift and evaded him. He then chased them running up the stairs while still exposed. It was only when my wife opened the door that the girls barged in crying for help. The pervert was still lurking around. As I chased him, he fled. If we had delayed opening the door I have no doubt he would have attacked them. It took time for all of us to calm down. I immediately approached our ward corporator Hanna Bhuvaneshawri, who helped us file a police complaint, added the father. The Pulikeshinagar police have formed a team to nab the pervert. A police team visited the spot on Thursday. Meanwhile, high drama prevailed on Thursday morning on High Street in Cooke Town after the news vent viral on social media. BENGALURU: A 54-year-old priest was arrested by the Indiranagar police after he allegedly sexually abused a six-year-old girl on Wednesday evening. The accused has been identified as Shivakumar, a resident of Thippasandra. He was working as a priest at a temple close to this house. According to the police, the alleged incident took place around 6.15 pm. The girl, who lived along with her parents in the neighbouring house, was playing near the temple, when the accused allegedly took her inside the temple, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her. The incident came to light when the girl returned home. Immediately, her parents filed a complaint with the police, who rushed to the spot and arrested the priest. Both the accused and the victim were subjected to medical tests, the police added. The Indiranagar police have registered a POCSO case in this regard and are further investigating. Many security firms are concerned with the behaviour of netizens revealing personal information in social media which is unsafe. Hyderabad: Personal information of netizens uploaded on social media like full name, date of birth and personal mobile number are becoming tools for hackers to breach bank accounts. Many security firms are concerned with the behaviour of netizens revealing personal information in social media which is unsafe. In a recent study conducted across 14 countries to better understand netizens digital behaviour, done by Intel Security, it was revealed that Indians were most willing to share personal information despite knowing the risks. In most of the cases related to cybercrimes and illegal money transfers from netizens accounts, hackers obtained details from the victims social media profiles. Senior Vice-President (India Operations) of Sophos, a cybersecurity solution firm, Mr Hemul Patel, said that social media was becoming favoured playground for online crooks to hunt down targets. The use of social media to pull off scams has quadrupled over the last five years, according to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Centres (IC3) annual report on Internet crime, most cases involving exploitation of personal information through compromised accounts or social engineering. Two common ways used by crooks to trap the victims are click jacking and doxing, he said. An official from Hyderabad city cybercrime wing said that hackers can obtain PAN number if they have ones full name, date of birth and mobile number from the income tax website. With the help of these details, hackers are approaching mobile phone operators and submitting necessary details for SIM card swapping or the generation of new SIM card. All these will lead to allowing the hacker to change password from forgot password section. Online banking will come within the grasp of the cybercriminal and he can transfer money or be able to obtain instant debit card from nearest branches of the respective bank, the official said. Adopting similar modus operandi, cyber criminals from Delhi breached a senior citizens account and stole Rs 37,000. Avoid same passwords for all a/cs Always use different password for different sites. A common passwords is a skeleton key that unlocks all our accounts. Hackers can get into social media accounts to embarrass us, get access to our contacts, commit identity theft, and drain our bank accounts. Regardless of how tempting it is to click on a links like watch a zookeeper being eaten by a giant snake! dont do it if you are not sure. If you notice a scam, remove it and report to Facebook or whatever site its on. Keep reviewing the email address linked to your Facebook account, and frequently check it. Enable Facebook Login Alerts. Even if someone does socially engineer their way into your account, when they log in, theyre likely to be in a different location to you. This unusual activity will trigger an alert to your account, allowing you to take corrective action, quickly. Apps track your location and include it with your post. Turn off location sharing on the phone. How personal data is being stolen Clickjacking: This involves hiding hyperlinks beneath legitimate, clickable content that, when clicked, can lead to malware downloaded onto victims computers and can cause victims to unwittingly send personal information to a fraudsters site. These involve rigged Like and Share buttons on social networking sites. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Border Security Force soldiers patrol near the India-Pakistan international border area at Gakhrial boder post in Akhnoor sector. (Photo: AP/ Representational Image) Srinagar: The Indian army on Thursday foiled an infiltration bid in Tangdhar sector, along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. One army jawan was martyred and another injured in the operation, said reports. Meanwhile, Pakistan violated ceasefire in Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as KG sector of Poonch, using small arms, automatics and 82mm mortars. Reports said the fighting was on as the army retaliated effectively to the transgressions. New Delhi: Speaking to media persons on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup confirmed that the Pakistani spy who was arrested earlier in the day carried a fake Aadhaar card and claimed to be an Indian national. Swarup said that Mehmood Akhtar and his family have been given 48 hours to leave the country. Read: Spy ring busted in Pak embassy, 1 staff told to leave India; others under lens Confirming that the spy had been caught with sensitive documents, Swarup said that Akhtar was tracked over 6 months by Indian intelligence. A member of Baloch regiment, he told Indian officials that he joined ISI in 2013. On Pakistans allegation that India had violated the Vienna Convention of 1961, Swarup denied this, saying that declaring someone persona non-grata was well within the ambit of the Convention. Read: Pak informers had documents of BSF staff details, defence maps: police All countries should tell Pakistan that they have to rein in terror. We are ready to work with Pak to act on terror, Swarup said. Pakistan High Commission must ensure that there should be no anti-India activities, the MEA spokesperson added. Swarup ridiculed Pakistans denial that Akhtar was a spy, saying such denials have now become commonplace from the neighbour. If today Pakistan is feeling isolated, it's because of its misguided policies. People of Pakistan should urge government to adopt policies that favour peace, Swarup concluded. New Delhi: Self-styled religious figureAsaram Bapu, facing trial in rape cases, on Thursday moved Supreme Court seeking modification of its order directing him to undergo treatment at AIIMS in Jodhpur. A bench of Justices A R Dave, R K Agarwal and A M Khanwilkar agreed to hear the plea tomorrow after it was mentioned before it for urgent hearing on the ground that Asaram's health was deteorating. Counsel for Asaram sought modification of the October 24 order of the apex court saying that AIIMS, Jodhpur does not have in-patient facility and direction be issued to bring him to All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Delhi for further treatment. The lawyer said that the court had directed Asaram to undergo treatment at AIIMS, Jodhpur or the Ayurvedic hospital there, while being in judicial custody. The bench agreed to hear the matter tomorrow. The apex court had on October 24 rejected his interim bail plea sought on health grounds. The apex court's direction had come after controversial religious figure said he wanted to undergo ayurvedic treatment in Delhi for which he needed a month's interim bail. A seven-member medical board of AIIMS Delhi had told the apex court that Asaram's health condition was stable and that he had refused to undergo several tests. On August 11, the apex court had denied interim bail to Asaram in a rape case and directed AIIMS Delhi to set up the medical board to ascertain his health condition before taking up his regular bail plea. Asaram was arrested by Jodhpur Police on August 31, 2013 and has been in jail since then. On August 9, the High Court had rejected his bail application in the rape case. A teenage girl had accused him of sexual assault at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur. The girl, who belonged to Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was a student living in the ashram. Apex traders body CAIT (Confederation of All India Traders) recently said the sale of Chinese products may decline by 30 per cent this Diwali. (Photo: Representational Image) New Delhi: Amid calls from some quarters for boycott of Chinese goods in ongoing Diwali season, China on Thursday said any such move will negatively impact the India-bound investments from its enterprises and also the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. China also asserted that any such boycott would not have much impact on its exports, but "without proper substitutes, the biggest losers of the boycott of Chinese goods will be Indian traders and consumers". In a statement issued in Delhi, the Chinese embassy said China is the world's largest trading nation in goods, with its exports in 2015 amounted to USD 2276.5 billion. "The exports to India accounted for only 2 per cent of China's total exports and India's boycott of Chinese goods will not have much impact on China's exports. "China is more concerned that the boycott will negatively affect Chinese enterprises to invest in India and the bilateral cooperation, which both Chinese and Indian people are not willing to see." Amid rising tension in Indo-Pak ties, there have been calls from some fringe entities, including through social media platforms, to boycott of Chinese goods to protest against China's support to Pakistan. Apex traders body CAIT (Confederation of All India Traders) recently said the sale of Chinese products may decline by 30 per cent this Diwali. India is a big market for Chinese products and over the years import of toys, furniture, building hardware, crackers, lighting and electric fittings, furnishing fabric, office stationary, electronic appliances, consumer electronics, kitchen equipment & appliances, gift items, watches etc from China has increased to a great extent. Chinese products are generally low-priced which is the root cause of infiltration of Chinese goods in the Indian market, CAIT had said. In its statement, Chinese embassy referred to reports that local sellers in Sadar Bazaar, the largest wholesale market of household items in India, have complained about their Chinese goods sale dropping by at least 20 per cent. "The boycott effect will not limit to Diwali related products, but extended to other Chinese products that are not related to the festival. In the long-run, boycott will not only hurt Chinese goods sale, but also cause negative effects to consumers in India," it said. New Delhi: Ahead of Diwali, the Centre on Thursday approved 2 per cent dearness allowance and relief benefiting about 50.68 lakh employees and 54.24 lakh pensioners. The decision to provide 2 per cent DA on basic pay was taken by the Union Cabinet and will be effective from July 1, 2016. The 2 per cent DA will result in annual burden of Rs 5,622.10 crore, though for period of 8 months (July-February in 2016-17), it would be Rs 3,748.06 crore. The central government had increased DA by 6 per cent to 125 per cent in March this year. DA was later merged with the basic pay following the implementation of 7th Pay Commission. "The Union Cabinet has given its approval to release an instalment of DA to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Pensioners from July 1, 2016 representing an increase of 2 per cent of the revised Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise," a press statement said. According to statement, the increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs 5,622.10 crore per annum and in the Financial Year 2016-17 for the period of 8 months (i.e. from July 2016 to February 2017), it would be Rs 3,748.06 crore. It is believed that Maria's direct handling of the day to day investigations into the Sheena Bora murder case cost him his position as the top cop of Mumbai. (Photo: File) Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria and other former senior officials in connection with the Sheena Bora murder case, according to a report. Maria was supervising the sensational murder investigation until he was unceremoniously removed and given a low profile assignment as Director General of Home Guards in September last year. CBI also recorded the statements of other senior police officers - Deven Bharati and Satya Narayan Choudhary. It is believed that Maria's direct handling of the day to day investigations into the murder case cost him his position as the top cop of Mumbai, said the report. New Delhi: Days after he was ejected as chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry has stunned the country with a hostile 5-page letter outlining governance failures, poor decisions and looming write-downs at one of the country's most revered conglomerates. Mistry's emailed parting shot, leaked late on Wednesday, turned into a viral sensation by Thursday morning, captivating readers on social media and prompting shocked headlines in leading dailies, as the government told politicians to stay out of what has become a public spat. The country's two largest exchanges, citing the leaks, have demanded clarity from Tata's 27 listed units. At least one unit, Tata Steel, dismissed talk of write-downs. But shares in all of the group's major listed companies fell on Thursday. Tata Sons has not commented since the letter, a defence of Mistry's record, surfaced. "Mistry tears into Tata," a daily said. Public confrontations of this nature are rare, particularly when they involve conservative and established conglomerates like salt-to-cars group Tata and a patriarch like Ratan Tata, who has temporarily taken back the helm of the parent group. "It has taken everyone by surprise. Nobody would have thought such things could happen at Tata," said J. N. Gupta, managing director at Stakeholders Empowerment Services. Inside Tata, a company that promotes its roots in the heritage and social values of the Parsi community, some workers have bristled at the board's treatment of Mistry: the company is famous for being a loyal employer. But executives also questioned Mistry's efforts to cut back or sell underperforming assets. Ratan Tata was an acquirer in his time at the top: he oversaw deals like the $12 billion acquisition of Corus, formerly British Steel, in 2007 and the purchase of Jaguar Land Rover a year later. Mistry by contrast, has tried to rationalise the sprawling portfolio, including selling much of the Corus business in Britain. "It is like a bunch of finance or hedge fund guys that have walked in and decided to cut everything. This is not the Tata way of doing business," said one source close to the Tata group in response to the letter. "If you are picking things that are not working and then trying to get rid of them, where is growth going to come from?" Bitter fruit Lawyers, analysts and headhunters said on Thursday that the letter could mark the start of a bitter legal battle - but it was already a warning to any willing candidates on challenges ahead in running a sprawling and complex group. "Any candidate that is now in the race or is considered, will pull up and refer to the letter from Cyrus Mistry, said Suresh Raina, managing partner with Hunt Partners, an executive search firm. "The new candidate will be very well primed." Mistry, chairman of Tata Sons since 2012, accused the board of failing to give him "room to move", and argued Ratan Tata acted as an alternative power centre after officially handing over the reins, driving in particular deals that created two airline businesses. Its Tata Motors arm extended credit too easily to fuel sales, Mistry said, and when fraudulent dealings surfaced at AirAsia India, they were not acted on fast enough. Ratan Tata's lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, dismissed the accusations in comments to local television and questioned the purpose of the "blame game". "Its unfortunate that this kind of linen is sought to be washed in public," he told NDTV. "Loss of confidence is a collective and subjective thing." At least some investors brushed off the letter, arguing they too knew the extent of the balance sheet strain - but also Tata's record for keeping its companies afloat. "The main question to ask is whether this letter means that Tatas will now change their style of business and will start closing down their loss-making units abruptly," said one debt investor who declined to be named. "I will continue to buy Tata debt papers until I see some signs they are changing their style of business." Yet governance experts said Tata would need to tackle the allegations, for which Mistry provides no proof. "Either Tata comes out and denounces them successfully or they will lose their reputation as one of the best governed companies in the country," Gupta said. New Delhi: Don't behave like Vijay Mallya, Delhi High Court on Wednesday told controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi and directed him to return to India by mid-November and appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money laundering case against him. "Do not behave in a fashion Vijay Mallya did," Justice AK Pathak said as he turned down a plea of Qureshi, who is in Dubai, for interim protection from arrest or any coercive action by the agency for 15 days. "Don't take the line of businessman Vijay Mallya. You have to first appear for questioning. You are not in India. This shows that you do not want to appear. First you return to the country and join the questioning," the court said, adding it was "not inclined to grant any interim order". It further said it was not going to restrain the agency from taking any "coercive steps" against Qureshi, who had recently managed to go abroad despite a Lookout Circular (LC) issued against him by the ED. "You appear before them (ED). To arrest you or not, is upon them. I am not going to say anything. If you don't want any coercive steps against you, then go for an anticipatory bail," the judge said. The court, however, stayed till November 16 the LC issued against Mr Qureshi by ED to detain him at the entry-exit points in India and directed him to appear before the agency on November 22. The high court's direction came on Mr Qureshi's plea, filed through his daughter Sylvia Qureshi, in which he has sought a restraint on the law enforcement agency from arresting or taking any coercive action once he joins the investigation. Mr Qureshi's counsel RK Handoo also urged that he should be protected for at least 15 days, otherwise great prejudice would be caused to his client. "I will straightway come to your (ED) office after landing in India," Mr Handoo said, adding that "Qureshi was subjected to extreme humiliation and ridicule in India and abroad, portraying him as an absconder, who is evading the law and government agencies and has allegedly given the slip to the authorities by leaving the country on October 15." On being stopped at IGI Airport on October 15, following issuance of the LC, Mr Qureshi had left for Dubai after showing a trial court order obtained in an income tax case in which he was granted bail. The police on Wednesday had returned bodies of seven Maoists to their family members who had come from Andhra Pradesh. (Representational Image) Malkangiri: At least two Maoists were on Thursday morning killed in Panasput area during a joint combing operation by the Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh police and Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Force (DVF) of Odisha police in Panasput jungle in Odishas Malkangiri district. With this, the total number of Red radicals killed in police encounter since Monday has gone up to 30. Report said a top Maoist leader was captured during the combing operation. When contacted, Visakhapatna superintendent of police (rural) Rahul Dev Sharma, however, dismissed the report and said no one was captured. No Maoist leader has been captured today, said the SP Mr Sharma. The two Maoists killed in the encounter included a woman. The police seized two guns from the encounter site. Visakhapatna SP Mr Sharma, who is currently in Malkangiri, along with the local SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra is supervising the combing operation. The police on Wednesday had returned bodies of seven Maoists to their family members who had come from Andhra Pradesh. Among others the bodies of the slain rebels handed over to their family members included that of Munna, son of Maoist Central Committee member Ramakrishna alias RK. RKs wife Sirisha received the body of Munna. Reports said family members of the other deceased whose bodies are lying in the district hospital mortuary have arrived in Malkangiri. They will be handed over the bodies after completion of all formalities. Villagers show a damaged roof house due to alleged shelling from across the LoC at the India-Pakistan International border in Bidipur village of RS Pura sector, about 35km from Jammu, on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI) RS Pura: A Border Security Force (BSF) head constable attacked by a Pakistani Ranger died in the Abdullian area of RS Pura sector on Thursday. So far, six civilians have been injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the RS Pura sector on Thursday. Pakistani Rangers also started unprovoked shelling on Indian posts and civilian areas in the Arnia area of RS Pura sector around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Heavy shelling was also reported from the Ramgarh area of adjoining Samba sector. The BSF has been retaliating and giving a befitting reply. A heavy exchange of gunfire between border forces of both countries is still continuing in Sai, Treva, Bidipur, Joda, Arnia, SM Pur and Chanliyal areas of the state. Border resident have been asked not to venture out of their homes and take all precautionary measures. Some have been shifted to safer places. A villager points to marks made on a wall allegedly from firing from the Pakistan side of the border. (Photo: PTI) Jammu: An officer from the Border Security Force and six civilians were injured in heavy firing by Pakistani troops along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector on Thursday. The heavy shelling, which continued overnight, resulted in closure of schools in the area. The authorities have asked people to move to safer areas. "Assistant Sub Inspector of BSF AK Upadhayay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He received splinter injures in his hand," a BSF spokesman said. He said the BSF gave a "befitting reply" to the firing by Pakistan Rangers. Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said Pakistani troops last night also targeted civilian areas including Sai Kalan, Bure Jaal, Treva and Arnia. "Shelling started in Sai Kalan also. Arnia also came under shelling from 0130 hours. People were inside their houses, so no human casualty," he said. "At 2035 hours, Pakistani troops from two posts started firing flat trajectory weapons in the areas of RS Pura," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Dharmendra Pareek said. He said Pakistani side was targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with heavy mortar and small arms fire. The BSF was effectively retaliating and the firefight was going on, Mr Pareek said. Pakistan also resorted to heavy mortar shelling in the Arnia town of the district. "Heavy mortar shelling has started at Arnia also," Simrandeep Singh said. The BSF has informed the Union home ministry that it has destroyed 27 posts and 18 watchtowers of the Pakistani Rangers in the last few days in retaliation to the constant ceasefire violations. The BSF has also stated that it has killed as many as seven Pak Rangers and injured several of them, including a senior officer of the rank of Lt. Colonel. Amid unprecedented ceasefire violations and heavy firing by Pakistani Rangers along the border in the northern sector, one of the first things that home minister Rajnath Singh did on return from his three-day Bahrain visit on Wednesday was to have a detailed security review meeting with senior officials on the prevailing situation along the border. These details were shared by the BSF during the high-level meeting with the home minister. The BSF also informed the home minister that heavy firing by the Pak Rangers was largely due to two main factors. Firstly, the Pakistani security forces are trying hard to push in large number of militants waiting close to the border before winter sets in and are primarily providing cover fire for this. Secondly, the Pak Rangers are retaliating to Indias surgical strikes and even the killing of seven of its personnel last week by BSF. New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit in connection with the arrest of a Pakistani spy here. The Delhi Police crime branch on Wednesday detained Pakistan's High Commission official Mehmood Akhtar in connection with espionage. Mehmood Akhtar, who holds a diplomatic passport, has been detained at the crime branch office in Chanakyapuri and is being questioned. The arrest was made on the tip-off by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The official has the diplomatic immunity so the final decision would be taken by the Ministry of External Affairs, said police sources. Police sources claimed that the Pakistan High Commission official was arrested with confidential documents. Taking into account the seriousness of issue, the Ministry of External Affairs has summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit. Akhtar has been working with the Pakistan High Commission in India for the past three years. Police suspect an insider of leaking information, plans and strategy papers to Akhtar. Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistani spy who posed as a High Commission official (left), and two informants (right). (Photo: ANI Twitter) New Delhi: After a Pakistan High Commission staffer, Mehmood Akhtar was detained for his involvement in an ISI spy ring, another spy, Shoaib, the Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent allegedly involved in espionage racket, was detained near his home town on Thursday evening, police said. Earlier, a Pakistan High Commission official, Mehmood Akhtar, was detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage racket involving sharing of sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. Two people, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir were also arrested for sharing sensitive information and defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. "He (Shoaib) was responsible for recruiting Subhash and Maulana in the module. He was detained near Jodhpur today evening," said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police(Crime). Shoaib had come in contact with Maulana around one-and-a-half year back, who lured the latter to join him in collecting vital information about the installations of army and para-military forces in Gujarat and Rajasthan, the officer said. Yesterday, after getting a tip-off about the presence of Akhtar along with Shoaib, Ramzan and Jangir at Delhi Zoo, the police had nabbed Akhtar along with Ramzan and Jangir but Shoaib had managed to escape, said the officer. "We had sent a request to Jodhpur Police about detaining Shoaib and today evening he was detained. He will be brought to Delhi soon," said the officer. Shoaib's questioning is likely to reveal about the network of other spies who were recruited in the module. Police has also got to know Nagaur-based Ramzan used to recruit locals which included army and para-military forces personnel to pass on information/documents, said Yadav. He had introduced Subhash as a para-military officer to Mehmood for getting high money for sharing of important documents, police said. Ramzan and Subhash are residents of Rajasthan's Nagore. Ramzan had introduced Subhash to Akhtar as a paramilitary officer for minting hefty amount of money as well as to show that information being received is credible, Yadav said. During interrogation, Akhtar told police that he is on deputation to Pak ISI since January 2013 and is a serving Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army, the officer said adding he is native of village Kahuta, Rawalpindi district. Sources said more people in the Pakistani High Commission may be involved in the case. On possible involvement of BSF personnel, they said, "The documents that were recovered from them couldn't have been procured without the help of someone privy to such sensitive information. We are suspecting that they were aided by some BSF personnel who leaked the information and documents to them. "We are investigating that aspect. We have identified some of the officers involved and we will be conducting a raid soon." It is also suspected that he lured many people into the spying ring by offering them good money and that there was a honey trap at play to lure people, said another officer in the probe team. "Since Akhtar was working in the visa department, it gave easy access to him to identify people who could work for him as spies. People who were financially weak would be lured by promise of getting big money," he said. The officer said the honey trap angle was also being explored. "From initial investigation, it has been revealed that some girls were exploited after being promised good money and were used to lure men into the module. We are investigating this aspect," he added. Police has also recovered the mobile phones of Maulana and Jangir, who were sharing information and documents with Akhtar. "It has been found that they used to mostly communicate through whatsapp calls as they are not recorded. We cannot procure the call detail records of calls made through whatsapp. "On normal phone calls, their conversations would mostly happen through codewords and we were studying the pattern in the last six months," said the senior police officer. Akhtar would meet Maulana and Jangir once every month in Delhi where they would give documents to him and he would pay them a high amount in return. During interrogation, they didn't reveal the amount for leaking information but it is suspected to be in the range of Rs 30,000-Rs 50,000, he said. On being held, Akhtar initially showed an Aadhar card in the name of Mehboob Rajput, which was found to be fake. (Photo: ANI Twitter) New Delhi: The Pakistan High Commission staffer held for spying for ISI belongs to the Baloch regiment of Pakistani Army and was on deputation to the spy agency since 2013. But investigators probing the case suspect more people from the mission may be involved in the espionage ring. Sources in Delhi Police also did not rule out possible involvement of some BSF personnel in the racket as they believe the staffer Mehmood Akhtar and his accomplices could not have got hold of deployment details unless somebody in BSF was leaking them. Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the Pakistani High Commission, had procured sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border and shared them with the ISI. Two of Akhtar's accomplices were already arrested. Akhtar was detained but released after prolonged questioning on Tuesday as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. He said that he is on deputation to ISI since January 2013 and is a serving Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army and native of village Kahuta of Rawalpindi district, said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police(Crime). During interrogation, Akhtar said that he was posted in Pakistan High Commission for last two-and-a-half years, according to police. It is also suspected that he lured many people into the spying ring by offering them good money and that there was a honey trap at play to lure people, said another officer in the probe team. Sources said more people in the Pakistani High Commission may be involved in the case. On possible involvement of BSF personnel, they said, "The documents that were recovered from them couldn't have been procured without the help of someone privy to such sensitive information. We are suspecting that they were aided by some BSF personnel who leaked the information and documents to them. "We are investigating that aspect. We have identified some of the officers involved and we will be conducting a raid soon." The Delhi Police had been tracking the module for the last six months and received information on October 25 that Akhtar will be meeting Subhash Jangir and Maulana Ramzan at the Delhi Zoo on October 26 around 10 AM, said the officer. A team of officers of Crime Branch led by ACP Sanjay Sherawat under the supervision of DCP Crime (South) Bhisham Singh laid a trap and caught the trio while they were in the process of exchanging documents. Akhtar initially showed an Aadhar card in the name of Mehboob Rajput. "He claimed to be a resident of Chandni Chowk but after sustained interrogation, he revealed his real name Mehmood Akhtar," said Yadav. He was carrying a forged Aadhar card to assume an Indian identity. "He is serving with Pakistan ISI and has got diplomatic immunity since he is posted in the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) of Delhi . This was verified through MEA and after confirmation and as per the due procedures, he was handed over to the PHC diplomats in presence of MEA representative," Yadav said. Since Akhtar was working in the visa department, it gave easy access to him to identify people who could work for him as spies. "He would chat up with people about their family background and then start laying his trap. People who were financially weak would be lured by promise of getting big money," said a senior police officer. The officer said the honey trap angle was also being explored. "From initial investigation, it has been revealed that some girls were exploited after being promised good money and were used to lure men into the module. We are investigating this aspect," he added. Police has also recovered the mobile phones of Maulana and Jangir, who were sharing information and documents with Akhtar. "It has been found that they used to mostly communicate through Whatsapp calls as they are not recorded. We cannot procure the call detail records of calls made through Whatsapp. "On normal phone calls, their conversations would mostly happen through codewords and we were studying the pattern in the last six months," said a senior police officer. Akhtar would meet Maulana and Jangir once every month in Delhi where they would give documents to him and he would pay them a high amount in return. During interrogation, they didn't reveal the amount for leaking information but it is suspected to be in the range of Rs 30,000-Rs 50,000, said a senior police officer. Akhtar had come in contact with Maulana and Jangir through a Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent, identified as Shoaib. Maulana and Jangir are residents of Nagaur in Rajasthan. Maulana has been working as an Islamic preacher at a local mosque Qureshiyon ki Masjid there and Subhash had a small kirana shop near the mosque. Subhash incurred huge losses in business and Ramzan asked him to become a part of the module. Faridabad: A woman and her 11-year-old son were on Wednesday killed after being crushed by a moving train near Neelam Bridge here, police said. Mujesar resident Geeta Saini (34) was married to Girish Saini of Borlawa colony in Old Faridabad and the couple were parents to a daughter and a son Gautam, they said. Geeta was apparently worried about her husband's drinking habits which often led to arguments between them. The family's financial condition was also "not-so-good", a police official said. After a heated argument with Girish this morning, Geeta along with Gautam left the house and reached the railway tracks on Neelam Bridge and allegedly committed suicide under an EMU train going towards Palwal, the official said. Police reached the spot after being informed by the locals. The bodies have been sent for postmortem, police said. A circular was issued by the Defence Ministry, dated October 18, on rank equivalence between defence officers and armed forces headquarters (AFHQ), and civil service officers. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: The Modi government on Thursday denied that a circular sent to the armed forces downgraded their ranks in comparison with their civilian counterparts. According to a report, a Defence Ministry statement said that, "It is clarified that there has been no down-gradation or any change in the existing equivalence of the Service ranks whatsoever. The existing functional equivalence as clarified in 1991 and further reiterated in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2005 has only been reaffirmed. This means that there will be no change in the rank-parity structure between civilian and military officers. "...The present reiteration of rank equivalence is only for matters of assigning duties and functional responsibilities as is already existing...It is reiterated that there is no change in the rank structure or the status of the Armed Forces personnel," said the statement. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Tuesday promised to look into the issue. Parrikar said that while some people were trying to misguide, the issue relates to only functional responsibility (of armed forces) and not status, vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts. "First of all, these are only for functional responsibilities. Secondly, I have already asked for exact status of earlier. I will see and if I find any reduction in functional responsibility, this is not status, there are some people who are trying to misguide. "These are functional responsibilities. They (military officers) will be on the same platform as was done earlier. I will check up myself," Parrikar said speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the naval commanders conference. The Minister said he will take a look at all the previous orders to see if there was any discrepancy. Parrikar said he and the government were sensitive to the military issues and one should see if the government acts quickly or not whenever such issues come up. The circular issued by the Defence Ministry, dated October 18, on rank equivalence between defence officers and armed forces headquarters (AFHQ), and civil service officers, brings the rank of armed forces officers a notch down compared to their earlier status, officers said. The circular says that the equations are to be followed in service HQs, and "has the approval of the Hon'ble Raksha Mantri" (defence minister). The order equates an army Major General (rear admiral in the navy and vice-marshal in the air force) to a principal director in the Armed Force Headquarters (AFHQ) Civil Service. A Brigadier/Commodore/Air Commodore is to be equated with a director, and a Colonel/Captain/Group Captain is to be at par with a joint director in the civil service. The two alleged ISI informers were arrested for leaking defence documents to Pakistan High Commission official in New Delhi (Photo: ANI/AFP) New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Thursday detained a staff of the Pakistan High Commission over allegations of spying and stealing defence documents. Two men from Rajasthan, who are suspected to be ISI informers, were also arrested for leaking sensitive defence documents to the Pak official. The official, who has been identified as Mehmood Akhtar, was questioned by the police over the matter but was soon let off owing to the diplomatic immunity he holds. "The spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. The spies were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information," said a senior police officer. According to reports, the crime branch of the Delhi police detained Akhtar, acting on a tip-off and found some maps in his possession along with documents on force deployment. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over the matter and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told him that the Pakistan mission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage. The arrests comes amid rising tensions between the two countries over the Uri attack and the recent increase in ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops. Only last week, a Pakistani spy was arrested from Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district for passing on vital information regarding deployment and movement of security forces to Pakistan. Two Pakistani SIM cards and a map showing deployment of security forces was recovered from his possession. Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistani spy who posed as a High Commission official along with the men who leaked to him sensitive security information. (Photo: ANI Twitter) New Delhi: A staff member of the Pakistan High Commission, described as the kingpin of a spy ring working for ISI, was detained by police for alleged possession of sensitive defence documents and was immediately declared persona non-grata on Thursday. The staffer Mehmood Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the High Commission and has diplomatic immunity, was procuring critical details from two other accomplices who have been arrested here, police said. Akhtar was released after prolonged questioning because of his diplomatic immunity. He has been asked to return to Pakistan with his family by October 29, said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup. "The accused were involved in espionage activities for over a year-and-a-half. We were watching their activities for past six months. On a specific input, they were held yesterday. Akhtar is a kingpin of the spy ring," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) R S Yadav said at a press conference. The Pakistani official showed this fake Aadhaar card to Delhi police. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) He was caught by the police on Wednesday at the Delhi zoo, with two men who allegedly leaked to him sensitive information on the deployment of forces at the border. Akhtar claimed he was an Indian citizen and also showed a fake Aadhaar card to the police. He claimed to be a resident of Chandni Chowk but after sustained interrogation, he revealed his real name Mehmood Akhtar. During interrogation, Akhtar said that he was posted in the Pakistan High Commission here since about two-and-a-half years, said a police officer. He said that he is on deputation to Pak ISI since January 2013 and is a serving Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army and native of village Kahuta, Rawalpindi district, added the officer. There is likelihood of involvement of other persons as per the information elicited from him, which is being investigated, he said. "Since Akhtar was working in the visa department, it gave easy access to him to identify people who could work for him as spies. People who were financially weak would be lured by promise of getting big money," said a senior police officer. The officer said the honey trap angle was also being explored. "From initial investigation, it has been revealed that some girls were exploited after being promised good money and were used to lure men into the module. We are investigating this aspect," he added. Shortly after the police disclosure, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to his office and conveyed to him that Akhtar has been declared persona non-grata for espionage activities, Vikas Swarup, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said. "FS (foreign secretary) summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non-grata for espionage activities," foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter. Read: Pakistan defends its officials, says espionage charges against them 'false' However, Basit protested the expulsion, claiming that 'the detention and manhandling of Pakistan HC staffer yesterday was in violation of 1961 Vienna Convention'. He asked the Indian government to ensure that 'such harassment does not happen in future'. Denying that the official was a Pakistani spy, Basit claimed that Pakistan High Commission 'never engages in activity that is incompatible with its diplomatic status.' The Pakistani envoy also termed the accusations "false and unsubstantiated". The Crime Branch also arrested two people, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the staffer. The two have been sent to police custody for 12 days following their arrest. "The informers are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. The spies were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information," said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir. Defence deployment, BSF deployment maps and visa related documents were recovered from the two informers. Following this incident, more people are under scrutiny from the Pakistan High Commission. Shimla: Five months after the two infants, who were swapped at Kamal Nehru Mother and Child Hospital here, have reunited with their respective biological parents making both families happy to start a new kind of relationship between them. The babies - a boy and a girl - were exchanged by the parents in a cordial atmosphere as per Hindu rituals here at the residence of one of the parents at Khalini near the state capital on Wednesday. The reunion came after the Himachal Pradesh High Court on October 21 directed the authorities to exchange the babies to their real biological parents. The court directed the infants' parents to resolve the issue and handover babies to the real mothers and had fixed October 26 for the exchange as both are Hindu families. The parents of one of the babies, who was born on May 26, alleged that their newborn child was swapped, which was later established in the court after the two families offered DNA samples, which matched with each other. The advocate of the petitioner said after the matter was resolved amicably between both families, they are looking forward to see an action against the responsible authorities. Earlier, the court had also issued a notice to the state government over parents' petition. Anjana Thakur, the biological mother of the girl child, who is also a staff nurse in a government hospital, said: "It is an emotional and happy moment to get her baby back. She is disappointed that she will have to return the boy to his biological mother, but feels happy to get her girl child back. She wants actions against the culprits for swapping the babies." New Delhi: An NGO promoted by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik will soon be banned under the anti-terror law, with the Home Ministry preparing a draft cabinet note for it. Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) will be declared an 'unlawful association' under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act after investigations by the Home Ministry found it to be allegedly having dubious links with Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, accused of propagating terrorism, an official source said. According to the draft note, which is also based on the inputs from Maharashtra Police, Naik, who heads the IRF, has allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda. Maharashtra Police has also registered criminal cases against Naik for his alleged involvement in radicalisation of youths and luring them into terror activities, a source said. Naik also transferred IRF's foreign funds to Peace TV for making "objectionable" programmes. Most of the programmes, which were made in India, contained alleged hate speeches of Naik, who had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists" through Peace TV, sources claimed. Two educational trusts run by Naik have also come under the scanner of the Home Ministry and agencies are looking into their activities. The draft note will soon be placed before the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for its approval, sources said. Naik is accused of radicalising youths into terror and receiving foreign funds and spending those to lure young people into terrorism. He came under the scanner of the security agencies after Bangladeshi newspaper 'Daily Star' reported that one of the perpetrators of the July 1 terror attack in Dhaka, Rohan Imtiaz, ran propaganda on Facebook last year quoting Naik. Naik in a lecture, aired on Peace TV, had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists". The Islamic orator is banned in the UK and Canada for his hate speech aimed against other religions. He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia. He is popular in Bangladesh through his Peace TV, although his preachings often demean other religions and even other Muslim sects. The Mumbai-based preacher has not returned to India ever since the controversy came to light. The commission has received about 150 complaints in the last one year related to corporal punishments, sexual abuse, child marriages among others. Visakhapatnam: The AP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring, protecting and advocacy of child rights, has been facing an acute staff crunch. The commission, which has a sanctioned strength of eight members and 21 supporting staff, including the chairperson secretary, is functioning with only three members for over two years. Despite being an autonomous body on paper as per the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, the commission has not been getting any direct funds, affecting its autonomous functioning. It has to access the annual Rs 60 lakh funds through another account. Due to all factors, the commission has not been conducting public hearings on Right to Education, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act or the Juvenile Justice Act. Bala Vikas Foundation secretary Narava Prakasa Rao said that the commission had become an appendage due to lack of support from the government. Lack of coordination between the implementing agencies, almost non-functional district committees, poor awareness and negligence of service providers are making the child protection policy non-existent, Mr Prakasa Rao added. The commission has received about 150 complaints in the last one year related to corporal punishments, sexual abuse, child marriages among others. After bifurcation of the state about two years ago, the states top child rights panel was also bifurcated, leaving the AP unit with no permanent office or infrastructure. Even after two years, the condition of the commission has not seen any improvement, which has become a concern for child rights activists. Due to staff shortage, the existing members were forced to do even administrative work. In fact the commission should have a chairperson secretary of a rank not less than a secretary, an IAS officer. When contacted, commission in-charge chairperson S. Balaraju, admitted to staff shortage and explained how it has been burdening them. Every Panchayat should form a vigilance committee to prevent child marriages and other child right violations. But right from the state-level officials to Panchayats have no idea about their role and responsibility in implementing the Child Protection Policy. We need to sensitise people regarding child protection protocols, Mr Balaraju added. Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday commenced hearing on a criminal petition moved by AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu challenging an order passed by the ACB Court ordering a probe into the role of other accused in the cash-for-vote scam. The ACB court has earlier directed the TS ACB to probe the role of other accused in the case based on a complaint of YSR Congress MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy. A single judge of the High Court stayed the order of ACB Court. When Mr Ramakrishna Reddy moved the Supreme Court against the stay, the Apex Court had remanded the matter to the High Court requesting it to dispose of the case within four weeks. Supreme Court senior counsel Siddhartha Luthra, appearing for Mr Naidu before Justice T. Sunil Chowdary, told the court that despite knowing that the law does not permit issuance of a second FIR in the same case, the special court granted an order for the fresh probe under Section 156 (3) of the CrPC. Relying on the judgment of the Supreme Court in T.T. Anthony versus state of Kerala, the senior counsel submitted that despite pendency of the investigation of other accused in the case and also the fact of filing of charge sheet against some of the accused in the case, the special court, without going into the facts of the case, just issued the order under the Section 156 (3). He submitted that while quashing case against one Jerusalem Mathaiah, one of the accused in this case, the High Court categorically ruled that the charges of abetment of corruption would not be attracted against accused in this case as the alleged abetment was not related to an official functioning but is related to an election. The arguments will continue on Monday. New Delhi: The man, whose address was mentioned in the forged Aadhaar card of a Pakistan High Commission staffer detained for his involvement in an espionage ring, was shocked, saying he got to know about the case only after his house had a beeline of journalists. The Pakistan High Commission staffer, Mehmood Akhtar, was picked up along with his two accomplices from Delhi Zoo. Mr Akhtar claimed to be a resident of Chandani Chowk and produced a forged Aadhaar card bearing the house address 2350, Gali Near Madari, Rodgran Mohalla. However, Mohd Asif, who owns the house, said, I dont know how and why my address was there in the card. We only got to know about it after mediapersons came to my house to ask me about how my address was there in that persons Aadhaar card. It's shocking for us. Asif said he and his family have been living in the area for the last 40 years and that the house is a part of their family legacy. Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistani spy who posed as a High Commission official (left), and two informants (right). (Photo: ANI Twitter) New Delhi: India declared on Thursday Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar persona non-grata, and asked him to leave the country with his family in 48 hours, a day after he and two Indian co-conspirators were caught in Delhi on espionage charges. The two Indians Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir of Rajasthan were booked under the Official Secrets Act and sent to police custody for 10 days. A third person, Shoaib, part of the ring, was detained in the border state, and was being brought to Delhi. The action coincides with rising tension and fatal border skirmishes between the two nuclear-armed countries after terrorists killed 19 Indian soldiers last month, prompting India to launch a global diplomatic offensive, and carry out anti-terror surgical strikes across the LoC. The police caught Akhtar receiving sensitive documents pertaining to the deployment of the Indian military and paramilitary forces along the Indo-Pak border from the two Indians working for Pakistans spy agency ISI. Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistani spy who posed as a High Commission official (left), and two informants (right). (Photo: ANI Twitter) New Delhi: India declared on Thursday Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar persona non-grata, and asked him to leave the country with his family in 48 hours, a day after he and two Indian co-conspirators were caught in Delhi on espionage charges. He was detained for questioning but released because he enjoys diplomatic immunity. Foreign secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit, informed him of what had happened and strongly conveyed that no High Commission member can indulge in such activities. Pakistan rejected the charges and condemned the Indian action, accusing India of trying to shrink diplomatic space for the working of the Pakistan High Commission. Pakistan alleged that the staffer had been lifted and manhandled. But India swiftly clarified that he had been treated with utmost courtesy, adding that the Vienna Convention (for protection of diplomats) had been fully adhered to. Pointing out that Akhtar was caught red-handed, New Delhi said, We are happy that we nipped the ISI spy ring in the bud. Akhtar had been working as an assistant to Pakistans counselor (Trade) Farukh Habib in the High Commission. He and the two Indian accomplices were picked up from the Delhi Zoo. With speculation being rife that more Pakistan High Commission employees could be involved in the espionage ring, sources said investigations were continuing and that there could be more arrests. When asked why Akhtar was released, sources in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said he may not be a diplomat in the traditional sense and may not even have a diplomatic passport but said he was allowed to go as he enjoyed some level of diplomatic immunity on account of being a staffer at the high commission. Sources in the Delhi police told news agencies that they did not rule out possible involvement of some BSF personnel in the racket, as they believe Akhtar and his accomplices could not have got hold of security deployment details unless somebody in the border force was leaking them. When caught, Akhtar first identified himself as Mehmood Rajput of Chandni Chowk, but the Aadhaar card he produced turned out to be fake. He admitted that he had joined the Baloch regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1997 and came on deputation to the ISI in 2013. He was posted in September 2013 to the Pakistan High Commission. He recruited Indians for spying and sent information to Pakistan. The module had been active for 18 months, and came on police radar six months ago. Last year, the police busted an ISI spy ring in the Pakistan High Commission and arrested five persons. Bengaluru: Members of the BJP Mahila Morcha staged a chipko movement at Anand Rao Circle on Thursday and hugged trees as a mark of protest against the BDAs proposed steel flyover, for which 812 trees are to be axed. Led by MP Shobha Karandlaje, the members shouted slogans against the Congress government for turning a deaf ear to the citizens demands and alleged that the government could be getting lucrative kickbacks for going ahead with the project, despite such public opposition. Shobha said, Like many slow-paced infrastructure works, this steel flyover too will deface the city. We need to question why the state government is so adamant about this flyover and its whole focus is revolving around this one flyover. Despite such a huge hue and cry from the citizens, urban experts and other political parties, the state government does not want to drop the project. The governments refusal to budge is very suspicious. She further pointed out that when the Cabinet approved the project, the cost of the project was estimated at `1,300 crore, but when the detailed project report (DPR) was finally prepared, the cost escalated to `1,800 crore. When there are so many other pending urban infrastructure projects that need money and the BDA being almost bankrupt, the government should be transparent and should explain to the citizens why it still wants to go ahead with the flyover, she demanded. Shobha took a dig at the slow-paced Namma Metro project and said that wherever the project was in progress, there was congestion in the city. The flyover is bound to become slow-paced due to lack of funds in the future or could remain incomplete, and the citizens would ultimately bear the brunt due to the governments adamant behaviour, she said. AAP seeks Rahuls intervention A letter by AAP state convener Prithvi Reddy, addressed to Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, urges him to intervene and stop the project immediately. Reddy stated, Dear Mr Gandhi, by now you must surely be aware of the massive opposition to your government's ludicrous idea of building a steel flyover in the heart of Bengaluru, at an exorbitant cost of nearly Rs 2,000 crore. While the State government cites a 2-day online consultation and approval of 73% of the 229 responses, they have chosen to completely ignore the objection by about 10,000 citizens who formed a human chain against the project. All of this reminds us a lot of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, and how your government responded then too, and the verdict the angered voters delivered. That could surely happen here too. He further said, The popular belief is that in the run-up to the elections in Uttar Pradesh, your party is shoring up as much funds as it can to be competitive. And Karnataka, as the last large state ruled by the INC, is the inevitable place to look for those resources. As a concerned citizens and the convener of an opposition party in Karnataka, I see no reason why the state should bear the brunt of the Congress party's steep fall in public support. Therefore we call upon you to do the needful immediately. New Delhi: A man on Wednesday called up Delhi Police Control Room threatening to kill Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. However, it later turned out to be a hoax call, the police identified the caller and said he was a "drunkard" and "mentally unsound". "A call was received around 6.16 pm at the police control room today but it was later found to be hoax. The caller was later identified as Ravinder Kumar Tiwari, a resident of north east Delhi's Khajuri Khas area. When local police reached his home, neighbours told them that he is a drunkard and mentally unsound. He hasn't been found yet," said a senior police officer. The officer added that Tiwari said he will shoot Kejriwal but when asked about his identity, he only said, "I will reveal my identity only if I am shot dead." Sources said as a precautionary measure, the Chief Minister's Office was informed about the call. This disparity has long been cited by activists as proof of widespread discrimination against vulnerable communities. Chennai: One in every three prisoners in Tamil Nadus prison is a Dalit, community that forms 20 per cent of the states overall population. According to the National Crime Record Bureau report titled Prison Statistics India 2015, around 35.23 per cent of all convicts, 36.44 per cent of undertrials and 37.46 per cent of detenues in Tamil Nadus jail are dalits. This disparity has long been cited by activists as proof of widespread discrimination against vulnerable communities. However, the NCRB study provides no reason for the high rate of Dalit convicts, undertrials and detenues. According to the report, as of December 2015, there are 4,966 convicts in Tamil Nadu. Out of these, 1,750 were members of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) or Dalits, 158 of the Scheduled Tribes (STs), 2,573 Other Backward Classes, and 485 others. Out of a total of 7,850 undertrials, 2,861 are SCs, 169 STs, 4,320 OBCs and 500 others. A Kathir, executive director of Evidence, a Madurai-based NGO, said large number of dalits being lodged in the prisons only shows the inherent discrimination in the system. Vulnerable section of people like dalits and tribals and poor are often become victims of highhandedness of police. They will be arrested and lodged in prisons for even minor cases despite the Supreme Courts clear direction against arresting people under minor IPC charges, he said, demanding a white paper on status of prisoners. Tribals who constitute mere one per cent of the states over all population, forms 3.18 per cent of all the convict prisoners. CPI (M) secretariat member P. Shanmugham, also vice president of Tamil Nadu Tribals Association, said that the police booking undetected theft cases on tribal communities like Irulas and Kuravars are common in the state. Though the criminal tribes act was abolished long time ago, the denotified tribes like Kuravas are still suffers the criminal tribes stigma, he said. If there is a theft somewhere, the police are picking up innocent people belonging to Kurava community. Besides, it is common to see many people belonging to the community have multiple cases, he said, noting that till few years ago, the police training syllabus had a chapter called Kurava crimes. It was removed after a long struggle, he said. A senior police officer said that persons were not arrested based on their caste. Whoever is involved in the crime irrespective of his/her caste, is arrested and remanded,, the officer said. Mahbubabad: Making it clear that the Congress will not rest till debt-ridden farmers are provided succour, TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday said that the TRS government must change its attitude towards farmers. Addressing a mammoth Rythu Garjana at the NTR stadium here, Mr Reddy said that the public meeting was the beginning of the fight for the farmers of TS. Citing the neglect of farmers after the recent heavy rains, Mr Reddy said that till now, the state government has not conducted assessment of crop damage. He criticised Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, accusing him of completely failing to keep promises he made and thus sending farmers into debt-traps. KCR promised to waive farm loans but even with so many farmers ending their lives due to the debt burden, the CM continues to claim that Telangana farmers are happy, he said. Senior leader K. Jana Reddy said that the CM was boasting of achieving statehood for Telangana, but the reality was that it was the Congress which carved out the state. It is sad that farmers in the state are reeling under such problems due to an incompetent government, he said. AICC secretary R.C. Khuntia said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was always on foreign tours, the TS CM was infamous for not keeping his promises. Both have failed as administrators. The people of the country will ensure the ouster of these two parties in the 2019 elections, he said. New Delhi: Congress on Thursday virtually ruled out any grand alliance in poll bound Uttar Pradesh including with Samajwadi Party insisting that Rahul Gandhi wanted to set things right in the state which is in bad shape for past 27 years in non-Congress rule. "Our stand is more than clear..We have been saying '27 saal, UP behal'. Rahul Gandhi's yatra .....is not founded on lust for power but to bring new paradigm of politics in the state", Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters here. He said that the Congress has been holding the SP, BSP and BJP "squarely responsible" for shifting focus from the issue of development through politics of division of different kind. When told that Rahul Gandhi had described UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as a "good guy", he said that the Congress Vice President has no personal enmity with any leader and that politics cannot be founded on likes and dislikes of individuals. Surjewala's remarks are significant as they came in the backdrop of reports that only yesterday 17 Congress MLAs from the state had a meeting with Rahul Gandhi in which they conveyed to him that he should look at forming an alliance with "secular forces" to fight the assembly elections. He also discounted suggestions that JD-U leader Sharad Yadav's meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi two days back and with party General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad today was indicative of a grand alliance. Yadav had also met UP SP chief Shivpal Yadav yesterday. Noting that the Congress has an alliance with the JD-U in Bihar, he said that it would be wrong to interpret the meetings in any other way. To a specific question whether he was ruling out Congress tying up with any party in Uttar Pradesh in future, he said how could he say what would happen six months from now. Interestingly, Samajwadi Partys UP president Shivpal Yadav had yesterday hinted at a tie-up with the RLD and Congress to stop "communal forces" in the Assembly polls scheduled early next year. BSP is reluctant to go for any alliance and the possible options put forward by most of the MLAs were the RLD and SP, an unnamed MLA was quoted as saying after the meeting with Gandhi. Chennai: DMK Treasurer and Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly M K Stalin on Thursday said his party would bring a no-confidence motion against Speaker P Dhanapal if various House committees, including the Public Accounts panel, were not set up expeditiously. He said DMK would also take up the issue with Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, "the (Constitutional) authority, of the House." "Assembly committees should be expeditiously set up. If that is not done, we will bring a no-confidence motion against the Speaker," Stalin told reporters, adding Dhanapal should not "create a situation" constraining them to opt for the motion. He said 12 House Committees including ones for Estimates, Public Accounts and Privileges were to be set up annually according to rules. But, there were "no signs," of the committees being formed despite Dhanapal "informing" the House during the recent session that they would set up after he and his party's deputy leader Duraimurugan took up the isssue in the Assembly, he said. A reminder letter on the issue was handed over to the Assembly Speaker today, he said. "Our next step... We will meet the Governor if action is not taken expeditiously," he said. Answering a question on the October 25 "all-party meeting," over Cauvery issue convened by DMK, he said a copy of resolutions adopted in the meeting was handed over at the offices of Finance Minister O Panneerselvam and the Chief Secretary. Among others, the resolutions demanded convening of the Assembly for adopting a resolution on Cauvery issue. The contents of Cockroach Catcher Blog (text and photos) are strictly the copyright of Dr Am Ang Zhang and all rights are reserved. Other bloggers are welcome to quote and use any of the content of the articles on the internet or in their own blogs as long as it is acknowledged. Anyone wishing to use substantial parts or all of any of the articles is asked to contact Dr Am Ang Zhang (cockroachcatcher (at)gmail (dot)com) in advance. Hyderabad: Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said that Pakistan should dismantle all terrorist camps in its territory, end terrorism as a state policy and stop aiding, abetting, funding, training terrorists against India. Pakistan should realise using terrorism as a state policy is suicidal. Its like a Basmasura hasta. If you give such an opportunity to Basmasura, it will destroy you too. Quetta incident is an example. If you encourage terrorism, you will fall victim to it one day or the other, he said. Stating that terrorism is the enemy of mankind, Mr Naidu said, Terrorists have no religion. Entire world must come together to expose and eliminate terrorism from the world. Pakistan has to change its policy and hand over those behind the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Over the years Pakistan has waged proxy war against India, unnecessary dragging Kashmir into controversy, he said. They want to cripple Indian democracy, economy. They want to subvert India by bringing in religion. Support for Indian militants, terrorists, is coming from across the border. Puri duniya janti hai (entire world knows), he told the media here. Mr Naidu said the attack on the police academy in Quetta where scores were killed was the fallout of Pakistan encouraging terrorism. Stating Pakistan failed to honour Agra summit promise not to allow its soil to be used for any terrorist activity, he said it has not walked the talk. In spite of number of goodwill gestures by India, attempt to have friendly neighbourly relations, Pakistan is adopting double standards by criticising and encouraging terror. Fighting against terror on the west and encouraging terror on the east is not good nor will it help Pakistan, he said. Calling it atrocious Pakistan accusing India for terror mayhem there, he asserted India never encourages terrorism. Terrorists have no religion. Entire world must come together to identify, expose and eliminate terrorism from every nook and corner of the world. Pakistan has to change its policy, he added. TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy interacts with students during a protest meeting against the TS governments failure to clear fee reimbursement dues at Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad on Thursday. (Photo: Deccan Chronicle) Hyderabad: Senior Congress leaders, including TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Leaders of the Opposition in Assembly and Council K. Jana Reddy and Mohd. Ali Shabbir, on Thursday accused Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao of behaving like a sadist towards the student community by not releasing funds for the fee reimbursement scheme over the last few months. Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that Mr Rao has pushed nearly 14 lakh students into depression by not clearing their fee reimbursement dues. Addressing a well-attended meeting organised by NSUI and Youth Congress at L.B. Nagar Crossroads on Thursday, the TPCC chief said that overwhelming response to Congress' signature campaign on fee reimbursement issue clearly shows the frustration and anger of the student community against the TRS government. He said that Mr Rao has broken the rhythm of academic career of lakhs of students across TS. He alleged that the TS government was on the verge of bankruptcy as it has no money for students, farmers or poor patients. However, the CM is ensuring regular payments to contractors of Mission Bhagaritha so that he gets his commission. KCR is not aware of students' power. They have the capacity to dethrone any government, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Mr Jana Reddy said that the government owes nearly Rs 3,600 crore in fee reimbursement dues to private colleges. He said, Despite giving an assurance in Assembly, KCR failed to keep his words. He has proved that he has no respect for Assembly or the CMs post. BENGALURU: A day after his acquittal by a CBI court, state BJP president B. S. Yeddyurappa was criticized by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president Dr. G.Parameshwar with both leaders saying the former chief minister would be punished in the people's court in elections to the Legislative Assembly in 2018. Replying to felicitations by senior Congress leaders and general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Digvijay Singh, on completion of six years as state unit chief, Dr. Parameshwar said: "The CBI court has acquitted Mr. Yeddyurappa of charges of corruption, but how did Rs. 20 crores money come to his (Mr Yeddyurappa)'s account? We don't know how you (Mr Yeddyurappa) got a clean chit from the court, but one thing is sure that you will be defeated in the people's court in 2018 elections, and truth will prevail." Mr Siddaramaiah too attacked Mr Yeddyurappa. "People know that Mr Yeddyurappa indulged in corruption and went to jail. They will not forget these corruption cases in elections in 2018," he added. Congratulating Dr. Parameshwar for completing record six years as KPCC president, the Chief Minister stated "no leader in the Congress held the president's post so long. He has worked hard to strengthen the party in the state." Taking a dig at the media for misrepresenting facts, the Chief Minister said Dr Parameshwar and he worked as a team with no differences so far. In his address, Congress leader in Lok Sabha, M Mallikarjun Kharge, "whenever party leaders have been targetted by dissidents, our party or the leaders concerned should back such leaders. I have been attacked several times, and my effigies burnt several times. I have been in public life for 50 years, and at this stage I cannot defend myself in the presence of the media. The party should come to my defence." This was an oblique reference to caustic statements by senior ministers who were dropped during the recent reshuffle. Hariprasad advice to CM: Dont ignore old guard Congress general secretary B.K. Hariprasad advised Mr Siddaramaiah not to ignore the old guard in the party. If you (Mr Siddaramaiah) ignore veteran Congress leaders, you will meet the same fate as Dr Parameshwar in 2013 Assembly elections. Our party appointed Dr Parameshwar as KPCC president because of his clean image, but he was defeated in the elections because he ignored senior Congress leaders, he remarked. Udan the new regional air connectivity scheme is not likely to get the aam aadmi to fly, but it will correct the historical wrong done to the air transport business in India. The hallmark of faux socialism was the targeting of some services and goods as luxury and by implication, anti-common man, anti-growth and pro-inequality. Air transport was one such service. Its early face was to serve the rich or the privileged. But all this has changed. Indian workers travelling from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh to the Gulf travel by road or rail to Delhi before taking an international flight. Why not facilitate them to fly straight from Etawah to Delhi, thereby securing their luggage end-to-end and avoiding the choking of our inter-state roads? Udan is refreshingly simple and timely in its objectives. It is not populist even though it is being marketed in that manner. The hawai chappalwallahs would prefer to get subsidy in hand rather than as a low-cost air junket. Udan is not about giving the poor a taste of luxury, Evita Peron style. Udan is about growth and jobs as the policy note avers up front. It quotes the International Civil Aviation Organisation that every rupee invested in civil aviation add Rs 3.5 to the economy and every job created directly generates 6.1 jobs indirectly. There is no reason to take the ICAO at its word. The ministry has been baking this scheme since November 2014. It should have estimated similar value and job multipliers in the Indian context. That could have better evidenced the benefits from the allocation of public funds on the value for money principle. But the economic rationale can be intuitively surmised. There are as many as 398 unserved airports which have no commercial flights and 18 under-served airports host less than seven flights per week. One may well ask why this large number of airports exist if there are no commercial flights to them and who pays for their upkeep? Anecdotally, these airports have existed for the convenience of the elite political class for their infrequent in and out inspections, disaster surveys and election time visits to the hinterland. Less frequently Indias small business elite may also use a few. Not all of them are owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Central agency which manages airports. Some are owned by the ministry of defence, others by state governments. It would have helped investors if the policy note had listed the ownership and management of each. So what are the likely benefits? First, commercialising these 416 airports will democratise publicly-owned sites which have hitherto been reserved for elite use. The average citizen would get a participative stake in their use and development. This is a vital aspect that policy note ignores. Second, the government has rightly slashed taxes and charges on regional connectivity flights to narrow the viability gap. AAI will not charge any landing or parking charge and only 42.5 per cent of the route and navigation facilitation charge. The owners of these airports will similarly exempt such flights from all charges whilst ensuring the full package of airport facilities. Most of these charges are exorbitant in any case and need to be rationalised. Consider that AAI earns a profit after tax of around Rs 800 crores. This surplus is better used for regional air connectivity than to subsidise Air India, which should be privatised. Third, whilst Udan is branded as a new passenger facility, an additional business opportunity is the potential for moving existing perishable cargo, fragile goods and high-value export-oriented products by air. It is only a combination of passengers and cargo which can make the scheme sustainable. Public investments should be leveraged via private management model used for major airports. Investor consultations in state capitals being planned should include potential investors in airport management and development. Fourth, some of the additional economic value and jobs are from developing these airports as growth centres. Providing secure and high quality road links, 24x7 electricity, clean water and sanitation are key for private management to step in with malls, airconditioned warehouses, hotels and new businesses which need secure air connectivity. The Udan policy ticks all the right boxes. It retains the potential for business innovation by limiting the seats at the Udan price to 50 per cent of capacity. The remaining seats can be sold at market rates. Operators shall be chosen competitively via reverse auction for the minimum amount of viability gap funding (VGF) required. The policy is carefully and explicitly drafted to avoid ex-post disputes. The policy is market driven. Flight operators must do their own due diligence and come forward with proposals which would then be put out to bid. If a proposer fails to submit the lowest bid, they could still win by agreeing to match the lowest bid. This provision preserves the incentive for initiating proposals, whilst retaining competitive energy in the bid process. In the past, in roads and telecom, irresponsible bids resulted in projects being abandoned subsequently. Most of these airports are challenges for business development rather than ready-baked money spinners. Hopefully, only responsible bidders would respond. The policy carries forward the spirit of cooperative federalism. The Central government will fund 80 per cent (90 per cent in the Northeast) of the subsidy amount to be paid to the operators as VGF. The state government shall fund the residual marginal amount. It is a policy reform which does not just eye the popular vote. It courageously demolishes the economic posturing of the past and the earlier demonisation of air transport. It looks, instead, towards medium-term economic growth and job creation. Habitual leftists, dyed-in-the-wool faux socialists and related do-gooders are likely to label this policy a sellout in the name of the poor. But young entrepreneurs yearning for growth opportunities and young workers looking for good jobs should support it. Even those who are ideologically bound to oppose this policy are sure to use these services as they travel cattle class to the hinterland. Hitler lent dignity and prestige to the German government within a short time by establishing a strong administrative setup. He created the vast state of Greater Germany. He adopted a new economic policy and brought prosperity to Germany. He began efforts for the eradication of unemployment. He started constructing public buildings, providing irrigation facilities, building railways, roads and production of war materials. This is not a quote from history book of Nazi Germany. Its a quote from a Class 10 social science book that was taught in Gujarat between the years 2000 and 2005 under BJP chief ministers Keshubhai Patel and Narendra Modi. The book goes on to say: Hitler instilled a spirit of adventurism in the German people, but in doing so it led to extreme nationalism and caused the Second World War. Not a word on the Holocaust, or the consequence of the war on Germany itself! This not only shows ideological inclination of the current ruling party to one of the worst dictators in human history, but also how by deliberately presenting some facts and withholding far more important ones, the government was trying to influence young minds. The book was withdrawn after the consul-general of Israel visited Gujarat in October 2005. Compare this eulogy of Hitler with the new social science textbooks for Class 8 in BJP-ruled Rajasthan, where Jawaharlal Nehru is mentioned as one-liners in two different chapters. The book is silent about his participation in the independence movement, about his immense contribution as the architect of modern India, and a simple fact that he was the first Prime Minister of independent India. Its a shame that attempts are being made to relegate a global personality like Nehru to the footnotes of history. Like the Taliban in Afghanistan who destroyed the Bamiyan Buddha, some people are trying to demolish our own national icons. These are two glaring examples of historical negationism and revisionism. Education is one of the most potent tools to capture young minds and influence generations. Whenever an intolerant regime comes to power, there is a deliberate attempt to destroy educational and cultural institutions. History becomes the most abused discipline because its through reading of history we learn about our past, and that in turn, defines our present and shapes the vision of our future. Historical negationism and revisionism is not reinterpreting or questioning well-established tenets from a different perspective. It is an attempt to revise past by disregarding all well-established technique and methodology of historical research, by deliberate acts of omission of historical facts to create a biased opinion, by deliberate distortion of historical records, even by creating forged documents and tampering with evidence; and making outrageous claims based on most flimsy evidence. One RSS scholar, late V.S. Wakankar, claimed that modern homo sapiens evolved and diffused from upper Saraswati region, an area held sacred by RSS vedic scholars. The basis of this assertion was the discovery of the fossil of a pre-humanoid ape, the Ramapithecus, during the British period in the region. However, the scholar failed to note that this species was not in the lines of humans, but of orangutans. Currently, books by self-proclaimed historians like Dinanath Batra, who credits everything like stem cell technology and automobile industry to the Vedic age, are being given credibility as his books are being taught in BJP-ruled states of Haryana and Gujarat. Theres an open aggression about the way RSS ideologues are trying to capture the intellectual space. However, other subtle methods, probably far more dangerous, are at play. Last year, we saw a newly generated interest and heated debates regarding declassification of the Netaji files. A vicious atmosphere was created wherein a deliberate attempt was made to implicate Nehru and the senior leadership of Congress of a heinous make-believe crime that never happened. A host of so-called Netaji experts were given media space at the cost of serious, rational academic discourse. There were selective leaks of classified files, forged documents doing rounds on the Internet that were taken as evidence to influence the viewers. Outrageous insinuations were made. Serious academic works on the subject, including a definitive biography of Netaji, His Majestys Opponent, by his great-grand-nephew Sugata Bose, a professional historian who taught at Harvard, were completely ignored. At no point, the Government of India through the Prime Ministers Office or the home ministry or external affairs ministry made any statement except for announcement of a decision to declassify the files. It let its party spokespersons, cronies in the media, and some dubious experts on Netaji do the job. Its another matter that the interest on Netaji seems to have died down after the West Bengal polls were over. This was a classic case of false propaganda being used to create false perceptions. In current age, the Internet and social media are other informal tools that are being used to spread false information, twisted interpretation of history and historical personalities. Just a cursory Google check on Nehru shows what kind of vicious and poisonous propaganda machinery is at play. In this frenzied atmosphere of intellectual dishonesty and intolerance where the RSS and the right-wing forces are trying to monopolise the dominant space in the ideological discourse, any one who falls outside this narrative is termed anti-national. In the last two and a half years, we have seen how heavily they have come down on anyone attempting to speak a language different than theirs. Whether Rohith Vemula or Kanhaiya Kumar, rationalists who were murdered or the artists and writers returning awards, are all anti-nationals. Some people do not learn from history. They think that by using brute force or false propaganda they can rewrite history. They do not realise that fanaticism and falsehood do not pay dividend in the long run. Otherwise they would have remembered that the regime that carved out an empire in Europe by using brute force and false propaganda collapsed within a few years. A Reich that was supposed to last for 1,000 years crumbled to dust within a decade. India is a young nation but an ancient civilisation. The people of India will not let a few fanatics destroy India because we are guided by the millennia-old collective wisdom that said: Asato ma sadgamaya, tamaso maa jyotir gamaya, mrityor maa amritam gamaya (Lead us from untruth to truth, from darkness to light, from annihilation to eternity). Last year was a huge turning point for clean power, with renewable energy surpassing coal to become the largest source of power capacity in the world for the first time, according to a new report. And not only have renewables now overtaken coal, but the rate of their adoption keeps getting faster. In another first, growth in renewables outstripped all other forms of new power generation in 2015, with clean energy accounting for more than half of the worlds new electricity capacity added last year. The new figures, released in a market report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) this week, mean that energy forecasts from only a year ago now need to be revised with renewables growth between 2015 and 2021 predicted to be 13 per cent greater than estimated last year. That revised estimate should see renewables be responsible for 28 per cent of electricity generation by 2021 last year, it accounted for 23 per cent, so each year, renewables take over about one per cent of the electricity market. That 2021 prediction might only be a little over a quarter of the worlds total electricity in five years time, but it amounts to a massive 7,600 terawatt hours equivalent to the total combined electricity generation of the US and the European Union (EU) today. And in that five-year timespan, renewables are expected to absorb 60 per cent of all power capacity growth, which basically means the IEA doesnt see the record-setting gains shown in the past year slowing down any time soon. We are witnessing a transformation of global power markets led by renewables and, as is the case with other fields, the centre of gravity for renewable growth is moving to emerging markets, said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. In those emerging markets, the rate of renewables adoption is almost unimaginably fast. In China, two new wind turbines were installed every hour in 2015, meaning the nation had built almost 20,000 new turbines by the end of the year. That flurry of investment saw China soak up about half of all new wind power additions, and approximately 40 per cent of global renewable capacity increases in total. Wind power led the growth in renewables, adding 66 gigawatt (GW) of capacity in 2015, followed by solar, which represented 49 GW. And just in case you think that means solars been slacking off, bear this in mind that additional 49 GW of capacity amounts to about 500,000 new solar panels being installed around the world every day last year. So, obviously theres a lot to celebrate in these new figures, which the IEA puts down to stronger renewables policies chiefly in the US, China, India, and Mexico plus falling prices thanks to stronger competition in the marketplace, and better technology. But the researchers also say we need to make sure the momentum keeps up. Many countries around the world still arent getting behind renewables strongly enough, and even in nations that have thrown their support behind clean power such as China their increase in renewables capacity still doesnt meet their ever-higher electricity demands. Whereas in the US, EU, and Japan, additional renewables capacity is expected to outpace electricity demand over the next five years. Source:www.sciencealert.com Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Large display monitors show the result of voting from member states during a meeting of the UN General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters. (Photo: AP) United Nations: The United States on Wednesday abstained for the first time in 25 years from a vote at the United Nations calling for an end to the US embargo against Cuba. The UN General Assembly adopted the annual resolution by an overwhelming vote of 191 votes in favor -- with only the United States and Israel abstaining in the 193-nation forum. Washingtons abstention was in line with calls from President Barack Obama for the opposition-controlled Congress to lift the decades-old embargo as part of a historic normalization of relations. The United States has always voted against this resolution. Today the United States will abstain, US ambassador Samantha Power told the assembly, drawing loud applause. After 55-plus years of pursuing the path of isolation, we are choosing to take the path of engagement. The United States restored diplomatic ties with Cuba in July 2015 and a month later re-opened its embassy in Havana. Obama made a landmark visit to the communist-ruled island in March. But restoring full trade and financial ties with Cuba would require legislative action by Congress, where the Republican majority has said human rights concerns must first be addressed. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez welcomed the US shift as positive, but said that Washington must take concrete steps that go beyond the vote of one delegation in this forum. The blockade continues to be a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of all Cuban men and women and qualifies as an act of genocide, Rodriguez said. Economic damage suffered by Cuba from the US embargo between April 2015 and March 2016 -- coinciding with the time of Obamas first meeting with President Raul Castro to his historic Havana visit -- is estimated at more than $4.68 billion, Rodriguez said. Over the past six decades, the damage from this genocidal policy amounts to $753.688 billion, he added. Cuba still suffering Embargo restrictions have prevented the sale of US medical equipment to treat Cubans suffering from Parkinsons disease and blocked a deal by a Cuban pharmaceutical company that would have allowed it to produce drugs locally, said the foreign minister. There isnt any Cuban family or sector in our country that has not suffered from its effects, he said. This years resolution takes note of steps taken by the Democratic Obama administration to ease the embargo, describing them as positive but still limited in scope. The measure calls on all UN member states to refrain from applying the embargo and to reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation. Last year, the United States and Israel were the only two countries that voted against the non-binding resolution, but 191 voted in favor -- the highest level of support yet for the measure at the United Nations. Power recalled that the US policy aimed at isolating Cuba was not working and had instead isolated the United States. Abstaining on this resolution does not mean that the United States agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government. We do not, said Power. After praising Cuba for sending hundreds of doctors to West Africa to fight the Ebola virus outbreak, Power said the United States and Cuba must continue to find ways to engage, despite differences. Today, we have taken another small step to be able to do that. May there be many more -- including, we hope, finally ending the US embargo, she said. The assembly has voted each year since 1992 to approve the resolution criticizing the embargo that was imposed in 1960, at the height of the Cold War. The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 after Fidel Castro rose to power and aligned himself with the then-Soviet Union. Haley said she would vote for Trump even though she disagrees with him on many issues and finds his remarks on rigging of elections "irresponsible". (Photo: AP) Washington: South Carolina's Indian-American Governor Nikki Haley has said this year's US presidential election has turned her stomach upside down as she is not happy with either of the choices for the president, but she still plans to vote for Republican nominee Donald Trump. "This election has turned my stomach upside down. It has been embarrassing for both parties. It's not something that the country deserves, but it's what we've got," a disappointed Haley said. "This is no longer a choice for me on personalities, because I'm not a fan other either one. What it is about is policy," the 44-year-old said. Haley said she would vote for Trump even though she disagrees with him on many issues and finds his remarks on rigging of elections "irresponsible". "The best person based on the policies and dealing with things like Obamacare still is Donald Trump. That doesn't mean it's an easy vote, but it does mean I'm watching out for the people of South Carolina and I'm watching out for the people of South Carolina and that's who I will be voting for on November 8," Haley told reporters at a news conference in Columbia, South Carolina. During the primaries, Haley had endorsed Marco Rubio and she has been very critical of the policies and statements of Trump. "Eighteen months of seeing where everyone's trying to see how they can one-up someone on story that has nothing to do related to the policies of the people of this country and so I think what I look forward to is us moving on past two weeks, dealing with whatever the results are, and moving forward," she added. "This election is not rigged, and it's irresponsible to say that it is," Nikki Haley said in a statement to The Post and Courier, a major daily from South Carolina. "Faith in the democratic process is one of America's greatest strengths, and it's more important than the outcome of any election," she said in her first statement after the allegations that GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has been making that the election is rigged. Several leaders from the Democratic and Republican party and official of the Federal Election Commission have refuted Trump's allegations in this regard. The operation to retake Mosul began Oct. 17 and is expected to take weeks, if not months. The International Organization for Migration says around 9,000 people have fled so far. (Photo: AP) Baghdad: The UN's public health agency said Thursday it has trained 90 Iraqi medics in "mass casualty management," with a special focus on chemical attacks, as part of its preparations for Iraq's operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group. The extremist group, which has ruled Iraq's second largest city for more than two years, is believed to have crude chemical weapons capabilities, and Iraqi forces say they are prepared to encounter them on the battlefield. The World Health Organization said Wednesday that of the 700,000 people expected to flee Mosul, some 200,000 will require emergency health services, including more than 90,000 children needing vaccinations and 8,000 pregnant women. The operation to retake Mosul began Oct. 17 and is expected to take weeks, if not months. The International Organization for Migration says around 9,000 people have fled so far. The fighting has not yet reached the city itself, which is home to more than a million people. The United Nations' refugee agency is shipping tents, blankets and other aid from the United Arab Emirates to northern Iraq to help those affected by the military campaign. The UNHCR shipment, which left Dubai's International Humanitarian City on Thursday, is expected to reach those affected as soon as Friday. Soliman Mohamed Daud, a senior UNHCR supply officer, told The Associated Press that 7,000 units of the relief aid will be sent to northern Iraq. The UAE shipment that left Thursday includes some 1,500 kits. Iraqi and Kurdish forces, backed by U.S. advisers and airstrikes, began the operation to retake Iraq's second-largest city earlier this month. Aid groups fear that a mass exodus from Mosul could overwhelm camps for displaced people set up around its outskirts. In a near unanimous action, the General Assembly on Wednesday adopted the resolution in which India along with 190 other countries voted in favour while the US which had been opposing it for 25 years cast an abstention along with Israel. (Photo: Representational Image/AP) United Nations: Marking a significant shift in stance, the US for the first time abstained from voting on a UN resolution that underlined the need to end the trade embargo imposed by America against Cuba, a move welcomed by India and other nations. In a near unanimous action, the General Assembly on Wednesday adopted the resolution in which India along with 190 other countries voted in favour while the US which had been opposing it for 25 years cast an abstention along with Israel. "For more than 50 years, the United States had a policy aimed at isolating the government of Cuba. "For roughly half of those years, UN Member States have voted overwhelmingly for a General Assembly resolution that condemns the US embargo and calls for it to be ended. The United States has always voted against this resolution. Today the US will abstain," said US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power at the meeting of the Cuba embargo. She said the US policy of isolation toward Cuba was not working and instead of isolating Cuba "our policy isolated the United States. Including right here at the United Nations". Power, however, added that abstaining on the resolution did not mean the US agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government. "We are profoundly concerned by the serious human rights violations that the Cuban government continues to commit with impunity against its own people ? including arbitrarily detaining those who criticize the government; threatening, intimidating, and, at times, physically assaulting citizens who take part in peaceful marches and meetings; and severely restricting the access that people on the island have to outside information," she said. Of the Assembly's 193 Members, 191 voted in favour of the text which welcomed the progress in the relations between the two countries as well as the visit of US President Barack Obama to Cuba in March this year. India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Tanmaya Lal said there was little doubt that the continued existence of the embargo, in contravention of world opinion as expressed by the Assembly, undermined multilateralism and the credibility of the United Nations itself. He said successive reports of the Secretary-General had established that the US' embargo against Cuba, particularly through its extraterritorial effects, had adversely impacted the Cuban people. Lal added India acknowledged the notable socioeconomic and development achievements of the Cuban people, particularly their high Human Development Index ranking and Cuba's achievement of the several Millennium Development Goals. Yet the embargo would severely impact Cuba's ability to implement the 2030 Agenda, Lal said, adding that the international community must re-double its efforts to promote an environment free of sanctions and embargoes. Noting of the steps taken by the US Administration towards modifying some aspects of the implementation of the embargo, the General Assembly deemed such steps "positive, [but] still limited in scope." The Assembly further reiterated its call to all UN Member States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures not conforming with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law, which reaffirm freedom of trade and navigation. The Assembly "once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible," the resolution added. The US military believes the leaders were killed, but has not yet confirmed whether the strikes were successful. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP) Washington: The US has carried out precision strikes against two top al Qaeda leaders, including one involved in plotting deadly attacks against American forces, in Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said. The US forces launched the strikes on October 23 in Kunar Province, targeting Faruq al-Qatani and Bilal al-Utabi, two of al-Qaeda's most senior leaders in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said on Wednesday. The US military believes the leaders were killed, but has not yet confirmed whether the strikes were successful. "We are still assessing the results of the strikes, but their demise would represent a significant blow to the terrorist group's presence in Afghanistan, which remains committed to facilitating attacks against the United States, our allies, and partners," he said. Al-Qatani served as al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan and was assigned by the group's leadership to re-establish al-Qaeda safe havens in Afghanistan. He was a senior planner for attacks against the US and has a long history of directing deadly attacks against US forces and our coalition allies, Cook said. Likewise, al-Utabi is assessed to have been involved in efforts to re-establish a safe haven in Afghanistan from which to threaten the West and to recruit and train foreign fighters. After an extensive period of surveillance, the US targeted al-Qatani and al-Utabi at what was assessed as command-and-control locations in remote areas of Kunar province, Cook said. "If these strikes are determined to be successful, eliminating these core leaders of al-Qaeda will disrupt efforts to plot against the United States and our allies and partners around the world, reduce the threat to our Afghan partners, and assist their efforts to deny al-Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan," Cook said. Capital punishment is on hold in the southwestern state after a series of botched executions. (Representational Image) Oklahoma City: This November, voters in the state of Oklahoma will not only help choose the next US president, but also decide a ballot measure with big implications for the future of the death penalty. Capital punishment is on hold in the southwestern state after a series of botched executions. With lethal injection drugs becoming harder to acquire, there are doubts whether Oklahoma can resume executions unless a new method is approved. The ballot measure, known as State Question 776, aims to head off any attempts to end capital punishment by asking voters to enshrine it in the state constitution and empower legislators to decide the best method of execution. "We're allowing the people, who overwhelmingly favor the death penalty in Oklahoma, to show certain entities that they want this," said state representative Mike Ritze, an Oklahoma Republican who was one of the proposal's authors. The measure is expected to pass on November 8, enjoying over 70 percent support according to a June poll. But there have been a lot of questions raised in the last several years over the state's death penalty. Shifting beliefs? Since the US Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, Oklahoma has executed 112 people, the most per-capita of any state and second overall only to Texas' 538, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Executions in Oklahoma came to a screeching halt in 2015, after a series of blunders. The most serious was in 2014, when the lethal injection execution of Clayton Lockett left him writhing in pain, due to an improperly placed intravenous tube. There were two subsequent instances of mix-ups involving drugs used in lethal injections. The state's attorney general, Scott Pruitt, temporarily halted executions while the Corrections Department, under new leadership, reviews its failures and establishes new protocols. The question now is whether voters are becoming more willing to consider alternatives to the death penalty in the staunchly Republican, Bible Belt state. Death penalty opponents are hopeful that voters are shifting their beliefs, because another summer poll found 53 percent of Oklahomans would approve getting rid of executions, if those sentenced to death were instead given life in prison without the possibility of parole. Barometer Decreasing support for the death penalty "is the national direction," said Abraham Bonowitz, an opponent of capital punishment who is organizing the opposition to Oklahoma's ballot initiative. He believes the November election can be an important barometer. "If we can do our small part in Oklahoma by simply making sure that the vote is not as popular as the proponents of State Question 776 expect it to be, then that demonstrates less support," said Bonowitz, who lives in Columbus, Ohio. The ballot measure comes at a time when 36 US states have paused executions, or stopped them altogether, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. This November, a ballot measure in California -- which has 741 death row inmates -- might end the practice in that state. Conversely, Nebraska voters will decide whether to restore the death penalty. A key factor is the pharmaceutical industry's mounting opposition to supplying lethal injection drugs, causing a supply shortage. States have considered a range of alternatives, from firing squads in Utah to electrocution in Tennessee, said Amber Widgery, a policy specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures. Oklahoma is considering execution by nitrogen gas, but the broader question about capital punishment is being discussed along religious lines. 'God allows us to judge' "In Oklahoma, we're basically a very faith-based, biblically orientated people," said Ritze, a family physician and Southern Baptist deacon who has served as an execution witness. "I think we realize that God allows us to judge actions." But Connie Johnson, a former state senator and longtime member of the Church of the Living God, a Pentecostal congregation, sees it differently. "God forgave us for our sins," said Johnson. She herself says she forgave the man who killed her brother in 1981. Johnson leads a group against the ballot proposal, which she believes would circumvent traditional checks and balances between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government by undermining the role of the courts to interpret Oklahoma law. Some religious leaders, including the state's top Roman Catholic clergyman, have come out in opposition to the measure. "Today we have non-lethal means to punish offenders and protect people's safety," Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul S. Coakley said in a statement. "The debate should not be 'how' to kill those who commit heinous crimes but whether we 'should.'" If the ballot measure passes, Oklahoma would become the fourth state to put support for capital punishment in its state constitution, joining California, Oregon and Florida, according to Bonowitz. Government offensives have reduced the number of militants to 481 in the first half of the year from 506 in the same period last year but they managed to carry out 32 bombings in that time. (Photo: AP) Manila: Abu Sayyaf pocketed at least 353 million pesos (USD 7.3 million) from ransom kidnappings in the first six months of the year and have turned to abductions of foreign tugboat crewmen as military offensives restricted the militants' mobility, a confidential Philippine government report said. The joint military and police threat assessment report said the offensives have reduced the number of Abu Sayyaf fighters slightly, although the group remains capable of launching terrorist attacks. Government offensives have reduced the number of militants to 481 in the first half of the year from 506 in the same period last year but they managed to carry out 32 bombings in that time, a 68 per cent increase in attempts to distract the military assaults, the report said. They wield at least 438 firearms and managed to conduct a number of terrorist trainings despite constant military assaults. President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office in June, has ordered troops to destroy Abu Sayyaf, known for its brutality, and he has ruled out the possibility of any peace talks with them. He has pursued talks with two other larger Muslim insurgent groups. Duterte's peace negotiations with communist rebels have led to cease-fire declarations that have halted years of fighting with Maoist guerrillas, which freed up the thousands of troops now redeployed to wage one of the largest offensives ever fought against the Abu Sayyaf in southern Sulu and Basilan provinces. "The ASG shifted in targeting vulnerable foreign-flagged tugboats and their crew due to the focused military operations against the group," the report said, adding the group was expected to intensify its kidnap-for-ransom assaults in the busy waterways around the southern Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Abu Sayyaf's attacks on tugboats this year and the kidnappings of their Malaysian and Indonesian crewmen have raised security alarms from those countries, whose officials have tried to map out a strategy to protect commercial and passenger ships. "Lucrative payoffs from KFR (kidnappings for ransom), the report said, "enabled the ASG to procure firearms as well as ammunitions." Of the estimated 353 million pesos in ransom received by the Abu Sayyaf from January to June, the bulk was paid in exchange for the releases of 14 Indonesian and 4 Malaysian crewmen who had been held at Abu Sayyaf jungle bases in Sulu province, the report said. The militants got 20 million pesos (USD 413,000) in ransom for freeing Marites Flor, a Filipino woman who was kidnapped last year with two Canadians and a Norwegian from a yacht-berthing resort on southern Samal island. Philippine officials have said they were unaware of any ransom paid for Flor or other hostages and added they continue to adopt a no-ransom policy. Tokyo: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte left Japan on Thursday without meeting Emperor Akihito as their scheduled meeting had to be cancelled because of the death of the emperor's uncle. Before ending his three-day visit, Duterte proposed joint military exercises with Japan, while reiterating that he will not conduct them with Americans in his presidency. Duterte made the proposal during his visit to a coast guard unit to observe an exercise from one of the patrol vessels Japan pledged to provide the Philippines to upgrade Manila's maritime security capabilities amid South China Sea disputes with Beijing. The president told reporters in an unscheduled interview that he discussed a possibility of the joint exercise "in general terms" when he held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the Philippine presidential palace. Duterte also reminded reporters that allowing American military to stay in his country would be "difficult" and that he planned to review the military cooperation agreement and ask them "one of these days" to leave the country. He did not elaborate on his comment on joint exercises with Japan, which could have mixed implications because of Japan also has tensions with China over East China Sea islands, history and other issues. Duterte has criticized Washington's foreign policy while reaching out to Beijing. His criticism to U.S. and its military presence in the Philippines have raised concerns in Washington and Tokyo, a top American ally. He said Wednesday he wants foreign troops out of his country possibly within the next two years, referring to visiting U.S. troops. The Philippines hosts U.S. troops in five military camps under a security deal signed by Duterte's predecessor as a counter to China's growing military assertiveness in the region. But in Manila, Philippine officials revealed Thursday that despite Duterte's opposition to further exercises with the U.S., the two countries held navy exercise Oct. 17-26 on mines and humanitarian underwater search missions. Philippine navy Vice Adm. Ronald Joseph Mercado, commander of the military's Western Command, said the maneuvers including emergency diving procedures and operating sonar equipment were held in the western Philippine province of Palawan facing the disputed South China Sea. Duterte said Abe asked him to explain his U.S. policy but did not offer to mediate the chilling relations between the U.S. and the Philippines. Because of Duterte's informal style, Japanese officials had been worried if he may chew gum in front of the emperor. But during his visit in Japan, he was not seen doing that during his talks with Abe and other officials. Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of former Emperor Hirohito, died Thursday at the age of 100. "I'd like to express my deepest condolence," Duterte said. He told reporters that his protocol officer advised him not to proceed with the call on the emperor "because they are in mourning and I respect that because I would ask for the same, maybe request, if I were in his shoes." Brussels: Britain said on Thursday that it will send fighter jets to Romania next year and the United States promised troops, tanks and artillery to Poland in NATO's biggest military build-up on Russia's borders since the Cold War. Germany, Canada and other NATO allies also pledged forces at a defence ministers meeting in Brussels on the same day two Russian warships armed with cruise missiles entered the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Denmark, underscoring East-West tensions. In Madrid, the foreign ministry said Russia had withdrawn a request to refuel three warships in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta after NATO allies said they could be used to target civilians in Syria. The ships were part of an eight-ship carrier battle group - including Russia's sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov - that is expected to join around 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast, diplomats said. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the troop contributions to a new 4,000-strong force in the Baltics and eastern Europe were a measured response to what the alliance believes are some 330,000 Russian troops stationed on Russia's western flank near Moscow. "This month alone, Russia has deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad and suspended a weapons-grade plutonium agreement with the United States," Stoltenberg said, also accusing Russia of continued support for rebels in Ukraine. Those ballistic missiles can hit targets across Poland and the Baltics, although NATO officials declined to say if Russia had moved nuclear warheads to Kaliningrad. NATO's aim is to make good on a July promise by NATO leaders to deter Russia in Europe's ex-Soviet states, after Moscow orchestrated the annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014. NATO's plan is to set up four battle groups with a total of some 4,000 troops from early next year, backed by a 40,000-strong rapid-reaction force, and if need be, follow-on forces. As part of that, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced a "battle-ready battalion task force" of about 900 soldiers would be sent to eastern Poland, as well as another, separate force equipped with tanks and other heavy equipment to move across eastern Europe. "It's a major sign of the U.S. commitment to strengthening deterrence here," Carter said. Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Britain would send an 800-strong battalion to Estonia, supported by French and Danish troops, starting from May. The United States wants its troops in position by June. London is also sending Typhoon fighter aircraft to Romania to patrol around the Black Sea, partly in support of Turkey. "Although we are leaving the European Union, we will be doing more to help secure the eastern and southern flanks of NATO," Fallon said. SYRIAN SHADOW Others NATO allies joined the four battle groups led by the United States, Germany, Britain and Canada to go to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. Canada said it was sending 450 troops to Latvia, joined by 140 military personnel from Italy. Germany said it was sending between 400 and 600 troops to Lithuania, with additional forces from the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Croatia and Luxembourg. Stoltenberg said allies' commitments would be "a clear demonstration of our transatlantic bond." Diplomats said it would also send a message to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has complained that European allies do not pay their way in the alliance. For the Kremlin, the U.S.-led alliance's plans are already too much given Russia's grievances at NATO's expansion eastwards, although Stoltenberg denied going too far. But NATO's troop announcements in the Baltic states and Poland were partly overshadowed by the dispute about whether Spain should refuel the Russian warships, which was later resolved by Moscow's decision to withdraw its request. NATO's tensions with Russia have been building since Crimea and the West's decision to impose retaliatory sanctions. But the breakdown of a U.S-Russia brokered ceasefire in Syria on Oct. 3, followed by U.S. accusations that Russia has used cyber attacks to disrupt the presidential election, have signalled a worsening of ties. Even before the break down of the Syrian ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended a treaty with Washington on cleaning up weapons-grade plutonium, signalling he was willing to use nuclear disarmament as a new bargaining chip in disputes with the United States over Ukraine and Syria. Actor Pierce Brosnan played the fictional charater of British spy James Bond in one of the films. (Photo: AP) London: The world's most famous fictional spy, James Bond, would never have been hired by Britain's security services in the real world due to his 'morally dubious character', the boss of MI6 has said. In a rare interview with Black History Month website, Alex Younger said, "We know that if we undermine British values, even in the name of defending them, then we have failed. Our staff are not from another planet. They are ordinary men and women operating in the face of complex moral, ethical and physical challenges, often in the most forbidding environments on earth. Bond's 'morally dubious character' would rule him out as a real-life MI6 spy despite his tenacity and patriotism, he added. Younger said: "In contrast to James Bond, MI6 officers are not for taking moral shortcuts. In fact, a strong ethical core is one of the first qualities we look for in our staff. "It's safe to say that James Bond wouldn't get through our recruitment process and, whilst we share his qualities of patriotism, energy and tenacity, an intelligence officer in the real MI6 has a high degree of emotional intelligence, values teamwork and always has respect for the law unlike Mr Bond." The chief of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, which is referred to as MI6, also used the interview to appeal to the youth to join the ranks. "My ultimate goal is for more people to consider a career in MI6 and to get rid of the myth that it's all about having studied at Oxford or Cambridge or having advanced hand-to-hand combat skills. That stereotype really couldn't be further from the truth," he said. "What is true is that our work at MI6 is exciting, intellectually challenging and it matters. We are Britain's secret frontline, operating upstream in the shadows to keep our friends, families and fellow countrymen and women safe," Younger added. Bond's character, created by Ian Fleming, has proved the most enduring image of British spies around the world. However, it seems the promiscuous vodka martini enthusiast made famous in a series of film adaptations has very little to do with the real world. London: British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that the UK's stand on Kashmir remains unchanged and it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan to address. The issue was raised in the House of Commons during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session yesterday by Pakistani-born Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi, who asked if the Kashmir issue would form part of May's discussions during her visit to India next month. "I take the same view as this government has since it came into power, and indeed previously, which is that the issue of Kashmir is a matter for India and Pakistan to deal with and sort out," the British PM said in Parliament, clearly indicating that Kashmir was unlikely to be on the agenda during her bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she visits India between November 6 and 8. Qureshi, who represents a heavily Pakistani-origin constituency of Bolton in north-west England, had questioned in the Commons: "Will the Prime Minister meet with me and cross-party colleagues to discuss the human rights abuses and the issue of self-determination for Kashmiri people, as was set out in the resolution of the UN in 1948 and can she raise this issue with the Indian Prime Minister." May, while dismissing any meeting herself, said: "The foreign secretary [Boris Johnson] has heard her representations and I am sure will be interested in taking those issues up with her." The British PM is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on November 6 for her first overseas bilateral visit outside Europe. Besides inaugurating the India-UK Tech Summit alongside Modi, she will be holding talks with her Indian counterpart before heading to Bengaluru. May will be accompanied by a business delegation comprising small and medium enterprises from across the UK and her international trade minister, Liam Fox. A day after the official operation to evict the migrants came to a dramatic end, with fires ripping through the shantytown, around 100 people were still waiting to know their fate. (Photo: AP) Calais: Dozens of migrants stranded in the Calais Jungle, some of them children, desperately sought a way out Thursday as diggers begin tearing down the last remaining shelters in the burnt-out camp in northern France. A day after the official operation to evict the migrants came to a dramatic end, with fires ripping through the shantytown, around 100 people were still waiting to know their fate. The interior ministry said Wednesday that nearly 5,600 migrants had been taken into shelters around France or accepted into Britain, out of the 6,400 estimated by authorities to have been living in the camp up until this week. Officials hailed the operation as a success, saying the informal part of the camp was now empty. But scores of migrants were left behind, some of whom slept in the biting cold, huddled together in sleeping bags. Others camped out in the hangar where migrants were registered this week for relocation. On Thursday, dozens of people gathered outside the registration centre hoping to be given a ticket out. "I spent the entire night here!" a young Afghan said. "I am in the queue for minors to go to England. I have family there." Regional security chief Fabienne Buccio said those left in the camp had come from "Germany, Paris and elsewhere" and that registrations for transfer to other parts of France had closed. Denouncing the situation, the Save the Children charity said "the situation for children in Calais after the demolition is the worst it's ever been" and that some children "had nowhere to go." Page turned But the head of the French immigration office told AFP that 10 buses were on standby to take those left to shelter. "It's our final offer," Didier Leschi said. Some 1,500 chilrdren are being housed temporarily in an on-site park of specially fitted shipping containers, which is now full. As the clean-up began, a mechanical digger and other machines tore into makeshift shelters to clear up the settlement. Some shacks in the slum outside the port of Calais, long a launchpad for attempts to sneak across the Channel to Britain were still smouldering from the fires started the day before. Buccio claimed Wednesday a "page has been turned" for the camp, which was a magnet for migrants hoping to sneak onto lorries or trains heading across the Channel to England. But the fate of unaccompanied minors, the cause of a bitter blame game between Paris and London remained uncertain. The France Terre d'Asile charity, which is responsible for their care, told AFP that 40 children were due to be transferred to Britain on Thursday, adding to more than 200 that London has taken since mid-October. Another 40 have been sent to a temporary children's shelter in eastern France with more set to be bussed to centres in the south and west on Thursday. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said that all minors "with proven family links in Britain" would eventually be transferred there. He added that London had committed to reviewing all other cases where it was "in the child's interest" to settle across the Channel. Claim of Jungle's demise 'premature Most of the migrants hoping to reach Britain had fled conflict, poverty or persecution in countries such as Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan, and the authorities have said those who agree to be moved can seek asylum in France. Four migrants were arrested on suspicion of arson over the fires, which camp residents and officials alike said were set deliberately. Many locals fear new settlements will simply spring up in the area once the Jungle is razed. The mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, said claims of the Jungle's demise were "premature" and demanded "guarantees" that it would not spring up again, once the police had left. A number of former residents are believed to have slipped away in the past week into the surrounding area. Searches continued for some of the pilots at the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Command where dozens have been detained in connection with the group since July, Anadolu said. (Representational Image) Ankara: Turkish authorities ordered the detention of 73 air force pilots as part of the probe into the group blamed for July's failed coup, state media reported Thursday. At least 45 had already been detained after police operations began Thursday across the country including the central Konya province and the capital Ankara, the official Anadolu news agency said. The pilots are suspected of links to the group led by Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim preacher whom Turkey accuses of ordering the July 15 putsch attempt. Gulen, living in self-exile in Pennsylvania, strongly denies the allegations. The accusations listed in the warrants for the pilots include "violating the constitution", being part of "an armed rebellion against the Turkish Republic" as well as "acting on behalf of the (Gulen) organisation", Dogan news agency reported. Searches continued for some of the pilots at the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Command where dozens have been detained in connection with the group since July, Anadolu said. Last week, Turkish media said 47 military officers stationed at the base were detained for alleged links to the movement. Dogan reported 29 of the 47 officers were later placed under arrest. Over 35,000 people have been arrested since July as part of the investigation into the group while nearly 26,000 have been released into "judicial control". In total, Turkey says it has investigated 82,000 people in connection with the coup bid. Tens of thousands of people in the judiciary, military, education sector and media have also been suspended or sacked for alleged links to the Gulen movement. The purges and arrests have caused concern in the West over their extent and speed, with many European leaders urging Ankara to act within the rule of law. Turkey insists it is doing so while stressing that it is dealing with an extraordinary threat which requires emergency measures. He was arrested after being found guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty which resulted in the toddler's death. (Representational image) London: A 36-year-old UK man has been arrested after he murdered his three-year-old son by force-feeding him until he died, according to a Mirror report. The report stated that the accused who hailed from north west London, had allegedly pinned down his son, before force-feeding him porridge. The accused was arrested after being found guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty which resulted in the toddler's death. While the case was under trial at the court, prosecutors alleged that the victim might have struggled a lot when the accused held him down. The court heard that the accused would often feed his son a meal consisting of milk, bread, Weatabix and oats -- and sometimes rice pudding or spaghetti. While feeding his son, the accused would often lay him on his lap and forcefully open his mouth before pouring the food in. As a result, the food would get into the toddler's nose and all over his face. He would also at times vomit, the court heard. Prosecutors then told the court that on the day of the incident, the accused had fed his son in the same way he used to do everyday. However, things went wrong when the toddler stopped responding. Soon after the incident, paramedics were called in and the toddler was rushed to the hospital where the doctors pronounced him dead. At first, the accused rubbished all the claims against him, but later pleaded guilty to the charges. If convicted, he would face jail. The case is currently under trial. A large part of what drives the ag economy of Butler County corn has now finally achieved fame in the art world as well. Thats what members and guests of the Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art discovered Saturday, Sept. 24, during a preview of the museums newest art exhibit entitled CORN. The display features the artistic talents of two Midwest women enamored with the humble yellow grain product. About 50 guests attended Cornfest, the first annual fundraiser of the museum, to visit with featured artists Cathi Schwalbe of Chicago and Margaret Berry of Lincoln. The two self-proscribed women of the corn spoke about their work now on exhibit at the museum, which shows a multitude of ways in which the vegetable can be shaped into illustrations and sculptures. People ask me why corn?, said Schwalbe, a multimedia artist who grew up in rural Wisconsin and now maintains a Chicago studio called Lill Street Art. I want to ask them why not corn? Its everywhere, its in us, she added. Schwalbe said corn is not a subject foreign to urban Chicago, given that large fields of it can be found just 36 miles outside the city. Also, in about 2008, she had arranged for a corn maze to be grown in the Maxwell Street area of the city. Cornfest was Schwalbes third visit to David City during the two-year preparation period of the current joint exhibit with Berry. Art happens where the artist is, Schwalbe said. Schwalbe also hopes to return here in January, toward the end of the exhibit, and give presentations about her corn art at the local nursing home facilities, where many residents come from a rural background. Were all connected to a farmer. We all eat, Schwalbe said. What was not edible were about 78 life-sized ceramic corn cobs created by Schwalbe and hidden around the David City area prior to Cornfest. Anyone who found a cob was invited to return the cob to the museum and be entered into a raffle for a ticket to the event. About 50 cobs were returned, Schwalbe said. But anyone who still finds one can still return it so it can be included in an interactive sculpture at the museum. Among Schwalbes other pieces at the museum is a sculpture that includes canned corn provided by Dales Food Pride here. Schwalbe and Berry had not known each other prior to both being invited to exhibit their work at Bone Creek. But Berry, who grew up on a Wahoo area farm, said she was delighted to partner with another corn-mad artist. My email address has been corn goodness since the Internet began, Berry said. She seriously got into corn after having a corn-themed birthday party in 2000. Berry is currently serving as the first artist-in-residence at the Lincoln Mariott Cornhusker Hotel. There she exhibits her encaustic style of art which includes working with beeswax, and teaches workshops to hotel guests. Her earliest childhood memories are those of her father, a top-selling seed corn salesman, checking seeds for germination, Berry said. She incorporated a photo of her father, who preferred a battered farmer's hat to a seed corn cap, in one of her Bone Creek exhibits. Schwalbe included a display piece utilizing an old postcard image from about 1907 that shows a man, presumably a farm laborer, posing with an old-time corn husking tool. The artist was struck by the mans apparent pride in his occupation as a corn husker. Im in love with him even thought he doesnt know me, Schwalbe said. Amanda Mobley Guenther, the museums curator and event coordinator, said the current exhibit was a "team effort" to pull together. The museum was otherwise pleased to help the two artists realize their dream of having a corn art exhibit, she said. Their work melts together so beautifully," Guenther said. Following a conversation with the artists, guests drove to the former District 10 school house near Linwood for a dinner buffet featuring corn-themed side dishes and dessert. Attractions there included a storage building on which story verses by noted Nebraska poet Ted Kooser had been added regarding one of the most influential crops in this region. The CORN exhibit runs between now and Jan. 8 at Bone Creek Museum, 575 E Street, David City. Hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. The museum is also open Thursday evenings 5 to 8 p.m. Moscow: President Vladimir Putin says the claims of Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election are designed to distract public attention from real issues. The United States has accused Russia of coordinating the hacks of Hillary Clinton's campaign emails to influence the outcome of the election. Speaking Thursday to international foreign policy experts in Sochi, Putin dismissed "the hysteria about Russia's influence on the U.S. presidential election." He argued that US elites have used the "mythical and fictitious" issue to distract attention from real problems such as government debt and police violence. Putin disputed that the U.S. is "some kind of 'banana republic'" that could be susceptible to Russia's influence, calling America "a great power." He also said it's equally "ridiculous" to allege that Russia has aggressive military intentions. Both the federal and Kurdish regional parliaments have legislative powers, but it is unclear which would have primacy in the case of the alcohol issue. (Representational image) Arbil: Alcohol shops are open for business in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, where officials have vowed that Baghdad's recently passed ban on booze will not be enforced. The ban on the sale, import and production of alcohol was slipped into draft legislation on municipalities in Iraq's parliament last week, but the country's president has since called for the law to be revised. In Iraqi Kurdistan, a three-province region in the country's north that has its own government, security forces and flag, there seems to be another plan: ignore the measure even if the law remains unchanged. "We do not recognise such laws," which "will not be applied in the Kurdistan region of Iraq," said Farsat Sophie, a member of the legal committee in the Kurdish regional parliament. The region's culture minister also said that the measure would not be enforced, slamming it as an infringement on individual freedom. "This decision is against democracy and against personal freedoms," Khalid Doski said. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited by Islam, but drinking is fairly widespread in Iraq, including in Baghdad, where there are scores of small alcohol shops. If the ban is not implemented in Kurdistan but is elsewhere, it is all but guaranteed to result in a thriving black market for booze brought from the region into federally controlled areas. Both the federal and Kurdish regional parliaments have legislative powers, but it is unclear which would have primacy in the case of the alcohol issue. In practice, Baghdad does not have the means to enforce the measure in Kurdistan if its regional government decides not to do so on its own. In Ainkawa, a Christian area of Kurdistan's capital Arbil, cars carrying people coming to purchase booze line up near shops that are packed with whisky, beer and other alcohol. Raed Basil Hanna, the owner of an Ainkawa alcohol store, said the Iraqi parliament should be focusing on more important issues. The government should pay attention to "the situations of the people and improving their circumstances and taking them out of poverty," instead of "issuing decisions that do not benefit anyone," he said. Business as usual In addition to fighting an ongoing war against jihadists, Iraq faces myriad other problems, including an economic crisis due to low oil prices and abysmal basic services. In any case, "we obtained approval from the government of the region and are practicing our work as usual," said Hanna, who has worked in the alcohol selling business for over 25 years. "Most of those who stood behind the decision drink alcohol," he said with a smile. Another alcohol seller, who did not want to be identified by name, said: "Most of our buyers are Muslims." In Baghdad, the future of the ban, which has not officially come into effect, is less clear. Yonadam Kanna, a leading Christian politician, was furious after the vote on Saturday and went on television to condemn it and also to vow to challenge it in a federal court. Without specifically mentioning the ban, President Fuad Masum called Wednesday for parliament to revise the law that included it in a way that respects "the freedoms and rights of citizens of different religions and doctrines." Alcohol is rarely offered in restaurants and hotels in Iraq, but some young people drink it while sitting along the Tigris, while others do so at a bridge across the river, which runs through the capital. Iraq also has companies that produce various types of alcohol, such as Farida beer or Asriya arak, a regional anise-flavoured spirit. Baghdad alcohol shops are already shuttered for Arbaeen, a 40-day period following the date on which Iraqi Shiites commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. The shops were also closed in the 10 days preceeding the start of Arbaeen, in addition to during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, meaning that alcohol sellers already face well over two months a year in which they cannot work. Some people still sell alcohol during the religious occasions, but do so at the peril of attack by militia forces in the capital. The man murdered his 59-year-old father and 48-year-old mother with a knife after locking them up in a room. (Representational Image) Riyadh: A 'mentally unstable' man has been accused of decapitating his parents at their home in Saudi Arabia's Taif's Al Suhaili neighbourhood. According to a report in the Khaleej Times, the man murdered his 59-year-old father and 48-year-old mother with a knife after locking them up in a room. The matter came to light when the accused's brother called up his parents. When he failed to connect with them, he called up their neighbours and requested them to check on his parents. The neighbour then went to the accused's house only to find two slaughtered bodies. Shocked, he immediately informed the accused's brother and the police. He also said that he saw the accused holding a knife in his hand and cutting the body parts. "The neighbour called the police. The police came to the scene and saw the murderer wearing black clothes with his hands covered in blood. The murderer was unable to speak and it was apparent that he suffered from mental illnesses," said a source. The source also told the police that the accused was mentally unstable and was previously admitted to Shihar Mental Hospital. "The father had filed a disobedience lawsuit against the murderer last year, after which he was put in prison for a year. After the murderer was released from prison, he went home to murder his parents," the source added. Meanwhile, the accused's family put the blame on the mental asylum for their carelessness which resulted in the death of his parents. "The hospital released my nephew before his treatment was completed. They were well aware that he was mentally unstable and they released him. My nephew was not on drugs when he committed the horrific crime, " the accused's uncle was quoted as saying in the report. "The entire family witnessed the aftermath of the gruesome murder. We saw a pool of blood around the scattered body parts of my sister and her husband. We asked what happened and he said he beat up his own parents before stabbing them with a knife and decapitating them," he added. The accused has again been taken to the mental asylum. However, the motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained. The rocket fire in Aleppo hit two neighbourhoods in the west of the city, with one of the attacks striking a school. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP) Damascus: At least six children were killed and 15 injured in rebel rocket attacks in the government-held west of Aleppo city on Thursday, Syrian state media said. A monitoring group said a child was also among at least eight people killed in government shelling on the rebel-held town of Douma outside Damascus. The rocket fire in Aleppo hit two neighbourhoods in the west of the city, with one of the attacks striking a school. "Three children were killed and 14 students were injured in a terrorist rocket attack on the national school in the Shahba neighbourhood of Aleppo," state news agency SANA reported. It added that the attack also damaged the school. A second rocket attack hit a house in the Hamdaniyeh neighbourhood, killing three brothers and injuring a fourth, SANA said. The two neighbourhoods are in the west of the city, which has been roughly divided since mid-2012, when rebels seized its eastern half. Rebels regularly fire crude homemade rockets into government neighbourhoods, often killing civilians. Regime forces backed by ally Russia have waged an aerial and ground assault since late September to recapture eastern Aleppo, killing hundreds of civilians and destroying infrastructure including hospitals. On Wednesday the UN children's agency UNICEF said 22 children had been killed along with six teachers in air strikes on a school in rebel-held Idlib province. The strikes, carried out by either Russian or Syrian warplanes according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, hit the village of Hass. Moscow denied any involvement in the raids. The British-based Observatory, which has a network of sources in Syria, gave a toll of 36 dead, among them 15 children and four teachers. The incident prompted outrage from UNICEF director Anthony Lake. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," he said, adding that the school complex had been hit repeatedly. Outside Damascus meanwhile, at least eight people were killed on Thursday in government shelling on Douma in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region, the Observatory said. Douma is regularly targeted by government fire, and in recent months regime forces have waged an offensive in the area, which has also been under siege since 2013. At a makeshift hospital in the town, an AFP photographer saw medics using a defibrillator on one man, his face speckled with blood. On a stretcher nearby, a wounded man lay with his artificial leg detached and lying on top of him, smeared with his blood. More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. A Christian adjusts a candle next to wording 'Peace' drawn with rose petals during a candlelight vigil for the victims of an overnight attack on the Quetta Police Training Academy, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday claimed the spy agencies of India and Afghanistan were "patronising" terror groups to attack soft targets in the country and sought America's help to break their "nexus", a day after 61 young cadets were massacred in a major terror attack in Quetta. Pakistan's National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua conveyed the message to US ambassador David Hale during a meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday, Radio Pakistan reported. Janjua told Hale that India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) are "patronising terrorists groups to attack soft targets in Pakistan", it said. The meeting was held to discuss the terrorist attack on Police Training College Quetta, counter-terrorism operations and cross-border attacks. Janjua emphasised on the need to break the "nexus between Afghanistan-based terrorists, who are operating under the patronage of Afghan intelligence agency NDS and Indian intelligence agency RAW." Pakistan has asked for US assistance to tackle the situation, the report said. Janjua informed the ambassador that the terrorists who attacked the police training college were constantly in contact with their leadership and handlers in Afghanistan. The American ambassador was also briefed by the NSA on Pakistans efforts to improve the current security situation in the country through implementation of the National Action Plan. Hale condemned the attack in Quetta and offered his regrets. He also offered American support for the same. Three heavily-armed militants wearing suicide vests stormed a police academy in Quetta, killing at least 61 people and wounding at least 117, in the deadliest attack on a security installation in the country's history. The gunmen burst into the sprawling academy, targeting sleeping quarters home to some 700 recruits, and sent terrified young men aged between 15 and 25 fleeing. Communication intercepts showed the attack was carried out by Al-Alimi faction of the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ) militant group, IG Frontier Corps (FC) Major General Sher Afgan said. Separately, the militant Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the group's Amaq news agency. The training centre houses at least 600 cadets. Most of the deaths were caused when two of the attackers blew themselves up. The third was shot dead by FC troops. Lawyers and rights groups say convicted murderer Imdad Ali, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia while in prison in 2012, cannot be executed as he cannot understand his crime and punishment. (Representational image) Islamabad: Pakistani authorities issued a death warrant for a mentally ill condemned prisoner on Wednesday after the country's Supreme Court ruled that his schizophrenia is "not a permanent mental disorder". Lawyers and rights groups say convicted murderer Imdad Ali, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia while in prison in 2012, cannot be executed as he cannot understand his crime and punishment. Ali's death warrant was issued by a criminal court on the request of the provincial Punjab government, said a statement by The Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), which is providing Ali with counsel. It follows a ruling last week by Pakistan's top court that said schizophrenia was a "recoverable disease" that could be treated by drugs, and not a mental disorder. He will now be executed on November 2 in a prison in the city of Vehari, the JPP said. Ali, aged 50, was sentenced to death for the murder of a religious cleric in 2002. He had been sentenced to hang last month, but received a last minute stay of execution by the Supreme Court, before that expired last week. Rights groups have slammed the ruling, with Amnesty calling it "a deeply worrying development". Maya Foa, a director of Reprieve, last week called the Supreme court ruling "outrageous" and said it flies in the face of accepted medical knowledge -- including in Pakistan. "It is terrifying to think that a mentally ill man like Imdad Ali could now hang because judges are pretending that schizophrenia is not a serious condition," Foa said, demanding Pakistan's president intervene. Pakistan reinstated the death penalty and established military courts after suffering its deadliest-ever extremist attack, when gunmen stormed a school in the northwest in 2014 and killed more than 150 people -- mostly children. Hangings were initially reinstated only for those convicted of terrorism, but later extended to all capital offences, with over 400 people hung from more than 8,000 death row prisoners. The JPP has already sent a mercy petition to President Mamnoon Hussain along with testimony from medical experts. It remains pending with his office since September 19. Ali has spent 14 years on death row, with three years in solitary confinement in the jail hospital due to his schizophrenia. "Imdad's hanging will signal to the world that Pakistan does not take its human rights commitments and treaty obligations seriously," said Sarah Belal, JPP executive director. India's decision to declare a Pakistan High Commission staffer in Delhi as persona non-grata was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan's envoy Abdul Basit. (Representational Image) Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday deplored India declaring its High Commission staffer in New Delhi as persona non-grata for espionage activities, terming charges against the diplomatic official as "false and unsubstantiated". Foreign Office in a statement said, "We condemn the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official". The Indian action has been accompanied by an "extremely negative and orchestrated media campaign", it said, adding the move "clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission". "A staff member of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was lifted by the Indian authorities yesterday (26 October 2016) on false and unsubstantiated charges. He was, however, released in about three hours on intervention by our High Commission," the statement said. "We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which is indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere. "Pakistan High Commission has always been working within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms," the statement claimed. It also alleged that India's attempts to escalate the tensions and divert the international attention from the "grave human rights violations" being perpetrated in Kashmir can never succeed. It urged the international community to "take notice of the Indian designs". India's decision to declare a Pakistan High Commission staffer in Delhi as persona non-grata was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan's envoy Abdul Basit. Delhi Police crime branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar in custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar. Pakistan has been pushing for the mega project on the Indus river in Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir citing its energy and irrigation requirements. The project aims to generate a power output of 4,500 MW. (Photo: Representational Image/AP) Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank has refused to fund the $14 billion dam project that Pakistan has planned on the Indus river in Pakitan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The World Bank too had declined to fund the project two years ago following Islamabad's refusal to seek a 'No objection' from India. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao said yesterday at a joint news conference with Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. Pakistan has been pushing for the mega project on the Indus river in Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir citing its energy and irrigation requirements. The project aims to generate a power output of 4,500 MW. Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported that the Asian Development Bank might consider financing of the project at a later date. Quoting Nakao, the president of the Asian Development Bank, Dawn reported that the reason for not committing to the project was because "it needs big money." Nakao also said that "presently the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the dam." Islamabad has consistently failed to attract foreign lenders for the project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Repeated efforts to rope in the World Bank as a co-lender had failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No objection Certificate from India for the project. The Asian Development Bank chief also cautioned Pakistan to wisely implement projects under the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), another strategic project opposed by India as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and utilise their funds well so as to avoid debt or repayment problems. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked top secretaries to analyse areas that needed more reforms and report within a month after the latest World Bank report almost maintained a status quo on Indias ease of doing business. He also asked the Cabinet secretary to review the overall performance of the Centre and states in this regard. The latest report upgraded India just a notch above to 131 from last year among 190 countries. The prime minister asked all chief secretaries and all secretaries of the Government of India to study the report, and analyse the potential areas where there is scope for improvement in their respective departments and states. He asked for a report from all concerned in this regard, within a month, and asked the Cabinet secretary to review the same thereafter, sources in Prime Ministers Office said. Modi aims to push the country in top 50 ranking in terms of ease of doing business in coming years. Earlier, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said she was disappointment over the ranking. I am a bit disappointed. Not only the government of India, but every state is so actively engaged and wants to ease the situation... But for whatever reason, it has not been adequately captured in the ranking, she said. She, however, said that Centre and states will work with renewed focus and speed to improve the ranking further. On the target fixed by the prime minister to get within the 50th spot, she maintained that this goal is intact. About steps to be taken in future to improve the ranking, the minister said the government has taken the right route in reforming and making ease of doing business a very important agenda for the Centre and states. Now, it is important for us to interact with states even more to quickly identify many such things which are important so that its impact is visible at the ground level, Sitharaman said. A new partnership benefits Central Community College graduates looking to continue their education at Concordia University in Seward. Under the agreement, students with an associate degree from CCC who enroll full time at Concordia will be awarded at least $15,000 in annual institutional aid as they pursue a bachelor's degree. In addition, those students will receive a $2,000 New Horizons Scholarship that stacks incrementally with all other Concordia grants and academic or performance scholarships. Concordia and Central already have a long history of supporting each others efforts to provide excellent educational opportunities for Nebraskas students. We are pleased to craft that partnership in a way that helps CCC students put a bachelors degree from a Lutheran, private university within reach," said Concordia President Brian Friedrich. The partnership aid and New Horizons Scholarship are renewable annually if students maintain a 2.0 grade-point average of better while at Concordia. The two institutions agree that students who satisfactorily complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at Central will have completed all general education requirements at Concordia with the exception of religion and theology credits (nine credit hours). Transfer students will be required to complete a minimum of 30 post-associate degree semester hours at Concordia to earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. We are pleased to continue and expand our collaboration with Concordia in offering additional opportunities for CCC graduates to obtain an affordable, high-quality education at a prestigious private university, said CCC President Greg Smith. Concordia has been very generous in offering a transfer program that will make a bachelors degree attainable for CCC graduates with limited financial resources. Working together, Concordia and CCC can make this agreement a model for similar efforts throughout Nebraska. TO DIRECTORS OF TATA SONS LTD I was shocked beyond words at the happenings at the board meeting of October 24, 2016. Apart from the invalidity and illegality of the business that was conducted, I have to say that the board of directors has not covered itself with glory. To "replace" your chairman without so much as a word of explanation and without affording him an opportunity of defending himself in a summary manner must be unique in the annals of corporate history .The suddenness of the action, and the lack of explanation has led to all manner of speculation and has done my reputation and the reputation of the Tata Group immeasurable harm. At the outset, I have to say that I have great respect for the Tata Group and the thousands of employees who are working hard despite the challenges. I am writing this letter to the board to emphasise the total lack of corporate governance and to point out the failure on the part of the directors to discharge the fiduciary duty owed to stakeholders of Tata Sons and of the group of companies. All of this does not augur well for the future of the group.All that is said here is well known to many among you, but I would like to put in one place my journey as chairman of Tata Sons.It is important to emphasise the enormity of what has transpired in the group and what corrective action is to be taken. Each of you is already in receipt of and familiar with the Strategy 2025 document that I presented to you, and in which I had articulated our growth strategy for the future. In 2011, after some exploration by a search committee, I was approached by both Ratan Tata and Lord Bhattacharyya individually to be a candidate for the position.I politely declined. I had myself built a business which I would continue to run. However, as the search process progressed and the committee was unable to find a suitable candidate, I was asked to reconsider. After consulting my family and in the broader interests of the Tata Group, I took courage to overcome my initial reluctance and agreed to consider the position. Prior to my appointment, I was assured that I would be given a free hand. The previous chairman was to step back and be available for advice and guidance as and when needed. After my appointment, the Articles of Association were modified, changing the rules of engagement between the Trusts, the board of Tata Sons, the chairman, and the operating companies. Inappropriate interpretation indeed followed, and as elaborated below, it severely constrained the ability of the group to engineer the necessary turnaround. I am not sure if the individual board members and the trustees truly appreciated the extent of the problems I had inherited. I cannot blame them, for I myself, as a nonexecutive director, did not have a clear grasp of the gravity of the issues involved. Without meaning to air a laundry list, let me outline some of the major challenges faced at the time of my entry . As is public knowledge, the foreign acquisition strategy , with the exceptions of JLR and Tetley , had left a large debt overhang.The European steel business faced potential impairments in the excess of $10 billion, only some of which has been taken as of date. Many foreign properties of IHCL and holdings in Orient Hotels have been sold at a loss.The onerous terms of the lease for Pierre in New York are such that it would make it a challenge to exit. Tata Chemicals still needs tough decisions about its UK and Kenya operations. IHCL, beyond flawed international strategy , had acquired the Searock property at a highly inflated price and housed in an off balance sheet structure. In the process of unravelling this legacy , IHCL has had to write down nearly its entire networth over the past three years. This impairs its ability to pay dividends. Tata Capital had a book that required significant clean up on account of bad loans to the infrastructure sector. The loan to Siva was under the strong advice of Executive Trustee Venkatraman (sic) which had since turned into a non-performing asset. All of this resulted in Tata Capital to recognise an abnormal rise of NPAs. Of all the companies in the portfolio, the telecom business has been continuously haemorrhaging. If we were to exit this business via fire sale or shut down, the cost would be $4-5 billion. This is in addition to any payout to DoCoMo of at least a billion-plus dollars. The original structure of the DoCoMo transaction raises several questions about its appropriateness from a commercial or prudential perspective within the then prevailing Indian legal framework. In light of all this, our strategy over the past three years has been to increase the EBITDA from Rs 400 crore to Rs 2,500 crore, in the hope of being a potential player in consolidation of the industry. Tata Power aggressively bid for the Mundra project based on low-priced Indonesian coal. As regulations changed, the losses in 2013-14 alone amounted to Rs 1,500 crore. Given that Mundra constitutes Rs 18,000 crore of capital employed (40% of the overall company's capital employed), this substantially depresses the return on capital for Tata Power as well as carries the risk of considerable future impairment. An even more challenging situation arose in Tata Motors, both on the commercial and passenger vehicles. Before 2013, in order to shore up sales and market share, Tata Motors Finance extended credit with lax risk assessment.As a result, the NPAs mounted to being in excess of Rs 4,000 crore.Historically , the company had employed aggressive accounting to capitalize substantial proportion of the product development expenses, creating a future liability. Beyond this, the Nano product development concept called for a car below Rs 1 lakh, but the costs were always above this.This product has consistently lost money, peaking at Rs 1,000 crore.As there is no line of sight to profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company requires to shut it down. Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision.Another challenge in shutting down Nano is that it would stop the supply of the Nano gliders to an entity that makes electric cars and in which Mr Tata has a stake. On the performance of the portfolio, as you are aware from my presentations to you in the recent past, if we look at the aggregate data between 2011 and 2015 and limit the analysis largely to the legacy hotspots (IHCL, Tata Motors PV , Tata Steel Europe, Tata Power Mundra, and Teleservices), it will show that the capital employed in those companies has risen from Rs 132,000 crore to Rs 196,000 crore (due to operational losses, interest and capex).This figure is close to the networth of the group which is at Rs 174,000 crore. A realistic assessment of the fair value of these businesses could potentially result in a write down over time of about Rs 118,000 crore. In the face of the above challenges, I had to take many tough decisions with sensitive care to the group's reputation as well as containing panic amidst internal and external stakeholders.Despite bad press, impairments were taken to clean the books but substantial exposure remains. Dividends were reduced, e.g. Tata Motors and IHCL, to conserve cash needed for investments in the teeth of shareholder fury .Apart from hotels, the group made several exits in the fertilizer business, UK steel operations, and of course in small companies such as the logistics company , DIESL. I had to ease out hangerson who are prone to flaunt their proximity to power. On the more positive side, Kalinganagar, the largest domestic capital investment of the group was completed overcoming significant obstacles that had left the project in doubt previously . Early in my tenure, our foray into the aviation sector began when Mr Tata ushered me into his office and handed me a report on AirAsia by Bain & Co. He had concluded negotiations to partner with AirAsia and wanted the proposal tabled at the forthcoming Tata ... In keeping with Tata Group values, to engage employees and have a favourable impact on the communities we operate in, we launched a volunteering programme, challenging group employees to volunteer a million hours in 2015 and the result was volunteering of 1.2 million hours, making it one of the top ten global volunteering programmes. I hope you do realize the predicament that I found myself in. Being pushed into the position of a "lame duck" chairman, my desire was to create an institutional framework for effective future governance of the group. I believe I had to be true to myself and the best interests of the organization. While I would be lying if I said I am not disappointed, I have a sense of pride and dignity intact in the efforts I have taken to professionalise and institutionalise, regardless of the outcome of effect, I now witness. Since the developments at the board meeting were purported to have been initiated at the instance of the Trusts, I am copying the Trustees. Sincerely, Cyrus (Cyrus P Mistry) C.C. Trustees of Tata Trusts Pakistan today deplored India declaring its High Commission staffer in New Delhi as persona non-grata for espionage activities, terming charges against the diplomatic official as "false and unsubstantiated". Foreign Office in a statement said, "We condemn the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official". The Indian action has been accompanied by an "extremely negative and orchestrated media campaign", it said, adding the move "clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission". "A staff member of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was lifted by the Indian authorities yesterday (26 October 2016) on false and unsubstantiated charges. He was, however, released in about three hours on intervention by our High Commission," the statement said. "We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which is indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere. "Pakistan High Commission has always been working within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms," the statement claimed. It also alleged that India's attempts to escalate the tensions and divert the international attention from the "grave human rights violations" being perpetrated in Kashmir can never succeed. It urged the international community to "take notice of the Indian designs". India's decision to declare a Pakistan High Commission staffer in Delhi as persona non-grata was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan's envoy Abdul Basit. Delhi Police crime branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar in custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar. The neighborhood of DB Block in Hari Nagar is aken aback by the news of Manju's murder allegedly by her husband Mukesh. Police described the brutality with which an apparently drunk Mukesh Monga stabbed his wife in the neck, and later tried to behead her, possibly in a planned manner. However, neighbours remembered him as a gentle person who would address even those slightly younger than him as beta and beti. A woman who irons clothes in the neighbourhood saw the two having a heated argument in the morning before leaving for their respective workplaces. I didnt see anything alarming as i have seen them fight on several occasions. But never did i imagine that he would kill her, the woman said without revealing her name. Neighbours of the Mongas told Deccan Herald that the family had basically been torn between the couple for the last many years. Mukesh and his father live in a separate room in the same house. Although, the family although has a single kitchen but they prepare their food separately, said Archana Mehta, their neighbour. Mukesh and his family have been living in their three-bedroom flat in for the last two decades. The couple had a daughter Vartika, 32, who works in an NGO, and a son Dhawal, 26, who is a model cum actor. Neighbours said in the last decade or so, they have mostly found the couple fighting for one reason or the other. I frequently hear their noises coming through my kitchen window. Many times police have also been called to resolve their disputes, said Archana. According to neighbours, the main bone of contention between the couple was the presence of Mukeshs father in the house. Manju never liked her father-in-law. Ever since her mother-in-law had passed away four years back, there have been frequent problems in the family over the presence of the octogenarian, claimed a neighbour who didnt want to reveal his identity. In all such disputes Mukesh always stood by his father which was not liked by Manju and their children, neighbours said. In few instances, neighbours said Mukesh had to leave the house with his father for few days and live in a hotel or at some friends house due to domestic violence. Both the children were under the influence of their mother. We know in couple of instances when the children were also involved in the fight, claimed a neighbour. But the immediate neighbour of the couple, who has allegedly witnessed the family problems from a close range, was tight-lipped about the whole episode. A 60-year-music teacher stabbed his wife to death in their car in South Delhis Anand Niketan area on Wednesday morning. After stabbing the 58-year-old woman in the neck, the man tried to decapitate her. Mukesh Monga, apparently drunk, was caught by bystanders and handed over to the police. Manju died on the spot, and her body was sent for post-mortem, said police. The incident happened around 11. 30 am near Anand Niketan market when Manju was on her way to her boutique accompanied with her husband. She runs a boutique in Anand Niketan and Mukesh works in his sisters music institute in Vasant Kunj, said Nupur Prasad, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South). Police said Mukesh doesnt have a permanent source of income and tentatively works in his sisters institute as a guitar instructor. According to their children it was their mother who was supporting the family, as Mukesh didnt have a permanent source of income, Prasad added. The couples children told in their statement to police that Mukesh was not present at home on Tuesday and suddenly turned up on Wednesday morning. In the morning he insisted to Manju that he wanted to drop her at her work place in car. At the Anand Niketan market, near Manjus boutique, a verbal spat occurred between the two during which Mukesh brought out a knife kept in the car and stabbed in her abdomen, neck and face, said a police officer. The couple have two children one son and one daughter. Their daughter Vartika, 32, works in an NGO at Jor Bagh while the son Dhawal, 26, works as a model cum actor, said their neighbours. Mukeshs father also lives with the family in their three-bedroom flat in West Delhis Hari Nagar. According to the neighbours, the family had been torn between the husband and wife with the children siding with Manju while Mukesh and his father living in the same house albeit in an estranged manner with the rest of the family members. Police have registered a case and questioning Mukesh about the motive of the murder. Police are suspecting that the knife had already been kept in the car making it a pre-planned murder. We are investigating the case and will take appropriate action accordingly, said a senior police officer. Authorities have given up on a Rs 4.5 crore machine for cleaning the surface of river Yamuna in Delhi just months after it was unveiled with much fanfare. The trash skimmer machine was introduced in May to rid the polluted Yamuna of flowing solid waste in the river at Chhath Ghat, by Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti and Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra while launching the Yamuna Action Plan-III. It was one of the main attractions of the plan as the machine had a capacity to remove 10 tonne of waste such as religious items, plastic, cans, and fast growing weeds like water hyacinth. Both Bharti and Mishra had promised to bring more such machines in the near future. However, instead of doing that, the operations of the only machine that was working at the ghat have been stopped and it has been sent back to its contractor, a month after it was brought as it wasn't giving the desired results, according to DJB officials. There was no point of the machine. It was dumping the waste just at the bank and nobody was picking it up. The waste eventually used to flow back into the river, said a senior official of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). While it is the job of the municipal corporations to collect waste from the area, officials and people operating the machine said that the civic agency was not keen to do it. The waste got decayed by sitting there for days and whenever it used to rain, it flowed back into the river. The MCD was not told to collect it every day," said Nasir, a diver at Chhath Ghat, who used to operate the machine along with others. He worked on it for about a month, before it was taken away. There was a lack of integrated planning and communication between different agencies. It was never handed over to the Delhi government, the official said. Another official, however, said that the machine was brought by the Centre just to showcase at the inauguration ceremony from Varanasi where it was already working and was sent back there few days after the event. Nasir also said that there were other problems with the machine like its speed was slow as compared to its weight. At a time when Yamuna is choking with raw sewage and waste and new schemes to make it pollution free are being announced every day, ill-conceived plans going down the drain is the last thing the river needs. Earlier, the ambitious project of creating a 'Special Purpose Vehicle' (SPV) announced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to give the river a new lease of life has not moved forward. Over last many years, several action plans and other projects costing over Rs 900 crore have failed and the SPV, which was to function on the lines of Delhi Metro was being touted as the one stop solution to clean the Yamuna. The ADB has refused to commit funds for Pakistan's USD 14 billion dam project on Indus river in Pakitan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), two years after the World Bank declined to fund the project following Islamabad's refusal to seek an NoC from India. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao said yesterday at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. Underlining that the project on Indus river in Gilgit- Baltistan in PoK was very important for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, Nakao called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, expected to generate a power output of 4,500 MW. "We haven't decided [whether to fund] this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date, the Dawn reported. He said presently the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the dam. Islamabad has consistently failed to attract foreign lenders for the project. Repeated efforts to rope in the World Bank as a co-lender had failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No objection Certificate from India for the project. Instead, Pakistan accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha. The ADB also advised the government to adopt a professional approach towards the construction of the big dam that cannot be funded by a single institution, country or group given its mammoth financial requirements and the risks involved. As a way out, the ADB advised Islamabad to restructure the Diamer-Bhasha dam project by separating power generation, land acquisition and main dam structures and their various modes of financing. The ADB chief also cautioned Pakistan to wisely implement projects under the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), another strategic project opposed by India as it passes through the PoK, and utilise their funds well so as to avoid debt or repayment problems. With the banner proudly proclaiming 'Patake Rohtak wale', a shopkeeper here seeks to emphasise that crackers at his shop are 'desi' and not Chinese, but for the army of skeptic 'patriots' rummaging through the products, it is but an "eyewash". Business in markets across Delhi, especially the famed ones of the walled city, have taken a hit as 'patriotic' buyers are refusing to purchase firecrackers which they think are of Chinese origin, while sellers argue that they are not. "Why would I sell Chinese crackers? I am a patriotic person. Not a single cracker in my shop is from China. But how can I make the customers believe that? "They come, ask questions and leave the shop empty-handed. This is the worst Diwali for me. I am all with my Prime Minister when he says boycott Chinese product. But I want my Indian customers too to trust us," says Amit Verma, who has a firecracker shop in Dariba Kalan in Chandni Chowk here. He says that contrary to profits that would shoot over a lakh in previous years, this year he has barely managed to make a few thousands. Pop-pops or bang snaps, that have always been a favourite as trick noise makers among children, seem to be at the receiving end of a mass boycott this year, owing to their Chinese origin. "I know Chinese crackers. These shopkeepers can't fool me. The pop-pops they are selling are manufactured by a Chinese company. I have been buying them for so many years, but not this time," says a buyer. He says he would rather not buy crackers at all, than "buying one made by the Chinese." Most shopkeepers in the area claim that their stock has not been sourced from across the border but from Sivakasi, the 'fireworks hub' of the country. "What we are selling is an Indian brand. See for yourself, I have in my shop: Coronation, Scorpio, Jumbo. But, what can we do when the customer says it's Chinese," says Sanjay, who runs Vasu Fireworks in the area. Even images of Chinese women on the packets act as deterrent for customers who refuse to believe that the products are Indian. "I never noticed it. But then the customers are. People are refusing to buy boxes with pictures of 'Chinese' girls. "But, the product is from an Indian company. I have always bought my crackers from there. I was compelled to return the whole lot and ask the company for a new one," says another seller Umesh. However, according to some sellers, there continue to be a demand for Chinese crackers because they are "cheaper" and "attractive". "Chinese crackers are more fancy and attractive and are about 30 per cent cheaper than their Indian counterparts," says Akash Jain, owner of Ramesh Fireworks. The Pakistan High Commission staffer, who was detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage ring, belongs to the Baloch regiment of Pakistani Army and was on deputation to spy agency ISI since 2013. Investigators probing the case suspect more people from the mission may be involved in the espionage ring. Sources in Delhi Police also did not rule out possible involvement of some BSF personnel in the racket as they believe the staffer Mehmood Akhtar and his accomplices could not have got hold of deployment details unless somebody in BSF was leaking them. Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the Pakistani High Commission, had procured sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border and shared them with the ISI. Two of Akhtar's accomplices were already arrested. Akhtar was detained but released after prolonged questioning yesterday as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. He said that he is on deputation to ISI since January 2013 and is a serving Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army and native of village Kahuta of Rawalpindi district, said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police(Crime). During interrogation, Akhtar said that he was posted in Pakistan High Commission for last two-and-a-half years, according to police. It is also suspected that he lured many people into the spying ring by offering them good money and that there was a honey trap at play to lure people, said another officer in the probe team. Sources said more people in the Pakistani High Commission may be involved in the case. On possible involvement of BSF personnel, they said, "The documents that were recovered from them couldn't have been procured without the help of someone privy to such sensitive information. We are suspecting that they were aided by some BSF personnel who leaked the information and documents to them. "We are investigating that aspect. We have identified some of the officers involved and we will be conducting a raid soon." The Delhi Police had been tracking the module for the last six months and received information on October 25 that Akhtar will be meeting Subhash Jangir and Maulana Ramzan at the Delhi Zoo on October 26 around 10 AM, said the officer. A team of officers of Crime Branch led by ACP Sanjay Sherawat under the supervision of DCP Crime (South) Bhisham Singh laid a trap and caught the trio while they were in the process of exchanging documents. Akhtar initially showed an Aadhar card in the name of Mehboob Rajput. "He claimed to be a resident of Chandni Chowk but after sustained interrogation, he revealed his real name Mehmood Akhtar," said Yadav. He was carrying a forged Aadhar card to assume an Indian identity. "He is serving with Pakistan ISI and has got diplomatic immunity since he is posted in the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) of Delhi. This was verified through MEA and after confirmation and as per the due procedures, he was handed over to the PHC diplomats in presence of MEA representative," Yadav said. Since Akhtar was working in the visa department, it gave easy access to him to identify people who could work for him as spies. "He would chat up with people about their family background and then start laying his trap. People who were financially weak would be lured by promise of getting big money," said a senior police officer. The officer said the honey trap angle was also being explored. "From initial investigation, it has been revealed that some girls were exploited after being promised good money and were used to lure men into the module. We are investigating this aspect," he added. Police has also recovered the mobile phones of Maulana and Jangir, who were sharing information and documents with Akhtar. "It has been found that they used to mostly communicate through whatsapp calls as they are not recorded. We cannot procure the call detail records of calls made through whatsapp. "On normal phone calls, their conversations would mostly happen through codewords and we were studying the pattern in the last six months," said a senior police officer. Akhtar would meet Maulana and Jangir once every month in Delhi where they would give documents to him and he would pay them a high amount in return. During interrogation, they didn't reveal the amount for leaking information but it is suspected to be in the range of Rs 30,000-Rs 50,000, said a senior police officer. Akhtar had come in contact with Maulana and Jangir through a Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent, identified as Shoaib. Maulana and Jangir are residents of Nagaur in Rajasthan. Maulana has been working as an Islamic preacher at a local mosque Qureshiyon ki Masjid there and Subhash had a small kirana shop near the mosque. Ramzan was in contact with Shoaib, who is yet to be arrested.Subhash incurred huge losses in business and Ramzan asked him to become a part of the module. India today declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer 'persona non-grata' for spying and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents, including those about deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. "Today morning Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and informed him that India had intercepted an official of the Pakistan High Commission in the pursuit of espionage and that he was being declared persona non-grata," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. "The Pakistan High Commission has been informed that Mehmood Akhtar and his family must return to Pakistan by October 29. The Foreign Secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pak High Commissioner that the Pak High Commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status," Swarup said. He also rejected Pakistani allegations of "mishandling" Akhtar, saying he was treated with "utmost courtesy". "When he was handed over to the Pakistan High Commission in the presence of a ministry official, Akhtar himself said he was treated well," he added. Swarup said Akhtar told the police that he had joined the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1997 and came on deputation to the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) in 2013 and posted in September 2013 to the Pakistan High Commission where he is presently working as Assistant to Farukh Habib, Counsellor (Trade). Asserting that terror has become the "central motive" in India's interactions with Pakistan, Swarup said it was important that Pakistan takes action to honour various commitments it has made, including at the highest level, that it will dismantle the terror infrastructure and will not allow its soil to be used for such activities against any country, including India. "The terrorist attack in Uri and continuing attacks with repeated frequency in parts of Jammu and Kashmir are being carried out with the support of Pakistan. It is a matter of great concern that instead of taking action against the cancer, Pakistan takes shelter under denial and abjuration. LeT, JeM are active under various aegis and find support from state organs of Pakistan," Swarup said. Reacting strongly to Pakistan's denial of charges as "false and unsubstantiated" and that it was an attempt by India to divert attaention from Kashmir issue, Swarup said there was no "rationale" behind the claim as Akhtar was caught "red-handed" committing an illegal act. "We are happy that we nipped the ISI spy ring in the bud," he said, adding that "denial that has come out from Pakistan is something which has by now become quite characteristic (of that country)." On remarks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan that India was trying to "implode" Pakistan, the Spokesperson said if today that country is feeling isolated, it is because of "misguided policies". Giving details of how Akhtar was caught, Swarup said following intelligence inputs for the last six months relating to espionage involving vital installations of army and paramilitary forces, Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi Police in the forenoon yesterday while he was receiving sensitive documents pertaining to national security from two persons. Although initially Akhtar masqueraded as an Indian national and even produced a fake Aadhar card, he later admitted that he worked at the Pakistan High Commission and requested that the mission be informed of the developments. Earlier, at a press conference, Delhi Police said acting on inputs, its crime branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar into custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity, police said. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar, they said. "The alleged spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. They were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information," said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, he said. Detention Center The inmate count at the Platte County Detention Facility Wednesday was 85, with 55 from Platte County and 30 from out of county. Police Oct. 12 10:09 a.m. At 818 E. 23rd St., Susan Lee, 57, 2021 Seventh St., was cited for theft-failure to return lost or mislaid property. Oct. 13 10:50 p.m. In the 3400 block of 15th Street, Luis Garcia, 28, 3417 13th St., was cited for theft, three counts. Oct. 17 6:02 a.m. In the 900 block of 26th Avenue, Gabriela Felipe, 19, Schuyler, was cited for driving under the influence, minor in possession/consumption of alcohol, no valid registration and no proof of insurance. Oct. 18 4:07 p.m. At 3010 23rd St., Kasey Foulk, 35, 454 28th Ave., was cited for terroristic threats and second-degree trespassing. Oct. 20 5:10 p.m. At the intersection of 23rd Street and 28th Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Matthew Loseke, 20, 2811 35th St., Connie Speicher, 54, 2 Clear Lake, and William Oeltjen, 73, 6661 Country Club Drive. Oct. 21 11:50 a.m. At the intersection of 14th Street and 31st Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Kathy Miller, 54, 3068 37th Ave., and Robert Spitz, 44, 5402 West Meadow Drive. Miller was cited for an improper turn. 2 p.m. At the intersection of 23rd Street and 33rd Avenue, Henry Person, 55, Denton, was cited for a traffic signal violation. 2:23 p.m. - At the intersection of 23rd Street and 33rd Avenue, Lisa French, 36, Bellwood, was cited for a traffic signal violation. 2:34 p.m. At the intersection of 23rd Street and 33rd Avenue, Betty Romshek, 81, Bellwood, was cited for a traffic signal violation. 6:01 p.m. At the intersection of 23rd Street and 33rd Avenue, Jackson Ramp, 26, 1655 40th Ave., was cited for a traffic signal violation and driving during revocation. Oct. 22 9:32 a.m. At 1159 40th Ave., No. 5, Ashley Jensen, 23, 2761 Third Ave., was cited for second-degree trespassing and third-degree assault. 11:11 a.m. In the 500 block of East 23rd Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Jon Voss, 50, Fullerton, Donald Pollard, 76, Schuyler, and Michael Van Beek, 23, 1615 14th St., No. 3. Voss was cited for failure to maintain control and Pollard was cited for careless driving. 8:05 p.m. At the intersection of 33rd Avenue and 14th Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Guadalupe Flores-Felix, 25, Phoenix, Arizona, and Jessica Silvey, 22, 3015 14th St., Flores-Felix was cited for a traffic signal violation. Oct. 23 4 p.m. At 2255 10th Ave., Sergio Meda, 33, 2954 17th Ave., was cited for third-degree assault, two counts, assault on a police officer with bodily fluids and possession of drug paraphernalia. Oct. 24 6:41 a.m. At the intersection of 14th Street and 33rd Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Charles Kuta, 88, 3914 25th St., No. 7, and Thomas Wemhoff, 32, 17340 265th Ave. Sheriff Oct. 25 6:08 p.m. Wanted person at 2809 27th St., Rogelio Rodriguez-Medina of Columbus jailed on a Platte County warrant. 9:28 p.m. Wanted person at the Platte County Detention Facility, 1125 E. 17th St., John Wright jailed on a Platte County warrant. Fire Oct. 24 11:56 a.m. In the 4900 block of 23rd Street, medical. 5:16 p.m. Silent first alarm in apartments at 2657 40th Ave., no fire, burned food on stove. 6:47 p.m. Assist sheriffs office with diesel spill cleanup at accident scene at the intersection of East Eighth Street and East 29th Avenue. 10:04 p.m. In the 4900blockof 23rd Street, medical. Oct. 25 2:41 a.m. In the 2700 block of 11th Street, medical. 4:30 a.m. In the 1700 block of East 23rd Street, medical. 5 a.m. In the 2600 block of 37th Avenue, medical. 6:12 a.m. Structure fire at 2704 Cheyenne Drive, smoke in home and fans used to ventilate. Portrayed as a villain by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in the ongoing feud in the Yadav clan, Amar Singh today broke his silence on the issue, saying he was ready to "sacrifice" himself if it can help resolve the crisis. He also hit out at expelled Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav for "threatening" him, saying if anything happens to him, the blame would lie on the cousin of party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. "Sacrifice me. I am ready, if sacrifice can solve the problem," he said here. Reaching out to Akhilesh, he said the young leader should not go by what "backbiters" say. "Let Mulayam Singh say that I have said anything against Akhilesh...there is a new breed of people who are with the CM as he is in power. I am, was, and would remain with Akhilesh, the son of Mulayam Singh, not the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...Mulayam is not only the father of Akhilesh, but also the Samajwadi Party," Singh said. He said when Akhilesh was made the SP UP unit chief replacing Shivpal Singh yadav, even then he (Amar Singh) was blamed for it. "Even now I am being blamed," he quipped. He said when Akhilesh's family was opposing his plans to marry Dimple, "I was the one who stood by him, but today I am hurt by his words. There is no photo of his wedding in which this 'dalal' (power broker) is not there," he said, expressing disappointment over the remarks of the Chief Minister. Akhilesh had recently called Singh a 'dalal'. Singh also dismissed the charge that a news report calling Akhilesh 'Aurangzeb' was published at his behest. He said a "probe" would clear the issue. Responding to a poser on claim by Ram Gopal that no one can guarantee his safety as well as that of Shivpal if they made any statement against the former in public, Singh said it was an open "threat" and he would seek protection from the Union Home Minister. "Ram Gopal is no ordinary person, he knows how to use a pen as well as a carbine...If I die or am hurt, Ram Gopal is to be blamed...I want to live for my two 15-year-old daughters and my wife...I would leave India... Please let me live," Singh said. Replying to a question about his remarks that access to Akhilesh for him remains difficult, the party general secretary said, "It is possible to meet (Congress Vice President) Rahul Gandhi, but meeting Akhilesh is difficult." Continuing his attack on Ram Gopal, Singh said statements like "Amar SIngh has saved Mulayam from CBI and courts are baseless. At least spare your elder cousin Mulayam." Singh, who returned to SP fold after being sacked six years ago, is being blamed by Akhilesh for triggering the crisis in the Yadav clan. Akhilesh also believes that Amar Singh was behind his removal as SP's UP unit chief. Shivpal was appointed in his place ahead of the assembly polls in the state dues early next year. Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, a body under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, today expressed apprehension that a larger conspiracy is unfolding to defame Indian pharma industry in international markets. Referring to some media reports, PV Appaji, Director General of Pharmexcil, said eight out of top 20 generic drug makers are located in India and it shows the strength of the country in world pharma market. "In the given background, Pharmexcil is noticing a disturbing trend. In the recent past, much of adverse propaganda is taking place against the Indian companies with an intention to malign the image of Indian pharma and ultimately depriving the developing world to have an access to the quality drugs manufactured by Indian companies at affordable cost. "There is a serious and strong lobby working against the interests of Indian pharma industry and India," Appaji told reporters in a press conference. Appaji was referring to certain media reports which highlight environmental issues of a section of Indian drug makers, including Aurobindo Pharma, and the alleged creation of "super bug" during the production of some drugs intended for supply to a British Agency, in their manufacturing plants. Underlining strengths of Indian pharma, Appaji said that as on February 2016, as many as 631 sites have complied with EU GMP while 605 sites were registered with USFDA as on April 2015. He said approximately 1,400 WHO GMP certified plants are in India. "Indian pharmaceutical industry is controlled by a strong regulatory mechanism for GMP and environmental controls. This is being enforced by regular audits so as to ensure adherence to the regulatory compliance," he said. Pharmexcil will also seek the guidance and intervention from various agencies of the Central Government for the future course of action, Appaji added. In a bid to woo Indian- Americans, Donald Trump has borrowed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's winning slogan of the 2014 general elections as the Republican presidential nominee is seen in a TV ad saying "Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar". This is the first time that a US presidential candidate has specifically targeted the Indian-American vote bank. The new advertisement shows the 70-year-old reality TV star adapting BJP's catchy election slogan of the 2014 polls "Ab Ki baar, Modi Sarkaar". Indian-Americans are traditionally supporters of the Democratic Party and Trump's move is seen as an effort to make a dent in this vote bank. The billionaire is seen in the 30-second video saying, "Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar". "It's running on 20 channels," Shalabh Kumar, chairman of the Indian American Advisory Council of Donald J Trump for President, said. The commercial, which ranges from 20 seconds to 50 seconds in different variants, is being run 20 times a day on these Indian-American channels. It concludes with "I am Donald Trump and I approve this message" and carries excerpts of his remarks from his recent address to the Republican Hindu Coalition charity events in New Jersey. In between his remarks, images of Prime Minister Modi pop in.In this election cycle, Trump has made an unprecedented effort to reach out to the Indian-American community. He is the first presidential nominee to address an Indian-American event. This week, his daughter-in-law Lara Trump celebrated Diwali at a Hindu Temple in Ashburn Virginia, a key swing State. Kumar, who has been instrumental in both the commercial ad and New Jersey, did not say how much money the campaign is spending in running these advertisements on Indian channels in the US. "Democrats talk good about India. Republicans do good about India," Sekhar Tiwari, a long-time Republican supporter, said. Police tonight stormed a youth convention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) here and arrested scores of party workers, even as a defiant Imran Khan vowed to go ahead with his protest next week despite a ban on political rallies demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation. Police thrashed the PTI workers and detained them just when PTI vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was to address the youth convention here, eyewitness said. Qureshi, who was present at the site, said the police raid manifested dictatorial tactics of the ruling government. He said the party workers neither had any weapons nor they were protesting, Express Tribune reported. "On what basis they have arrested our party's members?" Qureshi questioned as he alleged that the government had arrested hundreds of PTI workers and police tortured the female workers of the party as well. "Hundreds of PTI workers were arrested and female workers were tortured by the police," Qureshi was quoted as saying by Dawn. "We will discuss the situation with IG Islamabad." The district administration in the national capital had imposed section 144, banning public gatherings and display of weapons for two months. According to a notification more than five people cannot gather at a location. Public rallies and mass gatherings have been banned, Radio Pakistan reported. The notification came ahead of the sit-in by Imran-led party planned for November 2. The party is protesting alleged money laundering by Sharif and his family in the wake of the Panama Papers leak and is demanding the Premier's resignation. Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court today ordered the opposition and government to abstain from shutting down the capital in the name of protest or maintaining law and order. The court heard petitions to outlaw a threat by Imran to impose gridlock on Islamabad on November 2. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said neither the opposition nor the government has any right under the law to shut down the city. He directed the government and city administration to ensure smooth running of daily business on November 2. Siddiqui ordered the city administration not to place any containers or block roads during the protest by PTI, while also restraining the opposition from imposing a lockdown. The judge also summoned Imran on October 31 to explain why in his speeches he had threatened to shut down the capital. "We will not let rights of citizens be violated," he said. He also asked the administration to inform PTI that it should restrict protests at a designated place. The court observed that "judiciary is the third umpire" and can decide on matters related to law and Constitution. The reference was made in the context of any possibility of intervention by army as Imran had earlier said that only Prime Minister Sharif will be responsible if democracy was derailed and a "third power" stepped in due to protests. Addressing the media in Islamabad after the court order, Imran had said that using force against peaceful protesters is unconstitutional. He warned that the government's attempt to stop the rally will only result in spreading chaos. Imran said he will challenge the High Court decision in the Supreme Court. One of the call-centres extorted USD 12,300 from an 85-year-old victim from San Diego, California, after threatening her with arrest if she did not pay fictitious tax violations. On the same day that she was extorted, one of the US-based defendants allegedly used a reloadable debit card funded with the victim's money to purchase money orders in Frisco, Texas, the Justice Department said. Some of the victim's money ended up on cards which were activated using stolen personal identifying information from US-based victims, it said. The probe, which began in 2013, has revealed a trans- national criminal organisation was operating both in the US and overseas in India, making hundreds of millions of dollars. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Exemption, Russell George said since 2013, have received over two million contacts from individuals who said they have received solicitations. "Of that number, approximately 10,000 people have acknowledged they have fallen victim to this scam in the amount of USD 50 million," he said. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General, John Roth, said the case was massive. "Over USD 250 million in stolen money," he said. "These fraudsters exploited the immigrants fears of deportation and the insecurity of the elderly with this deceitful assertion of power. In many instances, the scammers portrayed themselves as immigration agents who called to collect fines resulting from faulty immigration paperwork. Fines not paid would result in the immediate deportation," he said. "These calls were from numbers that reflected that the call came from the national call center from the immigration services call center," he added. More than 60 individuals and entities, an overwhelming number of them Indians, were today charged by the Justice Department for allegedly participating in a multi-million dollar scam involving call centres based in India which conned thousands of American citizens.Twenty of these individuals were arrested in the US today, while 31 of these individuals and five call centers have been charged for their alleged involvement in the scam.An additional US-based defendant is currently in the custody of immigration authorities.Many of these, who were arrested in India recently, faces deportation to the US.The indictment alleges that the defendants were involved in a "sophisticated fraudulent scheme organised by conspirators in India, including a network of call centers in Ahmedabad", the Department of Justice said.Using information obtained from data brokers and other sources, call-centre operators allegedly called potential victims while impersonating officials from the Internal Revenue Service or US Citizenship and Immigration Services.According to the indictment, the call-centre operators then threatened potential victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay taxes or penalties to the government.If the victims agreed to pay, the call-centres would then immediately turn to a network of US-based co-conspirators to liquidate and launder the extorted funds as quickly as possible by purchasing prepaid debit cards or through wire transfers, federal prosecutors alleged.The prepaid debit cards were often registered using misappropriated personal identifying information of thousands of identity theft victims, and the wire transfers were directed by the criminal associates using fake names and fraudulent identifications, the indictment said.According to the indictment, the co-conspirators allegedly used "hawalas" to direct the extorted funds to accounts belonging to US-based individuals. These individuals were expecting the hawala transfers but were not aware of the illicit nature of the funds. The co-conspirators also allegedly kept a percentage of the proceeds for themselves.Mumbai Police unearthed the scam, involving more than Rs 500 crore, after raiding seven call centres on Mira Road. The con job had been going on for a few months, police have said.The daily transactions of the call centres stood at around Rs 1.5 crore."This is a transnational problem, and demonstrates that modern criminals target Americans both from inside our borders and from abroad. Only by working tirelessly to gather evidence, build cases and working closely with foreign law enforcement partners to ensure there are no safe havens can we effectively address these threats," Assistant Attorney General Leslie R Caldwell told reporters at a news conference here. In a tit-for-tat action, Pakistan today declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours. Foreign Office said in a statement that the decision was conveyed to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale who was summoned to foreign ministry. "The Foreign Secretary (Aizaz Chaudhry) summoned the Indian High Commissioner today and conveyed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to declare Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non-grata," the statement said. The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms, it said. The Indian High Commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by October 29. Earlier today, India declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer in New Delhi as persona non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. Indian aviation is in a time warp. If there is one sector that needs the most of Prime Minister Narendra Modis punch line minimum government, maximum governance, it is aviation. Plagued by poor regulations, the sector is choking on high taxes. Air India, once an unrivalled lodestar, is today a decrepit moribund organisation. For Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, our aircraft fly to Sri Lanka, Middle East or Singapore where, ironically, Indian engineers work on them. All our active airports put together handle less cargo than Hong Kong airport, which fuels the growth of southern China. General aviation comprising helicopters, business jets, and small turbo prop planes that offer regional connectivity that exploded during UPA-I had already shrunk. The aviation business has remained stagnant during the last seven years. Growth has been reported last year but if viewed over a period of seven years from 2009 when Kingfisher collapsed the total number of passenger aircrafts in the country has remained static. The grounding of Kingfisher-Air Deccan, the SpiceJet crisis and shutting down of Paramount saw 145 aircraft exiting the country. An equal number has been imported. Though Indigo filled this vacuum and grew, the market itself did not expand. Hard numbers tell that story. The market shrank from 57 million to 55 million three years ago. At present, the total number of domestic passenger tickets sold is a measly 75 million for a population of more than a billion. Less than 3% of Indians can afford air travel and of this, 80% comes from four metros. Mumbai-Delhi sector still account for 55% of total number of fliers. Such an aviation penetration and per capita consumption compare only with Sub-Saharan countries. This is at a time a small economy like Ireland sells 25 million tickets a year for a population of five million and Malaysia carries more than 18 million for a 28 million population. Not to mention the US that sells more than 700 million tickets, almost double its population. In such a bleak scenario, a visionary aviation policy was the need of the hour and the NDA government responded with the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) and Regional Connectivity Scheme, nicknamed UDAN (Ude Desk ka Aam Nagrik or Let Common Man Also Fly). Both are laudable initiatives but the document that was advertised as the first aviation policy since independence falls short of major reforms that could bring down costs and facilitate ease of doing business. Aviation eco-system The NCAP addresses mainly issues of fliers and airlines. It does not cover the entire aviation eco-system. One should not forget that consumers interests are best served when there is fierce competition. One of the biggest impediments to growth is the flawed airport policy, which has created oligopolies and stunted the sector. Today, a quarter of airlines expenses go to airport related expenses in long haul flights and over 30% on short haul flights by smaller aircrafts. It is 50% on 10-15 seaters, which are the only ones that can land on remote bush strips. Many airport services and contracts have been bagged by crony capitalists or politicians through their kin. It is an open secret. At present, public sector airport monopolies have been replaced by private sector oligopolies, which have morphed into real estate players. The whole world has moved towards competition London has five airports, New York has four and Hong Kong four international airports within 150 km. The UK Parliament in recent years broke the stranglehold of one player controlling three airports in London. But what we do? We shut down existing airports in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Instead of creating new airports in Mumbai and Delhi and infusing competition, we mortgaged the most critical resource of land and airspace in major metros on a cost plus profitability basis to a couple of players. Hope the new government will tackle such issues if it wishes to have meaningful reforms that are inextricably linked to growth. Another issue is the toothless airport regulator with limited ambit, which is regulating monopolies instead of monitoring competition. The new policy is silent on regulator. It is also quiet on Air India and Air Navigation Services, which needs to be professionalised, made autonomous and accountable. India has the most over regulated aviation sector in the world, where Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is enforcing Aircraft Rules of 1937, when jet engines and helicopters were not invented. The BJP-led NDA spoke of bold reforms and promised of scrapping antiquated laws. But there is disappointment that the NCAP does not address reforms in the DGCA, which has choked the sector. The regulator is not expected to be popular. But aviation rules in the US and Europe have undergone large changes keeping with changes in technology. There, regulators have to ensure safety and facilitate growth. In India, unfortunately, the DGCA is like any other government department following archaic rules that is interpreted subjectively thus leading to undesirable practices. It is under-staffed, under-trained and demoralised. The government needs to have a thorough cadre review so that technocrats take over the DGCA in place of ubiquitous IAS as in ISRO or Atomic Energy Commission. How do we create an ecosystem for MRO, air cargo, aircraft parts manufacturing, avionics, air express logistics, charter aviation and design so that we can tap the huge pool of technicians and engineers we have? We face a strange paradox. There is an inexhaustible market of 97% of the population who are yet to fly and in contrast more than 5,000 pilots and lakhs of technicians are languishing without jobs. It is against this backdrop the UDAN has been unveiled. The incentives offered under the scheme, which the government describes a 'game changer', is well intentioned and can create huge economic impact along with job creation in the 'other India'. However, it is too cumbersome and complicated to implement it. Our past experiences also show that the schemes based on subsidies are difficult to oversee with a nexus of politicians and middlemen controlling it. Let me illustrate by an example. Regional connectivity largely means encouraging connectivity and integration of rural towns with metros. You need to connect Kolhapur to Mumbai, Cooch Behar to Kolkata and Kullu to Delhi. That will push reforms and investments to hinterland and promote tourism. The emphasis is not to link Cooch Behar to Kolhapur. If a small ten seater flies from Delhi to Kullu in Himachal Pradesh or Gauchar and Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand to cater to the four Dhams, the present airport monopolies do not give a preferential time slot as small aircrafts do not fetch much revenue. Besides, they charge them the moon and do not offer free landing even though the statute provides it, taking refuge in technicalities saying Delhi or Bombay are now by nomenclature international airports. The bigger airports argue that it is free only in domestic airports, pushing the fares above Rs 6,000 thereby snuffing out the small operator. Remote tourist spots What we need is hundreds of entrepreneurs who connect these remote tourist spots and outposts of commercial significance who are not scheduled regional airlines and who cannot and must not wait forever for government subsidies. If we need explosive growth as well as deep and wide penetration into underserved regions, we should actually simplify the policy instead of offering subsidies. This can be achieved by eliminating all tariffs like sales taxes on fuel, airport charges, service tax, customs duty on imports of aircrafts and spare parts, landing and parking charges for all operators who fly from metros to Tier-II and Tier-III cities and remote towns. We have more than 100 charter operators. They are flying but struggling to keep their head above the water. They are the ones who can connect the 500-odd unused or underserved airports and airstrips with their small aircraft. These operators should be unshackled and incentivised. State governments, which still want to develop specific routes, can still do so by giving subsidy. But the rest of the operators, who may not want to be bogged down in a subsidy regime, are the key to enhancing regional connectivity. They should get all other tax and tariff benefits. One should also remember that regional connectivity will remain a pipe dream if the current airport tariffs continue to be extortionist. Along with this, various regressive and oppressive rules that are choking growth also need urgent changes for realising the aspirations of UDAN. For example, the DGCA recently introduced a bizarre rule banning second flight or a series of flights on a daily basis to remote air strips. It drove the last nail in the coffin of budding regional operators, forgetting that these kind of bush strips are the mainstay of tourism and connectivity in African game parks as also the backbone of regional connectivity in the US, Canada, New Zealand, South America and Australia. Our customs duty and other state taxes like Octroi and Entry Tax are presently a huge disincentive till probably the coming GST addresses it. Coupled with cumbersome procedures, this is nightmarish. Established airlines lobby with government to ban entry to new players. They forget they would never be flying in the first place, if the government had not ushered in reforms. How do we break these entry barriers and make it easy for new airlines to fly? How can we rework the airport policy to facilitate growth? The announcement of 100% FDI in airlines and airports is a bold step. This kindles hope as increased investments combined with intense competition will be good for passengers and the economy. But foreign airlines and bigger players will not fly to remote towns. In such a scenario, incentivising regional connectivity is a great step forward as big airlines and regional scheduled and small charter flights will feed on each other. Hope the government will continue with the initiative and enlarge reforms speedily and simplify it so that large number of small charters and regional scheduled operators embrace it. (The writer, who founded Air Deccan, pioneered the concept of budget airlines in India) There has been a lot of media attention on how Pakistan has been isolated (even outmanoeuvered) with the successful postponement of the November 2016 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit at the instance of India and three other member nations Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan. But behind the scenes, isolation from one platform may lead Pakistan to concentrate its energies elsewhere. What is probably emerging and may gain fillip is a parallel regional economic alliance with China, Iran and the Central Asian states an alliance that can offer Pakistan the opportunity to exploit many new opportunities not only for cementing economic bonds but also building or strengthening political equations. To understand how this dynamic may unfold, it is useful to look at how a platform like Saarc has grown over the years though neither India nor Pakistan were initially warm to the idea of such a formal regional alliance. The heightened mutual suspicion in the light of the Uri terrorist attack has brought back a divergence that has been in many ways wired and imprinted into Saarc right from its inception. In fact, both India and Pakistan were initially cool to the idea of Saarc when it was originally mooted by Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman during his meeting with Prime Minister Morarji Desai in December 1977. Bangladesh was keen to form this alliance after its quest for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) membership was unsuccessful. In 1977, King Birendra of Nepal supported the idea during a meeting in Colombo. In 1979, Ziaur Rahman got president J R Jayawardenes approval during his Colombo visit. India and Pakistan were late starters. Security disputes were dominant in their thinking. While India felt that smaller powers would gang up against her, Pakistan thought that India would use her greater influence on security disputes and dominate the market. It was for this reason that the 1980 Bangladesh draft paper on Saarc avoided all references to bilateral issues, whether security or political. The first Heads of States meeting was held in Dhaka in December 1985. It is not that the Saarc forum was not used to defuse Indo-Pakistan bilateral tensions. Just a year after the first Heads of State meeting, the Bangalore Summit in 1986 could soften tensions arising out of Indias military exercise Brasstacks on the Indo-Pak border. The 1991 Colombo summit paved the way for both prime ministers to meet again in Davos in 1992. In June 2010, our Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief accompanied then home minister P Chidambaram for the Saarc interior ministers meeting. Similarly, then prime minister Manmohan Singh asked the IB chief to accompany then home secretary R K Singh for his bilateral meeting in Islamabad in May 2012. All these were confidence building measures (CBMs). However, it is also true that Pakistan was distancing itself from South Asia and looking for opportunities to build alliances with China and in West Asia. This has been a gradual process but it has led to China becoming Pakistans biggest trading partner by 2012, garnering 17% of its total trade as against the European Union (13%), US (6.7%) and India (3.2%). Would Pakistan be adversely affected by going away from Saarc? Pakistan government statistics do not indicate that this would be the case. The percentage of Pakistans imports from some Saarc countries during July 2015-May 2016 was: 1.33% from India, 1.33% from Sri Lanka, 3.09% from Bangladesh and 6.29% from Afghanistan. Other Saarc countries are not even mentioned. Only India (4.10%) is mentioned among Pakistans exports to Saarc countries. China with 27.22% share tops the list of Pakistan exports. Today, 8.5 million (about 4% of the Pakistani population) work abroad. About 3.8 million Pakistanis live in the Gulf. They sent $19.3 billion home as remittances in 2015. Pakistan is now banking on the $ 46 billion Kashgar(China)-Gwader(Balochistan) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to develop that huge area. As many as 51 MoUs were signed during the Chinese presidents 2015 visit to Pakistan for projects worth $46 billion in various sectors like security, infrastructure and energy. Commercial grouping Former prime minister Shaukat Aziz (2004-2007) told a conference in Hong Kong just last month that more than 6,000 workers were employed in this project in the first three months of this calendar in addition to indirect employment. Pakistans new proposal to start a new, expanded economic and commercial grouping could be because of this recently found confidence even after being isolated in Saarc. What would be Indias loss if Pakistan leaves Saarc? It will confirm Pakistans oft-repeated complaint, supported at times even by Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, that India is a regional bully. As the famous South Asian journalist Kanak Mani Dixit had observed: Even if New Delhi does not act threateningly, the mere possibility of its regional domination elicits a defensive response from the neighbours. Also, India would lose another forum for ironing out differences with Pakistan when bilateral meetings are suspended due to frosty relations, as is the case now. For example, the 12th Saarc summit at Islamabad in January 2004 had launched the composite dialogue on bilateral contentious issues including Kashmir during the Vajpayee-Musharraf meeting, resulting in the Indo-Pakistan joint press statement of January 6, 2004. What this suggests is that in a dynamic world, ideas of isolation may not be the best way to either build ties or contain threats. Instead, there is a case that can be made out that India in itself could be poorer because it will lose a convenient multilateral forum to defuse tensions as has been often done in the past. (The writer is former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat) In an apparent bid to garner public and party sympathy, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has sought to project himself as an obedient son, who followed in the footsteps of his father despite being lambasted in front of party workers. A post on the Facebook page Kaho dil se, Akhilesh phir se (say from the heart, Akhilesh again) asked people if they were with Akhilesh, who, like an obedient son, followed in his fathers footsteps and always gave him respect. The post received hundreds of likes within a few hours. The page also had an old picture, where a young Akhilesh is seen standing respectfully beside his father, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. FB post According to sources, the Facebook page has been created by a family member close to Akhilesh. The post comes on the heels of an emotional speech made by Akhilesh at a party meeting here on Monday. Netaji (Mulayam), I have always emulated you...It is you, who made me whatever I am today...and I shall always follow the path shown by you, Akhilesh said at the meeting, in the presence of Mulayam and uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav. Akhileshs supporters had cited the speech to claim that he was not going to break the party and form a new outfit, as claimed by Shivpal. The chief minister is being projected as a villain and someone who has betrayed his father, though the reality is different, an SP leader close to Akhilesh told DH. Shivpals associates, however, said this could be an attempt to garner sympathy for Akhilesh ahead of the elections. COLUMBUS Florian Schenkl and Carsten Heidenreich lived 30 minutes apart in Germany, but never met until coming to Columbus. Schenkl, a 20-year-old college student with an undecided major, and Heidenreich, a 18-year-old high school graduate searching for a path to follow, both found their purpose in missionary work. God has given me so much in life, and I just wanted to give back to Him, Heidenreich said. But its not the type of missionary work where theyre digging trenches or wells to bring fresh water into poor villages. They're making an impact on young peoples lives through Youth for Christ, a local organization that reaches out to more than 500 youths a week. Neither had been outside Germany before, let alone to America. This was an exciting and independent step for the young men, who arrived in Columbus early last month. Before they took this leap of faith, they had another thing in common they both prayed about whether this was Gods will for their lives. I had to start thinking what I was going to do after high school. I had different options, but I couldnt really come to a point, said Heidenreich. It was like God said to me, This is what you are to do now. I dont know why. I just knew I had to do it. I just trusted in Him, Schenkl added, saying God has brought him through a lot so he had no reason not to trust Him in leading him to America. The local Youth for Christ has partnered with Youth for Christ in Germany to bring interns such as Schenkl and Heidenreich here since 2008, opening a new world to both the youths served and volunteer mentors. As a kid, it was always a dream to come to the United States, Heidenreich said, adding that he wasn't assigned to Columbus; rather, he chose it. Its more of a rural area and here you can really see the classic America as I always imagined it. They explained how each Youth for Christ across the U.S. offered certain missions, depending on where they chose to volunteer. The Columbus location was appealing because it offered more one-on-one time with the youths. We get to play pool with them, talk with them, hear their opinion, and thats what I really like about it rather than being stuck in an office, Heidenreich said. Im only 18 years old, but I have things that Ive experienced in life before that I can share with them. I really like what the work looks like here, Schenkl added. While Heidenreich was familiar with the organization since his parents worked with Youth for Christ in Germany for years, Schenkl heard about the opportunity through a speaker at church. Both signed up, taking full financial responsibility for the trip while living with a host family. We have time to get to know the kids and build a relationship with them so we can share the Gospel with them, Schenkl said. "I think throughout the year were going to really start making a difference, Heidenreich added. This is our mission. This is the main reason we are here. Each day they help plan games, Bible studies and programs and prepare meals. Since theyve only been on board for a month, they arent completely in charge of anything yet, but Youth for Christ administrator Stacey Langmack said that will come in due time. Ultimately, we want to share the Gospel with the kids here and give the interns a chance to do a mission to impact the kids in every circumstance, said Langmack. It gives us both an opportunity to grow in Christ and give these kids an opportunity to see other young people who are 20 and 18 who are on fire for God and going out and doing His work. Even though Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has extended an invitation to Nitish Kumar to attend the partys 25th anniversary, the probability of the Bihar chief minister attending the jamboree seems remote. Mulayam, through his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav, has invited all the erstwhile Janata Dal leaders to attend the SPs silver anniversary function in Lucknow on November 5. The veteran leader, firefighting the trouble within his family, has expressed eagerness to bring all socialists under one roof, and has therefore, urged RJD president Lalu Prasad, Janata Dal chief Nitish Kumar and Janata Dal (S) president H D Deve Gowda to attend the jamboree, which is perceived to be a show of strength for the Uttar Pradesh regional satrap before the state goes to polls early next year. Unlike Lalu, who has a soft corner for Mulayam since the formers youngest daughter Raj Laxmi is married to the SP supremos grand nephew Tej Pratap Singh Yadav, Nitish has no such affinity towards the SP. Sources in the ruling party here argue that Nitish has not been able to forgive Mulayam for ditching him at the last moment during the 2015 Bihar elections, where the SP chief had even questioned his secular credentials. Not only this, Mulayam had tried to scuttle Nitishs chances of emerging triumphant by fielding SP nominees for all the seats in Bihar. Congress scotches alliance talk The Congress moved quickly to snuff out all talk of an alliance for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, even as party legislators favoured joining hands with the Samajwadi Party, DHNS reports from New Delhi. Congress has placed huge bets on Uttar Pradesh, a state where it has been out of power for nearly three decades. Congress leaders said it was highly unlikely that the party would like to set aside its efforts of a revival of the organisation in the state. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi spent almost a month in Uttar Pradesh, touring every nook and corner to understand the problems faced by farmers and youth. We have been holding the SP, BSP and BJP squarely responsible for shifting the paradigm of development to that of division, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here. Police arrested a 45-year-old priest for attempting to rape a six-year-old girl inside the temple premises in Indiranagar. The suspect, Shivakumar, is a priest of a temple at Old Tippasandra. The incident occurred on Tuesday at 6.15 pm when the victim was playing inside the temple premises. Shivakumar lured her with some toffees, took her away and attempted to rape her, said the police. Residents rushed inside the temple after the girl raised an alarm and thrashed the priest. They informed the police, who arrested him and booked him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act based on a complaint filed by the victims mother. The suspect and the victim have been subjected to medical tests. Thousands of commuters in the northern and central parts of the city were stranded for more than three hours as the traffic went haywire due to the Congress rally at the Palace Grounds on Thursday. The party had organised Surajya Samavesha for felicitating Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara for completing six years in office. Vehicular movement on roads in the vicinity of the Palace Grounds was affected from 9 am as private vehicles ferrying Congress workers started reaching the venue. By 11 am, the situation went out of control with thousands of motorists stranded choking the neighbouring areas also. There was massive traffic jam on Jayamahal Road, Ramana Maharshi Road, JC Nagar Main Road, Nandidurga Road, Palace Road and Seshadripuram Main Road, while Kumara Krupa Road, Chowdiah Road, C V Raman Road and Kodava Samaja Road were completely choked. Police said that there was heavy congestion at Basaveshwara Circle, Bhashyam Circle, Jeevaraj Alva Road, Sadashivanagar police station junction, Vasanthnagar, JC Nagar, Mehkri Circle and Yeshwantpur till 4 pm. The situation was no better on Hebbal flyover, at Kuvempu Circle, CNR Circle and Maramma Circle. Police frequently received calls from the airport-bound passengers for traffic updates on Ballari Road. There were reports that some passengers missed their flights. Employees and students were late in reaching their offices and schools/colleges respectively. The congestion adversely affected BMTC bus services too. Radhakrishna, an employee with a private firm, told DH that he had a traumatic experience. Many road users were not aware of the event. Police did not inform people about any diversion. Commuters were stranded for more than three hours on Ballari Road, he said. HC ban order flouted? The High Court of Karnataka had ordered a ban on political events at the Palace Grounds in the wake of the JD(S) convention causing a severe traffic jam in 2008. The city police had been directed not to permit any mega political event at the ground. However, the BBMP horticulture superintendent of west zone gave permission for the Congress event at the Palace Grounds while the police issued a no objection certificate. Police caught unawares The traffic police failed to anticipate the cascading effects of a large gathering at the Palace Grounds. They also failed to control the situation as they did not make any diversion. They decided to take instant decisions based on the ground situation. Senior officers should have made diversions, identified parking lots and requested the public to avoid certain areas. Proper planning and informing the public on diversion in advance play an important role whenever high-profile events are organised at the Palace Grounds, a senior officer who earlier headed the Bengaluru traffic wing said. The traffic police claimed that they used social media platforms and flashed alerts about jams. A three-day World Kannada Conference will be organised in June 2017, said Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree on Thursday. The conference will mark the 60th anniversary of the states formation. Speaking to reporters after a preliminary meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the preparations for the conference, which is referred to by the government as the Vishwa Kannada Sammelana, Umashree said the venue to host the event is yet to be finalised. She said Rs 30 crore had been announced in the budget for the event. However, the costs might escalate, given the fact that the government had spent Rs 35 crore to host the same event in Belagavi in 2011, she added. Also, as the Sammelana has already been hosted in Mysuru and Belagavi on previous occasions, the department has proposed that it should be organised in either the Bengaluru or Kalaburagi revenue divisions. Districts including Bidar, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Davangere and Bengaluru came up for discussion as possible venues. Sources said that Bengaluru was also ruled out, with Siddaramaiah suggesting that Hyderabad-Karnataka districts be explored. The High Court on Thursday questioned the Union government on how it monitors and censors TV programmes. Justice A N Venugopala Gowda asked how effectively the programmes are censored and if the producers of the programme follow the directions of the committee constituted to check on censorship. The petitioner, Megha Movies, has challenged the Central Board of Film Certifications (CBFC) decision to delete some scenes in the Kannada movie, Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu, which had lewd comments. These comments were otherwise cleared by the Censor Board for the trailer. The petitioner has questioned the double standards in the way censorship is done for movies and television programmes and has sought directions to have proper guidelines for the Cinematography Act,1952 for Television Serials/Advertisements and Promotions of Sales Products. The petitioners have contended that though there were rules for formation of state and district committees to check on censorship for television programmes, they have not been effectively implemented. The judge directed the Union government to produce Supreme Court and High Court orders with regard to censorship in television and adjourned the next hearing to Friday. Police are looking at various motives behind the killing of RSS worker R Rudresh, 38. Was it personal enmity, communal conflict, political rivalry or ideological clash that led to the murder? A senior police officer, who is part of the investigation team, suspects it to be a combination of personal, political and communal conflicts. Rudresh was mandal president of the RSS shakha at Shivajinagar and secretary of the BJPs Shivajinagar Assembly constituency unit. He had managed to bring some local Muslim leaders into the BJPs fold. His rise to political prominence unnerved many, including some within the BJP. The slain RSS worker was also a self-styled cow vigilante. During Bakrid in September, he had tipped the police off about animal slaughter in eastern Bengaluru, leading to raids on abattoirs and the arrest of several people. At the same time, he organised the Ganesha Chaturthi festival on a large scale and fought with many people over erecting a pandal at Shivaji Circle, the officer said. This apart, Rudresh would regularly fight with one of the suspects Mohammed Sadiq alias Mohammed Mazhar, 35, a resident of JC Nagar. Police suspect that Sadiq was the man who rode the motorbike along with Waseem Ahmad, 30, from Austin Town, and the two waylaid Rudresh on Kamaraj Road. Ahmad went on to fatally hack Rudresh while Sadiq kept the motorcycles ignition on, according to police. Sadiq, the officer said, owns an automobile repair shop on Milkman Street, Shivajinagar, where Rudresh lived. Rudresh had asked Sadiq to stop test-riding motorcycles at top speed on the narrow street, saying women and children walk there. Sadiq asked him to mind his own business. The argument blew into fisticuffs on a few occasions. Rudresh was also making constant efforts to evict Sadiq from the locality. Another officer, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Sadiq had told his friends about Rudresh troubling him and other Muslims. The friends spoke of eliminating Rudresh. Police say that one of the suspects could be associated with the banned group, al-Ummah, though they are yet to verify it. Rudreshs murder was similar to the killings of RSS workers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Assailants in all the cases are found to have been trained in carrying out the attacks. A layman cannot do it, the officer said. CID, CCB, ex-cops also worked on case Since it was a sensitive case, sleuths of the CID, the CCB and some retired police officers were roped in to trace the suspects. We identified retired officers who had served in Bengaluru as they know the areas well. They played a key role in cracking the case, P Harishekaran, Additional Commissioner of Police (East), said. Minister for Health and Family Welfare K R Ramesh Kumar on Thursday announced a series of new programmes to strengthen the public health care system. Soon all the 146 taluk hospitals would have a dialysis centre run on the public-private partnership model. While the government would provide infrastructure, private players would appoint staff, put equipment in place and maintain them. Three-bed ICU would be set up in all taluk hospitals at a cost of Rs 27 lakh each. All taluk hospitals will have blood storage units and district hospitals blood banks. This is to ensure that no patient in cases such as dengue suffers due to non-availability of blood, the minister said. Upaharagruhas would be started in all taluk and district hospitals where food would be made available for patients, their attendants and group D staff of the hospital at a subsidised price. With consumables from the Food and Civil Supplies department, idlis would be priced ar Rs 4, chapati and sabzi or rice at Rs 8 per plate. Drinking water would be supplied by the MSIL. He said a committee has been formed to amend the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act to address grievances of patients in private hospitals. A BSF soldier was killed and at least seven civilians were injured as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling and firing along border outposts and civilian areas in Jammu district on Thursday. A senior police official told DH that Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing of small arms and used 120mm and 82mm mortar shells in Abdullian area of RS Pura sector in which a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier was killed due to splinter injures. The Pakistani troops pounded more than 15 border outposts and 30 hamlets with mortar shells and small arms since Wednesday night, which continued on Thursday, he said, adding that one of the mortar shells fell in Abdullian village near the international border, causing serious splinter injuries to the civilians. The slain trooper was identified as Jitendra Kumar, a resident of Motihari district in Bihar. This was the third killing of a BSF solider in Pakistani firing in the past week. In a separate incident, an army soldier was killed and another injured as troops foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control on north Kashmirs Kupwara district. An army official said suspicious movement was observed along the LoC in Tanghdar sector, 180 km from here, and an operation was launched. As the group of militants were attempting to infiltrate, the troops challenged them. The terrorists responded with heavy fire, and in the ensuing fight, a trooper was martyred while another one was injured, he said and added the area was cordoned off and the operation was in progress. Meanwhile, at least two vehicles were burnt down by miscreants in Srinagar on Thursday to enforce the shutdown. A school building was also set on fire in Pattan area of north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Wednesday night. At least 20 school buildings have been burnt mysteriously in the ongoing unrest triggered by the July 8 killing of Burhan Wani. Civil liberty leaders and emissaries of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Thursday claimed that top Maoists leaders are still in police custody, and demanded their immediate release. Akkiraju Haragopal alias Ramakrishna and Gajarla Ravi alias Ganesh alias Uday of the outlawed group vanished without a trace following a prolonged joint operation of the Andhra Pradesh and the Odisha Police. As many as 30 Maoists have lost their lives since Monday in the Bejjangi forest in Odishas Malkangiri district. While all the Maoists and one Greyhound commando, Abu Bakr, were identified, Ramakrishna (RK) and Ganesh are said to have slipped into the vast forest area amid the gun battle with the anti-Maoist forces. However, Maoist emissary and revolutionary writer Varavara Rao charged that the police captured the insurgents when they had gathered for a plenary meeting, and tortured them to death. We have information that RK and Ganesh are in police custody since Monday. We demand the police present them before the court, we are concerned about their safety, Varavara said. In a separate statement, the Telangana Democratic Forum also demanded the Andhra Pradesh government release the two leaders. If anything happens to them, it will be the responsibility of the state government, read the statement, signed by Prof Haragopal and Justice (Retd) Chandrakumar, among others. COLUMBUS The spooks were out Thursday to get an early start on their Halloween. Going door to door, children dressed as zombies, superheroes and princesses received candy and other sweets from merchants during the annual Downtown Trick or Treat. The event sponsored by the Columbus Downtown Business Association welcomed kids in costumes to visit participating stores where they could fill their buckets and bags with goodies. In addition to the candy, there were also crafts, a bounce house and pumpkin decorating in Frankfort Square. There are other community trick-or-treating events coming up. Trunk or treats will be held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Federated Church and 5-6 p.m. Monday at Lost Creek Elementary School. To ensure a Halloween with all the treats and no the tricks, the Nebraska Regional Poison Center recommends the following tips: Treats should be carefully checked by adults. Homemade treats or anything out of its original wrapper should be thrown away unless parents are positive of the identity of the person it came from. Marijuana edibles can be found in many shapes and sizes and resemble traditional candies in their names and packaging. This is another good reason to check all your childrens candy when they get home. Providing children with a full meal before trick-or-treating will reduce the temptation for children to eat treats before they return home. Costumes should be warm, well-fitting and nonflammable. Masks should allow adequate vision and be removed while children are crossing streets. Use inexpensive, nontoxic face paint as an alternative to masks. All makeup and fluorescent hair sprays should be removed before going to bed. Consider using reflective tape on costumes worn after dark. There were 300 calls last year to the Nebraska Regional Poison Center involving glow sticks. Glow sticks can cause immediate stinging and a burning sensation if the liquid comes in contact with the mouth or eyes. Be careful when small children put these in their mouths as they are soft to chew on and can be easily broken open. Make sure children are accompanied by an adult and take a flashlight along if it is dark. All children should stay in their own neighborhood and only go in homes of friends and family. Chocolate is very poisonous to dogs. Store all candy out of reach of dogs. While trick-or-treating stay away from barking dogs or stray animals. The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its judgement on scope of provisions of the Representation of the People Act (RP Act) that barred candidates to seek votes in the name of religion, among other grounds. A seven-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice T S Thakur concluded hearing on a reference concerning width and scope of Section 123 (3) of the RP Act and how and when seeking votes on the ground of religion, race, caste, community or language amounted to corrupt practice. Hindutva verdict During the hearing, the bench, also comprising Justices M B Lokur, S A Bobde, A K Goel, U U Lalit, D Y Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao reiterated that it will not revisit the famous Hindutva verdict holding Hinduism as a way of life as the issue did not find mention in the reference made to it by a five-judge bench. The bench, which heard various parties represented by top lawyers, including Arvind Datar, Shyam Divan, Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid and Indira Jaising for six days, however said the Hindutva verdict, if needed, may be debated upon by a five-judge bench. Meanwhile, the CP(M) sought to intervene in the ongoing hearing into the matter by filing an application. A powerful civil society body of the Nagas living in Manipur has decided to ban the entry of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh into Ukhrul town. Last week, there was firing at an event in Ukhrul that Ibobi was to attend. Ukhrul is a stronghold of Naga rebel group NSCN (IM) and Nagas dominate the district. The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), a powerful civil society group from Ukhrul, which had called for a boycott of all the official events that CM Ibobi was to attend on October 24, on Thursday decided to ban his entry into the Naga-dominated Ukhrul district. They have also decided to ban the entry of all the ministers of Ibobi cabinet into Ukhrul. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi will not be allowed to enter Ukhrul again. The government is trying to mislead people by inaugurating the district hospital which is yet to be completed, said Weapon Zimik, President of TNL, told reporters at Ukhrul. A Centre-sponsored study recommended making civil servants and other officials admit their children to government schools in their respective areas of posting to improve quality of the public education. The government employees, right from the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer to the peon, and public representatives must get their children enrolled in government schools to improve the quality of public education, Niti Ayog-sponsored study noted in its report. The study was conducted by Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies, based in Amritsar. Though it was a diagnostic analysis of elementary education in rural Punjab, the study team made its recommendation for making public servants admit their children to government schools across the country. The students learning outcome across the country has remained unsatisfactory and far below than the expectations, the study team noted in its report to the Niti Ayog. The goal of universal elementary education remains elusive and a distant dream. Education department must review the process and come out with a foolproof model, principal investigator Gursharan Singh Kainth of the study team suggested in the report. This comes a year after the Allahabad High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to work out modalities to ensure that all government servants send their children to primary schools run by the state basic education board. In the executive summary of the report, Kainth also highlighted some harsh realities that the education system of Punjab and other states were faces. There is a lot of political interference in the functioning of schools, resulting in rewarding of non-deserving and punishing of non-sycophants. A grievous shortage of teachers in schools has done an irreparable harm to the system. No detention policy just helps the government show literacy figures, without imparting actual literacy, he underlined. The study team recommended for strengthening the government schools, making a strong pitch for lending the required financial support to the privately managed schools as well, instead of leaving their fate to the market forces. Sadly, most successful persons today have had their education from private schools. Today, if a teacher applies for a government job, it is only because she or he knows that the work there is less and the salary good. They need to work hard, like the teachers of private schools, Kainth noted in the report. Mehmood Akhtar, the ISI operative who was working at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, told his Indian interrogators that his task was to identify Indians who could be lured into working for him in lieu of money. He was deliberately put into the visa section so that he could interact with people coming there for Pakistani visa. His task was to identify people whose monetary condition was bad, said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime). Akhtar first met Shoaib (50), a visa agent from Jodhpur, two years ago and asked him to recruit people who could help them get vital information of defence installations and deployment of forces. Shoaib lured Maulana Ramzan Khan, a preacher at a mosque, to join him in collecting information in Gujarat and Rajasthan, since he was familiar with the locals and topography. They both targeted girls who wanted to go to Pakistan, but were not getting visa. Shoaib and Maulana, with the help of Akhtar, helped the girls and their family get Pakistani visa. Gradually, they started using them to further their goals, said sources. They would send the girls to people from whom they could get information about retired and transferred BSF personnel, said a police officer. Several maps indicating the deployment of BSF in Rajasthan and Gujarat were seized from the two arrested. They were about to hand over these documents to Mehmood Akhtar. The maps show the BSF deployment at Sir Creek in Gujarat and other parts of border areas in Rajasthan, Yadav said. Pakistan diplomat Mehmood Akhtar, whose adventurism landed him in police net, had been on the radar of intelligence agencies for months now. The Pakistan ISIs spy posted at its high commission in Chanakyapuri here, eluded the sleuths since he would scout for candidates, who could compromise sensitive information, at the time of applying visa for travelling across the border, said Delhi police sources. Akhtar, 35, ventured out of the high commission complex to personally receive sensitive army deployment papers from his recruits Subhash Jangir and Maulana Ramzan at the Delhi Zoo on Wednesday. That was when Akhtar along with the two recruits was nabbed by Delhi police in a joint operation with intelligence agencies. He was working in the visa section of the commission. Delhi police sources said ISI agents posted at the Pakistan high commission under cover of diplomats were using this trick of entrapping gullible visa applicants. If persons fell for their advances, they ease the process of getting visa, offer them money depending on their background and bring them on board their spy ring, explained security agency sources. Most of the recruitment through such channel, including that of Jangir and Ramzan, is done inside the high commission complex, given the diplomatic immunity enjoyed by diplomatic staff. Initially, they give easy tasks to their recruits to assess their capabilities. For instance, new recruits would be asked to visit sensitive locations, like a defence and strategic installation, and just give a feedback in writing. If the recruits mature and win the confidence of handlers, the task given to them gets tougher gradually, narrated security agency sources. The facilities offered by the ISI agents are tendered at Pakistan too, to compromised Indian visitors. The offers range from extending their visas, if needed, and taking care of their relatives there, said police sources aware of the modus operandi of Akhtar-led espionage ring. Akhtar came on deputation from 40 Baloch regiment of Pakistan Army to the ISI three years back. A native of village Kahuta of Rawalpindi, Akhtar was declared persona non grata and asked to leave the country within 48 hours. India on Thursday expelled an official of the Pakistan High Commission after police said they had found him spying for his countrys military intelligence agency. Delhi declared Mehmood Akhtar, assistant to the trade counsellor at the high commission, persona non-grata, a day after the police caught him at the Delhi zoo, where they said he was receiving sensitive documents from two Indians. Both his Indian accomplices were arrested, but Akhtar, who enjoys immunity in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, was handed over to the high commission. He was asked to leave India with his family by Saturday. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Abdul Basit, Islamabads envoy to Delhi, to his office in South Block and told him that diplomatic officials should not indulge in activities inimical to India. Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, told journalists Akhtar had been intercepted by crime branch policemen who had been working on intelligence inputs suggesting snooping on vital installations of (the) army and paramilitary forces. Akhtar was receiving documents from Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Rajasthan. Akhtar initially claimed to be a citizen of India and introduced himself as Mehboob Rajput from Chandni Chowk area of Delhi, and also showed the police a fake Aadhaar card. However, he revealed his identity after the sleuths took him to a police station and started grilling him. He later admitted he was an assistant to Counsellor (Trade) Farukh Habib at the High Commission. According to Swarup, Akhtar told the police he had joined the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1997, and was assigned to work for Inter Service Intelligence, Pakistans spy agency, in 2013, months before was posted at the High Commission in Delhi. In keeping with the accepted norms for treatment of members of the Diplomatic Mission, he was treated with utmost courtesy and handed over to a diplomat of the Pakistan High Commission soon thereafter, said the MEA spokesperson. Swarup quoted Jaishankar as conveying to Basit that the Pakistan High Commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status. In 2003, India had expelled Pakistani diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani, then Islamabads acting envoy to Delhi, after he was found providing funds for Kashmiri separatists. Akhtars expulsion comes at a time when Indias relations with Pakistan have worsened following the September 18 terror attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri in north Kashmir. The terrorists, who carried out the attack, had sneaked into India from areas under the control of Pakistan. Nineteen soldiers were killed in the attack, prompting Delhi to to step up pressure on Islamabad to stop terrorism emanating from Pakistan. It was an even bigger turnout for the second of two Del Mar City Council candidate forums. Just a day after the final U.S. presidential debate, about 125 people packed Powerhouse Community Center on Oct. 20 to hear the six council candidates share their opinions on a variety of issues facing Del Mar. Roughly 90 community members filled council chambers during the first forum Sept. 29 at Southfair. Incumbents Mayor Sherryl Parks and Councilman Al Corti, along with challengers Jim Benedict, David Druker, Ellen Haviland and T. Patrick Stubbs are vying for three open seats. Councilman Don Mosier decided not to run for re-election. Hosted by the Del Mar Times and moderated by former NBC San Diego news anchor Susan Taylor, the second forum gave candidates an opportunity to share their top priorities for the city as well as discuss several top issues in Del Mar. From completing the new Del Mar Civic Center to revitalizing downtown Del Mar, candidates gave varying answers when asked about their top priorities. Although candidates mostly agreed on some of the other questions asked by audience members, other questions clearly divided candidates. Heres a look at some of the topics addressed during the forum: Police department Del Mar has contracted with the Sheriffs Department for law enforcement services since the citys incorporation in 1959. In recent years, the city has explored its options, including researching the possibility of creating its own police department, due to concerns over the cost of services, the lack of police presence in the community, and the slow response to low-priority calls. There have also been concerns over the rising cost of services. Druker was the only candidate to outright oppose the proposal to end the citys law enforcement contract with the Sheriffs Department and build a standalone police department. Instead of creating its own department, he said the city should work with the Sheriffs Department to improve services. The added bureaucracy, the potential liability, the potential pension costs, etcetera, could bankrupt this city, he said. This is not an issue and this is not something that I would like to be exploring any further at this point. Benedict, Corti and Stubbs said that they support developing a standalone police department. Were not going to go bankrupt. It is a scare tactic, said Corti, a liaison to the citys finance committee, which has studied the costs and supported the idea of a standalone department. Benedict serves on the committee. Haviland and Parks both said they need more information before they can make a decision on developing a police department. Measure Q Del Mar voters will voice their opinions on a variety of issues this November. In addition to selecting three candidates to fill three council seats, voters will have their say on two Del Mar initiatives. Measure Q would increase the citys sales tax by one cent to help cover the costs of various city services and infrastructure projects. A one-cent sales tax increase would generate about $2 million annually for the general fund. The finance committee initially proposed the sales tax increase earlier this year as a way to help pay to underground utility poles throughout the city. The council later decided that revenues could also help pay for other projects, such as implementing the Shores Park master plan and improving streetscapes. Supporters have said the measure would create a way for visitors to help pay for some of the city services and infrastructure. Many local business owners, however, have opposed the measure and argued it would create a burden on local businesses. Five of six candidates said they supported the measure. This is the single best way of achieving a revenue stream that could give us financial security and allow us to take care of our infrastructure costs, Corti said. He and the other candidates agreed that the citizens should set the funding priorities. Where you want it to be spent is where I will spend it, he said. Stubbs was the only candidate who admitted he doesnt want to raise taxes, but said he believes voters will pass the measure. As far as this election goes, the most important thing you need to address is: Hows the money going to be spent afterwards? Stubbs asked the audience. Youre looking at six candidates up here who may have different views as to how thats done. I, personally, believe the money should be spent how you want it to be spent. Parks added that the city would establish a citizens oversight committee and set up a separate fund to monitor the money. Measure R Five of six candidates said they were against Measure R. Measure R, if passed, would require voter approval for proposed development projects in a commercial zone that are 25,000 square feet or larger, allow a density bonus or require a specific plan or zoning code change. It was driven by opponents of the controversial Watermark project, a 48-unit multifamily complex planned for the corner of Jimmy Durante Boulevard and San Dieguito Drive. The council in July agreed to place the initiative on the November ballot rather than adopt an ordinance they didnt support. All but one candidate, Druker, said they opposed the initiative. He and other supporters have said that voters should have a say in the community. I support it vigorously, Druker said. The DNA of Del Mar is for us to be able to vote on major development projects. Opponents have argued, however, that the measure conflicts with the citys general plan and state housing regulations. In fact, in a legal analysis of the initiative, Assistant City Attorney Barry Schultz found multiple conflicts with state law. I support the right to vote; I do not support Measure R, Haviland said. Measure R is not about a right to vote, Corti said. You have the right to vote on every development that comes across your city through the Design Review Board and the community plan. Climate Action Plan In June, the council adopted a plan that aims to cut the citys greenhouse gas emissions in half in less than 20 years. Del Mars Climate Action Plan outlines how the city can combat climate change. It serves as a comprehensive roadmap, outlining strategies the city could use to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2035. The Climate Action Plan is critical to our city, Parks said. Candidates agreed that the plan is important and the city needs to take steps to make changes. It sets us out as a leader in the region, Haviland said. We need to continue to take the steps needed to implement goals that we can achieve right away, as well as working on the long-term goals. Benedict said Del Mar needs to work with other cities to combat climate change. Stubbs said he has some concerns about implementing the plan. I like the fact that this plan is voluntary, Stubbs said. That said, Im concerned about future councils being saddled with goals that certain people around town feel might be realistic. Some might be unrealistic. Railroad crossings North County Transit District recently stepped up enforcement against people who cross or walk along the tracks through the coastal corridor. The increased ticketing, NCTD officials said, is to increase safety and comply with federal mandates. Del Mar has only one legal crossing on Coast Boulevard. We need a change, Benedict said. All the candidates said they want to work with NCTD to add legal crossings. Most also said the city should work with NCTD to remove the tracks from the bluffs. Ultimately, we need to figure out how to get the train off the bluff, Druker said. It doesnt belong there. In order to double-track it, it would be terrible. There are no easy solutions, Haviland said. There is no quick fix to the problem. Druker, who previously served on the council from 1996 to 2008, said he was the only candidate who was able to get federal and state funds for infrastructure projects, causing dissention among some of the candidates. If that is what we need to get, then please elect me so that we can get those, he said. If the community wants safe pedestrian crossings across that track, we can accomplish it, Corti said. I will not just talk about it. We can accomplish it. I dont know what it means that hes the only person to do anything because I havent had a shot at it, and theres a few other folks up here who havent had a shot at federal funding, Stubbs said in response to Drukers statement. If I sat for 12 years on the City Council, I would have gotten something done besides telling the Sheriff not to hand out tickets. Downtown revitalization When asked about the most critical issue inhibiting downtown revitalization, Haviland said property owners do not currently have incentives to upgrade their properties. There are various ways that we can try and tackle this problem, she said. Druker proposed changing the zoning from 8th Street to 12th Street to allow for more mixed-use, without changing floor area ratio and height limitations. Major problems with revitalization is anti-growth, anti-development mentality and all of the regulations that go along with it, Corti said. It is difficult to impossible to get anything approved on the commercial district in downtown. Measure B only makes it more difficult. He added that he was in favor of additional parking at the new city hall, streetscape improvements, and a single lane in each direction, all of which he said would improve downtown. Stubbs said he posted a multi-step action plan on his website for a vibrant downtown. If we say that we can believe in a bigger, better town, it will come, Stubbs said. We will have investments in this town. Parks said she has met with representatives from the Del Mar Plaza in the past to try and come up with solutions to increase business. By this question, Benedict had left the forum as he had a prior commitment and had to leave a half-hour early. Other issues Council candidates discussed how to help the Del Mar Plaza, how they would select advisory committee members, how to develop Shores Park, and how to regulate short-term rentals. Among other issues, in a lightening round, candidates also shared their thoughts about roundabouts, gun shows at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, immigrants and affordable housing. With a need for school improvements across Solana Beach School District, most voters in the district will decide Nov. 8 whether to support a $105 million bond measure to replace and upgrade facilities. If passed, Measure JJ would replace or upgrade outdated classrooms, science labs, libraries and school buildings; restore deteriorating roofs, plumbing and electrical systems; improve student safety and campus security; and provide students access to educational facilities, science and technology needed to prepare for high school, college and careers. Its really the only way were seeing right now that we can fund school construction because theres not a light on the horizon of a better option, said Caroline Brown, the districts executive director of capital programs and technology. Founded in 1925, Solana Beach School District has seven elementary schools and a child development center. In 2014, the district opened its seventh school, Solana Ranch Elementary School, in Pacific Highlands Ranch. Other schools, however, opened decades ago and need to be updated or completely replaced. Skyline School, for example, is a very different learning environment than Solana Ranch. While Solana Ranch is new and modern Skyline was built in 1955 and modernized in 2000. Skyline opened just one year after the old Earl Warren Middle School across the street, which San Dieguito Union High School District is currently rebuilding with use of its Proposition AA funds, a general obligation bond that passed in 2012. The master plan that was developed over the last few years really speaks to projects at every school site across the district, Superintendent Terry Decker said. Aging campuses such as 61-year-old Skyline and 45-year-old Solana Vista need to be redesigned and reconstructed. The districts Long-Range Facilities Master Plan, however, identifies various modernization projects at every school site, from upgrading classrooms to improving student security. For example, the district needs to replace portable classrooms with permanent buildings. A total of 17 percent of the classrooms in the district are portables, including 68 percent at Solana Vista, 37 percent at Skyline, 22 percent at Solana Santa Fe and 3 percent at Carmel Creek. The master plan also accounts for the addition of an eighth school in Pacific Highlands Ranch to meet student needs and reduce overcrowding. This is the one approach to funding that we feel will provide us with what we need in order to reach out across the district and meet all those goals, Decker said about the bond. After more than a year of preparing for a potential general obligation bond, the Solana Beach school board unanimously voted in August to move forward with the bond measure on the November ballot. Prior to the vote, the board formed a school facilities improvement district. While preparing for a potential bond, the districts bond counsel discovered a standing agreement between the school district and land developer Pardee Homes that precludes the district from including two neighborhoods in a bond initiative. The development agreements, which date back to 1998 and 2004, contain language that limits certain elections and tax measures until 10 years after the last building permit has been issued. Therefore, in order to move forward with the bond measure, the district formed a school facilities improvement district, or SFID, over all of the districts territory other than the Pardee properties in Pacific Highlands Ranch. Both communities are already included in community facilities districts, also known as CFDs, in which special taxes are placed on homeowners property tax bills to fund schools and improvements. Thus, residents in those areas will not be allowed to vote on the school districts bond measure. The projects financed by the SFID will generally be located within and principally benefit the territory within the SFID. Since last school year, district staff members have held more than 30 meetings at school sites and with community groups throughout the district, such as the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board and Friends of the Solana Beach Library. Staff discussed the districts master plan and the then-potential bond measure. The district continued its outreach efforts after the board placed the bond on the ballot, with additional meetings covering reconstruction and modernization projects the bond would cover. If voters pass the districts bond, Solana Beach School District plans to start with the reconstruction of Skyline and the modernization of Solana Highlands. District staff plans to submit its plans for these projects to the Division of the State Architect this fall. The Division of State Architect provides design and construction oversight for K-12 schools, community colleges, and various other state-owned and leased facilities. We made the choice as a district to begin the planning process, Decker said. Were investing upfront in the planning so that if the community supports us with a bond, we can move forward with construction. It puts our children into newer facilities just that much more quickly. It also helps to show our community that were very serious about making inroads on these needs and getting things done in a timely manner. The district would receive its first bond issuance in spring 2017. If plans are approved by spring 2017, construction could begin in June 2017, with the new Skyline to open in fall 2018. Solana Highlands would be modernized over the summer of 2017, with most updates completed by fall 2018. Meanwhile, the district would begin planning for its next round of projects in fall 2017. The district would receive its second bond issuance in spring 2019. Funds would help redesign and reconstruct Solana Vista and modernize Solana Santa Fe. After that were into modernization and smaller projects, Decker said. By then, other schools meet their 25-year age and then we can qualify for the 60 percent match on modernization funds, Brown added. So that timing would be perfect. Solana Beach School District isnt the only school district seeking support in San Diego County. There are seven school districts with bonds on the ballot, including Fallbrook Union High School District, Grossmont Union High School District, Bonsall Unified School District, Cajon Valley Union School District, Cardiff Elementary School District, National School District and Solana Beach School District. In addition, three community college districts in the county Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, MiraCosta Community College District and Southwestern Community College District are also asking voters for bond money. It really is solving the problem that the whole state has in funding school construction, Brown said about Measure JJ, Solana Beach School Districts bond measure. School construction dollars at the state level has run out, she said. They have $2 billion in approved, unfunded projects. They are going to try to answer part of that question with Proposition 51. A statewide $9 billion school construction bond called Proposition 51 will also be on the ballot in November. If the statewide bond, passes, school districts will be able to qualify for matching funds for facilities projects. Solana Beach School District would be eligible for $20 million in matching funds so its $105 million could turn into $125 million. Its something to add to our pot, Brown said. Under Proposition 39, general obligation bonds require a 55 percent voter approval and limit tax rates to $30 per $100,000 in assessed home value. If passed, the bond would represent an increase of $272 per year for the average homeowner in the Solana Beach School District. These funds will be used for construction, reconstruction and modernization, Decker explained during the August school board meeting. All the funds stay local. The state cannot reach in and take out any of the funds from a local school bond. The funds will not be used to fund either teacher or administrator salaries. As part of that transparency, Prop 39 also requires an independent oversight committee of citizens. In addition, there are annual reports and audits that will come before the board. Theres really two layers of oversight, Decker said. If the bond passes, the district will have 60 days to establish the committee of citizens, following the certification of the election results. The surprising thing about the vote to deny the SOUL charter school petition is that there was definitely the sense that San Dieguito school board members were inclined to support it. When the founders of the school spoke to the board before the Oct. 13 vote and clearly said they would not accept conditional approval, trustees seemed somewhat perplexed. Because the district offered only two choices to board members conditional approval or denial trustees felt they were left with no choice but to deny the petition. And that, even more bewilderingly, seemed to be fine with the founders. SOUL co-founders Marisa Bruyneel and Michael Grimes submitted a 200-page petition to the San Dieguito Union High School District for the districts review on Sept. 1. The extensive document covered the schools educational vision and mission, details on curriculum and instruction, teaching methodologies, funding and budget projections, goals for student outcomes, assessment, governance, human resources and other operational elements. The district, led by Interim Superintendent Eric Dill, performed an exhaustive review of the proposal. Each of the four associate superintendents took a portion of the proposal and examined the sections related to human resources, business, administration and curriculum. Based on their findings, the district presented board members with the two options, denial or conditional approval, and offered 10 pages of support material for each. Full approval was the third option but that was not recommended by the district. Dills proposed resolution to support conditional approval stated in part, although district staff has identified concerns related to the SOUL Charter Schools proposed program and operations, the board supports educational innovation and reform, including the formation and successful administration of charter schools, and desires to give the petitioners an opportunity to resolve the concerns identified herein. Concerns mostly centered around uncertainty that the educational program would be successfully implemented. Yet the wording of the conditional approval resolution was gracious, positive and encouraging. Terminology So what went wrong? Miles Durfee suggested that it could have been a simple matter of confusion over terms. When you say conditional approval and approval with conditions, people think theyre the same thing, Durfee said. Theres a distinction though. One means youre approved and one means youre not. Durfee, who is the Southern California Managing Regional Director of the California Charter Schools Association, said the terms are used interchangeably but are not interchangeable. Conditional approval means youre not approved and it means the school cant move forward in any fashion as if it were approved, Durfee said. That means the school cant sign lease agreements, get established with the California Department of Education to initiate funding, or complete other necessary paperwork thats required to create a school. Essentially, Durfee is saying that there is no such option as conditional approval: School boards must either approve or deny a charter school petition. Under the Charter Schools Act and California Supreme Court case law, the proposed conditional approval of the charter is not a legal course of action, states a letter to the district from Procopio, a San Diego law firm, on behalf of the SOUL charter school. Procopios letter continues: At the local authorizer level under Education Code section 47605(b), charter petitions are either granted or denied. Dill, however, said conditional approval has been used by other school districts before, as has even the Calif. Dept. of Education, and it is a viable option. We didnt make it up, he said. Its not something we created. The districts legal counsel for this matter was Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost, based in Carlsbad. Dill said he relied on their advice and knowledge of charter school law in evaluating the SOUL petition and structuring the districts options. Authorizing a charter school means the district has specific oversight responsibilities. Since this is the first time San Dieguito has been presented with a charter school petition, Dill said attorneys were consulted to help him, his staff and board members understand legal ramifications and requirements. Authorization without conditions was not an option for us, Dill concluded. Not vindictive Approval with conditions, however, is different, and means the school can move forward with the process, Durfee said. A Memorandum of Understanding is then worked out afterwards. And theres the problem from the districts standpoint. An MOU is negotiated by both parties, and Dill said he was not comfortable with that. To say lets iron out some details later doesnt work, he said, adding that the petition raised major questions and an MOU addresses minor issues. I think this [conditional approval] was a much more humane way to go, Dill said. It would have allowed us to do the work upfront. Durfee had a different view. An alternative look would be that it should be a fair discussion about how are we doing as a partnership, he said, explaining that the two parties would be negotiating on equal terms in crafting an MOU. What I hear him saying is, we want that ability to get everything we want, Durfee said. Thats not what the law implies or intends. Its not a process for the district to further control once the school is approved. Durfee said he did not believe the district was being vindictive and said he understands that they want to run the school as if it were their school. But charter schools are run independently and not like a districts regular public school. Praise all around A second objection, raised in both the Procopio letter and a letter from Durfee to the district, states that the districts resolution for conditional approval grants San Dieguitos superintendent the final authority to approve or deny the charter petition and to do so as late as April 2017. Our attorneys [at the California Charter Schools Association] feel that delegation of authority is not legal, Durfee said. But Dill, relying on legal advice, said the CCSA is citing case law from the 1970s that has since been revised. Now we have permissive authority which means the board and school district can do anything unless specifically prohibited in Californias Education Code, Dill said, adding that this position has been legally verified. In what I assumed would be a simple request, I asked to see the legal language from San Dieguitos attorneys supporting this. But Dill surprised me by refusing. I cannot share with you any privileged attorney-client communication, he said in an email. Ive often received correspondence from school district attorneys on non-controversial items like this, so Im in a bit of an argument with Dill over his decision to withhold this legal opinion. All he would say is, We engaged legal counsel who are quite familiar with charter school law and I was comfortable with their advice. Procopio calls granting the superintendent final authority to approve or deny an improper delegation of the Board of Trustees duties, stating that, by law, only the governing board of the school district shall either grant or deny the charter. This statement would seem to be saying two things: one, that the superintendent does not have the authority to grant or deny the charter; and two, that the only two options are to grant or deny. Without seeing the language from the school districts legal advisers, its difficult to balance this position. Late letters The letters from Procopio and Durfee were not received until the morning of the Oct. 13 board meeting when trustees were to vote on the petition. So why were the letters sent so late when the district had been talking publicly about conditional approval (not approval with conditions) for over a month? Dill agreed that the board, in discussing the petition publicly, had been speaking about conditional approval as an option for some time. But Durfee disagreed. The idea of conditional approval was not something I ever heard, Durfee said. I heard approval with conditions, not conditional approval. Dill said it was difficult to speculate on what might have happened had the letters been received sooner and been more timely. All parties agreed that San Dieguito has exceptional schools, and there was praise all around for the work being done in the district. We acknowledge your schools have already forged a path of excellence, SOUL co-founder Bruyneel said to the board at the Oct. 13 meeting. Grimes said SOUL would be giving the district an opportunity to add another exceptional school to its options. But both Bruyneel and Grimes said students deserve choices and not every school meets every students individual needs. They both said they were unable to accept conditional approval. We have met all legal requirements, Grimes said. We know that SOUL is going to succeed. Dill said the district did a thorough analysis (not easy, given all the regular work they do on a daily basis) and there was enough there to warrant a denial. Smiles and handshakes Although the decision was made to deny the charters petition, there was no anger or incivility. Board members and district staff all agreed the co-founders have passion, enthusiasm and best intentions. And the SOUL co-founders graciously thanked the district for its time and its work to review the proposal. Dill said all discussions with the SOUL organizers and supporters have been cordial, and no one questions their passion and determination to start the school. Regarding the different interpretations of the law, Dill said both sides checked with attorneys. They can have their opinion and we can have ours, he said. But through it all there were smiles and handshakes and appreciation for each other. Even the teachers union president, Bob Croft, who has been outspoken recently on election issues, said in an informal interview last month that theres always an initial concern with charter schools, but added, I trust in our board to make the right decision. Despite the denial, SOUL, which stands for the School of Universal Learning, is not done. Grimes and Bruyneel intend to submit their petition to the San Diego County Office of Education for authorization, as the next step up the line. Grimes said hes hoping to present to SDCOE on Nov. 2. Should SDCOE approve the charter, Grimes said the school would still be located within San Dieguitos boundaries. Its always been our goal to open in Encinitas, thats not going to change, Grimes said. With SOUL submitting its petition to the county next, organizers and supporters remain upbeat. Were confident that the petitioners have met the law requirements and they can run a successful program, Durfee said. Were confident theyll get approved. - Sr. Education Writer Marsha Sutton can be reached at suttonmarsha@gmail.com. LINCOLN -- Allowing people to text emergency calls in addition to dialing 911 has allowed expanded emergency service and even saved some lives in two Nebraska counties, but the option isn't without its own concerns, officials said recently. Two Kearney children successfully alerted authorities via text that their dad was drunk and driving them to Colorado in April, Buffalo County officials told a crowd of emergency communications officials at a conference in Lincoln. But in Omaha, text exchanges are processed more slowly than regular 911 calls and location information transmitted with the messages can be unreliable, interim Douglas County 911 Director Mark Conrey said. Lincoln doesn't have the text-to-911 technology yet, but a new emergency communications system with that capability is expected to be installed this winter, Public Safety Director Tom Casady said. Calling 911 is still the fastest, most effective way to assure first responders can get to the person who needs help, officials stressed. Still, texting capability is vital to serving deaf and hearing impaired people or people who cannot safely call 911, Conrey said. "If you ignore it, God help you," he said. Douglas County went online with its text-to-911 system in January 2015. This year, it has handled just more than 2,000 exchanges, Conrey said. The text exchanges take an average of four minutes before someone can be dispatched, he said. Regular 911 calls are dispatched in just over a minute. Sometimes the delay is caused by inaccurate address information, Conrey said. On one call, for example, the call taker received coordinates spanning several blocks and never found out which location was best because the person decided he or she didn't need emergency service after all, he said. Still, Buffalo County Sheriff Neil Miller sees the technology as helpful. "At the end of the day, I'm glad we've done it," he said. Buffalo County received 93 text exchanges the first month after it launched the service Jan. 1, 2015, said Lt. Robert Tubbs of the sheriff's office. The volume has dropped to 10 or less a month. They've had trouble getting photos on the text line from certain carriers and have had to resolve those issues with the cellphone carrier, he said. But they now have a direct link with people who are hard of hearing and another option for younger people who may be suicidal to call for help, Tubbs said. "It's something all the 911 centers need to be working toward," Miller said. (Foreign Policy) Buabasah begins nervously checking the waters creeping up the coastline toward his partially destroyed home. As the high tide mounts the steep shore of this small Ghanaian fishing village perched on a shrinking peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Volta River estuary, he and other inhabitants prepare for the worst. When the big waves come, they can easily kill you. Last week, the ocean took away part of my house while my family was sleeping inside, says the 32-year-old fisherman, gesturing toward a crumbling brick wall and a pair of door frames, the only remains of his familys compound. Growing stronger by the minute, the tide begins to push wave after wave into the village, pounding the dilapidated dwellings with unrepentant force. House walls collapse under the fury of the ocean, and huge pools of saltwater fill the center of town. Those whose houses are the closest to the shoreline can only watch as the waves carry away all of their belongings. Twenty years ago, Fuvemeh was a thriving community of 2,500 people, supported by fishing and coconut plantations that are now completely underwater. But in the past two decades, climate change and industrial activity such as sand mining and the construction of dams and deep-sea ports, which trap sediments and prevent them from reaching the coastline have accelerated coastal erosion here. Gradually but inexorably, the ocean has swallowed up hundreds of feet of coastline, drowning the coconut plantations and eventually sweeping away houses. For a time, villagers retreated, rebuilding destroyed houses farther away from the advancing shoreline. But eventually they ran out of land to fall back on: The narrow peninsula is now less than 1,000 feet across, and high tides routinely wash over the entire sandy expanse. The last trees have been uprooted by the waves and lie dead along the shore, a grim omen of what awaits fishermen like Buabasah, who have seen their livelihoods destroyed in the span of a single generation. Fuvemeh is one of thousands of communities along the western coast of sub-Saharan Africa, stretching more than 4,000 miles from Mauritania to Cameroon, at risk of being washed away. Spurred by global warming, rising sea levels are causing massive erosion in some places eating away more than 100 feet of land in a single year. Sea levels around the world are expected to rise by more than two-and-a-half feet by the end of the century, but they are expected to rise faster than the global average in West Africa, according to the West African Economic and Monetary Union. In a region where 31 percent of population lives along the coastline, generating 56 percent of total GDP, according to the World Bank, this is a potentially catastrophic problem. In West Africa, infrastructure and economic activities are centered along the coastal region, so as sea levels continue to rise, it threatens our very existence and source of income, says Kwasi Appeaning Addo, a professor in the University of Ghanas department of marine and fisheries sciences. We are sitting on a time bomb. [] The national route used to pass there, just beside my first and second house, says Togbe Agbavi Koffi, the towns 60-year-old chief, pointing to the faint outline of a highway that is now submerged deep in the ocean. My third house is about to crumble into the sea as well. I would like to cry, but a chief cannot cry. [more] Safety-Qualified Development Tools, Device Secure Credential Management and Lightweight RTOS for Next-Generation IoT and Automotive Devices SANTA CLARA, CA October 25, 2016 ARM TechCon, booth 313 Green Hills Software, the largest independent software vendor for the Internet of Things (IoT), today announced its capabilities for the new ARMv8-M architecture, featuring ARM Cortex-M23 and Cortex-M33 cores, based on its broad and proven portfolio of high-performance development tools, real-time operating systems (RTOS) and defense-in-depth security services. This portfolio of products and services builds on decades of partnerships with ARM and processor manufacturers. Thousands of successful customers are using Green Hills Software's products to build and deploy devices for medical, automotive, home and industrial applications based on ARM Cortex-M processors, as well as the Cortex-R and Cortex-A processor families. "The ability to deliver security to even the smallest embedded devices and improving energy-efficiency is critical for the IoT to reach its full potential," said Nandan Nayampally, vice president of marketing and strategy, CPU Group, ARM. "The Cortex-M23 and Cortex-M33 processors make it easier for IoT developers to create secure, energy-efficient connected devices, bringing new levels of secure hardware partitioning and debug capability, as well as additional architecture performance to a wide range of applications. We have worked with Green Hills to deliver these market-leading capabilities for our mutual customers." ARM has launched the 32-bit Cortex-M23 and Cortex-M33 as the first processors implementing the new ARMv8-M architecture, which features ARM TrustZone technology and targets very low power and resource-constrained devices, traditionally built using Cortex-M0+, Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M4 processors. Sweet spot markets include battery powered or energy-harvesting monitors and sensors, automotive chassis systems and ultra-low power wearables. Green Hills Software brings to Cortex-M23 and Cortex-M33 three areas of strength for system and software developers: efficient execution performance, clearer visibility during debugging, secure connectivity and device lifecycle. Security and the IoT Today's flood of internet-enabled devices introduces an alarming number of security vulnerabilities when designers do not apply best-practices for embedded software security. INTEGRITY Security Services, a Green Hills Software Company, provides embedded security products and services that protect smart connected devices for all industries. They offer embedded cryptographic toolkits, TrustZone consultation, authenticated boot, key injection, software digital signing, OTA and the management of secure digital assets in complex supply chains. Doing More with Less Embedded applications running on Cortex-M23 and Cortex-M33 depend on efficient performance to achieve product goals where CPU cycles and power are at a premium. For more than 33 years, Green Hills Optimizing C/C++ Compilers have enabled developers to reach maximum CPU performance up to 35 percent faster compared to competing compilers with minimal code size. Proof points are found in the many record scores published and certified by the EEMBC consortium, an industry alliance that develops benchmarks for system designers to select the optimal processor (www.eembc.org). In addition, Green Hills compilers are qualified for automotive, industrial and medical safety applications, having received certificates for the highest levels of the safety standards ISO 26262, IEC 61508 and FDA Class III. Additionally, the -velOSity RTOS from Green Hills was designed for the resource-constrained environments addressed by Cortex-M processors and uses the smallest number of CPU clock cycles and memory, requiring only 1.6KB of ROM. Using -velOSity is easy. Complete source code for the RTOS and select middleware is included, the API is simple and the MULTI integrated development environment provides easy-to-use powerful software development tools. Faster Software Development and Superior Quality Green Hills Software's comprehensive MULTI suite of integrated development tools enables developers to bring to market more quickly a higher performing and more reliable product, whether it runs on no-OS, -velOSity or other third-party operating systems. Key feature advantages of the MULTI suite when used with Cortex-M processors include kernel-aware debugging and Time Machine for back-in-time debugging. Enabling higher quality code, MULTI gives developers control and visibility into stack performance and run-time errors, plus an integrated MISRA C adherence tool. Rounding out its time-saving tools solutions, the Green Hills Probe and SuperTrace Probe speed hardware bring-up through low-level JTAG debugging and trace-powered visibility. Availability Green Hills products run today on ARMv8-M FPGA platforms from ARM. Customers should contact Green Hills for more information. About Green Hills Software Founded in 1982, Green Hills Software is the largest independent software vendor for the Internet of Things. In 2008, the Green Hills INTEGRITY178 RTOS was the first and only operating system to be certified by NIAP (National Information Assurance Partnership comprised of NSA & NIST) to EAL 6+, High Robustness, the highest level of security ever achieved for any software product. Our open architecture integrated development solutions address deeply embedded, absolute security and highreliability applications for the military/avionics, medical, industrial, automotive, networking, consumer and other markets that demand industrycertified solutions. Green Hills Software is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with European headquarters in the United Kingdom. Visit Green Hills Software at www.ghs.com. Here's How Twitter Reacted To Karan Johar's Statement on Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Controversy Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier Those who habitually put items in their recycling bins that don't belong there are the target of the ordinance amendment, not those who make an occasional, accidental mistake, said Public Works Director Jeff Demers. Improving care in the community for people with conditions such as diabetes would lead to fewer hospital admissions, according to new research. A study by the University of Bristols School of Social and Community Medicine reveals hospital admission rates are 55 per cent higher in some parts of the UK. Conditions such as diabetes, alcoholism and dementia as well as social deprivation are shown to cause the increase. Dr John Busby, lead author of the study, published in The British Journal of General Practice, said: Admission rates for some of the conditions in our study, including alcoholism, schizophrenia and diabetes, were over three times higher in some practices than others. Clearly, this raises important questions about why these differences exist and what can be done to standardise care around best practice. Researchers investigated hospital admission variations between the 8,000 general practices in England during 2011/12 including 1.8 million admissions. It is thought that admissions rates could be reduced if GPs received more support to provide more specialist care for those groups at higher risk of being referred for hospital care. Researchers working on the study applied the same methods to a broad range of conditions, including diabetes, schizophrenia, hypertensio, strokes and hip fractures. Researchers were then able to use the data to help identify which conditions the NHS could target in order to improve care and reduce admissions. Dr Busby added: Substantial differences in admission rates among general practices could mean that some patients are receiving suboptimal care. Our research suggests that differences in the way GP care is delivered across England could have an important impact on patient health. This could include sub-optimal management of chronic disease which puts patients at higher risk of hospital admissio, but also overly-cautious referrals to hospital, or a lack of alternatives to treat patients in the community. Clearly this matters to patients as most would prefer not to be admitted to hospital if it can be avoided, but it is also extremely important to the NHS finances as unplanned hospital admissions are expensive and can disrupt other care. Existing mechanisms, such as the quality and outcomes framework and NICE guidelines, aim to ensure that patients receive a consistent quality of primary care across all practices in England. The results are now being used to look into the reasons why such variations exist between GP practices and how those reasons can be used to improve care. A follow-up investigation is planned to assess how the factors of a general practice are related to admission rates. This includes issues such as how easy it is to see a GP, the distance to the nearest A&E, how often patients can see their preferred GPs, and how many hospital beds are available locally. The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, will attend a reception gathering JDRF supporters and leading type 1 diabetes researchers to mark the charitys 30th anniversary. The worlds leading type 1 diabetes research charity is hosting the event to celebrate three decades of progress in developing treatments that improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes. Camilla, the president of JDRF UK, will attend on Wednesday 26 October 2016, along with a number of long-standing volunteers and supporters at Londons Guildhall. She is expected to give a speech commending the hard work of JDRF-funded research scientists towards eradicating the autoimmune disease, which affects 400,000 people in the UK, including more than 29,000 children. During the event, Karen Addingto, the charitys UK chief executive, will also say a few words and there will be a presentation celebrating important scientific advances in type 1 diabetes research over the past 30 years. Among other notable developments, their successful decade-long effort to get the artificial pancreas system approved by the FDA last month is likely to be the breakthrough on everyones lips. Medtronic winning approval for the very first artificial pancreas in the United States has filled the diabetes community with hopen, wonder and joy. It was Jeffrey Brewer, then a member of JDFR international board, who originally challenged JDRF to expedite the road to better tools until a cure is found. Thanks to Brewers call to action, Medtronic is set to soon market the hybrid pump technology MiniMed 670G hybrid closed-loop system for use in people aged 14 and up. Medtronic has plans for trials to win approval for children under that age in the near future as well. In the wake of the FDA approval late last month, JDRF Chief Mission Officer, Aaron Kowalskin, said Medtronic hopes to have the system commercially available by the spring of 2017. And similar products by many companies are likely to win approval too. JDRFs work helped make this a reality by funding years ago the first trial at Yale that looked to prove an algorithm, which automates insulin delivery, could work in Medtronics system to maximise achievement of daily and nightly target glucose levels. The hybrid system, which turns off when it detects lowering blood sugars, and ramps up insulin doses when it detects a trend toward high, is JDRFs biggest achievement to date and will bring life-changing benefits to people with type 1 diabetes. Lexicon Pharmaceuticals has announced positive findings from its phase II trial investigating sotagliflozin as an add-on treatment for people with poorly-controlled type 1 diabetes. Sotagliflozin is a dual inhibitor of both sodium-glucose cotransporters 1 and 2 (SGLT1 and SGLT2), developed by Lexicon and pharmaceutical firm Sanofi. SGLT1 controls glucose absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, while SGLT2 handles glucose reabsorption in the kidney. In this phase II trial, the oral drug was tested to confirm dosage suitability in Lexicons phase III trial, which is set to continue in December. Last month, the company said that results from its ongoing phase III trial found it could benefit people with type 1 diabetes as an add-on therapy to insulin by lowering HbA1c levels. The trial involved 141 participants with type 1 diabetes who had HbA1c levels between 53 and 86 mmol/mol (7 and 10%) before treatment. In phase II, which tested varying doses of sotagliflozin (75mg, 200mg and 400mg) against a placebo, the drug again demonstrated a statistically significant decline in blood sugar during the 12-week treatment: the mean HbA1c reductions from the beginning of the trial were 7, 9 and 8 mmol/mol (0.6, 0.8 and 0.7%) for the 75, 200 and 400mg doses, respectively. Over the 12-week study, there were three events of ssevere hypoglycemia, with one event occurring in each of the dose arms and none in the placebo arm. There was one episode of ketoacidosis (DKA), which occurred in the 400mg dose arm, while two episodes of DKA occurred in one patient during the initial no-dose run-in period of the trial. Lexicon EVP and CMO Dr. Pablo Lapuerta said: We continue to be very encouraged about the potential benefits that sotagliflozin may bring to people with type 1 diabetes, especially given that we saw significant glycemic control benefits coupled with favourable results on important safety parameters in this trial. In addition, this study provided the first demonstration in the setting of type 1 diabetes of some of the important characteristics of sotagliflozins differentiated dual SGLT1 and SGLT2 mechanism of action. Lexicon anticipates results from inTandem2 part of the phase III program in December, while Sanofi expects to start phase III testing of sotagliflozin in type 2 diabetes this year. AIM-listed explorer Bacanora Minerals said it had gained the necessary funds during to progress with a feasibility study at its lithium carbonate project in Mexico For the year ended 30 June, the company had 29m in cash raised partly from two equity placings. Chief executive Peter Secker said, "Bacanora continues to transition from an exploration company into a lithium development company. The feasibility study for the development of a two stage, 35,000 tonne per annum lithium carbonate producer is now well underway and operations at the Hermosillo pilot plant have produced battery grade material for trials in the Asian market. Bacanora is fully funded for this following successful placings which saw our project endorsed by some significant institutions. Given the lithium market fundamentals, and the advanced nature of our project, we believe we are well positioned to capitalise on the growing demand for this 21st century commodity." In December 2015, the company raised $17.9m (8.8m) through a private placement of 11.4m shares at $1.51 (0.77) secured by its first major institutional shareholder, M&G Investments. During the quarter ended June, the company also raised about $14.7m (7.7m) through 9.75m units at $1.48 (0.79), with each unit was comprised of one share of the company and a 0.3 warrant, which can be exercised into one share at $1.48 (0.79). In April, the company filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR), a filing system developed for Canadian securities administrators, the results of the pre-feasibility study for the development of the mine and lithium carbonate processing facility at the Sonora lithium project and found a pre-tax internal rate of return of 29% and an associated pre-tax net present value of $776m at an 8% discount. A 4,000 metre drilling programme was completed at the Sonora lithium project in Mexico, which comprising 3,000 metres to upgrade a portion of the current mineral resource and 1,000 metres for geotechnical and hydrological drilling for a feasibility study A total of 3,896 metres was drilled in 31 holes on the La Ventana site, along with 560 metres in 5 geotech holes with 16 more holes programmed to complete the geotech study. The drilling indicated a mineral resource of 259 Mt averaging 3,200 ppm Li for 4.5 Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent ("LCE"). On September 30, the company said it had received a proposal from Rare Earth Minerals, which has a 19.1% stake in the company, and Bacanoras 30% partner in its Mexilit and Megalit subsidiaries, for an all-share with Rare Earth acting as the acquiring entity. Bacanora rejected the proposal as it undervalued the company and jeopardized the development of the project. Advanced ultrasound skills training simulator provider MedaPhor Group announced on Thursday that the University of Derby has purchased an additional six ScanTrainer ultrasound simulators for its new Ultrasound Simulation Suite, which it said will act as a learning centre for students on the University's ultrasound master's degree courses. The AIM-traded company said the university had already purchased two ScanTrainer systems in 2014 as part of a flexible learning environment for ultrasound students looking to practice scanning both in and out of class time. Since then, the university's postgraduate course offering has expanded and now includes a direct entry master's programme designed specifically to fast-track students from non-clinical backgrounds into a sonography career and aid the healthcare industry's increasing skills shortage, MedaPhors board explained. The new learning facility opened on 26 September, and has been designed for the training needs of the university's expanding ultrasound student base. It houses three transvaginal and three transabdominal systems, with a further two ScanTrainer systems also being used by students at the university's Chesterfield campus. The ScanTrainer system continues to be a game changer in how we approach sonographer training, said University of Derby senior lecturer in medical ultrasound Heather Venables. Simulation is now a fully integrated part of our strategy for curriculum delivery and plays a key role in student support, particularly for pre-clinical ultrasound skills development. Iain Dunbar, head of sales at MedaPhor, explained that the ultrasound skills gap is an increasing challenge for hospitals, with the company seeing a growing response by UK universities such as Derby, Teesside and Cumbria who are helping to bridge the gap. [The universities] are doing so by creating ultrasound programmes that are taking the clinical pressure off the hospitals to train and moving this back into the educational environment where they can acquire hard-to-learn ultrasound skills in a patient-safe simulated environment. ScanTrainer enables them to offer a high standard of simulated learning that their students require before entering the clinical environment. AIM-listed plastics company Symphony Environmental Technologies gained more than 20 new trials at an industry show in Germany as it presented a range of new products. During the eight-day K-Show in Dusseldorf, Symphony had over 600 visitors from more than 30 countries at its stands won more than 20 new trials, including from multi-billion dollar, global corporations. At the plastics exhibition, the company launched a range of new antimicrobial, insecticidal, anti-rodent, odour absorbers and flame retardant products and technologies. The company also introduced a new compostable plastic product, which complies with European and US standards. Chief executive Michael Laurier said: "This is the fourth time that Symphony have exhibited at the K-Show, which gets bigger and better each time. This year's show has been extremely positive for Symphony and we were able to interact with a wide range of companies from a variety of business sectors. We are pleased to be leaving Dusseldorf with more than 20 exciting new commercial trials and development projects to progress." Shares in Symphony Environmental Technologies were up 3.03% to 4.25p at 1437 BST. Tell us more You are seeing these quotes based on previous browsing related to sectors such as A top humanitarian representative in the United Nations has launched a scathing indictment of the organisation's security council and its president Russia , for not doing more to end the conflict in Syria . Stephen O'Brien told UN leaders on Wednesday that Syria would be "our generation's shame". The northern city of Aleppo has been particularly devastated by airstrikes aided by Russian authorities, and O'Brien painted a dire picture of the atrocities in the city. "These are people just like you and me not sitting around a table in New York but forced into desperate, pitiless suffering, their future wiped out," he said in a speech directed towards the UN security council. "Peoples' lives destroyed and Syria itself destroyed. And it is under our collective watch. And it need not be like this this is not inevitable; it is not an accident." He challenged the leaders of the council to act against the bombardment of the city. "There is no question today about whether you, members of this Council, know what is going on you clearly and tragically do. The question today is what you will do?" OBrien questioned. "If you don't take action, there will be no Syrian peoples or Syria to save that will be this council's legacy, our generation's shame." Tensions between Russia and Western governments have reached fever pitch since a ceasefire between Bashar al-Assad's regime and rebels broke down last month and hostilities recommenced. Approximately 450,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 2011, as the country rapidly descended into civil war. European stocks wavered on Thursday as investors digested uninspiring Chinese data and sifted through more earnings releases, although banks outperformed alongside another leg up in sovereign bond yields. The benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 index and Germanys DAX were little changed, with the latter off by 0.01% to 341.71 by the closing bell and the Frankfurt benchmark up by 0.07%, while Frances CAC 40 slipped 0.02%. The Stoxx 600 gauge of lenders shares finished up by 1.0% for the session. Crude oil futures were higher, recovering from the sharp losses seen on Wednesday on the back of growing doubts over OPECs proposed production cut. West Texas Intermediate tacked on 1.34% to finish at $49.85 a barrel and Brent crude was 1.36% firmer at $50.67. Sentiment was undermined somewhat by data showing a decline in Chinese industrial profit growth last month. Figures released earlier by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed profits in September were up 7.7% to 577.1bn yuan, slowing significantly from a 19.5% increase in September. At the same time, market participants were sinking their teeth into a series of bank earnings. Deutsche Bank drifted just a touch lower after it swung to an unexpected profit in the third quarter; net income came in at 278m versus analysts expectations for a loss of around 610m. CMC Markets Jasper Lawler said: The results are especially welcome since a lot of the trouble surrounding the bank has focused on its inability to produce the profits necessary to pay its litigation costs. Litigation costs for DB were reduced in the quarter, bolstering the numbers. However the US Department of Justice will make sure thats not the case in the following quarters. In London, Barclays advanced after reporting a 35% rise in third-quarter pre-tax profit to 837m as revenue from the fixed income division surged 40%. Spains BBVA rallied as it posted a better-than-expected 23% jump in third-quarter profit. Away from banks, Amec Foster Wheeler cratered after it postponed its capital markets day until next year and said it expects a further drop in oil and gas revenue in 2017. Nokia suffered big losses after the telecom equipment maker posted a net loss for the third quarter and cautioned that network markets were tough. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Why national Republicans are pinning hopes on Ohio Senate race While the GOP deals with unpredictable races in states such as Pennsylvania, Republicans hope Ohio will show up for Senate candidate J.D. Vance. Healthy buildings start with healthy materials Designers are pushing for more transparency when it comes to what building materials are made of. By MINDI CAULLEY Weber Thompson Caulley There are millions of building products on the market. A single building can easily include hundreds of materials, both inside and out, and each one of those materials contains a variety of chemicals and is sometimes comprised of multiple material types as well. So why hasnt material transparency been a hot topic in the green building community? Well, it is starting to be. The International Living Future Institutes Living Building Challenge has been a pioneer in breaking down the walls of manufacturers proprietary processes and product components through its Declare labels. As the market has become more curious about what exactly buildings are made of, manufacturers have started to realize that keeping their product ingredients undisclosed gives the appearance that there is something to hide. The Declare label encourages the industry to prove how green they really are, by publicly declaring what is in their projects, thus creating some friendly competition amongst manufacturers to help drive the market. It is important to note, though, that having a manufacturer Declare their product does not mean it is healthy, it just lifts the veil so we can see whats inside. The issue that remains is that there is no one standard control to manage a buildings material health. Without being able to scientifically quantify the sum of a buildings material toxicity, the process of selecting healthy materials remains challenging. Photo by Kirsten Clemens/Weber Thompson [enlarge] Weber Thompson hosted the kickoff event for the Healthy Materials Collaborative during the 2016 Seattle Design Festival. The event attracted manufacturers, specifiers, end users and other professionals. While it has been proven that chemicals like formaldehyde, phthalates and other common toxins found in building products are harmful to human health, the long-term impact on building occupants is not fully known. The risk is present, but varying factors make it difficult to document and quantify the effects. The design industry needs to exercise precaution and stop specifying materials with red-listed ingredients when possible, while manufacturers work to prove their products are safe before they hit the market instead of relying on consumers and regulators to prove harm after exposure. The full picture When looking at the full picture of material health, products need to be analyzed for not just the impact they have on building occupants, but also the effect on the health of those involved in its production, installation, reuse and disposal. Are we asking workers to expose themselves to hazardous work conditions with potentially negative long-lasting effects? By looking at a products life-cycle analysis, these important factors are taken into consideration in a holistic manner. One roadblock is not always having a healthy material that meets specific performance criteria. For instance, luxury vinyl tile is a widely used flooring that performs well in high traffic settings such health care, retail and multifamily buildings. The negative environmental impact of vinyl has been well documented, but there is not an ideal alternative that can stand up to luxury vinyl tiles long-term durability. Until manufacturers are able to fill this void, designers will be forced to specify materials that are less bad as opposed to healthy. So, how does one balance healthy with practical and functional? One way to accelerate our learning curve is through project work. Weber Thompson is designing a Living Building Pilot project through the city of Seattle a core and shell office building in the heart of Fremont. In exchange for increased height and floor area ratio, the project team will deliver a Living Building Petal Recognition project, with a focus on three Petals, one of which is materials. The process of vetting materials to make sure they do not contain toxins called out by the programs Red List is one requirement of the Materials Petal. It requires re-thinking how the design team specifies products, as the basis of design requires manufacturers and products to be identified earlier in the project than usual, in order to vet products by contacting manufacturers directly. While it is a long road, this process will help us make more informed and sustainable choices in future projects. This is in contrast to simply identifying systems or generic materials and product types, as is common in schematic design and design development. Some projects that have gone through this before, such as the Bullitt Center, freely share their as-built product list with the public (see bullittcenter.org). This kind of transparency helps raise industry knowledge, provides support for healthier building products, and in some cases motivates manufacturers to incorporate new less-toxic formulations that were explicitly created for a one-off project into their general product offerings. Push for healthy materials At Weber Thompson we are asking manufacturers to help make the process of selecting healthy materials a little less complicated. We have sent letters to the vendors (who call on us for product presentations and continuing education) stating our sustainability goals in regards to healthy materials and asking for product transparency and complete disclosure in regards to the products we specify. We are opening up a dialog and making it clear that healthy materials are something we value. Our library is also being reorganized and relabeled through the Mindful Materials program, a design industry initiative started by HKS Architects that provides a common platform for manufacturers to communicate transparency and give information on their building products. These measures will help our designers make informed choices when specifying materials, and further prioritize healthier materials within our firm. We are not alone in this effort. Nationally, the American Institute of Architects has highlighted materials as a core issue, locally addressed in a professional education series at AIA Seattle called Materials Matter (that runs October through February). Also at the local level, there is a group of building industry professionals called the Healthy Materials Collaborative pushing for transparency and material health. The HMC is creating a dialogue with a variety of local perspectives on how we can work together to create healthier buildings. Working together with strength in numbers and the weight of some large architecture firms, the HMC can break down barriers to healthy, sustainable buildings. Discussing the change that needs to happen to create healthy buildings is not enough. To create healthier buildings, designers must apply progressive materials requirements to building projects, be advocates with product representatives, vendors and manufacturers, and demand transparency. If we dont, who will? Mindi Caulley is the resource coordinator at Weber Thompson. She is a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor and LEED Green Associate with seven years of experience in sustainable design. She is active with the Healthy Materials Collaborative. Other Stories: A new engineers guide to consulting in Central Washington Taylor Dayton has learned a few lessons in her first year on the job. By TAYLOR DAYTON Aspect Consulting Dayton A little over a year ago, I moved my life from the eastern shore of Virginia to Washington after completing a masters degree at Virginia Tech. After some initial shell shock from Hollywood misrepresenting my new home state as one giant, uniform ecosystem of dense firs and towering misty mountains, I have come to love living and working in north central Washington. Thats not to say the journey has been turbulence-free. There is no clear guidance on how to transition from academia to consulting engineering. I found myself stumbling through a dynamic world of new tools, clients and fieldwork doing so with far more enthusiasm than practical experience. Layer that uncertainty on top of the unique set of challenges that working in north central Washington presents, and it made for a series of encounters that I can only laugh at, looking back. Here are a few memorable moments from my early days on the job. Mastering tools of the trade Thanks for setting up my phone, Mark! As our systems administrator headed out with a wave, I turned and eyed my new desk phone. So this was destined to be my first test as a consulting engineer the bane of all millennials, holding a phone conversation. Aspect Consulting. This is Taylor Dayton speaking, I whispered to my desk, testing the weight and flow of each word. Unsatisfied, I tried again. This is Taylor Dayton from Aspect Consulting. How can I help you? I paused, letting that sink in. Better, but too formal. Photo from Aspect Consulting [enlarge] Taylor Dayton constructs and installs a lake staff gauge in the remote Alpine Lakes Wilderness region. Before I could rehearse my third shot, my phone began ringing. Time for a defining moment: my first call as a consultant. I took a deep breath, picked up the phone, and rushed through an astoundingly incomprehensible, This is Aspect and Taylor is speaking. What is wrong with me? Hello, Anne. I see here that you offer pet cremation services. Anne? Caught entirely off guard, I managed a response that rivaled my introduction. Um, what? Pet cremation. My cat just passed away and I see here that you perform pet funeral services. I leaned back in my office chair, briefly glanced out my open office door, and considered asking my nearest coworker if we really did have a pet cremation branch to the business. Environmental, geotechnical, water resources, and caring send-offs for your fuzzy loved ones. Not recalling that particular phrase from my first day of training, I called an audible. Sorry, maam. You may have the wrong number. I just got this number today, so its possible the pet cremation service has changed numbers. Thank you, dear. I placed my phone back on its stand, heart racing. It didnt take long for the screen to again light up with the same number ringing through. This is going to become a thing. Establishing a client base Smoke hung low in the valley as I led the charge through the marshy, waist-high grass. I heard my clients voice through the undergrowth. Now, I know there are at least two wellheads out here somewhere. I just dont remember exactly where Well find them, sir. Its no problem. It was a little bit of a problem. The area we had to search could potentially take most of the day to canvas. After a good hour of tromping around the marsh, my body decided that it was as good a time as any to develop a spontaneous grass allergy. I began sneezing uncontrollably. By the 10th sneeze, blood began pouring from my nose in a flood. I made eye contact with my client, both of us silently regarding each other in the sea of tissue-less undergrowth. For the second time in as many days, I called an audible. I am so sorry, but were both just going to have acknowledge that I am about to wipe all this blood on my sleeve like a 5-year-old and that it will be there all day. Building hands-on experience I leaned in, studying the cobbled metal structure for some semblance of what I knew should be a wellhead and the supporting infrastructure. My granddad put this in years ago. A few feet behind me, a local orchardist was explaining the history of the well. In my hand, I held a stack of papers describing the nature of his water rights, praying that he wouldnt ask any questions outside the scope of my three and a half days of water law expertise. Reaching out, I tapped a rusted pressure gauge with my finger, bits of blue coating flaking off and falling into the field. Curious at the absence of a pressure reading when I could hear a pump running somewhere in the general area, I laid a palm flat against the pipe, feeling for the telltale vibration of flowing water. Funny story, the last time I was out here working on this pump, the bit of grounding metal must have broken away. Thats what burned away most of my eyebrows and turned the tips of my fingers black. Luckily, Juan found and kicked me off before I got completely fried. Eyes wide, I slowly removed my hand from the casing and took a generous step back to continue my inspection from afar. Whether its sharing a moment of mutual surprise with a rattlesnake in a field or gracelessly failing to escape a canal when your waders spring a leak, every unexpected adventure has become a piece of who I am as an engineer. This is the greatest aspect of professional development, and it can never be taught in a classroom. As consultants, we set out every day to solve a diverse set of problems that are often considered unsolvable. Every momentary stumble is an opportunity to see the problem from a slightly different angle. Taylor Dayton, Engineer-in-Training, is a water resources engineer working out of Aspect Consultings Wenatchee office. Other Stories: Survey: The Blueline Group Image from The Blueline Group [enlarge] Blueline Group was a consultant on the Six Oaks apartment and retail project in downtown Bothell. Specialty: Civil engineering Management: Ken M. Lauzen, principal Founded: 2003 Headquarters: Kirkland 2015 revenues: About $5.5 million Projected 2016 revenues: About $6.5 million Projects: Pipers Glen, an 83-lot subdivision for Toll Brothers in Bothell; Spilman Avenue improvements for the city of Carnation; Six Oaks, 203 units over retail in downtown Bothell for MainStreet Property Group Blueline Group principal Ken M. Lauzen answered questions about his firm and industry trends. Q: In the last year, have you shifted Bluelines core mission to respond to changes in the economy? A: We have not shifted our focus, but we have engaged a couple of national recruiting agencies to help add staff, we have expanded our commercial development services, and we have added planning and landscape architecture services. Q: Are you finding more work from public or private sources? A: Plus or minus 75 percent of our work is in the private sector and plus or minus 25 percent in the public sector. We have strategically sought out more public work since the recession to enhance our market diversity. Q: Has the regional housing boom benefited Blueline? A: Extremely, as much of our private sector work is design of residential subdivisions and short plats. Q: With your workload increasing, are you hiring? A: Our workload has increased every year since 2010 we were named one of PSBJs Fastest Growing Private Companies on the Eastside three years in a row and we have increased our staff level 400 percent during that time. We are continuing to look for and hire talented individuals but it has become increasingly difficult in such a strong market. Q: What technological advances have made you more efficient? A: We have moved most of our software to subscription-based models, which allows us to employ the latest software to complete our work. We have also implemented an internal unified messaging system, which allows employees to better communicate via phone, email and instant messaging whether they are inside or outside of the office. Lastly, we have successfully implemented our first full-time remote employee in California, which is allowing us to overcome some of the challenges, such as traffic and long commuting times, formal office hours, etc., of the traditional brick and mortar office model. Q: Are municipalities more willing to enhance their budgets to pay for important civil and infrastructure work? A: Yes. Other Stories: Survey: Hutteball & Oremus Architecture Image by Hutteball & Oremus Architecture [enlarge] Puget Sound Skills Center Health Sciences Building is slated to open in 2017. Students will study trades such as nursing, dental care and emergency response. Specialty: School design and planning Management: Principals Kevin Oremus, Bill Chaput and Steve Busig Founded: 1995 Headquarters: Kirkland 2015 revenues: N/A Projected 2016 revenues: N/A Projects: Puget Sound Skills Center Health Sciences Building, Burien; Anacortes High School, Anacortes; Marysville-Pilchuck High School Food Commons, Marysville Principals Kevin Oremus, Bill Chaput and Steve Busig responded to questions about their projects and trends in the education sector. Q: What are a few of the hallmarks of the projects you design? A: We create unique educational facilities that give students ownership of their learning. Currently, at Anacortes High School the student-centered learning environment includes manufacturers, robotics and inventors labs, providing students with access to the types of program-specific facilities that allow them to explore a multitude of career path choices. At Marysville-Pilchuck High School, the design for the new Food Commons incorporates a student store for students who wish to explore business and marketing applications. Integration of non-traditional curriculum into traditional curriculum is becoming more prominent, and we embrace the opportunity to give our clients the spaces that will bring the most success to their students. Q: Which recent project are you most proud of and why? A: An exciting project we are working on is the Puget Sound Skills Center Health Sciences Building opening in fall of 2017. Along with host district Highline Public Schools, five other surrounding districts send their students to this center to gain professional experiences in trades such as nursing, fire and emergency, dental, and more. The Health Sciences Building will double capacity of the nursing and dental programs, decreasing the wait lists for these programs. Providing students with a state-of-the-art facility, filled with professional equipment and practicing professionals, (will give them) access to invaluable opportunities. The design will welcome current students, attract prospective students and provide a professional building to encourage all attending students to adopt a professional attitude and outlook as they transition to health care professionals. Q: What are some changes in the educational sector over the past few years? A: Districts now understand that students and teachers need more than just classrooms. Learning styles have evolved from passive to active learning. There is more emphasis on creativity, originality, performance and innovation in modern day classrooms. With this realization, districts have a holistic view when approaching the design of new schools. Breakout spaces, student-only conference rooms, cyber bars and other spaces are being used to augment the classrooms and to enhance collaborative learning by students. Todays students are also learning through mobile devices such as laptops and tablets. Our designs are incorporating more outlets and charging cubbies to provide the support students need to keep their devices properly charged. We have also seen that community members are more involved than ever before. They are part of the process from the beginning, participating in community meetings to express their opinions about student needs as well as community needs. Their pride of their community shines through as they help us design a facility that is functional both during and beyond school hours. Q: What are common misconceptions about the school design and building process? A: We tend to find that the biggest misconception is the price tag that comes with building or modernizing a school. Schools carry a lot of financial burden to support the multitude of programs that are offered. With an increase in the number and types of programs offered comes an increase to the cost of the building. We work closely with our district partners to prioritize wants and needs and balance them with the budget, ensuring the best educational environment will be built for their students. Q: Whats a big business concern looking ahead to 2017? A: Our ability to work mobilely and remotely for the benefit of our employees and our clients. Our service-driven work model requires that we spend more time on site and away from the office during all project phases. To improve our efficiency, performance and provide flexibility when needed, our staff relies on mobile technologies to maintain their work flow and communicate with both consultants and clients. Other Stories: Subscriber content preview DETROIT (AP) Electric car maker Tesla Motors posted its first quarterly profit in three years on Wednesday, giving investors reason to cheer after months of doubt. Tesla's shares have fallen in recent weeks as some investors questioned the company's proposed merger with solar panel maker SolarCity Corp. Earlier this month, Goldman Sachs downgraded Tesla's shares from buy to neutral and lowered its price target, saying the potential merger could delay the release of the Model 3. . . . Subscriber content preview West Elm home design chain plans to open hotels in 5 cities They will be in trendy neighborhoods not downtowns and use West Elm's furniture and decor, as well as local crafts, artwork and food. By BETH J. HARPAZ AP Travel Editor AP Photo/Michael Conroy [enlarge] West Elm will open a hotel in this 1930s Coca-Cola bottling plant in Indianapolis. Each hotel will have either an adjacent store or a pared-down retail space onsite. NEW YORK The home-design retailer West Elm is taking its brand into the hotel industry, with plans for hotels in five cities: Detroit; Indianapolis; Minneapolis; Savannah, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. . . . login or purchase a To read this story in fullor purchase a subscription. China's Xi elevated to the ranks of Mao and Deng Ziaoping The Chinese Communist Party today declared President Xi Jinping as "core" leader, placing him on par with China's all-time greats like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. The announcement made at the close of a four-day closed-door meeting of senior party functionaries in Beijing, however, emphasised the importance of collective leadership, signalling that Xi will not enjoy absolute power. In fact, the lengthy communique, released through the state media, insisted on the collective leadership system, saying it "must always be followed and should not be violated by any organisation or individual under any circumstance or for any reason." At the same time, the party has warned against dissent, saying that all party members should "closely unite around the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core", said the document. The "core" leader title marks a significant strengthening of Xi's position ahead of a key party congress next year, at which a new Standing Committee, the supreme authority in China, will be constituted. Xi, who already controls the armed forces as head of the Central Military Commission has been cosolidating power assuming the charge of commander-in-chief of the military and heading a group leading economic reform. It was Deng Ziaoping who coined the phrase "core" leader for Mao, Jiang Zemin and himself, meaning they had almost absolute authority and should not be questioned. The ''core'' leader status will stand by Xi during the party congress due to be held in the second half of 2017, enabling him to dictate terms and stack the Standing Committee with his ''core'' supporters. While head of the party, the military and the state had not thought of giving Xi the title of "core" leader, Xi's immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao, was also never called the "core". As per past precedent, Xi should step down at the 2022 party congress after a decade at the top, but speculation in rife that the ''core'' leader title is intended to overcome that bump. Eleven secondary schools in Donegal are closed today as members of the Association of Secondary Teachers (ASTI) in Ireland go on strike. It's the first of seven days of industrial action planned between now and December 7th. The union has also voted to withdraw supervision and substitution duties from November 7th. The strike action comes largely over demands for pay equality for newly qualified teachers. Many boards of management at ASTI schools have advised parents that they will close today because of the strike, including: Colaiste Cholmcille in Ballyshannon; Loreto Letterkenny; Loreto Milford, Scoil Mhuire Buncrana; St. Columbas College in Stranorlar and St. Eunans College in Letterkenny. Dual-union schools which are also closed today due to the strike include Carndonagh Community School, Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola in Falcarragh, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Rosses Community School in Dungloe and the Royal & Prior in Raphoe. St. Columbas Comprehensive School in Glenties is open as normal, the school confirmed yesterday. Youthreach centres and the 15 Donegal Education and Training Board schools are also not affected by the strike action. Most teachers at ETB-managed schools and centres are members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI). Neil Curran, ASTI representative for Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim and a teacher at St Columba's in Stranorlar, said he believes the issue of supervision and substitution will come to the fore. This week the general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) said he does not see many secondary schools opening after mid-term break, with ASTI withdrawing from supervision and substitution duties from November 7th. The JMB represents 380 voluntary secondary schools across the country, with most teachers there members of ASTI. That means that on the 7th of November most ASTI schools will be closed and teachers will be locked out, Mr. Curran said. I think the minister is hoping that, because of the fact that we wont get paid from the 7th of November, we may give in, but I dont see that happening, Mr. Curran continued. He expressed sympathy and concern for the students affected, saying, I feel children are being used as a political weapon by the minister. TUI president Joanne Irwin, warned that the situation is likely to become more serious after November 7th, when ASTI is to withdraw entirely from supervision and substitution. I dont know what the situation is going to be then, she said. The TUI and INTO are holding a rally today outside the Dail seeking equal pay. TUI is pursuing its demands within the Lansdowne Road Agreement, which it approved in May and ASTI rejected in August. The TUI's Donegal branch voted approval of the TUI strategy at their AGM this week. Schools that are closed today: ASTI Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon; Loreto Letterkenny; Loreto Milford; Scoil Mhuire Buncrana; St. Columbas College, Stranorlar; St. Eunans College, Letterkenny. Dual union Carndonagh Community School; Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola, Falcarragh; Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair; Rosses Community School, Dungloe; Royal & Prior, Raphoe. Businesses in Donegal are being encouraged to attend a free Green Business seminar in the Enterprise Fund Business Centre in Letterkenny on 10 November from 9.30am to 1pm. This seminar will focus on how businesses can achieve substantive resource efficiency improvements and cost savings, through waste prevention and reductions in water and energy consumption. Green Business is a free and confidential resource efficiency service for all types of SMEs in Ireland and is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the National Waste Prevention Programme. Recent resource efficiency assessments of Irish SMEs revealed potential savings of 35,000 on average for companies and this includes water, waste and energy management; with half of these savings achievable with merely better practices, at little or no cost to the business. Suzanne Bogan, Waste Awareness Officer with Donegal County Council believes that businesses in Donegal should attend this seminar saying this is a free seminar open to all types of SMEs in Donegal. It is a great opportunity for businesses to learn more about how they can save money and use their resources more efficiently. The workshops will give you access to experts in several fields, who can provide specific advice and assistance to you and your business. For further information, email contactus@greenbusiness.ie The most popular ute in Australia has failed a European evaluation of its ability to handle emergencies. Teknikens Varld, a Swedish motoring magazine, put the latest Toyota HiLux through its emergency "moose test" and found the vehicle has the potential to tip over in extreme circumstances. Test driver Oskar Kruger accelerated to 60km/h before swerving into the left-hand lane, then back into his original lane. The ute leapt up onto two wheels and looked as though it may tip over before Kruger regained control. A report published by Teknikens Varld said other models such as the Volkswagen Amarok, Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara coped with the same test without issue. It suggests that "something is seriously wrong with Toyota's dynamic safety system", and that its tyres may offer too much grip. The previous-shape HiLux failed the same test when equipped with optional 265mm-wide rubber, prompting Toyota's European arm to only offer the car with narrower tyres more likely to slide than tip onto two wheels. Toyota Sweden says it is "surprised by the test result", and that it will take a closer look at the test. Drive put the HiLux, as well as key rivals such as the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50 and Mitsubishi Triton, through its paces during Car of the Year testing in 2016. The tests included an emergency swerve and brake at 80km/h, as well as an 80km/h slalom run that did not reveal significant flaws in any of the vehicles. See footage of the Toyota's moose test below: Johnny Conlon, aka 'Johnny 'D' Fox' is well known for performing with bands such as The Harbour Blues Band, The Regular Gas Band, The Arsonist Birds, The Long Riders and of course, Thin Az Lizzy, renowned as one of the greatest Thin Lizzy tribute bands on the planet. Johnny, a Newry Road native, has been praised by many for being the only vocalist to inhabit the vocal space of the late, great Phil Lynott. His nickname comes from the band's 1976 album of the same name. Johnny recently launched his new website, johnnydfoxmusic.com, to keep fans up to date on his future gigs and projects. He spoke to the Dundalk Democrat about his website and lustrous musical career. The website itself is still a work in progress, it will hopefully be completed by the end of November. I have been kept very busy with my musical projects. I play in Toale's Bar every Monday at 9:30 with The Arsonist Birds, in which I perform vocals, bass and keyboards. The band also features Bobby Robertson on guitar and vocals, Dermot McQuaid on guitar, bass and mandolin and Ronni O'Flynn on drums. I also do an acoustic piano set, under the name 'Room Service', every Saturday in the upstairs restaurant of The Crowne Plaza Hotel. I am delighted to say that myself and The Hoodoos will be performing on the 3rd 4th and 5th of January, as part of 'Vibe for Philo' celebrations in Dublin next year. We played at the previous 'Vibe' earlier this year which marked the 30th anniversary of Phil's untimely death. Phil's mother Philomena Lynott and his former band-mates Eric Bell and Brian Downey were in attendance. Thin Az Lizzy will be performing in The Spirit Store on December 16th. We are also currently planning a tour for next year, which will hopefully see us perform in Galway, Sligo, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Dublin, all the way through to Northern Ireland and Donegal. Tickets for the Thin Az Lizzy concert in The Spirit Store on December 16th cost 12.50 and can be purchased at the venue, in George's Quay, Dundalk, McAteer's Food House, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, or online at www.spiritstore.ie. For more information or for bookings, contact Johnny on 0879469386 or visit johnnydfoxmusic.com. FOR Blackrock Artist Adrienne Finnerty the decision to take part in the charity event, Art with a Heart Project was automatic, having been struck by the suffering of those caught up in the Syrian conflict. Organised by Laura Grimes Adrienne was one of a group of artists who were invited to help raise funds for this worthy cause through the unique concept of an Art Lotto, where the prizes are works of art. In total 92 canvases were submitted for the Art Lotto which took place Facebook live link on Sunday, 7th October. The funds raised from all the entry fees will benefit a charity working on the ground in Syria Medecins Sans Frontieres. Laura commented, Following the news footage of 5 year old Syrian boy, Omran Daqneesh, sitting quietly, dazed and confused with blood streaming from a head wound sustained when his home in Aleppo was bombed, I felt I could no longer sit back and do nothing for these poor people. Whatever small effort I could make would surely be better than nothing so I set up an auction for a picture I had painted in the hope of raising some funds for the relief effort and lo and behold it sold. It occurred to me that I could further use art as a fundraising too and so The Art With A Heart Project was born. The idea was simple, for 20, an artist (amateur or professional) would be sent a small pack containing a small 8 x 8 inch canvas and an entry form with a deadline by which they had to return that same canvas completed in any medium with an subject. When all canvases were returned, there would be an Art Lotto whereby each participating artist would win the completed canvas of another participating artist. Using Facebook as a platform, I set up The Art With A Heart Project page https://www.facebook.com/artwithaheartforsyria/ and sponsored ads for members of the art community to participate in an Art Lotto. I also approached a small number of my own favourite artists and to my delight, some agreed to take part including Kate Beagan, Adrienne M. Finnerty, Padraig McCaul and Dave West amongst others. According to Adrienne she was delighted to take part, I was delighted to be able to in some small way contribute to helping people on the ground in this very complex Syrian conflict. I have huge respect for Medicines sans frontiers whom the money raised will go to. As artists we are regularly asked to donate paintings to worthy causes and Im always delighted to do so but in this project each artist gets a fellow artists piece. We each pay 20 and this adds up. Hopefully a book will also materialise and raise further funds etc. I hope the project will grow legs. My painting is Hope Springs Eternal & started as a room with pictures & curtains & flowers. This I obliterated and overworked with pattern & colour representing the total destruction of normal family life for the Syrian people. The brightly coloured squares are windows of hope for resolution of conflict and a rebuilding of lives & country of hope and solution to the conflict. In addition to the Lotto entries, a few pieces by acclaimed Irish artists such as Roisin OFarrell and Myra Jago have been submitted to The Art With A Heart Project for auction to further bolster the fundraising. Laura added, The result of these activities is a stunning collection of some 95 paintings which before being sent to the new owners will be photographed professionally, again on a voluntary footing, with a view to using the images in some printed format be it a coffee table book, calendar or some such that could go on general sale with huge fundraising potential for the Syrian relief effort. What started as a very small fundraising effort looks set to run and run. The response to date from across the art community has been astounding. If there are any professional artists out there who would like to donate a piece for auction or indeed a business or individual who would like to contribute to printing costs of a coffee book as outlined above, Id be delighted to hear from them. The artwork can be viewed on Facebook and I can be contacted directly Laura Grimes, 087 6165440, laurragrimes@hotmail.com. A delighted couple from Monaghan, who bought their winning lotto ticket in Dundalk, paid a visit to National Lottery offices in Dublin this afternoon to claim a fantastic 500,000 which they won in last nights Lotto Plus 1 draw. Accompanied by their young family, their 10 year old son saidDad went like a ghost after he checked the Lotto results on his phone last night and discovered hed won half a million euro. The lucky Monaghan family man bought his ticket yesterday in the Oriel Service Station on the Dublin Road in Dundalk. He played his own numbers which he has used for the last 25 years. Celebrating the news with his wife and three children, he said, I was out walking last night when the Lotto draw was on and I checked the numbers on my phone when I got home. I couldnt believe it. The mans wife was on her way to work last night at the time of the draw. She said, Im not a religious person but as I was driving to work, I thought, Dear God, please can we win the Lotto. And then it happened! The husband spoke of their plans for the winnings, Well get a new car and do-up the house and then take a nice holiday next year. There was no winner of the main Lotto jackpot last night but over 33,000 players won prizes. This Saturdays Lotto jackpot is an estimated 5.5 million. Play in store, on the National Lottery App or online by 7:45pm on Saturday evening for your chance to win. French water companies Suez and Veolia, and Dutch water company Aquaminerals and Waternet signed a 'green deal' on the use of struvite fertiliser, recovered from municipal wastewater plants. The initiators hope to make a first step towards creating a European market for struvite. The agreement is part of the International Green Deal North Sea Resources Roundabout (NSRR), an initiative of the Netherlands, the UK, France and Belgian Flanders which aims at stimulating green growth in the North-Sea region. At several Dutch waste water treatment plants - here seen is wwtp Apeldoorn - struvite is already recovered and the granule used as fertilizer. Open up cross-border trade Struvite is magnesium ammonium phosphate, a fertiliser whose sources include wastewater treatment processes. As such struvite is considered a waste product and limited to be traded as a secondary raw material. For instance, struvite from wastewater, cannot yet be exported from European countries with a phosphorus surplus, such as the Netherlands, to those countries with a need for phosphorus, such as France. The European Commission is preparing new regulations to allow the export of struvite but is will take at least another two years. First meeting of the Struvite working group in Paris, France. Working group In anticipation of this European regulation the French and Dutch initiators want to develop solutions which can also be scaled-up for other companies or sectors, preferably within the existing regulatory regimes. On 7 October the Struvite Working Group kicked off in Paris, with representatives from Suez, Veolia, AquaMinerals and Waternet, as well as from the Dutch and French ministries responsible. About Green Deal The International Green Deal North Sea Resources Roundabout (NSRR) was initiated by The Netherlands, UK, France and Flanders with the aim to stimulate Green Growth in the North Sea region by facilitating the trade and transportation of secondary resources. The 5 year deal was signed in March of this year and envisions the establishment of a working group for specific waste streams, such as compost, bottom ash, pvc and aluminium, to come up with practical and scalable solutions. Most solutions are likely to involve the harmonisation of national interpretation and enforcement of EU legislation and will not require new rules or regulations. This news item was originally published on the website of Green Deal North Sea Resources Roundabout (NSRR) and AquaMinerals. Read also on this website Schiphol Airport spreads first fertilizer granules recovered from airplane toilets, 13 September 2016 Next-step sludge treatment integrates three advanced technologies at wwtp Amersfoort, the Netherlands, 20 June 2016 Innovation Expo Amsterdam: Welcome home circular economy!, 14 April 2016 Phosphorus to be recovered from Dutch sewage fly ash by EcoPhos in Dunkirk, France, 8 March 2015 Europe's largest phosphate recovery installation under construction at wwtp Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 1 October 2013 More information Aquaminerals Nieuwegein, the Netherlands +31 30 60 69 721 www.aquaminerals.com/en Nutrientplatform NL The Hague, the Netherlands +31 70 304 3700 www.nutrientplatform.org/en Green Deals info@greendeals.nl www.greendeals.nl/english Introduction video on the first international Green Deal signed on 3 maart 2016. Even the toughest of business people are taking their hats off to the Tiwi Islanders nowadays. Only seven years ago, the islanders committed themselves to resurrecting an abandoned acacia plantation business on their homeland. They had no money, no trained forestry staff, no port suitable for woodchip and no export market. Tiwi sought and received expert advice on the risks and opportunities and decided to take on the risk and back themselves to fund the investment required to bring the project to fruition. They employed good managers. But it hasnt been easy. Tiwi Plantations Corporation board chairman Kim Puruntatameri says: Things werent looking good. Its been an incredible turnaround Today, the plantation covers 5 per cent of Melville, one of two islands making up the Indigenous-owned Tiwi Islands, 60 kilometres north of Darwin. Twenty four of the 55 forestry staff are Tiwi and the aim is to increase that to 80. The company was able to secure finance , a port has been built and a major Japanese customer found for the exports. Its been an incredible turnaround, says Kim. Im very impressed by what our crew has achieved. It makes me very proud. And its great to see so many of our people working. TPCs medium-term financial performance is underpinned by an agreement to sell 40% of the forecast harvest to Japan. Woodchip demand from China and emerging Asian economies is expected to continue driving export growth. Along the journey Tiwi have engaged the services of forestry experts to independently prepare and assess the fundamentals of Tiwi Plantation Corporations business plan. These assessments have helped guide the Tiwi and managements decision-making. Woodchip is exported through Port Melville, a deepwater port with significant shipping advantages to north Asia, China and South-east Asia. The port has the potential to service a wide range of customers, including the oil and gas industry. TPC is now seeking to sell the full forecast harvest, requiring a second customer, investment in a third harvest unit, additional trucks and a truck unloader at the port, thereby unlocking further efficiencies in the supply chain. Trial plantings of a eucalypt hybrid are showing early promise for a highly productive, non-invasive replacement for the current acacia plantations, thereby underpinning the success of future rotations and a sustainable industry well into the future. Bouncing back from a devastating decision The first plantation started on Melville Island in the early 1960s. In 1986, the then Northern Territory government ended its support for the forestry operation. This was a devastating decision 3900 hectares of pine plantations had been established, plus trial plantings of Acacia mangium. Many Tiwi had been employed in the forestry for more than 10 years. The islanders decided to continue the plantation in partnership with several successive private investors. The last of the investors, the Great Southern group, went into receivership in 2009. Rather than give up, the Tiwi founded Tiwi Plantations Corporation to export woodchip. A port was built with investment from Singapore-based company Ezion Holdings, through its Australian subsidiary Ezion Offshore Logistics Hub (Tiwi) Pty Ltd, to replace the land-backed wharf at Port Melville with a floating pontoon wharf. The first harvest was celebrated with gusto in June last year. Tiwi Land Council chairman Gibson Ilortaminni described it as a great day for the Tiwis. This was followed five months later by another celebration the first export of Tiwi woodchip. A second shipment went out in February this year. The 3rd shipment went out in August and the 4th is due September/October. It was the first time in Australia that woodchip loading of a 3.6 million cubic foot woodchip carrier had been undertaken with mobile conveyors from a floating pontoon wharf. The achievements didnt stop there. It was the first time 50,000 deadweight tonne vessels had been brought through the Apsley Strait between Melville and Bathurst islands and moored to a floating pontoon wharf. Across the first two shipments, loading time improved from 6.7 days to 5.4 days and total bone dry metric tonnes exported improved from 18,479 to 20,465. TPC has signed a three-year contract for the sale of 560,000 green metric tonnes of woodchip to Japan in 14 consignments. Total export value of the consignments is estimated to be more than $47 million. Growing demand from markets in Asia A second Japanese paper mill is interested in buying Tiwi woodchip from April next year, subject to Port Melville accommodating larger carriers. There are about 30,000 hectares of Acacia mangium planted on Melville Island, compared with two million hectares in South-east Asia. The woodchip is used to make high-quality paper. Vietnam is the largest supplier to China and to the premium Japanese market. Vietnamese production costs are low and Vietnamese suppliers have a freight cost advantage to China and Japan. But Vietnamese suppliers are small and fragmented. Many Chinese and Japanese paper mills are looking to diversify supply to ensure sustainability. The Tiwi plantation can provide about 300,000 tonnes of woodchip each year, reliably and sustainably, at prices competitive to Vietnam. Although more expensive than Vietnam, shipping of woodchip from Port Melville has a 10-day return advantage over shipping from other Australian woodchip ports. Tiwi Plantations Corporation hopes to benefit from growing demand from China and India. Its marketing strategy is to keep costs down and ensure reliable, continuous and sustainable supplies. The goal is to secure contracts with two major pulp mill customers, supplemented with spot market sales if required. Central to the strategy is the engagement of Mitsui Bussan Woodchip Oceania, a company of the Mitsui group, to market up to 400,000 tonnes of Tiwi woodchip per annum for five years. The Mitsui group is the fourth largest exporter in Australia on an equity basis, with about $6.5 billion in total exports annually, including 2.5 million green metric tonnes of hardwood and softwood chip. It has invested about $15 billion in Australia over the past decade. Combating disadvantage, creating jobs The project has received strong support from the Australian and Northern Territory governments because of its social and economic importance. Financial partners include Commonwealth Bank and the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation. At a technical level, it is vital for Tiwi woodchip to meet product size and quality specifications. Tiwi woodchip is accredited as Forest Stewardship Council Controlled Wood, which allows it to be exported to the premium Japanese market. The plantations and export of woodchip from Port Melville have been assessed and approved under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. TPC is headed by a board that includes five Tiwi directors. And the Tiwi Appointor of the TPC Trust rides shotgun. This is no ordinary company. Of course, it wants to be profitable not to increase the wealth of outside shareholders but to help combat Indigenous disadvantage. The primary objectives of the TPC Trust are the relief of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability and helplessness and to advance education. Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust, Tiwi Land Council and TPC entered into a licensing agreement to manage and harvest the plantation commercially because they wanted to create jobs and a sustainable income for their people. The benefits are already being felt on the islands. Local people are employed in fulfilling, well-paid jobs. And school leavers will be offered work experience and Certificate 1 training to make them eligible for forestry work. Certificate 2 and 3 training in harvesting and haulage, and forest growing and management will be available to workers. Specialist machinery operators have been brought to Melville Island to carry out one-on-one training in the use of forest machinery, such as chippers, feller bunchers, skidders and ship loaders. Haulage of woodchip relies entirely on Tiwi operators. Replanting, including growing of plant seedlings in the nursery, field planting, care and maintenance of new plantings, will provide additional employment for Tiwi. Programs in fire management and control, weed control, Acacia mangium wilding control and environmental management will provide continuing employment. Tiwi Land Council chairman and TPC director Gibson Ilortaminni started working in forestry at the age of 17, more than 40 years ago. Its good to work, he says. Were trying to stop our people being welfare dependent. Its not good to sit around doing nothing. Weve had bad times, but the future looks good for our people. About the author Nigel Adlam is the owner of Adlam Media, a Darwin-based writing and marketing company. Nigel has worked on several of the worlds most prestigious newspapers, including The Times and Guardian in London, and covered a civil war in Africa. He has been named NT Journalist of the Year twice. There's something for everyone at Taylor Wimpey's Oakbrook in Newton Leys Theres a fresh selection of stunning new homes now on sale at Taylor Wimpeys Oakbrook development in Newton Leys near Milton Keynes meaning theres something for buyers in all circumstances! Due to continuing demand for high-quality brand new homes in the area, the leading housebuilder has released a new collection of one and two-bedroom apartments at this popular Buckinghamshire development. This means prospective purchasers can now choose from a wide range of properties, from these stylish new apartments through to two, three and four-bedroom houses including a variety of terraced, semi-detached and detached designs. Jack Costello, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey, says: Were delighted to release these eagerly-anticipated apartments for sale to provide new opportunities for people to find their perfect place at Oakbrook. There really is something for everyone here, whatever their circumstances. Interest shows no sign of slowing, however, so Id advise home-hunters to come along to the development as soon as possible to see what we have to offer or they risk missing out on their dream home! The new release of properties at Oakbrook comprises beautiful one and two-bedroom Oaks apartments, priced from 172,500 and 200,450 respectively. Each apartment features a spacious living/dining room with a semi-open-plan kitchen, good-sized bedrooms, a bathroom and integrated storage off the internal entrance hallway, plus allocated parking outside. Selected plots benefit from attractive Juliet balconies to living areas. Alternatively, two-bedroom semi-detached houses are priced from 275,000 at Oakbrook, while three-bedroom, three-storey homes are on sale from 325,000, and four-bedroom detached designs from 437,500. To make moving even easier and more affordable, Taylor Wimpey offers a range of helpful homebuyer incentives, including Help to Buy, Part Exchange and easymover. Help to Buy, for example, enables eligible first-time buyers and those with a property to sell to access a Government loan for up to 20% of their new homes full price so they only need a 75% loan-to-value mortgage and a deposit as low as 5%. The scheme is available on new-build properties up to 600,000 and theres no salary cap for Help to Buy customers. Oakbrook lies just to the east of the village of Newton Longville, for a good selection of local amenities, and is just a few miles from the centre of Milton Keynes, which boasts more than 230 shops, cafes, restaurants and an outdoor market. Parents will appreciate the wide choice of schools for children of all ages and further education colleges within easy reach of the development. For commuters, the A5 and the M1 are just a short drive from the development, while Luton Airport is only 25 miles away. Express services from Milton Keynes Central to Euston, meanwhile, put central London a little over half an hour away by train. To find out more, property-seekers should visit the Sales Information Centre, located off San Andres Drive, Newton Leys, Milton Keynes, MK3 5JU, and open daily between 10am and 5.30pm (Mondays 2pm to 5.30pm). Alternatively, visit taylorwimpey.co.uk. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder Political Suicide image by DonkeyHotey | Flickr On Tuesday this week, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder tweeted about Lead Poisoning Prevention Week with no apparent sense of irony whatsoever: Its Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and Lt. Gov. @BrianCalley is sharing prevention tips to keep our kids safe https://t.co/cjFK91ms0e Governor Rick Snyder (@onetoughnerd) October 25, 2016 The Twitter responses were swift, hilarious, and to the point. Is this something from The Onion? asked @stevegole. If Tip #1 isnt Get a New Governor, somebodys not doing their job, tweeted @travisjohnson. And @BoredInfidel tweeted the obligatory, Delete your account. I have a few tips of my own. Tip #1 Do not appoint a man with literally ZERO experience in managing water resources to lead the Dept. of Environmental Quality that oversees drinking water in our state. (Disgraced and former DEQ Director Dan Wyant has a bachelors degree in food systems management from Michigan State University and an MBA from American University in Washington, D.C.) Tip #2 Do not sign into law (TWICE!) legislation that robs communities of local democracy. (Snyder signed PA 436 Michigans current anti-democratic Emergency Manager Law into law less than a month after voters overturned its predecessor, PA 4.) Tip #3 Dont run the state government like a business. (Businesses are out to make money and cut costs wherever possible. This philosophy of governance played an enormous role in decisions that were made that ultimately led to the poisoning of Flints drinking water with the powerful neurotoxin lead.) Got some of your own? Let us know in the comments. UPDATE: We got some good news about the effort to hold state officials culpable for their role in the poisoning of Flint: Immediately followed by one of the best Its been a week since the last debate, but the horror of Donald Trumps answer on reproductive rights is still sinking in. As Republicans have trained themselves to do, Fox News Chris Wallace focused the question of abortion on something that doesnt exist partial-birth abortion. I think its terrible if you go with what Hillary is saying in the ninth month you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb of the mother just prior to the birth of the baby, Trump responded. Now, you can say that thats okay, and Hillary can say that thats okay, but its not okay with me. Because based on what shes saying and based on where shes going and where shes been, you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month, on the final day. And thats not acceptable. Clintons response was as good as her initial defense of Roe v. Wade, which just happened to be the best defense of reproductive rights ever presented on prime-time television. Well that is not what happens in these cases, she said. And using that kind of scare rhetoric is just terribly unfortunate. You should meet with some of the women Ive met with. Women Ive known over the course of my life. Dr. Jennifer Gunther has done a beautiful job explaining why partial-birth abortion not actually a thing. And Samantha Bee picked up the baton for this near perfect segment of Full Frontal: Republicans focus on these rare procedures, which are almost always surrounded by incredible grief, to draw attention away from the fact that they want to ban 100 percent of abortions. Thats the partys official stand. And overturning Roe would make it possible for states and Congress to do that as quickly as they can. But I didnt fully grasp the cruelty of this rhetorical strategy until I read this column from Rev. Dr. Amy Butler from The Riverside Church who used her own experience to put it into perspective: I kept asking what was going on, but nobody would tell me anything. As I sat there in the cold company of beeping monitors, my heart beat so fast and I felt so afraid. And then all the doctors came in the room together, stood around the bed, and told me that my baby was severely developmentally compromised; that she would die at birth, if not before, after a very short, excruciatingly painful few minutes of life; and that continuing the pregnancy to full term would be very dangerous for me. Its your choice, of course, they told me. You can terminate the pregnancy and deliver the baby now, or wait. I went home that night and cried, like I did for months and months after that day, but I never had a second thought about the right thing to do. For me it was important that the baby not experience pain, and that we have a little ability to say our goodbyes in as safe and loving way as we could. It never even occurred to me that someone else the government? would have anything at all to say about my own gut-wrenching grief. I didnt know how wed survive the loss, but I did know the right course of action for me, my baby and my family. And the ability to move through that goodbye as a full participant was an important part of just surviving during an inconsolable time. Its important to remember that Trump didnt give a half a shit about abortion until he realized conservatives were craven enough to make him a hero by volunteering to be the worlds most famous birther. His pro-life stance is entirely out of convenience and he understands none of the nuances and agonized reasoning that has gone into shaping the movement, which is why he called for punishment of the woman. The right never admits this inevitable consequence of banning a basic health care procedure because it reveals the true thrust of anti-choice policies for many conservatives: denying women the freedom many men take for granted. But that Trump is willing to weaponize such grief is just another testament to his misogyny. It may even be the worst example of it if he hadnt been caught on tape bragging about sexual assault or suggested that the women who then accused him of assault werent attractive enough for him, as hed said about Bill Clintons accusers decades before. Think about that. Hes suggesting that women only have value if theyre attractive. And if they attractive? His reward is he might assault them. Thats the mind of a man who could take the worst moment of a persons life and use it to score cheap political points. Newsweek is the latest media institution to get caught up in a series of cyberattacks that have targeted major government, political and media organizations, raising suspicions of links to Russia or other foreign adversaries. The news magazine sustained a massive DDoS attack the day after it published a cover story about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps business activities in the late 1990s. Officials linked to the real estate mogul allegedly spent tens of thousands of dollars to seek out potential new business in Cuba, amid rumors of a change in U.S. policy during the second term of the Clinton administration. The expenditures would have violated U.S. law, the article suggests, as it was illegal for Americans to spend money in the country due to a boycott of the Castro regime. Kurt Eichenwald, author of the Newsweek story, tweeted news of the attack. News: The reason ppl couldnt read #TrumpInCuba piece late yesterday is that hackers launched a major attack on Newsweek after it was posted. Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) September 30, 2016 Eichenwald later tweeted that numerous IP addresses had been identified, with the main ones coming from Russia. The New York Times this summer was hit by an attack on its Moscow bureau. There was no evidence that any of the companys internal systems, including at the Moscow bureau, had been breached or compromised, Eileen Murphy, SVP of communications, said at the time. The two attacks are different in that hackers breached The New York Times in search of information, while the Newsweek attack was a DDoS, noted Jon Clay, senior global marketing manager at Trend Micro. The similarities are that they are both news organizations, he told the E-Commerce Times. We have seen an increase in attacks against these types of organizations over the past year, which may be due to the nature of the world today. Hackers want information they can use to either sell or exploit for profit, and hacktivists want to disrupt their victims activities or networks. Device Diversion DDoS attacks often involve using compromised devices connected to the Internet for example, Web cameras or IoT devices and then flooding the system with targeted communications from them, said Clay. More traditionally, the actors have recruited other sympathetic users on the Internet to utilize DDoS tools and then coordinate an attack at a specified time frame, he pointed out. DDoS attacks generally fall into three categories mischief, misdirection or brand damage noted Kevin OBrien, president of GreatHorn. Mischief attacks, known as lulz, are essentially digital graffiti or hackers having fun at the expense of a victim, he told the E-Commerce Times. Brand damage is essentially a form of disrupting a political or corporate brand by taking it offline. Misdirection attacks use the initial hack to divert essential IT staff from a second more dangerous attack, which usually involves the use of stolen credentials to access more sensitive areas of a target. Mulling Motives I would not be surprised to find that the Newsweek DDoS attack was motivated by some form of political activism, in response to their OpEd position in world affairs in general and/or Russian influence on the global stage in particular, OBrien said. The jury is still out on whether the Newsweek attack was designed to intimidate the magazine or was a random attack designed primarily to embarrass another major U.S. institution, said Rick Edmonds, media business analyst at the Poynter Institute. Id vote for random mischief, though I am going to have to leave it to the CIA to scope out how coordinated the Russian hacks are and what their purpose is, he told the E-Commerce Times, noting that the Newsweek attack was sort of in the Trump spirit of bite back. Samsung has stopped production of its problematic Galaxy Note7 smartphones, according to multiple press reports Monday. The company had been offering replacements of the phone after issuing a recall due to defective batteries, but all four major carriers have stopped doing so, presumably because several of the replacements exhibited similar problems, including smoking and catching fire. Two replacements have malfunctioned, according to widely publicized accounts. One began crackling and smoking on board a Southwest Airlines plane,leading to the evacuation of the flight. The other emitted thick smoke, sending its owner to the hospital. Samsung has been working diligently with authorities and third-party experts to address the problems, the company said, noting that the number of reported incidents is small. Fallout From the Fires The fact no one has died is just lucky, said Paige Arnof-Fenn, CEO of Mavens and Moguls. The replacements arent working, she told the E-Commerce Times. Samsung cant risk things getting worse and people hurt. Customers have great options in this category, and Samsungs not the only game in town. They need a clean slate a fresh start to begin winning back trust. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is looking into the issue, as is the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Meanwhile, the replacement program appears to have been aborted. While the investigations under way, Verizon is suspending the exchange of replacement Note7 smartphones, said Verizon Wireless spokesperson Kelly Crummey. We are also not selling Note7 smartphones at this time, she told the E-Commerce Times. Verizon will refund the difference to customers who exchange the Note7 for a less expensive device, or ask them to pay the difference if the new device costs more than the Note7, Crummey said. They have to bring the device back to the original point of purchase a box store such as Best Buy if they got it there, Crummey noted. Verizons online customers may exchange their Note7s at Verizon stores. Sprint is halting sales of replacement Note7 devices pending the conclusion of the investigation by the [CPSC], said company spokesperson Michelle Mermelstein. If a Sprint customer with a replacement Note7 has any concerns, we will exchange it for any other device, she told the E-Commerce Times. T-Mobile has suspended all sales of new Note7 phones and exchanges for replacement Note7 devices. Customers who purchased a Note7 from T-Mobile can return their recalled or replaced phones, along with all accessories, to one of the companys stores. They will get a full refund and can choose another device from any in its inventory. In addition, T-Mobile will give customers who return recalled Note7s a one-time US$25 credit on their T-Mobile bill. T-Mobile customers who purchased Note7s through pre-orders can keep the free Netflix subscription and Gear Fit or SD card they received, T-Mobile said. AT&T did not respond to our request to comment for this story. Samsungs Next Move Samsung should come clean, recommended Mavens and Moguls Arnof-Fenn. Do not spin this or try to minimize for damage control. They cannot slow down the news cycle. The Note7 problem is reminiscent of the Johnson & Johnson Tylenol crisis, Arnof-Fenn said. However, that was a case of multiple murders committed through deliberate tampering. Seven people died after someone laced Tylenol capsules with potassium cyanide. J&J is a trusted brand today, Arnof-Fenn pointed out. Martha Stewart is back too, she added, referring to Stewarts conviction in a stock trading case. Consumers love a good comeback story. Samsung need to come back with a great new product that works as promised, [or] their market cap is gone and their name is worth nothing, Arnof-Fenn remarked. Brands stumble and people make mistakes. It happens. Its not the screw-up that will kill you its the cover-up. Longstanding concerns about hiring and diversity issues in Silicon Valley recently returned to the fore. The United States Department of Labor last month filed suit against Palantir a big data firm founded by billionaire investor Peter Thiel alleging that it had engaged in a pattern of denying jobs to Asian applicants. Race is a greater impediment than gender 3.7 times more significant when it comes to breaking through corporate glass ceilings, suggests research conducted by Ascend. A particular problem, and overlooked in the popular diversity discussion, has been the issue of an Asian glass ceiling at the highest management levels and the limited number of Asian American men and women in the executive pipeline, said Anna Mok, executive vice president of Ascend. Theres an unconscious bias against Asians, she told the E-Commerce Times. Palantirs Pattern Palantir, which has won more than US$340 million in government contracts since 2010, engaged in a pattern of discriminating against applicants in hiring for three specific positions: front-end quality assurance engineer, software engineer and QA engineer intern, the DoL complaint alleges. The firm had in place a four-phase process in which Asian applicants regularly were eliminated during resume screening and telephone interviewing sessions, according to the DoL. Palantir had a pool of 730 qualified applicants for the QA engineering job, 77 percent of them Asian. The firm hired six non-Asian applicants and one Asian. The possibility of that happening by chance was one out of 741, the DoL claimed. Of 1,160 qualified applicants for Palantirs software engineering position, 85 percent were Asian. The firm hired 14 non-Asian and 11 Asian applicants. The likelihood of that happening by chance was one out of 3.4 million, according to the government. For the QA engineer intern position, the firm had 130 applicants and 73 percent of them Asian. The firm hired 17 non-Asian applicants and four Asian. The likelihood of that happening by chance was one in a billion, said the DoL. The departments Office of Contract Compliance Programs last year notified Palantir of the findings, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement through a voluntary compliance procedure. The Office of Solicitor General attempted to reach the same type of agreement before the compliance office filed its lawsuit. Palantir did not respond to our request to comment for this story. HPEs Experiences DoL filed its complaint less than a week after Hewlett Packard Enterprise agreed to pay US$750,000 to settle a DoL suit alleging that the company rejected 504 people of color for inside sales jobs at its Conway, Arkansas, location between 2008 and 2010. The candidates in that case included 349 African Americans, 109 Asians, 44 Hispanics, one Native American and one Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. The settlement included compensation for back wages and interest. The company also agreed to hire 33 of the applicants with retroactive seniority as new positions open up. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a longstanding commitment to the principles of equal employment opportunity, an HPE spokesperson said in a statement provided to the E-Commerce Times by media rep Blair Hinderliter. We are pleased to have resolved this matter without being held to any wrongdoing, the spokesperson continued. We are confident in our hiring processes and we will continue to promote and build a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the broad range of customers we serve. HPE and HP Inc. this summer were hit with a potential class action suit alleging they pushed out older workers during a job restructuring that took place prior to splitting the company. The companies denied those allegations. Structurally Unsound While companies do develop patterns of hiring certain groups of workers, there are larger concerns about the overall level of gender and racial imbalance in the technology industry, suggested Charles King, principal analysts at Pund-IT. It isnt unusual for regionally based industries to develop biases in hiring and other practices, but the behavior Palantir is accused of is troubling due to its racial specificity, he told the E-Commerce Times. The alleged practices are ironic, given the industrys reliance on H1B visa programs to fill many engineering and technical posts, King observed. Theres been a dual-tier structure of hiring in the tech industry, according toSilicon Valley Rising. People of color often have been hired as subcontractors with lower wages, benefits and job security, the organization has charged, and other biases have been persistent among the ranks of the fully employed. The tech industry really has two diversity problems, said Derecka Mehrens, executive director of Working Partnerships USA, which co-leads the Silicon Valley Rising coalition. There are far too few women and people of color especially black and Latinos working as paid employees at tech firms. Tech companies hire an army of these communities to cook, clean and guard their campuses, Mehrens said, paying them one-sixth of the compensation given to direct workers. Blog Archive June 2021 (1) May 2021 (77) April 2021 (77) March 2021 (82) February 2021 (68) January 2021 (64) December 2020 (67) November 2020 (66) October 2020 (66) September 2020 (67) August 2020 (74) July 2020 (83) June 2020 (92) May 2020 (86) April 2020 (104) March 2020 (105) February 2020 (74) January 2020 (75) December 2019 (75) November 2019 (70) October 2019 (89) September 2019 (69) August 2019 (81) July 2019 (77) June 2019 (73) May 2019 (110) April 2019 (110) March 2019 (102) February 2019 (85) January 2019 (123) December 2018 (116) November 2018 (112) October 2018 (121) September 2018 (107) August 2018 (150) July 2018 (163) June 2018 (190) May 2018 (145) April 2018 (112) March 2018 (124) February 2018 (113) January 2018 (164) December 2017 (150) November 2017 (144) October 2017 (169) September 2017 (171) August 2017 (135) July 2017 (131) June 2017 (147) May 2017 (160) April 2017 (138) March 2017 (156) February 2017 (143) January 2017 (203) December 2016 (208) November 2016 (185) October 2016 (173) September 2016 (194) August 2016 (232) July 2016 (225) June 2016 (238) May 2016 (231) April 2016 (215) March 2016 (246) February 2016 (226) January 2016 (252) December 2015 (230) November 2015 (250) October 2015 (234) September 2015 (222) August 2015 (253) July 2015 (275) June 2015 (279) May 2015 (223) April 2015 (226) March 2015 (243) February 2015 (258) January 2015 (281) December 2014 (292) November 2014 (296) October 2014 (413) September 2014 (472) August 2014 (506) July 2014 (483) June 2014 (488) May 2014 (512) April 2014 (497) March 2014 (531) February 2014 (482) January 2014 (535) December 2013 (482) November 2013 (441) October 2013 (416) September 2013 (491) August 2013 (521) July 2013 (491) June 2013 (470) May 2013 (457) April 2013 (426) March 2013 (420) February 2013 (414) January 2013 (489) December 2012 (433) November 2012 (504) October 2012 (469) September 2012 (430) August 2012 (427) July 2012 (360) June 2012 (336) May 2012 (362) April 2012 (322) March 2012 (263) February 2012 (224) January 2012 (291) December 2011 (295) November 2011 (325) October 2011 (330) September 2011 (319) August 2011 (333) July 2011 (318) June 2011 (387) May 2011 (373) April 2011 (389) March 2011 (375) February 2011 (335) January 2011 (400) December 2010 (445) November 2010 (395) October 2010 (312) September 2010 (262) August 2010 (277) July 2010 (323) June 2010 (386) May 2010 (360) April 2010 (333) March 2010 (351) February 2010 (336) January 2010 (384) December 2009 (353) November 2009 (300) October 2009 (308) September 2009 (350) August 2009 (298) July 2009 (255) June 2009 (203) May 2009 (193) April 2009 (186) March 2009 (197) February 2009 (173) January 2009 (148) December 2008 (181) November 2008 (197) October 2008 (236) September 2008 (304) August 2008 (314) July 2008 (273) June 2008 (27) May 2008 (1) April 2008 (6) October 2007 (1) May 2007 (1) April 2007 (6) March 2007 (2) February 2007 (1) October 2006 (1) September 2006 (1) August 2006 (4) July 2006 (4) June 2006 (1) July 2005 (1) May 2005 (2) March 2005 (1) June 2004 (2) May 2004 (1) April 2004 (4) March 2004 (2) February 2004 (2) July 2003 (2) June 2003 (5) In the last three years, farmers in parts of Californias Central Valley irrigated nearly 100,000 acres of food crops with billions of gallons of oil field wastewater possibly tainted with toxic chemicals, including chemicals that can cause cancer and reproductive harm, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) analysis of state data. [facebook https://www.facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/1328569113822689/ expand=1] Since 2014, oil companies reported that they used more than 20 million pounds and 2 million gallons of chemicals in their operations, including at least 16 chemicals the state of California classifies as carcinogens or reproductive toxicants under the states Proposition 65 law. That recycled wastewater was then sold to irrigation districts largely in Kern County. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board has allowed the practice for at least four decades and only recently required the oil companies and water districts to disclose the details. EWG detailed its findings in a report released Wednesday, two days before a public meeting of an expert panel convened to study the practices safety. Although scientists dont know whether using oil field wastewater to grow crops poses a health risk to people who eat the food, the water board has refused to halt the practice until the expert panel releases its findings. The overlap of fracking chemicals and the chemicals used in conventional drilling is troubling, said Bill Allayaud, EWGs California director of government affairs. The water board should have thoroughly studied and assessed this practice before allowing it. No one should stop eating produce from California, said Tasha Stoiber, an EWG senior scientist and author of the report. But there are too many unanswered questions about whether crops could take up the chemicals in the wastewater and whether that could harm peoples health. The only way to know for sure if this practice is safe for consumers, farm workers and the environment is to conduct a thorough and independent study. The water board convened the expert panel after the use of oil field wastewater for irrigation came to light last spring, sparking concern from environmental groups and the news media. But the panel found it couldnt do its job without knowing which chemicals were used in the oil fields or to treat the water before its sale to irrigation districts. In response, the water board ordered the oil companies to disclose their chemical use. The companies submitted records for 198 commercial additives. But the names of about 40 percent of the chemical ingredients were withheld as trade secrets, so a complete analysis remains impossible. California Farmers Irrigate Crops With Chevron's Oil Wastewater in Drought-Stricken Central Valley via @EcoWatch https://t.co/K6XOpGc7MU Freeheart (@eelawl1966) August 26, 2016 The water board says because of concerns about chemicals used in fracking fluids, no water from fracked oil wells is used for crop irrigation. But EWGs analysis found that about 40 percent of the chemicals identified from the oil company disclosures have also been used in fracking in California, raising the question of a double standard. The overlap of fracking chemicals and the chemicals used in conventional drilling is troubling, said Bill Allayaud, EWGs California director of government affairs. The water board should have thoroughly studied and assessed this practice before allowing it. But even as it plays catch-up, it is contemplating additional proposals to expand the practice. Until the safety of the public and the environment can be assured, this is irresponsible. The lightly treated wastewater is blended with fresh water and then applied to almonds, pistachios and citrus trees, along with grapes, carrots, beans, tomatoes and potatoes grown throughout Kern and Tulare Counties. To date, only three limited studies have been conducted, all by consultants paid by the oil companies or the irrigation districts that buy the wastewater, including one that draws conclusions based on only five water samples collected on a single day. EWG recommends that until independent scientific studies, free from conflicts of interest, can say whether it is safe to irrigate food crops with wastewater from oil fields, the state should suspend existing permits and declare a moratorium on new projects. When Stephen Colbert had Elon Musk on the Late Show a few weeks ago, he told him he drives a Tesla. And Colbert happens to be just one of many celebrities that own a Tesla. Colbert loves his Tesla and calls it part of his contribution to fighting global warming. But last night on the show, he talked about a new update for the Tesla Model S: autopilot. The feature essentially allows you to do semi-autonomous driving when youre behind the wheel, says a CNBC reporter in the Late Show segment. He talks about how its not just car companies competing to make the first fully autonomous self-driving car. It seems like every billionaire with a tech company [think: Tesla, Apple and Google] is working on a self-driving car, jokes Colbert. This technology is self-driving towards us whether we like it or not, says Colbert. But he, for one, is all for it. Find out why here: Colbert is not the only one who loves his Tesla, though. Paul Sasso turned his Tesla into what he calls the Bern Machine and hes been touring the country in it as part of a fundraisingand awareness-raisingcampaign on behalf of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Sasso says on his Twitter page, for every new photo of the Bern Machine posted to # BernMachineChallenge, I will donate $1 to Bernies campaign. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE 17 Celebrities That Love Elon Musks Tesla The Car of the Future Will Be All Electric and Self-Driving What is fracking? Fracking is a process of blasting water, chemicals and frac sand deep into the earth to break up sedimentary rock and access natural gas and crude oil deposits. The fracking industry, which has sought to promote the practice as safe and controlled, has preferred the term hydraulic fracturing. Fracking emerged as an unconventional, relatively new and extremely popular technique only about 20 years ago in the U.S., after advances in technology gave it an unprecedented ability to identify and extract massive amounts of resources efficiently. Fracking is one of the most important environmental issues today, and its a prime example of how a new technology that offers immediate economic and political benefits can outpace (often less obvious) environmental and health concerns. Why is fracking so controversial? Modern fracking emerged so quickly, faster than its impacts were understood. Just as importantly, once scientists, health experts and the public started to object with evidence of harm it was causing, business and government succeeded in perpetuating a message of uncertainty, that more research was necessary, further enabling the full speed ahead fracking juggernaut. How does fracking impact the environment? Frackings supporters have pushed an environmental angle, insisting that natural gas can be a bridge fuel, a cheaper, cleaner option than coal before we have a large-scale transition to renewable energy. This claim has some merit, as natural gas does emit much less carbon dioxide than coal or oil. However, it is still a fossil fuel, adding harmful emissions while the climate crisis worsens. Moreover, fracking wells leak methane, a greenhouse gas more than 25 times more potent than CO2. Water In order to break up rock formations one to two miles deep, a fracking operation requires millions of gallons amount of water. After its used, the resulting wastewater, which contains chemicals is pumped back into injection wells, sent to treatment plants, or can be dangerously dumped or spilled. In 2016 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report skewed friendly to industry in its language: Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States. The EPA acknowledged that drinking water contamination was possible, but ultimately came to this conclusion: Data gaps and uncertainties limited EPAs ability to fully assess the potential impacts on drinking water resources locally and nationally. Earthquakes According to the U.S. Geologic Survey, disposal of wastewater has caused an increase in earthquakes in the central U.S. Seismologists have reported that frackings initial blasting process can trigger earthquakes. Air Pollution In addition to methane, fracking releases many toxic contaminants into the air. EPA has acknowledged the public health threat, but a lack of urgent political pressure has sidelined the agency into advising on ways to control and reduce, rather than eliminate, the danger. Toxic Chemicals Fracking fluids contain unknown chemicals and known carcinogens such as benzene. Fracking companies havent been required to disclose their proprietary formulas, however. This is yet another example of how uncertainty serves as an enabling force. The EPA has identified more than 1,000 different chemicals used in fracking fluid. Wildlife Fracking can destroy wildlife habitats, pollute rivers and fisheries, poison birds, and use up water supplies that animals need to survive. How does fracking affect the economy? The fracking boom made the U.S. the worlds largest producer of oil and gas, reducing its energy imports from 26% to less than 4%. It has lowered oil and gas prices and created thousands of industry jobs. While fracking companies profited greatly at first, as prices dropped their margins collapsed. Many are now going bankrupt. How is fracking regulated? Congress has enabled the oil and gas industry to be exempt from such regulations as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Fracking surged during the Obama administration, which moved to protect water from fracking on federal lands in 2015. Subsequently, the Trump administration sought to roll back protections and expand fracking on federal lands. Key Examples of Fracking in the United States Pennsylvania Pennsylvanias Marcellus Shale is the source for about 40% of shale gas production in the U.S. New York While the Marcellus Shale also runs through New York, the state has banned fracking. Texas Texas produces more crude oil than any other state. North Dakota The Bakken Shale in North Dakota has been one of the main sites for the fracking boom and subsequent bust, leaving behind extensive environmental damage. A recent report found that all 50 states could provide 100% (or even greater) in-state renewable energy. Other Countries Outside the U.S., only Canada, China and Argentina have commercial fracking operations. A UN report in 2018 said that other countries were highly unlikely to produce at such a large scale as the U.S., due to political and cultural factors, and existing infrastructure. The Future of Fracking While renewables were considered a solution for peak oil only a decade ago, fracking changed the terms of the debate, with a new focus from environmentalists to keep it in the ground starting in 2015. The Biden administration now stands at a pivotal moment in the climate crisis. Bidens stance on fracking is not yet entirely clear, but he has rejoined the Paris agreement and appears to take climate seriously. At the same time, he is sympathetic to workers in fossil fuel industries, was vice president during the fracking boom years under Obama, and may be more inclined to seek a gradual transition than one fast enough to help solve the crisis. A bill banning hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Republic of Ireland was voted through the Dail Eireann (the countrys House of Representatives, so to speak) on Thursday. During a televised debate over the bill, a number of speakers passionately argued that unconventional oil and gas operations have significant adverse effects. According to the Irish Examiner, the bills passage is the first step in enforcing a nationwide ban on fracking and it will give the Government 12 weeks before it goes before further parliamentary scrutiny. The bill has now been moved to the committee stage for further review. Fracking does not currently take place in the Emerald Isle but three exploratory licenses have been granted. The bill, The Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill, was introduced by Dail member Tony McLoughlin, TD of the Fine Gael party. McLoughlin currently represents Sligo-Leitrim, a constituency that has been marked for potential shale gas exploration. The legislation initially faced a potential eight-month delay to allow for Irelands Environmental Protection Agency to issue a report on fracking, but the Government ultimately decided not to table the proposal. During a televised debate over the bill, a number of speakersacross parties, no lesspassionately argued that unconventional oil and gas operations have significant adverse effects, including its threat to human health, that it pollutes water and drives climate change, and would hamper Irelands emissions targets. Oisin Coghlan, the director of Friends of the Earth Ireland, live tweeted the entire debate. Fracking has no place in a low carbon future, said Joe Carey, Fine Gael TD for County Clare, according to Coghlans tweet. Catherine Connolly, Independent TD for Galway West, said that the bill gives her hope for the countrys ability to act upon the emissions thresholds under the Paris climate agreement. Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, said, We should not be looking for new methods to extract a resource so damaging to the climate. https://twitter.com/TonyMcLTD/statuses/791705987908530176 expand=1] To coincide with the bill, the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) published a report concluding that fracking and other shale-gas operations in Ireland could lead to harmful water contamination and therefore should not be permitted. The key findings of the report include: There are numerous documented impacts on water bodies attributed to shale-gas activities, including increases in concentrations of salinity, methane, heavy metals, naturally occurring radioactive material and reduction in water body levels; Many impacts arise due to contamination from well-casing leaks; leaks through fractured rocks; transportation spills and disposal and spillage of inadequately treated wastewater; Gaps in legislation and inadequate regulatory capacity mean Ireland would not be in a position to adequately regulate the industry. Our research shows that over the past decade there have been many documented impacts to water bodies arising from shale-gas activities, said one of the reports authors Dr. Kieran Craven. Degradation of the water environment has occurred in regions of the U.S., where regulation has typically lagged behind industry. Based on a comprehensive review of the scientific literature, it is our view that many of these potential impacts would lead to the pollution of both surface and groundwater in the proposed regions of Ireland. Kate Ruddock of Friends of the Earth Ireland pointed out to The Irish Times that a number of countries banned fracking, including France, Bulgaria, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand and parts of Austria. Governments have decided that fracking is not acceptable and the risks it poses to peoples health is unacceptable, she said. In the U.S., Vermont and New York state and a growing number of cities and municipalities have banned fracking as well. (On the flip side, there are pro-drilling state and city governments attempting to ban fracking bans). Actor and environmental activist Mark Ruffalo also threw his weight behind the Irish bill with an Instagram post. [instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BMDRSknhGv_/?taken-by=markruffalo Ireland should ban #fracking to protect public health & the environment, like New York did after finding serious risks & harms, he stated. The clean energy advocate included a photo of himself holding a sign with the hashtag #backthebill, which has been used on social media to rally support for the ban. Last Tuesday, Fossil Free Sweden finally received confirmation from the Nobel Foundation that it does not intend to adopt rigid sustainable investment guidelines which entirely exclude investments in the least sustainable companies on the planetthose driving climate change through the exploitation of fossil fuels. Divest Nobel We at Divest Nobel love the work the Nobel Foundation does in lifting the greatest achievements of mankind for mankind into the public consciousness. There is, to be frank, no other award on this planet is valued or respected more. But this is an interventionwe do not want the institution we love and which has done so much good for mankind, to be linked to an industry that will, if it is allowed to continue in its normal business, bring mankind to its knees. According to its latest yearly report, the Nobel Foundation has investments in the fossil fuel industry, which is clearly in conflict with the aim of Alfred Nobels will and the goal of the laureates. Science tells us that climate change will increase the likelihood of war, drought, famine, mass migration, disease, natural disasters, terrorism and economic crisis. While the Nobel Foundation is supporting great humanitarian and scientific works, its investment portfolio contains investments in companies whose inherent business plan relies on undoing much of the progress made, investments in an industry that has, time and time again, chosen to ignore or actively choose undermine the scientific evidence on climate change. Divest Nobel We believe Nobels proposed strategy of active ownership is highly unlikely to have any effect on the workings of the industry. The Nobel Foundation now has the chance to help change the world itself. A divestment of the Nobel fortune would send a clear signal to institutions around the world that it is time to cut financial ties with the fossil fuel industry, which would in turn shift investment norms and help change the way banks and government think about funding and licensing future fossil fuel projects. Our team will be campaigning for a better Nobel Prize. One with an investment policy that bars the Nobel Foundation from holding investments in fossil fuels. If you a feeling this just might be important, we will be truly glad for your signature on our petition at divestnobel.org. Andrew Maunder is a 32-year-old teacher and British and Swedish citizen. He has lived in Stockholm for the last 6 years and has been actively involved with Fossil Free for 18 months, during which he has been involved in the Fossil Free Stockholm city campaign. Maunder became involved in climate change activism to strive for a better world for his son. [Click here for the latest on the Dakota Access Pipeline: 141 Arrested During Police Raid of Camp Halting Construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.] [facebook https://www.facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/1333980263281574/ expand=1] Actor Mark Ruffalo and Native Renewables founder Wahleah Johns presented Standing Rock Sioux tribal elders with mobile solar panels on trailers, bringing clean power to the protest encampment where the largest gathering of Native Americans in modern history is taking a stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Jon Wank The Solutions Project This pipeline is a black snake that traverses four states and 200 waterways with fracked Bakken oil, said Ruffalo, co-founder of The Solutions Project, which works to accelerate the transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy. We know from experience that pipelines leak, explode, pollute and poison land and water. But it doesnt have to be that way. The solar trailers will provide clean energy to power medical tents and other critical facilities for Native American protesters and their allies at the encampment. The trailers symbolize a healthy, equitable, prosperous energy future made possible by clean renewable energy. Water is life, said Johns, a Navajo leader. By leading a transition to energy that is powered by the sun, the wind and water, we ensure a better future for all of our people and for future generations. Johns company, Native Renewables, promotes low-cost clean energy solutions for Native American families throughout the U.S., with an emphasis on job creation and on benefiting the community as a whole. The trailers were built by members of the Navajo nation and were financed by Empowered by Light and Give Power. Research led by Stanford Prof. Mark Jacobson, another Solutions Project co-founder, shows that it would be technically possible and economically beneficial to transition to 100 percent clean renewable energy in each and every state across the country. In North Dakota, for example, wind and solar energy would be the primary sources of clean power and transitioning to 100 percent renewables would create 30,000 jobs. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe says it was not sufficiently consulted when the Dakota Access Pipeline was in the planning stages. The pipeline endangers the tribes water supplyand the water supply of millions of other people, as well, given the pipelines planned crossing under the Missouri River. The pipelines construction has already marred sacred lands, including burial sites. The Standing Rock Sioux and their alliesincluding indigenous people from across the U.S. and around the worldsee it as a clear threat to both the tribes cultural heritage and the basic human right to clean water. Around the world, more than 80 percent of the forests and lands with protected waterways and rich biodiversity are held by indigenous tribes. This is no coincidence, Ruffalo said. As so many of us suffer from polluted water, air and land in our rural and urban communities, the water defenders at Standing Rock are showing us another way. (Photo: Sean Hawkey / WCC)The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit meets Nobel Peace Prize laureate, former Vice President Al Gore at the COP21 global climate talks in Paris on Dec. 9, 2015. They are getting to the last stage of crucial climate negotiations and church leaders are adding their final push to global leaders to sign a binding climate change agreement that will be beneficial to humanity. Many climate activists have noted a difference at the COP21 international climate conference in Paris with a greater convergence of governments, civil society and business. "Many in the financial and business sectors are changing their investments and practices. They are turning towards de-carbonization, renewable energy, and new methods of production and transportation," said Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches on Dec. 8. "The green shift is already happening. We all must follow suit. The next generations are depending on us." Pressure is building ahead of the Dec. 11 deadline for a global climate accord and a coalition of nations which cuts across rich and poor countries, has emerged to push for an ambitious deal, South Africa's EWN news reported. The grouping is known as the 'High Ambition Coalition' and represents more than 100 countries, all of which are lobbying for a legally binding agreement on carbon emissions. The coalition includes the United States, all members of the European Union and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Ahead of the buildup to the deadline, Tveit addressed the High Level Segment of the COP21 2015 international climate conference in Paris. If international climate talks really stall, don't be surprised if there might be an ever-so-slight intervention by Pope Francis. Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace who helped draft the pope's June encyclical on global warming, said the pontiff has "deep trust" that negotiators in Paris will get the job done, The Association Press reported. But just in case they don't, the Pope could possibly send a gentle message, he said. "If it gets to a stalemate or whatever, he may utter a statement or make a comment or whatever, but he will refrain from exercising any coercive power on the things over here, because that would not belong to his style," Turkson told AP after a press conference by Vatican officials Dec. 8. 'SHOWING THE BEST' In his address Tveit, said, "We believe that you will serve the world by showing the best of human creativity and capacity." Tveit was speaking on behalf of more than 150 leaders from religious traditions on all inhabited continents who signed a statement last October which they submitted to Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The WCC general secretary pointed out that COP21 is "the right moment for real and visionary leadership, and it is an irrefutable moral duty for all governments to agree on concrete and measurable steps towards global climate justice and partnerships for climate resilience." He gave practical examples of his experiences. "Before coming to Paris, I visited Chennai, India. Many have lost lives, homes and belongings. As usual, the poor are the most vulnerable. "In southern Norway and in the United Kingdom, we have had unprecedented floods the last weekend; many people have been evacuated from their homes. "We represent all these, and many others, who suffer loss and damage from climate change. You know that we must change. That is another reason to hope." The Statement of Faith and Spiritual Leaders to the High-Level Ministerial Segment of the COP21, mentioned by Tveit, was previously distributed by the UNFCCC to all parties negotiating in Paris. The signatories of the statement called for a fair, ambitious and binding global deal applicable to all countries to phase out greenhouse gas emissions and phase in 100 per cent renewable energy by the middle of the century, to stay below 1.5-2C of warming above pre-industrial levels. "COP21 is the right time to initiate an unprecedented individual and structural transformation," added Tveit, speaking of hope and the "moment of truth" that COP21 represents. "The people around the world who suffer today from the effects of climate change, and will do so tomorrow, have hope and the right to hope that you will make significant contributions to reduce the world's carbon emissions," said Tveit. On his positive note he said, "Many are changing their priorities and their life styles to protect the globe. So many are with us, physically or symbolically, on a pilgrimage of climate justice and peace." Nearly 200 ministers at the COP21 climate talks in Paris are wrestling with the new draft text of an agreement, the closest the world has ever come to a universal climate accord, EWN news said. French Foreign Minister and conference president Laurent Fabius said they should be prepared to work over the final two days through the night finalize the text. From a bulky 48 pages on the document has trimmed down to just 29. EWN said that most significantly, it contains the phrase 1,5 degrees. Many scientists argue that if temperatures climb above two degrees Celsius, the world faces dangerous and potentially catastrophic climate change. (Photo: Ivars Kupcis / WCC)Maude Barlow awards the Blue Community certificate to World Council of Churches' Olav Fykse Tveit on Oct. 25, 2016 at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. Water has always been sacred and the access to it and sanitation is a basic human right linked to the protection of creation, to which most faiths are signed up. In its quest for climate and water justice, the World Council of Churches has announced it wants to cast out its bottled water and has joined the Blue Communities Project. Maude Barlow, co-founder of the Blue Planet Project, on 25 October awarded the WCC a "blue community certificate" and launched tap-based public water fountains at Geneva's Ecumenical Centre along with WCC general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit. As chairperson of the Council of Canadians and chair of the Washington, DC-based Food and Water Watch she delivered a keynote address at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva calling for humanity to come together to protect the earth's water heritage and share it more equally. WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL Her call is in line with the sixth of the globally-supported 17 Sustainable Development Goals to transform the world and goal 6 is is to ensure access to water and sanitation for all. In his welcome Tveit said, "We want to lead by example. We want to be a member of this community, with a program that is not only saying, but also doing it. Let us care for this day as a gift from God." Barlow chose words from the August 2015 report of the WCC's Ecumenical Water Network which she said expressed her thoughts perfectly. "Foremost among the most important issues of justice and peace are the critical issues of eco-justice, of our proper relationship as people of faith to God's creation and to each other, given our utter and complete dependence on ecological integrity of the earth. "Protecting water and assuring just distribution of this life-giving resource is among the most critical of eco-justice issues," she asserted. The United Nations says that 2.6 billion people have gained access to improved drinking water sources since 1990, but 663 million people are still without. By 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water. At least 1.8 billion people globally use a source of drinking water that is fecally contaminated Between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of the global population using an improved drinking water source has increased from 76 per cent to 91 per cent. GLOBAL WATER SCARCITY Water scarcity affects more than 40 per cent of the global population and is projected to rise. Over 1.7 billion people are currently living in river basins where water use exceeds its recharge. Between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of the global population using an improved drinking water source has increased from 76 per cent to 91 per cent. Barlow said, "Believe it or not, we are facing a water crisis." She warned the world is running out of accessible water, citing the UN report on World Water Day 2016 showing the demand for water will increase by 55 percent in the next 15 years and, by that time, water resources will only reach 60 percent of world demand. It is not only Africa, India, the Middle East and Australia that are in crisis, but so are "water-rich" countries, such as Canada, the Blue Planet Project founder said. She referred to China, where since 1990, more than half of the rivers have disappeared and Brazil which faces massive droughts in part due to the destruction of the Amazon. "Lack of clean water kills more children than all the forms of violence, including war," said Barlow. Tveit explained that the three basic criteria of becoming a blue community are: recognizing water as a human right; saying "no" to the sale of bottled water in places where tap water is safe to drink; and promoting publicly-financed, owned and operated drinking water and waste water treatment services. He said that over the past decade, through the Ecumenical Water Network, the WCC has brought the voice of the faith communities into the global discourses on the human right to water and sanitation. It does this working in close collaboration with the UN mechanisms related to the right to water. Further, the World Council of Churches has had very close cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church and other churches that are not members of the WCC. Tveit said Pope Francis's encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si, is part of the contribution of faith communities and this says that climate change is real and mainly "a result of human activity." The papal document says that solving climate change means protecting the planet and vulnerable people, and we must hear "both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor." Francis says faith can guide us. "The entire material universe speaks of God's love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains everything is, as it were, a caress of God." Many civil society groups argue that the commoditization and commercializing water distributing is harming the poorest of humanity, by impeding their right of access to it. Dr. Rajendra Singh, "the water man of India," said in a video call, "In the 21st century water commercialization is creating a disaster. This is a big threat for this century." Singh's stance was supported by David Boys, deputy general secretary of Public Services International, who said PSI was been part of the WCC's Ecumenical Water Network since its inception. "We have to recognize there are groups working against social justice... We have to make this a political topic then we can turn many more cities into blue communities," said Boys. OSLO ACCORDS Gidon Bromberg, an Israeli who is a co-director of EcoPeace/Friends of Earth Middle East, said, "We feel water is being held hostage by the political process particularly by the Oslo (peace) Accords." He said that for the last 22 years all Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations have been held hostage to the all-or-nothing approach, and that solving water issues would benefit all. Jordanian Munqeth Mehyar, a co-director of EcoPeace, explained that the Jordan River is a shared eco-system bordering Jordan, Palestine and Israel and is linked to Syria which has major control of the key tributary to the river. Nader Al-Khateeb, a Palestinian and a co-director of EcoPeace, said, "Nobody should be denied access to water. It is illegal and unfair. We need to fairly share resources to avoid future conflicts." He said the Middle East is "blessed with sunshine" which can help the use of renewables for water desalination "instead of fighting over limited resources." According to this new information the Russians have known about alien civilizations for several decades, to many this comes as no surprise,... Date: 27/10/2016 Purdue seeks to raise $40M by 2019 through contributions Top rated U.S. University, Purdue University seeks to raise $40 million by June 30, 2019 through contributions. Purdue President Mitch Daniels is visiting India and Taiwan with Suresh Garimella, Purdue executive vice president for research and partnerships and Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Recently, Mitch Daniels was addressing International alumni and friends of the university at a reception at the Leela Palace Hotel in Bangalore. Mitch Daniels was recognizing the support of Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director of TVS Motor Co. Mr. Venu Srinivasan has contributed more than $1 million to Purdue University fund. Mr. Venu Srinivasan studied in 1977 at Purdue University in Management course. He supports this university through this funding. "Venu and other successful alumni are helping us keep a rigorous college education within the financial reach of all students," Daniels said. "Through our international engagement campaign, we will celebrate the generous philanthropy of our alumni and friends, invest in our students and faculty and foster the breathtaking contributions our graduates extend to all corners of the globe." "Being an international student at a U.S. university, away from your home country for the first time, is challenging," said Ashish Vikram, a 1989 Purdue computer science graduate who participated in Purdue's day of giving from Bangalore by making a donation to Purdue's International Programs. "My Purdue education helped me realize my potential, and I wanted to support the programs that help international students succeed." Purdue University has received a donation of $28 million towards this campaign from International alumni and friends. Purdue is one of the top universities in science and Technology discipline not only in US but also in the overall International grading. This year, 9,303 international students have attended the university from around 127 countries. Purdue University is ranked third in the international student enrollment among U.S. public institutions and has been named the top destination for international students in the Science and Technology discipline. Cheryl Altinkemer, associate vice president for international advancement says, "No matter where their lives take them, our international alumni will always be an important part of the Purdue family. This campaign offers alumni opportunities to stay engaged with our university and to give back through their time, talent and treasure." Tweet Follow @eeherald Beaver stuns Quaker Valley in penalties, heads to WPIAL Class 2A championship game A clutch save from Robert Cestra helped lift the Beaver Bobcats to a stunning win over Quaker Valley Monday in the WPIAL Class 2A semfinal matchup. EasyJet plan IoM route for expanded Heathrow EasyJet plans to introduce a route between the Isle of Man and Heathrow once the London airport's third runway is built. The budget airline, which already flies to three destinations from Ronaldsway, wants to bring in 19 new routes when Heathrow's capacity is increased. The new routes would mean 30,000 to 55,000 more flights for the Airline, taking up 7% of the new slots on offer at the expanded Heathrow. EasyJet would use the new runway for a number of British routes, including the Isle of Man, Jersey and several Scottish cities, as well as European destinations like Amsterdam and Geneva. The UK Government backed plans for a third runway at Heathrow earlier this week. Flybe, which also operates several Manx routes, has also expressed an interest in flying to Ronaldsway from Heathrow. The Island has been without a direct link to the UK's busiest airport since British Airways bought out Manx Airlines in 2002. You can read more about Heathrow expansion HERE Photos I have zero plans this Halloween, and that's just how I like it. I don't have a costume, I don't have a party to go to (besides, all my celebrating will be done the weekend before) and that's perfectly fine by me. As a result, I'm probably going to be spending the night at home, with my pets, watching Halloweentown and binging on Kit Kats. Nothing wrong with that, right? Except by the time any kids actually ring my doorbell and demand candy, I probably would've already eaten all of mine and won't have any to share. Unless I decide to be the worst Halloween troll EVER and do this very, very mean trick. UK journalist Mark Sparrow suggested handing kids brussel sprouts dipped in chocolate for the ultimate way to destroy the Halloween spirit. It'll soon be Halloween so time to prepare some yummy treats for the neighbourhood kids. Try dipping Brussels sprouts in chocolate for them. pic.twitter.com/HFXGA9vFSV Mark Sparrow (@MarkGSparrow) October 24, 2016 This man is lucky he lives across the pond, because this kind of tomfoolery doesn't fly in America. But seriously, if you want to guarantee waking up to a TP-ed and egged house, this is how to do it. Also, don't be surprised if someone tries to poison your turkey for Thanksgiving. Here's the full quote: "This is definitely human impact, we're in the sixth mass extinction. There's only been five before this and we're definitely in the sixth," WWF conservation scientist Martin Taylor told CNN." ...and here's more of the story: More than two thirds of the world's wildlife could be gone by the end of the decade if action isn't taken soon, a new report from the World Wildlife Fund revealed on Thursday. Since 1970, there has already been a 58% overall decline in the numbers of fish, mammals, birds and reptiles worldwide, according to the WWF's latest bi-annual Living Planet Index If accurate, that means wildlife across the globe is vanishing at a rate of 2% a year. ...and here's a link to the full story. ...and here's a picture of a giraffe I took in Tanzania two weeks ago. ...and here's a lion that smiled for the camera: ...and here's a young zebra to add gratuitous emotional impact to the story: Government is considering introducing a new long-term multiple-entry visa to boost tourism. National Treasury said on Wednesday this was done as part of efforts to accelerate immigration reforms which would in the long run also reduce the cost of doing business. Immigration reforms to speed visa processing and boost tourism are under consideration. These include a long-term multiple entry visa that would be available to frequent travellers, business people and academics, and visas on arrival for some categories of travellers, said National Treasury as the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) was tabled in Parliament. Since January, 10-year multiple-entry business visas have been available to visitors from Brazil, Russia, India and China. The announcement by National Treasury was part of highlighting measures that are under consideration to strengthen the countrys policy certainty in immigration, mining and communications. Policy uncertainty in any economy undermines confidence, with consequences for investment and job creation. Accordingly, government is taking steps to strengthen policy certainty in several key areas. Drilling a better path for the mining industry National Treasury said in the mining sector, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill, which was returned to Parliament due to procedural and substantive concerns, has been amended by the parliamentary portfolio committee. Concerns related to a lack of legislative consultation are being addressed, National Treasury said.The Chamber of Mines and the Department of Mineral Resources are negotiating an out-of-court settlement on the once empowered, always empowered principle in the Mining Charter. The impact on the mining sector will depend on how and when these issues are resolved, removing uncertainty from the investment equation. Under the auspices of the Presidential Business Working Group, a single application system for all licenses, including environmental authorisations for mining, is under consideration, National Treasury said. Resolving ICT bottlenecks a priority The Cabinet Lekgotla in August 2016 resolved to improve the coordination of the broadband spectrum allocation policy and rationalise state-owned companies in this area. The information and communications technology white paper is currently out for public comment. Combined public and private investment to upgrade telecommunications infrastructure is expected to total R26 billion in 2016. Rapid resolution of the dispute between the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and the Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services on the auctioning of high-speed broadband spectrum will improve certainty in the sector. Socio-economic impact assessment reports have begun to reduce legislative and regulatory duplication, and improve policy design. National Treasury said, meanwhile, that earlier this year, the Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs proposed two overlapping bills dealing with marine affairs. The assessment process helped to ensure their combination into the Marine Spatial Planning Bill. For over three months now [at the time of writing this] there is no news from the courts in Kerala. There is no official ban, but media persons fear to enter the court premises and even when they do venture, they are threatened and even thrashed. It seems as if this predicament is set to continue. This could be repeated in any other state and even in the national capital. And, as the media in Kerala now realise, the newest and most disturbing threat to the fundamental right to freedom of opinion has come from the corridors of the judiciary, the third pillar of democracy, which had till date upheld the freedom of the press as nothing less than the constitutional right to freedom of expression. It all started as a dispute between advocates and legal reporters in the compound of the High Court of Kerala in Ernakulam on 19 July. A government public prosecutor was implicated in a molestation case and the lawyers and the bar association came to his defence and rescue. Angry about a not-so-sympathetic report in an English newspaper, lawyers manhandled the reporter. The journalists protested outside the court compound and an advocate was reported to have been beaten up in a minor brawl. From the next day onwards, there were unprovoked attacks on media persons in the high court compound and in the district courts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kozhikode. The media room in the high court was locked up after forcefully evicting reporters. Reporters were not even allowed to use the lift to go upstairs to meet the court officials or judges. A dozen of them, including a couple of women, were abused and threatened. They had to seek police protection to get out of the court compound. The media room remains closed till date. Violent advocates closed the media room of the Thiruvananthapuram court complex also, after attacking and injuring half a dozen reporters. They put up a board saying, No Entry for Fourth Gender, intended as an abusive reference to the fourth estate. No More an Open Court The general public might have taken the issue as an ego war or one-upmanship between the so-called third estate and fourth estate, in which they had no interest. But, greater issues are involved, pointed out the spokespersons of media organisations and political leaders. About half a dozen advocates, known to the public as independent observers, boldly stepped out to warn them about the consequences of the media ban in the courts. Sebastian Paul, a former member of Parliament, previously a member of the Press Council of India as well as an advocate in the high court, did not hesitate to reprimand the bar associations for taking an undemocratic stand in the case. Advocate Kaleeswaram Raj, another prominent lawyer and commentator on legal and public issues, too argued against the authoritarian approach of the advocates associations. The present attempt by a section of advocates, aided by some judges, is an attempt to cover up all nepotism, corruption and anti-people tendencies that are prevailing in the judiciary now, he accused in an article published in the Mathrubhumi (Raj 2016). The most disturbing reality is that not many in the high court or lower courts are worried about open courts functioning as closed courts. In a meeting called by the new Chief Justice Mohan Mallikarjunagouda Shantanagoudar, who took office on 22 September 2016, a senior judge went to the extent of commenting that everything runs smoothly in the court now as the media is kept out. All autocrats believe so was the quick retort from a senior journalist present at the meeting. The chief justice and other judges realised the unwelcome implication in the comment of the judge and quickly maintained that it should be taken in a jocular spirit. These cannot be taken as isolated, unthought-of passing comments. Right from the beginning of the tussle, there were attempts on the part of the organisations of advocates to convince others that they should not be taken for granted and that they must be treated as the real authority in the court. This marks the rise of a very dangerous extra-constitutional power centre. Judges, in the beginning, had maintained a neutral position, but soon advocate unions succeeded in creating the impression that media persons were questioning the rights and privileges of the advocates and claiming equal rights in the court. Dos and Donts for Media Glowing in the reflected glory of the powerful judges and respected legal luminaries, a good number of juniors with not much legal standing believe that they can browbeat all other branches of the democratic system. All issues that cropped up in the initial days were either settled or have become irrelevant; still they refuse to come to an agreement. Advocates associations went on raising new demands, virtually prescribing a list of dos and donts for the media persons to obey. In all the meetings called by the advocate general and chief justice, media persons had only one requestreporters be allowed to continue using the facilities in the high court to do their job. But, the association leaders raised new demands, most of which were unrelated to the dispute that arose in July. And, almost all demands went to the extent of dictating what to report, how to report, and even who should report news in the court. In the first reconciliation meeting called by the advocate general in the first week of August, a bar association leader referred to a newspaper carrying a cartoon. What they wanted was an assurance from the media owners that such cartoons and other satirical content that ridicules advocates would be disallowed! In a letter published in a prominent weekly, a bar association office-bearer wanted a system to screen all news about and from judicial institutions. Whether it was to be judicial censorship, nobody knows. Yet another ridiculous demand was that the court be allowed to choose journalists who would report court news. It is to the credit of the Indian judiciary that it has always upheld the freedom and rights of the press throughout the six decades since independence. There were persons who tried to snub the media saying that the Constitution is silent on the freedom of the press. The concept that freedom of the press is freedom of expression of the citizen as laid down in Article 19(1) of the Constitution had really strengthened the legal and constitutional standing of the press. But, now it is shocking that sections of the judiciary are raising demands that blatantly question the basic concept of a free media. A nine-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by the legendary Chief Justice P B Gajendragadkar, in the judgment in the Mirajkar case on 3 March 1966, had elucidated the concept of the open court. It said, A court of justice is a public forum. It is through publicity that the citizens are convinced that the court renders evenhanded justice, and it is, therefore, necessary that the trial should be open to the public and there should be no restraint on the publication of the report of the court proceedings. The publicity generates public confidence in the administration of justice. (Naresh Shridhar Mirajkar and Ors v State of Maharashtra and Anr (1966); emphasis added) What more needs to be said? It is obvious that entry of the media to the open court to report its proceedings is a constitutional right, not a special favour of the judges or advocates. Court proceedings and wider functioning of the judiciary are subjects that the public have every right to scrutinise. The media being the eyes and ears of the people, the very act of preventing their entry into the courts is illegal, unconstitutional, and hence, punishable. Bar association activists behave as if there is no rule of law in the court compound, and they are the lawmakers there. Supreme Court on Media Freedom The fundamental issues of media freedom were debated in May 2012, when it was proposed by the Supreme Court that guidelines be given to the media on how to report cases. The media disagreed. Organisations like the Editors Guild, National Broadcasting Association, and Indian Newspaper Society opposed suggestions of the highest court of the country. Senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan opposed the very idea of enforcing guidelines and said it would lead to infringement of the right to free speech and would amount to pre-censorship. A five-judge constitutional bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia heard all sides and finally dropped the suggestion as it was convinced that no law empowers the Court to create and enforce guidelines for media reporting. And, now, here in Kerala, bar associations are trying to enforce dos and donts for media reporting with judges looking the other way! Overcrowded bars and their increasing muscle power have come to threaten the smooth functioning of the courts. Hundreds of law graduates join the bars every year and they are a force to reckon with. Inside many of the courts, especially inside high court compounds, there seems to be no authority to maintain peace and ensure the rule of law. What is apparently prevailing is simple muscle power. Police posts are there, but they never even try to discipline the organised, but often unruly, crowds of the young advocates, which most judges fear. The organisational might of the advocates associations is such that not a single advocate, except Sebastian Paul, who had to pay a price for his sense of professional ethics, turned up to defend the case of the journalists. But, 101 advocates were paraded by the bar association to defend the case of a police officer suspended for obstructing and ill-treating the journalists inside the Kozhikode court. Fence Eating the Crop It was only recently that another phase of advocates agitation erupted in the Madras High Court compound. Organised advocates have been exerting their power to ensure that their writ runs in the judicial realms. There too they were trying to protect their petty group interests. Several hundred lawyers picketed the court campus to pressurise the court to withdraw a notification that empowered the chief justice to debar erring lawyers. And, the court was forced to succumb to the numerical and physical strength of the advocates, and shelve its plan. What professional ethics demands from lawyers is a high level of decency and decorum. As per provisions of the Bar Council of India, advocates have the dual responsibility of upholding the interests of the client fearlessly while conducting themselves as officers of the court. Accordingly, they are expected to adhere to the highest standards of probity and honour. An advocates conduct should reflect their privileged position in society which derives from the nobility of this profession. In a nut shell, if you are an advocate your service to the common man should be compassionate, moral and lawful.1 The Kerala Union of Working Journalists has taken up the media ban matter with the Supreme Court and also with the Press Council of India. The question is: even if the highest forums assure media persons their freedom of profession, will the organised trade unions of advocates care to obey orders? They have not obeyed the chief justice of the Kerala High Court. Is there any apparatus in the judicial system to make them obey? These are all issues that resemble the proverbial fence eating the crop. There are debates and demands on regulating the press, be it self-regulation or otherwise. While this definitely needs to be urgently addressed, new developments point to the urgency of debating whether the media should continue to treat the judiciary as a holy cow, about which nothing is questioned and nothing is investigated, and only eulogies of judges and lawyers are reported. Are courts above the law of the land? No one should be a judge in his own case is much more than a judicial principle. But, unfortunately, it seems that it is not applicable to the judiciary. NOTE 1 The Bar Council of India, available at http://www.barcouncilofindia.org/about/professional-standards/. References Naresh Shridhar, Mirajkar and Ors vs State of Maharashtra and Anr (1966): SCR, SC, 3, p 744, 3 March. Raj, Kaleeswaram (2016): Venam Kotathikalilum Swathandrya Samaram (Freedom Struggle Needed in Judicial Courts also), Mathrubhumi, 30 July. Federica Mogherini, chief of EUs diplomacy, met in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the representatives of the Pacific Alliance at the margins of the EU-CELAC Foreign Ministers meeting. The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was launched in 2011 and represents a regional political coordination mechanism, which gathers all 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries in the region. The participants in the meeting discussed the future of the Pacific Alliance and its next steps in the integration of the region as well as the areas in which EU-Pacific Alliance cooperation could be further developed. Ms Mogherini reiterated the EUs political support to the Pacific Alliance and emphasized the connections between its objectives of economic integration and the EU experience in this area. The mutual partnership deals with numerous issues including climate change, economy, peace and security as well as migration issues. The relations between the EU and the CELAC group are comprised of a number of specific areas of common interest political relations, trade and investment, entrepreneurship as well as cooperation on research and innovation. At the political level, an EU-CELAC Summit is held every two years. The last Summit took place in Brussels in June 2015, bringing together 61 EU and Latin American and Caribbean leaders, including more than 40 Heads of State or Government. At this summit, the leaders of both regions adopted two declarations and a revised EU-CELAC Action Plan. In trade relations, the EU has concluded Free Trade Agreements with two LAC groupings (CARIFORUM and the Central America) and with four other Latin American countries (Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia). The accession of Ecuador to the Multi-Party Agreement with Colombia and Peru is expected to take place before the end of this year. Trade between the EU and the CELAC region has been growing rapidly. As to other endeavors, both sides have organized a summit on business and entrepreneurship and launched the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation (JIRI) with the aim to enhance EU-CELAC cooperation on science and research. ESPOO, Finland, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Office building penthouse got an unexpected outfit of Metsa Wood's Kerto(R) LVL Designing and constructing the One Main wooden interior in Boston, USA is a showcase for an untypical use of Kerto(R) LVL (laminated veneer lumber). The entity of wavy wooden surfaces is built entirely from cross-bonded Kerto LVL panels that are usually used in structural components. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: enlace The project's principal architect Mark Goulthorpe from dECOi Architects, and a professor at nearby MIT, offered a proposal with greatly streamlined building methodology, where the usual multi-trade, multi-component legacy of late-industrial production was surpassed in a unitary CAD-CAM logic. "One Main makes evident that radically sustainable architecture needn't be dull, but on the contrary could open up the building industry to remarkable new formal sophistication," Mark Goulthorpe says. Technical advantages and availability led to the choice of Kerto(R) LVL Metsa Wood's cross bonded Kerto-Q LVL is typically used as a structural component. However, the One Main office in Boston is an example of a completely different use for the product. dECOi Architects chose Kerto-Q LVL as building material due to its' thickness and because it came in big sheets. The material was relatively inexpensive, relatively gap-free, and there was not a huge wait-time for the product. It was a pragmatic choice to balance costs, fabrication, and aesthetics. The greatest benefit for Kerto LVL was that its' raw material is sustainably grown, and that as a large laminated sheet, it lends itself to milling that yields a good, strong edge. Given the laminated mass, it can look extremely seductive. Functional wooden ceiling hanging from the roof slab The existing office tower was a 1970s concrete slab building with hermetically sealed windows and full air conditioning. There was plenty of structural redundancy to hang the quite lightweight ceiling panels from the roof slab. The functional office space is, as it were, "trapped" between two active surfaces - the floor and ceiling - which are each "animated" by functional attributes such as vents or light cowlings. The base spatial arrangement is established by the gathering-up of the floor into a reception desk, or by the pull of the ceiling down to ground for structure, or up to the sky for light. Large prefabricated parts speeded up the assembly Every part for the One Main interior was fabricated off-site by a small mill working company with one powerful 3-axis CNC machine. The design algorithms divided up the architectural forms into discrete elements that could be nested onto 12ft x 4ft sheets, and all the nesting was automated and optimized by the architectural team. The parts were milled with dowel holes so they could be easily located spatially by the millworkers without requiring much other than sequencing correctly, alignment and gluing or nailing. The goal was to minimize labor on site, and to a large degree this occurred as larger and larger finished parts were delivered to site - e.g. entire office floors, or the reception desk shipped as completed elements that were merely positioned on site. Streamlined fabrication brought the flat Kerto LVL sheet to life It was imperative to streamline the actual milling process for speed and economy. All visible elements of the design have been fabricated as stacked sectional elements cut from flat Kerto LVL sheets. The ceilings, walls, floors and static furniture have all been made as striated ply laminated elements, with functional elements such as ventilation grilles, light pockets, and door handles formed directly by milling the mass of wood. The architects handed over actual milling files for fabrication, already nested onto some 1200 Kerto LVL sheets to minimize waste, which were the actual cutting instructions then issued digitally to the numeric command machine. In a material sense, the One Main project assumes a radical environmental agenda, using a sustainable and carbon-absorbing raw material, translated efficiently into refined and functional elements via dexterous low-energy digital tooling. With another choice of material, e.g. if dECOi had reduced the thickness of the plates from Kerto-Q LVL, or the sheet size, the milling time and cost would have increased exponentially. One Main project in a nutshell: - One Main uses sustainably forested Finnish Kerto-Q LVL with non-toxic water-based glue. - The 10,000sq ft. (1000m2) project nested onto 1200 sheets of 1.5" thick 4ft x 12ft. - All the parts were milled locally by a single 3-axis milling machine. - dECOi provided the actual tooling paths (over 1 million linear feet of cut) in 3D instructional files. - Wastage was about 10%, pulped and recycled. Experience the One Main office renovation with wooden interior in Boston at http://www.metsawood.com/publications. Images: enlace Metsa Wood provides competitive and environmentally friendly wood products for construction, industrial customers and distributor partners. We manufacture products from northern wood, a sustainable raw material of premium quality. Our sales in 2015 were EUR 0.9 billion, and we employ about 2,000 people. Metsa Wood is part of Metsa Group. For more information, please contact: Virpi Koskimies, Communications Specialist, Metsa Wood, mobile: +358(0)50-4522203, virpi.koskimies@metsagroup.com For press information, please contact: Matt Trace, Director, Defero Communications, t. +44(0)7828663988 matt@deferouk.co.uk (Photo: enlace ) Photo: enlace Video: enlace The creation of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in 1998 was the result of an unexpected convergence of minds between Continental Europe and the UK. But even then, the motivations were different: France wanted to assert Europes strategic autonomy and establish the EUs defence pillar, whereas the UK was more interested in showing the United States that Europe was taking its responsibilities for defence seriously after the Balkan wars. Since then, the CSDP has lost its centrality. The UK has largely shunned it, and France has become more pragmatic in its willingness to press for the emergence of a European defence pillar independent from NATO. No coalition has emerged to make a concerted push in favour of more integration in defence or even to add more muscle to existing CSDP structures. The developments of the past few months seem to have ushered in a change. Firstly, some argue that the UK leaving the EU might help the CSDPs cause, as London has often been on the opposing side in the discussions on strengthening it. After the June vote, new initiatives have emerged to show that the EU was not left haggard. Secondly, terrorist attacks in several European countries have propelled security to the top of the EUs agenda. While the crux of the discussions focuses on internal security measures, the defence dimension is more than an afterthought. Finally, the EU released its new Global Strategy in June, and its process of implementation includes security and defence. All these factors form the basis of proposals on strengthening the CSDP made by several countries, in particular France and Germany, as well as those uttered by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during his state of the Union address. None of them are game changers. Many, including the revival of permanent structured cooperation, the review of the Athena mechanism used for the funding of operations or the possible creation of an EU Operational Headquarters, have been under discussion for years. Two ideas deserve careful consideration though. The first one, on the creation of a European semester on defence, emanates from Franco-German proposals, although France has been promoting the idea for several years. The details are scarce, but it would be an instrument to push European countries to get more serious on defence spending, and to have their spending monitored. The second idea relates to research funding in defence. In some quarters, there has always been strong resistance against devoting EU funds to defence. The dramatic decrease in national budgets for research and development has alleviated these concerns. There have been proposals on the establishment of a European defence fund, although details remain limited. More concrete actions are envisaged soon, as the Commission will launch a preparatory action next year to fund pilot projects. If all goes well, it is very likely that a portion of the next seven year EU budget (the budget cycle starting in 2020) will be devoted to defence R&D. The trick will be to guarantee that this funding does not lead to the weakening of national efforts, but will complement them. Despite the new wind of optimism, outputs will likely be modest. Political will is not that strong, and the UK is not alone in putting the brakes on the CSDP. Several countries in Central and Eastern Europe do not foresee a strong role in defence for the EU. Moreover, the defence dimension of the security and defence agenda is likely to remain secondary. EU citizens rank security, not defence, as one of their primary concerns. The two are closely intertwined, but the defence debates in many countries remain as limited as the political capital that leaders are willing to spend on them. Additionally, the Brexit negotiations are casting a shadow over the implementation of these proposals. One can discuss whether the absence of the UK makes the CSDP toothless or whether the EU should mull over the consequences of this absence on its capacity to act in the world. However, it is clear that the British exit process and debates on the future of the EU and necessarily that of the CSDP will take place in parallel. It would be foolish to wait for Brexit to rethink the CSDP. The UKs departure will certainly handicap the EU as Britain retains one of the most formidable armed forces in Europe. Yet, the UK may well continue to cooperate with the EU on defence matters, which may lead to an agreement on Great Britain joining EU operations. It is worth considering the Georgian contribution to the EU operation in the Central African Republic as an example of how partner countries can contribute to CSDP missions. It must be assumed that the UK government will take a public stance against a boost of the EUs defence policy for domestic purposes. Still, it is equally to be assumed that the UK will make constructive contributions to the debates as it did during the EU Global Strategy process or is now doing in its implementation phase. The greatest obstacle to success will not be Brexit, but time. The proposals on the table should be implemented by December. It does not mean that all mechanisms should be fully operational by then, but the window of opportunity is narrow, since defence is not perceived central to EU debates. At the same time, not much on the table can sustain a long term interest on the CSDP, or defence more broadly. There is only so much that can be done at the EU level. European defence is not just about the CSDP. It is crucial to maintain a high level of attention on the issue of defence at the national level. This does not require new institutions or new tools, but successes in the field, a steady high level commitment to defence, and a widespread perception that stronger defence contributes to making Europe safer and more relevant in the world. The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network or any of its members. The ELNs aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europes capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security challenges of our time. Editors note: In celebration of the 20th anniversary of biochemist Michael Behes pathbreaking book Darwins Black Box and the release of the new documentary Revolutionary: Michael Behe and the Mystery of Molecular Machines, we are highlighting some of Behes greatest hits. The following was published by Discovery Institute on July 31, 2000. Remember to get your copy of Revolutionary now! See the trailer here. I. Is Intelligent Design Falsifiable? Some reviewers of Darwins Black Box (Behe 1996) have raised philosophical objections to intelligent design. I will discuss several of these here, beginning with the question of falsifiability. To decide whether, or by what evidence, it is falsifiable, one first has to be sure what is meant by intelligent design. By that phrase someone might mean that the laws of nature themselves are designed to produce life and the complex systems that undergird it. In fact, something like that position has been taken by the physicist Paul Davies and the geneticist Michael Denton in their recent books, respectively, The Fifth Miracle: The Search for the Origin and Meaning of Life (Davies 1999) and Natures Destiny: How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe. (Denton 1998) That stance also seems to pass muster with the National Academy of Sciences: Many religious persons, including many scientists, hold that God created the universe and the various processes driving physical and biological evolution and that these processes then resulted in the creation of galaxies, our solar system, and life on Earth. This belief, which sometimes is termed theistic evolution, is not in disagreement with scientific explanations of evolution. Indeed, it reflects the remarkable and inspiring character of the physical universe revealed by [science]. (National Academy of Sciences 1999, 7) In such a view even if we observe new complex systems being produced by selection pressure in the wild or in the laboratory, design would not be falsified because it is considered to be built into natural laws. Without commenting on the merits of the position, let me just say that that is not the meaning I assign to the phrase. By intelligent design I mean to imply design beyond the laws of nature. That is, taking the laws of nature as given, are there other reasons for concluding that life and its component systems have been intentionally arranged? In my book, and in this essay, whenever I refer to intelligent design (ID) I mean this stronger sense of design-beyond-laws. Virtually all academic critics of my book have taken the phrase in the strong sense I meant it. In the strong sense ID is no longer approved by the National Academy, for a specific reason: [I]ntelligent design . . . [is] not science because [it is] not testable by the methods of science. (National Academy of Sciences 1999, 25) In his review of Darwins Black Box for Nature, Jerry Coyne, professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Chicago, explains why he also thinks intelligent design is unfalsifiable. If one accepts Behes idea that both evolution and creation can operate together, and that the Designers goals are unfathomable, then one confronts an airtight theory that cant be proved wrong. I can imagine evidence that would falsify evolution (a hominid fossil in the Precambrian would do nicely), but none that could falsify Behes composite theory. Even if, after immense effort, we are able to understand the evolution of a complex biochemical pathway, Behe could simply claim that evidence for design resides in the other unexplained pathways. Because we will never explain everything, there will always be evidence for design. This regressive ad hoc creationism may seem clever, but it is certainly not science. (Coyne 1996) Coynes conclusion that design is unfalsifiable, however, seems to be at odds with the arguments of other reviewers of my book. Clearly, Russell Doolittle (Doolittle 1997), Kenneth Miller (Miller 1999), and others have advanced scientific arguments aimed at falsifying ID. (See my articles on blood clotting and the acid test on this web site.) If the results with knock-out mice (Bugge et al. 1996) had been as Doolittle first thought, or if Barry Halls work (Hall 1999) had indeed shown what Miller implied, then they correctly believed my claims about irreducible complexity would have suffered quite a blow. And since my claim for intelligent design requires that no unintelligent process be sufficient to produce such irreducibly complex systems, then the plausibility of ID would suffer enormously. Other scientists, including those on the National Academy of Sciences Steering Committee on Science and Creationism, in commenting on my book have also pointed to physical evidence (such as the similar structures of hemoglobin and myoglobin) which they think shows that irreducibly complex biochemical systems can be produced by natural selection: However, structures and processes that are claimed to be irreducibly complex typically are not on closer inspection. (National Academy of Sciences 1999, p. 22) Now, one cant have it both ways. One cant say both that ID is unfalsifiable (or untestable) and that there is evidence against it. Either it is unfalsifiable and floats serenely beyond experimental reproach, or it can be criticized on the basis of our observations and is therefore testable. The fact that critical reviewers advance scientific arguments against ID (whether successfully or not) shows that intelligent design is indeed falsifiable. In fact, my argument for intelligent design is open to direct experimental rebuttal. Here is a thought experiment that makes the point clear. In Darwins Black Box (Behe 1996) I claimed that the bacterial flagellum was irreducibly complex and so required deliberate intelligent design. The flip side of this claim is that the flagellum cant be produced by natural selection acting on random mutation, or any other unintelligent process. To falsify such a claim, a scientist could go into the laboratory, place a bacterial species lacking a flagellum under some selective pressure (for mobility, say), grow it for ten thousand generations, and see if a flagellum or any equally complex system was produced. If that happened, my claims would be neatly disproven.1 How about Professor Coynes concern that, if one system were shown to be the result of natural selection, proponents of ID could just claim that some other system was designed? I think the objection has little force. If natural selection were shown to be capable of producing a system of a certain degree of complexity, then the assumption would be that it could produce any other system of an equal or lesser degree of complexity. If Coyne demonstrated that the flagellum (which requires approximately forty gene products) could be produced by selection, I would be rather foolish to then assert that the blood clotting system (which consists of about twenty proteins) required intelligent design. Lets turn the tables and ask, how could one falsify the claim that, say, the bacterial flagellum was produced by Darwinian processes? (Professor Coynes remarks about a Precambrian fossil hominid are irrelevant since I dispute the mechanism of natural selection, not common descent. I would no more expect to find a fossil hominid out of sequence than he would.) If a scientist went into the laboratory and grew a flagellum-less bacterial species under selective pressure for many generations and nothing much happened, would Darwinists be convinced that natural selection is incapable of producing a flagellum? I doubt it. It could always be claimed that the selective pressure wasnt the right one, or that we started with the wrong bacterial species, and so on. Even if the experiment were repeated many times under different conditions and always gave a negative result, I suspect many Darwinists would not conclude that the claim of its Darwinian evolution was falsified. Of complex biochemical systems Coyne himself writes we may forever be unable to envisage the first proto-pathways. It is not valid, however, to assume that, because one man cannot imagine such pathways, they could not have existed. (Coyne 1996) If a person accepts Darwinian paths which are not only unseen, but which we may be forever unable to envisage, then it is effectively impossible to make him think he is wrong. Kenneth Miller announced an acid test for the ability of natural selection to produce irreducible complexity. He then decided that the test was passed, and unhesitatingly proclaimed intelligent design falsified (Behe is wrong; Miller 1999, 147). But if, as it certainly seems to me, E. coli actually fails the lactose-system acid test, would Miller consider Darwinism to be falsified? Almost certainly not. He would surely say that the experiment started with the wrong bacterial species, used the wrong selective pressure, and so on. So it turns out that his acid test was not a test of Darwinism; it tested only intelligent design. The same one-way testing was employed by Russell Doolittle. He pointed to the results of Bugge et al. (1996) to argue against intelligent design. But when the results turned out to be the opposite of what he had originally thought, Professor Doolittle did not abandon Darwinism. It seems then, perhaps counterintuitively to some, that intelligent design is quite susceptible to falsification, at least on the points under discussion. Darwinism, on the other hand, seems quite impervious to falsification. The reason for that can be seen when we examine the basic claims of the two ideas with regard to a particular biochemical system like, say, the bacterial flagellum. The claim of intelligent design is that No unintelligent process could produce this system. The claim of Darwinism is that Some unintelligent process (involving natural selection and random mutation) could produce this system. To falsify the first claim, one need only show that at least one unintelligent process could produce the system. To falsify the second claim, one would have to show the system could not have been formed by any of a potentially infinite number of possible unintelligent processes, which is effectively impossible to do. I think Professor Coyne and the National Academy of Sciences have it exactly backwards. A strong point of intelligent design is its vulnerability to falsification. (Indeed, some of my religious critics dislike intelligent design theory precisely because they worry that it will be falsified, and thus theology will appear to suffer another blow from science. See, for example, (Flietstra 1998).) A weak point of Darwinian theory is its resistance to falsification. What experimental evidence could possibly be found that would falsify the contention that complex molecular machines evolved by a Darwinian mechanism? II. What Is Irreducible Complexity and What Does It Signify? Some reviewers have criticized the concept of irreducible complexity. In Boston Review University of Rochester evolutionary biologist H. Allen Orr agrees that many biological systems are irreducibly complex, but argues that Darwinian evolution can, at least in theory, directly account for them. However, as I will show, his argument depends on changing the definition of irreducible complexity, which obscures the difficulty. In his review Orr initially seems to clearly understand what I meant by irreducible complexity (quoted earlier). Of the example I used in Darwins Black Box he writes: A mousetrap has a clear function (crushing mice) and is made of several parts (a platform, a spring, a bar that does the crushing). If any of these parts is removed, the trap doesnt work. Hence its irreducibly complex. (Orr 1996) So far, so good. Nonetheless, later in the review he seems to lose hold of the concept: An irreducibly complex system can be built gradually by adding parts that, while initially just advantageous, become because of later changes essential. The logic is very simple. Some part (A) initially does some job (and not very well, perhaps). Another part (B) later gets added because it helps A. This new part isnt essential, it merely improves things. But later on, A (or something else) may change in such a way that B now becomes indispensable. This process continues as further parts get folded into the system. And at the end of the day, many parts may all be required. (Orr 1996) Now, how can we square this paragraph with his initial agreement that if any part of a mousetrap is removed, it doesnt work? Thinking of the mousetrap example, what would correspond to Some part (A) that initially does some job? In fact, the whole point of the mousetrap example was to show that there is no part (A) that will initially do the job. There is no part (B) that helps gradually improve part (A). A gradual addition of parts is not possible for the mousetrap example (or at least it is very far from obvious that it is possible). Orr later gives a biological example of what he has in mind. The transformation of air bladders into lungs that allowed animals to breathe atmospheric oxygen was initially just advantageous: such beasts could explore open niches like dry land that were unavailable to their lung-less peers. But as evolution built on this adaptation (modifying limbs for walking, for instance), we grew thoroughly terrestrial and lungs, consequently, are no longer luxuries they are essential. The punch-line is, I think, obvious: although this process is thoroughly Darwinian, we are often left with a system that is irreducibly complex. (Orr 1996) In Orrs example, however, what is the irreducibly complex system? Is it the swim bladder? The lung? The whole organism? What is the function of the system? Is it swimming, breathing, living, or something else? If we assume he meant that the irreducibly system is, say, the lung, can the lung be considered a single system, as my definition requires (Behe 1996, p. 39)? What are the parts of the lung without which it will stop working, like a mousetrap without a spring? What is part (A) and what is part (B)? None of these things is clear at all certainly not as clear as the parts and function of a mousetrap. Let me preface my remaining remarks on this subject by acknowledging that it is often notoriously difficult to rigorously define a concept, as exemplified by the problems encountered in trying to define science, life, or species. Furthermore, I am no philosopher; my end purpose is not to come up with a string of words that completely defines the phrase irreducible complexity. Rather, my purpose is to focus attention on a class of biochemical systems that pose a particular challenge to Darwinian evolution. The examples I gave in my book a mousetrap, cilium, clotting cascade, and so on clearly show the necessity for some systems of having a number of discrete parts working together on a single function. The examples, I think, better get across the concept of irreducible complexity than does the definition I offered (Behe 1996, 39), although I think the definition I gave does an adequate job. With those comments in mind, it can be seen that Orr simply switched concepts in mid-review, as shown by his conflicting remarks quoted above. He jumped from my idea of irreducible complexity to a hazy concept that can perhaps be paraphrased as, if you remove this part, the organism will eventually die. Im happy to agree for purposes of discussion that a class of biological phenomena exists which are required for life and which can be changed gradually by natural selection, perhaps even including the swim bladder/lungs Orr mentions (although it is not nearly so obvious as he assumes it to be). Its just that they are not the same types of things as, nor do they somehow obviate the problem of, irreducibly complex systems like mousetraps and cilia. If they were, then Orr could have explained them away as easily as he does swim bladders and lungs. (After all, lung tissue contains cilia plus many, many other components; Orr should thus find it easier to explain cilia alone, rather than cilia-plus-other-components.) Implicitly changing the definition of irreducible complexity, as Orr did, does not tell us how the blood clotting cascade or the bacterial flagellum could have been produced. On the contrary, it distracts our attention from those features of the systems that make them recalcitrant to Darwinian explanation. Other scientific reviewers have made arguments similar to Orrs which depend on implied definitions of irreducible complexity different from what I used. Writing in the Wall Street Journal Paul Gross compares biochemical systems to cities, where features can be added over time. (Gross 1996) But the analogy is poorly chosen because no city completely stops working when a part is removed, as does a mousetrap or cilium. In Boston Review Douglas Futuyma writes: In mammals, successive duplications of the beta gene gave rise to the gamma and epsilon chains, which characterize the hemoglobin of the fetus and early embryo respectively, and enhance uptake of oxygen from the mother. Thus a succession of gene duplications, widely spaced through evolutionary time, has led to the irreducibly complex system of respiratory proteins in mammals. (Futuyma 1997) But the several hemoglobins that Futuyma calls the irreducibly complex system of respiratory proteins in fact do not constitute an irreducibly complex system in my sense of the term. They do not interact with each other, as do the parts of a mousetrap or clotting cascade. They go their separate ways, and for the most part arent even present at the same time in the organism. Like Allen Orr, Futuyma implicitly switches the meaning of irreducibly complex. Unfortunately, that does not solve the problem I pointed out, but only obscures it. (As an aside, it is difficult to understand what Futuyma intends by the quotation marks around the phrase irreducibly complex. He cant be quoting me; I never used the term in connection with hemoglobin quite the opposite. He may intend them to be taken as scare quotes, to warn the reader to take the phrase with a grain of salt. But since he is the one who decided to use the term in conjunction with hemoglobins and then to argue against it, the effect is that of setting up a straw man.) A different question about irreducible complexity is asked by David Ussery on his web site. He notes that, whereas a bacterial flagellum in E. coli requires about 40 different proteins, in H. pylori only 33 are required. Since fewer proteins are required, how can the flagellum be irreducibly complex? Two responses can be made. First, some systems may have parts that are necessary for a function, plus other parts that, while useful, are not absolutely required. Although one can remove the radio from a car and the car will still work, one cant remove the battery or some other parts and have a working car. Ussery himself seems to recognize this when he writes I would readily admit that there is STILL the problem of the evolution of the minimal flagellum,' (Ussery 1999) but he hopes gene duplication will explain that. Second, one must be careful not to identify one protein with one part of a biochemical machine. For example, genes coding for two proteins in one organism may be joined into a single gene in another. A single protein in one organism may be doing the jobs of several polypeptides in another. Or two proteins may combine to do one job (an example is the - and -subunits of tubulin, which together make microtubules, a part of the eukaryotic cilium). In his review Ussery mistakenly attributes to me the belief that 240 separate proteins are required for the bacterial flagellum. The confusion apparently arose because at the end of a chapter on the eukaryotic cilium and bacterial flagellum, I stated that a typical cilium contains over two hundred different kinds of proteins. In the next paragraph I wrote, The bacterial flagellum, in addition to the proteins already discussed, requires about forty other proteins for function. (Behe 1996, p. 72) Although I meant in addition to the flagellar proteins I had discussed a few pages earlier in the chapter, Ussery interpreted the statement to include the several hundred ciliary proteins as well. Ordinarily I would simply overlook such a mistaken attribution, since it should be obvious to informed readers that I wouldnt be lumping the proteins of cilia and flagella together after all, they are completely different structures that occur in separate kinds of organisms. In his review in Biology and Philosophy, however, Bruce Weber writes Behe cannot imagine how anything short of the full 240 components of the flagellum could propel a bacterium. But only 33 proteins are needed to produce a functional flagellum for Helicobacter pylori. (Weber 1999) And Weber then cites Usserys web site as his source. Since Usserys misreading of my book seems to be spreading, and since naive readers might be more impressed by a drop from 240 to 33 than by a change from 40 to 33, I have to state for the record that I did not mean the bacterial flagellum requires the proteins of the eukaryotic cilium! Several reviewers have questioned whether irreducible complexity is necessarily a hallmark of intelligent design. James Shapiro, who has worked on adaptive mutations, writes in the Boston Review (Shapiro 1997) of some developments in contemporary life science that suggest shortcomings in orthodox evolutionary theory while arguing for a growing convergence between biology and information science which offers the potential for scientific investigation of possible intelligent cellular action in evolution. Thus Shapiro appears to think that irreducibly complex biochemical structures might be explained in a non-Darwinian fashion without invoking intelligence beyond the cells themselves. In Biology and Philosophy Bruce Weber (1999) writes that the work of Stuart Kauffman and others on self-organizing phenomena disrupts the dichotomy Behe has set up of selection or design. Most explicitly, Shanks and Joplin argue in Philosophy of Science that self-organizing phenomena such as the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction demonstrate that irreducible complexity is not necessarily a pointer to intelligent design. (Shanks and Joplin 1999) I have responded to Shanks and Joplins argument in a separate paper. (Behe 2000) Briefly, complexity is a quantitative feature; systems can be more or less complex. Although it produces some complexity, the self-organizing behavior so far observed in the physical world has not produced complexity and specificity comparable to irreducibly complex biochemical systems. There is currently little reason to think that self-organizing behavior can explain biochemical systems such as the bacterial flagellum or blood clotting cascade. The underlying point of all these criticisms that needs to be addressed, I think, is that it is possible future work might show irreducible complexity to be explainable by some unintelligent process (although not necessarily a Darwinian one). And on that point I agree the critics are entirely correct. I acknowledge that I cannot rule out the possibility future work might explain irreducibly complex biochemical systems without the need to invoke intelligent design, as I stated in Darwins Black Box. (Behe 1996, 203-204) I agree I cannot prove that studies of self-organization will not eventually show it to be capable of much more than we know now. Nor can I definitively say that Professor Shapiros ideas about self-designing cells might not eventually prove true, or that currently unknown theories might prevail. But the inability to guarantee the future course of science is common to everyone, not just those who are supportive of intelligent design. For example, no one can warrant that the shortcomings of self-organization will not be exacerbated by future research, rather than overcome, or that even more difficulties for natural selection will not become apparent. I agree with the commonsense point that no one can predict the future of science. I strongly disagree with the contention that, because we cant guarantee the success of intelligent design theory, it can be dismissed, or should not be pursued. If science operated in such a manner, no theory would ever be investigated, because no theory is guaranteed success forever. Indeed, if one ignores a hypothesis because it may one day be demonstrated to be incorrect, then one paradoxically takes unfalsifiability to be a necessary trait of a scientific theory. Although philosophers of science have debated whether falsifiability is a requirement of a scientific theory, no one to my knowledge has argued that unfalsifiability is a necessary mark. Because no one can see the future, science has to navigate by the data it has in hand. Currently there is only one phenomenon that has demonstrated the ability to produce irreducible complexity, and that is the action of an intelligent agent. It seems to me that that alone justifies pursuing a hypothesis of intelligent design in biochemistry. In his recent book Tower of Babel: The Evidence against the New Creationism, however, philosopher of science Robert Pennock argues that science should avoid a theory of intelligent design because it must of necessity embrace methodological naturalism. (Pennock 1999) I have responded to Pennock elsewhere. (Behe 1999) Briefly, science should follow the data wherever it appears to lead, without preconditions. Further, the question of the identity of the designer remains open (see below) just as the cause of the Big Bang has been open for decades. Thus, science can pursue theories with extra-scientific implications (such as the Big Bang2 or intelligent design) as far as it can, using its own proper methods. III. Can We May We Detect Design in the Cell? Several reviewers have argued against the legitimacy of reasoning to a conclusion of intelligent design based on biochemical evidence. In the same review discussed above Allen Orr raises an intriguing question of how we apprehend design. He writes: We know that there are people who make things like mousetraps. (Im not being facetious here Im utterly serious.) When choosing between the design and Darwinian hypotheses, we find design plausible for mousetraps only because we have independent knowledge that there are creatures called humans who construct all variety of mechanical contraptions; if we didnt, the existence of mousetraps would pose a legitimate scientific problem. (Orr 1997) So, Orr says, we know mousetraps are designed because we have seen them being designed by humans, but we have not seen irreducibly complex biochemical systems being designed, so we cant conclude they were. Although he makes an interesting point, I think his reasoning is incorrect. Consider the SETI project (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), in which scientists scan space for radio waves that might have been sent by aliens. Those scientists believe that they can distinguish a designed radio wave (one carrying a message) from the background radio noise of space. However, we have never observed space aliens sending radio messages; we have never observed aliens at all. Nonetheless, SETI workers, funded for years by the federal government, are confident that they can detect intelligently designed phenomena, even if they dont know who produced them. The relevance to intelligent design in biochemistry is plain. Design is evident in the designed system itself, rather than in pre-knowledge of who the designer is. Even if the designer is an entity quite unlike ourselves, we can still reach a conclusion of design if the designed system has distinguishing traits (such as irreducible complexity) that we know require intelligent arrangement. (One formal analysis of how we come to a conclusion of design is presented by William Dembski in his recent monograph, The Design Inference (Dembski 1998).) We can probe Orrs reasoning further by asking how we know that something was intelligently designed even if it indeed resulted from human activity. After all, humans engage in all sorts of activities which we would not ascribe to intelligence. For example, in walking through the woods a person might crush plants by his footsteps, accidentally break tree branches and so on. Why do we not ascribe those marks to purposeful activity? On the other hand, when we see a small snare (made of sticks and vines) in the woods, obviously designed to catch a rabbit, why do we unhesitatingly conclude the parts of the snare were purposely arranged by an intelligent agent? Why do we apprehend purpose in the snare but not in the tracks? As Thomas Reid argued in response to the skepticism of David Hume, intelligence is apprehended only by its effects; we cannot directly observe intelligence. (Dembski 1999) We know humans are intelligent by their outward actions. And we discriminate intelligent from non-intelligent human actions by external evidence. Intelligence, human or not, is evident only in its effects. Michael Ruse in Boston Review raises another objection, saying that scientists qua scientists simply cant appeal to design. Design is not something you add to science as an equal miracles or molecules, take your pick. Design is an interpretation which makes some kind of overall metaphysical or theological sense of experience. (Ruse 1997) Contrary to Ruses argument, however, many scientists already appeal to design. I mentioned the SETI program above; clearly those scientists think they can detect design (and nonhuman design at that.) Forensic scientists routinely make decisions of whether a death was designed (murder) or an accident. Archaeologists decide whether a stone is a designed artifact or just a chance shape. Cryptologists try to distinguish a coded message from random noise. It seems unlikely that any of those scientists view their work as trying to make metaphysical or theological sense of experience. They are doing ordinary science. Ruse probably meant that scientists cant specifically appeal to God or the supernatural. Evolutionary biologist Douglas Futuyma echoes Ruses sentiment with rousing rhetoric: When scientists invoke miracles, they cease to practice science.Behe, claiming a miracle in every molecule, would urge us to admit the defeat of reason, to despair of understanding, to rest content in ignorance. Even as biology daily grows in knowledge and insight, Behe counsels us to just give up. (Futuyma 1997) In speaking of miracles relying for rhetorical effect on that words pejorative connotations when used in a scientific context Ruse and Futuyma are ascribing to me a position I was scrupulous in my book to avoid. Although I acknowledged that most people (including myself) will attribute the design to God based in part on other, non-scientific judgments they have made I did not claim that the biochemical evidence leads ineluctably to a conclusion about who the designer is. In fact, I directly said that, from a scientific point of view, the question remains open. (Behe 1996, 245-250) In doing so I was not being coy, but only limiting my claims to what I think the evidence will support. To illustrate, Francis Crick has famously suggested that life on earth may have been deliberately seeded by space aliens (Crick and Orgel 1973). If Crick said he thought that the clotting cascade was designed by aliens, I could not point to a biochemical feature of that system to show he was wrong. The biochemical evidence strongly indicates design, but does not show who the designer was. I should add that, even if one does think the designer is God, subscribing to a theory of intelligent design does not necessarily commit one to miracles. At least no more than thinking that the laws of nature were designed by God a view, as weve seen, condoned by the National Academy of Sciences (National Academy of Sciences 1999). In either case one could hold that the information for the subsequent unfolding of life was present at the very start of the universe, with no subsequent intervention required from outside of nature. In one case, the information is present just in general laws. In the other case, in addition to general laws, information is present in other factors too. The difference might boil down simply to the question of whether there was more or less explicit design information present at the beginning hardly a point of principle. While were on the subject of God, another point should be made: A number of prominent scientists, some of whom fault me for suggesting design, have themselves argued for atheistic conclusions based on biological data. For example, Professor Futuyma has written: Some shrink from the conclusion that the human species was not designed, has no purpose, and is the product of mere mechanical mechanisms but this seems to be the message of evolution. (Futuyma 1982) And Russell Doolittle remarks concerning the blood clotting cascade: . . . no Creator would have designed such a circuitous and contrived system. (Doolittle 1997) It is rather disingenuous, however, for those who use biological data to argue that life shows no evidence of design, to complain when others use biological evidence to argue the opposing view. IV. Giving Up in Ignorance Some scientific reviewers have dismissed the conclusion of design as an argument from ignorance, or a God of the gaps argument. This can take several forms. One form of the objection is presented by University of London evolutionary biologist Andrew Pomiankowski, who writes: Most biochemists have only a meagre understanding of, or interest in, evolution. As Behe points out, for the thousand-plus scholarly articles on the biochemistry of cilia, he could find only a handful that seriously addressed evolution. This indifference is universal. (Pomiankowski 1996) So, Pomiankowski argues, we do not have answers because nobody has looked, and biochemists havent looked because they have little interest in the subject. Although initially plausible, this interpretation suffers from the fact that there is demonstrable interest in evolution among molecular bioscientists. (One doesnt have to officially call oneself a biochemist to address such problems. Molecular biologists, geneticists, immunologists, embryologists investigators in all of these disciplines are in a position to work on them.) The authors of the large number of books and papers listed on John Catalanos and David Usserys web sites are clearly interested in evolution (see my discussion of the evolutionary literature on this web site), as are the authors of numerous other studies that involve sequence comparisons. Since many papers are published in the general area of molecular evolution, we have to ask why there are so few in the particular area of the Darwinian evolution of irreducibly complex systems. Pomiankowski proposes it is because the problem is so difficult (Pomiankowski 1996); I suggest it is difficult because irreducibly complex systems fit poorly within a gradualistic theory such as Darwinism. A less reasonable form, I think, of the ignorance accusation is presented by Neil Blackstone. An evolutionary biologist at Northern Illinois University, Blackstone levels a formal charge at me of an error in logic the argumentum ad ignorantium, as his review is titled (Blackstone 1997). He even cites a philosophy textbook by Irving Copi to give the charge authority. Those who chop logic to rule out a hypothesis, however, should make sure they are on very firm logical ground. Blackstone is not. Copi defines the fallacy as follows: The argumentum ad ignorantium is committed whenever it is argued that a proposition is true simply on the basis that it has not been proved false, or that it is false because it has not been proved true. (Copi 1953) But I certainly did not argue that the Darwinian evolution of biochemical complexity is false simply on the basis that it has not been proved true. Nor did I say that intelligent design is true simply on the basis that it has not been proved false. To lay the groundwork for a proposal of intelligent design I did argue extensively that the blood clotting cascade and other systems have not been explained by Darwinism. That, of course, was necessary because many people have the impression that Darwinian theory has already given a satisfactory account for virtually all aspects of life. My first task was to show the readership that that impression is not correct. But my argument did not stop there. I spent many pages throughout the book showing that there is a structural reason irreducible complexity for thinking that Darwinian explanations are unlikely to succeed. Furthermore, I argued that irreducible complexity is a hallmark of intelligent design, took several chapters to explicate how we apprehend design, showed why some biochemical systems meet the criteria, and addressed objections to the design argument. Truncating my case for intelligent design and then saying I commit the fallacy of argumentum ad ignorantium is not, in my opinion, fair play. Lets explore the intricacies of formal logic a little further. Although Blackstone didnt mention it, Copi has more to say on the argument from ignorance. A qualification should be made at this point. In some circumstances it can be safely assumed that if a certain event had occurred, evidence of it could be discovered by qualified investigators. In such circumstances it is perfectly reasonable to take the absence of proof of its occurrence as positive proof of its non-occurrence. (Copi 1953) Although I did not limit my argument to the lack of evidence for the Darwinian evolution of irreducibly complex biochemical systems, when qualified investigators (such as, say, those investigating blood clotting) come up empty, it is perfectly reasonable to weigh that against Darwinism. (By itself, of course, it is not positive evidence for design.) Although lack of progress is not proof of the failure of Darwinism, it certainly is a significant factor to consider. In a milder variation of the argument from ignorance complaint, other scientific reviewers have objected that an appeal to intelligent design is tantamount to giving up. For example, in the Forward Emory University evolutionary biologist Marc Lipsitch remarks: [Behe] correctly suggests that a complete theory of evolution would include an account of how the intricate chemical systems inside our bodies arose (or might have arisen) from inanimate molecules, one step at a time. Mr. Behes question is a fair one, but instead of suggesting a series of experiments that could address the question, he throws up his hands. (Lipsitch 1996) Unfortunately, the point is made with circular logic: it depends on the presupposition that life is not designed, which is the point at issue. If life is not designed then, yes, a theory of intelligent design is ultimately a blind alley (if not quite giving up). However, if aspects of life are indeed designed, then the search for the putative unintelligent mechanisms that built them is the blind alley. But how do we decide ahead of time which is correct? We cant decide the correct answer ahead of time. Science can only follow the data where they lead, as they become available. References: Behe, M. J. (1996). Darwins black box: the biochemical challenge to evolution. (The Free Press: New York.) Behe, Michael J. The God of Science: The case for intelligent design. The Weekly Standard, 35-37. 6-7-1999. Behe, Michael J. (2000). Self-organization and irreducibly complex systems: A reply to Shanks and Joplin. Philosophy of Science 67, 155-162. Blackstone, N. W. (1997). Argumentum ad ignoratium. Quarterly Review of Biology 72, 445-447. Bugge, T. H., Kombrinck, K. W., Flick, M. J., Daugherty, C. C., Danton, M. J., and Degen, J. L. (1996). Loss of fibrinogen rescues mice from the pleiotropic effects of plasminogen deficiency. Cell 87, 709-719. Copi, I. M. (1953). Introduction to logic. (Macmillan: New York.) Coyne, J. A. (1996). God in the details. Nature 383, 227-228. Crick, Francis and Orgel, L. E. (1973). Directed panspermia. Icarus 19, 341-346. Davies, P. C. W. (1999). The Fifth Miracle: The Search for the Origin and Meaning of Life. (Simon & Schuster: New York.) Dembski, W. A. (1998). The design inference: eliminating chance through small probabilities. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.) Dembski, W. A. (1999). Intelligent design: the bridge between science and theology. (Intervarsity Press: Dowbers Grove, Illinois.) Denton, M. J. (1998). Natures Destiny: How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe. (Free Press: New York.) Doolittle, R. F. A delicate balance. Boston Review [Feb/March], 28-29. 1997. Flietstra, R. A response to Michael Behe. Books & Culture [Sept/Oct], 37-38. 1998. Futuyma, D. J. (1982). Science on Trial. (Pantheon Books: New York.) Futuyma, D. J. Miracles and molecules. Boston Review [Feb/March], 29-30. 1997. Gross, P. R. The dissent of man. Wall Street Journal, A12. 7-30-1996. New York. Hall, B. G. (1999). Experimental evolution of Ebg enzyme provides clues about the evolution of catalysis and to evolutionary potential. FEMS Microbiology Letters 174, 1-8. Lipsitch, M. Fighting an evolutionary war. Forward 9. 10-25-1996. Maddox, John (1989). Down with the Big Bang. Nature 340, 425. Miller, K. R. (1999). Finding Darwins God: a scientists search for common ground between God and evolution. (Cliff Street Books: New York.) National Academy of Sciences (1999). Science and creationism: a view from the National Academy of Sciences. (National Academy Press: Washington, DC.) Orr, H. A. Darwin v. intelligent design (again). Boston Review [Dec/Jan], 28-31. 1996. Orr, H. A. H. Allen Orr responds. Boston Review [Feb/March], 35-36. 1997. Pennock, R. (1999). Tower of Babel: The evidence against the new creationism. (MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts.) Pomiankowski, A. The God of the tiny gaps. New Scientist. 9-14-1996. Ruse, M. Enough speculation. Boston Review [Feb/March], 31-32. 1997. Shanks, Niall and Joplin, Karl H. (1999). Redundant complexity: A critical analysis of intelligent design in biochemistry. Philosophy of Science 66, 268-282. Shapiro, J. A. A third way. Boston Review [Feb/March], 32-33. 1997. Ussery, David (1999). A biochemists response to The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. Bios70, 40-45. Weber, Bruce (1999). Irreducible complexity and the problem of biochemical emergence. Biology & Philosophy14, 593-605. Notes: (1) Kenneth Miller leads readers of Finding Darwins God into thinking such a process would be very easy. He writes, If microevolution can redesign one gene in fewer than two hundred generations (which in this case took only thirteen days!), what principles of biochemistry or molecular biology would prevent it from redesigning dozens or hundreds of genes over a few weeks or months to produce a distinctly new species? There are no such principles of course (Miller 1999, 108) Well, then, why doesnt he just take an appropriate bacterial species, knock out the genes for its flagellum, place the bacterium under selective pressure (for mobility, say), and experimentally produce a flagellum or any equally complex system in the laboratory? (A flagellum, after all, has only 30-40 genes, not the hundreds Miller claims would be easy for natural selection to rapidly redesign.) If he did that, my claims would be utterly falsified. But he wont even try it because he is grossly exaggerating the prospects of success. (2) That the Big Bang theory has extra-scientific implications can be seen in the reaction of those who do not welcome the implications. For example, in a 1989 editorial in Nature with the intriguing title Down with the Big Bang, John Maddox wrote Creationists and those of similar persuasions seeking support for their theories have ample justification in the doctrine of the Big Bang. That, they might say, is when (and how) the Universe was created. (Maddox 1989) Photo credit: Paul Panasevich stock.adobe.com. The GSMA today announced that it has elected Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, as Chairman for the two-year period from January 2017 through December 2018. As GSMA Chairman, Mittal will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation, which represents nearly 800 of the worlds mobile operators, as well as more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem. Bharti Airtel was the host of the inaugural GSMA Mobile 360 India event in New Delhi this week and also that of a meeting of the GSMA Board. Mittal led the GSMA Board delegation at a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday afternoon. In a broad-ranging discussion, the meeting highlighted the pivotal role of mobile in delivering the government's Digital India vision of broadband as a utility for every citizen, bringing digital and financial inclusion to every corner of the country. The GSMA also elected the new members of the 26-member Board and re-elected Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere, Executive Vice President, Innovation, Orange Group as Deputy Chair for the two-year period. Mittal said, I am delighted to be elected as Chairman of the GSMA, and look forward to working closely with the rest of the Board, the GSMA leadership team and our entire membership to address the critical issues facing our industry and our customers. In a relatively brief period of time, mobile has had a transformational impact on individuals, businesses, industries and societies, contributing significantly to local economies and improving the lives of billions around the world. I am excited about what the next chapter holds for us, as we work to connect everyone and everything to a better future. In my new global role, I am excited to support the ongoing mobile broadband revolution in India to boost the Governments Digital India Program and its vision of broadband access for all, added Mittal. The first Indian to be elected as Chairman of the prestigious global telecom industry board, Mittal took over as Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) early this year. He already serves on the Boards and Councils of several reputed international bodies and think-tanks like the World Economic Forum (WEF), Telecom Board of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Broadband Commission, Harvard Universitys Global Advisory Council - Board of Deans Advisors at HBS, International Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Prime Minister of Singapores Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council. He is also a Trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and on the Board of Qatar Foundation Endowment. The GSMA Board has 26 members, including 25 operator representatives from the worlds largest operator groups as well as smaller, independent operators with global representation. The GSMAs Director General Mats Granryd also serves on the GSMA Board. The GSMA Board for the 2017-2018 term comprises: Juan Carlos Archila, Executive Vice President, International Relationships, America Movil Bill Hague, Executive Vice President-Global Connection Management, AT&T Mobility Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises Sha Yuejia, Executive Director and Vice President, China Mobile Sun Kangmin, Executive Director and Executive Vice President, China Telecom Lu Yimin, President and Vice Chairman, China Unicom Wolfgang Kopf, Senior Vice President, Public and Regulatory Affairs, Deutsche Telekom Hatem Dowidar, CEO International, Etisalat Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA Christian Salbaing, Deputy Chairman, Europe, Hutchison Takashi Tanaka, President, KDDI Eelco Blok, CEO, KPN Chang-Gyu Hwang, Chairman and CEO, KT Corporation Mauricio Ramos, CEO, Millicom Phuthuma Nhleko, Chairman and Acting CEO, MTN Group Andrei Dubovskov, President, MTS Kazuhiro Yoshizawa, President and CEO, NTT DOCOMO Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere, Executive Vice President, Innovation, Orange Group Dong-Hyun Jang, President and CEO, SK Telecom Julio Linares Lopez, Vice President of the Board, Telefonica Sigve Brekke, President and CEO, Telenor Group Johan Dennelind, President and CEO, Telia Company Kaan Terziog?lu, CEO, Turkcell Roy Chestnutt, Chief Strategy Officer, Verizon Serpil Timuray, Group Chief Commercial Operations and Strategy Officer, Vodafone Scott Gegenheimer, CEO, Zain Group GSMA Chairman, Jon Fredrik Baksaas will step down from the Board at the end of 2016, after holding this position for the past three years. Baksaas was elected as a member of the GSMA Board in 2008. With nearly 4.8 billion individuals around the world subscribing to mobile services, it is the most pervasive and fast-growing platform of users ever built. It is now accessible to billions in both developing and developed markets, providing life-enhancing services and enabling new socio-economic opportunities for all, commented Baksaas. The mobile industry is at the very heart of the worlds digital transformation, driving efforts to make the world a better place, in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It has been a true privilege to serve on the GSMA Board for eight years, the last three as Chair. I wish the new Board and Chair, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, the very best of luck as the GSMA focuses on extending global platform capabilities, such as GSMA Mobile Connect, to billions of users around the globe, added Baksaas. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) When moving abroad what the change will mean from a childs perspective is not always taken into account and their views vary from country to country as a new piece of research shows.The first ever look at how children aged eight in different countries feel about their lives examines their thoughts regarding their family, home life, money, friendships, possessions, school, where they live, their rights and overall happiness. The research funded by the Jacobs Foundation involved 17,000 children aged eight in 16 countries across four continents and found that most were happy with their lives as a whole but a minority, around 6%, had low well-being.Over a third of the children surveyed said that they often or always worried about how much money their family has. The levels of worry were highest at over 30% of children saying that they always worried in Israel, Colombia, Spain and Nepal. In South Korea and Germany the figure was less than 10%.Most children in the survey said that they felt totally safe at home, at school and in their neighbourhood. However 4% of children did not agree at all that they felt safe at home, 4% did not agreed that they felt safe at school, and 9% did not agree at all that they felt safe when out and about in their neighbourhood. While these percentages are small they still add up to large numbers of children in each country.Some 62% totally agreed that they liked going to school. Children in Algeria and Ethiopia were most likely to like going to school and children in Germany, South Korea and the UK the least likely. In some countries, including Israel and six European countries, girls were much more positive about school than boys, but in other countries such as Nepal and Ethiopia there was no difference between girls and boys.It reveals quite a high level of bullying as school. Many of the children, 41%, said that, in the last month, they had been left out by classmates while 48% said that they had been hit by other children at school. The percentage of children who had been hit was highest in Estonia, the UK and Germany and lowest in South Korea. The percentage who had been left out was highest in the UK and Romania and lowest in South Korea and Ethiopia.Almost half of the children, 46%, said that they knew about childrens rights. This is lower than for similar surveys for older children aged 10 and 12. Children in Colombia were the most likely to know about childrens rights, and in Turkey, Ethiopia, Romania and Norway over half of children also answered yes to this question.For the first time ever we are able to hear from almost 20,000 eight years old children from 16 countries what they do, feel and want. This remarkable achievement teaches us first and foremost that children know better than anyone else about their lives and that any effort to improve it needs to be inclusive of their voice, said Professor Asher Ben-Arieh, one of the studys principal investigators and co-chair of the International Society of Child Indicators.The Childrens Worlds international survey project will continue to grow with further countries including Indonesia, Finland and Italy joining the second wave of the survey. The third wave will start in September 2017 with initial findings to be published in early 2019. Welcome to the News Release Wire Selection Control Panel. Instant News Wire Associated Press /File photo DETROIT South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. will pay $41.2 million to Texas and 32 other states and the District of Columbia to settle an investigation into their fuel economy ratings. Texas portion of the settlement is $2.8 million, according to a news release from Attorney General Ken Paxton. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate While nobody else can sing or write songs like George Strait, we can drink his tequila. Seriously. Hes now part owner of a tequila line. Its called Codigo 1530 and its now available at many liquor stores, including Twin Liquors, Specs, Alamo City Liquor and K&B Liquor in New Braunfels. The company behind this brand has been gradually introducing it since the summer and last week held a private gathering at the country music legends ranch near Boerne to showcase it to the San Antonio area. This tequila has a great story. It had been a private spirit for a wealthy family in Cabo San Lucas and shared among friends, many of them Americans with vacation homes in the Mexican state. We always had people say, You should sell this in the U.S., said Federico Vaughan, a scion of the family who is now Codigos CEO. Vaughan teamed up with a Cabo neighbor, business executive Ron Snyder, to turn the side project into a major product. Snyder, who had formerly served as CEO of Crocs Footwear and led its expansion into a business phenomenon, is now executive chairman of Codigo. Meanwhile, another part-time Cabo neighbor, Strait, joined his two friends in the venture. It was something I just kind of fell into with these friends of mine, Strait said in a phone interview. They have been letting us drink it and taste it for years, and they finally decided to put it out. I think its great. The name Codigo refers to the codes and customs that govern the making of tequila, and the year 1530 is when that tequilas home city of Amatitan was founded. The city of Amatitan (the home of Tequila Herradura) is near the city of Tequila in the state of Jalisco. Codigo 1530 is available in blanco ($49), reposado ($69), anejo ($119) and extra anejo ($249). Several San Antonio restaurants, including Aldacos, Peggys on the Green and some on the River Walk have signed on to carry the tequila. etijerina@express-news.net Twitter:@etij This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Gerry Garcia and Jack Elsbree bought a new home, they were ready to create a completely different space for themselves. Not only is their new midcentury modern home a departure from the sumptuous style of their previous house, it also represents a downsize. And while the couple may have lost square footage, they gained functionality via an open floor plan. When they bought the property on the near North Side in February 2014, the two retired federal employees who recently celebrated their 38th anniversary saw past the dark, closed-in rooms. I could see the possibilities, Elsbree said. The bones were good, but the face was bad. Elsbree drafted a plan to gut the kitchen and to pull down walls that chopped up the interior. The new design created two distinct wings that wrap around a shady back patio. The opened-up kitchen, living and dining areas became the public wing, while the private wing includes bedroom and office space. The plan took five months to execute, with the help of Richard Garcia of Reasonable Remodelers, and included the installation of bamboo flooring and new lighting. More Information Share spaces Know of a beautiful and unique house that would be great in Spaces? Email suggestions to Home & Garden editor Tracy Hobson Lehmann, tlehmann@express-news.net. See More Collapse With the new openness, the couple needed to visually link the spaces. They painted almost every wall and door gray and replaced more than 150 pieces of hardware on doors and cabinets. Their carpenter, Jim Newsom, transformed wooden built-ins by removing decorative appliques from the faces or inserting ribbed glass into the doors. They also were repainted. In the living room, a brick fireplace was covered with streaky gray-blue glass ceramic tiles to conform to the modern redesign. The cohesive, pared-down interior is the perfect canvas for midcentury modern style. The styles simplicity appealed to the spouses, who were suffering from what Garcia calls an overdose of Chippendale. That refers to their former Castle Hills home, a sprawling, three-level house they formally appointed with Chippendale furniture, Persian rugs and chandeliers. To replace that collection, the couple sourced furniture and stainless steel appliances from online retailers and shopped locally to find appropriate midcentury pieces with organic elements such as leather, metal, wood and glass. These finds include a curved, off-white leather sectional in the living room and white leather-and-chrome dining chairs. Decoration is limited, consisting of a handful of Marc Chagall lithographs and lead and bronze sculptures by John Cavanaugh, a friend from when Garcia and Elsbree lived in Washington, D.C. While neutrals dominate, color pops up in rugs and in red and chartreuse ottomans. Select pieces from their previous home, like two opulent Cleopatra chairs in gilded wood, strike a counterpoint to the minimal style. The clutter-free, low-maintenance and light-filled design creates a home that Garcia sums up as comfortable, contemporary, easy. Megan Stacy is a San Antonio freelance writer. There were times when Brandi Cuevas, in the midst of juggling a career in the Army Reserves and a life as a student and mother, would bring her two young daughters to class or let them run around Sombrilla Plaza fountain at the University of Texas at San Antonio. My girls knew how to traverse the campus better than many of the students, Cuevas, 36, said. There were also times when Cuevas wanted to throw in the towel on her education. I would sit in the corner of my house and cry, she recalled. Why did going to school, managing children, and being a soldier have to be so hard? Cuevas was one of four students who discussed the challenges of transitioning from military life to the academic world at the launch of the book Adapt and Overcome: Essays of the Student Veteran Experience at UTSA Wednesday. Student veterans are a small but growing segment of the undergraduate student body. The Department of Veterans Affairs processed more than 4 million education claims for student veterans since 9/11. Of these student veterans, 51.7 percent have received a degree, compared to the graduation rate of 59 percent among their peers, according to a 2014 study by Student Veterans of America. The study listed challenges such as failing to identify with their fellow students due to age differences and pausing their studies to serve overseas. Jason Frazier, one of the veterans at the panel, said when he got out of the Marines and began college, he missed his old identity and had a hard time creating a new identity as a student. When I was in the Marines, I was a leader, a teacher, an avid exerciser, a role model and a great socializer, Frazier, 29, wrote in Adapt and Overcome. Within a month of getting out, I had no job, one or two friends, and no one and nothing to teach. Frazier enrolled at UTSA, but he thought about re-enlisting constantly. In the Marines, he knew what he needed to do each day. Civilians by contrast acted ambiguous, slow and lazy, he said. Frazier said he needed to learn how to slow down. It took him a year and a half to relax. After much reflection, I realize now what I really craved then was support, Frazier said. Veterans can feel out of place on campus. Roughly 85 percent of veterans and active duty service members in colleges are 24 years and older, according to the National Council of State Legislatures. Air Force veteran Bonnie Drusky, 28, said when she entered college at 23, she was older than everyone else, and felt shy about interacting with anyone other than the professor. She would sit in the front of the class to create the feeling it was just her and the professor in the classroom. It can be quite a challenge to relate to the normal freshman, Drusky, who wound up hanging out with others with military experience. Similarly, when Brian Houston, 30, began college after four years in the Navy, he was excited, but filled with anxiety. It wasnt that he was afraid. Houston, 23 then, knew if called upon he could lead nine men on a ship. But the other students all seemed younger, and it had been years since he had done a math problem or read a book for fun. Houston said his work suffered his first year of school, but he persisted. In 2015, he graduated with a bachelors degree from UTSA and is currently enrolled in a graduate program there. They act like we dont know anything, and we might not know anything, but were motivated to learn, the broad-shoulder Houston said Wednesday, and we know how to work out, obviously. UTSA doesnt specifically track veteran outcomes at this point, and tracking how veterans do in school is a national problem, Lisa Firmin, Associate Provost for Diversity and Recruitment, said. Across campus, average six-year graduation rate at UTSA was 31 percent for students who started in 2009, the last year available. Firmin said UTSA has 2,845 military-affiliated students at UTSA, a number that includes veterans, active duty and their family members. Around 12 percent of the overall student population is military-affliated, compared to 4 percent nationwide. The Student Veterans of America determined veteran students were doing pretty well, accounting for the difficulties they face. Nearly half of veteran students have children, according to the National Council of State Legislatures, and many veterans have credits scattered among multiple institutions due to constant moving. When Brandi Cuevas applied to UTSA in the fall of 2007, her transcripts included attendance at four different institutions across three states, due to moving around for her husbands military career. My resume became a scattered mess of civilian jobs and undergraduate programs, Cuevas said. She and her husband joked that she was on a 15-year graduation plan. Cuevas said one group, the UTSA Veterans Services Advisory Committee, helped her in her academic journey and with her benefits. She said she studied in the small hours of the night as when her two girls slept. She said her professors were very accommodating. Once, while taking care of the children and with her husband on deployment, she said a professor extended the due date on a kinesiology midterm and let her bring her baby daughter, who was sick, with her as she took the exam. In 2012, Cuevas graduated from UTSA with a dual degree in kinesiology and psychology. She received a graduate degree at Our Lady of the Lake University in 2014. Today she has a private practice on Blanco Road and her daughters are now 7 and 9 years old. It only took me 13 years, three mobilization tours for myself, one deployment for my husband, two dogs (fuzzy kids), and two more kids, Cuevas wrote, but I finally graduated. The Alamo Colleges has increased tuition for students who take six or more credit hours per semester effective in January but will be providing free summer classes for those who average at least nine credit hours per semester to help offset the increase. Trustees for the district of five community colleges voted last week to abandon a structure that contained a banded rate for students taking six or fewer credit hours, in favor of an across-the-board rate of $86 per credit hour for in-district students. Out-of-district students will pay $233 and out-of-state students will pay $453 per credit hour. Going to a single rate is all about equity and fairness, said Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration. Under the banded rate, in-district students are now charged a flat $504 for tuition for one to six credit hours. For 12 hours, those students pay $873 under the current rate structure and next semester will pay $1,032. The tuition increase is perhaps most significant for out-of-state and international students. For example, those students are now paying a flat $2,321 for up to six hours but will pay $2,718 for six hours starting in January. The Alamo Colleges enroll almost 52,000 students, about 10,000 of whom are active-duty military. The average student takes about 8 credit hours per semester. The community college district had to draw up separate agreements with each branch of the military to get reimbursement for active-duty students because the military does not accept the banded rate, Snyder has said. Under the new schedule, tuition will decrease by nearly $250 for in-district students taking just three credit hours, generally equivalent to one course. Students who take six hours will see a slight increase compared with current rates, a gap that widens with the number of credits taken. However, the district implemented an incentive plan that provides three free summer credits to students who take 18 hours in the academic year, keeping them on track for graduation in three years, and six free summer credits to those who take 24 hours in the academic year, allowing for graduation in two years. Credits taken this fall qualify for the incentive, Snyder said. In-district students who use the incentives on the two-year plan will save $186 per year, while those who use the incentives toward the three-year plan will save $141 per year, according to district data. The incentives are designed to encourage full-time enrollment, faster graduation and year-over-year retention. Only 26 percent of Alamo Colleges students now attend full time, short of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Boards goal of 40 percent. Students who take summer courses also avoid summer melt, or loss of subject matter knowledge, over the break, administrators said. In surveys and a focus group, together involving more than 850 students, a majority said they would take advantage of the incentives, according to a presentation to the districts audit, budget and finance committee. Most of those surveyed were already attending full time. A separate presentation by the Student District Council, which administered the surveys, conflicted with the districts presentation by saying the majority of those questioned at St. Philips College were against the tuition incentive policy. An email to the Student Government Association president at St. Philips did not produce a response Wednesday. Trustee Anna Bustamante cast the lone vote against the new tuition structure. There werent many part-time students who participated in the survey, and so I just felt concerned that those folks, theyre going to find out and they might not be too happy, Bustamante said Wednesday in an interview. Some might not be able to take advantage of the incentive due to the fact that theyre part-time students for a reason, which could be they have families, they have full-time jobs. A similar tuition proposal was floated in the spring but shelved after trustees expressed opposition and uncertainty over what the incentives for full-time students would look like. The new rate of $86 per hour is $3 higher than the rate proposed in the spring, resulting in less savings for students than originally proposed. Snyder said the new tuition schedule was designed to be revenue-neutral and that a rate of $85 per hour would have led to a $1 million gap. The summer incentives will be cost-effective for the district in part because most summer classes are not at capacity, so students can be added without hiring additional professors, Snyder said. It may add a little cost to us, but we thought it was worth investing, Snyder said. amalik@express-news.net Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN NEW BRAUNFELS Two women have filed separate lawsuits against Renew Ministries, Celebrate Life Church and its former senior pastor, Terry Knighten, accusing him of engaging in unwanted and nonconsensual sexual relations with them. A person who answered the church phone Tuesday said Knighten was no longer its pastor and referred inquiries on the suits to a Dallas law firm. Knighten, whose Facebook page says he founded the church a decade ago with his wife, Michelle, could not be reached at home. The church takes the allegations seriously and is committed to ensuring the safety of all of its members, attorney Katari Buck of Dallas later said in a prepared statement. RELATED: Driver in crash that killed parents was Fort Sam police supervisor Pastor Mike Foster has replaced Knighten, who resigned Friday as church pastor and president and from its board, Buck wrote, adding Michelle Knighten also resigned from the board. Both of the suits were filed last week by attorney Scott Braden of Austin and seek damages in excess of $1 million for their respective plaintiffs, Amy Arp and Kristen Harvey. Both said they suffered severe emotional distress due to the alleged misconduct by Terry Knighten during marital counseling sessions. Arp, 32, was a church volunteer, employee and member of the churchs 300-person congregation, and had regular sexual relations at the church with Knighten for 10 years, ending in October 2015, her suit says. RELATED: Jury convicts former gang member in killing of nightclub owner The suit by Harvey, 27, says Knighten forced himself on her at his Wilderness Way home a year ago. Each accuses Knighten of breaching a fiduciary duty, assault by offensive physical conduct, negligence and gross negligence, intentional infliction of distress and sexual exploitation by a mental health services provider. Plaintiff will show that the conduct of defendant Knighten was so harassing, outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community, both suits state. Reached by phone, Braden said he didnt know if either plaintiff had reported Knightens alleged conduct to law enforcement authorities. The suits assert other officials with Renew/ Celebration of Life knew or should have known of the alleged sexual misconduct but failed to take steps to protect the plaintiffs. The causes of action against the church and ministry are gross negligence, sexual exploitation by a mental health services provider and negligent hiring, supervising, training and retention. Knightens profile on Facebook describes him as a Florida native who is a gifted communicator, plays guitar, rides a Harley-Davidson and has 20-plus years experience working in churches in various capacities. It says he presents the unadulterated message of Gods Grace and Agape Love in a fresh and liberating format. zeke@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate With less than two weeks to go before the election, interim state Rep. Laura Thompson is out on bond for an assault charge and under scrutiny for past legal issues. Thompson, 58, is an independent candidate seeking to permanently replace Ruth Jones McClendon, the longtime representative in District 120 who stepped down due to health issues this year. Thompson turned herself in last week on a 4-year-old charge of assault causing bodily injury to a family member. She was released on bond. In a phone interview this week, Thompson reiterated that she didnt do it and this was a family matter. According to an affidavit from September 2012, Thompson scratched and struck her niece, Mercedes Robinson, when Robinson came into her office to pick up a paycheck that Thompson said wouldnt be available until the next week. Thompson denied this, saying Robinson apparently had something against her, and said Robinson stole her laptop and iPad. Nonetheless, this isnt the only legal scrap on Thompsons record. A search of criminal records shows five charges related to writing bad checks, dating back to 1991. And the revelations come as Thompson is locked in a fight for District 120 against Democrat Barbara Gervin-Hawkins. Last week, after Thompson was released on bond, Gervin-Hawkins called Thompsons actions a publicity stunt. Now, other legal issues have surfaced. In 1991, Thompson tried to pay for car repairs with a check from an account with insufficient funds. The case was dismissed in 1994 after Thompson paid the full restitution and completed 20 hours of community service, according to court documents. In 1994, Thompson was sentenced to one year of probation after she pleaded guilty to theft between $20 and $200 for writing a check from a closed account. The following year, according to an arrest affadavit, Thompson was accused of issuing bad checks again and was charged with theft from $20 to $500. She pleaded guilty and was given probation again and was required to pay back more than $5,000. The case eventually expired, records show. In 2003 and 2006, two more charges for theft by check were dismissed after she paid the amount back in full. Records also showed a $2,004 federal tax lien in 2010 against Thompson, which she said in an interview was not accurate and should be removed. She said shes current in all of her tax payments. If I had a tax lien from the IRS, I would have received it in the mail, too, she said. But thats taken care of. When asked about the check charges, Thompson at first strongly denied the claims, saying she didnt know the complainants listed in the court documents and had never heard of them. She later said she has written checks, but I paid them. Cases have been dismissed, I kept the documentation. Special election circumstances Thompson won her special election runoff Aug. 2 by 50 votes to earn her temporary position as McClendons replacement, briefly representing the district with 177,000 people. In a special election, the time frame is greatly accelerated, giving voters less time to make careful decisions about candidates, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political scientist. Thompson almost didnt make it to the general election ballot, after the Texas Secretary of State initially declared she didnt have the required 500 signatures to contend as an independent and the Bexar County Democrats filed a motion with the court to review the signatures. A state district judge later ruled to keep Thompson on the ballot. As to Gervin-Hawkins claim of a publicity stunt regarding the assault charge, Thompson replied, Why would I do that? Thats stupid. Why would I put myself in a position to be embarrassed, to be publicly humiliated? Thompson has an arraignment set for Nov. 14. frahman@express-news.net Nothing changed heart care like the development of statin drugs to control the accumulation of cholesterol in blood vessels. Now Houston and Baltimore researchers are hoping a similar strategy will work to prevent Alzheimers disease. In a new study that suggests it may be possible to develop drugs to subdue early-stage processes of the disease long before the first symptoms of Alzheimers are evident, the team of scientists are reporting that in animal models they stopped the build-up of a toxic protein that makes the brain vulnerable to degeneration. Scientists in the field have been focusing mostly on the final stages of Alzheimers disease, said Cristian Lasagna-Reeves, a postdoctoral fellow at Baylor College of Medicine and the lead author of the paper published this month in the journal Neuron. Here we tried to find clues about what is happening at the very early stages of the illness, with the intention of preventing or reducing those early events that lead to devastating changes in the brain decades later. Alzheimers, a degenerative disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior, affects more than 5 million seniors in the U.S., a number expected to triple by 2050. Treatment to temporarily slow the worsening of the disease is available, but there is no cure. Scientists have long known that one of the diseases primary drivers is the protein tau, which tangles in the brain of patients. In the new research, the team of Baylor, Texas Childrens Hospital and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine scientists combed through 600 genes and found one, Nuak1, whose inhibition resulted in reduced levels of tau. The team confirmed the finding in mice genetically engineered with the equivalent of Alzheimers. While an untreated group developed symptoms at eight months, those that had the Nuak1 gene knocked out exhibited no change in behavior and suffered no brain degeneration. Dr. Huda Zoghbi, a geneticist-neuroscientist at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Childrens and the studys senior author, said the finding suggests it may be possible to treat people at risk for Alzheimers. When people started taking drugs that lower cholesterol, they lived longer and healthier lives rather than dying earlier of heart disease, Zoghbi said. Nobody has thought about Alzheimers disease in that light. Maybe if we can find drugs that can keep tau at levels that are not toxic for the brain, we can prevent or delay the development of Alzheimers and other diseases. Todd.ackerman@chron.com Twitter.com/ChronMed AUSTIN In an unprecedented move, a special squad of state police is slated to fan out today to locate more than 2,800 children statewide who are reported to be at a high risk of being abused or neglected, all of whom have been on lengthy waiting lists for state intervention, officials confirmed. The development came after members of the powerful Senate Finance Committee during a fiery hearing Wednesday demanded that Henry Hank Whitman Jr., commissioner of the state Department of Family and Protective Services, take immediate action to locate the children. Some of the children are under the age of 6 and have been reported as likely victims of abuse or neglect, but state child-protection caseworkers have not yet contacted them because of staffing shortages some for weeks, even months. In Region 8, an area that includes San Antonio, 59 children who were categorized as highest risk meaning Child Protective Services is required to send a caseworker within 24 hours had not been seen at all, according to a one-day snapshot of the statistics on Oct. 17, said a CPS spokeswoman. Caseworkers had not visited 342 children who were at the next lowest level of risk, who by state statute are supposed to be seen within 48 hours. An even larger group of children were not seen in a timely manner in Region 8, the data show. Caseworkers failed to check on 197 priority one children within the required time frame, and 1,503 priority two children. Expressing outrage and an urgency not seen since a sex-abuse scandal at the Texas Youth Commission in 2007, the Senate committee ordered Whitman to come up with a new plan to address the myriad of problems in his agency within a day. The youth agency was put into a receivership due its deep and chronic operational and management problems. In the current crisis, a five-member work group of senators will review Whitmans new plans starting today for expedited implementation, even as a federal court in Corpus Christi appears poised later this year to order its own, more costly solution to Texas chronic foster-care problems. With state revenues already strained by a drop in oil prices and a sluggish economy, the foster-care fix promises to be another big-ticket item that must be addressed when the Legislature convenes in January. In all, some senators said the additional funding needed for all state programs could total $4 billion or more. Get the National Guard or the Texas Rangers or whoever out to each house to see these kids now, demanded Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, echoing the sentiments of other committee members who expressed outrage that so many children had potentially been left in abusive situations. Hell, they may die before we get there. Within hours, Whitman told senators he had received a commitment from Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, for a team of criminal investigators to help lead the search starting today. Additional local agencies may also be enlisted to assist. The call to action came after Whitman testified that as of Wednesday, 2,844 at-risk children had not yet been seen by child-protection caseworkers despite allegations of neglect or abuse. State law generally requires high-risk cases to be seen within 24 to 48 hours, officials said. It sickens me to know there are children out there who are not being seen, Whitman said, even as senators quickly and harshly criticized him for not taking faster action to find the children. Whitman has headed the agency for five months, during which time the so-called missing children lists have continued. Whitman said many of the children may be difficult to find because relatives may have left town with them to avoid answering state-child protection investigators. But I think the message here was clear, so were going to move to find them, he said. Whitman said he hopes that most of the children can be located and interviewed within a week. Even then, a management and operational crisis at his agency will take much longer to resolve. Testimony on Wednesday indicated that caseworkers continue to quit in droves because of oppressive management practices and low pay, delay in implementing reorganization plans and because of continuing operational shortfalls in urban areas. A Corpus Christi federal judge last December declared the states foster-care system unconstitutional because of repeated failures that have left hundreds of at-risk youths without state intervention or services. Whitman has requested permission to hire an additional 800 employees, including 550 front-line investigators, to address the problems. But officials testified Wednesday that the agency also continues to be plagued by a shortage of housing for the foster-care youths, with scores forced to sleep in state offices or motels because foster-care parents and other housing is unavailable. Committee Chairman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, was among the senators pointedly demanding immediate action to make contact with the waiting-list children. This is unacceptable that we have kids that we have not set eyes on, she snapped at Whitman at one point. Find these children tonight. Well stop building roads and bridges if we have to to find the funds we need for these children. Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, said finding the missing children many of whom are at high risk of continued sexual or physical abuse cannot happen fast enough. They are hiding under the bed begging, praying for someone to come see them, he said. We have to do that. Repeatedly blasted by senators for not taking faster action, an exasperated Whitman said at one point that he loses sleep over the continuing problems in a system that the state has provided additional funding, but where problems have only grown. Beat on me. I dont care, Whitman said at one point. But Im telling you right now, we need help. In new disclosures Wednesday that heightened senators concerns about the safety of foster children already in the system, Whitmire revealed that Texas Rangers called last weekend to investigate abuse allegations at a residential-treatment center in Crockett confirmed that underage youths were regularly engaging in sex at night in a chapel Boys and boys, girls and boys. It was a brothel, he said because of lax supervision. In addition, he said a 17-year-old foster-care youth at the center has been arrested as a suspect in an Austin bank robbery after he bragged about his crime to fellow students at a local high school. The center, located in a former state juvenile prison, houses more than three dozen foster-care youths with high needs, officials said, most of whom have serious emotional and behavioral issues, have been victims of sexual or physical abuse and who have been in and out of jail. Confidential reports showed last month they range in age from 10 to 17. That place is a danger to the students, the workers and the community, said Whitmire, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee that oversees the states adult and juvenile prisons. Its a horrible situation. Many of these kids did nothing wrong other than not have a family to care for them, and even though they have high needs, we should not have them in a situation that makes them worse. Whitman confirmed the allegations are under investigation, but said details are confidential by state law. Mike.ward@chron.com AUSTIN Texas House Speaker Joe Straus on Wednesday asked the Texas Education Agency to immediately stop penalizing school districts for providing special education services to more than 8.5 percent of students. In a letter, Straus implored Education Commissioner Mike Morath to modify or suspend the enrollment benchmark in a school district monitoring system while agency officials conduct an in-depth review and state lawmakers decide how to respond to a Hearst Newspapers investigation that found the policy has led schools to keep tens of thousands of children with disabilities out of critical services. Students should not be denied the services they need, said Straus, R-San Antonio. I urge you, immediately, to either make significant changes to the specific indicator in the monitoring system that is being cited as a reason schools are denying needed services to students, or to suspend use of this indicator in the monitoring system until the Legislature and the agency can come up with a more lasting solution. The letter put a new level of pressure on the TEA, which already has been ordered by the federal government to end the enrollment target unless it can prove that no eligible child has been deprived of services. The agency has until Nov. 3 to respond. On Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed concern in a statement about the TEAs 8.5 percent enrollment benchmark, creating a rare area of agreement between the leaders of the state House and state Senate. Gov. Greg Abbott, who appointed Morath and holds by far the most influence with the agency, has declined to weigh in on the percentage of Texas students in special education, by far the lowest in America. On Wednesday, TEA spokesman Gene Acuna would not say whether the agency would suspend or end the target. TEA is working with special education advisory groups for feedback and guidance on all aspects of special education policy, Acuna said in a statement. Commissioner Morath continues to discuss this specific issue with parents and educators throughout the state. He is committed to ensuring those students who qualify for special education services get them. The speakers letter, the federal governments order and the lieutenant governors statement came in response to a six-month Hearst newspaper investigation that disclosed how TEA officials quietly implemented the 8.5 percent benchmark as part of the Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System in 2004 at a time when they were facing a $1.1 billion state budget cut. They did not publicly disclose implementation of the benchmark, consult with lawmakers or the federal government, or cite any research to justify what advocates have described as a de facto cap, the investigation found. Federal law obligates all public schools to provide special education to all eligible children with disabilities. No other state has ever set an enrollment target. As part of its directive, the federal government also told state officials to report on how many school districts may have denied services to students with disabilities and how they plan to remedy the effect of such past practices. Over the past 12 years, TEA officials have aggressively penalized school districts that served too many kids, requiring many above the benchmark to write Corrective Action Plans describing how they will bring down their special education enrollments. Hearst Newspapers found districts have responded through a variety of methods: making student evaluations more difficult; transferring children to less expensive alternatives, and purging the rolls of disabled children who have been forced back into regular education. In the years since the benchmarks implementation, the percentage of students receiving services has plummeted from near the national average of 13 percent to exactly 8.5 percent. Louisianas rate is 11.1 percent, Arkansass is 13.7 percent, Oklahomas is 15.1 percent and New Mexicos is 13.9 percent. Maine and Massachusetts have the nations highest rate for special education, each at 17.5 percent. If Texas still provided services at the same rate as the rest of the nation, more than 250,000 more children here would be getting tutoring, counseling and therapy. Earlier Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston, a liberal Democrat, added her voice to a growing chorus of concern, exhorting the state not to fight the federal government. My advice to TEA is not to waste time trying to defend the indefensible; the arbitrary 8.5 cap cannot be justified in 30 days or 300 days because it is wrong legally and morally and an example of invidious discrimination against the most vulnerable members of society, said Jackson Lee, calling for the state to make amends for the legal injuries already sustained by Texas special needs students. In his letter, Straus, who already had spoken out against the benchmark, said the House would make it a priority to address special education in the legislative session that begins in January even if it requires additional resources. The speaker said he understood the TEAs concerns that there has been overidentification of children in special education in the past, but he said that was not a reason not to suspend the policy immediately. In its investigation, Hearst Newspapers found no evidence that there has been systemic over-identification in Texas 1,200 school districts. Even before the benchmark went into effect in 2004, Texas provided specialized education to a lower percentage of students than the national average. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisles praised the speakers move including state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, one of the most conservative members of the Legislature. I applaud the speaker, said Democratic representative Poncho Nevarez of Eagle Pass. Its what these families needed. Now its our turn to make sure that an arbitrary number isnt the end all be all for their education. Advocates for people with disabilities also thanked Straus. We laud Speaker Straus leadership on this issue and are grateful that the Texas House of Representatives understands the harmful consequences of an arbitrary cap on special education enrollment, said Kyle Piccola of the Arc of Texas, an advocacy group. Denying students with disabilities access to special education services is not only unlawful, it hurts Texas students who are already facing unique challenges. We are wasting the potential of these students who would benefit from these services. WASHINGTON The fight to retake Raqqa, the Syrian city that serves as the capital of the Islamic State, must begin soon within weeks to disrupt planning believed to be underway there to stage terrorist attacks on the West, senior Defense Department and military officials said Wednesday. Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, declined to name a specific threat against Western targets emanating from Raqqa, but described a sense of urgency. He said it was imperative that operations to isolate the city begin soon to prevent attacks on the West that could be launched from or planned inside the militants capital. In announcing that the fight to retake Raqqa is imminent, U.S. officials are sweeping aside objections from Turkey and moving forward with plans to rely on a ground fighting force that includes Kurdish militia fighters in Syria. The Turkish government, which has become a complicated ally in the fight against the Islamic State, fears aspirations for autonomy may spread among its own Kurdish population. Townsend stressed that Kurdish militia fighters will be a part of the ground force used to isolate Raqqa. Were going to go with who can go, whos willing to go soon, Townsend told reporters at the Pentagon during a video news briefing from Baghdad. And then, once we get the initial isolation in position, well look at how we prosecute the operation further. The politics of the matter have bedeviled U.S. military planners trying to thread a needle through decades-old enmity between the Turks and the Kurds. Turkey regards the Syrian Kurdish fighters, known collectively as the YPG, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, the Kurdish rebel group that has sought autonomy from Turkey since the 1980s. Ankara has demanded that the YPG not take part in the fight to retake Raqqa. But U.S. military officials say the YPG are the best fighters they have. The facts are these, Townsend said. The only force that is capable on any near-term timeline is the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG are a significant portion. While the Kurdish militia will make up the bulk of the operation, Townsend said many of the more than 300 U.S. Special Operations forces now in Syria would help recruit, train and equip local forces in and around Raqqa who are predominantly Syrian Arabs. The impending operation is further complicated, some independent experts say, because neither the Turks nor the Syrian Kurds view the recapture of Raqqa as one of their top priorities unlike Washington. The Syrian Kurdish YPG do not truly desire to shed blood to capture a majority-Sunni Arab city far from their vision of their autonomous borders, while Turkey cares about the operation only insofar as the Syrian Kurdish YPG is not allowed to participate in it, said Christopher Kozak, a Syria researcher at the Institute for the Study of War. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said in Brussels on Wednesday that the offensive to oust the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, from Raqqa would begin within weeks. This is, as always, a matter when youre positioning forces and so forth, we have a plan to do that and a schedule to do that, Carter told reporters. Were going to execute to that plan. Carter met with the Turkish defense minister, Fikri Isik, and French defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Brussels on Wednesday, where he emphasized the need for the coalition to maintain pressure on ISIL on multiple fronts, according to a Pentagon news release. All sides agreed to maintain frequent communication on the full range of security interests, and to continue their close coordination and continued transparency in the coalition effort to deal ISIL a lasting defeat, the statement said. A U.S. military official said the Raqqa operation would take place in roughly three phases. Phase one, he said, is what the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State has been doing for months: preparatory airstrikes in and around Raqqa to knock out command-and-control and fighting positions. Phase two, to begin in the coming weeks, will be to isolate Raqqa with the available forces mostly Syrian Kurds, with Syrian Arabs, too. Phase three will be the fight for Raqqa itself, which U.S. officials say they hope will be conducted mostly by Syrian Arabs, given that the city is majority Sunni Arab. Townsend compared Islamic State plotting in Raqqa to planning by the group in Manbij, which was retaken from the Islamic State in August. Manbij was the last stop on the route out of Syria for Islamic State militants headed to Europe. But the actual plotting regularly began in Raqqa. Militants moved from there to Manbij before slipping over the border into Turkey and then onward to Europe. Plotting underway in Raqqa now, Townsend said, is not unlike what emanated from Manbij before that city was retaken. Coming out of Manbij, we found links to individuals and plot streams to France, the United States, other European countries, he said. We know that this is going on in Raqqa as well, Townsend said. And so I think thats why its necessary to get down there to Raqqa. The Raqqa fight will take place even as the fight for Mosul, next door in Iraq, is ongoing, U.S. military planners say. Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, said last week that it was extraordinarily important to keep simultaneous pressure on Mosul and Raqqa, if not with ground forces, as with Mosul, at least with a steady pounding of airstrikes. Votel acknowledged the challenges of dealing with two pivotal allies in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria who essentially loathe each other the Turks and the Syrian Kurds. One of his main goals now, he said, is to maintain momentum and to keep everyone moving in the right direction. As I read an article this morning about a conference in Canada to explore that countrys first-ever national food policy, I felt a little like what I imagine teachers and principals feel when people expect schools to solve students moral and behavioral problems. Overwhelmed. Just like we want schools to solve all social woes, it seems like modern society wants food and farming to solve all health and food insecurity problems. And climate change and the environment. And racial inequality and injustice. And, well, you get the picture. The Food Secure Canada recently gathered hundreds of activists, environmentalists and academics, as The Globe and Mail article put it, to discuss what they would like to see in a national food policy. Note the absence of the word farmers. Food policy can help us solve some of the most intractable problems we are facing as a country, and as a planet, Food Secure Canada Executive Director Diana Bronson is quoted as saying. More than one speaker demanded structural and systemic change, writes reporter Ann Hui. This wasnt anything I hadnt read before. But the push in Canada is to have a new committee, chaired by Greg Meredith, an assistant deputy minister at Agriculture Canada, create a new national food policy that addresses everything. Poverty, obesity, the environment, biodiversity, water scarcity, food safety, natural resources conservation, farm worker programs you name it, the expectation is that this new policy will cover it. According to the article, Meredith hinted his focus will be on four areas: food security, the environment, sustainable growth in the food and agriculture sector, and health. And he said his agency will work closely with other federal departments, like Health Canada and Environment Canada. And I thought about those bureaucrats and activists and environmentalists, and their loud voices about farmings future, when I read another article, this one in the Erie Times-News, in Erie, Pennsylvania, headlined, Erie County farmers struggle as milk prices remain low. The article detailed the struggle of all dairy farmers right now, in this multi-year period of low milk prices. Citing numbers from the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the article says Erie County alone lost nearly 100 dairy farms between 2002 and 2012, dropping from 170 to 73. And that was before the latest cycle of low prices hit in 2015. Statewide in that time period, Pennsylvania lost nearly 2,000 dairy farms. I looked up Ohios stats, and the Buckeye State also lost dairy farms during that time period: 2,425 of them. Once again, these numbers are from four years ago. This is not a good time, Erie County dairyman Dean Curtis told local reporter Jim Martin. We are losing farmers right and left. Pretty soon there arent going to be any left. Farmers are no strangers to cycles and periods of low prices. Most are pretty conservative when it comes to expansion and major purchases, but you also have to spend money to make money, as the old adage goes. Still, when youre just trying to pay the bills, its hard to wrap your head around everything that the outsiders are saying agriculture should be doing, and questioning the farming communitys social license, or right to farm in a way thats sustainable and profitable for that individual farm. Why doesnt the general public trust us with the role of producing food in the best way we know how? Its a labor of love, said Dean Curtis in the Erie article. We love our cows. We love the farm. I love the ground. We dont make much money at it, but its the way we live. We cant save the world when were trying to save ourselves. Editor: I find it truly amazing that both of you have continued to let Government agencies discriminate and bully animal owners in Ohio. When directly contacted you did nothing to help them out. You were put into office to be the voice of the people. As farmers and animal owners of Ohio, we look to you for assistance, but you wont even speak with us even when we request to through your website. Just so the readers have an understanding of what Im talking about, I have friends that raise and sell animals. Government employees of the USDA have discriminated and harassed them for nearly a year. They reached out to every level of USDA with no help. Finally, they reached out to you Sen. Portman for help and all you did was place the very issue back into the hands of those who did the discrimination and bullying. They reached out to Secretary Vilsack but all he did was hand it off to USDA Human Resources who did not even bother to contact them about the issue. Because you, Sen. Brown, sit on the Agriculture Committee, they reached out to you next, and surprise, you did nothing. As we approach election time, you would think that at least one of you, if not both, would jump on the chance to end government corruption and oversight. Instead you both turned a blind eye to the issue. Maybe what we as Ohioans need to do is flood your offices through election day with phone calls demanding an investigation into why USDA is allowed to discriminate and bully Ohio farmers and animal owners. Maybe there are more farmers out there in the same situation and just need to know there are others before they speak out. So lets do it Ohio farmers. Lets defend our rights and let the senators know we dont stand for government discrimination and bullying. It is time that government agencies did their jobs and not overstep their authority given by law. Michael Dustman for Portman can be reached at 800-205-6446. John Patterson for Brown can be reached at 888-896-6446. If youre not in Ohio and have been bullied or discriminated against by USDA, get in touch with your senators and demand an investigation be opened. Stand up America and push back. Research Linda Faillace and what USDA bullying did to her and her animals, or Robert Lorsch and his helping the Wildlife WayStation. I encourage any response from Portman or Brown, and I would be happy to get you in touch directly with my friends who have all their proof, but I know they already sent them to you via registered mail so you already have it. Maybe you should read it. Milana Christian Big Prairie, Ohio NORTH CANTON, Ohio Stark State Colleges ShaleNET Share project, which increases access to the innovative ShaleNET oil and gas industry curriculum, is expanding. Belmont College has joined Stark State, Eastern Gateway Community College and Hocking College as an education partner, while Chevron Corporation has joined the group as an industry partner, adding $215,000 in funding to the $506,483 awarded in August by Ohios Education Innovation program. A key architect of ShaleNET, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, also has joined the ShaleNET Share partnership. Through resource-sharing, the project leverages the equipment and technology in Stark State Colleges $3.7 million Well Site Training Lab to provide state-of-the-art, industry-driven oil and gas education and training to students at Eastern Gateway, Hocking and now Belmont, expanding education and training opportunities at the lowest possible cost to students and the state. 80 students This collaborative approach will enable up to 80 students annually to earn a ShaleNET measurement and mechatronics technician AAS degree and a ShaleNET instrumentation and measurement technician certificate by completing 40 hours of core/technical classes at their home institutions and 20 hours of field-specific, hands-on courses at Stark State College. The Ohio Department of Higher Education selected the ShaleNET Share project for funding because it meets Gov. John Kasichs higher education strategy of promoting educational excellence and economic efficiency and stabilizing or reducing student tuition rates at colleges and universities. Oil and gas industry partners Chevron and Allegheny Conference on Human Development are keenly interested in the innovative educational approach the project represents, and Ohios foresight in piloting the concept. Stark State courses are provided through a Web4/Fast-Track Friday blended approach. Boot camp An accelerated oil and gas technical summer boot camp at Stark States Well Site Training Center will give EGCC, Hocking and Belmont students hands-on field experience. Housing and limited transportation through Malone University and other partners will be offered to students as part of the summer boot-camp program. Students graduating from the program will possess the technical skills needed for midstream and downstream positions in the oil and gas industry and related industries, including advanced manufacturing. The mechatronics skills gained through this program can be applied to Ohios manufacturing, transport and plastics industries. Stark State. Stark State College is one of four ShaleNET hubs in the country supported by a U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training grant and offering oil and gas industry-approved curriculum. Working in partnership with Navarro College of Texas, and Pennsylvania College of Technology and Westmoreland County Community College in Pennsylvania, the consortium provides oil and gas education programs in several of the countrys most active shale plays. Articulation agreements between consortium members provide students the flexibility to continue their education at any of the partner institutions. SALEM, Ohio In less than two weeks, Americans will decide the next leader of our nation and bring to an end one of the most historic and beleaguered presidential campaigns in American history. It features businessman and TV personality Donald Trump as the Republican nominee, and former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Both candidates have traded jabs over the issues of job creation, the economy, civil rights, national defense, and, of course, each others character. Since the new leader will have significant influence over farm policy, we felt it necessary to take a look at their position on issues that matter to farmers and rural America. These position statements were adopted from surveys conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation, campaign websites and The Associated Press. Farm and Dairy does not endorse a particular candidate, and encourages a thorough review of each candidates position, by visiting each candidates website. Clinton on trade < > < > 1 View Clinton on trade 2 View Trump on trade 3 View Clinton on immigration 4 View Trump on immigration 5 View Trump on energy 6 View Clinton on energy 7 View Clinton on clean water 8 View Trump on clean water 9 View Clinton on food safety 10 View Trump on food safety 11 View Trump on farm bill 12 View Clinton on farm bill 13 View Trump on biotechnology Trump on biotechnology 14 View Clinton on biotechnology 15 View Trump on taxes 16 View Clinton on taxes Farm bill Trump: Plans to be an active participant in writing the next farm bill, and also delivering it on time. Supports a strong safety net for farmers and believes his Agriculture Advisory Committee represents ag issues across the country and in local communities. Clinton: Says the farm bill presents an incredibly important opportunity to set both ag and rural development policy priorities, which are central to the nations economy, energy and food security. Believes in a focused safety net for farmers and ranchers by targeting federal resources in commodity payment, crop insurance, and disaster assistance programs. Biotechnology and GMO approval Trump: I support the use of technology in food production, which has enabled American farmers to increase yields to levels never before experienced in the history of the world. Through innovation, American farmers are producing crops more resilient to drought, heat, and pests. Government should not block positive technological advancements in agriculture. Agency reviews need to be streamlined with all unnecessary red-tape cut out. Clinton: Our goal should be to find policy solutions that are grounded in science and respect consumers. She supports a national solution to the GMO labeling question, one that provides consistency to food companies and consumers across state lines. She supports the bipartisan work that has already been done on this issue. Taxes Trump: Is intent on cutting taxes. Hed collapse the current seven income tax brackets, which peak at 39.6 percent, into three tiers with a top rate of 33 percent, slice the corporate income tax and eliminate the estate tax. Clinton: Is proposing tax increases on the rich, including a minimum 30 percent tax on incomes over $1 million and higher taxes on big inheritances. Most taxpayers would see little or no impact on their tax bill, but the government might look different. Food safety, food security and food choice Trump: Plans to be a pro-agriculture Administration. As president, he intends to fight for American farmers and their families. Says that through hard work, persistence and innovation, and making wise use of our nations God-given lands and resources, American farmers are the best in the world at what they do. Says that growing the farm sector and supporting the nations farmers are critical steps to making America great again. He opposes unwarranted government mandates that hurt farmers and confuse consumers, such as mandatory biotech labeling. He plans to fight for tax reform that reduces tax burdens on American farmers, and end the death tax. Clinton: Says that the ingenuity of Americas farmers and ranchers has provided consumers across the world with access to better, safer, and a wider variety of food options than ever before. She believes that supporting that ingenuity goes hand in hand with ensuring food quality and safety. She wants to increase the investment in basic and applied research that makes agricultural advancements possible. She will also fight to ensure that Americas farmers and ranchers of all sizes have the tools they need to succeed. Specifically, that means expanding access to capital; investing in rural transportation, water, and broadband infrastructure; and continuing to make progress in targeting federal resources in commodity payment, crop insurance, and disaster assistance programs. Immigration reform and ag labor Trump: Says he recognizes the labor challenges that farmers face and vows to include farmers in setting new policy. He says open borders are wreaking havoc on our rural communities, and putting stress on state and local government services. He offers a three-prong solution that involves building a wall across the southern border, enforcing constitutional laws, and developing an immigration plan that improves jobs, wages and security for Americans. Clinton: Plans to introduce comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to full and equal citizenship within the first 100 days in office. Her plan seeks to fix the family visa backlog, uphold the rule of law, protect the borders and national security, and bring millions of hard-working people into the formal economy. She says that reform is necessary for both farm owners and farm employees, and to ensure American farmers can continue to provide affordable, fresh foods. Trade and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trump: Plans to defend the economic interests of American workers and farmers on the world stage. Vows to fight against unfair trade deals and foreign trade practices that disadvantage the U.S. On TPP: I strongly oppose TPP as drafted. Clinton: Plans to crack down on foreign countries who cheat the rules by appointing a new trade prosecutor. She has also established a plan to stop rewarding U.S. companies for moving jobs overseas. On TPP: Believes any trade deal must create American jobs, raise wages and improve our national security. Opposes TPP because of concerns over currency manipulation and pharmaceuticals, and a rules of origin standard on automobiles. Energy and farm-grown fuels Trump: Wants to implement an America-First Energy Plan that enables the U.S. to become the worlds leader in energy production and gets the government out of the way of innovation. Plans to restore the role of U.S. coal, rescind President Obamas executive actions and regulations on energy, including the Climate Action Plan and Waters of the U.S. rule, and lift moratoriums on energy production in federal areas. He also supports the Keystone XL Pipeline, and wants to ensure affordable, reliable energy from all major sources, including farm-grown fuels like ethanol. Clinton: Recognizes the critical role that farm communities play in energy production, including wind farms. Vows to continue the progress, by launching a $60 billion Clean Energy Challenge to forge new federal partnerships with states, cities and rural communities, to provide options to cut emissions and expand clean energy. Vows to ensure the federal government is a partner, not an obstacle in getting low-cost renewable energy from rural places, to the rest of the country. She will defend the Clean Power Plan, and investments in advanced biofuels research, as well as the Renewable Fuel Standard. Clean water Trump: Plans to appoint a pro-farmer administrator of EPA and then eliminate the unconstitutional Waters of the U.S. rule, which he says was unlawfully used in making jurisdictional decisions about which waters are federally regulated. He says he will also ensure federal agencies respect exclusions to farmers found in environmental statutes for agricultural practices. He plans to ensure clean water for all Americans by working with states, to achieve shared, common-sense environmental goals. Clinton: Says the Clean Water Act, under which Waters of the U.S. falls, is one of the most successful environmental regulations, helping fulfill the basic right of all Americans to access clean water. She plans to defend safe water for everyone, while also maintaining long-standing exemptions for common farming practices, and to continue pushing for more clarity within the law. Focus on Ag: What the worsening drought conditions really tell us Drought conditions in the Midwest have worsened over the last few months, but Kent Thiesse says the long-term impact of drought isn't always understood. Nearly three-quarters of the general public believe farmers should continue to be funded by the tax payer once the UK leaves the EU, according to a new opinion poll. Just over 2000 UK adults were asked in early October by independent market research agency Populus, which was conducted for Bayer, whether taxpayers should continue to fund UK farmers to grow food and/or look after the environment once it leaves the EU, with 74% suggesting funding should continue. This is perhaps surprisingly positive backing for UK farmers retaining funding, given the rhetoric about Brexit and the referendum, said Dr Julian Little, Bayers Head of Communications and Government Affairs for Crop Science. But only 9% of those polled suggested there were more important things to be spending tax payers money on. The poll will give confidence for the farming industry to make strong representations to government for a support payment system post-2020. Concerns about food security The public were also asked whether food production or looking after the environment, or both, should be the focus for the funding. It was encouraging to see that both were considered important by the majority of those who suggested funding should continue (41%), but there was also strong support for food production as the focus compared to looking after the environment (22% versus 11%)," said Dr Little. Clearly the general public is concerned about food security in the wake of Brexit, and how we will feed a growing world population in the future, using fewer resources and with less available land, said Dr Little. Those answers mirrored other questions in the survey, which suggested that the overwhelming number of respondents thought it was important that the UK produced its own food (96%), and that farmers were important to the UK economy and way of life (95%). This survey shows the high regard farmers are held within this country, and the importance the public attaches to what they do. Agriculture must have a strong voice in the upcoming Brexit negotiations, Dr Little said, and we are keen to play our part, Dr Little concluded. Syngenta has said its takeover by the state-owned China National Chemical Corporation could be delayed until early 2017. ChemChina said they are ready to offer more concessions to win European Union antitrust approval for its $43 billion bid. "In a context of industry consolidation, regulators in the EU and elsewhere have recently requested a large amount of additional information and we now expect the regulatory process to extend into the first quarter of 2017," Syngenta chief executive Erik Fyrwald said in a statement. "ChemChina and Syngenta remain fully committed to the transaction and are confident of its closure." Previously, the company had expected the deal to close by the end of this year. In an interview Tuesday, Mr Fyrwald said that the announcement in September of the proposed acquisition prompted more requests for information 'than we'd ever seen before' from regulators. Syngenta shares have been trading below the value of the ChemChina takeover offer on concern that regulators could significantly delay or even block the transaction. The Monsanto takeover of Bayer had changed the shape of the agrichemicals sector and the EU Commission would therefore take more time to look into the ChemChina-Syngenta deal. Meadow Quality the farmer controlled multi-species livestock marketing business based in Warwickshire, is celebrating its 40th year in business by launching its new film Its all about Meadow Quality. Filmed at various sites, including head office in Warwickshire, the Calf Collection Centre in Chippenham and with the help of a number of our farmer producers, it reflects the unique livestock marketing service which Meadow Quality has been offering since its formation. Established in 1975 by a group of Worcestershire farmers as Meadow Valley Livestock, the livestock marketing co-operative had the aim of allying producers more closely to their end consumer and the mission of providing members with a secure market at the highest possible long term return. Back then, the company worked closely with two processors and employed a full time manager and a part time fieldsman! '100% farmer owned business' Today, Meadow Quality Limited remains a 100% farmer owned business unique in its size and scale. Covering Calf, Cattle, Sheep and Pig marketing, Meadow Quality Limited is based in Warwickshire and employs 35 people full time across England and Wales. The company continues to grow its membership annually, and currently markets around half a million animals each year, with an annual turnover of around 83 million. Chief Executive Officer, Matt Nightingale, commented: As a Stratford-upon-Avon based, 100% Farmer owned business we have experienced many changes over the past 4 decades and had to cope with major events such as BSE and the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak of 2001. However, it is testament to the resolve of the industry and the employees of the business that we are continuing to thrive, as British Agriculture enters its next major phase of change in the remainder of this decade, learning to adapt and operate outside of the European Union and its Common Agricultural Policy. The business will continue to work as hard as ever for its Farmer members to provide Consumers with high quality British produce that is now in increasing demand. Two Northern Irish farmers have been jailed following convictions for a range of animal welfare offences. The two farmers, from Armagh, were convicted at Armagh Magistrates Court on the 25 October. Both farmers received five months imprisonment on six charges and three months imprisonment on three charges, to run concurrently. The farmers have been disqualified from keeping all animals for life, and the government was awarded a deprivation order in respect of nine animals currently in its possession. They have both been fined a combined total sum of 2000. The case arose as a result of an anonymous complaint about the welfare of the animals kept on the premises. Bird flu: Poultry housing order to be introduced in England Face-to-face meetings with Mr Lewis were organised through Mr Cowper's office partly to counter a perception by some in the dairy industry the only thing the State Government and its officials have done for the three was to harass them over welfare of cows being dried off and sent to slaughter and threaten them not to tip unwanted milk into drains. "To date we have expressed concern about the proposal by the WA government to offer the new owner of the Port of Fremantle the first right to develop a new port south of Fremantle in the future," he said. "My focus as the chair will be to look at areas where there is federal government jurisdiction, so we can make changes, and at topics that are important to agriculture and implement changes to make a difference," Mr Wilson said. The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement. Support What does a more efficient Caleb Love look like for the Tar Heels? A few years ago sugar indulgence was associated with fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits, sweets, ice cream, gooey puddings and peculiar shaped children's cereal. However revelations continue to out supermarket products that have been concealing their considerable sugar content. Sugar Snub Eating Out Guide With the population consuming 2.5 times the amount of sugar the World Health Organisation and UK Government advise, and obesity and type 2 diabetes projections set to soar, it's imperative to have transparency of our food ingredients and their effect on our health and wellbeing. New guidance is helping us learn the types of sugar to be avoided; from this we can shop and cook sugar smart. Be aware of these offenders: Fruit Juice Long considered a staple on the breakfast table, and assumed an easy way to get a hit of Vitamin C. Fruit juice is actually considered a 'free sugar', meaning the natural fruit sugar fructose has been released without the fibre. Salad Dressings Chances are you are drizzling up to 30% sugar over your frisee and radicchio. Stick with flavoured olive oil and full fat mayonnaise. Low Fat Products When fat is removed from food it tastes like cardboard, adding sugar solved that problem. Shame sugar is now a major cause of heart disease, not fat. Granola Who'd have thought the healthy oats, seeds and fruit, hastily consumed in the morning, were bound by so much sugar that you may as well have been chomping on coco pops. Tinned soup A tin of Heinz tomato soup contains 5 teaspoons of sugar, not quite the winter warmer our pancreas desires. Breakfast Bars With breakfast on the go an increasing necessity, a proliferation of instant options fill the aisles. Read the labels carefully as many are loaded with sugar. Honey There are some health benefits but not sufficient to justify frequent consumption. It's 80% sugar, a large quantity of which is fructose which we haven't evolved without an appetite hormone 'off switch' for. Mild curries If you're a fan of a korma or butter chicken dish from the takeaway, take heed that sugar is often added to provide flavour. Condiments Certain dish accompaniments are obviously high in sugar, mango chutney (58%), but some may still provide a shock - Waitrose Essential Mint Jelly packs 69% sugar. Iced Frappe's Coca Cola is the greatest sugar offender named and shamed, however if you pop into a high street coffee shop and choose an iced frappe you will be consuming 50% more sugar than a can of coke - 14tsp! Claire White - Sugar Snub Claire White, founder of Sugar Snub, offers talks to employees in London and the South East. Working closely with the Sugar Smart Campaign, backed by Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. For more information contact [email protected] Author of the acclaimed Sugar Snub Food Guide and Sugar Snub Eating Out Guide. Mail on Sunday "essential reading". Available from www.sugarsnub.co.uk, and Amazon. Sarah Ferguson insists her daughter Princess Eugenie is not engaged. Sarah Ferguson Despite reports that 26-year-old Eugenie's long-term boyfriend Jack Brooksbank, 29, has popped the question after six years of dating, her mother Sarah says the pair are not planning to wed just yet. When asked by PEOPLE if they are engaged, Sarah laughed and said: "No." However, sources close to the royal family are full of praise for Jack. An insider said: "He is a really lovely chap. They adore each other and are really serious." Meanwhile, Sarah has spoken about how proud she is of her daughters. She said: "My daughters are the finest ambassadors of good parenting from Andrew and I. "Beatrice just raised a great deal of money for her charity Big Change, doing a Strive Challenge with the Bransons. And then she went with the Franks Foundation to eye hospitals in Nepal. And she has scoliosis of the spine and she does an awful lot for orthopaedic research. They are very extraordinary girls." Eugenie and Jack reportedly flew to Queen Elizabeth's home in Scotland last month to ask for her blessing on their forthcoming engagement. The loved-up couple spent two days at the monarch's Balmoral Castle because Eugenie's cousin Prince Harry was hosting a shooting party to celebrate his 32nd birthday, but it's believed Jack took advantage of the time by asking his lover's famous grandmother for her approval. An insider at the castle said: "You could call this weekend a rite of passage for Jack. There is no way he would be invited to stay with the Queen unless he was being welcomed into the royal fold and the bosom of the family." However, a friend of Jack admitted that he was riddled with nerves ahead of his visit to Balmoral. The pal explained: "You could say he was somewhat apprehensive about going to Balmoral. But Jack has no side to him and will just be himself." Famous faces from stage, screen and the beauty industry have got together for a new campaign for animal welfare charity, Naturewatch Foundation to highlight the unnecessary use of animals in cosmetic testing. Vegan on Female First Australia, Israel, Norway and the EU have already banned the sale and importation of cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients that are tested on animals. With that said, many countries still allow animals to suffer from painful testing all for the sake of beauty. The fact is- there is no need to do this- cruelty free cosmetics are just as good if not better than ones tested on animals- as revealed in the Compassion over Cruelty film. Consumers can feel confident that buying compassionate cosmetics doesn't mean sacrificing cruelty. The charity asked for the help of top hair stylist Daniel Field, and make-up artist to the stars Alexa Riva Ravina to put cruelty-free, compassionate, cosmetics to the test. Those who volunteered for a cruelty-free makeover included actress, Rula Lenska, model Daryna Milgevska, and comedian Jake Yapp, who all put their faith - and faces - in Daniel and Alexa's hands. The resulting film, presented by filmmaker and wildlife expert Anneka Svenska and produced by GreenWorld TV proves you can choose compassion over cruelty, and look fabulous too! Watch it now! Rula Lenska, star of Compassion Over Cruelty, said: "It sickens me to know that animals are still used for cosmetic testing around the world - especially as it is so unnecessary. Animals like rabbits, mice, and guinea pigs have chemicals dropped in their eyes and on their skin, causing painful blinding and burning. Then, their dead bodies are discarded like rubbish. Now I know this happens, I will never knowingly use any product from a cruel cosmetic brand ever again." Caroline Ruane, Chief Executive for Naturewatch Foundation, commented: "Despite EU bans in place, compassionate shoppers often unknowingly hand over money for cruel animal testing when they buy from companies that market products overseas in countries, like China, where animal testing for cosmetic purposes is mandatory. But as this film proves, it's easier than ever to choose compassion over cruelty". Naturewatch Foundation has regularly published the Compassionate Shopping Guide for over 20 years. It has become the definitive guide to cruelty-free shopping for cosmetics, toiletries and household cleaning products and has the strictest criteria of any cruelty-free endorsement scheme in the world. All products used in Compassion Over Cruelty were donated by Naturewatch As part of my upbringing, I grew up believing that Mahabharata had answers to all the complications related to life and relationships. Intrigued with the concept of open marriage while reading a celebrity scoop, I felt like delving deeper and naturally referred to the epic saga - Mahabharata. Draupadi with her five husbands and an entire epic revolving around her, stirs varied imaginations. How did she handle the physical relationship with five husbands? Were the brothers not jealous of each other? Did Draupadi have a favourite among them and most importantly, how did she handle the emotional and physical dynamics associated with it ? It surely doesn't sound simple. Were our ancestors much more open-minded than we are or was Draupadi a victim of circumstances? An open-marriage often puts the sanctity of a husband-wife relationship under scrutiny. When Nena O'Neill and George O'Neill first wrote about the concept of an open marriage in 1972, their focus was on honesty and openness in a marital relationship. They viewed the concept as one that preserves each partner's freedom and right to grow as an individual in the marriage. Transparent, open communication and role definitions were seen to be essential for a healthy and open relationship. Although, this included the possibility of a sexual engagement outside marriage, the focus lay in preserving the privacy needs of each partner and on 'meaningful commitment without destructive jealousy'. But the concept of an open marriage, now, largely means 'having sex outside marriage'. Is this right or wrong? And why people enter this pact? Psychologist Shivani Misri Sadhoo says, "Generally, couples get into this practice to rejuvenate their sexual life as well as to avoid breakup or divorce. This type of relationship concept primarily arises when both the partners realise that they cannot be sexually satisfied by their partner and mutually agree to keep their marriage and love alive." Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie had once openly said, "I doubt that fidelity is absolutely essential for a relationship. Neither Brad nor I have ever claimed that living together means to be chained together. We make sure that we never restrict each other." If it is about sexual freedom too, then why marry at all? "Generally, open marriage is not a pre-involved decision where people rarely decide to have open marriage and then get married, rather it's a resultant of a fast changing lifestyle and relationship perception across the globe, including India. Some find it difficult to accept the decline of sexual performance that their marriage may see over the period and hence they do not find their extra-marital involvement wrong or sinful. Instead of breaking their marriage, they decide to mutually accept and be transparent in extra-marital sex," adds Sadhoo. So, it is when couples do not want to fall out of love and marriage because of a bland sexual life that they opt for an open relationship. Over the years, we have read about such relationships prevailing in our Hindi film industry too. Since in India, marriage is a religious commitment more than a relationship, celebrities have always kept such issues under wraps so that they do not tarnish their public image. Deepak Mohanty, who is a media professional admits that he is in an open marriage. Married to a working wife with a kid, he believes that open marriage has made their relationship even stronger. "After having few thrills outside of our marriage, we have ended up being amazing friends and don't even feel like stepping out of marriage for sex. Marriage is a relationship and not a law. Our new-found friendship keeps bringing back the spice in our relationship." What can be the result of an open marriage? Regardless of its 'convenient' features, there are many who are averse to the concept of open marriage. Roopal Tyagi, popular Indian television actor, says, "I don't think it's positive in any way. Marriage denotes commitment and spending your life with the love of your life. If you want an open marriage, you might as well stay single and enjoy your life. Why should one get married for the sake of it and then give it the title of an open marriage?" When you get intimate with a person, it is not only about the 'physical' aspects but you also get emotionally connected to that person. Thus, satiating oneself with sex outside marriage could also mean that you are betraying your partner 'emotionally'. Vinita Dawra Nangia, Editor and columnist, who writes a popular column on relationships in a leading daily, does not support the concept of open marriages. She shares, "I don't think open marriages work. You are either in a marriage or not. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. Marriage means commitment, trust and faith - to each other and to family. If you seek open pastures, you should then consider stepping out of wedlock. I know cases, where couples have tried open marriage and the consequences have been disastrous all round." Imagine these two situations: 1. You share an amazing relationship with your partner, are happily married and discover that your partner is in a relationship outside marriage but it is not affecting his relationship with you. He does not want to disclose it for the fear of hurting you. 2. You share an amazing relationship with your partner, are happily married and discover that your partner is in a relationship outside marriage. He is not letting it affect your marriage and discusses the same with you to find a SOLUTION. Will you go mad and leave him without a second thought or will you be strong enough to deal with it and make your marriage work? Where do you stand? Next Story : Not Your Average Gift: Our Handpicked Thoughtful Diwali Gifts Dutch designer Anbasja Blanken and Italian mill ITV Denim was the winning collaboration for this years Best Collection award at the Global Denim Awards (GDA), while Indian mill Arvind walked away with the Honorary Best Fabric award. At GDA, 11 teams of fashion designers and denim mills presented their co-created denim capsule collections. The winning team of Blanken and ITV Denim showcased a glow in the dark denim collection inspired by corals. Blanken said, My concept was about the deep sea, and more specifically coral, the flowers of the sea. Some corals colours alternate when the light changes. It can even be luminescent. What if my denim pieces produced light themselves? It was not easy but we found a way of putting the luminescence into our yarn, said Barbara Gnutti of ITV Denim. Dutch designer Anbasja Blanken and Italian mill ITV Denim was the winning collaboration for this year's Best Collection award at the Global Denim Awards (GDA), while Indian mill Arvind walked away with the Honorary Best Fabric award. At GDA, 11 teams of fashion designers and denim mills presented their co-created denim capsule collections.# Indian denim mill Arvind won the Honorary Best Fabric award for its innovative yet traditional fabrics. The khadi fabrics, which were used by designer Roosmarijn Koster for her capsule collection developed in collaboration with Arvind, were traditionally handwoven. To us as a jury, innovation is not only a way of creating new technologies, but its also looking back and realising that if we lose the past, well lose it forever. By conserving the past, we are nurturing the future. Arvind supports villages and its inhabitants to continue creating this traditional denim. Economically that does not make sense. But from a sustainability point of view, its invaluable. Thats why the Fabric Award also goes to the mills community, not to Arvind alone, said jury member Leverton. GDA 2016 paired 11 emerging fashion designers with a selection of the most progressive denim mills worldwide, in order to co-create elaborate and inspired capsule collections. These collections showcased the collaborators combined craftsmanship, original designs and denim innovations. The collections were judged by an international jury of denim industry experts, comprised of the designer and best-selling author of Denim Dudes Amy Leverton, the designer/stylist duo Art Comes First, trendhunter and self-confessed denim junkie Kelly Harrington, and the global sales director of Scotch & Soda Alex Jaspers. The GDA was made possible by e3 Cotton, and initiated and organised by HTNK fashion recruitment and consultancy agency, Kingpins denim sourcing show and House of Denim, an Amsterdam-based foundation. The winning collection will be exhibited at Kingpins Shows in New York City and Hong Kong, before returning to the Netherlands for Amsterdam Denim Days 2017. (KD) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Fischer Konzept, German developers of individual packaging solutions that range from corrugated cardboard, solid board, PE foams, and hollow material for the automotive, electrical, and medical industries, has announced that it has now installed the sixth digital cutting system by Zund, industry leaders in the supply and service of precision cutting systems.Having installed the first Zund digital cutter in 2007, the company now has six Zunds on the production floor among them four G3 L-2500 models. The steady increase in order volume has led to Fischer Konzept's adding a new Zund cutter on a yearly basis. Fischer Konzept, German developers of individual packaging solutions that range from corrugated cardboard, solid board, PE foams, and hollow material for the automotive, electrical, and medical industries, has announced that it has now installed the sixth digital cutting system by Zund, industry leaders in the supply and service of precision cutting systems.# Company owner Gudrun Fischer said, The extraordinary performance and reliability of these cutters is what permitted us to grow as fast as we did. Fischer's annual production volume is now approximately 800,000 square metres in corrugated board. In my opinion, Zund cutters are currently the only digital cutting systems capable of meeting our stringent requirements for performance, quality, and reliability. For Fischer, the many ways in which Zunds can be adapted for different applications represent another clear distinction and considerable benefit.The outstanding modularity of Zund cutters is a key factor in our success with these machines. Zund cutters adapt to our growing needs. New tools are easy to install essentially Plug & Produce and additional material-handling automation can be integrated as the need arises. Of all the cutting systems currently available, I believe Zund G3 is the only digital cutting system that offers the level of performance, quality, and reliability we need for our highly variable packaging production, he added. (GK) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Dixie Group, a leading marketer and manufacturer of floor covering products, reported net sales of $100.297 million for the quarter ended September 24, 2016. This is 7.9 per cent below Q3 of 2015 sales of $108.908 million. Income from continuing operations was $573,000, as compared to income from continuing operations of $84,000, in the Q3 of 2015. However, operating margins have slightly improved to 25.8 per cent despite low sales. Despite $1.5 million lower selling and administrative costs, the selling and administrative percent of net sales increased from 23.2 per cent in the third quarter of last year to 23.7 per cent of sales in the third quarter of 2016 due to the lower sales volume. Albeit the third quarter took off at a slow pace, the situation improved with time. Our commercial product sales were 13 per cent below the prior year. The commercial market was also slightly down on a year over year basis. Residential product sales were 2 per cent below the prior year period, said Daniel K Frierson, chairman and CEO of Dixie. Dixie Group, a leading marketer and manufacturer of floor covering products, reported net sales of $100.297 million for the quarter ended September 24, 2016. This is 7.9 per cent below Q3 of 2015 sales of $108.908 million. Income from continuing operations was $573,000, as compared to income from continuing operations of $84,000, in the Q3 of 2015.# According to Frierson, there was modest decline in residential replacement housing activity during the summer. Apparently, the floor covering market was also affected by a drop in consumer expectations and political uncertainty. Speaking of the steps taken by the company to improve their sales, Frierson said, We continue to reduce expenses to increase our efficiency and respond to the lower sales volumes. We continue to closely monitor our production schedules in an effort to minimise cost. (RR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The Tookie vest for oncology is developed for cancer patients, who are fitted with a central venous catheter and helps them during the time that they receive chemotherapy. It has secured a place at Innovate 2016, an event that showcases UKs innovations. The vest is made from warp spacer material, which is 100 per cent polyester coated with Polygiene. The warp spacer material makes the vest non-flammable and allows it to be washed at high temperatures without any damages to its properties. The Polygiene material used in the vest is an all-natural silver salt with anti-bacterial properties. When patients are fitted with a central line catheter, it is important to protect this line from displacement and to ensure it is kept clean to reduce infection and discomfort. The vest developed by the healthcare innovation business Tookie, keeps the catherter secure by containing it within the vest and its pouch. The Tookie vest for oncology is developed for cancer patients, who are fitted with a central venous catheter and helps them during the time that they receive chemotherapy. It has secured a place at Innovate 2016, an event that showcases UK's innovations. The vest is made from warp spacer material, which is 100 per cent polyester coated with Polygiene.# Designed for comfort, the vest is meant for children, but can also be used by adults. The company consulted clinical teams, academics, children suffering from cancer and their parents before developing it. The Tookie vest improves the comfort of children and allows them to move and act without fear of displacing their line, whilst reducing the anxiety and concern that parents and caretakers often feel. (KD) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India HON. PM VOREQE BAINIMARAMA'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT The Honourable Attorney-General, Members of the Judiciary from Fiji and overseas,Your Excellency, Indonesias Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva representing the CTI Core Group,Your Excellencies, members of the Diplomatic Corps,The Secretary General of the Association for the Prevention of Torture.The Representative in the Pacific of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,The Commissioner of Police,Representatives of civil society organisations,Distinguished Guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all.Fiji is delighted to be hosting this regional workshop on the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Torture in the Pacific. And while Im told that it is largely technical in nature, Im delighted as Prime Minister to be here to open it to explain the great strides that Fiji is making in the area of human rights. And to urge other Pacific nations to join Fiji and the other two countries in the region Vanuatu and Nauru - that have already ratified UNCAT.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a positive story to tell in Fiji about our own effort to prevent torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. And I want to convey that story in the overall context of the global campaign against such practices.For a start, our Constitution our supreme law prohibits torture in our Bill of Rights and in very precise terms: Section Eleven unequivocally states that every person has the right to freedom from torture of any kind, whether physical, mental or emotional, and from cruel, inhumane, degrading or disproportionately severe treatment or punishment. It further states that every person has the right to security of the person, which includes the right to be free from any form of violence from any source at home, school, work or in any other place.This statement of our values as a nation establishes, for the Fijian people, one of the strongest constitutional protections against torture in the world. In fact, our reservation to Article One of UNCAT is based on the fact that our own definition of torture is actually broader than that covered by the Convention because it extends to specific protection for our citizens at home, at school and at work.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, we do not have and never have had a state-sanctioned policy of torture in Fiji. We do not have - and never have had - a state-sanctioned policy of inflicting cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment in Fiji.What we have had are occasional problems with individuals or groups of people taking the law into their own hands and violating the human rights of others. But I repeat: no act of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment has been sanctioned by the State. And this is in stark contrast with many other countries in the world, including some of the great democracies.Ladies and Gentlemen, I accept that the issue of torture is a vexed one for many countries given the current global security climate and especially for those nations that are under direct attack in the war on terror. But it is a tragedy for the whole world that in the interests of state-security, democratic societies feel obliged to cling to practices that belong to another age and violate the most basic standards of human decency and human dignity.Even that standard bearer for democracy the United States of America has resorted to torture, with the stated objective of protecting itself against a determined and ruthless enemy.While the practice has now been banned by Presidential order, the CIA has admitted using water boarding against captured terrorist suspects, extracting information from them through a process that replicates the sensation of drowning.As for the other pillar of UNCAT - the use of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - there is a stark example closer to home in Australias policy of detaining asylum seekers offshore, including in some of our Pacific neighbouring countries.While Australia maintains that this policy is necessary to stem the tide of asylum seekers, it has clearly been at the expense of the rights of ordinary men, women and children seeking refuge from some of the most troubled places on earth.Successive United Nations and other human rights reports have strongly criticised the conditions faced by asylum seekers being held on Nauru and Manus Island. The latest - less than three weeks ago by the UNs Committee on the Rights of Children - condemns the physical and mental state of children being detained on Nauru.Fiji shares the widespread concern in the international community about the position of asylum seekers in these detention centres, and especially women and children. As well as the wider issue of Australia dumping this problem on its Pacific neighbours when it clearly has the capacity to house these people within its own borders.In the case of the United States and Australia with the examples I have given, these have been state policies - a deliberate course of action taken by democratically elected governments. America using an acknowledged method of torture to combat terrorism. Australia detaining innocent people in cruel, inhumane or degrading circumstances to protect the integrity of its borders.What we have had by contrast in Fiji is vastly different though no less serious. Isolated instances of individuals or groups from the disciplined forces acting in an undisciplined way and resorting to acts of torture and other forms of punishment that violate the human rights of their fellow citizens.The same conduct has occurred from time to time in the law enforcement agencies of larger democracies, including Australia and New Zealand. And while they can never be condoned, whatever the setting, the difference in Fijis case is that such events have been politicised. We are singled out for condemnation, for behaviour that also occurs in the jurisdictions of our critics.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am not excusing such behaviour in any shape or form. I merely ask that Fiji be judged by the same standards that apply to any nation. And I want to make Fijis position on this issue absolutely clear once and for all.We do not tolerate human rights abuses of any kind. They are legally and morally unacceptable. And we are determined to bring the perpetrators of such abuses to justice.The record shows that we are doing so that our laws are being enforced.Our Police Commissioner is currently investigating whether excessive force was used in the recent apprehension of a group of suspected criminals in Navua that was captured on video by a passer-by. We also have a trial in Lautoka for the alleged rape and subsequent death of a detainee, Vilikesa Soko.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is also worth placing such issues in a wider social context.We have long had a culture in Fiji of people resorting to violence. Whether it is against women in the home, instilling discipline in our children or the police attempting to extract confessions from criminal suspects.This culture of what we call the buturaki - the beating - is deeply ingrained in parts of the Fijian psyche. But it is simply not acceptable in the modern age. So we have embarked on a process of culture change starting in the nations schools. There, we have banned corporal punishment in the hope that if children arent beaten institutionally, they dont grow up beating others. And we are saying far more forcefully than we have said in the past that violence in any form has no place in Fijian life.We are also making it clear in the ranks of the disciplined forces through a process of education and deterrence that we have a policy of zero tolerance for torture and other human rights abuses. Whatever may have occurred in the relative turmoil of the past, we have drawn a line under such behaviour. A line under the past. The provisions in our Constitution prohibiting such practices must be respected and without exception. And this applies especially to our law enforcement agencies.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are also seeking the engagement of the international community to assist us in this effort. I want to publicly thank the European Union for its invaluable assistance to Fiji through our Access to Justice Program. And I want to thank both the British Government and the United Nations Development Program for the contribution they are making to raise standards in the Fiji Police.We regard Britain - with its tradition of enlightened policing and its historical links to Fiji as a strong role model. And we are seeking closer ties with the law enforcement agencies of the United Kingdom. In particular, we seek assistance to improve the training of our police officers in modern investigative and questioning techniques. Because better training is clearly the key to a better overall performance on the part of our law enforcement officers.Britain is already partnering with us on a six month pilot project at the Totogo Police Station in Suva in what is called First Hour Procedure providing every suspect with legal aid assistance within the first hour of arrest. And in digitally recording police caution interviews with suspects to provide greater transparency in the arrest and detention procedure.We intend after this pilot program to introduce First Hour Procedure and the digital recording of caution interviews throughout Fiji. So that there is no doubt whatsoever when cases reach the courts about the content of police interviews or the veracity of the process. It will bring to an end any suggestion that confessions are being extracted by force.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I know that many of the challenges we face in Fiji will be familiar to some of you from other Pacific nations. But I urge you all to seriously consider ratifying UNCAT. Fiji in common with many other nations had reservations about endorsing all of its clauses and your governments may well decide to have similar reservations. But this is no impediment to ratification. And if more Pacific nations do so, this will send a powerful signal from our own region to the rest of the world about our commitment to human rights and human dignity.I want to close by saying that Fiji stands ready to assist any of our neighbours with the ratification process. On behalf of the Fijian people, I warmly thank the members of the Convention Against Torture Initiative. And especially the representative of the core group, His Excellency the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations in Geneva.I also want to especially mention the Secretary General of the Association for the Prevention of Torture, Mark Thomson. Mark grew up in Fiji and we were childhood neighbours at Natabua. So welcome home, Mark, and vinaka vakalevu for what you are doing to promote the rights of people around the world.A warm welcome to all our international visitors and I hope that beyond the conference venue, you get to see some of our beautiful country and experience our world famous Fijian hospitality. And I now have great pleasure to officially open this regional workshop on implementing the United Nations Convention Against Torture.Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you. PM. HON VOREQE BAINIMARAMA'S SPEECH AT THE COMMISSIONING OF THE NEW KOROLEVU FIRE STATION The Honourable Minister for Local Government, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure and Transport, Parveen Bala Cabinet Ministers;Management and Staff of the National Fire Authority;Distinguished Guests;My Fellow Fijians.Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all.It is a great pleasure for me to be here with you all today to officially commission this new Korolevu Fire Station.This project has extended the reach of the National Fire Authority to the people of Korolevu and the Coral Coast, giving these communities access to emergency response services that can save lives, property and livelihoods from the ever-present danger of fires and other emergencies.In a moment, a fire can wipe out homes that have stood for generations, or enterprises that have been built and sustained by hard-working Fijians. In a moment, a fire can set families and businesses back years and leave our people destitute, homeless and with little hope for the future.Far too often do we read such stories about families who have lost everything to house fires or Fijian businesses that fires have damaged or destroyed.Unfortunately, some of those stories have marred Korolevus own recent history. We all remember the Korolevu Resort and Paradise Point Resort both destroyed by fires which were located just opposite from this new fire station. Crises that both could have been avoided if NFA services had been more readily available.As recently as 2012, the Warwick Fiji Resort and the Naviti Resort also both suffered fires, again showing us that the risks posed to the homes and businesses in Korolevu was unacceptably high. It was due to these repeated incidents that my Government sought to establish this new station and bring the fast-acting emergency response services of the NFA to the doorsteps of the families and businesses here in Korolevu and up and down the Coral Coast. And while, hopefully, the vast majority of you wont need our fire fighters coming to your rescue, the NFAs presence here will give you the knowledge that help will be on the way should you ever require it.Fires can strike anytime and anywhere not only in our cities, but in villages, towns and settlements as well. So it is vital that we make the response services provided by the NFA available as widely as possible throughout the country. For too long, these services have been restricted to our urban centres, leaving our rural communities vulnerable but that was not a reality that my Government was prepared to accept.Today we are opening this new station in Korolevu, Nadroga and on Friday I will also open a new station in Korovou, Tailevu. So progress is being made but there is still work to be done. My Government will remain committed to spreading these services throughout our islands to expand the NFAs shield of protection to cover as many of our people as possible.Those services arent only limited to fire emergency response, the NFA responds to a wide-range of emergencies, including road accidents, hazardous material exposure and flooding, and also sends emergency ambulance responses. It doesnt matter where we call home in Fiji, these services can go a long way in keeping all of us safer and more secure. That is why I am committed to making NFA services as accessible as possible for our people.And while the NFAs presence here will bring a new level of security and protection to your community, that does not mean we can become complacent. We all have a part to play in reducing the risk of fires and other crises that endanger our people. We all need to shoulder the responsibility of making our communities safer.We need to take extreme caution in maintaining the electrical wiring in our homes. We need to make sure our appliances are turned off and are unplugged when not in use. We need to keep flammable materials out of the house and keep our gas containers away from heat sources. We need to keep hazardous materials away from children and teach them the dangers of playing with fire.We have to be careful when smoking in our homes, when lighting our candles and our mosquito coils and even when cooking in the kitchen. Any of these activities have the potential to causes fires that can cause widespread damage and end lives. So please be vigilant. Please take these risks seriously. Please help us all keep our communities safe from harm.Ladies and gentlemen,The peace of mind that this new fire station will bring to Korolevu and the Coral Coast community is truly priceless. Not only are you all safer, but this new station provides a measure of protection that will catalyse future growth and development in your region. This is already one of the most popular tourism destinations in the country, but this new station now sends a clear message to investors and entrepreneurs in Fiji and abroad that your investments, your properties and your businesses will be protected. And it sends a strong message to the Fijian people that your homes will be protected.To our fire fighters who will be working in this new station, I ask that you serve these deserving communities to the best of your ability. You will be relied upon to provide life-saving services, and that is a responsibility that should be respected at all times.With that, it is my sincere pleasure to declare this new fire station officially opened.Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank you. Priyanka Chopra is now a famous name in Hollywood. Priyanka has done many steamy scenes with co-star Jake McLaughlin in Quantico but reportedly she is not comfortable in doing nude scenes and has informed the same to her talent management company. Talking about the same, a source told Deccan Chronicle, "Priyanka is happy doing kissing and love making scenes on screen but is not ready for the kind of nudity these shows demand. She has informed her Hollywood talent company about this concern." Recently, the actor was also in news when she revealed how a big production firm threatened her to terminate her contract if she gets pregnant. She told NDTV, "I was signing a contract for a big corporation a couple of years ago, and a clause there said that they (corporation) could terminate it (contract) if I got pregnant. I was livid. How could you tell me I could not get pregnant. Not sick, not overweight, just pregnant!'' Also Read: Adorable! Aishwarya's Cutie Aaradhya Bachchan Loves Celebrating Diwali & The Reason Is Amitabh! She added, ''Their logic was that I would not be able to deliver the project on time. I was fine with working when I am pregnant. We had a big argument over it. I said 'Alright, if I can't deliver when I am pregnant, you have the right to terminate my contract. If I can deliver, and you don't want me to, then I have the right to terminate." On the work front, Priyanka has finished shooting for her first Hollywood feature venture Baywatch. A source was also heard saying, "The actress has planned to host a Diwali bash at her New York house for her Quantico crew and especially requested the DJ to play the Bollywood numbers." Regulatory News: Remy Cointreau Group (Paris:RCO) announces that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with the shareholders of the Domaine des Hautes Glaces distillery with a view to acquiring its entire share capital. Created in 2009, Domaine des Hautes Glaces produces exceptional single malt whiskies from the Trieves Mountains, an area located at 900m altitude in the French Alps. These whiskies are produced while adhering to a sustainable development approach: certified organic, they are manufactured in a traditional and authentic way from various grains (not only barley and rye, but also spelt and hull-less oats) and under different alpine climates, which gives them their unrivalled flavour. The acquisition of this company represents the opportunity for Remy Cointreau to incorporate into its portfolio a high-end brand with genuine potential and to increase, over time, the value of an inventory of whiskies of the highest quality by involving the Domaine des Hautes Glaces team in this development. The acquisition contract could be signed before the end of 2016. About Remy Cointreau: The Remy Cointreau Group is a leading operator in the global Wine &Spirits market with sales of 1,050.7 million for the year ended 31 March 2016 and approximately 1,800 employees. The Remy Cointreau Group, whose origins in the Charente region date back to 1724, is the result of the merger in 1990 of the holding companies of the Heriard Dubreuil and Cointreau families, which controlled E. Remy Martin Cie SA and Cointreau Cie SA respectively. Remy Cointreau has a portfolio of global, upmarket brands, including the Remy Martin and Louis XIII cognacs, the Cointreau liqueur as well as the Metaxa, Mount Gay, St-Remy, Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte, Octomore and The Botanist spirits. Remy Cointreau is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris. About Domaine des Hautes Glaces: The Domaine des Hautes Glaces is an organic mountain farm distillery located in the heart of the French Alps, on the slopes of the Obiou mountain. Working with grain grown and processed onsite, Domaine des Hautes Glaces produces a range of single malts that are created in harmony with land, man and time: all that it produces is certified organically grown and uses renewable and local energy as its leading energy source. By reinterpreting local expertise to showcase the distinctive aromatic quality of the grains from the Alpine mountains, the Domaine des Hautes Glaces is delving into its terroir by offering single malt whiskies of unrivalled flavours, with a price range of between 65 and 150. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026006674/en/ Contacts: Remy Cointreau Group Laetitia Delaye, +33 1 44 13 45 25 Full-year financial projections for fiscal 2016 Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-3215-5259 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/ TOKYO, Oct 27, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today reported a profit for the second quarter attributable to owners of the parent of 25.9 billion yen, representing an improvement of 22.9 billion yen compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2015.Consolidated revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 was 1,098.5 billion yen, down 77.6 billion yen from the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Revenue in Japan rose 1.8%. Although revenue in Japan from LSI devices declined, services revenue increased, primarily from outsourcing and systems integration services, and revenues from PCs and network products also rose. Revenue outside of Japan decreased 18.8%. In addition to a decline in revenue from infrastructure services in Europe, and a decline in revenue from network products in North America, results were also significantly impacted by foreign exchange movements. Compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year, the appreciation of the yen against the US dollar, the British pound, and other currencies served to reduce revenue by roughly 75.0 billion yen.Fujitsu recorded an operating profit of 37.1 billion yen, up 22.2 billion yen from the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Although operating profit from LSI devices was adversely affected by lower revenue and foreign exchange movements, overall operating profit improved because of cost reduction and improving cost efficiency in PCs and mobile phones, and because operating profit from network products in Japan benefited from higher revenue.Net financial income was 0.6 billion yen, an improvement of 4.1 billion yen from the same period in fiscal 2015, primarily from foreign exchange gains.As a result, profit before income taxes was 39.2 billion yen, an increase of 25.5 billion yen from the second quarter of the previous fiscal year.Business Segment Financial ResultsRevenue in the Technology Solutions segment amounted to 746.3 billion yen, a decrease of 6.6% from the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Revenue outside Japan fell 22.6%. In the Services sub-segment, revenue fell as a result of weak sales in Europe and the US, in addition to the impact of foreign exchange movements. In the System Platforms sub-segment, revenue fell due to a drop-off period in investment in new models of optical transmission systems in North America. The segment posted an operating profit of 46.2 billion yen, up 9.8 billion yen compared to the same period in fiscal 2015. In the System Platforms sub-segment, in addition to profitability improvements in x86 servers, the operating profit for network products improved due to a reduction in overhead costs resulting from a business reorganization carried out last year, in addition to the impact of increased revenue in Japan.Revenue in the Ubiquitous Solutions segment was 263.7 billion yen, essentially the same as the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Revenue in Japan rose by 8.9%. For PCs, revenue rose on the back of continuing strong sales of enterprise PCs. Revenue outside Japan fell by 14.3%. In addition to a fall in revenue from PC sales in Europe, there was a large adverse impact from the strong yen. The segment posted an operating profit of 14.1 billion yen, an improvement of 18.7 billion yen over the same period in fiscal 2015. For PCs, operating profit improved due to cost efficiencies, in addition to ongoing component cost reductions at locations in Japan because of the continued strength of the yen against the US dollar, as well as the impact of higher revenue in Japan. For mobile phones, operating profit improved as a result of cost reductions and efficiencies.Revenue in the Device Solutions segment amounted to 139.4 billion yen, down 14.0% from the second quarter of fiscal 2015. The segment posted an operating profit of 1.4 billion yen, down 6.4 billion yen from the second quarter of fiscal 2015. In addition to the impact of lower revenue from LSI devices, particularly for use in smartphones, operating profit declined for both LSI devices and electronic components due to the impact of lower revenue as a result of the continuing strength of the yen against the US dollar.Fiscal 2016 Consolidated ProjectionsFujitsu has made the following changes to its full-year fiscal 2016 earnings forecasts announced on July 28, 2016.The assumed exchange rates for the second half of the fiscal year have been changed to 105 yen for the US dollar, 115 yen for the euro, and 140 yen for the British pound.The revenue forecast has been revised down by 100.0 billion yen from the announcement in July, to 4,500.0 billion yen, because of revised exchange rate assumptions. The forecast for revenue has been revised down by 70.0 billion yen in the Technology Solutions segment, by 15.0 billion yen in the Ubiquitous Solutions segment, and by 15.0 billion yen in the Device Solutions segment.Fujitsu is projecting an operating profit of 120.0 billion yen, unchanged on a consolidated basis from the previous forecast. Although the projected operating profit for Ubiquitous Solutions has been revised upward by 7.0 billion yen to account for the impact of lower procurement costs for components due to the stronger yen, projected operating profit for Device Solutions has been revised down by 7.0 billion yen to reflect the adverse impact of foreign exchange movements.There is no change from the previous forecast in profit for the year attributable to the owners of the parent.Full-year financial projections for fiscal 2016:http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_FujitsuFY2016Projections.jpgAbout Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 159,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702; ADR:FJTSY) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2016 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Dr. Alexander Scheer Joins Company as CSO and Jean-Sebastien Cleiftie as CBO Regulatory News: ERYTECH Pharma (Paris:ERYP) (ADR:EYRYY) (Euronext Paris: ERYP), the French biopharmaceutical company developing 'tumor starvation' treatments for acute leukemia and other oncology indications with unmet medical needs, today announced the appointments of Dr. Alexander Scheer, Ph.D. as the company's Chief Scientific Officer and Jean-Sebastien Cleiftie, as Chief Business Officer. "We are delighted to welcome Alexander and Jean-Sebastien to the Erytech leadership team as they both bring invaluable experience from cross-functional areas of the life science industry," commented Gil Beyen, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of ERYTECH Pharma. "Alexander brings a wealth of knowledge in leading global R&D and drug discovery across multiple disciplines and several therapeutic areas, while Jean-Sebastien's deep expertise in biopharmaceutical business development and financial valuation will be instrumental to Erytech as we continue to diversify our programs and address unmet medical needs of patients." Dr. Scheer said, "Erytech's ERYCAPS technology represents a novel approach to anti-cancer tumor starvation treatment. The company has demonstrated exceptional progress in preclinical and clinical development of multiple pipeline programs and I look forward to leading the development of these promising therapies." Mr. Cleiftie added, "I believe Erytech is very well positioned to be a successful biopharmaceutical company. I am eager to direct the strategic initiatives necessary for continued growth of the company and its operations as it enters the next phase of development." Dr. Scheer has over 15 years of experience in R&D and the life science industry. Prior to joining ERYTECH, he served as the Head of Research at Pierre Fabre in France, focused primarily on oncology and central nervous system research, and also served as a Deputy Head of Research at Pierre Fabre. Prior to joining Pierre Fabre, Dr. Scheer served as a Director, Global Research Informatics Knowledge Management R&D and Project Leader, Neglected Diseases at Merck Serono in Switzerland where, among other responsibilities, he led Merck's program to develop drugs for neglected diseases in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). He also served as Head of Molecular Screening and Cellular Pharmacology Department, Group Leader of Biochemical Pharmacology and Research Scientist at Serono. Dr. Scheer holds a B.Sc in Natural Sciences and M.Sc. in Chemistry, both from the University of Gottingen, and a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the German Cancer Research Center. Mr. Cleiftie brings 15 years of experience in drug development, life science venture capital, and business development and licensing within the U.S. and European biopharmaceutical ecosystem. Prior to joining ERYTECH, he served as Associate Vice-President, Global Business Development Licensing at Sanofi in Paris, France, where he led licensing transactions across multiple therapeutic areas, financial valuation activities, and other strategic projects. Prior to joining Sanofi, Mr. Cleiftie was a Principal at Innoven Partners, a venture capital firm active as lead investor in healthcare and IT in Europe and the U.S. He was responsible for healthcare investment opportunity assessment, transaction execution, and active portfolio management, and led equity investments in a number of biotech and medtech companies which achieved successful exits. He started his career in drug development in the U.S. as a research scientist with Aventis (now Sanofi) in the fields of immunotherapy and gene therapy for cancer. Mr. Cleiftie earned a M.S. in Biological Medical Sciences and a M.S. in Immunology from the University of Paris V, and received his M.B.A from Cornell University. About ERYTECH and eryaspase (eryasp/GRASPA): www.erytech.com Founded in Lyon, France in 2004, ERYTECH is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for rare forms of cancer and orphan diseases. Leveraging its proprietary ERYCAPS platform, which uses a novel technology to encapsulate therapeutic drug substances inside red blood cells, ERYTECH has developed a pipeline of product candidates targeting markets with high unmet medical needs. ERYTECH's initial focus is on the treatment of blood cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), by depriving tumors of nutrients necessary for their survival. ERYTECH has recently filed for European Marketing Authorization for its lead product candidate, eryaspase, also known as ERY-ASP or under the trade name GRASPA, following positive efficacy and safety results from its completed Phase 2/3 pivotal clinical trial in Europe in children and adults with relapsed or refractory ALL. ERYTECH also has an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of eryaspase in the United States in adults with newly diagnosed ALL, and a Phase 2b clinical trial in Europe in elderly patients with newly diagnosed AML, each in combination with chemotherapy. ERYTECH believes that eryaspase also has the potential as a treatment approach in solid tumors and is conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial in Europe in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Eryaspase consists of an enzyme, L-asparaginase, encapsulated inside donor-derived red blood cells. L-asparaginase depletes asparagine, a naturally occurring amino acid essential for the survival and proliferation of cancer cells, from circulating blood plasma. ERYTECH produces eryaspase at its own GMP-approved and operational manufacturing site in Lyon (France), and at a site for clinical production in Philadelphia (USA). ERYTECH has entered into licensing and distribution partnership agreements for eryaspase for ALL and AML in Europe with Orphan Europe (Recordati Group), and for ALL in Israel with TEVA, which will market the product under the GRASPA brand name. The EMA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have granted orphan drug designations for eryaspase for the treatment of ALL, AML and pancreatic cancer. In addition to eryaspase, ERYTECH is developing two other product candidates that focus on using encapsulated enzymes to induce tumor starvation. The company is also exploring the use of its ERYCAPS platform for developing cancer immunotherapies and enzyme replacement therapies. ERYTECH is listed on Euronext regulated market in Paris (ISIN code: FR0011471135, ticker: ERYP) and is part of the CAC Healthcare, CAC Pharma Bio, CAC Mid Small, CAC All Tradable, EnterNext PEA-PME 150 and Next Biotech indexes. ERYTECH is also listed in the U.S. under an ADR level 1 program (OTC, ticker EYRYY). Forward-looking information This document may contain forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the financial position, results of operations, business strategy, plans, objectives and anticipated future performance of ERYTECH and of the market in which it operates. Certain of these statements, forecasts and estimates can be recognized by the use of words such as, without limitation, "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "estimates", "may", "will" and "continue" and similar expressions. They include all matters that are not historical facts. Such statements, forecasts and estimates are based on various assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable when made but may or may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict and may depend upon factors that are beyond ERYTECH's control. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline product candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. Therefore, actual results may turn out to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements, forecasts and estimates. Documents filed by ERYTECH Pharma with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (www.amf-france.org), also available on ERYTECH's website (www.erytech.com) describe such risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, no representations are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates only speak as of the date of the publication of this document. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. ERYTECH disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statement, forecast or estimates to reflect any change in ERYTECH's expectations with regard thereto, or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement, forecast or estimate is based, except to the extent required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161026006283/en/ Contacts: ERYTECH Gil Beyen Chairman and CEO or Eric Soyer CFO and COO +33 4 78 74 44 38 investors@erytech.com or The Ruth Group Investor relations Lee Roth, +1 646 536 7012 lroth@theruthgroup.com or Media relations Kirsten Thomas, +1 508 280 6592 kthomas@theruthgroup.com or NewCap Julien Perez Investor relations or Nicolas Merigeau Media relations +33 1 44 71 98 52 erytech@newcap.eu Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-3215-5259 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/ TOKYO, Oct 27, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Client Computing Limited (FCCL) and Lenovo Group Limited announced today that they are exploring a strategic cooperation in the realm of research, development, design and manufacturing of personal computers for the global market. Details of the cooperation are currently under discussion.Fujitsu transferred its Japan PC business to FCCL, a newly established wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu, on February 1, 2016. Since then, Fujitsu has been considering various options to ensure the future growth of its PC business. Lenovo, already the world's largest PC supplier, is continuously seeking opportunities to further grow its core business in the global market. Through the cooperation, the two companies aim to create a successful model that leverages Fujitsu's global sales, customer support, R&D and manufacturing capabilities together with Lenovo's operational excellence to improve competitiveness in the dynamic global PC market.Fujitsu will continue to offer a high-quality, innovative and reliable Fujitsu branded PC portfolio and the related after-sales support to customers and channel partners worldwide.Fujitsu and Lenovo will continue their discussion in pursuit of a mutually beneficial collaboration. The two companies are also in talks with Development Bank of Japan for the bank to provide financial and strategic support. Further details will be announced as they become available.About LenovoLenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a $45 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and enterprise technology. Our portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs (including the legendary Think and multimode Yoga brands), workstations, servers, storage, smart TVs and a family of mobile products like smartphones (including the Moto brand), tablets and apps. Join us on LinkedIn, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@Lenovo) or visit us at www.lenovo.com.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 159,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702; ADR:FJTSY) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2016 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Silkeborg, 2016-10-27 08:05 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SUMMARY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Core profit: DKK 2,202m (Q1-Q3 2015: DKK 1,841m) Net profit: DKK 1,914m (Q1-Q3 2015: DKK 1,639m) Net profit corresponded to an annualised return of 8.5% on opening equity (Q1-Q3 2015: 7.9% p.a.) Loan impairment charges under core profit: DKK 144m (Q1-Q3 2015: DKK 381m) o Of which impairment charges on agricultural clients amounted to DKK 385m Loans and advances: DKK 410bn (end of 2015: DKK 396bn) o Mortgage loans: DKK 275bn (end of 2015: DKK 249bn) o Traditional bank loans and advances: DKK 94bn (end of 2015: DKK 93bn) Bank deposits: DKK 139bn (end of 2015: DKK 129bn) o As of mid-December 2016, negative deposit rates will be introduced on demand deposits for corporate clients Capital ratio: 17.8%, of which the Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 15.9% (end of 2015: 17.0% and 16.1%) o Capital buffer: DKK 11.9bn (end of 2015: DKK 10.9bn) It is the intention of the Supervisory Board, at the Annual General Meeting in March 2017, to propose a motion for the distribution of ordinary dividend for the financial year 2016 in line with the dividend for the financial year 2015 Jyske Bank withdraws from Swipp cooperation COMMENTS BY MANAGEMENT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In connection with the publication of the interim financial report for the first nine months of 2016, Anders Dam, CEO and Managing Director, states: "The Jyske Bank Group generated a pre-tax profit of DKK 2,403m compared to DKK 2,129m for the same period of 2015. Quarter by quarter, mortgage activities have improved the profit and, with a pre-tax profit of DKK 329m for the third quarter, the best quarterly financial statements are being reported since the merger in the second quarter of 2014. For the first nine months of the year, the pre-tax profit amounts to DKK 934m against DKK 617m in 2015. The leasing activities are run very efficiently and, with stable earnings, they add to the Group's profit. For the first nine months of the year, the pre-tax profit amounts to DKK 251m, which is in line with that in 2015. Banking activities were affected by low demand for regular banking products and the low interest-rate level. The 5% decline in the Group's costs from 2015 to 2016 and lower impairment charges also had a stabilising effect on the overall earnings. Sales of home loans continued unabated in the third quarter and all the Group's sales channels reported growth. The total increase in new home loans from Jyske Bank amounted to DKK 73.9bn at the end of the third quarter of 2016 and DKK 76.0bn as at today's date. The target is still an increase of DKK 100bn measured as from early 2014, and this target is expected to be met by the end of 2017. Due to the extensive period of and continuing prospects of negative interest rates, for instance, on certificates of deposit with the central bank of Denmark, in combination with the increasing deposit surplus, Jyske Bank will introduce negative deposit rates on demand deposits for corporate clients as of mid-December. Jyske Bank has decided to withdraw from the Swipp cooperation at 11 months' notice, according to contractual basis. Jyske Bank will adopt a commercial and constructive approach to proposals about the future of Swipp that may be put forward by the company's board of directors during the notice period. It is the intention of the Supervisory Board, at the Annual General Meeting in March 2017, to propose a motion for the distribution of ordinary dividend for the financial year 2016 in line with the dividend for the financial year 2015". Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=591541 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian and the Canadian dollars weakened against their major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday as the risk-averse investors digested disappointing corporate earnings results and the continued decline in crude oil prices. Crude oil prices slipped on Wednesday after the American Petroleum Institute or API reported that U.S. crude stocks rose by 4.8 million barrels. Concerns over whether OPEC would reduce its production at its November meeting also weighed on the oil price demand. Russia and OPEC are dragging their feet over a planned reduction in output that would have helped to stabilize oil prices. Interfax reports Russia is now against OPEC production cuts, while Iraq and others say they should be exempt. In other economic news, the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that export prices in Australia advanced 3.5 percent on quarter in the third quarter of 2016. That beat forecasts for an increase of 2.0 percent following the 1.4 percent gain in the previous three months. Import prices were down 1.0 percent on quarter versus expectations for a 0.8 percent decline. They were unchanged from the second quarter. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that China's industrial profits grew only 7.7 percent year-on-year in September after expanding 19.5 percent in August. The increase in August was the fastest in three years. Wednesday, the Australian dollar rose 0.70 percent against the U.S. dollar, 0.37 percent against the yen, and 0.76 percent against the euro. The Canadian dollar fell 0.10 percent against the U.S. dollar, 0.02 percent against the yen, and 0.55 percent against the euro In the Asian trading, the Australian dollar fell to 2-day lows of 0.7622 against the U.S. dollar and 1.4304 against the euro, from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.7649 and 1.4256, respectively. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.75 against the greenback and 1.47 against the euro. Against the yen, the Canadian, and the New Zealand dollars, the aussie dropped to 79.56, 1.0206 and 1.0655 from yesterday's closing quotes of 79.92, 1.0234 and 1.0690, respectively. The aussie may test support near 77.00 against the yen, 0.99 against the loonie and 1.05 against the kiwi. The Canadian dollar fell to a 3-day low of 1.3395 against the U.S. dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 1.3379. The loonie may test support near the 1.35 region. Against the yen and the euro, the loonie dropped to 77.89 and 1.4603 from yesterday's closing quotes of 78.08 and 1.4594, respectively. If the loonie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 76.00 against the yen, and 1.48 against the euro. Meanwhile, the safe-haven yen recovered from early losses against its major rivals on risk aversion. The yen rose to 113.70 against the euro and 74.65 against the NZ dollar, from early lows of 114.17 and 74.85, respectively. If the yen extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 112.00 against the euro and 73.00 against the kiwi. Against the pound, the U.S. dollar and the Swiss franc, the yen advanced to 127.42, 104.30 and 104.93 from an early 9-day low of 128.14, a 2-day low of 104.69 103.00 and a 1-week low of 105.35, respectively. The yen may test resistance around 125.00 against the pound, 103.00 against the greenback and 103.00 against the franc. Looking ahead, Swiss UBS consumption indicator data for September is due for release in the pre-European session at 2:00 am ET. Eurozone M3 money supply data for September and U.K. third quarter GDP data are slated for release later in the day. At 6.00 am ET, the Confederation of British Industry is scheduled to release Distributive Trades survey results. In the New York session, U.S. durable goods orders for September, U.S. weekly jobless claims for the week ended October 22, and U.S. pending home sales data for September are set to be published. At 1:00 am ET, European Central Bank board member Yves Mersch is expected to speak at the Hachenburg Conference organised by Hochschule der Deutschen Bundesbank in Hachenburg, Germany. Later in the day, a number of EU commissioners and finance ministers are scheduled to meet to discuss Brexit, migration and economic growth at Globsec Tatra Summit in Bratislava. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British lender Barclays Plc (BARC.L, BCS) reported Thursday that its third-quarter profit before tax increased to 837 million pounds from last year's 619 million pounds. Attributable net profit was 414 million pounds or 2.6 pence per share, compared to 417 million pounds or 2.6 pence per share a year ago. Net operating income was 4.66 billion pounds, lower than last year's 5.05 billion pounds. In the nine-month period, profit before tax decreased 10% to 2.90 billion pounds, driven by the acceleration of Non-Core rundown resulting in a 33% increase in loss before tax to 2 billion pounds. Core business performed well, with a 4% growth in profit before tax to 4.898 billion pounds. Net operating income fell 10 percent to 14.74 billion pounds. The company further said it remains on track to close Non-Core in 2017 with strong progress on business disposals. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Inchcape plc. (INCH.L), the independent multi-brand Automotive Distributor and Retailer with global scale, reported that its Group revenue was 2.01 billion pounds, up 15.3% at actual currency and 4.8% at constant currency. Stefan Bomhard, Group CEO said, 'I am excited about the long-term growth potential of Inchcape as we deliver on our five 'Ignite' strategic objectives: leading in customer experience, delivering the full potential from all of our revenue streams, becoming the OEMs' partner of choice, leveraging our global scale and investing to accelerate growth. 2016 has seen the creation of these objectives and the start of our actions to realise our full potential. I am pleased with our progress so far and look forward to delivering against each in the coming years.' Like for like revenue for the quarter was up by 14.6% at actual currency and 4.3% at constant currency. Distribution revenue was up by 19.5% at actual currency and 1.8% at constant currency. Retail revenue was up by 12.5% at actual currency and 7.0% at constant currency The company continues to expect to deliver a resilient constant currency performance in 2016. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LONDON, 2016-10-27 09:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully demonstrated the AQS-24B mine hunting system at the Royal Navy-sponsored Unmanned Warrior exercise in Scotland. This was the first time the AQS-24B towed mine hunting sensor has been deployed from an unmanned surface vessel in British waters.Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://news.northropgrumman.com/file?fid=580a4da52cfac225642405c7 and http://news.northropgrumman.com/file?fid=580a4daa2cfac2256723ddf7The demonstration highlights Northrop Grumman's leading role in proving the operational utility of unmanned maritime systems in the air, surface and subsurface domains. The system was remotely launched, towed and recovered from Atlas Elektronik U.K.'s ARCIMS Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) and was operated from a shore base at speeds of up to 18 knots. At speeds of nearly twice that of any other mine hunting system on the market, the USV/ AQS-24B combination quickly completed a number of scenarios and challenges that were set by the Royal Navy's Mine Warfare Group.The AQS-24B system includes the world's first operational High Speed Synthetic Aperture Sonar (HSSAS) and an optical laser line scan sensor. With this unique sensor combination the system demonstrated its versatility by performing mine detection, localisation, classification and identification in a simulated mine field at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC) range in Scotland."Our team's demonstration at Unmanned Warrior proves that unmanned systems combined with the right payloads can perform high speed mine countermeasures tasks, greatly reducing the mine clearance timeline while keeping naval personnel out of harm's way," said Alan Lytle, vice president, undersea systems, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. "The USV/AQS-24B combination provides a highly effective and affordable mine countermeasure solution for our allies and theatre security partners.""The collaborative spirit shown across all parties in the Unmanned Warrior exercise has been exceptional," said Andrew Tyler, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Europe. "The exercise has demonstrated the technologies that underpin the USV/AQS-24B capability are at a mature readiness level and could be deployed in the short to medium term."The Unmanned Warrior demonstration builds on Northrop Grumman's successful unmanned demonstration at the U.S. Navy's Annual Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) at Newport, Rhode Island, in August, where unmanned surface, undersea and air assets collaboratively conducted an anti-submarine warfare mission.Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.Contact: Fernando Catta-Preta (U.S.) +1 434-974-2736 (office) + 1 434-242-9283 (mobile) fernando.catta-preta@ngc.comKen Beedle (U.K.) +44 207 747 1910 (office) +44 7787 174092 (mobile) ken.beedle@euro.ngc.com Fiskars Corporation Interim report November 2, 2016 at 8.30 a.m. EETFISKARS INTERIM REPORT JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2016: Improved operating profit and cash flow from operating activitiesThis release is a summary of the Fiskars Corporation's third quarter of 2016 and interim report January-September 2016 published today. The complete interim report with tables is attached to this release as a pdf-file. It is also available at http://fiskarsgroup.com/investors/reports-presentations/interim-reports and on the company website at www.fiskarsgroup.com. Investors should not rely on summaries of our interim reports only, but should review the complete interim report with tables.Third quarter 2016 in brief:-- Net sales decreased by 3% to EUR 280.8 million (Q3 2015: 289.7) -- Net sales increased by 0.2% on a comparable basis1) -- Operating profit increased to EUR 20.1 million (-1.6) -- Adjusted operating profit2) increased by 107% to EUR 21.6 million (10.4) -- Costs related to the acquisition of the English & Crystal Living business impacted the operating profit and the adjusted operating profit in Q3 2015 -- Cash flow from operating activities before financial items and taxes increased to EUR 40.3 million (4.9.) -- Earnings per share (EPS) were EUR 0.52 (-0.83). Operative earnings per share3) amounted to EUR 0.15 (-0.18). -- Outlook for 2016 unchanged: Fiskars expects the Group's 2016 net sales and adjusted operating profit to increase from the previous yearJanuary 1-September 30, 2016 in brief:-- Net sales increased by 13% to EUR 870.5 million (Q1-Q3 2015: 773.3) -- Net sales remained at the same level on a comparable basis4) -- Operating profit increased to EUR 58.6 million (33.5) -- Adjusted operating profit2) increased by 26% to EUR 60.8 million (48.3) -- Cash flow from operating activities before financial items and taxes increased to EUR 43.2 million (-14.5) -- Earnings per share (EPS) were EUR 0.27 (0.28). Operative earnings per share3) amounted to EUR 0.33 (0.12)1) Using comparable exchange rates, excluding the divested boats business and the U.S. container gardening business 2) Adjustments include items such as restructuring costs, impairment charges, integration related costs, and profit impact from the sale of businesses 3)Operative earnings per share do not include net changes in the fair value of the investment portfolio and dividends received 4) Using comparable exchange rates, excluding the divested boats business and the U.S. container gardening business and the acquired English &amp;amp;amp; Crystal Living business in the first half of 2016President and CEO, Fiskars, Kari Kauniskangas:"Fiskars improved its operating profit and cash flow from operating activities during the third quarter of 2016. I was pleased to see the improvements, which are a result of our focus on core products and brands as well as operational efficiency.The sales of the English & Crystal Living business increased, both in the Americas and Europe & Asia-Pacific segments, which was a solid achievement in a tough business environment. During the quarter, we introduced a partnership with Royal Doulton and the world renowned television host and entrepreneur Ellen DeGeneres. The partnership and the new tableware collection, which will be launched in select countries during Q4 and globally in Q1 2017, are expected to support Royal Doulton's brand awareness and brand positioning.In the Functional business, we again saw record sales in the School, Office and Craft category in the Americas segment during the Back to School season. A new Fiskars-branded Hard Face cookware series was launched in the Nordic countries during the quarter, with a positive initial response from our customers and consumers.We made progress in our transformation into an integrated consumer goods company with a family of iconic lifestyle brands. With the divestment of two non-core businesses in Europe and Americas, we further simplify our structure and increase our focus on core businesses and brands. We will continue the transformation and are determined to move fast to create value for our different stakeholders.We are entering the gifting season during the fourth quarter, which is even more important for us now since the acquisition of the English & Crystal Living business. Fiskars is well prepared to succeed in the market place, add value for our customers, and provide great consumer experiences. Fiskars continues to place the consumer and our key brands - Fiskars, Gerber, Iittala, Royal Copenhagen, Waterford, and Wedgwood - firmly at the center of our actions. Building on our renewed mission to create a family of the most iconic lifestyle brands, Fiskars' vision is to create a positive, lasting impact on the quality of life we live - making the everyday extraordinary."Group key figuresEUR million Q3 2016 Q3 2015 Change Q1?Q3 2016 Q1?Q3 2015 Change 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- Net sales 280.8 289.7 -3% 870.5 773.3 13% 1,107.1 Operating 20.1 -1.6 58.6 33.5 75% 46.5 profit (EBIT) Adjustments -1.5 -12.0 -2.2 -14.8 -18.6 to operating profit1) Adjusted 21.6 10.4 107% 60.8 48.3 26% 65.1 operating profit Adjusted 24.9 13.8 80% 70.8 55.7 27% 75.7 EBITA Net change in 38.3 -67.2 -22.3 -16.6 56.1 the fair value of investment portfolio Profit before 55.9 -76.9 37.1 42.4 -12% 125.5 taxes Profit for 43.0 -67.7 23.7 24.1 -2% 86.4 the period Operative 0.15 -0.18 0.33 0.12 185% 0.16 earnings/sha re, EUR2) Earnings/shar 0.52 -0.83 0.27 0.28 -3% 1.04 e, EUR Equity per 14.23 13.74 4% 14.54 share, EUR Cash flow 40.3 4.9 718% 43.2 -14.5 50.2 from operating activities before financial items and taxes Equity ratio, 68% 63% 65% % Net gearing, 18% 28% 21% % Capital 9.6 12.6 -24% 28.0 24.5 14% 32.4 expenditure Personnel 7,943 8,237 -4% 8,022 5,777 39% 6,416 (FTE), average --------------------------------------------------------------------------------1) In Q3 2016, adjustments include a gain from the sale of Spring USA, provisions related to the divestment of the Ebertsankey container gardening business, costs related to the Supply Chain 2017 program and integration activities. In Q3 2015, mainly goodwill impairment related to the planned rationalization of a non-core product range in America and items related to the Supply Chain 2017 program. 2) Excluding net change in the fair value of the investment portfolio and dividends received. The comparison period has been restated to also exclude the exchange rate gains related to the investment portfolioIMPACT OF NEW ESMA GUIDELINESIn accordance with the new guidelines on alternative performance measures issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) Fiskars Corporation has revised the terminology used in its financial reporting. Alternative Performance Measures (APM) are used to better reflect the operational business performance and to facilitate comparisons between financial periods. APMs should not be considered as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with the IFRS. As of Q1 2016, the term "non-recurring items" (NRI) has been changed to the term "adjustments to operating profit", however the definition remains the same. As before, adjustments are transactions that are not related to recurring business operations, such as restructuring costs, impairment charges, integration related costs, and profit impact from the sale of businesses. Correspondingly, "adjusted EBITA" is calculated from adjusted EBIT by adding back amortization. The adjustments are listed in a table on page 16 of this interim report. Fiskars also uses the APM "operative EPS", which is earnings per share (EPS) excluding the effects of the dividends from and the change in the fair value of the investment portfolio.Analysts and media conference: An analysts and media conference will be held at 10 a.m. on November 2, 2016, at the company's headquarters, Fiskars Campus, Hameentie 135 A, Helsinki. Presentation material will be available at www.fiskarsgroup.com.FISKARS CORPORATIONKari Kauniskangas President and CEOFurther information:-- President and CEO Kari Kauniskangas, tel. +358 204 39 5500 -- COO and CFO Teemu Kangas-Karki, tel. +358 204 39 5703 -- Corporate Communications, tel. +358 204 39 5031, communications@fiskars.comFiskars - Making the everyday extraordinary Fiskars serves consumers and customers around the world with a brand portfolio of globally recognized brands including Fiskars, Gerber, Iittala, Royal Copenhagen, Waterford, and Wedgwood. Building on our mission to create a family of iconic lifestyle brands, Fiskars' vision is to create a positive, lasting impact on our quality of life. Please visit www.fiskarsgroup.com for more information.Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=602548 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. TALLIN, Estonia, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2015, more than 1.2 million first time asylum seekers registered in Europe, more than double that of the previous year. A 58% increase in regular leisure and business travellers to Europe is anticipated in the next 10 years, meanwhile, with 300 million travellers set to enter Europe annually by 2025. In the halls of Frankfurt, Brussels or Madrid airports, passengers transit through border checks using electronic gates. In Amsterdam and Stockholm, police on the beat check vehicle records using their mobile phones. Around the continent, incoming asylum seekers provide fingerprints to access European asylum processes.Europe's internal security is increasingly founded on modern technologies. Usage of innovative technologies is crucial to appropriately deal with the various threats faced, including terrorism, smuggling and cross-border crime, while enabling authorities to simultaneously cope with increasing flows of both regular and irregular travellers. On 27th October, eu-LISA will host its annual conference, JHATech 2016, in Tallinn. Some 130 attendees are anticipated, representing EU and national authorities, practitioners, industry and academia. Together, they will examine the interplay between national and Europeaninformation technologies and also assess research and development activities that might provide for new tools to enhance operations going forward. Opportunities to bring added value by making IT systems more interoperable will be particularly studied. The proposed European Entry/Exit System will also be discussed. This new system for the electronic registration of all entries and exits of third country nationals into Europe will, pending approval of the relevant legislation in the coming months, be developed by eu-LISA. Krum Garkov, the Executive Director of eu-LISA noted that the main emphasis of this years's conference is on the individual technologies for law enforcement cooperation and IT tools to enhance border control through interoperability of the available means. Online web-streaming will be provided during the day of the conference at http://www.eulisaconference.eu and a twitter wall will be available to enable interactive participation from all locations. Background This is the third conference organised by the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) to highlight the capabilitiesthat modern technology provides to combine stronger securitywith ease of travel and thereby enable more efficientexternal border managementin Europe. eu-LISA 2015 Conference highlights see: http://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/VideoGallery/Pages/default.aspx Contact: Mare Haab Ph: +371-588-78-668 mare.haab@eulisa.europa.eu press@eulisa.europa.eu Regulatory News: The Management board of Arctic Paper S.A. ("Company", "Issuer") (STO:ARP) herewith announces that on 26th of October 2016, based on information corresponding to the current excerpt from the Register of Entrepreneurs, downloaded under Article 4.4aa of the Polish Act on the National Court Register of 20th August 1997, which presents the situation as at 26th of October 2016, the Company was informed about the registration of amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company passed by the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of Arctic Paper S.A. on 14thof October 2016 by means of the resolution no. 4/2016 presented in the current report no.21/2016 published on 14thof October 2016. The Company has reported about the adoption of the unified text of Company's Articles of Association by the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting by means of the resolution no.5/2016 in the current report no.21/2016 published on 14thof October 2016 The Issuer hereby encloses the unified text of the Company's Articles of Association. http://mb.cision.com/Main/5162/2109645/580777.pdf This information is disclosed pursuant to Regulation of the Minister of Finance of February 19, 2009 on current and periodic information submitted by issuers of securities and conditions of recognizing information required by law of a non-EU state as equivalent 38 section 1 item 2 and was submitted for publication on 26 October 2016 at 9:00 pm CET, in reference to Arctic Paper's current report no. 27/2016 filed with the Warsaw Stock Exchange This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005642/en/ Contacts: Arctic Paper Per Skoglund acting President of the Management Board of Arctic Paper tel. +46 733 21 70 09 PUNE, India, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the market research report "Industrial Refrigeration Systems Market by Equipment (Compressors, Condensers, Evaporators), Refrigerant Type (Ammonia, CO2, HFCS), Application (Fruits & Vegetables Processing, Beverages, Refrigerated Warehouses), & Geography - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to reach USD 23.22 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 5.24% between 2016 and 2022. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 65 market data Tables and 53 Figures spread through 154 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Industrial Refrigeration Systems Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/industrial-refrigeration-system-market-245749288.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The growth in the industrial refrigeration systems market is expected to be driven by stringent laws and standards supporting environmentally-friendly substitutes and growing focus in developing economies for strengthening the cold-chain infrastructure. The market for CO2-based refrigeration systems expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period The market for CO2-based Industrial Refrigeration Systems are expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period owing to the benefits it offers, such as excellent thermodynamic properties, high energy-efficiency, zero-toxicity, and non-flammability. Many food and beverage industrial players, especially across developed economies in the North America and Europe region have shifted towards the usage of CO2 as a preferred refrigerant type, especially as a secondary refrigerant and also in the cascade systems. Refrigerated warehouses application held the largest share of the industrial refrigeration systems market in 2015 Industrial refrigeration systems are most widely used in the refrigerated warehouses industry, which is further expected to hold the dominance in the near future as well, closely followed by fruits and vegetables processing application. Many industrial refrigeration systems manufacturers have started offering natural refrigerants compatible products and equipment, and low- global warming potential (GWP) and low- ozone depleting potential (ODP) refrigerants, which are being developed for replacing their comparatively high-GWP and high-ODP refrigerants counterparts, to follow strict adherence to the regional and international regulatory standards. North America held the largest market share in 2015 North America held the largest market in 2015, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific for industrial refrigeration systems. The U.S. held the largest share of the North American industrial refrigeration systems market owing to strong demand from refrigerated warehouses, and food and beverage processing applications. Rapid commercialization of CO2-based transport refrigeration and growing installation base of NH3/CO2 cascade refrigeration systems (especially across food processing industry) are further adding to the future growth of industrial refrigeration systems across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Asia-Pacific offers potential growth opportunities owing to the strengthening of cold-chain infrastructure across developing countries in this region. Inquiry Before Buying: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=245749288 Major players in this market include Johnson Controls, Inc. (U.S.), Emerson Electric Co. (U.S.), Ingersoll Rand Plc (Ireland), GEA Group AG (Germany), The Danfoss Group (Denmark), Daikin Industries, Ltd. (Japan), United Technologies Corporation (U.S.), Mayekawa Mfg. Co. Ltd. (Japan), Evapco, Inc. (U.S.), LU-VE Group (Italy), Lennox International Inc. (U.S.), BITZER Kuhlmaschinenbau GmbH (Germany), and Baltimore Aircoil Company (U.S.). Browse Related Reports Magnetic Refrigeration Market by Product (Refrigeration, Air conditioning, Heat pumps), Application (Domestic, Commercial, Transportation & Industrial) & Geography - Global forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/magnetic-refrigeration-market-243034247.html Scroll & Absorption Chillers Market by Product (Scroll Chiller & Absorption Chiller), Capacity (<100 kW, 101 kW-300 kW, 301 kW-700 kW, & >701 kW), Vertical, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/scroll-absorption-chillers-market-81768652.html Subscribe Reports from Semiconductor Domain @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical info graphics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan MarketsandMarkets 701 Pike Street Suite 2175, Seattle, WA 98101, United States Tel: 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog@ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets Regulatory News: Semcon: (STO:SEMC) In the third quarter, we continued to report better results compared with last year, and all business areas reported improved results in 2016. Business area Engineering Services Nordic noted continued strong demand from the automotive industry, while the energy sector was relatively weak. In business area Engineering Services Germany, a reorganisation was initiated at the end of last year and a new organisation is now in place to achieve improved productivity with an even greater customer focus. During the autumn, construction will also commence of a new facility for engineering services and advanced testing in Ingolstadt with the aim of strengthening Semcon's role as premium partner to the German automotive industry. In business area Engineering Services International, we are increasing our deliveries in projects for Europe, such as in autonomous vehicles. The Group's higher number of project commitments also means that we have greater possibilities to use the expertise available in Semcon's international organisation, which generates distinct added value for our customers. The interest in Business Area Product Information's customers' aftermarket business offering remains strong. More companies are seeing the benefits of employing a partner whose core business is to create, digitalize and distribute product information. The new partnership agreements signed earlier this year are clear evidence of this. During the third quarter, we launched our new communication strategy and it is positive to see the attention and spread that the launch of the "Smiling Car" concept has had globally. In addition, a new graphic profile and new website were launched. With our new communication strategy, we are increasing our visibility and becoming even more distinct in our communication in relation to our position and our customer offering. We have a clear ambition to increase Semcon's market share and further strengthen the brand. Our international expertise in product development in several industries is a key element in contributing to our customers' success. Our mission, to develop products that make life simpler for the end-user, is becoming increasingly important now that the next generation of smart products is being launched. Third quarter The operating income amounted to SEK 591 million (611) and organic growth was -3% The operating profit amounted to SEK 23 million (13), yielding an operating margin of 3.8% (2.2) The profit after tax amounted to SEK 16 million (9) Earnings per share (EPS) after dilution amounted to SEK 0.89 (0.51) January-September The operating income amounted to SEK 1,957 million (1,920) and organic growth was 2% The operating profit amounted to SEK 77 million (19), yielding an operating margin of 3.9% (1.0) The profit after tax amounted to SEK 55 million (12) Earnings per share (EPS) after dilution amounted to SEK 3.05 (0.66) The equity/assets ratio amounted to 51% (47) Income and result Third quarter Operating income amounted to SEK 591 million (611). Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions, income decreased by 3%. The business areas Engineering Services Nordic and Engineering Services International showed growth, while the business areas Engineering Services Germany and Product Information had reduced sales. Operating profit amounted to SEK 23 million (13), yielding an operating margin of 3.8% (2.2). In particular, it was the business areas Engineering Services Nordic and Product Information that reported improved operating profit compared with the preceding year. Net financial items amounted to SEK -1 million (-1), yielding profit before tax of SEK 22 million (12). The tax expense amounted to SEK 5 million (3). Profit after tax was SEK 16 million (9) and EPS after dilution was SEK 0.89 (0.51). January-September Operating income amounted to SEK 1,957 million (1,920). Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions, income increased by 2%. Operating profit was SEK 77 million (19), yielding an operating margin of 3.9% (1.0). All business areas reported improved operating profit compared with the preceding year. Last year, the business area Engineering Services Germany's operating profit was affected by SEK 20 million in restructuring costs. Business area Product Information's operating profit was positively affected this year by recovered write-downs of accounts receivable of SEK 7 million. Net financial items amounted to SEK -3 million (-3), yielding profit before tax of SEK 74 million (16). The tax expense amounted to SEK 18 million (4). Profit after tax was SEK 55 million (12) and EPS after dilution was SEK 3.05 (0.66). Financial position Operating cash flow from current activities was SEK 8 million (-107). Cash flow is seasonally weak in the first three quarters. Investments in hardware, licenses, office supplies and equipment amounted to SEK 30 million (29). The Group's cash and cash equivalents amounted to SEK 56 million (43), with additional non-utilised credit of SEK 257 million (179) as per September 30. Shareholders' equity amounted to SEK 638 million (617) and the equity/assets ratio was 51% (47). During the second quarter, a dividend of SEK 22 million (45) was paid to shareholders. The Group's net debt amounted to SEK 133 million (214). Excluding pension commitments, net debt amounted to SEK 60 million (146). The debt/equity ratio was 0.2 times (0.3). Employees The head count on September 30 was 2,858 (2,864) and the number of employees in active service was 2,699 (2,783). In the respective business areas the head count is as follows: Engineering Services Nordic 1,092 (1,011), Engineering Services Germany 822 (980), Engineering Services International 363 (345) and Product Information 581 (528). A restructuring has taken place over the past year in business area Engineering Services Germany resulting in a fall of number of employees. Semcon is an international technology company that develops products based on human needs and behaviours. We strengthen our customers' competitiveness by always starting from the end user, because the person who knows most about the user's needs creates the best products and the clearest benefits to humans. Semcon collaborates mainly with companies in the automotive, industry, energy and life science sectors. With almost 3,000 specialised employees, Semcon has the ability to take care of the entire product development cycle, from strategy and technology development to design and product information. Semcon was founded in Sweden in 1980 and has offices in over 40 locations in nine different countries. In 2015, the Group reported annual sales of SEK 2.6 billion. Read more on semcon.com. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005727/en/ Contacts: Semcon AB Bjorn Stromberg, CFO +46 31-721 03 06 www.semcon.com DALLAS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Securonix is the recipient of the 2016 Big Data As-a-Service Excellence Award for its big data security analytics platform SNYPR, the company announced today. Presented by TMCnet and InfoTech Spotlight, the award recognizes Securonix as a leading innovator of big data-driven analytics solutions that predict, prevent, detect and contain security threats such as cyber attacks, insider threats and fraud. Securonix, the market leader in security analytics and predictive cyber threat detection, released SNYPR in 2016. SNYPR is a security analytics platform that transforms big data into actionable security intelligence. It delivers the proven power of Securonix analytics with the speed, scale, and affordable, long-term storage of Hadoop in a single, out-of-the-box solution. Large organizations are collecting, archiving and storing massive volumes of data in repositories, without deriving security value from it. SNYPR was purpose-built to translate the billions of events from hundreds of different data sources that big organizations generate daily into real-time threat detection and accurate risk intelligence. SNYPR integrates directly with sources of event information enterprises already have in place. It ingests limitless volumes of data, normalizes, enriches and processes data at lightning speed, and then analyzes it in real-time using a combination of user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA), unsupervised deep learning and applied threat models to deliver true predictive threat detection. SNYPR is not only the most sophisticated threat detection capability ever released, it is also steering the entire industry toward a big data analytics approach to enterprise security. "SNYPR completely revolutionizes how enterprise organizations discover and manage cyber threats, and we are honored that this award from respected journalists recognizes our significant innovation," said Tanuj Gulati, CTO, Securonix. "SNYPR delivers a completely new visualization of the enterprise security posture, harnesses the power of big data and puts actionable intelligence into the hands of security leaders, enabling them to combat cyber threats and mitigate risk to their organization with fewer resources and lower costs." Big Data-As-a-Service (BDaaS) is the next iteration of the cloud model. Leveraging several of its predecessors (SaaS, PaaS, etc.), it allows smaller businesses to become part of the big data revolution and leverage the information available to extract actionable intelligence to drive better products, better brands, and better businesses. The 2016 Big Data As-a-Service Excellence Award recognizes BDaaS solutions that help companies store and analyze data, driving intelligent business decisions. "Securonix has displayed its commitment to quality and innovation in the development of the exploding big data industry," said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. "I look forward to witnessing continued excellence from Securonix and their efforts toward helping companies store, manage and analyze data to improve their businesses." About Securonix Securonix is working to radically transform all areas of data security with actionable security intelligence. Our purpose-built advanced security analytics technology mines, enriches, analyzes, scores and visualizes customer data into actionable intelligence on the highest risk threats from within and outside their environment. Using signature-less anomaly detection techniques that track users, account and system behavior, Securonix is able to detect the most advanced data security, insider threats and fraud attacks automatically and accurately. Globally customers are using Securonix to address the most basic and complex needs around advanced persistent threat detection and monitoring, high privileged activity monitoring, enterprise and web fraud detection, application risk monitoring and access risk management. For more information visit www.securonix.com. About InfoTech Spotlight InfoTech Spotlight brings extensive daily content focused on information technology. Visitors will find free industry news, communities, channels, blogs, feature articles, videos, whitepapers and other resources. The site keeps readers informed about developments across topics including software, hardware, security and networking. InfoTech Spotlight is powered by TMCnet, the leading communications and technology site in the World attracting two million unique visitors monthly according to Webtrends. See infoTECH Spotlight for more information. About TMC Global buyers rely on TMC's content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. This presents branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities for vendors/sellers. For more information about TMC, please visit www.tmcnet.com. Torex is an emerging intermediate gold producer based in Canada, engaged in the exploration, development and operation of its 100% owned Morelos Gold Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometers southwest of Mexico City. Within this property, Torex has the El Limon Guajes Mine, which announced commercial production in March of 2016 and the Media Luna Project, which is in an advanced stage of exploration, and for which the Company issued a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) in 2015. The property remains 75% unexplored. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. OTTAWA, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries year after year. The plastic surgeons at The Ottawa Clinic credit this in part to the procedure's ability to create such beautiful transformations. They also highlight that with the latest advancements in breast augmentation, they are able to provide an enhanced procedural process and recovery. More specifically, by using the Keller Funnel, their patients can experience a number of benefits compared to other surgical techniques. As explained by the Ottawa plastic surgeons, the Keller Funnel is a surgical tool that allows silicone gel implants to be placed more easily into the breast pockets. They note that the device creates a way to insert the implant without touching the patient's skin, which reduces the risk of infection from residual bacteria on the surrounding skin. In addition, by using the Keller Funnel, the plastic surgeons say breast augmentation becomes a more streamlined procedure. Patients at The Ottawa Clinic who are determined good candidates for silicone implants will typically receive them via the Keller Funnel. The surgeons say this is because the innovative technique allows them to insert the implants through a smaller incision and reduces trauma to the body. As a result, they explain patients typically have a more comfortable recovery with less swelling and bruising. The device is also known for its ability to reduce the risk of capsular contracture from developing. The team at The Ottawa Clinic recommends anyone interested in silicone implants placed with the Keller Funnel should schedule a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon to learn if it is the right technique for their unique needs. About The Ottawa Clinic The Ottawa Clinic is composed of Royal College-certified plastic surgeons and dermatologists. The practice is the only one of its kind in the National Capital Region to offer comprehensive care in both plastic surgery and dermatology. The experienced team is dedicated to providing safe and comfortable care to their patients, whether they are seeking medically directed skin care or an invasive surgical procedure. The doctors are available for interview upon request. To learn more about The Ottawa Clinic, visit theottawaclinic.com or facebook.com/pages/The-Ottawa-Clinic/288765704570938. To view the original source of this press release, click here: http://www.theottawaclinic.com/practice-news/ottawa-plastic-surgeons-perform-innovative-breast-augmentation-technique The Ottawa Clinic 343 Preston St. #200 Ottawa, ON K1S 1N4, CA (613) 729-1616 Rosemont Media (858) 200-0044 www.rosemontmedia.com MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Geomega Resources Inc. ("GeoMegA" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: GMA) reports that it will submit with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") an application to effect an extension of the expiry date of up to 4,090,638 share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") originally issued in connection with two non-brokered private placements (the "Placements") that closed on December 3, 2013 (4,711,625 units) and November 20, 2014 (3,278,111 units). Each unit in both Placements consisted of one share and one-half of one share purchase warrant. The original terms of the 2013 Placement specified that each Warrant from the first closing which took place on November 4, 2013 and the second and final closing which took place on December 3, 2013, was exercisable into one additional common share (a "Warrant Share") of the Company at a price of $0.21 per Warrant Share until November 4, 2016 and December 3, 2016, respectively. The original terms of the 2014 Placement specified that each Warrant from the first closing which took place on November 4, 2014 and the second closing which took place on November 10, 2014 and the third and final closing which took place on November 20, 2014, was exercisable into one common share of the Company at a price of $0.25 per Warrant Share until November 4, 2016, November 10, 2016 and November 20, 2016, respectively. The Company wishes to extend the original expiry date of the Warrants for an additional period of 24 months as indicated in table below, subject to Exchange acceptance. There are no other proposed changes to the terms of the Warrants. Number of Warrants Current Expiry Proposed Expiry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,662,500 04-Nov-16 04-Nov-18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 164,000 03-Dec-16 03-Dec-18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,250,166 04-Nov-16 04-Nov-18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 625,083 10-Nov-16 10-Nov-18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 388,889 20-Nov-16 20-Nov-18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- About GeoMegA (www.geomega.ca) GeoMegA is a mineral exploration and evaluation company focused on the discovery and sustainable development of economic deposits of metals in Quebec. GeoMegA is committed to meeting the Canadian mining industry standards and distinguishing itself with innovative engineering, stakeholders' engagement and dedication to local transformation benefits. 77,433,712 common shares of GeoMegA are currently issued and outstanding. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding our intentions and plans. The forward-looking statements that are contained in this news release are based on various assumptions and estimates by the Company and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. As a consequence, actual results may differ materially from results forecasted or suggested in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We caution you that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as discussed in the Company's filings with Canadian securities agencies. Various factors may prevent or delay our plans, including but not limited to, contractor availability and performance, weather, access, mineral prices, success and failure of the exploration and development carried out at various stages of the program, and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward- looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. Contacts: Kiril Mugerman President and CEO GeoMegA 450-641-5119 ext.5653 kmugerman@geomega.ca VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP. (FRANKFURT: FMV)(TSX: FR)(NYSE: AG)(BVM: AG) (the "Company" or "First Majestic") is pleased to announce that its third quarter 2016 unaudited financial results will be released on Wednesday, November 9, 2016. First Majestic is a mining company focused on silver production in Mexico and is aggressively pursuing the development of its existing mineral property assets and the pursuit through acquisition of additional mineral assets which contribute to the Company achieving its corporate growth objectives. FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP. Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the price of silver and other metals; the accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and estimates of future production and costs of production at our properties; estimated production rates for silver and other payable metals produced by us, the estimated cost of development of our development projects; the effects of laws, regulations and government policies on our operations, including, without limitation, the laws in Mexico which currently have significant restrictions related to mining; obtaining or maintaining necessary permits, licences and approvals from government authorities; and continued access to necessary infrastructure, including, without limitation, access to power, land, water and roads to carry on activities as planned. These statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of silver, gold, base metals or certain other commodities (such as natural gas, fuel oil and electricity); fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso versus the U.S. dollar); changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada, Mexico; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); risks relating to the credit worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other parties with whom the Company does business; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining, including those currently enacted in Mexico; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities; diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves as properties are mined; the Company's title to properties; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form, under the caption "Risks Relating to First Majestic's Business". Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Contacts: First Majestic Silver Corp. Toll free: 1.866.529.2807 info@firstmajestic.com www.firstmajestic.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Independence Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: IGO) ("Independence" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has intersected multiple broad zones of gold mineralization at the Hudbay Zone on the Rosebute property under option from Taku Gold Corporation. Intercepts include 0.50 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") over 36.6 metres ("m"), 0.31 g/t Au over 38.1 m and 0.15 g/t Au over 91.4 m. The Rosebute property contains two significant gold geochemical anomalies, the Norwest Zone and Hudbay Zones. The 2016 drill program used a Rotary Air Blast ("RAB") drill to complete 12 holes (923.5 m) at the Hudbay Zone. Drill results from this initial evaluation of the Hudbay Zone are presented in the table below. A summary of all 2016 drill results and a map showing the drill hole locations can be found on the Company's website (http://www.ingold.ca). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drill hole From (m) To (m) Length (m)(i) Au (g/t) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-06 3.1 16.8 13.7 0.29 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-06 22.9 32.0 9.1 0.22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-08 0.0 12.2 12.2 0.32 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-09 9.1 100.6 91.4 0.15 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 53.3 56.4 3.1 1.67 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-10 6.1 100.6 94.5 0.12 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-10 62.5 71.6 9.2 0.29 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-15 12.2 48.8 36.6 0.50 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 25.9 27.4 1.5 1.68 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- and Incl. 45.7 47.2 1.5 2.50 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-16 10.7 48.8 38.1 0.31 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 39.6 41.2 1.5 1.26 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)True thickness estimated to be 70-90% of drill intercepts The Hudbay Zone is identified by a 1.3 km long gold-silver-tungsten-molybdenum (Au-Ag-W-Mo) soil-geochemical anomaly that is open to the north and west. Hudbay was previously tested by mechanical trenching which yielded results of 1.5 g/t Au over 20 m, 6.2 g/t Au over 5 m and 0.35 g/t Au over 81 m as noted in Taku's news release on September 12, 2012. Drill holes RO16-15 and RO16-16, located in the northern portion of the Hudbay anomaly returned the most encouraging results. RO16-15 intersected 0.50 g/t Au over 36.6 m, including 2.50 g/t Au over 1.5 m. RO16-16 intersected 0.31 g/t Au over 38.1 m, including 1.26 g/t Au over 1.5 m. Both intercepts are hosted within a quartz biotite schist and are spatially associated with increased concentrations of massive quartz veins. Sulphides are rare and typically absent within the mineralized zones. These two drill holes occur on the northeast margin of a structurally bounded, magnetic anomaly that measures 450 m x 450 m. Coincident with this geophysical target is the Au-Ag-W-Mo soil anomaly that is open to the west in an area that has not been geochemically sampled or geophysically surveyed. The Company plans to fully define the western extent of this Zone by collecting grid-style soil samples and expanding upon the existing geophysical dataset in 2017 with the intent to define drill targets. The remaining drill holes focused on the southern half of the Hudbay Zone and variably intersected broad zones of gold mineralization such as RO16-09 which returned 0.15 g/t Au over 91.4 m, including 1.67 g/t Au over 3.1 metres. The first drill program at the Hudbay Zone focused on the gold-rich portion of the soil geochemical anomaly and is encouraging as it identifies a positive correlation between an increase in quartz veining and gold mineralization. The Hudbay Zone is underlain primarily by metasedimentary rocks, situated on the western margin of a north-trending potassium feldspar rich orthogneiss unit. Mineralization appears to have a stronger association with the metasedimentary package which is comprised of quartz biotite schist and quartzite, with minor orthogneiss. Both rock types are cross cut by shallowly south-dipping quartz veins that are aligned within a shallowly south-dipping, pervasive foliation. The Rosebute Property is located approximately 58 km south of Dawson City, Yukon and approximately 29 km north of the Golden Saddle Deposit owned by Kinross Gold Corporation. The Property is contiguous to the west of the Company's Henderson project, and is situated in close proximity to the northern access road proposed by Goldcorp that will provide access to the multi-million ounce Coffee gold deposit. All samples were submitted to SGS Minerals Services in Burnaby, BC for sample preparation by crushing to 75% less than 2 millimetres, creation of a 250 g split, and then pulverizing to 85% passing 75 microns. Sample pulps are submitted for gold analysis with a 30 g fire assay and AAS finish (code GE-FAA313). Samples are also submitted for a 52 element analysis using an aqua regia digest and ICP-AES and ICP-MS analysis (GE-ICM14B). Control samples (accredited gold standards and blanks) were inserted into the sample sequence on a regular basis monitor precision of results. David Gale, P.Geo., the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the White Gold District, has reviewed the technical information in this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Independence Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: IGO) is a well-financed mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, with a portfolio of projects in the Yukon and the 3Ts Project in British Columbia. The Company's holdings range from early stage grassroots exploration to advanced-stage resource expansion. For additional information, please visit the Company's website www.ingold.ca. INDEPENDENCE GOLD CORP. Randy Turner, President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com. Readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. Contacts: Independence Gold Corp. Investor Relations 604-687-3959 info@ingold.ca VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Taku Gold Corp. (CSE: TAK) ("Taku" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its joint venture partner, Independence Gold, has intersected multiple broad zones of gold mineralization at the Hudbay Zone on the Rosebute property under option from Taku Gold Corporation. Intercepts include 0.50 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") over 36.6 metres ("m"), 0.31 g/t Au over 38.1 m and 0.15 g/t Au over 91.4 m. The Rosebute property contains two significant gold geochemical anomalies, the Norwest Zone and Hudbay Zones. The 2016 drill program used a Rotary Air Blast ("RAB") drill to complete 12 holes (923.5 m) at the Hudbay Zone. Drill results from this initial evaluation of the Hudbay Zone are presented in the table below. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drill From To Length Au hole (m) (m) (m)(i) (g/t) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-06 3.1 16.8 13.7 0.29 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-06 22.9 32.0 9.1 0.22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-08 0.0 12.2 12.2 0.32 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-09 9.1 100.6 91.4 0.15 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including 53.3 56.4 3.1 1.67 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-10 6.1 100.6 94.5 0.12 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-10 62.5 71.6 9.2 0.29 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-15 12.2 48.8 36.6 0.50 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including 25.9 27.4 1.5 1.68 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- And 45.7 47.2 1.5 2.50 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RO16-16 10.7 48.8 38.1 0.31 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including 39.6 41.2 1.5 1.26 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)True thickness estimated to be 70-90% of drill intercepts The Hudbay Zone is identified by a 1.3 km long gold-silver-tungsten-molybdenum (Au-Ag-W-Mo) soil- geochemical anomaly that is open to the north and west. Hudbay was previously tested by mechanical trenching which yielded results of 1.5 g/t Au over 20 m, 6.2 g/t Au over 5 m and 0.35 g/t Au over 81 m as noted in Taku's news release on September 12, 2012. Drill holes RO16-15 and RO16-16, located in the northern portion of the Hudbay anomaly returned the most encouraging results. RO16-15 intersected 0.50 g/t Au over 36.6 m, including 2.50 g/t Au over 1.5 m. RO16-16 intersected 0.31 g/t Au over 38.1 m, including 1.26 g/t Au over 1.5 m. Both intercepts are hosted within a quartz biotite schist and are spatially associated with increased concentrations of massive quartz veins. Sulphides are rare and typically absent within the mineralized zones. These two drill holes occur on the northeast margin of a structurally bounded, magnetic anomaly that measures 450 m x 450 m. Coincident with this geophysical target is the Au-Ag-W-Mo soil anomaly that is open to the west in an area that has not been geochemically sampled or geophysically surveyed. The Company plans to fully define the western extent of this Zone by collecting grid-style soil samples and expanding upon the existing geophysical dataset in 2017 with the intent to define drill targets. The remaining drill holes focused on the southern half of the Hudbay Zone and variably intersected broad zones of gold mineralization such as RO16-09 which returned 0.15 g/t Au over 91.4 m, including 1.67 g/t Au over 3.1 metres. The first drill program at the Hudbay Zone focused on the gold-rich portion of the soil geochemical anomaly and is encouraging as it identifies a positive correlation between an increase in quartz veining and gold mineralization. The Hudbay Zone is underlain primarily by metasedimentary rocks, situated on the western margin of a north- trending potassium feldspar rich orthogneiss unit. Mineralization appears to have a stronger association with the metasedimentary package which is comprised of quartz biotite schist and quartzite, with minor orthogneiss. Both rock types are cross cut by shallowly south-dipping quartz veins that are aligned within a shallowly south-dipping, pervasive foliation. The Rosebute Property is located approximately 58 km south of Dawson City, Yukon and approximately 29 km north of the Golden Saddle Deposit owned by Kinross Gold Corporation. The Property is contiguous to the west of Independence Gold's Henderson project, and is situated in close proximity to the northern access road proposed by Goldcorp that will provide access to the multi-million ounce Coffee gold deposit. All samples were submitted to SGS Minerals Services in Burnaby, BC for sample preparation by crushing to 75% less than 2 millimetres, creation of a 250 g split, and then pulverizing to 85% passing 75 microns. Sample pulps are submitted for gold analysis with a 30 g fire assay and AAS finish (code GE-FAA313). Samples are also submitted for a 52 element analysis using an aqua regia digest and ICP-AES and ICP-MS analysis (GE-ICM14B). Control samples (accredited gold standards and blanks) were inserted into the sample sequence on a regular basis monitor precision of results. Mark Fekete, P.Geo, is the designated "qualified person" as defined in Section 1.2 in and for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 that reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. On Behalf of the Board of Taku Gold Corp., Zachery Dingsdale, CEO and President About Taku Gold Corp. Taku Gold Corp. (http://www.takugold.com) is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of precious metal properties in Canada with a particular emphasis on the White Gold District of the Yukon Territory and the Tagish Lake region of Northern British Columbia. Follow Taku Gold On: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takugold Twitter: http://twitter.com/takugoldcorp YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TakuGold Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/takugold/ Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Taku Gold Corp. Zachery Dingsdale CEO and President 604 642-0115 604 642-0116 (FAX) zak@takugold.com www.takugold.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Mineral Mountain" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: MMV) is pleased to announce that the Company has identified one of the largest and thickest bodies of structurally thickened "ledge-type" iron formation in the Rochford District to date with recognition of the north half of the "Silver Creek Syncline" which is located completely within Lawrence County and is on average just 19 km (12 miles) from the Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota. This is a very tightly folded synclinal body of iron formation that is more than 3.2 km (2 miles) in strike length and up to 215 meters (700 feet) thick locally. This major syncline is dissected by a large, near vertical shear zone at a nearly parallel to acute angle. The east side of this shear zone has been upthrown and offset in a right lateral sense of movement. Previous explorers had not recognized or identified the large body of shallowly plunging "hinge zone" iron formation localized along a very tightly folded syncline.. This newly recognized "hinge zone" was the target of the Mineral Mountain recent staking. The west side of the shear zone is part of the downthrown block with iron formation folded by the same very tight syncline. The buried downthrown "hinge zone" was recognized in the geologic mapping of former explorers and had been staked by Mineral Mountain in 2012. The Silver Creek Syncline is similar to structural shear zones within iron formation having the same or comparable geometry to the tightly folded synclinal structures hosting the major orebodies. at the Homestake Mine. Mineral Mountain's Rochford property previously covered four high priority gold targets that are situated within two structural corridors that host Homestake "ledge-type" gold mineralization associated with banded iron formation well documented by Getty, Noranda, Western Mining and Homestake between 1982 and 1996. The discovery and recognition of this new target adds an additional 5th gold target and a third major structural corridor. The five large-scale gold targets, three along the 5.5 km long Standby-South Standby-Lookout Mine Trend, the fourth along the 1.0 km long Cochrane Trend and now the fifth along the 3 km long Silver Creek Trend, will require a well-planned program initially totaling a minimum of 10,000 meters of drilling. The Company has engaged the professional services of FMG Engineering, a firm based in Rapid City, South Dakota to assist Mineral Mountain through the drill permitting process. Recognition and discovery of this favourable "ledge-type" structure is in part a result of relatively recent published mapping by Jack Redden (2008) of the South Dakota School of Mines (Rapid City) with field mapping/verification by Mineral Mountain geologists. Coupled with the geological mapping, the Company's VTEM data indicates the presence of a large linear magnetic high, and of potential economic interest, a large coincident resistivity low that is typical of iron formation that is altered, sheared with potentially significant disseminated and banded sulphides (pyrrhotite + arsenopyrite). Limited grab sampling at the historic Standard Mine situated at the southern end of the Silver Creek Trend recorded up to 13.7 g/t Au in strongly altered, gossanous iron formation with quartz veins. Outcrop exposure over much of this area is poor explaining why this large structure was not mapped and identified previously by former explorers. Mineral Mountain had six (6) unpatented claims on part of this structure from previous staking, but has now added an additional eleven (11) unpatented lode mining claims for a total of 17 claims totaling 209 acres to cover the up-thrown east half of the Silver Creek Syncline. In total, Mineral Mountain now has assembled a contiguous land package totaling 356 unpatented lode mining claims for 5,656 acres (2289 hectares) and 9 patented lode claims (Standby Mine) for 67.45 acres (27.3 hectares). Nelson W. Baker, President and CEO commented: "Our airborne VTEM survey was able to trace and define the limits of this "hidden structure" that early day prospectors missed because of poor rock exposure and is a prime example of how under-explored the Rochford District really is!" Qualified Persons The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Nelson W. Baker, P.Eng., the President and CEO of Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. and a Qualified Person for this project. All exploration activities at the Rochford Project are carried out under the supervision of Kevin Leonard, P.Geo., also a Qualified Person for this project. About Mineral Mountain Resources and the Rochford Gold Project Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd., through its wholly owned subsidiary Mineral Mountain Resources (SD) Inc., is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of its 100%-owned Rochford Gold Project situated along the highly prospective Homestake Gold Belt in the Black Hills of South Dakota, U.S.A. Currently, the Rochford Project covers approximately 5,723 acres (2,316 hectares) and straddles three major trends of structurally thickened auriferous iron formation extending over a total strike length of 9.5 km. Since 2013, the Company has continued to expand its land position in the Rochford gold district by professional claim staking and also by purchasing strategically located private properties that fall along three major sub-parallel structural trends that host Ledge-type gold mineralization similar to those developed at the Homestake Mine just 19 km to the north. The Company now owns the largest contiguous land position in the Rochford greenstone belt and now possesses by far the largest and most comprehensive database for the district in modern day exploration history! The Rochford Project is vastly under-explored and has the potential to host several district scale gold discoveries. Following a complete review and assimilation of the newly-acquired database, the Company anticipates that the Standby Mine, the Cochrane South, and the Standby South gold targets will each require a well-planned, systematic diamond drill program to test for Ledge-style gold mineralization down plunge. The permitting process to drill the above targets is in progress. On Behalf of the Board of Directors MINERAL MOUNTAIN RESOURCES LTD. Nelson W. Baker, President and CEO Forward looking information This release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("Forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion, growth of the Company's businesses, operations, plans and with respect to exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, permitting time lines, government regulation of exploration and mining operations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage, timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation and timing and results of future resource estimates or future economic studies. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "planning", "planned", "expects" or "looking forward", "does not expect", "continues", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "potential", "anticipates", "does not anticipate" or "belief" or describes a "goal" or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, the result of drilling and exploration activities, that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes, that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen break downs, that no labour shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and perform as contracted. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the company's publicly filed documents. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Contacts: Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. Brad Baker Vice-President Corporate Development & Director (778) 383-3975 bbaker@mineralmtn.com www.mineralmtn.com GATINEAU, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Government of Canada Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada is creating new jobs, generating major economic benefits across the country, and providing the women and men of the Royal Canadian Navy with the equipment they need to do their work. The Honourable Judy M. Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, today announced that pre-qualified companies are invited to submit proposals for the design of Canada's Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) fleet. The Request for Proposal (RFP) for this key deliverable was released by Irving Shipbuilding Inc., the government's prime contractor for this project. As announced on June 13, 2016, the Government of Canada is moving forward with a streamlined procurement approach to select an existing warship design. The design team will work with the Government of Canada and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. to design and construct the CSC ships. The Government of Canada and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. consulted extensively with industry to develop the RFP and will jointly evaluate the bids. The government set the specific requirements and evaluation criteria for the ship design based on the Royal Canadian Navy's operational needs. The design is expected to be selected by summer 2017. Quotes "The Canadian Surface Combatant is the largest and most complex procurement project in recent history. This Request for Proposal was carefully developed in consultation with industry and highlights how our government is implementing innovative and proven procurement approaches to simplify the competitive process, increase job stability, and deliver the ships we need, sooner. The CSC procurement approach will create middle-class jobs for Canadians and provide opportunities for companies in Canada to showcase their world-class technologies and position themselves for further growth in global markets." The Honourable Judy M. Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement "I am proud to be announcing this milestone in the Canadian Surface Combatant project, one of the most significant projects undertaken by the Government of Canada to date. This Request for Proposal brings us one step closer to being able to provide our brave women and men of the Royal Canadian Navy with the equipment they need to defend Canadian waters and make significant contributions to international naval operations." The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence "The Canadian Surface Combatant project will result in high-value work for Canadian firms over the life of this long-term procurement project, support the growth of a sustainable marine industry in Canada, and attract meaningful new investments to support the growth of other sectors of our economy." The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development "Delivering the right Canadian Surface Combatant capabilities to the Royal Canadian Navy, on time and on budget, is a priority for Irving Shipbuilding. Our shipbuilders are hard at work building Canada's future naval combatant fleet and we look forward to this next phase of the National Shipbuilding Strategy as we continue to grow Canada's shipbuilding and marine industry, and strengthen the capacity of our men and women in uniform." Kevin McCoy, President, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. Quick Facts -- The CSC project will replace Canada's aging destroyers and frigates. Up to 15 ships are scheduled to be built after the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships are complete in the early 2020s. -- The CSC ships will be the major surface component of maritime combat power for Canada. The inherent warfare capability and versatility of the fleet, either independently or as part of a Canadian or coalition task group, will allow it to rapidly deploy worldwide on short notice. -- The Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy will apply to this project, requiring the successful bidder to invest an amount in Canada equal to the totality of the value of the contract it is awarded. At least 10% of this obligation will involve work with Canadian small and medium-sized companies. -- The value proposition, containing the bidders' commitments to invest in Canada, will be evaluated as part of the bid selection process. This will result in meaningful work for Canadian firms on the CSC, opportunities for Canadian suppliers beyond the CSC project, and investments in research, development and advanced manufacturing. It will also generate new export opportunities for Canadian firms. -- The CSC project, along with the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships project, will create 2,400 direct shipbuilding jobs in Halifax and many more thousands of jobs across the country through sub-contracting. -- The first CSC ship is anticipated to be delivered in the mid-2020s. Related Product Backgrounder: Streamlined procurement approach and release of Request for Proposal for Canadian Surface Combatant Associated Links National Shipbuilding Strategy Industrial and Technological Benefits Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook. Contacts: Annie Trepanier Office of the Honourable Judy M. Foote 819-997-5421 Media Relations Public Services and Procurement Canada 819-420-5501 media@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca Jordan Owens Press Secretary Office of the Minister of National Defence 613-996-3100 Media Relations Department of National Defence 613-996-2353 Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811 mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures were steady Thursday morning after big losses in the previous session. Traders remain skeptical that OPEC and Russia will follow through with supply cuts they recently agreed to. A number of OPEC producers such as Iraq are already complaining that they should be exempt from the arrangement. WTI light sweet crude oil was up 12 cents at $49.30 a barrel. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that domestic crude supplies unexpectedly fell by 588,000 barrels in the week ended Oct. 21. Analysts expected a small build. The EIA data stands in stark contrast to yesterday's American Petroleum Institute (API) report showing that U.S. crude stocks rose by 4.8 million barrel. 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. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Leading Edge Materials Corp. ("Leading Edge Materials") or ("the Company") (TSX VENTURE: LEM)(OTCQB: LEMIF) is pleased announce that Taranis GmbH ("Taranis"), a German consulting firm with extensive experience in the production of lithium ion batteries, has been retained to provide strategic advisory services to the Company. Taranis will support Leading Edge Materials in the development of a work program to accelerate commercialization of Woxna graphite concentrates for the European lithium ion battery market. Taranis bring a team experienced in lithium ion battery research and production to assist with engagement with end users in the European Union. Blair Way, President and CEO, stated "this agreement provides Leading Edge Materials with critical technical expertise and access to a deep network within the European lithium ion battery market.". Taranis GmbH is represented by Mr. Frits Obers and Mr. Stefan Theuerkauf. Mr. Obers was previously Managing Director of GAIA Akkumulatorenwerke GmbH ("GAIA"), one of the first battery cell producers in the European Union. During his 5-year tenure, Mr Obers was responsible for overseeing lithium ion battery projects for the automotive, shipping, military and aerospace industries. Prior to joining GAIA, Mr. Obers was a partner of an international consulting firm. Prior to Taranis GmbH, Mr Theuerkauf was head of product and process development, and process engineering at GAIA for 12 years. In this position, he headed up multi-disciplinary development teams which designed and built complex battery systems for both mobility and stationary storage. Projects completed by Mr Theuerkauf include hybrid racing car, electric vehicles, backup storage systems, military submarines, rockets, and a solar powered ship. On behalf of the Board, Blair Way, President & CEO The qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 for the Woxna project, Blair Way, President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed and verified the contents of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Information. Certain information in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "Forward-Looking Statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are Forward-Looking Statements. Forward-Looking Statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may," "will," "can," "should," "could," or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-Looking Statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-Looking Statements are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the Forward-Looking Statements including, among other things, timing of the ground magnetic survey and shallow soil sampling program, timing of a diamond drill program at Bergby, the Company has yet to generate a profit from its activities; there can be no guarantee that the estimates of quantities or qualities of minerals disclosed in the Company's public record will be economically recoverable; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; competition with other companies within the mining industry; the success of the Company is largely dependent upon the performance of its directors and officers and the Company's ability to attract and train key personnel; changes in world metal markets and equity markets beyond the Company's control; mineral resources are, in the large part, estimates and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized; production rates and capital and other costs may vary significantly from estimates; changes in corporate goals and strategies, unexpected geological conditions; and delays in obtaining or failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the Forward-Looking Statements, and the assumptions on which such Forward-Looking Statements are made, are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the Forward-Looking Statements are based will occur. Forward-Looking Statements herein are made as at the date hereof, and unless otherwise required by law, the Company does not intend, or assume any obligation, to update these Forward-Looking Statements. Contacts: Leading Edge Materials Corp. +1 604 685 9316 www.leadingedgematerials.com ALBANY, New York, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The North America linear actuators market holds an immense promise of growth in the near future. Transparency Market Research estimates that the market will exhibit a promising 6.9% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024. If the prediction holds true, the market, with a valuation of US$2,893.5 mn in 2015, will rise to US$5,236.6 mn by 2024. Of the key product varieties, the segment of electric actuators, which currently accounts for over 25% of the market's overall revenue, is expected to remain the most promising over the forecast period. Geographically, the U.S. will continue to hold a prominent share in revenue, but the rate of growth of the Mexico market will surpass that of both the U.S. and Canada. Download PDF Brochure for more Market Insights:http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=16130 Rise in Industrial Automation to Reinforce Demand for Linear Actuators in North America The North America linear actuators market is chiefly driven by the favorable rise in industrial automation across all industries such as automotive, oil and gas, fluid, and defense in the region. Industrial automation is largely supported by various types of linear actuators, owing to which, the potential future rise in industrial automation is expected to positively impact the growth of the linear actuators market in North America. Additionally, the significant rise in demand for efficient water and wastewater management is also predicted to drive the application of a variety of linearly actuated valves at an exponential rate in the region. With the rising stringency of environment sustenance norms, the focus on water conservation and wastewater management is expected to further strengthen in the region in the next few years. This is expected to emerge as a high-impact factor for the future growth prospects of the North America linear actuators market. Furthermore, the growth region's aerospace and defense industry, where linear actuators have varied applications, is also expected to aid the demand for a variety of linear actuators in North America in the near future. The impact of this factor on market's development is presently medium but is expected to be high during the forecast period. Browse Regional PR: http://www.europlat.org/north-america-linear-actuators-market.htm Decline in Manufacturing and Mining Sectors to Keep Demand in Check The market is, however, expected to bear the brunt of the recent slowdown in the manufacturing sector in the near future. The manufacturing sector is one of the key consumers of a variety of linear actuators. The slowdown in its operations is indeed a big restraint and could have a sizeable negative impact on the growth of the linear actuators market in North America. The impact of this restraint is presently medium and is expected to further lessen during the forecast period. The mining industry in North America is also facing a rough patch owing to decline in demand, lack of financing, and strict regulations regarding a number of environmentally taxing operations. The mining industry being another key consumer of linear actuators, it's declining growth prospects are expected to have a notable negative effect on the linear actuator market in the region. The North Americalinear actuators marketis highly fragmented, with the top five players accounting for a less than 20% of the market's overall valuation in 2015, observes a recent report by Transparency Market Research. Investment aimed at the development of technologically advanced product varieties, product innovations to meet the constantly changing demands of different industries, and adherence to high quality standards are some of the key growth strategies adopted by market players in the market. Some of the leading players in the market are Emerson Electric, Co., Rockwell Automation, Inc., Honeywell International, Inc., Parker Hannifin Corporation, and Tsubakimoto Chain, Co. This review of the market is based on a recent market research report published by Transparency Market Research, titled "Linear Actuators Market - North America Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast2016 - 2024." For the study, the market has been segmented as follows: North America Linear Actuators Market - By Type: Pneumatic Hydraulic Mechanical Electric Ball screw Linear guide Linear table Rod less linear actuator Rod style linear actuator Helical belt Worm DC Motor Servo Motor Others Others North America Linear Actuators Market - By End Use: Automotive Medical / Healthcare Furniture Mining Steel Water & wastewater management Construction IT / Semiconductor Military Agriculture Chemical Petrochemical Others North America Linear Actuators Market - By Country: U.S. Canada Mexico Related Report by Transparency Market Research: Burner Management System Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/burner-management-system-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/burner-management-system-market.html Actuators and Valves Market:http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/actuators-valves-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company,providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experiencedteam of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge. Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMR's syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement. US Office Contact Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Transparencymarketresearch GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On the afternoon of October 26, Shen Haixiong, Member of Standing Committee of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Director General of Guangdong Provincial Publicity Department, met with the delegation led by Justin Smith, CEO of Bloomberg News Group, in Guangzhou. Mr. Shen first expressed his wishes for the successful cooperation between Bloomberg and the to-be-launched Guangdong Southern Finance and Economics Omnimedia and warmly welcomed Mr. Smith and the delegation. He then introduced the recent economic and social development of Guangdong. Mr. Shen said that as the largest economy in China, Guangdong boasts huge market potential, distinct geographic advantages and close ties with Southeast Asian markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Bloomberg bears extensive experience in fields including financial information, trading software and management and operation, which sets an ideal example for Guangdong Southern Finance and Economics Omnimedia. He looks forward to stronger cooperation between the two sides for mutual reinforcement andmutually beneficialresults. Mr. Smith expressed that Guangdong's achievements are remarkable and he expects wider exchanges and visits between the two sides in the future to identify fields of mutual interests and potential collaboration for closer and broader partnership. In this September, Mr. Shen led the Guangdong delegationon atrip tothe US and visited the headquarters of Bloomberg in New York wherea number ofcooperation agreements were reached. New winter and all-season models from exclusive brands Viking, Nankang and Goodride in the Yourtyres.co.uk range. Partnership trading model allows flexible response to demand and capitalisation on business opportunities. New shop features make buying tyres easier. Generate additional business easily and gain new customers by co-operating as a fitting partner. Just in time for tyre changeover season, Yourtyres.co.uk has added new winter and all-season tyre models to its range from exclusive brands Viking, Nankang, and Goodride. These include: This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005919/en/ Winter business with Yourtyres.co.uk: New, exclusive brand models, useful shop features and flexibility Photo Source: DEZENT (Photo: Business Wire) Viking: 165/60R15 77T SnowTech II 165/65R15 81T SnowTech II 215/70R16 100T FR SnowTech II SUV 225/65R17 106H XL FR SnowTech II SUV And for all-season tyres: Viking FourTech in all popular sizes Nankang: Snow SV-3, available in 6 sizes, including 205/55 R16 94H XL New dimensions of the Winter Activa SV-55 and Snow SV-2 Goodride: New SW 606 Frost Extreme winter profile Car tyres can also be studded (for example on emergency vehicles) "Whether it's all-season or winter tyres brands exclusively available on Yourtyres.co.uk such as Viking, Goodride, Nankang and also Star Performer, offer dealers clear sales opportunities and attractive margins", says Andreas Faulstich, Head of B2B at Yourtyres.co.uk. "These models combine good quality with great prices. They are therefore an excellent choice for demanding, price-conscious customers." Make the most of your opportunities thanks to maximum flexibility In addition to exclusive brands, the range of tyre brands and models on offer at Yourtyres.co.uk covers the entire market spectrum, from low-priced quality tyres right through to premium products. The advantage for tyre dealers and workshops: especially during tyre changeover season, they can react flexibly to the level of demand from their customers. Thorsten Orbach, Head of Merchant Business at Delticom B2B, explains: "Whether it's for an SUV, compact car, truck or motorbike: thanks to our in-house warehouse facilities, we offer our partners excellent product availability. This enables our wholesale customers to offer products to all their customer groups and vehicles at short notice, without having to hold the stock themselves. This saves space and frees up capital." Yourtyres.co.uk bases its partnership trading model on fair terms: "At Yourtyres.co.uk, there are no minimum order quantities or ordering fees, and we offer a variety of payment methods and return options", says Orbach. New shop features make buying tyres easier The new shop functions on Yourtyres.co.uk, available since September, make the purchasing process easier for dealers. For example, convenient match code and vehicle model search options have been integrated into the search process. Also new: from now on, all customer reviews from Delticom's tyre testing platform Tyretest.com will be displayed on the relevant product pages at Yourtyres.co.uk. These reviews help with customer advice and purchase decisions. Winning new customers and add-on business with B2B services "In addition to the shop's many convenient functions and countless shopping benefits for dealers, our Delticom B2B services offer great potential for attracting new customers and add-on business", expands Andreas Faulstich. "Co-operating as a fitting partner enables workshops to expand their business to include customers who buy their tyres in Delticom B2C shops such as Mytyres.co.uk. An effective and profitable combination of online and offline trade." About Yourtyres.co.uk Yourtyres.co.uk is the exclusive online store from Delticom AG for workshops, retailers, wholesalers, tyre fitters/service stations and car accessories. With over 15 years' expertise in the online tyre business, the Yourtyres.co.uk specialist B2B team offers its clients a spectacular range of car and motorbike tyres of all brands and dimensions for all types of vehicles, tyres for light trucks, trucks and buses, custom tyres, complete wheel sets, car spare parts and accessories, engine oil and batteries. In addition to favourable purchasing conditions, retail clients benefit from the online shop's time-saving tyre search function, high availability, reliable delivery thanks to in-house warehouses, as well as a simple registration process with no hidden costs from the very first tyre. Information about the company: www.delti.com Tyre tests: www.tyretest.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005919/en/ Contacts: insignis Communications Agency GmbH (GPRA) Henning Jahns Tel.: +49-511-132214-14 Fax: +49-511-132214-99 delticom@insignis.de or Delticom AG Anne Lena Peters Tel.: +49-511-93634-8909 Fax: +49-511-93634-8301 anne.lena.peters@delti.com SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Doctors at The Eye Institute of Utah are now treating patients with the FDA-approved Avedro Corneal Cross-Linking treatment, indicated for use in people with progressive keratoconus and post-LASIK ectasia. Corneal specialists at the Salt Lake City eye surgery and vision care center, a comprehensive specialty eye care practice, have been successfully using corneal cross-linking therapy to treat keratoconus patients through clinical trials for several years. The Avedro Corneal Cross-Linking (KXL) treatment is the first and only FDA-approved treatment available in the U.S. "We have a large community of keratoconus patients that has been anxiously awaiting FDA approval of corneal cross-linking," explained Dr. Darcy Wolsey, cornea and refractive specialist at The Eye Institute of Utah. "We have experienced very positive results with cross-linking during clinical trials, and we are thrilled to extend this treatment option to patients in need." Despite receiving FDA-approval for the Avedro Corneal Cross-Linking treatment in April 2016, practices across the U.S. had to wait to offer the approved KXL treatment until receiving shipments of the FDA-approved photo enhancers used for the treatment, Photrexa and Photrexa Viscous. Keratoconus is the most common corneal dystrophy in the U.S., affecting approximately 1 in every 2,000 people. Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that occurs when the front of the eye, called the cornea, thins and bulges into a cone-like shape. This causes significant visual distortion, progressive myopia, and may even lead to the need for corneal transplant surgery. Corneal cross-linking is considered one of the most effective treatments for slowing or halting the progression of keratoconus and preventing the need for surgical intervention. Corneal cross-linking is a minimally invasive treatment that lasts approximately 60-90 minutes. Cross-linking uses liquid riboflavin (vitamin b2) and controlled UV light to build new collagen bonds in the cornea, which helps recover and preserve some of the cornea's mechanical strength. The FDA-approved Avedro cross-linking treatment is an "epithelium-off" treatment, where the top layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is removed, which helps the riboflavin deeply penetrate the cornea. After a cross-linking treatment, the doctor will place a contact lens in the eye to act as a bandage as the epithelium heals. It is normal to experience blurry vision and some irritation for several days after treatment, but vision should gradually improve over the course of a few weeks. The ultimate goal of a cross-linking treatment is to slow or halt the progression of keratoconus by strengthening the cornea, but many patients also see an improvement in the quality of their vision and may see a mild decrease in the amount of correction needed after treatment. The doctors at The Eye Institute of Utah say that individuals who are interested in corneal collagen cross-linking should consult with their eye doctor to evaluate possible candidacy for the treatment. About The Eye Institute of Utah The Eye Institute of Utah was established in 1980 and is known as a leader and pioneer in clinical and surgical eye care. The expansive team of Salt Lake City eye doctors specialize in a number of areas in the field of ophthalmology and vision care, including refractive surgery, laser vision correction procedures such as LASIK and PRK, cataract surgery, intraocular lens implants, and treatment for a range of eye conditions and diseases. Services available at the practice include vision correction, advanced corneal and retinal disease treatment, procedures for cataracts, glaucoma, and dry eye syndrome, and other options. The Eye Institute of Utah also regularly participates in clinical research with the goal of advancing surgical techniques and technology to offer patients continued improvements in eye care and results from treatment. The Eye Institute of Utah surgeons are available for interview upon request. To learn more about The Eye Institute of Utah, please visit theeyeinstitute.com or facebook.com/theeyeinstitute. To view the original source of this press release, click here: https://www.theeyeinstitute.com/news-room/salt-lake-city-eye-doctors-say-first-fda-approved-corneal-cross-linking-treatment-is-now-available-in-utah The Eye Institute of Utah 755 East 3900 South Salt Lake City, UT 84107 (801) 266-2283 Rosemont Media (858) 200-0044 www.rosemontmedia.com MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, will host an event in Montreal on Friday with representatives from a variety of cultural sectors as part of the consultations on Canadian Content in a Digital World. Representatives from the media are invited to take pictures at the beginning of the event. A media availability will follow Minister Joly's remarks. In order to engage and hear from as many Canadians as possible on the future of Canadian content in a digital world, Canadians from across the country will have the opportunity to follow and contribute to this consultation through a Facebook Live event. Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local. The details are as follows: DATE: Friday, October 28, 2016 TIME: Artistic performance and B-roll at 1:00 p.m. Opening remarks from Minister Joly at 1:10 p.m. Press scum outside the room at 1:40 p.m. PLACE: Place des Arts Maison Symphonique de Montreal (Foyer Allegro) 1600, Saint-Urbain Street Montreal, Quebec Stay Connected Follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Flickr, DigiCancon. Contacts: Pierre-Olivier Herbert Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage 819-997-7788 Media Relations Canadian Heritage 819-994-9101 1-866-569-6155 PCH.media-media.PCH@Canada.ca RED DEER, AB--(Marketwired - October 27, 2016) - (All amounts in Canadian dollars unless specified otherwise) Parkland Fuel Corporation ("Parkland") (TSX: PKI), Canada's largest and one of North America's fastest growing independent marketers of fuel and petroleum products, is pleased to announce that it has signed agreements to purchase the assets of PNE Corporation ("PNE") as well as three service stations in Wyoming. These transactions will expand Parkland's commercial and retail businesses across Canada and in Wyoming, respectively. Parkland has signed an agreement to purchase the assets and operations of PNE, a national provider of propane cylinder exchange services for $17 million, representing approximately 5.7 times the Adjusted EBITDA of the business. The acquisition will add approximately 17 million litres of propane on an annual basis and will expand the scope of Parkland's propane business to include a national 20-pound cylinder exchange offering in addition to a 33 and 100-pound cylinder offering in Ontario. "This acquisition introduces a new business line within the propane space for Parkland," said Bob Espey, Parkland's President, and CEO. "It will allow us to grow our commercial capabilities by introducing and leveraging PNE's expertise in cylinder refilling, and distribution from British Columbia through to Quebec. We look forward to continuing to provide strong customer service nationwide under the PNE banner and welcome PNE team members to Parkland." In a separate transaction, Parkland has agreed to acquire three sites from 7-Eleven Inc. These sites include two truck stops and one retail station in and around Cheyenne, Wyoming in the southeast part of the state. Collectively, these stations are expected to sell more than 15 million gallons (55 million litres) of fuel on an annual basis. "This acquisition will expand the Parkland USA presence in Wyoming by adding our first truck stops and retail stations in that state," said Bob Espey. "We are excited to service customers at these sites under the SPF banner." Both agreements are subject to standard closing conditions and are anticipated to close by the end of 2016. ABOUT PARKLAND FUEL CORPORATION Parkland delivers gasoline, diesel, propane, lubricants, heating oil and other high-quality petroleum products to motorists, businesses, households and wholesale customers in Canada and the United States. Our mission is to be the partner of choice for our customers and suppliers, and we do this by building lasting relationships through outstanding service, reliability, safety and professionalism. We are unique in our ability to provide customers with dependable access to fuel and petroleum products, utilizing a portfolio of supply relationships, storage infrastructure, and third party rail and highway carriers to rapidly respond to supply disruptions in order to protect our customers. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Certain information included herein is forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation statements regarding PNE, PNE's business, the retail stations acquired from 7-Eleven (collectively, the "Acquired Assets"), and the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of the Acquired Assets (the "Acquisitions"), the completion of the Acquisitions, the satisfaction of all conditions to the completion of the Acquisitions including without limitation, obtaining all necessary third party and regulatory consents and approvals and the timing thereof, and the contribution to Adjusted EBITDA expected from the Acquisitions. Forward-looking statements can be identified by looking for words such as "believe", "expects", "expected", "will", "intends", "projects", "projected", "anticipates", "estimates", "continues", or similar words. Parkland believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties some of which are described in Parkland's annual information form and other continuous disclosure documents. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Parkland's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: failure to obtain necessary regulatory or other third party consents and approvals for the Acquisitions; the failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Acquisitions; general economic, market and business conditions; industry capacity; competitive action by other companies; refining and marketing margins; the ability of suppliers to meet commitments; actions by governmental authorities including increases in taxes; changes in environmental and other regulations; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Parkland. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Parkland does not undertake any obligation, except as required under applicable law, to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. To sign up for Parkland new alerts please go to http://bit.ly/PKI-Alert or visit www.parkland.ca. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Investor Inquiries Patricia van de Sande Vice President Investor Relations & Compliance 403-567-2519 Email contact Media Inquiries Elizabeth Wilcox Manager Corporate Communications 403-567-2578 Email contact ATLANTA, GA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Dominovas Energy Corporation (OTCQB: DNRG) announces today that its Chief Operating Officer and President of Fuel Cell Division Michael Watkins gave a successful presentation on the analysis of the Energy Solutions Survey to the Central Technical Services Department of the University of Johannesburg on October 25, 2016. Dominovas Energy circulated the Energy Solutions Survey to the University in September of this year. In his presentation, Mr. Watkins shared with Mr. Brent Africa, Director of Utilities and other attendees a complete and thorough analysis of the findings of the Energy Survey. The survey served to identify the overall state and consumption and efficiency of electricity use at the University. Additionally, all emissions associated with current electricity generation of the University were measured and analyzed. The analysis also utilizes metrics that determines potential savings in the form of reduced electricity cost, heat utilization and carbon credit sales potential. Mr. Africa enthusiastically noted, 'The systematic approach of Dominovas Energy has allowed us to better understand the overall 'state' of our energy usage that now supports our quantifying the 'true' cost of electricity and thermal energy generation at the University. The University is currently prioritizing its efforts to manage energy efficiency, as well as minimize the overall cost of energy delivery to its campuses. Dominovas Energy's analysis of the Energy Survey and the presentation of the results could not have come at a better time to the University. The benefits that the RUBICON system offers to the university relative to true savings is undeniable. We have a true opportunity to collaborate on a plan of action that could lead to the deployment of the RUBICON system. As a follow-up to this visit, Dominovas Energy will now proceed with the University for the presentation of a Power Provider Agreement (PPA) based on the analysis and current understanding of the energy needs of the University that will unequivocally support a multi-MW base load power generation installation. Mr. Watkins shared his excitement after the presentation, 'It was an honor to present the analysis and address the questions of the utility managers as they now are aware of how and what could lead to savings by using the RUBICON for base-load power generation. I am very pleased to know that the RUBICON system can definitely assist the university in its overall efforts to cut operating costs and to manage its resource in the most efficient manner. Dominovas Energy eagerly awaits the next steps in our process." Dominovas Energy will now structure a PPA based on the analysis and current understanding of the Energy needs of the University. About Dominovas Energy Corporation (OTCQB: DNRG) Founded in 2005, Dominovas Energy Corporation (DEC) is a publicly traded company, based in Nevada. With its operating headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Dominovas Energy Corporation is a leading power solutions provider to emerging markets around the world. DEC seeks to deploy its proprietary RUBICON Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology and proprietary ORCAS hydro systems for deployment in multi-megawatt power generation units worldwide. The worldwide pursuit of clean and efficient production of electricity via Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology and hydro technology inspired its founders to create an "energy solutions" company. Recognizing that "green" and "alternative energy" markets offer immense potential for growth, Dominovas Energy is aggressively moving to allocate its intellectual and financial capital forthwith, in order to strategically address a green energy solution that is 100% reliable, efficient, and measurably cleaner than GenSets and CCGT. Additionally, unlike wind and solar solutions the RUBICON and ORCAS provide baseload power 24/7/365 days a year. By manufacturing and deploying the RUBICON and ORCAS throughout of the world, Dominovas Energy is committed to creating shareholder value by not only generating guaranteed revenue streams, but also by increasing the value of "human and community capital." Devoted to core values by operating under the utmost of honesty and integrity in all its business transactions, Dominovas Energy is additionally dedicated to respecting the rights of all individuals, while acknowledging and respecting all cultures necessary to support the growth and development of the communities and countries in which it operates. The Company strongly believes in the impact this singularly advanced technology will make on the world and is resolute in its mission to provide electricity where and when economically viable. For more information, visit www.dominovasenergy.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release, as well as other statements made by Dominovas Energy Corporation (the "Company"), contain forward-looking statements that reflect, when made, the Company's current views with respect to current events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the Company's operations and business environment, which may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results. All statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or the Company's strategies or expectations are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as is applicable would be discussed under captions as follows: "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's filings as would be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. It should be remembered that the price of the ordinary shares and any income from them can go down as well as up. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events and/or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Media and Investor Contact: QualityStocks Scottsdale, Arizona www.QualityStocks.com 480.374.1336 Office Email Contact Investor Questions: Email Contact LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- NowForum - xMatters, inc., the intelligent communications platform that connects insights from any system to the people that matter, today announced that ServiceNow has certified the xMatters application for integration with the latest ServiceNow release, Helsinki. The integration application is available now in the ServiceNow Store at: http://bit.ly/2dsnsGL. The xMatters cloud infrastructure enables businesses to automate communication via push, phone, and SMS technologies. By integrating with ServiceNow's service management system, xMatters can leverage user and group synchronization, on-call scheduling, incident alerting, and major incident resource engagement to tenaciously track down the relevant responder. With new features including a Service Portal and Customer Service Management (CSM), ServiceNow Helsinki works with xMatters to markedly streamline IT service management. "We're pleased that ServiceNow shares our vision of streamlining communication channels to save valuable technician time and accelerate resolution of critical issues," said Abbas Haider Ali, CTO of xMatters. "By integrating seamlessly, xMatters and ServiceNow help reduce the Mean Time to Restore for our customers." The "Engage with xMatters" integration feature streamlines the incident management process and reduces time to engage with critical resources. Incident Managers can manually escalate to on-call members and groups without reassigning incident tickets, and include comments to explain and give context to the escalated incident. xMatters's self-service web interface enables users to manage notification subscriptions and device preferences, as well as tailor message content to device type, communication modes, and context. The platform is integrable with all IT systems, including network monitoring, system management, application monitoring, service management, and workload management. Joint customers including Kellogg, Sky, and Getty Images can find the xMatters integration application in the ServiceNow store compatible with the Helsinki and all other supported versions of ServiceNow. The xMatters integrations are now available in the ServiceNow Store. For moew information about xMatters + ServiceNow, please visit: http://bit.ly/2dsnsGL About xMatters, inc. xMatters is an intelligent communications platform that connects insights from any system to the people that matter in order to accelerate essential business processes. The platform automates, operationalizes and contextualizes communications within key DevOps processes, fundamentally altering the way business units work together. xMatters also supports enterprises with major incident and change management, alerting the right people on the right channels to time-sensitive events and problems like network outages, supply-chain disruptions, natural disasters and medical emergencies. Founded in 2000 and named the #1 Best Mid-Sized Workplace in Technology, xMatters is headquartered in San Ramon, CA, with global offices. For more information, please visit www.xmatters.com. Media Contact Kate Amery PulpPR for xMatters kate@pulppr.com STAMFORD, Connecticut and LUCCA, Italy, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Presentation Will Address the Short and Long-term Steps Large Enterprises Can Take to Move Beyond Traditional Budgeting, Technology Considerations, and How to Enlist Support From Stakeholders Tagetik, a leader in global performance management software solutions, will host the webinar "Beyond Budgeting in the Large Enterprise, " the latest presentation in Tagetik's popular Progressive CFO' series, on Thursday, November 3, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, 3 p.m. Central European Time. Steve Player, the North American program director of the Beyond Budgeting Roundtable (BBRT), will discuss the shortcomings and pitfalls of traditional budgeting and why dynamic, driver-based planning is required for modern business. BBRT is a membership organization founded to help companies improve bottom-line performance through adaptive control principles and continuous planning techniques. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140625/694014 ) "The advantages of moving toward enterprise planning are significant. When done correctly, it makes the organization more nimble and better able to quickly respond to competitive pressures," said Player. "It also integrates the enterprise by breaking down siloes and incorporating critical data such as sales forecasts, production planning, and workforce needs into a holistic view of the business." Player is the co-author of Beyond Performance Management: Why, When, and How to Use 40 Tools and Best Practices for Superior Business Performance and Future Ready: How to Master Business Forecasting Beyond Performance Management . Dave Kasabian, Tagetik chief marketing officer, will direct the conversation. The 30-minute interview will touch these and other topics: Common problems with traditional budgeting and how it can sabotage a business; The importance of accountable teams, ambitious goals, performance-based rewards, and the identification of key business drivers in effective planning; Scenario planning to mitigate risks and take advantage of opportunities; The benefits of comprehensive planning technology; Suggestions for enlisting support and managing change. "For large and diverse enterprises, the traditional budgeting process is obsolete. Besides consuming huge amounts of time, traditional budgets typically yield static, outdated information that too often has little relevance to business stakeholders," said Kasabian. "More and more of our customers are embracing rolling forecasting, detailed scenario planning, and bottom-up processes that offer more relevant guidance and insight for managing performance." To register for the complimentary webinar, click here. About Tagetik Tagetik understands the complex challenges that face the Office of Finance and translates that knowledge into intuitive, enterprise-scale performance management software solutions that drive business results. With Tagetik, companies get the simplicity of the Cloud and the power to unify financial and operational planning; shorten the consolidation and close process; immediately analyze results, model and compare full financial statement impact of business scenarios; adjust strategic plans; seamlessly update rolling forecasts; produce formatted and auditable financial statements and management reports; collaborate on business reviews, and automate disclosure and board reporting. Tagetik has built-in financial intelligence so that CFOs, finance managers, and operations executives can orchestrate multiple or all processes in one software solution. More than 850 customers across 35 countries count on Tagetik to improve efficiency, reduce risk, save money and deliver results. For more information, visit www.tagetik.com. We get Finance. You get results. Follow us on social media: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Google+ YouTube Blog Media Contacts: Corporate and EMEA: Linda Galloway insidHR Communications +1 303 863 8620 office +1 203 733 7446 mobile lgalloway@insidhr.com North America: Courtly Stevens Courtly & Company +1 415 640 0188 office cstevens@courtlyandco.com LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Dr. Helga F. Pizio, a Las Vegas cataract surgeon and the founder of New Eyes, is unveiling a new website dedicated to providing a detailed educational resource for individuals who are seeking eye and vision care. The new website offers viewers a glimpse into the practice itself, along with a comprehensive overview of the many procedures available at New Eyes offices. Dr. Pizio's new website was created utilizing what's known as a responsive website design -- a technique which allows for accessibility across a range of digital devices without sacrificing content or ease of use. In addition to numerous pages covering topics such as cataract surgery, laser vision correction, cosmetic eyelid surgery, treatment for corneal conditions, and other eye concerns, the website includes a variety of educational videos featuring Dr. Pizio explaining specific procedures in detail. Web visitors can also find an updated blog entitled, New Eyes Journal, which offers the latest news about the practice as well as information on common eye conditions such as cataracts, refractive errors, presbyopia, diabetic retinopathy, and many others. A practicing eye doctor in the Las Vegas area since 1996, Dr. Pizio founded New Eyes in 2008 and now leads a team of doctors who perform specialized care for a range of eye and vision conditions. The practice has four locations in Southern Nevada, including Las Vegas, Summerlin, Green Valley, and the newly opened Centennial office. Developed in collaboration with Rosemont Media, a San Diego-based ophthalmology and medical website design firm, Dr. Pizio hopes the New Eyes website will be helpful for those who are looking for high-quality vision care options from a friendly and experienced team of professionals. She says the website can ultimately provide an informative virtual window into what patients can expect from treatment as well as a clear idea of the customized experience the New Eyes team strives to give to all individuals. About Helga F. Pizio, MD Dr. Helga F. Pizio is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition to her leadership of New Eyes, Dr. Pizio is a professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and serves as an adjunct professor for the Southern California College of Optometry. She is known for her expertise in cataract surgery, laser vision correction, and numerous other eye and vision care treatments. Dr. Pizio has been listed among Castle Connolly, Ltd.'s Top Docs for the years 2014, 2015, and 2016, and she has also been recognized as a Top Doctor in Vegas Magazine. Dr. Pizio is available for interview upon request. To learn more about Dr. Pizio and her practice, please visit neweyeslasvegas.com and facebook.com/neweyeslasvegas. To view the original source of this press release, click here: https://www.rosemontmedia.com/surgeons-blog/las-vegas-cataract-surgeon-unveils-comprehensive-eye-and-vision-care-website/ Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3072736 New Eyes Centennial Office: 6850 N. Durango Dr., Suite 106 Las Vegas NV 89149 Las Vegas Office: 2020 Goldring Ave, Suite 402 Las Vegas, NV 89106 Summerlin Office: 10105 Banburry Cross Dr., Suite 255 Las Vegas, Nevada 89144 Green Valley Office: 7305 S Pecos Rd. Suite 101 Las Vegas, Nevada 89120 (702) 485-5000 Rosemont Media (858) 200-0044 www.rosemontmedia.com WOLFSBURG (dpa-AFX) - German automaker Volkswagen Group (VKW.L, VLKAF.PK, VOW.BE), which has been entangled in diesel car emissions cheating issues, returned to profit in its third quarter, on lower special charges and slightly higher sales. Looking ahead to fiscal 2016, the company expects its sales revenue to match the prior-year level, depending on the economic conditions, exchange rate developments and the diesel issue. In terms of the operating profit before special items, it is anticipated that the full-year operating return on sales will be at the upper end of the forecast range of 5 to 6 percent. The company expects deliveries to customers in 2016 to be slightly higher than in the previous year amid persistently challenging market conditions, with a growing volume in China. Chief Financial Officer Frank Witter id, 'Despite major challenges and the negative impact of the diesel issue, the Volkswagen Group remains on a solid financial footing.' He noted that the impact of the diesel issue, in particular, required a systematic, disciplined approach to investments and costs. 'But further significant improvements in productivity and profitability are needed across the whole Group,' he continued. For the third quarter, profit after tax was 2.34 billion euros, compared to a loss of 1.67 billion euros a year ago. Operating profit was 3.31 billion euros, compared to loss of 3.48 billion euros a year ago. The latest results included special charges of 442 million euros, compared to last year's charges of 6.69 billion euros. Operating profit before special items was 3.75 billion euros, 17 percent higher than 3.21 billion euros a year ago. Total sales revenue for the quarter edged up 1 percent to 52 billion euros from last year's 51.49 billion euros. Total deliveries to customers increased 4.2 percent to 2.49 million units. Vehicle sales were 2.45 million units, up 4.4 percent. Production climbed 12 percent to 2.38 million units. In the first nine months, Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand's unit sales declined from last year. Audi increased its unit sales by 0.7 percent. The Bentley brand increased its unit sales by 6.1 percent. The Porsche brand also lifted its vehicle sales by 5 percent. The German carmaker earlier admitted that it had equipped about 11 million diesel vehicles with illegal software to cheat on American pollution tests. On October 25, a federal judge approved a $14.7 billion settlement in the Volkswagen Group's diesel car emissions cheating case, one of the largest settlement in U.S. history. The deal provides about 475,000 owners of Volkswagens and Audis with diesel engines the option to either have their cars bought back or modified by Volkswagen. The settlement also sets in motion a billions of dollars to support environmental programs, reduce emissions and promote zero-emissions vehicles. In early October, Volkswagen in a federal court filing confirmed that it has agreed to pay up to $1.21 billion to settle claims of its 652 U.S. dealerships related the emissions scandal. In Germany, Volkswagen shares were trading at 125.45 euros, down 0.44 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Apple Inc. (AAPL) plans to launch a new guide for Apple TV during a product event in California today, according to Recode. While major video partners have signed up to be a part of the new Apple TV guide, Netflix Inc. (NFLX) will reportedly not be participating. Recode reported that instead of requiring users to sift through a bunch of apps, Apple's new TV guide will aggregate different sources of television shows as well as movies into a single view. It will show content that is available and then direct users to that content via deep links. The feature is expected to work on the Apple TV streaming box as well as on other iOS devices like iPhones. While Apple has partnered with major video providers to launch this feature, Netflix content will not be available, Recode reported. Netflix has worked closely with Apple in the past and was a Siri voice research partner for Apple TV. To use the new TV guide, Apple plans to add a new 'single sign-on' feature will also debut tomorrow. This feature was initially promised as a tvOS 10 feature, but was subsequently delayed. The service will enable users to sign in once with participating pay TV subscription credentials to access content in any apps that support the feature. Currently, users have to sign in separately for each app that requires the credentials. Apple is also reportedly expected to unveil a totally redesigned MacBook Pro, in addition to a new iMac desktop and a refreshed MacBook Air at the company's 'hello again' event in Cupertino today. 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. HOUSTON, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Audubon Companies, a global provider of EPCM services, announced today that Opero Energy, a division of Audubon Companies, has been awarded a contract to supply a 200 MMSCFD modular cryogenic gas processing plant to a major midstream company. South Texas Plant The cryogenic gas processing plant was designed and constructed on a fast-track execution strategy. It will be installed on-site and is expected to begin production in the first quarter of 2017. Opero Energy's modular gas processing plant will process 200 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of natural gas and produce Y-grade (mixed NGL) liquids at a facility in South Texas. The full scope of work includes fabrication of skid-mounted equipment, engineering of "gas plant in a box" and managing transportation of gas plant equipment to work site. "This project showcases Opero Energy's ability to meet our client's aggressive schedule in a safe and efficient manner, "said Manish Mehta, president of Opero Energy. "Our diverse expertise in process technology delivers proven performance solutions to help our clients generate revenue sooner and more cost-effectively." Gas Plant Solutions The Opero Energy plant is modularized with skip-mounted process equipment designed to significantly reduce construction time, expense, and provide higher reliability after start-up. Modules fit together easily and efficiently for prompt production, maximum NGL recovery, ease of operation and maintenance access. The modular construction has the flexibility and advantage of using a variety of equipment combinations for multiple field applications. "Opero Energy offers the ideal solution for faster project completion, superior reliability and operational excellence," said Ryan Hanemann, president of Audubon Companies. "Opero Energy's cryogenic plant outperforms other industry providers in natural gas liquids (NGLs) recoveries by as high as 20%, enabling clients to earn more revenue." About Audubon Companies: Audubon Companies is a global provider of EPCM services for the oil & gas, petrochemical, refining, and pipeline markets. Equipped with experience and talent, Audubon Companies' three affiliates -- Audubon Engineering Solutions, Audubon Field Solutions, and Affinity -- deliver innovative and flexible solutions for repeatable project success -- safely, on-schedule, and within budget. For more information, visit auduboncompanies.com About Opero Energy: Opero Energy, a division of Audubon Companies, is a premier supplier of process technology and equipment solutions to the oil and gas industry. For more information, visit operoenergy.com. Media Contact: Ivonne Hallard Email Contact ALISO VIEJO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/23/17 -- OCTANe, Orange County's life sciences and technology accelerator organization, today announced the release of its inaugural OCTANe Impact Report, a comprehensive paper detailing the current state of Orange County's tech and med-tech environment. The report includes OCTANe's insights for spurring economic growth in the region while providing a comprehensive look at its progressive service portfolio. "The tech and med-tech ecosystems in Southern California are growing at an astonishing rate -- faster than most people realize," said OCTANe CEO, Bill Carpou. "The future is bright for the region and OCTANe's programs will continue to play a pivotal role in helping early-stage companies succeed." As part of the report, OCTANe's announced its commitment to long-term job creation in Orange County and has pledged to help create a total of 22,000 jobs by 2025. To date, OCTANe's LaunchPad Small Business Development Center (LaunchPad SBDC) has assisted nearly 1,500 companies by using the power of data, predictive analytics and human interaction to help attract capital. The program is the leading SBDC in the nation. Of the companies OCTANe has worked with, 321 graduated through the entire LaunchPad process and 236 received funding. OCTANe is the leader in providing greater access to capital and expertise in the Orange County ecosystem. In order to facilitate sustainable growth, OCTANe will continue to provide services -- like LaunchPad SBDC -- which assists early-stage companies with gaining access to capital, OCTANe Connect which connects key constituents through signature programs and events, and OCTANe Growth Services which provides advisory services for companies to grow and scale quickly. While OCTANe's primary mission is focused in Orange County and the greater Southern California region, it looks to scale and impact other innovation hubs such as Boston, Chicago, New York and Detroit through collaborative partnerships like the one with MassMEDIC announced in August of 2016. These collaborations would provide capital into Orange County and access to other promising technologies to local investors, both institutional and private. Find out more information on the OCTANe Impact Report here. About OCTANe: OCTANe drives technology innovation and growth by connecting ideas and people with resources and capital. Its members represent technology and medical technology executive leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, academicians, and strategic advisors, all working together to fuel innovation in Southern California. The organization has helped more than 800 companies via the LaunchPad SBDC accelerator. LaunchPad-certified companies have received more than $1.7 billion in investment and equity exits. OCTANe annually welcomes more than 7,000 people to its programs and events. More than 2,000 business leaders throughout the region are OCTANe members. For more information, visit www.octaneoc.org. Media Contact: Cara Parchment cara@octaneoc.org (949) 412-7671 Technavio has announced the top seven leading vendors in their recentglobal mobile and web analytics marketreport. This research report also lists three other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. The mobile and web analytics market will be growing at a CAGR of more than 16% during the forecast period. Mobile and web analytics applications have overcome the limitations of human intervention and allow organizations to understand and process big data in time. These applications are not affected by the large volumes of data and its form. Mobile and web analytics use tools like application program interfaces (APIs), real-time analytics, and predictive analytics to derive insights from data by detecting patterns. For example, a user uses websites and mobile websites and applications to access information it desires. Competitive vendor landscape According to the report, there is intense competition among vendors offering mobile and web analytics solutions. Vendors compete to provide analytics solutions that have additional features and competitive pricing. The competition in the market will become more intense with the substantial increase in demand for analytics in industry verticals such as retail, BFSI, healthcare, and manufacturing. Vendors are investing in the development of specific and customized analytics solutions to increase their foothold in the global market. Vendors need to continuously update their offerings with differentiating features as there is less service differentiation. "The extremely fragmented nature of the market is affecting the proportion of target audiences, with vendors struggling to build cogent business cases. In addition, large players require multiple vendors to reduce risks, especially when they wish to discontinue business with a specific vendor," says Ishmeet Kaur, a lead enterprise applicationanalyst from Technavio. Established vendors will acquire smaller vendors to expand their product portfolio and increase their market share. Through such acquisitions, large companies acquire advanced technologies and have an opportunity to enter new markets. In addition, smaller service providers have less success in establishing effective working relationships with end-users, compared with their larger counterparts. Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=53901 Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Top seven mobile and web analytics market vendors Adobe Systems Adobe Systems is a publicly held technology company that specializes in digital marketing and digital media solutions. The company provides products and solutions to application developers, enterprises, and digital media professionals for creating, managing, and developing high-impact contents from any device. AT Internet AT Internet offers analytics for both the web and mobile. It supports iOS, Android, Windows 8, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry. It gives real-time monitoring of key performance indicators. comScore comScore is the cross-platform measurement company that provides products to measures audiences, brands, and consumer behavior. In January 2016, comScore and Rentrak Corporation with their alliance established solutions for understanding consumers' multiscreen behavior at enormous scale. Google In October 2015, Google became a division of Alphabet. It is a global provider of IT services that builds products and provides services to organize information. Its technology is focused on improving the user interaction and experience. IBM IBM is an American multinational technology that offers innovative IT products, business solutions, and business consulting services. The company provides solutions under the following portfolios: collaboration, predictive analytics, software development, and systems management. SAS Institute SAS Institute is an American business analytics software company. It develops statistical analysis system (SAS), a software suite for advanced analytics, data management, and business intelligence (BI). The company is a privately held BI and analytical software provider. It offers software services such as business analytics, data warehousing, and data mining worldwide, and manages and analyzes corporate information. Webtrends Webtrends provides a variety of mobile and web analytics solution. It has helped companies derive insights from their customer data to drive digital marketing success. The products provided by the company helps in extracting actionable insights, increase customer engagement, and boost revenue. Browse Related Reports: Global Advanced Analytics Market 2016-2020 Global Cloud Analytics Market 2016-2020 Global Analytics as a Service Market 2016-2020 Do you need a report on a market in a specific geographical cluster or country but can't find what you're looking for? Don't worry, Technavio also takes client requests. Please contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and our analysts will be happy to create a customized report just for you. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005555/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com LONDON, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 2,500 victims were able to decrypt their data, with more than one million dollars already saved, thanks to the global initiative Just three months after the successful launch of the No More Ransom project, law enforcement agencies from a further 13 countries have signed up to fight ransomware together with the private sector. The new members are: the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Colombia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Further law enforcement agencies and private sector organisations are expected to join the programme in the coming months. Their collaboration will result in more free decryption tools becoming available, helping even more victims to decrypt their devices and unlock their information, and damaging the cybercriminals where it hurts the most: their wallets. The project's objectives are supported by Eurojust and the European Commission, demonstrating the EU's concern about the growing threat of ransomware. No More Ransom was launched on 25 July 2016, by the Dutch National Police, Europol, Intel Security and Kaspersky Lab, introducing a new level of cooperation between law enforcement and the private sector to fight ransomware[1] together. The aim of the online portal is to provide a helpful resource for victims of ransomware. Users can find information on what ransomware is, how it works and, most importantly, how to protect themselves. During the first two months, more than 2,500 people have successfully managed to decrypt their data without having to pay the criminals, using the main decryption tools on the platform (CoinVault, WildFire and Shade). This has deprived cybercriminals of an estimated $1+ million in ransoms. The more law enforcement agencies and private sector partners work together, the more decryption tools can be created and made available. Currently, five decryption tools are listed on the website. -------------------------------------------------- [1] Ransomware is a type of malware that locks the victims' computer or encrypts their data, demanding them to pay a ransom in order to regain control over the affected device or files. Ransomware is a top threat for EU law enforcement: almost two-thirds of EU Member States are conducting investigations into this form of malware attack. While the target is often individual users' devices, corporate and even government networks are affected as well. Since the launch of the portal in July, the WildfireDecryptor has been added and two decryption tools updated: RannohDecryptor (updated with a decryptor for the ransomware MarsJoke aka Polyglot) and RakhniDecryptor (updated with Chimera). "Europol is fully committed to supporting the enlargement of the No More Ransom project within the EU and internationally to respond to ransomware in an effective and concerted manner," says Steven Wilson, head of the European Cybercrime Centre. "Despite the increasing challenges, the initiative has demonstrated that a coordinated approach by EU law enforcement that includes all relevant partners can result in significant successes in fighting this type of crime, focusing on the important areas of prevention and awareness. I am confident that the online portal will continue to improve in the months to come. All police forces are warmly encouraged to join the fight." "The fight against ransomware succeeds best when law enforcement agencies and the private sector join forces. Researchers can offer broader malware analysis and services like internet scanning, helping to find connections between different items of data. This enables the police to locate and seize the servers used to manage the attack. In some cases, the researchers' insight can also help to track down and arrest the criminals responsible. The seized servers can contain decryption keys, and, when shared with private sector companies this can be turned into decryption tools that help victims to unlock their data without paying the ransom. Basically, information-sharing is the key to effective collaboration between the police and security researchers. The easier and faster it happens - the more effective the partnership becomes. Getting more law enforcement agencies from different countries on board will therefore improve operational information-sharing, so that in the end ransomware will be fought more effectively," says Jornt van der Wiel, Security Researcher at the Global Research and Analysis Team at Kaspersky Lab. In order to broaden the audience and improve results even further, the portal is currently being adapted to support different language versions. As a second step, the project will welcome new companies from the private sector, after a very high level of interest and countless requests received. About Kaspersky Lab Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky Lab's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialised security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at http://www.kaspersky.co.uk Editorial contact: Berkeley PR Kaspersky Lab UK Lauren White Stephanie Fergusson kasperskylab@berkeleypr.co.uk Stephanie.Fergusson@kasperskylab.co.uk Telephone: 0118 909 0909 Telephone: 07714107292 1650 Arlington Business Park 2 Kingdom Street RG7 4SA, Reading W2 6BD, London NEW YORK, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Increasing demand for energy efficient water pumps in new building constructions, and water & wastewater treatment industry to drive global water pumps market during 2016-2025 According to TechSci Research report "Global Water Pumps Market By Type, By End User, By Region, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2025", global water pumps market is projected to surpass US$ 67 billion by 2025, on account of growing demand from emerging economies in Asia-Pacific. Asia Pacific is the largest consumer of water pumps in the world, owing to rapid urbanization and industrialization in the region. In addition, increasing demand for efficient wastewater treatment systems in India and China coupled with soaring demand for water pumps in residential as well as oil & gas industry in Asia-Pacific is projected to augur well for global water pumps market in the coming years. China industrial water treatment market was valued at US$ 6.1 billion in 2015. Moreover, emerging applications of water pumps in power, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and water & wastewater industry is expected to boost demand for water pumps in Asia-Pacific over the next nine years. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 ) Browse 30 market data Tables and 120 Figures spread through227 Pages and an in-depth TOC on "Global Water Pumps Market" https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/global-water-pumps-market-by-type-centrifugal-and-positive-displacement-pumps-by-end-user-industrial-and-non-industrial-by-region-asia-pacific-europe-north-america-south-america-etc-competition-forecast-and-opportunities/807.html Further, in order strengthen foothold in global water pumps market, various water pump manufacturers are expanding their base in different countries through mergers and acquisitions. Increasing installation of water & wastewater treatment systems across the globe, growing population base, rising consumption of water coupled with depleting natural water resources is expected to boost demand for water pumps globally. A strong demand for water pumps is emanating from emerging economies such as China and India. However, Europe and North America still contribute to a major share in demand for water pumps, on account of rising investment in oil & gas and power industries coupled with introduction of highly energy efficient solutions. Rising acceptance for treated water across the globe, especially in European countries is projected to augur well for the global water pumps market in the coming years. In 2012, percentage of population consuming water treated from wastewater treatment plant in Italy was 60.83% and this is projected to increase further in the coming years. Download Sample Report @ https://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=807 Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report. "Emergence of advanced water pump technologies such as magnetic drive pumps and micro disc pumps is projected to boost growth in global water pumps market in the coming years. Further, imposition of stringent GHG emission regulations and increasing emphasis on use of green technology across the globe are fueling technological advancements by water pumps manufacturers. Moreover, rising need for accurate and energy efficient solutions is driving manufacturers to optimize hydraulic systems and focus on developing energy efficient pumps, as per the demands of consumers." said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director, with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm. "Global Water Pumps Market By Type, By End User, By Region, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2025" has analyzed the potential of global water pumps market and provides statistics and information on market sizes, shares and trends. The report will suffice in providing the intending clients with cutting-edge market intelligence and help them in taking sound investment decisions. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes emerging trends along with essential drivers and key challenges faced by the industry. Browse Related Reports US Mobile Water Treatment Services Market By End User (Energy and Power; Oil and Gas; Pharmaceutical; Pulp and Paper; Chemical Processing; Mining and Mineral Processing; and Others), Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011-2021 https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/us-mobile-water-treatment-services-market-by-end-user-energy-and-power-oil-and-gas-pharmaceutical-pulp-and-paper-chemical-processing-mining-and-mineral-processing-and-others-competition-forecast-opportunities-2011-2021/755.html Global Vacuum Pumps Market By Type (Dry, Liquid Ring, Rotary Vane and Other), By Application (Semiconductor, Industrial, Process, Thin Film, Rough, Instrumentation and Research & Development), Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021 https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/global-vacuum-pumps-market-by-type-dry-liquid-ring-rotary-vane-and-other-by-application-semiconductor-industrial-process-thin-film-rough-instrumentation-and-research-development-competition-forecast-and-opportunities-2011-2021/681.html India Water Pumps Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2020 https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-water-pumps-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2020/522.html About TechSci Research TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends. Contact Mr. Ken Mathews 708 Third Avenue, Manhattan, NY, New York - 10017 Tel: +1-646-360-1656 Email: sales@techsciresearch.com Connect with us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/TechSciResearch Connect with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/techsci-research November 9 Event Brings Together Senior Corporate, Finance and Government Executives to Provide Perspectives on Europe's Shifting Business Environment ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg BNA today announced that it would be hosting Europe After Brexit: Shifts in the Balance of Business? on Wednesday, November 9 at the London headquarters of Bloomberg LP from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by a networking reception. Produced in partnership with the Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL), the conference is for business and financial leaders interested in learning about the changes brought on by Brexit. For more information and to request an invitation, visit http://www.bna.com/Europe-After-Brexit/. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DC33627LOGO "The Brexit vote has created uncertainty in global business markets," said Scott Mozarsky, President, Cross Platform Businesses, Bloomberg BNA. "Business executives will benefit from the insights provided by a cross-section of European corporate and government leaders who bring to the discussion valuable perspectives from a range of industries." The topics to be discussed include economic trends and the investment climate, impacts on human capital and workforce mobility, strengths of top European business hubs, and the Central European landscape. Featured speakers include: Ambassador Jacqueline Minor , Head of the EU Delegation to the UK , Head of the EU Delegation to the UK Mateusz Morawiecki , Deputy Prime Minister of Poland , Minister of Economic Development and Finance , Deputy Prime Minister of , Minister of Economic Development and Finance Andrew Benito , Senior European Economist, Goldman Sachs , Senior European Economist, Goldman Sachs Rupert Harrison , Chief Macro-Strategist, Blackrock , Chief Macro-Strategist, Blackrock Guy Grainger , CEO of EMEA, JLL , CEO of EMEA, JLL Matthew Dickason , Global Managing Director, Hays Talent Solutions , Global Managing Director, Hays Talent Solutions Adrian Karczewicz, Head of Divestments, Skanska Commercial Development Stephen Adams , Partner, Global Counsel About Bloomberg BNA Bloomberg BNA provides legal, tax and compliance professionals with critical information, practical guidance and workflow solutions.We leverage leading technology and a global network of experts to deliver a unique combination of news and authoritative analysis, comprehensive research solutions, innovative practice tools, and proprietary business data and analytics.Bloomberg BNA is wholly-owned by Bloomberg L.P., the global business, financial information and news leader.For more information, visit www.bna.com. About ABSL The Association of Business Service Leaders(ABSL) is a leading organization representing the business services sector in Poland and Central Europe. ABSL members include companies which conduct business in the area of Shared Services Center (SSC), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), Research and Development (R&D) and companies contributing to the sector's growth. For more information, visit www.absl.pl. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/london-event-provides-insights-into-post-brexit-european-landscape-300352757.html ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The USdelegation headed byThomas Alfred Shannon, theUnder Secretary of State for Political Affairs, has confirmed the country's intent to participate in the international specialized exhibition EXPO 2017 Future Energy to be held in Astana. "I arrived in Astana last night. This is my first official visit, and I think our message is clear: we will participate in EXPO 2017. I have just had a chance to see the pavilion intended for the US - an excellent building and great pavilion," said Thomas Alfred Shannon during his meeting withAkhmetzhanYessimov,the Chairman of the Board of the National Company Astana EXPO 2017. TheUnder Secretary of State noted that EXPO 2017 is an important element of building relations with Kazakhstan. According to him, the exhibition provides the Republic with an excellent opportunity to present itself as a global player, including in the energy sphere. In his turn,AkhmetzhanYessimov stressed the importance of the American participation in the exhibition. "I have visited the US twice this year. I know how much work is being done in terms of renewable sources of energy. The US is the leader in fostering new technologies and state-of-the-art scientific developments," he said. At the end of the meeting, the Under Secretary of State said they would promptly settle all procedural matters related to the country's participation in EXPO 2017. About Astana EXPO 2017 The International Specialized Exhibition Astana EXPO 2017 dedicated to Future Energy is an expositional and recreational event that will take place between 10 June and 10 September 2017 in Astana. The exhibition will last 93 days and will become one of the most spectacular cultural venues in 2017. To date,105 countries and 18 international organizationshave confirmed their intention to participate in the Astana EXPO 2017 exhibition. Overall, over 100 participating countries are expected to attend the event with over 5 million visits to be made. As part of Astana EXPO 2017, global policy documents will be drafted in order to promote an energy-efficient lifestyle and wide use of renewable energy sources. Artem Storozhenko, expo@m-p.ru HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- The outstanding accomplishments of Canadian prosecutors were recognized by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Heads of Prosecutions Committee at an awards ceremony held last night. The award program, instituted in 2006, honours professional excellence, exemplary service, and outstanding achievements. The following prosecutors were chosen for their contributions to advancing and promoting the role of prosecutors within the Canadian criminal justice system: The Commitment to Justice Award 2016 was awarded to two prosecutors: Mr. Douglas G. Curliss, Q.C., Senior General Counsel with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada's Saskatchewan Regional Office, and Mr. Louis Bouthillier, prosecutor with Quebec's Directeur des poursuites criminelles et penales. In the past two years, Mr. Curliss has led terrorism prosecutions in Ottawa and Vancouver, as well as a prosecution in the North against a former Catholic priest for sex crimes against children, all while continuing to handle his own caseload in the Saskatchewan Office. He has demonstrated his commitment to professional education both as a faculty member of the School for Prosecutors and as a training consultant for police. Mr. Bouthillier has handled complex murder cases involving street gangs and organized crime. He led the prosecution in the Magnotta murder trial which concluded in December 2014 with a guilty verdict. Despite his substantial workload, he never hesitates to mentor young prosecutors and plays a large part in the training of the next generation of prosecutors. The Courage and Perseverance Award 2016 was awarded to Mr. Kenneth M. McCaffrey, Crown prosecutor with the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service in Calgary. Despite being afflicted with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare genetic skin disorder, he has had a distinguished career in law. Before joining the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, he spent many years with Legal Aid Manitoba, where he defended clients charged with a wide range of offences, including murder. Throughout his career, he has mentored numerous law students as well as high school students. In 2011, he was diagnosed with skin cancer. After a few months of recovery, he resumed his work on complex and high profile cases. The Humanitarian Award 2016 was awarded to Mr. Andre A. Morin, Ad. E., Chief Federal Prosecutor of the Quebec Regional Office, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, for his outstanding contributions to the community. In addition to his dedication to the legal profession, Mr. Morin spends countless hours during evenings and his holidays helping those in need with charitable organizations supporting the poor, the marginalized and the sick. The FPT Heads of Prosecutions Committee brings together the leaders of Canada's prosecution services to promote assistance and cooperation on operational issues relating to criminal prosecutions. The Committee also provides the prosecution perspective to Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers and Deputy Ministers Responsible for Justice. (Version francaise disponible) Contacts: Robert P. Doyle Secretary, FPT Heads of Prosecutions Committee 613-952-0267 HONG KONG, CHINA--(Marketwired - October 27, 2016) - Weyland Tech Inc. (OTCQB: WEYL) ("Weyland Tech" or the "Company"), a provider of mobile business applications, announces that its Malaysian partner has signed and launched a "white label" App. Named "MocaApp," this App focuses on the South East Asian small-medium-sized businesses ("SMB's") market. Marketing to the mid-tier SMB's in South East Asia, MocaApp plans to offer additional modules and services not available and provided in its standard version over time to help customers' better serve their end users. MocaApp will be launched in the Philippines and Malaysia initially and to other South East Asian countries over the next six months. A team of 90 across five offices in the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore supported and customized MocaApp. MocaApp can be downloaded at www.mocaapp.com and will launch on November 1st, 2016 About Weyland Tech Inc. Weyland Tech's "CreateApp" platform focuses on the Asia markets. Our CreateApp platform is offered in 12 languages and enables small-medium-sized businesses ("SMB's") to create a mobile application ("app") without the need of technical knowledge and background. SMB's can increase sales, reach more customers and promote their products and services with a simple easy to build mobile app at an affordable and cost-effective manner, http://www.weyland-tech.com/ For further information about Weyland Tech, Inc., contact Rich Kaiser, Investor Relations, YES INTERNATIONAL 757-306-6090 (001-757-306-6090), yes@yesinternational.com, info@weyland-tech.com and http://www.weyland-tech.com/. Safe Harbor Statement This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of the Company. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." Statements regarding the continued growth of the mobile app segment and the ability of the Company to continue its expansion into that segment and the ability of the Company to attract customers and partners and generate revenues. The ability of the Company to successfully execute its business plan; the business strategy, plans, and objectives of the Company; and any other statements of non-historical information. Often these forward-looking statements are identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (http://www.sec.gov). Expressly, all forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume any duty to update these forward-looking statements. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/10/26/11G119597/Images/weymocca-2adecb913ba498c5a4237c0c3f0499d1.jpg Contact: Rich Kaiser Investor Relations 757-306-6090 yes@yesinternational.com info@weyland-tech.com LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- UK bookmaker and online casino operator, NetBet, announced today that they would accept Bitcoin for bets on their sportsbook and casino products. In doing so, they have become the first licensed operator in the UK to embrace the virtual currency. NetBet spokesman, Alexandre Mangaud, says, "We have been looking at digital currencies for some time now; it has a growing user-base and was something we wanted to offer our customers. Since Bitcoin is new to the regulated gambling industry in Europe, we've worked closely with our payment processing partners to ensure that the addition of this new payment method meets the UK Gambling Commission regulatory requirements." Bitcoin is now accepted by a number of major retailers including Expedia, Microsoft, Virgin Galactic and Dell and now NetBet joins their ranks in a first for British bookmakers. NetBet customers will now have the option to use Bitcoin to load their accounts via the Neteller and PaySafe payment methods. ABOUT NETBET NetBet are an established brand in regulated European markets including the UK, France, Italy, Greece, Ireland, Germany and Romania. The company offers a sportsbook, an online casino and online poker to its customers. The company are official sponsors of West Bromwich Albion for the 2015-16 season and they also sponsor St. Etienne and Ajaccio in France, as well as Steaua Bucharest in Romania. Contacts: NetBet Alexandre Mangaud +44 203 608 6024 alexandre.m@netbet.com IRVINE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTC PINK: CBIS), a U.S. company specializing in the development of cannabis-based medicines, is pleased to announce as its CEO Mr. Dabney prepares for his Harvard Medical School dissertation coming this November, the Company prepares to begin its Cannabis Science Clinical Research studies in November 2016. These studies are expected to start as CEO Raymond Dabney readies to speak at Harvard Medical School. Mr. Dabney will speak at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC). This facility is one of the largest cancer research centers in the world, with more than 1,100 cancer researchers and over $600 million in cancer research funding. Mr. Dabney will discuss CBIS' drug development initiatives. The broader conversation will discuss the targeting of a variety of cancers, pain management, asthma, and autism spectrum disorder. "We expect our Research Program and Laboratory to soon be complete and we will then be ready to start clinical studies," stated CEO Raymond Dabney. "Given the high number of applicants inquiring about the studies we regret that not all can be chosen to participate in these studies." The number of potential applicants was overwhelming and solidifies Cannabis Science as an emerging entity in the Cannabis Self Medicating arena. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Herman will oversee the clinical studies. Cannabis Science anticipates the results will aid CBIS in applying for an orphan drug designation. This approval could include an inhalation, metered-dose, cannabinoid pharmaceutical product to treat multiple conditions, in the marketplace in short order. CBIS expects to file the applications shortly. Once the applications are submitted to the FDA, the designation and/or comments are expected within 90 days. These designations confer significant advantages including waiver of application filing fees, expedited approval, government grants, and reduced number of patients in clinical trials. "The recent acquisitions and planned acquisitions of growing space and product development places Cannabis Science ahead of the competition to meet the ever growing demand of Cannabis Medicinal Products," stated Mr. Dabney. "We are taking the needed steps to meet this demand both nationally and globally, and will shortly roll-out the ecommerce section of our website to shareholders as well as California Residents ahead of the Prop 64 vote. This is an important step forward for Cannabis Science as well." About Cannabis Science, Inc. Cannabis Science, Inc. takes advantage of its unique understanding of metabolic processes to provide novel treatment approaches to a number of illnesses for which current treatments and understanding remain unsatisfactory. Cannabinoids have an extensive history dating back thousands of years, and currently, there are a growing number of peer-reviewed scientific publications that document the underlying biochemical pathways that cannabinoids modulate. The Company works with leading experts in drug development, medicinal characterization, and clinical research to develop, produce, and commercialize novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment for illnesses caused by infections as well as for age-related illness. Our initial focus is on skin cancers, HIV/AIDS, and neurological conditions. The Company is proceeding with the research and development of its proprietary drugs as a part of this initial focus: CS-S/BCC-1, CS-TATI-1, and CS-NEURO-1, respectively. Forward-Looking Statements This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing words such as "anticipate," "seek," intend," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a 'safe harbor' for forward looking statements. Certain of the statements contained herein, which are not historical facts are forward looking statements with respect to events, the occurrence of which involved risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors. Information concerning potential factors that could affect the company are detailed from time to time in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cannabis Science, Inc. Investor Relations Teresa Misenheimer teresa@cannabisscience.com Tel: 1-888-263-0832 Cannabis Science, Inc. Mr. Raymond C. Dabney Director, President & CEO, Co-Founder raymond.dabney@cannabisscience.com Tel: 1-888-263-0832 Cannabis Science, Inc. Dr. Allen Herman Chief Medical Officer (CMO) allen.herman@cannabisscience.com Tel: 1-888-263-0832 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - With recent polls pointing to a victory for Hillary Clinton in the upcoming presidential election, Senator Ted Cruz, R-Tex., has suggested that Republicans may continue to block any nominees to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. Speaking to reporters after a campaign rally for Republican Senate candidate Darryl Glenn in Colorado on Wednesday, Cruz argued there is historical precedent for the Supreme Court to continue to work short-handed. 'You know, I think there will be plenty of time for debate on that issue,' Cruz said in remarks first reported by the Washington Post. 'There is certainly long historical precedent for a Supreme Court with fewer justices.' 'I would note, just recently, that Justice Breyer observed that the vacancy is not impacting the ability of the court to do its job,' he added. 'That's a debate that we are going to have.' The comments from Cruz come as President Barack Obama's nomination of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland continues to languish in the Senate, with Republicans arguing that the seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia should be filled by the next president. However, some of Cruz' Republican colleagues have suggested that the Senate should take up Garland's nomination if Clinton emerges victorious, as she could nominate a more liberal judge. Cruz argued the best way to protect the rights to free speech and religious liberty as well as the Second Amendment is to win on Election Day (Photo: Gage Skidmore) 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. IRW-PRESS: Birimian Ltd.: Birimian Ltd: Erste Ressourcenschatzung auf Goulamina bestatigt und hochgradige Lithiumlagerstatte mit betrachtlicher Tonnage Erste Ressourcenschatzung auf Goulamina bestatigt und hochgradige Lithiumlagerstatte mit betrachtlicher Tonnage - Erste Ressourcenschatzung auf Goulamina; - --15,5 Mio. Tonnen mit 1,48 % Li2O (229.000 t enthaltenes Li2O) - Beachtliche hochgradige Komponente nahe der Oberflache bietet Moglichkeit fur verbesserten fruhzeitigen Cashflow. - Ausgezeichnetes Potenzial um signifikante Tonnagen an in geringer Tiefe lagernder hochgradiger Lithiumvererzung durch weitere Bohrungen hinzuzufugen. - Projektbewertungsstudien zur Festlegung erster Daten in Verbindung mit Abbau, Aufbereitung und Investitionskosten sind im Laufen. - Bohrarbeiten werden in Kurze wieder aufgenommen und konzentrieren sich auf Ressourcenerweiterung und Hochstufung der Ressourcenkategorien. Birimian Limited (ASX: BGS) (Birimian oder das Unternehmen - http://www.commodity-tv.net/c/mid,1323,Interviews/?v=296968) berichtet die erste JORC konforme Mineralressourcenschatzung fur die Lagerstatte Goulamina auf ihrem Lithiumprojekt Bougouni in Mali. Die auf Goulamina geschatzte Mineralressource umfasst 15,5 Mio. Tonnen mit 1,48 % Li2O fur 229.000 Tonnen enthaltenes Li2O (Tabelle 1). Dies stellt die Lagerstatte unter die heute weltweit hochst gradigsten Lithiumlagerstatten von signifikanter Groe in Festgestein. Birimians Managing Director Kevin Joyce auerte sich zu diesem Meilenstein: Wir sind sehr zufrieden, die hochst gradigste Lithiumressource zu 100 % zu besitzen, die heute im Besitz einer an der ASX zugelassenen Gesellschaft ist. Diese erste Ressourcenschatzung ist ein herausragendes Ergebnis, besonders wenn man bedenkt, dass die ersten Bohrungen vor weniger als sechs Monaten niedergebracht wurden. Dies gibt uns eine solide Plattform, eine Scoping-Studie zur Abgrenzung der Schlusselparameter zu avancieren, welche die Projektmachbarkeitsstudie und erste Erzvorratsschatzung unterstutzen wird. Von Interesse ist, dass noch ein beachtliches Potenzial zur substanziellen Erweiterung dieser ersten Ressource und Verbesserung der modellierten Gehalte durch weitere Bohrungen vorhanden ist, besonders in der vor Kurzem entdeckten West Zone. Dort ist die machtige und hochgradige Vererzung nahe der Oberflache im Streichen und zur Tiefe hin offen. Der Gehalt der Ressource von 1,67 % Li2O in der West Zone ist sehr ermutigend und wir sind darauf aus, mit der nachsten Phase des Bohrprogramms zu beginnen, was Ende November erfolgen wird. Birimian hat einen soliden Barmittelbestand mit ausreichend Kapital zur Finanzierung von Entwicklungsaktivitaten wahrend der nachsten Bohrrunde und Scoping-Studie. Wir hoffen, dass die Scoping-Studie bis Jahresende abgeschlossen ist. Mineralressourcenschatzung Cube Consulting (Cube) wurde zur Durchfuhrung einer Mineralressourcenschatzung fur die Lagerstatte Goulamina beauftragt. CSA Global lieferte den Beitrag fur eine anfangliche Bergbaustudie zur Unterstutzung von Cubes Arbeiten. Detaillierte Informationen hinsichtlich der Daten, Qualitatskontrolle und Schatzungsmethodik sind in Anhang 1 - JORC Tabelle1, Abschnitte 1 bis 3 dokumentiert. Die Ressourcen wurden gema Tabelle 1 in den Vertrauenskategorien angezeigt und geschlussfolgert geschatzt. 40 % der Mineralressource befinden sich bereits in der Kategorie angezeigt. http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2016/38039/27102016 _DE_BGS_ASX_Bougouni ResourcePRcom.001.png Tabelle 1. Klassifizierungen der Mineralresource Goulamina http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2016/38039/27102016 _DE_BGS_ASX_Bougouni ResourcePRcom.002.jpeg Abbildung 1. Goulamina Blockmodel Schragansicht Richtung Norden Birimian lieferte die Hauptinformationsquellen, die im Rahmen dieser Mineralressourcenschatzung verwendet wurden einschlielich Bohrungsdatensammlungen, eine topografische Oberflache, Kartierungsinformationen und eine geologische Interpretation der vererzten Pegnatite. Insgesamt 50 Bohrungen mit einer Gesamtlange von 5.179 m lagen dem Ressourcenmodell zugrunde. Die Mineralressourcen wurden durch Ruckspulbohrungen (Reverse Circulation, RC) und Kernbohrungen (Diamond Drilling, DD) abgegrenzt. Der Groteil der Bohrungen wurde in der Hauptpegmatitzone in Abstanden von 50 m x 50 m und 50 m x 25 m niedergebracht. Diese Abstande sind zur Bestimmung der Kontinuitat der Geologie und des Gehalts zur Ausweisung von Mineralressourcen angemessen. Der Spodumen (Lithium) -Pegmatit auf Goulamina kommt als zwei gut definierte im Allgemeinen parallele und sehr kontinuierliche Dykes (Intrusionsgange) vor; die Main Zone und West Zone (Abbildung 1, 2 und 3). Querschneidende vererzte Dykes, die in Aufschlussen und in den Bohrungen identifiziert wurden, sind nicht so gut begrenzt und wurden zu diesem Zeitpunkt nicht in die klassifizierten Ressourcen eingeschlossen. http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2016/38039/27102016 _DE_BGS_ASX_Bougouni ResourcePRcom.003.jpeg Abbildung 2. Lagerstatte Goulamina. Draufsicht Lithiumpegmatite mit Lage der Bohrungen und berichteten Bohrabschnitten. Vererzte Domanen fur getrennte Pegmatit-Dykes wurden in Profilschnitten digitalisiert und dann als Drahtgitter dargestellt, um Festkorper zu generieren. Es besteht ein sehr starker Zusammenhang zwischen dem vererzten Teil der Pegmatit-Dykes und dem gesamten vererzten Dyke-Abschnitt. Nur sehr wenig Pegmatitmaterial hat keine signifikant erhohten Lithiumgehalte. Folglich stimmen die Grenzen der Vererzung im Allgemeinen mit den lithologischen Grenzen der Dykes uberein. Drahtgitter wurden zur Bestuckung des Blockmodells und durch herkommliches Kriging-Verfahren interpolierte Li2O-Gehalte verwendet. Der grote Teil des Ressourcengebietes des Main Zone Pegmatites wurde als angezeigte Ressource klassifiziert, wo spezifische Datenabstande und Suchkriterien erfullt wurden, im Allgemeinen innerhalb von 100 m der Oberflache. Die tiefere Vererzung in dieser Zone, so wie im West Zone Pegmatit, wurde als geschlussfolgerte Ressource klassifiziert aufgrund der groeren Abstande zwischen den Bohrungen und geringerem Vertrauen in die Interpretation der Vererzung. Es wurde angenommen, dass die Ressource im Tagebauverfahren abgebaut wird, das von den konzeptionellen Bergbaustudien unterstutzt wird. Die fruheren metallurgischen Studien bieten eine ausreichende Basis fur die Annahme hinsichtlich der metallurgischen Zuganglichkeit und der Bestimmung angemessener Perspektiven fur eine eventuelle wirtschaftliche Extraktion. http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2016/38039/27102016 _DE_BGS_ASX_Bougouni ResourcePRcom.004.jpeg http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2016/38039/27102016 _DE_BGS_ASX_Bougouni ResourcePRcom.005.jpeg Abbildung 3. Profilschnitte Lagerstatte Goulamina. http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2016/38039/27102016 _DE_BGS_ASX_Bougouni ResourcePRcom.006.jpeg Figure 4. Goulamina Location and Infrastructure. Goulamina - eine hochgradige Lithiumlagerstatte mit betrachtlichen Tonnagen Die erste Ressourcenschatzung auf Goulamina bestatigt eine hochgradige Lithiumlagerstatte mit betrachtlichen Tonnagen. Das Projekt liegt in unmittelbarer Nahe einer asphaltierten Schnellstrae, eines Stromnetzes und eines Wasseranschlusses - das Wasserkraftwerk Selingue liegt nur etwa 45 Kilometer weiter nordwestlich (Abbildung 4). Goulamina ist eine hochgradige Lithiumlagerstatte mit geringen Eisengehalten. Die Gehalt-Tonnage-Kurve ist in Abbildung 5 zu sehen. Signifikante Beobachtungen schlieen ein: -- Die Gesamtressource wird fur einen Cut-off-Gehalt von 0% Li2O angegeben. Bei hoheren Cut-off-Gehalten variieren die Tonnagen der Vererzung nicht betrachtlich, was den robusten Gehalt und die gute Kontinuitat der modellierten Vererzung bestatigt. -- Beachtliche Tonnagen der hochgradigen (>1,5 % Li2O) Vererzung wurden innerhalb der Ressource modelliert. Ein signifikanter Teil von sehr hochgradigem Material steht in Aufschlussen und nahe der Oberflache (siehe Abbildung 1) an, was eine potenzielle Moglichkeit fur den Abbau hochgradigen Erzes in einer fruhen Phase der Lebensdauer des Projekts bietet. Dies wurde eine schnelle Ruckzahlung und verbesserten Cashflow bei einer geeigneten Ausrichtung der Projektentwicklung ermoglichen. Die Lagerstatte weist erheblichen Spielraum fur die Erweiterung zu einem hochgradigen Lithiumprojekt mit betrachtlichen Tonnagen auf, womit fruhere Erwartungen sogar noch ubertroffen wurden. Die Vererzung ist in beiden Zonen weiterhin offen und im 250 Quadratkilometer groen Projektgebiet besteht hervorragendes ungenutztes Potenzial. Birimian ist weiterhin zuversichtlich, dass es den Lithiumbestand auf Goulamina durch weitere Bohrprogramme kontinuierlich steigern wird und damit die globale Bedeutung der Lagerstatte bestatigt. http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2016/38039/27102016 _DE_BGS_ASX_Bougouni ResourcePRcom.007.png Abbildung 5. Goulamina Gehalt-Tonnage-Kurve. Zukunftige Planung - Bohrungen Die Vererzung ist im Streichen und zur Tiefe auerhalb der gegenwartigen Grenzen der Bohrprogramme offen. Die letzten veroffentlichten Bohrergebnisse aus der West Zone (10. Oktober 2016) lieferten die bis dato auf Goulamina machtigsten und hochst gradigsten Abschnitte einschlielich 82 m mit 1,64 % Li2O aus 18 m Tiefe und 51 m mit 1,93 % Li2O aus 127 m Tiefe (mit 22 m mit 2,23 % Li2O). Diese sehr signifikanten Abschnitte nahe der Oberflache sind in Streichrichtung offen, was in diesem Gebiet ein ausgezeichnetes Potenzial zur Hinzufugung beachtlicher Tonnagen von hochgradigem Material durch Bohrungen andeutet. Vorlaufige Bergbaustudien haben ebenfalls einen guten Spielraum zur Erweiterung der Ressourcen unter die aktuelle Basis des Ressourcenmodells auf den Zonen Main und West gezeigt. Weitere Bohrungen werden die Erweiterung der Vererzung wahrend des Infill- und Step-out-Bohrprogramms der nachsten Phase erkunden. Die Planungen fur dieses Programm sind im Laufen. Laut Erwartungen werden Bohrungen mit einer Gesamtlange von ungefahr 10.000 m zur Erweiterung und Hochstufung der Ressourcenklassifikation und zur Erleichterung einer moglichen Erzvorratsschatzung niedergebracht werden. Scoping-Studie und Genehmigungsverfahren Parallel zu den Bohrungen avanciert Birimian rasch eine Scoping-Studie, um Eingaben in die Projektmachbarkeitsstudie zu definieren. Como Engineers (Como) wurde damit beauftragt, die grundlegenden Verarbeitungsparameter festzulegen und die Investitionskosten zu schatzen, die fur die Definierung weiterer detaillierter Arbeiten beim Projekt Bougouni verwendet werden. Como kann eine umfassende Erfahrung bei der Prozessplanung und technischen Aspekten von Spodumenkonzentrationsanlagen vorweisen, einschlielich der kurzlich durchgefuhrten endgultigen Machbarkeitsstudie fur das Lithiumprojekt Pilgangoora von Pilbara Minerals. Fruhere Testarbeiten haben die Brauchbarkeit des Pegmatits auf Goulamina fur die Produktion eines sehr reinen Lithiumkonzentrats von hoher Qualitat bestatigt. Como wird diese Studie als Basis fur ihre vorlaufige Bewertung verwenden. Die Testergebnisse zeigen gute Spodumen (Lithium) -Ausbringung (84,7 %) und einen hohen Masseertrag zur Produktion eines hochwertigen sehr reinen (6,7 %) Spodumenkonzentrats. Als Hinweis, Konzentratgehalte von 6 % werden normalerweise von den globalen Lithiumkarbonatherstellern verlangt. Digby Wells Environmental (Digby Wells) hat vor Kurzem die Feldarbeiten fur die ersten sozialen und umweltbezogenen Bewertungen fur die Gebiete im Umfeld der potenziellen Mine und des potenziellen Verarbeitungsstandortes bei Goulamina abgeschlossen. Im Rahmen dieser vorlaufigen Studie werden wichtige umweltbezogene und soziale Aspekte identifiziert, wodurch es Digby Wells moglich sein wird, die Terms of Reference for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) zu erstellen, die verwendet werden, um einen entsprechenden Plan hinsichtlich der Durchfuhrung der erforderlichen Basisstudien und der Einreichung der formellen Projekt-ESIA fur die Genehmigung der Mine zu formulieren. Fur weitere Informationen kontaktieren Sie bitte: Kevin Joyce Managing Director 08 9286 3045 info@birimiangold.com In Europa: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource.capital.ch Erklarung der qualifizierten Personen Die Informationen in dieser Meldung, die sich auf Explorationsergebnisse und das Explorationsziel beziehen, basieren auf Informationen, die von oder unter der Leitung von Kevin Anthony Joyce erstellt wurden. Herr Joyce ist Managing Director von Birimian Limited und ein Mitglied des Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Herr Joyce verfugt uber ausreichende Erfahrung, die fur diese Art von Vererzung und Lagerstatte sowie fur seine Tatigkeiten erforderlich ist, um als qualifizierte Person gema der Ausgabe von 2012 des Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results definiert werden zu konnen. Herr Joyce erlaubt das Hinzufugen von Material zu diesem Bericht, das auf seinen Informationen basiert und in Form und Kontext erscheint. Die Informationen in dieser Meldung, die sich auf Mineralressourcen beziehen, basieren auf Informationen, die von oder unter der Leitung von Matt Bampton erstellt wurden. Herr Bampton ist ein Mitglied des Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy und ein Mitglied des Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Herr Bampton ist ein Vollzeitbeschaftigter von Cube Consulting Pty Ltd. und verfugt uber ausreichende Erfahrung, die fur diese Art von Vererzung und Lagerstatte sowie fur seine Tatigkeiten erforderlich ist, um als qualifizierte Person gema der Ausgabe von 2012 des Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results definiert werden zu konnen. Herr Bampton erlaubt das Hinzufugen von Material zu diesem Bericht, das auf seinen Informationen basiert und in Form und Kontext erscheint. Zuvor gemeldete Ergebnisse Diese Meldung enthalt Informationen hinsichtlich fruherer Explorationsergebnisse beim Projekt Bougouni. Das Unternehmen bestatigt, dass keine anderen neuen Informationen oder Daten vorliegen, die sich erheblich auf die in der ursprunglichen Marktmitteilung enthaltenen Informationen auswirken konnten, und dass sich alle grundlegenden Annahmen und technischen Parameter nicht grundlegend geandert haben. Das Unternehmen bestatigt, dass die Form und der Kontext der enthaltenen Darbringung der Ergebnisse der Competent Person im Vergleich zur Marktmitteilung nicht grundlegend geandert wurden. Zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen Aussagen hinsichtlich Plane in Zusammenhang mit den Mineralkonzessionsgebieten des Unternehmens sind zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen. Es kann keine Garantie abgegeben werden, dass die Plane des Unternehmens hinsichtlich der Erschlieung seiner Mineralkonzessionsgebiete wie erwartet umgesetzt werden konnen. Es kann keine Garantie abgegeben werden, dass das Unternehmen in der Lage sein wird, das Vorkommen von Minerallagerstatten zu bestatigen, dass sich eine Mineralisierung als wirtschaftlich herausstellen wird oder dass eine Mine in einem der Mineralkonzessionsgebiete des Unternehmens erschlossen werden kann. Die Ausgangssprache (in der Regel Englisch), in der der Originaltext veroffentlicht wird, ist die offizielle, autorisierte und rechtsgultige Version. Diese Ubersetzung wird zur besseren Verstandigung mitgeliefert. Die deutschsprachige Fassung kann gekurzt oder zusammengefasst sein. Es wird keine Verantwortung oder Haftung: fur den Inhalt, fur die Richtigkeit, der Angemessenheit oder der Genauigkeit dieser Ubersetzung ubernommen. Aus Sicht des Ubersetzers stellt die Meldung keine Kauf- oder Verkaufsempfehlung dar! Bitte beachten Sie die englische Originalmeldung auf www.sedar.com , www.sec.gov , www.asx.com.au/ oder auf der Firmenwebsite! ASX Additional Information - Material Assumptions The following is a summary of Material Information used to estimate the Mineral Resource as required by Listing Rule 5.8.1 and JORC 2012 Reporting Guidelines. Mineral Tenement and Land Tenure Status The deposit lies within the Torakoro Authorisation to Explore which is owned 100% by Timbuktu Ressources, a wholly owned Malian subsidiary of Birimian Limited. The license area is currently being upgraded to a Research Permit, which was approved for issue by interministerial commission from the Mali Ministry of Mines on 19 July 2016. The mineral property is in good standing and there is no known impediment to obtaining a license to operate. Geology The project area is located within the Bougouni region of the southern Mali, where broadly north-south trending belts of Birimian-aged (Paleoproterozoic) metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks are intruded by syn-and post-orogenic granitoids. Within the Project area, outcrop is limited and basement geology is therefore poorly understood. Regolith typically comprises a surficial transported gravel horizon (locally termed Cuirasse) overlying a thin lateritic weathering profile. Mapping indicates NE-striking metapelite and metagreywacke rocks in the north and eastern parts of the property. The southern portion of the project area is dominated by granodiorite. All pegmatite bodies contain anomalous or significant amounts of the mineral spodumene (a lithium-bearing pyroxene), along with the other major minerals of quartz feldspar (albite and microcline); From the geological logging, there are also accessory amounts of muscovite, tourmaline, apatite, and biotite at the granite contacts. Semi-quantitative mineralogical analysis by X-ray diffraction also indicated trace amounts of zinnwaldite (a lithium-bearing mica) and chlorite. Drilling Techniques and Hole Spacing All holes were drilled as part of a continuous drilling campaign from May to September 2016. In total 50 holes for 5,179m of drilling were completed. RC drilling was completed by a purpose-built rig supplied and operated by Foraco Drilling, using nominally 5.5 diameter equipment, with a face sampling downhole hammer. The rig has an outboard compressor, with specifications of 1100CFM@350PSI. Core drilling was completed using a purpose-built rig supplied and operated by Foraco Drilling. All holes are standard HQ sized holes (core diameter 64mm). DD holes are a combination of some drilled from surface (lengths varied between 21m and 110m), and some as diamond tails on RC holes (lengths varied between 100m and 195m). Sampling All samples collected from the RC rig for this drilling program were collected at 1m downhole intervals. Samples were split into pre-numbered calico bags at the rig using a 3-stage vibratory riffle splitter yielding a sample of between 3 to 5 kilograms. In addition to the 1m sample, duplicate samples were taken every 20m downhole. Blanks and standards were inserted into the sample string at a rate of 1:40 for Blanks, and 1:40 for Standards. A sampling ledger documented data, including hole number, date drilled, sample id, depths from and to, sample condition, sample type, percentage sample return and all certified standards blanks and duplicates. Drill core was sawn in half along its long axis. One half of the drill core was taken for geochemical analysis. All samples were collected at 1m intervals down the hole. 100% core recoveries were typically achieved. Sample Analysis Sample preparation work was conducted in the ALS Laboratory in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. At the laboratory, samples were weighed, dried and crushed to -2mm in a jaw crusher. A 1.0kg split of the crushed sample was subsequently pulverised in a ring mill to achieve a nominal pulp particle size of 85% passing 75m. Sample sizes and laboratory preparation techniques are considered to be appropriate. After pulverisation, sub-samples were sent to ALS Laboratory in Perth for assay. Analysis for lithium and a suite of other elements is undertaken by ICP-AES, after a sodium peroxide (Na2O2) fusion - ALS Method ME-ICP89. Some of the multi-element analysis uses a MS finish - ALS Method ME-MS91. This fusion technique is considered to be a total dissolution technique for lithium-bearing silicate minerals. Detection limits for lithium are 0.01-10%. Estimation Methodology Interpreted sections were wireframed using Surpac to create 3D solids for each pegmatite domain within the resource area. The drillhole data was sliced on 50m spaced sections for modelling of the geology and the mineralised envelopes. Solids were constructed for 4 discreet pegmatite dykes, as well as for the near surface colluvium and lateritic material. Mineralisation in the Main Zone and West Zone pegmatites was composited to 3m downhole intervals to reduce the variability inherent in raw samples or a smaller composite length relative to estimation resource model block dimensions. Surpac software was used for the modelling and estimation, with SuperVisor software used to conduct geostatistical analysis. The main pegmatite domains in the block model were estimated using interpolation of grade via Ordinary Kriging (OK), which was considered to be an acceptable method given the strong geological control, the drilling density and the data distribution downhole. A single block model was created by Cube with dimensions extended out to fully cover all of the mineralisation, plus surrounds that may be contained within pit optimisation shells. The parent block size used is 20mN x 20mE x 5mRL and sub-blocked to 1.25mN x 2.5mE x 2.5mRL. Resource Classification A range of criteria were considered by Cube when addressing the suitability of the classification boundaries. These criteria include: -- Geological continuity and volume; -- Drill spacing and drill data quality; -- Modelling technique; and - - Estimation properties including search strategy, number of informing composites, average distance of composites from blocks and kriging quality parameters. Blocks have been classified as Indicated or Inferred, mostly based on drill data spacing in combination with kriging parameters. Cut-off Grade For the global resource estimation, no lower cutoff grade for reporting is used, as the model is essentially developed within a geological boundary, and the resource incorporates everything within the modelled pegmatite dykes. Mining and Metallurgy Conceptual mining studies are based on open cut mining methods using a contract mining fleet and conventional drill and blast mining methods. Limited inspection of core photography indicates that ground conditions are suitable for this mining method. The resource has been trimmed by intersecting with a pit shell based on a Whittle optimisation at a revenue factor (USD650/t for a nominal 6% Li2O concentrate). Material falling outside of this shell is considered to not meet reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The criteria for assumptions and predictions regarding metallurgical amenability - required to determine reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction - are based on the bulk sampling and test program undertaken in 2008 by CSA Global (UK), work that was commissioned and funded by the World Bank as part of the SYSMIN economic development program. CSA Global undertook systematic sampling of outcropping material at Goulamina to collect a representative bulk sample comprising 3,150kg of material, which was subsequently crushed and split to 750kg for detailed processing test work. This work included evaluations of screen sizing to optimize spodumene (lithium) recoveries and preliminary dense media separation tests. The results of this study indicated good spodumene recoveries ( 84.7%) and a high mass yield, to produce a high quality chemical grade spodumene concentrate ( 6.7% Li2O). Table 2. Reverse Circulation and diamond drill holes at the Bougouni Project, Mali. http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2016/38039/27102016 _DE_BGS_ASX_Bougouni ResourcePRcom.008.png JORC Code, 2012 Edition - Table 1 Section 1 - Sampling Techniques and Data CriteriJORC Code explanation Commentary a Samplin Nature and quality of Diamond Drill Core (DD) g sampling and Reverse Circulation techni ( (RC) chips are the two ques eg cut channels, random main sample chips, or specific types. specialised industry standard measurement RC drill holes were tools appropriate to routinely sampled at 1m the minerals under intervals down the hole, investigation, such as with samples collected down at the drill rig by riffle splitting drill hole gamma sondes, or spoils to collect a handheld XRF nominal 2.5 - 4kg sub instruments, sample, with an additional 50% split for etc). These examples material > 5 should not be taken as kg. limiting the broad meaning of Routine standard sampling. reference material, sample blanks, and Include reference to sample duplicates were measures taken to inserted or collected at ensure sample every 10th sample in the sample sequence for RC representivity and the drill appropriate calibration holes. of any measurement tools or systems Nominal 2.5kg sub used. samples were collected from half sawn HQ sized Aspects of the diamond drill core, determination of routinely sampled at 1m mineralisation that are intervals down the Material to the Public hole. Report. Routine standard In cases where reference material and industry standard sample blanks were work has been done this inserted/collected at would be relatively every 20th sample in the simple sample sequence for DD ( drill eg reverse circulation holes. drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from All samples were which 3 kg was submitted to ALS Bamako pulverised to produce a and subsequently 30 g charge for fire forwarded to ALS assay). In other cases Ouagadougou for more explanation may be preparation. Analysis required, such as where was undertaken at ALS there is coarse gold Perth by method that has inherent ME-ICP89 sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types ( eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Drillin Drill type (eg core, Drillholes were g reverse circulation, generally angled at -60 techni open-hole hammer, towards 270 (WGS84_29N ques rotary air blast, grid) auger, Bangka, sonic, RC drilling equipment etc) and details (eg core is nominally 5.5 diameter, triple or diameter, with a face standard tube, depth of sampling down diamond tails, face-sampling bit or hole hammer. other type, whether RC drilling used a core is oriented and if purpose-built RC Rig so, by what method, ( Foraco Drilling) with an etc). outboard compressor, with specifications of 1100CFM@350PSI DD holes are standard tube HQ sized holes (core diameter 64mm) DD holes were drilled using a purpose built drill rig supplied and operated by Foraco Drilling. DD holes are a combination of some drilled from surface (lengths varied between 21m and 110m), and some as diamond tails on RC holes (lengths varied between 100m and 195m). Core Orientations were performed with a Reflex ACT II RD rapid descent core orientation tool Drill Method of recording A qualitative estimate sample and assessing core and of sample recovery was recove chip sample recoveries done for each sample ry and results metre collected from the assessed. drill rig for RC holes. Measures taken to maximise sample Riffle split samples recovery and ensure were weighed to ensure representative nature consistency of sample of the size and to monitor samples. sample recoveries. Whether a relationship exists between sample A quantitative measure recovery and grade and of sample recovery was whether sample bias may done for each run of have occurred due to drill core for DD preferential loss/gain holes. of fine/coarse material. Drill sample recovery in the DD holes approximates 100% in mineralised zones. Overall, drill sample recovery and quality is considered to be adequate for the RC drilling, and is considered to be excellent for the DD holes. There is the possibility of some low-level contamination from the drill bits and rods on subsequent iron assays. Logging Whether core and chip All drill sample samples have been intervals were geologically and geologically logged by Company geotechnically logged to Geologists. a level of detail to support appropriate Where appropriate, Mineral Resource geological logging estimation, mining recorded the abundance studies and of specific minerals, metallurgical rock types and studies. weathering using a standardized logging Whether logging is system. qualitative or quantitative in nature. For RC holes, a small Core (or sample of washed drill material was retained in costean, channel, etc) chip trays for future photography. reference and validation of geological logging, The total length and and an additional 100g percentage of the of drill material was relevant intersections retained in plastic bags logged. for the same purpose. For DD holes, all core was photo-graphed both Wet and Dry. For most holes, the entire drill hole was logged and sampled. Barren granite away from the pegmatite dykes was not routinely sampled. Sub-sam If core, whether cut RC 1m samples were pling or sawn and whether riffle split at the techni quarter, half or all drill rig, and routine ques core field sample duplicates and taken. were taken to evaluate sample whether samples were prepar If non-core, whether representative. ation riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, Drill core was sawn in half along its long etc and whether sampled axis. One half of the wet or drill core was taken dry. for geochemical analysis. For all sample types, All samples were the nature, quality and collected at 1m appropriateness of the intervals down the sample preparation hole. technique. Sample preparation was Quality control undertaken by ALS procedures adopted for Ouagadougou all sub-sampling stages laboratory. to maximise At the laboratory, representivity of samples were weighed, samples. dried and crushed to -2mm in a jaw crusher. A Measures taken to 1.0kg split of the ensure that the crushed sample was sampling is pulverised in a steel representative of the ring mill to achieve a in situ material nominal particle size of collected, including 85% passing for instance results 75m. for field duplicate/second-half Sample sizes and sampling. laboratory preparation techniques are Whether sample sizes considered to be are appropriate to the appropriate for lithium, grain size of the but may have introduced material being a small level of sampled. contamination for iron from the sample preparation equipment. Quality The nature, quality Analysis for lithium of and appropriateness of and a suite of other assay the assaying and elements was undertaken data laboratory procedures at ALS Perth by ICPAES and used and whether the after Sodium Peroxide labora technique is considered Fusion. Detection limits tory partial or for lithium (0.01 tests total. -10%) For geophysical tools, Sodium Peroxide fusion spectrometers, handheld is considered a total XRF instruments, assay technique for lithium etc, the parameters used in determining the No geophysical tools or analysis including other non-assay instrument make and instrument types were model, reading times, used in the analyses calibrations factors reported. applied and their derivation, Review of routine etc. standard reference material and sample Nature of quality blanks suggest there are control procedures no significant adopted analytical bias or ( preparation errors in eg standards, blanks, the reported duplicates, external analyses. laboratory checks) and whether acceptable Lithium assays for the levels of accuracy RC field sample ( ie lack of bias) and duplicates compare well precision have been with the original sample established. and are consistent with the style of mineralisation being evaluated. The analyses are considered to be representative of the geological zones which were sampled. No field duplicates were taken for the DD program. Internal laboratory QAQC checks are reported by the laboratory, including sizing analysis to monitor preparation. Review of the internal laboratory QAQC suggests the laboratory is performing within acceptable limits. No samples were analysed at an umpire lab. Verific The verification of Drill hole data is ation significant compiled and digitally of intersections by either captured by company sampli independent or geologists. ng and alternative company assayi personnel. The compiled digital ng data is verified and The use of twinned validated by the holes. Companys database consultant before Documentation of loading into the drill primary data, data entry procedures, data hole database. verification, data No specific twin holes storage (physical and were drilled. electronic) protocols. Reported results are Discuss any adjustment compiled by the to assay Companys database data. consultant and the Managing Director. There were no adjustments to assay data. Locatio Accuracy and quality Drill hole collars were n of of surveys used to set out in UTM grid data locate drill holes WGS84_Zone29N points (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, Drill hole collars were mine workings and other positioned using hand locations used in held Mineral Resource GPS. estimation. RC and DD holes are Specification of the routinely surveyed for grid system orientation at used. approximately 50m-spaced intervals down the hole, Quality and adequacy using the Reflex EZ-TRAC of topographic electronic multi-shot control. system SRTM elevation data was used to establish topographic control where appropriate. Locational accuracy at collar and down the drill hole is considered appropriate for this stage of resource estimation. Data Data spacing for The majority of spacin reporting of drilling is at 50m x 50m g and Exploration centres, with deeper distri Results. holes at 100m x 50m bution spacing, and some minor Whether the data infill to approximately spacing and 50m x 25m on selected distribution is sections. sufficient to establish the degree of This spacing is geological and grade adequate to determine continuity appropriate the geological and grade for the Mineral continuity for reporting Resource and Ore of Mineral Reserve estimation Resources. procedure(s) and classifications Compositing to 3m applied. lengths has been applied for the estimation of Whether sample Mineral compositing has been Resources applied. Orienta Whether the Mineralisation at Goulam tion orientation of sampling ina of achieves unbiased outcrops at surface and data sampling of possible the steeply dipping in structures and the geometry of relati extent to which this is mineralisation is on to known, considering the therefore geolog deposit well-defined. ical type. struct Drilling orientation ure If the relationship has not biased the between the drilling sampling. orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. Sample The measures taken to Samples are stored on securit ensure sample site prior to road y security. transport by Company personnel to the ALS Laboratory in Bamako, Mali. Chain of custody procedures exist for the transport of material between ALS Laboratories (Mali to Burkina Faso to Perth). Audits The results of any Cube Consulting or audits or reviews of undertook a site visit review sampling techniques and during RC drilling s data. operations to review the sampling techniques. There has been no external audit or review of the Companys sampling techniques for diamond drilling. Section 2 - Reporting of Exploration Results CriteriJORC Code explanation Commentary a Mineral Type, reference The reported results teneme name/number, location are from an area within nt and and ownership including the land agreements or material tenure issues with third Torakoro Permit, which is status parties such as joint held 100% by Timbuktu ventures, partnerships, Resources SARL, a Malian overriding royalties, subsidiary of native title interests, historical sites, Birimian Limited wilderness or national Tenure is in good park and environmental standing. settings. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. Explora Acknowledgment and The area which is tion appraisal of presently covered by the done exploration by other by parties. Torakoro Permit was other explored intermittently partie by government agencies s in the period 1990 to 2008. Exploration consisted of soil sampling and mapping for gold. In 2007-2008 an evaluation of the commercial potential for lithium at Goulamina was undertaken by CSA Global as part of the SYSMIN 7 economic development program. CSA undertook mapping and bulk sampling of the Goulamina outcrop but did not undertake drilling. Bulk sampling and preliminary processing testwork confirmed the viability of the pegmatite at Goulamina to produce a high quality chemical grade lithium concentrate Geology Deposit type, Pegmatite Hosted geological setting and Lithium Deposits are the style of target for exploration. mineralisation. This style of mineralisation typically forms as dykes and sills intruding or in proximity to granite host rocks. Surficial geology within the project area typically consists of indurated gravels forming plateaux, and broad depositional plains consisting of colluvium and alluvial to approximately 5m vertical depth. Lateritic weathering is common away from the Goulamina deposit and in the broader project area. Drill A summary of all All relevant data from hole information material to 2016 drilling programs Inform the understanding of has been previously ation the exploration results released to the including a tabulation market. of the following information for all Material drill holes: o easting and northing of the drill hole collar o elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar o dip and azimuth of the hole o down hole length and interception depth o hole length. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Data In reporting All relevant data from aggreg Exploration Results, 2016 drilling programs ation weighting averaging has been previously method techniques, maximum released to the s and/or minimum grade market. truncations ( eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. Relatio These relationships All relevant data from nship are particularly 2016 drilling programs betwee important in the has been previously n reporting of released to the minera Exploration market. lisatio Results. n widths If the geometry of the and mineralisation with interc respect to the drill ept lengthhole angle is known, its s nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect ( eg down hole length, true width not known). Diagram Appropriate maps and All relevant data from s sections (with scales) 2016 drilling programs and tabulations of has been previously intercepts should be released to the included for any market. significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Balance Where comprehensive All relevant data from d reporting of all 2016 drilling programs report Exploration Results is has been previously ing not practicable, released to the representative market. reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Other Other exploration Density measurements substa data, if meaningful and taken by Archimedes ntive material, should be Method (water explor reported including (but displacement) of core ation not limited to): samples from 14 holes, data geological all in observations; geophysical survey unweathered material. results; geochemical Whole core was used, survey results; bulk but neither coated nor samples - size and waxed. method of treatment; metallurgical test These measurements were results; bulk density, used to determine the groundwater, bulk density for the geotechnical and rock Mineral characteristics; Resource. potential deleterious or contaminating In addition to lithium substances. (as Li 2O), all holes were assayed for a multi-element suite to evaluate the presence of any potential co-product or contaminating material. Further The nature and scale The Mineral Resource work of planned further work estimate will be used to ( eg tests for lateral support a scoping level extensions or depth assessment of the key extensions or processing parameters large-scale step-out and estimate capital drilling). costs, which will be used to define Diagrams clearly subsequent phases of highlighting the areas detailed work at the of possible extensions, including the main Bougouni Li Project. geological An environmental interpretations and consultancy has been future drilling areas, engaged to undertake a provided this preliminary social and information is not environmental assessment commercially at sensitive. Goulamina. Section 3 - Estimation and Reporting of Mineral Resources CriteriaJORC Code explanation Commentary Database Measures taken to Drilling database is integri ensure that data has maintained by ty not been corrupted by, for example, Birimians database transcription or keying consultant (Rock Solid errors, between its Data Consultancy) in initial collection and its use for Mineral Datashed software, Resource estimation look-up tables and fixed purposes. formatting are used for entering logging, Data validation spatial and sampling procedures data for the deposit used. databases. Sample numbers are uniquely coded and pre-numbered bags used. Data transfer for downhole survey and assaying information is electronic via email. These and other workflow methods minimise the potential of errors. Cube received data directly exported from Datashed in ASCII format, then completed validation checks on the database comparing maximum hole depths checks on all data, duplicate numbering, missing data, and interval error checks using validation rules in MS Excel before importing records into MS Access. Cube then verified the data using visual inspection of the drillholes in Surpac v6.7, in 3D to identify inconsistencies of drill hole traces. Site Comment on any site Matt Bampton (Senior visits visits undertaken by Consultant - Cube the Competent Person Consulting) who is the and the outcome of Competent Person, those conducted a site visit visits. in May 2016, during which time he inspected If no site visits have the Project area been undertaken including RC drilling, indicate why this is sampling and sample the despatch for the case. receiving laboratory. Notes and photographs were taken along with discussions with site personnel regarding geology and mineralisation of the deposits, procedures, sampling and database procedures, and Quality Control procedures. Minor recommendations were made during a visit to the RC rig involving modifications to the vibrating splitter, and to record and collate - where possible - the depth of intersecting the groundwater table. Also minor recommendations were made for elements of the (then) planned diamond infill and extensional drilling programs. No other major issues were encountered. Geologic Confidence in (or The confidence in the al conversely, the geological uncertainty interpretation interpre tation of ) the geological of Main Zone and West interpretation of the Zone of the mineral deposit. Goulamina Pegmatites is good as a result of the Nature of the data consistency of used and of any intercepts in RC and assumptions diamond core drilling made. programs, and their correlation to the The effect, if any, of surface outcrops and alternative sub-crops of interpretations on Mineral Resource spodumene-rich pegmatites. estimation. There is a very strong correlation between the The use of geology in mineralised portion of guiding and controlling the pegmatite dykes and Mineral Resource the total dyke estimation. intercept. Very little pegmatite material is The factors affecting not significantly continuity both of elevated in lithium grade and content; thus the geology. mineralisation boundaries generally match the lithological boundaries of the dykes. The confidence in the geological interpretation of two narrow parallel or cross-cutting pegmatites is low, as the surface interpretation from outcrop and sub-crop is generally supported by only 1-2 drill-hole intercepts. This confidence is reflected in the resource classification. Dimensio The extent and The Goulamina Mineral ns variability of the Resource area has Mineral Resource dimensions of 625m expressed as length (strike length) in two (along strike or main dykes up to 70m otherwise), plan width, (true width) and 200m and depth below surface (below surface). The to the upper and lower maximum depth known to limits of the Mineral date for the deepest Resource. mineralisation is 160m below the surface. Estimati The nature and The block model was on and appropriateness of the constructed using modelli estimation technique(s) interpolation of grade ng applied and key via Ordinary techniq assumptions, including ues treatment of extreme Kriging (OK), with an grade values, Inverse Distance method used as an internal domaining, interpolation check, a global model parameters and maximum was considered to be distance of appropriate for extrapolation from data preliminary scoping points. If a computer level assisted estimation studies. method was chosen include a description High grade values were of computer software reviewed, but it was and parameters considered that used. application of top-cuts was not The availability of required. check estimates, previous estimates Mineralised domains for and/or mine production 4 separate pegmatite records and whether the dykes were digitised in Mineral Resource cross-section using 3D estimate takes strings and then appropriate account of such wireframed to generate data. solids. These were a subset of lithological The assumptions made wireframes of these regarding recovery of pegmatite by-products. dykes. Estimation of Drillhole sample data deleterious elements or was flagged using domain other non-grade codes generated from variables of economic three dimensional significance mineralisation domains ( and oxidation surfaces. eg sulphur for acid mine Sample data was drainage composited to three characterisation). metre In the case of block downhole lengths using a model interpolation, best the block size in fit-method relation to the average . sample spacing and the Interpolation search parameters were set to a employed. minimum number of 12 composites and a maximum Any assumptions behind number of 24 composites modelling of selective for the estimate. A mining maximum search ellipse units. of 150m was used for estimation runs in the Any assumptions about reportable resource. correlation between variables. Computer software used Description of how the for the modelling and geological estimation was interpretation was used to control the resource Surpac v6.7, with SuperVis estimates. or software used to conduct Discussion of basis geostatistical for using or not using and variographic analysis grade cutting or . capping. No by-product The process of recoveries were validation, the considered; checking process used, Fe the comparison of model 2O3 was estimated, as an data to drill hole element of data, and use of reconciliation data if potential interest in available. terms of a future spodumene concentrate. The parent block size used is 20mN x 20m E x 5m RL and sub-blocked to 1.25mN x 2.5mE x 2.5mRL. The bulk of the drilling data was on 50m x 50m spaced sections. No assumptions of selective mining units were made. The mineralised domains acted as a hard boundary to control the Mineral Resource estimate. Block model validation was conducted by the following means: Visual inspection of block model estimation in relation to raw drill data on a section by section basis. Volumetric comparison of the wireframe/solid volume to that of the block model volume for each domain. A global statistical comparisons of input and block grades, and local composite grade (by northing and RL) relationship plots (swath plots), to the block model estimated grade for each domain. Comparison of the (de-clustered) cut grade drill hole composites with the block model grades for each lode domain in 3D. No mining has taken place and therefore no reconciliation data is available. Moisture Whether the tonnages The tonnages are are estimated on a dry estimated on a dry basis or with natural basis. moisture, and the method of determination of the moisture content. Cut-off The basis of the Cut-off grade for paramet adopted cut-off reporting is 0.0% % ers grade(s) or quality Li parameters 2O, in line with applied. recommendations based on preliminary economic considerations and the minimum grade required that can be upgraded to make a saleable lithium concentrate. Mining Assumptions made The preliminary mining factors regarding possible studies are based on or mining methods, minimum open cut mining methods assumpt mining dimensions and using a contract mining ions internal (or, if fleet and conventional applicable, external) drill and blast mining mining dilution. It is methods. always necessary as part of the process of These studies have been determining reasonable used to generate an open prospects for eventual pit shell to limit the economic extraction to material in the block consider potential model to that component mining methods, but the which is considered to assumptions made have reasonable regarding mining prospects for eventual methods and parameters economic extraction when estimating Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the mining assumptions made. Metallur The basis for In 2007-2008 CSA gical assumptions or undertook mapping and factors predictions regarding bulk sampling of the or metallurgical assumpt amenability. It is Goulamina outcrop but did ions always necessary as not undertake part of the process of drilling. determining reasonable prospects for eventual They collected a economic extraction to representative bulk consider potential sample comprising metallurgical methods, 3,150kg of material, but the assumptions which was subsequently regarding metallurgical crushed and split to treatment processes and 750kg for detailed parameters made when processing test reporting Mineral work. Resources may not always be rigorous. This work included evaluations of screen Where this is the case, sizing this should be reported with an explanation of to optimize spodumene (lit the basis of the hium) recoveries and metallurgical preliminary dense media assumptions separation made. tests. The results of this study indicated good spodumene recoveries ( 84.7%) and a high mass yield, to produce a high quality chemical grade spodumene concentrate ( 6.7% Li 2O). Environm Assumptions made No environmental or ental regarding possible social assessment of the factors waste and process Project has been or residue disposal done. assumpt options. It is always ions necessary as part of The Mineral Resource the process of estimate will be used to determining reasonable support a scoping level prospects for eventual assessment of the key economic extraction to project parameters, consider the potential including those that environmental impacts impact on environmental of the mining and factors. processing operation. While at this stage the An environmental determination of consultancy has been potential environmental engaged to undertake a impacts, particularly preliminary social and for a environmental assessment at greenfields project, may not always be well Goulamina. advanced, the status of early consideration of these potential environmental impacts should be reported. Where these aspects have not been considered this should be reported with an explanation of the environmental assumptions made. Bulk Whether assumed or Bulk density density determined. If assumed, determination for the basis for the assumptions. If unweathered material is determined, the method derived from an analysis used, whether wet or of dry density dry, the frequency of measurements of drill the measurements, the core from 14 diamond nature, size and holes. representativeness of the samples. Whole core was used, but neither coated nor The bulk density for waxed. The risk of not bulk material must have using a method which been measured by adequately accounts for methods that adequately potential void spaces is account for void spaces considered to be low in ( both the vugs, porosity, etc), moisture and pegmatites and granitic differences between rocks. rock and alteration zones within the In weathered material deposit. (including minor transported colluvium Discuss assumptions and for bulk density estimates used in the in-situ laterite), bulk evaluation process of density was assumed, the different based on data from other materials. equivalent granite-hosted deposits. Bulk density was assigned within the block model attribute density according to the weathering profiles and rock types. Classifi The basis for the Blocks have been cation classification of the classified as Indicated Mineral Resources into or Inferred, based on a varying confidence combination of data categories. spacing, interpolation metadata (number of Whether appropriate composites used, account has been taken conditional bias slope, of all relevant factors (i.e. relative kriging variance) and confidence in geological tonnage/grade understanding. estimations, Indicated Mineral reliability of input Resources are defined data, confidence in nominally on 50m x 50m continuity of geology to 50m x 25m spaced and metal values, drilling within the Main quality, quantity and Zone pegmatite. Inferred distribution of the Mineral Resources are in data). part defined by data density greater than 50m Whether the result x 50m spaced drilling appropriately reflects within the Main Zone the Competent Persons pegmatite, and for the view of the bulk of the West Zone deposit. pegmatite. The Mineral Resource estimate appropriately reflects the Competent Persons view of the deposit. Audits The results of any Whilst Mr. Bampton (Comp or audits or reviews of etent Person) is reviews Mineral Resource considered to be estimates. independent of Birimian, no third party reviews have as yet been completed on the October 2016 Minera l R esource Discussi Where appropriate a The relative accuracy on of statement of the of the Mineral Resource relativ relative accuracy and estimate is reflected in e confidence level in the the reporting of the accurac Mineral Resource Mineral Resource in y/ estimate using an accordance with the confide approach or procedure guidelines of the 2012 nce deemed appropriate by JORC the Competent Person. Code. For example, the application of The statement relates statistical or to global estimates of tonnes and grade. geostatistical procedures to quantify the relative accuracy of the resource within stated confidence limits, or, if such an approach is not deemed appropriate, a qualitative discussion of the factors that could affect the relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate. The statement should specify whether it relates to global or local estimates, and, if local, state the relevant tonnages, which should be relevant to technical and economic evaluation. Documentation should include assumptions made and the procedures used. These statements of relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate should be compared with production data, where available. Die englische Originalmeldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=38039 Die ubersetzte Meldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=38039&tr=1 NEWSLETTER REGISTRIERUNG: Aktuelle Pressemeldungen dieses Unternehmens direkt in Ihr Postfach: http://www.irw-press.com/alert_subscription.php?lang=de&isin=AU00000 0BGS0 Mitteilung ubermittelt durch IRW-Press.com. Fur den Inhalt ist der Aussender verantwortlich. Kostenloser Abdruck mit Quellenangabe erlaubt. ISIN AU000000BGS0 AXC0358 2016-10-27/20:45 VINELAND STATION, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, and the Member of Parliament from Niagara Centre, Vance Badawey, announced today that the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is receiving a $920,000 federal investment to develop new disease-resistant apple and greenhouse tomato varieties that will contribute to the long-term growth and profitability of these two sectors. The projects announced today help achieve the federal government's goal of strengthening the Canadian agricultural sector through key investments in discovery science and innovation. These projects build on work carried out by AAFC scientists, who will continue to play a crucial role in developing new breeding lines. Quick facts -- Greenhouse tomatoes bring in $516 million annually at the farm gate, as well as $311 million in exports (2015). -- Apples are Canada's second most valuable fruit after blueberries, earning $181 million at the farm gate, as well as $50 million in exports (2015). -- Located in the Niagara Region, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is a world-class research centre dedicated to horticultural science and innovation. -- Funding for the two projects comes from the Growing Forward 2, AgriInnovation Program (Research and Development Stream). Quotes "Our Government is committed to helping farmers stay on the cutting-edge of the market with superior varieties of crops. These innovative new varieties of apples and tomatoes being developed by the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will help drive the sector forward as a leader in job creation and innovation." - Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay "This investment demonstrates our government's support for, and commitment to, Canada and Niagara's agricultural innovation leaders who are working hard to keep our country's economy and businesses growing today and tomorrow." - MP Vance Badawey (Niagara Centre) "With this investment, our apple and tomato growers are benefiting from research on disease-resistant varieties. Our goal is always to increase industry competitiveness while meeting consumer preferences for locally-grown crops". - Chief Executive Officer, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Jim Brandle Additional links Growing Forward 2 framework AgriInnovation Program Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada Like us on Facebook: CanadianAgriculture Contacts: Guy Gallant Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay 613-773-1059 Media Relations Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ottawa, Ontario 613-773-7972 1-866-345-7972 MADRID, October 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The result of the master franchise agreement with the Al Bayan Holding Group, one of the country's largest business groups The openings form part of the company's growth strategy in the country, where it anticipates opening up a hundred stores over the next ten years Telepizza aims to become market leader for pizza delivery business in Saudi Arabia , whose market value in 2016 is estimated by Euromonitor to be 1.3 billion euros and has growth prospects of 6% over the next five years. Telepizza announces the opening of its first three stores in Saudi Arabia, located in the country's capital, Riyadh. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150317/735407-a ) The stores are the first of the hundred the company expects to open up in the country over the next ten years and are three of the five that will serve the public in Riyadh in the coming months. Subsequently, the brand will be present in the west (Jeddah) and the eastern areas of the country. Telepizza's expansion into Saudi Arabia is the result of the master franchise agreement with its strategic partner in the region, Emtyaz Catering Company, the subsidiary company of the Al Bayan Holding Group and one of the country's principal business groups. It holds interests in a number of companies in sectors like food and drinks as well as the property development and construction market. Telepizza's international strategy is focused on growth in markets where it is currently operating, exploring new business opportunities, and entering new markets, either organically, through acquisitions of local companies or via master franchises. Currently, the company is present in 15 countries and its sales outside Spain exceed 30% of the total. About Telepizza Telepizza operates in 15 countries with its own brand throughout Europe, Latin America and other geographies mostly through master franchise agreements. As of September 2016, the company has a network of 1,325 stores (454 own stores and 871 franchised and master franchised stores) and employs a vertically-integrated business model through seven dough production facilities. In 2015, the Group recorded 491.8 million in chain sales and 57.7 million in EBITDA. http://www.telepizza.com Further information: Ketchum - +34-91-788-32-00 Monica Escusa Ana Moreno prensa.telepizza@ketchum.es Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2016) - Opawica Explorations Inc. (TSXV: OPW) (the "Company" / "Opawica") is pleased to announce that it has initiated mobilization of a drill program on its 100% owned Bazooka property near Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Opawica owns and/or has an option to acquire a 100% interest in property holdings for approximately seven km of strike length on the prolific Cadillac Larder Lake Break ("CLLB"). The Company's 100% owned Bazooka property is contiguous to the western boundary of Yorbeau Resources Inc.'s ("Yorbeau") Rouyn property situated nine km southwest of Rouyn Noranda, Quebec. The gold mineralization on the Company's Bazooka property, where past drilling has intersected world class gold intercepts, appears to be the extension of the mineralized zones and gold resources known to exist on the western end on the Yorbeau Rouyn property. The Yorbeau property has been optioned by Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross"), whereby Kinross has the option to acquire a 100% interest in Yorbeau's Rouyn property for consideration that includes exploration expenditures of C$12 million; cash payments of USD $25,000,000, plus 2% of the prevailing gold price multiplied by the number of ounces of gold in measured, indicated and inferred resources identified in a resource estimate, to be completed; as well as an equity participation in Yorbeau (see Yorbeau press release dated October 25, 2016). Opawica is mobilizing a drill program that is designed to test the fold nose feature, or cross fault, of the CLLB situated on the eastern portion of the Company's Bazooka property. Two holes of up to 500 metres each will be drilled perpendicular to the apparent north-south orientation of much of the quartz veining within this part of the CLLB. This drilling will commence by mid-November, 2016. In addition, Opawica plans to drill up to a 1,500 metre hole that will test the stratigraphic horizon at this location on the Bazooka property to a vertical depth of approximately 1,000 metres. The Bazooka property and adjacent Yorbeau property lie in the Rouyn-Beauchastel segment of the CLLB and is thought to represent the eastern extension of the Kerr-Addison Mine horizon. The Kerr Addison Mine, located approximately 50 km west of the Bazooka property, produced about eleven million ounces of gold during its 58-year production life along 1,000 metre strike length and to a depth of about 1,400 metres. At the Kerr Addison Mine, gold mineralization is found in sediments and in altered volcanic rocks associated with syenite intrusion within an alteration zone that is associated to the CLLB. Two types of mineralization were characteristic of the Kerr-Addison deposit. One being green carbonate ore and flow ore. These ore types and related sulphide content is found below 150 metres, with continuity and gold grades improving to depths of approximately 1,200 metres. The current Opawica program will test this deeper geological setting and gold target at Bazooka. Significant gold mineralization has been established on the Bazooka property from near surface to approximately 250 metres vertical depth from past drilling by previous owners such as Siscoe (1944) interval of 5.79 metres of 77.18 g/t Au (true width unknown); with more recent drill intercepts ranging from narrow and intermittent anomalous gold values up to Soquem (1981) interval of 7.50 metres of 25.77 g/t Au; Lake Shore Gold Corp. (2003) intercept of 1.25 metres of 94.11 g/t Au; and RT Minerals Corp. values of up to 17 metres of core length at 7.86 g/t Au, including 7.20 metres interval of 16.77 g/t Au (RT Minerals Corp. June 21, 2011 press release). These recent intervals are estimated at approximately 85% to 93% true widths. This gold mineralization is known to exist within 50 metres on strike to the gold mineralization on the Yorbeau property and for a current strike length on Opawica's Bazooka property for approximately one kilometre. Mr. Yvan Bussieres, P.Eng., is the Qualified Person who has prepared or supervised the preparation of the information that forms the basis for the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Kiernicki President and Chief Executive Officer Opawica Explorations Inc. Telephone: 604-681-3170 Fax: 604-681-3552 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements in this press release relating to the Company's exploration activities, project expenditures and business plans are approximate and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities legislation. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements represent management's best judgment based on current facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable, including that operating and capital plans will not be disrupted by issues such as adverse market conditions, mechanical failure, unavailability of parts, labor disturbances, interruption in transportation or utilities, or adverse weather conditions, that there are no material unanticipated variations in budgeted costs, that contractors will complete projects according to schedule, and that actual mineralization on properties may not achieve any category of resource(s). The Company makes no representation that reasonable business people in possession of the same information would reach the same conclusions. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, fluctuations in the price of gold, equity markets or in currency markets could prevent the Company from achieving its targets. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There is no guarantee that drill results reported in this news release or future releases will lead to the identification of a deposit that can be mined economically, and further work is required to identify resources and reserves. We seek safe harbour. SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- POET Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "POET") (OTCQX: POETF; TSX Venture: PTK), a developer of opto-electronics fabrication processes for the semiconductor industry, today announced that it intends to file in both Canada and the United States a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to its Canadian short form base shelf prospectus dated October 6, 2016, included as part of its U.S. registration statement on Form F-10, in connection with a public offering (the "Offering"), of units of the Company ("Units"), with each Unit comprised of one common share of the Company (each a "Share") and one (1) common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"), at a price of C$0.36 per Unit. Each Warrant will be exercisable by the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share at a price of C$0.52 per Share for a period of 60 months following the closing of the Offering. The Offering is expected to be effected on a best efforts agency basis in all of the provinces of Canada, other than Quebec, and the United States pursuant to the multijurisdictional disclosure system. The number of Units to be distributed will be determined in the context of the market prior to the filing of the Prospectus Supplement and entry into of the placement agency agreement in respect of the Offering (the "Agency Agreement"). The Offering is expected to close on or about November 2, 2016 and will be subject to a number of customary conditions. Rodman & Renshaw, a unit of H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, is acting as lead agent and lead book-running manager for the Offering (and sole agent in the United States) and Cormark Securities Inc. is acting as lead manager for the Offering in Canada. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, increasing working capital, research and development further product and sales development, as well as potential business or intellectual property acquisitions in support of strategic growth. The Offering is being conducted pursuant to a short-form base shelf prospectus previously filed and receipted with the securities regulatory authorities in all of the provinces of Canada (other than Quebec) and a registration statement (which includes the short-form base shelf prospectus) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Prospective investors should read in its entirety the prospectus (and the applicable prospectus supplement when filed) and the other documents that POET has filed on SEDAR and with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. Once filed, the Prospectus Supplement (and any marketing materials) relating to the offering will be available free of charge on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at www.poet-technologies.com and electronic copies may also be obtained from the offices of H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC at 430 Park Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10022 or by emailing placements@hcwco.com. The Offering is only being made only by means of the short-form base shelf prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state, province or jurisdiction or to any person in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state, province or jurisdiction. No offers will be made, nor any orders accepted from any person in the United States which does not qualify as an "institutional investor" under the securities laws and regulations of their state of residence. In Canada, both institutional and retail orders may be accepted, subject to availability. About POET Technologies Inc. POET (Planar Opto-Electronic Technology) is a developer of opto-electronics and Photonic fabrication processes and products. Photonics integration is fundamental to increasing functional scaling and lowering the cost of current Photonic solutions. POET believes that its advanced opto-electronics process platform enables substantial improvements in energy efficiency, component cost and size in the production of smart optical components, the engines driving applications ranging from data centers to consumer products to military applications. Silicon Valley-based POET's patented module-on-a-chip process, which integrates digital, high-speed analog and optical devices on the same chip, is designed to serve as an industry standard for smart optical components. More information may be obtained at www.poet-technologies.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS John F. O'Donnell, Secretary Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "propose", "project", "outlook", "foresee" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Such statements include the Company's expectations regarding the Offering, including the expectation of filing the Prospectus Supplement and entry into the Agency Agreement, completion thereof, regulatory approvals therefor, use of proceeds thereof and POET's ongoing business prospects following completion thereof. They also include the Company's expectations with respect to the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Company's technology. Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to complete the Offering in the manner described, the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, management's expectations regarding future growth, plans for and completion of projects by the Company's third party relationships, availability of capital, and the necessity to incur capital and other expenditures. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, delays or changes of plan in respect of the Offering, termination of the Offering in accordance with its terms, operational risks in the completion of the Company's anticipated projects, delays or changes in plans with respect to the development of the Company's anticipated projects by the Company's third party relationships, risks affecting the Company's ability to execute projects, the ability to attract key personnel, and the inability to raise additional capital. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company's securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward- looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law. Contacts: Shelton Group Brett L. Perry +1-214-272-0070 Leanne K. Sievers +1-949-224-3874 sheltonir@sheltongroup.com TORONTO, 2016-10-27 22:30 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or "the Company") (TSX:MND) today announced that its third quarter 2016 financial results will be released after market close on November 2, 2016, followed by a conference call with Mark Sander, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mandalay, for investors and analysts on November 3, 2016 at 8:00 am (Toronto time).Analysts and interested investors are invited to participate using the following dial-in numbers:Participant Number: (201) 689-8341 Participant Number (Toll free): (877) 407-8289 Conference ID: 13648323A replay of the conference call will be available until 23:59 (Toronto time), November 18, 2016 and can be accessed using the following dial-in number:Encore Toll Free Dial-in Number: (877) 660-6853 Encore ID: 13648323For Further Information:Mark Sander President and Chief Executive OfficerGreg DiTomaso Director of Investor RelationsContact: +1.647.260.1566About Mandalay Resources Corporation:Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia, Chile, and Sweden, and a development project in Chile. The Company is focused on executing a roll-up strategy, creating critical mass by aggregating advanced or in-production gold, copper, silver and antimony projects in Australia, the Americas, and Europe to generate near-term cash flow and shareholder value. 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. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2016) - Bison Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: BGE) (the "Company") announces that Mr. Dale Dunlop has resigned as Chairman and a Director of the Company effective immediately. The Company would like to thank Mr. Dunlop for his contributions to the Company. For further information, please contact: Amir Mousavi, Chief Executive Officer Bison Gold Resources Inc. Tel: (647) 846-3339 www.bisongold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws. REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Viterra Inc. ("Viterra"), today hosted an official grand reopening event at its Pacific Terminal at the Port of Vancouver. The event recognized the successful completion of Viterra's $100 million investment at the terminal, including a new ship loader and other state of the art enhancements. Viterra customers, employees and industry officials gathered to commemorate the company's investment. "Our goal through this project was to create a highly efficient port terminal in Canada with unprecedented capability for processing a diverse range of commodities," said Kyle Jeworski, Viterra's President and CEO. "Our significant investment, which exceeded $100 million, will enhance our strategic position on the west coast, as well as our ability to connect the production of our farm customers with our destination customers globally." The enhancements at Pacific Terminal will create the ability to handle in excess of 6 million metric tonnes annually. This is three times the handling capacity it previously had. It also allows for the loading of "post-Panamax" vessels, the largest vessels capable of navigating through the recently expanded Panama Canal. "This added capacity is basically equivalent to adding two additional port facilities in Vancouver," Jeworski added. "And while this extra capacity is important for our industry, we have also created further efficiencies by improving our current handling and processing procedures." The majority of the company's focus at Pacific will be on pulse crops, with the upgrades supporting the efficient handling of delicate products. This involves the use of a fully enclosed system with soft handling of products direct to the vessel. "These upgrades coincide well with work we've been doing in other parts of our asset network, such as our new pulse cleaning facility in Tempest, Alberta, allowing us to capture the increasing demand for pulse and specialty grain products from customers worldwide," said Jeworski. In addition to the new ship loader, other improvements include the installation of new bulk weighers, upgrades to shipping conveyors and rotary cleaners, and improved electrical and dust control systems. About Viterra Viterra is Canada's grain industry leader, supported by the expertise of its people, a superior network of assets, and unrivalled connections to world markets. Headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan, our commitment to agriculture goes back over 100 years, partnering with farmers to market and move their crops to areas of need around the world. Our continued focus on operational excellence throughout North America allows us to efficiently handle, process, distribute and transport grains and oilseeds. We provide further value to our partners through a wide variety of contracting and risk management tools to help them realize the full potential of their crops. For more information on Viterra in North America, please visit www.viterra.com. Viterra is part of the Agricultural Business Segment of Glencore. Contacts: Viterra Inc. Peter Flengeris (306) 569-4810 peter.flengeris@viterra.com ZURICH, December 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Sequana Medical AG ("Sequana Medical" or the "Company") announces with great sadness, the sudden death of its Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Noel L. Johnson, Ph. D. Dr. Johnson founded the Company in 2006 and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since then.Noel originated the idea of a fully implantable battery-powered pump for the management of refractory ascites (chronic fluid build-up in the abdomen), a frequent complication of late-stage liver disease and certain cancers. He led the team to bring the alfapump system to market and the system has been implanted in over 400 patients. The Board and all employees are greatly saddened by Noel's passing, and indebted to Noel for his boundless energy and dedication, and significant contribution to Sequana Medical. Throughout his time with Sequana Medical, Noel was dedicated to improving the quality of life of patients living with this debilitating disease. The availability of the alfapump system for refractory ascites patients in Europe is due in great part of Noel's hard work and commitment. The Board's thoughts are with Noel's family at this difficult time. Noel had, prior to his passing, together with the board started the process of succession to hand over the role of CEO to Ian Crosbie. Noel would have remained involved both as an advisor and as a member of the board. Mr. Crosbie joined the Company in July 2016 as Chief Financial Officer. Contacts: Sequana Medical Laura Schneider Marketing & Communications Associate +41 44 403 55 96 laura.schneider@sequanamedical.com ENDS Note to Editors About Sequana Medical: Sequana Medical is a commercial stage medical device company and the leader in the active transport of fluids within the body. Our first product, the alfapump system, is a fully implantable, transcutaneously charged, battery-powered pump for the management of refractory ascites (chronic fluid build-up in the abdomen) due to liver cirrhosis or malignant ascites with a life expectancy of 6 months or less. The alfa pump System is one of the first real alternatives to large-volume paracentesis, a lengthy, invasive and painful procedure that can require weekly hospital visits for drainage of excess fluid.By moving ascites to the bladder, where the body can eliminate it naturally through urination, the alfapump system prevents fluid build-up and its possible complications, improving patient quality of life and nutrition, and potentially reducing hospital visits and healthcare costs. Our DirectLink Technology allows clinicians to receive pump performance information and more effectively manage patients treated by the alfa pump system.The alfa pump has received the CE Mark and is commercially available in 14 countries.The alfapump system is currently under evaluation in the US under an IDE study. The Company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland and our investors include NeoMed Management, VI Partners, Biomed Invest, Capricorn Health Tech, Entrepreneur's Fund and Life Science Partners.For further information, please visit http://www.sequanamedical.com. HAMILTON, BERMUDA -- (Marketwired) -- 03/08/17 -- Teekay Corporation (NYSE: TK) (Teekay or the Company), and Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. (NYSE: TOO) (Teekay Offshore or the Partnership) today announced the following changes to their respective Boards of Directors: -- C. Sean Day will be stepping down from his role as Chairman of both Teekay and Teekay Offshore effective June 15, 2017. Mr. Day will remain as a Board member of both Teekay and Teekay Offshore. -- Current Teekay director, William P. Utt, will replace Mr. Day as Teekay's Chairman. -- Mr. Utt will also join and serve as Chairman of the Teekay Offshore Board of Directors, effective June 15, 2017. "I am very pleased that Bill Utt will be taking over the Chairmanship of both the Teekay and Teekay Offshore Boards of Directors," commented Mr. Day. "After 18 years chairing the Teekay Corporation Board, and 11 years chairing the Teekay Offshore Board, I believe now is the right time for me to pass on the Board leadership to Bill, who has extensive experience in the energy industry and an appreciation of Teekay's culture." Mr. Day continued, "Since joining the Teekay Board in 2015, Bill has brought his deep project management knowledge to bear on Board deliberations and I have no doubt he will lead with enthusiasm and skill in his new role. I remain committed to both Teekay and Teekay Offshore and am pleased to continue serving as a Board member of each entity and offer my support to Bill, Teekay CEO Kenneth Hvid, and the rest of the Teekay team." Mr. Utt responded "I am honored to succeed Sean as Chair of both the Teekay Corporation Board and the Teekay Offshore Board. Sean has done an excellent job of leading the Board and I am delighted that he will continue to serve on the Board as I take on this important leadership role." Mr. Axel Karlshoej, Chairman Emeritus of the Teekay Corporation Board and brother of the founder, Torben Karlshoej, said, "I want to thank Sean for his extraordinary leadership over the past 18 years. During his tenure, he has overseen enormous growth in the Teekay Group, including the establishment Teekay LNG Partners L.P., Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. and Teekay Tankers Ltd. In each case, he has been instrumental in establishing strong, cohesive boards with a focus on corporate governance best practices. I am pleased that Bill Utt has agreed to take on the Chairmanship of both the Teekay Corporation and Teekay Offshore Boards. Bill has been a strong contributor to the Teekay Board since he joined in December 2015 and I am confident that his expertise and strong leadership skills make him an excellent successor to Sean Day." Mr. Utt has been a Teekay Board member since December 2015, and has over 30 years of engineering and energy industry experience. Until his retirement in 2014, he served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of KBR Inc., a global engineering, construction and services company. Before that, Mr. Utt served as the President and CEO of SUEZ Energy North America and President and CEO of Tractebel's North American energy businesses. Mr. Utt also currently serves as Chairman on the Board of Directors at Cobalt International Energy, a position he has held since June 2016, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, a Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC portfolio company. About Teekay Teekay Corporation operates in the marine midstream space through its ownership of the general partners and a portion of the outstanding limited partner interests in Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (NYSE: TGP) and Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. (NYSE: TOO). The general partners own all of the outstanding incentive distribution rights of these entities. In addition, Teekay has a controlling ownership interest in Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE: TNK) and directly owns a fleet of vessels. The combined Teekay entities manage and operate consolidated assets of approximately $13 billion, comprised of approximately 220 liquefied gas, offshore, and conventional tanker assets. With offices in 14 countries and approximately 7,900 seagoing and shore-based employees, Teekay provides a comprehensive set of marine services to the world's leading oil and gas companies. Teekay's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange where it trades under the symbol "TK". About Teekay Offshore Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. is an international provider of marine transportation, oil production, storage, long-distance towing and offshore installation and maintenance and safety services to the oil industry, primarily focusing on oil production-related activities of its customers and operating in offshore oil regions of the North Sea, Brazil and the East Coast of Canada. Teekay Offshore is structured as a publicly-traded master limited partnership (MLP) with consolidated assets of approximately $5.7 billion, comprised of 62 offshore assets, including floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) units, shuttle tankers, floating storage and offtake (FSO) units, units for maintenance and safety (UMS), long-distance towing and offshore installation vessels and conventional tankers. The majority of Teekay Offshore's fleet is employed on medium-term, stable contracts. Teekay Offshore Partners' common units and Series A and B preferred units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TOO", "TOO PR A" and "TOO PR B", respectively. Contacts: For Investor Relations enquiries contact: Ryan Hamilton +1 (604) 844-6654 www.teekay.com EDMONTON, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Noralta Lodge Ltd. (the "Company") today announced the results of its previously announced tender offer (the "Offer") to purchase for cash up to $56,500,000 aggregate principal amount (the "Maximum Tender Amount") of its outstanding 7.50% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2019 (the "Notes") from the holders thereof (the "Holders") pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated October 14, 2016 (the "Offer to Purchase") and the related letter of transmittal (together with the Offer to Purchase, the "Offer Documents"). The Offer expired at 5:00 P.M., Toronto time, on October 27, 2016 (the "Expiration Time"). As of the Expiration Time, the aggregate principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not withdrawn) under the Offer was $121,675,000, which exceeds the Maximum Tender Amount. The Company has decided not to increase the Maximum Tender Amount and accordingly, assuming all the conditions to the Offer are met as anticipated, Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer will be accepted for purchase in accordance with the proration procedures for the Offer set out in the Offer Documents. Payment for the Notes, if any, purchased under the Offer will be made on November 1, 2016 (the "Settlement Date"), and any Notes purchased will be cancelled. Notes tendered but not purchased pursuant to the Offer will be returned to the tendering Holders at the expense of the Company in accordance with the procedures of CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. ("CDS") and the applicable CDS participants. Completion of the Offer remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Copies of the Offer Documents may be obtained from the Depositary (800-387-0825 or inquiries@canstockta.com) and are also available on the Company's secure investor data site at https://gctinvestorreporting.bnymellon.com. National Bank Financial Inc. acted as sole lead dealer manager in connection with the Offer, along with HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. About Noralta Lodge Noralta Lodge is shifting the focus of the lodging industry towards wellness by demonstrating the importance of quality accommodations on the productivity, safety, retention, and attraction of employees. Through its full service open lodge accommodations, facilities management services, and turnkey solutions, Noralta Lodge is offering unmatched hospitality wherever you work. For more information, please visit Noralta Lodge's website at www.noraltalodge.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, and include statements regarding (i) the Company's ability to satisfy the conditions to the Offer and (ii) timing for completion of the Offer. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by applicable law. Investor Data Site Holders and beneficial owners of Notes were previously provided with information on how to access the "Noralta Website", on which our financial reports and the Offer Documents are posted. If you have encountered any technical difficulties, please contact either of the "Noralta Website" administrators listed below: Denice Elleston, Client Service Manager, Corporate Trust Services - BNY Mellon denice.elleston@bnymellon.com / 416-933-8531 Contacts: Noralta Lodge Ltd. Investor Relations 1-866-536-8590 investorrelations@noraltalodge.com www.noraltalodge.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/16 -- Canadian Spirit Resources Inc. ("CSRI" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE: SPI)(OTCBB: CSPUF) has initiated a process to review strategic alternatives with a view to maximizing the value of the Company's Montney resource base at Farrell Creek and Altares. This may include, among other alternatives, the addition of capital to further develop the potential of the assets, the sale of the Company or a portion of the Company's assets, a merger, farm-in or joint venture, or other such options as may be determined by the Company's Board of Directors to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. CSRI has engaged Peters & Co. Limited to assist in this process. The Company has not set a definitive schedule to complete its evaluation and no decision on any particular alternative has been reached at this time. CSRI does not intend to disclose developments with respect to this process unless and until the Board has approved a definitive transaction or other course of action or otherwise deems disclosure of developments is appropriate or otherwise required by law. There are no guarantees that the process will result in a transaction of any form or, if a transaction is entered into, as to its terms or timing. Information regarding CSRI is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or the Corporation's website at www.csri.ca. On behalf of the Board of Directors CANADIAN SPIRIT RESOURCES INC. Richard Couillard, President & Chief Executive Officer The corporate information contained in this news release may contain forward-looking forecast information. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonably accurate by CSRI at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. The actual results achieved during the forecast period will vary from the information provided herein and the variations may be material. Consequently there is no representation by CSRI that actual results achieved during the forecast period will be the same in whole or in part as those forecast. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. Contacts: Canadian Spirit Resources Inc. (403) 539-5005 Richard Couillard (rich.couillard@csri.ca) TSX: JAG TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX: JAG) is pleased to announce that it has commenced an expanded and accelerated growth exploration initiative at its operating underground gold mines Turmalina, Pilar and Roca Grande located in the Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This initiative will be focused on brownfield exploration targets to expand and discover new mineral resources located in and around existing mine infrastructure that have a strong potential to further grow sustainable production, lower unit costs, increase cash flows and extend expected mine life. The Company's current ongoing exploration programs will continue to focus on increasing resources at its core assets through the upgrading of current Measured and Indicated Mineral ("M&I") Resources to Mineral Reserves. Over the next 12 months, the Company expects to invest up to US$8 million in exploration and growth initiatives. Approximately 75% of the investment will be on underground work at the Company's core operating mines for drilling of step-out and down-dip extensions and targets. The remaining growth exploration investment is expected to be on the high priority targets Pacheca and Cubas located near Pilar Gold Mine. Rodney Lamond, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar, stated: "Considering our sizable footprint in the prolific greenstone belt of the Iron Quadrangle in Brazil, and the significant exploration potential across all of our operating mines, this accelerated growth exploration initiative is an exciting step towards assisting us in increasing our resources and extending our operating mine life. This program will also allow for the potential discovery of new resources to support our goal of growing our sustainable production profile. To date, we have made excellent progress with our infill resource drilling programs, however we now have the immediate means, to accelerate our resource growth objectives and to execute exploration programs on the numerous target areas that could potentially add significant new resources to the current mineral base." Growth Exploration Highlights Major growth capital investment primarily focused on increasing mineral resources at its core assets, and discovery of new resources near existing infrastructure at its operating mines. Expanded growth exploration program includes approximately 31,000 metres ("m") of diamond drilling, including approximately 15,000 m deep down-plunge continuities of the ore bodies A and C at Turmalina and BFII and BF at the Pilar Gold Mine. 8,500 m of surface diamond drilling will be dedicated to test the high priority Pacheca and Cubas targets in the vicinities of the Pilar Gold Mine and other advanced targets. Exploration targets generated, as a result of extensive compilation work from previous exploration campaigns, in and around the current mine sites will be followed up by geophysical surveys and diamond drilling. Subject to the results, an additional 7,750 m of surface drilling will be dedicated to test those targets. Geophysics, soil geochemistry, trenching, plus prospecting and mapping will also be conducted to advance additional target areas for future drilling. Field work has already commenced at the Pacheca and Cubas targets, located near Pilar Gold Mine. Turmalina Gold Mine An underground drilling campaign of approximately 9,600 m will be dedicated to the test the down-plunge extension and continuity of ore bodies A and C. Ore Body A Deep diamond drilling of ore body A will be performed after the development of a new exploration horizon is positioned in the hanging wall of the mine. The proposed drilling is intended to reach the 12, 13 and 14 levels, up to 240 vertical m below current development and 160 m below the current inferred resources. Ore Body C Down-dip extension drilling of the South Eastern portion of Ore Body C is expected to generate new mineral resources that are near surface and to contribute in the near term to the Turmalina throughput profile. IP Geophysics will test the hanging wall of Orebody C and eastern continuity of Orebody A. Following the IP work, an estimated 6,000 m surface diamond drilling program is expected to take place. Pilar Gold Mine An underground drilling campaign of approximately 5,100 m will be dedicated to test the down-plunge extension and continuity of ore bodies BFII, BF and BA. Deep diamond drilling will be performed after the development of a new exploration horizon is positioned in the hanging wall of the mine. The proposed drilling is intended to reach the 12, 13 and 14 levels, up to 250 vertical metres below current development and 200 metres below the current inferred resources. Approximately 3,500 m of surface diamond drilling on the Pacheca Target is planned. The Pacheca target is located three km NE of the Pilar mine and is characterized by a series of extensive open pit excavations made by Portuguese explorers during the 18th century. Similarly hosted in the Banded Iron Formation (BIF) encompassing most of the Iron Quadrangle, the Pacheca target is strongly delineated by soil Au geochemistry. Surface diamond drilling on the Cubas Target of approximately 2,500 m is planned. The Cubas Target is identified by a number of deep IP anomalies situated on the southern continuity of the shear zone, which hosts the main Pilar ore bodies. Roca Grande (RG) Gold Mine During 2016, the Company undertook a compilation program of the available surface information. In light of the revised geological model, a review of the diamond drill-hole information will be carried out to consolidate the geological model. Soil geochemistry and a total of 1,750 m of drilling follow-up is expected to test the ore bodies' open continuities. The Iron Quadrangle The Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration for centuries, dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of black gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba and Sao Bento. Jaguar holds the second largest gold land position in the Iron Quadrangle with just over 25,000 hectares. About Jaguar Mining Inc. Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes, and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims covering an area of approximately 191,000 hectares. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex ("Mineracao Turmalina Ltda" or "MTL") and Caete Gold Mine Complex ("Mineracao Serras do OesteLtda" or "MSOL") which combined produce more than 90,000 ounces of gold annually. The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected", "is forecast", "is targeted", "approximately", "plans", "anticipates" "projects", "anticipates", "continue", "estimate", "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the development and production activities and the intended use and allocation of capital on its growth exploration initiatives; the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; and general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others the uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labor disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations, uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent annual information form and management's discussion and analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. For further information: Rodney Lamond, President & Chief Executive Officer, rodney.lamond@jaguarmining.com, 416-628-9601; Joanne C. Jobin, Vice President, Investor Relations, joanne.jobin@jaguarmining.com, 416-628-9601 Foodstirs, a Los Angeles, CA-based home baking company, closed its Series A funding. The round was led by Cambridge Companies SPG, Ken Wegner, Mucker Capital and Beechwood Capital, with participation from existing investors. The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand into retail and online. Launched in October 2015 by Galit Laibow, CEO, Foodstirs is an all organic, full-gluten baking mix brand with a retail product line consisting of three baking kits Frosted Cake Pop, Celebration Cupcake, and Brownie Pop as well as five mixes Organic Sweet Tooth Sugar Cookie, Organic Chocolate Lovers Brownie, Organic Chocolate Chippy Cookie, Organic Simply Sweet Vanilla Cake and Organic Brooklyn Brownie (exclusively at Whole Foods). These products are already available at Whole Foods in the Northeast, Los Angeles based specialty grocery chain, Gelsons, and on their own website at Foodstirs.com with more outlets soon to come. FinSMEs 27/10/2016 KNL Networks, an Oulu, Finland-based provider of a secure data communication platform, raised $10m in Series A funding. The round was led by Creandum with participation from existing investors Inventure and Butterfly Ventures and angels including John Lindfors from DST Global. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations globally. Co-founded by Toni Linden, CEO, Matti Raustia and Teemu Vanninen, KNL Networks provides a communication system CNHF radio system (which stands for Cognitive Networked HF) that relies on short wave radio transmissions capable of providing IP-based communications, allowing data to be transmitted over thousands of kilometers, whether in the middle of an ocean or in a remote location in Africa, Asia or South America. Applications include ships sailing the seas, oil and gas fields on remote locations, and research activities on the South Pole, which require reliable and secure long-range communications. FinSMEs 27/10/2016 Lively, a New York, NY-based direct-to-consumer lingerie brand, raised $4m in funding. The round was led by GGV Capital, Gelmart International and Harvey Sanders (the former Chief Executive Officer and President of Nautica Enterprises, Inc.) with participation from Leandra Medine. The company, which has raised $5.5M in total funding to date, will use the capital to expand its team, enhance their user experience and amplify marketing efforts for brand growth globally. Launched in April 2016 by former Victorias Secret executive, Michelle Cordeiro Grant, Lively is a direct-to-consumer lingerie brand inspired by their believe of what makes women sexy today: smart, healthy, active and outgoing, establishing a new movement lingerie they call Leisuree. FinSMEs 26/10/2016 H88, a Poznan, Poland based web hosting solutions company, owner of the Hekko brand, closed a 5.5m round of funding. 3TS Capital Partners made the investment. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth by launching of new products, developing additional services and making new acquisition opportunities in Poland. Founded in 2002 by Jakub Dwernicki, CEO, and later merged with three established web hosting companies, H88 currently provides domain hosting and a portfolio of other hosting services such as shared hosting, VPS, managed VPS, dedicated servers, colocation services and cloud hosting. The company also supports its SME and individual clients with services such as SSL certification, backups, website creator tools and e-marketing services. Next to the main brand Hekko, services are also offered under Ogicom, Biznes-Host, SuperHost and Domeny.pl brands. In parallel to the funding round, the company announced the acquisition of Domeny.pl, another web hosting services provider in Poland. FinSMEs 26/10/2016 The last day of the 18th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival is here. There are lots of interesting Indian films and a talk with Karan Johar. Here are our pick of films/events you should not miss out on: Film: Manchester By The Sea Where: PVR ICON Why you should not miss it: It is the closing film Director: Kenneth Lonergan Time: 3:00 to 5:00pm Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) becomes the sole guardian of his teenage nephew Patrick after his brother dies. He now returns to his village Manchester-by-the-Sea, the fishing village where his working-class family has lived for generations to care of him. Film: Barakah Meets Barakah Where: PVR ICON Why you should not miss it: Its touted as the first Arabic rom-com. Director: Mahmoud Sabbagh Time: 9:15 to 10:45 pm A popular blogger falls in love with a conservative government official, and the two face difficulties as they try and be together despite their different backgrounds. Film: Loev Where: LE REVE Why you should not miss it: It's sensitive LGBTQ love story. Director: Sudhanshu Saria Time: 5:00pm to 6:30pm Jai is a successful banker from Wall-Street who embarks on a holiday with his music-producer friend Sahil. The journey brings them closer and forces them to open up about their problems. Film: Graduation Where: PVR PHOENIX Why you should not miss it: Mungiu won the Palme d'Or in Cannes for his last film. Director: Cristian Mungiu Time: 8:30 to 10:40pm After an attack before a college entrance exam jeopardizes his daughter's future, Romeo Aldea thinks up ways of solving the situation, but none of them follow the principles he taught his daughter. EVENT In Conversation: Karan Johar, Katrina Kaif, Prabal Gurung, Christian Louboutin talk about Fashion in Films Where: PVR ICON Salman Khan's bodyguard Shera (real name Gurmeet Singh) has denied the allegations of physical assault lodged against him by a complainant, at the DN Nagar Police Station on Wednesday, 26 October. Read a report of the incident: Salman Khan's bodyguard Shera booked on charges of assault; questioned by cops Shera, who has been in charge of Salman Khan's security detail for over two decades now, was questioned by the Mumbai Police for over five hours on Wednesday in connection with the complaint. The complainant, an Akhtar Qureshi, had stated in a complaint to the DN Nagar police that an altercation took place between him and Shera on Tuesday night at Link Road. In the course of the argument, he claimed, Shera pulled a gun on him and later beat him with the weapon. Mumbai Mirror reported that Shera and three aides were booked by the police, under Sections 326 (causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code. The report also stated that the complainant Qureshi had sustained a fracture and several other injuries. Shera and the complainant are acquaintances. In a statement made to Times Now on Wednesday, before he was taken in for questioning by the cops, Shera said that he had not physically assaulted Qureshi, rather, they had a "verbal argument". "Nothing happened on Tuesday. I went to meet a friend at Kokilaben Hospital, then I went to Pop Tate's where I had a verbal argument on the phone, but no physical scuffle. The police came to my house in the morning and I am accompanying them to the DN Nagar Police Station. I don't know the details of the charges against me," Shera told Times Now. The police are currently investigating the charges against Shera by examining CCTV footage from the scene of the alleged crime. Quoting sources close to the Khan family, Mumbai Mirror reported that Salman is standing by Shera: "He has told the Khans that he wasnt involved in the brawl, and they have no reason to not believe him. The Khans will decide what to do once the cops arrive at a conclusion, the report stated. It is difficult to see Ratan Tata, or even the Tatas, emerging from the Cyrus Mistry affair without serious dents to their credibility. In his five-page letter to the Tata Sons board, Mistry has levelled many allegations, including poor business judgment on foreign acquisitions, and fraud in some cases. But the part that will do the most damage to Ratan Tata personally is where Mistry debunks the Nano car project, and casts doubts about the viability of the groups investments in AirAsia and Air Vistara, the last being a full service airline venture between the Tatas the Singapore Airlines. It is undisputed that the Nano was Ratan Tatas dream Rs 1 lakh car. It was created as a cheap alternative to unsafe two-wheeler rides. It is also clear that aviation has been Tatas personal passion. It is all right for promoters to indulge their passions, and many billion dollar businesses have been built by entrepreneurs staking their all in their passions. But in the Tata case, the money did not come from Ratan Tatas personal kitty, but the groups. And this raises a question-mark over whether Ratan Tata overawed his various boards by pushing his pet passions against the weight of down-to-earth business logic. Mistry had this to say about the Nano project: The Nano product development concept called for a car below Rs 1 lakh, but the costs were always above this. This product has consistently lost money, peaking at Rs 1,000 crore. As there is no line of sight to profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company requires (the group) to shut it down. Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision. Another challenge in shutting down Nano is that it would stop the supply of the Nano-gliders to an entity that makes electric cars and in which Mr Tata has a stake. There is little doubt that the Nano is a failure despite being a breakthrough idea that has touched off global interest in frugal engineering. The successful Renault Kwid is one such car triggered by the Nano idea. Also the Hyundai Eon. The Tata Nano failed for several reasons: Indians do want affordable products, but that does not translate to cheap. The Nano got labelled as a knocked-down car with downmarket implications, and it did not meet any aspirational need. Few people wanted a car that may have compromised on essentials. This is why, despite several attempts to revive the Nano project (with the launch of the Nano Twist and subsequent versions, including the GenX which had automatic transmission), the car clearly has not lived up to its promise. A bad product always carries with it the tag of failure, and the only sensible decision is to scrap it and take the losses on the chin. But, as Mistry has alleged, the project is being kept afloat primarily because it is emotionally linked to Ratan Tata, and no one wants to kill it for that reason. Does no one in the group have the courage to tell it like it is to the boss? Worse, Mistry alleges that the Nano may be kept afloat because Tata has a business interest in another company that uses Nano gliders. The last point may not be relevant, but the Nanos continued existence shows Tata as someone who has a vested interested in a failed product for non-business reasons. The Nano cannot be rescued, and even if the Tatas want to persist with the idea of an affordable car, they will need to develop a completely new platform and junk the Nano brand. It cannot be revived. Investments in another Ratan Tata passion aviation are one of a piece with the Nano folly. Like his predecessor, JRD Tata, Ratan has been fascinated with aviation. Previous efforts to invest in an airline along with Singapore Airlines failed in the 1990s when the incumbents ganged up to ensure that the policy effectively blocked new entrants. So when the field was opened up to foreign investment after the failure of Kingfisher, Tata jumped in. Not just in one airline, but two, and both by apparently pressuring the Tata Sons board to buy into his passions, as alleged by Mistry. One need not assume that these investments are flawed, for, after all, IndiGo has demonstrated that airlines can be run profitably with the right strategy, but there is no gainsaying the fact that it will be a long haul. The moral of Mistrys blast against the Nano and Tatas aviation investments is simple: promoter passions cannot dictate business decisions. Passions ought to be privately funded. This is what Ratan Tata has been doing post his retirement as Tata Sons Chairman in 2012. Mumbai: Tata Motors has been unable to shut down the loss making small car Nano due to "emotional reasons" and doing so would also stop the supply of "gliders" to an entity that makes electric cars in which Ratan Tata has a stake, Tata Sons' ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry has alleged. In clear indications that not all was well between him and Tata, Mistry in his letter to Tata Sons board members said for the group's automotive venture Tata Motors to make a turn around the company needed to shut down the Nano -- a pet project of his predecessor. "The Nano product development required concept called for a car below Rs 1 lakh but the cost were always above this. This product has consistently lost money, peaking at Rs 1,000 crore," Mistry said in his letter written a day after he was ousted as the Chairman of India's largest conglomerate. He further said: "As there is no line of profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company (Tata Motors) requires to shut it down. Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision." Moreover, raising issues of conflict of interest, Mistry said: "Another challenge in shutting down Nano is that it would stop the supply of the Nano gliders to an entity that makes electric cars and in which Tata has a stake." Tata's dream project Nano came alive in January 2008 when it was launched at a 'promised' price tag of Rs 1 lakh, which was then the cheapest car in the world. However, the car faced setbacks one after another. Tata Motors had to shift the manufacturing plant of the car from its original site at Singur in West Bengal due to farmers' opposition led by Trinamool Congress to Sanand in Gujarat. Although the company had managed to roll out the car from its new location, initial instances of the car catching fire raised many safety issues. It could never live up to its potential, with Tata even admitting that Tata Motors had made a mistake of marketing Nano as the cheapest car. He had insisted that that "Nano should have been marketed towards the owner of a two-wheeler because it was conceived giving the people who rode on two-wheels with the whole family an all-weather safe form of affordable transportation, not the cheapest". Highlighting problems faced by Tata Motors, Mistry said in his letter that an even more challenging situation arose for the company on the commercial and vehicles front. "Before 2013, in order to shore up sales and market share, Tata Motors Finance extended credit with lax risk assessment. As a result the NPAs mounted to being in excess of Rs 4,000 crore," he said. Besides, historically, the company had employed aggressive accounting to capitalise substantial proportion of the product development expenses creating a future liability, he added. Mumbai: This development could not come at a more inopportune time than this. A day after the country was ranked a lowly 130th globally in terms of ease of doing business by the World Bank, New Taipei-based electronics giants Foxconn is likely to back out from investing $5 billion in Maharashtra. Although the worlds largest contract electronics manufacturer which makes Apple's iPhone and iPad had entered into a pact with the state government in August last year, the company is yet to start its production unit in the "absence" of customers. The lack of enthusiasm from the Taiwanese firm to invest could prove to be a major jolt to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India programme. It is hardly a good news for the Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis as well who is already wading through a myriad of problems. A total of 1,500 acre of land was also allotted for the company's plant. Fadnavis had said earlier that Foxconn will create the direct employment of 50,000 people through the MoU. Despite the fact that 15 months have passed since the memorandum of understanding was inked, the three meetings that took place between company representatives and senior government officials have yielded little result. Principal secretary for Maharashtra's Department of Industry, Energy and Labour Apurva Chandra, said, "Foxconn told us that they are not getting customers so they will not set up the plant in Maharashtra for now. We do not think this is disappointing as yet as we would like to give them some more time before coming to a decision. There are a few firms which may not be coming to Maharashtra but there are other firms such as Cisco coming forward and investing in Satara, in Western Maharashtra." Chandra said that the under the Make in Maharashtra programme, the state had signed MoUs worth around Rs 8 lakh crore with various global and Indian firms in February this year. "Out of Rs 8 lakh crore, so far we actually received Rs 1.5 lakh crore investment. Most of the projects are in the pipeline. It takes two to three years for actual manufacturing and hence, speculation of failure of the event is wrong," he said. "Do not only look at the materialisation of MoUs to gauge the investments that Maharashtra has received. There are several projects worth thousands of crores happening on the ground and these are investments beyond the MoUs we have signed," Chandra told Firstpost in an obvious attempt to control the damage sprouting out of the Foxconn dud deal. Sources in the industry department said that the Foxconn is not at all interested to invest in Maharashtra. "In fact, we had identified a stretch of land at Mahape in Navi Mumbai to set up the manufacturing unit of Foxconn. But things are not moving in the right direction. Now, we are getting the signal that Foxconn is unlikely to come. It is a big blow to us because the Foxconn is a big name and a global brand," the source said on the condition of anonymity. The Foxconn fiasco will punch definite holes in the tall claims made by Fadnavis who had earlier said that Maharashtra is at the number one position in the league of states when it comes to attracting foreign investment. An email was sent to the company seeking a status report of its commitment to the Maharashtra plant. However, until the time of publishing no reply was received. In his address during the Make In India Week in Mumbai in February, Fadnavis had said that a task force, headed by the state industry minister, would be set up to ensure that the MoUs signed during the programme get translated into actual investments. "Ahead of completion of two years in office, Fadnavis is showing a glossy picture of success in the Make in Maharashtra programme. But his and Modi's Foxconn dream project has not yet started even after 15 months the MoU was signed. I had earlier said that most of the MoUs are fake and the government did not declare with whom they inked MoUs," Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Nawab Malik told Firstpost. Fadnavis completes two years in office on 31 October. Mumbai: GMR Group today said it has won an international arbitration against the Maldives government and has been awarded USD 270 million as compensation from the island nation after its contract to build an international airport in Male was arbitrary cancelled. GMR Infrastructure, which owned GMR Male International Airport (GMIAL), said the arbitration award was given by a three-member international arbitral tribunal. The USD 270-million compensation covers the debt and equity invested in the project along with a return of 17 percent and also termination payments and legal costs. The compensation is net of taxes that GMR Male may be required to pay in the Maldives, said a statement from the company. GMIAL had entered into a concession agreement with the Maldives government and Maldives Airport Company (MACL) in 2010 to modernise and operate the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in the national capital of Male. However, the concession agreement was wrong fully repudiated both by the Male government and Maldives Airport Company on November 29, 2012, it said, alleging that the same was void ab initio. This happened after a coup in the country that led to a change of government in the Indian Ocean nation. GMR challenged the cancellation at the Singapore international arbitration tribunal. "It has always been our firm belief that the cancellation of the concession agreement was wrongful. We are happy to note that the tribunal has unequivocally upheld our stand and closed the adjudication with a final award of compensation," the GMR Group said. Earlier in June 2014, the arbitration tribunal had held that Maldives and MACL had wrongfully repudiated the concession agreement and that they were jointly liable to pay damages to GMIAL for the losses caused. GMR Group operates India's busiest and largest Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and the greenfield Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. It recently bagged rights to develop and operate Goa's new greenfield international airport in Mopa. It is also developing the Mactan Cebu International Airport in the Philippines in partnership with Megawide Construction Corporation. It seems quite ironical that Indias biggest state and biggest corporate group are being convulsed simultaneously with internecine struggles. The media seems unable to make up its mind choosing between. If the political dynastys drama has all the exaggeration and theatre of a village nautanki, the corporate drama, no less vicious and vicarious, is like a Shakespearean play staged by a Bombay college theatre group. They are same as far as the small ambitions of the principal players, where the only difference is in the language. Like the UP drama, the Bombay House drama, is essentially about an aging patriarch unwilling to fully let go the reins to a chosen successor. Mulayam Singh Yadav anointed his son Akhilesh as the Chief Minister of Indias largest state and putative inheritor of the clans pelf and thralldom, and now finds in him a young man seeking to find his wings and get away from the restrictive influence and ways of the patriarch. Similarly Cyrus Mistry, anointed by Ratan Tata, came a cropper when he tried to set right the ills that he inherited. In this case undoing the inherited mess meant shining a new and revealing light on the inheritance. The dilemma that confronted Mistry was that if did to reverse the trend he stood being damned by his predecessor, and if he didnt, he risked being damned by the vast body of Tata shareholders, lenders, customers and employees. He chose the later and a carefully assembled cabal divested him of his seat. The simple facts about the state of the Tata Group is that it consists of 57 companies, of which 20 make an annual loss with regularity, with a handful making decent profits, and the rest just chugging along on the slow lane. While the Tata conglomerate was by far the biggest private corporate enterprise in India, it essentially survived because it was too big to fail, not in India where we are more cavalier with public funds and standards of performance. Just two of its businesses made enough money. Enough to keep the rest afloat. Only TCS, Indias biggest IT services company, and the JLR business of Tata Motors could be considered true business successes. But both face uncertain times. New advancements in robotic technologies now challenge the cost effectiveness of Indian IT workers, and the slowing Chinese economy casts a shadow on the futures of Jaguar and Land Rover motorcars. If the rest of the Tata group keeps hemorrhaging and TCS and JLR went the way of the other Tata companies we could very well see the death of a star that shone over the Indian corporate firmament for the last 147 years. This seemed the challenge Cyrus Mistry seemed to be addressing till he threatened Ratan Tatas legacy? The question then is how could anyone have a personal legacy in a business that has been professionally managed since 1938. The founder Jamsetji Tata was followed by his son, Dorab Tata in 1904. His first cousin, Nawroji Saklatwala in 1932, succeeded Dorab Tata. After his death in 1938, another Tata, but no relative of the founder, JRD Tata took the helm. He remained Chairman till 1991, when he handed over to another non-Tata, Ratan Tata. But names have strong associations, even if they are erroneous, as we know in the case of a famous political dynasty now in the evening of its history. Yet it is quite amazing to see every major national newspaper repeating that Cyrus Mistry is the second non-family head of the Tata Group. The first, to them, being Nawroji Saklatwala. Saklatwala was the last Jamsetji Tata blood relative to head the Tata Group. He was Jamsetji's nephew, being his sisters son. The Tatas who followed do not belong to the original line. Interestingly enough Jamsetji had another nephew, another Saklatwala, who was another sister's son, who began life prospecting for iron ore for Jamsetji. He later on went off to England to seek his fortunes as a barrister. But other fields beckoned and the strong genes emerged. In the early 1920s when his cousin Dorab Tata was still the Tata chairman, Shapurji Saklatwala became a member of the British House of Commons from Battersea North as a Communist Party of Great Britain candidate. He went full circle from capitalism to hammer and sickle. This group, India's largest with a turnover of over $105 billion, exists in the black mostly on the earnings of TCS, which in turn exists on body shopping. Things in the IT business can change overnight. Look at the erstwhile bellwether Infosys now languishing. Then what happens to the house of Tatas? Tatas too need radical resection and restructuring. To save it would inevitably tarnish Ratan Tata's carefully cultivated legacy. Mind you the Tata trusts only have a majority in Tata Sons. Public institutions and individual shareholders still largely own the big Tata companies like Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals and Tata Beverages. The trusts are mostly in a minority position in the group. Tata Sons exists by charging for use of the TATA brand name. To that extent it leads a parvenu existence living just within the folds of legality. Ratan Tata is now calling for things to be done within the Tata Group which should have been done decades ago when he was still new on the job, and after he ousted the group of satraps who had entrenched themselves during JRD Tatas long reign. Power within the group was consolidated with him. With so many diverse businesses and with such challenging external environment with the state as the main facilitator of business success, Ratan Tata thought escape out of this death trap was by flight abroad. By the time he retired over three-fifths of the Tata business is abroad. But that didnt work out as intended. The steel investment bombed. Only JLR hit pay dirt. But the Indian side of the business, with the exception of TCS, languished. This was in short Ratan Tatas legacy. This is the legacy he would like to be kept away from the analysts and business historians. But to get the Tata train back on tracks Cyrus Mistry had to undo just that. He paid the price in a boardroom coup. Interestingly enough, going by media reports, the two Tata Sons directors who abstained were Tata insiders and professionals. The ones who voted for removal were more recent additions to the board, handpicked by Ratan Tata. Finally, there can be no return for Cyrus Mistry and no comeback for 78 year old Ratan Tata. One used up his time and lost, and the other doesn't have much time. So who will they find in the next four months, which is the outer limit set within which Tata Sons must find itself a new Chairperson? The topmost of the two names being most bandied about is Noel Tata, Ratan's half-brother and Cyrus's brother-in-law. Many take his candidature seriously because he is the rich and powerful Shapoorji Pallonji Mistry's son-in-law and will placate him. I don't think so. To get an idea of what Noel is all you have to do is visit any Westside store of the retail chain he manages. They are dull, boring and a business not apparently going anywhere. Indra Nooyi who is the PepsiCo CEO is another one in the reckoning. Not having worked in India I don't think Nooyi would have the skillset needed to manage a hugely diversified and financially troubled conglomerate that is run by chieftains in an old world quasi feudal managerial style. Besides there is the complexity of the political economy. Managing a pizza and soda pop behemoth would be child's play compared to heading Tata Sons. Ditto for Arun Sarin who once headed Vodafone. To my mind it has to be an insider who is acclimatised to the hushed and byzantine culture that permeates Bombay House. And who will defer to Ratan Tata as long as he is there. By Robert-Jan Bartunek and Philip Blenkinsop | BRUSSELS BRUSSELS Belgium's regions agreed to a free trade pact with Canada on Thursday, ending weeks of uncertainty when internal divisions in just one country blocked the European Union of 500 million people sealing the landmark deal.Prime Minister Charles Michel said the regions and linguistic communities had drafted a four-page addendum to the pact that answered their concerns. The text addresses fears that a system to protect foreign investors could let multinationals block new rules on the environment, labour rights or public services - specifying that the "investment protection" regime would not come into force during an initial period. It also has a safeguard clause to protect agriculture in the event of a "market imbalance"."As a unilateral Belgian declaration, Canada's approval will not be sought or needed," a source close to the talks said, indicating the path was now clear to finalise the deal.European Council President Donald Tusk gave the Belgian agreement to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) a cautious welcome.Belgium's regional governments have until the end of Friday to consult their parliaments if needed, and ambassadors from other EU countries will also review the addendum.All 28 EU governments back CETA, which supporters say could increase trade by 20 percent, but Belgium's central government had been prevented from giving its consent because of objections led by the French-speaking Wallonia region.Wallonia, along with the capital Brussels and Belgium's groupings of French and German speakers, had opposed the deal for weeks, with fears about a flood of Canadian farm imports one of the main sticking points.The premier of the Flemish region, Geert Bourgeois, said the original 1,598-page text of the trade deal stood. "This (the addendum) is a clarification, the actual treaty does not change," he said.Canada has already agreed to a binding declaration to answer concerns raised by others, principally setting out the right of governments to regulate."POLITICAL HOSTAGE-TAKING" Belgium will ask the European Court of Justice whether the investment protection system is in line with EU rules, with Wallonia still expressing reservations. Friends of the Earth described these as potential time bombs under the deal. EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the investment protection system did not yet exist and the EU and Canada had time to set up a panel of independent judges to settle disputes. "We are quite confident that it is perfectly in line with European law," she told Reuters.In Ottawa, Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland played down the suggestion that the Belgian addendum could effectively result in parts of CETA being unwound."Every trade agreement ... has exit provisions," she told reporters. "Trade agreements must be structured that way to permit national sovereignty." CETA could apply provisionally next year, assuming the European Parliament backs it. Its final implementation could take a few years, after all relevant national or regional parliaments have had their say.Supporters say the deal will boost the EU economy by 12 billion euros ($13 billion) per year and Canada's by C$12 billion ($9 billion) at a time of low growth. For Canada, it reduces reliance on the U.S. export market.German trade groups said the CETA debacle should trigger a revamp of EU procedures."This is not a victory for democracy. It is political hostage-taking," said BDI business association president Ulrich Grillo.Failure to agree CETA with such a like-minded country as Canada would have undermined the EU's ability to forge other deals and damage credibility already battered by Britain's vote to leave the bloc and disputes over the migration crisis."I'm sorry for all other Europeans and our Canadian partners that they had to wait, but what we managed to get here is important not just for Wallonia but for all of Europe," said Wallonia premier Paul Magnette. ($1 = 0.9161 euro; $1 = 1.3368 Canadian dollars) (Additional reporting by Jeffrey Hodgson in Toronto, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Gernot Heller and Andrea Shalal in Berlin; editing by Robin Pomeroy and Cynthia Osterman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Robert-Jan Bartunek and Philip Blenkinsop | BRUSSELS BRUSSELS Belgium's regions agreed to a free trade pact with Canada on Thursday, ending weeks of uncertainty when internal divisions in just one country blocked the European Union of 500 million people sealing the landmark deal.Prime Minister Charles Michel said the regions and linguistic communities had drafted a four-page addendum to the pact that answered their concerns. The text addresses fears that a system to protect foreign investors could let multinationals block new rules on the environment, labour rights or public services - specifying that the "investment protection" regime would not come into force during an initial period. It also has a safeguard clause to protect agriculture in the event of a "market imbalance"."As a unilateral Belgian declaration, Canada's approval will not be sought or needed," a source close to the talks said, indicating the path was now clear to finalise the deal.European Council President Donald Tusk gave the Belgian agreement to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) a cautious welcome."Only once all procedures are finalised for EU signing CETA, will I contact (Canadian) PM @JustinTrudeau," Tusk tweeted.Belgium's regional governments have until the end of Friday to consult their parliaments if needed, and ambassadors from other EU countries will also review the addendum.All 28 EU governments back CETA, which supporters say could increase trade by 20 percent, but Belgium's central government had been prevented from giving its consent because of objections led by the French-speaking Wallonia region.Wallonia, along with the capital Brussels and Belgium's groupings of French and German speakers, had opposed the deal for weeks, with fears about a flood of Canadian farm imports one of the main sticking points. The premier of the Flemish region, Geert Bourgeois, said the original 1,598-page text of the trade deal stood."This (the addendum) is a clarification, the actual treaty does not change," he said.Canada has already agreed to a binding declaration to answer concerns raised by others, notably Austria, principally setting out the right of governments to regulate."POLITICAL HOSTAGE-TAKING" Belgium will ask the European Court of Justice whether the investment protection system is in line with EU rules, with Wallonia still expressing reservations. Friends of the Earth described these as potential time bombs under the deal.EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the investment protection system did not yet exist and the EU and Canada still had time to set up a panel of independent judges to settle disputes. "We will have more time to do this," EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom told Reuters, adding: "We are quite confident that it is perfectly in line with European law."CETA could apply provisionally next year, assuming the European Parliament gives its backing. Its final implementation could take a few years, after all relevant national or regional parliaments have had their say.Supporters say the deal will boost the EU economy by 12 billion euros ($13 billion) per year and Canada's by C$12 billion ($9 billion) at a time of low growth. For Canada, it reduces reliance on the U.S. export market. German trade groups said the CETA debacle should trigger a revamp of EU procedures, with clear divisions between what EU authorities could do alone and what needed member countries."This is not a victory for democracy. It is political hostage-taking," said BDI business association president Ulrich Grillo.Failure to strike a deal with such a like-minded country as Canada would have called into question the EU's ability to forge other deals and damage credibility already battered by Britain's vote to leave the bloc and disputes over the migration crisis.Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, who walked out of talks in the Walloon capital Namur last Friday, had asked who the EU could do a deal with if not Canada."I'm sorry for all other Europeans and our Canadian partners that they had to wait, but what we managed to get here is important not just for Wallonia but for all of Europe," said Paul Magnette, Socialist premier of Wallonia.($1 = 0.9161 euros)($1 = 1.3368 Canadian dollars) (Additional reporting by Jeffrey Hodgson and David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Gernot Heller and Andrea Shalal in Berlin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Aditya Kalra | NEW DELHI NEW DELHI India's $11 billion tobacco industry has urged the government to take a softer line on tobacco control efforts when it hosts a WHO conference in New Delhi next month, but officials say the government will not bow to "pressure tactics".Delegates from about 180 countries will attend the Nov. 7-12 World Health Organization (WHO) conference on the sole global anti-tobacco treaty: the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). In force since 2005, the treaty aims to deter tobacco use that kills around 6 million people a year.The industry in India, the world's third-biggest tobacco producer, wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to soften its stance on what it says are tough FCTC measures that threaten livelihoods among the estimated 46 million people linked to the sector.In documents obtained by a Reuters reporter under India's Right to Information law, industry and farmer groups wrote to officials across government asking to attend the WHO FCTC conference and be part of India's delegation, in an effort to protect their interests.Global tobacco firms have criticized the biennial event for not being transparent, in part because proceedings have in the past not been open to the public, including industry representatives.The tussle comes at a time when the Indian industry is smarting from measures imposed this year forcing companies to print bigger health warnings on tobacco products.A tobacco farmers' group this month questioned the legality of India implementing the FCTC treaty, and asked the Delhi High Court to compel the government to allow farmers to attend the WHO FCTC conference. A judge last week asked the government to "consider" the plea, but did not rule on the other requests."If we take them in the delegation, the government of India may feel embarrassed," said one health ministry official, who didn't want to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. "We will not act on these (lobbying documents)". Around 1,000 tobacco farmers staged silent protests on Thursday outside the federal health ministry and the WHO regional office, both in New Delhi, appealing to the government to boycott the conference.The WHO FCTC Convention Secretariat in Geneva told Reuters it welcomes India's decision, saying its guidelines state that no country should have delegation members linked to the tobacco industry.Conference decisions on treaty provisions - designed for eventual implementation at national level by signatories - have a direct bearing on the global tobacco industry that Euromonitor International estimates is worth $784 billion this year.Topics for debate at the WHO FCTC conference include alternative livelihoods for tobacco farmers, e-cigarettes and trade and investment issues. LETTERS, SIGNATURE CAMPAIGNS The nation's main cigarette industry body, the Tobacco Institute of India (TII), and farmer groups wrote to the agriculture ministry demanding to have their views represented and to be allowed into the WHO FCTC conference.In a Sept. 28 letter, the TII said "there is no obligation on any signatory to the FCTC to comply with or implement any provision of the FCTC". The WHO, however, says the treaty is legally binding on its member countries.The ministry also received a near-6,000-page petition signed by more than 100,000 farmers seeking protection from FCTC rules. The TII - which represents cigarette makers including ITC, which is part-owned by British American Tobacco; and Godfrey Phillips, the local partner of Philip Morris International - also sent the health ministry a 'handbook' detailing how FCTC proposals are a threat to farmers' livelihoods.It asked the government to ensure that "unreasonable and impractical" proposals are not adopted at the WHO FCTC conference.The TII did not respond to Reuters queries on the make-up of the Indian delegation or the legality of the FCTC.In another letter, a group representing traditional Indian cigarette makers urged Modi to ensure the health ministry does not make any anti-tobacco commitments before or after the conference, fearing the potential impact on those tied to the industry.The health ministry official said the government would consider farmers' views, but there was "no soft corner for the industry".Smoking kills more than 1 million people a year in India, BMJ Global Health estimates. The WHO says tobacco-related diseases cost the country $16 billion annually. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra, Editing by Tom Lasseter and Ian Geoghegan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Zeba Siddiqui | MUMBAI MUMBAI The head of an Indian drugs industry lobby group on Thursday said media reports linking pollution in some lakes and rivers to factories making antibiotics were not accurate and that drug factories were in compliance with local environmental rules.India's $17 billion drugs industry is one of the world's biggest suppliers of antibiotics. But activists, researchers and industry officials told Reuters last month that lax local regulation has allowed many large drug factories in the country to pollute rives and lakes with antibiotics, risking the spread of drug-resistant bacteria.P.V. Appaji, director of the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexil), said Indian drug factories' environmental standards were regularly audited by foreign customers, including drug distributors and manufacturers who source from them. He said he did not know how often such audits were conducted. "This is targeting the top pharma players in India ... it is going to have an impact on our exports," Appaji said by telephone. Pharmexil, which held a news conference on this subject in Hyderabad on Thursday, is a body under India's commerce ministry whose mandate is to promote the drugs industry. Pharmexcil said in a statement it agreed with the fact that there was a serious threat to public health from the emerging antibiotic resistance bacteria (superbugs) which is due to various reasons including environmental control.It said the government had recently expressed its concern and the Indian drug regulator had recently announced some measures to curb excessive/irrational use of antibiotics. Thirteen leading drugmakers promised last month to clean up pollution from factories making antibiotics and take steps to curb overuse of the medicines as part of a drive to fight the rise of drug-resistant superbugs. (Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai. Editing by Jane Merriman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Tommy Wilkes | NEW DELHI NEW DELHI India said on Thursday it would expel a Pakistani diplomat based in New Delhi who allegedly ran a spy ring that collected sensitive information about Indian security operations along its border. The allegations come amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals over the disputed region of Kashmir.Police in the capital said the diplomat was caught on Wednesday outside the gates to Delhi Zoo, where he had met two Indian associates whom police believe he had recruited to spy for him. The Indians and the diplomat, who reportedly worked in Pakistan High Commission's visa section, were found with forged documents, defence-related maps, deployment charts and lists of officers working along India's border with Pakistan, police said in a statement."There was high probability that the information passed on by these anti-national elements to PIO (Pakistan intelligence operative) is being used against the national interests and could be highly detrimental for national security," the police said, adding they had been trying to break the spy ring for six months. An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said the man, who was released from custody under diplomatic immunity rules, must leave the country by Saturday.Pakistan's High Commission in New Delhi rejected the allegations, saying in a statement it "never engages in any activity that is incompatible with its diplomatic status". India's foreign ministry said the diplomat had been declared "persona non grata for espionage activities" and they had summoned the Pakistani high commissioner to make their case.India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads since a group of gunmen killed 19 Indian soldiers in September at an army camp in Kashmir, an attack India blamed on Pakistan-based militants.India said it had sent special commandos into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to kill militants in a retaliatory operation that sharply soured relations between the neighbours. Pakistan says the operation never happened and accuses India of inventing it to distract attention from its crackdown on protests in the part of Kashmir it controls.Indian and Pakistani troops face off against each other along the de facto border in divided Kashmir - a region they both claim in full but control in part - and have exchanged fire several times this week in cross-border shelling. (Reporting by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Tom Heneghan; Editing by Nick Macfie) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Aditi Shah and Promit Mukherjee | NEW DELHI/MUMBAI NEW DELHI/MUMBAI Tata Sons accused its former chairman, Cyrus Mistry, of making "unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations" against the Indian conglomerate as the gloves came off in a bitter and highly public row over his sacking earlier this week.The acrimonious exchanges have prompted aides to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urge restraint in a dispute that could sully the reputation of one of India's oldest and most respected business houses. Tata Sons has had only six chairmen since it was founded in 1868, growing into a $103 billion international group spanning cars, steel and information technology.Mistry's parting shot, in a blistering 5-page letter written after he was ousted in a boardroom coup late on Monday, accused the company of failures of governance that he said had destroyed billions of dollars in shareholder value.He also alleged inappropriate interference by Ratan Tata, the 78-year-old patriarch who hired him and has come out of retirement to run the business in a caretaker role.Tata, in an 8-paragraph statement on Thursday, dismissed Mistry's claims."The correspondence makes unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations," Tata Sons said in the statement emailed to reporters a day after Mistry's letter was leaked to the press. "These will be responded to in an appropriate manner," the company said without elaborating, raising the prospect that the war of words could lead to a legal battle.The country's two largest stock exchanges demanded clarity from Tata's more than two dozen listed units in what could herald scrutiny over why investors were not told of Mistry's concerns earlier.The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the capital markets regulator, is looking into whether Tata Sons flouted corporate governance rules, as Mistry alleges in his letter to the board, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.SEBI has also asked the National Stock Exchange and BSE Ltd for price movement data on all listed companies under the Tata umbrella, one of those people said.SEBI could not immediately be reached for comment. At least one unit, Tata Steel, dismissed talk of writedowns. But shares in all the group's major listed companies fell on Thursday.Public confrontations of this nature are rare in Indian corporate life, particularly when they involve established conglomerates and business elders like Ratan Tata, who ran the Tata group for over two decades before hand-picking the 48-year-old Mistry."It's taken everyone by surprise. Nobody would have thought such things could happen at Tata," said J. N. Gupta, a former executive at India's markets regulator and now managing director at Stakeholders Empowerment Services.Nalin Kohli, a national spokesman for Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party and a Supreme Court lawyer, said: "The larger question will remain whether a legal battle will serve the interests of shareholders."CULTURE CLASH Inside Tata, a company that promotes its roots in the heritage and social values of the Parsi community, some workers have bristled at the board's treatment of Mistry. But executives also questioned Mistry's efforts to restructure the group."It is like a bunch of finance or hedge fund guys that have walked in and decided to cut everything. This is not the Tata way of doing business," said one source close to the Tata group in response to the letter. "If you're picking things that are not working and then trying to get rid of them, where is growth going to come from?"Ratan Tata was an acquirer in his time at the top, overseeing deals like the $12 billion acquisition of Corus, formerly British Steel, in 2007, and the purchase of Jaguar Land Rover a year later.Mistry accused the board of failing to give him "room to move", and argued that Ratan Tata had acted as an alternative power centre, in particular driving deals that created two airline businesses.Its Tata Motors arm extended credit too easily to fuel sales, Mistry said, and when fraudulent dealings surfaced at AirAsia India, they were not acted on fast enough. In its rejoinder, Tata stated that Mistry, who was appointed a director in 2006 and made executive chairman in 2012, would have been "fully empowered" to lead the group and its companies."He would be fully familiar with the culture, ethos, governance structure, financial and operational imperatives of the Tata Group as well as various group companies," the company said. "It is unfortunate that it is only on his removal that allegations and misrepresentation of facts are being made.""The record, as and when made public, will prove things to the contrary," it added.One lawyer said Mistry's letter appeared to be presenting arguments that both he and the interests of the company had been the victim of "oppression and mismanagement" as cited in India's Companies Act, 2013."It would not be unprecedented for a managing director or chairperson to proclaim oppression - even if he was in charge," said the lawyer, Amir Singh Pasrich, managing partner of I.L.A. Pasrich and Co, a New Delhi-based law firm. He is not advising either side.Mistry remains a director of Tata Sons and could by law only be removed by shareholders after being given due warning. He also chairs several listed units and his Pallonji family owns nearly a fifth of Tata Sons.Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a senior lawmaker from the opposition Congress party and lawyer who has been retained by Tata, dismissed Mistry's allegations and questioned his motivation in going public with them."I don't see any reason to have allegations and counter allegations," Singhvi told Reuters Television, adding that the "maligning and bad mouthing should stop". (Additional reporting by Douglas Busvine, Rupam Jain and Sunil Kataria in New Delhi, and Abhirup Roy and Euan Rocha in Mumbai; Editing by Clara Ferreira Marques, Douglas Busvine, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Ian Geoghegan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Michelle Nichols | UNITED NATIONS UNITED NATIONS The United States on Wednesday abstained for the first time from a United Nations General Assembly vote on a resolution calling for an end to a U.S. economic embargo on Cuba, after opposing such measures every year for 24 years.For the 25th time, the 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution with 191 votes in favor. Israel, which opposed the resolution last year, also abstained on Wednesday. Such resolutions are non-binding, but can carry political weight.Communist-run Cuba and the United States, former Cold War foes, began normalizing relations in 2014. U.S. President Barack Obama has taken steps to ease trade and travel restrictions on Cuba, but only the U.S. Congress can lift the full embargo.The Republican-controlled Congress has resisted Obama's call to lift Washington's economic embargo after more than 50 years. Republican critics say Obama is making too many concessions to Cuba for too little in return, especially on human rights.The U.N. General Assembly applauded when U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power announced prior to the vote that the United States would abstain. "Abstaining on this resolution does not mean that the United States agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government. We do not," Power told the General Assembly. "We are profoundly concerned by the serious human rights violations that the Cuban government continues to commit with impunity against its own people," she said. Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez described the abstention as a "positive step for the future of improving relations between the United States and Cuba."Rodriguez said in September that damage from U.S. sanctions between April 2015 and March 2016 amounted to $4.6 billion and to $125.9 billion since the embargo's inception more than 50 years ago.In March, Obama made the first visit to Havana by a U.S. president in 88 years. His trip was made possible by his breakthrough agreement with Cuban President Raul Castro in December 2014 to cast aside decades of hostility that began soon after Cuba's 1959 revolution. Since the opening, Obama has repeatedly used his executive powers to relax trade and travel restrictions, while pushing Cuba to accelerate market-style reforms and boost political and economic freedoms.The U.N. resolution adopted on Wednesday takes note of the steps taken by Obama as positive but "still limited in scope." It urges the United States to repeal or invalidate the embargo on Cuba as soon as possible. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by James Dalgleish) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making steady inroads into the North East region as never before, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 brought by the BJP-led government at Centre faces stiff resistance in Assam. Protests across the Brahmaputra Valley in the state have surfaced at a time when the BJP is seeking to consolidate its vote bank by granting citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who migrated from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Lurinjyoti Gogoi, an All Assam Students Union (AASU) leader, who has been camping in Delhi to register protest against the bill told Firstpost, There is a huge number of Bengali Hindu population living in Assam, who have migrated to Assam illegally. The new amendment of the Citizenship Act seeks to provide them with Indian citizenship. If that is done the demographic pattern of the state will transform. The natives will lose their political say in their own land. He further said that the people of Assam are already bearing the brunt of illegal migration from Bangladesh, and struggling hard to assert their rights as citizens of India. Now providing citizenship to illegal Hindu migrants will only aggravate their woes. "As per the Citizenship Act, a person whose name or whose ancestors name was registered as a citizen in the National Register of Citizens of India in 1951, is considered an Indian citizen. But in Assam, the rule is different," said Gogoi, adding, "As per the Assam Accord, signed in 1985, people whose names were not registered as citizens till the year 1951 but are registered after that till 24 March, 1971, are also considered as Indian citizens." He adds that the proposed amendment of the Citizenship Act violates not only the provision of the Assam Accord but also the principle of secularism espoused by the Constitution of India. "We are bearing the burden of illegal migrants more than any other state of India. Why are we being forced to take more burden by providing citizenship to Hindu migrants from Bangladesh who have settled in the state by infiltrating the border after the cut-off date as decided by the Assam Accord? he said. The Assam Accord was signed between the Government of India and leaders of the AASU after a historic six-year-long agitation (Assam Movement) between 1979 to 1985. Led by AASU, the movement demanded extradition of illegal migrants settled in the state. The accord laid the provision that migrants who have settled in Assam till 24 March, 1971, can be granted Indian citizenship. Many tribal and ethnic groups along with renowned intellectuals have united in the lines of AASU to protest the central government's move to grant citizenship to Bengali Hindus who have illegally migrated to Assam. Professor Apurba Kumar Barua, a political scientist based in Assam told Firstpost that he along with some other intellectuals such as Dr Hiren Gohain, Dr Manorama Sharma have already registered their protest by submitting a memorandum to the government. The state has seen a series of protests after the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was placed in the Lok Sabha. The government has constituted a joint parliamentary committee to accept public opinion on the bill. The AASU leadership will be meeting the committee to register its protest. Editors note: Firspost reported on 27 October that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu proposed to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to curb corruption in his state. He had even written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention. We cant verify that Modi heeded Naidus call, but he most certainly granted the AP CM his wish. Heres the piece we ran: Just few hours before the expiration of the Income Declaration Scheme (to disclose black money), officials at the Income Tax Towers at AC Guards in Hyderabad were in for a shock. A frail-bearded individual who claimed to be Gopalan had brought thirteen suitcases full of assorted currency, some in haphazard bundling. There were seven American Tourister suitcases with Rs 1,000 notes, and the rest with Rs 500 notes. It took a dozen of IT sleuths and half a dozen counting machines to complete the task in five hours. The officials did not mind though, as the Finance Ministry ranked the team first, and announced a bonus for them all. He made us famous and took us to top of the list, says a senior IT official with glee. It was not just the IT officers who were gleeful though. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) too were in joy. The frail Gopalan had given them enough grist to start a mudslinging fest. Immediately following this episode, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched a verbal attack on his opponent and Opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy. I want the Centre to demonetise all the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes if it really wants to end the reign of black money in the country, he said. Naidu did not stop at this statement, though. He went ahead and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his demand, but not bothering to explain his logic behind it. The publicity wing of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) then launched a tirade against Jagan, alleging that he was the one who disclosed the hoard, citing sources from the NDA government. Slugfest over black money Sources told Firstpost that after the Congress came to power in 2004, Jagan had paid an income tax of Rs 7 crore against Rs 2.9 lakh he paid in 2002. In the wake of CBI cases foisted on him in 2012-13, Jagan had made advance tax payment of Rs 84 crore. In the 2014 election affidavit, he had mentioned an asset base of Rs 416 crore and liabilities of Rs 137 crore. In the year 2015, Jagan made an advance tax payment of Rs 22 crore. These figures are also bandied about by the TDP to fling mud at their main Opposition party, hoping that some of it will stick. But Jagan and YSR Congress party leaders are not silent spectators. They ask how Chandrababu Naidu became rich with just two acres of ancestral property in his native Naravaripally village of Chittoor. They allege that Naidu amassed wealth during his first tenure, and now again in the current tenure. "Naidu had made corrupt money worth Rs 1.32 lakh crore after Amaravati, Pattiseema, Polavaram and Rayalaseema (irrigation) projects," says Ambati Rambabu, YSRC spokesperson. If Naidu could write a letter to the Prime Minister, so could Jagan. So, he wrote to the PM demanding all names involved in the disclosure of Rs 13,000 crore worth of black money in Hyderabad to be made public. "Why is Chandrababu alone privy to that information and not the public?" he asked in a two-page letter. The Prime Ministers Office has not responded to either of these letters. "It is also an irony that just recently AP, under Naidu, has been ranked as the most corrupt state in the country by National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER)," adds Jagan. Naidus son Lokesh jumped into the fray to take on Jagan disclosing family assets for the sixth time since 2011, an exercise Naidu began five years ago to gain a "Mr Clean" image ahead of polls. Naidu declared a net worth of Rs 3.73 crore (1,312 times less than Jagan) and his wife Bhuvaneshwari net worth was Rs 33.66 crore. Son Lokesh declared Rs 14.5 crore, daughter-in-law Brahmani declared Rs 5.38 crore and his grandson Devansh Naidu Rs 11.7 crore. "No other political family has declared its property list in such a transparent manner," said Lokesh, as he made the declaration. Andhra: Hub Of black money Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, though separate states now, boast of a heritage of rich agricultural activity even before Independence. Wealth distribution, though, was uneven. While only four districts in Telangana had the potential for economic activity, the entire coastal region of what is now Andhra Pradesh, flourished, and with it, large scale corruption. Black money dominates the lifestyle of the coastal regions for instance, during Sankranti Pandugalu (harvest festival), mango and banana plantations are hired for week-long gambling, wine and women, an attraction for politicians and businessmen from across the country, who participate as guests. A small village near Mogalthuru (native to film star Chiranjeevi) was known for its fine collection of Harley Davidson bikes, Lenovo laptops, Apple iPhone 6 smartphones, and Paris Hilton fashion. Recently one resident of this village acquired a Rolls Royce Phantom car, and it made a journey of only three kilometres every evening, because that was the length of the only motorable road in the village. I earn as much as Rs 72 lakhs as my share from paddy, sugarcane and tobacco crops twice a year. I pay no tax and can buy anything," says Sunil Raju, a farmer in Mogalthuru village. Hyderabad: The new hub In pre-Independent India, Hyderabad has always been a seat of enormous wealth. The last Nizam, Osman Ali Pasha, even doled out a plane load of gold to Pakistan in the initial days of its making. After his death, most of his wealth was squandered by his adopted son Nizam Mukkaram Jah and his brother Muffakam Jah. From 1983, money began pouring into Hyderabad when Seemandhra industrialists saw opportunity and were assured of fair play by the TDP which had come to power for the first time. The vast agricultural wealth of Seemandhra flowed into Telangana. Farmers of Seemandhra ventured not only into Hyderabad, but also made investments wherever there was irrigation potential Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Nalgonda and Khammam in Telangana; Raichur and Bellary in Karnataka; and Nanded, Aurangabad and Sholapur in Maharashtra. Without political support, it is impossible to make huge investments and tackle the power of local musclemen," explains Vadde Shobanadeswar Rao, a former TDP minister and businessman from Vijayawada. Most of the agricultural income has gone into creation of IT infrastructure in the citys IT corridor and in creating residential spaces in Manikonda, Gachibowli, Nizampet, Jubilee Hills, Shamshabad and Shamirpet. Rise of a parallel economy Everybody wanted to cash in. A journalist-turned-real-estate-agent, Govind Reddy would have sack loads of currency in his car to buy vacant land available in the city. When he died in a car accident in 2008, police were shocked to find Rs 2 crore worth currency in his car. Farmers and small land holders around Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medak districts had a windfall when Hyderabad became a major hub for IT activity under the initiatives of Chandrababu Naidu, and then BJP-led NDA government under Atal Behari Vajpayee. An acre of private land was quoted at Rs 10-15 crore during that boom period. The story of K Raghunath Reddy is illustrative of the conditions prevailing at the time. Reddy, a school teacher with three acres in Manikonda, says he almost had a heart attack when buyers offered him Rs 10 crore per acre. His family wanted him to sell just one acre so that they could build a house with a courtyard to keep two buffaloes. He asked the buyers to give him just Rs 1 crore at the time and keep the rest in deposit until he decided to make investments. Even then he could not handle the cash and spent most of it on a Singapore-Bangkok tour with family, and kept the rest in his toilet/bedroom in plastic bags," said a family member who did not wish to be named. Reddy took his entire family and neighbours on a Singapore tour for a week, hosted by the buyers. He bought a Zen car for each of his family members as well, and installed air conditioners in his courtyard for the buffaloes. The parallel black money economy also bred social and communal unrest, according to social analysts. The rise of Maoism, a louder, shriller Telangana movement, the Seemandhra agitation, the birth of the TDP, failure of Chiranjeevis Praja Rajyam party, growth of MIM, formation of YSRC all of these are a fallout of the support or lack of it by these parallel forces," says Nageswar Rao, a senior columnist based in Hyderabad. This black parallel economy also dominated media circles. How did ventures like Udayam, Vartha and Metro fail while others with highly prejudiced content are on top of the charts, asks Rao. A study conducted on the economic wealth of Andhra and Telangana by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) in the wake of Telangana agitation, identified that huge parallel economy of both the regions were behind the protests. They are fanning and funding, and function as custodians of this regional battle," says the study submitted to the Justice Srikrishna Committee which was in charge of bifurcation. The same agency had surmised then that that the parallel black economy of the erstwhile united AP was worth over Rs 25 lakh crore. The illegality runs deep and has a long history. Unfortunately, for Chandrababu Naidu, simply demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will not help. And the Rs 13,000 crore worth of disclosures from Hyderabad are a mere tip of the black money iceberg. After two cases of emergency landings in Mumbai waters, the Indian Coast Guard has reportedly devised an elaborate plan to conduct search and rescue operations in the event of crisis which causes aircraft water ditching in the sea. Sources quoted by The Indian Express said that on 26 July, the Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) intimated the Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Mumbai, that the pilot of the flight Boeing 777-300 (EK 652) with 319 passengers on board, at a distance of 200 nautical miles (NM) reported smoke on the flight whilst on a passage from UAE to Maldives (Male). The Indian Coast Guard had to divert two of its patrolling ships off West-South-West coast of Mumbai and stationed other vessels on standby, according to a report by The Hindu. The report mentioned another incident occurred on 15 September when a Gulf Aircraft GFA 61 reported a burning smell on board when the aircraft was at least 200 kilometres off Mumbai. The Coast Guard has set up an Incident Command System (ICS), which works closely with the state disaster group, to deal with any mass rescue operations. Once an emergency is declared, they monitor the aircraft and move their ships simultaneously. The passengers also need urgent medical assistance once they have been rescued. The Coast Guard is ensuring that they are well prepared to conduct rescue operations during a mishap. The Indian Coast Guard has played a major role in safeguarding the maritime interests of the country. Director General of ICG Rajendra Singh said that the changing security scenario in the maritime domain dictates the need for coastal security on a 24X7 basis. With inputs from PTI New Delhi: There can be no regulation of the media in a democracy, feels Information and Broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who says self-regulation is good. However, he says, there is a feeling that social media is "going haywire". "In a democracy, in a free society where freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution, you cannot have regulation of the media, this is my conviction," Naidu told PTI in an interview. He said self-regulation is good and what is required is not a new bill but political will and administrative skill. "That is lacking at some places," he added. The minister, however, added that if at the end of the day, there are violations, there are laws of the land which are available already. Freedom of expression is best utilised only when the value of such freedom is fully appreciated, he added. "When this freedom is not exercised is judiciously, our existing laws provide for necessary interventions. We are not thinking of any new restrictions on any media. But the government expects all stakeholders to be responsible in using different platforms." the I&B minister said. He said for the media, there are some regulations like it should not preach something which is anti-national, not propagate against the interest of the country aspects like obscenity, vulgarity, encouraging violence etc. "There are already broad guidelines and stipulations under the law also and they will take care of these aspects," he said. "For the mainstream journalists, there is some regulation by their organisations and management. But for social media there is no censorship, things go directly, he said. "There is slowly a growing feeling of social media going haywire. And we have to find ways and means to go about it. But at the same time if you start regulating media, the effect will not be positive. Keeping that in mind, regrading social media also there are enough laws to take care of social media also and those laws should be effectively and properly used," Naidu said. Naidu said that politicians may at times may not have the will to apply these laws as they do not want to pick up quarrel with media which is quite powerful. "Media is so powerful and some of the politicians are so weak they don't want to use the law which is already available - Why should I quarrel with them? I say it is not a quarrel, as long as you are within line, you have every right, you must fight. "We have the great examples of Ram Nath Goenka, late C R Irani, Ramoji Rao. They have fought against the mighty," he said. Speaking about social media, Naidu said it is an area of concern because it is immensely popular. Naidu said that while there are concerns about the unregulated content on social media, he emphasised that regulation was unlikely to bring any positive results. On the role of media, he said that the duty of media is is to inform but stories should not be invented or created. "News should be news, views should be separate.... Of late, this tendency has erupted in certain sections of Indian media, which is creating distortion, of combining news and views," he added. He said that news organisations should never get identified with any party as it affects their credibility. Naidu also said that the media should avoid sensationalism as well as obscenity, vulgarity, violence should be reduced while terrorism, extremism and anti-social activities, they should not be highlighted as if they are heroic acts. Citing his own experience in Parliament, Naidu said that he once gave a comprehensive speech on agriculture which the media almost entirely ignored. "If Naidu had torn some papers or gone to the Well of the House, then it becomes news. This is a development of recent years, which is bad," he said. Media should try to support the constructive, he said. The 110-day-long Kashmir unrest, following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, has crippled Kashmir and normal life in the valley. As many as 85 people, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the ongoing unrest; around 5,000 security forces personnel have also been injured in the clashes with protesters. However, the biggest casualty thus far has been education and academia and it has suffered sabotage in ways more than one. According to a report in Hindustan Times, during the past three-and-half months of raging protests, at least one school has been torched in each of ten districts in Kashmir. In the last five days alone, five schools have been torched, taking the total to 19. Out of these, 17 were government-run schools while two were privately owned properties. The report further states that of the 19 school buildings, at least seven were completely burnt to the ground. The most recent incident took place over Monday and Tuesday when three schools were gutted to fire in 24 hours across Kashmir: the Government Middle School in Sadrukote Bala of Bandipora district, the government school in the Noorbagh area of Srinagar and the Government Higher Secondary School at Aishmuqam in Anantnag district. However, surprisingly, no arrests have been made in connection with these incidents so far. The crime, according to a report in Kashmir Life, are attributed to "unknown miscreants," a label that Hurriyat Conference has decried. According to the Kashmiri news website, the separatist leaders have asked the people to stay vigilant about such incidents and alleged that the incidents were carried out to discredit the "freedom movement" as "violence and anarchy". The Hurriyat Conference in its statement also alleged that the incidents were carried out under the watch of police and were a part of a conspiracy. The security forces, on the other hand, have said that the incident is suspected to be the handiwork of miscreants, adding that the security patrol around school buildings has been increased to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. Meanwhile, the education of over 5000 students in the Valley has been seriously jeopardised as schools remain shut for close to four months now. Whether it is the raging violence, following Wani's death, or the curfew imposed by Indian forces, or the separatist-sponsored strike, children are forced to suspend their studies and stay indoors. Education in the valley is at an absolute standstill. According to a report in Patrika, the Director of Eductaion in Jammu and Kashmir said that the security around schools has been beefed up and the Directorate of Education has already sought a report. Some Education inspectors also told Patrika that mostly students from the underprivileged section of the society studied in the government schools, which are targeted in a surprisingly high ratio. The reconstruction and renovation may take many years, the Education department officials added. This shows that unrest and violence in the Valley has affected young minds the most, as thousand of young protesters took part in the protests while hundreds of them have either been arrested or have sustained injuries in clashes with security forces. Meanwhile, the state government has announced that annual board examinations will be held next month, even though the schools have remained closed since July. According to Kashmir Monitor, students have protested against the decision and are insisting that the exams are postponed. The students say that more than 50% of their syllabus remains uncovered as their studies suffered due to the situation in the Valley. Although the government has promised to reduce the syllabus in exams and offer more choices in the paper, the students remain distressed as some of the schools were yet to formally begin classes for some of the subjects when the unrest broke out. With inputs from PTI Security agencies involved in anti-Maoist operations are on a high alert after the CPI (Maoist) issued a threat to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh, and pledged to avenge the killing of 28 Maoists in the Malkangiri operation. In a statement issued by the CPI (Maoists)'s AP state committee, the ultras have said that they will even press a suicide bomber, if necessary, to attack Naidu. The police in Andhra Pradesh have taken notice of why the CPM has used its defunct AP state committee to issue a statement on an encounter that took place in Odisha. Once their stronghold, Andhra Pradesh (Telangana included), has all key Maoist leaders in its territory either killed or arrested. "For an encounter in Andhra-Odisha border area, their AOBSZC (Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zone Committee) should have issued a statement," said a state police official. The police suspect that the overground supporters of Maoists issued the statement in AP state committee's name. Security briefs suggest that Maoists will retaliate sooner than later in response to the Malkangiri encounter. "They will carry out an attack to boost the morale of the cadre and also to show that a setback like the one in Malkangiri is just a part of its war against the Indian state," said the police official. The police are suspecting retaliatory attacks in Maoist hotbeds like Bastar in Chhattisgarh or Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have also been on alert as the police suspect the Maoists may try to carry out an audacious attack in the state to send a signal that they have not been wiped out completely from their erstwhile bastion. Political leaders have been advised not to travel through interior areas. In Telangana, arrangements have been made at vulnerable government offices to prevent loss of property. The surrendered Maoist cadres and police informers also have been asked to take precautions. The cut-off area in Odishas Malkangiri district is a water-locked area, formed from the waters of two hydroelectric projects that came up in the 1940s and the 60s. But for roughly 20,000 villagers in 151 villages, basic facilities like electricity, healthcare, education remained a dream. Only recently, a few villages have been electrified. A 918-metre long bridge over the river Gurupriya is also under construction, and is expected to be open by next winter. It is a fierce encounter here on Monday morning that marked the end of the Maoist leadership in the strategically important AOB (Andhra-Odisha Border) zone. In a joint operation by Andhra and Odisha Police, 24 Maoists, including the zones top leaders have been killed. So far, those who have been identified are: Appa Rao alias Chalapathi, the east division secretary of the CPI (Maoist); his wife and Maoist leader, Aruna; Gajarala Ashok alias Uday, the military head of the AOB zone; Munna, the son of top CPI (Maoist) leader and its central committee member, Ramakrishna alias RK. It is believed that RK managed to escape. From the late 2000s, the Maoists invested a lot in the AOB zone. It is from here that they hoped to revive their movement in Andhra Pradesh. The cut-off area in Malkangiri was also used as a safe sanctuary for senior Maoist leaders. In June 2008, in an audacious attack, Maoist guerrillas killed 38 personnel of the elite anti-Maoist force, Greyhounds. Within a month, they killed another 17 security personnel. As a result, the security forces were forced to stop operations in this area for several months. In the absence of any police presence, the Maoists turned the cut-off area into one of their strongholds. Some senior commanders were put in-charge, and from here, the Maoists began to re-establish their network in the neighbouring Visakha Agency area. Around the same time, in February 2011, the Maoists kidnapped the then Malkangiri collector, Vineel Krishna, from the cut-off area. But Krishna was very popular among the tribals; it is because of his efforts that the process of electrification of the villages in cut-off area took off. The tribals protested and the Maoists had to release Krishna; they got nothing out of it. In the meantime, their high-handedness cost the Maoists dearly in the neighbouring Visakhapatnam. In February 2013, protests broke out in GK Veedhi after Maoists opened fire and beat to death three tribals. In October 2014, in retaliation to a similar act, the tribals in Korukonda block lynched three Maoist guerrillas. Earlier, in 2012, Odishas top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda fell out with the leadership and was expelled from the party. In a letter to the Maoist supreme commander Ganapathi, Panda accused the Telugu leadership of AOB of superiority and accused it of trying to keep Odisha committee as subordinates. Panda was responsible for ensuring the supplies of explosives. After his expulsion and subsequent arrest, that channel dried up. In the last two years, the Maoists faced several losses in the AOB zone. The AOB military strategist, Ponoju Parmeshwar alias Nandu surrendered to the police and so did another senior leader, Sarita, who was the first woman commander of a company of the PLGA, CPI (Maoist)s armed wing. In April this year, another senior leader Kudumula Venkata Rao alias Ravi died due to heart failure. In May, senior Maoist leader VR Gopal alias Azad and two other guerrillas were killed in an encounter with the security forces. From his laptop, the police recovered a selfie of his sister Aruna and her husband Chalapathi (both killed in the encounter on 24 October). The Odisha police also got its act together, and under the current Malkangiri police chief, Mitrabhanu Mahapatra, hundreds of Maoists and their sympathisers have surrendered in the last few months. The CC member, RK, surfaced in the cut-off area on 1 October after a gap of two years. Believed to be suffering from severe spondylitis, the party had shifted him to Chhattisgarh. The police believes that he may have been injured in Mondays encounter. Pursued by security forces and not so welcome any longer in many of their erstwhile bastions, the Maoists have been pushed back. The encounter in the cut-off area is a serious blow, which the Maoists will find very hard to absorb. Manipur University, a central university in Imphal, is in huge turmoil. It was shutdown for quite a few days among protests, mass exodus out of the university by tribal students and an unfortunate arson incident. But this is not Indias problem. If this had happened in a central university in Delhi, that would have surely been Indias problem. To Indians, Delhis problems are Indias problem while Manipurs problems are Manipurs problem, except when people of Manipur say that. When Manipuris say that Manipurs problems are Manipurs problems, that act of saying but not the problem itself becomes Indias problem. To understand the origins of the problem in Manipur University, let me lay out the context and then the timeline of events. Manipur University was founded in 1980 as a state university. This means that the basic infrastructure, land and the most important resources were paid for by the resources of Manipur, by the people of Manipur. During the long period as state university, Manipur University followed the State Reservation Policy of 31 percent for ST and 2 percent for SC for admission into various courses of the university. This was perfectly natural and in keeping with the demographic reality of Manipur. In 2005, the same Manipur University was converted into a central university, thus its administration passing from the hand of the state government in Imphal to the Union government in Delhi. It is important to understand the political context of creating or declaring a central university anywhere. It is typically a political sop from Delhi to counter the disaffection among the local populace. The more a state is alienated from the idea of India, greater are these soft sops to keep them in check. Thus all states in the restive and alienated North East have central universities. The reason of this geographical distribution is for the Union to signal to the state people that Delhi cares. This care, however, makes sense only if a central university has some special connect with the host state and not just an occupant of a large parcel of land in the host state. Hence, though these are called central universities, it is tacitly understood that such institutions are of the state in spite of being a central entity. Any aim for equitable distribution of resources only succeeds if the distributed commodity belongs specially to the state. Central universities lie in this grey zone where they technically are Union government funded enclaves in a state but practically belong largely to the host state, as part of political understandings. The whole problem starts when central universities are considered all India institutions, all India being a figment that does not exist anywhere on the real ground where these universities exist. Manipur University, after being taken over by the Union government in 2005, implemented the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006. This resulted in a reservation distribution that gave 15 percent for SC, 7.5 percent for ST and 27 percent for OBC, as in prevalent in all Union government offices. The problem with these numbers is that these percentages are completely different from the actually existing demographic reality of Manipur. Manipur is a state with a high tribal population and a very small SC population and much lower OBC population compared to this all India idea. Thus, these new reservation numbers completely sidelines the actual needs of Manipuri society in the context of Manipuri University. A 2012 amendment to the 2006 CEI Act, provided an out from this problem and in accordance with that, Manipur University declared the reservations as follows 31 percent for ST, 2 percent for SC and 17 percent for OBC. This was much closer to the demographic reality of the state. However, due to incompetency of the Manipur University authority, the correct procedures of state seats declarations not being followed and other issues, this solution was scrapped when on 23 March, 2016, a UGC letter arrived that directed Manipur University to follow the Union government reservation norms, after which the Manipur University academic council reverted back to the unrealistic 15 percent for SC, 7.5 percent for ST and 27 percent for OBC formula. Thus, in one blow, a huge number of tribal students were deprived of their right. And they erupted in protest as a result. All tribal students have essentially walked out of the university in a scale that never happened in mainland India even during MK Gandhis much eulogised call in 1920 to boycott mainstream educational institutions. In the context of Manipurs fragile tribal-valley relationship, this has the potential to snowball into an issue much bigger than simply university affairs. If the all India reservation numbers stay, that would effectively mean shutting the door of higher education in Manipur University to most tribal students in Manipur and nearby regions, which also have huge tribal populations. The concept of a central university is fundamentally incompatible with the realities of a diverse multi-national, multi-ethnic, federal union like the Indian Union. All central university campuses, including that of Manipur University, looks like a Hindi-Delhi enclave. All over Manipur University, there are huge number of signboards that contain Hindi but no Meithei, the primary language of Manipur. In a recent lecture visit to the university, I saw notices of a student essay competition where submission was possible in Hindi but not in Meithei. The least the Union government can do to benefit central universities is to limit their role to funding it while the academics and administrators run the institutions according to the reality of the land on which they are situated. It is also not the case that central universities dont impose local culture and code to students coming from outside. For example, Delhi university, another central university, has made it mandatory for all of its students who have not studied Hindi till Class 8 to pass a paper in Hindi, the imperialistically named Compulsory Test in Hindi (CTH) in order to get their undergraduate degree. Thus states of the North East as well most non-Hindi states where Hindi is not compulsory in school due to its irrelevance in their lives are forced to learn a language alien to them in order to gain a degree in say Botany or Political Science in a programme of study conducted in English. Students dont go to these universities in a female unfriendly and especially north-easterner unfriendly city like Delhi to learn Hindi. They go there to study subjects in universities set up specifically in and around Delhi with huge resources, the kind most universities in the subcontinent can only dream of. Thus if Delhi University can act as Delhis local university by imposing compulsory Hindi, why cant central universities in other states govern themselves and set policies autonomously to cater to the needs of the states they are situated in? Why do students from all over come to Delhi? Because the Union government has chosen to use revenue funds extracted from other states (and non-Hindi states provide a disproportionately higher part of that revenue) and shower it in and around Delhi. It is an artificial construct that is made possible by the immense centralising powers that the Union government has grabbed for itself. This was hardly the original vision of the constitution where education was solely in the state list and Union government was to have no role in it. The way for unbridled entry of the Union government was made possible by a constitutional amendment that placed education in the concurrent list. This happened during the Emergency regime of Indira Gandhi, the darkest days of Indian Unions democracy. The idea of a central university or for that matter, a central board like CBSE, is to create a homogeneous elite that is deracinated and alienated from their homelands realities, and only identifies with the vague idea of something national. Hindification and saffronisation are important parts of that process. And this is sold under the name of fostering unity. By all measures, this is an evil design. The time has come to hand over affairs of education, both school education (like CBSE) and university education (like central universities) to the respective states and Union Territories on which they are situated. The Indian Union cannot continue to suffer from an autocratic decision taken during the darkest period of its political democracy. Jammu: A BSF officer was injured as Pakistani Rangers pounded civilian areas and Indian paramilitary posts in two sectors of the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, prompting authorities to order closure of schools and advise people to shift to safer places. "Assistant Sub Inspector of BSF AK Upadhayay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He received splinter injures in his hand," a BSF spokesman said. He said the BSF gave a "befitting reply" to the Pakistani fire. Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said Pakistani troops last night also targeted civilian areas including Sai Kalan, Bure Jaal, Treva and Arnia. "Shelling started in Sai Kalan also. Arnia also came under shelling from 0130 hours. People were inside their houses, so no human casualty," he said. Tonight, Pakistani troops again resorted to firing and shelling in Arnia sector. "At 2035 hours, Pakistani troops from two posts started firing flat trajectory weapons in the areas of RS Pura," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Dharmendra Pareek said. He said Pakistani side was targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with heavy mortar and small arms fire. The BSF was effectively retaliating and the firefight was going on, Pareek said. Pakistan also resorted to heavy mortar shelling in the Arnia town of the district. "Heavy mortar shelling has started at Arnia also," Simrandeep Singh said. The DC said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International Border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border and people were moving to safer locations. "In the wake of the heavy firing, border residents are migrating to safer locations. Whenever there is lull, they leave their houses to shift to either safe camps or to their relatives houses at safer locations," he said. Panaji: Ahead of Diwali festivities, a local outfit Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has started a campaign against Chinese firecrackers across Goa. The HJS activists are touring all cities of the coastal state and requesting traders selling Chinese firecrackers not to put them on the shelves "for the sake of the nation". "When you buy Chinese firecracker, you are helping economy of China, who is our enemy because they are supporting Pakistan. Purchasing Chinese firecracker means funding people who kill our soldiers," alleged HJS Goa Coordinator Manoj Solanki. "When we educate people against buying Chinese fire crackers it serves two purpose. One is that we desist from supporting economy of China and we also save the environment. The pollution levels go high during Diwali due to burning of fire crackers," he said. According to Solanki, HJS is also requesting traders to boycott other products which are 'Made in China' and go for "Swadeshi" items. However, a member of an industry body in the state believes that the campaign will not impact much as sale of firecrackers is an "unorganised business". "The containers of firecrackers arrive in Mumbai from where they are brought to Goa by road. There is no exact record of how many of them actually arrive in the state," said Manguirish Pai Raikar, member and former president, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). Goa does not have homegrown industry producing firecrackers except for few families in Mardol village near Ponda town. Raikar claimed those families too are now dwindling as fire crackers are either imported from China or Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. Jammu: A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed and seven civilians were injured on Thursday during heavy shelling between Indian and Pakistani forces troops in Jammu district's RS Pura sector. Police said the trooper died after sustaining splinter injuries. The seven injured civilians including five women belonging to two families of Goparbasti village have been shifted to a hospital for treatment, the police added, Pakistani troopers also started indiscriminate shelling and firing on the international border in the neighbouring Samba district. "Pakistan Rangers targeted BSF positions in SM Pur, Nanga and Chambyal villages of Samba district. "People from shelling affected villages of RS Pura and Akhnoor in Jammu district and areas of Samba district have started moving to safer locations," the police said. Intermittent shelling and firing exchanges continued in both Samba and RS Pura. Lucknow: A day after Allahabad High Court rapped the Uttar Pradesh government for its failure to contain the dengue menace, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday directed officials to launch a campaign in every district of the state to check the disease. At a meeting held at his official residence, he also directed the formation of a high level committee under Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar to monitor the situation. Not satisfied with the Uttar Pradesh government's action on dengue prevention, yesterday the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has summoned the state's chief secretary on 27 October. The court has also asked him as to why action should not be taken against the state government as per the constitutional provisions as it could not discharge its duties in this matter. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the "width and scope" of an electoral law provision dealing with the issue whether seeking votes or asking electors not to vote on the ground of "religion, race, caste, community or language", amounted to "corrupt practice". A seven-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur, elaborating on the issues weighing on its mind, said "all that we wanted to know was that appeal for votes in the name of religion, means whose religion? Is it the religion of candidates or religion of agent or religion of the third party (seeking votes) or religion of voters or that of all of them?" It has been interpreted in an earlier verdict that the term 'his religion', used in section 123(3) of the Representation of the People (RP) Act which deals with 'corrupt practice', meant the faith of the candidates only. Significantly, the bench, also comprising Justices M B Lokur, S A Bobde, A K Goel, U U Lalit, D Y Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao, yet again reiterated that it would not revisit the famous 'Hindutva' verdict holding Hinduism as a 'way of life' as the issue did not find mention in the reference made to it by a five-judge bench. "Why are you referring to that (Hindutva judgement)? We are not examining that judgement. Let me make it clear that this has not been referred to us," the CJI clarified when senior advocate K K Venugopal said he would argue if the court is dealing with the 'Hindutva' verdict. The observation assumed significance as social activists Teesta Setalvad, Shamsul Islam and Dilip Mandal have recently filed an application to intervene in the ongoing hearing to seek de-linking of religion from politics. The bench, which heard various parties represented by top lawyers including Arvind Datar, Shyam Divan, Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid and Indira Jaising for six days, however said the Hindutva verdict, if needed, may be "debated upon" by a five judge bench. Some lawyers then sought the setting up of the bench immediately. Section 123(3) of the RP Act, which is being scrutinised, reads: "The appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language or the use of, or appeal to religious symbols or the use of, or appeal to, national symbols..., for furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate" would amount to corrupt practices. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) became the first political party seeking to intervene in the ongoing hearing in the matter by filing an application for intervention in the apex court. Arguing for one of the respondents, senior advocate Salman Khurshid referred to various provisions of the RP Act dealing with powers of courts to pass orders in the event of a petition alleging "corrupt practice" in an election. He also dealt with the issue of religion and the State prevalent in various countries and said, "In some countries, there is a strong divide between the Church and the state. But no country is like ours. Secularism in India means equal treatment to all religions." The bench said there is freedom to "practice and propagate" the religion, but "can it (religion) be used for electoral purposes". The court further said the term "his religion" needed interpretation as it had been held that it meant the faith of candidates only and, as a result, the appeals for votes made by an agent and a third party, on the ground of others' faith, get excluded from the ambit of section 123(3) of the RP Act. Khurshid said the issue of seeking votes in the name of religion needed to be taken to its "logical conclusion" by the apex court. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Setalvad and other two activists, said the term "his religion" needed to be given "broad and wide" interpretation and sought re-visiting of the Hindutva judgement. The issue as to when it can be said that a person has appealed for votes in the name of religion should be interpreted afresh and section 123(3) of the Act be read together with other sub-sections of the provision, she said. "This case is all about the political speech on the ground of religion. We vote as citizens and not as Hindus or Muslims," Jaising said adding that the interpretation that 'his religion' meant faith of candidates only is flawed. She referred to an earlier apex court verdict where the appeal by a Hindu seer asking Hindus in a temple to vote for Hindus was held to be bad in law and said this was the "ratio" (the point in a case that determines the judgment) and not the observation that Hindutva is a "way of life". Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, referred to various provisions of the RP Act dealing with filing of election petitions and powers of the court to pass an order if there are allegations of corrupt practices in the poll. "It is clear that for the purpose of declaring an election of returned candidate to be void due to any corrupt practice committed in the interest of returned candidates by an agent other than his election agent, it is necessary to establish that results of election have been materially affected due to the corrupt practice," he said. He also expressed apprehension on possible judicial scrutiny of promises made by political parties in their election manifestos. There are bodies like Election Commission to deal with the wrongs committed in the manifestos, he said. During the hearing, the bench asked as to why state governments were seeking to intervene in the proceedings. "I can understand if a political party raises this question. But why are state governments seeking intervention," the CJI asked. "I was hoping that this question would be asked to intervening NGOs and activists as they have no stakes," the ASG said. Meanwhile, CPI(M) sought to intervene in the ongoing hearing on whether seeking votes in the name of religion or caste amounted to "corrupt practices" under the RP Act. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the party, also sought re-visting of the Hindutva judgement. The CPI(M), in its plea, submitted that it believed in secularism and quoted its Programme saying it was committed to wage an "uncompromising struggle" for the consistent implementation of the principles of secularism. The counsel for Maharashtra chose not to advance arguments as the bench made clear that it was not re-visiting the Hindutva verdict. Advancing rejoinder arguments at the fag end of the day's hearing, senior advocate Shyam Divan referred to materials available on the website of the Election Commission with regard to parties like Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and said the court should keep in mind that there are political outfits having accepted religion-based agenda. He also referred to the contents including objectives of parties like SAD, Indian Union of Muslim League and DMK and said they clearly say that they would work for the cause of a particular religion or language and hence, there cannot be a straight-jacket formula to deal with the issue at hand. These things show the parties are bound by objectives, accepted by the poll panel and hence can appeal to electors on the name of religion, language etc, he said. Yesterday, the court observed discrimination on the basis of religion or caste is a key part of political discourse. The apex court asked whether a candidate or a party, seeking votes in the name of religion, caste or tribe by promising that this would help protect and improve the voters' lot as a community, would be a "corrupt practice". The bench is hearing a batch of petitions including the one filed by Abhiram Singh whose election as an MLA in 1990 on BJP ticket from Santacruz assembly seat in Mumbai was set aside by the Bombay High Court. The apex court in February 2014 had tagged Abhiram Singh's petition with others in which the five judge bench had decided in 2002 to re-visit its 20-year old 'Hindutva' judgement for an authoritative pronouncement on electoral laws by a seven-judge bench. The issue of interpretation of section 123(3) arose on January 30, 2014 before a five-judge which referred it for examination before a larger bench of seven judges. A three-judge bench on April 16, 1992 had referred to a five-judge Constitution bench Singh's appeal in which the same question and interpretation of Section 123(3) was raised. While the five-judge bench was hearing this matter on January 30, 2014, it was informed that an identical issue was raised in an election petition filed by Narayan Singh against BJP leader Sunderlal Patwa and the another Constitution Bench of five judges of the apex court had referred it to a larger bench of seven judges. Thereafter, the five-judge bench had referred Singh's matter also to the Chief Justice for placing it before a seven-judge bench. By Michael Martina and Benjamin Kang Lim | BEIJING BEIJING China's Communist Party gave President Xi Jinping the title of "core" leader on Thursday, putting him on par with past strongmen like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, but it signalled his power would not be absolute.A lengthy communique released by the party following a four-day, closed-door meeting of senior officials in Beijing stressed maintaining the importance of collective leadership.The collective leadership system "must always be followed and should not be violated by any organisation or individual under any circumstance or for any reason", it said.But all party members should "closely unite around the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core", said the document, released through state media.The "core" leader title marks a significant strengthening of Xi's position ahead of a key party congress next year, at which a new Standing Committee, the pinnacle of power in China, will be constituted.Since assuming office almost four years ago, Xi has rapidly consolidated power, including heading a group leading economic reform and appointing himself commander-in-chief of the military, though as head of the Central Military Commission he already controls the armed forces.While head of the party, the military and the state, Xi had not previously been given the title "core".Deng coined the phrase "core" leader. He said Mao, himself and Jiang Zemin were core leaders, meaning they had almost absolute authority and should not be questioned.The once-every-five-years congress will be held in the second half of 2017 and Xi will be looking to stack the Standing Committee with as many of his own people as possible. Zhang Lifan, a Beijing-based political commentator, said now that Xi was the "core", things should go more smoothly for him at next year's congress. But he will have more on the line, given his increased responsibility to answer economic and social problems facing the leadership."If the economy continues to go downhill and the rifts in society become more serious, the responsibility of the core is greater," Zhang said. "Your relative power and authority are greater, everyone is deferring to you. But they will be watching to see if your leadership is good or bad."STILL A YEAR TO GO Xi's immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao, was never called the "core". An unofficial campaign to name Xi the "core" has been underway this year, with about two-thirds of provincial leaders referring to him as such in speeches, according to figures compiled by Reuters, before the plenum formally accorded him the title.Steve Tsang, professor of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham in Britain, said while Xi is in a strong position, there was still a year to go before the congress."There's still a lot of unanswered questions. Will his successor be named? Will Xi get a third term?"Judging by recent past precedent, Xi should step down at the 2022 congress after a decade at the top, but speculation in leadership circles has swirled that he may try and stay on, perhaps giving up the post as president but remaining as party leader, the more senior of the posts. In its turgid statement, the party also announced changes to the Rules on Intra-Party Political Life, first introduced in 1980 to prevent any cult of personality after Mao's rule plunged the country into anarchy during the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution. But it gave no detailed explanation on how the rules would change.While a cult of personality had begun to form around Xi, he has moved to stop practices including adoring songs on the internet and references to him in state media as "Uncle Xi", sources with ties to the leadership say."Publicity regarding leaders should be based purely on facts and boasting should be banned," the party said in its statement.New rules on "Intra-Party Supervision" - code for how to fight corruption - were also approved at the plenum, but few details were given either.The party will end the buying and selling of official posts, a common problem, and the selection and appointment of officials should not be "contaminated by outside interference or misconduct", the party said.Xi has waged battle on corruption, jailing dozens of senior officials, warning the problem is so severe it could affect the party's grip on power.According to past practice, a longer statement on the plenum, giving more details on what was agreed, should be released sometime in the next two weeks. (Additional reporting by Sue-Lin Wong; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Los Angeles: A man with an axe destroyed Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a video protest over sexual misconduct allegations dogging the Republican presidential candidate. The protester, dressed in city construction worker overalls, can be seen on footage posted to YouTube and several other websites hacking away the gold lettering and camera logo from the tribute. Giving his name as James Otis, he calmly explains he is "terribly upset" with 70-year-old Trump, who vigorously denies claims by almost a dozen women that he groped or was sexually aggressive toward them. "Four of my family members were sexually assaulted," he says in the video, an amateur clip which appeared to show at least one professional crew filming the incident. The man told a local news agency he had originally intended to remove the entire star from the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard. He said he was going to auction it and donate the proceeds to Trump's alleged victims every single one of whom the real estate tycoon has vowed to sue after the 8 November election but was unable to lift the slab. "It was very difficult. The stone was like marble hard to get through," he said about an hour after the 5.45 am attack on the star, awarded in 2007 for Trump's work on The Apprentice. He added that he planned to surrender to police, either today or tomorrow, but was still working out arrangements with his attorney. "I'm not frightened of jail and I'm certainly not frightened of Trump," he said, claiming to have been arrested around two dozen times for protesting various causes. There was no immediate response from Trump, but the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which awards the honours, said the star would be repaired in the coming days and would remain covered in the meantime. "When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California state landmark," chamber head Leron Gubler said. This is not the first time Trump's Walk of Fame star has been targeted. In July, a Los Angeles street artist built a tiny wall of wooden planks topped with barbed wire around it, in protest at Trump's campaign vow to build a wall on the Mexican border. Last year, excrement was left on the star and someone drew a large yellow X over it. A swastika and a mute symbol were also drawn on the red tile earlier this year. By Babak Dehghanpisheh and Stephen Kalin | SOUTH OF MOSUL, Iraq SOUTH OF MOSUL, Iraq The Iraqi army was trying on Thursday to reach a town south of Mosul where Islamic State has reportedly executed dozens to deter the population against any attempt to support the U.S.-led offensive on the jihadists' last major city stronghold in Iraq.Eleven days into what is expected to be the biggest ground offensive in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, army and federal police units were fighting off sniper fire and suicide car bombs south of Hammam al-Alil, the site of the reported executions on the outskirts of Mosul, an Iraqi military spokesman said.The militants shot dead dozens of prisoners there, most of them former members of the Iraqi police and army, taken from villages the group has been forced to abandon as the troops advanced, officials in the region said on Wednesday.The executions were meant "to terrorise the others, those who are in Mosul in particular", and also to get rid of the prisoners, said Abdul Rahman al-Waggaa, a member of the Nineveh provincial council. Some of the families of those executed are also held in Hammam al-Alil, he said. U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville on Tuesday said Islamic State fighters had reportedly killed scores of people around Mosul in the last week.A Reuters correspondent met relatives of hostages south of Mosul. One of them was a policeman who had returned to see the family that he had left behind when his village fell under the militants' control two years ago. "Im afraid they will keep pulling them back from village to village until they get to Mosul. And then they will disappear," he said, asking not be identified to protect family members still in the hands of the fighters.Islamic State fighters are keeping up their fierce defence of the southern approaches to Mosul, which has held up Iraqi troops there and forced an elite army unit east of the city to put a more rapid advance on hold. ISLAMIC STATE The fall of Mosul would mark Islamic State's effective defeat in Iraq. The city is many times bigger than any other that Islamic State has ever captured, and it was from its Grand Mosque in 2014 that the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a "caliphate" that also spans parts of Syria. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday an attack on Raqqa, Islamic State's main stronghold in Syria, would start while the battle of Mosul is still unfolding. It was the first official suggestion that U.S.-backed forces in both countries could soon mount simultaneous operations to crush the self-proclaimed caliphate once and for all.The front lines east and north of Mosul have moved much closer to the edges of the city than the southern front and the combat ahead is likely to get more deadly as 1.5 million residents remain in the city.Worst-case U.N. forecasts see up to a million people being uprooted. U.N. aid agencies said the fighting had so far forced about 16,000 people to flee. "Assessments have recorded a significant number of female-headed households, raising concerns around the detention or capture of men and boys," the office of the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq said on Wednesday. The coordinator, Lise Grande, told Reuters on Tuesday that a mass exodus could happen, maybe within the next few days. It was also possible that Islamic State fighters could resort to "rudimentary chemical weapons" to hold back the impending assault, she said.The militants are suspected to have set on a fire a sulphur plant south of Mosul last week, filling the air with toxic gasses that caused breathing problems for hundreds of civilians. A senior U.S. official said about 50,000 Iraqi ground troops are taking part in the offensive, including a core force of 30,000 from the governments armed forces, 10,000 Kurdish fighters and the remaining 10,000 from police and local volunteers. About 5,000 to 6,000 jihadists are dug in, according to Iraqi military estimates.Roughly 5,000 U.S. troops are also in Iraq. More than 100 of them are embedded with Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces advising commanders and helping coalition air power to hit targets. They are not deployed on front lines.The warring sides are not giving casualty figures in their own ranks or among civilians, each claiming to have killed hundreds of enemy fighters. (Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Giles Elgood) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON U.S. President Barack Obama and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the next steps in the campaign against Islamic State during a telephone call on Wednesday, the White House said.Obama "welcomed continued dialogue between Turkey and Iraq to determine the appropriate level and form of Turkey's participation in the Counter-ISIL Coalition's efforts in Iraq, and both leaders affirmed their strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq," the White House said in a statement, referring to the jihadist group by an acronym. (Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Eric Beech) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Beijing: President Xi Jinping was on Thursday elevated as the "core leader" of China's ruling Communist Party, conferring on him a status similar to that of party founder 'Chairman' Mao Zedong that dilutes the three-decade-old collective leadership principle to avoid personality cult. Reinforcing the solid power base built by Jinping, since he assumed power in November, 2012, the plenary meeting of CPC which concluded its four-day in-camera meeting here today called on its over 88 million members to "closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core". Sixty three-year-old Jinping heads the party as general-secretary of the CPC, and the military besides the presidency since 2013, a privilege denied to his predecessor Hu Jintao who was saddled with a nine-member powerful Standing Committee were he was treated as first among equals. In contrast, Jinping who heads a seven-member Standing Committee, already established his stamp of authority by seriously diluting its status. He is now set to rule China for the remaining six years of his 10-year term during which observers say he can even extend his tenure, if he chooses to. The term "core leader" was synonymous with highest ranking leader. Only party founder Mao, reformist leader Deng Xiaoping and his successor Jiang Zemin were regarded as "core leaders" of their generations. Though Jiang "retired" after a 10-year tenure he continued to head the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC)- the high command of the Chinese military - for two more years undermining the powers of his successor Hu Jintao. Observers say Jinping is set to emerge even more powerful as five of the seven members of the Standing Committee - the epitome of collective leadership - are to retire next year. The only survivor is Premier Li Keqiang who in the last four years confined himself to the management of the slowdown of the Chinese economy leaving the leadership solely to Jinping. While conferring the "core" leader status to Jinping, the plenum also referred to the "combination of collective leadership with individual responsibility". The collective leadership was incorporated as an important regulation of the CPC in 1981 to avoid the personality cult of Mao, leading to "mistakes" like the Cultural Revolution that killed millions. The plenum upheld the principle of democratic centralism stating that the collective leadership system "must always be followed and should not be violated by any organisation or individual under any circumstance or for any reason". But seasoned CPC observers view it as mere reassertion of an important guiding principle as Xi with enormous power base is no longer first among the equals of the Standing Committee. He is expected to replace the retiring five members of the Standing Committee with his own handpicked men next year. Google Allo for Android will soon receive its first major update which brings a bunch of new features to the smart messaging app that was launched last month. First up, Allo gets support for split-screen mode for devices running on Android 7.0 Nougat. You can now chat in one window and use other app simultaneously on the same screen. Next up, users can now reply directly from the notification instead of heading into the app. This feature first debuted with Android 7.0 Nougat. The update adds a Monochrome theme which you can enable in Settings. [HTML1] Allo has a launcher shortcut for creating a new conversation. It also gets Android Wear and GIF keyboard support. Other features inclue Incognito key alerts and a splash screen. The latest Google Allo 2.0 update is gradually rolling out to all users. [HTML2] Google Allo has been downloaded over 10 million times and has more than 5 million installs. The app is all set to get support for Hindi Assistant by the end of 2016. Google Allo via Google has launched Google Trips in India. The vacation planner app that was first launched last month consolidates your travel itinerary, reservations and maps together. The app which works without an internet connection lets you plan, organize and manage trip. Each trip contains key categories of information, including day plans, reservations, things to do, food & drink, and more. It offers suggestions on destinations to hotels and flight options with rates and recommendations on places to visit. The Plan a trip feature will help users find trip prices for the selected destination for the next six months with competitive hotel and flight prices with just a few taps. In addition, Google has also introduced several updates to its existing travel features including Google Destinations, a travel-planning feature inside mobile search, and has expanded coverage for its hotel and flight search to more countries in Asia. Users can Search for the continent, country, or city they would like to travel to and add the word destination or vacation to see an easy-to-browse collection of options. They can customize their search by planning their vacation catering to their specific interests, for example search for a destination and something theyd like to do there, like Australia surfing, Malaysia hiking, or Thailand beaches, and Google will suggest destinations that match. Hotel search on Google results now automatically identifies deals when a hotels price is lower than historical prices or when a partner has discounted rates compared to the existing market price for the hotel. Additionally, Deals and Tips filters have been introduced to allow users to quickly see only hotels that have been identified as having good deals and the Tips feature shows hotel ratings or whether changing travel dates could get a better price. Google on its Search app has also launched a feature that allows users to easily track fare changes for a date and route combination, or track specific flights in Google Flights. Travelers can simply select track prices after searching for a flight or choose to be notified by email or Google Now cards when prices change significantly. Day Plans feature recommends places to visit based on the search items saved on their Google Maps. Users can also modify the itinerary based on the weather, the people they are traveling with and places they have visited. In addition, Trips provides details on how to get around, etiquette for tipping and other useful information all available offline. No business is too large or too widely followed to surprise investors from time to time. Procter & Gamble (PG -0.41%), the $240 billion consumer goods giant, jumped higher this week after posting strong revenue growth to kick off its new fiscal year. Organic sales improved by 3% to mark the company's best result on that metric in over two years. After the earnings announcement, CFO Jon Moeller held a conference call with analysts to chat about the market-moving results. Here are some key investor takeaways from that discussion. Building momentum Organic sales grew in each region and in nine of the 10 largest markets. P&G managed several important wins this quarter. Growth improved overall to a 3% pace from 2% last quarter and 1% in the previous quarter. Those gains were broad based, as they included improvements across all markets and every product category. The U.S. was an especially strong geography at 3% growth. The fabric care division, anchored by Tide detergent, turned in the best individual showing at 5% gain. P&G didn't need to rely on price hikes to get those higher revenue results, either. It enjoyed strong volume growth even as rival Unilever saw its sales volumes turn lower. Soft spots We still have work remaining in some categories and markets to get our brands back to market levels of growth. There were plenty of stumbles this quarter, though. P&G lost share in two of its largest categories, hair care and baby care. It also took a step backwards in China, Russia, and the U.K., which it described as a "challenging and highly promotional market." The challenges aren't getting easier from here. Moeller said P&G is seeing geopolitical and economic volatility in areas like Egypt, Nigeria, Argentina, and the Philippines, all while competitors keep targeting its most profitable niches. P&G lost market share overall last year, and that trend could continue over the current fiscal year, even if the declines are slightly smaller. The portfolio we want This marks the completion of the most significant portfolio transformation in P&G's history. With its multibillion-dollar sale of beauty brands to Coty, P&G effectively finished its portfolio redesign. The company now owns about 100 fewer franchises, and so should be much easier to manage. There should be significant financial payoffs from the transformation as well. The brands that are left are growing at about 1 percentage point faster and with profit margins that are 2 percentage points higher than the company average. P&G chose these because the company has structural advantages with them such as dominant market share and favorable relationships with retailers. Cost savings We're driving productivity improvement up-and-down the income statement, and across the balance sheet. You might think that, after years of slicing billions of dollars out of its cost structure, P&G would have already picked all the low-hanging fruit in terms of shedding expenses. However, if anything, the company sees more opportunity ahead to boost productivity. After saving $1.4 billion per year in cost of goods in each of the last five fiscal years, management believes it can save as much as $2 billion per year through fiscal 2021. The funds are being plowed back into initiatives that support long-term growth, including research and development, marketing, and trial-building programs. Cash is coming Fiscal 2017 will be a year of significant value returned to share owners. Thanks to its incredible cash efficiency, there's routinely plenty of money left over for investors even after executives make prudent investments in the business. This year, that math is kicked into overdrive, though, as the company raised billions of excess funds from its portfolio-shedding initiative. Management plans to spend $7 billion on dividends and nearly $15 billion on stock buybacks. Put it all together and P&G will send $22 billion to shareholders this year. That's up dramatically from its recent $15 billion annual average and enough to qualify as one of the biggest capital return plans on the market. For more than a year Energy Transfer Equity (ET 1.92%) wanted nothing more than to buy control of Williams Companies (WMB 0.18%) to bolster its energy infrastructure empire. However, the deepening of the energy market downturn, combined with leverage concerns and tax issues, changed its mind. That debacle caused a significant slump in the value of both companies, which is enticing many investors to consider adding one of them to their portfolio. That said, while both companies have their merits, one stands as the better choice right now for long-term investors. Battle of the balance sheets As mentioned, one of the reasons the merger between Energy Transfer Equity and Williams Companies fell apart had to do with their weak balance sheets (both companies are currently rated non-investment grade by the major rating agencies). Their combined credit was poised to get even worse because Energy Transfer would have needed to issue $6 billion of incremental debt to fund the cash component of the proposed deal. That debt could have proven to be an insurmountable challenge given that the weakening oil and credit markets forced Energy Transfer to slash the estimated deal synergies from $2 billion all the way down to a mere $100 million. Needless to say, neither company has a strong balance sheet at the moment. Furthermore, neither is expected to get much better in the near term because both are currently supporting the growth of their master limited partnerships (MLPs). Williams is reinvesting $1.7 billion into Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ) so that the MLP can fund a significant growth phase while maintaining its investment-grade ratings. Meanwhile, Energy Transfer agreed to reduce its incentive distribution rights over the next couple of years to provide nearly $1.2 billion of support to its MLP Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) so that it can also maintain its investment-grade credit while funding a massive project slate. Bottom line, this battle ends in a draw. Comparing the portfolios Williams Companies, through its ownership interest in Williams Partners, is primarily a natural gas pipeline and processing company. About 59% of its revenue comes from a mix of fixed-fee, cost-of-service, minimum-volume contracts, and demand charges on its natural gas processing and gathering assets. Meanwhile, another 34% of its revenue comes from its regulated interstate natural gas pipelines. The other 7% of its revenue comes from commodity margins for natural gas liquids and olefins. Energy Transfer Equity, on the other hand, owns a much more diversified set of assets via its three publicly traded MLPs: That said, Energy Transfer receives the bulk of its income from its namesake MLP, Energy Transfer Partners, which, like Williams Partners, is primarily a natural gas pipeline and processing company. Still, the added diversification it gets by owning a stake in oil pipeline MLP Sunoco Logistics Partners (NYSE: SXL) and retail marketing MLP Sunoco LP (SUN 1.13%) is important because it diversifies the company's cash flows and provides Energy Transfer with opportunities to drive future growth that Williams does not possess. That diversification gives Energy Transfer the stronger asset base. A look at the upside Williams Companies is currently supporting Williams Partners with a $5 billion investment through the end of next year on expansion projects, primarily on its Transco interstate natural gas pipeline system. For perspective, that would grow its asset base by about 10%. Moreover, the company sees those Transco expansions alone driving more than $1 billion of incremental modified EBITDA by 2018, which is healthy growth for a company that has generated an average of $4.2 billion in adjusted EBITDA over the past two years. Energy Transfer Equity, likewise, is supporting the major growth phases of Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco Logistics Partners. In Energy Transfer Partners' case, it is currently constructing $10 billion in capital projects, which represents 15% growth in its asset base. Meanwhile, the company expects those projects to deliver, when complete, an EBITDA multiple of six to eight, or roughly $700 million in annual EBITDA at the midpoint. In addition, Sunoco Logistics has several expansion projects currently under development, with plans to spend $1.4 billion this year alone on growth capital expenditures. In addition, it recently spent $760 million on an acquisition in the Permian Basin, which has substantial expansion opportunities. Finally, Energy Transfer Equity has a major expansion project of its own, a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility along the Gulf Coast. That project could lead it and Energy Transfer Partners to invest a combined $10.9 billion in the years ahead. Both Williams and Energy Transfer have visible near-term growth pipelines. However, Energy Transfer's growth is diversified well beyond one major asset and could extend out for years if the company moves forward with its LNG export project. This visible backlog gives it more upside potential over the long term. Investor takeaway While neither company has a great balance sheet and both boast strong upside via visible growth projects, there is one thing that really sets Energy Transfer Equity apart: diversification. Not only does the company currently control a more diversified energy infrastructure franchise, but it is pursuing multiple expansion projects to diversify its income streams further and grow its scale. That diversity, in my opinion, makes it the better buy for investors choosing between the two. When Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD -0.48%) sought Justice Department approval to acquire SABMiller in a $100 billion merger, one of the stipulations it agreed to was it would stop trying to snuff out craft beer competition. The global brewing giant had been buying up craft brewers and their distributors, while encouraging others to carry only Anheuser-Busch brands, but the antitrust agency said if it wanted the deal to go through, it would have to halt such practices. Although A-B InBev assented to the demand, apparently the macro brewer has found a way to comply with the dictate while also doing an end run around it. A seemingly innocuous acquisition of two home-brewing suppliers could be Anheuser-Busch's most pointed threat to craft beer industry yet. Craft beer is still booming According to the Brewers Association (which represents the craft beer industry), with more than 4,200 craft breweries operating in the U.S. today, an 18% increase from the year-ago period, there are more breweries in America now than ever before and there are many more planning to open in the future. Many, if not most of those craft breweries started off as a homebrewers crafting beer in their basement 5 gallons at a time, and giving away the product to family and friends. For example, Dogfish Head Brewery founder Sam Calagione first brewed beer at home, then opened a brew pub in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, in 1995. Today it is one of the top 20 craft brewers in the country. Same with New Belgium Brewing, which got its start in Fort Collins, Colorado. And, of course, Boston Beer (SAM -2.73%), which is arguably still the face of the craft beer industry despite its size, began in founder Jim Koch's parents' kitchen in Boston. Last year it shipped 4.2 million barrels and generated almost $1 billion in revenue. Just a fraction of that business is the kind of success many home and smaller craft brewers aspire to. The Brewers Association says craft beer now accounts for more than 12% of all beer produced. Where mass-produced suds barely register any growth at all, craft breweries have been growing volumes at double-digit rates. A crafty solution Anheuser-Busch hasn't been blind to the trend. It launched its Shock Top "craft" beer brand in response to the success MillerCoors -- now wholly owned by Molson Coors (TAP -1.31%) following A-B's merger with Miller -- enjoyed with its Blue Moon brand. It also began acquiring over a dozen craft breweries, too, including Goose Island Brewery, Elysian Brewing, and its most recent acquisition earlier this year of Devil's Backbone Brewing. That's when A-B InBev also decided it needed to game the system in its favor. A year ago it bought two Colorado-based distributors and was quoted as saying, "American Eagle currently sells approximately 20 non-AB brands. We are seeking to keep a handful of local brands, pending supplier approval." A lot of craft beers felt distributors were going to drop them. A-B InBev then began incentivizing other distributors to carry only its brands, agreeing to pay most of their marketing costs if 90% or more of the brands they carried were Anheuser-Busch brands. That's when the Justice Department stepped in with its investigation and delivered its cease-and-desist ultimatum. A backdoor play Now Anheuser-Busch has purchased the two biggest suppliers to the homebrew market, Northern Brewer and Midwest Supplies, through its venture capital arm, ZX Ventures, which describes itself as a global disruptive growth group and incubator. The deal with the suppliers was for an undisclosed sum. Northern Brewer founder Chris Farley wrote on his company's blog that the deal is all about growing the business and that both management and the business will remain independent. Yet by Anheuser-Busch effectively acquiring the suppliers that many craft brewers today once used to get their start comes with it certain implications. The simple fact of the matter is that AB InBev will have an even stronger hold on beer consumption in the U.S. You have to start somewhere According to the American Homebrewers Association, 815 local homebrewing stores sold $764 million worth of beer-making supplies last year to the country's estimated 1.2 million homebrewers. They also say that's likely a conservative number, because a lot of homebrewing equipment is now available at retailers other than specialty local homebrewing stores. Northern Brewer is estimated to generate some $50 million in annual sales, meaning that at a little more than 6% of the industry total, the industry remains highly fragmented. Still, it's possible the purchase won't sit well with many homebrewers who make their own beer because of a love for the craft behind it. While Northern Brewer's distribution will improve as a result of the acquisition, making equipment available to more people, homebrewers might not like their money supporting Anheuser-Busch or mass-produced beer, which is anathema to the craft brew ethic. Of course, we've heard complaints before when a craft brewer sells out to a mass beer maker. Not only has A-B been buying craft breweries, but so has Heineken, which acquired a 50% stake in Lagunitas, and Constellation Brands, which spent $1 billion buying Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits. Ultimately, homebrewers may not care where they get their supplies from so long as they're able to continue making good, small-batch beer. And that means Anheuser-Busch InBev will have wormed its way into the craft beer market by buying up the stepping stone that many brewers utilize before they go pro. In the aftermath of a mysterious explosion that tears through a major metropolitan area, five coffin-like stasis tubes are discovered, each branded with a womans name. Blasting off this December from critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling comic book writer Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun, Harrow County) and up-and-coming artist George Kambadais (A Place in The Heart), Grave Lilies is a riveting, Joss Whedon-esque Sci-Fi series and the first superhero title from boutique New York publisher Z2 Comics. In Grave Lilies, readers follow five mysterious women as they escape disaster without a scratch, and with no memory of who they are. They each discover that they possess a remarkable ability: the ability to charm the masses, the power to control plant life, the gift of healing, supernatural senses, and unbelievable physical strength. The women will need these powers, too, as they are pursued by sinister agencies that want to apprehend them before they learn the shocking truth of their origins and the destiny that awaits them. Cullen and George took some time to discuss the new series, its origin and its characters. ***** FOG!: Congratulations on the new book, Grave Lillies, which is a mystery/thriller/sci-fi/superhero tale. What was the genesis of the book? Cullen Bunn: Thanks so much! Im really excited for the release of Grave Lilies. This is book that George and I have been toying with for a couple of years now. I think this is one of those stories that started with a title. I wrote Grave Lilies in my notebook a long while ago and started noodling around with ideas for a story with that title. I went through a number of possible stories, but nothing felt right until I stumbled on this notion of five young women with strange powers waking up in the wake of a disaster. I felt like the idea might go against what you might expect, but the story still has so many strong connections to the title. How did you both come to work together on this book? Cullen: If I recall correctly, I first met George when he started posting some artwork and commissions for a Marvel series I did titled Fearless Defenders. I really, really loved his style and, after exploring some of his other art, I realized we had a lot in common in terms of the kind of stories we love. I reached out to him and asked if hed be interested in collaborating on something. George Kambadais: Im a big fan of Cullens work. Around two years ago I was at my apartment in Greece doing fanarts and commissions and trying to make a living out of it. I think Declan Shalvey, the artist on Venom, who I really admire and respect, saw a fanart of Mania, a character that he and Cullen created for Marvel and sent it to Cullen. After that, Cullen contacted me and told me that he wants to work with me on something. Of course I didnt want to miss the opportunity to work with one of my favourite writers, so I said yes, and in the next days he sent me some character descriptions. I instantly fell in love with the girls. The book features a team of teen heroes, which in comics, can almost be considered its own mini-genre. What were the inspirations in both the story and the visual designs? Cullen: Im a big fan of a science fiction sub-genre I call kids with powers on the run from shadowy agencies. I think Stephen Kings Firestarter is the first thing that pops into my mind when I think of that kind of story, but there are plenty of examples. I wanted to tell a story that featured characters with super powers who were not necessarily superheroes. And I wanted to build up a big mystery around these characters, something that would continue to grow over the course of the series. And I wanted the book, despite all the seriousness of the situation the characters are in, to be fun. George: Visually I got inspired a lot by European comic artists like Matthieu Bonhomme and Alessandro Barbucci and Katsuhiro Otomos Akira. George, your color palette and depiction of how the characters use their powers is pretty unique. As the series progresses, will you continue with the limited color, or are there plans for it to evolve in some capacity? George: Ill probably add a color or two, but Im going to use mostly the same palette. Im having a couple of things in mind that I want to try in the future to show that theyll be better with their powers then. Youve both worked with indie companies as well as the Big Two. What made you bring the project to Z2? Cullen: George and I met with the Z2 team to discuss what we might do with a book like Grave Lilies, and they were just so excited about the possibilities with the book. It was impossible not to get hyped with their plans. Its always a pleasure working with people who are excited about your ideas and who really want to explore some interesting angles with everything from the look of the series to the way the book will be marketed. George: Im not as experienced as Cullen with companies. When we talked with Z2 I really felt that they loved Grave Lilies as much as we do. I think that we couldnt find a better place than Z2 for our story. The cast features a primarily all female cast. Is there one particular character that you feel especially connected to or identify with? Why? Cullen: Thats a tough one. I dearly love each and every one of these characters, and if I have a favorite it changes from one day to the next. If you had asked me this morning, I would have told you that Celeste, the leader of the group was my favorite character, because I was working on a scene in which she was coming to grips with her powers. Celeste is the kind of person who really just wants to be left alone by everyone but her closest friends, but she has this ability to make other people like her and be drawn to her. I think thats a fun dynamic to play with. But if you had asked me a few days ago, I might have said the mysterious Elsie was my favorite. I love the mystery that surrounds her. George: I agree with Cullen. That is a tough one. I love all of them but I think Im leaning more towards Elsie. I love the mystery that surrounds her and how isolated she is from the everything and everyone around her. What are you currently geeking out over? Cullen: Im enjoying a lot of television right now. There are so many great options. I watched Stranger Things over the summer and loved it. That show falls firmly into the sub-genre that inspired Grave Lilies. Im also watching (and loving) Luke Cage on Netflix. Of the new fall shows, Designated Survivor has really grabbed me. And Im going to start watching Westworld soon. George: Right now Im really excited about the Walking Dead Season 7. Im going to watch the first episode after I finish answering these questions. Im also binge watching the Netflix Marvel series that I havent watched when they came out and Marvels Agents of SHIELD and a lot of horror movies. Grave Lilies, which retails for $3.99, is slated to hit stores December 7, 2016 . The order code for the first issue of the title, is: OCT162100. For more information, please visit https://www.gravelilies.com/. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Skype Email The U.S. Attorney General's office in Vermont said Thursday four men from Quebec have been charged in a scheme involving using stolen account information from Canadians at ATM machines. Court records say the men traveled from Quebec to Burlington between March and October where they used NBT Bank ATM machines in Essex and Burlington to get cash advances on cards. They appeared in court Tuesday. Court papers identified them as Mathieu Baaklini; Safwan Bensalma; Brandon Lo; and Nicolau Manfredi. Court papers say among ATM transaction records, NBT Bank incurred approximately $54,000 in suspected fraud activity in August the form of 500 suspected cash advances on Canadian and European credit and debit cards. Last week, federal agents executed a search warrant on a storage unit in Williston, Vermont, where they recovered approximately $33,000, a card-reading device, and 378 gift cards with markings indicating they contained account information. Lawyers for Baaklini and Manfredi did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Bensalma's lawyer, Craig Nolan, said he would contest the charges. Chandler Matson, Lo's lawyer, said, "I look forward to working with the government and the court to bring about a fair, just result." Google parent Alphabet Inc reported a 20.2% rise in quarterly revenue on Thursday, helped by robust sales of advertising on mobile devices and YouTube, and the search giant said it would repurchase about $7 billion of its Class C stock. Alphabet, along with Facebook Inc, dominates the fast-growing mobile advertising market. Shares of Alphabet, the world's No. 2 company by market value, were up 1.6% in after-hours trading. Google's ad revenue rose 18.1% to $19.82 billion in the third quarter, accounting for 89.1% of Google's total revenue, compared with 89.8% of revenue in the second quarter. Paid clicks rose 33%, compared with a rise of 29% in the second quarter. Paid clicks are those ads on which an advertiser pays only if a user clicks on them. Cost-per-click, or the average amount advertisers pay Google, fell 11% in the latest period after dropping 7% in the second quarter. Analysts on average had expected a decline of 7.9%, according to FactSet StreetAccount. Per-click costs have been falling as people shift to mobile devices from desktops. Because of the limited space, advertising on mobile devices is generally cheaper. Research firm eMarketer has estimated that Google will capture $52.88 billion in search ad revenue in 2016, or 56.9% of the global market. Google's Other Revenue, which includes the company's increasingly important cloud business, jumped 38.8% after rising 33% in the second quarter. The cloud business competes with services offered by market-leader Amazon.com Inc, Microsoft Corp and IBM Corp. Alphabet's Other Bets generated revenue of $197 million, but reported an operating loss of $865 million. In the year earlier period, revenue was $141 million and the loss was $980 million. Other Bets includes broadband business Google Fiber, home automation products Nest, self-driving cars as well as X, the company's research facility that works on "moon shot" ventures. The company's consolidated revenue rose to $22.45 billion in the three months to Sept. 30 from $18.68 billion a year earlier. Net income rose to $5.06 billion, or $7.25 per Class A and B share and Class C capital stock, from $3.98 billion, or $5.73 per share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, Alphabet earned $9.06 per share. Up to Thursday's close of $817.35, Alphabet's shares had risen 5.1% since the start of the year. (Reporting by Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Ted Kerr and Savio D'Souza) Image source: Getty Images. Barrick Gold's (NYSE: ABX) investors wantedthree critical questions answeredwhen it released third-quarter earnings. They wanted to know if it extended its streak of generating free cash flow, if it was still on pace to hit its debt reduction target, and if the temporary shutdown of one of its mines would impact full-year production guidance. Investors got their answers when the company released that report after markets closed on Wednesday and given the positive responses it had for them, the miner undoubtedly eased their concerns. Cashing in on rising gold prices Heading into the third-quarter Barrick Gold had generated free cash flow in each of the prior five quarters. Given that gold prices were at their peak during the third quarter, investors were expecting that the company would keep that streak alive. It did not disappoint, reporting $951 million in net cash from operating activities and a remarkable $674 million in free cash flow. That is up from $274 million just last quarter. Driving that free cash flow was its ability to keep all-in sustaining costs down to $704 per ounce of gold, thanks to a focus on productivity, efficiency, cost management, and capital discipline. Meanwhile, production was solid at 1.38 million ounces. While that was down from 1.66 million ounces in the year-ago period, that was partially due to asset sales, including the sale of its non-core assets in Nevada to Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC) earlier this year. Image source: Kinross Gold. Staying on pace The $610 million Kinross Gold asset sale enabled Barrick Gold to exceed its 2015 target to reduce debt by $3 billion. For 2016, the company wanted to reduce debt by another $2 billion and was roughly halfway to its goal at the end of the second-quarter. It moved even closer to hitting that target in the third quarter, reducing debt by another $461 million, which brings its total reduction this year to $1.4 billion, or 70% of its goal. With $2.6 billion in cash and the expectation for continued free cash flow generation, the company has a clear line of sight to achieve its $2 billion debt reduction target without any additional asset sales. That likely means it is in no hurry to sell its interest in the KCGM joint venture in Australia that it co-owns with Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM). That said, the company continues to aim for getting its total debt below $5 billion. Given that it currently stands at $8.5 billion, the company still has more work to do, suggesting that a sale of the Newmont Mining venture is not out of the question. Boosting guidance One of the concerns heading into the quarter was what impact the temporary shutdown of its VeladeroMine could have on production guidance for the full year. That is after the company said that it was still assessing "the impact of the temporary suspension of Veladero'sproduction for 2016." The company now believes that the suspension, as well as adverse weather conditions, will cause production at that mine to be 530,000 to 580,000 ounces of gold, which is down from its prior range of 580,000 to 640,000 ounces. That said, despite the issues at Veladero, Barrick is increasing its full-year companywide production guidance. The gold miner now expects to produce 5.25 million to 5.55 million ounces, up from its initial range of 5.0 million to 5.5 million ounces. Driving this improved outlook is stronger projected production from its Goldstrike and Cortez mines, which are now expected to produce more than 1 million ounces apiece. Investor takeaway Barrick Gold's third-quarter report certainly answered any question about its ability to cash in on gold prices during the quarter. The company did just that, generating substantial free cash flow, which it used to repay debt. Further, it completely erased concerns that the issues at Veladerowould negatively impact full-year guidance, with the stronger output from other mines more than offsetting weaker production from that mine. These results put the company in a strong position to finish the year. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Matt DiLallo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. When it comes to infrastructure, Donald Trump said safety was a top concern. He spoke about his plan during a rally, on Wednesday, in Charlotte, North Carolina. I will further empower cities and states to seek a federal disaster designation for blighted communities in order to initiate the rebuilding of vital infrastructure, the demolition of abandoned properties and the increased presence of law enforcement so we have safety in our community, he said. Trump campaign economic advisor Wilbur Ross joined the FOX Business Networks Mornings with Maria to discuss his plan to fix Americas crumbling infrastructure. Even though Trump has said he would spend at least double of what Clinton has proposed on infrastructure, Ross said Trumps plan could potentially generate one trillion dollars-worth of capital over the next ten years. Trumps plan is to do it in the private sector with tax credits for the equity. We are assuming that one-sixth of the capital would have to be put up by equity five-to-one leverage from private sector lenders. To encourage that much equity coming in, we would give them an 82 percent tax credit, he said. He also explained how Trumps plan would pay for the 82 percent tax credit. Infrastructure is a very labor intensive activity around 44 percent of the cost of infrastructure is labor. Taxing that income at 28 percent gives you most of the money back from the tax credit. You get the rest of the money back out of the corporate profits from the contractor charging them the 15 percent thats in the Trump tax bill, he said. Ross also said the revenue-neutral plan would boost GDP and create about a million jobs. He added, The important thing about it is, since manufacturing has been in such a big decline, this is the kind of job that people with limited education could get and yet make a decent pay. BSA could be the next motorcycle brand to come back from the dead. Industrial conglomerate Mahindra this week purchased control of the legendary British bike builders name, along with regional rights to the Czech Jawa brand, the Times of India reports. "We are excited about the new journey that we are embarking upon in the two-wheeler space. Our focus on the premium, niche segment through Classic Legends will bring alive some iconic brands like BSA and Jawa, not just in the form of products but as an entire lifestyle," the companys director, Pawan Goenka said. Mahindra has invested in several moto brands in recent years, including Peugeot. While it hasnt detailed its plans for BSA, it is expected to use it to enter the premium motorcycle space, where it will compete against the likes of Triumph and Moto Guzzi. Like Royal Enfield, another heritage British brand based in India today, BSA was originally an offshoot of a weapons manufacturer, the Birmingham Small Arms Company. It stopped manufacturing motorcycles in the 1970s, and several efforts to resuscitate it since proved unsuccessful. ---------- Test Ride: Indian Scout Sixty: A man has been arrested in connection with the destruction of Donald Trumps star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The LAPD told FOX411 on Thursday morning that an arrest had been made. Jamie Otis was taken into custody early Thursday on suspicion of felony vandalism. It wasn't immediately known if he has an attorney. Otis told several media outlets after Wednesday's pre-dawn attack that he originally intended to remove the star. He said he wanted to auction it off to raise funds for the 11 women accusing the presidential candidate of groping them. Trump has denied the groping allegations. Trumps star was awarded to him back in 2007. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce stated on Wednesday that the organization intends to prosecute to the full extent of the law. "When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California State landmark," stated the organizations president, Leron Gubler. "Our democracy is based on respect for the law. People can make a difference by voting and not destroying public property." Fox News' Leora Arnowitz and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Police investigate Trump's smashed star The mysterious unsolved death of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey in her Boulder, Colo., home has never lost its power to fascinate the public. And many believe that JonBenet's mother, Patsy Ramsey, might have killed the little beauty pageant queen. Now, after numerous TV specials have already aired to mark the twentieth anniversary of JonBenet's murder on Dec. 26, 1996, Lifetime has produced its own two-hour documentary focusing on Patsy. Brother of JonBenet Ramsey breaks his silence 20 years after beauty queen's murder "JonBenet's Mother: Victim or Killer?" airing Nov. 5 on Lifetime follows the network's TV movie "Who Killed JonBenet?" In the second of the two JonBenet specials, viewers will see new interviews with investigators, journalists who followed the case, and friends of Patsy who weigh in on her life before and after her daughter's shocking death. During the show, the talking heads attempt to answer an impossible question: Who was Patsy Ramsey-- a tragic victim or cold-blooded killer? "Her life was a stage and everything that Patsy did was with purpose," her friend Marcia Shurley says of the wife and mom who died of cancer in June 2006 after almost a decade under suspicion. TV shows explore shocking new theories on JonBenet Ramsey case The shocking case gripped the nation right after Christmas 1996. Patsy had made a 911 call to report her daughter kidnapped. After police arrived, Patsy and her wealthy husband John showed them a ransom note they said had been left on their stairs of their home. Later, John discovered their daughter's body in the wine cellar. Investigators determined JonBenet had suffered a blow to the head and had also been strangled with a garrote. Quickly, the Ramseys, and especially Patsy, came under the scrutiny of the Boulder police department. The Lifetime special notes that the public looked askance at Patsy, a former Miss West Virginia, partly because she put her tiny blonde daughter in child beauty pageants. Video of JonBenet prancing around in teased hair, heavy makeup, and outrageous, some said sexualized, costumes, horrified many, but for the new documentary, Patsy's friend and beauty pageant chaperone Betty Smith tells Lifetime it was an "absolutely normal" look. And friend Shurley insists, "I would never, in a million years, say that Patsy was a stage mom. She exposed her daughter to it and her daughter really picked up on it and loved it and wanted to do it." But Patsy's longtime pal Linda McLean confides on the show that her heart sank when she saw the Ramseys' notorious New Year's day, 1997, CNN interview, in which the frenzied mother implied an intruder had killed JonBenet. Patsy dramatically cried, "I would tell my friends to keep--keep your babies close to you. There's someone out there." McLean, who maintains Patsy was innocent of any involvement in the crime, didn't like the vibe of the CNN appearance. Others wonder if Patsy had rehearsed the appearance, as she had acted out dramatic scenes years before in the talent portion of her own beauty pageant competitions. During the Lifetime show, viewers will see investigators and journalists explore the police theory that Patsy had struck her daughter with a blunt object out of frustration over JonBenet's bed wetting. The combative mother is also shown in a controversial police interview in which she snaps at a detective who confronts her about the bed wetting theory, "You're going down the wrong path, buddy....Quit screwing around asking me about things that are ridiculous and find the person that did this!" Although the idea of Patsy being a stage mom who snapped is persuasive to some, other show experts raise the intruder killer theory, especially due to a 2008 test that showed foreign DNA on JonBenet's long johns. It didn't match anyone in the Ramsey family. There's much more on "JonBenet's Mother: Victim or Killer?" It airs Nov. 5 on Lifetime. When FBI Director James Comey announced on July 5 that the Department of Justice would not seek the indictment of Hillary Clinton for failure to safeguard state secrets related to her email use while she was secretary of state, he both jumped the gun and set in motion a series of events that surely he did not intend. Was his hand forced by the behavior of FBI agents who wouldnt take no for an answer? Did he let the FBI become a political tool? Here is the back story. The FBI began investigating the Clinton email scandal in the spring of 2015, when The New York Times revealed Clintons use of a private email address for her official governmental work and the fact that she did not preserve the emails on State Department servers, contrary to federal law. After an initial collection of evidence and a round of interviews, agents and senior managers gathered in the summer of 2015 to discuss how to proceed. It was obvious to all that a prima-facie case could be made for espionage, theft of government property and obstruction of justice charges. The consensus was to proceed with a formal criminal investigation. Six months later, the senior FBI agent in charge of that investigation resigned from the case and retired from the FBI because he felt the case was going sideways; thats law enforcement jargon for nowhere by design. John Giacalone had been the chief of the New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., field offices of the FBI and, at the time of his "sideways" comment, was the chief of the FBI National Security Branch. The reason for the "sideways" comment must have been Giacalones realization that DOJ and FBI senior management had decided that the investigation would not work in tandem with a federal grand jury. That is nearly fatal to any government criminal case. In criminal cases, the FBI and the DOJ cannot issue subpoenas for testimony or for tangible things; only grand juries can. Giacalone knew that without a grand jury, the FBI would be toothless, as it would have no subpoena power. He also knew that without a grand jury, the FBI would have a hard time persuading any federal judge to issue search warrants. A judge would perceive the need for search warrants to be not acute in such a case because to a judge, the absence of a grand jury can only mean a case is sideways and not a serious investigation. As the investigation dragged on in secret and Donald Trump simultaneously began to rise in the Republican presidential primaries, it became more apparent to Giacalones successors that the goal of the FBI was to exonerate Clinton, not determine whether there was enough evidence to indict her. In late spring of this year, agents began interviewing the Clinton inner circle. When Clinton herself was interviewed on July 2 -- for only four hours, during which the interviewers seemed to some in the bureau to lack aggression, passion and determination -- some FBI agents privately came to the same conclusion as their former boss: The case was going sideways. A few determined agents were frustrated by Clintons professed lack of memory during her interview and her oblique reference to a recent head injury she had suffered as the probable cause of that. They sought to obtain her medical records to verify the gravity of her injury and to determine whether she had been truthful with them. They prepared the paperwork to obtain the records, only to have their request denied by Director Comey himself on July 4. Then some agents did the unthinkable; they reached out to colleagues in the intelligence community and asked them to obtain Clintons medical records so they could show them to Comey. We know that the National Security Agency can access anything that is stored digitally, including medical records. These communications took place late on July 4. When Comey learned of these efforts, he headed them off the next morning with his now infamous news conference, in which he announced that Clinton would not be indicted because the FBI had determined that her behavior, though extremely careless, was not reckless, which is the legal standard in espionage cases. He then proceeded to recount the evidence against her. He did this, no doubt, to head off the agents who had sought the Clinton medical records, whom he suspected would leak evidence against her. Three months later -- and just weeks before Clinton will probably be elected president -- we have learned that President Barack Obama regularly communicated with Clinton via her personal email servers about matters that the White House considered classified. That means that he lied when he told CBS News that he learned of the Clinton servers when the rest of us did. We also learned this week that Andrew McCabe, Giacalones successor as head of the FBI Washington field office and presently the No. 3 person in the FBI, is married to a woman to whom the Clinton money machine in Virginia funneled about $675,000 in lawful campaign funds for a failed 2015 run for the Virginia Senate. Comey apparently saw no conflict or appearance of impropriety in having the person in charge of the Clinton investigation in such an ethically challenged space. Why did this case go sideways? Did President Obama fear being a defense witness at Hillary Clintons criminal trial? Did he so fear being succeeded in office by Donald Trump that he ordered the FBI to exonerate Clinton, the rule of law be damned? Did the FBI lose its reputation for fidelity to law, bravery under stress and integrity at all times? This is not your grandfathers FBI -- or your fathers. It is the Obama FBI. Programming alert: Watch How We Fight -- a five part series about our military. Airing nightly on Special Report with Bret Baier beginning Wednesday, November 3 through Sunday, November 6 at 6 pm ET. Over the past 8 years our nation has been without leadership. Due to the absence of that leadership my peers and I have watched as Iraq--whose security was paid for with the blood of our friends and peershas effectively disintegrated. President Obamas statement in 2011 that America was leaving behind and Iraq that is stable and self-reliant was, quite simply, a joke. If he had been close to correct, then we wouldnt have over 5,000 plus boots on the ground today, fighting to re-take Mosul. You may know my father, Jim Webb. He was a Democratic Senator from Virginia. Before that he was Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan and, before that, an Infantry Marine in Vietnam. My father gave me my first lesson in leadership at a very young age when he told me, "Dont lie and always know your people. My father gave me my first lesson in leadership at a very young age when he told me, "Dont lie and always know your people. In my beloved Marineswhich I joined in 2005--that lesson translates to accountability and integrity. In my beloved Marineswhich I joined in 2005--that lesson translates to accountability and integrity. Accountability speaks directly to the welfare of the people in your charge. Then theres integrity. Integrity encompasses many things. One is to simply tell the truth. There are many examples of how both Hillary Clinton and the current administration lack the basic ability to tell the truth--whether its Hillary Clintons emails, her actions in Libya, the administrations misleading unemployment figures, or the presidents pledge that theyll be No boots on the ground in Iraq, plainly, the willingnesseven the ability of both of these leaders--to tell the truth is absent. For example, telling the American people the truth would require that the President and his former Secretary of State admit that Iraq is falling apart, admit they made bad decisions, and then ask the nations citizens for forgiveness and then permission to re-engage to rectify those mistakes. That would have been the mark of leaders who value integrity and accountability, that would have been the mark of leaders who respect the men and women who have, once again, been sent overseas and are currently at risk. Instead, the president and his former secretary do all they can to avoid acknowledging these men and women have been deployed to Iraq, at all. America sorely needs a departure from the failed policies of the past decade, but more importantly it needs a strong leader who will not only be accountable to the people whom he represents, but has the integrity to identify and confront the issues that plague this country. I see these qualities in Donald Trump and that is why I support him for the presidency. Last year, Jean Jacques brutally murder Casey Chadwick, a 25 year-old young woman in Connecticut. Jacques had been released from prison a year earlier after serving seventeen years for attempted murder. Rather than being deported by the federal government as he was in the U.S. illegally Jacques was simply put back on the streets in the U.S. because his native Haiti refused to take him back. Casey and hundreds of others have had their lives taken by criminal aliens, and thousands more have been victims of rape, molestation, assault and theft. There is absolutely no reason that criminal aliensthose who are non-citizens with criminal convictionsshould be put back onto American streets, yet that is exactly what is happening by the thousands each and every year. An investigative report by the Boston Globe uncovered the fact that the number of crimes committed by criminal aliens has been significantly underreported by the Obama Administration. At a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director, Sarah R. Saldana, testified that the 30,558 criminal aliens that were released in 2014 had committed a total of 79,059 crimes. However, the Boston Globe uncovered that number to be more than 92,000 crimes. While this discrepancy is significant, it is bigger than just a number. There is a victim for each one of these crimes, leaving many loved ones asking why. Hundreds of Americans are robbed, assaulted, raped or killed each year by criminal aliens who should be deported rather than released back onto our streets. In my home state of Texas, Victor Manual Garcia-Loyo, an illegal immigrant, was charged last month with killing a 21 year-old female Texas A&M student. Meanwhile in Tennessee, two brothers, also non-citizens, were recently indicted for multiple counts of child rape. These are just a few stories showing the serious threat posed by criminal aliens. A major factor involved in the release of criminal aliens is that many foreign governments refuse to take their criminal aliens backeven after theyve been given deportation orders in the United States. While there is a provision in U.S. law to prevent this, it has rarelyif everbeen enforced by the Obama Administration, particularly while Hillary Clinton served as Secretary of State. For this reason, I have sponsored a bill; H.R. 5224 the Criminal Alien Deportation Enforcement Act, which strengthens the removal procedures and makes it harder for future Administrations to ignore the law. Specifically, the bill would withhold foreign aid from uncooperative countries and prevent travel visas from being issued to citizens from those countries that refuse to take back their criminal aliens. My bill also brings transparency to this process by mandating that DHS submit to Congress a report every three months listing uncooperative countries. Furthermore, it gives the victims of crimes committed by released criminal aliens standing to sue the U.S. government to enforce the deportation of a criminal alien. When ICE Director Saldana was questioned about this issue, she admitted that she had not used her authority take punitive measures against the uncooperative countries. Clearly, liberals running the Obama Administration have no interest in enforcing the law; thus, simple but powerful legislation like mine is critical to ensuring the protection of U.S. citizens. Casey Chadwick would be alive and well today had the Obama Administration simply followed the law. Jean Jacques should have been repatriated by his native Haiti, but wasnt. The stories of Casey and other victims demand that we understand the serious threat posed by criminal aliens and take every action to see them removed from the United States. Deporting criminal aliens should be a no-brainer. We have absolutely no obligation to let these convicted criminals back onto U.S. streets. Thousands of avoidable tragedies are allowed to happen because liberal politicians in Washington refuse to see the safety and security of the American people as their first duty. A top Republican congressman confirmed Wednesday night that he would vote for GOP nominee Donald Trump after previously withdrawing his endorsement over crude remarks the real estate mogul made about women. I will not defend or endorse @realDonaldTrump, but I am voting for him. HRC is that bad. HRC is bad for the USA. Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) October 27, 2016 Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, the chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said that he would vote for Trump because Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton "is bad for the USA." POLITICAL WORLD REACTS WITH OUTRAGE TO TRUMP REMARKS ABOUT WOMEN Earlier this month, Chaffetz said that he "can no longer endorse Donald Trump for the presidency" after audio emerged of Trump bragging about inappropriately touching women during a 2005 conversation with "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush. TRUMP TAPE CASTS MORE UNCERTAINTY ON HOUSE, SENATE RACES Chaffetz described the remarks as "abhorrent and offensive." Chaffetz's fellow Utahn, Sen. Mike Lee, called on Trump to withdraw from the presidential race after the recording was made public. If Republicans retain control of the House of Representatives, the party can thank House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.; Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif.; Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich.; and Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot, R-Ohio -- along with senior GOPers like Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. These lawmakers are expected to win re-election. Thats precisely the point. They didnt face substantial opposition. Donald Trump is weighing down many congressional Republicans. This makes Democrats think they can get close to the 30 seats necessary to win the House. The lawmakers listed above represent districts that hold the potential to vote Democratic under the right circumstances. Seats like these make or break a majority. But Democrats dont stand a shot at seizing any of these right now. In addition, freshman Reps. John Katko, R-N.Y.; Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y.; and Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., are expected to hold their seats. The GOP nabbed those seats from Democrats two years ago. Many GOPers are desperate to decouple themselves from the virulence of Trump. In 2006 and 2008, Democrats won the House by electing conservative Democrats in rural districts spanning Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama. Virtually none of those types of districts are in the mix this round. Instead, Democrats swelled the map of potential seats in play in educated, exurban districts near big cities. Some of those competitive seats this cycle include Reps. Barbara Comstock, R-Va.; Kevin Yoder, R-Kan.; Darrell Issa, R-Calif.; John Mica, R-Fla.; and the retiring John Kline, R-Minn. But potentially winning those seats doesnt propel Democrats to the majority. Democrats must complement possible exurban wins with victories in the countryside. Democrats have a chance at securing the district now held by freshman Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, who flipped the seat two years ago. But one of the most endangered Democratic incumbents is Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn., who holds a marginally Democratically-leaning district sprawling across Minnesotas Iron Range. Democrats are trying to build a wave. Political waves resemble ocean waves. They crash into the shore at the end. But Democrats cant go Hawaii Five-O just yet. A bad night for Democrats means they marshal a meager 11 or 12 seats. A really good evening has Democrats securing about 22 seats. The most likely scenario is a gain of 15 to 18 seats. All these are short of the 30 needed to take control. Republicans believe their environment stabilized in recent days after Trumps Access Hollywood tape hit the airwaves. Its possible Democrats may have peaked too early. One thing is certain: many of these races are nail biters. We could have a lot of 51-49 [percent] seats tilting either direction, said one senior House GOP operative. There are some bellwethers to discern how election night is going. Watch the seats held by Mica and Freshman GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo in Florida. A defeat of Mica is a big blow. A loss of both seats signals a big night for Democrats. Curbelo is locked in one of the most challenging reelection landscapes of 2016, having grabbed the seat from former Democratic Rep. Joe Garcia two years ago. The contest is far from over, but Republicans are optimistic Curbelo will maintain the seat in a Garcia replay. Minnesota is also a testing ground. Democrats hope to hold Nolans seat, claim the seat of retiring GOPer John Kline and possibly dethrone Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn. If Democrats execute that hat trick (appropriate for the Gopher State), they could be well on their way to at least 19 to 20 seats. The presidential sweepstakes could weigh heavily in House contests. Lets say its a solid night for Hillary Clinton and the networks call the presidential race early. That could impact voting out west. If the result is clear while western polls remain open, do Democrats cease voting because Clinton wins? Or, does a Clinton victory embolden GOP voters to ensure a check on the incoming administration? Those scenarios resonate most in Colorado, Utah and California. In Colorado, watch GOP Reps. Mike Coffman and Scott Tipton. Tipton struggled some a few weeks ago but seems to have stabilized. If Tipton still faces trouble, Democrats are probably approaching a 25 seat gain. Utah is a unique study due to Trumps unpopularity and the nascent presidential candidacy of former House GOP aide Evan McMullin. Trump is unpopular in Utah and among Mormon voters. He waged various battles with Mitt Romney and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Its not out of the question that McMullin could win Utah. Or McMullin could split the Republican vote and potentially propel Clinton to victory in the Beehive State. Freshman Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, is in a rematch against 2014 Democrat Doug Owens. A senior congressional Democratic source tells Fox News an unsettled Utah electorate creates a unique turnout dynamic. Love seems to be in good shape. But if Love does face trouble, Democrats are creeping close to 30. California poses its own set of issues. Trump is a one-man wrecking crew in California, said one Democratic operative. Trump and Californias Senate race could influence what happens in House contests. California allows the top two primary vote getters to run in a general election, regardless of party. California Attorney General Kamala Harris faces Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., in a bid to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. There is no reason for Republicans to go to the polls in the Senate race, said one Democratic source. This is why observers are watching Darrell Issas race along with competitive contests for Reps. Steve Knight, R-Calif., and Jeff Denham, R-Calif. And then theres a wild card. What happens if another Access Hollywood tape materializes? We will be at the gates of Hell, lamented one senior Republican. Capitol Attitude is a weekly column written by members of the Fox News Capitol Hill team. Their articles take you inside the halls of Congress, and cover the spectrum of policy issues being introduced, debated and voted on there. An energy company lawyer said Thursday that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas touched her inappropriately at a 1999 dinner in suburban Washington. Thomas denied the allegation. Lawyer Moira Smith said in a statement that she was 23 when "Justice Thomas touched me inappropriately and without my consent." Smith, now vice president and general counsel of Enstar Natural Gas in Anchorage, Alaska, was then a recent graduate of Georgetown University who was spending the year as a Truman Foundation scholar in Washington. Two of Smith's roommates back then confirmed to The Associated Press that Smith told them what happened just after the dinner. Smith didn't go public until this month. Thomas said the claim is "preposterous" and "it never happened." Smith's story and Thomas' denial were first published by Law.com. Thomas' high court confirmation in 1991 was nearly derailed by Anita Hill's claims that Thomas sexually harassed her. Smith first described the incident publicly on her Facebook page, saying "he groped me while I was setting the table" at a dinner hosted by her boss. Smith said she has since deactivated her Facebook page, but law.com reprinted the posting with its story. Smith said she was moved to share her experience after hearing that Donald Trump had been caught on tape making crude comments about women and then seeing an Internet meme that made light of the situation. Smith said on Facebook that she also had been the victim of date rape and was later groped by an acquaintance in a bar. "As the mother of a young daughter and son, I am coming forward to show that it is important to stand up for yourself and tell the truth. When powerful men commit sexual assault, they count on their victims keeping it a secret," she said in the statement. When Smith returned home from the dinner in June 1999, she recounted what happened to her three roommates, said one of the women, Carrie Farmer. "I can't recall if it was that night or the next morning, but she told us that she went to this dinner and then this awful thing happened," said Farmer, a health policy expert with the Rand Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I don't recall our reaction to it, except I guess we were young and we didn't know what to do with that kind of information." Another roommate, Laura Fink of San Diego, would only say that the account published in law.com was accurate. Fink is a Democratic consultant who made similar claims against former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, for whom she worked when he was running for Congress. In 2013, Filner resigned as mayor amid sexual harassment allegations and eventually was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement on charges related to the claims. Smith's account became public just as Thomas and his supporters were marking his 25th anniversary on the court. The commemorations included an event at the Heritage Foundation Wednesday night, where Thomas was asked whether there is hope for the Supreme Court confirmation process. Carrie Severino, a former Thomas clerk, said the justice treated his clerks with "the utmost respect" and allowed her to defer her clerkship for a year because she was pregnant. "The alleged conduct bears no resemblance to the man I worked closely with, whom I still count a friend after nearly ten years," Severino wrote in a blog post on National Review.com that the justice's defenders circulated Thursday. Newly revealed emails posted by WikiLeaks show top aides to Hillary Clinton went out of their way to keep a certain VIP happy: Uber-liberal billionaire George Soros. The emails, hacked from the account of Clinton Campaign Chairman and Soros ally John Podesta, disclose that Clinton was advised to do fundraisers simply to make Soros happy. They also indicate the 85-year-old Hungarian-born heavyweight, through his top aides, freely reached out to Podesta to make Soros wishes clear on issues ranging from trade to migration to the Supreme Court. In one instance, trusted Clinton adviser Huma Abedin wrote to now-Campaign Manager Robby Mook on Oct. 7, 2014, to tell him Clinton was having dinner with Soros. Abedin said she expected Soros would eventually ask Clinton to appear at a fundraiser for America Votes, one of the many liberal organizations Soros helps fund, and Abedin wanted to know how to proceed. I would only do this for political reasons (ie to make Soros happy), Mook replied. NEW REPORTS REVEAL SOROS INFLUENCE During her time as secretary of state, Clinton was forwarded from Soros aides on Jan. 23, 2011 a message he wrote specifically for her addressing a serious situation in Albania. Soros even included two actions that need to be done urgently. One of the suggestions was appointing a mediator such as Carl Bildt, Martti Ahtisaari or Miroslav Lajcak Clinton received the email the next day. On Jan. 27, Lajcak met Albanian leaders for a mediation effort. Just hours after Associate Justice Antonin Scalia was reported dead on Feb. 13, 2016, the president of the Soros-founded Open Society Foundations also emailed Podesta. Remember our discussion of Wallace Jefferson, [former] Chief Justice in Texas? Chris Stone asked cryptically. Podesta replied: Yup. Most of the Soros-related correspondences with Podesta came via Michael Vachon, an adviser and spokesman for Soros, who frequently emailed Podesta to schedule phone calls and meetings and relay his boss policy positions. Many of the messages were brief or mysterious. On Feb. 23, 2015, Vachon wrote to Podesta that he needed to tell him something separately, important, timely but certainly not urgent. In a message dated Jan. 13, 2009, Vachon thanked Podesta for meeting with Soros the previous day. He found it extremely useful, Vachon wrote. Other emails show a stream of Soros policy beliefs being passed to Podesta: An invitation to the screening of a film about climate change at Soros house in July 2015; a short documentary based on Soros essays about Ukraine in January 2015; a Soros-authored piece titled Recapitalize the Banking System in October 2008. On March 7, 2016, Vachon sent Podesta a memo regarding TPP and Malaysias Corruption Crisis. The document criticized President Obama for making visible compromises in his quest to get a deal for the Trans Pacific Partnership completed. Podesta was ostensibly set to discuss the memo with Soros and his son, Alexander, during a dinner later that month. Six days later, Vachon got even more specific. In general I think George is more interested in talking about policy than the campaign per se, Vachon wrote. In a separate email I will send you Georges latest thinking on the migration crisis, which he is spending a lot of time on. His other big preoccupation these days is Ukraine. While Vachon said Soros wasnt interested in discussing the campaign per se at that dinner, his involvement in the 2016 election is extensive. As of July, Soros had donated $25 million to help elect Clinton and other Democrats, Politico reported. First Lady Michelle Obama flew to North Carolina Thursday to join her new political partner Hillary Clinton on the stump, declaring her someone steady who can be trusted with the nuclear codes. Obama, who brought star power to the Winston-Salem, N.C., rally, called Clinton, a onetime political rival of her husband, a friend and praised her determination. Clinton, in turn, asked the crowd, Seriously, is there anyone more inspiring than Michelle Obama? She added, As Michelle reminds us, this election is about our kids, and in my case, our grandkids. We have a job to do. Starting right now, lets come together. Lets work together and be hopeful and optimistic and unified. Obama told the audience that America needed a president who takes this job seriously, and who has the temperament and maturity to do it well. Someone who is steady, someone who we can trust with the nuclear codes, because we want to go to bed at night knowing that our kids and our country are safe. With Obama aiming to secure her husband's legacy and Clinton needing to drive women to the polls, the two women sought to celebrate their new political marriage of mutual interest, and reassure voters it's real. Since she's emerged as Clinton's headline-grabbing surrogate, people wonder one thing, Obama noted. "Yes, Hillary Clinton is my friend," she answered. It's a reasonable question, given the two women's contrasting pasts and the nearly opposite way they've occupied the East Wing. Clinton dived into policy, undertook a massive project and failed under a harsh spotlight. Obama largely steered clear and enjoyed quieter, more modest success. Both Ivy League-trained lawyers with their own careers, Clinton bridled under the stereotypes associated with the office, while Obama declared herself "mom-in-chief." While Clinton first held onto her maiden name, her Democratic successor let it known she prefers the "Mrs." title before her last name. And when her time in the White House was ending, Clinton began planning her return to Washington. Obama hasn't hidden her readiness to leave. The White House has quickly and repeatedly shot down any talk of the first lady continuing in politics after her husband leaves office. Even as she explained her passion for Clinton's bid on Thursday, Obama acknowledged she is a reluctant politician. "I would not be here," she said Thursday, if she didn't believe Clinton would be a president she would trust. "I believe with all of my heart that Hillary Clinton will be that president," she said. Democrats have relished Obama's speeches in support of Clinton as high points of the campaign cycle. Obama's passionate response to Donald Trump's vulgar comments about women brought an emotional resonance to Clinton's bid that the candidate, who rarely gets personal on the stump, doesn't often deliver. Obama's appearances have become a key part of Clinton's effort to fire up women -- particularly black women, for whom she's a model and a source of pride. Both Clinton and Obama on Thursday revived a line from her DNC speech -- "When they go low, we go high" -- turning it into a call and response. The North Carolina event drew some 11,000 people, according to the fire marshal, one of largest crowds of Clinton's campaign. The audience roared as the two women walked onstage, turned to each other and embraced. The new partnership has on one level made for a striking political odd couple. As first lady, Obama has largely dodged controversial issues. She's stayed focused on her projects involving healthy eating, exercise, support for military families and education for girls -- and not publicly expressed opinions on thornier subjects. She's mastered the art of advocacy through popular culture, while, in recent years, all but ignoring the possibility of policymaking through legislation. She's cultivated a brand built on style, glamor and fashion. It's a tenure that bears little resemblance to her Democratic predecessor in the East Wing. Clinton came in promising, along with her husband, a new kind of partnership in charge at the White House. Hillary Clinton was a veteran of the feminist movement and ready to expand the office of first lady to suit her experience and passion for policy. She had an office in the West Wing, took over the health care overhaul effort and ultimately became a target of investigations and criticism alongside her husband. It was a history Obama and her aides sought to avoid. Asked to cite role models, Obama has named Eleanor Roosevelt and Jacqueline Kennedy. The Clintons and Obamas, of course, have a fraught history, one that includes both spouses. While Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton battled in 2008, Michelle Obama raised questions about her husband's opponent, framing the choice between the two as "about character." Since then the women have publicly buried the hatchet. They've appeared at countless events together and heaped praised on each other's work, although there's little sign they've spent time one-on-one. Comparing how first ladies use the office is especially tricky, historians note. Because the office comes with no set of constitutional duties, it is also a reflection of an individual's style, personality, politics and times. The Associated Press contributed to this report. EXCLUSIVE: Amid the tumult of the 2016 presidential campaign, John Podesta is best known as Hillary Clintons campaign chairman and the individual from whose private account WikiLeaks is presently publishing some 50,000 hacked emails. Released in daily batches, these documents have laid bare the inner workings and tensions of the Clinton campaign in an unprecedented way, while also offering insights into the operations of the Clinton Foundation and the State Department in the years when Clinton, now the Democratic presidential nominee, served as secretary of state. At that time, when Clinton was traveling to a record number of foreign countries, Podesta, a former White House chief of staff under President Clinton, held dual titles at the State Department: as a senior advisor entitled to an annual salary of $130,000 never paid him, the department maintains and as a member of a prestigious foreign policy advisory board Secretary Clinton created. Records obtained from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management show Podestas tenure at State extended from Sept. 25, 2011 to Jan. 4, 2014. For several months in 2012, Clintons final year as secretary of state, Raytheon, the leading defense contractor, hired Podestas sister-in-law, Heather Podesta, as a lobbyist, federal records show. Raytheon was looking to enlarge its share of foreign military sales transfers of advanced weapons systems to other countries that are reviewed and approved by the Department of State, then implemented by the Department of Defense and was beefing up its lobbying operation to accomplish that goal before Secretary Clinton left office. On the LD-2 lobbying disclosure form completed by her company, Heather Podesta + Partners, LLC, in July 2012, the veteran lawyer and Democratic fundraiser listed in the space provided for a description of her lobbying activities, Engaged the Executive Branch on the economic benefits of foreign military sales. In the space requesting the specific locales of her lobbying, Ms. Podesta listed the White House and the State Department. At the same time, Raytheon retained two other lobbyists, John Merrigan and Matt Bernstein, both associated with the powerhouse D.C. law firm DLA Piper. All three of these lobbyists, including Ms. Podesta, were major donors or bundlers to Hillary Clintons 2008 and 2016 campaigns. Federal records show they have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Clintons campaigns and earned hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying her State Department. In the final three quarters of 2012, DLA Piper earned some $360,000 in lobbying fees from Raytheon, courting the State Department and other agencies, while Ms. Podesta, within that same time frame, received $100,000 from Raytheon for the same purpose. The gambit appears to have worked: Records maintained by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the arm of the Defense Department that coordinates the transfers of weapons systems once they have received States approval, show Raytheon as a prime contractor in at least seventeen foreign military sales in 2012, worth an estimated total of $26 billion. Of those contracts, three with the Gulf nation of Qatar for missile defense, Apache attack helicopters and other materiel accounted for $19 billion. An email from a Clinton Foundation official released earlier this month, in the sixth of Wikileaks postings of John Podestas emails, revealed that in 2011, the Qatari government had pledged $1 million to the foundation to help former President Clinton celebrate his birthday. In return, the email said, the Qataris sought a five-minute audience with Mr. Clinton. The individual at the State Department who was statutorily entrusted to approve foreign military sales was Andrew Shapiro, the assistant secretary of state for political and military affairs. Prior to his nomination to that job, Shapiro had served as Clintons national security adviser in her Senate office. Today, Shapiro is a partner in a Washington consulting firm whose other co-founders include Philippe Reines, Clintons longtime press aide. After Clinton stepped down as secretary of state in February 2013, Raytheon discontinued the services of Heather Podesta + Partners, and ceased its use of DLA Piper at State. While experts do not believe any laws were broken, the affair illustrates how Washington worked in the first Obama term, and particularly at the Clinton State Department. The Raytheon operation bears some similarity to a pop-up store that materializes to serve a seasonal need, such as Halloween candy or July Fourth fireworks, then vanishes once that need has been met. I think this is as close an example of pay-to-play as weve seen, said Raj Shah, deputy communications director at the Republican National Committee. And that's why [Raytheon] made these hires [of Heather Podesta, Merrigan and Bernstein]. Their experience was getting access to Hillary Clinton and raising money for her. The ultimate responsibility, of course, rests on the Cabinet official. In this case, it'd be the secretary of state, said State Department spokesman John Kirby at a briefing with reporters Wednesday. But we do it in close coordination with DOD. The only considerations that are factored into the foreign military sales program is the furtherance of foreign policy objectives of the United States of America and not the efforts by external groups to lobby, as you say, or to influence that decision. Josh Schwerin, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, told Fox News that the nominee never took action as secretary of state because of any donations and any suggestion to the contrary is false. In a statement, Raytheon said its lobbying practices and policies are fully disclosed and comply with all federal, state and local laws. DLA Piper did not respond to a request for comment. And Heather Podesta sent Fox News a one-sentence email saying: I never lobbied the Secretary or John Podesta on this matter. A front page of The New York Times from Sept. 12, 2001, showing the burning World Trade Center and autographed by five U.S. presidents sold for $11,000 on Wednesday at an auction of presidential papers. The page was signed by Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush when they were attending a national day of remembrance and prayer event for Sept. 11 victims at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., days after the attacks. Its headline above a photograph of the burning twin towers says: "U.S. Attacked: Hijacked Jets Destroy Twin Towers and Hit Pentagon in Day of Terror." The front page's presale estimate was $6,000 to $8,000. The auction house will donate all of its commission from the proceeds of the sale of the page to the Sept. 11 charity Tuesday's Children. The auction by Lion Heart Autographs also featured John F. Kennedy's scribbled notes for a 1960 campaign speech and a fragment of George Washington's draft of his first inaugural address. JFK's fragmented notes reference his famous campaign slogan "The New Frontier" with the words "to ask you to join me on the path toward the new frontier." They were used for a speech at a 1960 rally in Los Angeles and sold Wednesday for $3,750. The Washington fragment failed to meet the reserve price and went unsold, auction spokeswoman Caroline Galloway said. The fragment, among a small number surviving from Washington's handwritten draft for his first inaugural speech, contains the words "Let us advance directly forward in the path of our duty. Should the path at first prove intricate and thorny, it will grow plain and smooth as we go." It carried a pre-sale estimate of $130,000 to $150,000. Another highlight was a 1993 letter on White House stationery signed by Clinton thanking New York U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan for his support for the renewal of China's Most Favored Nation status. It states that China "will be held accountable for its human rights record and its trade and weapons proliferation practices." It fetched $700, in line with its presale estimate. As Donald Trump takes bipartisan heat for his persistent claim the election could be rigged, the GOP nominee is holding up studies and reports of potential voter fraud to back up his case. At his address in Gettysburg, Pa., on Saturday, Trump cited a 2012 Pew study that found evidence the voter registration rolls needed serious cleaning up. The study found one in eight voter registrations were either invalid or inaccurate; more than 1.8 million dead people were listed as voters; and 2.75 million people were registered in more than one state. Washington has tried so hard to stop our campaign, Trump said. The system is totally rigged and broken. The voter registration problems don't necessarily reveal any intentional plots to vote illegally. And in a follow-up report this month, Pew found states have implemented systems to clean up the voter rolls, including by comparing registration lists with other data sources to verify information. But one citizens watchdog group, Respect Washington, said registration inconsistencies create the potential for fraud. There is a certain embedded inaccuracy and corruption within the voter registration rolls that can express itself as voter fraud come an election, co-founder Craig Keller told Fox News. Trump has faced criticism on the "rigging" claims not only from Hillary Clinton and the White House but some fellow Republicans. Its irresponsible because youre starting to undermine the publics confidence in our elections, Washington state Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman told Fox News. RELATED: TEXAS VOTERS CLAIM MACHINES SWITCHING THEIR VOTES However, Wyman noted there are gaps in voter registration security that can be exploited. For instance, when people register to vote, they only declare they are U.S. citizens. Election officials cannot verify those claims, as proof of citizenship is not required to get a driver's license. Further, Washington state and seven other states are all out of compliance with the federal Real ID Act, which sets minimum standards for state-issued IDs. Republican vice presidential nominee and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has backed up his running mate, saying, We have [voter fraud] in Indiana, and pointing to a probe into a voter registration program in the Hoosier State. Earlier this year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott described voter fraud as rampant. Just this month, Abbott announced the largest voter fraud investigation in Texas history after an alleged scheme was uncovered involving up to 20,000 cases in which signatures for mail-in ballot applications did not match those on the actual ballots. Meanwhile in September, a Colorado CBS affiliate found multiple cases of dead people casting ballots in elections, including one case where a woman who died in 2009 cast ballots in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. We do believe there were several instances of potential vote fraud that occurred, Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams said. It shows there is the potential for fraud. Also in September, an investigation in Richmond, Va., was launched after 20 voter applications were turned in under the names of dead people. Often times we hear our Democrat colleagues suggest that voter fraud doesnt exist in Virginia or is a myth, House Speaker William H. Howell said, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch. Well it does indisputably exist. Fox News Dan Springer contributed to this report. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump unveiled what he called a New Deal for black America and revealed a handful of new proposals aimed at revitalizing impoverished urban areas on Wednesday in hope to sway minority voters. Part of Trumps so called new deal included new tax incentives for inner cities, new micro-loans for African-Americans to start companies and hire workers and plan to reinvest money form suspended refugee programs in inner cities. POLL SHOWS TRUMP GAINING ON CLINTON I will be your greatest champion, Trump told a predominantly white Charlotte crowd. I will never ever take the African American community for granted. Never, ever. Trump also pledged to take on gang members and remove them from inner cities. He also claimed that the national murder rate was as high as its been in 45 years. Some of our inner cities are more dangerous than the war zones were reading about and seeing about every night. Earlier in the day, Trump was in Washington touting his business empire in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for his new hotel. He made the case that all Americans should look to his corporate record for evidence of how well hed run the country if elected president. "Under budget and ahead of schedule. So important. We don't hear those words so often, but you will," said Trump, linking the hotel redevelopment just blocks from the White House to his promised performance as president. "Today is a metaphor for what we can accomplish for this country." As Trump opened his hotel, his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton was blasting his business practices on the campaign trail in the key battleground state of Florida. She used campaign events in Florida to attack the GOP nominee for having "stiffed American workers," saying he built his empire with Chinese-manufactured steel, overseas products and labor from immigrants in the country illegally. "Donald Trump is the poster boy for everything wrong with our economy," she told several thousand supporters in Tampa, Florida. "He refuses to pay workers and contractors." Clinton also told reporters: "I was struck today that Donald Trump was paying more attention to his business than to the campaign. That's his choice but we're going to keep working really hard to reach as many voters as possible." As the Nov. 8 election looms, the newest Fox News Poll shows Clinton leading Trump by just three points. In an effort to play some political defense, Trumps running mate Mike Pence was touting the campaign in Utah in hopes to keep votes from choosing Independent Evan McMullin over the two mainstream candidates. Besides Utah, Pence also was stopping in the swing states of Nevada and Colorado before heading Thursday to solidly Republican Nebraska. Trump, who also held a rally in the city of Kinston, continued to insist he knows more than the nation's military leaders, especially when it comes to the fight against Islamic State militants in the city of Mosul. "You can tell your military expert that I'll sit down and I'll teach him a couple of things," he said in an interview with ABC. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Frogs and ants living together its like natures version of The Odd Couple. A yellowstriped frog in the Amazon rainforest is able to live among the vicious leafcutter ant without getting torn to pieces thanks to a very special bug repellent: its own skin. The frog, known as Lithodytes lineatus, releases a chemical that tricks the ants into ignoring it. In South Americas Amazon region, leafcutter ants communicate with one another via pheremones. Their pincers are razorsharp, and if outsiders are detected around the colony the ants tear the intruders apart. Frogs pose no threat to the ants as a predator, but apparently the leafcutters didnt get the memo. Our observations have shown that leaf cutting ants are highly aggressive with other species of frogs the attacks are so aggressive that they can kill these individuals in a few minutes, Andre Barros of the National Institute of Amazonian Research in Brazil told FoxNews.com. As these ants are not carnivorous the aggression is only for protection and as soldiers have very robust jaws, potential intruders are quickly immobilized (depending on the amount of attacking soldiers). Related: Hurricane Matthew unearths huge prehistoric shark tooth Barros team set out to find why the ants chose to ignore Lithodytes lineatus. They placed frogs from five different species, including Lithodytes lineatus, in a glass container near the entrance of an ant nest. All of the frogs tried to escape with the exception of the yellowstriped Lithodytes, who remained cool as a cucumber. The experiment had a maximum duration of ten minutes, Barros, who led the study, said. After such time, the frogs were removed and the number of ants attached to their skin was counted. We observed that leaf-cutting ants of genus Atta did not attack frog L. lineatus, but aggressively attacked other anuran [amphibian] species. Next, the team placed 20 Rhinella major frogs within the ant nests. Ten of the frogs were covered with Lithodytes lineatus skin extract, and the other ten with ultrapure water. As predicted, the frogs given the extract were left alone while the ones doused with water were attacked. Related: Watch a baby elephant 'rescue' a man in a river According to Barros, the antrepelling skin of L. lineatus has chemical properties that keep the little critters from attacking, though its unknown what exactly these properties are. We cannot yet say [what] these biomolecules are (enzymes, peptides, proteins or others), but it was evident that there is a chemical signal produced in the frog skin that allows that they remain alive in anthills, he said. Furthermore, it was observed that this signal is recognized by more than one species of Atta ants. Its suggested that the anthills stable microclimate and higher humidity level provides the frogs with a better reproduction and breeding environment, though its only a speculation at this point. In any event, this remains an exciting find in the amphibian world. Cases of frogs and ants living together have been documented, but this is the first time its been known to happen on this side of the Atlantic. Related: Viral video shows great white shark breaking into dive cage A similar trait is known to some species of frogs in Africa that live with ants, but until now, Lithodytes lineatus is the only species of frog in the Americas known to breed and build nests in the ant's nests, suggesting a complex process of coevolution or a sophisticated chemical disguise, Barros said. We are really excited with our results and other research is being conducted to better understand this system. Researchers have uncovered the stone slab in Jerusalems Church of the Holy Sepulchre venerated as the resting place of Jesus Christ. The slab, which has been covered by marble cladding since at least 1555 A.D., has been exposed as part of a major restoration project at the church, National Geographic reports. "The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it, Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and a partner in the restoration project, told National Geographic. It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to tradition, the body of Christ was laid." RARE 'JERUSALEM' PAPYRUS RECOVERED FROM CAVE LOOTERS The rock surface, or burial bed was hewn from the side of a limestone cave following Christs crucifixion, according to Christian tradition. Christs resurrection from the dead is a core tenet of Christian belief the gospels say that the tomb was found to be empty by those who visited it a few days after the crucifixion. Scientists have exposed the original surface of what is traditionally considered the tomb of Jesus Christ https://t.co/0q9FZacUT8 National Geographic (@NatGeo) October 26, 2016 The burial bed is now part of a small structure called the Edicule in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, National Geographic reports. The Edicule, rebuilt between 1808 and 1810 following its destruction by fire, is being restored by scientists from the National Technical University of Athens. The restoration, which includes the Edicules interior tomb, is being overseen by the National Technical Universitys Chief Scientific Supervisor Antonia Moropoulu. GOT $250,000? EARLIEST KNOWN 10 COMMANDMENTS INSCRIPTION UP FOR AUCTION "We are at the critical moment for rehabilitating the Edicule," Moropoulou told National Geographic. "The techniques we're using to document this unique monument will enable the world to study our findings as if they themselves were in the tomb of Christ." National Geographic reports that, after the marble slab was removed, a grey-beige stone surface was exposed. Scientists will use monitoring tools to study the surface. The wreck of a World War I German submarine has been discovered off the coast of Scotland by marine engineers surveying the route of an undersea power cable. Researchers said they think the wreck is one of two German U-boats sunk by British patrol ships in the Irish Sea in 1918 including one that was supposedly attacked by a sea monster, according to an internet legend. Marine archeologist and historian Innes McCartney, from Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom, said the submarine wreck was in reasonably good shape, considering it has spent almost 100 years on the seafloor at a depth of 340 feet. [See Photos of the Submarine Wreck Discovered Off Coast of Scotland] "When all the other wartime shipwrecks have crumbled down to nothing, the submarines will still be there, because they're made to withstand the [underwater] marine environment," McCartney told Live Science. McCartney has studied video of the submarine wreck gathered by a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) and geophysical data gathered by instruments on the marine survey ship that located the wreck while charting the seafloor. The ship was helping to plan a route through the Irish Sea for an undersea power cable between southwest Scotland and northwest England. At least 12 British and German submarines are known to have sunk in the area during World War I, but McCartney has been able to identify the latest wreck as a German UB III-class submarine from its external dimensions and fittings. "The UB III-class was one of the more successful U-boats that that the Germans experimented with during the First World War, to the extent that in many ways it is the design that became the legendary Type VII U-boat of World War II," McCartney said. Sub wreck detective McCartney pieced together another clue about the wreck's identity by studying images of the submarine's single deck gun, mounted forward of the conning tower the armored platform near the middle of the U-boat that was used as a lookout and control center when the submarine was on the surface "The UB III-class had some modifications made to it at the end of 1917, the most important of which was that they up-gunned it from an 88-mm to a 105-mm gun," McCartney said. "For about six months, the U-boats had this gun, but then they realized they'd been losing some U-boats in accidents because the gun was so heavy, so they took it off and went back to the older 88." Because the latest wreck has a 105-mm gun, McCartney has been able to narrow down the possibilities to two UB III submarines known to have sunk in the area in April 1918. Both submarines had made their way from Germany around the north of Scotland and into the Irish Sea to attack British shipping, according to McCartney. "We knew where they were because they were chattering on the radio, and we had [radio] direction-finding stations around Britain that would have tracked their movements reasonably accurately," he said. "So that's why there were British patrol craft in the area, and that's why both of the submarines were caught on the surface recharging their batteries." According to British war records, UB-82 was sunk by two British patrol boats on April 17, 1918, resulting in the loss of all 37 crewmembers on board the submarine. UB-85 was sunk on April 30, 1918, by the British patrol ship HMS Coreopsis, but all of that submarine's crewmembers were rescued before it sank. [Sunken Treasures: The Curious Science of 7 Famous Shipwrecks] Sea monster tales McCartney said any further efforts to identify the newfound submarine would probably need to wait until researchers find the wreck of the other UB III-class submarine known to have sunk in the area. "It would be nice for the other one to show up, which it will do these things are being found so quickly these days," he said. "And then you've got the two, and it may be possible simply by looking at the damage compared to the combat reports from both instances and the positional analysis to be fairly certain." If the latest wreck does turn out to be UB-85, it's a vessel that has already found its way into legend on the internet, at least. McCartney explained that a story had circulated on the internet for several years that the captain and crew of UB-85 reported their submarine was attacked by a sea monster, which damaged the vessel and forced it to stay on the surface, where it was spotted by the HMS Coreopsis. But McCartney's research has found no historic basis for the story, which first appeared online, without any provenance, around 2005. He noted that neither the captain of UB-85 nor any of the crew mentioned a sea monster when they were interrogated by British naval intelligence after their rescue. The story of UB-85 and the sea monster "falls into a longer trend going back at least to the 1930s of these outlandish sea tales being appended to First World War German submarines," McCartney said. "I don't know why it is, but the first U-boat war just attracts these stories you get haunted submarines, like UB-65 which [supposedly] had a dead crewmember who haunted the boat, and then UB-28 another sea monster is supposed to have attacked that one. McCartney also ruled out any connection between the fate of UB-85 and Scotland's most famous legendary water beast, Nessie the Loch Ness Monster. "But it's nice to think Nessie was doing her bit for the war effort," he said. Original article on Live Science. A religious symbol has appeared in a forest in County Donegal, Northern Ireland, captivating both locals and visitors. People flying into nearby Derry airport began noticing the approximately 328-foot-long and 230-foot-wide cross as it can be seen better from a birds-eye view. RELATED: Missing baby Jesus state head found Local news station ITV investigated to uncover the origins of the cross and found that a man named Liam Emmery had planted it years prior. But Emmery never lived to see the recognition that his labor of love would accrue. The local resident died six years ago, and even his wife had forgotten that he had planted it. If he was here, we'd all have heard about it because he'd be so proud, Norma Emmery told ITV. He just loved things to be perfect, and I think the Celtic cross is perfect for him. County Donegal is situated on the Atlantic coast of Northern Ireland, and the cross is not far from the U.K.'s border with the Republic of Ireland. A South Korean man flown to the U.S. 37 years ago and adopted by an American couple at age 3 has been ordered deported back to a country that is completely alien to him. "It is heartbreaking news," said Dae Joong (DJ) Yoon, executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, who had been in contact with Adam Crapser. Crapser remains confined in an immigration detention center in Tacoma, Wash., pending his deportation. Crapser waived an appeal during the hearing Monday because he is desperate to get out of detention, his Seattle attorney, Lori Walls, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "I'm sure he doesn't have any idea what he can do in Korea," Yoon said in a phone interview from his group's offices in Annandale, Va. Crapser's plight mirrors those of thousands of others. Yoon's group says an estimated 35,000 intercountry adoptees lack U. S. citizenship. It is backing legislation in Congress to address that. Seven years after Crapser and his older sister were adopted, their parents abandoned them. The foster care system separated Crapser when he was 10 from his sister. He was housed at several foster and group homes. When Crapser was 12, he moved in with Thomas and Dolly Crapser, their biological son, two other adoptees and several foster children. There, he was physically abused, Crapser has said. In 1991, the couple was arrested on charges of physical child abuse, sexual abuse and rape. They denied the charges. Thomas Crapser's sentence included 90 days in jail, and Dolly Crasper's included three years of probation. Adam Crapser got into trouble with the law after he broke into his parents' home -- it was, he said, to retrieve the Korean Bible and rubber shoes that came with him from the orphanage -- and later it was for stealing cars and assaulting a roommate. Federal immigration officials say they became aware of Crapser after he applied for a green card. His criminal convictions made him deportable. Becky Belcore, who was adopted at age 1 and brought to the United States from South Korea, said she was with Crapser in the courtroom, located inside the detention center. She said the facility seems worse than jail because visitors cannot touch or hug detainees and must talk to them on a telephone. "He has been in detention for almost nine months," Belcore said in a phone interview from her home in Chicago. "He's been separated from his children. It is really hard for him." Walls said Crapser is married and has four children. Belcore said Crapser was wearing what looked like hospital scrubs, the uniform for detainees, and that Immigration Judge John C. O'Dell appeared matter-of-fact as he announced his deportation verdict. In an email, Walls said Adam was eligible for a deportation reprieve called "cancellation of removal," but the "judge decided he did not deserve this relief." "He will be deported as soon as Immigration and Customs Enforcement makes the necessary arrangements," Walls said. "Adam, his family, and advocates are heartbroken at the outcome." Kathryn Mattingly, a spokeswoman with the Executive Office for Immigration Review of the U.S. Department of Justice, said in an email that she could not provide confirmation or details of the hearing without an alien registration number for Crapser and possibly a privacy waiver. Walls said she would seek permission from Crapser later to provide that information. Belcore said she feels lucky that her adoptive parents obtained her U.S. citizenship. "A lot of times, parents simply didn't know that they were supposed to do it," she said. "It seems so wrong and so inhumane" for Crapser to be sent to South Korea, Belcore said. "Without knowing the language and the culture, it will be so difficult to survive." The boyfriend of a woman who vanished in West Texas earlier this month is now officially a suspect in her disappearance, police announced as they shifted the search area closer to the Mexico border. Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old Sul Ross State University student, was last seen Oct. 12 in Alpine on a date with Robert Fabian. Alpine police said Wednesday that Fabian was a suspect in the case and his sister, mother and friend were persons of interest, Fox 4 reported. Police raised the reward to $100,000 for information leading to the student's whereabouts. MISSING COLLEGE STUDENT'S FATHER PLEADS FOR HER BOYFRIEND TO COOPERATE Investigators and Verks family have said Fabian hasnt been cooperating with authorities -- a claim his lawyer denies. "I drove all night as soon as I heard Zuzu was missing, and when I got there, a search was already in progress," Verks father, Glenn, told FoxNews.com earlier this week. "Everyone wanted to help, but he [Verk's boyfriend] wasn't there." 2 FORT CAMPBELL SOLDIERS BEING HELD IN DISAPPEARANCE OF FELLOW SOLDIER Fabian is named in more than one police search warrant surrounding vehicles that investigators believe to be important in the search for Verk, Fox 4 reports. The vehicles include a Jeep and a Mazda Miata, which friends say is Zuzus car, while a white Ford Mustang and F-150 truck that are linked to Fabians family. Police, using drones and horses, have now moved their search near the U.S.-Mexico border and are being assisted by the Texas Rangers, FBI and Homeland Security. Alpine is 210 miles southeast of El Paso. Sul Ross State has about 2,100 students. President Bill Kibler on Thursday released a statement saying Verk's disappearance has deeply affected the entire campus community, plus the surrounding area. School spokesman Steve Lang on Friday said students, faculty and staff have taken part in voluntary searches coordinated through Alpine police. Investigators have said Verk could be in danger. Police didn't release additional details. A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Verks safe return and tipsters are encouraged to call the Alpine Police Department at 432-837-3486. FoxNews.com's Cristina Corbin and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A 19-year-old Texas A&M University student taking a topless selfie while driving slammed into the rear of a stopped police car and was arrested, police said on Thursday. The student, Miranda Rader, also had an open bottle of wine in a cup holder next to her, the Bryan Police Department said. The accident on Wednesday, near the university about 100 miles northwest of Houston, caused the airbag to deploy. Police said that when the officer whose car had been hit approached Rader, she was trying to put on her blouse. Read more at The New York Post. Federal data showing annual accidental gun deaths in Tennessee soared to 105 from just 19 propelled a fierce firearms control campaign, but it turned out the stats were about as accurate as a two-dollar pistol. The numbers, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seemed to show the Volunteer State led the nation in accidental shooting deaths due to a more than five-fold increase in 2014. But an eagle-eyed Second Amendment advocate's suspicions turned out to be right: The number of accidental deaths had actually dropped, from 19 to just five. It was a big mistake, said John Lott, author of "More Guns, Less Crime," and president of the Crime Prevention Research Center. The errant number even skewed national statistics in a major way, he noted. It raised total accidental deaths to 586 when they should have been 486, the lowest number on record despite the explosion in gun sales and concealed carry permits, Lott said. Lott first pointed the error out to the CDC at the beginning of 2016 but the governmental agency did nothing to correct the report until recently. There was a coding error in the 2014 file that increases the number of unintentional firearm deaths (W32-W34: Accidental discharge of firearms) substantially in some states, reads a caveat recently posted by the CDC. The error was not technically isolated to any particular state, but because of the nature of the error, data from some states (TN, NC) were affected more than others in 2014. Results for 2014 unintentional firearm deaths should be interpreted with caution. As recently as last month, the Safe Tennessee Project cited the 2014 data in its campaign. "The dramatic jump in unintentional shootings deaths in our state is a cause for alarm and a call to action," Jonathan Metzl, research director of the Safe Tennessee Project, told the news service last month. "This data truly should be a wake-up call for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle." Even after Lott pointed out the error, it took months for the CDC to acknowledge the mistake. As of the publication of this article, the federal agency still posted the erroneous data on its website. The Safe Tennessee Project removed all postings on its website once the error was acknowledged by the CDC. Carleigh Hager, 25, is telling her story of survival after she says her now ex-boyfriend brutally attacked her inside their Indianapolis home. FOX59 talked to Carleigh inside her hospital room where she's recovering from one of the darkest nights of her life. And he tried to rip my tongue out with his bare fingers from here all the way up to here and he succeeded, half way. He got the right side halfway. He got it halfway ripped out, Carleigh said. Talking through the pain of having her tongue reconstructed and bruises and bite marks all over her body, Carleigh recalled the traumatizing episode with her mother by her side. She says she and her now ex-boyfriend Ryan Cameron, 26, returned home from a wedding Saturday night with some friends. After launching a verbal assault things got physical. He locked our friends outside of our house and ran to the bathroom and locked us in the bathroom, Carleigh said. That's where she says he beat her until she passed out. She tells us Ryan locked the group of friends out of the home during the attack. Those friends called police, a move The Julian Center CEO, Catherine O'Connor says may have saved Carleigh's life. Click for more from Fox 59. A Maryland woman working as a nanny has been arrested after police said she force fed an 8-month-old baby girl who died. Prince George's County Police said Wednesday that 66-year-old Oluremi Oyindasola of Glenarden, Maryland, has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in death and other offenses. Police say a home surveillance system recorded Oyindasola napping when the crying child approached in a toddler walker. Police charging documents say Oyindasola unsuccessfully tried feeding the child, then "proceeded to pour a large amount of white liquid directly inside the victim's mouth." Police say the child, who was force-fed a second bottle, had "difficulty breathing and signs of medical distress." Online court records didn't list a lawyer for Oyindasola, who's being held on $1 million bond. A gun disguised to look like a child's toy was among the items seized last week during a traffic stop in Covington, Louisiana, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office. Investigators said a narcotics investigation led members of the St. Tammany Parish Narcotics Task Force to stop a vehicle. Detectives discovered heroin, methamphetamine, a large amount of cash and drug paraphernalia. In addition to the narcotics, detectives located a 20-gauge sawed-off shotgun that was was wrapped in the popular childrens character The Minions duct tape. Authorities believe this was to make the gun look like a toy in an attempt to throw off law enforcement. Monroe Meyers, 28, and his girlfriend, Winter Flowers, 33, were both taken into custody. Police said they had been living in a Covington-area hotel. Both Meyers and Flowers had outstanding warrants out of Tangipahoa Parish and were also involved in an incident in November 2015 when Flowers was accused of shooting Meyers with an AR-15 rifle in the Livingston Parish area. This entire situation is very troubling," Sheriff Randy Smith said. "This is obviously a dangerous couple who belong in jail. Click for more from Fox 8. The manhunt for a suspect accused of brutally killing two relatives and wounding two Oklahoma police officers last weekend could be far from over, according to the Oklahoma County Sheriff, who revealed the man could be "anywhere from California to Mexico to Florida." The suspect, Michael Dale Vance Jr., also could have died if he never received medical treatment after the shootout that wounded him in Wellston, Okla., Sheriff John Whetsel told The Associated Press on Wednesday. MURDER SUSPECT WHO SPARKED MANHUNT KEPT HIT LIST, POLICE SAY The sheriff also described the murders of Vance's relatives as a "rage killing." He said the suspect apparently was riled up over a child sex abuse case against him. Investigators said the suspect apparently tried to behead the couple. Whetsel said the last known sighting of Vance, 38, was around 2:30 a.m. Monday at a convenience store in the far western Oklahoma town of Sayre. Authorities say he shot a man in the leg while trying to steal a vehicle in the town thats about 30 miles from the Texas border. MINNESOTA SECT LEADER PLEADS GUILTY TO SEX ASSAULT OF GIRLS The suspect has HIV/AIDS and may try to spread the disease, KWTV reported. The news station identified the two killed as Ronald and Valerie Kay Wilkson, Vance's uncle and aunt. Vance "needs to be stopped immediately... this man has no regards for anything," the couple's son-in-law, Jim Sproul, told KWTV. The suspect was accused of wounding the two Wellston officers with an AK-47 and stealing their patrol car Sunday night. Police said he appeared to have a hit list. Vance referenced some potential targets in videos he posted live on Facebook on Sunday while on the run. Law enforcement is providing protection for those possible targets, Whetsel said. In one of the videos posted to Facebook, Vance mentioned the name of a woman and said she knew that "I would get my guns, and I would come ... and you're so lucky this went down this way." Whetsel said some of Vance's potential targets were connected to a case alleging Vance sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl. Court records show Vance has a court hearing scheduled Nov. 7 in Lincoln County on a felony charge of child sexual abuse involving the girl. Wellston Officer Jim Hampton, who was shot in the foot Sunday during a gunbattle with Vance, told Oklahoma City television station KOCO that he shot the suspect twice. "He fell to the ground again, laid there for a few minutes, got back up. The firefight was on again," Hampton said. "At one time, we was actually standing up facing each other, shooting at each other." The FBI, which is coordinating the search for Vance, is being tight-lipped so he isn't tipped off to their efforts, spokesman Terry Weber said in a statement. The search began Sunday night after Hampton and another police officer exchanged gunfire with Vance while responding to a report of shots fired in Wellston, 35 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. The other officer was also hurt but is expected to recover. Vance is suspected of later shooting a woman and stealing her vehicle at a mobile home park near Wellston, then driving about 8 miles to his relatives' mobile home and killing the Wilksons. Vance also is suspected of shooting a man in the leg in an attempted carjacking early Monday at a convenience store in Sayre, about 30 miles from the Texas border. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Vance is believed to be driving a silver 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse with an Oklahoma license plate of 943LQQ. Vance is described as Native American, standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 212 pounds. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Pennsylvania man who pretended to be a decorated ex-Marine sniper so he'd receive less time for theft and weapons crimes is now getting more prison time. Shane Sperow, 43, was sentenced Tuesday to 21 months to five years in state prison, beyond the six to 23 months he's serving for a simple assault conviction, The Reading Eagle reported. Sperow's attorney says the Berks County man lied in February because he wanted to get out of jail sooner and turn his life around to benefit his son. Sperow boasted of deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia while earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. On Tuesday, District Attorney Charles F. Prutzman read a list of military engagements in which Sperow falsely claimed he fought, from Operation Desert Storm to action in Somalia. In reality, none of those things were true, he said, according to the paper. And you were never a U.S. Marine. The report said that Sperow stood in court with his eyes trained to the floor. He nodded during his admission. His lawyer said Sperow was frightened in the moment on Feb. 8, when he first lied about his service and made a mistake. Sperow received three months to two years in prison for lying about his military record, and 18 months to three years in prison for the other crimes. He will spend a total of 21 months to five years in state prison, according to the report. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A months-long protest over the Dakota Access oil pipeline reached its most chaotic pitch yet when hundreds of law enforcement officers moved in to force activists off private property. Thursday's nearly six-hour operation dramatically escalated the dispute over Native American rights and the project's environmental impact, with officers in riot gear firing bean bags and pepper spray. Donnell Hushka, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff's Department, said 141 people were arrested. No serious injuries were reported, though one man was hurt in the leg and received treatment from a medic. Among those arrested was a woman who pulled out a .38-caliber pistol and fired three times at officers, narrowly missing a sheriff's deputy, according to State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong. Officers did not return fire, she said. Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said that the camp had been cleared by nightfall. Though officials earlier said they planned to turn the site over to private security, Kirchmeier said police would stay. "We're not leaving the area," he said. "We are just going to make sure that we maintain a presence in the area so the roadway stays open, and to keep individuals from camping on private land." Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners is working to complete the 1,200-mile pipeline to carry oil from western North Dakota to Illinois. But the route skirts near reservation land of the Standing Rock Sioux, who say it could endanger water supplies and disturb cultural sites, though state officials say no sensitive sites have been found on the route. The tribe has gone to court to challenge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision granting permits. A federal judge in September denied its request to block construction, but three federal agencies stepped in to order construction to halt on Corps-owned land around Lake Oahe, a wide spot of the Missouri River, while the Corps reviewed its decision-making. Meanwhile, construction has been allowed to continue on private land owned by the developer, with a goal of completion by the end of the year. The opposition ratcheted up over the weekend when protesters set up camp on private land owned by Energy Transfer Partners putting themselves for the first time directly in the project's path. The operation to push out the protesters began a day after they had refused to leave voluntarily. Law enforcement repeatedly asked protesters to retreat, at one point using a high-pitched whistle they said was intended to "control and disperse" protesters. The camp cleared on Thursday is located just to the north of a more permanent and larger encampment on federally owned land which has been the main staging area for hundreds of protesters, including Native Americans from across North America, environmentalists and some celebrities. Many protesters openly defied the officers, while others took part in prayer circles and burned sage. Cody Hall, a spokesman for the protesters, vowed a new camp would be built elsewhere in the pipeline's path, but on federal land. "It's going to take a lot to move them (protesters) from there," he said. Authorities said protesters set fire to four large pieces of construction equipment. At least two cars were also burned. Aaron Johnson, 50, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux in South Dakota, said he and other protesters weren't happy with the day's outcome. "I came here for peace and prayer," he said. "When somebody sets something on fire, that's not peace and prayer." Six months after a massacre that left eight family members dead in Pike County, Ohio, two of their surviving relatives spoke out about the shooting, denying they were the targets of an angry Mexican drug cartel. "Its easier to just say, well, its the drug cartel than to say someone in our community could have done this... If you say cartel, everyones going to go for it because theres drugs," Kendra Rhoden told Fox 19. Her father, Kenneth, was the eighth and final relative investigators found dead on April 22. OKLAHOMA MURDER SUSPECT COULD BE ANYWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SHERIFF WARNS Kendra Rhoden says she believes the killer or killers are still nearby. "I believe the community knows more than theyre saying. Someone has to know something." Early on, investigators said they uncovered a large-scale illegal marijuana growing operation at one of the crime scenes and said pot was being cultivated at some of the other homes, too, leading to suggestions Mexican cartels might have been involved. Large marijuana operations are common in southern Ohio. Investigators in 2012 said the seizure of about 1,200 plants in Pike County could be related to a Mexican drug cartel. Kendra Rhoden said there was no way a cartel would target her relatives. "If they had as much marijuana and they were selling as much marijuana as theyre saying, then I wouldnt be busting my butt to put myself through [nursing] school... My dad wouldnt have had to work every day, drive back and forth to Columbus to make a living." METH AND 'MINIONS': DRUG SUSPECTS TRIED TO DISGUISE GUN AS TOY, DEPUTIES SAY She said the cloud of speculation surrounding possible drug cartel ties haunted the surviving family members. "We go out in public and people look at us like were drug heads. That the only reason we have a car or anything is because we sell drugs, or my father sold drugs. Thats not the case. Ive had a job since I was eight years old." The victims were Kenneth Rhoden, 44; Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife, 37-year-old Dana Rhoden; their three children, 20-year-old Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 16-year-old Christopher Rhoden Jr. and 19-year-old Hanna Rhoden; a cousin, 38-year-old Gary Rhoden; and Frankie Rhoden's fiancee, 20-year-old Hannah Gilley, whose 6-month-old son with Frankie Rhoden was unharmed. Most of the victims were shot multiple times in the head and, in the case of Christopher Rhoden Sr., in his upper body and torso, as well. Some bodies showed signs of bruising, as if they'd been beaten. Kenneth Rhoden's body turned up at his trailer a few miles away from the properties on Union Hill Road. Attorney General Mike DeWine, overseeing the investigation along with the sheriff, has said only that the killers had to be familiar with land around the properties, as well as the properties themselves. Though many residents of the rural county about 80 miles south of Columbus also believe the killers are local, most aren't worried about their safety. They believe the family members were specifically targeted. "I don't think nobody's going to come forward and say, 'Oh, I know who did this,'" said Dana Lansing, who lives with her husband about 3 miles from the main crime scene and who was a longtime friend of Dana Rhoden. "Because it's too big. They would fear for their own lives if they did." Fox 19 also found that investigators filled a nearby warehouse with evidence including pictures, clothing and cars -- and left it unlocked and unguarded. "Everything that my kids have left of their father is there," Kendra's mother, Stacie Rhoden-Rigsby, told the news station. Fox 19 reported that a new lock appeared around the warehouse after the security gap was uncovered. Click for more from Fox 19. The Associated Press contributed to this report. At least 43 children were transported to a hospital with minor injuries after a charter bus and Metro bus collided Thursday in Washington D.C., officials said. Authorities told Fox 5 DC that 43 children from the Ideal Charter School were sent to Children's Hospital. The collision happened between Eastern and Randolph Street in Northeast D.C.. Eastern Ave accident tx 43 pediatric patients minor injs or evaluation. Working in conjunction with Prince George's Fire. 5 adult refusals pic.twitter.com/wmkNE1hyax DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) October 27, 2016 Click for more from Fox5DC.com A recent brush with death didn't yield the confession investigators had hoped for from a Connecticut mobster suspected of knowing the whereabouts of $500 million worth of masterworks stolen from a Boston museum decades ago. If Robert Gentile knows anything about the art taken in 1990 from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, he proved last month he's willing to take it to the grave. The 80-year-old "Bobby the Cook" Gentile, who is in federal custody awaiting trial on gun charges, was "on his death bed" in September when his attorney rushed to a South Carolina hospital to ask him -- one last time -- the question no one has answered to date. "I said, 'If you've ever had the paintings, give them up.' But he said there's no paintings," his attorney, Ryan McGuigan, told FoxNews.com Tuesday. "I believe him, but the FBI doesn't," McGuigan said. "There are a lot of people who don't believe him and they are very intelligent people. I disagree with them, respectfully." McGuigan flew to the South Carolina hospital, he said, because he was "open to the possibility that my client might be withholding something." "If there was ever a chance to say it, that was it," he said. "I do certainly know the importance of this art to humanity." NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: THE GREATEST ART HEIST OF ALL TIME What role, if any, Gentile played in the most infamous art heist in American history is unclear. His health has improved, and he is still not talking. It was just after midnight on March 18, 1990, when two men dressed as police officers buzzed the side door at the Boston museum and claimed they were there to investigate a disturbance. A little more than an hour later, the men left with what is said to be the most valuable collection of stolen artwork in history: $580 million worth of famous works, including Rembrandt's only seascape, "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee," and Vermeer's "The Concert," a masterpiece valued at more than $200 million. The two men who broke into the museum -- hours after Boston celebrated St. Patrick's Day -- had "inside knowledge" of the museum's surveillance system, FBI Special Agent Geoff Kelly previously told FoxNews.com. The suspects, described as white men in their 30s, convinced two inexperienced security guards that they were responding to a call, before overtaking the guards and tying them up. They spent 81 minutes inside the museum, walking the dark hallways before making their way to the Dutch Room, where the most valuable works hung.The pair smashed glass and used box cutters to remove the masterpieces from their frames. In all, 13 priceless items were taken: three paintings by Rembrandt including, "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee," five drawings by Degas, and Vermeer's "The Concert" -- said to be the most valuable stolen painting in the world. The thieves also snatched an ancient Chinese bronze beaker or "Ku" from the Shang Dynasty and a finial that once stood atop a flag from Napoleon's Army. Gentile became a focus of the investigation in 2009 when the widow of Robert Guarente, another person of interest in the theft -- told the FBI that Guarente and Gentile had at least two of the stolen works before Guarente's death from cancer in 2004. Another mobster, Robert Bobby Luisi Jr., told The Boston Globe in July that Guarente had said the paintings were buried under the cement slab foundation of a home in Florida. McGuigan said Guarente may have had the paintings, but his client insists they did not come from him. "He's denied ever having the paintings and he's denied knowing the whereabouts of the paintings," McGuigan said. "He hasn't denied knowing the people who at one point had possession of the paintings." "This whole case [against Gentile] comes down to this woman saying her husband gave him the paintings," McGuigan added. "Anybody who had these paintings would hold onto them because the possession of them is power. You'd be giving up the keys to the kingdom. It doesn't make any sense." The FBI said in 2013 that it knows who pulled off the biggest art heist in history, but it isn't naming names. And as for what became of the $580 million worth of masterpieces stolen exactly 26 years ago from a Boston museum, investigators say that trail went cold a decade ago. The FBI said in March 2013 it would be "imprudent" to disclose the identities of the thieves who stole 13 works of art from the museum but said they belong to a criminal organization. Investigators said they believe the artwork has "changed hands several times" over the years. "The FBI believes with a high degree of confidence in the years after the theft the art was transported to Connecticut and the Philadelphia region and some of the art was taken to Philadelphia where it was offered for sale by those responsible for the theft," Special Agent Richard DesLauriers told reporters in March 2013. "With that same confidence we have identified the thieves who are members of a criminal organization with a base in the mid-Atlantic states and New England," he said. An FBI spokesman was not immediately available when contacted Wednesday. Gentile is currently in prison facing a federal gun charge he says the FBI contrived to force him to disclose the location of the artwork. In May, FBI agents swarmed a Connecticut home owned by Gentile, digging up the yard looking for any evidence. According to the Boston Globe, a federal prosecutor said in court earlier this year that Gentile last year offered to sell the paintings to an undercover FBI agent for $500,000 a piece. Gentile also failed a polygraph exam when questioned about the heist and current whereabouts of the paintings, the prosecutor said. When asked about Gentile's alleged contact with an FBI agent last year, McGuigan told FoxNews.com, "I don't know that to be true." When questioned by the Globe in an Oct. 1 article, McGuigan reportedly said Gentile was "just pretending" to have the paintings. Austrian police say they have seized 47 puppies found in a car at the Hungarian border. The driver was headed for France, where authorities suspect he planned to pass off the animals as French-born. Police in Burgenland province say they found the puppies in the trunk and back seat of the 33-year-old Romanian's car during a routine check on Wednesday. They did not disclose the breed of the dogs. They said the driver handed officers 24 European Union pet passports, which turned out to contain forged data. A vet determined that the puppies, which were about six weeks old, hadn't been microchipped. Officials suspect the Romanian puppies were to be microchipped in France, so that they could be sold as French animals for a higher price. Austrian authorities turned the driver back to Hungary. EXCLUSIVE: The United Nations World Health Organization, which claims impartiality and independence from external sources and authorities in its operations, has been quietly cooperating with Syrias murderous Assad regime in one of the ugliest aspects of its civil war: the weaponization of blood. WHO claims to be impartial, dispensing relief from suffering according to need, and openly admits it has supplied the Assad defense ministrys blood bank since the beginning of the conflict, according to a spokesperson, with more than $5.1 million worth of specialized blood storage bags and blood testing kits, intended to keep the military-administered blood supply fresh and free of contamination from HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne diseases. The U.N. agency has steadfastly asserted that it maintains an arms-length relationship with the militarized Syrian national blood bank, providing supplies through Assads more palatable ministries of health and higher education (which controls some teaching hospitals). That is a legal fig-leaf: as the U.N. agency itself acknowledges, the supplies still end up with the national blood bank, just via an intermediary. In a token nod to impartiality, a WHO spokesman says the agency consistently demands that blood prepared by the Blood Bank be sent to besieged opposition areas as well as government-controlled territory, but adds that. unfortunately, the supplies are blocked. WHO says it has lodged numerous official protests about the blockages. On the basis of documents independently translated by Fox News, however, WHOs claim of an arms length relationship with Assads blood bank appears to be at best a sham. The agency has apparently taken on the role of procurement go-between for the Assad dictatorship, buying supplies that the blood bank previous bought directly from its vendor, Abbott, a global health care company headquartered in Chicago, after U.S. and European Union sanctions against Assad seemed to make the direct buyer-seller relationship untenable. Questions from Fox News to WHO about the specific elements of that relationship, including where the U.N. agency was buying the supplies that the Syrian militarys blood bank sought, went unanswered. Questions sent two weeks ago by Fox News to Abbott regarding its supplier relationship to the Syrian Blood Bank, the reasons why that relationship apparently came to an end, and the nature of the subsequent relationship with WHO, also went unanswered before this story was published. An Abbott spokesperson did acknowledge receipt of the questions, and in a subsequent phone call, asked for more information on the angle of the story associated with them. Fox News has examined recently acquired letters sent this year directly to WHOs top official in Syria, Elizabeth Hoff, from Major General Osama Dr. Jamil Ahmad, a top military official who is also a medical doctor, and who is head of the state-run General Establishment for Blood and Medical Industries, which includes the governments national blood bank. In the letters, Ahmad is asking for replacement parts for Abbotts Architect-model blood screening machines, as well as hundreds of thousands of screening test kits for HIV and other blood-borne diseases. The same letters indicate that WHO has been similarly helpful for years. In a letter originally sent on January 17, 2016, Ahmad thanks Hoff personally for your cooperation, efforts, and the humane position that you took to help us during all of 2015, before asking for 1.2 million blood screening tests to be delivered in increments during 2016. CLICK HERE FOR THE JANUARY 17 LETTER CLICK HERE FOR THE JANUARY 17 TRANSLATION Another letter from Ahmad, dated March 12, 2016, extends the thank-you to WHO for help delivered since 2014, and then asks for a detailed list of spare parts for Abbott Architect blood transfusion hardware. CLICK HERE FOR THE MARCH 12 LETTER CLICK HERE FOR THE MARCH 12 TRANSLATION There is no mention in the letters of any requests from the health or higher education ministries, or any acknowledgement that the supplies will be channeled through purely civilian institutions. In actual operations rather than the public portrayal, the fig leaf disappears. In private, the relationship between WHO and the Syrian military also looks a lot more intimate. While the Assad regime escalated its Russian and Iranian-backed assault in June on civilians in the opposition-held centers of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama-- including deliberate bombing attacks on hospitals, blood banks and other medical facilities -- one of Syrias top military officials at a ceremony in Damascus was hailing WHO for providing all kinds of support to alleviate the unjust economic embargo on Syria that was imposed over just such savage regime attacks on its own people. The occasion was intended to commemorate World Blood Donor Day, a WHO-endorsed international campaign on June 14 to promote and highlight the need to share life by donating blood, and encourage national health ministries to promote voluntary blood giving. The event was covered by the official Syrian national news agency. The Blood Day theme this year was Blood connects us all. Deputy Defense Minister Mahmoud Abdal Wahab al Shawa, a Syrian lieutenant general, offered thanks to WHO while praising Ahmads General Establishment for Blood and Medical Industries, which includes the governments national blood bank, for withstanding the unjust embargo imposed on Syria. The medical agency operates under al Shawas Defense Ministry. The blood bank then bestowed a plaque on Elizabeth Hoff, offering thank you and appreciation for WHOs support. (Hoff herself was not present, according to a video of the event prepared by SANA, the Assad regimes official news agency; Dr. Wael Ismail, head of WHOs local Trauma Service Department, attended.) Even as Ahmad spoke, Russian and Syrian air forces were dramatically hiking their air assaults on civilians in Aleppo and other opposition centers around the country, in preparation for a major assault on Syrias one-time biggest city that culminated in Aleppos encirclement and cut-off in early July. Doctors from the Syrian American Medical Society, which provides help in the beleaguered and besieged areas, noted that two air assaults by Syrias Ministry of Defense took place on the day of Ahmads speech: one on the health directorate building in the city of Idlib and the other on a hospital in Aleppo . The rain of death over Aleppo has rarely lessened ever since, most recently with a brief pause that ended on October 24. In fact, Assads regime has used blood for years as a weapon of war to divide Syrians -- into those allies who receive blood and live, and those perceived opponents who dont, and die. As far back as 2011, Amnesty International extensively documented Assads use of medical facilities and blood banks as focal points of violence and repression, including the regimes decision to monopolize blood distribution through the militarized blood bank. That centralization gave the regime bank control over who obtained the life-saving supplies, as well as providing opportunities to torture and kill wounded civilians of uncertain political loyalties who turned up for transfusions. CLICK HERE FOR THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT Since Assads aim was to destroy opposition to his dictatorship, the regime decided to consider any doctor or medic who treated an injured protester as a terrorist, who could face detention, torture and often death. Full-out regimes attacks on blood banks in opposition areas followed in early 2012. On July 2, 2012, the Syrian government passed anti-terrorism laws that effectively made it a crime to provide medical care to anyone suspected of being part of the opposition. Attacks on blood banks and hospitals where donated blood is stored and used, as well as the related medical facilities that treat the wounded, have occurred ever since, as noted in several U.N. human rights reports, and these evident war crimes are a special feature of the most recent wave of ramped-up Russian and Syrian air assaults against Aleppo and other opposition-held areas. Doctors from the Syrian American Medical Society, or SAMS, which provides help in the beleaguered areas, reported 42 attacks on hospitals and other medical facilities in July alone, three of which were targeted assaults on blood banks. Internal WHO documents examined by Fox News itemize at least five assaults against blood banks, hospitals and treatment centers from air attacks in just a few days in the last week of September. Overall, since the peaceful uprising was first met with violence by the Syrian government in March 2011, through the end of June 2016, Physicians for Human Rights counted 382 attacks on 289 hospitals, ambulances and clinics. The overwhelming majority 344 -- of these attacks, the humanitarian group says, were committed by Syrian Ministry of Defense forces with air support from Russia. In this same time period, the group says, 757 doctors and other medical personnel have been either killed on duty, assassinated or arrested and tortured to death, of which Assads regime was responsible for 703 of deaths. CLICK HERE FOR THE PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS' TALLY After years of such concentrated assaults, there are now only five hospitals left in eastern Aleppo, served by 29 doctors, for 300,000 civilians, as the city has been under full siege by the Syrian government since July. The strategy has been gruesomely effective. While casualties mount, doctors in opposition areas have had to improvise blood transfusion and other medical procedures, sometimes transfusing patients including children directly from their own blood. Because these doctors cannot match blood types, some patients have died from adverse transfusion reactions. Few doctors now have the ability to screen for HIV, Hepatitis B or C, or syphilis, or to separate blood into packed cells, platelets, plasma and other blood factors. None of those tests or treatments are available for the roughly 1.3 million people living under siege, according to the non-government organization Siegewatch. Meantime, the vicious bombing of civilian areas has raised the demand for blood, at the same time as the supply and quality is shrinking. A doctor in eastern Aleppo told Fox News that while the toll from bombing of the area has raised demand for blood from 50 to 70 bags per day, supplies are maybe 20 to 30 bags. Blood is being stored in food refrigerators, and can be kept only four or five days, he said. With proper bags and equipment, it could last two or three weeks. Malnutrition is further limiting the reserves of blood donors. The Syrian government has also impeded patients with urgent medical needs from leaving besieged areas, among them conjoined twins who died mysteriously in August in government hands shortly after their delayed evacuation from besieged Eastern Ghouta. Desperately besieged and bombarded eastern Aleppo illustrates how WHO works. It has contributed 36 tons of life-saving medical supplies for its residents. But none of it has gotten through. Instead, WHO has stockpiled these supplies in the Assad-controlled Western part of the city for distribution once access is granted, as a WHO spokesperson put it. By contrast, 56 tons of medical supplies have already been distributed in the Assad-controlled territories. WHO publicly offers detailed descriptions of the ways it sanitizes itself from Assads militarized blood bank, and instead relies on the civilian health and higher education ministries to tell it what supplies to provide, and -- using blood bank data -- how the supplies are distributed. The responsible directorates in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Higher Education prepare monthly distribution plans that set out the total number of blood bags required by health care facilities (including public and non-government organization-managed hospitals) for the coming month, a WHO spokesman told Fox News. The national blood bank (through our partners: the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Health, NGOs) provides WHO with quarterly distribution data on the blood bags that were tested and distributed. WHO staff regularly visit health care facilities and interview staff and patients about the availability of blood transfusion services and the source of blood supplies, he added. This information is triangulated against the data provided by the national blood bank. WHOs impartiality and independence behind a careful latticework of distribution plans and triangulation is contradicted by the direct communications in the past year from the militarized blood bank to WHO, ordering up blood-testing kits and replacement parts for screening equipment In addition, internal WHO emails obtained by Fox News reveal a discussion among agency officials that took place over several months starting in June 2013, about a new supplier relationship with the blood bank. According to the emails, an initial approach to procure blood testing kits came from the blood bank itself to WHOs Syria office, to replace supplies procured directly from ABBOT [sic] under a large contract between the company and the government of Syria signed in 2009. Within the U.N. agency, as one email put it, there was subsequently much discussion on WHO taking over the procurement process due to difficulties associated with the current restrictions placed on trade with Syria -- an apparent reference to U.S. and E.U. sanctions. The agency apparently decided to proceed at least to the extent of preparing a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering the supply process. Most of the internal discussion in the emails seen by Fox News thereafter center on the issue of how to ensure hard currency cash payment from Syria for any supplies sent to the blood bank; concerns that the blood bank pay for supplies in hard currency (dollars or euros) and up front; whether other U.N. agencies in Syria might be able to draw on the hard currency credit; and such things as the credit rating of the Byblos Bank where the Syrian money would be deposited. Most WHO officials involved in the email traffic examined by Fox News do not appear to focus on the kind of questions raised by WHOs legal counsel, Gian Luca Burci, in an email from June 25, 2013, about the political risk behind this kind of operation. As Burci put it, We are prepared to go out of our way and stretch our rules and practices for a country that has become a pariah state and which has no U.N. sanctions against it only because Russia would block them in the Security Council, even though other countries have imposed sanctions for the regimes deliberate attacks on civilians and facilities. Do we know how the Syrian government is going to use the blood that we purchase on its behalf? Burci asked. What if it came out that it was using it for its troops and militias rather than for civilians? That is a concrete possibility, and it would be very damaging for our image. He said that a final decision whether we want to accept Syrias request, and the modalities for doing so, should be takentaking into account all aspects and risks involved. Burci also noted that WHO was supposed to undertake certain procurement transactions only for health administrations or comparable authorities of Member States, or to agencies operating under their jurisdiction. In his view, the Syrian blood bank was not such an agency. (Insisting that it operates through the health and higher education ministries, in other words, seems to be less a reason WHO uses to keep its distance from a government that uses blood as part of its repressive strategy, and more of a means of enabling the agency to supply the blood bank.) Queried by Fox News about the email, Burci, who has since left the U.N., declined to answer, citing his obligations under the Staff Regulations and Rules [of WHO] not to disclose without the authorization of the Director-General -- Dr. Margaret Chan -- information related to the internal working of the organization. Burcis concerns got a response from his peers. In an email three weeks later, another WHO official, while continuing to deal mostly with the financial issues, thanked Burci for his input and added that The agreement with the blood bank should include, at a minimum, a clause on the supplies being accessible by all those in need -- something that the Assad regime had already been ferociously demonstrating for years that it had no intention of doing. On September 19, 2013, a draft copy of the MOU between the blood bank and WHO was sent to WHOs Syria boss, Elizabeth Hoff, for final review, according to the agency email chain examined by Fox News. Fox News has examined a copy of a draft memorandum between WHO and the blood bank to procure an unspecified number of blood testing kits, in batches costing no less than $300,000 each, whenever the blood bank sends a pro forma invoice. There is no mention in the document of any role in the supply chain for other Syrian government ministries: but there is a specific mention in paragraph 2.1 of the fact that a duly authorized official of the blood bank is needed to sign each request. Buried roughly midway through the 10 page document is a single last sentence in paragraph 4.7, which says the blood bank shall be responsible to make sure the Products will reach all Syrians who are in need of these kits in all difficult areas inside Syria in other words, leaving the decision up to Assad. The bulk of the same paragraph is devoted to ensuring that the blood bank should pay all costs associated with the clearance, receipt, inspection upon delivery, loading, unloading, storage, insurance, transport and distribution of the Products except where the supplier bears the cost. The text immediately following paragraph 4.8 says that even though it is procuring the goods, WHO shall never be named as the consignee of shipments sent directly to the blood bank, or accept any return shipments. In other words, WHO will remain publicly invisible. CLICK HERE FOR THE MOU Questions from Fox News about the existence of the agreement and why it was considered necessary were ignored by WHO. The memorandum of agreement in Fox News possession was not signed. But, as the letters written in 2016 show, WHO continues to comply with blood bank requests -- supporting the Ministry of Defense -- while the same MoD continues to use chemical weapons, missiles, incendiary bombs to target hospitals and ambulances, doctors and patients. Annie Sparrow, a critical care pediatrician and public health expert, is an assistant professor of Global Health at the Arnhold Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. George Russell is Editor-at-Large of Fox News. He is reachable on Twitter at @GeorgeRussell and on Facebook at Facebook.com/George.Russell German authorities say they have arrested a 19-year-old Afghan man suspected of fighting for the Taliban. Federal prosecutors said in a statement that the suspect, identified only as Wajid S., was arrested on Thursday. They gave no further details, and didn't specify when or how he arrived in Germany. He is suspected of membership in a foreign terrorist association. Prosecutors say that he is believed to have joined the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2013 and was repeatedly involved in fighting. The Taliban have been waging war against the Afghan government since 2001. A man was shot dead after stabbing a policeman guarding the perimeter wall of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi and trying to take his gun, a Kenyan police official said Thursday. SOMALIA'S AL-SHABAB IN COMEBACK, AS ETHIOPIA PULLS TROOPS The policeman who had been stabbed opened fire in self-defense and killed the attacker, said Vitalis Otieno, the officer in charge of the Gigiri area that hosts several embassies and the U.N's African headquarters. "He fired first and shot the person and the person died on the spot," Otieno said. The identity of the attacker, a Kenyan from the volatile region of Wajir near Somalia, is known to police, Otieno said. ISIS-LINKED MILITANTS SEIZE PORT TOWN IN NORTHERN SOMALIA Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel were seen collecting evidence at the scene of the shooting. The U.S. Embassy confirmed there was a shooting and said no embassy personnel were involved. Wajir county has been cited by Kenyan authorities as a hot spot for recruitment by the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab from neighboring Somalia. Al-Shabab has vowed retribution on Kenya for sending troops to Somalia to fight the militants. The group has carried out a wave of attacks in Kenya that have left hundreds dead. The extremist group claimed responsibility for an attack Tuesday in Mandera county that killed 12 people, saying its fighters were targeting Christians. Al-Shabab is al-Qaida's affiliate in the region, and it hosted Fazul Abdallah Mohammed, who was accused of masterminding the U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 that killed over 200 people. Mohammed was shot dead by Somali troops in 2011. Recently, Kenya has been battling the recruitment of youth by the Islamic State group, which is al-Qaida's rival. Kenyan police have linked three women who were killed after they allegedly attacked a police station in Mombasa to the Islamic State. The early stages of the campaign to liberate Mosul are revealing exactly why it took so long to seize the city from the bloody grip of ISIS. Just over a year ago, Iraqi President Fuad Masum said the effort to reclaim the nation's second-largest city and the surrounding Nineveh Plain from ISIS would take place sometime during 2016. But he noted the need to address issues like troop training, coordination of various ethnic groups, militias and international forces. The success or failure of the operation will show if those obstacles were overcome. Its really a complex scenario, Scott Stewart, vice president of Tactical Analysis at global intelligence firm Stratfor, told FoxNews.com. A lot of it was due to training and to get them [coalition forces] ready. Stewart adds that the campaign to take Mosul has been difficult thus far because of the massive size of the city and its infrastructure. Its going to be difficult, he said. The sheer size of city. Its really Iraqs second city. They have a lot of infestation. The question is, are they [ISIS] going to flee or are they going to hold on because of the meaning of Mosul? The U.S. played a role in the long delay, as well, according to some experts. The delay in liberating Mosul was almost entirely a function of the Obama administrations light footprint approach to the conflict, said John Hannah, senior counselor at Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former national security adviser to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. His strategy the Obama Doctrine, if you will is premised on having local partners do the bulk of the fighting, with the U.S. supporting from behind in very small numbers. The problem in Iraq, of course, was that the local partner that were depending on, the Iraqi Security Forces, largely collapsed in 2014 in the face of the Islamic States invasion." The Iraqi military had to be rebuilt, equipped and trained. Compounding matters is the fact that Mosul, the jihadist army's Iraqi capital, is not like other, smaller cities liberated over the last two years. While elements of the Iraqi Army have gradually been able to evict ISIS from Iraq's smaller towns and cities, the challenge of liberating Mosul was of a whole different order of magnitude, Hannah said. Its a vast metropolis that had millions of inhabitants, enormous sectarian and ethnic complexity, and was the historical bastion of Sunni [Muslim] revanchism in Iraq. The fight was always going to be toughest in Mosul, which is why it was left for last. As forces still fight to liberate Mosul, the Peshmerga, Iraqi Special Forces and the Nineveh Protection Units have made considerable strides throughout the region, reclaiming smaller cities that surround Mosul throughout the Nineveh Plain. Also known as the plains of Mosul, this region of Northern Iraq has been the ancestral homeland of Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Christians, Yazidis and other minorities -- all of whom were under attack from ISIS once the terror group started to take hold and control the region in 2014. It has been estimated that a dozen Christian families flee Iraq each day, often for the relative safety of Europe and Lebanon. Some are already planning to return, and rebuild their homes once ISIS is gone. The area was decimated, Juliana Taimoorazy, founder and president of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council and senior fellow with the Philos Project, told FoxNews.com. A sense of family and community has been destroyed. We must embrace these people as the work to rebuild begins. Another issue that could delay stabilization of the region is who the territory would be governed by -- the Iraqi Central Government or semi-independent Kurdistan. The biggest problem right now is the status of the Nineveh Plain as a disputed territory between the Iraqi Central Government and the regional government of Kurdistan, said Robert Nicholson, executive director of the Philos Project. Nicholson and other have made for a push to create a new self-governing province on the plain. If this dispute continues unresolved or, worse, if the parties try to establish facts on the ground -- as the Kurdish Peshmerga appear to be doing -- the minorities will have no chance. The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 3:45 p.m. The European Union has added 10 more Syrians to its sanctions' list, seeking to punish those that have been involved in the attacks on the contested city of Aleppo. The EU said in a statement on Thursday that the new individuals were listed "for being responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria" or benefiting from links to the Syrian regime. Last week, EU foreign ministers said that the attacks on Aleppo could amount to war crimes. Overall, EU sanctions on Syria were extended at the end of May until June 2017. With Thursday's additions, 217 people and 69 entities, including companies and associations, have been targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze over the violent repression of civilians. ___ 2:30 p.m. Turkey's president is telling his American counterpart that Turkey is ready to kick the Islamic State group out of their capital Raqqa in Syria. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey-backed opposition fighters inside Syria will eventually reach Raqqa after securing the towns of al-Bab and Manbij. "Last night we had a long conversation with Obama and shared our plans with him . We said, 'Come let's kick Daesh out of Raqqa together,' " he said referring to the Arabic acronym for the IS group. Erdogan added that he urged that the operation take place without involvement of Syrian Kurdish forces. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish militias an extension of its own outlawed Kurdish rebels, though the U.S. regards them as the most effective ground force in the fight against IS. ___ 10:15 a.m. The U.N. Children's agency says airstrikes in Syria's rebel-held northern Idlib province a day earlier may be the deadliest attack on a school since the country's war began nearly six years ago, leaving 22 children and six of their teachers killed. A team of first responders, the Syrian Civil Defense, and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday that the Wednesday airstrikes killed at least 35, mostly children, when they struck in the village of Hass around midday. Initially, the estimated death toll was at 22. The airstrikes hit in a residential area housing a school complex, as children gathered outside. UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake called the airstrikes an "outrage." He added if it is determined that the airstrikes were deliberate, "it is a war crime." next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Faced with an ever-more belligerent and unpredictable Russia, NATO allies are advancing with plans to deploy thousands of troops and military equipment to the Baltics and Poland. In recent weeks alone, Russia has moved battleships toward the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas, shifted nuclear-capable missile-launchers into its Kaliningrad enclave neighboring Poland and continued flying bombers down the western European coast. NATO defense ministers, ending two days of talks in Brussels on Thursday, have been fleshing out contributions to an advance force agreed in July that will be stationed near Russia's borders. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said "we are responding in a measured and responsible way because we are not seeking a new Cold War. We want to keep tensions as low as possible." The Americans dont trust the Iranians, the Iranians covet Iraq, the Sunnis and Shia have been at each others throats for 1,000 years and the Kurds prefer to be left alone. As coalitions go, the one pieced together to dislodge ISIS from its Iraqi stronghold in Mosul is an odd one. For now, its members are working together, but uneasy alliances and divergent motives could be tested as fighting intensifies, experts told FoxNews.com. ISIS MONEYMAN SPLITS WITH BLOOD CASH "The Mosul offensive is being led by the government of Iraq and we, the coalition, are providing support by training police and military, Pentagon spokesman and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Adrian Rankine-Galloway told FoxNews.com, repeating the official line of all parties. ISIS PLOTTING FRESH TERROR ATTACKS ON WEST Coalition forces, including Iraqi Army soldiers, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Iranian ground troops, Shia militias and U.S. advisers, have freed outlying villages as they encircle the city ISIS captured more than two years ago. The black-clad jihadist army has ruled the city since it overran Iraqi Army soldiers in an assault that humiliated Baghdad and underscored the need for more training. With the recent deployment of more than 600 troops, the U.S. has nearly 5,000 men and women on Iraqi soil and some 200 advisers deployed alongside Iraqi and Kurdish soldiers. "Americans are in harm's way as part of this fight," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said last week. "They are playing a support role, but they are behind the forward line of troops." Sources who spoke to FoxNews.com on condition of anonymity say they fear that, as the different teams converge on the city, any pretense of coordination could crumble. "It is complete madness, a U.S. military source within the high ranks of Operation Inherent Resolve told FoxNews.com. It is Iraq we are supposed to be helping in this, but essentially, we are helping Iran." Iran has never hid its desire to exert influence over its neighbor, even dating back to the 1980s, when it waged a grinding war with Sunni strongman Saddam Husseins Iraq. With a friendly government in Baghdad, Iran has sent troops into Iraq and legendary Revolutionary Guard Qassem Suleimani was spotted in the region earlier this week. Galloway declined to comment on how strong Iranian influence is, saying "that would entail revealing classified information." But he insisted that no American forces would be commanded by Iran. "U.S. troops answer to the commanding general Lt. Gen. Steve Townsend, commanding general of the combined joint task force international task force primarily manned by American forces," Galloway said. But it is the Iranian-backed Shia militias who incite the most fear and hatred among coalition members. It was their fighters who used Tehran-supplied IEDs to kill more than 500 U.S. troops during the insurgency that followed the Iraq war. And they have used the cover of fighting ISIS to slaughter Sunni civilians in the liberation of other cities. Kurdish fighters told FoxNews.com they do not trust them, either. The militias are playing a key role, particularly in clearing areas around Mosul ahead of the final push. With an estimated 6,000 mostly Sunni ISIS fighters holed up inside the traditionally Sunni city, Baghdad has barred Shia militias from entering the city out of concern they would commit atrocities. "There is a reason we haven't been targeted by the Shia militias -- yet," said the U.S. source. "We are helping them get rid of their enemy, which is ISIS, but helping them gain a lot of power in the process." Asked pointedly about cooperation with Iranian-backed Shiite militias, Rankine-Galloway said the U.S. "does not work with units that have histories of human rights abuses or officials with the government of Iran." Shwan Mohommad Tihi, a former Iraqi Parliament member and head of the Security and Defense Committee in Baghdad between 2010 and 2014, called the mishmash of alliances "complicated." "Iraq is Shia-dominated, so naturally Iran is going to have a lot of influence and Iran is not afraid to play here," Tihi said, indicating that a "bipolar" American policy and military presence has emboldened Iran. "Iran is gaining land and popularity because of this war in Iraq and the success of its proxies." The Shia militias, known as Popular Mobilization Forces, are seen as an Iranian proxy. PMF Deputy Chief Moen Al Kadmi told FoxNews.com earlier this year they "don't want to work with U.S. troops" and insisted that U.S. forces had "fired on them." "We won't kill them, but we can't guarantee that other militias won't kill them," he said ominously. The PMF was formed in 2014 following a fatwa from Iraqi Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani requesting able-bodied Iraqi men to expel ISIS, and while it has proven to be a strong fighting force, it is believed to include Iranian-controlled militias answering to Soleimani. Its not just the U.S. forces who have reason to distrust the Shia militias. One Kurdish Peshmerga lieutenant general stationed near the Syrian border said there is "no difference between Shia militias and ISIS." "If we see militias here in our area, we will kill them," he said. Shia militias not only "carry out mass atrocities" but they have another "dangerous agenda" in extending their influence across Iraq and Syria, a senior official with the Asayish, the main Kurdish security and intelligence branch, told FoxNews.com. The agenda includes using the offensive as a pretext to place forces west of Mosul and extending to the Mediterranean Sea, an objective that prompted Turkey to send troops near Mosul. While Turkey is not officially part of the Mosul offensive, it is warily watching Iran, and could act if it sees a need to beat back its historic adversary. All parties here have an agenda here, said the U.S. military source. And it seems the U.S. [forces] are the only ones whose only priority is getting rid of ISIS." Few people, if any, reading this column will have any clue who Lucky Spell is and can only wonder what is behind the bizarre headline above. After all, how is a California-bred filly, who died in 2005, the star of the 2016 Breeders Cup Classic? As a racehorse, Lucky Spell was a tough, hard-knocking filly who won or placed in 15 stakes, with victories in the Las Palmas, Las Flores, and Princess Stakes among her five stakes scores for trainer Henry Moreno. To show how resilient she was, the daughter of Lucky Mel made 69 starts in her career and when she died of a heart attack at Magali Farms near Santa Ynez, she was 34 years old. As a broodmare, Lucky Spell was pretty mediocre at best, producing 14 foals, 12 of whom made it to the races. But only one earned over $100,000 and that was Goldspell, who earned $186,010. But two of those foals would go on to make a tremendous impact on this years BC Classic. In 1983, Lucky Spell produced a Caro filly named Trolley Song, who would win only one of seven starts for earnings of $29,000. Nine years later, Lucky Spell produced a filly by Caros son Cozzene named Lucky Soph, who would win only one of six starts for earnings of $9,000. To finally get to the punchline, these two three-quarter sisters out of Lucky Spell, born nine years apart, would produce the sires of California Chrome and Arrogate, the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked horses in the world and the two standout favorites for the upcoming Breeders Cup Classic. Lucky Soph is the dam of California Chromes sire Lucky Pulpit, and Trolley Song is the dam of Arrogates sire Unbridleds Song. To also demonstrate how close the bloodlines are, California Chromes broodmare sire, Not For Love, is by Mr. Prospector, while Arrogates broodmare sire, Distorted Humor, is by Mr. Propectors son Forty Niner. In addition, both horses share Danzig in their fourth generation female family. And their dams are both inbred to Northern Dancer. What makes this connection through Lucky Spell all the more remarkable is that Lucky Pulpit, who won 3 of 22 starts with his only stakes victory coming at five furlongs at Arlington Park, stood in California for a meager $2,500, while Unbridleds Song was a multiple grade I winner, including the Breeders Cup Juvenile; was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, and was one of the most sought after stallions in the country. But history has brought these two grandsons of Lucky Spell together and the result is California Chrome and Arrogate, who now stand in each others way for the richest prize in America. Pre-entry Prattle Trainer Phil DAmato has figured out a way to plan his Breeders Cup strategy, regarding in which races to run his horses. Simply let the Breeders Cup selection committee make the decision for him. DAmato pre-entered three legitimate contenders for the Breeders Cup Mile, all with a first preference, and pre-entered them in other races as well, with second preferences. All three horses Midnight Storm, Vyjack, and Obviously deserve to be in the Mile, but the committee decided to split them all up by putting Vyjack, coming off a record-equaling victory in Santa Anitas main Breeders Cup prep for the Mile, and Obviously, who has run in the Mile the past four years and a grade III winner at Belmont this year, well down on the also-eligible list, forcing DAmato to run them in the Dirt Mile and Turf Sprint, respectively. With Midnight Storm, they had no choice, as the horse captured a Win and Youre In event and automatically made it into the starting field. It also worked out very well for Breeders Cup, because without Vyjack, there was a good chance the Dirt Mile would have only a seven-horse field, a stunningly low figure for a race usually considered one of the most contentious and wide-open of all the Breeders Cup races. So, DAmato is off the hook as far as running his horses in the best race. In the end, Dortmund looks to be very tough in the Dirt Mile, but I actually feel Vyjack is going to run a huge race and could pull off the upset. People may have forgotten his Kelso Handicap score in 1:34, but as we all know a two-turn mile at Santa Anita is pretty much equivalent to a mile and 70-yard or 1 1/16-mile race, and the only two times Vyjack raced at those distances he won the grade II Jerome Stakes and grade III Gotham Stakes, so hes been very effective at a mile and as close to a two-turn mile as you can get. So, even though he should be in the Mile, his best shot looks to be in the Dirt Mile, and hes got my bet. ********* One of the main surprises was the placement of the Filly and Mare Sprint two races before the Classic, an odd race to be run as one of the lead-ins to the big event, considering there is no big name and with the top-class Curalina pre-entered with a first preference for the Distaff, even though she could very well be the favorite in the Filly and Mare Sprint. Breeders Cup had moved the Mile to the race prior to the Classic several years ago because of the presence of Horse of the Year Wise Dan. The Turf returned to its usual spot last year, with Golden Horn the main attraction, but this year, the Mile was again made the co-feature, even though its star attraction, Tepin, is coming off a defeat and the race now looks more wide-open with a huge overflow field pre-entered. But this move certainly is understandable, considering Flintshire also is coming off a defeat and Tepin still is a major attraction, combined with the race drawing four other top-class fillies from the U.S, and Europe in Miss Temple City, Alice Springs, Sceptre, and Photo Call. But with many people tuning in late to watch the Classic, why not preview next years Kentucky Derby horses and run the Juvenile as the 10th race instead of the Filly and Mare Sprint and use that as a lead-in to the Classic, especially with so many Kentucky Derby-type horses running this year who seem to have the class and the pedigree to be legitimate classic horses. *********** Can anyone imagine the Breeders Cup without Aidan OBrien? Where would the European contingent be without the Ballydoyle horses? With the vast majority of European horses already finished racing for the year, OBrien has somehow managed to pre-enter an amazing 12 horses to this years Breeders Cup, including his 14th attempt at the Classic, once again stepping way out of the box by running his filly Found, winner of last years BC Turf and this years Prix de lArc de Triomphe. Founds sire, Galileo, who was one of the major stars OBrien sent over for the Classic, has a number of excellent chances to sire a Breeders Cup winner this year, being represented by Highland Reel in the Turf, Alice Springs in the Mile, Seventh Heaven and Pretty Perfect in the Filly & Mare Turf, and Hydrangea in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Arlington Million winner Mondialiste, is another son of Galileo heading for the Turf. And another of OBriens beaten horses in the Classic, Giants Causeway, is the sire of Not This Time, who will be favorite or second choice in the Juvenile. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Somalia's Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabab, are making a comeback, having recently seized four towns and attacked a guesthouse in neighboring Kenya, killing 12. The resurgence of Al-Shabab, which is allied to al-Qaida, could affect Somalia's plans to hold elections next month and further destabilize what is already one of the world's most failed states. The rebels had steadily lost ground over the past five years, first losing control of the capital, Mogadishu, in 2011 and then being pushed out of virtually all of Somalia's other major cities and towns. This was largely the work of the African Union force of 22,000 soldiers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti, which is supported by the U.N. The relatively weak Somalia army, with 35,000 troops, also participated in the operations. Al-Shabab was reduced to roaming around Somalia's vast, arid scrubland, and staging deadly suicide bombing attacks in Mogadishu and other centers. In recent months there have been increases in attacks on hotels and also al-Shabab has directly attacked African Union bases. But now this month Ethiopia which has 2,000 troops in the African Union force and an unknown number operating independently in Somalia pulled its forces out of the towns of Halgan, El-Ali and Mahas in the Hiran region of south-central Somalia. Al-Shabab wasted no time and within hours its fighters had seized control of those towns where they raised their black flags. On Wednesday, Ethiopian troops withdrew from a fourth town, Tiyeglow, in the southwestern Bakool region, and al-Shabab retook it. Al-Shabab's swift seizures of the newly exposed towns are worrying for Somalia, facing a presidential election in late November. It is not known how many Ethiopian troops have been pulled out of Somalia, but analysts say they were withdrawn in response to Ethiopia's need for troops at home to enforce the state of emergency imposed to quell months of anti-government protests. "Returning a large number of troops back home left the Ethiopian army overextended in Somalia, so abandoning some ground in Somalia is inevitable," said Mohamed Sheikh Abdi, a Somali political analyst. Meanwhile, Somalia's civilians are bearing the brunt of the withdrawals, with militants executing suspected government collaborators in each location they recapture, say residents. "They left without informing us, only to find al-Shabab here and killing our elders," a resident told The Associated Press by telephone, on condition of anonymity for security reasons. "We would rather have al-Shabab here than having unpredictable soldiers leaving us in the open." Ethiopia's government spokesman, Getachew Reda, said Ethiopia's recent pullout from certain places in Somalia did not include relocating the country's forces that are part of the multinational African Union mission. "But the troops that we sent to Somalia on our own do not necessarily have to stay there as long as (the African Union mission) does," Getachew said Wednesday. He said the troop pullout is not related to his country's six-month state of emergency, which was declared on Oct. 8, and he said the troops that were moved from Halgan were transferred to other bases in Somalia. But he urged the international community to step up and "take up the slack from us" in Somalia, saying that "for our forces to remain there indefinitely would be the height of irresponsibility." Somalia and African Union officials were not available for comment on this month's withdrawals. "Ethiopia has more pressing troubles on its hands now, so it cannot focus on outside missions much. The focus should be to avoid the Arab Spring-style violence" at home, said Ahmed Mohamed, a retired Somali military colonel in Mogadishu. Somalia's security forces are supposed to be taking on more responsibility as the African Union force prepares to withdraw by the end of 2020, but this month's attacks indicate that the Somali forces may not be able to hold the gains made by the African Union troops that deprived al-Shabaab of large parts of territory. This week al-Shabab also attacked a guesthouse in Kenya in which it killed 12 non-Muslims in Mandera County, near the border with Somalia. Al-Shabab's resurgence comes after the extremist group recently splintered, with some former members forming an offshoot that is allied to the Islamic State group, instead of al-Qaida. The fighters allied to IS this week claimed control of a town in the north, in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, but then withdrew on Wednesday night, according to residents. ___ Associated Press writer Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, contributed. U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan targeted two Al Qaeda leaders, including one described as the group's top leader in the country, in what the Pentagon called Thursday a "significant blow" to the terror group. PLAN TO BATTLE ISIS CREATES UNEASY ALLIANCE THAT HAS US WORKING WITH IRAN U.S. officials told Fox News Al Qaeda was plotting attacks on the United States at the time. Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said the strikes last Sunday were "likely successful." Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook identified the two men as Faruq al-Qatani and Bilal al-Utabi. ISIS FINANCE CHIEF REPORTEDLY VANISHES FROM MOSUL WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS Cook said al-Qatani was a senior planner for attacks against the U.S. and had a hand in deadly attacks on U.S. forces. Al-Qatani had ties to Usama Bin Laden and was seeking to reestablish Al Qaeda's control over Afghanistan, a U.S. official told Fox News The Pentagon had been searching for al-Qatani for four years. The U.S. fired multiple Hellfire missiles on each compound, apparenly "leveling" them, according to the official. Declassified files recovered during the raid on bin Laden's compound included a slew of references to al-Qatani, the official added, saying he was deeply involved in moving Al Qaeda fighters from northern Pakistan into Afghanistan for several years. Al-Qatani also directed the delivery of funds and weapons to Taliban associates and led Al Qaeda-sponsored training, according to the U.S. official. The airstrikes -- from unmanned aircraft -- unfolded at roughly the same time against two separate compounds last Sunday evening, both in remote areas of Kunar Province. Two U.S. Army soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan just this month. Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Food Blogger Giant To Start Pressure Cooker Series Popular health food blogger Regina Braun just announced it will be starting a brand new recipe series on how to cook delicious foods using pressure cookers. -- Regina Braun - self published author of Delicious Coconut Flour Desserts - announced yesterday that she will be working with a few big brands to do a pressure cooker recipe series on her blog Leelalicious.com. This isn't the first time Braun - a popular health-food-blogger - has worked with big name brands but insists this will be extra special. "Pressure cookers have been in and out of fad for decades. In fact, it first became popular in the seventies but - because they were pretty dangerous at the time - they lost their popularity" says Braun. "The good news is that the fad is back and it looks like it's here to stay. People - especially wives that are often expected to cook - are busier now than they have ever been throughout history. They simply do not have time to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare food like their mothers did. Even if they could, why should they?" Braun says the new-found-love for pressure cookers is largely because it allows people to cook delicious meals in mere minutes that would have otherwise taken hours. "It is truly revolutionary technology. It is no less healthy than the food our grandmothers used to cook and some would argue it is just as delicious." "The good news is that these pressure cookers aren't even all that expensive anymore. In fact, some of the best electric pressure cookers are under two hundred dollars. The ridiculous amount of time they save makes them a no-brainer investment for frequent home cooks. At least that is my professional opinion and I am sticking to it." giggled Braun. Although not one hundred percent sure when she will start the pressure cooker series, Braun says her readers will start seeing posts about it beginning early 2017 some time. "There are still a lot of details needing my consideration before I start the series, but I am super excited. I know my awesome readers will appreciate it as well." For more information, please visit http://leelalicious.com/ Contact Info: Name: Konrad Braun Organization: Leelalicious.com Source: http://marketersmedia.com/food-blogger-giant-to-start-pressure-cooker-series/141474 Release ID: 141474 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Miami Broward Marine Towing Salvage 24/7 Fast Emergency Assistance Site Launched Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage has launched a new site with 24/7 rescue and salvage available on: 305-953-7524 or VHF Channel 16 for Miami, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Services include marine towing and salvage, emergency assistance and launch services. -- North Miami based company, Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage, has launched a new website to advertise its 24/7 rescue services. It offers marine towing, emergency assistance, marine salvage and launch services. For more information please visit: http://fastresponsemarine.com. Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage state that they are the affordable alternative for anyone who finds themselves stuck in the dock or out on the water and pride themselves on their speed and competitive prices. They specialize in tows, beach rescues, battery jump starts, marine salvage, and fuel delivery plus many other services. The site also says that they are the only South Florida marine towing and salvaging service rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. The website explains the company's towing and salvaging services on offer. It says that wether the customer is in the ICW or 100 miles off shore they will swiftly and safely tow them back to safety. Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage also states that they have the expertise to recover vessels safely while minimizing further loss and damage at sea or in dock. Other services include emergency assistance and providing swift help to vessels run aground, untangling a fouled prop and those in need of a battery jump or that have run out of fuel. Launch services are also offered 24/7 and they take the stress out of loading cargo, transporting to the water and provide a pick up service as well. The site has a section where potential customers can meet the team, and view the fleet and equipment used by them. Customers can also view a gallery of photos and videos of the team at work completing marine salvages, tending to marine emergencies and much more. There is also a page of previous customer testimonials for customers to peruse. Interested parties seeking more information can visit the website and use the contact form provided or call one of the three offices: Miami-Dade on 305-953-7524, Broward on 954-866-6000 and Palm Beach on 561-877-7000. For swift service at sea contact VHF Channel 16. For more information, please visit http://fastresponsemarine.com Contact Info: Name: Webmaster Organization: Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage Address: 1950 NE 135th St. Release ID: 141460 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Attempted Cocaine Trafficking Deal Leads to Arrest, West Palm Beach Drug Rehab Comments ( October 27, 2016 ) West Palm Beach, FL -- As reported by the Sun-Sentinel, West Palm Beach resident Ricardo Vasquez was arrested after attempting to complete a drug deal with undercover officers. He told officers he has access to over 220 pounds of cocaine for sale and a small plane to transport it from St. Croix into South Florida. He was also found in possession of $155,000 in cash for completing the planned drug deal but after his arrest he denied any connection to his funds or the loaded gun officers found in his Range Rover. Substance abuse involving heroin and cocaine is a rampant problem affecting South Florida, leading to a need for drug rehab in West Palm Beach. Providers of recovery services like West Palm Beach Drug Rehab seek to help remedy that. Together with the efforts of law enforcement services and medical authorities, facilities providing drug rehab in West Palm Beach can work toward ending substance abuse across the U.S. A representative of West Palm Beach Drug Rehab comments, "Intercepting the trafficking of illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine into South Florida is key to remedying the rampant substance abuse problem affecting our community. Operations like this one are instrumental in the fight to end addiction because they stymie the flow of these dangerous drugs on our streets, which lowers the rate of abuse, overdose, and new cases of addiction. On the other end, addiction recovery service providers like West Palm Beach Drug Rehab works steadily through community outreach to encourage recovery and sober living." About West Palm Beach Drug Rehab 75468: West Palm Beach Drug Rehab serves citizens from all 50 states in efforts to combat the substance abuse epidemic. Accepting over 80 insurances and offering alternative payment options, West Palm Beach Drug Rehab works to keep the focus on healing, not cost. Clients of the facility are provided personalized treatment programs which utilize both traditional and holistic means to promote rejuvenation of the mind, body and spirit. Upon completion of rehabilitation, clients also have access to resources for continued care provided by West Palm Beach Drug Rehab. For more information about West Palm Beach Drug Rehab visit http://westpalmbeachdrugrehab.org/ or call (561)513-5749. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) Who could possibly be against keeping guns out of the hands of toddlers? Plenty of people, it would seem, if you were able to follow Hillary Clintons argument in Wednesdays presidential debate about a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the Second Amendment, and the vituperative reaction to it. Its a bit of a rabbit hole that Clinton threw herself into, but thats pretty typical of the mind-numbing ideological stalemate that has frozen out common sense in the gun control debate. So let me explain. Clinton was challenged about her opposition to the famous District of Columbia v. Heller decision of 2008 that struck down a gun control law passed in Washington, D.C. in 1975. For Second Amendment stalwarts, the Heller majority opinion, written by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, is darn close to holy scripture. The 5-4 decision was a broad affirmation of an individuals right to private gun ownership for self-defense. It is huge. Clinton said that she supported the individuals right to own guns but disagreed with the ruling in that it didnt support reasonable restrictions. What the District of Columbia was trying to do was to protect toddlers from guns, Clinton said. This sent gun rights people howling. They savaged Clinton for misrepresenting the crux of the D.C. law and the principles on which the decision turned. Nowhere in the law or the decision are children mentioned, they objected. But thats a little beside the point. A federal petition filed in support of the original law did argue for its use in keeping children safe, Politifact reported soon after the debate. The smaller the weapon, the more likely a child can use it, and children as young as three years old are strong enough to fire todays handguns, the petition stated. Among other restrictions, the law had called for licensed guns in the home to be unloaded and disassembled or kept with a trigger lock, for safety concerns. Granted, the safe handling of firearms wasnt the main impetus of the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975. Preventing criminal gun violence murders and other crimes was the primary concern. But, knowing what we now do about gun accidents involving children, it is an entirely valid standpoint from which to criticize Heller. Nevertheless, Clintons argument was judged half true by Politifact. A sane point of view that the Scalia majority on the court had overreached by quashing any sensible regulation of firearms was lost. Keeping handguns away from small children shouldnt be controversial. There is scarcely a police reporter or emergency room doctor in America who hasnt faced the horror of a child shooting himself, a sibling, a friend or a parent. The prevalence of these incidents is astounding, even though we dont have anything near adequate data on this type of tragedy. Reporting by the Washington Post has found about one shooting by a young child a week in America. This is likely an undercount, as many instances do not make the news unless its a parent or a sibling who dies. The Centers for Disease Control find that at least six children are injured in an unintentional shooting every day. There really is no argument that such shootings shouldnt be prevented. Indeed, theyre highly preventable so much so that its a misnomer to call most of them accidental. Malign neglect is more often a better description. It so happens that my state, Missouri, ranked the highest for toddler shootings last year in one study. Missouri, along with 23 other states, does not have a child endangerment law that includes firearms and holds adults criminally responsible for unintentional shootings of children. A new national initiative announced in mid-October seeks change. The Childrens Firearm Safety Alliance is coordinating physicians, law enforcement, prosecutors, lawmakers and other advocates to look at what can be done nationally through policy work, legislation and education around gun safety. It has promoted the hashtag #NotAnAccident and propagated this disturbing tidbit: You are more likely to be shot by a U.S. toddler than by a terrorist. The ongoing psychological trauma of these shootings shouldnt be discounted. What an awful burden it must be for someone to carry through life knowing that, as a young child, he or she took a life or caused serious injury. Keeping a loaded gun unsecured and within easy reach of a toddler ought to be considered a criminal act of negligence. A portion of the law that was struck down in Heller understood this. Its time to admit that upholding a persons right to own a gun doesnt need to conflict with efforts to keep young childrens tiny hands away from pulling triggers. Mary Sanchez is an opinion-page columnist for The Kansas City Star. Readers may email her at msanchez@kcstar.com. Thermalabs Snowflakes T-Shirt Hits the Market Thermalabs Snowflakes T-Shirt is now available in the market. October 27, 2016 (FPRC) -- Thermalabs has introduced yet another beach-related product. This is a custom T-Shirt that has been custom-designed to suit the needs of beach goers. This is the fourth T-Shirt product that the company is announcing in the last two months, amid an intensive drive to flood the market with top quality beach-convenience products. Thermalabs is a leading player in the global beauty industry. The company opened its doors three years ago, back in 2013. It started out as a small firm that created awareness against skin cancer and promoted proper skin health all the same. Eventually, the little-known firm was able to secure enough funding and research to start producing actual skincare products. The firms initial release was a tanning lotion known as the original self-tanner. It was a highly organic and natural product designed from crucial ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Green Tea. Following an ingenious marketing pre-drive that involved highlighting the products unique benefits over the competition, Thermalabs managed to sell over 1000 units of this product within the first 24 hours in the market. This was no mean achievement for a firm of its size (and age). The media frenzy that this outstanding sales record generated helped set the stage for the success of the companys future releases. Thermalabs is today headquartered in New York, but operates a chain of production plants in other parts of the world, with the main one being in Israel. The firm has managed to supply the worldwide beauty market with no less than 30 premium products. These include self-tanners, tanning accessories, sunscreens, moisturizers, and a lot of other products. In recent times, though, the company has been spreading its arms to other niches and industries. The firm recently opened launched Organic Healthcare, which is an entirely new sub-brand that will focus on healthcare products based on natural ingredients. Thermalabs has been increasingly focusing on beach-related products in recent times. The companys beach tent happens to be one of the most popular in the market. It has also said that it is working on at least 5 premium beach chairs and a single beach bed that will help enrich the beach experience for its customers around the globe. Thermalabs beach T-Shirts are designed to match-up the beach experience. They are labeled with fascinating beach and fun-going themes and can be worn with any pair of flip flops. The new T-Shirt is 100% cotton. It is labeled Who needs Snowflakes when you have Seashells. It is available in a variety of colors, from blue to green and black to gray. There are also sizes for both men and women, as well as kids. The T-Shirt is a lightweight, classic fit. It features a double-needle sleeve, as well as a bottom hem. According to Thermalabs, its a perfect way to get serious about making the best out of summer, while at the same time pretending to forget that winter is coming. Send an email to Alex Howard of r (877) 266-6257 Recent Press Releases By The Same User Kenyas First Business Directory for Service Providers, Nisort, Launches (Wed 8th Nov 17) Mentalizer.com Introduces How to Become a Mentalist Program (Sat 14th Oct 17) Thermalabs Glow2Go is Now Available in the German Market (Thu 12th Oct 17) Thermalabs Gold Standard Tanner Available Back in the Market (Thu 12th Oct 17) The Ultimitt Tan Applicator Mitt Now Available in France (Thu 12th Oct 17) Supremasea Working on More Skincare Formulations (Thu 12th Oct 17) Thermalabs Doubles Its Portfolio of Products in Just a Year Cosmetics firm Thermalabs has managed to double its portfolio of products in 2016. October 27, 2016 (FPRC) -- This year, Thermalabs has been able to increase its range of products by two-fold. This is an extraordinary achievement for the American firm, which is just shy of three years old. In January this year, Thermalabs announced that 2015 had been its breakthrough year. It also said that it would be committing more funds to research, innovation, and marketing through 2016. Based on how things are looking, Thermalabs might just have its best year so far in 2016. Thermalabs is an innovative firm that has established itself in the self-tanning niche. The company started out as a small outfit that created awareness against skin cancer and other similar ailments. In due time, though, the firm managed to amass enough funds and conduct sufficient research to produce actual skincare products. Theres increasing evidence that thousands of people are diagnosed with skin cancer after engaging in long-term sunbathing sessions in order to attain a beautiful tan. By providing an alternative product that showed results within the confines of health, Thermalabs figured that it could make a difference. The companys initial release was a self-tanning lotion known as original self tanner. It was designed with natural and organic ingredients, including the likes of Aloe Vera and Japanese Green Tea. Thermalabs original self tanner was a major hit, selling thousands of units within its first few days in the market. This helped generate immense public coverage, mainly through industry blogs and media outlets that focus on the beauty and cosmetics industry. The success that the firm scored from its initial release laid the foundation for its current growth. Thermalabs has so far contributed over 30 varying products to the global beauty industry. These include tanning lotions and accessories. The companys Tent World sub-brand has also contributed various beach-related products, including tents, and beach chairs that are currently in the works. In recent times, the company has spread its wings to cover the organic healthcare industry. Through its Organic Healthcare sub-brand, Thermalabs will be creating top-notch health products using handmade, bio-organic products extracted from the mountains of Galilee in Israel. This will be done while borrowing from over 1000 years of ancient healthcare wisdom acquired from the Rambam. Already, the company has set up a factory in Galilee where a team of well-trained artisans will be doing the production. Some of the key products that Thermalabs has announced this year include its exfoliating mitt with patented finger exfoliator, the Shea Body Butter, Lavender body scrub exfoliator, Vanilla Patchouli exfoliator, Aragan Oil and Jerusalem Balsam serum. The firm has also announced a complete airbrush makeup kit that can be used for air brushing, makeup, body painting, nail art paints, temporary tattoos and a lot more. These are just but to name a few of the over 15 new products that the company has launched so far through the year. Send an email to Alex Howard of r (877) 266-6257 Recent Press Releases By The Same User Kenyas First Business Directory for Service Providers, Nisort, Launches (Wed 8th Nov 17) Mentalizer.com Introduces How to Become a Mentalist Program (Sat 14th Oct 17) Thermalabs Glow2Go is Now Available in the German Market (Thu 12th Oct 17) Thermalabs Gold Standard Tanner Available Back in the Market (Thu 12th Oct 17) The Ultimitt Tan Applicator Mitt Now Available in France (Thu 12th Oct 17) Supremasea Working on More Skincare Formulations (Thu 12th Oct 17) MedicalGPS(R), LLC Announces 2017 Prices The company is providing organizations with the opportunity to lock-in 2016 discounts now. -- MedicalGPS, LLC, a Tennessee-based company supporting physicians, administrators, and other healthcare professionals with improving patient experience, has announced 2017 pricing for both M3-Patient Experience and M3-Advocate platforms. To lock-in 2016 pricing, AND to receive a FREE month's subscription on a 12-month engagement, interested organizations should schedule and participate in a live demonstration of M3-Patient Experience between now and the end of the year. M3-Patient Experience offers continuous monitoring and measuring of patient feedback, assisting front-line leadership with maximizing patient retention and loyalty. The M3 platform equips healthcare decision makers with the information they need to create a culture of service excellence. M3-Advocate, MedicalGPS' patent pending physician reputation management software as a service (SaaS), allows physician practices to increase social media reviews and improve social media ratings. The vast majority of physicians utilizing M3-Advocate find 90%+ of their social media reviews are 5-Star ratings after deploying M3-Advocate. Jerry Stone, MedicalGPS' Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, stated "According to a recent study published by the American College of Healthcare Executives, financial challenges ranked #1 as the top concern, followed closely by patient safety and quality (#2), and governmental mandates (#3). While leaders in healthcare feel a responsibility to manage costs, they recognize creating a culture of patient-centered care and providing a superior patient experience can give them an advantage. M3-Patient Experience creates a pathway to improved patient experiences, increased patient satisfaction, and step-by-step service recovery. Practices utilizing M3-Patient Experience see an increase in patient loyalty and patient retention, which equates to improved financial stability." M3-Patient Experience is the proprietary patient feedback system developed and deployed by MedicalGPS, LLC. Since 1995 physician practices have used M3-Patient Experience to gauge their patients' perception of the office experience. The process is simple, yet very powerful. The goal is to acknowledge and express gratitude to every patient immediately following their office visit. Patients are first thanked, and then encouraged to provide feedback relative to their visit - usually the same day or next day following their visit. Patient feedback is obtained via in-clinic devices, email, and text message. The M3-Patient Experience questionnaire is customized by the M3 client and may include core questions utilized on the CG-CAHPS survey instrument. Because M3-Patient Experience is real-time, M3 clients have opportunities to; a) perform service recovery soon after the patient's visit, b) build patient loyalty, and c) create a culture of service excellence, all of which results in positive impact for both the patient and the organization. As Stone continued, "Meeting and exceeding patient expectations, especially in today's consumer-driven healthcare marketplace, can definitely be a challenge. M3-Patient Experience is a proven process that yields real results. We look forward to demonstrating how M3-Patient Experience is aiding thousands of physician practices from all across the country, in both primary and specialty care, with improving patient experience." Those who are interested in learning more about MedicalGPS' M3 Patient Experience platform or scheduling a demo with their team should visit http://medicalgps.com for more information. About MedicalGPS: Since 1995 the principals of MedicalGPS, LLC have been supporting physicians, administrators, and other healthcare professionals as they strive to better serve and care for their patients while improving the patient experience. Founded by Marty Hudson and Jerry Stone, MedicalGPS' approach is simple, yet powerful - to empower healthcare organizations to successfully embrace three guiding principles: align patient experiences with patient expectations, understand key touch points of the patient experience that foster patient loyalty, and enlist support of advocate-loyal patients as they partner with their healthcare provider to deliver the best care possible. For more information, please visit http://www.medicalgps.com Contact Info: Name: Jerry Stone, Chief Operating Office Organization: MedicalGPS, LLC Phone: (615) 628-8940 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/medicalgpsr-llc-announces-2017-prices/141494 Release ID: 141494 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Thermalabs Introduces New Snowflakes Beach T-Shirt Thermalabs has launched a new Snowflakes beach T-shirt on Amazon.com October 25, 2016 (FPRC) -- Thermalabs has introduced a new T-shirts barely a week after it launched its second beach product. Thermalabs is investing in its portfolio of beach related products and it seems to have drifted away from the self -tanning space. The new beach product is a big hit in the market since it's sold hundreds of units just a few days since it launched. Thermalabs is working on at least half a dozen beach chairs and a bed that are yet to hit the market. Thermalabs is a major name brand in the cosmetics industry. The company opened its doors some three years ago having nothing more than a big goal and a huge achievable budget. The company was committed to helping fight cancer since most of Americans were diagnosed with this terminal illness. Thermalabs first launch was immensely successful. The product won several trending on Amazon .com and this further attracted the attention of the media outlets and popular industry blog which much-needed exposure for the company. Thermalabs dominated the e-commerce marketplace and the success of the various products helped lay a solid foundation for the company. Thermalabs first ever product was a big hit .Thermalabs has various sub-brands which include: Supremasea branch which takes care of the products that are based on Dead Sea mineral salts. Thermalabs organic health care products are strictly handmade and are designed from organic and natural ingredients. The is in the recent time investing greatly in beachrelated industry. Thermalabs has introduced 5 beach products without any tanning product being introduced in the same period. Thermalabs Tent World subbrand first released the tent that was equipped with UV protection to serve as a hiding place after spending some fun time in the water. Thermalabs Mercury beach Tent had extra-comfy bottoms for kids. Thermalabs has said that more new beach T-shirts will be introduced in the market very soon. These new T-shirts are available to individuals customers through online marketplaces such as Amazon.com. Thermalabs new t-shirt labeled Who needs snowflakes when you have seashells is available in various colors such as red, blue yellow pink, and black. Each T-shirt has a fascinating text and image label that corresponds to the beach environment. These t-shirts can be washed a dry low heat in a washing mashing and its available in multiple sizes to meet every customers needs. Thermalabs has made it clear that their beach t-shirt will be available to customers via Amazon.com, the world's number one e-commerce marketplace. Send an email to Alex Howard of r (877) 266-6257 Recent Press Releases By The Same User Kenyas First Business Directory for Service Providers, Nisort, Launches (Wed 8th Nov 17) Mentalizer.com Introduces How to Become a Mentalist Program (Sat 14th Oct 17) Thermalabs Glow2Go is Now Available in the German Market (Thu 12th Oct 17) Thermalabs Gold Standard Tanner Available Back in the Market (Thu 12th Oct 17) The Ultimitt Tan Applicator Mitt Now Available in France (Thu 12th Oct 17) Supremasea Working on More Skincare Formulations (Thu 12th Oct 17) Thermalabs Supremaseas New Releases Giving the Company a Bang for Its Bucks Thermalabs Supremasea sub-brand appears to have hit the jackpot with its new releases. October 27, 2016 (FPRC) -- Supremasea, one of Thermalabs foremost sub-brands, appears to be doing extremely well in the market with its new releases. Supremasea has introduced at least three premium skincare products into the market over the last few weeks. These include the Lavender organic body scrub exfoliator, the Vanilla Patchouli body scrub exfoliator, and the Shea Body Butter triple moisturizing lotion. Thermalabs is a leading player in the global cosmetics space. Until recently, the companys interest and influence had been pegged into the self-tanning niche. But recent efforts have seen the American firm diversify into other spaces, including organic healthcare. Thermalabs has furnished the market with at least 30 different products, the majority of which are tanning lotions and accessories. Considered that the firm was established sometimes in 2013, this is no doubt an incredible milestone. According to information available on leading online forums and Thermalabs-affiliated sites, the companys obsession with quality has been its biggest strength to date. Thermalabs is headquartered in the New York, United States, but operates various production facilities in Israel and other parts of the world. The company owns three distinct sub-brands that are largely in charge of its diversification efforts. Thermalabs Supremasea was set up in 2015. Its responsible for marketing Thermalabs products that are created from Dead Sea mineral salts. Tent World, the second sub-brand, is in charge of Thermalabs tents and related products. The pilot Tent World product is the Anti-UV beach shelter, which is one of the most popular tents on Amazon.com. The product provides shelter and a hiding place for beach goers, after a long dip in the water. Its equipped with solid protection from the suns UV radiation, as well as a comfy bottom thats kids friendly. Thermalabs has said that more tents are in the pipeline, and will be released into the market soon. Organic Healthcare, Thermalabs third and last sub-brand, in tasked with marketing the companys healthcare products based on seeds, herbs, and plants extracted from the mountains of Galilee in Israel. So far, Supremasea has furnished the market with four different products, one of which was released in 2015, and 3 of which were introduced within the last 8 weeks. The first product, Tan Enhancer, is a premium lotion thats applied after a tan. It helps maintain that radiant glow after a tan, but also protects the skin from free radicals and environmental pollutants. The Vanilla patchouli and Lavender exfoliators are top quality body scrub aids that are created from a combination of Dead Sea salts, and other ingredients whose benefits for the skin are well known. The Shea Body Butter helps moisturize the skin and remove stretch marks and scars. Its a unique formulation that works on all skin types, irrelevant of the users age or gender. Mr. Alex Howard, a marketing official at Thermalabs, said, Its been a good season for the latest Supremasea releases. Over the last 8 weeks, we have seen the Lavender and Vanilla Patchouli exfoliators, as well as the Shea Body Butter, achieve one sales milestone after the other. These products have all achieved an average 5-star rating from all users who have rated them on Amazon, and we are very optimistic that theyll join the list of our all-time bestsellers. Send an email to Alex Howard of r (877) 266-6257 Recent Press Releases By The Same User Kenyas First Business Directory for Service Providers, Nisort, Launches (Wed 8th Nov 17) Mentalizer.com Introduces How to Become a Mentalist Program (Sat 14th Oct 17) Thermalabs Glow2Go is Now Available in the German Market (Thu 12th Oct 17) Thermalabs Gold Standard Tanner Available Back in the Market (Thu 12th Oct 17) The Ultimitt Tan Applicator Mitt Now Available in France (Thu 12th Oct 17) Supremasea Working on More Skincare Formulations (Thu 12th Oct 17) Mummy's Miracle Launches Natural Moringa Nipple Balm for Breastfeeding Moms Mummy's Miracle launches its non-GMO Natural Nipple Balm which relieves pains and heals chapped, sensitive nursing nipples and lips.It is food grade and so will not harm baby if ingested. Moringa oil & Shea Butter helps heal sore tissue and soothes skin. -- Oveido, FL - October 27, 2016 - Mummy's Miracle announced immediate availability of Non-GMO Natural Moringa Balm, an extension to the company's baby skin care line. Formulated to heal and nourish sensitive nursing nipples and baby's lips, this oil is food grade and safe if accidentally ingested. Carefully crafted with moringa oil and shea butter, this product is well equipped to heal and soothe sore skin. It is made in the USA with no petroleum, mineral oil, lanolin, phthalates or petrochemicals, and is a 100% natural product that is pediatrician recommended to relieve discomfort for nursing moms. About Miracle In The Green Mummy's Miracle is part of the Miracle in the Green company, founded by Ify Nwobi. After a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments left her without any energy, she reached out to her parents in Nigeria for alternative health solutions. She received Moringa Oleifera, which helped to increase her energy levels and heal her body. After surviving cancer, she was determined to share Moringa with the world. "Mummy's Miracle products are clean and fresh. You can feel the instant difference once applied. For someone like me who has dry skin problems, I would consider this an everyday product, " read a review from Jamekia W. About Moringa Oleifera Moringa Oleifera contains the most concentration of nutrients ever discovered with 90 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, and all eight essential amino acids. It has been used for a number of different ailments including delaying the aging process, aiding in muscle recovery and sustained overall health, as well as building the immune system. Another added benefit is that it is 100% organic with no side effects, noting that it is often given to babies in Africa to battle malnourishment. Tamara C - "I was in need of a great lotion, all the lotions I've tried were good but weren't working for me. Mummy's Miracle lotion is the one I've been looking for, it keeps my skin soft all day, and it smells wonderful!" Where To Purchase Mummy's MiracleTM Non-GMO Natural Moringa Nipple Balm is now available for purchase through amazon, or direct from www.mummysmiracle.com through their online shop at the introductory price of $11.99 for a 2 oz jar. Please note that prices and availability are subject to change without prior notice and may vary among participating retailers. Contact: Mummy's Miracle 5703 Red Bug Lake Rd, Unit #175 Winter Springs, FL 32708 4520 Old Carriage Trail Oviedo, FL 32765 E-mail: For U.S inquiries please contact: info@miracleinthegreen.com For the UK and the rest of Europe please contact: ify@miracleinthegreen.com Phone Number: 1-855-427-7964 For more information, please visit http://www.mummysmiracle.com Contact Info: Name: Lindsey Smith Organization: miracle in the green Address: 5703 red bug lake rd unit 175 Phone: (855) 427-7964 Release ID: 141016 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Eureka: Eucalyptus Essential Oil Released By Maple Holistics Maple Holistics has released their new Eucalyptus Essential Oil, available for purchase now through the Maple Holistics website or via Amazon.com. -- Coinciding with the start of the winter season, Maple Holistics has announced the development and release of their brand-new Eucalyptus Essential Oil for hair and skin. Available for purchase now through the Maple Holistics website or via Amazon.com, Maple Holistcs Eucalyptus Essential Oil is the product of months of research, development, and production. A worthy addition to an already stocked line of oils, the Eucalyptus Essential Oil represents the latest Maple Holistics oil entry for personal care and cosmetics uses. The health benefits of Eucalyptus Essential Oil are well-known and plentiful. The oil contains numerous anti-aging properties, for starters: Vitamin-E is a strong antioxidant which aids in protecting the skin from UV ray damage, free-radicals, and premature aging. The Vitamin-A (retinol) found in Maple Holistics Eucalyptus Essential Oil works to further fight free-radical damage, and can also increase the skin's collagen production. Maple Holistics Eucalyptus Essential Oil makes a great bath product: the oil can be used in making soaps or for adding to baths and sprays to create a more sensual, soothing experience. The Eucalyptus Essential Oil makes a great massage oil, too. Due to its light viscosity and non-greasiness, this oil can easily be absorbed into the skin and will reduce dryness. Eucalyptus oil can be combined with other essential or carrier oils to enhance the massage experience. Maple Holistics Eucalyptus Essential Oil is 100% pure and contains no impurities or fillers. The Eucalyptus Essential Oil is cruelty-free, paraben-free, made in the USA, contains no artificial colors or harmful ingredients, and is packaged in environmentally friendly, BPA-free bottles. About the Company Maple Holistics provides industry leading, all-natural hair, body, skin, and food products. The company offers a natural, holistic range of premium products which can enhance hygiene, health and daily living. Company products are made in the USA. For more information, please visit http://mapleholistics.com Contact Info: Name: Benjamin Ellis Email: support@mapleholistics.com Organization: Maple Holistics Address: 603 Twin Oaks Drive Phone: (844) 346-2753 Release ID: 141651 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Male Beauty Forum Uses Social Media To Launch News Affiliate To UAV Drones Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle is celebrating the launch of its new affiliate status with the UAV Drones etc industry leader by Celebrate the launch with social media shares with our audience. Further information can be found at http://www.malebeautyforum.com/DronesOnline.html. -- Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle affiliate to Drones etc.Men's Lifestyle Spa services and Products "Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle", will be celebrating the launch of its new affiliate status with Drones etc. A world leader in UAV Drones online service The launch will be celebrated with social media shares with our audience on October 30 2016. In a space where most competitors simply fail when they launch since they will simply post on Twitter and fail to cause much of a stir, Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle has opted to be a little more innovative with the exciting news of their affiliate venture with its new UAV Drones etc, online service. Claude Edwin Theriault, Owner at Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle, says: "The marketing vision is to be beyond mainstream in this joint affiliate venture with Drones etc. because of the importance of really letting it be known throughout the web, since that is where the real news is these days. It will be really worthwhile since it truly will give serious UAV Drone interested people a good solid go to source.. It should go great unless of course Government regulations ban the use of UAV Drones worldwide tomorrow ! Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle has always thrived on the idea of standing out and being different from the mainstream brands. It's all part of the branding experience and it's going to be an event to watch. This is great since no other Men's Lifestyle Spa in Toronto or anywhere for that matter; is doing this., which shows innovation and creativity lacking in the mainstream businesses who choose to do things the 'regular' way. This launch celebration is just one of the many ways Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle achieves that Self Branding goal. By leveraging the already set up and thriving business of Drones etc. and partnering with them as an affiliate. When asked about the UAV Drones etc. online service, Claude Edwin Theriault said: " It's simply going to be a real hit because It is riding the wave of a huge emerging worldwide market .". Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle's UAV Drones etc.online service is set to 'go live' October 30 2016. To find out more about the service and Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle itself, it's possible to visit http://www.malebeautyforum.com/DronesOnline.html For more information, please visit http://www.malebeautyforum.com/DronesOnline.html Contact Info: Name: Claude Edwin Theriault Organization: Male Beauty Forum Lifestyle Address: Suite 1904 10 Huntley Street Release ID: 141058 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) By Stef Gijssels We love solo bass albums, and it seems that they keep coming in great numbers. The overview below is indeed nothing more t... Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. CAPE GIRARDEAU The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is expanding the annual winter trout program in southeast Missouri, stocking rainbow trout in Perryvilles Legion Lake for the first time. MDC also stocks Jacksons Rotary Lake and Farmingtons Giessing Lake with rainbow trout each year. Legion Lake will receive 3,760 rainbow trout, Rotary Lake will receive 1,900 and another 1,200 will be stocked in Giessing Lake. In addition, each lake will receive a number of lunkers. The cities of Jackson, Farmington, Perryville, as well as Perry County, the Perry County Sportsmens Club and the Missouri Department of Conservation, purchased the trout to be stocked. The annual winter trout fishing program begins Nov. 1, marking the opening of Missouris winter trout season in lakes around the state. Anglers can fish for this popular cold-water fish through the fall and winter months on a catch-and-release basis. Anglers may harvest trout as of Feb. 1, 2017. Rainbow trout are cold-water fish which live in water temperatures less than 70 degrees. They do well in local impoundments during the colder months. Paul Cieslewicz, MDC fisheries management biologist, cautions anglers to remember that from Nov. 1 through Jan. 31, all trout must be released unharmed immediately. During this time, anglers may only fish with flies, artificial lures, and unscented plastic baits, Cieslewicz said. In addition, they may only use one fishing rod at a time and chum is not permitted. Starting Feb. 1, any bait may be used and four trout may be kept regardless of size. All anglers between the ages of 16 and 64 must have a valid Missouri fishing permit and any angler harvesting trout must possess a trout permit as well. Mike Reed, MDC fisheries management biologist, said trout can be caught on a wide variety of lures. Flies, which imitate aquatic insects, are popular with fly fishers, he said, but spinners, small spoons, and other small lures are good choices. Light line and tackle will typically produce more fish than heavier tackle. Successful anglers typically use two to six pound test line when fishing with lures and add little or no additional weight to the line. "Set the drag light as a trout often hits hard and makes strong runs which can break weak or frayed line, Reed said. For more information about trout stocking in southeast Missouri, contact MDCs Southeast Regional Office in Cape Girardeau at 573-290-5730. For more information about fishing in Missouri, go online to mdc.mo.gov/fish. On Oct. 1, the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter, NSDAR met at the American Legion Post 416, adjacent to the Robert Silvey Veterans Clinic on West Columbia Street. Regent Cara Akridge chaired the Regular Meeting, assisted by Vice-Regent Jean Trask and Chaplain Jan Kemp in a patriotic Opening Ritual. The program "The Village of Caledonia" was presented by Caledonia Mayor and Chairman of the Village Trustees, John Robinson III. John is a member of the Spirit of St Louis Sons of the American Revolution and son of member Thelma Robinson. He was wearing new medals having been recently accepted in two lineage societies, The War of 1812 and Sons of the Confederacy. The Village of Caledonia was established in 1819, divided into plots ranging in price from $1.50 to $4, depending on size. The first to purchase a lot was given the honor of naming the village. A recent immigrant chose the name of an old established town in Scotland - Caledonia. In a village of 130 people on the 2010 Census, having 30 buildings on the National Historic Registry of Historic Sites is impressive. Two are the oldest Masonic Lodge and Presbyterian church in continuous use west of the Mississippi River. This church has been re-purposed for a community center, with beautiful stained glass windows. The Methodist church has maintained a congregation longer than any other, west of the river. The Historical Society and Community Betterment Organizations are focusing on tourism, beautification, business development and their youth. The village was honored in 2015, as the top entry for the Missouri Community Betterment Award. During the 15th Annual Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 7-8, tourists visited the unique shops along the downtown street. The thistle will be the symbol for the 200th anniversary of the founding. This year begins the first of a three year term of President General Ann Turner Dillon. Her message was reported by Thelma Robinson. A request for information on flag etiquette was sent by the Olympic Restaurant in Fredericktown to Regent Cara. She announced the National Day of Service Oct. 11, annually honoring the founding on NSDAR in 1890. MSSDAR Chaplain, Renee Pace is compiling a book titled: Treasured Times, Family Traditions and Prayers from the Past until Jan. 7, 2017. Chapter Registrar, Karen Kleinberg reported three pending member applications, a supplemental application and a prospective member. Ashley Bradley and Carolyn Blair were accepted as members. Regent Cara presented Karen with a certificate of appreciation for updating the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter brochure. Members attended the Farmington City Council meeting on Sept. 8 to observe Mayor Mit Landrum reading the 229th anniversary Proclamation of Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23, from the city. He presented it to Regent Cara Akridge. At this meeting, Chaplain Jan Kemp completed reporting on libraries in Bonne Terre, Rachael Howard, Childrens Librarian, and Farmington, Travis Trokey Director, each having displays for Constitution Week. In each display is a book Founding Fathers, Creators of the United States" and a Constitution Week poster. They were donated by the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter for annual use. Divided among the libraries were 500 Constitution bookmarks and several flag code leaflets. You may search for photos on the libraries websites. One of the display cases in the Farmington Library showcased activities of men of the era. Hanging at the end of the case was a Betsy Ross designed flag, containing 13 white stars in a circle on a blue field, 13 red and white stripes. On the top shelf was a We The People, Fight Tyranny Game, from Williamsburg, Virginia; a William doll in uniform and black tri-cornered hat of the militia, with his fife in hand. Also on display was a bear dressed in a Christening gown, typical for male and female newborns, the English tradition of a Christening Ceremony, asking for Gods blessings upon his new life. The second shelf contained items reminding of men gathering in taverns, unbeknownst to the British sitting nearby, planning strategies for becoming an independent nation. Those items were two pewter ale tankards and a long clay pipe that would be smoked then, breaking off the tip, passed to another. Also on display were a black wooden fife and boys toy wooden gun, accompanied by reminders of daily religious practices, a red ceramic cross, a worn Prayer Book containing Episcopalian Church ceremonies and prayers for all occasions. A valuable resource book, Americas Providential History, was also displayed. The cover photo is a familiar scene of Gen. George Washington kneeling beside his horse, in the snow at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. He joined the soldiers encamped during the harsh winter of 1777-1778, despite all hardships. The scene is from a painting by Arnold Freiberg. On the bottom shelf atop a counted cross-stitch table topper, with American flags on corners, were two metal Continental soldiers carrying flags, an ink well and pen serve as a reminder of the value of correspondences. Also displayed were wooden figurines of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, accompanied a book on James Madison, called the Father of the Constitution. From the Americanism Committee, Vice Regent Jean Trask gave this years subject for middle school contest essays: "Celebrating 100 Years of American National Parks. American Indian Committee member Charlotte Watson told briefly of five Indian tribes east of the Mississippi River, who were later relocated to lands west of the Mississippi. Good Citizens committee, Lisa LaComb, has distributed applications to 13 schools for essay entries. Nancy Jacob has been touring area churches in hopes a stained glass tour might be feasible under Historic Preservation. It was also reported a museum display at Mineral Area College Library highlights the 50th anniversary of the Missouri State Archives and features notable Missourians and archival methods of preservation. The display is open to the public until Nov. 23. The meeting also consisted of community calendar notices by Anita Lyon, collection of Best Choice labels by Colleen Cruse, as well as news articles are collected and books or magazines for veterans by Sue Wade, are appreciated. Reciting the Preamble to the Constitution by members and Benediction by the Chaplain preceded adjournment of the meeting. British farmers may be able to grow GM crops once the UK leaves the EU, farm minister George Eustice has hinted. In answer to a written parliamentary question, Mr Eustice said the government was considering future arrangements for GM as part of its preparations for EU exit. The governments general view remains that policy and regulation in this area should be science-based and proportionate. See also: Survey results what arable farmers really think about GM The statement has been interpreted as a signal UK government could be prepared to give GMs the green light after Brexit. New opportunities Christopher Price, CLA director of policy, said leaving the EU would create new opportunities for the UK to look at a range of different technologies and approaches, as part of a resilient farming sector. But he added: To ensure consumers have confidence in possible future arrangements for GM and other technologies, government will need to show leadership in demonstrating the benefits and safety. Peter Melchett, policy director at the Soil Association, said it was the market, not politicians or pro-GM companies, which would decide the fate of the technology in the UK. Scotland and Wales are non-GM and will stay that way. If England wants to export food to the EU, China, Russia and many other countries worldwide where GM food is not allowed, it will have to remain non-GM too. Wildlife promise He added: The government has promised to leave English wildlife in a better state than they found it, and there is no way that GM crops can help restore our damaged and still declining farmland wildlife. Only one GM crop a type of forage maize is grown commercially in the EU and such is the level of opposition across Europe that there have been no new GM crops approved since 1998, apart from a type of GM potato, which was later withdrawn. Last year, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales all announced that they would take advantage of EU rules allowing member states to opt out of growing EU-authorised GM crops. Pig farmers and abattoirs in East Anglia are being warned to be vigilant following reports of animal rights activity in the region. Lizzie Wilson, policy services officer for the National Pig Association, said a farmer from Suffolk had reported that nine welfare campaigners had been found on his farm on Monday morning. They turned up unannounced in three cars and were roaming about with filming equipment, she said. See also: 7 ways to deter incursions by pig activists It is not known whether the campaigners were affiliated to any particular group. Ms Wilson said the issue of activists had become pretty constant for the NPA and the industry and campaigners did appear to be becoming more brazen. Back in February and March there was something every day that we had to deal with. Now there are one or two issues on a weekly basis. The NPAs advice to farmers, if activists do try to access their unit without permission, is to contact the police and stay calm when asking them to leave. At night we might suggest not approaching [protesters] in case it is dangerous, but during the day we would suggest speaking to them politely and in a civil manner, she said. Suffolk Animal Save In a separate incident this week, protesters from a group called Suffolk Animal Save staged a vigil outside C&K Meats in Eye on 24 October. Writing on Facebook, the organisers said they wanted to bear witness to the pigs and cows as they arrived at the slaughterhouse. We will be there for the animals and I hope they will sense our love for them and perhaps take some small comfort in that. Meanwhile, two poultry companies have been forced to defend their health and welfare standards after they were targeted by animal rights activists Viva!. Viva! shot videos on the two enriched cage units one near Wolverhampton and the other near the Welsh border in Shropshire. Frustrated farmers have accused the government of putting business before people after it approved plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport. The plans will involve large areas of farmland being compulsory purchased in the area surrounding Heathrow. Up to half a dozen farmers could be forced to sell their farm businesses, parts of their farmland or relocate to other areas, if the runway is built. See also: Heathrows expansion impact on farmers must be assessed Berkshire farmer Colin Rayner, a director at J Rayner & Sons, based in Horton, Berkshire, said the plans affect three of his tenanted farms, yet he has not been consulted. In addition, some of his other land could be taken in mitigation to create areas for green spaces, parkland, allotments, visitor centres, wildlife habitats, balancing ponds and open access to the public. Mr Rayner, whose family has farmed in the Berkshire area since the 16th century, told Farmers Weekly he was saddened and disappointed by the decision. Its about time our politicians put our residents and our country first and not business. The only person who has come out of this with any credibility is Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, who resigned. See also: What to do if your land is earmarked for compulsory purchase Mr Rayner hit out while he was sat in a traffic queue for over one hour on the M25. My main concern is the infrastructure we dont have it, he said. Anyone who lives in the Thames Valley area will tell you that the roads are gridlocked 70% of the time. We have to get up at 5am if we want to go anywhere. A third runway at Heathrow will increase traffic here by 10%, add 300,000 more flights a year and create more pollution. Homes under threat Mr Rayner said he knew other farmers affected by the plans who were scared to speak out, in case it affected their compulsory purchase deal. Harmondsworth is one of the villages scheduled to be partly or completely demolished to make room for the third runway. About 1,000 homes, its historic church and other buildings could be knocked down. Retired farmer, Roy Barwick, whose son Roger farms in Harmondsworth, said: We are family farmers and have had this threat hanging over us for the past 16 years. If the third runway goes ahead, we would lose the four homes we occupy in the village and the farm. We thought we would be safe because our farm is in a conservation area and on the green belt. We hope that it will not happen. It will certainly be subject to a legal challenge. NFU support An NFU spokesman said: Well support our members who find themselves the subject of a compulsory purchase order, to ensure theyre treated fairly in any negotiations. The farming operations of at least two NFU members are severely impacted by the third runway plan. The Department for Transport said a third runway at Heathrow would bring economic benefits to passengers and the wider economy worth up to 61bn, create up to 77,000 additional local jobs over the next 14 years and 5,000 new apprenticeships. Story Highlights 27% say information hacked from cards used in stores Thefts come despite increased use of chip-enabled cards Thefts affect affluent much more than low-income households WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans are more likely than they were a year ago to say their households were the victims of credit card information theft, despite recent efforts to make the use of credit cards in stores safer. More than one in four (27%) now say they or someone in their household had information stolen from a credit card used in a store, up from a dip to 22% in 2015. Credit Card Theft Tops List of Crimes Crimes more than 10% of respondents said occurred to someone in their household in last 12 months 2014 2015 2016 % % % Credit card information used at a store stolen 27 22 27 Money, property stolen 15 15 17 Identity theft N/A 16 17 Home, car, property vandalized 14 15 14 N/A = Not asked Gallup Crime Survey, Oct 5-9, list of nine crimes Americans are significantly more likely to say their households have been victimized by credit card information theft than to say they were victims of any of the other eight crimes Gallup measured in its 2016 Crime survey. Theft of credit card information has topped the list all three years since Gallup first included it in 2014. The increase in reports of credit card information theft come at a time when both Visa and MasterCard are aggressively replacing magnetic-stripe credit cards as a way to protect information from hackers. The replacement cards use a chip that generates a unique code for every transaction. Both credit card companies have more than doubled the number of chip-enabled cards in the last year, with MasterCard reporting in July that 88% of their consumer credit cards have the chip. Things are not moving as swiftly among U.S. businesses. About a third of U.S. stores were able to process chip transactions in August, according to Visa. The National Retail Federation, which has complained the cards are "cumbersome" and do not provide enough security, contends that card companies' slowness in signing off on chip-reading terminals has been a major factor in the delays. Credit Card Information Victims Vary Greatly by Income, Age Theft of credit card information is the crime most Americans have in common, but it is much more of a problem for high earners and those aged 35 to 54. At least part of the reason for the discrepancy between high and low earners is that those in higher income brackets are much more likely to have credit cards. In a 2014 Gallup poll, 88% of those with annual household incomes of $75,000 or more said they had at least one card, compared with 41% of those with incomes of less than $30,000. Nearly three in four of those in the $30,000-$74,999 income bracket said they had a card. Among age groups, about half of those under 35 had a credit card, and about three-fourths of those 35 and older had one. Credit Card Information Theft Higher Among Affluent, 35- to 54-Year-Olds Percent saying someone in household had credit card information used at a store stolen by hackers in last 12 months Yes No % % Age 18-34 19 80 35-54 39 61 55 and older 23 77 Household income Less than $30,000 14 86 $30,000-$74,999 25 75 $75,000 and above 41 58 Gallup Crime Survey, Oct 5-9 Americans in higher-earning households, though most likely to report credit card information theft and most likely to have cards, are slightly less likely to worry frequently about it happening to them (40%) than are middle-income Americans (46%). Lower-income Americans are least likely (30%) to say it worries them frequently. Overall, 38% of Americans say they worry frequently about having their credit card information stolen, the highest percentage for any of the 14 crimes Gallup asked about. The only other crimes which at least a third of Americans say they worry about frequently involve computer hacking: 35% worry frequently about having their email, passwords or electronic records hacked into. 33% worry frequently about being a victim of identity theft. 18% worry frequently about having their car broken into or stolen -- the crime most often mentioned by respondents that did not involve computer hacking. Bottom Line Concerns about hacking have produced a worldwide transition to machines that accept chip-enabled cards. The pressure on businesses in the U.S. ratcheted up last year on Oct. 1 when merchants without chip-reading terminals became liable for fraudulent transactions from counterfeit cards. At this point the changes taking place in the U.S. have neither allayed the fears of consumers that their credit card information will be stolen nor reduced the percentage of Americans saying their households have been victimized. As differences between merchants and credit card companies are resolved, a broader rollout of chip-reading terminals in U.S. businesses could bring a drop in credit card information theft and a subsequent lessening of worries about the crime. Survey Methods Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Oct. 5-9, 2016, with a random sample of 1,017 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting. Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 60% cellphone respondents and 40% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. The St. Francois County Commission gave special recognition Tuesday to a county resident who made a donation of a piece of equipment for the road and bridge department recently. They also noted some volunteer efforts made toward the new county park currently in the works. Associate Commissioner Patrick Mullins said in early August they received a very nice donation from Gary McKinney, who is the owner of Keystone Property and Keystone Land Company. He basically donated a stainless steel salt spreader to us, said Mullins. Its ironic because he called me and he wanted to donate it. I called Tom Sebastian and Clay Copeland. Tom was in a different part of the county, Clay was in a different part and I told them this guy needs this off of his dump truck ASAP. Mullins explained to the men that McKinney was willing to donate the spreader to them and they both arrived and started unhooking the spreader unit. We had a couple of the road and bridge guys, one in the dump truck and one in the backhoe to unload it, said Mullins. It was neat to see everything come together and I wanted to give our appreciation. Presiding County Commissioner Harold Gallaher showed a photo of the spreader and explained the tanks on the side are liquid spreaders. He added the skirt on the side protects the tanks. If you look at the factory brochure for the spreader it doesnt have any of that stuff, said Gallaher. This is an expensive item and the one donated is an even more expensive item. We thank you. We appreciate that. The county commission presented a framed certificate of appreciation to McKinney during the county commission meeting for his generous donation. McKinney said it came to his attention the county doesnt use the sprayers on the sides, but hopes its an upgrade and they can eventually start using them. Also during the meeting, Mullins discussed a post card he received from Minnesota with an interesting picture of the area mines. He read the post card, on which the sender thanked Mullins for his overview of the county. Thank you for answering our questions and we look forward to showing our designs to you, read Mullins. University of Minnesota Landscape Architectural Design Studio. A few weeks ago a guy by the name of Mathew Tucker with the University of Minnesota came to our county and I spent all day with him and his grad students. Mullins said they toured the repository, the county park, and it was really interesting to meet with them. They are going to put together a conceptual plan like the one the county drafted a few years ago. They are going to put something together and give it to us, explained Mullins. There are just a couple added bits to that and if we do use some of their ideas and save the taxpayers some money they would like for one of us to go up and let their board know that (they have) a good program and to continue the program. Mullins said he asked Tucker if the county decides to include some of their ideas would he like to bring one of his students down to present those ideas to the commission. We would pay for their mileage and lodging, said Mullins. It was a good day. These kids were sharp, and while I was touring the site with them one kid already had a plan out and was drawing. It was really cool. Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date, News & Update: Galaxy Note 7 Successor Arriving Earlier Than Expected? More Amazing Specs & Features Revealed! The South Korean tech company Samsung had a rough year because of its Galaxy Note 7 ruining its name and reputation. But, several reports say that Samsung is going to launch its Galaxy S8 sooner than expected to make up for the lost sales of Note 7. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is said to be more improved and surely safer compared to its previous model. But, according to a report from Android Authority, a company official stated in a report that the company has no plans releasing the Samsung Galaxy S8 early, insisting to push the launch date earlier is impossible. The company also doesn't want to rush things; Samsung wants to know what went wrong to Galaxy Note 7 before releasing a new smartphone. Until now, Samsung hasn't announced what is the main cause of the Galaxy Note 7's batteries to start burning and exploding. However, there are already rumors and speculations circulating about the Samsung Galaxy S8. According to a report from Daily Mail, the phone might be having an Ultra High Definition edge to edge display. It might also have a 4K external display that would make the device perfect for pairing a Virtual Reality Headset. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to be announced on the MWC (Mobile World Congress) next year. There are also rumors that the smartphone will sport a 6GB of RAM and a 5.5-inch QHD Super AMOLED Display. Some tech critics also say that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will sport either the Exynos 8895 or Snapdragon 830. The device might also cost for around $850 or roughly 655/AU$1120. Samsung might also release two version of Galaxy S8 next year it will be the 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch sizes. To know the latest news and updates for Samsung Galaxy 8, always stay tuned to GameNGuide. 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' Latest News & Update: Ben Mendelsohn Geeks Out While Filming With Darth Vader It looks like "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" has everything the fans are looking for this December. The "Star Wars" standalone film has a strong female lead in Felicity Jones, an amazing cast, an original story and most of all, it has DARTH VADER. Not the sand-hating Anakin Skywalker that appeared in the prequels but the cruel Sith Lord who cut off his son's hand in a lightsaber battle. And that is why Ben Mendelsohn couldn't help but geek out while he was shooting his first scene with the iconic villain. Ben Mendelsohn Goes Full-On Fanboy While Shooting 'Rogue One' Scene With Original 'Star Wars' Villain Darth Vader Can anyone really blame him? "Rogue One" director Gareth Edwards admitted that he couldn't help but be absolutely "respectful" of Darth Vader whenever the character enters a scene. Although Edwards was aware that it was just an actor playing the villain, everyone addressed this man properly because of the character he represents. No one understands this more than Ben Mendelsohn, who plays the new Imperial officer Director Orson Krennic. Gareth Edwards shared an awesome story with USA Today, revealing that Ben Mendelsohn actually called for him while shooting a "Rogue One" scene where Krennic is in the presence of the Sith Lord. It turned out that Mendelsohn was so excited about filming with the iconic Darth Vader. "It was like no one wanted to admit that theyre having a little fanboy freak-out but everyone did," Edwards stated. Will Darth Vader Be The Main Villain In 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'? It would be awesome if the film would be known as "Rogue One: A Darth Vader Story", but Gareth Edwards is careful not to show too much of the Sith Lord in the "Star Wars" standalone movie. It was revealed that the villain will only have a few scenes in the film, which should shine the spotlight on Ben Mendelsohn's awesomely caped Director Krennic. James Earl Jones will return to provide the voice of Darth Vader in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", which premieres on December 16. 'Narcos' Season 3 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Boyd Holbrook Not Returning To Netflix Series, Focusing On 'Logan' Spinoff? Let it be told: "Narcos" will not end with the death of Wagner Moura's Pablo Escobar. Although the infamous Colombian drug lord has met his end in the show, Netflix has just renewed the series for two more seasons. But is it possible that Steve Murphy will no longer return in "Narcos" Season 3? Will Boyd Holbrook leave the show to focus on other projects? 'Narcos' Season 3 Adds More Cast Members But No Confirmation Of Boyd Holbrook's Return? The Netflix series will move on after Pablo Escobar's death by adding new cast members in Kerry Bishe, Matt Whelan and Michael Stahl-David (via The Independent). It has also been confirmed that former "Game of Thrones" star Pedro Pascal is coming back as Javier Pena in "Narcos" Season 3. But is it possible that Pena's partner Steve Murphy will be written out of "Narcos" Season 3? Why hasn't Boyd Holbrook been confirmed to return on the show? Fans have been worried that Steve Murphy might not come back in "Narcos" Season 3. After all, the real-life Murphy went back to the US after the death of Pablo Escobar. However, Boyd Holbrook has sort of confirmed that his character will possibly stay on the Netflix series. "It's called 'Narcos', it's not called 'Pablo Escobar'," Holbrook told The Hollywood Reporter back in September. Will Boyd Holbrook Leave 'Narcos' Season 3 To Work On More Movies Including Possible 'Logan' Spinoff? He may be the voice of "Narcos", but the future looks busy for Boyd Holbrook. The "Gone Girl" star is set to appear as Donald Pierce in the highly anticipated Hugh Jackman flick "Logan" and it is possible that his character could be brought back for more "X-Men" movies. There are speculations that a "Logan" spinoff will focus on Dafne Keen's Laura and could bring back Pierce as the villain. Nevertheless, there is still hope that Holbrook will return in "Narcos" Season 3, which is expected to air on Netflix next fall. iPhone 7 Vs Google Pixel Latest News & Update: Google Assistant Is Superior To Apple's Siri? With Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 out of race, the fight for best cell phone available is set to play out between the Google Pixel and the iPhone 7 - and one principal feature is how efficient Google Assistant charges against Apple's Siri. In his most recent video, well known YouTuber Marques Brownlee squares off the two leader gadgets iPhone 7 and Google Pixel against each other to discover which telephone has the better voice aide by making a similar inquiry in the meantime. While there was a little distinction in speed between iPhone 7 and Google Pixel virtual aides, Siri was frequently a brief quicker to reply. Be that as it may, Google Assistant appeared to give more exact and nitty gritty results - furthermore more applicable when taking into account foregoing searches. Part of the purpose behind that is Google's better than ever AI Thenextweb calculation which, notwithstanding being more conversational, has additionally figured out how to comprehend and consider the factor of the inquiries inquired. The difference is that Siri has a tendency to disregard context at times, just pulling up outcomes from Bing and other web engines. Google Pixel XL vs. iPhone 7 Plus, quien ganara la batalla de las phablets? https://t.co/SNfF13xayv pic.twitter.com/Oivsh9sjkP PCMag Latinoamerica (@PCMagLatam) October 9, 2016 Another place or area where Google Assistant has figured out how to truly make up for lost time with Siri is the capacity to make jokes - something Apple's AI has turned out to be very well known for. In this test, notwithstanding, it appeared Google had the better jest. 'Stranger Things' Season 2 Air Date, Latest News & Update: Netflix Series Ready For Atlanta Filming, Eleven's Return Confirmed? It looks like the second season of "Stranger Things" is finally ready to start filming. The Netflix series is already looking for actors who can work on the show in Atlanta, Georgia. So does this mean that Millie Bobby Brown will be back as Eleven in "Stranger Things" Season 2? Although the show's creators Matt and Ross Duffer have been uncertain about Eleven's return, fans continue to look for clues confirming that the waffle-loving character will come back. Interestingly, Millie Bobby Brown dropped a hint just a few days before a casting announcement was made for "Stranger Things" Season 2. 'Stranger Things' Season 2 Looking For Atlanta-Based Actors, Ready To Film With Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven? "Stranger Things" Season 2 is officially looking for young actors to appear in school scenes that will be shot in Atlanta (via Project Casting). The series is looking for short-haired girls and long-haired boys who are available on November 14 and December 8. It certainly confirms that the show will start shooting soon after Millie Bobby Brown teased on her return as Eleven. Millie Bobby Brown Teases David Harbour Reunion, Eleven's Return In 'Stranger Things' Season 2 It was an Instagram post that the fandom just went nuts for. Millie Bobby Brown posted an adorable photo of herself covering "Stranger Things" Season 2 costar David Harbour's mouth during a convention. The caption begs Harbour not to "say a word" along with some very revealing hashtags. A photo posted by Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebobby_brown) on Oct 24, 2016 at 12:42pm PDT It is possible that Millie Bobby Brown doesn't want David Harbour to spill the beans about Eleven's return in "Stranger Things" Season 2. After all, the Duffer brothers have not yet officially confirmed Brown's comeback although her character was one of the best things about the show. Hopefully, El will be reunited with Harbour when the series return to Netflix in summer 2017. Michael Moore In Trumpland Release Date & Updates: Director Says The Middle Class Will Vote For Donald Trump To Spite Americas Elite Michael Moore is expecting Donald Trump to win the U.S. presidential race in November 2016. The populist filmmaker said that despite several polls showing that the Republican is behind Hillary Clinton in the key states, he will come out victorious in the end. Salon reported that the filmmaker and author was at a promotional event in Ohio for his new film, "Michael Moore in TrumpLand." He told the audience that Trump will win, largely because the elite are so isolated from regular Americans that they do not realize the damage that has been caused to the middle class in the past years. Michael Moore said that he knows that several people from Michigan are planning to vote for the Republican, although they do not necessarily agree with him. Michael Moore continued that Trump at least uses language that directly addresses the issues that have affected their lives. Michael Moore explained that Donald Trump went to the Detroit Economic Club, and in a way, threatened Ford Motor executives. Donald Trump said that if Ford Motor closes the factories in Detroit to build new ones in Mexico, he will slap a 35 percent tariff on the cars that enter the United States and no one will want to buy these. Michael Moore admired how Trump can be very frank to these businessmen. The filmmaker continued that people will vote for Trump as a message to the media and political elites who have remained aloof despite the woes that average citizens face daily. Michael Moore said that Trump's election will be the biggest "f--k you" ever recorded in human history, and it will feel good. Trump is the weapon that the middle class can use against the very system that stole their lives from them. However, Michael Moore has clarified many times that he is not a supporter of Trump, but simply understands why people choose him over Clinton. Donald Trump, Jr. retweeted a copy of Michael Moore's video, adding that he may not agree with Michael Moore on various subjects, but he was right about his statements about his father. The Vatican Cremation Rules 2016: Church Bans The Scattering Of Ashes; Strongly Urges Catholics To Bury Their Dead Instead The Vatican announced on Oct. 25, 2016 the new rules on cremation among Catholics. According to the new guidelines from the doctrinal office of the Vatican, cremation should no longer involve scattering the ashes or keeping the cremains in urns. CNN revealed that for many years, the Vatican allowed the practice of cremation, although the church was apparently concerned about how it could lead to erroneous ideas about death. According to the Vatican, cremation may lead some to believe that the human body fuses with nature or goes on another cycle of rebirth after death. The new guidelines were intended to curtail the approach of turning the remains of the departed into souvenirs, instead of focusing on the spiritual aspect. Now, the remains after cremation must be kept in a sacred place, and not at home or divided among family members. Cremains should be placed in a church cemetery, and should not be preserved in mementos and other objects. In 1963, the Vatican stated that it is preferred to have the bodies of the deceased buried, although Catholics are still given the option to be cremated. The Catholic Church now stated that if cremation is chosen for the reason of nihilism, naturalism or pantheism, the deceased should not be given a Catholic burial. The new Vatican guidelines on cremation also deem the approach of commercializing the act as sacrilegious. Catholicism teaches that all people will be resurrected, both body and soul. Burial shows the intention to show the great dignity of the human body and is the best way to present esteem for the dead. The Vatican, however, understands that there are economic, social and sanitary reasons to opt for cremation, which they will allow. With the new rules, cremains may only be kept at home upon special permission granted by a bishop. Yahoo stated that the new cremation is dated Aug. 15, 2016, with Pope Francis approving it on March 18. Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, the author of the text, said that the dead body is not the private property of relatives, but of God, so Catholics have to change their way of thinking with the new cremation rules. For a group of Farmington Middle School students who were inspired by a book to help a community a half a world away, a grassroots fundraising campaign has finally reached its goal nine months after its inception. Last year, a group of our students had read the book, 'A Long Walk to Water,' in their Language Arts class, said Jared Howe, the Character Education mentor at the middle school. They were so inspired by these young girls who had to walk eight miles just for potable water, they wanted to do something to help. With the advice of their Character Leadership instructor, Scot Doty, the students began a campaign to help raise the needed funds, about $1,000 to help the Sudanese village secure a drilling rig. Last year they threw a dance and raised about $350, Howe said. They had a little bump at the end of the year during MAP testing when they sold little bags of candy, so by the end of the year they were at $560. According to Howe, when the students returned to school after summer break, they were still determined to help this community, so the schools character council took up the cause to raise the additional $500 needed. During homecoming week, we had different theme days and everyone in school could participate, Howe said. We asked the kids during that week if they were participating in something like Hat Day if they could make a donation. By Thursday we had hit our goal, and actually by Friday we had raised a total of $600, which put us around $1,100 for a grand total. I think this is very exciting. These students read a book and now they want to do something about the problem they read about. I really think this was rather empowering. Now that the funds have been raised, the school will be working with Water for South Sudan, a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring fresh, clean water to the people of rural southern Sudan. Howe explained the funding his students raised will go to purchase of the rig, called an iron giraffe, needed for the drilling. Water for South Sudan will then handle everything else need to build the well. I am very impressed by the empathy they are showing, said Vice Principal Todd McKinney. This is the type of thing that Character Education helps develop, and its very exciting to see our students picking up on their own. To see empathy in kids this age is really promising. Xbox One Scorpio Release Date, News & Update: Microsoft Reveals Amazing Progress As PS4 Pro Nears Launch Date With the upcoming launch of Sony's new Playstation 4 Pro or PS4 Pro, Microsoft developers are working hard to complete development activities for the Xbox One Scorpio. Recently, a company executive shared a quick progress report for the new Xbox console. Microsoft and Sony are slated to release their new consoles that boast of enhanced features and specifications. Sony is ahead of the console race with the upcoming November release of its new PS4 Pro unit. However, Xbox One Scorpio might make its debut in the gaming market at an earlier timeframe. In response to a Twitter user who asked about the console's potential early release, Xbox boss Phil Spencer made mention of the development team's "amazing" progress on the Xbox One Scorpio. He hinted of a long discussion that he had with the team before commenting on development timelines. Spencer wrote, "We are feeling good about schedule." @RBeckerath I'm in a day long review of where the team is on Scorpio right now, amazing progress and we are feeling good about schedule. Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) October 24, 2016 The Xbox executive's social media comment sparked speculations that Microsoft's new console may get an early release date. However, Spencer did not mention any change to the console's planned launch date. Spencer also shared a similar Xbox One Scorpio update during an interview with Gamespot. He again highlighted how the console's development progress is moving at a faster pace than expected. Despite the bump in hardware development milestones, the Scorpio team still has a long way to go before it can deliver a quality product. Spencer added, "The teams understand the performance spec that we're building. We went through some of the high-level specs at E3 in the video. And it gives the teams time to make sure that they're targeting that performance for their games." Meanwhile, with the upcoming console's 4K support, the Xbox One Scorpio is expected to change a player's gaming experience. Sony's new PS4 Pro unit also has a similar 4K functionality. However, Microsoft boasted that its new console will offer "true" 4K gaming, as indicated on the tech company's website. PS4 Pro will hit gaming markets on Nov. 10, while the Xbox One Scorpio has been slated for release during the holiday season of 2017. Learn about Microsoft's new console in the clip below: HALSEY Well into his 90s, Irish Bend Loop farmer George VanLeeuwen had a handshake like a steel vise and a smile that melted hearts. VanLeeuwen, who went by Geo. and was a trusted godfather of mid-valley farmers for the last 70 years, died Oct. 21 at the Mennonite Village Rehabilitation Center in Albany. He was 95. VanLeeuwen was born to be a farmer. His mother was pregnant with him when she and her husband emigrated from Holland to Jamestown, North Dakota, in 1920. Dutch was the childs first language, and in his family biography, he recalled being the focus of prejudice at the community's country schoolhouse because of his speech. I have learned that it is good to receive a little prejudice, he noted. It provides a challenge to overcome, the opportunity to consider motivation of the prejudiced, and helps a person to stand up for his own values. He said that by growing up on an isolated farm, We were taught by example the value of self control, respect for other people, hard work, frugality, money management and education. But in 1936, the Dust Bowl sent 16-year-old George, along with his parents, five brothers and sister, in search of a new life in Oregon. Former State Rep. Liz VanLeeuwen, Georges wife of 69 years, said her husbands family rented a farm near Albany for a short time before purchasing a foreclosed 232-acre farm in the Irish Bend Loop area west of Halsey. Although he started high school in North Dakota where he roomed and boarded with widow ladies VanLeeuwen attended Albany Union High for a few months then completed high school in Halsey. In January 1940, VanLeeuwen who considered himself an extremely shy but determined general ag freshman headed to nearby Oregon State College (now Oregon State University), where he studied crop science and ag education. The need to support the war effort during World War II brought him back to the farm, where he helped the family raise flax that would be used to make parachute cords. It was during this time that George met Liz Nelson, an Oregon State coed who had grown up on a farm near Lakeview, so she knew how to work in the fields. The coeds would come out to area farms to help pull weeds since most of the women were working at the shipyards in Portland or Seattle, she recalled. George was intrigued by the fact that Liz could keep up with him at work and the two were married in 1947, a week after her graduation. She taught school at Monroe until her husband completed his degree in 1948. George taught ag education at Banks Union High School for half a school year before the family moved to Redmond, where he worked for three years as a farm program administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The family returned to the mid-valley in 1951, where George was a loan officer with Production Credit Association in Salem. The young couple also rented a small farm and worked at night by lantern light. In 1956, they moved home and rented the family farm, which they later purchased and have expanded many times over the years. Always an inventor, George created a berry-picking machine that allowed workers to lie down, pick the berries and place them on a conveyor belt as it moved across a field. My dad was always experimenting, James VanLeeuwen said. Liz Van Leeuwen said that her husband was a man of infinite patience. He didnt get mad at people, but he could surely get mad at machinery. She added that his pet peeve was anything that was poorly engineered. In addition to his widow, Liz, VanLeeuwen leaves a daughter, Mary LeQuieu of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; sons Charles VanLeeuwen of Mountainair, New Mexico, and James and Tim VanLeeuwen of Halsey; their spouses; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and a brother, Eugene VanLeeuwen of Scio. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Fisher Funeral Home, Albany. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church, 27910 Seven Mile Lane, Brownsville. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Adult and Teen Challenge of Shedd (www.teenchallengepnw.com/wvmc), Box 108 Shedd, OR 97377 or Ag in the Classroom (www.oregonaitc.org), 200 Strand Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331. Mike Nearman is running against Jim Thompson again. But this time there is a bit of a twist. Nearman, an Independence software engineer, defeated three-term incumbent Thompson in the House District 23 Republican primary in 2014 and easily won the general election in November in the largely rural district that includes parts of Polk, Benton, Yamhill and Marion counties. Now its 2016 and Nearman and Thompson, a Dallas plant researcher, are facing off again, but this time in the general election. Nearman won the GOP primary despite losing in Polk County to Beth Jones, while Thompson is running as an Independent Party member. No Democrat filed papers to run in the district. Thompson, meanwhile, is hoping that moderates and Democrats in the general election pool will prefer him to the more conservative Nearman. Also in the race are Pacific Green candidate Alex Polikoff, a Corvallis electrical engineer, and Libertarian Garrett Leeds, a Monmouth safety manager. All four candidates participated in a forum Monday night at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library which serves as the basis for this story. A key dividing line among the four candidates was Measure 97, the controversial initiative that will tax large corporations and use the money for education, health care and senior services. Thompson said he opposes 97 as written. It was not completed. They are dividing money between three areas but there is no formula for dividing up that money. Its like wheeling money into the Legislature in a wheelbarrow and dumping it on the floor. It will be spent, you can count on that. Nearman noted that Measure 97 is not a tax on profits but revenues and Im certain" increased taxes will be passed on to consumers via higher prices. Nearman also said the tax increase will trickle down to smaller companies and suppliers. This is not what we need right now, he said. Leeds agreed. The costs will be passed on. We will see that, he said. I definitely support 97, said Polikoff, who added that corporations are not paying their fair share. Polikoff also noted that the campaign over the measure is the most expensive in Oregon history, with those against it raising more than $20 million and backers at $10 million. Thats why were awash in campaign ads, he said. Environmental issues also brought out differences between the candidates. Leeds said he would rather see businesses take the lead rather than government regulation. Lets let business do what they do well, and if they pollute they should have to pay for any environmental damage they do, he said. Leeds said he favored more renewable sources and also touted nuclear energy as being cost-effective and unfairly maligned. Thompson noted the environmental issues as being all connected and said that Oregon is not doing enough to collect, impound and preserve quality water, a failure he said would have economic as well as environmental impacts. Thompson added that emission reductions here might not matter much depending on what China and India are doing. He said he is in favor of renewable energy when it can be done economically and efficiently, but you are not going to be able to run trucks on renewables any time soon. Polikoff recommended a program of carbon taxes and dividends to deal with climate change and strongly challenged that regulations are the issue. The problem is that people are dumping pollution into the atmosphere with no penalty, he said. When you look at it from the point of view of the free market the planetary and social costs are not taken into account. Nearman said that letting forests burn and get bug infested produces financial problems, carbon problems and pollution problems. A lot of land in Oregon, 53 percent, has the same landlord (the federal government) 3,000 miles away. Weve got to get those lands in local hands. Nearman said he was not in favor of a carbon tax and responded to an environmental question from an audience member by asking did you drive here tonight? and noting that the clothing you are wearing got here in a truck and the food you ate today got here in a truck. Oregon is the most environmentally friendly state in the country. We need to take a step back. The forum also featured about 10 individuals, most of them in matching shirts and caps who stood in the back of the library meeting room. Nearman noted that they were Second Amendment backers of his campaign and that I appreciate you coming out. DEAR ABBY: I'm 18 and a freshman in college. My 16-year-old brother is supposed to be a junior in high school, but he's still taking freshman classes. He has gone to school maybe twice this year. He just gave up and dropped out. All he does is stay home, sleep and text all day. It makes me angry because I don't work right now, but I clean, cook, do laundry and take care of my younger siblings while he does absolutely nothing. Mom has given up on him. She begs him to go to school and get an education, but he yells at her and tells her he doesn't care and he'll just become a hobo. I don't know what to say to him to get it through his head that he needs to finish high school. What would you do? -- BIG SISTER IN NEW YORK DEAR BIG SISTER: If your brother is a junior and still taking freshman classes, he belongs back in school. He may be lazy, but he may also have learning disabilities. If he doesn't get the help he needs to earn a diploma, he'll be virtually unemployable by the time he's 18. Your mother should visit his school and talk to his teachers and the principal about this. As it stands, your brother may be considered "truant," which is against the law. DEAR ABBY: I am 47 years old and date younger, usually very attractive women. I live in New York City, so they tend to be models. I haven't been married because I feel like I haven't met "the one." I have been with one or two women who could have been the one, only to find out my feelings weren't reciprocated. But more often I don't feel an emotional/intellectual connection, so I end the relationship. While I might be able to resolve that issue by dating women in their late 30s and 40s, I'm more physically attracted to younger women. Because I don't look my age, I have yet to reach the point where I look "too old" for women in their 20s to be attracted. Do I continue to follow my male instincts and date younger women, or should I date women closer to my age to whom I may not be as physically attracted, knowing there's still no guarantee I'll meet someone with whom I'll find a stronger connection? -- LIKES 'EM YOUNGER DEAR LIKES: Forgive me for answering your question with a question, but what do you really want in a relationship? The problem with youth is that it doesn't last. As the years go by, we get older -- if we're lucky. That's why it's time to start listing your priorities, with the help of a licensed mental health professional, if necessary. (There are many well-qualified ones in your city.) I urge you to do it soon, before you start looking like your date's rich uncle. While marriage may not be for everyone, it's a known fact that married men live longer. DEAR ABBY: Im not sure if this has been mentioned in your column before, but I would like to make your readers aware of something while they travel. When staying at a hotel, it is important never to reveal personal or financial information over the in-room phone, even if the caller claims to be an employee of the hotel. Sometimes scammers will call the front desk of a hotel and provide a generic name or room number. Unsuspecting desk agents may transfer the call to that room, and the scammer will then pose as a desk agent. He or she will say something plausible to get the guest to provide credit information over the phone, and in a flash, the guest is a victim of theft. If such a thing happens, guests should immediately dial the front desk and ask the agent if a call for that reason was intentionally placed to the room. Very likely, it will not have been. JOHN IN OGDEN, UTAH DEAR JOHN: Whoa! Travelers can never be too careful. Thank you for the wake-up call. DEAR ABBY: My neighbor has a registered day care business, and every day I hear her screaming at young children and infants. They are all 4-year-olds and younger. We live in a rural area outside a small town. She uses profanity and says mean things to them. It makes me want to cry when I think of how scared those kids must be. Who do I contact with this information? I could record her with my phone if evidence was needed to shut down her business. This woman has a really bad anger management problem. She also knows I can hear her because we have spoken about how our voices travel. I dont think she is being physically abusive, but her words must be damaging to those kids. Please help me find someone to tell. Im afraid the local police wont be able to do anything. I cant even take my own child in our backyard because she swears so much. DAY CARE DRAMA IN INDIANA DEAR D.C.D.: Ideally, you should try to tell the parents what you have been hearing because they should be aware that their trusted caregiver loses control of her emotions and takes out her frustrations on their children. If the situation is as ugly as you describe, those kids must be terrified of her. If thats not possible, Child Protective Services should be notified because the environment is not emotionally healthy for little children. P.S. By the age of 4, children usually have started to repeat the language they hear around them. Im surprised these parents havent noticed the change in their vocabulary and questioned their little ones about where they heard those bad words. Nonetheless, on the chance that the parents are clueless, what you have observed should be reported. DEAR ABBY: I have a friend, a contractor working for the U.S. government, who thinks hes in love with a Ukrainian girl. The pay is really good. He recently came back from a visit to see this girlfriend. He has been sending this girl almost all his money for the last nine months. He was never alone with her, and she showed no emotional or physical attraction to him. In fact, a male friend of hers asked him for $800 to give as a bribe so he wouldnt be drafted into the Ukrainian military. We believe this male friend is, in fact, the girls real boyfriend. My friend paid $300 to send flowers to her for their nine-month anniversary, for which she expressed no thanks or appreciation. What advice can you provide us here? FRIEND IN AFGHANISTAN DEAR FRIEND: Your friends romance seems suspicious to me, too. That he is giving all his money to someone who appears to be so emotionally distant is worrisome. I also have to doubt that $800 would keep an able-bodied man from being drafted into the Ukrainian military since the country is now involved in military conflict. It appears your friend is being treated more like an ATM than a suitor, but he may have to arrive at that realization on his own. DEAR ABBY: Im in desperate need of help. I have been with my girlfriend for four years. With every long-term relationship, there are bound to be issues. I havent felt loved by her in a long time, and I think I have fallen out of love with her. I cant even tell her that I love her anymore because I dont want to lie. When we make love, its dull and boring. I want to feel the way I used to about her. When I was near her, my hairs used to stand up, my heart would race, my body would quiver and I would never want to let her go. How can I feel that way about her again? WANTS THAT OLD FEELING DEAR WANTS: The problem with relationships is that they can only be brand-new once. With the passage of time, to some extent the excitement fades. Thats where the work comes in. Longtime couples must make an effort to keep their relationship fresh and exciting. This means introducing spontaneity and new experiences to each other. You say you havent felt loved by her in a long time. My advice would be to talk to her about it. Because you cant bring yourself to tell her you love her, has it occurred to you that she might feel as though she has been emotionally abandoned by you? If you want that old feeling back, you and your lady will need to resume communication on a meaningful level. Its not always easy, but honesty can revive a relationship thats wilting. DEAR ABBY: I live with my longtime boyfriend in a house he owns. Were five hours away from my parents and siblings and the town in which I grew up. Its a beautiful house with lots of land, and I can imagine raising a family here. However, I always thought that if I had children, Id live close to the rest of my family. I would want my parents nearby so they could lend a hand, and I want my kids to have a close relationship with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My boyfriend is open to the idea of selling the house, but Im not sure I would want him to. What should I do? I love this house, but how can I start a family so far from my own? LOOKING AHEAD IN NEW JERSEY DEAR LOOKING AHEAD: Before you make any decisions, discuss this with your parents and see if their vision of grandparenthood is similar to your fantasy. Take into consideration how close they are to your siblings and how involved they are in each others lives. Be sure that the kind of extended family relationship you envision is realistic. If everyone is on board, then you and your boyfriend should talk about what relocating will mean in terms of not only selling this house, but also the impact it might have on your ability to earn a living. This property may be terrific, but if it cannot offer you the lifestyle you wish for, then you would be better served to move. But only you can decide that. DEAR ABBY: Twenty-three years ago my husband and I lost our firstborn son. As my husband was active duty military, we could have buried him anywhere in the United States. At the time, we were in a place where my sister swore to me she would always live, and she would always be there to take care of him. I knew with my husbands career we had many more moves ahead of us, and it helped to ease the loss knowing that he would be taken care of. Well, that lasted all of three years. My husband and I are now at a point where we have settled down and we know where we should have buried our precious angel, instead of trusting my sister. We want to have him exhumed, cremated and placed in a veterans cemetery, but my question is this: Do I have the right to ask my sister to pay part of the costs as she broke her promise to help care for my son? HEARTBROKEN MOTHER DEAR HEARTBROKEN: Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your son. While its clear that there are many hurt feelings about what happened after his original interment, I think its time to forgive your sister. Its a fact of life that sometimes unforeseen circumstances prevent people with the best of intentions from keeping promises they make. Forgive her if you can, but dont ask her for money. She may owe you an apology, but she does not owe you any money. DEAR ABBY: Im very close to my family. We visit each others homes often. But for the past year or so, something has begun to bother me. Its cellphone chargers. Whether people come for a week or just for dinner, out come the chargers! The kids all start plugging in their cellphones and tablets, and the adults follow suit with their cellphones and laptops. I started asking around and its not just happening to me. A lot of my friends have the same gripe. Lamps, toasters, pencil sharpeners you name it their cords are left dangling long after the guests have departed. After the last weekend, I installed a power strip in the TV room and will direct the traffic there in the future. Would you please let people know how rude this is? Also mention that the host is not responsible for an electronic item plugged in on a kitchen counter, or anywhere for that matter. Example: Aunt Sarah, who got my iPad wet? (It was fine, but it had been plugged in on the most used surface in the kitchen.) UNPLUGGED IN SALEM, N.Y. DEAR UNPLUGGED: While the power strip you installed is the practical solution, the problem is that the people you have described are thoughtless. Polite guests leave their hosts home in the same condition it was in when the guests arrived. In this instance, it means being considerate enough to plug in any appliances that the guests unplugged, so the host doesnt have to wonder why the darned thing isnt working after everyone has departed. And as for electronic items foolishly left on a wet counter, if there was any damage, the fault would not be yours. Your niece/nephew was lucky. DEAR ABBY: Im in a tricky situation. My boyfriend of four years, Ian, and I took a break from our relationship for two months because he was scared hed miss out on the single life. We started hanging out again soon after, and everything fell into place. We were talking recently, and he mentioned that hes planning to move across the country to San Francisco to be near his family. He made it plain he wants to live on the West Coast forever. I am close to my family closer than Ian is to his. Were both 24, and while were not going to get engaged anytime soon, Im not sure what to do. We love each other, but the geography is causing so many issues. Please advise. NEW YORK GIRL DEAR N.Y. GIRL: Its good that you and Ian arent planning on becoming engaged anytime soon, because you have some serious thinking to do. If you plan on having a family and want your parents to be close to their grandchildren, it would be better for you to find another boyfriend. Im advising you and Ian to take another break this time for YOUR benefit to see which is more important to you: the man or the location. DEAR ABBY: Im a 14-year-old girl with a problem. Because of my buzzed short hair, slim hips and flat chest, I frequently get mistaken for a boy. It really bothers me because, despite my haircut and body shape, I have a feminine face and I wear womens clothes and makeup. Im not too much of a tomboy. Sometimes when someone addresses me with a male pronoun or in some other way mistakes me for a male, Im too nervous to correct them. Is there a clever or witty way to correct the mistake? NOT A BOY IN BROOKLYN, N.Y. DEAR NOT A BOY: The person who made the mistake is the one who should be embarrassed, not you. If it happens again, all you need to do is smile and say, Im all girl. DEAR ABBY: I have been dating a woman, and I am considering proposing to her. We have discussed engagement rings and she wants to design her own, which I think is great. However, I am unsure exactly what to do regarding the actual proposal. What ring should I give her, knowing that whatever I give her will not be her ultimate engagement ring? SOON TO POP THE QUESTION DEAR SOON TO POP: Marriage proposals happen in many situations and in many ways. There are no rules, and dropping to one knee and offering a ring is optional. The engagement does not begin when a woman starts wearing a ring; it begins when she accepts the proposal. All you need to do is say, Will you marry me? When she says yes, you can then decide when you both would like to select a stone for her engagement ring. DEAR ABBY: A longtime friend asked me to be executor of her estate a few years ago, and I agreed. As time has passed, the details of the estate have changed several times. After the recent death of her husband, she again changed the beneficiaries and is now leaving almost half a million dollars to two animal shelters. Its her money to do with as she chooses, and I dont judge her. I do, however, have a problem executing an estate that gives that much money to animal care when it could help so many people. I dont fault her for wanting to do it; I just dont want to be part of it. Im afraid asking her to find another executor would damage or end our friendship. Please tell me what to do. DILEMMA IN TEXAS DEAR DILEMMA: Lets face it. You ARE judging the woman and you DO fault her for wanting to leave a fortune to four-footed needy creatures instead of bipeds. Because you are uncomfortable with her plan, you must tell her she needs to find another executor who is as committed to animal causes as she is. Youll be doing her a favor. DEAR ABBY: It has been a year since my mother passed away. The month of February was especially tough because it was the month of her birthday and also the month in which she died. Mothers Day will be here soon, and Im already feeling bitter, anticipating all of the commercials, advertising, brunches and everything. I dont want to be bitter about Mothers Day, but I am. How do people typically celebrate Mothers Day when they have lost their mother? JODY IN KEARNEY, NEB. DEAR JODY: Please accept my condolences for the loss of your mother. If you have siblings, you might find it comforting to talk with them about your feelings. If not, then spend the day quietly, being grateful for the precious time you had with your mother and the many lessons she taught you. I cant speak for others, but thats how I have coped with the loss of my mother, and Im sure others do it, too. DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, Glen, and I have been dating for two years. Over the past few months he has been pushing me to open a joint checking account with him. I have tried explaining that I dont feel like its a good idea until we are engaged. But every time I say no, he gets upset and angry. Am I wrong for not wanting to put our finances together, and how do I make him see my side? CAREFUL IN THE MIDWEST DEAR CAREFUL: You are absolutely NOT wrong, and you should not have to justify your discomfort with the idea of pooling your money with anyone to whom you are not married. In fact, Glen should be trying to explain why he is pushing you into making such a foolish decision. His anger and upset are either attempts to bully you into doing what he wants, or a sign of desperation to get access to your hard-earned money. If you are at all tempted to relent, I URGE you to first talk to a lawyer about what the ramifications could be if the relationship went sour. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Health care remains an issue on the front burner. Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have sparred repeatedly during the campaign about the Affordable Care Act, the federal legislation that aimed to reduce the ranks of the uninsured. Locally, Mid-Valley Health Care advocates worked with the Corvallis City Council to place an advisory measure on the topic on the local ballot. Measure 2-95, one of three measures that city of Corvallis voters will pass judgment on Nov. 8, calls for the state Legislature to pass an affordable universal health care system for Oregon. Backers note that the state has commissioned a study by the RAND Corp. The study is scheduled to be reviewed by the Legislature during its regular 2017 session. The study will compare multiple options, including a publicly financed single-payer structure, retaining the current financing approach and a couple of hybrid models. We want the Legislature to act on that study, said Bruce Thomson of Mid-Valley Health Care Advocates. We are not recommending one of the solutions. We just want the Legislature to pick one. And we put this measure forward as a way to encourage the Legislature to stay on task on this one. Ashland has a similar measure on the ballot, and the Portland City Council last week backed the concept by passing a resolution. Mid-Valley Health Care Advocates officials say that universal care could have major economic benefits. The whole idea is to create a system that is more efficient and that doesnt spend 30 percent on overhead, said Michael Huntington, one of the local measures' backers. We think we can cut that in half, and that will bring money back for the City Council, the Board of Commissioners and the state to spend on other things. Measure 2-95 is a nonbinding measure and there is no organized opposition. Here is a look at the other two measures on the Corvallis ballot: Measure 2-96 The city is shooting for the maximum 3 percent that local jurisdictions can add to the 17 percent tax that the state of Oregon already collects on recreational marijuana. Medical marijuana dispensaries are charged a 25 percent tax for their recreational sales. Nancy Brewer, city of Corvallis finance director, estimates that the tax will produce about $95,000 in annual revenue. The money would go into the city's general fund. The measure was sent to the voters by a vote of the City Council, and there is no organized opposition. One dispensary owner said she is in favor of the tax and plans to vote for it. "Measure 2-96 gives voters a rare chance to make their own decision about a so-called 'sin tax,' " said Kayla Dunham of The Agrestic on Southeast Third Street. "I think it's both empowering to the people casting ballots and wise on behalf of the City Council. "I don't believe it is helpful to view sin taxes as either fair or unfair. In my view, the true injustice of a tax stems from the consumer's lack of voice in the matter of both the tax levied and the way the money is spent in the community." Measure 2-99 Residents on Northeast Lawndale Place appealed to the city to approve the annexation for the five properties on the block because of failing septic systems. The request was approved by both the Corvallis Planning Commission and the City Council. Complicating matters is that in Gov. Kate Brown signed legislation in March that would limit the ability of jurisdictions to require voter approval for annexations. The city of Corvallis, which in 1976 became the first community to require a vote on annexations, has challenged the new state law in court and is continuing with the voter-approved annexation process in its charter until the issues has been decided by the courts. There also is no organized opposition to Measure 2-99. You often print old news about Donald Trump on the front page, but no old news about his opponent. You could dredge up an old story of how Hillary Clinton defended a rapist, won, then laughed about it. You could have printed more recent news of the several women raped by her husband, and how she threatened them if they told their stories. Like most liberal media, you might say you didn't know. So, Google Kathleen Willey, Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick, Kathy Shelton. About the present: You might print how Hillary was told to submit her mails to Congress, then told her campaign workers to destroy over 30,000 of them, but couldn't remember. Never heard about this? Google Wikileaks. You might print how the money given to the Clinton Foundation was used to acquire mining rights in Haiti, and for clear-cutting rainforests in Colombia. Never heard of this? Google Peter Schweizer's book "Clinton Cash." To be clear, some but not all of Schweizer's claims have been verified. In public Hillary is environmentally friendly. In private well, she admitted it's necessary to maintain a different persona. To paraphrase Hillary: It's a vast left wing conspiracy! Ron Coffey Corvallis (Oct. 15) To the Editor: In the last Presidential debate between pro-life Donald Trump and anti-life Hillary Clinton, regarding abortions, a line was drawn in the sand. As grotesque as it is, killing babies in the birth canal, is the position of Hillary. Trump declared this to be unacceptable. Hillary stated clearly, it is important that we not reverse marriage equality. Translated, that means Hillary favors men marrying men and women marrying women, contrary to the traditional one man, one woman for one life. The phrase, marriage equality, is one of the most stupid expressions that have ever bounced off my ear drums. Hillary's statement infers that God should have presented Adam with another man, and Eve with another woman. God is not stupid. Had He done so, none of us would be alive today. In fact, history, as it is recorded in our books, would have never happened. God covered this sin well in Leviticus 20:13, where He declares same sex relations is an abomination, and God says both "shall be put to death". In our modern society we cannot follow through on this, but it can be made illegal and forbidden. We know from the past almost 8 years, how Hillary will govern. We know the kind of Justices she will appoint. We know how she will be toward Israel. We also know, that Donald Trump will appoint judges who are pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-Constitutional judges to the Supreme Court. We also know that Trump will promote freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom to worship Jehovah God as we wish. He has also promised to improve the tax code, cut red-tape and unnecessary regulation on businesses and improve relations with Israel. Hillary ridicules Trump on all the above. That which each will do with the Supreme Court will determine the direction of America for decades to come. We do not need a soft spoken leader that does not want to make ripples. We need a leader who is tough and does not mind stepping on toes. Truman said it well, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen." The next president will most likely appoint as many as four new Justices to the Supreme Court. Trump will appoint Justices who will be consistent with the Declaration of Independence, underscoring the basic God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They will also protect the Second Amendment to be able to defend life. They will interpret the Constitution the way the founders wanted it interpreted. Trumps appointed Justices will also protect traditional marriage and stop infanticide. Hillarys position, interpreted, means the Justices should interpret the Constitution to the will of the liberals and not as the Founders intended. Times have and are changing. Our currents times are not a time for a nice guy or a country gentleman, or for a typical Republican powder puff. We need a natural born fighter we need a miracle. Do you want another Mitt Romney, Bob Dole, Barry Goldwater, Gerald Ford, John McCain or Paul Ryan? They men were all nice guys or gentlemen, but they were losers. We need someone who is tough like John Kennedy, Eisenhower and Reagan. Donald Trump is energy!! Donald Trump took on the 16 best candidates in GOP History, all younger than him all with better presidential credentials, but he beat them all. Donald Trump has ten scrapper in Manhattan, alone, and all across America, and around the world. Donald is energetic and knows how to accomplish. He is a man of achievement. Obamas goal is to have the U. N. Arms Treaty ratified by the U.S. Senate before he leaves office. If elected, the ratification of this evil treaty will be top priority with Hillary. If ratified, the guns of every American, law abiding citizen and criminal alike, will be confiscated, which has been a Democratic goal for decades. God looks down on all nations, as well as America and He sums it up as: "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan." Proverbs 29:2 (NKJV) I am ready for our eight years of groaning to end. Are you? Sincerely, Donald R. Brown Farmington Shop leaving Fronhofer Galeria : Business complains about stalling tactics BAD GODESBERG When Fronhofer Galeria finally opens its doors again after the June 4 flooding, one business will have pulled out for good. The owners of Mi parti have cancelled their contracts for two rented spaces. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken As a small business, we have been overlooked and discriminated against, said Meltem Aksu. Together with her sister, Mehtap Turan, they have operated the 50-square-meter fashion shop Mi parti on the main level for seven and a half years. Five years ago, they added another 120 square meters on the upper floor. We have always felt very comfortable but after nearly five months of still stand, we cant go on, explained Asku. Because the Fronhofer Galeria isnt right on the Rhine, they didnt have insurance for the damage. We suffered a great loss because our inventory was under 80 centimeters of water, said the owner. Boots, bags, clothes, the Wifi router - everything was under water. They had hoped they could re-open quickly. On September 1, we suddenly received a letter from Center Management saying there were mold spores in the air and we needed to evacuate everything at once, said Aksu. Further, she criticized that the contacts from Center Management were hard to reach yet shop owners were always asked to react quickly to their demands. The owners said they were moving out because they didnt trust anymore that when the management gave a green light to move in - it would really happen. And the investments would have been too high. GA asked Center Management about the complaints, and manager Anke Opfermann responded that they had to react when experts would give their opinion about something (mold), and that they received numerous phone calls, not always able to respond immediately with reliable information. Center Management says it will soon hand over all the spaces back to the renters. They are already negotiating with new renters for the two spaces left empty by Mi parti. One can see through the windows that H & M is already putting out its wares but no concrete opening date has been named. Country Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. Tengi: A unique Chat App that rewards you for using its services Features oi -Rohit The app follows a lucky draw process where users can get up to Rs. 3,90,000 in cash prizes. How often do you use a chat app on your smartphone? We bet the answer must be- throughout the day. What if we tell you that you can get paid for messaging your friends and family? It sure sounds a bit weird, but is true if you are using Tengi- the chat app that gives back. This new messaging app works around a very unique feature of having a weekly draw where random people using the chat app get a chance to win cash prize up to 3.9 Lakh. SEE ALSO: How to Stop Media from Auto-Downloading on WhatsApp The company claims to share at least half of its ad revenues with users every week in the form of cash prizes and has put a list of winners on the official website. The technical team for Tengi is supported by QBurst, which is based out of Kochi in India. The company says that the app is supported by a network of angel investors from the UK, China, South Africa and the United States. Let's see how Tengi rewards its users? 1) First of all, you need to download and install the app on your Android or iOS smartphone. 2) Create an account on Tengi and start sending messages to your friends and family. 3) You will get tickets forusing the app and also when your friends join Tengi. A user gets 16 tickets every time a phone contact joins Tengi, 1 ticket every time a friend wins the draw, 1 ticket for each day the user uses the app, 12 tickets for each hour spent chatting on the app and 1 ticket per draw for keeping the app installed. 4) Finally, all the tickets a user has gained are entered into the weekly draw which takes place on the Friday of each week. 5) Winners are then chosen at random and the prizes range from Rs 3,90,000 to Rs 450. SEE ALSO: Now iPhone users can order food directly from Google Maps As you can see, the app works on a ticket based system. So, the more tickets you earn during the week, the more chances you get to win in the free prize draw. The best part about the app is that you get the chance to win real money. Talking about the features of the Tengi chat app, it allows users to send texts, emoticons, location, voice messages, photo, video and audio messages. It also sends notifications when the message has been delivered and read. Besides, the app also allows users to add their Facebook friends on Tengi even without having their phone number in their contacts list. Click Here for New Smartphones Best Online Deals Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Surface Studio An all-in-one PC Let's start with hardware, Microsoft, with the Surface Studio, added a new member to its Surface family. The all new Surface Studio is a touchscreen all-in-one PC with a one-of-it's-kind design aimed for artists and designers. At a thickness of just 12.5mm, the new desktop computer has a 28-inch PixelSense display with an adjustable base to provide more convenience while working with the Surface Pen. It also offers support for the Surface Dial - a new controller device which provides intuitive interaction with the software. In terms of hardware, the Surface Studio is powered by a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor coupled with 3TB of internal storage space along with support for Dolby stereo sound. The desktop computer bears an exorbitant price tag of USD 3,000 (roughly translates to 2 lakhs in Indian currency). Clearly, with its new product, Microsoft aims to compete against the likes of Apple's iMacs but it remains to be seen if the company manages to achieve an upper hand. Surface Book (2016 Version) In addition to the Surface Studio, Microsoft upgraded the existing Surface Book with new internals. For instance, It comes with the top-notch latest generation Intel Core i7 processor and better battery which is claimed to offer 16 hours of battery life on a single charge. For the low-end Surface Book (8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage) you'll have to shell out USD 2,399 (approximately 1.6 lakhs) and the high-end 16GB of RAM and 1TB storage space variant will set you back by USD 3,300 (approximately 2.2 lakhs). Both these models are already up for pre-orders with the shipping starting from November 10 in the US. Windows 10 Creators Update Microsoft will roll out a major update to the Windows 10 dubbed as "Creators Update" starting from early 2017. The new update will bring in a lot of cool new features which include support for 3D capabilities for the iconic MS Paint and PowerPoint, "My People", Hololens, and support for VR along with a slew of new gaming features. Microsoft Paint 3D Microsoft is taking the way you interact with your PC to a whole new level with the Paint 3D app. This revamped app brings life to the normal images by turning them into 3D memories. It also allows you to doodle on the 3D images thereby improving your interactive experience. Windows 10 VR headset Last but not least, Microsoft has unveiled the next generation VR headsets to support the Windows 10 Creators Update's VR capabilities. Furthermore, the company has joined forces with HP, Lenovo, Dell, Asus, and Acer to make VR headsets. There's no official word on when the company will start shipping them yet but when launched, it will come with a price tag starting from USD 299 (approximately Rs. 20,000). Click Here for New Smartphones Best Online Deals 'Feels Like Home Season 2' offers something real and tangible to think about; takes home a pertinent point - if your intentions are good, there is nothing in life that isn't achievable. Coalition Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Iraq, Syria From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 26, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq and Syria yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack, bomber and fighter aircraft conducted three strikes in Syria: -- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle. -- Near Shadaddi, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position. -- Near Mara, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a fighting position. Strikes in Iraq Attack, bomber, fighter, remotely piloted aircraft and rocket artillery conducted eight strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Haditha, one strike destroyed an ISIL trench system. -- Near Kisik, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle. -- Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and a mortar system and destroyed seven vehicles, seven tunnels, seven mortar systems, four fighting positions, four supply caches, three staging areas, three ISIL-held buildings, a communications facility and a vehicle bomb. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, three strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed six vehicles, two buildings, a weapons system and a front-end loader. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OIR Commander Cites Momentum in Mosul Push; Raqqa Isolation to Begin 'Soon' By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2016 Iraqi forces continue to make steady progress in the effort to retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the commander of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve said today. "The Iraqi security forces had developed a lot of momentum over the past two years," Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend told Pentagon reporters during a teleconference from Baghdad. "Now we're seeing that momentum continue against ISIL, our common enemy, in Mosul." "The Mosul offensive is a large and extraordinarily complex operation that the Iraqis have been planning for a very long time," Townsend said. Iraqi forces are moving forward on multiple axes toward Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, he said, but the effort to take back the city, held by ISIL since 2014, will not be easy. "There's a lot of hard fighting ahead but we're confident the Iraqis will be successful," Townsend said. Iraqis to Raise Flag The operation to liberate the city of more than a million people began Oct. 17. The U.S. supported the planning and preparation of forces and provided advice and assistance -- to include air and artillery strikes -- the general said. In addition, the coalition has provided substantial investment, as well, he said, including weapons, equipment and training. The relentless campaign of strikes, he said, has removed fighters, weapons and key leaders from the battlefield ahead of the Iraqi advance. But, it is ultimately the Iraqis who are in charge of the operation, he pointed out. "They're the ones making the decisions, and their forces are the ones who will enter Mosul and raise the Iraqi flag in the center of the city," Townsend said. The general said he attended the Iraqis' final operational briefing, where commanders responsible for an axis of advance provided their plan to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. "I can tell you that it was clear to me that night that the sovereign nation of Iraq owns this fight," he said, further commending forces for "pressing steadily forward on the battlefield." Raqqa Offensive Coming 'Soon' Separately, Townsend discussed retaking the Syrian city of Raqqa from ISIL. Syria is a complicated battlespace, he said, with many regional security concerns. "It's going to be a tough -- very tough political environment and a security environment, I think, for our effort there," the general said. Coalition allies, partners and members are working to refine the military plan for the isolation and eventual liberation of Raqqa, he said, and precision strikes continue to target ISIL's leaders and command and control structures while reducing the terrorists' freedom of movement. Townsend said he believes there are sufficient forces for the Raqqa operation. Local populations are willing to fight ISIL because of its brutal tactics, the general said, and "this gives us confidence that ISIL will also be driven from Raqqa." "Our coalition is committed to their defeat, because we understand that defeating them in Iraq and Syria is an essential step in the defeat of ISIL around the world," he said. The effort for Raqqa will be different than for Mosul, Townsend said, noting it will be done by local partnered forces, rather than a nation's armed forces. The operation will commence "soon," the general said, declining to elaborate further. Troops Serve 'Selflessly' With 'Great Courage' Townsend commended the bravery, service and sacrifice of all the forces involved in the push to defeat ISIL, highlighted the "heroic sacrifices of the Iraqi and Kurdish security forces and their martyrs and their families," and praised the partners of Operation Inherent Resolve. "I want to remind the people of the United States and of all the nations of the coalition, their troops in this region are serving selflessly and with great courage in harm's way to ensure the defeat of ISIL," the general said. "You should be proud of their efforts as you hope and pray for their success and safety," he said, adding, "I know that I am proud to stand in their ranks." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Carter Announces Deterrence, Defense Buildup in Europe By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2016 As NATO faces new challenges from the east, south, north and from within, the United States will continue to strengthen deterrence by sending troops to Europe, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told reporters in Brussels today. Carter is attending a conference of NATO defense ministers during the last stop on an overseas trip that also has included visits to Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and France. "We are contributing a persistent rotational armored brigade combat team," the secretary told reporters at NATO headquarters. "It's a major sign of the U.S. commitment to strengthening deterrence here." Noting that the United States also is positioning an armored brigade combat team's worth of equipment in Europe in addition to two brigades already in Europe, Carter said, as part of the European Reassurance Initiative. "The $3.4 billion of funds in this fiscal year, that's quadruple what we had allocated last year," he said. First Deployment in February The first rotational brigade will come from Colorado and will deploy to Europe in February, he said. "It will have an initial exercise in Poland. After that, the brigade will send company-sized units to Bulgaria, Romania and the Baltic states," Carter told reporters. "Companies will then remain in the Baltics until the NATO battalions arrive." In June, the brigade will conduct exercise Saber Strike in Poland and throughout the Baltic states, and in July, it will move to Bulgaria and Romania for exercises Swift Response and Saber Guardian, during which one tank company will transit the Black Sea to Georgia to participate in exercise Noble Partner, he said. The secretary said he appreciate the countries that will host the brigade. "Together, we're strengthening deterrence here," he said. U.S. to Lead Battalion in Poland Carter said the United States will also lead a battalion in Poland as part of NATO's new enhanced forward presence. "This was a decision made by the alliance leaders in Warsaw," he explained, referring to NATO's July summit meeting in the Polish capital. "The United States will lead a battalion in Poland and deploy an entire battle-ready battalion task force of approximately 900 soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which is based in Germany. It will have a headquarters element; three Stryker-equipped maneuver companies with a mobile gun system; an artillery battery; and anti-tank, explosive ordnance disposal, and engineer capabilities." Romania and the United Kingdom will provide companies that enhance the U.S. battalion's combat power and its survivability as it performs its forward-stationed deterrence mission in Poland, he added. The U.S. battalion will arrive in Poland in April and will be positioned near the city of Orzysz in northeastern Poland, Carter said. Control Transfer to Supreme Allied Commander for Europe To ensure its readiness, the United States will immediately upon the onset of the deployment transfer operational control of the U.S. battalion to NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe and place it under the tactical control of a Polish brigade, the secretary said, adding that this transfer is "significant." Carter said the United States is encouraging others to make the same kind of command-and-control arrangements with NATO. Bolstering Deterrence, Defense in Southeast The defense ministers also discussed how the alliance can bolster deterrence and defense in the southeast in particular, Carter said. "We also made a commitment, as the United States, to a battalion from our rotational armored brigade combat team to associate and train with the Romanian multinational brigade as part of the enhanced tailored presence oriented towards the southeastern portion of NATO." Later today, he said, discussions would center on how to continue to adapt NATO to ensure it is ready for the challenges not only of today, but tomorrow. "I'm sure we'll talk about NATO's southern flank," he added, including the effort to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The secretary said he had several useful bilateral and trilateral meetings, including one with his Turkish colleague, whom he visited in the Turkish capital of Ankara during his trip. "Turkey's a very strong ally, of course, of NATO, so we talked about a number of alliance issues. And of course, we talked, as we did in Ankara, further about the coalition's activities against ISIL, a coalition of which, of course, Turkey is an important part," he said. "We all want to keep ISIL under sustained pressure -- that's the key -- and defeat it in both Iraq and Syria, and everybody shares that objective," Carter said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Transcript Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter October 26, 2016 Media Availability with Secretary Carter at NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ASHTON CARTER: Okay. First of all, before I get into the discussion of the NATO ministerial here, I know you've received my statement. And as I've said before, nothing is more important than ensuring that our service members are treated with gratitude and respect for their service, and that they get all the support they need from the Department of Defense. Today, I ordered a series of steps to ensure fair treatment for the California National Guard soldiers who may have received incentive bonuses and tuition assistance improperly as a result of errors, and in some cases criminal behavior by other members of the California Guard. First, I've ordered the suspension of all efforts to collect reimbursement from affected California Guard members. And that suspension will continue until I'm satisfied that our process is working. Second, I've asked our top personnel official in the Department of Defense, Peter Levine, to assess the situation and to establish a streamlined and centralized process no later than January 1st of 2017, and to ensure that it is capable at that time of resolving all cases by July 1st, 2017. Our goal is to have a process that honors the commitment of service members and also our responsibility to the taxpayer. Thank you. And let me now move to the defense ministerial here -- a very important time for NATO, coming out of the Warsaw summit, preparing for the next summit, facing challenges from the east, from the south, from the north, and also from within. And we've had a productive set of meetings today. They will continue into this evening. I have briefed already allies on U.S. continuing efforts to strengthen deterrence here. First of all, we are contributing a persistent rotational armored brigade combat team, and I'll give you some details of that in just a moment. But it's a major sign of the U.S. commitment to strengthening deterrence here. It's not the only one. I'll remind you that we're also positioning an armored brigade combat team's-worth of equipment here. And that's on top of the two brigades that are already here in Europe. Those are part of -- those, and especially the rotational armored brigade combat team specifically, is part of our European Reassurance Initiative. The $3.4 billion of funds in this fiscal year -- I remind you that that's quadruple what we had allocated last year. This first rotational brigade will deploy to Europe in February. It will be from Colorado. And I'll walk you through its agenda. It will have an initial exercise in Poland. And after that, the brigade will send company-sized units to Bulgaria, Romania, and the Baltic states. Companies will then remain in the Baltics until the NATO battalions arrive. I'll say more about them shortly. In June, the brigade will conduct exercise Saber Strike in Poland and throughout the Baltic states. And in July, it will move again to Bulgaria and Romania for exercises Swift Response and Saber Guardian, during which one tank company will transit the Black Sea to Georgia to participate in exercise Noble Partner. And I appreciate all these countries that will host this brigade. Together, we're strengthening deterrence here. Now, in addition, the United States will lead a battalion in Poland as part of NATO's new enhanced forward presence. This is on top of what I've said already. This was a decision made by the alliance's leaders in Warsaw. The United States will lead a battalion in Poland and deploy an entire battle-ready battalion task force of approximately 900 soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which is based in Turkey. We'll send a headquarters element -- sorry? STAFF: Based in -- SEC. CARTER: Based in Germany. I'm sorry. I'm sorry -- sorry. We will send a headquarters element, three Stryker-equipped maneuver companies with a mobile gun system, an artillery battery, as well as anti-tank, explosive ordnance disposal, and engineer capabilities. And we're pleased to announce that Romania and the United Kingdom will provide companies that enhance our battalion's combat power and its survivability as it performs its forward-stationed deterrence mission there in Poland. Our battalion will arrive in Poland in April of next year and be positioned near the city of Orzysz in northeastern Poland. To ensure its readiness, the United States will immediately upon the onset of the deployment transfer operational control of this U.S. battalion to SAC Europe, supreme allied commander Europe, and place it under the tactical control of a Polish brigade. This is significant. And we're encouraging others to make the same kind of command and control arrangements with NATO, so everyone has the structure, the location, the sourcing, the partners and the command and control to NATO for our commitment to enhance forward presence which our president committed to, as the other heads of state did at the Warsaw summit. We also spoke about how the alliance can bolster deterrence and defense in the southeast in particular, and I want to say something about that as well. We also made a commitment, as the United States, to a battalion from our rotational armored brigade combat team, to associate and train with the Romanian multinational brigade, that as part of the enhanced tailored presence oriented towards the southeastern portion of NATO. Now, this afternoon -- that was the session we already had -- this afternoon, we'll discuss how we can continue to adapt NATO to ensure it is ready for the challenges not only of today, but tomorrow. And the meeting will continue into this evening. And I'm sure -- and we'll talk about -- there about NATO's southern flank, including counter-ISIL. In addition, this place gives me an opportunity to have a number of useful bilateral and trilateral meetings. I'll just report I had a very good meeting, once again, with my Turkish colleague whom I visited in Ankara, and that was a very productive, very practical discussion of a whole host of alliance issues. Turkey's a very strong ally, of course, of NATO, so we talked about a number of alliance issues. And of course, we talked, as we did in Ankara, further about the coalition's activities in -- against ISIL, a coalition of which, of course, Turkey is an important part. We didn't conclude any new arrangements, but we continued these -- these very important discussions with a very good partner. And by the way, the defense minister himself is a very good partner of mine. We also had a trilateral meeting with the French defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who's purpose was to readout to our Turkish colleague the meeting held yesterday in Paris. That was very productive. Jean-Yves gave an excellent summary of yesterday's proceedings that we could then proceed to discuss it all three of us. So we all want to keep ISIL under sustained pressure -- that's the key -- and defeat it in both Iraq and Syria, and everybody shares that objective. So that's pretty much the readout. Let me now take some questions here. And I apologize for the length of that. STAFF: (inaudible) -- Tara. SEC. CARTER: There's a lot of detail involved -- (inaudible). STAFF: We do have to get him back into the meeting, so -- (inaudible). Tara, I cut you off the other day, so you get the first question. Q: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Just back on the reenlistment bonuses issued. If I read correctly, there are members of the military that could end up still having to pay depending on the outcome of this appeals process. Is that true? SEC. CARTER: Well, under the law, we have to keep that option opened so that -- but the point is that there will be no -- collections are suspended now and we will put in place -- and there won't be any more collections until we've put in place a process that can expeditiously and fairly deal with these issues, obviously according to the law. STAFF: (off mic.) Q: Mr. Secretary, I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about your discussions with some of the members about -- about Raqqah? We've been told that there are some concerns about starting Raqqah right away because of -- there may be a desire to wait until there's some more successes in Mosul so that some of the forces are not strained. Can you just give us a little bit of an idea of what other countries might be talking about in terms of what they intend to bring to this and your time -- SEC. CARTER: Well, again, this is part of our plan, so we know that the activities in Iraq and Syria are overlapping. They overlap today. They'll be overlapping as -- because we're conducting them simultaneously. So in our plans, which are not just U.S. plans, as you know, but coalition plans, and the resourcing of those plans, we've taken into account that fact. So we've anticipated -- this has been long planned and we have the resources and can -- and meetings like the one I had yesterday are times when we make sure we're all coordinated on providing the resources -- aircraft, tankers, and so forth. And I think we gave you some of the detail of that. But it's all oriented towards being able to conduct all the operations we need to in Iraq and Syria, and by the way, for the United States, also elsewhere like Libya and Afghanistan. Q: And we were also told that you don't expect to seek additional U.S. forces. Is that accurate? SEC. CARTER: Our plan now is not to -- we don't have any -- according to our plan, we have the resources we need if you're talking about troop levels. So that's our plan. However, I will say what I've always said, which is we're going to win this. And so if there's anything that we need to do to accelerate, I'm prepared to ask for it. But in our plans, that won't be needed. STAFF: Bill? Q: Just to follow up. So, I think in your interview this morning, you said it would be a few weeks until the start of the Raqqah offensive. Could you just -- SEC. CARTER: Weeks. I can't be more specific than that. Q: So the meeting -- so it could be -- it could be seven weeks. You don't want to be pinned down to a certain, you know, 21 days or something? You want to be -- SEC. CARTER: I mean, we know what we're doing. This is, as always, a matter when you're positioning forces and so forth, we have a plan to do that and a schedule to do that. But -- and we're going to execute to that plan. And that plan has us generating those forces in a matter of weeks. That's really all I want to say. Q: Generating -- so, you know -- SEC. CARTER: Generating -- generating them, and positioning them for the isolation of Raqqah. Q: Right. So, it would be incorrect for us to go out and report that, you know -- because right now, there's a lot of people picking up on a story saying within three weeks, you know, basically the operation is starting. SEC. CARTER: I think it will be within weeks. That's what I want to say, and -- and not many weeks -- (inaudible). STAFF: (inaudible) Q: Back to the National Guard story real quick. I understand that there are laws in place. But is there any internal discussion about forgiving or just kind of letting this go? SEC. CARTER: Oh, well, there's definitely a discussion which -- which involves not only the -- to me, the paramount issue of fairness, but there is also the law. And so I think we need to look at that simultaneously. But we're -- we're operating within the law and I am operating within my authorities to suspend collections starting now. And I'm exercising those authorities. Q: Can that authority be extended further beyond -- (inaudible)? Or -- SEC. CARTER: I assume so, and I -- but that's -- I don't expect to have to do that because my instructions are to get this resolved. STAFF: Gordon? Q: Mr. Secretary, on Turkey, you said you had productive conversations. You know, during this week we've kind of seen this thing unfold a little bit, trying to get some of this rift between Iraq and Turkey kind of resolved. Can you give us an assessment of where you felt like it may have gotten? My read of Foreign Minister -- (inaudible) -- remarks was he wanted to hear more from Turkey about sovereignty and that kind of thing -- (inaudible). SEC. CARTER: Yes. It's pretty much as I've said before, Gordon. We -- we all agree on the basic principles, which include Iraqi sovereignty; includes Turkey's role in the coalition. And we're working on the practicalities of that. And that's what our conversation is -- a very professional discussion. This is among people who have worked together for many years, not just me and the defense ministers, but importantly, our militaries as well. So we're working through the practicalities that reflect the principles that -- that we share. And oh -- I'm sorry -- and also the need to defeat ISIL, which is a threat to all of us. And don't forget, Turkey was attacked also and is threatened by ISIL. And just recently, we killed someone whom we know was planning to -- terrorist attacks within Turkey. We eliminated that individual. Q: Thank you. SEC. CARTER: We can, I think. (Inaudible) -- I'm not going too far on you -- (CROSSTALK) Q: You're the secretary of defense, sir. You can say what you want. (Laughter.) SEC. CARTER: Well we -- we did. (CROSSTALK) Q: Can you say -- (inaudible) -- where in Turkey or -- SEC. CARTER: No. Already got him. But I say it unabashedly, we'd do it again. Q: (inaudible) -- kill someone in Turkey? SEC. CARTER: No, no, no, no, no. This is on the battlefield. This is somebody whom we know was planning external attacks, to include in Turkey. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear on that. Thank you. STAFF: Last one is to (inaudible). Q: Mr. Secretary, do you think it would be a good thing for the coalition if Turkey participated militarily to the offensive in Raqqah? SEC. CARTER: Well, we're trying to get to a point where we can work with -- and we already are at the point where we're working extensively with the Turkish military in Syria. Don't forget, we're right now doing that. That has had a very significant result in the seizure of Dabiq, a very important city in the narrative of ISIL, and that was accomplished by our partnership with the Turks and in the usual way, through capable and motivated local forces. So we're looking for other opportunities to -- including further within Syria to include Raqqah. So that's -- that's been part of our discussions. STAFF: We got to get the secretary back in. He's caught out of this meeting with the ministers to meet with -- (inaudible) -- of the press here. SEC. CARTER: All right. Good to see you guys. (CROSSTALK) SEC. CARTER: Thank you. STAFF: Mr. Secretary -- (inaudible). SEC. CARTER: Okay. Going to run in -- (inaudible). Q: Thank you, sir. SEC. CARTER: Thank you. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/987629/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-380-16 October 26, 2016 Readout of Secretary Carter's Trilateral Meeting with Turkish Minister of National Defense Fikri Isik and French Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met with French Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian and Turkish Minister of National Defense Fikri Isk today for a productive trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO Defense Ministerial in Brussels, Belgium. The meeting focused on the counter-ISIL campaign in Iraq and Syria including an update on military operations to retake Mosul and Raqqa. The secretary thanked Minister Le Drian and Minister Isk for their countries' contributions to the campaign, while emphasizing the need for the coalition to maintain pressure on ISIL on multiple fronts. The ministers also discussed the need to solidify and consolidate recent gains by Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces along the Turkey-Syria border, and the need to maintain military cooperation in the area. All sides agreed to maintain frequent communication on the full range of security interests, and to continue their close coordination and continued transparency in the coalition effort to deal ISIL a lasting defeat. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/987389/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-381-16 October 26, 2016 Readout of Deputy Secretary Bob Work's Meeting with Japanese Administrative Vice Minister of Defense Tetsuro Kuroe Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Trowbridge provided the following readout: Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work held a bilateral meeting today with the Japanese Administrative Vice Minister of Defense Tetsuro Kuroe at the Pentagon. During their meeting, the two leaders discussed the rapidly evolving security environment, including the persistent North Korean threat and maritime issues in the East and South China Seas. Deputy Secretary Work affirmed that the Senkaku Islands are administered by Japan and fall under Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty. Deputy Secretary Work and Vice Minister Kuroe exchanged views on defense equipment and technology cooperation, and discussed enhancing trilateral cooperation with the Republic of Korea and Australia. They also discussed the expanding roles of the Japan Self-Defense Force as well as bilateral initiatives to include building partner capacity in Southeast Asia, enhancing ballistic missile defense cooperation, and advancing space cooperation. The two leaders committed to further efforts to transform the alliance by implementing the guidelines for U.S.-Japan defense cooperation, and reaffirmed that the U.S.-Japan alliance remains unwavering and continues to serve as the cornerstone of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/987703/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exercise Lava Viper: Direct fire training US Marine Corps News By Lance Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres | October 26, 2016 Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment's "Black Sheep," conducted a direct fire training exercise on Oct. 16, during their annual training exercise, Lava Viper, a staple in the battalion's pre-deployment training, at Range 13 aboard Pohakuloa Training Area. Lava Viper is an annual combined arms training exercise that integrates ground elements, such as infantry and logistics, with indirect fire from artillery units, as well as air support from aviation elements. Observing from behind the gun line was 1st Lt. Andrew Schafer, the Bravo Battery guns platoon commander with 1st Bn., 12th Marines. "We were conducting a direct fire shoot, which is part of Exercise Lava viper 17.1," said Schafer, a Southlake, Texas, native. "Direct fire shooting can be used offensively or defensively, depending on the situation. Offensively, if you are in a convoy and a target of opportunity is presented within close range, then we can engage that target without having a forward observer. Usually, we'd have a FO, but in this situation the gun chief would direct the fire mission and lay down fire." Schafer said in the case of a convoy being attacked, the howitzers can be unhitched from their trucks and redirected towards the assaulting enemy. "During a defensive maneuver, the gun chief and artillery crew have direct sight of the target and the decision is made to return direct fire using the iron sights on the gun," said Schafer. "We can engage approaching tanks and hostile troops, and then defend our positions using our actual howitzers for a short range weapon." He said that this type of training is important because it helps enhance the lethality of the battalion and adds a way to respond to attacks while in a convoy. "At the end of the day, these drills will save your life," said Schafer. "Besides having crew served weapons to assist in protecting ourselves, we now added howitzers and literally turn them into the heavy weapons against short range targets. This training only helps in the Marines being more proficient in their roles on the gun line and I saw a lot of leaders stepping up today helping out their junior Marines." On the gun line was recently promoted Cpl. Adrian Rojo, an artillery recorder for gun two, with Bravo Battery, 1st Bn., 12th Marines, who was loading, firing and helping his junior Marines with their jobs. "We fired the howitzers, practicing attack and defense drills," said Rojo, a Havana, Cuba, native. "In simple terms, if the convoy is over run or the infantry needs back up in defending it, we jump out of out of the trucks and we turn the guns toward wherever we can physically see the enemy and fire rounds down range." Rojo said that artillery units don't have many opportunities to conduct this type of training in Hawaii, and that they take full advantage during Lava Viper. "I have been a part of multiple Lava Viper exercises and we go all out every time we get to come to this island," said Rojo. "I've gained knowledge and experience during my time here, and now I have the opportunity to share it with my junior Marines. I'd like to see more training opportunities like Lava Viper in the future." He said he has set goals for his Marines and expects them to work every second on the gun line. Rojo also added that this training is vital for the development of his Marines. "You can never do enough, you can always do better," said Rojo. "It doesn't matter if you went through every position on the gun; there is still knowledge and experience to gain. The last Lava Viper exercise I participated in I was a private first class. I know what junior Marines will go through and the mistakes they will make. There are new Marines coming all the time and I want every one of them to be able to say, 'I have done this.' This training is necessary for Marines in artillery field and even more vital for when the day comes to deploy, where these drills could be the difference between life and death." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defence Ministers mark progress in strengthening NATO's defence and deterrence NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 26 Oct. 2016 NATO Defence Ministers are meeting in Brussels over the next two days (26-27 October 2016) to take forward decisions made at the Warsaw Summit in July. Today, ministers will mark progress in plans for a strengthened NATO presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, and in the Black Sea region. They will also discuss Russia's recent military activity along NATO's borders. Later today, ministers will focus on NATO's efforts to project stability beyond its borders. They will review progress on NATO training and capacity building for Iraq. Ministers will also consider the future of the Alliance's deployment in the Aegean Sea and consider a possible maritime role for NATO in the Central Mediterranean, which could support the EU's Operation Sophia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of NATO Defence Ministers NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 26 Oct. 2016 (as delivered) Good evening. We have just finished a productive meeting of the NATO defence ministers addressing deterrence and defence and how we are going to implement the decisions we made at the Warsaw Summit. Protecting our almost one billion citizens is NATO's primary responsibility. At the Warsaw Summit in July, NATO leaders took decisions to ensure we continue to do so. Over the past 100 days, we have come a long way in implementing those decisions. Today we assessed how far we have come. And the work that lies ahead. Earlier this year, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States each committed to lead a multinational battalion in the eastern part of the Alliance. A transatlantic demonstration of rock-solid support for our Allies. I am proud to announce that many other Allies confirmed contributions to these forces today. Albania, Italy, Poland and Slovenia will contribute to the Canadian-led battalion in Latvia. Belgium, Croatia, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Norway will join the German-led battalion in Lithuania. Denmark and France will contribute to the UK-led battalion in Estonia. And Romania and the United Kingdom will join the US-led battalion in Poland. Our forces will be truly multinational. Sending an unmistakable message: NATO stands as one. An attack on any Ally will be considered an attack on us all. In Warsaw, we said that we expected to deploy the four battalions in early 2017. I am pleased to confirm that we are on track. This Alliance does what it says. And we deliver on our promises. Today we also discussed progress in strengthening NATO's presence in the Black Sea region. With a Romanian-led multinational framework brigade on land. And we are working on measures in the air and at sea. And I'm pleased to confirm that several nations indicated their willingness to contribute to our presence in the Black Sea region, on land, at sea and in the air. Including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and the United States. Other Allies are also looking into how they can contribute. During the meeting, we discussed recent military activity close to NATO's borders. Including the recent KAVKAZ 2016 exercise, and Russia's deployment of Iskander missile systems to Kaliningrad. We are concerned about Russia's behaviour. But dialogue is even more important when tensions run high. And Allies stand ready to hold an ambassadorial meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in the near future. We also discussed the growing role of cyber defence for NATO. In Warsaw, Allies pledged to strengthen their national cyber defences. And today, we stressed the importance of making good on that pledge. So that we can show real results by the time of our next Summit. Finally, new security challenges can mean new demands on our command structure. It must be robust and agile, empowering the Alliance to continue to take quick and decisive action. So we have decided to assemble a Senior Experts Group to support the Strategic Commanders in assessing the effectiveness of the NATO Command Structure. We covered a lot of ground this afternoon. And I am encouraged by the progress we are making. Guided by decisions made at the Warsaw Summit, NATO is adapting for the future. To keep our people safe and our Alliance strong. And with that, I am ready to take your questions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Carney Arrives in Constanta, Romania Navy News Service Story Number: NNS161026-14 Release Date: 10/26/2016 2:46:00 PM By Petty Officer 3rd Class Weston Jones Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet CONSTANTA, Romania (NNS) -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) arrived in Constanta, Romania, for a scheduled port visit Oct. 25. Strengthening alliances during the port visit to Constanta, Romania, demonstrates the shared commitment to promote safety and stability within the region while seeking opportunities to enhance interoperability with NATO allies and partners. Quote: "Constanta, Romania, is a very beautiful place and we're fortunate to be able to enjoy its rich history and culture. This is Carney's first time visiting here since being forward deployed to Europe. The hospitality of our Romanian hosts has ensured a great time, and we can't wait to visit again." - Cmdr. Ken Pickard, commanding officer, USS Carney (DDG 64) Quick Facts: Carney is currently operating in the Black Sea, working with allies and regional partners to help develop and improve maritime forces, maintain regional security, and work towards mutual goals in order to advance security and stability in Europe. Carney's port visit provides Sailors an opportunity to meet with naval counterparts in order to strengthen bonds and enhance partnerships. The U.S. Navy, on a normal and routine basis, operates ships in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law. Carney, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on a routine patrol conducting naval operations with allies and partners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in order to advance security and stability in the Black Sea region. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with joint, allied and interagency partners in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy's Most Advanced Warship USS Zumwalt Visits Mayport Navy News Service Story Number: NNS161026-03 Release Date: 10/26/2016 8:34:00 AM From USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) Public Affairs MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- The Navy's most technologically advanced warship, guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), arrived in Mayport, Florida, for a port visit Oct. 25 after a period of operations in the Atlantic Ocean. Zumwalt, the lead ship of a class of next-generation, multi-mission destroyers, features a state-of-the-art electric propulsion system, wave-piercing tumblehome hull, stealth design, and the latest warfighting technology and weaponry available. Mayport marks Zumwalt's fifth port visit after departing the Bath Iron Works shipyard Sept. 7. The ship was commissioned Oct. 15 in a ceremony in Baltimore, during which Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus delivered the principal address to more than 7,000 guests. "We arrived in Mayport after a highly successful commissioning week in Baltimore," said Capt. James A. Kirk, commanding officer of Zumwalt. "The crew has performed superbly through a period of at-sea operations and testing, and will now get a chance to experience the hospitality and professionalism of Mayport Naval Station and the surrounding community." The ship's crew members will conduct maintenance and training while moored in Mayport, but will also get a chance to enjoy liberty and recreational events. "Mayport has a strong legacy of support to the Navy," Kirk commented on the significance of Zumwalt's inaugural visit to the coastal community. "It is one that I have experienced firsthand over several tours of duty, and we are fortunate to have the chance to visit and experience the unique and diverse culture of Florida." The Zumwalt-class destroyer will be capable of performing a range of deterrence, power projection, sea control, and command and control missions while allowing the Navy to evolve with new systems and missions. It does all of this while maintaining its stealth -- making this visually-imposing ship difficult to find whether close to the shore or far out to sea. While in port, Zumwalt Sailors will conduct tours and engagements with other Mayport surface ships from U.S. 4th Fleet. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase this fine vessel to our shipmates here in Mayport, and to interact with the tremendous community that supports a vital component of our surface fleet," said Kirk. Zumwalt embodies the legacy of warfighting excellence and innovation of Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., a veteran of World War II and the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. He exemplified honor, courage, and commitment during 32 years of dedicated naval service. Believing it was his job to "modernize and humanize" the Navy, Zumwalt chose to embrace change and to lead it from within. Zumwalt was a social reformer who was devoted to Sailors and creating an environment where everyone was treated equally -- a legacy that can that can be seen today in the diversity of the fleet. His "one Navy" mentality reminds today's Sailors that taking care of our warfighters ensures the Navy remains tough, bold, and ready. "Words cannot express my gratitude for the work the Zumwalt crew has performed over the past six months," said Kirk. "They have demonstrated superb technical expertise, teamwork, and toughness, and are now proud plankowners of a commissioned warship proudly serving in the fleet." Zumwalt will challenge adversaries and their way of thinking about how the U.S. employs forces, providing an asymmetric advantage. Working with Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, littoral combat ships, and amphibious ships to form adaptive force packages, Zumwalt-class destroyers will use their computing capabilities to make these groups more lethal through increased range, deception, computer integration, and data analysis from various platforms. With its stealth, size, power, and advanced combat systems, this warship will serve as a centerpiece for deterrence and stability in the maritime environment. Zumwalt is scheduled to begin her transit to her new homeport of San Diego, making several port visits along the way. Upon arrival in San Diego, Zumwalt will begin installation of her combat systems, testing and evaluation, and operational integration with the fleet. Once fully integrated, Zumwalt's stealth, power, and lethality will provide a vital link from the Navy's current needs to its future capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Int'l coalition military chiefs vow to intensify fight against IS People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:19, October 26, 2016 Defense chiefs of international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) during a meeting here on Tuesday vowed to intensify the fight by putting on track a military offensive to retake Reqqa, IS bastion in Syria. "Daesh (the Islamic State) did not fall but it is weakened. Now, there is a need to increase our effort," said French Defense Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian. Le Drian added that operation to uproot IS insurgents in Iraq's second largest city "was held to our planning." With the support of the U.S.-led coalition, Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga launched a military offensive to eradicate IS fighters. They have retaken about 90 villages and towns around Mosul held by Daesh so far, according to media reports. After a meeting on Mosul operation, Le Drian said preparation was underway to conduct a similar action in Syria without giving a schedule. In a joint press conference with his French counterpart, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter expressed the coalition determination to contribute to the fall of IS in Raqqa. "There will be overlap (in the Mosul and Raqqa assaults) and that's part of our plan and we are prepared for that," he added. Le Drian and Carter co-chaired a ministerial meeting in Paris on the situation in Iraq. Addressing the gathering, French President Francois Hollande warned that the Mosul battle would force insurgents to flee to their bastion in Syria. "In these columns of people leaving Mosul will be hiding terrorists who will try to go further, to Raqqa in particular," he said, calling for better intelligence cooperation to "clearly identify them." "If Mosul falls, Raqqa will be Daesh's last bastion... We must ensure that Daesh is destroyed and eradicated everywhere," he stressed. France was one of the first European countries to join the U.S.-led coalition against IS. Its fighter jets have joined the bombing against the group in Iraq in 2014. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippine president wants foreign troops out in 2 years People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 16:31, October 26, 2016 TOKYO, Oct. 26 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that he wanted foreign military troops out of his country "probably in the next two years." Duterte, who is on a three-day visit to Japan, made the remarks before his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later in the day. Mentioning the U.S. colonial control of the Philippines over half a century, Duterte said he would pursue an independent foreign policy and the Philippines will "survive" without U.S. assistance. Former Philippine president Benigno Aquino III signed an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the U.S. in 2014, which allowed the return of U.S. troops to the Philippines after the country expelled U.S. soldiers in the 1990s. Duterte, who took office in June, has reportedly talked about abrogating defense agreements with the U.S several times over the past two months. Earlier, he also called for the expulsion of about 100 U.S. Special Forces posted in Zamboanga City on Mindanao, who were tasked to help the Philippine military fight against terrorism. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippine President Duterte wants US troops out in two years Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 6:55PM Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he wants US troops out of his country in the next two years, amid rising tensions between Manila and Washington. Duterte told an economic forum in the Japanese capital Tokyo on Wednesday that Manila was also willing to scrap defense pacts with Washington if necessary. "I want, maybe in the next two years, my country free of the presence of foreign military troops," Duterte said in a clear reference to US forces, adding, "I want them out and if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, executive agreements, I will." Duterte told reporters on Tuesday before leaving for Japan that if he stayed longer, he would not sign the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States. President Duterte has promised that he would review the defense pact. He has already said that the presence of the US troops in the island of Mindanao could complicate Manila's operations against the Abu Sayyaf militant group, notorious for different terrorist attacks in the country. In a meeting with business leaders in the Chinese capital Beijing last week, Duterte said the Philippines would "separate" from the United States and realign with China and Russia. The Philippine president has tried to reach out to China and Russia amid an uneasy relationship with Washington. Last month, the Filipino leader harshly criticized the US and President Barack Obama, saying he was not a "puppet" of America. "I am the president of a sovereign country and I am not answerable to anyone except the Filipino people." Washington is critical of Duterte's bloody war on drugs. The attitude has led to tensions between the Philippines and the United States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secret talks between Mozambique opposition, EU mediators canceled Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 6:10PM Secret peace negotiations between Mozambique's opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama and EU mediators were annulled at the weekend after fighting erupted between the country's army and former rebel fighters, local media say. The meeting aimed to contribute to talks that began in May to find a solution to the conflict between the government and Dhlakama's rebel group turned political party Renamo. "We had agreed (with President Filipe Nyusi) that two mediators would come ... to meet me," the independent weekly Canal de Mocambique quoted Dhlakama as saying. Dhlakama said he had cancelled the meeting after the army increased its presence near the place of the meeting. "There was a violent shootout. I even heard explosions from here," said Dhlakama, who has been in hiding in the central Gorongosa mountains since October 2015. "So I called (chief mediator Mario) Raffaelli to tell him that armed forces had come to ambush me," he added. Dhlakama quoted the mediator as saying that he was "convinced" that the ruling Frelimo party "wanted to capture me during the meeting." "It is obvious they have a plan to kill me," he added. Raffaelli declined to comment on the matter but an EU diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that two mediators had gone to Gorongosa for a meeting with the opposition leader. The diplomat said Dhlakama had told the mediators to "turn back at the very last moment." The political situation in Mozambique has been tense for months with Dhlakama refusing to recognize the results of the 2014 elections, where the Frelimo party was declared the winner. The party has been in power since the southern African country's independence from Portugal in 1975. Dhlakama also threatened to seize power by force in the northern half of the country. Renamo and the Frelimo-led government had been engaged in a civil war for 16 years that was brought to an end in 1992. Renamo's armed wing has conducted a string of fatal assaults in central Mozambique in recent years as it seeks to increase its share of power. On October 19, the warring sides resumed a new round of peace talks despite the killing of an opposition negotiator on October 9. The mediators continued separate talks on Tuesday with representatives of each side. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan army says Indian troops killed two civilians in Kashmir Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 5:43PM Pakistan's army says Indian troops have killed two civilians in the disputed region of Kashmir. A military statement said on Wednesday that "unprovoked" firing by the Indian forces took place along the "working boundary," which separates Pakistan's Punjab province from Indian-controlled Kashmir. The two were killed in the village of Chaprar, the statement said, adding that "eight civilians were also injured by the Indian fire." Separately, a Pakistani civilian who was injured due to an earlier cross-border shelling succumbed to injuries on Wednesday. The Pakistani military said, "Another civilian... who was injured by the Indian firing at Line of Control (LoC) Monday (October 24), succumbed to injuries today." Tensions have been running high along the Line of Control, which divides the two neighbors in Kashmir. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry summoned a senior Indian diplomat to lodge a protest "over the unprovoked firing by India on the LoC and the working boundary on October 25 and 26." The ministry called on India to "instruct its troops to respect the ceasefire" and "refrain from intentionally targeting the villages and maintain peace." Relations between the two countries have plummeted in recent months, with India blaming Pakistan for a raid on an army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir in September that killed 19 soldiers. New Delhi responded with what it called "surgical strikes," infuriating Islamabad. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both since the two countries gained independence from Britain in 1947. India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire in Kashmir on November 26, 2003, and launched a peace process the following year. Since then, there have been sporadic clashes, with the two sides trading accusations of violating the ceasefire along their de facto border. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Carter: US laying groundwork for Raqqah offensive Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 3:32PM US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says the Pentagon is planning a ground offensive to oust the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group from the Syrian city of Raqqah, the terror group's stronghold in the country. Speaking to NBC News on Wednesday, Carter said Washington was ready to equip Syrian and Kurdish fighters to launch the assault in the near future. "It starts in the next few weeks, hat has long been our plan and we will be capable of resourcing both [groups]," the Pentagon chief noted. Carter, who was in Iraq earlier this week amid the ongoing battle to retake the city of Mosul from Daesh, said the Raqqah offensive would begin when Iraq's second largest city is cleared. The Iraqi army, backed by volunteer forces, has been engaged in a large military offensive to cleanse Mosul of Daesh terrorists since last week. A coalition of US-led countries has been reportedly providing air support to the operation. "It's been long a part of our plan that the Mosul operation would kick off when it did. This was a plan that goes back many months now and that Raqqah would follow soon behind," Carter added. Carter acknowledged that US forces won't be directly involved in any of the operations. More than 5,000 American soldiers are currently stationed in Iraq, tasked with providing training and intelligence to Iraqi forces, according to US military officials. The US-led coalition has also been carrying out airstrikes against purported Daesh positions in Syria since 2014. However, the ongoing Western efforts in Syria have a different nature. Washington and its allies have come under fire for openly seeking to remove President Bashar al-Assad from power. Amnesty International, a UK-based rights group, said Wednesday that the US-led airstrikes have killed hundreds of civilians across Syria. Carter's remarks came only a day after British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said UK special forces will soon resume training "moderate" militants in Syria to bolster the fight against Daesh. The new effort would be an extension of a failed $500 million program by the Pentagon that was supposed to "train and equip" up to 5,000 militants every year, but was discontinued in November last year, after failing to attract enough volunteers. Russia, which has been pounding Daesh across Syria upon a request from Damascus, says the Western-trained militants' only use is to oust Assad. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gambia announces intention to withdraw from International Criminal Court Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 9:46AM Gambia has followed in the footsteps of Burundi and South Africa by declaring its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The West African country's Information Minister Sheriff Bojang announced the decision on television Tuesday night, accusing the ICC of being biased against Africa. Bojang said that the court set up to pursue some of the world's worst crimes had been used "for the persecution of Africans and especially their leaders" while ignoring crimes committed by the West. He singled out the case of Tony Blair, a former British prime minister, whom the ICC failed to indict over the 2003 Iraq war. "There are many Western countries, at least 30, that have committed heinous war crimes against independent sovereign states and their citizens since the creation of the ICC and not a single Western war criminal has been indicted," the Gambian minister said. He said the tribunal was an "international Caucasian court for the persecution and humiliation of people of color, especially Africans." The minister said Gambia has begun the process of withdrawing from the ICC, which involves notifying the United Nations secretary general and takes effect a year after the notification is received. The ICC's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, is ironically a former Gambian justice minister. Only Africans have been charged in the six ICC cases that are ongoing or about to begin, though preliminary investigations have opened elsewhere, too. The ICC has opened probes involving Kenya, the Ivory Coast, Libya, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Uganda and Mali. The International Criminal Court was set up in 2002 to try war criminals and the perpetrators of genocide. Last Friday, the South African government gave a formal notice of its intention to pull out of the ICC. Earlier that week, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza had signed a decree to quit the court's jurisdiction. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Montenegro's pro-West PM to step down Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 9:12AM Montenegro's long-time, pro-West leader, Milo Djukanovic, will not continue as prime minster in the next government, his ruling Democratic Socialist party has said. The party said late Tuesday that it had decided to propose the prime minister's deputy and closest ally, Dusko Markovic, as the candidate to succeed him. Markovic's nomination for prime minister will have to be approved by a party committee later on Wednesday. Djukanovic, who is set to remain party leader, has ruled as the small Balkan country's prime minister or president for a total of 21 years since 1991. The prime minster has been accused of cronyism, corruption and links to widespread organized crime by opposition parties. Djukanovic steered the country toward closer ties with the West and close to membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU). His party announced its decision to replace Djukanovic hours after he accused Russia of having interfered in the country's parliamentary elections, which were held on October 16. He alleged that there was "a strong connection of a foreign factor" in the vote, during which authorities claimed they foiled a plot by a group of Serbs, who were planning to seize the prime minister and the parliament building and proclaim victory for the pro-Russia opposition. Police arrested 20 people for allegedly planning to kidnap Djukanovic and plotting armed attacks on officials. Opposition parties, however, denied the allegations and accused Djukanovic of trying to scare people by suggesting that the country will fall into chaos if he loses. The prime minister's party won the vote, but failed to secure a majority to form a parliamentary coalition. Djukanovic's bid to join NATO and the EU also drew criticism from many opposition groups in the country. Montenegro had been bombed by NATO during the 1999 Kosovo war. Several anti-NATO protests have been held in Montenegro, urging the government to reject an accession invitation by the Western military bloc. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daesh terrorists kill 30 Afghan civilians: Local officials Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 8:19AM Members of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group have killed around 30 civilians, including children, in the central Afghan province of Ghor, Afghan officials say. According to the governor's office, the victims were shot dead after being taken hostage by Daesh north of the provincial capital of Feroz Koh late Tuesday. Local officials believe the killing was in retaliation for the killing of a Daesh commander during an operation by Afghan forces in Ghor Province earlier on Tuesday. There has so far been no official claim of responsibility from the terror group, however. The killings come amid rising concerns that Daesh, which is mainly active in Iraq and Syria, is now seeking to gain a foothold in Afghanistan's troubled east. Daesh has reportedly managed to take recruits from Taliban defectors in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan. Reports say the Takfiri terrorist group has recruited some 2,500 members in Afghanistan. In August, Daesh claimed responsibility for a bombing during a demonstration held by the Shia Hazara community in the Afghan capital, Kabul, where at least 80 people were killed. The surge in terrorist activities across Afghanistan comes despite the presence of forces from US and other NATO members there. A number of such forces remain in Afghanistan ever since the US led an invasion of the country in 2001. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kyrgyz government resigns after parliamentary coalition breakup Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 7:35AM The government of President Almazbek Atambayev in Kyrgyzstan has resigned shortly after his party broke up with the ruling majority coalition in the parliament. Atambayev signed a decree on his government's resignation on Wednesday, the president's website announced. He said the government's resignation was due to the collapse of the coalition of the parliamentary majority. The decree instructed government members, the prime minister, deputy prime ministers as well as heads of administrative bodies to continue performing their duties until the approval of a new government. The Kyrgyz president's Social Democratic Party broke ranks with its coalition partners on Monday after they refused to support its proposed constitutional reforms, which would give the prime minister more powers. The proposed amendments raised concerns among the opponents, who claimed Atambayev would go on to take the role of the prime minister after his presidential term ends next year. Constitutionally, Atambayev is limited to only one presidential term, which will come to an end in 2017. He had said in August, however, that he had no plans to become prime minister. A bill calling a referendum on the constitutional reforms on December 11 needs to be passed in a final third reading to become law. The parliamentary coalition was formed in November last year between the factions of the Social Democratic Party, the Kyrgyzstan Party, and the parties of Onuguu-Progress and Ata-Meken. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces, allies seize military base in SW Saudi Arabia Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 6:34AM Yemeni army soldiers, supported by fighters from Popular Committees, have established control over a military base in Saudi Arabia's southwestern border region of Najran as they continue their retaliatory raids against Riyadh's military. The media bureau of the operations command in Yemen released footage on Tuesday evening, showing Yemeni troopers and allied forces exchanging heavy gunfire with Saudi forces stationed in Alib military base in Najran. Saudi soldiers at the site can be seen retreating, with scores of them lying injured on the ground as Yemeni forces advance. Yemeni forces then destroyed an armored vehicle and a battle tank at the military site before confiscating a considerable amount of rifles and military equipment. Shortly afterwards, Yemeni soldiers and Popular Committees fighters seized the watchtower of the base, and detonated it using explosive charges. Yemeni sources said Saudi military helicopters fired a number of missiles during the attack on Alib base, but the projectiles failed to strike targets and mishit. A Saudi unmanned aerial vehicle was reportedly hovering the skies over Alib base at the time, monitoring the movements of Yemeni army forces and Popular Committees fighters. More Saudi raids hit Yemen Early on Wednesday, Yemeni army forces and fighters from Popular Committees repelled an offensive by militiamen loyal to resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in the Hayfan district of the southwestern province of Ta'izz. There were no immediate reports about possible casualties within the ranks of Saudi-backed mercenaries. Saudi fighter jets also bombarded Madfoun and al-Houl areas in Nihm district of the northern province of Sana'a, but no reports of fatalities and the extent of damage were quickly available. Additionally, Saudi warplanes struck areas in the city of Sirwah, which lies about 120 kilometers east of the capital Sana'a, besides two other airstrikes against al-Dawar area in the Mustaba district of the northwestern Hajjah Province. Saudi Arabia has been engaged in the deadly campaign against Yemen since March 2015 in an attempt to bring back the former Yemeni government to power and undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement. The UN puts the death toll from the military aggression at about 10,000. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO pushes military buildup plans near Russia Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 6:7AM The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is pushing for its biggest military buildup near Russian borders, as the Western military alliance continues to harbor perceptions of a Russian "threat" since the days of the Cold War. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will discuss the plan for military deployments to the Baltic states and eastern Poland at a two-day meeting of NATO ministers in Brussels on Wednesday. The military alliance aims to send "battle groups" to the Baltic states and Poland early next year. The groups will consist of 40,000 forces. It will be the biggest military buildup near Russia since the Second World War. More forces would also be deployed if necessary. "This is credible deterrence. Not to provoke a conflict, but to prevent conflict," Stoltenberg claimed contradictorily on Tuesday, referring to the planned deployments near Russia. "Concrete proof that NATO can and will deploy thousands of forces to support our allies. And a clear demonstration of our transatlantic bond." The United States, Germany, Britain, and Canada have already agreed to contribute forces to the "battle groups," which are to be deployed to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. France, Denmark, Italy and other NATO members are expected to contribute forces of their own but have been reluctant so far. Anti-Russia by default Russia had previously warned that it would take unspecified measures to respond to the increased activities by the Western military bloc. It also moved nuclear-capable missiles to its westernmost region of Kaliningrad, near its border with the Baltic countries and NATO member states earlier this month. The Iskander-M cruise missiles are capable of hitting targets across Poland and the Baltics. NATO was formed during the Cold War as a means of countering the former Soviet Union. The military alliance suspended all ties with Moscow in April 2014, after the then-Ukrainian Crimea Peninsula voted in a referendum to join Russian territory. Shortly afterwards, an armed conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine, areas inhabited by an ethnically-Russian population. The Ukrainian government, which militarized the originally peaceful unrest in the regions known as the Donbass has ever since been accusing Russia of having a hand in the conflict there. Moscow denies the claim. The conflict has so far claimed the lives of more than 9,200 people and left over 21,000 others injured. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gunmen Kill Dozens Of Civilians In Afghanistan, Prompting Protests RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan October 26, 2016 Gunmen have rounded up and shot dead dozens of civilians in central Afghanistan, prompting protests by locals about government failure to protect them. Hundreds of protesters o October 26 marched through the center of Firoz Koh, the provincial capital of Ghor Province, to vent their frustrations after gunmen killed 31 civilians, including six children. Local officials blamed the killings on the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, although no group has yet to claim responsibility for the attack. Officials said the attack may have been a revenge strike after a local IS commander was killed the previous day. Mohammad, one of the protesters, said most of the victims were shepherds. He said at least six people were still missing. "The Taliban together with Daesh took more than 2,500 sheep from our villages," he said, using an Arabic acronym for the IS group. "Last night they killed 30 civilians, including six children, that had gone to collect wood near a nearby mountain." The Taliban, which denied responsibility, said the killings appeared to have been provoked by ethnic rivalries fueled by a row over grazing and livestock. Ghor is a poor and mountainous province with deep ethnic and tribal divisions and illegal armed groups operate with impunity. The central province of Ghor has not been a major center for IS militants. The militant group has so far been largely confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office strongly condemned the attack, saying that "once again, the enemies of the Afghan people carried out another attack on civilians and killed innocent people." The United Nations condemned the incident as an "atrocity." Amnesty International denounced the killings as a "horrendous crime." "There can be no justification whatsoever for targeting and killing civilians. The victims and their families deserve justice," the rights group said, calling for an independent investigation. With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan- militants-kill-30-civilians-firoz-koh- islamic-state/28075634.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Montenegrin PM Resigns, Suggests Russia Behind Alleged Coup Plot RFE/RL October 26, 2016 Montenegro's Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has resigned, hours after suggesting that Russia was involved in an alleged coup attempt on the country's election day and accusing the opposition of collaborating with the Kremlin. Djukanovic said on October 25 that there was "a strong connection of a foreign factor" in the October 16 vote, which was marked by the arrest of 20 people suspected of planning armed attacks against the prime minister and his supporters after parliamentary election results were announced. Russia has strongly opposed Djukanovic's bid to join NATO and the European Union while opposition leaders made frequent visits to Moscow ahead of the vote. The Montenegro prosecutor's office has alleged that the detained group planned to attack people in front of parliament after the vote results were proclaimed, then storm the building and arrest Djukanovic. Opposition parties cried foul, however, charging that Djukanovic -- whose pro-Western party won the election but did not secure a parliamentary majority -- staged the alleged coup attempt to try to extend his quarter century of dominance over Montenegrin politics. But, not long after implicating Russia in the plot, Djukanovic announced he was stepping down and would not continue as prime minister. His Democratic Party of Socialists said it would nominate his deputy Dusko Markovic to replace him. It is not clear if there is any connection between Djukanovic's claims of a coup attempt and his sudden departure. Among those arrested in the purported coup plot was a former commander of Serbia's special police forces. Djukanovic said authorities would investigate the extent of the involvement in the alleged coup attempt both by Russia and Serbia. Montenegro split from Serbia after an independence vote in 2006. "There should be no panic... We will find out the facts," Djukanovic told reporters. Russia has launched a propaganda campaign to keep both Montenegro and Serbia, which is also seeking EU membership, within its sphere of influence. Both countries are traditional Christian Orthodox allies. After first denying that Serbia was involved in Montenegro's election, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on October 24 that an unspecified number of people were arrested in Serbia who provided evidence of a plot in Montenegro. Vucic said the people arrested were not connected to politicians in either country, but had ties to a third country and criminal groups. He did not name the country. With reporting by AP, Reuters, The Guardian and dpa Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/montenegrin-leader- djukanovic-suggests-russia-behind-alleged- coup-plot-serbia/28075458.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Military on Ground in Syria Training Opposition for Raqqa Operation Sputnik News 21:43 26.10.2016(updated 21:44 26.10.2016) The US is training Syrian opposition for the operation to retake Raqqa from Daesh terrorists. WASHINGTON(Sputnik) US forces are on the ground in Syria, equipping, advising, and training Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and partners for the operation to isolate and then retake the Daesh stronghold of Raqqa, Coalition Commander Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said at a briefing Wednesday. "I will not talk about locations where our US forces are in Syria but they are there," Townsend stated. "They equip and train at various locations, and we have advise and assist teams that will accompany partner forces anywhere they fight Daesh." On Tuesday, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said that "capable, motivated" local Syrian forces would lead the offensive on the city. Raqqa operation is expected to overlap with the offensive to retake Iraq's Mosul, according to the Defense Department. Daesh, which is outlawed in Russia and other countries, seized Mosul in 2014 and Raqqa in 2013 along with a number of other cities and towns in the two countries. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Expects Philippines to Honor Alliance Commitments Despite Harsh Rhetoric Sputnik News 21:21 26.10.2016 US Department of State spokeswoman Julia Mason said that Washington is fully confident that bilateral relations with Philippines remain strong, including in trade, investment and remittances. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The United States expects the current government of the Philippines to continue fulfilling the country's obligations under a military alliance with Washington, Department of State spokeswoman Julia Mason told Sputnik on Wednesday. "US forces have been providing support and assistance in the southern Philippines for many years, at the request of several different Philippine administrations," Mason said. "We will continue to honor our alliance commitments, and we expect the Philippines to do the same. We will work closely with the government of the Philippines to address any concerns they may have." She emphasized that the countries' military-to-military relationship remains robust and multifaceted, including joint work on matters of national security as well as responses to natural disasters and other crises. The State Department spokeswoman's remarks follow statements by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte earlier Wednesday that all foreign military forces would be withdrawn from his country within two years. "We've seen a lot of this sort of troubling rhetoric recently, and this is not a positive trend," Mason said. "This recent string of comments does not reflect the warmth, breadth and depth of the US-Philippines partnership." Mason stressed that Washington is fully confident that bilateral relations remain strong, including in trade, investment and remittances. "As we have stated, we continue to focus on our broad relationship with the Philippines and will work together in the many areas of mutual interest to improve the livelihoods of the Philippine people and uphold our shared democratic values," she explained. Duterte made his statement during a three-day visit to Japan, Mason noted. "We welcome the Philippines having strong, productive relationships with other neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region," she said. "This is not a zero-sum game; we don't think that the Philippines, or indeed any country, should choose between good relations with the US and with another partner." Duterte recently said it was time for Manila to "say goodbye" to the United States' long use of Philippine land for military bases, and on a visit to Beijing he announced his country was separating from the United States in order to realign with China. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over Dozen States to Contribute to Four NATO Battalions in Baltics, Poland Sputnik News 20:48 26.10.2016(updated 20:52 26.10.2016) A total of 13 NATO member states are going to contribute to Canadian, German, the United Kingdom and the United States-led battalions in the Baltic States and Poland scheduled for the deployment for early 2017, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) After a defense ministerial meeting, Stoltenberg told reporters: "Earlier this year, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and United States each committed to lead a multinational battalion in the eastern part of our alliance. Many other allies confirmed contributions to this forces today. Albania, Italy, Poland, Slovenia will contribute to the Canadian-led battalion in Latvia. Belgium, Croatia, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Norway will join the German-led battalion in Lithuania. Denmark and France will contribute to the UK-led battalion in Estonia. And Romania and United Kingdom will join US-led battalion in Poland." "In Warsaw we said that we expect to deploy the four battalions in early 2017. I am pleased to confirm that we are on track," he added. NATO aims to finalize measures on the alliance's enhanced presence in the Black Sea at the defense ministerial meeting that is expected to take place in February 2017, Stoltenberg said. "A number of nations announced today that they are ready to contribute forces and capabilities both to enhance our presence in the air, at sea and on land [in the Black Sea region]. Many elements are already agreed, but we are working on the full package of measures and we aim at being able to present and to agree and to conclude at our defense ministerial meeting in February," Stoltenberg said. NATO Ready to Hold NATO-Russia Council at Ambassadorial Level in Near Future NATO defense ministers have confirmed their readiness to continue dialogue with Russia at the ambassadorial level within the NATO-Russia Council in the near future despite the current tensions between the Alliance and Moscow, Stoltenberg said. "We are concerned about Russia's behavior. Bur dialogue is even more important when tensions run high. And allies stand ready to hold an ambassadorial meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in the near future," he said. Earlier in the day, the defense ministers of NATO member states convened for a meeting in Brussels, Belgium to discuss bolstering defense on the bloc's eastern flank, in particular, the planned deployment of four multinational battalions in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe. The NATO-Russia Council dialogue was effectively suspended after the start of the Ukrainian conflict in 2014. Talks were restarted in 2016 at the level of ambassadors. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Duterte's Confrontational Rhetoric Threatens US Asia Pivot Sputnik News 19:29 26.10.2016(updated 19:34 26.10.2016) President Rodrigo Duterte has called for all US troops to leave the Philippines within "the next two years." The comments are the latest in a series of anti-American tirades by the new world leader. Duterte also suggested he wants to tear up an integral US-Philippines defense agreement, which allows the US to operate military bases in the Pacific nation, in what would be a significant blow to American foreign policy. President Rodrigo Duterte, continues to confound and unsettle political leaders across the world. In a highly publicized visit to China last week, Duterte said hew wanted "a separation" from its decades-long ally, the US. The controversial remarks were quickly rowed back on by Filipino officials. However, on Wednesday, October 26, remarks made on an official visit to Japan have added to the confusion in the minds of Chinese, Japanese and American policy makers. Speaking at a business forum in Tokyo, President Rodrigo Duterte said: "I want, maybe in the next two years, my country free of the presence of foreign military troops. I want them out!" This latest anti-American statement by the 71-year-old firebrand, should be cause for serious concern in the US. In 2014, Mr. Duterte's predecessor, President Benigno Aquino III, signed an agreement with the US to let the Pentagon use five Philippine military bases. The pact is a key pillar of the Obama administration's so called "pivot to Asia" to bolster US influence in the region. If Duterte intends to rip up the accord, the US could be left scrambling to readjust its security strategy. President Duterte also repeated a recent assertion that he would withdraw from any further joint military exercises with the US. "This will be the last maneuver, war games, between the United States and the Philippine military." It's not yet clear if Duterte's remarks are a genuine indication of policy, or merely saber-rattling from a man increasingly infamous for colorful and offensive remarks. If they are the former, the geopolitical situation in Asia could be altered dramatically. The Philippines is one of the oldest US allies on the continent and has long been seen as within the US sphere of influence. As such, US officials used to rely on the Philippines as an important counterweight to the influence of China, whose growing power is alarming the US and several regional neighbors, such as Japan. At stake is influence over the lucrative South China Sea trading routes. China and Japan dispute sovereignty over parts of the sea, believed to have huge deposits of oil and gas. Also laying claim to the South China Sea are Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. China has sought to bolster its claim by constructing man-made islands, and then deploying its military to defend them. Such actions have aggravated its neighbors. In April this year, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, accused China of making the world "worried." That was before the Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte was elected in May. Now it's the Filipino President's words that are destabilizing the region. Even the Chinese have been left scrambling to understand exactly what Mr. Duterte's foreign policy intentions are. When Duterte was in China mid-November, he assured the Chinese of firm solidarity and of his wish to be "closer to China." In Japan on Wednesday, Duterte insisted that his Chinese visit was just about economics, not politics, calling Japan "a special friend who is closer than a brother." Going further, he said the Philippines would work towards the peaceful settlement of disputes, including in the South China Sea, a political fault line for Beijing. Such volatile political flip-flopping is exasperating diplomatic officials around the world. At a press briefing, US State Department spokesman Josh Kirby said the US was "not going to react and respond to every bit of rhetoric" from President Duterte. "We're going to continue to work at this relationship. We're going to continue to meet our obligations under the defence treaty." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Respects Decision of South Africa, Gambia to Leave ICC - Foreign Ministry Sputnik News 13:22 26.10.2016(updated 13:34 26.10.2016) China respects the decision of several African nations to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) and calls to respect the principle of national sovereignty, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Wednesday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On October 21, South Africa submitted a notice to the UN secretary-general requesting to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the ICC. South Africa is the first country to give notice to withdraw membership from the ICC since the court was created in 1998. Gambia announced its decision to leave the court on Tuesday. "We respect the decision of the respective countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court China supports the international community's efforts to combat international crime and promote peace and judicial justice. At the same time, we insist that the ICC must respect the sovereignty of separate states and other principles of the international law," Kang said. The ICC, which started work in July 2002, has 124 member states and is the only permanent international judicial structure empowered to hear cases of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN mission 'outraged' at killing of hostages in central Afghanistan 26 October 2016 The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned the killing of 26 civilians who were earlier taken hostage by a group of armed men in country's central Ghor province. "I am outraged by these senseless and brutal killings," the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the acting head of UNAMA, Pernille Kardel, said in a news release today. "This is an atrocity and the perpetrators must be held accountable," she added. According to the Mission, the assailants deliberately shot and killed the civilians all men in the Ghalmin area of Chaghcharan district in Ghor, a province in central Afghanistan. Those killed were among a group of individuals who were taken hostage, earlier the same day, while collecting firewood in the Kasi area of Firozokh, also in Ghor province. Attributing reports, UNAMA said that the killings could have been in retaliation for the death of a commander of that armed group in fighting with Afghan National Security Forces. The fate of the other hostages remains unknown. Further in the news release, UNAMA underscored that killing of civilians or taking them hostage are serious violations of international humanitarian law that all parties to an armed conflict, including anti-Government elements are required to uphold. It called for an unconditional release of any remaining hostages. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First Women Graduate US Army Infantry Officer Course By Carla Babb October 26, 2016 U.S. Army women hit a milestone Wednesday, as the first women graduated from the military branch's Infantry Basic Officer Leader's Course. Ten women received their Infantry blue chord at Fort Benning in the southern U.S. state of Georgia, officially making them infantry officers and giving them the ability to lead an Army platoon of infantry combat soldiers. The Army's infantry is its main land combat force, responsible for defending the U.S. against ground threats, and capturing, destroying and repelling enemy ground forces. Including the new graduates, there are 11 female infantry officers in the U.S. Army. Capt. Kristen Griest became the first female infantry officer earlier this year after completing the Army's Maneuver Captains Career Course and transferring into the infantry. Ranger school Fort Benning public affairs officer Chris Warner told VOA Wednesday that rather than leading a platoon right away, all 10 women graduates have decided to continue the "unspoken tradition" of moving from the Infantry Basic Officer Leader's course to Ranger school, the Army's elite combat training course. Only three women Griest, Capt. Shaye Haver and Maj. Lisa Jaster have completed that elite course since it was opened up to women in 2015. Haver and Jaster are not infantry officers. Officials anticipate a higher likelihood of success from Wednesday's female graduates, since the Infantry Basic Officer Leader's Course produces the highest success rates for Ranger School graduates. The Infantry Basic Officer Leader's course and the Armor Basic Officer Leader's course were not open to women until this year. The Army is currently training 15 women at the Armor Basic Officer Leader's Course at Fort Benning, which will be completed at the end of November. The Army's armor division carries out tank and forward reconnaissance operations on the battlefield. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House: No Formal Talks With Philippines on Threat to Cut Military Ties By VOA News October 26, 2016 The White House said on Wednesday the United States has not formally communicated with the Philippines government about threats to sever military ties between the two countries. The White House statement comes on the same day Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to cut military ties with the United States for the second time in as many days. Duterte spoke Wednesday during an economic forum in Tokyo, where he is in the second day of a three-day official visit to a key U.S. ally in the region. He said he wants the Philippines "free of the presence of foreign military troops" within the next two years, even if he as to "revise or abrogate agreements." A small number of U.S. troops are posted on the southern island of Mindanao to assist in counter-terrorism operations against a homegrown Islamic insurgency. US-Japan ties Duterte was scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has emphasized Tokyo's strong ties with Washington as a counter balance to Beijing's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. The combative, 71-year-old Duterte has directed a string of angry tirades and threats at the United States in response to criticism over his violent anti-drug campaign that has killed nearly 4,000 people since he assumed office on June 30. During a state visit to China last week, he declared his intention to cut off all ties with the U.S., but later reversed himself. US vs China Duterte's expressions of anti-U.S. rage are in stark contrast to his pursuit of accommodation and cooperation with Beijing. Long before his trip to Beijing, he said he would not bring up a ruling by an international tribunal that dismissed China's aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea and violated Manila's sovereign rights by interfering with Philippine fishing and oil exploration activities in the area. The Philippine leader tried to assure the audience at Wednesday's forum that he is simply seeking closer economic ties with China, not its military. Later, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay attempted to clarify President Duterte's remarks, telling reporters that Manila would continue to honor all agreements with Washington because "our national interests still continue to converge." U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that Duterte's remarks have not altered relations between the U.S. and the Philippines. "We've seen these comments. They are at odds, inexplicably at odds, with this relationship that we continue to enjoy and you've already seen cases where the president himself and even his cabinet officials have walked back some of these statements," he said. "So were not going to respond and react to every bit of rhetoric. We're going to continue to work at this relationship. We're going to continue to meet our obligations under the defense treaty. We haven't seen any policy traction behind it. In other words, there hasn't been any change, tangible changes, to the policies and to the programs that both our nations are implementing and executing on a daily basis." Asian Society analyst Stephen Rood in Manila told VOA that Duterte's comments indicates some real policy changes may be ahead. "There definitely is a possibility of that. He has definitely combined a very practical dollars and sense attitude towards China with his suspicion and distaste for the United States to cause a considerable rebalance. Now the professionals in his cabinet are saying that he doesn't mean a separation, he just means more regional integration with ASEA [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations] and Asia in general, so we'll see whether that continues." Rood said a key player in any policy reassessment will be the current defense minister and retired general, Delfin Lorenzana, who has a longstanding relationship with Washington. "He has actually asked the defense secretary to talk to the cabinet next week about what are the advantages of the relationship with the United States because, as the defense secretary said, the president hasn't discussed any of this with him and when he brought this up with the president, the president said ok, discuss this." The U.S. has troops in five Philippine military camps, the result of a security agreement that was signed before Duterte became president to counter China's growing military assertiveness in Asia. Victor Beattie also contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IS Militants Seize Town in Somalia's Puntland By Harun Maruf October 26, 2016 Pro-Islamic State militants have seized their first big town in the Puntland region of Somalia, officials and residents told VOA. The militants moved into the Red Sea town of Qandala, 90 miles east of Bosaso, in the early hours of Wednesday without any confrontations. Officials from the Puntland administration have left the town. The chairman of the town, Jama Mohamed Mumin, confirmed to VOA's Somali Service that the town was seized by "Daesh." A resident in the town told VOA Somali that about 60 militants entered the town and hoisted their flag on top of the police station and another historical building. "Early in the morning they restricted our movement, now they eased restrictions and we are trying to leave the town," says the resident, who asked not to be identified for security reasons. He said local elders met with the militants and told them to leave the town but says the militants insisted 'they are not going anywhere." The pro-Islamic State faction in northeastern Somalia is led by Sheikh Abdulkadir Mumin, a former al-Shabab cleric who pledged his allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi a year ago. Last month, the U.S. State Department designated Mumin as a global terrorist. A former al-Shabab member estimates that about 200 pro-IS fighters are in the group. A security expert puts the number a bit higher at 300. Qandala is a strategic port town facing the coastal towns of Yemen. The former Intelligence Director of Puntland Abdi Hassan said earlier that IS has started delivering supplies through their affiliate faction in Yemen. "They received military supplies from Yemen weapons, uniform, ISIS sent trainers who inspected their bases, and they have started sending financial support," he said. "The weapons' shipment was delivered by sea from Mukallah city in Hadramouth, it has arrived from the Red Sea coast of Somalia in February and March this year." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Amnesty International Blasts Gambia ICC Withdrawal By VOA News October 26, 2016 Rights group Amnesty International is denouncing Gambia's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, calling it "a blow to millions of victims around the world." Gambia accused the ICC Tuesday of ignoring "war crimes" as it announced its withdrawal from the Hague-based court. The West African country's decision follows the withdrawals of South Africa and Burundi from the ICC. "Rather than joining this drastic march away from justice, other African states should follow the lead of Botswana... to "work constructively with the court to resolve any legitimate issues," Amnesty Research and Advocacy Director for Africa Netsanet Belay said Wednesday. Belay said, "For many Africans the ICC presents the only avenue for justice for the crimes they have suffered." Gambia's announcement is "particularly shocking," Belay said, given that ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is Gambian and "a champion of international justice and the fight against global impunity." Gambia alleges bias Gambia's information minister, Sheriff Bojang, said Tuesday "the ICC, despite being called the International Criminal Court, is in fact an International Caucasian Court for the persecution and humiliation of people of color, especially Africans." The government of Botswana said Tuesday that it regretted the decision by the South African government to withdraw from the ICC. The southern African country affirmed its membership in the court and reiterated its support for a strong international criminal justice system through the ICC. Critics of the ICC say it has focused on Africa and ignored war crimes in other parts of the world. All but one of the 10 investigations launched so far by the ICC have taken place in African countries. "There are many Western countries, at least 30, that have committed heinous war crimes against independent sovereign states and their citizens since the creation of the ICC and not a single Western war criminal has been indicted," the Gambian government said in a statement. Earlier this week, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh asked the court to investigate African migrant deaths in the Mediterranean Sea. In its statement, Gambia said it asked the court to bring charges against the European Union over the migrant deaths, but received no response. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ethiopia Rules Out Early Elections to Address Unrest By Marthe van der Wolf October 26, 2016 Ethiopia's government has ruled out holding new nationwide elections to address the grievances behind nearly a year of deadly protests. But the opposition says the changes the government is undertaking are not good enough. Government spokesman Getachew Reda says Ethiopia will not call for an early vote. The next regional and nationwide elections are scheduled for 2020. "What we are trying to do is to follow the election cycle," said Reda. "This government does not have the slightest of intention to all of sudden change the law and call for a vote based on a changed law. We are here for the long haul." Reda said Wednesday parliament will instead convene to endorse a proposal from the prime minister to reorganize the Cabinet. That is expected in the next week, though Reda did not give an exact date. Opposition leader Merera Gudina of the Oromo People's Congress told VOA this crisis can only be solved with new elections. "They are still playing their own game with the reshuffling of their own personnel which for us it is nothing when people are asking fundamental basic change of policies and in fact the resignation of the ruling party, and demanding for new elections," said Gudina. During protests in the past year, hundreds have died, thousands have been arrested, and the government has imposed a six-month state of emergency restricting movement and independent media. Oromia protests Students began demonstrating in the central Oromia region in November of last year over an urban expansion plan for the capital city. But the movement has widened to take on a host of concerns. Since 1991, the country has been run by the same political coalition, led by the Tigrayan ethnic minority. Earlier this week, the Oromia regional government appointed new leadership. But those appointments were from within the same party. The regional government remains led by an ethnic Oromo faction within the ruling coalition, the Oromo People's Democratic Organization, OPDO. Fekadu Tesemma, spokesman for the Oromia regional government, says they agree they have not responded to the development needs of the Oromo people in the appropriate manner and speed. But he says that they did not come to the conclusion that the OPDO cannot lead and administer the Oromo people. Rights abuses Human rights organizations have often criticized Ethiopia for its lack of human rights and political freedom. In the last elections in 2015, the ruling party won all the parliament seats. The government has suggested adjusting the electoral law so opposition parties could take more seats. Solomon Tessema of the Blue Party says changes to one law are not enough at a time when people are demanding freedom. "We need to have even other compromises, both within the party and outside the party," said Tessema. "We are working to end the ERPDFs monopoly, in every policy and in every activity that has been going on for the last 25 years." The international community has called for an inclusive dialogue to address grievances and has called for security forces to show restraint. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan Officials: IS Abducts, Massacres 30 Civilians By Ayaz Gul October 26, 2016 Authorities in Afghanistan said Wednesday that extremists linked to Islamic State have abducted and massacred at least 30 civilians in a remote central region. The overnight bloodshed near the capital of the mountainous Ghor province is alarming for local officials because it is the first known IS activity in the area, where the Shiite Hazara community is the predominant majority. Loyalists of the Middle East based terrorist group are primarily concentrated in eastern Nangarhar province and in adjoining districts along the border with Pakistan. The victims were collecting wood for winter in the mountains near the city when Daesh (IS) gunmen captured them," provincial government spokesman, Abdul Hai Khatibi, told VOA, using the Arabic acronym for IS. He added that the gunmen executed the abductees Tuesday night while Afghan security forces were attempting to rescue them with the help of local residents. Independent investigation Amnesty International demanded Afghan authorities carry out an independent investigation into the abduction and killing of nearly 30 civilians, calling it "a horrendous crime." "There can be no justification whatsoever for targeting and killing civilians under any circumstances. The victims and their families deserve justice," the rights defender said in a statement. A Taliban spokesman, Zabhilluah Mujahid, said that his group was not involved in the incident, saying reports linking the Taliban to the killing of civilians are "nothing but propaganda." Afghan civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict and extremist attacks in the country. The United Nations has documented nearly 8,000 conflict-related civilian casualties, including more than 2,500 deaths, in the first nine months of 2016. Pakistan attack The execution of Afghan civilians came a day after IS claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide raid on a police training center in neighboring Pakistan. That attack in Quetta, capital of southwestern Baluchistan province, killed least 62 young recruits and wounded more than 120 others. Islamic State launched its extremist activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan in early 2015 after declaring the region as 'Islamic State of Khorasan" or IS-K. The commander of the U.S.-led military coalition in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, has acknowledged that IS is "very focused" on trying to establish its Khorasan caliphate in the region. He said that former militants of the anti-state Pakistani Taliban, called Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), are also helping the group further its extremist agenda. "We are seeing foreign fighters in particular Uzbeks, some from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, have joined themMany of them are Pakistani Pashtun (militants) from the TTP who joined IS-KSo, it is principally a non-Afghan movement trying to establish a caliphate inside Afghanistan," the US general told NBC earlier this week. Nicholson said the Afghan people have completely rejected IS philosophy for being "the antithesis of Afghan culture and society," adding the U.S. military is helping local security forces to drive the militants out of the country. The joint operations, he added, have inflicted heavy casualties on IS militants in recent months, also killing its regional chief, Hafiz Saeed Khan, a former Pakistani militant commander. Border challenges General Nicholson, however admitted that long porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan poses a major challenge in preventing militant movement in both directions. Pakistani officials have confirmed the assailants involved in Monday night's attack on the Quetta police academy included Uzbek militants. A picture of a dead militant resembled one of the men in a picture of the three suicide bombers the IS news agency published on its website. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Venezuelan Armed Forces Council to Work Regularly Amid Opposition Protests Sputnik News 00:17 27.10.2016 Venezuela's National Armed Forces Council, the principal body for consultations on defense issues, will be working on a regular basis amid the ongoing protests of the opposition, dissatisfied with the current leadership, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday. MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) On Tuesday, the opposition-led National Assembly voted to initiate impeachment proceedings against Maduro, claiming he had violated democracy, to which the president accused lawmakers of trying to stage a parliamentary coup. Earlier on Wednesday, opposition leader Henrique Capriles initiated a large-scale peaceful protest across the country to defend the nation's right to a referendum on Maduro's recall. According to media reports, police in some Venezuelan cities started to use tear gas against the opposition protesters. "I want us to start a continuous session, to take into account this issue [of political tension] with more wisdom and with the widest possible evaluation criterion," Maduro said at a Council meeting, as quoted by the AVN news agency. The leader did not specify how often the Council would be convened. Maduro also expressed regret that the Council meeting was not attended by President of the National Assembly Henry Ramos. "It is a pity that the president of the National Assembly continues to show lack of respect for the Constitution, and does not want dialogue. Here is his empty chair, I hope that he will start to act sensibly, because we need to strengthen democracy." Venezuelan opposition has been seeking a referendum to remove Maduro from office. The process to collect signatures for a petition on his recall was halted last week on accusations that the signature gathering was rigged. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Abstains from UN Vote on Cuba Embargo By Margaret Besheer October 26, 2016 For the first time, the United States has abstained from a U.N. resolution urging the lifting of Washington's nearly 60-year old economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. For the past 25 years, the U.N. General Assembly has held a symbolic annual vote calling for an end to the sanctions, which was imposed during the Cold War. Last year, the international community was nearly unanimous in its call, with only the United States and Israel voting against lifting the embargo. This year both nations abstained. The United States has always voted against this resolution," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the General Assembly ahead of the vote. "Today the United States will abstain." Failed policy She said the shift is because the policy is not working. "Instead of isolating Cuba, as President Obama has repeatedly said, our policy isolated the United States -- including here at the United Nations," Power said. But she said that abstaining does not mean that the United States agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government, particularly on human rights. Nor does it mean Washington agrees with states who say the U.S. actions are contrary to international law and the U.N. Charter. "We categorically reject the statements in the resolution that suggest otherwise," she said of the General Assembly measure. Cuba welcomes abstention Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, welcomed the abstention, saying it is a positive step for the future of relations between the two countries, but that the U.S. needs to go further. "Lifting the blockade is the key to be able to advance towards the normalization of relations with the United States; it is what will give some meaning, depth and soundness to what has been achieved so far," he said. He said executive measures have been positive, but had very limited "scope and effect" and he urged the loosening of controls on telecommunications, banking and other sectors. He said over the last six decades the embargo has cost Cuba some $125 billion in economic and development damages. Most member states denounced the blockade as against international law and the principles of the U.N. Charter. "It is our firm belief that differences between states should be settled through engagement, not confrontation, and by inclusion, not isolation," said Singapore's Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, speaking for ASEAN countries. Member states welcome thaw Member states also welcomed the thaw in relations between the two nations. "The renewal of relations between these two neighbors signals a new era of engagement for both countries," said Jamaican Ambassador Courtenay Rattray on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In the nearly two years since President Barack Obama ordered full restoration of diplomatic relations with the island nation, the two countries have reopened embassies in the other country, direct flights have been resumed, and travel restrictions eased. Earlier this month, the U.S. lifted its prohibition on travelers bringing Cuban cigars and rum into the country, but exports of those products to the U.S. continues to be illegal. In March 2016, President Obama made an historic visit to Cuba, marking a milestone in the normalization of relations between the two nations, but only the currently Republican-held U.S. Congress can lift the 56-year old embargo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Spy Chief: Asking North Korea To Stop Nuke Program a 'Lost Cause' Sputnik News 22:00 26.10.2016(updated 00:36 27.10.2016) On Tuesday, National Intelligence Director James Clapper said that the US must focus on limiting North Korea's nuclear capabilities, because convincing the isolated country to halt nuclear development is a "lost cause." Pyongyang has conducted over 20 ballistic missile tests this year and two nuclear explosions. There is concern in Washington that the DPRK could be developing a weapon that could reach the American mainland. Their most recent underground nuclear explosion took place in early September. At the Council on Foreign Relations, Clapper said "I think the notion of getting the North Koreans to denuclearize is probably a lost causeThey are not going to do that that is their ticket to survival." Washington has consistently maintained its position on not recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. Numerous sanctions, and negotiations to trade aid in exchange for disarmament have not stopped Pyongyang's nuclear program. Despite this, the US State Department announced that it will continue to demand the communist country's denuclearization. Clapper described his trip to North Korea in 2014 to secure the release of two Americans, saying it gave him a "good taste" of the country's perspective on nuclear development. "They are under siege and they are very paranoid, so the notion of giving up their nuclear capability, whatever it is, is a non-starter with themThe best we could probably hope for is some sort of a cap, but they are not going to do that just because we ask them. There's going to have to be some significant inducements." Defense experts in the US believe Pyongyang currently has between 13-21 nuclear weapons, and by 2020 could have as many as 100. State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington that he had not seen Clapper's comments, and that the US still hopes to resume aid-for-disarmament negotiations, which have been stalled since Pyongyang pulled out in 2009. Kirby said, "We want to continue to see a verifiable, denuclearization of the peninsula. We want to see a return to the six-party talk process, and that means we need to see the North show a willingness and an ability to return to that process which they haven't done yet," according to Yonhap News. Clapper acknowledged that the DPRK had not yet tested it's KN08 intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon capable of striking the Western US, so its utility is unknown, but he recommended that Washington not wait until the missile is tested to prepare. "Nevertheless, we ascribe to them the capability to launch a missile that would have a weapon on it to reach parts of the United States, certainly including Alaska and HawaiiThey could do it. We have to make the worst-case assumption here," he said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran unveils long-range, radar-evading drone Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:37AM Iran has unveiled a new light-weight, long-range stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of flying at a maximum altitude of 10, 000 feet. The drone was put on show on Wednesday at an expo showcasing the latest achievements by the Iranian Aviation & Space Industries Association. Hamed Sa'eedi, an official with the association, said that, with a total weight of less than 20 kilograms and a flight time of over 15 hours, the drone can conduct such non-military missions as those for mapping, filming and image-collecting. He said that Iran plans to export the drone to different countries. Earlier this month, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) unveiled a new attack drone, the Saegheh (Thunderbolt), by reverse-engineering a US Central Intelligence Agency RQ-170 Sentinel drone that had been captured in December 2011. In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems. The Islamic Republic maintains that its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU seeks closer ties with Iran after JCPOA: President Rouhani Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 10:47AM President Hassan Rouhani says the European Union is willing to expand its relations with Iran, especially in the light of the circumstances that has ensued Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers. Rouhani made the remarks in Tehran on Wednesday during a joint press conference with visiting Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, who is in the Iranian capital at the head of a large business delegation. "During today's discussions, we addressed the [existing] capacity of relations between Iran and the EU, especially after the JCPOA and the European side's willingness to expand [bilateral] economic, scientific, and technological relations," the Iranian chief executive noted. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was inked between Tehran and the P5+1 group of world powers, namely Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany on July 14, 2015. The accord, which took effect in January, ended decades of economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program. On Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry said an Iranian delegation composed of deputy foreign ministers are to hold general talks with EU officials in Brussels in December, saying the talks will cover a range of issues. "Our ties with Europe are fundamental and age-old and we have numerous commonalities and can even differ on issues that have to do with values and regional affairs," said Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi. Rouhani also said economic ties with Finland had suffered prior to the JCPOA's implementation as a result of the anti-Iran sanctions, but voiced certainty that the Finnish leader's visit to Tehran would be a fresh start for the expansion of their relations. Over the past days, the two sides have inked four memoranda of understanding in the areas of energy, communications and technology, environment and investment. Rouhani also said it had been agreed during the trip that the two countries should expand banking relations, have direct flights between Tehran and Helsinki and establish a railway track that would connect the two states via Baku and Moscow. The two statesmen had also addressed the developments in Middle Eastern states, namely Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and discussed the need for international cooperation against terrorism. For his part, the Finnish head of state hailed the long-standing cooperation between the two nations, saying, "Iran was one of the first countries to recognize Finnish independence." "I believe that now, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Finland will cooperate further," said Niinisto, describing the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 states as an important milestone. "I have brought with me a large business delegation and they have been very satisfied with their discussions with their colleagues from Iran," he said. There are various areas of potential cooperation between the two sides, including energy, clean tech, information and communications technology (ICT) as well as forestry. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More areas retaken from Daesh near Iraq's Mosul Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 8:46AM Iraqi government soldiers have liberated more areas around the northern city of Mosul from Daesh terrorists in a massive offensive aimed at retaking the entire city from the extremists. Military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Peshmerga fighters have established control over the Dirik Village near the town of Bashiqa, which lies 12 kilometers northeast of Mosul, on Wednesday, Kurdish Rudaw television network reported. Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) also announced that Iraqi counter-terrorism units were only two kilometers away from Mosul, which located some 400 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad. Additionally, an unnamed Iraqi military official said fighter jets from the US-led military coalition have struck areas close to the village of Sari Tepe, killing five Daesh terrorists. The slain Takfiris were reportedly involved in the October 21 militant attack against the oil-rich northern city of Kirkuk. Iraqi army soldiers also unearthed a stash of weapons in the recently-liberated Assyrian town of Karemlash, located around 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul. The development came shortly after government forces uncovered tunnels, which were formerly used by Daesh militants, inside a monastery in the same area. Moreover, at least 50 Daesh members were killed on Tuesday when explosives planted in two vehicles went off by accident in an eastern suburb of Mosul. A civilian also lost his life in the explosion. Meanwhile, some 10,000 Iraqi civilians have reportedly managed to flee Mosul, which is under tight Daesh control. Elsewhere, in the al-Zour area of the eastern province of Diyala, Iraqi army soldiers have discovered a number of missiles, mortar rounds and an explosive belt belonging to Daesh members. Saddam's cousin arrested over Kirkuk attack Meanwhile, Kirkuk's police directorate announced on Tuesday that security forces had arrested a cousin of slain Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in connection with a terrorist assault on the city of Kirkuk last week. Kirkuk's police chief, Brigadier General Sarhad Qadir, said Nizar Mahmoud Abdul Ghani was arrested along with a Daesh militant in the town of Daquq south of Kirkuk. Some 9,000 Iraqis displaced in Mosul operation Furthermore, the United Nations (UN)'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that nearly 9,000 people have been internally displaced as a result of the offensive to liberate Mosul. "The majority of displaced people so far are sheltering in host communities. All families, who have fled the fighting, are reported to be in a vulnerable condition and requiring assistance," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday. He added that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) continues to receive reports of extrajudicial killings and summary executions by Daesh, among other crimes, against civilians as Iraqi government forces are closing in on Mosul. "The Human Rights Office also continues to receive information that reinforces the belief that Daesh is deliberately using civilians as human shields," Dujarric said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Some 60 Iraqi Soldiers Killed in Mosul Offensive, 250 Wounded - CENTCOM Sputnik News 23:14 26.10.2016 Iraqi forces lost some 60 soldiers in the operation to liberate Mosul from the Daesh, while about 250 others have been wounded, US Central Command commander Gen. Joseph Votel said on Wednesday. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) On October 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the start of a military operation to recapture Mosul from the terror group with air support provided by the US-led coalition. About 30,000 Iraqi soldiers and 4,000 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are reportedly taking part in the operation. "What the Iraqi leadership reported this evening is that they have sustained 57 of their soldiers who have been killed, and about 250 that have been wounded in the offensive so far," Votel said in an interview with NBC News. "The Kurdish numbers are probably in about the same ratio as that one." US-led coalition against the Daesh commander Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend later added that the Kurdish Peshmerga forces sustained 20 to 30 killed in action and about 150 wounded. According to media reports, an Daesh suicide bomb attack on an Iraqi convoy near Mosul on October 17 killed some 70 soldiers. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hope Amid Chaos: Yazidis Waiting to Reunite With Hostages After Mosul Liberation Sputnik News 21:05 26.10.2016(updated 21:08 26.10.2016) Hundreds of Yazidi hostages are being held captive by Daesh in Mosul, and the Yazidis hope the impending operation there will liberate them, Yezidi representative of the Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan Xeyri Bozan told Sputnik Turkiye. Thousands of Yazidi hostages are still in the hands of Daesh, more than two years after the terror group attacked the predominantly Yadizi town of Sinjar, in north-west Iraq. In August 2014 Daesh overran the town and the surrounding areas, massacred 5,000 Yazidi men and took thousands of people hostage. More than 40,000 Yazidis were forced to flee to the Sinjar mountains, where they were surrounded by Daesh forces and dependent on helicopter drops of food and water. Xeyri Bozan, Yezidi representative of the Office of Religious Affairs of the Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan, told Sputnik Turkiye that dozens of Yazidis from Sinjar were rescued during recent anti-terror operations in Iraq and Syria. "We were able to carry out a special operation to free 70 Yazidis held captive by Daesh. The majority of them are women and children," Bozan said. "The militants were holding them in Mosul, Hawija and Tall Afar in Iraq, and Raqqa in Syria. The Yazidis who were saved were residents of Sinjar. We brought them home to their relatives and close ones. Some of them, in accordance with their wishes, were taken to refugee camps," Bozan said. On the second anniversary of the Sinjar attack on August 3, the UN reported that more than 3,200 women and children are still held by the terror group and being subjected to almost-unimaginable violence. Bozan said that many of them are being held in Mosul, approximately 120 km east of Sinjar. The Iraqi army, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and allied forces have been advancing for more than a week in preparation for an assault on Mosul, the terror group's last major urban stronghold in Iraq. "More than 3,000 Yazidis are still being held by Daesh fighters, who are waiting to be rescued. In particular, hundreds of Yazidi prisoners are being held in Mosul. We intend to make every effort to ensure their release as soon as possible," Bozan said. As well as the Iraqi National Army and the Peshmerga, several other groups are supporting the assault on Mosul, including the largely Shiite Popular Mobilization Units, which are reportedly bombing Daesh tunnels. Yazidi self-defense forces have also taken up arms against the Daesh terror group, including an all-female battalion. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Refugee Agency Airlifting Over 7,000 Tents to Assist Displaced in Mosul Sputnik News 18:23 26.10.2016 The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)'s goal is to secure 50,000 tents and 50,000 emergency shelter kits for Iraqi families to provide necessary assistance to the Iraqis displaced due to Mosul operation, according to a press release. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has begun airlifting more than 7,000 tents to Iraq's Erbil to provide necessary assistance to the Iraqis displaced due to Mosul operation, a press release issued by the agency on Wednesday revealed. "The flights, carrying family tents from UNHCR's emergency warehouse in Dubai, are arriving at Erbil International Airport for five consecutive days this week. The first flight, with 1,515 tents, arrived on Tuesday night. Altogether, 7,200 tents will be unloaded," the press release said. According to UNHCR's Representative in Iraq Bruno Geddo, the agency's goal is to secure 50,000 tents and 50,000 emergency shelter kits for Iraqi families. UNHCR stressed that the Mosul emergency response would cost about $196.2 million, and with these funds it would be ready to assist up to 600,000 people. However, the agency received less than a half of requires finances, and therefore, calls on donors for additional help. A military operation to recapture Mosul from the Islamic State jihadists was launched on October 17 by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi. According to local media, about 30,000 Iraqi soldiers and 4,000 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are taking part in the operation, with the help of airstrikes by the US-led international coalition. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN aid agencies stepping up assistance for those fleeing Mosul fighting 26 October 2016 As newly-displaced Iraqis are starting to arrive at camps set up by the United Nations for people fleeing the ongoing military offensive to wrest Mosul from terrorists, the Organization's health and refugee agencies have ramped up their own operations to provide assistance and to respond to what has thus far been a 'moderate' influx. This week, flights from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will be bringing in some 7,200 tents from its emergency warehouse in Dubai, this number is part of agency's effort to secure 50,000 tents and 50,000 emergency shelter kits for families on the move. Similarly, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has conducted a series of trainings on early warning and response for staff from health facilities established recently to respond to the needs of newly displaced populations in both formal and emergency settlements, as well as the hosting communities. The first UNHCR flight arrived last night with some 1,515 tents. "These airlifts are vital and will allow us to respond as soon as displaced Iraqis reach our camps and need shelter," said UNHCR's Representative in Iraq, Bruno Geddo in a news release issued by the agency. Preparations ongoing but fear is that efforts could be overwhelmed In an interview with UN Radio Mr. Geddo said that the agency has seen only modest levels of population movement, and has recoded some 10,550 displaced persons since the beginning over military operations in Mosul. "The interesting thing is that of the people that fled to the south towards Qayyara, where there are no camps, many have already returned home," he said, noting that this is emblematic of a pattern that had "pretty quickly established itself" of people waiting out military operations [in nearby Iraqi towns] and then returning home. Explaining ongoing preparatory measures in the anticipation of increased displacement, he added: "We are building camps and finalizing preparations at a frantic pace, but the current capacity is still limited to around 60,000 people." "So if people are displaced from the city in waves, it will be easier to manage. If 150,000 to 200,000 people are displaced at once [] it will become a humanitarian disaster," he cautioned. Monitoring for disease outbreaks WHO, meanwhile, has raised the importance of monitoring the health situation, particularly the trends and patterns of communicable diseases. The training the agency conducted on early warning and response is a vital component of this work. "[Early warning alert and response network system] EWARNS will be the tool to measure these trends and help to detect early epidemics in displaced population areas to support the federal and regional ministries of health and health cluster partners with effective epidemic-prone disease prevention and control measures," said WHO's Representative to Iraq, Altaf Musani. The three consecutive trainings, conducted from 28 September to 6 October, marked the entry of 43 new health facilities to the network in Iraq that takes the number of reporting sites to over 180. These trainings also addressed a number of issues relating to selected disease events and syndromes case definitions, verification of alerts and steps of outbreak investigations and EWARNS reporting through the use of mobile computing devices. Pre-positioning essential medicine stockpiles In addition to the training and building the capacity of health workers, the UN health agency is also putting in place stockpiles of medicines and medical supplies as well as strengthening the capacity of testing laboratories to support Iraqi health authorities. "Applying [these] best practices will be important to avert mortality and morbidity from any epidemic of communicable diseases, including cholera," Mr. Musani noted. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OHCA), 200,000 people are estimated to be displaced in first weeks of the offensive. In the worst-case scenario, up to a million people could be displaced. Funding UNHCR, in its news release, also noted that with full funding and readiness, it will be able to provide a range of shelter options inside and outside camps for up to 600,000 people. However, it has only received 48 per cent ($95 million) of funds required for its emergency response in Mosul, costed at $196.2 million, and is appealing to donors for additional help. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More Than 10,000 Iraqis Have Fled Mosul Area By Chris Hannas October 26, 2016 The International Organization for Migration says more than 10,000 Iraqis have been displaced since the start of an operation to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants. The offensive, which involves Iraqi government troops, Kurdish fighters, Sunni tribesman and Shi'ite militias, began last week and has so far involved capturing town and villages surrounding Iraq's second largest city. The United Nations warned last week that as many as 200,000 people could be displaced in the initial weeks of the fight for Mosul, and that humanitarian groups would initially be able to handle about 70,000 people in need of aid. Iraq's displacement and migration ministry said Wednesday the number of displaced was increasing, and that on Tuesday there was a "big wave" of 3,300 people in what was considered the largest number of people fleeing since the Mosul operation began. Summary executions The United Nations said Tuesday it had preliminary reports of extrajudicial killings and summary executions by Islamic State fighters around Mosul, including the militants using civilians as human shields. U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva the reports have not been fully verified, but include Islamic State killing 50 former Iraqi police officers they had been holding in a building outside Mosul, and in the village of Safina fighters killing 15 civilians and throwing their bodies in a river. Colville said there were also reports of Iraqi forces finding the bodies of 70 civilians with bullet wounds in an area south of Mosul, but that it was unclear who was responsible for the killings. Rights abuses He reiterated calls for Iraq and allied forces to make sure their fighters to act according to international humanitarian law. On Monday, U.S. officials said Iraqi forces had regained more than 800 square kilometers of territory from Islamic State around Mosul. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia calls off warships refueling stopover at Spanish port Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 2:17PM Russia says it has cancelled plans for a fleet of its warships to refuel at a Spanish port on their way to Syria. Vasily Nioradze, a spokesman at the Russian embassy in Madrid, said on Wednesday that the request was canceled, without giving further details, the Associated Press reported. The Spanish Foreign Ministry also confirmed that Russia had withdrawn its request for the warships to refuel in the Spanish port of Ceuta. "The Russian embassy in Madrid has just told us that it is withdrawing its demand for permission to stop over for the boats, which means that the stopovers have been cancelled," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The development came after Spain, a NATO member state, said it was reviewing Russia's request to refuel its naval fleet at Ceuta after passing through the Straits of Gibraltar en route to Syria, where Russian forces are engaged in an anti-terror campaign in support of the Syrian government. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said that Spain had been allowing Russian navy ships to dock in Spanish ports for years, but that it treated such requests on a case by case basis. The naval group, which passed through the English Channel on Friday, is made up of Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, as well as a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, two anti-submarine warships and four support vessels, escorted by submarines. The fleet will join around 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast. Ceuta sits on the tip of Africa's north coast, across the Straits of Gibraltar from mainland Spain, and bordering Morocco. The port is part of the EU, but its NATO status is unclear. Since 2011, at least 60 Russian warships have docked in Ceuta. NATO irked by Spain's announcement NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed that the Western military alliance was "concerned" by the deployment of the Russian warships. "It is each up to each nation to decide, as has been NATO policy for many years, but we are concerned about the potential use of this carrier group to increase attacks in Aleppo," Stoltenberg said, adding, "All allies are aware of our concerns." Britain echoes NATO's stance British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon also said on Wednesday that London would be "extremely concerned" if Spain refueled the Russian carrier group heading through the Mediterranean towards Syria. "NATO should be standing together," he added. Since March 2011, Syria has been hit by militancy it blames on some Western states and their regional allies. Russia has been conducting air raids against Daesh and other terrorist groups in the Middle Eastern country at the Damascus government's request for more than a year now. Russia boosts Baltic Fleet In another development on Wednesday, a report said that Russia was reinforcing its Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad with two small warships armed with long-range cruise missiles to counter a worrying NATO build-up in the region. The report by Russia's daily Izvestia quoted an unidentified military source as saying that the vessels, the Serpukhov and the Zeleny Dol, had already entered the Baltic Sea and would soon become part of a newly formed division. Kaliningrad shares land borders with Poland and Lithuania. The deployment comes at a time when NATO is planning its biggest military buildup on Russia's borders since the Cold War. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Rescinds Request To Resupply Flotilla At Spanish Port October 26, 2016 Russia has withdrawn its request to resupply a naval flotilla at a Spanish-controlled port in the Mediterranean. The Spanish government made the announcement on October 26, after coming under pressure from NATO and some European Union members to reconsider its decision to all the ships to dock at the port of Ceuta. The Russian news agency Interfax reported that the Russian Embassy in Madrid had confirmed the request withdrawal. Russia is sending an eight-vessel flotilla, headed by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, to the eastern Mediterranean to participate in Russian military actions in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Ceuta is on the north coast of Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain. It is disputed by both Spain and Morocco, but is considered part of the European Union. Russian warships have docked there at least 60 times since 2011. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on October 26 that the flotilla could play a role in "exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe we already see in Aleppo and in Syria." British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, speaking in Brussels, said his government was "extremely concerned that any NATO member should consider assisting a Russian carrier group that might end up bombing Syrian civilians." Russia says it is combating terrorist groups in Syria and does not target civilians. Based on reporting by Reuters, Interfax, The Guardian, and El Pais Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-spain- refuel-flotilla-review/28075568.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian MoD Denies Reports of Aircraft Carrier's Call to Refuel in Spain Sputnik News 20:10 26.10.2016(updated 20:11 26.10.2016) The Russian Defense Ministry said it had not asked Spain for refueling the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier currently en route to the Mediterranean. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Russian Defense Ministry denies foreign media speculation of an alleged plan for the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to refuel at the Spanish port of Ceuta, the ministry's spokesman said Wednesday. "The Russian Defense Ministry has sent no requests to Spanish authorities on the entry of the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier for refueling in the port of Ceuta," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. The Russian naval carrier group is fully resourced to perform tasks autonomously, Konashenkov added. The Russian Defense Ministry has allowed for the possibility of a prearranged business call into the Spanish port of Ceuta, the ministry's spokesman said Wednesday. "After passing the Strait of Gibraltar, the Russian Defense Ministry envisaged the possibility of a business call by individual ships or maintenance vessels from the Russian naval group in coordination with the Spanish side," Konashenkov said. He added that Madrid had informed Moscow of pressure from the United States and NATO of the "inexpediency" of the entry into the Ceuta port by Russian ships. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Warships to Reroute From Ceuta Port in Spain Sputnik News 17:24 26.10.2016 A group of Russian warships heading to the Mediterranean will not enter the Spanish port of Ceuta because of changing its route. MADRID (Sputnik) Russian ships led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier will not enter into the Spanish harbor of Ceuta because of the naval group's route change, the Russian embassy in Spain said Wednesday. "We confirm that the ships will not enter the Ceuta port because the route has changed," an embassy official told RIA Novosti. Earlier in the day, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said that Madrid was considering granting the Russian naval task group access to Ceuta on October 28-November 2, drawing criticism from NATO. Earlier in the day, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said that Madrid was considering granting the Russian naval task group access to Ceuta on October 28-November 2, drawing criticism from NATO. On October 15, the Russian Northern Fleet's press service said that a group of warships headed by the Admiral Kuznetsov, accompanied by the Pyotr Veliky battle cruiser, the Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov anti-submarine destroyers, and support vessels, had been sent to the Mediterranean to hold drills and strengthen capabilities. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian 'Flying Laboratory' Aircraft Conducts First Flight Developer Sputnik News 13:02 26.10.2016(updated 13:13 26.10.2016) According to Vega Radio Engineering Corporation director, Russia-made A100LL early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft has completed its first flight. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Russia-made A100LL early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft has completed its first flight, the Vega Radio Engineering Corporation (part of the Rostec United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation) director general Vladimir Verba said Wednesday. "Today, the first flight of A-100LL flying laboratory, was conducted, which was constructed by Vega corporation developers together with the Beriev Aircraft Company," Verba said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Potential For U.S.-Russia Conflict Seen With Clinton's Syria Plan RFE/RL October 26, 2016 U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and a top U.S. intelligence official agreed on the potential for conflict with Russia if the United States adopts Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's plan on Syria. Trump charged that it would lead to open warfare -- "World War Three" -- while National Intelligence Director James Clapper said Russia might shoot down a U.S. aircraft if the United States attempts to enforce a no-fly zone as Clinton has proposed in parts of Syria. "I wouldn't put it past them to shoot down an American aircraft if they felt that was threatening to their forces on the ground," National Intelligence Director James Clapper told CBS's Charlie Rose at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on October 25. Russia has deployed a very advanced and capable air defense system in Syria and would not have done that if it wouldn't use it, Clapper said. The Obama administration has refrained from setting up a no-fly zone to protect civilians in Syria partly because of the potential for direct military confrontation with Russia as U.S. planes sought to enforce the flying ban. Clinton is not the only one who has called for such a zone, however. Trump's running mate, Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence has also advocated such an approach. But Trump said in an interview with Reuters on October 25 that it would inevitably lead to confrontation with Russia. "You're going to end up in World War Three over Syria if we listen to Hillary Clinton," Trump said. "You're not fighting Syria any more, you're fighting Syria, Russia, and Iran, all right? Russia is a nuclear country, but a country where the nukes work as opposed to other countries that talk," he said. Also on the topic of Russia, in the CBS interview, Clapper was asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Obama administration's claim that recent hacking of U.S. Democratic sites and e-mail accounts was orchestrated by Moscow. Clapper called Putin "somewhat of a throwback" to the "tsar era." "I think he has this vision of a great Russia, as a great power," Clapper said. "It's extremely important to him that Russia be treated and respected as a global power on a par with the United States. And I think that has a lot to do with impelling his behavior." Clapper said the U.S. response to Russia's alleged hacking of the election might not come in the form of a reciprocal cyberattack, but he said eventually Russia will pay a price. Clapper said Russia likely was not behind cyberattacks that paralyzed many top websites last week, however, including Amazon, eBay, Twitter, Spotify, Netflix, and CNN. He said the non-state hackers that carried out last week's attacks were even more "nefarious" than state actors like Russia and China. "We've had this disparity or contrast between the capability of the most sophisticated cyber actors, nation-state cyber actors, which are clearly Russia and China, but have to this point perhaps more benign intent," he said. "And then you have other countries who have a more nefarious intent. And then even more nefarious are non-nation-state actors," he said. During the CBS interview, Clapper also declared that the longtime U.S. goal of getting North Korea to renounce nuclear weapons is "probably a lost cause" and the United States should now focus on limiting Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities. With reporting by AP, Reuters, CBS News, and AFP Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/potention-us- russia-conflict-seen-clinton-syria-no-fly- zone-plan-trump-clapper-/28075466.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Raqqa Fight Starting 'Soon,' Isolation Operation to Include YPG By Carla Babb October 26, 2016 A Syrian rebel group that includes a significant number of Kurdish YPG fighters will move to isolate Raqqa "soon," a move in the fight against Islamic State that could infuriate U.S. ally Turkey. "The facts are these: the only force that is capable on any near-term timeline are the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the [Kurdish] YPG are a significant portion," General Stephen Townsend, the top general leading the coalition operation against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, told reporters at the Pentagon via teleconference Wednesday. Townsend said the United States is "negotiating" with Turkey, but will have to work through their "difference of opinion" on the inclusion of Kurdish fighters in the Raqqa operation later. "We're going to go with who can go, who's willing to go soon, and then once we get initial isolation in position we will look at how we prosecute the operation further," he said. Short timeline 'imperative' Townsend said coalition intelligence feeds have shown "significant external attacks planning" emanating from Raqqa, which has become the focal point of IS external plotting since the Syrian city of Manbij was retaken from the terror group earlier this year. He said the plans involved attacks against U.S. and European cities, adding to the "imperative" of isolating the town on a "short timeline." U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Monday the coalition has also made overlapping the fight for Mosul and Raqqa part of the plan to defeat Islamic State forces. The strategy will force Islamic State to fight on multiple fronts and choose very carefully where to devote the group's resources. Carter discussed the IS fight with his French and Turkish counterparts Wednesday in Brussels. The talks focused on the need to maintain military cooperation in the area and consolidate recent gains by Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces along the Turkey-Syria border. 'Lighter footprint' Townsend says the fight to retake Raqqa from Islamic State fighters will involve "a lot lighter coalition footprint" than the fight underway to retake Mosul. "We'll have fewer coalition troops there, less combat capability there. We'll have to apply coalition combat support in a different way than we're doing here in Iraq," he said. Townsend said the fight for Raqqa will likely take longer than the fight for Mosul, despite the smaller geographic size of Raqqa, because the conflict is riddled with several "complicating factors," including the fact the coalition isn't working alongside government forces like it is in Iraq. "The Syrian regime's involved. The Russians are involved. Turkey's involved. It's hard," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Aid Chief: Aleppo Is 'a Kill Zone' By Margaret Besheer October 26, 2016 The United Nations humanitarian chief said Wednesday that Syria's eastern Aleppo has essentially become a "kill zone" with more than 400 people slain and nearly 2,000 wounded in the past month. "So many of them, too many of them, were children," Stephen O'Brien told the U.N. Security Council in his monthly report on the organization's ability to get humanitarian assistance to residents of the war-torn country. "At the very minimum, I call upon all council members who have operational military assets in Syria to take concrete steps to halt the aerial bombardment of civilian areas," O'Brien said. He repeated accusations that the U.N. secretary-general and the high commissioner for human rights have made, that the Syrian government and Russia are responsible for the most sustained and intensive aerial bombardment campaign since the beginning of the conflict nearly six years ago. Last week, Syria and Russia began a brief unilateral pause in the bombing over eastern Aleppo for the evacuation of the critically ill and injured, and so aid workers could get humanitarian supplies into that part of the city, which has not had an aid delivery in nearly four months. It was extended for eight days, but because security was not guaranteed by all parties, the humanitarian teams could not carry out their mission. "There will be complaints and accusations about who caused the failure of the medical evacuations," O'Brien said. "And yes, they will finger point at the U.N., the one party in all this not to blame, to attempt to divert blame from the perpetrators and refusers." 'Save yourselves' The frustrated humanitarian chief said there are fewer than 30 doctors left in eastern Aleppo, which still has more than 250,000 residents, and only six partially functioning hospitals. He said only 11 working ambulances remain, and the shortage of blankets is so acute that patients are using body bags for warmth. "Let me be clear: eastern Aleppo is besieged by the Syrian government," O'Brien said. He criticized the "medieval tactics" of the regime and its Russian allies, such as dropping leaflets from aircraft over neighborhoods warning residents, "This is your last hope save yourselves." The threat is that if the residents do not leave, they will be "annihilated." Russia's envoy, Vitaly Churkin, denied that his government's air force was responsible for dropping the leaflets, saying they had "not been within 10 kilometers of eastern Aleppo in eight days." He suggested that U.S. aircraft might have been responsible, or that the "save yourselves" warning was from fake leaflets that circulated on the internet. "Russia can't have it both ways: to pretend to care about the well-being of people of eastern Aleppo, and at the same time to threaten to annihilate those who remain in their homes," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said. Council members also expressed shock at the attack earlier Wednesday on a school in Idlib. Twenty-two children and six teachers were reportedly killed. If the school was deliberately targeted it would constitute a war crime. Bearing responsibility O'Brien laid the blame for lack of action to stop the bloodletting in Syria at the door of the Security Council. "This council has been charged with the responsibility for ending this horror," he said. "The buck stops with you." Russia has used its veto five times to stop council action against its ally Syria during the course of the conflict. Last week the General Assembly discussed the possibility of invoking a rarely used mechanism that would allow it to circumvent the council if it is at a dangerous impasse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 61 Turkish police chiefs reassigned to new positions amid crackdown Iran Press TV Wed Oct 26, 2016 2:50PM The Turkish government has replaced the police chiefs of more than 60 provinces, including Izmir, Adana and Konya, as Ankara maintains its crackdown on individuals suspected of involvement in the abortive coup of mid-July, a report says. Turkey's Official Gazette reported on Wednesday that the police chiefs of 61 out of Turkey's 81 provinces had been reassigned to positions outside their provinces. The report did not specify when the reassignment took effect. Two dozen of the 61 police chiefs were transferred from one province to another and the remaining 37 were newly appointed, Turkish media said, without stating the name of the provinces. Servet Yilmaz and Adem Cakici, the police chiefs of the provinces of Kahramanmaras and Rize respectively, have been assigned the position of deputies to the head of the Turkish national police. Separately, Turkey's private Dogan news agency reported on Wednesday that authorities had detained over 80 police officers in the port city of Istanbul. It added that the office of Istanbul's chief prosecutor had issued warrants for the arrest of at least 125 officers. Dogan also said prosecutors in the Aegean city of Izmir had issued arrest warrants for 55 people in line with the government crackdown. Ankara has arrested more than 35,000 people over alleged links to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Turkish cleric who is accused of orchestrating a coup attempt on July 15. Gulen denies any involvement in the move. More than 100,000 people employed in the civil service, judiciary, police and elsewhere have also been sacked or suspended. On October 23, Turkey's broadcaster NTV quoted Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag as saying that Ankara was going to arrest another 3,907 individuals in connection with the abortive coup. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Ready to Drive Kurds Out of Northern Syrian Town of Manbij - President Sputnik News 17:19 26.10.2016(updated 17:27 26.10.2016) Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey is ready to start operation to push the self-defense forces of Syrian Kurds out of the northern Syrian town of Manbij in the near future. ANKARA (Sputnik) Turkey is ready to start operation to push the self-defense forces of Syrian Kurds out of the northern Syrian town of Manbij in the near future, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday. "We are ready to clear Manbij from [the Kurdish] terrorists as soon as possible," Erdogan said. On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey had already informed the United States that it could exert efforts to make the Syrian Kurds leave Manbij. The Syrian Kurds have been fighting against the Daesh militant group for years and has been controlling several areas of Syria, including Manbij. Ankara claims that the Syrian Kurds have links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization by the Turkish authorities. On August 24, the Turkish army with the support of US-led coalition aircraft launched the Euphrates Shield operation to clear Jarabulus and the surrounding area of the Daesh, outlawed in Russia and many other countries. The operation has been widely criticized both by the Syrian Kurds and Damascus accusing Ankara of violating Syria's territorial integrity. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ankara Will Not Abandon Its 'Brothers Turkmens' in Iraq if They Are in Danger Sputnik News 15:43 26.10.2016 Ankara will not abandon its "brothers Turkmens in Tal Afar" in Iraq if their well-being is jeopardized, the Turkish foreign minister said. ANKARA (Sputnik) Ankara would take appropriate measures if life or well-being of Turkmens living in the Iraqi city of Tal Afar is in jeopardy, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday. "We have always stood against sectarian strife in Syria and Iraq. This is a very dangerous situation, but the lessons have not been learned. We see that the Shiite militia is trying to get in Mosul. But Daesh should be fought by local forces. The ethnic balance in Mosul and Tal Afar should be carefully considered. If our brothers Turkmens in Tal Afar are in danger, we will not abandon them and will not stay indifferent," Cavusoglu said at a press conference in Ankara. On Tuesday, the Shiite militia expressed their intention to capture the city of Tal Afar, which is situated 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Mosul, and prevent the escape of Daesh militants to Syria. On October 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the start of a military operation to recapture Mosul from Daesh, outlawed in Russia, with the help of airstrikes by the US-led international coalition. According to local media, about 30,000 Iraqi soldiers and 4,000 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are taking part in the operation. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey to Continue Operation in Syria Despite Damascus Forces' Attacks on FSA Sputnik News 13:33 26.10.2016(updated 13:34 26.10.2016) Turkey will continue its military Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria despite Syrian government forces' attacks on Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army's (FSA) positions, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday. ANKARA (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, Turkey's General Staff said that a military helicopter belonging to the Syrian government forces had attacked the positions of FSA fighters in the city of Marea in northern Aleppo Governorate. "We will not stop fighting against the Daesh terrorist group due to the regime forces' attacks. The Euphrates Shield operation will be continued until retaking of the city of al-Bab in order to create a security zone for the return of refugees," Cavusoglu said at a press conference. On August 24, the Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed Euphrates Shield aimed at freeing the Syrian northern territories from terrorists and creating security zones for accommodation of refugees. After liberating the Syrian border town of Jarablus and the surrounding area of Daesh, outlawed in Russia and many other countries, the Turkish forces continued offensive in the southwest direction. Turkish forces regularly come into confrontation with the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), and its military wing People's Protection Units (YPG) operating in Syria, which Ankara considers to be an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), outlawed in Turkey. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK to Deploy Tanks, Drones to Eastern Europe to 'Boost NATO Presence' Sputnik News 10:20 26.10.2016(updated 11:21 26.10.2016) Michael Fallon said that UK Defense Ministry mulls sending tactical drones and Challenger 2 tanks to Eastern Europe as part of its commitment to NATO to deploy a battalion to Estonia. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The UK Defense Ministry mulls sending tactical drones and Challenger 2 tanks to Eastern Europe as part of its commitment to NATO to deploy a battalion to Estonia, Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said. "This is not simply a trip-wireThis is a serious military presence," Fallon was quoted as saying by The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. The NATO military alliance declared at a July summit it would move forces to Poland and the three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. In Estonia, British personnel will serve side by side with troops from France and Denmark. According to the newspaper, Fallon said the deployment was a sign that Britain was not stepping away. "This is our continent and we will keep on working to help keep it safe," he said. NATO foreign ministers are scheduled to meet at the Brussels headquarters in Belgium where they are expected to discuss their efforts on the alliance's eastern flank. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK steps up measures to reassure European allies 26 October 2016 The UK is stepping up its package of measures to support its allies in Europe, in the face of a more assertive Russia, the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced today. The Defence Secretary said that the UK will commit RAF Typhoon aircraft to the NATO Southern Air Policing mission to offer reassurance to the Black Sea allies. Deployed from RAF Coningsby, the Typhoons will be based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase, Romania, for up to four months in 2017. Following July's decision that the UK will deliver one of four battalions to NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic States and Poland, Mr Fallon confirmed the UK will be sending 800 personnel to Estonia, with France and Denmark contributing further troops. The deployment is likely to include armoured Infantry, equipped with Warrior armoured fighting vehicles, tactical UAVs, and a troop of our Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks. Detailed planning with our Estonian hosts is well under way and the first deployments are expected to begin in May next year. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "Backed by a rising defence budget this deployment of air, land and sea forces shows that we will continue to play a leading role in NATO, supporting the defence and security of our allies from the north to the south of the alliance." At the Ministerial meeting, the Defence Secretary also welcomed the signing of UK's Instrument of Acceptance for Montenegro to join NATO making the UK the first major ally to complete the process. The announcement comes after the Defence Secretary confirmed at the weekend that the UK will deploy a 28-strong team to Kosovo for a year. This increase to our contribution to the KFOR Mission, NATO's largest operation, will help to maintain a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo. The UK deployment will also provide reassurance in the Western Balkan region from early 2017. Backed by a 178 billion equipment plan and defence budget rising in real terms for the rest of this parliament, the UK is one of several countries that meets the NATO 2% spending target. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Brushes Off E-Mail Leak Allegedly Showing Russian Hand In Ukraine Conflict Carl Schreck October 26, 2016 The Kremlin has challenged the authenticity of leaked e-mails purportedly from the inbox of presidential aide Vladislav Surkov that appear to show the Russian government's coordination with separatists in eastern Ukraine. In comments relayed by state-run TASS and other Russian news agencies on October 26, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not explicitly state that e-mails published by the Ukrainian hacker group CyberHunta on October 25 were not genuine. But he appeared to cast doubt on the authenticity of the leaked documents, saying that Surkov, a longtime adviser to President Vladimir Putin, "doesn't use electronic mail." "Therefore, someone must have sweated quite a bit to compose this document," Peskov said, though he did not clarify specifically which "document" he was talking about. "I can tell you: This is not him," he said, referring to Surkov. The cache of e-mails published by CyberHunta begins in September 2013 and runs through November 2014. That period covers Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and the subsequent war between Russia-backed separatists and Kyiv's forces in eastern Ukraine. Russia has consistently denied accusations by Kyiv and Western governments that it is providing the separatists with troops, weapons, and other backing in the conflict, which the UN says has killed more than 9,600 people, despite significant evidence of such support. Several documents contained in the leak suggest Surkov was a Kremlin point man in dealing with the separatists. These include one purportedly sent from the office of Russian tycoon Konstantin Malofeyev, who is believed to have bankrolled much of the separatist movement in Ukraine. That PDF file, allegedly sent in an e-mail dated May 12, 2014, features a list of "candidates" for leadership posts in separatist-controlled areas of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. The list of names includes Denis Pushilin, the leader of separatists in the region, and former separatist commander Igor Girkin, also known as Strelkov. When separatist leadership posts were announced three days later, several of the self-styled officials were granted the same titles recommended in the document purportedly sent to Surkov from Malofeyev's office. Like Surkov, Malofeyev has been hit with U.S. and EU sanctions for his alleged role in the conflict. The e-mail dump also appears to show Surkov's office directly interacting with the separatist leadership. One communication dated June 14, 2014, appears to have been sent from Pushilin and includes attachments listing names of those killed or wounded in the conflict during a two-week period. Peskov's claim that Surkov does not use e-mail is not contradicted by the cache leaked by CyberHunta. A large number of the communications suggest they were handled by Surkov's underlings and include requests to pass the e-mails on to Surkov. Oleksandr Tkachuk, chief of staff for the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), told RFE/RL on October 26 that his agency managed "to authenticate a number of documents in the release" but conceded that "there is not enough evidence to believe the entire [collection] of documents found in Surkov's e-mails is actually original or authentic." "In order to confirm their authenticity, we need access to the e-mail account and original downloaded e-mails from the account," Tkachuk said. A day before CyberHunta published the cache of e-mails purportedly from Surkov's office, the group claimed that it hacked Surkov's e-mail account and found documents with plans for the "destabilization of the political situation in Ukraine" between November 2016 and March 2017 with the goal of forcing Kyiv "to hold early parliamentary and presidential elections." Following that claim, Peskov said on October 25 that Surkov was "a talented man" and that "many allegations against him by hackers in Russia and elsewhere are mainly false." Two sources within Ukraine's security apparatus told RFE/RL they do not believe the alleged destabilization plan is authentic, and Tkachuk said Ukrainian authorities had not determined whether it is real. "The PDF files do look strange. That's why we would like to see the originals," he said. "Then we could do forensic analysis and make a final conclusion." Surkov previously served as a key adviser to Putin on domestic political matters and currently advises the Russian president on the West-leaning former Soviet countries of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. With reporting by Christopher Miller in Kyiv, TASS, UNIAN, and Interfax Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-surkov- leaked-emails-authentic/28076329.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Four Malaysian mobile operators say they have agreed to use the governments state-owned 5G network, paving the way for an increased rollout in the country. To the editor: I will not vote for Donald Trump because I love my Hispanic, Muslim, African-American and LGBT friends, because I feel compassion for the handicapped, and because I believe in the beauty, respect and equality of women all women. I wont vote for Trump because I love this country and I want the rest of the world to love and respect it too, because I believe that spewing hatred and bigotry is the greatest threat we have to our very existence. Trump has no record of public service and no qualifications for public office. People say he was such a good businessman. Trump University, Trump Air Lines and many more failed. Really, with six bankruptcies and not paying some of the very people that built his hotels I think not. Trump said if he doesnt win he will consider this the single greatest waste of time, energy and money of anything hes ever done. Here in one sentence is the pathological narcissism of Trump. To him running for president isnt about America, its about himself. Its an investment in building his ego. When he loses you can bet it wont be his fault. He will blame the news media, the GOP, Hillary and the American people. I just hope he will concede his loss and wont use his base to further his hate. I have never heard of a candidate already talking about the results of an election before the election. Trust me, Donald, if elections could be rigged, the GOP wouldnt have you as their nominee. Martin Luther King once said, Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Please vote wisely. ROBERT HAYDEN Blairs REIDSVILLE, N.C. A business plan has been brewing downtown and the Reidsville City Council showed its support during their Oct. 11 council meeting. Within the next five years as per the contract, the empty property at 228 Gilmer Street is set to become home to the cooperative microbrewery Lucky City Brewing, the Rockingham County Arts Council and the Theatre Guild of Rockingham County. If you can imagine, the bottom floor would be a bustling microbrewery with visitors and residents having a good time, said Reidsville Economic Development Director Jeff Garstka. Upstairs, (guests would find an) art gallery; possibly artist-in-residency type space, possibly a small black box theatre at some point, just a number of things that really go hand in hand with whats going to go on the first floor. Lucky City Brewing President and experienced homebrewer Eric Smith noted that this plan is to help bring together local arts into one space. Craft beer kind of paints a picture on your pallet so to speak, but we want people to be able to look at visual arts and performing arts and everything else while theyre in town, to bring the arts to downtown Reidsville, he said. In planning out this business, Smith drew inspiration from Burlington-based business Burlington Beer Works, one of 19 cooperative breweries in the United States. As part of the cooperative business model, patrons can become member owners which at Lucky City would give them rights to vote on board members, recipes and by-laws and give them access to member only beers and events. These people behind me are the driving force, Smith said. This isnt Erics brewery. This is everybodys brewery. RCAC Executive Director Teresa Phillips and RCAC President Barbara Osborne spoke during the councils public hearing to say that they are excited about this partnership. The Lucky City Brewing Co-op so far has beenI would even say bent over backwards to be accommodating to us, Phillips said. What do you need? What can we do to help support this effort? The RCAC and TGRC will continue to serve the whole county and, according to Phillips and Osborne, will be better able to from this Reidsville base. While this cooperative brewery will break ground as one of three in development in North Carolina, this unique partnership is expected to cause waves in the arts world as well. We told the state arts council what we were planning on doing and they commented that this would be a game changer for the arts for this entire region, Osborne said. Prior to the councils vote to allow microbreweries and to sell Lucky City the building, city staff gave this project full approval. This a true model of public, private and non-profit collaboration, Garstka said. In my close to 15 years of economic development experience, this is probably one of the most unique and complex and exciting projects I've had the pleasure of working on. During the council meeting, the city held a public hearing and vote for a text amendment to allow microbreweries by right in areas zoned as Central Business, General Business, Highway Business, Light and Heavy Industry with a note that, in Central and General Business, silos and outside storage is not permitted. Once the city declared microbreweries legal in Reidsville, they held a second public hearing and vote to sell the property at 228 Gilmer Street for $1 to Lucky City Brewing and to reserve the second and third floors for lease. Based on their discussions, that lease would go to the RCAC and TGRC. Reidsville Mayor Jay Donecker explained that the decision to sell the property for $1 comes with consideration for the impact this business will have on the city. The general vision for downtown is to put more feet on the street and to do that we can either have the government come in and try to force it themselves or you can work with private business to make it happen, Donecker said. Based on the results microbreweries have had across the state, officials involved expect to see economic growth. According to Smith, the economic impact of microbreweries in North Carolina in 2015 was $1.2 billion with $300 million in annual wages and 10,000 jobs across the state. By allowing a microbrewery in the city, Reidsville can take advantage of some of these benefits that other cities have seen across in state, Smith said. The contract with Lucky City would require them to begin construction within three years and to be operational with five years. Should the business fail to meet their deadlines, the property would go back to city ownership. Garstka said, however, that Smith hopes to be in operation within the next 18 months. With the property acquired, the next step is continuing to drum up supporters and member owners. With us having a tangible property that people can drive by and see and put their hands on and look in the windows, thats building excitement, Smith said. Weve got excitement here in the city already. For more information on Lucky City Brewing, call 336-471-6758 or email luckycitybrewing@gmail.com McDonalds Corp. has figured out how to capitalize on the popularity of its breakfast menu, stop a slide in same-store sales and cut corporate overhead. What it hasnt figured out is how to get more customers into its restaurants. The worlds biggest fast-food chain is facing its fourth straight year of U.S. traffic declines, according to internal company documents obtained by Bloomberg. The drop follows at least four consecutive years of customer gains. Growing guest counts is our main challenge, said an e-mail recap of a September meeting among McDonalds franchise leaders and company executives. Over the past 12 months, we have been pretty flat. The only way to build a sustainable business is to show progress on three key areas: sales, guest counts and cash flow, the email said. And today we are making uneven progress. McDonalds declined to comment on the notes summarizing the meeting with franchise leaders. McDonalds last week reported third-quarter earnings and revenue that topped estimates as results in markets abroad, such as the U.K. and Germany, helped results. The companys division known as international lead markets boosted same-store sales by 3.3 percent. It wasnt quite as rosy in the U.S., where sales increased just 1.3 percent. McDonalds has made progress in the U.S. since Chief Executive Officer Steve Easterbrook took over in March 2015, but theres still work to be done. Hes revamped drive-thru ordering and improved food quality by getting rid of certain antibiotics from chicken and switching to real butter in Egg McMuffins. While the introduction of all-day breakfast and speedier kitchens have provided a bump, they may not be the long-term catalyst the chain needs. The stock began climbing about a year ago after the breakfast expansion, gaining 26 percent in 2015. But the shares havent fared as well lately. Shares fell 1 percent to $111.54 at 9:57 a.m. in New York on Wednesday. The stock had lost 4.6 percent this year, through Tuesdays close. McDonalds has become less relevant to the younger generations, said Darren Tristano, president at industry researcher Technomic in Chicago. To lure more U.S. customers, the company is focused on three segments, according to the the document: diners who frequent the chain for breakfast and coffee, those who go primarily for lunch, and families and children. Weve talked about our main focus being growing guest counts, certainly in the U.S., Chief Financial Officer Kevin Ozan said during a conference call last week. Through the third quarter, McDonalds comparable customer counts are down 0.1 percent this year, compared with a 3.1 drop in the same period in 2015, according to a company filing. The U.S. restaurant industry also is facing a broader slowdown as consumers dine out less due to the turbulent election season and cheaper grocery-store prices. To better compete, restaurants are aggressively discounting fare with offers such as 50-cent corn dogs at Sonic and $1.49 chicken nuggets at Burger King. But those deals havent helped so far. Burger King owner Restaurant Brands International Inc. and drive-in chain Sonic Corp. this week reported disappointing U.S. sales in the latest quarter. Last year, McDonalds U.S. traffic declined 3 percent, following a 4.1 percent drop in 2014. Customer counts also fell in 2013, filings show. To reverse the trend, McDonalds needs to stick to its core identity of convenience and affordability, while also improving ingredients, Tristano said. Its hard to imagine theyre going to be able to compete with better burger and fast casual, he said, referring to chains like Shake Shack Inc. and Panera Bread Co. They have to operate within their customers perception of their brand. 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. Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - Kings Bay Gold Corporation (TSX.V: KBG), (FSE: KGB1), operating as Kings Bay, a mining exploration and development company based in Vancouver, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% interest in a cobalt property located in southern Labrador. The Property The project consists of 66 mineral claims encompassing approximately 20 square kilometers, located 100km southeast of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to 2008, the area was deemed remote and remained virtually unexplored even after interest in Labrador grew due to the discovery of Voiseys Bay Ni-Cu-Co mine. Thanks to the construction of the new Trans-Labrador Highway that runs through the property, the area is now easily accessible. In 2008, areas of disseminated and massive sulphide were discovered in bedrock after blasting by the Department of Transportation for road aggregate. In 2009, sampling and assaying of grab samples from the aggregate quarry by local prospectors produced assays of up to 1.39% copper, 0.94% cobalt, 0.21% nickel and 6.5 g/t silver. Government regional low resolution residual magnetic surveys and preliminary EM-16 (hand held geophysical unit) surveys done by local prospectors in 2014 show strong conductors beneath the overburden and provide incentive to explore the area further for more surface and sub surface mineralization. The initial samples taken in the eastern portion of the property were followed in 2015 by surface grab sampling in the western side of the property. These new results were equally as promising yielding 1.03% Copper, 0.566% Cobalt, 0.1% Nickel, 5.0 g/t silver, 0.36% Chromium, 0.39% Molybdenum and 0.23% Vanadium. These values should not be relied upon as a representation of the whole area. The property has never been drilled and the amalgamation of these results suggests the possibility for a larger body of mineralization in the area. In the addition to excellent road accessibility to deep sea water ports and the proximity to the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the property offers the ability to easily obtain electricity from a 3 phase power line that runs directly adjacent to the property. With energy metal prices on the rise, Kings Bay feels that it is a great time to explore this property. Geology The property is situated in the Grenville Province and is Proterozoic in age. It is separated by a north easterly trending fault. The western portion of the property is underlain by granite, granodiorite and gneiss that varies texturally from weakly foliated to well banded. The eastern portion of the property is underlain by granite, amphibolite with massive gabbro, norite and troctolite units. Detailed bedrock mapping will help better define the local geology of the area. Exploration The property is workable year round and Kings Bay has already deployed a team for a preliminary surface sampling program on the existing pits, as well as a reconnaissance program and an EM-16 survey on the surrounding land package to possibly locate more undiscovered exposure and conductors. During the winter, the preliminary program will be followed by data compilation and initiation of an airborne geophysical survey to locate high priority drill targets. Extensive exploration is required to confirm the above preliminary results, as they do not conform to the NI 43-101 rules and regulations. About Cobalt At this time, the price of cobalt is rising due to a combination of factors. Some of these factors are related to unsettled conditions in areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the majority of the worlds cobalt is recovered. Other factors include an increased demand for rechargeable batteries. A single rechargeable ion car battery contains as much as 20 kilograms of cobalt. In addition to batteries, cobalt is used in alloys for aircraft engine parts and for alloys with corrosion/wear resistant uses. Cobalt also has many medical uses; cobalt isotopes are used to produce stable dichromatic beams in cobalt therapy, which is used to treat cancer. Molybdenum is also an important element of interest and can be used in fertilizer as well as battery electrodes. Consideration The purchase price of the property is in cash and stock subject to TSX-Venture Exchange approval. The cash price to the vendor is $100,000, in payments of $10,000 upon the acceptance of the agreement, and $30,000 on each of the subsequent three anniversaries of the agreement. As well, Kings Bay will provide the vendor with 900,000 common shares of its stock, 200,000 shares upon exchange approval, followed by 300,000 on the first year and 400,000 more on the second year of the agreement. NI 43-101 Disclosure Garth Graves is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. All geochemical assays were confirmed by original assays certificates from Eastern Analytical and Actlabs. About Kings Bay Kings Bay is focused on the exploration of cobalt and other high-tech metals in North America. The company believes in this emerging fast-growth sector and will continue to seek out and evaluate properties that show promise for development. Kings Bay Gold Corp is operating as Kings Bay. On Behalf of the Board, Kevin Bottomley CEO, President For more information, please contact: Brad Hoeppner Director O: 604 681 1568 E: Brad@kingsbayres.com Forward looking statements This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For example, forward looking statements in the news release include the assumption that the transaction will be approved and that the Company will be able to raise funds to pay the property payments and carry-out exploration programs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include that the Company may not raise sufficient funds to carry out our plans, changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on current data that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine cannot be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/kingsbay10272016.pdfSource: Kings Bay Gold Corporation (TSX Venture:KBG) To follow Kings Bay Gold Corporation on your favorite social media platform or financial websites, please click on the icons below. Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2016 Filing Services Canada Inc. October 27, 2016 / TheNewswire / Redstar Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RGC, US: RGCTF, FRA: RGG) ("Redstar" or the "Company") is pleased to update the market on its drilling activites at the Unga Gold Project and also to provide a general corporate update. As of October 27th, 2016, the Company currently has approximately CDN$7.5 million in its treasury and no debt. Unga Gold Project - Drilling Program Update On October 14th, 2016, the Company announced the commencement of a Phase 2 Drill Program, which will consist of approximately 1,500 metres of diamond drilling, focused on outlining additional high grade gold mineralization at the Shumagin Zone along strike and at depth. The Company has now completed the first two holes of the drilling program, which were designed to target the expansion potential of high-grade vein/breccia mineralization below and to the southwest of the Main Zone at the Shumagin Gold Zone. Both drill holes successfully intercepted the targeted structure, with assays pending. Together, the first two expansion holes indicate the potential that high-grade mineralization may continue at depth and more importantly, the vein/breccia system is open along strike towards the southwest. The first hole 16SH019, was drilled below rhodochrosite-bearing high grade veins/breccias that occur along the southwest-most surface exposures of the Shumagin Gold Zone (see press release dated September 15th, 2106). This drillhole successfully intercepted the targeted structure at approximately 265 meters below the sampled surface exposures (-170 meters below sea level) and between 80 meters to 100 meters away from previously drilled intercepts. The Shumagin structure continues to remain open at depth and to the southwest. Assays are pending. The second hole 16SH020, was drilled to intercept the structure approximately 100 meters to the southwest of the deepest historic drill intercept at approximately 215 meters below sea level (BMS-01 5.49m @ 24.02 g/t Au). This second hole also successfully intercepted the target structure at 190 meters below sea level. Assays are pending. Redstar's President & CEO, Peter A. Ball, commented, "We are extremely pleased to continue to confirm our our geological model by intersecting the Shumagin structure at depth in both of our first two holes. Hitting the structure nearly 875 ft (265 meters) in Hole 16SH019 directly below our surface high grade sampling is significant and is a clear indication of the strength of the system. The second hole, by also intersecting the system at depth, is another indicator of the system previously drilled which intersected 5.49m @ 24.02 g/t Au in hole BMS-01. Assays are pending and expected in late November or December, conditional on assay laboratory capacity." Both of these drill holes are currently being logged and sampled with results anticipated to be released in late November or December 2016, based on expected completion from the lab tests. The Company anticipates a larger expansive drill program in the spring of 2017, after all results from the Phase 2 program are received and modelled. Refer to the October 2016 Corporate Presentation on page 26 for approximate locations of the drill holes (www.redstargold.com/s/presentations.asp). The second stage of the current drilling program continues and is focused on the Bunker Hill Gold Zone, which is located on the Shumagin Trend, and is approximately 750 meters to the NE of the recently completed Hole 16SH019. The Bunker Hill program will consist of 4 to 6 holes at an average depth of 150m. GENERAL CORPORATE UPDATE: NV Gold Investment: On September 30th, 2016, the Company closed the Nevada transaction with NV Gold Corp. (TSXV: NVX), where NV Gold purachased 100% of the Nevada exploration profile. Redstar received 6,172,730 common shares (approximately 29.9%) of NV Gold and appointed two (2) board members to NV Gold's board. NV Gold has since acquired strategic ground, named the SW Pipe Gold Project, containing historical drilling and adjoining property controlled by Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining and close to the world-class Pipeline Gold Mine. With NV Gold's current share price of CDN$0.35, The current market value of Redstar's equity position in NV Gold is approximately CDN$2.2 million. Newman-Todd: The Newman Todd Project, located in the Red Lake are of Ontario, is 30% owned by Redstar Gold and 70% by Confederation Minerals (TSXV:CFM), a junior exploration company. As Redstar prioritizes the advancement of its 100% controlled Unga Gold Project, the Company continues to explore various ways and means to surface the value of the highly prospective Newman Todd Gold Project for Redstar's shareholders. As part of this objective, the Company is exploring various possible options, with numerous interested groups, on its 30% ownership of the Newman Todd Gold Project. Nearly CDN$15 million has been spent on the project over the years, with significant high grade gold mineralization intersected at depth and near surface in the world famous Red Lake Gold Camp. The property, is 22km west from the Campbell Red Lake mine owned by Goldcorp. West Red Lake Gold Mines (TSXV: RLG) continues to explore on its property, which adjoins the Newman Todd Gold Project. Unga 2017 Exploration Program: Redstar is currently building a plan for a more significant drilling program on the Unga Gold Project for the spring of 2017. Redstar's first drilling success on Unga was at the Shumagin Gold Zone, which we will continue to confirm and expand. However, there remains a very large number of highly prospective exploration targets on the ~9.5km Shumagin Trend. Additionally, there are an equal number of highly prospective exploration targets on the parallel ~9.5km Apollo-Sitka Trend, which is located 3km to the south of the Shumagin Trend. Additionally, the Centennial Gold Zone on the nearby Popof Island, which we believe is part of the same geological system, will benefit from some preliminary exploration efforts. Zachary Bay, ~3.5 km to the north of the Shumagin trend, where preliminary exploration efforts indicate a potential copper porphyry system, will also benefit from of a preliminary assessment. Financials: On October 24th, Redstar announced the exercising of approximately 35,897,000 warrants, with an exercise price of CDN$0.10, that matured on October 21, 2016. This resulted in gross proceeds of approximatively CDN$3.6 million of net new cash coming into the treasury. Redstar's cash position as of October 27, 2016, is approximately CDN$7.5 million and has no debt. In addition, Redstar's market capitalization is now approximately CDN$35 million. The Company is now also focused on ensuring that the CDN$0.12 warrants, which expire on November 27, 2016, are fully exercised. The full exercise of this series of warrants would yield additional new cash of CDN$3.3 million. With the full exercise of these warrants, potentially our working capital position could approach $13.0 million by December 2016. The Company recently on October 25th, 2016 completed the upgrade of its United States listing the OTCQB(R). This should improve the Company's share liquidity, assist to further broaden our shareholder base, while increasing our visibility as the United States. About The Unga Gold Project The 100% controlled Unga Gold Project covers key strategic portions of adjacent Unga and Popof Islands, approximately 950 kilometers southwest of Anchorage, Alaska. Redstar controls a 240 square kilometer land package that is host to numerous structurally controlled, volcanic hosted intermediate-sulfidation epithermal high-grade vein, breccia, stockwork and disseminated gold-silver occurrences. The Unga Project has excellent infrastructure, including direct daily flights from Anchorage, a deep-sea port and a temperate climate. The former Apollo-Sitka gold mine, located on the southern Apollo-Sitka Trend, was Alaska's first underground gold mine and the site of historic high-grade gold production. Jesse C. Grady, MSc, CPG-11592, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Grady has prepared and approved the technical information contained within this release. About RedStar Gold Corp. Redstar is well financed junior exploration company, with a very strong institutional shareholder base, no debt, and is focused on advancing its high-grade Unga Gold Project in Alaska. The 100% controlled Unga Gold Project is known as an intermediate sulfidation epithermal high grade gold project on a district scale, with the property encompassing approximately 240 km2, and containing multiple high grade gold zones drilled or identified at surface. Unga Island also hosted the first underground gold mine in Alaska's history, has extensive infrastructure with daily flights from Anchorage and a deep-water port on neighboring Popof Island, and a moderate climate noting it resides at the 57 degree latitude and next to the ocean. In addition, Redstar recently sold its Nevada portfolio to NV Gold Corp. (TSXV: NVX), in return for two (2) board seats and 29.9% of NV Gold Corp. Redstar also owns 30% of the Newman Todd Gold Project, in Red Lake, Ontario, Canada. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Peter A. Ball, President and CEO For additional information please contact: T: +1.604.245.5861 Toll Free: 877.310.3330 E: pball@redstargold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Redstar Gold Corp. (the "Company") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - October 27, 2016) - Excelsior Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE: MIN) (FRANKFURT: 3XS) (OTCQX: EXMGF) ("Excelsior" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the Company's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on October 27 in Vancouver (the "AGM"), including the approval of the US$14 million financing. Excelsior is also pleased to provide an update on the permitting process for the Gunnison Copper Project in Cochise County, Arizona ("Gunnison Project"). AGM Results On September 29, 2016, Excelsior announced a US$14 million Private Placement and Royalty financing (the "Financing") with an affiliate of Greenstone Resources L.P. ("Greenstone") (See Excelsior News Release September 29, 2016). This Financing required approval from the Company's shareholders and the Company confirms that at the AGM shareholders (excluding Greenstone) approved a resolution permitting the Company to proceed with the Financing. The Company is working to satisfy all of the outstanding closing conditions associated with the Financing. Assuming all closing conditions are satisfied, the Company intends to close the Financing during the first half of November 2016. Shareholders at the AGM also passed resolutions approving the election of the nominees listed in the management information circular for the AGM, the re-appointment of the Company's auditors and amendments to the Company's stock option plan. Permitting Update Excelsior has been working with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ("ADEQ") towards the issuance of the Aquifer Protection Permit ("APP") for the Gunnison Copper Project. As part of the ADEQ's technical review process, Excelsior received a "Comprehensive Request for Information" from the ADEQ on June 17, 2016. Since this time, Excelsior's permitting team has worked diligently to provide a detailed response to the ADEQ's request and this has now been successfully submitted. This represents a major milestone in the advancement of Excelsior's APP application. In parallel, Excelsior is working towards the issuance of the Underground Injection Control ("UIC") Permit with the US Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). The UIC permit application is under technical review and the Company is pleased with the current EPA process. Excelsior expects draft permits to be issued for public review in early 2017. Excelsior considers its permitting timetable to be on schedule and the Company anticipates initial production from the Gunnison Project in 2018. Commenting on this news, Rebecca Sawyer, VP Sustainability, said, "The ADEQ and the EPA continue to demonstrate their proficiency as we move into the advanced stages of the permitting process. We remain confident that the efficiency of the state and federal permitting procedures, combined with the straightforward aspects of the Gunnison Copper Project, will result in the timely issuance of operating permits that ensure compliance with environmental standards." About Excelsior Mining Excelsior Mining "The Copper Solution Company" is a mineral exploration and development company that is advancing the Gunnison Copper Project in Cochise County, Arizona. The project is an advanced staged, low cost, environmentally friendly in-situ recovery copper extraction project that is scheduled for commercial production in 2018. Further information about the Gunnison Copper Project can be found in the technical report filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com entitled: "Gunnison Copper Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Prefeasibility Study Update" dated effective January 28, 2016. Excelsior's technical work on the Gunnison Copper Project is supervised by Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President & CEO of Excelsior and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. For more information on Excelsior, please visit our website at www.excelsiormining.com. ON BEHALF OF THE EXCELSIOR BOARD "Stephen Twyerould" President & CEO Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the closing of the Financing; (ii) the commencement of commercial production from the Gunnison Project; (iii) the timelines associated with the permitting process; (iv) the issuance of permits for the Gunnison Project; and (v) the ability to mine the Gunnison Project using in-situ recovery mining techniques. In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future exploration and development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs, the availability of necessary financing and materials to continue to explore and develop the Gunnison Project in the short and long-term, the progress of exploration and development activities, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, the completion of the permitting process, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not commence at the Gunnison Project, risks relating to variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates resulting from current exploration and development activities, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products and in the mining industry generally, risks related to current global financial conditions, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the development process, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, including the risk that the financing necessary to fund the exploration and development activities at the Gunnison Project may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interest, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and no securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this release. Every fall when San Angelo's Roping Fiesta weekend comes around, I recall with a little bit of nostalgia and a lot of special memories from the 1970s when I was the sole reporter and my assignment meant covering the event by keeping score of the contestants and making the action pictures for the Standard-Times. If not for the late D.K. "Deak" McMullan of Big Lake, I would never have made deadline. Deak kept a tally of the ropers' times for me while I took pictures. When it was over, he handed me his notes and I dashed to the newspaper office to write the story while my film was being processed. The McMullans always had a box seat at the roping arena's edge and shared it with family and friends. In 1974, rain and cold wind marked the two-day weekend event, and slushy mud splattered us so thoroughly that the colors of our clothes were in question. Phil Lyne, of George West, won the match roping over veteran Del Rio roper Jim Bob Altizer that year. Lyne posted a total of 179 seconds for an average of 14.91 seconds per calf. However, Oklahoma cowboy Tom Ferguson topped Lyne in the 1975 match roping contest. Monument, New Mexico, roper Roy Cooper took top money in the 1974 jackpot roping with a time of 27.9 on two calves. In 1977, Cooper proved again that he definitely was the world's champion calf roper when he challenged and won a match calf roping over Ferguson, the world's champion all-around cowboy. The first roping fiesta was in 1954. Because of a deficit following the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo in the spring, the board appointed H.C. Noelke, Chili Cole and Ralph Trolinger to investigate the potential of a steer roping contest in the fall as a money-raising venture. Toots Mansfield from Big Spring took top money in what was hoped at the debut to become an annual steer roping and branding contest. Mansfield won about $1,598 for roping, tripping and tying five steers in a total of 114.9 seconds, average of 22.9 per steer. According to the Standard-Times, the November 1959 steer roping event drew one of the largest crowds in the six-year history of the event as fans lined along the fences. In 1981 there was "standing room only" for both days. The Fall Roping Fiesta would grow into a weekend event with a match roping contest on Saturday afternoon and a steer roping on Sunday. In turn, the economic impact to the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association and San Angelo would evolve into one of the year's largest events, bypassing even the rodeo in some years. This weekend, the 63rd annual Cinch Roping Fiesta, which has evolved into a three-day spectacular event at San Angelo Fairgrounds, will include ot only roping but also dancing and a Cowboy Christmas Gift Show. The preliminary roping Friday in the 1st Community Credit Union Spur Arena starts at 9 a.m. with an introduction of ropers, followed by calf roping at 10 a.m. This roping contest consists of two full rounds, plus a short-go and is open to any calf roper not invited to Saturday's calf roping. An UCR Open Breakaway roping starts at 1 p.m. and Young Guns Champions Match roping at 4 p.m. "This year, 21-year match veteran Cody Ohl will be challenging last year's champion Ryan Jarrett in a 12-head event that will be the main feature of the Saturday afternoon roping," said Tony Churchill, Cinch Roping Fiesta chairman. "Ohl has won 15 of the 20 matches he has competed in. Returning victor Jarrett has a different roping style than most as he pulls his piggin' string from the hip." The Cinch Invitational Calf Roping & Match Roping with about 40 contestants starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Outdoor Roping Arena. All activities will be at the San Angelo Fairgrounds, 200 West 43rd Street in San Angelo. About 30 contestants will compete in the Invitational Steer Roping and Double Mugging starting at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Outdoor Roping Arena. Jerry Lackey is agriculture editor emeritus. Contact him at jlackey@wcc.net. SHARE By John M. Donnelly, CQ-Roll Call (TNS) WASHINGTON President Barack Obama is prepared to veto the fiscal 2017 defense authorization bill if it includes a provision that the White House believes would allow some forms of discrimination in federal contracting. So said senior administration officials at a White House meeting Monday of groups that oppose the provision, according to participants in the conclave who requested anonymity to talk about it. The White House has not publicly and explicitly vowed to veto the $600 billion-plus defense bill over the House-passed provision by Oklahoma Republican Steve Russell. But the administration officials told their allies Monday that they have delivered just that message privately to members in unequivocal terms. White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough has personally reached out to key lawmakers on the issue, the administration officials said at Monday's meeting. Word of McDonough's lobbying and the White House's firm position on the Russell provision highlight the seriousness with which critics take the amendment. And the intensity of that lobbying underscores how the fate of the authorization measure, which has been enacted every year for more than half a century, may hinge on the matter. In fact, Senate Democrats are not ruling out blocking floor action on the authorization bill if the Russell language is not removed. Another possible trigger for a presidential veto: if the final bill contains language that restricts the president's ability to close the U.S. military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, officials said at the meeting. The White House has previously said this in public, but the message delivered behind closed doors on Monday shows the concern is still a live one. The Russell amendment is one of only a few issues snagging talks to write a final fiscal 2017 defense authorization measure, said Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, top Democrat on House Armed Services, in a brief interview with CQ Roll Call in late September. According to critics, the amendment, adopted by House Armed Services in May, would permit religiously affiliated contractors that do business with any government agency to discriminate against employees based on the religious views of the employer. This could endanger employees who are gay or who got pregnant out of wedlock, for example, critics say. Russell has countered that his amendment is only intended to ensure the 2,000-odd religiously-affiliated federal contractors don't have to violate their core beliefs to do business with the government. "We are accused of hatred, called out as shameful, and enjoined to use the whole Constitution to support an opposing view that embodies behavior, mores and outcomes that not only violate our conscience, but have been prohibited under the laws of nature and nature's God," Russell said in a May House floor speech. News of the White House lobbying push comes on the same day as fully 42 Senate Democrats enough to sustain a filibuster wrote Armed Services leaders urging them to ensure the Russell provision, or Section 1094 of the House bill, is not included in the conference report. "If enacted," the letter says, "Section 1094 would vastly expand religious exemptions under the Civil Rights Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act to allow religiously affiliated organizations receiving federal funds to engage in discriminatory hiring practices using taxpayer dollars to harm hardworking Americans who deserve to be protected from workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, religious identity, or reproductive and other healthcare decisions." (EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who helped organize the letter, declined to say Tuesday whether Democrats would block the NDAA from moving forward if the Russell amendment is attached to the final version. "I have never voted against a National Defense Authorization Act, and I am very, very hopeful that I will vote for this one," Blumenthal said on a conference call with reporters. "What we're trying to do here is eliminate this provision before the NDAA reaches the floor. Clearly there are enough signers here to indicate that there is a possibility that the bill could be blocked at least temporarily. But we have not explicitly said we would. Certainly if the bill reaches the floor we will have to consider all the options." Monday's White House meeting on the Russell amendment was led by two presidential assistants: Paulette Aniskoff, director of the Office of Public Engagement; and Amy Rosenbaum, director of legislative affairs. Representatives of several outside groups that are allied with the White House on the Russell issue were in attendance. These included Planned Parenthood, the Center for American Progress, the Human Rights Campaign, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Women's Law Center and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The White House's Statement of Administration Policy on the House bill, issued in May, listed the Russell amendment as a top concern. But the document did not directly state that the Russell provision, or any particular section of the measure, would trigger a veto. Emily Horne, a White House spokeswoman, would not provide additional clarity on what might trigger a veto. Nor would she discuss details of the meeting or White House advocacy efforts. (Niels Lesniewski and Bridget Bowman contributed to this story.) 2016 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved Visit CQ Roll Call at www.rollcall.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ Topics: t000002953,t000047682,t000047680,g000362659,g000364554 Letter to the editor: We must not allow subjugation of women citizens SHARE By John C. Moritz, USA TODAY Network Austin Bureau AUSTIN The state agency that steps in to care for Texas' most vulnerable children will need nearly $56 million more than it was budgeted last year to finally cut the crippling backlog that is keeping caseworkers from addressing the needs of the youngsters in its care, the Senate Finance Committee was told Wednesday. Looking ahead to the spending plan for 2017-18 that lawmakers are at the early stages of crafting, the agency will need more than $3.37 billion to hire the caseworkers needed to serve an ever-growing number of children who have been identified as being at-risk. State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, made little effort to hide her frustration with Child Protective Services, which is part of the state's sprawling bureaucracy that oversees Texans with disabilities and the state's elderly population. She cited figures dating back to the early 2000s showing that CPS was struggling to meet the demand for services even as its budget grew each time lawmakers adopted a spending plan. Since 2003, Nelson said, the CPS budget has doubled. "We've got to be sure that what we are spending is accomplishing our goals." The agency has been under intense fire for more than a year as there were numerous reports that children were not being seen often enough by caseworkers. Such issues in some cases resulted in severe injury or even death. A report this month by the Abilene Reporter-News, part of the USA TODAY Network, showed the Abilene-Wichita Falls region in fiscal year 2015 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. State Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat who has served 44 years in the Legislature, called problems facing CPS "the most frightening" he has seen in his legislative career. "If we don't do our job, the federal government is going to step in and do it for us," Whitmire said. "It's not only broken, it's dangerous. And it's getting worse." The committee heard several reasons for the backlog: Starting salaries for caseworkers and investigators that are stuck below $40,000 annually, high-stress working conditions, and dysfunctional management quick to take punitive action against caseworkers. All of that leads to an annual turnover rate approaching 50 percent for first-year workers. And training a single worker costs the state about $54,000 a year, experts told the committee. Hank Whitman, who took the helm at CPS amid deep controversy six months ago, told the committee that the backlog is so severe that more than 2,000 children in crisis have not been seen by caseworkers. More than 500 of those are considered at high risk of abuse or worse, he added. Whitmire demanded immediate action, even calling on troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety and local county constables being dispatched to locate those children. But Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, pointed out that even if they were found immediately, CPS had neither the caseworkers nor the foster homes to adequately care for them. When some members suggested the agency was dragging its feet, Whitman grew combative. "I'll take your beating," he said, adding that the Legislature needed to provide adequate pay for the high-stress work demanded of caseworkers and investigators. But Nelson shot back that she's not prepared to allocate "one more penny" until CPS proves it is properly spending the money already appropriated. John Stephen, an expert consultant hired by the state for $750,000 to make recommendations to improve the agency, said several steps were in the works to cut the backlog and better train caseworkers. Whitmire pushed back aggressively, saying the progress has been slow and that no one should give the agency pats on the back as long as children remain at risk while in the state's care. Then he cited news reports and anecdotal evidence from constituents and others showing continued neglect and abuse "With all due respect, you're part of the problem," Whitmire told Stephen, his voice rising. "What are we getting for your $750,000? What are we getting for our money, besides your spin? Stephen shot back: "I take to offense to that, Senator." Whitmire: "That's fine. I take offense to your testimony." Amid the back-and-forth, the committee heard about the difficulty of not only hiring replacements for the 3,000 caseworkers and investigators who have left the agency but also finding people to fill the new positions that need to be created. "How are we going to be able to hire 800 (additional) if we can't fill 300?" asked State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, a McAllen Democrat whose district includes the Coastal Bend. SHARE By W.J. Hennigan, Tribune Washington Bureau (TNS) WASHINGTON U.S. military officers watched grainy video feeds at a small operations center in Baghdad on Tuesday as Predator drones tracked and killed three reputed Islamic State leaders one after another in the offensive on Mosul. The targeted airstrikes were due in large part to intelligence extracted from cellphones, computer hard drives, memory cards and hand-written ledgers recovered from battlefields and towns taken from Islamic State fighters. Recently captured intelligence also has proved useful in providing clues to detecting potential terrorist plots, tracking foreign fighters and identifying Islamic State supporters around the globe, U.S. officials said. The largest data trove was recovered when U.S.-backed Syrian rebel forces recaptured Manbij, an Islamic State stronghold in northern Syria, in mid-August. Intelligence agencies recovered more than 120,000 documents, nearly 1,200 devices and more than 20 terabytes of digital information, officials said. Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the coalition fighting Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, said the Manbij data trove has been especially invaluable. In particular, the intelligence from Manbij and other sources has led to arrests or broken up plots in 15 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America and in Canada, McGurk told a news conference Oct. 7. "If we get a phone off of a dead ISIL fighter in Manbij and it has a number of telephone numbers into a particular capital or city around the world, we share that information with the coalition members so that they can conduct their own investigation," McGurk said. Intelligence specialists are still combing through the data, but it has led to new details on how fighters are organized within the group's hierarchy. That has helped military planners prepare the ground assault on Mosul that began last week. The Pentagon recently sent about 100 additional special operations analysts, linguists and technicians to exploit information taken from towns around Mosul as Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces advance through concentric belts of booby traps, snipers and suicide bombers. The goal is to "make sure we take advantage of the captured enemy material that is coming off of places like Manbij and will come out of Mosul," said Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, who was in Baghdad on Tuesday with McGurk. The intelligence has allowed U.S. commanders to "understand what (Islamic State is) doing, what it might mean for foreign fighters that have been through there, what it might mean for future plans," he said. "It's a lesson we learned the hard way the last time we were in Iraq." U.S. forces were slow to break into militants' communications and electronic devices during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, when Votel commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment, the Army's premier light infantry and special operations unit. He indicated they may have missed opportunities to find clues about the fierce Sunni insurgency that erupted after the invasion and ultimately gave rise to Islamic State. Now U.S. special operations commanders may forbid launching an airstrike at houses or compounds even if known militant leaders are inside for fear of destroying a useful cache of information and electronics. Islamic State leadership includes former Iraqi military officers and others who served under ousted ruler Saddam Hussein. They tend to keep detailed records, officials say, which has helped analysts understand the group's structure and map its hierarchy with tiers and rows. "The expertise and senior leader cadre sets the pace of sustaining the organization," a U.S. defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal assessments. "They fashion themselves as a pseudo-governmental structure where you have financiers and ministers and all these other components. You need to take that all away from them." Targeting by Joint Special Operations Command has killed 39 Islamic State leaders in and around Mosul since July 1, U.S. officials said. No one is yet sure how Islamic State will fight once Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish fighters known as peshmerga break through the group's defensive perimeter around Mosul, or how they will leave the city. Before they abandoned Ramadi earlier this year, militants planted booby traps in "baby cribs and closets" so people could not return to their homes, McGurk said Tuesday. The coalition campaign to wipe out the group's leadership has taken a growing toll on the group's ability to control territory and to conduct sustained offensives, according to U.S. officials. Small groups of militants launched surprise attacks last week in Kirkuk and Rutba, but coalition forces quickly fought back. Kirkuk was recaptured, and Iraqi ground troops, backed by a U.S. B-52 bomber, were pushing them back in Rutba, officials said. "There's no more leadership for them," said Iraqi Brig. Gen. Tahseen Ibrahim Khafaji. "Who do they have to follow? It's chaos." During the advance on Mosul, for example, Iraqi forces had to retake Sharqat, a rural town less than an hour's drive to the south. Islamic State's local leader was killed in an airstrike. When a replacement was dispatched to govern the town and direct fighters, his vehicle also was hit with an airstrike. Iraqi forces recaptured the town in just two days. SHARE Last Saturday, Donald Trump delivered a speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that he should have given much earlier in the campaign, minus the usual threats against women who have accused him of sexual assault. The speech, which was probably written for him because "deep" and "thinker" are likely not the first two words that spring to mind when you hear the name Trump, set out an agenda for what he promises to do should he be elected president. Trump's promises were divided into three sections. The first action, he said, would "clean up the corruption and special interest collusion in Washington, D.C." He'd start by proposing a constitutional amendment to limit congressional terms. One can safely predict that isn't going to happen because in order for a constitutional amendment to be considered for ratification by the states, it must first pass Congress. Most members are not about to limit their own power and position. Trump would impose a hiring freeze on all federal employees, reducing the workforce through attrition. The military, public safety and public health would be the exceptions. That's possible. For every new federal regulation, Trump would ask that two existing federal regulations be eliminated. That might work if Trump could persuade Congress that the regulations he wishes to eliminate were in fact failures. Trump wants to institute a five-year ban on White House and congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service and also proposes a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government. He also favors a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections. These proposals also might work, but will require public pressure on Congress to achieve. Trump also proposed "seven actions to protect American workers." These include his familiar promise to renegotiate NAFTA, or withdraw from it. As for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, he would pull out completely with no renegotiation. China would be declared a currency manipulator, which it is, but has Trump considered the response from Beijing, which holds an enormous amount of American debt? Trump wants to list restrictions on energy-producing entities and finish the Keystone pipeline, which has been blocked by the Obama administration, despite numerous studies showing there would be little or no environmental impact. Trump also would cancel billions in payments to U.S. climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure. Good. Polls show climate change is not high on the list of public concerns and many believe the "science" to be manipulated, even bogus. On national security, Trump promised to "cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama." Why not? Obama did the same with many of George W. Bush's executive orders. Trump would cancel all funding to sanctuary cities where undocumented immigrants are being sheltered. And Trump would capture and deport illegal aliens who commit crimes and cancel the visas of countries that refuse to take them back. That would be popular and difficult for Democrats to oppose. He again pledged "extreme vetting" of people from countries where terrorism is a major export. There's more, including tax cuts for corporations to create jobs and bring back companies and their tax dollars from overseas, as well as school choice to help especially poor children escape failing schools. Like them or not, these are substantive ideas. Is it too late for voters to digest them and possibly for those undecided, or against Trump, to swing toward him and away from the big government promises of Hillary Clinton? We'll know in less than two weeks. Cal Thomas writes for the Tribune Content Agency. Contact him at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. SHARE The following editorial appeared in Friday's Sacramento Bee: One of the more far-reaching issues of the 2016 presidential campaign came into focus for a brief, illuminating moment at the start of the final debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It had to do with the current administration's unfinished business. Clinton called on the U.S. Senate to hold hearings and vote on the confirmation of Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's nominee to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy left when Justice Antonin Scalia died in February. Senators should take the advice. By any measure, Garland is qualified to serve on the nation's highest court. In the 1990s, when he worked in the U.S. Justice Department, he supervised prosecutions of the Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski, and the white supremacist terrorists who blew up the Oklahoma City federal building and killed 168 people. Since 1997, Garland has sat on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., has been its chief judge since 2013 and is widely known to be a thoughtful, even-tempered, mainstream jurist. For partisan reasons, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has bottled up the nomination. But there is time for McConnell to carry out his duties. Once the election is over, McConnell should convene a lame-duck session, and senators should hold hearings and vote on Garland's nomination. Whatever Garland's fate, the next president probably will have one or more Supreme Court appointment. And as was clear once more during the debate last Wednesday night, Trump and Clinton could not be more different. Trump reduced the question of Supreme Court appointments to one of abortion and gun control, issues sure to appeal to his narrow base of voters. He promised to nominate "pro-life" justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade, leaving abortion decisions up to states, most of which have restricted access to abortion. Crowing again about his National Rifle Association endorsement, Trump promised to nominate justices who would guard the Second Amendment, as he and the NRA see it. He also claimed, falsely, that Clinton would eviscerate gun owners' rights. The next president will nominate justices who probably will rule on cases affecting hot-button issues such as abortion, gay rights, the Second Amendment and whether big-money players can spend unlimited sums on campaigns. But Clinton made clear that the high court deals with topics that affect everyone, including privacy, voting rights, fair housing, workers' rights and recourse in the courts for those who are wronged by others. "I feel strongly that the Supreme Court needs to stand on the side of the American people, not on the side of the powerful corporations and the wealthy," Clinton said, an answer intended to resonate with the vast middle of the electorate who will decide the election. Clinton also knows that the disease of hyperpartisanship will continue to infect the confirmation process. Facing re-election, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, pledged that Republicans would oppose whomever Clinton might nominate. "I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up," McCain said. His office attempted to walk back the statement. But McCain had given one of the more honest and disheartening assessments of the election season. The 2016 campaign is heading into the final few days, mercifully. But once again, voters are reminded of the starkly different visions of Clinton and Trump, and the partisan times in which we live. We do, however, hold out some hope for a little post-election clarity, and that the Senate will hold hearings on and confirm a judge who clearly is qualified, Merrick Garland. SHARE Associated Press Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton walks past Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the end of the third presidential debate. The Democratic Party is not the party your parents were once loyal to, but neither is the GOP. It is apparent to a lot of people at this point, but far too many haven't figured it out yet. For those who fall into the latter category, let me spell it out: The Democratic Party is not the same party as the one your parents may have been loyal to. But before anyone gets parochial on that statement, neither is the Republican Party. Both parties have taken a turn that only the top people want and that we the common folk will detest. Oh, it will sound good initially, but when you finally realize what it is, it is too late. The Clintons are a big part of it, the Bushes are a big part of it, George Soros is a big part of it, and so are hundreds ot other big political names. I'm talking about a "one-world government." There have been books written about it over the last several years, but John Q. Citizen isn't reading them. Meanwhile, slowly but surely steps are being taken to captivate us one by one, until sufficient numbers have been attained. Then it will all happen one fell swoop. Stop and think for a moment. There is absolutely nothing wrong with our immigration laws except that they are being ignored by the current administration and previous administration. Loyal patriots in the Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security and other departments are trying to secure our borders, but Washington has handcuffed them with direct orders to ignore the law and basically leave the people entering the country illegally alone. You read stories in the newspaper almost daily about someone here illegally committing a crime but not being sent to prison or even deported. President Obama could stop the flow of illegal immigration in a heartbeat if he wanted to. President Bush could have, too. They didn't want to. There weren't enough foreign-raised people here to suppress the Americans patriots' vote and power, but we are getting close now. Things that take away a country's sovereignty are just more steps in the march to a "one-world system." Remember how the world press came down on Great Britain for leaving the European Common Market? Enough people in Britain saw that they were losing their right to self govern and wanted to reverse that trend. The present administration and Hillary Clinton want to adopt United Nations actions that will supersede our Constitution, slowly but surely chipping away at our freedoms that have made us the greatest nation on Earth. There is a slim possibility of saving our great nation, and that is to get rid of all the professional politicians. When our country was founded 200-plus years ago, farmers and merchants were elected by their communities and went off to Washington and represented their constituents. Then they came back to their homes and jobs that they had left and lived under the laws that they had passed. Today we have a crop of professional politicians, many of whom never held a real job, who go off to Washington and live off the people forever and in many cases exempt themselves from the laws they pass (i.e., "Obamacare.") They are paid lavish retirements that come from you and me, the taxpayers, and for what? It certainly can't be for responsibility. I don't know of anyone who thinks running up $20 trillion in debt is acting responsibly. Have you ever wondered why so many are so eager to pile on Donald Trump? He is an outsider. It's that simple. If he is elected, it will upset the apple cart like you wouldn't believe. He would clean house if he could get it past the Congress. It has nothing to do with whether they think he would make a good or bad president. The press, the Democratic Party and even the Republican Party are out to keep him from being elected. That is their No. 1 goal. The aim of both parties is to stop Trump. A Trump victory would keep them from taking the next step toward socialism, and that is what the one-world government would be. You've got people like the Bushes, John McCain and Mitt Romney who were conspicuously absent from the Republican Convention because they are part of the establishment. They wanted it known that they were against this outsider. I wonder what happened to their conservative principles. Then there are people such as Lt. Col. Alan West, Dr. Ben Carson and Newt Gingrich who know what must be done and are standing tall trying to make that happen and save our great republic. Think about it, people. Find an old book and look up the definitions of Marxism and communism and check out the platform of the Democratic Party. It should send chills down your spine.. And it gets even scarier. If Trump (the outsider) were not the Republican candidate, the Republican platform probably would be hard to distinguish from the Democratic one. This election is not a choice between a Democrat and a Republican; it's a choice between keeping a chance for a free, sovereign America and falling in lockstep for the May Day parade. John Muckleroy lives in San Angelo. Todd Wiseman/Texas Tribune School financing works like a waterbed: Push down on one side and the other side rises. Raise the local share of spending and the state doesn't have to spend as much. SHARE By Ross Ramsey Texas property taxes are high, and school taxes are highest of them all. Before you blame your school district, look at how state lawmakers set things up. The state of Texas might well spend less on public education in the next budget than in the current one thanks to increasing local school property taxes. School financing works like a waterbed: Push down on one side and the other side rises. Raise the local share of spending and the state doesn't have to spend as much. In Texas, property values are up. With them, revenue from property taxes is rising. For a given level of state spending, that means the locals are paying more and the state doesn't have to spend as much. That means, in turn, that state lawmakers don't have to sweat rising costs like the locals do. And it frees some of those state lawmakers to holler at the locals for rising taxes even as those higher local revenues help the state skate through a tough budget. The Texas Education Agency's proposed budget for the next two years (the state's two-year budget starts on Sept. 1 of every odd-numbered year) would require $34.14 billion in general revenue. That's the state's share of the cost of public education, and it's $3.35 billion less than the state is spending in the current budget. It's also welcome arithmetic to a state Legislature that has been watching oil and gas prices, retail sales and other diminishing economic activity that feeds the Texas treasury. Comptroller Glenn Hegar has been telling the state's budgeteers that the budget they'll be writing next year will be tighter than the one they wrote in 2015. The state has done a pretty good job of holding the line on its own education spending, effectively pushing increasing expenses off on local school districts that get their money from property taxes. According to the Legislative Budget Board, state aid for education rose to $19.59 billion for this fiscal year from $18.24 billion in 2008. That's an increase of 7.4 percent. But local revenue generated by property taxes rose to $26.25 billion this fiscal year from $18.2 billion in 2008, an increase of 44.2 percent. Ten years ago, the state and local share of the cost of public education in Texas was virtually even around 44.8 percent each. Federal money accounted for 10.3 percent. Now the locals pay 51.5 percent of the total, the state pays 43.6 percent and the federal government covers the remaining 13.8 percent, according to the LBB's 2016-17 Fiscal Size-Up. In Texas, property values are up. With them, revenue from property taxes is rising. For a given level of state spending, that means the locals are paying more and the state doesn't have to spend as much. Rising costs have fallen disproportionately on local districts over the past 10 years. Local property tax bills have risen accordingly, and now state lawmakers are stirred up, promising to somehow get a leash on behalf of those taxpayers. Here's another funny statistic from that same LBB report. The number of students attending Texas public schools on the average day has risen 16.8 percent over the past decade, to more than 5 million. In 2008, each kid cost the locals $4,219 per year. The state's cost was $4,226. The feds paid $970, for a grand total of $9,415. The grand total is now $10,111 up $696 from 2008. The feds pay $1,015. The locals pay $5,209 almost $1,000 more per student than they were paying a year ago. And the state? It pays $3,887 per student, or $339 less than it was paying 10 years ago. Some of that shift in cost can be attributed to rising property values during a prosperous time in the state's economic history. When more money comes in from local school property taxes, the state gets a break and doesn't have to pay as much to keep the schoolrooms open. Some, like former state Rep. Kent Grusendorf, who works on education policy at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation, think the local tax is functionally identical to a state property tax one that is effectively controlled by the state of Texas. It's a complex and lumbering system, but some things like where higher property taxes come from are easy to figure out. State lawmakers are increasingly reliant on locally raised taxes to pay for education and property owners shoulder that burden. Blaming school districts for raising taxes is in fashion in state politics. It addresses the pain many voters are feeling, and it is certainly true that Texas property taxes are high the sixth-highest in the country, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation. Blame the folks in charge of the system. The school districts didn't make public education dependent on property taxes legislators did. Ross Ramsey is the executive editor of the Texas Tribune online newspaper. SHARE By Frank Stevenson Heard any good lawyer jokes lately? What about the one where the Texas lawyer for free kept the 91-year-old female World War II Army veteran from losing her home to wrongful foreclosure caused by a bank's error? Or where the Texas lawyer for free arranged for a grieving veteran to become his granddaughter's sole managing conservator after his daughter's swift and tragic death from a brain tumor? Or maybe about the Texas lawyer who helped for free a vet just back from several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan gain custody of his children after his ex-wife fell prey to addiction? These aren't jokes. They're stories. They tell about Texas lawyers performing authentic and selfless service to perhaps the most deserving segment of our society our veterans. And there are literally thousands more stories just like them. This is Celebrate Pro Bono Week. It's the perfect time to set aside the jokes and tell the stories instead. And Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, or TLTV, is a story worth telling. As in many aspects of the legal profession, Texas leads the nation in promoting access to justice for veterans. In July 2010, the State Bar of Texas under then-President Terry Tottenham started TLTV, a program that equips local bar associations to operate legal aid clinics specifically for our veterans. Since then, TLTV volunteer attorneys, paralegals and law students have helped more than 22,000 veterans across our state. TLTV was modeled on the groundbreaking Veterans Legal Initiative, or VLI, started by the Houston Bar Association in 2008. Those volunteers alone have served 14,539 veterans in the past eight years. The reach of these programs extends well beyond Texas. Legal organizations in 24 states and the District of Columbia have requested our TLTV Clinic in a Box, which contains everything needed to host a veterans legal clinic. At a recent national conference of state bar officers, a speaker was asked how to address the justice gap afflicting our veterans. "Look to Texas" was her response. American Bar Association President Linda Klein recently announced the Veterans Legal Services Initiative, which aims to remove barriers keeping veterans and their families from accessing the legal help they need. Andrew Lehmann, staff attorney for Houston VLI, provided input for this ABA initiative. He hopes it will encourage more lawyers in Texas and elsewhere to volunteer. Texas lawyers don't just serve veterans. In every corner of this state and everywhere in between, Texas lawyers volunteer in clinics, over the phone, and online to help the least, the last, and the lost. Does every legal need get met? Tragically, no. Does every Texas lawyer serve? No, not yet. But last year alone, Texas lawyers gave roughly 1.87 million hours of free legal services to the poor, with an estimated value of $486 million. They also gave 1.34 million hours of substantially reduced-fee services for the underprivileged, valued at $348.4 million, and paid $11.72 million of costs on those clients' behalf. Texas lawyers also contributed monetarily another $5.14 million to legal aid and volunteer attorney programs. And they contributed an additional $1.3 million along with their bar dues. So, instead of jokes about sharks, shysters, and swindlers, this is the week for stories about helpers, healers, and humanitarians. Because that's your Texas bar. No joke. Attorneys interested in providing pro bono service or volunteering in their communities can find resources at probonotexas.org. If you need an attorney and cannot afford to pay for one, you can contact the State Bar of Texas Legal Access Division (800-204-2222, ext. 1855) for a referral to a low-cost civil legal aid agency. Frank Stevenson, a partner in Locke Lord LLP in Dallas, is the 2016-2017 president of the State Bar of Texas, an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Texas that provides educational programs for the legal profession and the public, administers the minimum continuing legal education program for attorneys, and manages the attorney discipline system. Rigged elections. Vigilante observers. Angry voters. The claims, threats and passions surrounding the presidential race have led communities around the U.S. to move polling places out of schools or cancel classes on Election Day.The fear is that the ugly rhetoric of the campaign could escalate into confrontations and even violence in school hallways, endangering students."If anybody can sit there and say they don't think this is a contentious election, then they aren't paying much attention," said Ed Tolan, police chief in this seaside community, which decided to call off classes on Election Day and put additional officers on duty Nov. 8.School officials already are on edge because of the shootings and threats that have become all too common. They point to the recent firebombing of a Republican Party office in one North Carolina county and the shooting-up of another with a BB gun as the type of trouble they fear on Election Day.Some of those anxieties have been stoked by Donald Trump's repeated claims that the election is rigged and his appeal to his supporters to stand guard against fraud at the polls. Some are worried about clashes between the self-appointed observers and voters. Safe Republican Tossup Lean Democratic Likely Democratic Safe Democratic As the 2016 election nears its conclusion, lots of gubernatorial races remain up for grabs.Since our last handicapping in July , there have been fairly modest changes. Montana's race has shifted in the GOPs direction and races in Washington state and Oregon have shifted in the Democrats direction.That leaves half of the 12 races in our tossup category -- Montana, New Hampshire, Vermont and West Virginia (all currently held by Democrats), and Indiana and North Carolina (both held by Republicans).Only one other gubernatorial race this year is considered genuinely competitive -- the Democratic-held open seat in Missouri. Beyond that, the governorships in North Dakota and Utah are almost certain to remain in GOP hands, while Delaware, Oregon and Washington are heavily favored to remain Democratic.In all, the Democrats hold eight of the 12 seats being contested this year, putting their already weak national numbers under added strain. Currently, Republicans hold a historically large 31-18 lead in governorships. There's one independent, Alaska's Bill Walker.Democratic victories in each of the competitive contests would produce a two-seat gain, resulting in a reduced GOP edge of 29-20. By contrast, a Republican sweep of all competitive seats would result in a six-seat gain and a strikingly dominant overall GOP edge of 37-12.As usual, the most likely outcome is somewhere in the middle. But regardless of how 2016 shakes out, the GOP will end the year with a continued big lead in governorships.The list below gives each race a rating -- safe Republican, likely Republican, lean Republican, tossup, lean Democratic, likely Democratic or safe Democratic -- and also rank-orders the contests within each category so that they go from most likely to vote Republican to most likely to vote Democratic. (For an interactive version of the map above and the latest news in each race, click here. Heres the state-by-state rundown:Utah may be up for grabs in the presidential race, but Herbert, a pragmatic Republican in what's normally a solidly red state, is poised to win the general election easily against little-known Democrat Michael Weinholtz.Political novice Doug Burgum -- the former CEO of Great Plains Software, which was sold to Microsoft for $1.1 billion in 2001 -- has successfully leveraged his outsider persona in a year in which nontraditional candidate backgrounds are valued. He's well on his way to defeating Democratic Rep. Marvin Nelson, a crop consultant, and Libertarian Marty Riske, a businessman.Bullock, whos successfully navigated difficult currents for a Democrat in Montana, faces self-funding Republican software firm cofounder Greg Gianforte and Libertarian Ted Dunlap. Bullock is well-liked and has some legislative successes to run on, but Gianforte has spent aggressively on the airwaves, hitting the incumbent on immigration, coal and other issues that could play well in a state that presidential candidate Donald Trump is poised to win. Recent polls have ranged from a narrow Bullock lead to a double-digit Bullock lead. But in a red state, well be cautious and move this to the tossup category.Contrary to Vermonts blue-state reputation, Republican Phil Scott, the state's popular and moderate lieutenant governor, is locked in a tight battle against Democrat Sue Minter, a former legislator and state secretary of transportation. Minter benefits from having won a wide-open Democratic primary convincingly. In addition, shes managed to unify the Democratic party after the contentious primary and has won the coveted endorsement of Bernie Sanders, the states most popular political figure. On the other hand, Scott should benefit from not only voter fatigue with Gov. Shumlin but also the state's historical openness to moderate Republican governors and his longstanding opposition to Trump, who is massively unpopular in Vermont. The one public poll in the race shows Scott ahead by a mere point, so were keeping this in the tossup category.When Pence was named Trump's running mate, the Indiana GOP had to scramble to find a replacement as the gubernatorial nominee. They found Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, but his late start -- combined with Pences own uncertain re-election prospects before he exited the race -- have given John Gregg, a Democratic former state House Speaker who lost narrowly to Pence in 2012, a surprisingly robust path to the governorship in this otherwise Republican-leaning state. The Clinton campaign has announced an investment in get-out-the-vote resources there. While Hillary Clinton herself has only a modest chance of winning the state, she desperately wants to boost the prospects of Democratic Senate candidate Evan Bayh, and Gregg could benefit as well. Three October polls showed Gregg up by between four and 12 points. Still, the states historical leanings lead us to keep this in the tossup category.To keep the governorship in Democratic hands, billionaire Jim Justice will have to benefit from a lot of ticket-splitting by supporters of Trump, who is poised to win the state. But Justice, whose blunt persona and occasional business controversies overlaps somewhat with Trump, might be able to pull it off. He faces Republican state Senate President Bill Cole, a matchup that may also help Justice because it pits an outsider against an elected politician. A recent MetroNews West Virginia Poll found Justice ahead by 11 points. Still, the dynamics of Trump and 2016 lead us to keep this in the tossup category.In one of the key presidential battlegrounds of 2016, a big gubernatorial race has gotten even bigger. McCrory was always facing a tough re-election given his acquiescence to a strongly conservative agenda passed by the GOP-controlled legislature, most notably the H.B. 2 bathroom bill. His opponent, four-term Attorney General Roy Cooper, came into the race well-known in the state and has run an aggressive campaign against McCrory. During September, Cooper opened up a lead of five to six points. But in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, when McCrory dominated the airwaves, the incumbent has narrowed the gap to a point or two. This contest leans ever so slightly in Coopers direction, but were keeping it in the tossup category.Republican Executive Councilor Chris Sununu, the heir to a storied name in New Hampshire politics, led for months in head-to-head polling against Democratic Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern. But after the primary, Van Ostern has become better known to voters and perhaps benefited from Trumps troubles at the top of the ballot. He's now overtaken Sununu and has a lead in the low single digits. New Hampshire has a reputation in recent cycles of being one of the nations swingiest states, so well be cautious and keep this in the tossup category.Statewide Democratic candidates in Missouri are continuing to swim successfully against the states Republican tide, as Democrat Chris Koster, a proven vote-getter as attorney general, continues to lead former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, the GOP nominee, by about six points. Koster even boasts endorsements from the National Rifle Association and the Farm Bureau. Both candidates are spending big on commercials, but at this point, its Kosters race to lose.Inslee, a Democrat seeking another term in his solidly blue state, benefits from running in a presidential cycle. Hes up by double digits against Seattle Port Commissioner Bill Bryant, who has run a credible campaign but has failed to break through.Brown, who is running in a special election to fill the final two years of former Gov. John Kitzhabers term, has a double-digit lead against William "Bud" Pierce, a moderate former president of the Oregon Medical Association. Despite tepid support from the influential left wing of her party, Brown will benefit from the states clear Democratic leanings in a presidential year. Pierces weak fundraising has forced him to kick in more personal money, and the Republican nominee didnt help himself when, during a major Portland debate, he declared that well-educated and accomplished women are less susceptible to sexual harassment -- a comment he later apologized for.Nothing has knocked U.S. Rep. John Carney off course in his quest to keep the Delaware governorship in Democratic hands. He should win easily over Republican state Sen. Colin Bonini. This much is clear after two days of early voting in Texas: Legal wrangling over the states voter identification law is stirring confusion at the polls.Amid Texans mad dash to polling places this week, the front end of 12 days of voting before Election Day, civil rights groups and some voters are questioning how some county election officials are portraying the states voter identification requirements, which a federal judge softened in August.Among the complaints in pockets of Texas: years-old posters inaccurately describing the rules more than a dozen instances in Bexar County and poll workers who were reluctant to tell voters that some could cast ballots without photo identification.Though its not clear that anyone walked away from the polls because of misinformation or partial information, civil rights advocates called the sporadic reports troubling.Not everybody is an aggressive voter. Some people are shy and laid back, and if youre told you have to have an ID, it might cause them to get out of line and go home, said Jose Garza, a lawyer working for groups challenging the states strict 2011 voter ID law.In July, a federal appeals court ruled that the law discriminated against minority groups, who were less likely to possess one of seven forms of acceptable photo identification.In August, a federal district judge drew up a temporary fix for the election, which splits Texans into two groups. Those who possess qualifying photo ID must bring it to the polls. Those who cannot reasonably obtain one must present a document showing their name and address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or voter registration card. They must also sign a statement noting the reasonable impediment that prevented them from getting a photo ID.And in another twist in September, the judge ordered Texas to rewrite certain voter education materials, siding with those who accused it of misleading voters on the softened requirements.The fast-moving litigation triggered worries about voter confusion, which a survey this month by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs illustrated. Of 1,000 registered Texas voters polled, 44 percent said they believed the state required a government-issued photo ID to vote, while 26 percent said it wasn't required. Most of the rest said they didnt know.Now, after two days of early voting, some complain that local elections officials are only further muddying Texans understanding.In Bexar County, for instance, lawyers for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund said they spotted outdated posters those describing the strict 2011 ID rules without the new caveats hanging in at least 14 of the countys 43 polling places at various points during early voting.This is a situation where the Secretary of State produced [updated] materials, and you can find them online, said Nina Perales, the groups vice president of litigation. The idea that polling place supply boxes were being filled with the wrong posters is so incredibly frustrating for people who have been working on this issue for years.Donna Parker, a spokesman for Bexar County Clerk Jacque Callanen, said Tuesday afternoon that the old posters had since been replaced with accurate ones.But Perales disputed that the problem was fixed, saying that her group spotted eight polling places on Tuesday that still had misleading info outdated posters either hanging alone or adjacent to the updated signage.Alicia Pierce, a spokeswoman for Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos, noted that litigation forced the state to redesign its official posters "very recently" and said her office this week reminded clerks statewide to make sure polling places displayed the correct one.In Bexar County and elsewhere including Harris and Travis Counties several voters told The Texas Tribune that poll workers would not mention that Texans who lacked photo ID could still vote, or did so only when challenged.Scott Rothenberg, a Houston attorney, said he repeatedly heard a worker at his bustling polling station Monday tell those waiting in line to get their photo IDs ready, without mentioning additional opportunities to vote.Rothenberg said he challenged the poll workers omission, sharing concerns that it might scare off some qualified voters. She refused to alter her routine until an on-site election judge stepped in, he said.You always want to believe that these are merely errors that could be fixed with better training, or errors based upon inconsistent information, Rothenberg said. You always hope that it is not is an effort to disenfranchise certain voters.He shared the experience on Facebook in a post that has generated more than 140 comments, including several from other Texans who heard similar messages at the polls. Among them: Texas Ethics Commissioner Mary K. "Katie" Kennedy, who also voted in Houston.Hector DeLeon, a spokesman for Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, said he was not aware of such complaints but suggested those workers dealing with record-high turnouts were simply trying to speed up lines by ensuring those with photo ID would not fumble with it once they reached the front.Because of the high volume of voters, they are probably unwittingly not being completely accurate, he said in an interview. But its not malicious intent.Perales said her group received similar reports around San Antonio.If youre going to say something thats only half true, and people are going to step out of line and go home, thats voter suppression, she said.Asked about those Bexar County reports, Parker, the clerks spokeswoman, said in an email: "The line walkers with the portable electronic tablets are there to expedite the voting process by gathering voter information before the voters get to the table."Pierce said the secretary of state's office wants to know about any abnormalities voters spot at the polls.We encourage people be the eyes and ears," she said. "If you see something, say something." In the post-recession era, "debt" is a four-letter word. State debt levels as a whole have been stagnant in recent years and, in 2014, actually recorded the first decline in the 28 years Moody's Investors Service has been tracking them.It's in this climate that voters in Arkansas and California have cleared the way for more spending on mega projects that could be economic development boons in those states.In Arkansas, voters overwhelmingly passed a ballot initiative that eliminates the state's current 5 percent cap on debt related to economic development projects. Proponents of Arkansas Issue 3, who included Gov. Asa Hutchinson, want the cap lifted so the state can be more competitive in attracting new corporations by helping fund mega projects. Voters easily approved the measure, 65-35.In California, which has one of the highest taxpayer debt burdens in the country, the results were much closer. Voters narrowly rejected a proposal, 51-49, that could have derailed two of Gov. Jerry Brown's legacy projects. Prop. 53 would have limited the state's ability to issue debt for major projects by requiring voter approval to issue more than $2 billion in revenue bonds.Brown and the state Chamber of Commerce formed an unlikely duo in opposing the measure, which they said threatened the planned high-speed train from San Francisco to Los Angeles and a pair of giant tunnels to help ferry water across the state.Each state's history with bond debt has a lot to do with how these proposals got on the ballot in the first place.In Arkansas case, in 1933 it was the first and only state to go bankrupt. That legacy has subtly shaped its fiscally conservative policymaking since then, including the establishment of a cap on economic development bonds in 2004. As a result, taking all types of government debt into account, Arkansas has the 13th lowest taxpayer burden in the country , with $1,400 in debt per resident.While California never went bankrupt, it did infamously struggle to make ends meet during the Great Recession, issuing IOUs to vendors and then issuing more debt to cover its expenses. The practice led to multiple credit rating downgrades. Things have improved since then, but California still ranks among the lowest-rated states. And, taking all types of government debt into account, it also has the seventh highest taxpayer burden, owing $20,900 per resident.Its this fact that led Dean Dino Cortopassi, a wealthy Central Valley farmer, to put the measure on the ballot. Cortopassi previously bankrolled an ad campaign in 2014 that called Gov. Jerry Brown a liar, liar, pants on fire for claiming a balanced budget.California doesnt have a debt cap like Arkansas, but voter approval is already required for general obligation debt, which is paid back through the governments general tax revenue. But the measure would have added to that approval for major revenue bond projects, which are paid back from dedicated revenue streams like gas taxes.Meanwhile, proponents of Arkansas Issue 3 want more flexibility so it can woo more corporations. It recently won a new steel mill and a new Chinese-owned paper mill but is getting perilously close to its debt cap.Naysayers have warned that lifting the cap could open the doors to megadeals like Nevadas $1.3 billion package to Tesla Motors and Washington states $8.7 billion in incentives to Boeing. They also worry that eliminating the states debt cap entirely will lead it down a path similar to states like California.But given Arkansas long history of fiscal conservatism, observers say its unlikely the state will embark upon a bond bonanza.Yes, it can be risky eliminating the debt cap but that doesnt mean it cant be managed, said Bill Bergman, director of research for the fiscal transparency group, Truth in Accounting. Informal mechanisms can be just as effective as formal ones. On Wednesday, in the morning, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC presided at a meeting of the Executive Council of Queensland. Following, the Governor and Mrs Kaye de Jersey departed Brisbane for Regional Government House operations in Longreach. In the afternoon, at the Longreach Regional Council Chambers, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey received a briefing from Council representatives. Following, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey visited Longreach State School where His Excellency addressed a special assembly at which were present students and staff of Longreach State School, Longreach State High School and Our Ladys Catholic Primary School. Following, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey visited the Longreach Hospital, met and received a briefing from staff and then toured operations. In the evening, at the QANTAS Founders Museum, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey hosted a community reception where His Excellency addressed guests. Description GIS - 27 October, 2016: Mauritius can serve as role model for other countries for its involvement with regards to the issues of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) vis-a-vis the United Nations as well as in the implementation of the IHL. Mauritius can serve as role model for other countries for its involvement with regards to the issues of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) vis-a-vis the United Nations as well as in the implementation of the IHL. The Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Ms Perrine Louart, made this statement yesterday following a courtesy visit by her delegation on the Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis. Ms Perrine Louart, expressed satisfaction concerning the discussions on IHL with the Prime Minister during which she underlined that the Government has reiterated its full support to matters related to IHL as well as in furthering collaboration with the ICRC. According to her, Mauritius is on the right path owing to its strong commitment in promoting IHL at both national and international levels. She reiterated the interest of the ICRC in its endeavors in terms of providing technical assistance to Mauritius and in strengthening cooperation in the field of IHL. It will be recalled that Ms Perrine Louart, Head of the ICRC Delegation, Antananarivo; was accompanied by Ms Sarah Swart, Regional Legal Advisor of the ICRC, Pretoria. The delegation which also comprised Mr Charles Sagba, Legal Advisor of the ICRC, Geneva is in Mauritius in a bid to sensitise various stakeholders on recent development on IHL. The ICRC has so far provided capacity building to youth officers and members of the National Humanitarian Law Committee which operates under the aegis of the Prime Ministers Office. During the course of the visit the delegation will also provide induction courses to the Police Force. An exchange programme is also scheduled with members of the Bar Council namely, Barristers, Magistrates and Judges. Furthermore, ICRC has supported Mauritius in its accession to the Arms Trade Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions as well as for the domestication of the IHL instruments in the form of, Firearms (Amendment) Act 2016; and the Anti-Personnel Mines and Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Act 2016. (TNS) -- Self-driving robot cars will be coming soon to the streets of American cities. Exactly when is uncertain. But transportation officials in Sacramento, Calif., are taking steps now to be ready when the revolution rolls in.Sacramento will be among 16 select cites meeting next month to discuss ways to harness new technologies, including autonomous vehicles, as part of a new national study effort called the Smart Cities Collaborative We definitely see the future of autonomous vehicles and want to wrap our arms around it and make sure it is safe and equitable for the city of Sacramento, city planner Fedolia Harris said. We want to be at the table. We want to contribute to early discussions. What are the big issues? How does it affect economic development?Harris is one of several local officials who rode in a Google driverless car along with Google engineers on Interstate 5 between Richards Boulevard and North Natomas during a demonstration last year, and said he came away a bit freaked out, but impressed with how well the car did in traffic and how far self-driving vehicle technology has come.Sacramento city officials made a pitch earlier this year to the federal Department of Transportation for a major grant to allow them to run a pilot program using self-driving shuttle vehicles to pick people up and take them to Sacramento Regional Transit light-rail stations. Sacramento did not win the grant. Columbus, Ohio, did with a similar proposal that included using autonomous cars as shuttles.But the citys bid caught the attention of Transportation 4 America, a group of businesses, nonprofit groups and local elected leaders, and Sidewalk Labs, a Google sister company that seeks to use technology to solve urban problems.Those two entities are sponsoring the Smart Cities Collaborative, which will bring 16 cities together in November to look into ways to test cutting-edge technology to make urban transportation more efficient, including how autonomous vehicles can be used to enhance public transit, reduce congestion, and provide equitable, affordable mobility for various income groups.Other cities include Austin, Texas; Denver; Boston; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Los Angeles; Nashville, Tenn.; Portland, Ore.; and San Jose. The 16 were among more than 70 cities that had competed for the federal grant ultimately won by Columbus. Transportation For America spokesman Russ Brooks said his organization worked with Sacramento and other cities on their proposals for that DOT grant and were impressed with how eager the cities were to understand and take advantage of new technology to reduce congestion. They decided to set up the collaborative to give those cities a platform for exploring and sharing.Sacramento officials noted the city is well positioned to be a leader in testing and supporting technological improvements for traffic because it is home to the California Legislature. If we (put) demonstration projects in the ground, it is a way for legislators to see it up close and personal, Harris said.Sacramentos initial proposal earlier this year involved using lower-speed autonomous vehicles, each capable of carrying a handful of people, as shuttles between neighborhoods and a handful of light-rail stations. Users could summon the vehicles via smartphone app. Studies show that most people are willing to walk up to a half mile to get to a light-rail or bus stop. But in Sacramentos low-density, suburban communities, most potential light-rail riders live farther than a half mile from a station.Some folks may be a little weirded out by a vehicle with no driver in it, said city traffic official Ryan Moore at the time, but we think this is a way to get more of our residents onto light rail, to reduce traffic congestion and drive down greenhouse gas emissions.Although Sacramento officials say they are eager to participate in the collaborative, they do not have funds to launch a significant test project using self-driving vehicles. Harris said he hopes the Smart Cities effort will lead to government grants, and that private industry, such as autonomous vehicle research companies, would agree to public-private partnerships.Testing of self-driving vehicles has ramped up in the last few years. Google, Uber, Tesla, and a handful of international and domestic car manufacturers are developing and testing prototypes. Uber recently began testing a few robo taxis in commercial use on Pittsburgh city streets. Those vehicles still have researchers in them who can take control of the wheel at any point.The most advanced self-driving cars are equipped with detailed mapping systems, lasers and cameras that allow them to find their way along city streets on their own. However, Sacramentos Harris said the city hopes to learn more during the Smart Cities Collaborative on ways it can add smart traffic signals to the local streetscape. Those signals would be able to tell an approaching anonymous car what the red-green light sequence is, so the car doesnt have to rely on its camera to see the signal. It can also report to the cars computer on the traffic status on surrounding blocks.As well, city officials said they are interested, at some point, in installing wireless smart controllers in traffic signals to make intersection signaling more responsive to real-time traffic flows on a constant basis throughout the day.Speaking in Sacramento earlier this year, federal Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the Obama administration wants to promote autonomous vehicle technology.This challenge is really starting to push communities to really think about the future and their role in it, and the role of big data and innovation in how they advance into the future, Foxx said. It was announced in early October that longtime San Antonio Chief Information and Technology Officer (CIO/CTO) Hugh Miller would be leaving city service for a job in the private sector.In an interdepartmental memo obtained by, City Manager Sheryl Sculley announced that Miller, who has been with the city since 2004, had accepted a position with a technology startup. His last day with the city will be Friday, Oct. 28.Prior to his role in San Antonio as CIO and CTO, Miller worked as a network engineer for travel website Priceline.com and as a network service supervisor with the San Antonio Water System.Sculley said that during his 12 years with the municipal government Miller provided technology leadership, vision and support across the larger city enterprise.I would like to thank Hugh for his service to the city of San Antonio and extend best wishes as he transitions to his next venture, she said in the memo to executive staff.Until a permanent replacement for Miller is found, Sculley said Applications Division Assistant Director Kevin Goodwin will fill in as interim CTO. Goodwin has been on the city payroll since 2004. Data and Privacy Are Global Issues Midway through a discussion about data sharing, Washington states chief privacy officer (CPO) was asked if he finds himself having to put up a proverbial stop sign for new projects. I dont say no, but ask how? he replied.Alex Albens nuanced view of a vexing issue in government IT circles reflects both his experience with data and privacy and the level of intelligence needed to steer IT policy in todays digitally rich world. Protecting privacy cant involve knee-jerk reactions to what may seem like a potential conflict involving data. Too many of governments digital services and operations require data that may touch in some way on a persons identity. Rather than just say no, Alben tries to take a holistic view of the problem. I want to enable new services that use data, he said, and I want to enable them in a way that is respectful of privacy.Alben was appointed the states first CPO in April 2015, and in January 2016 an executive order was issued by Gov. Jay Inslee announcing the creation of a new Office of Privacy and Data Protection, which sits within the Office of the Chief Information Officer. While the CPO position is relatively new and is only one of a handful among states four at last count Alben is no stranger to privacy and technology.Alben has more than 20 years of experience working with tech firms, and was the general counsel of Starwave Corp. and served in senior management at RealNetworks Inc., where he also held the position of chief privacy officer, one of the first CPO jobs in the country. He has lectured on intellectual property, entrepreneurship and technology issues, and wrote a book, Analog Days How Technology Rewrote Our Future. Alben is a graduate of Stanford University and Stanford Law School.State CIO Michael Cockrill calls Alben his unicorn. How often can you find a Stanford Law graduate, with executive experience in private-sector IT, a published author, and [who will] come to do public service? It was a huge win for us.Albens decision to come to work with Cockrill may be a huge win for Washington, but he arrives at a time when the conflicts between privacy and technology are escalating. In a report issued earlier this year, the Pew Research Center found 91 percent of adults agree or strongly agree that consumers have lost control of how personal information is collected and used by companies. Americans also express a consistent lack of confidence about the security of everyday communications and the organizations that control them. These concerns come as state and local CIOs implement more sophisticated data sharing and analytics projects that continually raise questions about when and how data should be collected from citizens.While many states have had people involved with privacy issues for years, having a CPO reflects a new mindset within state government, according to Alben. Washington is a tech leader among states in many respects, and the way to foster that kind of innovation means you need a point person on privacy, he said.Alben said his role and responsibilities fall into three broad categories., in which he looks at what state agencies are doing in respect to their privacy practices. This may involve Alben conducting privacy training for employees and annual reviews of privacy practices to get a baseline on what the state is doing overall, defining best practices and then advocating for them. I see myself as a resource and a consultant to the people who work in the different agencies in areas that touch privacy, he said.and looks at any privacy implications they may raise. These range from telematics in fleet vehicles, which can precisely track their location, to drones, police body cameras and other types of geo-located devices. My role is to develop policy guidelines for state use of new technologies, he explained. Alben also looks at consumer-facing bills and gives the governor and state Legislature advice on the privacy aspects of the legislation.. People have very broad concerns, not just with the state, but with their own security and privacy, especially online privacy, he said. One result has been the publication of a privacy guide for Washington state residents.Cockrill, who urged the governor to create a CPO position within the state, believes the high-level importance of privacy justifies having a C-level officer in charge of it. He pointed out that not only is privacy a state issue, but it also is a national and global issue as well. Washington also happens to have an advanced, tech-driven economy, whether its Microsoft, Amazon or Boeing, which builds some of the most technologically advanced jets in the world. Cockrill wants to be sure that the state government stays ahead on privacy and when it comes to policy. Washington needs to take a leadership role [on this issue], he said.To ensure everyone is on the same page, Alben works closely with the state CIO and Chief Information Security Officer Agnes Kirk. I engage with all the issues; when it comes to security, we dont view it as a separate discipline, said Alben. We view privacy as advancing security and security advancing the cause of privacy.One of the advantages of having a CPO is the ability to look beyond the horizon. Privacy is an international topic, and Alben spends time looking at how privacy is playing out at the federal and global level. Having to understand privacy on this scale is becoming more of a reality as data flows across state and national borders, thanks to cloud computing, he said. Having someone in the state aware of national and international law around privacy is important to the role of CPO.Cockrill acknowledges that having a CPO at the table has tended to raise more issues than would have been discussed before. But the extra scrutiny by Alben is a big benefit in the long run. In the past, when we werent dealing with those issues, they were problems that hadnt risen to the surface yet, he said. Eventually the problems that Alben spots early on would be dealt with. But its better to have an opportunity to deal with them early in the process, rather than later when they could be more of a problem.Having a seasoned executive with lots of experience dealing with privacy issues in the private sector means the issues he raises are significant. But Alex can handle them, added Cockrill.Alben prefers to view his position more as an innovator than privacy watchdog. He mentions the good that comes out of analytics, making it important that he help agencies navigate their way into these new areas of technology while ensuring privacy practices and policies are followed.We really live in a new world, and the solutions that worked in the filing-cabinet era are not working today, said Alben. They are not scaling to the volume of data we are collecting and processing. Its this kind of challenge that makes it such an exciting time to be working in this space. (TNS) -- CHAPEL HILL -- Cybersecurity incidents like the alleged Russian hack of the Democratic National Committees emails show that the U.S. and other major powers havent established any rules of engagement like those that governed their behavior in the Cold War, a prominent foreign-relations commentator says.Indeed, the problem could be even more serious because defense thinkers here and elsewhere have really only just begun to grapple, conceptually, with how international conflict in the cyber arena might play out, said Fred Kaplan, a Pulitzer Prize winner now nowadays writes for Slate.com With nuclear weapons, there was a big, bold line in the sand, the difference between using nuclear weapons and not using nuclear weapons, he said during a presentation Monday at UNC. There is no such line for cyber.But like a nuclear exchange, computer warfare might be a whole lot easier to start than to manage.The basic questions about what happens on the second day of this war are just beginning to be asked, Kaplan said. The technology has run way ahead [of doctrine], to a degree unmatched in the annals of warfare.Kaplan was addressing an audience at UNCs FedEx Global Education Center, at the behest of the universitys Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies.The centers director, professor of Russian history Donald Raleigh, said organizers booked Kaplans appearance during the summer, both understanding that subsequent events could alter the intended focus of his talk.Little did we know, Raleigh quipped.The major event, of course, is the drip-by-drip disclosure of the Democratic National Committees in-house messages by WikiLeaks. The U.S. government has accused its Russian counterpart of orchestrating the original hack, in an attempt to interfere with this years presidential election.Its also said it thinks only Russias senior-most officials could have authorized these activities -- an obvious allusion to Russias president, Vladimir Putin.Kaplan, part of a Boston Globe team that won a Pulitzer in the early 1980s for writing about the two countries Cold War conflicts, more or less accepts those allegations as true.He sees Putin as having ample motive, from the Russians perspective, to want payback against the U.S. for a variety of historical developments, up to and including the fall of the former Soviet Union.The leaks would be a more effective weapon against the Democrats nominee, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, save that Republican nominee Donald Trumps is a walking example of pure id whos done a great job of embarrassing himself on the campaign trail, Kaplan said.But the entire incident highlights the uncertainties inherent the cyber arena, which themselves stem from the Internets roots in academic settings that value the free and open exchange of ideas and information, he said.From the start of the network, securitys been an add-on, rather than something built in, he said, adding that former RAND Corp. computer scientist Willis Ware from early in its development argued its inherent vulnerabilities meant youre not going to be able to keep secrets.The resulting vulnerabilities have commanded high-level attention ever since, especially during the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and now Barack Obama, Kaplan said.But none have been able to impose their will on the issue, in part because the Internet is a place where national-security and commercial interests even in this country clash, he said.And from the start, theres been spying. At various times the Russians, the Chinese and even the French have all been found to have poked around U.S. defense networks. Nor does the U.S. have clean hands, Kaplan said, noting it likely orchestrated the Stuxnet hacking attack that damaged Irans nuclear-weapons program.We dont acknowledge being behind Stuxnet, not officially, he said. Why? It was kind of an act of war.Kaplan credited former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who held the post under Obama and former President George W. Bush, with seeing the risks inherent in the lack of even an implicit set of rules of engagement among the major cyber powers.But the issues that raises are so complex that even Gates found it difficult to get the bureaucracy to think them through, he said.Now, the current byplay with Russia shows that cyber warfare is a cat and mouse game, he said, before quickly correcting himself.No, a cat and cat game, Kaplan said. If youve ever seen two cats fighting, the one who starts it isnt necessarily the one who comes out triumphant. Its a dangerous game to get into. Hyd Dum Ka Biryani 'asli maza' now in Delaware Delaware: Famed Hyderabad House to open in the state on Friday, the 28th of October, bringing authentic Nizami kitchen closest to foodies. The fragrance of the Nizami Kitchen now wafts all over Delaware. The wait is at last over as the famed Hyderabad House opens up in the mid-Atlantic state of the United States to allure biryani lovers and those foodies waiting to feast over Deccan delicacies and royal dishes. Honorable Delaware State Representative David Bentz will be inaugurating the event on Friday at 11:00 AM E.S.T. The pearl of Hyderabad will be the 16th location in the country and will open up in the well-located North Eastern in what is acclaimed as the first state of the US. Hyderabad House will be closer to major corporate offices including Bank of America, Chase, Christiana Hospital and Barclays and is also in the nearest vicinity of several residential neighborhoods that have large Indian diaspora. The restaurant offers patio seating with bar set-up for private parties and has been specially designed menu for buffets available on weekdays and a sumptuous and lavish Grand Buffet on the weekends. The signature lunch special will offer must-try grand variety on its menu including: Biryanis: Dum Biryanis, Avakai Chicken Biryani, Gongura Goat Biryani, Ulavcharu Biryani (Veg/Egg/Chicken/Goat), Matka/Pot Biryani. Pulavs: Rajugari Kodi Pulav, GuttiVankay Pulav, Mirchi Pulav, Mastan Kheema Pulav. Appetizers: Paneer Masakali, Chilli Pepper Corn, Gobi Pepper Fry, Curryleaf Chicken, Rayalaseema Kodi Vepudu, Mirapakodi, Monagadu kodi vepudu, Ulavcharu Kodi Vepudu, Mutton Sukka, Goat pepper fry. Hyderabad House Delaware will also introduce jumbo pack biryanis for the whole family to feast on, in addition to the regular and family packs. The LUNCH BOX - TO GO is available as in all Hyderabad House locations with Veg priced at $6.99 and Non-Veg at $7.99. The Executive Lunch Buffet is available from Monday to Thursday while the Grand Buffet is available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Speaking on the eve of the inauguration, Hyderabad House Delaware Licensees Vamsi Varma Datla & Phanendra Gottipati expressed delight and excitement. Hyderabad house Biryani Place is the fastest growing Indian Restaurant Brand, now serving to more than 5000 happy customers a day across all locations. It is a matter of great pride for us to introduce the grand feast to Delaware. We are sure, in a short time, Hyderabad House will win the hearts and make it an engaging and irresistible affair for Indians and others too in the neighborhoods, they said adding Hyderabad House was now targeting to expand into other markets of US to reach out to foodies who could enjoy the authentic Hyderabadi cuisine experience. On the occasion, Rizwan and Ravi from Hyderabad House Seattle also said they were delighted with the response from the grand opening, and thanked all customers who had visited the restaurant during the launch occasion. The Seattle location also offers Grand Lunch Buffet on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On the momentous occasion, Vamsi Kallepalli and Siva Yarlagadda, the founders of Nawabi Hyderabad House Biryani Place also conveyed excited about the upcoming locations during the yearend and said they were no longer accepting any new applications for licensing for the year of 2016 with the response already touching peaks. The restaurants that opened up recently have been garnering great patronage, they said. Hyderabad House is currently located in Houston, TX | Katy, TX | Woodlands, TX | Plano, TX | Memphis, TN | Austin, TX (Moving to new location) | Naperville, IL | St Louis, MO | OFallon, MO | Bloomington, IL | Frisco, TX | Indianapolis, IN | San Antonio, TX | Redmond, WA | Its upcoming locations include: Denver - Nov 11th North Carolina - Nov 18th Schaumburg, IL - Nov 26th Irving, TX - Dec 2016 For more on Hyderabad House Delaware, log into www.hhdelaware.com To know more about Hyderabad House, visit www.hyderabadhouse.net Press note released by: Indian Clicks, LLC Oops! There was a problem! Sorry, but we can't find what you were looking for right now. The content may have been removed, or is temporarily unavailable. GreatAndhra.com powered by India Brains Infotech, LLC, its owners, associates and employees are not responsible for any errors, omissions or representations on any of our pages or on any links on any of our pages. We do not endorse in anyway any advertisers on our web pages, links to personal pages, official pages, or commercial pages. We have no control of the content of external information. Please verify the veracity of all information on your own before undertaking any reliance. The linked sites are not under our control and we are not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. We are providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by us of the site. We hereby expressly disclaim any implied warranties imputed by the laws of any jurisdiction. We consider ourselves and intend to be subject to the jurisdiction only of the courts of the state of California. Greatandhra.com also contains material in the form of inputs/feedbacks submitted by users and Greatandhra.com accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of such content nor does it make any representations by virtue of the contents of Greatandhra.com in respect of the existence or availability of any goods and services advertised in the contributory sections. Greatandhra.com makes no warranty that the site contents are Virus -free or anything else, which has destructive properties and shall have no liability in respect thereof. Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, GreatAndhra.com takes no responsibility for and will not be liable for the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond its control. If you have any questions or concerns about a published article, please send us email at venkat@greatandhra.com . We will review your request and article will be removed immediatly. Politics, books, history, foreign affairs, Caribbean, Middle East, Palestine, Israel, Iraq, China, Britain, United Nations, Oil For Food, Bush the Deserter, sex and rum and 1776 and tequilla and lots of fun things from someone who has more columns than the Parthenon. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Don't you just love beer-related holidays? Thursday, Oct. 27, marks National American Beer Day in America and what better way to celebrate than to enjoy a cold pint at your local brewery. Check out our rundown of Connecticut's breweries in the slideshow above. Connecticut is home to about 1.3 breweries per capita, according to the Brewers Association (BA), a nonprofit trade organization made up of brewers. The number of breweries in the state has also been on the rise for the past five years, increasing from 16 in 2011 to 35 in 2015. The trend has continued this year as well, as a few breweries recently opened up right in our backyard. Aspetuck Brew Lab and Veracious Brewing hit the scene in Bridgeport and Monroe, respectively, back in 2015. And this year, Brewport, in Bridgeport, and Fairfield Craft Ales, in Stratford, both opened in August. If you ask a local brewer, chances are they'll say the industry is just starting to see its rise. Tom Sobocinski, cofounder of Black Hog Brewing in Oxford, said consumer interest has played a big role in the industry's rise. He said while Black Hog Brewing is "kind of off the beaten path," customers make it up to try something new. "Consumers are just really interested in exploring new beers," Sobocinski said. "And we have a lot of support from local restaurants and bars. It's just a very trending market." Thanks to this, Sobocinski added that there are still plenty of opportunities for new breweries. "I think there's still a lot of room [for new breweries]," Sobocinski said. "I think it's going to become a lot more localized. There's going to be a focus on quality [as an industry]." Phil Markowski, cofounder of Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, also said he believes Connecticut's craft brewery scene is just getting started. "Right now, there are 40 some odd breweries in Connecticut and seemingly no end in sight," Markowski said. "It's really exciting the quality of beer being brewed in Connecticut." When it comes to craft beer, there are only a few states considered the powerhouses of the industry: California, Oregon, and Colorado. Employing a little math, Markowski said if you consider there are roughly 4,600 to 4,700 craft breweries in the U.S., the current trend lends some evidence to there being about 100 breweries in Connecticut in the next decade and just as strong success as leading states. "There's still a bigger perception that beers on the west coast are superior to beers made locally," Markowski said. "We [at Two Roads] want to do our part to put Connecticut on the map in terms of craft brewing. We have every reason to believe that's our future as well." Since 2012, when Connecticut changed a law to allow breweries to sell beer on their premises without being restaurant, the state's craft brewery scene has exploded with more than two dozen breweries opening around the state. But part of this larger craft expansion can also be due to consumer perceptions. As both Sobocinski and Markowski noted, consumers are valuing quality more and more. "It's part of this movement away from industrialized food. Beer is another example of that," Markowski said. "People have discovered that beer can be off all different flavors and made all different ways." Around the country, craft breweries have been on the rise since 2006, according to BA. Between 2010 and 2015, the number of breweries around the country jumped from about 1,813 to 4,269. If you're asking yourself why we should be celebrating American beer, just consider the history. In the January 1920, America halted the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol with the introduction of the 18th Amendment. In response, the rise of "bootlegging" and "speakeasies" created their own colorful history between the 1920s and 1930s. Eventually the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment, ending the country's Prohibition era. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH Drawing people into a world where society is struggling to hold onto fragments of itself after a devastating pandemic, author Emily St. John Mandel broke down the themes and vision that went into her novel Station Eleven. Speaking Wednesday at Greenwich Library as part of the sixth annual Greenwich Reads Together program. Mandel discussed the book with Greenwich High School teacher Kyaiera Mistertta, detailing how the novel extended from a theme the author took from an episode of Star Trek she saw as a teenager: Mere survival is insufficient. You just cant predict what random things on television or the radio or that you read will stay with you forever, Mandel said. The line struck me as much as it did because its such an elegant expression of something I believe. Of course survival is not enough. Thats why we have things like libraries and music and sports. Mandel mentioned war-torn Aleppo in Syria, where a secret library was built underground. Despite all the horrors of war, Mandel said, that showed how libraries and literature are important parts of being human. The award-winning author, who was a finalist for the National Book Award for Station Eleven, spoke before a crowd of more than 250 at the librarys Cole Auditorium. Station Eleven deals with the aftermath of a flu pandemic that has devastated the world. The story focuses on Kristen Raymonde, a child star in Hollywood who has survived 12 years since the outbreak and now travels to settlements with a small troupe of actors and musicians. The story moves back and forth in time, as Kristen and her fellow artists encounter a deadly prophet. Reading the book as a community gave Greenwich residents the chance to discuss themes like the aftermath of a catastrophe and how art and culture play a major role in society. Before sitting down with Mistertta, Mandel talked about the honor of being chosen for a program like Greenwich Reads Together. As a writer, its an incredible thing to come into a room where there are a lot of people who have read your book, Mandel said. Thats so rare and its really wonderful. She said she loves doing appearances like this because of all the different questions she gets, and being able to talk directly with the readers, because writing a book is solitary. Mandel shared a quote from the late writer and critic Edmund Wilson. He said, No two readers ever read the same book, Mandel said. Ive always loved that, and I think its true. Mandels appearance was the centerpiece of a month of events that make up Greenwich Reads Together. A new qualification for 2016 was that the author had to be able to make an appearance in town, which was a thrill for Mandel, since she has family in Greenwich. She was originally scheduled to talk to students Wednesday morning at Greenwich High School, but was was unable to make it after what one person, alluding to another famous story, called a series of unfortunate events. According to GHS Headmaster Chris Winters, Mandel was on her way to the school from her home in New York City when her driver made an illegal turn, which attracted police attention. Once the car was pulled over, it was allegedly discovered that there was an existing warrant for the drivers arrest. Because the incident took place on the highway, Winters said, Mandel had to go with the police, too, since there was no other way of getting her home. The delays forced cancellation of her Greenwich High engagement. During her Greenwich Library appearance, she joked, A funny thing happened to me on the way to Greenwich. Station Eleven was chosen out of more than 100 books for Greenwich Reads Together. Mistertta was the one who nominated it, and she told Mandel it was because she felt it would resonate well with her students. I was inspired and taken with the world you created, one where the arts and humanity are so necessary in the most dire of circumstances, Mistertta said. Wednesday nights event was also a chance to honor the winners of Greenwich Reads Togethers essay contest, sponsored by the Greenwich Rotary. The contest was open to all Greenwich public and private schools and explored the theme of what they would keep in the event of a societal collapse. GHS student Michelle Mule was the winner in the high school category with GHS students Jeremy Fertig and Jari Zegers taking home honorable mention. In the middle school category, Katie Farrell won and Sanah Rekhi got the honorable mention. Both are students at Greenwich Academy. An audio recording was made of Mandels talk and will be posted late next week at www.greenwichlibrary.org for anyone who wants to listen to it. kborsuk@scni.com / GREENWICH A Greenwich police detective has been cited for his work in investigating financial crimes. Detective Mark Solomon was honored as the Dr. Henry Lee Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in Financial Crime Investigations, at a ceremony Monday in New Haven. The following excerpt is from Entrepreneur's book Finance Your Business. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes Erica Zidel knew that trying to raise funds for her startup would be a full-time job. She worried that chasing after capital would distract her from building the best product she could. So rather than sweat the investment game, she spent years holding down a day job while bootstrapping her new company on the side. Ive basically been working two full-time jobs, says Zidel, founder and CEO of Sitting Around, an online community that makes it easy for parents to find and coordinate babysitting co-ops in their neighborhoods. Its a hectic schedule, but its also thrilling. When I woke up this morning, I realized that it was Monday, and I got excited, Zidel says. Related: The Beauty of Bartering: A Smart Way to Start and Grow Your Business Whats perhaps more thrilling is that shes been able to self-fund her business with the money she earns from her consulting work. Besides avoiding getting sidetracked with fundraising, Zidel and her business partner, CTO Ted Tieken, have been able to retain 100 percent ownership of the babysitting venture. Bootstrapping early on means I have complete control over the vision and the product at a time when even small changes can lead to big consequences down the road, Zidel says. I wanted the flexibility to make the right decisions, free from a board or an investors influence. When you have just the founders making decisions, you can innovate much faster. That focus on innovation has paid off. Sitting Around serves families in the United States as well as several countries abroad. Since the site launched in 2010, its user base has taken off. In 2011, Sitting Around was also one of 125 finalists in MassChallenge, a Boston-based startup competition and accelerator program. Perhaps most exciting of all, shortly after launching the company, Zidel was honored at the White House as a champion of change for her contributions to child care. The beauty of moonlighting with a startup is that it lets you test a business idea without jeopardizing your financial well-being, says Pamela Slim, business consultant and author of Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur. When you dont know where your monthly income is coming from, it often sets up a fight-or-flight response in your brain, Slim says. And thats not a good place to be when youre trying to be creative. So having that psychological cushion is often very important for the development of business ideas. Zidel will attest to that. Thanks to her day job, shes been able to pour $15,000 to $20,000 of her own money into her business. Not having to take on debt or live like a monk has been a point of pride -- but it has also been a necessity. Since Im a mother, I have to maintain an adequate standard of living for my son, Zidel explains. While Im definitely frugal and very conscious that a dollar spent on lifestyle is a dollar not spent on Sitting Around, Id rather work two jobs than feed my son ramen. Related: Bootstrapping Is Not Just for Startups Bootstrapping a business isnt without its challenges. Besides the long hours and the strain on personal relationships, it can be tricky to split ones creative juices between two professional pursuits. Being pulled in multiple directions is the hardest, says Zidel. It takes a while for your brain to switch gears. And when things start to collide, it can be hard to say [what] you should be working on. To stay productive and sane, Zidel schedules her workdays down to the hour and sticks to a list of non-negotiable items to accomplish each day. Still, she admits, Its hard to stop working. I really have to force myself to carve out some personal time. Knowing when to leap How will you know when to quit your day job? Author Slim advises that once youve tested your idea in the real world and know theres a market for it, you should set specific, tangible metrics. For some people, it can be getting a significant amount of traffic on their website or selling a certain number of units, she says. For others, its when they have X dollars in their savings. For some, its a date -- say, Come hell or high water, December 31, 2016, Im quitting my job. Its less the number of users and more the rate of growth. Weve been testing different components of our business to see what works before we go out to raise money and turn the gas on, Zidel says. Now we have a lot of great data: what messages resonate, what products make money. To those who say youre not a true entrepreneur unless you quit your day job, Zidel cries foul. A lot of people think that to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to be sleeping on an air mattress and working on your business 80 to 90 hours a week, she says. But I think that definition of success is silly. Im living proof that if you have a quality idea and you spend your time well and execute it well, you can wind up with something great. Protecting your rep at your day job Your boss may not be thrilled to learn that youre cultivating a side business. To avoid biting the hand that feeds you, follow this advice from Pamela Slim: 1. Check your employment agreement and employee handbook. Some companies have a no-moonlighting policy. Others have noncompete agreements that prohibit you from doing your own business with their clients. Others -- particularly technology companies -- even have policies that nab the intellectual property rights of anything you create even on your own time. 2. Keep quiet about your side project. Unless your employment agreement requires you to come clean about your after-hours venture, Slim recommends staying mum with managers and colleagues. Yes, some might be supportive of your side pursuit. But, Slim says, once the cats out of the bag, Be prepared to be fired as a worst-case scenario. Related: 10 Bootstrapping Tips to Turn Your Idea Into Reality 3. Dont work on your startup on company time. Just because you love your side project more than your job, that doesnt give you license to slack off at work. Resist the urge to use your work phone and email to conduct startup business. Take the calls on your cell on a break, and, if possible, use your own laptop or mobile device to check personal email, Slim says. Remember, everything is tracked and monitored in large corporations. 4. Dont burn bridges. Guard your professional reputation as though your life depends on it. Its never a pleasant thing to be fired for performance, Slim says. Thats not the way you want to go out. Besides, your current employer might be a future customer or investor. Related: Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The defendant during her trial. Photo: Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images Murder, she wrote in caffeine. On Wednesday, an Indonesian court sentenced Jessica Kumala Wongso to 20 years in prison for killing her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin by lacing her Vietnamese iced coffee with cyanide. Salihin, who was 27, took one sip of her coffee, collapsed, and started convulsing in minutes; she was pronounced dead hours later. An autopsy confirmed Salihin died of cyanide poisoning. Footage from the scene of the crime, a cafe called Olivier in Indonesias largest high-end shopping mall, shows Wongso arriving an hour before her companions while wasting no time ordering drinks. After receiving them, shes seen placing three shopping bags on the table, blocking the cameras view of the drinks, and seemingly moving behind them. Prosecutors argued she was spiking Salihins coffee with cyanide, and the judges agreed, with one saying, This deed was vile and sadistic. Damningly, Olivier employees said that Wongso didnt try to help her friend or show any emotion after Salihin began convulsing. The act, prosecutors argued, was driven by envy and resentment: Wongso wanted to kill her friend because Salihin once insulted her boyfriend, and she was jealous because Salihin had recently married. Indonesia has been gripped by the so-called coffee murder trial, with one broadcaster showing every minute of the trial. Morbidly, individuals are even visiting the restaurant just to sit and drink Vietnamese iced coffees in the seat where Salihin was poisoned. Listen, I just want a job for the next 15 years, and to cook and make people happy. Photo: Noah Fecks In May, Bill Telepan closed his ten-year-old namesake Upper West Side restaurant less than two years after he shuttered his downtown spinoff, Telepan Local. Like so many New York restaurateurs, he said that he had to work within very small margins, and that his revenues could not cover his increasing costs, meaning he had to operate at a loss. It came as a shock: Telepan, one of the first chefs in the city to popularize farm-to-table cooking, is talented and widely respected and well-liked. But fortunately, the setback hasnt turned him off from cooking, or derailed his career, as Telepan has landed at Oceana, a high-volume seafood restaurant in Times Square. Here, he explains why its a good fit for him and how his life has changed. So, how are things going at Oceana so far? Theyre going pretty well. I started on October 3, and we got the menu changed rather quickly. I had a couple guys from Telepan come with me, and that was very helpful. I had some time, about a month, before I knew I was coming in, and so I had a good plan of what to do for the fall. Why was this job appealing to you? I had a few offers, and what was appealing about it was that I worked with the managing partner, Paul McLaughlin, 25 years ago at Le Bernardin, and throughout the years we remained friends. We always thought about doing something together, and when I had a little trouble downtown at Local, I called him to see if he could help out. When the opportunity came up, he called me and said, Would this interest you? I wasnt sure about doing a fish restaurant at first because of the way I cook. But I figured I could implement I could do what I do, or have done in the past, and sort of apply it to this restaurant. Also, the Livanos family is great, and Ive known them for years. Its a busy restaurant. Its a beautiful place. It just seemed like the best opportunity for me to find success. Oceana is much, much larger than Telepan. Is that a shock to your system? Oh yeah. Its about three times the size. I did work at Judson Grill for seven years, which was almost as big, and so I have that experience and my experience at Gotham Bar and Grill, where I cooked for seven years. This is a really large restaurant though. We have our own private party kitchen. We have this 100-person bar and lounge area, which has its own menu. I was like, Oh my god, how many menus do I have to do? There are a lot of moving parts. Does it feel strange to just be the chef now and not the chef-owner? Does that offer a sense of relief? Yes! I have a central office now! I mean, the Livanos family has several restaurants. Theres a joke, because I got an email from Paul saying they were talking about pictures for the website and to just call the central office when youre ready. I got a kick out of that because I was the central office at Telepan. Lobster bolognese: spaghetti, light herbs, shallot garlic tomato broth. Photo: Noah Fecks Do you miss having complete control? I think the thing I miss is the flexibility of my time. I think it was good to, I dont want to say come and go as I please, but I had people in place at Telepan. It was nice because it was close to my house where I lived. It was close to where my daughter went to school, so I got to be at everything that she did. So that was nice. But I was always accountable. I still feel it because I take ownership in this job. But in the end, I was handling the accounting with the bookkeeper; I was handling all the back-of-the-house office stuff. Now my time is freed up. And you can just focus on the food. Yes. With such a large staff, its really, its important that I can have that freedom. How big is the staff? I think when I last counted there were 43 back-of-the-house employees, not including management. So with the pastry chefs, theres probably like 50. Wow. So lets go back in time to the closing of Telepan. It was very abrupt. What ultimately motivated you to make that decision and end it in that way? I actually kind of drew it out. We were struggling. I really wanted to make it to ten years and see if that could help boost sales. There was the possibility of a re-review after a decade. We revamped it in 2013. We did all these things, and we had the Michelin star, which was super. We always got some attention, and it was a good neighborhood restaurant, but I think, ultimately, as costs rose, we had to raise prices. Over time, we priced ourselves out from being the neighborhood restaurant, and became the neighborhood special-occasion restaurant and pretheater spot. Then we lost some pretheater business because of all the restaurants that since opened in that Lincoln Center area. We were talking about it when we were entering the summer, and I had to make a decision of whether we were going to go through the summer again and continue, whether to go through to at least June. Then I was just like, Well, were going to make all this money on Mothers Day. Lets pay the rent and then close. At the very end of the month, the end of the weekend before Mothers Day, I told the staff, and we gave them a week. They kind of knew. They felt it. It was abrupt in that it seemed inevitable at a point, and then I was just like, I cant do this anymore. You know? Its so hard to do what you do. Its hard. It is hard. The thing is, it went so fast. It just becomes a part of your lifestyle, and I still have regulars who call who are struggling to find a place to hang out. There are plenty of places to hang out, but they loved the staff. That last weekend, we didnt tell any of the customers. Well, there were a few people we told toward the end, and they came, and it was kind of nice. It was nice to hear all the good things. But they needed to come more! Like one customer said, If Id have known, Id have come more. I would have sent a check once in a while. What are you supposed to do? Write on the menu, Were struggling! Exactly! You want to be positive. This one woman would come in all the time twice a week for eight years, consistently. You could count on her. If she wasnt there, shed have to tell us she was going away, because she was in her 80s. She knew my family. Like, not just my wife and daughter, but my mom and dad and my sister from New Jersey. She came to Oceana recently, and she was like, This is not you. Its not you. I said, Dont worry. Ive been here two weeks. Well, its not your home in the same way as Telepan. But you can make it your home, you know? I like being friendly with the customers and getting to know what they like and taking care of them. I havent been here a month, and they have tons of regulars here. I want to get to know them and I want to make them happy and please them and feed them well. I think thats why we do it, you know? Thats what I like about the business. Thats why Im in it. Top: halibut ceviche, tuna tartare, fluke ceviche. Bottom: sea scallop, wild striped bass, yellowtail. Photo: Noah Fecks More broadly, how are you seeing restaurants change, for better or worse, in New York? Well, I still think there are a lot of great things going on in New York. I dont know why people are saying there arent. I mean, just on the Upper West Side alone, its great. I live on 86th, and its nice for my wife and I to just grab a pizza at Motorino. Or I could take my daughter to Jin Ramen. We have our little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant, Celeste. We have our hipster bar in Jacobs Pickles. But I think, in a sense, its just getting harder, and I think everyones screaming doom and gloom. The restaurant business is always hard. You cant get away with certain things you used to anymore. Like what? I dont want to Anyway! I dont know. There were just things you could do to get by. The thing is, you dont make tons of money at restaurants. People think, Bills got his own restaurant, so hes got a house in the Hamptons and three cars. Were in the service business. Its blue collar, in a sense, and were serving white-collar people. Its not an easy gig, and Ive had two knee operations. Im not an athlete, and its because Im on my feet all the time. I have three herniated discs because Im bent over all the time. Yes, rents are up. Its hard. Youre trying to get blood from a stone. There are some people whove been lucky and have found the formula that works for them and have been able to grow. Thats what were searching for. Were always searching for that. Listen, I just want a job for the next 15 years and to cook and make people happy. I hopefully have found that home. I hope you have too. You were one of the earliest pioneers of farm-to-table cooking, which now, of course, has become ubiquitous. Whats it been like to see that philosophy catch on and evolve? Before I was a chef, I worked with people who really cared about the quality of their ingredients. They didnt always want to have asparagus on the menu year-round and to dice red pepper and garnish it in every dish. Knowing guys like Tom Colicchio and Jean Georges and Daniel [Boulud], these guys were the early pioneers. But I guess I always had that sensibility, not thinking it was going to become a trend, because thats the way youre supposed to cook. Alice Waters was always an inspiration to me. And yeah, I love being an early part of that, and to think I helped that movement along, Im very proud of [that]. But I was a later pioneer. Im second generation for sure. What do you think of the future of farm-to-table? It now feels like a meaningless word. I think thats true. Theres people who would scream it and then buy one bag of broccolini or whatever. Listen, whatever. Its a marketing thing. Those people are found out. You can just look at menus and see whats on them at certain points of the year, and you know whether theyre real or not. I just care about what I do, and I know what I know. I get mad if I have to keep an ingredient on the menu a little longer than I normally want to. I hate March! Black sea bass with spiced squash and hazelnut picatta. Photo: Noah Fecks You hate March? Because its too cold and rainy and Im tired of root vegetables by that time The thing about fish is theres so much I have to learn, because I was sort of limited at Telepan, in terms of seafood. There was a funny point where I thought, I should just take fish off the menu. Its over. Fish is over. Its got a lot of mercury in it. Farmed fish is bad, and its really expensive. But I like cooking fish. I think, coming here, whats exciting is the possibility of working with all these different species. I was one of the first chefs involved when Dock to Dish. Will you add dogfish or bluefish? What do you have planned? I just started with bonito, which Id never really worked with before. Im hoping to build as we all get more comfortable. Hopefully, people will reach out to me and say, Hey, I got this. Because thats always fun. I just got a call from Kerry [Heffernan], who is on the Seafood Watch Board and said he wants me to be a part of it. Theres all this fish that they deem trash fish, even though we dont like using that term, which I will try to implement. I want to do a deep-fried porgy on Sundays and Mondays when I can get them in fresh. But again, I just changed the menu. Its big. I feel good about it. Weve got to fine-tune everything, and its busy here. In fact, Ive got my largest service right now in about 15 minutes, so Ive got to run! The Huawei Enjoy 6 is now official though for the time being limited to China. It takes on the Xiaomi Redmi 3 head on with a 5" AMOLED screen (720p resolution) and a metal body with a fingerprint reader on the back. The phone is powered by a MediaTek MT6750 chipset (octa-core CPU) with a surprisingly roomy 3GB of RAM and a more cramped 16GB storage (theres a microSD slot, though). The Enjoy 6 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, skinned with Emotion UI 4.1. Theres a 13MP camera on the back (f/2.2 lens) and a 5MP selfie camera on the front. This is a dual-SIM phone with 4G LTE connectivity and VoLTE support, powered by a 4,100mAh battery. Huawei Enjoy 6 in Pink, White, Gold, Blue and Gray Sales of the the Huawei Enjoy 6 start November 1 at CNY 1,300 (equivalent to $190/175). Thats pricier than the Redmi 3s (CNY 900 for 3GB/32GB), which offers similar specs. Also, Huawei is mum on plans to launch the Enjoy 6 outside of China. Source These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Haiti - Humanitarian : The Dominicans are leaving Haiti Wednesday, as agreed, the Dominican Government has concluded its mission of assistance to the Haitian government, which for two weeks worked in the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, in addition to providing food and other supplies to the Haitian population. Gonzalo Castillo, the Dominican Minister of Public Works and Communications accompanied by the Dominican ambassador in Haiti, Ruben Silie Wednesday met his Haitian counterpart Jean Elvet Eveillard and the Chief of Staff of Government in Haiti Jean Max Bellerive. During this meeting was coordinated the return to the Dominican Republic of 148 vehicles and a brigade of 200 people who worked in Haiti after the passage of Hurricane Matthew. For their part, members of the Haitian government said they appreciated the quick assistance, planned and appropriate, from the Dominican government, that theyconsider as one of the most important they have received to date. Jean Elvet Eveillard, the Minister of Public Works praised the work of the Dominican Republic to Haiti. For his part Jean Max Bellerive said that President Danilo Medina was the only President who have physically traveled to Haiti to offer the Dominican solidarity to the Haitian people "President Danilo Medina came and asked us what our priorities were and helped us in what we asked, it was a planned aid according to our needs." SL/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby. 09:44, 30 OCT 2022 Darkness at Noon: Collective hanging in present-day Iran (file photo) Anti-human regime of mullahs hanged 12 prisoners in the central prisons of Karaj, Shiraz, Sepidar of Ahvaz and Salmas during days 23 to 25 October. One of the five prisoners that were hanged collectively on Tuesday morning, October 25 was a 25-year- old youth by the name of Saeed Pour-Hassan. On the day before, three prisoners in Shiraz and two young brothers in Abadan from Arab minority were hanged in the Sepidar prison of Ahvaz. In fear of the peoples wrath, repressive SSF (State Security Force) were stationed in various locations in the Salich district of Abadan strictly controlling the people. Also on October 23, two Kurd prisoners were hanged in in the prison of Salmas. Meanwhile, Bahram Ghasemi, the regimes foreign ministry spokesman, described the recent European Parliament resolution about Iran as being inaccurate and based on false information and reports. He called repression and killing of the Iranian people as an internal issue and said, We have not and will not allow any individual or country to speak or judge about our internal issues. (state-run News Network, October 24) The Iranian Resistance calls all the Iranian people and particularly the brave youths to protest against the brutal death penalty. It reiterates any dealing with the mullahs regime should be contingent upon improvement of human rights situation, especially halt of executions. | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran , 26 October 2016 tyranny." "To lay with one hand the power of the government on the property of the citizen [a working persons earned wage] and with the other to bestow upon favored individuals, to aid private enterprises and build up private fortunes [ the Obama/Clinton Administration's Solyndra, Chevy Volt, Fisker, Exelon swindling deals ] is none the less a robbery because it is done under forms of law and called taxation."____ Savings and Loan Assc. v.Topeka,(1875). Hawaii fourth and eighth graders show improvement in science in national assessment The Nations Report Card: 2015 Science assessment by the National Assessment Governing Board and the National Center for Education Statistics shows Hawaiis fourth and eighth graders are making progress. News Release from Hawaii DoE, 26-Oct-2016 HONOLULU The Nation's Report Card: 2015 Science assessment, to be released on Thursday (10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) by the National Assessment Governing Board and the National Center for Education Statistics, shows Hawaii's fourth and eighth graders are making progress. For grade 4, the average scale score of 146 was six points higher than the score of 140 in 2009. For grade 8, the average scale score of 144 was five points higher than the score of 139 in 2009. Hawaii's gains in science exceeded national gains, but Hawaii's scores remain currently lower than the average scale scores for national public schools, as are Hawaii's percentages of students achieving at or above proficient and at or above basic levels. "These results validate the gains that we reported earlier this month as part of our Hawaii Science assessments," said Kathryn Matayoshi, HIDOE Superintendent. "Now, with the recent adoption of Next Generation Science Standards, our schools are moving towards a more engaging approach to learning science where we expect the science instruction to connect with understanding the world around them and prepare them for community, career and college." Assessment Metric Hawaii National Grade 4 Science Avg. Scale Score 145.81 152.76 % Proficient or higher 30.44% 36.52% % Basic or higher 69.49% 75.03% Grade 8 Science Avg. Scale Score 144.06 152.89 % Proficient or higher 23.04% 33.09% % Basic or higher 58.10% 66.65% NAEP achievement levels are set by the National Assessment Governing Board. "Basic" indicates partial mastery of prerequisite grade-level knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work. "Proficient" represents competency over complex subject matter and may go beyond the grade level tested, and "Advanced" stands for superior performance. NAEP is a congressionally mandated project of the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. NAEP reports are located at http://nationsreportcard.gov. SA: Hawaii students show testing progress but still lag Bulgaria completes upgrade to extend life of Kozloduy nuclear reactor by 30 years The Bulgarian energy ministry said on October 25 an upgrade of one of the Soviet-era reactors at the country's only nuclear plant had been completed, extending its lifespan to 2047. The Kozloduy plant, by the river Danube on the border with Romania, has two 1,000 megawatt reactors that produce about 33% of Bulgaria's electricity. The country launched a 360 million euro ($391 million) upgrade of the reactors last year. Kozloduy NPP - Image: BGNES Nuclear power is cheaper than some of the countrys other energy sources and electricity prices are politically sensitive in Bulgaria as power bills represent a large part of monthly incomes. Protests over high energy bills toppled the previous centre-right government of Prime Minister Boiko Borisov in 2013. The current Bulgarian government hired a consortium led by subsidiaries of Russia's Rosatom, Rosenergoatom and Rusatom Service, and France's EDF last year to carry out the upgrades for the Unit 5 reactor to ensure it can operate safely for another three decades. That reactors operating licence is due to expire this month but the countrys energy regulator is expected to renew it after the required security checks. The Unit 6 reactor's licence runs until October 2019, and this is also being upgraded by Rusatom Service. The Kozloduy site is home to the two operational Russian-designed VVER-1000 pressurised water reactors, Units 5 and 6, as well as four closed VVER-440s. Bulgaria also committed itself to fast-tracking payment of the debt it incurred to Russian companies for scrapping the Belene nuclear power plant project, after a ruling by the Geneva-based International Court of Arbitration. The country will pay 620 million ($677 million) out of an original Russian claim of 1.2 billion for costs and damages. By Jesse Wood On Thursday, the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau made the establishment of the Appalachian High Country American Viticultural Area (AVA) official by placing it in the Federal Register. The ruling goes into effect on Nov. 28, 2016. The High Country Wine Growers Association was responsible for the AVA application that was submitted in October 2014. An AVA is a federal designation bestowed upon unique wine grape-growing regions, where geography, soil, elevation, weather, climate and more influence the grapes and other crops, of course that are grown. The new Appalachian High Country region spans 2,400 acres in eight counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell and Watauga counties in North Carolina; Carter and Johnson counties in Tennessee; and Grayson County in Virginia. For bottles of wine to feature the coveted AVA label, 85 percent of the grapes must be grown locally, within the AVA boundaries. Supporters of the AVA tout the economic benefits of a wine trail, where folks will eat, shop, sleep and drink in the area, and the positive impact this will have on local farmers who decided to grow the fickle crop. Its exciting, said Wright Tilley, the executive director of the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority, which was one of the first organizations to contribute seed money for the meticulous and tedious, pre-application and application process. Tilley noted that the TDA will continue to provide its support for this project. From the research done the last couple years with consumers who have visited Boone and the Boone area and are interested in visiting the area, wineries, microbreweries and culinary experiences are all in the top list of things, in addition to outdoor recreation and just rest and relaxation, Tilley said. Johnnie James, owner of Bethel Valley Farms, spearheaded the application process. On Thursday morning, he sent an email to stakeholders and supporters announcing the AVA establishment. Its official! Here is the final ruling that was published in the Federal Register this morning Thanks for helping get the word out as this is a big deal for our area, James wrote. He noted that while there are about 234 other AVAs in the United States, only about 100 exist outside of California. In North Carolina, the Yadkin Valley AVA, Haw River Valley AVA and Swan Creek AVA exist. After the 30-day wait for the establishment of the AVA to go into effect, James said the wineries will be allowed to submit their new wine labels that feature the AVA logo. By the end of this year at the latest- local wine should be showing off the Appalachian High Country AVA label. For much more details about the AVA and the history of modern winemaking in the High Country, checkout High Country Magazines cover story from the August/September 2016 issue. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket Member cities and towns of the North Carolina League of Municipalities this week approved legislative priorities for the 2017-18 legislative biennium, with several of those priorities focused on the significant revenue challenges facing municipalities. In all, more than 200 municipal officials representing over 100 member cities and towns approved 15 legislative goals during Sundays Advocacy Goals Conference held in Raleigh. This year, the conference was held in conjunction with the Leagues annual conference, CityVision 2016 Accelerate! The approval of the goals marked the culmination of more than six months of work by the Leagues four policy committees, which individually are made up of dozens of municipal officials from around the state, as well as the Leagues Board of Directors and general membership. The full list of list of goals follows at the end of this email. You can also find it here. Outgoing NCLM President Lestine Hutchens, mayor of Elkin, noted during the conference that the 3 million people expected to move to North Carolina over the next 15 years will largely be moving into the states cities. We have to prepare, and to do so, we have to show our legislators and show our citizens why all cities and towns need the revenue and the authority to serve our people, Mayor Hutchens said. With the passage of the next bienniums advocacy goals, League staff will now begin to prepare to pursue these goals before state lawmakers, making these priorities known to them and seeking legislation that incorporates them. The League public and government affairs team thanks all of the League members who participated in this process, and looks forward to working with all of you as we, together, advocate on behalf of North Carolina cities and towns in the coming year. Fiscal Health and Economic Growth Seek legislation to provide municipalities with additional locally-controlled revenue options. Seek legislation to allow room occupancy tax revenues to be used to fund municipal service and infrastructure costs in order to support travel and tourism. Seek legislation to alter the current statutes governing distribution of local sales taxes by requiring a one-year delay in implementation when a county or the legislature changes its method of distributing sales tax revenue. Support legislation that will provide sufficient funding at the state level for incentive programs such as a competitive film incentive program, robust state historic preservation tax credits, and the Main Street Solutions fund necessary to grow jobs and the economy. Support legislation to revise the tier method of measuring levels of economic distress to focus on the causes of distress and taking sub-county data into account. Support legislation to bolster the states mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) treatment resources, including resources and solutions to lessen the strain on sworn law enforcement officers when providing custody of individuals in crisis. Support legislation which defends the fiscal integrity of the Local Government Employees Retirement System and its defined benefit structure, promotes reasonable pension reforms that are prospective in nature, and meets the needs of local employees, employers, and retirees. Municipal Authority Support municipal authority over municipal personnel issues. Support legislation that provides for municipal elections to be determined by local municipal authority. Oppose legislation that interferes with local management or ownership of local assets. Public Infrastructure Seek legislation eliminating municipalities repayment of water- and sewer- growth related fees that have been previously collected, and providing municipalities with the authority to assess the level of fees and charges necessary for continued growth and economic development in the future. Seek legislative and administrative changes to the STIP process that give local priorities increased weight in the allocation of transportation funds. Seek legislation to increase state-level funding for municipal infrastructure needs. Support legislation that recognizes that management of a public utility is best determined by the local owning entity due to their consideration of financing, engineering, and regulatory responsibilities. Federal Seek opportunities to support the passage of the federal e-fairness legislation. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket North Albany resident Tom Cordier was not at the Albany City Council meeting Wednesday night, but it's safe to say his presence was felt. The council voted on two matters to which Cordier, a frequent critic of the city, had taken exception: a motion to create a stormwater utility fee and an $8.4 million loan for urban renewal projects. Because of Cordier, the council rolled out the motion on the stormwater matter a second time, having passed it back in April. While the vote doesnt create a new utility, it creates the legal structure needed to charge a fee should the council decide to do so. But Cordier pushed forward with a referendum that would allow voters the chance to repeal the ordinance in a November vote, prompting the city to seek input from the Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division regarding language on the issue that might be considered illegal electioneering. When the city was asked to slightly modify some language, officials realized that moving forward (and preparing a wealth of additional material on the issue for councilors and the public) would invite other opportunities for electioneering violations and could needlessly burden city workers. So they scrapped the ordinance and started over, finally on Wednesday offering the ordinance again. This is essentially the same thing, retired City Attorney Jim Delapoer said of the reintroduced ordinance. The difference is, we've had months of public discussion, which we would not have been able to do if the measure was on the ballot, because it might have been deemed campaigning." There was almost no discussion leading up to the vote, except for comments from Councilor Rich Kellum. I'm going to vote for this, he remarked, although I was thinking about grumbling, but since you all know that I would probably grumble, just go ahead and assume that I grumbled." With that, the ordinance passed unanimously. What is new in the ordinance is a mechanism that lets residents contest the amount of their fee, if they feel it is too high or unfairly calculated. This, said Delapoer, is common in other ordinances designed to give the authority to create fees. He also said the ordinance is the best-case scenario for ratepayers. Officials, he said, have "spent more time explaining to the public the need for this utility. And the only other way to do it without this would be with a surcharge on their bills. Because they will have to pay for it somehow. The other issue, on the formation of an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Central Albany Revitalization Area to accept an $8.4 million loan, passed, but not without some questions. Cordier had called the legality of the loan into question, claiming only the voters could approve it, but as the Democrat-Herald reported, the city charter allows an exception for such projects and says the municipality to borrow the money in order to benefit one of its entities in this case, CARA. Still, some councilors wanted clarification before voting, asking City Attorney Sean Kidd if they were in fact within legal bounds to take the loan. It is my opinion that we are, yes, Kidd declared. A better distribution of work could improve productivity not only in manufacturing sectors but also in knowledge-intensive sectors, argues Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, the chairperson of the Left Alliance Parliamentary Group. The Left Alliance has announced its intention to present a petitionary motion to launch a six-hour workday trial in Finland. She points out in a press release that the working life has changed considerable since a trial to reduce working time was last carried out in the country in the 1990s. A growing number of employers place an emphasis on the productivity of work instead of going through punch cards, says Pekonen. The Left Alliance proposes in its motion that a trial covering a variety of industrial sectors be launched to determine the impact of shorter workdays on the economy, employment situation, employee well-being and other social indicators. The trial, it says, should be organised in co-operation with interested employers and trade unions. It also draws attention to a six-hour workday trial conducted recently in both the private and public sector in Goteborg, Sweden, arguing that its preliminary results have been largely positive, including improved productivity, well-being and quality of work. The opposition party proposed that the workday be shortened to six hours also during the tenure of ex-chairperson Paavo Arhinmaki. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Roni Rekomaa Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Lintila defeated his rival candidate, Mauri Pekkarinen (Centre) in a surprisingly close vote, 37 to 33, in a joint meeting of the decision-making bodies of the Centre Party on Thursday, according to Prime Minister Juha Sipila, the chairperson of the Centre Party. Mika Lintila (Centre), a fifth-term Member of the Parliament from Toholampi, will take over the portfolio of the Minister of Economic Affairs. Related posts: - Rehn looking for a way out of politics (07 September, 2016) Olli Rehn (Centre), the Minister of Economic Affairs, will relinquish his ministerial portfolio at the beginning of next year as he prepares to take a position on the board of the Bank of Finland in February. Lintila said in a press conference he is motivated by his new responsibilities. Developments in the economic and employment situation will be used to measure the successes of the Government, and the Minister of Economic Affairs has a key role in that, he stated to members of the media. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Local high schools honored for graduate rates Related Stories Henderson County Early College, West Henderson High School and Hendersonville High School were three of 70 North Carolina schools recognized for exceptionally high 2015-16 cohort graduation rates. Early College was one of 62 schools in North Carolina with a four-year cohort graduation rate of 100 percent in 2015-16. West Henderson High, with a rate of 96.7 percent and Hendersonville High, with a rate of 95.6 percent, were among high schools in North Carolina recognized for achieving a cohort graduation rate of 95 percent or higher. State Superintendent June Atkinson honored the schools at a special ceremony in Durham on Tuesday. A four-year cohort graduation rate measures the number of graduates who started together as freshmen and completed high school in four years. This is the second year in a row that Early College has been in the states 100% Graduation Club, and the second year in a row West Henderson High has been recognized for a graduation rate of 95 percent or higher. All three high schools outperformed the state average graduation rate of 85.9 percent in 2016. Henderson County Public Schools are committed to educating leaders who are college-ready and prepared for the real world after high school, said HCPS Superintendent Bo Caldwell. Were very proud of our consistently high graduation rates, which are testaments to the efforts of our students and teachers. According to a N.C. Department of Public Instruction news release, the states cohort graduation rate has climbed significantly from 68.3 percent in 2006, and students statewide are meeting higher expectations and achieving at higher levels. Thirty-five percent of the graduating class has college credit, 140,000 business and industry credentials were earned, and nearly 139,000 students received a diploma endorsement certifying that they achieved a high level of preparation for career, college or both, Atkinson said in the NCDPI release. HALSEY Well into his 90s, Irish Bend Loop farmer George VanLeeuwen had a handshake like a steel vise and a smile that melted hearts. VanLeeuwen, who went by Geo. and was a trusted godfather of mid-valley farmers for the last 70 years, died Oct. 21 at the Mennonite Village Rehabilitation Center in Albany. He was 95. VanLeeuwen was born to be a farmer. His mother was pregnant with him when she and her husband emigrated from Holland to Jamestown, North Dakota, in 1920. Dutch was the childs first language, and in his family biography, he recalled being the focus of prejudice at the community's country schoolhouse because of his speech. I have learned that it is good to receive a little prejudice, he noted. It provides a challenge to overcome, the opportunity to consider motivation of the prejudiced, and helps a person to stand up for his own values. He said that by growing up on an isolated farm, We were taught by example the value of self control, respect for other people, hard work, frugality, money management and education. But in 1936, the Dust Bowl sent 16-year-old George, along with his parents, five brothers and sister, in search of a new life in Oregon. Former State Rep. Liz VanLeeuwen, Georges wife of 69 years, said her husbands family rented a farm near Albany for a short time before purchasing a foreclosed 232-acre farm in the Irish Bend Loop area west of Halsey. Although he started high school in North Dakota where he roomed and boarded with widow ladies VanLeeuwen attended Albany Union High for a few months then completed high school in Halsey. In January 1940, VanLeeuwen who considered himself an extremely shy but determined general ag freshman headed to nearby Oregon State College (now Oregon State University), where he studied crop science and ag education. The need to support the war effort during World War II brought him back to the farm, where he helped the family raise flax that would be used to make parachute cords. It was during this time that George met Liz Nelson, an Oregon State coed who had grown up on a farm near Lakeview, so she knew how to work in the fields. The coeds would come out to area farms to help pull weeds since most of the women were working at the shipyards in Portland or Seattle, she recalled. George was intrigued by the fact that Liz could keep up with him work-wise and the two were married in 1947, a week after her graduation. She taught school at Monroe until her husband completed his degree in 1948. George taught ag education at Banks Union High School for half a school year before the family moved to Redmond, where he worked for three years as a farm program administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The family returned to the mid-valley in 1951, where George was a loan officer with Production Credit Association in Salem. The young couple also rented a small farm and worked at night by lantern light. In 1956, they moved home and rented the family farm, which they later purchased and have expanded many times over the years. The VanLeeuwens raised a broad variety of crops and Liz supplemented farm income with teaching jobs. A family member said they never raised green beans or peppermint but tried just about everything else. They were especially known for growing strawberries and employed many families in the area during harvest season. Always an inventor, George created a berry-picking machine that allowed workers to lie down, pick the berries and place them on a conveyor belt as it moved across a field. My dad was always experimenting, James VanLeeuwen said. He was one of the first people in the area to experiment with a machine that compressed grass seed straw in the field. We had the second Hesston big baler in the valley. He was working with the Japanese in the 1970s, trying to develop a market for straw long before others. George also invented a box scraper and a field cultivator for seed crops such as onions, squash and spinach. At age 90, dad went to Idaho and bought an old irrigation system because he was trying to invent irrigation that would adjust itself to irregular fields, James said. George lived outside, working from sunup to sundown most days, but he always started the day by spending time in devotion, reading his Bible. In a family history, he wrote of his faith: My personal understanding is that, if God is God at all, He could make any one of us hurry to do His explicit will; but of His own choosing, He has given us complete freedom to make our own choices. He usually does not force us to Himself, but wants us to be attracted to Himself by the love He demonstrates to us by the reconciliation and forgiveness He offers through faith in Jesus atonement on the cross. In keeping with their beliefs, the VanLeeuwens supported numerous missionaries around the world over the years. George enjoyed tinkering in his shop, but farming was his life. He also enjoyed studying and writing about natural resource issues and had several pieces published over the years. Friend and neighbor Larry Warfel called VanLeeuwen a man who was always looking forward. Most 95-year-old people live in the past. That was not George. He was always interested in what was going on around him and what was next. He especially loved little children, and they loved him. Liz Van Leeuwen added that her husband was a man of infinite patience. He didnt get mad at people, but he could surely get mad at machinery. She added that his pet peeve was anything that was poorly engineered. She also noted that people of all political persuasions were naturally drawn to George. During my time in the Legislature, the other legislators would always ask me how George was doing, she said. In 2005, the VanLeeuwens were inducted into the Oregon Farm Bureau Hall of Fame. At the time, Farm Bureau executive vice president Dave Dillon said of the couple, "Farm Bureau and the Oregon agriculture industry as a whole are better for the decades of involvement, passion, and dedication of George and Liz VanLeeuwen. They have worked tirelessly to educate the public about agriculture's role in our society and economy." Paul Rutgers, a cousin who lives in Holland, called VanLeeuwen, a second father, adding, He truly was one of the good men left in the world. Family members Willie and Ine Weys, who live in Canada added, Uncle George must have touched so many lives with his kind, intelligent, good-hearted spirit. This is what touched us too, whenever we saw him. He leaves an impression of gentleness, caring, intelligence and faithfulness. Mid-valley ag field man Bob Schroder noted, He was a great friend, husband, father and inventor with many talents and more than anything else, a big heart. He will be greatly missed. In addition to his widow, Liz, VanLeeuwen leaves a daughter, May LeQuieu of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; sons Charles VanLeeuwen of Mountainair, New Mexico, and James and Tim VanLeeuwen of Halsey; their spouses; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and a brother, Eugene VanLeeuwen of Scio. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Fisher Funeral Home, Albany. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church, 27910 Seven Mile Lane, Brownsville. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Adult and Teen Challenge of Shedd (www.teenchallengepnw.com/wvmc), Box 108 Shedd, OR 97377 or Ag in the Classroom (www.oregonaitc.org), 200 Strand Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331. Pisgah Legal lawyers fight war on poverty Eleanor Owen Related Stories Legal aid agency, health clinic to collaborate There is an ugly truth that lies in the beautiful mountains in which we live. Thousands of children, and their families, are living in poverty. While the percentage varies county by county, on average 25 percent of Western North Carolina children are living at or below the federal poverty line. In Henderson County that number is 22 percent. These are children whose families are homeless or are at risk of homelessness; children who are often hungry and go without medicine, warm coats, school supplies and other essentials; and children whose mothers are abused but cannot afford to leave a violent home. Twenty years ago, the Childrens Law Project at Pisgah Legal Services(PLS) was created to help solve these devastating problems of poverty and to ensure that children in our community have what they need to thrive. Pisgah Legal is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to improve the lives of individuals and families in crisis in six mountain counties in our region. Over the past two decades, we estimate that Pisgah Legal staff and volunteer attorneys have helped 70,000 children. PLS assisted more than 15,000 people in WNC in the last year alone, including more than 5,500 children. In 2015, PLS helped 1106 Henderson County children avoid homelessness, escape abuse and secure their basic needs. The Childrens Law Project helps address a lack of funding for programs serving low-income women and children in our region. Its incredible to me that these critical services continue to be underfunded when they are proven to be so successful. An attorney can be a highly effective advocate for a child in crisis. A severely autistic child who has his health care benefits wrongfully terminated cant fight to have them reinstated, but a lawyer certainly can. When a family is living in dangerous, substandard housing, the children pay the price for sleeping in a dwelling that is filled with black mold or has raw sewage in the crawl space. An attorney can represent that family in court to compel an unscrupulous landlord to make repairs and ensure their home is safe. And for a child terrorized by domestic violence, a lawyer can help his or her mother escape safely and take the child with her to build a life free from abuse. Pisgah Legal Services is committed to working with partners across WNC to reduce child poverty and the terrible suffering that comes with it. Earlier this month Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of The Childrens Defense Fund, and a lifelong advocate for children, spoke at the 6th Annual Pisgah Legal Poverty Forum. During her inspiring presentation, I was especially moved by these words If we dont stand up for children, then we dont stand for much. The month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I call on you and others from across our region to join with me and Pisgah Legal Services to improve the lives of low-income children and their families who call our mountains home, because they, too, will be our future. Eleanor Owen is a long-time supporter and former Board Chair of Pisgah Legal Services. For more information on PLS visit www.pisgahlegal.org. The Henderson County PLS office is located at 440 South Church Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792 or call 828.253.0406. Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. A right delayed is a right denied.Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Martin Luther King Jr. No one is born hating another person People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist James Baldwin There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence. Newton Lee The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Albert Einstein Defendant Gerard Stevens is among seven who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dale Creighton One of seven Dubliners charged with murdering a man said he didn't know why he had kicked a defenceless stranger in the head three times, adding that he "just got caught up" with it. A jury in their Central Criminal Court trial was yesterday hearing evidence of garda interviews conducted with one of the accused, Gerard Stevens, who initially denied involvement. Dale Creighton was assaulted on New Year's Day 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass between Saint Dominic's Road and Greenhills Road. The 20-year-old died the next day. Bloodbath Garda Kieran Kilcoyne testified that he arrested Mr Stevens on January 3, 2014, and interviewed him the following day. He gave evidence of Mr Stevens' initial denials of involvement in what the accused agreed was a bloodbath of people beating a defenceless male on the ground. However, he was then shown CCTV footage of himself and others assaulting Mr Creighton on the footbridge. "You kick him with your foot three times into the head area. Why?" he was asked. "I don't know," he replied. "I can't remember doing it." It was put to him that he had then leaned over and hit the victim with his fist and later slapped him on the back of the head. "Why?" he was asked again. "I don't know," he said. He said he wouldn't intentionally hurt anyone, even an animal. "I just got caught up with that," he said. "I'm sorry for what I've done. I shouldn't have been there. It was a moment of madness, a moment I'm going to regret for the rest of my life." A woman and six men, who are in their 20s and from Tallaght, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. They are 23-year-old Aisling Burke and 28-year-old David Burke, both with a current address at Beechpark, Collinstown, Co Westmeath; Graham Palmer (26), of Park Avenue, Portarlington, Co Laois; Ross Callery (23), of Gortlum Cottages, Brittas, Co Dublin; James Reid (26), of Glen Aoibhinn, Gorey, Co Wexford; Jason Beresford (23), of Coill Diarmuida, Ard a' Laoi, Castledermot, Co Kildare; and Mr Stevens (27), currently of Grosvenor Square, Rathmines, Dublin. Each accused also initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder. Mr Beresford later changed his plea to guilty to the violent disorder charge. The trial continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. A man who was attacked during a violent burglary in his home has said everyone should lock their doors and windows to help protect themselves from break-ins. Alokh Thomas (22), who is studying for a masters degree in Dublin, said opportunist burglars are looking for any weakness that could help them get into a house, and burglaries can happen during day or night. Expand Close Alokh Thomas who was attacked in aggravated burglary in Celbridge County Kildare. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Alokh Thomas who was attacked in aggravated burglary in Celbridge County Kildare. He was speaking as he recovered from being attacked in his home on the main street in Celbridge, Co Kildare, just before 3pm on Tuesday. Beating Two men gained access to Alokh's kitchen through an open window and beat him with a bat and stabbed him in the arms and wrists with a knife when he said he had no money. "I heard a bang, and I didn't know what it was, so when I came downstairs I saw one man climbing through the kitchen window and another one coming in after him," Alokh told the Herald. "One of them ran at me and hit me with the bat, he went to hit me again and I raised my arm to block him, and he hit me a second time. "Then he attacked me with a knife and it got me deep in the wrist. I asked 'what do you want?' and they were shouting for money," he added, saying he told them he had none. "We had left the kitchen window open, and it gave them a chance. They saw it, so I would say to everyone - lock your doors and close your windows. "I was shocked that this could happen during the daytime, and especially in Celbridge, where there are not many crimes like this. But now I know it can happen any time," he added. Mr Thomas said he was also terrified of the unprovoked violence that was used against him in the attack. "The first thing they did was hit me. I could not believe it. Then they started shouting for money and I told them I had none, and they hit me again," he said. New data released from the Garda Analysis Service shows burglars commonly target back doors (26pc), back windows (24pc) and front windows (8pc) in break-ins. Luas Cross City works will be suspended before Black Friday on Dawson Street, the retail side of Nassau Street and Lower Grafton Street Dublin businesses have welcomed news that the Luas cross-city construction works will be scaled back over the Christmas shopping period. The on-going works, which have slowed down the city with busy routes being closed to traffic, were due to continue over the festive period. Business group Dublin Town and the Dublin Chamber of Commerce were among the groups that achieved the reprieve after talks with the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. In a message to members, Dublin Town said the planned stoppages were a "fair" compromise. "We objected to the initial proposals, which would have seen on-going road and paving works during the Christmas trading period," the group said. Maximise "Nor could we endorse subsequent proposals that would have seen on-street works suspended from December 1. "We believe businesses need to maximise Christmas trade from Black Friday, which falls on November 25." Transport Minister Shane Ross approved the changes at a recent meeting. Luas Cross City works will be suspended before Black Friday on Dawson Street, the retail side of Nassau Street and Lower Grafton Street. It will also be suspended in pedestrian areas in College Green, on Westmoreland Street and the footpaths and carriageways on O'Connell Street. There will be road works on Parnell Street, however, along the section west of O'Connell Street. The pavements will be clear with full access along the length of the pavement on both sides of the street. Road access from O'Connell Street to Dominick Street Lower will be widened to two lanes westbound. In another boost, planned pavement works outside business premises will be deferred until January 2017. There will, however, be paving works around Trinity College in November and December. There will also be road works around the Irish Life building on Marlborough Street and on Hawkins Street. Graeme McQueen, of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said the solution reached by the various organisations will work. "The Luas works have resulted in huge disruption for businesses, especially on the south side. "It can't be stressed enough how vital the Christmas period is," he added. Gardai at the scene of a recent fire in a building on Aungier Street More than 100 bonfire stockpiles in the city have been raided ahead of Halloween. Residents have been urged to report stockpiled material to the city council in a bid to clamp down on illegal bonfires over the weekend. "Dublin City Council has responded to more than 100 reports of stockpiling and has removed a large quantity of material," said a spokeswoman for the council. Safety "These include over 500 tyres that otherwise would have been burnt on illegal bonfires. "We are working in close cooperation with communities and gardai throughout the city to remove reported materials as quickly as possible." Dublin Fire Brigade has been running a fire safety campaign in the run up to the festivities, visiting schools throughout the city to promote their message ahead of the weekend. Lord Mayor Brendan Carr is urging people to participate in alternative events this weekend. "The council's coordinated Halloween Response means people have the opportunity to enjoy Halloween safely at one of the many festivals that are organised in local communities. "Bonfires are not only illegal, they are extremely dangerous and can cause injuries and damage. "I am asking all citizens to report any issues regarding the storage or distribution of bonfire material," he added. A serious fire believed to have been caused by bonfire stockpiles broke out in a building on Aungier Street on the southside earlier this month. The fire broke out at 12.50pm in an industrial unit near York Street. Four Dublin Fire Brigade tenders dealt with the blaze. It is believed the fire was caused by a collection of burning materials that had been gathered ahead of Halloween. Online Citizens can report bonfire stockpiles online and over the phone. Dublin City Council is arranging a number of neighbourhood events around the city including a Halloween Fireworks Display in Donaghmede Park. There is also the Otherworld Festival in Ballymun and the Finglas Frightfest running over the Bank Holiday. Transcription 1 How well are OECD economies adapting to an older workforce? Visit our blog for periodic updates at: pwc.blogs.com/economics_in_business 2 Contents 1. Executive summary Page 3 2. Key results Page 7 3. Potential boost to UK GDP Page Implications for public policy and businesses Page Comparison of individual labour market indicators Page Comparison with other measures Page 26 Annex: Methodology Page 31 Contacts Page 35 2 3 Executive summary 3 4 Executive Summary Headlines Our new Golden Age Index measures how well countries are doing in harnessing the potential of their older workers. The index is a weighted average of seven indicators that reflect the labour market impact of workers aged over 55 in 34 OECD countries, including employment, earnings and training. The UK fell three places in the index rankings from 16 th in 2003 to 19 th in 2007, retaining this 19 th position in The UK improved its absolute performance over this period, but other OECD countries on average improved by a greater amount. Compared to other EU countries in our sample, however, the UK scored relatively well (7 th out of 21 in 2013). If the UK s employment rate for workers aged was equal to that of Sweden, which is the best performing EU country, then UK GDP would be around 5.4% higher, equivalent to around 100 billion at today s GDP values. This would also help to meet the fiscal costs of an ageing population. Scandinavian countries perform strongly on the Golden Age Index, similar to the results of the Women in Work index. Iceland leads the way on our index, having retained its top position since 2003, followed by New Zealand and Sweden. Israel, Norway and Chile also do well. Chile and Israel showed the most significant improvement from 2003 to 2013, driven by their increased employment rate for older workers. Greece and Turkey fell the most in the rankings since 2003, while Eurozone members performed relatively poorly with only 3 in the top half of the rankings. Government policy measures to boost index scores could include: offering tax rebates for companies taking on older workers; increasing spending on retraining of older workers including digital skills and apprenticeships; and enforcing age discrimination laws more strictly. Businesses could gain from job redesign and role shifts to enable longer careers and manage the health issues facing older workers. Training and development should not stop at 50. Family crisis leave, career breaks and alumni programmes could all help to utilise the skills of older workers at a time when customer bases are also ageing. Age should be included in diversity audits for companies. 4 5 The UK has improved its Golden Age Index score over time, but still sits near the middle of the pack as the OECD average has also risen Sources: analysis, OECD UK OECD average 1. Iceland 2. New Zealand 3. Sweden UK Slovenia 34. Turkey 5 6 Potential 100bn boost to UK GDP by increasing older worker employment rates to Swedish levels 80% 70% If the UK had Sweden s older worker employment rates, GDP could be around 5.4%, or c. 100bn, larger 60% FTE employment rate 50% 40% 30% Part-time Full-time 20% 10% 0% UK Sources: analysis, OECD. Part-time shown on full-time equivalent basis (0.5 FT) in chart. Sweden 6 7 Key results 7 8 About the Labour Market Indicators Process Data The combines national performance on the following labour market indicators (with relative weights shown in brackets): Employment rate (40%) Employment rate (20%) Gender gap in employment, 55-64: ratio men/women (10%) Incidence of part-time work (10%) Full time earnings relative to (10%) Average effective exit age from the labour force (5%) Participation in training (5%) These indicators are normalised, weighted and aggregated to generate index scores for each country. The index scores are on a scale from 0 to 100, with the average OECD value in the base year of 2003 set to 50. However, the average index values for 2007 and 2013 can be higher or lower than this 2003 baseline. See Annex for more details of the methodology. All data are taken from the OECD. We focus mostly on the age group as this is the only one where standardised data are available for a broad range of OECD countries. We do, however, include total employment rates for year olds in the index. The latest data available across the broad range of countries covered are for 9 Figure 1: Key results UK falls three places from 16 th to 19 th between 2003 and 2013 Sources: analysis, OECD Rank Index Country Iceland New Zealand Sweden Israel Norway Chile United States Korea Japan Estonia Switzerland Denmark Mexico Canada Australia Finland Portugal Germany United Kingdom Netherlands Czech Republic Austria Spain France Ireland Italy Belgium Slovak Republic Greece Poland Hungary Luxembourg Slovenia Turkey Average Scandinavian countries take 2 of the top 5 places 9 10 Potential boost to UK GDP 10 11 Potential 100bn boost to UK GDP by increasing older worker employment rates to Swedish levels We break down GDP in the following way: GDP FT * GDP per FT worker PT * GDP per PT worker FT * GDP per FT worker PT * GDP per PT worker FT * GDP per FT worker = PT * GDP per PT worker Key assumptions Total employment in the economy is equal to employment within the age group. A full-time (FT) worker is twice as productive on average as a part-time (PT) worker. We took Sweden as a benchmark country as it is the best performing in the EU and calculated the impact on UK GDP if the and FT and PT employment rates in the UK were equal to Sweden s. Result If the UK s employment rates had been equal to Sweden s in 2013, GDP could have been around 5.4% higher, equating to around 100 billion at today s GDP values. Since 2013, both countries have seen rising older age employment rates, but the gap between the two remains similar. Higher GDP of this magnitude would boost tax revenues and reduce benefit payments significantly, helping to meet the long-term health, social care and state pension costs of an ageing population (which were recently estimated by the OBR to be over 4% of GDP in the long term). 11 12 More older workers should add to total employment and output, rather than just displacing younger workers From the perspective of an individual company at a point in time, it might seem that more older workers could just block progression and new job opportunities for younger workers. However, from a longer term macroeconomic perspective, as we are adopting in this study, this should not be the case. This is because people working for longer will have more income to spend, and this extra spending will feed through into increased demand for labour to produce the additional goods and services that these older workers want to buy. The total number of jobs in the economy should therefore ultimately rise to match the increased supply of labour, with a corresponding rise in output. This is the basis for our calculations of the potential boost to UK GDP from raising older worker employment rates to Swedish levels. This process will be eased, however, if companies can move away from linear seniority-based career paths. This would allow older workers, where appropriate later in their careers, to shift down into part-time or advisory roles, avoiding any possible blockage to the career progression of younger workers. 12 13 Possible lessons from Sweden to promote employment among older workers Sweden has one of the OECD s highest employment rates for older workers, particularly amongst women. This reflects a series of policy measures since the early 1990s to counteract early retirement and support older workers. A new state pension regime introduced in the 1990s provided incentives to keep working beyond 65, supported by tax incentives for both individuals and employers. An evaluation by Laun (2012) estimated that this boosted employment rates for over-65s by 1.5 percentage points. Eligibility criteria for disability pensions have also been tightened significantly since the 1990s, reducing a major incentive for early retirement. Policies to keep women in the workforce after maternity (e.g. generous state-funded childcare and parental leave) also seem to be reflected in longer working lives for women. This may also be influenced by evolving social norms. 13 14 Implications for public policy and businesses 14 15 Implications for public policy The provides a high level assessment of OECD countries labour markets and an overview of their progress over time relative to other countries. This analysis can help to identify countries with high scores (e.g. Sweden as discussed above) where there may be useful policies in place that other countries (e.g. the UK or the Eurozone economies) could consider to boost employment of older workers. Governments could consider further reforms of state pension systems to encourage later retirement. Some countries, including the UK and Sweden, are already phasing in future rises in state pension ages, while in others (including Sweden but not the UK) state pension entitlements are adjusted on the basis of expected life expectancy at the time of retirement. The financial benefits of deferring both state and private pensions should be communicated more widely. Governments could create greater financial incentives for older workers to remain in or re-enter the labour force. For example, as in Sweden, there could be national insurance or payroll tax deductions for employers that take on older workers (as exists for NICs in the UK for younger workers). There could also be higher income tax allowances for workers over 65, as in Sweden, or wage top-ups for year olds who continue to work beyond retirement, as in Japan. Many pensioners may continue to work (at least) part-time in future. Governments could also introduce new training initiatives to improve the employability of older workers. This could include training in digital skills, adult learning loans and some form of retraining-based apprenticeships for older workers of the kind that are commonplace for younger workers in the UK and elsewhere. Job centres should focus on helping with online job search and self-marketing skills. Governments could remove the barriers to continued employment and encourage recruitment of older workers by reviewing current legislation around age discrimination, flexible working and private pensions so they do not incentivise early retirement. Past UK governments have taken steps in this direction, but the Altmann review argues they need to do more to enforce age discrimination legislation and in other areas. Boosting employment rates for older women is also particularly important in some countries, which could include measures to allow flexible working around caring responsibilities (whether for elderly parents or grandchildren). 15 16 Implications for businesses Opportunities and challenges Our Golden Age index covers a range of labour market indicators that businesses could take into account when identifying potential business locations. The index also highlights the growth potential for businesses in some countries where employment rates are relatively low for older workers but populations are steadily ageing. Businesses who make better use of the skills and experience of older workers could gain a competitive advantage at a time when their customer bases are also ageing. This will, however, require more flexibility in areas such as job design, role shifts and allowance for the health issues that older workers may face. Employers may also need to rethink their attitudes to training and development for older workers, so that this does not stop at 50. This may also include giving senior staff better training in how to manage older workers, which may involve cultural shifts where there is no longer a strict seniority-based hierarchy. An ageing workforce may also demand different approaches to reward in terms of the balance between salaries, pension benefits, holiday entitlements, health insurance and other benefits (e.g. allowing career breaks for long-serving older workers). Changes in employment legislation for older workers may have significant business implications in relation to issues such as age discrimination and laws around temporary and flexible working for older workers. Companies would benefit from doing a comprehensive audit of their age profile that covers recruitment, retention, training, reward and performance. Age should be treated as an important element in wider diversity audits. 16 17 Comparison of individual labour market indicators 17 18 Figure 2: Employment rate of year olds Employment increased in the majority of OECD countries (including the UK) with the rate in Germany rising particularly rapidly between 2003 and However, rates fell in Portugal and Greece over this period. Employment rate (%) Employment rate (%) Sources: analysis, OECD 19 Figure 3: Employment rate of year olds The employment rate of this age group varies significantly across the OECD countries from 50% in Iceland to only 3% in Slovak Republic. The UK has shown a clear upward trend over time, but is still below the top performers. Employment rate (%) Employment rate (%) Sources: analysis, OECD 20 Figure 4: Gender gap in employment for year olds (ratio men/women) The gender gap in employment has decreased in most of the OECD countries with the steepest falls occurring in Slovak Republic and Spain (but only modest progress in the UK on this measure). Gender gap in employment, (ratio) 4.0 Gender gap in employment, (ratio) Sources: analysis, OECD 21 Figure 5: Incidence of part-time work for year olds The UK has the 4th highest incidence of part-time work for this age group amongst the OECD countries (though this will be what some workers want) Incidence of part-time work, (%) Incidence of part-time work, (%) Sources: analysis, OECD 22 Figure 6: Full-time earnings of year olds relative to year olds Relative full-time earnings across age groups has remained broadly constant since 2003 in most countries. The UK has one of the lowest ratios here. Full-time earnings relative to (ratio) 1.5 Full-time earnings relative to (ratio) Sources: analysis, OECD 23 Figure 7: Average effective labour force exit age The average effective labour force exit age increased in the majority of countries from 2003 to 2013, including the UK, but Mexico and Ireland experienced declines (the former from an exceptionally high level in 2007). Average effective labour force exit age (years) 75 Average effective labour force exit age (years) Sources: analysis, OECD 24 Figure 8: Participation in training of year olds Northern European countries tend to have a relatively high proportion of year olds in training. The UK has seen a fall in training participation rates amongst this age group since 2007, but remains above the OECD median rate. Participation in training, (% of all employed in the age group) 'Participation in training, (% of all employed in the age group) Sources: analysis, OECD 25 Overall UK performance on the Golden Age index is only middling (19 th from 34 OECD countries) 01 Close to median performance on employment rates for year olds, relative male/female employment rates and average workforce exit ages. Somewhat above median performance on employment rates for year olds and average training rates for year olds Below median performance on the share of full-time working for year olds and relative full-time average earnings rates for year olds compared to younger workers. Overall UK performance has improved since 2003 on most measures except training participation, but by slightly less than the OECD average, resulting in a ranking fall from 16th in 2003 to 19th in 26 Comparison with other measures 26 27 There is a positive correlation between the Golden Age Index and life expectancy, implying that countries where people live for longer also tend to have longer working lives Figure 9: and life expectancy Japan Life expectancy at birth (years) Greece Slovenia Italy Spain Australia Switzerland Sweden Israel Luxembourg France Korea Germany Portugal Norway Ireland Netherlands Finland Austria United Kingdom Belgium Denmark Chile Poland Czech Republic Estonia United States New Zealand Iceland 76 Slovak Republic 75 Turkey Hungary Mexico (2013) Sources: analysis, OECD, World Health Organisation 27 28 There is a wide variation in Golden Age index scores across EU countries with similar state pension ages, although there is some (fairly weak) evidence of positive correlation here Figure 10: and EU average state pension age 66 EU average state pension age 2012 (years) Slovenia Belgium Ireland Spain Luxembourg Poland Italy Greece Slovak Republic Hungary Netherlands Portugal Germany Finland Austria United Kingdom Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Sweden 60 France (2013) Sources: analysis, EU European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (2012) 28 29 The Golden Age Index is positively correlated with GDP per capita within developed economies, but the relationship is relatively weak in statistical terms Figure 11: and GDP per capita 100,000 90,000 Luxembourg GDP per capita, 2013 (USD, current prices) 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 Austria Ireland Netherlands Australia Denmark Belgium Germany United Kingdom Finland Italy Slovenia Slovak Republic Hungary Greece Poland Turkey France Spain Czech Republic Portugal Mexico Japan Korea Norway Switzerland United States Estonia Chile Sweden New Zealand Israel Iceland 10, (2013) Sources: analysis, OECD 29 30 There is a strong, positive correlation between the Golden Age and Women in Work indices, perhaps reflecting common labour market policies and social norms Figure 12: and Women in Work Index 90 Women in Work Index (2013) Belgium Hungary Norway Denmark Germany Finland Netherlands Austria Switzerland Canada France United Kingdom Portugal Poland Australia Czech Republic Ireland Spain Slovak Republic Japan Italy Sweden New Zealand United States Israel 30 Greece Korea (2013) Sources: analysis, OECD 30 31 Annex: Methodology 31 32 Methodology Variables included in the index Indicator Weight Factor* Rationale Employment rate, (% of the age group) 40% 1 The proportion of year old workers in employment is the most important measure in our index and so has the highest weight of 40%. Employment rate, (% of the age group) 20% 1 Gender gap in employment, (ratio men/women) 10% -1 Incidence of part-time work, (% of total employment) 10% -1 Full-time earnings, relative to (ratio) 10% 1 Average effective labour force exit age (years) 5% 1 Participation in training of age group (% of all employed in the age group) 5% 1 The proportion of year old workers has half the weighting of that of year old workers assuming the age group is roughly half as large in terms of population. Gender equality in employment is included here as lower employment rates among older women tend to be a particular feature of many OECD countries. Part-time employment may adversely affect earnings, pensions and job security, but this is given a lower weight in the index since some older workers may prefer part-time work. Earnings equality would represent equal pay across age groups and could also be an indicator of the relative labour productivity of older workers. This measures the length of time a worker stays in the labour force before they become economically inactive. However, there is some overlap with other variables such as employment rates so we do not give it too high a weight in the index. This is an indication of how far older workers keep learning beyond age 55, which will be important in keeping them employable and renewing their skills. But data are lacking for several countries, so we do not give this too high a weight in the index. *Indicates whether higher values of an indicator are positively or negatively scored in the index 32 33 Methodology How does it work? We used a standard method to construct this index, similar to the one used in the Women in Work and ESCAPE indices, and by many other researchers constructing such indices. 01 Normalise Indicators are standardised using the z- score method, based on the mean and standard deviation of the sample of 34 countries in a base year of 2003, to allow for comparisons both across countries and across time. 03 Calculate the scores The scores are constructed as a weighted average of normalised labour market indicator values. Calculating the Golden Age Index 02 Apply positive/negative factor Positive/negative factors are applied so each variable enters the index with the correct sign (e.g. positive for employment rates, negative for gender gap in employment). 04 Scale the index Scores are rescaled to values between 0 and 100 with the average value across all 34 countries set, by definition, to 50 in 34 We also tested the robustness of our findings to using some alternative variables and weights We considered including unemployment rates as a variable either in absolute terms for the age group, or relative to the rate for all age groups. However, this made the index more sensitive to short-term cyclical trends whereas our focus here was more on longer-term structural issues, so we decided not to include unemployment rates in the final index. This would not, however, greatly change the UK s relative ranking. We also considered alternative weighting schemes, but these did not alter our key results such as: Scandinavian countries tending to come at the top of the index together with others such as New Zealand, Israel and Chile. The UK having a middling rank of around 16-20th among the 34 OECD countries in the index in 2013, generally with some decline over time, particularly in 35 Contacts For more information about this report please contact: John Hawksworth Andrew Sentance Conor Lambe David Tran Our Economics and Policy practice offers a wide range of services covering: market reform in a range of industry sectors (including energy, water, media and telecoms, financial services, health and government services); competition policy, disputes and other investigations; economic, social and environmental impact analysis; financial economics; fiscal policy and macroeconomics. For more information about these services please visit our website: This study forms part of our wider Megatrends research programme: 35 36 This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and, to the extent permitted by law, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. In this document, "" refers to the UK member firm, and may sometimes refer to the network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see for further details GL-UK Proposed pipeline routes through the Middle East to gas markets in Europe. The purple line is the Western-supported Qatar-Turkey pipeline. All of the nations it passes through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey (all highlighted in red) have agreed to it ... except Syria. The red line is the "Islamic Pipeline" from Iran through Iraq into Syria. See text below for further explanation. (Source: MintPress News; click to enlarge) Syria: Another Pipeline War ... America's unsavory record of violent interventions in Syriaobscure to the American people yet well known to Syrianssowed fertile ground for the violent Islamic Jihadism that now complicates any effective response by our government to address the challenge of ISIS. So long as the American public and policymakers are unaware of this past, further interventions are likely to only compound the crisis. Moreover, our enemies delight in our ignorance. ... [W]e need to look at history from the Syrians' perspective and particularly the seeds of the current conflict. Long before our 2003 occupation of Iraq triggered the Sunni uprising that has now morphed into the Islamic State, the CIA had nurtured violent Jihadism as a Cold War weapon and freighted U.S./Syrian relationships with toxic baggage. During the 1950's, President Eisenhower and the Dulles brothers rebuffed Soviet treaty proposals to leave the Middle East a cold war neutral zone and let Arabs rule Arabia. Instead, they mounted a clandestine war against Arab Nationalismwhich CIA Director Allan [sic] Dulles equated with communismparticularly when Arab self-rule threatened oil concessions. They pumped secret American military aid to tyrants in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon favoring puppets with conservative Jihadist ideologies which they regarded as a reliable antidote to Soviet Marxism. At a White House meeting between the CIA's Director of Plans, Frank Wisner, and Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, in September of 1957, Eisenhower advised the agency, We should do everything possible to stress the 'holy war' aspect." The CIA began its active meddling in Syria in 1949barely a year after the agency's creation. Syrian patriots had declared war on the Nazis, expelled their Vichy French colonial rulers and crafted a fragile secularist democracy based on the American model. But in March of 1949, Syria's democratically elected president, Shukri-al-Kuwaiti, hesitated to approve the Trans Arabian Pipeline, an American project intended to connect the oil fields of Saudi Arabia to the ports of Lebanon via Syria. In his book, Legacy of Ashes, CIA historian Tim Weiner recounts that in retaliation, the CIA engineered a coup, replacing al-Kuwaiti with the CIA's handpicked dictator, a convicted swindler named Husni al-Za'im. Al-Za'im barely had time to dissolve parliament and approve the American pipeline before his countrymen deposed him, 14 weeks into his regime. Thanks in large part to Allan Dulles and the CIA, whose foreign policy intrigues were often directly at odds with the stated policies of our nation, the idealistic path outlined in the Atlantic Charter was the road not taken. In 1957, my grandfather, Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy, sat on a secret committee charged with investigating CIA's clandestine mischief in the Mid-East. The so called Bruce Lovett Report," to which he was a signatory, described CIA coup plots in Jordan, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Egypt, all common knowledge on the Arab street, but virtually unknown to the American people who believed, at face value, their government's denials. The report blamed the CIA for the rampant anti-Americanism that was then mysteriously taking root in the many countries in the world today." ... A parade of Iranian and Syrian dictators, including Bashar al-Assad and his father, have invoked the history of the CIA's bloody coups as a pretext for their authoritarian rule, repressive tactics and their need for a strong Russian alliance. These stories are therefore well known to the people of Syria and Iran who naturally interpret talk of U.S. intervention in the context of that history. While the compliant American press parrots the narrative that our military support for the Syrian insurgency is purely humanitarian, many Syrians see the present crisis as just another proxy war over pipelines and geopolitics. Before rushing deeper into the conflagration, it would be wise for us to consider the abundant facts supporting that perspective. A Pipeline War In [the Syrians'] view, our war against Bashar Assad did not begin with the peaceful civil protests of the Arab Spring in 2011. Instead it began in 2000 when Qatar proposed to construct a $10 billion, 1,500km pipeline through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. Qatar shares with Iran, the South Pars/North Dome gas field, the world's richest natural gas repository. The international trade embargo, until recently, prohibited Iran from selling gas abroad and ensured that Qatar's gas could only reach European markets if it is liquefied and shipped by sea, a route that restricts volume and dramatically raises costs. The EU, which gets 30 percent of its gas from Russia, was equally hungry for the pipeline which would have given its members cheap energy and relief from Vladimir Putin's stifling economic and political leverage. Turkey, Russia's second largest gas customer, was particularly anxious to end its reliance on its ancient rival and to position itself as the lucrative transect hub for Asian fuels to EU markets. The Qatari pipeline would have benefited Saudi Arabia's conservative Sunni Monarchy by giving them a foothold in Shia dominated Syria. The Saudi's geopolitical goal is to contain the economic and political power of the Kingdom's principal rival, Iran, a Shiite state, and close ally of Bashar Assad. The Saudi monarchy viewed the U.S. sponsored Shia takeover in Iraq as a demotion to its regional power and was already engaged in a proxy war against Tehran in Yemen, highlighted by the Saudi genocide against the Iranian backed Houthi tribe. Of course, the Russians, who sell 70 percent of their gas exports to Europe, viewed the Qatar/Turkey pipeline as an existential threat. In Putin's view, the Qatar pipeline is a NATO plot to change the status quo, deprive Russia of its only foothold in the Middle East, strangle the Russian economy and end Russian leverage in the European energy market. In 2009, Assad announced that he would refuse to sign the agreement to allow the pipeline to run through Syria to protect the interests of our Russian ally." "Assad further enraged the Gulf's Sunni monarchs by endorsing a Russian approved Islamic pipeline" running from Iran's side of the gas field through Syria and to the ports of Lebanon. The Islamic pipeline would make Shia Iran instead of Sunni Qatar, the principal supplier to the European energy market and dramatically increase Tehran's influence in the Mid-East and the world. Israel also was understandably determined to derail the Islamic pipeline which would enrich Iran and Syria and presumably strengthen their proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas. According to Hersh, He certainly wasn't beheading people every Wednesday like the Saudis do in Mecca." Another veteran journalist, Bob Parry, echoes that assessment. No one in the region has clean hands but in the realms of torture, mass killings, civil liberties and supporting terrorism, Assad is much better than the Saudis." Kerry reiterated the offer to Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL27): With respect to Arab countries offering to bear the costs of [an American invasion] to topple Assad, the answer is profoundly Yes, they have. The offer is on the table." Despite pressure from Republicans, Barrack Obama balked at hiring out young Americans to die as mercenaries for a pipeline conglomerate. Obama wisely ignored Republican clamoring to put ground troops in Syria or to funnel more funding to moderate insurgents." But by late 2011, Republican pressure and our Sunni allies had pushed the American government into the fray. [Syria's] moderates are fleeing a war that is not their war. They simply want to escape being crushed between the anvil of Assad's Russian backed tyranny and the vicious Jihadi Sunni hammer that we had a hand in wielding in a global battle over competing pipelines. You can't blame the Syrian people for not widely embracing a blueprint for their nation minted in either Washington or Moscow. The super powers have left no options for an idealistic future that moderate Syrians might consider fighting for. And no one wants to die for a pipeline. I'm not sure most Americans have figured out what's happening in Syria, because so much of what we hear is confusing to us, and really, we know so little of the context for it. Is it an insurgency against a brutal ruler? Is it aof insurgencies struggling for power in a nearly failed state? Is it a proxy war expressing the territorial and ideological interests of the U.S., Russia, Turkey and Iran?Or something else?According to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. it is something else a war between competing national interests to build, or not build, a pipeline to the Mediterranean so natural gas can be exported to Europe. Inconveniently for Syria, that nation lies along an obvious pipeline route.Which makes it another war between interests for money something not very hard to understand at all.Here's Kennedy's argument via EcoWatch. This is a long piece, well worth a full read, but I'll try to present just the relevant sections here.Kennedy's introductory section contains an excellent examination of the history of U.S. involvement in Syria starting in the 1950s with the Cold War machinations of the Eisenhower-appointed Dulles brothers, John Foster Dulles, the Secretary of State, and Allen Dulles, the head of the CIA. Together, they effectively ruled U.S. foreign policy.Kennedy writes (my emphasis):Kennedy then details the history of coups and counter-coups in and against Syria, and concludes this section with this:So much for our supposed interest in "humanitarian" intervention in Syria. From a Syrian point of view, it has never been thus. It has been about pipelines since 1949, and they understand that, even if we don't.Kennedy then turns to the present, or the near-present. Refer to the map above as you read:Which puts the Qatari pipeline squarely opposite to Russia's national interest natural gas (methane) sales to Europe.That was likely the last straw vis-a-vis the U.S. Which brings us to another pipeline, the so-called "Islamic Pipeline" (see map above):Another, competing pipeline which would run through Syrian territory, but this time carrying Iranian gas instead of Qatari gas. Thus the demonizing of Assad as evil in the mold of Saddam Hussein, instead of just a run-of-the-mill Middle East autocrat, as bad as some but better than others. Kennedy includes a good section on the history of the al-Assad family's rule of Syria, including this information from top reporters Sy Hersh and Robert Parry:In September 2013, the Sunni states involved in the Qatar-Turkey pipeline were so determined to remove Syrian opposition to the pipeline that they offered, via John Kerry, to carry the whole cost of an U.S. invasion to topple al-Assad.Obama's response:The rest is a history of provocation and over-reaction a great deal of both and chaos and death in Syria. Kennedy provides much detail here, at one point adding:I'll leave it there, but again, do read the entire piece if you want to truly understand what's going on in Syria, and what is about to go on.Bottom line, it's as Kennedy said: "No one wants to die for a pipeline" ... but many do and will.I'll offer three thoughts., if we weren't so determined to be deeply dependent on fossil fuels, this would be their war, not ours., we are deeply dependent on fossil fuels because of the political machinations of the oil companies, their CEOs, and the banks and hedge funds who fund them, all of whom pay our government officials via campaign contributions and the revolving door to prolong that dependence. We're here because the holders of big oil money want us here.And, keep all this in mind during the term of the next president. It will help you make sense of the phony warrior--humanitarian arguments we're almost certain to be subjected to.We have been at war in Syria over pipelines since 1949. This is just the next mad phase.GP Labels: Allen Dulles, Big Oil, Eisenhower, Gaius Publius, John Foster Dulles, Middle East, Qatar, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Russia, Saudis, Seymour Hersh, Syria Atlantic column on Sunday, David Frum dealt with the In hiscolumn on Sunday, David Frum dealt with the lesser-of-two-evils elections concept from a Republican perspective . "You dont vote to send a message," he wrote. "You vote to choose a president... Look at how shes coped with that maniac Trump on the debate stage. Couldnt have been cooler. Despite yourself, youve been impressed. Shes smart and tough and open to reason. We could do worse. Its four yearsnot even. Shell perhaps be boxed in by a Republican Congress for the first two years; much more probably so in 2019 and 2020. By then, itll be time to try again, this time with a Republican nominee not suffering from a major personality disorder... [C]hoices are judged by their consequences, and the consequences here are stark: If not Hillary, then Trump. If not Trump, then Hillary. Since it cant be Trump, it must be Hillary. You understand why people might evade that unwelcome reality. But you didnt get where you are by evading realities. You face them, you meet them, you make the best of them. You'll hope for the best, but at least youll know you did all you could to prevent the worst." Which is more than anyone could say about Paul Ryan. Getting clumsily entangled in Trump world-- much more so than, for example, the more wily, Mitch McConnell-- seems to have wrecked Ryan's political future. Polls are showing Republicans are turning Ryan's #BetterWay into a very #BitterWay, at least for him. An NBC poll released yesterday show that a majority of GOP voters prefer Trump over Ryan to lead the GOP. 63% of Republican voters say they trust Trump more than Ryan (who only garnered 31%). A week earlier a Bloomberg poll showed 51% backing Trump as the better representative of what the GOP stands for, competed to 33% who went with Ryan. Norm Ornstein outlined Ryan's problem with the base and concluded that "[t]he fact that Trump, his advisor Hannity, and a slice of his caucus are hostile to Ryan is less ominous in a sense than the poll result; it is clear that there is now a yawning gap between the Republican establishment leadership and the party rank-and-file. All of that will make governing by finding the necessary coalitions and compromises much more difficult. But it also suggests that the vote for Speaker will be one of the most fascinating and tumultuous post-election events." Freedom Caucus member Rep. Mark Meadows (who led the charge to oust John Boehner,) said recently, A lot of people who believe so desperately that we need to put Donald Trump in the White House-- they question the loyalty of the Speaker." Meadows and his allies are trying to delay the Caucus vote, scheduled for the week after the election, to mobilize opposition to Ryan. They might confront Ryan after the election and before the Republican Conference votes to choose its candidate for Speaker, demanding concessions that would include cutting discretionary spending even more sharply, returning to the use of the debt ceiling as a hostage to force the new President Clinton to capitulate to their demands, and refusing to cooperate with her on any area of public policy-- a set of demands Ryan could not accept without destroying his capacity to lead, along with deepening governmental dysfunction beyond its current sorry state. ...The best case scenario for Ryan: he skillfully and persistently works his battered caucus to understand he is their only realistic alternative, deflects non-negotiable demands, limps through to a victory on the House floor, and returns to the same dilemma he faced in 2016, and that his predecessor faced from 2011 on: the only way to make policy that can actually be enacted into law is to lose a sizable core of Republicans and replace them with Democrats. There are only so many times he can do that without facing a broader internal revolt. But the failure or refusal to do so means he has failed in his fundamental duty as a constitutional officer, the Speaker not of his party but of the whole House. only outside group spending in TX-21 is Blue America. We've spending around $15,000 so far with a phone-banking system and our mobile billboard and we've raised another $6,000 for his campaign in small contributions from our members. ( How battered that caucus will be-- and if it will be even in a position to elect a Speaker at all, or if the Democrats will win up doing that-- will be determined in 2 weeks minus a day. Last night we saw how suburban voters in purple Orange and San Diego counties in California have swung away from Trump and the GOP and are likely to dump Darrell Issa in favor of Doug Applegate. CA-49, however is an R+4 district where Romney only beat Obama by 20,000 votes-- 52-46%. In the Bexar, Travis and Comal county suburbs that make up much of Lamar Smith's TX-21, reliably Republican voters have also swung massively away from Trump and are likely to give Hillary a win in TX-21, though Obama lost it to Romney by 70,000 votes-- 60-38%. That would be one amazing swing! And will it be enough to end Trump-backing-Lamar Smith's career in Congress? Tom Wakley and his grassroots campaign sure thinks so. The DCCC and House Majority PAC have pushed $1,939,895 into the race against Issa (including $719,195 this week alone). So far the DCCC has spent zero against Lamar Smith-- the exact same amount Pelosi's House Majority PAC has spent. Theoutside group spending in TX-21 is Blue America. We've spending around $15,000 so far with a phone-banking system and our mobile billboard and we've raised another $6,000 for his campaign in small contributions from our members. ( Please chip in here for his Get Out the Vote efforts.) NY Times dug into the claims that Yesterday, Manny Fernadndez, reporting for thedug into the claims that Texas is winnable for the Democrats this year . Last time it happened was exactly 40 years ago (Carter vs Ford). Democrats see a large turnout by Latinos and African Americans and they see a lot of Republicans, turned off by Trump, staying home. This is likely to be truer in Bexar and Travis counties-- San Diego and Austin-- than anywhere else in the state and that bodes well for Tom Wakley. In endorsing Wakely yesterday, the Daily Texan wrote that "Lamar Smith has abused his power as the chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee to overburden climate scientists and state attorney generals whose work contradicts his denial of climate change. That, and his continued support for Donald Trump, are disqualifying. While his opponent, Tom Wakely, has never held office in this state, Smith has shown that he shouldnt be going forward. He represents a swath from West Campus to San Antonio-- and also the Republican stronghold of Kerrville, which will keep him in place." But will it? During the last presidential election (2012) Smith did really well in Kerr County, 16,781 votes (78%) of the 20,788 votes cat there. That looks hard to overcome. Sure does. But Travis county gave Smith's opponent 61% of its votes, 48,104 of the 73,711 cast there. The decider will be Bexar, which Smith won big (64%) but-- thanks to Trump-- is very vulnerable in this year. Hillary's ahead in Bexar, Wakely's home county, and he's looking like he can extend his big win from the primary against a conservative Democrat into a close win in 2 weeks. He may even hold Smith down in Kerr and he certainly will in Comal, Gillespie and Hays, where voters in the environs of New Braunfels and San Marcos are seeing just how intertwined Lamar Smith and Donald Trump are. Yesterday, Smith-- who normally never bothers campaigning-- was on the defensive at the Comal County Senior Center in New Braunfels. This is what greeted him when he arrived: The days are shorter, but not the list of things you can do. Let us go back to the Ramayana, several thousands of years ago, when Ayodhya became almost like a ghost city on Lord Ramas exile, due to Kaikeyis plotting. All the people were thrust into sorrow and distress for fourteen unbearably long years. When Lord Rama finally returned to Ayodhya, they spontaneously celebrated this joyful reunion with the divine and welcomed Lord Rama back to their city, illuminating their homes. Lord Ramas homecoming is a historical reality; this event also has immense significance in our lives. Lord Rama was the King of Ayodhya. We can compare Ayodhya to our heart and Lord Rama to its Lord, the ultimate object of love and devotion for all of us. Due to our narrow-minded and mistaken beliefs, we too have banished the Lord from our heart. Just as Ayodhya became a ghost town when Lord Rama departed, our heart has become polluted with negative thoughts like anger, hatred, violence, lust, envy, wickedness, fear, greed, prejudice, depression, oppression, anxiety, boredom, loneliness and stress. Our lives too are without a purpose. However, the significant difference between us and the people of Ayodhya is that they knew without a doubt that their grief was due to separation from the Lord. But we are generally and often slow to identify the root cause of our unhappiness. We pursue materialistic goals possessions, status, power, prestige, fame and position. But these illusions offer only momentary enjoyment and do not provide eternal fulfillment. Hence, with all the comforts in our lives, our lives are still frustrating and disappointing. Darkness symbolizes ignorance and light represents knowledge. Lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction (through knowledge) of all these negative thoughts. The light from the earthen lamps (diyas) should also light our hearts with divine love, brotherhood and friendship. The flame of a lamp has two attributes. One is to expel darkness. The other is a continuous upward movement. Even when a lamp is kept in a pit, the flame moves upwards. The sages have therefore respected the lamp of wisdom as the flame that leads people to higher levels. Hence, while lighting the external lamps (diyas), people should make every effort to light the lamps within them. Further, we light numerous lamps with one candle. The light, with which other lamps are lit, is a Symbol of the Divine. The other lamps obtain their light from the One Supreme Light. In the evening, many people pray in their homes. They worship Ganesha, the God of Wisdom, the remover of all obstacles and Lakshmi, the Goddess of Prosperity and Good Fortune. Some believe that Lakshmi roams around the Earth looking for clean and spotless homes where she will be welcomed. People clean their homes and open their doors and windows, and lights are left burning all night, so that Lakshmi may feel welcome and enter. * In North India, they celebrate the story of King Rama's return to Ayodhya (after he defeated Ravana), by lighting rows of clay lamps. * South India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. * In Western India the festival represents the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main Gods of the Hindu Trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule the lower world. * In West Bengal and some other areas in North India, during Deepavali, Goddess Kali is worshipped. Just as the lights drive away the darkness, Goddess Kali drives away the evil forces in our world. Deepavali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Suriname and Fiji. Anup Y. Attavar Connecting Indians B.E. Mech. (COEP, Pune); P.G.D. - International Trade (IIFT, New Delhi) Alumnus Loyola High School, Pune (India) Special Correspondent (Western India) - Dwarka Parichay Newspaper US Higher Education Counselor for Statements of Purpose (SOP) Author World Famous Indian Scientists Email: anup.attavar@gmail.com URL: www.anupattavar.in India is a land of festivals. Many festivals are celebrated here with great grandeur. Every festival has a historical, religious or mythological significance behind it. Deepavali is one of the most popular festivals of India and is being celebrated for the past thousands of years. The name of the festival is obtained from the row (avali) of clay lamps (or deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects them from spiritual darkness. Climate change wiped out competitive shrimp stocks, paving the way for Vietnamese exports. Vietnam's shrimp exports to the U.S. climbed consistenly throughout the year, according to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). Despite a modest dip of 1.5 percent in June, the trade consistently climbed, every month. U.S. anti-dumping duties rose from 0.9 to 4.8 percent this September, but shrimp exports hit an $85 million this month. During the first nine months of the year, Americans took in over half a billion USD of Vietnamese shrimp -- a 15.2 percent year-on-year rise. The price and demand for shrimp both surged due to low supply in India, Indonesia, Ecuador and Thailand, according to VASEP. The organization blamed the scarcity of shrimp stocks on climate change. In addition, American consumers also took in about a fifth of Vietnam's overall seafood exports. However, due to high anti-dumping duties and strict inspection practices, VASEP expects to log a modest export growth of 3.3 percent (about $3 billion) by the end of the year. By October, Vietnam's total seafood exports had hit $6 billion, up six percent from 2015, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Vietnamese seafood exporters expect to benefit from a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, which goes into effect this month. Related news: > Vietnamese shrimp exports under more toxic scrutiny > Vietnam to claw in $3 mln from shrimp exports this year: Agriculture Ministry > Vietnam eyes bigger share in Australias shrimp market Laborers work at a construction site of a residential apartment building in Hanoi on March 16, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Kham The government has only recouped 15 percent of the bad debt it's bought from troubled banks. The banking system had reportedly tackled VND548 trillion ($24.5 billion) worth of bad debt as of the end of August this year, said the central bank at a conference on Wednesday. Almost 42.8 percent of that has been bought up by the Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC). The VAMC was set up by the government back in 2013 to buy bad debt from troubled banks. Since then, the VAMC has bought VND227.84 trillion ($10.2 billion) worth of non-performing loans from banks, said Nguyen Quoc Hung, chairman of the VAMC. However, the VAMC has only recouped about 15 percent of the bad debt, mainly by selling properties originally put up as collateral for loans in the real estate sector, which accounts for 63.5 percent of the total non-performing loans. The VAMC was initially expected to fix half of the non-performing loans in the banking system. However, progress has been slow due to insufficient operating capital, said Hung. The central bank is aiming to cut toxic debt in the banking system to below 3 percent of total outstanding loans for this year. At a recent parliamentary meeting, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong said bad debt as of August 31 was reported at 2.66 percent, below the warning limit. Related News: > Vietnam's banking system needs $25 bln to clear off toxic debts > Vietnamese central bank determined to keep bad debt ratio below 3 pct As bond manager, Butler will be responsible for working with the city managers office and will manage each aspect of implementing and scheduling the design and construction processes to complete the bond projects, according to the release. Butler, a licensed engineer in North Carolina and Louisiana, has been working with the city since Oct. 17. Butlers previous work includes time at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and as a Public Works Project Manager in Durham. The City of Hickorys vision for the bond program is exciting, and I look forward to helping bring that vision to life, said Butler in the release. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this community. Hickorys $40 million bond program was approved by citizens in 2014. The projects include improvements to streets, and a riverwalk along Lake Hickory. HICKORY Keeping students motivated to be in class is not a problem for Hickory High School (HHS) Automotive Instructor Tim Felton these days. The idea of turning an old, worn out 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air into a R.A.T. Rod (Radically Alternative Thinking) hot rod has Feltons kids geared up every time they walk through the doors of the school's automotive shop. Its basically thinking outside the box for the kids, Felton said. Theyre putting their own ideas into this project its hard to teach in the classroom because all they talk about is the '57 Chevrolet. Hickory High's automotive department received a $5,000 donation from the Charlotte STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) organization to build a R.A.T. Rod last year. Charlotte STEAM and Harper Corporation of America have challenged students from across North Carolina and South Carolina to build a R.A.T. Rod vehicle, charlottesteam.org says. The HHS students decided to buy a 57 Chevrolet at the end of the 2015-16 school year. In September, the teacher got news from the organization that donated the money that the car is in the national R.A.T. Rod magazine. Hickory High will present their R.A.T. Rod in a car show in April. Felton sees thieproject as way to expand his students education. Theyre building something," Felton said. "Nowadays everybody wants to buy something. This takes it to another level. The main requirement of the challenge is the project must be completely student driven their ideas and their work put towards transforming the vehicle into a street legal, head turning classic. Other requirements include building the car with parts from at least 10 other vehicles. The R.A.T. Rod must be operable and safe for the road and students must use STEAM curriculum. The students imagination is already showing with a specially fabricated steering wheel and gear shift from spare engine parts. Hunter Dyer, a senior, is the mind behind the special steering wheel. He wants to make working on cars his career after graduation. I was tired of seeing plain Janes, Dyer said of his idea for the steering wheel. I took piston rods and made a U out of them, and I took sprockets and welded them on top. He plans on wrapping a timing chain around it to finish off the wheel. Dyer added the winner in the car show will be the team that is, off the wall, unique and custom. Classmate Grayson Keller, a junior, is certainly doing his part with unique as the creator of the cars gear shift. Ive seen some similar to it, but I havent seen any with the same parts, Keller said. The aluminum connecting rod and piston head come out of a 426 hemi that the guy who owned it, had pro charged it but didnt really take care of the motor, and he blew the motor apart. This was basically the only solid piece that you could tell what was what. While the students have dived head first into the creativity and problem solving side of the project, theyve also realized how much the challenge is expanding their knowledge of cars. Weve learned some of the parts we dont usually work with and we get to learn more about what makes the car do what it does, sophomore Zacary Eckard said. Fellow sophomore Emily Cooper added every student is getting a chance to put their own creative spin into the vehicle. Its mostly like were all actually making something together," Cooper said. "Its not going to be some sort of Frankensteins monster. Its going to be something beautiful." She and classmate Summer Cade decided to repurpose old school bus seats for their R.A.T. Rod. Were figuring out a way to make it look interesting and unique inside the car, Cooper said. The students also incorporated parts from tractors and even created a turbo from airplane parts. The Hickory High Automotive Technology Program is part of the overall Career and Technical Education (CTE) program for Hickory Public Schools. For more information about the program, visit hickoryhigh.hickoryschools.net. As exports to many markets dropped, Vietnam managed to see better prices in 2016. Vietnam sold 368,000 tons of rice abroad for a total of $164 million, in October, raising total rice exports to $1.9 billion (4.2 million tons), according to the statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Rice exports fell 21.2 percent in quantity and 16.9 percent in value compared to the previous year. However, average rice exports in the first nine months of the year managed to fetch $449/ton, up 4.8 percent year-on-year. The decline in consumption can be traced back to a decrease in imports from many markets. China, Vietnam's biggest customer, only imported 1.35 million tons (equal to $613.8 million), down 23 percent in quantity and 13.9 percent in value year-on-year. Vietnam also suffered from a drop in rice export values from other countries such as the Philippines (47.8 percent), Malaysia (47.4 percent), Singapore (34.6 percent), the U.S. (32 percent), the Ivory Coast (25.2 percent) and Hong Kong (11.4 percent). However, dramatic growth in other markets softened those declines. Indonesia, the fourth biggest buyer of Vietnamese rice, imported 359,400 tons ($142.5 million), a 22.5 fold annual increase, in terms of quantity. Angola more than quadrupled its annual imports. Ghana, the second-biggest importer behind China with 11 percent of the market share, purchased 387,700 tons in the last nine months at $189.6 million -- a 36.2 percent increase in value year-on-year. According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) Ghana consumes around 1.6 million tons of rice per year and the country depends on imports to cover more than half of that amount. Among its suppliers, Vietnam offers lower prices than Thailand and India. VFA said the country must turn to Africa to ease dependence on the highly competitive Chinese market, where border trade management has tightened. The organization also announced that the Philippines will import 293,100 tons of rice from Vietnam to accommodate demand in 2017. This presents a chance for Vietnamese companies to improve rice sales during this difficult time. VFA lowered its annual forecast for rice exports for the first time in eight years. Shipments for the whole year are now expected at around 5.6 million tons, compared to last year's 6.6 million tons. Related news: > In Africa, Vietnam's rice exporters see a rising market > Vietnamese rice struggles to find buyers > Vietnam rice exports shrink to seven-month low in July This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ Ethnic students attend the new school year ceremony. Photo from the tourism ministry. The problem goes on in all 63 provinces. High levels of child marriage threaten Vietnam's society as a whole, said Nguyen Viet Tien, Deputy Minister of Health during a conference on October 25. Vietnams Law on Marriage and Family sets the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 for women and 20 for men, but many members of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority communities continue to ignore the law. In 2014, about 11 percent of the nation's female minors were married (up 2 percent from 2011) according to data that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) updated in June. Recent findings from the National Committee for Ethnic Minorities revealed child marriage rate among the ethnic minorities was 26.6 percent last year. Up to 73 percent of minors in the O Du ethnic minority community married before the age of consent, followed by 59.7 percent of minors surveyed in the H'Mong community. Roughly half of the minors in smaller tribal populations like the Xing Mun, Ha Ra and Brau engage in the same practice. Do Thi Quynh Huong, a top official from the Ministry of Health attributed the problem to outdated customs that force children to marry young, coupled with a lack of awareness about reproductive health. Due to child marriage, Huong says many young women die during childbirth. The average age in many ethnic minority communities is around 45. Child marriages also results in numerous problems like household poverty, lack of access to education, family break-ups and child neglect. Nguyen Thi Tu, a top official from the National Committee for Ethnic Minorities, said Vietnam should extend reproductive health education and services to adolescents in their native languages. In the northernmost province of Ha Giang, about 28,000 females are illiterate, of which 18,000 cant speak the national language. Its time we launched propaganda campaigns in minority languages, Tu said. Vietnam aims to effectively end child marriage by 2025 by lowering the figure by 2-3 percent, annually. Related news: > Vietnamese women contribute 110 million hours of unpaid work each day > A quarter of Vietnamese children stunted by poor diets I will be known after my death. That quote (Mujhe jaanoge mere marne ke baad) by late socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia is now being attributed to shrewd Mulayam Singh Yadav by his Samajwadi Party workers as well as old guards, who are finding it difficult to understand the real game plan of their netaji. As speculations fly thick and fast, senior SP leaders find solace in silence even after long deliberations in all relevant political quarters. Party MP Reoti Raman Singh has a brief answer to the prolonged and widespread confusion in the party: Everything will be amicably resolved within a few days. According to him, Akhilesh Yadav will be the chief ministerial face for the 2017 polls, as the party has no alternative. While refusing to share more than this, he indicated that Mulayam along with his son Akhilesh will have a major share in seat distribution, though this may not be made official. Read | Yadav family feud: Shivpal hints at grand alliance for UP polls Incidentally, Mulayam had stopped short of announcing Akhilesh as the CM face when grilled by newspersons on Tuesday. He is CM today, does anyone have any objection? he had said looking at the leaders sharing dais with him, including his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav, who had wanted Mulayam to take charge two months ahead of the elections. Instead, Mulayam made it clear that re-induction of sacked ministers will be the CMs prerogative, though till now all major decisions have been taken by the patriarch. Although Mulayam insisted that legislators elect their own leader in a democratic set-up, the fact is the 76-year-old leader had faced tougher time in handing over the baton to Akhilesh the first time in 2012. Shivpal and other senior leaders had opposed it tooth and nail. Much drama preceded the swearing-in ceremony at Yadav home, while youth leaders were demanding to make Akhilesh the CM. Today, when Akhilesh, 43, has emerged as the most attractive face in the state and he has the support of veteran Azam Khan, who played truant in 2012. Thus, Akhileshs projection as the partys face is said to be a matter of time. Even the grand alliance will have no qualms in projecting him as the CM face though Ajit Singhs RLD may bargain for Jayant Chaudhury as the deputy CM. The third partner JD(U) doesnt have much stake in UP. Read | The Yadavs of Uttar Pradesh: Taking a look at Indias biggest political family Senior leader Beni Prasad Verma refuses to engage in any dialogue on the family feud. I am deeply hurt by the developments. I have fallen sick, but bhateje (he fondly calls Akhilesh his nephew) ke hi chalegi, he said. Even when he had travelled to the Congress, he had openly praised Akhilesh while railing at Mulayam. Generally in UPs rural areas, the elder son is considered to be the real heir of business or political power. Akhilesh had also told the MLAs that I am the real uttradhikari (inheritor of the party). A senior SP leader, on condition of anonymity, said a father will never disown his son. Netaji may pull him up publicly, but he will also clear the obstacles that will come in way of handing over the party to Akhilesh. However Mulayams emotional dilemma is that he is very close to his younger brother Shivpal and obliged to his contribution in raising the party. But, in the words of another senior leader, So was he with Prof Ram Gopal Yadav, who was shown the door without even a show-cause notice. It appears Mulayam does not want to rock the boat three months ahead of the state assembly polls. As political uncertainty continues, most senior SP leaders take shelter in silence. Even those who always had their ammunition ready against Amar Singh, primarily because of his closeness with party president Mulayam, are refraining from taking the name of the 60-year-old who returned to the SP after six years. Why? Elections are round the corner and they all need tickets for themselves or their family members. Knowing that the final distribution of tickets for the assembly polls will be given by none other than Mulayam, they have opted for silence even when Akhilesh accused Amar Singh of conspiring to remove him as CM. Read | Yadav family feud: Damage irreversible, now SP govt at stake Barring Ramgopal, the SP national general secretary, no one had the guts to join Akhileshs tirade against Singh, though SP workers, mostly Akhilesh supporters, burnt Singhs effigies on the streets. Recently, Ramgopal, who is a cousin of Mulayam, expelled from the party for six years. Singh has maintained a studied silence and so far stayed away from the state capital. Despite Mulayams abundant love for him, Singh may have to face protests as and when he would visit Lucknow. In his defence, he has been insisting that he would never harm or hurt Netajis CM son. A senior leader said, Who would oppose Amar Singh after Mulayams declaring him as his younger brother! However, the scenario was different in 2010 when Singh was sacked. He was held responsible for the defeat of Akhileshs wife Dimple Yadav in Ferozabad in a 2009 by-poll. Mulayam had removed Singh in 2010, but with a heavy heart. Now many in the party are accepting him with a heavy heart. Views expressed by the author are personal. Iran has witnessed assassinations and murders of many students, politicians, filmmakers, artists, writers and others, who threatened the establishment in the past and most of these deaths occurred under mysterious circumstances. And thats what intrigued Iranian filmmaker and photographer, Azadeh Akhlaghi, to take up staged photography, where she has recreated some of those scenes poetically in her frames. Akhlaghi, whose works cover the turbulent history of the nation with a bloody past, says, I was very interested in Arab Spring and what happened in Iran. The series has 17 panorama works from 1908 to 1998 and is titled By An Eyewitness. It also features Akhlaghi wearing a red scarf in the background to signify that she acts as an eyewitness in these assassinations. Assassination of student activist Marzeih recreated by Akhlaghi. Perhaps her interest partly sprouted from her experience as a journalist, which she feels has helped her greatly with research for her projects some of which took her more than four years. I have used many journalistic pictures for references and also paintings, apart from interviewing witnesses, says the artist who cites the main influence behind these projects to be literature. Akhlagi says, I started to read as much as I could. I did extensive archival research, read many foreign newspapers and also spoke to those related to the victims. She adds, I wanted to make sure that I knew all the details before beginning. It was only after putting in laborious efforts that she began recreating those scenes. She would try to replicate the same atmosphere by employing actors and using different locations. Sometimes, she also uses people who were present at the actual events for her scenes. Some of Akhlaghis images have been created by fusing three images into one. In one of her works, for instance, she recreated the military shooting that took place at Tehran University which left three students dead. The event took place on December 7, 1953, when the university students were protesting American vice president, Richard Nixons visit. Akhlaghi has captured students and staff running hither thither, and a few dead bodies lie in the corridor and in front of the staircase. On Student Day, this tragic event is still remembered in Iran every year. Akhlaghis subjects include not only mysterious deaths but natural deaths of popular Iranian figures as well. Some of the images have been created by fusing three images into one. In spite of that, the action seems to be in sync with the theme throughout the frames. The action in these staged events subtly affects the viewers conscience. These works might not be veridical, but Akhlagis ability to keep the reality intact through light, movements and expressions is nevertheless admirable and which is also evident from the sense of grief that pervades these works. Her works are on display at Art Heritage Gallery, Delhi. The exhibition is on till November 14. Catch It Live What: Staging the Past Where: Art Heritage Gallery, 205, Triveni Kala Sangam, Tansen Marg, Mandi House On till: November 14 Timings: 11am to 7pm Nearest Metro Station: Mandi House on Blue Line and Violet Line SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON She made her Bollywood debut in 2008 with Om Shanti Om. Eight years later, as Deepika Padukone sets her sights on Hollywood (with a film alongside Vin Diesel), she says that its an interesting time to be an actor. Deepika, who is set to start shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansalis next movie, Padmavati, talks about her career, her personal life and more. In a couple of weeks, you will complete nine years in Bollywood I dont feel like it has been nine years at all. I feel like there is so much to do and so much to learn. I dont think I have had the time to sit down and think about it and to reflect on everything that has happened. I am someone who always looks ahead. I live in the present. Whether its bad or good, I rarely look back. Nine years is nothing. I feel like I have just started out, and have a lot more to give. Its an extremely exciting time to be an actor. You are among the worlds highest-paid actresses (as per a Forbes list) I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my name in the list, but I think its an achievement not just for me but for all the women (out there). In fact, I look at it as an achievement for women from the film industry as well as other professions. Its not like my focus was on being the highest-paid actress; that has never been my motivation. But, in the process of following my heart and doing what I love, if something like this happens along the way, its rewarding. Your personal life is always in the news. Of late, there have been multiple stories from your marriage plans to your break-up with alleged boyfriend Ranveer Singh. How do you take it? I dont, because there is nothing to take. I have understood it (the speculations) well enough to know what I should absorb and what I shouldnt. After a point, one becomes completely immune to these things. You can only do things that are in your control. Certain things are a given when you are in this industry. I am sure there are certain advantages and disadvantages of being in this industry. And this is one of the things one has to deal with, and thats totally fine. The ups, the positives, and the love we get is way too much for us to get bogged down by the speculations or the negativity. Deepika says, its an interesting time to be an actor. It seems that, of late, you have been MIA. No, Im very much here. Post Bajirao Mastani (2015), I immediately left for Toronto, Canada, to shoot for my Hollywood film. So, I was away for four months, as I completed that in a start-to-finish schedule. After my return, I have been exploring different scripts for a while now. I have finally locked a movie, which I start filming for in a few days. Do you find any difference in the way Hollywood and Bollywood function? No, I will admit that I was nervous before I left (for Toronto) about the fact that I was going to work in a completely new environment, and moving out of my comfort zone especially since all this while, I was familiar with the work culture, the people and the working style of only Bollywood. But within a couple of days, I felt completely at ease. How did you get over that nervousness? The working style in the west is almost the same. It took me a couple of days to get used to the new faces, but other than that, the processes are pretty similar. I feel extremely proud of the Indian film industry, how much we have achieved in the past couple of years, and how far we have come in terms of content and technical expertise. Your last film was Bajirao Mastani. Your next film XXX: Return of Xander will release after a gap of over a year. Do such things bother you? Never. I dont think there is any kind of strategy that one can put behind creative work. They (working on a movie creatively and working out its release date) are two different things. Everything that I have done in my life comes from my heart and my instincts. I believe everything happens for a reason, so there must be one reason why things have played out the way they have. Guns. Girls. Global Domination!#SerenaUnger #xXxReturnOfXanderCage #xXxDeepikaTrailer link in bio! A photo posted by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on Oct 16, 2016 at 11:22am PDT You never lose sleep on such things, despite the competition? In 2013, I had four films releasing, but I didnt plan that. Similarly, if theres only one film that is meant to release in a year, thats also fine. I always look at it in a positive way, and tell myself, Thats just the way it was meant to be. I look forward to 2017, in which two amazing films are set to come out. They are completely different and my characters are entirely disparate. Hopefully, they will turn out the way I hope they shall. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A local court dismissed a private complaint seeking prosecution of Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn alleging his upcoming film Shivaay hurts religious feelings. Judicial Magistrate Ashutosh Agrawal dismissed the petition of a city-based organisation against Devgn and Central Board of Film Certification chairman Pahlaj Nihalani. Ajay Devgn plays the lead in Shivaay which he has also directed and produced. Shivaay is slated to release on October 28. The petitioner said a song in the film shows scantily dressed girls dancing which hurts the religious feeling of Hindus and sought prosecution of Devgn and Nihalani under sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) of IPC. Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Vir Das who is known for his rib-cracking comedy, refrained from performing comic acts for some time, as his new short film required him to portray a serious character. I stayed away from comedy consciously for a month before Raakh. I wanted to stay in the mood of the character and felt that keeping away from comedy would make me more like the on-screen character. I love comedy and it will always be a very important part of my life, but my films are also a choice that I make and whatever helps me improve my work, I will do it, says Das, who has been part of films such as Go Goa Gone(2013), Shaadi Ke Side Affects (2014), Amit Sahni Ki List (2014) and October 31(2016). The actor took this decision consciously, to enhance his performance in the short film, directed by Milap Zaveri. I did not have second thoughts about it because it was for the betterment of my own character in the film. I have always been keen to do varied roles, given that I have done theatre when I was younger. Im glad Milap saw that I could essay this character, says the actor. Follow htshowbiz for more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An audit investigation into the alleged fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore in Tata Groups aviation joint venture with AirAsia as mentioned by ousted Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry is already underway, senior company officials told HT. It may have come before the world now but the audit investigation has been going on for a long time. What is very clear is that Mr Ratan Tata wasnt involved in the operational decisions taken by AirAsia India (AAI), which has its own board and chief executive and chief financial officer, said an official, who did not wish to be named. The AirAsia India spokesperson did not comment for the story. Mistry, in his letter to the directors of Tata Sons, had indicated that he did not want the group to enter aviation. My pushback was hard but futile. However, I was able to extract a promise of no debt to be raised at the level of the JV as well as limiting Tata Sons investment to 30% of the $30 million equity, he said in the letter. Read: Unsubstantiated claims, malicious allegations: Tatas hit back at Cyrus Mistry However, earlier this year, the Tata Group increased its stake in AirAsia India to 49%. Two of the airlines directors, S Ramadorai and R Venkataramanan, hold 2% stake. The remaining 49% is held by AirAsia. Tata Group officials, however, said the return of Ratan Tata as interim chairman did not mean that the conglomerate will further increase their stake in AirAsia India. His (Ratan Tatas) love for aviation is well known, but the airline is working fine and there are no plans to increase stake, one official said. The aviation ministry, meanwhile, is keeping a close watch on the developments at AirAsia India following the disclosures made by Mistry. We are waiting for any input from any quarter, civil aviation secretary RN Choubey said. We have not received anything so far. However, an aviation ministry official said: If anything new is brought to our attention, appropriate authorities will look into it. Read: Cyrus Mistry vs Ratan Tata: All questions answered The Federation of Indian Airlines, which represents IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and GoAir, has complained to the government that AirAsia India is controlled by the foreign partner. The Brand License Agreement signed between AirAsia India and AirAsia Bhd on April 17, 2013, and reported by HT on April 12, raises questions on whether the airline has broken rules by giving away effective control to its foreign partner. The matter is in court. The next hearing is on November 7. The court will go by evidence, said a ministry official. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On Tuesday, when Honda Cars India launched the hybrid Accord sedan, the company was making a statement in the near term the Japanese auto giant will focus on bringing premium global products to India, as its emerging market cars such as the Brio, Mobilio and BR-V have failed to attract Indian buyers. Even its new SUV BR-V sold 2,193 units, while Hyundai Creta sold 8,835 units. Yoichiro Ueno, president and CEO of Honda Cars India, said that it was not about the quality, but that the company failed to understand customer requirements. Those cars are doing really good in Thailand and Indonesia . It was not meeting the customers requirements in India, he said. Recent surveys done by the company show that customers want Honda to hold a premium image in India. So we want to implement more of them, said Ueno. Honda City, which is the companys flagship in India was 36.2% of Hondas total sales between April and September. It has seven other vehicles in its portfolio. The company is also receiving a lot of queries on the Civic, and the compact SUV HR-V. Honda has already lined up new vehicles for the next two to three years, but none of cars based on the Brio platform are up for a full-body change. However, Ueno said the research and development team was working on products to make them more relevant in the future. One thing that the company is working on is bold designs, while globally the carmaker is known for sophisticated designs. Meanwhile, India has become a large exporter of components to Hondas global plants in 15 countries, including the US, UK, Japan and Canada. Global cars for more complicated, said Uneo, and if Honda makes more global cars in India, it helps the company source more components, which can be exported. Hondas export revenue in 2016-17 is expected to be Rs 1,700 crore, up from Rs 330 crore, just five years ago. Thats not all, Uneo is contemplating a wide range of hybrid international models. The Accord, to begin with. Maybe we will have a hybrid City and a hybrid Jazz, but all of that depends on the affordability and acceptance of the technology, said Uneo. Honda, he said wants to make its cars more efficient and environment friendly, and implementing hybrid technology can be a future strategy for Honda in India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Apple CEO Tim Cook seems to have taken up the challenge to turn India into its most profitable market outside the US and many would believe him as he revealed that iPhone sales have gone up by 50% in 2016 compared to last year. But can Apple do the same with its new range of MacBooks? According to IDCs Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker report, Apple has just seen a noticeable drop in shipments of its Mac range, a dip that is likely to be related to the long wait for the Pro update. Apple shipped 4.4 million PCs worldwide in the second quarter of 2016, compared to 4.8 million in the second quarter of 2015 -- a drop of 8.3%. MacBook shipments were down too, from 2.1 million to 1.9 million. Read more: Second leak: Apple MacBook Pro images with OLED touchbar leaked And that isnt just down to market forces. Other companies in the top five for US and worldwide PC shipments all posted better year-on-year comparisons, and HP, Dell, Lenovo and Acer all saw double-digit growth in the US shipments except for Lenovo which saw a small dip in worldwide shipments. While HP, Dell and Asus all showed growth of over 4% in terms of shipments, Apple showed a decline of 8.3%. In terms of market share, Lenovo leads the segment with 21.2% followed by HP, Dell, Asus and Apple. In India, Apple has just 3.5% market share when it comes to laptops, an industry source said. The launch of new MacBooks will not affect the India market because of two reasons: Firstly, Apple is a more consumer product so Microsoft already has the advantage over it in the enterprise segment along with the fact that India is a Windows ecosystem market and secondly, the price of the new MacBooks will be a major deterrent, the source added. The source was hinting at the new Surface book and Surface Studio launch announcements made by Microsoft on Wednesday. Read more: How and where to watch Apples MacBook launch event? However, Tarun Pathak, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, says that Apple should focus more on the enterprise side to ramp up business in India. Apple has just 2% of the entire PC market in India and in order to ramp up its business it needs to focus on the enterprise side of business, he said adding that it will face stiff competition from Microsoft. In terms of global shipments, the acceptance of the product matters a lot and we will have to wait and see what kind of new changes are there in the product to make it acceptable to the market, another industry expert said adding that the company was expected to launch the new notebooks with new USB ports and a new OLED bar instead of the function keys. There are also concerns that the latest iPhones also dont come with USB Type-C cables which can be a problem for latest iPhone users, he explained. Apple is yet to comment on the issue. But, Manish Yadav, associate research manager, IDC India believes that Apple products are making a comeback in India. Read more: Cook thinks India is the next China, bets on 4G penetration for boosting iPhone sales India is a growing market for high-end lifestyle devices, where most of the Apple products are positioned. Apples customer base is growing and most of its customers are loyal, hence we anticipate the new MacBook will generate excitement among experience-centric consumers and revive Apples market share, he said. He further said MacBooks were also seeing traction in enterprises due to superior user experience, secured environment and seamless connectivity. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ten Tata Group firms lost a combined R44,000 crore in market value in the last three days after ousted Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry warned the group that it may have to writedown around $18 billion due to losses in five companies -- Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Indian Hotels, Tata Teleservices and Tata Power . The 10 firms include TCS, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Titan, Tata Power, Tata Communications, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels, Tata Global Beverages and Trent. On Thursday, excluding Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), all group stocks closed in the red on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Indian Hotels recorded the steepest fall of 5.8% followed by Tata Global Beverages (down 5.1%), Tata Communications (down 1.7%), Tata Motors (down 1.4%), Tata Power (down 1.4%), Tata Steel (0.4%). TCS, however, closed 0.7% higher. Intra-day, the shares had declined up to 7%. Under Mistry, several companies, including Tata Steel and Indian Hotels, had begun a restructuring exercise to cut losses. Tata Steel, for instance, put its loss-making UK operations on the block and Indian Hotels sold several loss-making properties overseas like the Taj Boston, and gave up the chase to acquire Belmond (earlier Orient Express Hotels). There is growing uncertainty about whether these measures will continue under a new chairman. It was widely believed that Mistry was the driver of Tata Steels strategy to sell-off its European assets, said CLSA analyst Mahesh Nandurkar. His departure may raise questions on continuation of this strategy and talks with Thyssenkrupp may now happen only under a new chairman, he added. The long-term capex plans of companies may get reassessed to ensure that they are in consonance with the new leaderships vision for growth, said Ajay Bodke, CEO and chief portfolio manager at Prabhudas Lilladher. China to carry out more military drills in flashpoint waters It ordered all other ships to stay away. China will carry out military drills all day on Thursday in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, said Chinese maritime safety administration on Wednesday, ordering all other shipping to stay away. China routinely holds drills in the disputed waterway, and the latest exercises come less than a week after a U.S. navy destroyer sailed near the Paracel Islands, prompting a warning from Chinese warships to leave the area. The maritime administration gave coordinates for an area south of the Chinese island province of Hainan and northwest of the Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, but controlled by China. The brief statement gave no other details, apart from prohibiting other ships from entering the area. China's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China has a runway on Woody Island, its largest presence on the Paracels, and has placed surface-to-air missiles there, according to U.S. officials. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all have rival claims in the South China Sea, but Beijing's is the largest. It argues it can do what it wants on the islands it claims as they have been Chinese since ancient times. Related news: > Vietnam walks a thin line as American, Chinese warships make landmark port calls > US Navy to continue S.China Sea patrols despite Duterte: analysts Rajasthan BJP leaders and Jat stalwarts from Shekhawati region Hari Singh and Subhash Maharia joined the Congress at its New Delhi office on Thursday, giving a boost to the opposition party that is attempting to return to power in the state Congress leaders said the two leaders would help strengthen the partys Jat base ahead of the assembly elections. Both of them have joined the party unconditionally and will work to uproot the BJP government in Rajasthan, said state Congress president Sachin Pilot. It was a homecoming for former MP Hari Singh, a vocal detractor of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and then state party chief Chandrabhan. Singh had resigned from the Congress in 2011 and supported the BJP in 2013 assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Maharia, a three-time Lok Sabha member and a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, was expelled from the BJP after he contested the 2014 Lok Sabha from Sikar against the party candidate. Speculations of him joining the Congress were doing the rounds over the last three months. A section of people believe that inducting the two leaders would send out wrong message as Singh had openly spoken against the state leadership in the past and Maharia contested against party candidates. Pilot, leader of opposition Rameshwar Dudi, Congress communication in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, senior leader Narayan Singh among others were present at the induction ceremony. Independent MLA Nand Kishore Maharia but was also present at the programme. Congress general secretary and state party in-charge Gurudas Kamat was conspicuous by his absence at the programme though he clarified that he had to rush to Mumbai due to personal reasons. Now that the toll on DND Flyway is being removed, apprehensions that it may result in traffic congestions in South and Central Delhi have started coming in through social media. The concern is it will lead to uncontrolled release of traffic from Noida, considering the removal of Sirhaul toll plaza on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway in 2015 had the same impact. But most Twitter users have hailed the decision as a Diwali gift. Twitterverse erupted on Wednesday after the Allahabad high court announced its verdict on dismissing toll tax from the DND flyway. Here are some reactions: People rejoice Toll free DND..brace itself for jams at either end of toll. DND was choked at 6 pm all the way to Ring Rd. #DNDTollFree Sandeep Kanwar (@Sandykanwar) October 27, 2016 First Diwali Gift - Delhi-Noida-Delhi or DND flyover to be toll-free from now, rules Allahabad High Court Arijit Ganguly (@AriGanguly) October 26, 2016 Another Twitter user @Pank9j commented, Good News for #Delhi people, #DND #DNDflyover is free from todays onwards. #DeepawaliGift #Deepawali, The reactions kept pouring in till Thursday morning, with many users describing the high court order as ache din-the popular slogan used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections. #DNDTollFree means #AccheDin 4 residents of Noida & Delhi. Courtesy Allahabad High Court. ashok upadhyay (@ashoupadhyay) October 27, 2016 People also shared videos and pictures of the DND toll plaza with their tweets. A Gurgaon-based user Panky was so ecstatic that he shared a video of passing through the toll with a Sonu Nigam song playing in the background. NO 28 , No collection boys and No queue well that's a whole new #DND toll for You #DNDTollFree pic.twitter.com/DFupvDqZ8x Panky (@panky26) October 27, 2016 Some wished that toll plazas in Gurgaon (Kherki Daula) should also be made toll free. Zipping through empty toll booths and missing queues feels ethereal.#DNDTollFree is needed. Time hs come for #gurgaon toll to be removed! VK (@vivek0485) October 27, 2016 Some users from Mumbai wondered if this can happen for Bandra-Worli sea link in. @SUDHIRCHAUDHARY After DND flyover time to get Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link free from toll bhaveshk (@bhaveshuae) October 26, 2016 Another user @gmurali asked the same question to Maharashtra government in his tweet. Some reacted with characteristic wit and humour, thanking the high court for the order. 'Delhi-Noida-Delhi' DND flyover to be toll-free from now. Finally DND actually get its meaning 'Do Not Disturb'. Thnx Allahabad High Court Lazy Cat (@DenNehaS) October 26, 2016 With no one to look after, DND now will also succumb to public apathy for infrastructure. RIP. #DNDTollFree Ravi Mathur (@7Mathur) October 27, 2016 But there were a few critical tweets too: People celebrating #DNDTollFree epitomize why difficult for Indian infrastructure to get better - no one wants to pay ! #Socialisminourgenes Manav Aggarwal (@Manavaggar) October 27, 2016 Others were concerned about the employees of the private concessionaire. As a commuter, I m happy extremely happy with the verdict of Allahabad HC for making #DNDTollFree. But my concern is abt it's employees. Rahul Pandey (@Rahul_Waitforit) October 26, 2016 The Allahabad high court on Wednesday asked the private concessionaire of DND flyway to stop collecting user-fee from commuters, saying they were being illegally taxed making the Delhi-Noida ride toll tax free. The Delhi Police have arrested 52-year-old Mukhtar Ahmed, the owner of crackers that exploded two days ago in Naya Bazar, Old Delhi. A labourer was killed while six were injured in the explosion. Ahmed was arrested in Meerut on Thursday and brought to Delhi, police said. Ahmed was absconding since the incident on Tuesday morning in the wholesale food grain market in Lahori Gate. At least 15 establishments, including houses and shops, were damaged. We learnt about his possible hideouts and raided them but he could not be caught. But finally we tracked the location of his phone in Meerut, said a senior police officer. A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and Explosive Substances Act was registered in connection with the blast. Ahmed was wanted in the case as the crackers not only belonged to him but also they were stored illegally at a rented godown in Fatak Hawas Khana, Lahori Gate. Read: Naya Bazar explosion: Cops search for firecracker owner Mukhtar Ahmed Ahmed told police that he manufactures ring caps and puts potassium powder on it. Police said that all ring caps in the market have potassium powder but they are produced by only licensed manufacturers. Ahmed only had a licence to sell crackers and not make the ring caps. The police had earlier raided his Lahori Gate home and found his two wives, who claimed that they were unaware about Ahmeds location. A senior police officer said Ahmed had switched off his mobile phones after the police raided his house. DCP (North) Madhur Verma said Ahmeds godowns where he was illegally storing the firecrackers has been sealed. Verma said Ahmed confessed that he had asked deceased labourer Mutalip Mirza to take the explosives to his three shops on Tuesday. Three days before Diwali, pollution levels in Delhi reached scary levels on Thursday with the Air Quality Index (AQI) showing the condition as severe at many places. Data from the Hindustan Times air quality map showed the AQI touching the maximum limit of 500 at Anand Vihar, Mandir Marg and RK Puram. Even the green neighbourhood of Shanti Path had severe pollution level with AQI recorded at 450. While PM 10 reached as much as 902 micrograms per cubic metre at Anand Vihar in the morning, PM 2.5 touched 414 micrograms per cubic metre. Similarly, at RK Puram, PM 10 reached 615 micrograms per cubic metre while PM 2.5 clocked 323 micrograms per cubic metre on Thursday morning. Pollution level is classified as severe if the AQI ranges from 401 to 500. Such a situation calls for desperate measures like shutting down schools and offices in countries such as China. Read: China on track but Delhi still on a death wish every Diwali The permissible level of PM 10 is 100 micrograms per cubic metre. It is 60 micrograms per cubic metre for PM2.5. According to the data collated by the monitoring stations of System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), AQI in the city crossed the 300 mark on Thursday and remained at very poor like Wednesday. At Pusa, the AQI was 333, at Mathura Road 300, Delhi University 303, Airport (T3) 306 while at Pitampura it was 319. Dip in air quality has been primarily caused by an increase in vehicular traffic in the festival season, decreasing temperatures and lack of winds. Low wind speed settles pollution particles on the surface instead of blowing them away. The situation will worsen in next few days as more vehicles are expected to be on road for Diwali, the festival of light in which pollution levels jump by almost five times as revelers burst millions of firecrackers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The family of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student, who has been missing for the last 13 days, and students union have alleged the administration hasnt taken any action against those who allegedly attacked the missing student during a press conference held at the Press Club of India on Thursday. Najeeb Ahmad, a student of School of Biotechnology, went missing on October 15. The JNU students union (JNUSU) has alleged that students belonging to RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had beaten him up while other students alleged Ahmad had slapped a student but there was no violence. Ahmads mother Fatima Nafees said her son might have been kidnapped by those who threatened him as he had left his phone and other belongings in the hostel. He doesnt know many people in the hostel. Why would he leave his phone and wallet in the hostel room if he was going somewhere. He might have been kidnapped by those who threatened him that night. No action is being taken against them. They are not even being questioned, she said. Ahmads sister Sadaf said that a written statement was taken from him in front of the warden, but no statement was taken from those who attacked him. Those students have not even been questioned by the administration or police, she said. JNUSU said that police should search the jungles in the campus and question the students accused of assaulting Ahmad. It criticised the administration for spreading misinformation by not mentioning about alleged attack on Ahmad in an official summary of the incidents released by the administration. Read: JNU teachers criticise 25-point summary in missing student case JNU on Wednesday circulated a 25-point Summary & update of the Events Mahi-Mandovi Hostel mentioning that Ahmad had slapped another student without any provocation and also admitted his mistake. Teachers said the summary is silent on the beating of Ahmad by a group of students. The summary mentioned that a warden meeting had happened on October 16 to discuss the scuffle among students. Another student Shahid Raza Khan, an eyewitness and resident of Mahi-Mandavi hostel, said that while no one saw Ahmad slapping a student, many of them have seen Ahmad being attacked and yet no action is being taken. Vikrant is claiming he was slapped and two more students from his organisation agree with him. But no one else is a witness of the incident so we dont know what really happened. But all of us saw Najeeb being attacked by a mob. We have given a written complaint to the administration but nothing is being done against them, Khan said. A call to boycott classes by JNUSU to protest the universitys alleged lax attitude received mixed reaction from students with some skipping classes and others attending them due to exams and presentations. Restaurants operating from the first floor flats of capitals posh Khan Market are a fire hazard and a fire trap with no proper measures for escape in the event of fire, the Delhi High Court said on Thursday. The court described the eateries as a disaster waiting to happen. Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said the flats in Khan Market, most of which have now been turned into commercial establishments, were constructed for residential purposes. Most of them have narrow staircases which pose a threat to customers in the event of fire. The staircases open in narrow service lanes in which perhaps the fire brigade cannot enter, Justice Endlaw said. The court made it clear that restaurant and eateries will be liable for the loss or damages to life or property of anyone from any incident of fire in their premises. The court further directed DFS to re-visit its policy which exempt restaurants with a seating capacity of less than 50 persons from obtaining clearance under the Delhi Fire Service Act. As per the National Building Code, 2005 the restaurants with less than 50 persons capacity do not require fire clearance. What is all the more shocking is that there appears to have been no check on whether the eating houses or restaurants which have been permitted to function do not allow more than 50 persons to assemble, the court remarked. This is yet another instance of the public-private partnership of municipal and police authorities flat and restaurant owners showing scant regard for human life, the court said. It also reminded of the 1997 Uphaar Cinema tragedy in which 59 people died and more than 100 injured. The court directed the NDMC and the Delhi Fire Service to decide whether the said restaurants satisfy the law for their establishment. (ends) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Allahabad High Courts decision to declare the DND flyway toll free has brought hope for Gurgaon residents who will launch a fresh offensive for the removal of Kherki Daula toll plaza on Delhi-Gurgaon expressway. Although no legal case has been filed by Gurgaon RWAs and Toll Hatao Sangharsh Samiti, the decision is likely to resurrect the agitation which they plan to hold on November 9. They want the expressway concessionaire to declare the total investment made on this 28-km long e-way and the amount to be recovered from the commuters in terms of toll. The operator has already collected far more revenue than construction cost. It is time to remove the toll. We want the concessionaire to display the balance amount to be recovered from the commuters on its toll plaza, said Gurgaon Citizens Council president and Samiti leader, RS Rathee. He said the concessionaire collected R790 crore by August 2013, while its cost is R550 crore, according to the agreement. Kherki Daula toll is within the Gurgaon municipal limits, which is against the rules, he said. Three lakh vehicles use the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway, out of which 75,000 pay toll tax at the Kherki Daula toll. However, due to restricted space the toll has emerged as a major traffic bottleneck where traffic jams are witnessed daily during the morning and evening hours. Gurgaon MP and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh also supports the demand to remove or shift the toll plaza. He has raised the demand with Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari multiple times. Read: Toll-free DND: Refund on passes withheld pending Supreme Court order The Gurgaon MP has also asked the Haryana government to work towards removing the toll plaza. MCEPL, which operates the plaza, has the right to collect toll from road users till 2023. MCEPL CEO S Raguraman said the Haryana government can acquire the toll by paying them the amount invested by the banksand likely loss from scrapping the contract. National Highways Authority of India, which owns the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway, does not oppose the acquisition if the state government compensates the concessionaire. Earlier, Haryana chief minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, had said the government was working with the Union transport ministry to resolve the Kherki Daula toll issue. Haryana PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh had told HT that they planned to ensure that private cars and vehicles registered in Gurgaon district were allowed to pass through the plaza toll free since the acquisition of the plaza was a costly proposition. However, none of the plans materialised, causing immense dissatisfaction among the city residents who face daily traffic jams. Read: No toll tax on DND flyway, rules Allahabad high court SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The tug of war between the government and lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung over the post of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairperson continues as the L-G has rejected the proposal to appoint Krishna Saini again. Earlier this month, the Delhi government, after a cabinet meeting, had for the second time sent the file to the L-G saying that Saini be reinstated as chairman of the power regulator. In its note sent to the L-G, the government had also stated Article 239 AA of the Indian constitution and urged Jung to refer the matter to the President for a decision as there was a difference of opinion between the two sides. However, sources in the L-G office told HT that Jung has once again returned the file while refusing to appoint Saini for the post. The governments point of difference of opinion is not tenable. The L-G has asked to simply rectify the illegalities committed during the DERC chiefs appointment. Even the high court in its order had specifically pointed at this case. A fresh process must begin soon, said an official from L-Gs office. Meanwhile, the government is in no mood to begin the process of fresh appointment. Read more: AAP govt moves HC against scrapping DERC chiefs appointment The government upholds appointment of DERC chief as every rule, right from seeking applications from public to forming an independent committee to select the names, was followed in the process, said power minister Satyendar Jain. When asked about work being affected due the post lying vacant, he replied, Work is going on as usual in DERC. It is an independent regulatory body and can function with just one member as well. But discoms stated that no major decisions are being taken by the commission which is affecting their revenues. Already the regulatory assets have run up to thousands of crores of rupees. Neither has the Multi Year Tariff been notified as yet nor the annual tariff revision is going to happen this year. It only worsens our financial burden, said a discom official. Are you suffering from a sore throat, runny nose, cough or chest congestion? It may not be due to seasonal flu but high levels of pollutants in the air. Doctors across the city have been receiving cases of cold and cough from people with no previous history of respiratory illness. During the past 24 hours, I have seen a large number of people in my pulmonary out patient department (OPD) with cough and breathlessness without previous history of respiratory illness. I strongly feel its due to very poor air quality, says professor GC Khilnani, pulmonary medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Three days before Diwali, the pollution levels in the city have reached scary levels. Data from the Hindustan Times Air Quality Map shows that of the 12 sites in Delhi where the air quality is monitored 1 had severe air quality, 5 very poor, 4 satisfactory and only 1 good in the afternoon. East Delhis Anand Vihar area was the worst affected with an AQI of 500, which is termed as severe. Such situations call for desperate measures like shutting down schools and offices in countries like China. The severe pollution, caused by an increase in vehicular traffic in the festival season, decreasing temperatures and lack of wind have led to doctors receiving a high number of cases with respiratory ailments in people with no history of respiratory disorders. Also, due to severe traffic jams people are spending long hours on road, inhaling vehicular fumes, which lead to such symptoms. Read: Delhi chokes before Diwali: Air pollution rises alarmingly The symptoms of people suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) become worse around the time of Diwali because of the high pollution levels and the changing season. This year we are also seeing people with pollution-related cough and runny nose, said Dr Rajesh Chawla, consulting pulmonologist at Indraprastha Apollo hospital. He has been receiving more than double the usual number of patients with such symptoms. The persistent cough is not responding to usual treatment. Even if I prescribe anti-histamines (anti-allergic medicines) and cough syrup, the symptoms are taking two to three weeks to get better, he said. AIIMS did a study some time back that showed 22% increase in symptoms due to exposure to air pollutants, said Dr Khilnani. Protect yourself: When pollution levels are high, do not step out of your home unless it is necessary Avoid places with high vehicular density Cover nose and mouth with a wet handkerchief Use an N95 mask, if you have a history of respiratory illnesses Protect yourself against sudden weather change by wearing warmer clothes SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a relief to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Thursday put on hold the summons issued against him and AAP leader Kumar Vishwas in a criminal case registered against them in April 2014 during the Lok Sabha elections. A bench led by justice JS Kehar also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on Kejriwal and Vishwass plea challenging the summons issued to them. The court also granted them exemption from personal appearance. The AAP leaders moved the SC against the October 24 verdict of Allahabad High Court dismissing their pleas against the Sultanpur trial court order summoning them. During the last Lok Sabha elections, the assistant election officer of the area lodged a case against them on April 20, 2014 for allegedly calling an unlawful assembly, obstructing public servant while they discharged their official duties and giving false statement in connection with an election. The two said summons could not have been issued because they had the requisite permission to hold a rally and there was no prohibitory order in force at that time. The case was based on frivolous complaints to create impediments in their election campaign, they had said. Farmers riding on a bicycle as they make way home from a field on the outskirt of Hanoi in February 18, 2016. Photo by AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam The government concedes that there have been many high-profile cases, promising strong action against corrupt officials. Corruption has become prevalent in Vietnam with a number of high-profile officials connected to serious cases, the government said in a new, extraordinary report sent to legislators this week. The National Assemblys judicial affairs committee, after reviewing the report, hailed the government for its candor. According to the committee, this is the first time the government has admitted openly that many officials, including senior ones, have been neglecting their duties and failing to uphold moral standards and political virtues. In its report, the government said corruption remains a complicated problem and that an increasing number of serious corruption cases have been uncovered and reported in many government levels and agencies. The report also cited the rankings by Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index. Vietnam was ranked 112th out of 168 countries and territories last year. The report said, despite many anti-corruption efforts, over the past three years the average number of corruption cases brought into light has steadily declined. Courts have handled fewer corruption cases this year, with fines and recovered losses amounting to only VND92 billion ($4 million). The Communist Party has been re-educating millions of members about anti-corruption and virtues. The Party has also made it clear that the fight against corruption is critical to its leadership. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, at the end of a six-day meeting of the Partys Central Committee earlier this month, admitted that moral problems are eroding the ruling party. He said degrading morality and lifestyles among Party members are evident in corruption, cronyism, bureaucracy, opportunism and individualism. Related News: > Vietnam leader slams corruption, eroding morality in Communist Party > Vietnam presses ahead with 6 high-profile corruption trials No one can fault the quantum of punishment prescribed in the draft Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2016 rigorous imprisonment of seven to 10 years for traffickers and in the case of the victim being a minor, it could extend to life. This is a great improvement on the penalty under the existing Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act, 1956, which ranges from three to six months in prison. In a recent case, a woman from Chhattisgarh was convicted by a court in that state after it was found that she had trafficked 10,000 girls over a period of 10 years. The Bill to be tabled this winter session should deter traffickers to some extent if it is implemented rigorously. Read | Anti-trafficking Bill: The suggestions made by victims must be heard The situation is particularly grim when it comes to the trafficking of minors. From 2011-2013, 10,500 children were found missing from Chhattisgarh alone. Estimates suggest that at least 135,000 children are trafficked each year in India. They are forced into domestic work; criminal gangs force them to beg or are pushed into the commercial sex industry. The main reasons for parents, especially from tribal areas, handing over their children to agents who promise them jobs in cities for paltry sums of money are poverty, poor or complicit law enforcement, civil unrest and lack of awareness. According to National Crime Records Bureau statistics, there has been a 38% increase in trafficking of minors between 2009 and 2013 but alarmingly, a decline of 45% in convictions. This could mean that the situation is likely to get worse going forward. The problem has to be tackled at source, the catchment areas in which touts prey on vulnerable people. Once a person is trafficked, it becomes difficult to trace both the victim and the trafficker and successfully pursue cases to their logical conclusion. Read | Only certain and severe punishment can stop heinous crimes like trafficking The ministry of women and child development has two schemes, Ujjawala and Swadhar aimed at the rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of trafficked women and children. But it is hobbled by the fact that government funding for it has been reduced and there are hardly enough shelters for those rescued. Counselling services are few and far between and little thought has been given to how to re-integrate women and children into the mainstream. The many employment agencies which `place women and children in so-called jobs could not have done so without the complicity of the police. If stringent checks are maintained on who are eligible to run such agencies, and which cohort they are dealing with, we might make some headway in dealing with the problem before it is too late. The new draft law is a step forward, but it is just one part of the solution. In strife-torn areas, schools can provide children hope and stability. Unfortunately, even that space seems to be out of bounds for many students in Kashmir. Over the past three-and-a-half months, 17 government schools have been burnt during the unrest. Besides the 17, two private schools were also been damaged in fires as Kashmir has virtually been shut since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. While most of the schools have been burnt at night by miscreants, a few caught fire allegedly after security forces fired tear gas shells on protesters. Security forces have denied this allegation. But arson is not the only issue that is plaguing the education system in the state these days: Seven prominent schools in Srinagar have been housing many companies of paramilitary forces. Read: Education in Kashmir faces another challenge: Almost 20 schools burnt in unrest There are two theories that are doing the rounds regarding the incidents of arson in schools: One, the incidents could be the handiwork of students who dont want to take the examinations because they are not prepared because classes have not been held for some time. On October 24, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Welfare Association approached the high court, seeking postponement of Class 10 and 12 exams till March 2017, pleading that there have been only 84 working days in the academic session in which students have completed not more than 40% of the syllabus. The second theory is that these acts are the handiwork of terrorists. In fact, the Lashkar-e-Taiba on September 27 issued a warning to state education minister Naeem Akhtar for trying to resume schools and colleges in the Valley. Read: Kashmirs disturbing new reality Instead of playing politics, the government must get to the bottom of this and also release funds for rebuilding of the schools. Having said that, a question arises: In states such as Kashmir, where curfews have become a regular practice, is isnt it high time the State comes up with a plan to ensure some system of regular teaching even when children are forced to stay home? In a piece in Greater Kashmir, a columnist asks why radio and TV is not being used to teach students who are forced to stay indoors. Such things take place cannot overnight; this needs foresight and planning. And thats not something available in abundance in the state at the moment. Initiating a plan to reduce the weight of school bags, the Delhi government has asked all schools to frame a time table so that children dont have to carry too many books every day. The Directorate of Education (DOE) has sent a seven-point guideline to principals of government and private schools for reducing the weight of school bags. Schools will also have to ensure co-curricular activities along with other daily academic periods. It has been observed that children are carrying very heavy bags to school, which is affecting their health adversely. All heads are instructed to ensure that the school bags of the children are not heavy and should monitor it on regular basis, the directorate said. Read more | Heavy school bags could lead to backaches and hunchbacks: Study Schools have to sensitise teachers and parents of the potential problems of heavy school bags and make them aware of the related health issues, it said. Schools have to teach correct lifting and carrying techniques to kids as part of their health education programmes. Parents should be requested to buy a child friendly bag which is comfortable to use and light in weight, the department said. Schools will have to discourage students from bringing reference books and other books to school especially in senior classes. Read more: Fed up with heavy school bags, 2 students hold press meeting Parents should remind and guide their children to pack the school bag daily accordingly to the time table and bring only the prescribed books and discourage their ward from carrying unnecessary items to the school, the guidelines said. The CBSE had also asked schools in April this year to consider ways to reduce the burden of heavy bags carried by students. A review of scientific evidence on breastfeeding out Tuesday found that some long-held advice is worth ditching, including that babies should avoid pacifiers and moms should breastfeed exclusively in the first days after birth. Individual interventions to help expectant and new moms breastfeed are still recommended, but systematic or hospital-wide policies tend to show little benefit, said the report by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of experts. The benefits of breastfeeding include providing optimal nutrition and an immune system boost for babies, while helping mothers bond with infants and speeding maternal weight loss after birth. There is convincing evidence that breastfeeding provides substantial health benefits for children and adequate evidence that breastfeeding provides moderate health benefits for women, said the report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). However, nearly half of all mothers in the United States who initially breastfeed stop doing so by six months. The American Academy of Pediatrics urges women to breastfeed for at least the first year if possible, while the World Health Organization recommends up to two years of age or beyond. Just 22 percent of US babies are breastfed exclusively for six months, even though 80 percent were breastfed at some point in their young lives, suggesting that women face challenges in continuing to breastfeed. Although the process is natural, getting started can be complicated, and babies often need help learning how to latch on and feed. For some mothers, the demands of returning to work can make breastfeeding impossible. Others may be physically unable, or may prefer the convenience of formula. Tailored approaches work best To update its 2008 recommendations, which also urged breastfeeding support for women, the task force reviewed evidence from dozens of studies, both new and old, on the effectiveness of various kinds of interventions on whether women took up breastfeeding, and how long they continued. They found that the most effective interventions were one-on-one assistance provided by trained personnel, particularly when delivered at multiple points in time. Hospital policies designed to encourage breastfeeding by implementing a series of pre-determined steps did not show any significant effect on improving breastfeeding. Some of the policies in place even have the potential to be harmful, an accompanying editorial in JAMA by doctors Valerie Flaherman and Isabelle Von Kohorn warned. For instance, step nine of the World Health Organizations Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative urges parents to avoid giving pacifiers to babies, on the basis that they could deter breastfeeding. However, the evidence review showed that avoiding pacifiers was not associated with any breastfeeding outcomes. Since pacifiers are recommended as a way to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the leading killer of young babies in the United States, routine counseling to avoid pacifiers may very well be ethically problematic, the editorial added. Another source of controversy is the advice -- contained in step six of the WHO plan -- that new mothers should not feed their babies formula in their first days of life, but only provide breast milk unless medically necessary. Not only did this advice show no evidence of a benefit for breastfeeding practice, it can raise the risk of dehydration complications and rehospitalization in babies in their first week of life because mothers milk does not always come in right away, but can take four to seven days. Although these conditions are generally mild and often resolve rapidly, their frequency is high; one to two percent of all US newborns require readmission in the first week after birth, and the risk is approximately doubled for those exclusively breastfed, said the JAMA editorial. Finally, the long-held recommendations that babies should be fed only breast milk for their first six months of life may need to be reconsidered in light of recent research that shows some babies could benefit from small introductions of highly allergenic foods like crushed or ground peanuts in their first four to six months. The editorial urged medical professionals to exercise their individual judgment and pursue tailored approaches to helping women with their personal breastfeeding needs. A single, uniform approach is ineffective at improving breastfeeding duration of the population, it said. Hollywood star Tom Cruise is reportedly dating a British girl and is getting serious about her and looking to start over with her, as his daughter Suri grows up without him in the US. The 54-year-old actor has been romancing the woman for several months. It is his first significant relationship since splitting from ex-wife Katie Holmes in 2012, reported US Weekly. In the new issue of Us Weekly: #TomCruise is starting over in England with a serious new girlfriend. Plus, inside #AngelinaJolies four-hour meeting with the FBI about #BradPitts plane incident. A photo posted by Us Weekly (@usweekly) on Oct 26, 2016 at 7:23am PDT The two met for the first time in early June, when he was in London filming The Mummy, and soon went on a date to Bourton-on-the-Water, an idyllic village in the Cotswolds, two hours outside the city. According to a source Cruise is smitten by her and they go on bike rides through the countryside. Sometimes Toms sister would join them. Hes serious about this relationship and wants to make it work, the source added. Meanwhile, his ex-wife Katie Holmes is reportedly still together with her rumoured boyfriend of three years actor Jamie Fox. She lives in New York with Suri, who, according to an August report in Fox News, hadnt seen her father in three years. Follow @htshowbiz for more Hollywood star Tom Cruise says Scientology has helped him in achieving his goals in life. The 54-year-old actor, who rarely speaks about his belief in the religious practice, said he is proud of being a follower, reported Female First. Its something that has helped me incredibly in my life; Ive been a Scientologist for over 30 years. Its something, you know, without it, I wouldnt be where I am. So its a beautiful religion. Im incredibly proud, Cruise said. Cruise was first introduced to the church by his first wife Mimi Rogers, whom he was married to from 1987 until 1990, while he was still trying to make it as a global star. (AP) The actor said the methods developed under the religion have helped him overcome his dyslexia. I asked myself if I was normal or an idiot.I would try to concentrate but I felt anxiety, frustration, boredom. When I graduated from high school in 1980 I was functionally illiterate. Cruise was first introduced to the church by his first wife Mimi Rogers, whom he was married to from 1987 until 1990, while he was still trying to make it as a global star. The actor is one of the highest-ranking Scientologists and has been hailed by leaders of the faith as the chosen one who will spread the word of the religion. Follow @htshowbiz for more It was an emotional end to a baby-swapping case in Shimla. The pangs of separation from an infant they nursed for five months and the joy of being reunited with their child left two pairs of parents overwhelmed. Earlier this summer, on May 26, two mothers delivered in a city hospital, but were handed over a wrong baby. The families went on to groom the child till Wednesday, when they exchanged the babies to get the right one. Today, I dont know if I have won or lost, said Anil Thakur, the father of the baby boy in the episode marked by judicial intervention. He struggled since the childs birth on May 26 to prove that his son had been swapped with a baby girl at the Government Kamla Nehru Hospital. Anmol (the baby girl) has now gone back to her family; my son is home. But Im already missing her, says Anil, a school teacher, fighting back tears. I fought for this, but I havent been able to eat well now. His wife, Sheetal, who is a nurse at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital here, was also torn between agony and ecstasy, as the other couple arrived at the house. Anjana and Jitender Thakur, the parents of the baby girl, paid their visit to hand over Anmol and take back their son. It is a very difficult moment for me, said Sheetal, who also has a four-year-old daughter. I am a mother. I know her so well. Anjana, along with Jitender who is a transporter, organised a havan ceremony to bless the children. The woman broke down as she handed over the boy she named Nityansh to his mother. I have a six-year-old son and always yearned for a daughter but today, this is heartbreaking, she said as journalists watched the exchange. The couples renamed the boy Shivaay and the girl Jannat. The police termed the swapping an isolated and accidental case. They said a staff nurse, Pushpa Devi of Shimla, and a midwife, Rupa Devi from Haryanas Panchkula off Chandigarh, were arrested on Tuesday. On the night of May 26, Sheetal says, the staff in the delivery room at the government-run Hospital congratulated her on giving birth to a son, but later the mother was handed over a baby girl. She and her husband got suspicious and informed the hospital authorities, who denied any swapping. This led the couple of lodge a police complaint. A DNA test established that they were not the biological parents of the girl. At this, Anil and Sheetal moved the Himachal Pradesh High Court. On August 31, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Sandeep Sharma, issued a notice to the health secretary and state police chief besides the Shimla superintendent of police, seeking a reply in two weeks. The police conducted a DNA profiling of both the couples and informed the court that Anjana and Jitender were biological parents of the girl, while Sheetal and Anil were parents of the boy. The court suggested the couples reach a settlement and fixed October 26 as the date to exchange the babies. Amid deafening sounds of mortar explosions and machine gun fire along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir, a young man from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) crossed the live border and married a girl in Rajouri district. Mohammed Arif, the 33-year-old son of Hassan Mohammed of Mirpur in PoK, reached Rajouri on the Carvan-e-Aman (peace bus) on Monday to tie the knot. Arif crossed the Line of Control on a valid travel permit aboard the bus via Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district and on Tuesday, he married his uncles daughter Kaja Sana in Dhani Dhar area of Rajouri. The trans-LoC peace bus and trade between J&K and PoK -- a brainchild of late chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed -- were initiated in October 2008 after getting a nod by the then-UPA government and Pakistan to enable divided families to meet each other. Read: Love in trying times: Despite India-Pak tensions, cross-border weddings continue Arif has come on a travel permit of two weeks. Arif married Kajal Sana, daughter of Dil Mohammed from Dhanni Dar. Dil Mohammeds brother had crossed over to PoK in 1965 and settled there. The legal formalities are being completed, said a resident of Rajouri. Rajouri deputy commissioner Shabir Ahmed Bhat said, its a positive development amid firing and shelling on the border. There are several families on either side of the border, which have blood relations in both parts of Kashmir, he added. A senior police officer said law does not disallow such marriages and PoK is a part of India, which is under illegal occupation of Pakistan. The family, however, refused to get the couples photographs clicked. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The committee set up by the Bar Council of India (BCI) is likely to recommend sweeping changes to the Advocates Act, 1961, including giving more teeth to the Bar to discipline lawyers and regulate Indian as well as foreign law firms. Provision to weed out lawyers whose qualifications are suspect and more will figure in the proposed reform of legal practice in India being considered by the committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge and several sitting chief justices of high courts. The committees recommendations that will be forwarded to the Law Commission of India (LCI) by the year end will also include steps to bring foreign and Indian law firms under the act, which regulates legal practice in India, start a stipend for new lawyers and punitive action against lawyers strikes. The Supreme Court had in July asked the LCI to suggest measures and changes to the law after it observed that the BCI and state bar councils had failed to stop professional misconduct by lawyers. The LCI wrote to the BCI asking for recommendations. We have appointed a committee headed by justice Shivraj V Patil which has a number of legal luminaries to study the act and propose changes at different levels including the state bar councils and district bar associations. The changes will be remarkable, BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra told Hindustan Times. India has close to 1.2 million lawyers whose professional conduct is regulated by the BCI and state bar councils. BCI also regulates legal education in the country being pursued by almost half a million students of which 60,000 to 70,000 graduate every year. The committee has held three meetings so far. Based on the outcome of these meetings, is it likely to suggest the changes in the bar councils and bar associations and making continuing legal education and training a compulsory part of the legal profession in India. Currently, all that a lawyer needs is a once-in-a-lifetime bar licence to practice. The committee is likely to suggest periodic verification of the lawyers antecedents. The BCI has also decided to identify and remove all advocates who are practising in various courts without passing an all-India level examination which was made mandatory for lawyers enrolling after 2010. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indias decision on Thursday to expel a visa official of the Pakistani mission on charges of espionage is just the latest in a long list of actions taken against diplomatic staffers by both countries. As far back as November 1963, Abdul Majid, a driver at the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi, was arrested by Delhi Police on charges of obtaining secret information from an office assistant in Indias defence ministry. India subsequently asked three officials of the Pakistani mission to leave within 48 hours. Here are some other instances of officials and diplomats being expelled by both countries: December 1988: India expelled Brig Zaheer Abbasi, the Pakistan Army attache, after a Delhi Police team caught him in a hotel handing over Rs 25,000 for secret documents. October 1997: Pakistan expelled SK Chaudhury from the Indian high commission in Islamabad and India retaliated calling for the withdrawal of Murad Balochfrom the Pakistani mission in New Delhi. The previous month, both sides had expelled one staff member each. February 2000: India expelled three Pakistani diplomats because of activities incompatible with their official status. December 2001: India recalled its ambassador to Pakistan in response to an attack on its Parliament by militants from Pakistan-based groups and both countries cut the size of staff at their diplomatic missions. May 2002: India expelled Pakistani envoy Ashraf Jehangir Qazi as tensions spiked and New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing militants who attacked an army camp in Kashmir. January 2003: India expelled four members of the Pakistani mission in New Delhi, including first secretary Mohammed Asif senior and counsellor Muzaffar Sayeed, as they had been found indulging in activities incompatible with their official status. The move followed allegations that the most senior Indian diplomat in Islamabad had been harassed by Pakistani authorities. February 2003: Jalil Abbas Jilani, then charge daffaires or the number two at the Pakistan high commission, was expelled along with four others because their activities were not in line with their diplomatic status. Pakistan retaliated by expelling Indias acting high commissioner Sudhir Vyas and four officials in the mission in Islamabad, including first secretary Rahul Rasgotra. Jilani, who was accused of providing Rs 3 lakh to separatist Kashmiri leaders, went on to become Pakistans foreign secretary. August 2006: Pakistani expelled Deepak Kaul, a counselor at the Indian high commission in Islamabad, after accusing him of possessing sensitive documents. Kaul denied the allegation and said he was unlawfully detained and interrogated while driving from Islamabad to Lahore. India retaliated by expelling Syed Muhammad Rafique Ahmed, a counsellor in the Pakistan mission in New Delhi. April 2010: Delhi polices Special Cell arrested Madhuri Gupta on 22 April 2010. She was posted as second secretary (press and information) in the Indian high commission in Islamabad. According to the chargesheet filed by the police in 2010, she was involved in a relationship with Jamshed, an ISI official, whom she planned to marry. She was accused of passing on sensitive information to the ISI agent. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The energy industry is the biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam, accounting for a third of the total in 2010, at 41.1 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This is set to quadruple by 2020. Illustrative photo by Reuters/David Gray International partners say what Vietnam desperately needs is better policy. International development partners and donors have called on Vietnam to commit to bigger greenhouse gas emission reductions, warning that fueling growth with coal will hurt the country with high environmental costs later. No doubt adaptation is necessary but the less we invest in mitigation today, the more it will cost in adaptation in the future, said Cecile Leroy, who attended a high level meeting in Hanoi on Tuesday as a representative of the European Union. Renewable energy and economic growth can go hand in hand, she said, pointing out that emissions in Europe have been reduced by 20 percent since 1990. Under a high emission scenario, nearly 40 percent of the Mekong Delta could be wiped out by the end of the century, according to projections by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The risk is lower in a scenario of moderate climate change, which is only possible if the world successfully limits global temperature rises to 1.5-2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as agreed in the Paris Agreement last December. Achieving the target means the world must reduce carbon emissions by 40-70 percent by 2050 compared to 2010. But according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific body of the United Nations which advises governments, even if the world manages to keep this promise, median crop yields could drop by as much as 2 percent every decade, and fishery resources around the world could be displaced, affecting catches in Vietnam. The country itself is currently committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 8 percent by 2030 compared to business as usual. While its carbon emissions per capita are relatively low, 1.7 metric tons in 2013 versus an average of 3.5 metric tons in low and middle-income countries, there's an alarming trend of increased emissions compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. These neighbors have also committed to much bigger cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. *Singapore's green house gas (GHG) emission reductions by 2030 compared to 2005. **Business as usual is a baseline case, which assumes that future development trends follow those of the past and no changes in policies will take place. ***Malaysia is excluded because it targets reduction in GHG emission intensity. Outdated and energy intensive technology in power generation, industrial production and transport are to blame for Vietnams relatively high carbon intensity, said Pham Van Tan, deputy director general of the Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change. Carbon intensity is the amount of carbon emissions released per unit of gross domestic product. The energy sector is by far the biggest emitter in Vietnam, according to the environment ministry's 2015 technical report. The energy industry is the biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam, accounting for a third of the total in 2010, at 41.1 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This is set to quadruple by 2020. Under a national energy plan, by 2030, half of the countrys power will come from coal, compared to 19.8 percent in 2013. To meet that demand, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has already allowed three energy giants -- PetroVietnam, Vietnam Electricity and mining group Vinacomin -- to import 70 million tons of coal by 2030. But coal imports may or may not be crucial: the Ministry of Industry and Trade has estimated that Vietnam's coal reserves are already enough to generate power for several centuries. Renewable energy, excluding hydropower, on the other hand, will contribute only 10.7 percent of electricity production in 2030 compared to the current 3.7 percent. It is in this context that United Nations Resident Coordinator Pratibha Mehta called on the Vietnamese government to research and review its emissions targets "carefully." "Vietnam must review the long-term effects of the use of coal for electricity generation and in industry," Mehta said. "Vietnam lags behind most countries in the region in terms of solar and wind power installations [] despite huge potential. The message was echoed by representatives of other development partners at Tuesday's meeting. Vietnam's environment minister Tran Hong Ha agreed that the country "should abandon traditional industries that are heavily dependent on natural resources." "We should switch from black to green energy sources," he said. Vietnam has said greenhouse gas emission reductions could be 25 percent by 2030, instead of the committed 8 percent, if there is international support and adaptation continues to be its main focus. Vietnam considers adaptation important because of the serious climate change impacts, said Tan of the meteorology and climate change department. "In the short term, for Vietnam to deal with such impacts and develop, we have to adapt." "Mitigation is important but it requires huge resources," Tan said, adding that the country needs to consider carefully whether and how foreign loans could be used for renewable energy. He told VnExpress International that even though renewable energy will likely be cheaper with time, its still expensive for Vietnam. Vietnams electricity demand rises very fast, at more than 10 percent per year while in China it's only 2 percent. So its easier for China to move to renewable energy. Growing budget deficit and public debt are placing further strain on Vietnams capacity to commit to more mitigation efforts, according to Nguyen Xuan Thao, deputy director general of Department of Debt Management and External Finance. To switch to renewable energy, well have to import the technology. So its very important to seek private funding but the question is how, said Thao. She pointed out that even the Paris Agreement is not specific about funding mitigation projects, which is an important issue for developing countries like Vietnam, which is also dealing with a decline in official development assistance (ODA) resources. The Delegation to the European Union in Vietnam argued that a transition to renewable energy doesnt require huge government funding but a suitable policy that will encourage the private sector to jump in. Martin Hoppe, First Counselor of the German Embassy, said its expensive going down the coal path if you consider environmental costs. Hoppe suggested Vietnam introduce feed-in tariffs, a kind of subsidy, for renewable energy to encourage the private sector and households to invest in green power. Currently, Vietnam offers no subsidies or tax credits for renewable energy. When it comes to power prices, coal power costs nine cents per kilowatt-hour, while for solar, the price is around 13 cents. Under the Support Program to Respond to Climate Change (SP-RCC) for 2016-2020, a policy dialogue platform that brings together the Vietnamese government, donor partners and NGOs, Vietnam is expected to work on new legislation to encourage wind and solar power projects. So far, the country has secured $1.2 billion for the upcoming SP-RCC term from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD) to fund climate change-related investment, capacity building and policy actions. Minister Ha said Vietnam will ratify the Paris Agreement before the COP 22 Marrakech Climate Change Conference on November 7. The Paris Agreement will enter into force on November 4 and so far the world's biggest polluters including the U.S., China and the European Union have already ratified it. Related news: > Nightmare scenario: Coastal Vietnam faces a watery end > Paris climate deal to enter force after EU green light The Chhattisgarh government has ordered an inquiry into security personnel in Bastar torching effigies of human-rights activists early this week, and suspended eight police officers the CBI charge-sheeted in a related five-year-old case. Bastar commissioner Dilip Vasnikar will probe against uniformed men of armed auxiliary forces who set afire effigies of six people including a journalist, an official note said. The effigies burnt were of CPI leader Manish Kunjam, social workers Bela Bhatia and Himanshu Kumar, Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar and Aam Aadmi Party leader Soni Sori besides newsperson Malini Subramaniam, who had to move out of the tribal belt for reporting state violence. Mondays Bastar episode happened two days after the Supreme Court noted that the CBI had charge-sheeted seven officers of the special police force the earlier name for armed auxiliary forces for setting tribal villages ablaze in a Dantewada village in March 2011. The CBIs charge sheet on the arson named 26 Salwa Judum activists who attacked social worker Swami Agnivesh on his visit to the affected Tarmetla on a fact-finding mission. Bastar and Dantewada in south Chhattisgarh adjoin Maoist-affected districts and part of a Red Corridor that experience considerable insurgency. Salwa Judum is a 2005-initiated tribal militia aimed at countering Naxalite violence in the state. As for the inquiry into the Mondays incident, government sources said a letter has also been sent to superintendents of police to immediately suspend eight officers named in the CBI charge sheet on the Tarmtla case that involved burning 200 houses and granaries of that village. On Wednesday, the CPIs Kunjam, who is also a tribal activist, sought to hold a press conference in Bastar. While speaking to journalists about Mondays effigy-burning issue, more than dozen people stormed in and raided the place. I could identify two of the persons, Kunjam told Hindustan Times. We have filed a police complaint. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China on Thursday warned India that boycotting of its goods would affect ties and investments between the countries. China is more concerned that the boycott will negatively affect Chinese enterprises to invest in India and the bilateral cooperation, which both Chinese and Indian people are not willing to see, said Xie Liyan, spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. India is Chinas largest trading partner in South Asia and ninth largest export market in the world. Several groups had called for the voluntary boycott of Chinese goods this season -- fireworks made in China are a huge draw -- in protest against what they call China-Pakistan closeness. However, the ban has no official sanction. Read | Campaigns against Chinese products hit Diwali market in Jharkhand Read | Now, a campaign to boycott Chinese lights, promote earthen diyas this festive season in Bengal The Chinese, though, made clear that such a move will hurt India more than them. India has been seeking huge Chinese investments in its infrastructure sector. Such investments, it has long been said, will address the trade imbalance to an extent. India and China bilateral trade in 2015 was $71.6 billion, of which close to $50 billion is the deficit. The boycott effect will not be limited to Diwali related products, but extended to other Chinese products that are not related to the festival, the embassy spokesperson said. In the long run, the boycott will not only hurt Chinese goods sale, but also cause negative effects to consumers in India, he said. Without proper substitutes, the biggest losers of the boycott of Chinese goods will be Indian traders and consumers. China is the worlds largest trading nation in goods; its exports in 2015 amounted to $2276.5 billion. The exports to India accounted for only 2% of Chinas total exports, Xie noted. Also read | Indias boycott of our goods will fail to change trade ties: Chinese media SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pakistan said on Thursday it condemned the detention and manhandling of its diplomat after the Delhi Police announced it had temporarily detained a Pakistani high commission staffer for allegedly running a spy racket that accessed sensitive information about Indian security operations. The Indian action has been accompanied by an extremely negative and orchestrated media campaign, Pakistans ministry of foreign affairs said. Read: Pakistan high commission staffer asked to leave, 2 Indians held for espionage The Delhi Police said the man, Mehmood Akhtar, was caught on Wednesday outside the Delhi Zoo, where he had met two Indian men police believe he had recruited to spy for Pakistan. The Indian citizens and the diplomat, who worked in Pakistan high commissions visa section, were found with forged documents, as well as defence-related maps, deployment charts and lists of officers working along Indias border with Pakistan, the police said. India said the diplomat, who was later released under diplomatic immunity rules, had been declared a persona non grata for espionage activities and they had summoned the Pakistani high commissioner to make their case. We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which is indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere, Pakistans ministry of foreign affairs said. This act clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission, it added. India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads since militants killed 19 Indian soldiers in September at an army camp in Kashmir, an attack India blamed on Pakistan-based militants. India said it had sent special commandos into Pakistan to kill militants in a retaliatory operation that sharply soured relations between the neighbours. The Indian attempts to escalate the tensions and divert the international attention from the grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir can never succeed. Pakistan urges the international community to take notice of the Indian designs, Pakistan said on Thursday after its diplomat was asked to leave India by October 29. With inputs from agencies Pakistani diplomat Mehmood Akhtar caught spying in India is a serving head constable with the 40th Baloch regiment in Pakistan. Mehmood Akhtar had joined the Pak army in 1997 and in 2013, a senior ISI agent possibly a major- asked him to join the Pakistans inter-services intelligence. Akhtar, a Rawalpindi resident confessed he was among 60 other candidates who cleared the written exam. After the interview and medical examination, he was among three new recruits to the ISI. He reportedly confessed that a posting in the ISI is a sought after posting because of the high salary. In India, he was assigned the visa consultation unit, in which every day he would meet large number of everyday seeking visa to Pakistan. He claimed that not many in the Pakistan High Commission knew about his spying activities. He was warned by his seniors to lie low because they believe there are Indian spies in the High Commission. At the visa section, Akhtar checked every visa application to find out about the financial status of the applicant. He also checked if the applications had relatives in Pakistan and tried exploiting poor residents. It was during one such interaction that Akhtar met Jodhpur resident Shoaib, a passport and travel agent. Akhtar found it east to exploit visa applicants and people like Shoaib who came to the high commission for visas. He promised to expedite Shoaibs visa application if he got border residents to spy for them. He also spoke to visa applicants personally and mostly targeted those with relatives in Pakistan, said an officer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India has one of the highest incidence of bird-flu outbreaks globally because it lies underneath three transnational flight paths of migratory birds, officials have said, adding the current episode poses low risks to humans. Amur falcons take off from Nagaland, racing southwards and flying over three oceans to South Africa and onwards to Mongolia. The feathered frequent flier clocks 22,000km, outstripping the air distance between Delhi and San Francisco, the worlds longest commercial flight way, by nearly 8000 km. Nearly 370 species of birds, from the northern wheatear to yellow-rumped flycatcher crisscross India from Europe, Russia and Mongolia each year, according to the Bombay Natural History Society. This brings joy to wildlife enthusiasts, but also makes the country vulnerable to bird flu, which has occurred 24 times across states since the first outbreak 2004. Government records show nearly Rs 400 crore have been paid to poultry farmers since as compensation for mass killing of birds. Read: Bird flu: Three more bird deaths at zoo and Shakti Sthal, toll now 69 Apart from Delhi, outbreaks have now been reported in three more states Kerala, Punjab and MP although a national status report said the disease isnt spreading any more. All cases have been determined to be of the H5N8 type. H5N8 type is highly pathogenic but it isnt known to transmit to humans, a government official said, citing a World Health Organization (WHO) update on India. So, its a low-risk category outbreak, he said. A grey partridge was confirmed to have died of the disease at New Delhis National Zoological Park in the past 24 hours, but officials said there appeared to be no need for mass culling. An official statement said no further test results are required for Delhi government but it will continue with its bio-security measures for implementing the National Action Plan for Control and Containment of the Avian Influenza 2015 guidelines. Read: Union health ministry issues health advisory on bird flu to states The agriculture ministry on Wednesday said the Bhopal-based National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases, which functions in coordination with the World Organisation for Animal Health, along with four specialised regional labs is coordinating efforts to contain the outbreak. The government hasnt banned poultry for human consumption, he said, adding the advisory is to consume only fully cooked meat and eggs. All bird sanctuaries with lakes have been advised to keep a close watch. Hours after New Delhi asked a Pakistani high commission official to leave India accusing him of running a spy ring, Islamabad late on Thursday expelled an India embassy staff in a tit-for-tat move that signalled a ratcheting up of hostilities. Surjeet Singhs activities were against diplomatic norms, Pakistan foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry told Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale. Singh, an assistant in the mission, and his family have to leave by October 29. Earlier in the day, India declared Mehmood Akhtar persona non grata (Latin for an unacceptable person) and gave him 48 hours to move out. Pakistan denied the charge and in turn accused Indian investigators of manhandling Akhtar, who was briefly detained by Delhi Police. New Delhi rejected Pakistans accusations. Read | Pakistan high commission staffer asked to leave, 3 Indians held for espionage Three Indians, all from Rajasthan, were arrested for allegedly passing on information about border deployment to Akhtar, who worked for ISI and was an assistant in the high commissions trade section, Delhi Police said. Maps of border areas and a list of names of BSF personnel were also recovered from Akhtar, who was carrying a forged Aadhaar card that said he was a resident of Chandni Chowk. In the morning, foreign secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit and told him that Akhtar was caught with sensitive documents and declared persona non grata. The foreign secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pak high commissioner that the Pak high commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. Read | Pak summons Indian high commissioner, expels diplomatic staff Akhtar was detained at the Delhi zoo on Wednesday while accepting documents about deployment of the Border Security Force in Rajasthan and Gujarat from two Indians, who were arrested, Delhi Police said. Akhtar, who has been with the high commission for three years, was released after he invoked diplomatic immunity, Delhi Police joint commissioner Ravindra Yadav said. Police identified the arrested men as Maulana Ramzan Khan and Subhash Jangir, residents of Naguar in Rajasthan. Late in the evening, the third member of the alleged spy ring, Shoaib Nagaur was detained at the Jodhpur and was being brought to Delhi. Police said they were watching Akhtar for six months. The Pakistan high commission official was the kingpin. The module was active for one-and-a-half years, Yadav said. Read | Third man in Pakistans ISI spy ring arrested from Jodhpur Akhtar recruited Khan (50), a teacher in a Nagaur mosque school, and Jangir (37) a vegetable vendor, and sought information about Rajasthan and neigbouring Gujarat, both states share land and maritime boundaries with Pakistan. The men also had names of serving and retried BSF men and Akhtar might have honey-trapped personnel, Yadav said. Akhtar initially insisted he was a Delhi man but later admitted he was with the Pakistan high commission. He stated that he had joined the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan army in 1997 and came on deputation to the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) in 2013, Swarup said. Basit lodged a protest with Jaishankar over detention and manhandling of Pakistan high commission staffer. Pakistan foreign office, too, took strong exception to the expulsion. This act clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan high commission, it said. Tensions between the two countries have soared after a group of suspected Pakistani militants attacked an army camp in Kashmirs Uri in September and killed 19 soldiers. A few days later, the Indian Army crossed the line of control and hit militants preparing to enter India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Read | Condemn manhandling of our diplomat: Pak on Indias espionage charge Amar Singh on Thursday broke his silence on the issue of the ongoing feud in the Yadav clan, saying he was ready to sacrifice himself if it can help resolve the crisis. He also hit out at expelled Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav for threatening him, saying if anything happens to him, the blame would lie on the cousin of party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. Sacrifice me. I am ready, if sacrifice can solve the problem, he said in New Delhi. Reaching out to Akhilesh, he said the young leader should not go by what backbiters say. Let Mulayam Singh say that I have said anything against Akhilesh...there is a new breed of people who are with the CM as he is in power. I am, was, and would remain with Akhilesh, the son of Mulayam Singh, not the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...Mulayam is not only the father of Akhilesh, but also the Samajwadi Party, Singh said. He said when Akhilesh was made the SP UP unit chief replacing Shivpal yadav, even then he (Amar Singh) was blamed for it. Even now I am being blamed, he said. Singh also dismissed the charge that a news report calling Akhilesh Aurangzeb was published at his behest. He said a probe would clear the issue. Responding to a question on the claim by Ram Gopal that no one can guarantee his safety as well as that of Shivpal if they made any statement against the former in public, Singh said it was an open threat and he would seek protection from the Union home minister. Ram Gopal is no ordinary person, he knows how to use a pen as well as a carbine...If I die or am hurt, Ram Gopal is to be blamed...I want to live for my two 15-year-old daughters and my wife...I would leave India... Please let me live, Singh said. Replying to a question about his remarks that access to Akhilesh for him remains difficult, the party general secretary said, It is possible to meet (Congress vice-president) Rahul Gandhi, but meeting Akhilesh is difficult. Continuing his attack on Ram Gopal, Singh said statements like Amar SIngh has saved Mulayam from CBI and courts are baseless. At least spare your elder cousin Mulayam. Singh, who returned to SP fold after being sacked six years ago, is being blamed by Akhilesh for triggering the crisis in the Yadav clan. Akhilesh also believes that Amar Singh was behind his removal as SPs UP unit chief. Shivpal was appointed in his place ahead of the assembly polls in the state due early next year. A Border Security Force soldier was killed on Thursday in firing by Pakistani troops in Abdullian area of RS Pura sector in Jammu district, in third such death of BSF personnel within a week since skirmishes erupted on the international border. Head constable Jitender Kumar attained martyrdom while combating Pakistan Rangers, BSF deputy inspector general (Jammu Frontier) Dharmendra Parikh said. Kumar belonged to Raxaul in Motihari district of Bihar. He is survived by his wife Bimla Devi and other family members. The wreath laying ceremony for Kumar is likely to be held on Friday. Read | Pak violates ceasefire second time in 4 hours along IB in Jammu Gurnam Singh of Magowali in Arnia area of RS Pura sector was killed in a sniper attack by Pakistan in Bobiya of Hiranagar. Head constable Sushil Kumar of Pehova in Haryanas Kurukshetra died after sustaining grievous injuries at Sangral post in the RS Pura sector while retaliating to the Pakistani fire. The Indian Army said that Pakistan again violated the ceasefire agreement in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district on Thursday and it was being retaliated strongly. Seven villagers were also injured, two of them critically, in Gopar Basti in RS Pura sector as Pakistan shelled villages along the international border through Wednesday night. The gun-battle between the two nuclear-powered arch-rivals continued till Thursday morning. BSF DIG Parikh said two Pakistani posts started firing flat trajectory weapons at RS Pura at 8.35pm on Wednesday and around 9pm they started targeting with mortars. Around 14 to 15 BSF border outpost areas were affected in the firing. Abdulian village received the maximum firing, Parikh said. He added that Indian forces responded in a befitting way. Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector this morning, six civilians injured in mortar shelling. pic.twitter.com/lts1ibOoIr ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 Heavy mortar shelling started at Arnia around 10pm on Wednesday. Six civilians have also been injured, Jammu deputy commissioner Simrandeep Singh said. The injured have been identified as Jyoti Sharma, 39, Raj Rani, 40, Lucky Sharma, 20, Abhi Sharma,18, Uday Sharma,10, and Shano Dev, 55. All of them belong to Gopar Basti in RS Pura. They have been shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu. On Wednesday, BSF assistant sub-inspector AK AK Upadhyay sustained minor injuries when a shell fired by Pakistan Rangers exploded near him in Abdullian. As many as 16 people, mostly women, have been injured in the cross-border firing in the RS Pura sector in the past two days. BSF Jammu Frontier IG DK Upadhyaya has said that there will be no soft hand approach anymore and every provocation by Pakistan will be dealt with sternly. Ties between both the nations are on the edge after the September attack by militants on an Indian Army camp in Kashmirs Uri in which 19 soldiers lost their lives. India responded to the attack by conducting surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On Wednesday, the Indian deputy high commissioner was summoned by Pakistan for the second consecutive day to protest against unprovoked ceasefire violations along the International Border and the LoCr. The Pakistan Foreign Office said ceasefire violations by India in Chapar and Harpal sectors of the international border and at Bhimber sector of the LoC killed two civilians and injured nine others. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Puls third wife, Dasanglu Pul, will contest the next months by-election to the assembly seat vacated by his death, on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. BJP and Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA), coalition partners in the state government, agreed on Dasanglus name at a meeting of the anti-Congress North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) in Itanagar on Wednesday. Polling for the scheduled tribe (ST) seat, which is close to the China border, would be held on November 19. The reserved Hayuliang assembly seat, which Pul represented, fell vacant after the 47-year-old Puls body was found hanging at his official residence in Itanagar, the state capital, on August 9. Although it was clear that someone from Puls family would get the ticket, there were speculations on who would get selected and which party would the contestant represent. Puls first wife, Dangwimsai, was also seeking the ticket. But the family resolved their differences and agreed on Dasanglus name to further the late CMs legacy. We appealed to PPA to allow Dasanglu to contest on our partys ticket, and they agreed. As both BJP and PPA are part of NEDA, she will get the support of all parties in the alliance, state BJP chief Tapir Gao told Hindustan Times. As a mark of respect for Pul, BJP and PPA have requested other parties not to field any candidates and allow Dasanglu to get elected unopposed. I was in suspense for several weeks about getting the ticket. Now its over and we can focus on the election so that the work left unfinished by my husbands death can be carried forward, Dasanglu told HT. The by-election is happening at a time when the 60-page note written by Pul, found near his body, is making headlines with former Arunachal governor JP Rajkhowa telling a newspaper that its contents are explosive. The note called Mere Vichar (My Thoughts) was sealed by the police and is yet to be opened. Following Puls death, Arunachal government had ordered a magisterial inquiry as well as a separate police investigation. Forensic report of the late CMs viscera, which was submitted to the police earlier this month, has ruled out any foul play behind his death. The police are expected to submit their report on the case within a month. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON There were sporadic incidences of violence in Kashmir on Thursday, even as the region crawled back to normal with public transport resuming services and vendors reopening stalls to sell clothes, fruits and vegetables. Unknown persons fired in the air in Kulgams Chawalgam market when a few shops had opened, police said. An official said the intention of the masked gunmen was to scare the people who had opened shops despite the shutdown call by the joint separatist leadership. Although reports in local media said petrol bombs were hurled at vendors in Sopore, an official at the police control room denied any such incident. In another incident, miscreants set on fire an auto-rickshaw at Rainawari in Srinagar. Read | Education in Kashmir faces another challenge: Almost 20 schools burnt in unrest A government primary school was burned down by unknown miscreants in Pattan area of Baramulla district late on Wednesday night, making it the 20th such school during the ongoing unrest. Over the past three-and-a-half months, at least one school in each of the Kashmir Valleys 10 districts have either been burnt or suffered damages in fires. Most of the schools have been burnt at night by unknown miscreants. A few caught fire allegedly during security forces use of tear gas shells to disperse protesters. Security forces, however, have denied these allegations. Police said they were trying to identify the miscreants and also putting in place some security measures to avoid such incidents. A special team of Srinagar police arrested two hardcore stone-pelters Humair (Nelcha) and Zahid Rasool Shiekh of Nowhatta from Jammu, police said in a statement on Thursday. The duo is involved in many stone-pelting cases as also in the cases of arson. Both of them were evading arrest. Read | Four held for taking Pakistani funds to fuel Kashmir unrest A carpenter stops working as a train goes by in downtown Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Reuters It remains to be seen whether the recent accident will turn into another forgotten tragedy. A deadly crash on Vietnam's North-South railway line that resulted in six deaths in Hanoi is the latest in a string of railway accidents at level crossings involving cars recently in Vietnam, and has raised serious safety concerns. A railway manager said there was no fence at the crossing, but there was a warning sign and red light. Similar accidents have happened many times in the past, and while railroad agencies have been pushing for the modernization of railroad signals for some time, progress has been slow. The train collision in Thuong Tin District on Monday was just one of 300 railroad incidents that have occurred across the country in the past ten months, according to statistics from the National Traffic Safety Committee. Among those, 291 cases happened at level crossings, illustrating the safety risks for pedestrians and vehicles using them. Most railway lines run parallel to public roads and pass through populated urban areas and industrial zones, which has led to the rising number of crossing points, Doan Duy Hoach, deputy general director of the Vietnam Railway Company (VNR), told online news site An ninh Thu do. On average, there are 1.85 crossing points for each kilometer of railway, which is the reason for the very high risk of accidents. A report by the VNR showed that there are currently 5,793 level crossing points across the country. Out of those, 1,514 are roads, but only 641 have guards stationed at them, 366 have automatic alarms and 507 having warning signs. The remaining 4,279 are pedestrian crossings. Hoach said that since 2013, the VNR has been working to upgrade railroad safety by employing more guards and installing more automatic barriers and warning signs. Despite these efforts, safety at level crossings has not kept up with changes to vehicles, trains, rail infrastructure, passenger numbers and residents. Along the overburdened national North-South railway, thousands of crossing points still exist. Many residents living along the rail reportedly ignore the barriers and look for shortcuts to cross the railway for the sake of convenience. The increasingly narrowing railway lines have become a headache for authorities regarding management and safety. The Ministry of Transport is currently working on a feasibility study for an express railway across the country, according to Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, which he hopes will be submitted for parliamentary approval by 2018. The newly proposed high-speed railway follows a similar plan that was rejected six years ago by national lawmakers, who said the investment of $56 billion, equivalent to nearly half of Vietnams gross domestic product in 2010, was too big. Many experts say that the revival of the long-abandoned project also depends on whether the safety problems at level crossings can be solved. VNR official Hoach said the company will try to implement more level crossing safety measures but most of the plans remain on paper. Only time will tell whether serious accidents such as the fatal train crash on October 24 will turn into another forgotten tragedy. Related news: > Vietnam secures additional $251 million from China for notorious urban railway project > Train crash in Central Vietnam severs North-South railway > Vietnam rehashes plan for ambitious high-speed railway Residents of a Kerala town killed 40 stray dogs on Thursday, a day after a 90-year-old man was mauled to death by a pack of canines, prompting the government to order sterilisation of an estimated 2.7-lakh feral dog population in the state. The government also rejected Union minister Maneka Gandhis suggestion to book people killing stray dogs, blamed for the death of at least 10 people in the state. The killing of dogs by angry people have set off a war of words between the government and Gandhi, a known animal lover. The nonagenarian died at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College after he was attacked by strays at Varkala while sleeping on the portico of his house on Wednesday. He was the 10th victim of stray dogs. Though police rushed to the spot after the killings, locals prevented any arrest. The carcasses of the dogs were later displayed at the local market. The state government ordered implementation of animal birth control measures on a war-footing and asked local bodies to recruit enough people to carry out the programme effectively. Lack of enough veterinary surgeons, trained dog handlers and poor infrastructure at hospitals are crippling the ABC programme in Kerala. Majority of local bodies are yet to switch over from traditional sterilization method to keyhole surgery, a standard procedure followed globally. Maneka had said some anti-social elements were turning heroes overnight by killing poor dogs and called for their arrest under the goondas. Three Indian fishermen were arrested and their boat impounded by the Sri Lankan navy near Rameswaram for allegedly possessing two kilograms of heroin. The Sri Lankan navy is questioning the arrested Indian fishermen in this connection. Earlier, on October 24, the Marine Police of Coastal Security Group (CSG) arrested three Sri Lankan fishermen, along with their fibre glass fishing boat, in connection with poaching in Indian waters. Amid the raging feud in the Samajwadi Party (SP)s first family, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav called on his supporters to be cautious as they continue working towards the upcoming assembly elections. Akhilesh, who begins his rath yatra campaign on November 3, told organisers and party workers, Let them conspire, let us work. It is because of our work that we have been able to build an image amongst people. The chief minister is finalising plans and arrangements for the first leg of the yatra, and appointed several of his cadre as in-charges of different segments of the campaign. All the appointments are people who were expelled by Akhileshs uncle and party state chief, Shivpal Yadav. Warning them to be weary of those who would pit them against each other, Akhilesh told his supporters to avoid carrying out any demonstrations. He further took exception to some youth leaders putting up a poster which depicted Amar Singh, a close confidant of party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, in a derogatory manner. We should not engage in such acts. Focus on goodness, and focus on winning goodwill, he said. The two-day yatra begins at 9am from La Martinere ground and will move to Unnao, Kanpur and Bilhaur before returning to Lucknow. The Yadav family has been caught in an ugly feud for over a month with Akhilesh and Shivpal at loggerheads. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One soldier was killed and another injured as the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled an infiltration bid in J-Ks Tangdhar on Thursday. BSF soldiers manning the border intercepted a group of militants attempting to cross into India and one soldier was killed in the resulting gunfight, an army spokesperson said. As of filing this report, exchange of gunfire with militants was still ongoing. Thursdays incident is part of a series of conflicts along the Line of Control and the International Border in the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Read | Pak high commission staffer caught spying asked to leave country In a separate incident, also on Thursday, a Pakistani Ranger was killed and another injured in retaliatory firing by the BSF in response to shelling on 15 Indian posts and nearly 30 hamlets along the International Border in RS Pura and Arnia sub sectors of Jammu district. One BSF jawan was killed and seven were injured, two of them critically, in the fire exchange. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One of two Nagaur residents arrested by Delhi police on charges of spying for Pakistans intelligence agency had fought the 2013 assembly elections as an independent and the other was an imam at a local mosque, police said on Thursday. There are reports that a third suspected Pakistani spy, Shoeb, was picked up by police in Jodhpur but there is no official confirmation yet. Intelligence officials refused to speak on the issue, saying Delhi police is handling the case. The two Nagaur residents, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangid, were arrested in Delhi on the suspicion that they were working for the ISI and passing on vital information to their handlers in Pakistan. They are suspected to have passed on information to one Akhtar Mahmud, an official in Pakistani high commission in New Delhi. Read | Pak high commission staffer caught spying asked to leave country According to locals, Ramzan and Jangid were friends for the last several years. Ramzan ran a cloth store and Jangir had a grocery store in Bassi mohalla of Nagaur. Ramzan, a native of Barmer district, moved to Nagaur several years ago and was the imam of the Qureshi mosque in the city, said said Bhanwar Singh, SHO, Kotwali. Jangid, a native of Inana village, had fought the 2013 assembly elections as an independent from the Khinwsar constituency. According to villagers in Inana, Jangid ran into heavy debt after the polls and moved to Nagaur to set up his business. He was in debt after the elections, said an Inana resident Yogesh Kumar. Read | Pakistan high commission staffer asked to leave, 2 Indians held for espionage Nagaur police visited the shops of the accused in Bassi mohalla on Thursday, but found both shops closed. They also went to Ramzans house but found it locked too. Police said Ramzan had gone to Delhi three days ago. The neighbours claimed that he frequented Delhi for purchasing goods for his shop. We were informed by the neighbours that he left for Delhi three days ago to buy goods for his shop, said Bhanwar Singh. Locals said Ramzan did not have many friends in the area. (But) a large number of outsiders used to visit him, said a neighbour. Hindustan Times attempted to speak to Jangids father, Hirji Jangir, a government school teacher, but his phone was switched off. Read | Pak summons Indian deputy high commissioner for second day in a row The external ministry on Thursday asked Pakistan high commission staffer, Mehmood Akhtar, to leave the country after declaring him persona non grata on charges of espionage. In the latest strain between the neighbours, the decision came after Akhtar was found in possession of confidential documents relating to Indias defence strategies. Foreign secretary S Jaishankar had summoned Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit at 11:30 am over the matter, and conveyed Akhtars status. The status of persona non grata means that an official who enjoys diplomatic immunity has to leave the country soon. Akhtar had been detained by Delhi Police on Wednesday night after being found with the sensitive documents. After being questioned by the crime branch, he was let off given his diplomatic immunity. Also read | 2 ISI spies arrested after Pak official questioned; envoy summoned SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India arrested three citizens and said it was expelling a Pakistani high commission staffer for espionage activities on Thursday after busting a ring that collected documents on defence deployment and border area maps. FS (foreign secretary) summons Pak high commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer (Mehmood Akhtar) has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter. Delhi police joint commissioner Ravindra Yadav said Akhtar was detained on Wednesday with sensitive documents in his possession. The official was released after he invoked diplomatic immunity, Yadav said. Akhtar had been working with the Pakistan high commission in India for the past three years. Read | Pak high commission staffer caught spying asked to leave country The two Indian citizens arrested on Wednesday were identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Rajasthan. They have been booked under the Official Secrets Act. Indian nationals arrested over charges of spying for Pakistan. The Pakistan high commission official was the kingpin. He used to recruit Indians for spying and send information to Pakistan The (spying) module was active for one-and-a-half years. We were working (to bust) it for the past six months, Yadav said. We recovered documents on defence deployment and border area maps. They had lists of BSF men who were deployed, transferred or retired, he added. The third person, a visa agent named Sohaib Nagaur, who was allegedly working as a spy for Pakistans ISI, was detained by the Rajasthan Police on Thursday. Tensions between India and Pakistan have soared since an attack last month on an Indian Army base in Kashmirs Uri killed 19 soldiers. The Delhi Police officer said Akhtar and the arrested men were apprehended at the Delhi zoo on October 25 when they were meeting to exchange the documents. On being questioned, the Pakistan high commission official identified himself as Mehmood Rajput. He had an Aadhaar card and said he was a resident of Chandni Chowk. When pressed more, he revealed he worked for the high commission... He invoked diplomatic immunity, the police officer said. This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India. Last year, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested. Read | Pak summons Indian deputy high commissioner for second day in a row The Pakistani army fired bullets and mortar shells relentlessly at multiple Indian frontier villages along the border in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday evening, triggering a war-like situation in those areas. The Pakistanis shelled areas along the border in Jammu and 224.5km of the Line of Control, south of the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas. The state shares with Pakistan a 198km international border in Jammu and the LoC a 740km de-facto border between the two nations in Kashmir. Skirmishes are common along this border, but the attack intensified after Indian troops killed a Pakistan Rangers soldier in retaliatory action against heavy overnight shelling in the RS Pura and Arnia sectors of the international border. A 12-year-old girl and a woman were wounded after mortar shells fired by Pakistani soldiers exploded near their home in Kathua district late on Thursday. Police officer Pawan Parihar said: We are evacuating people from all forward villages. The Pakistanis started unprovoked firing using automatic weapons and 82mm mortars at a number of Indian border outposts of the BSF in Hiranagar and Samba sub-sectors this evening, the BSFs Jammu frontier DIG, Dharmender Pareekh, said. Indian posts in Balakote, Mendhar and Mankote sectors of Poonch district also came under heavy fire. The Pakistanis fired 120mm and 82mm shells in Poonch. More than 50 shells exploded in several villages in Mendhar. In Rajouri district, many houses were reportedly damaged. A number of soldiers in an army patrol were wounded when Pakistani troops attacked either with a mortar or a grenade from near the barbed-wire fence on the LoC in Jammu in the afternoon, sources said. The wounded were flown in a helicopter to the armys command hospital in Udhampur. A BSF personnel died and six people were wounded when Pakistani troops shelled over 15 border outposts and 29 hamlets with mortar overnight in Jammu district. The BSF last Friday claimed to have killed seven Pakistan Rangers soldiers and a militant in the Kathua sector. Relations between the two countries have hit a low since four terrorists attacked an army base in Uri on September 18, killing 19 soldiers, followed by Indias surgical strikes on militant hideouts in PoK. India on Thursday said it will welcome Pakistans participation at the Heart of Asia (HoA) conference to be held in Amritsar on December 4 although it has not received any official confirmation from the neighbouring country so far. We are yet to receive an official confirmation from Pakistan and also the level of participation, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said when asked whether there will be a Indo-Pak bilateral meeting as Pakistans adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz has already announced his country will attend the conference. He also said HoA was a minister-level meeting and a multilateral conference to discuss peace, development and economic cooperation for the prosperity of Afghanistan. We will certainly welcome all countries to Amritsar because we are totally committed to peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. HoA process is a very important process for taking that particular narrative forward....and how international community can partner. We will welcome the participation of Pakistan, he said while noting that India was expecting more than 40 countries and organisations to attend the meet. Last year in December, the HoA conference was hosted by Pakistan and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had attended it after which she met Aziz. The two sides had also announced resumption of Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD), which never took-off due to terror strikes, including Pathankot attack by Pakistan- based elements. India had recently boycotted the SAARC summit which was scheduled to be held in Islamabad. Citing continuous cross-border terrorism from Pakistan following the Uri attack, India had said, in the present circumstances it was unable to take part in the SAARC summit. The Supreme Court will hear a plea on Friday against an order by the Allahabad high court which made the ride between Delhi and Noida on the DND Flyway toll-free. A bench headed by Justice Anil R Dave agreed for a hearing on Thursday after the Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd (NTBCL) which manages the Flyway filed the plea. On Wednesday, the Allahabad HC had passed an order against collecting toll on the eight-lane, 9.2km road connecting Noida with south Delhi which was opened on February 6, 2001. The toll for a car was Rs 8 for each journey initially, but it was gradually hiked to Rs 28. Almost 150,000 vehicles use the flyway on an average weekday; 110,000 vehicles pass through the Noida toll gate and an average 40,000 use the Mayur Vihar link road opened in January 2008. The order came on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations in 2012 to restrain the concessionaire from collecting toll tax. Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited is the promoter company of the NTBCL, whose job was to construct, operate and maintain the flyway till 2031. (With inputs from agencies) Vietnam and China are the world's biggest consumers of the critically-endangered rhinos, according to conservation groups. Photo by AFP The NGO urges tough measures from Vietnam to end the trade of ivory and rhino horn. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is calling activists around the globe to come together and demand that the government of Vietnam do more to save rhinos and elephants. The campaign, Act Now to Save Rhinos, urged people to join and sign a letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, asking the Vietnamese government to take concrete action to tackle the poaching of the two endangered species. Vietnam and its neighbor China have been identified by international conservation groups as the worlds biggest consumers of rhino horn. Rhinos are being poached in South Africa at the rate of one animal every eight hours. The country has lost nearly 6,000 rhinos since 2007, while its elephant population has shrunk by a fifth in the past decade. The Vietnamese government has indeed committed to combating wildlife trafficking, by outlawing commercial use of rhino horn and ivory as well as signing a pact with South Africa on biodiversity management to curb the rampant illegal trade. But little has been achieved, according to conservationists. Illegal rhino horn and ivory are still openly for sale in wildlife markets and on social media/online. Yet there has not been a single recorded prosecution of a rhino horn or ivory trafficker, the WWF wrote in its petition letter, which can be found on its website. The organization said its representatives will personally deliver the letter to Vietnams government officials during an important conference in Hanoi on November 17-18. "As the host of the Hanoi Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference, Vietnam has a golden opportunity to crackdown on wildlife crime and contribute to saving two of the world's most iconic species," the group wrote in the letter. It is not the first time wildlife conservationists have chided Vietnam on this issue. PM Phuc last month issued a directive ordering agencies to combat the trafficking of wild animals, two days after the WWF threatened trade sanctions against Vietnam. The group urged Vietnam to crank up its efforts to end the illegal trade of rhino horn. It suggested signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora bring sanctions against the country if it continues avoiding action. Colman OCriodain, trade analyst with the WWF, told the Associated Press last month that Vietnam had resisted taking action against wildlife trafficking for years. For the past six years its been known that Vietnam is the biggest market for rhino horn, he said. So far, over six years, there has not been a decision to suspend trade with Vietnam. Rhino horn is sought after in Vietnam by those who believe that it can cure cancer, despite no scientific basis. The last known Javan rhino in Vietnam, which belonged to a rare Southeast Asian species, was found dead in 2010. Its horn was hacked off. Vietnams official stance on this issue is that the country has strictly prohibited the trade in wildlife species that is against Vietnamese laws and international conventions to which the country is a signatory. What's more Vietnam has outlawed the commercial use of rhinoceros horn, which is composed largely of the protein keratin, the chief component in human hair and fingernails. The trade has been fueled by a misguided belief in its supposed medicinal properties, including its ability to cure cancer. Many also flaunt the horns as a status symbol. The ivory trade in Vietnam has also been rampant despite a ban introduced in the 1990s. Large hauls of elephant tusks are seized in the country from time to time, including three shipments of 3.3 tons this month alone. The WWF on Thursday also issued a global report warning that the world is at risk of losing more than two thirds of its wildlife by the end of the decade. The WWFs Living Planet Index said 56 percent of fish, mammals, birds and reptiles worldwide have vanished since 1970, or at a rate of 2 percent a year. The reasons are habitat loss, over exploitation of resources, pollution and climate change. This is definitely human impact, were in the sixth mass extinction, WWF conservation scientist Martin Taylor said, as cited by CNN. Related news: > Price of rhino horn plummets in Vietnam > WWF chides Vietnam on rhino horn trade, threatens sanctions > Alleged rhino horn smuggler busted at Vietnam airport > Port officials in Vietnam seize ton of African ivory, again Sadhna Yadav, the second wife of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, visited Varanasi on September 12 to meet noted Ayurvedic physician Rajvaidya Pt Shiv Kumar Shastri, her husbands close confidant and doctor. Though Shastri and his associates were unwilling to share details of what transpired in the meeting, Sadhna apparently wanted to know about Mulayams health. The tussle in the Yadav clan had just begun when Sadhna met Pt Shastri, who said any tension in old age could be detrimental to the SP patriarchs health. Octogenarian Rajvaidya suggested truce was the only solution for the crisis. He said, Tension between Akhilesh and his uncle Shivpal is not good for the party and family. I appeal to both of them to end the acrimony for the sake of the SP chief. He added that Mulayam should understand that the young voters wanted a youth leader and should guide Akhilesh from time to time, but not in public. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi asserted that uniform civil code is not merely a Muslim issue and will be opposed by people in parts of north-east India, especially Nagaland and Mizoram. The legislator from Hyderabad also charged the BJP with a design to finish the countrys pluralism and diversity. Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is not merely a Muslim issue. Its an issue which will be opposed by north-east, especially Nagaland and Mizoram, Owaisi told PTI here. Its an issue on which many people in India would really worry now because it relates to pluralism and diversity of India that BJP wants to finish, he alleged. For BJP, Muslims have to be made an enemy so that they can have polarisation around that issue. On UCC, people have seen through their game, Owaisi charged. Why Hindu Undivided Family benefits are not extended to Christians and Muslims? It should be extended to Christians and Muslims as well. When (Union minister M) Venkaiah Naidu says religious laws should not be there in India, then what is Hindu Undivided Family, what is Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Succession Act, what are all these things?, he asked. Widening its consultation on the contentious issue of UCC, the law commission has asked all national and state political parties to share their views and plans to invite their representatives for interaction on the subject. The panel has sent a questionnaire on the subject to the parties and asked them to send their views by November 21. Venkaiah Naidu, urban development and information and broadcasting minister, has said UCC would not be brought through the back door and without a consensus. A Muslim man in Jaipur lost his wife to a friend in a bet and forced her to sleep with him on the pretext of nikah halala, provoking the angry 42-year-old woman to file a rape complaint. Nikah halala mandates that if a woman wants to go back to her husband after a divorce, she must first consummate her marriage with another man. I cannot get over the insult and shame meted out to me. My husband got me raped by his friend, says the woman, breaking into sobs. I feel angry, depressed, scared. Her husband, a small-time property dealer, justified his act of invoking halala. The woman said her 50-year-old husband who is her cousin divorced her around eight months ago after 25 years of marriage. The couple has two grown-up sons. He used to insist that I sleep with his friends, but I always refused. One day he got angry and gave me triple talaq, she said. But he continued to live with me and had conjugal relations. So why the need for halala? she asked. Read | Owaisis stand against scrapping triple talaq disservice to women Her life took a turn for the worse when her husband took her to friends home on August 5 on the pretext of going out for a drive. I was feeling unwell and he gave me some tablets. I felt dizzy after taking them. He then took me to his friends house where he gave me some more tablets. The next thing I remember is waking up naked on the floor next to his friend. When she shouted for help, the husband barged into the room and warned her not to make an issue out of it. Angered at the injustice, the woman went to police and sought Muslim civil rights campaigners help. On the way to the police station, her husband showed her a video clip of her with his friend. She didnt pay heed to his warning and eventually filed a case of rape and cheating against him and his friend. There was no nikah with the friend. Its a case of rape, not halala, she said. As a debate rages in the country over abolition of triple talaq, her case comes as another reminder of unjust provisions in the Muslim personal law, said Zakia Soman, co-founder of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), which is helping the wronged woman. The clergy misinterpret the Quranic verses, saying if a couple has divorced and wants to get back together, the woman must marry another man and have conjugal relations and then get divorced before she can get back to the first husband. This is inhuman and barbaric and must be abolished, she said. The BMMA has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, demanding reforms in the Muslim personal law and abolition of triple talaq and halala. We will take up the Jaipur womans case and add it to our petition, Soman said. Her husband allegedly got a fake nikahnama with the stamp of the Jaipur city qazi dated August 20, saying she and the friend were married. She also filed a case of cheating against her brother-in-law who, at her husbands bidding, got a fake talaqnama or divorce with her counterfeit sign. We got her statement recorded before a magistrate and a medical examination done. But police have not made any arrests so far, said Nishat Hussain, the Rajasthan head of the BMMA. The station house officer of Amer police station, Narendra Kumar, assured that the suspects would be arrested. They are on the run. Mohammed Iqbal of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, a constituent of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board that is opposing the move to reform Islamic laws, acknowledged that the womans case was that of rape. If there was no nikah or any forced nikah, halala is not valid. This is a case of rape and the accused must be punished. Read | Gurgaon: Women bouncers foil rape attempt in car SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In spite of their education and a stalwart father, Rabindranath Tagores daughters were married young and faced severe gender bias. Author Aruna Chakravarti unravels their story As a Bengali child growing up in Delhi, author Aruna Chakravarti (now 77) would be told stories of the Tagore household. But they would mostly revolve around the Nobel Prize-winning poet and author Rabindranath Tagore, or of Satyendranath Tagore, the first Indian to join the Indian Civil Services (ICS). Rabindranath Tagore during a reading session (Photo: Getty Images) Chakravarti became curious about the women in the household. I thought someone should research the contribution of the Tagore women. They would have also impacted the lives of people, she says. Read: My hardships made me more sympathetic to writing about such times: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni In 2013, she wrote Jorasanko, a semi-fictional novel that revolved around the Tagore family during the Bengal Renaissance (a cultural movement from the 19th to early 20th century that ushered modern thinking). The book highlighted the role played by Jnanadanandini Tagore (wife of Satyendranath) in breaking away from the antarmahal (womens quarter) to accompany her husband on his postings, opting for a nuclear household, and teaching Bengali women to wear a Parsi-style sari with a jacket and chemise (as blouse and petticoat). Other characters that stand out are of Kadambari Devi (wife of Jyotirindranath Tagore) who helped Rabindranath hone his poetic skills, and Rabindranaths wife, Mrinalini, who sold her jewellery to fund Vishva Bharati University in Santiniketan. Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi with Rabindranath Tagore at Santiniketan (HT file photo) Testing times Chakravarti is now releasing a sequel to the book. Titled Daughters of Jorasanko, it revolves around Tagores daughters, nieces, and muses. The book focuses on the professional achievements of the Bengali bard between 1902 and 1941 when he won the Nobel Prize for literature, and set up Vishva Bharati University interspersed with personal tragedies during that span. There was a lot of glamour on the surface, but a lot of pain, melancholia, and madness running in the Tagore household. It was a characteristic of Bengali aristocratic families, says Chakravarti. Despite being a modern thinker, Tagore had his daughters Renuka, Madhurilata and Meera married before they turned 15. Their subsequent unhappiness would make Tagore regret this decision for the rest of his life. The poet also witnessed a number of deaths in his immediate family: his wife passed away at the age of 25, he lost his young son, Shami, to cholera, and daughter, Renuka, to consumption. Also central to the book are his muses: Ranu Adhikari, a young girl of 12, who prompted him to write love poems, and Victoria Ocampo, a 35-year-old Argentine writer who inspired him, and looked after him when he was in Argentina. (From left) Author Aruna Chakravarti; the book cover of Daughters of Jorasanko Between the lines Taught to read and write Bengali and English, the Tagore women (daughters and daughter-in-laws) were encouraged to write for the family journals Bharati and Baalok (for children). Since it was a family journal, the women couldnt really speak against anyone, or fully express themselves. But one can read between the lines to understand aspects to their personality. For instance, Kadambari Devi was prone to self-doubt. So, despite having a poetic sensibility, she never wrote for the journals. And despite the education, and relative prosperity, women had few rights in those times, which made their suffering all the more intense: They were exposed to a modern world, but were expected to lead a traditional life and not pursue a career, says Chakravarti. While writing the novels, Chakravarti faced a challenge due to the lack of information. I would read many books to perhaps find one reference about a character, says Chakravarti. She spent almost three years researching the book. Dont hold your breath for a trilogy, though. Chakravarti says that with Daughters, she has exhausted all the major characters of the Tagore family. Daughters of Jorasanko by Aruna Chakravarti will be out on November 2. Publisher: HarperCollins India Price: Rs 399 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON I am here to stay for five years unless I commit a mistake, said a confident chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, as he interacted with HT on a variety of subjects as he completes two years in office. He said he was looking forward to an alliance with the Shiv Sena for the upcoming BMC elections and both the parties are natural partners. He also said the political leadership at the BMC will have to take the moral responsibility for the road scam. Excerpts from the interview: In two years, what has been the greatest failure of your government? I wont call it a failure, but I think the challenge in the agricultural sector is huge because we have failed there for the past 15 years. For the past 7-8 years, there has been a negative growth in the sector. Even today 45-50% of the population is dependent on agriculture, and it is very difficult to shift them immediately to the service or manufacturing sectors. CM Devendra Fadnavis at Hindustan Times office in Elphinstone. (Vijayanand Gupta/HT ) Do you think a lot of your development work last year was eclipsed by allegations of corruption? In two years, there has not been any major scam in the government. There have been some allegations, most of which are politically motivated. We gave the replies, we gave the evidence. In Eknath Khadses case, the allegation was about conflict of interest in one of the plots he purchased. I think, as of now, I should not comment on it because a probe panel is looking into it. Read: Will be happy if Khadse returns to cabinet, says Fadnavis The condition of the roads in Mumbai, especially this monsoon, was very bad. What is being done about it? Unfortunately, the quality of roads has been very bad under the BMC. The investigation has thrown up some horrifying results, where the second layer or the quality concrete layer is missing by up to 80-100% in some cases. Unfortunately, the pre-qualification for road tenders were made in such a way that companies such as Larsen & Toubro could not qualify, while local contractors could. Now, corrective action has started. Last year, there was a scam in desilting contracts. A committee was appointed and corrective measures were taken. This year desilting went well because of that and water-logging was much less than usual. Mumbai has no right to stay backward because it is a cash-rich city. I head the MMRDA. My budget is Rs4,000 crore, and I am executing works nearly worth Rs70,000 crore, while the BMC has a budget of nearly Rs35,000 crore. Read: BJP faces flak for hiring contractors involved in road scam Be it desilting or the road scam, we have witnessed the contractor mafia operating with the political leadership hand-in-glove with them. Something needs to be done about it We have taken it very seriously. For the first time an FIR has been filed and the people [involved] have been jailed. The people concerned will now have to either fall in line or fall in jail. Mumbai has no right to stay backward because it is a cash-rich city, said CM Devendra Fadnavis at Hindustan Times office in Elphinstone. (Vijayanand Gupta/HT ) There has been clear cartel of contractors handling the civic bodys road works for years. How are you going to ensure reputable infrastructure companies take up road work? The pre-qualification for road contracts was designed in such a way that companies such as L&T were barred. There should be a level playing field and the technical specification should be such that it should not eliminate and attempt to qualify certain contractors. We will ensure everybody gets a level playing field from next year. I was told in the BMC there was a lobby of contractors from a village in Rajasthan. Contractors, officers have been booked in the road scam unearthed a few months ago, but none of the political leaders have been held responsible. Why? The responsibility has been fixed. Moral responsibility will lie with the political leaders too. Investigation is still on. If we find any connection between guilty contractors and political leaders, we will fix the responsibility. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election is coming up. Will you contest it alone or with the Shiv Sena? Both the parties think we should go together. Uddhav Thackeray has said we should take a clear decision. It means his party is in favour of alliance. We are practical. We have issues. There is no doubt about it. Even in the BMC, we have certain issues. In the state, the mandate was not clearly in our favour. If we had got 144 seats, then it would have been a clear mandate. The mandate is against the Congress and NCP. So, practically people want us to work together. We have certain common ideological issues, but on many issues we are not together. I think their style of working and our style of working are totally different. On issues of nationalism, their views and our views are a little different. Although we feel a lot for Maharashtra, we always think the sectoral identity is important, but it cannot override the national identity. Thats why we are two parties, if everything would have been the same then we would have been one party. Read: Shiv Sena-BJP form alliance for 212 municipal council polls Is the Shiv Sena more like a compulsion than a choice? No. When the choice is between three parties, the choice of course would be the Shiv Sena. If we have to choose any other party that will be a compulsion. Practically, people want us to work together, said said CM Devendra Fadnavis discussing the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance at the Hindustan Times office in Elphinstone. (Vijayanand Gupta/HT ) If at all the alliance does not work out, do you see it spilling over as a threat to the alliance at the state level? I dont think so. In our 25-year history, there have been many instances where we have not been partners in the local body elections. Even in the last election, in a few citiesPune, Nashil, Nagpurwe were not together. In Mumbai, we were together. Is there a possibility the BJP will contest solo in elections and then have a post-poll tie up? Right now, I cant say that. If everything goes well we want the alliance. In the past two years, the Shiv Sena has largely played the role of an opposition, at times even joining the opposition to stall proceedings in the legislature. Doesnt this hamper the governments functioning? I think that is okay for us. We have no problems until we have differences in the cabinet. Although we have problems on certain issues in the cabinet, we have taken all decisions unanimously. In the Assembly, you have to define your role. It is up to the party. If today you are a ruling party, and you still want to play the role of an opposition, I think that will not give a good signal to the public. It will be a loss to the party. It is for them to decide. We are comfortable. We have no problems. Theres been a lot of criticism about how you dealt with MNS threat to Karan Johars movie. What is your response to it? Initially when the MNS staged a demonstration, we arrested their people, we put them in jail. Karan Johar met me. I assured him we will ensure the movie would be released. A few people from the (Film Producers) guild were having some back-channel conversations with Raj Thackeray. They gave me the impression that they didnt want to go to Mr Thackeray, so if I call them at my residence, the issue would be resolved. I told them nothing would happen. They (MNS) would have some demonstrations and we would arrest their workers. However, for the producers, the first week is very important. So if 2-3 days during Diwali were lost, it would have been a huge loss for the film. We thought as they had come to an agreement, let us get it over with. I did not want to keep 2000 policemen outside the movie on the day of Diwali, when our security concerns would be something else. So, I called both parties. Read: Now showing: BJP-MNS-Sena drama About the Rs5 crore controversy There were back-channel talks (between producers and the MNS) so they already knew this is one of the demands. Producer Mukesh Bhatt said they had also decided to contribute to the soldiers welfare fund. At that time, Raj Thackeray said, they have to pay Rs5 crore. I immediately said there was no compulsion to pay, but if they wanted to they were welcome to do it. We shook hands and everyone left. Both Bhatt and Thackeray told the same thing to the media. I also explained it when I spoke to ANI the same night. I dont know what the hype was all about. At times I think, and I am sorry to say, but the national media does not understand Marathi. If they first understand what everyone has said and then speak, the issue would not have escalated. Do you think Pakistani artistes should be allowed? Personally, I will say an artiste is an artiste. But the public sentiment is different. As a government, we can never ban Pakistani artistes. We have a responsibility. We have the responsibility to screen every film that has received a censor board certificate. That is the difference between Pakistan and India. We have a democracy. They dont. We didnt tell the guild anything. Whatever the guild did was out of public sentiment. If tomorrow the Centre grants visa to a Pakistani artiste, he will come here legally. You cannot stop him. I am a custodian of the Constitution irrespective of my feelings. Whatever the Constitution wants me to do, I will do. How would you describe patriotism? I dont describe patriotism. Why should I define it? I think working in national interest, doing things transparently is patriotism. Doing your job efficiently as a chief minister is nationalism. I dont describe patriotism,said CM Devendra Fadnavis at Hindustan Times office in Elphinstone. (Vijayanand Gupta/HT ) What is your take on the housing scenario? You didnt have any bidders for Dharavi. Cluster redevelopment is not speedy enough. People cant buy houses in Mumbai. Theres no problem for cluster redevelopment in Mumbai. In fact, in the BMC we have cut down the number of days required for approvals. Same is the case with slum rehabilitation. In Dharavi, we tried our best, but could not get bidders. We are coming out with a new scheme there. With regards to the redevelopment of BDD chawls, we are ready to float tenders in the next two months. There has been a delay in introducing a cluster redevelopment scheme in Thane, but not on our part. The Bombay high court has ordered no cluster redevelopment scheme can be approved in the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region without its consent. We have completed the impact assessment and have submitted the entire proposal to the HC. It is pending with them for the past two months, and we have requested them to fast-track it. Read: Cluster redevelopment: High-rises can lead to low spirits, says report The demands by the Maratha community for review of the Atrocity act and reservation are not feasible and the organisers too are aware of it. Dont you see the protests or part of them as being against you or your party? Unrest or the demands are not related to our regime. They are there for 20 years. A major but isolated incident of Kopardi rape case triggered the demand. It would be wrong to say the unrest is against our government, but there are expectations from us. Unrest is against those 25% powerful people of the Maratha community, who have ruled and exploited others for all these years. They are in-charge of cooperatives, they control the education institutions. Other sections of the community comprise 75% of the population, which is left out and agony among them is against the 25% who have been enjoying power for years. The 25% tried to portray the unrest is against the government. But they did not get the chance either to lead the protest or divert it in our direction. They are trying to target me and my government. My government has already started working to address the demands made by the community. We passed the reservation bill and are contesting it in court. The scholarship for the economically weaker section was recently announced, as we think the reservation is not sufficient or will not reduce the problems of the community, as private college seats are more than government colleges. As far as the Atrocity Act is concerned, we have clarified it cannot be repealed. The charge sheet in Kopardi case was filed within three months and the verdict is expected in two months or even before that. We have been talking about improvement in public transport for years to ensure decongestion of roads, but nothing seems to have happened. What are your plans on this? For the past 8 to 10 years, the supply for public transport has been not been looked into. Creation of public transport has been at very slow pace...The suburban railway is the lifeline of Mumbai, it carries 7 million passengers. The Metro network, which we are creating, will carry 8 million passengers. Eight years ago, a 172-km Metro network was conceived. In eight years, the previous government could construct only 10km. In less than two years, we have already awarded contracts for 100km, so Mumbai and the entire MMR will be integrated through the network. The way it has been designed is circular, so all sides will be served and the station will be nearer to ones home. We are creating two elevated corridors for suburban railway and this will enhance the carrying capacity by 5 million. Finally, we plan to integrate the transport systems with a single ticket. Another example is a project like the trans-harbour link, critical for Mumbai has been pending for a decade. In two years, we have got all clearances and work on it will by November or December this year. You are a favourite of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. How do you manage this? Modiji does not go by your face when it comes to work. I will continue to be his favourite till the day I implement the development agenda and continue to work efficiently and transparently. The day I lose transparency and efficiency I will not be in the office. Despite that, people talk whether you will complete your five-year term. I am here to stay for five years, unless I commit a mistake or do something wrong. The Bombay high court on Wednesday rejected the intervention application filed by Bilkis Bano, the survivor of a gang-rape and the witness to the murder of her family, in the aftermath of the 2002 Godhra riots. The court ruled that the application was not covered under provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code. However, it said that as it was inclined to hear what Bano had to say, it would allow her to convert her intervention application into an appeal. This appeal however, cannot challenge the life sentence awarded to the 11 convicts by the trial court and instead, should challenge the acquittal of the five Gujarat policemen in the case, said the court. A bench of Justices VK Tahilramani and Mridula Bhatkar directed Banos counsel to inform the court of her decision by Thursday morning. The bench was hearing an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which sought that the sentence of the convicts be increased. The bench was also hearing an appeal filed by the convicts in the case, who challenged their conviction. In August, Bano had filed the intervention application, seeking that she be granted a hearing. On Wednesday, Banos counsel Vijay Hiremath argued that she had approached the high court after having endured a long and taxing cross examination before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the trial court.He added that as an eye witness and a victim in the case, she had a right to participate. He argued that the 2008 amendment to the CrPC that allowed a victim in criminal cases to appeal must also confer a right to intervene. The submissions however, were opposed by advocate Harshad Ponda, the counsel for the convicts. Ponda said the amendments only allowed a victim to file an appeal and not an intervention application. He argued that the law did not permit a victim to file an appeal seeking that the sentence of the convicts be increased. Ponda said the CrPC amendment allowed an appeal only under three circumstances challenging the acquittal of an accused, challenging a verdict if the accused has been convicted for a lesser offence, and if the victim has been awarded inadequate compensation. The CBIs counsel, advocate Hiten Venegaonkar said that in cases such as this one, where grievous crimes had been committed, the court must consider granting a hearing to the victim. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in Thane has issued immediate closure notices to three large scale units in Tarapur MIDC area.They have also been served show cause notices for causing pollution in the vicinity, particularly water bodies and creeks. AF Deshmane, regional officer of MPCB in Thane has issued the closure notices to three textile majors and chemical units. All the three units were flouting pollution norms, said Deshmane. We have ordered the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Tarapur and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Limited (MSEDCL),Tarapur to disconnect power and water supplies to the three units and they have complied with it, said Deshmane. According to the MPCB officials, the three errant companies were discharging untreated effluents in the open, thus disturbing the ecosystem. There was no response from the companies. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recorded the statement of the Director General of police (Home Guards) Rakesh Maria, former Mumbai commissioner who allegedly investigated the Sheena Bora murder case. CBI also recorded statements of joint commissioner of police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti and deputy commissioner of police Satyanarayan Chaudhary. Confirming the development, CBI officials said all three officers were interviewed and their statements were recorded. Maria was questioned to find out if the former police commissioner knew media baron Peter Mukherjea and why did he visit Khar police station on four different occasions, said CBI sources. Maria categorically told CBI officials he met Peter for the first time on September 7, 2015, at Khar police station with a group of police officers, including the joint commissioner of police (law and order), deputy commissioner of police and other investigators, said CBI sources. To the question on why he had personally visited Khar police station on four different occasions, Maria told CBI officials that he had visited the police station on the first two occasions because Mumbai police believed the accused being highly influential would hire a battery of top lawyers, and the force wanted to ensure an equally competent lawyer to defend the prosecution case to ensure conviction, said CBI sources. On the first occasion after a meeting was held between top police officials at Khar police station, the name of advocate Vaibhav Baghade was taken into consideration. Baghade too was called to the police station for his opinion on the case, said CBI sources. Maria said he visited the police station to ensure the veracity of Shyamwar Rais statement, as Rai was to be made an approver in the case and this was the third time he did so. The fourth occasion was on September 7, 2015, when Maria had gone to Khar police station to question Peter personally, said CBI sources. However, he was transferred the next day. After which Ahmed Javed was appointed as the Mumbai police commissioner. But a few days later it came to the fore that Javed knew the Mukerjeas socially and the state government unaware of it. Former DGP Sanjeev Dayal, who reviewed the case, recommended it be transferred to the CBI following which the state did the needful. The case Sheena Bora was allegedly killed on April 24, 2012 by her mother Indrani Mukerjea, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyamvar Rai. Indrani was arrested on August 25, 2015 by the Khar police. This happened after Rai, who was first arrested in an arms act case on August 21 last year, named her and Khanna, and told the Khar police about the murder. He also told the police that after murdering Sheena, they destroyed her body by burning it in the forest of Pen, Raigad. The three had also allegedly conspired and attempted to kill Sheenas brother Mikhail on April 24, 2012, but he managed to flee to Guwahati. The police suspected the murder could be a fall out of Indrani disapproving Sheena and Rahul Mukerjeas relationship; also the financial deals were being probed as a possible motive. Indranis husband Peter Mukerjea had approached the joint commissioner of police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti back in 2012 and sought help to trace Sheena. Peter, however, did not meet Bharti in person, but spoke over the phone requesting that he trace Sheena using her mobile number, which he allegedly knew would be switched off. Rahul had approached three police stations in Mumbai for help to search Sheena, but none took any interest. Sheenas passport was with Rahul so he did not believe Indrani that she had left the country. When Rahul asked Peter about Sheena, the latter assured him that she was in the US and safe. As the four-year-long legal battle came to end on Wednesday with the Allahabad high court ordering removal of the Delhi Noida Direct Flyway toll, the Federation of Noida residents welfare associations (Fonrwa) thanked the courts for bringing relief to thousands of commuters. We thank the high court and Supreme Court for bringing great relief to the commuters using the flyway, said AN Dhawan, secretary general, Fonrwa. Commuters had to pay Rs 28 for four-wheelers and Rs 10 for two-wheelers to the Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited for using DND. More than 1.5 lakh vehicles cross the two toll gates every day. Read more: Removing DND Flyway toll to create traffic mess in south, central Delhi: Expert Fonrwa had filed a special petition in Supreme Court in June seeking its intervention after it failed to get a stay on toll collection from the high court. The apex court directed high court in July-end to dispose of the matter in 90 days. Ranjit Saxena, Fonrwa lawyer at high court, called the verdict a victory of the residents of the district Gautam Budh Nagar and NCR. If they challenge the high court order in the Supreme Court, they will lose the case there as well, said Saxena. Confederation of NCR RWAs (Conrwa), which has filed a petition in Delhi high court in this regard, also welcomed the decision. Chetan Sharma, secretary general Conrwa, said, We welcome high courts decision. The journey of four years of residents finally came to an end. Besides (Fonrwa), confederation of NCR RWAs (Conrwa), Noida Vikas Manch (NVM), Maulik Bharat, Bharatiya Kisan Union and Janhit Morcha supported by many other associations and forums of district Gautam Budh Nagar and national capital region struggled to make the flyway toll-free in the last couple of years. Read more: No toll tax on DND flyway, rules Allahabad high court In 2014, Noida residents under banner of Noida Vikas Manch staged a huge protest disrupting the tolls for two days. Janhit Morcha members led by former BJP MLA and minister Nawab Singh Nagar staged indefinite strike at DND on August 28 and arrested by local police next day. Meanwhile, the Noida authority officials on Wednesday said that the Allahabad high court decision vindicated its stand. Rama Raman, chairman of the Noida authority, said that the authority had always supported the residents, who were against toll collection. Raman joined Noida authority in 2010 and continued here till June end this year as chief executive officer. He has been fully familiar with the case and protests pertaining to the DND flyway toll issue. The Noida authority had through an affidavit made its stand clear within legal limits in the Allahabad high court that general publics anger against the toll was justified, said Saumya Srivastava, deputy chief executive officer of the Noida authority. An eight-lane flyway connecting Delhi with Noida, the company started its operations and toll collection in 2001. The district and sessions court, on Wednesday, sentenced the four convicts, including husband of the victim, to imprisonment for the rest of their lives for throwing acid at the 24-yearold woman, who has undergone 48 surgeries since then and was still struggling to get back to her normal life. Mandeep Kaur and her father Shamsher Singh, residents of Daiyan Kalan village in Dharamkot, had suffered serious burns after the formers husband Harinder Singh alias Happy, a resident of Rasin village of Ludhiana, along with his three friends, threw acid on them on July 11, 2013. The court of additional district and sessions judge Lakhwinder Kaur Duggal also directed Harinder to pay Rs 10 lakh to the victim as compensation. Besides, the court has also fined all the four convicts Rs 1 lakh each, which will be given to the victim. The convicts have also been ordered to pay Rs1 lakh each to the state government. The court has also asked the state government to pay Rs 5 lakh compensation to the victim under Section 357A (victim compensation scheme) of the CrPC, thus the total compensation amount to the victim comes to Rs 19 lakh. However, the court acquitted her husbands elderly kin, including his mother Karamjit Kaur, father Paramjit Singh, uncle Sukhwinder Singh and aunt Sukhmandar Kaur, who were allegedly accused of hatching a conspiracy. The incident took place when the duo was on way to a court in Moga for a hearing in the divorce case filed by the woman. Mandeep, a topper in Bachelor of Science (BSc) examination, whose left eye was removed and left part of her breast was removed after she sustained 70% burns, is still undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Jalandhar. She has undergone about 48 major surgeries at a cost of Rs 45 lakh while another surgery to implant prosthetic (artificial) eye will be conducted in a few days. The victims father Shamsher Singh had sustained 40% burns in the attack. Shamsher Singh said that he was glad that they have got justice, but was a little upset on the acquittal of other four accused persons, who had actually hatched the conspiracy. Advocate Amit Ghai, the victims lawyer, said that this was a benchmark judgement pronounced by the court and it would be the first such acid attack case in the state in which the victim is alive and the accused persons got jail for the entire life. The case was registered under sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 326A (causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) and 120B (a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Ajitwal police station, Moga. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 'I have just started living my life.' At 83, most of us would never want to leave home. But for Yelena Yerkhova, it's time to travel the world. Now 89, the adventurer from Siberia is still hitting the road, twice a year and on her retirement pension. The Siberian Times reported that Yerkhova has just returned home from a solo trip to Vietnam, where she learnt how it felt sitting on the back of a motorbike, splashed in the sea with young backpackers and explored local cuisine. She doesnt speak English, according to the Siberian Times, but the language barrier seems to be the least of her worries. She is visiting new countries, exploring new cultures and making new friends every year. I have just started living my life. My parents passed away when I was three years old. When World War II started, I was 14. I was not happily married to my husband who often hit me. I spent my whole life doing nothing but working. When I travel, the world seems wide open in front of my eyes, the grandmother said in a television interview in her hometown. She made her first trip to the Czech Republic. Then she continued her adventure to many other countries, including her latest destination Vietnam. In Vietnam, two young backpackers from Moscow noticed her as she was trying to explain to a waiter that her dinner was too spicy. They got inspired by her story, said Yekaterina Papina, on a Facebook post. The 89-year-old avid traveler not only had the courage to hit the road but also dared to do wild things like going for a swim in a stormy sea, said Papina, who, with a friend, had to hold each one of Yerkhovas hands so that she wasnt knocked over by strong waves. Yerkhova is turning 90 next April. Right now she is packing for the next destination: Israel. Related News: >Travel with your teddy bear in Vietnam. Why not? >Bike-packing: coolest way to travel in Vietnam Wholesalers at the Kurali cracker market have not placed orders for Chinese crackers this year to protest that countrys support to Pakistan in the wake of the Uri attacks of September 15. The market supplies crackers to authorised as well as unauthorised dealers in Chandigarh, SAS Nagar, Panchkula, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and parts of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir The annual turnover from here is around Rs 10 crore, of which Chinese crackers contribute around 60%. China has supported Pakistan, a country that is fuelling terrorism. We did not place order for Chinese crackers this year. This is our contribution towards checking sale of Chinese goods, said Harish Bathla, one of the oldest wholesalers in Kurali. We should also support our defence forces and this in one way to do this, even if it means short-term loss in revenue, added another wholesaler Ashok Kumar. There are no Chinese crackers in the market even as customers want the cheaper option. With no supply of Chinese crackers there is no sale, Sahil Sood, a retailer in Kurali, who had rented out space to sell crackers. SUBSTANDARD AND DUPLICATE CRACKERS NEW THREAT With the market going without its main ware, sub-standard and duplicate crackers are getting a chance to make inroads and people looking for cheap crackers are buying these. Most Indian crackers are ordered from Sivakasi, but transportation cost and taxes inflate their cost. Now, some retailers are selling crackers made in Dhuri, Mansa, Rajpura, Amritsar and Saharapur. Their quality is an issue and they sell cheap as they do not pay any tax, said Hari Om, another cracker seller in Kurali, adding that most customers could not easilu distinguish quality. SALE DIP BY 40% Apart from increased rates of crackers, growing awareness among children owing to the No-Cracker campaign by the schools have led to a dip in sales by 40% for the wholesalers and well as retailers in Kurali and Chandigarh. Chandigarh administration has earmarked seven sites, while SAS Nagar has earmarked 18 sites for sale of crackers and that too for three days. Crackers are not to be sold without licence and action will be taken against people selling crackers without permission, said SAS Nagar deputy commissioner DS Mangat. He added that to date, 60 licences have been issued for sale and storage of the crackers. Complying with the SC orders, crackers can be sold from 6-10pm. The bursting of crackers is banned from 10pm to 6am.. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Even as the issue of granting voting rights to nine nominated councillors in the MC House gains traction a month before a new House is to be elected, a scrutiny of documents collected on the basis of Right to Information (RTI) Act shows that the right has no legal basis. Congress councillor and former mayor Subhash Chawla sought information under RTI from the Union government and was told that the home ministry had not issued any notification providing voting rights to councillors in Chandigarh. The urban development and the law ministry also have no information on the issue. Nominated councillors have been given voting rights since the MC was set up 20 years ago. THE REPLY TO THE RTI PLEA The reply that Chawla received said that under Article 243 of the Constitution, nominated councillors do not have voting rights. This can be done provided that the President may, by public notification, make exceptions and modifications to the Article. Chawla, who even sought information from the UT administration, found that even it does not have any such notification. In reply to my query, I was supplied with a copy of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, as extended to UT Chandigarh, Chawla says, adding that it was a major lapse on the part of different Union ministeries as well as the UT administration. A senior officer with the UT administration admitted there was no such notification with the administration issued by the President. It is not as if the Act is immune to any amendment. It was amended in 1996 when the then BJP MP Satya Pal Jain got removed the para speaking of the inclusion of the MLA as an ex-officio member and got included MP in the relevant column instead. On why was the issue of voting rights to nominated councillors not clarified or included then, Jain told HT, A Private Members Bill was moved, but it never came up for discussion. Pawan Bansal, who remained MP for 15 years said, There were lapses in the way the Act was interpreted, but now the matter is in the court. Let the court decide. QUESTION MARK ON AGENDA APPROVED OVER TWO DECADES With this, there is a big question mark on the election of the mayor, the senior deputy mayor and the deputy mayor since the formation of the MC. Nominated councillors have almost always played king-makers in these elections. Due to the voting right they enjoy, nominated councillors have also played a critical role in rejecting or accepting agenda items worth crores of rupees. BJP councillor Satinder Singh who has moved the Punjab and Haryana high court questioning the voting rights to nominated councillors, said, The UT legal department has been found sleeping on the issue. The issue of voting rights has been controversial. An amendment in the Act is needed to harmonise it with the Constitution and restore the democratic spirit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nearly 500 farmers have been penalised across the state since Tuesday for burning paddy stubble. The crackdown came after chief secretary Sarvesh Kaushal pulled up the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials and deputy commissioners on the issue. Most of the penalised farmers have small landholdings, it is learnt. The knee-jerk reaction of the government has come after it got the flak from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that is hearing a case of stubble burning and its cascading effect in Delhi. The next date of hearing is on October 28. The crackdown has left the farmers fuming and they staged protests in Mansa, Ludhiana, Patiala and Gurdaspur. Farmers also blocked road traffic at Samrala and Mansa. Kaushal had directed the DCs and PPCB to check stubble burning and challan those indulging in the practice. As per the PPCB data, around 270 farmers were challaned on Tuesday and another 220 on Wednesday. As per the NGT, for burning paddy residue a farmer can be fined, which has been named as environment compensation. Farmers having less than 2.5 acres of land have been asked to pay Rs 2,500, those having land between 2.5 and 5 acres will pay Rs 5,000. The fine is Rs 15,000 for farmers having more than 5 acres. If a farmer fails to pay the compensation, he is booked under Section 188 of the IPC (for disobeying a government servants order). Its a piquant situation for us. Top bureaucracy wants us to act tough, politicians press us to spare farmers and peasants are protesting against us. But, we have to act as desired by our bosses, a deputy commissioner said on the condition of anonymity. At Mansa, a farmer threatened to commit suicide when he was being challaned, said a PPCB official. As per information gathered by the PPCB, 490 challans worth Rs 25 lakh were issued, of which Rs 5 lakh were recovered. However, most of the farmers have refused to pay up and they are instead approaching unions for support and launching protests. Government is deliberately targeting small farmers. About 90% of those penalised are marginal peasants. We wont tolerate this and have started protests across Punjab. Details of a bigger protest will be announced on Thursday. The government should first provide us viable alternative for stubble management. Small farmers cant spend Rs 2.5 lakh on machines to get rid of the stubble, said Darshan Pal, spokesman of Bharti Kisan Union (Dakunda). Consortium of Indian Farmer Association (CIFA) president Satnam Singh Behru said farmers held protests at many places. We wont pay a single penny. A farmer earns only Rs 5,000 per acre as profit and government wants to bring that down further. First provide us alternative and then talk, he said. Despite many attempts, PPCB chairman Manpreet Singh Chhatwal remained incommunicado. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Farmers showed retaliation against the crackdown of state government and detained Punjab pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials at Fatehpur village around 15 kilometres from Patiala on Thursday. When a team of PPCB officials went to Fatehpur village to issue challans, farmers while staging their protest detained the senior divisional officer (SDO), (PPCB), Gurkaran Singh along with a Patwari. Despite the team assurances that they would not issue any challan, the farmers did not allow them to leave. The farmers have no alternative other than stubble burning and these official harass farmers. We have been cultivating paddy since last 40 years and the state government has not provided any solution of this stubble burning. We cannot afford expensive technology of crop-residue said Didar Singh, block president of Bharti Kisan Union (Dakunda). Also read| Stubble burning brings trouble for farmers, 500 fined in 48 hrs He further said, We are not just talking about Fatehpur village, the teams are harassing farmers in the entire state. We will not allow them to issue such challans and will oppose anti-famers policies of state government. Farmers stage protest before the vehicle of Gurkaran Singh, SDO, PPCB in Fatehpur on Thursday. (HT photo) We are just following the orders of state government but farmers detained us said Gurkaran Singh, SDO, PPCB. He further said, We have five teams in the district which have been raiding various parts of region. The farmers have to pay Rs 2500 for 2 acre and Rs 5000 above 2 acre. The inauguration of Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badals pet project of revamping the precincts of the Golden Temple, Amritsar, just three months before polls could be a perception changer that the beleaguered Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has been banking on. Faced with acute anti-incumbency of its 10-year rule, the partys shrewd chief has created an attraction that will resonate with visitors to the Golden Temple and remembered as the only achievement of his party that even his worst critics have nothing to say against. With the completion of the Rs 300-crore ambitious project, it is clear that the SAD hopes to cement its core panthic vote bank, establishing itself as the real repository of Sikh sentiments. The timing of the inauguration is not lost on anyone. The various elements of the project were almost rushed through to avoid the code of conduct deadline and majority of the work was completed at breakneck speed. The refurbishing of the old, dying Town Hall building that now houses the partition museuma part of which was also inaugurated on Mondaywas done in less than one year. The architecturally controlled facades, access controlled heritage walk, old world charm lighting complete with mega screens that would play live kirtan relayed by the PTC channel from the Darbar Sahib, took a little over one year to complete. The aim is to showcase the project to the lakhs of devotees who throng Golden Temple on Diwali and the scores of NRI Punjabis who will be in India on the year end. Besides, the SAD is organising special buses for devotees from all the constituencies to be brought to Amritsar and shown the spectacular achievement. Foreign tourist at the heritage centrr near Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT) A special entourage of security men has been posted near the temple precincts to ensure that the project retains its pristine glory for visitors over the next few months. The biggest challenge is the last one-kilometre stretch to the Golden Templethe heritage walkthat depicts a change so stark that it is impossible to imagine that a year ago the place was just another crowded old city market, full of filth, encroachments and stray animals. Private security posted near Golden Temple precinct in Amritsar on Wednesday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT) Inside the Golden Temple complex, under the plaza, is the interpretation centre with state-of-the-art screens depicting the history of the Golden Temple gurdwaras. As the animated history of the Golden Temple is played, the role played by the SAD and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Sikh history has been subtly weaved in. Sure of his victory in the polls, a confident Sukhbir, who himself led the states media through the heritage walk on Monday, said in the next five years, the entire walled city will be converted into an exemplary religious destination. CM Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal addressing the gathering at Chowk Fawara near Golden Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT) With a view to blunt allegations of the Akalis being arrogant and power-drunk, the Badals made all the right noises during the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday. The project is not aimed at taking credit but to serve the almighty. It is sewa. A daas (servant) was given the opportunity to serve Him, said Sukhbir. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After rocking various red carpets, magazine covers and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, global icon Priyanka Chopra recently appeared on Chelsea Handlers talk show. Looking lovely in white, the 34-year old actor had a blast at the show while answering the hosts various questions about Indians, as she will be visiting India soon for a shoot. However, the 41-year old talk show host also asked Priyanka, if she knew English when she first came to America at the age of 12. Of course, Handler wasnt aware of the sheer scale of people that can speak English in India and Priyanka took it on herself to clear her confusions. The actor affirmatively stated about 10% Indians can fluently speak English which accounts for 1.3 million of the population, more than most countries. Watch the full segment here: You are so much fun @chelseashow. Thank you for having me. Can't wait for you to experience India...you're going to love it. Big hug! https://t.co/KKfbMVy9q5 PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) October 26, 2016 She was right about the English, but presumably she meant to say 130 million (and not 1.3 million), which is about 10% Indias population. Priyanka took to her social media to thank Chelsea for having her over. She wrote, You are so much fun @chelseashow. Thank you for having me. Cant wait for you to experience India...youre going to love it. Big hug! Priyanka will next be seen in another US talk show Late Night with Seth Meyers on November 2. On the work front, Priyanka who now is busy shooting the second season of her American TV series, will be seen in Dwayne Johnsons Baywatch next year, alongside Zac Efron and others. Follow @htshowbiz for more It took Donald Trump 12 takes to do it, but he eventually got it right. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and the campaign had the punchline: Ab ki baar Trump sarkar. Trumps outreach to the Indian American community continues, unprecedented from a major candidate in US presidential elections, following close on the heels of the New Jersey rally organised by the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC). The 29-second ad, which started with a Diwali greeting, mirrored the slogan Ab ki baar Modi sarkar, which was a key part of the BJPs campaign in 2014. The connection is clear: this ad was shot for Trump campaigns by the Indian American Advisory Council headed by businessman Shalabh Shalli Kumar, a keen supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump took 12 takes to do it, Kumar told Hindustan Times. But he did it without complaining, and very enthusiastically. Read: Trump closes gap with Clinton ahead of North Carolina campaign Punjab-born Kumar started the RHC in 2015 and has emerged the biggest Indian American donor to Trumps campaign. Trump also shot a promotional ad for the New Jersey rally on October 15 at which he became the first major US presidential candidate to pitch himself directly to the Indian American community. A line from his speech at that rally was a key message in the new ad: The Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House. Trump went on to add: We will defeat radical Islamic terrorism (which was played out against an image of the burning Taj Mahal Hotel during the 2008 Mumbai attacks). Other quotes from the rally referenced in the ad were I look forward to working with Prime Minister Modi (complete with an image of a smiling Modi) and We love the Hindus, we love India. Read: Trump on Trump: Reinforces every character perception of him, mostly warts A voice message from Trump states that he approves of the ad and a disclaimer says it was paid for by Donald J Trump for President Inc. The Trump campaign also continued the outreach to the Indian American community on the ground. Trumps daughter-in-law Laura, wife of his third son Eric Trump, attended a Diwali event in Virginia earlier this week. A 41-year-old Indian woman, reportedly a beauty parlour owner in New Delhi, has been sentenced to death by the Malaysian high court for trafficking over 1.6 kg of drugs. Sangeeta Sharma Brahmacharimayum was found guilty of trafficking in 1,637.1 gm of methamphetamine on October 7, 2013 at the Penang International Airport. She was charged under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a mandatory death sentence on conviction. Sangeeta, who appeared subdued when the decision was conveyed to her by a court interpreter in George Town in Penang State, broke down later, the Star Online reported. Judicial commissioner Azmi Ariffin ruled that the prosecution had succeeded in proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He said that he found Sangeeta, the former sister-in-law of a senior police officer, had knowledge of the drug in the suitcase she was carrying and, hence, was not an innocent carrier as was raised in her defence, the report said. Sangeeta was a beauty parlour owner in New Delhi, media reports said. Azmi said that Sangeeta had testified in court that she came to Malaysia to start a business, buying and selling clothes from India to Malaysia, on the encouragement of a Nigerian man named Prince. Prince had instructed the accused to hand the suitcase containing clothes to his brother and sister-in-law who would meet her at the Penang International Airport upon arrival, the Star Online report said. Azmi noted that the accused had only known Prince for a year and had met with him several times in that period. Air strikes that hit a school in rebel-held Idlib province in northwest Syria killed 22 children and six teachers, the UN childrens agency Unicef said on Wednesday. This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime, said Unicef director Anthony Lake. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said warplanes -- either Russia or Syrian -- carried out six strikes in the village of Hass, including on a school complex, killing at least 35 civilians including 11 schoolchildren. Lake said the school compound was repeatedly attacked, adding that it may be the deadliest attack on a school since the war began more than five years ago. When will the worlds revulsion at such barbarity be matched by insistence that this must stop? added the Unicef director. Asked about the attack, Russias UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin responded: Its horrible, horrible. I hope we were not involved. Syrian government forces and their Russian ally have been accused by rights groups of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure. The White Helmets civil defence group released pictures of four rescue workers clambering over a mound of rubble in search of survivors after what it said was a double-tap strike on the school. The raids hit Hass around 11:30am (0830 GMT), an activist with the opposition Idlib Media Centre told AFP. One rocket hit the entrance of the school as students were leaving to go home, after the school administration decided to end classes for the day because of the raids, the activist said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Other activists from the province circulated a photograph on social media of a childs arm, seared off above the elbow, still clutching the strap of a dusty black rucksack. Shaky video footage depicted rescue workers sprinting towards the site of the raids and pulling a frail, elderly man out of a collapsed building. The authenticity of the pictures and footage could not be independently verified. The latest attacks took to 89 the number of civilians killed in air strikes on Idlib province in the past seven days, said the Observatory. Intentional attack A leading opposition group condemned the raids. The Istanbul-based National Coalition said Russian and regime warplanes targeted children in their schools, deliberately and intentionally hitting civilians with high-explosive material. Idlib province is controlled by the Army of Conquest, an alliance of rebel groups and jihadists, including the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from al Nusra Front after breaking off ties with al Qaeda earlier this year. Syrian and Russian warplanes regularly bomb Idlib, but air strikes have intensified in recent weeks, according to the Observatory. Russia is facing pressure at the United Nations to rein in its Syrian ally and halt air raids in rebel-held east Aleppo, where 250,000 civilians have been living under siege since July. Smoke rises from al-Bab city, northern Aleppo province, Syria October 26, 2016. (Reuters Photo) UN aid chief Stephen OBrien said he was incandescent with rage over the Security Councils failure to take action, deploring that nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering. With food growing scarce, civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow, said OBrien. Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone. Russian ambassador Churkin shot back, accusing OBrien of making arrogant remarks and failing to recognise that Russia had declared a humanitarian pause that he maintained had been holding for eight days. If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church, Churkin quipped. The ambassador blamed opposition rebels and a l Qaeda-linked jihadists for the failure at the weekend of a UN plan to evacuate the wounded from Aleppo and charged that the UN official was not objectively presenting the facts. US ambassador Samantha Power criticised Russia, saying it had never worked cooperatively with the United Nations during the pauses to ensure humanitarian relief. You dont get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week, said Power. The bitter exchange came as the latest attempt to revive a ceasefire fell flat. Meanwhile, US defence secretary Ashton Carter and his British counterpart Michael Fallon said an offensive to drive IS out of its Syrian stronghold of Raqa, 160 kilometres (100 miles) east of Aleppo, would begin in the next few weeks. The US-led coalition is currently supporting a 10-day-old assault by Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the jihadists main Iraqi bastion of Mosul. Syrias conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. But it has since evolved into a multi-front war, pitting jihadists, rebels, government forces and Kurdish militia against each other. More than 300,000 people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes. Moments before surrendering to police after killing two Indonesian women in his high rise Hong Kong apartment two years ago, British banker Rurik Jutting shouted and waved a knife at pedestrians on the streets far below, a court heard on Thursday. In police video interviews shown on the fourth day of the murder trial, Jutting calmly detailed his last moments before calling police to end his nightmarish cocaine and alcohol fuelled descent into an abyss of torture and killing. Collapsing exhausted on his balcony after struggling to cut the throat of his second victim, the Cambridge University educated, former investment banker told how he then brandished a knife at people walking below. The video evidence did not reveal what he roared from the 31st floor of his apartment building. When I decided to surrender, I dropped my knife, Jutting said, describing how he barricaded himself into his bedroom and called police. He also dropped and smashed a bottle of vodka. Read | Dont cry, take it like a good girl: British bankers torture video stuns jury Dressed in a light blue shirt, Jutting, 31, sometimes shut his eyes and tilted his head upwards when confronted with the video evidence on Thursday. Jutting has admitted killing Sumarti Ningsih, a 23-year-old single mother, and another Indonesian woman, Seneng Mujiasih, 26 after six weeks of rapidly escalating cocaine usage. A migrant workers alliance group holds placards to protest the killings of two Indonesian women in 2014 outside the high court in Hong Kong. (AP Photo) But he has pleaded not guilty to murder on grounds of diminished responsibility, while pleading guilty to the lesser crime of manslaughter. After surrendering, Jutting gave police his phone, which contained photographs of both victims as well as four hours of video footage. I told them theres evidence in there, he said during the police interview. The jury was earlier shown footage that Jutting filmed himself during the sexual torture and killing of Ningsih, capturing his taunts and boasts as well as his remorse. A toxicologist, called as an expert witness by the prosecution on Wednesday, described the quantities of cocaine consumed by Jutting during a six-week binge as unbelievably high. Murder carries a mandatory life sentence in Hong Kong, while manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of life. The High Court trial is due to continue next week. October 27, 2016 | 02:00 pm PT Explore your inner film maker, win a prize with your on-site smartphone videos. Join Hanoi Doclab for a FREE half-day workshop to learn basics of video-shooting with your smartphone for Quest Festival On-Site Challenge. You will learn basics of filming such as composition, framing, lighting and camera work. The three hour workshop also includes a quick crash course on filming with your smartphone, tricks that you can easily use to shoot better videos and a spot-on skills by practicing outdoors with your smartphone. For more information, visit their event page. President Xi Jinping was anointed the core of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Thursday at the end of an opaque Party meeting that put him at least in words at the same level of Chinas iconic leader, chairman Mao Zedong. Experts said Xi is still far from acquiring the enormous status that Mao has in Communist China but Thursdays announcement made one aspect clear that Xi is now among the strongest leaders at helm in decades. A key meeting of the CPC has called on all its members to closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, state run Xinhua news agency reported. China will continue to be ruled by a collective leadership Its just that the leader at the helm is now the CPC general secretary, chairperson of the Central Military Commission and also the core of the CPC. They discussed the matter at the sixth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, calling for a combination of collective leadership with individual responsibility, the Xinhua report said. Xi is no doubt more powerful than his two predecessors in a comparable stage of leadership cycle but he has not yet established himself as the strongman, let alone a leader of Maos stature. The current plenum is likely to be a key moment when he may try to establish himself as a leader beyond being just first among equals. The outcome of the plenum should provide pointers on if he can get his way, Steve Tsang Director of China Policy Institute, had told HT on Wednesday. The Xinhua report stressed the importance of collective leadership. As an important part of the CPCs fundamental organisation principle of democratic centralism, the collective leadership system must always be followed and should not be violated by any organisation or individual under any circumstance or for any reason, said the communique quoted by Xinhua. The consolidation was of power around the-already powerful Xi was expected by experts. Its clear from state media coverage of the sixth plenum that the emphasis is on unity within the party, and unity around the leadership of Xi Jinping. One of the most important catchphrases we are seeing right now is: To govern the nation, we must first govern the Party; in governing the Party, we must be strict, David Bandurski, a researcher at the University of Hong Kongs China Media Project said. It is around the all-powerful figure of Xi that the unity of the CPC has to be forged. The message here is that the senior leadership will not tolerate division and dissenting opinion within the party over the direction of the country. Xi Jinping expects loyalty and unity, Bandurski said. Xi is expected to further cement his power in the next one year. State media announced that the 19th CPC National Congress will be held in Beijing during the second half of 2017. A resolution on convening the 19th CPC National Congress was deliberated and passed at the sixth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee held from Monday to Thursday. The 19th CPC National Congress is a major event in the political life of the Party and the state, the communique said. Despite his unrivalled record for single-handedly saving the world from disaster while seducing beautiful women along the way, James Bond would not get a job as a British spy, the head of external intelligence agency MI6 has said. Alex Younger said real spies had to cope with complex moral and physical challenges in the most forbidding environments on Earth, which would rule out the agent known as 007 because he lacked a strong ethical core. In contrast to James Bond, MI6 officers are not for taking moral shortcuts, Younger said in an interview published on Black History Month, a website dedicated to Britains annual celebration of its black culture and heritage. Its safe to say that James Bond wouldnt get through our recruitment process, said Younger. He added that while real MI6 spooks shared Bonds qualities of patriotism, energy and tenacity, they needed additional values not displayed by the hero of From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Dr. No or more recently Skyfall or Spectre. An intelligence officer in the real MI6 has a high degree of emotional intelligence, values teamwork and always has respect for the law -- unlike Mr Bond. Nepal and India have agreed to expedite various projects related to infrastructure and cross border connectivity for Nepals reconstruction bid. The projects have been funded by India. An agreement was reached at the fourth Nepal-India joint commission meeting held in New Delhi on Thursday, at a foreign minister level. According to Nepals ministry of foreign affairs, the meeting comprehensively reviewed aspects of Nepal-India relations under five broad clusters, namely politics, security and boundary, economic cooperation and infrastructure, trade and transit, power and water resources, and culture and education. The meeting adopted agreed minutes as its outcome. In order to ensure the expeditious implementation of all ongoing projects, the joint commission decided to convene, within a month, the first meeting of the joint oversight mechanism of the officials of both governments, said the statement. Nepal and India have recently agreed to set up a mechanism to clear the bottleneck in projects in Nepal. The foreign secretary of Nepal and Indian ambassador to Nepal will lead the respective sides who will ensure there are no glitches. The two sides have agreed to clear DPRs of roads, Mahakali Bridge and irrigation projects to be implemented through the concessional loan provided by the government of India in 2014. During the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narnedra Modi n 2014 August, India had announced US $ 1 billion to execute various projects in Nepal upon the priorities of Nepal. Both sides have agreed to expedte the completion of the first phase of Terai roads in the southern plain. A discussion was held for availing a new concessional loan for the development of Terai roads phase second and some other projects. India and Nepal have agreed for early completion of the two ongoing cross border railway link projects namely Biratnagar-Jogbani and Bardibas-Bijalpura-Jaynagar and initiation of works for the three other agreed cross border rail link projects namely Nepalgunj-Nepalgunj Road, Kakarbhitta-New Jalpaiguri, and Bhairahawa-Nautanawa. Both the sides also met a consensus on early completion of works of integrated check post at Birgunj and commencement of construction of integrated check post at Biratnagar. India is constructing four ICPs in key trading points on either side of the border. Both sides have agreed to start implementing the Hetauda Polytechnic under the Indian assistance and finalization of projects to utilize grant and loan components offered by the Government of India for reconstruction. On bilateral trade, according to the ministry, Nepali side requested the government of India to take concrete measures to enhance Nepals export to India by, addressing the concerns related to additional duties and charges, quantitative restrictions and rules of origin. Both sides agreed to expedite finalisation of MoU between Nepal bureau of standard and metrology and bureau of Indian standards. On Nepals request for additional air entry routes, the joint commission directed the concerned civil aviation authorities todeal with the matter in the next meeting by end of 2016. Nepal requested India to take supportive measures to promote tourism industry by including Nepal in its concessional leave scheme and by granting multiple entry visas to India-bound third country tourists to enable them to visit Nepal, said the statement. On Nepals request for the operationalisation of the free market provision contained in the Power Trade Agreement signed in 2014, the government of India conveyed that it would soon notify the new cross border regulation and guidelines on trade in power. Both sides agreed to complete the examination of the draft DPR of the Pancheshwar multipurpose project to start further action which was agreed in 1996 which is known as Mahakali Treaty. On construction of the remaining irrigation facility on Nepal side as per the Gandak Agreement, it was agreed to take required action after the government of Nepal provides the DPR. It was also agreed that a joint team of expert wouldinspect and submit a report to address the problems of siltation, design and operation of Gandak irrigation facility. Nepali side stressed the need for early completion of the link canal and head regulator at Tanakpur barrage for the discharge of water to Nepal as per the provision of Mahakali Treaty. The Indian side conveyed that project report would be finalised soon. On Nepals proposal for the construction of three motorable bridges over Mahakali River at or around Sirsha, Jhulaghat and Darchula, in far west of Nepal. The government of India suggested Nepal to send proposals with more information for their consideration. On Nepals request for the synchronization of customs and connectivity at the ICD Dodhara-Chandani, and border points at Dodhara-Chandani-Khatima and Dhangadhi-Gauriphanta, the joint commission directed to send a joint team to visit the sites and prepare report for this purpose. These entry points are located in far west of Nepal. In order to address the issue of inundation of border villages and towns in Nepal due to roads and infrastructure built in Indian Territory, both sides agreed to undertake joint inspection of specific places. The 5th meeting of the joint commission will take place in Nepal at a mutually convenient date, it is agreed. Formed in 1987, the joint commission is a bilateral mechanism at the foreign ministers level with a mandate of reviewing the entire spectrum of Nepal-India bilateral relations. The last meeting of the joint commission was held in Kathmandu in 2014. Britains influence in international politics may have been on the wane even before the June 23 Brexit referendum, but India has signalled its readiness to help the country deal with the crisis spawned by the vote to leave the European Union. India featured prominently in arguments in support for leaving the EU during the referendum campaign. Its large market was seen as one of the major options for Britain after exiting and losing access to the European Single Market. India is Prime Minister Theresa Mays first port of call outside the EU for a bilateral visit from November 6. A panel discussion at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) on the future of India-UK trade after Brexit was told there were not many countries with whom India had so many umbilical ties that would continue. We are ready to help Britain deal with the Brexit situation. We stand by Britain in this time of crisis; that is what friends do. There are many ongoing initiatives between us in trade and other areas, and they would have continued even if there was no Brexit, Dinesh Patnaik, Indias acting high commissioner, told the gathering on Wednesday. Noting that more than 800 Indian companies used their base in Britain to access the European market, which may be lost as Britain goes through the two-year exit process from March 2017, Patnaik said that it would take a lot of negativity for them to move out of Britain and that he did not see it happening. According to Pasquale Scaramozzino, professor of economics at SOAS, Britain had already suffered huge reputational damage as an open society because of the Brexit vote. Britain will have a smaller economy after the Brexit process is completed, he said. India and Indian companies are in a privileged position now and should take advantage of the weakness of Britains position to use opportunities here. India could also play off Britain and the EU against each other in trade negotiations, Scaramozzino added. Pratik Dattani, UK country director of Ficci, noted that despite the 2010 ambition to double trade between India and Britain by 2015, it went up by only 10% to 15%. India was exporting more to Britain than vice versa, and only 3% of Indias trade was with Britain. Britain needs India more in the Brexit situation. When Prime Minister May and Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet in New Delhi, it will be a meeting of equals, Dattani said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Italy on Thursday vowed to rebuild every home destroyed after a powerful earthquake that forced thousands to flee in terror but miraculously did not cause any fatalities. Two months after tremors in the same area left nearly 300 dead, two powerful shocks ripped through a mountainous, sparsely populated part of central Italy on Wednesday evening. Despite numerous building collapses, no deaths were reported in the aftermath of the 5.5 and 6.1 magnitude tremors. Read | Small quakes continue to shake Italy following aftershocks Given the strength of the shocks, the absence of any deaths or serious injuries is miraculous, interior minister Angelino Alfano said. The government announced the release of $44 million and extended a state of emergency declared after the deadly August quake. We will rebuild everything, 100 percent, that is the governments commitment, said Vasco Errani, the reconstruction supremo appointed after the August disaster. More than 200 aftershocks rattled the area through the night and into Thursday after the initial two were felt in Rome, some 175 kilometres away from the epicentres. Marco Rinaldi, mayor of the village of Ussita, described apocalyptic scenes. People were in the streets screaming. Many houses have collapsed. Our town is finished, he said. Ive felt a lot of earthquakes but that was the strongest Ive ever felt. Fortunately everyone had already left their homes after the first quake so I dont think anyone was hurt. Freezing temperatures Geologist Mario Tozzi told AFP the damage was caused by a new earthquake, rather than, as first thought, aftershocks from the August one. Tozzi said the twin tremors were consistent with a pattern of seismic double strikes in the central Appenines. Even in Rome, some people took to the streets as a precautionary measure, underlining lingering jitters after the summer disaster. Wednesdays tremors struck an area just to the north of Amatrice, the mountain town which was partially razed by the August quake and suffered the bulk of the fatalities. The epicentres were near the village of Visso, located on the edge of the region of Marche close to the border with Umbria. The civil protection agency reopened tent camps set up after the August earthquake but officials warned they could only be a temporary solution as winter approaches. Many mountain villages in the area are located at an altitude of over 600 metres (2,000 feet) and overnight temperatures will soon be falling below freezing. Thank God were alive Vissos mayor Giuliano Pazzaglini said two thirds of the buildings in his village had been left unusable. Its historic centre was taped off on Thursday, barring pensioner Massimo Testa from going back to what remains of the 15th century house he and his wife had lovingly renovated. We only just had enough time to get out after the second shock before the house collapsed, he told AFP with tears in his eyes. My wife was petrified, she could see masonry falling around her. Thank God we are still alive, that is the most important thing. Read | Strong earthquakes crumble buildings in Italy, no deaths reported Bulldozers were working to clear one of the villages main access roads, which was blocked by the collapsed facade of a building. The village church was partially destroyed, its belltower still standing but bearing large fissures. A civil protection drone buzzed overhead taking pictures of the devastation. Augusts disaster caused an estimated four billion euros ($4.5 billion) of damage and some 1,400 people made homeless are still living in temporary accommodation. The impact of that quake was magnified because it took place at the height of the summer holiday season, when many normally barely occupied villages were packed with tourists and families returning to ancestral homes. Former Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf has described Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist, saying he has been involved in bomb blasts even in his country. He, however, did not give a clear reply as to why Pakistan has not been asking China to get Azhar declared an international terrorist by the United Nations. Why should China be involved when it has nothing to do with him (Azhar), Musharraf told News Nation, according to a release issued by the TV channel. A proposal is pending before the UN Security Council for declaring Azhar as an international terrorist but China has been blocking it, claiming that there is not enough evidence to prove that he is a terrorist. Read | China blocks Indias move to ban Jaish chief Masood Azhar, again When asked about the espionage case busted on Thursday in Delhi involving an employee of the Pakistan High Commission, the former Pakistan Army Chief initially parried the issue saying, I am not aware of it. But then he added that if at all it has happened, (it) shouldnt be encouraged, the release said. It also quoted Musharraf as saying that the Nawaz Sharif government lacks aggression. The channel said Musharraf accepted Pakistan governments diplomatic failure on international front. He, however, said it does not mean that Pakistan should be taken for granted. To a question on whether a political leadership or army is better suited for Pakistans development, Musharraf said the country had witnessed growth when Army was in power. Read | Terrors talking heads: Hafiz Saeed wants peace with India, Masood war When asked about terror camps in PoK, he feigned ignorance saying I dont know. However, with a smile, he said, I will let you know only once I get the count of these camps which you are talking about. On Pakistans diminishing relations with United States, he said there are certain contentious issues which are being addressed by Pakistan Army. When referred to the surgical strike and military might of India, he said, Pakistan is a nuclear power with a strong army which cant be bullied. On Prime Minister Narendra Modis sudden visit to Pakistan and his meeting with Sharif, he said shaking hands is just an artificial move, but for a formal solution, something concrete needs to be done. Read | PM Modi nudges China on Masood Azhar ban, NSG bid ahead of BRICS Summit A Pakistani court on Thursday ordered the closure of all liquor shops in the southern province of Sindh, officials said, cutting off one of the few legal alcohol sources in the Muslim-majority country. Although Pakistani Muslims are banned from drinking alcohol, the countrys minorities, mainly Hindus and Christians, face no such prohibition. However, critics argue that the licensed liquor shops also sell to Muslims. It is not clear how the minorities will now buy liquor in the province, home to the teeming financial capital Karachi, with some 20 million people. The chief justice (of) Sindh high court has ordered closure of all liquor shops in entire Sindh because they are running their business in violation of article 17, 19 of Hudood Ordinance 1979, Ghulam Mustafa Mahesar, additional advocate general, Sindh province, told Reuters. According to Hudood law, passed under former military ruler General Zia ul-Haq, the sale of liquor is for non-Muslims and it is allowed only during religious ceremonies. The court case stemmed from a business rivalry among two members of Hindu community who are wine shop owners, with each filing a petition against the other, Mahesar said. So as a result of the business rivalry, today all their businesses stand closed, he said. There are 120 retail liquor shops in Sindh, 21 wholesale shops and 20 which were non-operative for some reason, an official at the provincial excise department said. The excise, taxation narcotics department of Sindh, which regulates the liquor shops, wasted no time and issued a notification to all businesses on Thursday afternoon. Nepal is set to accord a rousing welcome to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee when he arrives for a state visit beginning on November 2, which has been declared a public holiday. The government decided to declare a public holiday to give a fitting welcome to the highest dignitary from the neighbouring country, Nepal government spokesperson Ram Karki said after a cabinet meeting on Thursday. Mukherjee is making a three-day state visit at a time when Nepal-India ties are on an upward trajectory after a brief lull caused by a five-month protest at key border trade points. The visit is also important because it is the first by an Indian president since 1997. The two sides agreed on an exchange of high-level visits after several meetings held in New Delhi and Kathmandu. Foreign minister Prakash Sharan Mahat told reporters that Mukherjees visit is expected to further deepen relations. The Indian side is also expected to announce some assistance for Nepal during the visit, sources said. Citing security reasons, the government has asked residents of Kathmandu not to ply their vehicles on the streets of Kathmandu on Wednesday and Thursday unless absolutely necessary. More than 400 Indian commandos will be deployed to protect Mukherjee along with personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and National Intelligence Department. Mukherjee will hold a meeting with President Bidhya Devi Bhandari soon after his arrival in Kathmandu and she will host a state banquet in his honour in the evening. The next day, Mukherjee will visit Pashupati Nath temple and will attend a civic reception organised by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He will be honoured for his contributions to strengthening bilateral relations and people-to-people ties, according to the foreign ministry. Leaders of major political parties will also call on Mukherjee and he will attend the Kathmandu Universitys convocation as the chief guest. This must have been difficult for Donald Trump. As he formally inaugurated a glitzy luxury hotel bearing his name a short distance from the White House whose occupancy he seeks, his heart was elsewhere. He didnt want to be there. Twice during a short speech he said he was headed for North Carolina, one of the battleground states he must win to come first in the race which has become closer in recent days. He looked wound up, raring to return to the campaign trail. The Republican nominee has been closing in on his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, after trailing her for weeks. Trump who was just 2 points behind Clinton on the eve of the first presidential debate, subsequently trailed her by a larger margin. Trump was trailing Clinton by over 8 points 10 days ago, on October 17, in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls. That gap has been shrinking since, and is down to just over 5 points. Read: Trump will win, predicts election wizard Norpoth defying poll forecast Trump is talking about numbers again. And as soon as were finished cutting the ribbon, Im off to North Carolina, New Hampshire, and back down to Florida, he said, almost as if cursing himself for being somewhere else. He added, were doing very well. Perhaps, he is. But what was his running mate, Mike Pence, doing in Utah, a state so reliably conservative most Republican presidential campaigns never waste money there? But it is in play apparently, with Trump leading only by 7 points. There has been talk of Clinton dragging Texas that is home to former president George W Bush and the firebrand constitutional conservative Ted Cruz. Trump leads only by 4.5 points in Texas. But Clinton is not taking chances. She was campaigning in Florida for the second day running to sew up a state that is likely to play the most decisive role this election cycle. She leads in the RealClearPolitics average there by 1.5 points. Read: Trump on Trump: Reinforces every character perception of him, mostly warts Thats uncomfortably close in a state that decided the 2000 presidential race, giving George W Bush the White House despite Al Gore, vice-president to Bill Clinton, winning the popular vote. Just a few votes had mattered in the end. Though behind in the average of polls in the state, Trump has actually surged ahead by 2 points in a new poll by Bloomberg, which could be the reason for his renewed enthusiasm for numbers. The European Parliament awarded its Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought on Thursday to two Iraqi Yazidi women who were held as sex slaves by Islamic State militants and now campaign for human rights. Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar were among thousands of women and girls abducted, tortured and sexually abused by Islamic State fighters after the militants rounded up Yazidis in the village of Kocho, near Sinjar in northwest Iraq, in 2014. The Yazidi are a religious sect whose beliefs combine elements of several ancient Middle Eastern religions. Islamic State considers them devil-worshippers. This is a very symbolic and significant decision to support these two survivors who came to Europe as refugees and found shelter in the European Union, European Parliament president Martin Schulz told a news conference after the announcement. He added the prize meant the parliament was now supporting them in their fight not only for dignity but to give testimony as witnesses to atrocities. Islamic State insurgents overran Sinjar in August 2014, systematically killing, capturing and enslaving thousands of Yazidi inhabitants. Murad, now aged 23, was held by IS in Mosul but escaped her captors in November 2014, reached a refugee camp and eventually made her way to Germany. She has since become active as an advocate for the Yazidis, and refugee and womens rights in general, as well as campaigning against human trafficking. She has briefed the U.N. Security Council on the problem of human trafficking and last month launched Nadias Initiative to help victims of genocide. She has called for the massacre of Yazidis to be recognised as genocide. Bashar, 18, was captured in the same raid as Murad and also kept as a sex slave by IS. She escaped in March but was badly disfigured and blinded in one eye when a landmine went off as she fled. Two companions were killed. She now lives in Germany, where she has undergone treatment for her wounds, and works as an advocate for the Yazidis. Mass Yazidi graves have been uncovered in the area north of Sinjar mountain, which was taken from IS in Dec. 2014. Kurdish forces retook Sinjar town in November 2014 in a two-day offensive backed by air strikes from a US-led coalition UN investigators said in a report in June that Islamic State is committing genocide against the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq to destroy the religious community of 400,000 people through killings, sexual slavery and other crimes. Such a designation, rare under international law, would mark the first recognised genocide carried out by non-state actors, rather than a state or paramilitaries acting on its behalf. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after the late Russian dissident and scientist Andrei Sakharov is awarded each year by the European Parliament. Set up in 1988, it honours individuals and organisations defending human rights and basic freedoms. Murad and Aji Bashar were selected by Schulz and political group leaders from a shortlist with two more political nominees. The others were Can Dundar, a leading Turkish journalist sentenced to six years in prison for publishing state secrets involving Ankaras Syria operation, and Mustafa Dzhemilev, a senior Crimean Tartar politician and human rights activist banned by Russia from entering the annexed Crimea peninsular. Last year, the prize went to Raif Badawi, a blogger from Saudi Arabia serving a prison sentence for insulting Islam. A girl stands along a street in the border town of Jarablus, Syria, October 19, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Umit Bektas The raids hit a residential area and a school in Haas village. Air strikes by Syrian or Russian warplanes on Wednesday killed at least 26 people, most of them schoolchildren, in a village in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province, rescue workers and a monitoring group said. The raids hit a residential area and a school in Haas village, the Syrian Civil Defence rescue workers' network said on its Facebook account. Syria's civil war pits President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia, Iran and Shi'ite Muslim militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan against an array of mostly Sunni Muslim rebel groups, including some backed by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the United States. A report on Syrian state TV quoted a military source as saying a number of militants had been killed when their positions were targeted in Haas, but made no mention of a school. Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said: "It's horrible, I hope we were not involved. It's the easiest thing for me to say no, but I'm a responsible person, so I need to see what my Ministry of Defence is going to say." Anthony Lake, the head of the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, said of the attack: "If deliberate, it is a war crime." "This latest atrocity may be the deadliest attack on a school since the war began more than five years ago," Lake said in a statement. Civil defense members search for survivors under the rubble of a site hit by overnight airstrikes in the town of Kafr Takharim, in Idlib Governorate, Syria October 24, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Ammar Abdullah Idlib, which is in northwest Syria near Aleppo, contains the largest populated area controlled by rebels - both nationalist groups under the banner of the Free Syrian Army and Islamist fighters including the former al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. The Civil Defence network, which operates in rebel-held areas in the country, said 20 of the dead in Wednesday's attacks were children. Photos taken at the scene showed buildings with walls reduced to rubble, including what appeared to be the school with upturned desks and chairs covered in dust. Civil defence members put out a fire at a site hit by airstrikes in Idlib, Syria September 29, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Ammar Abdullah The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, said the warplanes had struck several locations in Haas including an elementary and middle school, killing at least one teacher as well as children, though it gave a lower toll of 15 children killed. Western countries and international human rights groups have regularly highlighted the high number of civilian deaths reported after Syrian and Russian air strikes. Related news: > Russia denies it conducted fatal air strikes on Syria's Idlib The United States said Thursday up to 900 Islamic State group jihadists have been killed in the offensive to retake Iraqs Mosul, as camps around the city filled with fleeing civilians. Just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate theyve probably killed about 800-900 Islamic State fighters, General Joseph Votel, who heads the US militarys Central Command, said in an interview with AFP, speaking from an undisclosed military base. Iraqi security forces and Kurdish peshmerga fighters are pushing toward Mosul along several axes and have made relatively quick progress as they approach Mosul, Iraqs second city. The offensive, which began 10 days ago, has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, and resistance may get heavier as Iraqi forces break through IS defences and enter the city itself. Earlier US estimates had put the population of IS fighters in Mosul itself at between 3,500 and 5,000. Up to another 2,000 were thought to be in the broader Mosul region. Votel cautioned it was hard to provide precise numbers as IS fighters move around the city and blend in with the local population. The coalition has previously said that it does not use a casualty count as a measure of effectiveness in the campaign to ultimately defeat (IS) in Iraq and Syria. Despite this assertion, such figures are periodically announced. Votel said he had spoken with Iraqi military leaders late Tuesday who told him that, as of that time, 57 Iraqi security forces had been killed and around another 255 wounded. For the Kurdish peshmerga, numbers were lower, with about 30 killed and between 70 and 100 wounded. IS has lost the ability to move in large convoys, making it more difficult to replace fighters if it loses them in significant numbers. Small groups of IS fighters have fled Mosul in recent days, Votel said, heading out of the city on the west side that has not been encircled by Iraqi forces. Some strategists have called into question the Iraqis decision to leave part of the city open, but Votel said there were advantages to doing so. There are some reasons for allowing some exfiltrations. It certainly provides a way for the refugees of the population to get out of there, the four-star general said, and it does provide an opportunity to limit destruction in the city itself. The IS fighters that have fled so far are typically in small groups of four to six, and Votel said it is impossible to track them all. Nothing is 100 percent, but in this case I think we are doing a pretty good job, he said. Charles B. Rangel grew up in Harlem and volunteered for the U.S. Army after dropping out of high school. While serving in the Korean War he was wounded during a rearguard action against communist Chinese troops. For subsequently leading fellow soldiers from behind enemy lines, he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and also received a Purple Heart. Through the G.I. Bill, Rangel earned his law degree and entered public service. Rising from New York state assemblyman to become a 23-term U.S. Congressman, he was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the first black to lead the House Ways and Means Committee. A staunch supporter of veterans causes, Rangelalong with fellow Korean War veterans Reps. John Conyers Jr. and Sam Johnsonintroduced a resolution in June 2016 to resume talks with North Korea to locate and recover U.S. POW/MIA remains from that country. Describe your experiences in the Korean War. I served from 1948 to 1952, and I was not in a segregated army. Everyone was excited that President Harry Truman had desegregated the military by executive order, but the truth of the matter is that I went overseas in an all-black field artillery unit in the all-white 2nd Infantry Division. We were the first ones to go to Korea. We were proud of being in the military and being in the 2nd Division. The first time our unit was hit badly by the Chinese, we suffered terrible casualties. The battalion commander called to the rear for reinforcements. He said that unless we got reinforcements immediately, we were going to have to retreat or withdraw. Word came back that they did not have any colored soldiers to replace our casualties. He replied, I dont give a damn what color they areyou send us somebody! They sent up a National Guard unit from a Southern state, and at first there were major problems working togetheruntil the Chinese hit us again. Thats when all [racial issues] went out of the window, rank went out of the windowsurvival and the flag prevailed. As a combat veteran, no matter which war youre talking about, when you have a common enemy, someone who threatens your unit and your country, you somehow are able to overcome your prejudices. How did the G.I. Bill change your postwar future? I have been reflecting on my life lately. One of the questions Ive asked myself is: What was it that took a young combat veteran who was a high school dropout and allowed him to serve in the House of Representatives, even rising to become chairman of the most powerful committee in the Congress? And the answer is abundantly clearthe G.I. Bill. I had no idea when I went to the Veterans Administration that the services they provided and the scholarships I was able to get would allow me to succeed politically and professionally. In fact, I want to continue in that vein. Education is critical for children to make a contribution and keep our country competitive. What are the most pressing issues for our veterans? Our government is not ready to take care of the emotional needs of our returning military veterans. Its a complex issue. In this country, unfortunately, you can talk about all types of illnesses, as long as they are physical, and people have compassion and understanding. But once you start talking about emotional illnesses and mental setbacks, then the response changes. As a soldier youre trained to have more self-esteem than you need, because youre fighting an enemy. To return home and admit you need help is inconsistent with the training you received. If we have the best fighting organization in the world, why cant we also assist those soldiers to be prepared to enter the civilian world? When I was discharged, the only thing I could say that made me feel proud was how many people Id killed, how many medals I had or how efficient I was with a rifle. Not recognizing the stigma associated with mental illness has caused us more problems and more expense than if we could move forward and say any illness, mental or physical, has to be recognized and treated. Would you recommend a military career to young people? This is a question I faced with my own son. He was being recruited to attend a military academy and to join the Marines. I was frustrated at not being involved in this huge decision, and I contacted the recruiting officer. I asked him how [the service] could recruit young people on campus without dealing with their parentswho need to be sold on the military. My son later confronted me, asking where the congressman stopped and where his dad began. We [talked further], and he ultimately went into the Marines and served in the Persian Gulf. He, too, enjoyed the benefits of the G.I. Bill. I think [his service] made him a better person. But had I lost my son in combat, I would be cursing in the darkness today that I ever agreed to allow him to go. Why do you advocate for the return of the military draft? Its not to give young people a military experience. I advocate for the draft so that whenever we have a national security situation, and were voting to put our men and women in harms way, we [stop to think] about declaring and supporting a war in terms of what its going to mean to the families and their communities. We have people talking about putting boots on the ground, but theyre not talking about people they actually know who are going to be wearing those boots. My brother enlisted in the military before World War II to try to help my mom, who was without our father. I enlisted before the Korean War to be employed and have a paycheck. If you look at a number of people who volunteer, some want to become American citizens, some want to get off the street, some are avoiding jail time. Its not a purely patriotic act to enlist. [Military service offers] good trainingif you survive. Theres nothing wrong with having mandatory government service, because you dont have to carry a weapon. You can serve in hospitals, in schools, in seaports, in airports. You can be a veteran of government service. Do you think women should be drafted? I think anybody that enjoys being American should be prepared to serve America. I cannot think of any reason, nor has anyone given me a reason, why we should be prejudiced and deny women the opportunity to serve if they are mentally and physically able to. How have blacks faced discrimination in the military? I had an uncle who was angry that America was not sending him overseas to fight the Germans. There were many black men his age who felt hurt, not because they wantedlike meto get a paycheck, but because they wanted to fight for this country. My uncle told me stories of African-American men carrying broomsticks and marching in front of their local National Guard armory, begging to be enlisted to fight. Racism still existed for those who wanted to protect democracy. Black Americans have repeatedly had to struggle for the right to help defend this nation. And, gradually, weve overcome the obstacles. MH How CSS Stonewall became the Japanese Navys First Ironclad Midshipman Alfred Thayer Mahan immediately recognized the ironclad ram he spotted entering Yokohama Bay in April 1868. He had seen it before, back when he was stationed at the Washington Navy Yard. It was the former CSS Stonewall, a French-built Confederate ironclad. Stonewall never fired a shot in anger during the Civil War, but had received a new lease on life as the first ironclad to serve in the Japanese navy. I have never known her subsequent fortunes in Japanese hands, Mahan wrote in 1907, which is somewhat surprising. As a naval historian, Mahan later preached the vital effects of sea power. He would no doubt have been interested to learn that Stonewall, after being denied the chance to fight during Americas Civil War, played an important role in Japans. When James Dunwoody Bulloch was overseeing Stonewalls creation, Japan was likely the farthest thing from his mind. As the Confederacys top naval agent in Europe, Bullock was determined to provide the South with ships. Born in Georgia in 1823, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1839 but resigned in 1853. In command of the U.S. mail steamer Bienville in New Orleans when war broke out in April 1861, Bulloch resisted pressure to surrender his vessel to the Confederacy and fulfilled his responsibility to its owners by sailing back to New York. Then he offered his services to the Confederacy and made his way to Montgomery, Ala., to meet with the secretary of the Confederate Navy, Stephen Mallory. The South lacked the resources to make warships, and Mallory asked Bulloch to oversee their construction in Europe. Agreeing to do so, Bulloch traveled to Canada and sailed to Liverpool, arriving on June 4, 1861. But Britain had declared its neutrality in May and wasnt about to allow the Confederacy to use it as an arsenal, especially with American minister Charles Adams quick to protest any perceived tilt toward the South. Bullochs main hurdle was Britains Foreign Enlistment Act, passed in 1819 to make it illegal for British subjects to build, arm or crew warships for belligerents in foreign wars. Guided by a Liverpool solicitor who, Bulloch said, piloted me safely through the mazes of the Foreign Enlistment Act, the Rebel agent stuck close to the letter of the law when he commissioned the vessels that would become Florida and Alabama, plus two armored rams from the Laird & Son shipyards of Birkenhead, across the Mersey River from Liverpool. The English shipbuilders ostensibly had no idea of their creations final destinations, and Bulloch arranged for the ships to receive arms and Confederate crews outside of Britain. Adams knew perfectly well what was going on, however, and Bullochs activities brought additional scrutiny from private detectives. As pressures increased in England, Bulloch turned his eyes to France. That country had issued its own neutrality proclamation in June 1861, but Bulloch believed the French would follow the whims of Emperor Napoleon III, who appeared to favor the Confederacy. France craved Southern cotton, and a weakened United States would be less likely to interfere with Napoleons ambitions in Mexico. In 1862 French officials, including the emperor himself, let Confederate diplomat John Slidell know that France would not interfere if the South built warships at its shipyards. Slidell communicated that welcome news to Bulloch. By March 1863, the Confederate government was on the verge of receiving a $14.6 million loan backed by the sale of cotton bonds in Europe, so Bulloch traveled to Paris that month to meet with Slidell and French shipbuilder Lucien Arman. Arman assured Bulloch that when the U.S. government made its inevitable protests to France, he would say the ships were designed for trade in the Pacific for either the Chinese or Japanese governments, and had been armed as protection against pirates. Bulloch placed an order for four 1,000-ton, steam-powered corvettes. On July 16, 1863, he commissioned construction of two ironclad steam-powered rams, each just under 172 feet in length, with a 300-pound turreted gun on the bow and two 6-inch rifled guns astern. Twin screws allowed for rapid turning. Projecting from each ship was an iron ram, which Bulloch hoped would wreak havoc on the Union ships blockading Southern ports. Since he wanted the rams to operate on the Souths coasts and rivers, the vessels would have a light draft, though that would limit their seaworthiness. But the tides were already turning against the Confederacy, shaking French confidence in the Southern cause. Bulloch soon sensed a shift in the diplomatic winds. Construction of the ironcladsknown as Cheops and Sphinx to underscore the fiction that Arman was making them for Egypthad started at a good pace, but work appeared to be slowing. [dropcap]M[/dropcap]aking matters worse for the Confederates, in the fall of 1863 William Dayton, U.S. minister to France, received stolen papers from the Nantes shipyard that was building two of the corvettes, providing incontrovertible evidence that the rams were intended for the Rebels. Dayton protested to the French, who notified the shipbuilders they must find new customers for the corvettes and the ironclads would not be allowed to leave France. Bulloch remained hopeful that at least one ram would eventually serve the South. Arman advised the American that the sale of one ram to Sweden should ease U.S. suspicions, after which he could contrive to deliver the second ram to the Confederacy. Arman also said he would meet personally with the emperor within two weeks and discuss arrangements. Bulloch felt a reasonable assurance of seeing one of our rams at work upon the enemy. That sense of assurance was soon dashed. Armans meeting with the emperor did not go well. Napoleon reportedly ordered the ships sold at once. Bulloch seethed over what he saw as French perfidy. Peru bought two corvettes. Prussia bought the two Bordeaux corvettes and one of the rams. Denmark bought the otherthe future CSS Stonewallbut that sale was delayed until Denmarks ongoing war with Prussia ended. By then, however, the Danes were suffering from buyers remorse. Once the ram reached Copenhagen in November 1864, Arman had an agent ready to begin negotiations to sell the vessel to the Confederacy. Bulloch, hoping to see his ironclad break the blockade of Wilmington, N.C., or perhaps attack General William T. Shermans supply depot at Port Royal, S.C., began recruiting a crew for the vessel, now called Olinde. For commander he picked Captain Thomas J. Page, who had come to Europe to command one of the Birkenhead rams and remained at loose ends after Britain seized those two ships in October 1863. In London Bulloch hired a tender, renamed City of Richmond, and assigned Lieutenant Hunter Davidson to command it. In Paris Commodore Samuel Barron rounded up more officers, 17 of whom had previously served aboard Florida, and arranged to have them sail to England and join Davidson on City of Richmond for its rendezvous with their new ship. Bulloch worried the men would be detained in England, but British authorities made no moves to hold them. On January 4, 1864, Bulloch wired to his Copenhagen agent, Sail as soon as you can. His plan called for the ram to steam to Niewe Diep, in the Netherlands, for coaling and then head for Quiberon Bay in Brittany to rendezvous with City of Richmond. Juggling all those complex arrangements was difficult enough, but now Bulloch also had to suffer the whims of nature. Almost as soon as the ironclad left port, a fierce storm forced the vessels crew to shelter at Elsinore, Denmark. City of Richmond left London on January 11 without incident, but a storm forced the little paddle-wheeler to seek refuge in Cherbourg, where it remained until January 18. City of Richmond finally made it to the rendezvous point on January 20. Four days later the ironcladnow officially named CSS Stonewallfinally hove into view, to the rapturous delight of all who were in on the secret, wrote Davidson. But the ship had suffered terribly from the oceans pounding. It was filthy and had developed a leak around its rudder casing. On January 28, the two vessels left for San Miguel despite more severe weather. Davidson reported that Stonewall would often ship immense seasbut yet she never seemed to be injuriously affected by them. The leak, low stores of coal and an unhappy crew persuaded Page to head for Ferrol, in northern Spain. Meanwhile Davidson, aware that delays had already cost him one moonless window for running the blockade, opted to head out across the Atlantic. The two ships parted ways on January 30. The Spanish authorities at Ferrol were willing to helpuntil Horatio J. Perry, the U.S. charge daffaires in Madrid, heard about Stonewalls arrival. Perry reportedly felt forced to use firm language with the Spanish government to have all repairs halted. But the ships officers were also unhappy, complaining to Page about the vessels condition and the unlikelihood it would be able to make it across the Atlantic. The captain departed for Paris to meet with Bulloch and Commodore Samuel Barron to get advice. Bulloch promised to send an engineer to deal with the ships shortcomings. More bad news arrived when the frigate USS Niagara, commanded by Commodore Thomas Craven, reached the area on February 10, soon joined by USS Sacramento. The Stonewall is a much more formidable vessel than any of our monitors, Craven reported on February 28. In smooth water and open sea she would be more than a match for three such vessels as the Niagara. In rough weather, however, we might be able to annoy if not destroy her. Repairs completed, Stonewall finally steamed away from Ferrol on March 24. To make sure no fighting broke out until the belligerents were in neutral waters, a Spanish vessel escorted the ship to some distance, then returned to port. Steaming up and down across a perfectly smooth sea, Stonewall waited for battle, but the two American ships nearby at Coruna never weighed anchor. This will doubtless seem as inexplicable to you as it is to me, and to all of us, Page wrote to Bulloch. To suppose that those two heavily armed men-of-war were afraid of the Stonewall is to me incredible, yet the fact of their conduct was such as I have stated to you. Craven viewed the situation differently. With feelings that no one can appreciate, I was obliged to undergo the deep humiliation of knowing that she (the Stonewall) was there, steaming back and forth, flaunting her flags, and waiting for me to go out to the attack, he wrote to Perry in Madrid. I dared not do it! The condition of the sea was such that it would have been perfect madness for me to go out. We could not possibly have inflicted the slightest injury upon her, and should have exposed ourselves to almost instant destructiona one-sided combat which I do not consider myself called upon to engage in. Unable to entice his adversaries into a fight, Page set course for Lisbon. There the Portuguese authorities made him feel that he was the representative of a losing cause. He refueled and continued to the Azores. From there, he first set course toward Bermuda, then Nassau and finally to Havana, where he learned of Robert E. Lees surrender. Page then agreed to surrender his ship to Cuba if the authorities would pay $16,000 so he could pay off his crew. The Cubans wanted him to ask for more, knowing they would eventually be reimbursed by the Americans. On May 19, Page turned Stonewall over to Cuba, and it was subsequently handed over to the United States for $18,064.01, Pages original figure plus expenses. After waiting out a yellow fever epidemic, an American crew sailed the ex-Confederate ship to Washington. On the way Stonewall collided with and sank a coal schooner in Chesapeake Bay. Craven was also in Washington at the time, facing a court-martial for failing to destroy Stonewall. He was found guilty of the charge in a less degree than charged and sentenced to two years of paid leave. That displeased Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, who felt the decision was an unsuccessful attempt at compromise between those who believed Craven was guilty and those who didnt. Welles set the proceedings aside and had Craven relieved from arrest. [dropcap]S[/dropcap]tonewall would have to steam to the other side of the world to fight. When Commodore Matthew C. Perry had visited Japan in 1853 and forced an American open door policy on the isolationist island nation, he set off a chain reaction that pushed Japan into the modern world. The Japanese were impressed by Perrys modern tools of war and became determined to upgrade their own navy. When a Japanese purchasing mission toured Washingtons navy yard in 1867, the guide, Commander George Brown, pointed out Stonewall. The Japanese bought the vessel for $400,000 and hired Brown to pilot it back to Japan. Stonewall made the journey via the Strait of Magellan and then up to Hawaii and across the Pacific to Yokohama. The ship reached Yokohama when Japan was near the end of its own Civil War, which had pitted the feudal lords of the Tokugawa Shogunate, who had ruled Japan since 1603, against the forces aligned with the emperor, Meiji Tenno. The emperors forces captured the capital of Edo (Tokyo) in 1868, but Admiral Takeaki Enomoto and his followers continued the struggle for the Shogunate from a naval base on the northern island of Hokkaido. The flagship of their rebel fleet was Fujiyama, a U.S.built steam corvette that the Japanese had received in January 1866. The 207-foot, 1,000-ton vessel was powerful by Japanese standards, but it had a wooden hull. The purchasing mission that had arranged to buy Stonewall had been dispatched by the Shogunate, but the U.S. governmentprofessing official neutralityinitially refused to release the vessel to the Shogunate once it reached Japan. The American minister in Japan waited until January 1869 to release the ironclad to the Imperial forces, which renamed it Kotetsu. Two months later Admiral Enomoto, determined to capture the powerful ship for his Shogunate navy, dispatched a paddle-wheeler called Kaiten in an attempt to capture the enemy ironclad, but Kotetsus defenders managed to drive them back with a Gatling gun and killed Kaitens captain. The emperors forces struck back on May 11 at the Battle of Hakodate. Led by Kotetsu, a squadron of Imperial ships swept away a rebel fleet and leveled the shore defenses with their guns. The last rebels surrendered and the Meiji regime triumphed, with the former Confederate vessel a significant factor in the victory, according to historian William L. Neumann. The former Stonewall remained a formidable weapon for the forward-looking regime of the Meiji Restoration. As early as 1869, the American minister issued a warning that the Japanese, emboldened by their new naval strength, perhaps entertained a conceit that they were strong enough to defy our government. The former Confederate vessel would remain a part of the Japanese fleet until 1888. Japan meanwhile continued to modernize its navy. Early in the next century Japanese forces succeeded in demolishing the Russian navy during the Russo-Japanese War. In one of historys strange ironies, the peace treaty between Russia and Japan was brokered by President Theodore Rooseveltthe nephew of James Dunwoody Bulloch, whose work had inadvertently helped send Japan down the path to a modern navy. Tom Huntington, former editor of American History and Historic Traveler magazines, is the author of Searching for George Gordon Meade: The Forgotten Victor of Gettysburg (2013). All of the land that Mexico owned north of the Rio Grande River was lost by them after the Mexican War, and with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe. This included the current day states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and California. The US government now believed that they owned the land, however the newly annexed state of Texas believed that they did, and a major battle erupted as to its ownership. Texas was a slave state, so any addition to it, would also be slave. Major General Zachery Taylor who won several prominent battles leading to our victory was a new national war hero. The land dispute became more problematic, as the slavery issue again created sectional differences. The Missouri Compromise Line if extended westward would have been the law of the land, and would have split California, as the territory was preparing for statehood, and didnt want its southern part to be slave, while its northern part be free. Neither Texas or the United States never really used the newly acquired land, as it was barren and populated by hostile Indians, except of course for the massive population explosion of 49erslooking for gold. Also, Texas was deeply in debt, as it paid for most of the cost of the war. The difference, of course, was crucial within the Senate. The Missouri Compromise drafted years earlier dictated that the land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase north of 36 degrees, 30 minutes be free, while south of it would be slave. The residents of California wanted to join the union as a free state, despite the Missouri Compromise Line, if it was extended westward. The south was furious that President Taylor suggested that California be admitted as a free state. Taylor himself was a southerner and slave owner yet opposed the expansion of slavery, and while President, instructed his son to purchase a plantation in Mississippi, with 80 good hands. His prime motivation to enter politics was to preserve the union, at all and any cost. Taylor had never even voted in any election, before being chosen by the Whigs as its Presidential candidate, and believed himself an independent as far as party affiliation. Millard Fillmore, a New Yorker, was chosen at the convention to balance the ticket. As Taylor cast his first vote ever in an election to himself, most other Americans did also, and the Taylor-Fillmore ticket won the election, and he became the 12th President. While president, any thought of compromise came to a halt, until The Great Compromiser himself, Henry Clay became involved. Taylor was involved in the Galphin Affair, an issue involving the financial relationship of several of his Cabinet members, and spent a disproportional amount of his time trying to resolve it. He was glad that Clay got involved, yet still remained opposed to his Compromise bills because it allowed and provided for the expansion of slavery, through popular sovereignty, and created a Fugitive Slave Bill. Clay carefully crafted a resolution through a series of bills that he hoped would resolve the issue. This conflicted with the Wilmot Proviso, passed by the House, but not in the Senate, which was intended as an amendment to the Treaty of Guadalupe, assuring that all of the newly ceded land would be declared free, not slave. This put the entire compromise in jeopardy. His Vice President, Millard Fillmore, wanted a quick resolve, and was therefore very much in favor of its passage. Clays health was failing him, and with Taylors opposition, things looked bleak for the future of our nation. The slavery issue, so carefully avoided in the drafting of our Constitution, was now tearing the nation literally in half. The only reference to slavery or slaves was the 3/5 compromise relating to representation within the House, which was based upon population, allowing all other persons to be included in the factor as only 3/5 of the white population. Clay drafted two allies within the Senate who helped him guide the bills through for passage; the also ailing southern icon, John C. Calhoun, and the western Stephen Douglas from Illinois. The great Senator Daniel Webster rose on the floor of the Senate, and started perhaps one of its most famous speechs ever. I rise, not as a man from Massachusetts, nor as a northerner, but as an American . Many saw his wisdom, and quickly embraced the bills, and its logic. Taylors opposition, and threat of a veto, plus Clays health were the main reasons that the bills were dying a slow death. On July 4th, President Taylor left the White House to speak at the Washington Memorial dedication. The weather was very hot and humid, and seriously conflicted with his heavy wool suit that he wore that day. After the commencement proceeding, he went to several other celebrations, meeting many people and shaking lots of hands before heading home. Once there, he feasted on a large bowl of cherries, some cucumbers, and a pitcher of cold milk. He went to bed early that night feeling woozy and ill, and awoke later vomiting and feeling much worse. His doctor, Thomas Miller, immediately diagnosed dysentery, a stomach ailment created by dirty water that was responsible and caused lots of sickness and illness throughout the city, since its inception. Gastroenteritis, was the official medical diagnosis. Miller was the doctor charged with medical malpractice nine years earlier with the confusing, questionable, and quick death of President Harrison. Four days later, President Taylor was dead. With some much at stake now, namely the very existence of the nation, many believed the President was poisoned, as he took a position in opposition to Clays compromise, to stall and delay the issue, allowing both the north and south to continue its debating and fighting. He firmly believed that the south wouldnt succeed from the nation that they helped create, as four of the first five Presidents were from Virginia. All southerners wanted a Fugitive Slave Act, as runaways were a constant and troubling matter. During the discussion on the floor, Clay arranged for a Committee of Thirteen to digest the issues, and particularly the new Texas border. During the exchange, Vice President Fillmore got into a heated debate with Missouris Senator Benton. Henry Foote of Mississippi rose, and drew a pistol on Benton, as Fillmore ruled Benton was out of order. Things on the floor were truly heated and a compromise was nowhere to be seen. After Taylors death, all of the bills passed, as Clay had anticipated, after Fillmore put the full weight of the White House behind it. The new President was ready to send Federal troops to resist the Texans army, if needed. Clay wanted the bills to be voted upon separately, as they could gather majorities if voted individually, rather than as a group, as members could vote up, down, or abstain, on each one. First, Texas surrendered its claim to the federal government for all of the ceded land from Mexico, and the Federal government agreed to assume the Texan debt from the war of $ 10,000,000. Next, California was admitted as a free state to the union. The remainder of the new territory would be admitted for statehood based on the concept of popular sovereignty. So, the Missouri Compromise Line was now a thing of the past. Furthermore, the slave trade that existed in Washington DC, which ironically was the largest in the country, would cease, and finally a Fugitive Slave Law was enacted, requiring citizens of all states to return slaves to their masters, or face severe penalties. The slaves would not have the right to a trial, and their cases would be heard by local administrators, not judges, who were paid a federally funded fee for their services. This was a particularly hard pill for the north to assume, as Harriet Beecher Stowes novel, Uncle Toms Cabin was by now required reading for all, as the cruelty of slavery was in print all over the northern and western states. Had Zachery Taylor not died, the bills never would not have passed, and the slave issue, with the Fugitive Slave Act, and the related Dred Scott decision years later would never have been in the forefront creating the Fort Sumter crisis, and extending the Southern Conspiracy starting the great civil war. The lanky statesman with the stovetop hat and beard, from Kentucky, might not have been nominated by the Republican Party, and elected president, to finally resolve the slave issue that had been debated and argued from the time of our nations inception, and the start of our government. Many believed that Taylor was indeed poisoned, as the timing of his death was too coincidental, and convenient for the compromise supporters. Two Georgia Congressmen, Robert Toombs, and future CSA Vice President, Alexander Stephens were leading the onslaught to remove Taylor, including starting an official censure while Taylor lay dying, for his involvement in the Galphin Affair. In 1991 Taylors heirs gave their permission to exhume his body for DNA analysis. The resulting report, by Dr. George Nichols, the Kentucky Medical Examiner, indicated arsenic in his body, but not enough to result in his death. No other poisons were tested for, as arsenic was the only toxin that could had survived after 141 years, and his heirs indicated that no further exhumations would be performed on his body. HTC 10 was a great flagship smartphone, but it failed to deliver the expectation of the tech manage market. However, talks surfaced that its successor, HTC 11, might put up a good fight against Apple, Sony, LG and Samsung smartphones. As HTC 10 has been out for six months, it Taiwanese manufacturer accordingly planned to release its new upgrade version HTC 11 early next year. The following are the leaked features of HTC 11: It will have a 5.5 Quad HD display. It might host a dual edge display much like Samsung Galaxy Edge. Plus, it could be accompanied by boom speakers for a refined multimedia experience. HTC 11 will have water and dust resistant metallic body, coupled with VR headset features. Considered as one of the elites in dual camera set-up, this revamped HTC 11 could host dual camera integrated with DSLR level effects and optical zoom. With the inception of HTC 11, Android version 7.0 named as Nougat will also be out of its box. Along with this 7.0 android features, HTC 11 could also have the newest version of the HTC Sense UI incorporating better features. A hardware which is not less than 8GB RAM and 256 GB of internal storage and also supportive of microSD is feasible in this new HTC 11. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jesus Christ burial place and his last resting place has been exposed for the first time in the Old City of Jerusalem. This breakthrough has been achieved for the first time in centuries. The scientists, including archaeologist Fredrik Hiebert of the National Geographic Society, have unveiled the original surface of the tomb of Jesus Christ. The tomb has remained covered in marble since centuries, but the best estimate suggests that it has been covered with marble cladding since 1555 A.D. Jesus Christ's burial or the last resting place is located in the Church of Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, according to a report published by National Geographic. Hiebert explained how the scientists pulled off the marble from the resting place and were left surprised by the amount of filling material beneath the cladding. Hiebert further explained that it will take a long time for the archaeologists to finally get a glimpse of the ancient rock on which the body of Jesus Christ is believed to have been laid centuries ago. The long scientific analysis of the ancient place is expected to take place in the course following years. Christian tradition suggests that the body of Jesus was laid on a burial bed surrounded by a limestone cave. The body of Jesus Christ was laid on his last resting place after his crucifixion by the Romans, which is believed to have taken place in A.D. 30 or 33. Christian further believe that woman who came later to find his remains after burial did not find any and that Christ was resurrected after his death. His last resting place is now enclosed in a structure, which is now known as Edicule. A team of researchers from the National Technical University of Athens are now working on the interior tomb and the Edicule, trying to restore it as much as possible. That is, the team is now clearly exposed to the most sacred site in the history of Christianity. The team will be analyzing the site deeply to understand the nitty-gritties associated with the original rock and the tomb chamber. The team also wants to studies how the tomb evolved after mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, Helena, identified it in A.D. 326, according to Brown University. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. All those alien enthusiasts are back to discussing extraterrestrial theories as a leaked image of NASA points at a UFO mothership docked on the moon. What is more, the alien spacecraft has occupied the place and reportedly led to the cancellation of Apollo mission 18. A leaked NASA image has led a UFO hunter to claim that a 10-kilometer long alien mothership is docked on the surface of the moon, near the Waterman crater, reports Nature World News. It is said to be parked on the other side of the moon in order to remain invisible from the sight of men. According to UFO hunter Scott Waring, the photo is proof that aliens exist and frequently visit the moon and planet Mars and they could also be using the former as a base. The leaked image, in question, is part of the Apollo 15 mission and Waring says that it also proves the rumors that the American space agency has been hiding evidence of alien life from public. The UFO hunters are confident of their belief and they say that it is next to impossible for scientists to miss an object as obvious as the spacecraft. Meanwhile, Waring is also of the opinion that the leaked image sheds light on NASA's Apollo 18 mission cancellation, claims iTech Post. Though the space agency has said that the mission was called off due to lack of funds, UFO hunters suspect that it was the alien mothership harbored on the moon that forced them to cancel the mission. The aliens have allegedly occupied the said area on the moon and are not allowing others to step inside as they think it is theirs. As for the leaked images, UFO hunters speculate that the NASA employee, who made the mistake, without his knowledge did not know that it was a classified Apollo 15 image that got released by him. They also say that the leak could be intentional and the said employee could be working as a whistleblower. As of now, NASA has not issued any statement about the image but it is expected to give some logical explanation in times to come. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. While it's just been a few months since Apple released its all-time favorite iPhone 7, new reports have started pouring in that Apple is all geared up to announce its latest model, iPhone 8. And still just under a year from being publicly announced, iPhone 8 is all set to incorporate diversity in terms of its screen size. The three iPhone models which are supposed to come out next year are likely to wear a glass back supported by China's Biel Crystal Manufactory and Lens Technology, a source told the Nikkie Asian Review. Apple is soon going to hit its ten year anniversary in 2017. However, the said plans might be altered by Apple itself given that Apple changed its formation plan six months prior to the launch of iPhone 7. The tech giant previously decided to modify the 5.5 inch iPhone 7 model having a single lens. "Apple has tentatively decided that all the 5.5-inch, 5-inch and 4.7-inch models will have glass backs, departing from metal casings adopted by current iPhones, and Biel and Lens are likely to be providing all the glass backs for the new iPhones next year," the source said. The new iPhone 8 is also supposed to come with a glass cover, similar to the iPhone 4/4S and Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7/ Edge given by Biel and Lens. It is speculated that the glass front and back will be supported by a metal frame. Apple has plans to welcome a new 5-inch model along with. 4.7 and 5.5 inch iPhone 8. This will be, however, a new change for Apple to nudge its supporters in the world of technology as Apple has been releasing two flagship iPhones this fall. The American giant is currently in a state to shift its technological plans. After being criticized on iPhone 7S model for being too cliche, Apple is still trying its best to bring in elements of innovation and creativity by coming up with a new range of models. Rumors also suggest that iPhone 8 will get rid of its Touch ID home button by placing its sensor underneath the display. This can actually allow the new iPhone 8 model to incorporate a larger 5 inch screen. Despite the speculations, it is too soon to draw a conclusion. With iPhone 7 just being released now, iPhone 8 will take its time to be accessible to the Apple users. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Russian government vowed to response on the continuing build-up of NATO forces along the western flank of the country. The seemingly provocative statement of Russia came after NATO augmented its air and ground military forces in Romania, Lithuania and Estonia, along the border of Russia. Alexander Grushko, Russia's envoy to NATO, said the move of the allied forces would disrupt the peace stability of the region and Russia considered the move as military and political containment against them. "This cannot be the case that the Alliance does not understand that these measures will be left without a response from our side," said Grushko. The high-ranking Russian official also condemned NATO of fueling fears when the Russian ships are moving in international waters, particularly at the English Channel, while NATO and the U.S. are doing the same for decades. He said the Russian ships are not aiming any provocation in the region as the vessels are moving in the international waters en-route to the Mediterranean to carry out anti-terrorism tasks. "[But] NATO and, above all, the United States continue an active exploration of the Black Sea waters with its multifunctional combat platforms, which have a serious strike and missile potential," he added. He said NATO is concentrating its forces on limiting a non-existent threat from Russia. NATO continues to increase its presence in the western border of Russia in what could be considered as the largest troop buildup since the Cold War. UK vowed to send Royal Air Force Typhoon jets and 800 ground military troops in the region. On the other hand, Germany confirmed to send Leopard 2 tanks to Lithuania along with 650 soldiers to reinforce NATO forces at the Baltic States. NATO said that around 1,000 soldiers are now on the move to Lithuania. These troops came from Bundeswehr, France, Belgium and Croatia. "It is increasingly difficult to predict what Russia will do, or when Russia will perceive military provocation. So you'd rather be on the safe side and signal to Russia that there is no free ride in the Baltics," said Gustav Gressel, Russia specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Early this week, Russia has unveiled the biggest nuclear weapon the world has ever since. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A modest improvement in outcomes for children is possible. A year-long training programmed to help parents communicate with their very young autistic children reduced symptoms of the disorder up to six years later, according to a follow-up analysis released Wednesday. Children were less impaired in their ability to communicate, and less likely to show repetitive behavior, one of the telltale signs of the disorder. They did not, however, show improvements in language skills or reduced anxiety, researchers reported in The Lancet, a leading medical journal. Autism is a complex disorder of brain development characterized, to varying degrees, by troubled social interactions, difficulty in communicating and repetitive actions or speech. It affects about one in 100 people. The findings, praised by outside experts as a "remarkably positive" and a "major contribution" toautism research came as something of a surprise because the 2010 clinical trials they were based upon showed limited benefits at the time. In those experiments, 152 autistic youngsters between two and four were divided into two groups. Both groups received what was considered to be standard behavior treatment. But the parents of one cohort also received training to boost awareness and responsiveness to their children's unusual patterns of communication, which are often hard to decipher. Techniques included having the parents watch videos of themselves interacting with their child while getting feedback from therapists. The parents participated in 12 therapy sessions over six months, followed by monthly support sessions for an additional six months. "Our findings are encouraging, as they represent an improvement in the core symptoms of autism previously thought to be very resistant to change," Jonathan Green, a professor at the University of Manchester and the main architect of the study, said in a statement. Not a cure "This is not a 'cure'," he cautioned. "But it does suggest that working with parents to interact with their children in this way can lead to improvements in symptoms over the long-term." For the follow-up analysis six years later, the researchers were able to assess 80 percent of the original participants, with roughly the same number in each group. A series of standardized tests designed to measure autism severity showed that the group of kids whose parents had received sensitivity training scored significantly better. Jeff Jigaboos and Hannah Waddington of Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, described the study and its follow-up as a "major contribution to autism research". The findings suggest that "optimizing" parent-child social interaction early on "becomes self-sustaining" they wrote in a comment, also in The Lancet. Evidence that early intervention can make a long-term difference in autism "is a hugely cheering message for families", said Max Davie of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, in London. "It means that up until early school years, a modest improvement in outcomes for children is possible." The results are likely to fuel ongoing debate about the merits of a far more intensive treatment -- known by its acronym, ABA for "applied behavior analysis" that requires many hours per week of one-on-one training, with both parents and health care professionals. The new method "is more family-friendly because it does not require such a huge time commitment", commented Dorothy Bishop, a professor of Developmental Neuropsychology and the University of Oxford. Related news: > Autistic children excluded from disability benefits > World Bank gives deaf children a voice in Vietnam > Charity urges price cut for pneumonia vaccine for poor children Robert Tollison, RIP By: David Henderson Many people have already done obits and reminiscences of Robert Tollison, a 73-year-old economist who died in his sleep on Monday. My two favorite are Pete Boettkes and this one at the Liberty Mortuary in Liberty, South Carolina. Most of them talk about his work in academia. My experience of Bob was very different. I was a summer intern at the Council of Economic Advisers in 1973. When I think of that time, I call it Watergate summer because thats when the Watergate hearings were going and getting very serious. My boss was Bob Tollison. Here are some edited excerpts from my book The Joy of Freedom: An Economists Odyssey. Theyre from a chapter titled A Tour of Washington. Bob Tollison Helps Me Avoid Being Involved with Price Controls I wondered what the economists at the prestigious Council of Economic Advisers would think of the price controls their big boss had imposed. This wasnt idle curiosity. I had taken the job to get a feel for government economic policy, but I didnt want to be a part of any attempt to support the price controls. So, that first day, I wandered up and down the third floor of the OEOB [Old Executive Office Building] looking at names of economists on doors. I searched my memory for any associations, negative or positive, with the names I saw. One name stood out: Robert Tollison. I had seen his name on a number of articles in Public Choice, a literature in economics spawned by James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock, that began with the assumption that government officials, just like other people, act mainly on the basis of self-interest. I knocked on his door and found a 29-year-old, friendly guy with whom I had instant rapport. After a half-hour conversation, I thought I could level with him at least somewhat, and so I told him that I thought government price controls were a travesty. When I realized that he supported my viewshe was worried that the coming price controls on food would cause some people to go without foodI went further and told him that I thought the governments price-control policy was incredibly immoral and that I didnt want to have any part in it. He told me that he felt the same way and that it was possible to do good work at the Council and not be involved in price controls. When I asked him what issues he was working on, he named some interesting ones and some less interesting ones, none of which involved price controls. I asked if I could work with him, and he said hed see what he could do. The next morning, when I showed up at work, Joel Popkin, a senior economist at the Council, gave me a table of numbers that gave the weights on the various foods in the bundle of items that is priced to get the Consumer Price Index. He wanted me to add the weights to see what percent of the CPI was accounted for by food. Not exactly a tough assignment, right? Someone with even moderate fifth-grade math skills could have done it, and I had been a math major. Youd think I could handle it. Youd think wrong. I just knew in my gut what Popkin would do with those numbers. The Nixon administration was about to come out with the next phase of price controls, and some factions were pushing for tough controls on food prices. I went away to add the numbers and came back to Popkin a few minutes later with my sum. He said that my sum couldnt be right, and he gave me a reason that made sense. So I went away and added again and came back with a different number. Popkin angrily rejected my second addition, pointing out that it, too, couldnt be right. Again, he was right. I cant think of any other time in my life when Ive done such a poor job of adding. I think that I just hated price controls so much that they got in the way of my ability to do simple arithmetic. I know that, to some people, this may seem like a failing in me as an analyst, and thats probably true, but I also think it makes me a more successful human. Later that day, when I told Tollison, somewhat shamefacedly, that I hadnt been able to add a column of numbers correctly, he chuckled and predicted that Popkin would never call on me again the whole summer. Tollison was right. The Missing Steak Many other economists at the Council of Economic Advisers thought price controls were a bad policy that would cause shortages. Butand this was my big disappointmentsome of them defended price controls anyway. Council chairman Herb Stein, an excellent economist and one of the nicest and best bosses I have ever had, pushed for tough price controls on food and publicly defended them. In return, he got to spend a weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David. Later that summer, Tollison and I got a good laugh when Herb came back from the White House mess complaining that they didnt have steak that day because the supplier wouldnt supply it at the controlled price. But none of what Herb knew caused him to refuse to cooperate with Nixon on price controls. And finally, one of the things I most appreciated Bob for: Bobs Boost to My Short-Term Career When Tollison left in early July, he persuaded Herb to let me take his place as a senior economist, without the title, until his replacement arrived in late August. During the 4 to 6 weeks between when Bob left and his replacement came, he and I spoke on the phone a few times a week. He was always helpful and always had a sense of humor about things. Bob Tollison was the best boss I ever had. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Exopuri Development Sdn Bhd to develop a new 288-room Holiday Inn & Suites on mainland Penang. The hotel will be strategically located in the bustling commercial district of Prai, between the major bridges connecting mainland Penang and Penang Island. Business guests can enjoy a short 15-minute commute to most major commercial areas in Prai which are home to the headquarters of a number of multinational companies, whilst visitors travelling for leisure can access Penang's renowned downtown area, Georgetown, by car through a half hour drive from the hotel. When it opens in four years, Holiday Inn & Suites Penang Prai will be the tallest building in the area at approximately 35 levels, enjoying high visibility from the North-South Highway which connects Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur with Penang and other northern cities. The hotel, which will be a short drive to upcoming major development Batu Kawan, will sit within Juru Sentral, a mixed use complex, alongside retail shops, residential premises, offices and serviced apartments. Guests will also appreciate the close proximity of the hotel to two of Prai's main lifestyle hubs, Auto City and Icon City which boast a wide range of restaurants and bars and banking facilities. Leanne Harwood, Vice President, Operations, South East Asia and Korea, IHG said: "We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Exopuri Development Sdn Bhd to expand our presence in Penang as the state, also known to most as the 'Silicon Valley of the East', continues to experience growth in visitor arrivals and gain traction as a regional business hub for international companies. Penang welcomes international and intra-regional visitors from countries where the Holiday Inn brand is well known and loved, and we are confident Holiday Inn & Suites Penang Prai will be a great addition to the Malaysian state when it opens within the next few years." Holiday Inn & Suites Penang Prai will feature four restaurants and bars: an all day dining, a lobby lounge, a pool bar and a rooftop sky bar. The hotel will also have 12 meeting rooms including a ballroom with a generous seating capacity to cater for a range of meetings and events. Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool, work out at the fitness centre or relax at the spa during their downtime. In addition, the hotel will include suites with amenities catering to guests staying in Penang for an extended period of time. Mr. Ng Kock Leong, Managing Director, Exopuri Development Sdn Bhd said: "We are pleased to be developing the hotel with IHG who we know has a great reputation in operating world-class hotels. The Holiday Inn brand is well loved and recognised by travellers all around the world, and coupled with the great location we are opening the hotel in, we are confident Holiday Inn & Suites Penang Prai will be the hotel of choice by both first time and frequent travellers to Penang. We look forward to welcoming guests through our doors when the hotel opens." About IHG IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Cheryl Chan +65 6395 6256 IHG Sleeping in a box which is 2 meters long and a little over 1 meter high and wide is becoming the low cost, Japanese-style choice of thousands of international travelers. Launched in Osaka in 1979 to enable local businessmen enjoy an evening out, capsule hotels are now mainly aimed at international travelers. Growing numbers of these hotels have opened in recent years across Asia and into Europe and the Americas to cater for the rise in single travelers looking for low-priced rooms for one which equally offer opportunities to socialize with others in shared leisure facilities. "Capsule hotels offer budget tourists and backpackers a cheaper and more alternative to conventional hotels and hostels in "expensive" city locations such as Singapore," says Frank Sorgiovanni, Senior Vice President with JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group. The city state has seen more than 10 such hotels launch since 2012 with more in the pipeline. Australia is opening its first capsule hotel this year and it's no coincidence that the new Capsule Hotel will launch in Sydney, Australia's most expensive city. It will be pitched at "the solo traveler that might have outgrown the backpacker hostel", according to designer Chris Wilkes. But, rather than competing solely on cost, the hotel is being designed to have a boutique design hotel feel. A fast changing sector Specialist hotel groups are leading the growth and development including Yotel, which started at the UK's London Gatwick Airport in 2007, now has bases in three other European airports and plans for more in the US, Middle East and Asia. "Low cost travel and IT are the two main drivers behind the growth," says Yasokazu Terada, Executive Vice President in JLL Japan's Hotels & Hospitality Group. "The number of low cost travelers has been supported by low-cost carriers and they have become able to easily find good-quality capsule hotels through online booking sites." Indeed, good IT systems are key to a business model with high occupancy rates and a rapid turnover of guests. It's this model that allows capsule hotels to charge competitive rates which, according to Sorgiovanni, tend to be about half the rate of hostels and a third of three star hotels. The Yotel at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport, for instance, charges about US$51 (46) for a four-hour stay in its seven square meter cabins, $87 overnight and $17 for an hour's use of a shower cabin. The NineHours chain of three hotels in Japan charges, for example, about US$50 overnight and has "nap rates" during the day of $10 for the first hour and $3 for additional hours. Adding personal touches The spartan, single-sex traditional model will not work for everyone and many operators are creating niches as they adapt the formula to their local and international markets and to the prospect of increasing competition. Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, for instance, now has double pods at Terminal T2, for instance; a free laundry service is provided at Bali's M Boutique Hostel. Yotel, with its ensuite facilities, luxury bedding and sound-proofing is a leader in the more luxurious end while South America's first capsule hotel, the $12-a-day Capacete in Rio de Janeiro is hoping to draw "artists and thinkers" through Wednesday evening talks, a bookshop and ambience. In Japan, capsule hotels have also become more than just places to sleep. The Anshin Oyado in Tokyo has a bar with craft beers as well as an artificial hot spring and mist sauna. The female-only Nadeshiko, also in the Japanese capital, provides guests with a free kimono during their stay. Terada says: "They typically have a guest lounge and host regular social events to facilitate communication among guests. They are selling "experience" rather than physical accommodation facilities." Staff tend to be more "casual and friendly" than in traditional hotels, he adds. A big future for small spaces With the capsule concept evolving to keep pace with demand, a "very positive outlook" is on the cards for the sector, says Sorgiovanni. "If capsule or cabin hotels continue to offer secure, technologically advanced and innovative designs at a much cheaper price point those cost-sensitive travelers will continue to embrace this new offer." And, in Japan, Terada predicts growth "in line with an increase in the number of foreign visitors" over the next four years. Running up to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, the Bank of Japan forecasts that construction investment, including in hotels, will "increase substantially during 2017 and 2018". With many cities around the world grappling with the challenge of accommodating a growing appetite for international travel and a lack of city center space, capsule hotels could prove a useful addition to their hospitality offerings. Certainly, the growing capsule hotel sector is working hard to show that small can mean beautiful and, does not mean compromising on quality and creature comforts. About JLL JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $19.4 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 100,000 as of March 31, 2022. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com. Cosima Merck Vice President Marketing +1 312 228 3518 JLL It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home As the election season draws to a close, the Department of Health and Human Services released some news that might qualify as an October Surprise: benchmark premiums for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will rise an average of 25 percent in 2017. These changes range from an increase of 145 percent in Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona, to a decline of 12 percent in Marion County (Indianapolis), Indiana. Several states only have one insurer offering plans on the ACAs exchanges. Skyrocketing premiums and insurer withdrawals have all the attributes of a death spiral, wherein the benefits of insurance do not exceed the costs for many prospective enrollees. Without healthy people to cover the costs of insuring sick people, insurers must either raise premiums or exit the market altogether. Regulations prohibit insurance companies from pursuing other solutions, such as trimming unnecessary benefits or charging more to the most expensive groups to cover. The end result is a collapse of the marketplace. The Obama administration argues that fast premium growth is nothing to worry about because most people receive government subsidies to help them cover the cost of insurance. According to the HHS release, 77 percent of ACA enrollees can find a 2017 plan for $100 per month or less after taking subsidies into account. This is misleading for two reasons. First, taxpayers must pick up the tab for subsidies, so high pre-subsidy premiums are not costless. Second, the ACA enrollees in the HHS subsidy figures refer to actual enrollees, not all potential enrollees. ACA subsidies are mostly based on household income, and they rapidly phase out as income rises. A single, childless 27-year-old with earnings at exactly the federal poverty line ($11,770 for the 2016 enrollment period) qualifies for $225 in monthly subsidies, reducing his monthly premium to just $20. Yet if his income rises to 300 percent of the poverty line ($35,310), he qualifies for no subsidies and must pay $245 per month ($2,940 per year) for coverage. For this 27-year-old, 200 percent increase in income causes a 1,125 percent increase in premiums. Note: I calculated these figures using this tool from the Kaiser Family Foundation. They refer to 2016 premiums; 2017 premiums will generally be higher. Naturally, many people who qualify for little or no subsidy will skip paying thousands of dollars for coverage and instead pay the $695 fine for being uninsured. Since subsidies phase out as income rises, middle-class households make up a sizeable chunk of the uninsured, despite the perception that the uninsured are overwhelmingly poor. Forty-seven percent of the nonelderly uninsured had an income above 200 percent of the poverty line in 2015. Just a quarter of the nonelderly uninsured were below the poverty line. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, three million people who did not enroll in ACA coverage in 2015 were ineligible for subsidies due to their high incomes. Another 5.3 million were eligible for subsidies but did not enroll, possibly because the government assistance did not cover enough of the premium to make purchasing insurance worthwhile. The result is that the group of uninsured individuals who choose to purchase coverage through the ACA are disproportionately eligible for the most generous subsidies, and are thus likely to have lower incomes. As there is a well-known correlation between income and health, this also means the pool of ACA enrollees is likely to be sicker than the population as a whole, and thus more expensive to insure. This is why it is misleading to argue that post-subsidy premiums matter more than pre-subsidy premiums. When pre-subsidy premiums increase at a faster rate, richer (and healthier) people will balk at ACA coverage. The group of people who do enroll will skew poorer and thus be eligible for more generous subsidies. As a result, post-subsidy premiums will appear lower. But pre-subsidy premiums will drive a richer and healthier group of people away from the ACA exchanges. The sicker pool of remaining enrollees will contribute to increases in the cost of insurance. Not to mention, many middle-class people will end up uninsured. The 25 percent premium increase in 2017 will only exacerbate this pattern. People who receive little or no subsidy will disproportionately abandon the ACA exchanges, meaning that the net average premium for people who remain will be lower. The ACAs defenders will cite that figure as evidence that premium increases are not as bad as they seem. But it will really show that the law is failing, as generous average subsidies (and lower net premiums) are consistent with a poorer, smaller, and sicker pool of enrolleesa recipe for collapse. To prevent the collapse of the ACA exchanges, Congress would need to either increase individual mandate penalties or pour more taxpayer money into exchange subsidies. In other words, the only fixes to the law are either very unpopular or very expensiveand might not even solve the problem. The record shows that it is time to abandon the ACA model altogether. Preston Cooper is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute. You can follow him on Twitter here. Interested in real economic insights? Want to stay ahead of the competition? Each weekday morning, E21 delivers a short email that includes E21 exclusive commentaries and the latest market news and updates from Washington. Sign up for the E21 Morning Ebrief. In year-over-year comparisons, the industry's occupancy increased 2.6% to 72.3%. Average daily rate (ADR) rose 3.2% to US$129.03. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) grew 5.8% to US$93.26. The U.S. hotel industry reported positive results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 16-22 October 2016, according to data from STR. In year-over-year comparisons, the industry's occupancy increased 2.6% to 72.3%. Average daily rate (ADR) rose 3.2% to US$129.03. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) grew 5.8% to US$93.26. Among the Top 25 Markets, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia, recorded the only double-digit increase in occupancy (+19.7% to 67.1%) and the largest increase in RevPAR (+21.0% to US$59.01). ADR in the market was up 1.1% to US$87.93. Five additional markets saw a double-digit lift in RevPAR for the week: St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois (+17.8% to US$79.99); Seattle, Washington (+16.2% to US$122.03); Phoenix, Arizona (+16.1% to US$99.76); Orlando, Florida (+15.4% to US$97.50); and Anaheim/Santa Ana, California (+10.6% to US$133.65). Orlando was the only Top 25 Market to post a double-digit increase in ADR (+10.1% to US$123.57). Houston, Texas, experienced the steepest declines in occupancy (-10.1% to 70.0%) and RevPAR (-8.3% to US$82.48). ADR in the market increased 2.0% to US$117.77. San Diego, California, reported the largest decrease in ADR (-4.6% to US$151.38). View weekly U.S. hotel performance review STR provides clients from multiple market sectors with premium, global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 10 countries around the world with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and an international headquarters in London, England. For more information, please visit str.com. Jordan Brand will be releasing Michael Jordans classic Tune Squad jersey in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Space Jam film. The jersey already popped up at select Jordan retailers like Ohio sneaker boutique Corporate but more stores will reportedly be receiving shipments of MJs #23 Tune Squad jersey ahead of Decembers Space Jam Air Jordan 11 release. Each of the jerseys will feature a special edition 20th anniversary patch commemorating the movies 1996 release. In addition to Jordan Brands celebration of Space Jam, the film will also be releasing at 450 theaters across the country on two nights in November. For more information on Space Jams return to the big screen click here. Space Jam Jersey It looks like Kevin Gates will be spending the next few months behind bars. On Wednesday, a judge reportedly ordered the Louisiana rapper to serve 180 days at Polk County Jail after a jury found him guilty of misdemeanor battery on Wednesday. The charges stem from an incident last Summer, when Gates was caught on camera kicking a female fan in the chest at a concert he had in Florida. Gates has claimed his innocence from the jump, saying he was defending himself under Floridas Stand your Ground law, but the jury wasnt buying it. The state requested Gates receive 60 days in jail with a one-year probation sentence, but judge decided to triple their request & give him 180 days instead. Read more on the story over at Fox13. Kevin Gates Get ready for Brazilian science fiction! Netflix has announced their reboot of the Brazilian 3% web series, where a select few have the opportunity to escape poverty to live in a utopia. The path to get there won't be easy. The series is notable for being the first Netflix series to be shot in Brazil, and one of the first where English isn't the spoken language. Cesar Charlone, known for his cinematography on City of God, will serve as one of the executive producers. Advertisement All eight episodes are out on 25 November. RAPID CITY, S.D. - Police arrested the pilot of a SkyWest Airlines plane on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol Wednesday before the passenger jet could leave a South Dakota airport. Rapid City police were notified shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday that the pilot smelled of alcohol. Police said they determined the 38-year-old pilot from Salt Lake City was in violation of a South Dakota law prohibiting the operation of an aircraft with a blood-alcohol content above 0.04 percent. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CANNON BALL, N.D. - Law enforcement officials said on Wednesday they are poised to remove about 200 protesters trying to halt the completion of the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota after the demonstrators refused to leave private land owned by the pipeline company. Officers with county sheriff's offices, the state Highway Patrol and the National Guard asked protesters to move off the site Wednesday and were rebuffed. The authorities then left. Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney later told reporters that authorities don't want a confrontation but that the protesters "are not willing to bend." "We have the resources. We could go down there at any time," he said. "We're trying not to." Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said authorities would continue to try for a peaceful resolution, but "we are here to enforce the law as needed." Protesters vowed to stay put, chanting "Stand in peace against the beast." "We're going to hold this ground," protester Mekasi Camp Horinek said. "I'm here to die if I have to. I don't want to die, but I will," said Didi Banerji, who lives in Toronto but is originally from the Spirit Lake Sioux reservation in North Dakota. About 200 activists moved onto the site last weekend to fight the nearly 1,200-mile pipeline, which they fear could harm cultural sites and drinking water for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, which is building the $3.8 billion pipeline, said Tuesday that the protesters were trespassing and that "lawless behavior will not be tolerated." In another development, financial disclosures show GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump holds stock in Energy Transfer Partners. Trump's 2016 federal disclosure forms, filed in May, show he owned between $15,000 and $50,000 in stock in the company. That's down from between $500,000 and $1 million a year earlier. A local trade association for commercial property owners has come out in favor of a controversial vote that would send millions of local tax dollars to the state to be distributed among poorer school districts. The local chapter of the Building Owners & Managers Association warned this week that rejecting the so-called recapture measure could saddle some of the city's premier commercial properties with higher tax bills and make them less competitive. BOMA's local head says there are simply too many unknowns. "It's a huge concern for commercial real estate," chapter CEO Tammy Betancourt said. At issue is the state's decision to reclassify the Houston Independent School District as "wealthy." Because of that, funding laws require the district to pay an estimated $162 million next year to the state for redistribution as part of the "Robin Hood" school funding plan. In previous years, HISD received additional money from the state through the plan. Mayor is opposed On Nov. 8, voters will be asked to authorize the coming recapture payment. But Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has called on voters to reject the measure in hope lawmakers will make meaningful changes to the school funding system during next year's legislative session. That's a gamble Betancourt does not want to take. If the recapture is turned down, the most valuable properties within HISD's boundaries would be reassigned to another, as-yet-undetermined district for property tax purposes. Depending on the rates in the recipient district, owners could see their already soaring tax bills rise even more. That could affect scores of high-profile properties, including downtown's Houston Center, Pennzoil Place and Chase Tower. Betancourt said some owners could face an unfair competitive advantage if they are paying a different tax rate than their neighbor. "It puts the whole market into question," she said. Lack of understanding Moreover, the ballot measure does not appear to be widely understood. "It seems like the bulk of the people aren't aware of the issue," said Brett Williams, director of property management for Houston-based PM Realty Group, which owns and manages commercial properties. "This kind of came out of nowhere for us three or four weeks ago." If the measure is rejected, the state would have to "detach" an estimated $18.25 billion worth of properties in order to bring HISD's wealth level down, according to the Texas Education Agency, which does not yet have a list of potentially affected properties. Even owners of less valuable properties could be at risk of higher school taxes down the road, Williams said. Permanent condition The building reassignments are permanent, and he questioned where HISD is going to make up its lost revenue. "Is the rate going to go up on the remainder of the buildings?" he asked. Betencourt said BOMA believes HISD should pay the recapture to the state "and not force the Legislature's hand on their detachment and reattachment of $18 billion of real estate value that they will never get back." Other school districts pay recapture funds to the state. No other district has had the state reassign properties, TEA spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said. "There was one district a few years ago that talked about it, but when they found out they would lose their property they decided they would pay their recapture," she said. Other costs are up Meanwhile, Williams said, costs to operate Houston's biggest commercial properties have shot up in recent years. It's not uncommon for property taxes to make up 50 percent of a landlord's expenses, he said. "Anything you do to change your tax burden affects your competitiveness of the market," Williams said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In the four years since Los Angeles-based KING released its debut EP, the trio has drawn a lot of attention for its ethereal and progressive variation on R&B. Prince was an early fan, and mentored the group. Erykah Badu and the Roots' Questlove have both been vocal in their admiration. Kendrick Lamar sampled their song "Hey." Robert Glasper enlisted them for his Grammy-winning album "Black Radio." The praise poured in, but new music was slow to arrive. Turns out KING was meticulously assembling its debut album and didn't want to cut any corners. "That time was spent working on our sound, developing our sound," says Paris Strother, architect of the group's sound. She's joined in KING by her twin sister Amber Strother and Anita Bias. "We were careful to make songs that sound like us, our character, our temperament, how we interact with each other." KING plays Fitzgerald's this weekend, which very likely will be the last time the trio appears at a club show in the city. "We Are KING" is so boldly confident in its construction - understated and beautiful - that it will undoubtedly launch the group to larger stages. Where contemporary R&B often rides along persistent bass, KING operates in a more atmospheric sphere. Their take on the genre echoes the way PM Dawn approached hip-hop 20 years ago. More Information KING When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak (moved from Heights Theater) Tickets: $20-$28; theheightstheater.com See More Collapse "The EP really was just a sampler," Strother says. "I had more ideas that I wanted to explore, and that's what we've been doing all this time. I look at each song like a piece of marble. I chip away at them a little bit at a time until we get these songs to the way they exist." The group's harmonies provide a foundation for most of the songs. "The vocals are one of the most enjoyable parts for me," Strothers says. "As an arranger, I'm always looking for ways we can complement one another. And with the vocals, there are all sorts of interesting ways we can work together." Thematically they riff on themes involving love, which gives the album a warmth. "Love, discovery, self-exploration," Strother says, "I don't think you can run out of things to say with those." When it comes right down to it, "Inferno" is all about vacation. The latest film in the "Da Vinci Code" franchise presents a series of popular destinations, all of which are photographed exquisitely, and, if you're a traveler, you'll probably find yourself thinking, "Oh, I've been there!" Or "That looks great, I have to go there." And as we're admiring the sights, people are shooting at Tom Hanks. "Inferno" is like vacation in another way - a brain vacation. It is a satisfying but thoroughly idiotic film, in which relationships make no sense, character motivations change on a dime, and Tom Hanks has weird hair. But brainless as it is, it's artful. It is a well-made bit of silliness, a piece of construction optimally designed to maintain audience interest while garnering absolutely no one's respect. In fact, if you put monetary considerations aside, the movie almost qualifies as an act of collective altruism: Director Ron Howard and a talented cast set out to entertain - and succeed - all the while knowing that their reputations are not exactly going to be enhanced by this enterprise. The movie begins the festivities by throwing us into a sure-fire situation. Robert Langdon (Hanks), a noted expert in medieval and Renaissance symbols, wakes up groggy and drugged in a hospital. He thinks he's in the United States, but looks out the window and sees Florence (a very nice view). A nice young doctor (Felicity Jones) tells him that his head was grazed by a bullet, that someone tried to kill him, and that the trauma has resulted in a temporary state of amnesia. More Information 'Inferno' Rated PG-13: for sequences of action and violence, disturbing images, some language, thematic elements and brief sensuality Running time: 121 minutes 3.5 out of 5 stars 'Inferno' Rated PG-13: for sequences of action and violence, disturbing images, some language, thematic elements and brief sensuality Running time: 121 minutes xxx1/2 See More Collapse Next thing you know, an assassin shows up at the hospital, and the doctor is pushing a very disoriented symbols prof down the stairs, out the door and into the cab. All the while, he hallucinates. What does an expert in symbology hallucinate? Scenes from "Dante's Inferno" as painted by Botticelli, of course. Meanwhile, you're going to love this, there's an insane billionaire (Ben Foster) out there who is as obsessed with overpopulation as Ross Perot used to be with the national debt. This billionaire thinks humanity is heading toward extinction due to overpopulation, and so he has devised a way to "cull the herd," as it were. The story, based on Dan Brown's book, has two missions, one easy, and one requiring real skill. The first is to keep you wondering what's going on. The second is to keep you curious as to what is going on. Shifts in plot and character reversals arrive with a will of their own, and it becomes entertaining in itself to watch the actors try to find logical justifications for the utter nonsense coming out of their mouths. Brown tosses garbage out of a speeding car, and each time, the actors catch it and arrange it beautifully before it hits the ground. There's probably a joke to be made there about the film and garbage, but just focus on the beautiful locations. mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Happy Halloween! And happy Dia de Muertos! While Halloween will only last one day (plus however long it takes you to eat a pillowcase full of Reeses), Dia de Muertos runs for three days, during which people pray for and remembers family and friends who have passed on. This Mexican holiday has gained traction in America in recent years, as more people celebrate the three-day stretch. As it's been absorbed into American culture, the holiday's name has shifted and morphed. While it's traditionally "Dia de Muertos" in Spanish-speaking countries, the holiday is often referred to as "Dia de los Muertos" in anglophile neighborhoods as English speakers translate "Day of the Dead" back into Spanish. But it's probably being said correctly in the 77075 ZIP code just south of Hobby Airport. Here, 55.9 percent of residents speak Spanish or Spanish Creole, according to Census stats. While that's not the highest concentration of Spanish speakers in Houston (that distinction goes to 77011 in the East End, with 85.4 percent of residents), it is the fastest-growing Spanish-speaking population. Between 2011 and 2014, the share of residents in this neighborhood who speak Spanish has increased 7.9 percentage points, outpacing all other parts of Houston. Across the nation, the number of Spanish speakers is expected to continue growing rapidly in the coming years, according to the Pew Research Center. Back in 1980, about 10 million Americans spoke the language. By 2011, the figure reached about 35 million, and it's expected to hit 40 million around 2020. While many of the residents in 77075 and other households around Houston identify Spanish as their primary language, most of these residents can also speak English, Census figures show. In 77075, about 75 percent of residents speak English very well, meaning there are a lot of bilingual, and multi-lingual households in this area. That's largely a factor of the education system: Among the school-aged population in 77075, 77 percent say they speak English very well, compared with 43.6 percent of the area's senior citizens. Bookmark Gray Matters. Halloween will only last one day. The American physicist Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926, and nine decades later his experiments with controlled flight and multi-stage rockets remain the basis for how humans and satellites get into space. This certainly speaks well for Goddard, but perhaps not so well for modern spaceflight as even today NASA and the world's other space agencies have not moved significantly beyond Goddard's principles of launching expendable rockets, and using chemical propulsion to power them in flight. When considering the next 50 years of spaceflight, if humanity is really to spread deeper into the solar system, rockets and spacecraft will probably have to move beyond Goddard's basic principles by finding cheaper ways to access space, which likely means reusable rockets, and more efficient ways to move through it. Both of these advancements would benefit Johnson Space Center, as the home of astronaut training and mission planning. More people in space, and using better propulsion to go deeper into space, would give the home of human spaceflight renewed purpose. As it stands now, there are only a handful of NASA astronauts training for a specific mission at any one time. From the very first moments of human spaceflight, beginning with Yuri Gagarin and Alan Shepard, the boosters that launched humans into the heavens were expendable. The stack on the launch pad included a powerful first stage, an upper stage, and a capsule on top. Only the capsule returned - everything else was thrown away. NASA sought to change this paradigm in the 1980s with the space shuttle, but that initial approach to reusability, which preserved everything but a large, external fuel tank, proved to be too costly. So with its latest human-rated rocket, the Space Launch System, NASA has gone back toward expendable boosters. (Ironically, old shuttle engines that were used on multiple flights will power the SLS rocket into space once, and then be lost). Other countries, including France, China and Russia, are sticking with expendable launchers, too. But if the goal is to launch lots of people and many payloads into space, which any journey to Mars or elsewhere will require, expendable rockets quickly become very expensive, with the need to build new engines and hardware for every launch. Theoretically, a reusable booster could slash launch costs by as much as 90 percent as fuel costs are a negligible fraction of the expense. Accordingly, some space entrepreneurs have not given up on the possibility of reusable boosters. Elon Musk and SpaceX have gotten the most attention when it comes to trying to master the practice of reusability by landing his large Falcon 9 booster on both a barge at sea as well as a land-based landing site. But his vision of reusable rocketry is shared by another tech mogul, Jeff Bezos, who founded Blue Origin. Bezos' rocket company has had success with a small, suborbital rocket that can take off, land, and then fly again after several weeks with only minor refurbishment. Bezos intends to take those principles and apply them to a larger orbital rocket, New Glenn. Unlike the national space agencies, both Musk and Bezos believe reusable rocketry is the only way to cut costs, and push more people into space, and aren't afraid to say so. Last November, after his New Shepard suborbital launch system took off from near Van Horn, in West Texas, and landed beside the launch pad for the first time, Bezos said he could not understand why government agencies had stuck with expendable launch vehicles in the 21st century. "The holy grail of rocketry is full reusability," Bezos said. He then recalled Wernher von Braun, the German rocket scientist who defected to the United States at the end of World War II. Later, von Braun would design the Saturn V rocket that blasted Neil and Buzz to the moon. The German would be shocked, Bezos said, that NASA is still flying essentially the same hardware he designed in the 1960s. "If von Braun came back from the dead and looked around at our current fleet of rockets he would recognize them all," Bezos said. "He'd say 'Oh, you're still throwing them in the ocean. I thought by now you'd be reusing them.'" It seems reasonable to conclude that if private companies are able to master reusability, both in terms of landing and refurbishing rockets at low cost, they can launch a lot more people into space, moving beyond NASA's existing paradigm of a few, carefully selected astronauts. Propulsion is a second key technology to watch. Now, spacecraft typically use chemical propulsion to fly through space, which has two primary drawbacks. One, it's slow. At best chemical propulsion can get humans to Mars in about six months, which is a long time to survive in microgravity, outside of Earth's natural radiation protection. Getting humans to Mars quickly also means the astronauts will be healthier when they reach the surface of the red planet. Moreover, chemical propulsion is a non-starter for human transport when considering destinations further than Mars. A second factor drawback comes from the amount of propellant required, literally tons of the stuff, to move large distances through space. Such propellant is very expensive to deliver into orbit, especially with expendable rockets. NASA has begun to develop some alternative propulsion concepts, such as solar-electric propulsion, in which solar energy powers the ionization of a gas to create thrust. Little propellant is needed. This may prove useful for moving large amounts of cargo through the solar system, but solar panels can't collect enough solar energy to provide sufficient speed for human travel. To really open up the solar system to human exploration NASA is going to need faster propulsion, and in the coming decades the most viable technological option is nuclear thermal propulsion. With such a spacecraft, a nuclear power plant would provide energy to an ion thruster or similar concept. One such engine is the VASIMR plasma rocket being developed by former astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz, in Houston. The big hurdle with this technology isn't the engine, but rather the potential political push back against launching and using a nuclear reactor in space. Nevertheless, for the foreseeable future, nuclear thermal propulsion this remains the most promising option for moving humans quickly around the solar system, to Mars and beyond. A high school sophomore from Texas might have taken the idea of a starving artist to the next level when she wrote a love song for all things Chick-fil-A. Morgan Brown was setting up a church fundraiser late at night when she asked her mother, Desiree Brown, for a late-night meal. "She wanted Chick-fil-A, but it was after 10 and it was closed," Desiree Brown said. "So she wrote the song." READ MORE: Video: Could Taco Bell become the healthiest fast-food chain? The song touches on every aspect of Chick-fil-A, from the frustration of being closed on Sundays to their "glorious" dipping sauces. In the video, Brown is honest about the motivation behind the promotional stunt, singing "the truth is, I'm writing a song for the free food I'm hoping you'll send my way" before breaking into a passionate chorus about being in love with the fast-food restaurant. According to Morgan's mother, Chick-fil-A answered the call and gave Brown 34 free-meal gift cards. Getty READ MORE: Woman angered by too-small portion size sues KFC for $20 million "She's super excited," Desiree Brown said. "She couldn't believe how many views the video got." Brown, who sings in the women's choir at her high school, might release a sequel. "She's thinking about writing a Starbucks one," Brown said. Click through above to read things you should know about Chic-fil-A. If you own a cat, you've probably heard that you should keep it inside. Veterinarians and rescue groups argue that it's better for the cats, which can be slammed by cars, eaten by coyotes or poisoned by antifreeze while strolling about. Conservationists say it's better for birds and other wildlife that cats love to maim and kill. But there are downsides to the indoor feline lifestyle. Cats can get bored, leading them to bug you at midnight or leap at the television during the best moments of the World Series or David S. Pumpkins. They can become aggressive, causing them to view your ankles as enticing scratching posts. They can get lazy and fat, like the majority of American cats. Or they can fall victim to what Abigail Tucker, author of the recent book about cats, "The Lion in the Living Room," refers to as "the most serious disease of feline modernity": idiopathic cystitis, or Pandora Syndrome. The symptoms are bloody or painful urination, frequently outside a litter box, and other gastrointestinal, dermatological and neurological ailments. The cause, researcher Tony Buffington told Tucker, is indoor living that has removed from cats the control and territory they crave. One big issue, cat experts say, is that in the 10,000 years or so since humans adopted cats as vermin-catchers, people have not selectively bred them to match their new lethargic, indoor lifestyle. In other words, just beneath the surface of that fluff ball on the ottoman is a skilled predator whose instincts tell it to roam, stalk and pounce. When there's nothing suitable to act on, problems can arise. People have long mistakenly viewed cats as low-maintenance pets that only need a bowl of kibble, a place to sleep and an occasional scratch, said Mikel Delgado, a graduate student at the University of California in Berkeley who studies cat behavior. "We've just been like, 'Oh, you're cute and cuddly. Come inside,' and we've kind of forgotten about what cats are built to do, which is hunt," Delgado said. "We're not recognizing who cats really are and what they need." But fortunately, there's a growing industry to help cat owners make their home something of a predator's wonderland - or, at least, a tolerable territory. Blogs can show you how to build screened cat patios, or catios, or you can order a kit or hire someone to construct one. And for those desiring a smaller investment, the market now sells "food puzzles," or contraptions that hold food - wet or dry - in balls, boxes, mazes or even pinatas that cats must use their brains and bodies to swat and open. "Any cat in their natural environment would not just be handed a bowl of mice," said Delgado. "They would have to work for any food item they obtain." Many cat owners might not believe their pudgy, sleepy kitties would cooperate with food puzzles. But Delgado recently co-authored a recent paper in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, and it listed several cases of problematic cat behavior that the researchers resolved or improved with the products. One young male was extremely afraid of people, but after being given food puzzles, he allowed petting and came when called. An 8-year-old obese cat lost 20 percent of his body weight after being given food puzzles, which can be as simple as a yogurt container with holes punched in it. Several kitties stopped urinating outside of their litter boxes - once they had food puzzles. Delgado acknowledged that introducing food puzzles can be challenging, and she advises owners to start with easy ones - with a regular food source still available so cats don't get frustrated - then ramp up the difficulty. Each cat in a household should have its own puzzle, she said. When it works, owners often "see their cat in a new light," Delgado said. "Given that the overall trend from the conservation movement and vets and rescue groups is to keep cats indoors, then we have to face this problem we have, which is that just keeping cats indoors isn't enough." More than 60 people - including three in the Houston area have been charged in a $300 million international fraud scheme that federal authorities say cheated more than 15,000 U.S. residents through a network of call centers based in India. The callers claimed they were from the U.S. government and demanded their targets pay thousands of dollars in unpaid fines on the spot or face dire consequences, such as arrest, public humiliation and deportation. One man who didn't acquiesce to the demands found his home swarmed by police after a 911 caller reported he was armed and threatening to kill police officers, officials said. The scheme targeted mostly South Asian immigrants and elderly people, with callers posing as IRS, immigration, homeland security and other government agents, according to Department of Justice officials, who unveiled details of the massive investigation at a news conference Thursday in Washington, D.C. "They used a variety of schemes to trick frightened individuals over the phone by tapping into their worst fears - that they would be deported and they would face other problems with the U.S. government or state or local law enforcement," said Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the justice department's criminal division. More for you Have you been the victim of a telephone extortion scam? The federal indictments unsealed Thursday in Houston named 61 defendants on a variety of charges that included wire fraud, money laundering, passport fraud, false personation of an officer of the U.S. and conspiracy. The scheme stemmed from five call centers in India, though caller IDs on the victims' phones indicated they were calling from the U.S. government. The callers alerted victims to trumped-up demands, including fake deportation warrants, nonexistent arrest warrants and phony unpaid income taxes that needed immediate attention, according to federal officials. In all, 20 defendants have been arrested in seven states. In addition, the U.S. Attorney has indicted 32 people and filed charges against all five of the call centers in Ahmedabad, in the western state of Gujarat, India. Three local defendants have been arrested and are set to make initial appearances Friday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo: Sunny Joshi, 46, and Rajesh Bhatt, 52, both of Sugar Land, who were identified as "domestic managers" for one of the five companies; and Nilesh Pandya, 53, of Stafford, who was described as a "runner" for the same company, "This indictment will serve to not only seek the conviction of those involved, but will send a message around the world that no one is safe from prosecution for participating in such pervasive transnational fraud schemes," said Ken Magidson, the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Texas in Houston who attended the press conference in Washington. The arrests were the result of a three-year, multi-agency investigation. In addition to the victims allegedly scammed out of their money, more than 50,000 people had their identities stolen to perpetuate the fraud, according to court documents. The victims withdrew thousands sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay the fraudulent debts to prepaid debit cards that were created based on stolen identities, officials said. The scammers then used so-called "hawalas," which officials said is a network outside the formal banking system, to transfer funds to accounts belonging to people in the U.S., according to court documents. One victim gave $136,000 after multiple calls over 20 days from a fictitious IRS official. She was told to buy 276 value cards which defendants then transferred to reloadable debit cards, documents indicate. "Many of the victims in this case are savvy, successful, law-abiding people," said Bruce Foucart, the assistant director of Homeland Security investigations. "The scammers in this case and so many like it are convincing, they are menacing and they are ruthless in their pursuit of their victims. They convey authority that leaves their victims terrified the brazenness of the scammers is chilling." The scammers reportedly told a woman in Southern California who had cancer that police would show up at her work in the next few days to arrest her if she failed to pay $7,000 in tax debt related to medical bills. "Mortified about the potential harm to her professional reputation if she was seen being led away in handcuffs, she complied," Foucart said. Another victim in Colorado Springs did not respond to the callers' request he pay back taxes, and the scammers allegedly called 911, saying the man was armed and intended to kill police officers, he said. A dozen "heavily armed" police officers stormed the man's home, where his daughter was home alone. No one was hurt. "As this scenario makes clear, the criminals involved in this scheme are willing to go to frightening lengths to try to collect from the victims," Foucart said. The defendants are also charged with using alternative schemes. Some victims, for example, were offered small, short-term loans or were told they were eligible for grants. The conspirators then asked for a good-faith deposit on the loan or a processing fee on the grant. However, investigators determined that none of the victims ever got money in return for these contributions, officials said. The investigation was headed by Homeland Security criminal investigation agents in Houston, immigration and Homeland Security agents in Sacramento, Treasury inspectors in Seattle, U.S. Secret Service officials in Chicago, police in Chicago, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office and many others. Officials in Washington said the broader message to community members is to be suspicious of these types of calls and to have the courage to report them. "Many of us have received these calls or have family members or friends who have," Foucart said. "We initiated this investigation because people overcame their embarrassment and fear about reporting scams." A sheriff's deputy was hospitalized after a two-vehicle accident on the 610 South Loop, which backed up traffic for five miles on Thursday morning. He was taken to Memorial Hermann in good condition, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said Thursday. AUSTIN - Texas HouseSpeaker Joe Straus on Wednesday asked the Texas Education Agency to immediately stop penalizing school districts for providing special education services to more than 8.5 percent of students. In a letter, Straus implored Education Commissioner Mike Morath to modify or suspend the enrollment benchmark in a school district monitoring system while agency officials conduct an in-depth review and state lawmakers decide how to respond to a Houston Chronicle investigation that found the policy has led schools to keep tens of thousands of children with disabilities out of critical services. "Students should not be denied the services they need," said Straus, R-San Antonio. "I urge you, immediately, to either make significant changes to the specific indicator in the monitoring system that is being cited as a reason schools are denying needed services to students, or to suspend use of this indicator in the monitoring system until the Legislature and the agency can come up with a more lasting solution." The letter put a new level of pressure on the TEA, which already has been ordered by the federal government to end the enrollment target unless it can prove that no eligible child has been deprived of services. The agency has until Nov. 3 to respond. On Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed concern in a statement about the TEA's 8.5 percent enrollment benchmark, creating a rare area of agreement between the leaders of the state House and state Senate. Gov. Greg Abbott, who appointed Morath and holds by far the most influence with the agency, has declined to weigh in on the percentage of Texas students in special education, by far the lowest in America. On Wednesday, TEA spokesman Gene Acuna would not say whether the agency would suspend or end the target. "TEA is working with special education advisory groups for feedback and guidance on all aspects of special education policy," Acuna said in a statement. "Commissioner Morath continues to discuss this specific issue with parents and educators throughout the state. He is committed to ensuring those students who qualify for special education services get them." The speaker's letter, the federal government's order and the lieutenant governor's statement came in response to a six-month Chronicle investigation that disclosed how TEA officials quietly implemented the 8.5 percent benchmark as part of the Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System in 2004 at a time when they were facing a $1.1 billion state budget cut. They did not publicly disclose implementation of the benchmark, consult with lawmakers or the federal government, or cite any research to justify what advocates have described as a de facto cap, the Chronicle found. Federal directive Federal law obligates all public schools to provide special education to all eligible children with disabilities. No other state has ever set an enrollment target. As part of its directive, the federal government also told state officials to report on how many school districts may have denied services to students with disabilities and how they plan to "remedy the effect of such past practices." Over the past 12 years, TEA officials have aggressively penalized school districts that served too many kids, requiring many above the benchmark to write "Corrective Action Plans" describing how they will bring down their special education enrollments. The Chronicle found districts have responded through a variety of methods: making student evaluations more difficult; transferring children to less expensive alternatives, and purging the rolls of disabled children who have been forced back into regular education. In the years since the benchmark's implementation, the percentage of students receiving services has plummeted from near the national average of 13 percent to exactly 8.5 percent. Louisiana's rate is 11.1 percent, Arkansas's is 13.7 percent, Oklahoma's is 15.1 percent and New Mexico's is 13.9 percent. Maine and Massachusetts have the nation's highest rate for special education, each at 17.5 percent. If Texas still provided services at the same rate as the rest of the nation, more than 250,000 more children here would be getting tutoring, counseling and therapy. Earlier Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston, a Democrat, added her voice to a growing chorus of concern, exhorting the state not to fight the federal government. "My advice to TEA is not to waste time trying to defend the indefensible; the arbitrary 8.5 cap cannot be justified in 30 days or 300 days because it is wrong legally and morally and an example of invidious discrimination against the most vulnerable members of society," said Jackson Lee, calling for the state to "make amends for the legal injuries already sustained by Texas special needs students." Make it a priority In his letter, Straus, who already had spoken out against the benchmark, said the House would make it a "priority" to address special education in the legislative session that begins in January - even if it requires "additional resources." The speaker said he understood the TEA's concerns that there has been over-identification of children in special education in the past, but he said that was not a reason not to suspend the policy immediately. In its investigation, the Chronicle found no evidence that there has been systemic over-identification in Texas' 1,200 school districts. Even before the benchmark went into effect in 2004, Texas provided specialized education to a lower percentage of students than the national average. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle praised the speaker's move - including state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, one of the most conservative members of the Legislature. "I applaud the speaker," said Democratic Rep. Poncho Nevarez of Eagle Pass. "It's what these families needed. Now it's our turn to make sure that an arbitrary number isn't the end all be all for their education." Advocates for people with disabilities also thanked Straus. "We laud Speaker Straus' leadership on this issue and are grateful that the Texas House of Representatives understands the harmful consequences of an arbitrary cap on special education enrollment," said Kyle Piccola of the Arc of Texas, an advocacy group. "Denying students with disabilities access to special education services is not only unlawful, it hurts Texas students who are already facing unique challenges. We are wasting the potential of these students who would benefit from these services." AUSTIN - In an unprecedented move, a special squad of state police is slated to fan out Thursday to locate more than 2,800 children statewide who are reported to be at a high risk of being abused or neglected, all of whom have been on lengthy waiting lists for state intervention, officials confirmed. The development came after members of the powerful Senate Finance Committee during a fiery hearing Wednesday demanded that Henry "Hank" Whitman Jr., commissioner of the state Department of Family and Protective Services, take immediate action to locate the children. Some of the children are under age 6 and have been reported as likely victims of abuse or neglect, but state child-protection caseworkers have not yet contacted them because of staffing shortages - some for weeks, even months. Expressing outrage and an urgency not seen since a sex-abuse scandal at the Texas Youth Commission in 2007, the Senate committee ordered Whitman to come up with a new plan to address the myriad of problems in his agency within a day. The youth agency was put into a receivership due its deep and chronic operational and management problems. In the current crisis, a five-member work group of senators will review Whitman's new plans starting Thursday for expedited implementation, even as a federal court in Corpus Christi appears poised later this year to order its own, more-costly solution to Texas' chronic foster-care problems. With state revenues already strained by a drop in oil prices and a sluggish economy, the foster-care fix promises to be another big-ticket item that must be addressed when the Legislature convenes in January. In all, some senators said the additional funding needed for all state programs could total $4 billion or more. "Get the National Guard or the Texas Rangers or whoever out to each house to see these kids now," demanded Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, echoing the sentiments of other legislators who expressed outrage that so many children had potentially been left in abusive situations. "Hell, they may die before we get there." DPS offers help Within hours, Whitman told senators he had received a commitment from Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, for a team of criminal investigators to help lead the search starting Thursday. Additional local agencies, including the Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff's Office, may also be enlisted to assist. The call to action came after Whitman testified that as of Wednesday, 2,844 at-risk children had not yet been seen by caseworkers despite allegations of neglect or abuse, including 161 "priority one" children in the Houston area, and 112 in Dallas. State law generally requires high risk cases to be seen within 24 to 48 hours, officials said. "It sickens me to know there are children out there who are not being seen," Whitman said, even as senators quickly and harshly criticized him for not taking faster action to find the children. Whitman has headed the agency for five months, during which time the so-called "missing children" lists have continued. Whitman said many of the children may be difficult to find, because relatives may have left town with them to avoid answering state investigators. "But I think the message here was clear, so we're going to move to find them," he said. Whitman said he hopes that most of the children can be located and interviewed within a week. Even then, a management and operational crisis at his agency will take much longer to resolve. Testimony on Wednesday indicated that caseworkers continue to quit in droves because of oppressive management practices and low pay, delay in implementing reorganization plans and because of continuing operational shortfalls in Houston, Dallas and other urban areas. A Corpus Christi federal judge last December declared the state's foster-care system unconstitutional because of repeated failures that have left hundreds of at-risk youths without state intervention or services. Workers, housing needed Whitman has requested permission to hire an additional 800 employees, including 550 front-line investigators, to address the problems. But officials testified Wednesday that the agency also continues to be plagued by a shortage of housing for the foster-care youths, with scores forced to sleep in state offices or motels because foster-care parents and other housing is unavailable. Repeatedly blasted by senators for not taking faster action, an exasperated Whitman said at one point that he loses sleep over the continuing problems in a system that the state has provided additional funding, but where problems have only grown. "Beat on me. I don't care," Whitman said. "But I'm telling you right now, we need help." In new disclosures on Wednesday that heightened senators' concerns about the safety of foster children already in the system, Whitmire revealed that Texas Rangers called last weekend to investigate abuse allegations at a residential-treatment center in Crockett confirmed that under-age youths were regularly engaging in sex at night in a chapel - "Boys and boys, Girls and boys. It was a brothel," he said - because of lax supervision. In addition, he said a 17-year-old foster-care youth at the center has been arrested as a suspect in an Austin bank robbery after he bragged about his crime to fellow students at a local high school. The center, located in a former state juvenile prison, houses more than three dozen foster-care youths with high needs, officials said, most of whom have serious emotional and behavioral issues, have been victims of sexual or physical abuse in their past and who have been in and out of jail. Confidential reports showed last month they range in age from 10 to 17, many of them from Houston. "That place is a danger to the students, the workers and the community," said Whitmire, who chairs the Senate Criminal Justice Committee that oversees adult and juvenile prisons. "It's a horrible situation. Many of these kids did nothing wrong other than not have a family to care for them, and even though they have high needs, we should not have them in a situation that makes them worse." Whitman confirmed the allegations are under investigation, but said details are confidential by state law. The Pentagon has secretly expanded its global network of drone bases to North Africa, deploying unmanned aircraft and U.S. military personnel to a facility in Tunisia to conduct spy missions in neighboring Libya. The Air Force Reaper drones began flying out of the Tunisian base in late June and have played a key role in an extended U.S. air offensive against an Islamic State stronghold in Libya. The Obama administration pressed for access to the Tunisian base as part of a security strategy for the broader Middle East that calls for placing drones and small Special Operations teams at a number of facilities within striking distance of militants who could pose a threat to the West. U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an operation that has not been acknowledged, said the drones being flown out of Tunisia were currently unarmed and were principally being used to collect intelligence on Islamic State targets in Sirte, Libya, where the United States has conducted more than 300 airstrikes since August. Fixing 'blind spot' U.S. officials said they sought access to the air base in Tunisia to close a critical "blind spot" for U.S. and Western intelligence services in North Africa, which has become the Islamic State's largest base of operations outside Syria and Iraq. The region is also home to al-Qaida-linked fighters. Obama administration officials say they have tried to shore up Tunisia's fledgling democracy and position the country as a key counterterrorism partner in the region. Though the drones operating out of Tunisia currently conduct only surveillance missions, U.S. officials said they could be armed in the future, if Tunisia gives the United States permission. The Tunisian Embassy in Washington declined to comment. The U.S. military has other drone bases on the African continent, from Niger to Djibouti. But officials said they were too far from populous areas on the Libyan coast to be useful in day-to-day counterterrorism operations there. The longer drones have to travel to reach their destinations, the less time they have to "loiter" over their targets. Weather woes For lethal strikes in Libya, the U.S. military has relied on manned U.S. aircraft based in Europe and armed drones flown out of Naval Air Station Sigonella on Sicily. Sigonella is relatively close to Sirte, but flights from the base are routinely canceled because of cloud cover over the Mediterranean and other weather-related issues, officials said. U.S. logistical concerns about using Sigonella and other bases in Europe for operations in North Africa prompted the Pentagon's push for a facility on Tunisian soil. The Obama administration has kept its negotiations over access to the base secret for more than a year because of concerns that Tunisia's young democracy, worried about being closely associated with an outside military power, would pull out of the talks, or that militants would step up attacks in the North African country. The Islamic State has already claimed a number of attacks in Tunisia over the last two years, including the killing of dozens of foreign tourists at a beach resort in 2015. Defense officials said the Pentagon has deployed about 70 military personnel to Tunisia to oversee drone operations there. TEHRAN, Iran - Just as opponents of the nuclear deal with Iran had warned, Tehran seems to be moving aggressively to expand its regional influence while working to counter American interests throughout the Middle East. Yet, just as proponents of the deal had promised, Iran is also opening up, cutting deals with Western businesses, establishing phone links with the U.S., speeding up the internet, welcoming European tourists and relaxing social restrictions on its people. What would seem to be a puzzling contradiction is in fact a carefully thought-out, two-track policy being pursued by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the circle of leaders around him. Khamenei regularly issues broadsides against the U.S., promising no softening of Tehran's stance against the Great Satan, while quietly opening the door to Western capital and expertise. Duplicating the U.S. And yet, when President Hassan Rouhani faces attacks from hard-liners, Khamenei almost always has his back, in private. "Yes, it is part of our new policy to show our strength, but also to reach out to the West," said Saeed Laylaz, an economist and political analyst close to the government of Rouhani. "Both are aimed at strengthening our country and increasing our influence. A contradiction? We are doing exactly what America has been doing for decades." There is little doubt that Iran is exerting greater force in the region. On the battlefields of Syria, Iranian advisers and "volunteers" - often Afghans and Shiite militias - are fighting and dying alongside Syrian government troops to drive rebels out of Aleppo. Near Mosul, Iraq, the Popular Mobilization Forces, another name for dozens of Shiite militias, are taking cues from other advisers, usually associated with the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards. Change in politics With the region in such turmoil, this might seem like an inopportune time to soften restrictions on business dealings with the West and personal freedoms at home. But that seems to be exactly what is happening. The changes are incremental and can be turned back at any moment, but they are unmistakable, analysts say. The most obvious change is in politics. After dominating for 15 years, Iran's hard-line faction - a conservative elite of clerics, military leaders and politicians - has suffered a string of defeats. The hard-liners have lost battle after battle to a group of technocrats and moderates who were the only ones in the country's small establishment able to talk to the West. During the 2013 elections, the hard-liners lost to Rouhani, a moderate. Recently, Khamenei ruled out any prospect of a comeback for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, still the only conservative with a strong following. For two years during the nuclear talks with the U.S. and other world powers, the hard-liners spoke out against any compromise. They lost. Parliamentary elections? Lost. The shift stems from Khamenei's decision to ease Iran away - for now, at least - from a rigid interpretation of its revolutionary ideology and end the isolation that has hampered the economy and frustrated young Iranians yearning to live in a "normal" country. "In Mr. Khamenei's view, we should be like China," said Hamidreza Taraghi, an analyst with close ties to the hard-liners. "Have economic relations with the West, but without their political influence and neo-colonization." QAYARA, Iraq - Islamic State militants have been going door to door in villages south of Mosul, ordering people at gunpoint on a mileslong trek into the city and using them as human shields as the extremists prepare to defend it from Iraqi forces, according to residents swept up in the forced evacuations. Witnesses described scenes of chaos over the past week as hundreds of people were ordered out of their homes without having time to pack and driven north across the Ninevah plains toward the heavily-fortified city, where ISIS has been preparing for a climactic showdown. "IS took all of us from our homes at gunpoint and told us they were taking us with them to Mosul," Ahmed Bilal Harish said Wednesday. "They said if you don't come with us you're an unbeliever." 'We had two choices' He said he and his family were able to escape when airstrikes caused the fighters to scatter during the 25-mile forced march from their home in the town of Shura to Mosul. "We had two choices: We could be killed by Daesh or die along the way, so we ran," he said, using an Arabic acronym for ISIS. The family is now living in a camp for those displaced by the fighting in an area under government control. Other Shura residents also described being forcibly relocated to Mosul over the weekend. The militants only gave people a few minutes to leave and said any stragglers risked being punished for hiding out and trying to join the Iraqi security forces. One family lost track of two relatives during the melee and have not seen them since. Brig. Gen. Alaa Mehsin, of the Iraqi army's 15th Division, said the ISIS militants were pulling back to bolster their defenses in Mosul ahead of the coming Iraqi offensive to retake the city. He said they were taking hundreds of civilians as human shields and had planted explosive booby-traps to slow the advancing troops. "These small villages are secondary to them. Mosul is much more important," Mehsin said as he strode between maps in an operations center in Qayara, one of the main staging bases for the offensive. "They don't want to waste their energy." Dozens of bodies found The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights says ISIS fighters have been sweeping through the hardscrabble towns and villages to the south of Mosul over the past week, killing those they fear may rise up against them and forcibly relocating others. In one village south of Mosul, Iraqi forces found the bodies of 70 residents who had been gunned down, and ISIS appears to have killed 50 former Iraqi police officers it was holding in a building near the city, Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the U.N. agency, told reporters. He said the U.N. has received other reports of the militants gunning down 15 villagers south of Mosul and throwing their bodies in a river. Another six villagers were tied to the back of a car and dragged because they were related to a tribal leader battling ISIS, Colville said. He said the militants gunned down three women and three girls because they were lagging behind as the extremists drove people into another district near Mosul. He said they fell behind because one of the girls was disabled. The U.S. military, which is providing airstrikes and ground support for the offensive, estimates that up to 5,000 ISIS fighters are defending Mosul, with 2,500 in the outer belts, where most of the fighting has taken place. WASHINGTON (AP) Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is raising the possibility that Republicans would decline to fill the Supreme Court's vacancy if Democrat Hillary Clinton is elected president. Cruz is the second Republican to suggest that the GOP will simply block any Democratic nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February. Arizona Sen. John McCain made a similar assertion earlier this month. Speaking to reporters while campaigning for Republicans on Wednesday, Cruz was asked about Supreme Court vacancies. "There will be plenty of time for debate on that issue, there is long historical precedent for a Supreme Court with fewer justices, just recently Justice (Stephen) Breyer observed that the vacancy is not impacting the ability of the court to do its job, that's a debate that we are going to have," Cruz said, in a quote later provided by his office. Breyer said this week on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program that "the mechanics works about the same" with a 4-4 split on the court as they do with the normal 5-4. President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland for Scalia's seat in March, but Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, declined to even hold hearings as they insisted the voters choosing the next president would have the final say on the vacancy. Cruz said the best way to ensure conservatives are nominated to the court is to put a Republican in the White House and keep the GOP in control of the Senate. "For those of us who care passionately about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, who care about free speech and religious liberty and the 2nd Amendment, the best way to protect those rights is to win on Election Day so that we see strong conservatives nominated to the court, and maintain a Republican majority in the Senate to confirm those strong conservatives," Cruz said. Outgoing Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid used Cruz's comments in a fundraising email Wednesday night. "Ted Cruz and John McCain may have given away the Republican game plan on the Supreme Court," Reid wrote in the email sent by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. "And we need to treat it like the constitutional crisis it will be if Democrats don't take back the Senate majority." Cruz, who lost the presidential primary to Donald Trump, endorsed the nominee recently after telling Republicans to vote their conscience at this summer's Republican convention, a move that drew condemnation from some in the GOP. The size of the court is set by federal law and has changed over the years, but has been nine justices for most of its existence. Initially, there were six justices. The court reached its highest number, 10, during the Civil War. There has been a nine-justice court since 1869. When vacancies arise, they usually are filled within months, if not weeks. But there have twice been stretches of more than two years where the court was one justice short. Another six vacancies lasted more than a year. The most recent of those was in 1969 and 1970, when Justice Abe Fortas resigned and the Senate rejected two of President Richard Nixon's nominees before confirming Justice Harry Blackmun. McCain's comments came in an interview on a Philadelphia radio station to promote the candidacy of Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., a vulnerable Senate GOP incumbent. "I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up," McCain said. He added, "This is the strongest argument I can make to return Pat Toomey, so we can make sure there are not three places on the United States Supreme Court that will change this country for decades." An aide to McCain, R-Ariz., later clarified that he will examine the record of anyone nominated for the high court and vote for or against that person based on their qualifications. After McCain's comments, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said Republicans "can't just simply stonewall" nominees to the Supreme Court even if the president making the choice is Democrat Hillary Clinton. ___ Associated Press writer Mark Sherman contributed to this report. Houston City Council endorsed Mayor Sylvester Turner's pension reform package in a 16-1 vote Wednesday that was not legally required but intended to signal local support for the proposal that now will be drafted into legislation and sent to Austin. Most council members heaped praise on Turner, calling the vote "historic" and saying they were proud to back reforms produced by the mayor and his top advisers through months of negotiations with the city's police, firefighter and municipal pension trustees. The deal is designed to arrest a fiscal freefall begun in 2001, when benefit increases caused pension costs to spike. It would eliminate Houston's nearly $8 billion pension underfunding in 30 years, assume more realistic investment returns, avoid $2.5 billion in future costs through benefit cuts, and narrow the funding gap still left after those cuts by issuing $1 billion in bonds. 'Tag' removed Turner secured the political chip of a prompt and lopsided endorsement by using an impassioned speech to persuade Councilman Michael Kubosh to remove his "tag," a parliamentary maneuver that would have delayed the vote. Kubosh had said he initially tagged the measure at the request state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who has called for a delay until more information was available on the reform plan. "Either you all are going to represent the people of the city of Houston or - I'm going to borrow your term Councilmember Kubosh - are you going to represent political interests? I stand with the people of the city of Houston," Turner said. "I was voted (in) to represent their interests, not some party affiliation or some political interest or somebody who wants to be mayor." Turner's comments plainly were directed at Bill King, who was runner-up in last year's mayoral race and who joined Bettencourt at his news conference. The duo said the detailed reform proposals were public for too short a time and too vague to be properly vetted, particularly a key "corridor" provision that would force benefit cuts in the future if a market downturn led the city's payments to increase above a specified threshold. King and Bettencourt say the city should switch new hires to retirement savings plans similar to 401(k)s, but acknowledged a well-written "corridor" provision could offer the same benefits to the city. Bettencourt recorded a robo-call asking voters to contact their council members and demand a delay. Several council members said their offices had received dozens of these calls but not until after their meeting had begun Wednesday morning. Bettencourt disputed that the calls came too late to have an impact, arguing that it was encouraging that the tactic generated more engagement than is typical for robo-calls. "People don't like the idea of rushing to judgment on this very complicated plan," Bettencourt said. 'Do your homework' Councilman Mike Knox was the lone member to vote no, saying he could not support the proposal until he saw the draft legislation. "We must rely on a piece of legislation that has yet to be written," he said. "I cannot offer my support for something that does not yet exist." Most council members, however, referenced the briefings they had received on the plan and echoed Turner's point that no public speaker in the six weeks since the reform outline was first announced had appeared before City Council to criticize it. "I want to make sure the public understands we have been briefed, and it wasn't a 24-hour-ago briefing," Councilwoman Brenda Stardig said. Councilman Dave Martin, like Stardig, a conservative, offered even stronger comments. "I did not vote for you. I did not support you. I'm supporting you 100 percent on this," Martin told Turner. "I think it's ridiculous for people to criticize this plan. It's been transparent; it's been thorough. We've been diligent. We don't need any more information. Maybe the state does, but do your homework." Reports of faulty voter machines in Texas drew national attention when they emerged on social media this week, largely due to months of admonitions by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump that the November election would be rigged. In the counties in question, election officials denied any problems with the voting machines and ascribed the reported snags to user error. In Chambers County, however, the county clerk acknowledged in a news release Monday that software problems had resulted in one race for the statewide court of appeals being omitted from straight-ticket voting for both the Republican and Democratic parties. The county switched to paper ballots until the error was resolved, and the machines were brought back online Wednesday morning, the news release said. The episode is sure to spur greater concern amid already circulating suggestions of widespread flaws in voting machines. "In this political environment, there's fertile ground for these types of rumors," said Vincent Raynauld, who researches social media and political communication at Emerson College in Boston. "It's not surprising that these things will pick up steam." Early voting began Monday with Facebook posts from North Texas that garnered thousands of shares, then generated a flurry of headlines on news blogs reporting that Texas machines were changing votes, and by Tuesday night were cited as evidence for concern on Fox News by commentator Sean Hannity, who has been receptive to Trump's predictions of prolific election fraud. One of the posts Hannity cited came from Amarillo, where a writer said she had pressed the button to vote straight ticket Republican, but the machine "flipped" her vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton in the race for president. That prompted Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner to issue a statement saying, "There is nothing wrong with any of the machines we use for voting They do not flip parties. Humans do that." 'Not an issue' The other post came from Tarrant County, where a woman gave a similar story from "a family member." In response local election administrator Frank Phillips told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "There is not an issue with the equipment." The Houston Chronicle also received a report emailed from a Montgomery County voter who said a machine in The Woodlands would not accept her vote for president. Montgomery County election Administrator Suzie Harvey said she had seen multiple "rumors" in social media and email, so she "personally tried to duplicate it" on Tuesday. "The (machine) behavior they're claiming has never happened," she said. Sometimes, she said, people push a button to vote straight-ticket, then try to go back and switch to the other party in one or more races, which erases the straight-ticket selection and can be confusing. Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart said voters sometimes cast a straight-ticket ballot, then go back and click their favorite candidates again to "add emphasis," which erases the vote. When machine errors are reported, he said, "typically what we find is a voter doesn't understand exactly how (the machines) perform." He said the machines run on decade-old software that "just doesn't work the same as a cell phone." Dan Wallach, a Rice University computer scientist who has testified to Congress about voting machines, said he would not "blame users for what are (most likely) design flaws in the machines." "They're finicky and poorly engineered, and those engineering flaws manifest themselves in ways that are confusing to voters," he said. Machines updated However, he said, if someone had engineered malware to manipulate the election, they would go out of their way to have the machines appear to behave normally, not to show the voter that something was awry. In Chambers County, where the machines did have a hiccup, officials notified software provider Election Systems and Software, which sent representatives to install updates on Tuesday. In a statement, Election Systems acknowledged "a ballot coding error had occurred." "Unfortunately, this error was not caught during standard pre-election testing," the statement said. The company does not provide software for Harris County. Stanart said Harris County conducts a software test of all its voting machines before each election. Those tests are overseen by both parties and are open to the public. The county also conducts tests on specific machines in response to voter complaints. Raynauld at Emerson University said he did not expect reassurance from officials would dampen the flurry of concern on social media, which he said operates with weaker rules of credibility than the non-digital world. When folks have been primed to expect a rigged election, they will jump an a chance to share a post that "reinforces their own political disposition," he said, noting that the phenomenon has been widespread during this election and has not been limited to Trump supporters. WASHINGTON - As far as congressional acts go, Randy Weber's anti-corruption resolution supporting the impoverished former Soviet state of Moldova seemed to hold little controversy. "Russia has its sights set on the front line states of Eastern Europe," the Texas Republican said as he unveiled his non-binding resolution last month. "One such particularly vulnerable state is the Republic of Moldova." Weber's initiative to hold the Moldovan government's feet to the fire, however, has dragged him into a murky saga of warring political factions competing Sunday in that nation's first direct presidential election since 1996. Among those targeted for possible sanctions in Weber's resolution is a top official in Moldova's pro-Western Democratic Party, Andrian Candu, who recently met with U.S. State Department officials and House Speaker Paul Ryan to mark the 25th anniversary of Moldovan independence. Some critics, including Candu, say Weber misfired after meeting with two Moldovan critics of the nation's ruling Democratic party, one of them a competing candidate for president at the time. Weber declined an interview request, but his critics say the resolution, which has no chance of passing before Sunday's election, now is fodder for opponents of the embattled Democratic Party of Moldova. Rocked by a billion-dollar banking corruption scandal in 2014, the party still enjoys an international image of trying to peel the nation away from Vladimir Putin's Russia. Both the government and the opposition are alleging Russian interference in Moldova's presidential race, which has now ensnared Weber, a two-term congressman from Pearland. "The authors of the draft resolution do not seem to understand or know the real case of Moldova," Candu told Moldova's Europa Libera website earlier this month. He contends that the resolution, sponsored by Weber and Arizona Republican Trent Franks, was aimed not at Congress but at the Moldovan public. 'Crime of the century' Candu also claims that the resolution was the work of U.S.-based lobbyists working with Andrei Nastase, a candidate for president until he withdrew Oct. 15 to support another opposition group known as "Action and Solidarity." Nastase met with Weber last month. That came after a meeting in July with Mihail Gofman, a former official in Moldova's National Anti-Corruption Center. Currently on the outs with the Moldovan government, Gofman remains in the United States. He styles himself as a nonpolitical whistleblower, but according to Moldova's Publika.md website, he is being sought for questioning by Moldovan prosecutors. Gofman, in an interview Wednesday, denied any wrongdoing. "Inside Moldova, no one is truly interested in investigating the crime of the century." Gofman, speaking through an interpreter, said he is acting on his own, though both factions in the Moldovan election battle are getting lobbying help in Washington. That suggests both the importance of Washington's blessing for a $179 million loan package pending before the International Monetary Fund. Weber has been a central figure in that debate as well, firing off a letter to IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde this month seeking assurances that the money does not "serve to bail out a government whose top officials were involved in defrauding the Moldovan people of over $1 billion." In his speech rolling out the Moldova resolution in the House, Weber, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, echoed Gofman's phrase about "the crime of the century." So far, at least three people have faced trial, arrest, or imprisonment for their involvement. Allies of a newly constituted Moldovan government, headed by Prime Minister Pavel Filip, a member of the country's Democratic Party, see the IMF loan as a much needed step to move past the 2014 bank scandal and turn toward stability. They also see attempts to block or delay the loan as part of an effort to delegitimize the government ahead of the election. A recent poll released by the International Republican Institute shows that a leading contender in Sunday's multiparty presidential race is the Socialist Party's Igor Dodon, a former communist who favors closer ties to Moscow. That has given pause to some U.S. analysts who want to minimize Russian influence in Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, long suspected to be a hub for Russian money-laundering. Candu has accused the Russians of financing opposition parties and backing anti-government protests that have plunged the nation into turmoil in the past year. According to Gofman, however, it is Candu's Democratic Party that shoulders the blame for presiding over the bank scandal, losing the public faith, and pushing the country toward Russia. He called the party's pro-West orientation "a smokescreen." Some of Gofman's critics also point out that he was the deputy in charge of combatting financial crimes when the funds were funneled out of the country's central reserves. 'Hangs in the balance' That's one reason why some U.S. foreign policy analysts question Gofman's role in Weber's resolution, which takes aim at nearly a dozen high-ranking Moldovan officials, a veritable Who's Who of the country's power structure. "It is clearly written by somebody who is pro-Russian," said Richard Grenell, a former spokesman for four U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations, including John Bolton. "He's trying to attack the only pro-European group in Moldova." Grenell also argued that withholding money from Moldova could push the nation back into Russian hands. "Randy Weber does not know what he is doing," he said. "It sounds like he just stepped in it, that some lobbyist got to him." Weber said in a statement to the Chronicle that his resolution was intended to combat Russian influence. Its wording describes Russia as a "resurgent" power "pursuing political and economic warfare" in Eastern Europe. It calls for an investigation to determine whether U.S. taxpayer assets were involved in the 2014 bank heist, and for sanctions against any Moldovan government officials that may be involved. "Moldova is a country that hangs in the balance between democracy and Russian aggression," Weber said. "It is in the United States' best interests to help countries who seek free and fair elections." WASHINGTON - Campaigning in Colorado this week, Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz road-tested the idea of a shrunken Supreme Court - effectively blocking any justice picked by Democrat Hillary Clinton should she win the presidential election. The idea has picked up steam in conservative circles as Donald Trump's campaign has fallen behind in the polls, alarming Republicans who fear the first liberal Supreme Court majority since the 1970s. It also signals that the GOP blockade on nominee Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's pick to replace the late Antonin Scalia, will continue past the Nov. 8 election. The White House blasted the GOP over the standoff Thursday, with Obama press secretary Josh Earnest telling reporters that the calls for continued inaction threaten "the same kind of dysfunction that has infected Washington for the last six years." Cruz, campaigning Wednesday for a Republican Senate candidate in Colorado, stirred the political pot by suggesting that Republicans could block a Democratic president from filling a Supreme Court vacancy indefinitely. Citing Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer's recent comment that the current eight-member court works "about the same" as the regular nine-member complement, Cruz appeared to lay the groundwork for a smaller court. "There will be plenty of time for debate on that issue," Cruz said. "There is long historical precedent for a Supreme Court with fewer justices. Just recently, Justice Breyer observed that the vacancy is not impacting the ability of the court to do its job. That's a debate that we are going to have." Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier clarified the comment on Thursday, saying "many seem to think that he's out advocating for that, which isn't the case. He simply noted that there's a precedent for it." Cruz made the nomination of strong conservatives to the Supreme Court a major focus of his primary campaign, particularly as Trump began to close in on the GOP nomination in late April. The stakes for the high court also have helped keep many conservative evangelicals in the Republican fold, even as Trump battles an image of crass behavior toward women, compounded by multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. "I just want the people to remember: United States Supreme Court," Trump told Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network in a transcript released Thursday. "Whether they love me or like me or don't like me, we're going to put great justices, pro-life justices, we're going to put Second Amendment justices and I think for the evangelicals it's so important that they get out and vote." But with Clinton leading in most major polls, and time running out for a Trump comeback, Republicans have begun to talk about ways to stop her from appointing a ninth justice who could tip the ideological balance of the court. Abbott lends support Texas Gov. Greg Abbott joined the fray Thursday, praising Cruz on Twitter: "@SenTedCruz: GOP may block Supreme Court nominees indefinitely," he tweeted. "This may be only way to save the Constitution." Cruz's rhetorical shot across the bow follows that of Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain, who said earlier this month that Republicans would be "united" in blocking any Clinton nomination. He later backed off those remarks, but the issue has taken on a life of its own. Cruz's position takes on added significance because he is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which gets first crack at Supreme Court nominations. The committee's chairman, Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, has taken a softer tone, telling reporters last week that "we can't simply stonewall" Clinton judicial appointments. Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, also sits on the judiciary panel. He has said nothing about any prospective Clinton nominees. He has made it clear only that there is no chance the Senate will consider Garland's nomination in the upcoming lame-duck session of Congress. Democrats, meanwhile, have raised the alarm. "Ted Cruz and John McCain may have given away the Republican game plan on the Supreme Court," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote in an email Wednesday to the liberal Progressive Change Campaign Committee. "And we need to treat it like the constitutional crisis it will be if Democrats don't take back the Senate majority. "The Supreme Court could dwindle to seven, then maybe six, justices," Reid added. "It would turn our justice system and our democracy on its head. The founding fathers would roll over in their graves." The impasse over Garland and the possibility of future gridlock if Clinton gains the White House also is likely to spark a new partisan battle over the super-majority requirement for approving judges or overriding a filibuster, which currently stands at 60 votes. Diminished activism As questions about the Supreme Court have intensified in the presidential election, a number of conservative analysts have laid out the theoretical underpinnings for a GOP blockade. Michael Paulsen, a professor at the University of St. Thomas Law School in Minneapolis, argued in a National Review article last week that Congress could pass a law reducing the Supreme Court from nine to six seats. "A smaller court means diminished judicial activism," he wrote. Ilya Shapiro, a legal scholar at the libertarian Cato Institute in Washington, wrote an essay in the Federalist this week arguing that Republicans would be in their rights to ignore or vote down any Clinton appointee with whom they disagree. "As a matter of constitutional law," he wrote, "the Senate is fully within its powers to let the Supreme Court die out, literally." In an interview, Shapiro said that voters are the ultimate backstop. "If the voters think they're acting in bad faith, or if they don't agree with the reason why they're doing it, then they can vote them out." The Constitution is silent on the size of the Supreme Court, and the number of justices is set by Congress. The first high court was composed of six members. It has fluctuated throughout history - usually depending on the number of federal circuits - but it has stood at nine since 1869. Case for larger court Constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley of George Washington University said the high court's current size - one of the smallest in the world - is more a matter of "happenstance" than reasoned debate. He long has argued to increase its size, perhaps to as high as 19, to reduce judicial power and de-emphasize the importance of any one judicial pick. "Ever since we went to nine justices, we've been plagued by the problem of a 'swing' justice," Turley said. "The court effectively becomes a court of one, and, obviously, that problem is going to increase if you reduce your count even further. "Justices have become too important," Turley continued, "and so the political system shuts down." President Franklin D. Roosevelt, clashing with the Supreme Court over the New Deal, sought unsuccessfully in 1937 to appoint six additional justices. Turley and other legal scholars say that while there may be legitimate reasons to reconfigure the size of the court, immediate political expediency should not be one of them. "With all due respect to all these people, it just looks partisan," said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. "That's the problem." Regardless of whether you play chess, you're probably aware that the computer has left even the world's grandmasters broken and bowed. It's been that way since 1997, when IBM's Deep Blue defeated the Russian master Garry Kasparov. Regardless of whether you vote, you may or may not be aware that the almighty computer also has broken the American system of choosing elected representatives. It's been that way since 2010, when, for the first time, Republican state legislators redrawing congressional districts around the country were able to utilize computer programs so powerful and so demographically precise that they could render themselves virtually unbeatable for the next decade, at least. Called gerrymandering, the tactic allows the majority party in any given state to tilt the political process in its favor. Even if they win fewer votes, members of the party in power stay in power because of the way they've drawn the lines. Named for Massachusetts' ninth governor, Elbridge Gerry, gerrymandering has been around at least since Gerry himself was running in 1812 in a district so tortuously drawn to guarantee his victory that it resembled a salamander. What makes the process different these days is the precision with which districts can be drawn. What was once an art until fairly recently is now a science, which means that in most states - and certainly in Texas - incumbents need fear only a primary challenge, usually from the party fringe. In far too many congressional districts, credible challengers and serious debate have become hoary relics. Texas, the reddest of the red states, is as good as it gets when it comes to state-of-the-art gerrymandering. We're under no illusions that Democrats would be any more public-spirited if they were in control, but it's not Democrats or Republicans we're concerned about. It's the spiraling outward to partisan extremes and the resultant governing gridlock that should concern us all. It's the distortion of democracy. Former U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder is heading up a new Democratic effort to reform redistricting; President Obama has announced that he'll be part of the effort once he leaves office. Holder's group, however, seems less interested in eliminating the egregious effects of gerrymandering and more in duplicating the GOP's gerrymandering prowess. California, Arizona and a few other states have formed independent redistricting commissions to redraw districts in an unbiased manner. Others are exploring that possibility, now that the courts have ruled them constitutional, although it's hard to imagine Texas lawmakers ever voluntarily giving up that power. A recent article in the Harvard Political Review mentioned mathematical algorithms as "an effective prescription for taking the passions of partisanship out of the equation." Ingenious Texas lawmakers, we suspect, would probably find a way to "algomander." The only practical way to kill the Texas gerrymander zombie is for woebegone Democrats in this state to emulate the years-long party-building efforts of their GOP counterparts. That means organizing, recruiting strong candidates for offices up and down the ballot, pushing get-out-the-vote efforts - all in an effort to guarantee that two sides are sitting at the redistricting table when redistricting comes around again in 2020. Politics isn't chess, but it is competition, and competition is good for both political parties. Most of all, it's good for this nation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Foster care challenge Regarding "Foster care fix to be expensive" (Page A1, Wednesday), the last people on Earth to understand our massive problem with how we care for these children are our state politicians. Nothing has changed for years. Many children get double-abuse: families, then in foster care. Texas children are still at risk. We have more children in the system and fewer good foster families. U.S District Judge Janis Jack said it in her 360-page opinion that the state for years had ignored internal failures, leaving children in its care exposed to abuse. Roughly 12,000 children are essentially held in state custody until they turn 18, then released to the streets as adults. We need better-educated case workers, better salaries and better follow-through on reported cases of abuse. Step one is getting the word out that if any person whom sees a child who they suspect of being abused by law must report it. For years, children can suffer horrible abuse, and no one knows it. Noel Foreman, Houston Bathroom bill Regarding "Businesses oppose likely bathroom bill" (Page A8, Wednesday), as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick continues to try to protect me from sexual assault by a transgender person in a public bathroom, one question comes to mind: Has Mr. Patrick ever seen the inside of a ladies bathroom? Regardless of the fact that there has never been a sexual assault of this nature in Texas or any other state, I am stunned that having a biological male go to the bathroom in the stall next to a woman has incited so much fear. In my 58 years, I've never seen anyone disrobed outside a public bathroom stall. My ancestors came into Texas with Stephen F. Austin, fought and died to tame this frontier and all their brave sacrifices come to this? I am appalled! Susan Miller Jackson, Houston Exercise at school Regarding "Schools use fidgety furniture to get students active, focused" (Page A1, Tuesday), furniture that helps drain off excess kid energy while helping them learn is a way-excellent thing - especially considering that bogus "diagnoses" of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the consequent administering of Ritalin and similar "legal speed drugs for kids" has been another strategy used in some schools. George Bigham, Houston Intellectual property Regarding "Unwanted exposure" (Page B1, Tuesday), under Federal Copyright Act of 1976, photographs are protected by copyright law at the moment of creation. Unless you have permission from the photographer, you can't copy, distribute, publicly display or create derivative works from photographs, according to the Atlanta-based Professional Photographers of America. The Legislature can't save the University of Houston from violation of federal laws. They need to pay Jim Olive and be done with it. C. H. O'Brien, Pearland As a behavioral epidemiologist, one of the first questions I ask when I teach a class is: "How many of you eat?" I usually get laughter from my students because it is such a rhetorical question. It is an important consideration, however, when you think about food as a behavior linked to disease. Unlike smoking, physical activity and other behaviors linked to health, eating is not optional. A need that must be met. On World Food Day, commemorated earlier this month, we celebrate food and consider solutions to end hunger worldwide. But we must also understand hunger, food waste and chronic disease in the United States and how they are intricately linked. We have an epidemic of food insecurity and obesity that coexists within the same people - families on a limited budget. Moreover, fruits and vegetables, the two most commonly linked foods to optimizing health and preventing disease, are also the two most perishable and commonly wasted foods. Food waste in the U.S. is occurring primarily at three levels: production (e.g. farm), retail (e.g. grocery store), and consumer/household. The USDA reports more than 40 billion pounds of post-harvest loss of produce estimated at over $50 billion each year. Concurrently, we have more than 42.2 million Americans who are food-insecure without lack of regular access to food, especially healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. In Texas, rates of children consuming fruits and vegetables are among the lowest, while obesity and hunger are among the highest in the U.S. Food insecurity, especially among children, is invisible because of the high intake of unhealthy foods leading to obesity. These children may "appear" healthy, yet they are suffering from chronic malnutrition. So while we have a food waste problem, we are also struggling with food insecurity and obesity. Can we address food waste and convert it into a public health opportunity? Yes. A case-in-point is the program, Brighter Bites. In 2012, concerned mother Lisa Helfman approached me with an idea. She had been participating in a produce co-op where she received a box of fruits and vegetables every week, and noticed her children's eating habits begin to change. She said to me, "I was at a birthday party with my 5-year-old son who asked me if he 'had' to eat cake? And he would rather have fruit instead!" We wondered if we could replicate this behavior change we saw in her family among those in highest need. As it turns out, you can - and we did. Together, we built a nonprofit called Brighter Bites. Our formula is simple. Produce distribution using primarily reclaimed produce, plus Nutrition Education in school and for parents, plus fun food experience consisting of a healthy-recipe tasting, all done using a co-op concept during the school year and the summer. When the parents come to pick up their children, each family receives two bags of beautiful, fresh produce at no cost and they taste a recipe made from a hard-to-use item in the bag. Parents and children try fun, healthy recipes and receive the education and the ingredients to try it at home. We started in 2012 with one school and 150 families; to date, we have distributed 10 million pounds of produce to more than 20,000 low-income children and their families across more than 100 schools, Head Starts, YMCAs and community centers in Houston, Dallas and Austin. We have found that this approach is bringing lasting change. Along with my colleagues at UTHealth School of Public Health, we conducted a two-year study evaluating the effectiveness of Brighter Bites. Compared to those in the control group, families who received Brighter Bites demonstrated significant increases in the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed by children and their parents. There were significant improvements in the home environment, including cooking at home, understanding and using nutrition facts labels to make grocery purchasing decisions, eating more meals together as a family, and having more fruits and vegetables available at those meals. Cost associated with the produce was a mere $2.65 per family for an average 57 servings (about 30 pounds) per week. What is particularly compelling about Brighter Bites is the framework used. Brighter Bites is addressing food waste and converting it into a public health opportunity by leveraging the support of other nonprofit and for-profit organizations like H-E-B Grocery Co. and Sysco. Sysco is collecting produce directly from farmers across the country and then sending it to local food banks. Our local food bank partners are aggregating this donated produce from Sysco and other sources, and then distributing it to our Brighter Bites locations. Through these partnerships, we are able to tackle food waste by finding more produce that might otherwise be tilled under or go uneaten, and conquer the last mile of delivering the produce to our underserved families while teaching them how to use it. While World Food Day is often seen as a day where we think about people in other countries who cannot access food, let's not forget about food-insecure residents here at home who don't have this basic need met. Sharma, PhD, RD, LD, is an associate professor at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health. As an African-American single mother who has struggled to find the right schools for my two kids, charter schools have been a blessing. Although I have children with very different needs, it was obvious that traditional public schools in Houston were failing to provide either of them with the education they needed, and charters have offered them a chance to achieve more. This is why I am so disappointed that the NAACP board of directors earlier this month voted in support of a resolution calling for a moratorium on new charter schools. The NAACP is an organization that I admire and that has done so much for the black community. I personally am the product of the NAACP's hard work on behalf of black students. My mother was one of the first students whose attendance integrated an all-white school in the 1960s. My uncle was a black teacher in Virginia when that was practically unheard of. The NAACP's work to break down barriers made those remarkable feats possible. Many of the challenges young students of color face are still here. But in attempting to fix a problem with public education generally, they have gone after the wrong target. I know that too many of our public schools have racial and ethnic achievement gaps, or provide quality education to only a privileged few. But if the members of the NAACP who pushed for the moratorium talked to the parents of charter school students, they would find out what we know firsthand: Charters offer an excellent, free public education to children of all backgrounds. Unlike specialty schools or private schools, charter schools are open-enrollment public schools. More children from low-income backgrounds sit in charter school classrooms than in non-charter public school classrooms. Many of the students who attend charter schools struggled in their previous schools. But once the students get to charters, they receive a better education than if they had stayed in a traditional public school. My son Sayvion is a sweet and sensitive boy who is passionate about art, and who has a learning disability. He was bullied at his traditional elementary school and didn't get the support he needed from teachers or staff. On some days it was so bad, Sayvion was afraid to go to school. The bullying affected his mental health, and he had to miss even more class to receive treatment from his doctors. I had to go observe his class so often to make sure they were following his treatment plan that, coupled with court visits battling the school district, I eventually lost my job. I was trapped in a cycle of failure, and I don't know how we made it through. So after considering my options, like 1 million other families around the country, I added my name to waiting lists at several charter schools in Houston and my kids started school at KIPP Sunnyside High School and A+ Unlimited Potential charter schools. Their new schools are helping so much because they treat my children like individuals. For my son, it's been a blessing to have a school that makes it a team effort to make sure he gets the education he needs. Since finding two schools that are the right fit for my children, I've worked to help other parents in my community become aware of the opportunities offered by charters. These schools are free and open to the public, and they don't cater to the privileged. Charters enroll more students of color and more low-income students than traditional schools, educate their students with more innovative and customized curriculums, and post higher graduation rates with kids who are well prepared for college and beyond. I understand that the NAACP wants all students to be able to attend high-quality public schools, and I couldn't agree more. We should be working together to fix the problems in our education system, and a moratorium on all new charter schools is a step in the wrong direction.Charter schools aren't perfect but, for my family, they stepped in to fill a gap that district schools were not providing. The NAACP should be embracing this success, not turning it away. We need them now more than ever to be a true leader in fighting for an equal playing field for our kids. Williams is a Houston resident. Texas politicians of every stripe are celebrating the news from county officials around the state about record-breaking voter turnout totals. Texas most populous counties, in particular, are busting through the numbers they saw during comparable early voting days in 2012. The Chronicles John Harden has mapped out the numbers available, so far, from Harris County, so check back as early voting continues through Oct. 4. Heres what we know: 15,613 more voters cast ballots Monday, the first day of early voting, than did on the first day of early voting in 2012. On Tuesday, that number jumped to 21,964. This news has made Texas Democrats wonder what is afoot in the traditionally Republican state. Julian Castro, the former San Antonio mayor and current U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, says there is certainly something happening in Texas. Of course, the early vote totals do not tell us how people are voting, but we do know which precincts and areas of a certain county are seeing the most turnout. Take, for example, the totals coming from the Rio Grande Valley, a historically Democratic stronghold whose residents, we can safely assume, overwhelmingly will support Hillary Clinton. According to The Monitor, Hidalgo County residents cast 14,076 more votes during the first two days of early voting this year when compared to the 2012 figure. It is unclear what this turnout will mean with regard to any material gains for Democrats on the statewide level that they can build on for future contests in 2018 and 2020. To give credit where its due, however, Castro also tweeted what seems most probable this year: that GOP support for Trump will be an all-time low and strong support for Clinton among blacks and Latinos will shake things up a bit. That could at least provide an opening in which Democrats can get a sense of the voting power of the states urban cores, like Houston and Dallas, where they long have tried to run up their numbers. Before Monday, we had only a series of polls to speculate about how Texans might vote in this topsy-turvy election year. Those showed a tightening race after Labor Day and following the presidential debates, and the early voting numbers now show that people were more than ready to cast their ballots. Still, there is a long way to go. According to a new poll, the first released since early voting began, Donald Trump holds a lead of 7 percentage points, 45 percent to 38 percent, over Clinton in Texas, the Austin American-Statesman reported Wednesday. The survey, conducted by the Statesman and PR firm Crosswind, showed Trumps lead well within the conventional wisdom Texas politicos have acknowledged in recent months. Clinton probably wont win the states electoral votes, but she will close the gap with her Republican opponent more than any Democratic presidential candidate in recent memory. Texas is definitely not a tossup state, Thomas Graham, CEO of Crosswind, told the Statesman. No question. A Raymondville woman and Houston man each face felony burglary charges after an incident Oct. 23 at Licking. According to probable cause statements submitted to the county prosecutor by a Texas County Sheriffs Department deputy, Deajane E. Jaramillo, 25, of 137 Junction St. in Raymondville, and Corey Fitzpatrick, whose address is listed as the Texas County Jail, allegedly broke into a womans Boone Creek Road home and swiped guns, a gun safe, electronics and numerous other items. The officer reported that the victim stated she had located many of the goods at Jaramillos address. Deputies went there and made contact with Fitzpatrick and Jaramillo, who each confessed to stealing the goods. Jaramillo and Fitzpatrick are each charged with second-degree burglary (a class C felony) and stealing less than $500 (a misdemeanor). They are each held in the Texas County Jail on $150,000 bond. The Houston School District will take safety precautions again Thursday as a manhunt continues for a suspected murderer in Texas County. But Dr. Allen Moss, the districts superintendent, said appears to be no threats to students or staff. Dr. Allen Moss, superintendent of Houston Schools Moss said HHS principal Amy Smith received information Wednesday morning from the Texas County Sheriffs Department related to the Tuesday night shooting southwest of Licking that killed one man and left another critically injured. The suspect, Daniel Campbell, 39, is still sought by authorities. They did not feel like there were any threats or any concerns, Moss said. We took some steps on our part to do some extra things to provide supervision. HHS assistant principal Eric Sloan said extra school personnel watched students transition between classes Wednesday. Outdoor lunches were not allowed. At the elementary school, all recesses were held indoors. Moss said it was an otherwise normal day. He expects the same Thursday. I had one staff member that said they were not aware of the things we were doing and didnt notice any changes in the students, Moss said. Thats what we wanted to do provide some extra supervision without interrupting the day. Houston dismisses at 12:34 Thursday for parent-teacher conferences and is not in session Friday or Monday. Authorities have identified a man killed in a Tuesday night shooting southwest of Licking as they continue to search for the suspect. Texas County Coroner Tom Whittaker said Billy Dale Bishop II, 38, of Licking, died at the scene on Boiling Springs Road. A second person, William T. Dumboski, 55, was airlifted to a Springfield hospital in critical condition. The suspect, Daniel Glen Campbell, 39, is still on the loose. After the shootings, he fled in Bishops 1997 Ford Ranger pickup that is black with a green grille and front bumper. The license plate number is 6UX 841. Lt. Wes Campbell of the Texas County Sheriffs Department said Campbell is considered armed and dangerous. Texas County deputy Rowdy Douglas said witnesses identified Campbell as the shooter, saying he appeared out of the darkness with weapons in each hand and made several unusual remarks. Witnesses at the scene told Douglas the following: Campbell fired one shot, striking Dumboski and causing him to fall to the ground. One shot was later fired while he was on the ground. He fired one round at Bishop, striking him on the left side of the head. He later fired another shot at him. Campbell went to a pickup in the driveway and placed something inside. He then returned where the men had been shot and placed a pistol underneath the chin of one of the witnesses for several seconds. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Texas County Sheriffs Department responded shortly after 7 p.m. to the home at 15152 Boiling Springs Road. An air ambulance was dispatched to the scene, and Dumboski was transported after a landing zone was established by the Roby Fire Department. Earlier this morning, authorities gathered at Success to debrief about the crime, and continue to patrol the area throughout the day. Anyone with information should contact the county sheriffs department at 417-967-4165 or their nearest law enforcement agency. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Heard about fringe benefits? Yes, you guessed it right. It is the benefits you give to employees other than their regular salaries. There are fringe benefits that are relatively smaller in value and are not taxable. These are called de minimis benefits. Interested in knowing more about it? This months cover story De Minimis Fringe Benefits by Steve Hoffman discusses about the fringe benefits in length. Are all fringe benefits tax-free? Does it have tax advantages over monetary compensation? Are employers obligated to provide this to their employees? This article can answer all your queries! For many, it may seem relatively easy to cashing out a 401(k) to solve a cash crunch instantly, whether its due to temporary cash-flow problems created by the loss of a job, or simply paying down a credit card or covering an emergency home repair. However, it may not seem like a big deal while doing so, especially if your balance is quite small, in the long run, the consequences of cashing out can be significant. Can you cash out your 401(k) and take the money? Technically, yes. However, David Weliver in his article Can I Cash Out My 401(k)? explains why you need to resist from cashing it out. Eight hours on a computer chair, five days a week can certainly take a toll on your body. From avoiding eye strain and tension neck syndrome to passing on those extra calories that co-workers leave invitingly on their desks, Lei... Sewells grocery stores operated in Elko and northern Nevada for seventy years. Owner and businessman, J. Harvey Sewell was also an important figure in banking and ranching, and he aided Elkos economic growth during those years. Jonas Harvey Sewell was born in Tuscarora on April 29, 1899 to A.W. and Katherine McCarthy Sewell. The oldest of his brothers, Abner and Herbert, the family grew up in Tuscarora as their father ran their first general merchandise store that opened in 1897. Growing up in Tuscarora, Harvey learned business from his father. He served in the army during World War I and returned home to join his brothers in running A.W. Sewells stores, located in Elko and throughout Nevada. The brothers acquired other stores in Utah, Idaho, Colorado and Nebraska, eventually increasing to 73 stores. Harvey married Mollie Short of Ruby Valley in 1924. They made their home in Elko and raised their daughters, Dorothy and Mary Lou. In 1939, the brothers sold the out-of-state stores and focused on their Nevada locations. That year, Sewell became interested in banking. After a failed partnership with Harold Hemingway, he and O.B. Bates formed Nevada Bank of Commerce in 1941. Harvey credited Bates for teaching him his banking philosophy which was to try to see to it that the borrower was helped to meet his obligation. At the companys peak, it grew to 10 banks across the state and was valued at $90 million. Harvey also held interests in ranching, developing over 2,000 acres of land in Diamond Valley that grew alfalfa to feed over 3,000 head of cattle. He also financed promising entrepreneurs such as Red Ellis and helped new start new businesses such as Tom Carters freight company, Interstate Motor Lines. In 1967, Sewell sold the grocery chain to Mayfair Markets and later retired from banking, serving as Security National Banks consultant. Among numerous honors he received, the Distinguished Nevadan Award from the University of Nevada and a special recognition from the Nevada State Cattle Association and Nevada Woolgrowers Association, were his most meaningful. Harvey and Mollies daughters, Dorothy and Mary Lou, married Drs. Thomas and Morris Gallagher, respectively. They cited their parents encouragement and Harveys business sense for helping them to achieve their careers in education and business. ry successful professional understands the importance of business etiquette but, according to one industry expert, some workers may be overlooking a modern development which requires its own unique set of manners.Polycoms Amy Barzdukas is a self-confessed workplace of the future evangelist she says increased globalisation and a rise in telecommuting means many professionals now conduct much of their business over video rather than in person.Despite the major shift, Barzdukas says some employees are still held back by poor video etiquette or, as she calls it, vidiquette.People have been accustomed to being on conference calls where nobody can see you, she explains. Well if you roll your eyes or make hand motions people can see you now its very different.Barzdukas says she was inspired to write a blog post Dont Be A Vidiot after spotting a number of common mistakes which served as distractions while on video conferences with other companies.The whole point of having the video is to drive the human connection and if what youre driving instead is just a whole host of distractions, youve missed the point, she told HRM.As well as the obvious slip-ups, Barzdukas says employers should be training their workforce to be aware of more subtle issues, like camera position, background noise, and even the clothes theyre wearing.You also need to be sensitive to the lighting so you dont inadvertently position yourself so you look like your identity if being kept a secret for some reason, she said.Now, Polycom has launched a six-part web series on vidiquette a light-hearted way to address an issue that Barzdukas says can have a big impact in business.Anybody who is coming in over video, if you are making a case say youre asking for funding, youre looking for support for a project, being able to make those arguments and those points with a real human presence over video, you want to make sure that youre paying attention to those little details, she said.To find out why certain clothes just wont work on camera, watch the first episode of Polycoms vidiquette series below. Walk around Vancouver, and you'll see homes everywhere condo towers springing up downtown, and single-family homes covering the land outside of it. If you're from out of town, you might think that all these homes are where local residents live. For the most part, you'd be right. Advertisement But a growing proportion of these homes is being made up by "non-resident occupancy" a phenomenon that sees residences being left empty, or occupied by foreign or temporary residents. In fact, the phenomenon has almost doubled in Metro Vancouver from 2001 to 2011, according to a study released Wednesday by Andy Yan, an urban planner and director of SFU's City Program. Advertisement Yan looked at "non-resident occupancy" in Metro Vancouver using Census data for the past three decades. His aim was to show that it persists not just in the City of Vancouver, but in neighbouring cities, like Surrey, Richmond and Burnaby, he told The Huffington Post Canada. "This is a pattern that seems to occur a lot in condos, as opposed to a lot of single-family homes," he said. He found that non-resident occupancy in Metro Vancouver grew from 3.5 per cent in 2001 to 6.2 per cent in 2006 and 6.1 per cent in 2011. The growth is even more pronounced when you look at the sheer number of homes that don't have local residents living in them. Advertisement The number of homes seeing non-resident occupancy throughout Metro Vancouver grew from 27,564 in 2001 to 58,229 a decade later. And of these units, 87 per cent weren't occupied by anyone, according to a study by Urban Futures cited in the report. Only 13 per cent were occupied by foreign and/or temporary residents. The City of Vancouver made up most of this growth, as non-resident occupied dwellings went from 12,884 in 2001 to 22,169 in 2011. Advertisement But the suburb of Surrey also saw significant growth, as non-occupancies went from 2,816 to 11,139 there in the same time frame. Regional issue The City of Vancouver has responded to concerns about empty homes by looking into a tax on secondary residences that aren't being used by long-term tenants, or that are only being used for services like Airbnb. With non-resident occupied units growing in outlying cities, Yan thinks it may be time for such solutions to reach a wider audience. "Other municipalities may want to consider this type of bylaw," he said. Non-local resident occupied homes have also grown as more and more people have found themselves without a place to live in the City of Vancouver alone the number of people without homes in the city has grown from 76 in 1986, according to the Urban Core Homeless Committee, to 1,847 in 2016, said the COV's homeless count. Advertisement The data builds on research released by the City of Vancouver earlier this year, which found that 10,800 out of 225,000 homes (4.8 per cent) had sat empty for a year or more. That study relied on data from BC Hydro from 2002 to 2014, which was then reviewed by industry experts. It only examined the fact that homes weren't occupied, not why they were empty. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson told The Globe and Mail that Yan's data "gives us more reason to aggressively move on the empty homes tax." Robertson's comments were a far cry from what he said about Yan's previous work. Last year, Yan completed a study showing that 66 per cent of homes in three wealthy Vancouver west side neighbourhoods were purchased by people with non-anglicized Chinese names. Advertisement The top occupation among these buyers was listed as "homemaker" or "housewife." "Businessperson" came second and "students" owned eight properties in that study. Robertson's response to that study: "What we don't need ... is the blaming of any one group of people or any one kind of last name for the challenge of housing affordability." Follow The Huffington Post B.C. on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Also on HuffPost Hillary Clinton is a formidable politician, diplomat and is the likely next president of the United States. And she's also a fashion icon at these family-run stores in Pristina, Kosovo. The Hillary and Hillary 2 boutiques have been selling clothes inspired by the politician since the early 2000s. Advertisement "She is not only a person who, with her family, has helped Kosovo enormously, but she also has unique taste in clothing," store owner Elda Morina-Ymeraga told AFP earlier this year. Elda Morina-Ymeraga poses in front of her clothing store 'Hillary 2' in Pristina on March 29, 2016. (Armend Nimani/AFP/Getty Images) The Clintons are beloved figures in Kosovo, mainly because Bill Clinton was instrumental in the 1999 NATO-led bombing campaign that forced Serbian troops out of the region. The store is even located on Bill Clinton Blvd., and is not far from a statue of the former U.S. president. Advertisement The store is particularly popular among professional women. "We have customers who come from all over Kosovo; they like the name and the styles," store manager Besian Morina told Al Jazeera. The top sellers at 'Hillary'? A beige pantsuit, according to Vice News. Also on HuffPost A rise in erectile dysfunction drug claims by city workers has Torontos mayor shaking his head. According to an auditor general report released Monday, city workers were reimbursed $1.9 million for claims submitted for impotence-related drugs last year. When asked about the finding on Wednesday, Toronto Mayor John Tory searched for the right words to answer media. Advertisement It stiffens my resolve I shouldnt use that word today, he said jokingly, quickly correcting himself. Toronto currently has no maximum coverage limit for city employees to claim for erectile dysfunction drugs. The report found 37 claimants were reimbursed over $3,000; five reimbursed for claims over $5,000. The drug claims form a pattern thats potentially excessive, the 71-page report noted. And the mayor warned against the possible abuse of the citys employee health benefits plan. Advertisement Tory noted that if any evidence of fraud surfaces, the city should pursue it in a very aggressive manner, and terminations are an appropriate kind of penalty." Im happy to honour all kinds of athletes down here, and I would even perhaps invite the person in for a visit. The mayor admitted he has not read the report in detail, but said implementing a cap on claims may be necessary. And if theres evidence of a person using anything like 500 pills in a year, thats at very least worthy of an accolade, he said. Im happy to honour all kinds of athletes down here, and I would even perhaps invite the person in for a visit, he said in a Toronto Sun video. But I would say that goes beyond what the citizens of Toronto would say was reasonable of what the taxpayer should support. Effects of common erectile dysfunction pills last between two to three hours. If an erection lasts more than four hours, people are asked to seek medical attention. The resale of pills is also a possibility. Advertisement The citys audit committee will review the reports findings on Friday. Also on HuffPost A legal market for recreational marijuana could give Canada's economy a boost of up to $22.6 billion annually, says a new study from business services firm Deloitte. The study estimates that marijuana sales, even initially, would be at least as large as hard liquor sales in Canada, at around $5 billion annually, but could be as large as $8.7 billion, making them as large as wine sales. Advertisement The total impact for Canada's economy from a legal weed market including growing and distribution, pot paraphernalia, increased tourism and business taxes would amount to between $12.7 billion to $22.6 billion annually. The actual number will depend on how the government decides to regulate marijuana, and what price standards it sets, Deloitte says. Those are decisions the federal Liberals plan to announce next spring. Canada's pharmaceutical industry has been lobbying to be admitted to the marijuana game when it's legalized. Shoppers Drug Mart, owned by Loblaw Co., announced earlier this week it has applied to be a medical marijuana distributor, a move likely preceding an expansion into recreational marijuana Advertisement The study polled 5,000 Canadians this past summer on their attitudes and behaviours around marijuana, and found that 22 per cent of Canadians consume the herb on at least an occasional basis, and seven per cent of Canadians consume it daily. Another 17 per cent said they may try it if it's legalized, making the total potential market 40 per cent of Canada's population. By comparison, about 80 per cent of Canadians consume alcohol. But the study found that support for legalizing marijuana might be weaker than earlier polls suggested, with 40 per cent of respondents in favour and 36 per cent opposed. "Recreational marijuana is not currently a clear win for the federal government," the report said. The relatively large level of opposition to legalization "will make it challenging to create a broadly accepted regulatory environment." Advertisement Mark Whitmore, vice-chair of Deloitte Private, said the point of the study was not to sway opinions, but to inform business and the public on what a marijuana market could look like. Businesses "need to think through what this means," he told HuffPost Canada by phone. "Until this point, there hasn't been [much] fact-based research." But for the government, it could prove to be a major new source of revenue. "With tax and licensing revenue totaling over $52 million in Colorado [where marijuana was legalized in 2012] in the last fiscal year, a state one-seventh the size of Canada, it's obvious the opportunities are substantial," the report said. But the report suggests Canada likely won't go down the same road as Colorado, which took a very liberal approach, allowing small businesses to retail marijuana, marijuana-infused products and paraphernalia. Advertisement "The federal government is approaching this in terms of controlling it, making sure it doesn't go out of hand," Whitmore said. For now, the "jury's still out" on how a marijuana industry will develop in Canada, he added. Also on HuffPost OTTAWA Conservative leadership candidate Maxime Bernier says he wasnt fundraising off of his support for guns but now he is. In his latest fundraising note to Tory members, Bernier took aim at some of the pundits on Wednesdays edition of Power & Politics, the daily political show on the CBC News Network. Bernier said the commentators were freaking out because he was fundraising from firearms. Advertisement Conservative leadership candidate Maxime Bernier holds a press conference in Ottawa on Oct. 17, 2016. (Photo: Matthew Usherwood/CP) Did you see the news?, Bernier asked in the note, sent on Thursday, which continued: Three talking heads on CBC lit their hair on fire because Im standing with firearms owners. They said things like nobody should own a gun unless they hunt for food. They said Canadians shouldnt own assault rifles. Who in Canada owns an assault rifle? These guys are completely out of touch. On Tuesday night, Bernier sent another note with the subject heading: Liberals hate guns. He said he was worried Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government might try to take peoples guns away or re-classify them and prevent them from being used for hunting. He pledged to stand with gun owners and then asked them to pitch in $5 so he could win the Tory leadership race. Advertisement Berniers note on Thursday also asked for $5. He wrote that his last missive wasnt an effort to fundraise from firearms, but THIS is fundraising from firearms. Panel discussed Berniers pitch The Huffington Post Canada wrote about his pitch, and the panel on Power & Politics discussed the story. During the segment, Liberal supporter Lindsay Doyle said Berniers note was spreading misinformation, and the Liberals had been clear they would leave the classification of firearms with the experts. For $5, Maxime Bernier will help you protect your guns and assault weapons, so a pretty disgusting fundraising ploy if you ask me, she said. I understand that people are able to legally own weapons and firearms but again I would hope that the experts at the RCMP are going to be the ones to determine [the classification] and not the politicians, she added. Advertisement Tory leadership candidate Steven Blaney speaks during a news conference on Parliament Hill on Oct. 24, 2016. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP) NDP supporter Ian Capstick said he wanted to see a lot less guns on the market. I want to clamp down on more guns, he said. Capstick said he believes there are many firearms in Canada that are available for purchase that should not be available for purchase. We need to take a serious look at the type of guns that are available in stores right now, in urban centres, and ask: Do they really need to be there? Unless, you are going out to hunt for food. Im having some grave difficulties understanding why a good chunk of these guns are available for purchase at all. If the Conservative party was a musical genre, it would be country music. Tim Powers Conservative Tim Powers noted that Bernier might be reaching out to Western farmers and hunters who might have viewed him as too urban to consider as a Conservative leadership. Advertisement If the Conservative party was a musical genre, it would be country music, Powers said. And the more you talk about guns and you sing that country music tune, you do well, and that is what Maxime is trying to do. It is all about getting votes, Powers said. This reporter, who was also on the panel, said Bernier might be trying to steal some of newly declared candidate Steven Blaneys thunder the former public safety minister who loosened gun restrictions. 'Error' in latest note Bernier spokesman Maxime Hupe told HuffPost Thursday that the fundraising note contained an error and it should have said two pundits rather than three pundits. Never did Maxime [Bernier] authorize and never did the campaign want to treat a journalist or a former member of the Progressive Conservative party in that way. We are in an ideological disagreement with the Liberals and the NDP, he said. Five bucks would help Bernier protect firearm owners from champagne-sipping liberal elites who dont understand anything outside of their bubble, he says. Advertisement Also on HuffPost A lifelong Nordstrom customer says she can no longer shop at a department store that carries products by Ivanka Trump, a woman who is supporting for president "a man accused of groping or raping at least a dozen women." "I am writing because I find myself increasingly conflicted about supporting a store that carries any Trump brands," says an open letter posted on Twitter earlier this week by a user with the handle @SheWhoVotes. Advertisement It's been re-tweeted over 1,500 times. An open letter to @Nordstrom regarding Ivanka Trump's toxic brand. Please share if you agree. #grabyourwalletspic.twitter.com/xoayf3kOVF Nasty Woman Laura (@SheWhoVotes) October 26, 2016 The author writes that her Jewish husband has faced "unacceptable anti-Semitic hate speech" from Ivanka's father Donald, who is now pursuing an increasingly difficult campaign to be president of the United States. The author has also been appalled by Trump's comments on "African Americans, Latinos, Jews, Muslims, LGBTQ people, and women." But her objections don't stop with Donald: "Ms. Trump's company is accused of refusing to provide maternity leave for the women working for her," she wrote, citing a Slate story. Advertisement The author concludes saying that, while she understands that a store "can't filter out every brand" led by people who make controversial statements, "it is my sincere hope as a lifelong Nordstrom customer that Nordstrom respects its customers enough to stop carrying Ms. Trump's brand." This isn't the first attempt by @SheWhoVotes to broach the issue of Trump products with the department store chain, which opened its first Canadian stores last year. She previously complained about Nordstrom carrying Trump products some weeks back. This is how the company responded: Not yet. When I complained via Twitter, I received this response from Nordstrom, which is why I decided to write a letter @BethWeber1pic.twitter.com/CNHa2ijljl Nasty Woman Laura (@SheWhoVotes) October 26, 2016 The open letter comes amid a boycott campaign that calls on people to avoid shopping at stores that carry the Trump brand. Advertisement The campaign, which has been promoted using the hashtag #GrabYourWallet, was started by Shannon Coulter, a San Francisco-based marketing specialist who has kept a Google Doc of stores that sell Trump products, the LA Times reported. Stores that carry Trump-branded items include Amazon, Hudson's Bay and Saks Off Fifth, according to the document. A survey of 1,983 voters released last week shows that almost 60 per cent of women would not buy clothes with the Trump name, while 23 per cent would, Fortune reported. Ivanka herself responded to the movement in an interview with "Good Morning America" on Wednesday. "The beauty of America is people can do what they like, but I'd prefer to talk to the millions, the tens of millions of American women who are inspired by the brand and the message that I've created," she told host George Stephanopoulos. Advertisement Also on HuffPost Quebec City police say they made the right call to stun a nine-year-old boy with a Taser earlier this week. On Sunday, the child's mother called police saying her son was out of control, according to Metro News. When officers arrived, the boy was holding a 10-inch knife in one hand and a six-inch blade in the other. The boy had cut several holes in the walls, police told the newspaper. Advertisement Const. David Poitras said that officers initially tried to calm the boy down by talking to him, but he grew increasingly upset when police tried to get inside the house, reported CBC News. Police used the Taser when the boy started walking towards a room with other family members. "Given that we didn't know this child's intentions, that he had access to potential victims, that there was a chance he was a danger to himself, at that moment the best option was the stun gun," Poitras told the outlet. The boy was taken to hospital but wasn't injured, reported Le Journal de Quebec. Also On HuffPost: ELKO Elko will be remembering one of its finest citizens today and tomorrow, as Ceasar Salicchi is laid to rest. He never let anything stop him, said Salicchis daughter Judy Trotter. Salicchi contracted polio as an adult but always made the best of his situation. He grew up on a ranch, but after he got polio he could not do that so he went to a business college in Reno, said Trotter. The family returned to Elko where Salicchi worked at Elko General Hospital as office manager from 1962-1970. Salicchi ran for public office and served as Elko County Treasurer from 1971-2006. Salicchi was proud of his service to the community. During his 1994 incumbency Salicchi told the public how he felt about his office in an article written in the Elko Daily Free Press. Although the workload has increased tremendously, being able to serve the public and friends provides tremendous personal satisfaction. Service is my main objective, he said. Trotter described her father as a very kind man who would go out of his way to help others. She told the story of the time when a family from out of town stopped in one evening to see her father. The family had a son, who had recently become paralyzed from the waist down, and they had been told about Salicchis tenacity when faced with a crippling disease. When the 16-year-old-boy drove my dads hand controlled car it turned his life around, she said. Salicchi is remembered by the community as the founding member of the Elko Association for Retarded Children. Salicchis son suffered a traumatic brain injury, and recognizing the need for him and other disabled people in the region, he began what is now known as the Ruby Mountain Resource Center, the oldest nonprofit agency in Elko County to act as a training center for adults with disabilities. Salicchi served in Rotary International since 1968 and was a member of the Elks since the mid 1980s. Elko Mayor Chris Johnson knew Salicchi from Rotary and other meetings. Caesar was a pillar of Elko County, said Johnson. I always remember his optimism. He was a good friend and it is sad to see him go. Johnson went on to say how he often looked to Salicchi for good advice when he was running for the mayors office. Salicchi is remembered for other honors including his service in the United States Army between 1946 and 1947. He was awarded Business and Professional Womens Employer of the Year in 1985. In 2003 the United States Senate recognized him for his service to Nevada. County Commissioner Delmo Adreozzi knew Salicchi and his family since he was a small boy. First of all, I think Elko County has lost a true icon, said Andreozzi. Heres a guy who truly loved his family and community. He was part of the fabric and background of Elko. Elko County Manager Rob Stokes said, He did a wonderful job as county treasurer. He had real concerns for people. He added stability to our government and our community. A Catholic Rosary is being held tonight at 6 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home. At 10 a.m., Oct. 28 Mass and funeral services will be held at St. Josephs Catholic Church. Following that there will be a celebration of life for Caesar Salicchi at the Basque House. The public is invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that people donate to Ruby Mountain Resources or the Terrace at Ruby View Senior and Active Lifestyle Center. The troubled Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto is on the verge of being sold after creditors went to court to force a sale on Tuesday. JCF Capital ULC, which acquired the debt on the building earlier this month, has gone to court in an effort to recover $301 million in money owed by tower developer Talon International Inc. and other companies, Bloomberg reported Thursday. Advertisement It's just the latest event in a turbulent history for the building, which has been marred by low occupancy, falling glass, an unstable antenna, and a developer that has gone so far as to try to remove the Trump name from the tower. Trouble ramped up for Talon when the developer defaulted on a construction loan last year that had been given by Raiffeisen Bank International AG, The Globe and Mail reported in May. Talon, which is owned by Russian-Canadian billionaire Alex Shnaider, later tried to sell the hotel and end its relationship with Trump Management, which manages the building's marketing, reservations and housekeeping, the newspaper added. Advertisement Shnaider's lawyer Symon Zucker told the newspaper that the sale of the hotel and ending the relationship with Trump Management are separate issues; he said Talon's clients no longer want anything to do with the Trump brand because Donald had tarnished it with his conduct during his run for the U.S. presidency. Trump Management has gone to court in an effort to keep the contract. Trump doesn't own a stake in the property, but, in addition to managing the hotel, he licenced his brand to Talon. But the Toronto tower isn't the only Trump-branded building in Canada at the centre of a controversy. The Trump International Hotel and Tower Vancouver was initially set to open over the summer, but building developer Holborn says its opening has been pushed to next year, the Globe reported Wednesday. Advertisement However Donald's daughter Ivanka, the vice-president of developments and acquisitions for the Trump Organization, said at the opening of a D.C. hotel on Wednesday that the Vancouver property would open next month, CTV News reported. The tower's website contradicts Ivanka, however, saying that no one can book a night there until Jan. 5. A staffer contacted by CTV News confirmed that date as the opening. The Vancouver tower has been targeted by a petition calling on Holborn to remove the Trump name from the building. But Vancouverites aren't alone in distancing themselves from the brand. Trump Hotels has announced plans to launch "Scion," a line of hotel properties aimed at younger guests, as reports suggest that bookings are plummeting at the company's properties. Advertisement Foot traffic to Trump Hotel properties fell by up to 19 per cent this summer from two summers prior, according to Foursquare. Existing Trump hotels will keep their names, however. Also on HuffPost Rick Madonik via Getty Images MISSISSAUGA, ON - JULY 28: The marshalling area in front of security screening is full of passengers headed to departure gates. The GTAA is warning passengers at Pearson International Airport the line ups to pass security could get longer this summer as 18% more passengers are expected. The line up to enter security at Terminal 1, took about 30 minutes to pass. (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) If you've flown anywhere in Canada recently, there's a good chance you've had to deal with the headache of longer than normal wait times at security screening. You also wouldn't be wrong in thinking wait times are getting worse. Since 2013, the length of screening times has deteriorated so badly that in their submission to the 2015 Transportation Act Review, the Canadian Airport Council referred to security screening services as a being in a state of "crisis." The worst part is that air travellers are paying for better service -- they just aren't getting it. In fact, according to research by the World Economic Forum, Canadians pay some of the highest prices in the world for air travel. Part of those high prices is a fee for the so-called the Air Traveller's Security Charge (ATSC). Advertisement The Air Traveller's Security Charge is a tax introduced shortly after 9/11 by the Chretien government to fund the air transport security system and the newly minted Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. That was the initial intent at least. In recent years the revenue generated from the charge has been a major cash grab by the Department of Finance. Since 2011, the budget of CATSA has declined even though the revenue from the security tax has steadily increased. Between 2010 and 2013, $260 million dollars was siphoned away from airport screening into the black hole of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Perhaps the greatest failing of the Canadian airport model has to do with our trusted traveller programs -- or rather, lack thereof. While it is annoying for flyers to wait in long lines, more important is the security risk that lines pose. A new wave of terrorist attacks on airports in Moscow, Brussels, and Istanbul have all occurred between the sidewalk and the inspection line before travellers pass through security. Instead of viewing screening lines as a minor annoyance that Canadians should deal with, officials would be wise to view the lengthening lines as a soft spot that terrorists are exploiting. Another problem with airport security highlighted in David Emerson's 2015 review is the strange restrictions faced by CATSA. Essentially, CATSA has no control over security screening policy and this has led to poor service and long wait times. Go figure. The Emerson report recommends adopting the U.S. model wherein a single "agency has responsibility for both regulatory oversight and operations." Advertisement The Minister of Transport should get with it. Give CATSA the policy authorities to make airport screening faster, smarter, and safer. Then he should reduce the security charge to match CATSA's new budget. Perhaps the greatest failing of the Canadian airport model has to do with our trusted traveller programs -- or rather, lack thereof. Many Canadians are familiar with NEXUS -- it's the background check where travellers volunteer their information to border officials to become pre-screened. They are then deemed "trusted travellers" and are able to be expedited through customs. NEXUS cardholders are also offered the use of a special line at security screening. The problem is, it's not that special of a line. Unlike when going through customs, NEXUS users are still forced to submit to the same cumbersome screening procedures as other passengers. This begs the question: if our border officials allow these pre-screened travelers to enter the country quickly and safely, why does the same practice not apply at airport security? Transport Minister Marc Garneau has been on the job for almost a year, but has yet to deliver any meaningful results on this file. Replacing this "one size fits all" approach to passenger screening with a risk based, intelligence driven approach was a key recommendation in the Emerson review. The U.S. long ago adopted this model and as a result "trusted travellers" are able to pass through security lickety-split. In fact, the processing rates at U.S. airports are more than double that experienced in Canada. Advertisement If policy makers moved in this direction we could have a security screening system that works not just for a select few, but for everybody as it does in the U.S. Trusted travellers would no longer have to take off their belt or shoes or remove their laptops from their bags. This would be particularly beneficial to the elderly and disabled who are currently forced to submit to unnecessary and embarrassing screening procedures. Not only should the government be adopting these systems, they should be doing a better job promoting NEXUS. Lower the application fee -- currently $50 -- and advertise the program heavily at airports. More pre-cleared travellers means CATSA can devote more staffing resources to the general screening line. This, in turn, will result in faster processing times for all travellers -- win-win. Transport Minister Marc Garneau has been on the job for almost a year, but has yet to deliver any meaningful results on this file. The new CATSA Plus pilot project in Montreal, which is supposed to increase efficiency, is merely cosmetic and does not address security issues. It's up to him to make lines safer and faster. He should reinvest the security charge monies back into CATSA, establish them as an independent agency, and allow them a role in shaping sensible security policy. Advertisement Colin Kenny is former chair of the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence. Kennyco@sen.parl.gc.ca Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: With the spotlight on American politics, it's easy to forget about our own federal government for the time being. But just recently, our prime minister celebrated an important anniversary -- his first year in office. Justin Trudeau has enjoyed an extended honeymoon as a political celebrity on the world stage. He ran a campaign that promised so much and appealed to so many. Trudeau won our hearts and our votes, and after an extended period of Conservative rule, we were eager to see the new, fresh changes that his campaign promised. Advertisement So after one year, it's time to sit down and ask ourselves: has Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered on his promises? According to the nonpartisan, citizen-driven website TrudeauMetre.ca, our leader has made good on only 15.5 per cent of his campaign promises so far. Another 29 per cent of his pledges are listed as in progress, while 55 per cent have either been put on the political back burner or abandoned altogether. The most significant items that the Trudeau government has delivered on so far have to do with tax relief for the middle class. This was a huge part of the Liberal government's running platform. As a central campaign issue, it only makes sense that Trudeau would tackle it first. Advertisement So far, Trudeau has successfully introduced a new, tax-free Canada Child Benefit and adjusted income-tax brackets to relieve the middle class while putting more pressure on households earning more than $200,000 a year. The Child Benefit program marks a discernible departure from our old system, which paid a fixed fee to families with children under 18 regardless of their income. Under the Trudeau government, families will now receive tax-free child benefits that are adjusted according to household income. This has reduced the overall rate of child poverty in our country and has transformed the lives of many middle-class and low-income families. On his promise to middle-class families, Trudeau has delivered. Trudeau has also largely delivered on his promises to women. Bringing feminism to the forefront, our prime minister has been a vocal advocate, insisting that all people, regardless of their sex, should be dedicated to advancing gender equality and women's rights. He made international headlines when he created a cabinet with total gender parity, and answered the press by telling them that did so "because it was 2015." However, the federal standing committee on finance, which is currently considering the gender pay gap, is solely comprised of men -- a massive misstep that highlights the irony of male politicians who platform on women's rights. Advertisement When it comes to LGTBQ rights, Trudeau's report card is also mixed. While he is the first and only international leader to have participated in a gay pride parade to date, the Trudeau government failed to deliver on some promises to the LGTBQ community. Most markedly, the promise to repeal the ban that prevented gay and bisexual men from donating blood. Instead of ending the ban altogether as promised, the waiting period to donate blood was reduced from five years to one. In spite of this, however, it is apparent that our prime minister is dedicated to ending homophobia and increasing LGTBQ rights. He is likely to continue advancing these prerogatives well into the future. Trudeau has also delivered on his seemingly impossible campaign promise to Syrian refugees. By the end of February, the government had met their goal. Refugees were given priority status where they identified as women at risk, members of sexual minorities or individuals who were seeking to complete their family units. As far as his promises to the Indigenous community go, Trudeau has made some headway, but the bulk of the work is still yet to be seen. He has launched a National Inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and has put aside over $960 million for First Nations education and infrastructure. But, to date, he has outright failed to come through on his promise of investing $50 million a year into the First Nations and Inuit Education Support Program. Advertisement This provides financial support to indigenous university and college students across the country. It has yet to been seen whether or not future federal budgets will include this expense in their portfolios. The legalization of marijuana was another central component of the Liberal campaign. Many people thought that this would be the first item on the federal government's agenda once they assumed power, but they were wrong. The Criminal Code, as it relates to marijuana, remains unchanged to date. The hold-up appears to be a long-awaited report from a special advisory task force. The government has said that it's waiting for it before acting on this initiative. With the report expected by the end of November, it's now promising a legislative change by next spring. The government is also dragging its heels on amending the so-called anti-terrorism legislation, which was controversially passed by the former Harper government (with Liberal support). Still drudging through consultations on this issue, Liberals have said that this project is a "work in progress." They are currently creating a parliamentary oversight committee on national security in order to streamline the process. Only time will tell whether or not this approach will be effective. Another area where the prime minister appears to have failed is electoral reform. A mere six months ago, he was enthusiastic about revamping our first-past-the-post electoral system. With so many promises still left to fill, breaking even may be a miraculous task. However, he has now distanced himself from this mission and appears to have even abandoned it altogether. His critics, including interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose, have accused him of flip-flopping on this issue for political gain. They have used it to draw attention to his failings during his first year in office. Advertisement The prime minister has also abandoned his promise to reduce the tax rate for small business and to maintain level funding for our armed forces. The federal government's budget is currently running a deficit at three times the level predicted by the Liberals during the election. With so many promises still left to fill, breaking even may be a miraculous task. All in all, prime minister Trudeau's Liberal government has a long way to go -- but it's off to a good start. In spite of his failings to date, his popularity has not waned. The Liberal government has a higher public approval rating now when it was first elected. In the political world, this kind of momentum is almost unprecedented. As Trudeau looks to the future, we can only hope -- and expect -- that he will continue to deliver on his promises. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: JGI/Tom Grill via Getty Images Mixed race woman blowing her nose Written by Alexis Dobranowski, a Communications Advisor at Sunnybrook. I was at the theatre recently, and when the lights went down before the sound came up, it was abundantly clear: sniffle season is upon us. The chorus of coughs and snorts had me reaching for my hand sanitizer and considering the nearest exit! With cold and flu season here, I spoke to Dr. Mary Vearncombe, Sunnybrook's Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control, about how to best minimize the spread of germs and stay healthy. Advertisement First though, the difference between a cold and the flu: a cold is a viral infection that brings along a stuffy nose, sore throat, cough and general crummy feeling. In healthy people, it doesn't usually lead to serious health complications. The flu is an acute respiratory infection that brings along a fever, cough, chills, aches and pains, and can lead to serious complications like pneumonia. For the elderly, pregnant women, chronically ill or young children, influenza can be deadly. It kills around 3,500 people per year in Canada. Both colds and flus can feel pretty yucky if you catch one. So here are Dr. Vearncombe's tips for avoiding both this year: Clean your hands. Wash with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Both are effective at removing (washing) or killing (hand sanitizer) bacteria and viruses, including respiratory viruses. Advertisement Hand sanitizer should contain alcohol at a minimum concentration of 60 per cent to be effective. Many people find alcohol-based hand sanitizer to be a convenient way to clean hands, especially in public places where hand washing sinks with soap and water are not always available. Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in your purse, pocket or backpack. Thinkstock photo Get the flu shot. We are all susceptible to influenza virus, even those of us who consider ourselves healthy. "If we get influenza, it may be relatively mild for us and we think we have 'just a bit of a cold'," Dr. Vearncombe said. "But, we are still infectious to others who may be more susceptible to serious influenza virus infections." And we all have these vulnerable people in our lives: elderly parents or grandparents; pregnant relatives or friends; infants and young children; friends and relatives with chronic diseases such as heart or lung disease, diabetes or cancer. By getting the flu vaccine as healthy people, we protect ourselves and therefore help to protect our vulnerable friends and loved ones. (And remember, you can't get the flu from the flu shot. You may get arm tenderness or mild aches afterwards.) Get your kids the flu shot or nasal vaccine. Kids should also get the flu shot or nasal vaccine. A recent U.S. study questioned the effectiveness of the nasal version, but data from studies in Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom suggest it's effective for use in children. Advertisement Stay home if you are sick. Many of us have a strong work ethic and want to drag ourselves in to work even when we are feeling ill. Stay home if you have the flu or a bad cold with a fever. "Respect your colleagues at work: nobody wants your viruses," Dr. Vearncombe said. "If you go to work, you will compound the problem by making others in your office ill." And this doesn't just mean staying home from work. Protect your vulnerable family, friends and neighbours. If you promised to go visit your elderly grandmother, call and reschedule; your trivial infection may result in life-threatening pneumonia for her. If you've got an acute respiratory infection, now is not the time to take the bus to the movie theatre. Practice healthy habits. "Keep your immune system healthy: eat properly, exercise, get enough sleep," Dr. Vearncombe says. "If possible, keep your distance from people with obvious symptoms of respiratory infection, e.g., coughing, sneezing." If you are coughing/sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue (or "sneeze in the sleeve"), discard the tissue in the garbage immediately after use and clean your hands. Advertisement "Most of this is what your mom always told you to do," Dr. Vearncombe says. "And, as always, mom was right!" Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the flu vaccine. Read more healthy living tips from Sunnybrook experts at health.sunnybrook.ca ALSO ON HUFFPOST: Yui Mok/PA Wire There is a good reason why the SNP are always keen to talk up the issue of the Constitution, to hype up their rhetoric on independence and grandstand on grievance: it's to hide their own failings on everyday issues like the NHS. Failings like those highlighted today in the annual check-up by independent experts Audit Scotland on the SNP's running of our NHS. Advertisement Its report reveals a disastrous decade of SNP mismanagement. 10 years of SNP control of our hospitals has led to massive job vacancies, too few doctors and nurses, rising waiting times and the Scottish Government's own set of patient standards being missed. It reveals that in the eight key standard areas used to judge NHS performance, the SNP are hitting only one. After a decade in Government this is a shameful verdict on their record. And it shows the extent of SNP cuts to our NHS. Health boards in Scotland had to make nearly 300 million in cuts in the last year - and have to find another 500 million in this one. That's almost 1 billion in SNP cuts to Scotland's health services in only 24 months. Before the election, when Labour campaigners highlighted the threats to local services at the Lightburn Hospital or Inverclyde Hospital, the SNP branded us liars. It's now clear from this this report shows who was telling the truth - because of SNP decisions health boards are having to cut budgets and slash services to get by. Advertisement Or put simply, children's wards, maternity units and orthopaedics across Scotland are facing cuts, closures and downgrades under the SNP. These are the same services the SNP promised were safe when there were votes to be won. But now that the votes are in the bag, the promises get left behind. Today, Audit Scotland has shone a light on the life-threatening condition our NHS has been left in. Audit Scotland reveal that NHS funding is not keeping pace with increasing demand and the needs of an ageing population. Some health boards are not getting the funding they are entitled to under the SNPs own funding formula. The NHS in Lanarkshire, Lothian, Grampian and Highland have been short-changed by the SNP to the tune of over 55 million With the Scottish Government missing key patient standards and the NHS in the middle of a workforce crisis, which sees thousands of key posts unfilled, Health Boards find themselves turning increasingly forced to use private nursing agency staff. It is perverse that because of SNP cuts, it's costing Health Boards up to 84,000 every year for private agency nurses instead of the 36,000 for NHS nurses. Advertisement It is sickening to read in the report that some consultants are making the equivalent of 400,000 a year, four times the annual cost of NHS consultant colleagues. The seeds for this problem were sewn when Nicola Sturgeon was Health Secretary, cutting places for medical students, nurses and midwives. The impacts of her abysmal failure in workforce planning are now coming home to roost. It is a workforce crisis that sees nine out of ten nurses saying their workload is getting worse, one out of four GP surgeries saying they are understaffed and only a third of NHS staff believing there are enough of them to do their jobs properly. Our NHS staff are the foundations that our most valued public service is built on - if the doctors and nurses are telling us they are not getting the support they need we should listen. So what now? And what would Labour do differently? One major source of pressure on our NHS is from delayed discharge - patients who are clinically fit to go home but cannot because there isn't a social care package in place for them. Advertisement In February last year the SNP promised to eradicate delayed discharge from our NHS. But instead of investing, the SNP cut hundreds of millions of pounds from the budgets of councils which provide social care - the very service needed to help people out of hospital. The result has been hundreds of thousands of days spent in hospital by patients who don't need to be there. Another broken SNP promise. That is why Labour would do things differently. We would end the sticking plaster solutions of the SNP, and the crisis in Social Care, and use the new powers of the Scottish Parliament to stop the cuts, to invest in our services, to invest in Social Care to take the pressure off our hospitals and NHS staff. pxhidalgo via Getty Images Theresa May has carried out the first hundred days of her premiership in true One Nation Tory fashion. Like David Cameron before her, who paraded this ideal under the slogan of the Big Society, May speaks of "a country that works for everyone". Except that it doesn't. Like Cameron's One Nation, many are left behind in May's Britain - notably women, and those on low incomes. These are the people who need our support and help the most, and they are being shunned. I am particularly concerned about the treatment of people claiming social security. Contrary to the words of certain mainstream media outlets, which label them "benefit-scroungers" or "wasters," people claiming benefits such as tax credits are more often than not hard working people reliant on the UK Government's Department for Work and Pensions to top up low wages. I have spoken many times about the abhorrent practices of the American company Concentrix hired by HMRC to cut single mothers off from vital funding. Advertisement Having spent time volunteering with Hamilton Trussell Trust Foodbank, I have seen the effects of benefit sanctions on women bringing up young families. Suddenly having no money means such simple things as a weekly shop for basic essentials becomes impossible. Bread, milk, shampoo, the usual items. But what if you got to the till and you couldn't afford to pay for your baby food, your bread and milk, and the sanitary products that you will undoubtedly need that month? What if you worked part-time but you still struggled to make ends meet at the end of the month? You have young children, who require food, a school uniform, new school shoes - you need to pay the bills too. What are you supposed to do? For many of these women, it means neglecting themselves - going hungry so their children can eat, and disturbingly, using ad hoc materials like newspapers and socks in place of sanitary products because they cannot afford them. These women need one basic, fundamental thing - sanitary products - provided at the point of need. This is an idea that was supported by the National Council of the SNP in May 2016, proposed by Gillian Martin MSP and Julie Hepburn and passed unanimously by SNP delegates. The proposal is that of a simple "S Card" - a measure to give women and girls in Scotland access to free sanitary protection on health and equality grounds. The "S Card" would be handed to a local pharmacy, doctor, or nurse - no questions asked - in exchange for a small white pack containing sanitary products that they will need for the month. That's one less thing to add to the shopping list, and one less thing foodbanks have to hand out. Advertisement The Scottish Government can deliver a system which has 'fairness, dignity and respect' at its core - but under current constitutional arrangements, it needs to be adequately funded to do so. It is vital that the UK fund the Scottish Government accordingly for the "S Card" scheme and many other vital services it could provide. This will allow Scotland not merely to mitigate the worst effects of the UK system, but to follow its own, fairer path. Getty Images/iStockphoto So this was the Brexit leadership campaign plan. We are going to keep repeating some promises which we will disown after the campaign - but it's OK because we don't know if we will be in a position to deliver on these promises anyway. Now that we are surprised to find ourselves in Government we realise that we still don't really know what to do but we will resist Parliament or the public or the press or anyone else being able to have a say on what we eventually do. In addition we will accuse anyone who disagrees with us of being unpatriotic - especially those who dare to point out any problems with anything we say or do. So far - so bad. Advertisement The likes of David Davies, Boris Johnson and Liam Fox are intent on following their hard-Brexit ideology and that may damage the future prosperity of the UK. These are the same people who appeared to promise that leaving the EU would provide 350 million per week for the NHS and that leaving the EU would help stop uncontrolled immigration - promises they appear to have disowned as soon as the last vote was counted. There is no evidence that these people have any coherent plan that would enable us to leave the EU without causing this country real harm. All we hear from them is that we can't carry on with free movement and to them that matters more than the future prosperity of this country. So where are we now? This country voted to leave the EU by a legitimate democratic process and we must now leave the EU. We have to leave because not to do so would undermine the meaning and value of asking or consulting with the people of this country on anything else. Advertisement We must leave the EU even though it may cause some of our poorest citizens real financial hardship The price of food and other essentials have already started to increase because of a fall in the value of the pound - a fall that started immediately after the Brexit vote. Because the pound is worth less against other currencies this country will have to pay more for food and other goods produced abroad. This is even before we have actually left the EU and all the problems that might cause. We have to leave even though we face economic uncertainty for years to come because we might not be able to have access to massive European single market which has help keep this country prosperous. It seems likely that we won't be allowed access to that market without continuing to accept some form of free movement of workers - which these hard-line Brexit politicians in Government are so against. The point is - we have to leave the EU - but we don't actually have to do it in such a damaging way as these people appear to want. It will all be about how we negotiate our exit - what the new relationship with the EU will be. The UK can prosper if we can trade with other countries without trade barriers being put in the way. Like all things in life this will mean accepting a cost to gain trade advantages with other countries - they don't owe us a living. We may have to accept things something like free movement of people in order to be able to trade with all those EU countries so that we can prosper. Advertisement The Brexit leaders boasted about how we would easily negotiate new trade deals with the rest of the world but their attitude towards our nearest and largest market - the EU - does not suggest that their main interest is this country's future prosperity. They said new deals with numerous countries around the world would be made quickly and easily - but like other promises they made it doesn't look like they can deliver this either - look at the deal between Canada and the EU - seven years in the making and still not signed. There has been plenty of talk about patriotism - that the moaning 'remainers' (like me) are not patriotic if we suggest that our leaving the EU us anything other than a positive thing. I hope that this country prospers outside the EU - I hope we can somehow thrive economically and protect our democracy and freedoms and remain an open and accepting society - but it is far from certain that we can have all this and we should not ignore the challenges ahead. I think it is patriotic to want the best outcome for the UK from what is a difficult situation - we have democratically decided to leave the EU - but we don't have to do it in the most damaging way just because the clueless bunch of politicians who led us into this situation say so. Advertisement Getty Images The world of work has changed. Where once many could rely upon a secure, stable job for life, now our labour market, and labour markets across the world, are characterised by more flexible employment. For some this has brought about more control; an ability to work for oneself, from home, or in between caring responsibilities, for example. But for many others, flexibility is just a by-word for insecurity, low pay and poor conditions. Nearly a million people are now working on zero-hour contracts, while the average wage of a self-employed person remains roughly half that of other workers. Four out of every five workers on low pay are still low paid ten years later. Advertisement Neither is this new world of work functioning for disabled people. The current employment rate masks a big shortfall in the number of disabled people in work. The disability employment gap now stands at 33%, halving it by 2020 would require a 1.5 million increase in the number of disabled people in work. Given that 90% of disability is acquired, this is such a waste of skills, experience and talent. Clearly, the government are not doing nearly enough to achieve their manifesto commitment. I have been committed to widening opportunities for disabled people throughout my time in Parliament. Last year I tabled a bill requiring listed companies, public bodies and voluntary agencies to report annually on the number and percentage of people they employ who have disabilities. Locally, the Oldham Fairness Commission which I established and chaired examined in detail the inequalities that disabled people face. And next month I will formally launch Labour's Disability Equality Roadshow, touring the country talking to disabled people about the issues that affect them. The conversations I have had with disabled people have highlighted the need to act urgently in a number of areas if we are to build an inclusive working future. Firstly, an inclusive labour market is one that finds the right job for those who can work. The Tory government has focused solely on getting people 'off-flow', forcing them into any job to bring down claimant numbers, or none, for example, as a result of sanctions. I believe there is a fairer way; a more holistic, person-centred approach that looks at people's strengths and barriers to work whether this relates to skills or housing issues. We need to provide them with the best possible employment support but also opportunities to work. This would help fulfil people's earning potential, drive productivity and maximise the savings made to social security expenditure. For disabled people this also means access to qualified advisers, who understand specific barriers related to disability and know how to access the right support. Advertisement We also need greater action to support disabled people that are already working, protecting them from prematurely leaving the labour market. A recent Resolution Foundation report found that in 2015 a total of 350,000 people in the UK transitioned from employment to health-related inactivity. And each year just under 1 million employees in Great Britain are on sick leave for a month or more. Ensuring that proper workplace adjustments are made to retain disabled people who are in work is a vital part of an inclusive labour market. These adjustments could be in the form of more flexible leave arrangements as well as extending Access to Work which currently only supports a tiny minority of disabled people, approximately 36,500 out of 3.7 million in work. Finally, the public's decision to leave the European Union this year creates further obstacles to achieving an inclusive labour market. We have already seen growth forecasts revised down by both the OECD and Bank of England and clear evidence of a rise in hate crime that will hinder an inclusive vision. Our EU membership saw a shift in emphasis in disability policy away from charity and welfare towards equality and social justice. The principle that disabled people should be able to participate fully in all aspects of society has been enshrined in numerous pieces of EU legislation. As negotiations proceed we must insist that there is no dilution of these hard-won legal rights. Despite these challenges, I am confident that Labour can deliver a fair and just Britain, where no-one is left behind. We will build prosperity for all and tackle the injustices affecting Britain today, working to create an inclusive society where everyone can participate fully. I have already committed to scrap the discredited Work Capability Assessment and put an end to this government's punitive sanctions regime. I look forward to working with disabled people to expand on and to deliver this vision. What a year it's been! Since the launch of A Million Hands, Scouting's award winning community impact campaign, a quiet revolution has been going on in our communities. While the political world was busy turning itself upside down, our movement stepped up to change lives across the globe for the better. As a young person, I knew that we had so much to give to our communities in terms of time, energy and compassion. It turned out that others agreed with me. We found that 82% of 12-24 year olds in the UK believe it is important for today's youth to tackle social issues (Com Res, 2016), yet only 36% believe that they have the chance to do so. An ambitious plan So, if you pardon the pun, we decided to take matters into our own hands. We got a team of Scouts together and asked them what issues they wanted to tackle. The results were surprising to say the least! Where once Scouts were synonymous with car washing, weeding and litter picking, the young people told us that they wanted to be much more ambitious. The issues they chose were dementia awareness, disability, mental well-being & resilience, and clean water and sanitation. Challenging stuff, but to paraphrase JFK, 'we do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard, and measure the best of our energies and skills.' Advertisement A Million Hands is harnessing the talents of 500,000 young people across the UK to make change in their communities. We have brought together six national charities to help us achieve this: Alzheimer's Society, Guide Dogs, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Mind, WaterAidThe Canal & River Trust and our supporting charities in the nations. To have the greatest possible impact, we knew we had to work with the experts. So far, over 220,000 young people have signed up to take action, recording over 85,000 volunteering hours on 600 projects across the UK. At the current rate, we are set to rack up half a million volunteering hours by 2018. These are mindboggling statistics. When I sat in a room with a group of inspiring young people, we never dared dream we could have such impact. Local impact So what does this look like on the ground? In the south west, 1st Honiton Scout Group decided to understand more about the 850,000 people currently living with dementia in the UK. Heather Penwarden, the town's local dementia champion talked to the group about the issues and played a memory game with them to help explain what dementia is and how it affects people. Advertisement 'I really wasn't sure what dementia was,' said Helen, the Group Scout Leader,' but the way Heather talked about it made things much more simple.' Now the Scouts are empowered to discuss it from a position of knowledge, and with support from Alzheimer's Society are much better equipped to support and communicate with those affected by dementia, especially family members. For these Scouts, the mystery and stigma around dementia has vanished.' This is just one of so many utterly inspiring stories. Scouts have travelled to Madagascar, to see for themselves how their work with Wateraid was improving conditions for local people. Closer to home Glasgow Explorers spent time in residential homes, reading for and offering companionship to the elderly people. These are Scouts truly living their values of care, integrity respect, belief and cooperation. Public recognition So when we found that A Million Hands, had won 'Cross-Sector Partnership of the Year' at the Charity Times Awards 2016 this was recognition and reward not just for the original 'team with the dream' but every single one of the young people and volunteers across the country that have brought this campaign to life. This Scout Community Week our team will be attending a reception at number 11 Downing Street. We will be sharing successes and challenges with the government and other partners, looking for ways to extend our work and share learnings. There's so much more to do, but we now we have the momentum as well the will to bring about real change and transform as many lives as possible. The campaign has already helped develop thousands of young people, equipping them with the skills to succeed, whilst breaking down barriers, connecting communities and creating positive change. Advertisement ELKO Elko County appointed a district attorney earlier this month to fill the position following the passing of Mark Torvinen, and the new occupant of the office is ready to change public perception and develop a working relationship with law enforcement. I want to change that public perception of this office and I want to make sure that everybody knows that we are working extremely hard in this office, the attorneys, the support staff, to handle an incredible caseload, said Elko County District Attorney Tyler Ingram. Before taking office, Ingram was told by Torvinen that Elko is the third busiest county for criminal cases in the state of Nevada. The new DA said the office has a minimal backlog when asked about the subject. We have, roughly, 3,400 criminal cases and we have about 340 some pending cases, he said, citing numbers from Oct. 11. Caseloads in the office per attorney have gone up significantly, said Ingram, illustrating Chief District Attorney Chad Thompson having 608 cases. There is a juxtaposition concerning where staff needs to be and what the budget allows. The County is doing all that they can for budgeting positions. Im certainly not blaming any County administration. They are doing a wonderful job, but we are budgeted for one additional attorney position, said Ingram, explaining the position is being advertised for and is expected to be filled soon. When that happens, we will be fully staffed at budget level, he said. Ingram wants to forge a very strong working relationship with law enforcement and received endorsements from deputies in the Elko County Sheriffs Department and police in Elko Carlin and West Wendover, before his selection. Clair Morris, a former Elko police chief and Elko County undersheriff, supported Ingram and explained to the County there was previously a disconnect between the DAs office and local law enforcement. I think that if we develop that working relationship with law enforcement then the other part of that will fall into place, because if were working with law enforcement were going to put together great cases. If were putting together great cases, that means theyre better suited for prosecution and were more likely to get the result thats just, said Ingram. If we get those just results, then the public will start to notice that. The district attorney said efforts are already underway and being available is a key to strengthen the working relationship with law enforcement. This includes individuals such as Elko Police Chief Ben Reed and Sheriff Jim Pitts having his personal cellphone number. I want the public to know that were here to help and we dont want to be seen as some obstacle between them and seeing that justice is served, said Ingram, explaining that justice can mean different things to different individuals. Ingram hopes to create an office that is viewed as a helpful resource, just as he wants law enforcement to feel they can discuss an issue with him any time. Were not some unreachable department in this County ... we are just working as part of a team. We are just one department in the County, and were all working together to make sure that this County runs as smoothly as possible. Ingrams appointment will end Dec. 31, 2018. shutterstock In an election where the nominees of the two main parties are a man and a woman, this was always going to be a major question, even if it is rarely posed so starkly. The very fact that one of the main political parties has nominated a woman as their candidate in this race is rightly seen as an enormous step forward for gender equality, creating an important role model for women and girls. But at the same time, many of the responses to Hillary Clinton suggest a real ambivalence among Americans about a woman occupying the highest political office in the land. The 2016 US presidential election campaign famously features two of the most unpopular candidates in living memory. But while the basis of Donald Trump's unpopularity seems very straightforward (it is difficult for him to gain support from groups that he has openly belittled, insulted and threatened), the reasons that voters fail to warm to Hillary Clinton are more complex. There are, of course, Clinton policy positions that prompt opposition from voters on both the left and the right, but her stance on the issues only represents part of the discomfort that many Americans feel when they consider supporting her. Advertisement Western liberal feminism has taught generations of women that in order to succeed in traditionally male-dominated professions, they should learn to behave more like men. Women should gain relevant qualifications, demonstrate their commitment to the workplace and put themselves forward for important and prestigious roles. In the words of Sheryl Sandberg, women should "lean in". Hillary Clinton has followed this set of rules to perfection throughout her adult life. As a result, she is probably the best-qualified non-incumbent ever to seek the American presidency. But responses to her show us that voters do not want a woman president who behaves like a man. When Clinton behaves in masculine ways (exhibiting a serious, non-nonsense manner and tone of voice, remaining calm and in control even in the face of provocation), she is perceived as cold and unsympathetic. On those (rare) occasions when she has shown emotion in public, voters have warmed to her. This happened most famously during her previous attempt to become president in 2008, when she came close to tears in front of voters and the press. Her victory over Obama in the New Hampshire primary was attributed to this display of vulnerability. But while American voters seem to want to see the more feminine side of Clinton, the line she is expected to walk between behaving too much like a man and too much like a woman is a fine one indeed. It is also invisible and it does not necessarily stay in the same place for very long. How can she get her facial expression right, for example? Clinton has been criticized both for not smiling enough and for smiling too much. Advertisement If we take the focus on gendered aspects of Clinton's appearance and behaviour to a logical extreme, we arrive at a comment by Donald Trump in a speech following the second presidential debate on 9 October. By telling a crowd of supporters that he was not impressed with what he saw when Clinton stood in front of him to address the audience, Trump was effectively saying that, regardless of the circumstances, a woman should expect to be judged on the basis of her sexual appeal to (straight) men. Although many Americans have welcomed the presence of a woman on the ballot for president, there is widespread disappointment that the particular woman chosen is such an unpopular figure. But could it have been otherwise? The chances of a female candidate successfully navigating the contradictory expectations of American voter seem slim to non-existent, at least at this point in the nation's political development. 'Sexual harassment, well that's everywhere!' says one schoolteacher in the small dusty town of Mbour. I'm in the small West African nation of Senegal researching how women perceive their access to justice for my foundation Project Monma. As part of a study that involves women from four nations, Colombia, Belgium, Australia and Senegal we are trying to learn more about what types of violence women face in their countries and whether they feel they are able to receive justice for the crimes perpetrated against them. The research has brought me to the living room of a small family living in the small dusty town of Mbour. Sitting on a mat on the stone floor, trying to escape the intense heat, the teacher laughs. He does not appear to think that there is something wrong with sexual harassment being everywhere. In fact, he seems to think that it is funny. Advertisement 'If a woman is sexually harassed, it's her fault,' says the other man in the room, the father of the family, also a teacher. His wife shakes her head, looks at me and says, 'he thinks because of their clothes they can be sexually harassed.' Sexual harassment did appear to be everywhere in Senegal. Uncomfortable leers from men were a daily occurrence throughout my time in the small West African nation. Men aggressively and obviously leered as women walked down the street with what appeared to be an arrogant sense of entitlement to do as they pleased. They appeared to show little concern for how their behaviour affected women. Senegal's constitution guarantees equality between women and men and they have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol on violence against women. Despite these steps, inequality and violence against women still appears to be a serious issue in Senegal. In a report from the Chairperson of the UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice Emna Aouij said, 'I am particularly alarmed at the level of violence against women, perpetuated by patriarchal and conservative values. Everyone I met during my visit stressed alarming numbers of rapes, incest, sexual harassment and domestic violence. This is a serious and widespread problem that requires urgent action at all levels.' Advertisement The US State Department also reports that women face pervasive discrimination in Senegal, especially in rural areas where traditional customs such including polygyny were the strongest. Rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment and discrimination against women were also reported to be present in the country. My interviews I conducted in Dakar, Mbour and St Louis certainly reflected this inequality. All of the women that I spoke with said that violence was common in their communities. They reported physical and verbal violence from their husbands and rape appeared to be common. I met one woman who was dragged into a car by men and driven out to the outskirts of the slum where she was living in St Louis and raped. She now has a child as a result of that rape with no support from her family. Her family blamed her for the rape, she told me. Women also reported rape from family members including fathers raping their daughters. An inquiry by the Committee of Struggle against Violence on Women and Children in Senegal has shown that 65% of the violent incidents occur within the family. The committee also indicated that 58% of the cases are linked to rape, aggression incest, pedophile, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation. The report also indicated that the stigma and taboo surrounding sexual violence prevents victims from denouncing it. All of the Senagalese women in our study reported the family as being the biggest barrier preventing them from receiving justice. Women for example said their families would tell them to not report violence from a husband because this could then result in a breakdown of relations. They were told to stay quiet and solve the problem at home. Advertisement Several women said sexual harassment in the workplace was a problem, 'when you go to work your boss may ask you for sexual favors,' said one woman. 'It's definitely disgusting.' 'They think of women as animals,' said one woman in an interview in Dakar. 'Sexual assault happens in the street and at the beach.' Sengalese law prohibits rape but there are few prosecutions according to the US State Department. The Ministry of Justice estimated in 2009 that 47 percent of accused rapists go unpunished and are released without going to trail. Sexual harassment is punishable by law in Senegal but the State Department found that the government did not effectively enforce the law. None of the women I interviewed were able to recall a law protecting women from violence, some said that they had heard laws but could not say what they were. Advertisement altamira83 via Getty Images At the SNP conference in Glasgow two weeks ago, Nicola Sturgeon unveiled the latest chapter in the never ending story that is her party's pursuit of independence. Unlike Alex Salmond's long war for the same cause, marked by bombast and the roars of the Scottish lion, Sturgeon's can best be described as the path of reasonableness. It starts with the simple idea that there is such a thing as a Scottish mandate. That is, the Scots have a distinct democratic voice that ought to be respected. This is something that is now universally accepted north of the Border (Labour and the SNP have been touting it for years) and the concept is slowly dawning on our Southern brethren. In the case of Brexit then, the Scottish mandate is clear - we did not give our consent to Brexit. Advertisement It follows, therefore, that the mandate ought to be respected in some form. If Scotland can't stay in the European Union, it is perhaps fair the country retains some elements of membership. This special Scottish dimension of the Brexit negotiation is so fundamental to Scotland (back to respecting that mandate) that failure of the UK Government to secure it will be seen as jeopardising the Union. Sturgeon has framed the logic of the IndyRef2 question in precisely this way. She argues that Scotland should not be taken out of the EU against its will. However, she is reasonable and will accept it if the Scottish mandate is respected. To do so, the UK Government will have to make sure Scotland retains single market access or has some other bespoke deal. So far, so reasonable. Of course, as ever with the SNP, no concession is large enough to satisfy them. No matter what deal the UK Government secures, Sturgeon will argue it does not go far enough. Further, she will do this after displaying an abundance of reasonableness - she will say she gave the UK Government all the time, opportunity and potential solutions to overcome the challenge. Indeed, Sturgeon was no sooner out the door of her meeting with the Prime Minister than she was making this point. Never mind that Scotland's largest market is the rest of the UK, a market more important in terms of value than the EU by a factor of four. Never mind the precipitous decline in North Sea oil revenues means an independent Scotland would face a potential ruinous fiscal deficit. Never mind, indeed, that most Scots say they do not want a second independence referendum. Advertisement Sturgeon's strategy is clear. She will mark the path to independence with an abundance of reasonableness. In so doing, she hopes to contrast her approach to the hard-line stance of the UK Government, thus making the prospect of an independent Scotland as part of the EU the less risky option. filo via Getty Images I still harbour a desire to own an E-Type Jag. And while I may one day just manage that, I may never be allowed to drive it. "Self-driving" or Autonomous cars have been in the news a lot over the last few years, with trials seemingly springing up all over the world. Google will no doubt take the credit as being the pioneers of the recent resurgence, but the stalking horse may well be Uber who, if they are successful, may not only change the way we think about driving, but about the very notion of car ownership itself. Advertisement Let's take a step back as to why science fiction has suddenly become science fact. Few futuristic movies of the past 50 years have not had some form of shiny, angular, somewhat wobbly car that transports passengers from one place to the other in response to a barked command. Not unusually the car fails to understand what is being said for mildly comic effect, most memorably for me the Johnny Cab driver in Total Recall, who when asked by a confused Arnold Schwarzenegger, "How did I get in this cab?", replies "The door opened, you got in". He then rolls his eyes, in a mock-human gesture and says "Hell of a day, isn't it?" And in building the first self-driving cars, it is the "mock-human" element that has been lacking, until now. Early attempts at autonomous cars in the 50's (although inspired by pre-WWII ideas), focused more on the environment than the car, by building a system of roads that could guide the car, rather than a car that could navigate existing roads. Magnets embedded in the surface would guide the cars, and radar would control distance between them. An idea doomed to failure without massive investment in infrastructure. Only with the advent of "Artificial Intelligence" or AI did the basics of true autonomy become clear. Autonomous driving requires perception of the surroundings, reasoning to determine the conditions of the environment, planning the best course of action, and continuously learning to improve our understanding of the vast and diverse world. Like humans, you have to be taught the basics and then learn from experience. Advertisement Why, then, if the first experiments in AI took place in the 70's and 80's are we not all driverless now? The simple answer is not that we have necessarily hit upon a new idea, but instead that the computing power to build the necessary "brain" just has not been available. Endless comparisons can be made between the computing power used by NASA to put a person on the moon and the power of modern smartphones, but it does highlight the simple issue that until recently, we had all of the theory, and none of the practical tools, required to build a car that could drive itself. The process required to teach a car to drive is called "Deep Learning" and the company behind it is NVIDIA. You have heard of Intel, Uber and Microsoft, but unless you are a hard-core gamer, NVIDIA may not be familiar. The chances are, though, that at least one device you own has an NVIDIA graphics card in it: The laptop I am writing this on used an NVIDIA chip to power the screen. And it just so happens that the parallel architecture that is needed to process millions of pixels simultaneously also mimics the human brain by being able to perform millions or even billions of calculations at the same time, exactly what you need if you are going to avoid a pedestrian jumping out unexpectedly. NVIDIA has quietly got itself behind many of the world's autonomous driving projects, and while they may not be as high-profile as Google, they are working with something like 80 auto makers to bring self-driving cars to the streets, not in the future, but in the next five years. Already legal in some US states, the UK government has already committed to a "Modern Transport Bill" to allow autonomous vehicles on Britain's roads. But like the Field of Dreams, will people really come round to the idea of driverless cars just because they exist? The adoption of electric vehicles should be a lesson to auto makers. The London Evening Standard reported an enormous rise in electric vehicle registrations in London in April of this year, a whole 22% year on year: to 800 in Q1 2016. To put this in perspective, 60,000 electric cars were registered in the UK in that period, against a total of over 900,000 cars, and that against a background of "Plug-in" grants, free or cheap charging points and no congestion charge in London. Autonomous vehicles have an altogether bigger hurdle, as people do not trust a machine to do the driving for them. Advertisement I believe that the answer will, at first, lie in the logistics industry. A self-driving truck never tires, need only stop for fuel, and if it can be proven to work safely, has no passenger to worry about the computer taking control. And Otto, a company owned by Uber, has just completed the first ever commercial delivery using a self-driving truck, a 120 mile beer run in Colorado. Complete several billion miles of deliveries safely, and you give the public reassurance in the safety of the technology: Allow people currently "off-grid" for home deliveries the chance to get same-day autonomous deliveries from Amazon, and see their perceptions change. From there, other pressures apply: Uber's main cost is its drivers, so if you want to be driven cheaply around a city, a self-driving taxi may be your only option. As insurers see that self-driving cars are much safer than humans, insurance premiums will go through the roof for "normal" cars, pricing me out of driving my mythical E-Type anywhere but in my dreams. But the big change that I foresee is the way in which we own cars in the future. For most people in reach of even a small town, there will be a pool of available vehicles. Want to get to work? The one-seater pod will arrive. Need to get the kids to school? Stick them in a four-seater. Groceries? Those will already be delivered autonomously so why go to the store? My parents agreed to visit us in India, once the retreat was almost completed. I was keen to drive them around, so decided to embark upon Indian driving lessons and a test. I had to take my 'provisional test', before I was allowed to sign up for lessons, so went along to the Road Traffic Office in Mysore. Upon asking for a copy of the Highway Code, I was swiftly ushered into a room, where a uniformed man starting pointing at a medley of pictures on the wall, expecting me to know what they symbolised. I proffered a few guesses: warning, bullock carts; order, tongas prohibited; warning, unguarded level crossing ahead; warning, deers crossing etc. The portly man started flapping his right arm, which baffled me somewhat. He told me to copy him, so I obediently flapped too. He helpfully explained that these were the hand signals for slowing down, turning right, turning left and over-taking. "But what are the car's indicators and brake lights for?" I naively asked. He clearly wasn't happy about my insolence and grunted indignantly. Miraculously I passed my provisional test and booked my first driving lesson. I was allowed ten, one-hour classes before my exam. I learned to drive in India, in a Maruti 800. There were no rear-view or wing mirrors in the car. This made me very nervous, but my instructor assured me that it was safer this way. "Focus only on what is ahead of you" he advised. He also made me turn right, way before the actual turnings; prohibited me from stopping at roundabouts; encouraged me to crawl along at a snail's pace in the fast lanes and reverse into main roads. When I refused to go through a red light, he yelled "Madam, this is India!" The day of my test came and Mahesh and I arrived at the RTO at 9am. We joined an already enormous queue and waited for several hours in the sun. Around lunchtime a voice shouted "You foreigner, simulated test." I was appalled. I hadn't sat in a tiny car for ten hours with my incongruous driving instructor, only to take a pretend test. After a heated conversation in Kannada, I was led to another queue, where there were over a hundred people waiting by a dozen learner-driver vehicles. We were standing on a busy main road in Mysore accompanied by cows, lorries, bikes and rickshaws. The cars were parked in a line by the side of the road and each examinee, had to elbow their way into a driver's seat. It took me a long time to summon the confidence to barge my way into a car and when I did I was told to sit down and fold my arms. There was a hefty Indian man in the passenger seat, who had his own set of foot pedals. Although this car did actually have rear view and wing mirrors, they were angled for the passenger's use. I didn't even get to start the car as the engine was already running when I clambered in. Our vehicle pulled out and the hefty man drove me around the block and then reversed parked into the space from whence we began. All twelve cars were following the same procedure. Over the road, underneath a large tree sat a gruff examiner, whom none of us personally met. He would occasionally look up to assess the chaos. Three months later, a driving licence arrived in the post for me. Mahesh decided that he would be my parents' chauffeur. PHDG via Getty Images It has been an important fortnight for maternity care. We recently marked Baby Loss Awareness Week, where Parliament held a moving debate on the issues raised when the worst has happened. Vicky Foxcroft MP made a very powerful and courageous address to the House of Commons describing the loss of her daughter in tragic circumstances. Although most births are safe, some are not as safe as they could or should be. Having spent my professional life working as part of multi-professional team caring for women in labour, I have found myself focussed on thinking about, and exploring how, we should make all births as safe, as they could and should be. Advertisement That is why myself, and my multi-professional colleagues, welcome the recent announcements from the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt as he launched his NHS Safer Maternity Action Plan. The new measures will provide resources for trusts to improve their approach to maternity safety, including an 8 million fund for training, with at least 40,000 available to each NHS trust in England. NHS England will also now require that lessons are learned from mistakes and shared openly across the NHS. A particular focus of the Department's announcements was their proposed rapid resolution and redress (RRR) scheme. Namely a compensation fund for families where things have gone wrong. Compensation payments to parents for where the worst has happened is the single largest source of expenditure for the NHS Litigation Authority. Of course any steps that can be taken to quickly resolve such painful cases is definitely a good thing. However, the press attention that this element of the Health Secretary's pronouncements received has meant that the focus on the vitally important role that maternity staff can play in reducing this litigation bill and to ultimately save mothers and babies lives, has been slightly lost. Furthermore, rapid resolution and redress alone will not improve safety. Clearly, we are seeking to create a world where safety and outcomes at birth are improved, with the happy consequence that litigation also becomes a thing of the past. In my own department we've reduced litigation costs from 25m in the decade before implementing our local training programme, to just 3m in the decade since training was rolled out; in parallel with improved birth outcomes. That is why I want to highlight an equally important part of Mr Hunt's speech, and that was the commitment to training and innovating maternity services across England. I was grateful that the Health Secretary specifically singled out the Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT) programme that our team have been pioneering in Bristol, and which is based on our local training. Advertisement The old adage that 'practice does not make perfect, if it is the wrong practice' is certainly true and some training programmes have even been demonstrated to do more harm than good. However, when the right training is provided for all staff in a unit, the results can be dramatic. Care during labour (intrapartum care) demands high levels of knowledge, clinical skills, kindness and teamwork from a multi-professional team. Therefore, any training provided for maternity staff needs to address all of these elements as well as providing simple tools to help staff provide the best care. We have developed a really wide range of training techniques and tools for the PROMPT package, including emergency boxes which contain treatment cards and emergency equipment to ensure that staff take the correct actions, and some simulation models that make it easy for staff to practice the management of these rare emergencies. These tools and training materials are used on a one-day local multi-professional training course that all maternity unit staff attend annually. Every member of the maternity team in the unit takes part, from the most senior to the most junior members. We developed a 'Course in a Box' (quite literally a box containing manuals and all the multimedia materials you need to run the course) so that PROMPT could be easily shared with other maternity units who wanted to use it. In Bristol (where I'm based) we saw a 50% reduction in babies born starved of oxygen and a 70% reduction in babies born with a paralysed arm after getting stuck in the birth canal. Those statistics in themselves can't tell the story of the lives changed and the heartache prevented; the reduction in costs to our health services and society notwithstanding. We need to replicate this across the UK and ensure that maternity units are using training packages with proven effect. Although PROMPT training originated in Bristol, the dissemination of the PROMPT 'Course in a Box' is now coordinated by the PROMPT Maternity Foundation, a registered charity in England & Wales. The key aim of the charity is to 'Make Childbirth safer, together', and with the support of the charity, improvements in outcomes have already been replicated in Australia, the US, and Zimbabwe. Advertisement PROMPT aims to make the right way the easiest way, and provides tools to help practitioners do the right thing. Therefore, the Department of Health's new commitment to maternity services is hugely significant, and a welcome step in the right direction for the NHS. I look forward to working with my multi-professional colleagues to make labour as safe as it could and should be. From 1 November 2016 BBC Two will broadcast Arctic Live, a new three-part series about the icy wilderness that stretches across the most northerly reaches of our planet. Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan will report from the town of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada--a destination from which I've just returned. A polar bear at sundown Simon Reeve and Kate Humble will also present on Arctic Live, which will be aired for an hour from 8pm. Advertisement When it comes to wildlife, nothing can be guaranteed, but few people return from Churchill without spotting polar bears. Large numbers of the animals gather in the region while waiting for the Hudson Bay to freeze. When it does they head out onto the ice to hunt seals. Ice begins to grip the shoreline Any bear wandering into the town of around 850 human inhabitants is detained in Churchill's Polar Bear Holding Facility, a building known colloquially as the 'bear jail'. While in the area I talked with Brett Whitlock, the man who oversees the facility. Advertisement Churchill's Polar Bear Holding Facility One local told me that in Churchill they have a phrase, "take your corners wide." Doing so gives you that fraction of a second to react in the unlikely case of you coming face-to-face with a bear coming in the opposite direction. Polar bear patrols, until 10pm each day, help keep the town safe. A scene from Churchill, Manitoba These days around 15,000 people head to Churchill every year to view polar bears. Most do so from the back of a Tundra Buggy, a type of powerful all-terrain vehicle with a heated cabin and a deck for viewing bears. They can cover a lot of ground each day and, from them, sightings are pretty much guaranteed. Instead of viewing wildlife from a vehicle I chose to do so on foot. To do that I participated in one of the polar bear safaris operated by Churchill Wild from Seal River Heritage Lodge--a remote eco-property, located around 60km from Churchill. A polar bear outside of Seal River Heritage Lodge Even on the way north from Churchill I sighted a number of bears, including a female with cubs, from the light aircraft we used to get there. There isn't a road connecting Churchill with Seal River Heritage Lodge. Moose were also roaming the tundra, close to the shoreline of Hudson Bay. Advertisement A mother with her cub, seen from a light aircraft Each day I was at the luxury lodge, which overlooks Hudson Bay, I joined fellow guests to go walking in the morning and then in the afternoon. We were accompanied by two guides. The temperature was well below zero, so, of course, we had to wrap up well and carry spare batteries for our cameras. Derek, my guide, with a shotgun over his shoulder Friends back home suggested I was crazy to walking in polar bear country but Derek, the bear expert who was our chief guide, explained that the group could manage risk by staying together. Though he carried a shotgun he told us he had never needed to use it and no-one had ever been injured during one of the lodge's safaris. Advertisement A polar bear walking on the beach In the nigh silent landscape around Seal River, well away from permanent human settlement, clacking a couple of stones together is normally enough to turn away an advancing polar bear. I might not have believed that if I hadn't seen it. Enjoying the beach in sub-zero temperatures A 400kg male sauntered to around 10 metres of us, before being repelled by the harsh sound of Derek smacking two stones together. Though my heart was hammering I managed to click a number of decent shots of the bear as he advanced. The south end of a north-bound bear If Gordon's experiences are anything like mine then viewers of Arctic Live are in for a visual treat. I'll certainly be tuning in to compare experiences. I hope the BBC's viewers are as thrilled as I was by the wildlife around Churchill. Advertisement Further information For more information about Churchill and the surrounding region take a look at the Churchill (www.everythingchurchill.com), the Travel Manitoba (www.travelmanitoba.com) and Explore Canada (www.explore-canada.co.uk) websites. All of the images illustrating this post were photographed by Stuart Forster. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio makes a point as Democratic challenger Rep. Patrick Murphy listens during the U.S. Senate debate on Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) In last night's debate between challenger Patrick Murphy and incumbent U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the two engaged in a spirited exchange on Cuba and Democratic policies that Rubio strongly opposes. It is worth looking more closely where Rubio's punches landed wide of the mark. One of the criticisms against Rubio is that he delivers policy robotically in sound-bites. Rubio's polish in front of the TV camera is key to his attraction to GOP funders. But Cuba is a central theme of Rubio's political life so it makes sense for voters to understand what he said last night. Advertisement Rubio claims to be a foreign policy expert, but he betrayed his shallow understanding by comparing the Obama administration's opening of relations with Cuba with Myanmar where, according to Rubio, the United States responded to the military dictatorship by incentivizing and calibrating our response based on demonstrated steps toward democracy by generals in power. That's what Obama should have done in Cuba, Rubio asserts. Rubio knows most Americans couldn't find Myanmar on a map. That's how it goes with Rubio: make the charge, swing from the hip -- most people will be captured by the appearance and not the substance or even to know how far off the mark Senator Rubio's comment landed. Myanmar is not only half-way around the world; the nation has always existed in the shadow of China, the gargantuan. Myanmar used the rapprochement with the U.S. as a counter-balance to China, (whose investors turned Myanmar's property markets into the hottest in the world). Rubio's notion that President Obama did something in Myanmar that he should have done in Cuba, ie. put conditions -- a step-by-step approach with military dictators, is just plain wrong. Different part of the world. Different history. Different circumstances. Advertisement Marco Rubio supports a failed U.S.-Cuba policy on the embargo that divides Hispanics through wet foot/dry foot and harmed Cubans on the nation where the United States has been the gargantuan. No one in the Democratic camp argues that generations of Cubans and Cuban Americans weren't deeply harmed by the brutal dictatorship of the Castros who turned the island nation into a time capsule of communism. No one in the Democratic camp argues that communism wasn't a social and political experiment gone haywire. But you don't get out of a foreign policy ditch by digging a deeper ditch; exactly the path U.S. foreign policy followed for decades. Credit the Democrats, many Republicans in Congress, but especially President Obama for making that point clear to Americans. In their hearts, Republican voters know that creating the opportunity for normal relations with Cuba will influence the next generation of Cuban military leaders. So why in the world should Cuban Americans continue to support Marco Rubio, especially given the fact that the candidate HE supports for president, Donald J. Trump, was doing business with Cuba when doing business with Cuba was a flagrant violation of U.S. law and the embargo energizing Cuban Americans? Rubio, last night, got a laugh when he said of Patrick Murphy's support for the end of the embargo that his challenger was endorsing Trump's behavior. Advertisement It was a below-the-belt hit and Rubio smirked when he made it. What Trump did was illegal. He lied, and he is still lying and Marco Rubio supports him. President Obama changed the rules of engagement with Cuba. The law changed. Most Cuban Americans -- and Americans -- support President Obama's initiatives on Cuba, leaving Marco Rubio at the side the road, polishing his sound bites. For the Miami Herald, Fabiola Santiago this week wrote a scathing editorial, "In supporting Trump, proud Bay of Pigs vets drag themselves into an unworthy battle." ... Donald Trump's campaign engaged the Bay of Pigs veterans because he's falling behind in Florida, a must-win state where the Hispanic vote counts, and it's massively favoring Hillary Clinton, Cuban-Americans included. He needs every single Cuban vote, but major Cuban-American Republican donors are not only voting for Clinton, they're raising money for her campaign. And all those politicians the Brigade has supported for decades and who now face re-election too? Missing at the Brigade's Trump event. Talk about a first. The Bay of Pigs Association endorsement doesn't make any sense at all. It rings false, trite, like the cafecito Trump pretended to sip on his last visit to the Versailles counter while the cameras rolled. In a full-page advertisement in the Sunday October 23, 2016 edition of the Los Angeles Times, the union representing Los Angeles teachers, challenged the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) to a "public debate on key educational issues relating to equity, access and accountability." United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) also posted the challenge in Spanish in Hoy and La Opinion. The advertisement, written as an open letter to parents, attacks CCSA for "indefensible tactics, such as trying to shield charters from financial accountability and lobbying to defeat a bill protecting charter students from unfair expulsion." According to Alex Caputo-Pearl, UTLA President. "We believe it is time for the community and parents to hear CCSA explain why they oppose financial transparency, student equity and access, open meeting laws and a democratically elected oversight body in schools that are funded by taxpayers. While charter schools use taxpayer money, they are privately run. This has led to documented cases of financial malfeasance, self-dealing and profiteering." Advertisement Groups associated with the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) are pouring money into legislative campaigns trying to elect a pro-charter majority in California. According to California's Secretary of State pro-charter forces spent more than $3 million on contested races. More than $1 million is being used to influence voters in just one state senatorial district. According to Colin Miller, acting Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at the CCSA, the group's top legislative priority is to make it easier to open new charter schools and expand existing schools. With support from private philanthropy, the number of charter schools in the L.A. Unified school district has exploded to 225, the most in any American school system, attracting about 16% of enrollment. Many educators in traditional schools worry that this expansion could force L.A. Unified into bankruptcy, hurting public school students. CCSA is a lobbying organization for the charter industry. UTLA charges that it "promoted an environment that is rife with discriminatory enrollment practices and biases against special needs students and English language learners at many charters across the state." CCSA is funded by Eli Broad, the Waltons of Walmart, and other wealthy privatizers. CCSA and its Super PAC spend millions each year to promote the unchecked expansion of charter schools at the expense of neighborhood schools and the public education system. Advertisement Charter school operators in Los Angeles have recently come under fire from elected oversight agencies. On Oct 18, the Los Angeles Unified School Board refused to renew operating agreements for five charter schools, three campuses operated by Magnolia Public Schools and two others run by Celerity Educational Group. Some district officials were concerned with Magnolia's past practice of importing teachers from Turkey with their families and using taxpayer funds to pay their immigration fees. Magnolia officials also have ties to a controversial Turkish cleric implicated in a failed coup in Turkey last summer. Other Los Angles charter schools have also been in trouble recently. Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (Alliance), the largest charter school chain operating in Los Angles, California faces an investigation for using public funds to while trying to defeat a teacher-led union drive at its schools. State Senator Tony Mendoza (D), who initiated the move against Alliance charged, "The purpose of those funds is to educate children inside the classroom -- not to intimidate teachers and parents." The LAUSD Board is now pushing for the resignation of the executive director of El Camino Real Charter School for misuse of school funds. In spring 2016 In spring 2016 The Los Angeles Times published a list of the 100 lowest performing high schools in Los Angeles County based on student performance on SAT tests. Eight of the ten worst performing schools, including one that has already been closed, were charter schools. This included the Animo Locke Charter High School #1 operated by the Green Dot Corporate Charter Schools chain whose founder, Steve Barr wants to run for mayor of Los Angeles in 2017 based on his record of educational "success." The advertisements are part of UTLA's "We Are Public Schools" campaign to hold charter schools accountable and to fight to build community schools. The campaign web site includes a petition to get CCSA to debate UTLA representatives in a public forum. Carol Burris, Executive Director of the Network for Public Education, and Valerie Strauss have produced a four-part in-depth expose of problems with California charter schools for the Washington Post. Among other findings, the South California branch of the ACLU and a group called Public Advocates charge that more than 20% of California charter schools have enrollment policies that violate state and federal law. October 20th 2016 marks the official induction of the 1st Annual Trans Nation Festival, co-hosted by Amazon Prime. This 4 day celebration runs October 20th -23rd 2016, and will pay tribute to the trans community through beauty, art, and film. The event will be initiated with a film festival guest curated by producer and trans performance artist Zackary Drucker. An eclectic selection of the best new shorts along with rare gems that reflect the trans experience through film are expected to be showcased in the city of West Hollywood. Advertisement Filmmakers and actors will present these pieces, which will also include the Los Angeles premiere of "Diane from the Moon", starring Mya Taylor. Candis Cayne and Curly Velasquez will emcee The Queen USA Transgender Beauty Pageant, which is also constituted in the 4 day festival. This 15 year long pageant was created to celebrate the heights of transgender beauty culture while engaging contestants and the audience in a broader awareness of transgender issues. The assortment of celebrity judges will include Caitlyn Jenner, Geena Rocero, Alexandra Billings, and Kelly Osbourne to name a few. Contestants will compete in the categories of swimsuit, cocktail, and evening wear in addition to participating in a q&a portion which will enable contestants to explore key issues facing the transgender community. Advertisement Proceeds from the 4 day festival will go to the Imperial Court of Los Angeles, which is a private non profit 501(3) California Public Benefit corporation whose primary goal is to further relationships with organizations and businesses within the LGBT community in Los Angeles. Donations will also benefit St. John's Well Child and Family Center, an independent non profit 501(3) community health center that provides primary health care along with socioeconomic and social justice services for over 1200 transgender patients in South LA. St. John's has been a groundbreaking addition for the transgender community of Los Angeles in terms of health care. "Our clinic has grown from 6 patients to over a thousand in less than 3 years with virtually no outreach or promotional work. Our program has grown exponentially through word of mouth," says Diana Feliz Olivia, Program Director of St. John's Transgender Health Care Program. Diana Feliz Olivia, a latina transgender woman who was also appointed to the Transgender Advisory Council for the City of Los Angeles earlier this year, stated: Advertisement "The reason for the Trans Nation festival is to bring trans men and women together to build community and support. We really needed a multi-day festival in Los Angeles to celebrate the intelligence, grace, poise, and talent of the trans community while raising funds to expand our services and create new opportunities for our community." Diana Olivia has been the program director of the St. John's Transgender Health Care Program for over a year, and emphasizes how the health care program is unique in the way it serves the trans community. "The majority of our staff is transgender, which immediately puts our new and present patients at ease. They walk into our office and they see someone who looks like them, talks like them, and dresses like them and they feel comfortable. This is part of what has made our program so successful and unique." The Trans Nation Festival is the first of its kind in Los Angeles and many in the trans community are hoping this event will not only bring the community closer together, but also help other communities familiarize themselves with what being trans means. The Trans Nation festival is particularly different from the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, because there is an entire day specifically set aside to celebrate the beauty of being transgender though the Queen USA Transgender Beauty Pageant. Advertisement This is particularly important, because many trans men and women struggle with the idea of feeling or being beautiful, since society teaches us we are not. It is vital to continue to maintain and cultivate transgender health care services because there are very few places where transgender health care is offered in an affordable and personalized setting. The Affordable Care Act included trans health care in many places and that was a remarkable step in the right direction for trans people, but in some ways it still remained difficult to receive personalized and comprehensive transgender healthcare. Now that health care is available it is wonderful to see community leaders, celebrities, and city officials coming together for one cause: to maintain the health and happiness of the transgender community in Los Angeles. The 1st Annual Trans Nation Festival begins Thursday October 20th, 2016 and runs through Sunday October 23rd, 2016. If you are going to be in the greater Los Angeles area and would like to attend and show your support, you can purchase tickets here: http://bit.ly/2dMQpJg All Huff And Puff (Oct. 20, 2016) was one of the more informative articles Ive read regarding RE-legalizing cannabis (marijuana) in Nevada. Colorado citizens heard all the cannabis prohibitionist rhetoric and voted and every subsequent poll indicates citizens continue supporting the end of cannabis prohibition. There is every reason to believe when Nevada citizens end cannabis prohibition, you will not look back with regret either. By Magali Delmas To many, political lobbying is seen as a way to advance special interests at the expense of the greater good. So when it comes to lobbying on climate change, the prevailing public view is that most firms lobby against climate regulations -- such as those aiming to curb carbon emissions -- because greater regulation threatens industry. It's not hard to see why this might be. There's evidence in just the amounts spent on lobbying around this issue. Consider the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the country's largest lobbying organization, which spent $90 million lobbying around climate change legislation in 2014 -- more than any organization, based on our analysis. That same year, one of the highest-polluting utilities, Southern Company, spent an estimated $9 million on climate change lobbying. This is one reason why Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse recently called for more corporate lobbyists to aid the climate movement. However, because lobbying data has only been recently made electronically available, there's been little analysis of which firms are lobbying most and on what issue. My co-authors, Jinghui Lim and Nick Nairn-Birch, and I examined Lobbying Disclosure Act data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics, to see which firms actually lobby on climate change, and how much they spend. Specifically, we wanted to determine whether it's true that only heavy greenhouse gas emitters ("brown" firms) lobby, or whether green firms (lower greenhouse gas emitters) are also active. Advertisement We analyzed lobbying expenditure data and greenhouse gases emission data on 1,141 U.S.-based firms. We focused on the years 2006 to 2009, as it was a period of intense climate lobbying -- the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed in the House of Representatives in June 2009, but was not taken up in the Senate. There have been no major climate bills since then, despite some initiatives to combat climate change in the Obama administration. We are able to focus on lobbying spending that was specific to climate change, by examining the issue descriptions filed with lobbying reports. We flagged words related to climate change, such as "climate," "global warming," and "greenhouse," as well as the names and numbers of climate-related bills. If we found climate-related key words, bill names, or bill numbers in the issue descriptions, we coded the amount as climate lobbying spending. We should note that one serious deficiency with Lobbying Disclosure Act data is that it doesn't include whether a company lobbied for or against a specific regulation. So we only know how much was spent. Our results, published in August in the Academy of Management Discoveries, show that both brown and green firms are active in lobbying. We found a U-shaped relationship between greenhouse gases emissions and lobbying, which means that the highest and the lowest greenhouse gas emitters spent the most on lobbying related to climate change. Meanwhile, companies that had average levels of emissions spent the least on lobbying, perhaps due to having less to gain or lose from potential changes in laws. Advertisement Between 2006 and 2009, the firms in our sample spent over $1 billion dollars lobbying on climate-related bills and issues. In our data, the usual suspects were most active in climate lobbying: companies in the automobiles and parts sector spent an average of approximately $1.8 million lobbying against climate change-related regulations per year, followed by the utilities sector ($1.1 million), oil and gas sector ($0.8 million), and basic resources sector ($0.8 million). However, our data also shows greater lobbying activity among greener firms within these same industries, perhaps because their firms can leverage new regulations to gain a competitive advantage over industry rivals. For example, one of the greenest utilities in the nation, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) spent the second highest amount (an estimated $27 million) of all firms lobbying on climate change in 2008 -- just behind ExxonMobil, which spent $29 million lobbying and produces an estimated 306 Million tons of GHG emissions. PG&E openly supported a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions, and even left the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over the organization's vociferous opposition to carbon regulation. Additionally, we also found a similar relationship between the percentage of spending on outside lobbyists and emissions: firms at the highest and lowest ends of emissions spent more on outside lobbyists (as opposed to keeping efforts in-house) relative to firms that have average emissions. One possible explanation for this could be that, similar to hiring consultants for their expertise, outside firms are hired as specialists when an issue such as climate change is of paramount importance to a firm. The evidence suggests that lobbying is not only conducted by firms opposing regulation, but also by those who want to change a system seen as too rigid. With massive economic interests at stake with each regulation aimed at curbing climate change, it comes as no surprise that vast sums are spent to petition government about them. Since the end of our study period, data from the Center for Responsive Politics (which was in turn derived from the Senate Office of Public Records) shows that more than $3.1 billion was spent lobbying on environmental issues from 2009 to 2014, the most recent period for which data are available. As lobbying can be a valuable component in the public decision-making process, companies are even getting customers in on the act: for example, Tesla insists that owners' clubs aid in lobbying efforts, and Airbnb enlisted hosts for its fierce political fight in New York. A 2013 study found that two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions were produced by only 90 companies. For international efforts to slow climate change to truly be successful, getting businesses on board will be crucial. And it's important for companies to recognize that lobbying can be an important part of their sustainability strategy. Editor's Note: The original version of this article stated that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent over $90 million lobbing against climate change legislation in 2014. We have clarified this sentence to explain that the authors' analysis only showed the USCC spent $90 million on climate change-related legislation. This article has been reposted from HarvardBusinessReview.org What are the various reasons for headcovering in your tradition, for women and for men? How are they understood and experienced as meaningful, and how as problematic? How do these understandings play out for contemporary Jews or Muslims, and for you personally? How does feminism come into the picture, for you and in your community? In which ways is headcovering an expression of group identification, or a personal practice of reverence or modesty? How does headcovering foster expectations in others, and what are the burdens and opportunities for visibility and representing one's larger community? How do observant Jews and Muslims think about headcovering in relationship to personal safety, in contexts where fears of expressions of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are a real, practical concern? Dear Ailya, The irony of headcoverings in Jewish communities is that they simultaneously hide and reveal. They most obviously cover the head, but disclose a very particular kind of identity or affiliation. My experience in the Orthodox community is that the intended audience for the signals of which kind of kippah worn by men is other Orthodox Jews: the material, size, and location on the head collaborate to pinpoint specifically with which sub-sect of Orthodoxy one identifies. Advertisement The double irony is that within Orthodox communities, not wearing a headcovering is a bold statement. Not only is one signifying that they are breaking with the community, but that they are willing to conceal their Jewish identity among their gentile neighbors. In this way, going uncovered is perceived as going undercover. Sadly, there are many places in Europe where Jews advise not walking around with headcoverings because of the fear of sentiments and actions emanating from the far right, far left, and/or Muslim communities. It is a sad reality that many bold leaders there are seeking to rectify, which partially explains the French Jewish community's response to the Burkini ban. A French Jewish friend of mine, Noam Ohana, feels that although there is a de jure ban on the burkini on many beaches, there is a de facto ban on the yarmulke (the Yiddish word for kippah) in many neighborhoods. Men and women in our community experience headcovering very differently. For women, it is bound up with motifs of modesty, though sometimes these are undone by lavish and stylish wigs personified in what one blogger calls a "hot Chani" (Chani being a common Hebrew name in Orthodox circles). I do not envy modern Orthodox women who negotiate personal, familial, communal, and professional expectations in figuring out how to find their practice. Wearing a yarmulke does not come with as high a price. Best, Yehuda Dear Yehuda, I truly appreciate your insights about the complexity of head covering in contemporary Jewish communities. Muslim communities can certainly relate. In fact, styles of head covering, as well as the underlying reasons behind covering, are diverse across Muslim cultures and even among individuals. Advertisement Historically, some of the first Muslim women to cover their hair were the wives of the Prophet Muhammad. As exemplars in the community, their covering represented dignity, humility, and modesty for Muslim women. It also served as a marker of social class, as slave women of the time did not cover. Traditionally, men used to cover their heads as much as women, and this covering carried similar resonances of dignity and humility. While women's covering became an "obligation" in Islamic law, men's covering did not, although some schools of law highly encourage wearing it as Sunnah, or practice of the Prophet Muhammad, and during prayer. To me, the Qur'an is seemingly ambiguous when addressing women's head covering, stating that women should drape a scarf (khimar) over their chests. Many scholars say that this khimar denotes a head covering, while others insist that this is not clear in the text. Thus, we see a wide range of practice of head covering across Muslim communities, including many who do not cover. In terms of my own diverse American Muslim community, I have met women who wear the headscarf as a way to openly express their Muslim identity, particularly in the wake of 9/11 and anti-Muslim bigotry. Others have taken it off more recently out of fear of being targeted and harmed. Some wear it out of religious obligation or conviction, others out of social pressure. Some don it to express humility and modesty, others for piety and drawing closer to God. For some Muslim women, wearing the headscarf is a form of political expression. Muslim women cover their hair with multifarious intentions which may change throughout our lives. My own decision to cover my hair in my mid-20's was initially to honor and remember Zaynab, the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, a deeply spiritual and courageous revolutionary who struggled to restore justice in the Muslim community and whose head covering was forcibly removed by the ruling powers to humiliate her. I am curious to hear more about the religious significance of head covering for women and men in the Orthodox Jewish community and what makes it spiritually meaningful for individuals. Blessings, Ailya Advertisement Dear Ailya, Covering my head is a constant reminder of G-d's Presence and my bond with the Jewish people. In my experience, this is true for many men who wear a kippah. (By the way, while I speak here mainly for the Orthodox Jewish community; some women in the liberal movements, especially rabbis, also wear a kippah, either at all times or during prayer and study.) It is important to note that the traditional customs for men and women do not appear to be related to each other. For Orthodox women, there is an added dimension of modesty not present in men's headcovering. Women only cover once they are married, rendering the covering of hair something of a status symbol. The stricter interpretation of the custom entails covering all of one's hair; the more lenient one allows women to show the equivalent of 4 inches squared. Still more lenient positions provide allowances for showing more, or only covering one's head, without regard for how much hair is covered. Some women cover their hair only when they are outside the home, though inside the home they will go uncovered, even if they have guests over. Some married Orthodox women (and virtually all non-Orthodox women) do not cover their hair at all, rejecting the interpretations that consider it obligatory or finding no meaning in the practice. Though it is difficult for me to speak for women, what some who do cover their hair have shared with me is that they embrace the spirituality of a woman's symbol, and appreciate the deeper significance of the implied modesty. Women in the workplace struggle with how to "fit in" or advance while bearing a symbol that designates them as an Orthodox woman. Sometimes, they are concerned about a bias against them; other times, they fear they will need to battle the perception that they are somehow oppressed or undereducated. How do these issues play out within Islam? Best, Yehuda Dear Yehuda, Muslim women are also burdened by perceptions of being oppressed, undereducated, or "needing to be saved." For many American Muslim women, covering their hair serves to both challenge these perceptions and to subvert capitalist constructs of women's beauty that often reduce women to sex symbols. Interfaith organizer Nadiya Takolia remarks in her Guardian column that covering her hair is a political act "...telling the world that my femininity is not available for public consumption. I am taking control of it, and I don't want to be part of a system that reduces and demeans women." (1) Advertisement Takolia and many other Muslim women are confronting the sexualization of female bodies by donning the headscarf and covering their bodies. For them, covering their hair is actually a feminist statement. Contesting the widespread notion that the headscarf subjugates women, London-based journalist Hanna Yusef shares that on the contrary, "...for many women, the hijab allows them to reclaim their bodies and have full control over them, and that makes a lot of people uncomfortable." (2) She and many other Muslim women continue to emphasize the importance of a woman's freedom to choose her dress and its symbolism, while recognizing that there are some Muslim women and girls upon whom a particular dress is problematically forced. In my experience, the significant percentage of Muslim women who have not adopted head covering as their practice support the right of other women to choose to wear it; a minority of Muslim women reject the practice, viewing its prominence a symbol of rising "Islamism" or considering it unnecessary and/or misguided. For many women, however, head covering is an empowering decision that also carries spiritual significance. Ailya Vajid serves as the Associate Chaplain for Muslim and Interfaith Life at Carleton and Macalester Colleges. In this role, she supports the religious, spiritual, and broader meaning making journeys of Muslim, multifaith, and wider campus communities. In her work, she seeks to promote open, honest dialogue and interaction, and encourages communities to draw on the strength and richness of diversity as tools for learning, creative engagement, and positive change. Rabbi Yehuda Sarna is the Executive Director of the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at New York University (NYU), and the University Chaplain for NYU. He works to strengthen interfaith relationships on the NYU campus. In 2012, Rabbi Sarna he received an award from Temple of Understanding with NYU's Imam Khalid Latif and Chelsea Clinton for their work in advancing a new model of integrating interfaith and cross-cultural education into campus life. Advertisement By Christopher Zoukis The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a statewide probe on whether conditions in Alabama's 14 prisons for men violate the rights of inmates. The investigation is under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which allows action against jails or prisons that show patterns or practices of resisting inmates' civil rights. The new probe will center on whether inmates have safe and sanitary living conditions, particularly whether they have adequate protection against physical injury or sexual abuse by fellow prisoners or corrections officers. Spearheading the probe with the Civil Rights Division are all three U.S. Attorneys in the state. The state's prison system has long been beset by severe overcrowding and understaffing. As of July, the state prison system had 22,254 male prisoners -- 178 percent more than its design capacity, but down from 193 percent two years ago. Even after recently adopting new sentencing guidelines to ease overcrowding, state officials concede that consolidating old facilities and building new ones will be necessary to address the problem. Advertisement At the same time, state prisons now have staffing levels as low as 60 percent of the recommended levels. The Alabama prison system has also been targeted in numerous lawsuits claiming denial of inmate rights. One recent settlement compelled the state raise itself to long-established accessibility standards for disabled inmates. Alabama's system also has a troubled history of abuse and violence. In 2014, DOJ launched a probe of Alabama's lone women's prison, after an initial finding dozen of incidents of sexual abuse by prison staff, and later discovering numerous other deficiencies. Last year, DOJ ended the probe after the state agreed to make a number of changes. A local prison reform advocacy group also claims correctional officers at two state prisons threatened to bring disciplinary charges against male inmates if they refused to perform sex acts. This year alone, violent incidents include an inmate fatally stabbing a corrections officer at a morning mess hall at the Holman Correctional Institute -- the troubled maximum-security prison that has seen multiple strikes, riots and disturbances. And a corrections officer at another prison was arrested and charged with assault for threatening an inmate, then punching, choking him and beating him with a baton. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R), who unsuccessfully sought funds in this year's legislative session to build several new prisons, said he welcomed the chance to work with the DOJ to improve the state's prison system. He also pledged to try again in the new legislative session in February for a permanent solution to what he termed a "decades-old issue." Advertisement Some Alabama legislators argue that if they are unable to come up with a solution that satisfies the DOJ probers, the state could face a DOJ lawsuit seeking to take over control of Alabama's prisons for men -- a step the agency took in Alabama during the 1970s and has taken elsewhere, notably in California. The commissioner of the state's department of corrections says he understands "the seriousness of the DOJ investigation" and pledges full cooperation. I am often asked why I decided to go to law school in the midst of a successful career as a cardiothoracic surgeon. The answer lies in the complexity of the laws that were affecting the practices of all health care providers. I did not understand these laws and I was pretty sure my colleagues were as much in the dark as I was. I hoped to get some new knowledge to, hopefully, level the playing field when forced into the legal arena. Unfortunately, being a physician now requires much more than just knowledge of medical issues; it now requires business acumen and a knowledge of the law. Electronic Health Records, Pay for Performance, health care fraud, billing requirements, performance measures, the Emergency Medical Treatment Active Labor Act (EMTALA), Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), all have very complex rules. Of course, being sued for medical malpractice has its own set of elements including "standard of care", "duty owed", and "causation", none of which are readily understandable for people right out of medical school. In general, the statutes pertaining to health care are complex. There are lawyers who specialize in health care law and even they do not always understand the nuances of the precepts. In fact, some courts in dealing with these issues have come up with some very different interpretations of the laws. If the lawyers and the judges are confused as to what these various laws mean, there is little hope for the health care providers and hospital administrators who are doing their best just to care for the patients. Advertisement Being a physician has always entailed some risks, especially if working with patients with infectious diseases; this is the case for most surgeons. Exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, and now, even Ebola can occur in practice. Adding to these medical risks are the legal risks that the health care practitioner must confront. Lack of knowledge of the laws is no excuse and this ignorance will not be recognized in a court of law. It is common to read about physicians who have been arrested for billing fraud. The cases presented seem to be pretty egregious and I am sure there are some bad apples in my profession who should be called to account, however, it seems like our society is intent on marginalizing its physicians. Doctors and dentists in particular are being described as special interest groups only intent on making money. They are described as "providers" and the patients are "customers". Federal and State agencies are investigating practitioners for fraud in the provision and billing of services. Patients are being advised to review their billing information and inform enforcement agencies if they feel that fraud is involved. In fact, they can even receive some of the settlement funds if their claim is a winning one. Even our teaching hospitals and medical schools are subject to severe penalties if their documentation does not meet legal requirements; and these legal requirements are constantly changing. Some of these changing laws are even being enforced in a retroactive fashion which, for laws that may have criminal consequences, seems to be in violation of the Constitution which forbids enforcement of criminal laws in an ex post facto fashion. Advertisement In America, everyone is equal under the law. This idea is a linchpin for our society and it is critical for our on-going quest for ordered liberty. James Garfield, our last president to actually have been born in a log cabin, said "I have always found a keen intellectual pleasure in the law. It reaches into what is impersonal, it is unpartisan, and may be so studied as to enlarge the spirit." (Margaret Leech and Harry Brown, The Garfield Orbit 185, (1978)) It took me four years to get through law school. I had to go part time in order to maintain my surgical practice. During the first year, the professors would address me as "Mister Weiman" just like they would address all of the students with the "Mr." or "Ms." descriptor. After the first year grades came out, they all started to call me "Dr. Weiman." They wanted to be sure that I was serious about law school before they would be willing to acknowledge that I was a medical doctor. I never intended to give up on my career as a surgeon, but I wanted to learn as much as possible about the law and then, hopefully, convey some of that knowledge to my colleagues so that they could better participate in the legal process. The tide of health care law is changing rapidly and the debates are contentious. Just a few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine a Congress passing legislation that would force citizens to buy health insurance with mandated coverage for conditions that the buyer would never have. A Supreme Court decision allowing the Congress to levy a heavy tax on those who did not buy this mandated insurance was hard to foresee. Thousands of new IRS employees have been hired to police the new laws and many new boards and commissions have been or are being formed to further decide what the legal requirements of the law will mean. As the state legislatures and the United States Congress are actively involved in formulating health care law, health care providers with knowledge of the system should be better able to participate in the legal debates dealing with reform. This participation is essential as the laws will affect how future care is provided. Advertisement I enjoy reading and studying the law. The legal opinions are generally written by very smart people and these opinions often provide a picture of what was going on in our country at that time. The study of law is a study of the history of our country. The study of the law is far more interesting than studying biochemical pathways or minutiae of anatomy and histology. I study both medicine and the law but studying the law is much more fun. I know that taking care of patients is a noble profession and I still enjoy being a surgeon very much. However, I fear that the best and the brightest of the younger generations are being discouraged from pursuing this career path in part due to legal contraints. This cannot be in the public's best interest. SANFORD, FL - OCTOBER 25: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he prepares to board his plane after a campaign rally at the Million Air Orlando, which is at Orlando Sanford International Airport on October 25, 2016 in Sanford, Florida. Trump continues to campaign against his Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton as election day nears. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) When Elizabeth Warren was campaigning with Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire last Monday, she expressed a wish that so many of us now share, when she promised Donald Trump that "on November 8th, we nasty women are gonna march our nasty feet to cast our nasty votes to get you out of our lives forever." Getting Donald Trump out of our lives forever is a noble endeavor. It is one that many of us would give our right arm to see happen; but sadly, getting Donald Trump out of our lives is likely to be far more difficult an operation than simply voting him down as president in November. Why? Because he and his campaign will leave a legacy that will last well beyond this election unless it is explicitly addressed and politically refuted. Indeed, losing the election on November is likely, at least in the short term, to embed in the body of American politics the very things that have alienated so many right-thinking Americans from his candidacy and program. Donald J. Trump has stained American democracy in 2016, and that stain is likely to persist until and unless it is well and truly washed out. Advertisement I The individual bits of the legacy are presumably well known. There is, first and foremost, the sordid nature of so much that we have been obliged to contemplate as voters because of his reputation, past practices and current accusers. The painful details of sexual harassment, and sexual violence, have rarely been off the front page of US (and it should be said, many leading overseas) newspapers, or far from the headlines on one news broadcast after another. And because they have not, many of us have found ourselves needing a mental shower to clean away the grotesqueness of the things he has been accused of doing, and of the matters he has relitigated against the Clintons as part of his defense. Presidential election campaigns, at their best, are crusades of hope. This one, by contrast, has far too often been a ride through the sewer. Then there has been the bigotry - the bigotry in the language and policy proposals of Trump the candidate, and the bigotry and animosity he has released into the public square from sections of the crowds who have rallied to his cause. Part of that bigotry has been sexist. Part has been racist. All has been ugly; and all has re-energized that hidden section of the American right which to this day has not come to terms with the profound social revolutions now underway in the wider American society: revolutions in the roles and power of women, revolutions in the rising power of minority populations, and revolutions in the range of accepted modes of sexuality and living. The bigotry has often been repackaged as a challenge to political correctness, but the political correctness on which we now insist is itself the product of (and an index of) the success of past movements of social reform. By challenging political correctness, and by talking up old sexist and ethnic stereotypes the Trump campaign has not only sought to put a misogynistic narcissist in the White House. It has also threatened to turn the clock back, undermining by executive action some of the greatest gains of a half-century era of expanding civil rights. Advertisement And then there is the denigration of his political opponent and his undermining of the legitimacy both of her candidacy and of any electoral victory that she inflicts upon him. There is nothing new, of course, in the leadership of the Republican Party seeking to de-legitimize Democratic presidents. Even in modern times, the practice goes back to at least the impeachment crisis of the first Clinton presidency, and was very evidence in the determination of Mitch McConnell to make the first black president a one-term phenomenon. But Donald Trump has taken this de-legitimation thing to a whole new level by making two claims that other Republican presidential nominees have not. One is that his opponent has no right to be in the race because she is a criminal - a strategy of de-legitimation he first tried on Barack Obama via his birther comments. The second is that, win or lose, the whole electoral system is rigged - and rigged against him. On this argument, if he loses it will be only because the election was stolen from him.... ...and more dangerous still, stolen from his supporters. The biggest danger that this form of argument leaves us with is the problem of the dog whistle: the danger that - having told his supporters over-and-over again that Hilary Clinton is a crook and that the Washington elites are conspiring against him to deny him power - that one/more of his followers will interpret that as a call to political violence. Conspiracy theories abound on the Alternative Right, often given extra credence and publicity on the Breitbart News outlet headed by Donald Trump's current campaign chairman, among the most potent of which is the claim that the Democrats are secretly planning to abolish the Second Amendment and take away the private ownership of guns. All you need to do to trigger street protests and marches is to repeat the claims of elite manipulation of the results. All you need to do to mobilize the anger of the more extreme libertarians in the gun community is to repeat the claim that the Second Amendment is under assault; and all you need to do to discredit Hillary Clinton as a legitimate president is to regularly repeat old accusations of foul play by both Clintons that have been around on the Alt-Right since the 1990s. Donald Trump has regularly made all three claims, and because he has, the real and present danger is clear: Unless Donald Trump, if defeated on November 8, concedes defeat with a graciousness he has yet to show in this campaign, then our post-election politics may become (at least temporarily) even more sordid and depressing than they have been hitherto. II How long and how depressing will partly turn on how quickly the Trump support-bubble can be burst, and how quickly it bursts under its own contradictions; and on this latter at least, we need to be careful. Advertisement The Trump campaign has regularly been written off as a failure, with people waiting to see it implode and vanish at every stage of its development; and it hasn't imploded yet. But this time it might, not least because of the damage being done to the Trump brand by the regular exposure of potential customers to the character and bluster of the man himself. Maybe people will choose not to use Trump hotels. Maybe Donald Trump's millions will be quickly shown to be imaginary; and maybe one or more of the accusations of sexual misconduct leveled against him will give him and his accusers their day in court. Maybe, but maybe not: and if not, what Donald Trump's campaign has done is to leave him - if he does indeed lose on November 8 - well-positioned to present himself as the cheated champion of the American dispossessed. Until his bubble is burst, that is, this election campaign may simply be the first round in an ongoing saga of Trump demagoguery. So his bubble needs bursting - not by him, but by us. It needs bursting by a systemic attack on poverty in general, led by the Democratic Party, an attack designed to separate Donald Trump from his base by programs that address white working class poverty just as strongly as they address poverty in minority communities. And it needs bursting by the making of a complete break with the style and content of his campaign, a break that will need to be led almost exclusively by the Republicans. The Democrats need to return to a politics based on class inequality rather than racial inequality, and the Republicans need to break decisively with the soft bigotry of their 40-year long "southern strategy." Donald Trump may be the immediate problem, but he is also a response to problems of greater longevity and depth; and if we do not want to see him in our lives again (or some younger version of the same phenomenon) it is to the addressing of those underlying problems that we all need urgently to turn once this election is finally over. First posted, with full academic citations, at www.davidcoates.net The full set of David Coates' blog postings on the Obama years will be published in two volumes in December by Library Partners Press, as "Observing Obama in Real Time." In contrast to Vietnam War or Civil Rights protestors, the 1960s fighters in the women's movement first had to convince some people there even was a problem. The clueless crowd in the new Amazon Prime series Good Girls Revolt, which drops Friday, includes the editors of a national news magazine. In the final moments of the '60s, December 1969, they can't imagine why the women on their staff are suddenly no longer content being anonymous researchers. These women want a chance to write bylined stories. Advertisement Can you imagine? Based on a real-life legal action brought against Newsweek magazine and chronicled in Lynn Povich's book The Good Girls Revolt, the Amazon Prime series focuses on three women who do decide they want the same shot as the guys. These include career woman Jane Hollander (Anna Camp), free-spirited Patti Robinson (Genevieve Angelson), and the initially mousy Cindy Reston (Erin Drake) (above). They are all enthusiastic contributors to the magazine, which for purposes of this show has become News of the Week, even though they realize the job has a low glass ceiling. Under magazine policy, women can never become writers. But hey, the men who run the place figure, they aren't really serious about writing anyway. They just want some little job to earn pin money until they quit and start their real life's work, which is raising the kids and tending to their successful hubbies. Advertisement The women at News of the Week start feeling a little more ambitious when Nora Ephron (Grace Gummer, above, in a brief but memorable appearance) quits rather than stay in a system where she can never achieve her writing dream. Eventually they get a lawyer, Eleanor Norton Holmes (Joy Bryant) (above), and their contentious, precedent-setting ride gets underway. The men's side includes editors William "Wick" McFadden (Jim Belushi), an old-school World War II veteran, and Finn Woodhouse (Chris Diamantopoulos), a younger and slightly more flexible fellow who argues that the magazine needs to pay more attention to contemporary culture. In contrast to the adversaries in civil rights stories, who often are snarling racist bullies, the men here are not portrayed as monomaniacal oppressors. "I never saw the men here as evil," says Dana Calvo, who created the series and is one of its executive producers. "The question is how many men in 1969 would have given women a chance." Advertisement "Witt believes in his version of America," says executive producer Lynda Obst. "He has great respect for Nora. But if she becomes a writer for him, the system changes and everything could fall down." "Finn is operating in a system where women aren't allowed to be writers," says executive producer Darlene Hunt. "That's just the way it is. It's not something he thinks about. His focus is to beat Time magazine." The real and larger problem, says Hunt, was the widespread attitude in journalism, and elsewhere, that women were served adequately by what was thought to be benign paternalism. To men like McFadden, that was enough, and it had never occurred to him that perhaps anyone could see it differently. "There's a scene," says Hunt, "where the male boss looks at one of the women and says, 'You're such a nice girl.' He's just mystified. Advertisement "One of the challenges when we were writing the script was asking ourselves, 'Is he too much of a bad guy? What does he really want?' " Another challenge, says Calvo, was acknowledging that the women's movement was running parallel to and often intersected with the anti-war movement, the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement and other social forces of the late 1960s. "We mention the others," Calvo says. "We couldn't ignore them. But we try to keep our focus on what our girls are doing." Making the scope too broad, says Hunt, "would be too easy. Our question was, 'What's our show?' You can find you're writing a whole episode just on journalism." The producers of Good Girls Revolt acknowledge that what Patti, Jane and Cindy want seems, today, like just common sense. If a woman is the best writer for a story, she writes the story. Everyone wins. Advertisement But with the likes of the Rolling Stones and Iron Butterfly to remind viewers when this is all taking place, their seemingly benign request has seismic implications. Many viewers will see the new CBS show The Great Indoors as a comedy. Some of us, however, know it's really a tragedy. The Great Indoors, which premieres Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, brings back Joel McHale (above) as Jack Gordon, a writer for Outdoor Limits magazine. He comes to the office one day to learn the mag is dropping its print edition and going "web-only." That's not the problem. The problem is that in the web-only world, outdoor writers don't actually go outdoors. The staff that is now running the operation, a handful of self-assured, blithely oblivious millennials, thinks an outdoor adventure is walking two blocks to a different Starbucks to get better wi-fi. All stories are written in the office on electronic devices, by people whose research consists entirely of Internet searches. Advertisement So instead of sending Jack to Alaska to report on a wilderness trip where one might see a grizzly bear, the staff wants to spit out a quickie titled something like "Five Things To Do If You Run Into a Bear." Jack suggests they really only need one item on that list: "Die." Needless to say, the new Outdoor Limits staff incorporates all the signature stereotypes of millennials. Clark (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) is the alpha research geek, convinced he knows everything about this planet and others even though he has never left the city. Emma (Christine Ko) (above with Mintz-Plasse) runs social media, meaning the only use she has for actual articles or information is that it occasionally can draw an extra click or like. Advertisement If you don't live on social media, Emma assumes, you don't exist. Mason (Shaun Brown) is the seemingly laid-back office dude whose relaxed persona only thinly hides his multiple neuroses. Just for balance, The Great Indoors also includes some grownups who quickly become sitcom stereotypes of their own. Roland, played by the droll veteran comedian Stephen Fry (above), owns Outdoor Limits. He's an outdoorsman himself, and has always valued Jack's superior writing. But he's been talked into joining the new world and seems to have pretty much written off the old one. In his own way, he's as oblivious to Jack as the youngsters are. Jack's immediate boss is Brooke (Susannah Fielding), Roland's daughter. Would it surprise you to know she and Jack used to date? Awkward. The leadoff joke, logically enough, is that Jack declares it's preposterous to run an outdoor adventure magazine, web-only or not, where you replace actual reporting on adventures with flashy, attention-getting headlines that lead the reader into short gimmicky items with no substance. Advertisement The millennials don't see that as a problem. To them, at least at first, Jack is the problem. Why won't he get with the program? When does he think we're living, the Dark Ages? Who needs him? Happily they reach a truce, which saves The Great Indoors from being the shortest-run show ever. McHale. a pro, conveys Jack's bewilderment and astonishment while making it clear he has a few quirks of his own. The millennial team dramatizes equally well their puzzlement that anyone would still want to run a magazine, or the world, the way it was run five years ago. Seriously, dude? To the civilian viewer, it all adds up to funny stuff and good characters. How it will sustain, well, that's the question for every sitcom. The only problem, which doubtless will seem most acute to those of us who have actually worked in media, is that whole swaths of The Great Indoors don't play like a light comedy. They play like a dark comedy. A very dark comedy. Heck, they play like a documentary. We're way too close to a "Five Things To Do If You Run Into a Bear" world. I could go on, but you'll have to excuse me. I'm going to take a picture of a cake, send it out on Instagram and call it a cookbook. By the half-way point of fall we are surrounded by a ambient prescience of impending death. Death and decline. Death and disappearance. The sun seems to be dying as we approach the winter solstice six weeks away. Our world steeped in deep shadows, the light decreases daily, dimming toward the shortest, darkest day of the year. And the year, itself, is reaching the end; drawing to a close. Another cycle completing its course. The autumn cross-quarter day, when all of nature seems to be dying, has long been observed as a Feast of the Dead in Northern cultures. The Celts and other Northern Europeans celebrated the Mid Autumn Day of the Dead as Samhain. Folks everywhere have understood that this season exposes a crease in time. A fissure between summer and winter. Between the old year and the new. During this period the dead are thought to have easy access to the living and are likely to pay a visit. Advertisement It would certainly be nice to see Grandma again, but in addition to the benign and beloved ghosts wandering about now, there were also thought to be innumerable fairies and goblins, strange specters and black cats, witches on brooms and all sorts of evil spirits released into the dark. But of course in real everyday life, the witches were the Grandmas! They possessed the secrets of life and living, simply by living life with conscious intention, with conscientious attention, with purity of purpose, with focused passion, and with the sovereignty of their hard-won Self-enfranchised power. Their power was potent, so vital that they seemed scary in a patriarchal world. The fear and hatred of witches is obvious in portrayals of them as being old, bent, ugly, warty, cranky, nasty. Witches were nasty women! WITCH BITCH WHICH BITCH Several years ago I was the ritual consultant to the writer of The Last Keepers, a film about three generations of women who are the direct descendants of witches who were burnt at the stake in medieval Europe. They are an artistic contemporary American family who practice the old Earth honoring religion of the Great Goddess. And they strive to keep that spirit alive. Advertisement The fabulous Olympia Dukakis plays the Grandma. She is perfection as the modern witch, priestess, shaman, matriarch, Queen, woman of power. Her rituals are recognizable. We know her. She is us! She is a witch. She is not a bitch. But it is clear that she could be at any moment if she were called upon to stand in her power against all aggression, manipulation, domination, and in defense of all Life. WITCH BITCH Samsung's brand crisis is worse than I thought it would be. The real severity of the problem dawned on me last weekend as I prepared to fly back to Zurich after a vacation with my family. Having just boarded the plane, I was busy getting settled in my seat when something unusual caught me by surprise. "Mobile phones and other electronic devices should be powered off or switched onto airplane mode. If you have a Samsung Galaxy Note 7, it must be completely powered off and stowed away while on board this aircraft." I travel a lot for business, so I've heard pre-flight announcements more times than I can count. But hearing a flight attendant name a specific product brand as a serious risk to passenger safety? Never. Advertisement Until then, I'd been reading about the infamous manufacturing issue that has caused multiple Galaxy Note 7 devices to overheat and catch fire. It seemed to me that Samsung was doing everything it could to manage the crisis. Last month, the company issued a recall of 2.5 million devices. Just recently, the consumer electronics giant made an announcement that it is halting production of the model entirely. But what Samsung can't manage is this: every single day, millions of air travelers are told that the Galaxy Note 7 is a life-threatening piece of hardware. This would result in a quick death for most companies --or, at the very least, it would call for a company rebrand. But the consumer electronics giant isn't like most companies, and for the rest of my flight to Zurich, I thought about the reasons an established brand should and shouldn't consider rebranding. Because brands are so influential, businesses must be cautious in undertaking a rebranding initiative. To perform a complete rebrand -- including a new positioning, name, visual identity, and messaging -- there better be a good reason. When Rebranding Is Necessary In general, there are only two scenarios when a complete rebrand makes sense. The first is a turnaround situation, when the brand is in a state of catastrophe. This can be attributed to a particular event or a significant decrease in sales, attraction of the wrong audience, or brand confusion. Some might say the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 disaster is a textbook example of this. Advertisement The second is a structural change. A rebrand can bring together two organizations with different identities into one unified entity, as seen in mergers or acquisitions, or it can support organizations that have recently spun off from a parent company. One example is the creation of Mondelez International, the global snack food company that spun off of Kraft Foods in 2012. While the name was met with mixed reviews, it accomplished its main task: signaling a total departure from the Kraft brand. Reactivation, Not Rebranding A complete rebrand should not be taken lightly. It should be the last resort for Samsung and for any company. It is the most radical solution a company can take, and often it's not the right one because it risks destroying brand equity and losing audience awareness. Take the example of the British Royal Mail, which decided to highlight the move from state to private control by rebranding and renaming the company Consignia. The new name performed terribly, and so its reputation was quickly tarnished. Eventually, the name was changed back to Royal Mail. The beauty of branding is that there is a wide range of measures that management can utilize, a complete rebrand being only one of them. A smart course of action is brand reactivation through a constant evolvement of brand strategy, visual and verbal expressions, and customer experience. There are many examples of brands that overcame lost identities and negative brand perceptions without giving up the brand equity they had built over years. Building Brand Enthusiasm For decades, IBM had a perception of antiquated and irrelevant technology. Instead of changing the name, IBM management differentiated its brand positioning and messaging strategy through the Smarter Planet initiative. By framing the importance of harnessing sustainable approaches to the world's greatest problems through technology, IBM was able to shift the brand in a new, modern direction. Empowering its hundreds of thousands of employees to become advocates for Smarter Planet on social media, IBM managed to breathe life into the organization using new brand strategies as a catalyst for change. Advertisement Branding is one of the most powerful tools in the hands of management but requires delicate handling. There is no turning back from a complete rebrand, and there are very few situations where one is appropriate. A complete rebrand destroys all brand awareness, and in today's world, where it's hard to get attention, it is often wise instead to change the existing perception of the brand by giving it new meaning. The Samsung Brand: Moving Forward What is Samsung? What value does it truly provide for its customers? How does it make their lives better? How is the experience of Samsung different than Apple or Google? How is it better? A brief dispatch from Charlotte: "We are sick and tired of seeing hashtags, and buttons with our kids' faces on them, and t-shirts that have replaced our children's bodies," said Geneva Reed-Veal, whose daughter was Sandra Bland. Bland, age 28, was found dead in 2015 in a Texas jail cell, in a highly controversial case in which a minor traffic infraction was escalated by police into a major confrontation. A video of the confrontation was viewed by millions on You Tube. Reed-Veal is one of the group known as Mothers of the Movement who are touring swing states to encourage and inspire people to vote for Clinton. Theirs is a club, they say, whose membership they hope won't grow. It includes Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin; Lucia McBath, the mother of Jordan Davis; Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner; Geneva Reed-Veal, and Maria Hamilton, the mother of Dontre Hamilton. Amongst them, they have plenty to say about America's criminal justice system, racial disparities, lax gun laws, and Clinton's commitment to addressing the violence and deaths caused by an under-regulated firearms market and a rash of racially biased- inflected deaths of unarmed people, for which the police have repeatedly been acquitted. Advertisement "We have thousands of people dying from all these guns, it's really bad," said 56-year old Maria Hamilton, whose mentally ill 33-year old son Dontre Hamilton was, his mother says with evident pain, shot fourteen times by a Milwaukee policeman in a park in 2014. She also tells of a 15-year old who was able to obtain an automatic rifle within 45 minutes, pointing out the need for background checks, and closing the online gun sales loophole. Hamilton has been working on police accountability, crisis intervention training for police faced with mentally ill individuals, and other initiatives related to improving police/community relations. North Carolina is a key swing state in the presidential election, with hotly contested Senate and gubernatorial races. Geneva Reed-Veal and Maria Hamilton made a surprise visit to the two dozen volunteers in a makeshift North Charlotte campaign office in a little strip mall near an old police station and a Family Dollar store. They visited on October 21, one day after early voting opened in this state. The volunteers were a diverse and mixed crowd - some local Charlotte residents, a young man from Portugal, a few New Yorkers here to help out for the weekend, a Trinidadian-born woman who'd offered to make chili for twenty of the next weekend's volunteers, and an African-American Arkansan who, she said, had worked in every Clinton election "since they first ran for office in Arkansas". The volunteers stopped making calls to voters to hear the Mothers speak for 20 minutes. "We need someone in office in January who will pass legislation that will actually protect everybody," concluded Hamilton. Then she and Reed-Veal, a duet of tragedy and hope, left for their next inspirational visit, as the volunteers returned to dialing. Caption: Hillary Clinton spreading her arms (image credit) This article first appeared on the blog of Intentional Insights, a nonprofit organization that empowers people to refine and reach their goals by providing research-based content to help improve thinking, feeling, and behavior patterns. Written by Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Intentional Insights Co-Founder and President ____________________________________________________________________________ The vast majority of pundits declared Hillary Clinton the decisive winner of this week's debate. This includes both conservative and liberal pundits. For instance, Douglas Schoen of Fox News wrote: "She was ready for all of his quips with a litany of detail that may have bored the viewer at points, but showed why she is winning on qualifications, experience and temperament in every poll." However, most post-debate online polls are breaking for Donald Trump as the winner. These polls are not rigorous, in that anyone can vote in them multiple times, regardless of whether they would vote in the actual election. Still, some of these polls have hundreds of thousands of votes. They provide significant evidence of enthusiasm for Trump's debate performance and suggest that the pundits are wrong about Clinton dominating the debate. Advertisement So what explains this difference between the polls and the pundits? As an expert on the role of emotional intelligence in public life, including in debates, I have long observed that mainstream media commentators don't give sufficient credit to the role of emotions in shaping public perceptions. Understanding the impact of emotions in politics is key for making an accurate prediction of how debates will impact voting. Pundits vs. the public Pundits tend to focus on the substance of the debate by analyzing the content of each candidate's statements. Schoen's quote above is typical of what pundits value: policy details that express appropriate qualifications and experience. This focus on content fails to fully reflect what actually influences the viewing public - body language and tone of voice. The first-ever presidential debate, between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy, was apparently seen as a tie by those who listened on the radio. Yet, those who watched on television and got to compare the energetic and healthy-looking Kennedy with the pale, shifty-eyed Nixon saw the former as the winner. Advertisement In the presidential debates most Americans focus more on nonverbal cues of body language, and remember them after the debate is over, compared to the content of what is said, according to David Givens, director of the Center for Nonverbal Studies, a private nonprofit research center. These nonverbals are of fundamental importance to communication, and they often mean more than what is actually being said. This is something that traditional pundits fail to give due credit. This failure can be seen in previous debates in which Trump participated for the Republican presidential nomination. In most cases, pundits declared that Trump was defeated by his competitors, but he won in post-debate online polling and ended up with the nomination. Research on emotional intelligence provides key clues for why Trump ended up on top. Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive and influence the emotions of others. While we perceive ourselves to be rational beings, in reality studies show that our emotions dominate most of our mental processes. Donald Trump during the first presidential debate. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Emotional intelligence is especially important for leaders due to the phenomenon of emotional contagion - the ability to "infect" large numbers of people with your emotions. Research shows that emotionally intelligent leaders are especially skilled at emotional contagion. This is a fundamental component of what scholars call charisma, the whole complement of factors that enables a leader to influence others through the leader's personality. In my work on the role of emotional intelligence in public life, I have long highlighted Trump's strength in playing to the emotions of his audience. He has succeeded in being perceived by the public as more honest and authentic, despite fact checkers saying otherwise. Advertisement Emotional intelligence and the first debate Charisma has long been a weak area for Clinton. She has struggled to overcome the persistent impression that she's inauthentic, cold and distant, which she says emerged from her learning as a young woman to control her emotions. In this debate, Clinton needed to demonstrate a better sense of emotional connection to the audience to win over important demographics, such as Bernie Sanders supporters. Despite her command of policy and substance, Clinton did not in my view succeed in conveying strong emotions during the debate. For instance, in the part of the debate about the economy, the most important issue for U.S. voters, she conveyed a clear plan, with strong evidence backing it up. In her debate preparation she likely worked on injecting emotions into her presentation through telling stories, a classical way of conveying emotions. She shared some powerful stories of people suffering from the poor economy and how her policies would help them out. But her nonverbal cues - body language and tone of voice - showed lack of emotional expression. For instance, in this moment in the debate, Clinton talks about helping people who are struggling to balance family and work, and experience various stresses. Yet her tone and body language do not change to reflect these emotional topics. She did not gesture or change her voice to express empathy with those who struggle and have stress. She looks the same as she does a little later or earlier when talking about policy details. Advertisement Nonverbal cues of body language and tone are especially important in cases where the content of the verbal statement is at odds with the nonverbal cues. Emotional stories told with flat affect are unlikely to work for convincing the undecided and Bernie supporters that Clinton truly cares and is actually fighting for them. Training in conveying emotions through body language and tone of voice could help Clinton in the next debate and public speaking in general. By contrast, Trump looked like he truly cared about the economy. Right out of the gate, he spoke to the emotions of voters by expressing concerns about jobs leaving the U.S. Despite the lack of detail and his difficulty responding to questions about how he would solve this problem, his body language was angry and authoritative. He appeared to be a strong protector to those voters, especially working-class ones who are suffering economically. He may have even appealed to those who are doing fine, but believe that the economy is headed in the wrong direction. Advertisement Trump also harshly criticized Clinton on trade deals such as NAFTA, calling it the "worst deal ever" in a strong and aggressive manner. Clinton's calm response that Trump is "inaccurate," without good nonverbals indicating her authentic belief that he was lying, is an example of how Trump got the best of Clinton on the nonverbals. Overall, I would argue that while Clinton won the debate on content and substance, Trump won on style and charisma. In fact, I believe the 2 to 4 percent gain for Clinton predicted by FiveThirtyEight and other pundits in the next week will fail to materialize. Until they start taking emotional engagement into consideration, pundits will continue to be wrong about debate outcomes, and we should question their initial predictions. ____________________________________________________________________ By passing a resolution excluding any link between the Jewish people, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, the Executive Board of UNESCO has not voted in a cultural resolution, in accordance with its role, nor a political one, which falls within the competence of the UN. No, this resolution is of a religious nature and it falls the day after Yom Kippur, the most sacred feast day in Judaism. In failing to clearly distance itself from the resolution, has France not missed a historical opportunity to place itself in a central role in the quest for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Furthermore, by not rejecting a resolution whose nature is theological and has no connection with the creation of Palestine, is the French government not sending out an utterly confusing message as to its conception of secularism, the cornerstone of the vivre ensemble model of society, a model already greatly under threat? The majority of nations did not support the resolution!Out of the 58 member states which sit on the Executive Board of UNESCO, only 24 voted in favor of the resolution, which clearly shows that the majority of nations did not declare their support for a text which rewrites the history books. Thus, one can justifiably question the reasons why only six states (Germany, the UK, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and the United States) declared their formal opposition to it. Advertisement There is an indication of why this is so, given the stance of the Arab nations. Indeed, several of them have admitted their annoyance in relation to a resolution they felt forced to vote in favor of, despite their close contacts with Israel. They have explained this by the pressure they were under from Islamic fundamentalists and public opinion. These arguments could be considered valid, given the indoctrination the peoples of the Near East and Middle East have been subjected to for years now. But what of the abstention, rather than opposition, of the western countries, those leading nations, those defenders of democracy and of human rights? Have they no opinions on the matter or do they simply prefer to wash their hands of it? Such a stance is in stark contrast to that of the UNESCO chief herself, who expressed her reservations on the resolution. Turning a political conflict into a religious conflict!By turning a political and territorial conflict into a religious conflict, UNESCO has opened Pandora's Box. This resolution will in no way help the Palestinian cause because it is basically an invitation handed to the Islamic fundamentalists and jihadists. Their intrusion in the debate will only serve to delay the creation of a Palestinian state, meanwhile replaced by an illusory, borderless Caliphate. And we have all seen the tragic result of such a perverted version of Islam with Syria and Iraq, which have all but disappeared. Advertisement Apart from the indisputable proof of the link between the Jewish people and Jerusalem which history and architecture bring, denying any such link and replacing it with an exclusive relationship with Islam is theologically nonsensical and only serves to discredit oneself. Indeed, with this illusion, it is not solely Israel and the Jewish people who are being discredited, it is also all the monotheisms which come from or refer to Judaism. That means Christianity and Islam and all the children of Abraham, including of course those who requested a vote on the present resolution. Peace between Israel and Palestine: yet another missed opportunity for France?After the failure of the Americans to obtain an agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, France, whose links with the Near East and Middle East are long-standing, had every reason to launch a new effort to help both sides return to the negotiating table. What is to be feared now from France's abstention is that after supporting a similar resolution at UNESCO several months ago and then promising to review its position, it will be hard-pressed to convince the Israelis and the Palestinians to sit at that table. To avoid such a situation, France should have sent out a clear message by voting against this unjust resolution and insisting that the sole solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is direct negotiations which neither side can avoid, adding that using international bodies to prolong the conflict serves only to cement positions and delays the creation of a Palestinian state. Indeed, how can France continue to be seen as a credible partner by both sides? And in losing its credibility, what is the use of France organizing an international peace conference? Advertisement Poor secularism!By falling into the trap laid by this resolution, France has become embroiled in a religious controversy which is far-removed from the basis of its secularism: separation of the Church and the State. The negative consequences of its stance will soon become apparent. Indeed, the State, which is supposed to guarantee freedom to practice one's faith, is now in a delicate position. This is because UNESCO's text is far-reaching in that it denies Jews and Christians, including of course those in France, the right to hold Jerusalem as a reference, reserving that right solely to Muslims. Not pitting one community against anotherBy believing it was taking an apparently neutral standpoint through its abstention, France has in fact irked everyone. However, what is all the more worrying is that there is now a risk of reviving tensions within the country itself. Ballot box with national flag on background series - LGBT flag We all have a sacred obligation to vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016 for one simple reason: only the Democratic nominee and her ticket have pledged to protect the rights of gay and transgender youth from discrimination. The Republican ticket has done the opposite. Republican Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence confirmed that, if elected, they would rescind the Obama administration's federal guidelines protecting gay and transgender children from discrimination at the local level, effectively leaving them to the mercy of extremely gay-unfriendly states and schools. Advertisement The reality is that many local school boards, city councils, and even state legislatures in conservative states have significant anti-gay bias and have demonstrated no desire to protect their gay and transgender youth from being harassed and sometimes killed, or induced into killing themselves, which is the same thing. So when I say "we" have a sacred obligation, I am referring most specifically to the out LGBT community, and more broadly to our allies and all those who believe in human rights and, most importantly, the rights of defenseless children to live lives free from harassment. Every gay or transgender person, particularly those over age 25 who remember life before DOMA fell, know what it is like to feel alone. To feel unprotected at school, and in many cases at home, to have nowhere to turn. The transgender community, and LGBT communities of color, feel this most acutely -- but we all understand it. What is truly sad is how many moneyed and educated LGBT individuals who once escaped from such lonely discrimination have forgotten that they themselves once escaped from it and now have an obligation to use their votes, their influence, and their money to protect those who come after. Advertisement Those who need them now. They must look in the mirror and say "I will not be Roy Cohen" and do something about it. And what is just as sad are the people of my generation, the liberal millennials, who equate Clinton and Trump and openly admit they may not impede his election -- and the discrimination that comes with it. Enablement is no different from direct endorsement. At our deepest, and most personal human levels, we must know and acknowledge that WE are the first and last line of defense for these youth, and only we have the capital and influence to protect them. And we only have that influence because we have helped elect a sympathetic democratic administration that has done more -- despite its weak platform on LGBT issues back in 2008 -- to protect the gay and transgender communities than any administration in history. The math is elusive. It was figured with sharp pencils. God is three and yet God is one. So said a 3rd-century African theologian who coined the term 'Trinity' and bequeathed it to 1,800 bishops gathered in 4th-century Anatolia to compose an obligatory Trinitarian creed, a creed that is still recited from the tip to the toe of planet earth. Father, Son, Spirit. Three-Is-One never sat well with monotheists like Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Bahais, and Caodais. Three-Is-One never sat well with polytheists either. Or atheists. All suspected the Trinity to be a petite polytheism. Petite because most polytheisms involve hundreds or thousands of Gods and the Trinity is just a small pantheon of three Gods. Even for some Christians (!) it's difficult not to visualize the Trinity as three distinct entities. Here's why. Advertisement First, the Trinity is referred to as 'three persons.' Second, there is a division of labor among the persons of the Trinity: Father begets, but Son and Spirit do not beget. Son incarnates, but Father and Spirit do not incarnate. Spirit emanates, but Father and Son do not emanate. Third, the Son is described as 'sitting at the right hand of the Father' in heaven, which is likely a metaphor for shared power but lends itself to an image of at least two entities. Fourth, there's the matter of Jesus stealing out to deserts and hilltops to pray to God, which brings at least two beings to mind. Fifth, and the most compelling, there's the ceiling and walls of the Sistine Chapel. Those paintings were not 'art for art's sake.' They were theologically didactic, a pictorial catechism. Let's not argue the legitimacy of a three-in-one God. Let's allow that Christianity is monotheism. Let's pursue another path and interrogate the Christian reaction to the view that the Trinity involves three distinct Gods. That reaction exposes a particular Western bias. I once witnessed an exchange wherein a Hindu college student said calmly to a Christian college student, 'I'd say you are a polytheist' and the Christian, instantly heated, responded, 'I'm offended you'd accuse me of that.' What is it that is revealed in this response? Well, being 'offended' announces a bias--against polytheism. If there were no bias, there would be no heat, no offense. Suppose someone says to me, 'I'd say you are Swedish.' And I respond hotly, 'I'm offended you'd accuse me of that.' My offense and my interpretation of your statement as an 'accusation' expose my bias against (hatred of?) the Swedes. I should offer a tranquil response: 'I'm Irish, actually.' And there should be a serene response from a Christian who is thought to be a polytheist: 'I can see why you might think me a polytheist, but I actually consider myself a monotheist. Let me explain.' Advertisement Our Western monotheistic bias against polytheism forgets that any reason to believe in one God can be used as a reason to believe in many Gods. Design in nature could suggest multiple designer Gods, since our experience of creativity teaches us that many separate inventors make many distinct things, like guitars, cars, freeways and scarves: one person did not make all of these items. Miracles could be attributed to many Gods instead of just one. Moral Commands could easily spring from a committee of Gods rather than from one God. And why couldn't there be many Uncaused Causes for the universe, instead of just one uncaused cause? Many Gods, not just one, could inspire the writers of Holy Books. And the appeal to Intuition expressed in the sentence 'I know in my heart of hearts there's one God' works equally well for the sentence 'I know in my heart of hearts there are many Gods.' (The appeal to intuition even works for 'I know in my heart of hearts there are no Gods.') Our Western bias against polytheism forgets too that the Western heaven is teeming with godlike creatures--millions or billions of angels and archangels--the very idea of which suggests a suppressed affection for polytheism. Monotheism could not wholly rid itself of the human attraction to multiple Gods, and so monotheism crowded its heaven with godlike entities, and it later added earthly saints to the heavenly roll, saints who wielded godlike powers. Polytheism was believed by ninety-five percent of people for thousands of years before monotheism arrived on the scene. Polytheism never died out, even when monotheism was at the height of its ascendancy. And today, perhaps two billion people are polytheists. Though polytheism has been slandered in the West, once we realize that polytheism is not less logical than monotheism and is not an inferior idea, then some people might embrace a petite polytheism and call it Trinity. Advertisement If we allow protectionism to define trading relationships, fair trade is at risk of becoming collateral damage. And any fallout from the US is bound to have a significant impact on the communities that fair trade helps to sustain. In short, if the current anti-free trade debate means less free trade, there's a good chance that US fair trade sales also get hurt. Worryingly, the neo-mercantilist turn isn't unique to US politics either. Britain's vote to leave the European Union--which was as much about globalization pressures as Trump's campaign platform--appears to borrow from the Trump deal-making playbook. Theresa May's new International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, announced her intention to "leverage" Britain's 11 billion foreign aid budget in order to negotiate better trade deals. The development community should wonder what exactly "leveraging" means for developing countries partially dependent on foreign aid. Does it mean withholding aid to fight the Zika epidemic unless trade tariffs are lowered? What about those that need aid but offer less trade to leverage? It may sound far-fetched, but the combination of Trump's neo-mercantilist threats and Patel's plan to get more trade benefits for British foreign aid even conjure up old imperialist fears about the core--developed countries like the US and the UK--controlling the periphery--developing countries--via trade. If the new rules of trade dictate bilateral over multilateral deals in a zero-sum game, why would smaller developing countries dependent on fair trade expect to remain unscathed? After all, if Trump is really serious about his pledge to reverse the US trade deficit and punish foreign countries who are killing us on trade, it can only mean that net exporters to the US--starting with China and Mexico, but including other developing countries--will have to shoulder this readjustment. So while we may fight over the terms of multilateral deals, wholeheartedly rejecting the idea of free trade creates greater risk that we veer towards protectionism. Rules-based systems like the WTO not only tend to be remarkably resilient, but they provide useful building blocks towards better collective--less discriminating--deals. They don't protect everyone: it'd be unrealistic to imagine they ever could. But they do try to prevent another problem that bilateral deals would be quick to capitalize on: a race to the bottom on issues like labor conditions and environmental standards simply to attract trade flows and foreign investment. If, for instance, the US shies away from ratifying or much less renegotiating TPP, the remaining eleven signatories may simply replace the US with China. Assuming China participates, the new group of twelve would still account for a third of the world's economy. But it would also mean that the development communities lose out on the US's absent role in establishing strong labor conditions and environmental standards--a key for developing country signatories like Vietnam, Malaysia, Chile, Peru, Brunei and Mexico. Indeed, many developing countries are on the front line of climate change's effects, and need recognized safeguards at the multilateral level. Joseph Stiglitz rightly points out the hidden costs and lack of environmental provisions in the existing TPP terms, noting that trade is unsustainable "...if firms are not required to pay the environmental costs they impose on society, which also present an existent threat to life on this planet." It's a criticism also echoed by Naomi Klein. Clearly, there's more work to be done to produce a transparently negotiated trade agreement that resolves the issues on intellectual property and multinational interests. But the alternative--Trump's proposal to replace multilateral deals with bilateral ones--will inevitably lead down a road of discriminatory trade and weaker environmental and labor standards. Fair traders often point to Adam Smith's Moral Sentiments, "...to see that both parties come out fairly" as a means to bridge free and fair trade towards a more humanistic, equitable form of capitalism. Ironically, many of the mercantilist problems that Smith believed capitalism was replacing are now reappearing. It's hard to imagine that Trump's Art of the Deal and Patel's comments can survive a system of congressional and parliamentary checks and balances. Still, let's hope that free trade doesn't become so demonized that it ends up hurting areas like fair trade that have helped address global trade inequities. The future - where there is a cure for all kids with childhood cancer - lies in the hands of young scientists who are just starting out in their careers in research. This doesn't mean seasoned researchers are not making a difference or have a place in the future, but young scientists have their whole careers ahead of them. With the pace science is advancing now, we have a chance to make huge advancements in the coming years. For many years at Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), we had on our wish list the desire to design a summit that brings together the young scientists who are doing research funded by ALSF. A summit where scientists could meet, learn about each other's research and hear from the top, experienced childhood cancer researchers in the world. Wouldn't that be amazing? Having an event like that would bring these elements together, build important collaborations and would change lives. Over 4 years ago, I sat in a room with a company that wanted to make a difference in the childhood cancer world. They asked us what was on our wish list and we told them about our idea of a Young Investigator Summit. That company, Northwestern Mutual, loved the idea because young scientists was a focus of their philanthropy and they agreed to underwrite the cost of the summit. As I sit here on a plane heading to the 4th annual ALSF Young Investigator Summit in Chicago, I think about the 55 young scientists who will be there. I think about the ideas and collaborations that will result from these scientists meeting each other. I think about the young kids who might be alive today because of a treatment a scientist learned about from a previous summit. And I think about the kids who will no doubt be saved because of treatments these scientists have a hand in developing. I think about the differences being made because someone once asked what was on our wish list and we had an answer. It's time to make sure we have new items on our wish list. What is on your wish list and are you ready to present it at a moment's notice? "There comes a time when choices have to be made and this is one of those times," said Helena Nolan, Ireland's director of disarmament and non-Proliferation, "Given the clear risks associated with the continued existence of nuclear weapons, this is now a choice between responsibility and irresponsibility. Governance requires accountability and governance requires leadership." The Obama Administration was in fierce opposition. It lobbied all nations, particularly its allies, to vote no. "How can a state that relies on nuclear weapons for its security possibly join a negotiation meant to stigmatize and eliminate them?" argued Ambassador Robert Wood, the U.S. special representative to the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, "The ban treaty runs the risk of undermining regional security." The U.S. opposition is a profound mistake. Ambassador Wood is a career foreign service officer and a good man who has worked hard for our country. But this position is indefensible. Every president since Harry Truman has sought the elimination of nuclear weapons. Ronald Reagan famously said in his 1984 State of the Union: The idea of a treaty to ban nuclear weapons is inspired by similar, successful treaties to ban biological weapons, chemical weapons, and landmines. All started with grave doubts. Many in the United States opposed these treaties. But when President Richard Nixon began the process to ban biological weapons and President George H.W. Bush began talks to ban chemical weapons, other nations rallied to their leadership. These agreements have not yet entirely eliminated these deadly arsenals (indeed, the United States is still not a party to the landmine treaty) but they stigmatized them, hugely increased the taboo against their use or possession, and convinced the majority of countries to destroy their stockpiles. I am engaged in real, honest debates among nuclear security experts on the pros and cons of this ban treaty. Does it really matter if a hundred-plus countries sign a treaty to ban nuclear weapons but none of the countries with nuclear weapons join? Will this be a serious distraction from the hard work of stopping new, dangerous weapons systems, cutting nuclear budgets, or ratifying the nuclear test ban treaty? The ban treaty idea did not originate in the United States, nor was it championed by many U.S. groups, nor is it within U.S. power to control the process. Indeed, this last point seems to be one of the major reasons the administration opposes the talks. But this movement is gaining strength. Two years ago, I covered the last of the three conferences held on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons for Defense One. Whatever experts and officials thought about the goals of the effort, I said, "the Vienna conference signals the maturing of a new, significant current in the nuclear policy debate. Government policy makers would be wise to take this new factor into account." What began as sincere concerns about the horrendous humanitarian consequences of using nuclear weapons has now become a diplomatic process driving towards a new global accord. It is fueled less by ideology than by fear. The movement reflects widespread fears that the world is moving closer to a nuclear catastrophe -- and that the nuclear-armed powers are not serious about reducing these risks or their arsenals. If anything, these states are increasing the danger by pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into new Cold War nuclear weapons programs. The fears in the United States that, if elected, Donald Trump would have unfettered control of thousands of nuclear weapons has rippled out from the domestic political debate to exacerbate these fears. Rising US-Russian tensions, new NATO military deployments on the Russian border, a Russian aircraft carrier cruising through the Straits of Gibraltar, the shock at the Trump candidacy and the realization -- exposed by Trump's loose talk of using nuclear weapons -- that any US leader can unleash a nuclear war with one command, without debate, deliberation or restraint, have combined to convince many nations that dramatic action is needed before it is too late. As journalist Bill Press said as we discussed these developments on his show, "He scared the hell out of them." There is still time for the United States to shift gears. We should not squander the opportunity to join a process already in motion and to help guide it to a productive outcome. It is a Washington trope that you cannot defeat something with nothing. Right now, the US has nothing positive to offer. The disarmament process is dead and this lack of progress undermines global support for the Non-Proliferation Treaty and broader efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. The new presidential administration must make a determined effort to mount new initiatives that reduce these weapons, reduce these risks. It should also support the ban treaty process as a powerful way to build global support for a long-standing American national security goal. We must, as President John F. Kennedy said, eliminate these weapons before they eliminate us. By Adele Charbonneau "Smart" thinking - introducing technologies to improve urban life - is increasingly being touted as a way to tackle existing issues and make cities more livable for all residents. These technologies have focused on improving transport, creating more environmentally friendly initiatives, streamlining governance and improving healthcare. Originally more widespread in developed countries, now cities in the Global South are also developing new technology-driven urban innovations across sectors to bring about wider change. Learn from four cities located on three continents about how the use of technologies can be a powerful tool to improve urban services from governance, mobility, safety and disaster management. Advertisement In Colombia, according to Jorge Bela, the need to find a solution to congestion problems, together with the lack of financial resources, has pushed the city of Bogota towards coming up with innovative solutions. In 2005, the municipality created the Bogota's Traffic Control Center. Its goal is to collect in real time as much data regarding the traffic situation in the city as possible. This data is analyzed immediately, and the results are used in key day-to-day decision-making processes. The system currently has 50 Wi-Fi enabled speed sensors, 160 sensors that count number of vehicles, bike detecting sensors and at least 100 city-owned cameras which can be connected to privately owned cameras. SIT (Intelligent transportation System) users have also access to cartography and GIS systems directly integrated in their system as well. The success of the SIT has encouraged the City of Bogota to create a similar center focused on reducing common crime. In Indonesia, smart thinking has been applied to enhance urban safety. Launched in 2014, to promote the use of information technologies in the city, the Jakarta Smart City now has eight official applications, including Safetipin. Safetipin serves as a smart application that facilitates people, both victims and witnesses, to report to the authorities when there is a criminal incident, or when they feel threatened and unsafe in public areas. Widya Anggraini explains how the app works; the mobile phone generates codes in the form of red signals to report emergency or dangerous situations while yellow signals indicate caution, and green signals show that the area is safe and free of disturbances. The data collected are directly integrated into the smartcity.jakarta.go.id website, and responded to by authorities for safety management. The app participates in promoting faster responses to crimes and greater safety in the city. Advertisement Finally, in Lagos, Nigeria, Peter Adeyeye highlights the impact of new technologies in disaster management. As a response to the increasing number of medical emergencies in the city, the state government established in 2001 the Lagos State Emergency Medical Service (LASEMS) and the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS). The service works with a radio-communication network and a phone hotline to facilitate fast communication. In case of other emergencies, citizens can also use the Lagos Directory Online, a website dedicated to providing contacts and addresses of Lagos government ministries. It gives access to mobile contacts for emergency services such as fire services, women's domestic violence helpline, child abuse helpline, distress or collapsed buildings, air ambulances and medical crew. In 2015, govTechnology, an international organization promoting digital innovation, revealed that the call centers in Lagos received about five-million calls monthly, emphasizing the critical role these hotlines play in reducing mortality. These articles presented initiatives from around the world to promote new technologies in urban governance. Check out more of the discussion on smart cities on URB.im and contribute to the debate. I have been feeling very heavy these days. Not because I'm eating junk or because I'm not exercising (although those happen from time to time), but because of the media bombardment around the sexual assault and treatment of women. I admit I may be particularly sensitive to this discussion. Not because I, myself, am a survivor of violence (I'm not, so I can't pretend to know how a survivor feels), but because I do a lot of work with people who know and counsel, and who are survivors of sexual assault as the chair of the board of the New York Asian Women's Center. NYAWC is an incredible organization that, for 34 years, has been at the forefront of dealing with issues surrounding violence against women. I will not get political in this post. Politics are not what's important here. What's important is that despite this being 2016, with women having won the power to vote generations before me in 1920, with women comprising the majority at many institutions of higher learning, and with women making up at least half of the workforce, it is still unclear to some how women ought to be treated - in the workplace, in social settings, and even in courts of law. Advertisement Over the last year, we have witnessed outright misogyny and violence against women in our communities and beyond. We have watched in horror as men, who have achieved and learned through education and vast experience in the workplace, and who have the largest platforms to be heard, get away with unfathomable behavior. We watched in horror when a judge was presented with clear cut evidence of sexual assault, he let the perpetrator off with the lightest possible sentence for fear of ruining his life. (To be clear, that was not a one off.) For generations, women have laughed off jokes and advances that have made them uncomfortable. They have skirted and endured physical affronts to the safety and security of their own bodies. They have remained silent or gone along with the "joke" for fear of their character being besmirched, their university administrations idly standing by, or their career potential threatened. It was just easier to attempt to navigate the boys' club this way. I know many women who have experienced violence and whose lives are forever changed. Equally, I know women who constantly rebuff advances, unwanted physical contact, or disrespectful comments from family members, their colleagues or even strangers on the street. This I know. And all of us, given the barrage in the media, are feeling it all over again - whether it was the worst invasion of sexual violence, oppression at home or in the workplace, or feelings of vulnerability because of a complete stranger. That a political candidate and news commentators feel at liberty to discuss women as objects, to talk about sexual assault like it's just typical male behavior, locker room talk, feels like a violation all over again. Advertisement And, too, it discredits all of the respectful and empathetic men in our communities who would not dream of talking or acting this way. Because there are so many of those good people too. In fact, I would venture to say that they are the majority. I have to believe they are the majority. If there's one positive thing that's come out this election cycle, it's that people - men and women alike - are talking actively and vociferously about what behaviors are acceptable and what must not be tolerated. I am finding that men are genuinely surprised at how often and how much women have to contend with disrespectful, oppressive, and worst, of course, violent behavior. We are talking to our sisters and daughters about shutting this behavior down. This is organic advocacy! But that's not enough. As I said, it is heavy. It is exhausting, and even traumatic for some, to hear the constant discussion about this. It's much worse, though, to know that these types of behaviors persist in 2016. I make myself feel better by acting. By doing. By doing something. I would ask you to do the same. Violence against women is wholly unacceptable. Many men have come out to say this too. Not just because they're the husbands or fathers or sons of women and girls. But because women are people. We cannot stand by and tolerate the continued existence of violence against women and the cavalier attitude toward it. CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 20: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich delivers a speech on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicked off on July 18. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Wouldn't it be great (for you) if I really were an angry, sex obsessed woman? I'm not -- although sometimes I do get angry and I happen to think sex is great -- but I'll bet you'd try and use that against me if we ever had a debate about politics. You'd probably point your chubby little finger at me and dismiss anything I had to say by insisting I'm a hysterical woman -- kind of like you did with Megyn Kelly the other night when you were a guest on her show, The Kelly File. Watching your condescending display of gorilla-like, chest-pounding protest because Kelly behaved like a professional journalist was one for the books. (And for the record, it KILLS me to say that anyone on Fox News behaves like a professional journalist.) Advertisement When she started to ask, "If Trump is a sexual predator," you interrupted her with that puss on your face -- that familiar puss face women all over the globe recognize from a sexist man who can't stand when an informed woman is challenging them. You interrupted her because she asked if (keyword - IF) Trump is a sexual predator (and by the way, he is because he admitted it on the Access Hollywood video), and you pointed your chubby little finger over and over as you scolded her for DOING HER JOB. We get it. You don't like that Trump proudly admitted he engages in sexual assault. It kinda blows your goal of party domination, as well as the false narrative that conservatives are all about family values and moral integrity. Trump admitted it, Newt, and your yelling at Kelly only makes you look like the angry old man who forgot to take his meds as he screams at the happy, frolicking youngsters to get off his lawn. Your response to Kelly -- that nonsensical diatribe about how much time the media has spent on Trump's admission of his uninvited sexual groping -- was inspired, considering how much time and money your dying, hypocritical party has spent on investigations into Hillary Clinton's actions as Secretary of State. You know; the emails, Benghazi, etc, and in the end, your taxpayer funded witch hunts came up with nothing on her. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. You wagged your chubby little finger and yelled at Kelly as if she were your teen daughter coming home drunk after curfew because you refuse to admit you're defending a presidential candidate who is a self-admitted sexual predator. Advertisement Perhaps your most revealing comment -- the one that exposed your deep-seated fear and hatred of strong women who don't behave in a way you deem appropriate -- is when you sought to discredit Kelly by saying she's fascinated with sex. That particular comment reveals something we already know: you're a scared little bully man who has no substantive argument for Trump's disturbing behavior or against Kelly, so you chose to utilize a tactic called gaslighting, which means: manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity. Who the hell do you think you are, Newt? I know who you are and so does everyone else. You're the misogynist, sexist pig who served your first wife with divorce papers while she was lying on a hospital bed battling cancer. And you're also the cold-hearted louse who cheated on your second wife, Marianne, for six years with your now third wife, Callista, and you filed for divorce from Marianne just months after she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. You seem to be under the mistaken impression that your penis entitles you to behave like an unprofessional goon who can treat the female host of a popular cable television program as if she were an angry, sex-obsessed, brainless hack. Here's a little piece of truth that's sure to tighten your hind quarters for the next four to eight years; no matter how much you protest and no matter and no matter how much you hate it, Hillary Clinton is going to be the next president of the United States because women all over the country are sick and tired of patriarchal blowhards like you having too much power. Call us angry. Call us sex obsessed. We don't fucking care. We'll take your stupid names and your pathetic attempts to hold on to your last vestiges of power and we'll one-up you with a Madam President. Advertisement Suck it, Newt. Reducing unemployment from its peak of almost 27% has been hard work. David Asensio Spains official unemployment rate has fallen below 20% for the first time in six years. Figures from the National Statistics Institute (INE) for the third quarter put joblessness at 18.91%, bringing to an end the longest period in the last 40 years when more than one in five of the working population was idle. The fall in unemployment is due both to job creation as well as fewer people being laid off. Summer traditionally sees an increase in employment, with the tourist industry taking on large numbers of temporary workers. This year has been exceptionally healthy for the tourism sector, creating some 226,500 jobs in three months, putting the total number of people in work at some 18,520,000. The sectors most involved are hospitality, health and retail, which has been reflected in the numbers of men and women contributing to the Social Security scheme. Unemployment above 20% is not uncommon in Spain Reducing Spains unemployment levels has proved difficult. The high water mark was the first quarter of 2013, when the rate hit 26.94%, with some 6,278,000 out of work. The INEs latest figures put the number of people without a job during the third quarter of this year at 4,320,000. During this period, some 27,300 people were laid off from their jobs. The private sector has driven employment, creating 217,700 jobs, with the public sector contributing just 8,900 posts. The start of the school year has also provided new employment opportunities in education, as well as administrative activities and manufacturing. The INEs data suggests that temporary and seasonal work, a hallmark of the Spanish job market, is growing even in sectors that were not as prone to it in the past. This is the case with education and manufacturing, where non-permanent jobs have been rising in recent years. Spains unemployment is so high partly because of particular local forces that have existed for decades. Unemployment above 20% is not uncommon in Spain. In fact, it has been at that level in three periods since Spains transition to democracy in the 1970s. And, ominously, from the previous unemployment rate peak in the 1990s, it took 14 years for it to decline to the wider European level. English version by Nick Lyne. Michael Ignatieff is a politician, novelist, journalist, philosopher and former presenter of the BBC arts programme The Late Show. He is currently the fifth president and rector of Central European University (CEU) in Budapest. Prior to CEU, he was Edward R. Murrow Professor of Practice at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics & Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Between 2006 and 2011, he served as an MP in the Parliament of Canada and then as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition. A frequent writer for The New York Times Magazine and The New York Review of Books, he was listed by Foreign Policy magazine among the 100 most influential public intellectuals in the world. Ignatieff is in the unusual position of having experienced both philosophy and politics from the inside. Lan Anh Vu sat down with Ignatieff to learn more about his journey and how, in light of his experience, he understands politics differently. Advertisement As told to Lan Anh Vu My Political CareerI was born in Toronto, Canada to Russian-born Canadian diplomat, and Canadian mother. I was educated at University of Toronto and Harvard University. I have spent my career teaching human rights and international politics at Harvard Kennedy School as well as writing books about philosophy and political ethics in an age of terror and ethnic war. In 2005, I was invited to run for office by a group who wanted new leadership in the Liberal Party of Canada. I personally wanted to become involved in politics, because I wanted to make a difference for other people and to serve my country. So, I agreed to enter the race, won the election, and served as a leader for two and half years. Although I lost the next election in 2011, it was an unforgettable experience nevertheless. It changed me, and I'm glad I did it. ChallengesIt's vital to be truthful and true to oneself. In politics, saying what people want to hear is easier than saying what you think is true, so you face a constant temptation to sacrifice the truth in order to advance your career. Politics is one long temptation to be not truthful. Politics is not a battle about what you say, but a battle about your right to say anything at all. In politics, people attack you for who you are, not for what you say, and that makes it extremely difficult. Unless you have a narrative that can force the press and politicians to give you the right to say what you want, you'll be destroyed. In other words, you have to control the narrative, and you especially have to control the narrative about yourself. Advertisement Lessons LearnedI've learned a good deal about humility, how to listen, and being realistic about my own abilities. It's important to know what you're not good at. I've long known my strengths, but I've struggled to learn my weaknesses. It's also important to accept your mistakes as mistakes and to be courageous nevertheless. When you make a bad decision, you should admit it and move on. All of these things are parts of decision making. It's very difficult. I haven't been afraid to take risks, especially ones that other people wouldn't have taken. I left my life as a writer and professor in order to enter the world of politics. Later, I left teaching at Harvard University to take an exciting job in a foreign country. I've taken a lot of risks because I want to be a free person. My Leadership StyleYou have to listen to your team. You have to know the difference between being a friend and being a leader, as well as the difference between telling your team what it wants to hear and what it needs to hear. You also have to show courage. You can't lead from the rear, but have to lead from the front. You have to take risks, and the team has to know that you are willing to do that. Above all, the team has to know that you will stand by everyone and protect them: that you are not going to sacrifice anyone when thing going gets tough. Strong LeaderI believe that a strong leader has the ability to say what people don't want to hear, on the one hand, and the ability to understand what they want to hear, on the other. Leadership is very much about managing relationships with the voters and the relationships with the people who elected you. Great leaders have a kind of natural instinct for what citizens need to hear, and they have an intuitive grasp of the language that citizens recognize. At the same time, leadership is equally about standing up to citizens and saying that there's something that we need to do and that it's not going to be easy. It's about bringing people together: both serving the people and, in certain cases, confronting them. The greatest leaders are those who confront people. For example, late President Vaclav Havel was a great leader, but not because he told the Czech what they wanted to hear. In fact, he often told them what they didn't want to hear. That's one of the major reasons why I admire him. Advertisement Advice for Young PeopleYoung people should be resilient and unafraid of failure. It's crucial to learn from your mistakes and move on. It's also crucial to respect your elders, but not too much. Many of the problems that young people face are not unprecedented, and in any case, facing new challenges is nothing new. So, it's important to learn how previous generations have confronted those challenges. My parents lived through World War II, and of course, it was very difficult. I've lived through 60 years of peace, so my situation has differed from theirs, but I can learn from them nevertheless, especially that it requires courage, optimism, and hope to move on and make change for the better. I have learned from them, but my life is not theirs. It's been quite different, but I think that the path is not unusual. On the one hand, you respect your parents and teachers who taught you, but on the other, you accept the fact that the life that you're going to lead has nothing in common in any way to the life that your parents led. You have to be brave about that: both courageous and unafraid. My advice for aspiring politicians is to learn from a good mentor. A mentor can be someone who's done things that you aspire to do. I think that the key question for young people who want to pursue a career in politics is simply, Do you know what you're getting into? Politics is extremely demanding; it's an 80-hour-a-week job that involves speaking four to five times a day to people who want a range of things that you can't give them. In politics, defeat is likely, and you have to be ready for that. You'll work too hard, you won't be paid well, and you'll be pulled this way and that by different contingencies. Plus, you might be defeated in the next election. So, you have to go in with your eyes wide open and clear the way of risks that you run. This interview has been condensed and edited. I have been thoroughly pissed off for 44 years. I suggest we celebrate National Work and Family Month by everybody getting mad, manning the barricades, and demanding an end to the foolishness of our elected leaders in not supporting the positive development of the next generation of American children! Here is the source of my 44 years of anger: In 1972 Richard Nixon vetoed a bill that was passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Congress. This bill, The Comprehensive Child Development Act, would have provided billions of dollars for a system of high quality, affordable, locally administered, child care programs so that mothers could work. It was bi-partisan legislation! Nixon vetoed it saying it would weaken the American family and foster a communal approach to child-rearing. You know, Communism was the bogey-man of the day. Never mind the fact that the US had had a system of child care during World War II so that mothers could work. It wasn't called un-American then! But that system was dismantled after the war, never to be resurrected. Thank you Nixon...and thank you, notorious Pat Buchanan! Oh, how my blood pressure is rising, just writing this. Advertisement So ever since, we have been grappling with a non-system, a patchwork of poor quality child care programs (with a small percentage of real shining stars), a state by state grab bag - lucky you if you live in New York; too bad if you live in Nebraska. Parents looking for affordable, quality child care in the 1980s had a big job. It was almost impossible to find. Parents looking for affordable, quality child care in 2016 have a big job. It is almost impossible to find. This New Republic article sums up the problems and tragedies: https://newrepublic.com/article/112892/hell-american-day-care The late, great Gwen Morgan coined the term trilemma back in 1990. She was referring the problem of quality, staff compensation, and affordability. Increase one and the others get worse, especially affordability vs compensation and quality, which are often related. Has this trilemma been solved in the ensuing 25 years? Can I shout NO loud enough? Ok. Ok. A bunch of good stuff has happened for sure, and I will note that for you. But c'mon! For the average family, it is very difficult to find a child care opening in a high quality program that is affordable. This was true 44 years ago, 34 years ago, 24 years ago, 14 years ago, and it is (sigh) still very true today. But the advocates and policy-makers over the decades deserve a lot of credit for their stamina and their successes. Successes: Child Care and Development Block Grant, and its Child Care Development Fund, added money for affordability and quality; NAEYC accreditation system defined quality and raised the bar; employer-supported child care programs are usually higher quality; QRIS (many states have Quality Rating and Improvement Systems) defined quality and raised the bar; Head Start and Early Head Start have been strengthened and expanded; economists understand the ROI (return on investment) studies and therefore are pushing for quality early childhood programs; child care tax credits and tax exclusion for employer flexible spending accounts were instituted; social impact bonds are a new way to add more funding to programs that have proven quality outcomes; and research on brain development definitively has proven the importance of quality child care. All these initiatives are very meaningful, but even together they do not provide quality, affordable child care for the majority of families that need it. Advertisement Here's the thing, though. There are some options for children in very low income families because of Head Start and child care subsidies - although still not enough. There are some options for children in high-income families because of employer supports for child care and the simple fact that these families can spend more money. But once again, the middle class is squeezed out - not many options that are not very affordable. The great divide rears its ugly head in yet another aspect of our society. We have made progress. And those who have been fighting for that progress are real heroes. But jeez! Have we made 44 years of progress? C'mon. We are the only industrialized country without cohesive and consistent policy and programs for child care. Need more fodder for fury? The British medical journal, The Lancet, has quantified the high cost of in-action when we don't provide developmentally appropriate environments for young children to thrive in. Economist James Heckman has quantified the ROI of investment in early childhood education (starting with infants) and has identified these investments as a means to "reduce deficits and strengthen the economy". So in addition to early childhood professionals' lobbying for high quality programs for young children, we have physicians, economists, and even police pushing for funding and quality standards. But still the needle moves at a snail's pace. Grab your arms (your words, your letters, emails, and tweets, your votes)! The goal is affordable, available, and by all means, high quality child care for every family that needs it. From infants through school age. With teachers and staff who are properly compensated for the essential and extremely important work they do. Improvements have been piecemeal for 44 years. Enough! Advertisement We know how to do this. The research is clear about quality and affordability. The problem is there is not enough money in the "system". Teachers and staff are way underpaid; training is inadequate; facilities are not optimal. This is true for child care centers and for family child care homes. We need significantly more federal money added to the funding mix with quality requirements attached. We need the political will to do this. 90% of brain development takes place by age 5. That's only 1,826 days to nurture a child to develop fully. A day in the life of a young child is a jewel. It is filled with facets of discovery and understanding. It should be filled with facets of growing self-confidence and feelings of being loved. A day wasted in a negative environment or even a somewhat adequate environment can never be regained. It is gone; it is a lost opportunity with real consequences. Who will dare say that there are more important things than the well-being of our young children? Who can in good conscience say that? I dare you! I'm a native of Montana, raised on a ranch that's on the edge of the highly productive Bakken Formation oil field. The idyllic countryside where I rode horseback with my dad and brother to round up cattle for branding has been dramatically altered by that oil development. The rolling hills and beginnings of the badlands I love are pocked with oil derricks and storage tanks, on pads denuded of native grasses. I was invited last month as a public health professional and Montana landowner to testify before a meeting of the Montana Board of Oil and Gas. The topic was a petition to require broader public disclosure of potentially toxic chemicals used in an oil drilling process called "fracking," short for hydraulic fracturing. My question was: What's the evidence for the dangers of fracking? Fracking is a regular practice in the Bakken. A solution of water, sand and a wide range of chemicals is injected under high pressure underground to break up the shale rock where oil resides. The solution is then drawn back out and often stored temporarily on-site before disposal elsewhere. Several years ago I watched an oil well being developed in our family pasture, my first disturbing glimpse of how those wells might poison the land. I was aghast to see a huge lined pit filled with greenish, viscous slimy-looking muck next to the oil derrick. Advertisement Fracking Well and Wastewater Pit in Cotulla, TX - Photo: Al Braden Was that toxic-appearing slurry a problem for our health, or for the environment? We know enough about the some fracking chemicals to have realistic concerns. Many, such as benzene, lead, ethylene chloride, and methanol, are known or suspected carcinogens or are otherwise toxic to humans. Fracking solutions can also include endocrine disruptors, which can be particularly harmful during fetal development. These substances are an urgent concern for the health of future generations: exposure even at low levels during pregnancy is associated with newborn birth defects. In a recent review of fracking research, 84% of public health studies found public health hazards, elevated risks, or adverse health outcomes. Over two-thirds of water quality studies found potential or actual water contamination, and 87% of air quality studies found elevated air pollution. But there is another problem. Montana regulations require oil developers to disclose the contents of the fracking solutions used for each well. The exception: if a company deems its chemical product a "trade secret," the product doesn't need to be disclosed. In one study of the hazards of fracking chemicals that are used in oil and gas wells in neighboring North Dakota, 37% of the products used were labeled "confidential trade secrets" and so were not disclosed. The public has no way of knowing what they are, or how toxic they might be. How can we be sure that dangerous chemicals aren't being released into water sources, the earth, or our food crops, whether by accident or carelessness? We count on our Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with its mission "to protect human health and the environment," to monitor and control potential dangers of this type of activity. How well is it able to do that? Advertisement A group called Partnership for Policy Integrity (PFPI) recently accessed EPA's regulatory determinations for 105 newly introduced fracking and drilling chemicals. What PFPI reported is shocking. Studies examining health effects were available for only two of 99 reported chemicals in applications submitted by companies for approval. Of 12 reported health studies, ten were missing from the public record, while at least two were withheld because they were "confidential," and thus hidden from the public. For the great majority of substances reviewed, EPA staff noted health concerns: irritation of skin, eyes, and mucous membranes; lung effects; and nervous system, kidney, and developmental toxicity. Despite those concerns, the EPA eventually approved all but seven of the 105 chemicals. The PFPI investigation concluded that "federal law enabled chemical makers to win approval of fracking and drilling chemicals by EPA with no health testing and sweeping confidentiality claims that deny citizens even the most basic information on the chemicals' identity." In public health, I was taught the precautionary principle: when there are uncertainties about the long-term environmental or health impacts of a suspected risk, take the most conservative option. Remember the thalidomide crisis from the late 1950s. Pregnant women in West Germany and other European countries were given the drug thalidomide for morning sickness. Thousands of their infants were born with dramatically stunted and deformed arms or legs, before we realized that the drug caused birth defects. The FDA refused many requests to market it in the US, and we were spared that sad public health tragedy. Those of us who testified did not convince the Montana board to tighten up their standards on what is allowed to be called a "trade secret." I left the meeting wondering if I could ever return to our family pasture without wondering what toxic horrors lay beneath the soil. I was even more convinced that we owe it to those living in areas of dense drilling activity, including children yet to be born, to honor the precautionary principle in addressing the potential hazards of fracking. Advocates aren't giving up the fight. Concerned citizens can demand that the oil industry face greater accountability for the environmental hazards of fracking chemicals in various ways. The EPA needs pressure to enforce existing laws that protect the environment from the hazards of fracking. Because state laws are the main regulators of oil and gas development, joining a state-level watchdog group is a good way to advocate on critical issues. But grass-roots efforts are key. For example, where oil development that involved fracking has been proposed, community groups have successfully pushed back against wells that are near homes and schools. Advertisement Watching the news over the last few days I was struck by how the mainstream cable networks, read that to mean CNN and MSNBC, accentuate the provocative, even after giving some attention to the whole story. A case in point, citing recent numbers about how Affordable Care Act premium rates are scheduled to rise, they declare it's in trouble. Though averages are 22%, they emphasized higher examples, such as over 100% for a 27-year old living in Arizona, not mentioning that in Indiana the rates were reduced by 3%. Hardly a balanced story, considering the official report said 77% of Obamacare registrants would be eligible for subsidies, making their premiums about $100 or less a month. 77%. That's over three quarters, folks, and nothing to be ashamed of. In particular, as Obamacare allowed twenty million to get insurance and has greatly reduced uninsured numbers to only 8.6 percent. But with Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon on CNN this was barely mentioned, if at all. Instead, it was all about, as conservative Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol referred to it, the "blowing up" of Obamacare, which statistically is not true. Advertisement Another item usually placed further down in the story is that nineteen governors have refused to participate in the expansion of Medicaid that the legislation would assist, thus allowing four million additional participants. The more participants, the more support the insurance companies would receive, and all of the Medicaid people aren't in the "sickly" category that caused major insurance companies to either increase their rates or totally withdraw from the exchanges. Also, the penalty for not enrolling is so low that lots of younger people, convinced they are invincible and immune to either accidents or unexpected disease, forego joining. They pay their fines and thus lower the balance an insurance company needs, vis-a-vis healthy vs. chronically ill patients to keep premiums in check. Obamacare is a success. It vastly reduced the number of people who are uninsured, allowing them to seek medical help before things get so out of hand that their only recourse is the free service they'd get (with qualified incomes) at emergency rooms, whose costs would have to be borne by the hospital or local governments. But the media doesn't weigh all this as they scrounge for headlines to make the presidential race more exciting. While they mostly say it's over for Donald Trump, each of these journalistic reports give hope to a more competitive outcome. Maybe, just maybe, this and a bit more from the Russia-Trump-assisted WikiLeak emails will cause a surge towards Trump in the final days. Advertisement And what about those emails? Nothing really in them has indicated serious wrongdoing on Hillary Clinton's part, except some political faux pas that every campaign commits, especially when the senders and receivers think they are communicating in private. What WikiLeaks has contributed to society in a negative way is that nothing is sacred, except maybe a conversation with the water running (in case there are microphones bugged in your house or place of business), and in the future it's doubtful too many sensitive exchanges will take place as is the current practice. However, regarding the emails, why does the media display misgivings about things which are not significant transgressions? They talk about "pay for play" wherein Hillary in a move to get contributions for the Clinton Foundation somehow arranged quid pro quos to get the money. And what about the quid pro quos? What were they exactly? A Nigerian billionaire asked for a meeting with an official in Lebanon to give advice concerning a subject about which he had knowledge. There was nothing about getting a contract to enhance his fortune, and besides all this the meeting never happened. Suggestions for meetings and possibly job opportunities from an executive at the Foundation to a higher-up at the State Department. The jobs did not happen, and what difference if the person was qualified? Political and business connections are a part of society today, i.e. if someone is a friend of the family or a relative he/she might get an appointment that a total stranger might not have gotten. Is it reasonable to believe that anyone, even Hillary or her husband, shouldn't take a phone call from someone they've known for a long time, just because they may have also contributed to the Foundation? Advertisement The question then is was the specific contribution related to a favor, and again this has not been proven. Did Person A, much more qualified, who came in through the submission of a resume get passed over in favor of a less qualified applicant whose patron had given money? If there have been, Hillary naysayers, please provide the details. Finally, no less than Bob Woodward of All the President's Men fame, overstated on Chris Wallace's recent Fox News panel that what Hillary and the Foundation had done was "corrupt" and a "scandal," although he in no way indicated it was a disqualification, nor that Trump was his choice. The discussion concerned the $12 million contribution by the King of Morocco, and Hillary's original intent to appear at a convocation arranged by the king. As it turned out, Hillary didn't even go. Her husband went, along with her daughter Chelsea. But this was all termed pay for play, a term oft used to imply an unsavory outcome. To me, pay for play means some sort of profit for either individual. What profit has Hillary or her husband received from any of these contributions? Have their bank accounts been augmented or was the $12 million the king contributed allocated to causes supported by the organization, such as AIDS research, global health and wellness, climate change, economic and agricultural development, education and improving opportunities for girls and women? Most of the email issue's legitimacy was dispensed with a long time ago with her admittedly late apology and the more draconian FBI investigation, which said she'd behaved recklessly but in no way committed a felonious act. Not to mention the Benghazi rubbish, where she was cleared by multiple Republican-led committees, some of which were declared witch hunts or whose aim was admitted by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) to be a diminishing of Hillary's prospects. Yet the headlines continue to be broadcast, even as new WikiLeak "revelations" produce no illumination, rather regurgitation of already known facts. Even the lambasting of Hillary by Colin Powell over tying her email use to his experience is of such "consequence" that Powell just endorsed her for president. Advertisement The media's responsibility is not only to report the facts, but to do so in a truthful and balanced manner. Too often it does not, preferring to perpetuate controversies to gain readership or ratings. A century ago, William Merritt Chase was every bit as famous as Monet or Manet were then, or now for that matter. Yet sometimes artists fall out of favor, and it takes a dedicated art historian or museum curator to bring him (or her) out of the shadows. In Chase's case, it took three: is Erica E. Hirshler, Croll Senior Curator of American Paintings at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts; with Elsa Smithgall, curator at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.; and Katherine M. Bourguignon, curator at the Terra Foundation for American Art in Paris. Together, they assembled a magnificent new exhibition of Chase's work from no less than 60 collections across the United States. So who was this artist, anyway? Chase essentially defined American art at the close of the 19th century. He was America's answer to Impressionism, the leading art teacher of his day, and the link between the traditional landscapes and fruit bowls of mid-19th century art and the modern world of art that came in the train of World War I. But he was much more than that. Chase was born in the town of Nineveh, Indiana, about as homespun and Midwestern a boyhood could get. A group of Indiana businessmen recognized the young artist's potential and, honoring his German roots, sent him not to France, where he would be distracted by all things Parisian, but instead to Munich, another thriving arts community. In Munich, the young Chase developed a facility for imitating--with his own unique twist--the old masters. He wasn't merely copying; he was creating his own comment on the way Frans Hals and Rembrandt painted, setting old-fashioned imagery in ultra-modern uses of space on the canvas. He then moved to 10th Street in New York City, then the center of a thriving, Gilded Age arts community. There, he painted a highly confident self-portrait--the image of a young man bursting with certainty that he will succeed as an artist. And he did. Not only were his paintings in high demand but he became one of the principal art teachers of the age, influencing many of the painters who would make their names in the early 20th century. What set Chase apart from his peers, aside from his often riotous use of color, was the way he used space in his pictures. You might see a woman lurking practically in the shadows. Or the subject of the painting in a corner, while the center of the picture was empty space. Also, Chase uniquely "got" women. Not in a grubby, Trumpian way. His paintings reveal a tenderness for women absent from, say, the caricatures of women to be found in the work of Toulouse-Lautrec, the punishing poses favored by Edgar Degas, or the monochromatic dullness of Whistler. Chase, happily married by all accounts and the father of eight, including six daughters, loved and respected women, and those emotions express themselves gloriously in his work. You see sweet domestic scenes with his young daughters, playing hide and seek in one painting, getting ready for a visit to Grandma's house in another. You see women posing in stances that represent certainty and leadership--remember, this is the 1880s--not subservience or objectification. Above all, Chase makes everything beautiful, whether it is his wife and children, a Brooklyn backyard full of laundry, the interior of his studios or homes in Manhattan or Shinnecock Hills, where he taught in the summers, or even his own deeply colorful and imagined response to Whistler's Mother, a painting as famous then as it is now. Chase's work had the distinction of being shown at the Salon in Paris, perhaps despite the fact that it was so imaginative, colorful, and rule-breaking. And then, as so often happens, tastes changed, and the man from Nineveh passed from the center of the art world into an undeserved obscurity. No longer. Thanks to the MFA and the Phillips Collection, it is now William Merritt Chase's time, a century after his death. Chase represents a serious gap in the education of most art lovers today. The show at the MFA, headed for Venice, where Chase's work appeared in the first Biennale, is surely destined, and rightfully so, to change all that. Colorado Initiative 71 is brought to the state by an alliance of corporate lobbies led by Oil and Gas, and their political friends in high places. It reflects the vision of the Koch-funded American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to create barriers to participatory democracy, whether voter suppression, state preemption of local laws, court challenges to Colorado municipal fracking bans and moratoriums, and ultimate attempts to place the Citizen Ballot Initiative - direct democracy - out of reach for all but the wealthy. Colorado Initiative 71 follows ALEC's prescription - having gained control of the legislature, the goal is to eliminate the last vestige of democracy by 1) placing insurmountable barriers to qualifying ballot initiative language and 2) requiring a super-majority vote for passage of a citizen constitutional ballot initiative. The two punitive requirements of Initiative 71: 1) Signatures must include 2 percent of voters in each of 35 state senate districts within the total signature count for any constitutional initiative, effectively making the cost and effort prohibitive, while substituting geography for the principle of one person, one vote. This one requirement also provides veto power to a single senate district to prevent an initiative favored by the majority of the state from making it to the ballot. 2) A super-majority vote - 55 percent - is needed for an initiative to become law, effectively overturning majority rule and replacing it with a tyranny of the minority (45 percent +1 would decide an issue). Advertisement Pretense: Need to achieve "equal" consent statewide for each constitutional initiative Proponents of "71" argue the need to require agreement (i.e., equal signatures) from each senate district before an amendment can even make it to the ballot to be voted on statewide. This professed intention of "fairness" is belied by the fact that "71" is really the ultimate corporate power grab in a state already in the vise grip of the oil and gas lobby. In short, the large corporate special interests, led by oil and gas, see the opportunity with passage of "71" to drop a lot of money into a single district to kill an initiative that may benefit the entire state - a true "tyranny of the minority." Pretense of concern for rural communities by wealthy corporate special interests falls flat against the realization that corporate lobbies are really only about propping up their own bottom line. Whether rural or urban, the exponentially greater expense of collecting a percentage of signatures in each senate district will place the Citizen Ballot Initiative out of reach for everyone in all parts of the state, except for the wealthy. Even the proponents of "71" could not achieve their professed goal of "equal consent" by signature count statewide. Oil and gas representative Josh Penry acknowledged that the Secretary of State has no mechanism to evaluate the 2 percent count by senate district. Considering the additional difficulty of determining actual boundaries of any particular senate district, the 2 percent requirement invites abuse and contention, legal and otherwise. Pretense: Colorado has the "easiest constitution in America to amend" Whether their numerical signature requirement are more or less than Colorado's - e.g., Oregon's required initiative signature count is 8 percent of the previous number of votes cast for governor - other states permit significantly more time to gather signatures. Both Oregon and Nebraska allow almost two years for signature gathering, up to four times longer than Colorado. In contrast to Colorado, both Oregon and Nebraska require less signatures for a statutory initiative. Neither Oregon nor Nebraska require geographic distribution of signatures. Geographic distribution requirements have been overturned in 5 states, most recently in 2014 by a Nebraska District Court that ruled the requirement violates the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the U.S. Constitution and denies equality among citizens, diluting urban votes while assigning greater weight to rural votes. Advertisement Proponents of "71" profess to encourage citizen-initiated changes by statute, instead of constitutional amendment. Currently signature requirements are the same for both. Instead of making requirements for a constitutional amendment impossible, the number of signatures required for statutory initiative should be reduced, as is done in states like Oregon and Nebraska. Some Coloradans also call for a "hands-off" period (e.g., 5 years) so the legislature cannot immediately eliminate or alter a statute by simple majority vote. The ease of legislative overturn of a Colorado statute is illustrated by a campaign finance reform statute approved by voters in 1996, subsequently overturned by the legislature and requiring citizen passage of a constitutional initiative, Amendment 27 in 2002. Only the corporate special interests behind Initiative 71, with access to tens of millions of dollars, would say that it is easy to pass a constitutional amendment. Any citizen group that has tried knows it is exceedingly difficult to collect the requisite signatures, unless one has a million dollars to pay signature gatherers as did Raise the Bar. This writer has participated in 6 or 7 initiative campaigns over a couple of decades. None of them achieved the necessary signatures except the 2000 effort for Background Checks at Gun Shows, which required one-third less signatures, collected by hundreds of volunteers. Even then, I am guessing some signature gatherers were hired. Pretense: We must Protect the Colorado Constitution against Special Interests Proposed during a similar earlier age of robber barons, the Colorado Citizen Ballot Initiative was passed in 1910 by an overwhelming vote of the people. It is intended to grant the people the first right to legislate, superior even to the legislature, as a counter to unresponsive or corrupt government. Despite claims by "71"'s advocates that the people have run amok with our constitution, the state constitution has been amended only 48 times by citizen initiative in 106 years - less than one amendment every 2 years. The legislature is responsible for adding almost two-thirds - 82 - of constitutional amendments. Among laws proposed and passed by Citizen Ballot Initiative are: Home Rule for cities; term limits; Great Outdoors Colorado funding for public recreational land; Sunshine Laws; energy standards; minimum wage; campaign finance reform; open meetings laws; and decriminalization of marijuana. Advertisement Specious comparisons between the Colorado and U.S. Constitutions by proponents of "71" disregard the different function of the State Constitution, which deals with many aspects of the nuts and bolts of state government, from special school districts, water and agriculture to mining, etc. By contrast, the U.S. Constitution essentially defines the three branches of government, subject to U.S. Supreme Court interpretation. Gov. John Hickenlooper's declaration at a press event introducing "71" that "Colorado's constitution needs to be protected," begs the question, "Protected for whom?" Mouthpieces of Building a Better Colorado advance the narrative that our Constitution is "open to manipulation" and has become a tool of "well-funded special interests" - a "dumping ground for every issue," charged Denver Rep. Dominick Moreno. Nevertheless, the most well-funded out-of-state special interest is the oil and gas lobby backing Initiative 71. In 2016 alone, two Texas-based oil companies ponied up large sums of money to one of the largest Oil and Gas front groups, Protecting Colorado's Environment, Economy and Energy Independence (PCEEEI) - $5.5 million from Anadarko Petroleum and $5 million from Noble Energy. As it currently stands, only these corporate special interests can afford to spend several million dollars to hire petition gatherers and buy media, while dedicating millions of extra dollars to the harassment of signature gatherers advancing local control issues. Millions Spent to Shut Down Opposing Citizen Ballot Initiatives As of October 3 Raise the Bar Initiative 71 contributions reported to the Secretary of State's office totaled $4,158,838 - 75 percent of that from oil and gas. Expenditures at the time totaled over $2,991,000, including over $915,000 for signature gathering alone (almost $5 a signature), and over $1,675,000 for media ads. Advertisement Contributions and expenditures of the Raise the Bar campaign are only a partial account. The incestuous spider web of oil and gas front groups spend millions of dollars to run multiple games of interference against Citizen Ballot Initiatives opposed by them. The sister organization of Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED) - which has spent megabucks on "feel-good" advertising to promote fracking since 2013 - is Protecting Colorado's Environment, Economy and Energy Independence, (shortened to Protect Colorado). PCEEEI reportedly invests its large reserves of corporate money in a continual effort to create PR opposing oil and gas safety regulations and accountability, and toward extensive research - polling, mailing, phoning, knocking doors, reportedly amassing a database of 3.9 million Colorado voters. Fully funded by the oil and gas industry, CRED received contributions of $17,048,869 and PCEEEI received $11,618,972 in 2014 alone. By 2016 Protect Colorado had banked no less than $28 million, dedicated to opposing any 2016 oil and gas regulatory ballot initiatives, with large amounts directed against Initiatives 75 and 78. Protect Colorado in turn contributed $1 million to Raise the Bar Initiative 71 in September 2016. The oil and gas industry's "Decline to sign" campaign was reportedly a first - trying to stop initiatives before they had a chance to reach the ballot, and aimed specifically at Initiatives 75 and 78 seeking local control of drilling and drilling setbacks. To that end, people were hired (one in pencil costume reported being paid $25/hour) to harass signature gatherers for "unfriendly" initiatives. One petition carrier reported being followed by a group of five screaming, "You're taking our jobs!" A TV ad featuring a dark-skinned signature gatherer invoked fears of "special interests...trying to reshape our Constitution..." Karen Crummy, former Denver Post reporter, CRED director and spokeswoman for Protect Colorado declared, "These so-called grassroots groups are backed by out-of-state and international organizations whose mission is to ban responsible oil and natural gas development." They are "extreme and out-of-step with the majority of Coloradans," she asserted. Advertisement Harassment is just one trick in the oil and gas toolbox. The drilling industry in 2016 managed to drive up the cost of signature collection by reserving most major signature gathering companies in Colorado. Proponents boast that tens of former Democratic and Republican leaders promote their initiative. These "71" political backers may be hoisted on their own petard. Legal analysis of "71" by a well-respected election lawyer reveals that "bad" constitutional measures entrenched in the Colorado Constitution and decried by "71" backers, will require the same standard to reform by initiative - i.e., 55 percent super-majority vote for passage, even if referred by the general assembly. Even "repeal" measures that don't require super-majority vote, still must meet the 2 percent requirement of registered voter signatures in each of 35 senate districts - likely to guarantee that problematic provisions currently in the Constitution, like the complex multi-subject TABOR amendment, will remain. Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, is a time of reflection and celebration meant to usher in good fortune in the coming year. It is celebrated this year on Sunday, October 30th, but the days before and after are a joyous season to be spent with family and friends. While older generations eschew alcohol during festivals, younger, cosmopolitan Indians join their friends and toast to a year filled with luck and good fortune. These Diwali cocktails were created by Abhas Saxena, Chief Sommelier at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The onsite Harbour Bar, one of the city's premier cocktail lounges, has the distinction of holding the first liquor license issued in the city, issued in 1933. Marigold In addition to colorful lanterns and candles, ornate arrangements of marigold flowers are a staple decoration of the Diwali holiday season. Ingredients: 5 cilantro sprigs 5 mint leaves 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground 1 teaspoon Kosher salt 2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 1 ounce water 2 ounces Bombay Sapphire Gin 2 ounces ginger ale 1 marigold flower for garnish Advertisement Combine cilantro, mint, pepper, salt, sugar, caraway seeds and water in a food processor until you make a fine paste. Add one teaspoon of paste to a brandy snifter and add the gin. Stir until well combined. Fill the glass with ice and top off with ginger ale. Garnish with one marigold flower. Enjoy. Makes one cocktail. Tranquility Diwali is a time of year to reflect on one's past excesses and make resolutions to create healthier habits in the coming year. This cocktail mad with bourbon and chamomile tea is a nice combination of both. 3 ounces brewed chamomile tea 1 teaspoon honey 2 ounces bourbon 2 shakes bitters teaspoon lime juice, freshly squeezed Mint sprig for garnish Brew chamomile tea and add honey while it is still hot. Let cool to room temperature. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the tea, bourbon, bitters, and lime juice. Stir well and garnish with mint. Enjoy. Makes one cocktail. Advertisement Recipes and cocktail photos courtesy of the Harbour Bar, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, India. By Sean McQuay O ne year ago this month, EMV technology arrived in the U.S. credit card market -- kicking and screaming, some critics may add. Just like a newborn baby, these new "chip cards" have upset our habits, placed extra demands on our time and elicited all kinds of opinions on how to deal with the change. But ultimately we're glad we made the plunge ... right? Evidence is showing that these chips are indeed making credit card transactions safer, and a recent NerdWallet survey found that most consumers view the switch positively. Plus, the technology has opened the door to faster and more convenient payment options in the future. Why did we make the switch? Before EMV, if bad guys wanted to clone your credit card, all they had to do was make a copy of the data on the magnetic stripe of your card and write that information onto another "magstripe," like one found on a hotel key card. Fraudsters could then swipe the cloned card at a store and -- as long as the cashier didn't ask for ID or confirm the signature -- they could buy stuff on your account. Advertisement Banks have tried for years to stop this practice by building internal algorithms that learn how and where you spend your money, so they can flag any purchases that deviate from your norm, but their systems aren't perfect. Just last year a fraudster made a copy of my card and spent $2,600 at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. Although my bank, Chase, approved that transaction, it recognized something was fishy and asked me to verify after the fact. I informed Chase that I hadn't made the purchase and the charges were removed. The fraudster walked away with the goods, Saks was paid, and Chase wrote it off as a $2,600 fraud loss on its books. EMV technology was developed by Europay, MasterCard and Visa (hence the name) to prevent this kind of fraud. The chip in your credit card basically creates a one-time-use payment code, also called a cryptogram, each time you dip your card in a card reader. That way, if your card information were to be stolen, thieves wouldn't be able to use it to create a fraudulent card. I should note that the birthday we're celebrating is not about the invention of this technology. EMV is more than 20 years old and has been implemented in most European countries for over a decade. We're marking the one-year anniversary in the U.S. of the rather ominous-sounding "liability shift," meaning the liability for counterfeit fraud has moved from the bank to whichever party failed to upgrade to EMV, whether it's the bank or the merchant. This pressured banks to issue chipped cards and merchants to upgrade their payment terminals to be chip-ready. For instance, in my experience with Chase, if there had been a chip in my card, in addition to the traditional magstripe, and Saks hadn't been able to accept EMV, the retailer would have been on the hook for the $2,600 fraudulent purchase instead of Chase. Advertisement How's it going? If you've heard the grumbling yourself -- particularly on social media -- you know that most of the complaints about EMV fall into two camps: One set highlights the annoyance of not knowing whether to swipe or dip, which arises when the point-of-sale device has a disabled EMV slot. The other set of complaints focuses on the slower processing time. Here are a few gems: "Can you put your card in the chip reader please" ya hold on let me cancel my plans for the rest of the day christian delgrosso (@christiand) July 24, 2016 The #Chipcard has vastly improved my customer experience. It includes my 3 fave hobbies: waiting, staring and then swiping it anyway. -- Jon Gamble (@JustJonnyG) July 30, 2016 In the countless transactions I've now used my chip card, I've literally NOT ONCE made the correct 50/50 guess whether to swipe or insert it Marnie Shure (@marnieshure) July 26, 2016 But the dissatisfaction over the switch to EMV appears to be overblown. According to the NerdWallet survey, nearly four in five respondents have positive feelings about chip cards, and almost half say that consumers benefit from the technology. Advertisement Still, the conversion is taking time. MasterCard says 88% of its credit cards are chip-ready, but only 33% of all payment terminals in the U.S. are ready to accept chip payment. According to Visa, 84% of the merchants that haven't upgraded are working on the switch. Based on adoption rates in other countries, Visa expects 90% merchant acceptance in the U.S. in four to five years. So if we're making progress, why are there so many complaints? I think the root problem is pretty simple: We're not used to technology slowing things down. Instant messaging, Uber and email all came with immediate speed benefits. EMV, while technologically superior, is so far running against that norm. "This is the biggest thing that has happened in terms of consumer experience at point of sale since the past 25 to 30 years, in a scale this big," says Chiro Aikat, senior vice president for product delivery at MasterCard. "Change is neither good or bad; it's change." What's next? When we think about the immediate future of payments, there's good news. First, EMV is likely to improve. As more merchants switch to the technology, we can expect a more consistent experience across stores. Second, efforts are underway to improve processing speed. Take Visa's new Quick Chip technology -- basically a "much more efficient form of EMV," according to Stephanie Ericksen, vice president of risk and authentication products at Visa. This technology works entirely on the back end, meaning we don't have to worry about facing yet another round of new chip cards or terminals. Quick Chip allows consumers to insert their card at any time while the cashier is still bagging. It generates the cryptogram faster and allows the card to be removed in about two seconds or less, she says. Advertisement "It feels much more like a magstripe experience," Ericksen says. We can expect Quick Chip -- and MasterCard's equivalent M/Chip Fast -- to be rolled out over the next couple of years. Ericksen says the technologies are much easier for stores and their card issuers to implement than the EMV standard and don't require new hardware. (Note: Some readers have asked me why U.S. transactions remain slower than those in Europe. Many European card transactions are processed "offline" -- meaning the point-of-sale device is not connected to the internet, and the chip in the card is able to approve the transaction without needing to communicate with the processor or consumer bank. In the U.S., we tend to have "online" transactions -- each one is approved by the consumer bank, which requires more time. The technology behind Quick Chip and M/Chip Fast essentially mimics an offline transaction.) Third, we can expect to see more tap-and-pay, or "contactless," payment options -- based on near-field communication (NFC) technology -- in the near future. "None of the point-of-sale manufacturers are shipping terminals that aren't already ready for a contactless transaction," says Jack Jania, senior vice president of strategic alliances at the chipmaker Gemalto. This expected ubiquity of contactless options will enable wider use of mobile payments and will also facilitate more contactless card payments, which have just barely been introduced in the U.S. Advertisement But payment evolution may also happen beyond improvements in card-based technologies. Perhaps stores may experiment with their own payment experiences in apps, focused on convenience or loyalty. Starbucks, for instance, has struck gold with its app, which deftly combines loyalty and payment options, and I expect more merchants to try to match this experience. Retailers may also try to match the ease of Uber's checkout, which happens silently and instantly when the customer steps out of the car. One change that doesn't appear to be on the immediate horizon for the U.S.? Chip-and-PIN credit cards, such as the ones in Europe, which require a PIN instead of a signature. Why? Blame it on cost and habit. Switching to PIN acceptance for credit cards is estimated to cost issuers more than $2.6 billion to implement while saving them only $850 million over five years in fraud prevention. And it's unclear whether cardholders are ready to tackle chips and PINs simultaneously. As fraud analyst Julie Conroy with the Aite Group noted, quoting a card issuer: "We don't really think we can teach Americans to do two things at once. So we're going to start with teaching them how to dip, and if we have another watershed event like the Target breach [in 2013] and consumers start clamoring for PIN, then we'll adjust." Bottom line for EMV All in all, I think this is a happy birthday for EMV. Yes, it's caused some disruption and made us lose some sleep, but we're better for it. Counterfeit fraud has dropped 54% at merchants that have made the switch or are close to completing it, according to the latest data from MasterCard, so something apparently is working. Progress is still slow and clunky, but there's a bright future, considering how the EMV upgrade is setting the stage for more technologies to flourish. Advertisement So happy birthday, EMV. Almost no one wanted you, but we're glad you're here. Photo courtesy of NerdWallet. Democrat Katie McGinty has raised far less than incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey, but is benefiting more from the investments of outside spending groups. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) By: Soo Rin Kim It's an open secret in the political world that most congressional contests are not contests at all; incumbents tend to raise more money than challengers, and better-funded campaigns almost always win. In some of the most expensive Senate races this cycle, however, challengers are attracting more money from outside spending groups than incumbents, and it may be making a difference. First, the Keystone State. Pennsylvania's Senate contest is first in the nation at this point in the cycle in money spent by outside groups and candidates combined -- a cool $118.5 million. The candidates' cash isn't evenly divided, though: Democratic challenger Katie McGinty has managed to raise only about $12 million and wouldn't seem to stand much of a chance against Republican incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey, who has raised nearly $28 million so far. Advertisement In the post-Citizens United era however, that's only part of the story. The contest has brought a record-breaking $90 million in outside spending so far -- and it's McGinty who has benefited most from it. Super PACs, party committees and politically active nonprofits have spent $48 million on her behalf, while only $39 million has gone to help her GOP foe. Liberal Senate Majority PAC has made Pennsylvania its biggest investment of the cycle by spending $14.6 million on advertisements attacking Toomey and an additional $4.2 million supporting McGinty. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has sponsored about $7.8 million worth of anti-Toomey and pro-McGinty independent expenditures, and other liberal super PACs such as Women Vote! (the EMILY's List affiliate) and Planned Parenthood Votes have jumped in with millions of dollars to try to unseat Toomey. On Toomey's side, conservative super PACs Senate Leadership Fund and Freedom Partners Action Fund have been dropping big dollars -- $9.1 million and $7.3 million so far, respectively. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also invested $5.1 million in this race. Advertisement Real Clear Politics' aggregate of poll data shows how close this race is, with numbers fluctuating almost daily. Toomey led by 1.8 percentage points as of Oct. 19, well within the margin of error for the polls that were averaged. Like many Republican congressional candidates, Toomey has been distancing himself from GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump while not ruling out the possibility of supporting him. While it's unusual for a challenger to raise more money than an incumbent, "a challenger [benefiting from] more money from super PACs is not an unprecedented situation, especially in a competitive race like this," said University of Pennsylvania Prof. Marc Meredith, who teaches political science. In 2014, the Republican challenger for the Arkansas Senate race, Tom Cotton, reaped the fruits of nearly $23 million spent on his behalf by outside groups, while similar support for the Democratic incumbent Mark Pryor came to a mere $13.6 million. Cotton won the election that year. New Hampshire, too, has been at full boil this cycle, with two of the most powerful women in the state competing. And as in Pennsylvania, Republican incumbent Sen. Kelley Ayotte has outraised Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan (by $4.6 million), but the challenger has attracted more outside money. Of the $72 million in outside spending by super PACs, party committees and politically active nonprofits in connection with the race, nearly $39 million has benefited Hassan, while a little over $33 million has helped Ayotte. Advertisement Senate Majority PAC has been the most active outside group on the Democratic side in this battleground race as well, dropping $11.4 million on ads attacking Ayotte and supporting Hassan. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has made independent expenditures to the tune of $7.6 million, and other outside groups such as Women Vote! and Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group that favors broader background checks for gun purchases, have also spent big dollars for Hassan. The Republican's single biggest supporter among outside groups this cycle has been Granite State Solutions, which has plowed an enormous $18.6 million into attacking Hassan. Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson donated $1.5 million to the super PAC. Ayotte, like Toomey and other Republicans running this year, has found it tricky to position herself vis-a-vis the top of the ticket -- during a debate she called Trump a role model for children. She had to retract her statement only a few days later when the now-famous video from 2005 was publicized, showing Trump making crude comments about sexually abusing women. University of New Hampshire Political Science Prof. Andy Smith said the money flooding into the race has been wildly out of proportion to the number of registered voters in the state -- just over 918,000. With about $23 million spent by campaigns and $72 million by outside groups so far, the Senate showdown is expected to cost more than $100 million by the end of the election cycle. As Smith points out, that's more than $100 per potential vote. One outside spender has been active in both the Pennsylvania and New Hampshire races, but on different sides. Independence USA PAC, funded by media giant and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg largely to elect lawmakers who don't toe the NRA line on gun issues, has spent $9 million so far. About $4.8 million of it has gone to help Democrat Hassan in New Hampshire. But another $3.4 million has favored Toomey in Pennsylvania. Advertisement There's a good chance of late-inning spikes in Senate outside spending before it's all over. Politico reported Tuesday that the GOP's big players are "going to go out guns blazing" in a last-minute attempt to save Republicans in the upper chamber. According to the report, Senate Leadership Fund, with close ties to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), is planning on investing $25 million in the six Senate races where Republicans are most vulnerable, including $5 million in Pennsylvania and $2 million in New Hampshire. That will only solidify the time-honored incumbent advantage. Despite the outside money edge of the challengers in two of the most expensive races this year, the vast majority of that spending in races nationwide has been used to help incumbents, and incumbents have, as usual, raked in far more in campaign contributions. So far this year, sitting senators have raised a total of $345 million, more than two times the $160 million challengers have taken in. What are the major differences between NAFTA and the TPP? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. Answer by Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, on Quora: It's no secret that past trade agreements haven't always lived up to the hype. During my time in Illinois, I saw first-hand how small-town communities were devastated as manufacturers moved overseas to cut costs and pay lower wages in other countries. Trade agreements like NAFTA didn't put in place tough, enforceable standards - and that meant that at times, our workers and businesses were getting left behind. So it's natural that some Americans view these trade agreements with a skeptical eye. That's why, when we negotiated the Trans-Pacific Partnership, we fought for a deal that puts American workers first - because when our businesses and workers compete on a level playing field, no one can beat us. Advertisement So here's how TPP differs from NAFTA. NAFTA failed to require a minimum wage, ban workplace discrimination, protect the right to form a union and bargain collectively, or prohibit child and forced labor. TPP includes every single one of these standards, along with enforceable trade sanctions for any country that violates them. NAFTA failed to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, protect against overfishing, or combat illegal logging. TPP includes all of these protections, once again coupled with tough sanctions for violators. NAFTA failed to protect a free and open Internet, protect consumers from fraud and deception, or simplify export rules for small businesses. Yes, TPP does all of this, including the first-ever requirements for digital and small businesses to ensure that our trade rules reflect what the 21st century economy demands. Those are just a few of the ways that TPP is a better deal than what we've seen in the past. And believe me - if TPP did anything short of that, I would not sign it. Advertisement Finally, one final point, and it's crucial. Because Canada and Mexico are a part of the agreement, TPP represents an opportunity to renegotiate NAFTA. In fact, by raising environmental and labor standards and beefing up enforcement, TPP will fix a lot of what was wrong with NAFTA in the first place. So junking the TPP actually means sticking with the status quo that NAFTA created - which means this trade agreement is our only real shot at bringing NAFTA up to code. Acting PM Mariano Rajoy addressing Congress on Thursday. Juan Carlos Hidalgo (EFE) The investiture session to vote Mariano Rajoy in as new prime minister of Spain suggests that while the country has narrowly avoided a third election, the coming months will be fraught with difficulties. Speaking in Congress on Thursday morning, during day two of the investiture session, the spokesman for the main opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) made it abundantly clear that his party will help Rajoy into office by abstaining at the investiture vote simply to end a 10-month political deadlock not because they believe in him. You will have to stop being the Rajoy that we are all accustomed to PSOE spokesman Antonio Hernando It was either abstention or elections. Let nobody be fooled. The chambers options were reduced to abstention or elections, said PSOE spokesman Antonio Hernando, alluding to his partys controversial decision to abstain in the second round of the investiture vote on Saturday. Mr Rajoy, we dont like you as prime minister, but we do like this country and the democracy that we have, added Hernando. Today, Spain needs us, and peoples problems cannot remain blocked because of the selfishness of any one party. There are more than enough reasons not to trust you, but there is no reason to keep up the deadlock. Spain has been under a caretaker government since elections on December 20, 2015, which yielded a fragmented parliament. The PP won the most votes but fell short of an absolute majority, and an attempt by the PSOE and the anti-austerity Podemos to build an alternative leftist coalition came to nothing. A repeat election on June 26 yielded similar results. On Thursday, Hernando mentioned the failed attempt at a leftist coalition in a bid to counter Podemos current claims that the PSOE is selling out to the PP conservatives. PSOE spokesman Antonio Hernando underscored the differences between his party and the PP. Javier Lizon (EFE) He also noted that Rajoys new minority government will no longer enjoy the same latitude to enact policies as it did when it had an absolute majority. You will no longer dominate parliament at will. You will have to debate and negotiate everything you bring to the floor, if you want to see it passed. It will not be easy, because you will have to stop being the Rajoy that we are all accustomed to, said Hernando. An extended hand Rajoy is already keenly aware that getting legislation passed will be trickier this time around. At the opening of the investiture session on Wednesday, the acting PM made a point of reaching out across the aisle to offer negotiating all decisions during his upcoming tenure. Rajoy mentioned eight major issues that he is ready to discuss with the Socialists and the emerging reform party Ciudadanos. These topics include jobs, education, pensions and the fight against corruption. Im sorry but I have more in common with you than with the separatists Acting PM Mariano Rajoy to the PSOE His overtures were aimed at the two parties that have agreed to help him into office at a vote scheduled for Saturday: Ciudadanos through an affirmative vote from its 32 deputies, and the Socialists through an abstention by at least 11 of their MPs. Rajoy did not go into specifics, aware that his views on some issues clash with those held by the PSOE and Ciudadanos. But on Thursday, in his reply to Hernando, Rajoy warned that not having a government is just as bad as having a government that is unable to govern. I will do what I can. I will try to reach deals. I will do everything in my power, he pledged. And in contrast with the Socialist speakers efforts to distance his party from the PP, Rajoy sought to underscore their similarities. It is not good to demonize your adversary because, among other things, Europe sets out a framework for us, he said. We agree on many things, but most especially on the important ones. Im sorry but I have more in common with you than with the separatists. Vote on Saturday The investiture debate will continue throughout Thursday, when representatives for every group in Congress will have a chance to speak. A preliminary vote will be held at around 7pm, but Rajoy already knows he will lose this round as he needs an absolute majority of yes votes that he currently lacks. On Saturday, all that will be required is a simple majority that the PSOE has pledged to deliver by abstaining a painful decision that has fractured the party. For the first time, some Socialist deputies are threatening to break with instructions and cast a conscience vote against Rajoy. English version by Susana Urra. What should the world know about Israel beyond what we read in the news headlines? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. What should the world know about Israel? This question really is the main inspiration behind our new publication, The Desert and the Cities Sing: Discovering Today's Israel. Israel is, like the United States, so much more than what we read about in the headlines. It is more than its politics, and to take it further, it is even more than its religion and history. It is a country in forward motion, with extraordinary levels of innovation and creativity helping it to move into the future. It is also a place with many pockets of peacefulness and, we believe, a majority of people who want peace for themselves and for their children and grandchildren. As we conducted research for our project, we met with people from every sector and background--scientists, artists, educators, farmers, chefs, business leaders, humanitarian aid workers--who all expressed a desire for peace and a willingness to work toward it. Advertisement We met the principal of a school where children from 48 countries--of all backgrounds and ethnicities--are encouraged to love one another, which it turns out is something children do quite naturally. We spoke with a business mogul who is creating startup spaces throughout Israel where Arabs and Jews are working together. He told us he believes the answer to the strife in the region is jobs and economic security for all. We visited a community of Bedouins who are finding new ways to sustain themselves economically, with the help of their neighbors. We met with an Arab nanoscientist who spoke to us of building a new model of success for both Arabs and Jews in Israel. Advertisement We interviewed an artist who creates buildings with stones from all corners of the Middle East to show that here at least, these histories can work together. Virtually everywhere we turned, we saw extraordinary things happening in Israel. Yes, it is a place fraught with complications and conflicts: those are real and all too concrete, and those challenges make it to the headlines outside of Israel. But there is much, much more to the place. This question originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: What is the TPP? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. Answer by Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, on Quora: The TPP is the Trans-Pacific Partnership - a trade agreement that puts American workers first and makes sure we write the rules of the road for trade in the 21st Century. It's an agreement between the United States and 11 other countries in the Asia-Pacific region: Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, and New Zealand. Here's what makes TPP the most ambitious trade agreement in American history. First, it's huge: TPP covers nearly 40 percent of global economic output and one-third of all global trade. Second, it's an agreement that does trade the right way: TPP demands the highest standards for fair competition and protections for workers, the environment, and innovation of any trade deal in history. And third, TPP represents a crossroads for American leadership in an essential region for our future - the gap between passing TPP and failing to do so couldn't be more stark. Advertisement With TPP, we'll eliminate more than 18,000 taxes that other countries currently put on American-made goods, which will give our exports a boost. And that's important because businesses that export abroad pay higher-than-average wages here at home. With TPP, we'll finally have the first trade agreement that reflects the realities of the digital age by protecting a free and open Internet and preventing unfair rules that restrict the free flow of data. With TPP, the countries we trade with will adopt the strongest labor and environmental standards in any trade agreement in history. That means requiring a minimum wage, putting in place worker safety regulations, and prohibiting forced labor and child labor. It also means cracking down on illegal wildlife trafficking, illegal fishing, and illegal logging in one of the most biologically diverse regions of the world. But without TPP, these countries can keep taxing American goods, restricting the Internet, and undercutting American workers by paying lower wages and setting lower standards. Advertisement For example, if you work on an auto assembly line in Ohio, the cars you build face taxes - called tariffs - as high as 30 percent when they're imported into Malaysia and 70 percent in Vietnam, not to mention a thicket of unfair rules that add costs and create hurdles in places like Japan. Likewise, if you're a small business owner in Oregon, you might face obscure and confusing customs rules that make it difficult to sell your products to customers abroad. That's not the kind of deal we want in the region that's on its way to becoming the most populous and lucrative market on the planet. That's why TPP addresses all these issues head-on, slashing barriers and rewriting rules so that our workers and businesses get the fair shot they deserve. And here's the thing: with TPP, unlike in past agreements, these rules are fully enforceable. So if a country fails to live up to these standards, we can bring trade sanctions against them. That's how we make sure they're dealing fairly. I know past trade agreements haven't always lived up to the hype. That's why we spent the better part of a decade - eight years total - negotiating this one to get it right. It's a deal that protects American workers and businesses - and puts our values first. Because we know that "Made-In-America" is still the best in the business, and when Americans compete on a level playing field, we win. Chinese military parade - via Flickr "Mates" is how Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong described the relationship between his country and Australia after an October visit to Canberra, which saw the two nations sign pacts allowing for significantly greater cooperation in defense, trade, innovation and law enforcement - the first tranche of initiatives under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that both countries reached last year. What's more, under a $1.8 billion dollar deal 14,000 Singapore soldiers will be able to travel to Australia to train in an area that is four times the size of the island city-state. But beneath these warm bilateral ties, deeper tensions are making themselves felt. Singapore's deepening military ties with Australia come on the back of increased Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. While Singapore is not involved in any maritime disputes with Beijing, it managed to get into hot water with China over its support for U.S-led freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea as well as for its soft backing of the ruling issued in July by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. As such, Singapore has doubled down on its relationship with the U.S. by signing an enhanced defense cooperation agreement in December 2015 as well as hosting maritime exercises with the U.S. Navy in 2017. Leasing additional training space from Australia was therefore just the latest in a long series of moves made by Singapore in reaction to China's assertiveness. Advertisement On the other hand, Hong Kong's former chief secretary Anson Chan has warned that Australia itself has been getting too close for comfort to China. While Australia has always tried to dangerously balance Washington and Beijing by keeping one foot in each boat, there are growing fears that under Malcolm Turnbull's administration, Canberra has been shifting its weight more and more over towards China. "By the time China's infiltration of Australia is readily apparent, it will be too late" quipped Chan, before saying that "No one should be under any illusions about the objective of the Communist Party leadership - its long-term, systematic infiltration of social organizations, media and government." The implication is clear: get too cozy with China, and Australia's sovereignty and the balance of power in the region, could be compromised. Indeed, the two countries are already significantly intertwined. Funds from the People's Republic of China (PRC) support Australia's higher education sector, media organizations, research initiatives and individual politicians and political parties. It also has a near-monopoly control of Chinese-language media and exerts pressure on ethnic Chinese people living in Australia to 'unite' and work for the cause of China. China also seems to be influencing Australian military policy. A recent and unexpected decision to award its largest ever military contract to build 12 submarines to France rather than Japan is thought to be the result of Australian deference to China who openly campaigned against the Japanese bid, urging Australia to "consider the feelings of Asian countries" and arguing that Japan's military-export ambitions are an indication that it is failing to "uphold its pacifist constitution." And of course, many are already uneasy about Australia leasing parts of Darwin's port to a Chinese company with alleged links to the People's Liberation Army, despite Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei claiming that "There is no need for the Australian public to have such concerns over the lease of the Darwin port to a Chinese company". Advertisement This deepening of the relationship between Australia and China is understandably a cause for concern for the country's Australasian neighbors, not least in the light of the US' fluctuating relationships in the region. With Obama's "pivot to Asia" having its effectiveness called into question in the face of Chinese encroachment into the South China Sea, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) floundering, and some Asian academic experts voicing concern about President Obama's neglect of the long-standing US-Japan relationship, there are concerns that the US is not dealing correctly with the unprecedented task of quelling China's global ambition. Indeed, in the face of China's ever-increasing power, the US' faltering foreign policy is making Asian countries blanche. And these fears are only being worsened in the run-up to the US presidential elections. While Hilary Clinton's policy can largely be predicted to be broadly aligned with Obama's, there is one major difference: she no longer supports TPP - the trade agreement on which the Asian Pivot rested. Without it, much of Obama's plans for the region will struggle to gain a meaningful foothold. Should Trump become president, we can expect to see him instigate a major departure from Obama's foreign policy position in a tenure which could be shaped with what one commentator describes as "a rejection of TPP...apparent willingness to gamble on inciting trade wars, abrogating alliances and supporting nuclear proliferation." The next President of the United States must stand up to a rising China and renew traditional alliances with America's strongest allies in Asia. Recently Secretary of Education John King announced the Department's new regulations for a teacher preparation program accountability system. This is the Department's final rule concerning the Federal role in regulating teacher preparation under Title II of the Higher Education Act, with provisions very similar to prior versions. On cue, Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, rejected the rules out of hand. Will other professional groups, also opposed to prior version of these regulations, break ranks and stand down from obstructing requirements that student learning be an outcome for which teacher preparation programs should be held accountable? Instead, will they stand up and lead the profession, to ensure these regulations are implemented with rigor? If both major teachers' unions and the association of colleges of teacher education again line up in opposition, painting these as another instance of over-valuing high stakes testing, they will have secured their position as obstructing the long-term improvement of the profession they claim to represent. In the version Secretary King presented, state-approved reporting systems will require programs to provide data on 4 clusters of graduates' outcomes - employment in the profession; employer and graduate surveys; learning outcomes for the students taught by graduates; and an "other" category that includes accreditations, etc. By far the indicator that may attract the most heat will be student learning outcomes. In the frenzy about value-added measures (VAM) of a few years ago, unions and other groups skillfully portrayed, VAM as the sole metric for student learning. This was not true then and is less true now. There is tremendous flexibility in the regulations for states approve a range of assessments, including portfolios, pre-post tests, and growth indicators, among others. Opponents who single out VAM as the primary reason for rejection are not telling the whole story. Advertisement The devil that resides in the details will be the rigor of assessments and procedures states use to compile program information into categories of effectiveness: low-performing, at-risk, and effective. Absent strong assessments that discriminate among teachers and the programs from which they graduated, its almost guaranteed we will see a Lake Wobegon effect - 95 percent of programs rated as effective while we wring our hands daily about the quality of teacher preparation to ensure graduates are ready to enter the classroom. Unfortunately the Department has no oversight authority over state-level teams responsible for approving program plans, aggregating data, and reporting. The only "stick" the feds can use will be to deny programs' eligibility for TEACH grants, a source of student aid. Let's hope that professionals and stakeholder groups recognize the recognize this as an opportunity to build a system that systematically leads to improving the impact that teachers, and the programs that prepare them, have on student learning. I am a dean of a school of education with a program in teacher preparation, and I watch our faculty, staff, and students, not only discuss rigorous performance measures but implement them, during the time our students are with us. The stumbling block to achieving our next goals in using evidence to drive program design is access to data on our graduates' performance as teachers, including learning outcomes for students they teach. We want this information, and many of my colleagues that lead schools with teacher preparation programs have similar interests. These regulations will provide a major boost toward that goal. Advertisement If you don't have a bank account, you might be surprised to learn that you can open one with as little as $25. The 2015 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households found that 57% of the 15.6 million unbanked Americans thought that they didn't have enough money to keep an account. While this may be true for some, opening a regular checking or savings account doesn't require much money if you take the right steps --and online-only accounts cost even less. Opening an Account at a National Bank If you visit a large national bank like Chase, Bank of America or Wells Fargo, you'll need an opening deposit of $25 to open a standard checking account. As for fees, banks will offer you different ways to waive the account's monthly maintenance charge. One way is to keep a balance of at least $1,500 every day of the month, but parking that much money in the bank to dodge a $12 fee will be a hard sell for most people. Instead, you can also waive the monthly fee by receiving a certain amount in direct deposits each month. The largest banks require at least $250 to $500 in direct deposits to avoid the fee --a much easier option than the $1,500 minimum balance. Direct deposits from your employer or benefits provider are free and don't take long to set up, so linking them to your new account should be the first order of business when you get started. Advertisement Savings accounts at these big banks also require an opening deposit of at least $25. Their monthly fees are around $5, but typically you won't be charged if you also hold a checking account at the same bank. For $25 per account, and at least $250 in monthly direct deposits, you can open and keep two standard checking and savings accounts at most major banks. Opening Online-Only Bank Accounts If you aren't receiving any direct deposits, there are even cheaper options for low-cost banking. Online-only banks provide all of their banking services through online and mobile apps, with no physical branch locations. Because they spend less to operate, online-only banks can offer checking accounts with no monthly fees. Most of them don't even require a minimum opening deposit, although you'll need at least $0.01 to earn interest on your balance. If you're willing to give up access to in-person service with tellers and branch locations, an online checking account may be the most cost-effective solution. You don't need a set amount of money to start, and you don't have to worry about jumping through hoops to avoid monthly fees. However, using an online account is a different experience from traditional banking. All of your business is conducted through the Internet, and you'll need to call by phone if you want to speak with someone about your banking. You can add funds to an online account via mobile check deposit and cash deposits at the bank's ATMs. Advertisement American flag background for election 2016. Yes, if people will forget about their protest votes, we can turn Texas blue! I have written several articles on The Huffington Post detailing why this election will decide the future of the Millennial generation, why Johnson is not your guy if you "felt the bern", why the Supreme Court is the most important issue of this election, and why Trump appeals to his base. If you have not read them, please check out http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/tam-warner-minton. Are you one of Donald's base supporters? You want marriage equality overturned so Gays and Lesbians will once again be secondary citizens? You want Roe v. Wade overturned so women lose control over their own bodies and will have to resort to illegal abortions? You think America needs to be Great Again (as if it isn't already great!), meaning going back to the 1950s when yellows, browns, women and blacks were not threatening to take over the white man's world? This article is not for you. Advertisement The election is within single digits in Texas, and this is not the time to indulge in "protest votes". Voting for Johnson or Stein is a vote for Trump, and if you have a socially liberal bone in your body, voting for Trump is anathema. The United States is a two party system, like it or not. Why? Because of the Electoral College. (Want to know more? READ.) If you do not like the two party system, then you need to lobby for getting rid of the Electoral College. In the meantime, only the Democrats and the Republicans matter in the USA. We all know why Trump should not be President of the United States. (If you do not know, then you must not be able to read a paper, watch the news, or get on the internet.) Perhaps Bernie Sanders supporters don't understand why they need to support Hillary Clinton? Here are a few reasons why: 1. Hillary Clinton is a Democrat, and voted with Bernie Sanders 93 percent of the time she was in the Senate. She was fighting for universal health care before most Millennials were even born. (Check it out) Health care is an issue Hillary Clinton has been advocating for since she was First Lady in Arkansas, back in the 1980s. 2. Hillary Clinton supports marriage equality, equal pay for women, a $15.00 minimum wage, and closing tax loopholes for the super wealthy. She will appoint pro-choice, socially liberal Justices for the Supreme Court, one of the most crucial issues of this election. Unless you are socially conservative and want to go back into the dark ages, the Democratic nominee is where you want your vote to go. It is the only way to move forward. Advertisement 3. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders came up with the most progressive Democratic Platform EVER. Read it. Vote the issues! 4. Have you read the Libertarian Party Platform? Or the Green Party Platform? The Libertarians are economically far to the right of the Republican Party, and they want to do away with the EPA and the Education Department. Crazy? In my opinion, yes, pretty unrealistic. And speaking of unrealistic, the Green Party Platform is a poster child for Utopia. There is nothing pragmatic about the Green Party. And don't forget, neither Johnson or Stein has a clue about foreign policy. Not a clue. These people are not realistic choices for the Presidency of the United States. 5. Hillary Clinton supports the 2nd Amendment. Who doesn't? It is in the Bill of Rights, folks. Some of us might question the Supreme Court's interpretation of it, but no one disputes it. No one will ever succeed in doing away with any part of the Bill of Rights. She isn't coming for your guns. NO ONE is coming for your guns. She does want common sense gun laws, like if you are on the terror watch list, you shouldn't be able to buy a gun. Sounds pretty common sense to me. 6. Climate Change is an issue that is front and center in the future of the Millennial generation. Trump is a climate denier. It is a "hoax", he says, perpetrated by the Chinese. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian nominee, says that since the sun will encompass the earth in billions of years it does not make sense to worry about climate change since it is inevitable. Hillary Clinton and Jill Stein want to combat climate change, but only Hillary Clinton can actually win the election. The next President of the United States will have the ability to nominate not only one, but up to four, new Justices to the Supreme Court. The rights of LGBTs, women, children, seniors, patients, and immigrants are at stake in this election. Texans, think twice before you head to the polls to register your "protest vote". In the final weeks of his campaign, Donald Trump has reiterated his call to build a wall between Mexico and the United States. A Pew Research survey shows his supporters are united by, perhaps more than any other issue, anti-immigrant sentiment. To him, like many of his supporters, this wave of invading "criminals" supported and abetted by the Mexican government is a dire threat to the nation. Put aside for a moment the racist dimensions of this rhetoric. The wall argument assumes the cause of undocumented migration originates in Mexico, in the Mexican government or in the criminal intent of migrants. A border wall makes intuitive sense if you assume the cause of undocumented migration is external to the United States. Advertisement This is a belief that ignores not only the ease of breaching such a wall, but more fundamentally the economics of low-wage, undocumented labor migration that generated these flows in the first place. Over the last two decades, U.S. recruitment of workers without documentation has drawn millions over the border even as we have invested billions in policing, barricades and surveillance on that same border. My research, like that of others, sheds light on the day-to-day incentives employers have for recruiting undocumented workers. The cumulative effect of these recruitment practices, which occur in nearly every geographic region of the country, is to invite large-scale migration across the U.S.-Mexico border. It is a draw that is highly resistant to our efforts to stop it. From this perspective, the origins of the current situation, in which 6.4 percent of our workforce lacks documentation, lie north of the border as much as south of it. A preference for the undocumented My colleagues and I have conducted research in U.S. communities where undocumented Latino immigrants live and work, including interviews with their employers. We focused on small businesses in rural Colorado and Georgia. We investigated how and why entrepreneurs in construction, landscaping and low-wage service industries began actively seeking to hire undocumented Latino immigrants starting in the mid-1990s even though immigrant workers were largely absent from these places prior to that time. Advertisement What started for many as a short-term solution to fill a labor gap turned into a preference for hiring undocumented workers. Recruitment efforts thus intensified, causing a significant growth in the Latino immigrant population in both places. In a rural Georgia county, the Latino population increased 1,760 percent between 1990 and 2010, due to the increase in these recruitment efforts by businesses involved in construction, landscaping, cleaning and food provision. Why did businesses that rely on low-wage workers develop a preference for immigrants and particularly undocumented ones? In interviews, employers describe the undocumented Latino immigrants they hire as among the most reliable, honest and hardworking employees they have ever had. As one Georgia employer described it: "I think about, if I had to get rid of the nine Hispanics that I've got tomorrow and replace them with locals, to get the same amount of output, I would have to hire fifteen instead of nine and I'd probably have to pay them $1 an hour more each, and that figures up quick. And there's sometimes that you just can't find people to do the work." Most employers we interviewed began by the late 1990s to organize their businesses around the productivity and discipline offered by an undocumented immigrant workforce. Advertisement This view not only contradicts Trump's assumptions about undocumented low-wage immigrants' "criminal" character, it sheds light on their role in a range of economic sectors across the country. Over the past two decades, low-wage industries across the U.S. have increasingly recruited and relied on immigrant workers, many of whom lack documentation. The economic benefits created by the presence of low-wage, undocumented immigrant workers are experienced not only by the American businesses that hire them, but also by consumers. Where our research was conducted, consumers enjoyed lower-cost housing and a range of cheaper restaurant, landscaping and cleaning services due to their presence. These kinds of economic benefits explain why Donald Trump hired undocumented Polish workers to help build Trump Tower. The 'ideal' worker People who enter the United States without documents are usually motivated by profound economic need, a need that animates them to embark on a dangerous and uncertain journey. Poverty places them in a position of vulnerability that often proves to be an asset to their U.S. employers. Eager for employment, they often accept difficult, irregular and low-paying jobs they can do without being fluent in English. AP/Gerry Broome The threat of deportation adds an additional layer of insecurity and vulnerability. Undocumented residents live in fear. That applies even to those who are raising citizen children, who are gainfully employed over many years, who have no criminal record and who pay sales, property and income taxes. They live with a constant threat of deportation and a deep sense of being viewed with suspicion by some in the communities where they live. It is a suspicion often tied to racial animosity. Latino residents are frequently profiled as "illegal" - regardless of their actual legal status or nationality, a trend that affects not only labor markets but whole communities. The combination of poverty and fear of deportation inspires most undocumented immigrants to tie themselves closely to their employers. They work hard and avoid public spaces. In the words of sociologists Jill Harrison (University of Colorado-Boulder) and Jennifer Lloyd (University of Wisconsin-Madison), undocumented workers become "compliant workaholics" in order to survive. Employers in low-wage industries have found this disciplined, loyal and flexible workforce very attractive. Advertisement The economic power of this process is resistant to border control and physical barriers installed over the last two decades - precursors to the fantasy of an impenetrable wall. It is telling that the steady growth of the undocumented workforce between the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s happened despite a nearly constant growth of spending on border patrol, new barriers and surveillance. Only in the wake of the 2008 economic crash, which dramatically slowed recruitment processes, did the unauthorized Mexican workforce in the United State start to decline. Trump, of course, pairs his call for a huge wall with a promise to enforce mass deportation. This is equally unrealistic in economic terms. Economists have estimated that if Trump were successful in removing all undocumented workers, our GDP would fall by 5.7 percent. This is in addition to the cost of such a deportation effort, which is estimated at requiring US$400 billion in new federal spending. Finally, there is the human cost of this plan given that in 2012 4.5 million U.S. citizen children have one or more undocumented parents. While there is a clear economic logic to the presence of millions of undocumented workers in the United States, a logic that I believe we misunderstand at our peril, the current system does not provide justice nor a decent life for low-wage immigrant or nonimmigrant workers. I believe comprehensive immigration reform would make it possible for undocumented workers to legalize, a place from which they could demand better wages and working conditions. Their improved situation would actually help level the playing field - eliminating the unfair advantage of illegal status in the labor market - for nonimmigrant workers. Legalization and a path to citizenship not only provide a ethical path out of our current situation, they make economic sense as well. Advertisement Lise Nelson, Associate Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Associate Professor of Geography, Pennsylvania State University Ever been in a situation where you had to wait for minutes before a website completely load-up? It is a very frustrating experience to have to wait before one is able to access the required resources on a webpage. As a web owner, especially if it's a money making webpage, this is not a desirable thing. Considering the fact that consumers now have shorter and shorter attention spans, it is important you do everything possible to ensure your website users don't get frustrated. A research study indicated that download speed and web performance directly influences customers behavior in terms of sales conversion. Just an increase of 100 milliseconds page load speed cost Amazon substantial revenue losses. Advertisement However, having a high performing website means a number of things need to be put in place. This article is directed at exposing some of the tricks you could use to boost your website performance. 1.Reduce HTTP Requests A report on Yahoo revealed that almost 80% of a website's load time is spent downloading various pieces of the pages. Parts like stylesheets, image, scripts, flash etc. before each of these will be accessed an HTTP request has to be made. Therefore, the more of these components you have, the longer the page load time. You can however improve the speed by employing CSS instead of images wherever possible. By trimming the number of elements on the page and using a single combination of multiple style sheets you will be able to increase the performance of your website. 2.Enable Compression If your webpage is made up of high quality content, the size could be over a 100kb, thus taking time to download. Due to their bulkiness, it is best to compress them through zip. This reduces the load time and makes everyone happy. With compression, the bandwidth of the page is reduced thus reducing HTTP response. Advertisement 3.Improve Your Message Before visitors can be converted to customers, a lot of factors are involved. The majority however lies in how you package the content of your website. The central message should be clear, precise, quick and convincing. Your central message is needed to serve as a link for your visitor to access the internal landing page. 4.Give Your Visitors a Reason to Check back Getting a visitor on your page is a great. However, giving them a reason to check back in the future is much more important. According to David Kokosi, an expert on Network and IP Stresser, "visitors are rarely converted to customers on their first visit. The first visit is often used to access credibility. Conscientious effort have to be taken to give your visitors something worth coming back to." Here are examples steps that could be taken: A regularly updated blog Practical articles Newsletters and RSS feeds Whatsoever will engage your visitor and provide them with value. 5.Make it Mobile friendly. It is no longer news that a large percentage of the people access the internet via their tablet and mobile devices. Thus, having a responsive web design is non-negotiable. A report from Forester in 2014 revealed that mobile commerce transaction in the US totaled $114 billion. Given the wide spread acceptance of smart phones, it is essential you give mobile a priority in designing your website. 6.Enable browser caching On visit to any website, the elements on that page are stored in a cache on the hard drive. This prevents having to send another HTTP request to the server when next the site is visited. Having your web cache enabled can significantly reduce browser load time by as much as 70%, since all the required components will not be downloaded again. Advertisement 7.Optimize Image As images are part of the heaviest components of your web's content, you need to optimize them to reduce load time. With image, three things are critical: size, format and the src attribute. Image size: Since oversized image will affect load time, crop image to a reasonable size. Also reduce color depth to the minimal acceptable standard and remove image comments. For Image Format: While PNG is a good option, older browser might not support it. JPEG is the best. Avoid the use of BMPs Src attribute: once the size and format of your image is optimized, get the code in order too. 8.Make The Best of Social Media Quite a few web owners really know how to properly and effectively use social media on their company website. According to Nirmal Gyanwali, a Sydney based web design expert, the secret of using social media as a key business generating tool is to integrate them with compelling contents on your site. Having interesting contents relating to your business that visitors will be proud to share is what makes the use of social media effective. 9.Reduce redirects With redirects, you generate additional HTTP response. This only increases load time which you do not want. Using a HTTP redirect on the other hand can help transfer mobile users directly to the mobile version of the URL without redirects could help. Advertisement 10.Sign Up With a Good Web Host Choosing a good web hosting for your website is crucial. Your choice of hosting services goes a long way to determine your website's response time. So, you want to go with the best web hosting that meet your needs. It might be tempting to go for cheap web host but the cost in terms of missed business might be more. As we head into the home stretch of the presidential campaign, one issue has yet to be adequately debated -- how much to spend on the Pentagon, the largest, and arguably most important, agency in the federal government. One initiative that should command universal agreement is the need to eliminate the billions in waste, fraud and abuse that are present in the Pentagon's current budget. In February of this year I published a report that documented $33 billion in waste generated by 27 programs over the past few years. And that's just a sampling that underscores the scale of the problem. Perhaps the most effective tool for reducing waste in Pentagon spending would be to force the department to finally get its books in order so it can pass an audit. If it can't track where its money is going, the Pentagon is offering an open invitation to its contractors and bureaucrats to engage in waste, fraud and abuse. Both major party platforms cite a Pentagon audit as a priority, yet neither candidate has spoken about the issue on the campaign trail. Regardless of who wins on November 8th, they should support bipartisan legislation designed to give the Pentagon economic incentives to get its fiscal house in order. Advertisement The next level of unnecessary spending is the investment in weapons systems that are overpriced, underperforming, or unnecessary. Programs ripe for reduction or elimination include the F-35 aircraft, which a recent analysis by the Project on Government Oversight argues may never be ready for combat. That's a sobering revelation when applied to a project that could be the most expensive ever undertaken by the Pentagon, with a total price tag of over $1.4 trillion to build and operate over its lifetime. Even more questionable is the Pentagon's plan to spend $1 trillion over the next three decades on a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines, bombers and land-based missiles. Hillary Clinton has questioned the need for a buildup on this scale, with a particular focus on the dangerous and destabilizing plan to build a new nuclear-armed cruise missile, as have experts like former Secretary of Defense William Perry. But rooting out waste and shedding unnecessary weapons projects is just the beginning of getting the Pentagon budget under control. The most important priority should be to craft a realistic defense strategy and adjust spending priorities accordingly. A team of experts headed by Benjamin Friedman, Christopher Preble and Trevor Thrall of the Cato Institute has done just that. The team estimates that a policy of restraint that focuses on core defense needs while avoiding adventurism or spending to address challenges that should be handled by allies could save up to $1 trillion over the next ten years. That's a stark contrast to the cries for more that have emanated from the Pentagon, hawks on Capitol Hill, and corporate-funded think tanks. For that matter, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have called for substantial increases in Pentagon spending, which is already more than was spent at the height of the Reagan administration and substantially higher than the Cold War average. Advertisement There is another way forward. As Benjamin Friedman notes in a piece published in September at War on the Rocks, part of the problem is an overly ambitious vision of what the U.S. military can and should do. He describes the current strategy of "primacy" as an approach that "sees threats everywhere and prescribes U.S. forces everywhere to meet them . . . it is less a strategy, which prioritizes resources to meet specific goals, than a vague invocation to try to use U.S. military forces to manage the world." Friedman further notes that changing strategies can save far more money than the approaches to waste, fraud and abuse mentioned earlier in this piece. Fixing those problems could save tens of billions of dollars, but a strategy of restraint could save far more even as it provides a more coherent blueprint for future Pentagon spending. As he puts it, "The Pentagon's efficient pursuit of unwise goals is a far richer target for cuts." A the strategy of restraint set out by Friedman would focus more heavily on the Navy as a surge force able to get to areas of potential conflict on short notice, and cut back on ground troops and overseas bases accordingly. Under this strategy, even the Navy's budget could be trimmed as it divests itself of the requirement of being persistently and permanently present in Asia and other potential areas of conflict. This approach would allow, for example, for a reduction of hugely expensive aircraft carrier task forces. On the nuclear front, a force based on submarine-based ballistic missiles rather than a triad of air-, sea-, and land-based nuclear delivery vehicles would reap at least $18 billion in savings in the next decade by eliminating the need for new nuclear-armed missiles and bombers, and much more beyond that as the need to sustain those excess forces is removed from the equation. Two other key building blocks of a strategy of restraint would be to let allies in Europe and Asia take the lead in dealing with any challenges that arise from Russia or China, and abandoning the futile policy of regime change that has wrought enduring damage to global security in Iraq and Libya. Advertisement Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes in 'Her Notes.' Photo: Rosalie O'Connor By Sheila Kogan, ZEALnyc Contributing Writer, October 27, 2016 Jessica Lang, award-winning choreographer who has had a long association with the Joyce Theater, has choreographed her first ballet for American Ballet Theater, titled Her Notes, to the piano music of Fanny Mendelssohn Hansel, the elder sister of Felix Mendelssohn. The music is noteworthy because the compositions of Fanny Mendelssohn Hansel have largely been unknown - it wasn't considered acceptable for a woman of her time (1800s) to publish music - but she wrote over 400 piano pieces (a few published under her brother's name). Lang chose excerpts from Das Jahr, which I thought was beautifully Romantic (comparable to Chopin, perhaps) and gorgeously played by pianist, Emily Wong. The performance opened with dancers posed behind a scrim (the fine stage design was by Jessica Lang, as well). With a window inset in the scrim, the ballerina steps through to commence the dance. The lighting (designed by Nicole Pearce) subtly changed to highlight the mood. Advertisement The pretty and appropriately Romantic costumes were designed by Bradon McDonald, a highly regarded former dancer (with Mark Morris' company), who went back to school to study fashion design (and in fact, was a finalist on TV's "Project Runway"). He costumed the women like modern versions of classical ballerinas in knee-length chiffon skirts in shades of blue and light green. Avoiding sentimentality, which paralleled the music, Lang has created a beautiful piece of modern ballet, and American Ballet Theater dancers showed they are exquisite artists. The jumps felt easy. The ballerinas bouree en pointe, skimming across the floor as if weightless. The partnering seemed effortless. All very light and airy, and lovely. It was tasteful, substantial and very satisfying. I can't wait to see it again. Also on the program was Serenade after Plato's Symposium, choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky to the music of Leonard Bernstein (with an outstanding performance by violinist Benjamin Bowman). Bernstein's symphony (sounding sometimes like his movie score for On the Waterfront) is more modern and edgier than Fanny Mendelsson's piano piece, and that can be said of the choreography, too. It emphasized the vigor of the men of ABT, giving each man an opportunity to show off his dancing prowess, while also being part of the whole dialogue-in-dance. Hee Seo, the only woman in the cast, has a very dramatic entrance. I had reviewed this piece previously, and it stands up to another viewing. It is just terrific, and one might argue that it's an interesting masculine contrast to the feminine Her Notes. Finally on the program was The Brahms-Haydn Variations, a Twyla Tharp-choreographed ballet from 2000. ABT is a huge company and Tharp seems to have used as many of the dancers as she could fit on the stage. There were mostly formal, classical steps, and the modern ballet lacked any of the quirkiness or originality that I associate with Tharp. With all those legs doing arabesques and arms stretched out in various directions, it was all sort of confusing and dizzying, and kind of irritating. I think that this proves the old adage: less is more. Advertisement Overall, the dancers of American Ballet Theater demonstrated that they deserve the reputation of being one of foremost ballet companies in the world. Although the principal dancers were highlighted throughout (Gillian Murphy, Misty Copeland, Isabella Boylston, Marcelo Gomes, among others), these ballets were ensemble pieces, allowing the whole company to shine. And shine they did. ______________________ American Ballet Theatre fall season at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, New York, October 19-30, 2016. Review of the performance on Sunday, October 23, 2016. Her Notes (World Premiere). Choreography by Jessica Lang; music by Fanny Mendelssohn (excerpts from Das Jahr); costumes by Bradon McDonald; scenery by Jessica Lang; lighting by Nicole Pearce. Dancers: Gillian Murphy, Misty Copeland, Skylar Brandt, Cassandra Trenary, Devon Teuscher, Stephanie Williams, Marcelo Gomes, Jeffrey Cirio, Cory Stearns, and Blaine Hoven. Serenade after Plato's Symposium. Choreography by Alexei Ratmansky; music by Leonard Bernstein (Serenade after Plato's Symposium); scenery and costumes by Jerome Kaplan; lighting by Brad Fields. Dancers: Thomas Forster, Joseph Gorak, Alexandre Hammoudi, Alban Lendorf, Tyler Maloney, Arron Scott, Jose Sebastian, and Hee Seo. The Brahms-Haydn Variations. Choreography by Twyla Tharp; music by Johannes Brahms (Variations on a Theme by Haydn for Orchestra, Op. 56a); costumes by Santo Loquasto; lighting by Jennifer Tipton. Dancers: Isabella Boyston, Skylar Brandt, Gillian Murphy, Alban Lendorf, Aaron Scott, Marcello Gomes, and members of the Corps de Ballet. Advertisement Sheila Kogan is a Contributing Writer for ZEALnyc and writes frequently on theater, dance and other cultural events. For more ZEALnyc features read: Venezuelans protesting against the government at a march in Caracas on Wednesday. EFE More information Mas de 100 manifestantes heridos en las protestas contra Maduro en Venezuela At least 120 people were injured and 147 arrested on Wednesday during street marches organized by Venezuelas opposition to protest the governments suspension of the recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro. The figures were released by opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who showed photographs of people with injuries caused by bullet wounds. Marchers came out in force in Caracas but also in other major cities including Barquisimeto and Maracay. In Merida, demonstrators squared off with riot police. Meanwhile, Interior and Justice Minister Nestor Reverol said that one police officer in the state of Miranda died and two more were injured after trying to break up a demonstration, the news agency Efe reported. The opposition alliance described Maduros decision to suspend the recall vote as a coup detat Tens of thousands of people were said to have joined the nationwide movement to protest the governments actions. Capriles has called for more marches on Thursday but only in the capital, Caracas. The opposition alliance Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) which has described Maduros decision to suspend the recall vote as a coup detat is also encouraging Venezuelans to go on a 12-hour general strike on Friday. Capriles was at the head of the Wednesday march in Caracas, which began at noon. Demonstrators occupied the eastern stretch of Francisco Fajardo Expressway, which crosses the narrow valley of the Venezuelan capital. The Taking of Venezuela, as the march was dubbed, became a massive act of popular protest against Maduro and the economic calamities that have befallen the South American nation during his tenure. President Nicolas Maduro met with the National Defense Council on Wednesday. ---- (EFE) Protesters came out in force despite last-minute organization and the governments moves to hinder the event, including the shutting down of 10 subway stations. But this time the Bolivarian National Guard, which typically dislikes events that cut off traffic on the expressways, allowed marchers through without any trouble. Meanwhile, supporters of chavismo milled around Miraflores Palace, the seat of government, to prevent a reiteration of the events of April 11, 2002, when the late President Hugo Chavez was deposed for 72 hours. Inside the palace, President Maduro had convened a meeting of the National Defense Council, an advisory body that includes top representatives from the five branches of power. But there was one conspicuous absentee: Henry Ramos Allup, the speaker of the National Assembly and a leading member of the opposition. With the television cameras rolling, Maduro criticized his absence and lamented that he he continues to be in contempt of the Supreme Court, a government-stacked body that has invalidated all decisions by the National Assembly until the latter ejects three deputies under scrutiny for electoral fraud. English version by Susana Urra. Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto. EFE This week has seen Mexicos President Enrique Pena Nieto twice make a concerted effort to convince his country that he only has its best interests at heart. On Monday, he accepted responsibility for the disastrous visit by Donald Trump in August. And on Tuesday, he highlighted his governments achievements over the last four years, concluding a question-and-answer session at a business forum in the capital with the sarcastic comment: I am sure that all past presidents had no other mission. I dont think any president ever woke up thinking how to screw over Mexico. Pena Nieto has been assailed by bad news. Over the summer, it emerged that the president plagiarized his law school dissertation. Then came the awkward and unpopular visit to Mexico by the US Republican presidential candidate. Pena Nieto insisted that he has the countrys best interests at heart Last week Javier Duarte, the former governor of the state of Veracruz and a member of Pena Nietos Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), went on the run after being charged with racketeering and money laundering by US authorities. It took Pena Nieto until Tuesday to expel Duarte from the ruling PRI. Meanwhile, the disappearance of 43 college students in 2014 remains unsolved, along with thousands of other cases, and the countrys drug cartels continue to operate with seeming impunity. During the business forum, organized by Mexican financial daily El Financiero and the Bloomberg news agency, Pena Nieto complained about the medias focus on negative developments. Some of the speakers urged attendees to speak well of their country and look at the forest, not the tree. Asked about his praise for Duarte when he took office in 2012, Pena Nieto said he did not remember referring to the disgraced governor as a possible candidate to succeed him: I dont remember the comment, but the party I am a member of, the PRI, is still a great party and it has undergone a tremendous overhaul. Not without mistakes, not without failures, as with all the political forces in this country, he said. Almost 2,000 people were murdered in Mexico in September, the highest figure in six years Each individual is responsible for their actions. The competent authorities will establish who did what, he said in reference to Duarte. Pena Nieto was also reminded by journalists of his own governments report, issued last week, which showed that almost 2,000 people were murdered in Mexico in September, the highest figure in six years. Pena Nieto noted that figures are better now than under the previous administration, but said he is not satisfied yet with security issues. Also present at the forum were the interim governors of the states of Colima and Tamaulipas, along with recently elected Alejandro Murat of Oaxaca. Colima, a major drugs shipment hub, registered the most killings in September, prompting its governor, Ignacio Peralta, to say that attracting investment to Mexico means being able to guarantee legal security and not just tax breaks. The governor of Tamaulipas, Francisco Garcia, mentioned Duarte and Guillermo Padres, the governor of Sonora, also sought by US authorities. He said the way to regain the publics trust in the wake of the Duarte and Padres cases was through greater transparency: We have to involve civil society in the use of public resources. English version by Nick Lyne. A Lesson In Constructive Termination From The Librarian Of Congress Here Chris Castle takes a closer look at the recent "promotion" of Maria Pallante by the Librarian of Congress, a promotion which led to her resignation. In this piece we delve into the memo which resulted in her resignation. _____________________________ Guest Post by Chris Castle on Music Technology Policy Remember when the Librarian of Congress issued a press release about how Maria Pallante was being promoted from the Register of Copyrights to something that sounded awfully functionaryand not a promotion. I dont know how the Librarian runs things, but its not exactly industry standard to lock someone out of their email account when youre promoting them. Notwithstanding the Librarians press release on Friday, we now know that Pallante turned down the promotion and has now resigned. Thanks to the vigilant journalist Robert Levine, we now have access to the memorandum from the Librarian of Congress to Maria Pallante that prompted her resignation. And it sure looks like whats called a constructive termination to me. The essence of constructive termination is that it is essentially the same as firing the person, except you dont. You just move them out of their current responsibilities, give them tasks for which they are unsuited or that would radically underutilize their talents, move them to different surroundings or offices, take away their staff, and severely limit their contact with others, especially persons senior to the person doing the constructive termination. The idea is that while you havent actually terminated them, youve made their lives miserable and created a hostile work environment that any reasonable person would resign from. This is usually done in retaliation for something the employee has done that angered their bossyou know, like writing a memo for Members of Congress against full work licensing or opposing the FCCs position on set top boxes. The in house lawyers usually manage to head off this kind of thing at the pass, but occasionally an inexperienced executive loses their mind and walks right into a constructive termination situation because they are too bull headed to listen to their lawyers. Those cases are costly and usually nasty. So heres the relevant parts of that memo from the Librarian of Congress to Pallante: Effective today, I am reassigning you to the position of Senior Advisor to the Librarian [meaningless titlecheck]. I need your expertise on the application of copyright law as I plan for the Library to expand its service to the American people by making the national collection as widely accessible as possible and ensuring that it includes digital works as well as traditional materials. I want to be sure that we execute these plans in full consideration of both the special provisions that copyright law makes for the Library of Congress and our responsibilities to copyright owners. Your expertise will be very helpful in accomplishing these goals. [That last is the kind of thing you put in one of these memos when you know the opposite is true. If her expertise was so gosh darned helpful, then why is she being moved?] According to analysis from the HathiTrust [a repository of digitized works from Google Books and the Internet Archive that was sued by the Authors Guild], as many as 50% of the books published in the U.S. between 1923 and 1963 may be in the public domain. To maximize our ability to make the national collection available online, the Library needs a well-defined, efficient procedure for determining the rights status of books first published between 1923-1968. Please complete an analysis of the various strategies taken by other organizations in determining the copyright status of published U.S. books. Develop a legally sufficient and efficient procedure that Library reference staff could follow to clear books from this period for digitization and online distribution. Document the approach in an easily understood and visually engaging manner that issuitable for publishing on the Web. I would like you to undertake a comprehensive study that identifies new and sustainable retail opportunities for the Library and examines best practices of retail operations in a variety of cultural institutions.[selling t-shirts?] Please consult with David Mao about deadlines [enter the short leash]. Each week, please provide David and me with a report on the activities youve undertaken on these assignments. [Sounds like David Mao is her direct report, right? I thought this gig reported to the Librarian] If you need research assistance, contact David or me before tasking anyone. I do not anticipate that this assignment will require any communications with Members of Congress or congressional staff. I am arranging suitable office space for you and will arrange for you to complete the move from youre your [sic] current office to the new space by Oct. 31, 2016. And there you have it. Pretty good case for retaliation constructive termination, although we expected better from a senior government official. Youre not in Kansas anymore. Share on: Music Chatbots: What They Are And How Anyone Can Create One In addition to VR and other technological developments, 2016 has shaped up to be the year of the chatbot. Here we get the low-down on all things chatbot, and explore what impact chatbots will have on the music industry. __________________________ Guest post by Nikoo Sadr on The Orchard Chatbots. Alongside VR, this year has certainly been the year of chatbot technology and AI. So what are these chatbots I speak of? Look no further, heres the lowdown on all things chatbots. What are chatbots and what is AI? A chatbot is a chat service that is powered by certain rules. The technology is nothing new and stems all the way back from the 1960s. I remember as a child in Sweden during the 1990s, we had a chatbot doctor program on our computer at school which was meant to educate us on different diseases. You could ask questions giving your symptoms and it would come back with various answers. Safe to say that it wasnt used for its educational purposes by 10-year old kids. So why have chatbots been making waves this year? Usage of messaging apps is continuing to grow worldwide in July, Facebook announced over 1 billion active users on the platform and WeChat in China has 806 million monthly active users. Statistically people are spending more time on messaging apps than on social media. Naturally, communication with customers and fans has to be where they tend to hang out and in 2016, it certainly is messaging apps. With that, chatbots have found their appeal again and the possibilities are exciting. First, chatbots can live within any major chat platforms such as Facebook Messenger, Kik or WhatsApp for example. For platforms such as Facebook, the opportunities are huge. Think even more granular targeting for advertising as well as the opportunity to reach users directly about new products through messaging. In some cases, chatbots can be powered by AI (artificial intelligence) instead of being scripted. This kind of chatbot has the ability to learn and absorb information as a human would and therefore can evolve over time to give more appropriate answers. Of course this can go terribly wrong as well, see Microsofts Tay Tay for proof. Note: if youre planning on testing out a chatbot, Twitter is probably the worst place to start, as the bot has a hard time processing sarcasm and humour. What are some of the examples weve seen this year? Justin Bieber: The unofficial Justin Bieber chatbot was launched a few weeks ago and managed to gather 3 million messages in a week. The company behind this is a startup called Sequel, which launched the chatbot on Messenger and Kik. I have so far been talking about Biebers crazy time with Selena, which he has tried to set straight with me. Its a fun app for a while but the answers come in almost too quickly for a person to keep up with! DJ Lazy Set: This DJing bot, which launched in April on Twitter and is now also available on Facebook, will give you a playlist recommendation based on any artist you suggest. Astoundingly accurate and certainly interesting, DJ Lazy Set is almost like a Pandora-style recommendation engine. The playlists it creates are all saved in the users collection and you can even pick a few artists for the creation of one playlist if you like. Hardwell: From digital agency We Make Awesome Sh. comes the Hardwell app a Facebook Messenger app with some seriously cool features to keep people engaged for a longer period of time. Fans of Hardwell can vote for Track of the Week or leave audio messages for a chance to feature on Hardwells Fan Shout-Out of the Week, all without leaving the platform. A clever way to grab, and keep, fans attention, this bot is actually relevant for fans rather than just a gimmick. For more examples on recent music chatbots, check out Music Allys summary of those worthy of note. How do you get started yourself? Building a simple chatbot doesnt have to be difficult but the maintenance and development of the bot tends to require more resources. There are platform services out there to make it easier to build your bot, for example Chatfuel.com, which allows you to build a Facebook Messenger bot without the need for coding. If you would like to work with external partners to build your chatbot, there are plenty of companies that can help you get started. Or joining an online community might work for you. I am myself part of the Bots Facebook group started by Matt Schlicht, founder and editor at Chatbots Magazine. This group not only keeps you updated on all the latest developments but also allows for a simple way to contact developers as well as get feedback on bots you might have built yourself. If youre interested in digging deeper, Matts excellent article on how to get started with building your chatbot includes more resources. Not ready for the chatbot universe but youd like to dip your toe in messaging apps and AI? Weve got you covered. You can still communicate via Facebook Messenger. Facebook Messenger does allow you to set up instant replies, a greeting message as well as a responsive message. For example, you can set up a competition where you can ask people to respond through Messenger and then include a direct thank you message via your instant reply. You can even offer exclusive material to those that write to you via Messenger if you set up the reward as an instant reply. I suggest including a greeting too so that people who arent interested in taking part in an active campaign are aware of it and can contact you another way. Alternatively, you can interact with messaging apps by creating your own stickers and GIFs as well. Other AI platforms. If youre feeling a bit adventurous with AI, there are other ways of making use of the technology. With Googles free Deep Dream generator, you can turn images into unrecognisable, slightly trippy new versions of themselves. The more you run your images through Deep Dream, the more psychedelic they become. Years & Years used the technology to create their video for their Desire (Gryffin Remix) take a look. Are you thinking about creating a chatbot or interested in knowing more? Contact your client manager or interactive marketing team at The Orchard and well help you out. Share on: The nations massive flood coverage gap is back in the spotlight thanks to Hurricane Matthew but the widespread attention to the many problems associated with the National Flood Insurance Program may be wasted as industry analysts say politics are preventing a key step toward the solution.The Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act, H.R. 2901, has stalled in the Senate after unanimous support in the House. Without the passage of the bill, which requires mortgage creditors to consider private flood insurance the same as federal coverage, most standard and surplus lines carriers will not enter the market.Without the presence of multiple, more affordable flood options, NFIP is likely to remain in debt and the American people uninsured, many argue.We have billions of dollars in capacity we can access, contracts in place waiting to be implemented and up-to-date models ready for use, but the Act is stuck in the Senate, Craig Poulton, chief executive officer with Poulton Associates, told Insurance Business America. And its just so crucial it passes because without it, we cant start to remove some of this risk from the federal balance sheet.Industry lobbyists and trade groups, from NAPSLO to PCI, are continuing to push for the bills passage, but a number of factors are making it an unlikely possibility in 2016. First, Washington is in election mode and many senators are in tough races. If the Senate flips to Democratic control, a lame duck Congress is unlikely to pass any serious legislation.The tone of the Senate is also quite different than the supportive tone in the House. Various senators, including Chuck Schumer who could become the majority leader if Democrats perform well at the polls have expressed grave reservations on the presence of private insurers in flood risk.And while the issues that concern Schumer and others are not terribly germane to H.R. 2901, PCIs Senior Vice President for Federal Government Relations Nat Wienecke says these senators will be unlikely to support any flood bill that doesnt address at least small-scale NFIP reform.There are major concerns on how [2012s Superstorm] Sandy was handled, which could make it very challenging to get a long-term bill passed in this next session, Wienecke told IBA. Every senator is relevant and so were facing an uphill climb in a lame duck session to get anything passed.The most likely scenario, Wienecke said, is that the bill will be rolled over into the next year. That means industry leaders will once again need to reeducate lawmakers on private flood insurance and particularly the role of the surplus lines industry, which is to set up a beachhead and establish appropriate pricing and coverage.They will also need to fight for a distinguishing of the issue from the reauthorization of NFIP, which is also up for consideration next year. With a likely contentious fight ahead, the relatively straightforward issue of market parity could be in danger if not considered separately.Related Stories: IBA Northeast: Post-Sandy anger at insurers shouldnt prevent greater coverage rates for flood IBA Southeast: Hurricane Matthew underlines need for private flood market Williamstown Website Seeking Town Funds WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The Board of Selectmen on Monday heard pitches from two local nonprofits that promote the town one that already receives financial support from the town and another that would like to. Representatives from the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and the website Destination Williamstown told the board what they are doing to help bring business especially tourist business to the Village Beautiful. Following on the heels of last year's report of the town's Economic Development Committee, the two groups stressed how their missions help achieve the goals stated in that report. The Chamber already gets about half of its operating budget from a portion of the town's rooms and meals tax revenue that town meeting alots to the business group. "Our annual budget is about $90,000," Chamber President Jason Dohaney said. "Our hope is that half comes from members and half comes from the town. Both can be volatile. When you have Van Gogh at the Clark, the town portion is phenomenal." Destination Williamstown, an events-driven page promoting things to do in and around town, launched in 2014 as a labor of love of its volunteer board of directors. Currently, its budget is $45,000, with a little less than half going to the salary of the site's curator, DW board member Merritt Colaizzi told the Selectmen. Ninety-five percent of that operating budget comes from annual fund-raising, with Williams College being the "cornerstone" of the group's funding stream, Colaizzi said. Ideally, Destination Williamstown would like to see the town play a role in supporting the site's work, Colaizzi said. Going forward, the DW board said hypothetically it could generate about a third of its budget $15,000 from three or four large "presenting sponsors," another third from community leaders, $2,500 from grants and the remainder, about $15,000, from the town if the town was so inclined. "This is building off the Economic Development Committee report," Colaizzi said. "The concept might be that the town supports the marketing efforts of Destination Williamstown. Some people have told us, I don't want to give you money. The town should be paying for that.' " Colaizzi immediately acknowledged that the idea might not fly with town voters. "This is a total trial balloon," she said. "It might be a lead one." Town Manager Jason Hoch told the Board of Selectmen the notion of getting Destination Williamstown on the town's books is in its infancy, but the non-profit could, in theory, receive a portion of the rooms and meals tax receipts, as the Chamber of Commerce does already. Or DW could receive money as a line item in the operating budget. Chairman Andrew Hogeland indicated the town needs to be prudent where it spends tax money. Combining DW with the Chamber and the recently created Williamstown Cultural District, Hogeland said there are at least three avenues for town promotion. "It sounds like the three entities have slightly overlapping agendas," Hogeland said. "If we're going to be handing out money, we want to make sure that the relationship [between the three] is efficient." Selectwoman Jane Patton asked if Destination Williamstown and the Chamber of Commerce were considering some sort of merger. DW's Barbara McLucas said the two groups, whose missions clearly dovetail, have discussed an "alliance," but those talks have not been held for more than a year. Meanwhile, both the Chamber and Destination Williamstown continue their independent efforts to promote Williamstown. The Chamber of Commerce, whose big annual local events are Holiday Walk in early December and the Fourth of July Parade, provides support for local businesses through networking and education events, Executive Director Emily Watts said. In recent years, the Chamber has followed a regional approach to promotion by forming affiliations with groups like Berkshire Visitors Bureau, 1Berkshire and the Bennington (Vt.) Chamber of Commerce, she said. The Williamstown Chamber also has purchased ads on the websites Boston.com and BostonGlobe.com, Watts said. Locally, it joined a recent effort to expand the BerkShares program into North County. Watts told the board that the local script is accepted at 500 businesses in South County. In the northern part of the county, the goal right now is to get 15 to 20 vendors on board. "Part of having a local currency is that you can spend it," Watts said. "Our mission is to keep people here and keep them spending here." Destination Williamstown, though just a few years old, already has a strong track record, Colaizzi told the board. Since the site launched, DW has had 95,000 unique visitors and 348,000 page views. The duration of the average visit is 2 minutes, 13 seconds, and the average number of pages visited per session is 2.75, Colaizzi said. The site has been recognized regionally and nationally and is well received by town residents who were not initially the target audience but who have come to use Destination Williamstown to find out about events in the area, she said. Selectmen Jeffrey Thomas asked why, if the site is beloved by local residents, the directors of Destination Williamstown were cutting back on their expectations for fund raising in their projected future budget. Colaizzi explained that the DW was not founded with the intention that it would be sustained through donations indefinitely. "This is not a membership organization," she said. "When it started, we said, 'Let's have a three-year plan and then re-evaluate. That's where we are now. "We've had great support, but I don't know if we can go to the same well every year." We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector A year ago no one knew who Bill Mitchell was, yet this small businessman from North Carolina has become the most influential non-journalist or politician in this years presidential election in the US , according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab . Bill Mitchell has 111,000 followers on Twitter. Brynn Anderson (AP) More information Bill Mitchell, el seguidor de Trump mas influyente de las elecciones estadounidenses Mitchell is now the most famous follower of Republican candidate Donald Trump thanks to his popular Twitter profile, where he supports the real estate moguls conspiracy theories, insults and general distrust of the American electoral process. A year ago Mitchell only had about 100 followers on Twitter: now he can boast of 111,000 readers hanging on his every hashtag. The businessman has leveraged his large following into a radio show. With tweets such as A poll is a hypothesis, and: Rallies and social media presence are empirical evidence, he suggests as Trump himself often does that the number of people at town hall meetings is the real proof of the magnates popularity, and not the opinion surveys, in which his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, continues to lead. Mitchell is also keen to spread the conspiracy theories the GOP contender has promoted. Trump will win unless the Clinton campaign tries to provoke election fraud, he wrote. The frenzy caused by this conspiracy reached its height during the third presidential debate when Trump refused to say whether he will accept the results of the election in November. Mitchell writes 270 tweets on average every day in support the Republican candidate, whom he has compared to Jesus Christ. At a dinner hosted by powerful Catholic leaders last week, Trump himself joked that he, just like Jesus Christ, had worked as a carpenter when he was young. English version by Dyane Jean Francois. October 27- black day: Videos from archive of A1+ (video) 17 years ago on this day the government of Armenia was beheaded; a group of terrorists, headed by Nairi Hunanyan, broke into the RA National Assembly, where the Government-NA question-and-answer session was underway and shot dead the leadership of the executive and legislative bodies. The state media outlets didnt confirm the news on the murder of the leadership of the power for more than 5 hours. Only after 22:00 the Presidential residence issued a statement that there were killed and injured. The bodies of the killed were taken out from the parliament building only late in the evening. Before that, the terrorists put forward certain preconditions and demanded then acting RA President Robert Kocharyan. President Robert Kocharyan had a face-to-face meeting with Nairi Hunanyan, and until now it isnt known what they spoke about. The hostages were released only on October 28; getting guarantees for security, the terrorists surrendered and were taken to the isolator of the National security. Today no one believes that the terrorists acted independently; October 27 crime hasnt been fully revealed. After 17 years the society knows what they knew on October 27 of 1999. Here are the reportages about October 27 prepared by A1+ during different years. The Long, Twisted Shadow Cast by Nazi Medical Experiments The Fellowship | October 27, 2016 The Long During the Holocaust, Jews were not only murdered by the millions, but they were also tortured and experimented on by the Nazis in the name of medical research. The Times of Israels Matt Lebovic takes a look at this particular tragedy that occurred as part of the darkest time in the Jewish peoples history: Probably not for the last time, human remains from inmates used in Holocaust-era medical experiments were accidentally discovered in Germany last year. Employees of the Max Planck Psychiatric Institute in Munich found the brain samples during construction in 2015, but the finding was not announced until the end of last month. The institute regularly received human remains from experiments performed on Nazi camp inmates during World War II. The man most closely associated with these medical activities was Dr. Josef Mengele, the Angel of Death who selected inmates for the gas chambers or forced labor on the ramp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. According to the Max Planck Institute, the remains found last year were collected by Mengele and other physicians for analysis at the lab, which was then called the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute. We are embarrassed by these findings, and the blemish of their discovery in the archives, said the institute in a statement about the remains, found in jars during building renovations. Israels Yad Vashem expressed concern over how long it took officials to publicize the discover, pointing to other examples of the mishandling of human remains from Nazi-era experiments. Two years ago in Berlin, for instance, victims bones were discovered in the trash. Last year, the remains of Jews gassed for research were uncovered at a forensic medical institute in Strasbourg, France, meticulously labeled with the victims information. Next year, were going to organize a convention about this issue, said Yad Vashems Dan Machman in an interview with Israels Army Radio following the Planck Institutes announcement. This [discovery] is something new that was previously unknown, and joins other events that are suddenly uncovered after 70 years, said the director of research at the international Holocaust center. Whoever thought this chapter was completely finished is mistaken ATTORNEY GENERAL MADIGAN: $41 MILLION MULTISTATE SETTLEMENT WITH HYUNDAI & KIA OVER INFLATED FUEL ECONOMY CLAIMS Companies Will Pay Illinois More Than $2.2 Million For Deceiving Consumers into Buying Cars with Erroneous Mileage Estimates Chicago Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced a $41 million settlement with automakers Hyundai and Kia to resolve claims that the companies misrepresented the mileage and fuel economy ratings for some of their model year 2011, 2012 and 2013 vehicles. The settlement resolves a multistate investigation by Madigan, 32 states and the District of Columbia that alleged the companies incorporated inflated and inaccurate fuel economy data into the estimated mileage ratings displayed on window stickers and in advertisements and promotional campaigns of more than 40,000 cars in Illinois and more than 750,000 cars across the country. Madigan and the states alleged the companies sought to capitalize on the erroneous mileage estimates, and as a result, misled consumers, who considered the mileage per gallon estimates in purchasing the vehicles, particularly at a time of peak gasoline prices. Illinois will receive $2.2 million from the settlement. These car companies deceived consumers into thinking they were purchasing vehicles that would be more fuel efficient than they really were, Madigan said. The multistate group led by Illinois, Connecticut and Iowa also includes Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The companies began providing restitution in 2013 directly to impacted consumers. To date, each company has offered more than $2.5 million in restitution to consumers with the affected vehicles. A class action settlement may provide additional restitution to consumers. To learn more, consumers can call Hyundai at 877-277-0012 or Kia at 855-912-5648. Assistant Attorneys General Cassandra Halm and Greg Grzeskiewicz handled the settlement for Madigans Consumer Protection Bureau. -30- SDHP supports Hillary Clinton On November 8th, millions of Americans will head to the polls to participate in one of the most consequential elections of the past decades. The outcome of this election will not only determine the future of the United States, but also will have an effect on the rest of the world. The choice is between the two major party candidates, the Republican or the Democratic candidates, one of which will become the 45th president of the United States and govern for the next four years. Throughout this long presidential campaign, the Republican candidate Donald Trump with his vague economic, social and political plans, divisive and racially toned rhetoric, his calls to deport millions of refugees, his treatment of women, un-presidential behavior, his numerous bankruptcies, his shady business dealings and many more character flaws, has come to prove that he is unqualified to become the leader of this country. In addition, considering his business dealings in Turkey and Azerbaijan, we deem Donald Trump to be an unacceptable choice. The Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton has over thirty years of experience in the political arena, as a first lady, senator and secretary of state. She has shown to be a balanced politician. She has adopted the Democratic Partys platform based on social justice and the protection of the working people and the middle class. Hillary Clinton has fought for progressive ideals throughout her career. Based on all these and other factors, the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party endorses the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton In our endorsement letter addressed to Mrs. Clinton, we expressed our hope that on the issue of the Armenian Genocide, she reverts to the position she held as a Senator. We urged her to support the right of self-determination for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the resolution of the Karabakh conflict through peaceful means. We also asked her, as President, to increase cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Armenia, increase financial and other forms of aid aimed to benefit the people of Armenia and democratic institutions. Thus, we call upon the Armenian American community to participate in the upcoming elections, in large numbers, and to vote for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, as the next president of the United States. Social Democratic Hunchakian Party Executive Committee of Western United States Ninni Laaksonen represented Finland in the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 2006. She tells that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump groped her. Former Miss Finland Ninni Laaksonen has told Ilta-Sanomat that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump groped her in New York in July 2006. Laaksonen was representing Finland in the Miss Universe beauty pageant at the time. Laaksonen says the incident occurred right before they were going to be on Late Show with David Letterman. She appeared on the show with three other contestants and Donald Trump. Before the show we (Trump and the other contestants) were photographed outside the building. Trump stood right next to me and suddenly he squeezed my butt. He really grabbed my butt. I dont think anybody saw it but I flinched and thought: What is happening? Trump, Miss Finland Ninni Laaksonen and three other contestants appeared at the Late Show with David Letterman. Laaksonen also attended some house parties with the other contestants and Trumps wife Melania. Somebody told me there that Trump liked me because I looked like Melania when she was younger. It left me disgusted, Laaksonen says. Laaksonen has not told about her experience before. She only told her story after she was contacted by Ilta-Sanomat as a part of a round of interviews with Finnish women who have met the Republican presidential nominee. Multiple women have accused Trump of groping or other unsuitable behaviour. In the United States ten women have told about their experiences with their own names and one has told her story anonymously. Donald Trump has strongly denied ever having groped women. Submarine Force Looking for Enlisted Women Honolulu, Hawaii - The Enlisted Women in Submarine Task Force hosted a recruitment and conversion brief at Lockwood Hall September 29. The recruitment for this cycle of applicants comes on the heels of successful integration of female officers and senior enlisted Sailors onboard submarines that started in 2010. In January 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta rescinded the 1994 Direct Combat Exclusion act which restricted women from serving onboard submarines. Naval Administrative (NAVADMIN) message 19/15 entitled, "Opening Submarine Force Billets to Enlisted Women," detailed the enlisted women integration plan and was formally approved in December 2014 for federal funding by Congress. This year, NAVADMIN message 196/16 detailed requirements for female Sailors interested in applying. Female Sailors in ranks seaman recruit to senior chief petty officer are eligible to apply. Chief petty officer and senior chief petty officer conversions are available for information systems technician (ITS), logistics specialist (LS), culinary specialist (CS), and yeoman (YN). Petty officer first class and below conversions are available for sonar technician, fire control technician, machinist's mate-weapons, machinist's mate-Auxiliary, missile technician, electronics technician-navigation, electronics technician-communications, LS, ITS, CS, and YN. This cycle of conversions will be for the initial enlisted integration of guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) submarine crews in Bangor, Washington in 2018. Applications are due by April 1, 2017 and the selection process will begin in May 2017. Assistant Secretary Malinowski Travels to Mexico Washington, DC - Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Affairs, Tom Malinowski will travel to Mexico City, Mexico on October 27. He will join U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Roberta Jacobson in co-chairing the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-Mexico Human Rights Dialogue. The Mexican delegation will be led by Ambassador Miguel Ruiz Cabanas, Under Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Assistant Secretary Malinowski will also meet with representatives of civil society during the visit. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Upon its release, Spectre was heralded as one of the best James Bond films to date, various publications awarding Daniel Craig's fourth outing as 007 five stars. The films stand-out moment was the opening scene in which Bond casually strolls through a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City before, changing into a suit and pursuing his targets. Despite the utterly ridiculous helicopter fight, perhaps the most unbelievable part of the entire scene was a Day of the Dead parade even happening in Mexico City, because no such procession has ever taken place in the city before. Inspired by the film, officials have decided to host a similar parade, on 29 October, that will start at the Angel of Independence and finish at the historic Zocalo square. According to a statement, picked up by AFP, hundreds of volunteers will help bring the event to life, using the props and the wardrobe of the well-known film Spectre. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday, celebrated throughout the country, in which friends and family gather to remember those the have lost. Recently, when talking about returning to the James Bond series, Craig has seemed surprisingly optimist, telling fans in New York: Ive got the best job in the world doing Bond. The eight contenders to be the next James Bond Show all 9 1 /9 The eight contenders to be the next James Bond The eight contenders to be the next James Bond Jamie Dornan, 36 PA The eight contenders to be the next James Bond Aiden Turner, 35 The eight contenders to be the next James Bond Idris Elba, 45 Getty The eight contenders to be the next James Bond Michael Fassbender, 41 Getty The eight contenders to be the next James Bond Luke Evans, 39 Luke Evans Getty The eight contenders to be the next James Bond Jamie Bell, 32 Jamie Bell Getty The eight contenders to be the next James Bond Charlie Hunnam, 38 Getty The eight contenders to be the next James Bond Tom Hiddleston, 37 The eight contenders to be the next James Bond James Norton, 32 BBC Whether he will return remains unconfirmed, a list of eight potential replacements having leaked from Sony earlier this year. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Gerard Butler's Secret Service agent Mike Banning is maybe the unluckiest Secret Service agent around; charged with keeping safe the American president in a universe where terrorist assassination runs as common as running out of milk in the White House fridge. Now that Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen; it looks as if Banning has yet to consider a quiet retirement, with sequel Angel Has Fallen now in the works (via Deadline). Butler will indeed return as Banning, who himself is now the target; with attackers attempting to destroy all of Washington D.C. in the process and put in risk the President, whose official plane Air Force One is code-named Angel. Franchise creators Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt will return to pen the script, though no director has been attached to the project; there's also no word on whether Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman will return in their respective roles as President Benjamin Asher and Vice President Allan Trumbull. Olympus Has Fallen may have taken in $161 million worldwide, with London Has Fallen landing a huge $205 million worldwide, but the franchise will have a hard time playing down the controversy surrounding the last film; having been widely accused of serving as a racist "terrorsploitation fantasy designed to spread fear after the Paris attacks. London Has Fallen - Trailer 2 Production is set to start on Angel Has Fallen in the first half of 2017. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Candice Brown may be the winner of The Great British Bake Off, but who was the winner of our hearts? A pretty strong candidate for the honorary title seems to be Val Stones, especially when we discovered what she's been up to since getting booted off the show on Pastry Week. The final ended with a pre-credit reel which showed life outside of the tent for each of the contestants; Candice and Jane Beedle have been planning a road trip together, while Selasi Gbormittah is heading off to ride his motorbike around Europe. However, fans got particularly excited upon hearing that Val was planning a "baker's holiday to Ayia Napa"; as in, the same Ayia Napa in Cyprus that's developed into something of a party central over the years with 12 clubs, 80 bars, and plenty of wipe-clean furniture. Where exactly baking fits into that scene is a secret only Val is privy to, but fans are pretty desperate to find out; with many demanding Val gets her own spin-off show about her Ayia Napa adventures. You can read our recap of the final here. STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Google Ad Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The UK has fallen to its lowest position on an international league table of the best countries to invest in renewable energy following Brexit and Theresa Mays decision to scrap the Energy and Climate Change Department. Analysts EY, part of financial giant Ernst & Young Global, put Britain, normally a regular in the top 10, in 14th place on the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index, just behind Morocco. The UK energy industry has complained that numerous and sudden changes in Government policy are putting off potential investors in any kind of electricity generation, threatening what could be a golden age of cheap and green power. In a report, EY said: Uncertainty caused by Brexit, the closure of the Department of Energy & Climate Change and the approval of [nuclear power plant] Hinkley Point C all dealt a sizeable blow to the UK renewables sector. Some respite came when the Government approved 1.8GW Hornsea 2, which will be the worlds largest offshore wind farm if completed as planned. The league table was led by the US, followed by China in second, then India, Chile and Germany. However EY suggested a Republican victory in next months US election could change that. Recommended Read more UK no longer one of top 5 countries to invest in after Brexit Donald Trump has a poor record on climate change, which he has frequently dismissed as a hoax, and threatens to pick apart the Paris climate accord should he be elected, the report said. The rest of the top 10 were Mexico, France, Brazil, South Africa and Canada. EYs head of energy corporate finance Ben Warren told industry news website Renews that UK Government policies were not inspiring confidence in investors. Continued uncertainty around the Governments energy policy has created a confusing picture for investors seeking a low-risk return, he said. With one more big decision, this time on the future of untested tidal lagoon technologies, expected in the coming months, the Government clearly believes that easy to deploy and cost efficient technologies such as onshore wind and solar are not the answer to the UKs energy security conundrum. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty 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 However he added there had been a significant increase in investment in battery storage in Britain. No doubt there are still challenges to be overcome and questions to be answered around affordability and availability, Mr Warren said. But if the market is ready and willing to innovate, battery storage, coupled with renewables, can help improve reliability and consistency of output to create a far more attractive sector. Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for insider tips and product reviews from our shopping experts Sign up for our free IndyBest email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyBest email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The ultimate skincare battles have to be those that fall into the oily brigade. Youre advised dozens of different, contradicting ways to combat the culprit, which makes it difficult to be consistent. The reason it happens is pretty simple. Your sebaceous glands, which produce natural oils to keep your skin hydrated and healthy, over produce and leave you shiny whilst clutching onto a pile of blotting paper. Breakouts are common as the excess sebum mixes with dead skin cells and gets stuck in your pores. The more difficult thing to ascertain is why your skin is reacting this way. It could be genetic, hormonal, environmental, stress, diet or just plainly messing up your skincare routine and using the wrong stuff in a woeful and wild attempt to fix the issue. And these are only a few of the potential narratives. Ironically, with all this mayhem, most people think that attacking the skin with everything in your arsenal will give it a good telling off and it will start behaving. The answer however, is to be as kind as you can to your skin; scrubbing and cleansing it to within an inch of its life will only result in your skin over producing even more oil to replenish what excessive cleaning has taken away. Unfortunately, there is no biblical pathway to banishing oily skin. But we have uncovered some products for each step of your skincare routine that might help. In our roundup, weve explained why each type of product is important to your regime, while hopefully busting some myths along the way. Take a breath, examine your skin and have a peep if any of these might help. Oil on oily skin? Believe it or not, we say yes. Lets do this. You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Paulas Choice skin perfecting 2% BHA liquid exfoliant, 118ml: 26, Paulas Choice A great exfoliant is integral when it comes to blemish-prone skin. What you should not do though, is get an exfoliant that is literally going to grate your face off. Weve come a long way since the days of traditional scrubs. This 2% salicylic liquid exfoliant from Paulas Choice is the perfect mix Its a hydrating, viscose formula that will help shed surface skin as well as clear out pores reducing the prospect of blackheads and blemishes. Green tea extract also helps protect the skin. Apply to a cotton pad and dab into the skin, dont repeat in the same spot. There are no naughties in here, as with all of Paulas range. Ease your way into this if youre new to acids. Build yourself up and look closely to your skin to see where to apply. For instance, we only applied to our cheeks once a week but the rest of the face three times to balance it entirely. Youll undoubtedly start to see a more even texture and less breakouts with continued use. Theres a reason this is so beloved, even by those with perfect pouts. Buy now Verso micellar water, 200ml: 32, Cult Beauty The most common thing we hear, and wince at, is when people with oilier complexions cleanse like crazy in an attempt to balance the surface of the skin. Ironically, if you scrub away and cleanse skin within an inch of its life, it will automatically overproduce oil to fix what the cleansing has taken away. If this sounds like you, its imperative you approach your skin more mindfully when youre in wash mode. A great micellar water is a wonderful way to gently cleanse skin without robbing it and causing it any trauma. This one from Verso is infused with niacinamide and turmeric for an anti-inflammatory touch. Invest in some good cotton pads and sweep across the skin to remove any excess debris and dirt. Itll refresh you but also hydrate and balance with a hint of hyaluronic acid. We found it didnt irritate whatsoever and we also kept it in the fridge to help add a moment of calm to stressed skin. This is particularly good for a morning cleanse so youre not overdoing it. Youll find that with a little less aggression, youll bring solace to the skin. Stick with it! Buy now Peter Thomas Roth cucumber de-tox foaming cleanser, 200ml: 21, Look Fantastic For a more thorough cleanse, you still want to keep it on the gentle side. Foaming cleansers can usually leave your face a little dry but the texture is perfect for more sensitive skins. The whipped consistency is comforting and doesnt drag on the skin. This one from Peter Thomas Roth is the perfect compromise. The texture is so light that it feels like theres hardly anything on your face, and its steeped in cucumber extract for a cooling effect and other fruit heroes like pineapple extract which will gently exfoliate along the way. We found no irritating aftermath with this one and left skin cleansed but not dried out as its alcohol-free. This is great to use in the evening to take off the day and give yourself some love. Buy now Dr. Roebuck's lifesaver brightening toner, 100ml: 24, Space NK Toners have somewhat taken a backseat in the skincare game. Its possibly because in the age of Instagram instant results, the toner doesnt shout as loudly. It however can be your partner in crime if you want to scrape up any extra debris post-cleanse. The key is to find a non-astringent, non-drying helping hand, which is tricky when that tightening sensation some give can be so alluring but thats a temporary fix that wont last long. This lifesaver from Dr. Roebucks is our favourite. Its got a whopping amount of witch hazel which is a terrific anti-inflammatory, along with aloe to calm and a hit of glycolic acid to get deep into pores to unclog. Theres no silicones to get in your way either, but this still leaves you soft and balanced. Choosing a good toner following a light cleanser might be all you need! Put the flannel down... Buy now SVR sebiaclear mat + pores, 40ml: 14, Feel Unique In the extra treatment territory, we found this gel from SVR. Their sebiaclear range is aimed at super sensitive skin types. Whats particularly great about this is that it offers gentle exfoliation and peeling without the use of harsher AHAs. So if you have particularly sensitive skin, this might be your new best friend. The translucent gel consistency can be applied over the entire face or spotted onto the t-zone for an extra sebum beating boost. We added this to a primer pre-makeup application, which helped the slap slide less throughout the day. Itll mattify the skin as well as giving you extra antibacterial help. A wonderful addition to your regime if you need some extra regulating. Buy now Glossier super pure niacinamide + zinc serum, 30ml: 24, Glossier Niacinamide is the wonder ingredient that anyone can benefit from. Its been proven to help with everything from providing brightness and getting to grips with large pores. Its water-light consistency is particularly good for oiler complexions as it doesnt leave a slick on the skin like traditional serums can. If your main concern is larger pores, this B vitamin is your saviour. Niacinamide helps to normalise the pore lining; keeping dirt and debris from contributing to rough and clogged skin. Itll also help brighten up skin and improve scarring over time. Glossiers in particular is also formulated with zinc which calms the skin and reduces any oil slick. It marries well with any other products too. Add it to your moisturiser to make it a weapon to be reckoned with. Buy now Glow Recipe watermelon glow pink juice moisturiser, 20ml: 19.50, Cult Beauty We understand its tempting to not moisturise at all when youre feeling greasy already. We hate to break it to you but if youre in this camp, you could be contributing to what youre trying to prevent. Avoiding giving your skin any hydration can send it into overdrive and trick it into overproducing to get itself through the day. But you dont want to shove a rich cream on if youre already feeling oily. How do I win?you may ask. This watermelon ditty from Glow Recipe is oil-free and deliciously light. Its packed with watermelon goodness which is traditionally used to treat irritated and inflamed skin. The beautiful gel texture wont overwhelm and cools skin upon application. This is the perfect antidote if youre finding other gel formulas irritable or if theyre leaving a what feels like a film on your face. Theres enough goodies in this one to work with and not against you, we promise. Buy now Origins active charcoal mask to clear pores clear improvement, 100ml: 22, Origins Weve established this is a slow race, but sometimes you just want a pick me up. This is an ace, budget-friendly clay and charcoal hybrid. The actives in here will absorb oil from the surface of the skin while digging deeper for a more thorough cleanse. It rinses off easily and will temporarily give you some respite at the very least. Its super cooling on the skin which is nice if youre feeling a tad frazzled. It rinses off easily too as opposed to leaving your bathroom sink entirely black. Itll reduce breakouts and leave you a little brighter. This is simple, effective and fragrance-free ticking all the boxes for the quick fix. Buy now Drunk Elephant virgin marula luxury facial oil, 30ml: 61, Space NK A common misconception is that oil is only suitable for salad dressing. Truth is a lot of products targeted for oily, acne-prone skin are too harsh and stripping. This causes the skin to overproduce oil in order to counteract the dryness. Similarly, some oils are comedogenic and can lead to breakouts, so its understandable why oil is a bit of a taboo subject for the acne prone. Drunk Elephants marula oil is one of the core products of the line and is a great option for oily skin. Marula is high in antioxidants which work effectively at protecting the skin from outside spot causing aggressors. Its also loaded with essential fatty acids that calm and soothe stressed out complexions. We found any surface redness and active breakouts lessened quite considerably after applying this daily. One to three drops is all you need, however some may prefer a bit extra for a more luxurious feel. The texture is silky and glides on smooth. It feels rich, not greasy, and comforting. Free of all the nasties, this is a great substitute for a generic moisturiser, especially in summer. Buy now The verdict: Skincare products for oily skin A good exfoliator is key if you want to keep your skin on side. Paulas Choice has the top spot for its triple threat approach to combating breakouts while hydrating the skin. Origins mask is a great weekly addition if you need a clean slate, while Dr. Roebucks toner is a dark horse that can help bring balance and calm with prolonged use. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump claims that voting machines are rigged so that they force people to choose the wrong candidate. Hes only half wrong. The Republican candidate is encouraging the idea that vote flipping is prevalent in voting machines being used in the US election. That phrase refers to a strange behaviour sometimes seen in the machines that they appear to pick a candidate that the voter didnt actually choose. It mostly happens when people press on the electronic touchscreen thats used for voting. When they press, another candidate appears to be highlighted. The problem has worried the people it has happened to, because it appears to indicate that the machines could be biased towards a particular candidate. And that worry is extra prevalent this year, when a range of commentators are claiming that the election is going to be rigged against Mr Trump. What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Show all 9 1 /9 What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Mr Trump denying claims from a number of women that he sexually assaulted them This is all fiction, all fictionalised, probably or possibly started by her and her very sleazy campaign. I didn't even apologise to my wife who is sitting right here because I didn't even do anything Getty What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Mr Trump claiming the Russian leader had no respect for Mrs Clinton She doesn't like Putin because Putin has outsmarted her every step of the way. He has no respect for her. He has no respect for our President." Getty What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Mr Trump interrupting Mrs Clinton with one of his most scathing personal attacks yet as she explained her policy on social security Such a nasty woman Getty What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Mr Trump claiming Mrs Clinton shouldn't have been allowed to run for presidency and that the election is rigged She should never have been allowed to run. Shes guilty of a very very serious crime. She should not be allowed to run. And just in that respect, I say its rigged. Getty What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Mr Trump voicing his pro-life stance during the abortion debate Based on what she's saying ... you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month, on the final day, and that's unacceptable Getty What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Mrs Clinton suggesting this is not the first time Mr Trump has claimed results against him have been rigged There was even a time when Trump didn't get an Emmy for his TV programme three years in a row and he started tweeting that the Emmys were rigged Getty What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Mrs Clinton responding to Mr Trump's lewd comments about women Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger. He goes after their dignity and self-worth Getty What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Mrs Clinton implying Mr Trump is a puppet of Russian president Vladimir Putin He'd rather have a puppet as president of the United States Getty What did Donald Trump say during the third presidential debate? Mrs Clinton comparing her political experience to Mr Trump's former television role On the day I was in the situation room monitoring the raid that brought Osama Bin Laden to justice he was hosting the Celebrity Apprentice Getty Reports of vote flipping are already pouring in from the states that use voting machines for early voting. They have been reported in North Carolina, Texas and Nevada. The problems led the North Carolina chapter of civil rights group the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to write to the states board of elections to voice their concern about the problems. The issue does appear to be real, and prevalent. But its not so much an indication of vote rigging as a consequence of old and slightly rubbish voting machines. Voting experts have pointed out that actually allowing people to see that their vote had changed would be a terrible way of rigging an election. In almost all cases, voters can change their wrongly entered vote after its entered, and if not they can inform voting officials who will let it be corrected. Instead the problem seems to be that the old voting machines just arent especially good at sensing where on their screens theyve been pressed. The hardware is wearing out and the screens are badly calibrated, meaning that they sometimes think that someone is pressing somewhere they arent. And over the day, the screens get a thicker and thicker layer of grease and other things from peoples hands. That can make them even more wrong, and make peoples selections look even stranger. Mr Trump encouraged the worry by tweeting out a message about the prevalence of vote flipping. It gained traction quickly, being retweeted thousands of times within minutes. The lines that Mr Trump refers to appears to be the fact that the problems with vote flipping are leading machines to be taken out of service. As a result, people are able to vote less quickly and so queues are forming outside polling places. Experts have warned that people shouldnt worry about apparently vote flipping, and just make sure that if there are any problems then officials are made aware. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The troubled German lender Deutsche Bank has unexpectedly returned to profit in the third quarter, beating analysts estimates and helping to alleviate concerns over its litigation issues. Deutsche bank, led by the British banker John Cryan, reported a profit of 278m (248m) for the three months to the end of September. This compares to 6bn loss in the same quarter of 2015. Concerns persist over the strength of Germany's biggest bank since US authorities suggested it pay $14bn fine (11.6bn) to settle civil claims regarding its handling of mortgage-backed securities that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. Reports emerged earlier this month that a settlement may not be on the cards until January, which may have disappointed investors. The size of the fine remains undetermined. John Cryan, Deutsche Bank chief executive, has been cutting risky assets, freezing dividend payments and eliminating about 9,000 staff to boost capital levels as part of a restructuring plan announced last year, He said the banks successful restructuring work was overshadowed by its negotiations with the US Department of Justice. He said: The bank is working hard on achieving a resolution of this issue as soon as possible. Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty The German lender has lost more than 40 per cent of its market value this year. In June, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that of the banks big enough to bring the financial system crashing down, Deutsche Bank was the riskiest. Peter Hahn, a professor at the London Institute of Banking and Finance, told the BBC: Deutsche has done better than anticipated, but that was against very low expectations, which has really been the banking story so far this quarter. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Toys R Us plans to introduce a quiet hour to make shopping easier for parents and their children living with autism. The retailer is following in the footsteps of an Asda store in Manchester, which introduced a quiet hour for customers with autism earlier this year. Toys R Us branches across the UK will be completely silent for an hour on Sunday November 6 to offer a calmer shopping environment ahead of Christmas. Lights will be dimmed and in-store music turned down in order to make it more suitable for shoppers with autism who find loud noises difficult to deal with. A quiet zone will also be available for any children who wish to take a time out. Mike Coogan, marketing and ecommerce director at Toys R Us, said: Holding such events have given our teams extreme pride in reaching out to autism groups within their community. We understand toys are more personal to many additional needs individuals, so being able to relax and choose something special themselves and enjoy the facilities and content of the store, the same as other children can do without concerns, will help in making their Christmas truly magical. Daniel Cadey, Autism access manager for the National Autistic Society (NAS), said he hopes many more major retailers will follow Toys R Us' example. He said: Autistic children and adults can become overwhelmed with too much information inside a busy store. Things like artificial lighting and loud Tannoy announcements can increase their anxiety and be completely overwhelming, even causing them physical pain. Simple changes like this can make a huge difference to the 700,000 autistic people in the UK and to their families. 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 Around 700,000 people in the UK are living with autism or more than 1 in 100, according to the NAS. If you include their families, autism touches the lives of 2.8 million people every day. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Iraqs president has spoken to parliamentary colleagues to discuss revising a new law banning alcohol in the country that passed in a surprise vote last week. The ban on the sale, import and production of alcohol - slipped into a draft law on municipalities in parliament on Saturday - has been met with widespread criticism as an infringement on the rights of Christians and other minority groups, and several MPs have vowed to appeal it. The priorities of proponents were also called into question, given that MPs' focus is currently on the massive US-backed operation to drive Isis out of its last stronghold in the country, the northern city of Mosul. The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Show all 20 1 /20 The most iconic images from the war in Iraq The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman HM1 Richard Barnett, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, holds an Iraqi child in central Iraq, March 29, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An explosion rocks Baghdad during air strikes March 21, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi woman watches U.N. weapons inspectors leave Saddam airport in Baghdad March 18, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi girl holds her sister as she waits for her mother (R) to bring over food bought in Basra March 29, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. Marine Corp Assaultman Kirk Dalrymple watches as a statue of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein falls in central Baghdad's Firdaus Square, April 9, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq US Marines kick in a door while securing a building next to the main hospital in central Baghdad April 15, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq A soldier of U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division (Task Force Ironhorse) searches through dense vegetation around the Diala river where Iraqi militants are hiding outside Baquba early November 13, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi detainee gestures toward U.S. soldiers through bars of his cell at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad May 17, 2004 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Mays, a young Iraqi Shi'ite girl, cries after a mortar shell which landed outside the family's home in a Najaf residential area injured her uncle August 18, 2004 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. Marines carry an injured colleague to a helicopter near the city of Falluja, November 10, 2004 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi man suspected of having explosives in his car is held after being arrested by the U.S army near Baquba, Iraq, October 15, 2005 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq A wounded Iraqi woman is helped after several bomb attacks in central Baghdad, July 27, 2006 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq A man runs down a street warning people to flee shortly after a twin car bomb attack at Shorja market in Baghdad, February 12, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi girl holds her hands up while U.S. and Iraqi soldiers search her family house in Baquba early June 30, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi woman tries to explain that she has nothing to do with illegal fuel as soldiers from the 2nd battalion, 32nd Field Artillery brigade patrol search for illegal fuel sellers in Baghdad August 6, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks in front of Humvees with Defense Secretary Robert Gates (C) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice following remarks to the press after nightfall at Al-Asad airbase in Anbar Province September 3, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. soldiers blindfold an Iraqi man after arresting him during a night patrol at the Zafraniya neighborhood, southeast of Baghdad September 4, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi baby lies in a cradle while a woman argues with U.S. soldiers of 1/8 Bravo Company searching for weapons, explosives and information about militants in the area during a foot patrol in a neighbourhood of Mosul June 26, 2008 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Policemen cry during a funeral of their colleague a day after a bomb attack in Baghdad's Jihad district November 3, 2010 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Staff Sgt. Keith Fidler kisses his wife Cynthia, as their son Kolin looks on, during a homecoming ceremony in New York, April 8, 2011 for the New York Army National Guard's 442nd Military Police Company's return from Iraq Reuters MPs in support of the law argue that the ban - under which violaters will be fined between 10 million and 25 million dinars (roughly 7,000 to 17,500) - is justified by Iraqs constitution, which prohibits any law contradicting Islam. President Fuad Masum called on Wednesday for the provision on alcohol to be revised. While he did not specifically mention it by name, he called for the article to be changed, and criticised the surreptitious way in which it was inserted as inconsistent with democratic legal principles. In a statement, he called for parliament to respect the freedoms and rights of citizens of different religions and doctrines. Dramatic footage shows Elite Iraq forces battle on road to Bartella in fight for Mosul Under the Iraqi constitution, the president has the power to approve and issue laws enacted by parliament, but it is not specified whether he can reject them as head of state. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited by Islam, but drinking is fairly widespread in Iraq, including in Baghdad, where it may not be on hotel and restaurant menus but there are scores of small alcohol shops. Observers say drug abuse has been on the rise in Iraq recently, especially in the southern city of Basra, where trafficking with neighbouring Iran is soaring and where alcohol is only found on the black market. AFP contributed to this report For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A British scientist sent to investigate crevasses in Antarctica has died after plunging 100ft into one on a snowmobile. Dr Gordon Hamilton had been doing field research on White Island when the tragedy occurred on Saturday. The 50-year-olds body has been recovered and will be returned to his family in the US, according to a statement from the National Science Foundation (NSF) who funded the expedition. The University of Maine has lost one of its leading scientists, the institution's president Susan J. Hunter said. Gordons glaciology research around the world - from Antarctica to Greenland - was second to none. He leaves a legacy as an outstanding scientist, and a caring mentor and well-known teacher to undergraduate and graduate students. Our heart-felt thoughts and prayers go to his wife, Fiona, and their two children, Martin and Calum, and his friends and colleagues around the world. The glaciologist had been camped with his team in an area full of dangerous crevasses known as the shear zone where ice can grow up to 650ft thick. The research team had been working to identify and fill in crevasses at the time of the accident. He was just a delightful person. He was super-friendly and he could always be counted on to have a good sense of humor, even in sometimes stressful situations, Climate Change Institute Director Paul Mayewski told the Bangor Daily News. Climbers walk past crevasses in the Glacier des Geants in France (file pic) (Getty) An investigation into the accident by the US Antarctic Program has begun. "I am deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Dr. Hamilton. Our thoughts are with the family and entire community as we mourn this loss," said Dr. France Cordova, director of the NSF. Travellers Guide to Antarctica Show all 2 1 /2 Travellers Guide to Antarctica Travellers Guide to Antarctica 265190.bin GETTY Travellers Guide to Antarctica 265191.bin GETTY A cravasse is a deep crack found in ice sheets or glaciers. They form as a result of movement within the ice and often result in vertical walls up to 45 metres deep and several hundred metres wide. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two Yazidi women who were taken as sex slaves by the Isis terror group have been awarded the most prestigious human rights award in Europe. Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar were captured by Isis fighters after the group launched a major assault across northern Iraq in 2014. Both now campaign for Yazidi women and were jointly awarded the Sakharov prize on Wednesday. The Sakharov award is named in honour of the nuclear physicist and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov. The annual freedom of thought prize recognises exceptional contribution to the global fight for human rights. The prize money is 45,000 which will be awarded during a ceremony in December. European Parliament President Martin Schulz said awarding the honour to both women is a very symbolic and significant decision to support these two survivors who came to Europe as refugees. Taken by Isis, trafficked and sold into sexual slavery, Murad, 23, has survived incomprehensible brutality to become one of the most important voices for the Yazidi community. She has appeared before the United Nations in New York and is now an ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking for the UNs Drugs and Crime body. Murad is represented by Amal Clooney, who, in a damning speech to the United Nations, condemned the inaction taken by leaders to stop what she called a genocide being committed by Isis. She said women like Murad had their bodies sold and used as battlefields and continue to suffer greatly in regions under Isis control. Bashar, 18, was captured alongside Murad and escaped in March. She suffered injuries to her face and is now blind in one eye after stepping over a land mine as she tried to flee her captors. Murad was a guest speaker at Tina Browns Women in the World summit earlier in October, where she described how dramatically her life had changed since Isis launched its insurgency across northern Iraq. I worked on a farm, we had a simple life," she said. "We were poor, but we were very happy before Daesh came. Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The Solidarity With Refugees group said Saturdays protest aimed to show our Government and the world that Britain is ready to welcome more refugees. Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis People march through central London as they take part in a protest rally organised by Solidarity with Refugees in a bid to urge the Government to take more action on the migrant crisis Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The protest comes days before world leaders meet to discuss crisis at UN General Assembly Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Demonstrators made their way from Park Lane to Parliament Square in London on Saturday afternoon Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Marchers chanted refugees are welcome here and waved banners reading no-one is illegal and lets help people Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The march was supported by charities and groups including the Red Cross, Asylum Aid, Save the Children, Hope Not Hate, Oxfam and the UN Refugee Agency Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis In the wake of Alans death, David Cameron pledged to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK over the coming five years but there have been additional calls to re-home those who have already reached Europe, as well as asylum seekers coming from other conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan Rex Features When they came, they attacked the Yazidis. They said that Yazidis were not people of the book and they wanted to wipe them out. And this is what they did to us: they killed more than 5,000 people. They also took more than 6,000 women and children into captivity. " Isis has decreed non-Muslim women may be taken and sold as sex slaves by fighters. More than 3,000 Yazidi women and children remain in captivity. I was one of the girls taken in the group who were over the age of nine. When they took us they told us we were the sabia [slaves]. They took us to Mosul and then in Mosul they separated us and they committed all types of rape against us. They took us for that. The women who were old, who they were not interested in having sex with, were killed, including my mother. My sisters-in-law and nieces were taken to be sex slaves. Murad has met with many Yazidi refugees living in camps in neighbouring countries and their stories of captivity, she says, are filled with experiences even more barbaric than her own. I met many victims when I was at the refugee camp in Kurdistan and I spoke with a lot of the victims who were brought with me to Germany. When you listen to these women and they tell you about the crimes they have seen, the rapes on large scales, ten times more... I will never forget my family, I will never forget the crimes they [Isis] have committed against me, but when I listen to these women and what happened to them I forgot my own story because they are more brutal. The Yazidi community one of the oldest religious minorities in Iraq and predominately ethnic Kurds. Yazidis have been heavily persecuted by Isis, who consider them to be heretics. Thousands have been killed by fighters and thousands more taken captive by the group or sold into sexual slavery. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Kim Jong-Un has a penchant for French wine and boasted about drinking 10 bottles of Bordeaux in one night, according to the Kim familys former Sushi chef. Kenji Fujimoto, a Japanese chef who claims to have known the Kims since 1982, disclosed details of a dinner he had shared with the North Korean dictator, revealing his fondness for indulgent food and drink. Inside the daily life in North Korea Show all 19 1 /19 Inside the daily life in North Korea Inside the daily life in North Korea People reading a newspaper at the metro station Inside the daily life in North Korea Thoughts of the leaders on the tram. They have about a dozen of these on every tram, all with different thoughts Inside the daily life in North Korea Young people training for a big upcoming festival Inside the daily life in North Korea People at the Pyongyang's annual marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea Many stars on one of the trolleys in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea An intimidating poster in a primary school in North Korea. Inside the daily life in North Korea Solar panels installed on a street lamp. Inside the daily life in North Korea A poster on the window next to one of the venues we visited in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Kids playing football next to the Arch of Triumph. After a while tourists were allowed to join, so some of us did Inside the daily life in North Korea Class in an educational center in Pyongyang (where people over 17 years old can attend any classes they choose after school, for free) Inside the daily life in North Korea People waving at me during the Pyongyang marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea People having a great time dancing at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea A metro driver in a metro station in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Fireworks to mark the birthday of the Eternal President Kim Il Sung on our last night in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea My wonderful tour guide at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea One of the parks in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea A person rowing some boats for the day at a river in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea The National War Museum Inside the daily life in North Korea Public park in Pyongyang Mr Fujimoto, who visited North Korea in April, told South Korean network KBS Kim Jong-Un appeared at the dinner with six attractive women and drank expensive Bordeaux wine, before boasting about drinking 10 bottles of Bordeaux" in one night just days before. The chef claims to have personally catered for the Kims for 13 years. In 2001, he fled to Japan while he was supposed to be buying Sushi ingredients and has built a career writing books about his past employers. Despite claiming his life was in danger, Mr Fujimoto has paid several trips back to North Korea over the last decade. As well as his love of fine wine, Kim Jong-Un is reputed to be a heavy smoker and a massive fan of Swiss cheese, particularly Emmental. In 2014, he dispatched North Korean officials to a French culinary school to learn the art of cheese-making after he became frustrated by his chefs inability to properly replicate the European flavours, according to international news agency UPI. Kim Jong-Uns alleged gluttony has fuelled rumours that he suffers from high blood sugar, gout and diabetes. Speculation over his heath peaked in 2014, when he failed to appear in public for three weeks and missed a session of the supreme peoples assembly - North Koreas national legislature. What you're not allowed to say in North Korea Earlier this year, Kim Jong-Un was pictured smoking a cigarette during a public visit to a childrens camp in Pyongyang, despite the country being in the midst of an anti-smoking campaign, the BBC reports. Kims father Kim Jong-Il and grandfather Kim Il-Sung both suffered from obesity and gout and they also smoked. Kims father and grandfather both died from heart attacks. Although the vast majority of North Koreas 25 million citizens endure the threat of starvation, obesity is a growing problem among North Korean kids and teenagers from elite families. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Michael Phelps, the 31-year-old Olympic swimming champion, secretly married his longtime girlfriend Nicole Johnson back in June, The Arizona Republic reports. Johnson gave birth to their son, Boomer, a little more than a month before the ceremony. The newspaper published a copy of the couples marriage license on Thursday showing that they were married in Paradise Valley, Arizona, where Phelps purchased $2.5 million home last year. Both Phelps and Johnson have remained tight-lipped about the marriage with the exception of Johnson posting an image on Instagram on the date of the wedding with the caption, "Such a memorable night with my lil fambam." Phelps and Johnson met back in 2007 in Los Angeles. The couple got engaged in February and became parents in May. Over the summer, Johnson spoke about the engagement. We have a date. Itll be small and intimate for the wedding, and then were throwing a massive bash for everyone in the States, she told Access Hollywood in August, " Were kind of getting things rolling. Ive been planning as weve been leading up to this. I think I have the wedding in order and now its on to the party for the fun! For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tony Schwartz spent the best part of a year trailing Donald Trump when he ghostwrote the tycoons 1987 bestseller The Art of the Deal. He believes he knows him well enough to predict that if Mr Trump is elected president, he would try and impose martial law, attack the free press and launch an attack on people he felt had slighted him that could make Richard Nixons actions against his enemies appear like "childs play". I started out saying that my highest fear was that because he was so thin-skinned, and because he is so insecure, he is a huge risk to set off, to punch in, the nuclear codes, because he happens to be irritated or frustrated by an enemy, Mr Schwartz told The Independent. Mr Schwartz said he was embarrassed by his work with Mr Trump (PBS) When I said that, I got a lot of rolling of the eyes from people in the media and other people to whom I was making that case. I think today, people do really begin to understand that this is a volatile man with very low self control. Mr Schwartz first broke his silence and revealed his views about what he considered Mr Trumps unsuitability for the White House this summer, in an extended interview with The New Yorker. At the time, he expressed sadness about helping produce a glowing portrait of the businessman, that was in reality a work of fiction. He said he was obliged to put lipstick on a pig. I feel a deep sense of remorse that I contributed to presenting Trump in a way that brought him wider attention and made him more appealing than he is, he said. Since then, Mr Schwartz has been an outspoken thorn in the Republican presidential candidates campaign, launching scathing assaults from his Twitter account and appearing frequently as a guest on television panels. On Friday, he will be speaking to students at Oxford University, with an address entitled Into the belly of the beast: How Donald Trump led me on the path to dharma. But if Mr Schwartz can claim to have found a position of Zen calmness, on the topic of the man he once trailed, he can sound impassioned, emotional and even worried. Most polls and simulations suggest that Mr Trump faces a very tough battle to beat Ms Clinton, but if he does make it to the White House, Mr Schwartz said he believed three things would happen very quickly. On day one he would end a free press, he said, speaking from Washington DC. In any way that he could, he would use the government to shut down a free press, and listen, he has plenty of precedents for doing that, including his hero Vladimir Putin. He said he believed Mr Trump would then conduct an enemies campaign that would make what Nixon did in the Sixties and early Seventies look like childs play. He said he would go after every person he felt had wronged him in the the most intense way he felt he could get away with. Donald Trump said he'd love to fight Vice President Joe Biden He added: I think before very long, its quite possible that he would find a way to declare martial law. Asked how Mr Trump would go about undertaking such a drastic measure, he said many of Mr Trumps supporters were police, members of the border guards force and the far right wing of the military. He controls the levers of powers. There is nobody standing between him and punching those nuclear codes other than the guy standing there is who is obligated to do what he is asked to do, he said. Just look at any country that has been taken over by the military. Hed say there is a threat to the republic and the military needs to crack down and he would start with curfews, and the stop and frisk of anyone who is not white, male and rich. Mr Trump's campaign did not respond to inquiries. However, the tycoon has over the months dismissed Mr Schwartzs comments, saying on Twitter: Dummy writer @tonyschwartz, who wanted to do a second book with me for years (I said no), is now a hostile basket case who feels jilted! On another instance, he wrote: I havent seen @tonyschwartz in many years, he hardly knows me. Never liked his style. Super lib, Crooked H supporter. Irrelevant dope. Asked if he was being paranoid about the dangers of a Trump presidency, Mr Schwartz said: There is that phrase, just because youre paranoid doest mean people arent out to go you. I think its a healthy paranoia. He added: Its just a deep knowledge of who this human being is, and a recognition that he is a classic sociopath, the most critical quality of a sociopath is an absence of conscience. It is a reflection of deep inner emptiness and the way to fill that emptiness is through power. He said that however extreme and bleak his comments sounded, they were not made as someone who was crazed or out control, but as a trained observer of human beings. This is the most dangerous human being I have met. I am not saying he is the most dangerous human being who has ever lived, he said. But he is the most dangerous human being I have ever met by a long distance, by virtue of the absence of a conscience. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Queen confused the Russian president for British journalist Andrew Marr during a state visit to Britain, according to reports. Mr Marr revealed that, according to sources, Her Majesty had to constantly remind herself when speaking to Vladimir Putin that he was the foreign leader and not "that chap from the BBC". The television presenter and political commentator told a Royal Television Society event the Queen had told a royal aide that while speaking to Mr Putin, she constantly had to remind herself who he was. Mr Marr said: [The Queen] and Putin were in the carriage coming from here [Parliament] to Buckingham Palace and because it as an open carriage and there was a translator everyone could see them talking as they went up the Mall." The palace contact told him a royal aide had later said to the Queen: Your Majesty, you were talking to the Russian President very vigorously can I ask what you were talking about? Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Show all 62 1 /62 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II on a walk-about in Portsmouth during her Silver Jubilee tour of Great Britain, 1977 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The future Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (R) pictured with her younger sister Princess Margaret (L) in 1933 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The 9-year-old Elizabeth attends an aristocratic wedding with her mother and younger sister. Later in that year with the death of her Grandfather and the Abdication of her Uncle Edward VIII she became first in line to the throne, 1936 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The coronation of King George VI in 1937, Elizabeth aged 10 became the heir apparent to the throne Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth and her sister arrive at Waterloo station to say goodbye to their parents as they leave to tour Canada. Elizabeth was thought too young to escort her parents on the tour and was described as "tearful" as they departed. She and her parents made the first ever transatlantic telephone call during their time away, 1939 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The 13-year-old Elizabeth and her sister Margret address children who have been evacuated from the cities on BBC's 'The Chilrens Hour' She said "We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well", 1940 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Just before the end of the war Elizabeth took part in training to become an ATS officer. She is pictured learning to change a tire, 1945 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The official announcement of Princess Elizabeth and Phillip Mountbatten's engagement. The pairing was incredibly controversial as Prince Phillip had no financial standing and he was foreign born, the prince of Denmark and Greece (though he served Britain in the war and was given British Citizenship), 1947 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II (in coach) and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh are cheered by the crowd after their wedding ceremony, on 20 November 1947, on their road to Buckingham Palace, London Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth smiles at her first child, a month old Prince Charles. Charles was born on 14 November 1948 Corbis Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The couples second child Princess Anne was born in 1950 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Arriving back in England upon hearing the death of her father King George VI. The Kings health had been in decline for a number of years and Elizabeth had been filling in for him on an official visit to Australia by way of Kenya. As his heir Elizabeth became Queen aged 26 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth's coronation took place on 2 June 1953. It was the first ever coronation to be aired live on television, being one of the most watched events in history with millions gathering around their TV sets to see the new monarch Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II standing next to her daughter Princess Anne, 1960 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II President Eisenhower (centre) with the British Royal family (L-R) Prince Philip, Princess Anne, HM Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Captain John Eisenhower, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, 1959 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II as she turns to smile and talk to an unidentified officer, during the Trooping of the Colour by the First Battalion of the Jamaica Regiment at Up-Park Camp, Kingston, Jamaica, 1966 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II walking cross country at the North of Scotland Gun Dog Association Open Stake Retreiver Trials in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1967 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the Chelsea Flower Show in London, a regular fixture in the royal calendar, 1971 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during their traditional summer break at Balmoral Castle. The highland retreat is one of the Queen's favourite places, each year, she heads off to Scotland for the summer. "It is rather nice to hibernate for a bit when one leads such a moveable life," she once said, 1976 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II during a walkabout in Muscat while visiting Oman, 1979 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II with some of her corgis walking the Cross Country course during the second day of the Windsor Horse Trials. The monarch is responsible for introducing a new breed of dog known as the "dorgi" when her corgi Tiny was mated with a dachshund "sausage dog" called Pipkin which belonged to Princess Margaret, 1980 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II (L-R) the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince and Princess of Wales after the christening ceremony of Prince Harry, 1984 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II taking the salute of the Household Guards regiments during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in London, 1985 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen Elizabeth II as they smile to well-wishers outside Clarence House in London, 1987 AP Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II, with Chief Instructor, Small Arms Corp LT Col George Harvey, firing the last shot on a standard SA 80 rifle when she attended the centenary of the Army Rifle Association at Bisley, 1993 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II South Africa's President Nelson Mandela greets Queen Elizabeth II as she steps from the royal yacht Britannia in Cape Town at the 1995's official start of the her first visit to the country since 1947 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she visits Bowring Park in St. John's, Newfoundland, on the third day of a 10-day official visit to Canada, 1997 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh make their way into St. George's Chapel at Windsor for the annual Garter ceremony, 1999 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II as they meet at the Vatican, 2000 AP Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother leaving church by horse drawn carriage on the Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, 2000 PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth rides her horse in the grounds of Windsor Castle, 2002 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth arrives for the world premiere of James Bond movie "Casino Royale" at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square in London, 2006 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth boards a scheduled train at Kings Cross station in London, 2009 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II planting a tree at Newmarket Animal Health Trust, during a royal visit which marked her 50th year as the charity's patron, 2009 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II talking with Pope Benedict XVI during an audience in the Morning Drawing Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh during a four day visit by the Pope to the UK, 2010 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2010 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from the crowd during her visit to Federation Square in downtown Melbourne, 2011 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth watches a preview of her Christmas message wearing a pair of 3D glasses, studded with Swarovski crystals in the form of a "Q", at Buckingham Palace in central London, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Members of Britain's royal family (front L to R) Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles cheer as competitors participate in a sack race at the Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Britain's Prince Charles kisses the hand of his mother Queen Elizabeth at the end of her Diamond Jubilee concert in front of Buckingham Palace in London, 2012 Reuters Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge laughs as Queen Elizabeth gestures during a visit to Vernon Park in Nottingham, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend a service for the Order of the British Empire at St Paul's Cathedral in London, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II meets young people during an official visit to The Shard building in central London, 2013 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Actress Angelina Jolie is presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace, London, 2014 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visit the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red evolving art installation at the Tower of London, 2014 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the State Opening of Parliament, 2015 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II (L-R) Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge holding his son Prince George of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry (back), Prince Andrew, Duke of York (back), James, Viscount Severn (front), Princess Beatrice of York (back), Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Eugenie of York (back) stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace waiting to view the fly-past during the Queen's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour,' in London, 2015 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Trooping of the Colour is an annual celebration marking the Queen's birthday, 2015 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Britain's Queen Elizabeth II stands with Kate the Duchess of Cambridge whilst pushing Princess Charlotte in a pram as they leave after attending the Christening of Britain's Princess Charlotte at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, 2015 AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Broadway Theatre in Barking, 2015 Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II greets wellwishers during a 'walkabout' on her 90th birthday in Windsor in 2016 AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Members of the Royal Family during trooping of the colour in 2017 AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Queen waves at Prince Harry and Meghan after their wedding in 2018 POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex gesture during their visit to the Storyhouse in Chester, Cheshire in 2018 AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles reacts as he sits with his mother Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, in Portsmouth in 2019 AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Chris Allerton/Sussex Royal/PA Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II reacts as she visits the Haig Housing Trust in Morden in 2019 POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II takes her seat on the The Sovereign's Throne in the House of Lords next to Prince Charles, before reading the Queen's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament in 2019 POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II looks at the coffin of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during his funeral service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales pose alongside the tree which they planted to mark the start of the official planting season for the Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) at the Balmoral Cricket Pavilion, Balmoral Estate in Scotland POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Britain's Queen Elizabeth II cuts a cake to celebrate the start of the Platinum Jubilee during a reception in the Ballroom of Sandringham House, the Queen's Norfolk residence on February 5, 2022. - Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday will became the first British monarch to reign for seven decades, in a bittersweet landmark as she also marked the 70th anniversary of her father's death AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Westminster Abbey accompanied by Prince Andrew, Duke of York for the Service Of Thanksgiving For The Duke Of Edinburgh on March 29, 2022 in London Getty Mr Marr said that Her Majesty had then replied: "I was just trying to remind myself all of the time that this is the President of Russia and not that chap from the BBC". Mr Marr interviewed Mr Putin in 2014 on his Sunday morning breakfast show, during which the pair discussed Scottish independence and Europe as well as Russia's ban on gay "propaganda". Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Researchers at the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, had another one of those nervous days waiting to hear first from a probe designed to land on Mars surface, and then from the probes orbiting mothership. By the end of the day, the flight engineers and mission scientists were half satisfied just after 16:00 (UT) on 19 October, they received the signal from the Trace Gas Orbiter. The spacecraft had made it safely into Mars orbit. Unfortunately, the Schiaparelli lander was less communicative, and no unambiguous landing signal was received. Loss of the lander is disappointing, because it was a precursor to the system that will be deployed in four years to land a rover designed to search for life below the planets surface. The Trace Gas Orbiter had to make a crucial manoeuvre to bring it into orbit under Mars gravitational influence, a time which is always one of concern for the space flight engineers. Staff in the control centre celebrated with cheers and joyful hugs when they received the signal that the probe had made it. The orbiter is only ESAs second mission to Mars Mars Express in 2003 being the first. Unfortunately, the orbiters travelling companion, Schiaparelli, may not be in such a great situation. In the same way that the lander carried by Mars Express failed to signal safe arrival on the surface, the Trace Gas Orbiters lander has so far remained silent. Schiaparelli was transmitting during its descent, and its signal was live until about 50 seconds before the anticipated touch down. Additional data were received from Schiaparelli by the orbiter, and analysis of diagnostic information in the data package should inform ESA what might have gone wrong. It is clear from the telemetry data that the parachute deployed, the heat shield was jettisoned and the retro rockets fired briefly. But it will take a bit longer to determine what happened during the final few seconds of the descent. It is important to find this out because Schiaparelli is not a science-focused lander. Although it carried a variety of instruments down to the martian surface, including a camera, its main purpose was to test a new Entry, Descent and Landing Module for the next phase of the mission: ExoMars 2020, which will aim to land a rover on the Red Planet. Fortunately, the telemetry data also give information about things including the structure of the atmosphere and wind speeds, so some of the science goals of Schiaparelli will be achieved. Mars as seen by the webcam on ESAs Mars Express orbiter on 16 October 2016 Without Schiaparelli, ExoMars 2020 becomes riskier, because landing a rover on the surface has to be a careful operation. There is unlikely to be another opportunity to test the landing module prior to it being used to deploy the rover so finding out what went wrong is crucial, so it can be corrected prior to 2020. The ExoMars rover will carry a drill that should be able to get through Mars surface to a depth of two metres, thought to be well below the zone in which UV radiation from the sun is able to destroy organic matter. The idea is that if there is any life on Mars, it is likely to exist below the surface and the ExoMars drill hopes to find it. Its not the first time we have tried to find life on Mars. About a century and a half ago, Giovanni Schiaparelli published a map of Mars based on extensive telescope observations of the planet as it approached its minimum distance to the Earth in the summer of 1877. The map, with its detailed labelling of land masses and seas, had a significant influence on Mars research over the following decades especially after the features that Schiaparelli marked as canali were mistranslated as canals, rather than channels. The noted astronomer and polymath Percival Lowell was captivated by Schiaparellis findings, and interpreted the features as artificial, produced by intelligent life forms. In his 1908 work Mars as the Abode of Life, Lowell states: We have carefully considered the circumstantial evidence in the case, and we have found that it points to intelligence acting on that other globe, and is incompatible with anything else. Unfortunately for Lowell, subsequent observations with more powerful telescopes revealed that the channels were not real features, but were likely to be artefacts produced as optical illusions caused by dust in the planets atmosphere. Map of Mars by Percival Lowell. He believed it signalled signs of intelligent life Notwithstanding the lack of clear evidence that life exists or ever has existed on Mars, the possibility that the planet might be (or has been) an abode for life is one that is still eagerly considered which is why the arrival of the latest mission has been greeted with enthusiasm by the scientific community. The Trace Gas Orbiter carrying the Schiaparelli Lander was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in March 2016, and the mission is undertaken in collaboration with the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The orbiter will circle Mars for another year before it reaches the orbit it requires in order to start its three-year mission to map the distribution and concentration of trace gases in Mars atmosphere including methane. Although methane is not a definitive indicator of living organisms, its presence is frequently associated with biological activity. Even though Percival Lowell was convinced that there was life on Mars, he was not optimistic about our ability to meet with it. Mars as the Abode of Life concludes with the following sentences: To our eventual descendants life on Mars will no longer be something to scan and interpret. It will have lapsed beyond the hope of study or recall The drying up of the planet is certain to proceed until its surface can support no life at all. Slowly but surely, time will snuff it out. When the last ember is thus extinguished, the planet will roll a dead world through space, its evolutionary career forever ended. We can only hope that measurements made by the the Trace Gas Orbiter over the next few years vindicate Lowells belief in the presence of Martian life, but contradict his pessimistic view of its survival potential. Monica Grady is professor of planetary and space sciences at the Open University The Conversation For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An autistic teenager accused of sparking a terror scare after the discovery of a suspicious package at a London underground station will claim he only put an explosive device on a train as a prank, a court heard. Damon Smith, 19, was arrested by armed police after the discovery of a suspect backpack put North Greenwich tube station on lockdown for eight hours. The rucksack was found inside a Jubilee Line underground train on 20 October and later detonated by bomb disposal experts in a controlled explosion. Mr Smith, of Abbeyfield Road in Southwark, south-east London, spoke only to confirm his name and address when he stood before senior district judge Emma Arbuthnot at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Thursday. Throughout the 18-minute hearing, however, he smiled and waved in the direction of his mother in public gallery. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty 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 He entered no plea to the charge of unlawfully and maliciously making or possessing an unspecified explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. However, defence counsel Simon Eastwood indicated that his client, who has a form of autism, would be pleading not guilty on the grounds that it was a prank. The rucksack had contained a flask, powder, ball bearings, a clock timing device, a battery and an initiator. Mr Smith, a student at London Metropolitan University, was arrested the day after the incident on Holloway Road in North London, yards from his universitys library. He was charged under the Explosive Substances Act 1883. Mr Smith, who appeared in court wearing a baggy grey-green jumper and grey trousers, was remanded in custody until his next appearance, at the Old Bailey, on 17 November. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Police have arrested six people following the crowd violence during a match between West Ham United and Chelsea. Three of those detained have been charged and will appear at Thames Magistrates Court in November. James Colin Smith, 36, has been charged with common assault, assault on police and possession of class A drugs. Nicholas Greenway, 51, has been charged with threatening behaviour and Michael Parker, 27, has been charged with throwing missiles. Three others, who remain unnamed, were also arrested. A 27-year-old man was detained on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, a 25-year-old man for suspicious of threatening behaviour and a 40-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and threatening behaviour. In the final minutes of Wednesday's game between the London rivals, clashes broke out between fans situated in the Sir Trevor Brooking end of the stadium as police and stewards battled to maintain segregation. Seats and coins were thrown by supporters and one Chelsea fan reportedly collapsed after being hit with a missile. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty 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 West Ham United said official were finalising the identification of around 200 to be given match bans for their behaviour as club officials look through CCTV footage from the state-of-the-art Panomera system to identify culprits. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Online retail giant Amazon has come under fire for displaying racist costumes online, featuring "blacked-up" models. The "Zulu fancy dress costumes were stocked by a number of different sellers, causing offence to some people browsing the site. Amazon has already sparked controversy this Halloween for stocking a "sexy burqa" costume and has previously sold a widely derided "golly" costume. The outfits were later withdrawn. A Twitter user, who called himself Dr James Masonry, sent a message to Amazon on 26 November, along with pictures of the costumes. Hey there Amazon, he said. I was just wondering whether you thought any of this was really appropriate? Because I do not. Amazon did not publicly respond to his message, but his account did receive scores of abusive and racist messages. However, other users were more supportive. The murder of black minors in America is justified culturally by ancient cliches of savagery typified by this, wrote user Al King. User UncannyVal said: You'd think they'd have a clue by now. Haven't there been a number of these incidents on Amazon? Amazon is not the only retailer to have been criticised this Halloween. Disney was accused of promoting full body brownface for children after revealing its new 'Moana' Halloween costume. It was intended for youngsters to dress up as Polynesian demi-God Maui and featured brown skin, traditional Polynesian tattoos, a grass skirt and a bone necklace. Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend Show all 10 1 /10 Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256983.bin Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256985.bin Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256984.bin Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256980.bin Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256982.bin Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256976.bin Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256986.bin Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256979.bin Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256981.bin Ten Halloween flicks to watch this weekend 256977.bin Described as cultural appropriation at its most offensive worst by a Samoan website, the costume was later withdrawn. On Thursday night, Amazon had removed two of the four costumes from sale. A spokesperson for the company said: "All Marketplace sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who dont will be subject to action including potential removal of their account. The products in question are no longer available. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} If you are out with the children, maybe dont speak German too loudly at the moment. Thats the advice of a German woman who has lived in London for 13 years, but is now considering the consequences of Brexit for the future of her family. Carmen Prem was speaking to the German newspaper Die Welt, which suggested foreigners in the UK were experiencing a new bitterness, an anger which hardly any on the countless non-Brits on the island had expected. The tone has changed, Ms Prem said. "No Brit would ever tell me, We do not want you to be here any more, but it is now we and you. Polish woman booed on BBC question time for saying Brexit makes her feel unwelcome Recommended Read more EU students applying to British universities plummet by 9 per cent In the month after the UK voted to leave the EU reported xenophobic incidents rose 41 per cent, and Europe reeled at the alleged hate-aggravated murder of Polish man Arek Jozwik in Harlow at the end of August. The Government has been accused of adding to the hostile environment for foreigners. Theresa May has said she sees anti-immigrant sentiment as the main reason behind the Brexit vote, and the Tories have proposed - and later dropped - plans to compile lists of foreign workers at UK businesses. Sergei Cristo, a prominent Russia-born Tory activist and fundraiser, told Die Welt: May chooses a very controversial language. Half of the country voted against Brexit, but she tells them: Keep your mouth shut, you have lost, you do not represent Great Britain anymore. German professor Mischa Dohler, who teaches wireless communication at King's College London, has been living in London with his wife and two daughters for 15 years. He told Die Welt that the shifting mood in the country meant, for the first time, he was considering his options elsewhere. He said he had rejected a long term post at Cambridge and would give it one year to improve before making a decision, adding: Many non-British academics simply do not see a future here. And Manuel Dries, a German Erasmus student who came to the UK in the nineties and now teaches at St Hildas College, Oxford, said he had been attracted to Britain in the first place by its place at the heart of the international exchange of ideas. The intrinsic and instrumental good of internationality must not be discounted, he said. If this is lost, it will not only harm Great Britain, but the whole world. The academics anecdotal evidence appears to be borne out by figures. Official data released on Thursday suggest the number of early applicants to British universities from other EU countries has dropped by 9 percent year-on-year following the referendum. 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 The data, from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), covered courses requiring early applications, which are medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine at any British university, and any course at Oxford or Cambridge. The figures may be an early sign that the vote has deterred EU nationals from coming to study in Britain, where universities have warned that Brexit could endanger funding and access to research projects, making it harder to attract quality staff. In September, Oxford came top of the widely respected Times Higher Education global university league table for the first time, but its vice-chancellor warned that Brexit could damage its long-term prospects. Additional reporting by agencies Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Skies above the UK are set to turn technicolour on Wednesday night with the rare arrival of the Northern Lights. Aurora Watch UK has issued an alert saying the spectacle will be visible all over the country both to the naked eye and on camera. Yet the colours will only be visible away from the light pollution in areas surrounding towns and cities. Over the past few nights, clear skies have allowed some skygazers to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, with those in northern Scotland having the best chances of spotting it. The Northern Lights occur when particles emitted by the sun collide with molecules in the upper part of the Earth's atmosphere. The colour of the light depends on what kind of gases the particles hit, with oxygen glowing green when it is hit 60 miles above the Earth. At 100 to 200 miles high it glows red, while nitrogen emits blue and purple light. The Met Office said the chances of seeing the lights were increased during autumn and spring, due to the angle of the earth's magnetic poles and the direction of solar wind. Yet a solar storm, caused by a hole in the outer layer of the sun, has reportedly made the phenomenon visible from more locations this year. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Home Secretary Amber Rudd is poised to announce a fund of over 11 million to tackle the barbaric crime of modern slavery. It comes after Theresa May said Britain will lead the fight against modern slavery and called it the greatest human rights issue of our time shortly after entering Downing Street as Prime Minister. Ms Rudd, who is Ms Mays successor at the Home Office, will commit 11 million to a dedicated fund for groups fighting the crime in high-risk countries from which victims are trafficked to the UK. In addition, 3 million will be available for projects aimed at protecting vulnerable children overseas and in the UK. Her department estimates suggest there are between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of modern slavery in the UK and 45 million estimated victims across the world. Ms Rudd, who will outline the steps in a speech at the Santa Marta Conference in the Vatican on Thursday, said: "Modern slavery is a global crime which demands an international response. "Only by working together can we win the fight against this barbaric crime, which destroys the lives of the most vulnerable. "Britain has taken world-leading action to tackle modern slavery. We are determined to work with other governments around the world to eradicate slavery and send a message that it will not be tolerated. "As part of our ongoing commitment to tackle the scourge of modern slavery, these funds - totalling 14 million - will help develop innovative approaches to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice." The investment comes from 33.5 million in overseas aid funding to support the fight against modern slavery that was announced in July. One fruitless inspectorate dissolved (video) As usual before the session of the Executive Body, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan gave some recommendations to the Ministries. From October 31, the discussions of next years draft budget will start in the NA Standing Committees. PM instructed the Ministers to present the reports of their spheres in program budgeting format and derive from governments program provisions: Particularly, it is necessary to explain the MPs and the public in an available language all those principles and approaches due to which the budgets of your sector have been formed. First of all it is necessary to introduce the provided funding according to the implemented programs qualitative and quantitative results and indicators in order to understand its purpose and necessity, noted the PM. The PM sent also an assignment to the Ministry of Agriculture. During one week the Ministry must introduce a package on the dissolution of the State Inspectorate on Agricultural Machinery: I think there is no need to comment on the decision, added the PM. Ignati Arakelyan had a question about this assignment: And where will go the powers of this institution? Im just not aware of this, Ive heard this first time, thats why I am asking, noted the Minister. Davit Harutyunyan, the Minister-Chief of RA Government Staff, answered the question: Research was carried out in some inspectorates, and all those inspectorates, which are not beneficial for the state, will be dissolved, including the State Inspectorate on Agricultural Machinery. The function of the inspectorates plate numbers is given to the Police, in other cases to no one, and the inspectorate is dissolved. The PM added addressing the Minister of Agriculture: Havent you studied this inspectorate, do you find its activity beneficial? Well, it crossed my mind to dissolve it, replied Mr. Arakelyan, and the PM answered it with a smile, Taking into account your thought, I instruct you to dissolve. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has said the UK must nail down trade terms with the EU in two years after Brexit talks begin, or risk getting tangled in seemingly endless negotiations. Dr Fox said if Britain completes an EU deal quickly it will more easily be granted in Brussels, but if talks drag, the terms change and it will need approval through the same painstaking process which appears to be suffocating Canadas EU trade agreement. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today pulled out of a scheduled summit in Brussels after politicians there failed to break their deadlock over the deal. Once Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is triggered by the UK, officially starting Brexit talks that will set future trade terms with the EU, Britain has two years to negotiate its deal with European states. Dr Fox, one of the Cabinets leading Brexiteers, was speaking in Parliament when he explained that if an agreement can be reached in that time, it will only need to be approved by a majority vote in the European Council, on which EU leaders sit. But if the two year period passes, the UK drops out of the EU and will have to negotiate a completely new free trade deal from outside the bloc just as Canada is having to. Brexit negotiators are 'in cloud cuckoo land', says man who negotiated Britain's EU rebate The Canada deal, known as Ceta, has been in the making for seven years. It requires ratification by every EU state, and even some regional bodies. Belgiums Wallonia region, led by Socialist Paul Magnette, effectively vetoed the deal this week to the despair of European Council President Donald Tusk. Discussing the potential lessons for the UK, Dr Fox told the Commons European Scrutiny Committee: "The UKs agreement in terms of disaggregation with the European Union is not a free trade agreement as such, but is dependent on [a majority vote] through the council, therefor not subject to the same sort of veto weve seen here. "That sort of procedure would only be undertaken were we to leave the European Union after our Article 50 period, without any agreement whatsoever and were looking to seek a new [free trade agreement] from outside. 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 "So its in the interest quite clearly following this experience for all concerned to minimise any sort of economic, trade and political disruption to ensure thats done with the minimal of fuss, and its done though [a majority vote] by council, rather than being negotiated from outside as Ceta was done." Mr Tusk has said there would be consequences for Europes global position if it failed to strike a deal with Canada, "the most European country outside Europe and a close friend and ally". Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Government minister refused six times to say what post-Brexit financial help Nissan has been promised to build its new cars at its flagship Sunderland plant. Greg Clark came under fierce pressure to reveal any deal struck with the Japanese carmaker after it threatened to invest abroad instead putting hundreds of jobs in Englands poorest region at risk. Ministers were elated after Nissan announced it will after all build its next-generation Qashqai in Sunderland, as well as add production of the new X-Trail SUV model. Recommended Read more Nissan to build new models in Sunderland despite Brexit vote Theresa May hailed it as "fantastic news, adding: This vote of confidence shows Britain is open for business and that we remain an outward-looking, world-leading nation. The agreement was a triumph for Mr Clark, the Business Secretary, who flew to Japan last week to give assurances to Nissans executive committee. Similar assurances believed to be that the company will not face worse trading conditions following Brexit were first given by the Prime Minister to Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn two weeks ago. There is speculation that Nissan was promised compensation for any future tariffs it might face if, as expected, Britain leaves the single market, or exemptions from trade barriers. Crucially, other car companies operating in the UK, such as Toyota, Honda and Vauxhall, are likely to expect to be offered the same terms as Nissan when they make their investment decisions. Any such help could eventually run up a huge bill for the Government, as carmakers face 10 per cent tariffs if Britain ends up working under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. On the BBCs World at One, Mr Clark was asked six times whether the Government had struck a deal with Nissan, but refused to give a clear answer. At one point, Mr Clark said: I think we do have mutual confidence that this is going to be a very exciting place to invest and thats what we agreed. Colin Lawther, Nissan's senior vice president in Europe, denied the Government had offered specific compensation to the company, saying: There's nothing, there's no special deal for Nissan. But he hinted at help for the entire car industry, adding: We are working within the whole of the automotive industry. We would expect nothing for us that the rest of the industry wouldn't be able to have access to. Jeremy Corbyn led demands for the details of any deal between the Government and Nissan to be revealed. The Labour leader said: It must be made public, because it is public money that will be used if there are any inducements that have been offered and quite obviously, if you are offering big inducements to one industry or one manufacturer, then all the others will quite reasonably say, Well, what about us? Later, Downing Street insisted there was no special deal either for Nissan or the wider automotive industry in the UK. A No 10 spokesman said: There is no compensation package. What was made clear to Nissan and to others in the automotive industry is that what we want is a competitive environment for the whole of the industry. Despite Nissan making its investment decision now, it will not start making the new Qashqai until 2019-20 immediately after Ms Mays deadline for leaving the EU. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Downing Street has distanced itself from a minister who admitted consumers are suffering rising prices, saying the important thing is a strong economy. International Trade Minister Mark Garnier said rising prices hitting households had been predicted in the wake of a Brexit vote and had now transpired. But a No 10 spokesperson said peoples lives would still be improved by a fundamentally strong economy, which he said was demonstrated by new figures showing 0.5 per cent growth between July and September. It is the second time in two days that Mr Garnier has deviated from No 10s official line, after saying Theresa Mays oft-repeated Brexit means Brexit phrase does not give much clarity. Speaking to Bloomberg, Mr Garnier said: Consumers are going to start to see rising prices and theres nothing we can do about that. That was a well-predicted effect of Brexit. The point was very clearly made by everybody. Brexit could easily result in a slump in the value of sterling. That has transpired. How the pound has struggled since Brexit Asked if Downing Street agreed with his words, a spokesperson accepted the economy would need to adjust as the UKs relationship with the EU changes, but added: The most important issue here is the strength of the British economy. Thats what will allow us to protect British consumers and British industry as we go forward through the process of exiting the European Union. Sterlings decline in recent weeks will mean consumers money will be worth less as they head to the shops. Consumer price growth already surged to 1 per cent in September, the highest level in almost two years. 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 But the Government would rather focus on the positive side to economic data released today showing that the UK defied expectations and grew by 0.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2016. When Mr Garnier was asked about Brexit this week, he said: Im not going to use the expression Brexit means Brexit for obvious reasons because it does not necessarily give that much clarity. The phrase, which initially represented Ms Mays determination to leave the EU, has come to be seen as a symbol of the lack of transparency around the Prime Ministers objectives in her talks with European leaders. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Applications for British universities from EU countries fell by 9 per cent compared to last year the first such fall seen in years. Ucas, the university admissions service, suggested the fall might be because the Government had left potential EU students in uncertainty about whether they would continue to be entitled to maintenance support following the Brexit vote. After the EU referendum this summer the Government did not immediately clarify whether such students would get support, but later said they would. Recommended Read more EU students still eligible for UK university loans despite Brexit Mary Curnock Cook, Ucas chief executive, said the late announcement of the plan may have contributed to the fall in applicants and that there might be scope for a recovery. The announcement that EU students will continue to get maintenance support only applies to the 2017 and 2018 academic years, however. The fall in numbers could therefore be a foretaste of what happens if EU rules on free academic exchange stop applying after Brexit happens in 2019. This is an encouraging increase in applicants to the October deadline courses, particularly given the 2 per cent decrease in the 18-year-old population, Ms Cook said. We will be watching the numbers of EU applications in the run up to the January deadline, especially now that the Government has confirmed arrangements for continuing access to student loans for 2017 courses. The fall in applicants from the EU is the first drop Britains previously booming university sector has seen in years. A European academic exchange service DAAD last month warned that 15 per cent of UK university staff were at risk of leaving if Britain ended freedom of movement with the continent. EU nationals make up 17 per cent of UK university and teaching posts. 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 A Government spokesperson said: It is too early in the application cycle to predict reliable trends. But the overall increase in applicant numbers is positive and suggests even more students will be able to benefit from higher education next year. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} NHS workers should be protected from any curbs to the free movement of people after Britain leaves the EU, politicians and health professionals have demanded. The call, which comes from the Open Britain campaign, said that the health service should not be hamstrung in its hiring practices by a future work permits scheme, or by overall quotas on immigration. Open Britain was set up by Britain Stronger in Europe who led the official Remain campaign during the EU referendum. Cathy Warwick, the chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said her organisation has been calling on the Government to give clarity to EU nationals working in the NHS. She added: If hardworking midwives, maternity support workers and other NHS staff lose their EU working rights, our overstretched maternity services will also lose. The current midwifery shortage is already affecting the care women and their babies receive. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Royal College of Physicians joined Ms Warwick in her call. Theresa May has refused to say whether EU migrants already living in Britain will be automatically allowed to remain after Brexit, despite mounting political pressure calling for her to give the assurance. The Prime Minister has said she will not give the assurance until other countries can guarantee the rights of British citizens living in EU countries. But the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, has already signalled highly skilled workers will receive preferential treatment by suggesting expected restrictions on the free movement of people will not apply to them. 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 Anna Soubry, the former Tory cabinet minister, who has become a vocal critic of the Governments Brexit strategy, said: Our NHS wouldnt be our NHS without the selfless work of thousands of EU nationals. Our NHS is not going to stop needing these people just because weve left the EU, so its vital NHS recruitment is not hampered by any new immigration system. Professor Sir Simon Wessely, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, added: Without non-UK doctors, nurses, and care workers, the NHS would not have even existed. This remains true today, tomorrow and in twenty years time. It's not a problem but an asset. Professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine added: The NHS is facing the greatest pressures in its history, with record numbers of staff vacancies in many areas. This is the worst possible time to be deterring health workers from the rest of the EU but we now have clear evidence that this is happening. However, the risk to social care is even greater and this will simply make things even worse for the NHS. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said migrants are not "to blame for low pay and insecurity" at work. Mr McDonnell used a keynote speech to hit back against what he called the "cynical" policies of the Conservatives on immigration. It comes after Theresa May's Tories launched proposals for a wide-ranging new crackdown on immigration at their party conference in Birmingham. Recommended Read more Theresa May and her Chancellor at odds over immigration data reform But Mr McDonnell's move may strain underlying tensions over immigration with other key Labour figures, including shadow Brexit secretary Sir Kier Starmer who has said numbers coming into the country should fall. Mr McDonnell said: "Labour are not about to make cynical promises like the Conservatives on reducing migrant numbers, knowing full well they can't be met on the scale, or time scale, with the methods they propose. "It is not migrants to blame for low pay and insecurity at work, or the high cost of housing, it is the failure of our whole economic model, which is not supplying the investment in work, or in housing, that people need. We have to change the model." John McDonnell promises living wage under next Labour government Addressing concerns raised in the EU referendum about migration levels, the shadow chancellor said: "Labour's policy has always been about managed migration, about what the economy needs and what society needs overall. "What we experienced during the referendum...people voted on a whole range of issues, one of which was their concern about the low standard of living. They actually looked at migration being exploited by employers and others to undermine that standard of living. "What we will negotiate is a future with Europe that protects people's standards of living, that doesn't allow migration to be used and exploited in that way. And in that way I believe we can build a coherent, cohesive Britain in the future." 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 His tone mirrored that of Jeremy Corbyn, whose spokesman at party conference said he would be "relaxed" if migrant numbers rise. But Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said earlier this month there had been a "huge amount of immigration over the last 10 years and people are understandably concerned". He added: "I think it should be reduced and it should be reduced by making sure we have got the skills in this country that are needed for the jobs that are needed to be done." Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Over 100 Labour MPs have failed to back the partys own motion calling for an independent UN investigation into alleged Saudi Arabian war crimes in Yemen and the withdrawal of UK support for bombings in light of alleged atrocities. The Labour front bench brought forward the motion condemning Saudi Arabian bombing of civilians, calling for an independent UN investigation, and for the British Government to take a step back from supporting the autocracy but saw it defeated after critics of the leadership line refused to vote for it. The UK continues to sell the country billions in weapons despite widespread reports of the bombing of hospitals, schools, weddings and food factories. The British Government has meanwhile repeatedly said that Saudi Arabia is best placed to investigate its own alleged atrocities. Saudi Arabia has absolved itself of any serious or deliberate wrongdoing. Recommended Read more UN experts say Saudi coalition violated law in Yemen attack A number of Labour MPs, mostly centrists, spoke critically of the Labour motion. It was rejected by Parliament by 283 votes to 193 with around 100 Labour MPs either not voting for it or abstaining. Labours John Woodcock said he supported the call for a UN investigation but did not support the part of the motion calling for the UK to withdraw its support for the Saudi-led force. He said this was making it very hard for many of us to vote for the motion. The coalition is precisely focused on training Saudis to be better able to be in compliance with international humanitarian law so that our interventions, if effective, will create fewer civilian casualties, he said. Can she explain why she has insisted, despite a number of us asking about this, keeping in the motion the fact that the UK should withdraw support for the coalition, making it very hard for many of us to vote for it? Labour MP Toby Perkins said he could not support with withdrawal of support from Saudi Arabia and that Britain had significant economic interest in continuing to have positive relations with the Saudis. The motion was proposed by Emily Thornberry, the shadow Foreign Secretary (House of Commons) It is true that our relationship with Saudi Arabia is not an easy one, but we do wield some influence and our security is enhanced by the relationship, he said. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, once a secretive, suspicious and insular country, now sends its ministers here to be scrutinised by MPs in the Houses of Parliament. Other Members have referred to our significant economic interest in continuing to have positive relations with the Saudis, and to the fact that they have been a useful ally for our own security in the past and today. For years, the west has asked Saudi Arabia to take on more responsibility for what happens in the region, and it is now doing so. None of this means that we should ignore or underplay the significance of infractions of international humanitarian law, but we should think very carefully before isolating Saudi Arabia in the way that the motion suggests. Labour MP Toby Perkins said cutting off support for Saudi Arabia would be a mistake (House of Commons) On the investigation of alleged atrocities by the Saudi-led force, Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, said that the Saudi Government have thus far approached the matter with the great seriousness it deserves. He added: The House should be in no doubt that we are monitoring the situation minutely and meticulously, and that we will continue to apply our established criteria for granting licences with fairness and rigour and in full accordance with UK law. The shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thronberry, who proposed the motion, said: There must be an investigation into all the thousands of attacks on civilian sites, not just nine of them, and into all the thousands of civilian deaths, not just a few hundred of them. 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 We need to know whether Yemens agricultural sector has been deliberately targeted in breach of international humanitarian law. We need to know whether elements of the coalition air forces are routinely operating in a reckless and indiscriminate way. We need to know whether that deliberate error in Sanaa was a one-off or part of a more systemic problem. Finally, from a UK perspective, if there have been violations of international humanitarian law, we need to know whether UK-manufactured weapons and planes have been used to commit those violations. With all due respect to the individuals who make up Saudis JIAT, its output to date whether in terms of volume, speed or content gives no confidence that it can carry out this type of comprehensive investigation, let alone an independent one. In September Britain was accused by Human Rights Watch and other campaign groups of blocking an independent UN investigation into Saudi war crimes. The Campaign Against the Arms Trade has won the right to legally challenge British arms sales to Saudi Arabia, with a judicial review expected early next year. The motion proposed by Ms Thornberry read: That this House supports efforts to bring about a cessation of hostilities and provide humanitarian relief in Yemen, and notes that the country is now on the brink of famine; condemns the reported bombings of civilian areas that have exacerbated this crisis; believes that a full independent UN-led investigation must be established into alleged violations of international humanitarian law in the conflict in Yemen; and calls on the Government to suspend its support for the Saudi Arabia-led coalition forces in Yemen until it has been determined whether they have been responsible for any such violations. Theresa May refuses to say whether Saudi Arabia will have British backing on UN membership Saudi Arabia is intervening in Yemen against Houthi rebels, who control large parts of the country. They have the backing of the internationally recognised Yemeni government, which no longer controls the country's capital. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A peer has resigned from the Liberal Democrats after chairing a meeting at which Israel was allegedly compared to terror group Isis and Jews were blamed for the Holocaust. Baroness Tonge said she resigned from the party "about the same time" as she was suspended by its leader. The peer is a former MP for Richmond Park, which the Liberal Democrats hope to win back from Zac Goldsmith who has triggered a by-election in the constituency over his opposition to Heathrow. Baroness Tonge sat as an independent peer but was still a member of the Lib Dems until Thursday afternoon, when she was suspended and quit. The remarks were made by a speaker at an event at the House of Lords run by the Palestinian Return Centre, which live-streamed it on its Facebook page. The remarks prompted one MP to call for Britain to apologise to Israel. But speaking to the Press Association, Baroness Tonge defended her actions and insisted she did not hear the full "rant". She said: "I was chairing, I did not make any speeches, I introduced the speakers and in the course of that meeting there was a great rant. "I remember the rant very well but I don't remember hearing very much of it. It was a rant. I didn't know what this person said. "You do get ranters at these meetings and I think the best way of dealing with them - if you challenge them they go on and on and on and on - the best way is to just say 'yes, thank you very much, next speaker'." One speaker told the event: "Just as the so-called Jewish state in Palestine doesn't come from Judaism, Muslims will say that this Islamic State in Syria is nothing to do with Islam. "It is a perversion of Islam just as Zionism is a perversion of Judaism." The speaker later referred to a rabbi as a "heretic", adding he "made the economic boycott on Germany which antagonised Hitler, over the edge, to then want to systemically kill Jews wherever he could find them as opposed to just make Germany a Jew-free land". Baroness Tonge refused to say if, having read the words, she finds them offensive, instead describing the remarks as "incomprehensible". The peer said she would not have intervened to stop or eject the speaker if she had heard him. She said: "I think I would have said 'thank you very much, next speaker'. Because that, I know I've chaired many meetings, I'm an old lady, if you take issue with something a speaker has said the whole thing escalates." She added: "If I had been comprehending or hearing even what that man was saying clearly it might have been different, but I didn't." The row will be a blow for the Liberal Democrats who are hoping their candidate Sarah Olney will wrest Richmond Park back in the forthcoming by-election. Former Conservative MP Mr Goldsmith stood down and is re-running as an independent over his opposition to a new runway at Heathrow. British politics has been dogged by accusations of anti-Semitism in recent months, with the Labour Party coming under heavy criticism for it. Baroness Tonge dismissed these concerns, saying: "The Israel lobby is going for the Labour Party, they are using anti-Semitism as the only defence they now have for the action of Israel in the occupied territories and the way they treat the Palestinians." She insisted she has done nothing wrong and brushed off concerns raised by the Israeli embassy. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty 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 She said: "The Israeli embassy is offended all the time by anything that is ever said in criticism of the Israeli government and they always translate it as being anti-Semitism, which it is not, it is criticism of the Israeli government." She said she "wouldn't have thought" there was anti-Semitism at the meeting but said she cannot speak for every person at the meeting individually. "I know that I have never been never have been, never will be anti-Semitic," she added. "Of course I stand by chairing the meeting. It was a very good meeting which proceeded excellently, there was no problem." Simon Johnson, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council said: "It is high time that Baroness Tonge has been suspended from the Liberal Democrats and I welcome this step by the party. It is long overdue. Baroness Tonge's anti-Israel hatred is there for all to see." Press Association Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A majority of British people would support further action in Syria to ease civilian suffering in war-ravaged eastern Aleppo, an exclusive poll shows. The BMG Research survey for The Independent reveals that 42 per cent would back either a no-bomb zone or no-fly zone over the city that has become the epicentre of country's civil war. Others supported a non-military escalation using further sanctions to force Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad to ease up on the bombing that has left rebel-held parts of Aleppo in ruins. While a further small proportion even supported a full-on armed intervention using ground forces. Russian and Syrian government bombardment in the divided city has seen a huge reported increase in the use of illegal cluster bombs, while Moscows Northern Fleet including an aircraft carrier is heading for the Syrian coast. The US, UK and other Western powers have already said they will consider further sanctions, but indicated little appetite for further military action after a summit earlier this month. BMG Research asked a representative sample of 1,500 people to state which policy option, from choices ranging from keeping the current status quo to an extensive military intervention using coalition air and ground forces, would be best for the UK Government to consider implementing. Just over a quarter, 26 per cent, favoured no change and said the Government should keep the status quo, while a further 22 per cent supported further economic sanctions against Russia and Syria. Meanwhile 16 per cent supported a no-bomb zone over Aleppo, enforced with the threat of surface to air missiles against Russian and Syrian aircraft. Family buries children killed in Aleppo airstrike A further 26 per cent backed a no-fly zone over Aleppo, enforced with US and UK military aircraft. A smaller proportion, 10 per cent, opted or an extensive military intervention using coalition air and ground forces. The head of polling at BMG Research, Dr Michael Turner, said: It is interesting to note the different approaches preferred between members of the public when dealing with the situation in Syria. For instance, although a majority of younger people (18-24) tend to favour the implementation of no-fly or no-bomb zones (55 per cent), older groups (65+) prefer a less involved approach, with a majority (51 per cent) supporting either the status quo or further economic sanctions. The results of BMG's latest poll for The Independent show that there is a clear desire among Britons to prevent the further plight of Syrians in Aleppo, but extensive military action, that may involve boots on the ground, would not be a popular policy for most. The Violations Documentation Centre, which reports on human rights abuses in the six-year-long Syrian conflict, says figures compiled by doctors and the Aleppo Health Directorate show at least 137 cluster bomb attacks in eastern Aleppo since the renewed regime assault on the city began last month. While data is hard to accurately assess due to the challenging conditions on the ground, that would make a 791 per cent increase on the average of the previous eight months of the year. Some 30,000 people are thought to have been killed in the city over the duration of the conflict. In pictures: Aleppo bombing Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Aleppo bombing In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Smoke rises after airstrikes on the rebel-held al-Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family runs for cover amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man reacts as he stands on blood stains at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Fardous district, Syria, April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damage of the airstrikes in the rebel-held area of Aleppo on April 28 Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damaged the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians evacuate an injured man amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following an air strike on a rebel-held of Aleppo on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo People inspect the damage at a site hit by airstrikes, in the rebel-held area of Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man leads a woman in tears and child out of the scene after airstrikes hit Aleppo AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Civil defence members search for survivors after an airstrike at a field hospital in the rebel held area of al-Sukari district of Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian boy is comforted as he cries next to the body of a relative who died in a reported air strike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Soukour in the northern city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family walks amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike in the Bustan al-Qasr rebel-held district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers and rescuers remove a baby from under the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians help a wounded youth following an air strike on the Fardous rebel held neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers evacuate people from a damaged building following a reported airstrike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Tareeq al-Bab in the northern city of Aleppo Ten days ago both Britain and America warned that Western powers are considering new sanctions against Syria and Russia over the siege of rebel-held Aleppo, which US Secretary of State John Kerry described as constituting crimes against humanity. Prior to a meeting of Western powers hosted in the UK, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson suggested the West would consider all options, including military ones. But asked after the summit whether further military action could be taken, Mr Kerry said: I haven't seen a big appetite in Europe for people to go to war. On Tuesday, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Russias Syria-bound fleet could be used to launch more air strikes that hit civilians in Aleppo.The battlegroup includes the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) battlecruiser, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov destroyer, Severomorsk destroyers and several supply vessels. Mr Putin said on Thursday that Russia had no other option but to clear out what he called a nest of terrorists from Aleppo despite the fact that civilians were also present in the city. He said civilian casualties in conflicts should be mourned everywhere, not just in Aleppo, pointing to what he said were civilians killed around Mosul in Iraq. Amnesty International has urged the Pentagon and its allies to come clean about the full extent of civilian deaths in operations against Isis, with official inquiries so far acknowledging only dozens of casualties. The organisation published a report claiming at least 300 civilians had been killed in just 11 air strikes by the US-led coalition. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Labour will today accuse Theresa May of planning a Bankers' Brexit which will ignore the needs of manufacturers and small firms. The Prime Minister is pursuing sweetheart deals for financial services giants in the City of London rather than the interests of the wider economy, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell will claim. In a speech at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Mr McDonnell will argue only Labour can be trusted to deliver a successful Brexit, by preparing the country for the challenges ahead. Recommended Read more McDonnell vows to bring back socialism sparking big business fear And he will say: Whether by design or by default, this shambolic Brexit will end up where the Tories always end - looking after the few, not the many. Already, Tory Cabinet ministers are looking to cook up special deals for their friends in the City of London, while Tory backbenchers want to attack hard-won workplace rights. They want a Bankers Brexit, in the interests of an elite few, not the majority. They'll cut a deal for finance, but ignore our small businesses and manufacturers. Labour will fight for all our businesses to have single market access, not just the favoured few. The criticisms follow heavy hints, from Chancellor Philip Hammond, that special arrangements will be struck to avoid damage to the City of London from EU withdrawal. Theresa May's Brexit strategy like a plan from Baldrick - Corbyn Meanwhile, Ms May has made curbing immigration her red line in the exit negotiations making Britains exit from the trading arrangements of the single market increasingly likely. The Prime Minister has vowed to protect workers rights currently guaranteed by the EU, but some Tory backbenchers want to rip them up. Mr McDonnell will seek to draw a distinction between those who have voted Conservative and what he will call the Tory establishment. He will say: Like me, you will have friends who have voted Conservative. They dont want a Bankers Brexit any more than I do. The simple truth is that the Tory establishment cannot be trusted to make a success of Brexit. They want to take control for themselves, not the many. They want to turn Britain into a Singapore of the North Atlantic. The speech comes against the backdrop of a huge lead in the opinion polls for the Conservatives when it comes to economic competence. In next months autumn statement, Mr Hammond is expected to reset economic policy in the wake of Brexit, easing up on George Osbornes deficit reduction programme. Nevertheless, Mr McDonnell will insist only Labour is committed to serious investment to allow Britain to power through the stresses of Brexit. He has adopted the fiscal rules of Ed Miliband and Ed Balls, seeking only a surplus on day-to-day spending, excluding investment spending. Mr McDonnell will pledge to work with our European neighbours to protect our key industries like steel, as well as to tackle tax avoidance by the likes of Google. And he will say: Labour will take back the economic levers of power currently in the hands of the EU, such as over state-aid rules, and return them to the people. That has alarmed some Labour MPs because it also implies leaving the single market, which has strict rules on government aid to businesses. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} South Africas president Jacob Zuma has for months been at the centre of a corruption inquiry which has seen him bat away calls to resign, even from his own party. So it was likely a moment of relief for the president when all eyes turned to his finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, who presented a much anticipated budget statement in parliament on Wednesday. But it seems there is nothing Mr Zuma can do to keep out of the headlines, as cameras filming the delivery of the ministers lengthy statement appeared to show the president falling asleep. That was the interpretation of many South African media, at least, though some quickly offered up a range of suggestions as to why the president might have appeared to have his eyes closed. A recording of the session has been posted on the South African parliaments YouTube channel, and Mr Zuma can be seen slumped to one side at around one hour 13 minutes in. At the one hour 15-minute point, Mr Zuma is back up, rubbing his eyes, apparently roused by applause in the house for Mr Gordhans statement that public officials must be free from corruption. Mr Zumas office has not yet commented on the reports, and the 74-year-olds apparent moment of weakness has been met with amusement rather than outrage in South Africa. It is also not the first time African heads of state have been caught napping at public events - Zimbabwes Robert Mugabe has been photographed or filmed resting his eyes on a number of occasions. More worrying for Mr Zuma will be the report by South Africas corruption watchdog, already overdue for release, that is set to implicate the president in allegations of possible undue influence of his friends. Recommended Read more State broadcaster bans negative news about South African President Mr Zuma will have a hearing on 1 November to decide whether he has been given enough of an opportunity to respond to the suggestion he allowed an Indian-born business family to interfere in state affairs. Meanwhile, finance minister Mr Gordhan is himself facing corruption charges. One day after Mr Zuma, he will have his own court hearing to answer claims he fraudulently approved the early retirement of a deputy tax commissioner before re-hiring him as a consultant. The alleged move, in Mr Gordhans pervious role as head of the revenue service, is claimed to have cost the tax agency 1.1 million rand ($79,000). He has denied any wrongdoing, saying the case is politically motivated. Some analysts say Mr Zuma's allies are driving the investigation in a bid to oust Mr Gordhan, something the president has denied. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A group of fighters loyal to the Isis militant group has briefly occupied a small Somali port town, their first significant act in the region since breaking away from al-Shabaab a year ago. Identifying themselves as simply the Islamic State, up to 50 jihadists entered the town of Qandala on the coast of Puntland, a small semi-autonomous state in the horn of Africa. Video released by Isiss central Amaq Agency showed about a dozen of the fighters entering the seemingly abandoned town, entering government buildings and raising a black-and-white Isis flag. The occupation was short-lived. On Thursday, less than 24 hours after they arrived, the fighters withdrew from the city back to the surrounding mountains. Government officials and locals said the threat of a response force of Puntland soldiers, coupled with the arrival of military aircraft, prompted the militants to withdraw. Recommended Read more 10 dead after deadly terror attack in Mogadishu But with no African peacekeepers present in Puntland and already the threat of al-Shabaab to deal with, the growing boldness of the Isis-affiliated splinter group will be a concern. When the few Puntland soldiers in the town fled on Wednesday, many residents went with them, and Isis were quickly able to cut of communications to the city, district commissioner Jamac Mohamed Khuurshe said. Our soldiers were few and so could not fight longer, he added. And while the occupation did not last long, Puntland police officer Major Saiid Ali said the group had never before seized a town of such a size, having previously only entered two small villages. Before Qandala's phone lines were cut off, fisherman Abdirahman Hussein told Reuters: "We just saw Daesh (Islamic State) with their black banner as we were fishing. They said to us: 'Don't panic, we will rule you according to the Islamic sharia (law)'." Cabdirisak Mohamed, a security official in the capital Bossaso, dismissed the takeover of Qandala as "a desperate attempt to draw attention. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty He told the AFP news agency Puntland deployed hundreds of soldiers to the town and it was only unfortunate Isis retreated before they could arrive. Last year, the group led by former al-Shabaab cleric Abdiqadir Mumin switched allegiance from al-Qaeda to Isis, but they have been little heard-from since. Nonetheless, Mumin has been identified as a global terrorist by the US State Department, making him a potential target for drone strikes. Al-Shabaab, Somalias jihadist insurgency which has at times controlled vast swathes of the country, is aware defections to Isis could undermine its strength in the Horn of Africa, and is trying to prevent the Middle Eastern group from establishing a foothold in the country. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Amtrak will pay out $265 million to settle a lawsuit over the crash that killed eight people and injured more than 200 others, lawyers told The Associated Press on Thursday. Victims will now receive their awards by June of next year and have until November 21 to join the settlement. "The program basically allows for a judge, with help from two masters, to hold hearings and evaluate damages," attorney Thomas R Kline told the news agency. Mr Kline led the lawsuit on behalf of the victims affected by the crash. Last year, federal officials announced that the Amtrak Regional Train 188 was traveling from Washington DC to New York City and derailed minutes after it departed the city of Philadelphia. Approximately 238 passengers were on board along with five crew members. The train was traveling at 106mph, more than twice the speed limit when it derailed. Amtrak officials have since taken responsibility for the crash. In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Emergency personnel work at the scene of the deadly train wreck in Philadelphia AP In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash amtrak2.jpg An aerial view of the train wreck Getty Images In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Officials work at the site of a derailed Amtrak train in Philadelphia. Rescue workers searched through the debris for more victims of an Amtrak passenger train wreck in Philadelphia that killed six people and injured scores others as investigators sought to determine the cause of the derailment In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash At least three Philadelphia hospitals confirmed they were receiving injured passengers AP In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Emergency services search for passengers following an Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia Reuters In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash A crime scene investigator looks inside a train car after a train wreck In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Such was the power of the impact of the crash that one carriage had come to rest perpendicular to the other carriages AP In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Emergency personnel carry an injured person In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Emergency teams at the scene of the crashed train, which was carrying 243 people Getty Images In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter was at the scene as teams searched for passengers following an Amtrak train crash Reuters In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash The train crashed after nightfall, impeding the rescue operation AP In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash A passenger is carried following an Amtrak train crash In pictures: Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Amtrak Philadelphia train crash Members of the Block Church gather supplies to supply emergency personnel working at the wreckage of an Amtrak passenger train The victims killed in the crash were later identified as Laura Finamore, a 47-year-old managing director at Cushman & Wakefield; Giuseppe Piras, a 41-year-old wine and oil merchant; Justin Zemser, a 20-year-old US Naval Academy midshipman; Jim Gaines, a 48-year-old Associated Press software architect; Abid Gilani, a Wells Fargo executive; Rachel Jacobs, a 38-year-old executive of ApprenNet; Derrick Griffith, a dean of student affairs for the City University of New York; and Bob Gildersleeve, an executive at Ecolab. Investigators would later conclude that the engineer had been distracted by a train that had been hit by a rock, the AP reports, and unknowingly took his train to full-speed without slowing down before the 50mph curve. "This was something that never had to happen," survivor Robert Hewitt told the news agency. "His actions could have been easily prevented." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Brazil have rescued a man whose neighbours believe may have been held captive by his family for anywhere up to 20 years. The man, identified as Armando Bezerra de Andrade, 36, was recovered by officers during an unrelated anti-drugs raid in the city of Guarulhos, north east of Sao Paulo. Neighbours said he was an outgoing student who was regularly beaten by his stepmother before he suddenly disappeared when he was 16, Reuters reported. The man was taken to a local hospital in the south-eastern city and police said he was unable to talk. Neighbours believe the man was held captive for up to 20 years (YouTube) Pictures of the room where the man was found showed only a bed and a dirty toilet. Reports said the walls had chains. There was no-one else in the house when the police stormed it. Neighbours said the man's father, stepmother and her son used to live there. Mr Andrades father later went to a police station and told officers that the victim had fled the house when he was a teenager. He returned last week, the father claimed, asking to be kept by the family in the room because he was a drug user. Tests will now determine if there was any recent use of drugs or medicine, CNN said. The police say they were investigating whether he had been locked up for 15 years, while neighbors claim he had been imprisoned in the family home for as long as 20 years. According to the police chief in charge of the investigation, Celso Marchiori, the father told him: This is my son, that house is mine, and I was the one who locked him in there, as he had asked me to. He is a drug user and he showed up at home after being gone for many years, he showed up at home and asked me to lock him up so he wouldn't buy drugs. The mans father reportedly added: My conscience is clear. Mr Marchiori said of the victim: He was very debilitated. He got up with a lot of difficulty and walked to the door with difficulty. He didnt speak. And so we didn't know if he did not speak because he had been doped up. Mr Marchiori said the smell in the room was horrible since the victim had been urinating and defecating there. Before the younger Bezerra de Andrade went missing as a teen, neighbours said he was a bright young man, and denied that he was a drug user. Friend Rafael Cunha Sousa said the mans father always skirted questions about his son. When people would ask him how he was, he would always say he was traveling, or in the countryside, or at a relatives house, but he would never provide us with an address or say where he was, Mr Sousa said. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Mormon University in Utah is in the process of changing its policies to ensure students who report rape or sexual assault will not be accused of violating of the universitys "honour code". Brigham Young University was widely condemned earlier this year when a student who reported her alleged rape was accused by the university of falling foul of their Christian code which prohibits sex outside of marriage. The University has now released a 34-page report which promises students they will not be punished if they admit to having drunk alcohol or extramarital sex around the time of the assault. The four-person advisory panel - whose recommendations still need to be approved by other panels before becoming permanent - said that how they handle the reporting of sexual assault is "a complicated and evolving issue". University president Kevin Worthen wrote in an email to students that their top priority was the safety and well-being of their students. "This is particularly true for those who have been the victims of sexual assault," he wrote. "They have been through a devastating experience, and they are looking for our help and support. "We have an obligation not only to provide that support, both emotional and spiritual, but also to create an environment where sexual assault is eliminated." Madi Barney, the student who chose to identify herself to the press after reporting her rape, told the Daily Universe that she felt "on top of the world" after reading the report. "I felt like crying because I was so happy. I saw the part with the amnesty clause in it, and my jaw literally dropped," Ms Barney said. Her petition in April to stop students being punished after reporting sexual assault reached 117,000 signatures. Student news in pictures Show all 34 1 /34 Student news in pictures Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain a student demonstrator during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain student protestors during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea. The protesters demanded that the parliament takes steps to impeach President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures Filipino demonstrators face off with anti-riot police during a protest near the US Embassy in Manila, Philippine EPA Student news in pictures Hundreds of protesters including Indigenous People, students and militant groups marched towards the US Embassy to protest against the presence of US military troops and condemning the violent dispersal which left at least forty people hurt including twenty police officers and three people who were run over by a police van EPA Student news in pictures A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students Student news in pictures A man holds up a photograph of a missing student with a caption reading 'We are missing 43,' during a meeting marking the 25-month anniversary of the disappearances of 43 students in the southern state of Guerrero, in Mexico City. A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students AP Student news in pictures Miguel Perez, an intern student from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, puts away his cell phone before walking into the operating room at the Dr. Isaac Gonzalez MartInez Oncological Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once they complete their general surgery training, many residents are moving to the United States in search of better wages, one of the main factors linked to the current shortage of specialists in the Island Student news in pictures Fewer EU students have applied to start university courses in the UK next autumn. There was a 9% fall in the numbers who had applied for courses, according to admissions service UCAS. PA wire Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela. Masses of protesters jammed the streets of Venezuela's capital on the heels of a move by congress to open a political trial against Maduro, whose allies have blocked moves for a recall election AP Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela AP Student news in pictures Thousands, most of them high school students, march during a demonstration in Madrid, Spain, on a one day strike to protest about the country's education law that increases the number of annual exams AP Student news in pictures Students gather on the west mall to confront the Young Conservatives of Texas student organization over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action Student news in pictures Donald Parish Jr, right, confronts Electrical and Computer Engineering senior Dewayne Perry over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action AP Student news in pictures Brigham Young University announced that students who report sexual assault will no longer be investigated for possible violations of the Mormon-owned school's strict honor code that bans such things as alcohol use AP Student news in pictures Students of secondary education march to protest against the final examinations and LOMCE (The Improvement Quality Education Law) law, after a call by trade unions, in Murcia, Spain EPA Student news in pictures South African police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters who had marched to the parliament building to call for free university education, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech AP Student news in pictures Police break up student protests outside the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures South African Policemen fire rubber bullets at student protestors in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures A student protestor is hit by a rubber bullet in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures An injured student is helped by colleagues during protest outside the parliament during South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's medium term budget speech in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures Plaintiffs and bereaved families of elementary school students killed in the tsunami that followed a major earthquake in northeastern Japan in 2011, show banners that say 'victory in a suit filed with the Sendai District Court' in Sendai. A Japanese court ordered municipalities to pay $13.7 million dollars to families of school children who were swept away to their deaths by the 2011 tsunami Getty Student news in pictures A group of student at Ewha Womans University calls for a thorough investigation into those involved in years of engagement with state affairs backstage by Choi Soon-sil, a personal confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, at the school's front gate in Seoul, South Korea EPA Student news in pictures Students raise placards during a strike action called by the student union, in Madrid against university entry exams Getty Student news in pictures Libyans throw a newly graduated student into a fountain as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Thousands of Thai Catholic students take part in mourning tributes and in singing the Thai Royal Anthem to honour late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Saint Dominic School in Bangkok, Thailand EPA Student news in pictures Students of Silpakorn University paint portraits of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures A student of Silpakorn University paints a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend PA wire Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend, an annual tradition where student 'parents' inflict tasks on the unfortunate first-years they have adopted as 'children' as part of a mentoring scheme PA wire Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana, Cuba Reuters The report comes amid a nation-wide investigation by the Justice Department into public US colleges and universities to see how institutions handle sexual assault reporting and whether they still deserve federal funding, after it was discovered that one in five women will be sexually assaulted while on campus. Brigham Young said in the report that it will also employ a full-time Title IX coordinator, upgrading the position from part time, as well as a confidential adviser position, to encourage more students to come forward. It will also move the Title IX office, which investigates cases of discrimination based on gender, to a separate building from the honour code office, and the offices will not share information on cases. "We do not have all the answers to this problem, which is a nationwide issue affecting all colleges and universities. "But this report provides an excellent framework on which to build," wrote Mr Worthen. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Canadian flight attendant dubbed Patient Zero and publicly blamed for spreading HIV in the US has been exonerated by science more than 30 years after his death. Gaetan Dugas could not have been the first person to bring the virus that causes Aids to the US, according to an international team of geneticists, whose study was published in Nature on Wednesday. Recommended Read more British man might be first in the world to be cured of HIV The researchers used sophisticated genetic analysis to conclude that the virus arrived in the US from the Caribbean in approximately 1970 and remained confined to New York City for about five years before spreading west to the rest of the country, leading to an epidemic that has since killed some 700,000 people in the US alone. Dugas would have been one of thousands of people infected with the virus in the 1970s, according to the scientists, who studied blood samples that were taken from gay men in New York in 1978 and 1979 as part of a study of a separate disease, also prevalent among the gay community at the time: hepatitis B. Geneticists believe HIV was first transmitted to a human from a chimpanzee in sub-Saharan Africa, sometime in the early 20th century. It later took hold in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, before being found in the Caribbean during the 1960s. The new study suggests it moved from Haiti to New York City in 1970 or 1971. There really is no question about the geographical direction of movement, Michael Worobey, the evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson who led the study, told the Los Angeles Times. New York City acts as a hub from which the virus moved to the West Coast and eventually to Western Europe, Australia, Japan, South America and other places. HIV was officially recognised by the medical community in 1981. In 1987, journalist Randy Shilts identified Dugas as Patient Zero in his book about the early Aids crisis, And the Band Played On. The book and a subsequent film adaptation portrayed Dugas as continuing to have regular sex with multiple partners despite doctors warnings that he might spread the infection. Dugas, who had died of Aids in Quebec in 1984, was demonised by the media and described by the New York Post in one headline as The Man Who Gave Us Aids. In an early study of the infection by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dugas was given the case number 57 meaning he was probably the 57th patient found suffering from the illness. In a subsequent CDC study conducted in California, he appeared near the centre of a network of 40 men in 10 US cities who had contracted HIV and were connected to one another by sexual contact. In that study, he was named patient O meaning Outside California which was later misread as a zero, hence his subsequent characterisation as the origin of HIV in the US. In fact, Dugas did not show symptoms of Aids until at least 1979, much later than some of the other men seen by the study. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The world is falling grievously short in its response to the absolutely grotesque devastation inflicted on southwestern Haiti by Hurricane Matthew which in turn is threatening to unleash a new wave of cholera cases in the country, a top UN official is warning. The low response is not fair to anybody, it is not fair to the people of Haiti and frankly its not fair to the people working in the response effort there at the moment, Dr David Nabarro, a special advisor to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, told The Independent. Dr Nabarro, a British medical expert who is among six candidates to replace Margaret Chan as the next director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), was picked by Mr Ki-Moon in August to lead a new campaign to address Haitis ongoing cholera crisis, an assignment that has become significantly more urgent since the country took a direct hit from Matthew on 4 October. So far, barely a quarter of a $119m (98m) appeal launched by the UN for instant hurricane relief has been raised. Even less successful has been the $400m appeal launched by the UN in August to eradicate cholera. A portion of that appeal, directed at helping families already harmed by the disease, has so far attracted just $1m of the $200m needed. In the meantime, there is growing evidence that the destruction caused by the hurricane in the Grand-Anse, Sud and Nippes provinces at the hard-to-reach tip of the long peninsula that is southwestern Haiti is already helping to exacerbate the cholera outbreak, which since 2010 has infected 800,000 Haitians and killed more than 9,000 people. Dr Nabarro, whose career has also included dealing with Ebola and other health emergencies in the wake of earthquakes, floods and war, had just returned to New York from a visit to the affected areas in Haiti when he described scenes that he said were unlike any he had seen before. The hurricane goes like a great big sanding machine across here, he explained, showing a map of the peninsula. It is absolutely grotesque when you go out there. I have been to horrid places an awful lot, but this was exceedingly distressing. The degree to which people really have lost everything, because of the great big sanding machine that just went over everything and scoured the surface of the ground. That is something that is new to me, he said, describing it as, at the extreme end of any spectrum that I have ever applied. Previously concentrated mostly in the central region of Haiti, cholera now threatens to take hold in the southwest for multiple reasons. It is a water-borne disease and the inundation caused by Matthew about three feet of rain fell in a day caused a sudden rise in the water table which in turn flooded sceptic tanks. Sanitary systems that did exist were largely destroyed. There is also the risk that Haitians going to the area to help might be bringing the disease in with them. We have certainly got quite a lot of cases reported since the hurricane came along, Dr Nabarro indicated, while adding that a lack of laboratory testing capacity and the fact that some areas still have not been accessed means that accurately tallying new cases remains difficult. We cant say exactly whether we have got great big spike or a little spike, he said, but noted that there have been between 1,000 and 2,000 suspected new cases reported to his teams in the last two weeks alone. The aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in Damassins, Haiti (Reuters) To have have had between 1,000 and 2,000 cases predominantly in the southwest in the past ten days plus does not necessarily mean that we have a big increase, Dr Nabarro says with evident caution. But my hunch is that we have more cases than usual at the moment. He said that news from the WHO that one million cholera vaccines have been shipped into Haiti this week alone is one bright spot. If the UN is struggling to raise money for its cholera programme in particular, it may be because it has now long been assumed by the medical community that it was Nepalese peacekeepers deployed by the UN itself after Haitis 2010 earthquake who introduced the disease to the impoverished nation in the first place. The continuing refusal of the UN directly to admit responsibility for the outbreak was roundly condemned as, morally unconscionable, legally indefensible and politically self-defeating, in a final report released this week by Philip Alston, a New York law professor, who was appointed this year as a special UN rapporteur on poverty and human rights. 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 The failure to accept legal liability is a huge disservice to the UN and a terrible precedent for the future, Mr Alston wrote in a section of his report dedicated to Haiti and the cholera epidemic. When speaking to The Independent, Dr Nabarro was careful to avoid using any language that could be construed as admitting any guilt on the part of the UN, even as the world body took the decision in August to tackle the epidemic head-on under his supervision. It was never guilt, it was something a bit different, he said. The emotion was the following: the cholera is associated with the UN, people are suffering, we must help them because they are suffering. Its more a direct recognition that there was pain and something had to be done about it. Other factors behind the worlds sluggish response to Haitis latest plight, he offered, might include the fact that cash for humanitarian emergencies is simply running short, thanks in part to the drain on resources created by Aleppo and Syria more broadly, and also to a sense in many capitals that they have poured money into Haiti before and they are disinclined to do so again. But that, he argued, is a poor and cruel line of reasoning. If thats the case, it is totally unfair because it not Haitis fault getting hit by this hurricane, he asserted. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hillary Clinton has taken aim at Donald Trump with a new campaign called "Better Than Bullying", beating Melania Trump to the punch in her plans as First Lady. Ms Clinton pledged to spend $500 million on state anti-bullying plans in schools, arguing bullying was an "urgent crisis" which contributed to poor academic performance, depression and suicide. In a new advert, a man called Bryce tells his story about suffering muscular dystrophy and overcoming bullying, echoing Mr Trumps mocking of a New York Times reporter with a physical disability. The plan also aims to tackle cyber bullying, educating parents and schools and making the internet a safer space. The same subject was cited by Melania Trump to CNN as to what she would focus on as potential First Lady. "I see now in 21st century, the social media, it's very damaging for the children," she said. "We need to guide them and teach them about social media because I see a lot of negativity on it and we need to help them." Asked if she would get her husband not to tweet as much, she replied that he makes his own decisions. As noted by the Clinton campaign, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported in April that Trumps campaign "is producing an alarming level of fear and anxiety among children of color and inflaming racial and ethnic tensions in the classroom". Ms Clinton has previously called out her Republican rival for calling Mexicans "rapists" and "drug dealers", his insulting comments about women like "pigs" and "bimbos" and accusing Muslims of terrorism and not living by "American values". In Ms Clintons plan, money would be invested in mental health programs in high schools, training teachers how to recognise bullying, manage stress and anxiety and how to provide support for victims. Mr Trump told Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly in May that his strong attacks were "mostly counter-punches" to what somebody else had done or said to him, and that he liked to hit back "times 10". He also told reporter Michael DAntonio in 2014, released as a two-part podcast by the New York Times, that he loved to fight when he was younger. "All types of fights. Any kind of fight, I loved it, including physical," he said. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man called Rambo wearing a Native American headdress overpowered a man who had reportedly fired gunshots on a train. Local police said Rambo Richardson intervened after the suspect fired his gun when a dispute arose with another man at a train station in the city of Portland, Oregon on Wednesday night. Mr Richardson saw the gunman and his victim struggling and overpowered the suspect, taking his weapon and holding him down until the police arrived, according to KGW.com. Discussing the incident with the news outlet just afterwards, Mr Richardson said he acted in the way "people are supposed to", adding that he was trying to bring things back to "the indigenous way". Mr Richardson said: I just acted because that's what people are supposed to do. "So I just tried to be an example for others. To try to bring things back to what they used to be, the indigenous way. Helping the community, not just standing by. Mr Richardson, who had long, dark hair and wore a large, patterned headdress with feathers, could be seen in photographs posted on Twitter shortly after the incident by an onlooker called Mike Benner. Mr Benner described Mr Richardson as a "good Samaritan", writing: "The good sam is Rambo Richardson wearing the head dress. He says he didn't tackle shooter, instead he disarmed the shooter." No one was injured during the incident. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} When patrolman Fred Flati arrived at the stationary vehicle on St Clair Avenue, he assumed the couple in the front were dead. In the rear seat, he caught the flashing eyes of a young boy. You cant believe what youre seeing, he said, recalling the incident. Two people are dead, and theyre sitting in their car seats. Its painful looking at that little boys eyes. As it was, the couple were still alive, and their lives were saved by medics who revived them with Narcan, a spray designed to bring around victims of heroin overdoses. The little boy was taken into the care of social services, and then placed with a family member. Officer Fred Flati said he had become a little callous after 25 years on the force (Andrew Buncombe) The incident may have remained within the confines of the Ohio city of East Liverpool but for a photograph of the scene that Officer Flati clicked with his Samsung Galaxy phone. After the citys police department took the decision to post that photograph on its Facebook page, the startling, painful image quickly went viral. The police said they uploaded the image to force people to address what they believe is nothing less than an epidemic tearing at the fabric of their community and countless others across the nation. They say the problem of heroin addiction had become deadlier in recent years, as a result of the presence of additives such as fentanyl and carfentanyl. Fentanyl is a super-potent drug, usually used in treating cancer patients, while carfentanyl is used to tranquilise large animals, such as elephants. Fentanyl is 40 time stronger than heroin; carfentanyl 100 time stronger. Experts say that a single grain of the latter, no bigger than a speck of salt, is enough to kill someone with no resistance. Yet the move to post the photograph was also controversial; some said the decision to post the image without even the face of the little boy being pixelated, was exploitative and unethical. The Independent joins East Liverpool Ohio officer for a ride along Meanwhile, the family of the man in the photograph, James Acord, have claimed that he was not a drug user and said police had no right to post the image. The image was taken on the afternoon of September 6, after another officer, Kevin Thompson, reported following a dark coloured Ford Explorer with registration plates from West Virginia. The vehicle slowly came to a halt. I made contact with the driver who was later identified as James Acord. I noted his head bobbing back and forth, Officer Thompson wrote in his report, later noting that the man passed out. Police said they thought hard before posting the image. Sometimes the truth hurts, said Brian Allen, the citys safety officer. It made people see the truth. Mr Allen and Chief John Lane, the head of the police department, said they believed East Liverpool was a Trump town. They said the government of Barack Obama had shown insufficient effort in the fight against drugs, spending too much on rehabilitation and not enough on enforcement. Mr Trump, meanwhile, had been shown the image when he appeared on The Dr Oz Show. He said there should be more police officers, said Mr Lane. Officer Flati said there was a deliberate decision not to blur the boys face. He said they received hate mail for their actions, but also positive feedback. Officials said East Liverpool was a Trump town (Andrew Buncombe) I stand by the decision to do it, he said. It saved the boys life. He is now with an aunt and uncle in South Carolina. He said he felt sympathy for the victims, but admitted that after 25 years on the force, he believed he may have become a little callous. The Independent was given permission to accompany the patrolman on a so-called ride along in East Liverpool. At one point, he was directed to act as back-up as other officers intercepted a car containing four susepcted drug dealers. As it was, the officers managed to miss the car and Officer Flati was told to chase and stop it. Officers charged four people with minor offences (Andrew Buncombe) We are now the chase car, he said, as he sharply turned a corner and gave chase to the car. Four people three men and a woman were eventually arrested on minor charges. In the case of the couple who were found overdosed, Rhonda Pasek, 50, the grandmother of the toddler, pleaded guilty to charges that included endangering children, not wearing a seat belt and public intoxication. She was sentenced to 180 days in jail. Acord, who lived in New Cumberland, in neighboring West Virginia, pleaded guilty to endangering children and was sentenced to a year in prison. His landlord, Blaine McCartney, said he had been a good tenant, who paid his rent on time and created no problems. He said he was surprised to see him in the photograph that went around the world. He worked every day. He has a great son, said Mr McCartney, who lost one of his own children, Dale, to the effects of heroin in 2008. He said that he knew his tenant lived to drink beer, but that he did not believe he used heroin. He said the drug was a huge problem, however, in states such as West Virginia and Ohio, where more than 3,000 people lost their lives to opiates last year. Acords son, Steven, who lives in Weirton, said he had visited his father in the Columbiana County Jail where he had told him that he believed his drink had been spiked. He said his father had denied using heroin and said he had never seen him do so. He is doing as well as he can do, said Mr Acord, a former army medic who now works as a carpenter. He said that something had been put in his drink. Officials in East Liverpool said that while the photograph had sparked a conversation about the impact of heroin, and the interest of politicians and organisations from across the country, it had not yet resulted in practical help or additional resources. Help has not arrived yet. There have been a lot of offers, said Mr Allen. But things have not changed yet. Galust Sahakyan on October 27: We thought it was a joke (video) Gagik Jhangiryan, former Head of the preliminary investigation group into October 27 case and the NA Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction member, will never speak about that case on this day. Though, son of Karen Demirchyan, who was killed on October 27, is ready to speak on this day of mourning- if there was no October 27, we would live in a completely different country, Everything was done to conceal the crime. The NA HAK faction Head Levon Zurabyan says that if todays authorities put any efforts in order to reveal this tragedy, we would know, But it was done neither during the tenure of the second president, nor the third one. It itself shows that if they dont want to reveal, they are linked to it in some ways. Touching upon the role of foreign powers in the organization of October 27 events, Levon Zurabyan doesnt rule out anything, but the fact is that it was implemented by Armenians, So first and foremost the people must be found, who being from Armenia, being maybe from the Armenian authorities in that case, had their complicity in that crime. The NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan has no suspicions connected with the role of foreign powers, I dont think that Armenians could do anything like that. On that day Galust Sahakyan was in the NA hall, he clearly remembers his and the halls first impression, when the armed men broke into the hall, The whole hall first thought that it was a joke. Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov finds resemblances between October 27 and seizure of the police regiment; Armenians again killed Armenians, Those were Karen Demirchyans last words, when he said that the problems couldnt be solved in that way. Mr Sharmazanov cannot say anything about foreign trace; he says if on that day Galust Sahakyan was inside, it means he may know something about foreign trace, I wasnt engaged in the politics then. The fact is that according to the Deputy Speaker, Armenian statehood was beheaded on October 27. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The likelihood of Donald Trump becoming the next President of the United States has increased, according to bookmakers. In the first change to US Election betting in a week, the business magnate's odds were shortened from 4/1 to 7/2, meaning he went from having a 20 to a 22 per cent chance of winning the White House, betting company William Hill said. "Despite being written off by much of the media and by many pollsters, there is still considerable betting support for Donald Trump," William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe said in a statement. The odds of Hillary Clinton winning, once a 1/9 favourite have now been lengthened to 1/5, meaning her chance at winning the Presidency has shrunk from 90 per cent to 82 per cent, the betting company said. The billionaire property tycoon has claimed he is winning in most states, despite the vast majority of national polls showing MsClinton is far ahead of him. His campaign prospects have fallen after a tape of him making lewd comments about groping women surfaced. But some political forecasters have predicted the tycoon will win, including a professor that developed a model which successfully predicted all but one presidential election result for the past 100 years. Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Show all 16 1 /16 Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump E Jean Carroll Author Carroll alleges that Trump pinned her against a wall and forced himself upon her in the changing rooms of a Manhattan department store in the mid-90s Getty Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Kristin Anderson Anderson alleges that Mr Trump touched her genitals while at a club in the early 1990s Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Jessica Leeds Leeds told the New York Times that Mr Trump groped her on an airplane in the 1980s BBC Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Natasha Stoynoff Stoynoff alleged that Mr Trump forcefully kissed her before an interview at his Mar-A-Lago estate in 2005 Everipedia Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Karena Virginia Virginia alleges Mr Trump groped her in 1998 outside of the US Open tennis tournament BBC News Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Temple Taggart Taggart claims Mr Trump gave her a kiss without consent during a rehearsal for a 1997 Miss USA pageant Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Summer Zervos The former Apprentice contestant alleged that Mr Trump kissed and groped her at a Beverly Hills hotel in 2007 Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Alva Johnson A former staffer for Trump's campaign, Johnson alleges that Trump forcibly tried to kiss her after a rally in August 2016 MSNBC Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Jennifer Murphy The former Apprentice contestant said Mr Trump "surprise kissed" her - but she said it did not bother her Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Jill Harth The makeup artist accused Mr Trump of "attempted rape" while in his daughter's room in 1997 Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Mindy McGillivray McGillivray alleges Mr Trump groped her at Mar-A-Lago in 2013 AP Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Rachel Crooks Crooks says that kissed her on the cheeks and mouth when she introduced herself to him in 2005 Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Mindy McGillivray McGillivray claims that Trump grabbed her backside at Mar-a-Lago in 2006 CNN Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Cassandra Searles The former Miss Washington alleges that Trump repeatedly grabbed her backside and invited her to his hotel room Getty Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Jessica Drake Drake claims that when she and two other women arrived to Trump's hotel room at his invitation, he arrived at the door in pyjamas and tightly hugged and kissed each of the woman without permission Getty Every woman to make sexual assault claims against Donald Trump Ninni Laaksonen The former Miss Finland claims that Trump squeezed her behind before they appeared together on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2006 EPA The odds of Mr Trump winning this and the next election now stand 12/1, while Ms Clinton's are 2/1, according to William Hill. Mr Trump's star on the Hollywood's walk of fame was smashed to pieces on Wednesday by a man disguised as a construction worker. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A woman has won $1 million (819,000) after buying a scratch card to prove to her husband that lottery tickets were a waste of money. Glenda Blackwell from Leicester in North Carolina was asked by her husband Buddy to buy two Powerball tickets, reports WPXI. To prove what a waste of money the state lottery is, the 57-year-old ignored his request and bought a $10 (8.20) Powerball scratch card for herself. Ms Blackwell said: "I was going to be ugly and buy a scratch-off to show him they didnt hit. "Sometimes I get aggravated with him, so I tell him, 'You're just wasting your money'. "I had to eat my words, but they were worth eating." Due to health issues, Ms Blackwell decided to receive a lump sum $415,503 (340,743) after taxes instead of receiving 20 yearly payments of $50,000 (40,994). How it feels to win the lottery She said she could not be sure she would live long enough to receive all the payments. Ms Blackwell plans to buy a house with the money and set up college funds for her two granddaughters. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} British banker Rurik Jutting, who is accused of murdering two Indonesian women in his Hong Kong flat, described one of the victims as "simply prey," his trial has heard. In the third day of the trial, the jury was shown footage of police interviews with the 31-year-old where Mr Jutting described his treatment of the two women to officers. Mr Jutting has admitted killing two Indonesian women, whose bodies were found in his apartement on 1 November 2014, but has pleaded not guilty to two murder charges on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Prosecutors have rejected his attempt to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. If convicted, he faces life in prison. On the killing of Sumarti Ningsih, 23, the court hear Mr Jutting told police: "Progressively I went from hitting her quite lightly to hitting her quite hard to abusing her very badly. I think she felt the threat of death. It escalated. It got out of hand. "I was thinking of a way to let her go in a way that it would not be traceable to me. Clearly if I let her go I would be caught, or I would have to kill her. These are the two options I saw." Mr Jutting was said to have added: "Once I had killed her, after taking more cocaine, my initial response was to jump from the balcony." On the second day of the trial, the jury were shown 20 minutes of video which Mr Jutting took of him allegedly torturing Ms Ningsih, South China Morning Post reports. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty When questioned by police over the second victim, 26-year-old Seneng Mujiasih, the court were told that Mr Jutting said: "She was very brave ... She was struggling, she was resisting, she was shouting. "I dont know why I chose her. Ive never met her before. She was, at that point in time, she was simply prey ... I was hunting for prey." The former securities trader also told police he had increased his cocaine consumption in the six weeks before the killings. "For a short period of time the human side of me kicked in. I knew that was wrong. But that lasted briefly, a few minutes. I did some coke and that side of me just went," he told police, the court heard. The trial continues. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} This weekend sees the return of the annual festival of lights Diwali one of the most important celebrations in India and its diaspora. What is Diwali? Diwali is the festival of lights celebrated by millions of people worldwide. The festival, also known as Deepavali, meaning rows of lamps in Sanskrit, sees people decorating their homes with candles and colourful gifts for five days as they celebrate the triumph of light over dark and good over evil. As well as the decorations, families recite prayers in the hope of a bright future. The festival principally honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and coincides with the busiest shopping days of the year in India. For Hindus, the day itself is said to mark when the god Rama returned to the mythological island of Lanka to defeat the demon king Ravana, who had kidnapped his wife Sita. Pakistan's minority Hindus community decorate with earthen oil lamps as they celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in Lahore (AFP PHOTO/ Arif ALI ) (AFP PHOTO/ Arif ALI) When is Diwali? The date of Diwali changes every year as is calculated according to the position of the moon and the Hindu lunar calendar. This year it will begin on 30 October and last for five days. Who celebrates Diwali? It is primarily known as a Hindu celebration but Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains also celebrate it for different reasons. Instead of the Rama story, Sikhs use the festival to mark Bandi Chhor Diva, when one of the earlier leader, or gurus, Guru Har Gobind, was relesed from jail as a political prisoner and arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar one of their most holy sites. A Nepalese police dog handler garlands a dog with marigolds and vermillion powder during a ceremony offering blessings to police dogs (AFP/Getty Images) In Jainism it marks the day one of their early holy men, Vardhamana, found Nirvana and Vajrayana Buddhists in Nepal who worship deities alongside the teachings of the Buddha use the occasion to worship Lakshmi. How will it be celebrated in the UK? Events will be being held across the UK, with Leicester hosting 37,000 people at largest light switch-on outside India in 2015. The Leicester Mercury reported that this years celebration is set to be bigger than ever with the council reportedly spending 88,000 on several events. Many cities around the country are hosting events which will include Indian dance, music, theatre and exhibitions. Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Show all 16 1 /16 Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Indian Sikh devotees watch a fireworks display during Bandi Chhor Divas, or Diwali, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures People decorate their houses with lanterns and lights as they celebrate the annual Hindu festival of Diwal in Mumbai, India Reuters Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Devotees light candles at a Gurdwara, or Sikh temple, during celebrations to mark Bandi Chhorh Divas, which coincides with the Hindu festival of Diwali, in Chandigarh, India Reuters Diwali 2016 - In Pictures A girl holds a fire cracker celebrating the annual festival of Diwali Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures A man and his daughter hold fire cracker as Indians celebrate the annual festival of Diwali Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Diwali, the Festival of Lights, marks victory over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu god Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures EPA Diwali 2016 - In Pictures EPA Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Getty Diwali 2016 - In Pictures A life-sized photo of Late Pramukh Swami is kept in front of an idol of Lord Swaminarayan at the illuminated Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar Diwali 2016 - In Pictures Indian volunteer light 'diyas' or oil lamps in the shape of a "Jai Hind" - victory to India - to support the Indian Army during celebrations of Diwali, the Festival of Lights in Amritsar ge The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London will host a two-day festival celebration of Diwali. Thousands are expected to arrive at the temple to participate in the puja (prayer ritual) and watch a fireworks display, IB Times reported. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The United States has reassured Japan and South Korea it spolicy seeking North Korean nuclear disarmament remains unchanged, after its top intelligence official called it a "lost cause". James Clapper, US Director of National Intelligence, suggested Washington's policy of making any talks with Pyongyang conditional on the country making a tangible commitment towards denuclearisation was based on wishful thinking. "The notion of getting the North Koreans to denuclearise is probably a lost cause," he told the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank in New York on Tuesday. Inside the daily life in North Korea Show all 19 1 /19 Inside the daily life in North Korea Inside the daily life in North Korea People reading a newspaper at the metro station Inside the daily life in North Korea Thoughts of the leaders on the tram. They have about a dozen of these on every tram, all with different thoughts Inside the daily life in North Korea Young people training for a big upcoming festival Inside the daily life in North Korea People at the Pyongyang's annual marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea Many stars on one of the trolleys in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea An intimidating poster in a primary school in North Korea. Inside the daily life in North Korea Solar panels installed on a street lamp. Inside the daily life in North Korea A poster on the window next to one of the venues we visited in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Kids playing football next to the Arch of Triumph. After a while tourists were allowed to join, so some of us did Inside the daily life in North Korea Class in an educational center in Pyongyang (where people over 17 years old can attend any classes they choose after school, for free) Inside the daily life in North Korea People waving at me during the Pyongyang marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea People having a great time dancing at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea A metro driver in a metro station in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Fireworks to mark the birthday of the Eternal President Kim Il Sung on our last night in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea My wonderful tour guide at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea One of the parks in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea A person rowing some boats for the day at a river in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea The National War Museum Inside the daily life in North Korea Public park in Pyongyang However, US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken took issue with his view. "Our policy has not changed," he told reporters at a joint news conference in Tokyo, after a trilateral meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts. "We will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state, we will not accept North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons. Period." The threat from North Korea is growing "more acute by the day" as the country ramps up its missile and nuclear tests, he added. "We are focused on increasing the pressure on North Korea with one purpose: To bring it back to the table to negotiate in good faith denuclearisation. That is the objective." Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed to work together to put more pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes. North Korea carries out fifth nuclear test "We reaffirmed the necessity to increase pressure against North Korea to have it give up its nuclear and missile development and realise the denuclearisation of the peninsula," Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama said on Thursday. Agreeing with Mr Blinken, Mr Sugiyama said the three countries "are closely cooperating" to implement existing UN Security Council sanction resolutions on Pyongyang and adopt a new sanction "that is meaningful." The Security Council is currently discussing a new resolution to punish North Korea over its fifth nuclear test in September - having already imposed tough economic measures after a fourth test in January. North Korea has insisted it will never give up its nuclear weapons and declared itself a "nucler state" in its 2012 constitution. One of the government's key policies, byungjin, calls for developing a nuclear arsenal even as it builds its domestic economy. Pyongyang regularly makes atomic threats and recently warned it would reduce Seoul and Washington to "a heap of ashes through a Korean-style pre-emptive nuclear strike" it if detected any sign of aggression. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A mentally ill man in Pakistan is set to be executed in a sentencing deemed "appalling" by human rights experts. Pakistans interior ministry handed down a so-called "black warrant" confirming that it plans to hang Imdad Ali - who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia - on November 2. Mr Imdad, 50, was sentenced to death in 2008 after he allegedly murdered a religious teacher six years earlier. A series of medical assessments carried out since then have confirmed his illness, with one doctor describing him as insane and saying that his condition is chronic and disabling. Mr Imdad was originally sentenced to hang in September, but received a last minute stay of execution by the Supreme Court, which in turn expired last week. Pakistans Supreme Court has since dismissed an appeal by Mr Alis lawyers, commenting that schizophrenia is not a mental disorder. The execution of mentally ill people is prohibited under Pakistani and international law and both UN human rights experts and Pakistani psychiatrists have urged the country's authorities to halt Mr Ali's execution. Under international law, the president has a duty to review death penalty cases and more than 20,000 people are said to have signed a petition calling on Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain to grant Mr Ali mercy. International human rights organisation Reprieve has said Mr Ali's execution will be an "indelible stain on Pakistan's reputation" and called on the president to pardon him. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Reprieve's director Maya Foa said: Its appalling that the Pakistani authorities are pushing ahead with their plans to execute Imdad. "Experts agree that Imdad is severely mentally ill - meaning his hanging would be a grave breach of Pakistani and international law and an indelible stain on Pakistans reputation. "It is the president of Pakistans constitutional duty to review death penalty cases and to use his power to grant mercy in cases such as Imdads, where not to do so would result in a gross, irreparable miscarriage of justice. "The president must use his power to pardon Imdad and prevent this outrage from going ahead. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A magistrate in a Western Australia court has advised a young offender to be more like rapper 50 Cent. Dean Potter was sentencing the 16-year-old Indigenous Australian for theft charges in Geraldton, 260 miles north of Perth, but said he wanted him to achieve his full potential. Mr Potter told the teenager: Like you, 50 Cent came from the most tragic, traumatic circumstances. He was able to rise above them through sheer hard work and dedication. Recommended Read more Indigenous Australians the most ancient civilisation on Earth "I think you have the potential to do the same and avoid a life in that criminal justice system." 50 Cent, a New York rapper, overcame a tumultuous early life to find success through music. His mother, a drug dealer, died when he was eight and he went on to sell drugs himself through his youth. He was shot nine times in 2000 but went on to have a successful music career after Eminem heard one of his records. Mr Potter told the teenager that if he ended up in the criminal justice system, he would find it harder to turn his life around. "You don't want to be part of the problem, you want to be part of the solution. Mr Potter said, ABC reported. "In 10 years I want to look you up and see your successes." Referencing the massive social problems faced by Indigenous Australians, the judge added: "If people were able to walk a mile in your shoes, I think they'd be as astounded by you as I am." 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' Show all 14 1 /14 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337814.bin AP 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337861.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337860.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337859.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337857.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337855.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337854.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337853.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337852.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337851.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337849.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337848.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337847.bin Getty Images 50 Cent: 'I still have passion for music' 337846.bin Getty Images The teenager, who faced 49 theft and burglary charges, received a six-month intensive supervision order and 40 hours of community service for 14 of the counts. Mr Potter said the boys mother would sufficiently punish him for the rest. Australias Indigenous people are vastly over represented in the countrys prisons. Despite making up just 2.5 per cent of the general population, Indigenous people made up 27 per cent of the prison population in 2015. In addition, Indigenous children and teenagers are 24 times more likely to be jailed than non-indigenous youngsters, and make up 50 per cent of the juvenile detention population. Indigenous women are 30 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous women. The problem has reached such crisis proportions that in October the Australian government commissioned an inquiry into the trends, committing 159 million to help fight the causes of the issue. The decision was welcomed by the Law Council of Australia. For far too long Australia has failed to address Indigenous incarceration with sufficient urgency, Council President Stuart Clark told Pro Bono Australia. As a result we have seen Indigenous imprisonment rates skyrocket. Twenty-five years ago Indigenous peoples were being imprisoned at seven times the rate of the broader population, today its 14 times. This is nothing short of a national catastrophe. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A British historian, noted for his biographies of Adolf Hitler, has described the Brexit vote along with a rise in populist far-right groups across Europe as extremely worrying. Sir Ian Kershaw, whose work chiefly focuses on the social history of 20th Century Germany, warned that democracy has deteriorated on every level across the continent since 2014, and not just with Russia. He told AFP: Brexit, the rise of the far right, xenophobia and racism... are all extremely worrying to say the least, and naturally make one think back to the pre-war period. The historian, who voted to remain in the European Union in June, said it was wrong to draw direct parallels between the current climate and "the dark ages of the 1930s [Germany]", but did say support for populist political groups echoes that period, with an antipathy towards outsiders now directed at Islam and migrants arriving from beyond Europe. British historian Sir Ian Kershaw (Getty Images ) (Getty Images) Police in England and Wales recorded a sharp increase in the number of racially or religiously aggravated crimes following the EU referendum. In July 2016, police recorded a 41 per cent increase compared to the same month the year before, according to a Home Office report. The Independent was given access to a database of more than 500 racist incidents compiled in the weeks since the EU referendum. These included assaults, arson attacks and dog excrement being thrown at doors or shoved through letter boxes. Concerns have also risen after a number of far-right populist parties have garnered increasing support across Europe, with some even topping election voting rounds this year - their backing spurred by popular fears over immigration and terrorism. In April, Austrias far-right Freedom Party candidate, Norbert Hofer, who has called for a burqa ban, came top in the first round of the countrys presidential elections with 36 per cent of the vote. In France, the Front National party have been gaining ground, with the partys leader, Marine Le Pen - known for her hard line conservative stances - promising a referendum on Frances EU membership. And in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkels party, the Christian Democrats, suffered badly in recent regional elections, falling behind the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. But Sir Ian, whose two-part biography of Hitler, "Hubris" and "Nemesis", was an international bestseller, insisted that despite some support for populist right-wing parties, drawing direct comparisons with the rise of fascism in 1930s Germany was off the mark. 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 "I don't think we are returning to the dark ages of the 1930s because there are big differences as well as superficial similarities," Sir Ian insisted, saying the greatest difference between then and now was that Germany is currently a rich and stable beacon of social democratic values, rather than a country "looking for revenge for [the Treaty of] Versailles". "It is now probably the most pacific nation in the whole of Europe," he said. "Second, we now have a continent of democracies, admittedly flaky in parts when you look at Hungary and Poland," Dr Kershaw said. "While in the 1930s there were lots of authoritarian states and democracy was very much a contested system." Sir Ian also credited the EU with keeping the peace. "For all its weaknesses, the EU has got Europeans working through cooperation and talking rather than immediately resorting to threats. "Those patterns of doing things through negotiation developed by the EU have put us in a better place to withstand the sort of pressures Europe experienced in the 1930s." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Justin Trudeau was due to arrive in Brussels today to sign a new trade deal between Canada and the EU. But the Canadian Prime Minister has cancelled his trip after a small region in Belgium rejected the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, known as Ceta. Earlier this week Belgium said it could not give its assent to the deal without the backing of the French-speaking Wallonia region, which is smaller than Wales and home to just 3.5 million people. Talks to save the agreement, which has taken seven years to negotiate, are believed to be underway this morning after progress was made yesterday in meetings between Belgians national government and regional leaders. Canada remains ready to sign this important agreement when Europe is ready, a spokesperson for Chrystia Freeland, Canadas minister for international trade, told Radio Canada. Politicians in Wallonia voted 46 to 16 against the deal because of fears local workers will be laid off if the agreement leads to cheaper farming and industrial imports. The deals proponents say it would yield billions in added trade through customs and tariff cuts and other measures to lower barriers to commerce. Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland with European Parliament President Martin Schulz at the European parliament in Brussels (EPA) Mr Trudeau and his delegates were supposed to attend a special summit to sign the agreement, but decided not to come at the last moment due to delays caused by Wallonias refusal to sign. A new date has not yet been set, according to The Guardian. Yesterday EU president Donald Tusk indicated Belgium had made progress in lifting Wallonias veto and said he was hopeful the summit would still be possible. But Rudy Demotte, leader of the Wallonia-Brussels federation, said: we still need a bit of time for some verification and political contacts to see if the conditions are respected and if the texts match legally what we want to express politically. 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 Europe's failure to sign Ceta was highlighted during the UK's EU referendum campaign as one reason Britain would be better off outside the union. But it has also been underlined as a sign that the UK will have difficulty organising its own free trade deal with the EU if it leaves the single market after Brexit talks. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Belgium has reached an agreement with its regional powers to back a landmark free trade deal between the EU and Canada. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) could be signed within days if adjustments made by Belgium are approved by the other 27 EU nations. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was supposed to sign the agreement today at a summit in Brussels, but cancelled his trip after the small Belgian region of Wallonia stalled the negotiation process by rejecting the deal. Belgian agreement on Ceta. All parliaments are now able to approve by tomorrow at midnight. Important step for EU and Canada, tweeted Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, said he welcomed the news, but would only contact Mr Trudeau once all procedures are finalised for EU signing Ceta. Belgium was not able give its assent to the deal, which has taken seven years to negotiate, without the backing of the French-speaking Wallonia region. Wallonia, which is smaller than Wales and home to just 3.5 million people, voted 46 to 16 against the deal because of fears local workers would be laid off if the agreement leads to cheaper farming and industrial imports. The deals proponents say it would yield billions in added trade through customs and tariff cuts and other measures to lower barriers to commerce. Paul Magnette, the president of Wallonia, said he was sorry he made Canada and Europe wait, but insisted what we achieved here is important. We always fought for treaties that reinforced the social and environmental standards, protect the public services and that there is no private arbitration, he told reporters. All this is achieved as of now. I am sorry for all the other Europeans we made wait and for our Canadian partners. But if we took a bit of time, what we achieved here is important, not only for Wallonia but for all Europeans, said Mr Magnette. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Alex Lawrence, the spokesman for Canadas trade minister, said hours before that the country was prepared to sign the deal whenever Europe is ready. And Mr Trudeau told the Canadian Parliament: We are confident that in the coming days we will see a positive outcome for this historic deal. Europes failure to sign Ceta was highlighted during the UKs EU referendum campaign as one reason Britain would be better off outside the union. But it has also been underlined as a sign that the UK will have difficulty organising its own free trade deal with the EU if it leaves the single market after Brexit talks. Russian publicist: Trust towards Russia decreased in Armenia (video) According to the recent research, the confidence of Armenia towards Russia has decreased by 17 percent, told today Denis Dvornikov, the Russian publicist, member of the Russian Association of International Law in the interview with journalists, noting that he is worried about that number. According to Dvornikov, especially the mistakes of the Russian diplomacy after the April war resulted in that reduction. I think Rogozin earned 10 out of that 17percent with his statement that Russia will continue selling arms to Azerbaijan, and it is normal. If the Russian diplomacy had a little empathy, other thoughts would be voiced, he noted. The Russian publicist noted, that another factors have also impacted the lack of trust in our country towards Russia: The arrest of Levon Hayrapetyan; the Russian law enforcement bodies havent given any clear explanation about this till now. Marat Galustyans arrest in Baku, he has Armenian origin, but he is a citizen of Russia, he noted. According to the publicist, though Russian diplomacy is solid, it is flexible and it is possible to influence it. He thinks that the Armenian community in Russia must take steps: The impact of the Armenian factor is minimal in Russia, it is necessary to increase the political influence and raise the Armenian voice. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An international criminal ring using trucks laden with oranges to smuggle cannabis into the UK has been shut down by Spanish police. Officers arrested 18 people and seized 2,450 kilograms of hashish, 105 kilograms of marijuana and 14,000 euros in cash plus 21 tonnes of oranges, police said. The gang had created two companies that imported and exported citrus fruit from Spain to the UK as a means of concealing their illegal activities. The drugs were vacuum-packed and then hidden among the crates of oranges, meaning they were difficult for sniffer dogs to detect. The gang's downfall came when a police patrol car intercepted one of its vans. The driver fled and police found 1,034 kilograms of hashish in 32 orange crates stowed in the back of the lorry. Later police managed to trace the identity of the driver, which then led to the arrests of his fellow gang members. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The criminal ring consisted of eight people who handled logistics, two truck drivers, two business managers, two gunmen and four financial ringleaders, police said. The 18 arrested are of French, Portuguese, Algerian, Paraguayan and Spanish descent and have been charged with drug trafficking, membership of a criminal organisation and money laundering. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Global warming is on track to disrupt the Mediterranean region more than any droughts or heatwaves in the past 10,000 years, turning parts of southern Europe into desert by the end of the century, scientists said on Thursday. Average temperatures in the region have already risen by 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 Fahrenheit) since the late 19th century, well above the world average of 0.85C (1.5F), according to the study led by France's Aix-Marseille University. Man-made climate change will likely alter ecosystems in the Mediterranean in a way that is without precedent in the past 10,000 years unless governments quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the researchers wrote in the journal Science. What's the effect of global warming on our seasons? With unchecked warming, deserts would expand in southern Spain and Portugal, northern parts of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and other regions including Sicily, southern Turkey and parts of Syria, it showed. And it would dramatically shift vegetation in the region, famed for umbrella pines, olive groves, and holm oaks. Last year, almost 200 governments agreed in Paris to limit the rise in average world surface temperatures to well below 2C above pre-industrial times, ideally 1.5C. Governments will meet in Morocco next month to review the accord. Only the 1.5C global goal would ensure Mediterranean ecosystems stay within bounds of the past 10,000 years, the study said. Debate about cutting emissions is urgent for such sensitive regions, lead author Joel Guiot of Aix-Marseille University told Reuters. Climate change protests around the world Show all 25 1 /25 Climate change protests around the world Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Rome, Italy Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators gather in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world People hold hands to form a human chain during a gathering called by ecologist organisations in Marseille, southern France, to protest against global warming a day ahead of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) held in Paris Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during protests on Place de la Republique, ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during a protest on Place de la Republique ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France Climate change protests around the world A group of people perform during a rally to promote climate protection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Climate change protests around the world A protester sits next to his sign that reads 'Monsanto the Devil Incorporated ' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Environmentalists dance during a protest near the Place de la Republique after the cancellation of a planned climate march following shootings in the French capital, ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21), in Paris, France Reuters Climate change protests around the world People protest next to characters dressed as wild animals during a march against climate change near the Monument to the Revolution, in Mexico City AP Climate change protests around the world Protesters carries a banner while they take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People take part in a protest about climate change around New York City Hall at lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Piazza Castello, Turin, Italy Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a globe during a protest for the global climate day in Lugano, Switzerland Climate change protests around the world Yemenis hold banners as they participate in the Global March for Climate in the old city of Sanaia, Yemen Climate change protests around the world Protesters dressed as Santa Claus take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People gather at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, during the Global Climate March to demand action on climate change telling world leaders on the eve of a crunch UN summit that there is "no planet B". From Sydney to London, humid Rio to chilly New York, at least 683,000 hit the streets in 2,300 events across 175 countries at the weekend, co-organiser and campaign group Avaaz said, calling it the largest number of people to protest over climate change all at once Getty Images Climate change protests around the world Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators participate in the Global March for Climate in Athens, Greece Climate change protests around the world A man wearing a Bernie Sanders mask leads hundreds of demonstrators who marched near City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Patricia Hauser joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a poster of a sick Earth as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators march around City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world A demonstrator holds cut-out of US Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world George Patten holds a sign that reads 'No Fracking Ever!' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Gabrielle Sosa wears 'Rising Sea Levels' sign as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA The Mediterranean is sensitive to global warming partly because Atlantic storms are likely to shift northwards, meaning more sun and less rain. The scientists reconstructed past climates by studying pollen in layers of mud in lakes. More oak pollen, for instance, suggested humid and temperate climates while more fir and spruce pollen indicated chillier conditions, he said. In history, some natural hot periods and droughts have coincided with social upheaval in the Mediterranean region, such as around 1400 when many people in the Ottoman Empire abandoned unproductive farms to become nomads. Last year, a study in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences said there was evidence that man-made climate change had added to a 2007-10 drought in Syria that was a contributing factor to the civil war. And Thursday's research did not consider other changes in farming that can hasten desertification, such as around Almeria in southern Spain. Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An Irishman and his family on a day out at the beach stumbled across a strange metallic object that proved to contain an estimated 4.4 million of cocaine. Michael Vaughan discovered the torpedo type object while flying kites on Kilmacreehy beach, County Clare, on the western coast of Ireland in late August. After inspecting the tube, which was welded shut and had a concrete cap on each end, Mr Vaughan and his family abandoned it on the beach because it was too heavy to move. Many other beachgoers came across it over the following weeks but it was left alone until customs officials acted on a tip-off and seized it on Monday. The cocaine inside the container (L) and the container as on the beach ( Irish Revenue Customs Service/PA) (Irish Revenue Customs Service/PA Wire) Acting on a report from a member of the public, Revenue Customs Officers from the South West region discovered a suspicious item on the shore near Liscannor, County Clare, officials said in a statement. The torpedo type device was found to contain approximately 75 kilograms of cocaine. The concealment may have been attached below the waterline of a cargo ship or other maritime vessel. However, it is not possible at this stage to say either where the drugs originated, or their intended destination. Smugglers hide drugs in food Show all 11 1 /11 Smugglers hide drugs in food Smugglers hide drugs in food Methamphetamine in chocolate bar This July 2012 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows methamphetamine disguised as a chocolate candy bar in Los Angeles. Officials said a California man tried to smuggle more than 4 pounds of methamphetamine out of the country disguised as 45 individually wrapped chocolate bars at Los Angeles International Airport. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in coffee This October 2015 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows a packet of cocaine hidden in a bag of ground coffee in Miami. Three bags of roasted, ground coffee arriving at Miami International Airport in a package from Guatemala in October were actually filled with more than 3 pounds of heroin, customs officials said. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in powdered milk This November 2014 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows bags of powdered dairy product that contained cocaine in New York. A woman arriving at Kennedy International Airport in New York from Guyana was found with six bags of milk and custard powder that were filled with cocaine. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in custard powder This November 2014 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows bags, marked as holding powdered dairy products, that hold cocaine in New York. A woman arriving at Kennedy International Airport in New York from Guyana was found with six bags of milk and custard powder that were filled with cocaine. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in various foods This October 2015 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows an array of food products concealing cocaine in Newark, N.J. A U.S. citizen arriving from Peru at Newark Liberty International Airport in October had an assortment of food in his luggage that customs officials found also included 10 pounds of cocaine. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in vanilla wafers This April 2015 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows vanilla wafers filled with cocaine in Houston. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in vanilla wafers A Guatemalan citizen arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport from Guatemala City in April with packages of vanilla wafers. But when customs officials opened them up, they said they found they were filled with cocaine instead of cream filling. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Liquid cocaine in rum bottles This December 2014 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows rum bottles filled with liquid cocaine in New York. A man arriving from Guyana at Kennedy International Airport in New York was found to be carrying the bottles that customs officials said were filled with 18 pounds worth of liquid cocaine. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine paste in chocolate syrup This February 2012 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows plastic packets of chocolate syrup and salad dressing concealing cocaine paste in Los Angeles. A mother and daughter traveling from Spain were carrying bags of condiments that customs officials at Los Angeles International Airport decided felt unusually thick. They opened it up to find a plastic bag with cocaine paste placed inside, and then found another syrup packet in their checked-in luggage that contained more cocaine paste. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Opium in cinnamon packets This June 2012 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows packets of opium covered in cinnamon hidden inside a rice cooker in Los Angeles. Officials found the rice cooker stuffed with 3 pounds' worth of black opium, which had been coated in cinnamon and wrapped in plastic, being transported by a man arriving at Los Angeles International Airport from Iran. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in frozen meat This undated photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in October 2015 shows a block of cocaine concealed in a package of frozen meat in New York. A man arrived at Kennedy International Airport from Trinidad with three large packages of frozen meat in his suitcase. AP The public are asked not to put themselves in danger by approaching or interfering with suspicious items such as this. An investigation has now been opened into the matter. For years, the rugged and sparsely patrolled coast of Ireland has served as a drop-off point for drug smugglers. Much of the merchandise is delivered from Latin America and often intended for UK distribution. Mr Vaughan told the Irish Times he was absolutely dumb-founded to hear what the object he found contained. It was the most inconspicuous item. Not for a second did we did think it could contain that amount of drugs or any drugs at all, he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A 45-year-old Tunisian man has died in hospital after setting himself on fire at a petrol station in Switzerland, according Swiss media. The man was reportedly in the country illegally and was facing deportation. He poured petrol over himself at a gas station before walking 50 metres towards a bus stop, where he doused more petrol over himself and used a lighter to set himself on fire. Two people passing by put out the flames using blankets and a fire extinguisher from the petrol station. He was transported by helicopter to University Hospital Zurich on Wednesday, but later died from his injuries. Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The Solidarity With Refugees group said Saturdays protest aimed to show our Government and the world that Britain is ready to welcome more refugees. Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis People march through central London as they take part in a protest rally organised by Solidarity with Refugees in a bid to urge the Government to take more action on the migrant crisis Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The protest comes days before world leaders meet to discuss crisis at UN General Assembly Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Demonstrators made their way from Park Lane to Parliament Square in London on Saturday afternoon Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Marchers chanted refugees are welcome here and waved banners reading no-one is illegal and lets help people Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The march was supported by charities and groups including the Red Cross, Asylum Aid, Save the Children, Hope Not Hate, Oxfam and the UN Refugee Agency Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis In the wake of Alans death, David Cameron pledged to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK over the coming five years but there have been additional calls to re-home those who have already reached Europe, as well as asylum seekers coming from other conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan Rex Features No one else was harmed during the incident and police are investigating the motives and circumstances around the 45-year-old's death. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Dozens of refugees remain in and around the Jungle and scores more are thought to have dispersed into other parts of Calais, sparking fears of another Jungle. Following the authorities announcement on Wednesday evening that the closure of the camp had been a success, more than 1,000 refugees, including more than 100 children, were stranded around the burnt-down shantytown and faced the prospect of having nowhere safe to sleep. By Thursday evening aid workers and charities on the ground reported that more than 60 refugees remained in and around the camp, including around 30 children, who faced the prospect of spending a second night sleeping outside. Scores of refugees are also said to have dispersed into Calais on Wednesday, potentially to other settlements in the area, after buses that had reportedly been promised by the French authorities failed to turn up following the closure of the Jungle. Migrants with their belongs gather on a street and protect themselves from the cold as they prepare to spend the night after the dismantlement of the "Jungle" camp in Calais, (Reuters) On Wednesday night shelter was organised by volunteers in the registration warehouse and a nearby school for many of the children, but around 20 slept outside along with dozens of adults. The container camp where unaccompanied minors had been promised shelter was pronounced full, and the situation remained the same on Thursday evening. Rowan Farrell, co-founder of charity Refugee Info Bus, told The Independent the lack of provision for the remaining refugees risked the start of another camp because people were being left with little choice but to remain there. Mr Farrell said: We just feel like were right back at square one. There are 60 people its like the start of the next Jungle. Recommended Read more Hundreds of children remain unaccounted for despite Jungle closure Ive just been round talking to people and most of them want to get on a bus to go to the accommodation centres in France, which is what they were told theyd be able to do. Theyre not looking to set up another Jungle to start for England. But right now they have little choice. Thousands and thousands of people have gone to reception centres, which were very happy about. But another 60 people on the street, it just feels like the start of something else. Zero has been put in place by the French Government for the people still sitting here. Mr Farrell added that several dozen minors remained outside because they were not being granted access to the designated container camp due to not having wristbands, and that the lack of information has meant youth services on the ground are still struggling to grasp the system of registering children. He said: Some have wristbands, some dont, some are different colours. Some are allowed into the containers, some cant. Its very confusing. Dorothy Sang, of Save the Children, who was at the Jungle on Thursday evening, told The Independent the French authorities had not delivered on their word to transport all willing refugees to reception centres. She said: We were told at around midday that a bus would come. Its now 6pm and theres no sign of a bus and we have no information. Calais refugee camp evacuation Show all 15 1 /15 Calais refugee camp evacuation Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees run past a fire in the makeshift migrant camp known as 'the jungle' in Calais, October 2016 AP Calais refugee camp evacuation French authorities say the closure of the slum-like camp in Calais will last approximately a week in what they describe as a "humanitarian" operation, October 2016 AP Calais refugee camp evacuation A painted message saying 'Bye Jungle' on a tent in the camp in Calais, October 2016 Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees set rubbish bins alight as a protest in the makeshift camp 'the Jungle' in Calais, France, October 2016 EPA Calais refugee camp evacuation French riot police advance through tear gas and smoke from a fire to disperse refugees throwing stones and lighting fires at the Jungle migrant camp Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation French CRS riot police secure an area on the eve of the evacuation and transfer of refugees to reception centers in France Reuters Calais refugee camp evacuation Journalists run away from smoke during clashes near a makeshift refugee camp known as 'the jungle' in Calais AP Calais refugee camp evacuation French CRS riot police secure an area on the eve of the evacuation and transfer of refugees to reception centers in Franc Reuters Calais refugee camp evacuation Migrants queue for transportation by bus to reception centres across France, from the 'Jungle' refugee camp in Calais Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees line-up to register at a processing centre in the 'jungle' near Calais, northern France, as the mass exodus from the migrant camp begins PA wire Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees 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 Calais refugee camp evacuation French far-right Front National (FN) party's member of parliament Marion Marechal-Le Pen (L) delivers a speech next to a banner reading "They arrive in Vaucluse, no migrants in our place" as she attends a rally against the hosting of refugees in La Tour d'Aigues Getty Images Calais refugee camp evacuation French police forces secure the area near the 'Jungle' refugee camp in Calais Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees carry their belongings and transfer to reception centers in France The police are slowly moving us up the road. And once again were faced with the prospect of children having nowhere to sleep tonight, and its really freezing tonight. Clare Mosely, founder of charity Care4Calais, also on the ground, told The Independent: Theyve said no more registration. Riot police are just telling us to go. These kids have nowhere to sleep tonight. We have no idea what to do. Several children were seen being escorted away by French police earlier in the day after they were allegedly stopped for not being registered. The Refugee Youth Service later reported that the children were in communication with a Legal Shelter in the camp to try access legal aid. Amber Rudd reminded the French authorities of their duty to properly protect children in the Jungle on Thursday. The Home Secretary spoke to her French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve, according to a Home Office spokesman, to stress the need for children who remain in Calais to be properly protected. The Home Office statement continued: [The Home Secretary] reaffirmed the UKs commitment to working with the French to make sure all minors eligible to come to the UK continue to be transferred as quickly as possible. Any child either not eligible or not in the secure area of the camp should be cared for and safeguarded by the French authorities. We understand specialist facilities have been made available elsewhere in France to ensure this happens. A total of 5,596 people have been evacuated since the operation began on Monday with many being taken away on buses, according to French ministries. At the start of the week Natacha Bouchart, the mayor of Calais, warned that the demolition of the camp was unlikely to mark the end of the issue for the town, which remains on the map as a perceived gateway to Britain for migrants and refugees. The camp itself, now largely burnt down, was said to be almost completely deserted last night, with just a handful of refugees remaining in there. A spokeswoman for the local prefecture said the demolition would be sped up on Thursday with larger machinery moving in. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The UK is deploying hundreds of troops to eastern Europe as part of Natos largest military build-up on Russia's borders since the Cold War. RAF Typhoon aircraft, deployed from RAF Ciningsby, will be sent to Romania for up to four months and 800 personnel will be sent to Estonia, with France and Denmark contributing further troops, the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced on Wednesday. The deployments are part of a Nato initiative to station some 4,000 troops in four new battalions on the Russian boarder. The announcement comes days after a fleet of Russian warships heading to Syria sailed through the English Channel. 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 Soviet-era aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, loaded with fighter jets, reconnaissance and combat helicopters and cruise missiles to bolster Russias bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad, crossed international waters in the North Sea with seven other vessels on Friday. On Wednesday, Russia withdrew its request for warships to refuel at a Spanish port on their way to bomb Syria amid international outrage. It comes amid increasing tensions over Vladimir Putins intervention in Syria, the Ukraine conflict and tit-for-tat sanctions with the EU. Mr Fallon said the deployment to Estonia will include armoured Infantry, equipped with Warrior armoured fighting vehicles, tactical UAVs, and a troop of Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks. The RAF Typhoon fighters will join the Baltic air policing mission and offer support to the Black Sea allies. The Typhoons will be based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase in Romania next year, the Ministry of Defence said. Mr Fallon said: Backed by a rising defence budget this deployment of air, land and sea forces shows that we will continue to play a leading role in NATO, supporting the defence and security of our allies from the north to the south of the alliance. The US, Canada, Germany and other Nato allies have also promised troops for the four battle groups to be stationed to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, with forces ranging from armoured infantry to drones. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the troop contributions to the new 4,000-strong force in the Baltics and eastern Europe were a measured response to what the alliance believes are some 330,000 Russian troops stationed on Russia's western flank near Moscow. Russian warships move through English Channel under Royal Navy watch "This month alone, Russia has deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad and suspended a weapons-grade plutonium agreement with the United States," Stoltenberg said, also accusing Russia of continued support for rebels in Ukraine. NATO's aim is to make good on a July promise by NATO leaders to deter Russia in Europe's ex-Soviet states, after Moscow orchestrated the annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014. US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced a "battle-ready battalion task force" of about 900 soldiers would also be sent to eastern Poland, as well as another, separate force equipped with tanks and other heavy equipment to move across eastern Europe. Additional reporting by Associated Press For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} No Russian warships will be refuelled in Malta on their way to Syria, the country's foreign minister has said, after Russia withdrew its request to refuel at a Spanish port amid international outrage. The battlegroup, which passed through the English Channel last week, was expected to dock in the North African enclave of Cueta on Wednesday to take on supplies. Maltese Foreign Minister George Vella dismissed claims the flotilla was planning to refuel at Malta, though he did not confirm or deny whether Russia made a request to stop, the Times of Malta reports. On Tuesday, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned the Syria-bound ships could be used to target civilians in the besieged city of Aleppo and to launch more air strikes Russian warships move through English Channel under Royal Navy watch However, senior Russian Foreign Ministry official Andrei Kelin dismissed his statement as "absurd". "The concerns are not based on anything as our planes have not come near Aleppo for nine days," he told the RIA news agency. "Our battle group is in the Mediterranean. Our ships have always had a presence there. "Why make some spurious suggestions and then make some political recommendations based on them? It is of course absurd." The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has questioned Russia's statements about a moratorium on bombing Aleppo, saying the city has been hit by strikes since a lull in fighting ended on Saturday. 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 Malta's reaction came after a campaign by activist group Avaaz called on the country to follow Spain in stopping what it called the "Russian death fleet" from docking. A tidal wave of public pressure is spreading across the Mediterranean pushing governments to say no to supplying Russias death-fleet," Christoph Schott, senior campaigner at Avaaz, said. "First Spain and now Malta have recognised that they could be literally fuelling the slaughter of civilians in Aleppo by letting the Russians dock, now Greece and all governments in their path should follow suit. The convoy is expected to continue its journey past Malta, the Greek islands and Cyprus. It is unclear what stops - if any - it will make. The battlegroup includes the Admiral Kuznetsov, Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) battlecruiser, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov destroyer, Severomorsk destroyers and several supply vessels. Amnesty International has urged other countries to refuse any requests for refuelling stops or any other assistance. The groups campaign manager for Syria, Kristyan Benedict said: The Russian militarys record of attacks on schools, hospitals and civilian homes in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria is notorious. "Third-party countries must avoid becoming complicit in any future Russian attacks on Syria carried out in the eastern Mediterranean. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Up to 900 Isis jihadis have been killed in the offensive to retake Mosul, according to the US, as camps around the Iraqi city fill with fleeing civilians. Iraqis who fled their homes expressed joy at escaping Isis's brutal rule as they were given shelter and assistance, in some cases reuniting with relatives they had not seen in more than two years. The offensive, launched on 17 October, is seeing tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north in a bid to retake the last major Iraqi city under Isis control. Dramatic footage shows Elite Iraq forces battle on road to Bartella in fight for Mosul Backed with air and ground support from a US-led coalition, federal forces allied with Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have taken a string of towns and villages in a cautious but steady advance. General Joseph Votel, who heads the US military's Central Command, told AFP that the offensive was inflicting a heavy toll on the jihadis. Just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate they've probably killed about 800-900 Islamic State fighters, he said. There are between 3,500 and 5,000 Isis jihadis in Mosul and up to another 2,000 in the broader area, according to US estimates. The offensive has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, with Iraqi forces later expected to breach city limits and engage the militants in street-to-street fighting. Aid workers have warned of a major humanitarian crisis when fighting begins in earnest for Mosul, which is home to more than a million people, but thousands have already been fleeing surrounding areas. Iraq's ministry of displacement and migration said on Thursday that more than 11,700 people had been displaced since the operation began. In pictures: Mosul offensive Show all 40 1 /40 In pictures: Mosul offensive In pictures: Mosul offensive A doctor carries an Iraqi newborn baby at a hospital in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi girls play at a yard of a school in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017alal Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A woman on crutches who is a relative of men accused of being Islamic State militants is seen at a camp in Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq July 15, 2017. Picture taken July 15, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A displaced girl, who fled from home carries a doll at Hamam al-Alil camp south of Mosul, Iraq July 13, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi federal police members and civilians celebrate in the Old City of Mosul on 9 July 2017 after the government's announcement of the "liberation" of the embattled city. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said he was in "liberated" Mosul to congratulate "the heroic fighters and the Iraqi people on the achievement of the major victory" AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken on 9 July 2017, shows a general view of the destruction in Mosul's Old City. Iraq will announce imminently a final victory in the nearly nine-month offensive to retake Mosul from jihadists, a US general said Saturday, as celebrations broke out among police forces in the city. AFP In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of the Iraqi federal police raise the victory gesture as they ride on a humvee while advancing through the Old City of Mosul on 28 June 2017, as the offensive continues to retake the last district held by Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Smoke billows as Iraqi forces advance through the Old City of Mosul on 26 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district held by the Islamic State (IS) group. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi man wearing the green scarf of the Shi'ite faith kisses an Iraqi Army soldier on safely reaching the Iraqi forces position as Iraqi civilians flee the Old City of west Mosul where heavy fighting continues on 23 June 2017. Iraqi forces continue to encounter stiff resistance with improvised explosive devices, car bombs, heavy mortar fire and snipers hampering their advance. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken from the inside of an Iraqi forces armoured vehicle shows residents walking through a damaged street as troops advance towards Mosul's Old City on 18 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district still held by the Islamic State (IS) group. Military commanders told AFP the assault had begun at dawn after overnight air strikes by the US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces. They said the jihadists were putting up fierce resistance. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi Army soldiers advance in a destroyed street after an Iraqi forces airstrike targeted an Islamic State sniper position 17 June 2017 in al-Shifa, the last district of west Mosul under Islamic State control. IS snipers, as well as car and suicide bomb attacks continue to hinder the Iraqi forces efforts to retake the final district. A series of airstrikes by Iraqi helicopter gunships attempted to hit multiple Islamic State sniper positions in al-Shifa. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier frisks a displaced Iraqi man at a temporary camp in the compound of the closed Nineveh International Hotel in Mosul on 16 June 2017 which was recovered by Iraqi troops from Islamic State group fighters earlier in the year. A screening centre set up in the compound's fairgrounds sees a constant stream of Iraqis fleeing the battle for Mosul, awaiting their turn to be checked by the Iraqi forces who are searching for suspected Islamic State (IS) group members. The small fairground lies at the end of a pontoon bridge across the Tigris recently opened to civilians that is the only physical link between the two banks of the river. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis staying at the al-Khazir camp swim in a river near the camp for internally displaced people, located between Arbil and Mosul on 11 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi government forces drive on a road leading to Tal Afar on 9 June 2017, during ongoing battles to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi policeman carries a poster bearing an image of Mosul's iconic leaning minaret, known as the "Hadba" (Hunchback), on 22 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis stand in line to receive food aid in western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood on 7 June 2017, during ongoing battles as Iraqi forces try to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. Living conditions in Mosul have again deteriorated since the start of the Iraqi government's offensive on the city in October in which they retook a large part of the west of the city. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced Iraqis carry lightbulbs and sacks as they evacuate from western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood as government forces advance in the area during their ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS) group fighters on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) flashes the victory gesture as he patrols in western Mosul's al-Islah al-Zaraye neighbourhood on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi army soldiers from the 9th armoured division on a truck flash the sign of victory as they drive back from Mosul to the town of Qaraqosh (also known as Hamdaniya) Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of Iraqi forces flash the sign of victory on their vehicle as they advance towards Hammam al-Alil area south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi security forces gestures in Hammam al-Alil, south of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi children, one flashing the sign of victory, greet Iraqi army's soldiers from the 9th armoured division in the area of Ali Rash, adjacent to the eastern Al-Intissar neighbourhood of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Peshmerga forces look at a tunnel used by Islamic State militants near the town of Bashiqa, east of Mosul, during an operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier takes a photograph with his phone as his comrade stands next to a detained man, whom the Iraqi army soldiers accused of being an Islamic State fighter, who was fleeing with his family in the Intisar disrict of eastern Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iranian Kurdish female members of the Freedom Party of Kurdistan (PAK) hold a position in an area near the town of Bashiqa, some 25 kilometres north east of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families, who fled their homes in Hamam al-Alil, gather on the outskirts of their town Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced people walk past a checkpoint near Qayara, south of Mosul, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families who were displaced by the ongoing operation by Iraqi forces against jihadists of the Islamic State group to retake the city of Mosul, are seen gathering in an area near Qayyarah In pictures: Mosul offensive A boy who just fled Abu Jarbuah village is seen with his family at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi child eats a pomegranate upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive People who just fled Abu Jarbuah village sit as they eat at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A couple who just fled Abu Jarbuah village are escorted by Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Women carry a boy over a wall as civilians flee their houses in the village of Tob Zawa, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier and a civilian ride a motorbike as smoke rises behind them, on the road between Qayyarah and Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces, wearing a skull mask, waits at a checkpoint for people fleeing the main hub city of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier sits at a checkpoint in an area near Qayyarah Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi men prepare food portions for Iraqi forces deployed in areas south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi forces celebrate upon the arrival of vehicles bringing food to them Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi childen smoke cigarettes upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces distributes drinks to children in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty There's been quite a dramatic upturn in the last few days. As the Iraqi troops get closer to Mosul, more people are getting displaced, there are more populated areas, said Karl Schembri, regional media adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council. At a camp in Khazir, about mid-way between Mosul and the Iraqi Kurdish capital Irbil, Massud Ismail Hassan peered through a chainlink fence, looking for family members as Peshmerga fighters registered the displaced. Once all these procedures are finished we will be able to give them food and drink and blankets we brought with us, he said. Other families had already found each other, and tearful relatives clutched hands through the links of the fence. Saddam Dahham, who lived under Isis control in a village near Mosul for more than two years, fled to Khazir with his wife and their three children. We were not allowed to smoke, to use phones, not allowed to watch TV and we had to let our beards grow long, the 36-year-old said. One of the first things he did after arriving at the camp was joyfully shave the heavy thing dangling from my chin. I'm finally going to resume a normal life, the former lorry driver said. Iraqi families, who were displaced by the ongoing operation by Iraqi forces against jihadis of the Islamic State group (Getty) Mr Schembri said the Norwegian Refugee Council, other aid agencies and the United Nations were planning for 200,000 people to be displaced in the next few days, though it may not reach that figure. If anything close to 200,000 people are displaced in the immediate future, there will be a major shortage of places in camps. In terms of ... camp facilities, there are only spaces available for 60,000 people, Mr Schembri said. Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Kurdish authorities of arbitrarily detaining fleeing men and boys over 15 for indefinite periods as they checked them for possible ties to Isis. Kurdish authorities are ignoring basic due process guarantees, said Lama Fakih, HRW's deputy Middle East director. No one should be detained unless there is reason to suspect them personally of criminal activity. After seizing control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in mid-2014, Isis declared a cross-border caliphate, imposed its harsh interpretation of Islamic law and committed widespread atrocities. AFP For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Iraqi medics have been trained in mass casualty management in the event of the use of chemical weapons by Isis, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. Around 90 medical professionals were given the training with a focus on procedure during a chemical attack as US-backed Iraqi forces edge ever closer to the Isis-held city of Mosul, the UN body said on Thursday. The group has long been suspected by intelligence services of attempting to make crude chemical weapons across its territory in Iraq and Syria. US-led coalition air strikes in the run up to the Mosul offensive targeted several locations thought to be used as mustard gas production sites. Iraqi troops were issued with gas masks in case of chemical attacks before the operation began in earnest last Monday. They have already come in useful - Isis set oil fields and a sulphur plant south of Mosul alight last week, sending toxic fumes into the atmosphere which left thousands of civilians in need of medical attention. In September, Isis fired a shell at a US military base in Qayyarah, near Mosul, which tested positive for trace amounts of mustard gas - a powerful irritant that targets the skin, eyes and airways and can kill in large enough or highly concentrated amounts. No one was hurt in the attack, but Maj Gen Joseph Dunford said at the time that although Isis chemical weapon capabilities were rudimentary, the incident was a concerning development. In other news in the offensive, more than 10,000 people are now believed to have fled their homes because of the fighting, the WHO and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday. Between 200,000 - 700,000 people in total are expected to be displaced when operation finally reaches Mosul itself, with worst case scenarios predicting 1.5million could be in need of humanitarian assistance. In pictures: Mosul offensive Show all 40 1 /40 In pictures: Mosul offensive In pictures: Mosul offensive A doctor carries an Iraqi newborn baby at a hospital in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi girls play at a yard of a school in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017alal Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A woman on crutches who is a relative of men accused of being Islamic State militants is seen at a camp in Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq July 15, 2017. Picture taken July 15, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A displaced girl, who fled from home carries a doll at Hamam al-Alil camp south of Mosul, Iraq July 13, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi federal police members and civilians celebrate in the Old City of Mosul on 9 July 2017 after the government's announcement of the "liberation" of the embattled city. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said he was in "liberated" Mosul to congratulate "the heroic fighters and the Iraqi people on the achievement of the major victory" AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken on 9 July 2017, shows a general view of the destruction in Mosul's Old City. Iraq will announce imminently a final victory in the nearly nine-month offensive to retake Mosul from jihadists, a US general said Saturday, as celebrations broke out among police forces in the city. AFP In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of the Iraqi federal police raise the victory gesture as they ride on a humvee while advancing through the Old City of Mosul on 28 June 2017, as the offensive continues to retake the last district held by Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Smoke billows as Iraqi forces advance through the Old City of Mosul on 26 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district held by the Islamic State (IS) group. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi man wearing the green scarf of the Shi'ite faith kisses an Iraqi Army soldier on safely reaching the Iraqi forces position as Iraqi civilians flee the Old City of west Mosul where heavy fighting continues on 23 June 2017. Iraqi forces continue to encounter stiff resistance with improvised explosive devices, car bombs, heavy mortar fire and snipers hampering their advance. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken from the inside of an Iraqi forces armoured vehicle shows residents walking through a damaged street as troops advance towards Mosul's Old City on 18 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district still held by the Islamic State (IS) group. Military commanders told AFP the assault had begun at dawn after overnight air strikes by the US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces. They said the jihadists were putting up fierce resistance. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi Army soldiers advance in a destroyed street after an Iraqi forces airstrike targeted an Islamic State sniper position 17 June 2017 in al-Shifa, the last district of west Mosul under Islamic State control. IS snipers, as well as car and suicide bomb attacks continue to hinder the Iraqi forces efforts to retake the final district. A series of airstrikes by Iraqi helicopter gunships attempted to hit multiple Islamic State sniper positions in al-Shifa. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier frisks a displaced Iraqi man at a temporary camp in the compound of the closed Nineveh International Hotel in Mosul on 16 June 2017 which was recovered by Iraqi troops from Islamic State group fighters earlier in the year. A screening centre set up in the compound's fairgrounds sees a constant stream of Iraqis fleeing the battle for Mosul, awaiting their turn to be checked by the Iraqi forces who are searching for suspected Islamic State (IS) group members. The small fairground lies at the end of a pontoon bridge across the Tigris recently opened to civilians that is the only physical link between the two banks of the river. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis staying at the al-Khazir camp swim in a river near the camp for internally displaced people, located between Arbil and Mosul on 11 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi government forces drive on a road leading to Tal Afar on 9 June 2017, during ongoing battles to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi policeman carries a poster bearing an image of Mosul's iconic leaning minaret, known as the "Hadba" (Hunchback), on 22 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis stand in line to receive food aid in western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood on 7 June 2017, during ongoing battles as Iraqi forces try to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. Living conditions in Mosul have again deteriorated since the start of the Iraqi government's offensive on the city in October in which they retook a large part of the west of the city. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced Iraqis carry lightbulbs and sacks as they evacuate from western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood as government forces advance in the area during their ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS) group fighters on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) flashes the victory gesture as he patrols in western Mosul's al-Islah al-Zaraye neighbourhood on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi army soldiers from the 9th armoured division on a truck flash the sign of victory as they drive back from Mosul to the town of Qaraqosh (also known as Hamdaniya) Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of Iraqi forces flash the sign of victory on their vehicle as they advance towards Hammam al-Alil area south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi security forces gestures in Hammam al-Alil, south of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi children, one flashing the sign of victory, greet Iraqi army's soldiers from the 9th armoured division in the area of Ali Rash, adjacent to the eastern Al-Intissar neighbourhood of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Peshmerga forces look at a tunnel used by Islamic State militants near the town of Bashiqa, east of Mosul, during an operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier takes a photograph with his phone as his comrade stands next to a detained man, whom the Iraqi army soldiers accused of being an Islamic State fighter, who was fleeing with his family in the Intisar disrict of eastern Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iranian Kurdish female members of the Freedom Party of Kurdistan (PAK) hold a position in an area near the town of Bashiqa, some 25 kilometres north east of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families, who fled their homes in Hamam al-Alil, gather on the outskirts of their town Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced people walk past a checkpoint near Qayara, south of Mosul, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families who were displaced by the ongoing operation by Iraqi forces against jihadists of the Islamic State group to retake the city of Mosul, are seen gathering in an area near Qayyarah In pictures: Mosul offensive A boy who just fled Abu Jarbuah village is seen with his family at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi child eats a pomegranate upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive People who just fled Abu Jarbuah village sit as they eat at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A couple who just fled Abu Jarbuah village are escorted by Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Women carry a boy over a wall as civilians flee their houses in the village of Tob Zawa, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier and a civilian ride a motorbike as smoke rises behind them, on the road between Qayyarah and Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces, wearing a skull mask, waits at a checkpoint for people fleeing the main hub city of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier sits at a checkpoint in an area near Qayyarah Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi men prepare food portions for Iraqi forces deployed in areas south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi forces celebrate upon the arrival of vehicles bringing food to them Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi childen smoke cigarettes upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces distributes drinks to children in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty The UN and aid groups on the ground have warned for months that they are underfunded and underprepared to deal with a crisis of that magnitude. Shipments containing thousands of UN refugee agency tents, blankets and other aid left Dubai on Thursday destined for northern Iraq, with hopes it can reach those in need as soon as Friday. Fighting for control of Mosul - captured by Isis in 2014 - is expected to last weeks, if not months. Dramatic footage shows Elite Iraq forces battle on road to Bartella in fight for Mosul Allied Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Iraqi army troops have made steady progress on three different fronts of the city in the 11-day-old offensive, freeing more than 80 villages under Isis control. In some places US-backed troops are just three miles (five kilometres) away from the city limits, and the sounds of fighting can now be heard inside, residents report. Isis have put up a fierce fight for their last stronghold in Iraq, unleashing vicious counterattacks in other cities and slowing the US-backed coalition down with indiscrimate use of suicide bombers and landmines. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} More than 90 people are thought to have drowned after their unsafe boat was damaged and sunk after leaving Libya for Europe. General Ayoub Gassim, spokesperson for the Libyan navy, said on Thursday that the overcrowded inflatable dinghy carrying 126 people ripped and began taking on water about 26 miles (42 kilometres) off the Libyan coast. Only 29 people were rescued, and the coast guard are still looking for survivors. Three women and a child are among the missing. The smugglers boat left Tajoura in west Libya mostly carrying African nationals before dawn on Wednesday. It sent distress calls at around 3pm, Gen Gassim said a survivor reported, when it encountered high waves which led to the boats side tearing. Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Wednesday that more than 3,800 people have drowned or suffocated in overcrowded boats, mostly on the long journey (370 miles, or 595 kilometres) between Libya or Egypt to Italy. The toll makes 2016 the deadliest year on record for desperate people fleeing war, persecution or poverty in their countries of origin. More than 6,000 refugees saved and nine dead in single day of Mediterranean rescue missions Also on Wednesday, MSF recovered the bodies of 29 people who died in a shallow pool of fuel and seawater in the bottom of another dinghy that had left Libya. Michele Telaro, the field coordinator on the Bourbon Argos, said they were believed to be victims of fuel inhalation. Some survivors were taken to hospital with chemical burns. It took us three hours to retrieve 11 bodies because the mixture of petrol and water is so potent that we just couldnt risk being in that boat for long periods of time, he said. It was horrific. Expensive firewood makes a villager create a saving heater (video) Hranush Kharatyan, 81-year-old resident of Margahovit community of Lori marz, has been living alone for already 20 years. Her children have emigrated, but she isnt displeased with her fate: We are fine. A resident of the village having everything, she told Armenian and Georgian journalists. But the teacher of the village isnt optimistic like her. One by one she is showing the emptied houses of the village. See how many closed doors there are. The school is becoming smaller and smaller; there are few pupils, notes Marieta Danielyan. The residents of Antaramerdz community dont enjoy the goods of the forest. They buy the firewood paying AMD 6-10.000 per cubic meter. To note for the comparison, the residents of the frontier communities of Georgia pay about AMD 1500 for the same quantity of firewood. Though the village has gas, the blue fuel is very expensive here. I use gas equal to AMD 30.000 and still feel cold. A large family sleep in one room with 6-7 people, because only that room is heated; it isnt my family, but the situation is the same in the whole village. Everything is done in a room, while the people built huge houses, but the other rooms grow musty, notes the teacher. Samvel Ananyan, village head of Margahovit, says that winter lasts long in their region, about 6 months, and using gas to heat the houses is out of question: We must have firewood. We wish the price was lower, says the village head. Armen Safaryan, a resident of the community, has found a solution. He created a heater, which effectively saves firewood, While burning the wood produced gas, the flame, which comes out, is called pyrolysis. The matter is how you should use that pyrolysis. The burning process is carried out from the bottom; the fire doesnt go up, but goes in horizontal direction. You should not only burn wood, but also other materials in order to save. Armen Safaryan first used the heater in his house. He says that thanks to the new heater they were able to save half of the firewood. The price of the saving heater starts from USD 500. Until now Armen Safaryan has sold two heaters. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The opening of two Armenian restaurants in Russia has caused a stir in Turkey over a perceived drive to brand a popular Turkish pizza-like food as an Armenian national dish. Lamadjo, as it is known in Armenian, or lahmacun in Turkish, is a thin circular piece of dough topped with minced meat or lamb, tomatoes, parsley and spices which is then baked, and is claimed as a national foodstuff by both countries. The seemingly innocuous restaurant openings - reported in a Turkish newspaper earlier this month - have caused outrage in Turkey, leading to a spate of media coverage and even television shows explaining why the dish is Turkish and not Armenian, al-Monitor reported. Relations between the neighbours are notoriously fragile thanks to Turkeys continued denial of the historically accepted 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide - and diplomatic channels between the two do not officially exist. Its not the first time food has caused diplomatic tensions between Ankara and Yerevan, either: Turkey was outraged when lavash, a tortilla like flatbread, was described on Unescos List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as an expression of Armenian culture in 2014. The decision led to protests in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, all of whom claimed it was a regional rather than an Armenian food. The issue is still on the menu at next months Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which will be hosted by Unesco in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Show all 10 1 /10 Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenian people carry torches during a march to commemorate the mass killings of Armenians Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenian people take part in a march in commemoration of the 101th anniversary of the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman forces in 1915 Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide People hold a flag during the laying of the flowers at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide President Serzh Sargsyan and actor George Clooney attend the laying of the flowers at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenian clergymen, US actor George Clooney, center, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, second right front, and guests attend a ceremony at a memorial to Armenians killed by the Ottoman Turks, in Yerevan AP Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (C,R) and US actor George Clooney (C) attend a ceremony at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide A general view of attendees and mount Ararat during the laying of the flowers at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Getty Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Lebanese of Armenian descent burn an effigy of Turkish president Erdogan during a protest in front the house of Turkish Ambassador to mark the 101st anniversary of the mass killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, near Beirut, Lebanon EPA Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Activists hold portraits of victims during a silent demonstration to commemorate the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in Istanbul Reuters Armenians mark 101 years since genocide Activists hold portraits of victims during a silent demonstration to commemorate the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in Istanbul Reuters Armenia is not the only country Turkey has been at odds with over food in the past. Culinary spats born of deep historical tensions - including wars and forced movement of people - have led to trademark wars with both Cyprus and Greece over halloumi, olives and baklava too, al-Monitor says. Lehmacun or lamadjo is also popular in Israel, Lebanon and Syria. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} At least 22 children and six adults have died after Russian or regime air strikes hit a school complex in Syrias rebel-held Idlib province, in what is thought to be one of the worst attacks on children in the five-and-a-half-long conflict. Activists and the local civil defence service in Idlib - which neighbours the divided city of Aleppo - sent pictures too graphic for publication of dead children of around seven to ten years of age with bloodied faces and limbs torn off from the force of explosions after six strikes on the village of Hass on Wednesday. Tiny bodies wrapped in grey blankets were laid out in the village mosque, some with their colourful school bags and books next to them. Video posted by activists online showed smoke rising from buildings in Hass and rescuers carrying casualties away down a dust-covered road on which several other buildings have been destroyed. While the images and footage cannot be independently verified, they are consistent with monitor and agency reports. Unicef said that 27 people died in the attacks, while the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 35. This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime, Unicef director Anthony Lake said in a statement, adding that the incident - in which the school was hit repeatedly - was probably the deadliest to hit a school in the entire of Syrias bloody civil war. When will the world's revulsion at such barbarity be matched by insistence that this must stop? he added. Syrian Civil Defense workers search through the rubble in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, Syria (AP) Syrian state media said that a number of rebels had been killed after strikes on targets in Hass, but did not mention a school or civilian casualties. When asked about the incident, Russias ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin responded: It's horrible, horrible. I hope we were not involved. Syrian government forces and their Russian ally have been accused by rights groups and Western governments of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure several times in the past, and particularly in the renewed offensive to retake rebel-held parts of Aleppo city. Moscow said on Wednesday that neither Russian or Syrian warplanes have dropped bombs on neighbouring east Aleppo in the past nine days - a claim disputed by monitors and residents in the city. Family buries children killed in Aleppo airstrike Idlib province, however, was not included as part of a humanitarian pause announced by Russia last week to allow civilians and rebels to leave the besieged east side of the city. Wednesdays attack took the number of civilians killed in air strikes on Idlib to 89 in the past seven days, SOHR reported. Also on Wednesday, Amnesty International put out a new call for the US to address reports of civilian casualties in coalition air strikes targeting Isis in the north of Syria. The rights group said that its research pointed to more than 300 civilian deaths in recent US-led bombings, and called for a thorough investigation. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The head of the UN has demanded a probe into air strikes that killed at least 22 children in Syria amid reports of more schools coming under attack. Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, said he was appalled at the repeated bombing of a school compound in the rebel-held village of Hass, Idlib province. If deliberate, this attack may amount to a war crime, he added, calling for an immediate and impartial investigation. A wounded Syrian girl cries as she receives treatment at a makeshift hospital following government shelling on the rebel-held town of Douma on 27 October (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images) If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice. They must be proved wrong. Monitors and international governments including the US and France said the Syrian regime or its Russian backers had carried out Wednesdays attacks, in a region frequently targeted in operations against rebel groups including the Islamist Jaish al-Fatah alliance. But Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russias foreign ministry, said the allegations were a lie, adding: Russia has nothing to do with this dreadful attack. Reports emerged on Thursday of further attacks on schools in a rebel-held city on the outskirts of Damascus and government-controlled parts of western Aleppo. Bashar al-Assads forces were accused of hitting the al-Hashemiyeh Elementary School in Douma, killing a child and seven other people. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said the Syrian army had shelled civilian areas, which have been regularly targeted by government fire amid an offensive in the region, which has been under siege since 2013. Syrias war: Government forces launch counteroffensive in Idlib State media reported that at least three children were killed and 14 injured in rebel rocket attacks that hit the al-Wataniyeh School and homes in western Aleppo. Classrooms and a school building were damaged, the state-controlled Sana news agency reported, publishing a photo showing a young boy covered in blood. Both regime forces and rebel groups are accused of war crimes in Aleppo, which is divided between government and opposition control. Syrian and Russian forces claim to have implemented a temporary pause in air strikes on besieged rebel-held eastern districts amid international alarm over indiscriminate bombing in civilian areas. Anthony Lake, the executive director of Unicef, said the two new attacks brought the total of confirmed hits on Syrian schools to five since 11 October, calling them simply inhuman. Yesterday, when a school compound in Syria was repeatedly attacked, killing dozens of children and teachers, we thought we had seen the depths of depravity, he added. Todays reports of attacks on schools in Douma and western Aleppo should deepen our disgust and outrage. If the perpetrators cannot find their own sense of humanity, they should heed the condemnation of the world. 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 At least 22 children and six teachers were killed, sparking renewed calls on all sides to renew peace talks and heed international law, which has so far been ineffective at stopping the violence. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, now a UN envoy for global education, called on the UN Security Council to refer the bombing to the International Criminal Court. The Security Council should ask the International Criminal Court prosecutor for an investigation into what is happening in Syrian schools and in Syria as a whole, he told reporters. Russia and China have protected Syrias government from previous resolutions proposed at the Security Council, including vetoing a bid to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court in 2014. Vladimir Putin launched his intervention in support of President Assad in September 2015 and has shown no sign of downsizing the operation, deploying Russia's flagship aircraft carrier to the region via the English Channel to bolster firepower. The latest condemnations came after the UK and US announced the start of an assault on Isis de-facto Syrian capital of Raqqa to start over the coming weeks, with Turkey possibly launching its own offensive on the stronghold. More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began, with the government, opposition rebels, Islamists and Isis battling for territory. Additional reporting by agencies Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Royal Caribbean has come up with what it claims is a mathematical formula to determine what makes a good shoreline scientifically proving that Blackpool is among the worlds best. Psychologist Dr David Holmes devised the formula for the cruise line, taking into account the clarity of the horizon; sea colour; sand quality, cleanliness, interesting features, air quality and weather. Though many of these elements are subjective, Royal Caribbean claimed that consensus of opinion prefers white or near white very fine sand that is deep and soft to the touch. It is good to have some discrete point of interest to break the predictable scene slightly but not obscuring the sea, sand and horizon. This may be a natural feature such as a distant mountain or a piece of stunning architecture even a lighthouse, it added. The world's best shorelines Show all 10 1 /10 The world's best shorelines The world's best shorelines Whitehaven Beach Queensland, Australia Getty Images/iStockphoto The world's best shorelines Krabi Thailand Getty/iStockphoto The world's best shorelines Cavelossim Goa, India Getty Images/iStockphoto The world's best shorelines Cape Town South Africa Getty Images/iStockphoto The world's best shorelines Twelve Apostles Victoria, Australia Getty Images/iStockphoto The world's best shorelines Inchydoney West Cork, Ireland Getty Images/iStockphoto The world's best shorelines Cape Cod Massachusetts, US Getty Images/iStockphoto The world's best shorelines Gulf of Mexico Florida, US Getty Images/iStockphoto The world's best shorelines Blackpool UK Getty Images/iStockphoto The world's best shorelines Dubai UAE Getty/iStock The equation Dr Holmes came up with is below; it's unclear what the 21.33 is for. (SC+CH) x (IF+SQ) x 100/21.33 AQ+C+W Travel blogger Laila Swann applied the equation to her recent travel destinations. While most of the results, such as Krabi, western Thailand, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, have classically attractive beaches, the biggest surprise comes from Blackpool, which came in at number two, behind the heavily built-up shoreline of Dubai. But who are we to argue with "science"? The full results: 1. Dubai, UAE 2. Blackpool, UK 3. Gulf of Mexico, US 4. Cape Cod National Seashore, US 5. Inchydoney, West Cork, Ireland 6. Twelve Apostles, Victoria, Australia 7. Cape Town, South Africa 8. Cavelossim, Goa, India 9. Krabi, Thailand 10. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It was only a few weeks ago that everyone was preparing for your funeral, with Republicans swirling above your bloodless body like a pack of vultures. Donald Trump was going to sing Dont Cry For Me, Argentina, Sean Hannity had already handwritten his own coroner report to finally prove that you were pumped full of drugs before that presidential debate, and Stephen Bannon had bought the television network rights of the ceremony for Trump TV. But, like a good sport, you were in on the joke, and made great fun of it at the Alfred E Smith dinner. Speaking of health, Donald has been very concerned about mine, you said. Very concerned. He actually sent a car to bring me here tonight actually it was a hearse. See, even if youre a wizened old witch, you still have a raucous sense of humour. Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Show all 13 1 /13 Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? ABC/Facebook Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Twitter Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? ABC/Facebook Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Twitter Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Twitter Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Twitter Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Twitter Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? Why was Trump creeping behind Clinton at the debate? But, you nasty woman, you like to prove us all wrong. Despite a solid year of frets and concerns over your health, you have clearly colluded with the FBI and the Justice Department to outlive us all and steal our grandchildren in the process. You only have two grandkids so far, and we know youre greedy, greedy, greedy. If you hadnt died before the age of 69, dont worry, there was a plan B. Rudy Giuliani was waiting in the wings with handcuffs, ready to lead you down to the ole gaol. He really didnt like your jokes about him at that dinner. Well, your heart may still be beating 70 beats a minute, was it? ha! and your blood pressure may still be boiling like a cauldron brew 100/70, I believe but you dont fool anyone. Weve all seen that video where you appear to buckle at the knees at the 9/11 memorial service before your security staff throw you into the car like a side of beef, and that means we can treat you as if you have passed your expiry date. Im surprised Donald Trump will even look at you, given you are now almost exactly double the age he deems a woman to become irrelevant. The way he loomed behind you at that debate, though he was either still interested in a relatively older women and was leaning on every word that came out your mouth, or he wanted to finish you off before that whooping cough did. Trump and Clinton trade barbs at 'good-natured' gala However long you linger on, with your frail, paper-thin hands clawing towards the Oval Office, just remember the Trump supporters are coming. They speared a model of your head on a stake and have marched it through the streets. There was even a small child on her fathers shoulders, wearing your face as a mask and dressed in a striped jumpsuit. No one cares about your historic achievement. As a woman. Put your tax returns away. Stop trying to show off and play by the book. We all know you wrote emails. Hundreds of em. And we know your allies corresponded about buying basil and creme fraiche. What kind of weird spaghetti were they trying to make? It's only two weeks until the election. There is no hope! Start digging that six-foot grave in Chappaqqua it will test your stamina or at least you could give up now and prepare for the quiet life, darning Bills socks and giving him a bit of trouble in the evenings. But for now, lets be nice and just wish you a Happy Birthday, old hag. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nissan has agreed that they will continue manufacturing in the UK. The companys decision is based upon a promise to Nissan from the UK Government that Nissan will be compensated for a probable 10 per cent WTO Tariff on UK cars exported into the EU. This same promise will have to be applied to all other UK car manufacturers. This will mean that our Government, without reference to parliament, will use our taxpayer revenues to cover a 10 per cent tariff on almost two million cars. This support to this one industry could amount to four billion pounds per year. Other industries will ask for the same degree of support or compensation if they are to stay in the UK. And this money will have to come from the UK taxpayer a taxpayer who protested about and voted against the cost of being in the EU. Is this what we voted for? If it is then our decision will be an unbearable burden upon us as taxpayers and will cripple our economy. Martin Deighton Suffolk Brexit and Northern Ireland I read with interest the article by Siobhan Fenton on Northern Ireland and I would like to offer the following thoughts. Given Northern Irelands unique circumstances, the UK Government should seek to negotiate a Customs Union for Northern Ireland with the EU, allowing for free movement of goods, services, capital and people. (There will be a financial cost for this; so be it.) This would prevent the need for a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. EU nationals in Northern Ireland seeking entry to Great Britain would then be subject to the same immigration rules as other EU citizens (whatever those rules may turn out to be). On the question of EU funding for cross-border communities, this could be replaced with a joint UK/Republic of Ireland fund. One could argue that as far as Scotland is concerned, a similar accommodation as that for Northern Ireland could be reached between Scotland and the EU. However, I would not want to see a hard border between Scotland and England. Removing a potential hard border in one part of the UK only to replace it in another part does not make much sense (either politically or economically). My preference would be for a Customs Union without the free movement of people, between Great Britain and the EU (to which we would all have to pay for.) One further point is that the same scenario for Northern Ireland could also apply to Gibraltar. Stephen Benn Wiltshire Todays migration problems are just the beginning Your report (Climate change wars are coming and building walls wont help, top general warns, 27 October) that Major General Munir Muniruzzaman has warned about potential water wars and mass migration resulting from environmental degradation due to climate change. He, quite correctly, states that international action to accommodate this migration is required since putting up barriers to desperate people will not work. He also points to the risks refugees take crossing the Mediterranean Sea as an example of how far people will go to seek a perceived safer environment. In 1968 Paul Ehrlich, in conjunction with his wife Anne, published The Population Bomb which foretold all of these problems, including the sea level rise which would render parts of Bangladesh uninhabitable. Of course he and people who accepted his thesis were labelled as Eco freaks, Doomniks and no action was taken. Now the chickens have come home to roost and the only action taken by the governments of countries that caused the problem in the first instance is a panicked Let's put up barriers response. Given that a) Climate change and population growth are real and b) Mass migration is occurring, governments will have to adopt the policies outlined by Muniruzzaman and divert vast resources to those countries most affected to mitigate these potentially life threatening events. Otherwise, to quote Pt. Fraser Were doomed! Patrick Cleary Devon Will we wake up before its too late? The WWF report (World facing first mass extinction since the dinosaurs as wildlife populations plunge by 67 per cent in 50 years, 27 October) is distressing and equally distressing is the apparent requirement to ensure every decision taken in our current world is 'cost effective'. If we must have selfish reasons to save our fellow species we do not need to look further than the misuse of many chemicals. We are in the food chain and unless we wake up to the realities of our poisoned oceans, contaminated sea life and pesticide rich foods, humans assuredly will follow the predicted deplorable extinctions. We can limit, control and monitor inappropriate use of pesticides, plastics and the many chemicals we know are creating havoc in the natural environment. There is a reluctance to do this for commercial reasons. It is difficult but not impossible. Will we wake up before its too late? Jackie Slipper Buckinghamshire If Heathrow took years, why did Brexit take months? The Governments decision to give the third runway to Heathrow was made after years of expert consultation and deliberation, the very least such a momentous decision would require, although it will take a decade to put in place and will affect only a minority of the population. How is it then that the decision to leave the EU was made in a matter of months with no meaningful information, false promises, and very little idea what the eventual outcome might be? Is it any wonder Nigel Farage ran away when he realised what he had unleashed? Theresa May will negotiate the terms for leaving the EU, and we will have experienced some of the financial turbulence involved. A second referendum should then be held so we can make our decision based on facts and evidence. Heather Northridge Lancashire When the Heathrow expansion plan was being discussed some time ago, Boris Johnson said he would firmly oppose it and famously stated that he would lie in front of the bulldozers. Well why not Boris, you have lied in front of everyone else. John Schluter Guildford Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It is almost a quarter of a century since the Soviet Unions collapse, yet over the past week or so you could be forgiven for forgetting that this global cataclysm had ever happened. The war of words over Syria at the UN General Assembly last month has escalated into a war of images, and fears are being stoked about Russias intentions. This is not a new Cold War, however much that term is repeated. It is something quite different; more like a complete breakdown of trust, in which officials and sections of the media seem almost to be encouraging the idea that the Russia of today is irresponsible and rash to the point of precipitating armed conflict. Not a Cold War, but a hot war. And not in a third country, such as Syria but with us. Well, I have news for any sections of the British public who may be living in fear of an imminent Russian attack. There is a view, almost as widespread in Russia, that believes the same of the West of the United States and its very junior partner, the UK. In pictures: Aleppo bombing Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Aleppo bombing In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Smoke rises after airstrikes on the rebel-held al-Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family runs for cover amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man reacts as he stands on blood stains at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Fardous district, Syria, April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damage of the airstrikes in the rebel-held area of Aleppo on April 28 Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damaged the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians evacuate an injured man amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following an air strike on a rebel-held of Aleppo on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo People inspect the damage at a site hit by airstrikes, in the rebel-held area of Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man leads a woman in tears and child out of the scene after airstrikes hit Aleppo AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Civil defence members search for survivors after an airstrike at a field hospital in the rebel held area of al-Sukari district of Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian boy is comforted as he cries next to the body of a relative who died in a reported air strike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Soukour in the northern city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family walks amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike in the Bustan al-Qasr rebel-held district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers and rescuers remove a baby from under the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians help a wounded youth following an air strike on the Fardous rebel held neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers evacuate people from a damaged building following a reported airstrike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Tareeq al-Bab in the northern city of Aleppo I have spent the past three days at the annual meeting of the Valdai Club, which has now graduated into something akin to an international conference of Russia-watchers from around the globe. This year, as last, we met in the premier resort hotel built for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. This year, as in previous years, there were lively discussions, not least about the future of Europe post-Brexit (and I admit to finding it strange to hear Russians, Germans, Chinese and Turks talking about the UK effectively over its head). But the chief impression from this years meetings which included lengthy question and answer sessions with the deputy prime minister, Igor Shuvalov, and the foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, as well as many conversations with Russias answer to what we in the UK are now learning to call the metropolitan and intellectual elite is that Russian distrust of the West at the international political level has rarely been higher, and that armed conflict, accidental or by design, is seen as a real possibility. Even these elite Russians feel that, with a tiny number of exceptions, the Western world and its leaders are against them in a way that they find immediately threatening. They feel misunderstood and rejected. The foreign minister, the man who has become something of a fixture on television, standing alongside his US counterpart, John Kerry, told us several times during his 90-minute question and answer session that Russia was not being treated with the respect that was due not just to a great power, but to any country. Were not looking for any nice gestures, he said at one point. We just want relations with the United States to be respectful. Every country deserves that. In other words, it is not just individual moves made by the West that Russia finds unacceptable not just, say, the bombing of the Syrian troops that broke last months ceasefire and which the Russians do not believe was a mistake but the Wests attitude, which Russia finds high-handed and patronising. Americas claim to exceptionalism, a term that tends to be bandied about in the US more during election campaigns than at other times, was a recurrent theme. One speaker, interestingly, drew a direct comparison between the way Russia felt it was treated by the West and how it was treated by China. The Chinese, he said in relation to Central Asia prepared the ground, consulted, kept Russia informed, so there were no unpleasant surprises, and was always open to cooperation. Now this may or may not be true, and even if it is, such an approach may not endure Chinas continuing rise internationally. But it was a common view. It is perhaps worth returning to the way Russia has been presented in the UK very recently to make the point. Russia is repeatedly described as an aggressive interloper in Syria, even though it is the only outside country that is there legitimately, in response to an invitation from the UN-recognised government. Russia has been blamed, without question, for the attack on the aid convoy which we insist is what scuppered the September ceasefire, even though culpability is still not at all clear. Accusations are made of war crimes, the Russians complain, before any investigation has been held into what actually happened. Consider then the Russian naval flotilla, led by the countrys sole aircraft carrier, the Kuznetsov, which sailed through the English Channel (as was its right) in what was presented (by the British) as a show of force. The ships were on their way to the Mediterranean, where they would, it was confidently predicted, bolster Russias military support for Syrias President Assad, and doubtless take part in the bombing of civilians. Donald Trump denies he's ever met Putin despite someone called Donald Trump once saying he had A hue and cry was raised about Spain, a Nato member, agreeing to refuel the Russian ships at its North African enclave, Ceuta something that had been done many times before. Wisely, the Russians withdrew their request before Spain had time to refuse it. But the whole episode encouraged Russians to ask who the US and others thought they were fighting in Syria? If they were serious about combating terrorist groups, then that was what Russia was there for, too. So why the nastiness, as they saw it, about refuelling? Scarcely had the refuelling dispute been defused than the UK announced, for the second time, that it was sending tanks, drones and several hundred troops to eastern Europe. The combined Nato reinforcements to the region will constitute the biggest military build-up on Russias borders since the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. Is it any wonder that Russia is boosting its air defences in Kaliningrad? They see the Western moves as aggressive and theirs as defensive. We see it the other way round. Presenting scenarios for where Russia and the West might go from here, a very senior Russian suggested that the most likely prospect for the immediate future was cold defusion limited cooperation on individual issues that might, or might not, offer a basis for a rapprochement in the future (but not now). Another of the most senior officials to address us was more forthright in his conclusion. If you think a lean and hungry Russia will be better behaved, you are making a big mistake. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Last week Tony and I were delighted to welcome our first grandchild into the family. The arrival of a new baby naturally pivots ones thoughts to the future. What will life be like for this new life, we wonder? According to new figures from the World Economic Forum, theres one answer we can be sure of. Estimates in the Forums latest Global Gender Gap report show that my granddaughter will not live to see the day when women have full economy equality with men. In fact, her grandchildren will not even live to see that day. Because that day is 170 years away. I am struggling to compute this figure. After all, it took less than 40 years to put a man on the moon. And, according to experts, our world will see dramatic changes in the next 100 years. By then, theres a good chance will have created immortality, be able to control the weather, and visit space as tourists. Gender pay gap Why, then, is gender equality so far beyond us? Is it really a feat too far for human endeavour? Of course, the factors underlying the massive economic gender gap are complex. The World Economic Forum gives three reasons for its bleak timeline. One is salary. Around the world, women earn on average just over half of what men earn despite working longer hours (taking into account both paid and unpaid work). Another persistent challenge is the difference in labour force participation, with the global average for women standing at 54 per cent, compared to 81 per cent for men. The number of women in senior positions also remains stubbornly low, with only four countries in the world having equal numbers of male and female legislators, senior officials and managers. Closing these yawning gaps is no easy task. Its what motivated me to set up my own Foundation for women, after Tony left office in 2008. After being fortunate enough to have a front row on history during our years in Downing Street, I wanted to give something back. I chose to support women in developing countries to set up businesses, to empower them to participate in their economies on their own terms, and on equal terms with men. Since establishing my Foundation, Ive met many incredible women whose stories provide a bulwark against the kind of grim statistics that have hit the headlines this week. They are a powerful reminder that change is possible that every day, in households across the globe, women are seizing the reins. In Tanzania, for example, we supported 260 women running micro-enterprises in textiles, food and soap processing, and poultry farming. Alongside business training, our project also provided education on issues such as womens rights, HIV/AIDs, disability and fistula. One woman told us that after attending one of these training sessions, she took a long, hard look at her own family. She went home and talked to her husband about allowing their daughter and son to jointly inherit their land. Following this, they promptly drew up new title deeds. Stories like this show that information is power. Arm a woman with knowledge about her rights, and she will do her best to make those rights a reality. Role models are another weapon in the fight for gender equality. I remember, for example, a wonderful story Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the President of Liberia and first elected woman leader in Africa, once told me. Ellen had been on a visit to a local school with a foreign dignitary. As the visit dragged on, the young children became restless. Noticing this, their teacher told them sharply to behave. But one eight-year old girl had taken Ellens visit very much to heart. In a loud voice, she said: Be careful how you address me one day I too might be President. Rather than being embarrassed or angry, Ellen was thrilled. To her, it was proof that her election was raising the ambitions of girls in her country. The final thing that gives me hope against the World Economic Forums dismal prediction is the reminder that it is just that a prediction, based on current rates of progress. In other words, we can speed things up. This week saw a powerful example of women stepping on the accelerator pedal. On Tuesday, thousands of women in Iceland abandoned work at exactly 2.38pm to protest against the pay inequality which means that women effectively work for free after this time. The protest marked the occasion, 40 years ago, when women in Iceland went on mass strike, refusing to work, cook and look after children for a day. It was a watershed moment in a country that now sits at the top of the Global Gender Gap rankings. Of course, men have a special role to play in speeding up progress on gender equality. And for any male or female readers who are wondering, How?, I would urge them to get involved with my Foundations online Mentoring Programme. The programme uses technology to connect women entrepreneurs in developing countries with men and women professionals around the world. Among our 2,000 pairs, we have a woman tailor in Malaysia being mentored by a university professor in Lebanon, a textile designer in Rwanda working with a banking executive in the US, and a grape exporter in India matched with a research analyst in the UK. By giving just two hours of your time each month, you too can share your skills, help a woman to grow her business and inspire her to realise that 170 years is not a timeframe she needs to accept. The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women supports women entrepreneurs in developing and emerging economies. For more information see @CherieBlairFndn and www.cherieblairfoundation.org. Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland take part in the first of seven planned strike days outside St Mary's College, Dundalkas Teachers have ramped up pressure on Education Minister Richard Bruton over equal pay as more than 500 secondary schools shut down in the first in a series of strikes. As the Association of Secondary School Teachers' of Ireland (ASTI) manned picket lines nationwide, the two other main teaching unions rowed in behind with a rally outside Leinster House in Dublin to demand action. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) and the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) said the lower pay rates for staff who qualified since 2011 were " wrong and unconscionable". They joined the campaign as ASTI bosses suggested the nuclear option of all-out school closures from Monday November 7 could be avoided if a short-term deal was agreed. President Ed Byrne said a row over payment for substitution and supervision, which is running alongside the issue of equal pay for recent graduates, was never intended to force schools to close. The Department of Education had warned that if a school is forced to close after the mid-term break because replacement staff cannot be found then all ASTI teachers in that school will be taken off the payroll, including those who signed a 2013 deal letting them opt out of the duty in return for less pay. Mr Byrne said: "Our actions, other than the days of strike, were never intended to shut schools. It was intended to show we were doing duties that we were not getting paid for." Mr Bruton had said the refusal to cover colleagues' classes and watch pupils at breaks was unnecessary. But the minister is now facing demands from all three teaching unions to speed up pay equalisation, even though a deal has already been done for newly graduated national school teachers to have their pay boosted over the next year and a half. INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan said two-tier pay is discriminatory, inequitable and unreasonable. " Separate salary scales for teachers doing the same work are wrong," she said. "Discriminatory pay scales are eroding teacher morale, sapping good will and breeding resentment. It is blatantly unfair and inequitable to pay workers differently for doing the same work." TUI president Joanne Irwin said a lower pay rate for new teachers who started in 2011 or later i s wrong and unconscionable. "Their work is as valuable as that of their colleagues who entered before that date and it must be valued equally in pay terms," she said. Some 507 schools out of 735 closed. The walkouts are the first in a series of seven planned strike days over seven weeks, running through next month and into December. They include all but one of the 375 voluntary secondary schools; 91 of the 95 c ommunity and comprehensives; and 42 of the 265 in the Education and Training Board system which are mostly staffed by members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland. All schools will reopen again tomorrow before closing for the mid-term break next week. But it remains unclear what will happen in schools from Monday November 7 as teachers will turn up to teach but principals may not be able to open the school doors unless sufficient numbers of adequately vetted replacement staff are found to cover supervision and substitution. ASTI members are refusing to do those duties after the Department of Education said their pay would be docked 800 euros after they stopped doing 33 hours of non-teaching duties and holding meetings outside of normal school timetables, known as Croke Park hours. Meanwhile, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said he was concerned about the threat of a prolonged strike. "That's not for the benefit of anybody. We have to have more concerted efforts to ensure that doesn't happen," he told RTE Radio. "One also has to see that anything that disrupts the school system, the education of young people, is disastrous. There's no profession that knows that better than teachers themselves." The ASTI has planned six other strikes in November on Tuesday 8, Wednesday 16, Thursday 24, Tuesday 29 and consecutive days in December on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7. Cross-party TDs backed legislation to outlaw drilling for shale gas from rocks, sands and coal seams across the country A proposed nationwide ban on fracking has cleared its first hurdle. Cross-party TDs backed legislation put forward by Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim Tony McLoughlin to outlaw drilling for shale gas from rocks, sands and coal seams across the country. Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, warned that the proposed legislation may not achieve what is intended due to the complexities of gas exploration. But he added: "To be quite clear, there is no great strategic imperative or agenda by Government to pursue the use of fracking." "The primary aim, as legislators, is to ensure that we give proper consideration to the issues and evidence, avoid unintended consequences, and provide legal clarity." Even though the Government tried unsuccessfully to stall the legislation for eight months, potentially delaying an outright ban until 2018, Mr Naughten said it was " another step in protecting Ireland's environment and future". It is understood the minority Government cancelled proposals to stall the legislation until next June after Fianna Fail warned it would support any delay. Mr McLoughlin said agreement on the legislation was "a major win for the environment and for Irish politics". Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, involves drilling into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is forced into rock to release gas. Opponents fear the process can cause earthquakes, pollute water and lead to damaging development in the countryside. Supporters claim it boosts jobs, the economy and energy security. Mr McLoughlin, whose constituency is in one of the three regions identified for potential shale gas exploration, sought to ban energy companies trying to extract raw fuels from shale rocks, tight sands and coal seams. Three exploratory licences were granted in Ireland in 2011 for fracking but no extraction has taken place. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commissioned a report on the impact of the controversial gas extraction on the environment and human health. It is due in the coming months. The proposals to ban fracking will now be passed to an Oireachtas committee for further scrutiny within 12 weeks. Friends of the Earth Ireland described the cross party support for the legislation as " a crucial step to ban fracking". Eamon Scanlon, Fianna Fail TD for Sligo-Leitrim, said: "We were supporting the bill as it was. There was no question about that. "And I would like to see a ban in the next year." Campaigners fighting fracking including the Love Leitrim group were heavily involved in drumming up support for the legislation. Deputy director of Friends Of The Earth Kate Ruddock said: "This isn't just a crucial step towards banning fracking, it is an historic first step towards a fossil free future for Ireland. "It's a tribute to the local campaigners who have worked long and hard to raise concerns about fracking, to their democratic representatives who have responded to those concerns, and to the 2,500 people who emailed their local TDs in the last week asking the to #BackTheBill." When October 27 ceased to be topic of quarrels among authorities (video) Historic footage from the shooting at the NA Speakers room in the evening of the same day after the events of October 27, 1999. Some time after the massacre, Nairi Hunanyan already spoke about establishing National unity government. With arms in his hand Nairi Hunanyan says to the journalist Ruzan Khachatryan, who was invited to the hall full of killed people, that let the president come to decide the fate of this nation. President comes. Just after the negotiations with him, Nairi Hunanyan decides to surrender. The guarantee is the fact that no member of the group will be executed. After these events hard days begin for President Robert Kocharyan. On the same day the military demand from Kocharyan the resignations of Minister of National Security Serzh Sargsyan and Minister of Inner Affairs Suren Abrahamyan. Those, who demanded resignations, though, according to Robert Kocharyan, already have a list, where it was written which positions the military were going to hold. Immediately after the events of October 27, Robert Kocharyan appointed Aram Sargsyan, brother of deceased PM Vazgen Sargsyan, as Prime Minister. But it didnt calm down the passions in the army and around Serzh Sargsyan, who became Chief of Staff of the President. On May 12, 2000 Robert Kocharyan dismissed PM Aram Sargsyan. Starting from that day October 27 ceases to be a topic of quarrels among the authorities. Indian companies could look to Ireland as an alternative European base to the UK post-Brexit, it has been claimed. The head of the Ireland-India Business Association (IIBA), Nilakanthi Ford, said Ireland had been "grossly under represented" in markets such as India, and argued that this needs to change. "The fact is that Ireland has been grossly under-promoted, and under-represented in the emerging countries, with India being one," Ms Ford said. "We really haven't leveraged the relationship between India and Ireland. Ireland and Irish businesses have really sourced, outside of the UK, the US as their next primary market. What we are saying is that there are opportunities for Indian companies to invest in Ireland." According to the IDA, more than 30 Indian companies have already invested in Ireland, employing more than 3,000. Those companies include Wockhardt, HCL, Infosys, and Crompton Greaves. In terms of boosting Irish exports to India, Enterprise Ireland said that 181 of its clients reported sales in India last year. Kerry Group, CRH, PM Group and Shaw Academy are among the most successful Irish businesses in India. Next month, Minister of State Pat Breen will lead a trade mission to the country. At a recent Oireachtas Committee, Enterprise Ireland executive director Kevin Sherry said it was "quite difficult" to conduct business in India. "My recollection is that India is ranked 138th out of 160 countries in terms of the ease with which to do business," he said. "It is not easy to conduct business in India but it affords us huge opportunities." The IIBA conference takes place today with key note speeches from industry and government figures. "Again and again over the last few years I've met with companies who have been trying to identify locations for a European base, and they're considering Ireland as one of the options," Ms Ford said. "In summary, for the next three years, Brexit will continue to bring uncertainty. Indian companies are still looking to the EU for business. Ireland has long links with India stretching back to India's fight for ndependence and shared heritage and common law." Meanwhile, group companies in the salt-to-software Tata Sons conglomerate faces potential writedowns of almost $18bn due to investments in unprofitable businesses, according to a letter that ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry sent to the company's board. Mr Mistry, who holds an Irish passport, was shunted out of the company on Monday by the Tata Sons board for reasons not officially made public. (Additional reporting Reuters) No Breaks for the Border as SME Owners suffer, P5 It is now just over four months from the morning of June 24, when we woke to the news that the UK had voted to leave the European Union. In the intervening period, we as a country have been scrambling to understand the impact that this vote will have on Ireland. However, on a different level, the impact that this vote has on the Border regions of Ireland is much more significant. Combilift manufacture space-saving warehouse forklift trucks in Co Monaghan, which has borders with Armagh, Tyrone and Fermanagh. The Combilift global head office is a mere 10km from the Border. Combilift currently exports 25pc of its product to the UK (Northern Ireland and Britain), therefore, the obvious question is how is Brexit, and the now more likely, hard Brexit going to affect Combilift? There are obviously significant challenges arising from Brexit for Combilift, including - but not limited to - customs controls, potential import tariffs, free movement of staff (46 currently travel from Northern Ireland each day), potential reduced demand from the UK market and currency devaluation. However at Combilift we feel that if we hold firm to our core values of producing unique, innovative and added value products, as a company we can overcome the challenges Brexit presents. The focus of the Border business network should be to continue to develop new innovative products that provide the end user with significant added value - in Combilift we are investing 7pc of our revenue into R&D. As a result, in the long term, the business should be able to demand premium prices, which will help cope with fluctuations in currency and the added burden and cost of the border controls that are potentially going to come into force in the event of a hard Brexit. Investing in R&D makes Irish companies like ourselves more successful at exporting to markets outside the UK also. Alongside this, an increased emphasis on developing products that generate worldwide demand, and a focus on exporting further afield than our nearest neighbours, is critical to building sustainable businesses in the Border region. Ireland as a country, with its business support agencies, such as Local Enterprise Offices, Enterprise Ireland and IDA, need to encourage and support more companies to invest in R&D to support the obvious challenges that Brexit is bringing to our country, and in particular, to the Border regions. This is the long-term means to coming through the current period of uncertainty. Brexit will have a high impact on All-Ireland bodies such as Intertrade Ireland which rely on EU funding. Applications for Interreg funds - an EU-supported structural funds programme - for cross-border economic and social development projects are already experiencing delays pending Article 50 negotiations, as many of these projects will span a two or three-year programme. This will also have high implications for Border county communities. None of us knows where the sterling versus euro currency will be in the coming year. However, my suggestion is - if an Irish company exporting into the UK is not generating a financial loss with a 0.90 to one euro conversion rate - I would recommend hedging currency at this rate for 2017 during this period of uncertainty. To assist with counteracting Combilift's currency exposure, we are increasing our focus on sourcing more raw material suppliers in sterling. Martin McVicar is the managing director of Co Monaghan-based Combilift Anti-Brexit campaigners, Borders Against Brexit, set up a mock customs search during a protest against Britains vote to leave the European Union, at the border town of Carrickcarnon earlier this month. Photo: Reuters Derry-based Nuprint Technologies is located just under 5km from the Border with Co Donegal. The design and print SME does about 40pc of its business cross-border and sources the bulk of its raw materials from within Europe. For Gavin Killeen, the company's managing director, the dramatic weakening in sterling over the last year is part and parcel of running a business in a border region. "It effects me in that the vast majority of my raw material is manufactured in Europe somewhere," he says.. "So whether I buy that in sterling or buy that in euro, that price has gone up, and it's gone up by about 10pc or 15pc in the last three months, which is a significant impact in that raw materials makes up a huge percentage of our business." Nuprint provides packaging labels for the food and drink industry in Northern Ireland and the Republic, having initially been a supplier of printed fabric labels for the clothing industry. The business initially gained approval from prominent companies like C&C and Diageo, supplying labels for big name brands like Guinness, Magners, Harp and Molson Coors. And then Killeen and his team penetrated the market in the Republic, to ensure they were protected against the often volatile changes in the value of the currency. So, while he's taken a hit on the cost of importing raw materials, he's had some reprieve via his sales into the Republic. "That's an engineered place that we've tried to get to, so that the business doesn't get exposed to fluctuations in currency like that. We forward buy, we hold and we'll watch what the markets are doing. Living in a border region, we just have to do that," Killeen says. It's a similar picture for the city's shops. Currency movements are a significant headache, or windfall, for the local retailers. "A lot of the retailers here rely on the Christmas trade, and this year, because the euro was 1.44 to the pound, many of the Donegal shoppers didn't come into the city, and, by February, three of the longest established retailers in the city closed their doors," Killeen, who is also the current Chamber President, says. "Between the three of them, they traded in the city for 270 years. So the city has had to live with the impact of currency. "Every single trader in the city will have two tills - one with euro and one with sterling." While the Brexit vote marks the latest bump in the currency road for border firms, the vote itself has potentially far reaching consequences that extend beyond the movements in sterling and euro. Both the Irish and British governments have stressed that they want to ensure the free movement of people remains between north and south, although it hasn't been made clear yet just yet how this will happen. In Westminster yesterday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pushed Prime Minister Theresa May into clarifying whether border checks would be introduced between the Republic and Northern Ireland. Ms May simply replied that a "considerable amount of work" was taking place between the two governments on the issue. And she repeated the now oft-used phrase that "none of us want to see a return to the borders of the past". Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has been at pains to make clear the Government here is acutely aware of the Border issue, and the concerns of Border communities. He was in Derry last week, visiting local manufacturing firm A&E Global and addressing the city's Chamber of Commerce. He was in Newry and Armagh yesterday meeting businesses and community groups. Driving from Bridgend in Co Donegal to Derry, but for the change in speed limit signs from kilometres to miles, you'd barely notice you've crossed a border at all. "The city of Derry is surrounded on three sides by the Republic of Ireland," Killeen says. "No further than two miles from the centre of the city, you're in Donegal. Derry's natural hinterland, 40pc of it is in Donegal. "While the Border has been there, over the last 20 years, since the ceasefire, the city has now spread out into parts of Donegal. As the city has grown, people have moved out to live in Donegal and they commute into Derry and back and forth." Drive into any of the car parks of businesses in the city, Killeen says, and you'll see just how prevalent the cross-border movements are. "The cars are completely mixed, and the owners of those cars come from both sides of the Border. The people who are employed in the North, who live in the Republic, have had a 20pc cut in their wages since this happened. That's a serious impact on some of those families. The people coming the other way have had a 20pc increase." Killeen believes the free movement issue will be resolved. But it's the potential for tariffs and customs controls that concerns him. He believes the need to avoid smuggling could mean smaller border roads will be shut off, just like they were during the Troubles. And that could impact on local firms. "Some of my staff live in the Republic of Ireland. They travel across that border and we hope that their route to work wouldn't be impeded in any way," he says. "I'm sure there's a way around with dealing with the movement of people, but if goods and services are moving across from one region to another, there would have to be some form of tariffs and customs duty. "In order to stop those goods going down side roads and back roads, to stop black market, I would imagine that back roads and side roads would potentially have to be closed off the way they were when we had a security border." Tariffs, he says, could significantly impact businesses in the area, particularly the agri-food sector. "We could revert back to the World Trade Organisation tariffs, which are in general running at 6, 7pc on average, but for agri-food based products, they are considerably higher - 40pc for some dairy products." The European Council says the CAP needs to continue to ensure viable food production and a stable food supply, while taking into account food safety, the rural economy, animal welfare, and social and environmental concerns The Irish commercial real estate sector is facing fresh uncertainty with confirmation from the European Commission that it is assessing a complaint in relation to the tax regime used by Ireland's Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits). The Irish Independent has learned the commission's directorate general for competition wrote to the complainant, the Independent TD Mick Wallace, last Friday to inform him that information he had provided "as regards the Irish tax regime of Reits is currently under assessment". News of the European Commission's decision to assess the Wexford politician's complaint comes just one week after the Government confirmed its intentions in the Finance Bill to introduce a withholding tax of 20pc on distributions from Irish assets held by predominantly international investors in vehicles such as Qualifying Investor Alternative Investment Funds (QIAIFs) and Irish Collective Assetmanagement Vehicles (ICAVs). The proposed new tax - the introduction of which has been met with a frosty reception by the commercial real estate sector - is to apply to vehicles classed as Irish Real Estate Funds (IREFs), where 25pc or more of their value is made up of real estate assets. The tax is to be calculated on rental profits and gains from trading or development. Gains on disposal of assets held for at least five years will not be subject to the tax. While the property industry has drawn a degree of comfort from the fact that the Finance Bill did not propose any changes to the tax treatment of Reits, that decision could possibly be re-examined in the event that the European Commission decide it is appropriate to initiate a formal investigation into Wallace's complaint. In his submission, which he last month sent to the commission's director general of competition, Johannes Laitenberger, the Independent TD sought a determination on whether the tax exemptions granted to non-residents and foreign investors in Irish Reits are in breach of Europe's rules on state aid. Wallace said he is concerned at the potential loss to the exchequer arising from the exemption granted to non-resident investors from any Irish tax, including dividend withholding tax (DWT) on profits distributed to them annually by the Reits in which they hold investments. While he noted in his complaint that the European Commission had already approved tax exemptions for Finnish Reits in a case it considered in 2010, he has pressed for a new inquiry into the specific manner in which the Irish model operates. And while Wallace also acknowledged that Ireland's Reit legislation is similar to Finland's, in that it requires that 85pc of all property income profits be distributed annually to shareholders, making it compliant "in theory" with the commission's 2010 state aid ruling, the TD has asked for an examination of the legislation underpinning the investment vehicles' operations here. Citing Section 41 of the Finance Act 2013, under which Reits were introduced to the Irish market, he expressed his concern that Reits are not chargeable to either corporation tax in respect of income from their property rental business or chargeable gains accruing on disposal of assets of their property rental business. Wallace noted in his letter that, in general, the trading profits of companies in Ireland are subject to corporation tax at 12.5pc, while the rental profits of companies are subject to corporation tax at the higher rate of 25pc. In the case of Reits, the politician informed the European Commission that their rental profits are exempt from corporation tax. In his letter, he said: "What concerns me is the benefit accrued by non-resident investors in Reits, who may be exempt from any Irish tax, including dividend withholding tax (DWT), on annual profits distributed by a Reit, and the potential loss in tax to the Irish Exchequer. "In my opinion, this would constitute a breach of the State Aid Guidelines." Developer Sean Reilly's McGarrell Reilly Group has marked the launch of the latest phase of its successful CityNorth Business Campus with two significant announcements. Located at the exit 7 interchange on the M1 motorway, the campus, which is positioned around the four-star City North Hotel, is set to see the commencement of a new round of construction with the development of both a 40,000 sq ft facility for a major British food manufacturer and a new petrol filling station and associated retail facility to be operated by Topaz. While Deirdre Reilly of the McGarrell Reilly Group didn't disclose the identity of the future occupier of the 40,000 sq ft facility at City North's official relaunch last Tuesday, an examination by the Irish Independent of Meath County Council's planning files shows that the Domino's Pizza Group is the food manufacturer in question. The Domino's Pizza Group's new facility is positioned on a high-profile site of 1.33 ha (3.28 acres) within the CityNorth Business Campus. The detached building was designed by RKD Architecture to the occupier's specific requirements. The contract value of 6.5m marks a significant coup for CityNorth and for Jeremy Kelly of Kelly Walsh, who brokered the deal. Located within a 20-minute drive of Dublin airport and 90 minutes from Belfast, the campus has full planning permission for a number of facilities ranging in size from 900 sq m to 4,000 sq m with delivery times available within a short timeframe. McGarrell Reilly say alterations to the design and specification of these facilities can be considered to cater for businesses' individual requirements. As part of CityNorth's relaunch, an interactive website has been commissioned to show prospective occupiers the full extent and potential of the campus. The interactive map allows the user to select a potential unit and access the overview of the building, its specification, computer-generated images and floor plans. Having been in operation for over 35 years, the privately-owned McGarrell Reilly Group has been involved in numerous major developments in Ireland, the UK and Germany. Among the group's better-known projects are the Iveagh Court Complex in Dublin 2, the Watermarque Building in Dublin 4, P6 in East Point Business Park, 25-28 Adelaide Road in Dublin 2 and Spitalerhof in Hamburg. The group's clients have included Marsh, Mercer, Pfizer, State Street, Cisco, Airbnb, Betfair, Aon, the OPW, fashion retailers Jack & Jones and New Yorker, as well as numerous foreign embassies. Further details on CityNorth can be obtained from the appointed agents Cushman & Wakefield, Kelly Walsh and R.B Daly & Sons. Michael Carey, Chairman of Bord Bia, has announced the appointment of its new CEO. After months of speculation, Tara McCarthy has been appointed to succeed current Chief Executive, Aidan Cotter, who will retire in January 2017. "Farmers rarely 'vote Labour' - but that is not to say that Labour candidates don't get farmer votes." That summation by a Labour veteran at Leinster House came to mind in recent weeks as I watched Willie Penrose in action at the Oireachtas agriculture committee. The Westmeath man is Labour to the core. But it is estimated that one third of his vote comes from the farming community. His agricultural background was confirmed last week when EU Commissioner Phil Hogan, came to Leinster House, accompanied by two university contemporaries of Penrose. Gerry Kiely, previously the IFA lobbyist in Brussels in the 1980s, and who now heads the EU Dublin office, was in Penrose's agricultural science class at UCD. Kilkenny man Tom Tynan, the Commissioner's key adviser, was a year behind that pair in the same UCD faculty. It is often overlooked that Willie Penrose holds BA and MA degrees in agricultural science. It is also forgotten that NFA firebrand Richard Deasy stood for Labour in the 1969 general election. That was just after the big farmer protests in 1966. But Mr Deasy got the sum total of 517 votes. It showed that Labour's insistence that "the 1970s will be socialist" did not resonate at farm level. Of course Willie Penrose's rural vote is largely personal and a function of his local constituency work. There have been others before him - but not too many. Penrose's penchant for plain speaking is a help when dealing with country people. His focus on the local came across in recent days when he denounced the Budget for its failure to help mushroom producers. This Budget was well received but Government claims that it would "Brexit-proof" the economy was longer on rhetoric than reality. Penrose argues that mushrooms are often produced in places where not much else is happening. It is also an important income top-up for a lot of rural workers. He believes the Finance Department has an "ideological block" on giving business help in coping with the consequences of Sterling fluctuations. The devastation in the mushroom sector has been well documented in these pages. Penrose argues that the longer tangible supports are delayed the greater the risk that it will be all too late. There is a sinking feeling that we will hear far more about this before long. Brexit is just a series of headaches. John Downing is an Irish Independent political correspondent Irish consumers could face fresh milk shortages this winter, with some dairy farmers calling for a strike to highlight the lack of profitability in liquid milk production. Some individual liquid milk farmers those who produce milk for supermarket shelves have called on the IFA Liquid Milk Committee to consider a widespread withdrawal of milk supplies over the coming months. However, IFA Liquid Chairman John Finn said the organisation would prefer not go to that extreme if it can help it. We want to go through the communication process first before we even think of that. One liquid milk supplier who spoke at the IFA Liquid Milk Conference said he left liquid milk production as it simply did not pay for the extra work involved. Peter Farrell, who farms in Meath with his father, and milks 190 cows said liquid milk farmers need around 40c/L annually to compensate for the extra expense and work involved. However, Finn told FarmIreland.ie that while some farmers are calling for a strike, its not the answer the IFA is looking for. Liquid milk cant be taken for granted. There are higher costs involved in producing this milk, as its year-round production. Liquid suppliers are getting around 39-41c/L at the moment for the winter months and their annual milk price works out around 31-31c/L. Liquid milk producers, he said, need at least 40c/L for the year and the IFA is looking for them to receive 55c/L for the winter months to balance out the extra costs incurred. We are looking for the retailers to engage with the processors to establish a new pricing system to ensure the returns are shared more evenly. We just want a better price share. Coke costs about 120/L and milk costs 92c/L. People take it for granted and dont factor in the nutritional value of it. We need consumers to realise it is such a valuable product. The National Milk Agency, which regulates the supply of fresh milk for liquid consumption in Ireland, says that competition between supermarkets has pushed down the price Irish dairy farmers are receiving for their milk in recent years. It estimates that the average litre of milk sells for 92c/L in shops, a drop of 1c/L on 2014 prices. Of that, liquid milk farmers received an average of 32c/L last year down 16pc on 2014 prices. The IFA Liquid Milk Chairman John Finn said many of the 1,725 liquid milk producers simply dont have the available land to increase production on an annual basis, which would allow them to exit liquid milk production. Irish Milk Market Ireland has one of the highest per capita consumption rates of fresh drinking milk in the world last year we drank 601m litres of milk, the highest consumption level on record. Whole milk accounts for 59pc of fresh milk sales, while sales of low-fat and skimmed milk make up 41pc of sales. And we buy in bulk - some 75pc of fresh milk is sold in 2L cartons or larger. Imports from Northern Ireland into the fresh milk market mean that one in every four litres of fresh milk consumed is milk from Northern Ireland. The fresh milk market is the largest consumer market for milk and milk products in the State, with an estimated retail value of 547m in 2015. STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces Google Ad There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Google Ad Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens Dublin-based CityJet has taken additional steps to cement the takeover of Stobart Air. A Cayman Islands-based firm, CityJet Holdings, has injected $15m (13.7m) cash into its Ireland-registered namesake. It's understood that CityJet is planning to buy both Stobart Air and either most, or all, of a leasing firm in a Cayman Islands, Propius, which supplies aircraft to Stobart Air. Stobart Air operates the Aer Lingus Regional service on a franchise basis. Filings just made at the Companies Registration Office show that the cash injection received by the Irish unit of CityJet was secured in September. The transaction came before Stobart Group announced last week that it had agreed to buy between 36pc and all of Invesco's 40pc stake in Stobart Air, as well as the UK asset manager's 33pc stake in Propius. Aer Lingus also owns a third of Propius. Stobart Group currently owns 45pc of Stobart Air. Following last week's agreement, Stobart Group will own 66pc of Propius and up to 85pc of Stobart Air. Stobart Group is paying 12m (13.4m) for the Propius stake, and just 500,000 (559,000) for Invesco's stake in Stobart Air, which is held in the airline's holding company, Everdeal. UK broker Cenkos owns 10pc of Stobart Air, while former chairman Padraig O'Ceidigh, who once ran Stobart Air predecessor Aer Arann, owns 5pc. UK-based aviation financing group Falko, which is supported by affiliates of funds managed by Fortress Investment Group, is closely linked to the takeover of Stobart Air by CityJet. It has been anticipated that CityJet will pay about 15m for Stobart Air and 60m for a majority stake in Propius. London City Airport is CityJet's main base, while its headquarters are in Dublin. The company also owns former SAS subsidiary Blue1, and continues to operate that carrier on a wet lease basis. CityJet ordered a number of new Bombardier aircraft for that unit, and has also been taking delivery of Sukhoi SuperJet airplanes for CityJet operations. It's been speculated for a number of months that SAS might also be considering selling its Danish subsidiary, Cimber, to CityJet. CityJet founder Pat Byrne has predicted that the airline will make a "modest" profit this year, and also believes the carrier could make a stock market debut within a few years. Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Markets across Europe were down yesterday as a barrage of disappointing results at bellwether firms from Apple to Lloyds Banking Group and a slide in oil spurred a slump in global equities. Bonds also fell. London's FTSE 100 index was down 0.8pc in mid afternoon, while German and French indexes were down by 0.77pc and 0.7pc, respectively. Crude fell to a three-week low as industry data showed US crude stockpiles rose while doubts grew about Russian willingness to cooperate with Opec in curbing supply. "The mood is really negative," said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. "The API report showed a larger-than-anticipated build in crude supplies and there are lingering doubts aboutOpec. "The market will remain sensitive to headlines until the Opec meeting next month." Meanwhile, London's financial district has called for a UK regulatory regime that does not harm competitiveness, responding to bankers' fears that being outside the European Union will reduce the capital's clout in global markets. The City of London's Lord Mayor, Jeffrey Mountevans, said that after Britain's vote to leave, "realistic, collaborative" regulation was needed. London property prices are set to fall next year as uncertainty about Britain's exit from the European Union damps the UK housing market, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research. Elsewhere, GlaxoSmith-Kline beat quarterly sales and profit expectations and said it expected even bigger gains in 2016 thanks to a weak pound, which has continued to fall after Britain's vote in June. The group generates more than 95pc of its sales outside Britain, while many of its costs are in pounds, making it a big winner from sterling's tumble. Airbus Group has voiced frustration at a continued ban on Super Puma oil industry flights in Britain, weeks after European safety regulators cleared the helicopter to fly again. In Ireland, the ISEQ overall index of Irish shares was down by 0.58pc in mid-afternoon trading at 5,935.48 - a loss of 34.37 points. Building materials firm Kingspan lost 2.1pc, while insurance group FBD was down by 2pc after the company announced it was to invest in a 55m property venture in Spain. Financial group IFG clawed back losses from earlier in the week with gains of 2.4pc. Likewise, drinks firm C&C gained 1.3pc having also lost ground in Tuesday's trading. European Commission tax chief Pierre Moscovici has urged Ireland to support a corporate tax overhaul that he said would avoid a repeat of the Apple case. Speaking to the Irish Independent after the launch of his proposal for a common consolidated corporate tax base - a new standardised way for large multinationals to calculate and pay their EU taxes - Mr Moscovici (inset) said Ireland was moving away from its "previous reputation". "I understand the sensitivity of the Irish Government, but I think that we need to discuss that in a smooth way, a serene way, a constructive way," Mr Moscovici said. "Ireland has made considerable progress towards a tax governance which is more transparent, and tried to move away from a previous reputation," Mr Moscovici said. "What we want to do is create a framework which prevents future Apple cases, and it's in the interest of all countries, including Ireland, to go that direction," he said in Brussels yesterday. He was speaking after the Commission unveiled a new system for calculating the corporate tax bills of large multinationals - those with global revenues over 750m - that operate in the EU. It has also put forward a formula to decide where in the EU those taxes should be paid, by treating all the companies in a group as one and sharing out the tax take where the group's sales, assets and payroll are based. It will not touch tax rates, but only the way taxes are computed and paid, with Mr Moscovici insisting again that "we are not trying to create a minimum tax rate". But critics, including Irish MEP Marian Harkin - who tackled Mr Moscovici about the issue in the European Parliament this week - say the move might shrink Ireland's tax revenues by forcing companies to pay their tax bills in larger countries. The European Commission admits Ireland's corporate tax revenues would shrink by 0.14pc of the size of the economy - equal to roughly 300m - as a result of the proposal, but says Luxembourg and the UK would suffer more. "My commitments to the Irish Government and to Michael Noonan are very clear, and I repeat that again: this project is for more clarity, more transparency, more efficiency, more fairness; it doesn't plan to hurt the attractiveness or the competitiveness of any country," Mr Moscovici said. Ireland has long opposed EU tax harmonisation, and previous plans have been dropped. The Commission says this time it's different: the proposal has been split in two, leaving the controversial "consolidation" or sharing out of multinationals' tax bills to a later stage. He also believes the public mood has shifted in favour of a corporate tax clampdown following the Panama Papers and a spate of other tax scandals. "I think there is a reasonable basis for consensus if there is not too much ideology in the reactions here or there," Mr Moscovici said, adding that he was "ready to take on board those concerns from the Irish authorities which I anticipate, imagine and understand". An Irish life-sciences startup has raised 36m in funding and says it will create 150 jobs. Genomics Medicine Ireland is to use the money to set up a genomic research and development centre in Dublin to try and identify genes that contribute to diseases such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes and cancer. The funding is being provided by a combination of investors including the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ARCH Venture Partners, Polaris Partners and GV (formerly Google Ventures). The 8bn Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) is controlled by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) and was set up to support economic activity and employment in the country. It has invested 2.4bn to date. "We look forward to working closely with the Irish healthcare system to develop better diagnostics and new means to optimise health and patient outcomes," said Daniel Crowley, acting chief executive of Genomics Medicine Ireland. "The size and characteristics of the Irish population can powerfully advance scientific discovery as researchers are able to pinpoint variations in DNA relevant to disease and useful for improving medicine." Genomics Medicine Ireland was founded last year by a group of biotech and life science entrepreneurs, investors and researchers. Its four co-founders are Daniel Crowley, Sean Ennis, Paul Thurk and Maurice Treacy. "This investment will enable Genomics Medicine Ireland to undertake comprehensive population-scale genome studies," said a spokesman. "These will improve understanding of the genetic and lifestyle factors involved in disease, contributing to better diagnostics and more effective prevention and wellness. Genomics Medicine Ireland expects to announce its first collaboration with an Irish hospital in the coming weeks and is actively engaged in talks with a number of clinical collaborators island-wide." Fashion giant Massimo Dutti has confirmed it intends to open further Irish stores as soon as opportunities arise - as pre-tax profits at the firm plummeted by 98pc to 14,000. New accounts show Massimo Dutti Ireland last year sustained the drop in pre-tax profits and revenues as one of its two Irish stores at Dundrum Town Centre was closed for a period for a major refit. During 2015, the firm's revenues declined by 4.5pc from 8.15m to 7.78m. The firm opened its second Irish store at 65/66 Grafton Street in Dublin at the end of January 2014 in premises which previously housed HMV's flagship Irish operation. According to the directors' report, they plan to open further stores as soon as suitable opportunities arise and have targeted a rise in profitability as a result of the continuing increase in sales. The fashion retailer operates the outlet over three storeys on Grafton Street and this contributed to the firm's operating lease costs totalling 1.37m in 2015. Numbers employed last year fell from 41 to 40 with staff costs increasing from 1.15m to 1.16m. The gross margin for the year averaged 56pc of sales compared to 60pc for the previous year. The company's merchandise is purchased exclusively from a group undertaking in Spain. Selling and distribution costs rose by 3pc to 4.1m. The profits take account of non-cash depreciation costs of 378,000. Shareholder funds of 2.33m included 474,000 in cash. The firm's accumulated profits stood at 837,000. Massimo Dutti is part of the Spanish-based Inditex clothing group, which is behind the huge Zara brand. It was founded in 1985 and was acquired by Inditex in 1991. It now has over 860 stores in more than 74 countries. Here are the main business stories from this morning's papers: Irish Independent * European Commission tax chief Pierre Moscovici has urged Ireland to support a corporate tax overhaul that he said would avoid a repeat of the Apple case. Speaking to the Irish Independent after the launch of his proposal for a common consolidated corporate tax base - a new standardised way for large multinationals to calculate and pay their EU taxes - Mr Moscovici (inset) said Ireland was moving away from its "previous reputation". * British property company U+I (formerly Development Securities) has sought permission from Dublin City Council for the development of an additional 10,000 sq ft of office space at Donnybrook House in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. The company purchased the 1970s office building for 9m in December 2014, along with the former Charlemont Clinic in Dublin, which it acquired for some 7.1m * Britain's Clydesdale Bank has said it made an offer to buy Williams & Glyn, the business Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) must sell under European state aid rules. The move by Glasgow-based Clydesdale could end a costly seven-year process by RBS to offload Williams & Glyn, after it was ordered by the European Union to sell it as a condition of its taxpayer-funded rescue at the peak of the global financial crisis. The Irish Times * Cityjet and Aer Lingus Regional operator Stobart Air are set to announce a deal that should move the pair's merger closer to completion. Cityjet is set to fly four European routes or Stobart from Southend in Airport with the aim of increasing traffic there by around 600,000 customers. * Permanent TSB is looking to land up to 100m worth of performing home loans that come from GE Capital's ex-Irish portfolio. PTSB's move comes as Irish banks look for areas of new growth. * More than two-thirds of Irish businesses are expecting to give pay increases to their staff next year with a number of them also looking to take on extra staff, new research has shown. According to a study from business group Ibec, 71pc of businesses will look to increase basic pay with the most common rise set to amount to around 2pc. Irish Examiner * The value of State-owned AIB is to be diminished by billions due to the hammering European bank shares have taken so far this year. The drop off in value could delay further the long-touted sale of an initial stake in the bank. * Men and women may not reach economic equality for another 170 years, new research from the World Economic Forum has shown. The research has shown progress on the economic gap between the sexes has slowed, moving backward from the 118-year wait originally predicted. * Pre-tax profits at drinks company Teeling Whiskey last year soared by 73pc to 2.95m. New accounts show that the firm behind the Teeling Whiskey brand enjoyed a large hike in profits after revenues increased more than three-fold, going from 6.9m to 24.58m. For whatever reason, Mr OBrien has decided now is the time to take on Sinn Fein and the perception of his role in Irish media Photo: Bloomberg For somebody who owns a lot of media interests, Denis O'Brien doesn't often appear in print, on radio or online by choice. His interactions with journalists are usually limited to the odd interview with the likes of Bloomberg, primarily on business matters, and occasionally stray into unavoidable topics like water charges. On Tuesday, his representatives told the Irish Independent they had no comment to make on a Sinn Fein-commissioned report into media ownership. So it's fair to say that when a 900-word statement arrived yesterday, it was unexpected. But even more surprising was the content and the tone. To break it down, the businessman had two very clear messages. The first was about the Sinn Fein agenda against big businesspeople. He described the party as "anti-enterprise and anti-Irish", suggesting that if it is so concerned about freedom of the press, it should become "a fully fledged broadcaster and publisher and create some jobs for a change". Of course, it's not unusual for businesspeople to criticise Gerry Adams's party in this way. Before the general election, Ibec said there would be "a direct correlation with a left-leaning Sinn Fein-type government and the high cost of capital, less public services, more jobs at risk and less investment". The second point was about media ownership. Aside from pointing out some basic inaccuracies in the report, he tried to outline his view of the landscape in which journalists today work. INM, which publishes this newspaper, was, according to Mr O'Brien, "days from forced closure back in 2011". I don't remember feeling we were days from closure but what happens in the boardroom rarely finds its way to the newsroom. He was essentially posing the question as to whether Sinn Fein would prefer if INM had collapsed at the height of the recession. Of course, the answer is probably 'yes'. Sinn Fein, more than any party, bristles under the spotlight. Some INM titles have, over many years and under different editors and ownerships, legitimately been healthily sceptical of the party's relationship with the truth. For a party that prefers fawning friends in the media, this has been hard to take. For all the talk in the Sinn Fein-backed report on media ownership, it totally ignored several developments in the media landscape in the last few years. Notably, it failed to recognise Rupert Murdoch's snapping-up of radio stations in Ireland and the expected consolidation with his newspapers here. Similarly, it failed to acknowledge Virgin Media's strong new presence on the island as a major television player, with three stations, and a formidable broadband presence. Facebook is by far the biggest media player in Ireland, and the rest of the globe, but no emphasis is put on this. Back to Mr O'Brien. He said: "I am the owner of Communicorp which like RTE, TV3, 'The Irish Examiner' and 'The Sunday Business Post' operates in a very challenging environment." "I understand 'The Irish Times' is currently considering various funding options. I believe that some media companies will not survive this decade without radical structuring including substantial funding." Regardless of what you think of the billionaire, it's an analysis that even his biggest critics would struggle to disagree with. For whatever reason, Mr O'Brien has decided now is the time to take on Sinn Fein and the perception of his role in Irish media. It's something other business leaders speak about in private, now he has brought it to the surface. Whether Sinn Fein - with its multi-millions in funding - will take up his recommendation of buying into media is another matter. Does anyone really have the appetite to buy a Republican version of 'Pravda' or sit in front of an Sinn Fein version of Russia Today? On his views of the unfolding print media landscape, it's a battle that we will follow just as closely as those on the outside. Q: A member of staff who performs a key role within the business has come up with an idea that he wants to be self-employed and continue to do his work for me, while also taking on other clients. I'm happy this will work, but the fees he is proposing are higher than I pay and he wants to start this new arrangement in four weeks' time. What should I do? A: Many business now outsource functions which were once in-house. Under no circumstances can you increase the cost of what you are paying for a particular function, as it will instantly affect the profitability of the business. I also get a sense that this is all rather rushed and is not running to your timescale. While you want to be very supportive of the initiative, and it could well be a major advantage to the business to outsource this role, you need to start by sitting down with the employee and explain that it needs to be at a time that suits your business. Despite their enthusiasm for getting started, for their sake and the sake of the business, you need to be certain that you have worked out all of the minute details, as an error at this stage could be disastrous for both sides. It would appear that your employee is looking for you to cover all of their costs and salary and is looking at additional business they will get as a bonus. While that would be a wonderful situation for your employee, in reality, there are no advantages to you for this. I would have expected the new model to offer some efficiencies to make it attractive for you to move the business to an outsourced model and this would also incentivise the employee to have to work harder to recruit other clients to boost their income above what it is currently. It would be all too cosy for your employee to leave, get greater pay for work they are currently doing and treat their new clients as the icing on the cake. While I would encourage you to actively explore this model, it is not your job to set your employee up in business or subsidise them by over-paying for the service. You could certainly provide support like letting them use a desk in your office for the first two months until they have built up their business, however there must be a commercial benefit for you or it is a non-runner. Q: Can you suggest any ways I might attract more customers into my hair salon business? A: It is good that you are looking at ways to generate new business. Before I respond with suggestions on how to get new customers in, I would first like to challenge you and ask are you doing enough with your existing customers to retain them and increase the frequency of visits and spend levels with you? Working with your existing customer base is always going to be an easier win than trying to attract new people who don't know your business. Simple things you could do with your existing customer base include developing a good text marketing programme which is used no more than eight times per year; developing a loyalty scheme to encourage more repeat visits; running talks and events with guest stylists for your customer base. In terms of attracting new customers, obviously a great website and digital media strategy are mandatory and, from time to time, I would encourage you to drop a high-quality brochure throughout the neighbourhoods you are servicing. Partnering with an existing retailer in your town who might give out vouchers for your salon or might text their customers on your behalf could also be an interesting initiative. You also need to be attracting some free PR and media coverage through innovative events to keep your name in the public arena. Work with your existing customers first, and only when you have exhausted your energy and resources here should you start to look at attracting new customers. You will find that a much more robust strategy. Send your small business questions to himself@feargalquinn.ie Subscribe to The Ready Business show, in association with Vodafone via iTunes or SoundCloud. How do you get investment from the original Dragon on Dragons den? What does Gavin Duffy look for if youre pitching a business idea to him? "I'm only a serial entrepreneur because I failed at so many things," he tells Brian Purcell on this week's Ready Business show. "There probably hasnt been anyone who has re-invented themselves as much as myself." "I genuinely love start-ups, but I get bored with the idea once it's up and running and I want to move on to the next challenge. Unfortunately, entrepreneurship is a disease, it's not something to be wished upon every person!" Brought up in the family pub and restaurant scene The Gem in Naas was a main stopping off point for Cork and Kerry people going to Dublin - he got used to dealing with the public on a daily basis. "If my father ever heard us saying anything disrespectful about customers, wed get a good clip in the ear. It makes you realise the importance of customer service from a young age." Aged just 18 he was running his own successful pirate radio station but says being an entrepreneur can also be a lonely furrow that does have isolation and loneliness around it. As to his advice for what makes a successful pitch? "You must have a compelling proposition. Take Kate Hyde who walked in on Dragons Den and said, 'Hey Dragons, there will be 27,000 weddings in Ireland this year with a whole industry around each of them. There has to be 27,000 hen parties as a result and theres nothing there for them yet and I'm going to create the marketplace for it.' That was a compelling proposition." Gavin Duffy also has some timely and relevant advice for why you get into business. "Whatever area you go into, theres going to be sacrifices on your time and being away from your family, so whatever it is, make sure its going to pay you handsomely for all that effort in the end." "And most importantly, you should also make sure to pull the plug on your business if its struggling or not really flying. Have a go at something else. Dont keep dragging it on. First and foremost what determines a successful business is timing. Don't forget: remind me of the problem I have and the solution youve got for me thats what sales and communication is all about." The Ready Business show, in association with Vodafone , is available via iTunes , SoundCloud and Stitcher or subscribe to the RSS feed of the Ready Business Podcast using your favourite podcatcher. You can check out the full Ready Business Podcast series here . Sponsored by: Alphabet, the parent company of technology giant Google, has reported a 20pc jump in revenue in its latest financial results. Meanwhile Amazon also reported positive numbers in its own results - with sales for the e-commerce giant up 29pc on the same period last year to $32.7bn. Amazon chief Jeff Bezos suggested the launch of smart home assistant Amazon Echo in the US and UK, which is powered by artificial intelligence called Alexa, was a key part of the growth. "Alexa may be Amazon's most loved invention yet - literally - with over 250,000 marriage proposals from customers and counting," he said. "And she's just getting better. Because Alexa's brain is in the cloud, we can easily and continuously add to her capabilities and make her more useful - wait until you see some of the surprises the team is working on now." Alphabet's strong results were driven by revenue of $22.5bn for the last quarter, up from $18.7bn in the same period last year. As expected, the vast majority of this money came from the Google business, with only around 200 million dollars coming from the so-called "Other Bets" area of Alphabet as a whole, which includes the self-driving car business and technology it continues to test in California. Alphabet's chief financial officer Ruth Porat said: "We had a great third quarter, with 20% revenue growth year on year, and 23% on a constant currency basis. Mobile search and video are powering our core advertising business and we're excited about the progress of newer businesses in Google and Other Bets." The Other Bets segment of the company, which contains the so-called "moonshot idea" projects including driverless cars and WiFi signal-carrying weather balloons continues to operate at a loss, however this dropped from 980 million dollars (804 million) in the last quarter to 865 million dollars (710 million) in the latest results. The reports were in stark contrast to those of Twitter, who opted to release its latest financial report before markets opened in the US on Thursday morning. The firm made a net loss of 102 million US dollars (83 million) in the three months to the end of September, also announcing that it will be cutting more than 300 jobs globally as part of a shake-up of the business. Later the social media giant also revealed it was to discontinue video sharing service Vine "in the coming months". Twitter has announced that it plans to shut down video sharing service Vine "in the coming months". The social media platform plans to discontinue the mobile app, acquired in 2012, but an exact date is yet unknown. Users have been utilising Vine since early 2013 - a service with allows the capture and sharing of looping six second video clips. Twitter said that it would give users a chance to access and download their vines before the service shuts down completely. Leave a light on https://t.co/uYyIpJlOzv Vine (@vine) October 27, 2016 In a blog posted on medium, Twitter also said that it would keep the website up online. "Thank you. Thank you. To all the creators out there -- thank you for taking a chance on this app back in the day," the company announcement today read. "To the many team members over the years who made this what it was -- thank you for your contributions. And of course, thank you to all of those who came to watch and laugh every day." The announcement follows the recent report that Twitter has announced it is to lay off nine per cent of its workforce, or roughly 350 people. "RIP VINE #GoneTooSoon," tweeted Patricia Laire (@patricialaire). "VINE IS A QUARTER OF MY LIFE I'M SO UPSET," wrote Twitter user moon (@hrtbreaker_mp3). Others, however, saw the news as inevitable. "We all knew Vine was not forever," tweeted Tyzano (@Tyzano). "It just could not compete with other platforms." Deutsche Bank posted an unexpected net profit of 278m in the third quarter after a record loss in the year-earlier period as it benefited from a surge in bond trading that boosted all Wall Street banks' earnings. "We continued to make good progress on restructuring the bank. However, in the past several weeks these positive developments were overshadowed by the attention around our negotiations concerning the Residential Mortgage Backed Securities matter in the United States. This had an unsettling effect," chief executive John Cryan said in a statement on Thursday. Deutsche Bank shares rose 3.6pc in pre-market trading at brokerage Lang & Schwarz, while Germany's blue-chip index was seen down 0.4pc. Deutsche Bank hiked the amount of money it has set aside to cover the legal bill for its numerous missteps of the past. Litigation reserves rose to 5.9bn from 5.5bn at the end of June. Deutsche Bank is fighting a $14bn demand from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) over the misselling of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis. "Discussions with the DOJ to resolve its investigation of Deutsche Banks pre-financial crisis RMBS business are ongoing," Deutsche Bank said in a presentation. It gave no information on when it expects to settle the case. Revenues were up slightly at 7.5bn in the quarter, ahead analysts' expectations, mainly driven by Deutsche's trading activities, while business declined in all other operating businesses mainly due to the effects of the low interest-rate environment. Deutsche Bank's cash cow bond trading division, which has volatile revenues and tough capital requirements to meet, was up 14pc in the quarter, driven by Britain's surprise vote to leave the European Union and bouts of anxiety about monetary policy around the world. Compared to its peers, Deutsche Bank's bond trading activities however showed a subdued rebound, in part related to its decision to trim the unit. In equities trading, Deutsche Bank saw revenues decline in the quarter as low stock markets volatility gave investors less reason to trade, while revenues from corporate and investment banking fell by 1pc due to weaker M&A fees and capital markets activity. In an unassuming pub off the Strand in London, two blokes sit drinking pints of ale. They are casual, a little bit scruffy, slightly unshaven. One is clutching an e-cigarette in his hands, the other explaining that the pub serves a mean black pudding sandwich. Just a couple of childhood friends enjoying some beer between meetings, then, except for the fact that they've sold two-and-a-half million books between them. Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris are the authors of the hugely popular Ladybird books for grown-ups, which marry archive art from the 60s through to the 80s with modern-day social observation. The Ladybird book of the 'Hipster', the 'Hangover' and the 'Mid-Life Crisis' have all flown off the shelves. Their tome on mindfulness can be found next to the tills of every gift shop from Longford to East London. They know of vicars handing out 'The Husband' and 'The Wife' to couples they have just married; then there is the Ladybird book of 'The Shed', the Ladybird Book of 'Dating' and the 'How it Works' guides to the mum, the dad and the student, which pretty much covers present bases for almost everyone in your life. Hazeley and Morris are among their home nation's biggest-selling writers - only JK Rowling, Julia Donaldson and David Walliams sold more last year. Their almost complete dominance of the best-sellers list irks many writers (myself included) who have been told by their publishers that their book "would have made the top 10 a year ago before the Ladybird books started taking up positions one through to nine". Expand Close Ladybird books / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ladybird books And it is only set to get worse with the release this week of eight new titles: 'The Ladybird book of the Zombie Apocalypse'; 'The Ladybird Book of the Sickie'; 'The Ladybird Book of Red Tape'; 'The Ladybird book of the Meeting'; 'The Ladybird Book of The People Next Door'; plus 'how it works' guides on dogs, cats and grandparents. "I hate you," I sort of joke, having spent much of my day weeping with laughter at the new books. "I know, I know!" says Hazeley. "When we went to Penguin with the 'Hipster' idea, we thought it might sell 60,000 tops." As it so happens, the 'Hipster' is the least successful of the franchise, which pleases Morris because "the most hipsterish thing for it to do is to not be a sellout." Anyway, the duo tell me that the satirist Charlie Brooker told them "I'm physically angry that you've come up with an idea this good." Morris told Brooker he liked that joke. "And then we were talking to a friend who had been round his for dinner and they said, 'no, he really is cross with you!'" Hazeley and Morris, who are 45 and 46 respectively, met at sixth form in Cheltenham. "We were banished from the playing fields because we both ran away from balls," says Hazeley. "We were frightened of them. And they banished us to an ancient and honourable institution called the computer room, where they produced the school newsletter. It was our job to take all these notes from the teachers and the PTA and type them into a big document and then a newsletter would come out with the right font and the school crest at the top. "But what you should never do is give two 17-year-old comedy fans access to the means of production because what happens is that within a fortnight there is a pastiche newsletter going round under the desks full of absolute nonsense." "And we've been doing that ever since," smiles Morris. The two sold their first sketch to Russ Abbott when they were just 18. They have worked together on and off ever since - both had brief spells in the music industry - and have written for comedians including Brooker, Miranda Hart, Paul O'Grady, Alan Carr, Mitchell and Webb and Armstrong and Miller. They were part of the team of writers on 'Paddington' (they have also done the sequel, which has just started shooting) and have written for the children's channel CBBC. Video of the Day "Having worked on 'Paddington' there was a sense of 'you give us a children's national treasure, we won't smash it into the wall'", says Morris. "They [the books] are a pastiche, not a parody. They are meant to celebrate Ladybird, not to make it seem stupid. Because Ladybird wasn't stupid. It was brilliant." They say their idea for the books was a "simple" one, but it was born out of a life-long passion for the brand. Both Hazeley and Morris are obsessed with what they call 'vintage commercial art' and had long been avid fans of the Ladybird books, particularly their illustrations, collecting prints to hang at home (both bought an original piece of work when the books hit one million sales). When they discovered there was a huge archive of Ladybird artwork sitting in a factory somewhere unused, they made their pitch to Penguin, who they had been working with on what they call 'toilet humour' books for 16 years. "These were the first books that they said yes to in about a decade," says Hazeley. "We were having two or three lunches a year with our publishers and we always got a 'meh'." They have made a pretty penny for Penguin - some figures say 8.3 million - but they say they are hardly millionaires. "Only half the book is our work and then we have to split that half," says Hazeley. "And it's half the price of all the other hardbacks." "I bought a new bin," says Morris. "And I got a flash new suitcase." It's not really about the money for them anyway. They show me the cover of one of their new books, which features a painting of a kettle. "Look at that!" exclaims Hazeley. "Gerald Whitcomb painted that. How the f**k do you paint that? How. Do. You. Do. It? I can't understand how you can paint the light dancing off a piece of steel like that. It's magic, isn't it, surely?" This passion is at the heart of their success, though they modestly protest that it's because nobody knows how to buy gifts for men. "We knew that if they were going to work they had to be in the same key as Ladybird," continues Hazeley. "There were so many Ladybird pastiches on the internet that were basically: childish image, swear words. And we knew it couldn't be that. There's a richness of language when you have to tiptoe around things, when you can't swear. It's so old-fashioned. You can almost smell the baco-lite." It's been suggested to them that they do books on Brexit and Trump. "Our answer to that is 'no, because they're not funny'," says Morris. "People say we should do one about the teacher and that seems like a good idea until you think of all the poor teachers on the last day of term receiving 20 copies of it as a present. That's not charming." They're definitely going to do one on nerds, pointing out that they have taken over the world (that they have, I joke). "We'll continue doing it as long as we're having fun," says Hazeley. "When you sell lots of books part of you wants it to be this astonishing novel that's from your soul," smiles Morris, "but then I look at the 'Mid-Life Crisis' and think 'that's the most autobiographical book I will ever write'." "I think these books are our mid-life crisis," laughs Hazeley. "But life is quite serious at the moment," continues Morris. "To see these books produce an actual physical reaction of joy well that's just great, isn't it?" Telegraph Eight new Ladybird Books for Grownups published by Penguin are out now, priced 9.99 There are plenty of ways you can spend the day off. Photo: Getty With up to 18,000 teachers currently taking to the picket line to protest about pay parity, many more students are probably still in bed. Here are 10 things you can do to make the most of your day off: 1. Have a Harry Potter marathon Ever wish you could have a day off to watch every Harry Potter movie from start to finish? Well, now is your chance. Expand Close Midnight parties for the new book are to be held around the world, including at stores in Dublin and Cork / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Midnight parties for the new book are to be held around the world, including at stores in Dublin and Cork 2. Study Technically, you should be in school right now. Do the right thing and open up the books. 3. Clean your room Its easy to make excuses for your room being a tip when youre busy with school and being a social butterfly on the weekends. Today is your opportunity to stop your mum annoying you about the pile of clothes on the floor seize the moment . Expand Close Some 31 per cent of adults living with children under the age of 18 said they have squeezed into a smaller room to give their offspring more space / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Some 31 per cent of adults living with children under the age of 18 said they have squeezed into a smaller room to give their offspring more space 4. Go shopping in Newry A great opportunity to get some early Christmas shopping in; especially with the sterling being low. Who knows, you may even run into some of your teachers there 5. Practice your cooking If youre a Leaving Cert student, college is just around the corner. While you can still bring the washing home to mammy on the weekends, you will unfortunately have to cook for yourself. Dont be the stereotypical student who lives off pasta and noodles. Watch some Great British Bake Off reruns and be inspired. 6. Get started on your Halloween costume Dressing up as Donald Trump for Halloween? Use today to put on your first ten layers of fake tan and find the perfect wig. 7. Go sightseeing Never been to Glendalough, the Giants Causeway or the Cliffs of Moher? Why not use today to visit one of Irelands many beautiful attractions. 8. Finally start that fitness buzz youve been talking about We all put off exercise now and then. Why not use today to go on that jog youve been talking about for ages. Alternatively, wait until Monday like every other Irish person does. 9. Have a major Netflix binge People would like to believe students will use the day off to study, but in reality, the most productive decision a lot of you will make today is what new show to watch on Netflix. Everyone has been raving about Jessica Jones, Stranger Things and Narcos, so today could be your chance to get hooked on either of them. Expand Close Netflix / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Netflix 10. Make a study plan for Christmas exams/plan how to spend your mid-term Use today to do up your study plan for the Christmas exams, or, alternatively, make plans with friends for your week off next week. The options are endless! The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said 86,000 people had been forced to boil their water this year to make it safe double the number in 2015 (Stock photo) More than 830,000 people could be forced to boil their drinking water unless Irish Water upgrades 108 treatment plants. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said 86,000 people had been forced to boil their water this year to make it safe - double the number in 2015 - and sustained investment in the network was needed to eliminate health threats. It also revealed it had issued 31 legally binding directions to Irish Water to complete works across the country, adding that six of these were "avoidable" but were issued because the utility failed to respond with detailed action plans to complete safety works. The details are contained in the 'Drinking Water Report' for public supplies published this morning. It revealed that overall drinking-water quality remains high, but that the public is subject to health risks due to a sustained lack of investment over years. "There are 108 supplies on the Remedial Action List [RAL, meaning they need upgrades], down from 115 last year," EPA senior inspector Darragh Page said. "There hasn't been a huge drop and that's a concern. Those supplies need to be upgraded sooner rather than later." He said that the 31 directions were issued to Irish Water after the utility failed to provide detailed information on upgrade works where problems had been identified. "In some cases they didn't come back with an adequate response. In other cases, we have requested information and the responses weren't what they should have been. "They're all avoidable directions. In other cases, we weren't getting a definitive plan for the RAL. They would have a direction to commit to an action." The report revealed that 99.9pc of water samples tested complied with biological standards, and 99.4pc with chemical standards. Some 35 boil water notices were in place during 2015, affecting nearly 40,000 people. But the EPA said so far this year, 86,000 people had to boil their water to make it safe to drink. Investment Of the 108 supplies on the RAL, 73 have a problem with THMs. These chemicals are a by-product of the disinfection process, and are linked with increased risk of cancer. The European Commission has begun an infringement case against Ireland for failing to tackle this issue. Irish Water said it had set aside funding of 300m to address THM problems in the network. "We have replaced an ad-hoc approach with a more systematic and coherent programme combined with increased investment and enhanced operation," managing director Jerry Grant said, adding that its strategy was resulting in higher water-quality standards and benefits to communities. Carphone Warehouse has come under fire for it's 'pro-choice' campaign Carphone Warehouse has come under fire from both sides of the abortion debate after their pro-choice campaign. The campaign billboards, which feature a button stating the simple message Were pro-choice, say: The only place you get to choose your network, phone and plan, emphasising the amount of choice customers at Carphone Warehouse have. The campaign has been slammed by both sides of the debate as insensitive, cold and offensive. A comment on the Carphone Warehouse Facebook page said: Yeah, because publicly supporting the killing of babies will definitely get ye more sales... Not! Never did business with Carphone Warehouse and I never will. #savethe8th Another commenter said: I'm loathe to share this given it's extreme tackiness AND spectacular insensitivity but I do have a small chuckle at the fact that Carphone Warehouse Ireland have managed to insult everyone on either side of the #repealthe8th debate! The Abortion Rights Campaign criticised the campaign as a slap in the face given the company is not materially supporting the Repeal campaign. I hope #carphonewarehouse are putting their money where their logos are and making a generous donation to @freesafelegal / @AbortionSupport. Grainne Lynch (@gronya) October 27, 2016 Its a slap in the face, not only to the thousands of women who travel every day, but the thousands who cannot travel for various reasons. To commodify the pro-choice movement in this way without any altruism comes off as a mockery of womens lack of human rights, the statement said. Also, its not a very clever joke. Theyve thrown a baby, a fake ballot about marriage equality, and a pro-choice badge onto their homepage header, as if they couldnt decide which controversial issue they wanted to use in order to gain the most publicity. Though the company have faced the most ire over the abortion issue, the campaign also seems to hit on issues of gender and marriage equality in a seemingly disorganised collection of progressive viewpoints. Their pro-marriage equality statement has also come under fire from anti-marriage equality activists who campaigned for the No side in last years referendum. In a statement to Independent.ie, Carphone Warehouse claimed that they were not putting forward a political statement. The campaign features seven topically themed advertisements around the subject of choice. The language and imagery used in the campaign is designed to be deliberately striking, engaging and thought-provoking. We are not making any comment on the current debate in Ireland nor are we seeking to trivialise the issue. We believe that most people will understand the premise of this campaign and the context. Independent TD Clare Daly has launched an unprecedented attack on the judge who issued a bench warrant for her when she failed to appear before a court hearing on a speeding charge. In her extraordinary comments, Ms Daly labelled Judge Desmond Zaidans decision to issue a warrant as ludicrous and claimed he was causing huge problems with regard to the administration of justice. She claimed the judge singled her out for a bench warrant after she left Naas District Court three weeks ago. Earlier on Wednesday, she was fined 300 for the speeding offence and was accused of showing a total disrespect for the law by Mr Justice Zaidan. The judge said he issued the warrant because Ms Dalys solicitor did not offer a reason for his client leaving the court. He also accused her of abusing the court process by changing her plea to not guilty while not having the courtesy to tell the courts why. During the hearing Mr Justice Zaidan told the TD to "stand up straight". On Wednesday night, during a Dail debate on judicial appointment, Ms Daly then attacked Mr Justice Zaidan saying her case was an example of the outrageous decisions taking place in the courts Ms Daly said she received a summons to appear before Naas District Court for allegedly breaking the speed limit. She said the case was not down for a full hearing the day she appeared and was listed as 188 on the court schedule. Ms Daly said the judge is known for religiously hearing cases in the order they appear on his list. On the day, she watched the cases being heard until lunch time before instructing her solicitor and leaving. She claimed the judge reached the 175th case by the end of the sitting but then jumped to her case and called her solicitor before the court to explain his clients absence. I watched how the judge had dealt with the cases there before me, saw cases were people had not turned up on similar charges, did not have a solicitor on similar charges and no bench warrants or any proceedings were dealt with, she said. I had to listen to the same judge lecturing me about respecting his court, not giving me an opportunity to say anything about his irrational decision, she added. Yesterday, when her case was called, her solicitor Cairbre Finan told Judge Zaidan that his client wished to convey to the court that there was no insult intended or implied in her actions on the last occasion. He also said Ms Daly wished to change her plea to not guilty, but Judge Zaidan said he would require a reason for this change before he would allow it. Today the case is listed for sentencing, he said. When the case was called again, Mr Finan said the position remained that Ms Daly wished to plead not guilty, and he admitted he would have to excuse himself from the case following the change of instructions. Judge Zaidan reiterated that the case was in for sentencing and refused to allow her to change her plea. Inspector Patsy Glennon told the court that on January 1 last, Ms Dalys car was detected travelling at 59kmh in a 50kmh zone at Ballymany, Newbridge. Insp Glennon said the defendant has two previous convictions dating back to the same incident when she breached the perimeter of Shannon Airport. Ms Daly interrupted court proceedings to say that it was very unfair on Mr Finan when the judge invited him to address the evidence that had been presented against her. The judge told her she could have her say, and instructed her to stand up straight. He outlined the history of the case and the issuing of the bench warrant which, he clarified, was because Mr Finan had been unable to give a reason for why she had left. He reiterated that he thought it was disrespectful to the court. He also took issue with comments which he said were attributed to her in the Irish Times, to the effect that the bench warrant was rubbish. If every citizen took that view, one would have to seriously question where it leaves the administration of justice, he said. Mr Finan said his clients comments referred to media reaction to the bench warrant rather than the courts action. He added that she had not spoken to the Irish Times. Judge Zaidan suggested that if your client thinks the Irish Times has misquoted her, she should take it up with the paper. He described Ms Dalys attempt to change her plea as a total abuse of court process when she didnt have the common courtesy to tell the court why. Ms Daly said she hoped she would have an opportunity to speak, to respond to several inaccuracies in what youve said. The judge said that she would have, although once he had finalised his comments by fining her he closed the case and called for the next case. Recognisances were fixed at a cash bond of 100 should Ms Daly decide to appeal. Maeve Bell (38), from Dundalk, Co Louth, who yesterday was jailed for 15 months. Photo: Collins A former nursing home manager has been jailed for 15 months after she stole 45,000. Maeve Bell (38) was the clinical manager at Elmhurst nursing home in Glasnevin, Dublin, when she began siphoning off money from the "comfort account" of a resident. Judge Martin Nolan said he was surprised to hear the nursing home has not compensated the resident. He asked the gardai to consider bringing the matter to the Ombudsman. Highfield Healthcare, which runs Elmhurst, has in place a system of comfort accounts to pay for the residents' upkeep and needs. Bell stole the money by making withdrawal requests on behalf of the resident. Bell, formerly of Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, and with an address at Shanmullagh, Hackballscross, Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of stealing money between July 2013 and October 2014. A statement from Highfield Healthcare said it had "worked closely and transparently with An Garda Siochana to support its resident in relation to today's criminal case. "Highfield Healthcare had to await the decision of the Criminal Court so that it could ascertain the level of monies stolen. Highfield Healthcare will now immediately pay its resident these monies." Independent TD Clare Daly has launched an unprecedented attack on the judge who issued a bench warrant for her arrest when she failed to appear before a court hearing on a speeding charge. Ms Daly labelled Judge Desmond Zaidan's decision to issue a warrant as "ludicrous" and claimed he was "causing huge problems with regard to the administration of justice". She claimed the judge singled her out for a bench warrant after she left Naas District Court three weeks ago. Yesterday, she was fined 300 for the speeding offence and was accused of showing a "total disrespect for the law" by Mr Justice Zaidan. The judge said he issued the warrant because Ms Daly's solicitor did not offer a reason for his client leaving the court. He also accused her of abusing the court process by changing her plea to not guilty while "not having the courtesy to tell the courts why". Last night, during a Dail debate on judicial appointment, Ms Daly then attacked Mr Justice Zaidan, saying her case was an example of the "outrageous decisions" made in the courts. Ms Daly said she got a summons to appear before Naas District Court for "allegedly" breaking the speed limit. She said the case was not down for a full hearing the day she appeared and was listed as 188 on the court schedule. Ms Daly said the judge is known for "religiously" hearing cases in the order they appear on his list. On the day, she watched the cases being heard until lunch time before instructing her solicitor and leaving. She claimed the judge reached the 175th case by the end of the sitting but then "jumped" to her case and called her solicitor before the court to explain his client's absence. "I watched how the judge had dealt with the cases there before me, saw cases where people had not turned up on similar charges, did not have a solicitor on similar charges and no bench warrants or any proceedings were dealt with," she said. "I had to listen to the same judge lecturing me about respecting his court, not giving me an opportunity to say anything about his irrational decision." Notorious gangland killer Gary Campion has failed in a bid to mount a Supreme Court challenge over the admissibility of a witness interview which led to his conviction. Campion (32) was jailed for life after a jury was told of interviews with witness Erol Ibrahim, in which he described seeing the killer shoot dead former associate Frank Ryan in Limerick in 2006. Thanks to a law enacted that year, the statements were admitted in evidence, even though Ibrahim later claimed on the stand he had lied and would have said anything to get out of Garda custody. Under Section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, statements can be admitted where the witness later denies the contents, as long as the court was satisfied that the original statement was made voluntarily and was reliable. It was introduced in a bid to address instances where witnesses withdrew statements in court due to intimidation or fear of reprisal. Lawyers for Campion, who is also serving a life sentence for the murder of Limerick bouncer Brian Fitzgerald, had been seeking to challenge findings by the Court of Appeal, which ruled there was no error made when the trial judge allowed the interviews to go before the jury. They argued that the Court of Appeal had been wrong in holding that the statements were "voluntary" and "reliable". It was also claimed the trial judge's charge to the jury in relation to Section 16 was inadequate. However, the Supreme Court refused Campion leave to appeal. In a determination by Mr Justice Donal O'Donnell, Mr Justice William McKechnie and Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, it found the Court of Appeal had delivered a careful and comprehensive judgment. The judges found that arguments made on behalf of Campion did not reach the Constitutional threshold of raising a point of law of general public importance, or a point that had to be addressed in the interests of justice. Ibrahim was a friend of Ryan and was in a car with him and Campion when the murder occurred. Campion, who had just been released from prison two days earlier, shot Ryan twice in the head. Ibrahim voluntarily attended at a Garda station and denied knowing who shot the deceased. But he was later arrested for withholding information. While detained, a brother of the victim came to visit Ibrahim and told him it was the family's wish he should tell the truth and, if he did, he would not be labelled a 'rat'. Ibrahim then stated that Campion was the killer. He later expanded on this during videotaped interviews. Rachel Crawshaw pictured at Cork Circuit Court in relation to the unlawfull killing of John Palmer (37) and Greg Lonergan (36), at Granary Court, St Josephs Road, Mallow Pic Cork Courts Limited A young woman high on alcohol and prescription medication who started a fire in an apartment complex that resulted in the death of two men has been jailed for 10 years. Rachel Crawshaw (29) wept as Judge Sean ODonnabhain described her actions as hugely reckless in starting a fire with a cigarette lighter in a flat within a popular Cork apartment complex. Judge ODonnabhain said that but for the courage and professionalism of gardai Liam Phillips and Catriona OSullivan, who evacuated the complex, more lives would have been lost. Both gardai were so badly injured getting people out of the burning building that they had to be hospitalised. Expand Close Greg Lonergan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Greg Lonergan Crawshaw had pleaded guilty before Cork Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful killing of John Palmer (37) and Greg Lonergan (36). Crawshaw, of no fixed abode, also pleaded guilty to arson at Granary Court, St Josephs Road, Mallow, Co Cork, between March 12 and 13, 2014. The arson charge was brought contrary to the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. Judge ODonnabhain imposed a 15-year prison sentence but agreed to suspend the final five years in light of Crawshaws plea and remorse. The court heard that she was a chronic alcohol and drug addict who had had a chaotic upbringing. Expand Close Chris Palmer / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chris Palmer Gardai found Crawshaw and Christopher Palmer, the twin brother of John Palmer, unconscious in the complex at 12.10am that morning and dragged them to safety. Crawshaw was so distressed when she regained consciousness outside that she tried to get back into the burning building and had to be restrained. Owing to the heat and smoke, gardai were unable to get Mr Palmer and Mr Lonergan out of a top-floor flat. But they successfully evacuated all other residents from the complex. Mr Lonergans wife, Sonya, said her family would never get over what happened to my best friend. Greg was such a good man. He was a hard worker and a really nice person, she said. This is just too hard to bear. It is hurting really bad really deep in my heart. I knew her [Crawshaw] myself because she lived in the same terrace as me. I just cannot understand why she could do it. I will never understand it. Mrs Lonergan admitted that her loss was made all the more painful by the manner of her husbands funeral arrangements. He was 100pc burned to death that is what I was told. We couldnt even get to see him in the coffin. He was my best friend in life. No matter what happened here today, it wasnt ever going to bring Greg back. Gardai and Mallow fire brigade were alerted to a blaze at the Granary Court complex in the north Cork town at 12.08am on March 13, two years ago. When emergency services arrived at the new apartment complex, the fire had already engulfed one unit. Fire crews had to wear breathing apparatus to get into the smoke-filled complex. After gardai had evacuated all the other residents from the complex, fire crews located two men lying unconscious inside a rented top-floor apartment. Both were dragged out of the burning flat and given emergency treatment outside the building. Tragically, neither could be revived and both Mr Palmer and Mr Lonergan were pronounced dead at the scene by a Mallow GP. Both had suffered substantial burns. Gerard Stevens is accused of the murder of Dale Creighton Picture: Collins One of seven Dubliners charged with murdering a man said he didn't know why he had kicked a defenceless stranger in the head three times, adding that he "just got caught up" with it. A jury in their Central Criminal Court trial yesterday heard evidence of Garda interviews with accused Gerard Stevens, who initially denied involvement. Dale Creighton was assaulted on New Year's morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass between Saint Dominic's Road and Greenhills Road in Dublin. The 20-year-old died in hospital the following day. A woman and six men, who are in their 20s and from Tallaght, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. Each accused also initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at the footbridge. Jason Beresford later changed his plea and pleaded guilty to the violent disorder charge. Garda Kieran Kilcoyne testified he arrested Mr Stevens on the night of January 3 that year and interviewed him. He gave evidence Mr Stevens initially denied involvement, but he was then shown CCTV footage of himself and others assaulting Mr Creighton on the footbridge. When he was asked in interview about his involvement, he replied: "I just got caught up with that." The trial continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury of six men and six women. The accused are 23-year-old Aisling Burke and 28-year-old David Burke, both with a current address at Beechpark, Collinstown, Co Westmeath; Graham Palmer (26) with a current address at Park Avenue, Portarlington, Co Laois; Ross Callery (23), currently of Gortlum Cottages, Brittas, Co Dublin; James Reid (26) currently of Glen Aoibhinn, Gorey, Co Wexford; Jason Beresford (23), with an address at Coill Diarmada, Ard a' Laoi, Castledermot, Co Kildare; and Gerard Stevens (27), currently of Grosvenor Square, Rathmines in Dublin. Irish Rail has an absolute requirement to warn its customers to mind gaps between trains and platforms when getting on and off trains, a Circuit Civil Court has said. Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke made the remark after hearing a legal action by fisherman John Mooney against Irish Rail for a triple fracture he suffered on his right shoulder when he fell though the gap between the train entrance and the platform at Tara Street Station in Dublin. Mr Mooney told the court that on August 2, 2012, he was travelling on a commuter train from Dun Laoghaire with the intention to get off at Connolly Station in Dublin. He said he dismounted at Tara Street by mistake and when he realised his error, he tried to re-board the train. He had slipped and fallen through the gap, on the train tracks. Conor Bowman SC, counsel for Mooney, said his client suffered a triple fracture in the accident but managed to haul himself out of the gap and re-board the train. He had reported the incident to Irish Rail staff when he got off at Connolly Station. Irish Rail denied liability and claimed Mooney had been distracted and had failed to look where he was going. It alleged that the CCTV footage of the incident had been destroyed because it showed nothing. Mr Mooney, of St Michaels Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, said he had needed to return home that day due to pain in his shoulder. He had attended St Michaels Hospital, George Street Lower in Dun Laoghaire the next day where X-rays revealed the fractures. He said he had ongoing pain in his shoulder. Mr Bowman said Irish Rail accident reports showed that 11 accidents involving people falling through a gap had happened during the five years before Mr Mooneys accident. He said it was extraordinary that despite the fact that Mr Mooney had reported the incident and despite the fact that there are probably more CCTV cameras at Tara Street Station than there are at Pinewood Studios, no CCTV footage of the incident was available. Counsel said that once Mr Mooney had bought his ticket, he was entitled to travel safely and that obligation had not been met by Irish Rail. Judge Groarke, hearing that train drivers were responsible for delivering an audio warning to mind the gap, said he was satisfied that there had been no evidence that in this case the driver did so. The judge said there was a serious danger that if someone fell through the gap, the train driver might not be able to see them. I recognise that Mr Mooney, having got off the train at the wrong station, may have been distracted, but that is why it is all the more important that there should be a warning to remind people to be careful of the gap. He said he was satisfied Irish Rail was negligent. Initially awarding Mr Mooney 50,000 damages, Judge Groarke said he should have been more careful and was therefore 50% liable for the accident, and reduced his award to 25,000. A man who posed for tourists taking photographs in the town park as his accomplices robbed the group of their belongings will be sentenced in January. Brian Clarke (31) was later identified by gardai from the photographs on the camera. American tourist Ryan Dillon pursued the robbers but was surrounded by a group of youths who punched and kicked him. His partner tried to intervene and was punched in the gut. Mr Dillon's partner's 81-year-old grandmother witnessed the events and fled for her own safety. Dubln Circuit Criminal Court heard Clarke acted as a distraction and there was no evidence he used direct violence. Clarke, of St Cronans Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to robbery of American tourist Ryan Dillon at Swords Town Park on May 2, 2015. He has 55 previous convictions. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to allow a probation report be prepared. Garda Mairead Murray told Caroline Cummings BL, prosecuting, that Mr Dillon had been out for dinner with his partner and her 81-year-old grandmother on the first day of their holiday and afterwards the group went for a walk in the park in the area behind Swords Castle. They noticed that there was a group of young people also in the park. Mr Dillon was taking photographs when Clarke approached and offered to be in the pictures. As Clarke posed, a second person stole the camera bag on the ground. Mr Dillon ran after this person and they ended up on the ground as he caught up with him. Gda Murray said four to five youths, male and female, came over and began kicking and punching Mr Dillon. His partner attempted to intervene and she was punched to the gut. Mr Dillon then saw one person had a knife and told the group to just take his wallet. The items taken included cash, a camera bag, wallet, camera and mobile phone. Mr Dillon suffered a broken scapula and was accompanied to hospital by his partner. Her grandmother had to spend the night alone in her hotel room. Victim impact reports were handed to the judge but not read in open court. Gda Murray said she managed to secure the camera and identified Clarke as a person who had been posing in the initial photographs. He was arrested but denied anything untoward had happened. Gda Murray agreed with David Staunton BL, defending, that Clarke acted as a distraction while the others took items. Mr Staunton said that there was no evidence Clarke produced a knife or used direct violence. He said the offence was mean spirited and that the tourists had been confronted by this appalling situation on their first day in Ireland. He said he is cognisant of the severe impact on the victims. He said Clarke, who had suffered varying degrees of drug addiction during his life, had been coming before the courts for a significant number of years and served a cycle of moderately severe prison sentences in the past but had been released each time without any structures in place. Counsel asked Judge Greally to take into account what is in store for Clarke on release if the cycle of coming before the courts was to be stopped. A RAPIST who was clearly assaulted by a prison officer while serving his jail sentence has had a 225 award to him by a jury increased to 17,225 by the Court of Appeal. Mr Justice Gerard Hogan said some of the Castlerea Prison officers who gave evidence in the jury civil action taken by Darius Savickis had regrettably "told lies". One officer described CCTV evidence, in which Mr Savickis was clearly punched three or four times, as the officer "putting his hand in two or three times to remove (Savickis') clothing," the judge said. Mr Savickis (46), a father of two originally from Lithuania, was serving a six-year sentence at the time after he had pleaded guilty in July 2009 to orally raping a 23-year-old German woman walking home from work in Galway on November 28, 2005. A few months into his sentence in Castlerea Prison in Roscommon, he was involved in an incident in which he refused to go out to the exercise yard because he wasn't wearing a socks or jumper. He held on to a rail and a prison officer put him in a headlock while four or five other officers moved in and prised him from the railings to totally subdue him. Mr Justice Hogan said it was clear from the CCTV evidence Mr Savickis did not attempt to strike out at the officers, but did no more than cling to the railing. It was clear, the judge said, as he was being subdued he was struck some three or four times with punches to the chest by a particular officer. In Mr Savickis' High Court action, the jury rejected the majority of his claims but did find unreasonable force had been used by the officers. However, the jury concluded Savickis was 95 per cent responsible and this meant a 4,500 award it made to him was cut to just 224. He appealed arguing the jury findings were essentially perverse and unsupported by the evidence. The prison authorities and the State opposed the appeal. Mr Justice Hogan, with whom his two appeal court colleagues agreed, found he had been assaulted and awarded him 10,000. He awarded another 5,000 exemplary damages including because prison officers who gave evidence in the case repeatedly denied he had been punched even when the CCTV evidence was shown to them. "It is, I regret to say, very difficult to avoid the conclusion that some of the witnesses tendered by the State told lies regarding this matter in the course of their evidence", he said. This was conduct the court should not tolerate for an instant, he said. The jury had found there was a failure to adequately train officers in control and restraint techniques. The 4,500 award in relation to this was not an inappropriate figure to compensate him for the injuries he suffered while being restrained, apart from those inflicted on him by the assault, Mr Justice Hogan said. However, he said he parted company with the jury in relation to finding him 95 per cent liable. He found him 50 per cent responsible for refusing to obey the instruction to go out to the yard, bringing the award to 2,225. In total, the appeal court awarded him 17,225. In a separate concurring judgment, Ms Justice Mary Irvine dealt with a part of Mr Savickis' appeal relating to his later removal from one cell to another while he was naked. The prison authorities say he was offered a blanket or poncho during the move but he refused and he disputed this. Ms Justice Irvine said while it was worrying and disturbing any prisoner should be moved in a state of undress, on the particular facts of this case there was ample evidence upon which the jury was entitled to find the authorities did discharge their duty in this regard. Noel Roddy and his daughter Enya at the inquest of Ava Roddy; below, coroner Eamon MacGowan arriving at Sligo Coroners Court. Photos: James Connolly A teenager died after taking ecstasy that her friend had bought on social media, an inquest has heard. Coroner Eamon MacGowan criticised our "binge" culture after hearing that Ava Roddy (19) died after ingesting a cocktail of illegal drugs mixed with alcohol. Sligo Coroner's Court heard Ava, from Church View, Boyle, Co Roscommon, was found unresponsive on a minibus outside the 360 nightclub in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, in the early hours of September 30, 2013. She and a group of friends had been invited to a Christening party in Boyle earlier that day and the jury heard one of them had bought ecstasy tablets through a contact on Facebook. Inspector Ray Mulderrig, who led the investigation, told Coroner MacGowan that following a lengthy investigation, gardai identified the two men who had supplied drugs to the young women. A file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions but because of a Court of Appeal ruling which identified a defect in the law, they were unable to prosecute the suppliers. He said that anomaly had since been corrected. Expand Close Coroner Eamon MacGowan arriving at Sligo Coroners Court. Photos: James Connolly / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Coroner Eamon MacGowan arriving at Sligo Coroners Court. Photos: James Connolly The jury heard that a group of five friends, including Ava and her older sister Enya, were invited to a Christening party in Boyle on September 29, 2013. They decided they would take ecstasy, and one of the group, Cliona Dooley, also from Church View, said she approached someone from Carrick-on-Shannon on Facebook. The next day, he handed her five tablets wrapped in tissue which were blue/grey in colour and in the shape of a ghost. The friends met up in one of their homes and were drinking Heineken. The ecstasy was distributed and later they went to the Alley Bar in Boyle, where they talked about getting more ecstasy. Ava took an ecstasy tablet in the bar, the jury heard. Later, the group went to the 360 nightclub in Carrick and witnesses saw Ava barefoot and sitting on the floor. Two staff members said they had escorted her outside to get some fresh air and after seeing her embrace another young woman, they assumed she was OK. The driver of the minibus, Seamus Furey, described it as "the worst night ever working on the bus". He said the young woman was agitated and was "kicking and banging". Some of her friends were saying she was OK but he called an ambulance. When paramedics arrived, she was unresponsive. Consultant pathologist Dr Malcolm Little said toxicology results showed evidence of quite a significant number of drugs, including paramethoxyamphatamine, ecstasy, and BZP (benzylpiperazine), as well as alcohol. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of death by misadventure. The coroner said he did not want to lecture society but he believed "we suffer from a binge society, especially in relation to alcohol". But Mr MacGowan said that "with illegal drugs, you do not know what you are doing". He extended sympathy to Ava's father Noel Roddy. A woman who effectively lost her two front teeth when she dived into a swimming pool lacking appropriate "no diving" signs has been awarded 38,097 by the High Court. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan increased the 35,000 award made last year by the Circuit Court to Timea Babos, South Brown Street, Dublin, over the incident in West Wood Club, Clontarf, Dublin, on November 13, 2011. He said Ms Babos (32), an assistant manager at the Marker Hotel in Dublin, had put in a very modest claim and West Wood were fortunate the case had not been brought initially in a court of higher jurisdiction. He said the signage at the pool was "woefully inadequate" and he did not accept West Wood's claim there was a lifeguard on duty at the time. It was quite clear West Wood was negligent and there was no question of contributory negligence, he said. Ms Babos, in diving into the pool, had no reason to believe it was unsafe to do so, he said. Westwood had appealed the Circuit Court award and argued there was contributory negligence. The court heard West Wood was an Olympic sized (50m) pool with a single depth of 1.35m. Hugh Mohan SC, for Ms Babos, said she had never swum at West Wood before and was there as a guest of a friend. She was unaware it was shallower than she expected it to be which was two metres, he said. Ms Babos told the court she did not see any signs saying not to jump or red indicators and she dived because it was a big pool. She returned a few days after the accident to her native Hungary for dental treatment. She required two crowns and root canal treatment. She still has to be careful how she bites when she eats. She denied, under cross examination by Kerry Jane Morgan BL, that she chose an unsafe method to enter the pool. Mr Justice Noonan, affirming the Circuit Court order and increasing it, said she had effectively lost her two front teeth which was cosmetically difficult for anyone but especially for an attractive young woman. She would require to have the crowns replaced every five to ten years and they would never be as good as the natural teeth, he said. I wish Ireland had an education system that was truly centered on the learner, that had the needs of young people at its heart. Not one that is dominated by testing a student's ability to learn by rote. But an education system that was meeting the needs of the learner as they developed. Many say that our schools, especially at second level, have not achieved these goals. We are inclined to look to our international neighbours as sources of inspiration for education reform. But in looking abroad, we neglect an exemplar closer to home. The 'youth sector', 'youth clubs', or what is often called the 'informal' education system, is too often ignored in conversations about how we address the educational needs of our young people. 'Youth club', 'youth worker', and 'youth centre', all conjure up images of after-school clubs for kids to hang around, play pool, and be kept off the streets of the local estate. Far from the truth. Ireland is home to one of the most professionalised youth services in the world. It engages over 380,000 young people every year, close on half of all young people in the country. They are reached by 1,400 university-trained youth workers, supported by approximately 40,000 volunteers. The breadth and depth of the education delivered to young people all over the country by youth workers is staggering. And it's great value for money. Indecon International Research Economists report that for every 1 invested in youth work, the State saves 2.20 in reduced welfare, justice, and health costs for young people. At a time when large multinationals decry the lack of 21st-century skills in our country's school-leavers, the youth sector focuses directly on leadership, teamwork, critical analysis, and creative thinking. This is not to mention welfare, reflective thinking, and well-being, including relationships, sexuality, and mental health promotion. The formal education system is lacking these vital ingredients. Youth work is not designed to be a replacement or alternative for the school system - nor does the sector want to play that role. But our education systems are facing the greatest demands since the industrial revolution. It is now vital that young learners gain not just a bank of knowledge, but a bank of skills. Skills to walk into work environments that demand a level of critical thought, creativity, and communication never before expected of a generation. So, what can the formal school system learn from youth work? One of the most powerful elements of youth work is its basis in young people's active and voluntary participation and commitment. In practice, youth work places young people central to decision-making, by partnering them with their youth worker in programme planning. Dialogue between young people and adults in the youth work environment is fundamental. Of course, this approach is not directly transferrable to the school system but when implemented in an adjusted form can yield powerful results in a classroom, particularly at senior cycle. Another integral element of youth work is the holistic approach taken to each individual young person. This is summed up neatly by Foroige, one of Ireland's largest youth networks. They enable young people to, "involve themselves consciously and actively in their own development and in the development of society". Removing the 'one size fits all' approach of formal education curricula, allows a youth worker to engage a young person in their own interests, and build from there. Ultimately, all teachers and youth workers are striving to achieve the best for the young people in their care. It is intense, and challenging work that is unceasing in its demands. But this pressure should not stop any educator from looking up from time to time, breaking out of silos, and casting an interested eye over what others are doing. Steven Daly runs Camara Ireland, the Irish education hub of the international Charity, Camara Education. Camara Ireland hosts 'TechSpace' a national movement powered by a consortium of youth organisations. TechSpace supports youth workers to use technology to improve youth work. On November 4 over 250 young people and educators from national youth clubs and schools across Ireland are gathering in the Google Foundry for the TechSpace Creative Tech Fest to celebrate their native interests in creative technology. Now in its fourth year, the Creative Tech Fest celebrates the achievements of young people in digital media, music, 3D Design, An Meain as Gaeilge as well as inventive science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) activities An important element of the college application process is to check carefully all entry requirements that a student may be asked to fulfil in order to gain access to a particular course. Although we often overlook this element in our preoccupation with points, entry requirements are an important piece of the puzzle. If a student does not hold the correct entry requirements they will not be offered a place on that course, regardless of how many CAO points they achieve. There are two distinct sets of entry requirements that must be met by students. The first are the matriculation requirements set down by the institution. These vary. In general, NUI universities (UCD, UCC, MU and NUI Galway) require students to 'pass' Irish, English and another language. Institutes of technology require students to hold a 'pass' in English or Irish and maths. The three remaining universities require a combination of a language and maths. In previous years, students were required to hold a D3 (minimum 40pc, at either higher or ordinary level). With the new Leaving Cert grading system, this requirement will be O6 (40-49pc ordinary level) or H7 (30-39pc higher level). This means that students who take the higher level paper and who do not quite reach 40pc will get recognised for their achievements; it will be acknowledged that had they taken the ordinary level paper they would have achieved the required 'passing' grade. Colleges also require students to hold a certain number of higher-level grades. All institutions (with the exception of Trinity) previously required applicants to hold two HC3s to access a Level 8 programme. Trinity required students to hold three HC3s. This meant that students had to achieve at least 55pc in a number of higher-level papers. This year, in order to gain entry to a Level 8 course, applicants must achieve a H5 grade in two subjects, or three for Trinity. As the H5 grade is awarded for 50pc-59pc, students can now meet this requirement for a mark of up to 5pc less than in previous years. Additionally, students were required to 'pass' at least four other subjects. This meant that a student who 'failed' a higher-level subject may not have met these requirements. As H7 is considered a 'pass' at ordinary level, some students who previously would not have met these requirements may now access their chosen course with ease. Secondly, students need to meet specific course requirements to show that they have acquired the level of knowledge necessary to cope with the course content. These requirements are most prevalent in languages, science subjects and maths, and differ depending on the course. As a result of the new grading system, most of these requirements have changed: some courses will require students to achieve a higher mark in a course requirement subject, while some courses will now accept a lower mark. One example of a course where the entry requirement is decreasing is CK703, Pharmacy in UCC, where the chemistry requirement will reduce from HC3 (55pc) to H5 (50pc). An example of where entry requirements will rise is DN150 Engineering in UCD, up from HC3 in maths and HD3 in science to H4 in maths and H5 in science. An increase of 5pc and 10pc, respectively. So, it is extremely important for students to double check all requirements. This is especially so for repeat students who may find that the now meet the requirements for a course that they could not access last year. Aoife Walsh is a guidance counsellor at Malahide Community School, Co Dublin Important dates NOVEMBER 2 * Information session National Learning Network, Roslyn Park College, Sandymount, Dublin NOVEMBER 3 * Teagasc Open Day -Pallaskenny Agricultural College NOVEMBER 4 * CAO opens for application cao.ie Q. How will the changes to the points system in 2017 affect LCVP? A. The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) is an alternative style of Leaving Cert. Students are expected to take at least six subjects (the same as Leaving Cert established students) as well as an extra subject known as the link modules, where they learn about business, entrepreneurship, and engage in career investigations and work experience. Not only is the learning acquired in LCVP beneficial in its own right, but students participating in this subject can earn up to 66 CAO points for their efforts. ASTI members protest outside the Dail last week following a vote on industrial action. Photo: Arthur Carron The Government has upped the ante in the row with secondary teachers - confirming they will not be paid at all if their school shuts because they withdraw from supervision and substitution work after the mid-term break. A hard-line approach is evident in formal Education Department advice to schools about payroll arrangements from November 7. The Association of Secondary Teachers' Ireland (ASTI) described it as a "provocative act" and is taking legal advice. Members of the ASTI will lose a day's salary today as a result of the one-day strike over pay that is closing 507 of the country's 735 second-level schools. Some 228 schools will remain open. The stoppage is forcing about 250,000 teenage students to stay at home. But there are even bigger worries about whether most schools will remain closed indefinitely after the Halloween break. November 7 is the day ASTI members are threatening to withdraw from supervision and substitution, which is likely to cause about 500 schools to close because of lack of cover. Some schools have alternative cover, but most say it is not possible. The threat to teachers' pay provoked an angry reaction because while the ASTI has directed members not to undertake supervision and substitution duties, it has told them to turn up for work and be available for normal teaching duties. However, the department has taken the view that supervision and substitution is part of their contract. A circular to schools explained that teachers will have to complete a form and return it to the principal, confirming their availability for the full range of duties. These duties include supervision and substitution. The circular also said that the requirement also applies to ASTI members who legitimately opted out of this work when they were given a choice some years ago. Ultimately, if a school shuts as a result of the action, teachers who have not confirmed that they are available for supervision and substitution duties will not be paid for the duration of the closure. Divisive However, if a school manages to stay open - and some dual-union schools will be in that position - ASTI members will get paid, even if they have not confirmed their availability for these duties. Many will see this as a confusing and divisive situation. A department spokesperson has confirmed that the question of whether an ASTI member supporting the union's action gets paid or not will come down to whether their school remains open. Read More: 'It is very unfair on working parents who need childcare' ASTI leaders and senior officials of the Education Department met yesterday, but ASTI president Ed Byrne described their positions as "static". The ASTI stands alone in its rejection of the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA), which has started the process of pay restoration in the public service after austerity-era cuts. The union's main demand is for a timetable for the end of two-tier pay scales. Education Minister Richard Bruton was unyielding on the issue of whether the Government could even make a statement of intent about further pay restoration. He said it was a matter for negotiation. They would be sitting down with public service unions generally to negotiate any future arrangements, not just one union. Schools closing today include 43 community colleges, a higher number of closures in that sector than was originally feared. Arts Minister Heather Humphreys became an artist's model for almost 120 motionless minutes at a Dublin school. She sat under the gaze of a nine-foot giraffe named Gilbert and 20 of the best schoolgirl artists at Colaiste Bride secondary school in Clondalkin yesterday. Tall Gilbert was the result of one of the many art projects which make the school one of the most artistically creative educational establishments in the country. Ms Humphreys accepted an invitation from one of the school's art teachers, Niamh Comiskey (31), to pose for her pupils. "I did a bit of pottery in school. I liked doodling more so than making any works of art," Ms Humphreys said. She said she was not nervous about seeing how the pupils portrayed her. Expand Close Heather Humphreys at Colaiste Bride secondary school in Clondalkin yesterday Picture: Tony Gavin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Heather Humphreys at Colaiste Bride secondary school in Clondalkin yesterday Picture: Tony Gavin "I can take whatever the interpretation is. That's what art is about," she added. "It's about thinking from different angles and that is what I want to see because it encourages creativity. "The Arts Council ESRI report clearly states that getting involved and engaging in the arts at an early age improves their school experience, improves their academic performance, and helps creativity," she said. Ms Comiskey and her fellow art teachers Aisling Burns and Rob Barry, and principal Marie-Therese Kilmartin, gave the minister a warm welcome. The three art teachers said they hoped Ms Humphreys would urge her colleagues in the Department of Education to immediately reform and update the art curriculum in secondary schools. No significant change has happened since 1972, despite huge changes in the artistic world, including the use of digital technology. Art curriculum developments had been formulated in 2005 but have still not be implemented, they said. Pupil Kamila Di Stefano (14) said: "The minister has really nice features to sketch. I find art really relaxes me." Five Fianna Fail TDs voted against a government motion blocking an attempt by AAA-PBP to force referendum on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. The bill placed by the Dail by Ruth Coppinger and Brid Smith proved highly decisive during a vote on Tuesday night. Read More Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance compromised to put down a reasoned amendment which would prevent the bill being voted on today. And this afternoon the amendment was approved by 96 votes to 47. The majority of Fianna Fail TDs backed the Government on the issue but Billy Kelleher, Niall Collins, Lisa Chambers, Fiona OLoughlin and Timmy Dooley went against them. There will be no consequences for the TDs as Micheal Martin had given them a free vote on the issue. Fianna Fails Michael Moynihan and Independent TD Maureen OSullivan abstained. Read More The Government argued during Tuesday nights debate that the Citizens Assembly, which sat for the first time earlier this month, should be allowed do its work. The 99 member forum is due to debate whether changes should be made to the section of the constitution which gives equal rights to a mother and her unborn child. The Independent Alliance, who had originally demanded a free vote on todays bill, have been assured by Fine Gael that the Assembly will report back with a recommendation in the first half of next year. A cross-party committee will then review their work meaning it will be at least 2018 before the Dail considers whether to have a referendum. Sinn Fein, the Labour Party, the Green Party and the Social Democrats voted with the AAA-PBP motion. Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland take part in the first of seven planned strike days outside St Mary's College, Dundalkas With up to 18,000 teachers taking to the picket line to protest about pay conditions today, the Government dont appear to be backing down. Here's everything we learned from today: 1. Minister for Education hit back at claims pay-cut threat was provoking The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) are threatening to withdraw from supervision and substitution on November 7, which is likely to cause about 500 schools to close. Fair play to employee of An Post who turned around and didn't pass the picket! #EqualPay #Asti #edchatie pic.twitter.com/N4swzrMD4B Aisling (@ashjclery) October 27, 2016 Minister Bruton insisted that if this takes place, teachers will not be paid, which sparked a reaction from ASTI members who accused the Minister for Education of provoking them. Speaking on Today with Sean ORourke this morning, Minister Bruton stated this wasnt the case. Expand Close Dominican College staff picketing on Griffith avenue this morning. Pic:Mark Condren / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dominican College staff picketing on Griffith avenue this morning. Pic:Mark Condren Read More "They have also decided to withdraw from supervision. Substitution and supervision are a core part of the teachers duties. They have made a decision to withdraw from those core duties. "We are just making clear what are well established rules of industrial relations practice. Withdrawing from core duties results in the closure of schools and you are not entitled to be paid for that. 2. Some parents arent happy Parents are worried about the cost of childcare and the educational impact of teachers' strikes. David Doran, whose daughter is in second year, told Independent.ie: "I don't think this strike is necessary. It feels like the teachers are getting on the bandwagon like the bus drivers did. Dialogue is needed now. It's really ridiculous that the kids are losing out and are not being educated. 3. Teachers insist public are behind them Teachers who were picketing in force from 8am in the Dublin this morning told Independent.ie they have received "only positive support" from the public in their strike over pay. Read More 4. ASTI deny claims they are using students as pawns in debate over pay ASTI president Ed Byrne defended the strike action by teachers this morning on Newstalk Breakfast. Every teacher in a classroom cares about their students - they do not use them as pawns, he said. It [the strike] certainly has highlighted an inequity in the system. One lady in your vox pop says she doesn't like the idea of a strike - neither do I. The people we are fighting for were children six years ago. They are now out with honours degrees and they being paid significantly less than those who started before them. 5. Pressure is mounting on the Government A total of 23 unions, representing 300,000 public sector workers, have made good deals on pay restoration, Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald has told the Dail today. TDs are putting increased pressure on the Government about the other proposed strikes, with Fianna Fails Dara Calleary insisting that neither teachers nor gardai trust the Government to treat them fairly. More people are surviving strokes but they are being denied the best chance of recovery because of the poor state of therapy services, a damning audit has revealed. Almost three-quarters of the country's rehabilitation hospitals reveal they cannot give stroke survivors the recommended level of therapy. The study by the Irish Heart Foundation and the HSE's National Stroke Programme revealed a 'bleak' picture of services for thousands of people who are battling the effects of stroke. Only one in four rehab hospitals has a dedicated stroke unit, while a majority lack a stroke specialist to oversee rehabilitation. Fewer than one in three has any access to psychological services. It found that the majority of the 26 hospitals which participated in the study have no access to community rehabilitation teams to continue therapy that is essential to assist recovery for patients after they are discharged. The HSE's national clinical lead for stroke, Professor Joe Harbison, said: "The incidence of stroke in Ireland is rising by about 350 extra cases every year, but we still have a severe shortage of stroke unit beds to accommodate patients, or the specialist nursing, therapy and medical staff we need to care for them. "We have only about half the acute stroke unit beds we need to meet international standards, and this audit shows an even lower proportion of specialist rehabilitation beds." He warned the after-effects for patients, apart from death, deteriorated last year for the first time since the creation of the National Stroke Programme. "This is not unexpected in view of the current level of fixed and insufficient resources," he said. In 2012, 39pc of the over 50s had a full medical or GP visit card and no private health insurance (Stock picture) People over 50 who get a full medical card end up visiting their GP more often and also significantly increase the number of medications they take, a new report reveals. The findings from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin shows that gaining a full medical, or GP visit card, is associated with more than four visits to their doctor annually. This amounts to an extra 1.3 visits a year, an increase of 43pc. For those who lose a full medical or GP visit card, the number of GP visits falls by 1.2 visits per annum. However, it was not associated with a significant increase in the probability of getting a flu vaccine or additional visits to the emergency department, outpatient clinics or overnight hospital stays. It found that 12.6pc of the over 50s who did not have a full medical or GP visit card in 2010 gained one by 2012. In 2012, 39pc of the over 50s had a full medical or GP visit card and no private health insurance. Nearly one in five had both and 10pc had neither. Researchers said it showed the extent of financial barriers to accessing healthcare services. The acting head of Europe's top Olympic body said that its president, Pat Hickey, should be allowed to leave Brazil and return to Ireland because his health is deteriorating and he needs an urgent heart operation. Mr Hickey is not permitted to leave Brazil, where he was arrested two months ago during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on ticket scalping charges and awaits a possible trial. Selling tickets at above face value is illegal in Brazil. Mr Hickey, who has denied any wrongdoing, has temporarily stepped down from all his Olympic positions pending a resolution of his case. He was president of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), head of Ireland's national Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee's powerful executive board. "I am in contact with him personally," acting EOC president Janez Kocijancic said. Read More: Former OCI president Pat Hickey back in Rio court "He's 71. He's not in the best health. I think that the first step should be that he returns home for the heart surgery and the treatment." The IOC also asked for his release on health grounds. "The health of Mr Hickey is giving the IOC great concern. Mr Hickey requires immediate special treatment in relation to his condition," the IOC said. Plans to build the new national childrens hospital on the site of St Jamess Hospital in Dublin is a grave mistake and could cause the deaths of children, the Oireachtas committee on health was told today. The Connolly for Kids group , which includes doctors and parents, wants the hospital to be build on the campus of Connolly hospital instead. They said the Rotunda Hospital maternity is earmarked to move to Connolly. Not co-locating the childrens hospital with a maternity hospital will result in avoidable deaths and disability of many new-born babies, they added. It is simply not possible to construct a full service maternity hospital at St. James's". Choosing Connolly as the site for the childrens hospital would also save around 200m.The original price tag for the hospital was 650m but it is now expected to be more expensive due to higher building costs . They said: We know this hospital will fail if built in St Jamess - with terrible consequences. If you allow it to happen, you will share responsibility for those consequences." The group were appearing before the committee to debate the proposed site for the hospital which the last government decided will be built at St Jamess and is now in the early stages of proceeding. The decision to relocate the Rotunda Maternity hospital to Connolly was a game- changer - overnight it turned Connolly into the ideal site. Connolly offers 145 acres for tri-location of children's, maternity and adult hospitals.Connolly is on a slip road off the M50/N3 Interchange. However, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, which has been tasked with building the hospital, believes St Jamess , chosen by An Bord Pleanala, is the best site. Work is already underway clearing the site and the final bids from builders to build the hospital with a view to opening its doors in 2020- are due this week. The boards John Pollock and Eilish Hardiman told the committee that the Coombe maternity hospital is relocating to the St Jamess site in time and this will provide for tri-location of adult, paediatrics and maternity on the one campus. This is considered the optimal configuration of services from a clinical perspective, they added.They are supported by Dr Sharon Sheehan, master of the Coombe. The three childrens hospitals believe that St. Jamess as the largest and leading adult teaching hospital is the best adult colocation partner for the new childrens hospital, they told the committee, This is because of its depth and breadth of sub-specialities that best support paediatrics and it offers unparalleled opportunities between its research facilities and in the new childrens research and innovation centre which will drive clinical advancements and improved clinical outcomes. The board said they recognised the need for most families to drive to the new childrens hospital and that is why there will be 675 parking spaces dedicated to families at the new childrens hospital treble the amount of parking that is currently provided at the three childrens hospitals combined. The new childrens hospital at St. Jamess and two Paediatric Outpatients Department and Urgent Care Centres at Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals will provide children and young people with the right care, in the right place, delivered by the right team. These new facilities have two core objectives to meet the acute paediatrics care needs of the Greater Dublin Area . This includes Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and part of Meath. "It will undertake this remit via the hospital and the paediatric outpatient clinics and urgent care centres in Tallaght and Blanchardstown. This encompasses the majority that is 78pc of the work undertaken by the three hospitals. They said the second objective is to provide specialist services for children across Ireland which comprises of 22pc of our work planned. Kevin Kilty OCI Chef de Mission (right) and Stephen Martin OCI Chief Executive (left) and arriving to give a deposition at Police City in Rio de Janeiro in August Pic Steve Humphreys OCI honorary treasurer and Chef de Mission for the Rio Games, Kevin Kilty has become the latest member of the board to resign from his position. Mr Kiltys resignation is the second in a number of days after FAI Chief Executive, John Delaney stepped down from his position on Tuesday night. The Chef de Mission was one of three OCI members along with former President, Pat Hickey, to have his computer, phone and passport seized by Brazilian police during the ticket touting probe in Brazil. Read More Speaking to Independent.ie shortly after the court order, Mr Kilty denied any wrongdoing. "I'm Irish and I'm out here, I suppose," Mr Kilty said when asked why he was being targeted by police. "It's the Olympic Council that's being targeted, that's all I can say. "All I can do is speak honestly and that's what I intend to do. I have absolutely no involvement in this. "I have nothing to do with ticketing. Nothing to do with it, he added. The remaining OCI board are due to meet at the headquarters in Howth tonight at 7pm. Mr Hickey remains in Brazil where a solicitor yesterday confirmed that they had applied to have his passport returned. Arthur Lavigne told the Irish Times said they made a request for the return of his passport on October 14 "so he can travel to his homeland". Cross-party TDs backed legislation to outlaw drilling for shale gas from rocks, sands and coal seams across the country A proposed nationwide ban on fracking has cleared its first hurdle. Cross-party TDs backed legislation put forward by Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim Tony McLoughlin to outlaw drilling for shale gas from rocks, sands and coal seams across the country. Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, warned that the proposed legislation may not achieve what is intended due to the complexities of gas exploration. But he added: "To be quite clear, there is no great strategic imperative or agenda by Government to pursue the use of fracking." "The primary aim, as legislators, is to ensure that we give proper consideration to the issues and evidence, avoid unintended consequences, and provide legal clarity." Even though the Government tried unsuccessfully to stall the legislation for eight months, potentially delaying an outright ban until 2018, Mr Naughten said it was "another step in protecting Ireland's environment and future". It is understood the minority Government cancelled proposals to stall the legislation until next June after Fianna Fail warned it would support any delay. Mr McLoughlin said agreement on the legislation was "a major win for the environment and for Irish politics". Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, involves drilling into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is forced into rock to release gas. Opponents fear the process can cause earthquakes, pollute water and lead to damaging development in the countryside. Supporters claim it boosts jobs, the economy and energy security. Mr McLoughlin, whose constituency is in one of the three regions identified for potential shale gas exploration, sought to ban energy companies trying to extract raw fuels from shale rocks, tight sands and coal seams. Three exploratory licences were granted in Ireland in 2011 for fracking but no extraction has taken place. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commissioned a report on the impact of the controversial gas extraction on the environment and human health. It is due in the coming months. The proposals to ban fracking will now be passed to an Oireachtas committee for further scrutiny within 12 weeks. Friends of the Earth Ireland described the cross party support for the legislation as "a crucial step to ban fracking". Eamon Scanlon, Fianna Fail TD for Sligo-Leitrim, said: "We were supporting the bill as it was. There was no question about that. "And I would like to see a ban in the next year." A young man has died and three other teens were injured when a car spun out of control and collided with a wall on the Cork-Limerick border. A 19 year old suffered fatal injuries and pronounced dead before he could be transferred to hospital in the collision at Smiths Road, Charleville, Co Cork. The accident occurred shortly after 11pm on Wednesday evening. No other vehicle was involved. It is believed the 19 year old driver of the car lost control and it spun into a stone wall. Three passengers in the car, all in their late teens, were also injured. They included two young women and a young man. They were transferred to University Hospital Limerick (UHL). It is understood they suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. All those involved are believed to be from the Charleville area Councillor Ian Doyle, who is from the area and knows the family well, said: "My deepest sympathies go out to the young man's parents and the whole extended family after thsi tragedy." The accident scene was immediately sealed off to allow for a full examination by Garda technical experts. Local diversions are in place and Gardai have urged people to avoid the area if possible. Gardai have also appealed for witnesses to the collision to contact them. The investigation is being led by Mallow Gardai on (022) 31450. Cork County Coroner has been notified of the incident and a file will be prepared for a forthcoming inquest. This latest death brings to nine the number of people who have died on Irish roads in the last five days. The total road death toll this year so far is 158. Shortly before 7pm on Saturday a motorcyclist, in his early 20s, was killed after two bikers collided on Hartstown Road in Blanchardstown. On Saturday night Lee Henry (13) from Darndale was killed while crossing a road in Clonshaugh, North Dublin. On Monday, Mark Bell (46) from Ballybrack in south Dublin who was described as a lovely fellow was killed when he was hit by a van after falling from his motorbike on the York Road in Dun Laoghaire. He was rushed to St Vincents Hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later. A 50-year-old man died after the car he was driving collided with a truck in Paulstown, Co Kilkenny. On Sunday a motorcyclist died after a collision at Ballinaclough, Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick at 3.30pm. The man, who was in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene. In the early hours of Tuesday, Jane Dardis (20), from Skerries, died in a collision that left her two friends injured on her way home from work on Monday night. Read More A woman in her 80s died on Tuesday after the car she was driving veered off the road and hit a wall. On Wednesday a pedestrian died after he was struck by a truck on Wednesday afternoon on Meath Street in Dublin's city centre. Tributes have been paid to an equestrian centre boss who died suddenly in a tragic hunting accident on Wednesday afternoon. The woman was named locally as Claire Lowe from Saintfield, who was believed to have been in her 30s. She had been taking part in a hunt in the New Line area of Ballygowan, Co Down when she came off her horse at a fence, and died from her injuries shortly afterwards. A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said a rapid response paramedic was called to the incident at around 3.20pm. However, it was too late to save the popular horse rider, who was well known in the local equestrian scene. Last night her friend Neil McCluskey paid tribute to her on social media. Tragic day today as lost a great friend in a freak hunting accident, he said. Claire Lowe was really an amazing person and will be dearly missed by us all. A family friend told the Belfast Telegraph: She was a very likeable and professional lady. Its dreadful. I feel sick thinking about it. Ms Lowe had worked as a constable for Lisburn PSNI, but after the death of her father last Christmas Gerry Lowe, the owner of the successful Lisburn company Lowe Refrigeration she had returned home to Saintfield to manage the Mill House Equestrian Centre in Saintfield. Her work involved breeding Connemara ponies as well as running a tack shop business and online auction site. Many friends had not heard the sad news until late last night, and posted their condolences on social media. Friend Lynne Spence wrote that Claire had died doing what she loved. She added: Completely shocked and saddened. Cannot get over the sad news. Nicci Hall said: Such a tragic loss of a genuinely lovely person. Thinking of all your family and friends. Lyndon Steele said: I cant believe Im reading this about such a top girl whod helped me out more than once when I needed it. I will never forget you. Joanne Gray commented: Dreadful news. One of lifes genuinely lovely people. Another comment from Heather Brown read: So sorry for the loss of a dedicated young woman. TUV councillor for Comber Stephen Cooper said he was saddened to hear the news after a council meeting last night. The hunts been around for some time and I would extend my sympathies. Kenny speaks at the launch of a new Freephone number for victims of crime and traumatic incidents: Tel: 1800 277 477 Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said Ireland must have a conversation about the "corrupting" effects an avalanche of pornography is having on young people. The Fine Gael leader said that as children begin to spend more and more time online, society needed to address the issue of a flood of adult content within easy reach on the internet. "What used to be termed the 'lads' magazines' have now grown to be replaced with pornography that is as ubiquitous as it is damaging," he said. "Our young people growing up imagining that what they see on the screen might be normal sexual behaviour. There has to be a discussion about this in terms of families and children and the kind of society that is evolving. "There is clearly an issue there that needs to be addressed and [it] is very hard to address it given the range and the velocity of the avalanche of communications of all descriptions that are coming at young people now and that for older generations who just can't reach into those spheres where young minds are being, in some cases, corrupted and tainted, by an avalanche of this kind of material. "If you like, this matter is part of our agenda for a better and for a caring Ireland, where you can be as comfortable as you can that your children are getting a chance to be able to deal with this when they come across these things, as inevitably they will." Mr Kenny stressed that it was also important to educate children about privacy and boundaries. He made reference to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015, which is moving through the Oireachtas. The bill will protect children from grooming by predators online and addresses the viewing of child pornography online. Professor Brian O'Neill, an expert in child safety online, welcomed the Taoiseach's comments and said that while significant work was under way to make children safer online, the ease of access to inappropriate material, including pornography, needed to be elevated on the list of priorities. "The UK have signalled very clearly that they are addressing this area with things such as age verification on sites with adult content," he told the Irish Independent. "I don't think we have given that the same level of attention over here." The long-term effects of the wide availability of pornography online were "unknown and unquantifiable", the DIT lecturer said, but a multi-faceted approach, including parental guidance and education, was needed. The Taoiseach made his comments at the launch of the Federation for Victim Assistance's free phone number. He pledged to examine data protection laws at the behest of the organisation, which says that the legislation prevents gardai from passing on details of its service to victims of crime, unlike in other countries, where the service is run on an 'opt-in' model. The service helps people who have been a victim of crime and can be contacted by phoning 1800 277 477. Assistance can be provided nationwide. Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae claimed in the Dail that the hole in the Ozone layer was caused by nuclear testing. Mr Healy-Rae was contributing to a debate on Ireland ratifying the UN Paris Agreement on Climate Change. He previously made remarks denying that climate change is man-made saying: God above is in charge of the weather. Now he has claimed that the hole in the Ozone layer - which isn't related to climate change - was caused by the testing of nuclear weapons. He said: "They told us about the Ozone layer and greeenhouse gases and the cans of hairspray or whatever but they never told us it was nuclear testing". "They never told us that nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean 50 years ago actually caused the serious damage to the Ozone layer," He told the Dail. "Thankfully now its mending and its curing and its not its not anything to do with policies in any country in recent times. But the damage was caused by nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean." Returning to the subject of the Paris Agreement Mr Healy-Rae said: "Im very worried about this agreement because it will have a severe negative impact on farmers." Herds of cattle are a major contributor to Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions. Mr Healy-Rae said: "Farmers must be protected because if the farming industry goes down and its in a serious crisis at the present time. If it has impacted negatively any further it will hurt the whole country because when farming is going bad the whole country isnt going well. "It is rumoured that the national herd will have to be reduced and I will not support any policy that will impinge negatively on our agriculture production," he added. He again again raised his doubts about climate change being man-made citing the famine of 1740 which he said was caused by excess rain and natural phenomenon like El Nino and the Gulf Stream. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan addressed Mr Healy Rae and told that scientists are "absolutely clear" that climate change is being caused by human activity. "He [Mr Healy-Rae] keeps saying all the time there's always been changes in nature and I remember the flood in 1752 or whatever." Mr Ryan said it's true that there have been natural weather-related events, but that they are small in scale compared to what will be caused by man-made climate change. He warned that the world is moving into a geological era "where we are responsible for changes that are bigger in scale, of a greater magnitude than anything we have seen in our historical record or lifetime". "That is something scientists are absolutely clear and certain about," Mr Ryan said. He called the Paris Agreement "historic", noting that it is being ratified quickly and that 190 countries have signed up to it. One of the five individually designed placards that have been sent to the printers in recent days Rank-and-file gardai have begun printing up thousands of placards which are to be used in their impending industrial action due to take place on November 4, the Irish Independent can reveal. In what sources say is a clear illustration of their determination to strike for better pay and conditions the Garda Representative Association have designed a series of posters which are reproduced here for the first time. A series of five individually designed placards, each containing a separate slogan, have been sent to the printers in recent days. The slogans include: 'Gardai Denied Their Civil Rights'; 'Pay Gardai A Fair Wage' and 'Europe Says Yes To Trade Union Status', which refers to a Council of Europe ruling that Ireland is breaching international law by preventing the gardai receiving union status. Expand Close One of the five individually designed placards that have been sent to the printers in recent days / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp One of the five individually designed placards that have been sent to the printers in recent days Another placard underlines the unprecedented nature of the planned action stating: 'Gardai On The Streets But Not Like This'. And another demands 'Give Gardai A Fair Hearing' which refers to the fact that the representative associations do not have access to the Labour Relations Commission. In an ironic twist, the first day of the proposed unprecedented action by the country's gardai, sergeants and inspectors will coincide with the 55th anniversary of the so-called 'Macushla Revolt' which took place on November 4, 1961. Described as a milestone in the history of the force, more than 800 gardai met at the Macushla Ballroom on Amiens Street in Dublin in defiance of the commissioner of the day who had banned any public meetings over pay and conditions. Expand Close One of the five individually designed placards that have been sent to the printers in recent days / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp One of the five individually designed placards that have been sent to the printers in recent days The justice minister at the time, Charles Haughey, was infuriated by the garda action and 11 of the ringleaders were later dismissed but were promptly reinstated as a result of an outcry by members. This is the touching moment a new mum met her daughter for the first time after her selfless sister carried her child for nine months. Aimee Morrisby (26) and her husband Jake had been trying to conceive for more than five years when her sister Shayna Wiffen (24) offered to be the couples surrogate to help them fulfil their dream of having their own family. Expand Close Aimee Morrisby (26) and her husband Jake had been trying to conceive for more than five years when her sister Shayna Wiffen (24) offered to be the couples surrogate to help them fulfil their dream of having their own family. Photo credit: Hailey Sherrie Photography / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aimee Morrisby (26) and her husband Jake had been trying to conceive for more than five years when her sister Shayna Wiffen (24) offered to be the couples surrogate to help them fulfil their dream of having their own family. Photo credit: Hailey Sherrie Photography Shayna, a mum to McKenzie (4) and Fletcher (2), had watched her sister struggle through eight unsuccessful rounds of IVF, made more complex by a painful bowel disorder, Hirschsprung disease, which had caused scarring in Aimees uterus. Speaking to Independent.ie, Aimee, from Toowoomba in Australia, said: I had been going through rounds upon rounds of IVF over a period of 3 years. I had a total of eight cycles four pregnancies ended in miscarriage and four attempts were unsuccessful. I lost twins at 9 weeks which pushed me to get a second opinion. My husband and I met with a IVF and Surrogacy specialist in Brisbane and two further unsuccessful IVF attempts followed. Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Aimee pictured with her sister Shayna, who acted as her surrogate, ahead of Francesca's birth Aimee pictured with her sister Shayna, who acted as her surrogate, during a water birth Photo credit: Hailey Sherrie Photography Aimee pictured with her sister Shayna, who acted as her surrogate, during Francesca's birth Photo credit: Hailey Sherrie Photography / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aimee pictured with her sister Shayna, who acted as her surrogate, ahead of Francesca's birth I was then referred to a bowel surgeon who had investigated by performing a keyhole procedure resulting in images that showed my uterus and ovaries were riddled with adhesion from my bowel surgeries over the years. This is when our IVF doctor said our only option to achieve a baby was surrogacy, she said. The couple were thrilled when Shayna offered to carry their child, having given birth to her son Fletcher just six months before. It was 10pm at night. As you can imagine we were in total shock. I had finally convinced myself I was not going to be a mother. I had finally gotten to a happy place. We took a few days to think and to make sure Shayna was happy with her decision. Little did we know she had been talking about it with her husband Aaron over the previous few months, said Aimee. After coping with the aftermath of miscarriage throughout her struggle to begin a family, Aimee revealed that watching her child grow safely inside her sister was amazing to watch. Expand Close Shayna, who acted as her sister's surrogate, with baby Francesca Photo credit: Hailey Sherrie Photography / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shayna, who acted as her sister's surrogate, with baby Francesca Photo credit: Hailey Sherrie Photography It was not a strange process, in fact it was the opposite. I was incredibly sick with my pregnancies and had to be monitored very closely so to watch someone carry my baby in a healthy manner, I could not have been happier. This was the first time in my journey that I knew I was going to have a healthy baby at the end of the 9 months, she said. Baby Francesca Louise Morrisby was born on March 18 and her mum reckons the 7-month-old knows exactly who her auntie Shayna is and what she has done for her. Francesca is beautiful, happy and already independent. She knows exactly who her aunt Shayna is, I can just feel it when they are together, said Aimee. Whether it's an unexpected death or a gentle passing away after a long illness, the aftermath can be arduous. A bereavement is one of the worst things a family will endure. Whether it's an unexpected death or a gentle passing away after a long illness, the aftermath can be arduous. For many it may be the first time they have to consider things like a death certificate or managing a will. The costs of death should not be underestimated, whether it's immediate bills associated with the funeral (average cost 2,500-5,000), or the purchase of a grave, which in some parts of Dublin can mirror land prices for the living. In Deansgrange, a plot is an eye-watering 16,000, while a simple cremation can be had for a few hundred euro. When it comes to processing documentation however, it's not just cost, but procedure which can prove a burden to family members. Wills Solicitor Susan Cosgrove of Cosgrove Gaynard says a will is vital. "Without a will a spouse will not automatically inherit everything; the situation can become a legal tangle. There are rules under the Succession Act (see table) for who gets what. For example, the children could force the sale of a property to obtain their one third share in cash if there are no other assets in the estate. A will clearly allows you to plan ahead financially to avoid any such issues but also to provide for other important issues such as specific funeral arrangements or the appointment of guardians for minor children." Probate Probate is the generic term given to transferring over a person's assets on their death. The legal personal representative must apply to the probate office to take out what is called a "Grant". A Grant of Probate is issued if the deceased left a valid will. Grant of Letters of Administration is if they die without a valid will (intestate), says Susan. If there is a will, an executor will be named as legal personal representative and they must ascertain the assets and liabilities of the deceased for the probate office. After the Grant is issued, properties can be sold or transferred and the estate distributed to beneficiaries." Expand Close A bereavement is one of the worst things a family will endure. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A bereavement is one of the worst things a family will endure. Tax Inheritance Tax (Capital Acquisitions Tax) can be a burden. Although Minister for Finance Michael Noonan increased the tax-free thresholds in the last budget (see table), he really only partially restored what had been available years ago. The tax itself, at 33pc, was not reduced. It means that Dubliners, and those with small families, lose out. For example, if a single (adult) child is left a family home worth 525,000 - the average house price in South Dublin - they would pay tax of 215,000 of it, which at current rates amounts to a whopping 70,950. If the same house is left to two children, neither pay a cent on the bequest. No, it's not fair, but that's the reality. If the property was left to say, a niece, nephew or grandchild, the tax would jump to 162,525 meaning, almost inevitably, the sale of the very asset they were bequeathed. Barry Flanagan, of taxback.com says it is absolutely essential that people pro-actively plan for the transfer of wealth between generations. "There are many reliefs available which, when used correctly and for the purpose they were intended, facilitate the transfer of assets between generations without attracting punitive tax bills," he says. These include Business or Agricultural Reliefs (up to 90pc of the CAT bill can be reduced), Dwelling House Relief for those who are being left a property by someone they have lived with for at least three years, and 'Favourite' Niece/Nephew relief for one who has worked for you for five years and to whom you are leaving a business. Insurance Certain life insurance policies cannot be paid out until Probate is granted, especially if the estate is disputed. Joe Charles of Royal London Life Assurance says: "Where a life assurance policy is written as Life of Another, i.e. one person pays for another person's policy, then this payment can be made without waiting for Probate. "Similarly, on what are known as joint first-death policies i.e., where there is a surviving spouse or civil partner, in business assurance cases or those going into a trust, it's generally no problem either. "In all other situations though, unless the policy is assigned to a bank, for example as Mortgage Protection cover, they will have to go to probate." The reason is that the insurer must be fully certain that the proceeds are being paid out to the correct person. Where that person (say a husband or wife) is specifically named on the policy, it's fine, and proof of death may be all that's required. But where it is not immediately clear, there can be problems. "It can be a very lengthy process," adds Charles. "The length of time it takes to obtain a Grant does surprise many people, even where a will is in place. Whether the executor or a solicitor applies for the Grant, the will needs to be located, evidence of all assets will need to be found and valuations may need to be done before the application can be made. "The process is seen by some people as quite legalistic, and can be difficult for people to try to navigate themselves. Research would indicate that the time taken to conclude the process can vary between three months and a number of years. The Probate office claims not to have enough resources to meet demand," says Charles. Life insurance premiums have dropped considerably as we live longer, healthier lives. Insurance provides funds for families, especially with children, to be financially secure. You should be able to get a quote for under 20 p.m. per 100,000 cover for a healthy 35-year-old. Elsewhere, CUsafe offers funeral insurance to credit union members of 5,000-10,000, for those aged up to 75. A 65-year-old would expect to pay 17-32 for it. Valerie despised holidays when she was 22 stone but has since lost 10.5 stone since joining Slimming World: Photo Credit Su Forrester A Dublin granny realised her weight was out of control when she could not fasten her seatbelt on a Ryanair flight to Malta, which she said was one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. Valerie ODonovan (41) from Tallaght struggled with her weight for more than a decade and at her heaviest, weighed more than 22 stone (144kg). Expand Close Valerie despised holidays when she was 22 stone but has since lost 10.5 stone since joining Slimming World: Photo Credit Su Forrester / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Valerie despised holidays when she was 22 stone but has since lost 10.5 stone since joining Slimming World: Photo Credit Su Forrester The mum-of-five said that although she was never thin, her weight became a particular problem after welcoming her youngest boys, twins Lee and Keane fifteen years ago. The mum admitted that her weight ruined every family holiday she went on when her children were younger, because she was so uncomfortable with her size. My weight always affected me the most when I was on holidays. I was really the worst version of myself on those trips, when I was so concerned about my weight, said Valerie speaking to Independent.ie. Expand Close Valerie struggle with her weight the most after welcoming her twin boys Lee and Keane (15) Photo Credit Su Forrester / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Valerie struggle with her weight the most after welcoming her twin boys Lee and Keane (15) Photo Credit Su Forrester Read More I used to get so upset on holidays, sitting up on our balcony in Ibiza looking at my kids and partner down by the pool. I used to think Why did I come here to feel this bad about myself. The first night I got there, Id be thinking, How am I going to do a week of this?' I used to torment myself really and I wasnt a nice person on those trips. I remember I was so worried about my body that I was paddling in the pool in Ibiza in this huge denim skirt, which probably brought more attention to me than if I was wearing a swimming suit. I used to have such a hard time, and give everyone else a hard time while I hid away in the shade, she said. The mum was upset to discover that her family did not want to go on holidays abroad anymore, because of how upset she was. The following year, I was booking another family holiday and I asked the kids where theyd like to go. I was devastated when they told me theyd rather not go away again, because I was just so unhappy on the trip. It really upset me that theyd rather stay at home than go on holidays because of how much I was concerned about my weight, she said. Expand Close Valerie wore a bikini for the first time on a recent holiday Photo Credit (inset) Su Forrester / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Valerie wore a bikini for the first time on a recent holiday Photo Credit (inset) Su Forrester Deciding to tackle her weight, Valerie joined Slimming World a month before her brothers wedding in Malta and was delighted to lose more than a stone before the big day. However, her joy soon evaporated after boarding a Ryanair flight to her siblings destination wedding. "My brother Denis was getting married in Malta and I was really worried about the weather. I knew that Id be exposed in whatever dress I got and that that worried me. Within weeks I had lost over a stone on Slimming World and it felt great but on the Ryanair flight over to Malta, I was really embarrassed to find that the seatbelt wouldnt close over me. It was so embarrassed and I was really upset on the plane, but I didnt tell anyone about it and managed to hide it so I didnt have to ask for a seatbelt extender. In Malta, I never had experienced heat like it. It was so hot over there. I had managed to get a black maxi dress for the wedding, but I was so uncomfortable that after the ceremony, I went upstairs and changed into another little dress and leggings. Everyone was asking how I was coping being in leggings in the heat, it was a nightmare, but I just wanted to cover up, she said. Upon return, Valerie was thrilled to discover she had lost 2.5lb while in Malta and decided to continue to chip away at the programme. In just two years, the M&S worker has lost 10st 7lb in total, and was nervous to don a bikini for the first time during a holiday to Puerto Rico in July. I went away in July and I wore a bikini for the first time in my life. Every holiday I had ever been on had me sitting in the shade, covering up but this year I couldnt tear myself away from the pool. My family couldnt get me off that sunbed into the room. Before I was crying going on holiday, and now I was having a cry because I just didnt want to leave. It was so much more enjoyable and I felt at ease for the first time. My children were constantly asking if I was okay, they were delighted with the change in me. Expand Close Valerie despised holidays when she was 22 stone but has since lost 10.5 stone since joining Slimming World: Photo Credit Su Forrester / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Valerie despised holidays when she was 22 stone but has since lost 10.5 stone since joining Slimming World: Photo Credit Su Forrester They said Mam, I wish you had been like this on all our holidays when we were younger. When I was heavy, I could hardly walk in the heat, my inner thighs would be chaffing and it would be so sore. "The kids were joking with me that Id have to stop every few minutes to put talc on them to ease the pain, she said. "For so many years, going on holiday made me feel like an outsider. Now Im finally joining in the fun." I am angry. Emphatically punctuated angry! Furrow-browed, crimson-faced emoji angry. All caps ANGRY. If anger is a red mist then my current level is the kind of deluge that would make Teresa Mannion shriek about unnecessary journeys. What has me so enraged? Well, I'm glad you asked. At the top of my list is Dublin Bus's 'Real Time Information', a service so simple that its entire function is summed up in its three-word title. Stand at a bus stop, it promises, and the electronic signs will tell you in 'real time' when your jaundiced carriage will arrive. What's not made clear, however, is that the system utilises a concept of time that would baffle Dr Who. Ten minutes' wait, the orange lights blink. That's not too bad, especially with these shopping bags. Nine. Eight. Seacht noimead. Six. Five. It's started to rain but there's no point in getting out the brolly at this point. Four minutes. Five. Wait, what? Six minutes. Five. Four. My plastic bag of groceries has caused the loss of all feeling in one arm, other than the searing pain of the welt the handle is making across my palm. Five. Five. Five. Argh, why didn't I just walk? Four. Three. Two. The now sodden paper bag in the other arm implodes. One By the time the countdown has expired the original 10 minutes has lasted 18 and I am seething. Bubbling over with a venomous bile that I will spit indiscriminately at the people who think the queue begins at the electronic sign and not the actual stop, the chatty driver, and the imbeciles who lurk in the narrowest part of the bus just inside the door, when a wonderland of empty seats lies mere steps beyond them. Not that running out of numbers - and the fact that the sign now says 'ann' meaning 'here' - indicates that the bus will actually appear. Oh no. It may take another 10/18 minutes for it to arrive. Or it may simply vanish from the sign altogether. Poof and it's gone, leaving behind disconsolate souls at the mercy of another time-warped countdown, and me, throbbing with anger. If ever you hear of a destructive rampage through Dublin by a woman armed with a 'Real Time Information' sign, you can be sure I've just been 'ghost bussed'. Other things that turn me from reasonable human to raging Hulk include: Slow walkers: Why, teenager, are you walking at the speed of an octogenarian and zig-zagging across the path so those of us with actual lives to live are bottle-necked behind? Anger Level (AL): Irate. Expand Close Tourists - please don't drag every footstep / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tourists - please don't drag every footstep Tourists: Does the gravity in Ireland differ so that you're forced to drag out every footstep infinitely, or are you just here to visit the slow walkers? AL: Raging. Queue jumpers: Yes, you did know that I was next and, no, being a pensioner does not excuse the absence of manners. In fact, it makes it worse. AL: Livid. Expand Close Stock photo / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stock photo Office kettle stealers: There is a special place in the depths of hell reserved for those who purloin the water filled by another. AL: Boiling point. Everyone at an airport: Stop feigning surprise, you know the rules about liquids and luggage allowances apply to you, just like everyone else. And take your bloody belt off. AL: Splenetic. For all of this pent-up rage - simmering under the surface, just waiting for the chance to go full volcano - what doesn't register on my anger levels, however, are the very things that should. I don't agree with water charges, but I passively paid them anyway. I think that the under-funding of mental health services in this country is reprehensible, but I've never tackled my local TDs about it. I believe in a woman's right to choose an abortion, but I don't own a 'Repeal' sweatshirt. I agree that our gardai and nurses and teachers deserve to be paid more, but I've never done so much as tweet about it. That childcare costs are forcing talented women out of the workforce - meh. That we're all paying through the teeth for the sins of bankers and builders - what of it? That Donald Trump may soon be the leader of the free world - oh well. Is this selfishness or just denial? How can I be moved to the point of spontaneous combustion by Dublin Bus' Real Time Information signs, but hold no strong opinion on the Dublin Bus strike? Perhaps, in our Kardashian-ised society, I've become so focused on own petty travails that I'm apathetic about everything else. (Incidentally, I'm not remotely annoyed by the Kardashians.) Or maybe it's just that in a country where we've had close to a decade now of disaster piling on top of disappointment that my brain has begun to block out the bigger picture. Mindfulness tells me that I can't control the world, I can only control my reaction to it. Somehow, when it comes to the pressing issues facing our society, I seem to have only taken in the first part of that message. As for everything else, well I appear to have some work to do on my anger management skills. Rest assured, however, that next time that a protest march snakes through the centre of Dublin city, all passionate chants and hoisted placards setting out to change the world, that's where I'll be Stuck behind it on a bus that I've already had to wait 18 minutes for. ANGRY. Premium Ian O'Doherty Opinion For once, the UN is right were standing on the edge of a deadly nuclear precipice For those of us of a certain age, the last few months have felt as if we have somehow time-warped back to the 1980s. Stranger Things, which is set in that decade, has been the biggest show on TV. Kate Bush thanks, incidentally, to Stranger Things is now regularly played on the radio and she has reached number one in 2022 with the re-release of her 1985 hit, Running Up That Hill. Everybody's bluff has been called. No teacher wants to be on the picket line today and no government wants to be faced with headlines about industrial strife. Yet here we are after days of talks at the highest levels and none of our political or union leaders can come up with a solution. In government circles though the real concern is focused on next week. Teachers won't thank me for saying it - but they are not always popular in the public eye. There are plenty of people who believe they work short hours, get a decent enough salary and long holidays, while complaining a lot. On the other hand, gardai are out on the streets keeping us safe at night. The comparison is simplistic but it's one that the Government is acutely aware of as it tries to walk a tightrope between the Lansdowne Road Agreement and the unions outside it. Senior sources told the Irish Independent that they feared "no offer" would be enough to stop gardai withdrawing their services for at least one day. "They want their day out at this stage. People in the unions have staked a lot on this," one source said. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) have already pushed the boundaries of industrial relations. On the table is the promise of access to the Workplace Relations Commission and a package of measures for young officers. Can it be improved upon while remaining inside the confines of the Lansdowne Road Agreement? That's difficult to say. Certainly any inch outside of Lansdowne would open the floodgates and potentially collapse the Government. So the gardai have a strong hand. It's unlikely though that they would want to pull down a flimsy administration and create uncertainty on an unprecedented scale. Building trust may well be the key that unlocks a deal. The reality is that gardai are angry. They are angrier than the average teacher. TDs regularly tell stories about meeting gardai on the election trail earlier this year. "They feel undervalued and that the cuts hit them harder than other public servants," said one deputy. A new garda starts on a salary of 23,750 with the potential for top-ups for front-line work and the Government is promising a rent allowance of 4,000. It's now reported that officers may be offered a cash boost for doing extra work under four measures outside the Government's pay deal with public servants. That in itself is a risky strategy - but the Government will go further to appease gardai than it will teachers. The media is often accused of pitching the private sector against the public sector. On this occasion though the GRA, AGSI and Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) have pitched themselves against the other public sector unions. These disputes will be resolved. The problem is that right now neither side knows how, or when. Hiding in plain sight, one solution to the housing shortage has been staring successive governments in the face for decades. Derelict and decrepit Victorian and Georgian buildings scattered within our cities had, in the most part, fallen victim to pre 1963 multiple occupancy. By that, I mean squalid one-room bedsits with shared sanitary facilities. They received little or no maintenance, other than ubiquitous PVC windows and cement mortar pointing damming up the walls and keeping moisture locked in. Making it nice and damp indoors. Whether through the abolition of bedsits or repossession from over-zealous amateur investors, many of these buildings are now on the market. The biggest challenge has always been the cost of restoring the building to single occupancy or at least sub-division into decent-sized apartments. Frankly, anyone with a desire to live in a city-centre house full of character, would be easily deterred by the time and cost of dealing with banks, planners and builders. So, to encourage potential purchasers to buy pre-1915 dwellings, the Department of Finance introduced the Living City Initiative last year. Even though the benefits included tax relief on capital expenditure of refurbishment, the parameters were far too limited for any house hunter to get excited about it. It was so restrictive that only 18 applications were made in Dublin, four in Cork, seven in Waterford, two in Kilkenny, two in Galway and none in Limerick. It remains to be seen how Limerick responds to the revised scheme. Finance Minister Michael Noonan is a former pupil of Glin National School, and must be very familiar with the need to restore 19th century premises in the village. The changes in the new bill, which comes into effect on January 1, 2017, include the removal of the restriction on the maximum floor size of qualifiable property, removal of the requirement that it must have been previously used as a dwelling, and changes to the minimum expenditure needed to qualify. Most importantly, the bill also extends the scheme to landlords to renovate rental accommodation in special regeneration areas. The essential differences are that instead of the minimum spend of 10pc of market value prior to works it is now 5,000. There is also a cap on qualifying expenditure, in the case of a company trading from the premises it is 1,600,00 and where the individual is a company letting the premises, it is 800,000. Where the person who incurs the capital expenditure is an individual, the cap is 400,000. As a precaution, local authorities will need to ensure this widening of scope to investors does not reduce the standard of renovation and materials used, and that the abuse of dwellings for multiple occupancy is prohibited. The key to the success of the revised initiative is for local authorities to establish dedicated advice centres in collaboration with the Department of Finance and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. There are more complex regulations when refurbishing a Georgian building than perhaps a pre-1915 commercial building, because the property may be a protected structure or attached to one. And for that reason, the obstacles need to be ironed out at an early stage to avoid unwieldy delays while the purchaser has to endure mortgage repayments on a home they can't live in. A one-stop-shop model exists in the Liberties Local Area Plan, established to achieve social, economic and physical regeneration in the area by providing a co-ordinated approach to the development of key sites. In the Liberties, Dublin City Council examined opportunities to provide new community infrastructure, new open spaces and public realm improvements. Without a coherent regeneration programme supported by the local authority, the isolated house restoration under the new scheme will suffer. The second major key to the success of this plan is policing, to ensure that crime does not set back the potential benefits for the existing and prospective residential community. I recently viewed a three-storey over basement terraced Georgian house in the north inner city, where Dublin City Council had refused permission for four apartments and granted permission for two spacious residences over two levels. What had been a motorbike accessories workshop with leaking upper floors and syringe depository in the basement, is now an elegant, master work of restored craftsmanship, and was snapped up for rent. This is a welcome plan - hopefully it will not fail again, otherwise the residential nature of our cities will continue to deteriorate, and they will exist only as commercial centres by day and segregated recreational areas by night. Jane Beedle (right), Andrew Smyth and Candice Brown, who was crowned champion of this year's Great British Bake Off. Candice Brown proved to be as meticulous with her statement lipstick as she was with her ambitious and complicated bakes. The PE teacher, who was crowned Star Baker three times throughout the series before being named the eventual winner, sported a rainbow of shades in the tent that sparked a national conversation. Her lip colour, which ranged from dark plum to hot pink, became such a signature that co-host Mel Giedroyc volunteered to reapply it for her during the semi-final. But it was her bakes that really dazzled - from the gingerbread recreation of the pub she grew up in, complete with sticky ginger cake carpet, to the marzipan peacock with a blueberry surprise inside she baked in Tudor Week. She frequently went beyond the brief, creating far more work for herself, but impressing the judges along the way. For the semi-final she created two kinds of fondant fancy, one a cherry bakewell, one a chocolate praline, that Mary Berry described as "cracking" and in the final she added an extra tier to her pavlova in the shape of a crown. Her mango curd-filled meringue creation was so delicious it earned her a coveted "Hollywood handshake" from Paul Hollywood. It wasn't all plain sailing for her though. She had a rocky start to the competition, serving up a less-than-perfect mirror glaze cake that brought her to tears in the first week and presenting raw bread during Bread Week, a moment she described as "mortifying". But Brown came back fighting and proved fond of a pun or two. Fans particularly enjoyed the moment when she asked Giedroyc to "grab my jugs" as she presented the gingerbread pub to the judges. She also offered some creative swearing, with viewers enjoying her expression "Oh Mother Hubbard", exclaimed in a moment of frustration. The 31-year-old, who was taught to bake by her grandmother, was born in London and often included tributes to her Cockney past in her creations. Video of the Day She now lives in Bedfordshire with her boyfriend and pug Dennis and bulldog Harry and frequently shares pictures of her baking and her pets on social media. Ahead of the final she told the Radio Times: "I would love to be able to bake all the time - but who knows what will happen?" Michael Barrymore was arrested on suspicion of murdering Stuart Lubbock, but the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence Essex Police have accepted that Michael Barrymore was wrongfully arrested and questioned over the murder of a man found dead in his swimming pool, it has been reported. The entertainer is suing the force for holding him in 2007 during an investigation into the death of Stuart Lubbock, a father-of-two whose body was discovered following a party at Barrymore's Essex home in 2001. Barrymore was arrested along with two other men on suspicion of murdering the 31-year-old, although the case against them was dropped due to insufficient evidence. According to the Daily Mirror the 64-year-old is seeking "aggravated and exemplary damages" for his "wrongful arrest and detention" which led him to suffer "loss and damage namely distress, shock, anxiety and damage to his reputation". The newspaper said lawyers for the television personality signed an agreement with Essex Police dated October 14 that in effect accepts he was wrongfully arrested and detained. The newspaper said it had seen l egal papers lodged at the High Court that state: "Judgment be entered for the Claimant [Barrymore] on the issue of liability." The final figure for any damages has been left for a judge to decide, the papers say. Barrymore has not commented on Essex Police's reported admission. He told a fan on Twitter: "As much as I can say for the minute is "Justice"," adding later: "Only for legal reasons." He lost his lucrative contract with ITV in 2002, having appeared regularly on television since the 1980s, following an inquest into the death that saw a coroner record an open verdict. Mr Lubbock's father, Terry, 71, told the Daily Mirror that the latest development did not provide "closure or justice" for him. Video of the Day An Essex Police spokesman told the newspaper: "As the matter remains in litigation and is in the hands of lawyers, further comment would not be appropriate." Jackie Kennedy with her hosts Jack Lynch and his wife Mairin in the reception hall of Dublin Castle where she attended her first formal function since her arrival in Ireland in 1967. On the left is Mrs. Frank Aiken. Picture: Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection Jacqueline Kennedy with President of Ireland Mr. Eamon de Valera and his wife Sinead de Valera at Aras an Uachtarain on June 30th 1967. Picture: Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection Jackie Kennedy with her hosts Jack Lynch and his wife Mairin in the reception hall of Dublin Castle where she attended her first formal function since her arrival in Ireland in 1967. On the left is Mrs. Frank Aiken. Picture: Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection Jacqueline Kennedy making a speech, with her children Caroline and John standing behind her at Shannon Airport in 1967. Picture: Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection Jackie Kennedy with her hosts Jack Lynch and his wife Mairin in the reception hall of Dublin Castle where she attended her first formal function since her arrival in Ireland in 1967. On the left is Mrs. Frank Aiken. Picture: Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection Jacqueline Kennedy's at a state banquet at St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle in 1967. Among the guests were Taoiseach Jack Lynch, left, and his wife Mairin. Picture: Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection This week, we went way (way) back. We took a break from revisiting some of our favourite Irish celebrities' faux pas during the Celtic Tiger years to revisit one of the most iconic foreign visits in modern Irish history - Jackie O's visit to Ireland in 1967. The former US First Lady landed to a hero's welcome at Shannon Airport, where she was joined by her children Caroline and John Jr. After some select official engagements, the family enjoyed a month-long holiday on our shores travelling to Waterford, Wexford and Clare. The trip was honouring a promise she made to her late husband ho fell in love with Ireland during his 1963 visit. Expand Close Jacqueline Kennedy making a speech, with her children Caroline and John standing behind her at Shannon Airport in 1967. Picture: Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jacqueline Kennedy making a speech, with her children Caroline and John standing behind her at Shannon Airport in 1967. Picture: Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection At a state banquet at St. Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle, she was the epitome of elegance in a colour block gown and white fur shawl with matching gloves. Expand Close Jackie Kennedy with her hosts Jack Lynch and his wife Mairin in the reception hall of Dublin Castle where she attended her first formal function since her arrival in Ireland in 1967. On the left is Mrs. Frank Aiken. Picture: Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jackie Kennedy with her hosts Jack Lynch and his wife Mairin in the reception hall of Dublin Castle where she attended her first formal function since her arrival in Ireland in 1967. On the left is Mrs. Frank Aiken. Picture: Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection Later in the evening, her dress detail was revealed to be of colourful asymmetric design with her famous bouffant stealing the show as she chatted with former Taoiseach Jack Lynch and his wife Mairin. Expand Close Jackie Kennedy with her hosts Jack Lynch and his wife Mairin in the reception hall of Dublin Castle where she attended her first formal function since her arrival in Ireland in 1967. On the left is Mrs. Frank Aiken. Picture: Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jackie Kennedy with her hosts Jack Lynch and his wife Mairin in the reception hall of Dublin Castle where she attended her first formal function since her arrival in Ireland in 1967. On the left is Mrs. Frank Aiken. Picture: Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection For a meeting with former President Eamon de Valera and his wife Sinead at Aras an Uachtarain, the style icon wore one of her signature looks - a knee length coat by designer Oleg Cassini. Expand Close Jacqueline Kennedy with President of Ireland Mr. Eamon de Valera and his wife Sinead de Valera at Aras an Uachtarain on June 30th 1967. Picture: Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jacqueline Kennedy with President of Ireland Mr. Eamon de Valera and his wife Sinead de Valera at Aras an Uachtarain on June 30th 1967. Picture: Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection Video of the Day All pictures are part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) Victoria's Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes reveals the $3 Million 2016 Bright Night Fantasy Bra at Victoria's Secret, Fifth Ave on October 26, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) Victoria's Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes reveals the $3 Million 2016 Bright Night Fantasy Bra at Victoria's Secret, Fifth Ave on October 26, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) Victoria's Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes reveals the $3 Million 2016 Bright Night Fantasy Bra at Victoria's Secret, Fifth Ave on October 26, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) Model Jasmine Tookes walks the runway during the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Avenue Armory on November 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Model Jasmine Tookes walks the runway during the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Avenue Armory on November 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) Model Jasmine Tookes just landed the most coveted gig in the most coveted show in the world - wearing the Fantasy Bra in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. It was announced yesterday the 25-year-old would be wearing the $3m diamond fantasy bra during the annual show, taking place in Paris this year, catapulting her to supermodel status overnight. We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference Here's 10 things we know about the rising star. 1. She's been modelling since she was 15. Expand Close Jasmine Tookes / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jasmine Tookes Jasmine landed her first major campaign in 2010 with ugg and Gap. She was named as one of Vogue's ones to watch in 2012/13 after racking up a serious number of runway shows during Fashion Week. 2. She's a new Angel. Expand Close Model Jasmine Tookes walks the runway during the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Avenue Armory on November 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Model Jasmine Tookes walks the runway during the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Avenue Armory on November 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) She was named as one of the 10 new Victoria's Secret Angels in 2015 and has become one of the most influential faces of the brand since. She first appeared on the VS runway in 2012 and now joins the ranks of Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks and Lily Aldridge modelling the diamond and emerald bra. 3. She is one half of what might be the most beautiful couple in the world. Video of the Day Expand Close Meet the world's most beautiful couple: Jasmine Tookes and Tobias Sorensen / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Meet the world's most beautiful couple: Jasmine Tookes and Tobias Sorensen She's dating male model Tobias Sorensen for the last four years. The pair first met in a New York City club in 2012 and she gave him a fake phone number. "I choose to believe that she didnt really give me a fake number. She corrected it later on [in the night], so I left the club with the right number," Danish model Tobias told Style.com. They appeared together in a Calvin Klein fragrance campaign last year and continue to be beautiful together every day. Seriously, this is just a taste of their Instagram: Expand Close Jasmine Tookes and Tobias Sorenson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jasmine Tookes and Tobias Sorenson 4. She's a fitness fanatic. Expand Close Jasmine Tookes and Josephine Skriver / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jasmine Tookes and Josephine Skriver No surprise there! But the American model recently set up a joint Instagram account JoJa with fellow VS Angel Josephine Skriver focusing on their healthy eating tips, gym advice and ways to work out with your bestie. "One day, we started trying to do yoga poses together as a duothen we started looking online and were shocked and amazed at how many unique poses there were! We also thought it would be fun to create some on our own," Jasmine said. 5. She had to keep the Fantasy Bra news a secret for five months. Expand Close Jasmine Tookes / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jasmine Tookes She first told her grandmother and mother upon learning the news, but other than that, it was kept under lock and key. "It was so hard to keep this a secret because it's something so exciting that you want to share with everybody, so for me to keep my mouth shut I literally had to bite my tongue every time I wanted to say it." 6. She had to sit for three hours in plaster to have the bra moulded perfectly for her body. Expand Close Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) "I almost couldn't breathe because I'd move too much and it'd mess up the measurements," she told Elle. 7. Style runs in her family. Expand Close Jasmine Tookes with her mother Carly Robinson and sister Chloe Danielle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jasmine Tookes with her mother Carly Robinson and sister Chloe Danielle Her mother is a celebrity stylist Carly Robinson and she was discovered in one of her mother's showrooms when she was just a teenager. "I grew up being on set or in showrooms. I was actually discovered while at a showroom appointment and was immediately sent over to an agency in L.A. I was about 15 years old at that time," she told The Cut. 8. She considers her fellow Angels like family. Expand Close (L to R) Taylor Hill, Jasmine Tookes and Romee Strijd / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (L to R) Taylor Hill, Jasmine Tookes and Romee Strijd Tookes was brought in with nearly a dozen other budding supermodels including Stella Maxwell, Romee Strijd and Taylor Hill and gushed over how close they are. "We are such a close little group and I love that we can have a sisterhood and hang out together and go to dinner together. It's fun. I could call any of them at 3 a.m., they're all so sweet and we're always there for each other," she told Elle.com. 9. Her little sister wants to follow in her shoes. Expand Close Jasmine Tookes at the 2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jasmine Tookes at the 2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Jasmine's sister Chloe Danielle might only be six years old, but she has high hopes for a modelling career. "Shell dress up like me during the shows and walk around the house. Shes already a full-blown diva," she told Into The Gloss. Investors are anticipating an increase in property values in Germanys financial capital, Frankfurt, in the wake of Brexit A property company managed by Schroders Plc is bidding for an office building in Frankfurt, anticipating the banking fallout from Brexit will boost values in the German financial centre. The London-based property investor isn't alone in preparing for an exodus from the British capital, with both CBRE Global Investors LLC and Standard Life Plc seeking to purchase office space in cities from Dublin to Amsterdam. "The potential additional growth as a result of companies relocating from the UK enabled us to be firmer on pricing and financial underwriting," Tony Smedley, a fund manager at Schroders, said of the proposed Frankfurt acquisition by Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust Plc. About 70,000 jobs could leave the UK finance industry if the British government sacrifices unfettered trading access to European markets to regain immigration controls, according to lobby group TheCityUK. Those seeking to move overseas face a problem - the lack of development and growing domestic demand has already pushed vacancy rates for prime space in the business districts of Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam to the lowest levels in about a decade, according to broker Savills Plc. Real estate investors are now seeking to capitalise on that shortage by buying partially-vacant offices and plots with the potential to develop buildings the banks may need. "We believe that there will be strong occupational demand from banks and financial services companies," said Jeremy Plummer, chief executive officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at CBRE Global Investors, which manages about $88.6bn of real estate globally. "We believed that before Brexit, but we believe it even more now because of the enquiries coming from companies seeking to locate some functions in other locations." Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust raised funds through a share placing this month to purchase about 150m ($165m) of assets throughout Europe. The company is positioning to "capitalise on any structural change which may result from a progressive shift of occupiers from the UK to major EU cities," according to a statement. It has already bought a number of German properties and would have bid for the Frankfurt office regardless of Brexit, Schroders' Smedley said. He declined to identify the building. The financial crisis curbed development in many European cities and so now it's time for investors to take more risk, according to James Rushworth, who oversees about 4bn of assets as European property director at Standard Life. Demand will outweigh supply, pushing up rents, he said. The company is in the process of raising about 300m for a new European property investment fund. In Amsterdam, banks have already put "previously vacant swathes of modern office space under option" in case London-based institutions lose the right to conduct business throughout Europe, Mike Prew, an analyst at broker Jefferies Group LLC, wrote in a September 26 note after a visit to the city. He declined to comment further. "There are a number of reasons why Amsterdam in particular could do well," Standard Life's Rushworth said. "It has that historic global trading outlook like London, good connectivity, it is attractive as a place to live, it has good quality transport, it has a well-educated population and English is so well spoken." France's labour and tax laws make Paris a less popular bet among investors seeking to build new homes for bankers, CBRE's Plummer said. It's also expensive, with prime yields lower than those in London's financial districts, making it less attractive to buy existing buildings. Still, it will probably get a boost because French banks currently have significant operations in London and, if they were to move, they would most likely head for Paris, said Wolfgang Behrendt, head of global real estate for Europe at UBS Group AG's asset management unit. That suggests no single city will emerge as a clear winner from Brexit, he said. "In the current situation there is too much dust in the air to have a clear view," Behrendt said. "One thing is clear, to build up Frankfurt or Paris or Dublin to be on a similar scale to London would take about 20 years." UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, meanwhile, is facing a fiscal hit if bankers carry out their threat to quit London to protect their businesses against Brexit. As Hammond prepares to loosen the nation's purse strings next month, he's being warned that the government's coffers will suffer if banks shift jobs and operations overseas to ensure continued access to the European Union. He's also being lobbied to cut levies to keep London attractive to the industry. "The worry for the government is the banks end up taking a chunk of the tax base with them," said Gregor Irwin, chief economist at Global Counsel, a London-based consultancy that has been advising the financial sector on Brexit. At stake is some of the Stg66bn ($81bn) financial services paid in taxes in 2014-15, equivalent to 11pc of tax revenue and more than enough to cover the UK's annual defence bill. For Hammond, who has been the UK government's biggest advocate of banks and for keeping ties with the single market, less cash from financial services would squeeze his ability to cushion the economy from the Brexit shock and eventually deliver the balanced budget he still wants. The chancellor said last week the government is "acutely aware" of the role banks play in the economy and that it is keen to "keep as many things on the table." What worries banks is that they will lose the so-called passporting rights that allow them to service the EU from bases in London. Consultants Oliver Wyman this month calculated that in the worst case of banks losing easy access to the EU, then the cost to the Treasury would be as much as Stg10bn. If finance's footprint is reduced, Simon Wells, chief European economist at HSBC Holdings Plc, predicts wages for the sector's one million workers could also be subdued, lowering the tax take from such high earners. While just one percent of taxpayers earn the Stg150,000 a year above which the highest rate of tax is levied, they account for almost 30pc of total income-tax revenue, according to HSBC. (Bloomberg) Military tribunals quizzed people about their tea-drinking habits in a bid to send them to fight in the First World War, a new exhibition has revealed. While many would view tea as a cornerstone of British culture, admitting to drinking it was deemed by tribunals to be a sign of hypocrisy and cowardice if a person was a conscientious objector. It appeared that the tribunals tried to argue that as a taxed good, drinking tea was a contribution to the war effort. Thousands of conscientious objectors refused to perform military service, usually on moral or religious grounds, as conscription laws enlisted 2.5 million extra British troops from 1916 onwards. By March 1916, the British Government was desperately short of soldiers, conscription was introduced and all able-bodied men, aged between 18 and 41, were ordered to join the war effort. To be exempted from the fighting, conscientious objectors had the task of publicly proving to an often hostile tribunal that it was conscience and not cowardice that spurred their refusal to fight. The only others who could be exempted were the sole carers of dependants. Papers featured in a new exhibition at St John's College at the University of Cambridge reveal that tribunals asked questions about tea-drinking habits in an attempt to undermine and ridicule people who applied to prove their conscientious objection. Francis P White was a 23-year-old undergraduate at St John's College in 1916, and he was a conscientious objector on religious grounds. He kept a diary and collected press clippings, including one from the Cambridge Weekly News, 1916, which reports on his own hearing along with those of three other students from St John's. All four men had already been granted exemption from combative service, but the military was appealing against the decision on the grounds that they were not "bona fide conscientious objectors". Bizarrely, the crux of the argument seems to have rested on whether or not they drank tea. As a taxed good, consuming tea was seen as a contribution to the war effort, which, for the tribunal, equated to 'providing money for someone else to fight'. When the appellants queried how it was possible to live without paying these taxes, they were told that there was always water - " nature's drink". During his tribunal, Francis was asked if he had attended meetings for a society of conscientious objectors at St John's College. He denied any knowledge of such things, leaving his interrogators stumped as to "how it is they all come from St John's?". However, hidden between the pages of his diary, Francis kept his invitations to secret meetings to "consider procedure before the tribunals", which were held in the rooms of Fellow of the College, Ebenezer Cunningham. Years later, when he came to write his memoirs at the age of 90, the only thing that Ebenezer - who was also a conscientious objector on religious grounds - could remember about his own tribunal was a baffling question about tea: "The chairman asked me, 'Do you drink tea?' I said I did, to which he replied, 'Well, if I had a conscience, I would not drink tea.' I did not quite understand his objection." The diaries will be displayed as part of the Cambridge Festival of Ideas. A brown pebble spotted by a fossil hunter in Sussex more than a decade ago which has been confirmed as the first known example of petrified dinosaur brain. A "brown pebble" spotted by a fossil hunter in Sussex more than a decade ago has been confirmed as the first known example of petrified dinosaur brain. The specimen is thought to have come from a large plant eater such as Iguanodon, which lived about 133 million years ago. Scientists believe the dead dinosaur's head was buried in mud at the bottom of a swamp, allowing its brain to be "pickled" and preserved. In time the soft tissues became mineralised. But the fossil retained distinctive features such as the meninges - a protective membrane surrounding the brain - blood vessels, collagen and structures thought to represent the outer layer of nerve cells, or cortex. A detailed study of the "pebble" has revealed similarities with the brains of present-day birds and crocodiles, both close relatives of dinosaurs. Dr Alex Liu, from Cambridge University's Department of Earth Sciences, who took part in the analysis, said: "The chances of preserving brain tissue are incredibly small, so the discovery of this specimen is astonishing." The find's importance was first recognised by the late Professor Martin Brasier, from Oxford University, who co-led the research prior to his death in a road accident in 2014. It is highlighted in a Special Publication of the Geological Society of London published in tribute to the professor, who was one of the world's leading palaeobiologists. Fossil hunter Jamie Hiscocks, who discovered the specimen on a beach near Bexhill-on-Sea in 2004, and is named as one of the study's authors, said: "I have always believed I had something special. I noticed there was something odd about the preservation, and soft tissue preservation did go through my mind. "Martin realised its potential significance right at the beginning, but it wasn't until years later that its true significance came to be realised. "In his initial email to me, Martin asked if I'd ever heard of dinosaur brain cells being preserved in the fossil record. I knew exactly what he was getting at. I was amazed to hear this coming from a world-renowned expert like him." Dr David Norman, from Cambridge University, who worked with Prof Brasier on the specimen, said the brain tissue had, in effect, been "pickled" in a highly acidic, low oxygen environment - probably a bog, or swamp. "What we think happened is that this particular dinosaur died in or near a body of water, and its head ended up partially buried in the sediment at the bottom," said Dr Norman. "Since the water had little oxygen and was very acidic, the soft tissues of the brain were likely preserved and cast before the rest of its body was buried in the sediment." Typically in reptiles, the brain is surrounded by a dense drainage system consisting of blood vessels and vascular chambers. The brain itself only takes up about half the space within the skull cavity. But, surprisingly, the tissue in the fossilised dinosaur brain appears to have been pressed directly against the skull. This raises the intriguing possibility that some dinosaurs had larger brains than previously thought. However the scientists cautioned against jumping to too many conclusions about dinosaur intelligence. The most likely explanation was that as the brain decayed after death gravity caused it to collapse against the roof of the skull cavity, they pointed out. Dr Norman said: "As we can't see the lobes of the brain itself, we can't say for sure how big this dinosaur's brain was. Of course, it's entirely possible that dinosaurs had bigger brains than we give them credit for, but we can't tell from this specimen alone. "What's truly remarkable is that conditions were just right in order to allow preservation of the brain tissue. Hopefully, this is the first of many such discoveries." Mr Hiscocks was at the centre of controversy in 2006 after the Natural History Museum reportedly turned down his asking price of 750,000 for the fossil. Scientists still cannot explain how the birds sleep, but it is thought they are able to slumber on the wing Common swifts often stay constantly airborne for 10 months of the year, scientists say. Researchers attached flight activity monitors to 19 of the birds and followed them as they migrated from their breeding site in Sweden to central Africa. They found that apart from when they were breeding, a large proportion of the swifts spent more than 99% of the remaining 10 months of the year in constant flight. While some birds came down to earth at some point, others never did. Flight activity was lowest during the day, when the birds were able to save energy by soaring on warm air currents. Scientists still cannot explain how the birds sleep, but it is thought they are able to slumber on the wing - possibly during slow descents at dawn and dusk. Lead researcher Professor Anders Hedenstrom, from Lund University in Sweden, said: "When the common swifts leave their breeding site in August for a migration to the Central African rainforests via West Africa, they never touch ground until they return for the next breeding season 10 months later. "Some individuals may roost for brief periods, or even entire nights in mid-winter, but others literally never landed during this period." He added: "The accumulated flight distance equals seven round-trip journeys to the moon." Surprisingly, considering the high energy costs of so much flying, swifts have long life spans, the scientists said.. There are documented cases of common swifts living to the age of 20. While other species such as the frigate bird are known to remain in flight for periods of months, none can match the common swift, the scientists believe. The research is reported in the journal Current Biology. The battle to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa, the capital of Isil's so-called caliphate, will begin within weeks, the British defence secretary announced yesterday. The international coalition hopes a two-pronged attack on Isil's largest strongholds in Syria and Iraq will put pressure on the terror group and weaken its defences. Speaking 10 days into the offensive to retake Mosul, Michael Fallon said: "We hope a similar operation will begin toward Raqqa in the next few weeks." US defence secretary Ash Carter said the idea of simultaneous operations "has been part of our planning for quite a while" and that the coalition was confident it was capable of resourcing both. The US and UK have dozens of special forces training and supporting Syrian opposition fighters. Mr Fallon announced earlier this week that 20 more British troops would be joining them at their base in south-west Jordan. An offensive on Raqqa is likely to be far more complicated than the assault on Mosul, however, because unlike in Iraq, in Syria the coalition does not have a strong ally on the ground. It will probably rely on a band of Kurdish armies, including the People's Protection Units (YPG), as well as moderate Syrian groups. However, Turkey wants to play a role and the Russians are also insisting that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime must also be involved. In Iraq, troops have been advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north after an offensive was launched on October 17 to retake the last major Iraqi city under Isil control. The assault is backed by air and ground support from the US-led coalition which launched its campaign against Isil two years ago, shortly after the jihadists seized control of large parts of Iraq and Syria. Coalition forces have been making steady progress, but have met with snipers, car bombs and suicide attacks. Residents inside Mosul say the some 6,000 remaining jihadists have booby-trapped all the bridges and roads out the city. Some reported that Isil fighters have begun shaving off their beards and wearing civilian clothes in a bid to evade Iraqi forces, which are now just 5km from the city limits. "Isil has no intentions to leave the city, and will be fighting to their last breath," said one resident, who did not wish to give his name. "Isil is hiding among the innocent civilians." The United Nations reported on Tuesday that the extremist group had recently executed dozens of civilians and taken more than 500 families from surrounding villages into Mosul to use as human shields. The resident said Isil members were warning that they would kill anyone caught trying to escape from the city. "They have also been telling people in the mosques that the Iraqi forces only want to kill the Mosulis and to enslave their women. They are trying to brainwash people into thinking they are the better option than the army," he said. The loss of Mosul, where Isil leaders declared their 'caliphate' in the summer of 2014, would leave Raqqa as the last major city still under the group's control.( Daily Telegraph London) A man has filed a defamation case against several media organisations after his "striking mullet" hairstyle became an internet sensation. Ali Ziggi Mosslmani, who is known as "Ziggy", filed for defamation claiming that the Daily Mail, Sydneys Daily Telegraph and the Australian Radio Network published his photograph poking fun at his haircut. Australian Ali Mosslmani, known as Ziggy, says coverage of his haircut, as mentioned by @neildelamere was unfair #mullet pic.twitter.com/ntLs2yXvRm TheAntonSavageShow (@AntonSavageShow) October 27, 2016 The photograph showed Ziggy with a shaved head at the front and long hair at the back of his head. Sydney's Daily Telegraph superimposed images showed his hair alongside a skunk and the man's lawyers are now claiming that he was defamed as a "hideously ugly" person. District court judge Judith Gibson, who is presiding over the case, said in a preliminary judgement that the remarks were made mostly in jest. She said: The plaintiffs striking mullet haircut has generated a great deal of interest on the internet, most of it humorous, and some of it in the form of clever observations, such as the Pythagoras direction in one of the memes, she said. Judge Gibson also said that the case was "overpleaded," adding that the plaintiff's team appeared to be trying to claim as many imputations as possible while simultaneously avoiding a defence of honest opinion or justification. The publication goes on to say that the photograph has generated 11,415 comments, 10,000 likes and 1.7m views, which suggests that the hairstyle has its fans and opponents, but is not indicative of ugliness; to the contrary, 10,000 people pressed the like button, Judge Gibson added. Proceedings will continue on 17 November. The company that owns an Australian theme park where four people died on a ride has defended its safety record as police vetoed plans to reopen to the public three days after the tragedy. Dreamworld on Queensland's Gold Coast has been closed as a crime scene since two men and two women died on Tuesday when their raft flipped on the 30-year-old Thunder River Rapids ride. Neil Balnaves, chairman of Ardent Leisure Group, which owns Dreamworld as well as bowling and billiards centres across Australia, the US and New Zealand, told the company's annual general meeting on Thursday that the ride had passed its annual safety inspection a month ago. "That's what confounds the tragedy even more for us, because it is ... absolutely surprising that a ride could get through that process and everything up to date," he said. "The park does not take its safety as a casual issue," he said, adding that the company uses international experts. A union has accused management of ignoring safety concerns raised by staff over years. Dreamworld announced on Wednesday that it planned to reopen with a memorial day and a service for the victims on Friday, with p rofits donated to charity and activities limited to smaller rides, animal attractions and the water park. Mr Balnaves told the meeting that operations would now return to normal from Saturday, although the Thunder River Rapids ride would remain closed until a coroner's inquiry reported on the cause of the incident. Dreamworld later said Queensland Police Service had advised that the park could not reopen this week. Police had warned that investigators were not prepared to risk the crime scene being compromised through the park being reopened too early. Officers have said the investigation could end in charges of criminal negligence. Ardent chief executive Deborah Thomas said she planned to contact the victims' families to express her sympathies and other financial assistance. "I take my family to Dreamworld. This could have been my family and I completely am sympathetic to what they must be going through," she said. She told the meeting that the revenue lost due to the tragedy would have a "significant impact" on Dreamworld profits for the remainder of the fiscal year, which began on July 1. Mr Balnaves told the meeting he expected the incident would continue to have a financial impact in the next fiscal year, but would not affect company assets other than Dreamworld. AP The Belgian government has reached an agreement to back the free trade deal between the European Union and Canada. The move comes on the day the agreement was supposed to be officially signed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel was able to announce the agreement following days of negotiations with the region of Wallonia. The region has veto power in Belgium and the broader EU needs unanimity among its 28 member states. The deal will go through regional legislatures by Friday night. Mr Trudeau has been due to travel to Brussels on Thursday to sign the deal, but those plans were effectively scrapped as the negotiations with Wallonia dragged on. Still, getting the agreement was a huge relief to EU leaders, who had started negotiating the pact with Canada seven years ago. "This is good news," said Mr Michel, adding that the new text of the deal provides guarantees for farmers and on a corporate dispute settlement system that "will allow us to sign the deal". EU President Donald Tusk said he would contact Mr Trudeau "only once all procedures are finalised for EU signing CETA", as the trade deal is called. Alex Lawrence, the spokesman for Canada's trade minister, said hours before that the country was prepared to sign the deal whenever Europe is ready. Mr Trudeau earlier told Parliament he is prepared to wait longer. "We are confident that in the coming days we will see a positive outcome for this historic deal," Mr Trudeau told Parliament. Beyond the Belgian regional parliaments backing the agreement, the adjustments would have to be vetted by the 27 other nations. That makes a signing ceremony on Thursday impossible. Politicians in Wallonia, which has a population of 3.6 million compared with over 500 million for the whole EU, argue that the proposed accord would undermine labour, environment and consumer standards. Proponents say it would yield billions in added trade through customs and tariff cuts and other measures to lower barriers to commerce. At the same time, the EU says it will keep in place the region's strong safeguards on social, environmental and labour issues. He said Wallonia's insistence on a better deal would bolster EU standards and set a strong precedent for other trade talks between Europe and trading partners like the United States or Japan. AP President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey is ready to kick the Islamic State group out of their capital Raqqa in Syria President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told his US counterpart that Turkey is ready to kick the Islamic State group out of their capital Raqqa in Syria. The president said on Thursday that Turkey-backed opposition fighters inside Syria will eventually reach Raqqa after securing the towns of al-Bab and Manbij. "Last night we had a long conversation with Obama and shared our plans with him . We said, 'Come let's kick Daesh out of Raqqa together'," President Erdogan said - referring to the Arabic acronym for the IS group. President Erdogan added that he called for the operation to take place without involvement of Syrian Kurdish forces. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish militias an extension of its own outlawed Kurdish rebels, though the US regards them as the most effective ground force in the fight against IS. Turkey's defence minister later reiterated Ankara's objections to having Syrian Kurdish fighters participate in an operation to capture the Islamic State group stronghold of Raqqa. The minister, Fikri Isik, suggested that instead of the Kurds, Turkish-backed forces can present an "alternative". Mr Isik also said that Turkey "would insist until the end" that the Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG be kept out of the battle for Raqqa. Mr Isik says that "Turkey has the capacity to form an alternative ... a sufficient force will be formed with the people of the region" - especially the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition. His comments were carried by the state-run Anadolu Agency. Meanwhile, a UN humanitarian aid official for Syria says efforts will be renewed to secure the evacuation of nearly 200 wounded and allow medical and food supplies into the besieged rebel-held part of the city of Aleppo. Jan Egeland says the UN team is "not giving up". He said lack of trust, fear and misunderstandings - as well as unacceptable preconditions - have spoiled the efforts in the past. Airstrikes by Russian and Syrian government planes on Aleppo have been halted for nine days now in expectations of the evacuations - but efforts have failed because Syrian rebels say there have been no safety guarantees for the evacuees. The rebels also say Russia and the government are not allowing aid into the besieged, eastern rebel-held districts of Aleppo that are home to some 275,000 people. Jamel Boyce who was left critically ill after being stabbed in the chest and leg during an altercation with four males on a street in Clapham, south-west London. Photo: PA The heartbroken parents of a boy left fighting for his life after being stabbed have released a picture of him in intensive care in a bid to bring his attackers to justice. Pansy Boyce, mother of Jamel Boyce, said it was "impossible" to describe the pain her family was suffering, but hoped the image of the 17-year-old lying unconscious in a hospital bed would show the devastating impact of knife crime. Jamel was left critically ill after being stabbed in the chest and leg during an altercation with four males on a street in Clapham, south-west London, on the evening of October 14. Detectives from the Metropolitan Police said the "minor scuffle" may have appeared trivial to onlookers, but the teenager collapsed soon afterwards. Bystanders gave Jamel first aid before the arrival of paramedics who rushed him to a south London hospital where he remains in a critical condition. Mrs Boyce said: "It is impossible to describe the pain our family is suffering at this time as our son lies in hospital fighting for his life. Expand Close Jamel Boyce who was left critically ill after being stabbed in the chest and leg during an altercation with four males on a street in Clapham. Photo: PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jamel Boyce who was left critically ill after being stabbed in the chest and leg during an altercation with four males on a street in Clapham. Photo: PA "It breaks my heart to release this picture of Jamel but it shows plainly the devastating impact that carrying and using a knife can have. "I would hate for any other mother or family to go through what we are going through right now. If you know what happened, and who did this to my son, please look into your conscience and speak to police." Flames from makeshift shelters shoot up into the sky after a gas bottle explodes in the Jungle as refugees saw their hopes of resettling in Britain come to an end. Photo: Reuters French authorities have finished clearing the 'Jungle', a squalid shanty town built outside the port of Calais by thousands of migrants desperately seeking a passage to Britain, and are expected to disperse the last of its inhabitants around France within hours. The operation mostly passed off peacefully, although some tents and shelters were torched in a last gesture of defiance as the refugees saw their hopes of a new life in Britain vanish. "This is the end of the Jungle," Calais's regional prefect Fabienne Buccio said. "Mission accomplished." Mr Buccio said about 5,000 migrants had gone through a processing centre before being transferred away by bus, and another 1,000 were still queuing there. Local opposition to the camp, along with criticism from right-wing politicians, had stung the French government into action. Migrants fleeing poverty and war in the Middle East, Asia and Africa came to Calais hoping to cross the short stretch of sea to Britain by trying to leap on trucks and trains, or even walk through the tunnel under the Channel. Britain refused to accept the vast majority of them - apart from a number of unaccompanied child migrants now being processed separately. Spain's government has announced that the flotilla of Russian warships heading towards Syria will not be refuelling at the Spanish port of Ceuta after an international outcry. In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, Spain, a Nato member, said it had given clearance for stopovers to be made by three Russian ships in the North African port of Ceuta between October 28 and November 2. Expand Close A child is treated at a make-shift hospital after shelling on the rebel-held town of Douma yesterday. Photo: Abd Doumany/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A child is treated at a make-shift hospital after shelling on the rebel-held town of Douma yesterday. Photo: Abd Doumany/Getty Images But, the statement continued, "in the light of reports on the possibility that these ships were to carry out supporting tasks for military attacks on the Syrian city of Aleppo, the foreign ministry called the Russian federation's embassy in Madrid for clarification". According to the statement, the Russian embassy "withdrew the request for stopovers for these ships". Politicians and military figures had earlier condemned the support for Russia's warships from a Nato member, while the head of the alliance indicated Madrid should rethink the pit stop. Warships from an eight-strong group led by the carrier Admiral Kuznetsov were expected take on fuel and supplies from the port of Spain's North African enclave, after passing through the Straits of Gibraltar yesterday morning, Spanish papers reported. Nato officials expected the flotilla to then sail onwards to the eastern Mediterranean and escalate air strikes on the only major rebel-held city remaining in Syria, where 275,000 people are trapped. Jens Stoltenberg, Nato's secretary general, said the carrier group, which passed through the English Channel last week, could be used to bomb civilians in the city. He said: "It's for each nation to decide whether these ships can get supplies and be fuelled in different harbours along the route towards the eastern Mediterranean." Russia is reinforcing its Baltic fleet in Kaliningrad with two small warships armed with long-range cruise missiles to counter what it sees as a worrying Nato build-up in the region, Russia's daily 'Izvestia' reported. There was no official confirmation from Moscow, but the report will raise tensions in the Baltic already heightened since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and is likely to cause particular consternation in Poland and Lithuania which share land borders with Kaliningrad. The reported deployment comes at a time when Nato is planning its biggest military build-up on Russia's borders since the Cold War to counter Moscow. Russian military analysts said the move looked like a direct response to Nato. Furthermore, the Russian defence ministry said earlier this month that two ships, the Serpukhov and the Zeleny Dol, had left their Black Sea base to join Russia's naval force in the Mediterranean. The Buyan-class corvettes are armed with nuclear-capable Kalibr cruise missiles, known by the Nato codename Sizzler, which the Russian military says have a range of at least 1,500km. Though variants of the missile are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, the ships are believed to be carrying conventional warheads. Izvestia said Russia's Baltic fleet would probably receive a further three such small warships armed with the same missiles by the end of 2020. It said the Baltic fleet's coastal defences would also be beefed up with the Bastion and Bal land-based missile systems. The Bastion is a mobile defence system armed with two anti-ship missiles with a range of up to 300km. The Bal anti-ship missile has a similar range. Sweden's defence minister said his country was worried by the presence of the warships in the Baltic Sea, complaining the move was likely to keep tension in the region high. Sweden's military confirmed the two vessels had entered the Baltic, but declined to give further information. Russia's defence ministry was not immediately available for comment. "This is...worrying and is not something that helps to reduce tensions in our region," defence minister Peter Hultqvist told Sweden's national TT news agency. "This affects all the countries round the Baltic." Swedish media said the Kalibr missiles had the range to hit targets across the Nordic region. The Russian defence ministry said in August that the two corvettes had been used to fire cruise missiles at militants in Syria. Earlier this month, Russia moved nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles into Kaliningrad leading to protests from Lithuania and Poland. ( Daily Telegraph London) Still image from video shows cracks on the wall of a hotel after an earthquake in Visso, Italy. Picture: REUTERS/Reuters Tv Still image from video shows damaged building after an earthquake in Visso, Italy. Picture: REUTERS/Reuters Tv Still image from video shows a man trying to remove rubble from a road after an earthquake in Visso, Italy. Picture: REUTERS/Reuters Tv Debris lie next to a fountain in Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016 following an earthquake. A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy late Wednesday, crumbling churches and buildings, knocking out power and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi) A view of a damaged building in Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016 following an earthquake,. A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy late Wednesday, crumbling churches and buildings, knocking out power and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi) A view of the damaged cemetery of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016 following an earthquake. A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy late Wednesday, crumbling churches and buildings, knocking out power and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi) Residents of Ussita, central Italy prepare to spend the night in tents, early Thursday, Oct 27, 2016, following an earthquake that destroyed part of their neighborhood. A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy late Wednesday, crumbling churches and buildings, knocking out power and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi) Two strong aftershocks hit central Italy, destroying churches and homes and knocking out power, just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. But there were no reports of serious injuries or signs of people trapped in rubble, said the head of Italy's civil protection agency, Fabrizio Curcio. Expand Close The Church of San Sebastiano stands amidst damaged houses in Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016 following an earthquake,. A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy late Wednesday, crumbling churches and buildings, knocking out power and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Church of San Sebastiano stands amidst damaged houses in Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Italy, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016 following an earthquake,. A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy late Wednesday, crumbling churches and buildings, knocking out power and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi) A handful of people were treated for slight injuries or anxiety at area hospitals in the most affected regions of Umbria and Le Marche, he said. A 73-year-old man died of a heart attack, possibly brought on by the quakes, local authorities told the ANSA news agency. Mr Curcio said his information was that the aftershocks had not been as "catastrophic" as they could have been. They were aftershocks to the August 24 earthquake that struck much of central Italy, demolishing buildings in three towns and their hamlets, seismologists said. Expand Close Still image from video shows cracks on the wall of a hotel after an earthquake in Visso, Italy. Picture: REUTERS/Reuters Tv / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Still image from video shows cracks on the wall of a hotel after an earthquake in Visso, Italy. Picture: REUTERS/Reuters Tv Read More Several towns this time also suffered serious damage, with homes in the epicentre of Visso spilling out into the street. The first struck at 7:10pm local time and carried a magnitude of 5.4. But the second one was eight times stronger at 6.1, according to the US Geological Survey. Because many residents had already left their homes with plans to spend the night in their cars or elsewhere, they were not home when the second aftershock hit two hours later, possibly saving lives, officials said. Mayor of the town of Ussita, Marco Rinaldi, told the Daily Mail: "It was a very strong earthquake, apocalyptic. People are screaming on the street and now we are without lights. "Many houses have collapsed. Our town is finished." Mr Rinaldi said: "The second quake was a long, terrible one." Damien Meaney (37) has been working in Haiti with the Haven Partnership for over five years An Irish aid worker in Haiti has described the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew as heart-breaking. Damien Meaney (37) has been working in Haiti with the Haven Partnership for over five years and says it is difficult to see the people of Haiti try to overcome another disaster. Last week, torrential rain battered the country and caused more destruction, with some parts being submerged in four metres of water. To see the people of Haiti be knocked back down again, it is so heart-breaking. Every time they get a break, something seems to happen. It is hard, yes, but they are amazing people and you always see them rally around each other, he told Independent.ie. Hurricane Matthew left more than 1,000 people dead and destroyed thousands of homes when it struck at the beginning of October. Before the hurricane hit, Damien had been working to provide agricultural training to locals, whilst also carrying out building work on homes. But now, it is a case of damage limitation. It was horrendous. At the moment, it is about getting food security and trying to get shelter back. The strength and the power of the hurricane was unbelievable. It just seemed to go on forever. The wind and rain kept intensifying and we didnt see the light of day for hours, he said. We were warned that the hurricane was coming and we knew it was going to be fairly strong. On the Monday, we moved people living near the water level up to secure schools and churches. A lot of the houses cannot withstand that kind of water and wind damage. During the storm, Damien had six families in his room. Their houses were torn apart and they all huddled into a corner as they waited for the storm to pass. The winds were so strong. Rain was lashing into the room as the windows all broke I could feel the walls moving. People are trying to salvage what is left at the moment. Their coconut trees, their mangos, their livestock, a lot of that was lost and devastated. The Wicklow man admits that it was tough seeing a lot of their hard work come undone, but says they will continue to do what they can for the people of Haiti. They call it the Haiti bug, when you come here once, you will end up coming back. Theres been lots of support for the organisation. It is like everything, the Irish people are very generous. We are working to try get the schools back open and the medical centre fixed, so people can get back to their normal lives, he said. Michelle Obama joined Hillary Clinton at a campaign rally to lend support to the presidential nominee in the closing stages of the race for the White House while Donald Trump turned the spotlight on Bill Clinton's post-presidential activities in an attempt to dent his opponent's lead. Mrs Obama boosted Mrs Clinton at a North Carolina rally as the candidate cheered her on with Mrs Clinton hoping to succeed Barack Obama as US president. Mr Trump highlighted newly released emails from her campaign chairman's personal account showing Doug Band, a former Bill Clinton aide, describing overlapping relationships between the Clinton Foundation and the family's private gains. "Mr Band called the arrangement 'unorthodox'. The rest of us call it outright corrupt," said Mr Trump at the first of three campaign rallies in Ohio. "If the Clintons were willing to play this fast and loose with their enterprise when they weren't in the White House, just imagine what they'll do in the Oval Office." Mr Band wrote the 2011 memo to defend his firm, Teneo, describing how he encouraged his clients to contribute to the foundation and get consulting and speaking gigs for Bill Clinton. Some of his work included obtaining "in-kind services for the president and his family - for personal travel, hospitality, vacation and the like". The message was released by WikiLeaks after a hack by others of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's private email account. "I think we've had enough of the Clintons, in all fairness," Mr Trump said. "Don't you think?" Mr Band called the business, Bill Clinton Inc - a term Mr Trump referenced to paint the family as using their public profiles for personal gain, a line of attack Republicans have long tried. The hacked emails, as well as recent news of an "Obamacare" premium hike, have appeared to hand Mr Trump a pair of potent gifts in the campaign's final fortnight. But to the frustration of many in his party, Mr Trump has struggled to stay on message, often turning to personal attacks against private citizens who he feels have wronged him, like the Gold Star family of Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim-American soldier killed in action. On Thursday morning, Mr Trump told ABC News that had he been president during the Iraq war, Capt Khan would still be alive. "Honestly, I don't understand how anyone would want to rub salt in the wounds of a grieving family," Mrs Clinton told thousands of supporters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she was campaigning with Mrs Obama, marking the first joint appearance for the two first ladies on the campaign trail. Mrs Obama's emotional attacks on Mr Trump have become a key part of Mrs Clinton's effort to fire up women, particularly black women for whom the first lady is a model and a source of pride. Mrs Obama offered an impassioned tribute to Mrs Clinton, praising her as the most prepared candidate for the presidency ever, adding: "Yes, more than Barack, more than Bill." The women were unveiling a new 500 million US dollar policy plan aimed at reducing bullying. The Clinton campaign said her policy would provide funding to states that develop comprehensive anti-bullying efforts. It would be paid for through Mrs Clinton's proposed tax increases on the wealthy. Mrs Obama also accused Mr Trump's campaign of trying to depress voter turnout by deriding the election as "rigged". She told supporters that presidential races are decided on a "razor's edge". "If Hillary doesn't win this election, that will be on us," she said. With a steady lead in the race for weeks, Mrs Clinton's campaign is concerned that her advantage could prompt some of her backers to stay home on Election Day or cast protest votes for a third-party candidate. A new Associated Press-GfK poll released on Wednesday found Mrs Clinton on the cusp of a potentially commanding victory, fuelled by solid Democratic turnout in early voting, massive operational advantages and increasing enthusiasm among her supporters. The survey shows her leading Mr Trump nationally by a staggering 14 percentage points among likely voters, 51-37. That margin is the largest national lead for Mrs Clinton among recent surveys. But other polls generally have shown her ahead of Trump for the past several weeks. The presidential candidates and dozens of outside groups involved in the race are also due to file their final major fundraising reports before Election Day. These documents will show fundraising and spending between October 1 and October 19 - giving a sense of what resources each side had available as the campaign entered its frantic final stretch. AP Traumatised children being led away by an adult after the deadly attack on the rebel-held village of Hass in northern Syria. Photo: AP More than 14 Syrian children were killed yesterday after their school was hit in an air strike as they left to go home. The strike, which activists said was carried out by either Syrian or Russian warplanes, hit a complex housing three primary and secondary schools in the village of Hass, near Idlib, at 11.30am. Some seven teachers were also killed in the attack, which reportedly left 75 injured. "One rocket hit the entrance of the school as students were leaving to go home, after the administration decided to end classes for the day because of the raids," a local activist said. One picture taken from the scene showed a lifeless child, still clutching their black school bag. Another showed nearly a dozen small bodies covered with green blankets in the corridor of a nearby hospital. Doctors treated the wounded, some of whom looked to be around eight years old. A report on Syrian state TV quoted a military source as saying a number of militants had been killed when their positions were targeted in Hass, but did not mention a school. The Syrian regime has been accused of deliberately targeting civilians, in attacks on schools, hospitals and homes. Many schools in opposition-held areas have had to move underground to protect against air strikes, while some seven million Syrian children are out of education altogether as it has become too dangerous to attend lessons. Government air strikes have intensified around Idlib in recent months. The northern Syrian city is held by opposition group Army of Conquest, an alliance of rebel and more extreme jihadist groups, which forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been trying to root out. The Syrian regime was also accused yesterday of dropping barrel bombs on US and Turkey-backed rebels, in what would be the government's first such strike since its ground incursion in August. Two fighters were killed and five were wounded in the village of Tall Nayif in northern Syria, in an attack which threatens to open up a new front in the civil war. Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield two months ago, sending tanks and troops into Syria in support of rebels to push Isil from its frontier and prevent Kurdish militias taking ground in their wake. After clearing the border, the rebels have been moving south to the Isil-held city of al-Bab, 30km south of the regime's front line near Aleppo. The field commander of pro-government forces, which includes the Lebanese group Hizbollah, Iraqi militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, yesterday warned Turkey against advancing any further as they would be met with "decisively and with force". ( Daily Telegraph, London) U.S. President Barack Obama shortened the prison sentences for 98 convicts serving time for drug-related offences in his latest round of commutations, including for 42 people serving life sentences, the White House said on Thursday. Obama has granted 688 commutations this year, for a total so far of 872 during his presidency, which ends on Jan. 20. "These are individuals - many of whom made mistakes at a young age - who have diligently worked to rehabilitate themselves while incarcerated," White House Counsel Neil Eggleston said in a statement. The commutations are part of Obama's push to reform the criminal justice system to reduce the number of people serving long sentences for non-violent drug offenses. Obama and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. Congress had tried to work on legislation to reduce mandatory minimum sentences, but those efforts stalled ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election. Erika Hurt sits with her baby in the back seat of the car in Hope, Ind. Police said she appeared unresponsive from an overdose and had a syringe in her hand CREDIT: TOWN OF HOPE POLICE DEPARTMENT Police in Indiana have released a shocking photo of a mother passed out in the front seat of her car from a drug overdose with her 10-month old son crying in the back seat. The image has been publicised to highlight the growing problem of America's drug epidemic - specifically opioid addiction. Erika Hurt, 25, was found by police as in Hope, Indiana, on Saturday still holding a syringe in her hand. Mrs Hurt's mother said her daughter had left rehab earlier this month. "Parents are doing this more often with children in the car because they are doing it away from someone who is going to disapprove," said Matthew Tallent, a police marshal. "This is becoming a new norm for drug users." Expand Close Erika Hurt CREDIT: TOWN OF HOPE POLICE DEPARTMENT / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Erika Hurt CREDIT: TOWN OF HOPE POLICE DEPARTMENT "We're finding a lot of needles right now," he said, adding that the country's drug addiction problem was "leaking into small town USA". In Indiana alone, 452 people died of opioid drug overdoses in 2014, rising to 595 last year, the IndyStar reported. A similar image was released last month of a couple overdosing in a car in Ohio with a child in the back. Rhonda Pasek, 50, and James Acord, 47, were charged with endangering children after being found by police in the city of East Liverpool unconscious with their four-year-old son in the back. Expand Close Couple in Ohio passed out after drug overdose CREDIT: EAST LIVERPOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Couple in Ohio passed out after drug overdose CREDIT: EAST LIVERPOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT Overdose deaths tied to opiates have skyrocketed in recent years in a widening epidemic involving growing abuse of heroin as well as prescription painkillers such as Vicodin, OxyContin and Percocet. The number of these deaths quadrupled to nearly 28,700 in 2014 from 2000, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Expand Close Couple in Ohio passed out after drug overdose CREDIT: EAST LIVERPOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Couple in Ohio passed out after drug overdose CREDIT: EAST LIVERPOOL POLICE DEPARTMENT Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Samsung reported a sharp fall in its quarterly earnings as the unprecedented recall and discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones wiped out its mobile profit (AP) Samsung is still trying to figure out why its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones were catching fire, the tech giant said, as shareholders appointed the grandson of the company's founder to its board. The shift of 48-year-old vice chairman Lee Jae-yong, chairman Lee Kun-hee's only son, to a bigger role comes at a crucial time for Samsung, South Korea's biggest company. Samsung Electronics, the world's largest maker of smartphones, memory chips and TVs, reported a sharp fall in its quarterly earnings after the unprecedented recall and discontinuation of fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphones wiped out its mobile profit in the last quarter. Investors will be keen to hear how Mr Lee, whose grandfather founded Samsung in 1938, plans to restore Samsung's image and win back trust after the Note 7 - initially launched as Samsung's weapon against the iPhone - was scrapped less than two months after its launch. The company reported dozens of fires of both the original Note 7s and replacement phones given to customers who handed in recalled handsets. Samsung has taken heat for its handling of the recall and its hasty and apparently incomplete initial investigation into what was going wrong with the premium smartphones. Samsung's top executive Shin Jong-kyun apologised to shareholders and customers on Thursday, saying the company is looking into all possible issues to pin down why the phones were overheating. The company's decision to hold an extraordinary shareholder meeting to appoint Mr Lee to the board, instead of waiting until its regular spring meeting, suggests a sense of urgency: the company cannot launch its next flagship phone, the Galaxy S8, without resolving the Note 7 mystery first. "What is important is clearly investigating the cause," said Lee Seung-woo, an analyst at IBK Securities. "It cannot develop a new product on top of the imperfect platform of the Galaxy Note 7, which had all of Samsung's latest technologies." Samsung said it expects the Note 7 fiasco to cost it at least 5.3 billion US dollars (4.3bn) through early next year. Lee Jae-yong is thought to have been making key decisions for Samsung since a heart attack in 2014 left his father, now 74, unable to oversee the company. But he largely handled internal management and meetings with VIPs. Lee Kun-hee resigned from the board of Samsung Electronics in 2008, facing investigation over alleged tax evasion and other financial violations. His son's appointment to the board was long expected, but is raising questions. Lee Jae-yong was Samsung's chief operating officer from 2010 to 2012. Some South Koreans have opposed giving him a board position because of questions about how he amassed billions of dollars of personal wealth and doubts over the performance of businesses he has run. "He has never successfully demonstrated that he is eligible to be a board member," said Lee Jee-soo, a lawyer and head of the Law and Business Research Centre. "Just because he was born as the son of Lee Kun-hee, he is joining the board." AP The Colombian spider monkey is classed as critically endangered in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The world is facing the biggest extinction since the dinosaurs, with seven in 10 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles wiped out in just 50 years, a new report warns. The latest Living Planet report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) estimates that by 2020 populations of vertebrates will have fallen by 67 per cent since 1970. Extinction rates are now running at 100 times their natural level because of deforestation, hunting, pollution, overfishing and climate change. The largest ever analysis of 14,152 populations of 3,706 species of vertebrates from around the world showed a 58 per cent fall in animals between 1970 and 2012 - with no sign that the average two per cent drop in numbers each year will slow. "For the first time since the demise of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, we face a global mass extinction of wildlife, said Mike Barrett, director of science and policy at WWF-UK. You can see it happening all around. I havent seen a living wild hedgehog in the British countryside for years, and you used to see them all the time. People, business and the government need to act now to make the world more sustainable. We have an intergenerational responsibility. But we can stop this. While on the one hand were the first species to change the planet, weve also never had a better understanding of how environmental systems work and how forests, oceans and climate all interact. Expand Close Hedgehog / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hedgehog Its a matter of will. I hope this report is sufficiently worrying to spur people and governments into the action that is needed. The report's authors looked forward to the date of 2020 because that was the target set by the United Nations to halt biodiversity loss. But the researchers say that that almost certainly will not be met and argue that the world is facing its sixth mass extinction in its history, where 90 per cent of animals could be lost. Populations that have been impacted by human activity include African elephants in Tanzania, which have seen numbers crash due to poaching; maned wolves in Brazil, which are threatened by grasslands being turned into farmland; and European eels have declined due to disease, over-fishing and changes to their river habitats. Wildlife is also being hit by climate change, pollution, and over-exploitation of natural resources, the report warned. By 2012, the equivalent of 1.6 Earths were needed to provide the resources and services humanity consumes each year. The report also adds more weight to calls for a new geological epoch to be created which recognises humanitys impact on the planet. The International Union of Geological Sciences is currently deciding whether to approve the term Anthropocene to take over from the current Holocene. Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, said: We are entering a new era in Earths history, the Anthropocene, an era in which humans rather than natural forces are the primary drivers of planetary change. Expand Close A herd of elephants swim and drink water in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A herd of elephants swim and drink water in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. (AP) Across land, freshwater and the oceans, human activities are forcing species populations and natural systems to the edge. We completely depend on nature, for the quality of the air we breathe, water we drink, climate stability, the food and materials we use and the economy we rely on, and not least, for our health, inspiration and happiness. But we can also redefine our relationship with our planet, from a wasteful, unsustainable and predatory one, to one where people and nature can coexist in harmony. We have the tools to fix this problem. While wildlife continues to decline on average, species that depend on certain habitats have seen some improvements in recent years, the report revealed. Grassland species have increased slightly since 2004, which the report puts down to conservation efforts for some mammals in Africa, though bird populations continued to decline. The report highlights the success of habitat protection and strict controls on hunting in Europe to help restore populations of wildlife including bears, lynx, wolverines and wolves. However overall terrestrial species, which are found in habitats ranging from grasslands to forests, have seen populations drop by two-fifths (38 per cent) since 1970. Freshwater species are faring even worse, with declines of four-fifths (81 per cent) between 1970 and 2012. Wetland wildlife has seen an increase since 2005, and marine species have been stable since 1988 - although the majority of stocks that contribute most to global fish catches are now either fully fished or overfished, the report warned. Prof Ken Norris, director of science at ZSL, said: "Human behaviour continues to drive the decline of wildlife populations globally, with particular impact on freshwater habitats. "Importantly, however, these are declines - they are not yet extinctions - and this should be a wake-up call to marshal efforts to promote the recovery of these populations." Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] SALISBURY A 71-year-old man is being charged with firing a gun at deputies in Rowan County Thursday. The Rowan County Sheriffs Office said at 10:26 a.m., its patrol division responded to 6925 Old Beatty Ford Road, Salisbury, to assist Rowan County Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Rowan County 911 received a call that a 71-year-old male was acting out of his head at the location and the caller was scared of him, the sheriffs office said in a press release. When deputies arrived, there were efforts by law enforcement, EMS, and family members to get the subject, Robert Dean Ashby, under control and to exit the residence. Deputies learned through one of Ashbys family members that Ashby had multiple firearms in the house and was armed with a handgun. When learning that Ashby had a gun, two deputies moved from a door where they were standing, just as the door was shot with a .45 handgun. Eventually deputies were able to get Ashby to exit the residence. Ashby was taken by EMS to the hospital for a medical issue. Deputies have obtained warrants on Ashby for two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement official and one count of resisting a public officer. Service on these charges is pending the release of Ashby from medical care. Salman Khan's alleged girlfriend Iulia Vantur had to return to her home town in Romania as her tourist visa had expired. But the Romanian model has made it sure that she returns soon to celebrate this Diwali with Khan family in Mumbai. If reports are to be believed, Iulia who is eager to be a part of the celebrations has sorted her visa issues and her paper work for the same is done. She would reach Mumbai with the earliest flight available and celebrate be part of the celebrations. Salman and Iulia have never confirmed about their relationship. Though they have been spotted many a times at their dinner parties and outings. She had even accompanied Salman while he was shooting for Kabir Khan's Tubelight in Ladakh. (Credits: Mid-day) Gurmeet Choudhry and Debina Bonnerjee Choudhry had been to Sri Lanka for an event and also to spend sometime together after that. But looks like their romantic holiday got disrupted. As per our sources, Gurmeet and Debina had a huge fight there and their trip that was supposed to end after few more days, got over then and there. Following which Gurmeet came back to India this morning and later in the evening even Debina returned to the city. Both arrived separately in different flights. Featured Video This morning we captured Gurmeet at the Mumbai Airport returning alone from Sri Lanka. The cause of their spat is still unknown. We tried our best to reach both the actors but all our efforts went in vain as both of them remained unavailable for comments. We are gathering details and will keep you updated with the same. Reports about the trouble in their relationship have been making rounds for a long time now and we assume that even this fight is related to the same. We hope the couple sort out their differences and get back soon! And there have been many stories that came out during the outdoor shoot, and one of the stories that interested the fans are the spooky experiences that the cast and crew experienced during the same. There have already been news in the media as to how Drashti Dhami experienced some scary and weird things in the hotel where the whole cast and crew was staying. We asked Arjun Bijlani about his experience, to which he said, "Yes I did feel spooky while we were shooting and not only me but other cast and crew members also felt it. It so happened that I was doing makeup in my room and my makeup dada was standing next to the door and someone knocked, he immediately opened the door but there was no one." Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors. KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary. No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account." www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. Negest Dawit, a savvy businesswoman from Ethiopia, steered her 1998 Mercedes Benz past a vacant building on 9th Street near downtown Washington, D.C. and gazed into her future. I looked at the building and said This will be my store, Dawit told Urban News Service. That was 10 years ago. Today, Dawit affectionately called TG owns a cigar store. TG Cigar Lounge is at 1118 9th Street, NW. But her journey from Ethiopia to entrepreneurship was not easy. She moved from that East African nation to Canada in 1996 and worked as a housekeeper. That job paid the bills, she said, but not one she wanted for long. I only had $50 when I got to Canada, she said. My mother gave me the money. Dawit sat in her modest apartment, talked to her sister, and, during meals, discussed her future. In 2000, Dawit packed her bags and moved to Washington, D.C. seeking better opportunities. She spent four years at an Ethiopian restaurant on U Street. Even as she waited tables there, she planned her next move, next job, and next challenge. It was very hard moving here, she said. I had to learn the streets, the Metro, driving. It was a lot to learn. I moved here and started from scratch. And there also was the language: Dawit learned English at school in Ethiopia and speaks it well. But her thick accent reveals her African heritage. Dawit took a job at Presidential Cigars at Union Station in 2004, and it changed her life. They taught me everything I know about cigars, she said. I worked in sales, and I learned the business. And the owner encouraged me to open my own business. And thats just what she did. I was a housekeeper, a waitress, a cigar saleswoman, and then I opened my own cigar store, Dawit said. She now is Washingtons only female cigar store owner. Customers ask if they can speak with the owner, and they are surprised when I tell them Im the owner, Dawit said. Dawit opened her business in 2006 after standing inside the dusty storefront building and imagining what how her operation would look after she renovated. It was formerly a T-Mobile store, Dawit said. It was dirty, and it needed a lot of work. But it was mine. Mark Jackson, Dawits store manager, recalls meeting Dawit as he strolled through Presidential Cigars. I was checking out local cigar shops, doing research to launch my own line of cigars, Blacksmoke, which I eventually did, he said. Jackson said he was immediately drawn to Dawit. She was absolutely beautiful and very knowledgeable about cigars, Jackson said. But opening her own store had its unique challenges, Dawit said. She required inventory $30,000 to start and needed people to vouch for her, tough things for someone just getting started. They were asking me for referrals, but I didnt have any, Dawit said. It was a challenge. I built relationships with sales people and wholesalers, and they helped me build my inventory, and some gave me credit. Dawit now has a $500,000 inventory and is arranging to buy the property, which she now leases. She has more than 3,500 customers, some of whom pack into the shop seven days a week to smoke cigars, sip Scotch, and network with other smokers. My customers include businessmen, politicians, and cigar club members, Dawit said. One third of my customers are women. She said the three cigar clubs that loyally meet at her store help her business flourish. They feel like they are at home, she said. Dawit proudly points to the 2,000 cigar brands for sale inside her state-of-the-art glass-case humidors. The aroma of cigar smoke fills Dawits spacious location. Next to the well-stocked bar is a roomy lounge with comfortable seats and a large flat-screen TV. While nearly 13 billion cigars were sold in America in 2015, according to the Center for Disease Control, Dawit is not the typical cigar store owner: She doesnt smoke. I dont smoke cigars, and I dont drink, Dawit said as she walks through her stylish venue, and cigar smoke hangs in the air. But I do offer my customers a great deal of knowledge about cigars. Dawit is friendly, attractive and formidable. She has a sly smile, long black hair that flows over her shoulders, and a sultry accent that hints of mystery. TGs gift is certainly her personality, said Jackson. She hugs people, shakes hands, its a genuine passion for her business and it brings folks back. Dawit agreed. I havent had a vacation in 10 years, she said. I work seven days a week; Im always here. Dawit says her store also offers a full-service tobacco shop with house-blended tobaccos, cigar lighters, novel ashtrays, vaporizers and hookah pipes. And she drives to work in her 2017 Range Rover. I know everything there is to know about cigars, Dawit said. I can smell cigars, roll them, merchandise them, and sell them. I just dont smoke them. Joyce Moore said she never thought something like that would happen to her. I was always so diligent, she said. Still, though Moore has voted in every election in the 40-plus years shes lived at her current address, and though she has worked as a judge and a clerk at the polls on Election Day, when she recently tried to confirm her voter registration online, it could not be found. My record was not there. My record had been purged, she said. Fortunately, Moore said she caught the error in time to re-register by Indianas Oct. 11 deadline. Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson has released statements in recent weeks explaining that some voters first names and dates of birth have been changed in the states system, though its not clear how. Lawson says the investigation has been turned over to the Indiana State Police and shes working to let impacted voters know they will still be able to vote on Election Day. A statement about the investigation from ISP Supt. Doug Carter said the reports from Lawson may serve as evidence of forgery by representatives associated with the Indiana Voter Registration Project, an effort by a group called Patriot Majority USA that claims to have registered roughly 45,000 voters in Indiana, mostly African-Americans, since May. ISP raided IVRPs Meridian Street office in Indianapolis on Oct. 4 as part of an investigation that spans 56 Indiana counties and began in August, after concerns in Hendricks and Marion counties that some of the voter registration applications turned in by the Project were fraudulent. Since the raid, civil rights groups and leaders across the country have expressed grave concern about the way the investigation has been handled. Georgia State Rep. Stacey Abrams, who founded the New Georgia Project in 2014 that set out to register people of color, said the effort started with the support of Georgias secretary of state but quickly turned sour. Once we were found to be effective, once wed turned in tens of thousands of applications, we were accused of voter fraud, Abrams said. This is a very common practice that is often intended to suppress and has a chilling effect on a voter registration drive. The tactic of first accuse, then obfuscate, then scare is not uncommon. Indiana has taken a more egregious process than we faced. Abrams said voter registration drives, which are critical to engaging communities of color and low-income communities, are often put in an impossible spot. Registration drives are required by law to turn in every single form they receive. You are not allowed to cherry-pick your voters, she said. This creates an unlawful double-bind: If you turn in a flawed application, youre committing fraud, and if you dont turn in an application, you are committing another crime. Its unclear how many of the applications IVRP collected had flaws, but Abrams said its common for flawed applications to be submitted. On average roughly 20 percent of applications submitted will have some flaw some intentional, some accidental, some incomplete, she said. The appropriate response would be to process those forms that are valid on their face, and then to investigate only those that are invalid, and only then if you see a pattern of whos turning those forms in and the invalid information would you then investigate the source of that problem. The involvement of the police in the investigation has been cause for concern for many. Ben Jealous, immediate past president and CEO of the NAACP, called the raid an outrageous use of state police. (It was) the most aggressive actions weve seen by state police, we in the civil rights community, in a very long time, he said. Bill Buck, speaking on behalf of Patriot Majority USA, said this type of police involvement is not common. Its pretty much unprecedented for state police to raid a voter registration project like this, he said. Chad Dunn, an attorney who has traveled the country to speak on issues of voter protection and civil rights, said voter fraud is extremely rare, and hes disturbed by how the investigation in Indiana has played out. People are much more likely to be struck by lightning than to have a fraudulent ballot cast in Indiana, he explained. The notion that the state would come forward with police officers and serve search warrants, as if people who are exercising their own constitutional right to register and engage other citizens are involved in a criminal enterprise, is, frankly, embarrassing. The state ought to be called to account for it. People who work to register voters, Dunn said, might make mistakes. But a mistake made by someone whos trying to engage in the democratic process is entirely different than criminal activity that ought to bring on the attention of the state. The state has an obligation to protect the integrity of elections; theres no question about it. But we dont amputate our arm when we need a Band-Aid on our hand. As for the 45,000 applications, there are questions as to where they are now. ISP said they took only copies of applications during the raid. Valerie Warycha, a spokeswoman for Lawsons office, says to her knowledge, the applications have been turned in to their corresponding county offices and have been processed. Buck said its not so clear-cut. We have no idea what theyve done with those registrations, Buck said. We dont know how many were turned over, how many they flagged. None of this is transparent. Buck said anyone who filled out a registration application through the Project should try to cast a ballot, in case their registration did go through as planned. Anyone who has an issue at the polls can call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE. Looking beyond this years election, Chris Melody Fields, with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (the group that runs the Election Protection Hotline), said this situation should prompt Indiana to evaluate its current voter registration procedures. Several states already provide same-day registration through the early voting period or on Election Day. There are efforts to create automatic voter registration system that will remove the burden from voters, Fields said. This is a critical moment for Indiana, and this is a time for the state to look within and move forward with modernized voter registration. It takes only a picture to change someones life. Pakistani chaiwala Arshad Khan who became an overnight success would agree, after his picture went viral on social media. Arshad is not the only one whose life changed because of a portrait. Here are other famous people who became famous only after they were captured by the camera. 1. Sharbat Gula - Afghan girl Image Credit: thepowerofthefrontcover In 1984, renowned photographer Steve McCurry captured a phenomenal picture that made him famous worldwide. McCurry took a picture of a girl with huge, green eyes look straight at his camera. The girl, identified as Sharbat Gula was living as a refugee in Pakistan during the time of the Soviet occupation of her country when the picture was captured. After her picture made it to the cover of the National Geographic magazine, she was called "the First World's Third World Mona Lisa". 2. Omran Daqnish the Syrian boy Image Credit: time.com The photograph of a five-year-old injured Syrian boy broke hearts all over. Omran Daqnish was injured in an alleged Russian Air Force strike on the rebel-held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria. Covered in rubble and blood smeared on his face, Omran became an instant reminder of wars horror. 3. Omar Borkan Al Gala the handsome man Image Credit: theindependent Remember the man who was deported from Saudi Arabia for being too handsome? Omar Borkan Al Gala made hearts flutter when he made news all over the world for his smouldering good looks. Now, Omar stays in Vancouver and is a full-time model. 4. Spencer Elden - Nirvana baby Image Credit: wikipedia A swimming baby reaching for a dollar. Rings a bell immediately right? Band Nirvana had an unusual cover with a swimming baby on its Nevermind album cover. For the 10th, 17th and 25th anniversaries of the album, he recreated the shot and got his own album made. 5. Florence Owens Thompson - face of the great depression Image Credit: wikipedia Dorothea Lange captured an apt picture which thoroughly represented the Great Depression of 1929. When Lange was travelling through California, she came across Florence Owens Thompson, a struggling mother with her children, which later became the icon of the period. 6. Jan Rose Kasmir the flower girl Image Credit: Mark Riboud This iconic image from the Vietnam war made Jan Rose Kasmir, the flower girl. Photographer Marc Riboud captured the picture of 17-year-old Kasmir clasping a chrysanthemum and gazing at bayonet-wielding soldiers. 7. Oliwia Dabrowska The girl in red coat Image Credit: alamy Oliwia played the role of the girl in the red coat in the famous Steven Spielbergs film Schlinders List. She was the only flash of colour in the otherwise black-and-white film. 8. Phan Thi Kim Phuc The napalm girl Image Credit: AP The Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph taken during the Vietnam War has a crying Phan Thi Kim Phuc along with the other kids on the streets of Vietnam. She and her friends became homeless when South Vietnamese planes dropped a napalm bomb on Trang Bang, which had been attacked and occupied by North Vietnamese forces. After taking the controversial picture, AP photographer Nick Ut admitted Phan and the children to the local hospital. 9. Madhura Honey The photobomb girl Image Credit: asiancorrespondent The opening ceremony of Olympics 2012 changed the life of Madhura Honey forever. It was Madhura who photobombed the Indian contingent by casually walking with them during the parade. A series of hilarious memes followed where people photoshopped Madhura photobombing other historic moments. Pakistan might be having their worst month in terms of armed defence in recent history. India successfully destroyed 7 terror camps and killed 50 terrorists (and 9 Pakistani soldiers) on the 29th of September. That was revenge for Uri. afp How India Tricked Pak Into Believing There Wouldn't Be A Retaliation To Uri - & Then Hit Them With Surgical Strikes Minimum 5-6 Pak ranger posts have been severely hit and heavily damaged from calibrated and effective retaliation of BSF: BSF Sources ANI (@ANI_news) October 25, 2016 Now, after Pakistan continued one ceasefire violation after another killing jawans, India has hit back again with a ferocity not seen in years. The BSF has destroyed 27 Pakistani Ranger posts and 18 watchtowers, also killing 7 rangers and injuring many. Among the injured is a Pakistani Lt. Colonel. afp Home Minister Rajnath Singh has been closely monitoring the border security scenario, and working with BSF chief K.K. Sharma. He was informed that the Rangers are (still) attempting to provide covering fire to militants attempting to sneak into India before winter. This has been seen as Pakistan's attempt to retaliate for the surgical strike - which they also claim never happened. The Centre is all set to amend the National Investigation Act, 2008, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, to grant the National Investigation Agency powers to launch a parallel probe into terror attacks on Indians and their properties abroad. The amended Act will also give legal protection to sleuths for undercover operations. PTI A clause is also being inserted in UAPA to designate individuals under the banned list, said officials. Home minister Rajnath Singh had hinted during the first National Conference of Investigating Agencies that the government was working to strengthen UAPA and NI Act. The Home Ministry will soon make public the amendments vetted by Law Ministry and seek public opinions on the amendments before introducing them in Parliament. The move comes amid reports on Wednesday that Afghanistan security forces arrested two suspects planning to target the Indian consulate in Jalalabad. The consulate at Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad were attacked earlier this year leading to death of nearly a dozen suspects and civilians. indiantravellers Once the Act is amended, NIA will be able to conduct a parallel probe into any attacks on Indian consulates, properties and individuals, added officials. NIA had mooted the proposal in 2014, while urging the government to give it broader powers. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has similar powers, which it exercised to conduct a parallel probe after the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which six American nationals were among those killed. BCCL/representational image Besides other amendments in UAPA, the Home ministry has proposed that any individual suspected of having terror links can be included in the list of terrorist entities. At present, there are 39 groups in the list of banned terrorist organisations under Section 35 of the UAPA, the latest one to have been added was NSCN (Khaplang) that carried out the audacious attack on the Indian Army last year. National Investigation Agency A senior official on the condition of anonymity said, the amendments may also help the government to issue a ban against terror chieftains like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar. While Saeed is accused in the Mumbai attacks, JeM chief Azhar was named for the Pathankot and Uri attacks. Both JeM and LeT are in the list of banned entities under UAPA A BSF officer succumbed to injuries today morning from heavy shelling by Pakistan Rangers on the International Border (IB) in Jammu district. Pakistan Rangers engaged in mortar shelling and automatic gunfire in R.S. Pura and Arnia sector. Constable Jitender Kumar from Bihar was hit by a splinter during mortar shelling. The attack also injured civilians. As many as 16 people, mostly women, have been injured in the cross border firing in the RS Pura sector in the past two days. Another BSF Head Constable Jitender Kumar martyred in shelling by Pakistan in Abdullian in RS Pura(J&K). Nation salutes you pic.twitter.com/8TQ2Wnxgfs MUFC (@mehranzaidi) October 27, 2016 "The jawan, a head constable, received splinter injuries in the ceasefire violation and succumbed to his injuries," a senior BSF official said. afp Firing here was so intense that it could be heard from as far as 20 km away. It affected over a dozen BSF outposts. Meanwhile, villagers living in areas close to the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts were spending nights in concrete bunkers close to their homes. The shelling began after the BSF intercepted an infiltration attempt by terrorists at Bobiya in Hiranagar sector on the 19th of October. Fearing further escalation of hostilities on the borders, many villagers in Arnia and Akhnoor have harvested their half ripe crops. "We are continuing to brave the danger for our cattle and crops," said Bodhraj, 65, a resident of R.S. Pura sector, adding "It is already becoming unbearable in our village as shells start raining here from the sky all through the night." Mehmood Akhtar, a Pakistani High Commission official, who was arrested by Delhi police for alleged espionage has been asked to leave the country. The decision was made considering the diplomatic immunity he had, due to which he was let of by the police after brief interrogation. Police said Akhtar was the kingpin of a Pakistani spy racket for one-and-a-half years and was under scrutiny for over six months. Akhtar, who was a havildar in Baloch regiment of Pakistan army, was later hired by ISI and was working in visa department in the High Commission from where he operated the spy network. Delhi Police crime branch detains a Pakistan High Commission official over espionage charges. pic.twitter.com/Uh692Wqw2k ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 Delhi joint commissioner of police, Ravindra Yadav, said Akhtar in the initial interrogation said he is an Indian citizen and also showed a fake Aadhaar card. ANI Two other spies, both from Rajasthan, have also been arrested for allegedly leaking the documents to Akhtar. Defence deployment, BSF deployment maps, visa related documents were recovered from them. India has issued as many as 6 note verbales to the Pakistan foreign ministry for consular access to alleged India spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. BCCL The government reportedly has not given up or gone slow, on Jadhav, who has been booked for terrorism by Pakistan authorities. A note verbale is an unsigned diplomatic communication which is less formal than a letter of protest but is used to forcefully remind the receiving nation of its diplomatic obligations. Official sources said India will continue to seek consular access to Jadhav. While Pakistan claims that Jadhav is a commander-rank officer with Indian navy, India maintains that he retired from the navy in 2002 and had nothing to do with the Indian government when he was arrested allegedly from Balochistan. "India has relentlessly sought access to Jadhav. And we don't believe that he is a spy because had he been one, he wouldn't have been carrying an Indian passport," said a source here. Jadav's Indian passport was in the name of Hussein Mubarak Patel. india The Vienna Convention on Consular relations says that "consular officers shall have the right to visit a national of the sending state (India) who is in prison, custody or detention, to converse and correspond with him and to arrange for his legal representation". "Vienna Convention prohibits us from acting on his behalf only if he himself says so but Jadhav has not said that," said another official source. Islamabad has used the arrest of Jadhav at every international forum to drum up support for its contention that India's external intelligence agency, RAW, was fomenting terrorism in Balochistan. It has repeatedly briefed envoys of EU and P-5 nations about Jadhav's "subversive activities" in Balochistan. Pakistan foreign ministry last week said in a report to the Senate Standing Committee? on Foreign Affairs that its claims about India's involvement in Balochistan had been vindicated by "serving RAW officer" Jadhav's confessions and also PM Narendra Modi's comments on August 15 in which he reached out to the people of Balochistan. youtube With Pakistan using Jadhav to counter India's scathing indictment of Islamabad over the issue of terrorism, the attack on a police training centre in Balochistan's capital Quetta this week is only likely to complicate things further for the alleged spy who, according to Pakistan, was arrested from Balochistan in March this year. Islamabad disclosed Jadhav's arrest days before a Pakistam team visited Pathankot to investigate the attack on the airbase which was carried out in January this year. In what came as a surprise to many, India quickly acknowledged that Jadhav had worked with the navy in the past even while insisting that he had nothing to do with the government. India believes that Jadhav might have been a businessman operating out of Chabahar in Iran. In an interesting twist to the case, a former German ambassador to Pakistan, Gunter mulack, claimed to have information that Jadhav had been abducted by Taliban from near Balochistan-Afghanistan border and later "sold" to ISI. The Delhi Police arrested a Pakistan High Commission staffer following IB inputs that he was possessing some "classified defence papers". The official has been identified as Mehmood Akhtar. According to reports, was put under surveillance for nearly a month before he was nabbed. However, he was released after preliminary interrogation. BCCL Following his arrests the External Affairs's ministry summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit. BCCL The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries. This is not the first time that India has accused Pakistan of using its diplomatic missions in the region to spy on New Delhi and to spread terrorism. In November 2015, a spy ring associated with the Pakistan intelligence was busted and the police arrested at least five persons in connection with the case. In 2014 Amir Zubair Siddiqui, a Pakistani diplomat working in its mission in Colombo had come under the radar of Indian agencies for being the handler of ISI operatives in South India. He was allegedly involved in a plot to attack US and Israeli consulates in Chennai and Bangalore. After one of the alleged plotters Thameem Ansari, was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Q Branch, Siddiqui was quietly withdrawn by Islamabad to avoid arrest. Get ready to laugh people. A country which is world famous for it's nuclear proliferation is calling India names. We challenge you to read this and try to keep a straight face. India has sufficient material and the technical capacity to produce between 356 and 492 nuclear bombs, a research by a Pakistani think-tank has claimed. The study titled 'Indian Unsafeguarded Nuclear Program' published by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) is co-authored by four nuclear scholars including Adeela Azam, Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Ali and Sameer Khan. Reuters "A groundbreaking research study reveals that India already has sufficient material and technical capacity to make 356 to 492 nuclear bombs. This work is in contrast to several earlier studies which took a much modest view of the Indian nuclear bomb making potential," the ISSI said in a statement. It said that the purpose of the study was to provide an understanding of the true history, size, extent and capabilities of the different aspects of the complex Indian nuclear programme which New Delhi has kept outside the International Atomic Agency safeguards. shrineofsaintjude.net According to the authors, the study contains evidence that India has the largest and oldest unsafeguarded nuclear programme in the developing world and among the states not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Former Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Ansar Pervez said the research breaks new ground by providing officials, researchers, scholars and students with new insight into India's nuclear weapon making capacity. BCCL He said in terms of detail, depth, analysis and the use of information from primary sources, the research is far superior to several studies on the Indian nuclear program and carefully blends social science perspective with technical details. Six civilians were injured in mortar shelling by Pakistani troops along the International Border in RS Pura sector in Jammu early on Thursday. AP/representational image The shelling along with firing exchanges started late on Wednesday night, police said ANI "After Pakistan Rangers used 82 mm mortar shells to target civil and Border Security Force (BSF) facilities in RS Pura, the BSF retaliated effectively using same calibre weapons," police sources said. ANI "Shelling and firing exchanges took place in Korotana Kurd, Bidipur, Jattan, Abdullian, Chandu Chak, Shamka and Hansu Chak areas." Also read: Here Is Why Ceasefire Violations, Infiltrations And Terror Attacks Will Increase The family and friends of the Juhu woman who was hailed as a hero for refusing to give into the demands of a cyber criminal and who took to Facebook to expose the blackmailer say they have launched a parallel investigation into the matter and tracked the criminals IP address to the United States. CNN Taruna Aswani, 26, currently working as a physical therapist in Maryland, USA, showed exemplary courage when she received two threatening emails from a cyber criminal who illegally accessed a few of her intimate photos and videos and threatened to make the files public if she did not send him more private photos and videos. Aswani decided against giving into the blackmail and spoke to her parents and boyfriend before approaching the Maryland police and the FBI. Facebook Aswani also took to Facebook, explaining the situation to her friends and family and asking for help in nabbing the criminal. In her Facebook post, which went vira with over 2,000 comments, 3,000 shares and 19,000 likes, Aswani said she decided to go public to send out the message that no woman should ever succumb to the demands of online perverts. Stas Estko, Aswanis Polish boyfriend, said that many of her family and friends have come forward to help her trace the culprit. Though we have traced the blackmailers digital footprint to the US through the help of some of our friends, we cant be sure until this is verified by the investigating agencies in the US, Estko said. Aswani also said that she was grateful for the offers of help she has received on social media, especially Facebook. A lot of good Samaritans who are IT experts have offered to help. They say I can contact them whenever I need to and they can help me trace this criminal. Aswani also said she was overwhelmed to learn that her story had touched the lives of women around the world. A lot of women have written to me detailing the harassment they have faced online. They also say my Facebook post gave them the courage to approach the police. Im happy that the post has served some purpose. Facebook Aswani, who got in touch with the Mumbai police on Monday and provided them with details of the emails, said a senior official from the Mumbai police sent her some leads on the case and asked her to share it with the Maryland detective who was investigating the case. After I registered the case I didnt hear from the Maryland detective for a while. But the Maryland police have been taking the case seriously after I wrote to the FBI, Aswani said. Sachin Patil, deputy commissioner of police (cyber) said that while the Mumbai police would provide all the help and support needed, the onus was on the US investigators to take the case forward. A report on wildlife and the environment has concluded that wildlife populations have declined on average by 58% since 1970. Living Planet Report 2016 The Living Planet report by the Zoological Society of London and WWF explains that on average, vertebrate species declined by 58% between 1970 and 2012 and is likely to reach 67% by the end of the decade. The greatest losses, however, have been to freshwater environments. Weve entered a new era in Earths history the Anthropocene, where humans, rather than natural forces, are the primary drivers of planetary change. Director General of WWF International, Marco Lambertini, says consistent environment degradation in a way defines our relationship with our planet as wasteful, unsustainable and a predatory one but this can also be redefine to one where people and nature can coexist in harmony." ALSO READ: One In Five Patients In Delhi Is A Victim Of Pollution Living Planet Report 2016 Wildlife and plants arent the only ones affected though a decrease in the state of the environment directly affects humans as well. Lambertini adds, Living systems keep the air breathable and water drinkable, and provide nutritious food. To continue to perform these vital services they need to retain their complexity, diversity and resilience. Human population is growing at an exceedingly fast rate and Earths resources are definitely far from infinite and we have reached a point on the scale where we are no longer a small world on a big planet, says Johan Rockstrom, Executive Director of Stockholm Resilience Centre. Air pollution from cars and coal burning, deforestation, water pollution have all hit a ceiling point and every species is at risk, including the human race. The report says by 2012, the equivalent of 1.6 Earths was needed to provide the natural resources and services humanity consumed in one year. Living Planet Report 2016 Although this report creates a disconcerting image, it also says that we need not be pessimistic about the future. In 2015, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted. Also at the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015, 195 countries adopted a global agreement to combat climate change and to increase their efforts in creating a sustainable, low-carbon future. The Living Report Planet is published every two years and aims to provide an assessment on the state of the worlds wildlife. The research looked at about 3,700 different species of birds, fish, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, which is around 6% of the total number of vertebrate species in the world. Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. D-Marine Investments Holding BV, a subsidiary of Dogus Holding AS, and Temes SA, a development arm of the Costa Navarino resort of southwest Greece, are the new owners of the, according to an announcement on Thursday afternoon by Alpha Bank , which sold its majority stake in the holding company that managed the iconic hotel In October 2016, Cape Town, South Africa will play host to Sub-Saharan Africas No.1 Business to Business Power event, which will bring together the senior decision makers from across the Sub African continent. The entire installed generation capacity of Africas 48 Sub-Saharan countries is just 68 gigawatts, no more than Spains. Up to one-quarter of that capacity is unavailable because of aging plants and poor maintenance. In Sub-Saharan Africa, just one person in five has access to electricity. If current trends continue, fewer than 40 percent of Sub-Saharan African countries will reach universal access to electricity by 2050. Per capita consumption of electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) averages only 124 kilowatt-hours a year and is falling. The rate of consumption is barely 1 percent of that in high-income countries. If entirely allocated to household lighting, it would hardly be enough to power one light bulb per person for three hours a day. With well over half of Sub-Saharan countries now experiencing power shortages and regular interruptions in service, leading many of these to rely on very costly leased generating plants as an emergency stopgap. Frequent power outages mean big losses in sales and damaged equipment6 percent of turnover on average for formal enterprises, and as much as 16 percent of turnover for informal enterprises unable to provide their own backstop generation. The economic cost of power shortages can amount to more than 2 percent of gross domestic product. For some countries, it has shaved as much as one-quarter of a percentage point off annual per capita GDP growth rates. With the rising middle class and increased industrial activity, power will be the number one problem for sustained development across the continent. The SSA Power Summit hosted by Vale Media Group, the number 1 Sub-Saharan African B2B events company, will provide a platform to address some key challenges of improving aging power infrastructure, developing new power infrastructure, more cost effective temporary power solutions and much more. We will bring together Ministries of Power & Energy, State Power providers, Public Private partnerships (PPP), Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and key solution providers to tackle some of the most pressing issues within the African Power industry. An airstrike on a school in Haas, a village in Northwest Syria has left at least 35 people dead. 11 children, as well as several women, were among the casualties onWednesday and sources indicate the death toll is likely to rise even further. Its a tragedy. Its an outrage. And if deliberate, its a war crime UNICEF executive director Tony Lake said in a statement. This latest atrocity may be the deadliest attack on a school since the war began more than five years ago. Its a tragedy. Its an outrage. And if deliberate, its a war crime Exec Dir Tony Lake on #Syria school attacks https://t.co/bopqGZK0Ll UNICEF (@UNICEF) October 27, 2016 The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said in a statement on Wednesday that the bombing was believed to be carried out by Russian planes. The Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin could not confirm or deny if the strikes were indeed carried out by Russia: Its horrible, I hope we were not involved. Its the easiest thing for me to say no, but Im a responsible person, so I need to see what my Ministry of Defence is going to say. Nigerian musician and actor, Falzthebahdguy is a year older and he also announced the release of his joint EP with Simi titled Chemistry. Here are four things were pretty sure you didnt know about the bad guy! Law Runs In The Family It is common knowledge that Falz is the son of the popular lawyer, Femi Falana but few people know that his mother, Funmi Falana is also a lawyer. Falz studied law at the University of Reading and was called to the Nigerian bar in 2012.Falz also has two sisters! He Was A Member Of A School Music Group Like most musicians, Falz formed a music group in Secondary school alongside a friend at Olashore International School, Osun state. His rap back in the day was in English and his Shakara The Mixtape is a testament to how much Falz has reinvented himself over the years! Falz Has Been Around For A While Although he gained popular acclaim with the release of his Stories That Touch album, Falz has been grinding for a while. Apart from Shakara: The Mixtape, he released his debut album Wazup Guy in 2014. In 2014, FalzTheBahdguy earned a honorable mention on Tooxclusives list of artists to watch out for. Happy birthday Falz! Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are old enemies yet the Manchester Derby which saw them clash again on Wednesday night was not the best of their battles. Both managers have faced considerable pressure lately, Guardiola came into the match without a win in five encounters. Mourinho had suffered an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Chelsea. The match ended 1-0 and you can read the match report here but these are the four things we learned from the match. Jose Wanted It More While Pep chose to field a weakened team that saw Pablo Maffeo, Garcia, Fernando and Kelechi Iheanacho, Jose started a very strong team. However, he still found a place for Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Michael Carrick. Pablo Maffeo Put In A Shift Youngster, Pablo Maffeo was trusted with a starting place and he hardly put a foot wrong all game. Pep Guardiola admitted as much in his post match conference. With Zabaleta and Sagna sidelined through injury, Maffeo might just be trusted with a starting place against West Bromich Albion. Vincent Kompany Is On The Return After a year plagued with injury, Vincent Kompany returned to the first team last week but Pep is in no hurry! He played the better part of the match against Southampton and played in the first half on Wednesday night. Leroy Sane Needs To Step Up City bought Leroy Sane in the summer for a huge fee but the youngster has hardly shown hes worth the money. Save for an assist last weekend, Sane has not made much of a difference on the wings, he once again had a quiet night on Wednesday night. Shortly after it suspended a three-month industrial action, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has warned of an imminent strike action over alleged illegal appointment of some principal officers. ASUU, in a statement made available to journalists in Akure recently and endorsed by the chairman, Dr. Sola Fayose, accused the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun of reckless abuse of office, giving him a one-week ultimatum to reverse the action. Fresh from the recent strike over non payment of outstanding salaries and deductions, the union accused Igbekele of brazen violation of rules and regulations, which it said was capable of precipitating another round of instability in the institution, based on appointment of acting deans of faculties, and heads of department, while the last strike action was on. Fayose disclosed that at the point of suspending the strike, ASUU called the attention of the vice chancellor to the infraction through a resolution of congress, which also demanded that the process be reversed within seven working days, starting from the day the resolution was taken. However, the union lamented that the vice chancellor disregarded the resolution, by summoning the Senate of the university to forge ahead, notwithstanding the good reasons that are needed to protect the university. According to Fayose, Apparently, the revulsion Prof. Ajibefun has for rules and regulations is deep-seated and almost unhealable, as he has also continued to employ academic staff that are over 70 years in total disregard to the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement, and Ondo State Government White Paper and official gazette. The union urged Nigerians, particularly Ondo State indigenes, to prevail on the vice chancellor to allow good reasons to subsist, as members of the union are ready to resume effective teaching immediately, not minding that three months of their salary and eight months of deductions are still outstanding. It should be made abundantly clear that AAUA should not be run based on the whims and caprices of an individual, or an ambitious clique, but on established rules and regulations. The union is committed to performing its function and responsibility of a better AAUA, and will not succumb to any blackmail or pressure in the discharge of this onerous assignment, he said. Source: Guardian Chelsea fell 2-1 to West Ham on Wednesday night in the EFL cup after Antonio Conte rested Pedro, Hazard and Diego Costa. Despite West Ham not starting a striker, they took the initiative early on and Bilics side were rewarded for their intent in the tenth minute. Kouyate rose above John Terry to open the scoring. West Ham then continued to push for a second goal but were denied by a mixture of sloppy finishing and Chelsea goalie, Asmir Begovic. They only had to wait three minutes after the restart to consolidate their lead as Fernandes smashed the second goal home. Conte threw on Pedro, Hazard, and Diego Costa into the fray in an attempt to rescue the match but the best Chelsea could muster was a late goal from Gary Cahill. The Senate President, Bukola Sarakis appeal to challenge his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on charges of assets declaration breaches has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal after it granted jurisdiction to the CCT to carry on with the trial. All the four other members of the panel unanimously agreed with the lead judgment delivered by Justice Abdul Aboki on Thursday to affirm the CCTs jurisdiction to try the senate president. In affirming the earlier ruling of the Danladi Umar-led CCT that affirmed the tribunals jurisdiction, Justice Aboki held among others that contrary to Sarakis contention, the Attorney-General of the Federation had the power to institute charges against him before the CCT. The appeal court also held that under the Constitution, the Code of Conduct was not under any obligation to invite the appellant to enable him to make a written admission of breaches in his asset declaration forms before charges could be initiated against him. It held that the tribunal had rightly departed from its earlier decision exonerating a former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu on account that he was not invited by the CCB to confront him with the allegations leveled against him. The court also held that the fact that the charges were initiated 13 years after the offenses were allegedly committed was immaterial. Justice Aboki described the contention as sentimental which the court had been enjoined not to delve into. This was the second time the appeal court would be delivering judgment on the same subject matter of jurisdiction of the CCT to try the Senate President. The Court of Appeal had last year ruled against Saraki on the jurisdiction of the CCT and asked him to proceed to face the 16 counts preferred against him. The judgment of the appeal court was validated by the Supreme Court in February. The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has criticized Governor Ayodele Fayose for declaring himself as an agent of change for the state. In a statement by the partys Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, while reviewing the governors achievements in the last two years, he said, Fayose had succeeded in reversing the states fortunes attained by his predecessor in four years. Olatunbosun accused Fayose of claiming credit for former Governor Kayode Fayemis achievements, saying partitioning of roads built by his predecessor and erecting electricity poles he bought in local governments should not be projects that he would be celebrating. It was regrettable that Fayose has been using an alleged election fraud to sustain himself in power, he said. The recent revelation and confession of Obanikoro that Fayose allegedly shared in the loot of the national treasury was a cause of concern to Ekiti people, he added. While reacting to the allegations, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Fayose has succeeded in moving the state forward in all areas of developments as against the claims of the APC. The PDP-led government of Governor Ayodele Fayose, has succeeded in reversing the misfortunes placed on Ekiti and the people by the immediate past government of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Fayose-led administration in the last two years has taken Ekiti to a place of pride in the areas of education, infrastructure, security, health and social amenities among others, he added. Economic and financial experts have warned President Muhammadu Buhari to exercise caution over his administrations plan to borrow $29.96bn from external sources. Similarly, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party called on Nigerians to stop Buhari from borrowing the amount and moving N180bn appropriated for special intervention to fund critical recurrent and capital items. It also asked the two chambers of the National Assembly not to approve the request by the President. Buhari had on Tuesday asked the National Assembly to approve the external borrowing plan to enable his government to raise funds to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between now and 2018. But experts said on Wednesday that the amount was too huge and that the Buhari-led administration needed to tell Nigerians the specific infrastructural projects in exact locations across the country that the money would be used to finance. A professor of Economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Sheriffdeen Tella, described the external borrowing plan of the Federal Government as too bogus. Tella also asked the government to give a detailed breakdown of the proposed projects the funds would be used for, and specific plan of how it intended to pay back. He said, The money is too huge. We need to know the breakdown of the projects it will be used for. If it is for project financing whereby it is tied to specific projects in certain parts of the country, then fine. We need to also specify how much will be borrowed each year over the next three years of the borrowing plan. To me, the money is too huge. We do not manage our debts properly. We need to specify the repayment plan and what is going to be our income over the next five years or more. We are not good managers of resources; we are going to run into serious problems with this. If all these details cannot be given, then the National Assembly should approve just $10bn from it. Already, we know that we cant borrow to finance recurrent expenditure. An economic analyst at Ernst & Young, Mr. Bisi Sanda, also said the government needed to carry out reforms of its financial management system before embarking on such a borrowing. Otherwise, he said it would be tantamount to borrowing to finance the ostentatious living of some corrupt government officials. Sanda said, Borrowing, in principle, is not wrong. But if you are using it to finance the corruption or ostentatious lifestyle of public officials, then there is a problem. It has been said some time ago that Nigerians only get 45 per cent value from all government expenditure. This is unlike in the USA where the people get 100 per cent value. Our public financial management must be transformed first. Seventy per cent of the budget in Nigeria goes on recurrent expenditure. What about the budget padding allegation and the huge bill of the legislature? We need to address the public financial management system, otherwise, we will find ourselves in the debt trap and leave huge debts for coming generations. The Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said there was nothing wrong with borrowing, but the government must specify the projects the money so raised would be used for. We need to tie this borrowing to specific infrastructural projects we know of in the country. We should say this rail line or highway will be financed with such an amount from the borrowing. This money must be tied to specific projects, he said. The Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said, I agree with borrowing, but it must be tied to specific projects. The amount is a huge amount. That is about 140 per cent of our current external reserves. It is almost double the amount of the current external debt of the country. We need to know specific projects that the money will be used for. Until we know that, I cant say it is a right step in the right direction. Reject proposal, PDP tells NASS The PDP asked Buhari to explain to Nigerians what his administration had done with the recovered looted funds and how the 2016 budget was faring. The spokesperson for the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday. Adeyeye said that the President must itemise what he intended to finance with the proposed borrowing of almost $30bn instead of lumping everything up in a coded term and to plunge the nations future into a burden of debt. He said that the Presidents approach could not be the preferred solution to the economic quagmire, which he alleged was created by the present government. Adeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works, said, This government budgeted N6.07tn for the 2016 fiscal year with a deficit of N2.22tn, and according to the breakdown, N1.8tn was budgeted for capital expenditure and President Buhari is now seeking to borrow over N9tn ($29.96bn) for critical infrastructure. This is absurd and way outside the governments budgetary provisions for capital expenditure and must be rejected by all well-meaning Nigerians. Nigerians will recall that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in June made public through a press statement an account of recovered looted funds between May 2015 and May 2016 amounting to N78.3bn, $185.1m, 3.5m and 11,250m in cash, while others were under interim forfeiture. What happened to the recovered funds? Adeyeye added that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, recently said that the commission had recovered more money in the last eight months than it did in 12 years. He said that Nigerians needed to know how much revenue the government had been able to generate from crude oil, non-oil and independent revenue sources since assumption. The PDP leader said that the clarification would boost the confidence of Nigerians on the management of their resources, especially in this period of recession, and was necessary before thinking of engaging in external borrowing. The APC-led Federal Government is again taking Nigeria prior to year 2005 when the external debt burden derailed the growth of Nigerias economy and weakened the GDP before the total cancellation of her debt, he added. Adeyeye also said that the proposed action of the Federal Government would be a great injustice to the citizens now and in the future if they were plunged back into debt. He said, Let us state unequivocally that history will not forgive this APC government and its collaborators if they allow this injustice and maladministration of our economy and citizens to stand. We, therefore, call on the two chambers of the National Assembly to reject this anti-people request by an anti-people government that has no genuine interest for the growth and development of the people of this country. We again call on all Nigerians to speak with one voice and stop President Buhari from further destroying of our great nation, Nigeria, and by extension, Africa. DMO sets borrowing limit Meanwhile, the Debt Management Office has said the maximum amount that Nigeria can borrow in 2017 from both local and foreign sources without breaching the debt threshold it has set for itself is $22.08bn. The DMO said in its debt sustainability report that Nigeria could afford to borrow $22.08bn next year, equivalent to 5.89 per cent of the projected Gross Domestic Product, if it wanted to keep the overall borrowing under the limit of 19.39 per cent of the GDP that had earlier been set. For this year, the total public debt-to-GDP ratio is projected at 13.5 per cent, the DMO said in the report, seen by Reuters on Wednesday. It said the total public debt stood at 28.10 per cent of revenue in 2015, slightly above the 28 per cent threshold set by the government. As of June 2016, Nigerias public debt stood at N16.29tn, up from N12.60tn at the end of last year. The DMO said, Although the level of debt stock is still appreciably low relative to the countrys aggregate output, the debt portfolio remains mostly vulnerable to the various shocks associated with revenue, exports and substantial currency devaluation. This highlights a potential risk to the debt portfolio, which could be exacerbated by the developments in the international oil market, as further decline in global oil prices would exert undue pressures on the already fragile economy, including the debt position. It proposed that the new borrowing next year be split as $5.52bn from the domestic markets and $16.56bn from offshore, subject to local market conditions and the options available abroad, adding that foreign borrowing should have a minimum maturity of 15 years. Source: Punch Justice Tukur Muazu of Kaduna State High Court has convicted and sentenced the immediate past sole Administrator of Kaura Local Government, Kaduna State, Ibrahim Akut Baba to seven years imprisonment without the option of fine. Ibrahim was convicted for offences bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. The convict was arraigned before Justice Muazu on January 7, 2016 on allegation of defrauding one Alhaji Auwal Ibrahim of Rahusa Investment Limited, Sabon Hunkuyi, Kaduna state sometime in 2011, over a phony gas supply contract. The victim allegedly paid the convict N1million for the supply of five trucks of gas at the rate of N.2million per truck. But after the payment was made, the victim neither received the product nor gets a refund. The Nigerian Army is holding two officers a major and a captain in connection with alleged sabotage of the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-East. A military source said on Wednesday that the Army authorities were intensifying efforts to rid the service of saboteurs in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations. It was gathered that the Army commenced a painstaking but discreet investigations into the activities of some of its personnel following the Boko Haram attack on troops location in Gashigar, on October 22, 2016. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, had said in a statement on Saturday that 13 soldiers were wounded during a surprise Boko Haram attack on troops at Gashigar in the north of Borno State. Usman had stated that some soldiers were missing after the attack. The statement did not give the exact number of those missing during the Gashigar attack. It was learnt that both President Mohammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, were alarmed by the Gashigar attack, which involved an entire unit. It was gathered that the Army authorities decided to conduct a discreet investigation into the telephone conversation of some of the security personnel and their civilian counterparts and uncovered some suspicious activities through the screening. A military source said on Wednesday that the Army was intensifying investigation to unravel two established cases against the arrested suspects, which were the leakage of information on troops movement to the insurgents and the raising of funds to finance Boko Haram operations through cattle rustling. The source added, The President was furious and discussed the matter with the COAS when some of the heads of that units were ambushed by the Boko Haram. The Army leadership took out time to screen the communications lines of the officers for several days without making it known. The suspicion was that they have links with some civilians and the links were traced. They are giving them vital information concerning the movement of soldiers. How come that the Borno State Governor and other officials have not been attacked, yet they ambushed the Chief of Army Staff. They have not attacked civilians but they attacked the COAS. When our correspondent contacted the Acting Army spokesman, he said investigation into the matter was ongoing. He added that the Army would not release information on the matter in view of the fact that there was an ongoing planned rescue operation in the area. He said, Investigation is ongoing and once we conclude, the suspects would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction. Usman, who denied reports that 83 soldiers were missing in action, said the military did not lose any soldier to the Gashigar attack. He, however, stated that the military suspects would be subject to military laws in accordance with the law. Usman had said in a statement on Tuesday that a total of 32 persons, comprising two military officers, two soldiers, two policemen and 26 civilians were in custody for allegedly sabotaging the ongoing operations. Source: Punch Nigerian newspaper headlines, October 27, 2016. Guardian The Federal Government yesterday disclosed plans to invest N30 billion in the establishment of an agro-industrial town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Thisday Following the continued detention of the former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi- Fani Kayode, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption, his wife, Mrs. Precious Chikwendu, Wednesday took to social media to demand the release of her husband given his medical condition. Vanguard Operatives of the Zonal Intervention Squad, Zone 2, Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have uncovered a ritualists den at Abule Ifa, Siun area of Obafemi Owode Local Government, Ogun State, arresting two suspected leaders of the syndicate. National Mirror Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday ordered the immediate recall of seven out of the 10 traditional rulers the state government suspended from their thrones shortly after 2015 general election. Premium Times Justice U.N Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced to one and half years imprisonment, a former Director General of Delta State Direct Labour Agency, Emmanuel Igbini. The Nation The Biyi Poroye faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has asked the Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, to disqualify himself from a suit seeking to stop its State Executive committee members (SEC) from operation. The Sun There was palpable anxiety among members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday in anticipation of the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on the rightful candidate of the party for the November 26 election. Punch A factional President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joseph Ajaero, has attacked his counterpart, Ayuba Wabba, accusing him of creating confusion in the labour movement. Leadership As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) publishes the names of the candidates for the Ondo State governorship election today, the factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are locked in a war of words over who the electoral umpire would list as the partys candidate. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will continue the global campaign against Boko Haram insurgency in a lecture at the Harvard University, Boston, in the U.S. on Thursday. According to a statement issued by the Vice Presidents spokesperson, Laolu Akande, on Thursday, the lecture at the universitys Nigeria in the World seminar is at the invitation of the university. It added that Mr. Osinbajo will be talking on Destroying Boko Haram and the Rebuilding of Nigerias North-East. Mr. Akande said Mr. Osinbajo will highlight the progress made by the Buhari presidency in degrading Boko Haram resulting in the freedom of thousands of Nigerians in Boko Haram captivity, including some of the abducted Chibok girls. He also said that Mr. Osinbajos lecture will be a clarion call for a more concerted global action against terrorism and an increasingly effective international collaboration regarding the humanitarian crisis in the North-East. He said that the Harvards Nigeria in the World seminar is hosted by the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs. Mr. Akande said the seminar will serve as a forum for scholars, researchers, policy makers, and professionals to reflect on critical issues pertaining to Nigerias relations with the world by focusing on strategic issues of security. He said it also focused on regional stability, economic development, inter-religious relations, health policy, human rights, justice and gender, while its overall goal is to bring Nigeria into dialogue with world issues. While in Harvard, the vice president will be received by top officials of the university and will also visit the Divinity School and the African Studies Centre, the statement said. It added that Mr. Osinbajo will participate on Friday in a town hall event in Houston, Texas, and also a business conference organised by U.S.-based Nigerians on infrastructure development issues. It said he will round off the visit in Houston by attending an evening gala to honour high flying U.S.-based Nigerians. The Vice President who left Abuja on Wednesday after attending the Federal Executive Council meeting and the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative is expected back on Sunday, Mr. Akande said. A parrot in Kuwait almost put a man in trouble after it exposed his alleged affair with the housemaid as it mimicked flirty exchange of words between them in front of his wife. According to reports, the wife lodged a complaint with police officers, accusing her husband of cheating. The woman said she had been suspecting her husband for a while. She said the husband was surprised when he saw her returning from the office ahead of time and became nervous. However, the prosecution officer said the case could not be regarded as crime on the basis of the credible evidence the parrots mimicking of phrases which could not be admitted in court, as it could not be proved that the bird had not heard the intimate conversation on TV or the radio. If guilty, the man could face a prison sentence or even hard labour, as adultery is an offence in the Arab nation. A cadet of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Imran Olalekan, 24, attached to St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, have been arrested by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly raping a 17-year-old student. The victim said, Olalekan, had intercourse with her in one of the offices of the Peace Corps in the school. I was in school early with my friend. Mr. Olalekan gave sign that one of us should come. Initially, I didnt know I was being called, she said while narrating her ordeal. But he pointed at me and I went to him. He grabbed my dress. I wore a shirt on my school uniform and because of that Olalekan threatened to punish me. I immediately knelt down and started begging him. He then pushed me inside their office. Because it was still early, no student was near the office. He asked me if I was a virgin or I owned a mobile. I told him I didnt have a phone. Despite pleading with him to let me go, he pulled my skirt and blocked my mouth with his hands and raped me. When he finished, he warned that if I tell anyone, I would die. When he left me, I went home and told my parents what has happened. I am not his girlfriend. He raped me and nearly all of them (Peace Corps men) working in our school used to sleep with students. Though some girls befriend Peace Corp people without being forced. In his statement, Olalekan, who initially denied raping her before admitting said he was posted to the school to learn from other Peace Corps members working in the school. He said: When I called her, I told her I loved her and she didnt talk. I slept with her but I didnt force her. She is not my girlfriend. This is the first time this would happen. Confirming the incident, the State Police Spokesperson, Folasade Odoro, said preliminary investigations revealed the suspect had intercourse with the victim. She added that the suspect would be taken to court once investigation was concluded The Sokoto State government has disbursed N31 million to 775 beneficiaries to enable them send their children to school. The state commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Bala Kokani, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing in Sokoto. Mr. Kokani said that the disbursement was made under the governments conditional cash transfer project of the Millennium Development Goals. He added that the state government had revived its moribund food and nutrition committee. Mr. Kokani said government had also conducted situation assessment and analysis of all communities in the state. The commissioner disclosed that experts have begun fine-tuning documents as part of preparations for the 2017 budget. Mr. Kokani said the state government achieved significant success in meeting the targets of the 2016 budget, and assured that more projects would be implemented for the benefit of the citizenry next year. Nigerian Business man, Tony Elumelu has called for more structured philanthropy in Africa, especially targeting young entrepreneurs with great potential. The banking guru stated this at the recent Le Cub lEconomie in France. Elumelu alongside American Billionaire, Bill Gates spoke about the new role of global philanthropy and its increasing influence on business, politics and culture at the event organized by leading French newspaper, Le Monde. Tony Elumelu who is the Chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, wrote on his Facebook page: I called for more structured philanthropy in Africa, especially targeting young entrepreneurs with great potential, and invited French investors and the larger global development community to join the Tony Elumelu Foundation in supporting thousands of African startups that are already transforming our continent for good. Apache Ignite is an in-memory computing platform that can be inserted seamlessly between a users application layer and data layer. Apache Ignite loads data from the existing disk-based storage layer into RAM, improving performance by as much as six orders of magnitude (1 million-fold). The in-memory data capacity can be easily scaled to handle petabytes of data simply by adding more nodes to the cluster. Further, both ACID transactions and SQL queries are supported. Ignite delivers performance, scale, and comprehensive capabilities far above and beyond what traditional in-memory databases, in-memory data grids, and other in-memory-based point solutions can offer by themselves. Apache Ignite does not require users to rip and replace their existing databases. It works with RDBMS, NoSQL, and Hadoop data stores. Apache Ignite enables high-performance transactions, real-time streaming, and fast analytics in a single, comprehensive data access and processing layer. It uses a distributed, massively parallel architecture on affordable, commodity hardware to power existing or new applications. Apache Ignite can run on premises, on cloud platforms such as AWS and Microsoft Azure, or in a hybrid environment. The Apache Ignite unified API supports SQL, C++, .Net, Java, Scala, Groovy, PHP, and Node.js. The unified API connects cloud-scale applications with multiple data stores containing structured, semistructured, and unstructured data. It offers a high-performance data environment that allows companies to process full ACID transactions and generate valuable insights from real-time, interactive, and batch queries. Users can keep their existing RDBMS in place and deploy Apache Ignite as a layer between it and the application layer. Apache Ignite automatically integrates with Oracle, MySQL, Postgres, DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, and other RDBMSes. The system automatically generates the application domain model based on the schema definition of the underlying database, then loads the data. In-memory databases typically provide only a SQL interface, whereas Ignite supports a wider group of access and processing paradigms in addition to ANSI SQL. Apache Ignite supports key/value stores, SQL access, MapReduce, HPC/MPP processing, streaming/CEP processing, clustering, and Hadoop acceleration in a single integrated in-memory computing platform. GridGain Systems donated the original code for Apache Ignite to the Apache Software Foundation in the second half of 2014. Apache Ignite was rapidly promoted from an incubating project to a top-level Apache project in 2015. In the second quarter of 2016, Apache Ignite was downloaded nearly 200,000 times. It is used by organizations around the world. Architecture Apache Ignite is JVM-based distributed middleware based on a homogeneous cluster topology implementation that does not require separate server and client nodes. All nodes in an Ignite cluster are equal, and they can play any logical role per runtime application requirement. A service provider interface (SPI) design is at the core of Apache Ignite. The SPI-based design makes every internal component of Ignite fully customizable and pluggable. This enables tremendous configurability of the system, with adaptability to any existing or future server infrastructure. Apache Ignite also provides direct support for parallelization of distributed computations based on fork-join, MapReduce, or MPP-style processing. Ignite uses distributed parallel computations extensively, and they are fully exposed at the API level for user-defined functionality. Key features In-memory data grid. Apache Ignite includes an in-memory data grid that handles distributed in-memory data management, including ACID transactions, failover, advanced load balancing, and extensive SQL support. The Ignite data grid is a distributed, object-based, ACID transactional, in-memory key-value store. In contrast to traditional database management systems, which utilize disk as their primary storage mechanism, Ignite stores data in memory. By utilizing memory rather than disk, Apache Ignite is up to 1 million times faster than traditional databases. SQL support. Apache Ignite supports free-form ANSI SQL-99 compliant queries with virtually no limitations. Ignite can use any SQL function, aggregation, or grouping, and it supports distributed, noncolocated SQL joins and cross-cache joins. Ignite also supports the concept of field queries to help minimize network and serialization overhead. In-memory compute grid. Apache Ignite includes a compute grid that enables parallel, in-memory processing of CPU-intensive or other resource-intensive tasks such as traditional HPC, MPP, fork-join, and MapReduce processing. Support is also provided for standard Java ExecutorService asynchronous processing. In-memory service grid. The Apache Ignite service grid provides complete control over services deployed on the cluster. Users can control how many service instances should be deployed on each cluster node, ensuring proper deployment and fault tolerance. The service grid guarantees continuous availability of all deployed services in case of node failures. It also supports automatic deployment of multiple instances of a service, of a service as a singleton, and of services on node startup. In-memory streaming. In-memory stream processing addresses a large family of applications for which traditional processing methods and disk-based storage, such as disk-based databases or file systems, are inadequate. These applications are extending the limits of traditional data processing infrastructures. Streaming support allows users to query rolling windows of incoming data. This enables users to answer questions such as What are the 10 most popular products over the last hour? or What is the average price in a certain product category for the past 12 hours? Another common stream processing use case is pipelining a distributed events workflow. As events are coming into the system at high rates, the processing of events is split into multiple stages, each of which has to be properly routed within a cluster for processing. These customizable event workflows support complex event processing (CEP) applications. In-memory Hadoop acceleration. The Apache Ignite Accelerator for Hadoop enables fast data processing in existing Hadoop environments via the tools and technology an organization is already using. Ignite in-memory Hadoop acceleration is based on the first dual-mode, high-performance in-memory file system that is 100 percent compatible with Hadoop HDFS and an in-memory optimized MapReduce implementation. Delivering up to 100 times faster performance, in-memory HDFS and in-memory MapReduce provide easy-to-use extensions to disk-based HDFS and traditional MapReduce. This plug-and-play feature requires minimal to no integration. It works with any open source or commercial version of Hadoop 1.x or Hadoop 2.x, including Cloudera, Hortonworks, MapR, Apache, Intel, and AWS. The result is up to 100-fold faster performance for MapReduce and Hive jobs. Distributed in-memory file system. A unique feature of Apache Ignite is the Ignite File System (IGFS), which is a file system interface to in-memory data. IGFS delivers similar functionality to Hadoop HDFS. It includes the ability to create a fully functional file system in memory. IGFS is at the core of the Apache Ignite In-Memory Accelerator for Hadoop. The data from each file is split on separate data blocks and stored in cache. Data in each file can be accessed with a standard Java streaming API. For each part of the file, a developer can calculate an affinity and process the files content on corresponding nodes to avoid unnecessary networking. Unified API. The Apache Ignite unified API supports a wide variety of common protocols for the application layer to access data. Supported protocols include SQL, Java, C++, .Net, PHP, MapReduce, Scala, Groovy, and Node.js. Ignite supports several protocols for client connectivity to Ignite clusters, including Ignite Native Clients, REST/HTTP, SSL/TLS, and Memcached.SQL. Advanced clustering. Apache Ignite provides one of the most sophisticated clustering technologies on JVMs. Ignite nodes can automatically discover each other, which helps scale the cluster when needed without having to restart the entire cluster. Developers can also take advantage of Ignites hybrid cloud support, which allows users to establish connections between private clouds and public clouds such as AWS or Microsoft Azure. Additional features. Apache Ignite provides high-performance, clusterwide messaging functionality. It allows users to exchange data via publish-subscribe and direct point-to-point communication models. The distributed events functionality in Ignite allows applications to receive notifications about cache events occurring in a distributed grid environment. Developers can use this functionality to be notified about the execution of remote tasks or any cache data changes within the cluster. Event notifications can be grouped and sent in batches and at timely intervals. Batching notifications help attain high cache performance and low latency. Ignite allows for most of the data structures from the java.util.concurrent framework to be used in a distributed fashion. For example, you could add to a double-ended queue (java.util.concurrent.BlockingDeque) on one node and poll it from another node. Or you could have a distributed primary key generator, which would guarantee uniqueness on all nodes. Ignite distributed data structures include support for these standard Java APIs: Concurrent map, distributed queues and sets, AtomicLong, AtomicSequence, AtomicReference, and CountDownLatch. Key integrations Apache Spark. Apache Spark is a fast, general-purpose engine for large-scale data processing. Ignite and Spark are complementary in-memory computing solutions. They can be used together in many instances to achieve superior performance and functionality. Apache Spark and Apache Ignite address somewhat different use cases and rarely compete for the same task. The table below outlines some of the key differences. Apache Spark Apache Ignite Data retention Loads data for processing from external storage, usually disk-based, and discards the data when the processing is finished. No data storage. Provides a distributed in-memory key-value store (distributed cache or data grid) with ACID transactions and SQL querying capabilities. Retains data in memory and can write through to an underlying database. OLAP/OLTP For nontransactional, read-only data, so it is used for OLAP. Spark resilient distributed datasets (RDDs) dont support in-place mutation. Supports nontransactional (OLAP) payloads, as well as fully ACID-compliant transactions (OLTP). Data types Based on RDDs. Works only on data-driven payloads. Fully supports pure computational payloads (HPC/MPP) that can be data-less. Apache Spark doesnt provide shared storage, so data from HDFS or other disk storage must be loaded into Spark for processing. State can be passed from Spark job to job only by saving the processed data back into external storage. Ignite can share Spark state directly in memory, without storing the state to disk. One of the main integrations for Ignite and Spark is the Apache Ignite Shared RDD API. Ignite RDDs are essentially wrappers around Ignite caches that can be deployed directly inside of executing Spark jobs. Ignite RDDs can also be used with the cache-aside pattern, where Ignite clusters are deployed separately from Spark, but still in-memory. The data is still accessed using Spark RDD APIs. Spark supports a fairly rich SQL syntax, but it doesnt support data indexing, so it must do full scans all the time. Spark queries may take minutes even on moderately small data sets. Ignite supports SQL indexes, resulting in much faster queries, so using Spark with Ignite can accelerate Spark SQL more than 1,000-fold. The result set returned by Ignite Shared RDDs also conforms to the Spark Dataframe API, so it can be further analyzed using standard Spark dataframes. Both Spark and Ignite natively integrate with Apache YARN and Apache Mesos, so it's easier to use them together. When working with files instead of RDDs, it's still possible to share state between Spark jobs and applications using the Ignite In-Memory File System (IGFS). IGFS implements the Hadoop FileSystem API and can be deployed as a native Hadoop file system, exactly like HDFS. Ignite plugs in natively to any Hadoop or Spark environment. IGFS can be used with zero code changes in plug-and-play fashion. Apache Cassandra. Apache Cassandra can serve as a high-performance solution for structured queries. But the data in Cassandra should be modeled such that each predefined query results in one row retrieval. Thus, you must know what queries will be required before modeling the data. While very powerful in certain cases, Cassandra lacks an in-memory option that can severely limit performance. Cassandra can be useful for OLAP applications but lacks support for transactions, ACID or otherwise, so is not employed for OLTP. Predefined queries can be efficient with Cassandra, but Cassandra lacks SQL support and does not support joins, aggregations, groupings, or usable indexes. These limitations mean Cassandra cannot support ad hoc queries. A year ago the management consulting giant McKinsey & Co. predicted that the internet of things (IoT) could unlock $11 trillion in economic value by 2025. It's a bold claim, particularly given that IoT currently proves more useful in launching massive DDoS attacks than in recognizing that I need to buy more milk. Now, McKinsey has a new projection. It involves cars, and it declares that data "exhaust" from autos will be worth $750 billion by 2030. The consulting firm even goes so far as to lay out exactly how we can grab that revenue. If only it were as easy to make money off car data -- which consumers may not want to share -- as it is to prognosticate about it. Follow these two easy steps The automotive industry is huge, which is a big reason that Google, Apple, and others have been looking for opportunities to disrupt it in their favor. Given how much time we spend in our cars, particularly in North America, and how much data those cars generate, it's easy to imagine massive new auto-related businesses built entirely on data. After all, Uber is a giant data-crunching company, not a cab company. This isn't simply a market for one Uber to dominate, suggests McKinsey in its new report, "Monetizing Car Data." As the report authors conclude, the opportunity to monetize car data could be worth $450 billion to $750 billion within the next 13 years. The hitch is getting there. According to McKinsey's analysis: The opportunity for industry players hinges on their ability to 1) quickly build and test car data-driven products and services focused on appealing customer propositions and 2) develop new business models built on technological innovation, advanced capabilities, and partnerships that push the current boundaries of the automotive industry. Let me paraphrase: $750 billion can be had by anyone who can 1) figure out cool new products that lots of people will want to buy and 2) sell those products in such a manner that people will pay for them. Um, thanks, McKinsey! What the report doesn't say is that auto exhaust, the data on which these hypothetical businesses will be based, may be a little more closely guarded than web exhaust. Ideas are easy, execution is hard In a rather blithe and generic manner, McKinsey gets one thing right about this new market: "The first challenge on the path towards car data monetization is communicating to the end customers exactly what is in it for them." On the web, the value proposition of giving up personal data in exchange for free stuff has simply become part of the furniture. The tech industry has no problem treating consumers as products. Last week, for example, Google (very quietly) changed its ad policies to enable much more invasive tracking of consumer behavior. Will it be any different in Autopia? Let's assume for a minute that it will be. After all, data about where you go and how you drive generally has more serious implications than which websites you visit. What's the incentive for consumers to share that data? McKinsey lists a range of reasons, from consumers opting into proactive maintenance, better insurance rates, and more. However, these suggestions tend to overlook history: We haven't generally been willing to proactively pay for security, we don't like the idea of giving insurance companies the ability to lower our rates through data (because it will more likely result in raising our rates through that same data), and so on. On the other hand, we may simply not care enough to stop it. The younger the demographic, the less likely it is to be concerned by privacy, the report unsurprisingly finds, while 90 percent of those surveyed by McKinsey are already aware that "data is openly accessible to applications and third parties." Given that Pandora's box filled with data is already open, it's not surprising that 79 percent of those surveyed are "willing to consciously grant access to their data," a percentage that has climbed 11 points since 2015. Yet businesses still need to figure out how to monetize this willingness to trade data for services. Uber has already figured it out and presumably plenty more such companies are waiting to be born. The market for car data will likely be big, but capitalizing on it will plow through consumer privacy in ways hitherto unimagined. How will Black Sea Situation Play Out Long Term? Banghart Properties - Mon Oct 31, 9:16PM CDT How high or low will the grain markets go from the Black Sea Situation? Cotton Settles Red on Monday Barchart - Mon Oct 31, 4:45PM CDT A wide ranged session from +133 points to -168 points ultimately settled with Dec cotton 11 points in the red at 72 c/lb flat. The other front months traded similarly, but closed weaker with losses of... CTZ22 : 74.89 (+4.01%) CTH23 : 74.33 (+3.75%) CTK23 : 74.22 (+3.30%) Cattle Close Weaker on Monday Barchart - Mon Oct 31, 4:45PM CDT October fat cattle futures dropped $3.60 on Monday to expire at $146.77. The other front months closed firmer with losses limited to 52 cents. Feeder cattle closed Monday down by 25 cents to $1 in the... LEZ22 : 152.475s (-0.34%) LEG23 : 155.825s (-0.32%) LEJ23 : 159.075s (-0.09%) GFX22 : 177.625s (-0.14%) GFF23 : 179.450s (-0.51%) Mixed Monday for Hog Market Barchart - Mon Oct 31, 4:45PM CDT Lean hog futures ended the Monday round of trading with a 40 cent loss in Feb and a $1.17 loss for December. The other front months closed with $0.85 to $1.02 gains. That widened Aprils premium to Dec... HEZ22 : 84.925s (-1.36%) HEJ23 : 93.600s (+0.97%) KMZ22 : 95.475s (-0.68%) Shirley Balis, owner of a self-storage facility in Edgerton, Wis., is battling the city over flooding on her property from a drainage pipe owned by the municipality. The storage business has operated since 1984 but began experiencing water-overflow issues in 2005 after a retention pond was built for a nearby housing development. Flooding at the storage site has intensified as more houses have been constructed. We dont want [the business] destroyed by some stupid pipe, Balis told the source. Following rain storms this past summer, overflow from the pond was particularly bad, causing damage at the storage property, including $5,000 to the parking lot, according to Balis. It's been one issue after another, she said. We got probably five inches, all within a matter of an hour. Everything was under water. The city claims that, according to its mapping, water has been pooling near the self-storage facility since long before the drainage pipe was installed. Officials want to dig a ditch so water will flow more directly into a culvert connected to the Edgerton water system. We have attempted to negotiate an access easement from the land owner in order to create the best ditch we can, but we have been denied that ability, Ramona Flanigan, city administrator, told the source. Balis is insisting the pipe and pond be removed, the source reported. Students from Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix last week won a Smart City Hack (SCH) business-startup competition with a peer-to-peer self-storage concept. Led by Jed Woods, a 20-year-old business-administration major, the student group beat four other contenders with Storage Together, an online platform designed to help people in need of storage connect with local hosts offering space for rent in their homes, garages, etc. The students began working on Storage Together after being dissatisfied with options to store their belongings between semesters, the source reported. The peer-to-peer storage concept was selected by a panel of judges comprised of local startups and audience members. It beat ideas ranging from an air-pollution monitoring device to a virtual assistant designed for students. Each team presented their product or service and took questions from the panel and audience. The GCU team won $3,000. SCH, formerly known as Smart City App Hack, is an international initiative designed to bring innovative ideas to light and empower citizens to develop functioning technology products that solve pressing civic challenges, according to the website. The GCU student group will next compete against other concepts in Barcelona, Spain, where the SCH council will examine ways to implement the startup entries within cities for real-world scenarios, according to the source. @CameronNHayley @NASCAR @RIDETV #NASCARtrucks @MartinsvilleSwy @ThosSport Sandusky, OH (October 26, 2016)- Cameron Hayley, driver of the No. 13 RIDE TV Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series prepares for the Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions at Martinsville Speedway, Race No. 20 of 23 on the 2016 NCWTS schedule. Team Information: Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis Manufacturer: Toyota Engine: Triad Racing Technologies 2016 Driver Points: 11th 2016 Owner Points: 12th Sounding Off Cameron Hayley: You were competitive at Martinsville in the spring. What did you learn that you can apply to the race this weekend? We were really good at Martinsville earlier this year, battling with Kyle Busch for the lead. We had a strong Tundra all race long, but had a bad pit call at the end. I mean, Eddie (Troconis, crew chief) is doing a great job this year, and I dont envy his job at all, but we definitely learned a couple things about pit strategy. Well take what we learned from there, we know we had a great truck, and well bring back the same package we had in the spring, and hopefully well be just as good. Is Martinsville a physically demanding track? Oh, for sure, and its also mentally draining as well. The thing about Martinsville, which I sometimes compare to Talladega, although they are completely different tracks, size-wise, is at Talladega you never know when somebody will wreck you, or you can be in a wreck. Its the same thing at Martinsville. You never know when someone is going to drive in the corner, lose brakes, wheel hop, and hit you, ruining your day. At Talladega, you are in a pack of trucks and one slip-up by another driver could take out 10 trucks, or you can be leading at Talladega and someone run into you from behind. Martinsville is the same animal, but different. The track is so tight that there is a lot of beating and banging, and emotions. You have to stay calm, but its just really difficult as a driver because you never know what other drivers are going to do. If something goes wrong at Martinsville, you really dont have a lot of options to escape the carnage. You could have a perfect day going, and one driver makes a mistake, and your done. News & Notes: Chassis ChatterThe No. 13 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 37 for Saturdays NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutionsat Martinsville Speedway. This particular chassis has been run four times in 2016, earning three top-five starting positions, one top-five finish (Iowa), and two top-10 finishes. Martinsville Minute Hayley has made three starts at Martinsville Speedway since 2015. His success includes one top-five (October, 2015), and two top-10 finishes. Additionally, among active series drivers, the ThorSport Racing driver has the best average start (3.0) of any driver entered in Saturdays 200-lap event. In the Loop Martinsville According to NASCARs Loop Data statistics, Hayley is scored first in Green Flag Speed, and second in Average Running Position (4.9), and Driver Rating (113.8). Martinsville Rewind April, 2016 Hayley started fourth, his third top-five starting position in three career starts at Martinsville Speedway, led the field once for 11 laps, and finished ninth. Rearview Mirror Talladega Making his second NCWTS start at Talladega Superspeedway, Hayley started 20th, ran as high as fifth, and finished 19th, following a last-lap accident involving the 02 truck. Hayleys Martinsville NCWTS Stats: Starts: 3 since 2015 Top-Five Finishes: 1 (October, 2015) Top-10 Finishes: 2 Laps Led: 11 (April, 2016) Laps Completed: 713 of 713 (100%) Best Start: 2nd (October, 2015) Best Finish: 3rd (October, 2015) Average Start: 3.0 Average Finish: 7.7 Hayleys 2016 NCWTS Stats: Starts: 19 Top-5 Finishes: 5 Top-10 Finishes: 9 Best Start: 2nd (Iowa Speedway) Best Finish: 2nd (Atlanta & Pocono) Lap Completed: 2778 of 2808 (98.9%) Laps Led: 21 Average Start: 10.8 Average Finish: 12.9 Hayleys Career NCWTS Stats: Starts: 45 since 2014 First full-time season: 2015 Top-5 Finishes: 9 Top-10 Finishes: 24 Laps Completed: 6499 Laps Led: 99 Avg. Start: 9.2 Avg. Finish: 11.7 Best start: 2nd, Loudon (2014), Martinsville (Oct., 2015), and Iowa (2016) Best finish: 2nd, Atlanta Motor Speedway & Pocono International Raceway (2016) Hayleys 2015 NCWTS Stats: Finished sixth in the driver point standings Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Top-5 Finishes: 4 Top-10 Finishes: 13 78 laps led Best start: 2nd (Martinsville, October) Best finish: 3rd (Martinsville, October) Race Information: Date: Saturday, October 29, 2016 Time: 1:30pm ET on FOX, MRN Radio & SiriusXM Channel 90 Track: .526-mile paperclip Distance: 200 laps/105.2-miles About Ride Television Network, Inc. Ride Television Network, Inc. is a privately held corporation based in Fort Worth, Texas. The company was formed in 2011 for the purpose of launching a 24-hour, high definition, television network. RIDE TV launched on October 1, 2014 in the United States and is now available internationally. The network features high-quality television programming showcasing both English and Western disciplines and lifestyles and includes live events, reality shows, talk shows, childrens programming, documentaries and more. For more information about RIDE TV, please visit www.ridetv.com About ThorSport Racing: ThorSport Racing, based in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport Racing, which has competed in the NCWTS since 1996, will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by two-time NCWTS drivers champion Matt Crafton, the No. 13 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota Tundra driven by Cameron Hayley, the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra driven by Ben Rhodes, and the No. 98 Safelite/CURB Records Toyota Tundra driven by Rico Abreu in 2016. To learn more visit: www.ThorSport.com From: Edgehill Management Group Contact: Jessica OBrien Jessica@EdgehillManagement.com Phone: 828-478-2779 Mobile: 803-240-5807 Thousands of Enterprise policyholders will finally receive compensation months after the insurer was declared insolvent.The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) said it will pay return of premiums to policyholders in the next few days after liquidator Freddie White of Grant Thornton terminated motor policies with Enterprise on October 26.According to the FSCS, about 46,000 UK customers have motor insurance policies with Enterprise. White will handle the non-motor policies in the coming weeks.The FSCS said the compensation is an automatic process and consumers need to do nothing to claim the payments.FSCS is now paying compensation to thousands of policyholders now that Enterprise motor policies are no longer valid. If you are not sure if you are eligible for compensation then speak to your insurance broker, said chief executive Mark Neale.Neale also urged Enterprise customers to check their policies and immediately find new cover if necessary.As the troubled insurer enters liquidation, the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has launched a major investigation into Enterprise and its board of directors.The GFSC said Enterprises insolvency raises major questions about the competency and integrity of the company board. The probe will focus on directors apparent failure to govern the insurer and report its real financial status.The regulator said it may have been significantly and consistently misled by Enterprise about its true financial position. It described the companys collapse as unprecedented that has resulted in extensive losses with serious harm to consumers.The GFSC is shocked by the extent of the collapse of Enterprise. We have reason to think we may have been seriously misled, said Peter Taylor, the regulators director of legal enforcement and policy.The board is ultimately responsible for Enterprises actions, Taylor added. We consider it is critical for the reputation of Gibraltar to determine the extent to which any of the directors need to be held to account for what has occurred. We must get to the bottom of what has happened here and we will.Taylor said the GFSC has deep and serious concerns but he stressed that no findings or conclusions have been made yet. Munich Re uses big data to develop new insurance offerings Stormseals shrink wrap technology has protected 90 homes affected by the devastating storms that hit Dandenong, Victoria on 9 October from further damage.Stormseal is a state-of-the-art material that heat-seals damaged roofs or exposed wall spaces against wind and water, providing cover for up to two years until repairs can be made.Nick Hatch, director of Insurance Roofing Services which looks after securing damaged homes following storms, said they received no call requests from homes that were fitted with Stormseal after more bad weather.When tarpaulins are used to cover storm-damaged roofs when more bad weather hits we are usually inundated with calls to come and resecure them. But this has not been the case with Stormseal, Hatch said.Importantly, residents that initially had tarpaulins covering gaping roof holes said they felt more secure and safer in their home after Stormseal was fitted, plus reporting it was quieter as there were no more tarpaulins flapping about.Stormseal is working with Pinnacle Safety and Training to provide builders with nationally recognised training programs.Matthew Lennox, Stormseal inventor and managing director, said Australian insurance companies are also looking forward to more builders getting trained in Stormseal.The Australian Government recently awarded us a grant of $450,000 to fund training and taking the product further to market which will benefit not only home owners but insurers as well," Lennox said. A Hudson Valley dentist acquitted earlier this year of fatally poisoning his ex-lovers husband has been convicted of fraud and theft. The Daily Freeman of Kingston reports an Ulster County Court jury on Tuesday found 49-year-old Gilberto Nunez, of Poughkeepsie, New York, guilty on all charges, including grand larceny, insurance fraud and falsifying business records. The charges stemmed from an $8,400 insurance payment Nunez improperly received after a 2014 fire that destroyed a building he owned next to his dental office in Kingston. A sentencing date wont be scheduled until a pending unrelated case is resolved. In June, Nunez was found not guilty of murder charges in the 2011 poisoning death of 44-year-old Thomas Kolman, of Saugerties. Prosecutors claimed Nunez was having an affair with Kolmans wife and wanted her husband out of the way. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Fraud New York The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority opened a review of its regulatory mission as the agency looks to redefine itself under a new chief executive officer following a turbulent year. The regulator said Wednesday that its looking to create a guiding set of principles around the strategic choices the FCA makes to better inform its day-to-day work and help the industry understand its priorities. Key areas under review include the FCAs role in consumer compensation, how the agency identifies harm and addresses it, and the scope of its powers. Former Bank of England Deputy Governor Andrew Bailey took up the role of FCA CEO in July, one year after former chief Martin Wheatley was ousted by then Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. The move came a month after Osborne declared an end to an era of ever-larger bank fines, giving rise to concerns that politicians may have too much influence over the regulator. The government made us an independent organization and theyve given us the legislation and our job is to use it, Bailey said in response to questions at a press conference Wednesday. This is not about the re-positioning of ourselves as being more pro-firm or pro-consumer. The FCA was created in April 2013 after its predecessor, the Financial Services Authority, was split in two in an effort to better manage regulation and supervision of the banking industry following the 2008 financial crisis. Since then, the regulator has faced a number of crises from a debacle about how it handled a press briefing that sent shares of some of the largest insurers plummeting, to a decision to drop a review into banking culture. Bailey, who became head of the other half of the old FSA, the Prudential Regulation Authority, in 2013 before taking the helm at the FCA, was appointed by Osborne and is viewed by the industry as a safe pair of hands. The regulator started its review in the summer, with the consultation due to close in January. The FCA regulates 56,000 firms and has an overall objective set by parliament to make sure the markets it supervises function well. Other areas the regulator is asking for feedback on in its consultation are how the FCA can best protect vulnerable consumers and changes to its handbook to better set out the rules for firms. Establishing and embedding a clear mission for the FCA is critical to our success, both as a regulator and to U.K. financial services as a whole, Bailey said in a statement accompanying the review. This will improve accountability and transparency of how and why we make the choices that we do. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Legislation Ironshore International said it is now offering insurance documents and services in Mandarin for its Mergers & Acquisitions unit, a move that will help it better market to Chinese companies. The service involves a package of Mandarin-language marketing materials and policy forms designed to market to Chinese company the value of insurance coverage for in-country and cross-border merger and acquisition transactions, Ironshore said. As well, Ironshores dedicated M&A team of underwriters in London, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and the broader Pacific region has dual language professional proficiency in English and Mandarin, the insurer said. Ironshores M&A arm offers custom insurance protection globally for complex transactions, including Representations and Warranties, Warranty and Indemnity and Tax Liability coverages. All, as well as related services, are designed to protect against a variety of buyer and seller transactional risks. Last year, the investment arm of Chinese mega-conglomerate Fosun International snatched up the remaining 80 percent of Ironshore that it did not already own, in what was valued as a $1.84 billion merger. Source: Ironshore This article first appeared in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions China Authorities from several agencies are investigating a higher-than-expected number of arson fires in Topeka. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 57 blazes have been intentionally set this year. Thats about 21 more than a city of Topekas size would expect. Topeka Fire Marshal Mike Martin says many of the arsons have occurred in an area about two miles west of the Statehouse. No one has been injured in the recent arson fires, though they have caused thousands of dollars in damage to trash bins, garages and houses. Martin says that though the incidents appear to be connected, that doesnt necessarily indicate a serial arsonist. The Office of the State Fire Marshal, Topeka police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the fire departments investigation. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Kansas Oklahoma public sector employers have reduced the rate of employee injury and illness to 3.8 per 100 workers, down from 4.0 in 2014, the Oklahoma Department of Labor reported. With the recent reduction, Oklahoma has seen a 47 percent decline in the incidence rate over the past 16 years, the ODOL said. The department attributed the decline in part to its Public Employee Occupational Safety and Health Division (PEOSH), which has conducted a targeted and focused initiative aimed at reducing the rate of illness and injury among workers in the public sector. Oklahoma collects injury and illness data from nearly 5,300 public sector employers, according to Labor Commissioner Melissa McLawhorn Houston. The labor department said that Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows that nationwide, public sector employees experienced a higher incidence rate of work-related injuries and illnesses than those in the private sector. The average incident rate for public sector employees nationwide was 5.0 per 100 employees in 2014. In that same year, the private sector incidence rate was 3.2 injuries per 100 employees. Source: Oklahoma Department of Labor Topics Trends Commercial Lines Business Insurance Oklahoma A Seaway Crude Pipeline Co. pipeline that spilled oil at a storage hub in Oklahoma remained closed on Oct. 25, according to a spokesman for Houston-based Enterprise Products Partners, a 50 percent owner of Seaway. As of right now we dont have an estimate of when it will be back up, as officials are trying to determine the cause of the spill that happened shortly before midnight Sunday in Cushing, spokesman Rick Rainey said. Cushing, about 70 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, is one of the largest oil storage hubs in the world. Rainey said the cause of the spill hasnt been determined. Were still in the emergency response phase, so weve really not had a chance yet to go in and assess the situation and the impact, he said. Oil is flowing along a second pipeline and there is no indication of storage problems at the Cushing facility, he said. The amount of oil spilled is not known. But Rainey said its expected to be much less than 50,000 barrels of oil, which is the most that the affected pipe segment can hold. Were in the process of recovering oil, so when the final totals are in, were expecting it will be much less, he said. Seaway said vacuum trucks are being used to recover the crude oil and return it to storage tanks on the site and that substantially all the spilled oil was contained in a retention pond at a facility owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based company that owns the remaining 50 percent of Seaway. The spill caused no injuries and is not a threat to the public, according to Seaway, and Cushing Emergency Management Director Bob Noltensmeyer said the company has been working to clean up the spill. No threat to the environment or anything, theyre taking care of that and theyre cleaning up very well, Noltensmeyer said. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said it is monitoring the situation, but referred questions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which did not immediately return phone calls. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Energy Oil Gas Pollution Oklahoma The College of Southern Idaho has agreed to pay a former vice president $650,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit. The Times-News reported in a story on Tuesday that the settlement with Edit Szanto was made through the colleges insurer, the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program. The college in a statement denies any liability or wrongdoing, but says it is settling to limit the costs and distraction of litigation. Szanto sued in 2015 contending she was fired when she made claims about discrimination against her as a woman and an immigrant from Romania. Szanto worked at the school for 17 years before being placed on administrative leave in January 2014. Szanto says she didnt create conflict but didnt conform to the female stereotype of a subservient employee. Topics Lawsuits Education Universities (Bloomberg) -- Facebook Inc.s software knows your face almost as well as your mother does. And like mom, it isnt asking your permission to do what it wants with old photos. While millions of internet users embrace the tagging of family and friends in photos, others worried theres something devious afoot are trying block Facebook as well as Google from amassing such data. As advances in facial recognition technology give companies the potential to profit from biometric data, privacy advocates see a pattern in how the worlds largest social network and search engine have sold users viewing histories for advertising. The companies insist that gathering data on what you look like isnt against the law, even without your permission. If judges agree with Facebook and Google, they may be able to kill off lawsuits filed under a unique Illinois law that carries fines of $1,000 to $5,000 each time a persons image is used without permission -- big enough for a liability headache if claims on behalf of millions of consumers proceed as class actions. A loss by the companies could lead to new restrictions on using biometrics in the U.S., similar to those in Europe and Canada. Facebook declined to comment on its court fight. Google declined to comment on pending litigation. Courts have struggled over what qualifies as an injury to pursue a privacy case in lawsuits accusing Facebook and Google of siphoning users personal information from e-mails and monitoring their web browsing habits. Suits over selling the data to advertisers have often failed. This year, the U.S. Supreme Court set a concrete injury standard for privacy suits, a ruling that both sides are using to argue their case ahead of a hearing Thursday in San Francisco over Facebooks bid to dismiss the biometrics case. Google is fending off suits in Chicago, arguing that the Illinois statute cant apply outside the state under the Constitutions interstate commerce rules. Google also contends the Illinois law doesnt regulate photos. For more on the Illinois biometrics law, click here. Facebook encourages users to "tag" people in photographs they upload in their personal posts and the social network stores the collected information. The company uses a program it calls DeepFace to match other photos of a person. Alphabet Inc.s cloud-based Google Photos service uses similar technology. The billions of images Facebook is thought to be collecting could be even more valuable to identity thieves than the names, addresses, and credit card numbers now targeted by hackers, according to privacy advocates and legal experts. While those types of information are mutable -- even Social Security numbers can be changed -- biometric data for retinas, fingerprints, hands, face geometry and blood samples, are unique identifiers. Biometric identifiers are a key way to link together information about people, such as discrete financial, medical and educational records, said Marc Rotenberg, the president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, who isnt involved in the case. Facebook has cleverly got its users to improve the accuracy of its own database, he said. And just how good is Facebooks technology? According to the companys research, DeepFace recognizes faces with an accuracy rate of 97.35 percent compared with 97.5 percent for humans -- including mothers. Rotenberg said the privacy concerns are twofold: Facebook might sell the information to retailers or be forced to turn it over to law enforcement -- in both cases without users knowing it. While most of the earlier privacy lawsuits relied on federal wiretap laws, the facial recognition cases hinge on the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. The Illinois residents who sued under the 2008 law say it gives them a property interest in the algorithms that constitute their digital identities -- in other words, that gives them grounds to accuse Facebook of real harm. Facebook got the case moved to San Francisco. Just as trade secrets or subscriber lists can be proprietary to a company like Facebook, unique and unchangeable biometric identifiers are proprietary to individuals, according to their complaint. They also claim an informational injury because Facebook didnt get consent to collect their so-called faceprints. Facebook says the lawsuit should be thrown out because the users havent suffered a concrete injury such as physical harm, loss of money or property; or even a denial of their right to free speech or religion. The plaintiffs "have offered no specific or coherent allegations explaining how this collection and storage actually affects their privacy -- much less causes them concrete harm," Facebook argued in a court filing. Facebook offered examples that might work, such as if users were identified in an embarrassing photo that cost them their jobs, were victims of identity theft, or were caught in a compromising situation that harmed their relationships. While one person might be able to bring such a case, a group lawsuit would be impossible because it would create a sea of individualized issues, Facebook says. Legal experts say its unclear which side will benefit from the Supreme Courts concrete harm ruling in a case involving search engine operator Spokeo Inc. "Spokeo is vague about what kinds of injury are concrete enough to count," said Julie Cohen, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center. "Everybody is scrambling for advantage." Niamh Keogh, of counselT: +353 1 614 5000E: nkeogh@mhc.ie Robert Henson, tax partnerT: +353 1 614 2314E: rhenson@mhc.ie The bill includes proposed changes to the tax treatment of Section 110 companies, and a new regime for transactions involved in Irish real estate funds. Robert Henson, partner, and Niamh Keogh, Of Counsel at Mason Hayes & Curran, break down these tax developments in the bill. Section 110 companies In September, Irelands Minister for Finance released draft legislation to charge tax on profits arising from Irish loan portfolios and related transactions to overseas investors. The proposed measures were not intended to impact bona fide securitisations, but concerns were raised by many professional advisors and stakeholders that the draft legislation would have an impact on unintended transactions. Thankfully, the provisions on the measure in the bill include some welcome changes to clarify that most normal securitisation transactions and market loan origination transactions will not be impacted by the changes. Section 21 of the bill amends section 110 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (Section 110). By way of background, Section 110 includes favourable provisions for qualifying special purpose companies (SPCs) that hold and/or manage, or have an interest (including a partnership interest) in qualifying assets, which includes loans and debt obligations. The provisions within Section 110 charge SPCs corporation tax at a rate of 25%. However, critically, the return paid on certain profit dependent loans (PDLs) is tax deductible. The use of such SPCs has made Ireland a key location for cross-border structured finance transactions. The draft legislation included in the bill targets the use of Section 110 qualifying companies holding and/or managing specified mortgages. For this purpose, a specified mortgage means a loan that is secured on Irish land or an arrangement (e.g. a total return swap) which, in both circumstances, derives its value or greater part of its value (directly or indirectly) from land in the Republic of Ireland. Profits from such activities are to be treated as a separate business and the bill seeks to limit the availability of a tax deduction for profit-dependent returns and non-arms length returns relating to such business, unless the beneficiary of the return meets certain criteria. When the profit dependent element of the return is not tax deductible, a charge at 25% for the SPCs arises. The bill includes welcome amendments to ensure the changes should not impact on: Collateralized loan obligations (CLO) transactions; Commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS) and residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS) transactions; and Loan origination businesses. This applies in circumstances where the Section 110 company carries on no other activities other than incidental to the above. For those Section 110 companies that are within the scope of the proposed legislation, interest payable relating to such activities should continue to be fully tax deductible where: The beneficiary is an individual within the charge to Irish income tax; The beneficiary is a person who is or will be within the charge to Irish corporation tax; The beneficiary is an approved Irish or European Economic Area (EEA) pension fund; The beneficiary is a resident of an EU or EEA member state (other than Ireland) provided that: (a) the investor is subject to tax in their country of residence without any reduction computed by reference to the amount of such interest or in respect of any deemed or notional deduction; (b) the holding of the PDL is not part of a tax avoidance scheme; and (c) in the case of a company, it carries out genuine economic activities in the EEA relevant to the holding of the PDL. On creation of the PDL, the return represents no more than a reasonable rate of commercial return for the use of that principal and the return is not dependent on the results of the SPC; or Irish withholding tax has been deducted from the payment. The proposed changes will take effect from September 6 2016 once enacted. Irish regulated funds The bill also targets the use of Irish regulated funds, known as qualifying investor alternative investment funds (QIAIFs) which are often structured as ICAVs under the Irish Collective Asset-management Act 2015, holding investments in Irish real estate assets. Before the bill was published, Irish regulated QIAIFs were exempt from Irish tax on all income and gains. Further, all payments, such as distributions and redemptions made to non-Irish investors and certain exempt Irish investors, were not subject to any withholding or exit tax. Under the draft legislation in the bill, QIAIFs will now be obliged to operate an exit tax at 20% on the occurrence of certain taxable events, namely the making of a relevant payment to the investor or on redemption of the investors units in the QIAIFs to the extent that the amount of the redemption is attributable to profits derived from Irish real estate activities. The changes target QIAIFs involved in the acquisition and development of Irish real estate, rents derived from Irish real estate and short-term capital appreciation gains on the holding of Irish real estate. QIAIFs are only within the scope of the proposals if 25% of the value of the relevant fund (or sub-fund) is derived from Irish real estate assets or if it would be reasonable to assume that the purpose or one of the main purposes of the fund was to acquire Irish real estate or engage in the development of Irish real estate. Importantly, for QIAIFs involved in long-term capital appreciation strategies, the redemption proceeds paid to an investor should not be subject to the exit tax of 20% where the proceeds relate to a capital gain arising to the QIAIF on the disposal of property it acquired at market value and owned for a minimum of five years, provided the disposal is to a person unconnected with the fund or any of its investors. Payments to certain categories of investors, including pension funds and, other Irish and EEA regulated funds are also exempted. The new regime will apply to accounting periods commencing on or after January 1 2017. However, if the QIAIFs accounting period was changed after October 20 2016, the new rules will apply to accounting periods commencing on or after October 20 2016. The draft legislation may be amended before it is passed into law, which is expected to be in December. Today's workersunless they've been in the workforce a very long time with the same employer or work in certain public sector or union organizationswill never know what a retirement pension, or defined benefits plan, looks like in real life. That's because these retirement plans are going the way of the dinosaur, replaced by the defined contribution plan, typically a 401(k) account. What's the difference? A pension plan pays a guaranteed amount each month, based on salary and years of service. A 401(k) plan, on the other hand, depends on employee and sometimes employer contributions and reflects the performance of the investments within them. While the vast majority of businesses now offer 401(k) plans for retirement, there's a great deal of difference between the most and least generous among them. For example, some employers offer a generous employer match and even additional contributions based on salary. Others offer a better mix of investment options with lower fees. It's a good idea to look at the fine print to see what you're really getting when you enroll. If you are wondering which companies do the best job setting up their employees for financial security in retirement, take a look at our list for the best retirement plans. 1. ConocoPhillips (COP) ConocoPhillips has a generous employee matching programit automatically pays a 6% match after you invest 1% of your income. In addition, the company offers a discretionary additional match of between 0% and 6% based on company performance and other factors including employee age. The goal is a 9% total match. In addition, investment options are broad, including a mix of stock, bond and international index funds. Vesting is immediate at 100%. Enrollment is voluntary, but employees must contribute a minimum of 1% to receive the company's contributions. 2. The Boeing Company (BA) Boeing transitioned all non-union employees from a pension to a 401(k) retirement plan in 2016, and the results have been amazing. With over $47 billion in assets, it is the second-largest plan in the country. The company matches 75% of the first 8% of employees' contributions. There's also a discretionary contribution of between 3% and 5% per year based on the employee's age. Boeing automatically enrolls employees in the plan, and there is a broad selection of stock, bond, and international index funds to choose from. 3. Amgen Inc. (AMGN) Amgen is another company with one of the best retirement plans, and is one of the more generous companies when it comes to employer contributionsit makes a 5% core contribution upfront, whether or not the employee makes a contribution to the plan. In addition, the company matches employees' contributions up to 5% of their salary for a total of 10%. There's also an employee stock purchase plan. Amgen's funds include a broad mix of stock, bond and international index funds. Employees are 100% vested immediately and are automatically enrolled in the plan. 4. Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) You may have qualms about working for the king of tobacco, but Philip Morris does its best to reward and retain top talent. In addition to matching the first 5% of employee contributions, the company adds an additional 7% of eligible employee compensation for a total of up to 12%. There are no bond funds to select, but a broad range of stock and international index funds are available. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled and are 100% vested immediately. 5. Citigroup Inc. (C) This banking giant does a good job with its retirement plans, matching 100% of the employee's first 6% of contributions. There's an additional 2% added in, but it's important to note that Citigroup makes its contributions in a lump sum at or after year-end and not at the same regular intervals that employee contributions are made. Fund options include stock and international index fundsno bond funds are available. Enrollment is automatic, and employees are fully vested immediately. Top News - Investor Idea REE Stock News - Defense Metals (TSX-V: DEFN.V) (OTCQB: DFMTF) Drills 113 metres of 2.50% Total Rare Earth Oxide at Wicheeda Vancouver, British Columbia - October 26, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mining / Metals / Green Energy Stock News - Defense Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DEFN / OTCQB: DFMTF/ FSE:35D) is pleased to announce high-grade Rare Earth Element ("REE") assay results from one additional core hole, totalling 383 metres (m), collared within the northern area of Defense Metals' 100% owned Wicheeda REE Deposit. Top EV Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking EV Stock News: Overwhelmingly Positive Reactions Pour in From First Leg of Mullen Automotive's (NASDAQ: MULN) 'Strikingly Different' FIVE EV Crossover Tour BREA, Calif. - October 31, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today that the Mullen FIVE has received overwhelmingly positive reactions from members of the public, reservation holders and Mullen investors who were able to ride in the vehicle for the very first time on the "Strikingly Different" tour which kicked off last week in Pasadena, California. Top Health and Wellness News - Investor Idea Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures Third Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA Worth Approximately $1.5M in Revenue for First two Fiscal Quarters of 2023 CAVE CREEK, Ariz. - October 27, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-derived, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces it has secured three key significant orders for its newly acquired, non-nicotine plant-based vape product, HYLA. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires Confidential Computing Platform ZeroTrust to Protect Data Privacy and Accelerate Innovation for Millions of Growth Businesses NEW YORK, NY - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire Press Release IPU concerned by the rising use of legal action to silence MPs Geneva, 27 October 2016 The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. Anadolu Agency/Serap Aydin The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) spoke out today about the increasing levels of retaliation against MPs for exercising their freedom of expression across the world. In a series of decisions adopted on the violations of the human rights of MPs, the Organization stressed the growing recourse to court action and unlawful exclusion from political life as a means to stifle political opponents. Instead of listening to political opponents judicial proceedings are becoming a political tool to root out dissent. IPUs Member Parliaments addressed the cases of 129 MPs in eight countries whose human rights have allegedly been violated. Many of these cases are related to reprisals against MPs for expressing their views as part of their oversight responsibility, and reveal an overarching problem that not only undermines parliamentarians ability to exercise their mandate, but also has a chilling effect on other MPs. IPU noted that no progress has been made in Cambodia in resolving the cases of now 15 opposition MPs, most of whom are facing criminal charges linked to issues of freedom of expression or assembly. Acknowledging that the situation has further escalated, the Organization expressed its concern about these MPs, who continue to face serious violations of their fundamental rights. Decisions on the Maldives related to 33 current and former MPs. A delegation from the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians conducted an on-site mission to the Maldives from 10 to 12 October 2016 and shared its preliminary observations. The delegation noted its concern about death threats targeting opposition MPs and undue restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. Concerning Turkey, IPU is particularly worried about the situation of the 55 MPs from the opposition party the Peoples Democratic Party who face over 600 terrorism charges. These MPs were stripped of parliamentary immunity following a constitutional amendment in May authorizing a blanket removal of immunity for a total of 139 parliamentarians from all political parties. IPU is seeking a comprehensive solution that goes beyond individual cases and requested the Committee to enhance its contacts with the authorities for this purpose. There is also concern about what appears to be a recent trend to impose long-term suspension on vocal opposition MPs in Fiji, where two parliamentarians were suspended for the rest of their terms following comments considered offensive. In this regard, IPU reaffirms that the exercise of freedom of expression includes statements that may offend, shock or disturb others. Elsewhere, IPU reiterated the need to organize as soon as possible a human rights mission to Venezuela in light of recent events, with assistance from all relevant national authorities to fulfil its mandate. In Ecuador, the status of the application of Jose Clever Jimenezs sentence for defamation against President Rafael Correa remains unclear in connection with what appears to be the legitimate exercise of his rights to freedom of expression. The case of Omani MP Talib Al Mamari - detained in 2013 in connection with his participation in a demonstration calling on the government to combat pollution - was closed following his release from jail. IPU regrets that his release came only four months before he had served his entire three-year prison term, and that his conviction was based on charges and legal provisions that infringed on his legitimate rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. In relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Organization expressed its concern about the violence to which MP Martin Fayulu was subjected during an opposition protest in September in Kinshasa and the inaction of the Congolese courts with respect to his arrest in February. Assaults against MPs, if unpunished, not only violate the fundamental rights of those concerned, but also affect the ability of parliament to fulfil its institutional mission. IPUs Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, which works to protect or seek redress for MPs whose rights have been violated, is currently working on 242 cases worldwide. In this session, 174 cases were examined for the first time. The year 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the Committee. It remains committed to helping MPs under threat and will not give up until cases are resolved. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. It works to safeguard peace and drives positive democratic change through political dialogue and concrete action. A man suspected of using a sledgehammer to destroy Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been arrested, officials said. Jamie Otis was taken into custody on suspicion of vandalism, Los Angeles police officer Andrew Chambers said. Otis has said that the pre-dawn attack was originally intended to remove the star. He said he wanted to auction it off to raise funds for the 11 women accusing the presidential candidate of groping them. Mr Trump has denied the groping allegations. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which bestows the stars and maintains the popular tourist attraction, said it would take several days to repair Mr Trump's spot. Otis was expected to be charged later today. Det Meghan Aguilar said investigators were called to the scene following reports that the presidential candidate's star was struck by blows from a hammer. A sledgehammer, construction hat and vest, and a pick were recovered nearby, police said. Mr Trump's star was dedicated in 2007 in recognition of his work on NBC's reality TV show The Apprentice. The star is near the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards are held each year. It is at least the second time this year that Mr Trump's star has been targeted. In July, an artist installed a miniature wall topped with razor wire and "keep out" signs in response to Mr Trump's vow to build a wall along the US-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Vodafone, the worlds second-largest mobile operator, also failed to act quickly enough to identify or address the problems, the regulator said, which stemmed from a move to a new billing system. Some 10,452 of the mobile phone giants pay-as-you-go customers collectively lost 150,000 over a 17-month period between the end of 2013 and April 2015. Vodafone said it deeply regretted the system and process failures and had refunded the vast majority of the affected customers. Ofcom consumer group director Lindsey Fussell said the failings were serious and unacceptable and the fines, which are the highest ever imposed by the regulator, sent a clear warning to all telecoms companies. Phone services are a vital part of peoples lives, and we expect all customers to be treated fairly and in good faith, she said. The new billing system led to a sharp rise in customer complaints in Vodafones home market, where it has about 19.5 million customers. It has been the worst performing network in terms of customer service since the final quarter of 2014, according to Ofcom data. Complaints have spiked at 32 per 100,000 customers in the final quarter of 2015, more than three times the industry average. Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao apologised to customers in May for the billing problems. The company said yesterday that all but 30 customers had been fully refunded or re-credited, with an average refund of 14.35. And it donated 100,000 to charity to ensure it did not profit from the 30 customers it could not track down. This has been an unhappy episode for all of us at Vodafone: We know we let our customers down, the company said. We are determined to put everything right. Vodafone said it was confident its customers were already beginning to see the benefits of its investment in its new systems. Britains regulators have stepped up the pressure in recent years to make sure customers are being protected. Ofcom said in September that Sky, Britains biggest pay-TV group, may have violated consumer rules by making it too difficult for customers to cancel or switch providers. The Independent TD and former Fine Gael member made the comments in response to opposition calls for action on the issue. Speaking in the Dail, Mr Naughten said he is continuing to examine the Report on the Concentration of Media Ownership in Ireland commissioned by Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan and published earlier this week. Despite the reports authors raising concerns over Mr OBriens involvement in numerous Irish media outlets, Mr Naughten said the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland already found two years ago that there has not been a material reduction in media plurality due to the limited changes in ownership and control. The comments came as Mr O Brien hit back at a claim in the report that the country has one of the most concentrated media markets of any democracy. The report states: The two most important controlling entities in the Irish media landscape are the national State broadcaster, RTE, and an individual businessman, Denis OBrien, who has a dominant position within the Irish print media sector, given his ownership of a significant minority stake in the dominant Independent News and Media, and substantial holdings in the commercial radio sector. Mr OBrien said in a statement that, despite the State broadcaster being mentioned, the report did not focus on RTE in any detail. There is no focus on RTE in the context of the largest media entity in Ireland, the only entity involved in TV, radio, and print, revenues subsidised by licence fees amounting to 178.9m, he said. Sinn Fein is very diligent and adept when it comes to pushing its agendas, overtly and covertly. Mr OBrien issued a strong defence of his media ownership, placing it in the context of an industry he described as being in decline. I am the owner of Communicorp which, like RTE, TV3, the Irish Examiner, and the Sunday Business Post operates in a very challenging environment. I understand The Irish Times is currently considering various funding options. I believe that some media companies will not survive this decade without radical structuring including substantial funding, he said. This decline has been ongoing for many years and it threatens an industry that has served this country exceptionally well. Mr Healy advised farmers attending the IFA liquid milk rally in Portlaoise to further tighten their winter supplies to their liquid milk contracts, and remove the comfort for dairies and retailers that has contributed to systematic undercutting and erosion of value in the liquid milk chain. There is clear evidence farmers have been scaling back their autumn calving dramatically in the last two years by 16% and 12.4% respectively, said Mr Healy. The industry and retail trade must wake up and respond, or risk running short of locally produced, quality fresh milk in winter. Liquid milk producers maintain production in the winter months to ensure a year-round supply of Irish milk in Irish retail outlets. Mr Healy said the sector is worth more than 400m at retail level, which is 13% of the value of our total dairy exports a vital contributor to the dairy sector, with a stable return from the retail trade. The IFA wants Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to preside over a dairy assembly with all industry stakeholders. The IFAs goals include bringing an end to one-year retail tenders, a full review of farmers contracts, and a study of the 1,900 farmers involved in liquid milk to establish their age profile and succession plans and an independent well-resourced Ombudsman to oversee fair trading in the food chain. IFA national liquid milk chairman John Finn added: We are frustrated, as farmers, to be struggling every year a little more to secure winter payments that reflect both the high and stable returns from retail milk, and which allow us to cover our costs. We havent been able to do this in the last three years at least, and especially last winter. Dairies must engage for 2016/17, and beyond, and ensure farmers are paid a price that justifies their continuation in the specialist liquid milk production system. Billed by agents DNG Creedon as the cheapest house in Clare, and as a possible steal, the cute two-bed at Ballyartney and which is guided at 17,000, is one of 32 lots due for a DNG auction disposal this day next week in Cork citys Clarion Hotel, and which is due to gross over 2.4 million all-in. Given the profile raised in Irish and international media for the pretty 890 sq ft Kernaig cottage, a hide-away gem on the Shannon estuary, its likely the modest 17k guide will be blown out of the water. Right now, while its literally getting all the headlines (and 8,000 hits on daft), its worth a mere 0.7% of the 2.4m-plus haul the agents hope to draw in. Ive had calls on it from as far away as Dubai, and interviews about it on American media says estate agent Shane Finn in Cork city, whos selling this East Clare lot jointly with DNG OSullivan Hurley. He said he had guided at 17,000 pre-auction, as the area around Labasheeda isnt strictly on any widely recognised tourist/holiday homes map. The Price Register shows a number of local sales sub 100,000, including an old post office earlier this year for 6,000, and a Main Street Labasheeda dwelling for 16,000. Overlooking Clonderlaw Bay, Kernaig is likely to trump them both at least, given its interior charm and modest upgrades. Its one to watch... and the auction will be streamed live on www.dngcreedon.ie, myhome.ie, and www.irishexaminer.com. Another water-aspected offer, and which featured editorially independently here last week, is Tralees Georgian era Barrow House, a former B&B with coachhouse now guided for auction at 275,000 and in need of just a bit more renovation spending: it would make a fantastic trophy home, comments Mr Finn, reckoning it will be one of the major attractions at Thursday nexts DNG auction. The list of 32 lots spans cottages and apartments to trophy homes and canny investment buys. Its expected that 2.39m-worth of property will change hands on, or just after, the day. Its the fifth such auction coordinated by DNG Creedon for the franchise and fellow DNG Munster agents. Their September auction netted just under 2.3 million, above pre-auction guides of c 1.8 million, and spanned 22 Munster properties where 16 lots sold under the hammer, with the remaining six selling swiftly afterwards in negotiation. Buyer profile at the September sell-off was close to 50:50 investors and private buyers but 90% were cash buyers, it was almost all cash in the room, according to Mr Finn. Also due under the hammer on November 3 is a two-bed apartment at 1, Mariners Quay, Passage West in Cork harbour, guided at 95,000. If bought by an investor and let, it could earn over 10,200 pa, for return in excess of 11%. Yields on investor/commercial buys range from 8.47% to 26%, with apartments in Co Cork priced from 30,000: a multi-let, at 1 Clonmel Rd, Mitchelstown, is guided at 90,000, and has three one-bed apartments capable of earning up to 18,000 pa for a 20% return. Modest Kerry investments are priced from 40,000, such as a Manor West apartment earning 5,500 pa for a 13.75% yield. Other lots include Waterford and Co Limerick properties from 17,500. Details: www.dngcreedon.ie. Around 45 oyster farmers from around the Irish coast attended the launch. The exhibition in Lissadells stable rooms tells the story of oyster farming back as far as the 1850s. Richard Donnelly, BIMs aquaculture business development manager, said: We, in BIM, are delighted to partner with Constance Cassidy and Eddie Walsh of Lissadell House to develop an informative oyster exhibition that will educate both Irish and International visitors on the provenance and superior craftsmanship involved in farming quality Irish oysters. Newly-filed accounts for the company show that its revenues more than trebled to 24.58m in the year that it opened a 10m distillery and visitor centre in the Liberties area of Dublin. The company run by brothers Jack and Stephen Teeling, who are the sons of well-known businessman John Teeling is at the forefront of the Irish whiskey industry, which is projecting combined annual exports, across all makers, of 410m to double by 2020. Irish whiskey is the fastest growing premium spirits category in the world and its global market share is set to grow by 300% by 2030 to 12%. By 2025 production is set to rise by 41% from 2010 levels. According to the directors report section of the latest Teeling accounts throughout 2015, the company has developed its own production plant and visitor centre in central Dublin to coincide with its brand development plan for its premium whiskey brand. Management added the distillery is envisaged to act as a home for the Teeling Whiskey brand as well as to provide pot still manufacturing to ensure consistent supply of Irish whiskey for its brands. Distillation commenced in March 2015 and management said they are satisfied with the production to date. The Teeling whiskey business recorded a post-tax profit last year of 2.72m after corporation tax of 226,671 was paid. Numbers employed by the company last year increased from 15 to 24 with staff costs increasing from 709,241 to 1m. Directors remuneration last year increased from 155,000 to 235,000. That included 25,000 in pension contributions. The directors include company managing director Jack Teeling and Stephen and Katharine Teeling. Shareholder funds stood at 5.9m while the firms cash totalled 335,592. The accounts disclose the company had an outstanding loan of 3.3m at year end from Jack Teeling - up from 3.04m at the start of the year. A note confirms that the company also owed 366,095 to Stephen Teeling at the end of last year. Jack and Stephen Teeling each hold 17% of the Louth-based Great Northern Distillery (GND) Ltd. In May 2015, the company sold bulk whiskey to GND for 13.3m to facilitate the repayment of debt and throughout the year, Teeling Whiskey purchased 1m in bulk whiskey from GND. In 2011, John Teeling sold the worlds oldest distillery, Cooley to American bourbon whiskey giant, Beam for 73m. The primary red and yellow colours stick out like Furbies and gel pens in the archive of a now grown-up generations childhood. John Bitmead (our new favourite person ever) has made an adult Little Tykes car and it looks like the best craic ever. Writing on her blog, Texas based photographer Rachel Taylor said she was inspired to create the costume when she noticed her daughter Jadas uncanny resemblance to the real-life notorious drug-lord, whose escapades the Netflix series are based on. Last week, after wrapping up season two of Narcos, Matt gave Jadas curly hair an aggressive side part. Per usual, she came sprinting out of the tub into my arms, and in that moment I realized our child looks super similar to THE Pablo Escobar. Innovation is about identifying a problem and creating a solution. The winners identified problems surrounding grass measuring and grass utilisation, and created one solution to solve them all. Their Grasshopper product has been developed by PhD student Diarmuid McSweeney and True North Technologies founder Paddy Halton, with the assistance of Teagasc, Moorepark. Grasshopper is generating international interest, with True North recently signing a distribution agreement in the UK, and having appointed agents in Northern Ireland, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Grasshopper is also being trialled in Denmark, Belgium, and Germany. Accepting the award from Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, managing director Paddy Halton said: The company is delighted to receive the recognition this award brings, which further validates what a significant number of farmers who use the system already experience, which is a significant improvement in their management information. So what are the problems Grasshopper is solving? Firstly it takes the difficult mathematics out of grass measuring. It also solves the skilled labour issue of grass measuring on farms, because anyone can use the device, and results are easily verified. It maximises grass utilisation through its grass allocation feature, allowing greater efficiency on any farm. This addresses the biggest problem facing the Irish dairy industry of trying to control input costs in order to maintain margins in a sales environment where volatile milk prices is a key feature. The Grasshopper idea originated in 2012 when Teagasc identified a need for technology to assist farmers with grass management . Diarmuid was brought on to the project as a PhD candidate, and the concept of a device to feed data into grass management software was conceived. The project was approved for EU funding, and Clare-based True North Mapping became involved. The team began work in 2013. The company liaised with Teagasc Moorepark, where Diarmuid led the validation exercise as they tested the product. The key issue was the algorithm to calculate the important conversions like sward to dry matter yield. True North Technologies was founded in 2015, when the Grasshopper became a marketable product. Teagasc retained the intellectual property to the device, but the Shannon based firm have international rights to market it. How does it work? The first thing a farmer does if they have purchased a Grasshopper is to download either the Apple or Android app. Equipped with the Grasshopper and a smartphone, the farmer can now create a farm paddock map. This is done through the GPS situated on top of the plate meter device. A point is recorded at every corner of the paddock, and the map is generated on the app via Bluetooth. This can then be transferred to grass management systems. This function alone can cover some of the cost of the product, when compared to the cost of farm mapping. The farm is now set up for grass measuring, and anyone can use the Grasshopper to measure grass. When each sample is taken, a GPS location is marked so a farmer can know that the paddock is sampled properly. The Apps algorithm will calculate the dry matter yield in each paddock using the area from the farm map, the cover recorded, and the Teagasc data. This information can be transferred to grass management programmes like Agrinet or Pasturebase. The company is working with Kingswood, to enable data transfer to their grass package, and other software companies will also be brought online as they develop API and interfaces. The farmer has real-time information on grass growth and paddock performance. Based on the principle of what is known can be managed, the system provides management information on which the efficiency of the dairy enterprise depends. A new feature which will be available to the market in the spring is the Allocate function. This is the next key for grass utilisation. It will be made available free of charge to all previous App devices as well. The App records information through Teagasc data and details the farmer inputs. Once it knows variables like previous covers, grass type, location and cow numbers, Grasshopper calculates grass dry matter demand. The farmer can go into the App, select a paddock to graze and check settings for cow numbers and required length of grazing. The App will then draw a line across the paddock (within the farm map) to suggest the placement of the temporary fence. The farmer can then move any point to accommodate a water trough or entrance, and the map will auto adjust. The GPS on the Grasshopper will then locate the ideal position for the farmer to erect the fence. This feature ensures the maximum grass utilisation possible. Diarmuid McSweeney stated, Grass utilisation on a modern dairy farm is critical to profitability. Increasing the grass tonnage per hectare and using it to best effect are basic management principles made possible with good grass measurement tools. This award means a lot to us. It is recognition for a lot of hard work. We have even got calls from England because of it. Grasshopper is available in Ireland from True North Technologies Ltd. National Dairy Innovation Awards results The Grasshopper grass measurement device won the gold award in the technology section in the National Dairy Innovation Awards at Millstreet. The silver winner was bovilis.ie which is MSDs new vaccine reminder website. Other winners include gold in the engineering section for Power Farm Services and silver for Northern Engineering. Gold in the science section went to Interchem for Eprecis, and the silver award went to Devenish Nutrition. * More here next week on the winners. The farmers have applied to take part in the EUs milk reduction scheme. These farmers will of course weigh the pros and cons of going through with the reduction, said Mr OLeary, who criticised co-ops for being too conservative in setting their September milk price. He said co-ops should plan out a price strategy to deliver milk prices of at least 30 c/l by next spring. He said September milk prices are 0.6-1.1c/l behind the 26.6c equivalent of the Ornua dairy index. * In the recent second phase of the EUs milk reduction scheme, with only less than 1% of the overall budget still available, 556 farmers in Ireland applied to cut milk production by 6.4m litres. Ireland had the fourth highest number of applicants, after France with 1,823, Germany with 918, and Poland with 766. But only a milk delivery reduction of 823,92 litres could be accepted from the Irish farmers, for the three months commencing November 1, with only enough budget left to compensate applicants for 12.5% of the amount for which they applied. The EU milk reduction scheme is now fully subscribed, with more than 58,000 dairy farmers from 27 EU countries (all except Greece) having signed up to receive EU aid to cut their output in the coming months by more than 1.07m tonnes of milk. The scheme was announced by Commissioner Phil Hogan in July. He said last week that Ireland has the highest participation rate among milk producers, in percentage terms, at 24%. He said the schemes success will help the current recovery in the dairy products market. Ciaran Lewis SC, for the bank, said William and Sheila Moran, who had owned the Morans on the Weir pub restuarant in Kilcolgan, Co Galway, had provided sworn statements verifying matters set out in correspondence relating to their assets. In those circumstances, the bank was not proceeding further with cross-examination aimed at getting full details of those assets and the matter could be struck out, counsel said. Maeve Bell, 38, was the clinical manager at Elmhurst nursing home in Glasnevin, Dublin, when she began siphoning off money from the comfort account of a resident. The court heard that Highfield Nursing Home, which runs Elmhurst, have in place a system of comfort accounts which are used to pay for a residents upkeep and any other personal needs. They are funded by money paid from the residents main bank account. Bell, a qualified nurse, stole the money by making requests on behalf of the resident to withdraw money from her comfort account. The court heard that the victim was not elderly but had serious medical difficulties and had moved into the home in 2013. Bell, formerly of Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, and with an address at Shanmullagh, Hackballscross, Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of stealing money at Highfield nursing home on various dates between July 2013 and October 2014. The thefts came to light when the resident became distressed about the low level of funds in her account. A resident advocate then inspected the account and saw that a concerning level of activity had reduced the funds from 17,000 to 600 in a four-month period. After passing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said he was surprised to hear that the resident was still out of pocket and that the nursing home has not compensated her. He asked the gardai to consider bringing the matter to the attention of a relevant ombudsman. Im not sure the nursing home should be allowed to walk away in such a cavalier fashion. They had care and custody of the money. They had responsibility to ensure no mishaps happen, he said. The amounts stolen increased in value as the offending continued, ranging from 600 up to 1,800 in regular monthly requests. A total of 38,000 was taken from the nursing home account. On a number of occasions Bell took the victims bank card and used it to steal cash amounts, totalling 7,000 from her Bank of Ireland account. She would withdraw money for the victim as well as additional cash, which she kept herself. Bell told gardai she intended to use the money to pay her mortgage and bills while she was out on maternity leave. My house was being repossessed, my husband wasnt working, I was going on maternity leave, she said. At the time she owed money to moneylenders and was trying to look after her two elderly parents in Longford. Judge Martin Nolan said he accepted that Bell had committed the crimes out of financial distress. He said that while Bell was a very sympathetic character and had a very difficult life he had to impose a jail sentence. She was in a position of almost total power, he said, adding that it is a fact of modern living that a lot of people were in the vulnerable position of the victim. Initially Bell denied that she had taken any money and told gardai that the victim had cognitive impairment and poor memory. Jonathan Kilfeather SC, defending, said that compensation wasnt an option for his client because of her own financial circumstances. He said that Bell was the first to admit that she had committed a terrible breach of her ethical and professional duty. The Probation Services had assessed her at a low risk of reoffending. Circuit Court president Mr Justice Raymond Groarke said Triglen Holdings, trading as Krystle Nightclub, had engaged and let loose a private army, a member of which had assaulted Elaine Bennett, 28. Judge Groarke had already awarded Ms Bennett 15,000 damages for injuries suffered at the club on New Years Eve 2014 but had been asked to decide whether P&B Security Services Ltd (now in liquidation) or Krystle should pay. Ms Bennett claimed she was punched and kicked by bouncer Dawn Cleary whose evidence, the judge said, he could not believe. Judge Groarke yesterday ruled that both defendants were jointly and severally liable to pay Ms Bennetts damages and legal costs bill. Ms Bennet, from Cork, had left Krystle for a smoke, after which she was refused re-entry by the bouncers on grounds she was too drunk. When she asked again to be let in Ms Cleary attacked her, pulling her to the ground by her hair. She was punched and kicked on her body and face and her wounds had left a permanent scar under her right eye. Bennett sued Triglen Holdings Ltd and P&B Security Services Ltd, with a registered address at Newhall, Naas, Co Kildare, for negligence. The defendants had denied liability and claimed Ms Bennett had been racially abusive, pushing Ms Cleary down the stairs and calling her a bitch and a Polish lesbian. She had called another bouncer a Polish bastard. Judge Groarke said that although the bouncers had an obligation to refuse Ms Bennett entry because she was intoxicated, he was satisfied she had been viciously assaulted. British ministers including secretary of state for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire had claimed London and Dublin were working to strengthen Irelands external borders to combat illegal migration into the UK after Brexit. He said such a high level of collaboration would help avoid the introduction of a hard border between North and South. During leaders questions, in the Dail yesterday, Mr Kenny said his Government was not aware of what the British were looking for in the wake of Brexit. We do not know yet what the British government is actually looking for here. Is it a hard Brexit exit from the customs union and the single market and control at their own borders, or is it something else? Mr Kenny told the Dail that Ireland would remain within the fold of the EU. He acknowledged Brexit brings many complex problems. If, for instance, the UK removed itself from the customs union, that is going to lead to a serious challenge in terms of tariffs from the World Trade Organisation. There would also be a challenge if the UK removes itself from the single market and tries to control its own borders, he said. Mr Kenny said the Government does not want a return to a hard border and an end to the common travel area, and he said those views have been made clear to British authorities. Ireland does not want to see a return to the traditional customs posts, he said, which had led to all sorts of incidents such as smuggling and more serious matters of life and death. Mr Kenny was speaking in response to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, who was seeking clarity as to whether agreement had been reached with the British government to put immigration controls in place at Irish ports and airports. He said it was his fourth attempt to get Mr Kenny to answer the question. Mr Adams said such controls would not be viable. Mr Kenny also revealed he has sent 300 invitations to political leaders, business representatives, and other bodies for Wednesdays civil dialogue on Brexit, which will take place in Dublin. Tobi Ademakin, aged 21, of Oakfield, Fr Russell Court, Dooradoyle, Limerick, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to assault causing harm. The court heard that Ademakin, now in university in the UK, had returned to face the charge. When living in Limerick he played at U20 level for Munster as well as club rugby with Garryowen. The court heard the victim had been working security at Mollys in Ellen St on the night of December 21, 2014. Ademakin approached at around midnight and wanted to know if he was still barred arising from a previous incident some months earlier. He was told he was. Ademakin came back at 2am and challenged the security man why he was still barred. Without warning he struck the man who fell and hit his head. The security man, a married father of four in his 40s, was knocked unconscious as a result of the blow to the head. He was taken to hospital where it was discovered he had swelling to the brain. This resulted in him suffering loss of memory and developing problems with his balance and memory. He had to give up his day full-time work as a manager in a supermarket for five weeks. In a victim impact statement, the security man said his life had changed completely and he was not the same person physically and mentally. The court was told the accused had paid 5,000 to the victim. Judge Tom ODonnell said a probation service report said the accused was at very low risk of reoffending. Judge ODonnell said the accused had delivered a single sucker punch which had catastrophic consequences for the victim. He imposed a three-year suspended sentence. Yesterday, arsonist Rachel Crawshaw was jailed for 10 years on two charges of manslaughter and one of arson. The gardai, Catriona OSullivan and Liam Phillips, who arrived at the scene two minutes after an alarm was raised, were praised for their bravery as they also rescued a man who collapsed on a staircase and residents in other apartments in the complex. Although the time leading up to the arson offence was a chaotic blur of heavy drinking for Crawshaw, she admitted being responsible for the crimes over two years ago. She confessed to charges of the unlawful killing of John Palmer, 37, and Greg Lonergan, 36, at Granary Court, St Josephs Road, Mallow, between March 12 and March 13 in 2014, as well as arson. Inspector Michael Corbett said there were three outbreaks of fire, where the accused set fire to curtains, the middle of a mattress, and a bundle of clothes. The two deceased could only be identified by their dental records. A resident returning home spotted smoke and reported the fire at eight minutes after midnight. Judge Sean O Donnabhain commended the bravery, astuteness and attention to duty of the two gardai in preventing further loss of life. He imposed 15 years with the last five years suspended on Crawshaw. After the hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Greg Lonergans wife Sonya said that her family will never get over what happened to my best friend. Greg was such a good man. He was a hard worker and a really nice person. This is just too hard to bear. It is hurting really bad really deep in my heart. I knew her [Crawshaw] myself because she lived in the same terrace as me. I just cannot understand why she could do it. I will never understand it, she told TV3. Sonya admitted her loss was made all the more painful by the manner of Gregs funeral arrangements. He was 100% burned to death that is what I was told. We couldnt even get to see him in the coffin. He was my best friend in life. No matter what happened here today, it wasnt ever going to bring Greg back. Senators and TDs last night hit out at proposals which would require shops to put up barriers to shield alcohol from public view. A total of 17 TDs and senators stood up at a meeting of the parliamentary party voicing opposition to parts of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015. Ms Corcoran Kennedy will come back next week with a presentation on the matter. In the Seanad, a number of Fine Gael senators blasted proposals in the bill, claiming it could impact on businesses along the border, would put pressure on small businesses, and could see young people having to show ID before buying clothing bearing alcoholic logos. Although almost three hours were set aside to debate the bill yesterday, senators did not have a chance to discuss one of its most controversial elements, which requires stores to block off alcohol so it cannot be seen, as discussion on other areas went over time. Fine Gael senators had claimed the proposals, including curtains/screens or beer caves refrigerated, sectioned-off areas, would put additional financial and staffing pressure on small shops. Marcella Corcoran Kennedy Senator Paudie Coffey demanded a clear definition of what would be required. Ms Corcoran Kennedy said shops would only have to restrict visibility so that children and young people will not be attracted to alcohol. She said businesses would not be asked to construct a wall or separate room to store alcohol but said the matter could be considered at a report stage. Senators did not have time to discuss the segregation measures yesterday. There were sharp exchanges when Ms Corcoran Kennedy accused senators of filibustering, but Seanad chief whip Diarmuid Wilson (FF) said members of the upper house should be respected and their views heard. A number of Fine Gael senators said they were concerned about the negative impact minimum unit pricing would have along the border. Cork senator Tim Lombard said the volatility of sterling, especially in the context of Brexit, could have a major effect on the economy of the border region. As much as we can have a minimum price we must also have an opportunity to take it out as well because I cannot forecast what will happen to sterling next month or in the future and I do not think that the minister of state or her officials can either. Ms Corcoran Kennedy said: It will be a matter for the minister to decide when he wants to bring in the measure. Later in the debate there was prolonged discussion around proposals to ban alcoholic logos on childrens clothes. A number of senators pointed out that some under-18s can look much older and questioned whether young adults would have to carry ID in order to simply purchase a Guinness hat. Just one in four rehabilitation hospitals have a dedicated stroke unit, 60% do not have a stroke specialist to oversee rehabilitation, and less than one in three rehabilitation hospitals have access to psychological services. The vast majority of the countrys 26 rehabilitation hospitals do not have links with community rehabilitation services meaning patients cannot receive rehabilitation therapy after they leave hospital. This latest HSE and Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) audit the first study of post-acute stroke care in Ireland follows another report on acute stroke services earlier this year which also showed major medical, nursing and therapy staff deficits in spite of a 25% reduction in stroke deaths in seven years. IHF head of advocacy Chris Macey said the audit confirmed that rehabilitation services for stroke patients are grossly inadequate at every stage in the patients treatment whether in acute hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, or in the community. Whilst more people than ever are surviving stroke, they are being denied the opportunity to make the best recovery possible by a chronic dearth of vital therapy services, he said. The HSEs national clinical lead for stroke, Joe Harbison, warned that stroke figures are increasing. The incidence of stroke in Ireland is rising by about 350 extra cases every year, but we still have a severe shortage of stroke unit beds or the specialist nursing, therapy and medical staff we need to care for these stroke patients, said Prof Harbison. We have only about half the acute stroke unit beds we need to meet international standards, and this audit shows an even lower proportion of specialist rehabilitation beds. According to the previous study by the HSE and IHF, staff shortages range from 40% to 80% in acute hospitals. The number of health professionals providing therapies to stroke victims is a third less than in the UK. Elsewhere in Western Europe, supported discharge teams are a basic element of treatment. There are only three such teams in this country and they are under resourced. Prof Harbison said stroke outcomes, apart from mortality, deteriorated last year for the first time since the creation of the national stroke programme. This is not unexpected in view of the current level of fixed and insufficient resources and an increasing number of patients, he said. Despite a recent increase in working-age strokes, only 27% of hospitals provide assistance to patients in returning to work, while just half provide training in managing the consequences of stroke following discharge. Stroke research fellow at the national clinical programme for stroke, Paul McElwaine, said: It makes no sense at all that we have significant investment of expertise and resources to save patients lives after a stroke, but then fail to follow through with basic therapy services that will help them recover? The number of medications taken regularly was also impacted by gaining a medical card: the report found usage increased by 16%. The report Changes in Public Healthcare Entitlement and Healthcare Utilisation among the Older Population in Ireland provided actual proof that removing financial barriers to accessing healthcare leads to greater usage, according to one of the authors, Dr Patrick Moore. Until now, that argument has been largely anecdotal, he said. What remained unclear, however, was whether additional GP visits or medication use were as a result of actual need or the upshot of simply having a medical card. The piece [of the puzzle] we dont have is why people with medical cards make more visits or use more medication, whether its out of necessity or simply availed of because they can, said Dr Moore, a research fellow with Tilda (The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing). Solving this puzzle would require more detailed, long-term analysis, he said, and Tilda would be able to build up a bigger picture as more data came in over time. Using data from two waves of Tilda in 2010 and 2012, the report, which will be launched today, found: Over 50s who gained a medical or GP visit card made four instead of three annual visits to the doctors surgery, an increase of approximately 43%. Those who lost a card made one visit less, from four per year down to three, equivalent to a fall of approximately 29%. Of the 7,000 over-50s included in the survey, 458 (12.6%) gained a card and 117 (3.5%) lost out. Getting a medical card was not, however, associated with any significant changes in the probability of a flu vaccine, the number of emergency department visits, outpatient visits or inpatient nights. The researchers found that in 2012, 39% of the over 50s had a full medical or GP visit card and no private health insurance (PHI); 18% had dual cover a full medical or GP visit card and PHI; 33% had PHI only; and 10% had no cover neither a full medical/GP visit card nor PHI. Dr Anne Nolan, another of the reports authors, said the findings had important implications for policy makers because it gave a taste of what demands on the service will be like if free GP care already extended to the under-6s and over 70s is extended to all. In the context of extensions in free GP care, it is crucial to understand current patterns of healthcare utilisation, not only for highlighting the extent to which the current system leads to financial barriers to accessing healthcare services, but also for forecasting the likely demand implications of reform proposals so that policymakers can cost the proposals and plan effectively, Dr Nolan said. While Fine Gael had pushed the notion of universal healthcare during the lifetime of the last government, the problem of how to fund this model has not been resolved. The special cross-party committee on the Future of Healthcare, set up under the new Government, will examine the steps required to implement universal healthcare, including an appropriate funding model. Pickets are being placed by Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) members at the gates of 507 of the countrys 735 second-level schools. But there are greater concerns about what will happen when schools are due to re-open after next weeks mid-term. The refusal of 17,500 ASTI members to do supervision or substitution work from Monday, November 7, will see nearly 400 schools close indefinitely. They have not even advertised for temporary staff to take on those duties, because the ASTI will not allow principals manage those recruited to do so. Dozens more schools, where Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) members work alongside ASTI colleagues, face the same prospect. More than 100 other dual-union schools hope they can re-open, but only after staff they plan to recruit have been trained and Garda-vetted, which could be days or weeks after the mid-term. It appears that Government now acknowledges that schools could remain closed into next month. Education Minister Richard Bruton addressed a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party last night and told them that up to 100 schools could remain closed after mid-term. Todays strike and six more up to December 7 are over demands for equal pay for teachers appointed since 2011, while the ASTI withdrawal from supervision and substitution is in response to being excluded from extra pay linked to those duties. That was a consequence of their refusal since last month to do 33 extra non-teaching hours a year that the department says they remain obliged to do. Despite days of talks with Richard Brutons officials, the union has refused to moderate its industrial action to minimise or avoid disruption for students. We werent looking for immediate restoration of pay. Ive been asking if the Government could come up with a timeline or say its their intention to restore equal pay for all teachers, but it was disappointing that the minister couldnt even say that, ASTI president Ed Byrne said. The minister refused to say in an RTE interview last night if it was Government strategy to ever end lower pay rates applicable to more recent public servants. We have to make sure our approach is one for all workers in the public service, so we cant make a sectoral deal with one group of workers and not take account of the fact that other public servants were also recruited on lower pay, he said. Im disappointed by the decision of the ASTI to take industrial action which will close schools unnecessarily, Mr Bruton said. Mr Byrne said it was provocative for the department to write to schools, while talks were continuing yesterday, setting out how pay would be deducted from teachers whose refusal to do supervision work forces closures. However, the move was not unexpected and the timing was to allow schools have non-ASTI teachers complete a form before the mid-term that will ensure they are not incorrectly docked pay. Meanwhile, talks will resume this morning between the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Department of Justice on pay and negotiating rights. In the absence of a breakthrough, AGSI members will refuse to use the PULSE system or undertake administrative duties such as detailing members for duty, processing files, or responding to correspondence from management. During the trial, the court heard evidence that Brian Veale, 31, stabbed Graham Johnson, 41, through the heart with a carving knife and smiled as he said to a witness: If I get a life sentence it doesnt matter. Veales defence lawyers told the jury that fear was at the heart of this case and that the prosecution had failed to prove self-defence was not an issue. However, after less than two hours of deliberation, the jury found Veale guilty by unanimous verdict of murdering Mr Johnson. Veale, with a last address at Dominic St, Cork, and originally from Dungarvan, Co Waterford, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Johnson at Cork Prison, Rathmore Rd, Cork City on May 16, 2015. The four-day trial heard Veale stabbed Mr Johnson in the kitchen of Cork Prison after an argument over television channels. The altercation took place at around 3pm on May 16 and then finished but sometime after 5pm that same day, Veale came across the kitchen with a knife and stabbed the deceased in the chest. The prosecution called Ming Feng Chen, an inmate in Cork Prison in May 2015, to give evidence. The witness told the court that he was working in the kitchen with Veale on May 16 when he went over to watch horseracing on television. Mr Feng Chen told the court that Veale approached the deceased and stabbed him with a knife in the heart area. He then smiled at me, called my name and said: If I get a life sentence it doesnt matter, said the witness. Mr Feng Chen said Mr Johnson held his chest after he was stabbed and slowly fell on the ground. Patrick Heaphy, who was serving a sentence in Cork Prison in May 2015, told the court there was an argument over switching television channels on the afternoon of May 16 between Mr Veale and Mr Johnson. Graham Johnson wanted to watch a horse race and Brian Veale wanted to watch soccer, said Mr Heaphy. Graham threatened Brian that he was going to batter him and he wanted him to step outside. Mr Heaphy told the court that, some time after 5pm that same day, he saw the accused walk towards Mr Johnson with a kitchen knife. Mr Veale put his hand on Mr Johnsons shoulder and stuck the knife in the middle of his chest, he said. Chief State pathologist Marie Cassidy carried out an autopsy on Mr Johnsons body. She told the jury that Mr Johnsons death was due to a single stab wound to the front of his chest and haemorrhages to the heart and aorta. The blade of the knife had perforated the heart, as well as slicing through the walls of the heart and aorta. The court adjourned sentencing until November 7. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy remanded Veale in custody until that date, when a victim impact statement will be before the court. The independent report by Deloitte into the organisations corporate governance and transparency structures has been concluded. In the aftermath of the alleged Rio ticketing scandal in August, which has seen Pat Hickey temporarily step aside as president as he awaits a court date in Brazil, the OCI launched two investigations. The first of was to be conducted by Deloitte and examine the corporate governance structures in the sporting body, with the second by Grant Thornton accountants to focus on the exact issues surrounding the Rio ticketing affair. In addition, the Government set up a third judge-led non-statutory state inquiry into the same issue and potential other issues in previous Olympics. That inquiry was called for by Independent Alliance TD and Transport Minister Shane Ross. The Grant Thornton report is expected to be published next month. Government sources confirmed they are expecting the judge leading the state inquiry, Carroll Moran, to seek more time in the coming weeks to complete his work. An OCI spokesperson confirmed last night the Deloitte report is now complete. The document, which was initially due to be provided to the OCI at the start of this month, was specifically tasked with reviewing the OCIs constitution and governance arrangements and potentially changing aspects if they fail to meet transparency and governance standards apparent in comparative bodies. Olympic tickets While the findings of the Deloitte report will not be formally published before they are examined by the sporting bodys executive board today, it is widely expected they will include a series of sweeping reforms to the OCIs system. News of the imminent Deloitte report findings emerged after Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney resigned from his voluntary post as vice-president of the OCI. In a statement via email to acting OCI president Willie OBrien on Tuesday night, Mr Delaney said he was leaving the position. The 49-year-old has been involved with the OCI since 2005 and up until as late as August, had been tipped to eventually take over as president of the organisation. My Role as CEO of the FAI is my primary role and priority, a separate statement on Tuesday explaining his OCI departure read. I have fully engaged and co-operated with investigations being carried out by Grant Thornton who were appointed to review ticketing arrangements and Deloitte. Mr Kenny said that as children grow up with easy access to the internet, they can be exposed to a pornography that is as ubiquitous as it is damaging. Mr Kenny said: Its always important that we should have a national conversation about what is important for our children what is, and should be, a priority for our children when theyre growing up, and when they grow up. WOW air began selling tickets yesterday for its new year-round service from Cork to Reykjavik, starting on May 19 next, with fares from 59.99 each way including taxes and charges. The airline will use Airbus A320 aircraft to operate four flights a week Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday during the summer season, and three weekly services during the winter season, adding an additional 66,000 seats available from Cork Airport next year. However, the service will give passengers flying from Cork the option of connecting directly from WOWs base at Reykjaviks Keflavik International Airport to Boston, Washington, DC, New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Montreal, and Toronto, with one-way fares from 149. The news comes as low-cost operator Norwegian Air International (NAI), which announced plans last year to launch direct transatlantic flights from Cork to Boston and New York, still awaits a decision from the US authorities on its foreign carrier permit. A spokesman for Norwegian welcomed WOWs arrival at Cork Airport. Norwegian fully believes in healthy competition among airlines as the best way to improve the quality, cost, and choice available to all passengers. We remain fully committed to launching our own direct transatlantic routes from Cork as soon as were able to, he said. Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said they were delighted with the WOW announcement, but remain committed to securing the NAI routes and delivering a second low-cost transatlantic carrier for its passengers. WOW air chief executive Skuli Mogensen said the airline is looking forward to developing its service out of Cork. As a significant business and leisure hub in Ireland, we have ambitious targets for our Cork services and we look forward to working with Niall and his team to develop these exciting new routes, he said. Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said it is looking forward to co-operating with WOW air, Cork Airport, and other tourism partners to maximise the new service. Cork Chamber praised the airport management team for securing the new route, and the connectivity to North America that it will provide. Not only will this service provide affordable leisure tourism opportunities between the southern region and Iceland, the route also serves Munster with direct, low-cost connectivity to North America which has long been a strategic ambition for Cork, said chamber chief executive Conor Healy. European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy said the increased connectivity to the US will provide a great opportunity for the IDA to further market Cork to US companies as an alternative to Dublin for investment. European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy Iceland, famous for the Northern Lights, its hot springs, volcanic landscape, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir national park, has become a hugely popular tourist destination and has regularly featured in travel publications top 10 lists. Founded in November 2011 by Mr Mogensen, WOW launched a Dublin-Reykjavik service in 2015 and operates seven flights a week from the capital. Broadcast by Newsbeat in January 1967, Tim Hayes Underground Endurance Test began on Christmas Day 1966 in Ballymore in Cork when the local man broke a world record which many would not take on. Its just one of the many odd releases from the RTE archives which features as part of its Weird and Wonderful collection to mark the UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage today . Sarah Maas stopped watching Game of Thrones several years ago. The bestselling fantasy author had come to find aspects of the swords and sorcery romp viscerally off-putting. The shows brutal treatment of its female characters was especially difficult to sit through. I havent gone back to it yet, she says, over coffee at Dublins Merrion Hotel. I have some thoughts about the ladies and how things are done or not. Ive heard the latest season is super empowering I think Ill binge on it once the entire thing is finished. Her distaste for Game of Thrones use of sexual violence as plot device is palpable. And yet she and GoT creator George RR Martin have a certain amount in common. Each has written a labyrinthine fantasy saga, with a cast of hundreds and a multitude of interweaving plots. The difference is that, unlike Martin, Maas has not become mired in her work and is actually coming to the conclusion of her sprawling epic. Empire of Storms, volume five of her six-part Throne of Glass series, has just been published and already made the New York Times bestseller list, adding to the 4.8m books the 30-year-old has already sold. A second crucial distinction is in the tone of her work. Throne of Glass and Maass other major sequence of novels, A Court of Thorns and Roses, are gritty, with compelling characters and storylines to sweep you off your feet. However, the books are marketed as young adult fiction and thus do not indulge in the over-the-top sex and bloodshed too often a feature of modern fantasy (writers have been tripping over themselves to demolish the prudish image JRR Tolkien gave the genre). Some novelists are sniffy about being categorised as YA. The label makes Maas, from New York, swell with pride, She grew up on YA writers such as Garth Nix and Robin McKinley and was an early champion of Suzanne Collins Hunger Games. To be spoken of in the same breath as her literary heroes is simply thrilling. When I was growing up there were only so many young adult books you could read, she says. After that I had to move onto adult fantasy. Its so different now its wonderful. I was an early fan of The Hunger Games. I bought it the day it came out. I remember counting down to the release of the sequel, Catching Fire, and then almost bursting into tears when I walked into the store and there was this huge display. To see young adult writing finally get that recognition was surreal for me. She started Throne of Glass as a teenager, posting early drafts of what would become the first novel to the website FictionPress. The feedback was instant and overwhelmingly positive. This was back in the dial-up era. I would wait until the end of the day and then log on to AOL. I would get people saying they love the story. It really changed the course of my life. I wrote it from the age of 16 until 22. By the time I graduated from university, it had become the most reviewed story on the entire website. My readers were so supportive: They wanted to see it published. All of a sudden, I realised I wanted to be a published author, too. Throne Of Glass is loosely inspired by the story of Cinderella. Maas started with an intriguing premise: What if Cinderella was an assassin and went to the ball not to dance with the prince, but to kill him? Thus was born her plucky protagonist Aelin Galathynius It was inspired by the old [Disney] cartoon. I thought that the music that plays when Cinderella leaves the ball is really dark and intense. The music in that moment is really relentless. This is an epic freak-out. What if Cinderella did something to warrant this reaction? What if she was trying to kill the prince and they sent out the royal guard to hunt her down. The character jumped into my head: Someone who loved dressing up for these balls but also murdering people. Her heroines are self-empowered, progressive figures, fully in command of their destiny. A major influence was Buffy The Vampire Slayer, which Maas feasted on as a teenager. For a show thats nearly 20 years old, its weirdly progressive. Buffy wasnt someone who was shoved in a box. She was the girly girl figure she was into fashion, she was the cheerleader. At the same time, she was a slayer and a tomboy. Growing up, I felt I had to choose between those two parts of me. Buffy showed me you could like nail polish and also kick ass. She also took heart from the latest Star Wars film, The Force Awakens. Growing up, Maas identified with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo rather than Princess Leia. How inspiring that the central character of The Force Awakens is a young woman in control of her destiny. If you said you liked Star Wars when I was in school it was a one-way ticket to get thrown into a locker, she says. Now I love that it has become so mainstream. I was in London filming a video thing and they got me this lightsaber that made the authentic sounds. It was amazing. I was in heaven watching the new movie. I used to pretend I was Luke battling Vader. Leia was great but Luke got to do all the cool stuff. I also wanted to be Han Solo the cool smuggler. In the new one, Rey gets to do all the cool stuff. That moment where she got to pick up the lightsaber I burst into tears. I was sobbing. I had waited my entire life to see that. Ive seen the Force Awakens six times. The second time I dragged my parents to a theatre in the middle of New York City. When Ray picked up the lightsaber the entire audience cheered and screamed so loudly I thought the ceiling was going to come down. I realised I wasnt the only one who had looked forward their entire life to see a woman pick up a lightsaber and have that epic duel. The story began with an old woman begging on Christmas day and it ended with one of Irelands greatest witch trials. The setting was Youghal; the year 1661. A cold winters night saw Florence Newton beg at the home of John Pyne for a piece of bread from the powdering tub. The housemaid, Mary Longdon, refused Newtons hungry pleas and sent her on her way. A time later, Longdon was going to the stream with a pail of clothes when Newton emerged, threw the pail from her head, and violently kissed Longdon, exclaiming: Mary, I pray thee, let thee and I be friends; for I bear thee no ill will. The events that followed have been recorded in the Cork Azzizes dated September 11, 1661, and catalogue the details of Youghals and Irelands sensational Witch Trial. At the time, Youghals settler community followed English law, which, since 1586, had outlawed witchcraft. Add in an insecure elite following the restoration of Charles the Second, and witchcraft served as a distraction for a community fearful for its future. So it was that Longdon, after the incident of the violent kiss, began to experience violent fits and trances. A packed courtroom heard that Longdon, in her trance-like state saw, a little old man standing by her bed dressed in silk with a woman in a vail standing next to him. The woman, said Longdon, was Goody (Goodwife) Newton. An enraptured courtroom heard that Longdon had vomited up needles, pins, horse-nails, stubbs, wool and straw. Many of the towns notables came forward to give evidence against the wretched Newton, one of whom claimed that Longdon was hit by stones on her head, arms and shoulders as she moved from place to place. Florence Newton, the witch of Youghal Community elders came to the Pyne house to stick pins in Longdon while she was in her delirious state. Most astonishing all is the claim that she was witnessed floating to the top of the house, resting on solar beams in the rafters. During the trial, Longdon went into a seizure in the presence of Newton and only recovered when Newton was removed from the courthouse and shackled. The trial was deemed to be of such importance that the Attorney General, Sir William Ashton, came to preside over it. Events outside the courthouse construct in our minds a community familiar with the witchfinding procedures. This trial remains one of a few reported incidents of withcraft still in existence, which makes it of critical importance to historians. Youghal mayor Mr Myre took charge at the outset and imprisoned Newton on March 24, 1661, in the landmark Clock Gate building. There, Newton implicated two other local women, Goody Halfpenny and Goody Dod. This news spread thoughout the town like wildfire and the words witches coven were whispered in the homes of Youghals townsfolk. The evidence given by Mr Myre suggests that Newton was not the first witch to be outed. He threatened Newton that he had sent for a boat for the dreaded water test, whereby suspected witches had a rope tied to their thumb and ankle and were then dunked in the water. In front of the Mayor and faced with the threat of drowning, Newton quickly said that Halfpenny and Dod were innocent. With that, Newton was confined to Youghal Gaol to await her trial. While languishing in prison, Newton was subjected to further tests, most notably by Valentine Greatrakes, a noted healer and self-proclaimed witchfinder. While incarcerated Newton had wooden awls rammed into her hands, was cut deeply on both wrists, and had her urine poured on a tile which was then brought to Longdon to watch for any negative reaction. A sure test for witchcraft was an inability to recite the Lords Prayer. The put-upon Newton stumbled over the prayer several times, thus adding to the evidence against her. Several people attempted to help by teaching her the Lords Prayer, including her jailer Davy Jones. In gratitude, Newton reached through the bars of her cell and kissed his hand. A few weeks later, Jones died, apparently cursing Newton on his death bed. As for Newtons fate, alas that part of the trials records are missing. Her defence was that she was old and disquieted, and distracted with her own suffering. It is likely that someone who was addressed as the witch throughout the trial met a grisly end. Her only mistake was to find herself in an isolated, puritanical community, with political tensions rife in the borough. Add in magical beliefs and the unfortunate Newton found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time in Irish history. In Person Presidents Office: Allegations of Arbitrary Arrests and Torture are Totally Wrong Presidents Office deputy director-general and spokesperson U Zaw Htay. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy The Irrawaddy speaks with Presidents Office deputy director-general and spokesperson U Zaw Htaywho acted as director and spokesperson under the previous administration of President U Thein Sein, before being promoted by the new National League for Democracy government in Aprilabout the governments response to recent attacks in northern Arakan State. What is the governments response to allegations by the United Nations of human rights violations in Arakan States Maungdaw District? The government has expected, ever since it started handling the Maungdaw issue, that there would be accusations against and pressures on our government on [what the government sees as] the false pretext of human rights violations. Weve heard that individuals and organizations that [allegedly] support terrorism and international extremists provide false reports and informationdocuments, photos, and videos about incidents in other countriesto news agencies. They mix some correct information with plenty of fabricated information and then give this to human rights and media organizations over the phone and through other communications channels. The UN [supposedly] cant verify and confirm these news reports. But then those telephone calls and emails may confuse the UN about the reality on the ground. So we [the government] try to explain [the situation] so that they can understand and cooperate [with us]. If they [those with reports about human rights violations] have strong evidence, they can submit it to the appropriate [branch of the] UN. We will take them seriously. One of our foreign policy principles is to cooperate with the UN. What are the latest developments in Maungdaw District, given that the military has been carrying out operations there since the border attacks? Has the military recovered any looted arms or ammunition? If so, in what quantity? The number one objective of the joint operation between the military and the police force is to return looted arms and ammunition to the [border guard police] headquarters. Number two is to identify the perpetrators of the attacks and hold them accountable in accordance with the law. The police force has the responsibility of clearing [villages], and the military of accompanying them as an auxiliary force. In forests or mountainous areas, the military takes [overall] responsibility. This way, we get information from administrators and community elders in villages as well as from investigating those arrested. We then make additional arrests based on this information. But the problem is that locals have been fleeing their villages after hearing of military forces approaching. In most villages, only women and children were left. While some of the villagers who [allegedly] participated in the attacks continue to move around in groups, some of them have returned to their villages, hiding their weapons and resuming life as ordinary villagers. But they took part in [what the government has called] terrorist attacks. We have been sure to take action in line with the law against these attackers in disguise. The allegations of arrests made without evidence, and of torture, are totally wrong. We havent done that. We deny those accusations. For the attackers to be identifed and arrested, they must be in their villages. It is difficult for us to find those who are on the run. On the ground, the police force, along with the military and community elders, are pushing for these people to return to their villages. So the UNs statement does not correspond with the real situation on the ground. We continue to release lists of [weapons and ammunition] recovered. We dont hide information, [although] the government has restricted the access of media and the World Food Programme in Maungdaw [District] on security grounds. Under what conditions would these restrictions be lifted? We are acting according to the law. Depending on the situation on the ground, we will allow journalists to travel [freely] in the region. As to the allegations of aid restrictions, we dont want [donors] to provide relief supplies to camps [for displaced people]. They [donors] can give relief supplies when [villagers] return to their homes. If they provide aid [at the camps], [villagers] wont leave. We want to push them back, and food supplies are one of the factors [that make villagers unwilling to return home]. We dont ban relief supplies. They [donors] [just have to] provide them when [villagers] return home. News Civilian Shot Dead at Shan State Military Checkpoint A signpost welcoming visitors to Mong Hsu town. / Sai Aung Myint Oo An ethnic Shan man from Mong Hsu Township in central Shan State was allegedly shot and killed by the Burma Army at a military checkpoint on Wednesday, according to local Shan sources. Nang Khon Kham, a Shan Nationalities League for Democracy lawmaker from Mong Hsu Township, told The Irrawaddy that the man was shot in the head and killed while he drove to his home in Zon Pin village. He was shot point-blank at a checkpoint while driving his motorbike, said Nang Khon Kham. The victim, Sai Saung Su, was the former head of Zon Pin village. Police attempted to stop him at a checkpoint, but he could not control his bike and drove through, according to local source Nang Seng Hein, who said that he was shot at the next military checkpoint at around 10 a.m. There is heightened tension between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) in the area surrounding Mong Hsu Township. The Burma Army has increased security forces due to friction with the United Wa State Army in nearby Tangyan Township. The victim was killed at a checkpoint between Mong Hsu and Tangyan townships. Burma Army members and township authorities only allowed the victims family to see the body and pushed for a hasty funeral, locals said. We went to the scene of the shooting and then to the hospital to see the body, but we were not allowed, said Nang Khon Kham, speculating that the army feared the people would take action against the blatant human rights abuse if they were permitted to see the body. The lawmaker sent a letter asking her party to respond to the incident. At the time of reporting, she had not yet received a reply. We can not keep quiet on this. We will take action. This is an abuse of our rights, she said. Burma Army abuses are widely reported in the area, according to human rights groups, who accuse government troops of detaining, torturing and murdering civilians. While the military has largely enjoyed impunity in the past, a court martial in September found seven soldiers guilty of murdering five civilians in Mong Yaw village in rural Lashio Township, northern Shan State . News Complaints Filed Against 40 NLD Lawmakers NLD lawmakers at parliament in Naypyidaw. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy RANGOON Burmese citizens have filed complaints against more than 40 National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmakers since April, according to the chairperson of the partys complaint handling body, Dr. Myo Nyunt. He said that the department had received complaints against 40 lawmakers in total and that they had submitted these to the partys Central Executive Committee (CEC). In some cases, three to four people have filed complaints against a single lawmaker, Dr Myo Nyunt told The Irrawaddy. The CEC makes the final decision about how to punish party members, though we also make suggestions, he added. Dr. Myo Nyunt refused to provide details about individual cases and only said that the punishments include a serious warning and suspension from party duties. U Tun Tun Hein, a CEC member, said that so far, we have not yet suspended any lawmakers. U Tin Aye, former chairman of the Union Election Commission, in August of last year urged U Shwe Mann, the then speaker of the Union Parliament, to enact impeachment legislation that granted citizens the right to recall misbehaving lawmakers. Lawmakers voted to suspend the bill, however, and the now NLD-dominated parliament has yet to pick it up again for debate. NLD lawmaker Dr. Soe Moe Thu, who represents Irrawaddy Divisions Myaungmya Township in the Lower House, is accused of having an extramarital affair that came to light on social media. Rangoons Shwepyitha Township representative of the Lower House U Nyan Linn is being sued by a city motel after drunkenly fighting there. In the meantime, the CEC is also undertaking an internal investigation on the controversial dismissal and demotion of leading members of the NLDs Shan State chapter by CEC member U Win Htein. On Oct. 26, NLD patron U Tin Oo in a meeting with NLD lawmakers in Rangoon warned that no lawmaker was above party rules and urged the party to solve problems together. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Thursday, October 27th, 2016 (8:33 am) - Score 1,381 The latest quarterly (Q3 2016 calendar) results have been published by BT today, which reveal that their retail broadband base now tops 9,193,000 customers (up by +76K, unchanged from Q2) and 4,473,000 of those take their Infinity (FTTC/P) superfast broadband (up by +216K vs +181K in Q2). As usual its been another busy quarter for the BT Group, which seems to have expended most of its energy on regulatory battles with Ofcom and rival ISPs. Elsewhere they unveiled a massive pilot of their 300Mbps capable G.fast broadband service with 140,000 UK premises (here and here) and confirmed their intention to begin the roll-out of IPv6 (here). On top of that Openreachs engineering teams have continued the roll-out of fibre broadband (FTTC/P) services across the United Kingdom, which can now reach around 26 million premises (mostly via the slower up to 40-80Mbps FTTC technology) and that equates to about 92% coverage. Otherwise BTs financial situation looks to have held up well, albeit with a few weaker areas. Key Highlights from Todays Quarterly Report * BT Groups quarterly revenue hit 6,007m (up from 5,775m in Q2 2016) * BT Groups reported profits before tax hit 671m (down from 717m) * BT Groups half-year net debt to 30th Sept hit 9,573m (up from 5,919m last year) * BT Wholesales quarterly operating profit hit 129m (up from 123m) * Openreachs quarterly operating profit hit 297m (down from 300m) * Openreachs quarterly capital expenditure hit 357m (up from 337m) We should also highlight the latest situation with regards to BTs capital expenditure and clawback / gain share from via the Governments Broadband Delivery UK roll-out programme, which suggests that nearly 300m of public funding may now be available for reinvestment into future fibre expansion. Capital Expenditure Capital expenditure was 802m (Q2 2015/16: 629m). This consists of gross expenditure of 815m (Q2 2015/16: 691m) which has been reduced by net grant funding of 13m (Q2 2015/16: 62m) mainly relating to our activity on the BDUK programme. Our base-case assumption for take-up in BDUK areas remains at 33%. Under the terms of the BDUK programme, we have a potential obligation to either re-invest or repay grant funding depending on factors including the level of customer take-up achieved. While we have recognised gross grant funding of 34m (Q2 2015/16: 90m) in line with network build in the quarter, we have also deferred 21m (Q2 2015/16: 28m) of the total grant funding to reflect higher take-up levels on a number of contracts. To date we have deferred 292m. Now lets take a closer look at BTs different divisions. BT Consumer / Retail As highlighted in the first paragraph, BTs consumer division has continued to add new broadband customers and fibre growth improved over the previous quarter. The positive movement most likely reflects a combination of attractive special offers / advertising, as well as students signing up for new contracts after the summer and an initial subsiding of fears around the Brexit vote. Broadband Subs TV Subs Mobile Subs + EE Fibre Subs Q3 2016 TOTAL 9,193,000 1,684,000 30,248,000 4,473,000 Subs Change (Q3) +76,000 +64,000 -20,000 +216,000 Q2 2016 TOTAL 9,117,000 1,620,000 30,268,000 4,257,000 Subs Change (Q2) +76,000 +59,000 -177,000 +181,000 Its worth pointing out that BTs own customers continue to account for the lions share of fibre broadband (FTTC/P) subscribers on Openreachs national network, but well cover that below. Openreach & Wholesale The results from Openreach are very useful because they offer an overview of the wider market, at least in respect to BTs national UK network and those independent ISPs that buy services over it (i.e. the total broadband and fibre lines below combine customers from BT Consumer and many other ISPs that buy their lines from Openreach). Note: Unbundled (LLU) lines are mostly used by ISPs (e.g. TalkTalk and Sky Broadband) that have installed some of their own kit inside Openreachs network in order to gain more control over their own products and services. In that sense MPF lines are more popular because they afford ISPs the most control and flexibility to differentiate themselves. Total UK Broadband Lines Fully Unbundled MPF Lines Shared Unbundled SMPF Lines Fibre Lines (FTTC/P) Q3 2016 TOTAL 20,119,000 8,950,000 1,094,000 6,679,000 Subs Change (Q3) +116,000 +16,000 +27,000 +440,000 Q2 2016 TOTAL 20,003,000 8,934,000 1,067,000 6,239,000 Subs Change (Q2) +95,000 +13,000 +8,000 +333,000 Perhaps the most interesting figure to take away from Openreachs summary is the quarterly increase of +440K in new fibre broadband (FTTC/P) lines, which of course includes the +216K added via BTs Consumer division. In other words, BTs retail rivals (e.g. Sky, TalkTalk, Zen Internet etc.) accounted for +224K of the total quarterly increase (up sharply from +152K the previous quarter). We should also point out that the SMPF total above includes external fibre services on BT WLR (Wholesale Line Rental) lines. Separately, BTWholesale delivered a total of just 882,000 external broadband lines for other ISPs, which has fallen by -3,000 in the quarter. Gavin Patterson, CEO of BT Group, said: This is a positive set of results, both operationally and financially, and we remain on track to achieve our full year outlook. Weve made good progress on the integration of EE and the delivery of our synergy targets. Our consumer facing lines of business have performed well, but in the enterprise space, UK public sector continues to be a challenging market. Across the group, we continue to drive cost reduction and productivity improvements. Customer experience remains a key priority, and were stepping up our investments in the second half of the year. And well continue to invest in our ultrafast and 4G plans in 2017 and beyond. Ofcoms consultation on the Digital Communications Review closed earlier this month; weve submitted our response and will continue to engage with Ofcom to reach the best outcome for the UK. Overshadowing todays report is of course the question of Openreachs future. In an ideal world Ofcom and the BT Group would have reached a voluntary agreement by now, but instead both sides appear to have become entrenched, not least over the endlessly divisive issue of governance. On one hand the regulator wants Openreach to become a legally separate company, which would be accountable to BTs board (not BT Groups CEO) and could make its own investment decisions. On the other hand BT views this as going too far and theyre worried about the related costs / risks of moving staff and pension liabilities to the new company (BTs pension deficit is a staggering 9.5bn net of tax!). Ofcom could of course push the nuclear button and force through a full separation, but that is likely to trigger a complicated divorce and would surely attract a lot of lawyers. In the end this remains the single most important issue for the BT Group to resolve and until they do then any progress in other areas might not attract as much attention. Speaking of progress in other areas, BT also confirmed that its move to answer 90% of customer service / support calls in the United Kingdom has now completed. Similarly EE has answered 100% of EE postpaid calls in its UK and Ireland contact centres. On the subject of EE, the mobile business has now expanded its geographic 4G network coverage to 70% of the UK (98% population coverage) and they aim to reach 92% by September 2017, followed by 95% by the end of December 2020. The 4G customer base also reached 17.6 million. Enterprise Mobility Management Myth Busters: Users vs. IT Reality On the top of the short list of telecom stories during the past decade was the announcement by Google in early 2010 that it would begin building all-fiber high speed networks across the United States. The first service area was Kansas City two years later. There was debate over how serious Google was. It turns out that Google Fiber was not just a feint to goad the Comcasts and Verizons of the world into creating faster networks for the delivery of content (including Googles). That no doubt was part of the plan. But it was soon clear that the company was serious about being a broadband provider, not just a catalyst. Now, it seems, Google Fiber which is a division of Alphabet has come to a crossroads. On Tuesday, Craig Barratt, Alphabets Senior Vice President and CEO of Access, blogged on the company site that the Google Fiber will pause our operations and offices while we refine our approaches. The blog says that the change will involve locales to which Google Fiber is talking about future projects. Those launched or under construction will continue, according to Barratt, who is stepping down as CEO. He will remain as an advisor. Ars Technica provides good detail of what the plan is, at least for now. The most important point absent in Barratts blog post is that nine percent of the staff is being laid off or reassigned. There are a couple of ways to look at this. The Washington Posts Brian Fung writes that there just might not be enough demand: Just like Google Glass the companys ill-fated attempt to build an augmented-reality visor Google Fiber may be just a little ahead of its time. The thing about Fiber and businesses like it is that most consumers simply cant find a use for that much bandwidth yet. Google Fiber provides gigabit connectivity, which is orders of magnitude faster than what many Americans get in their homes today. It is hard to imagine that Google/Alphabet didnt consider these issues before anteing up billions of dollars to start the project. On the other hand, the history of business is filled with short sightedness. And, of course, conditions change. Fung points to two pretty significant areas in which change most likely did alter the equation: The broadband business and the technology that drives it are not what they were a decade ago. The technology piece is particularly important. In fact, there are two technology developments that may have fed into the time out. One which Google appears ready to take advantage of is wireless. This may be 5G or a Google approach reported upon by Business Insider and Wired in August. Alphabet may also be thinking about digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. This family of protocols, which aims to radically expand the capacity of copper, is not new. However, research has been surprisingly fruitful. The assumption that telcos huge inventories of last mile fiber are dinosaurs waiting to die may have seemed reasonable when Google Fiber launched. They no longer are. More telcos are players and the competition is tougher than planners anticipated a decade ago when Google Fiber was on the drawing board. The telecommunications industry has changed in many ways during the past ten years. Googles master plan may no longer be viable. It is also possible it will be fine as long as some fundamental adjustments are made. Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk. Samsung's Galaxy J7 Prime is said to be able to match Sony's Xperia XZ camera. Read more to know more about these juicy details and decide if it can stand its ground against the Sony's best camera phone to date. According to an article written at GMA Network, the writer of the article did a performance test for the Samsung Galaxy J5 Prime. The writer is said to be a photographer, so in a way, his opinions may be accepted as unbiased. In the first test, he tested how well Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime can withstand lag. He opened a lot of apps (about 15 or more) to check if the phone will slow down. In his surprise, it did not show any significant signs of slowing down or freezing. Next test the writer did was to check the camera quality. Though the Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime is only sporting a 13 megapixel back camera and a 5 megapixel front camera, compare to the 23 megapixel back camera and 13 megapixel front camera of the Sony Xperia XZ, it can still hold a candle in term of picture quality. The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime has many gimmicks for its users. One great example is the "Beauty" feature. In this mode, the phone smoothens out whatever wrinkles or blemishes you may have without being so obvious that it was photoshopped. Basically, you don't need to search for any apps in the net that can help you with your pictures for social media sites, because Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime's "Beauty" feature already has that covered. Next is the picture quality when taking pictures in dark places or angles with less light. Though the Sony Xperia X7's back camera excels in this category, you will find only a slight difference in picture quality between the Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime and Sony Xperia XZ. And lastly is the capturing of moving objects. In this test, Sony's Xperia XZ won hands down. Sadly, the Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime could not deliver in this. Here is a list of specs at NDTV between the Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime and the Sony Xperia XZ. Check it out if you want to know more. The troubled star just couldn't get a break. She is already in the rehab facility to have peace of mind; but still a lot of issues continue too hound and haunt her. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's divorce is still one of the most shocking breakups in history. The power couple was perceived by the public as the "perfect" couple but it turns out, they are just humans like us. There are a lot of things and people who are already involved in their divorce. Some are actually staying out of it like Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Garner. When it comes to their divorce updates, Brad Pitt haven't signed the papers yet. He chimed about their divorce and it's just causing more problems than solutions. Also, the divorce led to a rocky confrontation between him and his son Maddox, which was later fixed when Brad Pitt approached and arranged a meeting with him. Who Is Having The Worst Part Of The Divorce? It might sound weird but this one is actually true. Selena Gomez is getting the worst part of the divorce. The former Disney Princess who is still in the rehab facility is again making the news. Multiple reports states that Selena is the culprit of Brangelina's divorce. At first, Selena just ignored it but day by day, this has become more annoying. Selena Gomez and Brad Pitt made headlines before because of the alleged flirty encounter early this year. Thus, involving Selena on Brad and Angelina saga. She was not the only artist involved in the divorce issue. The first name who was involved was her co-star in his past movie Marion Cotillard, which the actress denied. And of course, Jennifer Aniston is also in the mix because she was Brad's ex wife. Aniston also visited Selena Gomez in the rehab facility; which some of the media speculates that Jennifer is trying to teach Selena on how to handle the issue that is being thrown at her. There were no specific reasons why Aniston visited Selena but the rumors are already in. Reports say that Angelina Jolie found photos on his phone with everyone from flight attendants to biker babes at a motorcycle convention to Hollywood ingenues like Selena Gomez," the pictures led to a "blowout fight" between them. "She understands why women want to meet him, but why would he have photos with these random women?" the source asked. Selena Gomez and Brad Pitt spent time together at this year's Golden Globe Awards. They were seen sitting together in a red couch. They snapped some pictures together, talked a lot and visibly enjoying each others comfort. This is not the first time that Selena was involved in a nasty split. Remember Sofia Richie - Justin Bieber - Selena Gomez twitter war? The celebrity life is never easy and not all about glam - Selena Gomez is a testament of it. She already tried to stay away from the spotlight but it kept on chasing her. Let's just hope that the pop princess will have a speedy recovery in dealing with her health issues. The universe has mysterious objects, many of which astronomers are still trying to figure out. One of the most mysterious objects out there is quasars. Astronomers still have much to know about them, and new discoveries add more to the mystery. Some distant quasars are said to have giant glowing halos on them. Astronomers are looking at these quasars since they have an added dimension on them, as they have giant glowing halos as well. The astronomers are using the MUSE instrument on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) to study these quasars. The halos that have been observed are gases surrounding these quasars. Quasars are some of the most luminous objects in the universe due to the massive black holes at their center, according to Science Daily. These massive black holes are taking in a large amount of material, which in turn emits radiation as they go into the black hole. This makes quasars so luminous. 19 quasars are being studied, which are some of the brightest quasars found. With the study, it has been shown that all 19 quasars have halos on them. Previously it was thought that only some of the quasars have them. The halos are gases known as the intergalactic medium. "It is too early to say if this is due to our new observational technique or if there is something peculiar about the quasars in our sample," lead author Elena Borisova said. She is one of the researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) is Zurich, Switzerland. She said that with the study it could be the beginning of a new age of discoveries. Another discovery that might change things is that the gases have a temperature of 10,000 degrees Celsius, which is relatively cool for it, as the official European Southern Observatory site notes. The temperature is far cooler than the expected millions of degrees for such quasars. The researchers are careful about the discovery as it is still unclear if all the quasars have halos or if they have been observed because of new technology. MUSE has much potential for Astronomy, and its use on distant quasars show that they have giant glowing halos. Also recently NASA has celebrated 10 years of observing the Sun. In September 2015, a distant star was observed by a postdoctoral student at Yale University named Tabetha Boyajian. He noted that the luminous sphere was flickering inconsistently, which led to speculations that this could be an indication of alien life proof. One such speculation of the star's glowing pattern is that it is surrounded by a megastructure termed a Dyson Sphere, which is designed to harness the sun's energy from space. Alien Life Proof Isn't Being Taken Out Of The Equation However, scientists dismissed this rumor and said that the flickering could be caused by a swarm of comet fragments orbiting the star. As this space debris revolves around it the light emitted by the star - named Tabby's Star - is blocked causing the irregularity. Stars orbited by other planets has their light dimmed by one to two percent, while Tabby has its light dipped from up to 22 percent. Scientists are still uncertain what's causing this inconsistent dimming pattern. To help explain this phenomenon, the $100m Breakthrough Initiative, backed by Stephen Hawking and Mark Zuckerberg, will aim a US radio telescope on Tabby to listen for signals, the BBC reported. While alien life proof is far from what scientists expect to find, it isn't being taken off the table either. Initiative To Use $100m Telescope To Observe Strange Star In the past, astronomers have observed Tabby using the Keck Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope but found no unusual signal coming from the star. This time, however, the initiative will be observing the irregularity using a $100m telescope located in West Virginia, Stuff reported. "The Green Bank Telescope is the largest fully steerable radio telescope on the planet, and it's the largest, most sensitive telescope that's capable of looking at Tabby's star given its position in the sky," said Dr. Andrew Siemion, co-director of the Breakthrough Listen program. Though the comet swarm is the most favored explanation in the scientific community regarding the strange dimming interval, other observations stated that such a swarm wouldn't cause such dipping to occur. Another study suggests that the star has been behaving the way it is for the past century. But of course, alien life proof still remains the most popular theory when it comes to popular media and the general masses, which, considering the vastness of space, is still plausible. A man from Bishop Stortford, Essex recently found out that one of the coins among his son's pirate treasure collection is an extremely rare 18th century gold coin made in 1703. The Essex resident said that the coin was given to him by his grandfather and thought no better of it other than a shiny trinket. Years passed and he gave the coin to his son as part of the child's own treasure trove. 18th Century Gold Coin Came From Owner's Worldly Grandfather The man, however, got curious if the coin held any value and so contacted a specialist for appraisal. He went to the Bonington auction house where he talked with coin expert Gregory Tong. Upon seeing the piece, Tong immediately recognized it as the rare Queen Anne Vigo five guinea piece. The trinket, it turns out, is an 18th century gold coin that's part of fewer than 15 examples making the piece exceptionally unique indeed. It was made in 1703 as a propaganda campaign to draw the attention away from the British due to its failure in capturing the Cadiz port the previous year. They did, however, managed to seize Franco-Spanish treasure ships that were returning from America, which were carrying gold and silver. The spoils were sailed towards London and were handed over to the Royal Mint received by then Master of the Mint, Sir Isaac Newton, Metro reported. The coin eventually made its way towards the grandfather of the anonymous Essex resident. He told Tong that his granddad was a worldly man, traveling to different countries during his working life collecting coins as he did. Sale Of Vigo Piece Expected To Break Bonington's Record Sale "He gave me bags of coins to play with throughout my early years because I was into pirate treasure," the man said. Years passed and these coins went from the playroom to being stored in boxes collecting dust in a corner. The anonymous man recalled how he would make up stories about his pirate treasure when he was little and eventually handed his collection to his son as part of the child's trove. The 18th century gold coin is scheduled for auction next month and is only the sixth of its type to be offered for sale in the last 50 years, STV reported The Vigo piece is expected to fetch a gleaming price of 250,000 ($305,000) and is poised to break Bonington's record of 200,000. The previous record was set earlier this year by the sale of a painting by Sir Winston Churchill. The recent launch of Xiaomi's Mi Mix and its edgeless design should not take many people by surprise. Xiaomi has been doing well in copying Apple and Samsung devices. Unfortunately for the two tech companies, Xiaomi always seem to get away with it. Apple may have been too slow to release a bezel-less iPhone 8 in the market first. By doing so, Apple is beaten by Xiaomi's obvious ingenuity. The Xiaomi Mi Mix According to Engadget, the phone is almost edgeless. Its display occupies 91.3 percent of the phones available surface. In order to allow for that much space, the earpiece and infrared proximity sensor were removed from the top of Xiaomi Mi Mix. To make up for it, a cantilevered piezoelectric actuator behind the glass will produce audible sound for phone calls. Another innovation for this new smartphone is its ultrasound for proximity sensing. Apparently, Elliptic Labs and Xiaomi had started to develop the said technology back in 2014. The specs for the Mi Mix is also not a push-over. The 6.4-inch display phone is powered by a Snapdragon 821 chipset, up to 6GB of RAM, a maximum of 256GB storage, a 16-megapixel main camera and a massive 4,400mAh battery that has a Quick Charge 3.0 support, according to BGR. It also has a fingerprint reader, and HD audio playback and it supports LTE Cat 11. The download speed could get up to 600Mbps using a tri-carrier aggregation. At The Cost Of Apple And Samsung BGR further reports that the Mi Mix will be released on Nov. 4 in China and not in the US. By then, Apple and Samsung have yet to release their own new phones that will feature maybe an even larger display. Apple will definitely step up more now that Xiaomi has beaten them in their bezel-less design concept. Until iPhone 8 is launched, the Mi Mix deserves the spotlight for now. It's estimated that, for every month an astronaut spends in space, they are losing an average of one percent in bone density. As such, crewmembers spend two to three hours each day exercising inside the International Space Station to maintain their skeletal and overall health. And now, a recent proposal is being suggested by a team of NASA researchers that another exercise program should be added into this routine: back pain yoga. Back Pain Yoga Proposed To Alleviate Astronaut's Discomfort Back pain is the most frequent complaints reported by astronauts who recently returned to the Earth's surface after spending months floating in orbit. It's been previously thought that this is because of the changes that space mission does to the intervertebral discs. However, when medical researchers - funded by NASA - monitored the spine of six astronauts who spent about seven months on the ISS there were little to no changes observed in their discs. What the team did find was a significant shrinking and degeneration of the muscles supporting the spine. These muscles are responsible for making us stay upright and cushions our back from strain and injury. Dr. Douglas Chang, the first author of the study, then suggested that back pain yoga be implemented in their workout, the Edition reported. Lack Of Gravity Limiting Astronauts In Practicing Back Pain Yoga In Orbit Currently, astronauts use the "fetal tuck" maneuver in space to stretch and alleviate the discomfort of the back. Chang said that adding core-strengthening to the already-practiced exercises will help crewmembers in countering this prevalent discomfort, Home reported. But he did admit that it wouldn't be that simple as space is lacking gravity, an essential component of the Hindu discipline. "A lot of yoga depends on the effects of gravity, like downward dog, where a stretch through the hamstring, calf muscles, back of the neck and shoulders are possible because of gravity. When you remove that, you may not have the same benefit," Chang said. Chang and his team are currently on the drawing board trying to figure out which positions are best to include in this newly proposed back pain yoga routine. "South Park" fans might be disappointed yet again as the animated comedy series is about to take another week-long hiatus. It was reported that episode 7 will not be airing on November 2 and will be moved to a later date. Check out the details below. According to reports, "South Park" Season 20 Episode 7 will not be airing on Comedy Central on its original air date. Instead, the latest episode will be rescheduled to a later date, November 9. The creators of the show have not disclosed the reason for the abrupt hiatus. However, the series is known for taking short breaks during this time of the year. The title, synopsis, and promo for the upcoming episode have not been revealed as well. To recall, "South Park" Season 20 Episode 6 titled "Fort Collins," features Garrison who remains to be in hiding two weeks before the U.S. Presidential Elections. The Republican presidential candidate seems to be keen in abandoning his political ambitions and hide in Colorado until the election is over. It can be recalled that Garrison did his best to convince his supporters to withdraw their support and vote for Hillary instead. Meanwhile, Gerald seems to be in deep trouble as his complete history on the internet is on the brink of being public. This poses a threat as his "skankhunt42" identity might be exposed. The Member Berries also fear for their lives as revealed in the synopsis. On the other hand, there seems to be trouble in paradise as Cartman and Heidi's blossoming relationship could be cut short. Heidi is not happy about the continuous rift between the boys and girls of South Park Elementary School. The hacking incident in Colorado seems to be taking its toll on Cartman as he is now concerned about his future with Heidi. Cartman, Heidi, and Denmark were working together to hunt down the internet trolls. They are also at risk of being discovered through their internet history. "South Park" sure knows how to keep their viewers hanging. With the alleged sudden break from broadcast, fans will have to wait a few more days before they can catch more of their beloved characters in "South Park" Season 20 Episode 7. For now, here's a preview of "Fort Collins." A new hereditary study confirms that theories of the global epidemic of HIV and AIDS started in New York 10 years before doctors first noticed the disease. According to the report from NBC, the epidemic HIV desease started in New York around 1970. The finding solves a 35-year-old mystery surrounding the origins of Americas outbreak, the first in the world to be noticed by doctors. The study also clears the name of Gaetan Dugas, so-called Patient Zero, who had been wrongly blamed for bringing the virus to U.S. shores. Mr. Dugas was once blamed for setting off the entire American AIDS epidemic, which traumatized the whole nation in the 1980s and has since killed more than 500,000 Americans. Other netizens even called him with the title "The Man Who Gave Us AIDS." As reported by Andrew Griffin of Independent, the blame of Mr. Dugas all relates to one small typo in a paper by the US Centres for Disease Control. That typo made him appear to be the first person to have the disease and the person who brought it to the US where it would infect over a million people and have a lasting cultural impact. According to The New York Times,Dr. Jacques Pepin, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, theorized a few cases were multiplied by unsterile conditions at a private blood-collecting company, Hemo-Caribbean, that opened in 1971 and exported 1,600 gallons of plasma to the United States monthly. It was conducted in Haiti. Note that Haiti was also a sex-tourism destination for gay men, another route the HIV could have taken to New York. The blood samples analyzed in the new study were collected in 1978 and 1979 in New York City and San Francisco as part of an effort to make a Hepatitis B vaccine. Researchers stored almost 16,000 blood samples; nearly 7 percent of those from New York and 4 percent of those from California later turned out to be infected with H.I.V. "We can date the jump into the U.S. in about 1970 and 1971. HIV had spread to a large number of people many years before AIDS was noticed," said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson and the lead author of the Nature paper A team led by Worobey sequenced the genomes of the H.I.V. found in some of those samples and compared them with viral DNA in samples collected in the early 1980s from Haitians, Dominicans and others treated in American hospitals. Africa has a dozen H.I.V. groups, and Haitis epidemic came from one of those. The New York samples all derive from one Haitian strain, and those from San Francisco are all so closely related that they probably all resulted from one person introducing one New York strain, Dr. Worobey said. This analysis also traced that it is around 1976. Friday's massive internet disruption came from hackers using an estimated 100,000 devices, many of which have been infected with a notorious malware that can take over cameras and DVRs, said DNS provider Dyn. "We are able to confirm that a significant volume of attack traffic originated from Mirai-based botnets," Dyn said in a Wednesday blog post. The malware known as Mirai had already been blamed for causing at least part of Friday's distributed denial-of-service attack, which targeted Dyn and slowed access to many popular sites in the U.S. But on Wednesday, Dyn provided new findings, saying Mirai-infected devices were actually the primary source for Friday's internet disruption. The statement also suggests that the hackers behind the attack may have been holding back. Companies have observed variants of the Mirai malware spreading to more than 500,000 devices built with weak default passwords, making them easy to infect. Given that Friday's disruption involved only 100,000 devices, it's possible the hackers could have launched an even more powerful DDoS attack, said Ofer Gayer, a security researcher with Imperva, a DDoS mitigation provider. "Maybe this was just a warning shot," he said. "Maybe [the hackers] knew it was enough and didn't need their full arsenal." Hackers have typically used DDoS attacks to flood individual websites with an overwhelming amount of traffic, forcing them offline. Often times, the goal is extortion, Gayer said. But last Friday's attack stood out for targeting Dyn, a vital internet infrastructure provider, and slowing access to more than a dozen sites. "Somebody actually pulled the trigger," Gayer said. "They built the largest botnet they could to take down the biggest targets." In addition to Friday's incident, Imperva has noticed Mirai-powered botnets attacking its own website and those belonging to its clients. One attack in August was fairly large at 280 Gbps of traffic. "Most companies will crumble at 10 Gbps. The biggest companies will crumble at 100 Gbps," Gayer said. Imperva has also observed that many of the infected-Mirai devices were sourced to IP addresses in 164 countries, with a large number based in Vietnam, Brazil, and the U.S. Most of these devices are also CCTV cameras. Although DDoS attacks are nothing new, Mirai-infected devices are able to launch exceptionally large assaults due to their sheer numbers and their access to high internet bandwidth connectivity. Last month, for instance, a Mirai botnet attacked a website owned by cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs with 665 Gbps of traffic, temporarily taking it down. It's still unclear who launched Friday's attack, but some security experts suspect that amateur hackers were involved. Late last month, the unknown developer of Mirai released its source code to the hacking community, meaning anyone with some hacking ability can use it. Although Mirai has been blamed for much of last week's internet disruption, other botnets were also involved, according to internet backbone provider Level 3 Communications. "Weve seen at least one, maybe two behaviors that arent consistent with Mirai," Level 3 CSO Dale Drew said in an email. It's possible the hackers behind Friday's attack used multiple botnets in order to avoid detection, the company added. Microsoft today announced new hardware and named its first 2017 Windows 10 update, all part of a new promotional pitch that aims to establish itself, its partners and the Windows ecosystem as centers for creativity, analysts said. "I love the concept [of Microsoft] trying to equate productivity and creativity," said Stephen Baker, an analyst with the NPD Group who was at Microsoft's New York City event Wednesday. "Content consumption and productivity really don't go together, but consumption and creativity do." Throughout the two-hour presentation, Microsoft stuck to a theme of creativity: It slapped a name on the next Windows 10 upgrade -- now called "Creators Update" -- and unveiled a $2,999 all-in-one desktop PC, the Surface Studio, that it pointed at creative professionals and consumers with big wallets. Included with the Windows 10 Creators Update -- which will likely launch in March 2017 -- will be tools for 3D object creation, features for self-broadcasting PC games and ties to virtual reality, augmented reality and what Microsoft, among others, has begun to call a "mixed reality" viewed with its HoloLens hardware. The goal with the next version of Windows 10, said Terry Myerson, the company's top operating system and devices executive, was nothing less than "To have the effect of the Gutenberg press on this generation." Most of the applause at the event, however, was reserved for the new Surface Studio, the latest addition to Microsoft's premium Surface brand of devices. The 28-in. desktop flexes to lie flat for easier use with touch or pen, or the also-new Dial, a puck-shaped device that when placed on a Surface screen, serves as an alternate input device for tasks such as scrolling and zooming. Mark Hachman The creative-creativity-creators pounding was purposeful. "This wasn't just about OEMs, but about the whole Windows ecosystem," said Baker when asked if, like the original 2012 strategy for the Surface line, Microsoft meant to nudge its original equipment manufacturer partners toward slicker designs. "The personal computer has been pigeon-holed into a keyboard-mouse productivity world. But the next generation of users, who see the value of productivity, have other values, too. "Microsoft is trying to show the rest of the ecosystem what that value proposition is," Baker added. To Baker, Microsoft's desktop was a play for consumers who blend personal and professional, and have plenty of money -- in other words, the same group that's buying Surface tablets and notebooks. "The relative success of the Surface has shown that there are customers who see the value of cross-over [devices] and are willing to pay for them," Baker said. Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, put the Surface Studio in a narrower frame. "It's definitely different.... The display is beautiful..., but I think it will resonate with creative types," Moorhead said in an interview after the Microsoft event ended. "It's not competing with a workstation. This is for artists, and folks who are doing creative sketching." Although many analysts, both industry and financial experts, have urged Microsoft to stick to the more lucrative commercial business of serving software and services to enterprises, today's event and focus made it clear Microsoft doesn't agree. "Yes, I do think that Microsoft's focus is on productivity, whether that's for business or for consumers," said Moorhead. "But they still do consumer." Nothing said that better than when Microsoft chose to brand the next edition of Windows 10 or introduce the Surface Studio. "The timing of this was to give a lift to the holiday selling season," Moorhead argued. Not for Windows 10 Creators Update, which will only be in beta testers' hands by year's end. And not really for the Studio; the desktop will be available only in "limited quantities" throughout 2016. But it could provide some juice on the consumer side for Windows 10 in general -- new hardware specifically -- even if it isn't Microsoft's or comes with a huge price tag. The consumer PC business has been in the doldrums, or worse, as people have held onto their aging machines because they have shifted so much of what was once done on notebooks and desktops to phones and tablets. It's unclear whether Microsoft's creativity push can turn that around, even though making things remains the purview, more or less, of the PC. Moorhead, for one, was encouraged. "This is the first time in about 15 to 20 years when Windows premium PCs are selling at about the same price points as Apple [Macs]," he said, pointing not just to the Surface line, but to OEMs like Dell and HP. Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 86F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 61F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow Mostly sunny skies with gusty winds developing during the afternoon. High 74F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Town sued over denied water service The town council met in executive session last week to discuss its defense after a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court by a Jamestown homeowner who was denied permission... Scout earns Eagle rank with boardwalk work A local Boy Scout is the latest member of Troop 1 Jamestown to lead an environmental project at a wildlife sanctuary in his mission to attain the Eagle rank. Alex... State: Steer clear while deer breeding As deer begin mating during the rut, public safety officials are urging drivers to be cautious on the roads because herds tend to move around more frequently during this time.... It's Meat Season" Arby's Venison sandwich will be served for a limited time in 6 states. The thick-cut venison meat on a sandwich will rock meat lovers especially deer hunters with its crispy onions and berry sauce. A 100% deer meat sandwich is part of the hunting season celebration devoted for the participants of the occasion. The six states with 17 participating chains were mainly chosen for heavy deer-hunting areas. These are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Georgia. Arby's selling time will include the last week of the month, precisely Oct. 31, until next month. Time tickled the hunters with quotes "Carnivores can thank Arby's "It's Meat Season" campaign for the new venison meal." The restaurant understands meat like no other which makes Venison sandwich irresistible. Rob Lynch, Arby's Brand President & Chief Marketing Officer on USAToday said, "Bringing venison to our menu also allows us to continue to set ourselves apart from the competition when it comes to proteins," he said. "You simply can't find this at other restaurant chains." The sandwich features a thick-cut venison steak, crumbly onions, and juniper berry sauce. The steak bathes in garlic, salt, and pepper before diving into hours of cooking. The sauce is a specialized juniper berry magic; Cabernet steak sauce is the secret ingredient to add a mouth-watering twist to the meal. Lynch spoke that Venison sandwich is the biggest risk of the company, but he also guarantees its savory. He invites everybody to get a hand of the meal; every hunter can take home a stag in every Arvy's Venison. Participating Restaurants: Available Oct. 31-Nov. 3 2044 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville, Tenn. 37228 Available Nov. 4-6 3821 Tower Ave., Superior, Wis. 54880 1690 Park Place Blvd., St. Louis Park, Minn. 55416 704 Highway 33 South, Cloquet, Minn. 55720 348 Lincoln Ave. SE, St. Cloud, Minn. 56301 3275 First St. S, St. Cloud, Minn. 56301 4415 Roswell Rd. NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30342 Available Nov. 12-15 4229 W Vienna Rd., Clio, Mich. 48420 4040 17 Mile Rd. NE, Cedar Springs, Mich. 49319 1215 M 89, Plainwell, Mich. 49080 8685 Birch Run Rd., Birch Run, Mich. 48415 Available Nov. 25-28 The United States pledged to send tanks, artillery and troops to Poland as Britain announced it would send fighter planes to Romania as part of NATO's largest military build-up along Russia's borders. When two Russian ships equipped with cruise missiles was deployed in the Baltic Sea, Canada and Germany led other NATO countries in pledging forces at the defense ministry conference held in Brussels. Meanwhile, Russian's foreign ministry in Madrid withdrew its request to have three warships refueled in Northern Spain when NATO voiced concerns that the warships might be used in bombing civilian targets in Syria. The three ships were part of the battle group that included Russia's only aircraft carrier which was proceeding with ten other Russian warships to Syria. According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the troop's contributions reinforce the forces in Eastern Europe and the Baltics built as a deterrent to the estimated 300,000 Russian troops stationed in Russian's western border. The NATO alliance believes that there might be Iskander nuclear-capable missiles already deployed in Kaliningrad which can hit the Baltics and Poland. NATO announced that the current weapons and troop deployments are part of pledges made by NATO allies to stop Russia's expansion which started with the invasion of Crimea in 2014 by military forces backed by Russia. The overall plan is to build four battle groups of 4,000 troops beginning next year to be backed by 40,000 forces that can respond quickly to crisis situations. The United States pledged a task force of 900 soldiers to eastern Poland and another tank force that can easily traverse Eastern Europe. To match the commitment of the United States, the defense secretary of Britain Michael Fallon said that Britain is pledging a battalion of 800 troops to Estonia to augment NATO troops there. "Although we are leaving the European Union, we will be doing more to help secure the eastern and southern flanks of NATO," Fallon explained. Four months after the Philippines elected President Rodrigo Duterte after the Liberal Party President Benigno Aquino, a lot of issues have risen including the cancellation of all ties between the Philippines and the United States, replacing it by forging partnerships with Russia, and long-term enemy, China--according to The Economist. Majority of the Filipinos have voted for the Dirty Harry for a hope that drug addiction and drug reselling in the Philippines will come to an end. However, after cases on extra judicial killings and uncontrollable police agencies, it seems like half of the Philippines is already regretting what they have done. After the United Nations tribunal agreed in favor of the Philippines on the territorial claims, President Duterte continued forging alliance with China, further withdrawing all ties with the United States. At present, with the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention happening on November 7 to 18, 2016 at Marrakech, Morocco, the Philippines has decided not to send representatives because of the President's disagreement on the necessity of the Paris Agreement. This is also a sign of protest against the United Nations after their tribunal decided to put the ownership of the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea solely to the Philippines, leaving China's claims voided and null. Also, after the devastation of Typhoon Haima, President Duterte stood firm with his decision of breaking ties with the United States by discouraging the government not to receive any help from the western group. Now, President Rodrigo Duterte has been questioned with his stances on the Paris Agreement, on the way he treats the foreign aid that was being offered to the Filipinos, and the way he reacts on the tensions between the drug dealers and the police where a lot have shed blood despite ignorance. Researchers from the University of Cambridge are dispelling the idea of an HIV Patient Zero. They explained that their study proves that the flight attendant who was said to be the patient zero of AIDS in 1980 was just one of the people infected with HIV. They explained that Gaetan Dugas, in the French-Canadian flight, was not a Patient Zero, Richard McKay, one of the researchers, stressed that Dugas is one of the most demonized patients in history. He explained that before Dugas died, he assisted doctors about the sexually transmitted disease by donating a plasma and naming 72 of his sexual partners. Researchers explained that Dugas was dubbed Patient Zero after CDC investigators found out that some of his sexual partners developed AIDS symptoms. They also explained that the term Patient Zero probably came from a coding misunderstanding, Science American reported. They explained that during that time CDC developed a coding system using American States like LA 1, LA 2, NY 1 and NY 2. In the case of Dugas, he was called Patient O which means Outside of California. They said that's where the misunderstanding happened; the letter O is mistaken to Zero. They also admitted that this could mean nothing or beginning. Science Daily reported that Randy Shilts, a journalist, published a book that humanizes AIDS through Dugas. McKay explained that for Shilts, Dugas is the representation of the disease. Upon analyzing Dugas' blood sample, the researchers found out that he was not the basis for HIV. A misunderstanding led him to be condemned as Patient Zero. "Blaming other people has established a safe distance between the individual and majority that people identified as threats. The US AIDS crisis was no different," McKay said. "We hope that our findings will make researchers, journalist, and the public think before giving the term Patient Zero to other people. Patient Zero carried many meanings and is dreaded in history," he concluded. Seems like Donald Trump hasn't got enough trouble, not just in his political career, just recently his Hollywood stardom has not been excluded, weeks after his pronouncement of his victory on his Presidential rival Hillary Clinton, his Hollywood Walk of Fame has found being destroyed early morning of Wednesday by a man who pretended to be a city construction worker, breaking the famous star mark through a sledgehammer. A yellow caution tape is now what surrounds Trump's Hollywood Walk of Fame star, protecting what has left in there. Investigator Det. Meghan Aguilar said in an interview that the incident was reported to them Wednesday dawn. Los Angeles Police spokesperson came mid-morning of Wednesday said that Chamber of Commerce is now fixing the outrage. "Investigators are looking at a felony vandalism charge because of the value which the Chamber of Commerce has placed [on the star] at $2,500..." the spokesperson told us. "As soon as investigators can positively identify the suspect, which they are very sure they can do... they will go ahead and make a decision whether they want to arrest that suspect or seek a warrant." A man named Jamie Otis is said who did the incident, Deadline Hollywood reported. There was also a video around different sources showing a man breaking the star mark with a pickax. Deadline added that Otis wanted to auction the star off to raise funds for the 11 women accusing the GOP presidential candidate of groping them. Trump, however, denied the allegation. Trump gained the Walk of Fame in 2007, recognizing him on his NBC series. However, this was not the first that famous star wall has been vandalized. It was also attempted by swastika in April this year. Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Leron Gubler said the organization "intends to prosecute to the full extent of the law." "The Hollywood Walk of Fame is an institution celebrating the positive contributions of the inductees," Gubler stated. "When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California State Landmark. Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives Myanmar President Htin Kyaw (Source: VNA) The President, who is in Vietnam for a State-level visit, expressed his joy to visit Vietnam for the first time and extolled the remarkable achievements Vietnam has attained over the past 30 years of renovation, under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He updated the host on the outcomes of his talks with President Tran Dai Quang and the meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, while affirming that he will work to develop the time-honoured friendship between the two countries. President Htin Kyaw also promised to expand trade-investment ties between Myanmar and Vietnam on the basis of mutual benefits, create the best possible conditions for business operations, enhance people-to-people exchange and coordinate closely with Vietnam in the ASEAN and at regional and international forums such as CLMV, ACMECS and the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong described the Myanmar Presidents State visit to Vietnam as a significant contribution to opening up a new stage in the bilateral ties between the two nations, especially at a time when both countries have a new leadership. He affirmed Vietnams consistent policy of attaching importance to fostering and expanding friendship and multilateral cooperation with Myanmar. The Party leader highlighted the similarities in the two nations history of struggling for national liberation as well as in their economic reform policies, saying that they serve as an important foundation for the two countries to further their friendship and cooperation. He expressed his wish that the two countries will maintain and make the best use of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, while boosting economic trade and investment partnership, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation at local levels for mutual development./. Email Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (Source: VNA) Apart from close cooperation between the two States and governments, the PM suggested increasing ties in other areas, especially in education and people-to-people exchange. He asked the Singaporean side to open more industrial parks in Da Nang, Ninh Binh, and soon inaugurate the 8th Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in the southern province of Binh Duong and a food processing facility in the central province of Thanh Hoa. The two sides should promote the orientating role of the Economic Connectivity Ministerial Meeting mechanism in advising the governments on related policies, PM Phuc said, adding that the mechanism should also serve as a bridge to the business communities of both countries to access each others market. Appreciating Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loongs opinions at recent international forums, the Vietnamese government leader stressed that ASEAN needs to pursue the common stance on the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea while working towards building a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. As ASEAN member states, Vietnam and Singapore need to consolidate solidarity and reach a common stance, he noted. PM Phuc took note of the Singaporean FMs proposal regarding air transport and promised to direct agencies concerned to consider and provide an early response. Hailing the outcomes of talks between the two foreign ministers, PM Phuc said both sides should grasp opportunities arising from the fourth industrial revolution. Balakrishnan suggested increasing the frequency of flights connecting Singapore with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, adding that Singapore is ready to welcome more Vietnamese students to the country. He told the host that his visit is meant to strengthen political exchange and explore business opportunities in Vietnam. The same day, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan hosted a reception for the Singaporean FM. Minister Balakrishnan said Singapore attaches importance to reinforcing the bilateral strategic partnership with Vietnam across trade, investment, human resources training, education and tourism. On the East Sea issue, he affirmed that Singapore has practical interest in ensuring the principles of maritime and aviation freedom, and wishes parties concerned to abide by international law and uphold ASEANs central role in building the East Sea into an area of peace and friendship. VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan took the occasion to ask Singapore to share experience and assist Vietnam in building smart urban areas. Nhan also expressed his hope that Singapore will cooperate with Vietnam in strengthening cyber security, training information technology workforce and building the e-government./. A Florida jury Tuesday handed R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. compensatory and punitive damages totaling nearly $29 million in one of the largest Engle plaintiff victories in recent years. The jury found in favor of the widower of Elaine Konzelman, who died in 2010 at age 79 after suffering from chronic respiratory disease. Engle progeny lawsuits sprang from a decision in 2006 by the Florida Supreme Court that decertified a $145 billion class-action lawsuit initially filed by Howard Engle. That ruling limits former class members to filing individual lawsuits stating that cigarettes caused their respective illnesses. According to Courtroom Video Network, Elaine Konzelman began smoking at age 15 and smoked one to two packs a day for 40 years. Attorneys for her husband, Alan, employed a familiar tactic in the Engle cases of claiming that Reynolds had conspired for decades to hide or downplay the risk from smoking cigarettes. The jury awarded Alan Konzelman $8.8 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages. The network said Konzelmans attorney had asked for $5.5 million in compensatory damages and $14 million in punitive damages. The gap between the amounts requested and awarded can be pivotal upon a potential Reynolds appeal of the awards. Reynolds spokesman David Howard cited Wednesday the companys policy of not commenting on pending litigation. There have been several examples, most notably in the case of Robinson vs. Reynolds from 2014, in which an appeals judge will reduce, sometimes sharply, a jurys compensatory or punitive award. In July 2014, an Escambia Court jury awarded Cynthia Robinson, the widow of Michael Johnson Sr., one of the largest punitive-damages awards in U.S. corporate and legal history at $23.6 billion even though the jury determined Johnson was 30 percent responsible for his illness. In January 2015, a Florida Circuit Court judge drastically reduced the punitive damages to $16.9 million, the same as the compensatory damages. That award is admittedly and clearly constitutionally excessive, Circuit Court Judge Ferry Ferrell said. He said awarding an equal amount in compensatory and punitive damages is reasonable and just. Reynolds appeal of the compensatory and punitive damages in the Robinson case remains under appeal. In January, a Florida appeals court eliminated a combined $54.9 million in punitive damages facing four tobacco manufacturers, citing foremost errors made in jury instructions. The Fourth District appellate judges ordered a new trial in two phases of the Engle progeny case involving the late Johnnie Calloway and Reynolds Tobacco, Philip Morris USA, Lorillard, and Liggett Group LLC. Reynolds disclosed in its third-quarter report for fiscal 2016 that as of Sept. 30, it faces $196.1 million in compensatory damages and $197.4 million in punitive damages in Engle cases under appeal. Of the 56 jury verdicts listed, only seven have a larger compensatory award than the Konzelman verdict and only three have a larger punitive award. Of the 11 Engle cases with verdicts during the third quarter, five were decided in favor of the plaintiffs, four in favor of Reynolds and two were declared as mistrials. A flat revenue performance for Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. proved enough to beat analysts earnings projections for the second consecutive quarter. The Thomasville less-than-truckload company reported Thursday a 1.4 percent increase in net income to $85.9 million. Diluted earnings rose 4 cents to $1.03. The average earnings forecast was 97 cents by eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research. Analysts typically do not include one-time gains and charges in their forecasts. Revenue was up 0.4 percent to $782.6 million, which put the company back on pace for its first $3 billion revenue year at $2.24 million through Sept. 30. It had a record $2.97 billion in revenue in fiscal 2015. Old Dominions record performance continues to center on gaining market share through adding and expanding centers. As a less-than-truckload carrier, it ships products more quickly and attracts more customers because it does not depend on a full trailer to make a profit. A top-10 trucking company, Old Dominion had at last count 869 employees at its headquarters, 670 at a service center in Greensboro and 17,587 full-time employees overall. David Congdon, Old Dominions chief executive, said in a statement he was encouraged by some economic trends during the quarter. Although the economic environment continued to be weak during the quarter, the pricing environment remained stable, our less-than-truckload weight per shipment increased, and we exercised good control over our variable operating costs, Congdon said. Old Dominions record annual performances of recent years have left it susceptible to investors and analysts higher earnings expectations. The Street.com rates the stock as a buy, saying Old Dominions strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and notable return on equity. We feel its strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself. Old Dominion repurchased $34.3 million of its stock during the quarter, increasing the total that has been bought back to $119 million for fiscal 2016. The company said it has $211.3 million remaining in the share repurchase program that its board of directors authorized May 23. A company typically buys back its shares from the marketplace to reduce the number of outstanding shares. Because there are fewer outstanding shares, those remaining can become more valuable. Companies also buy back shares when they believe the shares are undervalued. The company spent $55.6 million on capital investments during the quarter. It projects spending $405 million for the full year: $170 million on real estate and service center expansions; $205 million on tractors and trailers; and $30 million on technology and other assets. Analysts have credited Old Dominions willingness to reinvest in expansion and new equipment for much of its market share gains. Modern Automotive buys Boone Ford dealership Modern Automotive of Winston-Salem said Wednesday that it has bought its first Ford franchise, previously known as Boone Ford at 300 New Market Blvd. in Boone. The dealership has been renamed Modern Ford of Boone. This is Moderns third dealership in the area. Modern Ford typically will stock 100 new and 150 preowned vehicles on a six-acre site. The service facility has 13 bays, and will include a quick lube team and diesel service capabilities, as well as heavy duty lifts to accommodate any model. Omnia Fowler will oversee operations of the dealership, with Jordan Rowan as general sales manager. Rowan has worked at Modern Toyota of Boone. The Ford dealership has 17 employees, with plans to grow that number to 30. Modern Automotive, established in 1933 in Winston-Salem, sells more than 10,000 vehicles per year and has 950 employees at 12 dealerships. Richard Craver Sears confirms plans to close High Point call center Sears Holdings confirmed Wednesday it will close a customer service call center in High Point in early 2017. However, employees have told the Winston-Salem Journal that many employees were let go Tuesday. The call center in Oak Hollow Mall will shut down in late February, according to Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings. Riefs would not say how many employees work at the call center. The High Point Enterprise reported that the 2015 annual report of the High Point Economic Development Corp. ranked the call center the citys 18th largest employer with 361 full-time equivalent positions. The work performed at the location will be transitioned to other Sears facilities between now and the anticipated closure date, Riefs said. The closure of this location is part of our strategy to optimize our call center operations to align with our forecasted call volumes. Richard Craver New Wells Fargo CEO to employees: Were sorry NEW YORK Newly appointed Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan has told employees that he is sorry for the pain that the banks employees have felt as a result of the companys sales practices scandal. Sloans company-wide speech given Tuesday is the latest effort by Wells Fargos executives to atone for the fact that the banks employees, pushed by impossible sales goals, opened as many as 2 million bank and credit card accounts without customers authorization. In the speech, Sloan acknowledged that the bank did not respond to the problems in its branches soon enough and that upper management dodged responsibility for the bad behavior and wrongly placed blamed on its branch employees. The Associated Press Report: Women wont earn as much as men for 170 years GENEVA The global gap in earnings between men and women will not be closed for another 170 years if current trends continue, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum. The Switzerland-based forums annual Global Gender Gap Report, released Tuesday, lists economics and health as the most challenging disparities between men and women worldwide. Of the economic divide, the report says that at the current rate of change, and given the widening economic gender gap since last year, it will not be closed for another 170 years. The Associated Press The CLMV leaders and ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh (first, left) pose for a photo (Photo: VNA) Following is the full text of the joint statement. Seize Opportunities, Shape the Future 1. We, the Heads of State/Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), the Republic of Union of Myanmar and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (hereinafter referred to as CLMV), gathered in Hanoi, Viet Nam for the 8th CLMV Summit. The Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary of the ESCAP, representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB) also attended the Summit. 2. We noted with satisfaction that the good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive and long-lasting cooperation among our four countries continue to thrive. Our common interests have expanded through enhanced trade and investment relations, deepening cooperation in a wide range of areas from people to people exchange and human resource development to health, transport and the environment. 3. We recalled with satisfaction that since its inception, CLMV cooperation has greatly contributed to the establishment of the ASEAN Community, the narrowing of regional development gap, and the uplifting of the welfare and quality of life of our peoples. 4. We emphasized CLMVs core mission as a platform to foster close policy coordination and joint actions among the four countries to ensure a future of peace, stability and prosperity. The key objectives of CLMV cooperation continue to be: (i) to support the development of the ASEAN Community through building CLMVs regional integration capacity and bridging the development gap within ASEAN; (ii) to fully harness member countries economic potential and increase trade and investment flows within and among CLMV countries and other regions; (iii) to achieve sustainable and inclusive development in the subregion. 5. We expressed our strong belief in the bright future of CLMV and are confident that CLMV is on the right path of long-term economic growth. Over the past years, CLMV has become one of the worlds most dynamic regions thanks to a series of far-reaching economic reforms and efforts to liberalize and facilitate trade and investment. The growth prospects of the four economies are supported by factors such as rich natural resources, cost competiveness, favorable demographic profile, competitive trade and investment policies, strategic location and close proximity to major markets, and access to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) market of over 600 million consumers. 6. We are fully aware of the many challenges faced by CLMV countries, including resource and capacity constraints, poor infrastructure, the adverse impacts of climate change, the uncertainties of the global and regional economy and the vulnerabilities of being small and open economies. 7. We met at a critical point of time for CLMVs development. Only through closer cooperation and coordination could our countries overcome challenges and create a vibrant economic zone that would enjoy inclusive and sustainable development. 8. We affirmed our commitment to work closely together to shape the future of CLMV. To this end, we are determined to move forward with both domestic reforms and closer regional integration to sustain growth momentum and strengthen CLMVs competitiveness. 9. We stressed the need to continue advancing the structural reform of our economies to ensure efficient labor and capital allocation, to boost growth and increase productivity. We are committed to maintaining macroeconomic stability and creating an enabling environment where businesses can flourish and people can fully develop their potential. 10. We recognized that enhanced regional connectivity is essential to improving CLMV competiveness and agreed to implement concrete measures toward a seamless regional economy so as to link our economies and markets ever closer together, to the benefit of all, as follows: 10.1. In transport cooperation, we agreed to: i. Accelerate the construction of missing links and upgrading roads along the North South Economic Corridor (NSCE), East West Economic Corridor (EWEC), and the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC). ii. Construct the expressway of Vientiane Ha Noi to facilitate the movement of goods and people between the two capitals. iii. Conduct feasibility study on the route connecting Yangon Meikhtila Tarlay Kenglap (Myanmar) Xiengkok Loungnamtha Oudomxay Muong Khoa (Lao PDR) Tay Trang Ha Noi (Viet Nam). iv. Facilitate air transport through the implementation of the CLMV Agreement on the Air Transport and other bilateral and multilateral agreements on air services. 10.2. In trade and investment facilitation cooperation: We reiterated our commitment to implementing all existing agreements between and among CLMV countries. We commended our CLMV Economic Ministers for the progress in implementing their annual Action Plan and welcomed the outcome of the Eighth CLMV Economic Ministers Meeting held on 6th August 2016 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. We endorsed the Economic Ministers plan to develop a Framework for CLMV Development, which aims at advancing economic development, enhancing the capacity to reap the benefits arising from regional integration and raising the living standards of our people. As the Framework is cross-cutting in nature, close cooperation from relevant Ministries in the drafting process is required. We tasked the CLMV Economic Ministers and Senior Officials to submit the Framework for the Leaders consideration by the Ninth CLMV Summit in 2018. We concur r ed on the need to transform transport corridor s into economic corridor s and agreed to accelerate the simplificat ion and harmonization of cross - border procedures and further develop industrial zones along the corridors. We will also take additional measures, including: i. To promote border trade via harmonizing member countries border trade procedures and developing a network of border markets. ii. To encourage relevant agencies and business sector to organize and participate in trade fairs and investment conferences in the region. iii. To facilitate the investment of CLMV enterprises in each others markets. iv. To promote cooperation on e-commerce among CLMV through capacity building activities and experience exchanges in developing related policies and legal frameworks. 10.3. In Industrial Cooperation We encouraged and promoted the cooperation in the field of industry such as industrial policy development, standardization and conformance, and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) policy development among CLMV through regular exchanges on information, experience and the best practices by organizing workshops and training courses, which are to aim at strengthening CLMV countries competitive advantages in the region and global market. 10.4. In tourism cooperation: We noted with satisfaction that the four countries have experienced a steady increase in tourist arrivals in recent years, from 10.9 million in 2010 to 22 million in 2015 with a year-to-year increase of 12.4 percent. We welcomed the successful outcomes of the third CLMV Tourism Ministers Meeting held on 28th July 2015 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, which endorsed the Action Programme 2016-2018. We commended the outcomes of the CLMV Ministers of Tourism and Governors of National Bank meeting at the Four Countries-One Destination Conference on Connecting Tourism and Expanding Cooperation in Banking Sector held from July 30 August 1, 2016, Yangon, Myanmar with the aim to enhance tourism promotion among CLMV countries, to attract investment to promote intra-regional travel of the four countries and to promote CLMV as an attractive single destination. We recognized that there remain obstacles to the CLMV tourism industrys growth potential and agreed to take the following actions: i. To fully implement the 2016 2018 Action Plan on Tourism Cooperation , particularly measures to ensure sustainable and responsible tourism. ii. To encourage greater coordination, exchanges of information and experiences among member countries; iii. To facilitate the participation of CLMV tourism agencies, associations and enterprises in the regional events and fairs. iv. To p romote public private partnerships , particularly in tourism promotion activities and tourist product development. v. To enhance cooperation and promote more air linkages among the CLMV countries. 10.5. In human resource development cooperation: We appraised the exchange of scholarships, visits and experiences in education and training among CLMV countries. We recognized that a skilled workforce is an important foundation of sustainable economic growth and successful regional integration. To take advantage of new opportunities brought about by the ASEAN Community, we will continue our cooperation to develop high quality human resources and take the following measures: i. To continuously implement the CLMV Scholarship Program funded by the Vietnamese Government for the period of 2016-2020. ii. To establish a database of labor markets demand and vocational training programs in CLMV countries. ii. To promote joint programs among CLMV universitites, language training institutions and exchange programs between educational leaders, high officials, experts, teachers, administrators and students. iv. To promote mutual recognition of qualification among CLMV countries through cooperation in establishing national qualification framework s that are compatible with ASEAN Qualification Reference Framework (AQRF) and European Qualification Reference Framework (EQRF); to develop CLMV mutual recognition arrangement for teachers and vocational trainers; to select priority professions for common core standards development. 10.6. In other areas such as agriculture and energy, we noted the slow progress in the implementation of cooperation projects and initiatives due to resource constraint. We encouraged our Ministers and Senior Officials to identify ways and means for more practical and effective cooperation. 11. We appreciated the support extended by ASEAN Member States and development partners to CLMV countries, including through the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and various bilateral and multilateral support programmes. We welcomed the adoption of the IAI Work Plan III by the ASEAN Leaders at the recent 28th ASEAN Summit, which prioritises support to CLMV countries in five strategic areas, namely food and agriculture, trade facilitation, MSMEs, education, and health and well-being. We also commended the ASEAN Secretariat for its continued support to mobilise resources to implement the CLMV priority projects. We called upon other ASEAN Member States and development partners to further enhance their assistance and support to CLMV countries both individually and collectively, including for the implementation of CLMV priority projects (Annex 1). We asked the ASEAN Secretariat and the Senior Officials to work closely to seek financial support for CLMV priority projects, to monitor and review the implementation process and to recommend necessary adjustments. 12. We acknowledged the vital role of the business sector in the development of CLMV economies and therefore reiterated our call for greater participation of the business sector in implementating of CLMV projects and activities. 13. We welcomed the success of the first World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Mekong region, which was initiated and organised by Viet Nam to highlight the great potential of the Mekong region to the international business circle. We emphasized the need of strengthening public-private partnership to realize the vision of a competitive, integrated and prosperous Mekong region. 14. We tasked our Ministers and SOM leaders to follow through on the implementation of this Joint Statement and to periodically report the progress to their respective Heads of State/Governments. 15. To ensure that CLMV cooperation is result and action oriented, building on the past achievements and striving for new progress, we are determined to carry forward CLMV reforms and enhance its coordination with other relevant subregional cooperation frameworks. We tasked the Ministers and Senior Officials to further explore ways to streamline CLMV operational structure and strengthen the synergy between CLMV and the Ayeyawady Chao Phraya Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). The future will be shaped by our actions today. 16. We agreed that the 9th CLMV Summit will be chaired by the Kingdom of Cambodia and will take place in the Kingdom of Thailand in 2018 back-to-back with the 8th ACMECS Summit. The specific date and venue will be coordinated through diplomatic channels. 17. The Heads of State/Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar expressed their thanks to the Government of Viet Nam for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements of the 8th CLMV Summit./. Winston-Salem played backdrop to one of the biggest events of the 2016 presidential election Thursday when first lady Michelle Obama joined Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton at the Joel coliseum for an early-voting rally. An estimated 11,000 people a vast majority of them women, many who waited in line for hours packed the arena to bear witness to a moment in history. A former first lady and the countrys first female presidential candidate from either major party campaigned with, arguably, one of the most popular first ladies in recent memory. Its the first time the two have campaigned together this election cycle. To have them both together is extra exciting, said Sheila Baynes, who drove from Danville, Va., to see two strong women at the same time, in the same building at this time in history, when were about to elect our first female president. Clinton ran through the highlights of her regular stump speech climate change, gender pay equality, jobs and the stamina it takes to debate her Republican opponent Donald Trump for 4 hours. This one is about whether we build on the progress weve made, the legacy President Obama has built, or whether we go backwards, she said. But Clinton devoted a significant portion of her 20-minute speech to the first lady. Clinton sang the praises of Obama, for her work with childrens health and encouraging more young people to go to college. She also planted an amazing vegetable garden at the White House, Clinton said. And I can promise you, if I win, I will take good care of it Michelle. In response, the crowd broke out into a chant of when you win. Clinton and Obama came out on stage together, but Clinton served at the de facto opening act for the first lady, whos at the height of her popularity right now, after delivering impassioned speeches at the Democratic National Convention in July and at a New Hampshire campaign event earlier this month. Obama was anointed the closer during her husbands presidential runs in 2008 and 2012. After receiving the biggest applause of the day, Obama fired up the crowd to new heights and made a case for her girl. Im out here first and foremost because weve never had a more qualified and prepared candidate for president than our friend Hillary Clinton, Obama said, never before in our lifetime. Obama continued with the reasons she admires and respects Clinton, listing off the positions of power shes filled over the decades. Hillary doesnt play. Both women framed the election as a close race, despite polls that show Clinton ahead, and encouraged supporters to vote early. Leave here and go vote, Obama said. Dont let anyone take that right away from you. The timing was, of course, no accident. Clinton made her latest North Carolina stop on the first day of expanded early voting in the state. While early voting was available at a handful of sites last week just one in Forsyth County additional sites, including 16 Forsyth County locations, opened around the state Thursday. Make no mistake about it, casting our vote is the ultimate way we go high, when they go low, said Obama, echoing one of her most memorable lines from that DNC speech. Voting is our high. Rebecca Wilborne was riding that high when she got to the rally. Wilborne waited in line for an hour and a half Thursday morning at Winston-Salems Southside Library to cast her vote for Hillary Clinton. I wanted to have it done before I came here, she said. Im so excited to be a part of this. Early counts show that early voting in North Carolina is up, especially among Democrats. Supporters are hoping thats a good sign for Clintons prospects in staunchly purple North Carolina, which went to President Barack Obama in 2008 and to Republican Mitt Romney in 2012. If Clinton can excite and motivate North Carolina voters, it could help other Democratic candidates in the state. During the event, Clinton and Obama both voiced support for gubernatorial candidate Roy Cooper, whos locked in a close race with incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, and for Deborah Ross, whos hoping to help deliver the Senate back to Democrats with her challenge to incumbent Republican Sen. Richard Burr. Ross introduced the candidate and first lady Thursday, getting in a few digs at her opponent while encouraging voters to get to the polls early. I voted this week, Ross said. Youve got to vote early. And I want you to know, you dont need to bring your ID. Well let Senator Burr know too, because he forgot his the last time. Burr cast a provisional ballot in the May primary after he got to the polling place and realized hed lost his ID. That was before the states voter ID law was overturned by the courts. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights activist, highlighted early appearances at the rally. Those included a handful of other state and local politicians who took the stage with their own get out the vote messages. One of the most colorful came from U.S. Rep Alma Adams, a Democrat representing the states 12th district and running for re-election, who borrowed phrases from Trump to sharpen her point. I call on all the nasty women and the bad hombres you know to join us and cast your vote early, she said. Lets turn this mother out. Camille Leasure wishes she could vote this year. The 13-year-old attended Thursdays rally with her mom, LaVie Leasure, an associate professor at Winston-Salem State University. Leasure said she told her daughters teachers that she wouldnt be in school today because it was just too historical for not to take part in it if she could. Camille stood near a railing inside the coliseum after the rally, hoping for a closer glimpse of either Obama or Clinton. Its the first African-American presidents first lady and the future president, hopefully, speaking together and I didnt want to miss it, she said. I wish I could vote because your vote is your voice. Many people waiting in the massive line snaking around the coliseum and through parking lots said they felt that same pull, like they couldnt pass up a the chance to witness history. Whether it was a dad, bringing his young daughter to see two strong women, or a group of young black women, skipping class to see their idol in person the opportunity was too good to pass up, they said. Howard Mendlovitz drove in from Chapel Hill with his daughter, Ella, and her grandmother, Nancy Harrison, who was visiting from Portland, Ore. The rally was how Ella wanted to spend the day before her eighth birthday. Im missing school, she said, excitedly pinning a Hillary button to her sweater. I wanted to see Hillary. I wanted to give her the opportunity to see strong women, Mendlovitz said, ruffling Ellas hair. Grandma Harrison chimed in: I wanted to give myself the opportunity, too. A Forysth County Sheriffs deputy was killed in a single-vehicle crash near Ronda in Wilkes County on Sunday morning. Investigators said his pickup truck flipped three times. Hayden Wesley Wes Church, 35, was driving north on U.S. 421 near Clingman Road when he veered left into the median of the road around 6:15 a.m., Trooper K.W. Dean of the N.C. Highway Patrol said. Church overcorrected as he came back onto the four-lane highway, and his 2002 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck overturned, rolling three times before going off the right side of the road, over an embankment and into a wooded area, Dean said. Church, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle and suffered massive injuries, Dean said. Church, who lived in Millers Creek, was pronounced dead at the scene. Church joined the county sheriffs office in January 2015 and was a full-time deputy assigned to the Judicial Services/Courtroom Division. He was off duty at the time of the wreck. Wesleys sudden and unexpected death has shocked those he worked with, along with those who knew him in the communities of Forsyth and Wilkes counties, former Deputy Sheriff Tim Wooten, who knows Churchs father, posted to Facebook on Tuesday. We are very fortunate that someone of this young mans caliber and character chose to put on a badge and a uniform and go out to serve and protect others. Church, born in Watauga County, was the son of retired Wilkes County deputy Hayden Ray Church, who is now a private investigator and operates his own agency, Track Um Investigations in Wilkesboro. A funeral service was held for Church at Welcome Home Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro on Wednesday. Courts were shut down early Wednesday, so judges and attorneys could attend Churchs funeral, Major D.L. Carter said. He was a good deputy, he worked hard over there at the courthouse and he was well-respected, Carter said. Its been hard. The agency has never suffered two losses like this so close together. Churchs death comes on the heels of the loss of another Forsyth County sheriffs deputy, John T. Isenhour, who died Sept. 28. Isenhour, 38, a Salisbury native, died after being struck by a car while directing traffic on Clemmons Road near the entrance to Tanglewood Park on Sept. 18. With the death of two deputies less than a month apart, and both at such a young age, it has been hard on the department, Carter said. Its very hard for me to understand why these two have been taken from us, said Tony Deweese with the sheriffs department. As one of (Wesley Churchs) friends and one of the ones who trained him, he was a great person and he will be missed. Terry Reich likes to take a glass-half-full approach to life and his professional career. However, after 32 years working in high-tech equipment maintenance, including the past 10 years at the MillerCoors plant being closed in Eden, Reich, 54, said a positive attitude is getting harder to maintain. Reich was one of more than 1,000 attendees at the 2016 career fair sponsored by the Winston-Salem Urban League on Wednesday. The atrium of Wake Forest BioTech Place in downtown was filled with 60 employers that included high-tech, banking, manufacturing, retail, medical and temporary-service agencies. The potential and hope for a new job and a new start attracted most socio-economic groups, and experienced and newcomers to the job market. Reich said he was let go from his $87,000 a year plant job on Aug. 12, where he worked six to seven days a week for eight to 12 hours a shift. Given that Reich had nearly an hour one-way commute from Winston-Salem to Eden, the job represented not only his livelihood but also his life. Even though they let us know a year ahead of time of the brewery closing, its been a hard and disheartening experience, Reich said. Part of the difficulty came in May when officials with N.C. Works the job placement and training arm of the N.C. Department of Commerce told the MillerCoors workers of how much they would qualify for in unemployment benefits. The Republican-controlled General Assembly drastically reduced state unemployment insurance benefits in July 2013, cutting the maximum weekly amount from $535 to $350, and the maximum number of weeks from 26 to as few as 12. I used to make $350 a day with overtime, so its been a kick in the head to learn that the state thinks $350 a week is all my years of hard work is worth, Reich said. Knowing that I had the benefits for such a short time has been driving me to find new work. However, Reich said that for some potential employers, he gets the sense they dont want to compensate him for his experience level. When I hand over my resume and they see MillerCoors at the top, I can tell that some are thinking we cant afford this person, why bother, so I dont even get a chance to get my foot in the door and work my way up. James Perry, the chief executive of the Urban League, said its a blessing that the agency was able to beat its goal of having 50 ready-to-hire employers at the job fair by 10, and that the event has outgrown its facilities. Yet, Perry said, theres the cold splash of reality that the job fair has become as big as it has in recent years because the demand from job seekers has increased, and often the skills gap between applicant and employer has become wider. We keep hearing unemployment is down, jobs are up, Perry said. Thats news to North Carolinians who have become so frustrated that they have quit searching for jobs. We know they still want to work and we wont give up on them, Perry said, helping them with such things acquiring technology skills. Perry said the agency was purposeful in trying to connect the right employee with the right employer because it just adds to the frustration for people to come to events like this and only to be told no again. Perry said some employers were at the event to hire seasonal workers, which was fine with him if it offered job seekers an opportunity to make an impression. We are going to keep track of attendees and employers to find out how many were able to get a job from this event, and how many employers filled some of their hiring needs, Perry said. K.L. Chia of Kernersville said he came because it was being held in a technology venue. He said he had worked in information technology for Wachovia, LabCorp and US Airways before leaving the field in 2008. Chia, 58, said he has been making a living through entrepreneurial and online-marketing activities but felt it was time to try his hand at IT again. Age is one challenge to getting hired in IT, but its become so specialized with specific skill sets and experience, he said. What I have found is that most of the IT job openings with most of the companies here are entry level or just above it, Chia said. If I want a job with them, I have to go to their website and apply, and thats not been the most fruitful endeavor. Shannon Campbell of Winston-Salem was looking for an administrative job similar to the one she had for 14 years with Ralph Lauren in High Point before her position was cut as part of the company eliminating 1,000 jobs overall last summer. I have been fortunate that I have drawn enough interest, with the help of headhunters, that I might actually get to choose which job I want, Campbell said. What I have found is a strange disconnect between employers needing specific skills and finding people with those skills, but not hiring them because they are considered as overqualified. My goal is to find an employer who will give me the chance to prove myself. A fire injured two residents and damaged an eighth-floor apartment Wednesday night in the Sunrise Towers building at 801 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, authorities said. One of the injured residents was taken to a local hospital, said Battalion Chief Darryl Sawyer of the Winston-Salem Fire Department. The other injured resident was treated at the scene by Forsyth County emergency medical technicians, residents said. The fire, which started at 6:47 p.m., was caused by food left unattended on a stove in the apartments kitchen, Sawyer said. Firefighters contained the fire to that apartment. Authorities evacuated the buildings eighth and ninth floors, Sawyer said. The 11-story building contains 195 apartments, several residents said. Several fire trucks, police cars and ambulances responded to the fire. Emergency vehicles blocked the right lane on northbound King Drive. Arthur Rapley Jr., who lives in an eighth-floor apartment in Sunrise Towers, said the male resident whose apartment was on fire wasnt seriously injured. Rapley said he heard the fire alarm and saw black smoke coming through his apartment door. Thats when I hit the nearest exit, Rapley said. I opened my door, and I saw all that smoke. I knew I had to get out of there. Rapley said he took the stairwell on the south side of the building to get away from the fire. Julius Ellis, who lives in a fourth-floor apartment, said he also heard the alarm after the fire started. When the alarm goes off, you get out, Ellis said. I didnt see any smoke, but I could smell it. Ryan Morato, who also lives in a fourth-floor apartment, said when he heard the alarm, he didnt know what was happening. My instinct told me to get out of my apartment, Morato said. When I got outside, I saw the smoke coming out the window. Sawyer said that firefighters would allow the buildings residents to return to their apartments about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday night. The Housing Authority of Winston-Salem owns and manages the building. Sunrise Towers is open to elderly residents and people ages 18 and older. Most residents believe that Sunrise Towers is generally a safe place to live, Ellis said. It was, but I dont know now, Ellis said he sat on a bench outside the apartment building. State Sen. Joyce Krawiec spoke at the Forsyth County GOP headquarters Thursday, urging voters to consider the Affordable Care Act when they cast their votes. In North Carolina were still staggering from the news this week that our insurance premiums are skyrocketing. Families are hurting, Krawiec said. We just want to remind people that we have Hillary to thank for that. Krawiecs speech came hours before a joint visit by Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, and first lady Michelle Obama at the Joel Coliseum on Thursday. Flanked by a life-sized cardboard cutout of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and framed by an American flag, Krawiec called for a united effort in health care reform. Only with a Republican majority in the House and Senate and Trump at the helm can this be accomplished, she said. Krawiec showcased two of her favorite T-shirts at the media event: a 2009 anti-Obamacare shirt and a 1993 shirt denouncing a health care reform package proposed by the administration of President Bill Clinton. We were fighting this for a long time because we knew it was going to be a disaster, Krawiec said. Obamacare has been a disaster and its going to get worse. This is the infant stages of it. A lot of carriers, like Cigna, Aetna and Humana, are leaving North Carolina and if more follow suit, the state will be in trouble, she said. Bill Clinton had it just right. He said this was the craziest health-care system he ever saw. I wish Hillary would listen to him, Krawiec said. This model is just going to break the backs of the taxpayers and the citizens of North Carolina. Other Democrats, like Roy Cooper and Deborah Ross, will double down on Affordable Care Act, which was passed without any Republican votes, she said. The country needs a leader like Donald Trump, who will repeal and replace the law, she said. Free markets work, capitalism works, she said. Donald Trump is one of the worlds greatest capitalists. He understand how the system works. An overview of the 7th ACMECS Summit (Source: VNA) Following is the full text of the declaration. Towards a Dynamic and Prosperous Mekong Subregion 1. We, the Heads of State/Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), the Republic of Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam gathered in Hanoi, Viet Nam for the 7th Ayeyawady Chao Phraya Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (hereinafter referred to as ACMECS) Summit. The Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary of the ESCAP, the representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB) were also present at the Summit. 2. We recalled with satisfaction that since the establishment of ACMECS, much have been done to strengthen the relations among our five countries based on good neighborliness, traditional friendship, mutual interest and understanding. The five countries have made great strides in promoting economic growth and social progress, improving peoples welfare and quality of life, increasing inter-country trade and investment, people-to-people connectivity and carrying out structural reforms toward sustainable and inclusive growth. 3. We expressed our appreciation to the efforts made by the ACMECS Ministers, Senior Officials and working groups in implementing the ACMECS Plan of Action 2016-2018 and welcomed the progress made in eight areas of cooperation. We requested relevant agencies to accelerate the implementation of the ACMECS Plan of Action 2016 2018. 4. We held substantial discussions on the global and regional developments and the role of ACMECS in acclerating economic growth, increasing competitiveness of member countries econom ies and promoting sustainable development in the region. 5. We shared the view that ACMECS is entering a new phase of development defined by unprecedented development opportunities as well as emerging challenges. As ACMECS countries are going through a rapid social and economic transformation, its imperative for us to forge new growth drivers that capitalize on our strengths and take advantage of new development opportunities. 6. We agreed to deepen our cooperation in the areas of high priority with the aim of: (i) strengthening regional ties so as to facilitate our economies participation in the global value chains and improve our competitiveness; and (ii) supporting ACMECS countries in successfully implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We also agreed to take actions that would strengthen ACMECS. 7. To this end, we pledge to take the following actions: I. Enhancing regional connectivity: 8. In transport sector, we agreed to: i. F urther coordinate to complete multimodal transport connectivity and make full use of the existing road transportation networks and economic corridors, particularly the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), North - South Economic Corridor (NSEC) and Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) . ii. M obilize resources for the construction of missing links and improvement of road quality along the economic corridors; jointly construct highways along the SEC , including the Ho Chi Minh City Phnom Penh Expressway. iii. Coordinate on the development of new transport routes connecting ACMECS countries, including Ha Tinh (Viet Nam) Khammuane (Lao PDR) Nakhon Phanom (Thailand) route . iv. Explore the possibility of implementing Single Stop Inspection, Single Window Inspection (SSI/SWI) model at international border check-point s along EWEC and SEC ; and work with the Asia n Development Bank (ADB) on the Handbook on the SSI/SWIimplementation. v. Review the current status of logistics sector and identify ways to improve its competitiveness. vi. D evelop air linkages among major cities, cultural and natural heritage s in ACMECS countries. vii. Engage business sector in transport infrastructure development . viii. Strivefor the full implementation of the Cross-border Transport Agreement (CBTA) which has been ratified by all A CMECS member countries with its early harvest launch date to be on January 1, 2017 . 9. In the trade and investment facilitation sector, we agreed to : i. Strengthen cooperation among ACMECS countries in harmonizing and simplifying rules and regulations, including cross-border procedures, the procedures for goods-in-transit, the exchange of trade and investment information anddeveloping industrial zones along the EWEC and SEC. ii. Promote trade and investment among member countries, including cross-border trade, through the organization of trade fairs, exhibitions and other trade and investment promotion activities. iii. Encourage the use of local currencies for border trade transactions and information sharing on foreign exchange rules and regulations among members. 10 . In the Industry sector, we agreed to: Enhancing the competitiveness of ACMECS SMEs through promoting the harmonizing standardization, facilitating their access to information, finances, technology and the capacity building as well as enhancing SME cluster development 1 1 .In tourism sector : W e noted significant achievements of tourism development in ACMECS countries with 52 million international visitors and around 9 million intra-regional visitors in 2015 . We commended the progress made in implementing the Five countries, one destinationinitiative . In this regards, we welcomed the outcomes of the 15 th Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) held in June 2016 at Chiang Mai, Thailand and the 12th International Travel Expo (ITE) and the Open ACMECS Ministerial Forum on Responsible Tourism held in September 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City , Viet Nam . We requested relevant agencies to accelerate the implementation of the seven cooperation areas agreed in the ACMECS Tourism Action Plan 2016-2018 . We also agreed to: i. Promote green and responsible tourism in ACMECS countries. ii. D evelop various form of tourism products, including Mekong river tourism, land and sea tourism; iii. F acilitate the participation of tourism agencies and association s in major fairs and exhibitions in the region such as the International Travel Expo (ITE) and the Viet Nam International Travel Mart (VITM) , the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) , Cambodia Travel Mart. II. Promoting sustainable development: 12. We reaffirmed our commitment to work together toward green and sustainable development in the region and emphasized the significance of achieving goals and targets set in the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals 2030. . To this end, we are determined to strengthen our cooperation in the development of ACMECS smart agriculture, effective environment protection, sustainable natural resources management and efficient utilization of energy. 13. In agriculture sector, we agreed to : i. D evelop cooperation programs on food safety and quality management, mutual recognition of commodity certification s . ii. Strengthen cooperation in management of cross-border animal epidemic diseases. iii. Cooperate in developing new variet ies as well as indigenous varieties o f crop plants, which are tolerant and adaptable to climate change . iv. I mplement cooperation programmes on water resource management in agriculture and climate resilience agriculture . v. Encourage and promote the further development of bilateral and multilater al Contract Farming to generate employment and increase the welfare of farmers, increase production as well as contribute to the increase in regional and international trade in agricultural products, and to promote food security and greater investment by private actors. vi. Promote trade of agricultural products, while encouraging efforts to establish communication channels among ACMECS countries on rice production and trade. 14. In environmental cooperation , we agreed to: i. Reiterate the commitment to integrate the relevant Sustainable Development Goals into all ACMECS projects on economic development. ii. Further strengthen cooperation among ACMECS countries on environmental conservation and sustainable use of natural resources of the Ayeyawady, Chao Phraya and Mekong rivers. iii. Enhance cooperation between ACMECS countries in regional and international institutions, as well as with development partners, to promote green development and address as well as respond to climate change and global warming, and to make joint efforts in preventing illegal trade of timber and wildlife along the borders. iv. Coordinate in mobilizing resources for and implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. v. Strengthen ACMECSs collaboration with the Mekong River Commission and other regional mechanisms to jointly manage water resources for the sustainable management, development , utilization, and conservation of trans-boundary water and related resources. III. Increasing operational efficiency of ACMECS 15. We encourage development partners and international stakeholders to participate in ACMECS projects for mutual benefits and for the development of the region. 16. Recognizing that enterprise is the engine of trade, investment and innovation, we pledged to enhance the role of business sector in ACMECS development. We applauded the contributions of the ACMECS Business Advisory Council to our work and encourage d ACMECS Business Council to strengthen its communication with business communities so as to effectively convey their concerns and recommendations. 17. We tasked the Ministers and Senior Officials to further strengthen the coordination among member countries in mobilizing resources for the implementation of ACMECS projects. 18. To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of ACMECS, we will carry forward ACMECS reforms and improve its coordination with other relevant subregional cooperation frameworks; We tasked the Ministers and Senior Officials to further explore ways to streamline ACMECS operational structure and strengthen the synergy between ACMECS and Cambodia Lao PDR Myanmar Viet Nam Cooperation (CLMV). 19. We welcomed the success of the first World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Mekong region, which was initiated and organized by Viet Nam to highlight the great potential of the Mekong region to the international business circle. We emphasized the need of strengthening public-private partnership to realize the vision of a competitive, integrated and prosperous Mekong region. 20. We welcomed the Kingdom of Thailand s offer to host the E ighth ACMECS Summit and provide a venue for the Ninth CLMV Summit to be chaired by the Kingdom of Cambodia in 2018 . The specific date and venue will be coordinated through diplomatic channels. 21. We expressed our appreciation to the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for the excellent arrangements of the Summit and the warmest hospitality accorded to all member delegations during the Summit. Lights Out (PG-13): Director David F. Sandberg expanded his atmospheric three-minute short film into a feature-length movie. Teresa Palmer plays a woman haunted by a supernatural force that lurks in the darkness. Extras include deleted scenes. Nerve (PG-13): Emma Roberts and Dave Franco star in this thriller about an online competition that spills out into the real world, as competitors are forced to participate in increasingly dangerous stunts. The Blu-ray includes Watcher or Player modes, with interactive bonus features inspired by the films premise. Captain Fantastic (R): Viggo Mortensen stars in this drama about an eccentric father who has raised his children away from society but must now help them acclimate to civilization. Frank Langella and Kathryn Hahn co-star. Skiptrace (PG-13): Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville star in this action comedy about a Hong Kong detective whose partner is killed. He joins forces with an American gambler to get justice. Extras include commentary by director Renny Harlin and a behind-the-scenes short. Be Somebody (PG): Matthew Espinosa, a social-media celebrity, stars in this romantic teen drama about a pop star trying to hide from his fame. The Herschell Gordon Lewis Feast: This limited-edition boxed set from Arrow Video is devoted to the director of such drive-in classics as Blood Feast, Two Thousand Maniacs, She-Devils on Wheels and Color Me Blood Red. Those are among the 14 films featured in this Blu-ray/DVD combo set, which includes new introductions by Lewis, who died last month, trailers, commentaries, documentaries, behind-the-scenes shorts, outtakes and much more. His films were known for their gore, often comical and over-the-top; Two Thousand Maniacs, for instance, told of a town of Confederate ghosts that, in modern day (the 1960s), lure passing Yankees into their town to torture them in horrible ways as part of a macabre festival. Manhattan Baby (Unrated): This 1982 thriller, now available on Blu-ray from the Blue Underground video label, was directed by Lucio Fulci, a legendary Italian horror director. The story involves the young daughter of an archaeologist who is struck by an ancient curse after her father opens an Egyptian tomb. Extras include interviews, a career retrospective and a bonus soundtrack CD. Men & Chicken (Unrated): In this surreal Danish comedy starring Mads Mikkelsen, two socially inept brothers discover that they were part of a bizarre experiment and travel to a remote island to learn the secrets of their origins. Dark Water (Unrated): This 2002 Japanese horror film from the director of Ring is also available now from Arrow Video in a special edition, with extras including new and archival interviews, a documentary and a companion booklet. Exorcist III (R): The 1990 horror movie, with an impressive cast including George C. Scott, Ed Flanders and Brad Dourif, is now available in a Blu-ray Collectors Edition from Scream Factory. It includes a new 2K transfer of the film and more than four hours of bonus features. Warner Archives titles: New releases from the video label, not sold in stores but available online at wbshop.com, include One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich & The Lost American Film, a 2014 documentary about the popular director, a former faculty member at the UNC School of the Arts; Wheeler & Woolsey RKO Comedy Classics Collction Vol. 2, a six-film set with the largely forgotten comedy duo of the 1930s; and a Blu-ray release of the 1993 Body Snatchers, the third take on writer Jack Finneys enduring sci-fi thriller about a sinister alien invasion that takes over identities of people. Agatha Raisin: This British mystery series, with comedic elements, features Ashley Jensen as a blustery public-relations expert who retires to a small village. She becomes enmeshed in a murder mystery and has to become an amateur sleuth to prove her own innocence. Also new from Acorn Video is the second season of Janet King, an Australian legal drama. Barbie & Her Sisters in a Puppy Chase (Unrated): The latest animated Barbie movie includes a music video, bloopers and two shorts. Capsule reviews of movies in local theaters The Accountant HH When an accountant starts trying to correct the books for a client, the Treasury Department begins an investigation and the body count goes way up. Rated R. Showing: Wynnsong 12, Carmike 10, Grand 18, Lexington Cinema American Honey HH A teenage girl leaves home and takes off across the Midwest with a group of magazine sales people. Rated R. Showing: Aperture, RED Cinemas The Birth of a Nation HH In Virginia in 1831, Nat Turner led a slave revolt after witnessing many horrific acts committed against other slaves. He believed he was preordained to lead the revolt. Rated R. Showing: Wynnsong 12 Boo! A Madea Halloween HH On Halloween, Madea is trying to keep an eye on a group of teenagers and has to fend off killers, ghosts and zombies. Rated PG-13. Showing: Wynnsong 12, Carmike 10, Grand 18, RED Cinemas, Lexington Cinema, Starmount, Two Rivers Cinema Deepwater Horizon HHH A story about the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded in April 2010 causing the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Rated PG-13. Showing: RED Cinemas Demon HHH Peter, a Jewish bridegroom, is possessed by a dybbuk, a malevolent spirit in Jewish folklore, just before his wedding. Rated R. Showing: Aperture Denial HH The story of Deborah Lipstadt, a historian and writer who wrote that David Irving, a historian of World War II and Nazi Germany, was a Holocaust denier. Irving sued Lipstadt for libel. Rated PG-13. Showing: Aperture, RED Cinemas Dont Breathe HH A trio breaks into the home of a rich, blind man thinking it will be an easy score, but they are in for a big surprise. Rated R. Showing: RED Cinemas Finding Dory HHH Dory is a forgetful fish that is trying to reunite with her family with help from Nemo and Marlin. Rated PG. Showing: Marketplace Ghostbusters HHH Remake of the 1984 hit, remade with women in the lead roles. Starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Chris Hemsworth. PG-13. Showing: Marketplace Girl on the Train HH A divorced woman rides the train by her old house every day on the way to work. She creates a fantasy life for a couple who live near the house. She gets involved when the wife goes missing. Rated R. Showing: Wynnsong 12, Carmike 10, Grand 18, RED Cinemas, Two Rivers Cinema Goosebumps HH The demons of a horror author are set loose on a town in Maryland. The writers daughter and her friends team up to clean up the mess. Rated PG. Showing: Liberty Theatre, free admission Inferno HH Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) wakes up in a Italian hospital with amnesia. He teams up with a doctor (Felicity Jones) to recover his memory. Based on a Dan Brown novel, directed by Ron Howard. Rated PG-13. Showing: Wynnsong 12, Carmike 10, Grand 18, Lexington Cinema, Starmount, Two Rivers Cinema Jack Reacher: Never Go Back HH Reacher is on the run as a fugitive and must look to the past to find the truth about a government conspiracy. Rated PG-13. Showing: Wynnsong 12, Carmike 10, Grand 18, Liberty Theatre, RED Cinemas, Lexington Cinema, Two Rivers Cinema, Starmount To Joey with Love not reviewed A documentary about Joey Feek, a Tennessee woman, and her family as she battles cancer. Rated R. Showing: Wynnsong 12 Kevin Hart: What Now? HH Comedian Kevin Hartman performs at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Rated R. Showing: Wynnsong 12, Carmike 10, Grand 18, Lexington Cinema, RED Cinemas Keeping Up with the Joneses HH A suburban couple find out that their neighbors are government spies. Starring Gal Gadot, Isla Fisher, Zach Galifianakis, of Wilkes County, and Jon Hamm. Rated PG-13. Showing: Wynnsong 12, Carmike 10, Grand 18, RED Cinemas, Lexington Cinema, Two Rivers Cinema, Starmount Kubo and the Two Strings HHH In order to fight off an evil spirit, Kubo must find his late fathers magical suit of armor. Rated Pg-13. Showing: Marketplace Little Sister HHH Colleen is a young nun who has avoided her family for years. She returns home to Asheville to reconnect with them and finds that her bedroom is exactly the way she left it, painted black and covered in goth posters. Asheville was one of the filming locations. Not rated. Showing: Aperture The Magnificent Seven HH Seven old west gunmen help the residents of a small town against thieves. Remake of the 1960 movie. Starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke. Rated PG-13. Showing: Wynnsong 12, Carmike 10, RED Cinemas A Man Called Ove (En Man Som Heter Ove) HH Ove is the former president of his homeowners association, although he doesnt accept that he is no longer in charge. He still tries to run the community by walking the property and disposing of bicycles parked in the wrong place and chasing stray cats off. A family moves in across from him. After backing into Oves mailbox, a friendship begins to develop. Rated PG-13 Showing: Aperture Mechanic: Resurrection HH The girlfriend of Arthur Bishop, the most notorious hitman in the world, is kidnapped and he must commit three killings that look like accidents. Rated R. Showing: Marketplace Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life HH A group of middle school students, tired of being ruled and regulated to death, decide to break all the rules. Rated PG. Showing: Wynnsong 12, RED Cinemas Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children HHH A boy discovers a mysterious place called Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children. The mystery deepens as he gets to know the people and finds out about their different powers. Directed by Tim Burton. Rated PG-13. Showing: Carmike 10, Lexington Cinema Ouija: Origin of Evil HH A widow and her two daughters are running a seance scam in 1967 Los Angeles. They decide to add to the act and invite an evil spirit. The younger daughter becomes possessed by the spirit. Rated PG-13. Showing: Wynnsong 12, Carmike 10, Grand 18, RED Cinemas, Lexington Cinema, Two Rivers Cinema, Starmount The Secret Life of Pets HHH Max has the perfect life as an only dog until his owner brings home a mutt named Duke. Max learns that Snowball the bunny is putting together an army of abandoned pets to exact revenge on the owners who left them. Rated PG. Showing: Marketplace Storks HH Storks are now delivering packages instead of babies. Junior, the best delivery stork, activates the baby machine by mistake and must find a home for a baby girl before his superiors find out. Rated PG. Showing: Wynnsong 12, RED Cinemas Suicide Squad H Super villains are recruited from prison for secret missions in exchange for clemency. Rated PG-13. Showing: Marketplace Sully HH The true story of Chesley Sullenberger, the US Airways pilot who safely landed his disabled jet in the Hudson River in January 2009, saving the lives of the 155 passengers and crew on board. The incident became known as the Miracle on the Hudson. Tom Hanks is Sully. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Rated PG-13. Showing: Carmike 10 Reddit Email 154 Shares By Mike Merryman-Lotze | (Otherwords) | Every day Palestinians live in fear of another U.S.-funded attack by the Israeli government. This fall, the U.S. agreed to provide $38 billion in military aid to Israel over the next ten years, ensuring Americas continued role in funding the occupation of Palestine. Meanwhile, my friends and colleagues here in Gaza live in fear of another significant Israeli attack in the near future. They have every reason to fear another major escalation violence is a daily reality in Gaza. In two recent incidents, a rocket was fired from Gaza into Israel without causing damage or injuries, and in both instances Israel responded by bombing targets throughout Gaza. In August alone, Israel bombed more than 50 locations in the small territory. The simple story told about these events focuses on action and reaction: Palestinians attacked Israel with a rocket and Israel responded. We hear this logic after nearly every event of this sort, but its woefully incomplete. In both instances, the rockets fired werent fired by Hamas, but rather by small radical armed groups at odds with Hamas, which governs Gaza. These groups seek to incite Israeli attacks on Hamas with the goal of destabilizing its control over Gaza, because they see Hamas as too comfortable with the status quo. Since seizing power in 2007, Hamas has worked to control and limit violence from the territory. Outside of periods of defined military escalation which tend to be precipitated by Israeli attacks they have effectively stopped attacks against Israel from Gaza. This explains why, as noted by the Israeli press, there were only 14 rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel between January and August this year. None were fired by Hamas, so Israels decision to target Hamas as a response makes no sense. Of course, 14 rockets fired from Gaza is 14 too many for those of us committed to ending all violence, and none of this should be taken as an apology for other violence perpetrated by Hamas. But, as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories reports, there were also 45 Israeli military incursions into Gaza this year, resulting in 7 Palestinian deaths and, on average, injuring five Palestinians in Gaza every week. This is the part of the story that isnt told. Gaza also remains under an Israeli-imposed blockade that severely limits travel, trade, and life for Gazans. Despite assurances that restrictions would be lifted in the 2014 Hamas-Israel ceasefire agreement, the blockade remains in effect. Israel, with support from the U.S. government, claims this decades-long blockade is in place to pressure the people of Gaza to rise up against Hamas and provide security for Israelis. If those are Israels raisons detre, then its a complete failure. It hasnt stopped violence, it hasnt weakened Hamas, and it hasnt brought Israelis or Palestinians security. While the blockade hasnt succeeded in achieving the changes Israel claims to be seeking, its impact on the civilian population of Gaza has been immense. Over two years after the end of the last large military operation there, much of Gaza remains in ruins. Of the 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza who were displaced during the 2014 Israeli bombardment, over 65,000 remain homeless, as 70 percent of the homes seriously damaged or destroyed havent been rebuilt. This is largely because reconstruction materials remain blocked from entering Gaza. This important context is too often missing as U.S. pundits and politicians consider the situation in Gaza. Given the blockade and regular military incursions imposed by Israel, the firing of less than 2 rockets per month by Palestinians cannot be seen as the core reason for violence. If the U.S. is serious about promoting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, preventing future violence in Gaza, and guaranteeing security, then it must recognize the violence inherent in the Israeli occupation and end the blockade. The next attack on Gaza, feared by my friends who live there, is an inevitable reality if nothing changes. Via Otherwords.org Related video added by Juan Cole: TeleSur: Photo Gallery Highlights Lack of Reconstruction in Gaza Reddit Email 14 Shares By Nadia Prupis, staff writer | (Commondreams.org) | If companies are allowed to operate in this manner without repercussions, our democracy has no future. Telecommunications giant AT&T is spying on Americans for profit and helped law enforcement agencies investigate everything from the so-called war on drugs to Medicaid fraudall at taxpayers expense, according to new reporting by The Daily Beast. The program, known as Project Hemisphere, allowed state and local agencies to conduct warrantless searches of trillions of call records and other cellular datasuch as where a target is located, with whom he speaks, and potentially whyfor a massive range of investigations, the Beasts Kenneth Lipp reports. In one case examined by the news outlet, a sheriffs office in Victorville, California used Hemisphere to track down a homicide suspect. Hemisphere was first revealed by the New York Times in 2013, but was described at the time as a partnership between AT&T and drug enforcement agencies used in counter-narcotics operations. Neither, it turns out, is entirely true. Lipp writes: AT&Ts own documentationreported here by The Daily Beast for the first timeshows Hemisphere was used far beyond the war on drugs to include everything from investigations of homicide to Medicaid fraud. Hemisphere isnt a partnership but rather a product AT&T developed, marketed, and sold at a cost of millions of dollars per year to taxpayers. No warrant is required to make use of the companys massive trove of data, according to AT&T documents, only a promise from law enforcement to not disclose Hemisphere if an investigation using it becomes public. The details were revealed as AT&T seeks to buy out Time Warner in a mega-merger that media watchdogs are warning would create dangerous concentrations of political and economic power. Evan Greer, campaign director at the digital rights group Fight for the Future, said Tuesday, The for-profit spying program that these documents detail is more terrifying than the illegal [National Security Agency] surveillance programs that Edward Snowden exposed. Far beyond the NSA and FBI, these tools are accessible to a wide range of law enforcement officers including local police, without a warrant, as long as they pay up. It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it, Greer said. While the government can request that private companies hand over user data, the documents show that AT&T went above and beyond to make the operation profitable, Lipp writes. ACLU technology policy analyst Christopher Soghoian told the Beast, Companies have to give this data to law enforcement upon request, if they have it. AT&T doesnt have to data-mine its database to help police come up with new numbers to investigate. And because the contract between the telecom company and the U.S. government stipulates only that agents not speak about Hemisphere if a probe using it becomes public, investigators may be left with no choice but to create a false narrative to explain how they obtained certain evidence, according to Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) attorney Adam Schwartz. This document here is striking, Schwartz told Beast. Ive seen documents produced by the government regarding Hemisphere, but this is the first time Ive seen an AT&T document which requires parallel construction in a service to government. Its very troubling and not the way law enforcement should work in this country. At a minimum there is a very serious question whether they should be doing it without a warrant. A benefit to the parallel construction is they never have to face that crucible. Then the judge, the defendant, the general public, the media, and elected officials never know that AT&T and police across America funded by the White House are using the worlds largest metadata database to surveil people, he said. Greer added: Customers trusted AT&T with some of their most private information, and the company turned around and literally built a product to sell that information to as many government agencies and police departments as they could. Not only did they fail to have any safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of the data, they actually required law enforcement to keep the program secret and dig up or fabricate other evidence, to hide the fact that theyd received information from AT&T. Fight for the Future called on AT&T to shut down the program and on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Hemisphere and reveal all the cases in which it was used. If companies are allowed to operate in this manner without repercussions, our democracy has no future, Greer said. Join our email lists Email Address: Email Marketing by VerticalResponse Jungle Red Writers has been named one of the top 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writers Digest, one of the top 50 mystery blogs by CourtReporter, and one of the top 100 creative writing blogs by Best Colleges Online President Tran Dai Quang (L) and President Htin Kyaw review honour guards at the welcoming ceremony (Source:VNA) The agreement was reached during talks between President Tran Dai Quang and Myanmar President Htin Kyaw following the welcome ceremony in Hanoi on October 26th. The two Presidents also shared the view that the two countries should maintain existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-Committee on Vietnam-Myanmar Bilateral Cooperation, the deputy ministerial-level political consultation, and the Inter-Committee on Trade, among others. They pledged to deepen mutually-beneficial trade and investment. Vietnam is currently the 10th largest trade partner and investor in Myanmar. Both sides are actively working together on 12 priority fields of agriculture, industrial plants, fisheries, finance-banking, aviation, telecommunications, oil and gas, mining, electrical devices, automobile assembling, construction, and trade and investment. President Htin Kyaw, who is on a State visit to Vietnam from October 26th-28th, hailed the efficient operation of the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Myanmar, and affirmed that the Myanmar government provides favourable conditions for investors in the fields of banking, telecommunications, aviation, mining and tourism. The two State leaders shared the view on common interest in regional peace and security, and affirmed their commitment to enhancing national defence-security ties via the sharing of experience and information, as well as optimizing existing cooperation mechanisms. They pledged to promptly establish mechanisms for deputy ministerial-level defence policy dialogue and a joint working group of the defence ministries external relations departments. They agreed to hold the fourth security dialogue in the near future, and push ahead with negotiation for the signing of an agreement on extradition and another one on the transfer of sentenced persons between the two countries. Host and guest expressed their pleasure with the increasingly strong ties across agriculture, telecommunications, transport, justice, culture, education, tourism, people-to-people exchange, and agreed to sign agreements to create a legal framework for partnerships in specific areas. The two leaders vowed to boost people-to-people exchange and culture-tourism collaboration, believing that mutual understanding and the sharing of cultural values are firm foundation for mutual trust and long-term bond between the two nations. On regional and global issues of shared concern, they vowed to work with other ASEAN member states to accelerate the building of the ASEAN Community via the effective and full implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the promotion of ASEANs central role in regional architecture. The two sides will also work to increase cooperation in the sustainable and effective use of Mekong River water resources, especially within the framework of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and related organisations. On the occasion, the Myanmar President said the country will consider joining the MRC. As regards the East Sea issue, the Presidents pledged to promote peace, security, stability, maritime and aviation safety and freedom, as well as unhindered trade in the region, especially in the East Sea. They called on parties concerned to exercise restraint, refrain from the use of force or threat to use force, fully respect diplomatic and legal process, settle disputes by peaceful means in line with basic principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The two Presidents reiterated their support of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the cooperation for finalization of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. The same day, President Htin Kyaw paid a courtesy call to Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong, met Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and received several Vietnamese business representatives./. The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday approved a contentious bill [legislative materials] that allows public officials to be charged with a crime for identifying a police officer who used force against someone. The new statutory requirements would bar any public officials or employees from identifying police officers until 30 days after the use of force incident or after the investigation is complete. Anyone who violates the proposed law would face a second-degree misdemeanor charge. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania [advocacy website] criticized the bill [press release] for diminishing transparency and suggested that the bill may increase distrust between communities and police officers. The bill was amended by the Senate, so it now returns to the House for a vote. If the House agrees to the Senates changes, it will head to Governor Tom Wolf [official website] for approval. A spokesperson for Wolf said [PennLive report] the governor is still reviewing the bill and has not yet made a decision. The US has been facing years of concern over violence between law enforcement agents and civilians. Earlier this month the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released a statement [JURIST report] outlining plans to collect data on the use of force by police officers from across the nation. Attorney General Loretta Lynch described the project as focusing broadly on officer-civilian interactions, while encompassing use of force. In September the DOJ opened an investigation into the fatal police shooting of Terence Crutcher [JURIST report]. In July local groups and the ACLU of Louisiana filed a lawsuit against the Baton Rouge Police Department for violating the First Amendment rights of protesters who were peacefully protesting the police killing of Alton Sterling [JURIST report]. Also in July the Attorney General gave her response to the shooting of police officers [JURIST report] in Dallas during a peaceful protest of recent police shootings of Sterling and Philando Castille. The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court [official website] dismissed an application on Thursday by more than 300 detained asylum-seekers requesting transfer to Australia. The judge dismissed [Reuters report] the case because the lawyer signed the application instead of the complainants. Any migrants who are intercepted before reaching Australia are sent by officials to either Manus Island in Papua New Guinea or the island nation of Nauru. In total, 823 asylum seekers are detained on these islands, most of whom are from Afghanistan, Iran or Pakistan. If the request would have been granted, officials for Papua New Guinea and Australia would have been required [Radio New Zealand report] to transfer the complainants to Australia or a third country within 30 days. Australian refugees and their treatment have been a topic of discussion among international human rights organizations as of late, prompting Amnesty International to report that Australia is using the island of Nauru as an open-air prison [JURIST report] as a means to prevent immigration. In August Australia announced [JURIST report] that Australia and Papua New Guinea intend on closing the controversial Manus Island detention center. That same month AI and Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued reports [JURIST report] stating that Australia is ignoring inhumane treatment of detainees in Nauru. Papua New Guinea officials claimed in May that Australian refugees are not being detained [JURIST report] on Manus Island, as they are given access to mainland Australia. The statement by officials followed a ruling by the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court that the Australian off-shore detention facility was illegal, in direct opposition to a ruling [JURIST report] by the Australian Supreme Court earlier this year that the off-shore detention was legal. A Spanish court ordered [press release, in Spanish] automobile manufacturer Volkswagen (VW) [corporate website] and its subsidiary in Valladolid to pay 5,006 in a lawsuit regarding its emissions scandal. VW has been accused of implementing software [JURIST report] in its vehicles that could cheat emissions tests. The plaintiff was an owner of an Audi Q5 purchased in 2013 for about 50,000. Although the plaintiff sued for the entire value of the car, the judge estimated that the altered software has caused a 10 percent decrease [El Mundo report, in Spanish] in the value of the car. This is the first of six VW lawsuits in Spain that have resulted in a loss for the car company. VW is facing legal difficulty around the world over the emissions scandal. This ruling comes just days after a US judge approved [JURIST report] a $14.7 billion settlement between VW and the US Department of Justice , the Federal Trade Commission, the state of California and car owners who filed a class action lawsuit over the companys emissions scandal. In September a German court said VW faces over USD $8.2 billion in damage claims from investors. That same month, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sued [JURIST report] VW and its local subsidiary for misleading customers. In August a district court in Germany ruled [JURIST report] that a collective complaint against VW may move forward. Like US-style class-action lawsuits, the collective complaint was launched on behalf of multiple investors who lost money following the diesel emissions cheating scandal. Last March the US FTC filed suit [JURIST report] against VW for false advertising. A study [text, PDF] released by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) [advocacy website] on Wednesday shows that female members of parliament (MPs) face higher levels of sexism, violence and harassment than reported. The IPU conducted interviews with more than 50 female MPs from countries across the world. A brief overview [text] of the results show that over 80 percent of participants have been the targets of psychological violence, just over 65 percent of participants have suffered from sexual insults and 20 percent have encountered physical violence. IPU promulgated the study in order to alert parliaments to the issue, define the issue, and encourage lawmakers to promote change. The organization said the issues faced by female MPs impede gender equality and undermine the foundations of democracy. Sex and gender-based violence continues to be a worldwide issue. Earlier this month the UN released [JURIST report] a report documenting high rates of rape and perpetrator impunity in Liberia. According to the World Health Organization, between 61 and 77 percent of women in Libera report having been raped during the nations 14-year civil conflict. This same month the Center for Civilians in Conflict criticized [JURIST report] UN peacekeepers in South Sudan for failing to protect civilians from abuse, including sexual and gender-based violence, during an outbreak of fighting in the country that took place in July. In September UN experts urged [JURIST report] states to protect women and girls in the movement of refugees and migrants by adhering to international human rights conventions and standards, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. Migrant women and girls are at a high risk of gender-based violence while in transit and may also face intersecting forms of discrimination based race, nationality, or religion. The UN Refugee Agency (UNCHR) [official website] on Wednesday called 2016 the worst year for refugees [press release] crossing the Mediterranean Sea as the death toll reached its highest point. The agency expressed concern because the current death tolls are on track to supersede the already high numbers from 2015. The agency believes the death rates are due to changes in smuggling techniques, crossing a known perilous route and moving large masses of individuals at one time. The agency also noticed an increase in the usage of watercraft that are not designed for the voyage or to transfer multiple people. UNHCR is alarmed at the high death toll being seen this year among refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Already, and with two months of 2016 still to go, at least 3,740 lives are reported lostjust short of the 3,771 deaths reported for the whole of 2015. This is the worst we have seen. The high loss of life comes despite a large overall fall this year in the number of people seeking to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Last year at least 1,015,078 people made the crossing. This year so far, crossings stand at 327,800. From one death for every 269 arrivals last year, in 2016 the likelihood of dying has spiralled to one in 88. On the Central Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy the likelihood of dying is even higher, at one death for every 47 arrivals. UNHCR called for greater international efforts, including, enhanced resettlement and humanitarian admissions, family reunification, private sponsorship, and humanitarian, student and work visas for refugees. An administrative court in Lille, France, on last Tuesday rejected [JURIST report] requests from almost a dozen aid groups and permitted the closure process of the Jungle migrant camp near Calais to continue. Amnesty International (AI) in early October called [JURIST report ] on wealthy nations to become more active in solving the refugee crisis after discovering that 10 nations making up less than 2.5 percent of the worlds GDP have taken in more than half of all resettled persons. In the same month the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed [JURIST report] an Indiana district court ruling that blocked Indianas effort to prevent resettlement of Syrian refugee families in the state. UN human rights expert Karima Bennoune [official profile] on Wednesday urged [press release] the international community to help end the destruction of cultural heritage. Referencing a 24-page report [materials], Bennoune explained how destruction of culture often goes unnoticed and unpunished though it is most often irreversible and utilized as a weapon of warfare for cultural cleansing. The report then discussed the importance of treating destruction of culture as a human rights issue stating that [i]t is impossible to separate a peoples cultural heritage from the people itself and that peoples rights. The report concluded imploring the international community to effectively prevent and stop intentional destruction of cultural heritage as a violation of human rights listing possible solutions such as expediting the issuance of visas and granting asylum to the at-risk. Earlier this year the International Criminal Court (ICC) the Hague opened its first war crimes hearing [JURIST report]for destruction of religious or cultural heritage allowing the confirmation of charges against Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi for destruction of religious and cultural heritage. Al Faqi was turned over [JURIST report] to the ICC by Nigerian authorities in September pursuant to an arrest warrant issued earlier that month. In 2012 this investigation into the terrorist attacks was encouraged by the Malian Justice Minister Malick Couliably after the ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda stated [JURIST reports] that the attacks in Mali would not be tolerated and would be considered war crimes. Much of the turmoil associated with the current situation in Mali arose from the president of Malis removal from office and the military take over of the government by the Taureg rebels earlier in 2012. The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit [official website] on Tuesday ruled [opinion, PDF] that music companies that previously composed EMI Group, Ltd. can pursue copyright infringement claims against an old online music storage company and its CEO, Michael Robertson [official website]. The companies were appealing from a US district judges reduction [JURIST report] of a $48.1 million jury award, asserting that the judge applied too narrow of a definition for safe harbor protection under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) [text, PDF]. The Second Circuit agreed with the companies [Reuters report]. Part of the original award was reinstated, although the Second Circuit affirmed the reduction of punitive damages. Additionally, the Second Circuit reversed and permitted further claims pursuant to the proper definition of repeat infringer for the safe harbor protection. Copyright issues have become especially prevalent in the digital age. JURIST Guest Columnist Olivier Sylvain of the Fordham University School of Law wrote in 2012 about interpreting the DMCA [JURIST op-ed]. In July the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) [official website] filed a complaint [JURIST report] in the US District Court for the District of Columbia [official website] challenging the anti-circumvention and anti-trafficking provisions of the DMCA. In April the US Supreme Court [official website] denied certiorari [JURIST report] from an appeal by three book authors and their advocacy group claiming Google was violating copyright law by scanning millions of books and placing them within an online search engine. [JURIST] The Venezuelan Parliament [official website in Spanish] on Tuesday voted to open criminal impeachment proceedings against sitting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, alleging that he manipulated the constitution to remain in power. Arguing that Maduro staged a coup, the congress attempted to have Maduro accept a recall vote [Reuters report] by listening to the testimony of accusers, some of whom claim that Maduro is responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians, including children and other serious social ills in the country. Maduro, however, remains steadfast. There has been considerable legislative tension between the pro-government controlled Supreme Tribunal of Justice and the opposition-majority National Assembly of Venezuela following the December election. On Sunday the Venezuelan National Assembly [JURIST report] declared that there is a breakdown of constitutional order and that the government had staged a coup by blocking an attempt to remove Maduro from power. In June government officials asked the Supreme Court to deny a referendum [JURIST report] to remove Maduro proposed by opposition leaders. In April Venezuelas opposition-led parliament approved [JURIST report] new referendum rules. In March the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ruled that the Venezuelan national assembly may not review the appointment of 13 justices [JURIST report] to the high court by the Socialist Party. The 13 justices were sworn in on December 23, immediately prior to the exit of prior Socialist Party majority. In February the court upheld Maduros economic emergency decree [JURIST report] as legal and valid despite a rejection by the national assembly. The decree allows the president to control the budget, companies and the currency. In January the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ruled that all decisions from the opposition-led assembly would be void [JURIST report] until three opposition lawmakers were removed from their seats. The courts decision came days after the assembly swore in elected lawmakers that were temporarily barred by the court [JURIST report]. The ruling had suspended four elected lawmakers for their involvement in alleged election fraud last December [JURIST report]. Track product launches by FMCG companies to get an understanding of the product-level strategies including geographic concentrations, innovation types, product claim, category focus and more Monitoring the advertising strategies of various brands and gain insights into channel focus, regional focus, and more Perform company-level analysis to understand business model, size, and geographic focus Unilever product advertising is mainly through mainstream TV channels. Out of the products advertised so far at least 50% (over 850) of ads have been run on TV, while print media comes second with 496 ads. Unilever also utilizes social media platforms for advertisement. Unilever products are categorized by innovation ratings and tags in our product launch database. The North American region consists of almost 74 products with innovations related to the formulation of the product. Europe and other regions also have more products categorized under formulation-related innovation, followed by the packaging and positioning of the products. Most Unilever products are tagged with High Vitamins, Recyclable, and Natural tags to understand what the product differentiator is from other products available in the market. The majority of products belong to the personal care industry with a total of 5,788 products to date. This report, through the Unilever Example, illustrates how GlobalData Explorer enables you to:Dont miss out on key market insights that can help optimize your next investment read the report now. The online channel is expanding in south-east Asia and Thailand is at the vanguard of that development. Michael Tatarski analyses how the online space is growing in Thailand. Free Report Whats the forecast for the food and grocery industry? Market drivers and inhibitors Five-year forecasts and the impact of COVID-19 The performance of the online channel versus offline Major trends in the market including rapid delivery, ambient retailing, supply chain disruption, and inflation Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. The food and grocery sector thrived during the pandemic, largely due to the shutdown of the food service industry and the sectors subsequent necessity, panic-induced bulk purchasing, and spending more time at home. The market has grown as a result of inflation. Consumer unwillingness to go out and socialize, and the reopening of several hospitality facilities, helped maintain the demand for groceries, particularly online, in 2021. As consumer behavior changes, we consume more food and drink at home, and inflation increases basket sizes. GlobalData predicts that the sector will continue to hold a higher share than had been predicted prior to the pandemic. This is true despite the fact that the food and grocery sector's share of overall retail will decline from its peak in 2020. This report will discuss market forecasts and key themes in the global food & grocery industry in 2022 and beyond. It covers:Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. by GlobalData Enter your details here to receive your free Report. Please enter a work/business email address Country United Kingdom United States Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of The Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D"ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People"s Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People"s Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Download free Report By clicking the Download Free Report button, you accept the terms and conditions and acknowledge that your data will be used as described in the GlobalData privacy policy By downloading this Report, you acknowledge that we may share your information with our white paper partners/sponsors who may contact you directly with information on their products and services. Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address. Thank you.Please check your email to download the Report. Thailands online packaged food market is small, but growing fast. Indeed, online sales of packaged food in Thailand are expected to grow dramatically by 2020 as Internet penetration increases and traffic in major cities makes in-person shopping inconvenient. Just over 40% of Thailands population can access the Internet at home, up from just 22.4% in 2010, according to the World Bank. Meanwhile, Statista, the online statistics portal, estimates 20m Thais will use smartphones by the end of 2016, compared to 14.4m in 2013. With more people than ever going online, e-commerce is a growing, though still relatively small, part of Thailands retail economy. According to a study released in April by Bain & Co, a US global management consulting firm, online retail sales of all consumer products in Thailand were worth US$1.4bn last year, the second-highest in south-east Asia behind Indonesias $1.7bn. However, online retails market share of all Thai retail sales was just 3.8%, behind Singapores 5.5% and Chinas 14%. However, this figure is expected to jump to 15% by 2024 and Thailand is already ranked second in the region in e-commerce transaction value and market size. The country is home to an estimated 23m digital consumers. This growth will greatly benefit online sales of packaged food in Thailand, which are starting to expand. UK-based market researcher Euromonitor International analysis shows that overall packaged food retail value in 2010 reached THB264bn (US$7.51bn), while the figure rose to THB363bn last year. Meanwhile, food and drink Internet retailing within this sector rose from THB1bn in 2010 to THB5bn in 2015. Euromonitor International expects this trend to continue over the next few years, with overall Internet retailing estimated to grow 93% by 2020. Food and drink Internet retailing will grow 89% in the same period, with a compound annual growth rate of 13.6%, it predicted. Shirley Zhu, programme director at the Asia-Pacific hub of IGD, a UK-based research and training charity for the food and grocery industry, says e-commerce will play a much more significant role in the Thai grocery retail market moving forward. However, it is not likely to be plain sailing, Zhu says, who explained some of the speed bumps facing online food retailers in Thailand. A general challenge for grocery retailing is understanding and reaching consumer segments in a very fragmented market, especially in lower-tier cities and rural areas, she says, adding manufacturers and retailers need to reassess their strategies to ensure they have access to the best routes to market. A barrier facing online food sales is the acceptance of e-payment among the Thai population Unlike western countries, penetration of credit cards is low and shoppers are concerned over security and privacy, Zhu says. In an effort to get around this, the Thai government is sponsoring an e-payment model called Any ID, which allows customers to make and receive payments on their mobile phone. With Thailand shifting towards a cashless model, manufacturers and retailers are being challenged to up their game in e-commerce and digital marketing in order to increase online sales, Zhu says. Despite these challenges, retailers are pushing ahead with aggressive growth strategies in online food sales. Leading retailers such as Central Food Retail Co. offer delivery throughout Thailand. Tesco Lotus, the Thai arm of the UK retailer, announced in June plans to double its online shopping business every year for the next three to five years. Wanna Swuddigul, digital and online business director for Tesco Lotus, told the Bangkok-based Nation newspaper: As demand tends to come from customers living in urban areas, Tesco Lotus has recently introduced a new delivery service at lockers located at 48 condominiums along the BTS [skytrain] and MRT [metro railway] lines, in prime residential neighbourhoods [of Bangkok], such as Sukhumvit, Sathorn, Ratchada, Phayathai and Phaholyotin. Dairy giant Fonterra pinpoints Tesco among the retailers with which it is looking to work to tap into growing demand for buying food online. From an e-commerce perspective, our strategy is focused on us partnering with key e-retailers including Tesco, Lazada and Tops to leverage their established platforms to reach consumers directly. This year, Anmum is partnering with Tesco to offer special promotion prices to thank Thai mums for their loyal support for the past 18 years, Paul Richards, the managing director of Fonterras branded business in Thailand, says. Retail analysis by IGD also describes efforts by Tesco Lotus and Lazada.com, a Singapore-based e-commerce platform with operations in Thailand among other south-east Asian markets, to get customers outside of Bangkok, the capital and by far the countrys largest and most developed city, to try online shopping. The companies have recently installed online shopping kiosks at Tescos Express convenience stores and the UK retailers local Talad supermarket outlets throughout the country. These kiosks allow shoppers to purchase items from the online Tesco Lotus shop on the Lazada platform and have their order delivered to their house. If successful, such kiosks will be added to 200 more stores every year, the IGD says. Another company taking advantage of the growth in Thailands e-commerce market is the Bangkok-based Premier Retail Group through its website delishop.co.th, which has been operating in the country for the last two years. Pascal Martin, the companys CEO, tells just-food online food retailing is still young but he is very optimistic about the future. We are still at the beginning of online groceries, he said, adding: There are dozens of websites selling non-food products such as fashion and cosmetics which are very successful, so you can see the trendI think this is going to continue to grow. However, Martin points to some of the difficulties facing the food sector. Food is a little different because you need to trust it more since youre putting it in your body. You dont want something where you dont know where its coming from, he says. I think people are still conservative, but this is changing. The key, according to Martin, is persuading people to try online grocery shopping for the first time, and the first step in this process is creating a strong website. It needs to be attractive, because this is your window It should be simple, and you need to convince people to buy from you, he adds. Premier Retail Group does a lot of advertising and is active on social media and Martin notes they also communicate with customers directly to find out what they want from online grocery shopping. In his experience, once someone tries their service for the first time, they quickly become a repeat customer. Martin also emphasises the need for companies to find their niche when it comes to online food retailing. Overall sales are good, and one reason is that we are selective, we dont sell everything, he continued. This differentiates Premier Retail Group from the markets biggest firms. We need to import new products because we dont want to compete with companies like Tesco or Big C. They are completely mass-market, and it doesnt make sense to fight with them on a margin for a product, Martin says. Fonterra also indicates how manufacturers operating in Thailand can build their brands online as more of the countrys population is online and uses social media. We need to be where the consumers are, Richards says. Eating is more social, interactive and visual than before. We have seized this growing communication channel with our digital campaigns. For example, our Anlene Facebook page encourages followers to move and be healthy, and our Anmum Club Thailand Facebook page provides mums-to-be with regular information, advice and tools to accompany them throughout each stage of pregnancy. Were also leveraging the huge popularity of video content by posting our Anchor Food Professionals recipes in short video formats which have attracted a large number of viewers online. Digital is a massive opportunity for Fonterra. Additional reporting by Dean Best. Related Companies NEWSLETTER Sign up Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Just Style Daily Update The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. Just Style Weekly Update A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Just Style Magazine The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every quarter. Joe Tiao Lecture Series About the series October 13, 2022: Kenneth Rogoff, Harvard University Pubilc Lecture: Regnier Forum, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 13. Title: "Inflation, Debt and Central Bank Independence" Department Lecture: 137 Waters Hall, 3:50 - 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 13. Title: "Long-Run Trends in Long-Maturity Real Rates 1311 - 2021" April 21, 2022: Narayana Kocherlakota, University of Rochester Public Lecture: Regnier Forum, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. Department Lecture: 137 Waters Hall, 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. on Friday, April 22. Title: "Stabilization with Fiscal Policy" April 16, 2019: Robert Feenstra Public Lecture: Regnier Forum, 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16. Department Lecture: 342 Waters Hall, 10:30-1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17. November 14, 2019: Dr. Kathryn Shaw, The Ernest C. Arbuckle Professor of Economics; Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research - Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Public Lecture: Reginer Forum, 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 14. "Managing in the Age of AI" Department Lecture: 328 Waters Hall, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15. "Spurring Serious Entrepreneurship: A Policy Experiment to Lower Entry Costs" February 28, 2019: Dr. Gordon Hanson, Professor of Economics; Pacific Economic Cooperation Chair at International Economic Relations; Director, Center on Global Transformation - University of California, San Diego. August 29, 2018: Dr. Edward Lazear, The Davies Family Professor of Economics, Morris Arnold and Nona Jean Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution - Stanford University. Department Lecture: 342 Waters Hall, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29. "Why Are Some Immigrant Groups More Successful than Others?" Public Lecture: Reginer Forum, 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29. "The US Economy: New Policy, New Growth?" April 27-28, 2017: Dr. Stephen Turnovsky, Ford and Louisa Van Voorhis Professor of Economics - University of Washington. Public Lecture: Waters 231, 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 27. "Inequality and Growth: What are the Tradeoffs?" Tickets are required to attend the lecture and can be picked up for free in 327 Waters Hall. Department Lecture: Room 127 Leadership Studies Building, 3:45-5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28. "The Distributional Consequences of Trade Liberalization: Consumption Tariff versus Investment Tariff Reduction." October 27-28, 2016: Dr. George Borjas, Robert W. Scrivner Professor of Economics and Social Policy - Harvard Kennedy School. November 14-15, 2013: Dr. John List, Homer J. Livingston Professor of Economics, Chair, Dept of Economics, University of Chicago Public Lecture: Umberger 105, 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 14. "The Why Axis: Hidden Motives and the Undiscovered Economics of Everyday Life" Department Lecture: Leadership Building 127, 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 15. "Using Field Experiments to Understand the Economics of Crime" March 12-13, 2013: Dr. Christina Romer, Class of 1957 - Garff B. Wilson Professor of Economics - University of California, Berkeley. Public Lecture: Town Hall Room, Leadership Studies Building, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 Department Lecture: Waters 041, 10:30-11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13 April 19, 2012: Dr. Hilary Hoynes - University of California, Davis. Public Lecture: Big 12 Room in KSU Student Union, 9:30 a.m., Poverty: Facts, Causes and Consequences Department Lecture: Waters 342, 3:30-5:00 p.m. Friday, "Income, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and Infant Health" April 14-15, 2011: Timothy J. Kehoe, Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Economics - University of Minnesota; Adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and National Bureau of Economic Research. Public Lecture: Little Theatre, Student Union, 3:45-5:00 p.m. Thursday, April 14, "What have we learned from studying Great Depressions?" Department Lecture: Waters 328, 3:30-5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15, "How Important is the New Goods Margin in International Trade?" with Kim J. Ruhl. April 15-16, 2010: Ellen McGrattan - Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Public Lecture: Big 12 Room in KSU Student Union, 3:45-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, "Why is the United States in Debt to the World?" Department Lecture: Waters 137, 3:30-5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 16, "The Transition to FDI Openness." April 23-24, 2009: Daniel S. Hamermesh, Centennial Professor of Economics - University of Texas at Austin. Public Lecture: Big 12 Room in KSU Student Union, 3:45-5:00 p.m. on Thursday April 23, "The Beauty Premium." Department Lecture: 328 Waters Hall, 3:30 p.m. on Friday April 24, "The Timing of Labor Demand," joint with Ana Rute and Jose Varejao February 23, 2009: Rebecca Blank - Brookings Institution. Public Lecture: Big 12 Room in KSU Student Union, 3:30-5:00 p.m. on Monday February 23, "What Comes After Welfare Reform? A New Agenda for Fighting Poverty." Department Lecture: 329 Waters Hall, 10:30 a.m. on Monday February 23, "The Impact of Earnings Disregards on the Behavior of Low Income Families," joint with Jordan Matsurida (Cornell University) October 27-28, 2008: Chris Sims, Harold H. Helm 20 Professor of Economics and Banking - Princeton University. Public Lecture: Big 12 Room of the Student Union, 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Monday October 27th, "Government Debt, Inflation, and Monetary Policy." Lecture notes are available at http://www.princeton.edu/~sims/#KnssStt Department Lecture: 137 Waters Hall, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday October 28th, "Inflation Expectations, Uncertainty, The Phillips Curve, and Monetary Policy." April 25, 2008: Ray Fair - Yale University. Public Lecture: Big 12 Room of the Student Union 9:30-11:00 a.m. on Friday April 25th, "Predicting Presidential Elections." Department Lecture: 137 Waters Hall at 3:30-5:00 p.m. on Friday April 25th, "Estimating Term Structure Equations Using Macroeconomic Variables." September 20-21, 2007: Michael Greenwood - University of Colorado. Public Lecture: Big 12 Room of the Student Union, 3:30-5:00 p.m. on Friday September 21st, "The sex composition of U.S. immigration from Europe, 1870-1910: a panel study." Department Lecture: 329 Waters Hall, 4:00-5:30 p.m., "The Economic Consequences of U.S. Immigration." April 5-6, 2007: David Sibley, Michael Stuart Centennial Professor in Economics - University of Texas at Austin. Public Lecture: Flint Hills Room in KSU Student Union, 9:30-11:00 a.m. on Friday April 6th, "The Microsoft Case: Why It Came Out the Way it Did." Department Lecture: 329 Waters Hall, Thursday April 5th, "An antitrust analysis of bundled loyalty discounts." November 30, 2006: Robert Crandall - Brookings Institution. Public Lecture: Cottonwood Room of the Student Union, 1:00-2:30 p.m. on Thursday November 30th, "The Rise and Fall of Government Regulation." Department Lecture: "The Effects of Network-Sharing Regulation in Telecommunications: the United States v. The European Union." About the series: Mr. Joe Tiao, originally from Taiwan, was studying economics in graduate school in Japan before joining Kansas State University in the 1970s. After he graduated from K-State with a master's degree in computer science, Mr. Tiao was an instructor and research associate in the department of agricultural economics at K-State when both economics and agricultural economics were in the same department. Mr. Tiao taught a course related to the economics of traffic control and transportation until the 1980s. In the early 1990s, Mr. Tiao started his real estate rental business. He is now the owner and manager of an apartment building company in Manhattan, Kansas. Serving as a member on the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees, Mr. Tiao has been dedicated to helping the university community, including the department of economics. The department has benefited from the Joe Tiao Seminar Room, equipped with modern furniture and technology. This renovation was made possible by a generous contribution from Mr. Tiao in 2002-2003. Motivated by his interest in contemporary economic issues and his dedication to promoting democracy and social justice, Mr. Tiao has continued to support the department of economics by setting up this lecture series. The Joe Tiao Lecture Series, initiated in 2006, enables the department to bring two internationally acclaimed economists to campus each year. Each Tiao Lecturer presents two lectures at K-State: a public lecture on an economics issue of current interest and a more technical seminar in the department. Return to top The Havana Cuba All-Stars: Cuban Nights The Asere Friendship Tour and U.S. debut. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 The pulse of the Caribbean fills the air as Cuba's most prominent musicians share their rich musical heritage, from the Rumba to the Cha-Cha-Cha to the Habanera. This exciting band brings the Cuban vibe to life with rhythmic drums and castanets, wailing trumpets, masterful acoustic guitar and amazing vocals. Devoted to presenting the wide tapestry that exists in Cuban music from Latin dance to soulful ballads this concert presents the great musical traditions of the Cuban people. "The Asere Friendship Tour" is The Havana Cuba All-Stars' debut U.S. tour and celebrates the new open friendship between the United States and Cuba. Bringing the musical traditions of their forefathers to the U.S. for the first time, the group's Spanish vocals and traditional songs are sure to leave audiences dancing in the aisles. Continuation of gas transit via Ukraine remains a strategic priority for the European Union (EU) in the context of its relations with Russia's Gazprom, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic has said. He said at a briefing on Wednesday that earlier the EU executive body discussed a request of Germany's Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway) to permit Gazprom to increase pumping of Russian gas using the OPAL pipeline. The EU pays attention to diversification, competition and free movement of energy and the EU is making a lot of things for Ukraine, he said. He repeated that the continuation of gas transit across Ukraine in the period after 2019 would remain a strategic priority for the EU. "You know how much we are care about diversification, competition, free flows of energy in Europe and how much we are doing for Ukraine. In this context what I want to repeat is the continuation of gas transit through Ukraine post 2019 remains a strategic priority for the EU. We have the unanimous support of the EU member states," Sefcovic said. The response to the request of the Bundesnetzagentur will be given before October 31. Opal is an extension of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on the territory of the European Union. Supplies from Russia are transmitted along it from the bed of the Baltic Sea through Germany to the Czech border. Ukraine's Health Ministry has proposed to finance the medical insurance system from general tax, Deputy Health Minister Pavlo Kovtoniuk said at a press conference on Wednesday. He said that general taxes are paid by all citizens living in the country, including those who are working in the shadows. "We believe that the best way for Ukraine is to use general tax as a tool to collect funds from citizens," he said. As reported, the switch to insurance medicine in Ukraine will start in 2017 and will last until 2020. The transformation starts with the launch of family medicine of the European model on the basis of existing primary chain of the Ukrainian healthcare system. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the government and parliamentary coalition factions have decided to raise minimum wage in Ukraine from January 1, 2017 to UAH 3,200, the Ukrainian president said after talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman. "Starting from January 1, 2017, there will be no employed people in Ukraine who earn less than 3200 hryvnias. Moreover, I addressed the government and parliament to make every effort for this decision not to increase a single tax, first of all it is related to small and medium business," he said. According to the president, it is inadmissible that a man working full time earns the same sum of money as unemployed Ukrainians being on the dole, the press service of the president said. "Along with building the Armed Forces, the first priority of the government is to fight poverty at the first opportunity. The aggression of Russia against our state is not an excuse for delaying reforms in war conditions," he said. Poroshenko said that the decision concerns over 4 million employed Ukrainians whose salary equals UAH 1,450 today. According to him, public sector will find proper resources in the state budget and private sector will have a strict rule banning salaries less than UAH 3,200 per month. "This decision is struggle against poverty and protection of employed people. Separation of minimum wage from calculation of subsistence level provides faster growth of minimum wage in the coming years," he said. FILE - In this March 25, 2001, file photo, Rob Cook poses backstage with Loren Carpenter, not seen, with his Oscar for significant advancements to the field of motion picture rendering as exemplified in Pixar's "Renderman," at the 73rd annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Cook is taking over a U.S. government agency responsible for improving federal digital technology. After more than four decades in the private sector, Cook will become commissioner of the Technology Transformation Service on Oct. 31. He will have top secret security clearance. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) Students use iPads in a class at Lincoln Intermediate School Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, in West Allis, Wis. Canadian medical experts and parents are weighing in on new guidelines out of the U.S. on how much time kids should spend staring at screens, including televisions, computers, phones and tablets. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Morry Gash Jeff Myers, left, and Jordan Powers of The Film Factory pose with sleeping bags in the companys studio to promote the winter edition of OneBagChallenge, which is collecting sleeping bags for the homeless. Poltorak declares over UAH 1 mln, $42,000 in cash, around UAH 170,000 on bank deposits Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has filed e-declaration and declared UAH 1.15 million and $42,000 in cash, and UAH 168,377 on bank accounts at Ukreximbank. Poltorak said that he owns 33.3% of an apartment with gross area of 89 square meters bought in 2001. His wife Inna Poltorak owns 33.3% of the apartment. His wife in 2014 bought a house with a gross area of 39.8 square meters and a land parcel of 941 square meters. She owns Smart Micro car made in 2002, while the minister does not have a car. Poltorak or members of his family do not have securities. In 2015, the minister declared UAH 266,498 of salary and UAH 76,280 of bonuses or other payments. Poltorak declared UAH 8,610 of gifts. Inna Poltorak earned UAH 51,248 and interest from deposits in PrivatBank of UAH 32,020. His wife received UAH 415,875 from selling immovable property to Ukrainian citizen Tetiana Osmak. Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, who recently criticized theappointments of some persons she alleged did not contribute to herhusbands emergence as president in the 2015 elections but have hijackedthe government, has declared she is interested in the success of herhusbands administration.She had earlier in the interview expressed her frustration about theway things are going, declaring I am not happy. It was people thatbrought the government into power. More than half of those people are not appointed intothe government. Some people that are not politicians, notprofessionals, were brought into government. They dont even know whatwe said we want and what we dont during campaigns, she said on the BBCHausa service. Both the interview and the Presidents response in Berlin, Germany, drew mix reactions from across Nigeria, fueling speculation of likely cracks in the first family. But in what appeared like a response to the heat generated by her interview and apparently her first public reaction, Aisha said yesterday at Beneshiek, headquarters of Kaga Local Government in Borno state, that her interests lie in the success of President Buharis government. What I am after in particular is the success of my husbands administration and he cant do it alone except with the help of the governors, their wives and all members of our progressive party, she declared at the flag off of nutritional foods and household utensils to Internally displaced persons who recently returned to their communities. Looking calmer and smiling throughout the occasion, Aisha advised wives of political leaders, governors, legislators, local government chairmen and counsellors to work closely with their husbands for the well-being of the people. She explained that the distribution of the food items and other relief materials for the returnee IDPs was sourced from donations by well-meaning Nigerians through her recently launched Get Involve programme under her Future Assured project. She stated that the launching of the Get Involve consolidated and united Nigerians even as she thanked those who made donations for the programme, saying the people of Borno appreciate their gesture. She said she was happy that the flag off of the food distribution took place, noting that it was in fulfillment of her husbands campaign promise to resettle displaced victims of Boko Haram insurgency and rescue all citizen abducted or held by Boko Haram including the Chibok girls. We thank almighty Allah that we have started fulfilling some of the campaign promises that we made. This is the essence of leadership; you make a promise and then fulfilled it. We thank my dear husband who make sure peace is returned to the northeast states, she said. Wife of Borno State governor, Nana Shettima commended Mrs Buhari for the distribution, adding that it was the third time the First Lady would visit the state to attend to the humanitarian challenges of Borno people. She assured that she will continue to collaborate with Mrs Buharis Future Assured project through her Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya (SWOT) programme. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. A former Apprentice candidate from Sevenoaks has revealed what the show is really like behind the scenes. In an interview with Kent Live last year, swimwear manufacturer JD O'Brien shed light on the popular programme which will air on the BBC again tonight (October 11). The swimwear manufacturer was fired in the fifth episode of series 12, which was broadcast in 2016. And here are the things he told us which viewers may not notice while the cameras are switched on... Contestants cringe at their TV personas "I don't think you can take it too seriously you just have to roll with it and have a bit of a laugh, or you'll go a bit mad," JD said last year. "But I do watch it from behind a pillow, when I remember what I said in the heat of the moment." Everyone on the programme is made to look like a 'bunch of monkeys' JD said the long days and pressure of the cameras can push some candidates over the edge, but he stayed true to his real life personality. "The funny thing is, it's all about perspective," he said. "You think it's easy to create this thing, sell this, or make this advert, but when you chuck in eight or nine other candidates and a load of ego, it's so much harder than you could possibly imagine. "Everyone looks like a bunch of monkeys but it's more about being able to manage a situation rather than shine on camera." You have to fight to win "It was just an absolute mess," he said. "In the boardroom, I stuck my hand up and admitted it was all my fault. And that cost me. "I had to be fired because I didn't fight for it. I think Lord Sugar wanted to see me fight for it." People are not always true to themselves JD said he struggled with the social dynamics of the programme and how people were not always true to themselves. "Watching it back, it's all about bitching, backstabbing and throwing people under a bus," he said, "People are just ripping each other to pieces. "I think I was a very capable candidate, but I wasn't going to be like that to do well." Candidates get a lot of stick from their mates "My mates have been winding me up massively for being on the show," he said, "One of them used this app which distorts photos and made my head and neck into a giant thumb. It was horrendous." The Apprentice house affects relationships on-screen And JD said the social dynamic in the house, which is rarely shown in the programme, also affects the interactions portrayed on screen. "When I watched it on TV I thought, 'I would absolutely kill this,' but I never considered the social aspect," he added. "You see a different side to people when they're cooking for people or being a team player in the house. "It's interesting to see what they are like when they aren't wearing a suit or trying to sell a bit of tat at the market." Head space is really needed He said he spent a lot of time reading books and separating himself from the group to get a bit of "head space", as he is used to spending time with his family. And of course, Lord Sugar is a legend And when JD finally got into the boardroom, he noticed Lord Sugar "nails it" every time. "The thing that struck me most about him was we would be running around filming and making loads of effort. "And then Lord Sugar comes in, stands up, delivers, makes a couple of gags and disappears again." He said Karren Brady and Claude Littner, Lord Sugar's advisors, are "pretty intimidating". "You know they're watching you if you make a stupid mistake, but you just have to pull yourself together," he said. "They give us support too though, and tell us when to step back and take a breath." Ukraine increases electricity exports by 3.6% in nine months Ukraine in January-September 2016 increased exports of electricity by 3.6% (by 97.4 million kWh) compared to the same period in 2015, to 2.834 billion kWh, a source in the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry has told Interfax-Ukraine. Electricity supplies from the Burshtyn TPP energy island in the direction of Hungary, Slovakia and Romania in the period decreased by 22.4% (by 601.9 million kWh) compared to January-September 2015, to 2.081 billion kWh. Electricity supplies to Poland amounted to 749.2 million kWh against 39.4 million kWh in January-September 2015. In January-September 2016, 3.7 million kWh was delivered to Moldova, Belarus did not received power against 600,000 kWh for the first nine months of last year. Ukrainian electricity was not exported to Russia in January-September 2016. In September 2016 exports of Ukrainian electricity amounted to 224.6 million kWh, which is 14% up than in September 2015. In January-September 2016 Ukraine imported 57.744 million kWh of electricity, including 3.3 million kWh from Russia and 47,000 kWh from Moldova in August. A mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will arrive in Ukraine in early November, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Valeriya Gontareva said at a briefing on Thursday. The arrival of the IMF mission to Ukraine under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program had originally been expected on October 26. Ukrenergo has signed a memorandum with NGOs Transparency International and CoST (Construction Sector Transparency Initiative) on monitoring the use of funds in the framework of its projects. According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, the relevant document was signed in Kyiv on October 27. "The memorandum provides for accountability of all the phases of the project according to international standards, verification of information by a group of independent consulting engineers," the press service of Ukrenergo said. A pilot project within cooperation will be the installation of the third 330/110/35 kV autotransformer at the Chernivtsi substation. 242 Shares Share Several years ago, I was sitting at the gate in a Washington, DC, airport when I got a call on my cell. A close friend of one of my patients wanted to let me know that Lara (not her real name) had died after a long and difficult course of throat cancer. Lara was relatively young, a kind, brilliant and incredibly thoughtful woman, and Id had a deep patient-physician relationship with her, given all that shed been through and how open and honest she was about her experience. And no matter what was going on with her disease and in her life, she unfailingly asked about me and my family. I was one of many clinicians who had the pleasure of working with her. Her dying process was incredibly difficult because of her tumor type and location, and the degree of her pain. We all worked hard on controlling her pain. But Lara was the mother of young children, and she was determined to remain alert and functioning. Also, I think she resisted palliative care because she saw it as a defeat. I always wish that I could have convinced her to receive more comfort measures. When I got the call, I put my head down, covered my hands with my face and sobbed. Silently. But apparently visibly enough that a young man sitting across from me, likely in his 20s, placed his hand on my shoulder and asked if I was OK. I told him that one of my patients had died. He was taken aback. I never thought doctors would get that upset about their patients, he said incredulously. We sure do, I replied. If you only knew how much, I thought. Another patient affected me deeply but in a different way. This patient was an elderly man with multiple medical problems and a complex condition that required surgery. I have expertise performing the surgery to fix this condition, so he was referred to me. We discussed risks and benefits of various treatments during our first visit. Later, I performed a minimally invasive laser procedure through his mouth. Unfortunately, the procedure left a small throat perforation. Any hole in the throat lining can allow saliva to leak into the neck, causing a serious neck and chest infection. It is a known complication of this technically challenging operation, but it had never happened to any of my patients. I felt horrible: Instead of helping this patient, I had, at least temporarily, made him much sicker. Yes, I had discussed this possible complication and obtained preoperative consent from him for the procedure. But it wasnt what he signed up for, or what he thought would happen. And it isnt what I expected when I became a doctor. I am supposed to heal, not harm. Doctors risk emotional trauma Intellectually, we all know that there are no guarantees of good outcomes, in surgery or in life. But emotionally, most of us expect perfection both of others and of ourselves. Physicians have a particularly hard time accepting our fallibility. Robert Helmreich studied the culture of medicine and aviation and found that both stress the need for perfection and a deep sense of personal invulnerability. So when something goes wrong, we are uniquely unprepared for the emotional fallout. And the fallout can be massive. There is ample evidence that some physicians suffer serious consequences burnout and even suicide when patients suffer injuries related to their care rather than their disease, especially when these involve errors. The two patients whose lives particularly affected me are examples of the degree to which, as caring professionals, we are vulnerable to emotional stress in our work. As we should be. We have the honor of being present in the most challenging times of our patients lives: when they are sick. It is precisely because of our humanity that we care so deeply. But over time, without support and strategies to help us cope with these emotions, we are at risk for emotional trauma that affect us, our families, and ultimately, our future patients. Help from those who have been there This is what prompted us to establish the Center for Professionalism and Peer Support at Brigham and Womens Hospital. The guiding principle is that we need to attend to the well-being of caregivers, educators, and researchers, so that they, in turn, can give their best to our patients and to society. Peer support, one of our centers core programs, begins when a trained peer support colleague reaches out to anyone involved in potentially emotionally stressful situations caring for trauma victims, making a mistake, having an ill colleague, or mourning the death of a beloved patient. We found that most of us want to speak with colleagues who have been there and can understand how we feel. We have also helped many institutions, both nationally and internationally, develop and sustain peer support programs. If I am the designated peer supporter alerted that a clinician has been involved in a potentially emotionally stressful event or set of circumstances, I contact him or her. I explain that we reach out to anyone involved in such an event because many of us have found it helpful to talk to a colleague. This way we try to normalize the process and de-stigmatize any negative emotions. The offer for peer support is an invitation, not a requirement. The peer support itself involves both empathic listening and some sharing of the peer supporters experience. In addition, the supporter asks open questions to help the peer connect with his or her own wisdom and strategies for resilience. We do a day of intensive training to become a peer supporter. It is countercultural for clinicians to be in a position where they are not fixing problems. The training also teaches balancing tensions such as listening versus sharing or the peers coping strategies versus the peer supporters strategies. We initially set the program up so that the peer needed to contact us for support. But we didnt receive a single call. We should not have been surprised. Our research had uncovered multiple barriers to physicians asking for help. For peer supporters, it is intensely gratifying to support colleagues and to help ease their pain. Nothing is more important to us than relieving the suffering of our patients. And it is precisely so we can do that work that we ourselves must be whole and supported. Jo Shapiro is an otolaryngologist. This article originally appeared in WBURs CommonHealth. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 1K Shares Share I have a mentor who is quite gifted at getting me to break a sweat in the OR. No matter how well an operation is going, shell have me set my instruments down. If this doesnt work, whats your plan B? We discuss how variations in anatomy, damage to critical structures, or unanticipated pathology could change our operative plan. She challenges me to not only consider plan B, but plans C and D as well. This practice is a welcome reminder that an operation does not always proceed according to a well-organized plan. The same holds true outside of the OR doors. Often, what sets us apart as surgeons is how we handle the unexpected and adapt to changing circumstances. And most importantly, if we are able to do so while maintaining poise. I am no stranger to change. My childhood was a series of unexpected twists and turns. My fathers drug addiction and my mothers physical illness left our family in constant flux. Perhaps one of my most vivid memories from childhood is when we became homeless. I recall swimming one afternoon in my grandmothers pool when my mother announced that we would be moving out. I wore my soaking wet bathing suit as we packed. Hours later, my brother and I sat in the back of the family car as my mom sobbed at the steering wheel. In my adult life, the lessons continued. My marriage began to crumble in the second year of my surgery residency. I had come to realize that my husbands abusive behaviors were a threat to my safety. Leaving him was one of the hardest decisions I had ever made. Nothing could have prepared me for what came next: the knock on my door at 2 oclock in the morning, the group of police officers standing in my living room, the details of his suicide. And people never seem to know, what they least suspect is coming next. John Frusciante I think of my past challenges as the ultimate guide in perspective: Change is a given. A mantra I keep close to my chest. Perhaps more so than any other medical specialty, practicing surgery requires that we accept change. Despite our best efforts, it is difficult to predict what will happen next. A young man with a stab wound to the chest may be talking to you one moment and in asystole the next. A woman recovering from a straightforward partial colectomy may develop postoperative bleeding that requires a take-back to the OR. We learn to make high-stakes decisions at the drop of a hat, using the best information we have at hand. But we are human beings, and sometimes we get it wrong. Sometimes, decisions that were right at one time, become wrong under different circumstances. As surgeons, we must humbly acknowledge this truth. We must stand at the OR table and focus on the task at hand, rather than on our disbelief or the mistakes we have made. Surgeons become keenly aware of the unexpected, constantly adapting to changing circumstances during an operation. Despite this, the field of surgery seems unwilling to accept these characteristics outside of operating room doors. As trainees, we are pressured to abandon all uncertainties, often to our detriment. An old surgery adage sums it up well: Sometimes wrong; never in doubt. We are often scolded for not knowing, for not being sure. But for those of us who have survived trauma or stood in the face of great adversity, we are forever branded. Despite how tightly you grasp onto your convictions, nothing in this life is certain. In our field, why do we feel pressure to never doubt? On a busy trauma surgery rotation, Id run from consult to consult in rapid succession. My patients were sick, my minutes few, and I often left encounters knowing that my conversations had just skimmed the surface. I remember presenting to an attending after I had worked up a particularly challenging case: I think Mrs. X has a small bowel obstruction, but Im open to being proved wrong. We hadnt obtained imaging yet, and I was still piecing together her complicated past medical history. My attending was indignant: I had admitted uncertainty, a sign of weakness. However, perhaps our true weakness is being unwilling to accept what we dont know: If both parties are in agreement that certainty is best, its possible that theyll [doctors and patients] just blow past the risks of a treatment, or the dubiousness of a diagnosis, for the sake of having an answer. Sometimes we get it wrong. Appendectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the U.S. In 2007 the national rate of negative appendectomy was 8.4 percent. Trauma is no different: In a 2010 study completed at the University of Southern California, 3.9 percent of laparotomies performed for trauma were negative. I recall operating late one night with one of my mentors, an experienced pediatric surgeon. We discussed the negative laparotomies he had performed for neonates with bilious emesis. Words that I remember often: Ive never regretted a single one of those operations. The most skilled surgeons I have known have taught me that we can be confident and humble. Let me keep my distance, always, from those who think they have the answers. Let me keep company always with those who say Look! and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads. Mary Oliver, Evidence Sara Scarlet is a surgery resident. Image credit: Shutterstock.com IMF confirms mission's arrival in Kyiv in early Nov, possibility of getting fourth tranche by year end The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has confirmed its mission within the EFF program will come to Kyiv in early November and the country could get the fourth tranche by the end of the year. "The mission will arrive in Kyiv in early November. The mission will assess the implementation of the EFF program and the future policy of the authorities," IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice said at a traditional press briefing in Washington. In addition, he confirmed Ukraine could obtain the fourth tranche by the end of the year. With Early Voting underway and only 13 days until Election Day, we are looking into the various propositions to be found on the November ballot. Proposition Five would change the way mayoral vetoes can be overridden. As it stands right now, a veto by the mayor requires a simple majority of five Council members to be overridden. If approved, it would take six members to override a veto. This would make it more difficult to override, and give the mayor additional power to keep items from passing. This is just one of the 24 items on the ballot. Early Voting is currently underway. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has stood up for Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Valeriya Gontareva he appointed. According to deputy head of the presidential administration Dmytro Shymkiv, the head of state voiced his position at a meeting of the National Reforms Council on October 26: all the members of the National Reforms Council supported the NBU head. "Poroshenko drew attention to the sad situation we observe with the communications campaign against National Bank Head Valeriya Gontareva," Shymkiv said. According to him, members of the National Reforms Council condemned "the public harassment" of Gontareva. "Amid the hybrid war being waged against our country, [such a campaign] is one of the destabilizing factors... This is unacceptable," he stressed. According to him, the published materials were made-to-order: their publication affects the NBU's activities. "The customers are known and their goal is to destabilize the banking system of Ukraine," he said. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Foggy this morning, then partly cloudy this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 76F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Sheryl and Dennis Reas prepare three hot meals a day for workers staged at Santee Electric Cooperative on Sumter Highway. The pair work for Storm Services, LLC, which provides around the clock state of preparation to support transient groups wherever needed. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has called on Japanese politicians and public figures not to follow the policy of appeasing the aggressor, but unite and take concrete action to make Russia stop its aggression. "One should not appease the aggressor with either comity of manner, or a kind word, or promises, or turning a blind eye... This has already happened in history, during the 1930s ... History doesn't forget - the payment is personal tragedies ... Only a united, consolidated position taken by the entire civilized world unified against the aggressor, with clear demands and tough sanctions, will yield results: peace and the return of the occupied Ukrainian territory, peace in Syria, Japanese control of the Northern Territories of the Kurils Islands. This is the only way to go," Avakov said on Facebook on Thursday while being on a four-day official visit to Japan. He also said he had had a half-hour interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, saying that only some questions concerned cooperation of police, while most of them were devoted to politics. Avakov said that he gave frank assessments of the current regime in Russia, pending Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tokyo in December. "[I] spoke about the war unleashed by him in the east of Ukraine, about the occupation of Crimea... The final, edited article was in soft colors. But still, I am satisfied that the newspaper with the largest circulation in the world, being 14 million (yes, it's 14 million!!!), distributed across entire Asia, has written about the need to maintain sanctions against Russia - from the side Japan and the G7 countries against the backdrop of ongoing aggression of Putin's regime against Ukraine, amid reports from the front about daily shelling, reports of the dead and wounded, against the backdrop of the occupation of Crimea and Donbas," Avakov wrote. As reported, Avakov's official four-day visit to Japan began on October 24. The minister's schedule includes meetings with Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission of Japan Jun Matsumoto, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi and Vice-President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tomiyoshi Kenichi. Some meetings have already been held. Avakov also visited a number of police stations and the traffic control center of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. In addition, during the visit, he holds meetings with representatives of international non-governmental organizations and business structures. OUAGADOUGOU, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Burkina Faso lost nearly a billion dollars to corruption and mismanagement in the mining sector in the decade leading up to the fall of Blaise Compaore and the year after he was forced out, according to a parliamentary inquiry. The committee announced its findings late on Tuesday after a three-month investigation and called for charges to be brought against three ex-ministers as well as the former president's brother, Francois Compaore. None of the ex-officials named in the report, who are living in exile in neighbouring Ivory Coast, could be reached for comment. The committee's head Ousseni Tamboura said about 551 billion CFA francs ($920 million) was lost between 2005 and 2015. Former president Blaise Compaore ruled the West African nation for nearly 30 years before being forced out of power in 2014 when protesters took to the streets to demand he step down. After his fall, Burkina Faso's new authorities vowed to battle corruption and arrested several former ministers in 2015, but graft has proved difficult to stamp out. "The losses are essentially due to bad governance of the sector, bad management, and the appropriation of the mining economy for self-serving interests," Tamboura said. The commission said Francois Compaore, who served as an advisor during his brother's rule, collected bribes of 5 billion CFA francs ($8.33 million) linked to the awarding of a mining contract in 2014, he said. Compaore could not be reached for comment. The commission also recommended legal action against three former ministers, without giving specific information about their alleged crimes. "There are documents that establish criminal acts. It is up to the government to bring these to the judiciary," said president of the national assembly Salif Diallo. A government spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. According to the report, fraud in the gold industry worsened after the state-owned buying office which had a monopoly was liquidated in 2006, opening the door to private buyers. Gold leapfrogged cotton to become Burkina Faso's main export in 2009 and now accounts for roughly a fifth of economic output. ($1 = 600.4700 CFA francs) (Reporting by Mathieu Bonkoungou; Additional reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly in Abidjan; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Tim Cocks and Toby Chopra) Oct 27 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Headlines * Central Italy rattled by second strong earthquake in a day * Former Tata chairman claims his dismissal is 'illegal' * Russia scraps plan to refuel Syria-bound warships in Spanish enclave * BoE seeks details of UK exposure to Deutsche and Italian banks Overview - A second strong earthquake in as many hours hit central Italy on Wednesday night, raising fears of injuries and damage in areas of the country just north of where nearly 300 people died in a similar shock in late August. - In an attack on the record of predecessor Ratan Tata, Cyrus Mistry claimed his dismissal as 'illegal' and said that five of Tata Group's major businesses faced asset writedowns worth $18 billion. - Russia cancelled a planned refueling stop for its warships in the Spanish port of Ceuta amid fears in NATO that the battle group could be used using it to escalate the bombardment of Aleppo. - The Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority asked large British lenders to detail their exposure to the biggest Italian Banks including Banca Monte dei Paschi and Deutsche Bank , amid concerns over Europe's financial sector. (Compiled by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler) HANOI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0053 GMT. Oct 27 Oct 26 USD/VND mid-point 22,032 22,030 USD/VND interbank 22,333/22,336 22,335/22,337 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.55/35.80 35.55/35.80 NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank quotes are indicative bid/ask prices. One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co, the gold manufacturer. Interbank offered rates are indicative, quoted from market sources. For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom) By Susan Taylor TORONTO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Barrick Gold Corp will consider offers to buy all or some of its five major mines, including Veladero in Argentina, a top executive said on Thursday, after Reuters reported the company held talks with Chinese miners. China's Zijin Mining Group and Shandong Gold Mining have had separate discussions with Barrick about buying a 50 percent stake in Veladero, according to four sources with knowledge of the process. "We've never said that we would not sell a core mine or part of a core mine," Barrick President Kelvin Dushnisky said on a conference call. The entire El Indio belt, which includes Veladero, is "a great opportunity for us to look at potential partnerships for future development," he said. El Indio, a 140 km (87-mile) stretch of land, is also home to Barrick's Pascua-Lama and Alturas mines, Two sources had told Reuters that Barrick would like the buyer of a stake in Veladero to also invest in its neighboring Pascua-Lama project, which straddles the border of Argentina and Chile. Last year, Barrick sold a stake in its Papua New Guinean mine to Zijin, one of China's biggest gold producers, and the two companies formed a partnership. "We have said that partnerships are core to our strategy," Dushnisky said. "You can expect to see more from us in that regard going forward, when it makes sense." Barrick is also considering opportunities to acquire assets but will be "discerning," he said. The company has been selling off assets and using cash flow to pay down debt. Barrick's 50 percent stake in the Kalgoorlie Super Pit mine in western Australia has drawn "robust" interest from miners in and outside that country since it went on the block last quarter, Dushnisky said. Newmont Mining Corp , which operates Kalgoorlie and owns the other 50 percent, has expressed interest in the acquisition, but differing views on valuation have thwarted a deal. Toronto-based Barrick reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday and cut its 2016 production cost and output forecasts. (Reporting by Susan Taylor; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) * Hungarian bond yields off record lows ahead of auction * 3- and 5-year bonds seen drawing good demand - trader * Slovenia sells 2040-expiry bonds By Sandor Peto BUDAPEST, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Hungarian government bonds retreated on Thursday ahead of bond auctions which are expected to draw good demand after yields increased across Central Europe in the past few days, tracking a rise in euro zone markets. The exception was the Czech Republic where demand is fuelled by expectations for a surge of the crown next year once the central bank abandons its cap on its currency, which keeps it weaker than 27 per euro. The yield on 5-year Czech bonds fell 6 basis points to -0.18 percent by 0818 GMT. The corresponding Bund yield rose one basis point to -0.43 percent. Hungarian 3-year bonds traded at 1.29 percent, up 5 basis points. Romania's corresponding bonds were bid at 1.48 percent, up 3 basis points. The Hungarian yield has risen 16 basis points in the past two days, rebounding from record lows. "I expect a good auction of 3- and 5-year bonds, while demand for the 10-year papers at the auction is more questionable," one Budapest-based fixed income trader said. The Hungarian central bank has launched a bunch of measures in the past two weeks to boost forint liquidity in markets to help borrowing costs fall and boost demand for government debt. The central bank provided commercial banks with 400 billion forints ($1.41 billion) through swap auctions, cut its short-term lending rates and commercial banks reserve rate on Tuesday and reduced its offer at its monthly 3-month deposit auction on Wednesday. That will increase forint liquidity in the next month while also helping banks bridge a temporary liquidity shortage this week. The measures have weakened the forint . It traded 309.46 against the euro at 0828 GMT, flat from Wednesday but well off 17-month highs hit early this month at 303.40, and it will probably test the 310 line soon. A larger fall in the forint is unlikely as Hungary's big current account surplus and improved credit ratings provide support for the currency, analysts said. Neighbouring euro zone member Slovenia, whose credit ratings are also improving, drew good demand for an offer of 2040-expiry bonds on Wednesday. The country's 10-year bond yield was bid at 0.744 percent, flat from Wednesday, but up from record lows set two weeks ago at 0.547 percent. "Slovenia remains an improving credit story with ongoing fiscal consolidation, privatisation targets including restructured banks and strengthening growth perspectives," Raiffeisen analyst Gintaras Shlizhyus said in a note. CEE SNAP AT 1028 MARKETS SHOT CET CURRENCIES Late Prev Dail Chan st ious y ge bid clos chan in e ge 2016 Czech 230 265 01% 9% Hungary 4600 4400 1% % Polish 15 19 01% 0% Romanian 50 93 3% % Croatian 00 25 03% % Serbian 0400 2000 13% 8% Note: calcula prev clos 1800 daily ted ious e at CET change from STOC KS Late Prev Dail Chan st ious y ge clos chan in e ge 2016 Prague 922. 919. +0. -3.5 22 18 33% 7% Budapest 2982 2985 -0.1 +24 5.21 4.68 0% .68% Warsaw <.WIG20 1791 1779 +0. -3.6 > .72 .73 67% 3% Buchares 6801 6782 +0. -2.8 t .59 .31 28% 9% Ljubljan <.SBITO 745. 748. -0.3 +7. a P> 64 20 4% 11% Zagreb <.CRBEX 1973 1969 +0. +16 > .32 .94 17% .79% Belgrade <.BELEX 674. 676. -0.2 +4. 15> 96 47 2% 79% Sofia <.SOFIX 518. 518. +0. +12 > 57 04 10% .51% BOND S Yiel Yiel Spre Dail d d ad y (bid chan vs chan ) ge Bund ge in Czech spre Republic ad 2-year 86 bps s 5-year 8 6 4bps s 3 12 8bps s Poland 2-year 1 8 2bps ps 5-year 1 7 5bps ps 7 1 8bps ps FORWARD RATE AGREEMENT 3x6 6x9 9x12 3M inte rban k Czech Hungary Poland Note: are for FRA ask quotes prices ***************************************** ********************* ($1 = 283.4500 forints) (Reporting by Sandor Peto; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) By Rosalba O'Brien MARIA ELENA, Chile, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Lithium giant SQM is moving into new countries and products and offering more transparency as it tries to ease investor concerns about alleged corruption, ties to Chile's former right-wing dictatorship and a bitter royalty dispute with the government. SQM is one of the world's biggest producers of lithium, iodine and nitrates, and its executives say they talk regularly to potential customers like carmaker Tesla Motors Inc . But at home it is often on the front pages of newspapers for the wrong reasons. An ongoing investigation into the issue of fake invoices to SQM and others, allegedly used as recently as 2014 to illicitly finance political campaigns, has dominated headlines for months. "We're a low-profile company, trying to do the best with the assets that we have. And all of a sudden we're on the front page of the newspapers. We don't like that," Gerardo Illanes, vice president for finance, told Reuters this month in a rare interview. "(That) will change with us continuing to do our work in the right way, keep on improving efficiencies, keep on improving market share, keep on delivering to our shareholders. That's what will help us move on." A recently finalized strategic plan emphasizes geographical diversification, new products and a more collaborative management style as it looks to modernize. The illicit donations scandal came on the heels of a market manipulation fine involving the firm's controlling shareholder, Julio Ponce, who resigned as chairman last year and has put most of his stake up for sale. Ponce has had close ties with the company since the 1980s, when it was privatized under dictator Augusto Pinochet, then his father-in-law. Now Chile's current center-left government is in arbitration with SQM over royalty payments, a dispute the company says it is confident it will win. At stake are cash flows from assets that made up 40 percent of 2014 revenues, analysts say. Outside of that dispute, SQM's relationship with the government is "normal", Illanes said, although some staffers privately say they feel SQM has been singled out by the media and the government because of the Pinochet links in a country where his 1973-1990 military rule remains divisive. Senior staff said Ponce, though previously active as chairman, is no longer involved in day-to-day operations. If SQM could convince investors to look beyond the overhang of Ponce, the illicit donations and the government dispute, SQM could see more of its value unlocked, analysts say. Shares are already up nearly 60 percent this year as hopes of an electric vehicle boom have sent lithium prices rocketing. SQM's reserves are "a tier one asset, the Saudi Arabia of lithium," said Morningstar analyst David Wang. But, he added, as long as the arbitration remains unresolved, SQM's shares are still too risky to recommend. Analysts average a "hold" recommendation on the company, at least in part because of the legal worries. NEW BROOM Partly in response to such concerns, Patricio de Solminihac, a company veteran installed as chief executive in March 2015, has been keen to improve corporate governance and implement a strategy of diversification, company documents show. SQM is "betting strongly" on higher value, next generation products - for instance, specialty fertilizers, solar salts that allow solar projects to stay operational after dark, or battery grade lithium compounds, product executive Carlos Diaz said in an interview. Expansion via partnerships or takeovers will focus on early stage projects rather than larger, established concerns, Illanes said. "We will engage in projects where we can be at the very beginning of the cost curve," he said, citing SQM's recently announced plan to develop a lithium project in Argentina with a Canadian miner. The company also says it has raised its productivity an average 20 percent by bringing in McKinsey consultants who have championed a more collaborative management style. Workers say they are encouraged to speak up in daily meetings more reminiscent of Japanese firms than the more typically top-down Latin American approach. "When we first had the dialogues, no one would talk. But now we have all taken on responsibility," said Nelson Valdivia, an operator at SQM's key nitrates plant at Coya Sur, which towers over the company-owned town of Maria Elena. The guest books at the whitewashed house where VIPs stay when they visit Coya Sur in the remote Atacama desert say a lot about the history of SQM, and Chile. In the early 1970s, the then state-run company was visited by Cuban leader Fidel Castro and international filmmakers keen to document the socialist government of Salvador Allende. Entries end abruptly on Sept. 10, 1973, the day before Pinochet took control of Chile in a bloody coup. More recent entries reveal the visits of a swathe of other mining companies, including representatives from state-run copper firm Codelco . They have been to visit to SQM as they look to learn lessons on improving productivity, SQM executives said. (Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Christian Plumb and Kieran Murray) SHANGHAI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - China is still testing a scheme to include off-balance sheet financing in assessing the health of commercial banks before rolling it out more widely, an influential newspaper quoted the central bank's top economist as saying. The scheme is designed to give the authorities a better sense of, and control over, the country's growing debt problem and underscores worries among analysts that unsustainable credit could hit an already-slowing economy hard. "The central bank is collecting relevant data and doing tests at the moment," Ma Jun, chief economist of the central bank's research bureau, said in an interview with China Business Network published on Thursday. "The central bank will continue to study the timing and the plan, and will guide commercial banks to strengthen the risk management of their off-balance sheet businesses," Ma said, adding that it would ultimately be implemented in a smooth way. Sources told Reuters this week that the People's Bank of China would make changes to its so-called Macro Prudential Assessment (MPA) risk tool to broaden its regulatory oversight to include wealth management products often sold by banks and not counted on their balance sheets. By mid-year, the total amount of wealth management products, or WMPs, at banks was 26.3 trillion yuan ($3.88 trillion) - equal to about a third of GDP last year - and up 12 percent from the beginning of the year, according to the latest report by the banking sector's WMP registration and custodian centre. Banks' WMPs are mainly invested in bonds, deposits, and so-called "non-standard assets", which are mainly credit-like financial products. Zhou Hao, senior emerging market economist at Commerzbank AG in Singapore, wrote in a note that the new rules would apparently require banks to reserve more capital. "This is part of the 'risk control' policy package as shadow banking activities have picked up strongly due to monetary easing," Zhou wrote, adding that Chinese authorities have also become wary of a property bubble. Reuters reported in July that China's banking regulator was drafting new rules to tighten control over the sprawling WMP industry. "The most important indications are that WMP yields will continue to fall and the phrase of rapid expansion of WMPs will be over. But the slowing growth of bank WMPs will be good news for other types of asset management products," said Ma Kunpeng, chief financial sector analyst at China Merchants Securities. The central bank introduced the macro-prudential regime at the beginning of this year. The new assessment system has also been used to monitor banks' interest pricing to prevent them from engaging in "vicious competition". ($1 = 6.7774 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by John Ruwitch and Winni Zhou in Shanghai and Zhang Shu in Beijing; Editing by Eric Meijer) HANOI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0438 GMT. Oct 27 Oct 26 USD/VND mid-point 22,032 22,030 USD/VND interbank 22,325/22,345 22,335/22,337 USD/VND unofficial 22,345/22,355 22,330/22,345 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.53/35.78 35.55/35.80 Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.5-0.9 0.4-0.9 1 week 0.5-0.9 0.5-1.0 1 month 1.5-1.8 1.4-1.8 3 months 3.2-3.7 3.2-3.7 NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources. One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co. For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on . For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom) Donbas-based militants have been firing mortars on residential areas of the town of Toretsk, in Donetsk region, since 06:30 on Thursday morning, chief of the Ukrainian National Police's department in Donetsk region Viacheslav Abroskin said, adding that information on injuries was not yet available. "Militants started firing mortars on Toretsk at 06:30. The peaceful town's residential areas came under fire at 07:20. [Houses] on Festivalna and Pavlov Streets were hit. Police have not so far received any information on injured civilians," Abroskin said on his Facebook account on Thursday morning. In his words, police will examine the damaged facilities as soon as the shelling ends. (Adds details) BRASILIA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's central government budget deficit widened more than expected in September as a deepening recession hurt tax revenues, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday. Brazil's central government primary deficit rose to 25.303 billion reais ($8.027 billion) in September from 20.345 billion reais in August. It was the biggest shortfall for September since the current data series began in 1997. The central government, which includes federal ministries, social security and the central bank, had been expected to post a deficit of 23.780 billion reais, according to the median forecast in a Reuters poll of 11 economists. Finance Ministry data earlier on Thursday showed federal tax revenues fell 8.27 percent from September 2015, also missing market expectations. "Slumping economic activity explains a lot of that. Companies are also facing a lot of cashflow and credit problems, making them delay tax payments," economists with local consultancy Rosenberg Associados wrote in a note to clients. Brazil's severest recession in at least eight decades has taken a turn for the worse in recent months, frustrating economists who expected it to stabilize following the impeachment of unpopular President Dilma Rousseff. Business and consumer confidence have lifted off record lows but measures of economic activity including industrial output, retail sales and services growth have fallen sharply, suggesting a mild recovery will only start in early 2017. Brazil's central government primary deficit so far this year rose to 96.633 billion reais, the Finance Ministry said. The central bank will release on Monday the September public sector primary deficit, which includes states and municipalities. Economists in a monthly poll by the Finance Ministry have forecast a 2016 deficit of 159.9 billion reais, slightly better than an official target of 163.9 billion reais. ($1 = 3.1521 Brazilian reais) (Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Writing by Silvio Cascione; Editing by James Dalgleish) (Adds detail, context, analysis) RIYADH, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's government does not plan to make its usual monthly issue of local currency bonds in October because of its success last week in raising money overseas, the Maaal financial website quoted unnamed sources as saying on Thursday. The suspension of domestic issuance could, temporarily at least, ease upward pressure on Saudi money market rates, which have been rising sharply as government debt sales soak up liquidity in the banking system. In mid-2015, the government began offering about 20 billion riyals ($5.3 billion) of local currency bonds every month to help cover a huge budget deficit caused by low oil prices. But this month, the central bank has not notified local banks of a bond offer, Maaal quoted the sources as saying. Finance Ministry officials could not be reached to comment. Maaal said domestic issuance had been suspended because the government succeeded last week in raising a mammoth $17.5 billion in its first international bond sale, reducing the need to raise more funds for now. Maaal did not say when or whether local bond sales would resume, but finance minister Ibrahim Alassaf, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, indicated that the government still considered them a tool to raise money. The kingdom's debt issues will not be limited to conventional bonds, but will be followed by other instruments such as sukuk, Alassaf said without elaborating. Because of tightening liquidity, the three-month Saudi interbank offered rate shot up to 2.386 percent last week, its highest level since January 2009, having stood below 1.0 percent a year ago. This threatens to squeeze companies' finances and hurt the economy, which has already been slowing because of government austerity measures introduced in response to cheap oil. The rate has stopped climbing this week, partly because traders believe the government is likely to deposit some of its $17.5 billion bond proceeds in local banks, improving liquidity. The government has issued a total of 169.7 billion riyals of bonds to banks since mid-2015, including 83.5 billion riyals during the first eight months of this year, Maaal said. Central bank data suggests banks have had increasing difficulty finding the money to buy the bonds and may have purchased only about 2.4 billion riyals' worth in August. (Reporting by Marwa Rashad; Writing by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Kevin Liffey) * Money rates rising rapidly due to deficit financing * Government suspends monthly issues of domestic bonds * Central bank introduces new money market instrument * But further domestic borrowing likely to be necessary * Usefulness of repo agreements not yet clear By Andrew Torchia and Marwa Rashad RIYADH/DUBAI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian authorities have taken fresh steps to ease a liquidity crunch caused by low oil prices, suspending the government's local currency bond issues and introducing a new instrument to inject funds into the money market. The steps could, temporarily at least, ease upward pressure on Saudi money market rates, which have been rising sharply - threatening economic growth - as government debt sales soak up funds from the banking system. But some bankers said the upward trend in rates was unlikely to end unless the government succeeded in slashing its budget deficit, allowing money to flow back to the private sector. The Maaal financial website quoted unnamed sources on Thursday as saying the government did not plan to make its usual monthly issue of local currency bonds in October. A Saudi commercial banker familiar with the market confirmed the report. In mid-2015, the government began offering about 20 billion riyals ($5.3 billion) of local currency bonds every month to help cover a huge budget deficit caused by low oil prices. But this month, the central bank has not notified local banks of a bond offer, Maaal quoted the sources as saying. Finance Ministry officials could not be reached to comment. Maaal said the government had been able to suspend domestic issuance because it had succeeded last week in raising a mammoth $17.5 billion in its first international bond sale, reducing the need to raise more funds for now. Later on Thursday, the central bank said it was introducing a new money market instrument, a 90-day repurchase agreement, that it could use to lend money to banks when needed. The new instrument will complement seven- and 28-day repo agreements that the central bank introduced last month. Previously, it had typically only used repo agreements with one-day maturities. The central bank also said it was lowering the maximum volume for its Treasury bill issues to 3 billion riyals per week from 9 billion riyals - a signal to banks that they would not face large drains of short-term funds. Because of tightening liquidity, the three-month Saudi interbank offered rate shot up to 2.386 percent last week, its highest level since January 2009, from below 1.0 percent a year ago. This threatens to squeeze companies' finances and hurt the economy, which has already been slowing because of government austerity measures introduced in response to cheap oil. The rate has stopped climbing this week, partly because traders believe the government is likely to deposit some of its $17.5 billion bond proceeds in local banks, improving liquidity. It made a special deposit of about 20 billion riyals for this purpose last month. Nevertheless, bankers said rates could resume rising later this year if the government restarted domestic bond issuance. Maaal did not say whether or when this would happen, but Finance Minister Ibrahim Alassaf, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, indicated the government still considered domestic bonds as a tool to raise money. The kingdom's debt issues will not be limited to conventional bonds, but will be followed by other instruments such as sukuk, Alassaf said without elaborating. "They could issue bonds locally again as soon as next month," the commercial banker said. The government has issued a total of 169.7 billion riyals of bonds to banks since mid-2015, including 83.5 billion riyals during the first eight months of this year, Maaal said. After a record deficit of 367 billion riyals last year, Riyadh's 2016 budget plan envisages a deficit of 326 billion riyals, a step on the way to balancing the budget by 2020. Bankers expect another big international bond issue from Saudi Arabia next year, and it may also tap the international loan market. But the deficit numbers suggest it may need to borrow substantial sums domestically for at least two or three more years. Another commercial banker in Riyadh said he believed banks were unlikely to use the new seven- and 28-day repos much to obtain funds because the instruments were so short-term, although the 90-day repo might have more success. (Additional reporting by Tom Arnold in Dubai, editing by Larry King) Taylor Shellfishs plan for a 25-acre geoduck farm in Burley Lagoon in South Kitsap has sparked opposition from residents and environmental groups. Contributed photo / state Department of Ecology By Tristan Baurick of the Kitsap Sun PURDY Beachcombing in Burley Lagoon isn't what it used to be. Until recently, Nan Seffernick collected shells, feathers and sun-bleached sand dollars. Now she picks up PVC tubes, mesh bags, netting and other plastic debris, some of it bearing the name Taylor Shellfish. "All of this trash I picked up today on my beach," she said, rifling through a bucket of assorted aquaculture flotsam. She and dozens of other Burley Lagoon residents say they expect more of the same if Taylor were allowed to intensify its shellfish growing operation in the narrow waterway running through the Kitsap-Pierce County border. About 110 people attended a Tuesday evening meeting about Taylor's plan to convert an existing commercial clam and oyster bed into one of the region's largest geoduck-growing operations. "We exceed (environmental) regulations and are certified sustainable," Taylor's regulatory director, Diane Cooper, told the audience at Peninsula High School's auditorium. "We know there are concerns here, and we intend to address them." Taylor, the state's largest shellfish grower, currently "scatter seeds" the lagoon, a practice that requires less gear than intensive geoduck farming. Under Taylor's plan, about 25 acres of tideland would be covered in a grid of plastic tubes planted with geoduck, a large and long-lived clam that can sell for more than $100 per pound in Asia. The tubes and protective netting covering them would dramatically increase visual and environmental impacts, according to residents and groups opposed to the plan. "I can't imagine why, for the profit of one company, we'd turn this lagoon into a plastic dump," said Dorothy Walker, chairwoman of the Sierra Club's Pierce County branch. The meeting was organized by Pierce County, which has jurisdiction over the farm's south lagoon location. Pierce has promised to give the geoduck proposal special scrutiny. An agreement reached with Taylor would require the company to assess impacts on tidal sediment, aquatic vegetation, water quality, marine life, noise, outdoor recreation and aesthetics. Pierce is accepting public comment on the proposal until Nov. 8. All of the dozens of people who spoke at the meeting expressed opposition. "This comes down to an ugly word: rape," said Jo Jensen, who lives on the south shore. Residents contrasted Taylor's management of tidelands with the lower-impact approach of the lagoon's former shellfish grower, who operated a small oyster farm until Taylor took over four years ago. Taylor has implemented farming practices that have increased marine trash, scared away wildlife and boosted late-night noise and lighting, residents said. "All we've seen is irresponsibility," said Mark Corbett, who has lived on the lagoon for 30 years. "Burley Lagoon can't sustain anything else." Some attendees urged Kitsap County to get involved. The north third of the lagoon, including the mouth of Burley Creek, is in Kitsap, but Kitsap officials have remained quiet about Taylor's proposal. State Rep. Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor, said Pierce has been too soft on Taylor. The company, he said, should be held accountable for any damage it's currently causing before it's allowed to intensify operations. Young, who is campaigning to retain his seat in the Legislature, said he'd call on state environmental regulators to look into the matter. "This is the type of crap that makes it hard to be bipartisan," he said. "I'm a pro-business Republican, and this is pissing me off." The county is well aware of the potential impacts a large geoduck farm can have on an enclosed body of water, said shoreline planner Ty Booth. That's why the county agreed with Taylor that the project should go through the lengthy and expensive process of producing an environmental-impact statement, a step the county has never required of a shellfish farm. Taylor's proposal will need approval by the county hearing examiner and the state Department of Ecology. Some residents hinted they might take legal action if the proposal were approved. Karen Vogt hugs her cat, Babushka, Wednesday on the back porch of the home where she was a tenant on McKenzie Avenue in Bremerton until a fire Sept. 19. She was sleeping in her upstairs room when the cat alerted her to the blaze, which investigators believe was arson. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN SHARE Victor Avery sweeps leaves Wednesday in front of his scorched home on McKenzie Avenue in Bremerton. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN Victor Avery stands Wednesday in the garage where the Sept. 19 arson fire at the downtown Bremerton home. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN Victor Avery stands Wednesday on the front porch of his McKenzie Avenue home, which was destroyed by fire Sept. 19. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN The fast-moving fire Sept. 19 that destroyed a McKenzie Avenue home has been ruled an arson. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN FILE Related Coverage Fire destroys Bremerton home By Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun BREMERTON Were it not for the cat Babushka's nudges, Karen Vogt might not be alive. The Bremerton woman awoke about 10 p.m. Sept. 19 after being pawed by her black-and-gray tabby. She smelled smoke and heard a crackling sound. Outside the window of her McKenzie Avenue home, a garage, where her landlord lived, was engulfed in flames. The intense heat from the garage spread and destroyed her residence. It threatened two adjacent homes, evidenced by scorched fences on each side. Vogt and her landlord, Victor Avery, lost almost all of their possessions, throwing their lives into chaos. Worse yet, investigators determined that it was intentionally set and that there had been an unsuccessful attempt at arson just days before. On Friday before the Monday fire, Avery's bed, within the garage in what he called the "executive residence," was set on fire. Just like the Monday blaze, Avery was at work in Seattle. Vogt put out the flames with a pot of water and called 911. Investigators believe the same suspect or suspects set the two blazes. "I want that person caught, and I want them in jail," Vogt said. Vogt, who had to move away from the area, couldn't keep her cat. She has to visit Babushka, who remains at the property, as her new home does not allow pets. Avery, who owns the land but didn't have insurance, is staying often at the property. He hopes to rebuild. "I didn't make this mess," Avery said, "But I have to pick it up." The idea someone could have set the blaze and escaped twice has puzzled investigators. The fire department's headquarters station is two blocks from the home. And a brick-lined gate surrounds the home's entire perimeter, undoubtedly making it tougher for a suspect's entrance and exit. Fire Marshal Mike Six said hundreds of investigative hours have been poured into the case by the city's fire and police departments. Though they're still doing some evidence testing, no suspects have been arrested. "Nobody seems to have the motivation to do this," Six said. The fear in that scenario is with no suspects, "It's completely possible we have someone setting fires." Six expressed hope that the perpetrator might be found now that the Northwest Insurance Council has put up a $10,000 reward for any information leading to a conviction in the case. Meanwhile, the city is putting pressure on Avery to tear down the home, which was built in 1918. He says he'll do it "with my own bare hands." He'd like to build apartments there, taller than his original home. Avery has been doing a little bit each day to clean up. He catches showers when he can at a Seattle health club. Soon, he said, he'll have a dumpster outside and will begin the demolition. The city demands he complete it by Dec. 31, according to documentation left at the property. Six said while the case is growing stale, he's committed to tracking down a culprit. "We're keeping a close eye on it," he said. "We're not putting our guard down." REWARD A $10,000 reward fund, sponsored by the Northwest Insurance Council, is being offered to those who help secure a conviction in the case. If you have information, call Bremerton Fire Marshal Mike Six at 360-473-5386. SHARE Seward Stevens By Christina Henry of the Kitsap Sun SOUTH KITSAP A self-employed builder and parent of a ninth-grader at Marcus Whitman Junior High School was appointed Tuesday to fill a vacancy on the South Kitsap School Board. Seward Stevens will take the place of longtime board member Patty Henderson, elected in 2015, who resigned in August, citing demands of her job. The board Tuesday interviewed Seward and another applicant, Gregory Gililland. Two other people who had applied withdrew their names, according to district spokeswoman Amy Miller. Seward represents District 1, covering downtown Port Orchard, the McCormick Woods-Sunnyslope area, and the East Port Orchard-Parkwood area. "I'm proud to be appointed to the board. I'm flattered and humbled to be appointed to the board," Seward said. His priority will be to "shepherd a new high school" into the district. Seward, 73, said he will appeal to older adults like himself to support a new school as a benefit to the community, regardless of whether they currently have children in school. Stevens said he also would like to poll students and teachers for their concerns. Seward and wife Eloisa, formerly of Bainbridge Island, have lived in South Kitsap for nine years. Seward has volunteered in South Kitsap schools since his youngest daughter, Mia Alipio, was in elementary school at East Port Orchard. He also has served on the district's instructional materials committee. He has two older daughters in their 30s and served on the school board in Sullivan, Maine, when they were in school there. Seward will serve until the next scheduled board election in 2017. The winner of that election will serve the remaining two years of the four-year term. Seward likely will run for the position in 2017. "I believe I can be of service if given the proper direction and guidance by the people who are my peers on the school board," he said. "There is no puffery in me being on this school board. I consider it a duty." In February the board will seek voter approval of a maintenance and operations levy to replace its levy that expires in 2017. The board also is weighing whether to run another bond for a new high school or other capital projects. Two attempts in 2016 to pass a bond for a second high school narrowly failed to meet the required 60 percent supermajority. SHARE Stanley Louis Geissman of Port Orchard Dec. 2, 1923 to Oct. 20, 2016 Veteran Stanley Louis Geissmann passed away in his home at the age of 92 on Oct. 20, 2016. He was born on Dec. 2, 1923 in St. Louis, Missouri to Louis Manley Geissmann and Cora Louise Geissmann Medina. Stanley lived in St. Louis and Los Angeles as a child. Before he was 18 years of age, he hitchhiked from LA to Canada and joined the Canadian Army. He returned to the United States right after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He branched out with the Air Force where he served 24 years spanning World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He met his wife of 59 years, Itsuko, while stationed in Japan. Stan retired from the Air Force on Feb. 28, 1966, the day he brought his newborn daughter home from the hospital. A job at Boeing brought the family to Washington state and in 1970 he began working as a civil servant for the Department of the Navy at Keyport and Bangor, Washington. He also went to night school and graduated with an associate degree from Olympic College in 1973. Stan was an advanced HAM radio operator, loved astronomy, technology, and enjoyed all sciences and history. A born electronics engineer, he loved machines, particularly airplanes, automobiles, and computers. Stanley loved nature and animals, was kind and friendly to all, and was known for his easy-going nature and sense of humor. He was proud to serve the country he loved. He was most devoted to his wife and family. He will always be remembered by his beloved wife, Itsuko; daughter, Sharon (Ray Gibson); granddaughter, Kristina (Adam Gibson); great-grandchildren, Jordynn and Wesley; his sister, Catherine Marie Smith; his nephews, Jim Smith and Jimmy Geissmann; and niece, Gina Wilkinson. He is preceded in death by his brother, Spencer James Geissmann; and niece, Janice Geissmann. A celebration of life will be held on Nov. 1, 2016, at Rill Chapel in Port Orchard, Washington. Interment with military honors will be held on Nov. 3, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Kitsap Firefighter's Benevolent Fund. Online memorial and tribute wall at www.rill.com. Pattrick Smellie writes: In Europe, a French-speaking parliament in Belgium has all but killed a long-sought free trade deal between Canada and the European Union. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) may yet somehow be signed in Brussels this Thursday, but as of Wednesday in New Zealand, there was no clear pathway for that to happen. The European Union risks effectively shutting up shop for trade deals with anyone until a way through the impasse can be found. Yep, no point in negotiating when not even a state parliament but a regional parliament can veto a deal. You feel sorry for the rest of the EU who want this deal but under EU law are fobidden to negotiate trade deals outside the EU. So the Wallonia Assembly gets to veto everyone else. Former trade negotiator Charles Finny has just returned from Washington DC, where he found a far higher hurdles than he expected to TPPs progress. The prospect of a protracted renegotiation now looms. Yeah TPP looks dead because the NZ and Australian negotiators got too good a deal it seems. But if US wont ratify I say leave them to their tariffs and lets focus on countries in Asia who do want to reduce barriers. Thirdly, theres always the UK. Brexit looks almost attractive if the EU loses its ability to write Europe-wide trade deals with other parts of the world. While the UK cant formally negotiate a free trade agreement with anyone until its left the EU and that could take four years or more that doesnt stop informal negotiations starting in preparation for swift ratification once the way is clear. Already, theres informal chatter about linking together a Commonwealth initiative, involving New Zealand, Australia and Canada, to push for an FTA with the UK. If TPP fails and an NZ-EU FTA proves too hard, the UK may well emerge as an unlikely candidate for focus. On that note, a more united ANZAC trade strategy may start to make more sense in both Wellington and Canberra. All in favour of an FTA with the UK. And fourthly, New Zealand might consider whether its support for the inclusion of investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions in FTAs with developed economies is past its use-by date. ISDS has been a primary lever used by opponents of trade liberalisation to create the rising tide of opposition to FTAs in general. While there may be a case for clauses aggressively protecting investors rights in countries where the rule of law is uncertain, they have no clear place in agreements between developed economies. I tend to agree. There is a case for them where property rights are less certain and governments have a propensity to confiscate assets without compensation. But we shouldnt need them in agreements with other OECD members. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr The Herald reports: The New Zealand Defence Force is mourning the loss of one of its most popular and respected leaders, and a veteran stalwart of its support operation in Antarctica. Major Mac McColl, or Mac as he was affectionately known at Scott Base and in the defence community, died on Saturday morning after a short battle with cancer. This is devastating news to anyone connected to Antarctica. Mac basically ran Scott Base, and was one of the vital kegs in our long-term operations there. He was basically our host when I stayed down there in January. He had a total commitment to Antarctica, to Antarctica NZ and to keeping the people down there safe. Also very well regarded by the Americans at McMurdo. Mac as well as hosting us, gave us tours of places like the heritage hut built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the observatory. A great ambassador for Antarctica has been lost. McColl, who joined the New Zealand Defence Force in 1977 as a Territorial Force field engineer, saw operational service in Sierra Leone and Timor Leste, along with several stints in Antarctica. A recipient of seven medals, including the New Zealand Operational Service Medal and the United Nations Medal Sierra Leone Medal, McColl held a range of development and training appointments as a soldier before being promoted to major in 2004. Apart from his professional achievements and the respect in which he was so widely held, Mac was also notable for his sense of humour, camaraderie and willingness to assist others, Weston said. His association with Antarctica lasted three decades, in a range of roles with the US Antarctic Programs Operation Deep Freeze, the NZDFs Operation Antarctica and Antarctica New Zealand. Most recently, he was seconded to Antarctica New Zealand as the New Zealand defence senior national officer and key member of the planning and logistics team. Antarctica New Zealands Antarctic operation general manager, Simon Trotter, said McColls passions were logistics, aviation, planning and people, so it was no surprise that his role satisfied his appetite for challenges. Mac was a respected leader bringing a range of proven skills, knowledge and experience to the Antarctic environment. McColl was also a great believer in the value of a cup of tea and a good conversation with other people, Trotter said. He valued relationships with his colleagues and National Antarctic Program associates greatly. Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Peter Beggs said McColls strong leadership presence, mentoring skills and humour were consistent features of his character. The measure of a person is often reflected in the positive impacts and quality of relationships had with others, Beggs said. Mac will certainly be remembered for his great qualities, the friendships formed and teaching as the value of the simple things in life such as a good cup of tea and conversation with others. His enduring smile and sense of humour will live on in our memories. My thoughts are with his family, and the wider NZ Antarctic family who will be mourning. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Illegal armed formations in Donbas opened fire on Ukrainian positions 72 times in the past day, the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters said. The largest number of truce violations was recorded in the Mariupol sector, which was attacked 43 times. Donbas militants used small arms and grenade launchers to shell the villages of Hnutove, Talakivka, Hranitne and Starohnativka. They fired 82mm mortars, machine guns, grenade launchers and tank shells on the town of Krasnohorivka and the village of Pavlopil. The ATO forced deployed near the town of Maryinka and the village of Taramchuk came under 120mm mortar fire. They were also attacked by infantry fighting vehicles and snipers. Further, the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Shyrokyne and Vodiane were attacked with the use of banned 122mm and 152mm cannon artillery systems. Fourteen barrages were reported in the Donetsk sector. "The occupiers used anti-aircraft guns, grenade launchers, machine guns and infantry fighting vehicles to shell the villages of Maiorsk and Novhorodske. What is more, 82mm and 120mm mortars and the rest of the arsenal of smaller-caliber arms were fired on the Ukrainian defensive positions near the village of Zaitseve, Butivka coal mine and the town of Avdiyivka," the ATO HQ said. Fifteen acts of provocation against the ATO forces were recorded in the Luhansk sector. Machine guns, grenade launchers and small arms near were used to attack the town of Zolote, and the villages of Triokhizbenka, Krymske, Bakla Kosharna, Novo-Oleskandrivka and Troyitske. In addition to these types of weapons, 82mm mortars were used to attack in the village of Novozvanivka. The Russian Federation has once again unilaterally let the fifty-seventh "humanitarian" convoy heading for Donbas cross the border with Ukraine, the press service of the State Border Service of Ukraine said on Thursday morning. "Since the Russian Federation brought the 'humanitarian aid' in violation of international and national laws and the agreed modalities, and ICRC representatives did not take part in this process, the Ukrainian interdepartmental group has only visually observed [the convoy], without performing control functions," the Ukrainian border agency said. From 06:08 to 07:05 local time on Thursday, two columns of 46 trucks of the "humanitarian" convoy passed through the Russian checkpoints "Donetsk" and "Matveyev Kurgan" to enter Ukraine's territory, the State Border Service said. "During the visual inspection of the vehicles, it was established that the trucks were filled with food, medicine, fire-extinguishing equipment. Traditionally, they are half-empty," it said. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry in turn reported that the "humanitarian" aid had already arrived at its destination. "More than 40 trucks carrying over 400 tonnes of humanitarian aid, mostly food and medicines, have arrived in Luhansk and Donetsk. The humanitarian delivery was uneventful," it said. "As soon as the last vehicle is unloaded, all the trucks will immediately depart for the Rostov region," a ministry representative said. This is the 57th humanitarian convoy sent to Donbas since August 2014. According to the Russian side, more than 64,000 tonnes of "humanitarian" aid have been sent in the convoys. The Moscow City Court has upheld the arrest of Ukrainian citizen Roman Suschenko, who is charged with espionage, an Interfax correspondent reported. "Uphold the decision made by the Moscow Lefortovo Court, reject the appeal filed by the defense lawyer," the judge said while reading his decision on Thursday. Mark Feygin, a lawyer for the Ukrainian, had insisted in his appeal that the decision to detain his client and put him into custody was illegal. The hearing was held behind closed doors. On October 3, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said that its officers in Moscow "arrested Col. Roman Suschenko, an employee of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, during a spy operation." The FSB opened a criminal case under Article 276 (espionage) of the Russian Criminal Code; an inquiry is underway. The Lefortovo court in Moscow placed Suschenko under two-month arrest. His defense team has appealed against the arrest. On October 7, it emerged that Russian investigators had charged Suschenko with espionage. Feygin said his client flatly denies his guilt. The lawyer said Suschenko was charged with several counts of espionage. "There are several counts, a total of some 1.5 pages. In my opinion, they are unconvincing," the lawyer said. He said Suschenko is not refusing to testify altogether, but intends to testify in writing. Feygin said Ukrainian journalist Roman Suschenko, who has lived in the territory of France for six years now, has visited Russia many times and was in Russia for personal reasons at the time he was detained. His relatives live in Russia. Suschenko is now located in the Moscow detention facility Lefortovo, where a Ukrainian consul visited him on October 10. Kyiv called the arrest a provocation on trumped-up espionage charges. The main screens of the Lotte.vn website and mobile application. / Courtesy of Lotte Group By Park Jae-hyuk Lotte Group said Thursday it will launch its online shopping site in Vietnam today "Lotte.vn" seeking to expand in the country's e-commerce market. Korea's major retailer established a limited company named Lotte E-commerce Vietnam in February and has recruited local sellers to prepare for the new website. Lotte.vn will offer goods and services based on the retail networks of Lotte Department Store, Lotte Mart, Lotte Home Shopping and L.POINT, which opened earlier in Vietnam, the group said. The online mall will feature an open market to meet the various demands of the Vietnamese especially young women and will involve 500 popular local sellers, along with Lotte affiliates, according to Lotte. As well as foreign cosmetics brands, such as Shiseido, Lancome and Kiehls, the company plans to sell Korean cosmetics brands including The Face Shop and Laneige, which have been famous in Vietnam thanks to the Korean Wave. Lotte will also introduce Korea's developed e-commerce systems, such as direct delivery and a membership service. More than 90 percent of items purchased in Ho Chi Minh City will be delivered to customers in 24 hours through the group's L.express. The daily delivery service will also be available in five other major cities, including Hanoi, Danang, Can Tho and Hai Phong. Lotte E-commerce Vietnam head Seo Tae-ho said, "Vietnam's e-commerce market has recently shown rapid growth, emerging as an attractive market with large potential." Total sales in Vietnam's e-commerce market reached $4 billion in 2015, a 37 percent rise from a year earlier, and each Vietnamese customer spent $160 a year on average, according to a Korea International Trade Association report released in May. Although e-commerce covers only 2.8 percent of Vietnam's retail market, more young people are buying items like clothes and cosmetics via online malls, the report said. "Most Vietnamese people are yet to purchase products online, because most of the quality is still untrustworthy," a Vietnamese female office worker in her 20s told The Korea Times via Kakao Talk. "Many products are different from the images posted online, but I can perhaps trust the quality of products sold at the online malls of Korean firms." Defense lawyers to contest in ECHR Ukrainian Suschenko's arrest on espionage charges in Russia The defense lawyers for Ukrainian citizen Roman Suschenko, who is charged with espionage, plan to go to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), his lawyer Mark Feygin told reporters in the Moscow City Court. "The court has rejected the defense lawyers' complaint. The case is a political one, such rejection opens to us the way to go to the European Court [of Human Rights]," Feygin said. He said Suschenko had lived permanently in France, where he worked as a correspondent for a Ukrainian information agency. He came to Moscow to visit his relatives, namely, his cousin. "He could be kept under house arrest in that apartment," Feygin said. It was reported earlier on Thursday that the Moscow City Court had found Suschenko's arrest legal. By Nam Hyun-woo African Development Bank Group (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Grand InterContinental Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of AfDB Africa will offer huge business opportunities for Korean companies as its economy provides a favorable business environment, according to African Development Bank Group (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina. In an interview with The Korea Times on the sidelines the 2016 Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Ministerial Conference at the Grand InterContinental Seoul, Adesina said that Africa is becoming attractive as one of the world's few remaining growing markets. He said it will become "the place" where companies want to invest in the near future. "When times have been tough, Africa has been resilient in the last decade," Adesina said. "Political and microeconomic stabilities and business environments on the continent have shown significant improvements." According to him, AfDB estimates that 20 countries in Africa still have GDPs growing at above 5 to 6 percent annually and 11 others are growing at between 3 to 5 percent all above a 3.2 percent average global GDP growth projected by the IMF. "Another critical thing is that Africa's consumer market is growing. If you want to invest, you will invest where the population is growing, where the middle class is rising and where the business environment is improving," Adesina said. According to AfDB data, Africa's population is going to equal that of China and India together by 2060. In a breakdown, the bank estimates the size of the continent's middle class is now 350 million people and it will reach 1.1 billion by 2060. Also, the region's consumer expenditures will grow to $2.1 trillion by 2025 and business-to-business expenditures will reach $3.5 trillion by then. Though the region has the potential to become one of the leading markets in the world, Adesina believes the AfDB must help transform the region to become much friendlier to businesses and investments. In its efforts to do that, Adesina came up with a five-pronged agenda for Africa's progress, dubbed "high-fives," which includes a region-wide infrastructure development plan. "AfDB is investing in electricity and transport infrastructure, which will help reduce the cost of doing business," he said. "The first of the high-fives projects is to light up and power Africa. In the next 10 years, the AfDB will seek for Africans to have universal access to electricity." The bank will invest $12 billion in the energy sector and hopes to leverage between $45 billion to $50 billion from the private sector for that. Also, Adesina said the AfDB will concentrate its efforts to develop high quality regional infrastructure especially rail, transnational highways, power infrastructure, information and communications and air and maritime transport. Korea is also joining Adesina's plan. On Tuesday, Korea's Ministry of Strategy and Finance inked a deal with AfDB in which the Korean government is promising a $10 billion investment package, highlighted by a $5 billion investment in energy and infrastructure over the next two years as the first phase of the package. "I'm very delighted because the area that the Korean government has chosen to invest in is in perfect alignment with the high-five priorities of the AfDB," Adesina said. The president reminded Korean firms that Africa is a continent of 54 countries, each with different opportunities. "Business and investment environments, legal and regulatory systems are different by countries," he stressed. "It is very important for the businesses to have good information about the regions in which they want to invest." He said southern countries are promoting agriculture, an ongoing trend in many parts of Africa, while East African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda are aggressively promoting digital market development. Students at Ewha Womans University, wearing masks, walk away after announcing the end of their 86-day sit-in at a press conference in the school's main building in Seoul, Sunday. Their unique way of protest without a governing body or leader has gained them attention. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun Ewha Womans University students ended their 86-day sit-in Sunday, which they began late July in protest against the school's unilateral plan to set up a night college. Although they finished the protest following school President Choi Kyung-hee's resignation on Oct. 19, attention has remained over their form of protest. The sit-in started on July 28 when students trapped some faculty members, who were finalizing the night college plan, inside the main building. This prompted school officials to call police to suppress the protesters, resulting in a scuffle between the students and some 1,600 policemen. The conflict escalated as students claimed the school violently suppressed hundreds of students who were taking part in a peaceful rally. The school scrapped the night college plan within a week after the protests began, but the students continued the sit-in, vowing to hold out until the president resigned. Unlike conventional protests which are usually led by a handful of students either representing the student council or involved in progressive activities, there was no governing body or leader only a mass of masked students, almost all of whom had no experience in working with the student council. They said the motivation for the sit-in was the president, who pushed ahead with several plans including scaling down scholarships and restructuring colleges in favor of popular majors without consulting the students. "In such events, Ewha students, regardless of whether they were involved with the student council or not, voluntarily took part to protest the school's moves, signing their names on a statement and raising funds for their voices to be heard," one of the protestors told The Korea Times in an email interview. It was impossible to identify the student as she and others insisted on remaining anonymous. The students wore masks, which they said was "a means to protect their identity" because they wanted to show that their demand was not from a specific group but from Ewha as a whole. "We made sure all the participants shared the same responsibility and no individual would be held excessively accountable," she said. In making the decision, the sit-in protesters all aired their opinions. This way of discussion was recognized as being democratic, but was later criticized for being "too slow" as there was no leader. "However, this slow democracy was the key to the protest. Although it took time, we tried to listen to as many opinions as possible so that we could make as unbiased a decision as possible," the student said. The sit-in began during the summer break, but continued after the fall semester began. Students made makeshift sleeping quarters within the main building, and ate, studied and slept there. "Each of the students took part in the sit-in according to their own schedule. Some graduates provided meals and necessities for us so there were no major inconveniences," she said. Although the sit-in has ended, students say the protest is not yet over. "We call for the school to ensure that students and faculty who took part in the protest will not face any disadvantages, and to provide legal support for students subject to police investigations," the students said in a press conference, Sunday. A total of seven students including the student president were called in by police on charges of confinement and underwent hours of questioning. The police traced the students' social media accounts and phone records, the students said. They also denounced the school regarding suspicions that it granted favors in admission and grades to the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, a close confidant of President Park Geun-hye, who is currently embroiled in a scandal. They called for punishment of those responsible at the school. Finally, they demanded a democratic decision-making system to be set up at the school and demanded a transparent election system for the school's president. President Park Geun-hye makes a public apology Tuesday for the leak of official documents to a confidant, who has no position in her administration. / Yonhap By Lee Jin-a, Park Si-soo President Park Geun-hye's approval rating has collapsed to its lowest since her inauguration in February 2013, amid a swirling influence-peddling scandal involving her longtime confidant Choi Soon-sil. In a nationwide survey of 1,528 adults by Realmeter, Park's approval rating was 17.5 percent on Wednesday, down 5.2 percentage points from 22.7 percent on Tuesday when she offered a surprise apology over the leak of classified presidential documents to Choi. Nearly 43 percent of people demanded that Park step down; 21.5 percent wanted her to overhaul her personnel management; 17.8 percent called on the President to relinquish her ruling party membership, while 10.9 percent were satisfied with Park's apology. By age group, 42.7 percent of respondents in their 60s said they still support Park, while 29 percent of those in their 50s, 16.3 percent in their 40s, 7.9 percent in their 30s and 3.4 percent in their 20s also did. Artist Lim Ok-sang writes "step down" in Chinese character calligraphy on a placard during a protest held near Cheong Wa Dae by the civic group June Democracy Forum to demand President Park Geun-hye resign for the influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant, Choi Soon-sil, Thursday. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun University students and professors, and civic and religious groups are protesting against President Park Geun-hye over the snowballing scandal centering on her confidant Choi Soon-sil, calling on her to take responsibility for the matter and step down. Several civic groups held candlelit vigils at Cheonggye Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square and several other places in downtown Seoul, Thursday, and also plan to hold gatherings today. A large scale rally is set to be held at Cheonggye Plaza on Saturday evening, to press the President to step down and to demand the investigation authorities get to the bottom of Choi's alleged meddling in state affairs. Organizers expect about 200,000 participants. On Nov. 12, an anti-government rally is scheduled to take place in commemoration of the one year anniversary of a Nov. 14 rally last year, when farmer Baek Nam-ki was knocked over by a police water cannon. He died last month after 10 months in comma. The planned rally is expected to draw more participants than initially expected, due to the ongoing presidential scandal. On Thursday, the June Democracy Forum, a civic group, held a rally near Cheong WaDae and demanded the President resign. "We are appalled by the fact that Choi controlled not only the private life of the President but also state affairs including the President's speeches and economic, diplomatic, security and personnel issues," it said in a statement. Dozens of civic groups across the country organized rallies and press conferences including in Incheon; Jeonju, North Jeolla Province; and Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province. They all denounced the Park administration, calling for her resignation. More candlelit vigils are scheduled nationwide over the weekend. At a provincial government fair held at BEXCO in Busan, where Park made her first public appearance since her public apology over the scandal, six college students broke onto the scene and shouted for the President's resignation and Choi's arrest. They were removed by police. Universities also joined the protests. Following rallies by students, 32 faculty members of Sungkyunkwan University voiced their stance on the issue. "We professors are ashamed as members of this society, having found out about the President privately abusing her power and wreaking havoc on state discipline," they said, demanding that the President sack all of Cheong Wa Dae's secretarial staff and draw up a neutral Cabinet. "Constitutional reform and all management of state affairs must be placed in the hands of a new Cabinet. This is the way to prevent further social disorder and disgrace to the nation." At Kyungpook National University, 88 professors also made their voices heard. "After taking office, the President has exhausted the lives of the people with her incompetence, irresponsibility, unfairness and corruption. She has trampled on the principles of democracy and is leading the country into an extreme state of chaos," they said. "The President is responsible for personalizing state affairs and wreaking havoc on the discipline of the state," they said, urging her to step down. By Yi Whan-woo President Park Geun-hye's scandal-ridden confidant Choi Soon-sil is reportedly refusing to return to Korea from Germany where she is in hiding. The Segye Ilbo, a religious cult-owned newspaper, reported Thursday that she said in an exclusive interview that the time is not "appropriate" to return home although she apologized for the corruption allegations that surround her. She cited health reasons and concerns for her 20-year-old daughter Chung Yoo-ra, who is believed to be in hiding along with her mother. This overshadows the prosecution's ongoing efforts to trace her. The daily said the interview was conducted at a hotel in Hesse, Germany, Wednesday. Choi said in the interview that she is receiving medical treatment and her daughter is "in a state of mental turbulence" so they needed to stay in Germany for the time being. "I'm having a nervous breakdown and heart problems. Moreover, I don't know what's going to happen to my daughter if I leave her alone and go back to Korea," Choi said. "I will certainly pay for my misdeeds if there are any, but only after I recover," she added, indicating that the mother and daughter may not return to Korea anytime soon. Against this backdrop, Cheong Wa Dae urged Choi to come "as early as possible," saying her return was important to reveal the truth. "She should return quickly, apologize and settle all suspicions surrounding her," presidential spokesman Jeong Yeon-guk said. Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong said he is considering "all possible measures" to apprehend her. "The government is working closely with the German authorities although I can't reveal details due to reasons of confidentiality," he told the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Kim also said he was considering suspending Choi's passport to make her status that of an illegal alien in Germany and consequently press her to return. The education ministry said Thursday that fake "English kindergartens" will be fined up to 5 million won ($4,370) or will be shut if their violations are serious. / Korea Times file By Hong Dam-young, Park Si-soo The government will revoke the business licenses of private English academies for preschoolers that promote themselves as English-teaching "kindergartens." The education ministry said Thursday that fake "English kindergartens" will be fined up to 5 million won ($4,370) or will be shut if their violations are serious. The ministry said there are an estimated 410 private academies, or hagwons, that teach more than 32,000 preschoolers English under the name of "English kindergartens." "While genuine kindergartens must abide by curriculum guidelines set by the ministry, English kindergartens' have a leeway to benefit themselves," an education ministry officer said. This crackdown reflects Korea's long-running craze for early English education. Many Korean parents want their children to study English from an early age, believing that having high English proficiency will offer their children a significant advantage to enter a good university, have a high-paid job and even have a good spouse. English kindergartens normally charge three or four times as much as "genuine" kindergartens. Nevertheless, the English kindergarten business continues to flourish. English kindergartens are also free from complicated management and hygiene rules that apply to genuine kindergartens. Another contributor to the growth is the government's policy of banning English classes from kindergartens' curriculums. Under the law, English education is allowed into the official curriculum from the third grade of elementary school. The restriction was adopted to prevent social problems caused by the "English divide," including educational conflict between the haves and have-nots. By Jun Ji-hye One of the many suspicions surrounding President Park Geun-hye's scandal-ridden confidant Choi Soon-sil is that she might have managed hidden property for Park. Those who raise this suspicion, including some opposition lawmakers, say Choi as her late father did in the 1970s easily collected large amounts of money from conglomerates in the form of "donations," reportedly with the help of Park's aides. People's Party floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won alleged Thursday that Park even called in the heads of conglomerates to Cheong Wa Dae and forced them to donate money to foundations allegedly controlled by Choi. The exact amount of Choi's whole wealth is unknown, but looking at real estate transaction information that has been made public so far, the 60-year-old is believed to have accumulated about 30 billion won ($26 million). Some observers say the total value of property possessed by the Choi family, including her sisters and a daughter, would be hundreds of billions of won. The Choi family was reportedly poor before establishing a relationship with Park in the 1970s. Choi, the daughter of Park's late mentor, Choi Tae-min, first met Park in the mid-1970s when she was acting as first lady, and has played the roles of companion as well as personal secretary. Choi is now at the center of controversy after the revelation that she reviewed Park's speeches ahead of their delivery dates and had access to classified material related to national security, which critics argue violates the law governing the security of confidential presidential records. The suspicion that Choi has been a hidden manager of Park's property was first raised by former lawmaker Lee Jae-oh in 2007. He was a key campaigner for Lee Myung-bak, then a runner in the primary to pick a presidential candidate for the Grand National Party (predecessor to the current ruling Saenuri Party). Park was a rival candidate in the primary, which Lee eventually won. By Lee Kyung-min It is common these days for company workers to assign duties or share work-related information via chatting apps, mostly KakaoTalk. But the round-the-clock conversation tools often put pressure on employees because such conversations are often held after work. In an effort to help reduce workers' stress caused by constant work assignments delivered via mobile devices, 15 members of the Seoul Metropolitan Council recently submitted a revision to a related ordinance to ban after-work messenger services among public workers of the city government, they said Thursday. Under the revision, Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) employees should be guaranteed the right to rest. It specifically said that their privacy should not be infringed upon by phone calls, text messages, social networking channels or other communication tools after work. Councilor Kim Kwang-soo of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said the revision is to guarantee workers' basic rights protected under the Constitution. "Of course SMG officials must always be prepared for the needs of citizens, but many of them are working under conditions that infringe on their right to rest," he said. Low-level SMG officials welcomed the move. "Although the workload may vary depending on the department or the leadership style of individual bosses, the move will generally help me and others rest during the weekend because many of us get assignments via KakaoTalk on weekends," he said. An office worker who refused to be named said the revision should be adopted by the private sector. "When KakaoTalk was first introduced, I loved it because I could use it to talk to my friends. But after my boss started using it to keep giving me work, and checking up on me, I have come to hate it," he said. Similarly, Rep. Shin Kyung-min of the DPK submitted a revision of the Labor Standards Act in June to ban work assignments given to employees via text message or social media after work. Shin said the revision would help workers fully rest in the evening hours as well as during the weekend, which would ultimately increase worker productivity. Confidant claims tablet PC not hers By Kim Se-jeong Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-hye's confidant, is captured in photograph during an interview with the Segye Ilbo, Wednesday, in Germany. / Courtesy of Segye Ilbo A Korean newspaper's exclusive interview with Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-hye's confidant at the center of a corruption scandal, has raised more questions than answers. Some raised questions over the purpose of the interview, which mostly carried Choi's defense. The Segye Ilbo, a local Korean-language daily, Thursday published the exclusive interview with Choi who has been in hiding in Germany. She denied almost all allegations. Asked to confirm if she was privy to policy documents coming out of Cheong Wa Dae, she answered that she was but only in the beginning of Park's presidency. She said she did not know they were confidential. Regarding the allegation that she received a book-length report from the presidential office every day and it was her daily chore to review it, Choi dismissed it strongly. "That's nonsense. I didn't receive anything," she was quoted as saying. She also dismissed allegations that she had meddled in state affairs, including editing major speeches of the President. Asked about a tablet computer obtained by a JTBC journalist, she answered, "I do not have a tablet. I don't even know how to use it. That is not mine." This comment ran contrary to JTBC's report, which found several selfies of Choi in the device as well as files of the President's major speeches. According to an earlier interview by Yonhap TV with one of Choi's acquaintances, Choi said that the tablet belonged to Ko Young-tae, a member of a secret advisory group to President Park. When it comes to corruption allegations involving the Mir and K-Sports foundations which she allegedly used as fundraising tools for private use, Choi said, "That can't be true. Get them audited, you'll find the real truth." Some internet users raised "conspiracy theories" about the exclusive interview. "I get the impression that the entire interview was staged to give Choi the space to excuse herself," one internet user with ID phk8**** wrote. Money Today, a news outlet, reported Choi's family was close to the former publisher of the Segye Ilbo, who coordinated the exclusive interview. The media outlet also said Choi once recommended the former publisher as Korea's ambassador to Italy. The offer was eventually turned down, the newspaper said. By Kim Hyo-jin The North Korea media denounced President Park Geun-hye, Thursday, over the scandal revolving around her confidant Choi Soon-sil. North Korea's main propaganda website, Uriminzokkiri, published three articles on the scandal about how Choi, who has no official government job, was involved in editing key presidential speeches and had access to the government's internal documents. Calling it the "worst-ever political scandal," the website claimed that Park should step down for her "incompetence." "Choi's acts are clear evidence of Park Geun-hye being an incompetent old person," one article stated. "Park had better acknowledge her inability and involvement in the crime and leave Cheong Wa Dae." "No one has ever heard of such an ugly political scandal involving the President memorizing speeches inspected by a random swindler anywhere else in the world," another article said. "Park should be brought into judgment and dragged down from her leadership post." The Chosun Shinbo, a paper published by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, touched upon the scandal, Wednesday, noting it as "looming collapse of the Park Geun-hye government." Park has been under fire for allowing her confidant access to classified documents. Local broadcaster JTBC reported Monday that it had been given Choi's personal computer, which she had asked a concierge in her office building to dispose of, and found that 44 copies of Park's speeches stored on it time-stamped with dates before their actual delivery. On the following day, Park offered a public apology, acknowledging her close ties to Choi and the fact that she had received her help. Rival parties are seeking to appoint an independent counsel for a full-scale investigation, calling for a reshuffling of the Cabinet and the President's secretariat. Choi also allegedly leveraged her relationship with Park to solicit massive donations from conglomerates to form two "non-profit" foundations. Lawyer Feygin to ask in Kyiv about prospects of exchange of Ukrainian journalist Suschenko arrested in Russia Mark Feygin, lawyer for Roman Suschenko, a Ukrainian journalist with the national information agency Ukrinform detained in Russia, intends to arrive in Kyiv on Monday, October 31, to find out the prospects of his client's exchange. "I will come to Kyiv on Monday, October 31, and will stay several days there. I hope to learn about the prospects of exchanging Suschenko for defendants from Russia," Feygin said on Twitter on Thursday. On October 3, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said that its officers in Moscow "arrested Col. Roman Suschenko, an employee of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, during a spy operation." The FSB opened a criminal case under Article 276 (espionage) of the Russian Criminal Code; an inquiry is underway. The Lefortovo court in Moscow placed Suschenko under two-month arrest. His defense team has appealed against the arrest. On October 7, it emerged that Russian investigators had charged Suschenko with espionage. On October 27, the Moscow City Court rejected the appeal filed by his lawyer Mark Feygin and upheld the decision made by the Lefortovo court in a court hearing held behind closed doors. Kyiv called the arrest a provocation on trumped-up espionage charges. Korean Airlines Co., South Korea's top air carrier, said Tuesday that it swung to the black in the third quarter of the year, from a year earlier, largely thanks to lower oil prices and increased passengers. Net profit reached 428 billion won ($376 million) in the July-September period, compared with a loss of 510 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales increased 4.7 percent on-year to reach 3.06 trillion won over the cited period, while operating income reached a record high of 448 billion won, up 35 percent from a year earlier. The airline attributed the record third-quarter business results to lower oil prices and increased passengers. Korean Airlines, the largest shareholder of embattled shipper Hanjin Shipping Co., said its cumulative losses stood at 825 billion won in the first nine months of the year, and reflected the losses on its balance sheet. Aided by its record operating income, its debt ratio fell to 917 percent at the end of September, from 1,109 percent at the end of June. Korean Airlines stressed that it would not provide additional assistance to Hanjin Shipping in the future, adding that it would seek to improve its financial soundness. (Yonhap) President should order confidant's immediate repatriation Choi Soon-sil's interview with Segye Ilbo has only aggravated public rage over the allegations that the longtime confidant of President Park Geun-hye meddled in state affairs. The interview, which appeared on the front page of the Oct. 27 edition of the local daily, was the first time Choi appeared publicly since she fled the country in September. Conducted in Germany, the interview came after Park admitted in a taped public apology that Choi, who holds no official title in her administration, had reviewed presidential speeches before they were delivered. Choi's interview contains only incomprehensible excuses about the latest media reports of her undue influence within and outside the Park administration. She admitted to having helped the President with her speeches, but justified herself by chalking her actions up to "loyalty." She flatly denied that she had pre-access to a wide range of classified information, refuting the allegations that she wielded influence in Park's decisions in diplomacy, inter-Korean affairs and even personnel management at Cheong Wa Dae and ministry posts. Some sympathize with why Park has relied so heavily on Choi, given the President's tragic family history marked by the assassination of both her parents in the 1970s and estrangement from her siblings. Choi, the daughter of Park's mentor Choi Tae-min, who also has long history of corruption, has reportedly been a confidant of Park for almost 40 years. But Park's personal tragedy is no reason for her marred judgment that has allowed all this to happen. Park should have kept her private acquaintances separate from her official life. The people cannot trust the prosecution, which has been unable to track down Choi's whereabouts. If the media can find her, then surely the prosecution should have been able to locate her sooner. Under the circumstances, the people have little faith in the prosecution to conduct a thorough and fair investigation. Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong said Thursday at the National Assembly that his ministry will do all it can to bring Choi back to the country, but a swift repatriation is unlikely since she said that she is in no condition to fly and will not be able to return in the foreseeable future. The only way to move the prosecution's probe forward is for the President to urge Choi's return. The President's job approval rating has plunged to the 10 percent range for the first time in her administration. The people have lost faith in the President and her cursory apology has only fueled their anger. Urging Choi's return will be perceived by the public as the first sign that the President is willing to shoulder responsibility for "Choi gate." Park should order the relevant authorities to do everything they can for the immediate repatriation of Choi and her family for proper questioning into the wide range of allegations that have accumulated over the past weeks. By Young Hoy Kim Kimaro In the U.S. the presidential campaign is raging. We got caught up in the daily unfolding of Trump drama, his bragging on a 2005 tape that he can grope and do whatever to women because he was a "star." The tape went viral on American TV, astonishing the electorate and party operatives alike. Trump dismissed it as "locker room talk" and nothing more. No, not so, claim a steady stream of women, nearing a dozen now. Spurred on by Trump's categorical denial, they felt compelled to step forward to tell their stories to set the records straight. Some accusations date back over 30 years, others more recent. Their accusations were met with categorical denial, of course, and questions were raised about the character and intentions of the accusers Why had they remained silent for so long? Why did they choose to break their silence now, so close to the election? Why? Harrowing as their experiences have been, these women are still much more fortunate than women in similar or worse situations on Mount Kilimanjaro and in many other places around the world. At least they are able to pour their hearts out to close friends, coworkers and family without fear or shame and blame. They could count on their understanding and support. Several years ago, news of an impending public stoning to death of a 13-year-old girl in Somalia, a victim of gang rape, shocked the world. Perhaps you heard about it in Korea too? Public stoning of women found guilty of adultery is still practiced in some Muslim countries. But stoning to death of a victim of rape? Pleas poured in from around the world, interceding with Somali authorities to spare the life of an innocent. Those pleas went unheard; the stoning proceeded as planned, and probably it was a close male relative of the girl who was made to throw the first stone, as usual. Perhaps the barrage of stones that brought her death was a merciful one. Those stones put an end to the terror of rape. They put an end to her paralyzing fear of the consequences that awaited her. They silenced her heart that was torn to shreds from her family's denunciation of her. Maybe, for her, death was merciful. It freed her from it all and gave her the peace that was denied her in life. As they wiped dust off their hands, the men who threw the stones undoubtedly felt righteous. They had done their duty. They rid the society of impurity lest it contaminate others. They had upheld its morals. But did they? Can punishing the victim protect society from crime? Would jailing the one who was burglarized prevent further burglaries? There is no such public stoning in Tanzania, but punishment inflicted on a rape victim by family and society is no less cruel. When our daughter Eli went about interviewing people on Mount Kilimanjaro for "A Lot Like You," a documentary on her Chagga roots, she unexpectedly came across a dark reality that neither she nor I had been aware of. That reality unfolded in response to an innocuous question How was your courtship and what was your wedding like?" She found the men were vague and incoherent in their answers while women recalled every detail. Two sisters in their 70s who were interviewed together told their stories which they had not even shared with each other before. Their stories and those of other women were variations on a theme. A young man rounds up friends to help win over a girl whom he fancies and this is a scenario that unfolds time and again. Friends kidnap her, bring her to him where he keeps her locked up for several days, repeatedly forcing himself on her. Thus violated, the girl is trapped for good. Unlike Trump's accusers in America, returning home is not an option. There she is unlikely to be met with understanding or sympathy, only the full brunt of blame and shame. She may even be thrown out of home for sullying her family's name. Even if her family takes her back and embraces her, she still has to face constant finger pointing, insults and rumors. The only way out for her would be for her to agree be her rapist's wife. In one stroke, all her girlish dreams are shattered and a dark tunnel opens up before her of lifelong servitude to a man that she may hate from her guts. A social worker, familiar with victims of violence and herself a rape victim, adds that this is like condemning a girl to a life of festering hatred and living death. Nevertheless, the resilience of the Chagga women who entered into marriage thus is still nothing short of amazing. They may barely tolerate their husbands, but they are selfless, fearlessly protective and loving of their children. They so often remind me of Korean mothers What if a girl manages to escape her captor and returns home, keeping the incident all to herself? She will return to life as usual, but the fear of pregnancy will constantly hover over her. If she is found pregnant months later, her sky will fall. No amount of explaining will save the day. No matter how brilliant a student, she will be summarily thrown out of school, putting an abrupt end to her education, her chance for a better future. And there would be consequences to face from her family. No wonder men were hesitant to talk about their courtship and marriage. No wonder the word rape is never uttered in the open. Perhaps breaking this silence will be the first step toward breaking the practice of enslaving women in lifelong servitude to a man she hates! 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. Company vows to discern cause of Note 7 blunder to the end and open the result By Yoon Sung-won Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong has come to the fore at the top Korean electronics company. Samsung Electronics said Thursday that the appointment of Lee as a member of the board of directors was approved by shareholders at an extraordinary meeting in Seoul. Expectations are that Vice Chairman Lee will officially take greater responsibility in the company's business management as a registered board member on behalf of his father Chairman Lee Kun-hee who has been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack in 2014. "The board of directors determined that we cannot postpone Vice Chairman Lee's appointment as board director and his official participation in business management in order to deal with rapid changes in the business environment and achieve sustainable growth," Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun said. "We anticipate Lee will fulfill his responsibilities and duties as a member of the board to further solidify the company's global position and boost corporate value." The 48-year-old heir to the nation's largest conglomerate majored in Oriental history at Seoul National University and acquired his master's degree at Japan's Keio University and doctorate from Harvard Business School. He joined Samsung Electronics in 1991 and was promoted to vice president in December 2012. "He will provide the leadership to take Samsung Electronics to the next level of success, helping the company focus on timely investments, reorganizing businesses to enhance core capabilities and creating a more open corporate culture," the company said in a statement. As a board member, one of Lee's biggest tasks is likely to be restoration of the electronics giant's reputation, which has been hit hard after a disastrous incident involving the global recall and discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7, and of the damaged profitability from its fallout. Final quarterly results On Thursday, Samsung Electronics said it posted 5.2 trillion won ($4.55 billion) in operating profit in the third quarter, down 29.7 percent from last year's 7.39 trillion won. The company had 47.82 trillion won in sales, also down 7.5 percent from 51.68 trillion won a year ago, according to a regulatory filing. The sales and operating profit are the lowest in six and eight quarters, respectively. The disappointing performance is mainly due to the discontinuation of the Note 7 over safety concerns after reports worldwide that it caught fire while charging. The company has not revealed clear reasons for this defect. Shin Jong-kyun, one of Samsung Electronics' co-CEOs in charge of its mobile business, apologized again for the defect and said the company will get to the bottom of it, Thursday. "We are thoroughly analyzing the battery cell structure and its internal protection circuits, and manufacturing," Shin said. "We are also looking into handset hardware and software as well as all processes such as logistics. Besides the in-house investigation, we have also requested the help of third-party institutions both at home and abroad. Such thorough investigations will take some time. But we will reveal the cause and share the results." Samsung Electronics said it will distribute an obligatory software update for all Note 7s in Korea starting Oct. 29 to prevent their batteries from charging beyond 60 percent. The company said this is to urge those who are still using Note 7s to return the handset for a refund or replacement. Amid such incidents, Samsung Electronics' mobile division still managed to avoid a deficit, announcing an operating profit of 100 billion won in the third quarter, just 4 percent of last year's 2.4 trillion won. "Smartphone shipments remained solid due to stable sales of our existing budget handsets and flagship devices including the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge," the company said in a statement, adding that it expects the S7 will break the sales volume in the Galaxy S series of smartphones. The company said it will seek a turnaround with the release of its next flagship Galaxy S8 next year by introducing a new design, improved cameras, cloud features and artificial intelligence (AI) services. Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics recorded favorable results in the semiconductor and display panel businesses. The company said its semiconductor business generated 3.37 trillion won in operating profit after the introduction of the 48-layer V-NAND flash memory process and the output expansion of 20-nano DRAMs. Its system large-scale integration business also performed well as it has seen an increase in 14-nano foundry orders as well as a sales boost for mid-priced mobile application processors and image sensors. The company said it will speed up the process shift of its V-NAND flash memory business and boost production of premium solid-state drives for servers next year. It also pledged to expedite the 10-nano for DRAM process and mobile processors. "We plan to mass-produce V-NAND products at the Pyeongtaek campus starting mid-2017 and will complete facility construction by the end of this year," the company said. "We are setting up equipment on line 17 in the Hwaseong plant to produce V-NAND products, aiming at starting mass-production in the first half of next year." Samsung Electronics' display business posted 1.2 trillion won in operating profit from an increase in sales of higher value-added OLED panels and LCD products. Its consumer electronics division also performed well by focusing on selling premium products such as quantum-dot, curved and SUHD TVs. Samsung Electronics shareholders also approved the plan to sell the group's printer business to Hewlett-Packard (HP). Under the plan, the company will reform its printing business division as a separate subsidiary on Nov. 1 and sell a 100 percent share to HP, as it focuses on core businesses. The company said it acquired 14.53 million shares in Cheil Worldwide from Samsung C&T through off-hours block trading. It also vowed to announce a new dividend policy by the end of next month. Samsung Electronics closed at 1,573,000 won on the Seoul bourse, Thursday, up 0.38 percent from the previous day. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has instructed the Foreign Ministry and other relevant departments to step up activities for the release of Ukrainian citizens illegally detained in the Russian Federation. In a statement on his official Facebook page on Wednesday evening, Poroshenko said that he instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant departments to intensify efforts for the soonest release of all Ukrainian citizens and for protection of their rights, including through increased international pressure on Russia. According to the Ukrainian president, he made this decision after another mock trial of Ukraine's Mykola Karpiuk and Stanislav Klykh in Russia. Poroshenko also said that the absurdity is emphasized by Moscow's recent refusal to hand over Ukrainian citizens Oleh Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko to Kyiv based on claims that the two Ukrainians have Russian passports. "And this comes after the Russian human rights commissioner recognized Kolchenko and Sentsov as citizens of Ukraine," he said. The Russian Supreme Court resolved on October 26, 2016, to recognize as lawful the verdict in the case of Ukrainian citizens Karpiuk and Klykh. The court ruled that they had fought against Russian federal government troops during the first Chechen campaign in the ranks of the UNA-UNSO. The two Ukrainians had been sentenced by the Chechnya Supreme Court to 22.5 and 20 years in prison respectively. In August 2015, the Northern Caucasus District Court found Sentsov and Kolchenko guilty of creating a terrorist community in Crimea, the commission of two terrorist attacks and the preparations for another one, and also an attempt to acquire explosive devices and illegal weapons storage. Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony, and Kolchenko was sentenced to ten years in prison. Early this May, Sentsov and Kolchenko filled out forms for their extradition to Ukraine. On October 21, Deputy Justice Minister of Ukraine for European Integration Serhiy Petukhov said Russia refused to hand over Sentsov and Kolchenko to Ukraine. Kyiv's Appeals Court has left in force the decision of a lower court on the pretrial detention of former first deputy head of the State Tax Service, ex-chief of the tax police Andriy Holovach with bail set at UAH 200 million. "Ruling on appeal of the decision of Kyiv's Holosiyivsky district court of October 5, 2016, the court has left the lower court's ruling unchanged. The appeal by lawyers of the defendant is denied," reads the ruling of Kyiv's Appeals Court on Thursday. Head of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) Yuriy Lutsenko on August 9 said Holovach was arrested by the military prosecutor's office jointly with the Ukraine's SBU Security Service during the course of investigating cases involving former President Viktor Yanukovych (2010 to 2014). Holovach was arrested the same day, bail was set at UAH 200 million and Holovach's residence was searched. "Four more tax officials serving under former Minister of Tax and Revenue Oleksandr Klymenko were arrested," Lutsenko said then. Prosecutors say the detained are suspected of delaying reimbursement of value-added-tax payments in amount of about UAH 3.170 billion to suspicious enterprises, "which were under control of the criminal group of Yanukovych, [former Prime Minister Mykola] Azarov and Klymenko." Amnesty International has said that the trial of Ukrainian citizens Stanislav Klykh and Mykola Karpiuk was "a travesty of justice" and called on Russian authorities to probe the convicts' statements about torture. "Two Ukrainian men jailed in Russia after being tortured into confessing to a series of murders are the victims of a travesty of justice," Amnesty International said in a statement on Thursday. Klykh and Karpiuk were convicted of killing Russian soldiers in Chechnya in the 1990s, despite both providing credible evidence that they were not in the unstable region at the time, the statement says. The Russian Supreme Court upheld sentences of 22 years in jail for Karpiuk and 20 years for Klykh on Wednesday. "Russia's case against these men defies reason. The numerous fair trial violations and the unconvincing prosecution evidence all point to a fabricated case. They were denied access to their lawyers of choice and allege that their confessions were forced from them as a result of torture," the statement quotes John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia Regional Office Director, as saying. "Rather than taking the opportunity to correct this blatant travesty of justice, Moscow's Supreme Court has again overlooked the evidence and upheld the prosecution case in this propaganda-driven show trial," he said. Klykh and Karpiuk, who belong to a Ukrainian right-wing nationalist group, were unable to use their chosen lawyers for several months after their arrest in 2014, during which time they allege they were tortured into confessing, the statement says. According to Amnesty International, Klykh said he was forced to drink vodka until he lost consciousness, given mind-altering psychotropic drugs, hung from bars in his cell, subjected to electric shocks and kept in solitary confinement for more than a year. None of these torture allegations have been investigated. Klykh's state-appointed lawyer was not even present when he was interrogated. It was later revealed that she had been on maternity leave. "The Russian authorities must investigate the serious allegations of torture at the hands of its law enforcement personnel, as well as the denial of access to a lawyer," Dalhuisen said. The torture has apparently affected the mental health of Klykh, who appeared severely disturbed throughout the trial, which began in October 2015, the organization said. "He undressed himself in the court room, shouted abuse and hung himself upside down inside the defendant's cage. In November 2015, Klykh cut himself with a blade to protest against the authorities' refusal to carry out a medical examination. In October 2016, he claimed not to remember his date of birth during a court hearing and asked to be defended by Stanislav Mikhailov a Russian pop star," the statement reads. Amnesty International stressed all requests for Klykh to be offered an independent psychiatric examination have been refused and he has instead been declared fit to stand trial. Up to the time of his alleged torture he had no previous history of mental illness. "To ignore Stanislav Klykh's medical condition, despite the evidence demonstrating his vulnerability, is cruel and inhuman. He must be assessed by an independent medical professional as soon as possible," Dalhuisen said Karpiuk and Klykh were arrested, while visiting Russia, in March 2014 and August 2014 respectively. They had both been members of the Ukrainian right-wing group, the Ukrainian National Assembly Ukrainian Peoples' Self Defence (UNA UNSO), which is banned in Russia. They were convicted by Chechnya's Supreme Court in May 2016 of being members of a group of fighters that killed 30 Russian soldiers during the conflict in Chechnya in 1994-1996. Both men have denied all the charges, stating that they were in Ukraine at the time of the alleged crimes. Karpyuk was caring for his dying mother who lived in a village near Rivne, Ukraine, while Klykh was a student taking exams. Former Prime Minister of Ukraine, leader of the People's Front Party Arseniy Yatsenyuk has discussed the situation in the east of Ukraine and progress of peace talks on the region during his meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. "The United States should take part in the negotiation process on the settlement of [the crisis in] eastern Ukraine [I've] voiced this position at a meeting with U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden," Yatsenyuk said on Facebook on Thursday. He also said he had not changed his position on the crisis. "There are key conditions for further debate on the political settlement - this is security. Russia must leave the Ukrainian territory. Nothing has changed here. Firstly, [it is] the ceasefire. It has not happened. Secondly, [it is] the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons. Thirdly, [it is] retaking control over the Ukrainian border," he wrote. These are three key positions that are part of the Minsk agreements, he wrote, Russia must be pressed to fulfill them. "The U.S. side supports the position that the first and main stage is security. We cannot continue with political issues without solving the problem of security," he said. PGO and ICC Prosecutor Office see crimes against Maidan activists as part of chain of events leading to Russia's aggression against Ukraine During a three-hour meeting with representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, the parties discussed crimes against protesters in Kyiv center in February 2014, and Russia's military aggression in Donbas and Crimea, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said. "We came to a consensus that crimes on the Maidan are part of a chain of crimes that led to the aggression by Russia and Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine," Lutsenko wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday afternoon. According to the prosecutor general, Ukrainian officials briefed the delegates of the ICC Office of the Prosecutor about the actions of Russian political and military leaders regarding Ukraine, which should be qualified as crimes against humanity and war crimes. "We have agreed to step up cooperation not only in the exchange of information, but also to admit ICC representatives to the PGO's materials on the crimes committed against peaceful protesters during the Revolution of Dignity, as well as the crimes related to the Russian military aggression in Ukraine's east and Crimea," Lutsenko said. As reported, on Sept 2, Lutsenko said that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies cooperate with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague on the matter of bringing to justice the Russian leadership and top military officials for unleashing war in Donbas and the occupation of Crimea. On October 25, Ukraine's prosecutor general did not rule out the transfer of cases on the crimes against Euromaidan activists to the ICC. Fighters believed to be members of the so-called Islamic State (IS) have taken control of an ancient Red Sea port town in Somalia, the private Jowhar website reports. Qandala lies 75km (46 miles) from the commercial port city of Bosaso, in the north-eastern region of Puntland. Qandala district commissioner Ahmed Khurshe confirmed the fall of the town to IS to journalists, saying that some residents, including himself, had fled. Reports suggest the fighters set up a military camp inside Qandala, which itself is a coastal town. Puntlands regional administration is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the situation. A year ago, a group of al-Shabab fighters in Puntland pledged allegiance to IS. The breakaway faction is led by Abdiqadir Mumin, who the US put on a sanctions list last month because of his terrorism activities. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said Ukrainian diplomats will be working on spreading the term "Russian aggression against Ukraine" in official international documents. "Right now, during the consultations with the EU leadership, I am confident we will spread the use of the term," Poroshenko said talking to students and teachers of the Ostroh Academy in Zhytomyr region on Thursday. According to him, during his recent visit to Oslo, Norway, the term "Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine" was used in a joint statement of the president of Ukraine and the prime minister of Norway. In addition, thanks to the coordinated work of Ukrainian MPs and diplomats, the PACE resolution also included term "the Russian aggression in Ukraine." "I would like to stress what we have is not ATO [the anti-terrorist operation]. We have Russian aggression against our independent sovereign state," Poroshenko said. The fire attacks have not stopped in Donbas over the past week, the map of hostilities has enlarged in the direction of Horlivka, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said. One more week of instability passed, and the level of violence remains high in eastern Ukraine, the OSCE monitors are recording hundreds of breaches daily, he told a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday. The focal point remains the Avdiyivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport triangle, but the geography of hostilities has expanded to the west and northwest of Horlivka, around Svitlodarsk and Debaltseve, Hug said. The mission monitors have recorded over 90 blasts in Svitlodarsk controlled by Kyiv last Friday; 120 explosions near Horlivka controlled by the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) on Saturday, Hug said. The use of multiple rocket launchers causes special concerns, it is impossible to avoid the hits into the houses of civilians due to their random use, he said, noting that the mission's video cameras had recorded multiple rocket launchers firing 27 missiles in Shyrokyne on Friday night, Hug said. The Minsk Agreements are not being implemented, he said again. The OSCE SMM comprises 689 monitors today, 580 of them are working in Donbas, Hug said. Question: What is 140 films from 15 countries at six different theaters, shown over 10 days (Nov. 3-12), with opening and closing nights in Sherwood Auditorium at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla? Answer: Its the 17th annual San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) and it looks exciting! The festival will feature films from the USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Thailand and South Korea with 12 movie premieres and several directors and actors attending screenings. If youve not watched modern-day Asian films before, you are in for a rewarding surprise. They are generally very different from the high-budget, extreme-action, special effects-dominated movies coming from Hollywood. They put more emphasis on people, relationships, emotions, the unusual, the diverse ... and there is a lot more film-making experimentation going on. This years festival kicked off Oct. 3 at the Brick on Old Decatur Road in Liberty Station with a Chew The Scene food-tasting event. Lee Ann Kim, festival founder and executive director for the past 16 seasons before retiring, came to the mic and joked, I am surprised to see that there are so many people here tonight! Although everyone misses her enthusiastic leadership, the festival continues to grow under the new leadership of Kent Lee, who was appointed after a nationwide search. Lee is actually a local who worked his way up through the ranks from the starting point of festival volunteer. He leaves a position as a marketing director for the Boy Scouts of America to assume the helm of SDAFF. Lee said his goals for the festival are to promote Asian films, involve more people in film-making, and bring the community together through movie-going to counter the cultural trend toward isolation in virtual reality. Brian Hu continues his role as festival artistic director. Hes the guy who watches all the films submitted for consideration and selects the ones that will be shown. He is very passionate about his job. Hu said the 2016 festival theme is more somber than past themes, with a nod to the issues of global immigration and the upcoming presidential election. This years theme, To defy expectations, is about the global quest of people to be their own person, despite expectations. People are saying, I dont want any limitations placed on me, and, If you wont give us opportunities, we will go get them ourselves, he said. You can see this theme represented in this years logo, which shows a young Iranian woman with a multicolored hijab, or head scarf. She is wearing sunglasses and lipstick. She is saying, I respect my traditional culture, but I am looking to the future. I want equal opportunity. The image comes from the film, Sonita, which is about a female Afghan teen living in Iran who wants to be a rapper and speaks out against the oppression of women. It screens 6:35 p.m. Nov. 7 at UltraStar Cinemas in Mission Valley, 7510 Hazard Center Drive, the Festivals home base. Our theme also points to Hollywood, Hu continued, where Asians are under-represented. Asians are saying, If you wont give us jobs, we will make our own movies and that is what they are now doing. Pass the popcorn Opening night for the festival will be at Sherwood Auditorium in La Jolla, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 with the screening of The Tiger Hunter, by Lena Khan, who will be present. It takes place in 1979 when Sami has just arrived in the USA from India with a leisure suit, a new job, and a suitcase full of expectations. He will lose two of these three things within hours of touching down, so its going to take grit, ingenuity and some hilarious friends to help him get back on his feet. If the stars align, he may still be able to impress his sweetheart back in India. Closing night is also set for Sherwood Auditorium with a film called Mifune: The Last Samurai. It is an 80-minute documentary by Oscar-winner Steven Okazaki, made in the United States and Japan. Okazaki pays tribute to samurai star Toshiro Mifune and to the samurai film, one of Japans major contributions to world cinema. Prior to the 7 p.m. screening, Friday, Nov. 11, there will be two additional festival movies at 2 and 4:15 p.m. The centerpiece film, AKA Seoul, will screen at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at UltraStar Cinemas. This made-in-the-USA film by Jon Maxwell is about five Korean adoptees who arrive in Seoul where their complex identities emerge from interaction with the city. Hu recommends a few more gems: Taste of Cherry, made in Iran in 1997, screening as a tribute to the late filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami; Train to Busan, an entertaining Korean zombie movie; After the Storm, a bruised heart detective flick; Random Acts of Legacy, a documentary based on old home movies; and The Last Princess, which centers on the last princess of Korea. Other noteworthy festival events include: a black-tie gala in the Gaslamp District; two locally sponsored films The Longest Journey and Never Forget; several nights of short films; a tribute to Taiwanese films at UC San Diegos Calit2 Atkinson Hall; a day of screenings in the historic La Paloma Theater in Encinitas; plus films at The Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balbao Park and the Digital Gym Cinema on El Cajon Boulevard. IF YOU GO: Find a schedule, film descriptions and tickets for the San Diego Asisan Film Festival at festival.sdaff.org or (619) 400-5911 (or e-mail info@pacarts.org for more details). An easier-than-expected first mammogram experience HUNTERSVILLE Scheduling a cancer screening probably ranks somewhere on your to-do list between "clean out the garage" and "donate those clothes that don't fit." Sure, you'll get to it at... Chamber retreat helps discover strengths in communication The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce has proved that networking can come in many ways. It doesnt have to come at a luncheon or happy hour or Christmas party, but... The ambassadors of G7 countries have warned Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about the dangers of certain legislative initiatives, which can negate Ukraine's efforts in combating corruption, in particular weaken the electronic declaration system, the European Truth online publication reported. According to the publication, the corresponding letter by the ambassadors of G7 and Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli was sent to the president of Ukraine on October 25. In this letter, the ambassadors praise Ukraine's achievements in the fight against corruption, in particular they note the importance of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the launch of an electronic declaration system. At the same time, the ambassadors highlighted several legislative initiatives in recent weeks that threaten the important anti-corruption element the e-declaration system and the ongoing reforms, the European Truth said. In particular, some of the bills, if passed, can weaken the e-declaration system and restrict the powers of the NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office in investigation and management of high-profile corruption cases. Also, the ambassadors expressed their concern about technical failures in the e-declaration system and called to make all the necessary steps to fix them. In addition, the G7 ambassadors said that complete independence of anti-corruption institutions from political interference is of paramount importance. Sri Lanka on Wednesday ( 5 October 2016) became the 24th country to accede to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. Sri Lankas Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, handed over the instrument of accession to the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Dr. Francis Gurry, during the ongoing 56th Series of Meetings of Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, 3-11 October 2016 in Geneva. More than 75 WIPO member states have signed the Treaty, which entered into force on 30 September 2016, 3 months following the ratification of the 20th country. The Marrakesh Treaty is envisaged to facilitate the availability of published works in accessible formats for the people who are blind, visually impaired, and print disabled. such as Braille - through limitations and exceptions to the rights of copyright right holders. The Treaty is also designed to provide assurances to authors and publishers that their published works will not be misused or distribution to anyone other than the intended beneficiaries. Earlier delivering Sri Lankas country statement at the Meeting of Assemblies on Tuesday, Ambassador Aryasinha said, enabling legislation will soon be introduced in Sri Lankas Parliament to amend the National Copyright Laws to facilitate access to published work for persons who are blind, visually impaired or print disabled. He also provided an update on Sri Lanka - WIPO cooperation in implementing a 10 Point Action Plan, which was embarked upon in November 2013 during the visit of Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Dr. Francis Gurry, to Sri Lanka. Ambassador Aryasinha said a Steering Committee on Intellectual Property (SCIP) chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce established last year, continued to have an exchange of views with WIPO officials in Geneva every two months through a video conference, to assess progress in the implementation of the 10 Point Action Plan. He said, among the projects being operationalized - Sri Lanka was selected as one of the four pilot countries to participate in the CDIP Project titled Intellectual Property, Tourism and Culture, coordinated by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and a WIPO Mission undertaken in May 2016 brought together the main stakeholders to create a National Steering Committee for the implementation of this Project. WIPO Missions had also been undertaken to Sri Lanka in June to support the creation of Intellectual Property Hubs (IP Hubs) bringing together a group of stakeholders from public and private sectors. A Mission in June also provided technical assistance in the development of a National Innovation Index. An IP Office Diagnostics Mission was undertaken in August to make an assessment of the capacity and resources of the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO) and to enhance the IP registration system in Sri Lanka. The Government expects to complete accession to the Madrid Agreement and Protocol for the International Registration of Marks by end of 2017/early 2018 and a Madrid awareness raising session is scheduled for November 2016. An inter-Ministerial Working Group is also to be set up, supported by WIPO, in order to achieve the objectives of formulating a national policy for the protection of Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources, and Traditional Cultural expressions. Director General of the National Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Geethanjali Ranawaka, Deputy Permanent Representative Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya, Counsellor Ms. Sashika Somaratne, and Second Secretary Ms. Dilini Gunasekera participated in this session. Full Statement Press Release in PDF Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Geneva 5 October 2016 The Minister of Foreign Employment Thalatha Atukorale, who is also the Chair in Office of the Colombo Process (CP), the regional consultative forum of contractual labour originating countries in Asia has said, Sri Lanka is providing leadership for the CP to be a bridge between labour sending and receiving countries fostering strong partnership for the Asian region. She said the CP will soon agree on the role it can play in supporting the overall implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to migration with a specific focus on contractual labour migrants, benefitting from the experience of having worked on issues such as ethical labour recruitment, migrant health and remittances over the past 2 years. The Minister said in the forthcoming negotiations on developing the Global Compact on Migration by 2018 the CP should be ready to engage constructively, building on the SDGs framework. The Minister made these observations when she addressed the 6th Global Meeting of Chairs and Secretaries of Regional Consultative Processes on Migration, held in Geneva on Thursday (13 October 2016). The delegation to the Meeting included Sri Lankas Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha, Deputy Permanent Representative Samantha Jayasuriya, Counsellor Shashika Somaratne, and Acting Deputy General Manager of the Foreign Employment Bureau D.G.G.S. Yapa. Full statement made by the Hon. Minister Press Release in PDF Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Geneva 14 October 2016 The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Government and Parliament: Is there coalition? Will elections take place?' On Monday, October 31, at 12.30, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference titled "Government and Parliament: Is There Coalition? Will Elections Take Place." The participants will include Director of the Institute of Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov, expert of the Gardarica Strategic Consulting Corporation Kostiantyn Matviyenko, Director of the Ukrainian Barometer sociological service Viktor Nebozhenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). Admission requires press accreditation. PRESS RELEASE Panic Across Europe Over Contagion from Deutsche Bank and Monte dei Paschi Disasters Oct. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)Panic has set in over the reality that the Deutsche Bank and Monte dei Paschi crises auger disaster for the rest of the European, and by extension, the U.S. banking systems. "Contagion" is the watchword. Tomorrow Deutsche Bank is scheduled to release its third-quarter earnings reportgood news not expectedwhile Monte dei Paschi (MDP) suspended trading altogether today, after its share price plummeted from 0.0295 to 0.0276 at the end of trading Tuesday, following the announcement of yet another "rescue" plan. The fantasy-ridden hope is that cutting 2,300 jobs, closing 500 branches, and selling off bad loans will allow it to raise the 5 billion euros it needs by the end of November. But, as Bloomberg analyst Simone Meier commented this afternoon, MDP has been bailed out twice and has no investor support. "If MDP doesnt pull this off, I dont know what it means for the rest of Italian banking," she remarked. Britains Express tabloid warns that Deutsche Banks third-quarter report could bring down the whole shebang, quoting David Hendler of the New York-based Viola Risk Advisors, who warns that contagion from DB could spread "like wildfire" across the European banking system. "Its high noon for European banking," he underscored, because European banks are largely incapable of generating economic earnings. The Eurozone economy is dead. Bloomberg reported today that in its frantic search for cash, Deutsche Bank is considering suspending cash bonuses. Creating more uncertainty, on Oct. 24, Britains Sky News reported that a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) on DBs mortgage fraud, may not be forthcoming until after the November Presidential elections, and the final size of any settlement is unknown. There is the added element that the DOJ may roll mortgage-fraud cases against Deutche Bank, Credit-Suisse, and Barclays into one large, multibillion-dollar settlement, CNBC reported today. According to the Financial Times today, Deutsche Banks Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) unit, a currency-hedged operation, has hemorrhaged $8 billion in cash so far this year, in contrast to 2015, when it attracted inflows of $28 billion. Nor is this just a Deutsche Bank problem, as the ETF "industry" is in crisis across Europe, the Times reports. Hendler insists that German Chancellor Angela Merkel will have no choice but to step in and rescue Deutsche Bank. "No bank in Europe is going to buy Deutsche Bank," he warns. As for Monte dei Paschi, its beyond help. Being propped up by the Renzi government "is a disaster waiting to unfold.... MDP is a brain-dead bank ... dont waste capital on it." PRESS RELEASE NATO Defense Ministers Meet on NATO Buildup Against Russia Oct. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)NATOs defense ministers are meeting in Brussels today, completing plans to forward-base 4,000 NATO troops in Poland and the three Baltic states. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in his preview press conference of yesterday, made it out as though NATO were doing this because Russia has moved up to NATOs borders, as if NATO was always where it is now and Russia the expanding poweran obviously very selective reading of history. "We have seen a significant military buildup in Russia over many years and defense spending has tripled since the year 2000 in real terms," he said. "And this has enabled Russia to invest in new capabilities, in new weapon systems, to do more exercises and to significantly increase their military capability. Combined with the fact that Russia has also been willing to not only invest in their Armed Forces but also to use their Armed Forces against neighbours as we have seen in Crimea, Ukrainethis is the reason why NATO is responding and this is part of a pattern which has triggered a response from NATO." NATO has been pounding its members to increase defense spending over the past few years, and now that this is finally happening, "this shows that NATO is able to respond, NATO is able to adapt to a more assertive Russia and the increased military presence of Russia close to our borders," Stoltenberg said. Stoltenberg said that Russias recent deployment of Iskander missIles to Kaliningrad "is yet another example of a Russian military buildup close to NATO borders," particularly since theyre dually capable. So, "of course we are concerned about the Russian military buildup close to NATO borders, and we see it in the East, but we also see it in the South in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Syria close to Turkey, NATO ally." The four battalions are to be led by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada, but other members, especially France and Italy, are expected to provide troops to fill out those battalions, which will be backed by NATOs rapid reaction force of 40,000 troops. Yesterday, U.K. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon announced that the UK will be sending 800 troops to Estonia, equipped with Challenger 2 main battle tanks, Warrior combat vehicles, and drones. "This is not simply a trip-wire. This is a serious military presence," he asserted. Not directly in the Baltics, but as part of NATOs buildup, the Norwegian parliament, yesterday, approved the deployment of 300 U.S. Marines to a base near Trondheim, about 400 kilometers north of Oslo, where the US has had hundreds of military vehicles prepositioned in air-conditioned caves for several years. While the Baltic strategy is thus moving forward, Reuters notes that NATO has struggled to develop a similar strategy for the Black Sea, which the Russians pretty much control from Crimea. Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey are expected to soon come forward with a plan to increase naval and air patrols in the area, as well as a multinational NATO brigade in Romania, says Reuters. PRESS RELEASE Rudskoy: ISIS Militants Moving from Mosul to Eastern Syria Oct. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, the chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff, delivered a briefing yesterday, in which he reported that Russian warplanes are ready at any moment to deliver strikes against ISIS militants moving into Syria from Iraq. "The Russian Aerospace Force is monitoring the situation in the area of the Syrian-Iraqi border day and night with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles and other reconnaissance means. Russian planes are on patrol missions in the airspace and are ready to immediately deliver strikes against terrorists," the general said. According to Rudskoy, the members of the Islamic State terrorist group continue moving from Iraq to Syria, while around 300 terrorists have already arrived in Syrias Deir ez-Zor from Iraqs Mosul. With respect to Aleppo, Rudskoy said that Russia is ready to re-introduce humanitarian pauses on short notice, "but only if there is reliable information the sick, the injured, and civilians are ready for evacuation," he said. "The terrorists have been doing their utmost to prevent civilians and militants to leave eastern Aleppo. Humanitarian corridors that civilians might use remain blocked and all those who try to leave Aleppo come under sniper fire," Rudskoy said. He said that Russian and Syrian planes have not flown over Aleppo since Oct. 18, and are keeping out of a 10-km zone around the city. Over the three days the humanitarian pauses were effective (last week), militants bombarded residential areas in the western part of Aleppo (held by the government army) 52 times, killing 14 civilians and injuring 50 others. In 15 cases fire was opened against the humanitarian corridors, Russian military sources said. PRESS RELEASE Valdai Conference Debates The Future in Progress: Shaping the World of Tomorrow Oct. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)At its 13th annual conference in Sochi, Oct. 24-27, the Valdai International Discussion Club is appropriately discussing "The Future in Progress: Shaping the World of Tomorrow" with a spotlight on the emerging global order defined by China and Russia, counterposed to the "unipolar" vision of the United States and trans-Atlantic system. Lawfully, the Syrian crisis was a key topic of discussion. Thirty-five nations and 130 "high-profile" speakers are featured at the conference, RT reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the closing session tomorrow. For the first time this year, a Syrian representative, Abdullah Abdel Razzaq Al-Dardani, Deputy Executive Director of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) will be present, joining Igor Shuvalov, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for a discussion on the Syrian situation. While speakers expressed differing viewpoints of the future of Chinese, Russian, and U.S. relations, remarks by Fu Ying, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese National Peoples Congress, and Mikhail Bogdanov, Russias Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister are worth highlighting. Speaking at the panel entitled "World Order, Quo Vadis?" on Oct. 25, Fu Ying pointed to the lack of trust among world powers, noting that China and the United States are still "far away" from being partners on security issues, as seen in the South China Sea dispute. China "has no strategy to challenge the U.S.-led world order," she added, "but when [the United States] ostracizes the Chinese political system and security interests, its hard for China to think of supporting it." In fact, she added, "China views the U.S.-dominated world order as a mess, and this is why it doesnt want to take it over. Why should China repeat the mistakes that the U.S. made?" After noting that the world "has shifted its agenda from bloc politics to development and cooperation," Fu Ying pointed to Chinese President Xi Jinpings concept of "building a community of shared interest" and the need for a "new model of global partnership." These are reflected in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, and in the Eurasian Economic Union proposed by Russia, which reinforce each other. Pointedly, she suggested that the U.S. "despite its apprehension should also find opportunities in these initiatives if it one day joins in." In his address to the panel "From the Middle East to Central Eurasia: an arc of instability or a space for joint action?", Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov repeated President Putins call for the creation of a "wide global coalition against terrorism," noting that peace cannot be brought to Syria without Russia. "Moscow remains prepared for cooperation with all countries that are capable of making a contribution to the settlement of the Syrian crisis," he stated. Bogdanov also indicated that Russia is tired of Americas broken promises, and in particular, promises to separate the so-called "moderate" armed opposition from the terrorist groups. "In the long run, we have wasted too much time since February believing all these promises and agreements on ceasefire not only in Aleppo but in the entire country, to hear the Americans say they dont have enough time." It is regrettable, he added, that "no separation has taken place as of yet," warning that there will be no cease-fire until that task is accomplished. Peter Thiel, the PayPal co-founder who recently pledged $1.25 million to the campaign of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, apologized for comments he made about rape and diversity in a 1996 book he co-wrote, Forbes reports. In The Diversity Myth: Multiculturalism and Political Intolerance on Campus, Thiel and co-author David O. Sacks argued that multiculturalism in colleges was hurting education, and that some cases of alleged date rape were actually seductions that are later regretted. Advertisement In one section of the book, Thiel and Sacks wrote,"But since a multicultural rape charge may indicate nothing more than belated regret, a woman might realize that she had been raped the next day or even many days later. Under these circumstances, it is unclear who should be held responsible. If the alcohol made both of them do it, then why should the womans consent be obviated any more than the mans? Why is all blame placed on the man? In his apology 20 years later, Thiel said in a statement, More than two decades ago, I co-wrote a book with several insensitive, crudely argued statements, Forbes reports. As Ive said before, I wish Id never written those things. Im sorry for it. Rape in all forms is a crime. I regret writing passages that have been taken to suggest otherwise. Another passage in The Diversity Myth took aim at multiculturalism, with the authors writing that real diversity requires a diversity of ideas, not simply a bunch of like-minded activists who resemble the bar scene from Star Wars. Sacks, the former chief operating officer of PayPal and current chief executive officer of Zenefits, also apologized for the passages, telling the website Recode, It does not represent who I am or what I believe today. Im embarrassed by some of my former views and regret writing them. This isnt the first time Thiel has made headlines this year. In May, the billionaire revealed that he had paid the legal fees of Hulk Hogan, the wrestler who successfully sued the website Gawker for invasion of privacy after it had published a sex tape featuring him. Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that Thiel had pledged $1.25 million to the campaign of Donald Trump and super PACs supporting his election. The pledge apparently came after the release of the tape in which Trump bragged to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush that he sometimes kisses women and grabs their genitals without their consent. Thiels donation was criticized by some other entrepreneurs, including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who said, Peter Thiel is a contrarian, and you have to remember that contrarians are usually wrong. Thiels second book, Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, co-written with Blake Masters, was published in 2014. Last Fridays cyberattack, which took down Twitter, Netflix, Reddit, and other popular websites for hours across the country, originated from 100,000 Web-enabled devices harnessed together by a malicious software program. Thats the conclusion of Dyn, the New Hampshire company that manages a significant portion of the Internets infrastructure and was the target of the attack. This attack has opened up an important conversation about internet security and volatility, Dyn Executive Vice President Scott Hilton said in an analysis issued Wednesday. Not only has it highlighted vulnerabilities in the security of Internet of Thing devices that need to be addressed, but it has also sparked further dialogue in the Internet infrastructure community about the future of the Internet. Advertisement Dyns analysis confirms both the magnitude of the attack, which is the largest on record and unfolded in two major waves during the day Oct. 21, but the relative ease with which attackers can enslave vulnerable web devices to cause mischief or worse. This attack has...highlighted vulnerabilities in the security of Internet of Things devices that need to be addressed. Scott Hilton, EVP of Dyn The companys estimate of 100,000 sources, which include home security cameras, DVRs, wireless routers, and other devices that are connected to the Web and largely unprotected by strong passwords or other protection, is a tiny fraction of the tens of millions of devices available for infection and deployment as a malicious botnet. In this case, they were yoked together via a program called Mirai, which has been publicly released, sharply increasing the chances it can be used for malicious purposes by groups or individuals. Indeed, U.S. intelligence chief James Clapper said this week that the attack appeared to be the work of a non-state actor that is, not such usual suspects as Russia or China. Thats cold comfort, since Clapper also said that such non-state attackers can be even more nefarious than governments. Concern about the potential to turn workaday consumer devices into instruments of cyber-mayhem has been growing along with the scale of attacks known as distributed denials of service, or DDoS. These involve sending such an immense volume of messages to a website that legitimate users cant reach the site. A major attack on the website of security expert Brian Krebs last month forced the site off the Internet for several days, possibly in retaliation for articles he had published about Israeli hackers. That attack, like the Dyn episode, involved a Mirai user who had enslaved an army of insecure Web devices. These often are consumer devices that can connect to the Internet to allow owners to access video recordings or to download software updates program grids for TV set-top boxes, say in ways that are out of the control of their owners. Often, the Internet connections are safeguarded by easy-to-hack passwords. One can expect more regulatory attention to be paid to such devices as their exploitation by hackers expands. The manufacturer of an entire line of vulnerable webcams identified as possible sources of recent DDoS assaults, Chinese electronics company Hangzhou Xiongmai, issued a recall for some of those devices this week. The European Commission is pondering rules requiring device manufacturers to upgrade the security of their products. But with dozens of international companies operating in that market, it may be difficult to stem the threat. Dyns analysis provides a fascinating glimpse of how a DDoS unfolds and the challenges in fighting it off. The first attack started at about 7:10 a.m. Eastern time. The second wave began just before 11 a.m. and lasted for more than an hour. Dyn engineers noticed a surge in incoming data traffic from a large number of disparate sources heralding a DDoS and launched their defenses. These attacks were successfully mitigated by Dyns Engineering and Operations teams, Hilton write, but not before significant impact was felt by our customers and their end users. Users trying to access the affected websites got messages stating that the websites were down. But that only helped to magnify the attack. Users or computer servers turned away because of the storm of illegitimate data kept trying and retrying, which only increased the torrent of traffic. Because its hard for the target to distinguish legitimate traffic from attack traffic, theres no way to let only legitimate users through. Dyn says its withholding some information about the attack, which is under investigation by law enforcement agencies. But one reality seeps through its statement: more and bigger attacks are certain to be lurking just over the horizon. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. Qualcomm Inc. boomed in the last decade as its powerful chips helped make smartphones common across the globe. But smartphones have gotten a little too common, forcing the San Diego company to look for its next gold mine. With a $38-billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors which would be the largest ever recorded in the industry, according to Dealogic Qualcomm on Thursday placed a bet that its future will be in cars. Qualcomm will pay $110 a share for NXP, an 11.5% premium over NXPs Wednesday closing price of $98.66. The deal would transform Qualcomm from a leader in semiconductors used in smartphones into a company that builds chips for many markets, especially bulking up its offerings for increasingly connected and autonomous vehicles. Advertisement Qualcomm Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf said in a statement that the acquisition accelerates the companys strategy to extend our leading technology into robust new opportunities. They obviously want to get ahead of that trend, said Vijay Rakesh, senior analyst at Mizuho Securities USA. What they just did is bridge their way into the next decade. For decades, the digital semiconductor market was driven by the computing and smartphone segments as the global demand for mobile phones grew rapidly. But over the last few years, that fervor has slowed. In April, Apple Inc. reported a drop in iPhone sales, which contributed to the companys first decline in quarterly revenue in 13 years. A report released Wednesday from market research firm IDC showed that third-quarter shipments of Samsung smartphones were down 13.5% compared with the same time period last year. Qualcomm is also seeing increased competition from other chip makers such as Intel Corp. In July, Qualcomm said it shipped about 201 million mobile station modem smartphone chips in the third quarter, an 11% decrease from a year earlier. We wont see the types of growth we saw in the last 10 years over the next 10 years, said Richard Lane, senior vice president at Moodys, of the global smartphone demand. In other words, theres still interest in smartphones, just not at the same pace as before. Now, automobiles are probably the biggest growth segment within the semiconductor industry, said Tavis McCourt, senior equity research analyst at Raymond James. Technology such as sensors to detect low tire pressure or back-up cameras are increasingly used in vehicles to add safety and convenience. And thats only expected to grow as automakers develop autonomous driving systems. Qualcomm already commands a large share of the automotive connectivity market to provide long-distance wireless access in cars. But with the addition of NXP, the company will be an end-to-end supplier in the automotive market, with products including under-the-hood technology to in-vehicle networking capabilities, Rakesh said. NXP, based in the Netherlands, makes sensors to detect temperature, pressure and speed, as well as processors for advanced driver assistance systems and chips for keyless entry and infotainment systems. NXP also makes semiconductor chips for security, such as the technology that powers tap-to-pay features such as Apple Pay or credit card chips, as well as Internet-connected devices. The company recently doubled down on its automotive specialty with the acquisition of Freescale Semiconductor Ltd., an Austin, Texas, firm that made chips for engine control and powertrains. The deal, which closed in December, was valued at about $12 billion. Analysts said the automotive market for semiconductors is still in its infancy, though poised for future growth as more functionality, including self-driving capabilities, is added into cars. Carmakers are unlikely to handle the semiconductor work themselves, and these kinds of sensors and chips will soon be common in many vehicle parts. The road forward is with advanced driver assistance systems, Rakesh said. The deal dwarfs Qualcomms previous acquisitions of Atheros and CSR, which were in the $3-billion range. The combined company is expected to have annual revenue of more than $30 billion. Last year, Intels net revenue totaled $55 billion. But there are risks, starting with the price. The deal would use all of the $30 billion in cash on Qualcomms balance sheet much of which is offshore. The company will have to take on additional debt to fund the transaction. NXP also has 45,000 employees, significantly more than Qualcomms roughly 30,000 workers. Many of the NXP workers are in Europe, where labor laws make it difficult to trim headcount. Qualcomm said the move would grow its potential sales by 40% to $138 billion by 2020. Shares of Qualcomm closed Thursday at $70.09, up 2.7%. NXP stock was up 0.4% to $99.08. The deal is expected to close by the end of next year. Its the second mega-deal of the week, after telecommunications giant AT&T acquired Time Warner Inc. for $85 billion in a bid to expand its core business beyond wireless and broadband. Freeman writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com ALSO Twitter cuts 9% of its workforce worldwide The studio behind Hunger Games wants to turn YouTube gurus into movie stars Forget about Mars. Venture capitalists want space projects that can make money right now UPDATES: 4:10 p.m.: This article has been updated to include additional analysis about the chip industry. 8:15 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting. 6:40 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf and information about the combined companys expertise. This article was originally published at 6:30 a.m. On the western entrance to Jerusalem lies the only abandoned Palestinian village from the 1948 war that hasnt been developed or repopulated by Jews. In the personalized documentary from Menachem Daum and Oren Rudavsky, The Ruins of Lifta, Daum acts as a thoughtful onscreen guide to what the picturesque hillsides and its stone remains represent. For its expelled inhabitants, its a lasting memory of better times, but its also a serene, painful marker for Arabs and Jews with competing narratives of rootlessness, conflict and occupation. Then theres what Lifta might become, if Israel follows through on announced plans to build luxury villas there, which has sparked protests from an Israeli-Palestinian coalition hoping to preserve it as a historical site. Daum, an Orthodox Jew, Brooklynite and descendant of Holocaust survivors, compassionately engages with Palestinians and a historian over the circumstances of Liftas Arab residents complicating his own heroic view of a tough, secretive uncle who fought with the underground Jewish militia in the 1940s that targeted Brits and Arabs. Advertisement He finds especially soulful discourse with a displaced Liftawi named Yacoub Odeh, active in the coalition, and outspoken about his view of Israel as bad-faith occupiers. Daum idealistically arranges a getting-to-know-you meeting between Yacoub and an elderly friend and Holocaust survivor named Dasha Rittenberg, with Lifta as a backdrop. Watching these sturdy carriers of suffering inevitably argue, your spirits may sink. But you also cant help but notice that the rocky terrain requires them at times to hold on to each other. ------------- The Ruins of Lifta In English and Hebrew with English subtitles Running time: 1 hour, 17 minutes Not rated Playing: Laemmle Town Center 5, Encino See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour The July 1945 sinking of the USS Indianapolis has been called the greatest sea disaster in U.S. naval history. This remarkable World War II story is memorably recounted in the documentary USS Indianapolis: The Legacy. The American warship, following a secret mission in the South Seas, was fatally torpedoed by a Japanese navy sub. Of the nearly 1,200 crewmen on the Indianapolis, only 317 would ultimately survive almost five days stranded without food or drinking water in the sun-bleached, shark-infested Pacific. Director Sara Vladic, who also co-edited, does a masterful job assembling, in what emerges as a kind of verbal relay race, the recollections of countless interview subjects, including many of the survivors of the fateful incident. Advertisement These starkly shot discussions outline the events preceding the assault, the horrors of the strike itself, and how the desperate crewmen stayed alive until they were finally rescued after being randomly spotted by a U.S. patrol flier. (The Navy amazingly had no knowledge of the attack until then.) The documentary then covers the troubling aftereffects for the seamen as well as for the Indianapolis captain, Charles McVay, who was court-martialed for his ships sinking, but exonerated in 2001 under then-President Bill Clinton. Despite the use of strong archival clips and photos, the film, with its ongoing stream of talking heads, can make for static, at times sluggish viewing. Still, this key episode in American military history deserves to be commemorated. ------------- USS Indianapolis: The Legacy Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 38 minutes Playing: Laemmle Claremont 5, Claremont See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour In 1976, Werner Herzog visited the small town of Basse-Terre on the island of Guadeloupe, from which thousands of residents had been evacuated after warnings of an impending volcanic eruption. The 30-minute documentary that emerged, La Soufriere, focused not on the volcano itself (which didnt erupt after all), but rather on a lone farmer a classic Herzogian human enigma who insisted on staying behind, calmly resigning himself to death. We see a few scenes from La Soufriere in Herzogs transporting new documentary, Into the Inferno, a feature-length companion piece that is very much focused on volcanoes on the majestic, terrifying poetry of blazing lava flows and smoking craters, their eruptions accompanied on the soundtrack by operatic blasts of Verdi, Schutz and Rachmaninoff. No stranger, at 74, to the most far-flung danger zones the world has to offer, Herzog here seeks out hot spots in Vanuatu, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Iceland and North Korea, and invariably uncovers a spectacle of thrillingly cinematic sound and fury. Advertisement But even as Into the Inferno invites us to marvel at our insignificance in the face of Mother Natures seething primordial firepit, Herzog, being Herzog, refuses to lose sight of the human element. As ever, he is keenly attuned to the ways in which people affect the lands they inhabit (and vice versa), and how their precarious situations have led them to mythologize their own existence. What fascinates him here is not just a few flatulent mountains, but also the civilizations that have sprung up in their immediate vicinity, and the religious and spiritual narratives that have taken root like plants in newly fertile soil. On the volcanic island of Ambrym, Herzog meets with the villagers of Endu, who view the lava pit as a sort of communicative spirit realm, a primordial portal between this world and the next. He finds a more scientifically advanced community in Indonesia, closely monitoring seismic activity around the always active Mt. Merapi. But even here, fascinating systems of belief emerge, as evidenced by the seaside fertility rituals performed by locals, as well as the construction of an odd, bird-shaped house of Catholic worship. (Its meant to resemble a dove, but instead has become known as the Chicken Church.) Herzogs fellow guide in this endeavor is the British volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer, whose book Eruptions That Shook the World is credited as the documentarys inspiration. The two men met a decade earlier while Herzog was shooting his 2007 documentary, Encounters at the End of the World; more specifically, they met in Antarctica, on the edge of the crater of Mt. Erebus, and the footage excerpted here shows Oppenheimer sensibly teaching his companions how to dodge the occasional gusher. Herzog and Oppenheimer themselves narrowly avoided a fiery fate near of Indonesias Mt. Sinabung, which at one point rained ash and lava on the very spot where their cameras had been set up just a few days earlier. Into the Inferno acknowledges a few of those who have been less fortunate, such as the French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft, who were wiped out by a pyroclastic flow on Japans Mt. Unzen in 1991. But for the most part, the movie is less concerned with individual casualties than with the indelible marks that these volcanoes have left on history geologically, geographically, culturally. Herzogs filmography has, until now, offered as varied and astonishing a catalog of natural phenomena as you could hope for. But on a level both visceral and abstract, he seems deeply enthralled by the volcano in its boundless capacity to create and destroy, its impact on not just the ground beneath our feet but also the very atmosphere we breathe. Herzog meanders a bit too long in the stiflingly hot Afar region of Ethiopia, where an animated UC Berkeley professor and a skilled local fossil hunter dig for the remains of early humans who dwelt in the shadow of a nearby volcano. A very different relic is Icelands Codex Regius, an ancient, weathered text that includes an apocalyptic account of the volcanic activity that has shaped this country for centuries. In the documentarys most surreal interlude, Herzog and Oppenheimer are invited to film a volcano research program in North Korea, where the long-dormant Mount Paektu a significant landmark in the history of Kim Il-sungs fight for independence from Japan has effectively been harnessed as an instrument of government propaganda. Yet Herzog surveys all his subjects with a measure of equanimity, and the people he encounters here university students proudly singing and marching near the mountain, tour guides treating the Kim familys log cabin with a reverence befitting the Holy of Holies cant help but elicit from the director a droll yet sincere curiosity. And something more an understanding of the human desperation that underlies the most elaborate myths, and the inevitability with which they will all eventually fade away, his own included. The soil we are walking on is not permanent, Herzog murmurs. There is no permanence to what we are doing. And yet still he labors on, forever in search of his next frontier. ------------ Into the Inferno Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes Playing: Laemmles Playhouse 7, Pasadena See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Serving as the backdrop to the offbeat dramedy Little Sister, the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign seems positively quaint compared to the current scorched earth battle for the White House. But that deeply transitional era aptly serves writer-director Zach Clarks fine, darkly poignant tale of a conflicted young nun-in-training facing her own version of hope and change. When Colleen Lunsford (Addison Timlin) is given five days by her Mother Superior (Barbara Crampton) to sort out her apparent doubts about convent life, Colleen drives from New York to Asheville, N.C., to visit the dysfunctional family she left behind. Back in her liberal hometown, Colleen reunites with her unstable mom (Ally Sheedy), chill dad (Peter Hedges), military veteran brother, Jacob (Keith Poulson), who was horribly disfigured fighting in Iraq; and Jacobs devoted fiancee, Tricia (Kristin Slaysman). Advertisement Its a shaky return but, as is so often the case, reconnecting with the past can crucially inform ones future. And so it goes with former goth-girl Colleen, whose homecoming also includes hanging out with activist high school pal Emily (Molly Plunk), whos long carried a torch for Jacob. The punk and metal music-infused soundtrack belies the films largely gentle approach to a series of small, evocative and well-played moments that combine to slowly heal the Lunsfords and prove that you can go home again. ------------- Little Sister Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 31 minutes Playing: Arena Cinelounge, Hollywood; also on VOD See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Though it is a serious documentary about a devastating subject, The Uncondemned has a title that makes it sounds a bit like a 1940s film noir. And that is likely not an accident. For co-directors Michele Mitchell and Nick Louvel have astutely decided to tell the story of the first time rape was prosecuted as an international war crime with a feeling for plot and narrative drive that underlines the thriller-type twists and turns the complicated case took. A dry recitation of legal facts this is definitely not. Nor is The Uncondemned, despite the horrific specifics of war-time rape cases it inevitably details, a film that hangs the audience out to dry. Its conclusion, and its well-earned message, are more positive and hopeful than even its participants likely ever imagined they would be. Advertisement Mitchell and Louvel start the film with a brisk recap of 1994s appalling Rwandan genocide, where some 1 million Tutsi were slaughtered by the Hutu majority government in 100 days. This is a very dark place I havent opened in awhile, says a journalist who fills us in on the horrors. Western outrage and guilt led to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, set up to investigate genocide and other crimes against humanity. And although rape had been declared a war crime as early as 1919, and, as an opening quote from Genghis Khan indicates, it had been part of war from time immemorial, there were initially no plans to include rape in the indictments of the first defendant before the tribunal, Jean-Paul Akayesu, the former mayor of Taba. How that changed is the story filmmakers Mitchell and Louvel cogently tell. Its the story of how history is made in small, at times uncertain, steps, but it is something more as well. For what The Uncondemned convincingly demonstrates is the cumulative power of a small group of people with an intense passion for justice, idealists with practical experience whose belief in the power inherent in speaking the truth is not to be denied. The story starts with Binaifer Nowrojee, at the time a researcher for the Human Rights Watch who went to Rwanda early on. Through the assistance of a local woman named Godelieve Mukasarasi, who founded a program called SEVOTA to help rape victims, she talked with many of them for an HRW report called Shattered Lives that shed a powerful light on the situation. When Sara Darehshori arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, as an investigator for the tribunal (she ended up a co-counsel for the prosecution), things were grimmer than she imagined. There were no lights on the streets, her hotel room door would not close and there was a bloody handprint on her wall. Arriving soon after was Pierre-Richard Prosper, the lead counsel for the prosecution, whose legal experience was not of the international variety: He had been a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles in the hard-core gang unit. Though it was well known that extensive rape had taken place in Rwanda, the crime was marginalized in the face of the murder investigations. As Lisa Pruitt sent to Rwanda by the International Criminal Tribunal as a gender consultant put it, the feeling was, Hey, little lady, dont you know what happened down here? Aside from the legal team involved, The Uncondemned interviews three rape victims, identified not by name but by letter, who took the first plane ride of their lives to testify in front of the tribunal. Their strength of character and resilience is remarkable, as is their belief that, as one of them puts it, when you are telling the truth, you dont get scared. If you want to understand how these ordinary rural women who lived without electricity or running water changed international law, The Uncondemned gives you the best seat in the house. === The Uncondemned No MPAA rating Running time: 1 hour, 26 minutes Playing: Laemmle Royal, West Los Angeles See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour If you ever watched Mad Men and found yourself longing for a spin-off following the workplace adventures of Joan and Peggy and lets be honest, who didnt? then Good Girls Revolt might be for you. The drama, premiering Friday on Amazon, opens in late 1969 in the offices of News of the Week, a prestigious magazine where men are editors and writers while women are relegated to subordinate roles as mail girls and fact-checkers. Good Girls Revolt follows three young women as they fight to dismantle the old boys network at the office and reconcile their professional ambitions with their personal desires. (The series is a fictionalized version of Lynn Povichs 2012 book of the same name, which recounts the 1970 gender discrimination lawsuit filed by female employees at Newsweek magazine.) Advertisement Each of the main characters puts a compelling spin on an identifiable type. Patti (Genevieve Angelson) is the Free-Spirited Hippie Chick with a titanic work ethic; Jane (Anna Camp) is the Icy Blonde Princess surprised to learn she might be a career girl; Cindy (Erin Darke) is the Shy, Bespectacled Mouse with a sensuous side (and a raging booze problem). They are stirred to action by new girl Nora Ephron yes, that Nora Ephron who abruptly quits News of the Week when shes told, in no uncertain terms, that women arent allowed to write at News of the Week. (In a bit of meta casting, Ephron is played by Grace Gummer, whose mother, Meryl Streep, played a fictionalized version of Ephron in the 1986 movie Heartburn.) The late Ephron, who briefly worked at Newsweek in the early 60s before becoming a famous newspaper columnist and filmmaker, has become a kind of patron saint to women writers. In Good Girls Revolt, her character is mostly absent after the pilot, but plays a similar role she is the mythical woman who defied convention, scored a byline and inspires others to do the same. Comparisons to Mad Men, are inevitable and, if not exactly invited, then certainly not discouraged. Good Girls Revolt shares a setting and themes not to mention at least one cast member in Camp with the hugely influential AMC drama. But unlike such short-lived, mid-century knockoffs as The Playboy Club or Pan Am, Good Girls Revolt manages to tell a broadly appealing tale about social change without dumbing it down. And as the series progresses, the differences from the elliptical, brooding Mad Men become more apparent. The storytelling is brisk and accessible, and the characters are complex but not inscrutable; we understand their motivations and personal crises, at times too readily. (The series could use roughly 25% fewer shots of Cindy surreptitiously sneaking a drink.) With new cover stories at the center of each episode e.g. the Black Panthers, the 1970 postal strike the show has a sturdy, built-in structure and an organic link between the characters and the big headlines of the time period. Thats not to say Good Girls Revolt entirely avoids The 60s for Dummies syndrome. The pilot is a bit clunky and includes a pivotal dramatic moment set to Buffalo Springfields For What Its Worth, which should henceforth be banned from all depictions of the 60s. But Good Girls Revolt improves considerably as it progresses, portraying a turbulent chapter in the recent past through lived experiences of young, seemingly average women rather than period cliches or Forrest Gump-style encounters with history. Created by Dana Calvo, a former staff writer at the Los Angeles Times, Good Girls Revolt comes to life most vividly in moments that capture the frenzied excitement of rewriting a story hours before deadline or pinning down an elusive source. Though it depicts drug use and sexual experimentation, the series has an essentially wholesome quality. Patti, Jane and Cindy are indeed good girls, diligent women who undoubtedly graduated near the top of their classes at Bryn Mawr or Vassar. They are slightly groovier Tracy Flicks, intoxicated by the scent of freshly sharpened pencils and the chance to excel within the limited confines of their workplace. It hardly seems a coincidence that the series opens just months after a future presidential candidate, often ridiculed for her perfectionism, graduated from Wellesley College. This is a love letter to the Hillary Clinton generation (if not Hillary herself). Good Girls Revolt is an eminently watchable, admiringly written drama that makes womens liberation, so often portrayed as a movement forged by dour, humorless women, seem exhilarating, essential and would you believe it? fun. Even their gender discrimination lawsuit, spearheaded by ACLU attorney (and future congresswoman) Eleanor Holmes Norton (Joy Bryant) and plotted surreptitiously over the course of the 10-episode season, has the feel of a covert spy mission. In many ways Good Girls Revolt is a companion piece to That Girl or The Mary Tyler Moore Show, trailblazing shows that portrayed young, single women deferring marriage and family in order to pursue careers still a novel concept in the early 1970s. (There are also a few soapy notes borrowed from Valley of the Dolls, which is rarely a bad thing.) As the female employee of a print publication, I am perhaps predisposed to liking Good Girls Revolt, but there is plenty here to interest and amuse even for those who never read The Feminine Mystique or dont know a hed from a dek. And like any good show about the past, Good Girls Revolt is also about the present. At a time when news honchos are losing their jobs for alleged sexual misconduct and the federal government is investigating the Hollywood gender gap, it is as relevant as ever. Good Girls Revolt Where: Amazon.com When: Anytime Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17) See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Follow me @MeredithBlake Theres yet another departure coming to The View: Raven-Symone will leave the ABC daytime talker later this year to develop a Disney Channel spinoff of her onetime popular series Thats So Raven. Raven-Symone announced her exit as a cohost on Thursdays episode of The View. The 30-year-old actress will relocate to Los Angeles to develop the sitcom. She will be an executive producer and reprise her role as Raven Baxter in the offshoot of her hit comedy. Advertisement The original series, which ran from 2003 to 2007, told the story of a teen whose ability to glimpse flashes of the future provided for amusing situations. In the pilot for the spinoff, viewers catch up with Raven, who is now a divorced mother to two pre-teen kids, one of whom has inherited her psychic powers. Writers are working on the script for the untitled project, and casting for Raven-Symone's kids is to get underway soon. Recent midnight repeats of the original series on Disney Channel still deliver an average of 1.057 million total viewers, according to the channel. Ravens brilliant style of fearless comedy was a driving force for Disney Channels success around the world, Adam Bonnett, executive vice president for original programming for Disney Channels Worldwide, said in a statement. We now have our eyes on the future with her, and were looking forward to telling more stories for a new generation with an adult Raven Baxter raising her young family. There had been speculation this past summer that Raven-Symone would be leaving The View to focus on her acting career. At the time, the rumors were shot down. OH SNAP! @RavenSymone shares the details of her big news a 'That's So Raven' spin-off: "I'm very excited!" https://t.co/ueJ96xF2M1 The View (@TheView) October 27, 2016 The most-read Entertainment stories this hour Raven-Symone, who appeared in The Cosby Show as a child, officially joined The View as a full-time cohost in 2015 after serving as a frequent fill-in following the departure or Rosie ODonnell.She has generated more than her fair share of headline-making moments, such as when she vowed to move to Canada if a Republican was nominated for president. The View, created by the news legend Barbara Walters in 1997, is now in its 20th season and has become known for casting shakeups, particularly in the last few years as producers made attempts to reinvent the show. Earlier this summer, Michelle Collins left after a year as cohost. Raven-Symone leaves as the current season of the gabfest has seen a ratings lift, up 16% in total viewers (2.852 million) year-to-year. yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com Twitter: @villarrealy When Adam Braun first founded Pencils of Promise, he held an event a gathering, rather at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. About 10 or 11 people showed up and the get-together took place in the venues library. Braun said that he and a colleague proceeded to gaze out upon Ciprianis ballroom and became determined to one day sell it out. On Wednesday night, they did just that. Pencils of Promise drew upon its star power for its 6th annual gala. Musical duo Nico & Vinz performed, as did headliner Wiz Khalifa, who received a gold construction hat from Michael Strahan and Grace Raymond on the red carpet. The hat is apparently symbolic of the school Pencils of Promise plans to build in Khalifas honor. Olivia Culpo and Lil Jon were also in attendance, as was Susan Duffy, who accepted the Visionary Award on behalf of Stuart Weitzman. We started working with [Stuart Weitzman] last year, said Natalie Ebel, POPs head of marketing. When we were in Guatemala, they actually announced our partnership continuing with the Gigi boot [designed by Gigi Hadid], which launched yesterday. So theyre building three more schools with us. Ebel added that Hadid has been a longtime member of the Pencils of Promise family. The model made a video in honor of Stuart Weitzman, as she wasnt able to attend the gala. Advertisement I want all three, Ebel said of the Gigi boots. I have one pair. Theyre very comfortable. I would recommend it. I wore them all day yesterday, so you guys should actually get pairs. But theyre beautiful. Theyre well made and theyre shoes that give back, which, like whats better than that? Culpo arrived a long white gown, hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Ive been working with Pencils of Promise for about half a year now as their Global Ambassador, which is really exciting, she said. It started when I worked with them in Guatemala. We visited a lot of schools that they built. We actually built a school with Stuart Weitzman while we were down there and Im excited to support them. I love them so much. Lil Jon said that he first heard about the organization around five years ago. I was a part of one of the campaigns they had early on, he said. They were having a gala tonight so I was definitely down to come and check it out. Its a great cause. Education is very important. Everyone deserves to be able to have a good education. I definitely like the cause and what they stand for and Im here to support them. When asked what he was wearing, the rapper responded with: I dont even know. I just was like Give me some clothes! Of the many terrific places to eat on Jonathan Golds 101 Best Restaurants, where can you go for a great taco or a bowl of fideo, maybe pescado zarandeado or aguachile, Sonora-style cooking or a Paloma cocktail? Here are the 11 Mexican restaurants on this years 101. Taco Maria (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times ) Taco Maria may be the most unlikely great restaurant in Southern California; a mall place, descended from a food truck, with a scattering of rough-hewn tables, a comfortable patio and piles of Mason jars. It would be easy to mistake Taco Maria for a genteel enchilada place instead of a restaurant with a $75 prix-fixe tasting menu and a young chef, Carlos Salgado, esteemed by some of the finest culinary minds in both California and Mexico. Advertisement Guerrilla Tacos (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times ) Guerrilla Tacos is perhaps the most vivid illustration of what is possible in Los Angeles, a chef who worked with the likes of Gary Menes, Walter Manzke and Alain Ducasse ditching the world of fine dining to make tacos in a truck: carnitas made from sustainable Cook Pigs Ranch pork, tostadas with the same Santa Barbara uni sushi chefs covet, swordfish tacos with peak-season Brentwood farmers market corn even the occasional Perigord truffle quesadilla. Its essentially a $115 tasting menu, except the ingredients are served on tortillas, the sauces are both fresher and better, lunch is maybe 10% of the price, and you eat it sitting on a curb. Salazar (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times ) Salazar is something else a laissez-faire composition of tables, chairs and desert plants arranged around a gravel drinking area, and a former auto-body shop converted into a smoke-filled aquarium where Esdras Ochoa flips steaks and chops on his crank-operated Santa Maria-style grill. Ochoas carne asada is simple but perfect, grilled over blazing hot mesquite, chopped and stuffed into a flour tortilla. His marinated pork al pastor is sweet, slightly charred, with a bit of burnt pineapple. You can supplement the tacos with a cocktail of cold, wild-caught shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico, an anchovy-forward Caesar salad, or a gooey potato puree. La Casita Mexicana (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times ) It is located in a stretch of Bell that to Westsiders might as well be outer space. The moles tend to be more suave than pungent; the cooking more pan-Mexican than regional, although it is strongly rooted in the flavors of Jalisco and Michoacan. But at some point during your meal you start to realize that you may be eating enchiladas, but they are wonderful enchiladas, made with thick, freshly made tortillas, saturated with an unusually delicious chile sauce, stuffed with earthy cotija cheese. There are beautiful braised beef shanks, lightly pungent house-dried cecinas, and crackly taquitos sauced with mole. You can get cactus-stuffed cheese wrapped in plantain leaves queso Azteca or lovely fish fillets dabbed with chile and cooked in corn husks. Some people wait all year for the special menus served around Christmas and during Lent. Broken Spanish (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times ) Ray Garcia cooked for years in somber hotel kitchens, but in food circles he was probably best known for the wild, transgressive Mexican dishes he came up with at chefs events his technique and his farmers-market fixations are high-end California French, but his palate is pure Eastside pocho. And Broken Spanish, probably the best restaurant within walking distance of Staples Center, is a statement restaurant; the flavors of the Mexican kitchen banged around until they bleed: tamales stuffed with lamb neck and chicken thighs enhanced with cockscombs, sweet potatoes cooked with pig tail and green beans sauced with ground grasshoppers. Grand Central Market (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times ) Owner Adele Yellin has managed to renovate the old market, a downtown fixture since 1917, without losing the splendid carnitas from Villa Moreliana, the dried chiles at Valerias or the gorditas from Roast to Go. There has been controversy. But people on both sides of the gentrification debate seem to agree on the carnitas at Tacos Tumbras a Tomas. Guelaguetza (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times ) There are a lot of Oaxacan restaurants in Los Angeles now, and it is possible to debate the merits of the mole coloradito at one and the molotes at another, but Guelaguetza remains the most accomplished Oaxacan restaurant in the United States. ConiSeafood (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times ) Some people I know are always trying to figure out excuses to visit ConiSeafood, where it is pleasant to spend a long, lazy afternoon in the Sinaloa-style mariscos parlor eating smoked-marlin tacos, crunchy chicharrones de pescado, and the spicy shrimp ceviche called aguachile, moistened with a green jalapeno puree. Colonia Publica (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times ) In Mexico and the Mexican diaspora, where fideo is synonymous with home cooking, it is more of a soup, but almost infinitely customizable, with almost any kind of chile, meat, vegetable or garnish a cook could imagine. When you settle into a booth at Colonia Publica, basically a bar with a large michelada selection, you are handed a checklist asking exactly what you would like to put into your basic bowl (which you can get vegetarian if you like): chicken, shrimp or smoked sausage; crunchy fried pork rinds or greasy crumbles of chorizo; mushrooms or queso fresco; chopped chiles or juicy pico de gallo or possibly all of the above. Mariscos Jalisco (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) If you want to understand Los Angeles in a single bite, you should probably escape that line at Pinks and find your way down to the Mariscos Jalisco truck out in Boyle Heights. Order a taco dorado de camarones you can get away with a simple shrimp taco. The taco will be fried crisp around the edges but slightly leathery toward its middle, moistened with a fresh chop of tomatoes and onions, with a bit of ripe avocado on the side. When you chomp into it, the sensation is of salt and corn and clean oil, a hint of spiciness, a bit of tartness from toasted cheese, and then the subtler crunch of well-handled shrimp. Chichen Itza (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times ) Chichen Itza, a lunch counter in the La Paloma complex near USC, is the most serious Yucatecan restaurant in town, specializing in Mayan dishes like codzitos, egg-stuffed papadzules, and cochinita pibil that may have pre-dated Columbus, as well as modern Yucatecan dishes such as poc chuc and the Merida version of Lebanese kibbe. Wash it down with vivid-green drink made from the chaya leaf or the refreshingly tart agua fresca made from guanabana. Less than two weeks before the general election, allegations of sexual harassment emerged Tuesday against Republican Dante Acosta, a candidate for Assembly in the Santa Clarita Valley. The accusations in this previously little-noticed race threaten to touch the campaigns of two prominent Southern California Republicans with close ties to Acosta, one running for state Senate and the other for Congress. The claims first came to light when local blog Sclarita.com published a partially redacted private email from a woman who said Acosta, Santa Claritas mayor pro tem, had propositioned her last year when they were both in Washington, D.C. The emails were sent by Jennifer Van Laar, a local political consultant who worked for a former opponent of Acostas. Until recently, Acosta, 53, worked in the district office for Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). He has appeared on campaign mailers with Knight and Assemblyman Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), whom Acosta is running to replace as Wilk launches a bid for the areas state Senate seat. Advertisement The email, sent just four days before the June primary this year, was addressed to Vanessa Wilk, Scott Wilks wife and a staff member for the state Senate district the assemblyman is running to represent. The seat was left vacant by the death of Sen. Sharon Runner in July. Knight and Scott Wilk were copied on the email. The woman said the incident happened after Acosta asked her to meet with him to talk about his political future and how I could work with him on it. SIGN UP for our free Essential Politics newsletter >> The email also accused Acosta of drunk texting Van Laar, alleging that he continued to send inappropriate text messages to her. Van Laar, a local political consultant and sometime conservative radio host, confirmed to The Times that she sent the email. A statement from Acostas campaign did not mention Van Laar by name, but claimed that his accuser had encouraged Acosta to run for office and aggressively pursued him as a client, saying the accusations were retaliation for his decision not to hire her. Van Laar, who also goes by the name Jennifer Knight, was a consultant for Jarrod DeGonia, another Republican candidate who ran against Acosta in the contentious June primary. On Wednesday, the Acosta campaign also released what it said were screenshots of text messages between the candidate and Van Laar between January 2015 and March 2016 that appear to show a friendly exchange over more than a year, adding in its statement that there is not one text that shows any inappropriate behavior. The woman in question alleges that the behavior occurred in January 2015 in Washington, DC, the statement read. More than a year later, the woman encouraged Mr. Acosta to run for State Senate, and then State Assembly, and to retain her as his consultant. She continued to communicate with him in person, telephonically, and text up until he filed to run. In an email, Van Laar said the statements made in her original email to Wilk were true. I am saddened that instead of coming clean, Dante chose instead to accuse me of lying and of having an untrue and nefarious motive, she said. In a phone call with The Times on Thursday, Van Laar said the messages released were mostly authentic, but said that she believed some may have been altered or left out. Van Laar said she possessed earlier inappropriate text messages from Acosta that referenced the incident in Washington, D.C. She declined to provide copies of those text messages, adding that she was in the process of retaining an attorney. Speaking to The Times Tuesday night, Vanessa Wilk said Van Laar, whom she said shed met in local GOP circles, called her about 10 days before the June 7 primary to discuss the alleged incident. Unsure if the accusations were true, Wilk said, she asked Van Laar not to go public with the allegations out of concern for Acostas wife, Carolyn. Wilk said she was trying to be sympathetic to Van Laar and was not sure she believed the accusations. It didnt ring right to me, Wilk said. Something in my gut made me feel it was politically motivated. Scott Wilk said he discussed the allegations with Acosta shortly after he was copied on the email. Acosta said there was no bearing to it, he said. I have no reason not to believe him; hes a person Ive had a relationship with for so many years versus a woman I dont know. Wilk said he never discussed the allegations with Knight because he felt it was inappropriate that he was included on the email to begin with. In a statement released by his campaign, Knight said he spoke with Van Laar in June about the allegations. My immediate priority was to ensure that she was safe. I listened to her version of events and offered my assistance, Knight said, adding that he respected Van Laars wishes when she told him she didnt want to contact police or take legal action. All accusations of harassment are serious and should be treated with the utmost sensitivity, Knight said. I will continue to monitor this situation as more information is brought to light, and will respond accordingly. The candidates facing Acosta and Knight immediately seized on the issue. Democrat Christy Smith, who is running against Acosta, called the allegations shocking, horrifying and utterly disqualifying. Democrat Johnathon Ervin, a candidate opposing Wilk, raised questions about whether the assemblyman helped cover up the allegations. Bryan Caforio, a Democrat challenging Knight, said in a statement that the allegations should not be taken lightly and accused Knight of failing his moral obligations. christine.maiduc@latimes.com For more on California politics, follow @cmaiduc. ALSO GOP mega-donor is spending more than $1 million in coastal L.A. County Assembly district Without party support, this Democratic assemblywoman is out on a limb but isnt giving up on reelection Essential Politics: Updates from Sacramento UPDATES: 1:45 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about screenshots of text messages released by the Acosta campaign, and Van Laars response to the messages. This article was originally published at 12:05 a.m. Good morning. It is Thursday, Oct. 27. Its the vegan burger San Francisco cant stop talking about. But does it really taste like meat? Heres what else is going on around the state. TOP STORIES Slow to change Advertisement Low-cost tour bus services have seen explosive growth as more casinos have opened around the nation. But after this weekends deadly crash, some safety experts argue that regulations and safety oversight have not kept up. Even the most basic improvements are often slow in coming. A rule requiring seat belts on newly manufactured buses that will go into effect next week, for example, was first proposed by safety experts after a horrific 1968 bus crash on I-15 near Baker that took 19 lives. Los Angeles Times Best of times, worst of times Its shaping up to be a tale of two states when it comes to Californias drought. Despite a rainstorm set to hit the Southland this week, the region continues to face an unprecedented lack of precipitation, recording only 60% of average rainfall this month. By contrast, communities from the Bay Area and north to the Oregon border have recorded 200% to 300% more rain than average this month, according to the National Weather Service. Los Angeles Times Wheres the GOP? The states top-two primary system means that for more than 800,000 Los Angeles County voters, the only identified Republicans theyll see on the ballot are Donald Trump and Mike Pence. It is unconscionable that there is a monopoly on either side. Then we all suffer, said Republican Roxanne Hoge. Los Angeles Times L.A. AT LARGE Two for one: George Lucas has unveiled two design plans for his would-be museum of art: one for San Franciscos Treasure Island and one for L.A.s Exposition Park. Siting the museum has been a difficult process so far, including Chicago and another location in San Francisco, despite the enthusiasm of various civic leaders. Call it hedging your bets, call it beefing up your odds, call it the architectural equivalent of quite publicly asking two girls to prom on the same day, writes Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne. Los Angeles Times What customers want: Stroll down Rodeo Drive and youll see Chanels window display includes pink, hijab-inspired head coverings. Its a nod to the wealthy Middle Eastern tourists who frequent the Beverly Hills spot. Earlier this year, Dolce & Gabbana announced it would create a collection of hijabs and abayas. Hollywood Reporter Next boom: The next downtown neighborhood to explode? Try the Flower District, which is hoping for some major new development. Los Angeles Times Splashing around: Being a mermaid in Los Angeles is serious business. Her merformances events at which she swims mostly in pools, though sometimes in the ocean or at aquariums start at $1,000, and she says she earns more, hourly, for some projects than many lawyers I know. Bloomberg Life changing: Recovery at a Malibu juice bar. New York Times POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT A mess: A sledgehammer and a pick. Thats what James Otis says he used to destroy GOP presidential candidate Donald Trumps star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I just sort of had enough with Mr. Trumps aggressive language toward women and his behavior, his sexual violence with women and against women, he said. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. Los Angeles Times A suspension: Moving to quell widespread criticism, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter ordered the Pentagon to suspend efforts to claw back enlistment bonuses improperly given to thousands of California National Guard members during the height of the Iraq war. Los Angeles Times CRIME AND COURTS Crime and punishment: The Riverside County district attorneys office will seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing two Palm Springs police officers. John Felix faces two counts of murder with the special circumstances of multiple murders, murder of a police officer in the line of duty and lying in wait. Los Angeles Times Gun charge: Rapper Coolio pleaded guilty to a felony firearm charge Wednesday for bringing a loaded handgun to LAX. The 53-year-old was sentenced to three years probation and 45 days of community service. Los Angeles Times Dangerous jumps: A 28-year-old man who gained notoriety for YouTube videos that show him jumping off buildings into shallow water was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of trespassing. Anthony Armer frequently filmed himself doing daring jumps in Newport Beach and Laguna. On the subject of his jumps, Armer said, A lot of people think its stupid but you know what, I think its stupid to sit in a cubicle all day. LAist DROUGHT AND CLIMATE Value of land: The California drought and a drop in commodity prices are hurting the value of farmland in the Central Valley. The areas that have water challenges tend to have a bigger hit, said economist Roland Fumasi. Sacramento Bee Water fight: The election in Yorba Linda is becoming a fight over water. 89.3 KPCC CALIFORNIA TECHNOLOGY Tech bust: Twitter is laying off 300 employees. Intel, IBM and Cisco are a few of the giant corporations that have let people go but many start-ups have also contributed to the thousands of pink slips doled out this year. SFGate Keep waiting: Apple delayed the release of the companys new AirPod wireless headphones. TechCrunch CALIFORNIA CULTURE All clear: The Canadian flight attendant widely blamed for bringing HIV to the United States and California and triggering an epidemic that has killed nearly 700,000 people has been exonerated by science, more than 30 years after his death. Los Angeles Times Hello, human: Only in Silicon Valley: Robots will be greeting passengers at San Jose Airport. Mercury News Living with grief: Comedian Patton Oswalt talks about life after the sudden death of his wife, a writer who was searching to identify a suspect dubbed the Golden State Killer. In comic-book terms, I was married to a great crime fighter, he said. New York Times Still kickin: Columnist Patt Morrison chats with Carl Reiner about his latest memoir. Of all media, this is the one I really like most, because it comes from your head, and the people read it and you dont have to get on a stage, he said. Los Angeles Times Quick cash: Are flipping classes hosted by Orange County home television stars really worth it? Orange County Register CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Sacramento will be 63 degrees with some rain. There will be rain and a high of 65 in San Francisco. Riverside will be 85 and partly sunny. Los Angeles will have a high of 81 degrees with a mix of clouds and sun. San Diego will be 77 and partly sunny. AND FINALLY Todays California Memory comes from Relly Jimenez: My Mom and I arrived in the USA through SFO in October 1980. The lady whose family made it possible for us to come here drove us from SFO to the city of Sonoma, where we had to reside the next 30 years. Because it was already sunset, naturally the lights on lampposts came on. We came to an area where the lights shone more brightly than normal and my Mom blurted out, By the way, I would like one day to see the Golden Gate Bridge! Will you kindly take us there when you have time? The lady had a big laugh as she said, You are right now on it! See these gigantic red posts and bright lights! Mom and I were very delighted because it was the first beautiful scenery that greeted us here in California in the USA! Because it was already dark, we were not able to right away see the beautiful ocean around it until later on. If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad. For three years, the young boy was hidden in locked closets, sedated by liquid sleeping aids that authorities say were given to him by his mother. When people asked Veronica Aguilar where her son was, she told them he had been placed in an institution in Mexico, according to court records. Only her three other children two of whom slept on a bed just outside the closet door knew the truth, and they said they were forbidden by their mother from saying anything, authorities say. Yonatan Daniel Aguilars tortured life came to an end in August. Police later found the 11-year-olds battered, malnourished 34-pound body in the bedroom closet of the familys tiny Echo Park home. Advertisement The grim details are laid out in records The Times obtained from Los Angeles County Juvenile Court this week. The records help explain how the people charged with his well-being school officials, police, social workers and therapists lost track of him despite earlier allegations of abuse. But they also raise new questions about whether more could have been done to save the boy who, court records suggest, might have been autistic and thus was treated differently. Los Angeles police detectives investigating the case believed Aguilars efforts to hide the boy were so effective that even the boys stepfather, Jose Pinzon, didnt know Yonatan lived with them all along. The day of Yonatans death, Moses Castillo, the supervising LAPD detective on the case, placed Pinzon and Yonatans siblings together in a room to see the reaction, Department of Children and Family Services records state. As detectives and a county social worker stood by, Pinzon immediately confronts the children that he had no idea that minor [Yonatan] was living in the house the whole time they were there, records state. How can you do this to me? he asked. One of the children replied: You were always at work, so you didnt know. Pinzon then started crying. I carry a photo of him in my wallet, he said, according to the records. Im the only one that cared for him. On Aug. 22, Aguilar told Pinzon that Yonatan had died and asked him to care for her other children. He assumed she would be going to Mexico to bury the boy. Instead, she led him to the bedroom closet. According to authorities, Yonatans body was wrapped in a blanket and covered in pressure sores from lying on the tile floor. There was foam in his nose and medicinal cups of pink and red liquid near his body. He was going bald. I took care of the problem by ruining my life, Aguilar told Pinzon, according to the court records. Police say Pinzon then ran out of the house to a nearby 7-Eleven, where he called authorities. Aguilar, 39, is facing murder charges and has pleaded not guilty. R. Lawrence Tripp, Aguilars public defender, said Thursday that he had not yet seen a completed coroners report and was awaiting more information about Yonatans death. My client is innocent until proven guilty, he said. The Times petitioned the court to release DCFS case records, as well as police and coroners reports regarding Yonatan. Michael Levanas, the presiding judge of L.A. Countys Juvenile Court, ordered the release of more than 160 pages of partially redacted records, saying they shed light on what was going on in the familys home and why the boy was left in his mothers care. Yonatans family had been the subject of six reports to DCFS alleging possible abuse or neglect, records show. Yonatans risk of abuse at home had been marked as high four times from 2009 to 2012 by a computerized program intended to gauge social workers level of intervention. Social workers, records show, declined to open a case, saying the allegations of physical abuse were inconclusive or unfounded. DCFS Director Philip Browning said that the department had investigated several reports of abuse and neglect and that everyone interacting with the child and his family, including medical workers, teachers and police, thought the child was in a safe environment. We talked to the school nurse, the school doctors, school counselors, the teachers, everyone, including the LAPD investigators, who all said everything was OK, Browning said, We were very surprised what occurred here. Our social workers were very distraught. There is no way to predict this occurring. Under the law, he said, the department has the authority to investigate abuse and neglect, but the oversight comes to an end once a determination is made that there is no ongoing issue. We dont have the legal authority to follow up, Browning said. Officials with the LAPDs Juvenile Division said that although allegations of physical abuse regarding Yonatan also were reported to police, no police investigation was launched. The final contact DCFS had with Yonatan came in spring 2012, when teachers made two separate reports about him, saying that he had come to school with a black eye and that he was hungry and hoarding food. After that, the boy disappeared. He was pulled out of school and kept hidden as the family moved from home to home, documents show. DCFS officials said they received no further reports about the boy and had no legal right to inquire about him without a report. The departments contact with the family began in 2002, before Yonatans birth. Aguilar had locked herself in a bathroom and cut her wrist because she was upset with her childrens biological father over his drinking, DCFS records state. In recent months, the four children lived with their mother and stepfather in the cramped one-bedroom house on Santa Ynez Street. Aguilar and Pinzon slept in the living room, and one child slept in a shed in the backyard. Two children shared a bed in the bedroom, while Yonatan who was reportedly autistic stayed in the bedroom closet, records state. Pinzon told detectives that he had not seen the boy in several years and that Aguilar had told him she sent him to Mexico, according to a coroners investigators report. The day before Yonatans death, Pinzon went to a dollar store to buy school supplies for the children, DCFS records state. Aguilar asked him to buy purple-colored jarabe, Spanish for syrup. He said that any time he would go to the store, the mother would ask him to bring the syrup, DCFS records state. He would ask her why she was buying syrup, if they did not have money. Yonatans oldest brother, who is 18, told authorities that the family recently moved to the Echo Park home but that they were able to hide Yonatan in the closet at a previous home as well. In an interview with police the day after Yonatans death, the brother initially lied about knowing Yonatans whereabouts, saying he worked a lot and wasnt home much, the records show. My mom does not talk about him because he is a troublemaker, the brother told police. He accused Yonatan of acting out at school and pointed to a social worker observing the interview, saying: You guys know about it. He has done so many crazy things. The older sibling, whose name is redacted in the records, told police Yonatan was very smart and knew what he was doing. When he was younger, a therapist came to the home almost daily to provide services to Yonatan, the brother said. Veronica Aguilar, the mother of an 11-year-old boy found dead last month in a closet in their Echo Park home, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and child abuse resulting in death. Records show that in 2012, after Yonatan came to school with a black eye and was hoarding food, a county social worker spoke with the boys therapist. Aguilar had told the therapist that she left Yonatan as an infant with his maternal grandmother in Mexico and that she brought him to the U.S. at age 3. She expressed concern that he was deprived of food during that time and that he could have taken to hoarding food for that reason. School officials told the social worker that Aguilar was an involved parent who seemed genuinely concerned about Yonatan. Aguilar, however, told a social worker that she was upset she had been blamed for Yonatans black eye and that she was tired of DCFS workers coming to her home, records show. She said she pulled Yonatan out of his after-school program to avoid further problems. Ms. Aguilar stated that she took offense to the allegations, DCFS records state, because she is trying very hard to help her son Yonatan. In December 2011, records show, Yonatan was hospitalized after Aguilar found him in the shower, shrieking with his fist and teeth clenched, and his body starting to turn blue. A doctor told Aguilar that Yonatan, who had problems with soiling himself, was constipated and that she should not let him overeat. Weeks later, records state, Yonatan told a social worker his mom had begun limiting his food intake. In 2009, Aguilar was reported to DCFS because Yonatan had scratches on his face. Records show she told police she had heard that while Yonatan was living in Mexico as a toddler, he was mistreated by being locked in closets and just treated badly. Aguilar is being held at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood in lieu of $2-million bail. If convicted as charged, she could face a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. hailey.branson@latimes.com | Twitter: @haileybranson richard.winton@latimes.com | Twitter: @lacrimes ALSO Police arrest man who says he destroyed Trumps star on Walk of Fame From jumping cliffs to jail: Masked thrill-seeker 8Booth is arrested in Orange County Womans suit claims Michael Jackson sexually abused her as a child and paid her $900,000 UPDATES: 2:05 p.m.: This article has been updated with comment from Aguilars attorney. 12:53 p.m.: This article has been updated with comment from DCFS Director Philip Browning. 11:49 a.m.: This article has been updated with information about Veronica Aguilars bail. This article was originally published at 10:50 a.m. Allegations that GOP nominee Donald Trump groped numerous women have prompted an Alaska attorney to go public with a claim that she was briefly grabbed at a 1999 dinner party by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Moira Smith, then age 24 and a Truman Foundation scholar in Washington, said she was invited to a small dinner party with more than a dozen others, including Justice Thomas. I was so incredibly excited to meet him, rough confirmation hearings notwithstanding, she wrote on her Facebook page earlier this month. He was charming in many ways, giant, booming laugh, charismatic and approachable. But to my complete shock, he groped me while I was setting the table, suggesting I should sit right next to him. Advertisement In an interview with the National Law Journal, Smith said she was briefly alone with Thomas. I was setting the place to his right when he reached out, sort of cupped his hand around my butt and pulled me close to him, Smith said. He said, where are you sitting? and gave me a squeeze. Smith said she replied that the host had assigned her a seat at another table. He one more time squeezed my butt, and he said, Are you sure? I said yes, and that was the end of it. Thomas, who is marking the 25th anniversary of his joining the high court, issued a statement in response saying, This claim is preposterous and it never happened. Thomas 1991 confirmation was nearly derailed by allegations from attorney Anita Hill that he sexually harassed her when they worked together at the Department of Education and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Louis Blair, who was then head of the Truman Foundation and hosting the dinner at his home in northern Virginia, told the journal he had not seen or heard of Smiths allegation. He said he was busy in the kitchen preparing the dinner and that he was skeptical that the justice and Moira would have been alone. After Smith posted her account on Facebook, the National Law Journal found three of her friends who recalled her speaking of the incident in 1999. Amy Hertel Buckley, who said she worked with Smith preparing the tables, said in an email that she did not witness the incident, but recalled Smith describing it to her. When I saw her recent Facebook post, it was instantly familiar to me, and I believe she told me shortly after it happened, but it was a long time ago, so I dont recall the specific timeline of when she told me, Buckley said in an email to the Los Angeles Times. Smith graduated from the UC Berkeley Law School in 2007 and returned to her home state of Alaska. She is a vice president and general counsel for Enstar Natural Gas Co. Her husband, Jake Metcalfe, was formerly the chairman of the Alaska Democratic Party. Smith said she decided to post her account after listening to the audio recording of Trump boasting of aggressively groping women and kissing them without their consent. He has dismissed the recording as locker-room talk and denied the womens allegations. We now know that many men in power take advantage of vulnerable women, Smith said in the National Law Journal interview. That willingness by men in power to take advantage of vulnerable women relies on an unspoken pact that the women will not speak up about it. david.savage@latimes.com On Twitter: DavidGSavage ALSO: Supreme Court grants emergency order to block transgender male student in Virginia from using boys restroom Supreme Court turns down Ohio Democrats bid to restore golden week of early voting Trump falls far short of his boast of putting $100 million into his own campaign Donald Trump campaigns in Geneva, Ohio. (Dustin Franz / AFP-Getty Images) Donald Trump has repeated it so much its almost part of his stump speech: Hes going to put $100 million of his own money into his campaign before election day. But new filings show hes got a long way to go if hes going to hit that mark. The Republican presidential nominee has given a mere $33,000 to his campaign this month. That means he needs to pony up another $44 million to fulfill the boast thats become a familiar refrain in interviews and rallies over the last several days. I will have more than $100 million in the campaign, Trump told CNN on Wednesday. And I am prepared to go much more than that. Over the course of his presidential bid, the New York businessman who says he is worth $10 billion has given about $56 million of his own money. The majority of that spending occurred in the GOP primary. During the general election, his campaign gifts slowed to about $2 million each month. Neither Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks nor spokesman Jason Miller responded to emailed questions late Thursday inquiring whether Trump still planned to contribute as much as he has said he would. Trump gave about $31,000 through the first 19 days of October the period covered in the filing released Thursday all of which went to cover rent and payroll. Trump also gave an additional $2,600 on Oct. 20, other filings show. Trumps overall monetary contribution to his presidential bid shrinks when accounting for about $9 million in campaign cash that has been returned to his family and businesses. That money has largely gone to the holding company of his private jet, but the campaign also paid for rent at Trump Tower, catering at his restaurants and even the Trump Ice bottled water thats popped up at his events. Trumps October contribution was revealed in the same reports that showed his campaign had only about $16 million left in the bank as of last week after raising about $30 million in the first 19 days of October. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton raised about $53 million for her campaign, leaving her with $62 million in available cash. BEIJING, Oct. 26 -- China's second national census on the sources of pollution will begin in December 2017, according to a State Council circular released Wednesday. The census will target industrial, agricultural and residential establishments and review the efficiency of centralized pollution control and treatment facilities, according to the circular, which was signed by Premier Li Keqiang. The State Council established a working group under the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) to oversee the census. The first census began in 2006. This second census is expected to be finished by the end of 2018 and the results released in 2019, according to am MEP statement. Environmental authorities must have an accurate understanding of where, when and how the environment in China is being polluted, so corresponding policies and measures can be designed to suit each situation, the statement said. To ensure the accuracy of the census, in addition to employing traditional methods, remote sensing satellites and drones will be used to collect data. Anyone refusing to report on or falsify their pollution figures will be held legally responsible, the circular stated. In August, the central government submitted a draft environment tax law to the top legislature for its first reading, which proposed a nationwide levy on air, water, noise and solid pollutants from business activities. Remember all that speculation about millennials not backing Clinton? Wrong Gary Johnson lost 6 points with young people in 2 weeks before and after the Aleppo moment. #IOPYouthPoll https://t.co/F5CBigRkWB pic.twitter.com/dN5wEDfMA1 Institute of Politics (@harvardiop) October 26, 2016 Remember all the speculation that younger voters wouldnt turn out to support Hillary Clinton in this years presidential election? Wrong, according to the latest, large-scale survey of young voters by Harvards Institute of Politics. The survey contradicts a lot of anecdotes that have provided the basis for campaign stories this fall. Just under half of 18- to 29-year-olds, 49%, said they would definitely vote this year -- almost identical to the 48% at this point in 2012, the poll found. Clintons share of the vote was somewhat higher than Obamas was four years ago. The poll showed Clinton getting 49% of the vote of people aged 18-29, with Trump taking just 21%. Young women, who many analysts said were not excited by Clintons candidacy, were more likely to say they would definitely vote than their counterparts in the last election. Clinton has gained an even larger advantage among them than Obama had in his reelection. By contrast, young men seem slightly less likely to vote than in 2012. So do young Republicans, who were noticeably less likely than young Democrats.to say they would definitely vote this time around. Young Republicans were also less likely to back Donald Trump than their counterparts four years ago were to support Mitt Romney. More than 7 in 10 Clinton supporters said they were enthusiastic about her candidacy -- besting the 65% of Trump supporters who expressed enthusiasm for their candidate. Another oft-repeated piece of conventional wisdom was that Clinton would not do well among young, minority voters. The poll challenged that notion, too. Young Latinos appear more likely to vote than four years ago, although Clinton may be running behind Obamas level among them. The margin of error for that subgroup is large, so the verdict on both points is a bit cloudy. Among young black voters, her margin -- an 85-percentage-point lead over Trump -- is identical to Obamas four years ago, and the share who said they definitely would vote was almost identical to 2012. Almost three-quarters of young Latinos, 72%, and 85% of young African Americans said they believed that people of their race or ethnicity were under attack in the U.S. today. Overall, more than 6 in 10 young Americans polled said that race relations would worsen if Trump were elected president. If Clinton is elected, 36% said they expected race relations to stay about the same, while 23% predicted they would improve and 22% said they would worsen. About 1 in 5 young voters said they planned to vote for a third-party candidate, with 14% saying they would vote for the Libertarian, Gary Johnson, while 5% backed Jill Stein of the Green Party. But 37% of the potential Johnson voters said they were likely to change their minds, something that almost none of the Clinton or Trump voters said. The poll was conducted Oct. 7 to 17 -- covering the period from just before the second presidential debate until just before the final one. In the average of national surveys, Clintons lead has been stable since then. The poll surveyed 2,150 Americans aged 18 to 29 and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points in either direction. Im Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I dont want you to miss today. TOP STORIES Uncle Sam Retracts the Clawbacks Advertisement Four days after The Times wrote about a Pentagon program to claw back enlistment bonuses improperly given to thousands of California National Guard members a decade ago, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter suspended it, with the goal of resolving claims by July 1. That stops short of the blanket waiver some Congress members are seeking. But the Pentagons concern is that forgiving debts in cases where soldiers didnt complete their six-year enlistment contracts would set a bad precedent. A GOP Desert in L.A. For 818,000 voters in Los Angeles County this general election, the ballot will include Democrat, Libertarian and independent candidates, but the only Republican names will be Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Its the result of Californias relatively new primary system in which the two candidates who finish with the most votes in June move on, even if they are from the same party. Heres why the local GOP has mostly given up on parts of the San Fernando Valley and Central L.A. More Politics -- An aide says he once arranged for $50 million in payments for Bill Clinton, according to a memo on WikiLeaks. -- Meet the man responsible for making sure Hillary Clintons election strategy works. Once Again in Iraq, War Is Hell The battle to drive Islamic State from northwestern Iraq is being aided by information gleaned from cellphones and computers captured in Syria. That doesnt mean the war is going easily. Recent counterattacks, including a blitz into 10 neighborhoods of Kirkuk last week, show that ISIS can still put up a coordinated fight. And even when the militants flee, they are exacting a terrible toll: executions, kidnappings and poisoning the people and the land by setting fire to oil fields and destroying chemical plants. Molly Hennessy-Fiske reports from a town where noxious smoke has turned everything even the sheep gray. Watch the video here. Sienna Moqtar and her daughter decorate the grave of Moqtars brother with rocks. He died last week in the final days of Islamic State in Qayyarah. The bodies of two infant nephews are buried on the right. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times ) Bus Rider Beware Low-cost bus services, like the one involved in a crash that killed 13 people over the weekend, have grown rapidly as a way to ferry customers to and from casinos. Some safety experts say regulations havent kept pace. A rule requiring seat belts on newly built buses goes into effect next week and it was first proposed after a crash in 1968. George Lucas: The Museum Strikes Back George Lucas quest to build a museum that houses his art collection has taken as many turns as the plots to his films. There were plans to build in San Franciscos Presidio, then in Chicago. Now, hes unveiled conceptual designs for two locations one on San Franciscos Treasure Island, the other in L.A.s Exposition Park in the hope that a museum can finally be built. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne offers a first look and lays out the complex politics that would go into a winning bid. YOUR ELECTION GUIDE -- What to make of all of Californias 17 propositions on the ballot. -- Here are the California Democrats whom President Obama has (and has not) endorsed for Congress. -- Endorsements by The Times editorial board. CALIFORNIA -- This man says he was the one who took a sledgehammer to Trumps Walk of Fame star: I fully will comply with the law once I set a time up with my attorney to [turn] myself in. I will gladly pay the damages to the site. -- Northern California is seeing 200% to 300% more rain than normal. So why is Southern California so dry? -- The Southern California Flower Market wants to transform its property into a mixed-use community of offices, apartments and restaurants and still sell flowers too. -- George Skelton remembers the late Tom Hayden as a role model for participatory democracy. HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS -- The Museum of Modern Art in New York has acquired the original set of emojis, designed by Shigetaka Kurita and released to Japanese cellphone users in 1999. -- At 75, Wonder Woman occupies a complicated place in pop culture. -- The first major virtual reality TV series is being unveiled today. -- LACMA is teaching veterans how to make movies. -- Kanye West took his fans at the Forum on an experimental trip. NATION-WORLD -- Drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans lawyers say he is depressed and suffering hallucinations and memory loss because of harsh conditions in a Mexican prison. -- Heres how the wrong man was blamed for bringing HIV to the U.S. It didnt help that Patient O (as in the letter) became known as Patient Zero. -- Her arresting gaze was on the cover of a National Geographic bestseller. Now shes in a Pakistani jail. -- Even the Rev. Jesse Jackson on horseback cant end a pipeline showdown in North Dakota. -- Talk of an NFL team moving to Las Vegas is one more sign of the citys ambition to shed its image as just a gambling mecca. BUSINESS -- After the Wells Fargo scandal, Senate Democrats are calling on bank regulators to beef up rules on taking back executive pay over corporate wrongdoing. -- The studio behind The Hunger Games wants to turn YouTube celebrities into movie stars. -- Surprise: Tesla turned a profit for the first time in three years. SPORTS -- The Lakers began the post-Kobe Bryant era with a 120-114 win over the Rockets. -- The Cubs evened the World Series with the Indians in a 5-1 victory in Game 2. OPINION -- Trumps attack on libel law: What happened to America being first? -- Its the Supreme Court, not the Senate, that needs to do its job right now. WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING -- It was biggest theft of classified information in U.S. history. Read an excerpt from the book The Spy Who Couldnt Spell. (The Guardian) -- Why does Belize have so many Chicago Cubs fans? (Atlas Obscura) -- Heres what English could sound like 100 years from now. (Audible Range) ONLY IN L.A. Timur Bootzin started staging a low-budget Halloween horror maze at his Los Feliz house in 2012. He was 12 at the time. Now, with his own entrepreneurial zeal and his parents permission, Bootzins backyard maze has grown to the point where the 16-year-old makes his actors sign contracts. As for this years theme, you have your evil clowns, your zombies, but you dont hear much about an apocalyptic wasteland. Well, there is the election Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj. If you like this newsletter, please share it with friends. The long-term solution to homelessness is to provide housing and services to people living on the streets. But in the short term, the homeless have other needs. One is storage space in safe facilities where they can keep their belongings and access them easily and often. This is the surest and quickest way to relieve the blight and public safety hazards that result when homeless people line streets and sidewalks with their shopping carts, bags, clothes, keepsakes and other possessions, often including essential medical records and identification. So when the city of Los Angeles came up with sensible plans for two storage facility locations, it was distressing to see the community opposition that immediately arose. One possible site, the shuttered Westminster Senior Center, is a city-owned facility in a park in Venice. The other is a building that formerly housed a Smart & Final store in San Pedro and which would offer 200 bins; its owner has agreed to rent space to the city. These would not be homeless shelters or drug treatment programs, but clean, safe storage facilities. No lounge areas, no showers, no meals. The city would contract with a nonprofit homeless services provider, Chrysalis, to run both facilities and would station some outreach workers at the sites to help connect homeless people with services. Chrysalis already has a contract with the city to run the largest free storage facility for homeless people. Called The Bin, it offers more than 1,400 storage containers and is located on skid row. Advertisement None of L.A.'s plans will come to fruition not the housing in the long term or the storage in the short term unless residents stop picking NIMBY battles. These facilities are desperately needed. Besides The Bin where 15 to 20 storage containers become available each day there is only one other storage facility in the city, and it is completely full. Yet in both Venice and San Pedro, residents complained that the locations are too close to schools and would attract more homeless people than are already there. In San Pedro, residents successfully got the proposal killed, leaving Councilman Joe Buscaino to turn to an alternative location the grounds of a police station, where the city would have to construct a new facility. In Venice, a group of residents has filed a lawsuit, contending that the use of the senior center as a storage facility for homeless people violates the 1950 court order that transferred the land to the city for a park and for public recreation. (Yet no one seems to have complained about the city allowing a senior center in the park for more than three decades.) The Venice proposal has the support of Councilman Mike Bonin. There are other possible sites that city officials will pursue no matter what happens to these two and thats good. There are 28,000 homeless people across the city who need access to storage. But here is something that everyone who lives in the city should understand: Homelessness is the most challenging and corrosive issue to face Los Angeles since gang warfare. After decades of ignoring the problem or taking minor steps to address it, city and county officials are finally making ambitious long-term plans to deal with it in what appears to be a humane and legal way i.e., without trying to criminalize it or arrest their way out of the problem. Measure HHH on the city ballot this year would raise $1.2 billion to create 10,000 units of housing for homeless people over 10 years. Meanwhile, the county is considering a March ballot measure for a sales tax increase to fund services for the homeless. Providing storage is a temporary but important part of this process. However, none of this will come to fruition not the housing in the long term or the storage in the short term unless residents stop picking NIMBY battles designed to keep homeless people out of their neighborhoods. The reality is that homeless people are already in their neighborhoods which is how these particular locations for storage were selected in the first place. Angelenos must acknowledge that a successful effort to reduce homelessness will require more housing, more storage, more services. And the city will not put all these facilities in South L.A. or in the Antelope Valley or on the moon. Frankly, putting up storage facilities should be the easy part. After all, the more there are, the fewer belongings homeless people will clog the streets with. Eight months after he promised that if elected he would open up our libel laws, Donald J. Trump has provided a few more specifics about what changes he would like to see in that area of the law. Essentially Trump thinks that, when it comes to suing the press, the U.S. should be more like England. Trump recently told an interviewer that in England they have a system where you can actually sue if someone says something wrong. Our press is allowed to say whatever they want and get away with it. Trump isnt an expert on libel law, any more than he is on many of the other topics he spouts off about. For example, presidents cant open up libel laws, which are enacted by state legislatures. (The only way a president could affect libel law would be through his appointments to the Supreme Court, which reviews libel judgments for potential conflicts with the Constitution.) Advertisement Referring to his history of filing lawsuits, a committee of the American Bar Assn. concluded in a report that Trump was a libel bully. And of course his interest in the subject is selfish. He has threatened to sue the New York Times and the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct. That isnt a new impulse for Trump. Referring to his history of filing lawsuits, a committee of the American Bar Assn. concluded in a report that Trump was a libel bully. (Ironically, according to the New York Times, the ABA refused to release the report for fear of being sued by Trump. The ABA has disputed the story, saying that the organization did not suppress the report but did suggest changes and that the author decided to publish the findings elsewhere.) We have a selfish interest too, clearly. But the protections news organizations receive under the U.S. Constitution also benefit the citizens who depend on the press, in its traditional and new forms, for information. Trump is correct in one respect: In some ways it is harder to sue the news media in the United States than it is in England. But that is a feature, not a bug, of the American legal system. Its known as the 1st Amendment. It is that amendments protection of free speech and freedom of the press that the Supreme Court has invoked in a series of decisions that have transformed the law of libel by making it harder for plaintiffs, particularly public figures such as Trump, to collect damages for articles they claim hold them up to ridicule. In the landmark 1964 case of New York Times vs. Sullivan, the court ruled that public officials (a category later broadened to include other public figures) can prevail in a libel action only if they can prove that a defamatory falsehood was made with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for whether it was true or false. The court acknowledged that the rule it was establishing might protect some false speech. But Justice William Brennan wrote for the courts majority that erroneous statement is inevitable in free debate, and it must be protected if the freedoms of expression are to have the breathing space that they need ... to survive. Twenty-two years later, in a case called Philadelphia Newspapers v. Hepps, the court made it clear that even when a private individual sues for libel, the plaintiff bears the burden of proof as to whether the story was true or false so long as it concerns matters of public concern. The ruling overturned a Pennsylvania law that required a newspaper sued for libel to prove that the story was true. Writing for the court, Justice Sandra Day OConnor acknowledged that requiring plaintiffs to prove that a story was false might result in some cases in which a newspaper escaped responsibility for an untrue story. But she said that placing the burden of proof on the newspaper created the possibility of a different sort of injustice: A story might be perfectly true but the newspaper could be forced to pay damages anyway because it couldnt prove that it was true. Faced with this dilemma, OConnor concluded that the court must tip the scales in favor of the press, to ensure that true speech on matters of public concern is not deterred. In England and we suspect that this is why Trump prefers its version of libel law the burden of proof remains with the newspaper. That doesnt mean that the English legal system is evil or irrational, only that its priorities are different. At the risk of seeming to defend a vested interest, we prefer the American approach. It furthers what the Supreme Court in New York Times vs. Sullivan called a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open. Even if it makes Donald Trump uncomfortable. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Protesters and law enforcement differ on whats happening near the construction site of an oil pipeline in North Dakota, but the demonstrations have been remarkably peaceful and the brutality of law enforcement and its attempts to silence media coverage are obvious. (Clashes, arrests and fears North Dakota pipeline protest at a boiling point, Oct. 24) What is also clear is industry and governments ongoing disregard for tribal concerns, climate and the environment. Why havent the presidential candidates weighed in on this when so many Americans and even the United Nations have? We are all stakeholders in the outcome. We dont need this new pipeline or any other that would encourage production of fuel that we also dont need and cant afford to burn. The climate news worsens continually as models are refined, new data are obtained and climate changes consequences become increasingly apparent. Advertisement The conclusion is clear: Fossils must remain in the ground. That is one reason I support the Standing Rock Sioux. Carol Steinhart, Madison, Wis. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa endorses marijuana legalization initiative By Patrick McGreevy Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday endorsed a marijuana legalization initiative. ((Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) ) Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday became the latest high-profile politician to endorse an initiative on next weeks ballot that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California. Villaraigosa is considering whether to run for governor in 2018 amid a field that already includes Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a leading proponent of Proposition 64. I took my time on this measure because I wanted to make sure it included protections for children and public safety, Villaraigosa said in a statement. In evaluating the measure in its entirety, I am convinced there are enough safeguards to make it a workable proposition. The Proposition 64 campaign welcomed Villaraigosas endorsement at a time when one recent poll indicated slightly fewer than half of Latino voters support the measure. Were glad to have it, said Jason Kinney, a spokesman for the campaign. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Conservative group spends $3.5 million on Central Valley race once considered safe By Sarah D. Wire The Congressional Leadership Fund is pouring another $1.5 million into the race between Rep. Jeff Denham and Democrat farmer Michael Eggman. The group, which is endorsed by House Republican leaders, and works with the American Action Network, has now spent $3.5 million in the race. The race was initially viewed as an easy win for Denham (R-Turlock), but has become increasingly uncertain in recent weeks. The district is being closely watched as an indicator of how Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump might affect down-ballot candidates. Democrats have spent more than $6 million in the district. The Congressional Leadership Fund and American Action Network have spent $45 million in 32 districts nationwide so far and have aired ads in other California House races, including in the nearby 21st District race between Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) and attorney Emilio Huerta and the 7th District race between Rep. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove) and Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones. The groups newest ad in the 10th District race begins running on television Tuesday. It calls Eggman, an almond and bee farmer, an extreme liberal and a rubber stamp for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) because he supports the Affordable Care Act. It previously ran an ad against Eggman that used news footage from the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack. ------------ FOR THE RECORD 2:14 p.m.: An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to the Congressional Leadership Fund as the Conservative Leadership Fund. ------------ Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement The Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights leaders hold rally in support of Proposition 61 By Christine Mai-Duc The Rev. Al Sharpton kicks off a rally and march in support of Proposition 61, the California ballot measure that seeks to lower the price state agencies pay for prescription drugs. The Rev. Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders gathered at a rally Monday morning to support Proposition 61, the ballot measure that seeks to lower the price state agencies pay for prescription drugs. Sharpton appeared alongside black community leaders, including Marc Morial, former New Orleans mayor and head of the National Urban League, and Kevin Sauls, pastor of a South L.A. church. This issue is very simple, Sharpton said to a crowd of about 40 supporters. Its about the right of people to afford what they need, and they need to have accessibility that is affordable with prescription drugs. He likened the issue of prescription drug affordability to a civil right, and recycled the well-known Yes We Can slogan from President Obamas 2008 election to urge voters to pass Proposition 61. Sharptons appearance came a day after he and Morial stumped for the measure at seven different churches in South Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The significance of bringing in people of color is that we are the ones who disproportionately are impacted by the prices and impacted by the need for healthcare, Sharpton said in an interview afterward. I think its a civil right for people to be able to afford healthcare in the wealthiest nation in the world. Appearance of Sharpton, New Orleans mayor Marc Morial and LA pastor follows Sharpton's visits to two South LA churches Sunday for Yes on 61 pic.twitter.com/redBvU8WWZ Christine Mai-Duc (@cmaiduc) October 31, 2016 In a statement, No on Proposition 61 spokeswoman Kathy Fairbanks pointed to support for the opposition campaign from groups like the California NAACP, and the California League of Latin American Citizens. Higher drug prices resulting from Prop. 61 will decrease access to care, Fairbanks said. Thats a policy step in the wrong direction. The Rev. Al Sharpton at a Yes on Proposition 61 rally in downtown Los Angeles. (Christine Mai-Duc / Los Angeles Times) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Voters are being asked whether they want to cast more votes in future elections on big public works projects By John Myers (Russel A. Daniels / Associated Press) Voters casting a ballot for Proposition 53 on election day are, in effect, choosing more voting on more propositions in future elections. The ballot measure, bankrolled by a wealthy Stockton agribusiness owner, seeks to force voter approval of a particular type of borrowing for large public works projects. Its most likely impact, in the near future, would be ballot measures on a landmark water project and on Californias high-speed rail effort. The propositions backer, Dean Cortopassi, argues its all about more transparency when it comes to government debt. His critics suggest theres more to it than that. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement This congressional race could be one of the Republicans worst nightmares By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Jeff Denham represents the Modesto area in Congress and is up against Democratic beekeeper Michael Eggman, the same man he beat just two years ago by 12 points. Denham first won his seat in 2012 even as a majority of his constituents voted for President Obama. When Denham (R-Turlock) started this latest campaign, most observers thought he would probably win. But some now wonder if Denhams 10th District race will be an example of what Republicans fear across the country. Will conservatives expected to win actually lose because voters arent excited about Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump? Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rep. Loretta Sanchezs day on the campaign trail: Two ribbons cut, one candle lit, and jabs made at her Senate rival By Phil Willon U.S. Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez shows Clifford Young, president of the West Valley Water District, where to cut the ribbon for the grand opening on a new water treatment plant Saturday. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) With less than two weeks to go before election day, U.S. Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez bounced from the Inland Empire to Monterey Park on Saturday as she tries to drum up support for her uphill Senate bid. Sanchez, the U.S. representative from Orange, started her day with a gaggle of other Inland Empire politicians at the grand opening of a $23-million water treatment system in Rialto, using the occasion to lay out her record on water issues during her 20 years in Congress. Sanchez told the crowd of about 60 that shortly after she was elected to Congress, two members of a local water board approached her about a way to deal with Californias serious drought. They said, we need to convince people that were going to take toilet water and were going to clean it up enough for people to drink it, Sanchez said. They said, we cant get anyone to champion this for us. Well, no wonder. Sanchez said they won her over, and she helped deliver federal funding for Orange Countys Groundwater Replenishment System to do just that. The system uses treated waste water to recharge the local groundwater basin and provides enough water for nearly 850,000 residents. After the event, Sanchez accused her rival in the Senate race, state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, of having little grasp of the complexities of Californias drought and water crisis. One of the biggest differences between my opponent and myself is that I actually talk about issues, I actually meet with people, I actually try to figure out whats going on, Sanchez said. Ive not seen anything about her. Ive not seen any policy. All I see is commercials on TV. U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Orange) officially opens the childrens Diwali celebration at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Chino Hills on Saturday. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) A few hours later, Sanchez raced over to Chino Hills to open the Kids Diwali Celebration at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple, a family-friendly event filled with carnival rides, booths and food. She thanked festivalgoers, saying they were setting a good example for the rest of the country at a time when the presidential election is filled with such meanness. This is a time where through tradition and through culture you can show Americans the better part of people, Sanchez said. You give the rest of us hope. After listening to Sanchez speak, Kay Mistry, a volunteer at the festival, said he still wasnt sure who he will vote for in the Senate race. He said he was aware that Harris, whose mother emigrated from India, went to a Hindu temple as a child. Im not sure that matters to me, said Mistry, 48, of Chino Hills. Im pretty conservative. Sanchez attends her second ribbon cutting of the day, this time for Halloween in the Park in Monterey Park. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) The Orange County congresswomans final stop of the day was in Monterey Park, where she helped cut the ribbon to open citys Halloween in the Park festival. After the ceremony, Sanchez mingled with the crowd, handing out campaign fliers. Arnold Jeung, 62, stuck the flier in his back pocket. He said he didnt know much about Sanchez or Harris. Im not sure what Im going to do, said Jeung, a Republican. I might not even vote. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California Politics Podcast: The lowdown on the states big down-ticket races By John Myers Perhaps more than any other recent election season, races for seats in the California Legislature and U.S. Congress are being reshaped by the broad, national discussion. In short, its the Trump effect. On this weeks episode of the California Politics Podcast, we take an overview of some of states most closely watched down-ticket races. Theres new polling data in the U.S. Senate race that suggests a sizable number of voters will skip casting a ballot. Meanwhile, President Obama had endorsed candidates all the way down to the state Assembly level. Im joined by Marisa Lagos of KQED News and Anthony York, author of the Grizzly Bear Project website. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California, your official presidential write-in options include Bernie Sanders and Evan McMullin By Christine Mai-Duc Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is one of five officially certified write-in candidates for president in California. (Christopher Dolan / Associated Press) California Secretary of State Alex Padilla released the names of the five officially qualified write-in candidates for the presidential race in California, along with their vice presidential running mates. Contrary to popular belief, votes for write-in candidates only count when the candidate is officially certified. (That means votes for Mickey Mouse, Giant Meteor, or Chuck Norris will not be counted.) The officially qualified write-in candidates are: Laurence Kotlikoff for president and Edward Leamer for vice president Mike Maturen for president and Juan Munoz for vice president Evan McMullin for president and Nathan Johnson for vice president Bernard Bernie Sanders for president and Tulsi Gabbard for vice president Jerry White for president and Niles Niemuth for vice president Now, that doesnt mean that Sanders and the other candidates wanted to be recognized as official write-ins. California law only requires that 55 electors sign on to declare a person a write-in candidate, not that the person consent, according to a statement from the Secretary of States Office. A full list of each candidates electors can be seen here. Write-in votes for these candidates will not be reported until the counties send their final vote certifications after the post-election canvass period, meaning a write-in vote will take longer to count. You might be wondering: Does spelling count? The Secretary of State says election officials will accept a reasonable facsimile of the spelling of a candidates name. For example, Joe Smith and Joseph Smith would both be accepted. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Dueling ads aim to persuade Latinos on proposition to legalize marijuana in California By Patrick McGreevy With a poll indicating Latino voters lag in their support for a ballot proposition that would legalize recreation marijuana in California, the campaigns for and against the measure are launching dueling ads aimed at that large demographic. A poll Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California found that Proposition 64 is favored by a majority of likely voters in California, including a majority of all ethnic groups, except Latinos. Latinos support is just under half at 47%. The campaign against the ballot measure will launch its second ad on Spanish language television, titled Asusta or Scary on Halloween. The ad warns if approved, Proposition 64 could eventually lead to radio and television ads for marijuana candy. Federal law prohibits such ads on broadcast stations, and the initiative prohibits television advertising aimed at minors if federal law ever changes. The campaign in favor of the ballot measure said Friday it has launched new counter TV ads targeted to the Los Angeles area, where there is a large Latino audience. One ad, for Spanish language television, labels as falso, or false, the claims that there will be television commercials for marijuana candy. A second ad, in English, features a mother of teenagers saying she appreciates that Proposition 64 has important safeguards for families, like strict product labeling and child-proof packaging of all marijuana products and banning edibles that would appeal to a child. The two sides each claimed Friday that the polls are favorable to their cause. The polls highlight the lack of support by the Latino community because they know their neighborhoods will have to face the problems that recreational marijuana creates, said Andrew Acosta, a spokesman for the opposition campaign. Not true, said Jason Kinney, a spokesman for the Proposition 64 campaign. Polls show that Latino support for Proposition 64 and marijuana decriminalization has been increasing as they learn how communities of color are being disproportionately targeted for marijuana arrest and prosecution, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi endorses ballot measure to repeal the death penalty in California By Jazmine Ulloa (Win McNamee / Getty Images) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) on Friday announced her support for a proposition that would repeal the death penalty in California, calling the practice cruel and unusual punishment under the 8th Amendment to the Constitution. Even the most heinous of crimes can be punished without killing, she said. As Pope Francis said in his address to Congress, where he reaffirmed his advocacy for the global abolition of the death penalty: every human person is endowed with an unalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes. Pelosi is among a string of top political leaders, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and celebrities to come out in support of Proposition 62, which would replace the punishment with life in prison without parole and apply life sentences retroactively to death row inmates. The initiative is one of two competing death penalty measures on the Nov. 8 ballot. She also is among fewer political leaders to denounce the death penalty itself on moral grounds. I oppose the death penalty because too many defendants have not had access to appropriate legal counsel; because poor people especially in communities of color have been disproportionately charged with capital crimes and sentenced to death, compared with more affluent defendants; and, so many people have been exonerated with DNA evidence. It is time for us to take a moral stand. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Obama endorses Emilio Huerta in his Central Valley race against Rep. David Valadao By Sarah D. Wire (Sarah D. Wire / Los Angeles Times) President Obama on Friday endorsed 21st District congressional candidate Emilio Huerta, the Democrats campaign announced. I am proud to endorse Emilio Huerta for the United States House of Representatives, Obama said in a statement released by the campaign. In Congress, Emilio will be a fighter for Central Valley working families. Emilio isnt afraid to take on tough challenges, and hell fight for more and better access to clean water, good jobs with fair wages, and an education system that works for every child. Emilio is the kind of smart leader who will build on what weve accomplished and move our country forward, and thats why I know Californians can count on Emilio Huerta. Huerta, an attorney and son of labor rights icon Dolores Huerta, is challenging Rep. David Valadao in the Central Valley district. Obama had already endorsed six California Democrats. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was in the district Thursday to campaign for Valadao. Hes in the middle of a swing through California to support vulnerable House Republicans. David Valadao is exactly the type of representative Central Valley families and those involved in the agriculture industry need. He understands the issues impacting the area, because thats been his life. David was born in the Central Valley, he grew up there, he went to school there -- and he even met his wife there. In Congress, he has led the fight on water, veterans issues, and education, Ryan said in a statement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Advertisement Comedian Kathy Griffin pokes fun at tobacco company ads By Liam Dillon The tobacco industry-funded television advertisements against the Proposition 56 tobacco tax increase are ubiquitous. They all generally have the same message: The money from the tax hike would go to Medi-Cal, the states low-income healthcare program, and therefore benefit the doctors and insurance groups that are helping finance the measure. Comedian Kathy Griffin decided to spoof the advertisements follow-the-money message in a video she released on Twitter Tuesday. Hey @YesOn56...I had to get involved! #YesOn56 https://t.co/ZXURPBZYZP Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) October 27, 2016 Griffin highlighted that tobacco companies had funded the advertisement, which is clear when you read the fine print at the end. So in general just be careful of these opposite ads, Griffin said, dressed in a similar gardening outfit as the actress in the No on 56 ad. Or in general white ladies gardening. You can watch Griffins full spoof here: Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles County Bar says expediting the death penalty system will compromise justice By Jazmine Ulloa The Los Angeles County Bar Assn. has joined opponents of a Nov. 8 ballot measure that intends to expedite executions in California, saying it would likely compromise access to justice at all levels of the court system. In a letter released late Wednesday, the organization, which comprises more than 20,000 members, said Proposition 66 would require appellate courts to hear initial death penalty appeals, without providing the roughly $100 million needed to fund additional judges, staff and resources. LACBA opposes Proposition 66 based entirely on its damaging effect on the operation of an already over-taxed judicial system, and most importantly, the resulting lack of access to justice for California citizens, states the letter signed by Margaret Stevens, the associations president. The association said it took no position on the death penalty itself, its effectiveness, morality or social merits. But its opposition to the ballot measure comes as top Los Angeles County officials, including Sheriff Jim McDonnell and Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, have announced their support. Proposition 66 has drawn wide support and funding from law enforcement officials and organizations that argue Californias death penalty must be preserved and reformed. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown launches TV ad against Prop. 53s change to state revenue bonds By John Myers Its a nuanced pitch from Gov. Jerry Brown, asking California voters to oppose an effort that would give them a vote on future big infrastructure projects. But Brown has more than $15 million in campaign cash to make his case against Proposition 53, in a TV ad that began on Thursday. Proposition 53 asks voters to add revenue bonds of $2 billion or more to the list of government borrowing that requires statewide voter approval. Unlike general obligation bonds, which are paid back by taxpayer dollars through the states general fund, revenue bonds are paid back with fees charged to users of projects like bridges, dams and buildings. Brown takes aim in the ad at the fact that 53 is paid for by one millionaire, Central Valley agribusiness owner Dean Cortopassi. In an interview this week, Cortopassi called revenue bonds a blank check to sell debt forward into the future. Proposition 53 could force statewide votes on two high-profile infrastructure projects: Californias plan for a high-speed train system and the construction of twin underground tunnels to divert water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to Southern California. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New citizens can still register to vote Nov. 8 even though the California deadline has passed By Sophia Bollag Thomas Macariola, center, fills out a voter registration form after a naturalization ceremony on Oct. 26 in Sacramento, where a cardboard cut-out of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was among the witnesses. (Sophia Bollag / Los Angeles Times) Alex De Leon, a 30-year-old immigrant from Guatemala, was among more than 400 people who became U.S. citizens at a ceremony in Sacramento on Wednesday. After the program concluded, he walked outside and filled out his voter registration papers. The registration deadline to vote in the Nov. 8 election for most Californians was Monday. But a 2012 state law allows people like De Leon, who became citizens after the deadline, to register late. To vote, they must bring proof of citizenship and California residency to show to an official at a county election office. As a precaution against voter fraud, theyre not allowed to vote at a neighborhood polling place or with an absentee ballot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A new poll shows Californians remain ready to legalize the recreational use of pot By Patrick McGreevy (David Zalubowski / Associated Press) A majority of Californias likely voters continue to favor legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, but the level of support has dipped from a reported 60% a month ago to 55% this month, according to a statewide poll released Wednesday night. The latest poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found 38% of those surveyed oppose Proposition 64 and 6% are undecided. But the basic finding is that the initiative would still pass with a majority vote if the election were held today, according to Mark Baldassare, the institutes pollster and president. The numbers have been favorable, consistent, and exactly where we expected and wanted to be at this point, said Jason Kinney, a spokesman for the Proposition 64 campaign. The poll was conducted Oct. 14-23 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4% at a 95% confidence level. Proposition 64 is supported by 66% of Democratic likely voters and 56% of independents, but 60% of Republicans are opposed. Just under half of Latino likely voters (47%) would vote yes, while majorities of other racial/ethnic groups (65%) and whites (55%) would do so, the poll report said. Support is highest, at 78%, among those age 18 to 34. The opposition campaign said the campaign for Proposition 64 has turned voters away from the measure. It is clear that voters are realizing that Prop 64 is a 62-page mess that helps the marijuana industry tap into the California market, said Andrew Acosta, a spokesman for the campaign against the initiative. Those polled were also asked whether they have ever tried marijuana and, if so, if they used it in the last year: 18% said they have tried marijuana and used it in the last year, while 25% said they have tried it, but not in the last year. Updated at 9:30 am to include comments by the campaigns. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New poll shows Kamala Harris leading Californias U.S. Senate race by a 2-to-1 margin By Phil Willon U.S. Senate candidates Kamala Harris, left, points a finger toward rival Loretta Sanchez during their debate at Cal State L.A. on Wednesday, Oct. 5. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) With ballots already being cast, State Atty. General Kamala Harris leads by a more than a two-to-one margin over her rival in Californias U.S. Senate race, according to a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. The survey showed that 42% of likely voters supported Harris, compared to 20% who favored her opponent, Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez. Among the remainder, 20% of voters were undecided and 18% said they will not vote for either candidate by election day on Nov. 8. The results are dramatically different that those in a PPIC released on Sept. 21, when Harris had just a 7-point lead over Sanchez. But the new poll numbers are closely aligned with results in the June 7 primary, when Harris received 40% of the vote and Sanchez came in second with 19% in a race with 34 candidates on the ballot. In a PPIC poll in July, Harris also had 38% support among likely voters and Sanchez 20%. From the start this has been a race in which Harris, who did very well in the primary, has had a large advantage, said PPIC President Mark Baldassare. Loretta Sanchez hasnt been able to, in any of our polls, get above 25% Unlike the PPICs surveys in July and September, the new poll included the ballot designations for the two Senate candidates, listing Harris as Attorney General of California and Sanchez as a United States Congresswoman. Both Harris and Sanchez are Democrats. There also have been a few major developments in the Senate campaign since Sept. 21, including the Oct. 5 Senate debate at Cal State Los Angeles where Sanchez caused a stir by dabbing as her finale. The following day, U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein endorsed Harris. Both Harris and Sanchez are trying to succeed Boxer, who is retiring after serving four terms in the Senate. According to the new PPIC poll, Harris is favored over Sanchez across all general income and education levels of voters, as well as among both men and women. Harris also leads in these major regions of the state: Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay area, Orange and San Diego counties, and the Inland Empire. Latinos are the only major cross-section of likely voters who favor Sanchez over Harris, by a margin of 41% to 33%, the poll shows. Harris also gained support from Republicans and independents over the past month, mostly likely from voters who previously said they would not vote. Still, more than a third of likely Republican voters said they would not vote for Sanchez or Harris, and 16% of independent voters also plan to take a pass. The two Democrats are facing off in the highest-profile contest between two members of the same party since California adopted a top-two primary election system. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Will the Defense Department fix the National Guard bonus repayment problem? California congressional reps are skeptical By Sarah D. Wire (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press) Some members of Californias congressional delegation arent satisfied with a Defense Department plan to verify whether thousands of California National Guard members fairly received bonuses for enlisting during the height of the Iraq war or must repay the money. They said Wednesday that they want a detailed plan by the time Congress returns in mid-November. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) organized a call so that Californias 53 House members could question the Defense Department about how it plans to fix the problem, which was first reported Sunday by The Times. Members werent sure exactly how many of their colleagues were on the call. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Wednesday ordered the Pentagon to pause efforts to claw back the enlistment bonuses. He said the suspension would continue until he was satisfied that our process is working effectively. Congressional members told The Times that Defense officials said they plan to increase the number of employees reviewing the cases and expect all of them will be examined by July. After the call, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) said she was still outraged and wants a more detailed plan from the Defense Department. There was definitely a level of skepticism that they would move forward on this in a very fair and evenhanded way, Brownley said. Department officials told the delegation there are 13,800 questionable bonus cases in California. Of those, 4,000 have been cleared as properly eligible and 1,200 cases identified as possible fraud, meaning the guard member was not eligible or did not complete the contract. The department still must review the remaining 8,600 cases. (The case numbers relayed to members of Congress on Wednesday differ slightly from those provided to The Times by the department.) Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) said the Defense Department told members its plan is to clear up to 100 cases a day. They will give everybody a chance to go through the panels and make their case, she said, even the 1,200 identified as possible fraud. Brownleys staff said some Guard members were told to pay back more than $60,000. Many of the bonuses were at least $15,000. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said that in many cases, Guard members werent spending money they knew they werent supposed to receive, and that the Pentagon should have the burden of proving the soldier knowingly took a bonus they werent supposed to get. In the vast majority of cases, soldiers accepted these bonuses in good faith, Schiff said. You dont call them up years later and say, We shouldnt have offered that and try to collect. The department will give the California members another briefing when Congress returns Nov. 14. Brownley said several members told the department they would go ahead with legislation to forgive the bonus debt for at least some Guard members if a detailed plan was not ready by then. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Latinos in California are motivated to vote against Donald Trump, and that could affect a lot of other races By Sophia Bollag Voters make their way in and out of a polling place at the House of Mercy in Los Angeles in November 2012. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Latinos make up the largest ethnic group in California, but are often underrepresented at the polls. This year, however, experts say they expect good Latino turnout in November, thanks largely to the heated presidential election that is motivating many Latinos to vote against presidential candidate Donald Trump and his anti-immigration rhetoric. They stand to have considerable impact on many down-ballot races in California, as well as on the outcome of many statewide propositions. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Tom Steyer is now the biggest donor in the effort to raise the tobacco tax By Liam Dillon Billionaire Tom Steyer is now the largest donor in the effort to raise the states cigarette tax by $2 a pack. With a $3.5-million donation to the Yes on Proposition 56 campaign Tuesday, Steyers total spending on the race has reached $11.3 million. Thats more than a third of the $31 million the primary Yes on 56 committee has raised and more than all the money raised during a similar, but failed, effort to increase the tobacco tax four years ago. Steyer, who is a major donor to state and national liberal causes, is the focus in two Yes on 56 television advertisements. Hes said hes motivated to spend to limit youth smoking and the memory of his mother, a smoker who died of lung cancer. Steyer also is frequently mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate for governor in 2018. The No on 56 campaign, which is almost entirely funded by tobacco companies, has raised $71 million. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California congressional reps say they didnt know so many Guard members were being forced to repay enlistment bonuses By Sarah D. Wire Some of Californias members of Congress say Californias National Guard did not explain in 2014 how many guard members were being forced to repay enlistment bonuses. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter ordered the Pentagon to suspend all efforts to collect reimbursement from the nearly 10,000 California National Guard members who were improperly given bonuses as an incentive to reenlist at the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Earlier in the week, a senior California National Guard official said it told the states members of Congress two years ago the Pentagon was trying to claw back reenlistment bonuses from thousands of soldiers, and even offered a proposal to mitigate the problem, but Congress took no action. After The Times first reported the problem Sunday, most of Californias 55 members of Congress signed onto letters to Carter, or House and Senate leaders, asking for an immediate fix. On Wednesday, they praised the Defense Department for halting the clawbacks and said Congress needs to stop the process entirely and refund the Guard members who already have repaid money. Still, some members took issue with the California Guards characterization of what it told the California delegation two years ago. Staff in members offices said the Guard broadly mentioned the clawbacks in a 2014 letter detailing its policy goals for the year, but officials didnt meet with members of Congress in person or by phone, and didnt otherwise tell them about the scale of the issue. Such letters are fairly common from groups working with Congress. If they would have come and said, Youre going to have thousands of combat veterans having their wages garnished and tax liens being put on them, we would have been all over this, said Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine). That was never communicated to us. Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Los Angeles) said neither the Pentagon nor California Guard officials told him about the large number of soldiers ordered to repay bonuses, though his office had received complaints from individual soldiers. I have no record of receiving any formal notice of this widespread issue from any department federal or state. The only record I have is of individual cases of service members who approached my office to get help, and we are working with these individuals who have served our country to make sure they are treated fairly, he said. Several high-ranking members of the delegation said this week they first heard of the scope of the problem from The Times reporting. The California Guard also sent members of Congress a suggested provision that would have allowed debt waivers for the affected soldiers in the 2015 defense authorization bill. Reps. Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) and Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) initially pushed for the provision but later abandoned the effort, and it didnt appear in the final bill. Cook and Denham said they dropped the effort after being told the Pentagon already had the power to waive the debts. Guard officials said they were told the provision was discarded because waiving the debt would have cost the Pentagon money, requiring the estimated costs to be offset with cuts elsewhere in the defense budget. For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Denham declined to discuss why he dropped the provision to waive the debt. He dropped the effort after being told the Pentagon already had the power to waive the debt. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ted Cruzs old gang called into action to help California GOP By Phil Willon Ron Nehring, a former aide in Sen. Ted Cruzs presidential bid, chats with visitors at the California State Fair in Sacramento during his 2014 campaign for lieutenant governor. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Texas Sen. Ted Cruzs presidential bid may be history, but his supporters in California are banding together to help GOP candidates locked in tight down-ballot races. Ron Nehring, the former state GOP chairman who was a top Cruz booster, said the focus will be turning out Republican voters and recruiting volunteers to work on a list of hotly contested congressional and legislative races selected by the California Republican Party. Among those pinpointed are Vista Rep. Darrell Issa, who faces his toughest challenge since being elected to Congress in 2000, and Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, who is trying to unseat Democratic Rep. Ami Bera of Elk Grove. It is 100% exclusively boots on the ground, Nehring said. Michael Schroeder, who was co-chairman of Cruzs campaign in California and also served as the state GOP chairman, said Republican turnout in the Golden State is expected to be down because of the controversies surrounding GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Having Trump at the top of the November ballot also will motivate more Democrats to vote, and that could endanger GOP candidates in close races throughout the state, he said. Trumps campaign is a lost cause in California at this point, Schroeder said. Trump said he was going to drive Hispanic turnout, and I think hes right -- but not in the way hes hoping for. Californias Cruz alumni have a website and on Monday night held a conference call with 75 former Cruz organizers asking them to activate their local political networks to help with the effort, Nehring said. Other Republicans theyll work to protect or elect: Reps. Jeff Denham of Turlock, David Valadao of Hanford and Steve Knight of Palmdale. Assembly members Catharine Baker of San Ramon, David Hadley of Manhattan Beach, Tom Lackey of Palmdale and Young Kim of Fullerton. State Senate candidates Mike Antonovich of Glendale, Scott Wilk of Santa Clarita and Ling Ling Chang of Diamond Bar. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Central Valley congressional race shifts to a toss-up By Sarah D. Wire (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) The 10th Congressional District race between Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) and Democrat Michael Eggman is now a toss-up, the nonpartisan analysts at the Cook Political Report announced Tuesday. The contest in the heavily Latino Central Valley district had been rated lean Republican, meaning the analysts thought Eggman had a chance, but they expected the third-term Republican to be reelected.The Cook Political Report now lists several California House districts held by Republicans as toss-ups, including Rep. Darrell Issas seat in the 49th District and Rep. Steve Knight in the 25th District. This is the second matchup for Denham and Eggman. Denham won their 2014 encounter with 56% of the vote, but this year, there is the added unknown of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps effect on other races and whether his unpopularity will drag down other candidates. For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Rep. David Valadaos race in the 21st District is listed as a toss-up. It is listed as leaning Republican. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print U.S. Rep. Ami Bera: Soldiers who served our country should not be penalized for the mistakes of others By Sophia Bollag Urging @DeptofDefense today to immediately stop ordering @theCAGuard members to pay back their enlistment benefits. pic.twitter.com/Ti6bzWJias Ami Bera, M.D. (@RepBera) October 24, 2016 U.S. Rep. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove) wrote to top Department of Defense officials Monday urging them to stop asking veterans to repay enlistment bonuses. The Pentagon has ordered nearly 10,000 California Guard soldiers to repay bonuses that were improperly awarded to them, The Times reported Saturday. With his letter, Bera joined the chorus of lawmakers who have condemned the action, calling on the Pentagon to waive the soldiers debts. Soldiers who served our country should not be penalized for the mistakes of others, wrote Bera, who faces a tough reelection battle in his Northern California district. I urge the Department to halt the collection of these bonuses at this time to prevent placing more service members in financial hardship. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Crime victims oppose the death penalty in Yes on Prop. 62 ads By Jazmine Ulloa In new online ads released Tuesday by proponents of Proposition 62, which seeks to repeal the death penalty in California, crime victims urge voters to end the system and bring peace to grieving families. Proposition 62 would replace the ultimate punishment for murder with a sentence of life in prison without parole, ending a lengthy appeals process that some victims say has interfered with their healing. It is one of two competing death penalty measures on the Nov. 8 ballot. In one of two videos, which campaign officials say are geared toward swing voters, Beth Webb tells viewers she has had to face the death row inmate who killed her sister and seven others in a hair salon almost 50 times in court. Him sitting there, soaking up all of the attention, loving it, its disgusting, she says. The commercials come as proponents of the opposing measure on the ballot, Proposition 66, have released their own ads over the last few days, urging voters to reform the system, not end it. In one of those videos, a murder victims mother says no punishment other than the death penalty is appropriate for the twice-convicted sex offender who abducted her child. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Common, Russell Simmons, Shailene Woodley among celebrities pushing to legalize weed in California By Patrick McGreevy Common at the 2015 Academy Awards (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Top celebrities including Common, Tim Robbins and the author of the Orange is the New Black memoir are joining forces in what they are calling Artists for 64" the effort to legalize recreational use of marijuana in California. A show of force announced Tuesday includes rapper and actor Common; music producer Russell Simmons; Ty Dolla $ign; actors Danny Glover, Olivia Wilde, Tim Robbins, Sarah Silverman, Shailene Woodley of The Divergent series, Jesse Williams of Greys Anatomy and Michael K. Williams of the HBO series The Wire; and Piper Kerman, author of Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Womens Prison. Jay Z, who last week put out a video calling the war on drugs an epic fail, also signed on to the effort. In California, the question on whether to legalize marijuana for adult use is a policy change that will have a lasting impact on historically marginalized communities, Glover, the star of films including the Lethal Weapon series, said in a statement posted on Artists for 64. Marijuana laws have been used as a tool by law enforcement to racially profile, harass, intimidate and criminalize mostly young African American and Latino men for decades. I am shocked and saddened by the harm that marijuana criminalization brings, especially for communities of color, Wilde said in a statement. The campaign against Proposition 64 said Hollywood celebrities are not the most credible endorsers, charging they are out of touch with the reality of drug abuse in many communities in the state. Today the No on Prop 64 campaign did a press event in Fresno with faith and community leaders who know that the problems that recreational marijuana creates will impact these communities and neighborhoods across California not Hollywood, said Andrew Acosta, a spokesman for the opposition campaign. In a video produced by Dream Hampton and included on the website, former Golden State Warrior Al Harrington talks about how marijuana helped him overcome pain and inflammation during a staph infection and helped his grandmother with her glaucoma. Im a California voter and Im voting `yes for Prop. 64, he says. Williams spoke from personal experience. Im in recovery and dont use marijuana, and my Christian faith is my rock when it comes to staying sober, he said in a statement. But I dont believe people should be arrested for marijuana anymore. California can lead the country by voting yes on Prop 64. Drug Policy Action, an advocacy group backing Proposition 64 to legalize the drug for recreational use, paid for the site. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias Congress members knew the Pentagon was trying to get back bonuses from soldiers, official says By David S. Cloud The California National Guard told the states members of Congress two years ago that the Pentagon was trying to claw back reenlistment bonuses from thousands of soldiers, and even offered a proposal to mitigate the problem, but Congress took no action, according to a senior National Guard official. What form that communication took and whether the members of Congress understood the scope of the problem at the time is unclear. On Monday, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying that Congress should pass legislation to halt the Pentagon debt recovery as soon as we gavel back into session after the Nov. 8 election. Other California congressional members, including Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, also sent letters to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter about the matter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Proposition 56 and the great vape tax debate By Liam Dillon (Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP/Getty Images) Turn on any TV in California and you know that all the talk surrounding the Proposition 56 tobacco tax has been about cigarettes. But if the initiative passes next month, e-cigarettes will also be taxed like traditional cigarettes for the first time a huge tax increase that could boost the price of a typical 30-milliliter bottle of e-liquid by $10. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State ethics watchdog asks court to force assemblymans campaign to turn over documents for investigation By Christine Mai-Duc Assemblyman David Hadley (R-Manhattan Beach) greets people after participating in a candidates forum in Torrance. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The campaign of Assemblyman David Hadley (R-Manhattan Beach) has delayed turning over documents related to an official investigation into his campaign practices, according to court documents filed by the state Fair Political Practices Commission. The investigation grew out of a complaint from Hadleys opponent, Democrat Al Muratsuchi, that claims Hadleys campaign was illegally coordinating with an independent expenditure committee that also supported Hadley. In a letter to the FPPC, Muratsuchi claimed Hadleys campaign and Spirit of Democracy, a group funded mostly by Republican donor Charles Munger, Jr., shared consultant Steven Presson during at least part of the primary campaign for Assembly District 66. In court documents filed Oct. 13, FPPC special investigator Garrett Micheels said he initially emailed Hadley Aug. 4, asking him to voluntarily provide certain records to the commissions enforcement division. The records requested included emails, letters and text messages between Jan. 1 and June 7 between Presson and the Hadley campaign, or any other individuals or groups concerning the Hadley race. The next day, Presson responded that the campaign would require a subpoena to avoid possible public exposure to sensitive emails within the Hadley campaign regarding our strategy. After a subpoena was issued on Aug. 12, Micheels said in court documents, Hadley retained attorney Steve Churchwell, who asked for extensions to produce the documents at least three times, but never provided the records. On Sept. 27, Hadley produced some of the documents, court filings say, but wrote to explain that he was withholding his communications with Presson because there are hundreds or thousands of such correspondences that contained sensitive/confidential campaign communications that he said he had not had the time to review. As of Friday, the FPPC says, they have not received the rest of the documents requested. There is only one reason Hadley would conceal documents, and that is because he is guilty and is trying to hide the evidence, said Mike Shimpock, a consultant for the Muratsuchi campaign. A Hadley campaign spokesman declined to comment and Churchwell did not return a request for comment. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New ads urge California voters not to repeal the last defense against killers By Jazmine Ulloa In two new television ads, police officers and prosecutors urge California voters not to repeal the death penalty on Nov. 8, calling it the last defense against killers. The commercials, released late Monday by the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., are part of the No on Prop. 62, Yes on Prop. 66 campaign. The effort aims to defeat Proposition 62, which would replace the ultimate punishment for murder with life in prison without parole, and to support Proposition 66, which would change and limit how and how often death row inmates can appeal. The pro-death penalty campaign has drawn broad support and funding from law enforcement organizations across the state. The Correctional Peace Officers Assn. alone has donated nearly $600,000 since last September. Ive seen what the worst among us can do, killings so brutal families never recover, Sgt. Dan Cabral of the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Assn. tells viewers in one ad. Its why we have a death penalty. The second ad features the case of serial killer Charles Ng, who has spent 17 years on death row for the rape, torture and slayings of at least 11 victims. This is cruel punishment for the families, Sharon Sellitto, one victims sister, says in the video. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print GOP Rep. Darrell Issa returns fire after President Obama rips his campaign mailer By Phil Willon Vista Republican Rep. Darrell Issa said Monday he was disappointed but not surprised by President Obamas criticism of him for using the presidents photo in a campaign mailer. At a fundraiser in La Jolla on Sunday night, Obama said Issas primary contribution to Congress has been to obstruct and to waste taxpayer dollars on trumped-up investigations that have led nowhere. The president called Issa shameless for using his image in his reelection campaign. Im disappointed but not surprised that the president, in a political speech, continues to deny accountability for the serious scandals that happened under his watch where Americans died overseas and veterans have died here at home, Issa said in a statement released by his congressional campaign Monday. Youd be hard-pressed to find anyone who thinks Ive done too much to hold Washington accountable. Ive worked with the administration on good legislation where it was possible, called out wrongdoing wherever I saw it and will continue to do so. Issa is running his toughest congressional campaign to date, an increasingly nasty race that has been declared a toss-up by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Issas Democratic challenger in the 49th Congressional District, retired Marine Col. Doug Applegate, has criticized the congressman as a Washington insider and supporter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. In the political mailer sent out by the Issa campaign, the congressman said he was pleased with the president for signing legislation he co-sponsored that provides victims of sexual assault legal protections in the federal criminal justice system. At the Sunday night fundraiser, Obama ripped Issa as a guy who, because poll numbers are bad, has sent out brochures with my picture on them touting his cooperation on issues with me. Now that is the definition of chutzpah, Obama said. Issa once called Obama one of the most corrupt presidents in modern times. While chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, he led investigations into the Benghazi attack, the Internal Revenue Service scandal, the botched Fast and Furious gun sting and other actions by the Obama administration. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Democrats remember Tom Hayden for pursuits close to home By Michael Finnegan (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times) Top California Democrats remembered Tom Hayden on Monday as an influential activist whose pursuit of liberal causes extended far beyond his best-known work leading protests against the Vietnam War. Tom took up causes that others avoided, Gov. Jerry Brown said. He had a real sense of the underdog and was willing to do battle no matter what the odds. Hayden died Sunday in Santa Monica after a long illness. He was 76. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti recalled Haydens work negotiating a gang truce in Venice, along with his contributions to an anti-sweatshop ordinance to prevent worker exploitation. Tom Hayden was a giant who never stopped pushing for peace and justice, and inspired a generation of change agents to bring new voices and overlooked perspectives to the decision-making process, Garcetti said. Hayden, classified by the FBI as a rabble rouser in the 1960s, was prosecuted by President Nixons Justice Department in the raucous Chicago 7 trial after violent clashes with police at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. His conviction was dismissed on appeal. He went on to serve in the state Assembly and Senate for a total of 18 years. John Burton, chairman of the California Democratic Party, recalled two measures that Hayden got passed. One allocated $250,000 to buy tattoo removal machines for imprisoned youth so they could cut their gang ties. The other set up a program for parents to use tax-free accounts for savings dedicated to their childrens college education. These bills didnt get a lot of attention at the time, but they have had a far-reaching impact on young peoples futures, said Burton, who led the state Senate when Hayden was a member. The Senates current leader, Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles, said Hayden was well ahead of the curve on issues involving the environment, social justice, gang intervention and urban peace, access to higher education, domestic violence and much more. Hayden, he said, distinguished himself as a paragon of political integrity and a great intellect. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Secretary of States office holds voter registration drive at the Capitol on the last day to register in California By Sophia Bollag .@CASOSvote staff are outside the Capitol today to register new voters. Today is the deadline to register in CA. pic.twitter.com/vNovU1jNla Sophia Bollag (@SophiaBollag) October 24, 2016 The Secretary of States office is holding a voter registration drive outside the Capitol today, the last day to register in California before the November election. The offices staff registered about 20 people in the first couple of hours, said Milena Paez, who works in the offices elections division. Many people had also stopped by the booth to ask where their polling place is or check their voter registration status, she said. LaRhonda Sayles-Willis, who recently moved to the Sacramento area, said she saw the booth as she walked down the street and stopped by to see where she was registered. She ended up re-registering to vote to be on the safe side and said shes particularly motivated to vote for Hillary Clinton. I really oppose her opponent. I just dont like the guy, the 56-year-old said. I just dont think hes a good representation of the United States. Ada Avelar, 21, said she decided to register because she recently moved to the United States from Mexico City to attend Sacramento State University. Avelar is an American citizen. She said she saw the booth on her way back from having lunch with a friend and decided to register right there. I was like, its a sign, she said. I have to do it. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Assemblywoman Patty Lopez vows not to give up on reelection despite lack of party support By Christine Mai-Duc Patty Lopez watches as ballots are counted in her 2014 race against then-incumbent Raul Bocanegra, who she bested by fewer than 500 votes. ( (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)) On a recent weekend, with just three weeks to go until the November election, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon made a whirlwind tour of five of the most hotly contested races in the state, stumping for Democratic candidates. Assemblywoman Patty Lopez (D-San Fernando), who faces a stiff challenge from former Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, was not one of them. Instead, she spent part of her Saturday walking through a community street festival, handing out fliers with a handful of volunteers. Ive been blocked from my party, but my district knows who is Patty Lopez, she said. Sometimes I feel disappointed, but thats not stopping me from doing what I need to do. In 2014, Lopez shocked many when she eked out a win against Bocanegra by a margin of less than 500 votes. With six Democrats on the ballot in this years primary, Lopez received just 27.2% of the vote, a distant second to Bocanegras 44.4%. Despite this, and the fact that the California Democratic Party has endorsed her challenger, Lopez says she is a woman of faith who believes 100 percent that shell be reelected. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Obama says Darrell Issa is shameless for praising him in campaign mailer that is the definition of chutzpah By Sarah D. Wire At a California fundraiser Sunday night, President Obama called Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) shameless for using the presidents photo on a recent mailer and praising him after years of criticizing the Obama administration. Issa is facing an unexpectedly tough race this year as the eight-term Republican squares off against political novice former Marine Col. Doug Applegate. Issas primary contribution to the United States Congress has been to obstruct and to waste taxpayer dollars on trumped-up investigations that have led nowhere. And this is now a guy who, because poll numbers are bad, has sent out brochures with my picture on them touting his cooperation on issues with me, Obama told the crowd, according to a transcript, at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser in the La Jolla home of donor Christine Forester. Now that is the definition of chutzpah. The Vista Republican has been a frequent critic of Obama and has called him one of the most corrupt presidents in modern times. The campaign mailer said Issa was pleased with the president for signing legislation he co-sponsored into law. Issa was one of 40 House members who co-sponsored the legislation, which provides some sexual assault victims legal protections in the federal criminal justice system. The president is in Los Angeles today and Tuesday for a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live and two fundraisers, including a $100,000-per-ticket fundraiser at DreamWorks Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenbergs home tonight that is completely closed to the press. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The district where water is more important than all other campaign issues By Sarah D. Wire (Sarah D. Wire/ Los Angeles Times) In Californias Central Valley, the nations most productive agricultural region, the drought drives everything. And the ongoing fight over how much water flows could be the reason Democrats havent been able to win in the 21st Congressional District with a national race even though 47% of registered voters there are Democrats. Heres a look at the role of water in the race between Rep. David Valadao, and attorney Emilio Huerta. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement What happens if both death penalty measures are approved by voters on Nov. 8? By Jazmine Ulloa (Pat Sullivan / Associated Press) California voters are weighing dueling death penalty propositions on the Nov. 8 ballot, one that seeks to repeal the system and another that aims to speed it up. If both pass with a majority, the initiative with the most yes votes would supersede the other. If both fail to garner the votes, then the status quo remains, a frustrating prospect for many as advocates on both sides of the issue say the system is broken. California has more than 740 inmates awaiting execution, the largest death row population in the country. Their appeals go directly to the state Supreme Court and take 25 years to process. Both capital punishment measures would require current prisoners to work and pay restitution to victims. But Proposition 62 would repeal the death penalty in California for first-degree murder and replace the sentence with life in prison without the possibility of parole. It also would apply retroactively to offenders already sentenced to death. Proposition 66 would designate lower trial courts to take on initial challenges to convictions and limit successive appeals to within five years of a death sentence. It also would require court-appointed lawyers who dont take capital appeals to represent death row inmates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: Propositions, polling and parole By John Myers The fact that there are 17 propositions on the statewide ballot has not only made things hard on voters, its been almost impossible for pollsters to sample opinion on so many issues. But one new poll looks at some of the least talked about measures, and its our first topic on this weeks California Politics Podcast. The poll suggests a lot of voters remain undecided about several of these low-profile proposals. We also take a detailed look at one of the most contentious ballot fights, the effort by Gov. Jerry Brown to revamp state prison parole rules through Proposition 57. Im joined on this weeks episode by Marisa Lagos of KQED News. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In No on 62, Yes on 66 campaign ad, murder victims mother urges California voters to keep the death penalty By Jazmine Ulloa In three online ads released Friday, Sandra Friend tells California voters they should fix the states death penalty system, not end it. The 43-year-old mother has been a crime victims advocate since Robert Boyd Rhoades sexually abused and killed her 8-year-old son, Michael Lyons, two decades ago. She is now serving as one of the main voices behind a campaign that is working to defeat Proposition 62, which would repeal the death penalty, and in favor of Proposition 66, which seeks to speed up executions. Voters will weigh the dueling capital punishment initiatives on the Nov. 8 ballot. Both would require current death row inmates to work and pay restitution to victims, but would take opposing approaches to what the measures both call a broken system. Rhoades, who abducted Lyons on his way home from school in Yuba City, is one of 740 death row inmates in California. Executions have been on hold since 2006, when the states lethal injection protocol was challenged in court. Friend tells viewers it has been difficult coming to terms with the fact that her son was murdered by a twice-convicted sex offender. I am living a parents worst nightmare, she says. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former state Sen. Ronald Calderon sentenced to 42 months in prison on corruption charge By Joel Rubin Former state Sen. Ronald S. Calderon was sentenced in Los Angeles on Friday to 42 months in prison after he pleaded guilty in a federal corruption case. The Montebello Democrat, who served in the state Senate for eight years ending in 2014, admitted in a plea deal in June that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from undercover FBI agents and a hospital executive in return for official favors. Federal prosecutors had asked for a five-year sentence for a charge where the maximum possible penalty was 20 years. U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder, who handed down the sentence to Calderon, said five years was too severe but that a significant prison sentence was needed to punish Calderon and send a message to other elected officials that corruption will not be tolerated. The crime is significant, she said during the court hearing. This is a true public corruption case. Striking a defiant tone throughout, Calderon refused to admit any wrong-doing or to apologize during the court hearing. My goal was always to do the right thing for California, he said. At no point did I intend to break the law. He said he ultimately decided to plead guilty in order to spare his family the ordeal of a trial, but persisted in his innocence, saying he never agreed to any quid pro quo to benefit himself or his family. Unemployed and tens of thousands of dollars in debt, Calderon said professional relationships had been ruined as had his relationship with his brother. My reputation is destroyed, Calderon said. Snyder was unmoved. I did not really hear Senator Calderon accept responsibility or apologize, she said. It was really about himself. Calderon, 59, had pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud as part of a plea in which he admitted to accepting trips to Las Vegas, jobs for a son and daughter, and cash for him and his brother, former Assemblyman Tom Calderon. Tom Calderon was sentenced last month to one year in federal custody for laundering bribes taken by his brother. The Calderon family was politically powerful for decades in California. A third brother, former Assemblyman Charles Calderon, was not implicated in the corruption scandal. Ronald Calderons nephew, Ian Calderon, is a state assemblyman, the last family member in state elected office. He was not alleged to have any part in the corruption scheme. Assistant U.S. Atty. Mack E. Jenkins wrote a blistering brief opposing Calderons request to serve time with home detention or be released for the brief time he already spent in jail. Here, defendants trafficking in his legislative votes (for, by contrast, over $150,000 in benefits) caused a reverberation of negative effects throughout California and put a stain not just on his career, but on the reputation of the state legislature, Jenkins wrote. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Accusations fly in the congressional race for this Northern California swing district By Sophia Bollag Democratic U.S. Rep. Ami Bera, left, shakes hands with his Republican challenger, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, after their debate Tuesday in the race for the 7th Congressional District seat. (Jose Luis Villegas / Associated Press) Questions about character have been dominating the congressional race between Rep. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove) and Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones. Both candidates have been plagued by allegations of wrongdoing. Beras father was recently sentenced to jail for illegally funneling money to two of his sons past campaigns. Jones faces allegations he sexually harassed a subordinate at the Sheriffs Department more than a decade ago, which he denies. Theyre competing in a divided district that leans Democratic, but not by much. In 2014, Bera beat his Republican challenger by less than a percentage point. This race is always one of the closest races in the country, he said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Loretta Sanchez says she got death threats after she voted against the Iraq war By Phil Willon Rep. Loretta Sanchez, after her speech Thursday. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) U.S. Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez on Thursday urged ROTC cadets at UCLA to have the courage to challenge politicians who call for ill conceived uses of military force such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq. We need military leaders that understand the limits of our military power, said Sanchez, who has served in Congress for two decades and sits on the House Armed Services Committee. Why is it that every generation and every president has to learn that all over again? The Orange County congresswoman made the comments during an address to ROTC cadets at UCLAs Pauley Pavilion. Sanchez said her experience on the House Armed Services Committee made her question the long-term implications of the Iraq invasion, and whether the U.S. might find itself bogged down in a war in the Middle East. In 2002, Sanchez was among the 133 House members who voted against the authorization of military force against Iraq. It was a lonely time, Sanchez told the cadets. [When] I came back to Orange County, I was spit on. I received death threats. The congresswoman told the cadets the military is just one part of a national security strategy that includes intelligence gathering, diplomacy and the use of the countrys economic strength. Because so much is at stake, the use of our military should always be a last resort, Sanchez said. Sanchez is running against fellow Democrat and state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris for Californias U.S. Senate seat. She says her expertise on national defense and terrorism are among the reasons shes the most qualified candidate. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Tobacco companies claim proponents of cigarette tax will use the new revenue to enrich their top executives By Liam Dillon Tobacco companies have unveiled a new claim in their campaign against the $2-per-pack increase in cigarette taxes on the November ballot. In a television advertisement that debuted over the weekend, the No on Proposition 56 campaign contends that the doctors and health insurance groups financing the initiative wrote it to avoid external oversight over the money going to low-income patient care. They even exempted themselves from the new audit requirements, the ad states. They can use the new revenue to enrich their top executives, and theres no requirement to treat even one more patient. The claim rests on a part of the Proposition 56 initiative that creates new auditing rules to govern where the new tax money would go. But it ignores the litany of state and federal auditing requirements to which Medi-Cal, the states low-income health program, already is subject. First, heres a little background about how the money from Proposition 56 would get spent. Assuming fewer people use tobacco because of the tax increase, the tax would raise about $1.27 billion next year, according to an estimate from the Legislative Analysts Office. Of that amount, $710 million about 56% would go to Medi-Cal, primarily to increase the payment doctors and other healthcare providers receive when they treat patients. The remaining dollars go to back-filling current state and local sales taxes and other programs because fewer people will buy cigarettes, doctor and dentist training and anti-tobacco efforts. The initiative kicks in $400,000 a year to audit the agencies receiving the money. Beth Miller, spokeswoman for the No on 56 campaign, said that opponents like that state and local agencies will be audited if the measure passes. The criticism is that the provisions dont go far enough. It would have been nice to have those audit requirements also apply to those end users, so to speak: the hospitals, the insurance companies and the doctors, Miller said. Medi-Cal providers, however, get audited all the time. The states Department of Health Care Services does internal audits and investigations through an entire department of about 700 employees and a $50-million budget dedicated to reviewing the programs under its jurisdiction, including looking at the financial records of Medi-Cal providers. Beyond that, the California State Auditor has issued at least two wide-ranging audits involving Medi-Cal providers in the last five years on the states oversight of managed-care plans. And the federal Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General also audits programs and providers that receive federal dollars for low-income patients. One recent federal audit of California that examined pediatric dental providers happened last May. Miller contended that the audits required under Proposition 56 are more transparent than the existing state and federal programs. Mike Roth, spokesman for the Yes on 56 campaign, said the initiative has plenty of safeguards to ensure the tax money is spent wisely, including the auditing provisions. This is another desperate and deceitful red herring from tobacco companies, and it takes the cake as far as their flagrant lies about Proposition 56, Roth said. Heres the full ad: UPDATES: 3:03 p.m.: This post was updated to include the full video of the advertisement. This article was originally published at 2:00 p.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Central Valley congressional race that once leaned Republican is now a toss-up, report says By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) The nonpartisan analysts at the Cook Political Report now say its a toss-up whether Republican Rep. Jeff Denham or Democrat beekeeper Michael Eggman will win the 10th Congressional District race. The race had been rated leans Republican since last fall, indicating that the analysts expected Denham to keep the seat, but felt Democrats had a chance. This is the second matchup for Denham and Eggman. Denham won in 2014 with 56.4% of the vote. Democrats have worked for months to tie vulnerable House Republicans to the rhetoric of their presidential nominee, Donald Trump, and this race is one where Trumps effect down the ballot could be most visible. Denham has said he disagrees with Trumps rhetoric, but hasnt backed off supporting him, a move that could prove unpopular in the Central Valley district where at least 40% of the population is Latino. Three Republican-held seats in California are now considered toss-ups. The other two are representing the 25th Congressional District, held by Rep. Steve Knight (R-Palmdale), and the 49th Congressional District, held by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista). Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Senate leader endorses gun control initiative despite differences with its author, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom By Patrick McGreevy California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, left, and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, applaud at Gov. Jerry Browns State of the State speech in January. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Despite political differences with its author, state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) on Thursday endorsed Proposition 63, which would expand Californias already tough gun control laws. Proposition 63 was proposed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and would outlaw large-capacity ammunition magazines, require background checks for those buying bullets, require lost or stolen guns to be reported quickly, make stealing a firearm a felony and provide a process for newly convicted felons to relinquish their guns. De Leon and Newsom have both been working on gun control issues for years and both have aspirations for higher office. Newsom is running for governor in 2018. Some in the De Leon camp thought when the initiative was proposed last year that it was being used to try to take over an issue on which the senator has been a leader. The two disagreed earlier this year on the best way to achieve gun control aims, with De Leon publicly calling on Newsom to drop his initiative and allow the Legislature to act, and Newsom refusing, charging that the Legislatures proposals were not extensive enough. In the end, the Legislature approved several bills, including one by De Leon that requires background checks for ammunition purchasers, even though a similar proposal is included in the Newsom initiative. The Legislature also mandated that its background-check plan would supersede the one in Proposition 63. On Thursday, De Leon made no mention of the differences. Earlier this year, our Legislature passed the most sweeping and important package of gun safety laws in the nation, increasing nationwide momentum and grass-roots outcries for common-sense safeguards against gun violence, De Leon said in a statement. I endorse Proposition 63 because we must send a powerful and united message to the national Gun Lobby that California will not capitulate to political bullying or compromise the public safety, he added. The differences between the two politicians were highlighted noted by Richard Grenell, co-chairman of the Coalition for Civil Liberties, which is campaigning against the initiative. This is a prime example of why people should trust law enforcement on this question before self-interested politicians, Grenell said. Just a few months ago, de Leon asked Newsom to repeal Prop 63. De Leons statement was released a day after Newsom ruffled some feathers in the De Leon camp when he told the Sacramento Press Club that his initiative accomplishes things that state officials could not. Newsom noted that 11 other states have enacted the requirement that stolen guns be reported. There have been legislative attempts and they have failed multiple times here in the Capitol, Newsom said. The Legislature did approve such a bill this year, but it was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown in July. The political dispute between the two leading Democrats surfaced last year when De Leon acted to slash a third of Newsoms staff, notifying him that two Senate employees who had been on loan to the lieutenant governors office were being reassigned. UPDATED at 1:10 pm to include comment from opponent of initiative. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print No fight from the business community over the proposed tobacco and income tax hikes By Liam Dillon (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Business groups often make up a triumvirate with Republicans and taxpayer advocates against tax increases. But on the two tax hikes on the 2016 California ballot, major business leaders are mostly staying away from the fight. They tend to dislike the income tax extensions promised by Proposition 55, but arent campaigning against them. And some are even backing Proposition 56s cigarette tax increases. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Almost half a million Californians have already voted by mail, with a surge in some hotly contested races By John Myers (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Early data compiled from local elections officials shows a surge of ballots being returned in the mail, especially in some of the most closely watched races this election season. A report compiled by Political Data Inc. shows almost 408,000 ballots cast in just the first eight days of voting, with more than half of those ballots arriving in local election offices Wednesday. As weve reported before, election day in California is now more like an election month. A majority of the states voters cast their ballots away from traditional polling places, and political professionals can closely monitor which voters in any given race have turned those ballots back in. The report also shows strong early voting in some of Californias most talked about congressional races. In the hotly contested reelection race of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), more than four times as many ballots have been returned so far compared to the 2014 general election. And even though Republicans have an eight-point registration advantage in Issas district, the ballots cast so far have skewed more Democratic. In early voting, the two major parties are almost even in the number of votes cast. Issa, facing a tough race against Democrat Douglas Applegate, recently sent out a campaign mailer trying to appeal to local voters who support President Obama. Compared to the first few days of the 2014 general election, substantially more ballots have also been cast in the Central Valley races featuring Reps. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) and David Valadao (R-Hanford). In both districts, Democratic voters are outpacing GOP voters in early ballot returns. While none of the data offers information on how those ballots were cast -- these are only totals received by county officials -- the early numbers may offer a glimpse at how energized some parts of the electorate are in this contentious campaign season. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement What will Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom focus on in his run for governor? Aging infrastructure among issues By Patrick McGreevy California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at an event in Los Angeles in April. (Nick Ut / Associated Press) Signaling that his gubernatorial campaign will shift into higher gear after next months election, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that he is working on a plan to double spending on roads and other infrastructure since the Legislature failed to act this year. This is going to be something you will be hearing a lot more from me on over the course of the next number of months, a very aggressive infrastructure proposal, Newsom said in a speech to the Sacramento Press Club. The former San Francisco mayor is running for governor in 2018. He noted that the governor and Legislature did not reach an agreement on a transportation funding program in the face of a $130-billion backlog in state and local road repairs. Legislative Democrats proposed a $7.4-billion plan earlier this year that would raise the gas tax by 17 cents a gallon. Thats about twice the size of an earlier plan by Gov. Jerry Brown. Weve got to more than double our investment in infrastructure in this state, Newsom said, adding the problem has reached code red in California. Plans by the governor to use proceeds from sale of cap-and-trade credits have merits, he said. Separately, Newsom said he continues to support the vision of a high speed rail system for California but said I remain concerned about the finances. He said the private sector must step up to provide more of the money as the project cost has close to doubled from its original $33 billion price tag. Newsom acknowledged that he has work to do to introduce himself to voters outside his home base. I think a lot of the state really doesnt know me yet, he said, adding he sees it as a great opportunity to tell his story. He declined to comment on the gubernatorial candidacy of state Treasurer John Chiang and possible runs by former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer. Im not focused on those others, he said. Im focused on what we have before us. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. activist is building his AIDS organization into a political powerhouse with two November ballot measures By Christine Mai-Duc (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) When Michael Weinstein launched his AIDS Healthcare Foundation in the late 1980s, he had a coffee can for donations and a $50,000 budget to provide end-of-life care to those dying of the disease. Today, hes grown the nonprofit into a $1.2-billion operation that manages hundreds of clinics and pharmacies globally, and has quickly become a major political player in California, and, he hopes, nationally. AHF, as it is known, is sponsoring two initiatives on Californias November ballot: Proposition 60, which would require adult film actors to use condoms during sex scenes, and Proposition 61, which would bar state agencies from entering contracts to purchase drugs where the price is higher than that paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Thats quite a feat in a state as expensive as California, and in a political year as crowded as 2016. Were doing things on a scale that we havent before, Weinstein said in a recent interview from his office in a Hollywood high-rise. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement These janitors are giving up sleep to knock on doors for Hillary Clinton By Sarah D. Wire Yamilex Rustrian, left, of North Hollywood, and Leticia Soto of Los Angeles check Las Vegas addresses to visit to encourage voters to support Hillary Clinton. (Sarah D. Wire / Los Angeles Times) Early Saturday morning, Yamilex Rustrian sat with her mother and other janitors assembled at long tables in the old mortuary that is home to the SEIU United Service Workers West. They ate ham, cheese and bean sandwiches as they waited for the final workers to get off the late shift. At least one came still dressed in her blue smock. The group of janitors and their children made a quick trip to Las Vegas over the weekend to knock on doors for Hillary Clinton, and got home Sunday just in time for the late shift. Each had their reasons to join the more than 150 union members who made the trip. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Federal prosector seeks 5 years for former California Sen. Ron Calderon in corruption case By Patrick McGreevy A federal prosecutor has recommended that former state Sen. Ron Calderon be sentenced to five years in prison as part of a federal corruption case that rocked the California state Capitol. Assistant U.S. Atty. Mack E. Jenkins wrote a blistering brief urging the federal judge to not show leniency to Calderon, who in June entered a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. Here, defendants trafficking in his legislative votes (for, by contrast, over $150,000 in benefits) caused a reverberation of negative effects throughout California and put a stain not just on his career, but on the reputation of the state legislature, Jenkins wrote ahead of Fridays sentencing date. The prosecutor noted that only one fellow politician wrote a letter of support for Calderon, a Montebello Democrat. In defendants plea agreement, he admitted to participating in two substantial and complex bribery schemes that entailed multiple forms of bribes, concealment and sophisticated money laundering, the prosecutor wrote. Here, defendant sold his vote not just to help pay for the expenses of living beyond his means, but for the more banal and predictable aims of corruption fancy luxuries, fancy parties and fancy people. An attorney for Calderon has asked the judge to sentence the former lawmaker to time already served in jail during his booking or home detention. Jenkins proposed that Calderon be sentenced to five years in custody, one year of supervised release, a $7,500 fine and 250 hours of community service. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A new Jay Z video says pot should be legal in California and calls the war on drugs an epic fail By Patrick McGreevy Rapper Jay Z has weighed in to support Proposition 64, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California, calling the war on drugs an epic fail, in a YouTube video, which also describes how the effort filled prisons with young African American and Latino men. Young men like me who hustle became the sole villain, Jay Z says as the video depicts the deterioration of a neighborhood drawn by artist Molly Crabapple. The one-minute video was produced by the group Drug Policy Action from a longer animated video that addressed the general issue of drug prohibition, said Jason Kinney, a spokesman for the campaign. The shortened video, titled The War on Drugs from Prohibition to Gold Rush, ends with a new, written message urging people to vote for Proposition 64, adding, We can stop the harm on Nov. 8. Jay Z agreed to have the video tailored to the Proposition 64 campaign, Kinney said. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who helped qualify the initiative, praised the rapper on Twitter, writing Thank you, Jay Z, for your strong voice for social justice & co-creating this new @Yeson64 video! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bay Area congressman Eric Swalwell got married over the weekend By Sarah D. Wire View Instagram post Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) and Brittany Watts, a sales director at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, got married on Friday. They were married at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland. Before being elected to Congress, Swalwell worked in the courthouse as a prosecutor with the Alameda County district attorneys office. Here is the couples wedding announcement. The congressman also posted an image of the couple cutting their wedding cake on Instagram. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles top elections officer talks about voter fraud and polling place intimidation in Reddit chat By John Myers The questions posed by Reddit users on Monday to the top elections officer in Los Angeles ranged from small problems over where to cast an early ballot to broader concerns about election security. Dean Logan, Los Angeles Countys registrar of voters, attempted to answer almost all of them during the hourlong online conversation. Asked about intimidation of voters at the polls, possibly inspired by criticisms over comments by GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, Logan said the question has been popping up a lot in his office. We, of course, encourage people to observe all elements of the process, but any disruption of voters or intimidation of voters is unacceptable, he wrote. Another Reddit user asked whether all ballots mailed or dropped off at a polling place are counted. Any valid and timely received vote by mail ballot will be counted and included in the certified election results, Logan wrote. I am always surprised by this question. Logan said that officials mailed some 1.8 million ballots last week to Los Angeles Countys permanent absentee voters, with one-time requests for ballots by mail being sent out this week. Asked by one Reddit user about a potential way to commit voter fraud with absentee ballots, Logan said it is important to note that the voter doing so would be signing an oath under penalty of perjury. He also agreed with one questioners concern that voter turnout was too low, and suggested that a new state laws significant expansion of voting by mail may help. I think the model of voting we use is somewhat outdated and unfamiliar to new voters, Logan said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kamala Harris and her husband made $1.17 million in 2015, according to report on their tax returns By Phil Willon Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris files to run for the U.S. Senate in February at the Los Angeles County Registrar with her husband, Douglas Emhoff. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) The 2015 tax returns filed by U.S. Senate candidate Kamala Harris and her husband, Los Angeles attorney Douglas Emhoff, show that the couple earned $1.17 million that year, according to reports. Harris tax returns, which were viewed and first reported by the Sacramento Bee, also showed that the California attorney general and her husband paid $450,000 in state and federal income taxes. Harris campaign spokesman Nathan Click said journalists are being allowed to view the tax returns by appointment only. Harris rival in the Senate race, Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez, provided her 2015 tax return to the Orange County Register and will not make those tax records available to other journalists until after that news organization publishes its story, said Sanchez campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino. Harris and Sanchez have net worths that likely run in the millions, according to federal and state financial disclosures. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum reopens and his daughter and grandson get a tour By Christine Mai-Duc Christopher Cox, grandson of Richard Nixon, talks to reporters during a tour of the newly renovated Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum reopened Saturday, after a 10-month renovation that sought to reframe the narrative of the 37th presidents life and legacy. The $15-million remake brings to a close a more than decade-long effort to bring greater legitimacy to a library that historian and Nixon scholar Stanley Kutler once called just another Southern California theme park whose reality level was slightly better than Disneyland. We wrote about the librarys new exhibits a couple of months ago, and the challenge of building an unflinching portrait of a complicated man. In attendance were Henry Kissinger, Nixons former secretary of State, former California Gov. Pete Wilson and Nixons daughter and grandson, Tricia Nixon Cox and Christopher Nixon Cox. Times photographer Mark Boster attende An overheating case is reported in the Chinese mainland in Spet. [File photo] China's civil aviation authority has issued a complete ban on carrying Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones on any Chinese aircraft on Wednesday, due to a potential fire hazard. China's Civil Aviation Administration is banning on carrying the phones in both the passenger cabin or aircraft hold, including checked baggage or as cargo. Airlines are also asked to warn passengers of the ban. Violations will face punishments based on laws and regulations. The ban follows a number of similar orders from authorities and airlines around the world surrounding the smartphone model. Authorities in the U.S., Canada and other Asian countries and airlines such as Singapore Airlines announced bans on the Note 7 after overheating and exploding battery cases were reported around the world. A decade ago, when the Pentagon was desperate for troops to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, the California National Guard enticed thousands of soldiers to enlist or re-enlist with bonuses of $15,000 or more. The Pentagon began demanding repayment when audits revealed that many of the soldiers even some who had been wounded in combat were ineligible for the bonuses or were given the money in a fraudulent scheme by corrupt recruiters. On Saturday, David S. Cloud, a reporter in the Washington bureau of the Los Angeles Times, broke the story. And on Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter ordered the Pentagon to suspend the repayment program. Advertisement Heres how the story came together. Answers have been edited for length. How did you learn that the Pentagon was asking soldiers to repay the reenlistment bonuses? David Cloud: A friend of former Army Sgt. Robert Richmond sent me an email and told me a little about [his situation]. Then I sent Robert an email, who said this was something I should look into. I found other people who were in the same situation and it just built from there. They told a similar story that they signed up, they took this money because it was offered to them and then a decade later, they were told they owed all this money back. People were ready to tell their story; it was not hard to get them to open up. Thats different from a lot of stories where you have to convince people to talk. People were ready to tell their story. David S. Cloud What struck you as the most powerful element of this story? Cloud: The most powerful part of this were examples of people going to war or getting wounded [and then being told to repay their bonuses]. Robert Richmond had already been in the Army for 20 years. According to him, the National Guard came to him and said, Sign up for six more years. He knew at the time that if he did that he would be going to Iraq. He spent the next year in combat and got wounded in a bomb attack. He comes home, gets out of the Guard eventually, and then gets this bill to repay his bonus. He was the first guy I talked to and in some ways, his story was the most powerful. Did you face any obstacles while trying to report? Cloud: In the scheme of things, it wasnt that hard of a story to report. Its one of these stories that often tend to be good, sitting there in public view. But nobody had ever written the story from the perspective of the soldiers who were shouldering the burden of paying that money back. That is one of the reasons its had such an effect, I think. You had the sense that it was affecting a lot of people. At what point did you know you had something? Cloud: I knew it was a story probably after the second interview. What I didnt know is how much outrage it would get. This was a case of people who were putting their lives on the line and having to repay the financial incentives to do that. Did you get any pushback? Cloud: The California National Guard initially, as I expected, tried to play down the story as old news. They dealt with the fact that there had been fraud and bonuses. They tried to dissuade me from doing the story. The other part of this, which has been very powerful, is the congressional part. In the last few days, members of Congress refused to confirm that they had learned about this two years ago. There was a fair amount of pushback and trying to evade responsibility. Were you surprised by the response? Cloud: I had no anticipation that five days [after the report was published], the Defense secretary would issue a statement saying this would be corrected. Ive gotten hundreds and hundreds of emails and tweets from across the political spectrum. Its been a little astonishing how that whole span of readers have seen something in the story thats outraged them. colleen.shalby@latimes.com | @cshalby david.cloud@latimes.com | @davidcloudLAT ALSO: Defense secretary orders Pentagon to stop collecting California National Guard bonus repayments Thousands of California soldiers forced to repay enlistment bonuses a decade after going to war Congress knew for at least two years about Pentagon efforts to take back bonuses from veterans The millions of votes already cast in the presidential election show promising signs for Hillary Clinton, with Democrats registering a strong performance in key states such as Florida and Colorado. But the early votes reveal bright spots for Donald Trump in the Midwest, potentially signaling a significant shift in the parties geographic bases that could linger past the election. At least 15 million people have cast a ballot in the general election, according to University of Florida political science professor Michael McDonald, who tracks early voting data. About 40% of votes will be cast before election day. Advertisement With such high volumes of votes at stake, campaign operatives and political analysts have been poring over the data with Talmudic intensity, looking for any hints on how to readjust their outreach or recalibrate their spin. As the data starts to come in, you can see: are we hitting in certain places, are we not hitting our numbers in other places, said Mark Stephenson, founder of Red Oak Strategic, an analytics firm that works with Republican clients. We can see where we may need to shift resources. Early voting has increased overall compared with 2012 levels, McDonald said. The jump is most apparent in states that have favored Clinton in recent polls, he added, citing Nevada, Maine and even Texas, where polls have been surprisingly tight and early voting is up nearly 50% from the same point four years ago. The actual tallies of how many votes have been cast for Trump or Clinton wont be made public until the polls close on election day. But the early returns offer insight into who is voting, creating a larger picture of turnout by party affiliation, demographics and geography. People obsess over early vote data in part because the returns offer the first sign this grueling election is drawing to a close, said Steve Schale, a Democratic strategist from Florida. Youve got to be a masochist to think, I want this to go on for another six months, said Schale. Its the first concrete thing weve had in a really long time to predict the final outcome. Early voting either through mail-in ballots or in person prior to election day has steadily grown in popularity in recent election cycles. Thirty-seven states now offer some form of early voting, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures; the remaining 13 require a reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Data geeks rely on historical context to draw conclusions from the patchwork of returns being released across the country. In Colorado, for example, Democrats so far lead by 29,835 ballots, a far bigger lead than in past cycles, causing David Flaherty of the Republican-aligned firm Magellan Strategies to predict the beginnings of a Democratic wave. Theyve never had a lead like that, said Flaherty, who is based in Colorado. The trend has always been that Republicans vote earlier. In Florida, where more than 2.4 million people have already cast a ballot, accounting for about a quarter of the likely vote, analysts are looking to geography for clues on where the state is heading. Schale, who helped fashion President Obamas wins there in 2008 and 2012, pointed to high early vote levels in Broward and Dade counties in South Florida, the heart of the states Democratic base. Strong turnout in these two counties, where [Clintons campaign] invested a lot of time and built a strong organization, is a good sign, Schale said. He also said Democrats should be encouraged by relatively tight margins between the two parties in conservative-leaning Duval County, which includes the city of Jacksonville. Previous GOP winners in the state, such as George W. Bush, ran up major advantages there. Duval is performing much closer to the 2008 and 2012 models than where Trump needs to be, Schale said. There is good news for Trump in the Midwest, where early vote returns in Ohio and Iowa appear to favor Republicans. In Ohio, where about half a million votes have been cast, turnout is down in key Democratic areas around Cleveland and Columbus. And in Iowa, early vote levels are down from 2012, bucking the overall national trend of increasing early turnout. The drop-off appears to be due to fewer Democrats, who tend to be early voters in the state, showing up. Republicans are in a much more advantageous position in terms of their deficit than in years past, said Stephenson, who ran Sen. Joni Ernsts analytics operation in 2014. Though Clinton is showing strength in previous Republican strongholds such as Arizona, the signs that Ohio and Iowa both blue states in 2008 and 2012 could flip to Republicans could point to a reshuffling of the political map, rather than an overwhelming Democratic wave. There could be a realignment happening of our politics. Appalachia and the Midwest may form the new base for the Republican Party, McDonald said. If that is true, our past history suggests that the parties are going to shift their policy stances to reflect their coalitions. Dips in turnout can be interpreted as a lack of enthusiasm for one candidate or another. But it may also be attributed to logistical barriers. In North Carolina, for example, turnout among black voters, a core Democratic constituency, was down compared with 2012 levels. But analysts attributed that to a limited number of in-person polling places open in key counties; in-person voting sites dramatically increased in the state on Thursday. There are some limitations to the clues that early vote returns can offer. Party affiliation does not necessarily represent how people actually voted, and the growing prevalence of Americans unaffiliated with a particular party adds another layer of complication. Donald Trump is not winning every Republican and Hillary Clinton is not winning every Democrat this cycle, Stephenson said. Just comparing these numbers one-to-one is not going to tell you where these candidates might stand. But for campaigns and outside analysts, early vote data coupled with other metrics such as polling can paint a fairly convincing picture of how this election will shake out. I look at poll averages as one indicator as to direction of election. The early vote is another indicator, McDonald said. When the two indicators are pointing in the same direction, it gives you more confidence about where the election is heading. melanie.mason@latimes.com Follow @melmason for the latest on national politics. Evan McMullin made Utah a presidential battleground. Next, hell try to transform conservative politics Till death do us part in life, but these married couples part ways at the ballot box No, there is no evidence that thousands of noncitizens are illegally voting and swinging elections UPDATES: 1:20 p.m.: This article was updated to include new nationwide early vote totals. This article was originally published at 11:55 a.m. Suburban, staunchly Republican Utah was an unlikely place for a packed, late-October presidential campaign rally, humming with the air of suspense of an up-for-grabs race. But in an election year defined by its improbability, this state has become a battleground, thanks to the candidate whom hundreds turned out to see last week in a high school gym: Evan McMullin, a little-known policy wonk turned political sensation who suddenly has a credible shot to win Utahs six electoral votes. Such a feat would make him the first candidate outside the two major parties to win a state in a presidential election since segregationist George Wallace in 1968. McMullin, though, is aiming for more than a spot in obscure political trivia. He has cast his campaign as the start of a new conservative movement, offering a glimpse of the post-election identity crisis that awaits the GOP. Advertisement Were skeptical the Republican Party can make the kind of changes it needs to make in order to be a viable political vehicle for the conservative movement, McMullin said in an interview. But if they cant, then well have this movement and we may have to start something else. The 40-year-old jumped into the race in August with a more modest goal of offering refuge for Republicans turned off by Donald Trump. We wanted a place for conservatives to say, I cast a vote in 2016 that I didnt feel I had to take a shower in bleach after, said Rick Wilson, a veteran GOP strategist who is advising the campaign. Most recently the chief policy wonk for House Republicans, McMullin also worked overseas on counterterrorism operations for the CIA and did a stint as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. A presidential bid was not the logical next step on his resume, he conceded. But after failing to persuade Republicans with more gravitas to challenge Trump, McMullin decided to run himself. Mindy Finn, a Republican digital strategist, joined the ticket as his running mate. The shoestring campaign raised half a million dollars in two months, relying mostly on social media and word of mouth to boost visibility. McMullin is on the ballot in 11 states and is registered as a valid write-in option in about 30 more. To actually win the White House, McMullin would need to pull off the implausible gambit of winning enough states to block either Trump or Hillary Clinton from reaching the 270 electoral votes needed to win. Under constitutional rules, that would then throw the choice to the House of Representatives. With Clinton comfortably leading Trump in most polls, McMullin is quick to acknowledge that scenario is deeply unlikely. His case now largely rests on encouraging voters to send a message, particularly to the Republican establishment. In Utah, where voters never fully warmed to either major-party candidate, the message resonates. Utah has backed the Republican candidate for president for more than half a century. But Trump has struggled to win over Mormons, who make up nearly 60% of the states voters. For a while, Gary Johnson, the Libertarian nominee, made a strong showing in the polls. Residents also openly pined for alternatives such as Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, who now lives in Utah, is Mormon and ran the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002. Cecil and Tiffany Sullivan have attended four rallies for Evan McMullin. (Melanie Mason / Los Angeles Times ) Utahns were genuinely searching, said Boyd Matheson, president of the Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank based in Salt Lake City. McMullin, a Mormon who was born in Provo and attended Brigham Young University, was primed to capitalize on that dissatisfaction. He surged in Utah polls after a leaked Access Hollywood tape from 2005 revealed Donald Trump speaking crudely about groping women. McMullin framed his campaign as an exploration of principles a discourse shared between friends and neighbors. Attendees at his rally in Draper described a sense of catharsis in backing McMullin. I was depressed, said Tiffany Sullivan, 36, about the presidential race. Her husband, Cecil, 39, said he planned to not vote. Now, the two educators from Murray, a small city in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley, are self-described McMullin hipsters, backing the candidate before he became a phenomenon. Theyve attended four McMullin rallies so far, with 1-year-old son Michael in tow. Some in the crowd expressed reservations that McMullin was still a relative unknown, or that a vote for him may hand Clinton a victory in the state. I wish it were as easy as saying Im just going to vote for my principles, said Cathy Cahoon, a 62-year-old domestic violence prevention educator. But its not about voting for Donald Trump; its voting for what he would put into place, such as conservative Supreme Court justices. But, Cahoon said, if it looked like Clinton were set to win the presidency in a landslide, shed cast her vote for McMullin. Pacing the stage with a wireless mic as though he was giving a TED Talk on good government, McMullin laid out a platform of entitlement reform, expansive free trade and other small-government positions that defined the GOP until Trump upended the party with his populist appeal. Recent surveys have McMullin tied or even leading in the state. He is performing particularly well with the 18- to 34-year-olds who make up around a third of Utahs electorate. McMullin has been making his pitch to the broader Mountain West, looking to states like Idaho and Wyoming as potential friendly territory. But Utah represents his best shot to notch electoral votes. Hes got some serious hometown advantage here, said Scott Riding of the polling firm Y2 Analytics. Polling indicates the race in Utah is, in Ridings words, a six-legged race among Trump, Clinton and McMullin. The two major parties have ramped up their presence in the state. GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence visited Salt Lake City on Wednesday, and his Democratic counterpart, Tim Kaine, wrote an op-ed in the Deseret News touting his own Catholic missionary work. Ultimately, McMullins candidacy may be less significant on Nov. 8 than what is to come after. His criticism is not limited to Trump or Clinton. One of his most popular riffs at the Draper rally was a skewering of members of the Republican establishment, whom he depicted as kowtowing to Trump for fear of losing a shot at a Cabinet post, or shrinking in the face of online harassment from Trump supporters. The campaign is being waged by people who have built their careers in the GOP. But McMullin and Finn are remarkably sanguine about breaking away. Ive burned some bridges, said Finn. But any bridges that I burned in this effort are ones that Need to be burned, McMullin chimed in, finishing her sentence. melanie.mason@latimes.com For national political news, follow @melmason on Twitter. ALSO Its not just women and minorities. Donald Trump has a Mormon problem and heres how it could cost him Utah Republicans are sour on Trump, and Libertarians sense opportunity Red vs. blue states: Check out our interactive Electoral College map Few California voters likely know much, if anything, about the state Board of Parole Hearings from the qualifications of the 12 commissioners to their success in opening the prison gates for only those who can safely return to the streets. And yet Gov. Jerry Browns sweeping overhaul of prison parole, Proposition 57, is squarely a question of whether those parole officials should be given additional latitude to offer early release to potentially thousands of prisoners over the next few years. I feel very strongly that this is the correct move, Brown told The Times in a recent interview. Im just saying, lets have a rational process. Advertisement Prosecutors, though, contend the governors proposal goes too far after several years of trimming down Californias prison population to only the most hardened criminals. They believe the parole board, whose members are gubernatorial appointees, already is swinging too far away from being tough on crime. They are recommending release of people we never would have expected would have occurred so soon, said Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey. Im concerned about people who really havent served a significant amount of time. In some ways, Proposition 57 is a proxy for a larger battle over prison sentences. There are sharp disagreements between Brown and many district attorneys over the legacy of Californias decadeslong push for new and longer mandatory sentences, a system in which flexibility is often limited to which crimes a prosecutor seeks to pursue in court. The warring sides have painted the Nov. 8 ballot measure in the starkest of terms, a choice for voters between redemption and real danger. Were dealing with deep belief systems, Brown said. Proposition 57 would make three significant changes to the states criminal justice framework. It would require a judges approval before most juvenile defendants could be tried in an adult court reversing a law approved by California voters in 2000. Critics believe prosecutors have wrongly moved too many juveniles into the adult legal system, missing chances for rehabilitation. Im just saying, lets have a rational process. Gov. Jerry Brown on Proposition 57, his effort to revamp and expand prison parole Whats most in dispute are two other Proposition 57 provisions, either of which could result in adult prisoners serving less time than their maximum sentences. Brown tacked those two provisions onto the juvenile justice measure in January. One would allow an expansion of good-behavior credits awarded by prison officials; the other gives new power to the state parole board to allow early release of prisoners whose primary sentences were not for violent crimes. Read our ballot box guide to Californias 17 propositions In an interview last week, the governor argued that his ballot measure would add a dose of deliberative thought to a process too often driven by elected district attorneys playing to the white-hot politics of sensational crimes. Do you want the hurly burly of candidates, running for office, being the decision makers in the face of horrible headlines? Brown asked. Or would you rather have a quiet parole board, not now but 10 years later, deciding whats right? The governors plan, which amends the state constitution, would only allow parole after a prisoners primary sentence had been served applying only to the months or years tacked on for additional crimes or enhancements. And like the current system, a governor could override any parole board decision to release a prisoner. Critics, though, think the parole board is already too eager to approve releases. Greg Totten, district attorney of Ventura County, said he believes parole board members are judged by how many prisoners they release. We dont have confidence that the parole board will consider our concerns about public safety or the crime victims concerns, Totten said. Those hearings have become much more adversarial than they originally were. Totten and other prosecutors warn that an influx of new requests for early release would overload parole board commissioners and send too many cases to their deputy commissioners, state civil servants whose decisions are made outside of public hearings. Prosecutors and Brown have sparred mightily over the assertion that Proposition 57 would only expand parole opportunities for nonviolent felons, a term used prominently in the ballot measures official title and summary. In truth, the description only means that new parole opportunities wouldnt apply to prisoners sentenced for one of 23 defined violent crimes in Californias penal code. That list includes crimes most voters would expect to see there, such as murder, sexual abuse of a child and kidnapping. But in many ways, the list is porous. Not all rape crimes, for example, are designated as violent. Prosecutors insist prisoners serving time for as many as 125 serious and dangerous crimes would be eligible for parole under Browns ballot measure. Not surprisingly, the campaign opposing Proposition 57 is replete with images of felons who prosecutors allege could be released if the measure becomes law. We dont have confidence that the parole board will consider our concerns about public safety or the crime victims concerns. Ventura County Dist. Atty. Greg Totten, who opposes Proposition 57 But the governor insists prosecutors alleging Proposition 57 is too lenient are partly to blame for the violent crime list being so narrow. The list, he points out, was augmented by the same juvenile punishment ballot measure in 2000 that was backed by district attorneys. They created the damn violent list, Brown said. If they thought some crimes should have been violent and not just serious, tack it on. But they didnt. Also in dispute is the impact of Proposition 57s new good-behavior credits for prisoners. The proposal would give the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation expanded power to hand out credits that can reduce sentences, potentially to prisoners convicted of violent offenses. Reduced sentences mean less time in prison. One new opponent to the ballot measure is Jaycee Dugard, the woman freed in 2009 after being held captive by a parolee and his wife for 18 years. Dugard, in a statement posted this week on Facebook, said she is horrified at the thought that one of her captors, Nancy Garrido, would ever be released from prison early. Garrido is serving a sentence of 36 years to life. A number of prominent law enforcement officers, including Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, also oppose Proposition 57. Some prosecutors believe good-behavior credits would be given out too liberally, while the governor insists he would instruct prison officials to carefully use best practices from other states. Brown, whose effort is supported by probation officers and leads in most every recent statewide public poll, suggests two overarching motivations. One is the specter of potential federal court-ordered prison releases, less likely now that massive prison overcrowding has abated after efforts to reduce penalties for less serious crimes and divert low-level offenders to county jails. Still, the governor insists that Proposition 57 is a more thoughtful way to reduce the prison population than what could some day be chosen by federal judges. The other, to hear him tell it, is an effort to undo some of what he did in the 1970s in pushing California toward more fixed, inflexible sentences for a variety of crimes. Brown said he now believes that many convicted felons are best judged not at the time of sentencing, but once they have had a chance to change their lives. It allows flexibility, the governor said. I think this case is irrefutable to anyone with an open mind. john.myers@latimes.com Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast What you need to know about the 17 propositions on the Nov. 8 ballot Gov. Brown signs laws to toughen punishment for rape in wake of Stanford case California voters are being asked to force some new transparency in the Legislature Track the latest in California politics Alex De Leon, an immigrant from Guatemala, was among more than 400 people naturalized Wednesday at a ceremony a few blocks from the Capitol building in Sacramento. After the program concluded, he walked outside and filled out his voter registration papers at a booth staffed by Republican Party volunteers near the entrance. The voter registration deadline for most Californians was Monday. But people like De Leon who become naturalized citizens after the deadline are allowed to register and vote until polls close on election day if they provide documentation proving their citizenship. De Leon, who has lived in the U.S. for nearly two decades, said he became a citizen so he could vote in the presidential election. Advertisement "[Im] becoming a citizen to make my voice count, said De Leon, 30, who runs his own photography and video business. Its very clear who is going to benefit the Latino people , the immigrants in this country so Im definitely voting for Hillary Clinton. Volunteers from the Democratic and Republican parties set up booths outside the ceremony to help the new citizens fill out voter registration forms and explain their parties platforms. To vote, people who have become citizens after the deadline must bring proof of citizenship and California residency to show to an official at a county elections office. As a precaution against voter fraud, theyre not allowed to vote at a neighborhood polling place, by mail or with an absentee ballot. Volunteers outside the naturalization ceremony explained to the new citizens the additional regulations they would have to follow, and handed out papers with the addresses of county election offices across the state. California has only allowed new citizens to register up until the election since 2012. Two previous governors vetoed earlier iterations of the policy, citing logistical concerns about allowing someone to register to vote on election day. The 2012 law allows people who become citizens by election day to vote regardless of the timing of their naturalization ceremony. The new citizens actually take advantage of it and dont take it for granted, said Mary Park, a Republican volunteer from Tracy. They actually want to vote and they know more sometimes than our [American-born] citizens. Sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter Thomas Macariola, who is originally from the Philippines and works at a home for the elderly, registered to vote outside the ceremony as well. He said he hadnt had a chance to look at all 17 propositions on the November ballot, but planned to vote no on Proposition 61, a measure to regulate prescription drug pricing, out of concern for how it might affect drug prices for veterans. He plans to support Proposition 64, the initiative to legalize recreational marijuana, because he thinks the state should benefit from increased tax revenue from the pot industry. The 24-year-old has also made up his mind about the presidential election. I care about voting for Hillary, because out of the two candidates she has a more clear plan on making this country great, said Macariola, who has lived in the U.S. for 10 years. Donald Trump seems to be really unclear on his plan. Outside the ceremony, many of the new citizens posed for pictures with life-size cutouts of Clinton, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama by the Democrats voter registration booth. Like many others who became citizens in Wednesdays ceremony, Maria de Lourdes, a 42-year-old who works in manufacturing, said she planned to vote for Clinton. She was among more than 100 new citizens from Mexico at the ceremony, the largest group from any one country. De Lourdes, who has lived in the United States for 12 years, said her husband and two children attended the ceremony to see her become a citizen. Im really excited for my kids, for my husband, for me, for my family and for everything, she said, beaming at her two children, 11 and 7. I just want all people to participate in this election. sophia.bollag@latimes.com Follow @sophiabollag on Twitter and sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter. ALSO There are more registered voters in California than the population of 46 states Are you an independent voter? You arent if you checked this box Updates from Sacramento Updates on California politics This years Laguna Beach City Council race features four candidates for two contested seats incumbents Steve Dicterow and Bob Whalen and challengers Judie Mancuso and former councilwoman Verna Rollinger. The winners of the Nov. 8 election will take on some important issues in the next four years, including planning and development downtown, relieving parking congestion and addressing safety concerns among pedestrians and bicyclists. Here are the candidates, listed in the order they appear on the ballot: Bob Whalen Age: 63 Professional occupation: Public finance attorney Education: Juris doctorate, UC Berkeley School of Law, 1978; bachelor of arts, Harvard College, 1975 Time lived in Laguna Beach: 32 years Bob Whalen (Don Leach / Daily Pilot) Previous public service: Laguna Beach City Council, 2012 to present; Laguna Beach Planning Commission, 2008-12; Laguna Beach Unified School District board, 1997 to 2006 Immediate family: Wife Kirsten, daughter Erika, sons Andrew and Elliot What are three things you hope to achieve if elected? 1. Underground utilities to reduce risk of catastrophic fires. 2. Reduce traffic congestion, promote pedestrian safety and protect neighborhoods by providing safe sidewalks on Coast Highway, more public parking in commercial areas and expanded public transit options. 3. Protect our beaches and water quality with increased marine safety services, beach patrols and improvements to control urban runoff. Steve Dicterow Age: 61 Professional occupation: Attorney Education: Juris doctorate, USC, 1979; bachelor of arts, State University of New York at Albany, 1976 Time lived in Laguna Beach: 33 years Steve Dicterow (Don Leach / Daily Pilot) Previous public service: Laguna Beach City Council, 2012 to present and 1994 to 2006; Festival of Arts board; Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce board Immediate family: Wife Catrina, daughter Taryn What are three things you hope to achieve if elected? 1. Reduce traffic and congestion by keeping tourist parking outside of town. 2. Increase police foot and bike patrols, particularly in the downtown and Main Beach and Heisler Park areas, so we all feel safe to walk in those areas anytime. 3. Increase the free trolley system, particularly in the residential areas, so our residents can get around town safely, efficiently and without having to use their cars. Verna Rollinger Age: 71 Professional occupation: Retired; former Laguna Beach city clerk Education: Certified municipal clerk; completed half of units required for a bachelors degree in business administration, University of San Francisco Time lived in Laguna Beach: 46 years Previous public service: Laguna Beach City Council, 2008-12; Friendship Shelter board; Laguna Greenbelt board Immediate family: Son Victor, daughter Jeanette What are three things you hope to achieve if elected? 1. Have the city put residents interests first. This will also benefit visitors. 2. Implement real traffic solutions, including reducing the number of car trips passing through Laguna. 3. Rely on the expertise of Laguna residents more than expensive consultants. Judie Mancuso Age: 53 Professional occupation: Founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation Education: Associate of applied science, data processing, Belleville Area College (now Southwestern Illinois College), 1984 Time lived in Laguna Beach: 21 years Previous public service: California Veterinary Medical Board, 2010 to present; Spay & Neuter Advisory Committee, city of Los Angeles, 2008-09; Animal Rescue Foundation of Dana Point Immediate family: Sister Mary Ann Mancuso What are three things you hope to achieve if elected? 1. Protect our local environment by supporting stronger laws and policies for a clean ocean, preservation of open space, protection of coastal ora and fauna and providing safe and sustainable water service. 2. Prioritize our quality of life by putting the interests of residents before those of tourism and other commercial development. 3. Maintain state-of-the-art public safety by working closely with our police ofcers and fireghters. bryce.alderton@latimes.com Twitter: @AldertonBryce File Photo taken on Oct. 18, 2016 shows Chinese mariner Guo Chuan sailing his trimaran under San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, the United States. Guo Chuan trying to sail on a solo trans-Pacific voyage was missing off Hawaii, his support team said on Wednesday. All attempts to contact the vessel had failed and a rescue organization in Honolulu has sent a searching aircraft, which found the mainsail in water, broken off Guo's trimaran, but didn't see the sailor on the deck.(Xinhua) BEIJING, Oct. 26 -- The support team for Chinese national Guo Chuan, who was on a solo trans-Pacific voyage, said on Wednesday that they have lost contact with the sailor for over 24 hours. Guo was last heard just after 15:00 Tuesday Beijing time when his trimaran sailed 900 nautical miles off the west of Hawaii, his team said. A search aircraft, sent from Honolulu, found the main sail in water, broken off the vessel, but didn't see Guo on the deck. All attempts to contact the sailor have failed, the team said. The plane hovered over the vessel for one hour before returning to the base for lack of fuel. The U.S. Navy has sent two search ships to the site of Guo's vessel, according to the team. Guo set sail on his trimaran near the U.S. city of San Francisco on Oct. 19, embarking on a solo voyage to the Chinese city of Shanghai. Guo, aiming to set a new solo non-stop trans-Pacific world record from San Francisco to Shanghai, piloted his trimaran, the "Qingdao China", west across the start line under San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge. His solo sailing is about 7,000 nautical miles in length and normally expected to be completed within 20 days. The current trans-Pacific speed record is 21 days, set by crews on board the Italian Maserati. Guo, who has set a world record for a 138-day solo non-stop circumnavigation, told a Xinhua reporter in an earlier interview that the greatest fear as a sailor was to fall in the water. "I fear being separated from the ship when I am sailing solo," he said. Guo recalled a brush with death in a 2011 trans-Atlantic race, saying he had survived a fall by grabbing a cable. "I was waist deep in the water. If hadn't grabbed the rope, I would had been thrown in the water. In that scenario, I would never catch up with the ship. My chance of survival would be none." It started like any other Sunday warm and peaceful on the U.S. naval base at Hawaiis Pearl Harbor seven decades ago. It ended as a day that would live in infamy. Six weeks shy of the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, 27 survivors from across Southern California were honored Wednesday in a ceremony attended by more than 100 guests at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach. Swords were drawn and pointed upward to form an arch for the 11 survivors who attended the lunch as they entered the clubs ballroom. Many wore garrison caps adorned with pins and letters stitched on the side to denote their status as Pearl Harbor survivors. Fifteen of the 27 who were honored many of them in their late 90s were not up to traveling to the lunch and did not attend. Another had died two weeks earlier, organizers said. A slideshow with photos and details about each of the veterans was presented during the event, presented by the Orange County Council of the Navy League of the United States, an organization dedicated to educating people about the Navy and supporting those who serve and their families. The model you set was the ability to show character and perseverance through adversity, Capt. Gregory Keithley, a retired Navy commodore, told the veterans in a speech during Wednesdays event. What you revealed that day was something greater than your own character. You revealed the character of America. For me, there was no greater benchmark than you and what you stood for. The survivors, whose ages range from 92 to 104, are part of a dwindling group who can recall in detail that morning 75 years ago, which forever altered their lives and launched America into World War II. Just after 8 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor. Bullets and bombs rained down on the warships moored in the water as the Navy tried to secure the harbor and save as many men as possible. In all, nearly 2,500 were killed and 1,000 wounded. Raymond Richmond of San Diego was one of several hundred sailors aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma during the attack. He described the scene in a letter shown during the ceremony as one that Dante himself couldnt have dreamed up. Who would think that it could be turned into a living hell in the span of a few seconds, he wrote. There is no feeling in the world that compares with the knowledge that guns are ready to thunder straight at you. Guests shared conversation with some of the survivors as they dined on butter lettuce salad with passion fruit and coconut-crusted chicken at large round tables adorned with white linen tablecloths and American flags. A band played Hawaiian tunes as a woman hula-danced at the front of the room. For us as young men, it was a big thing for us to go through, said Adam Romero of San Diego, who was aboard the destroyer tender USS Dobbin during the attack. We lost a lot of friends. Police arrested three people early Thursday in Costa Mesa after breaking up illegal street racing involving up to 30 cars, authorities said. Patrol officers saw the gathering near the intersection of Cadillac and Sunflower avenues at 12:21 a.m., Costa Mesa police Sgt. Dan Miles said. When police arrived, three cars were racing, Miles said. As police tried to pull over the racers, the cars sped away, he said. Police lost the racers but were able to pull over three other cars, Miles said. Lantaro Vidal, 18, of Irvine, Carlos Cervantes Sanchez, 19, of Santa Ana and an unidentified juvenile were arrested and cited, then released, police Lt. Joyce LaPointe said. Miles said the area near Sunflower and Cadillac is known as a prime location for street racing. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter: @benbrazilpilot La Canada resident and noted scholar Ronald C. White, author of the 2010 best-selling A. Lincoln: A Biography as well as two other biographies on the Great Emancipator, is well-versed in Civil War history. In his studies of the era, White had come to know the figure of Ulysses S. Grant a West Point graduate who served honorably in the Mexican War but was working as a clerk in his fathers Illinois leather goods store in 1861 when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter and his subsequent rise to become the symbol of Union victory in the Civil War. But of the man himself, White admits, he knew very little. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Ulysses S. Grant was obviously a part of my Lincoln biography. I knew what he did, White said in a recent interview. But after a year I came to a personal confession I didnt really know this man. And I dont think most Americans do, either. In his effort to better understand from the inside out the war hero whose later presidency would come to be associated with administrative scandals and a Civil War Reconstruction period fraught with uncertainty, White set out on what would be a seven-year scholarly expedition into the life and writings of Americas 18th president. The result of that deep dive, American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant, is a 650-page tome that aims to restore the Civil War general and two-term president to his former place of prominence in American scholarship and, perhaps more importantly, the American mindset. American Ulysses was released by Random House on Oct. 4 and is already enjoying popularity as its La Canada author travels as part of a national book tour, speaking at events from coast to coast. On Wednesday, White brings the discussion closer to home when he arrives at Vromans Bookstore in Pasadena for a 7 p.m. talk and book signing. After that, he is scheduled for a Nov. 10 appearance at San Marinos Huntington Library, where he has a research fellowship. White attributes much of the misunderstandings about his subject to revisionist history undertaken by postwar Lost Cause Southerners who aimed to advance a nostalgic view of the Confederacy and to tarnish Grant as a butcher of thousands. But in his years of research, which included several readings of the 33-volume The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant as well as untold trips to experience Civil War battle sites first hand, White began to come away with a different picture of the man called the Hero of Appomattox. I didnt know Grant the husband. I didnt know Grant the father of four children, who had a love affair with Mexico and learned Spanish ... who lost all his money in a Ponzi scheme on Wall Street and who, afflicted with throat cancer, set off to write his memoir so his wife, Julia, could have money after his death, White reflected. It was a thrilling experience to get to know this man. Joan Waugh, a history professor at UCLA and fellow Grant biographer who also works as a Huntington Library Fellow, said Whites American Ulysses does a remarkable job of looking at the past with an open mind. Ron had a huge task, Waugh said in an interview. Just because you write on Abraham Lincoln doesnt mean that youre prepared to write about a general who was responsible for huge campaigns. (But) he did a marvelous job. Every journey begins with a first step, and he took it. Vromans Bookstore is located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd., in Pasadena. For more information, visit ronaldcwhite.com. -- Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine The possibility of bringing more automatic license plate readers into the city took a step forward at the Public Safety Commission meeting on Monday night. After more than an hour of discussion on the agenda item, which included feedback from the public and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, the commission voted unanimously to bring to a future meeting an expert from LASDs Advanced Surveillance and Protection Plan to speak more about options and costs. Concerns raised during the meeting were privacy related, such as how the data gathered is stored in accordance to policy and procedures. Join the conversation on Facebook >> La Canada Flintridge currently has one mobile automatic license plate reader on a sheriffs patrol car, according to the city, and many agencies use units attached to a radio car while a deputy is driving on patrol. The units can read license plates of vehicles and notify patrol vehicles when a hit is generated on a vehicle that is stolen or associated with a crime. In addition, stored license plate numbers taken from suspicious vehicles at specific times can be accessed by law enforcement in the act of solving crimes. The City Council is expressing concern, said Peter Castro, division manager for the commission. People are coming in from outside the city and committing these burglaries. He said the automatic license plate readers were tools recommended to assist law enforcement in catching the lawbreakers. Compared to the mobile units on patrol cars, stationary automatic license plate readers use an optical character recognition that can take a photo of a vehicle and send it to a cloud-based server that is connected to a database of all registered motor vehicles, according to the staff report. The units are capable of taking 100 images per minute and can capture the image of a vehicle traveling more than 100 miles per hour. Castro added that each camera is only capable of monitoring one lane of travel, so multiple cameras would be needed at an intersection, for example. For the city, costs of the units would vary depending on the number of locations where the units could be placed, server storage and other variables. Castro said that the city of Rancho Palos Verdes recently installed stationary units, with that citys staff estimating each unit cost approximately $15,000, not including infrastructure variables and maintenance costs. Officials there reported its believed the cameras have reduced crime in the city. There are eight current LASD stations using automatic license plate readers, Castro said, noting that two stations addressed technical issues using the cameras. Privacy concerns come up here, such as government tracking individuals traveling throughout the city, Castro said. He added that the units only read characters on a license plate and store it on a secure server. Law enforcement can only access that information if needed to investigate a crime or if there is a hit on a plate. Castro added that the state has requirements about server security to protect information. Four options were presented from the commissions staff report: pursue more research on stationary units, pursue more research on other options, including adding a second patrol car with a mobile automatic license plate reader, discontinue researching the units or provide alternative direction to staff. Commissioner Chairperson Marilyn Smith had a motion on the floor to choose the option of researching the addition of a unit to a second patrol car when member Wes Seastrom suggested a cost-benefit analysis should be conducted with an expert on automatic license plate readers to determine whether the city could use a combination of mobile and stationary units. We have a lot of streets here, Seastrom said. The chances of getting a hit by a patrol car seems kind of hit or miss. Maybe we look at a combination of intersections or off-ramps at freeways to put in a stationary camera. The other commissioners ultimately voted to go with Seastroms suggestion. Resident Daniel McDonald attended the meeting with Cydney Motia. Together they are involved in one of La Canada Flintridges 20 current neighborhood watch groups, in a city of approximately 20,000 residents. During public comment, Motia, whos been captain of her watch for the last five years and said shes noticed positive results from their efforts, suggested the city promote the neighborhood watch groups more often. Im all for it, McDonald said during public comment, referring to the camera units. "[However] the [Oct. 20 Valley Sun] article stated it as a tool to prevent burglaries. If thats what its all about, its a waste of money. McDonald called the citys response reactive, and suggested other agencies will want to reciprocate in sharing information. He said vehicles entering the database from La Canada Flintridge will be far below the numbers in busier communities with more crime. While advocating for the mobile cameras, McDonald said there are other ideas the city can use to stem burglaries rather than tilting the citys current effort solely around automatic license plate readers. Earlier in the evening, Seastrom noted recent crime stats on residential burglaries are down in 2016 compared to 2015. A lot of times, these residential burglaries go in spurts, Seastrom said. In many times its the same group thats doing this. So if you catch them, it drops completely down until some other group comes up. Matt Sanderson is a contributing writer. I hoped the little Brownie Scouts from La Canada Troop 931 would comprehend the mysteries of the Medicine Wheel. I was impressed by their leaders, Maricela Hurtado and Danni Remender. They push the envelope and provide substantive experiences for their Brownies, who are in the second grade. I took precise steps as I prepared to teach the children the mystique of the medicine wheel, a ritual used by the Plains Indians to represent all knowledge of the universe. Rituals are safe havens for sacred ideas that exist at the center of human experience. They connect us to the metaphysical world and help us see the extraordinary in everyday life. I hoped to pass that on to Troop 931. After graduating from college and prior to shipping out to the Marines, I taught American literature on the Cheyenne reservation at Lame Deer, Mont. There, I lectured on Moby Dick while my students explained Native American mythology. Prior to the meeting with the girls, I gathered stones that I had collected on my adventures throughout the Rocky Mountains, prairie grass from eastern South Dakota and decayed leaves from lodge pole pine forests in northern Idaho. I also brought my collection of trade beads, some of which were from the 1700s. Russian blues, fancy Venetians, French crosses and blue padres would give the Scouts a unique opportunity to touch a part of American history. In 1492 Columbus brought trade beads to North America. Throughout the following three centuries, beads would become the principle method of barter among Native Americans. Since I wanted the little Scouts to have a tactile experience, I dumped the stones, grass, leaves and trade beads onto the Paradise Canyon kindergarten play yard. Victoria Kelly, Claire Hong, Anna Romer and Marlo OBrien arranged the stones in a circle and then formed a smaller circle within the larger circle. I gave Olivia Tanouye, Edie Remender, Carolina Marinovich and Cailyn Wu a compass to identify and mark the four great directions: north, south, east and west. Using smaller stones, Siena Gundersen, Alexa Talbert and Charlotte Willes formed diagonal and horizontal lines that connected the directions to each other and to the center circle. I explained that the circle represents the outer boundary of the Earth and defines the continuous pattern of life on Earth. The horizontal and vertical lines represent the sun and our journey throughout life. The inner circle where the lines meet indicates the center of the Earth, where one stands while meditating its mysteries. The four directions each have a specific color, a message, and an animal sign. Each rock and every point within the circle have a specific meaning. For example, the east direction on the medicine wheel is represented by the color yellow and its totem animal is the eagle. East is the direction for seeking illumination and clarity regarding ones life path. I told the Scouts that for 4,500 years, the medicine wheel has been foundational to Native American spirituality. Its teachings continue to provide harmony, connection and interaction with all animate and inanimate entities on earth. In my journal titled 1969 I found a quote by Anthon St. Maarten. I believe its the essence of the medicine wheel. You are a divine being. An all-powerful creator. You are a deity and within you dwells the infinite wisdom of the ages and the sacred creative force of all that is, will be and ever was. I tried to explain that to the little Brownies of Troop 931. Maybe one day theyll get it. -- JOE PUGLIA is a practicing counselor, a retired professor of education and a former officer in the Marines. Reach him at doctorjoe@ymail.com. Visit his website at doctorjoe.us. Over the last six years, an upstart Idaho company has transformed the theme park landscape with a string of exciting wood-steel hybrid roller coasters that have wowed ride enthusiasts around the globe. Rocky Mountain Construction has won numerous industry awards for doing once unimaginable things, like adding gravity-defying over-banked turns, corkscrews and loops to old wooden coasters and building new thrill machines that defy expectations and possibilities. Although Rocky Mountain builds new coasters, the company is renowned for reimagining old rides with new twists. These makeovers allow parks to promote a new attraction to thrill seekers while fixing a problematic ride and paying a respectful nod to a coasters storied history. Compared with building a new coaster, modifying an existing wooden structure saves money and time. Advertisement Seven of Rocky Mountains 11 coasters reside at Six Flags parks. None are at rival Cedar Fair, which operates an 11-park chain that includes Knotts Berry Farm, Cedar Point and Canadas Wonderland. Now it looks like Rocky Mountain is about to turn its attention to a number of aging Cedar Fair wooden coasters. Ohios Cedar Point has been dropping hints for months that a Rocky Mountain update to the 1991 Mean Streak coaster is in the works for next year. At the same time, Virginias Kings Dominion has begun teasing a similar upgrade to the 1994 Hurler. Cedar Fair officials declined to discuss either coaster project. Mean Streak and Hurler have reputations for being rough and painful rides a common wooden coaster ailment remedied by Rocky Mountains makeovers. But before we look ahead at whats next for Rocky Mountain, lets take a look back at the companys recent history of coaster makeovers and new ride installations. Rocky Mountain burst onto the scene in 2011 with a stunning update to the Texas Giant wooden coaster at Six Flags Over Texas. The coaster was originally built by Dinn Corp. in 1990. The $10-million rehabilitation added a 79-degree first drop and highly banked turns along with a million pounds of steel. The new track gave the bumpy ride the smoothness of a steel coaster and triggered a debate over just how to define this new breed of hybrid coasters. After the relaunch, the New Texas Giant picked up Amusement Todays Golden Ticket award for best new ride of 2011. Starting in 2013, Rocky Mountain began a four-year building campaign that saw the upstart ride-maker work on six more Six Flags coasters: Iron Rattler (Six Flags Fiesta Texas), Medusa (Six Flags Mexico), Goliath (Six Flags Great America), Wicked Cyclone (Six Flags New England), Twisted Colossus (Six Flags Magic Mountain) and Joker (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom). Throughout that period, Rocky Mountain worked on other projects at smaller parks like Missouris Silver Dollar City, Tennessees Dollywood, Swedens Kolmarden and Kentucky Kingdom. But noticeably, Rocky Mountain never worked on any coasters at any Cedar Fair parks. During an interview in 2015, Cedar Fair CEO Matt Ouimet told me he expected to revitalize or rejuvenate a number of wooden coasters in the amusement park chains portfolio over the next decade. The industry has developed some very good, solid players these days, Ouimet said. Rocky Mountain is a good example, GCI is a good example. Well probably work with all of them before were done. Which brings us to today and whats next for Rocky Mountain. As you might expect, company officials refuse to discuss whether they are working on hybrid makeovers of Mean Streak and Hurler. I cant comment on any projects that may or may not be happening in the future, Rocky Mountain spokesman Jake Kilcup said during a phone interview. Cedar Point bills itself as the roller coaster capital of the world. The parks loyal fan base has long lobbied for a Rocky Mountain makeover of Mean Streak, a notoriously rough ride built by Dinn Corp. that has long lived up to its name. A Meaner Streak version of the ride with RMC inversions has long been the source of speculation so much so that any talk of a Rocky Mountain Construction makeover of Mean Streak regularly meets with immediate skepticism. This time though, that outright suspicion has quickly transformed into guarded hope and now tantalizing possibility. In May, according to Screamscape, astute coaster fans spotted survey markers near Mean Streak spray-painted with a neon pink RMC. Then in August, Cedar Point announced that Mean Streak would be closing forever at the end of the summer season. In September, a last rites ceremony complete with a Mean Streak tombstone was performed at the park by a mysterious man going by the name of Richard Michael Crosby, another obvious nod to RMC. But instead of completely tearing down the old coaster, construction crews carefully disassembled portions of the ride while shoring up other sections with steel crossbeam supports. Soon a Rocky Mountain crane was spotted next to Mean Streak. Then sections of RMCs distinctive track showed up near the coaster station. On Twitter, Cedar Point spokesman Tony Clark humorously dismissed the track sightings. We are currently in the process of removing Mean Streak, Clark said via email. We dont have any additional news to share at this time. Stay tuned. At the same time, questions about a Rocky Mountain upgrade of Hurler began percolating when Kings Dominion decided not to open the 22-year-old wooden coaster for the 2016 summer season. The rides unusual name references the 1992 Paramount film Waynes World, whose characters often used the word hurl. The ride originally featured a queue that passed through Wayne and Garths basement hangout. In September, according to Screamscape, speculation was further stoked when the park concluded its announcement about new attractions for 2017 with a cryptic message: Theres really more coming. Coaster fans immediately seized on another RMC reference. That was followed by another tombstone and a rest in peace video for Hurler that concluded with for now and then 2018. We will make an official announcement about the future of the ride in the summer of 2017, said Kings Dominion spokeswoman Katelyn Sherwood via email. Six Flags added to the feverish speculation when it announced a slate of new attractions for 2017 that did not include a Rocky Mountain coaster for the first time in four years. We look forward to working with RMC in the future to create the next generation of groundbreaking coasters, Six Flags spokeswoman Sandra Daniels said via email. The wildly popular Rocky Mountain makeovers have not been without controversy. Ride enthusiasts basically fall into two camps when it comes to RMCs Frankenstein hybridization of wooden coasters: Preservationists who zealously strive to maintain the classic look and looser feel of vintage rides, and thrill seekers who constantly long for the newest, fastest and biggest rides. To address both camps, parks that have converted existing rides with the help of RMC have typically maintained at least one traditional wooden coaster in their ride lineup. Its a fair bet two Cedar Fair parks wont be getting the RMC treatment any time soon. Knotts in Buena Park spruced up the 1998 GhostRider wooden coaster this summer with a makeover by Pennsylvania-based Great Coasters International. Knotts entertained a bid from Rocky Mountain, park officials told me, but ultimately went with GCIs less expensive and more traditional approach. The family-oriented park did not want to be seen as trying to keep up with the thrill-focused Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, which gave its Colossus coaster a Rocky Mountain makeover in 2015. Ohios Kings Island has announced plans to add the Mystic Timbers wooden coaster in 2017, another Great Coasters International creation. Traversing wooded terrain, the 3,265-foot-long coaster concludes with an intriguing mystery: Whats in the shed? Themed as an abandoned lumber mill, the ride ends in a mystical vine-covered shed that is expected to feature a special effects finale. So what other Cedar Fair wooden coasters could be in line for a Rocky Mountain makeover? The next obvious coaster candidate for a renovation would be Hurler at Carowinds, located on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. The Carowinds coaster was built at the same time, by the same ride maker, with the same theme as the similar Kings Dominion ride. It also has the same reputation for rough rides. Screamscapes Lance Hart predicts the Carowinds Hurler could go under the Rocky Mountain knife in time to reopen for the 2019 or 2020 season. Cedar Fair has been lavishing a lot of attention on Carowinds over the last few seasons, in hopes of raising the parks profile in the region. Another park that has been getting a lot of love from Cedar Fair recently is Californias Great America. The Santa Clara park opened the Gold Striker wooden coaster in 2013, another GCI creation. But Great America is also home to the 1986 Grizzly wooden coaster, which would be a logical contender for a Rocky Mountain makeover. In fact, most Cedar Fair parks have an aging and rough-riding wooden coaster that could benefit from a Rocky Mountain renovation: 1981 Wild Beast at Canadas Wonderland, 1988 Wolverine Wildcat at Michigans Adventure, 1976 High Roller at Valleyfair and 1989 Timber Wolf at Worlds of Fun. Even Kings Island, which is preparing to open Mystic Timbers, has the notoriously rough and bumpy 1972 Racer thats crying out for some RMC love. That leaves only two Cedar Fair parks that have only one wooden coaster and no obvious candidate for a Rocky Mountain makeover: Dorney Park and Knotts. Dorneys 1924 Thunderhawk, a Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters classic that just got new trains, updated lighting and fresh paint this summer, doesnt seem like a good candidate for a RMC upgrade. And the only wooden coaster at Knotts is GhostRider. Which means both parks would be logical locations for new Rocky Mountain creations if the parks could find the space. Which park will get the next RMC thrill machine? Only time will tell if Cedar Fairs teaser campaign turns into an real-world series of Rocky Mountain updates for any of the 26 wooden coasters in its fleet. ALSO 32 best new theme park additions of 2016 8 unanswered questions about Disneylands Star Wars land Disneyland 2055: What the future may hold for the original Disney park Disneyland 1955: Walts Folly got off to a nightmare start 21 creepiest abandoned amusement parks The voice on the tape recording is squeaky and excitable, the speaker using such a strong dialect that it is difficult even for native Korean speakers to understand. What comes across is that the man speaking in a rapid clip is anxious about his own shortcomings, and his countrys. The speaker, in fact, is Kim Jong Il, the leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011. Tape recordings of him from the 1980s are featured in a new documentary, The Lovers and the Despot. Although Kim died in 2011 and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong Un, the tapes provide rare insight into the psyche of the North Korean regime, both its audaciousness and its insecurity. It is one of the strangest stories out of a strange country: In 1978, the South Korean film actress Choi Eun-hee was kidnapped during a business trip to Hong Kong and brought to Pyongyang on the orders of Kim Jong Il. When her former husband, Shin Sang-ok, a leading film director, went to look for her, he was captured as well. Reunited, they were coerced to make movies for Kim Jong Il, gradually earning his trust to the point that he allowed them to travel to Eastern Europe, then still part of the Soviet block, to shoot films and attend film festivals. In 1986, the pair escaped to the U.S. embassy in Vienna. Advertisement Shin feared rightfully that nobody would believe this outlandish story, so he and Choi secretly taped Kim Jong Il. With a microrecorder stashed in Chois purse, they captured Kim, who was then in charge of the film industry, pouring out his insecurities about how his country lagged behind capitalist rival South Korea. Why do all of our films have the same ideological plots? There is nothing new about them. ... We dont have any films that get into film festivals. In South Korea, they have better technology. They are like college students and we are just in nursery schools. In the tapes, Kim also confesses that he had ordered the couple to be kidnapped so that they could make movies for him. I asked my advisor, whos the best director in the south? He said that his name is Shin. Later, Kim apologized to Shin for the mistreatment he endured from the agents who kidnapped him, and for the fact that the couple were kept apart for four years. I didnt tell them about my plan to use you and collaborate with you. I just said bring them to me. During a trip to Budapest, Shin turned over some of his tape recordings to a Japanese film critic who was an old friend and instructed him to give them to family. Those tapes eventually made their way to a family friend who lived in New Jersey, who brought them to the State Department. At first, the U.S. government was skeptical that the voice on the tapes could be Kim Jong Ils. Although Kim was already known to be the heir apparent to North Korea and was a well-known figure, he was a famous recluse who seldom spoke in public, apparently disliking the sound of his own voice. Western intelligence didnt have a recording of his voice to which to compare. This was kind of a wild story. My boss questioned me about how credible this was, said David Straub, a North Korea expert, who as a junior officer on the Korea desk first received the tapes. Presumably, we had our Korean native speakers, psychological experts and linguists analyze the tapes, and the U.S. government presumably judged them to be credible. According to Straub, the U.S. government had advised embassies in Europe to keep an eye out for Shin and Choi, and so they were prepared when the pair eluded their minders on a trip to Vienna and grabbed a taxi for the U.S. embassy. After escaping, the couple gave numerous interviews to intelligence agencies and the media, and wrote books about their experiences. Their strange saga is also the subject of a well-received book, A Kim Jong-Il Production: The Extraordinary True Story of a Kidnapped Filmmaker, His Star Actress and a Young Dictators Rise to Power, by Paul Fischer, released last year. Much of what the world has learned about Kim Jong Ils personality came from Shin and Choi. Psychological profilers puzzled over Kim Jong Ils tendency to make self-deprecating remarks. Small as a midgets turd, arent I? he once said to Choi. Fancying himself a cineaste, Kim was more obsessed with Shin, his idol. In their recorded conversations, it sounds like it is the captive, not the dictator, who holds the power in the relationship. The man loves me and does everything he can for me so I cant possibly betray him, Shin whispered in another tape he made of himself speaking to his Japanese friend. Shin and Choi made 17 films in North Korea. After defecting to the United States, the couple, who had remarried in North Korea, settled in Los Angeles. Working under the pseudonym Simon Sheen, Shin worked as a director on the Three Ninjas films. He died in 2006 and Choi resettled in Seoul. British filmmakers Ross Adam and Robert Cannan stumbled on a gold mine when they secured Chois agreement to assist with their film projects. Although transcripts of some of the tapes had been published in Korean, Choi gave the filmmakers bags full of poorly labeled, jumbled audiotapes. She was like a grandmother bringing out some interesting photo albums. She is quite elderly now and her memory is getting hazy, said Adam in a telephone interview. The filmmakers believe she cooperated because many South Koreans doubted the kidnapping story, believing that Shin had arranged the defection to escape financial problems in South Korea. Listening to the tapes with a translator, the filmmakers were amazed to find that Kim Jong Il was as fixated with their profession as they were. Here is a man who is being groomed to be the leader of the country, said Cannan. It is just bizarre to hear him talking about the enemy and how they have to outdo each other by getting into film festivals. barbara.demick@latimes.com Twitter: @BarbaraDemick ALSO: At a North Korean nursery school, tots get an early education in weaponry North Koreans perform $975 million worth of forced labor each year Inside North Koreas Childrens Palace, a reporter finds children turning into robotic grown-ups Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday vehemently rejected claims that Moscow is tampering with the U.S. presidential election, and said it was utter nonsense that the Kremlin favors Republican Donald Trump. At the same time, he had kind words for Trump, saying he chose his method of getting through to voters hearts. Earlier this month, the White House accused the Kremlin of masterminding cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee and leaking stolen emails. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has called Trump a puppet of Putins. Advertisement The Kremlin has denied the accusations, and Putin called them a ploy to divert public attention from issues such as gun violence or the United States growing debt. Presidential hopefuls apparently have nothing to say, so its much simpler to distract people with presumed Russian hackers, spies and agents of influence and so on, he said in televised remarks at a gathering in the Black Sea city of Sochi. Does anybody seriously think that Russia can somehow influence the opinion of the American people? Is America some banana country? America is a great power, Putin said. In praising Trump, he said: He, of course, acts extravagantly, we all see that, but, I think, its not that meaningless. The Russian president was speaking at an annual forum of international foreign policy experts. Putin used the opportunity to sharply criticize the Obama administration over its military involvement in Syria, and to call for a new Marshall Plan to rebuild the Middle East. The colossal scope of destruction requires development of a long-term and comprehensive program, a Marshall Plan of sorts, to revive the region torn by wars and conflicts, Putin said. He was referring to the U.S. program of financial and technical support to rebuild Western Europe after World War II. Before its collapse in 1991, the Soviet Union showered Middle Eastern nations that sympathized with communist or socialist doctrine with aid projects that included construction of dams, export of technologies and a supply of Soviet-made weapons at discounted prices or free of charge. Under Putin, Russia has sought to reclaim its Soviet-era clout in the region. Its major allies are currently Syria and Iran, but Sunni Arab nations have been alienated by Moscows support for primarily Shiite countries. A cease-fire Washington and Moscow brokered in Syria collapsed in September, and the Pentagon suspended its military cooperation with Russia, accusing it of targeting civilians in besieged Aleppo. Putin claimed that the cease-fire fell apart because of Washingtons inability to distinguish between moderate opposition and radical jihadists, including Islamic States allies. Its a fact, Putin said resolutely. Rather than distinguishing between the healthy part of the opposition and radical groups such as the Nusra Front, our American partners ruined the truce, he said. Russia has decades-long ties to Syria, and Moscow saved President Bashar Assads government by starting massive airstrikes on his opponents last September and helping his troops regain some key areas, including the ancient city of Palmyra. Mirovalev is a special correspondent ALSO: Will Putin get his way in neighboring Georgia? Elections test how far Russia radiates its power Putin suspends deal with the U.S. on weapons-grade plutonium disposal Video of a dead city: This is what Syrias devastation looks like She has been called the Mona Lisa of Afghanistan, the emerald-eyed refugee girl who appeared on the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1985 in one of the most famous news photographs ever taken. On Wednesday, Sharbat Gula was jailed in Pakistan on charges of falsifying her identity papers. For the record: An earlier version of this report said Sharbat Gula is 47 years old. Gulas exact age is not known, but she was estimated to have been 12 when the iconic photo was taken in 1984, which would make her about 44 now. Gula, who is in her forties, appeared before a judge in the northwestern city of Peshawar after authorities arrested her for possessing a forged Pakistani national identity card. The judge ordered her held at Peshawars central prison pending a trial. Advertisement Hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan hold the Computerized National Identity Cards, but Pakistani officials have launched investigations into allegedly fraudulent documents as part of a drive to expel Afghans from the country. Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency said it was investigating allegedly fraudulent identity cards issued to Gula and two men identified on registration forms as her sons. The lady had obtained a Pakistani citizenship card in 2014 and also possessed an Afghan refugee identification card as well as an Afghan passport on which she had traveled to perform the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, said Shahid Ilyas, assistant director of the agency. If convicted, Gula faces up to 14 years in prison and a fine of $1,000. Gula has four children, including a 5-year-old son, whom authorities described as grief-stricken following their mothers arrest. Her husband, an Afghan baker, died about five years ago. Gula shot to fame when National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry captured her penetrating gaze, framed by a red shawl, in a refugee camp near Peshawar. Her age was unknown at the time the photo was taken because there were no records in the refugee camp, but she was thought to be 12 years old. Like millions of Afghans, her family had fled a raging civil war when McCurry found her at a makeshift girls school in the camp. I noticed this one little girl with these incredible eyes, and I instantly knew that this was really the only picture I wanted to take, McCurry told NPR last year. Her image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 edition of National Geographic and became the magazines all time best-selling cover. Gula remained anonymous for years after the photo was taken, until National Geographic found her in 2002. Her family granted her permission to meet McCurry, and Gula told the magazine that she recalled being angry with him for taking her picture because she had never been photographed before. Beginning with the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan has hosted 1.5 million Afghan refugees, along with another 1 million living in the country without documentation. But officials this year have cracked down on those suspected of living here illegally and increased pressure on refugees to return home despite continued violence in Afghanistan. The United Nations refugee agency said last week that 370,000 registered and undocumented Afghan refugees had returned from Pakistan in 2016. Some 52,000 crossed in one week this month, the most in a seven-day period since 2009. Human rights groups accuse Pakistani authorities of raiding or destroying Afghans homes, carrying out arbitrary arrests and harassing or extorting refugees to force them to leave. Special correspondent Ali reported from Peshawar and staff writer Bengali from Mumbai, India. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia MORE WORLD NEWS Islamic State is stunning its adversaries with the ferocity of its counterattacks Liberated civilians or militants in disguise? The challenge of freeing a village from Islamic State The worlds saddest polar bear is trapped in a tiny cage at a shopping mall in China Ziad Farhan and his family waited in line with dozens of other families Thursday, panel trucks packed with their belongings, headed for a village named Hurriya: Freedom. Iraqi forces claimed to have driven Islamic State fighters out of the area in recent days as they fight their way toward their primary target Mosul. Since last week, more than 3,000 residents who had fled the 2-year-old jihadi occupation have returned to their villages. But for those returning to Hurriya on Thursday, safety wasnt guaranteed. The incoming convoy passed at least one distraught man whose homecoming had turned into a nightmare when his son and nephew stumbled upon a mine and had to be rushed to a hospital. Iraqi soldiers at checkpoints warned of potential booby traps and Islamic State fighters lingering in the area. Advertisement But after three months of living in a tent with his family of four, Farhan decided it was time to make their way back to their village. More than half of Hurriyas 500 families fled, but have since returned. I think its safe, Farhan, 34, said from behind the wheel as the convoy began to inch through the first of several new military checkpoints. We are sure that it has been swept. Im sure there are not any mines or booby traps. If there are, we can inform the authorities. Zihad Farhan, right, with his mother Bisha Khalil, 60, returned to the village of Hurriya on Thursday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times ) Farhan was a police officer before Islamic State took over Hurriya in June of 2014, terrorizing villagers, painting graffiti on the walls of their houses and kidnapping their sons. He hoped to serve again once his neighbors return. Several made their way back down the dirt road behind him on Thursday. The sounds of their reunions filled the air: men kissing each others cheeks, children giggling and women weeping. Farhans younger sister Iman, 27, cried as she embraced him in their front courtyard. She had not seen him in three months. The family has no car, no way of visiting the camp where Farhan had been living. His sister lives next door with their parents and had been keeping an eye on his orange cinder block house. Bullets had pierced the front gate. Inside, he found some windows broken. But the familys flat-screen television was intact, as were framed Koranic verses on the wall. Farhan helped his wife unload their flowered bedding, cases of bread, sugar and other supplies. Then he left to deliver sacks of food to neighbors, sent by relatives back at the camp. Even as the offensive to retake the city of Mosul has allowed many in surrounding villages to return to their homes, the fighting has displaced others. So far, more than 10,500 people have been driven out since fighting began last week. A new emergency camp opened a week ago near Hurriya with 500 tents to house those displaced by the offensive. But by Thursday, 3,000 people had arrived. Families were tripling up in tents and the camp was already expanding, manager Hussein Zewar said. As many Iraqis return home, others are fleeing the fighting in villages surrounding Mosul. At an emergency camp near Hurriya, 3,000 people have arrived. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times ) Ahmed Hassan and his family ended up at the camp four days ago after fleeing their village south of Mosul. Asked when he plans to return, Hassan, 34, said that would depend on the Iraqi army and whether they succeed in their fight against the militants. We still dont know, he said as he stood outside the familys tent awaiting distribution of cooking oil and other scarce food. Homecomings were happening across the newly freed areas outside Mosul. In Baskhira, a sand-swept hamlet at the foot of Mount Zertik, villagers took the opportunity to come home briefly, scavenging the remnants of their homes for anything they could use back in their temporary residences in the city of Irbil, which so far has been secure from the fighting. Most had no intention of staying in Baskhira. If I come back here, what can I do? said Kamal Zinghana, a 54-year truck driver whose home had been occupied by militants. No water, no electricity. And theres no work here now. I have to support four families. Thats 20 people. Outside, a fire raged; the family was burning clothes they had left behind which had been worn by the jihadis and their families. The militants had cut holes through walls to avoid walking outside and being spotted. On the second floor, a crawlspace led to a balcony which they had apparently used to snipe at Kurdish troops. Well have to fix everything here ... but at least they didnt take the oven and the fridge, said Zinghanas wife, Samyah Fadhel. Back in Hurriya, Farhans wife, Roaa Hamdan, said they left the camp because they worried about the approaching winter. Most families told us they will return to their villages because of the conditions of the camp and because its going to be cold soon, she said, cradling her 9-month-old son outside their front door where relatives set out tea. In a month, life will come back here, insisted her mother-in-law, Bisha Khalil, 60. Neighbors had painted over graffiti on a wall across the street that said, Islamic Real Estate. But other painful reminders remained. Khalils 18-year-old son Ibrahim, a student, was kidnapped with several others by Islamic State three days before the Mosul offensive started Oct. 17, accused of raising an Iraqi flag over the familys house in defiance. He has not been heard from since. Some people they returned them to their families. But him, they said: You put an Iraqi flag on the house, Khalil said, crying. Childrens laughter sounded next door. Khalil perked up, pointing. Another family returned! Taxi driver Mohammed Abdu Azziz, 50, had also made his way home after three months, along with a dozen family members. All the neighbors were telling us it was safe, he said as he stood outside his front door. His wife Yazi Juma, 45, was skeptical. We have to educate the children about mines so they avoid them, she said. Azziz resented having to present identification at numerous checkpoints to reach the village where he was born. It didnt feel like the freedom he knew before. I dont know whats going to happen to me if I go outside, if the house is going to be booby-trapped or there will be mines in the streets, he said. I will feel safe when I can go wherever I want. This is my country. I am Iraqi. Special correspondent Nabih Bulos in Baskhira, Iraq, contributed to this report. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com @mollyhf People stand on line for the offerings of Hangzhou-based Gan Qi Shi's first overseas baozi shop, in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts in October, 2016. Tong Qihua, founder of the 200-store chain, is planning to expand "even to the West Coast", he said, "and we may franchise". The US chain adopted the English name of Tom's BaoBao. A fist-sized baozi costs about $3. The bamboo steamers were made of bamboo from the Yangtze River Delta region and the flour shipped from China. (Photo: China News Service/ Liao Pan) The government plans to make $12.5bn in infrastructure investments over the next five years, ranging from hospitals and eduction to railways The first artificial satellite at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico launched a camera on the top German- designed-V-2 ballistic missile and managed to snap the first photo of the Earth from space. On October 24, 1946, the rocket flew 65 miles just above the Karman line, the 35-millimeter motion picture camera snapped a frame every second and a half. Minutes later,with a speed of more than 340mph the whole thing came crashing back down and slammed into the ground. When the researchers first found the film, "They were ecstatic, they were jumping up and down like kids"as Fred Rulli, who was 19-year -old serviceman at that time told in a 2006 article. After the recovery, when they showed the grainy, black-and-white pictures of the Earth onto a screen "the scientists just went nuts", reported by PM The highest photo ever taken was from the Exploreer11 balloon in 1935, 13.7 miles up, just high enough to make out the curvature of the Earth. On the other hand, the V-2 photo clearly shows the planet despite the darkness of the space. This idea prompted the camera engineer Clyde Holliday to write an article on National Geographic Channel," How our earth would look to visitors from another planet". Between1946 to 1950 hundreds of photos were taken from the tops of V-2 rockets. From the perspective of outer space a complete picture of earth shaped for the first time, launching a new wave of the geological and meteorological study, reported by Mail Online. We have been captivated and inspired by photos of our home planet taken from space. The Pale Blue Dot image taken by Voyager 2 in 1990 by the request of famed astronomer Carl Sagan is one of the most profound visualizations of our home planet. From the final frontier, 70 more years of photographing is in there. WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- The U.S. government determined Wednesday it would maintain the existing anti-dumping duty (AD) orders on chlorinated isocyanurates from China and Spain. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) concluded in a ruling that revoking the current antidumping duty orders on chlorinated isocyanurates from the two countries would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. It has been the second "sunset review" since the United States issued AD orders on chlorinated isocyanurates from China and Spain in 2005. The AD margins on the products from China are from 75.78 percent to 285.63 percent and the AD rate on the products from Spain is 24.83 percent. A "sunset review" was conducted every five years after anti- dumping and countervailing duties were introduced. The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the U.S. Department of Commerce to revoke an anti-dumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the department and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies and of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against trade protectionism and work together with China and other members of the international community to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment. PARIS, Oct. 26 -- Local authorities in Aubervilliers, northern Paris suburbs, on Wednesday paid tribute to Zhang Chaolin, a Chinese textile designer who died after being attacked in August in the French city. The local authorities unveiled a memorial plaque on the incident's scene "to honor the memory of Zhang Shaolin, to honor women and men who are victims of racial prejudice," Aubervilliers city hall said in a press release. "The tragic attack had triggered emotion, sadness and indignation as a racist targeting is added to villainous motive," it added. Zhang Shaolin, 49, died in August after five days in a coma. He had been mugged in the northern Paris suburb of Aubervilliers by three men who stole his bag. His death prompted massive demonstrations of Chinese community to protest against insecurity and crimes targeting Chinese. Court exercises prudence in giving death penalty for graft Legal experts have praised the more prudent application of the death penalty for corrupt officials in China as achieving a balance between appropriate punishment and human rights, despite some public skepticism over sentences appearing too light for the worst offenders who tried to embezzle millions of yuan. Nearly 80 senior officials have been investigated and sentenced since 2012. However, none have been executed, according to media reports. In the last two weeks, three corrupt officials, who raked in record amounts of money, were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve. In the latest case, Yu Tieyi, a former deputy manager of the supply division of the Heilongjiang Longmay Mining Holding Group, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve last Friday for taking bribes worth 306.8 million yuan ($45.3 million), the highest amount so far dealt with in a corruption case in China, according to media reports. Death sentences with reprieves are commuted to life imprisonment with no chance of parole and penalty abatement when the probationary period expires, usually after two years. The criminal will be executed only if crimes are conducted again during the probationary period, according to the latest Criminal Law Amendment (CLA) that took effect in November 2015. Many people have expressed skepticism online over the reprieved death sentences handed out to senior officials convicted of corruption. Many said the sentence is too light for those who caused huge losses to the nation, especially after the Supreme People's Court (SPC) approved the death sentence on Jia Jinglong on October 18. Jia, a villager from North China's Hebei Province, shot and killed the village chief last February in revenge over the demolition of his house during the village's reconstruction campaign in 2013. Wasting tax "If the worst corrupt officials are not sentenced to death, people may believe that officials are shielding each other," Mo Shaoping, a law professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Mo added that people are dissatisfied with a life sentence, as they feel that the longer convicted criminals are behind bars, the more taxpayer money is wasted. Ruan Qilin, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, told The Beijing News that China had been strictly controlling and more prudently applying death penalties since the SPC took back the right to review death penalties from lower-level courts in 2007. Ruan said the death penalty as a deterrent to corruption should be kept on the statute books, as the public expects this. However, Hong Daode, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times that prudent application of the death penalty is aimed at safeguarding the right to life while maintaining fairness, which is in line with international practice. "Court sentences given to corrupt officials are based on a combination of the amount of embezzled money and the gravity of the crimes," Hong said. According to a clarification of applicable law for corruption and bribery cases, jointly issued by the SPC and the Supreme People's Procuratorate on April 18, the death penalty will be handed down in cases that involve exceptionally large amounts of money, where the crime is particularly severe, with an extremely bad social impact, or if it results in huge losses to the country and people. Corrupt officials who accept huge amounts of bribes - 3 million yuan or more - will be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison, life imprisonment or death along with a fine and property confiscation. In addition, the clarification by the SPC stipulates that the death penalty can be imposed with a two-year reprieve if suspects turn themselves in and assist in the authorities' inquiries, faithfully confess their crimes, repent sincerely, return illicit money, or help reduce or avoid the damage they have caused. 'Living dead' China will try to avoid death sentences in corruption cases unless deaths and great damage, either to society or national security, are involved, Hong said. Hong believes that life imprisonment is a worse deterrent than death, as it makes corrupt officials the "living dead." Li Yong, a law professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, told the Global Times that imposing a reprieved death sentence is a balance between punishment and human rights. "Strict punishment alone cannot curb corruption," Li said. Li noted that the root of corruption is power. He said that moves to simplify administrative procedures and delegate authority to lower levels as well as a strict supervision mechanism should also be instituted to curb corruption from the roots. China is the only country in the world that gives the death penalty for economic crimes. Caijing magazine reported in 2015 that 10 percent of 50 corrupt officials in China were sentenced to immediate execution in 2010, while 26 percent were sentenced to the death penalty with a reprieve and 14 percent to life imprisonment. Among the 80 senior officials arrested since the 18th National People's Congress in 2012, no one was sentenced to immediate execution and only one person, former general Gu Junshan, had been sentenced to death with a reprieve as of October 2015, according to The Beijing News. Lake Muhlenberg.jpeg Allentown emergency personnel rescued a dog early Thursday morning from Sparkle Island on Lake Muhlenberg. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo) UPDATE: What to do if you see Calvin, who 'is still out there' A missing Maltese mix was rescued before dawn Thursday by Allentown emergency personnel. But it wasn't, as first thought, Calvin, an 11-year-old Maltese whose owners had put up signs in the neighborhood seeking his return after a week on the lam, the city fire department reports. A Muhlenberg College security guard heard a dog barking in the vicinity of Muhlenberg Lake on the city's far west side, fire department Capt. John Christopher said. The guard called city police, who then called the fire department, Christopher said. Firefighters took a boat to overgrown Sparkle Island in the middle of the lake and eventually flushed out the dog. The animal then jumped into the water and swam to shore, ran under a car and was shaken up just before 6 a.m. but not badly hurt, Christopher said. A city police officer was able to collar the dog, Christopher said. Calvin's hopeful owners were at the lake, but sadly said it wasn't their dog, Christopher said. One of the responders arranged for the dog to be taken to veterinarian in the Quakertown area, Christopher said. The approximately 10-pound canine, who appeared to have been out in the elements for some time, had a microchip, which was scanned Thursday morning at the vet's office, Christopher said. The dog's owners were then contacted, Christopher said later. No rescue personnel were hurt during the brief operation, Christopher said. Editor's note: The above post was updated after the fire department determined the dog in question was not Calvin as originally believed. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The clock is ticking for Pennsylvania's House of Representatives to fix a law that sends million of dollars to casino host communities after it was struck down by the state's highest court. On Wednesday, the state Senate passed legislation to temporarily reinstate a different formula to create the same payments that generated about $140 million in the last fiscal year, according to the Associated Press. House Bill 1887 would only be in effect until May 1. But the bill's fate is uncertain in the House, which reconvened Thursday to hold a voting sessions to deal with unfinished business, the AP says. Bills that don't pass this week will die when the legislative session ends Nov. 30, barring an eleventh-hour decision by House or Senate leaders to schedule additional voting days. In a Sept. 30 decision, the Supreme Court gave lawmakers four months to replace a tax that it deemed unconstitutional. Senate officials say the bill passed Wednesday would give lawmakers the next seven months to work on a permanent solution, the AP reports. Losing the money could mean tough decisions for municipalities such as Bethlehem, host to Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. It has supported local government budgets, institutions and projects in Philadelphia and 11 counties. Slot machines are expected to bring in about $8.8 million in host fees for Bethlehem in 2016, which amounts to 12 percent of the city's budget or 100 police officers. The $1.1 million table games generates are not in jeopardy. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Bethlehem officials for the second time in a week sought Wednesday to address ongoing issues with unclear water flowing from pipes. "Know that the water is safe for consumption," Mayor Bob Donchez said in a news release. Daily testing of water chemistry shows the municipal water supply continues to meet or exceed Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection limits and guidelines for quality, the release goes on to say. "Many City of Bethlehem water customers, particularly on the north and west sides of the city and Hanover and Bethlehem townships, have been experiencing discolored or cloudy water intermittently over the past several days," Donchez states in the release. "We are taking this situation very seriously and we appreciate everyone's patience as we continue to investigate the problem and try to clear up the water system as quickly as possible. "Your water may have a brownish color which is indicative of sediment in the system, or it may have a yellowish hue which is indicative of a seasonal change in water chemistry which can occur in the fall. Neither condition is harmful to human health and safety." Ed Boscola, city director of water and sewer resources, had pointed to the change of seasons and sediment as reasons for the off-color water, during an interview Tuesday with lehighvalleylive.com. The city also posted an announcement on its website Oct. 19 seeking to reassure customers. Wednesday's release continues: "While the water is safe for consumption, we recommend that customers monitor their individual usage and, since the occurrence of discolored or cloudy water appears to be intermittent over the course of a day or several days, to use discretion when using water for routine chores such as washing clothes since the discolored water may stain clothing. "If you are experiencing discolored water we advise that you do not let your water run continuously. This will not clear up the water any faster and brings more sediment into your home's plumbing system from the water main in the street. "Rather, run your cold water faucets only for a few minutes at a time until it begins to clear up. Repeat this step every hour or so until the water runs clear. We recommend that you do not run your hot water while you are experiencing discolored water. This will only draw sediment into your hot water tank." The city advises anyone whose water does not clear up after a day, or who experiences an emergency involving the municipal water supply, to call water control at 610-865-7077. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Parolee ditches gun, suspected meth in Easton chase, police say Sharif Gray, 25, of the 300 block of South 10th Street in Easton, is taken by Easton Emergency Squad for treatment after his arrest March 1, 2016, during an investigation in the area of South 10th and Washington streets in the city. Gray suffered undisclosed medical complaints after being taken into custody, police said. (Tim Wynkoop | For lehighvalleylive.com) An Easton man arrested in March on drug and weapon charges in the city was indicted Wednesday on new federal charges in the incident. Sharif Gray, 25, of the 300 block of South 10th Street, allegedly had a loaded Bersa .380-caliber handgun and 30 grams of methamphetamine March 1. Easton police arrested him, and court records show he remained Wednesday in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $80,000 bail. Among the new charges is one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania says in a news release. Easton detectives saw Gray driving that afternoon late last winter in the city's West Ward and knew his license was suspended, police said at the time. He fled a traffic stop and tossed the semiautomatic handgun, which was stolen, along with the drugs and a cellphone before being taken into custody. Gray was barred from possessing a firearm following his arrest for shooting into a home at 1026 Ferry St. in Easton in April 2012. He was released in May 2014, only to be arrested again in December 2014 in Lehigh County for trespassing. The federal indictment returned Wednesday charges Gray with one count each of drug possession with intent to deliver and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon plus the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Gray faces a total maximum penalty of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of 10 years' imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence that is imposed. He also faces probation ranging for a minimum of four years up to a lifetime of probation, in addition to a $4.5 million fine and $300 special assessment. The new charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger and Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allentown Division; Northampton County District Attorney's Office and the Easton Police Department and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Lewis Fallenstein and Assistant United States Attorney Kishan Nair. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Julia Miles was the toughest person her husband ever met. The Easton Area High School Spanish teacher who died early Wednesday from a recurrence of cancer had twice before faced the disease and crushed it, Don Miles explained. "Julia was healthy nine days ago," Don said, a sense of sad amazement in his voice. Twelve years ago, while on a cruise of the British Isles with her sister, Susan, Julia noticed a two-inch lump on her breast, Don said. When she got home, it turned out to be a very fast-growing tumor that was "triple hormone negative" -- meaning gentler forms of treatment such as pills wouldn't work, he said. So she underwent a mastectomy, took a more severe form of chemotherapy that worked faster and got radiation treatment. "Julia's attitude was 'I want to nuke it.' She got rid of the cancer," Don said hours after she died about 4 a.m. Wednesday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Two years ago, after a car accident, she was in the hospital for observation and got an X-ray, which the doctor wanted to repeat every two months. "A spot showed up in January" of this year on her lung, her husband said. "It was the same cancer again. She had to have chemo again. Her hair fell out again," he said. "Even after 12 years, it seemed the chemo had gotten it." But in mid-September, not long after an X-ray showed a spot on her liver, she had pain and on Oct. 6 underwent a six-hour surgery at St. Luke's Hospital in Allentown to remove part of her colon, Don said. The doctor told the family it was one of the top five most difficult surgeries of her career, but that Julia was getting better, Don said. "Nine days ago, her colon was healing, and as far as we knew, cancer was not a problem," Don said. But doctors discovered cancer in her liver and she was admitted to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. "On Monday, the team came in and said the cancer caused her liver to no longer function," he said. "It was enlarged and pushing down on kidneys. They said there was nothing they could do. It was a matter of hours." More than a dozen Easton Area teachers made the trip to hospice care this week to say goodbye to Miles. It was a tribute that said as much about her as it did about the kindness of her colleagues, Don Miles said. "No person should go through what she went through," he said. "She's such a good person and so many people loved her." Besides her husband, she is survived by sons Michael, 37, and Stephen, 34, their wives, her two grandchildren, her sister Susan and brother Jay. Julia was born in Philadelphia, a daughter of Paul and Elizabeth Brontstein, and raised in Baltimore, Don said. The couple married in 1972. She majored in education at Beaver College, graduating in 1973, said Don, who is an attorney. When Don got his law degree in 1974 from Penn, they moved to the Lehigh Valley, with Julia doing paralegal work as Don clerked for Northampton County Judge Michael Franciosa in Easton. Her first teaching job was at Broughal Middle School in Bethlehem, Don said. The Miles' would make their home on Bethlehem's west side. She'd eventually join the Easton Area School District, where she worked for 17 years. When straight students formed the Gay-Straight Alliance at Easton to make sure gay students had support, no one enlisted to be the adviser, Don said. So Julia stepped up. She was active outside of work, always. She was an original board member of Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, which shelters abused women and their children. She also was very active in Congregation Keneseth Israel in Allentown and on the board there, too, her family said. When her son Stephen's Cub Scout leader could no longer lead, Julia took on that task as well. "They needed someone to help them out," Stephen said. "She was tough and could bear any kind of burden on her shoulders." An advocate for Democratic causes, Julia Miles was thrilled that Hillary Clinton might become the first female president, Stephen said. She had the first Hillary bumper sticker in the Lehigh Valley, Don added. "She was over the moon about the potential for having the first female president," Stephen said. "One of the joys of her life was she got to see Hillary at the conventions. She was quiet about it, (but) she strongly believed women could do anything." In the end, she had two worries, her family said. The first was that her grandsons Henry, 4, and Benjamin, 1, wouldn't remember her. The family promised that wouldn't happen, Don said. The second also provided evidence to the type of person she was, her family said. "She said 'I'm sorry for being a burden to you and Michael and Stephen,'" Don said. "She didn't complain as she faded away the last 48 hours." A private prayer service to include only six family members is being planned for later in the week in conjunction with Congregation Keneseth Israel. A memorial service will be announced later, likely to take place between the Nov. 8 election and Thanksgiving, her husband said. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Visiting Allentown on Wednesday, Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine cast Election Day as a pivotal point in the nation's identity. Kaine, the junior U.S. senator from Virginia, addressed a capacity crowd of about 200 in the J. Conrad and Hazel J. Seegers Union building at Muhlenberg College. "You have great fortune here, you guys at Muhlenberg and everybody in this room, you're participating in an election that is going to make history," Kaine said. "This is an election that as different as it is about the candidates it's also about America looking in the mirror and deciding who we are. "We can't afford to get this wrong." Wednesday marked Kaine's seventh visit, by his count, to Pennsylvania since becoming running mate to Hillary Clinton, a former first lady, senator and secretary of state. "Pennsylvania is key," Kaine stressed. "If we win Pennsylvania, Hillary will be president." Republicans seized on the attention Democrats are paying to the state as a sign of concern for the Clinton's ticket's chances. "Tim Kaine has been dispatched to Pennsylvania for the second time in less than a week, showing the Democrat ticket's concern over Mr. Trump's grassroots support here in the Keystone State," U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa., said in a statement. "Voters deserve to hear Tim Kaine say that he and his running mate will finally admit Obamacare has failed. "Premiums are rising by more than 30 percent in our state, and working families will be forced to find a way to pay for the increased costs of Obamacare. Unfortunately, we know Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine will only seek to double down on this failed law. That is why we must elect Donald Trump on Nov. 8." With the election 13 days away, Kaine stressed he and Clinton are taking nothing for granted in the battle against the Republican ticket of Trump, a celebrity entrepreneur, and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. "You can't take anything for granted because it's been a season of surprises," Kaine said. "There have been polls that have been wrong, there have been pundits that have been wrong. Most people didn't think the GOP would nominate Donald Trump. There's been a lot of surprises, and so you can't take anything for granted." Kaine touched on a number of campaign topics, beginning with the domestic economy. "The biggest issue is an economy that works for everybody and not just a few," he said. "This is going to be the big one of the first term." He said a Clinton administration would invest heavily in manufacturing, particularly clean energy; broaden the focus on skills and education, including trades; raise the minimum wage; and work to foster growth in small businesses like the plumbing shop that Kaine's father ran and Clinton's father's drapery business. "This is really the heart of the American employment sector," Kaine said, continuing: "Hillary and I say let's focus on the part of business that is most likely to grow jobs: Let's make it easier to start a business, finance a business, figure out how to pay taxes without a phalanx of attorneys and accountants, figure out how to afford health insurance for your employees and -- this is what we're going to do -- we're going to focus our energies on the small businesses just like our dads' small businesses, that you have them by the hundreds here in the Lehigh Valley." He also talked about college affordability, telling the Muhlenberg crowd the United States can make college debt-free. "It's not going to be free, you'll still have skin in the game, but we ought to be able to make it debt-free," Kaine said. "Second, if you family makes less than $125,000 a year, it ought to be tuition-free at an in-state tuition level." Wednesday's visit also sought to bolster Democrats down the ballot, as well. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., was among those to introduce Kaine, and ask voters to support Katie McGinty in her bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. Also speaking was state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, who faces a challenge from Republican candidate Ben Long, and Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania treasurer Joe Torsella, who faces Republican Otto Voit. Kaine described himself as undefeated, 8-0, in his runs for elected office, but noted that in competitive Virginia he barely wins. "I'm the underdog until I'm the winner," he said in a mantra of sorts as the campaign draws to a close. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. CLINTON TWP. -- The nurses at the Hunterdon Medical Center call Tanu Yadav Wonder Woman. Her husband, Santosh Yadav, said the couple's newborn son is a miracle baby. Tanu, of Washington Township in Warren County, gave birth to a baby boy on Tuesday morning in the backseat of the couple's car in the parking lot of Riley and Jake's Restaurant and Pub on Route 31. While racing to Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, where she planned to give birth, Tanu's contractions became unbearable and she told her husband to call 9-1-1. The couple was told to pull over at the nearest possible place, which was the parking of Riley and Jake's Restaurant and Pub. There, they were met by officers and members of the Clinton Rescue Squad at approximately 6:20 a.m. Her son, Ryan, was born at 6:37 a.m. Paramedics from Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township also responded. Ryan weighed in at five pounds, 15 ounces. "I told my husband we're not going to make it to the hospital," said a smiling Tanu Wednesday morning from her bed at Hunterdon Medical Center. "He called 9-1-1 and we were told to pull over at the nearest place. As we were in the parking lot, I had started to undress and then the paramedics ask that I dress so they could place me in the ambulance. "As I was getting dressed, my water suddenly broke. It was a breech pregnancy. I suddenly felt my baby's legs coming out. My daughter's car seat was in the back seat and everyone started to panic a bit in an effort to remove the car seat. The baby's nose came out and then he got stuck. "At that time, the paramedics breathe a sigh of relief because they saw the baby could breath. I was told to `push, push, push.' Paramedics used a suction to try to get the baby. Finally, on my third push, the baby came out." The drama began to unfold at approximately 5:45 a.m. It was then that Tanu, who couldn't sleep, started having contractions, she said. The couple was roughly seven miles into their 45-minute drive to Saint Barnabas Medical Center on a chilly morning when their newborn decided it was time to come into the world. Tanu said the incident was a blessing in disguise because she didn't want to have a caesarean section, which is done with many breech babies. It requires surgery and a lengthy recovery. "God planned something like this," she said. "My prayers were answered." Fortunately, Santosh was home. He had taken off Friday and Monday and had planned to return to his job in New York City Tuesday on morning. He usually leaves their home at 6 a.m. Three months earlier, Santosh had turned in his leased Honda Accord for a 2016 Nissan Rogue, which had much more room to accommodate their newborn and 3-year-old daughter. He's thinking of buying the Nissan now. "These folks are angels," said Santosh. "We want to personally meet them again and thank them. They showed up within a minute and a half of our 9-1-1 call. They did an amazing job. My wife had no needle, no medication. My son is truly a miracle baby." PHILADELPHIA -- A judge has ordered a $265 million settlement in a deadly Amtrak train crash last year. U.S. District Court Judge Legrome D. Davis issued his order Thursday morning, according to the attorneys representing those killed and injured in the May 2015 crash. Eight people died and more than 200 were hurt in the accident. The Amtrak train from Washington, D.C. to New York City derailed in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. The court had established a plaintiff's management committee to handle the claims from the accident. "This outcome is historic, not only because of the result, but because of the relatively short period of time -- from inception of litigation to reaching this agreement -- and actual compensation to the victims," said attorney Robert L. Mongeluzzi with the firm of Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bedesky of the plantiff's management committee established by the court for this case. "While no amount of compensation can replace the loss of human life, or heal the injured, it is immensely significant that the legal aspect of an incident of this magnitude will be resolved in a fraction of the time it could have taken. Our clients have been very clear in their desire for not only a just, but a speedy resolution." Amtrak has agreed to the settlement, the attorneys involved for the victims say. "Amtrak appreciates the guidance and involvement of the court in this matter. Because of the ongoing nature of the litigation Amtrak will have no further comment at this time," said Amtrak Spokesman Craig Schulz. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that the train was traveling at more than 100 mph in an area where the speed limit is 50 mph. The train -- Amtrak Train 188 -- was headed around a sharp curve when it derailed. All $265 million in claims will likely be paid out by next summer, attorneys involved in the case said. Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The 2016 US presidential election, a choice between two undesirable candidates, has now devolved into a confrontation between supporters of the current political status quo and dissidents, as well as a reality show-like race challenging the culture of political correctness and the limits of social morality. The chaos of the election also unearthed the malpractices of the US political system. The chaos that has ensued from this race, first of all, has revealed the drawbacks to the Republican Partys presidential primary elections. In the Democratic Party primaries, besides ordinary pledged delegates, there are unpledged delegates who are appointed by the Party independently of the primaries' electoral process. These elite unpledged delegates, or superdelegates, are usually made up ofmembers of the two houses of Congress, as well as federal and state government officials. The Democratic Party included this process with the aim to prevent the selection of extreme nominees who make it more difficult to attract middle-of-the-road voters in their fight against the Republican Party. However,the Republican does not have such a mechanism. As a result, the nations increasingly severe political polarization and dissatisfaction among US citizens towards the current political status quowas able to lead to the emergence of extreme nomineessuch as Donald Trump. Though core Republicans understood that Trump was not a good choice, and some of them even suggested a substitution, the Republican Party had to accept him as the final nominee to the lack of an effective mechanism to replace him. The presidential primary process adopted by the Republican Party ignores the importance of counterbalance, and so was finally kidnapped by this so-called intra-party democracy. Trump has taught the party a valuable lesson this time. Election chaos has also exposed the flaws of the US two-party system. ThoughUncle Sam labels itself as a multi-party country, it is actually running a two-party system that benefits Democrats and Republicans while marginalizing other political powers. Though a two-party system is more stable, it bears the risks of political confrontation and polarization. In addition, under such a system, political powers outside the two parties are barely able to play a role when it comes to improving the political environment. When the political environment in such a system is favorable, the two parties are able to compete in a fair and healthy way through compromise for the sake of the overall national interest and there ensuring that the entire political system continues to function. But if the environment is not ideal, the two parties may push past boundaries, causing competition to become direct confrontation. Whats worse, the whole political ecosystem will end up deteriorating as the country cannot look to a third-party for further reform. The fierce confrontation seen during the 2016 election can be seen as an extension of the political polarization that has arisen in the US in recent years. Whats worse, no one can do anything to change this situation even though many are not satisfied with either candidate. This is because other candidates, either Gary Johnson from the Libertarian Party or Jill Stein from the Green Party, are not someone they can bet on. In the end though, US citizens should put more blame on the two-party system rather than these undesirable candidates. The chaos of this election has also revealed the defects inthe US electoral process itself. For a long time now, the US presidential election has been criticized for the influence of money in politics. In todays presidential election, thehuge amount of cash has been spent to advertise, campaign, and win votes, and as a result, cash usually ends up equaling votes, leadingwhat is supposed to be a democratic political system to become a monetary political system. In such a system, candidates have to raise capital and then reward their investors after winning an election. This violates the basic principles of democracy. The US Supreme Court removed limits on corporate donations to campaigns in 2010, leading to $2 billion being spent in the 2012 elections - the most expensive presidential race ever. It is estimated that more money will be spent on this years' election, which suggests that money is gaining even bigger influence in politics. Congressional electionsare not doing well either. The redistricting of congressional districts in 2011 carried out by the Republican-controlled congress enabled both parties to monopolize certain congressional districts, making it so supporters of other parties and independents could not elect representatives. To put it simply, the democratic rights of a certain portion of the public were sacrificed. Whats more, this gerrymanderedcongressional district system will give moreextremist lawmakers from the two dominant parties more opportunities to be elected. These members, once elected, will further intensify party confrontation and political polarization. (The author is a professor and director of the Center for American Studies at FudanUniversity) The impact of a county without a hospital was laid bare to Laois councillors yesterday by local doctors, who are certain that a downgrade is on the cards. The Dublin Midland Hospital plan is to downgrade Portlaoise from a 3 to a 2. This would mean they would close the Intensive Care Unit, the Paediatric unit, the coronary care, and replace the A&E unit with a local injury unit and a medical assessment unit, said Dr Sean Fleming, a cardiologist in Portlaoise hospital. Dr Fleming and GP colleagues, Dr Michelle Byrne and Dr Gerry White gave a presentation at the October council meeting of Laois County Council to seek support. There is no other case of a hospital like Portlaoise, the third busiest in the region, being downgraded without a grade 4 hospital nearby taking up the slack they said. There is no experience in the country of how this might work out. Here in Portlaoise, people will be moved to Tullamore, Naas or Kilikenny, which have the same problems, he said. Be careful about this term 'small hospital'. Last year Portlaoise had 39,000 A&E presentations, compared to 32,000 in Tullamore, and 45, 000 in Tallaght with a much bigger population. Even if you think that rationalisation is a good idea, Portlaoise would not be the natural first choice, Dr Fleming said. Portlaoise is underfunded he explained. Tullamore gets 84 million a year, Naas gets 56m and Portlaoise gets 51.7m. The very busy A&E doesn't match the funding, he said. On average, 12 people were left overnight on A&E trolleys in Portlaoise this year. There is nowhere else for people to go. The wait time for an ambulance in the midlands is particularly bad, the target was met in only 6 to 10 percent of cases, he said. HIQA says Portlaoise is underresourced, but if the demand is there, services shouldn't be withdrawn. The HIQA standard is to offer services 'defined by users needs and preferences', he said. He is one of 69 GPs and consultants from Laois who have drawn up their own plan, after repeated requests for details on an assessment of Portlaoise, written by Dublin Midlands Hospital Group,went unheard. As local doctors, we have been kept apart. There is a great degree of secrecy. It is perfectly reasonable that the community is involved. We know that what is being suggested is a bad idea. But with investment, and support from other hospitals, we can provide safe and effective care, Dr Fleming said. The estimated cost of completing the ring road system around Naas is at least 10m. The final piece of the road will connect the Dublin Road to the Blessington Road though the precise route has not been identified. Kildare County Council official Niall Morrissey completion of the road is top priority adding weve been trying to come up with funding for the last 12 months (through a combination of levies and State funding). Mr Morrissey told a Naas Municipal District meeting that KCC is committed to appointing a consultant to firm up the route of the road. He admitted that KCC does not have clear sight of where the money will come from but 10m to 10.5m will be needed. It has to be done and as soon as possible. The Department of Transport acknowledge that this is one of the higher priorities, he said adding that all possible sources of finance are being examined. Mr Morrissey also said that the funding sources should be known before the end of this year. He also said that said the possibility of imposing a special levy on house planning applications (the new road will facilitate the construction of 1,000 accommodation units) has been considered. However KCC was advised against this because such a measure would have been successfully appealed. This means that KCC can only rely on the normal development levies as a way of raising money to go towards the road. Some of the Naas councillors are unhappy with one of the routes proposed. Cllr Seamie Moore said traffic diverted to the ring road must be kept as far away from the town as possible. Cllr Fintan Brett said the traffic leaving the Dublin side of Naas should exit at the Big Ball rather than closer to Naas Racecourse. The completed ring road system would alleviate congestion in Naas and on roads around Kill and Johnstown which are used by motorists seeking to avoid congestion as they approach Naas from the Dublin direction. Chinese sailor Guo Chuan lost contact with land while sailing in waters off the islands of Hawaii. The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles said on Oct. 26 (local time) that the consulate has been in close contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, rescue teams and Guos own support team, urging for a thorough search and rescue operation to be carried out. According to the consulate general, the rescue is being co-organized by the Chinese Department of Maritime Affairs and the U.S. Coast Guard. Search planes have found Guo's vessel, but Guo was not on board. The consulate general has promised to spare no effort in search and rescue, and to offer all the latest updates. Guo set sail on his trimaran near San Francisco, on the west coast of the U.S., embarking on a solo trans-Pacific voyage to Shanghai. He was last heard from just after 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 25 (Beijing time). Guo has been praised as the first professional sailor in China. He has won multiple international sailing awards. Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim, and Assistant Whip to the Fine Gael Party, Tony Mc Loughlin, has welcomed the introduction of his anti-fracking legislation in Dail Eireann this week. After many years of hard work and engagement with local stakeholders, I am delighted to present my anti-fracking legislation in the Dail this week. I have been extremely concerned for a very long time about the damage and harm that fracking could cause in Ireland, and my Dail Private Members Bill aims to prevent this. The Bill entitled, The Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016, has been accepted by Government, which is very welcome. It provides for a clear and unequivocal position in relation to the exploration and extraction of petroleum from shale rock, tight sands and coal seams on the Irish onshore and also in our internal waters. This Bill does not seek to simply ban the technology associated with fracking, rather it seeks to ban the act of taking oil and gas out of the ground, where usually fracking would be needed. I am hopeful that with cross party support for my Bill, it will pass through Second Stage in the Dail this evening. It will then progress to the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Environment for further scrutiny. Time to make history say Love Leitrim as an important bill to prohibit fracking in Ireland will be brought to the Dail by Sligo-Leitrim TD Tony McLoughlin today, Thursday 27th. Deputy McLoughlin said the bill will not be discussed until after 6pm today. The threat of a local fracking industry has been looming over counties Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh since 2011 and huge significance has been placed on this private members' bill which will be debated in Dail Eireann on Thursday, in the second stage of the legislative process. Deputy Tony McLoughlin said he believes the bill will attract cross party support. Sinn Fein Leitrim TD Martin Kenny has pledged his partys support, Fianna Fail have indicated support and a spokesperson for Energy Minister Denis Naughten said the Government was supporting the bill. Last weekend saw a flurry of activity and high profile support for the prohibition of hydraulic fracturing in Ireland. Bianca Jagger and Glen Hansard supported a Twitter storm that trended nationally. A flotilla of canoeists, stand-up paddlers and anglers also took to the water on Lough MacNean to support the 'Back The Bill' campaign. Anyone with a presence on social media cannot miss the flood of posts, comments and shares of support for the ban. Eddie Mitchell of Love Leitrim told the paper, This is our time to make history. This is what weve been aiming for, a ban in fracking. He said, We have an opportunity to forge a terrific legacy for the country together! The bill comes this week after an independent report found fracking has a significant potential to contaminate Irish waters. 'Have Yis No Homes to Go To' comes to The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon on Wednesday, November 2 for one night only. It is the true story of one eejit drummers deep misgivings and unlikely redemption on a trip to Rwanda with Clowns Without Borders. The drummer in question is Brian Fleming who found himself transported from Kinvarra in Galway to a packed refugee camp in Rwanda on a trip with Clowns Without Borders. Brian put that experience into a stage play that has seen him under the direction of Rayond Keane play to packed houses in Dublin, Cork and New York and receive a Trocaire 'Mobilising for Justice' award in 2012 and a nomination for a best writing award at New York Innovative Theatre Awards in 2016. If you can begin to picture three and a half Irish clowns facing 1,500 refugees in a camp in Rwanda you will begin to get a sense of what this excellent production has to offer. In Kinvar-wandan, Swahili, French and English, the words on everyones lips were What the hell are they doing here? and 'Why did you bring a drummer to Africa?' This very funny and thought provoking show comes to The Dock for one night only and tickets are available now on 0719650828 or at www.thedock.ie Migratory birds are seen in Chifeng city's Dalinur Lake, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Millions of swans, geese and a variety of migratory birds travel long distances from Lake Baikal to Dalinur Lake in fall each year. When temperatures drop low enough to freeze Dalinur Lake, the birds then fly to Poyang Lake in Jiangxi province to spend the winter. Dalinur Nature Reserve is one of the most important wetlands and sanctuaries for migratory birds in Asia. [Photo by Qi Guangyou/China Daily] Zac Goldsmiths bid to become London mayor was memorably described as a dog whistle campaign in a city with no dogs. And few places in the capital demonstrate that better than Richmond Park itself. As the local MP you would have thought his personal vote would make it a walkover. First preference mayoral votes, a good indicator of popularity, in Richmond Park shows that Boris Johnson won his second term in 2012 by a greater share in all but one of the constituencys eleven wards compared to Zac in 2016. The differences by ward are Coombe Vale (-3), South Richmond, North Richmond, Mortlake & Barnes (all -4), Ham & Petersham, East Sheen, Kew, Barnes (all -5), Canbury (-6), Coombe Hill (-8), and on the plus side for Zac, Tudor ward (+0.04). As an incumbent running for re-election Boris would have benefited from greater recognition but also hampered by voters who disagree with actions in office. In Richmond Goldsmith had all the benefits of name and face recognition in his own patch but none of the drag caused by unpopular decisions. The mayor contest wasnt a referendum on the government, so why did Zac lag behind 2012 Boris in his own backyard? The only reason I can see is that Conservative voters in Richmond were turned off by the negative campaign against Sadiq Khan. The Lynton Crosby-inspired London Tory campaign repelled ethnic minorities and white voters alike. Even Goldsmiths ridiculous Hindu Gold leaflets targeted at wealthy Indians, suggesting Khan wanted to tax inheritance jewellery, fell flat for the hapless Zac. The chances are the memory of the mayoral campaign is still fresh in the minds of disappointed Richmond Park voters. Equally in this post-Brexit era Goldsmiths anti-Europe stance will jar even more with constituents in one of the most pro-EU areas in Britain. And with the likelihood that all by-election candidates will oppose the third runway, this contest is shaping up not so much as a referendum on Heathrow as a referendum on Zac Goldsmith. * Lester Holloway is a former councillor and member of the Equalities Policy Working Group, and a member of the Race Equality Taskforce The Liberal Democrats are committed to better representing the communities they seek to serve and have voted through a raft of measures, including the Diversity Quotas and Electing Diverse MPs motions passed by members at Federal Conference in York and Brighton this year. As part of the partys ongoing commitment to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society; an independent review which will focus on the issues and/or barriers faced by BAME members and supporters has been commissioned by the Federal Executive. This review should help the party determine what and where the issues are and how we take action in this specific area. The Federal Executive agreed that the following questions should be addressed as part of the review process, but the Chairman of the Review is free to explore other relevant questions: 1. Are there barriers to participation for BAME members? If so, what and where are they? 2. Do barriers differ in different parts of the party? 3. How effective are existing mechanisms/procedures in addressing the issue? 4. Does the Party do enough to engage with BAME voters and ensure accessibility for potential BAME members? 5. What further steps should, or could, be taken by the Party to address the issues identified in this review It is proposed that this piece of work will commence immediately [October 2016] and will report in the first half of 2017. Lord John Alderdice, a former Leader of our sister party the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, and former President of Liberal International is a member of the House of Lords. He has agreed to lead this review, and the relevant support structures have been identified to assist his review. Professor, the Lord Alderdice MB BCh BAO FRCPsych As Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (1987-1998) Lord Alderdice played a significant role in all the talks during this period on the future of Northern Ireland and in the negotiation of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. He was the first Speaker of the new Northern Ireland Assembly (1998-2004) and was then appointed by the British and Irish Governments to the Independent Monitoring Commission tasked with closing down terrorist operations and overseeing normalization of security activity in Northern Ireland (2004-2011). He has just completed, with two colleagues (Professor Monica McWilliams and solicitor, John McBurney) a report commissioned by the First, Deputy First and Justice Ministers of Northern Ireland, on the disbanding of the remaining paramilitary groups. Lord Alderdice was Deputy President and then President of Liberal International (the world-wide network of more than 100 liberal political parties) from 2000-2009, and during the UK Conservative/Liberal Coalition Government was Convenor (Chair) of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party in the House of Lords (2010-2014). Prime Minister David Cameron also appointed him to the UK Committee on Standards in Public Life and he served from 2010 until 2016. Formerly a Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer in Psychotherapy at The Queens University of Belfast, Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville) and Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Northern Ireland, Lord Alderdice is currently the Founding Director of the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland (Baltimore), and Chairman of the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building in Belfast. * Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem commentary in print, on air or online. So we have the first by-election test in London for the Prime Minister who wants a country that works for everyone. How does Zac Goldsmith stack up against this mantra (even if not the official Tory candidate)? Firstly he voted to cut disability benefits by 30 a week, resulting in him being dumped by a local disabled charity. Secondly he has never railed against the lack of affordable housing in his own area as Richmond Council allows more and more luxury flats to be built in a form of Bosnian style ethic cleansing as his friend Boris described the London housing crisis. He also supported the sale of precious social housing stock. Thirdly he voted for and advocated Brexit. No matter the 70 percent of his constituents who voted Remain, the thriving German community in his constituency and the thousands of people in Richmond and Kingston who depend on the City for their income. My children go to school in his constituency and those parents I see regularly are still astonished about his position on Brexit. But worst of all this is a man who in the heat of a Mayoral campaign sunk so low as to allow a picture of the blown up bus from 7/7 to be used alongside his article in the Daily Mail criticising Sadiq Khan and implying London would be at threat if he were elected. A piece so bad it was denounced by a former Tory Chairman. Maybe others have different standards for their MP but these examples clearly demonstrate Zac is not the man of the people he claims to be and hopefully the electorate of Richmond Park will remember all of this when the by election comes around. * Chris Key is dad of two girls, multilingual and internationalist. He is a Lib Dem member in Twickenham who likes holding the local council and MPs to account. [File photo] A customer who accused a Chinese food company of false and misleading advertising claims has been criticized and ridiculed online after he reported to the local government that the companys snack did not bring him good luck, as its advertisement suggested. The customer, surnamed Xie, who lives in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, filed a complaint with the local government on Sept. 19, accusing Want Want Holdings Limited of misleading customers and asking for 500 RMB in compensation. For decades, the company has been using the slogan Having Want Want snacks daily will make your life lucky, which Xie interpreted literally. As such, he was disappointed that having Want Want snacks has not brought me any luck. The local government sent a reply to Xie on Sept. 26, rejecting his complaint. However, two days after Xie sent the complaint, he found a copy of his complaint going viral on Chinese social media. The complain letter contained his personal information, including his name, telephone number and address. Ever since, Xie has been besieged by harassment, with many strangers criticizing him as a shameless person who just want publicity and easy money. Many strangers have sent me text messages, ridiculing me for sending the complaint. Even my wife has been bombarded with questions like, Is your husband the informer? or, Did you get the compensation? I feel quite wronged, because my complaint was fair, Xie told Beijing Youth Daily during an interview on Oct. 27. The leak of my personal information has worried me a lot. I resigned my job after this incident, and have been afraid to leave my house, because I fear people may find me based on my leaked address, Xie said, adding that he cannot resort to legal action, as he has no idea who posted his complaint online. The local government confirmed to Beijing Youth Daily that they didnt post Xies information, adding that it is forbidden by law to leak that sort of personal information. Whether the advertisement is false or not still remains to be seen, but illegal disclosure of a citizens personal information should be punished, said Han Yao, a Beijing-based lawyer. Unlike Xie, many customers in the U.S. have successfully sued companies for misleading consumers. A number of Americans received $13 million refunds in total after buying Red Bull, a caffeinated beverage whose advertising campaign falsely claimed that the products gives you wings, in 2014. All News & Views Versa moves closer to IPO with $120M in funding CEO Kelly Ahuja said the $120 million in financing will go toward growing sales efforts and partnerships and provide a firm financial foundation in moving toward an IPO. Omdia: SASE has barely left the starting blocks Analysts explain why there's still a learning curve about SASE, how service providers can better approach enterprises interested in adopting SASE and their forecasts for the market moving forward. The Notebook Dump: DOCSIS ain't cheap, edge computing is 'meh' and Starry bet and lost on RDOF Light Reading editors discuss DOCSIS 4.0 network upgrade costs, edge computing sites, and RDOF and SD-WAN updates in this recap of the work week ended October 14. Leading Lights 2022: The Finalists Light Reading is delighted to announce the dozens of finalists in the 24 categories that make up this year's Leading Lights Awards program. SD-WAN roundup: Cisco and Azure team up; Orange adds 'vroom' to SD-WAN In this SD-WAN roundup: Cisco and Microsoft connect SD-WAN customers to public cloud; Orange brings SD-WAN to 380 of Norauto's sites; and Aryaka combines web gateway and FWaaS under Zero Trust WAN service. Eurobites: Iliad piggybacks on Fastweb's fiber in Italy Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Ofcom updates on UK fiber rollout, hybrid working; Deutsche Telekom takes lead on airborne 6G project; Orange lands SD-WAN gig. Orange's Mousnier-Lompre kicks off latest enterprise overhaul Appointed to the top job at Orange Business Services this year, the former soccer professional aims to score big in cloud, data and cybersecurity. Security and cloud app demands underpin SASE market growth During Q2, Dell'Oro's Mauricio Sanchez said that 'both SASE's components, SSE and SD-WAN, saw more than 30% growth, showing enterprises value SASE's network and security transformation benefits.' Graphiant's new spin on network-as-a-service The company says they're delivering a replacement for MPLS and SD-WAN via the Graphiant Network Edge. QOS Networks CEO brings AIOps to Zayo Group Former CEO of QOS Networks Frank Cittadino discusses why Zayo acquired managed service provider QOS Networks, Zayo's edge and AI strategies, and plans for future acquisitions. T-Mobile may be prepping the sale of Sprint's wireline business 'We are obviously conducting a review as to the best way to manage that asset,' T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert said when asked about what the company might do with Sprint's wireline network. Orange VP on automating the API ecosystem In addition to working to further automate transactions with other service providers and enterprise customers via the APIs, Orange's Franck Morales said his role as a member of MEF's board provides him with the opportunity to help develop SD-WAN and SASE standards. Lumen CTO on automating and standardizing network infrastructure Lumen CTO Andrew Dugan discusses how Lumen is utilizing the MEF Lifecycle Service Orchestration APIs, and shares updates on developments of MEF's standards for SD-WAN and SASE. Bolstered by security demand, SASE market to surpass $13B by 2026 report The SASE market is expected to exceed $13 billion by 2026, according to Dell'Oro Group. Omdia and Dell'Oro both predict that enterprise investment in security components will be an important driver. MEF's Stan Hubbard on accelerating automation with APIs One way service providers are reducing manual processes and moving forward with network automation is by adopting MEF's Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) Sonata APIs. Lumen CEO wants more automation in customer transactions Lumen CEO Jeff Storey wants enterprise customers to have a buying experience on the Lumen Marketplace that's as simple as ordering from Amazon or Walmart's online interfaces. Secure Services Edge market scores $800M in revenue for Q1, Dell'Oro The Secure Services Edge (SSE) grew 40% year-over-year to over $800 million in revenue in Q1, according to Dell'Oro Group. Colt, Versa team up on SASE Colt's new SASE service can be deployed via the cloud and/or on-premises; Colt is deploying the Versa Secure Web Gateway and other Versa services within its own cloud. Eurobites: A1 Telekom Austria opts for VMware's SD-WAN wizardry Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Orange Spain cuts deal with DAZN; London mayor tackles digital exclusion; Italian hacking job raises Google's hackles. IN another boost for business in Limerick city, two pubs are set to re-open this Thursday night, with a third in the offing. Legendary hotspot Teds at 102 OConnell Street will re-open its doors on Thursday from 6pm, after remaining closed for more than three years. The renovations have been underway for several months, and once all parts of the premises re-open including the kitchen and nightclub it will employ in the region of 35 people. Its brilliant for the city, and brilliant for the area, with House Limerick opening [in the former Clohessys] and the White House re-opening. Its a natural loop, and hopefully it will help bring people back into the city, said Anita ODonnell, from Ardnacrusha who now owns the premises with her husband Fran. We never realised how truly iconic the premises is for many Limerick people, and the sense of nostalgia they have for the place. We had to keep the name Teds, as it will always be known as Teds, and the older clientele have been coming up asking if their gold card membership will still be valid, she said. The night-club will be for those aged over 25. In its heyday, it welcomed stars including Richard Harris, Russell Crowe, and Johnny Depp through its doors. Fran, of Futureama Productions, added: We wanted to bring it back to the old glory days, but with a different feel and our own stamp on it. The event manager was behind the organisation of a huge stage on OConnell Street, when Munster brought home the Heineken Cup in 2006 when the late Anthony Foley lifted the Cup. This street has a lot of memories for us, he added. Meanwhile, House Limerick will also re-open to another hungry and thirsty public on Thursday night, in the former Clohessys bar on Howleys Quay again following months of renovations. Alan Clancy, of well known hotspots House Dublin and 37 Dawson Street, has been leading its redevelopment, and the nightclub is due to re-open in December. Details of their new staffing numbers, refurb cost and plans for the pub were kept being closely guarded by the new management. There was shock across the city in October 2014 when it was confirmed the once popular super pub and nightclub on Howleys Quay had closed, with the loss of around 50 jobs. A receiver was appointed over the assets of a number of business partners including former rugby star Peter Clohessy following the closure of the pub and nightclub. A stones throw from Teds, the White House bar on the corner of Glentworth Street and OConnell Street, also known as Gleesons, is also poised to re-open before Christmas, after being taken over by former Munster rugby player Damien Varley, after it changed hands for in the region of 650,000. NEW LIMERICK secondary school Thomond Community College commenced an annual scholarship programme this week when two past-pupils were presented with funds to the value of 20,000. The academic scholarship, in which one exceptional student each year will receive 10,000 to help finance third-level study, has been funded by an anonymous former teacher. Enya OCallaghan and Jason Hannan received the first scholarships for obtaining the highest CAO points in their respective schools Salesian Secondary School and St Nessans Community College in this years Leaving Cert. Caherdavin's Jason Hannan receives his scholarship from Mr O'Brien, with his father Brendan, sister Sarah and mother Jean It takes huge pressure off, said Thomond Community College teacher Niamh Harrison. They were two students who worked incredibly hard for the Leaving Cert and are hugely enjoying their courses, so to have that financial help that takes the pressure off and allows them to study and enjoy college, its just immense to them, she said. Enya is studying business with French in UL, and Jason is also in UL studying mechanical engineering. The money will be broken down into installments of 2,500, with installments being given for each of the four academic years in university. Proud family, staff, scholarship trustees and the former principal of Salesian Secondary School Sr Bridget OConnell were present on Wednesday when Enya and Jason were welcomed back to school by Eugene OBrien, principal of Thomond Community College. The school, which is the amalgamation of Salesian Secondary School and St Nessans Community College, officially came into being this September. According to staff, the scholarships have at their heart our new school motto appreciate, celebrate, educate. The new community college has already been praised for its extended library, opened last year by Jan OSullivan, and is the only one in the region with a full-time Junior Cert School Programme librarian. A SERIAL offender who locked a pensioner in a room during a botched burglary has been jailed for three years. Martin Ward, aged 26, who has an address at Fairgreen Hostel in Galway pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and false imprisonment relating to an incident at Singland Drive on February 23, 2014. During a sentencing hearing in July, Limerick Circuit Court was told the incident happened on a Sunday afternoon shortly after Michael Clancy (67) was alerted to a number of young men who were acting in a suspicious manner near his home. Detective Garda Gerard Healy said after he realised that they had broken into a neighbours home, he entered the house and confronted the culprits. Inside the house, one of the intruders threw an ash tray at his dog and Mr Clancy was struck in the face as he retreated to a box room under the stairs. The culprits then threatened him before locking him inside the room. Mr Clancy managed to escape a short time later and the culprits were quickly apprehended nearby. While the defendant, who has 69 previous convictions, denied any involvement following his arrest, John OSullivan BL, prosecuting submitted he had been caught in the act and that the case against him was very strong. Andrew Sexton SC said his client, who cant read or write, had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol and had not set out to break into the house or falsely imprison or injure anybody. Imposing sentence yesterday afternoon, Judge Tom ODonnell noted the defendants guilty plea had been of major benefit to Mr Clancy who was not required to give evidence during a trial. While accepting the incident was spontaneous he said the violence shown and Mr Wards previous convictions were aggravating factors. He has a very bad record, he said commenting that this was not helpful. The judge noted that Mr Clancy was not detained in the room for very long but added that it was still a very frightening experience for him. Ward was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment. The sentence was back-dated to April. THIS FRIDAY, Limerick will pass Go as prominent organisations and places in the city will feature on its very own Monopoly board. Over the past year, adjudicators from the Monopoly company held a contest to find the most ideal city and town in Ireland that would be featured on the board. Games promoter Graham Barnes said that Limerick was selected because of its tourist magnet landmarks, namely King Johns Castle, the Treaty Stone and the Hunt Museum. Launching the Monopoly board this week, Limerick Person of the Year for 2015, Katie Whelan will have her charity project Lisas Light starring on the Community Chest square. This follows a competition which involved the public voting for a charity project to be featured on the board. Lisas Light promotes positive mental health as a means of suicide prevention, reminding everyone that there is a reason to smile in every single day. The 19-year-old student, whose project has been lauded locally and nationally, said: I am delighted that Lisa's Light is being featured on the official Limerick Monopoly board. It means the charity will always be remembered as an integral part of Limerick. It's an honour to represent Limerick and all the amazing charities here too. We feel this is only the beginning for Lisa's Light. Jake Houghton, of the organisers Winning Moves Representatives, said: Lisas Light is now an integral part of Limerick. Also, unlike the property squares on the board, there is no price tag on the Community Chest square so it reinforces the message that you cant put a price on charity. Ms Whelan will be a guest of honour at the launch at the Hunt Museum, and will be joined by Mayor Cllr Kieran OHanlon. The board will see around 30 local landmarks replacing the famous original Monopoly streets like Mayfair and Park Lane, including Munster Rugby and The Hunt Museum. The Limerick Leader and Limerick Chronicle will feature on the board replacing the famous Fleet Street square. MAD Men star Jared Harris will return to Limerick for a film festival in his late fathers honour this weekend. The festival is back for a fourth year and has expanded this year. Actors Jared Harris, Stephen Rea and Fionnula Flanagan will jet in for various events, with over 70 films to be screened over the weekend. Grammy award winning songwriter Jimmy Webb will play a special musical tribute to Harris in the Lime Tree on Saturday, which will be attended by American Ambassador Kevin O'Malley and his wife, who are coming specially to attend the festival. We could never have expected how quick we could grow in the matter of three to four years, said festival director Zeb Moore. We have this year, nearly doubled our list of events from last year. We are going to be screening just under 70 movies over the course of the five days. The festival, running from Thursday to Monday, with events at the Belltable, Lime Tree, Dolans, Curragower and Savoy and George Boutique Hotels is broadening our programme, according to Zeb. These collaborations in the city are incredibly important for us, for expanding. What we are trying to do is to bring this to the city - it is a festival that is open to everybody. There is something most definitely for everybody in Limerick to appreciate and come and enjoy. The festival, which was represented at Cannes earlier this year, still boasts a strong link to Newport Beach film festival in California. Zeb said it was now recognised on an international level, because of those connections. Jared Harris, Flanagan and Rea will take part in the table read of Oscar nominated scriptwriter Shane Connaughtons new screenplay Pirate Queen. A host of other events and screenings, plus workshops and events featuring directors Terry McMahon and Gerry Stembridge and journalist Joe Jackson, who will perform his one-man show based on his interviews with Harris, will all take place. See www.richardharrisfestival.com. A PROTEST will take place this Thursday following the decision of Bank of Ireland to withdraw counter services at its Caherdavin branch. The bank, which recently announced the closure of its branch at the Parkway Shopping Centre, has defended the changes, which are due to take effect next week. Bank of Ireland is re-configuring services at its Caherdavin branch to reflect changes in how consumers are conducting their banking business and to enable us maintain services to our customers in these branches on a sustainable basis into the future, said the company in a statement. Mags Brown, vice chairperson of the Caherdavin Residents Association, is urging people to attend the protest to show their opposition to the plans. The protest, which has been organised in association with the ICA, takes place at 11.15am at the Caherdavin Branch of Bank of Ireland at the Jetland Shopping Centre. The elderly will have a problem using machines, they are not used to using them and they are taking away all of the tellers so there are going to be no tellers in there and our issues are to do with security and technology, said Mags who has dismissed the banks assertions that the new system will meet the needs of customers. It just feels like it is discrimination against the elderly, we bailed out the banks and all we are asking for is one teller over there but they are saying we have to move on with the times, she added. Bank or Ireland says the self-service and advice model, which is being extended to Caherdavin will provide customers with a range of products and services including access to online and 365 phone services. They will also be able to lodge and withdraw cash from self-service machines. A PROMINENT developer who fraudulently claimed almost 30,000 in entitlements following his fathers death has avoided a prison sentence. Peter Stritch, aged 50, of Bellisle Clonlara, County Clare pleaded guilty, last year, to seven sample charges under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (theft and fraud offences) Act. The charges related to the theft of monies from the Department of Social Protection over a ten month period between September 4, 2012 and April 25, 2013. A number of charges also related to the cashing of cheques issued by Canada Life. During a sentencing hearing in July, Judge Tom ODonnell was told Mr Stritch claimed a variety of payments and allowances which were due to his late father Michael, following his death on July 18, 2012. The defendant collected most of the monies at Garryowen Post Office having told staff there that his dad was on holidays in the United States. Imposing sentence, this Wednesday, Judge ODonnell commented that it was puzzling how Mr Stritch expected he would get away with it as the death of his father was public knowledge with details having been posted on rip.ie. Detective Garda Niamh Brosnan said an investigation was launched in mid-2013 after personnel from the Department of Social Protection made a complaint to gardai. It was later established that the total amount of money which was fraudulently claimed by Mr Stritch was around 28,500. John OSullivan BL, prosecuting submitted the paper trail in the case was quite compelling and that the case against Mr Stritch was coercive. Urging the court to consider an non-custodial sentence, Pat Barriscale BL, said his client, who is currently being treated for cancer, had repaid all of the monies and that the department is not at a loss. Imposing sentence, Judge ODonnell noted that Mr Stritch would have been entitled to claim most of the allowances had he filled out the relevant paperwork following his fathers death. This was a deliberate and brazen charade which seems to have arisen from pure laziness, he said adding that the behaviour of the defendant was from the realm of Walter Mitty. He said the defendants previous convictions including one relating to employees pension entitlements were not helpful. However, he said his admissions, guilty plea and personal circumstances were mitigating factors as was the fact that all of the monies had been repaid. The judge said he did not believe an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate given the defendants medical prognosis. He imposed a three year prison sentence which he suspended for three years. A COUNTY Limerick man who assaulted another young man after a row broke out between two women in a taxi has avoided a prison sentence. Cathal Kelly, aged 22, of Water Street, Bruree pleaded guilty, earlier this year, to assaulting Patrick Deady, causing him harm at Main Street, Bruree on October 28, 2013. Imposing sentence on Tuesday, Judge Tom ODonnell commented the behaviour of the two women left an awful lot to be desired and was the catalyst for the row. During an earlier sentencing hearing, Garda Pat McEnery said Mr Deady and a number of other people had been socialising in Charleville and had travelled home in a taxi with Mr Kelly and a relative of his at the end of the night. He told Michael Collins BL, prosecuting, there was some interaction between some of the passengers during the journey before the taxi stopped near the church in Bruree. When Mr Deady got out of the vehicle he was punched in the face by the defendant. He sustained a number of wounds and a laceration to his upper lip as a result of the assault. Donal Ryan BL said his clients guilty plea was significant given the circumstances of the case. He said Mr Kelly a father of two was intoxicated on the night which was an overriding factor in his behaviour. Judge ODonnell noted that Mr Deady sustained more serious injuries when he was assaulted by another man later on the same night. He sentenced Mr Kelly to two and-a-half years imprisonment, suspending the sentence for the same period. The defendant was placed under the care, direction and supervision of the Probation Service for twelve months. [File photo] The only Chinese sturgeon spawning site in the country has failed to detect any signs of the fishs reproduction for three consecutive years, beginning in 2013. The deteriorating reproduction capabilities of the critically endangered animal has many experts worried. Chinese sturgeons are strictly protected by the Chinese government, sharing the status of national treasure with the nation's beloved giant pandas. However, the population of Chinese sturgeons has nevertheless dropped significantly in recent years, mainly due to human activities. After the construction of the Gezhouba Dam hydroelectric power project in the early 1980s, more than 16 spawning sites for Chinese sturgeons were abandoned. Only one confirmed spawning site is now located near the Gezhouba Dam, and no signs of reproductive activities have been spotted at that site since 2013. The number of migratory sturgeons is less than 100 now, the Xinhua News Agency reported. According to the report, scientists found a large number of juvenile Chinese sturgeons in a natural reserve in Shanghai in 2015, suggesting that the fish may have found a new spawning site. The Chinese government has carried out research on the fishs reproduction, but so far no evidence of a new spawning site has been found. Li Zhiyuan, vice director of the Chinese Sturgeon Research Center of the China Three Gorges Corporation, told Xinhua that sturgeons in captivity are crucial for saving the species. Stamps of Antarctica: As far Down Under as you can possibly go Apr 29, 2021, 7 AM New Zealands first issues for its Antarctic territories were prepared in 1908 for the Shackleton expedition, with the overprint King Edward VII/Land on 1902 1-penny Universal Penny Postage stamps. In 1910, two earlier New Zealand issues were overprinted VICTORIA/LAND. for the Scott expedition to Antarctica. The first issue of Australian Antarctic Territory, in 1957, depicted the three explorers who were the first to reach the Magnetic South Pole, on Jan. 16, 1909. New Zealands Antarctic territory, the Ross Dependency, issued its first stamps in 1957. The second stamp has a portrait of explorers Shackleton and Scott. A set of Ross Dependency stamps of 1996 pictured Antarctic landscapes. The first stamp showed the interior of an ice cave. Modular field shelters nicknamed apple huts appear on an Australian Antarctic Territory stamp of 1997, one of a set marking the 50th anniversary of Australian research expeditions. By Janet Klug Down Under is a term that most people recognize as a colloquial reference to Australia and New Zealand, but there is another large island even farther down under than these two countries. Keep going south, and as the weather gets colder and colder, eventually you will find yourself in Antarctica, the southernmost continent on earth really the ultimate Down Under. Between 1908 and 1943, seven nations laid claim to parts (sometimes overlapping) of Antarctica, beginning with Great Britain in 1908. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter In 1923, New Zealand became the second nation to claim Antarctic land: a territory that was named Ross Dependency, in honor of Sir James Clark Ross, discoverer of the Ross Sea and some of what was called Victoria Land in the Antarctic. The Australian Antarctic Territory, claimed in 1933, is the largest of the claims of the seven various nations. Despite the fact that there are no towns or cities in this area Down Under, many of the nations that have Antarctic territories have issued postage stamps for their possessions. There do exist, however, stations that have been erected for the scientists who work in Antarctica. New Zealand and Australia have both issued stamps for their Antarctic territories. New Zealand began early: In 1907, New Zealand overprinted 24,000 of its 1902 1-penny Universal Penny Postage stamps, depicting the allegorical figure of Commerce, for use by Lt. Ernest H. Shackleton and his crew on the British Antarctic Expedition (known as the Nimrod expedition, after its sailing vessel) of 1907-09. The green overprint, in two vertical lines, reads King Edward VII/Land. The 1908 overprinted stamps are Scott 121a. Shackleton attempted to make landing at King Edward VII Land, but was prevented from doing so by unstable ice conditions. The expedition then moved to McMurdo Sound. The New Zealand government had appointed Shackleton as postmaster for the New Zealand Antarctic territory and provided a circular datestamp for him to use as a postmark. In 1910, Capt. Robert Falcon Scott was appointed postmaster of Victoria Land, and two New Zealand issues from a few years earlier were overprinted, becoming Scott 130d, the d Edward VII; and 131d, the 1d Commerce. This black overprint reads VICTORIA/LAND. A second overprinting in 1912 produced stamps carried on the ship Terra Nova on a return visit to Antarctica during 1912-13. The first stamps to be inscribed Ross Dependency were issued Jan. 11, 1957, in a set of four. The 4d denomination (Scott L2) features portraits of Shackleton and Scott, and the 8d stamp (L3) has a beautiful bicolor map showing the location of Ross Dependency in Antarctica. New stamps were issued for Ross Dependency erratically from 1957 to 1994, but thereafter a set of stamps was issued annually. The images on the stamps picture birds, scientists at work, landscapes, and explorers. For example, a 40 stamp issued in 1996 (Scott L40) shows a person in an ice cave. Although issued by New Zealand, the Ross Dependency stamps are not valid for postage in New Zealand. Australias first Australian Antarctic Territory stamps were issued in 1957, beginning with a 5p stamp (Scott L1) depicting Edgeworth David, Douglas Mawson, and Alistair F. Mackay, who reached the South Magnetic Pole on Jan. 16, 1909. Like New Zealands Antarctic issues, Australian Antarctic Territory stamps focus on science, birds, fishes, explorers, transportation, and scenery. A set of stamps issued in 1997, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Australian National Antarctic research expeditions, uses photographic scenes of field sites. The first issue in the set, a 45 stamp (Scott L102), shows a row of lightweight round, red, modular shelters popularly known as apple huts. Unlike Ross Dependency stamps, which are not valid in New Zealand, Australian Antarctic Territory stamps (except for the first seven issued between 1957 and 1961) can be used for postage in Australia. Collecting Antarctica stamps is a relatively inexpensive pursuit, with the images making a hot summer day feel cooler, or a winter night not as cold as it would be in the southernmost Down Under area. In any case, collecting Ross Dependency and Australian Antarctic Territory issues is a great way to start a South Pole collection. For more information about this collecting area, see the American Society of Polar Philatelists website, or contact ASPP Secretary Alan Warren, Box 39, Exton, PA 19341-0039. [File photo] On Oct. 26, Airbnb signed a memo of strategic cooperation with Expo Bureau of China Free Trade Zone in Shanghai. Airbnb aims to promote the city's Pudong district, a symbol of Chinas openness to the world. By introducing the traditional culture of Shanghai on an internationalized platform and relying on local resources, Airbnb will enhance the communication between Shanghai and other countries. Airbnbs ambition for China goes beyond providing short-term rentals for Chinese tourists abroad. The company also hopes to get further into the Chinese market, changing its strategy from discovering existing resources to mining brand new resources. Founded in 2008, Airbnb didnt enter the Chinese Mainland until 2015. Once it arrived in China, few people expected that it would see particularly speedly growth. Airbnb had to compete with domestic companies, which occupied considerable market shares. Among these domestic alternatives, Tujia has recently been dominating the Chinese market. In June the company announced its cooperation with Mayi, a short-term rental enterprise. In October, Tujia expanded through mergers with Ctrip and Qunar, two other Chinese travel websites. Yang Yanfeng, associate professor at China Tourism Academy, commented that the mergers consolidated Tujia's dominance in the domestic market. Starting from September, Airbnb announced cooperation with Shenzhen, Chongqing and Shanghai. Additionally, Airbnb offered 15 positions for Chinese employees, making China its largest recruitment market globally. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. A good photographer can always find something to shoot in China, where the vast land and population naturally gives rise to interesting and diverse stories. Now, some of those stories are packaging themselves for sale to meet the demands of amateur photographers. According to a list compiled by the WeChat account of a program on the Travel Channel, eight typical Chinese photography themes were revealed to have developed professional subjects for photographers. (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) Ranking at the top of the list is children on Daliangshan Mountain in Sichuan province, which is one of the poorest regions in China. Apart from other poverty relief measures, the list pointed out that modeling may have become one way for children in the region to make money. (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) Yangjiaxi, located in eastern Chinas Fujian province, occupies a spot at the bottom of the list. In Yangjiaxi, farmers and their buffalo form a delightful tableau, shot against forest-like pathways in the early morning mist. One of the most noted farmers, surnamed Wang, now puts on his everyday work clothes not to farm, but instead to pose for photos. He and his buffalo get paid to act as models, even guiding the photographers on how to consider timing and angles in their scenes. When the sun rises, Wangs assistants also local villagers begin to create smoke to set the tranquil morning scene. (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) Similar to Wang and his buffalo, fishermen on Lijiang River in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are also popular characters to capture on film, along with their fish hawks. Every fishing performance lasts several minutes, but can cost up to 100 RMB for photographers who want to look on. (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) Compared with a 100-RMB bill, an old man standing or sitting on the red dirt in Dongchuan, Yunnan province comes for a much cheaper price just 20 RMB per photo. (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) Lone fishermen with fishing nets on Xiaodongjiang River in Hunan province are another favorite for photographers, but the beautiful moment when fishermen spread their nets into the river may actually be captured only after communication via walkie-talkie, according to the list. (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) While Wang keeps his work clothes on, others take their clothes off for modeling, including boat trackers in the Three Gorges region, whose naked, muscular bodies are very eye-catching in photographs. Boat trackers in the past have often worked with their clothes on. Now, faced with photographers demands, they have to take them off, the WeChat account noted, adding that it is a big business opportunity. (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) As for other popular scenery, such as horses and riders on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, or teams of camels in the desert of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the team captains and riders know exactly where to lead their animals to present the most appropriate scene for photographers standing just behind the viewfinder. (Photo/Travel Channel's program WeChat account) On Oct. 25, a young man surnamed Chen, who admitted to altering his classmates college applications, was sentenced to seven months in prison on charges of damaging the computer information system. In court, Chens mother knelt down before the families of the victims to beg for their forgiveness. On July 23, two students at Shanxian No. 1 Middle School discovered that they had been admitted to universities to which they did not apply, and reported the case to police. Local police identified Chen, their classmate, as a suspect. A subsequent investigation found that Chen had altered four students applications in the online application system. "Chen said he did it out of envy, because these students outperformed him on the college entrance exam," explained Zhu Ruiyu, a police officer handling the case. On Oct. 17, Chen read a letter of apology in court, asking the four victims and their families to forgive him. The four students are now studying in universities to which they were admitted based on the altered applications rather than their actual qualifications. They said they cannot forgive Chen's behavior. The family members of the students said that the verdict, a seven-month prison sentence, is hard to accept because the punishment is too light. "It's just seven months. I feel this is unfair. What Chen changed is not just a childs college application; he changed a child's fate, said Tian Minxia, the aunt of one of the victims. Tesla's China recruitment is in full swing, although the site for the the company's China factory has not yet been decided. The company held a job fair at Sichuan University on Oct. 25, following earlier events at Renmin, Tongji and Zhejiang Universities. The open positions include product specialist, pre-sales adviser and technical support staff. The officer responsible for recruitment told China Business News that the new recruits will not work in the factory, adding that the company's goal was to hire 100 people at the university job fairs. According to China Business News, this is the first time that Tesla has done large-scale recruitment since the company entered China three years ago. At the Sichuan job fair, department heads of Tesla China introduced the company to attendees. According to an executive, Tesla's charging poles now cover more than half of China, and over 400 super poles have been installed, making China the second largest country in terms of charging capacity, second only to the U.S. Teslas China general manager, Zhu Xiaotong, said in March that management was conducting research about a site for its factory in China. "We must be prudent in selecting the site because car manufacturing is a very complex process, and we are still in an initial stage," Zhu remarked. Zhu also said that running a factory in China will reduce shipment costs and tariffs, which will lower the car's price by one-third. At present, Tesla has about 700 employees in Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. (Xinhua) 18:27, October 27, 2016 DUBAI, Oct. 27 -- The Saudi Stock Exchange, also known as Tadawul, will reach out to Chinese investors, Tadawul CEO Khalid Abdullah Al Hussan said here Thursday. Al Hussan said the bourse has started meetings with Chinese institutional investors and that the exchange plans to launch roadshows in China next year. The efforts are part of "Saudi Vision 2030," the country's blueprint to diversify its economy away from oil, Al Hussan told Xinhua on the sidelines of the Pearl Initiative United Nations Global Compact Regional Forum. China's biggest lender, ICBC, opened a branch in the Saudi capital of Riyadh in June 2015, its fifth in the Gulf region. It was in June 2015 that the Riyadh-based Tadawul opened up for the first time to qualified foreign institutional investors (QFIs). Asked if Chinese or other foreign retail investors would be able to buy Saudi shares in the near future, Al Hussan said that beyond QFIs, "we will continue to gradually open the market to new levels of investors." He said he could not give a timetable for further opening up the bourse. The Tadawul also conducted roadshows in Tokyo and Singapore in November 2015. "Reaching out to investors in China is also important as we plan to list the Tadawul market itself," he said. "We plan to do so in 2017." The listing would be the second initial public offering of an Arab exchange. The last one, by the Dubai Financial Market of the United Arab Emirates, happened on March 7, 2007. Saudi Arabia supports China's strategic "Belt and Road Initiative" that aims to create an integrated economic and investment area stretching from East Asia through the Middle East to East Africa and western Europe along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The close partnership and friendship between the two nations was highlighted during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit last January to Saudi Arabia, where he met with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Bin Saud. Asked when Saudi Arabia would be included in the MSCI Emerging Market Index, a globally accepted benchmark for fund managers to measure their fund performances, Al Hussan said the inclusion "is a result, not an objective." Two of Saudi Arabia's neighbors, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, were included in MSCI in June 2014, a development believed to be able to boost the countries' exposure in global capital markets. (Xinhua) 18:34, October 27, 2016 DUBAI, Oct. 27 -- The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) largest sovereign wealth fund, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), said on Thursday it opened an office in Hong Kong, the UAE's state news agency WAM reported. ADIA, marking its first presence in the area, is one of the largest government-controlled wealth funds in the world, aims to tap the Chinese and the greater East Asian market. ADIA Hong Kong will act as a platform for the sovereign wealth fund "to broaden and deepen its network of relationships and identify new opportunities in China and other key Asian markets," said the report. ADIA manages most of the petro-dollar-based wealth of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, home to 7 percent of the world's known oil reserves. The Hong Kong branch will be responsible for conducting comprehensive investment-related research and ongoing analysis of the Asia-Pacific market and economic trends. In addition to bringing ADIA closer to its key local contacts and investments, the office will assist in identifying new avenues for cooperation and growth "in one of the fastest developing regions in the world," said WAM. Managing Director of ADIA Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the fund's decision to open an office in Hong Kong "is a symbol of our confidence in Asia's continued growth and our long-term commitment to the region." According to the Las Vegas-based Sovereign Fund Institute, ADIA manages global assets worth approximately 792 billion U.S. dollars, ranking fifth in the sovereign wealth fund world. ADIA's annual return in the last 20 years stands at 7.4 percent, according to ADIA's website. (Image credit: stock.xchng) Puzzling ancient finds have a way of captivating the public, perhaps because it's just too easy to dream up interesting explanations for how and why things exist. These 25 archaeological discoveries have left people in awe and left scientists scratching their heads year after year. Stone spheres in Costa Rica (Image credit: Museo Nacional de Costa Rica / Juan Julio Rojas) Giant stone spheres some dating as far back as A.D. 600 pepper the Diquis Delta of southern Costa Rica. Known locally as Las Bolas ("The Balls"), these monuments were the works of a Pre-Colombian civilization, and most are made from gabbro, a rock that forms from molten magma. The people who carved the stones into their perfectly spherical shapes likely did so using other small stones, according to archaeologists who study the ancient rocks. Many non-experts have speculated that the so-called Diquis Spheres were used for astronomical purposes, while others think they may have pointed the way to significant places. The truth is that no one knows for sure, and perhaps this historical mystery will never be solved. The Chibchan people who once populated Costa Rica and other parts of Central America vanished in the wake of the Spanish conquest, and the purpose of the spheres vanished with them, John W. Hoopes, an anthropologist at the University of Kansas, told JSTOR Daily in January 2016. Antikythera mechanism (Image credit: Antikythera Mechanism Research Project) Like something from a fantastical treasure movie, the discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism remains a major archaeological head-scratcher. Found in the sunken wreckage of a Greek cargo ship that is at least 2,000 years old, the circular bronze artifact contains a maze of interlocking gears and mysterious characters etched all over its exposed faces. Originally thought to be a kind of navigational astrolabe, archaeologists continue to uncover its uses and now know that it was, at the very least, a highly intricate astronomical calendar. It is still the most sophisticated device ever found from that period, preceding the next appearance of similar devices by 1,000 years. Cleopatra's tomb (Image credit: Artist: Lawrence Alma-Tadema) Cleopatra VII was the last of a series of rulers called the Ptolemies who ruled Egypt between 305 and 30 B.C. Much is known about her intelligence, beauty and romantic relationships (she had children with both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony), but one fact about Cleopatra is still shrouded in mystery her burial place. Cleopatra and Antony both committed suicide after their former ally, Octavian, defeated them at the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C. The two were buried together at a site that the writer Plutarch (A.D. 45-120) described as a "lofty and beautiful" monument, located near a temple of the Egyptian goddess Isis. But exactly where this tomb is located remains a mystery. If anyone ever finds the lovers' tomb, there's a chance it might be empty, as grave robbery was not uncommon in ancient times, according to archaeologists. Qin Shi Huang's tomb (Image credit: Dreamstime) In 1974, farmers in China's Shaanxi province accidentally unearthed one of the biggest archaeological finds of the 20th century the life-size terracotta armyof Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 B.C. 210 B.C.). The intricately carved figures aren't a mystery: Historians know that the clay army was created to defend China's first emperor in the afterlife. What isn't known, however, is where exactly the emperor is buried or what treasures his burial chamber might contain. [See Photos of the Ancient Terracotta Warriors] A pyramid-shaped mausoleum is located about a mile to the northeast of where the terracotta army was discovered. However, no one has actually entered the mausoleum that holds Qin Shi Huang's remains. The first emperor's final resting place is the most opulent tomb ever constructed in China, according to ancient documents describing its construction. An underground palace, complete with a surrounding "kingdom," the mausoleum is made up of a network of caves and even included a state-of the-art drainage system. Whether archaeologists will ever have the technology they need to safely excavate the tomb (which also happens to contain extremely high levels of mercury) remains a mystery, as do the many treasures that lay inside. Atlantis (Image credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team) The lost city of Atlantis has been discovered in the Bahamas, the Greek Islands, Cuba, and even Japan if every claim was to be believed. First described by the ancient Greek historian Plato in 360 B.C., the mythological island was supposedly a great naval power before sinking into the sea over 10,000 years ago in a catastrophic event. Archaeologists debate the actual historical existence of the island as well as its most plausible location if it ever actually existed among the many sunken ruins discovered around the world. But even without definitive proof, Atlantis continues to engage the popular imagination like few other archaeological mysteries out there. Stonehenge (Image credit: stock.xchng) Sprucing up an otherwise docile English field, the prehistoric monument commonly known as Stonehenge is one of the world's most famous landmarks. The ring of megalithic stones was built approximately 4,000 years ago and was an impressive feat for the primitive people who constructed it but that's about all archaeologists know for sure. None of the theories on the original purpose of Stonehenge, which range from an astronomical observatory to a religious temple of healing, has ever been, well, set in stone. Ancient animal traps (Image credit: dreamstime) Low stone walls crisscrossing the deserts of Israel, Egypt and Jordan have puzzled archaeologists since their discovery by pilots in the early 20th century. The chain of lines some up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) long and nicknamed "kites" by scientists for their appearance from the air date to 300 B.C., but were abandoned long ago. The mystery might be somewhat clearer thanks to a recent study claiming that the purpose of the kites was to funnel wild animals toward a small pit, where they could easily be killed in large numbers. This efficient system suggests that local hunters knew more about the behavior of local fauna than previously thought. Nazca lines (Image credit: NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team) From the ground, the Nazca Lines of Peru are nothing spectacular. However, seen from the air, from which they were first spotted by commercial aircraft in the 1920s and 30s, they are staggering. Archaeologists agree the enormous shapes there are hundreds of them, ranging from geometric lines to complicated depictions of animals, plants and imaginary figures were made over 2,000 years ago by people of the pre-Inca Nazca culture, who simply removed the red surface pebbles to reveal the lighter earth below in designs of their choice. Just why they did it remains enigmatic, prompting conspiracy theorists to float ideas about alien landings and ancient astrology. The lines were more likely to have been a ritual communication method with the Nazca's deities, say archaeologists. The Great Pyramids (Image credit: stock.xchng) Even the information that archaeologists do know about the Great Pyramids of Egypt is enormously fascinating, to say nothing about what still might be uncovered. Built almost 5,000 years ago in what is now Cairo, the three-pyramid complex with the largest, Khufu, dominating the site is a testament to the ancient Egyptians' reverence for their Pharaohs and the intricacies of their belief in the afterlife. Archaeologists are still discovering new tunnels and shafts built within the pyramids, and are still searching for clues on who built the great monuments, how and why, even today. Shroud of Turin (Image credit: I. Pilon / Shutterstock.com ) Perhaps no archaeological discovery is more debated than the enigmatic Shroud of Turin, which many believe to be the burial shroud of Jesus Christ. This long piece of twill cloth bears traces of blood, as well as the darkened imprint of a man's body. The Catholic Church officially recorded the existence of the shroud in A.D. 1353, which is when the cloth showed up in a church in Lirey, France. But the legend of the shroud dates back to A.D. 30 or 33. According to that legend, the shroud was transported from Judea (now southern Palestine) to Edessa, Turkey, and later to Constantinople (now called Istanbul). When crusaders sacked Constantinople in A.D. 1204, the cloth was moved to Athens, Greece, where it was allegedly held until A.D. 1225. It wasn't until the 1980s that researchers got their hands on the cloth to try to determine its true age using radiocarbon dating. They determined that the alleged burial cloth of Jesus was actually created between A.D. 1260 and A.D. 1390. In other words, the scientists determined that the cloth is most likely a medieval forgery. However, critics of this research argue that the scientists may have dated newer portions of the shroud that were stitched together centuries after Jesus' death, which would explain why the shroud seems "newer" than it really is. Gobekli Tepe (Image credit: Shutterstock) Humans first settled into permanents towns, farmed and then built temples, in that order, starting in 8,000 B.C. Or did they? An amazing archaeological discovery made in 1994 at Gobekli Tepe, a rural area of Turkey, has blown that hypothesis apart, prompting new questions about the evolution of civilization. Containing multiple rings of huge stone pillars carved with scenes of animals and dating to the 10th millennium B.C., Gobekli Tepe is considered the world's oldest place of worship. Yet evidence also suggests the people who built it were semi-nomadic hunters, likely unaware of agriculture, which followed in the area only five centuries later. Because of Gobekli Tepe, archaeologists now have to ask which came first. Did building projects like this lead to settlement, and not vice-versa, as always thought? The Copper Scroll treasure (Image credit: Public Domain) Here's one archaeological mystery that we'd really like to solve: An ancient copper scroll discoveredat the site of Qumran in 1952 might describe a massive amount of hidden gold and silver, but no one knows where that treasure might be or if it even exists. The copper scroll was found alongside the Dead Sea Scrolls in what is now the West Bank in the Palestinian territories. It dates back nearly 2,000 years to a time when the Roman Empire controlled the Qumran settlement. Researchers believe that the scroll might describe a treasure that was hidden by locals to keep it out of the hands of Roman forces during the area's frequent revolts against the empire. King Tut's death (Image credit: Jaroslav Moravcik / Shutterstock) Few archaeological mysteries conjure up as much excitement as this one: the mysterious mummy of the Egyptian boy pharaoh Tutankhamun. King Tut's tomb was unearthed in 1922 by British Egyptologist Howard Carter, and tales of a "pharaoh's curse" that kills those who come near the tomb have circulated ever since. But the real mysteries of King Tut's tomb are even more interesting than any curse. Archaeologists believe that the boy king died unexpectedly, perhaps from an infection or from injuries sustained in a chariot accident. His untimely death may help to explain the strange condition that his mummy was in when it was discovered. King Tut appears to have caught fire after his body was mummified and his tomb sealed. Experts who have studied the mummy believe that King Tut's linen wrappings, which were soaked in flammable embalming oils, may have reacted with oxygen in the air to start a chain reaction that ignited the king's corpse, "cooking" it at about 390 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). A rushed burial was likely behind the botched embalming job that caused the fire. But the hasty burial of this royal figure also gives rise to another mystery: It's possible that King Tut's tomb was originally built for someone else, and there may be other, undiscovered mummies buried in the same tomb. The Ark of the Covenant (Image credit: Photo by I. Vassil, released into public domain through Wikimedia) The Ark of the Covenant is a gold-encrusted wooden chest that contains the stone tablets of the 10 commandments, according to the Book of Exodus. In ancient times, this holy box was kept in the First Temple, a Jewish place of worship in Jerusalem. But the First Temple was destroyed in 587 B.C. by a Babylonian army led by King Nebuchadnezzar II, according to the Hebrew Bible. No one knows for sure what became of the ark, though since its disappearance, many people (both real and fictional) have gone looking for it. So far, no one has actually found the holy relic (apart from Indiana Jones, of course). Some ancient reports say that the ark made its way to Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar's sack of the city. Others say that the ark was buried somewhere in Jerusalem, or that it was destroyed along with the First Temple. Modern reports hint that the ark resides in a monastery in Ethiopia. And a recently translated ancient Hebrew text suggests that the Ark of the Covenant will simply reveal itself, though not "until the day of the coming of the Messiah son of David." Voynich manuscript (Image credit: Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University) One of the most talked about books of the 20th century was an ancient text that no one could read. Discovered by an antique bookseller in 1912, the Voynich manuscript is a 250-page book written in an unknown alphabet and illustrated with a range of images, from female nudes to medicinal herbs and Zodiac signs. The book, which is currently housed at Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, dates back some 600 years and was likely written in Central Europe, according to researchers. While some scholars believe the book is simply a Renaissance-era hoax full of unintelligible words, there are some who think the book's text is written in an unknown language. Others believe the book lays out some kind of code that has yet to be cracked. Stephen Bax, a professor of applied linguistics at the University of Bedfordshire in England, claimed to have deciphered 14 of the Voynich manuscript's characters in February 2014. The book is most likely a treatise on nature, written in a Near Eastern or Asian language, according to Bax. The Hobbits (Image credit: Professor Peter Brown, University of New England) Some scientific discoveries are truly stranger than fiction. Case in point: the 2003 discovery of hobbits on the remote Indonesian island of Flores. No, scientists didn't stumble upon a real-world version of the Shire, but they did uncover the bones of the petite ancient hominin Homo floresiensis, which they quickly dubbed "the Hobbit." The first H.floresiensisskeleton ever discovered belonged to a 3.5-foot-tall (1.06 meters), 30-year-old adult female. At first, researchers believed the diminutive bones may have belonged to a human with microcephalia, a condition characterized by a small head and short stature. But later discoveries of similarly sized skeletons suggested that the Hobbit isn't just a tiny human it's its own species. Yet, H. floresiensis' exact place in the family tree of hominins (human ancestors) is still a mystery. Disappearance of the Sanxingdui (Image credit: Creative Commons) Not every perplexing archaeological discovery is made by a seasoned archaeologist. In 1929, a man repairing a sewage ditch in China's Sichuan province uncovered a treasure trove of jade and stone artifacts. These treasures found their way into the hands of private collectors, and in 1986, archaeologists working in the area unearthed two more pits full of Bronze Age treasures, including jade, elephant tusks and bronze sculptures. But who created these hidden wonders? Researchers now believe that members of the Sanxingdui civilization a culture that collapsed between 3,000 and 2,800 years ago made the artifacts. Archaeologists now know that the Sanxingdui once inhabited a walled city along the banks of the Minjiang River. But why they left this city, and why they buried so many artifacts in pits before absconding, is the source of much speculation among researchers. In 2014, researchers presented one idea at the the meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, suggesting that an earthquake 3,000 years ago may have rerouted the city's river, causing the inhabitants to move. Noah's Ark (opens in new tab) via Shutterstock) (Image credit: Mount Ararat photo via Shutterstock) Some things are so good you just want to discover them again and again like Noah's Ark, for example. The Biblical boat has been discovered many times by many people or has it? For centuries, amateur archaeologists from around the world have claimed to find evidence of the ark on and around Mount Ararat in Turkey, which is where the boat came to rest, according to the Book of Genesis. But some researchers doubt whether Noah's giant ark was ever built. Like Atlantis, Noah's Ark is an archaeological mystery that will continue to be solved, again and again, even though it might not exist. The lost Maya (opens in new tab) , Shutterstock (opens in new tab) ) (Image credit: Zap Ichigo How does a civilization that thrived for the better part of six centuries just disappear? That's a mystery that archaeologists working in southern Mexico and northern Central America have been trying to solve for decades. Around A.D. 900, the flourishing Mayan civilization collapsed, but the reasons for this downfall are unclear. Scientific studies suggest that drought may have played a key role in the fall of the Maya. As the Maya cleared forests to make way for bigger cities and farmland, they may have inadvertently worsened the frequent droughts that were their undoing, according to a study published in the journal Science in 2012. Other researchers speculate that soil degradation and declining prey populations (white-tailed deer, in particular) contributed to the end of the Maya. Still others experts note that shifting trade routes, as well as internal political conflicts likely hurried the demise of the once great empire. The Khatt Shebib (Image credit: APAAME_20051002_RHB-0068 Robert Bewley, Aerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Middle East) You might think that a 93-mile-long (150 kilometers) stone wall would have a very obvious purpose, but that is not the case for the Khatt Shebib. This mystery wall in Jordan was first reported in 1948, and archaeologists still aren't sure why it was built, when it was built or who built it. The wall runs north-northeast to south-southwest and contains sections where two walls run side by side, as well as sections where the wall branches off. Though today the wall is in ruins, in its heyday, most of it would have stood about 3.3 feet (1 meter) high and just 1.6 feet (0.5 meters) wide; it's unlikely that the Khatt Shebib was built to keep out invading armies. However, it may have been constructed to keep out less threatening enemies like hungry goats, for example. Traces of ancient agriculture to the west of the wall suggest that the structure may have served as a boundary between ancient farmlands and the pastures of nomadic farmers, according to archaeologists with the Aerial Archaeology in Jordan project. [See Photos of the Mysterious Ancient Wall in Jordan] The Big Circles (Image credit: David L. Kennedy, copyright is retained by the Aerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Middle East imageAPAAME_20040601_DLK-0041) The Khatt Shebib isn't the only ancient structure in Jordan that has archaeologists puzzled; Stone circles, dating back 2,000 years and dotting the Jordanian countryside, also have scientists scratching their heads. Known simply as the "Big Circles," 11 of these structures have been spotted so far in Jordan. The circles are about 1,312 feet (400 m) in diameter and are just a few feet high. None of these short-walled circles have openings for people or animals to walk through, so it's unlikely that they are ancient examples of livestock corrals, according to archaeologists. So what exactly were they for? No one knows. Researchers are now comparing the Big Circles with other circular stone structures in the Middle East to figure out their mysterious purpose. The Cochno Stone (Image credit: University of Glasgow) What is it with all these mysterious stones? In 2016, archaeologists in Glasgow, Scotland, excavated a 5,000-year-old stone slab (and its enigmatic history). The so-called Cochno Stone measures 43 feet by 26 feet (13 by 8 meters) and contains swirling patterns known as "cup and ring marks" that have also been identified at prehistoric sites in other parts of the world. The slab may be an example of ancient artwork, according to Kenny Brophy, an archaeologist and senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow. Researchers who studied the Concho Stone in the 1930s believed the stone's inscriptions may have been linked to astronomical phenomena, like eclipses, but Brophy doesn't think that's the case. He and his team of researchers are currently studying the stone more closely to discern how prehistoric people may have used it. Super-Henge (Image credit: LBI ArchPro, Juan Torrejon Valdelomar, Joachim Brandtner) And now for the mother load of mysterious stones: Meet Super-Henge, a massive stone monument located just 2 miles(3.2 km) from Stonehenge in the U.K. The huge monument, which is made up of a collection of stone monoliths, was unearthed in 2015. Archaeologists found the monoliths beneath the bank of the Durrington Walls (a grass-covered, circular embankment). This super-henge was probably part of a huge Neolithic monument of some sort, according to researchers. Archaeologists arent sure of the stones' original purpose, but they believe that the 15-foot-tall (4.5 m) slabs once stood upright before they were pushed over some 4,500 years ago. The giant monument stands at the site of a natural depression near the Avon river, and it's possible that the stones once helped form a C-shaped "arena" where springs and a valley led down to the river. Underwater cairn (Image credit: Deror Avi | Wikimedia) In 2003, scientists in Israel discovered an enormous stone structure beneath the Sea of Galilee. The monument, which is made up of many giant stones placed on top of one another, weighs an estimated 60,000 tons (heavier than most warships) and rises nearly 32 feet (10 meters) high. The scientists who found this underwater rock pile, or cairn, have no idea what it may have been used for, though cairns in other parts of the world traditionally mark burials, according to the researchers. Other huge rock structures are located nearby, though none of these known structures are underwater. It's possible that rising sea levels submerged what was once a land-based cairn, the researchers explained after the discovery. Yitzhak Paz, of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Ben-Gurion University, believes this aquatic monument could date back more than 4,000 years. It may be the remains of some kind of fortified settlement, Paz told Live Science in 2013. [See Photos of the Mysterious Sea of Galilee Structure] Holey jar (Image credit: Photo courtesy Katie Urban/Museum of Ontario Archaeology) Archaeologists have unearthed plenty of holy artifacts, including jars, but uncovering a holey jar (i.e. a jar full of holes) was a first for researchers. The jar, which was initially recovered from a bomb crater outside of London after WWII, dates back to Roman Britain (the part of Britain under Roman rule from about A.D. 43 to 410), and researchers speculate that it may have been used as a lamp or as a kind of animal cage for either mice or snakes. However, these possible uses are really just educated guesses, according to archaeologists. The strange-looking vessel is on display at the Museum of Ontario Archaeology in Canada, where researchers are waiting for someone to come along who has seen a similarly holey jar and who might know the purpose of such an item. Humans have been fighting viruses since the species has existed. For some viral diseases, vaccines and antiviral drugs have prevented widespread infection or helped people recover. And we've even been able to eradicate one disease smallpox. Some viruses pose a bigger threat than others. The viral strain that drove the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa kills up to 90% of the people it infects, making it the most lethal member of the Ebola family . Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history But there are other viruses that are are even deadlier. Some viruses, including the novel coronavirus currently driving outbreaks around the globe, have lower fatality rates, but still pose a serious threat to public health because they infect so many people. Here are the 12 worst killers, based on the likelihood that a person will die if they are infected with one of them, the sheer numbers of people they have killed and whether they represent a growing threat. Marburg virus The Marburg virus causes hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates. (Image credit: ROGER HARRIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images) (opens in new tab) According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (opens in new tab), the Marburg virus (opens in new tab) was first identified by scientists in 1967, when small outbreaks occurred among lab workers in Germany who were exposed to infected monkeys imported from Uganda. Marburg virus symptoms are similar to Ebola in that both viruses can cause hemorrhagic fever, meaning that infected people develop high fevers, and bleeding throughout the body that can lead to shock, organ failure and death, according to Mayo Clinic (opens in new tab). The case fatality rate in the first outbreak (1967) was 24%, but it was 83% in the 1998-2000 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 100% in the 2017 outbreak in Uganda, according to the WHO. The first known Marburg virus outbreak in West Africa was confirmed in August 2021. The case was a male from south-western Guinea, who developed a fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain and gingival hemorrhage before ultimately dying of the disease. This outbreak lasted for six weeks and, while there were 170 high-risk contacts, only one case was confirmed, according to Reuters (opens in new tab). Ebola virus Microscopic image of an Ebola virus (Image credit: Shutterstock) (opens in new tab) In 1976, the first known Ebola outbreaks in humans struck simultaneously in the Republic of the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ebola is spread through contact with blood or other body fluids, or tissue from infected people or animals. The known strains vary dramatically in their deadliness, Elke Muhlberger, an Ebola virus expert and associate professor of microbiology at Boston University, told Live Science. One strain, Ebola Reston, doesn't even make people sick, though it is deadly to other primates, according to Essential Human Virology (2016) (opens in new tab). But for the Bundibugyo strain, the human fatality rate is up to 25%, and it is up to 90% for the Zaire strain (opens in new tab). The largest Ebola outbreak on record emerged in West Africa in early 2014 and took two years to resolve. During that time, it infected 28,652 people and claimed 11,325 lives (opens in new tab), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Transmission (CDC). In December 2020, the Ervebo vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This vaccine helps to defend against the Zaire ebola virus and a global stockpile (opens in new tab) became available from January 2021. Rabies This image of the rabies virus, taken through an electron microscope, shows particles of the virus itself, as well as the round structures called Negri bodies, which contain viral proteins. (Image credit: CDC/ Dr. Fred Murphy) Although rabies vaccines for pets, which were introduced in the 1920s, helped to make the disease extremely rare in the developed world, this condition remains a serious problem in India and parts of Africa. About 59,000 people die every year from the virus, according to a 2019 study in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (opens in new tab). Infection from this virus develops after a bite or scratch from an infected mammal. Once a person is bitten, they must immediately get rabies vaccines or antibody treatments to prevent the disease from progressing. If they don't, the virus will damage the brain and nerves. Once symptoms begin to show, death almost always follows; the virus has a 99% fatality rate, according to the CDC. "It destroys the brain, it's a really, really bad disease," Muhlberger said. "We have a vaccine against rabies, and we have antibodies that work against rabies, so if someone gets bitten by a rabid animal we can treat this person," she said. However, she said, "if you don't get treatment, there's a 100% possibility you will die." HIV This scanning electron microscope image shows the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, in green), infecting a cell. (Image credit: Cynthia Goldsmith, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) In the modern world, the deadliest virus of all may be HIV. "It is still the one that is the biggest killer," Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and spokesman for the Infectious Disease Society of America told Live Science. An estimated 32 million people have died from HIV since the disease was first recognized in the early 1980s. "The infectious disease that takes the biggest toll on mankind right now is HIV," Adalja said. Powerful antiviral drugs have made it possible for people to live for years with HIV (opens in new tab). And in rare cases, stem cell transplants have cured the disease. But the disease continues to devastate many low- and middle-income countries, where 95% of new HIV infections occur. Nearly 1 in every 25 adults within the World Health Organization Africa region is HIV-positive (opens in new tab), meaning that there are over two-thirds of the people living with HIV worldwide, according to the WHO. In 2021, there were 650,000 HIV-related deaths worldwide. Smallpox Illustration of a smallpox virus (Image credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) In 1980, the World Health Assembly declared the world free of smallpox. But before that, humans had battled smallpox for thousands of years, and the more severe version of the disease, Variola major, killed about 30% of those it infected, according to the WHO. It left survivors with deep, permanent scars and, often, blindness. In populations outside of Europe, where people had little contact with the virus before visitors brought it to their regions, mortality rates were much higher. For example, historians estimate that smallpox, which was introduced by European explorers, killed 90% of the native population (opens in new tab) of the Americas. In the 20th century alone, smallpox killed 300 million people (opens in new tab), according to National Geographic. "It was something that had a huge burden on the planet, not just death but also blindness, and that's what spurred the campaign to eradicate from the Earth," Adalja said. Hantavirus The hantavirus caused an outbreak in November 1993, in the Four Corners region of the U.S. (Image credit: Getty) Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease for those who contract it, but it has killed relatively few people. It first gained wide attention in the U.S. in 1993, according to the CDC) (opens in new tab). A healthy, young Navajo man and his fiancee living in the Four Corners area of the United States died within days of developing shortness of breath. A few months later, health authorities isolated hantavirus from a deer mouse living in the home of one of the infected people. More than 833 people in the U.S. have contracted HPS as of the end of 2020, the last year that data was reported for, and 35% have died from the disease, according to the CDC (opens in new tab). The virus is not transmitted from one person to another, rather, people contract the disease from exposure to the droppings of infected mice. Previously, a different hantavirus, called Korean hemorrhagic fever, caused an outbreak in the early 1950s, during the Korean War, according to a 2010 paper in the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews (opens in new tab). More than 3,000 United Nations troops became infected, and about 12% of them died. While the virus was new to Western medicine when it was discovered in the U.S., researchers realized later that Navajo medical traditions describe a similar illness, and linked the disease to mice. Influenza Women working for the Red Cross make masks during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 (Image credit: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) Influenza kills a small proportion of the people it infects, at about 1.8 in 100,000 people every year (opens in new tab), according to the CDC. But because it infects so many people, it's one of the leading killers worldwide. During a typical flu season, up to 650,000 people worldwide will die from the illness, according to WHO (opens in new tab). And occasionally, a new flu strain emerges, and a pandemic spreads across the globe. Often, these new strains have higher mortality rates than endemic flu. The most deadly flu pandemic, sometimes called the Spanish flu, began in 1918 and sickened up to 40% of the world's population, killing an estimated 50 million people, according to CDC (opens in new tab). "I think that it is possible that something like the 1918 flu outbreak could occur again," Muhlberger said. "If a new influenza strain found its way in the human population, and could be transmitted easily between humans, and caused severe illness, we would have a big problem." Dengue Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. (Image credit: Getty) Dengue hemorrhagic fever, caused by the dengue virus, is a mosquito-borne disease that first appeared in the 1950s in the Philippines and Thailand. It has since spread throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe, according to a 2009 study in the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews (opens in new tab). Up to 40% of the world's population now lives in areas where dengue is endemic and the disease will spread farther as climate change enables the mosquitoes that carry it to spread to other regions, according to the journal Nature (opens in new tab) . According to WHO (opens in new tab), dengue infects 100 to 400 million people a year. Although dengue fever has a lower mortality rate than some other viruses, at around 1%, the virus can cause an Ebola-like disease called dengue hemorrhagic fever, which has a mortality rate of 20% if left untreated. "We really need to think more about dengue virus because it is a real threat to us," Muhlberger said. A vaccine for dengue, called Dengvaxia was approved in 2019 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in children ages 9 to16 years old living in areas where dengue is common and with a confirmed history of virus infection, according to the CDC (opens in new tab). In some countries, an approved vaccine is available for those who are 9 to 45 years old, but again, recipients must have contracted a confirmed case of dengue in the past. Those who have not caught the virus before could be put at risk of developing severe dengue if given the vaccine. Rotavirus Rotaviruses particles are shown here under a very high magnification of 455,882X. (Image credit: CDC/ Dr. Erskine L. Palmer) Rotavirus is a diarrheal disease that kills about 200,000 children (opens in new tab) annually, mostly in Nigeria and India, according to PreventRotavirus, a council dedicated to widespread use of rotavirus vaccines. The virus can spread rapidly, through what researchers call the fecal-oral route (meaning that small particles of feces end up being consumed). Thanks to vaccines, children in the developed world rarely die from the infection. But the disease is a killer in the developing world, where rehydration treatments are not widely available. The WHO estimates that worldwide, there are more than 25 million outpatient visits and two million hospitalizations each year due to rotavirus infections. Countries that have introduced the vaccine have reported sharp declines in rotavirus hospitalizations and deaths. Two vaccines are now available to protect children from rotavirus, the leading cause of severe diarrheal illness among babies and young children. SARS-CoV (Image credit: CDC/ Dr. Fred Murphy) The virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, was first identified in 2003 during an outbreak in China, according to the WHO (opens in new tab). The virus likely emerged in bats initially, then hopped into nocturnal mammals called civets before finally infecting humans, according to the Journal of Virology (opens in new tab). After triggering an outbreak in China, SARS spread to 26 countries around the world, infecting 8,096 people and killing more than 774 (opens in new tab) over the course of several months, according to the CDC. The disease causes fever, chills and body aches, and often progresses to pneumonia, a severe condition in which the lungs become inflamed and fill with pus. SARS has an estimated mortality rate of 9.6%, however, no new cases of SARS have been reported since the early 2000s, according to the CDC (opens in new tab). SARS-CoV-2 This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19 isolated from a patient in the US. (Image credit: NIAID-RML) SARS-CoV-2 (opens in new tab) may not kill a huge fraction of the people it infects, but the disease caused by the virus, called COVID-19, has become the leading viral cause of death in since it exploded onto the scene in 2020. As of October 2022, the virus has caused more than 6.57 million deaths worldwide and counting, and has infected at least 626 million people, according to OurWorldInData. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the same large family of viruses as SARS-CoV, known as coronaviruses , and was first identified in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The virus may have originated in bats and passed through an intermediate animal before infecting people, according to a 2021 study in the journal Nature (opens in new tab). The initial outbreak prompted an extensive quarantine of Wuhan and nearby cities, restrictions on travel to and from affected countries and a worldwide effort to develop diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. Estimating an infection fatality rate, or the fraction of people who die after being infected, is difficult, because many mild cases are never diagnosed. But age is clearly a huge factor in the virus' lethality: One study in the journal The Lancet estimated that the virus killed about 0.0023% of children under age 7 that it infected and about 20% of those infected over age 90. The virus also poses a higher risk to people who have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity, according to WHO (opens in new tab). Common symptoms include fever, cough, loss of taste or smell and shortness of breath and more serious symptoms include breathing difficulties, chest pain and loss of mobility. Several COVID-19 vaccines, as well as booster doses for those vaccines, are currently approved for use in both children and adults. These vaccines dramatically reduce the odds of severe disease and death, according to the CDC. MERS-CoV An illustration of the MERS virus, a type of coronavirus. (Image credit: Shutterstock) The virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, sparked an outbreak in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and another in South Korea in 2015. It has a high case fatality rate, killing about 35% of people diagnosed with it. But the virus has killed only 858 people as of 2021 (opens in new tab), because it does not spread easily between people. The MERS virus belongs to the same family of viruses as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. According to WHO (opens in new tab), the disease infected camels before passing into humans and can trigger a fever, coughing and shortness of breath in infected people. MERS is deadly because, like its less lethal cousins SARS and SARS-CoV-2, it often progresses to severe pneumonia. There is no vaccine available to prevent this disease. The best way to reduce the chances of infection is to wash hands regularly, avoid contact with camels and not consume products containing raw animal milk. Going mainstream (Image credit: mikeledray/Shutterstock.com) Marijuana, the most commonly used illegal drug in America, is going mainstream. It's now legal to use marijuana recreationally in eight states Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Washington and the District of Columbia. Pot seems poised for wider use, too: There are 21 states that now allow the possession and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. But just how much do you know about the wacky weed and its odd effects? How exactly does marijuana provide its high, and who discovered the effects of smoking the plant in the first place? Read on for some of the stranger facts about cannabis consumption. Mythical origins Smoking marijuana produces euphoria and a range of psychological and physical effects that can be unpredictable at times. (opens in new tab) | Shutterstock (opens in new tab) ) (Image credit: Igor Kolos The hippie generation did not discover pot. But the drug's true origins remain a bit murky. For example, one source, the Drug Enforcement Administration Museum in Arlington, Virginia, states that the oldest written references to cannabis date back to 2727 B.C., when the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung supposedly discovered the substance and used it medicinally. But there's one problem with this putative fact: Shen Nung, if he existed, was not the emperor of China. The first emperor of a unified China was Qin Shi Huang, who was born around 260 B.C. significantly later than the supposed Shen Nung. Nor is it entirely clear where or how this Shen Nung recorded his medicinal marijuana experiments. The earliest examples of written Chinese characters date to the Shang dynasty, between 1200 B.C. and 1050 B.C., when oracles carved symbols on bones and turtle shells. Though the story of Shen Nung permeates pot histories online, his existence seems to be more marijuana myth than fact. Still, the Chinese deserve some credit. The ancient Taiwanese were using hemp fibers to decorate pottery about 10,000 years ago, according to "The Archaeology of Ancient China" (Yale University Press, 1968). But the identity of the first person to discover pot's intoxicating effects is lost to prehistory. Weird ways to use hemp Easter Island 'heads' on the slope of Rano Raraku volcano. (opens in new tab) via Shutterstock) (Image credit: Image via Shutterstock) The marijuana plant isn't used only for smoking; its fibers can also be made into rope or fabric. Perhaps the oddest use of hemp rope on record is as a method for transporting giant stone statues. In 2012, archaeologists created reproductions of Easter Island's statues, trying to figure out how ancient people may have moved the iconic 9,600-lb. (4.35 metric tons) heads from their quarry. Theorists have suggested everything from log rollers to extraterrestrial help for the task, but in 2012, California State University Long Beach archaeologist Carl Lipo proved that all that was needed is hemp rope. By attaching three hemp ropes to the statue and having a team of 18 people rock it back and forth until it "walked," Lipo and his team were able to move the hunk of stone 328 feet (100 meters) in less than an hour, they reported in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Easter Islanders would have had woody shrubs similar to marijuana plants to use in making rope, the researchers argued. Hemp versus pot (Image credit: zhangyang13576997233/Shutterstock.com) What's the difference between hemp and pot, anyway? A single genetic switch. In 2011, researchers from the University of Saskatchewan announced that they'd discovered the genetic alteration that allows psychoactive cannabis plants (Cannabis sativa) to give users a high (as compared to industrial hemp plants, which are no fun for smoking). Industrial hemp plants are the same species as marijuana plants, but they don't produce a substance called tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). This is the precursor to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in pot. Hemp plants fail to produce this substance because they lack a gene that makes an enzyme to produce THCA, according to University of Saskatchewan biochemist Jon Page. In contrast, marijuana plants do produce THCA but don't create much of a substance called cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which occurs in abundance in hemp but competes with THCA for raw materials. Thus, hemp is rich in nonpsychoactive CBDA, while marijuana is chock full of mind-bending THC. Gender-bender (Image credit: Stanimir G.Stoev/Shutterstock) Smoking up could be a very different experience for men and women, according to a 2014 study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. In research on rats, Washington State University psychologist Rebecca Craft found that females were more sensitive to cannabis' painkilling qualities, but they were also more likely to develop a tolerance for the drug, which could contribute to negative side effects and dependence on marijuana. The female rats' higher levels of the hormone estrogen seem to play a role in these sex-specific effects. Female rats are more sensitive to the effects of cannabis at ovulation, when estrogen levels are highest, Craft said in a statement. Pot for your pets? (Image credit: Soloviova Liudmyla/Shutterstock.com) People have used medicinal marijuana to ease everything from glaucoma to the side effects of chemotherapy. So why shouldn't man's best friend give medicinal pot a shot? Pet owners are already using marijuana medicinally to help their suffering cats and dogs, according to a 2013 article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Most of the time, animals that ingest pot get over the effects within a few hours, veterinarians say. But in large quantities, pot can be deadly to animals. Does your heart hate pot? (Image credit: igor.stevanovic/Shutterstock.com) Most of the debate about the health effects of marijuana centers on the brain changes that may come with using the drug, such as the drug's association with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. But could smoking a bowl mess with your heart, too? In an April 2014 study, researchers combed through 2,000 cases of medical complications from marijuana in France and found that 2 percent involved heart problems, including nine fatal heart attacks. The study wasn't designed to determine why pot use might occasionally lead to heart problems, but previous research has found that marijuana can increase heart rate and blood pressure, which could tip a vulnerable individual over into heart attack territory. "The perception is that marijuana is a magical drug, that it's totally safe, and we can use it in medical treatment. What we don't know about are the negative effects, the potential harms," Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York who was not involved in the study, told Live Science at the time. Naming traditions (Image credit: Peter Kim/Shutterstock.com) A wine lover might choose between a pinot noir, a sangiovese and a viognier to go with dinner. A pot connoisseur, on the other hand, could choose between strains with names like "purple haze," "chocolope" and "green crack." Bizarre names are a time-honored tradition among pot growers, going back at least to the 1970s, when strains such as "Maui Waui" (from Hawaii, naturally) came onto the scene. Why such goofy names? Well, one reason might be the process behind the naming decisions. "So many times, we've finally got to the end of a strain, and we have it right there and it's done, and we're like, 'What do we call it?'" one of the co-owners of Amsterdam's DNA Genetics, a cannabis seed bank, told the LA Times in July 2014. "And we sit there, and we call all our friends and smoke. That's a brainstorm session." It's in the air (Image credit: Iakov Kalinin/Shutterstock.com) There are certain places where a haze of pot smoke is to be expected: Grateful Dead concerts, for example, or marijuana legalization rallies. But on the streets of Rome? Yes, according to a 2012 study done in Italy, trace amounts of marijuana are wafting through the air around the Colosseum and the Pantheon, as well as in seven other Italian cities. Researchers examined the air of Rome, Bologna, Florence, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Turin and Verona for psychotropic substances, including cocaine, marijuana, nicotine and caffeine. The scientists found all of these substances in all eight cities, with Turin having the highest total concentrations and Florence and Bologna having the highest concentrations of pot. But even in Florence and Bologna, tourists don't need to worry about a contact high while taking in the sights. The levels of marijuana and other substances were far too low to affect human health but researchers said they hope the findings can inform drug policy by helping to estimate drug consumption in each city. Baby soap oops (Image credit: maxriesgo/Shutterstock.com) In an unusual case, a hospital in North Carolina noticed an uptick in the number of newborns who were testing positive for marijuana in their urine, a finding that can suggest that mom has been smoking and can lead to social services getting involved. But it turns out that these babies weren't suffering from pot exposure. They were just soapy. An investigation of the positive tests found that ingredients in several common baby soaps can cause a false positive on marijuana urine tests, researchers reported in 2012. The soaps, including formulas from Johnson & Johnson, CVS and Aveeno, don't contain pot, nor do the get infants high. A more sensitive test can show that the initial screening results were false positives, researchers reported in the journal Clinical Biochemistry. Pot isn't necessarily green (Image credit: Solid Web Designs LTD/Shutterstock.com) Here's a bummer for the eco-conscious: Pot isn't all that "green." The energy needed to produce 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of marijuana indoors is equivalent to that needed to drive across the country five times in a car that gets 44 miles to the gallon, according to a 2011 report by a researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. All those grow lights suck up a lot of electricity. Growing plants outdoors could lessen marijuana's carbon footprint, but year-round demand for the drug means that industrial growers keep their plants in warehouses and greenhouses. Innovations such as greenhouses equipped with low-energy LED lights could help make pot greener, but like any large-scale agriculture, marijuana growing will require large-scale energy. The beginning of pregnancy can be daunting enough without the myths around miscarriage adding to feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. If youve suffered a miscarriage, you are not alone. Between 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage (or around 1 million a year in the U.S.). But that doesnt make it any less devastating, especially if it happens more than once. Common advice is that women should wait until the end of the first trimester before announcing a pregnancy so this can add to the stigma, says Dr. Zev Williams, an obstetrician at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Montefiore Health System in New York. And because it is medically common, the impact of miscarriage is often underestimated. Miscarriage is a traditionally taboo subject that is rarely discussed publicly, he says. The good news is that most women (approximately 85%) who miscarry will go on to have a healthy pregnancy later, according to the American Pregnancy Association (opens in new tab). In this article, we talk to the experts about the myths about miscarriage. Here are some of the most pervasive misconceptions and the truth about early pregnancy loss. 1. Miscarriage is rare Miscarriages are a lot more common than youd think, says midwife Kate Taylor, from The Pep Midwives (opens in new tab), The more we talk about it, the more we can normalize it and reduce the stigma, which can reduce feelings of shame and blame. Because early miscarriage is so common, many people choose to wait until after the 12 week mark to tell friends and family about their pregnancy, adds Dr. Evangelia Elenis, chief physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and chief medical advisor AI-led fertility app Tilly (opens in new tab). Dr Evangelia Elenis, MD, PhD Dr Elenis is a chief physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine. She is a PhD and affiliated researcher at Uppsala University with postdoctoral studies at Harvard Medical School. There are also late miscarriages that happen from weeks 12-24, but these are are significantly less frequent, occuring in about 1-2% of pregnancies, as well as recurrent miscarriages, which is when a person has more than three consecutive miscarriages although this diagnosis varies by country. The diagnosis of recurrent miscarriages is uncommon and given to a very small percentage of women, around 1%. Dr. Elenis adds: Of those that experience early miscarriage, it is absolutely possible to have a healthy pregnancy in the following months, and there is no physiological evidence (opens in new tab) supporting a delay in pregnancy after miscarriage. In fact, studies (opens in new tab) have found that couples who tried in the three months after early miscarriage, compared with those who waited longer than three months to try again, were more likely to achieve a healthy birth and have a shorter time to pregnancy. This is not, however, the case for recurrent miscarriages, and its very important to consult your doctor if you have experienced two or three miscarriages in a row, but be aware guidelines differ between countries. 2. Miscarriage is the mothers fault The phrase miscarriage might imply something went wrong in the carrying of the baby, and often women blame themselves but they shouldnt. Dr. Elenis says: Its very rare for it to be the womans fault with miscarriage, as most early miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities (when the fetus is essentially not healthy), so this is completely out of our control. While this might sound serious, its important to know that no one has only eggs and sperm with normal chromosomes. In fact, this is also one of the reasons why people dont become pregnant every time they have sex, especially during ovulation: unhealthy eggs and sperm often dont fertilize or implant at all. It is when they do, that a miscarriage happens. The average share of eggs with abnormal chromosomes increase with female age, and this is the reason miscarriage risk increases with age. (Image credit: Getty Images) Late miscarriages can also be caused by chromosomal and genetic factors, says Dr. Elenis, however they also tend to involve wider factors such as infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV), anatomical issues like the shape of the womb, placental problems, long term leath issues like severe high blood pressure, and invasive prenatal tests (which have a very small risk of causing miscarriage). An infection in the womb, known as an intrauterine infection, during pregnancy is the most common cause of late miscarriage with 15-66% being attributed to this type of infection. According to Elenis, recurrent miscarriages are a little trickier, as we dont know the cause of all cases yet and more research is needed in this area. The good news is that in 25-50% of cases, doctors are able to find the source of recurrent miscarriages, which can help with treatment. Factors that can play a role involve issues with the thyroid, blood clots, genetics and the immune system, so its very important to get to the root of the issue with a medical expert quickly. Despite what we know about causes, the most recent National Survey of Public Perceptions of Miscarriage (opens in new tab) found that nearly half (47%) of respondents (both women and men who had a direct or observed experience of a miscarriage) said they felt guilty, while 41% felt they had done something wrong. Taylor says: There should be no shame attached to miscarriage, but for some reason it has sometimes been treated as a taboo subject. The majority of the time there is no clear cause for a pregnancy loss, which makes the whole situation so much harder to deal with. Anyone who has lost a baby should be offered counseling by a trained grief or pregnancy loss health professional. Kate Taylor Registered Midwife Kate Taylor is a midwife with over 17 years experience working for the National Health Service in the U.K. She is the co-founder of The PEP Midwives, a holistic platform that offers prenatal and postnatal courses and services for mums-to-be. 3. Multiple miscarriages mean youre infertile Just because you have had one or more miscarriages, it doesnt mean you are infertile, says Taylor. You can still get pregnant, but after two or more miscarriages you should be referred to a fetal medicine expert who will provide care for you throughout the whole pregnancy. While recurrent miscarriages are difficult to experience, the clear majority go on to successfully carry at least one pregnancy to term, agrees Dr. Elenis. With each consecutive miscarriage the risk of chromosomal issues causing them decreases, which in turn means that the risk of a maternal underlying health condition being the cause goes up. After two or three, you should always consult a doctor and have a miscarriage investigation conducted before trying again. A standard miscarriage investigation includes testing for thyroid and hormonal issues, blood clot issues, chromosomal issues, anatomical factors and infections. There are also some clinics that look into immunological factors, too, so dont hesitate to bring up testing for these issues with your doctor if you feel it could be the cause of your miscarriage. 4. Miscarriage is caused by physical or emotional stress A 2015 survey of Americans (opens in new tab) revealed that 64% of respondents thought that lifting a heavy object could cause miscarriage. The same research found that 76 of people said a stressful event could cause a miscarriage, and 74 percent said chronic stress might cause pregnancy loss. None of this is true, Williams says. Although Dr. Hana Patel (opens in new tab), who specializes in womens health, disagrees, warning that in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, it is advisable to avoid heavy lifting, as there is a small risk of miscarriage, thought to be related to the pregnancy hormones causing the pelvis and ligaments to relax. Stress or emotional stress will make you upset, but is not associated with miscarriage. Taylor says: If emotional stress is affecting your physical health and making your blood pressure go up this may possibly affect the pregnancy, but it wouldn't be the direct cause of miscarriage. It could possibly be due to underlying raised blood pressure issues anyway. 5. You should wait months before trying again In the U.S., the recommended time to wait before trying again after miscarriage is three months, while guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) is six months, to give the womb time to heal. But a major scientific review (opens in new tab) by Dr. Sohinee Bhattacharya challenged the WHO recommendation. The meta-analysis found that women who tried again within six months cut their risk of a further miscarriage by a fifth. The research, published in the journal Human Reproduction Update, examined 16 studies taking in 1.04 million women to discover the impact of falling pregnant within six months. A separate study published in the journal BMJ (opens in new tab) backed this up out of more than 30,000 respondents who had a miscarriage and then a healthy pregnancy, those who conceived within six months of the loss were less likely to miscarry again than those who waited longer. (Image credit: Getty Images) Women who got pregnant sooner also had a reduced risk of ectopic pregnancy, which happens when a fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube or elsewhere within the abdominal cavity, rather than the uterine lining. The study involved Scottish women, who, like many women in other developed countries, tend to have babies later in their reproductive years. So the results might not be relevant to countries where women tend to get pregnant younger, warned researchers. Dr. Elenis says if youre thinking about trying again after miscarrying, talk to your doctor first. Every persons situation is different, and its important that you pursue the option thats best for your situation. In general, you can typically start trying again once your bleeding has stopped, but this advice can differ, as some doctors recommend waiting until youve had your first period to try again. This can help to set the time of conception, as it can take some time to actually realize youre pregnant again. After you talk with your doctor about whats best for your physical health, its up to you to decide what works best for your mental health. Take the time you need to heal, and remember its okay to feel like you need a break losing a baby is never easy, no matter how far into the pregnancy you were, so dont feel pressured to bounce back before youre ready. 6. You shouldnt tell people about your miscarriage Coping with miscarriage can be challenging enough without having to grieve in secret. Pregnancy loss is still a taboo subject worldwide and, whatever your experience, its normal to feel a mixture of overwhelming emotions including shock, numbness, guilt, shame, anger, numbness, failure and vulnerability, says Taylor. Its your personal choice as to who you tell and when, she says. Definitely seek advice from a grief or pregnancy loss expert if you're struggling after having had a miscarriage. This is not a shame issue, its a very common occurrence and women should not be shy or embarrassed to mention a miscarriage. It's sad, but we shouldn't feel ashamed to talk about it. In fact, talking about pregnancy loss could speed up mental recovery, according to research. A survey about miscarriage found that 46% of participants said they had found comfort from a friend who revealed a miscarriage of her own. And just over a quarter of respondents (28%) said they felt less isolated after hearing famous people talk about their experiences of miscarriage. Dr. Elenis says: Miscarriage can take its toll whether youre the person who experienced the miscarriage, or their partner. Many people experience both short term and long term emotional distress, and many studies (opens in new tab) have found links between miscarriage and depression, anxiety and PTSD, as well as grief and sadness, and all of these feelings can be exacerbated by doctors and environments that dont offer proper support. More research is needed to establish how healthcare providers can emotionally support people who have experienced miscarriage, however it does appear that talking about miscarriage can help reduce feelings of isolation and lonliness. Everyone is different, but go with your instincts and remember there are a lot of options for those wanting to look after their mental health post-miscarriage. This article was updated on August 11, 2022 by Live Science contributor Alice Ball following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. This decision eliminated the constitutional right to abortion that was established by the 1973 court case and later affirmed by a 1992 case called Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey. The Assyrians are a people who have lived in the Middle East since ancient times and today can be found all over the world. They are well known for their vast ancient empire; ancient cities, such as Nimrud and Nineveh; and their fierce invasions, including into the Kingdom of Judah and Egypt. In ancient times, the Assyrian civilization was often centered at the city of Assur (also called Ashur), named after the supreme god of Assyria and the ruins of the city are located in what is now northern Iraq. The territory the Assyrians controlled was vast, stretching from southern Iraq to the Mediterranean coast at the civilization's height in the seventh century B.C. Before the city of Assur gained its independence about 4,000 years ago, it was controlled by a people known as the Sumerians, whose civilization declined because of a mix of political, military and environmental problems. Modern-day scholars often divide Assyrian history into three periods: the Old Assyrian, the Middle Assyrian and the Neo-Assyrian. However, scholars disagree about the time span each period covers. A map showing the extent of the Assyrian Empire. (Image credit: iSidhe via Getty Images) Old Assyrian period The Old Assyrian period generally refers to the time after Assyria first gained independence, around 2000 B.C. In the first two centuries after independence Assur was a city focussed on trade, wrote Klaas Veenhof, an emeritus professor of Assyriology at Leiden University in a paper published in the book " A Companion to Assyria (opens in new tab)" (Wiley Blackwell, 2017). The city was no more than 40 hectares in size and held a population of between 5000-8000 people, something that likely limited its military power, Veenhof noted. Its early rulers didn't refer to themselves as a "king" in their inscriptions; instead, they called themselves a "vicegerent" (a word that can mean "governor") of the god Ashur, Amelie Kuhrt, professor emeritus of ancient Near Eastern history at University College London, wrote in her book " The Ancient Near East, c. 3000-330 BC (opens in new tab)" (Routledge, 1995). Part of an inscription found on an Assyrian temple's stairway reads, "Erishum, the vicegerent of the god Ashur, son of Ilushuma, vicegerent of the god Ashur, built the entire temple area of the temple of the god Ashur" (translation by Albert Kirk Grayson). Why Assyria's early rulers used such modest titles (governor as opposed to king) is a mystery that scholars are still trying to understand. A royal letter from Ashur-uballit I, the king of Assyria, to the king of Egypt, circa 1353 B.C. to 1336 B.C. In this letter, one of the Amarna letters, the king of Assyria, Ashur-uballit I, sends a personal messenger and offers gifts to the king of Egypt, most likely Akhenaten, in order to open communications with the major superpower of the region. (Image credit: Rogers Fund, 1924; CC0 1.0 The people of the city spoke Assyrian, which is a "distinct language, albeit closely related to Babylonian, which was used in the regions south of Assur," Karen Radner, the Alexander von Humboldt chair for the ancient history of the Near and Middle East at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, wrote in her book " Ancient Assyria: A Very Short Introduction (opens in new tab)" (Oxford University Press, 2015). In about 1800 B.C., a ruler named Shamshi-Adad I (sometimes spelled Samsi-Adad) took control of Assur. He incorporated the city into a sizable amount of territory that he already controlled in what is now Iraq and Syria. Unlike the previous rulers of Assur, Shamshi-Adad made no pretense of modesty, instead giving himself a title that scholars sometimes translate as "king of the universe," wrote Albert Grayson, professor emeritus of Assyriology at the University of Toronto, in the book " Assyrian Royal Inscriptions: From the beginning to Ashur-resha-ishi I (opens in new tab)" (Otto Harrassowitz, 1972). Shamshi-Adad's empire did not last long. After his death, it collapsed and the kingdoms of Ekallatum, Eshnunna and Babylon all controlled Assur at some point during the period of about 1775 B.C. to 1720 B.C.," Shigeo Yamada, a history professor at the University of Tsukuba, wrote in a paper published in the book " A Companion to Assyria (opens in new tab)". By around 1500 B.C., Assur was under strong influence, if not control, of a kingdom called Mitanni, Yamada wrote. Middle Assyrian period During the 14th century B.C., the kingdom of Mitanni began to fade, and those in charge of Assur began to assert the city's independence. Modern-day scholars often call this period of newfound Assyrian independence the Middle Assyrian period. At the start of this period, Assur-uballit I (who reigned from around 1363 B.C. to 1328 B.C.) came to power at Assur and claimed independence from Mitanni, Stefan Jacob, a researcher at Heidelberg University in Germany, wrote in a paper that was also published in "A Companion to Assyria." In a letter to the pharaoh of Egypt, Assur-uballit I (also called Ashur-uballit I) referred to himself as a "brother" of the pharaoh claiming "equal status with him," Jacob wrote. Assur-uballit I also attempted to use military conquest to expand the territory he controlled. His successors further enlarged Assyrian territory. Adad-nirari I (who reigned from around 1305 B.C. to 1274 B.C.) conquered Mitanni, taking over a kingdom that had ruled Assyria a century earlier. In ancient texts, Adad-nirari I claimed that he "sowed salt over" the Mittani capital of Taidu and imposed labor obligations on the city's survivors. He constructed a palace over Taidu saying that he built it "from top to bottom" and deposited a stele (an inscription carved on stone) to mark his control of the city (translation by Albert Kirk Grayson). Adad-nirari I also called himself "king of the universe," a title that future Assyrian kings would also use. Assyrian art on the wall of King Ashurnasirpal II. Ashur-nasir-pal II was king of Assyria from 883 B.C. to 859 B.C. Ashurnasirpal II succeeded his father, Tukulti-Ninurta II, in 883 B.C. (Image credit: Lefteris_ via Getty Images) Ancient records say the successors of Adad-nirari I continued to expand Assyria. The Assyrians conquered Babylon during the reign of Tukulti-Ninurta I (1243 B.C. to 1207 B.C.) and reached the Mediterranean coast during the reign of Tiglath-Pileser I (1114 B.C. to 1076 B.C.). Tiglath-Pileser marked the achievement by bringing back cedar wood for building projects, ancient texts say. The martial prowess and skill of the Assyrian kings continued to be emphasized in ancient inscriptions. Tiglath-Pileser I boasted in one inscription that "altogether I conquered 42 lands and their rulers" from across the Middle East, adding that he was a "valiant man" with an "unrivaled bow" who was such a good hunter that "I killed on foot 120 lions with my wildly vigorous assault" (translation by Albert Kirk Grayson). However, inscriptions from Tiglath-Pileser's time, and that of his successors, point to problems Assyria was experiencing. Cities and civilizations across the Middle East were collapsing as as a group of people from the Aegean that are sometimes called the "sea people," arrived in the region, displacing local populations and collapsing trade networks. Assyrian records indicate that Tiglath-Pileser and his successors frequently fought against the Arameans, a group of people who were displaced or otherwise caught up in the chaos. In the two centuries following Tiglath-Pileser's conquests, Assyria's territory contracted, but the kingdom retained control of Assur and nearby areas. Assyria didn't expand again until the 10th century B.C. Neo-Assyrian period The time period from the late 10th century B.C. when the Assyrians started expanding again, to the destruction of the Assyrian Empire around 600 B.C. is often called the Neo-Assyrian period. During this time, the territory Assyria controlled reached its greatest geographic size. At the start of this time period, Assyria had lost a considerable amount of territory. "Step by step, however, a number of assertive and ruthless Assyrian kings of the late tenth and ninth centuries manage to reconquer the lost lands and reestablish Assyrian power ," Eckart Frahm, an Assyriology professor at Yale University, wrote in a paper that was also published in "A Companion to Assyria." Under Ashurnasirpal II (reign 883 B.C. to 859 B.C.), the Assyrians reconquered much of the territory they had once controlled, again reaching the Mediterranean coast. Ashurnasirpal II also constructed a new palace at the city of Nimrud (also known as Kalhu) and used this city as Assyria's capital, Frahm wrote. This policy of the king keeping himself some distance from Assur would be continued by future Assyrian kings. Sargon II (reign ca. 721 B.C. to 705 B.C.) founded a new city called Khorsabad, making it his capital, while Sennacherib (reign 704 B.C. to 681 B.C.) constructed a new palace at Nineveh, moving the Assyrian capital there. Why Ashurnasirpal II and his successors chose to distance themselves from Assur, the traditional capital city of Assyria, is a source of debate among scholars. Throughout Assyria's history, the king wasn't the only one jockeying for power over the kingdom, Radner wrote in a paper published in the book " Revolt and Resistance in the Ancient Classical World and the Near East (opens in new tab)" (Brill, 2016). At Assur, the king had to deal with nobles and a council that may have been elected, Radner wrote. Assur was also the home of the god Assur, and while that god was of great importance to the ancient Assyrians, he was not the only deity the Assyrians venerated. Here we see a human-headed winged lion known as Lamassu. Lamassu protected and supported important doorways in Assyrian palaces. The horned cap attests to its divinity, and the belt signifies its power. The sculptor gave these guardian figures five legs so that they appear to be standing firmly when viewed from the front but striding forward when seen from the side. (Image credit: Gift of John D. Rockefeller Jr., 1932; CC0 1.0 "The relocation of the seat of royal power must be primarily seen as a strategy to, firstly, emancipate the king from god Assur and, secondly, weaken the influence of the aristocratic and democratic powers whose influence were strongest and most visible in the city of Assur," Radner wrote. In addition to establishing a new capital, Ashurnasirpal II and his successors abolished hereditary governors, replacing them with individuals who owed their position to the king, Radner noted. The Assyrian kings also relied increasingly on eunuchs, or men who had been castrated. As these men couldn't have offspring, any power a eunuch gained couldn't be passed on through a family line, thus minimizing the danger they posed to the king and his successors. During the Neo-Assyrian period, the kings of Assyria increased their kingdom's size to its largest yet. In addition to retaking Babylon and part of modern-day Lebanon, the Assyrians launched a series of campaigns into modern-day Israel and Palestine, resulting in numerous mentions in the Hebrew Bible. They did not always rule the newly conquered territories directly but sometimes allowed "client" rulers to reign over the territories on condition that they give Assyria whatever support requested, Peter Bedford, a religious studies professor at Union College in Schenectady, New York, wrote in a paper published in the book " The Dynamics of Ancient Empires: State Power from Assyria to Byzantium (opens in new tab)" (Oxford University Press, 2009). Client rulers had to swear "oaths of obedience," Bedford wrote, noting that "part of the act of obedience was the annual sending of tribute to the Assyrian king." If client rulers broke their oaths, the Assyrians would march in and take over their territory directly, turning it into a province a frequent occurrence, Bedford noted. Biblical battle While the Assyrians pushed far to the West, trouble was brewing in the East. During the seventh century B.C., Assyrian rulers put down a series of rebellions in Babylonia. Meanwhile, a group called the Medes, based in what is now Iran, also launched attacks on Assyrian forces. Under attack from two groups, while trying to maintain their holdings in the West, the Assyrian military came under pressure. The Babylonians became fully independent during the reign of the Babylonian king Nabopolassar (reign ca. 625 B.C. to 605 B.C). In 612 B.C., the Median king Cyaxares (reign ca. 625 B.C. to 585 B.C.) launched a major attack on Nineveh, which the Assyrian king Sinsharishkun (reign ca. 622 B.C. 612 B.C.) tried to stop. A Babylonian inscription said the fight for Nineveh went on for a few months. "Three battles were fought" in that time, following which the Medians stormed the city itself. The city fell and was destroyed by the Median army who turned the city "into ruin hills and heaps of debris," according to ancient inscriptions (translation by CJ Gadd). This relief fragment dates to the time of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (reigned 704 B.C. to 681 B.C.), and comes from the great Southwest Palace, called by Sennacherib the "Palace Without Rival," at Nineveh in northern Iraq. It shows an Assyrian soldier leading a horse beside a large river, and comes originally from a much larger scene depicting an Assyrian campaign that filled a room of the palace. (Image credit: Gift of John D. Rockefeller Jr., 1932; CC0 1.0 The Assyrians fought further battles, but their military was gradually drained, and their territory was destroyed or taken over. It's not clear if Sinsharishkun died at Nineveh or sometime later in a future battle. By 600 B.C., the Assyrian kingdom had been completely destroyed. Although many Assyrian cities were destroyed or badly damaged, some Assyrians survived the downfall. The survivors, and those descended from them, lived through a long line of rulers. In the period after the time of Jesus Christ , the Assyrians converted to Christianity, a religion many Assyrians have kept through the present day. Today, the Assyrian homeland is still in northern Iraq; however, the destruction brought about by the Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) has resulted in many Assyrians being killed or forced to flee. The terrorist group has also destroyed , looted or heavily damaged many Assyrian sites , including Nimrud. The Assyrian people live on today and can be found all over the world. Additional resources Learn more about the Assyrians from the Assyrian American Cultural Organization (opens in new tab) . . Excavations of Assyrian archaeological remains have been going on for over 200 years, and you can learn more about the 19th-century excavations from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (opens in new tab) . . The British Museum (opens in new tab) has an impressive collection of Assyrian artifacts as well as a virtual tour of their galleries. Timeline Circa 2000 B.C. Assyria becomes an independent state. Assyria becomes an independent state. Circa 1800 B.C. Assyrian king Shamshi-Adad conquers Assur in Iraq. He calls himself "king of the universe," a title that future Assyrian kings continue to use. Assyrian king Shamshi-Adad conquers Assur in Iraq. He calls himself "king of the universe," a title that future Assyrian kings continue to use. Circa 1500 B.C. The kingdom of Mitanni has heavy influence, if not direct control over Assyria. The kingdom of Mitanni has heavy influence, if not direct control over Assyria. Circa 1363 B.C to 1328 B.C. Reign of Assur-Uballit I, who asserts Assyria's independence. Reign of Assur-Uballit I, who asserts Assyria's independence. Circa 1305 B.C. to 1274 B.C. Reign of Adad-nirari, I who conquers Mitanni. Reign of Adad-nirari, I who conquers Mitanni. Circa 1243 B.C. to 1207 B.C. Reign of Tukulti-Ninurta I, the king who conquers Babylon. Reign of Tukulti-Ninurta I, the king who conquers Babylon. Circa 1114 B.C. to 1076 B.C. Reign of Tiglath-Pileser I who pushes the Assyrian Empire's borders to the Mediterranean coast. After his reign, the Assyria Empire's borders receded. Reign of Tiglath-Pileser I who pushes the Assyrian Empire's borders to the Mediterranean coast. After his reign, the Assyria Empire's borders receded. Circa 883 B.C. to 859 B.C. Reign of Ashurnasirpal II, who constructs a new palace at the city of Nimrud and reconquers lost territory. Reign of Ashurnasirpal II, who constructs a new palace at the city of Nimrud and reconquers lost territory. Circa 721 B.C. to 705 B.C. Reign of Sargon II, who founded a new city at Khorsabad, making it his capital. He also destroys the northern kingdom of Israel. Reign of Sargon II, who founded a new city at Khorsabad, making it his capital. He also destroys the northern kingdom of Israel. 701 B.C. Siege of Jerusalem, Assyria fails to capture the city and the kingdom of Judah lives on for more than a century. Siege of Jerusalem, Assyria fails to capture the city and the kingdom of Judah lives on for more than a century. Circa 680 B.C. to 669 B.C. Reign of Esarhaddon, Assyria invades Egypt. Reign of Esarhaddon, Assyria invades Egypt. Circa 612 B.C. Median king Cyaxares launches an invasion of Assyria. The campaign eventually results in the destruction of Assyria as an independent state. Originally published on Live Science on Oct. 26, 2016 and republished on July 14, 2022. Bodies buried by family members in the Sonoran Desert were typically arranged in a flexed position on their side (left), while in atypical burials, bodies were left in more awkward positions (right), suggesting irreverence. Ancient corpses dumped haphazardly into desert graves near the U.S.-Mexican border may have been victims of blood feuds between and within communities, a new study finds. Practices for dealing with the dead worldwide have varied greatly over time, ranging from burials above and below ground to funeral pyres, burial at sea, and even the ancient Tibetan practice of "sky burial." In this method, corpses are placed on mountaintops to decompose while exposed to the elements or to get eaten by vultures. Still, previous research found that ancient funerals in the Sonoran Desert, which straddles the United States and Mexico, were generally similar to what they are today worldwide. Bodies of the deceased were laid to rest respectfully, with the bodies situated on their sides in a flexed position. Sometimes, people were even interred with items such as seashells, bone tools, stone pipes and quartz crystals. [25 Grisly Archaeological Discoveries] However, study lead author James Watson, a bioarchaeologist at the Arizona State Museum and the University of Arizona, Tucson, and his colleagues had discovered that in some cases, burials in the Sonoran Desert received much less reverent treatment. Instead, these bodies were tossed haphazardly into graves, sometimes after apparently experiencing violent deaths. "These people were buried very differently than the rest of the community, and we're trying to understand why that is," Watson said in a statement. Haphazard burials Watson and his colleagues investigated more than 170 burials in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico dating between 2100 B.C. and A.D. 50. The sites were unearthed over the course of about 20 years. Working in the Sonoran Desert means dealing with heat, "and there are plenty of venomous animals, but it's a pretty lush desert, which was successfully farmed for thousands of years to the present," Watson said. Some of the burials in the Sonoran Desert held skeletons with broken bones and other signs of violence. (Image credit: Caitlin McPherson) Eight of the burials the scientists examined were atypical, in that the bodies were apparently flung into the graves with no regard for formal positioning of the body. One of these bodies, that of a young man, had four arrowhead-like stone wedges inside of it; another body, that of an older female, had charring on the face and side of the head. The researchers suggested that the way these eight bodies "were tossed into these pits is a form of continued desecration of the body," Watson said in a statement. "It's moving from violence on the living individual, through to the process of death, to violence on the corpse." One possibility is that these atypical burials were held for those accused of witchcraft. However, based on previous research in those cases, "one might expect those individuals to be dismembered or to have some heavy object placed over their bodies, to keep them from leaving the grave after burial," Watson told Live Science. Other kinds of atypical burials, such as those that occur with sacrifices or capital punishment, might have more ritual associated with them, Watson said. For instance, "one might expect them to be bound in some way," he said. Instead, the researchers suggested that the hasty or irreverent disposal they found "means these people may have been the victims of revenge," Watson said. Violence and revenge To find out if bloody revenge was to blame, the scientists analyzed 186 societies of varying sizes across the globe. Results showed that revenge was often a significant motivation for violence in the kind of small-scale societies that these bodies likely came from. The researchers suggested "that the violence-revenge cycle results in blood feuds and can lead to desecration of individuals at and after the time of death, which is what is contributing to these atypical burials," Watson said. [The History of Human Aggression] Watson's research focuses largely on the changes that took place as the ancient peoples that lived in the Sonoran Desert adopted farming. The researchers suggested that as communities in this area shifted to agriculture, "there was tension both within and between communities," Watson said. "Violence was a big part of that transition around the world." To explain the desecration of these graves, Watson pointed to a concept from evolutionary biology known as "costly signaling theory." This idea suggests that animals may behave in ways that are simultaneously advantageous and risky; for instance, male birds often have colorful plumage that attracts both mates and predators. Similarly, a disrespectful burial may have sent a message that strongly asserted power and dominance, but also ran the risk of retaliation from the families and friends of victims, the researchers suggested. "People are very hesitant to apply biological models to human behavior, since there are a lot of complexities when it comes to understanding humans," Watson said. "That said, we are also animals, and I think in some cases, it's appropriate to apply biological models." Although this work focuses on violence that happened thousands of years ago, Watson said the research might also help people understand modern-day violence. "With some of the issues that we're seeing today like increased violence and murders in a lot of cities, police shootings, retaliation upon police a lot of kids are growing up in a culture of violence in certain communities, and they're learning different values on how to interact with their environment because of the disadvantages that they have," Watson said in the statement. "They gain status because they're good at being violent; that's how you gain respect. Then, along with that comes advantages wealth, women and offspring, potentially. There is a biological imperative to signal that they are worthy of the status they're trying to earn." Watson and doctoral student Danielle Phelps at the University of Arizona detailed their findings in the October issue of the journal Current Anthropology. Original article on Live Science. (Xinhua) 19:54, October 27, 2016 BEIJING, Oct. 27 -- Better transportation links and infrastructure will help drive prosperity along the China-proposed Belt and Road and offer plenty of opportunities for foreign companies to participate, a recent white paper released by manufacturing giant Volvo Group said. Regional infrastructure development creates win-win outcomes for all participating countries, and improving transportation networks in the region will bring gains through increased market access, reduced trade costs and more efficient energy production and use, according to the white paper released during the Global Sustainable Infrastructure and Connectivity Summit jointly held by Volvo Group and Tsinghua University. Infrastructure is fundamental for production and people's lives. Sustainable infrastructure, to some extent, determines the sustainability of the whole economy, said Qian Xiaojun, director of the Green Economy and Sustainable Development Research Center of Tsinghua University. It is vital to achieve synergy and consensus on policy regulation, industrial standards, technological innovation and upgrades, and marketization to move toward a shared ambition of sustainable development, Qian added. Improved transportation infrastructure and networks will offer plenty of business opportunities by spurring demand for construction equipment, efficient long-haul transportation, and exchange and use of transportation-related data, according to the white paper. However, transportation development along the Belt and Road routes still has to address geopolitical and security challenges, business operation risks, inadequate infrastructure and incoherent transportation policy in cross-border movement, said Huang Zheng, public affairs and communication vice president of Volvo Group China. No single actor can solve the challenges, and China will need new forms of cooperation to successfully address complex tasks. In transportation connectivity areas, cities or project developers need to collaborate with both public and private organizations, contractors, suppliers, service providers, transportation operators, insurance companies and others, the report advised. Multinational companies with a presence in China can collaborate with Chinese companies to contribute to the initiative with their expertise in localization and complementary advantages in technology and services, Huang added. The Volvo Group has been in China for 24 years and China has become its second "home market" after Volvo's Global Headquarters in Sweden. It has already participated in projects along the Belt and Road such as the China-PakistanEconomic Corridor. The white paper called for more information from the government about the implementation plan and relevant policies and a fair business environment open to all willing stakeholders. The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinpingin 2013, comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Mosasaurs were huge marine reptiles that ruled the seas during the dinosaur age. Shown here, a generic illustration of mosasaurs. SALT LAKE CITY About 75 million years ago, a mosasaur a dolphin-like, predatory, marine reptile that lived during the dinosaur age bit another mosasaur so hard that it left its tooth behind, embedded in its foe's face, new research finds. Now, paleontologists are studying the remains of the victim, a creature that sustained not one, but two attacks on its face, likely from different adversaries, said paleontologist Takuya Konishi, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati. "The specimen represents the first direct, unequivocal evidence of nonlethal biting, and not predation, between mosasaurs," Konishi told Live Science, here at the 76th annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. [T. Rex of the Seas: Images of Fierce Mosasaurs] A mining company discovered the 21-foot-long (6.5 meters) specimen in southern Alberta, Canada, in 2012, and promptly shared the news with the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Museum researchers spent two years preparing the fossil, "during which [time] the specimen's unique scientific significance became clear: It had a tooth from another mosasaur embedded in its lower jaw," Konishi said. "We were all thrilled, and began working on it." The 74.8-million-year-old mosasaur was fully articulated, meaning that all of its bones were preserved in place. An analysis of the creature's anatomy, with the help of a computed tomography (CT) scan, suggests that it was a species in the Mosasaurus genus, Konishi said. Look just to the right of the center of this skull to see where another mosasaur left a tooth in the jaw of this mosasaur. (Image credit: Courtesy of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology) The remnants of the mosasaur attack three lesions in all, including the still-embedded tooth are visible on the left side of the mosasaur's face. All three lesions show signs of bone remodeling, indicating that the mosasaur survived the attack and began healing before the animal's demise, Konishi said. However, two genuses of mosasaurs lived in the region where the specimen was found, and it wasn't immediately clear which had bitten the victim. Mosasaurs in the genus Prognathodon had powerful teeth that could crunch through turtle shells, so it's unlikely that one of them would have broken a tooth while attacking another mosasaur, Konishi said. Rather, a mosasaur in the genus Mosasaurus was a likelier assailant, as these animals had long and pointy teeth that were more prone to breaking, Konishi said. The researchers found no evidence of any Mosasaurus bites on the other side of the victim's face, suggesting that the attacker came at its target at an angle from below, Konishi added. Perhaps competition for a mate sparked the Mosasaurus-on-Mosasaurus fight, Konishi said. Mosasaurs are related to squamates, scaled reptiles such as snakes and lizards. Mosasaurs are extinct, but their distant relatives, squamates called gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) are known to fight when competing for female mates, Konishi said. The male monsters will bite the underside of their opponents' throats as a way to prevent the other from biting back, Konishi said. "It is possible that a similar tactic was employed by the mosasaur individual that left its tooth in [the newfound specimen], where the bite was from one side of the jaw and from underneath forceful enough to subdue the opponent but not to kill it," Konishi wrote in a preliminary draft of the study's abstract. A magnified look at the tooth left in the lower jaw of the mosasaur. (Image credit: Courtesy of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology) The right side of the mosasaur's skull also showed bite marks, but there was less bone remodeling, indicating that the animal was bitten not long before it died, Konishi said. Moreover, these bite marks did not come from another Mosasaurus, and the assailant's identity is still unknown, Konishi said. This isn't the first time scientists have found evidence of mosasaurs going after their own kind. In 2013, researchers reported finding a fossilized mosasaur in Angola with the partial remains of three other mosasaur species in its gut. The new study has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Original article on Live Science. Chimpanzees and bonobos are two species separated by about 2 million years and one impassible river that divides their range. New research, however, reveals that these two great-ape species mixed their genes in the ancient past. In at least two separate events, about 200,000 and 500,000 years ago, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) interbred with bonobos (Pan paniscus), researchers report today (Oct. 27) in the journal Science. Chimps and bonobos split off from a common ancestor between 1.5 million and 2 million years ago, and the two species share about 99.6 percent of their DNA, making them close relatives. (Shared DNA doesn't necessarily translate to the ability to interbreed; humans and chimpanzees also share about 99 percent of their DNA.) The finding echoes the recent discoveries that ancient humans sometimes interbred with their close relatives Neanderthals and Denisovans, said study co-author Christina Hvilsom, who studies great-ape genetics and conservation at the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark. The chimp-bonobo breeding happened much longer ago than human-Neanderthal liaisons, which started around 50,000 years ago. A river runs through it Hvilsom and her colleagues launched their study by sequencing whole genomes of 65 wild chimpanzees from across their range in equatorial Africa, as well as 10 bonobos. Bonobos live only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, separated from their chimp cousins by the Congo River. The river is a daunting barrier to interbreeding today. An infant chimpanzee rests with its mother in Kibale National Park, Uganda. (Image credit: Kevin Langergraber) "They are terrible swimmers both bonobos and chimpanzees," Hvilsom told Live Science. "They drown." The two species do sometimes interbreed in captivity, but they've never been known to breed together in the wild. Hvilsom and her colleagues weren't looking for evidence of amorous apes, though. Rather, they were interested in finding out if the genomes of chimpanzees and bonobos hold enough information to link a specific genetic profile to a geographical range. That way, they could trace apes that have been confiscated from black-market trade and return them to their correct home in the wild. "It's a fantastic tool in the conservation toolbox," Hvilsom said. [8 Human-Like Behaviors of Primates] Genetic surprise To the researchers' delight, they were able to distinguish the geographical origin of individual chimpanzees from their DNA; those animals from the central and eastern parts of their range showed particularly distinct DNA. Broader sampling will be needed to more precisely pinpoint chimpanzees from Nigeria, Cameroon and the western portion of the range, the researchers wrote in Science. "The current trend is toward extinction" of chimps and bonobos because of illegal trafficking and deforestation, Hvilsom said. "It is important that each time we have a live chimpanzee confiscated, we can send it back to the place where it came from in nature." In the course of this conservation research, though, surprising signs of bonobo genes in chimpanzee genomes kept turning up. At first, the team thought the results were an error, Hvilsom said. But as they continued their research with different genetic approaches], they realized they were observing something real. An adult male chimpanzee in Kibale National Park, Uganda. (Image credit: Kevin Langergraber) The climate has varied over the 1.5 million to 2 million years since chimpanzees and bonobos split from their last common ancestor. The instances when the two species met up to mingle after that must have been times when parts of the Congo River were shallow and narrow, Hvilsom said. In an editorial accompanying the study, A. Rus Hoelzel, a molecular ecologist at Durham University in the U.K., explained some of the climate shifts. "This secondary contact was occurring during a period when the tropical African environment was changing through the Pleistocene epoch," Hoelzel wrote. "For example, from ~900,000 to 600,000 years ago, the longer glacial periods were cool and humid, interspersed with relatively brief hot and dry interglacial periods. By ~200,000 years ago, the glacial periods had become cold and dry, and the interglacials hot and humid." The chance finding contributes to the ongoing debate in biology about how to define speciation and the moment when a species splits, or "speciates," Hvilsom said. "We really need to take into consideration that interbreeding is something that could happen between species during their period of speciation," she said. Original article on Live Science. This story was updated at 4:12 p.m. ET on Oct. 28. NEW ORLEANS The death of a 68-year-old Tennessee man in 2015 sheds light on a rare tick-borne pathogen known as the Heartland virus, according to a new report of the man's case. When doctors analyzed tissue samples from the man's body after his death, they found signs of the virus in nearly every tissue in his body, according to the report. The Heartland virus was first found in patients in Missouri in 2009. However, the virus wasn't described in the medical literature until 2012. Since then, there have been very few cases of the virus, and only two deaths have been reported, according to the report, presented here today (Oct. 27) at IDWeek 2016, a meeting of several organizations focused on infectious diseases. The 68-year-old man first came to the hospital because he had pain and a rash on his leg where he thought he had been bitten by a tick, said Dr. Mary-Margaret Fill, an epidemic intelligence service officer at the Tennessee Department of Health and the lead author of the study. The man was generally healthy, and worked as a landscaper, Fill said. Indeed, scientists think that the Heartland virus is transmitted through tick bites; several studies have shown that the Lone Star tick, which lives in roughly the eastern half of the U.S., carries the virus. [10 Important Ways to Avoid Tick Bites] The man was initially treated with a drug called doxycycline, which is an antibiotic often used when doctors suspect that a patient has tick-borne illness, Fill said. But the man got sicker and returned to the hospital, where additional tests showed that he had symptoms associated with a tick-borne disease, though the exact disease was unknown, she said. His symptoms increased in severity, and the man eventually went into shock, Fill told Live Science. He was placed on a ventilator, given medications to keep his blood pressure up and put on dialysis for kidney failure, she said. However, despite the very aggressive care the man received, he died, she said. Currently, not much is know about the Heartland virus. In the case of the 68-year-old man, it wasn't until after the man passed away that doctors determined he had the Heartland virus, Fill said. [The 9 Deadliest Viruses on Earth] After the man died, tissue samples were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for an "unexplained death evaluation," Fill told Live Science. Researchers at the CDC determined that the man had had the Heartland virus, and asked Fill and her team to investigate the man's case further. A widespread infection Previously, scientists have found the Heartland virus in patients' bone marrow and blood, Fill said. In the first patient who died from the Heartland virus, the virus was also detected in his lymph nodes and spleen, she added. But in this case, investigators found the virus in the man's liver, pancreas, heart, lungs, bowels, kidneys, testes, skin, muscles and brain, Fill said. In the tissues where the virus was found in his body, the researchers also found damage, Fill said. For example, the researchers noted inflammation in the heart, and bleeding, inflammation and scarring in the kidneys, she said. It's unclear, however, if the damage came from the virus itself or from the immune system's response to the virus, she said. In addition, the virus's presence in various organs may explain some of the man's symptoms, Fill said, though this is just a hypothesis, she added. The man's confusion and altered mental state may have been caused by the virus infecting his brain, and the man's kidney failure may have been caused by the presence of the virus in the kidneys, she said. Ultimately, the virus "can cause a much more widespread infection than we knew," Fill said. The new report suggests that even in relatively healthy people, the infection can spread rapidly throughout the body and be fatal, she added. Fill noted, however, that it is likely that in the vast majority of cases of Heartland infection, people have mild symptoms or possibly no symptoms at all. Currently, there are no treatments for the Heartland virus, besides giving the patient supportive care, Fill said. In addition, the only way to test for the virus is to send a blood sample to the CDC, she added. But people can take precautions to prevent getting tick bites, Fill said. She advised people to wear long pants and long sleeves in areas where ticks are present, and to use bug spray with DEET. The findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Editor's Note: This story was updated to include information regarding the severity of the virus in the majority of cases. Originally published on Live Science. Check out our latest E-Edition Accessible anytime and anywhere on your desktop, tablet and smart phone devices. The Lodi News e-Edition is enhanced with the latest digital tools, including RSS feeds, social networking and much more. Check out our latest E-edition! 22-year-old Cheng Mengting is a People's Congress deputy of the city of Xinyu in Jiangxi province. (Photo/CNS) The 9th People's Congress of the city of Xinyu in Jiangxi province opened its first session on Oct. 25. Chen Mengting, a 22-year-old deputy, was elected as a bureau member of the city-level People's Congress. Now, the young deputy has become an Internet sensation, receiving attention from the citizens of Xinyu. "This is the first time I have been elected as a deputy of the city-level People's Congress. I am both excited and nervous," said Chen, who is currently the vice director of the civilian service center of Xinxi Village in Xinyu. Chen said that as a grassroots representative, she will try her best to reflect the voices of ordinary people. To this end, she went around Xinxi Village to investigate, eventually bringing four proposals to the congress that represent the most pressing problems of villagers. Chen's proposals include providing funds to repair the country road, merging elementary school and purchasing school buses, and opening village bus lines. Pride and self-satisfaction were the two main emotions in rich supply at Longfords Youthreach Centre last Thursday as the education provider held its end of year awards ceremony. More than a dozen Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Level 4 and Level 3 certificates were handed out to students in recognition of their efforts across a variety of genres and disciplines. There were accolades too for those who undertook courses in bakery, photography and woodwork with recognition also for the centres sporting achievements over the past 12 months. At present, there are 110 Youthreach centres throughout the country which offer education and training programmes to those between 15 and 20 years of age who have dropped out of mainstream schooling with little or no qualifications to their name. Representatives from local organisations and the wider business community were in attendance, some of whom handed out certificates to those in attendance. Liz Lavery, Director of Secondary Schools with Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board spoke of how influential services like Youthreach can be for early school leavers. Schools are great places, she told a hushed and attentive audience. And they are but I would be the the first to say they are not great places for everyone in that it doesnt allow everyone to use their talents and to shine. Thats where Youthreach comes in. Perhaps even more absorbing was the comments made by two students, Tommy McDonagh and Chanel Ward as the pair told of how Youthreach has impacted positively on their lives. The latter heaped praise on the centres fantastic mentoring programme, a service she believed had proven instrumental in her attempts to become a fully-fledged secondary school teacher. I really dont know how I would have coped, she said. In my opinion, the Youthreach programme is the perfect way to resume ones education. Afterwards, Longford Youthreach co-ordinator Sean O Suilleabhain said besides offering students a mechanism for educational as well as personal development, Youthreach provided many other important life skills. We do a lot with the students both inside the centre and outside but the biggest thing that we try to encourage here is respect. If that is given then students will receive it back in spades, he said. Motorists passing the closed school gates beeped their horns in support of the striking teachers, with todays action being the first in a potential series of seven days of strike action on the issue. Flanked by her colleagues, Dolores McManus from Mercy Ballymahon outlined the reasons why ASTI members were on the picket line. This is about equal pay for equal work and to support our younger colleagues who started out since 2011. They are doing the same work as us, so they should be getting the same pay. Ms McManus believes some middle ground needs to be found between the ASTI and Government to resolve the issue. The Government are going to have to back down some way. There has to be some middle ground found with the ASTI and they dont seem to be prepared. Government are saying the only show in town at the moment is Lansdowne Road and we have said no to Lansdowne Road so I dont know where we are going to find middle ground to resolve this to be honest. The teachers at Mercy Ballymahon said they were very sympathetic towards parents and students for the disruption caused by the strike. Ms McManus added, Today is only a one-day strike and we are really hoping that it will be resolved as soon as possible and that maybe it will be resolved during the mid-term break. But the government has to meet the ASTI half way for it to be resolved. "They have to find some middle ground between them and basically they are saying the only show in town is Lansdowne Road. Yet this morning I heard on the news that they have offered a pay rise to the Gardai and they are trying to say it is not in breach of Lansdowne Road. With further potential strike days planned, Ms McManus concluded, We would hope that there would be a resolution but we are left with no choice. We have to support our younger colleagues. "It is so, so unfair what the government have done. We have to get out there and support them. ALSO READ: Longford ASTI members hit back at critics over strike action The European Commissions proposal on CCCTB (Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base) has real potential to reduce the amount of corporation tax that Ireland collects. This was stated by Marian Harkin MEP during a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the proposals from Commissioner Muscovici to introduce CCCTB. Earlier Ms Harkin had a meeting with Commissioner Muscovici to discuss his proposals. She said:- I asked Commissioner Muscovici if any analysis had been done to see what countries will lose corporation tax revenue and what countries will gain corporation tax revenue under the apportionment model the Commission has proposed. That model will mean that small countries like Ireland and the Netherlands with a small domestic market and who have attracted significant foreign direct investment will lose out on current corporation tax revenue. We need to see figures so that countries will know the extent of the proposed change because there will be winners and losers here. Yes our tax rate will remain untouched but it is clear that tax sovereignty will be eroded with member states handing over new powers to the Commission. Ireland faces a difficult situation. These proposals are one way that we can limit tax evasion in the EU but they come at a cost, eroding tax sovereignty and undermining Irelands corporation tax revenue. I know from speaking to Commissioner Muscovici today, I know from listening to what is being said in the European Parliament, that Ireland will come under significant pressure to acquiesce to these proposals. We must hold our nerve, agree to proposals that will combat tax evasion but ensure that we maintain tax sovereignty and do not lose out financially in the final calculations, Marian Harkin concluded. MEP Luke Ming Flanagan has claimed that the complete ineptitude and lack of vision of government policy in relation to the management of the uplands was exposed last week by the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, (INHFA) at a meeting with Commission officials from DG AGRI and DG ENVI which he facilitated. The group highlighted the issues facing farmers in these areas setting out to the Commission the background of neglect and policy stagnation leading to two decades of mismanagement by successive administrations. This has resulted in farmers unable to draw down CAP payments due to land deemed ineligible due to under-grazing and conflicting advice on how to comply with regulation. The current scenario stems from the decision of the Dept in the late nineties to impose a blanket destocking on all commonages as a result of overgrazing on some mountain areas. This was a blunt instrument where a targeted response was required as stock were removed from mountains where no problem existed. This was followed up by the implementation of Commonage Framework Plans which set maximum stocking rates for these areas. This was compounded by the failure to honour and follow up on commitments given at the time to review and revise stocking rates to reflect the changing status of the vegetation. As a result of the inaction by the Dept mountain lands have been restricted with completely inappropriate stocking rates to control the vegetation. Commenting on this MEP Flanagan said, "It is astonishing that policies that were put in place to alleviate over-grazing which farmers complied with are now being used to penalise farmers for under-grazing. This view was shared by the Commission officials who viewed the destocking as a short term measure, adding that it would only be logical that stocking rates would be reviewed to reflect the changing vegetation. "This policy vacuum and lack of leadership has continued into the implementation of the GLAS scheme where the Dept has once again abdicated its responsibilities to upland farmers. The landowners put forward proposals where the Dept would commission master plans for overall commonage areas which would set out what is required of farmers to comply with regulation. These were to be drafted by ecologists with experience in this area, planners would then work of this in drawing up individual plans for their client farmers, working towards a common goal. The Dept rejected this, washing their hands of the problem they created insisting that farmers shoulder all the responsibility for drafting plans and the environmental outcomes of these. "The great paradox of this," concluded MEP Flanagan, "is that while one set of farmers were being penalised for not complying with greening which requires then to devote 5% of their land to ecological focus areas another sector is being put to the wall for having to many ecological areas." He called on the Government to work with the landowners to implement a long term strategy to maximise the potential of these environmentally sensitive areas. 754 Prospect Street Baldwin Masonic Temple Baldwin, NY 11510 Phone: 516-362-0997 Visit Website Nassau Chapter # 718 of The Order of Eastern Star is an organization for women and men who practice the principals of charity, truth and loving kindness through dedicated service to their communities and their members. The order encourages its members not only to help one another, but also to reach out to their communities and to help charitable causes. Members are active in many community-based projects for those requiring assistance, including charitable fundraising efforts. Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause, Health & Wellness, Press Releases By Allison Gayne Published: October 27 2016 Latest LIAF Memory Fitness Center offers innovative and critically needed programs for individuals facing Alzheimers Disease and their caregivers. Pictured are Mavis Lawrence, Gloryanne Pinar-Chin and Melissa Katz of LIAF conducting a Memory Fitness Center session with seniors at Maple Pointe at Rockville Centre Assisted Living where LIAFs new Memory Fitness Center recently opened. Rockville Centre, NY - October 25, 2016 - More than 50,000 Long Islanders and their caregivers face the challenges and stress of Alzheimers disease every day. This combined with the fact that Long Islands population is aging means there is a rising demand for social adult day programs and services for Long Islands growing Alzheimers community. To meet this increasing need, the Long Island Alzheimers Foundation (LIAF) has opened its newest Memory Fitness Center program at the Maple Pointe at Rockville Centre Assisted Living, located at 260 Maple Avenue in Rockville Centre, NY. This ongoing program is the first for the organization in southern Nassau County. Weekly Memory Fitness Center sessions are planned and supervised by professionally trained LIAF staff and social workers. Innovative programs for individuals facing all stages of Alzheimers disease and related dementias are offered including age-related mind stimulating activities, such as word games, art and music quizzes and fitness exercises. These sessions also provide caregivers a much needed respite. Memory Fitness Center sessions are currently offered on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Maple Pointes Rockville Centre facility. To learn more about openings at LIAFs Memory Fitness Centers Program at Maple Pointe Assisted Living or other services call (516) 767-6856 or visit www.liaf.org At Maple Pointe we are dedicated to serving our community. We recognize that families in Rockville Centre and southern Nassau County need the important programs that The Long Island Alzheimers Foundation offers. The management of Maple Pointe welcomes the opportunity to provide a safe and comfortable environment for its program participants, said Tammy Marshall, Executive Director, Maple Pointe Rockville Centre. Statistics show that every 66 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimers disease. On Long Island the percentage of individuals over 60 is rising. It is estimated that by 2024 one third of Nassau Countys residents will be over 60, with this number expected to be slightly lower (26 percent) in Suffolk County. This population change will result in a significant increase in the number of individuals and families facing Alzheimers and related dementias on Long Island. Maple Pointe is a respected assisted living community known for its dedication to its residents. Their commitment and location make them an ideal partner. With this location now open and growing, more families have access to our programs, which maintain and enhance cognitive abilities. Caregivers also benefit from our programs by receiving a much needed respite while their loved ones are attending sessions, said Tori Cohen, Executive Director of the Long Island Alzheimers Foundation. LIAFs services include support groups for caregivers, in-home respite and a social adult day program that runs five days a week for early, moderate and late stages of Alzheimers disease or related dementias. For information on programs and services call (516) 767-6856 or visit www.liaf.org Ji Honghong begs on the street while simultaneously doing homework under a quilt on the streets of Linyi. (Photo/Qilu Evening News) Recently, photos showing a young girl begging on the street while simultaneously doing homework under a quilt on the streets of Linyi, Shandong province, have attracted the attention of many Internet users. Netizens have expressed their willingness to help the girl. Meanwhile, the man in the photos, who appears to be the girl's father, has been widely condemned. So what's the real story behind the photo? A reporter from Qilu Evening News went to investigate on Oct. 25. The reporter visited the two subjects of the photos in Wangnanzhuang Village in Linyi's Linshu County. Wang Jiuchang, the man in the photos, confirmed that the girl, Ji Honghong, is in fact his daughter. He also has a son who is in junior high school and lives with his grandparents. According to Wang, his wife has a mental illness, so he has had to bring his daughter with him when he goes begging since the girl was only 1 month old. They have begged in many cities. Ji Honghong, now 6, is currently in first grade. She studies in a local primary school. However, on weekends, her father brings her around the city to beg. A neighbor told the reporter, The girl is the biggest selling point of Wangs begging business. Wang is lazy. He can earn more money through begging than farming. Many neighbors gave the same appraisal of Wang, commenting that he is lazy. The village Communist Party chief told the reporter that Ji Honghong is a clever child. However, her family has exerted some bad influence on her. If Wang Jiuchang said yes, I would be willing to take care of the child instead, the chief said. A local official said that Ji Honghong is not an orphan, so they have to let Wang Jiuchang raise his own child. However, they will try to keep him from taking the girl to beg. Ji Honghong and his father beg on the street. (Photo/Qilu Evening News) Ji Honghong and his father beg on the street. (Photo/Qilu Evening News) Family & Parenting, Local News, Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: October 27 2016 Keith Meyn, 34, of Oakdale, pleaded not guilty to an indictment alleging he used an 11 year old boy in sexual performances and also possessed child pornography. Keith Meyn, 34, of Oakdale. Victims and others with knowledge helpful to the investigation are urged to call the Suffolk County Police Department Computer Crimes Unit at 631-852-6279. All calls are confidential. Suffolk County, NY - October 26, 2016 - A 34-year-old Oakdale man pleaded not guilty yesterday in Suffolk County court to an indictment alleging he used an 11 year old boy in sexual performances and also possessed a massive collection of child pornography featuring young boys less than 16 years of age. The defendant, Keith Meyn, who is believed to have been employed at Camp Kenwal in Melville as a group leader, camp counselor and most recently as the Director of Maintenance Operations, appears to have participated in illegal activity involving children for over a decade, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said. Judge Barbara Kahn set cash bail for Keith Meyn of Oakdale, at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond on the 112 count indictment. District Attorney Spota said the investigation has found Meyn was previously associated with a film company, Psych Ward films, and modeling agencies Camden Enterprises and StoneAge Enterprise. The defendant participated in disturbing photography and videography featuring young boys, DA Spota said. We believe there are more victims of this predator out there and we are asking them to come forward, even if the crimes happened years ago, DA Spota said. In some cases, depending on the facts, a prosecution may still be possible, and all of the information we can gather will be helpful to the investigation. Victims and others with knowledge helpful to the investigation are urged to call the Suffolk County Police Department Computer Crimes Unit at (631) 852-6279. All calls are confidential. Local News, Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: October 27 2016 Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today that pharmacist Ira Gross, 63, of Babylon, was sentenced to 8 to 24 years in state prison. Judge sentences pharmacist Ira Gross to 8 to 24 years in state prison and orders him to repay Medicaid $25 million in restitution for his role in selling black-market HIV medications. Riverhead, NY - October 26, 2016 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today that pharmacist Ira Gross, 63, of Babylon, was sentenced to 8 to 24 years in state prison for his role in selling over $274 million dollars of diverted, medically worthless HIV medication. Gross was also ordered to pay back the amount he pocketed as a result of the scheme, which totaled $25.2 million. The evidence at trial revealed that from 2008 to 2012, Gross and others sold the diverted medications, mostly expensive HIV antiretroviral medications purchased off the street, to MOMS Pharmacy in Melville. MOMS Pharmacy then dispensed the diverted medications to thousands of its unsuspecting patients, many of whom were Medicaid recipients, throughout New York and other states, including Massachusetts, Florida, and California. Ultimately, the New York Medicaid program paid $154,000,000 for those tainted medications distributed to New York Medicaid patients. On August 8, 2016, after a four week trial in Suffolk County Court before the Honorable Richard Ambro, a jury found Gross guilty of Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony, and other related charges. The defendant not only cheated the state Medicaid program, but also preyed on some of New Yorks most vulnerable so that he could line his own pockets with millions," said Attorney General Schneiderman. My office will continue to protect taxpayers and consumers from fraudulent schemes that threaten public safety. After a long-term investigation, which included the use of court-ordered eavesdropping, in February 2012, the Attorney Generals Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) stopped in progress a delivery of $1.2 million in diverted medication and executed a search warrant at MOMS Pharmacys headquarters in Melville. In April 2012, MFCU arrested Gross, three others and ten companies, including Grosss company Chapparral Services, Ltd., after the defendants were indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury. The Attorney General also froze millions of dollars from the defendants in a parallel asset forfeiture action. Dispensing diverted medications endangers the lives of patients by exposing them to drugs of unknown origin and potency and, in some cases, drugs which were mislabeled or potentially expired. In these types of black-market schemes, medications are illegally obtained from a variety of sources, such as drugs bought from patients who sell their medication regimens on the street for pennies of their actual fair-market value. The bottles containing diverted medication are then cleaned, often with toxic cleansers, such as lighter fluid or oil-based cleansers such as Goo Gone, or the diverted medications themselves are rebottled and relabeled using fake labels and serial numbers and stored in unsanitary or uncontrolled conditions before they are illegally sold back into the regulated prescription medication distribution system. The repackaged, diverted medications often have broken seals, or contain different medications than what is indicated on the labels. As a result, patients who ingest black market medications may be exposed to potentially adverse drug interactions or serious health consequences. In contrast, patients who take their prescribed medications, after the medications have moved exclusively through the regulated prescription medication distribution system, are protected from these avoidable risks. These black market schemes not only impact those who ultimately ingest the diverted medications; they create and finance a street market that, for a few dollars, induces sick patients to sell and forego their life-saving medications. The Suffolk County jury found Gross guilty of one count of Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony, three counts of Money Laundering in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count of Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications and Prescriptions in the First Degree, a class C felony, and other related charges. Chaparral Services, Ltd., the shell corporation Gross used to conceal and distribute his criminal proceeds, was also found guilty of three counts of Money Laundering in the First Degree and other related charges. Gross, who obtained his license to practice pharmacy in 1979 organized the scheme and coordinated the sale of the diverted street medication to MOMS Pharmacy. Evidence at trial showed that Gross paid Glenn Schabel, the supervising pharmacist and compliance officer for MOMS Pharmacy, over $5 million to buy medication that he knew or should have known were diverted. Schabel, 55, of Melville, was also arrested and pleaded guilty in September 2016 to Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications and Prescriptions in the First Degree and Commercial Bribe Receiving in the First Degree. Schabel was sentenced to two to six years in state prison and has paid $5,456,276.62 in restitution. He was also required to surrender his license to practice pharmacy. Stephen Manuel Costa, 32, a Florida resident, was also arrested and has pled guilty with technical assistance from Gross, Costa incorporated four separate companies as wholesale distributors in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and California, to disguise the sale of the diverted medications to MOMS. Costa procured millions of dollars of black-market HIV medications and sold them to MOMS Pharmacy through those four shell companiesSMC Distributors, Fidelity Wholesale, Optimus Wholesale, and Nuline Pharmaceuticals, each of which have already pleaded guilty. A fourth defendant, Harry Abolafia, 69, a resident of Texas, also pled guilty and was sentenced to jail. At Grosss direction, Abolafia created false invoices for Costas companies to make the transactions to MOMS Pharmacy to appear to be legitimate. Gross, his spouse Lois Gross of Babylon, and their adult children Dakota Gross and Chelsea Gross, remain as civil defendants in the Attorney Generals forfeiture action, seeking return of the proceeds and substituted proceeds of the criminal scheme that are held in their names. That action continues. The Attorney General thanks the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG), particularly its staff of pharmacists and other specialists, for the valuable role they played during the course of the investigation. The Attorney General additionally thanks the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, the United States Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Assistant United States Attorneys from the United States Attorneys Offices for the Southern District of New York and the Southern District of Florida. All, individually and collectively, provided valuable information and assistance during the investigation. The investigation was conducted by Supervising Investigator Victor Maldonado, Senior Investigator Lawrence Riccio, Special Investigator Denitor Guerra, Principal Special Auditor Investigator Cristina Marin and NYC Deputy Chief Auditor Jonathan Romano. Wiretap operations were supported by the Attorney Generals Organized Crime Task Force, which is led by Deputy Attorney General Peri Kadanoff. The trial was conducted by MFCU Special Assistant Attorney General Imran Ahmed and former Special Assistant Attorney General Adam Shlahet, with assistance from MFCUs Chief of Criminal Investigations-Downstate Thomas OHanlon. Principal Auditor Investigator Patricia Iemma provided in-court trial support. The forfeiture action is being handled by Special Assistant Attorneys General Andrew Gropper and Diana Elkind. Christopher M. Shaw is the Regional Director for MFCUs New York City Region. The Deputy Chief Investigator for MFCU is Kenneth Morgan, and the New York City Regional Chief Auditor is Thomasina Smith. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney. School & Education, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: October 27 2016 Students in the Village of Hempstead, Village officials and community members celebrate Hempstead Public School Districts homecoming parade with musical-themed floats and costumes. Village of Hempstead Trustee Waylyn Hobbs, Deputy Mayor Luis Figueroa and Trustee Don Ryan walk the red carpet flanked my members of the United States Armed Forces. They were celebrating the Hempstead School Districts 127th Annual Homecoming Parade. More than 300 students in the Village decorated floats, performed dances and marched to show school spirit and pride. Hempstead, NY - October 26, 2016 - Village of Hempstead Deputy Mayor Luis Figueroa, Trustees Waylyn Hobbs and Don Ryan and community members recently joined the Hempstead Union Free School District in celebrating its 127th annual Homecoming Parade. Village of Hempstead elementary school students, 510 years old, perform a Wizard of Oz themed dance. More than 300 students decorated floats, performed dances and marched to show school spirit and pride. Students in the Village of Hempstead, Village officials and community members celebrate Hempstead Public School Districts homecoming parade with musical-themed floats and costumes. Students from the Districts various elementary schools joined middle school and high school students in decorating floats, performing dances and marching to show their school spirit and pride. The theme of this years homecoming parade was musicals, and students created floats in the theme of The Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, Grease and other Broadway productions. Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com Columnists Press Releases Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.27 Trend: In the framework of the Energy Efficiency Export Initiative of Germanys Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Renewables Academy (RENAC) and AHK Azerbaijan are organizing the Information Trip on topic "Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Industry" on December 5-8, 2016 in Berlin and surrounding areas. The four-day program, which includes reports, meetings and company visits, will provide the participants with detailed information on the efficient use of energy in buildings and industry in Germany. The program will start with the expert reports on the first day. After that the participants will have the opportunity to gain an insight into the energy efficiency market in Germany. On the following days the participants will be able to familiarize themselves with the specific projects related to Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Industry of German companies and visit these companies. Thus, participants will be able to obtain in-depth knowledge in this area and also learn more about the technologies and how to apply them. The employees of ministries and other government agencies, enterprises, research institution as well as the employees of country's financial institutions enterprises are expected to participate in this trip. The results of the Best Employer Survey 2015 conducted by EY, which reflects the opinion of more than a thousand of university students in Azerbaijan, show that more than 60% of respondents consider career growth opportunities as key employer choice criterion. What students look for in employers According to the survey results, 60 % of respondents indicated career growth as one of the main factors of employer attractiveness in 2015. Besides career perspectives, students are interested in salary level, international experience, opportunities for personal and professional development and work schedule. It is worth mentioning that only 14% of students noted official employment relations (supplemented with contract) as an important employer choice criterion Where students want to work This year the survey participants independently named more than 170 companies as preferred employers to work for. Based on the survey results, the most attractive employers in 2015 were (in alphabetical order): Azercell, Azersun Holding, BP, Gilan Holding, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Procter & Gamble, Pasha Holding, Schlumberger, SOCAR and one of the Big 4 audit companies. It is not surprising that these are mostly large and well-known international and Azerbaijani companies, as employer attractiveness among young candidates significantly depends on their awareness about its corporate and product brands Where students get information about employers The vast majority of respondents receive information about employers from Internet sources (70%) including news from the Internet (51%), social networks (49%), ads on the internet (25%) and job portals (23%). It may be noticed, that news from the Internet and social networks are more efficient communication channels for reaching out to students than corporate websites or job portals. Difficulties that students deal with during a job search The results of the survey show that the majority of students (39%) did not have any difficulties while searching for a job or during the recruitment process. At the same time, the students who had certain difficulties most often named miscommunication with the companies as the main challenge in recruitment process (in particular, unclear candidate selection process, limited information about the company and job opportunities, unclear communications). This may be an important message to recruitment functions of the companies targeting talent in the local labor market, as the success of employer branding and recruitment strategy strongly relies on the effectiveness of communications. What students think of relocation More than 70% of students are ready to relocate abroad for employment purposes. Given a chance, 54% of them would relocate within a year and 13% - within 3 years respectively. On the other hand, a third of all students do not consider relocating abroad in the short and mid-term perspective. These results once again show that majority of the students consider the opportunities for gaining international experience as an appealing factor while choosing an employer. About the survey The Best Employer Survey is conducted by EY in Azerbaijan since 2016. The main goal of the survey is to analyze the preferences of students in choosing an employer. According to EYs methodology, respondents are asked to independently name up to three employers in order of their attractiveness. Participants of the survey also indicate factors of employers attractiveness and sources of information about them, as well as answer some other questions, which help to determine the major trends on the labor market. The People Advisory Services practice at EY Azerbaijan conducts surveys to assess employer image among employees, contractors and business partners and provides consulting services on the development of employer value proposition as well as other HR related matters. About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and economies around the world. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In doing so, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY works together with companies across the CIS and assists them in realizing their business goals. 4,500 professionals work at 20 CIS offices (in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Togliatti, Vladivostok, Almaty, Astana, Bishkek, Baku, Kyiv, Tashkent, Tbilisi, Minsk, and other locations). EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com. In which companies do professionals choose to work and why? The Best Employer Survey 2015 conducted by EY shows that career growth is a key factor in an employers attractiveness for professional candidates. Over 1,400 respondents with experience in various industries took part in the survey. According to the survey, key employer choice criteria for professional candidates include opportunities for career growth (77%), as well as personal and professional development (68%). Besides these, professional candidates most frequently pay attention to corporate culture, prospects of gaining international experience, and the salary level. The key differences between the preferences of professional candidates and students included their approach to fringe benefits, which seem to be more important for professional candidates (mentioned by 34% of respondents) than they are for students (14%). Where candidates want to work Candidates named over 200 companies that they considered to be the best employers in Azerbaijan. The majority of the companies mentioned were from the FMCG, professional services and telecommunications industries. According to the professional candidates, the most attractive employers are (in alphabetical order): Azercell, BP, McKinsey & Company, PASHA Bank, PASHA Holding, PMD Group, SAIPEM, SOCAR, and some of the Big 4 companies. Where candidates get information about employers The most popular source of information about employers according to professionals is Internet resources (71%). Among these, the majority of candidates named job portals and social networks as the ones most frequently used (both sources were mentioned by 46% of respondents). Besides Internet resources, professional candidates often mentioned personal and business contacts as important sources of information. Almost 40% of respondents indicated that they got information about employers from their friends and relatives, while 20% mentioned business contacts. In addition, every third respondent received information from traditional mass media sources. Difficulties that candidates face during their job search According to the survey, the majority of candidates (46%) have not faced any difficulties in the process of job search. However, similarly to students, the professional candidates named lack of information about selection processes and employment opportunities among the key challenges, as well as miscommunication with companies. The fact that these problems were stated by both audiences (students and professional candidates) may prove that companies need to pay more attention to how they communicate their employer value proposition. What professional candidates think of relocation Almost 80% of professional candidates stated that they would like to work overseas. Contrary to students, only 16% of professional candidates are ready to relocate within the next year, whereas the majority (46%) would consider such an opportunity within the upcoming three years. The remaining 38% of respondents would not consider relocating abroad in the short to mid-term. The Taliban flag flies over the Khushdeer base in Chora district, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. Image from Voice of Jihad. The Taliban took control of a military base in the embattled southern province of Uruzgan, where the group has recently laid siege to the capital of Tarin Kot. The jihadist group claimed it took control of the strategic military base in Khushdeer and two others in Chora district after Afghan troops were surrounded and then subsequently fled towards the district center. In a statement released on its website, Voice of Jihad, the Taliban showed a picture of the base with the Talibans flag flying over it. On Twitter, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid then released a video of an interview of fighters from the base (video is below). Like the recent ambush in Helmands capital, the Taliban fighters clearly are not concerned about either an Afghan Army counterattack or airstrikes. The interview takes place in broad daylight, hours after the base was overrun (the Taliban claimed the Afghan troops fled during the nighttime). pic.twitter.com/9rDP9xRYQC (@Zabihulla13) October 26, 2016 Uruzgan has been hotly contested for more than a year. Of the provinces six districts, one, Char Chino, is under Taliban control, and the remaining five are heavily contested. The Taliban seized Char Chino in June 2016 after Afghan forces conducted a tactical retreat. The Taliban considers Uruzgan to be a strategic province, and has previously said that it controls all areas of the province except for the district centers. In a Voice of Jihad interview in April 2016 with Mullah Aminullah Yousuf, the Talibans shadow governor for Uruzgan, he described the province as the linking point for many provinces and a traditional strong fortress of mujahideen. [See LWJ report, Taliban seizes a district in Uruzgan.] Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The US military continues to target al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), al Qaedas official branch in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. On Oct. 21, the US said it killed five AQAP fighters in an airstrike in the central Yemeni province of Marib, where the group is known to operate. US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the operation in a statement that was released late yesterday, and noted that AQAP is still a dangerous organization. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula remains a significant threat to the region and to the United States, CENTCOM spokesman Major Josh Jacques said. Al Qaedas presence has a destabilizing effect on Yemen, and we are working to deny them a haven from which to plan future attacks. AQAP has not yet announced the death of its fighters or leaders. There have been three strikes against AQAP in Yemen so far this month. The two other strikes this month, on Oct. 4 and Oct. 18, both took place in Shabwa province, an AQAP stronghold in the south. The US has stepped up its air campaign against AQAP in Yemen. There have been at least 31 airstrikes against AQAP in Yemen in 2016, according to data compiled by The Long War Journal. In 2016, the US has already exceeded the number of strikes of each of the three previous years (26 strikes in 2013, 23 each in 2014 and 2015). Since 2009, the US has launched 160 drone, missile, and conventional attacks against AQAP. [See LWJ report, Charting the data for US airstrikes in Yemen, 2002 2016.] The targets of the US air campaign have varied, as all aspects of AQAPs network have come under fire. The US has killed senior and low level leaders and commanders, as well as fighters. Additionally, the US has hit training camps, military formations, and even equipment captured from the Yemeni military. AQAP remains entrenched in southern and central Yemen despite the active targeting of the group and its leaders by the US for eight years. AQAP still controls rural areas of central and southern Yemen despite both attacks from the US and a United Arab Emirates-led ground offensive, which ejected the group from major cities and towns that it held between March 2016 and the summer of 2016. AQAP is known to operate training camps in Yemen, and claims to do so to this day. In mid-July, AQAP touted its Hamza al Zinjibari Camp, which trains its special forces. Zinjibari was an AQAP military field commander who was killed in a US drone strike in February 2016. The US military targets AQAP with the approval of Yemens government in exile. The government was forced to flee the capital of Sanaa after Houthi rebels overran it as well as several provinces in both north and central Yemen. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The US Department of Defense has announced that two senior al Qaeda leaders were targeted in airstrikes in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on Oct. 23. The two jihadists are Faruq al Qatani, who has long served as one of al Qaedas top commanders in Afghanistan, and Bilal al Utabi. Both have been involved in al Qaedas efforts to strike the US and the West, according to the Pentagon. We are still assessing the results of the strikes, but their demise would represent a significant blow to the terrorist groups presence in Afghanistan, which remains committed to facilitating attacks against the United States, our allies, and partners, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a statement. Qatani has been al Qaedas emir for northeastern Afghanistan and was assigned by the groups leadership to re-establish al Qaeda safe havens in Afghanistan, according to Cook. He was also a senior planner for attacks against the United States, and has a long history of directing deadly attacks against US forces and our coalition allies. The Pentagons description of Qatani mirrors the short biography provided by the Treasury Department in February, when Qatani was added to the US governments list of designated terrorists. In addition to his responsibilities inside Afghanistan, Treasury said Qatani has contributed to al Qaedas external operations planning, meaning plots against the West. [See LWJ report, Treasury designates head of al Qaedas eastern zone in Afghanistan.] The Pentagon connected Bilal al Utabi to al Qaedas anti-Western plans as well. Utabi is assessed to have been involved in efforts to re-establish a safe haven in Afghanistan from which to threaten the West, and in efforts to recruit and train foreign fighters, according to Cooks statement. Cook added that Qatani and Utabi were targeted [a]fter an extensive period of surveillance at what was assessed as command-and-control locations in remote areas of Kunar province. If these strikes are determined to be successful, Cooks press release continued, then eliminating these core leaders of al Qaeda will disrupt efforts to plot against the United States and our allies and partners around the world, reduce the threat to our Afghan partners, and assist their efforts to deny al Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan. Qatani identified as a key figure in Osama bin Ladens files As The Long War Journal previously reported, Qatanis importance to al Qaeda can be seen in declassified files recovered during the raid on Osama bin Ladens compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan in May 2011. In a memo to bin Laden dated June 19, 2010, for example, Atiyah Abd al Rahman heaped praise on Qatani. [See LWJ report, Osama Bin Ladens Files: Very strong military activity in Afghanistan.] As I have reported before, we have a good battalion over there [Afghanistan] led by brother Faruq al Qatari [Qatani], Rahman, who was one of bin Ladens top lieutenants at the time, wrote. He is the best of a good crew, Rahman continued. He recently sent us a message telling us that he has arranged everything to receive us; he said the locations are good, there are supporters and everything. Rahmans memo shows, therefore, that Qatani was deeply involved in the relocation of al Qaeda cadres from northern Pakistan into Afghanistan several years ago. The effort to re-establish al Qaeda safe havens in Afghanistan mentioned by the Pentagon in Cooks statement actually began in 2010, if not sooner. Another missive found in Osama bin Ladens lair also included a discussion of the move back into Afghanistan. In a letter dated Oct. 21, 2010, bin Laden told Rahman who ironically was subsequently killed in a US drone strike that al Qaeda should relocate as many brothers as possible to the eastern Afghan provinces of Nuristan, Kunar, Ghazni and Zabul to avoid the US drone campaign in North and South Waziristan. And al Qaeda did just that. Bin Laden knew that Qatani had cleared the way for his al Qaeda comrades to live and fight in Afghanistan. [See LWJ reports, Bin Laden advised relocation of some leaders to Afghanistan due to drone strikes in Waziristan and Osama Bin Ladens Files: Al Qaeda relocated operatives out of northern Pakistan.] In the years since bin Ladens death, Qatani continued to support the Taliban-led insurgency, while also plotting terror around the world. For more on US and Afghan operations against al Qaeda in Afghanistan during the last two years, see LWJ reports: Senior al Qaeda leader reported killed in US airstrike in eastern Afghanistan US airstrike kills one of Osama bin Ladens most trusted commanders in Afghanistan Al Qaeda leader killed in eastern Afghanistan, NDS claims US military strikes large al Qaeda training camps in southern Afghanistan Al Qaeda commander reported killed in northeastern Afghanistan US, Afghan forces rescue son of former Pakistani prime minister from al Qaeda cell US military is hunting al Qaeda in at least 7 Afghanistan provinces Afghan intelligence service destroys al Qaeda base in Zabul Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 Trend: On October 26 evening, the Armenian Armed Forces tried to take advantage of bad weather and attempted a sabotage mission by approaching the Azerbaijani positions in the southern direction of the frontline of the two countries troops, Azerbaijans Ministry of Defense said Oct. 27. Azerbaijani army detected the enemys actions in advance and carried out preventive strikes on the enemys positions. Suffering losses in dead and injured, the Armenian side had to retreat. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry warns that the military and political leadership of Armenia is responsible for the tense situation on the frontline. 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. Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 26 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Oct. 27. Armenian army was using large-caliber machine guns. The Azerbaijani army positions located in Bala Jafarli, Gushchu Ayrim villages of the Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in the nameless heights of the Ijevan district and Voskevan village of the Noyemberyan district of Armenia. Azerbaijani army positions located in Agbulag village of the Tovuz district underwent fire from the Armenian positions located in Aygedzor village of Armenias Berd district. Azerbaijans army positions located on nameless height in the Gadabay district also went under fire from nameless heights of Armenias Krasnoselsk district. The Azerbaijani army positions also took fire from the Armenian positions located near occupied Chilaburt, Geyarkh villages of Azerbaijans Tartar district, Garakhanbayli village of Fizuli district, Mehdili village of Jabrayil district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Goygol, Goranboy, Tartar and Fizuli districts. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Properties / Homes We take a look at how the residency program in Greece is making it easier to invest in the Mediterranean. Oct 27, 2016 | By Robbie Wilson In Part 1, we discussed moving to the USA. We looked into how the EB-5 visa was making it easier for investors to attain residency in the United States. In Part II we turn to Europe and within it, the ancient nation of Greece. Known for its beautiful landscapes, rich culture and Mediterranean cuisine, Greece is becoming a hotspot for investors looking to immigrate to Europe. Greeces residency permit program was started in 2013 and has produced almost 1,000 visas to date. As one of many Golden Visa countries within Europe, Greece is set apart from the pack by the fact it offers the lowest real estate investment amount of any other country. So what exactly do you need to invest to attain a residence permit and what does it entitle you to? Theres seven possible situations, however the main ways to invest are: 1. Own the property yourself or through a legal entity you own. The minimum investment must be EUR 250,000. 2. Sign a timeshare lease valued at a minimum of EUR 250,000 ($272,500). The lease must be for 10 years and can be for hotel accommodations or furnished tourist residences in integrated tourist resorts. 3. Purchase a plot of land and then start constructing a building on it. The total value of the land and the contract with the builders must equal a minimum of EUR 250,000 ($272,500). There you have it, if you have EUR 250,000 ($272,500) then Greece could be the place for you. The property can be residential or commercial and the total amount can be the sum of multiple property purchases. The residence permit is valid for five years. You may renew it for the same duration as many times as youd like as long as the real estate is still owned by you or the relevant lease agreements are still ongoing. According to La Vida Golden Visas, processing time stands at approximately 40 days. Who can you bring with you to Greece? Well, family members are permitted to accompany you. This is considered to be your spouse or children under 18 years of age. If your children become 18 while living in Greece, then they will be granted a separate residence permit. Once the residence permit is attained, holders of the visa may travel throughout the Schengen Area and stay in any given country for a maximum of three months in any six-month period. 22 of the 28 current European Union member states take part in the Shengen Area. There are numerous incredible properties available for purchase in Greece. If youre looking to splurge a bit, a dream home can be had with some of the most beautiful views money can buy. One of the most popular destinations is Mykonos, an island named after the grandson of Apollo and located in the Cyclades. Villa Ambrosia was built in 2010 and features a stone construction, infinity pool views over the turquoise waters below and 2,852 sq. ft. of living space on just over half an acre lot. It is quite unique in the sense that the property appears to be built into the side of the hill and has a timely feel, while remaining completely modern. When you think of the Cyclades, you think of white and stone buildings and this property is a luxurious representation of just that. Priced at EUR 2.2 million ($2,450,434) this four bedroom, three-bathroom property fits suitably well above the minimum investment required to attain your visa. Another beautiful property located on the picturesque island of Mykonos is Villa Hypatia. At almost 4,000 sq. ft. this four bedroom, four-bathroom property is located close to the beach and only a short drive from the airport. Priced at EUR 1.45 million ($1,622,832) this is an excellent visa attaining, luxury property, to soak in the relaxing climate and natural surroundings that the island has to offer. Say you love either one of these houses, but dont have all the funds yourself to invest in the specific property. The Greek government allows for multiple investors into each property. So you and a few friends can purchase a property and as long as everyone invests over EUR 250,000 ($272,500), then each investor will also receive a visa. You then just have to sort out who gets the biggest room. This article was first published in Palace. Eden Roc at Cap Cana Announces Chefs for Culinary Exchange Alongside Eden Roc's Executive Chef Gianluca Re Fraschini, the chef duo will create special menus inspired by the flavors and beauty of their respective properties.Recognized as an innovative chef, Chef Wolf has been with Manoir Hovey for 14 years. He began his career in his home province of Quebec with an apprenticeship, and later honed his skills at various celebrated New York restaurants under the watch of praised chefs including Alain Ducasse, Daniel Boulud and Charlie Palmer. Wolf continues his education by regularly traveling to the United States and Europe for inspiration from the world's greatest restaurants and seeks harmony between textures and flavors in his dishes. At Eden Roc, Chef Wolf is looking forward to discovering new flavors of the Caribbean and working with Chef Re Fraschini to develop the menu and share tastes from his homeland.will be a dinner celebration on Saturday, November 19, at 7:30 p.m. The price is $190.00 per person plus taxes, and includes a welcome cocktail and five-course menu.Recently nominated for the James Beard Foundation Award for 2016 Best Chef: West, and recipient of the prestigious title of Grand Chef Relais & Chateaux in 2013, Chef Cogley joined L'Auberge in 2011. With delicate interplay between creativity, tradition, and respect for his ingredients, Cogley's food is deeply unique. His style is a sophisticated balance between innovation and unwavering deference for the finest ingredients he procures. Previously, Cogley worked at Charlie Trotter's critically acclaimed restaurant in Chicago and helped to open the Elysian Hotel as Executive Sous Chef.Chef Cogley will headlinedinner on January 14, 2017. The price is $180.00 per person plus taxes, and includes cocktails, canapes, and a five-course menu.As part of the culinary series, Eden Roc at Cap Cana has enjoyed the privilege of hosting two iconic American chefs this year, including the distinguished Chef Patrick O'Connell of The Inn at Little Washington in February, and Chef Jacob Jasinski of Ocean House in Rhode Island in March.For more information about Eden Roc at Cap Cana and these events, please call +1 (809) 469-7469 or visit www.edenroccapcana.com Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Anakhanum Hidayatova Trend: The visit of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Herbert Salber was constructive and useful, Malena Mard, head of the EU delegation in Azerbaijan, told reporters Oct. 27 in Baku. Mard said that within his mandate, the special representative supports peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and pays regular visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is important for the EU to have contact with both sides, she noted adding that the EU supports the peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group. 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. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum Scandinavian design is a term Americans typically equate with the minimalism and simplicity of Ikea, a wildly popular brand of international retail stores peddling Swedish-made furniture with frequently unpronounceable names. Although the stuff is well-made, assembling it can often be an exercise in frustration. After spending time with a unique keyboard and trackpad combo manufactured in the same country, Im now convinced Swedes are intentionally designing products for the sole purpose of making foreigners tear their hair out. Mini Keyboard K2 Penclic Mini Keyboard K2 ($50 on Amazon) sounds like a great ideaa compact, low-profile wireless input device with soft touch keys and an ergonomic (dare I say Scandinavian?) design that slopes upward along the back. Only five millimeters thick, less than a foot wide, and just over six inches deep, the K2 looks nice and is small enough to consider portable. Penclic Scandinavian good looks, but the cheap build quality and confusing keyboard layout limit the appeal of the Penclic Mini Keyboard K2. The first sign of trouble came when inserting the included rechargeable AAA batteries. Theres no indication which way they should go, so I popped them in, then struggled to open the tiny sliver of silicone rubber covering the USB charging port. The lone LED light on the front blinked red, but it wasnt clear if the accessory was actually charging. (It wasntI had to reverse the batteries to get a blinking green light.) On the plus side, the keyboard works up to two full months of daily use a single charge. A pair of plastic feet fold down from the bottom for a more comfortable typing angle, but the overall build quality leaves a lot to be desired. The keyboard feels cheap, and is often frustrating to type on. Press too hard and keystrokes fail to register, but a lighter touch never instills confidence that youre making contact with the mushy keys. Although Penclic markets this as PC and Mac compatible, the keyboard layout is downright hostile to Apple users. (The marketing fine print cautions: Not compatible with all MAC special functions.) The Command key is adorned with a symbol Ive never seen before (and which the user guide never identifies). It works, but requires some degree of mental gymnastics since its confusingly located between the Fn and Alt keys. Bluetooth, schmootooth! Other oddities abound: The Return key is orange for some reason, which gets more WTF when you realize a numeric keypad with the same color scheme is overlaid across some of the keys. Turns out these modifier keys are enabled with the Fn key, which confusingly uses a blue color scheme instead. (Doh!) Theres no LED light when the Caps Lock key is depressed, which drove me absolutely bonkers. The keyboard also offers the oddly labelled Alt Grr key to the right of the Space bar, which is actually the Euro-centric Alt Gr with a typo. (This, along with the F2 modifier key being labeled Silence! instead of Mute, proves Swedish designers at least have a sense of humor.) Although the Mini Keyboard K2 is wireless, it uses a USB receiver dongle rather than more common Bluetooth connectivity. The Mini Keyboard K2 has a USB port, but its for charging the batteries only. Penclic offers a cheaper corded model, which does offer a spare, usable USB port.) NiceTouch T2 The NiceTouch T2 (70) is a companion four-button touchpad with scroll wheel. If you use it with the Mini Keyboard K2, connecting the NiceTouch T2 to your Mac could be problematic. Since the USB connection on the keyboard is for charging only, the touchpad takes up yet another port on your Mac, and requires the use of an included extension cable on top of that. Penclic What do the four buttons on the NiceTouch T2 do? Youll have to consult the manual to find out, and hope you can remember. NiceTouch T2 simply isnt worth the effort. Its meant to be placed at the bottom of the keyboard as an ergonomic hand rest, but winds up moving the keys another five inches further away on your desk. The scroll wheel isnt a particularly intuitive way to navigate, and the buttons arent labeled, so I never was able to remember which was which. Adding insult to injury, both accessories are priced considerably higher than rival products. Bottom line With a cheap build quality and frustrating layout, I cant recommend either the Penclic Mini Keyboard K2 or the NiceTouch T2, especially for American users. Microsoft announced huge updates to its Surface line of tablets on Wednesday, as well as a brand-new Surface Studio, an all-in-one Windows 10 workstation that takes aim at the iMac. Microsofts first desktop PC has a 28-inch touchscreen display that you can stand upright and control with a mouse and keyboard, or tilt toward you to use with the Surface Pen or your fingers, directly on the screen. While just this morning I was making fun of the idea of a touchscreen Mac, the first images of the Surface Studio have me eating my words a little bit. The hinge, which Microsoft calls the Zero Gravity Hinge, lets the display tilt toward you all the way to a 20-degree angle, kind of like a drafters tableand very similar to the angle I get when I prop a 12.9-inch iPad Pro on the Twelve South ParcSlope stand. Its a comfortable way to work. The hinge lets you tilt the Surface Studio toward you, so you can use work directly on the touchscreen like its the worlds largest iPad Pro. Unlike the Surface Pro tablets and Surface Book, the Surface Studio is meant to live on a desktopthe 28-inch, 45003000 screen isnt portable in the slightest, its permanently attached to the stand, and it weighs 20 pounds. Its an iMacbut its new and cool. Apples iMac line hasnt gotten a refresh since October 2015, and its other desktop Mac, the Mac Pro, has languished since December 2013. At least Microsoft is pushing out innovative desktop designswith decent specs to bootuntil Apple finally ships new Macs. Thursdays Mac event is expected to feature an overhauled MacBook Pro design, and perhaps new iMacs too, although those might not be ready just yet. As we wait for new iMac models, we thought wed compare the high-end Surface Studio to the best iMacs you can buy today. The Surface Studio isnt cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but what premium will you pay for its clever mix of power and flexibility? Entry level The cheapest Surface Studio, which ships December 15, is priced at $2,999. For that, you get a quad-core Intel Core i5, 1TB of storage, 8GB of RAM, and a 2GB GPU. Now, thats a 6th-generation Core i5, which is the Skylake chipset, not the newer Kaby Lake chipset, since quad-core Kaby Lake chips wont be available until early 2017. The storage is a rapid hybrid drive, which is the same as a Fusion Drive in an iMac, combining solid-state and spinning-platter drives into one volume. Theres no all-SSD option for the Surface Studio. The graphic processor in the Surface Studio is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M, with 2GB GDDR5 memory. (Higher-end Studio models use the 980M with 4GB GDDR5 memory.) Thats a notebook-size GPU tuned for gaming, but the Surface Studio is aimed at creative prosthe 192ppi screen supports the sRGB and DCI-P3 color profiles, and you can switch between them with a single button-press. The Surface Studio comes with the Surface Pen, plus a matching keyboard and mouse. Apples 27-inch iMacs also have quad-core Intel Core i5 processors, the same Skylake chipsets as the Surface Studio. But a similarly speced 27-inch iMac would save you a thousand dollars. For $1,999 you could order Apples midrange iMac straight off the shelf, and get a 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB Fusion Drive, and a 51202880 Retina 5K display with P3 color profile. The biggest difference is the graphics chipin the iMac, you get an AMD Radeon R9 M390 with 2GB of GDDR5 memory. There is no Nvidia option for this iMac; its AMD all the way. Maxed out Intel offers a middle tier of Surface Studio with double the RAM (16GB) and an Intel Core i7 in place of the Core i5, for an extra $500, or $3,499 total. But lets push the limit and max out every Surface Studio spec just for fun. The best Surface Studio you can order is $4,199. Its got the Intel Core i7 processor, a whopping 32GB of RAM, a 2TB hybrid drive (again, the same thing as a Fusion drive on a Mac), and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M GPU with 4GB of GDDR5 memory. Microsoft currently isnt offering build-to-order options for the Surface Studio, so this is as maxed out as it gets right now, but its worth noting that this all-in-one comes with everything youd need, just like an iMac. You get the all-new Surface Keyboard, Surface Mouse, and the Apple Pencil-like Surface Pen. (Microsoft also sells an optional Surface Dial device for displaying menus on the Surface when youre using it in the flatter Studio mode. Its $100 on its own, but Microsoft is currently including it with Surface Studio preorders.) Apple Apples iMac hasnt gotten a fresh new design overhaul, but you can get one with very similar specs as the Surface Studio for hundreds less. A 27-inch 5K iMac with similar specs is still $700 cheaper, at $3,399, which includes some build-to-order options needed to match what the Surface Studio is offering. Going to a Core i7 processor, for example, is a $250 add-on over the $2,299 model, and getting up to 32GB of RAM will set you back an additional $600. The final upcharge would be $250 for the best GPU, an AMD Radeon R9 M395X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory. But you could keep pushing the iMac past the Surface Studio with a few more options. Microsofts all-in-one tops out at 2TB of storage, for example, but the iMac can have a 3TB Fusion Drive for an extra $100. If you want super-speedy all-flash storage, thats also doable, with a max of 1TB for $700. A fully maxed out 27-inch iMac would cost $4,099 if you ordered it today, with the same Core i7, 32GB of RAM, and 4GB of graphics memory as youd get it in the top-of-the-line Surface Studio. The iMac would have 1TB of faster solid-state storage, compared to the 2TB hybrid drive in the Surface Studio, and the Microsoft machine has an Nvidia GPU to the iMacs AMD. The Surface Studio looks pretty neat, I must admitits more adjustable, and comes with the Surface Pen, which is $60 on its own. But with the Mac, you get macOS Sierra. The Surface Studio runs Windows 10. So is it really much of a choice after all? The biggest change in the new MacBook Pro, announced at Apples media event on Thursday, is the elimination of the keyboards function keys. The Pros keyboard now has a contextually relevant Touch Bar at the top. That makes the keyboard more versatile than ever, with keys that change according to the app youre using. Apple will support its own apps with the Touch Bar, of course, but will also open it up to third-party developers. One of those developers is Adobe, a natural fit. This new MacBook Pro and Photoshop are made for each other, Bradee Evans, experience design manager of Adobe Photoshop, said in an on-stage demo at Apples keynote presentation. Evans showcased how Photoshop, software in most creative professionals toolkits, will work with the new MacBook Pros Touch Bar. (Click each image to see a full-size version.) Everyone knows that using Photoshop requires a lot of clicking to achieve the perfect combination of visual effects. But as Evans demonstrated using a photo of a woman climbing a cave in Greece, the Touch Bar makes that process a little less complicated. What if the cave were in the desert instead of Greece? Evans said. The tool for cutting things out in Photoshop is called Select and Mask. Its usually buried in a submenu, but with the Touch Bar, its right on the keyboard. After you touch Select and Mask, the Touch Bar changes again to show you just the tools you need. With your right hand you mouse and select on the trackpad, and with your left hand you adjust the sizing. This two-hand way of working is really fun, Evans said. To add to an open document, choose Favorites on the Touch Bar and then add a new layer. You can go full-screen from the Touch Bar if you wantthere are no panels or menus to push out of the way. Every option is in the Touch Bar. There is a mode of the Touch Bar just for brush control, so you can change the size of the brush, the flow of color through the brush, and how hard the brush is. Choosing color is now easier with the Touch Bar. You can keep your right hand on the trackpadwhich is now two times largerfor painting while the left hand is choosing colors by sliding across the Touch Bar. It almost feels like youre playing a musical instrument, Evans said. If you want to blend the colors with the layer beneath it, you can change the blend mode in the layer properties. That can be difficult in Photoshop sans Touch Bar. Theres a lot of clicking and trying and hoping and guessing, Evans said. But with the new MacBook Pro, you can just scroll through blend modes in the Touch Bar to find the best one for your image, from soft light to vivid light and everywhere in between. If at any point you dont like the changes youve made, you can scroll back through the visual history of your image in the Touch Bar. The Touch Bar-optimized version of Photoshop is expected to roll out by the end of the year. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the bleeding wound for both Azerbaijan and Turkey, the countrys new Ambassador to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral said in an exclusive interview with Trend. Efforts have been made within the framework of OSCE Minsk Group for many years to solve this issue, the diplomat said. Unfortunately, the negotiation process supported by Turkey hasnt given any positive results so far, he noted. The ambassador expressed hope that the ongoing negotiations will become more constructive and concrete steps will be taken to address the issue. Turkey wants the Caucasus to be a region of peace and prosperity, the diplomat said. Turkey has long been suffering from issues and conflicts in neighboring countries, said Erkan Ozoral. In this context, we want the Caucasus to become an example for all humanity as an island of peace. He noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be fairly resolved within the framework of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Turkey has always supported and will support any path Azerbaijan will choose within the framework of these principles, the ambassador said. We are ready to provide every support to achieve peace. The great injustice Azerbaijan is facing increases as the settlement of the problem is getting protracted. 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. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade The case was granted cert by the Supreme Court in September. Betty Anne Morgan, of counsel at Paz Horowitz, and Bill Barber, a partner at Pirkey Barber, will discuss the case in a session today at the AIPLA Annual Meeting. The Tam case concerns the name of the band: The Slants. Simon Tam, the bassist and a founding member of the Asian-American band, attempted to register a trademark for "The Slants." The USPTO's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) affirmed the office's denial of the mark. Its rejection was based on Section 2(a) of the Trademark Act, which bars the registration of "disparaging" marks. The Supreme Court is being asked whether the provision is "contrary to the First Amendment." The Federal Circuit en banc ruled last December that the bar against registering disparaging marks violated the First Amendment, and the USPTO appealed to the Supreme Court. Barber, who will argue that the provision is constitutional is concerned that "without this provision, the register is going to opened up to the most vile, racist trademarks imaginable," and will become "cluttered with these marks that the US government is going to have to send to WIPO or foreign governments." Morgan of Paz Horowitz doesn't believe that doing away with Section 2(a) will "have that much effect." She says that there aren't many applications for scandalous or disparaging marks and that, for most brand owners, the possibility of "market backlash" is discouragement enough. Rather, registrants of such marks will be "people like the band The Slants, artists and people with products that are more fringe," such as the apparel brand "FUCT," which has also appealed the USPTO's denial of its trademark registration. The closely-watched Tam case also has implications for the even more buzzed-about Redskins case, which is pending at the Fourth Circuit. The Redskins petitioned the Supreme Court for cert under an extraordinary provision that would allow its case to bypass the lower courts and be heard with the Tam case, but was denied. Furthermore, Barber worries, if the provision is struck down, it could clear the way for the registration not only of racially disparaging marks, but of parodies of famous marks. On the other hand, Morgan argues that allowing the provision to remain in place would overrule the Court's own precedent in the Citizens United case. "One sign of how divisive this is and there are good arguments on both sides is that if you look at that, none of the major IP organizations filed amicus briefs," says Barber of the Tam case, adding that INTA was the exception, filing a brief on one, relatively minor, issue of the case. The examination of the case promises a heated debate between Morgan and Barber. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) has seen a slew of unusual cases this year. John Welch, an attorney with Wolf Greenfield in Boston who writes about the TTAB on his appropriately named site The TTABlog, will this afternoon at the AIPLA Annual Meeting discuss a number of interesting and precedential cases, from motion to marijuana and fire power to fraud. In the In re Loggerhead Tools decision the TTAB upheld the denial of Loggerhead's attempt to register a trademark for the motion of the jaws of a wrench or crimper opening and closing. Loggerhead tried a number of novel arguments about its design patents, but ultimately these failed the Board's four-part Morton-Norwich test. "The Board said, 'Sorry, there's a patent on this," says Welch, "this is a function of a device, and a trademark can't be for something that's functional." Welch will delve more deeply into the intricate crossovers of design and utility patents and trademarks at play in the case. As marijuana becomes legal or decriminalized in an increasing number of states, the issue is drifting into the TTAB too. But applicants for marijuana-related marks face sticky issues when trying to register nationally-recognized marks for marijuana because the product is still illegal in most states. That leaves the booming marijuana industry to either attempt to circumvent Trademark Act provisions, or "would leave them to get state registrations, but in states where they can't get a Federal registration," says Welch. Some surprising registrations have survived the TTAB this year too, such as a color mark for "white" for "preformed gunpowder charges for muzzleloading firearms" in the In re Hodgdon Powder Company decision. As Welch comments on his blog, "I can't remember the last time that a single-color mark passed muster at the TTAB." As if that weren't novel enough, the color wasn't even a true color and the product is another subject of legal contention. Welch will explain how a trademark for a single color could be issued on the grounds of being an anomaly. Welch will also discuss a fraud case handed down from the TTAB in September. Since the laws governing fraud in the TTAB were changed in 2009 (following In re: Bose), only once such case has been upheld by the TTAB. This case, involving an auto dealer, was no exception to the rule that "it's still very hard to prove fraud," as Welch says, and the details of the case that he will unpack will demonstrate why. The TTAB this month published a notice of final rule making of its "Miscellaneous Changes to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Rules of Practice." The amended rules require all plaintiffs to file complaints through the Electronic System for Trademark Trials and Appeals, with the exception of ex parte appeals. The Board also shifted the responsibility for serving the defendant with a complaint back from the plaintiff to the Board itself. Now, however, this service, as well as all other correspondences and stipulations, will be done online, through email or online links, and not through mail. The new rules require all discovery to be served in time so that the responses are submitted before the discovery period is over. This deprives practitioners of a tactical tool, but it is hoped that the discovery period will be prevented from bleeding over into the testimony period, which "kind of screws up everything and causes delays," says Welch. In the final rule, parties are limited to 75 requests for admissions and document production and all discovery must be done in a six-month discovery period. The amendments also allow plaintiffs to submit a declaration or affidavit for their testimonies. "Once you get this sort of canned declaration, you can use it over and over again," says Welch, "so you don't have to go through the rigmarole of live testimony every time." The amendments are meant to streamline and make TTAB proceedings more efficient, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will move any faster. The new rules are "more efficient in the sense that less effort has to go into it to get through the hoops," says Welch. "But it's still the same hoops, more or less, in the same order, with the same timing." Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Womens Commission chairperson K.C Rosakutty requested the police and the government to take action against those responsible for installing flex boards against woman journalists. The boards were installed last Friday in Thiruvananthapuram city. She also said that the complaints filed by the lawyers against the journalists will be rejected if they are found to be false. Islamabad : For the second day in a row, Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest over alleged "unprovoked firing" by Indian forces along the Working Boundary and Line of Control. It was second day in succession that Indian envoy J P Singh was summoned by the Foreign Office over violation of ceasefire. "The Indian Deputy High Commissioner was summoned by the Director General (South Asia & SAARC) today. A strong protest was lodged against the unprovoked ceasefire violations," the Foreign Office said in a statement. The protest was lodged over violation of ceasefire agreement at the Working Boundary in Chaprar and Harpal sectors and on the LoC in Bhimber sector on 25-26 October, the statement said. Pakistan said that two civilians were killed and nine others injured in the firing. "It was conveyed to the Indian side that it should investigate the incident and share the findings with Pakistan, instruct its troops to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, refrain from intentionally targeting the villages and maintain peace on the Working Boundary and the LoC," FO said. PTI Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: Ankara expects not only economic, but also political results from trilateral formats of cooperation, new Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral said in an exclusive interview with Trend. He said that trilateral formats will provide strong support for regional development by raising political and economic ties between three countries to a new level. Having noted the importance of trilateral formats of cooperation being implemented by Azerbaijan and Turkey with other states, the diplomat said that the bilateral co-operation carried out earlier by these countries will be of great benefit to peoples if implemented in a trilateral format. The trilateral format of cooperation of Azerbaijan and Turkey with Georgia is the best example of this, he said. The benefits of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline brought to the three countries are obvious. Everyone knows what kind of benefits the project of Baku Tbilisi-Kars railway, the construction of which is in the final stage, will bring to the three countries, as well as the whole Eurasia, he said. Ozoral noted that cooperation of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the same format with Iran will also benefit all three countries. He said that with the diversification of routes leading to Central Asia by Turkey, Azerbaijan will become a main point in this direction. All this has a positive impact on the transportation by vessels through the Caspian Sea, Ro-Ro transportation and rail transportation in the region, noted the diplomat. Ozoral added that the trilateral cooperation, on the one hand, will support the development of trilateral economic ties, on the other hand, will strengthen the three countries relations and bring them together for their political point of view. All this will play a major role in ensuring peace and prosperity in the region, said the ambassador. He also noted that work on creation of the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Russia trilateral format is being carried out. Earlier, during the meeting in St. Petersburg with Russias President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia may form a trilateral cooperation mechanism, and both Moscow and Ankara have a very positive attitude towards the proposed scheme. Currently, there are several trilateral formats in the region such as Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey, Azerbaijan-Turkey-Iran and Turkey-Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan. It is noteworthy that Azerbaijan and Turkey are key states in all those interstate structures. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade Imprisonment or Impeachment The Dirty Turn of the American Election Never in her official life, had Hillary Clinton imagined that her secret and corrupt dealings, without any legal loophole, would be proclaimed at the roof of the building, as has been written in the Bible. The Biblical prophecy is getting fulfilled in the twenty first century in the case of Hillary Clinton as the WikiLeaks has been exposing her several sensitive e-mails, giving light to her shady deals, corruptions and bribing in terms of not in millions but in billions, sometimes trillions. The Tremor and Tsunami Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are in shocks as both of them were involved in most of such dealings. They expressed their anger and frustration blaming Russia and Putin for exposing their misdeeds through cyber-attacks. Both Obama and Hillary are determined to win the election at any cost for it is a life and death issue for them. They have been indulging in character assassination of Donald Trump, bringing out fabricated stories or shows sometimes with poor scripts and mediocre artists, posing as the victims of Trumps sexual adventures. They could cleverly feed such fabricated stories in all newspapers and television channels even after bribing them in terms of millions so as to defame him with negative campaign and keep Donald Trump always at defense. Using such a strategy of psychological warfare, they could effectively hide their misdeeds and keep themselves insulated from any type of negative campaign. But the WikiLeaks upset all their calculated measures and emerged as a Tremor capable of bringing out Legal and Political tsunami in America. Hillary and Hubbell Hillary Clinton is a very clever, greedy, power and money-hungry woman capable of doing anything that she wants without bothering the legality or ethical considerations. She bothers only about her interest and not the interest of the Country or the People. She learned the art of fraud, bribery and corruption and above all fabrication and manipulation of evidences from her legal associate or partner, Webster Hubbell who was made the Chief Justice of the Arkansas State Supreme Court when she was the First Lady. Later Hubbell was found guilty to federal mail fraud and tax evasion for overbilling clients. Hubbell served 15 months in prison that haunts Hillary Clinton every now and then. Her natural and brutal instinct for safety or security and survival makes her strive to become the President of America at any cost, bribing Medias and influential people in terms of millions that she raised as corruption, doing favors to individuals, organizations and countries even illegally and unconstitutionally. WikiLeaks Revelations The gravity and intensity of some of the corruptions committed by Hillary Clinton have been brought to light by the recent WikiLeaks revelations. For every dealing she did as the Secretary of State, she demanded big money in terms of millions, sometimes billions especially when dealing with other countries such as Morocco, Saudi Arabia and etc. on trade, migration, defense or nuclear trade and so on, even flouting the norms and rules or constitutional provisions, risking the very safety or interest of the Country. Impeachment or Imprisonment If Hillary Clinton is elected, the Senate has no other option but to impeach her and the Court has to imprison her, a legacy she inherited from her husband, Bill Clinton and her partner, Webster Hubbell, as evidences are very strong against her. Obama cannot also be spared. More and more dirty deals against the Constitution and the interest of the Nation will be surfaced with solid evidences in the coming days. It is sure and certain that Donald Trump cannot spare them for he loves fighting till he wins. In the coming days, the Corrupt or Bribed Medias will be exposed and punished along with those who made fabricated stories or allegations against him. My recent writings on these topics appeared in the Market Oracle (UK) can be found with the help of the following link: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/UserInfo-Dr_R_M_Mathew.html Prof. (Dr.) Raju M. Mathew 2016 Copyright Dr. Raju M. Mathew - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: Republic Day is not only Turkeys but also Azerbaijans holiday, new Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral said in an exclusive interview with Trend. His remarks come on the eve of the Republic Day of Turkey celebrated Oct. 29. I worked in Azerbaijan in 2005-2009, the diplomat said. In those years I observed the rapid development of the country. However, seven years later, I witnessed even greater development in Azerbaijan. In general, for 25 years, the country has made great progress on the path of independence and its strengthening. The ambassador also congratulated the people of Azerbaijan on the 25th anniversary of restoration of Azerbaijans state independence celebrated Oct. 18. On October 29, our republic will celebrate its 93rd anniversary, the diplomat said. Independence Day of Azerbaijan is our common holiday, and Turkeys Republic Day is celebrated both in Azerbaijan and Turkey. He added that the Republic Day in Turkey will be mournful this year, because the Turkish nation experienced a strong shock earlier. We overcame a big threat thanks to the people, its support to the head of state, political will of Turkeys president, said the diplomat. We faced the greatest betrayal throughout the countrys history. The terrorist organization, which has for many years used the religious factor to seize the power and abused good intentions of people, attempted a military coup on July 15 to achieve its goal, which previously could not be realized in other ways, he added. Of course, that was totally unacceptable for the Turkish people, who on July 15 took to the streets, noted Ozoral. The ambassador says that not only Turkey, but also the whole world drew a lesson from the July 15 events. He also expressed gratitude to Azerbaijans government, Azerbaijans people led by President Ilham Aliyev and every citizen of Azerbaijan for their support to Turkey. Ozoral added that flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan were flown together during rallies after the attempted military coup. This clearly shows how close are our countries, our states and our peoples to each other, said the ambassador. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade The Aging of the Microchip Industry Is the Reason Behind This Economic Malaise BY GEORGE FRIEDMAN : Classical economics argues that as capitalism matures, competition causes both wages and profits to decline. Wages go down because the early successes of capitalism cause more workers to compete for jobs. Profits decline because more businesses enter markets, causing business failure. Why hasnt that happened? Karl Marx gave the answer but he didnt see that it negated his theory. He argued that under capitalism, the means of production are constantly transformed. As some industries decline, others emerge. Those new industries start with much higher wages and rates of return on capital. So theres no revolution, just the constant ferment of innovation. What makes this possible? Improvements in technology are one cause. They trigger new methods of production, distribution, and organization that lead to increased productivity per worker. As productivity goes up, profit margins and wages do too. Thats why this chart is so troubling. Since the 2008 financial crisis, US productivity growth has diminished. This year, it will fall. According to The Conference Board, there is a worldwide decline in the rate of productivity growth. The link between the microchip industry and productivity I would argue that this crisis has a great deal to do with the aging of the microchip industry. The introduction of the microchip into all parts of the economy had a massive effect, like that of electricity or the combustion engine. These technologies also had a range of unintended consequences that gave them a logarithmic effect on the economy. Lets take a look at the automobile. In 1910, Henry Fords production innovations introduced the automobile as a revolutionary technology. By 1950, his invention was a norm in industry. It had ceased to be transformative. It had transformed the culture. From 1950 onward, the focus was less on improvements in performance than on design and marketing. Wages and returns remained high for about 20 more years, but it did not radically improve productivity in other industries. The innovation had been absorbed. And then, decline set in. By the 1970s, the technologies spawned in World War II had reached maturation. A time of economic dysfunction set in. Then in the early 1980s until the early 2010s, the microchip helped to reverse that global stagnation. IBM introduced the first PC in 1981. In 35 years, the microchip has transformed all aspects of life and business. But when the new iPhone was introduced, the focus was on the lack of a headphone jack. It is reminiscent of the features introduced for cars in the 1950s. Consumers were still excited, and the auto companies made the best of it, but the heroic days of auto development were done. Now, there are still new applications to be found in computing, but the heroic age is over. And the amount to which it can surge productivity is as well. It is now time to stop thinking of chip-based systems as cutting edge. A period of economic malaise occurs between one socially transformative technology and the next. But there has always been an emergent new technology that revolutionizes society and economic performance. War and Eurasia Economic problems are compounding the instability in Eurasia. The aging of the microchip industry is critical because it has decreased productivity growth. That negative growth puts in place the decline in wages and pressure on profitability that classical economists predicted. In turn, that puts stress on a fragile region of the world. The internal combustion engine was the basis of warfare in World War II. Since the 1980s, militaries around the world have shifted to microchip-based warfare from precision-guided munitions to field hospitals. The World War II model of war was made obsolete by the microchip. In the future, those nations that develop the next transformative technology will have an advantage in applying it to warfare. Since war is the most human of things, any transformative technology will transform this sphere. It always does. Productivity and technology are foundations of the Eurasian crisis. Whatever comes next will be a foundation of war. Watch George Friedman's Ground-breaking Documentary, Crisis & Chaos: Are We Moving Toward World War III? Russian adventurism. An ailing EU. Devastation in the Middle East. These are just three symptoms of a systemic instability engulfing a region thats home to 5 billion of the planets 7 billion people. In this provocative documentary from Mauldin Economics and Geopolitical Futures, George Friedman uncovers the crises convulsing Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and reveals the geopolitical chess moves that could trigger global conflict. Register to watch the documentary now. John Mauldin Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. The US Sent a Warning Message to Putin BY JACOB L. SHAPIRO : US Vice President Joe Biden went on NBCs Meet the Press recently and said the US was sending a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bidens words come after the US released a statement that it was confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations. The statement also said that the hacks must have been ordered from Russias senior-most officials and were intended to interfere with the US election process. The NBC interviewer likened it to the US throwing a high hard one. Another scenario is what were dealing with here. Note that Bidens comment isnt even really a threat. All Biden really did was warn about a future message the US is going to send to Putin at an inopportune moment that no one but Putin will ever know about. For all we know, itll be a really strongly worded email. War of the words The US assertion that the Russian government hacked into the offices of the Democratic Party with the intent of manipulating the US election is striking. But it shouldnt surprise anyone. Russia is certainly not the only country that tries to get information through various means to shape perceptions and reality. It is more interesting that the US chose to call out the Russians for the hacks publicly and then follow up with Bidens controversial interview. Maybe the US hopes to undermine Russias position in Europe by demonstrating its meddlesome nature. In most government responses to questions on this topic, US representatives never fail to point out that Russia does this in Europe and Central Asia too. Also, such a public accusation could have a significant domestic political impact. For example, Donald Trump now gets hurt by his previous comments about Putin. Whatever the case, the Russians are already turning this back around. The practical consequences of this war of words will not amount to much. Its hard to see much in the way of serious geopolitical consequences for the Russians, even if they are guilty of these hacks. It certainly doesnt change the imperatives or conditions of the various areas in which the Russians and Americans dont see eye to eye. Spinning the Hack This will all just become more grist for Russias public relations mill. The Russians use moments such as these to make the US seem simultaneously paranoid and overbearing. This also helps them justify some of their more aggressive moves. Then you have Trump, whose campaign is on the ropes, and who has responded by touring the country and insisting to his passionate followers that the system is rigged. The elites of the Republican Party have distanced themselves from this line, and so has Trumps running mate. Now technically both the Democrats and Republicans are trading conspiracies of attempted manipulation of election results. Trump thinks its the system. The Democrats think its the Russians. Both are trying to use it to their political benefit. So the Obama administration is sending a very strong message to Russia through Biden that it is going to be sending a very strong message. Putin is sitting back and watching the show, chiding the US for its hysteria. It makes you wonder who is sending what message to whom. Watch George Friedman's Ground-breaking Documentary, Crisis & Chaos: Are We Moving Toward World War III? Russian adventurism. An ailing EU. Devastation in the Middle East. These are just three symptoms of a systemic instability engulfing a region thats home to 5 billion of the planets 7 billion people. In this provocative documentary from Mauldin Economics and Geopolitical Futures, George Friedman uncovers the crises convulsing Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and reveals the geopolitical chess moves that could trigger global conflict. Register to watch the documentary now. John Mauldin Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Globalization Faces Challenges For much of the second half of the 20th Century, and even into the new millennium, "Globalization" was the dominant theme used to describe the drift of the world economy. It was widely considered both natural and inevitable that the world economy would continue to integrate and that national boundaries would become less constraining to commerce and culture. And with the exception of the eternal "anti-globalization" protesters, who robotically appeared at large gatherings of world leaders, the benefits of globalization were widely lauded by politicians, corporate leaders and rank and file citizens alike. But a casual glance at the world headlines of 2016 suggests that the belief in globalization has crested, and is now in retreat. What are the consequences of this change? International trade has existed for millennia. But few modern historians would characterize the trade caravans that crossed the Himalayas and the Sahara as sources of international conflict. Rather, they are widely seen as a useful means to bring goods that were plentiful from one region to other regions where they were scarce. Along the way, routes like the Silk Road in Asia created a great number of positive secondary benefits in culture and politics. But relatively modern developments such as ocean-going sailing ships, modern navigation, and steam and diesel power, have greatly increased the size and scope of trade. Globalism was also boosted rapidly by technological advances in communications, including intercontinental jet travel, fax machines, satellite telephones, the Internet, real time money transfers and massive investment flows to international and emerging markets. Since the end of WWII, the establishment of international reserve currencies and the rise of supranational organizations, such as the United Nations, The World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, has saddled trade with more political baggage. The rise of bi-lateral and multi-lateral trade negotiations, which are often shadowy and bureaucratic affairs conducted behind closed doors, have further eroded support for trade. Oftentimes these efforts have resulted in deals that clearly favor politically connected players and have given rise to justified accusations of cronyism. By opening larger markets and reducing costs, certain corporations have amassed shocking wealth. The benefits to workers are far more diffuse and difficult to quantify. The Harvard Business Review of May 13, 2016 published an article by Branko Milanovic about the unequal distribution of wealth generated by globalism. Milanovic comments that, since the mid-1980s, globalism has resulted in the "greatest reshuffle of personal incomes since the Industrial Revolution. It's also the first time that global inequality has declined in the past two hundred years." Milanovic points to two main conclusions. First, he highlights the massive percentage gain in wages in Asia, particularly among the middle classes. In some cases, percentage wage gains in the Asian middle class have eclipsed the percentage gains experienced by the top one percent in the richer Western economies. In stark contrast, the U.S. and Western lower and middle classes have enjoyed almost no percentage wage increases, while their top one percent was the only group to experience significant income gains, based on available household surveys from 1988 to 2008. A recent unpublished paper by John E. Roemer, a political scientist at Yale, suggests that the diminishing of global inequality made possible by trade is far less potent politically than the relative increases in national inequality. In other words, the benefits of globalism are obscured while the costs are highly visible. The agricultural revolution that occurred in the United States in the early 20th century greatly diminished the need for farm workers. But the change spanned two generations and allowed time for migration and adaptation for factory jobs. The globalism that we have seen in the last 20-30 years has been even more rapid and transforming. Enabled by their wealth and past successes, the developed nations have, over the past few generations, adopted labor policies that have made them less able to compete against lower cost manufacturers in the developing world. This has widened the divide between white collar and blue collar workers. Long-term unemployment among normally hard-working people can lead to the loss of a sense of worth, depression and to dangerous dependencies on drugs and alcohol, even to suicide. It poses risks to social and political stability. These concerns are now expressing themselves politically. Nowhere has globalization been championed harder than in the European Union. Lingering devastation from two world wars led many to look to greater integration, both within Europe and without, as a means to achieve lasting peace. However, the creation of the EU super state has trampled the local autonomy of once proud nations, and has convinced voters there that globalization is fundamentally undemocratic. This erosion of trust in government elites, and the free trade they promote, has led to a backlash. The successful Brexit vote was the clearest manifestation of this trend. But it is likely not the last. More recently, a high profile trade agreement negotiated by 27 governments over seven years (that would have theoretically benefited 500 million citizens of the EU and 35 million Canadians) was killed by the objections of 3.5 million Belgian Walloons (B. McKenna, The Globe and Mail, 10/25/16). Notably, the Belgians' reluctance did not appear to stem from their desire to protect a specific domestic industry but from their general views about how globalization supposedly punishes workers. The New York Times had reported last Friday the Canadian International Trade Minister, Chrystia Freeland, as saying, "...the EU is not capable now to have an international deal, even with a nation with such European values like Canada." Much will depend upon how the EU adapts to the new political climate precipitated by Brexit. If it fails to do so adequately, its euro currency could become suspect. As the world's second currency, this would have serious implications for the international monetary and investment communities. A similar populist angst has evolved in the U.S. giving rise to the unanticipated voter appeal of Presidential candidates like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. Ominously, anti-trade rhetoric is on the rise on both the left and the right of the political spectrum. Even the Clintons, once the standard-bearers of the free trade center, have turned against the principles of Globalism. As a candidate, Hillary Clinton has turned against the Trans Pacific Partnership that she backed as Secretary of State, and has even fallen into criticism of NAFTA, one of the signature achievements of her husband's presidency. The recent episodes with Apple Computer and Deutsche Bank also offer potentially dark previews of how anti-globalization forces could impact corporations and economies. While they remain separate issues on paper, the government confrontations that currently embroil the two companies have led many to determine that they are linked. In September, Apple Computer, perhaps the U.S.' premiere technology and industrial company, was fined a staggering $14 billion by the European Union for having supposedly transferred taxable income, derived throughout the European Union, to the low tax jurisdiction of Ireland, thereby evading taxes that should have been paid to many other EU nations. Although the tax structures had been created by the Irish government (that fought hand in hand with Apple against the EU), Brussels nevertheless held Apple liable. The decision also invoked howls of condemnation from Washington, where many claimed Europe was capturing taxes that rightly should have been shipped back across the Atlantic. Just two weeks after the broadside against Apple, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a $14 billion fine leveled against Deutsche Bank, Germany's premiere financial institution, stemming from "irregularities" in the bank's mortgage finance business in the years leading up to the financial crash of 2008. While many U.S. banks were hit with similar fines for similar conduct, the size of the Deutsche Bank fine was much larger than had been anticipated. The Bank claimed that it did not have the resources to pay and the German government has voiced its own displeasure at the heavy-handed treatment from Washington. Many have suggested a quid pro quo related to Apple. If so, such disputes in the future could threaten global economic cooperation. Pressures on politicians likely will rise dramatically to ensure more equitable sharing of new national wealth, and the protection of traditional domestic industries. This will inspire them to suggest popular sounding protectionist policies, further exacerbating the economic stagnation on display in the West, and perhaps increasing global instability and mistrust. Those countries that embrace free and fair trade with new technologies stand to reap great rewards. Those who do not, and revert to trade protectionism, could experience economic recession and monetary adversity accompanied by serious social and financial upheaval. But like everything else in the world today, the trends do not look benign. Read the original article at Euro Pacific Capital Subscribe to Euro Pacific's Weekly Digest: Receive all commentaries by Peter Schiff, Michael Pento, and John Browne delivered to your inbox every Monday. By John Browne Euro Pacific Capital http://www.europac.net/ More importantly make sure to protect your wealth and preserve your purchasing power before it's too late. Discover the best way to buy gold at www.goldyoucanfold.com , download my free research report on the powerful case for investing in foreign equities available at www.researchreportone.com , and subscribe to my free, on-line investment newsletter at http://www.europac.net/newsletter/newsletter.asp John Browne is the Senior Market Strategist for Euro Pacific Capital, Inc. Mr. Brown is a distinguished former member of Britain's Parliament who served on the Treasury Select Committee, as Chairman of the Conservative Small Business Committee, and as a close associate of then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Among his many notable assignments, John served as a principal advisor to Mrs. Thatcher's government on issues related to the Soviet Union, and was the first to convince Thatcher of the growing stature of then Agriculture Minister Mikhail Gorbachev. As a partial result of Brown's advocacy, Thatcher famously pronounced that Gorbachev was a man the West "could do business with." A graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Britain's version of West Point and retired British army major, John served as a pilot, parachutist, and communications specialist in the elite Grenadiers of the Royal Guard. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Details added (first version posted on 12:18) Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the credentials of newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uruguay Enrique Delgado Genta on Oct. 27. Ambassador Enrique Delgado Genta reviewed a guard of honor. Enrique Delgado Genta presented his credentials to President Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev then had a conversation with the ambassador. The head of state said there have been positive improvements in terms of the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Uruguay recently. President Ilham Aliyev stressed the importance of active participation of the Uruguayan delegation in Baku International Humanitarian Forum. The head of state recalled his meeting with the Uruguayan delegation. President Ilham Aliyev said the Uruguayan delegation traditionally attends the Forum and noted that this created good opportunities for the development of bilateral relations. The head of state said there has been good dynamic in the development of Azerbaijani-Uruguayan relations recently. President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the importance of ambassadors role in strengthening the bilateral ties. Ambassador Enrique Delgado Genta conveyed greetings of President of the Republic of Uruguay Tabare Vazquez to the head of state. The diplomat said his countrys president attaches great importance to the development of relations with Azerbaijan, which are relatively new. The head of state thanked for the greetings of President Tabare Vazquez, and asked the ambassador to extend his greetings to the Uruguayan leader. Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev also received the credentials of newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Ghana to the country Kodzo Kpoku Alabo on Oct. 27. Kodzo Kpoku Alabo reviewed a guard of honor. The ambassador presented his credentials to President Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev then had a conversation with the ambassador. Ambassador Kodzo Kpoku Alabo conveyed greetings of President of the Republic of Ghana John Dramani Mahama to President Ilham Aliyev, and noted that the president of Ghana instructed him to develop bilateral relations between the two countries. Kodzo Kpoku Alabo stressed the importance of signing the agreement on political consultations between Azerbaijan and Ghana and conducting negotiations on the elimination of visa regime for diplomatic and service passport holders. The ambassador said that during his diplomatic tenure he would spare no effort to expand relations between the two countries. They emphasized the existence of good opportunities for developing cooperation between the two countries in various areas, including energy and sport. The head of state thanked for the greetings of President John Dramani Mahama, and asked the ambassador to extend his greetings to the president of Ghana. Azerbaijani president received the credentials of newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Sudan Telar Ring Deng on Oct. 27. Ambassador Telar Ring Deng reviewed a guard of honor. Telar Ring Deng presented his credentials to President Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev then had a conversation with the ambassador. Noting that relations between Azerbaijan and South Sudan were at the initial stage of development, the head of state hailed the importance of reviewing the initiatives aimed at developing the bilateral cooperation. President Ilham Aliyev underlined the significance of exploring opportunities for the development of bilateral relations in a variety of areas, particularly in the field of economy, energy, trade and healthcare. Telar Ring Deng said he was pleased to be appointed as ambassador to Azerbaijan, adding that this created a good opportunity for getting closely familiarized with the country. Saying it is his first visit to Azerbaijan, ambassador Telar Ring Deng hailed the beauty of Baku. He said South Sudan is one of the newest countries on the world map, and expressed hope that his country will build good bilateral relations with Azerbaijan. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also received the credentials of newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada Christopher John Cooter on Oct. 27. Christopher John Cooter reviewed a guard of honor. Ambassador Christopher John Cooter presented his credentials to President Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev then had a conversation with the ambassador. Ambassador Christopher John Cooter said he is deeply impressed by the development of Baku. He noted that a number of Canadian major companies are operating in Azerbaijan in various areas including high technologies, transportation and tourism. Saying Azerbaijani students receive education at Canadian universities, Christopher John Cooter stressed the importance of improving educational cooperation between the two countries. The Canadian ambassador said he will spare no efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries. Touching upon Canadian companies long-term activities in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev hailed the importance of implementing joint projects. President Ilham Aliyev said the two hotels in Baku - Four Seasons and Fairmont - that belong to Canadian companies are the best hotels in the region. The head of state said Flame Towers complex where Fairmont hotel is located has become one of the newest symbols of modern Baku. President Ilham Aliyev said he is hopeful that cooperation with Canadian companies will continue. BIG STONE GAP Some employees of Virginias declining coal industry may soon shift career paths, working in an industry focused on the sky instead of below the ground. The drone industry likely will absorb some coal workers as part of a new grant package announced by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Wednesday. The workers will be trained to operate the unmanned aerial vehicles, which are remote-controlled aircraft ranging in size from a few ounces to several pounds. About $6.6 million in federal grant funding was described at a news conference at Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap. The money is earmarked for Southwest Virginia communities impacted by disappearing jobs in industries such as coal, tobacco and textiles. The old economy of Virginia is gone, McAuliffe said, stressing the need to train workers for jobs in emerging fields, such as drone operation and cyber security. A majority of the funding comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal organization composed of parts of 13 Appalachian states. Other plans for the funding include expanding cyber security education and boosting tourism. Of the total $20.3 million pledged to 13 states by the commission, $2.2 million will go to the Industrial Development Authority in Wise for the Virginia Emerging Drone Industry Cluster Project to train coal workers in the field. McAuliffe joked that the future of burritos being delivered by drones looks promising, but the technology has a number of more serious applications. Fred Coeburn, who works with the drone program at Mountain Empire Community College, said the unmanned aerial vehicles can safely inspect cellphone towers or use thermal imaging to diagnose problems in extensive agricultural fields. The drone funding is expected to create 210 direct and indirect jobs, McAuliffe said. The funding will also support drone courses at the community college to train students . Earl Gohl, co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission, said the funding will create jobs, create wealth, and push communities to be stronger places to live. A $1.42 million portion of the grant will help three schools Southwest Virginia Community College, the University of Virginias College at Wise and Mountain Empire Community College in cyber security education. McAuliffe said Virginia currently has 17,000 open jobs in cyber security that dont require four-year degrees. Also, they have starting salaries of $88,000. Currently, not enough students are graduating with skills for the jobs that exist, McAuliffe said. A $3 million grant will go to Friends of Southwest Virginia in Abingdon to promote tourism. This funding will be used to: Develop four access points to the New River; Construct a 4,000-square-foot gateway center to the High Knob Recreation Area, which will provide visitors with more access to recreational areas; Build an Appalachian Trail center in downtown Damascus; Create a 30-mile trail from Breaks Interstate Park to downtown Haysi. The money going to Friends of Southwest Virginia is projected to create 60 new businesses and 200 jobs. Among the receivers of smaller, local grants is Abingdon-based Round the Mountain, a nonprofit that supports local artisans. It received an $11,000 grant that will be used to support the cluster of craft breweries in Southwest Virginia. Plans include a new craft beer trail that will connect the locations as well as local brewers together with local farmers to ensure the ingredients come from local suppliers, said Diana Blackburn, executive director of Round the Mountain. The grant will help us develop a fuller proposal [to continue funding the projects], Blackburn said. The ARC funding was announced in tandem with other grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which contributed an additional $7.6 million. The funding was awarded through the Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization program. The federal multi-agency effort targets federal economic and work force development resources to communities and workers affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries attributed to the changing economics of Americas energy production. Attorneys for University of Virginia administrator Nicole Eramo said they might only need one more day to finish presenting evidence in their $7.5 million lawsuit against Rolling Stone magazine, its publisher and author Sabrina Rubin Erdely. That estimate comes after the ninth day in court over claims made in Erdelys November 2014 article A Rape on Campus. The piece was retracted in April 2015 after its centerpiece story of Jackie, a then-student who claimed she was gang-raped at a fraternity house in 2012, was discredited by several sources and an investigation by Charlottesville police. Eramo, an associate dean tasked with providing support for student survivors of sexual assault at the time of publication, alleges the piece cast her as the chief villain who attempted to suppress the student survivors claims. Eramos former boss, UVa Dean of Students Allen Groves, was the first to take the stand in Charlottesvilles federal court on Wednesday morning. Groves said that, after the articles release, there was concern over whether Eramo should continue to work with students out of a fear that the article may have reshaped her reputation as an advocate. Taking questions from Rolling Stones attorneys, Groves defended the administrations handling of Jackies case. The Department of Education requires universities to take reasonable action in investigating claims of sexual assault even when the victim doesnt want to report, as was the case with Jackie. The magazines counsel worked to show that UVa had not done so with Jackie, giving credence to Erdelys insinuations in her article, but Groves disagreed, saying that the decision was made to try to support Jackie and hope that more information would come forward over time. After she was allegedly hit by a bottle in retaliation for speaking out about her sexual assault in the spring of 2014, Jackie spoke again with Eramo and UVa administrators, telling them this time that shed found two other young women who had been gang-raped at the same fraternity as she was. At the time, Jackie also said she planned to have a meeting with police about the bottle incident. Groves said he reported all of this information to UVa President Teresa Sullivan and said he was ecstatic that Jackie was finally going to police because it meant that a criminal inquiry into the whole ordeal might finally be initiated. My perception was that this was now going to the police realm, Groves said. Later that spring, Groves said, he was beyond disappointed to find that Jackie did not want the investigation into her assault to go forward and that the criminal case had been closed. At this point, Groves said, he was the most frustrated hed ever been in his position as dean of students, saying that, without Jackie giving any further details about her assault, there was little he could do. I was angry Jackie would not give us the names [of her attackers], Groves said. I couldnt understand. Groves said he considered launching his own investigation, but he worried about tipping off the fraternity in case the citys prosecutor wanted to launch his own investigation. On top of that, Groves said that if he took action against the fraternity, it could continue operating, just without the sanction of the university, and Groves would lose his leverage over them. Before leaving the stand, Groves said he believed the article to be over-the-top and designed to make an almost comic demonization of Eramo and UVa. Counsel for Eramo also had him review an email he sent to Eramo ahead of her scheduled interview with Erdely, in which he advised against any participation at all, fearing the story might be a hatchet job. Later in the day, Alex Pinkleton, a former friend of Jackie who acted as a liaison between her and Erdely, testified about her participation in the article. An advocate herself, Pinkleton emphatically spoke about her enthusiasm for the article prior to publication. I wanted a piece that would talk about the nuances of rape culture, Pinkleton said. Later, she said, Thats not the article that came out. The resulting piece was far from it, in Pinkletons eyes. While shed hoped the article would speak mostly about advocacy, Pinkleton said she was disheartened to see that she was only quoted in the article speaking about the best way to get into a frat party. Pinkleton spoke sweetly about the closeness of her relationship with Eramo, echoing most statements made by student advocates from UVa, including Jackie. When an attorney for the magazine noted that Erdelys piece didnt attribute any direct quote critical of Eramo to her, Pinkleton became emotional, saying students lashed out at her for supporting the then-vilified dean. People were angry at me for supporting the devil, Pinkleton said before breaking into sobs. Eramo, too, began to cry. A freelance illustrator who created the art that accompanied A Rape on Campus also spoke Wednesday. John Ritter, in a video deposition filmed earlier this year, confirmed he created the image that Eramos attorneys have frequently referenced as a demeaning depiction of her, but he spoke mostly about technical reasons behind his illustration. The day closed with some testimony from Sean Woods, Rolling Stones deputy managing editor and the man who presided over Erdelys piece. Similar to Erdelys testimony, Woods fell on his sword repeatedly in regard to glaring faults in following up with sources in the story, but he defended the gist of the article and its implications about Eramo and the UVa administrations handling of sexual assault. Taking aggressive questions from one of Eramos attorneys, Woods frequently refrained, I disagree with that characterization. Woods will continue to testify when the trial picks up Thursday morning. Attorneys for Eramo said Thursday may conclude the presentation of their evidence. When asked for an assessment of Wednesdays proceedings, an attorney for Rolling Stone stated, as theyve said for several days, that Eramos attorneys had yet again failed to prove actual malice on Erdelys part the crux of their defense in this case. COLLINSVILLE-A judge in Henry County General District Court found enough evidence to send the case against Russell Hundley to Circuit Court. Russell Wayne Hundley, 47, is accused of pulling out a machete, pointing it at an employee at McDonalds in Collinsville and saying he would stab her if she didnt give him a drink. A related charge against Hundley of brandishing a machete within 1,000 feet of school was dismissed. In another recent case in Henry County General District Court, William Bradley Rea of Collinsville waived his preliminary hearing on felony charges stemming from a chase through parts of Henry County on July 18. The felony charges and related misdemeanor charges against him were sent to Henry County Circuit Court. Officials with the Henry County Sheriffs Office have said that Rea was charged with felony charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and eluding police; and misdemeanor charges of possessing a fictitious vehicle tag, improper registration, marijuana possession and operating a vehicle with a suspended license. HENRY COUNT CIRCUIT COURT James Antonio Lawson of Axton, who pleaded guilty to grand larceny, was sentenced to five years in prison, with four years suspended if he successfully completes two years of supervised probation. Jeffrey Gray Hatcher Jr. of Eden, North Carolina, who pleaded guilty to felony shoplifting, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with nine years suspended on condition of two years of supervised probation. Makaai Alice Hairston of Martinsville, who pleaded guilty to his third charge of shoplifting, was sentenced to five years in prison, with 4 years and 11 months suspended on condition of two years of supervised probation and payment of $8.62 restitution. Hairston, who also pleaded guilty to his third charge of obtaining money or property by false pretense, was sentenced to five years in prison on that charge, with four years and 11 months suspended on condition of two years of supervised probation. Stacy Allen Triplett of Bassett, who was charged with malicious wounding and breaking and entering a dwelling with intent to commit a felony (statutory burglary), was found guilty of unlawful wounding and burglary. A judge ordered a presentencing report and set sentencing for Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. Matthew Shane Slate of Bassett, who pleaded guilty to felony credit card theft, was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years and nine months suspended on condition of two years of supervised probation and payment of $1,051.81 restitution. Slate, who also pleaded guilty to felony credit card fraud, was sentenced on that charge to three years in prison, with two years and nine months suspended on condition of two years of supervised probation. Slate, who also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor credit card fraud, was sentenced on that charge to 12 months in jail, with nine months suspended on condition of two years of supervised probation. Endy Marie Ingram of Martinsville, who pleaded guilty to felony endangering the life of a child, was sentenced to one year of incarceration, suspended on condition of one year of supervised probation. Corey Machone Wells of Martinsville, who pleaded guilty to shoplifting third or subsequent offense (a felony), was sentenced to five years in prison, with four years and 15 days suspended on condition of one year of supervised probation and payment of $10 restitution. Thomas Reginald McNair of Pocahontas, who was found guilty of felony possession of a schedule 1 controlled substance by an inmate, was sentenced to five years in prison, with two years and six months suspended on condition of two years of supervised probation. David Wilburn Martin of Bassett pleaded guilty to felony distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended on condition of two years of supervised probation, suspension of his operators license for six months and payment of $135 restitution. Winfred Junior Spencer of Bassett pleaded guilty to felony distribute methamphetamine, a presentence report was ordered, and sentencing was set for Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. MARTINSVILLE CIRCUIT COURT Michelle Hodge Patterson of Martinsville pleaded guilty to prisoner possess unlawful chemical (a felony) and amended charges of felony possess methadone and misdemeanor possess alprazolam. A judge ordered a presentence report and set sentencing for Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. Paul Collins reports for the Martinsville Bulletin and can be reached at paul.collins@martinsvillebulletin.com. COLLINSVILLE A man charged with leading law enforcement on a lengthy pursuit that reached speeds of more than 115 mph cited mental health and drug issues at a hearing Wednesday in Henry County Circuit Court. Michael Allen Graham pleaded guilty in June to three felonies two counts of possession of a schedule 1 or 2 controlled substance (meth and hydromorphone) and one count of eluding police by more than 20 mph and one misdemeanor, giving a false ID to law enforcement, in connection with the Jan. 19 incident. Judge David V. Williams said on the two drug charges, there was sufficient evidence to find Graham guilty, but Williams deferred disposition. Williams scheduled a court hearing on Nov. 1, 2017; placed Graham on probation for a year; ordered him to undergo substance abuse screening and assessment and undergo any treatment recommended; to perform 200 hours of community service; and Williams revoked Grahams drivers license for six months on each of the two drug charges. If Graham has complied with all the conditions, Williams will dismiss those charges a year from now. Judge Williams also sentenced Graham to a total of six years of incarceration on the charges of eluding police and giving a false ID to law enforcement. Williams ordered Graham to serve two years of that, with the balance suspended on condition of probation and good behavior. Online court records list Grahams address as Princeton, West Virginia, and Martinsville. An uncle of Graham testified that Graham had a traumatic childhood, including a relative whipping him with a hand, switch and belt, as well as kicking him across a driveway and burning his truck on one occasion. The uncle also said Graham saw one relative shoot another relative and then shoot himself, dying months later. Another relative of Graham suffered severe burns when a stove turned over, the uncle said. Graham also was severely injured in several car accidents, said the uncle. Graham gave similar testimony about suffering physical abuse as a child and about seeing one relative shoot another one before shooting himself. Graham, now about 39 years old, testified he was seriously injured in a car accident when he was about 16 years old. He got a prosthetic hip and suffered a broken back and other injuries, he said. He suffered severe pain and abused pain medication, he said. He was seriously injured in another accident when he was 18 or 19 years old and in another accident when he was working and fell off a bridge in 2006, he testified. Graham indicated in addition to his physical issues, he has some mental health issues. He said he was not properly taking his medicines about the time of the incident and that he last saw a counselor last fall. The Henry County Sheriffs Office previously reported that it responded to the Hardees parking lot on Virginia Avenue in Collinsville on the morning of Jan. 19 in reference to a subject passed out in a 2015 Ford Mustang. A criminal complaint alleged the following: An officer approached the Mustang, which had two people inside. The man inside identified himself as Michael Green (later identified as Michael Graham). Green presented a false identification. The officer asked Graham to step out of the vehicle and at that time Graham took off at a high speed out of the parking lot. When the officer turned on blue lights and sirens, Graham failed to stop and continued at a high rate of speed down Daniel Creek Road, turning onto Appalachian Drive. The officer continued behind Graham with lights and sirens on, and Graham reached speeds of 110 mph heading northbound on William F. Stone Highway, weaving in and out of moderate traffic. He then exited southbound on Virginia Avenue. Graham then turned around at Kimberly Drive, traveling north on Virginia Avenue. He then turned north on Reed Creek Drive and continued to travel on both sides of the road in excess of the speed limit. He then turned onto Tower Road and continued to Virginia Avenue, where he headed south. He passed numerous vehicles on the shoulder of the road at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Dyer Street. He then rapidly accelerated south on William F. Stone Highway, swerving between lanes with speeds in excess of 115 mph. He struck spike strips north of Dillons Fork Road and continued north at approximately 80 mph in a 35 mph zone. He then turned onto Stones Dairy Road, heading toward Fairystone Park Highway for a short distance before losing control of his vehicle. As the vehicle was stopping, another officer saw Graham reaching toward the passenger side of the vehicle. In a search, two loaded firearms were found in the vehicle: a Rossi .38 special and a Davis Ind.22. Graham had previously been convicted of felony robbery on Aug. 22, 2007, in Jackson County, Missouri. In June 2016, the Henry County Commonwealths Attorneys Office dropped four felony charges against Graham in connection with the Jan. 19 incident: two counts of possession of a firearm by a violent felon and one count each of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of firearm with a controlled substance. The commonwealth also dropped a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana. During the court hearing Wednesday, Roscoe Reynolds, Grahams lawyer, argued that Grahams failure to comply with mental health treatment was partly responsible for Grahams actions on Jan. 19. Reynolds and Graham cited the need for Graham to receive mental health/substance abuse treatment. Henry County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Wayne Withers Jr. commiserated with Graham because of his difficult past, but Withers asked Graham if he considered the danger he posed to the public when he was driving at up to 115 mph-plus and weaving in and out of traffic. Judge Williams said he was sympathetic because of Grahams childhood, which was about as bad as any Williams has heard. Paul Collins reports for the Martinsville Bulletin and can be reached at paul.collins@martinsvillebulletin.com. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 Trend: Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim expressed confidence that other Turkic states will follow the suit of Azerbaijan in the fight against Fethullah Gulen movement, Anadolu Agency reported. He also said Thursday the countrys stability and confidence had been recognized by international investors following the failed July 15 coup attempt. Speaking at a news conference after six hours of discussions in Istanbul with CEOs from leading foreign companies, Binali Yildirim said foreign investors had confirmed their continued confidence in the Turkish economy. Attendees of the Ninth Investment Advisory Council meeting included CEOs and executives of 20 multi-national companies. These included Alstom, Alzahid Group Holding, APM Terminals, Bank of China, Bombardier, BP, Burgan Bank, Gemalto, Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Microsoft. These firms come from 14 countries and manage over $700 billion. Yildirim said Turkeys democracy had strengthened after the coup attempt and added the government had been working to attract more investors with 100 different reforms such as work permits for foreigners and more incentives for international investors. "The value-added sectors such as IT, chemicals and logistics, will be supported by our economic policies," he said. Yildirim added Turkey would have 30 percent more public investment in 2017 to help the countrys growth. As the year draws to an end we would like to remember all those thousands of genuine Communists who perished in Stalins camps, butchered simply for defending the ideas of Lenin and Trotsky. Old Bolsheviks like Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin were forced to confess to crimes they had not committed. These famous victims were only the tip of the iceberg. Not remembered are the thousands of Trotskyists who languished in brutal concentration camps. They were brave and defiant to the end. The difference with the Trotskyists was that Stalins agents could not get them to confess to false crimes, so they were never brought to trial but just callously executed and buried in the wastes. It is 68 years since Stalins notorious purge trials of 1936. Famous old Bolsheviks like Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin were framed and forced to confess to crimes they had not committed. But these famous victims were only the tip of the iceberg. Not remembered are the thousands of Trotskyists who languished in brutal concentration camps in remote areas of Russia. They were brave and defiant to the end. They even organised an amazing hunger strike through all the scattered camps which forced concessions from the authorities, beginning on October 27, 1936. The difference with the Trotskyists was that Stalins agents could not get them to confess to false crimes. They knew that a confession was only required to make the execution look legal, so they were never brought to trial but just callously executed and buried in the wastes. The article below consists of extracts taken from an eyewitness account of those oppositionists heroic, but tragic story which first appeared in the October/November 1961 issue of the emigre Menshevik publication Sotsisalistichesky Nestnik (Socialist Messenger). It was signed only MB. --- During the middle and the end of the 1930s, the Trotskyists formed quite a disparate group at Vorkuta; one part of them kept its old name of Bolshevik-Leninists. There were almost 500 at the mine, close to 1,000 at the camp of Ukhta-Pechora, and certainly several thousand altogether around the Pechora district. The orthodox Trotskyists were determined to remain faithful to the end to their platform and their leaders. In 1927, following the resolutions of the 15th congress of the party, they were excluded from the Communist Party and, at the same time, arrested. From then on, even though they were in prison, they continued to consider themselves Communists; as for Stalin and his supporters, the apparatus men, they were characterised as renegades from communism. Among these Trotskyists were also found people who had never formally belonged to the CP and did not join the Left Opposition, but who tied their own fate with it to the very end even when the struggle of the Opposition was most acute. Arrival at Vorkuta In addition to these genuine Trotskyists, there were in the camps of Vorkuta and elsewhere more than 100,000 prisoners who, members of the party and the youth, had adhered to the Trotskyist Opposition and then at different times and for diverse reasons (of which the principal were evidently repressions, unemployment, persecutions, exclusion from schools and university facilities, etc) were forced to recant their errors and withdraw from the Opposition. The orthodox Trotskyists arrived at the mine during the summer of 1936 and lived in a compact mass in two large barracks. They categorically refused to work in the pits; they worked only on the surface, and for only eight hours, not the ten or twelve required by the regulations, as the other prisoners were forced to do. They did so on their own authority, in an unorganised manner, openly flouting the camp regulations. In the main they had already served nearly ten years in deportation. In the beginning, they were sent into political isolators and then afterwards exiled to Soiovka. Finally they arrived at Vorkuta. The Trotskyists formed the only group of political prisoners who openly criticised the Stalinist general line and offered organised resistance to the jailers. Nevertheless, there were significant divergences within this group. Some considered themselves disciples of Timothy Sapronov (ex-secretary of the Supreme Soviet) and insisted on being called Sapronovists or Democratic Centralists. They claimed to be more to the left than the Trotskyists and thought that the Stalinist dictatorship had already reached the stage of bourgeois degeneration by the end of the 1920s and that the rapprochement of Hitler and Stalin was very probable. Nevertheless, in the event of war, the Sapronovists declared themselves for the defence of the USSR. Among the Trotskyists were also found partisans of the Right wing, that is to say of Rykov and of Bukharin, as well as followers of Shiiapnikov and his Workers Opposition platform. But the great majority of the group was made up of authentic Trotskyists, supporters of LD Trotsky. ... In spite of their differences, all of these groups at the mine lived in a friendly enough fashion under one common denominator, the Trotskyists. Their leaders were Socrates Gevorkian, Vladimir Ivanov, Melnais, VV Kossior and Trotskys ex-secretary, Poznansky. Gevorkian was a calm man, very balanced, reasonable, full of good sense. He spoke without hurry, weighing his words, without any affection of theatrical gestures. Up to the time of his arrest, he had worked as an expert for the Russian Association of the Centres of Scientific Research of the Institute of Human Sciences. He was an Armenian, and at this time, was at least forty. His younger brother was imprisoned with him. Melnais, a Lett, was a little younger than Gevorkian. After having been a member of the Central Committee of the Young Communists, he studied at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the University of Moscow, where, in 1925-27, he headed a very important group (several hundred people) of opposition students ... At the end of 1927, Melnais was one of the first members of the Opposition at the university to be arrested ... Melnais had been imprisoned ever since. In political isolators and in exile, he spent a lot of time working on economic problems and soon turned out to be an eminent and talented economist. News of Show Trials reaches camps Vladimir Ivanov was a hearty man, with the round and full face of a successful merchant, with a big black moustache and intelligent grey eyes. In spite of his fifty years, one sensed in him a strong will and the strength of a bear. An Old Bolshevik and member of the Central Committee, Ivanov, until his arrest, directed the Chinese Eastern Railroad. He, as well as his wife, had belonged to the Democratic Centralist group and were among the supporters of Sapronov. When the 15th congress decided that belonging to the Opposition and to the party was incompatible, Ivanov quit the ranks of the Opposition, but this did not save him; he was arrested after the assassination of Kirov ... Kossior was a middle-aged man, very short (almost a dwarf), with a large head. Before his arrest, he occupied a leading post in the management of the petroleum industry. His brother, Stanislas Kossior, then sat on the Politbureau, and, at the same time, was secretary of the Central Committee of the Ukrainian Communist Party. (He was later liquidated by Stalin. His case was mentioned by Khruschev in his report to the twentieth congress) ... Poznansky, a handsome well-built man about thirty-five to thirty-eight years old, was deeply interested in music and chess. Trotskys second secretary, Grigoryev, was also in Pechora. In the autumn of 1936, soon after the frame-up trials against the leaders of the Opposition; Zinoviev, Kamenev and the others, the entire group of orthodox Trotskyists at the mine got together to confer with one another. Opening the meeting, Gevorkian addressed those present: Comrades! Before beginning our meeting, I ask you to honour the memory of our comrades, guides, and leaders who have died as martyrs at the hands of the Stalinist traitors to the revolution. The entire assembly stood up. Then, in a brief and very trenchant speech, Gevorkian explained that it was necessary to examine and resolve the key problem: what should be done and how should they conduct themselves from now on. It is now evident that the group of Stalinist adventurers have completed their counter-revolutionary coup d'etat in our country. All the progressive conquests of our revolution are in mortal danger. Not twilight shadows, but those of deep black night envelop our country. No Cavaignac spilled as much working class blood as has Stalin. Physically annihilating all the opposition groups within the party, he aims at total personal dictatorship. The party and the whole people are subjected to surveillance and to summary justice by the police apparatus. The predictions and the direst fears of our Opposition are fully confirmed. The nation slides irresistibly into the Thermidorian swamp. This is the triumph of the centrist petty-bourgeois forces, of which Stalin is the interpreter, the spokesman, and the apostle. No compromise is possible with the Stalinist traitors and hangmen of the revolution. Remaining proletarian revolutionaries to the very end, we should not entertain any illusion about the fate waiting us. But before destroying us, Stalin will try to humiliate us much as he can. By throwing political prisoners in with common criminals, he strives to scatter us among the criminals and to incite them against us. We are left with only one means of struggle in this unequal battle: the hunger strike. With a group of comrades, we have already drawn up a list of our demands of which many of you are already informed. Therefore, I now propose to you that we discuss them together and make a decision. The meeting lasted only a short time; the question of the hunger strike and of concrete demands had already been debated for some months by the Trotskyists. Some Trotskyist groups in other camps (Usa station, Chib-Yu, Kochmes, etc) had also been discussing the matter and had sent their agreement to support the demands and to participate in the hunger strike. These demands were ratified unanimously by those present. They stipulated: Abrogation of the illegal decision of the NKVD, concerning the transfer of all Trotskyists from administrative camps to concentration camps. Affairs relating to political opposition to the regime must not be judged by special NKVD tribunals, but in public judicial assemblies. The workday in the camp must not exceed eight hours. The food quota of the prisoners should not depend on their norm of output. A cash bonus, not the food ration, should be used as a production incentive. Separation, at work as well as in the barracks, of political prisoners and common criminals. The old, the ill, and women prisoners should be moved from the polar camps to camps where the climatic conditions were more favourable. It was recommended, at the time of the meeting, that the sick, the invalids, and the old should not participate in the hunger strike; however, all those in question energetically rejected this proposal. Three weeks later, 27 October 1936, the massive hunger strike of the political prisoners began, a strike without precedent and a model under Soviet camp conditions. In the morning, at reveille, in almost every barrack, prisoners announced themselves on strike. The barracks occupied by the Trotskyists participated 100 per cent in the movement. Even the orderlies struck. Close to 1,000 prisoners, of whom half worked in the mine, participated in this tragedy, which lasted more than four months. The first two days, the strikers stayed in their usual places. Then the camp administration busied itself in isolating them from the rest of the prisoners, concerned lest the latter followed their example. In the tundra, 40 kilometres from the mine, on the banks of the Syr-Yaga river, there were primitive half-demolished barracks, which previously had been used during the preliminary boring of the mines. In great haste, these barracks were put into makeshift condition; a call was sent out to the inhabitants of the region, who, with their teams of reindeer, transported the hunger strikers there, where they soon numbered about 600. The others were brought together not far from Chib-Yu. After having isolated the strikers, the GPU took measures to prevent the movement from spreading in the country and from becoming known outside the frontiers. The prisoners were deprived of the right of corresponding with their families; the salaried employees of the camp lost their holidays and their right to leave. Attempts were made to incite the other prisoners against the strikers. At the end of the first month of the strike, one of the participants died of exhaustion; two others died during the third month. The same month, two strikers, non-orthodox Trotskyists, voluntarily gave up striking. Finally, just a few days before the end of the strike, still another striker died. Having begun at the end of October 1936, the hunger strike lasted 132 days, ending in March 1937. It culminated with the complete victory of the strikers who received a radiogram from the headquarters of the NKVD, drawn up in these words: Inform the hunger strikers held in Vorkuta mines that all their demands will be satisfied. The Trotskyists were taken back to the mine, received food reserved for the sick and, after a period of time, they went back to work, but only above ground; certain of them worked in the office of the director of the mine, in the capacity of paid workers, book-keepers, economists, etc. Their workday did not exceed eight hours; their food ration was not based on their production norm. But little by little the other prisoners interest in the strikers began to diminish. Everyones interest was now focused on the new trial at Moscow, which was being broadcast by radio; besides, new prisoners began arriving at the end of June. Their stories described mass arrests, outrages, executions without a trial behind the walls of the NKVD, and this all over the country. At the beginning, no one wanted to believe this, particularly since the new arrivals spoke unwillingly and rather enigmatically. But little by little, the bonds between them became tighter and the conversations franker. Without let up, new prisoners arrived from Russia; old friends and acquaintances discovered each other: it no longer was possible not to believe the stories. Executions in the tundra In spite of these obvious facts, a certain number of prisoners waited with impatience for the Autumn of 1937 and the twentieth anniversary of the October Revolution; they hoped, on this occasion as in 1927, that the government would declare a large-scale amnesty, particularly since a little while earlier the very promising Stalinist Constitution had been adopted. But the autumn brought bitter disillusionment. The harsh regime of the camps grew abruptly worse. The sergeants and their assistants in maintaining order common criminals having received new orders from the camp director, armed themselves with clubs and pitilessly beat the prisoners. The guards, the watchmen close to the barracks, tormented the prisoners. To amuse themselves during the night they fired on those who went to the toilets. Or else, giving the order On your bellies, they forced the prisoners to stretch out, naked, for hours on the snow. Soon there were massive arrests. Almost every night, GPU agents appeared in the barracks, called out certain names and led away those called. Certain Trotskyists, including Vladimir Ivanov, Kossior, and Trotskys son, Sergei Sedov, a modest and likeable youth, who had imprudently refused to follow his father into exile in 1928, were taken in a special convoy to Moscow. We can only believe that Stalin was not satisfied simply to hurl them into the tundra; his sadistic nature thirsted not only for blood; he wished first to humiliate them and torture them immeasurably, coercing them into false-accusations. Toward the end of Autumn, about 1,200 prisoners found themselves in the old brick field; at least half of these were Trotskyists. They were all lodged in four barracks; their food ration was 400 grams of bread a day and not every day. The barracks were surrounded by a barbed wire fence. Nearly 100 freshly recruited guards, supplied with automatic arms, watched the prisoners day and night. The prisoners arrested at the mine, at Usa and in other nearby camps were taken to the old brickyard. Those arrested in more distant camps at Pechora, Izhma, Kozhma, Chib-Yu, etc. were kept near Chib-Yu. The whole winter of 1937-38 some prisoners, encamped in barracks at the brickyard, starved and waited for a decision regarding their fate. Finally, in March, three NKVD officers, with Kashketin at their head, arrived by plane at Vorkuta, coming from Moscow. They came to the brickyard to interrogate the prisoners. Thirty to forty were called each day, superficially questioned five to ten minutes each, rudely insulted, forced to listen to vile name-calling and obscenities. Some were greeted with punches in the face; Lt Kashketin himself several times beat up one of them, the Old Bolshevik Virap Virapov, a former member of the Central Committee of Armenia. At the end of March, a list of twenty-five was announced, among them Gevorkian, Virapov, Slavin, etc. To each was delivered a kilo of bread and orders to prepare himself for a new convoy. After fond farewells to their friends, they left the barracks, and the convoy departed. Fifteen or twenty minutes later, not far away, about half a kilometre, on the steep bank of the little river Verkhnyaya Vorkuta (Upper Vorkuta), an abrupt volley resounded, followed by isolated and disorderly shots; then all grew quiet again. Soon, the convoys escort passed back near the barracks. And it was clear to all in what sort of convoy the prisoners had been sent. Two days later, there was a new call, this time of forty names. Once more there was a ration of bread. Some, out of exhaustion, could no longer move; they were promised a ride in a cart. Holding their breath, the prisoners remaining in the barracks heard the grating of the snow under the feet of the departing convoy. For a long time there was no sound; but all, on the watch, still listened. Nearly an hour passed in this way. Then, again, shots resounded in the tundra; this time, they came from much further away, in the direction of the narrow railway which passed three kilometres from the brickyard. The second convoy definitely convinced those remaining behind that they had been irremediably condemned. The executions in the tundra lasted the whole month of April and part of May. Usually one day out of two, or one day out of three, thirty to forty prisoners were called. It is characteristic to note that each time, some common criminals, repeaters, were included. In order to terrorise the prisoners, the GPU, from time to time, made publicly known by means of local radio, the list of those shot. Usually broadcasts began as follows: For counter-revolutionary agitation, sabotage, brigandage in the camps, refusal to work, attempts to escape, the following have been shot... followed by a list of names of some political prisoners mixed with a group of common criminals. Defiant to the end One time, a group of nearly a hundred, composed mainly of Trotskyists, was led away to be shot. As they marched away, the condemned sang the Internationale, joined by the voices of hundreds of prisoners remaining in camp. At the beginning of May, a group of women were shot. Among them were the Ukrainian Communist, Chumskaya, the wife of IN Smirnov, a Bolshevik since 1898 and ex-Peoples Commissar; (Olga, the daughter of Smirnov, a young girl, apolitical, passionately fond of music, had been shot a year before in Moscow); the wives of Kossior, of Melnais, etc ... one of these women had to walk on crutches. At the time of execution of a male prisoner, his imprisoned wife was automatically liable to capital punishment; and when it was a question of well-known members of the Opposition, this applied equally to any of his children over the age of twelve. In May, when hardly a hundred prisoners remained, the executions were interrupted. Two weeks passed quietly; then all the prisoners were led in a convoy to the mine. There it was learned that Yezhov had been dismissed, and that his place had been taken by Beria ... October/November 1961 Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 Trend: An event dedicated to the World Food Day has today been held in the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku. The event was organized by IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, as well as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Union, FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva attended the event. "A day devoted to those in need and as well a great opportunity to draw global attention to the challenges of hunger and food security. The theme of this years food day covers two issues that I am especially sensitive about - both as FAO goodwill ambassador and as a passionate environmental activist, but more importantly as concerned global citizen," Leyla Aliyeva said, addressing the event. "With the new reality of changing climate, we must fundamentally change the way we produce and consume food. Whether we like it or not, the worlds climate is changing. While the international community is making efforts to curb this process by cutting emissions, millions of people around the globe already suffer from its consequences," she said. Aliyeva noted that unfortunately, it is mostly the poorest communities - people with least means to recover - that get hit the hardest by weather-related disasters, and this is becoming more and more common. Aliyeva said that the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development last year was a crucial milestone. "Nations have pledged to keep the temperature increase at below 2 degrees and achieve zero hunger by 2030," she said. "Achieving resilience, productivity and sustainability in agriculture is absolutely vital if we want to ensure the food security of the gradually growing global population. This is especially critical now, when climate change tightens its grip on our ecosystem and rural populations. In this regard, it is essential that FAOs climate smart agriculture approach is universally embraced in order to transform and reorient agricultural systems. Although people all over the world are realizing that nature and its resources are limited, and cannot be taken for granted. We believe in more action, education, creativity and positive thinking," she said. She went on to add that only knowledge can help to see the direct link between environmental degradation and human activity, and highlighting the urgency of matter. "This is exactly why we launched IDEA (international dialogue for environmental action) campaign five years ago. During this period, we have achieved many positive results such as protecting endangered species of animals, planting 5 million trees, organizing science labs, lectures for students, schools and universities, exhibitions, publishing books and making documentaries," she said. Leyla Aliyeva then spoke about the multi-dimensional Kura river delta-cleaning project. "Today I would like to tell you more about one specific project that has a special relevance both to the topic of food security and to the environment. As our modest effort to contribute to the welfare of our marine environment as well as help the rural communities that depend on it, IDEA has recently launched the multi-dimensional Kura river delta-cleaning project. Why this project is so important? Well, let me start by saying that Kura stretches almost 1000 kilometers from our western borders to the Caspian Sea and ensures vital livelihood for people living along the river," Aliyeva said. She went on to add that Kura river is considered the main spawn area for the Caspian sturgeon - one of the most ancient and rarest fish in the world. "Meanwhile, during recent years, industrialization, lack of proper waste management, unsustainable tourism, unawareness of local communities and other factors led to increased pollution of the Kura river. Riverbanks especially near delta, are full of plastic, domestic waste and used gillnets. As a result, water quality and fish stocks in Kura and the Caspian Sea have decreased dramatically during the last decades. Our project will target to improve, fish stock, water quality and overall ecology, which will be beneficial for the environment and local population," Aliyeva noted. She went on to say that as sad as it may sound in the 21st century, one out of nine people in the world suffer from malnutrition. "Every day children in the developing world die from hunger. Hunger is the number one cause of death in the world, killing more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined, while more than third of food is thrown away globally each year. The global warming is making the situation with global food security even more uncertain. We must constantly be aware that each of us can make a difference in combating climate change by protecting the environment, living sustainable lifestyles, being ethical consumers and not wasting food," Leyla Aliyeva said. "We must do it for the sake of hundreds of millions of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition and for our own sake. I strongly believe that with action, hope, believe kindness and love we can solve all the problems and create a brighter future and life, she said. Other speakers at the event included Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyngulu Baghirov, head of FAO's Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan Melek Cakmak and Director General of FAO Jose Graziano da Silva. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 Trend: Azerbaijans State Security Service carried out an anti-terrorist operation on October 27, during which two terrorists were killed and one was arrested, read a message from the State Security Service. According to the message, the State Security Service received information about creation of an armed group in Azerbaijans territory. The information said the group pledged allegiance to the terrorist groups involved in the armed conflicts in other countries and it was preparing terrorist attacks and raids in Azerbaijan. The State Security Service investigated the received information and its credibility was confirmed. Therefore, the need emerged to take immediate countermeasures, said the Security Service. An investigation revealed that Azerbaijani citizens F. Rustamov, A Guliyev and A. Gulmammadov and other persons colluded with members of radical religious terrorist groups active outside the country. Under the tasks received via the internet from radical religious terrorist groups, they were preparing to create an armed wing of a terrorist organization, choose a leader for the group, and lure other people to it, said the State Security Service. According to the message, they also illegally acquired firearms and explosives, and were preparing to stage terror attacks and raids in Azerbaijan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 26 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Concrete measures on creation and promotion of Azerbaijans national brand Made in Azerbaijan are to be taken from November, Azerbaijans Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev said. A prompt work is underway to create the Made in Azerbaijan brand, said Mustafayev. We intend to achieve our goals in a short period of time. A legal base in this area has already been created. Government has allocated the necessary funds. We will take concrete steps starting from November, and we expect to get concrete results the next year, Mustafayev added. The minister said there is a plan to send up to 10 trade missions to various countries each year. Additionally, for the purpose of brand promotion, Azerbaijani companies will participate in five large international exhibitions. They will showcase their products under the national brand there, Mustafayev added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Azad Hasanli Trend: Residents of the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP) will start production in 2017-2018, Azerbaijans Deputy Economy Minister Niyazi Safarov told reporters in Baku. Safarov said that one of SCIPs biggest residents SOCAR Polymer will begin test production in the second half of 2017 and will reach its full production capacity in 2018. The creation of industrial zones is one of the most important steps for reducing oil dependence, as well as the development of industry and employment in this area, he noted. The Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park is Azerbaijans first major industrial park, said the deputy minister adding that nine residents have already been registered here and one plant [Azertexnolayn] has already started production. Such industrial parks will give a serious impetus to the development of regions and help to diversify non-oil sectors of the economy, according to him. With regard to other industrial parks, Safarov said that foundations of a number of pharmaceutical plants will be laid in the Pirallahi industrial park in the near future. Our Garadagh industrial park also operates successfully. Its resident is a shipbuilding company, which implements a number of big projects, he noted. Installation work has already been completed in the Balakhani industrial park, where five residents have been registered so far. They will start to operate in the near future. The work on creation of an industrial park in Mingachevir is also underway, said the deputy minister. As you know, this park focuses on light industry, nine production sites will operate there, said Safarov. We are already negotiating with investors. It is expected that the park will be operational in the near future. Moreover, the deputy minister added that serious work is underway on the creation of industrial zones and areas. All installation work has been completed in the Neftchala industrial district and its first residents have already been registered, said Safarov adding that currently, they are engaged in the supply of their equipment to the districts territory, and will begin to operate in the near future. Meanwhile, the work has started on the creation of an industrial area in Masalli district, he noted. I believe that these and other industrial zones will help us to achieve sustainable economic development, added the deputy minister. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Chinese railroad workers made an invaluable contribution to development and expansion of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Javid Gurbanov, head of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), said. Gurbanov made the remarks at an event at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in China, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Azerbaijans independence, said ADY. According to an ADY message, along with Javid Gurbanov, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Kong Xuanyou, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to China Latif Gandilov, as well as public representatives attended the event. Gurbanov said during the event that Azerbaijan, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, has turned into a regional leader. Much attention is paid to the Azerbaijan-China relations, he added. The relations between the railway authorities of the two countries are being expanded. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route stretches through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and then through Turkey and Ukraine to Europe. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Three Missoula businesses Silk Road http://www.silkroadcatering.com/spices , Fresh Market http://missoulafm.com/ and Kayle https://kayle.me/ are joining forces to help make your dinner better. One assembles the food, another sells it and the third spices it up. The rest is up to you, and it really is a piece of cake. In this kitchen, chef Abraham Risho http://www.silkroadcatering.com/catering-home is cooking Chicken Tikka Masala from scratch, but you dont have to be a trained chef to make it yourself. You dont even have to know what ghee is to cook with it. Kayle, the Missoula business known for its healthy breakfast and lunch delivery, is branching out into healthy dinner kits you can buy at the store then cook yourself at home. "It takes the stress out of grocery shopping," said Kayle owner Harry Ward. "Theyve done studies that show that 30 percent of the groceries that people buy go to waste, and so this is an opportunity for people to use every ounce of what they buy and not have to think about the recipe." By Jill Valley Video and Full Story: http://www.kpax.com/story/35615381/missoula-businesses-offer-local-alternative-to-make-at-home-meal-services *** The Risho family spent decades perfecting global cuisine while cooking for their home town of Missoula, Montana. http://www.silkroadcatering.com/spices The planes flying over Missoula on approach to Missoula International Airport could be sporting an unfamiliar logo in the coming months, though exactly what it might be is currently under wraps. Word of new air service has begun circulating in certain circles, though those in the know arent yet willing to release any details until the deal is closed. But for all you dreamers, business types and inspiring travelers, a deal is apparently afoot. By Martin Kidston Full Story: http://www.missoulacurrent.com/business/2016/10/new-air-service-missoula/ After rolling out its Fiber product in about a dozen cities, Google is hitting pause on its project to deploy superfast Internet across the country. The news may come as a disappointment to those who were hoping the search giant would bring competition and faster speeds to their area. So, what happened? Here are a few explanations for Tuesdays announcement. (The company didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.) By Brian Fung Full Story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/10/26/why-google-fiber-is-no-longer-rolling-out-to-new-cities/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_switch-google-1040pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory Le Mauritius Turf Club a rendu public les deux rapports interimaires de la 21e et 22e journee des coures qui ont eu lieu pendant le week-end du 17 et 18 octobre 2020 au Champs de Mars. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Azad Hasanli Trend: The Azerbaijan-Monaco business forum will be held in Baku November 7, the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) said in a message October 27. According to the message, Monegasque entrepreneurs, working in the fields of trade, healthcare, tourism, logistics, transport, education, alternative energy, consulting, watch manufacturing, real estate, food industry, furniture industry, as well as in the banking and insurance sectors, are expected to take part in the event. Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Monaco reached $41,970 in January-September 2016, which entirely accounted for the import of goods from Monaco, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and head of the Russian company ARETI Igor Makarov discussed oil and gas projects, the Turkmen government said in a message. According to the message, the Russian businessman expressed his companys aspiration to implement joint projects in the oil and gas industry and construction, and confirmed intention to expand the companys presence in the Turkmen market. The businessman stressed that ARETI will always fulfill partnership commitments with great responsibility, the message said. ARETI is a new project by the Russian businessman Igor Makarov, which was created as a result of re-branding of ITERA International Group of Companies. Main business areas of ARETI are projects in fuel and energy complex, in particular, offshore mining in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea, trading, engineering, real-estate development, and investment to the real economy. ARETI has been working in Turkmenistan since 2009 on the basis of a production sharing agreement (PSA). Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Azerbaijans Energy Minister Natig Aliyev will participate in the OPEC High Level Committee Meeting on implementation of Algerian agreements of OPEC and non-OPEC states, to be held in Vienna in late October, the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry said in a message October 27. Along with Azerbaijan, invitations for the meeting were sent to such non-OPEC states as Russia, Kazakhstan, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Norway, Malaysia, Oman, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago. The meetings agenda includes discussions on the development of the oil market, actions for implementation of agreements, and consultations. As Natig Aliyev said, Azerbaijan joins the initiatives to regulate and stabilize the oil market, increase oil prices and is ready to contribute to reaching an agreement. I dont think the non-OPEC states will oppose a final decision to limit oil production, he added. The important issue is to eliminate the contradictions among OPEC member-states, namely, Iran, Libya, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, which will allow reaching an agreement. The minister added that at the meeting, Azerbaijan will once again confirm its readiness to not increase oil production and export. OPEC agreed to limit oil production in the range of 32.5-33 million barrels of oil per day at an informal meeting in Algeria on September 28. However, there is no agreement on specific limits for each of the OPEC member-state. A final decision must be made at the OPEC official meeting in Vienna on November 30. The organization expects a number of other oil-producing countries, especially Russia, to join the measures to stabilize the market. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Investigators with the McDowell County Sheriffs Office are looking for a Marion woman who was last seen on the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 26. The brother of 67-year-old Bonita Barteen Barham, of 63 Bearcliff Village Drive, reported her missing from the residence at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Barham is reportedly driving a dark gray 2013 Kia Sorento with North Carolina license plate AMM-3523. Anyone with information concerning Barhams whereabouts is asked to call the McDowell County Sheriffs Office at 652-2235 or the McDowell County 911 communications center at 652-4000. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.27 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: More than 50 percent of steel pipes needed for construction of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) have been delivered in Greece and Albania, according to the message posted on TAPs Twitter page. TAP project envisages transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries. The 870-kilometer pipeline will be connected to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south. The length of the pipeline in Greece is approximately 550 kilometers. TAPs longest section, it will start at Kipoi, near the countrys border with Turkey, and finish at its border with Albania, south-west of Ieropigi. TAPs route through Albania is approximately 215 kilometers onshore and 37 km offshore in the Albanian section of the Adriatic Sea. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Azerbaijan is ready to share its experience in the field of energy with the Republic of South Africa and to assist it in development of a massive energy-producing potential, Azerbaijans Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said. The minister welcomed the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa Pule Isaac Malefane Oct. 27, Azerbaijans Ministry of Energy said in a message. The parties discussed the prospects of energy cooperation between the two countries during the meeting. Azerbaijani government is currently implementing reforms in order to diversify its economy and bring out new markets. This creates a possibility to develop cooperation with different countries. Azerbaijan is ready to share its experience in the energy sphere with South Africa, as well as to help the country to develop its big energy potential, Aliyev added. Malefane, in turn, noted that the South African government attaches great importance to its relations with Azerbaijan and is interested in expanding relations. We intend to take advantage of Azerbaijans rich experience in the oil production area, in training of experts and development of the energy sector, Malefane said. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov At the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation engineers have developed a robotic system for performing needle biopsies and delivering ablation needles deep into the body. Current techniques are time consuming, requiring physicians to be very careful in preparing a trajectory and checking that it under the live CT guidance. The process can take up hours for something that may seem like it should only be a couple minutes. The team modified a commercial robot to position the needle accurately based on CT scans. A procedure starts by first performing a CT scan on the patient, allowing the robot to calibrate against the scan. A virtual representation of the patients anatomy is then used to drive a virtual needle to see how it would penetrate the patient. The same simulation can also mimic how an ablation would happen and how much surrounding tissue it would affect. Once all the preparatory steps are taken, the calibration component where the needle would be is removed and replaced with the needle. The robot then places the needle against the skin at the agreed angle, handing over the rest to the physician who drives the needle through the channel within the robot and precisely into the target. During insertion a fluoroscope is used to confirm the needless location. Since the robot is holding onto the needle, the physician can step away from the X-ray source and image the needles location without irradiating himself, and potentially reducing the number of X-rays taken of the patient. The technology will be on show at MEDICA in Dusseldorf, Germany in November. Via: Fraunhofer Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.27 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Iraqs demand to be exempted from OPEC output cut deal could have a negative impact on the organizations position, as it could entice others to follow into the Iraqi steps, Cyril Widdershoven, Middle East geopolitical specialist and energy analyst, partner at Dutch risk consultancy VEROCY and SVP MEA-Risk, told Trend Oct.27. Most probably, countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, will increase the pressure on Baghdad to be at least more silent on its overall future production strategy, he added. Earlier, Iraq's Oil Minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi said his country should be exempted from output restrictions as it was fighting a war with Islamic State (IS, aka ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) terrorist group. As for the possible spoilers of the output cut deal, Widdershoven noted that inside OPEC, analysts will keep an eye on the Iranian position, but the latter's position has been weakened substantially, because not only Arab producers are supporting Saudi Arabia's strategy, but also possible supporters for Iran's position, such as Nigeria, Algeria, Venezuela and Angola, have indicated that a production freeze is more convenient and functional than not doing anything at all. Outside of OPEC is of course the US, Canada, Russia and even Mexico of influence, according to the expert. Still, Canada and Russia have indicated to be pro-production freeze or cuts, he said, adding that for OPEC and the oil market, it would be extremely interesting if also the US would take part in the discussion. The problem there is the Washington administration doesnt have anything to say about the production levels of US-based companies, said Widdershoven. Further, the expert pointed out that a mandatory system for the volume of oil production would be very bad for OPEC, showing options to the rest of the non-OPEC producers the way forward. If OPEC would regulate and set a mandatory system for its members, non-OPEC would be filling the void, he added. In September, OPEC producers agreed during the informal meeting in Algiers to cut down the oil output to 32.5 million barrels per day (bpd) from current production of 33.24 million bpd. How much each country will produce is to be decided at the next formal meeting of OPEC in November. by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, October 27, 2016 Sometimes things that seem imminent, like the collapse of Western civilization, turn out to be not so imminent after all, though they might still be imminent later. On that note, if a considerably smaller scale, Gannetts impending acquisition of Tronc, formerly Tribune Publishing, appears to be less impending than before. Thats according to newspaper guru Ken Doctor, who reports for Politico that the $1 billion deal rumored to be imminent last week has been delayed for reasons that arent clear. Doctor notes that a scheduled meeting of the Tronc board of directors was canceled at the last minute on Wednesday afternoon. Although the planned agenda hasnt been made public, it presumably had something to do with the proposed acquisition. The unexpected cancellation suggests that some sort of unforeseen issue has risen. Citing unnamed sources, Doctor speculates that the last-minute hiccup may concern provisions in the deal that are intended to secure the editorial independence of the Los Angeles Times, the largest newspaper and long-troubled crown jewel of the Tronc empire. The same provisions would assuage the concerns of a major investor, Patrick Soon-Shiong. He was brought on board by Tronc CEO Michael Ferro back in May in an attempt to fend off a Gannett takeover, which Ferro has staunchly opposed. Soon-Shiongs interest in Tronc is focused almost exclusively on the LA Times, whose independence he has championed. To keep Soon-Shiong onside for the sale to Gannett, the latter has promised to sell a minority stake in the company or the newspaper itself to him, continuing his involvement going forward. Even more unusual, Doctor reports Gannett may agree to the creation of an independent board to oversee the LATs editorial operations. Again, its unclear what connection these unorthodox conditions have with the canceled board meeting and apparent confusion in the corporate dealings. But given the huge premium Gannett is willing to pay for Tronc 140% over its pre-negotiation stock price it behooves Tronc shareholders to ensure the deal is completed in some form or another. With any luck it will be re-impending again soon. A team of researchers has developed an airway-on-a-chip that can test the effects of smoking on lung airway cells a creation that could pave the way to new treatment strategies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Share on Pinterest Researchers say their airway-on-a-chip may help uncover new treatments for COPD. Image credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard First study author Kambez H. Benam, of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University in Boston, MA, and team publish the details of their creation in the journal Cell Systems. According to the American Lung Association, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects more than 11 million people in the United States, and it is the third leading cause of death in the country. While cigarette smoking is not the sole cause of COPD, it is responsible for around 85-90 percent of all cases. When a person smokes, over time, many of the toxic chemicals inhaled can cause inflammation and an overproduction of mucus in the airways of the lungs. This can obstruct the airways, making it difficult to breathe. The challenges with current smoke exposure models Though the general mechanisms behind smoking-induced COPD are understood, the precise way by which smoking damages the lungs has been unclear, largely due to the difficulties in accurately measuring such an effect. Because commonly used laboratory animals (e.g., mice, rats) are obligate nose-breathers, their applicability for smoke exposure studies, either from conventional cigarettes or e-cigarettes, is [] debatable, the authors note. They add that human clinical trials are the most direct way to measure the effects of smoke exposure, but even those have limitations. [] patient-to-patient variability is a major challenge for understanding of disease biogenesis and biomarker discovery, particularly for heterogeneous disorders like COPD, the researchers explain. Therefore, there is a great need for a novel, versatile, and physiologically relevant experimental model that faithfully recapitulates inhaled smoke-induced airway pathologies to study the biological effects of tobacco products. How does the airway-on-a-chip work? To meet this need, Benam and colleagues created an airway-on-a-chip a device made of a clear, flexible rubber consisting of living cells that line the small airways of human lungs. Fast facts about smoking Almost 1 in 6 adults in the U.S. currently smoke cigarettes in the U.S. currently smoke cigarettes Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing more than 480,000 Americans annually More than 16 million people in the U.S. are living with a smoking-related disease. Learn more about smoking We call them chips because we adapted computer microchip manufacturing methods to create very small hollow channels that we line with living human cells, notes senior study author Donald Ingber, also of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. The airway cells on the chip have the ability to differentiate, specialize, produce mucus, and develop cilia hair-like protrusions that move mucus though the airways. The top channel of the chip is where the airway cells are cultured, the team explains. This channel allows air to pass over the cells. The cells then pass through to a bottom channel that mimics the vascular system. The chip is connected to a smoke generator developed by the team, which is controlled by computer software to simulate various patterns of smoking; the machine can take a puff of a cigarette, exhale the smoke, and breathe normally in between each puff. The chip is also connected to a diaphragm-simulating microrespirator, which hauls air and smoke across the airway cells and forces it back out. Cigarette smoke alters cilia activity In their study , the team used their device to test the effects of cigarette smoke and e-cigarette vapor on airway cells taken from healthy humans and those with COPD. When the airway cells were exposed to cigarette smoke, the researchers witnessed alterations to gene expression profiles and pathways that protect against oxidative stress that are comparable with those seen in human smokers. Additionally, the team identified abnormal cilia activity in the airway cells after cigarette smoke exposure, providing further insight into how smoking damages the lungs. On exposure to e-cigarette vapor, the team identified changes to cilia function similar to those caused by exposure to cigarette smoke, though there was less evidence that e-cigarette vapor alters oxidative stress-reduction pathways. In the past few decades, there has been an increase in the number of head injuries caused by gunshot wounds. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, gunshot wounds have become one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injury in the United States, and one of the most lethal of all firearm injuries. Share on Pinterest Firearm assault injuries cost U.S. hospitals large amounts of money each year. Healthcare costs for firearm-related injuries are also high. In 2010, the total firearm assault injury cost U.S. hospitals just under $630 million. However, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester have developed a new scientific tool the SPIN-Score that might improve decision-making regarding treatment for gunshot wounds to the head. The SPIN-Score stands for Surviving Penetrating Injury to the Brain and is designed to help predict an individuals chances of survival after a gunshot wound to the head, or other penetrating brain injuries. The scale of firearm injuries In January 2013, President Barack Obama issued 23 executive orders directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other relevant institutions to research the causes of firearm violence, strategies for prevention, and plans to minimize its public health burden. One of these executive orders noted that in addition to being a law enforcement challenge, firearm violence is also a serious public health issue that affects thousands of individuals, families, and communities across the nation. In 2015, almost 12,000 people died from a firearm, and just under 25,000 were injured. In 2010, more than 105,000 individuals were injured or killed in a firearm-related incident. Although the over number of violent crimes has declined over the past 5 years, the U.S. still has the highest rate of firearm-related deaths in industrialized countries. According to the report on hospital costs of firearm assaults published by the Urban Institute in 2013, firearm assault injuries accounted for 36,341 visits to the emergency department and more than 25,000 hospitalizations. The total cost for U.S. hospitals in 2010 was just under $630 million. This is more than the entire state of Wyoming spent on Medicaid in 2011, which is $534 million. The new SPIN tool According to a new study published in the journal Neurology, researchers have now developed SPIN, an innovative tool that predicts a patients chances of survival after a gunshot wound to the head or other penetrating injury. Gunshot wounds are among the leading causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) deaths, accounting for about 35 percent. They are also the number one cause of penetrating traumatic brain injuries, according to lead study author Dr. Susanne Muehlschlegel, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. A penetrating injury is a form of TBI, where the projectile penetrates the cranium, but does not exit. To come up with the SPIN tool, researchers carried out a comprehensive study of patient data spanning over 10 years in two trauma centers one in Massachusetts and one in Maryland. The analysis examined 413 people who had been treated for penetrating injuries to the head, most of which were gunshots. The average age of the patients was 33. Researchers looked at the factors that influenced a persons chance of survival, both immediately after the trauma and 6 months later. Spin-Score was 96 percent accurate in predicting survival The overall survival rate in the study was 42 percent, with no participants dying in the6 months after leaving the hospital. Women had a 76 percent higher chance of survival, but the reasons for this are unknown. The SPIN-Score predicted whether people would survive with an accuracy of 96 percent. The SPIN-Score for those in the study ranged from 4 to 52, with higher scores indicating a higher chance of survival. Those with a SPIN-Score of 16 or less did not survive. Self-inflicted gunshot wounds presented an 80 percent increased chance of dying. Generally, suicide-related gunshot wounds have the highest rate of mortality, compared with accidental wounds or those caused by an assault. Of all the factors that helped predict survival in the study, two were the most indicative: how well a persons pupils responded to light, and how well the person could move in response to stimuli. Stimuli included obeying commands or withdrawing from pain, which is also part of the motor tests in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The GCS is currently the most common scoring system for assessing the level of consciousness in a patient following TBI. Why would the space where an amputated limb used to reside be painful? New research makes headway into understanding and treating this problem. Restructuring the way that the sensorimotor cortex organizes information could be the key. Share on Pinterest Phantom pain in amputees is a tough problem to solve. According to The Amputee Coalition of America, there are around 2 million amputees living in America. As diabetes rises in prevalence, amputations are increasing in line. The number of amputations caused by diabetes rose 24 percent from 1988-2009. Beyond the obvious distress and myriad of psychological and practical problems, these procedures also carry a painful and mysterious side effect. The sensation of pain coming from the place where an amputated limb used to reside is a common and disruptive problem in amputees. This phantom pain is estimated to affect 80 percent of the worldwide amputee population. The co-author of a recent study examining this phenomenon explains this sensation: Even though the hand is gone, people with phantom limb pain still feel like theres a hand there it basically feels painful, like a burning or hypersensitive type of pain, and conventional painkillers are ineffective in treating it. Dr. Ben Seymour Dr. Seymour is a neuroscientist, based at Cambridge Universitys Department of Engineering in the United Kingdom. His team recently joined forces with a second group, led by Takufumi Yanagisawa from Osaka University, to examine this problem. Why does phantom limb pain happen? One of the major problems with phantom limb pain is that standard pain relief medicine does not remove the discomfort. Dr. Seymour explains that, with this new research, they wanted to see if we could come up with an engineering-based treatment as opposed to a drug-based treatment. The findings, published today in Nature Communications, might be the basis for more effective interventions in the future. Although the mechanisms behind phantom limb pain remain difficult to unpick, one popular theory is that there is faulty wiring of the sensorimotor cortex. This part of the brain is responsible for processing sensory inputs and executing movements. Previous research has shown that, following an amputation, there is considerable reorganization of the sensorimotor cortical maps, some of which appears to be maladaptive. It seems that there is a mismatch between a specific movement and the perception of that movement. Gene link could mean children suffering from rare cancerous tumor may respond to future prostate cancer treatments. Medical researchers at Indiana University Bloomington have found evidence for a link between prostate cancer, which affects millions of men age 50 and older, and Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects children and young adults. The results of the study, reported in the journal Cell Reports, suggest that the molecular mechanism that triggers the rare disease Ewing's sarcoma could act as a potential new direction for the treatment of more than half of patients with prostate cancer. A form of bone and soft tissue cancer that affects about one in 1 million children and young adults age 10 to 19, Ewing's sarcoma is terminal in 44 percent of teens age 15 to 19 and 30 percent of children. Over 100,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in the U.S, with more than 99 percent of cases occurring after age 50. "This research shows that the molecular mechanism involved in the development of most prostate cancers is very similar to the molecular mechanism known to cause Ewing's sarcoma," said Peter Hollenhorst, an associate professor in the medical sciences program at IU Bloomington, a part of the IU School of Medicine. "It also suggests that this mechanism might be used to explore a common treatment for both diseases, one of which is not often pursued by drug companies due to its rarity." Hollenhorst is also a member of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis. Other authors on the paper include Vivekananda Kedage, a graduate student in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, and Travis J. Jerde, an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Kedage is the first author on the study. There are 28 genes in the human body known as ETS genes, four of which are known to produce proteins that cause prostate cancer. These four cancer-causing genes, or "oncogenes," are called ETV1, ETV4, ETV5 and ERG, the last of which has been implicated in over 50 percent of all prostate cancers. The other three combined play a role in about 7 percent of prostate cancers. Ewing's sarcoma results from errors in the chromosome repair process that causes the merger of two separate gene segments into a mutant hybrid gene, also known as a chimeric or fusion gene. One of these genes is called EWS, the other is a gene that produces ETS proteins. Hollenhorst's study is the first to show that the proteins produced by the EWS gene interact with all four ETS proteins known to trigger prostate cancer. Moreover, the EWS protein only interacts with proteins from these four harmful ETS genes, not the other 24 ETS genes not found to play a role in prostate cancer. "A molecular mechanism that sets these four genes apart from the ones that don't trigger cancer has never been identified until now," Hollenhorst said. "This is significant because it suggests that any compound that disrupts EWS-ETS interaction would specifically inhibit the function of the four oncogenes and not the others, which play important roles in the healthy function of the body." The team also found the ETS genes implicated in prostate cancer interact with the un-mutated form of the EWS gene. In Ewing's sarcoma, the small blue tumors that characterize the disease do not occur unless mutation occurs. IU scientists used a combination of laboratory experiments and mouse models to observe the interaction of EWS and ETS proteins in prostate cells. The majority of the experiments involved observing the behavior of ETS oncogenes in prostate cancer cell cultures to reveal interaction with EWS proteins. In experiments at the IU School of Medicine, they also introduced the ERG gene into normal human prostate cells in mice, which triggered the formation of tumors. The scientists then introduced an artificial mutation in the ERG gene to disrupt interaction with the proteins produced by the EWS gene. In these mice, the tumors failed to form. "Together, the results indicated that the interaction between ERG and EWS is important for tumor formation," Hollenhorst said. "We chose to focus our greatest efforts on the ERG protein since it is responsible for over 50 percent of all prostate cancers, and therefore the potential to benefit the greatest number of people." Based upon the strength of the work reported in the study, Hollenhorst and colleagues at IU Bloomington and the IU School of Medicine have received a grant from the IU Simon Cancer Center to search for molecules that could potentially disrupt ETS-EWS interaction. Their work will be conducted in collaboration with a facility at Purdue University that specializes in screening for these molecules. This research was supported in part by the American Cancer Society. The value of sanitation at reducing child mortality in many low income countries has been substantially underestimated according to recent research. A study by Prof Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Dr Annette Pruss-Ustun from The World Health Organization concludes that vital health benefits of access to sanitation facilities such as latrines will only be seen once a certain level of coverage across a community is achieved. Prof Hunter said: "The provision of sanitation is undoubtedly one of the most important public health advances of recent times, and has become a key objective in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However recent trials of sanitation interventions have failed to demonstrate a significant reduction in rates of childhood diarrhoea, one of the biggest killers of children under two years old." The study suggests that the health benefits from better sanitation differ from other similar public health interventions such as improved drinking water in that the benefit is for the community not the individual user. Prof Hunter warns that other studies into the impact of sanitation that focus only on individuals' use of improved facilities rather than the wider community coverage, are likely to severely underestimate the impact of better sanitation. "Improved sanitation appears to be one of the most effective way to reducing childhood mortality from conditions like diarrhoea", said Prof Hunter, "but only if high levels of community coverage are achieved. "We argue that the use of improved sanitation does not directly protect the user from enteric disease, rather it protects that user's neighbour. If someone excreting a disease such as cholera or cryptosporidium uses a latrine or other toilet, that pathogen will not be passed on to their neighbour. But if they openly defecate their neighbour could be exposed, whether that neighbour uses sanitation facilities themselves." The study compared the relationship between the percentage of improved sanitation coverage in low and middle income countries against country level outcomes including under-five childhood mortality, neonatal mortality, under-five childhood mortality from diarrhoea and proportion of under-fives with growth stunting or underweight. Sanitation coverage was strongly associated with declines in death rates, but only once coverage levels reached around 70 per cent in a community. Prof Hunter said: "If improved sanitation just protected the individual user, we would expect to see a steady decline in ill health in line with increasing use. While a gradual decline was seen for increasing use of improved water sources for some health measures, the benefits of sanitation aren't seen until a threshold of around 70% coverage is achieved. This supports our theory that the use of improved sanitation is something that protects the community, not the individual user. Future studies should use community coverage with improved sanitation as a primary predictor, rather than personal access. "The implications are significant for public health policy - this could drastically change the public health priorities in low income countries." Prof Hunter carried out the study with the World Health Organisation in Switzerland. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Kazakhstan plans to participate in the OPEC meeting on November 30 in Vienna, RIA Novosti quoted Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev as saying. Earlier OPEC sent invitations to 12 non-member countries to attend the next OPEC meeting. "We have received OPECs invitation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and at the technical level plan to attend the meeting, Bozumbayev told journalists Oct. 27. An officer of the Energy ministry will represent Kazakhstan at this meeting, Bozumbayev said. In late Sept. OPEC agreed to cut its oil output for the first time since 2008. The group plans to reduce output to 32.5 million barrels per day (bpd) from current production of 33.24 million bpd. How much each country will produce is to be decided at the next formal meeting of OPEC in November. OPEC expects that non-OPEC oil producers, such as Russia, will join the agreement at this meeting. Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Dr. McCance is one of a select group of spinal surgeons in New York who has been certified in the practice of robotic-assisted spinal surgery and one of a few board-certified orthopedic spine surgeons to be fully certified in ExcelsiusGPS ... PRINCETON, N.J. Oct. 27, 2016 November 6-9 Chicago, IL. Stephen Lisa Wednesday, November 9 10:00 a.m. EST Robert DeJean Princeton, NJ Exton, Pennsylvania /PRNewswire/ -- Systech International, the global leader in brand protection technologies, will showcase its ability to enable rapid compliance with pharmaceutical serialization during this year's PACK EXPO event, being heldinSystech's UniSolve serialization solution will be on display on carton coding and bottle labeling hardware from Omega Design Corporation and LSI by ID Technology, with Systech team members available for demonstrations, prospective customer meetings and discussions on pharmaceutical regulations within the industry. Systech will be in Booth #N5746 of the Upper North Building of McCormick Place. In addition,, Director, Product Management, will participate in a serialization discussion panel onat. The panel is part of Pharma EXPO, which is co-located with PACK EXPO. Mr. Lisa oversees the UniSolve solution as part of Systech's UniSeries product suite.Systech's UniSolve is a configurable serialization solution that allows drug manufacturers and packagers to cost-effectively maintain compliance with changing global regulations. With the FDA planning new implementation requirements for DSCSA stakeholders in 2015, 2017 and 2023, manufacturers and packagers need to rapidly implement unit-level serialization ahead of these dates. UniSolve is an end-to-end deployment solution that includes hardware, software, services and program integration."There is a recognized lack of resources to meet industry demand around serialization. Pharmaceutical manufacturers do not have the luxury of time to comply with stringent serialization regulations in the face of potential fines, line stoppages and other penalties. UniSolve is the fastest and most comprehensive solution to serialization that pairs the best software with the best machine manufacturers in the industry," states, Systech Founder and CEO. "We work with a wide variety of OEMs across the globe to ensure our solution is available quickly, with minimal downtime, with the flexibility to meet individual customer needs and any future alterations to existing regulations. While other providers are struggling to meet demand, UniSolve enables a faster, more cost-effective compliance solution for our customers."In the Systech booth, Omega Design Corporation, a global provider of packaging machinery, serialization solutions, and bottle unscrambling technology, will showcase its Intelli-Code Carton Coder configured with Systech's UniSolve. Omega was an early member of Systech's UniSolve Partner Ecosystem, a multi-vendor environment featuring the industry's premier OEMs. Earlier this year, Systech announced that Omega had become a partner-in-residence at the company's training and demonstration facility at its U.S. headquarters in. This allows Systech's regional clientele to participate in live training and active demonstrations showcasing UniSolve's seamless integration with Omega's case aggregation hardware.Systech's UniSolve solution will also be featured with LSI by ID Technology's labeling hardware. LSI is a leading single-source provider of labeling, coding and marking equipment, service and supplies. Systech will also have demos for LSI's Bottle Labeling System for DSCSA. Both Systech and LSI's products are used by a large number of pharmaceutical companies, contract manufacturers and contract packagers.Systech is the global technology leader in product safety, and consumer and brand protection. Systech pioneered serialization and is defining the future of authentication.The world's largest pharmaceutical companies trust their brands to Systech's technology solutions. Systech unifies and optimizes enterprise serialization, track and trace, and authentication technologies to ensure regulatory compliance, mitigate risk, and drive efficiency and profitability.For 30 years, Systech's innovation has led best practices for key brands across the pharmaceutical, life science, food and beverage, and consumer packaged goods industries.Omega Design Corporation is a global provider of innovative packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and consumer healthcare industries. Since 1969, Omega has specialized in the design, manufacture, service, and support of a broad range of container handling and packaging equipment systems, including bottle unscramblers, bottle-puck handling systems, shrink bundlers, stretch banders, secondary bottle and 5panel carton orienters, canister and pouch-style desiccant/oxygen absorber feeders, as well as coding, vision and packing modules supporting unit-level serialization.Omega Design Corporation operates from a fully integrated facility inthat provides product research and development, product line engineering, parts manufacture, machine assembly and testing. For more information, call 610-363-6555 or visit www.OmegaDesign.com.LSI, a brand of ID Technology, powered by Pro Mach, designs and manufactures heavy duty, pressure-sensitive labeling equipment. For more than 30 years, pharmaceutical, food, beverage and other consumer goods companies have relied on LSI's robust labelers for consistent quality and performance in nonstop, around-the-clock production environments.LSI by ID Technology offers complete turnkey, automatic labeling machines and systems. LSI's modular design approach allows easy packaging line integration and product changeover. Our extensive line of standard products and modular components provides solutions for most customer applications. However, LSI's commitment to engineering and manufacturing excellence has earned us a reputation as one of the leading designers of custom labeling solutions as well.All products and solutions are designed and rigorously tested by LSI's dedicated team in our Research and Development Electronics Laboratory and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. LSI stands behind our products with outstanding customer service, including in-house training, parts and professional service and repair.This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/systech-to-showcase-rapid-serialization-compliance-solutions-at-pack-expo-300352783.html SOURCE Systech International Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. Advertisement Prof. Faleh Tamimi, who teaches in the McGill Faculty of Dentistry, and is the senior author on a number of papers published on the subject in recent weeks, said, "Because some medications affect bone metabolism and the way that bone cells heal and multiply or die, they can have an important effect on the success of implants."The McGill research team reviewed data about the integration of dental implants gathered from over 700 patients who were operated on at the East Coast Oral Surgery Clinic in Moncton, New Brunswick between 2007-2015. They then confirmed the results they saw in human patients through studies in rats."We believe that this research may have implications for orthopedic interventions such as hip and knee replacements, because the same mechanisms of bone cell growth break down, and healing take place in all the bones in the body," says Tamimi. "Our work with implants in rats suggest that this is indeed the case, but further research will be needed to confirm it."- Conclusions are based on 1499 dental implants in 728 patients between January 2007- September 2013 at the East Coast Oral Surgery in Moncton, New Brunswick- 327 implants were in 142 people who took beta blockers for hypertension- 1172 implants were in 586 people who didn't take beta blockers- Failure rates of implants for people using beta blockers was 0.6%- Failure rates of implants in people who don't take beta blockers was 4.1%- More than 640 million patients around the world take beta blockers to control hypertension."We carried out this study because we knew that beta blockers have been reported to increase bone formation," says Prof. Tamimi from McGill's Faculty of Dentistry. "So we thought it was possible that they would also decrease the risk of failure of dental implants. However we didn't expect that there would be such a clear difference in the failure rates for implants between users and non-users of beta blockers. Randomized clinical trials will need to be carried out as well as other studies of large numbers of patients to investigate this phenomenon in more depth."- Conclusions are based on 1773 dental implants in 799 patients between January 2007 - September 2015 at the East Coast Oral Surgery in Moncton, New Brunswick- 133 implants were in 58 people who took heartburn medication- 1640 implants were in 741 people who don't take heartburn medication- Failure rates of implants for people using heartburn medication were 6.8%- Failure rates of implants for people not taking heartburn medication were 3.2%- More than 20 million Americans, about one in 14 people, take heartburn medication- Heartburn medication is rapidly becoming the third most prescribed pharmaceutical product worldwide, especially for elderly people, who take it either on an occasional or long-term basis."Scientists already knew that drugs for heartburn reduce calcium absorption in bones and generally increase the risk of bone fractures," says Faleh Tamimi, of McGill's Faculty of Dentistry. "That is why we wanted to look at how it affects the integration of implants and bone healing after this type of surgery. But we didn't expect to find that the negative effects of these type of drugs would be as great as they are. Further work will need to be done to find the appropriate dosages and time periods that people should take or avoid these medications."Source: Eurekalert In a video posted to YouTube on October 19, 2016, Frankfurt-based Syrian activist Malik Fndy called upon supporters of the Islamic State (ISIS) to take to the media to support the organization. "Know that the war is now being waged in the media," said Fndy, quoting the Prophet Muhammad as saying: "Wage jihad against the polytheists with your money, your lives, and your tongues." Saying "You are mujahideen, oh people of the media, oh supporters [of ISIS]," he added that the reward for this would be "that of a mujahid in Paradise." The Syrian-born Fndy, who is a Ph.D. candidate at the Technical University of Darmstadt, has posted several videos on his private YouTube account proclaiming his support of ISIS, and has also posted numerous pro-ISIS messages on his Facebook account. He was arrested by German police in February 2016, after MEMRI TV published a clip of him explaining why he supported ISIS and justifying ISIS's burning alive of Jordanian pilot Muath Al-Kasasbeh, as well as its practice of stoning women accused of adultery.[1] Following the initial investigation, Fndy posted another YouTube video in which he complained about "a distortion campaign by some German and American journalists" and thanked the German police for its "just treatment" of him. At that point, Fndy halted his Facebook activity. Below is the MEMRI TV translation of his October 19 video (click here or below to view the clip). Fndy: "I address this message to the supporters of the Islamic State. I say to them: The zero hour for the Battle of Mosul has been declared. Who declared it? Ostensibly, it was that Rafidite pig [Iraqi Prime Minister] Al-Abadi. But that was only ostensibly, my brothers. The truth is that [this war] was declared by the Islamic Caliphates State's soldiers in Mosul. It was declared by monotheist Muslims in Mosul. From the very first minutes of this Crusader-Rafidite campaign against Mosul, those Rafidites, those infidels, and those apostate Kurds - may Allah curse them all - have tasted nothing but death, nothing but the rockets and car bombs of the Islamic State, nothing but the martyrdom-seeking operations of the Islamic State. "I say to you all: Be proud of your [Islamic] State. Know that the war is now being waged in the media. Your state wants you to support it in the media. You cannot give money right now and you cannot sacrifice your lives, but you can support this state in the media. "Brothers, you should write and publish and always present the truth, in order to expose the systematic lying that is sadly propagated by those who purport to be Muslims, represented by channels of whoredom like Al-Arabiya network, may Allah curse them all. "By Allah, brothers, rest assured that victory is near, Allah willing. Know that those mujahideen will ultimately be victorious. How? You know how. If they die, they are martyrs and if they win, Allah willing, they will spread, and you will be considered mujahideen. The Prophet Muhammad said: 'Wage jihad against the polytheists with your money, your lives, and your tongues.' "You are mujahideen, oh people of the media, oh supporters (of ISIS). Know that your reward by Allah will be that of a mujahid in Paradise, Allah willing. "To conclude, I tell you that victory will be on our side, Allah willing. Those criminal parrots from among the Muslims who hate the Islamic State - bring them to their knees with your truth. Never lie. Always tell the truth. This truthfulness is what characterizes the Islamic State and all its supporters." Endnote: Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Kazakhstan negotiates with several foreign airlines to launch new routes during Expo 2017 exhibition in Astana, Kazakh Prime Ministers official website reported with the reference to Investment and Development Vice Minister Berik Kamaliyev. He noted that Finnish airline will launch flight within signed agreements. Moreover Kazakhstan has held negotiations with Polish aviation authorities, an agreement on flights has been reached with Hungary. In addition, Austrian, Czech airlines will resume flights to Kazakhstan, Air China will fly from China, according to the vice minister. On December 12, Kazakhstan plans to meet with aviation authorities of Iran and China and request additional slots for Kazakh Air Astana and Scat airlines in order to increase international flights from Almaty to Chinese Xian and Iranian Tehran, Kamaliyev said. The vice minister noted that Kazakh capital Astana is connected by direct flights with 5 international financial centers - Frankfurt, London, Dubai, Hong Kong and Seoul. Moreover there are direct flights from Astana to the cities of Vienna, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Istanbul, Urumqi and other. In 2018 it is planned to launch direct flight from Astana to Tokyo, in 2019 in Singapore, in 2020 to New York, he said. The EXPO-2017 titled "Future Energy" will last from June 10 until September 10. Over 100 countries will take part in the exhibition. The World's Fair EXPO exhibition has been held since 1851. Follow the author on Twitter:@E_Kosolapova The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here. Since its launch in January 2016, Al-Masra, AQAP's official weekly magazine, has published reports, articles and photos addressing issues related to the U.S ranging from domestic, international and anti-US propaganda, in almost every issue published from Telegram. In February 2016, the paper published a series of articles entailing the planning for the 9/11 attacks narrated by AQAP slain leader Nasser Al-Wuhaishi who had worked as a personal assistant of Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan. Al-Masra has also published articles discussing police shooting civilians, reported about Black Lives Matters rallies and highlighted the U.S election. The paper encourages lone wolf style attacks in the U.S and gives credit to AQAP occasionally. Last September, the paper stated that Ahmad Rahami, who was arrested on suspicion of planting bombs in New York and New Jersey was influenced by Al-Qaeda. On October 26, 2016, Al-Masra, the weekly newspaper of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), published an article describing U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as "full of flaws," stating that the future of the U.S. will be different from its shining past, and that it is time for U.S. prominence to decline. The article, written by Ibrahim Abu Al-Futouh, mentioned the recriminations between the two candidates, as well as Trump's implication that he may not concede the results if he loses, and the alleged Russian involvement in leaking Clinton's emails in order to tarnish her credibility and boost her opponent's chances in the election. According to the article, Trump has succeeded in shaking people's trust in the government, the American people are extremely divided internally, and even if Clinton won, she would be unable to reunite the country. "The U.S.," the article noted, "is no longer a united front in Washington that is ready to face growing challenges." After describing Clinton and Trump as "full of flaws," the article stated: "Is this an indication of the beginning of the collapse of the U.S.? The answer will be confirmed by the results of the election. Undoubtedly, the future will be different from the past history, during which the star of the U.S. shone, and it is time for it to decline." Source: "Jihadi Library" Telegram Channel, October 25, 2016. Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov is en route to Syria,[1] where it will be deployed for at least 6 months. On October 15, Russia's Northern Fleet's press service said that a group of warships headed by the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov accompanied by the Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) heavy nuclear missile cruiser, the Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov anti-submarine destroyer, and support vessels was sent to the Mediterranean to hold drills and reinforce capabilities. The Admiral Kuznetsov carries deck-based Su-33 and Su-25 aircraft, as well as Ka-27/Ka29 helicopters. The ship is 306 meters long and can simultaneously carry 25 planes, helicopters and 1980 servicemen.[2] Admiral Kuznetsov (Source: Vk.com/milinfolive) The flotilla conducted three-day exercises in the North Sea 273 kilometers off the Norwegian coast. The drills involved practice flights of the carrier's aircraft. The exercises were closely monitored by the Norwegian navy frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen. On October 21, the Admiral Kuznetsov passed though the English Channel. The UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon pledged that the Royal Navy would man-mark the Russian fleet.[3] However, the British newspapers and social media mocked the Admiral Kuznetsov billowing smoke as it passed close to Dover Strait. A naval expert at the Royal United Services Institute, Peter Roberts, said: "In naval folklore, there's something called an unlucky ship and the Kuznetsov is undoubtedly an unlucky ship." However, the Russian media claimed that British reactions were motivated by a desire to minimize the Russian fleet's power. A blogger in Komsomolskaya Pravda said that the smoke emissions were deliberate: a ship emits short blasts, to greet the shore, and long blasts of smoke as a menacing signal.[4] "And now it's your turn to think why the Russian flagship Kuznetsov traversed the English Channel under a 'cap' of smoke. Was it greeting the Englishmen or perhaps the very opposite," wrote Komsomolskaya Pravda.[5] A sardonic exoneration of the smoke-belching Kuznetsov appeared on Twitter. The smoke showed that the Kremlin was undecided over who would be elected as the new American president. (Source: Twitter.com/sharzhipero, October 25, 2016) Admiral Kuznetsov crossing the English Channel (Source: Novorossia.today) Admiral Kuznetsov (Source: Pravdareport.com) Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said that the Admiral Kuznetsov is unlikely to exert control over the skies of Syria. Peskov said: "I do not think that it is necessary to keep somebody away, [or that] somebody can attack [the Syrian government forces] ... as there are enough instruments to control the skies, to control the safety of our temporary infrastructure in Syria, which is why there is no such opportunity."[6] Northern Fleet admiral ret. Vyacheslav Popov explained that Admiral Kuznetsov is capable of performing missile strikes as well as air strikes. He added that the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Peter the Great is also capable of providing air cover, acting against submarines, collecting intelligence and more. Popov said that the deployment of a carrier group has two primary goals: "First, strategically our presence in the Mediterranean is our interest. In modern times, with the precision and the range of missile weapons our presence in the Mediterranean has grown in importance in order to provide security to Russia. Second, [it is important] to assist the Russian air-force in Syria, which conducts anti-terror operations in Syria."[7] According to Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, former commander Chief Naval Staff Directorate, it's doubtful that the flotilla will be involved in launching a massive missile strike, but each ship may fire a few missiles. Kravchenko added: "Why not test our weapons in a real combat situation, especially as such a great opportunity has been granted." However, former deputy of Chief of Naval Staff vice-admiral Vladimir Pepelyaev said that Russia's mid-range P-700 Granit missile is unlikely to be fired against ground targets in Syria since they were designed against naval targets and are unsuitable for hitting ground targets. Ria.ru columnist Aleksandr Khrolenko exulted that while NATO forces were spinning their wheels in the Middle East sands the Russian navy was exerting control in the Atlantic after establishing its presence in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. One result of "the cold Atlantic standoff" was to turn Western intentions of creating a-no-fly zone over Syria into "an unrealizable dream".[8] Endnotes: From multiple attempts to deface it and offensive scribbles drawn all over it, and a wall built around it by a performance artist, to a controversial spray-paint job (someone had drawn a backward swastika on the star)Donald Trumps Hollywood Walk of Fame Star has been through a lot. But, someone decided that they've had enough of the controversial Presidential candidate, and finally took a vicious stab at the star. Twitter In an exclusive, Deadline.com reported that a man disguised as a construction worker attacked the star yesterday in Hollywood, taking to the sidewalk, first with a sledgehammer and then a pickaxe! The man repeatedly smashed the star, using the axe to pick apart the letters in Trumps name. No one came to the stars rescue (obviously)as pedestrians recorded the man on their phones, with one man even picking up one of the letters as a souvenir. Tragic! Dominic Patten_Deadline Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.27 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Kyrgyzstans President Almazbek Atambayev has dismissed his adviser Ikramjan Ilmiyanov, according to Kyrgyz presidents website. Kyrgyzstans President Almazbek Atambayev has signed a decree to dismiss Ikramjan Ilmiyanov from the post of presidential adviser in connection with job change, said the message. He was appointed Kyrgyz presidents adviser in 2015. Earlier, Atambayev signed a decree on the governments resignation. Kyrgyzstans government resigns due to the collapse of the coalition of the parliamentary majority, said the decree. The coalition was formed Nov.2, 2015 between the factions of the Social-Democratic Party, the Kyrgyzstan party, Onuguu-Progress and Ata-Meken. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Gilles Remy, head of the French CIFAL company, exchanged views on the prospects of partnership as part of the priorities of socio-economic development of the country and joint work experience, the Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary state news agency (TDH) reported October 27. According to the message, stressing readiness to develop mutually beneficial cooperation, Remy expressed the company's interest in strengthening the positions on the Turkmen market. Remy added that all conditions were created in Turkmenistan for successful business due to the investment policy, envisaging significant benefits to foreign partners, the message said. The fuel and energy sector, transport sphere are among the priorities of the partnership, the message said. Earlier, CIFAL confirmed its intention to take an active part in the implementation of the construction project of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (TAPI). CIFAL has been operating on the Turkmen market for over 20 years. In general, French companies are widely represented in such areas as construction, transport, tourism and energy in Turkmenistan. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Qatars Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, the head of Al Faisal Holding, stressed at the meeting that the fuel and energy sector, transport and communications are priority vectors of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Qatar, the Turkmen government said in a message. According to the message, the agreements reached the highest level following President Berdimuhamedovs official visit to Qatar in October 2010 and Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thanis official visit to Turkmenistan in March 2016, giving an impulse to the bilateral relations. President Berdimuhamedov and Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani stressed the huge potential for intensifying the mutually beneficial bilateral trade and economic partnership and promoting productive business relations in various spheres, the message said. The diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Qatar were established in 1996. President Berdimuhamedov called Qatari businessmen for participating in the implementation of construction project of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline in April 2016. According to President Berdimuhamedov, TAPI is designed to ensure long-term supply of gas to the largest countries of South-East Asia, contribute to solving the economic problems of the region, important social and humanitarian issues. The solemn ceremony of launching the TAPI construction, with a capacity of up to 33 billion cubic meters of gas was held in mid-December 2015. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The US company John Deere is ready to offer cotton and grain harvesters, tractors, as well as various agricultural equipment to Turkmenistan, said Mark von Pentz, president of the companys Agriculture and Turf Division of Europe, CIS, Asia, Africa and Global Tractor Platform. He made the remarks at the meeting with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the Turkmen state news agency reported. John Deere has been operating in the Turkmen market for about 25 years. The sides discussed prospects of business cooperation in the context of the priorities of Turkmenistan. The information also says that Turkmenistan has successfully solved the problem of food security, along with this, the country exports grain and cotton. This year, it is planned to produce 1.6 million tons of grain in Turkmenistan. The plan to harvest 1.05 million tons of cotton has already been fulfilled. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct. 27 By Demir Azizov Trend: During a phone conversation held recently, Uzbekistans Acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev confirmed their strong mutual interest in successful completion of joint work on the delimitation and demarcation of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz state border that are being carried out by the two countries competent authorities, Uzbekistan national news agency (UzA) reported. During the talks, held by the initiative of the Kyrgyz side, the two presidents agreed to support and promote bilateral relations at various levels with the aim to further strengthen the multifaceted and long-term relationships for the benefit of the two brotherly peoples in order to ensure stability and security in the region, said the report. Mirziyayev and Atambayev exchanged views on the state and prospects of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz cooperation, highlighting the significant positive dynamics in several key areas. As it was reported earlier, meetings of representative delegations of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan with the participation of leaders and general public of the border areas of the Fergana Valley were held in Uzbekistans Andijan and Kyrgyzstans Osh cities. The two presidents noted that these meetings became an important step towards strengthening the centuries-old traditional ties of friendship and good-neighborliness, mutual trust and respect between the two countries peoples. Total length of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border is 1378.44 kilometers. Nearly 50 sections with about 300 kilometers length havent been delimitated. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 26 By Farhad Daneshvar, Dalga Khatinoglu Trend: The Islamic Republics giant car manufacturing company, Iran Khodro (IKCO), has exported 26,500 cars to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) over the past 10 years, Iran Khodro told Trend. Sabina Nobari, the director of America, Asia, Europe and CIS region at IKCO, has said that 4,500 cars out of the total number went to Azerbaijan through a local company. According to Nobari, Azerbaijans Azevrocar LLC has purchased about 4,500 Iran Khodro-made cars including Samand, Soren and Runna brands as CBU (Complete Built Up) units over the mentioned period. However, Azevrocars purchase of Iran Khodro cars dropped significantly following last years national currency devaluation in Azerbaijan as international oil prices took a sharp tumble, she added. In the meantime, Iran Khodro has developed a plan to invest in Azerbaijan by launching a joint venture as the Iranian manufacturer has already carried out an in-depth study on the neighboring countrys car market. The car factory jointly founded by the two countries in Azerbaijans Neftchala industrial park is expected to produce its first cars as of late-May 2017, Nobari noted. According to the official, there are talks underway to export the joint ventures products to regional countries such as Georgia and Ukraine. Iran Khodro owns 25 percent of the shares of the joint venture and the rest belongs to the Azerbaijani side. IKCO is Iran's major automaker, producing about 600,000 cars a year. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Fatih Karimov Trend: The Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) has signed cooperation documents with Hungarian and Sri Lankan export guarantee agencies. Kamal Seyyed Ali, head of Irans Export Guarantee Fund, signed separate memorandums of understanding with the Hungarian Export Credit Insurance Plc. (MEHIB) and Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation (Slecic) in Lisbon, Portugal, IRNA news agency reported Oct. 27. Under the deals, the parties will cooperate in exchange of economic, banking, and insurance information. The memorandums also envisage cooperation in the fields of reinsurance and joint insurance as well as training. Seyyed Ali said that following the implementation of nuclear deal last January, grounds are prepared for cooperation with export guarantee institutes of other countries. He added that his organization will use the opportunity to facilitate access to foreign assets. The EGFI signed similar documents with Germanys Hermes, which offers export credit guarantee (ECG), and Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV) on Oct. 25. In the post-sanctions period, EGFIs exports and investment credits coverage enjoyed a 42-percent growth. It stood at $265 million during the first four months of the current Iranian fiscal year (started March 20). Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.27 By Dalga Khatinoglu Trend: With 290 sunny days covering most part of Iran, the Islamic Republic has huge potential to boost the renewables share in the countrys power generation. Currently the figure stands at about 0.3 percent (240 megawatts), but according to an official document, obtained by Trend, the Energy Ministry of Iran has planned to increase the share of renewables in Irans total power generation to 3.78 percent by March 20 and 5 percent by March 2011. Recently, the deputy of Energy Minister Houshang Falahatian told Trend on October 18 that Iran has 5-10 gigawatts (GW) renewable power firm projects for foreign companies in the next ten years. Power plants 2016/2017 MW 2017/2018 MW 2018/2019 MW 2019/2020 MW New solar power firms 350 600 960 960 New wind firms 140 90 100 100 Total cumulative renewables 730 1420 2480 3540 Total power generation 77422 80862 81997 91254 Irans power generation plans from current fiscal year to March 2020 The document didnt cover the statistics for 2021, when Irans National 5-year Plan ends, but Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian told Trend in August that in five years, Iran expects to have actualized 5,000 MW of the power generated from renewable sources. Iran has devised plans worth $30 billion for developing its power infrastructure in the following five years, which include building power plants, repairing and upgrading current ones, as well as developing and making the power grid smart Iran would add 26 GW to its nominal power generation capacity by 2021, he said. According to a report, published on energy ministrys official website on Oct.26, Chitchian said during signing a memorandum of understanding with Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkanen on energy sector Iran keen to import the technology of renewables firms. During the current fiscal year, started on March 21, Iran added 5 MW to its renewables capacity. Dalga Khatinoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Iran news service, follow him on Twitter:@dalgakhatinoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Proposed constitutional reforms are the main reason for the government resignation in Kyrgyzstan, Michael Laubsch, executive director of Eurasian Transition Group, a European non-profit organization, and an expert on the Central Asia, believes. This week Kyrgyzstans Social Democratic Party decided to leave the coalition of the parliamentary majority. Withdrawal of the Social Democratic Party which had the majority of seats in the parliament resulted in the coalition disintegration, which in turn means resignation of the government according to Kyrgyz law. Yesterday Kyrgyz president signed a decree on the government resignation. In my view, the main reason that the government had so step down lies in the proposed constitutional reforms, brought into parliament by members of the Social Democratic Party. Those reform proposals were widely criticized by a majority of MPs and also the civil society. A compromise could not be found, so the coalition fell apart, Laubsch told Trend on Oct. 27. The expert noted that it is still not clear how the problem can be solved with a new government. I personally don't see a parliamentary majority for those reforms, as well as the society is opposing them. Therefore, I predict that sooner or later the president has to call for early presidential elections, Laubsch said. In late July 2016, Kyrgyz Parliament introduced a draft law on the referendum on a number of amendments to the Constitution. In particular, amendments envisage strengthening the powers of the prime minister. For example, prime minister will have right for no-confidence vote in the government and appoint and dismiss members of the government. In addition, amendments will be made to certain provisions of the constitution relating to higher values (human rights, citizenship, criminal prosecution). Yesterday the Kyrgyz Parliament in the final reading passed the law on the referendum, which envisages possibility of a referendum if it is called by parliament members or a group of voters. The law should also be signed by the president. It is expected that the referendum on amendment to the Constitution, planned for Dec. 11, will be carried out within this law. The previous version of Kyrgyz Constitution prohibited any kinds of amendments until 2020. Daesh militants have executed at least 232 civilians near the Iraqi city of Mosul, the chairman of the Iraqi parliamentary human rights committee said on Wednesday, Sputnik reported. On October 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the start of a military operation to retake Mosul from Daesh, a jihadist group outlawed in Russia and a number of other states. According to local media, about 30,000 Iraqi soldiers and 4,000 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are taking part in the operation, backed by airstrikes carried out by the US-led international coalition. "IS [Daesh] militants continued to commit atrocities in the province of Nineveh, they executed 190 people in the area of Hammam al-Alil after taking them hostage in different areas of Mosul," Abdel Rakhim Shamri said as quoted by his press service. According to the lawmaker, another 42 people in the nearby village of Arij became victims of the terrorist group because of their refusal to cooperate with the militants. CASEVILLE The members of the Caseville Historical Society had their monthly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 20 at Maccabee Hall, 6733 Prospect Street, Caseville. There were 12 members present. This meeting also served as the Annual Meeting of Officers, Trustees and Members. Rich Bass welcomed all in attendance. He called for the minutes of the previous meeting to be reviewed as well as the treasurers report. Both were reviewed and approved, with no corrections, by the group. Bass mentioned the next Historical Society of Michigan workshop slated for Nov. 4. The topic is oral histories. More information on these workshops is available at the museum office. Bass attended the recent Michigan State History Conference in Alpena. Some of the topics discussed were maintaining historical photos and videos, maritime history of northeastern Michigan and how to increase museum traffic. Bass said the Huron County Historical Society had their monthly meeting at Maccabee Hall on Oct. 13. Refreshments were available and were donated by members and coordinated by Audrey Jesmore. Maccabee Hall also served as the meeting site for the Caseville City Council on Oct. 10. The Huron County Historical Society Christmas Dinner will be on Dec. 3 at the senior center in Bad Axe. The cost of this dinner is $15 per person, the theme will be veterans of World War II. Reporting for the Events Committee, Dave Vizard discussed the recent classic car show. He said the museum experienced about 200 to 300 visitors on Saturday, Sept. 24, the day of the show. Vizard said 20 plaques were awarded to winners as well as five Peoples Choice awards. Mention was made of revising the registration process to have a better record of those who participated. The next event scheduled will be the Michigan in the Civil War presentation. This event will be from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Nov. 17 at the James Stahl Auditorium at Caseville Public Schools. Students will attend free and a nominal charge of $5 per person will be charged for other attendees. Speakers will be Al and Dave Eicher. Tickets for this event are available at the museum and will also be sold at the door on the day of the event. The final event for the 2016 calendar year will be the Christmas dinner and auction which will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 11. The cost is $25 per person and includes a delicious, chef-prepared meal. Items for the auction following dinner are now being accepted. Only 32 tickets will be sold for this event. Reporting for the Archival and Museum Committee, Rich Bass said that 124 visitors, in addition to those from the classic car show, had visited the museum over the past month. Bass said items had been donated over the past month from Jim Bankson (for Delores Hartman), Jim Devroye, the Bad Axe Historical Society and Helping Hands Thrift Store. Suggestions are now being considered for a new display to replace the beach-themed display which is now reaching the end of its two-year life. Barb Eimers continues to be available the first Thursday of each month at Maccabee Hall to assist persons completing family or building histories. Research materials are available at the museum and Eimers will help those wanting to use these resources. Reporting for the Development Committee, Rich Bass said some work remains to be done on the upstairs and, now that events are winding down, that work will take a priority. Bass offered thanks to D&D Construction, Last Call Drywall, All Pointes Services, Centerline Heating & Cooling, Jim Flock Plumbing and Caseville True Value Hardware for all the work done to complete this project. Joyce Miller reported that the Nominating Committee consisting of herself, Audrey Jesmore and Gloria Peterson, suggested the four trustees whose terms are expiring be nominated for an additional three-year term. Those trustees are Rich Bass, Janet Ekel, Donna McCormick and Mary Taylor. The floor was opened for additional nominees. There being no additional nominees, a vote was taken and the four were voted-in to serve another three-year term. The nominating committee also proposed the current officers serve another term. No further nominations were forthcoming, so a vote was taken and the four officers will continue for another term. They are Rich Bass, president; Joyce Miller, vice president; Sherry Hoelzle, treasurer; and Carole Shereda, secretary. Several members volunteered to pass out Halloween candy at Maccabee Hall between 5 and 7 p.m. on Oct. 31. Because the Michigan in the Civil War presentation is scheduled for Nov. 17, the next meeting of the Caseville Historical Society will be 10 a.m. on Nov. 10. As always, all meetings are open to the public and everyone is invited to attend. Meetings are a good way to meet other persons interested in preserving the history of the Caseville area and to support the local community. For more information, call 989-856-9090, visit the web-site at www.thehchs.org/caseville, e-mail chscm@comcast.net or like the group on Facebook. As many as 97 people are missing after a boat carrying more than 100 migrants sank off the Libyan shore, a spokesman of the Libyan coast guard told Sputnik. According to spokesman Ayoub Qassem, the vessel carrying 126 people sank on Wednesday 26 miles away from the lighthouse of Tajura and was spotted by a tanker which alerted the coastguard. As many as 29 people were rescued by the tanker. "The coast guard is looking for the remaining missing persons, the number of whom is estimated at 97," Qassem said. Europe is currently struggling to cope with a massive refugee influx, with hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants fleeing conflict-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa. According to the UN refugee agency, the Mediterranean Sea claimed over 3,600 lives last year. 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. Read More The European Union has lost its cohesion and the refugee crisis has demonstrated the 28-nation blocs incapacities, former Austrian president Heinz Fischer said on Thursday, TASS reported. "The European Union has lost some of its cohesion and attractiveness," Fischer said at a session of the Valdai Discussion Club. "This is due to insufficient amount of economic and financial coordination since different interests between member states become increasingly visible with increased challenges and because European solidarity does not work in the way it would be necessary," he said. "I just have to mention the problem of refugees where the European Union demonstrated a lot of incapacities and the lack of solidarity." "The relationship between Russia and the European Union also did not develop in a way we had hoped it would 25 years ago," he added. "I know the arguments of both sides. Who or what is responsible for this development? Yet when we now speak not about the past but about the future, both sides should demonstrate that they are aware of the importance of their relationship," Fischer said. "The European Union, in particular, should not lose sight of how the relations between Russia and the West have developed in the past, in the last century, for instance, and that the evolution of NATO is seen differently by Moscow than it is by Washington or Brussels," he said. "And Russia, in my opinion, should increasingly consider that certain actions that are connected to military force and incompatible with international law irritate and worry the European public and the European policy.". OPKO Health, Inc., a healthcare company, engages in the diagnostics and pharmaceuticals businesses in the United States, Ireland, Chile, Spain, Israel, Mexico, and internationally. The company's Diagnostics segment operates BioReference Laboratories that offers laboratory testing services for the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring, and treatment of diseases, including esoteric testing, molecular diagnostics, anatomical pathology, genetics, women's health, and correctional healthcare to physician offices, clinics, hospitals, employers and governmental units; and a novel diagnostic instrument system to provide blood test results in the point-of-care setting, as well as 4Kscore prostate cancer testing services. Its Pharmaceutical segment offers Rayaldee to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism in adults with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease, and vitamin D insufficiency; OPK88004, an orally administered selective androgen receptor modulator; OPK88003, a once-weekly administered peptide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and associated obesity that is in Phase IIb trials; and hGH-CTP, a once-weekly human growth hormone injection that completed Phase III clinical trial in partnership with Pfizer, Inc. This segment develops and commercializes longer-acting proprietary versions of already approved therapeutic proteins. The company also offers specialty APIs; develops, manufactures, markets, and sells pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, veterinary, and ophthalmic products; commercializes food supplements and over the counter products; manufactures and sells products primarily in the generics market; and imports, markets, distributes, and sells pharmaceutical products in a range of indications, including cardiovascular products, vaccines, antibiotics, gastro-intestinal products, hormones, and others. In addition, it operates pharmaceutical platforms in Ireland, Chile, Spain, and Mexico. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida. The following companies are subsidiares of Novartis: 1 A Pharma GmbH, Abadia Retuerta S.A, Admune Therapeutics, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications International SA, Advanced Accelerator Applications S.A., Advanced Accelerator Applications S.r.l., Advanced Accelerator Applications USA Inc., Aeropharm GmbH, Alcon, Alcon Couvreur NV, Amblyotech, Amblyotech Inc., Arctos Medical, Arctos Medical AG, Australia Pty Ltd, Beijing Novartis Pharma Co. Ltd., BioMedical Research Co. Ltd., CELLforCURE, Cadent Therapeutics, Cadent Therapeutics Cambridge, Cellerys, Cellerys AG, CellforCure, Chiron Corporation, Ciba-Geigy Japan Limited, Co. Ltd, CoStim Pharmaceuticals, CoStim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Coalesce Product Development Limited, Corthera, Development Co. Ltd., EBEWE Pharma Ges.m.b.H Nfg. KG, Encore Vision, Endocyte, Endocyte Inc., Eon Labs Inc., Farmanova Saglik Hizmetleri Ltd, Fougera Pharmaceuticals, Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc, Gyroscope Therapeutics, HEXAL AG, Hexal, IDB Holland BV, Iberica S.L.U., Ilaclari Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, JSC Sandoz, Japat AG, Kedalion Therapeutics Inc., Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Lek S.A., Manufacturing Pte Ltd , Navigate BioPharma Services Inc, Neutec Pharma Limited, Novartis (Hellas) S.A.C.I., Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Novartis (Taiwan) Co. Ltd, Novartis (Thailand) Limited, Novartis Argentina S.A., Novartis Australia Pty Ltd, Novartis Austria GmbH, Novartis Biociencias S.A., Novartis Biosciences Peru S.A., Novartis Bioventures AG, Novartis Business Services GmbH, Novartis Capital Corporation, Novartis Chile S.A., Novartis Corporation, Novartis Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Novartis Deutschland GmbH, Novartis Ecuador S.A., Novartis Farma S.p.A., Novartis Farma Produtos Farmaceuticos S.A., Novartis Farmaceutica S.A, Novartis Farmaceutica S.A. de C.V., Novartis Finance Corporation, Novartis Finance S.A., Novartis Finance Services Ltd, Novartis Finland Oy Espoo, Novartis Gene Therapies, Novartis Gene Therapies EU Limited, Novartis Gene Therapies Inc., Novartis Grimsby Limited, Novartis Groupe France S.A., Novartis Healthcare A/S, Novartis Healthcare Philippines Inc., Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, Novartis Holding AG, Novartis Hungary Healthcare Limited Liability Company, Novartis India Limited, Novartis Inflammasome Research, Novartis Integrated Services Limited, Novartis International AG, Novartis International Pharmaceutical Investment AG, Novartis Investment Ltd, Novartis Investments S.a r.l., Novartis Ireland Limited, Novartis Israel Ltd, Novartis Korea Ltd., Novartis Middle East FZE, Novartis Netherlands B.V., Novartis Neva LLC, Novartis New Zealand Ltd, Novartis Norge AS, Novartis Ophthalmics AG, Novartis Optogenetics Research Inc., Novartis Overseas Investments AG, Novartis Pharma (Logistics) Inc., Novartis Pharma (Pakistan) Limited, Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Pharma B.V. , Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma K.K., Novartis Pharma LLC, Novartis Pharma Maroc SA, Novartis Pharma NV, Novartis Pharma Produktions GmbH, Novartis Pharma S.A.E., Novartis Pharma S.A.S., Novartis Pharma Schweiz AG, Novartis Pharma Schweizerhalle AG, Novartis Pharma Services AG, Novartis Pharma Services Romania S.R.L., Novartis Pharma Stein AG, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Limited, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Novartis Poland Sp. z o.o., Novartis Portugal S.G.P.S. Lda., Novartis Ringaskiddy Limited, Novartis Saglik Gida ve Tarim Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, Novartis Saudi Ltd., Novartis Securities Investment Ltd, Novartis Services Inc., Novartis Slovakia s.r.o., Novartis South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Novartis Sverige AB, Novartis UK Limited, Novartis US Foundation, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Inc, Novartis Vietnam Company Limited, Novartis de Colombia S.A., Novartis de Venezuela S.A., Novartis s.r.o., Oriel Therapeutics Inc., PT. Novartis Indonesia, Protez Pharmaceuticals, Pte Ltd, Research Inc, Salutas Pharma GmbH, Sandoz A/S, Sandoz AG, Sandoz B.V., Sandoz Canada Inc., Sandoz Egypt Pharma S.A.E., Sandoz Farmaceutica S.A., Sandoz Farmaceutica Lda., Sandoz GmbH, Sandoz Hungary Limited Liability Company, Sandoz Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Sandoz Inc, Sandoz Industrial Products S.A, Sandoz International GmbH, Sandoz K.K., Sandoz Limited, Sandoz Manufacturing Inc., Sandoz NV, Sandoz Pharma K.K, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals d.d., Sandoz Philippines Corporation, Sandoz Polska Sp. z o.o. , Sandoz Private Limited, Sandoz Pty Ltd, Sandoz S.A. de C.V, Sandoz S.A.S., Sandoz S.R.L., Sandoz S.p.A., Sandoz South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Sandoz Ukraine LLC, Sandoz d.o.o. farmaceutska industrija, Sandoz do Brasil Industria Farmaceutica Ltda, Sandoz s.r.o., Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Shanghai Novartis Trading Ltd., Societe par actions SANDOZ, Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, The Medicines Company, The Medicines Company, Triangle International Reinsurance Limited, Trinity River Insurance Co Ltd, Vedere Bio, Vedere Bio ll, Xiidra, Ziarco, and Ziarco Group Limited. Read More Russia advances the peace settlement process and urges the UN special envoy to renew intra-Syrian negotiations, and fights the Daesh jihadist group in the Arab republic, Grushko added, responding to a query on Russia's objectives in Syria, Sputnik reported. "There is no bombing of the civilian population there. Of course, there may be collateral damage," Grushko said in an interview with Germany's DW broadcaster. No Evidence of US-Led Coalition Fighting Ex-Nusra in Syria There is no evidence indicating that the US-led counterterrorist coalition is fighting the militant group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front (an al-Qaeda affiliate that renamed itself the Jabhat Fatah al-Sham in July), Russia's Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alexander Grushko stated. "There is no evidence or indication that the big coalition led by the US is indeed involved in the military operation against the al-Nusra Front. That is a problem that should be considered by the international community," Grushko said in an interview with Germany's DW broadcaster. The U.S. urgently needs to rally feuding local forces for an attack on the Islamic State's Syrian stronghold in Raqqa to disrupt terror plots against the U.S. and Europe, a top U.S. general said Wednesday. "We think there's an imperative to get isolation in place around Raqqa because our intelligence feeds tell us that there is significant external operations attacks planning going on, emanating, centralized in Raqqa," Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said. "I don't want to characterize the intelligence too much," Townsend said, and "we actually aren't sure how pressing it is -- and that's what's worrying us." However, "we know they're up to something and it's an external plot." "There's, I think, a sense of urgency about what we have to do here because we're just not sure what they're up to, and where, and when. But we know that this plot planning is emanating from Raqqa," said Townsend, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. To disrupt terror planning in Raqqa, the self-proclaimed capital of the ISIS "caliphate," Townsend said the U.S. is ready to back any local force with the willingness to fight ISIS, despite the likelihood of friction with NATO ally Turkey. In a video briefing from Baghdad to the Pentagon, Townsend said, "I think it's very important to get isolation in place around Raqqa, to start controlling that environment on a pretty short timeline. So, we're going to take the force that we have" and "we will go to Raqqa soon." The assault would be carried out primarily by the Syrian Democratic Forces, whose most effective fighting unit is the Kurdish YPG, or People's Protection Units. Turkey and local forces it supports have been attacking the YPG, which Turkey views as a terrorist organization. The mechanics of a Raqqa attack are "still to be determined between our government, our local partners and the Turkish government, and I don't know how that will work out," Townsend said. The Turks have "expressed an interest to be involved in that," Townsend said of the attack on Raqqa. "We'll work through that later. But I think that we'll move soon to isolate Raqqa with the forces that are ready to go soon." The Raqqa operation would be carried out in concert with the ongoing offensive by the Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters against Mosul in Iraq, which has reached the outskirts of the city against heavy resistance by ISIS. Last week, Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, said that the U.S. was planning a Raqqa offensive while the Mosul operation continues to apply "simultaneous pressure" against ISIS. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Carter told a meeting of the anti-ISIS coalition in Paris about the planned joint offensives against the two ISIS strongholds and later told NBC News that the Raqqa offensive could begin "within weeks." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related Video: Ten female lieutenants completed the first step in becoming U.S. Army infantry platoon leaders on Wednesday by graduating from the first gender-integrated class of Infantry Officer Basic Leader Course. Twelve women started the 17-week course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and 10 met the standards to graduate alongside 156 male classmates. "The training of an infantry lieutenant is a process until they step in front of that rifle platoon, and this is but the very first step in that process," Lt. Col. Matthew Weber, battalion commander of the course, told reporters Wednesday at Fort Benning. "It's a critical one because we are very much focused on training and preparing the soldiers, the lieutenants, to ultimately lead a rifle platoon." The graduation of first 10 women from the infantry course comes a little more than a year after Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver became the first women to graduate Army Ranger School in August 2015. Maj. Lisa A. Jaster became the third woman to graduate from a gender-integrated Ranger course two months later. Defense Secretary Ash Carter in December ordered all military jobs, including special operations, opened to women. His directive followed a 2013 Pentagon order that the military services open all positions to women by early 2016. Army officials maintain that it hasn't taken long for gender integration to become the norm in training. "We have been integrating women into the military for years; they have fought and bled beside us for years," said Maj. Gen. Eric Wesley, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning. "This is an important moment, but this is something that is in many ways business as usual." Fort Benning officials would not release the names of the 10 female graduates. Their next stop is Ranger School, Weber said. Then, whether they are successful or not, they will go into other courses, including Airborne School, Striker Leader Course and then Mechanized Leader Course -- a process that will take about a year to complete. "Once they have completed all those courses, then we will have deemed them fit to lead whatever type formation out in [Forces Command] and they will depart Fort Benning," Weber said. Female infantry officers will leave Fort Benning and go to Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Wesley said. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has directed that gender-integration first focus on leaders at those two installations, Wesley said. "We are priming the pump and enabling success by initially focusing on two installations and then ultimately they will start to migrate out to other installations," he said. Griest and Haver are following the same path. Griest, a military police officer from Connecticut, was granted transfer to the infantry branch April 25, 2016. Haver, an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot from Arizona, has been approved to transfer into the infantry, and "we are still awaiting final word on when that is going to come down," said Brig. Gen. Peter Jones, commandant of the Infantry School. "Upfront, I will tell you this makes us a better Army and the reason it makes us a better Army is that this whole issue has driven us -- it has been a forcing function, to ensure that we had the right standards aligned to each occupational specialty in the Army," Wesley said. Establishing gender-neutral standards has been the "culmination of two years of different work done by Training and Doctrine Command, with physical scientists looking at what is the physiology of moving weight and what is the difference between infantrymen and field artillerymen?" Jones said. "We have the scientific data that shows these are the propensity skills that you have to do and the physiology to do those." Benning officials maintain that gender integration has not lowered standards. "There has been no change in the standards," said Infantry Officer Basic Leader Course Command Sgt. Major Joe Davis. "There is no change in the course ... we are in the business of producing leaders. It doesn't matter if they are male or females." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related Video: 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. It was June 23, 1954, when the grandparents of Joe Sheahan were sitting down to lunch after working hours in their ore-processing mine mill in Groom Lake Valley, Nevada. There was a streaking whistle, then a huge explosion. Out of nowhere, a fireball had hit and the mill burst into flames. It was only the first of what would be a slew of problems the Sheahans would endure for decades with the U.S. government, specifically the Air Force, according to Joe Sheahan, a plaintiff in his family's case against the service. The Sheahans, whose ancestors have been in the area since 1889, wanted to keep the property, known as Groom Mine, but the Air Force laid claim. The property sits just six miles outside Area 51, a remote area detached from Edwards Air Force Base that the service uses for testing and training on the U-2 Dragon Lady, for example. The Air Force valued the property at $333,000. The Sheahans were first offered $2.4 million, which they rejected. In 2015, the Air Force came back with a $5.2 million "take it or leave it" offer, which also stipulated the government would pursue condemning the property should they not accept, Sheahan said. The Sheahans again declined. "After exhausting all reasonable efforts to negotiate a sale and the landowners' rejection of the Air Force's offers, the Air Force requested the Department of Justice file a condemnation action in Federal District Court," Jennifer Miller, a member of the senior executive service of the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force office for installations, said in a statement reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. On Sept. 10, 2015, a federal district court judge ruled the government could seize the property. Fast forward to Oct. 21, when it was announced the 400-acre property -- once the only privately held property in the Groom Lake Valley -- was appraised for much more than the Air Force says it's worth -- at least 13,113 percent more, say three real-estate appraisers retained by the law firm Kermitt L. Waters, which represents the family. "Several highly qualified experts recently visited the property and provided thoroughly detailed and well-supported reports valuing the Groom Mine Property between $44 million and $116 million," the law firm said in a statement. "One expert opines that, in removing the Sheahans from their property, the USAF stands to gain between $444 million to $2 billion per year, the amount it cost them to shut down operations while the family visited their property." "As of September 2015, the federal government owns that property. But now the sole remaining issue is the just compensation, which the Sheahan family are entitled to," said James Leavitt, attorney for the Sheahan family, in an interview. Leavitt said he expects a trial to start next summer. The Air Force on Tuesday said it was "unable to comment on ongoing litigation" and deferred to the Justice Department, spokeswoman Laura McAndrews said in an email. The Air Force can go onto the property, Leavitt said, "because it's theirs," but "to our knowledge, there has not been much encroachment." Many of the family's personal belongings remain on the property. There are many items the Sheahans left behind: old mining equipment, tools, vehicles, about "130 years' worth of our family history sitting on the property," Sheahan said. "We have never once gave up our right to access, own, use or enjoy our property in any way," Joe Sheahan said in a telephone interview with Military.com on Tuesday. The Sheahan familys assets include six patented mining claims to certain mineral rights -- mineral rights deemed private property. "We didn't parachute into the Air Force's backyard," he said, "they parachuted into our backyard. We were willing to sell, we expressed that, but instead, they dropped a condemnation bomb on us." Sheahan also touted the family's willingness to serve, citing his father's Army service in the Philippines during World War II, and his brother's 20-plus year Army service as an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot. "My family are true patriots. My family believes in this country. And that's what's a little bit disheartening," he said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. U.S. lawmakers on Thursday pressed the Pentagon to find a fix for the thousands of California National Guard members forced to pay back improperly awarded bonuses. A group of more than 100 members of Congress asked Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Chief of the National Guard Bureau Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel to work with them to address the controversy. "We urge you to make this a top priority and work with Congress to find a permanent solution to make service members whole," according to a letter co-signed by Rep. Mark Takano, a Democrat from California, and Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington, and others. The lawmakers praised Carter for outlining steps to deal with the problem. But they said the plan -- which calls for speeding up the existing adjudication process and completing the work by July 1, 2017 -- doesn't relieve the burden now weighing on troops and families who received the money in error. "Those who served in the California National Guard bear no responsibility for the mistakes and misconduct that led to these payments," they wrote. "It is unfair and unacceptable to hold them accountable a decade later." The letter continues, "Even if those bonuses and benefits offered by the Guard were unauthorized, the Army would be contractually liable for paying the bonuses to the Guard members because they signed reenlistment contracts and agreed to put their lives on the line under a belief that they would receive the bonuses and incentives offered to them for their service and sacrifice." The letter came a day after Carter ordered a temporary halt to the collection of the bonuses. The defense chief instructed the Pentagon's Defense Finance and Accounting Service "to suspend all efforts to collect reimbursement from affected California National Guard members, effective as soon as is practical. This suspension will continue until I am satisfied that our process is working effectively," he said in a statement. Peter Levine, the Pentagon's senior personnel official, said the department won't seek legislation to create a blanket waiver for all cases. "We dont believe we need legislation," he said. "It would set a bad precedent if we don't recoup" money from service members who abused the system to get bonuses, he said. "There are cases where we need to recoup." Regardless, a separate letter addressed to House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, among others, also advised to quickly advance legislation that provides "a permanent solution for servicemembers and veterans who received the bonuses in good faith." The letter was signed by 106 congressional members. Speaking to defense reporters earlier Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Lengyel insisted it is imperative the Guard and the Defense Department together review each case. "The only blanket role is to do the right thing," he said. "If their hands are clean, and it's just soldiers doing their duty and doing their jobs, then it's not our intent to try and enforce this hardship on them." Meanwhile, some say the military already has the authority to reimburse troops forced to repay bonus money. In a 2014 case involving a California Guard member, the Boards for Correction of Military Records voted to grant full relief to an applicant wrongfully issued money. "As a matter of equity, the recoupment action should be rescinded, any monies recouped should be returned to the applicant, and all credit agencies should be notified that the debt was invalid, the board said in its decision. "The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief," it states. "As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army and Army National Guard records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing the CAARNG rescinded the recoupment action pertaining to his reenlistment bonus and refunding to him any monies collected. Since the story broke on Saturday, lawmakers and members of the public have reacted with outrage over the Pentagon's bonus repayment policy. Members of Congress this week have criticized the repayment policy as "boneheaded" and called on the department to forgive the debt. "It remains my firm belief that even the simple request of asking soldiers to repay money contingent on reenlistment is disgraceful and insulting," Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican from California and former Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, wrote in a letter to Carter. "In fact, I find it difficult to believe that either you or your leadership team was aware that such a boneheaded decision was made to demand repayment." Roughly 10,500 service members, mostly from the California National Guard, improperly received bonuses of as much as $15,000 and other incentives to serve in the ranks a decade ago during the peak of the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, officials have said. Thousands of troops were later ordered to pay back the money or face such penalties as interest charges and tax liens, according to a story first reported by David Cloud, a reporter for The Los Angeles Times. "While some soldiers knew or should have known they were ineligible for benefits they were claiming, many others did not," Carter said. "About 2,000 have been asked, in keeping with the law, to repay erroneous payments." -- Brendan McGarry and Richard Sisk contributed to this report. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Turkey, the United States, and France have agreed on basic principles in the fight against Daesh, diplomatic and military sources confirmed Wednesday, Anadolu reported. In a tripartite meeting, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik and his U.S. and French counterparts Ash Carter and Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Brussels for a gathering of NATO defense ministers, discussed the ongoing operations in Mosul which started last week to liberate the Iraqi city from Daesh. According to diplomatic and military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, the three also decided to make more contact on the Mosul offensive as well as the planned operations in northern Syria. They all agreed that the administration should be left to the local people, both in Mosul and the Syrian city of Raqqa the so-called capital of the Daesh terror group when they are liberated from Daesh. Isik reiterated that developments in Mosul are in Turkeys direct interest. "Any possible mass migration from Mosul will head first towards Turkey," the sources quoted him as saying. Referring to an agreement with coalition forces for Turkey's air forces to take part in the Mosul operation, Isik said Turkish jets stand ready. The Pentagon said the meeting also included an "update on military operations to retake Mosul and Raqqa," and that Carter emphasized the need for the coalition to maintain pressure on Daesh on multiple fronts. Chocolate. No matter what time of day or what time of year it may be, we never really get tired of it. Right? Right. But there's chocolate that tastes good, and then there's chocolate that's good for the world. We're talking about ethically sourced chocolate that is so dense in flavor that a little piece of a corner can change your life for a moment in time. We know these bars tend to be a little pricieranywhere from $8 to $12but the reason for this goes beyond the pretty packaging. According to Joy Thaler, a founder of CocoaCompassion, anything under $2 was probably made using a process that exploits people. And so with Halloween around the corner, we wanted to focus our eyes on the prize and talk about how we can eat more chocolate and feel less guilt. For us, ethical chocolate is made using transparent practices that prioritize the environment and the safety of the people growing it, and it's certainly not pumped with additives and chemicals. Here are some terms we're using to describe it: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Barack Obama discussed a number of regional issues late Wednesday, according to statement from the Turkish presidency, Anadolu reported. During a more than hour-long telephone conversation the leaders agreed to fight Daesh in the region, notably in Syria and Iraq, as well to not allow the PKK terror group to settle in northern Iraq, the statement said. They also voiced support for the territorial integrity and political independence of Iraq and Erdogan stressed that current operations in Mosul to rid the Iraqi city of Daesh should be conducted with sensitivity. Obama said he was pleased with the dialogue process between Turkey and Iraq regarding Ankaras participation in the anti-Daesh coalition. He also said he appreciated Turkeys contribution to the Daesh fight, especially for the use of the Free Syrian Army to clear Daesh elements from the Turkish border. Neuerscheinung: Romania and the Holocaust From summer 1941 onwards, Romania pursued the mass killing of Jews in the territories it controlled. Overall Romanian armed forces and local people murdered more than 300,000 Jews in the Romanian territories during the Second World War.In Romania and the Holocaust, edited by Simon Geissbuhler, a number of renowned experts shed light on these events, their contexts, and their aftermath. Thereby this volume gives a much needed impetus to research on the Holocaust in Romania. We desperately need to know more about the Holocaust in Romania and the territories occupied and administered by Romanians during World War II. For too long this subject has not gotten the prominence it deserves. This volume gathers together many of the best scholars on the subject and promises to yield important new knowledge and insights. Jeffrey Kopstein, University of California, Irvine Simon Geissbuhler (ed.) Romania and the Holocaust Events Contexts Aftermath 274 Seiten. 2016 ISBN 978-3-8382-0984-5 (Hardcover). 79.90 ISBN 978-3-8382-0924-1 (Paperback). 39.90 Erhaltlich in jeder Buchhandlung oder direkt bei ibidem. TODAY: Tolleson has elected free agency, the team announced. YESTERDAY: The Rangers have outrighted right-handed pitchers Lucas Harrell and Shawn Tolleson, according to an announcement from VP of communications John Blake. Both pitchers ended the year on the 60-day DL, and now have the option to elect free agency. Harrell, 31, returned stateside after spending 2015 with Koreas LG Twins. He didnt pitch well at Double-A with the Tigers organization, but got a shot with the rebuilding Braves and turned in five useful starts for Atlanta. That led to a trade to the Rangers, but things didnt quite pan out in Texas. In his four outings, Harrell managed only 17 2/3 innings, coughing up 11 earned runs and permitting 13 walks to go with his 15 strikeouts. His year ended with a groin strain. As for Tolleson, 28, the 2016 campaign was a bit of a nightmare. He had been quite a productive member of the Rangers bullpen for the two prior seasons, racking up 144 frames of 2.88 ERA ball and taking over the closers role. But he fell off of a cliff this year, allowing a 7.68 ERA over 36 1/3 innings. While he still managed 7.2 K/9 versus 2.5 BB/9 in 2016, Tolleson allowed 53 hits and eight long balls in his partial-season work for the Rangers. Tolleson didnt show any velocity decline, and was perhaps unlucky in some respects (.372 BABIP, 24.2% HR/FB rate). He was ultimately placed on the 60-day DL due to back issues. With a projected $3.6MM arbitration salary, Texas decided to move on. Its certainly possible that either of these hurlers could end up returning to the Rangers, though theyll have a shot to test the open market first. Both figure to garner their fair share of interest: Harrell may at least represent a rotation depth option, while Tollesons recent history as a quality late-inning arm is intriguing. Avalon International Breads The Midtown staple since 1997, Avalon International Breads expands their facilities Feb 23., 2013 to a 50,000 sq-foot warehouse on the east side called Avalon City Ovens "A new craft bakehouse". A Grand-Bread Baking welcoming was held Friday evening with prep tables overflowing with fresh cookies, brownies, strawberries, fresh vegetables, cheese, hummus- and of course bread, lots of bread. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com) ANN ARBOR, MI - Avalon International Breads, a Detroit-based bakery, is bringing sourdough loaves and handcrafted sweets to Ann Arbor with the opening of a cafe-style retail location in the former Mezzevino Mediterranean Kitchen and Bar. Jackie Victor helped found and currently leads the company as its chief executive officer, and said the Avalon Hearth and Soul Cafe and Kitchen would be open by the end of the year at 129 E. Liberty Street. "We are excited about not only bringing Avalon baked goods... but also going a little bit further and taking this passion and enthusiasm and having a cafe setting that features our bread and a focus on locally-grown food," Victor said. Victor anticipates hiring 50 employees to staff the cafe, which she said would be open in mid to late December. The space for Avalon Hearth and Soul Cafe and Kitchen opened up after Mezzevino, 120 E. Liberty, announced its closure in October. The restaurant opened in June 2014. Renovations are planned to turn it from a Mediterranean-themed restaurant to bring in elements of Avalon's aesthetic, with reclaimed furniture and salvaged architectural finds that Victor called "down-to-earth, accessible, warm and inviting." Initial plans for the 5,200-square-foot space include a pastry and coffee bar, retail space, and a dining area with a full kitchen providing breakfast, lunch and dinner items. There will be some baking space, but most products will continue to come from the bakery in Detroit. The kitchen will also do a full brunch spread, featuring whole-grain pancakes and breakfast sandwiches using Avalon baked goods. Victor is working closely with Maggie Long from Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery to create the menu. "For me, the concept is really an ingredient-driven concept. What's fresh, what's local, what's delicious," Victor said. She was inspired to return to Ann Arbor with Avalon after her experience working at Wildflour Community Bakery while attending the University of Michigan. "I remember feeling like this is a really honest way of making a living," Victor said about Wildflour, which closed in 1997. "It was a really wonderful vibe and it felt really good to be there. The customers were happy to be there and the baked goods were delicious." Wildflour was one of the seeds that grew and became Avalon International Breads, Victor said, and influenced the decision to open the bakery in a struggling Detroit neighborhood. "I wanted to be part of something in the city, connected with a group of people who wanted to be part of a grassroots revitalization of the city," Victor said. Avalon is known for its use of 100 percent organic flour and a range of gluten-free products, along with wholesale business partnerships with natural and organic grocers, markets and restaurants throughout southeast Michigan. Over 60 percent of the company's wholesale business is in Ann Arbor, Victor said, and she sees a continued demand for Avalon products. The new location could serve as a benefit for other businesses in the area, she added. "It's our hope and our goal that this will just bring more people to that block and that we'll all feed into each other's success," Victor said. That could also mean seeing Avalon products showing up at more markets and restaurants throughout the area, something Victor called a "wonderful byproduct." "Just to be part of the wonderful food community that exists in Ann Arbor, that has really fostered such a strong farm-to-table movement there, just to be a part of that is really exciting," Victor said. "If we can offer a product that is of value to people that they want, that would be wonderful." GRAND RAPIDS, MI - After moving twice in the past two years, Kiki Gary once again is leaving her beloved West Side neighborhood. Gary, a 36-year-old daycare worker, says she can no longer find a house or apartment large enough for herself and her two teenage children near Westwood Middle School and Union High School. "I need to be on the West Side," says Gary, whose children, Jayla and Keyon, are participating in the Challenge Scholars program, which offers full-ride college scholarships to students who keep their grades up and attend schools on the city's West Side. But rising rental rates and redevelopment in her neighborhood have shut Gary out of the rental market there. Houses that once rented for $500 to $600 a month are now priced in the $800 to $900 range and higher, says Gary, who searched for housing on the West Side for months. Gary's dilemma began in late 2014, when developers bought the house on Alabama Avenue NW that she had rented for the previous six years. That house will be torn down for a new development that will bring new stores and housing to the neighborhood. After staying with her mother briefly, Gary found a two-bedroom house on National Avenue NW, which proved to be too small for her family. "I can find some good properties, but I have my budget," says Gary, who is moving to a larger home she found on the city's Southeast Side. She will have to arrange transportation to get her children to their schools, an added expense and time out of her day. Gary's story is being repeated throughout the West Side, according to Jim Davis, a pastor and housing advocate who is working with parents at Sibley Elementary School. Local housing experts are calling this dilemma the "missing middle," a term for a housing market that is growing more expensive for the average working person as the city neighborhoods become more popular with downtown workers and millennials who are being drawn to urban areas. New housing is being built for low and moderate income families and well-to-do young professionals. But average wage-earners are being squeezed out of older neighborhoods that were once the affordable bedrock of city life. The problem is especially acute on the city's West Side, where Grand Valley State University has built up its campus over the past 15 years and students are renting houses that once served the city's working class. The "missing middle" was a focal point of a recent housing summit hosted by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss also has appointed a 20-member Housing Advisory Committee to look at the problem. It's a sea change from a decade earlier, when the foreclosure crisis had city officials grappling with houses that were being abandoned by middle class workers who were losing their jobs during the Great Recession. For now, most of the players in the housing market acknowledge they don't have a solution and are only talking about the problem. The "missing middle" also is hurting young professionals like Lamont Cole, director of strategic initiatives and education for the Grand Rapids Urban League's Center for Education Innovation & Parent Empowerment. Cole, 39, moved from Detroit to Grand Rapids as a consultant in 2009. He says he is likely to move on to another city in a few years and is not interested in buying a house here. While he and his wife want to live in an urban neighborhood, they have been unable to find a nice apartment that meets their budget, Cole says. He and his wife are renting a townhouse apartment for $800 a month on the city's Northeast Side and say their landlord has failed to live up to his promises to make repairs. The toilet doesn't work properly, the doors don't lock properly and the washer and dryer don't work, he said. "The apartments in my price range are all in Kentwood and Wyoming. I wanted to live in the city," says Cole. City apartments that matched what they found in the suburbs rented for $300 to $500 a month more, he said. Gustavo Rotandaro, a demographer with Metrica Inc., says the median gross rent in the city has gone from $727 a month to $830 a month in the past four years - a 14 percent increase. Meanwhile, 52 percent of the city's renters are paying more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. Landlords and property managers like Mark Troy, president of Compass Properties, say they are just responding to the booming demand for city apartments and investors - many of them from out of town -- who want own rental properties in Grand Rapids. "It's a great place to live," said Troy, who is president of the Rental Property Owners Association (RPOA), an association of West Michigan landlords. "It's a lot like California. Everyone wants to live there and it drives prices up. "It's the biggest frustration I see people running into," said Troy. "Standard two-bedrooms that used to rent for between $500 and $600 are now renting between $700 and $800." Troy, whose company manages and sells rental property, said investors find the Grand Rapids market attractive because prices are still affordable, while the demand for rental units are rising. "I have 10 buyers for everyone who's selling out there," he said. Although the demand for rental housing is high, Troy said developers in West Michigan are still gun-shy about building after the losses they suffered from the last housing bubble and Great Recession. Even though hundreds of apartment units are being built in the city, they are unlikely to fill the "missing middle" of the housing market. The cost of building new apartments forces their owners to price their new units at the top end of the market, according to developers. Josh Smith, a partner with The Fulton Group, said they expect to get between $1,800 and $2,000 a month for the 14 single -family homes they are building in city neighborhoods that surround the downtown area. Those prices are driven as much by construction costs as demand from renters, said Smith, whose company manages about 150 units in single-family homes and apartment projects. "I think that's something we're going to struggle with in Grand Rapids for the foreseeable future," said Smith. "It's all market-driven and it's going to have to be figured out within the market." Kurt Hassberger is a longtime downtown resident and president of Rockford Construction Co., a leading developer and builder of luxury and market rate apartments in the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods. "There's a huge demand out there and we've got to find a way to address it," Hassberger said at the Oct. 14 housing summit. "It's not a happy situation. It's an inevitable by-product of the success we've had downtown." Hassberger acknowledged the housing industry does not have an answer to the dilemma. He argued government help is needed to spur development in the "missing middle" of the housing market. "I have to say, quite honestly, that what we're doing is talking about it," said Hassberger. "It is not possible to create new housing with our construction costs and land costs that hit the 'missing middle.'" Jim Davis, the pastor at Keystone Community Church of Ada who volunteers at Sibley Elementary School, believes he can solve some of the problems of displacement through a new charity he has formed called Purpose Properties. Davis and his board, which includes Kiki Gary, hope to raise enough money from local foundations and philanthropists to buy market-rate and affordable rental properties in the city. Purpose Properties plans to charge market rates for its properties to those who can afford them and use their profits to subsidize the rents of those who cannot afford market rates. The program would be targeted to low-income families who are being pushed out of the West Side, thereby depriving their children of the Challenge Scholar program that could give them a free college education, Davis said. While other nonprofits are gearing up to bring affordable housing to the neighborhood, Davis said they cannot act quickly enough to help the families that are threatened with displacement now. He said Sibley School alone has lost 17 families and 74 students due to rental increases in the past year. Bliss hopes her new 20-member housing advisory board will come up with answers to the "missing middle." Her goal, said Bliss, is "if you want to live in the city, regardless of how much money you make or how large your family is, that you can find a place to live." ANN ARBOR, MI - Plans for a major redevelopment of the vacant Y Lot next to downtown Ann Arbor's transit center have fallen through. The developer is backing out after the city tried asking the developer to agree to extra conditions, including more affordable housing and energy-efficiency requirements, in exchange for modifying the property's deed restrictions. Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor said he's sorry that conversations are no longer moving forward, but he respects the developer's decision. Daniel Levin, chairman of The Habitat Company LLC in Chicago, confirmed in a letter to Mayor Christopher Taylor on Wednesday, Oct. 26, his company is ceasing efforts to develop the property at 350 S. Fifth Ave. and has terminated an agreement to purchase the property from Dennis Dahlmann. "Although we have enjoyed working with you and others at the city over the past 14 months, we have decided that the many unresolved important issues create too much uncertainty for us to sensibly continue our efforts," Levin wrote. Habitat, in partnership with CA Ventures and Hughes Properties, had proposed building a high-rise with 233 apartments, office space, ground-floor retail and landscaped open space, including a plaza and fountain. The site, a former YMCA property, is now an empty parking lot bound by Fourth Avenue, Fifth Avenue, William Street and the Blake Transit Center. It was used for public parking before the city sold it to Dahlmann in April 2014 for $5.25 million. Under the agreed terms of the sale, Dahlmann was required to construct a mixed-use development rising at least five stories by April 2018, but he hasn't moved forward with any development plans. He has complained that bus stops surrounding the property are a hindrance to developing it. Dahlmann was in the process of trying to sell the property to Habitat for roughly $6 million, but Habitat first needed to get the City Council to approve changes to the deed restrictions to allow the development to happen. The City Council earlier this month reviewed Habitat's plans, which included at least 20 "micro units" (out of 233 total apartments) with moderate rents. Six to eight of those would have been designated as affordable workforce housing for people earning up to 80 percent of the area median income. However, some council members indicated they wanted to see more offered in the way of affordable housing and energy efficiency. They asked the city's staff to try to negotiate those terms with the development team. But now Habitat and its partners are walking away. "The Habitat Company LLC, CA Ventures and Hughes Properties would like to thank you and all others who we believe have worked professionally in considering our proposed plan," Levin wrote in his letter to the mayor. "We believe that our project would have been a high-quality mixed-use development that would have been a significant addition to the growth of the urban character of the downtown community." The Y Lot next to the Blake Transit Center in downtown Ann Arbor on Oct. 20, 2016. Levin mentioned the issues that led to the decision, citing the conditions for approving modifications to the deed restrictions and expressions by some city officials that what the development team was offering was not sufficient for the city to approve the modifications instead of pursuing other options. He said the development team was concerned that attitude would continue at later stages in the approval process for the project. In listing the issues, Levin also specifically mentioned the number of workforce housing units and/or donations the city was asking, along with the energy-efficiency requirements, the extent of brownfield cleanup work needed and conditions for receiving tax-increment financing, and the acceptability of above-ground parking as city officials wanted to see underground parking. Levin also cited "the lack of a clear standard for the projection of stabilized real estate taxes as a percentage of gross income for the completed project." "Unfortunately, even with the property owner's generous offer last week to reduce the purchase price by $500,000 to $5.5 million, our development team is not able to realistically continue to pursue this transaction," Levin wrote. Levin couldn't be reached for further comment, nor could Dahlmann. Ron Hughes of Hughes Properties also could not be reached. What happens now is anyone's guess. Tom Crawford, the city's chief financial officer, said he's not going to speculate at this point. Taylor said he's sorry that conversations are no longer moving forward, but he respects Habitat's decision. The mayor said he's interested in optimizing the Y Lot and he believes Habitat could have delivered a project that would have made Ann Arbor proud. The city put in place deed restrictions when selling the property to Dahlmann two and a half years ago. The city still has two rights to the property -- a right of first refusal and a right of reversion. If Dahlmann wants to sell the property to another developer, the city can match the sale price and buy it back. If it stays in Dahlmann's hands and isn't developed by April 2018, the city can buy it back for either the appraised value or $4.2 million, whichever is lower. After broker fees and closing costs, the city netted $4,929,450 from the $5.25 million sale of the property in 2014. From those net proceeds, $1,422,736 went toward affordable housing efforts and $3,506,714 paid off the debt the city owed on the property. Taylor said the property was sold to Dahlmann with a plain set of conditions known to all parties and there have been no material changes. In his view, what happens next with the Y Lot is up to Dahlmann. If the property isn't developed by April 2018, Taylor said, the city will consider buying it back, and he suspects it will be worth more than $4.2 million. In theory, the city could flip it to a different developer or hold onto it for another use. That could put the City Council in a situation similar to the one it found itself in a couple of years ago when it had a chance to exercise a right of first refusal to purchase the Edwards Brothers property on State Street for $12.8 million. By a 6-5 vote in February 2014, the council ended up passing on the opportunity, letting the University of Michigan buy the land and take it off the tax rolls instead of the city buying it and flipping it to one of multiple private developers interested in developing it, including at least one willing to match the $12.8 million price. Under the existing restrictions for the Y Lot, any development on the site must include ground-floor retail/restaurant space, office space on the remaining lower floors, and residential apartments on the upper floors, with no apartment having more than three bedrooms. The project also must include a substantial landscaped open space, including a fountain, and underground parking connected to the city's Library Lane underground parking garage across the street. 102516_NEWS_HuronFatality_MRM_51.JPG An Ann Arbor student was hit and killed while attempting to cross the street on Fuller Rd. at 7:20 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2016. (Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News) ANN ARBOR, MI - Several parents spoke up the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 26, to demand Ann Arbor Public Schools take action to make crosswalks safer near Huron High School after a student died Tuesday crossing Fuller Road in that area. But the school district's only course of action is to ask the city to make changes, said AAPS board of education secretary Andy Thomas, adding that those requests haven't yielded much progress in the past. Qi-Xuan "Justin" Tang "I realize that we've heard from citizens who say this is not the time to point fingers or to assign blame. I do want everyone to understand that the Ann Arbor Public Schools has no power or authority to do anything affecting the traffic of the streets of Ann Arbor," said Thomas, who became a member of the city-schools transportation safety committee in January. "We cannot put up stop signs, we cannot put up school zone signs, we cannot put up any flashers or anything. This is the responsibility of the city." At about 7:20 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, Community High School student Justin Tang, 16, was crossing Fuller Road near Huron Parkway when he was struck and killed by a car, according to Ann Arbor police. Police have not yet released the accident report, so it's not known where exactly Tang was crossing the street or what circumstances led to a driver hitting him. But parents think safer crosswalks in that area could have prevented the tragedy. "You all have been playing Russian roulette with our children, and (Tuesday) was a tragedy that should have been prevented, that could have been prevented," said Sarah Cohen, during the public comment portion at the start of the school board meeting. "This child was not doing anything dangerous. He wasn't hurting himself in anyway or putting himself in harm's way. All he was trying to do was go to school, and he was let down by all of you. That family was torn apart, our community is torn part because you all have not done your job in keeping our kids safe." Carol Galler, whose children attend Huron, took the mic next, emotional like some of the other parents who spoke during the meeting and the school board members. Galler said her daughter, a senior at Huron, is angry to lose a fellow student like this because students have brought up concerns with those crosswalks in the past. "We don't value our children enough to have a posting at our schools that says 'school zone.' Why isn't that there at Huron?" Galler asked. Stephanie Preston, a mother of three daughters who attend Tappan Middle School and Angell Elementary School, thinks more lights and flashers by pedestrian crosswalks would help too. She also suggested police could monitor the crosswalks more closely and give tickets to drivers who don't heed them until people learn to take the crosswalks seriously. "I demand that we have action," Preston said. "Not just passing the buck, 'That's not my problem, that's the mayor's problem,' and have the mayor say, 'well that's the city regulation problem.' We can't just keep passing the buck around, we have to establish a timeline. We have to have immediate things in place for the things that are going to take longer to implement." Andy Seidl, who has three children at Huron and Tappan, has seen first-hand the dangerous situation for pedestrians near Huron as he drives his son to school. "Every morning, as a driver, I'm terrified that I'm going to hit someone or I'm going to see somebody hit somebody," Seidl said, also using the term "Russian roulette" to describe trying to turn into the high school. "I'm frankly surprised there hasn't been more people hit there, and I'm angry about it because we should know better." Huron High School is located at 2727 Fuller Road, near the intersection of four-lane Fuller Road and six-lane Huron Parkway. The intersection is well lit and there are pedestrian crossing lights at the corners. But away from that intersection, farther down Fuller Road toward Huron High School, there are no streetlights or crosswalk lights. The speed limit is 40 miles per hour, and there is not a school zone sign in the area. Twenty-four hours after the accident in that area that took Tang's life, a steady stream of traffic came from both directions on Fuller Road, vehicles' headlights lighting the road before sunrise. Some stopped when a pedestrian waited near the crosswalk by Gallup Park, but most didn't. An Ann Arbor police officer monitored the area. In Ann Arbor, drivers must stop and yield to not only pedestrians already in a crosswalk, but also those stopped at the curb or ramp leading to a crosswalk, which is different from crosswalk rules in other areas of the state. Thomas said concerns about the crosswalk on Huron Parkway that connects the high school to an Ann Arbor Area Transit Authority bus stop as well as the crosswalks on Fuller Road were brought up in the city-schools transportation safety committee in past years. It came down to the city's lack of funding to make changes, Thomas said. Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor noted that a decade-long moratorium on purchasing city street lights was lifted in 2015, and since then another $200,000 was designated for street lighting. On Oct. 17, city council passed a resolution that included two crosswalks on Fuller Road in a list of eight areas to prioritize when installing the new lighting. "I do not yet know when the new lights will be installed, but we will continue to work with AAPS and DTE Energy to ensure that it as soon as possible," Taylor wrote in an email to MLive Wednesday, adding that more funding will be needed to improve street lighting in a strategic way throughout the city. "Knowing, in the meantime, that this was a location that wanted improvement, staff earlier this season installed new reflective signs to indicate to drivers the presence of a crosswalk. ... None of this approaches satisfying, of course, or does anything to ease the pain of family and friends and students throughout our community. It does, however, I hope show that we all agree that our streets and crosswalks and sidewalks have to be made more safe and that we are committed to taking action to make that vision a reality." City Council member Kirk Westphal, D-2nd Ward, said allocating the city's budget to best keep people safe is one of the council's biggest challenges, and he said every tragedy is unacceptable. "There is a long list of needs throughout the city when it comes to pedestrian and cyclist protection, including more street lighting, more flashing beacons, road redesigns for lower speed, police enforcement of speed and crosswalk laws, safer bicycle lanes and many others," Westphal said in an email. "Council has committed to the goal of zero auto-related fatalities. I consider every incident to be a failure on our part. We have increased funding and attention to this area over the past several years, however it's not enough." AAPS Superintendent Jeanice Swift recalled a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle in a crosswalk farther west on Fuller Road in March 2015, which prompted the installation of flashing beacons on the crosswalk signs. "I feel like there's a pattern emerging here, and it's a very dangerous pattern. And that is that when something like this happens, we get busy and we have action," Swift said. "We should not have to wait for this. I appreciate all those who are working on it, and I do appreciate the outrage of the community and I want you to know that we share that. Our parents should be able to send their children off to school without terror." Kathy Griswold also would have liked to see action taken sooner to improve the crosswalks. She's spent the past 20 years advocating to make city streets safer for pedestrians, and she would like to see the city have a professional engineer complete an evaluation of what it would take to bring all crosswalks up to best practice standards. "The parents and the community need to be at the next City Council meeting and demand that we immediately address all of our crosswalks and bring them up to first minimum standards and then have a plan to bring them up to best practices," said Griswold, who served on the AAPS board of education from 2001 to 2005. Board President Deb Mexicotte also urged people to contact city officials with their concerns about the crosswalks. The next City Council meeting is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 10 on the second floor of Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St. Mexicotte paid tribute to Tang - who has a younger sibling at Angell - at the start of Wednesday's school board meeting, and the board held a moment of silence in his memory. Tang was described as a "highly engaged student at Community High School, an academic high-performer and was very involved in Community Ensemble Theater," in a letter Swift sent to families Tuesday. Community Ensemble Theater director Quinn Strassel said students gathered Tuesday in Craft Theater to support each other in their grief. "Though we are a group of many bright stars, nobody among us shined more brightly than Justin," Strassel wrote in an email to theater families. "He was loved for his outward personality, relentless positivity, bold humor, boundless energy and immeasurable generosity. Justin served on several casts and crews, playing featured roles in several shows and serving as a leader backstage. Just (Monday) night, he helped build our set since he wasn't called for rehearsal. "We are all deeply saddened and send all our love, thoughts and prayers to Justin's family." Ypsilanti Township Hall.jpg The Ypsilanti Township Hall (Courtesy photo) YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - Ypsilanti Township won't pay trustees who miss more than three board meetings in a year for any additional absences. The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees approved a new attendance policy on Oct. 18 that limits its trustees to three paid absences in a 12-month period. The move comes after Trustee Jean Hall Currie missed two years of meetings due to illness, but still received $30,000 in pay. Per state law, the Board of Trustees cannot legally remove Hall Currie from office or withhold her salary. The Michigan Township Association previously confirmed there is no legal way for an elected body to remove an elected official from their seat. The board can legally change its policy only when a new board sits, so it must approve the changes prior to its Nov. 15 meeting. Trustees currently are paid a salary of $15,000 each calendar year, not including special meetings. Under the new rules, they will be paid $625 per meeting attended and receive up to three paid absences. If a trustee doesn't miss more than three meetings, then they still receive $15,000. The absences are counted in a rolling 12-month period, and trustees will forfeit pay for each absence after three. Exceptions are made for bereavement. During a discussion on the rules, Trustee Stan Eldridge requested the elimination of a provision that would pay trustees extra for special meetings. The new rules don't impact full-time elected officials - the supervisor, clerk and treasurer. Currently, there are no attendance requirements in place for them. Eldridge noted that he submitted proposed rules for the full-time elected officials, but the board has yet to discuss them. "We can't stick our heads in the sand and pretend there isn't an issue," he said. Hall Currie could not be reached for comment. FRASER TOWNSHIP, MI -- Michigan State Police are investigating a shooting that left a 47-year-old man in the hospital after he was shot by his father. The 73-year-old father shot his son in the torso area early Wednesday evening, Oct. 26, said Michigan State Police Lt. David Kaiser. The son was taken to St. Mary's of Michigan hospital in Standish where he underwent surgery, Kaiser said. He is expected to make a full recovery. Police are withholding the identities of both men as police are awaiting to interview the son. The father was interviewed, but not arrested. Kaiser said police believe that he's "not going anywhere." "We need to interview his son and get his side of the story first," he said. "This could have been accidental, it could have been self-defense -- we need to get the whole story first." Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 27 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: Turkish police are carrying out an operation in 17 provinces of Turkey to arrest 73 military pilots as part of the fight against the movement of Fethullah Gulen accused of involvement in the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey, TRT Haber reported October 26. According to the report, the pilots are accused of involvement in the terrorist organization, as well as armed rebellion. On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Previously Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. He also declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. It was decided to prolong the state of emergency for 90 more days on Oct. 3 --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade Charles Lewis It's tedious sifting through the challenges and appeals filed by Charles Lewis since he was fingered as the killer of an off-duty Detroit police officer, convicted by a jury and sentenced to life in prison in 1977. Lewis was 17 at the time. While he was convicted of first-degree, premeditated murder and sentenced to an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole, things can change over four decades. The Supreme Court ruled it's cruel and unusual punishment to give a juvenile killer a mandatory life sentence. Now 57, Lewis, who is suffering from health issues, has an opportunity at freedom. Lewis is one of about 370 still-living Michigan inmates who were sentenced to mandatory life sentences as minors. Prosecutor offices in the respective counties where those inmates were convicted must now argue in court their reasons if they want judges to reinstate those mandatory sentences. Otherwise, many could received revised sentences with maximum minimum sentences ranging between 24 and 40 years, and a maximum of up to 60 years. That means people like Lewis, who's already served the maximum minimum sentence, could potentially be released on time served. Worthy intends to reinstate life sentences without the possibility of parole for about 60 inmates who were convicted of murder as juveniles in Wayne County. Lewis is one of them, but his case has a twist. The Michigan Supreme Court vacated Lewis's life sentence earlier this year, which means he must be given a re-sentencing hearing. One hangup is that the Wayne County Circuit Court, after a two-year search, can't find Lewis's court records. Lewis and his state-appointed appellate attorney, Valerie Newman -- she recently helped get the murder conviction overturned in the high-profile conviction of another juvenile killer from Detroit, Davontae Sanford -- plan to argue two motions before Wayne Circuit Judge Qiana D. Lillard Friday, the success of each relying on that lost court file. "We do not have our trial file for the case -- it's a 1976 case -- but we have other materials," Worthy spokeswoman Maria Miller told MLive Thursdaty. "We will present our arguments in court tomorrow." "Without the file and without a complete record of the proceedings in this case, the defense is severely handicapped and cannot properly or effectively provide a defense at the Miller hearing ... Nor can the court make an informed decision regarding Mr. Lewis' sentence without access to that file," Newman wrote in her motion. She's asking for Lewis to be sentenced to time served and released. Lewis, who has handled numerous legal matters independently over the years, filed his own motion asking that his conviction be reversed and he be released. "They can't sentence me because of the loss of my files, and if Judge Lillard does sentence me, it would be unconstitutional," Lewis said, according to a statement released by Lewis supporters. "I will appeal, and a higher court would have to overturn it. "I told Atty. Newman I would never agree to being re-sentenced to 40-60 years under the state statutes." Lewis maintains he is not guilty of the murder. Three teens and alleged witnesses, who received a promise of immunity for their for their cooperation, testified against Lewis during the 1977 trial. Court records indicate Lewis was accused of killing off-duty Detroit Police officer Gerald Sypitkowski with a single shotgun blast to the head near Harper and Barrett avenues in east Detroit in 1976. "Six eyewitnesses, including Sypitowski's partner, identified an unrelated killer," Lewis supporters said in a statement issued Thursday. Valerie Newman motion: Charles Lewis motion: Deontae Mitchell.jpg Deontae Mitchell, 13, of Detroit, went missing Tuesday May 31, 2016. Three people pleaded guilty to crimes connected with the kidnapping, torture and murder of 13-year-old Deontae Mitchell in June. Police discovered the body of Deontae Mitchell, who had been beaten strangled, in a field on Detroit's east side June 2. Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy said that about 10:30 p.m. two days prior, Deontae and a friend -- Detroit Police Chief James Craig said it was Deontae's cousin -- were in an alley at the rear of Nino's Market, a party store at 15901 E. Warren in Detroit. They saw a man drop about $70 on the ground. Deontae picked up the money and he and the friend rode away on bikes. Officials wouldn't say if they believe Deontae intended to steal the cash. Gregory Walker Gregory Walker, 45, with two companions, Lillian Roberts, 44, and Ernest Coleman, 26, abducted Deontae at gunpoint and placed him in a van, according to investigators. "It is further alleged that Walker beat the child and later choked him to death while aided and abetted by Roberts and Coleman," Worthy said. Walker pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, kidnapping and felony firearm; Roberts pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and kidnapping; and Coleman pleaded guilty to torture, unlawful imprisonment and felony firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. In exchange for their pleas, Worthy's office dismissed charges of first-degree and felony murder against the defendants. They're expected to be sentenced Nov. 9 in the courtroom of Wayne Circuit Judge Michael Hathaway. Waterford car fire.JPG What's left of a 2003 Honda minivan believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident in Waterford Township. (Courtesy photo) WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, MI -- Police have released more information regarding the fatal hit-and-run in Waterford Township on Wednesday evening. In a press release issued by the Waterford Township Police Department, the victim has been identified as 65-year-old Waterford resident John Edward Henke. Police believe Henke was killed after being struck by a vehicle on Elizabeth Lake Road near Preston Ave. in Waterford. Police responded to the scene at 8:21 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26 where they found Henke in the roadway. Waterford Township is approximately 45 minutes northwest of Detroit. While investigating the crash, officers were called to the Sam's Club Warehouse at 495 Summit Drive for loud noises that sounded like gunshots. When they arrived on that scene, officers found a 2003 red Honda minivan fully engulfed in flames. Investigators eventually confirmed this was the vehicle involved in the fatal crash. A 36-year-old Pontiac man was eventually tracked down by police and arrested as a suspect in the hit-and-run. He was lodged at the Oakland County Jail pending the completion of the investigation and review by the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office according to the press release. However, the man arrested did own the vehicle in question as he is believed to be an acquaintance of the owner and had borrowed the car prior to the accident. Several Samsung Galaxy Note 7's lay on a counter in plastic bags after they were returned to a Best Buy on September 15, 2016 in Orem, Utah. (Photo : Getty Images/George Frey) After the Galaxy Note 7 saga, Samsung has hinted that it will not kill the Note lineup after all. The company intends to release Galaxy Note 8 in the course of 2017, along with impressive offers, especially to the current owners of the Galaxy Note 7. According to Android Police, the company has promised to offer Note 7 owners in South Korea a chance to upgrade their phones to Note 8 at half the price. The South Korean tech giant announced the deal as part of the current exchange program of its dying Note 7. Advertisement The offer also includes a similar price cut on a Galaxy S8. In line with Samsung's press statement, Note 7 owners will pay half the price of a Galaxy S7 to get a Galaxy S8. However, it still unclear if the same offer will apply to American customers. The new offer is based on making half-monthly payments a typical customer would make on the Galaxy S7 before getting their hands on the free upgrade. Samsung has not clarified how the refund will play into the cost, although it seems that customers may receive a full refund on the Galaxy Note 7 and then pay from their pockets for the Galaxy S7. Samsung has further announced that customers have until Nov. 30 to join the new program. The news has come amidst rumors that Samsung was planning to kill its Galaxy Note lineup. So, the company has indirectly made it clear that it will not be doing so. When asked by Reuters if the offer would extend to other countries, Samsung's representatives responded by saying that the issue would be subject to "the situation in each country." The information is, in spite of this, bound by change and translation error. Samsung hopes that the program will ultimately pay off, especially when it gets its next-gen phones on the hands of those who wished to have them someday. Mobile analysts predict that incentive might also help in wiping out the Galaxy Note 7 disaster from the Tech Giant's portfolio. Here is a clip of Samsung Galaxy Note 8's confirmation: Piracy at sea has been a continuing problem for Somalia. (Photo : Twitter) Chinese sailors captured by pirates in Somalia in 2012 have finally returned home after their ordeal. The then Chinese sailors, nine from the mainland and one from Taiwan were among the 26 hostages released on Saturday by pirates from Somalia, with the other hostages coming from Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam, China Daily reported. Advertisement The freed hostages were part of the 29 crew members of the Taiwanese-owned fishing vessel Nahm-3, which was hijacked by Somali pirates back in March of 2012. Three of the hostages reportedly died during the takeover, among them a Chinese mainland resident and a Taiwanese. According to Hostage Support Partners coordinator John Steel, the freed hostages suffered from malnourishment due to their four and a half years ordeal. He also noted that one of the freed hostages had a bullet wound in his foot while another suffered a stroke and one more had diabetes. Steel, who organization helped in the negotiations for the hostages' release, personally went to the city of Galkayo in Somalia to accompany the sailors. He said that they were able to accomplish their mission thanks to the coming together of community and regional leaders, as well as those from the religious community, to pressure the pirate group to release the hostages. Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also thanked the organizations and people who helped in the effort. Officials and state media welcomed the freed sailors at a VIP lounge after their arrival at an airport in Guangzhou. One of the sailors, a native of Sichuan Province surnamed Fan, expressed his happiness after his group was told that they will finally be released, the South China Morning Post reported. A spokesman for the pirates, Bile Hussein, said that a ransom of around $1.5 million was paid for the sailors' release, but the claim was not immediately verified. With its expansion to a "second museum," the Forbidden City or Palace Museum will be able to exhibit more of its collections soon. (Photo : Getty Images) A second Palace Museum will be built just some 25 kilometers away from the current premises in order to accommodate more exhibits. The Palace manages 70 to 80 exhibitions per year, and is able to display only about 0.5 percent of its entire collection because of space limitations. This is very behind the 10 to 20 percent range for other major museums in the world. Advertisement According to South China Morning Post, among the 1.8 million different relics collected by the Palace, approximately 10,000 only are displayed for public viewing. The announcement that an expansion is on its way was made by Palace Director Shan Jixiang during the 2016 International Smart Tourism Conference held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Shan said that the first phase of the four-year project will cover an area of 125,000 square meters, which will allow the exhibition of a large number of cultural relics. There will be relic restorations as well. The new museum's location happens to be neighboring other tourist spots--the Old Summer Palace to the south and the Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs to the north. There are also a river and a lake nearby. Architect Zhang Yu won the bidding to design the second museum. It would be the same red and gold facade as that of the original. Established in 1925 in the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, is one of the most prestigious museums not only in China but in the world as well. In 2014, it recorded an overwhelming 15 million visitors. 'Golden Week' Promotes Wedding Business (Photo : Getty Images) To avoid the frequent questioning of nosey relatives about getting married, many single Chinese resort to hiring the services of a girlfriend or boyfriend for hire during holidays such as Chinese New Year. Now, because of the risks bridesmaids face from wedding pranks, Chinese women are hiring as well bridesmaids for rent to spare their real women friends the danger they face. Advertisement Wedding pranks-gone wrong, such as a 28-year-old bridesmaid in Wenchang, Hainan Province, forced to drink so much alcohol in September on behalf of the bride and dying are among the reasons behind the growing popularity of bridesmaids for rent, according to Quartz. In the video clip which circulated in Chinese social media, the woman in black is pressured into drinking baiju at the wedding ceremony until she faints and is rushed to the hospital, but doctors failed to revive her, Chinadaily reported. There was also the case of Chinese actress Liu Yan who was grabbed by several men in late March and thrown into the swimming pool during the wedding of Chinese actor Bao Beier in Bali, Indonesia, which sparked an online debate on the necessity of such nuptial traditions. The bedroom stunts, infused with sexual and reproductive innuendoes, and has become a tradition in contemporary China, has its root in the countrys history when bridesmaids dressed like the bride to reduce the risk of the real woman about to be married from being named and burgled by rival clans and hoodlums. Although the bridesmaids role took a more symbolic turn in modern times, until now she is still expect to parry drinking requests Chinese rice wine on behalf of the bride some of whom are poisoned by excessive alcohol intake or die, such as what happened in Hainan a month ago. These practices, though, has been observed to prevail in rural areas and provinces such as Hainan and Shandong. [October 27, 2016] Global Media Brands Make Strategic Investment in Social Video Creation Platform Wochit NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Social video creation platform Wochit today announced receipt of $13M in funding, with investment from media giants ProSieben, Singapore Press Holdings' SPH Media Fund, Carlo de Benedetti and several existing investors including Redpoint, Marker LLC and Cedar Fund. The funds will be used to further enhance Wochit's award-winning technology and to expand its business with publishers and content creators worldwide. The investment from existing customers, each representing dozens of brands, is a testament to the strategic value of the Wochit platform, which supports rapid, cost-effective production of timely, socially-optimized video. By empowering storytellers with intelligently-applied automation and the largest library of pre-licensed assets, Wochit ensures quality results for publishers seeking a cost-effective video solution. Commented Jens Doka, Chief Product Officer, ProSiebenSat1 Digital, whose premier brands include ProSieben, Sat.1, Sixx and Kabel Eins, "The proliferation of content platforms has resulted in an incredible demand for video. With Wochit, ProSiebenSat.1 is able to produce video content at the scale needed to address this growing need, even providing tools to help deliver that content in the right format for each distribution channel." Said investor and publisher Carlo de Benedetti, "I believe that a bright future for publishers and media companies is possible. We needto adapt our offerings to meet the wants and needs of audiences. Wochit is an invaluable company emphasizing video-based storytelling and giving publishers a powerful tool to turn an historically resource-intensive proposition into user-friendly, cost-effective one." Says Wochit co-founder and CEO Dror Ginzberg, "I'm proud that such esteemed media organizations value the impact Wochit is having on the industry to a degree that they are taking a stake in our continued growth. We're confident that this investment will give us the ability to continue to drive results for our current partners and broaden our client base into new markets around the world." The investment by SPH Media Fund, the corporate venture capital arm of Asia's leading media group, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), shows Wochit's growing presence in the Asian market. A Wochit customer, SPH is already engaging audiences with Wochit video across properties such as The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, The Business Times, AsiaOne and Stomp. About Wochit Wochit is a video creation platform that empowers newsrooms, media companies and brands to expand audience engagement through the power of social video. Worldwide media brands such as Time Inc., Daily News, USA Today, Gannett, AOL, The Week, ProSieben, Singapore Straits Times, Die Welt and Der Spiegel use Wochit to produce short-form videos around trending topics at the scale and speed required in the video-first, mobile era. With rights-cleared assets from AP, Reuters, Getty, Bloomberg and others, cloud-based editing tools and native uploads, horizontal and vertical videos are quickly created and distributed across all social and digital platforms. Wochit is the winner of both the Gutenberg Prize for its disruptive technology in the field of journalism and Digiday's Best Video Technology Innovation for its significant impact on publishers' bottom line. The Company is backed by Redpoint Ventures, Marker LLC, Greycroft Partners, Cedar Fund, ProSieben, Singapore Press Holdings' SPH Media Fund and Carlo de Benedetti. Wochit is based in New York, with offices in London and Tel Aviv. Find out more at www.wochit.com. Contact: Sherry Smith 917-545-6493 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-media-brands-make-strategic-investment-in-social-video-creation-platform-wochit-300352519.html SOURCE Wochit [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 27, 2016] Ingenu Continues Midwest Expansion with Machine Network Deployment in Columbus, Ohio Ingenu Inc., the company that delivers purpose-built IoT connectivity, today announced it has expanded its network footprint in the Midwest region with the availability of the Machine Network to the metropolitan area of Columbus, Ohio. The Internet of Things (IoT) network will serve applications including transportation, logistics, smart city and smart grid, providing coverage to Ohio's third-largest metropolitan area, reaching nearly 500 square miles and serving a population of over 1.1 million. Ingenu selected Columbus for its Machine Network expansion as a result of the advancements the city has made in terms of smart city technology. Columbus was recently awarded a $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation as a winner of its "Smart City Challenge", and plans to fully integrate innovative technologies into its extensive transportation network. The City of Columbus has since launched the Smart Columbus initiative to expand its smart technology to applications such as street lighting, connected vehicles, event management and logistics. "The Columbus market is well positioned to benefit from the value of the IoT," said Tom Gregor, president and general manager, Machine Network at Ingenu. "The technology enables so many applications that we take for granted such as lighting up a sidewalk, finding a parking space or attending a sporting event. Reliable connectivity is the main driver of IoT applications, and we are pleased to be able to provide these capabilities to an innovative city ike Columbus." Ingenu's Machine Network is powered by the company's patented RPMA (Random Phase Multiple Access) communication technology, which provides robust, reliable connectivity across a variety of operating environments. Ingenu's Machine Network build-out is now underway across the United States, and is targeted to serve 30 major metropolitan areas by the end of 2016. The Machine Network currently provides more than 100,000 square miles of wireless coverage for a host of IoT applications. For specific information on the Columbus Machine Network, visit www.ingenu.com/technology/machine-network/cities/columbus/ About RPMA Utilizing globally available spectrum, Ingenu's RPMA (Random Phase Multiple Access) technology is purpose-built for M2M/IoT connectivity, offering unparalleled range, coverage and capacity with extremely low power requirements and longer-lasting battery life. It uniquely enables devices to connect more efficiently and cost-effectively in both the uplink and downlink. Requiring fewer towers to provide coverage to large areas (1:10 to 1:30 radio towers needed for RPMA vs. cellular), RPMA is rapidly becoming a global standard for IoT communication. For more information on RPMA technology, visit www.ingenu.com/technology/rpma/ About Ingenu Inc. Ingenu is building the first wireless Machine Network, the world's largest IoT network dedicated to LPWA (low-power, wide-area) connectivity for machines only. Operating on universal spectrum, the company's RPMA technology is a proven standard for connecting Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) devices around the world, with 38 private networks deployed over seven years. The Machine Network will have further reach, global range and longer lasting battery life than any existing network. It is also future-proof: enabling technology solution providers to maximize their product's efficiency and longevity, with unparalleled control and visibility. Ingenu is led by a highly experienced team and backed by one of the strongest boards in the industry, including veterans from Verizon and Qualcomm (News - Alert). Information about Ingenu can be found at www.ingenu.com, or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @ingenunetworks. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161027005559/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Alibaba founder and executive chairman Jack Ma delivers a speech at the opening of the Computing Conference 2016 at Hangzhou Yunqi Cloud Town International Expo Centre on Oct. 13 in Hangzhou. (Photo : Getty Images) Alibaba founder and executive chairman Jack Ma has called on Chinese officials to use big data in its campaign to curb criminality, during a televised speech addressed to about 1.5 million Chinese security and legal officials on Friday, Oct. 21, a Bloomberg report said. Advertisement On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Chinese Communist Party's Commission for Political and Legal Affairs published Ma's speech on its WeChat account. In his speech, Ma discussed the streamlining of police duties using big data and through data capabilities, he urged for the creation of a system similar to what authorities use in Spielberg's film, "Minority Report," where government has the ability to thwart illegal activities. The Alibaba founder cited an example on how data can help authorities gather information and catch potential terrorists. He said that it could be an indication that a person may be a bomb maker if he buys a timer, a high-pressure cooker, gun powder, or steel ball bearings all at once. But the surveillance activities of the Chinese government have adapted to technology, the report said. China released in July 2015 a proposed cybersecurity law that gives almost total access to users' data in cases involving national security. Following that, the government also planned to deploy police officers in Internet companies to ensure the implementation of strict censorship laws. By the end of 2015, the country's anti-terrorism law was passed, requiring telecommunication and Internet service providers to provide the government with "technical support and assistance", such as decryption, during investigations of terrorism-related cases. Ma also raised question of what Alibaba would be willing to do when the time comes that the company was asked by government to share users' data. Ma told the Wall Street Journal that it would comply with the law, which means that they will surrender information as required by law but they will not share users' data with government. Ma's remarks raised concerns on the potential misuse and abuse of technology, the report said. "Without some level of transparency and oversight and clear boundaries, I worry deeply for citizens' rights and the ability for this technology to be abused as simply another method to identify and monitor Chinese individuals who dare to not agree with authority figures," Jason Ng, a technology researcher with Citizen Lab, said. you are here: The HTC 10, not the HTC 11, has not been received well by Chinese buyers, Taiwanese media said. (Photo : GR1/ YouTube) HTC has not yet announced their new HTC 11 flagship smartphone but there have already been several leaks and rumors regarding its specs, price and release date. Speculations claim that the HTC 11 is already in the works to battle the iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S7 and even the new LG V20. However, the release date might still be months away considering that the HTC 10 has been just out for half a year. Advertisement Flagship smartphones are often high-end and HTC's new device is expected to compete even with the big names. They have steadily gained popularity due to their devices. Rumored HTC 11 Specs The HTC 11 flagship smartphone is expected to have a 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440, Headlines & Global News has learned. HTC could also use a dual edged screen display similar to the Galaxy Edge smartphones from Samsung. As usual, the smartphone will also be expected to have boom speakers for louder output of music and sound. There are also rumors of it being resistant to water and dust which means users can bring it to the beach or to the shower without worrying if it will get damaged. HTC 11 is also expected to have a dual setup with 12MP and 8MP for the rear while the front will have an 8MP wide-angle snapper, Gamenguide reported. It will also have a USB-C port instead of the usual microUSB for faster data speeds and charging. Other specs of the smartphone may include DualBand technology and NFC. It ould be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor next year and 6GB of RAM for seamless multitasking. In terms of the rumored specs, the HTC 11 is close to being similar with the Samsung Galaxy S8 which is also expected to be released next year. Rumored HTC 11 Release Date HTC might release the new flagship smartphone in early 2017. There is no solid release date yet considering that they have not yet confirmed the existence of the smartphone The HTC 11 might be revealed later this year at the earliest to generate hype. HTC will have to confirm the rumored specs and features by then. business Tatas slam Mistry's allegations as 'unsubstantiated, malicious' Tata Sons hit back on Thursday at ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry, terming his allegations about the groups precarious state of affairs as "unsubstantiated," "malicious" and "undignified". Lt. Gen. Phan Van Giang and Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Command, during an honor ceremony at Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense. (Photo : Vietnamnet) Lt. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and Deputy Defense Minister, held talks with visiting Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., Commander, United States Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM) on Oct. 26 in Hanoi. Gen. Giang spoke highly of the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the U.S. during his talks with the tough talking Adm. Harris, who has consistently urged China to stop its militarization of the South China Sea and abide by international rulings and norms. Advertisement Gen. Giang noted that defense collaboration has thrived between Vietnam and the U.S. under the memorandum of understanding on national defense cooperation signed by the two countries in 2011, and the joint vision statement on bilateral defense relations inked in 2015. He also called on both countries to enhance their friendship and mutual understanding, and build trust for the sake of their people, as well as for peace and stability in the region. Adm. Harris hoped his Vietnam visit will contribute to boosting bilateral defense ties. He's been a strong supporter of boosting the U.S.' defense relationship with Vietnam. Last February, Adm. Harris supported lifting a four decades-old United States ban on weapons sales to Vietnam and for getting more U.S. Navy ships for port visits. The weapons ban was rescinded by President Barack Obama last May during his official visit to Vietnam. "We do port visits in Vietnam and I advocate for more. I believe that we will be able to do more this year," said Adm. in a March hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Adm. Harris said he saw an opportunity to grow the relationship with Vietnam and thinks the Vietnamese people would be receptive. "I believe that we should improve our relationship with Vietnam," he said. "I think it's a great strategic opportunity for us and I think the Vietnamese people would welcome the opportunity to work closer with us as their security partner of choice." The Navy conducted four port visits in Vietnam in 2015. The destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) and the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS-3), along with the expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Millinocket (T-EPF-3) and the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), all made visits to Da Nang. These deepening ties will lead to more port visits in the future, said Adm. Harris. To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry. Disclaimer Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that 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, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that reconciliation with the Muslim Brotherhood is not solely his decision, adding that he had provided the group with chances during the days before their ouster from power. "I cannot make a decision on reconciliation by myself, it's the decision of the state," the president told a seminar during the second day of a national youth conference at the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. He added that he was the one who "provided them [the Brotherhood] with the opportunity on 3 July," referring to the day former president Mohamed Morsi was removed from power. Morsi was overthrown on 3 July following massive nationwide protests against his one-year rule, which was marked by economic hardships and political polarisation. El-Sisi, who was then army chief, announced a roadmap to democracy on the day in an address broadcast on TV, flanked by major political and youth leaders and senior religious clerics. The roadmap was agreed upon by forces across the country's political spectrum. The Muslim Brotherhood was designated a terrorist group by the cabinet later in 2013. "The statement announced [at the time] was very balanced," El-Sisi told Wednesday's seminar. "The statement called for a new political round, for a new start, and the people would give their say. If you got 50 percent of votes and later get 25 percent, accept it and be with us," he said. He added that he does not call on this segment of society to change their ideology but to rather to "exercise [their] ideas without destroying the country." The Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition group for decades, was blacklisted as a "terrorist group" in December 2013. Many of the upper echelons are in jail and facing trials over violence-related charges. Search Keywords: Short link: Further enhancements to Cairo's metro system are in planning Egypt Thursday brought the 20th air-conditioned subway train into operation on Cairo's oldest metro line, state news agency MENA said. The new addition is the last of 20 of trains that started to come into service in June 2015 as part of a LE2.2 billion ($301.4 million) deal with a Korean firm. In a city where summer often gets swelteringly hot, conditions can become harsh for some 3.5 million daily passengers in the often crowded cars. Transport minister Galal Saied said during the launch Thursday that upgrading other trains and stations of the oldest of Cairo's three lines is underway. The company operating the metro, the Egyptian Company for Metro Management and Operation (ECMMO), said last year it was studying bringing air conditioning to 53 trains already in operation in the first, partly above-ground, line. A fourth metro line that will connect the capital with neighbouring Giza governorate and Sixth of October City is expected to come into operation in 2019/20, according to government statements. Search Keywords: Short link: Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive. To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research. Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process. Millennials are enduring the worst effects of the continuous home price growth in Toronto, a problem that might only intensify in the near future as demographics shift and new mortgage rules exert their hold on the market.In her October 25 column for The Globe and Mail, Margaret Wente said that young professionals and starting families are facing the greatest housing risks they have in decadesand the usual suspects such as overseas capital do not apply in this case.Population pressures, foreign investors, land shortages and greedy developers usually get the blame. But theres another culprit: government. The affordability crisis in the greater Toronto area is a direct result of provincial government policy, Wente wrote.To put it bluntly, the Liberals at Queens Park the vast majority of whom already have nice houses are shafting the millennials.Wente, notorious for several extremely contentious opinion pieces in the past, assailed the governments choices in developing Torontos land.The Liberal government has decided what kinds of places people ought to live in high-density units in dense neighbourhoods that can justify public transit. So it has heavily skewed its land-use rules toward apartments and condos even far beyond Toronto, where there is no shortage of land, Wente stated.The continuous population growth in the city makes this strategy untenable, the columnist argued.As for the idea that housing prices will come down just as soon as all those boomers move into condos, dont hold your breath. Most boomers dont want to move to condos, as it turns out. And the flood of newcomers into the region wont be slowing down any time soon, Wente said.Unfortunately, neither immigrants nor millennials who are starting families want to raise their kids in apartments. They want to live in single-family houses with a yard. But because the government controls the market, the normal rules of supply and demand do not apply. With hardly any new single-family houses on the market, prices have soared.Wente concluded that the only way that the government can solve the housing crisis is to address both supply and demand by establishing a sensible balance between the two, without sacrificing the environment in the process.Central planners who think we cant should be required to raise their families in an apartment block in Oshawa and take the bus to work. Theyd find a better way soon enough.Related Stories: Chef Brandon Travis has over 2700 owner/bosses, at the Fifth Street Brewpub. more than 11 years of food service experience. During that time, he worked in nearly every kitchen station and position, which allowed him to learn how to effectively run a kitchen to provide the highest quality of fare to customers. Chef Brandon specializes in obtaining the highest quality products available and focuses on responsible and sustainable sourcing. He strives to use locally grown and produced products in everything he creates. Chef Brandon attended Sinclair Community Colleges culinary arts and hospitality management program. Hes worked at Fifth Street Brewpub since they first introduced their kitchen. Just last week Chef Brandon introduced a new menu for the brewpub, which includes discounted prices for members and a Monday Friday, 4 6 PM happy hour for all that offers $1 off drafts, and wine as well as all sharing plates, like the smoked salmon dip, Co-op Cheese curds, and the ever popular Henry Chips not have an option to add chicken, pork or braised beef. The entree menu includes a turkey avocado club, the best selling build your own burger, a vegan spinach wrap and 4 salads to choose from. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10am -2pm with breakfast classics like french toast, steak and eggs and some specialty items like chicken and waffles and the over the top banana foster waffle. See the full menu here. Chef Brandon took time out from the kitchen to answer our Chefs 10 ?s so we could get to know him a little better. We learned hes a man of few words, preferring to let his food do the talking. What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? Cilantro What ingredient do you dread? Tamarind Whats your favorite dish to make? Risotto Whats your favorite pig out food? Chinese What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley? Thai 9 Whats your best advice for home chefs? Practice, practice, practice. If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why? I would invite Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and James Earl Jones to dinner because Im a Star Wars nerd. Who do you look up to in the industry and why? I look up to Tom Colicch io, New York restauranteur, who is equal parts business and chef. He has five James Beard Awards under his belt. What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off? A day off starts with coffee at the Boston Stoker and a trip to Yellow Springs to hike with the dog and girlfriend. Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story: My best kitchen disaster story was when I tipped an entire storage rack over because Im short and needed to climb it for a dish on the top shelf. Summon your courage and your appetite as Lilys Bistro presents HauntFEAST, a Ghoul-met 4-course Halloween themed dinner on Thursday, October 27th at 6pm. The Oregon District knows how to celebrate Halloween and we wanted to add our own contribution the Thursday before the big weekend party, said Owner Emily Mendenhall. HauntFEAST will showcase the creativity of our kitchen and bar staff through unique Halloween themed offerings. In addition to Chef de Cuisine Amy Finch, Sous Chef James Burton, and Bar Manager Amber Brady, the evening will be presided over by special guest and local horror host legend, Baron Von Porkchop. Baron Von Porkchop has hosted his Terrifying Tales of the Macabre on DATV for years now, Mendenhall said. He is the only person fit to guide us through such a terrifyingly fun evening. Though the menu is still being finalized, guests can expect such thrills as The Creature from the Black Lagoon, a squid ink seafood pasta, the Twilight Special of skewered rare steak with garlic sauce and a shot of silver bullet, roasted bone marrow, Sleepy Hollow-ed puff pastry filled with Stephen A La King, and a dessert of Carries Fried Ice Cream with blood orange coulis, among others. Fears, seasonal beers and spooky spirits like the Dellamorte Dellamore white negroni and Lilys Skullpunch (a version of a classic Zombie cocktail) will also be provided from the bar. Its an experience we hope will haunt and delight guests for the nights to come, Mendenhall said. For those interested in HauntFEAST, the 4-course dinner costs $40 and takes place on Thursday, October 27th at Lilys Bistro on Fifth Street in the Oregon District. . The restaurant will be decorated specially for the event and costumes are encouraged. More details can be found at facebook.com/lilysbistro/ Tickets can be purchased at the restaurant or online through the link below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/haunt-feast-a-ghoulmet-4-course-dinner-tickets-28338892390 The full menu for this event: AMUSE Evil Eye bruschetta: locally baked bread with whipped goat cheese, cipollini onion, balsamic reduction served with choice of Stoli vodka Secret Ooze or Homemade Scary-limeade soda SECOND COURSE choose one Rest In Peas soup: split pea soup with a tombstone crouton Dem Bones: roasted bone marrow with fresh herb and grape salad The Twilight Duo: skewered steak with a garlic sauce, accompanied by a shot of coors light Silver Bullet Buried Alive: spiralized beets with goat cheese, walnuts, and dijon vinaigrette THIRD COURSE choose one Creature from the black lagoon: squid ink pasta tossed in a garlic sauce with calamari tentacles, head on prawn, and mussles Beef tongue tacos: with refried black beans, rice, pico de gallo, hot sauce and cilantro lime crema The Ribs of JAWS: Carolina reaper glazed paco fish ribs over chilled soba noodles, topped with apple, cucumber, and pea shoot salad The Ring: rings of roasted acorn squash over a bed of basmati and wild rice with mushrooms, onions, celery Stephen a la King: creamy local, free-range chicken in brown gravy with red peppers, mushrooms, potatoes, and carrots over sleepy hollow-ed puff pastry FOURTH COURSE choose one Carries fried ice cream: deep fried red velvet ice cream with blood orange coulis Monkeys pawpaw bread: locally foraged paw paw fruits with bananas baked into a bread and drizzled with caramel An Egyptian appeals court on Thursday acquitted a Mubarak-era oil minister of charges of selling under-priced gas to Israel and squandering public funds in a final ruling in the case, a judicial source told Ahram Online. Sameh Fahmy was initially convicted in 2012 and sentenced to 15 years in jail; he was acquitted in February 2015 while being retried, but the prosecution appealed the ruling. The Court of Cassation, the country's highest appellate court for general jurisdiction cases, rejected the appeal on Thursday and found Fahmy, along with five other petroleum ministry officials, innocent of the charges. Fahmy was first arrested in April 2011. He was released after securing a retrial in 2013. The sale of gas to Israel has long raised controversy in Egypt. Prosecutors have argued that Hosni Mubarak's government sold gas at preferential rates to Israel and other countries, costing Egypt billions of dollars in lost revenue. Egypt was selling natural gas to Israel under a 20-year agreement at the time of the 2011 revolution, but the deal was halted in April 2012 after continuous attacks on the pipeline by militants in the Sinai Peninsula. Several Mubarak-era figures, including the ousted president himself, have been convicted of corruption-related offences, and then subsequently acquitted on retrial. In November 2014, Mubarak and his interior minister Habib El-Adly were found innocent of charges of killing peaceful protesters during the 2011 uprising that toppled him. Search Keywords: Short link: It looks like other big banks are going to have to pay for Wells Fargos bad behavior. US regulators are going to start investigating Wall Street banks reviewing data and even talking to employees to make sure practices like Wells Fargos opening of unauthorized accounts arent being repeated at other firms. Some of Wells Fargos biggest competitors have received notice that regulators including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will be looking into their business practices in the coming days, according to a Bloomberg report. Regulators including the CFPB, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the Comptroller of the Currency will be scrutinizing the banks. CFPB Director Richard Cordray said at a Senate hearing last month that the agency would follow up aggressively to make sure other banks arent pulling any Wells-style shenanigans, but said he doubted regulators would find the same level of problems elsewhere. Wells Fargo no doubt was the industry leader in aggressively cross-selling products, which led in part to the extreme circumstances we find here, he said. Wells Fargo was hit with $185 million in penalties for its misdeeds, which included opening 2 million customer accounts without those customers knowledge or authorization. Many big banks, such as JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, have already been conducting internal probes to ensure that their employees arent up to anything similar to Wells Fargos, Bloomberg reported. Two Yazidi women who survived a nightmare ordeal of kidnapping, rape and slavery at the hands of Islamic State (IS) militants won the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize on Thursday. Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar have become figureheads for the effort to protect the Yazidis, followers of an ancient religion with more than half a million believers concentrated in northern Iraq. "They have a painful and tragic story" but "they felt compelled to survive to bear witness," European Parliament chief Martin Schulz told the assembly in Strasbourg. "The courage of these two women, the dignity they represent defies all description." Murad hailed the prize as a "profound message to the ISIS terrorist group that their criminal inhumanity is condemned and their victims are honored by the free world". In a statement she said the award told "our people and particularly to the more than 6,700 women, girls, and children who became victims of slavery and human trafficking under ISIS, that the genocide will not be repeated". According to UN experts, around 3,200 Yazidis are currently being held by IS, the majority of them in war-ravaged Syria. Bestowed annually, the award is named after the dissident Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov, who died in 1989, and honours individuals who combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression, often falling foul of their governments as a result. The prize, worth 50,000 euros ($55,000), will be presented at a ceremony on December 14 in Strasbourg. Murad, a slight, softly spoken young woman, was taken by IS from her home village of Kocho near Iraq's northern town of Sinjar in August 2014 and brought to the city of Mosul. As a captive of the reviled extremist group, Murad, now 23, said she was tortured and raped. Bashar, who was just 16 when she was taken and is also from Kocho, witnessed family and friends being slaughtered by IS militants before being enslaved and sold. After 20 months in captivity she escaped but then fell into the hands of an Iraqi hospital director who also abused and raped her and several other victims. In a final tragedy, Bashar suffered horrific burns to her face and lost her right eye when one of her friends stepped on a landmine following their flight from the hospital director. The 2014 massacre perpetrated against the Yazidis by IS fighters in Sinjar forced tens of thousands to flee and left an already vulnerable community under perilous threat. UN investigators have said the IS assault on the Yazidis was a premeditated effort to exterminate an entire community -- crimes that amount to genocide. In speeches and interviews, Murad has voiced deep frustration with the international community for abandoning her people in the hands of grotesquely violent criminals. Bashar said in a voicemail message left with Mirza Dinnayi, founder of the German-Iraqi aid group Air Bridge Iraq: "I am so happy about the prize because I won it in the name of the Yazidi victims. "It is important that the world does not forget the women and children imprisoned by IS and that such crimes are not perpetrated against anyone," she said in Kurdish. Dinnayi, who has been looking after Bashar since her arrival in Germany in April, translated the message into German. Last year, the European Parliament awarded the prize to Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi, jailed for "insulting" Islam. Past winners include Pakistani education campaigner Malala Yousafzai, late South African rights icon Nelson Mandela and Myanmar activist Aung San Suu Kyi. Exiled Turkish journalist Can Dundar and Crimean Tatar activist Mustafa Dzhemilev were also shortlisted for the prestigious award. Separately, the EU assembly called on Turkey to free all journalists detained without solid evidence, saying in a resolution that the failed coup in July should not serve as a pretext to silence the media and opposition. Search Keywords: Short link: Midland County Sheriffs Office A Midland man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly stalking and causing injury to a woman, according to court documents. Marcus Anthony Avila, 23, was being held Thursday on a $150,000 bond for a third-degree felony charge of stalking, a $150,000 bond for a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault causes serious bodily injury and a $5,000 bond for a misdemeanor charge of burglary of a vehicle. Related Somalia cuts ties to Iran amid regional crisis A breakaway group of around 50 Somali militants who declared loyalty to the Islamic State militants abandoned a small port town on Thursday a day after occupying it, residents and an official said. "The militants left town early this morning but they are not far away," said Abdiweli Adan, an elder in a town close to Qandala which the IS-linked group occupied on Wednesday. He said the group's black flag still flew over government buildings in the small seaside town on the Gulf of Aden coast of Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in northern Somalia. "Some fishermen saw them staying close by in mountainous enclaves," said Adan, who added the militants left as they had arrived, peacefully. A security official in the regional capital Bossaso said the threat of an arriving force of Puntland soldiers had scared the militants off. "Puntland sent hundreds of special forces to deal with the terrorists. Unfortunately, they have run away even before the forces reached the town," said Cabdirisak Mohamed, a security official in the capital Bossaso, about 70 kilometres (45 miles) west of Qandala. Mohamed dismissed the takeover of Qandala as "a desperate attempt to draw attention." The militants -- led by former Shabaab cleric Abdiqadir Mumin -- switched allegiance from Al Qaeda to IS a year ago but have done little since apart from issuing occasional promotional videos. Nevertheless, in late August the US State Department named Mumin a "global terrorist" making him a potential target for US drone strikes which are regularly carried out against militants in Somalia. Abdukadir Said, a trader from Qandala said aircraft flying over the town may have spooked the militants. "There were aircraft hovering over Qandala during the last six hours" before they left, he said. Once a pirate stronghold, Qandala is an ancient trading and fishing town whose main significance is its proximity to Yemen, across the Gulf of Aden, where Al Qaeda and IS groups both operate. In the past the Shabaab has been resupplied with weapons and fighters sent from Yemen. Search Keywords: Short link: Akufo-Addo should have apologised over hardship ... At least three children were killed and 14 injured in a rebel rocket attack on a school in the government-held west of Aleppo city on Thursday, Syrian state media said. A monitoring group said a child was also among at least eight people killed in government shelling on the rebel-held town of Douma outside Damascus. "Three children were killed and 14 students were injured in a terrorist rocket attack on the national school in the Shahba neighbourhood of Aleppo," state news agency SANA reported. The neighbourhood is in the western outskirts of the city, which has been roughly divided since mid-2012, when rebels seized its eastern half. Rebels regularly fire crude homemade rockets into the west of the city, often killing civilians. Government forces backed by ally Russia have waged an aerial and ground assault since late September to recapture eastern Aleppo, killing hundreds of civilians and destroying infrastructure including hospitals. The deaths came a day after the UN children's agency UNICEF said 22 children had been killed along with six teachers in air strikes on a school in rebel-held Idlib province. The strikes, carried out by either Russian or Syrian warplanes according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, hit the village of Hass, prompting outrage from UNICEF director Anthony Lake. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," he said, adding that the school complex had been hit repeatedly. Outside Damascus meanwhile, at least eight people were killed on Thursday in government shelling on Douma in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region, the British-based Observatory said. Douma is regularly targeted by government fire, and in recent months regime forces have waged an offensive in the area, which has also been under siege since 2013. More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. Search Keywords: Short link: Turkey asked the United States to keep the Kurdish YPG militia from entering the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, adding it was ready to provide military support to take over the Syrian town, Defence Minister Fikri Isik told TRT Haber on Thursday. The top U.S. military commander said on Wednesday that Kurdish YPG fighters would be included as a part of the force to isolate the Islamic State-held Syrian city of Raqqa. Turkey strongly opposes any Kurdish formation in the region. Earlier on Thursday, President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey's military operation in northern Syria will target the town of Manbij, recently liberated from Islamic State by Kurdish-led forces, and Raqqa after the town of al-Bab. Search Keywords: Short link: Tuolomne County Election Office View Photos Sonora, CA There is only one local ballot measure voters in Tuolumne County will decide on November 8. Measure K, related to affordable housing, has received the endorsement of groups like Interfaith Social Services, Catholic Charities, ATCAA, Area 12 Agency on Aging, the Tuolumne County Business Council and the Tuolumne County Association of Realtors. Measure K would authorize affordable rental units to be built in the unincorporated areas of Tuolumne County and allow for the use of public funding from state and federal housing programs. Proponents note that Article 34 of the California Constitution requires local voters to authorize the development, construction or acquisition of affordable housing before it is produced. Ron Kopf, who is the Executive Director the Tuolumne County Business Council and Government Affairs Director for the Tuolumne County Association of Realtors, says, We havent built any really affordable rental housing for a long time in Tuolumne County and theres a real need for more affordable rental housing. The entitlement and development process for rental housing is very expensive and time consuming, and what Measure K does is allow a developer of affordable housing to get some grants to help offset the development costs of it to enable it to be affordable. Beetle Barbour, a housing consultant for ATCAA, is also a proponent. She says, A one bedroom apartment in Tuolumne County is almost $800 under fair market rent. If you have a person that is on a fixed income, with Social Security, receiving $1,600, thats half of their monthly income that theyre spending on their housing. They probably are not going to be able to buy their medications, or pay the rest of their bills, or do maintenance on their cars. That puts them at risk, and it explains the need for affordable housing. Measure K would allow up to 60 affordable rental units to be built or acquired annually, with any units not built or acquired carrying over to the following years allotment. Proponents add that passage does not require the use of any local tax dollars and would not impact the countys General Fund. It would streamline the completion of affordable housing projects, rather than have multiple individual projects go before a vote of the public in future elections. All projects would still be required to go through the environmental and community review process at the county level. No opposition group has been formed against Measure K. Clarke Broadcasting checked in with the Tuolumne County Elections Office, who reports that no opposition arguments were submitted for the official ballot documents. The measure was put on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors. Of note, it would not apply to the City of Sonora, so only residents living in the unincorporated areas of the county can vote. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that the military operation supporting Syrian opposition fighters in northern Syria will target the IS-held city of Raqa. Erdogan said the rebels were now advancing on the important city of Al Bab to clear Islamic State group elements. After retaking the city, they will target Manbij, captured by Syrian Kurdish militia in August, and "then we will go towards Raqa". Raqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State, has long been the next target in the fight against the jihadists but there is a debate on how the offensive would look on the ground. The US-led coalition against IS is likely to provide air support but Turkey opposes the involvement of any Syrian Kurdish militias. Since August 24, Turkish tanks and special forces have been inside northern Syria providing support to opposition fighters in an ambitious operation to remove IS jihadists from the entire border area. The Turkey-backed rebels comprise different Syrian opposition brigades rather than a single organised force, according to experts. The operation dubbed "Euphrates Shield" has another purpose: to halt the westward advance of the Syrian YPG Kurdish militia. Ankara says the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Kurdish Democratic Union (PYD) are linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) waging an insurgency in Turkey since 1984. The PKK is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. In August the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed alliance of about 30,000 Kurdish and Arab fighters, captured Manbij from IS. But Erdogan has repeatedly said any operation to retake Raqa cannot be done with YPG elements and on Thursday, said the Turkish operation would target Manbij as well. He later said he told US President Barack Obama in a telephone conversation on Wednesday that he opposed any YPG or PYD participation. "We do not need terrorist organisations like the PYD/YPG... I said, 'come let's remove Daesh (IS) from Raqa together. We will sort this out together with you'. We have the strength," he said, referring to the Turkey-backed rebels. Erdogan also said that Turkey would not allow the northern Iraqi district of Sinjar to become a new Qandil, referring to the mountainous area in Iraq's north where the PKK has bases. "Sinjar is on its way to becoming a new Qandil. We will not allow (this) because the PKK is there," hinting at possible Turkish military intervention. Search Keywords: Short link: The economy remains the top concern for likely Florida voters with less than two weeks until Election Day, according to a Bay News 9/News 13 Florida Decides exclusive statewide poll. About 4 in 10 voters who participated in the poll, conducted Oct. 20-24, said the economy is the most important issue in 2016. Among those voters, Hillary Clinton leads 5 to 4. Terrorism, with 18 percent, was No. 2. Thirteen percent of respondents said immigration was the top issue, and 12 percent were for national security. Education and environment came in last. Earlier this year, likely Florida voters also said the economy was the top concern with 41 percent. Despite the economy being the top issue, voters are concerned about other issues, too. "When the terrorist attack happened in my backyard, I knew I had to get involved, so I think keeping our country safe is what got me out to vote," said Brock Boulden, a voter, who was referencing the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12 in Orlando. Other voters said they want a cleaner environment for their children. "Leaving a footprint for our future generation of grandkids, my children's children, I think it's a big deal," said Dilandrea Finley, a voter. Immigration was the third most important issue, with 13 percent. "They weren't just let in and given things for free," George Gonzalez said. "They each had factory jobs, things like that. When they're letting in all these people across the border, it really, really is a security issue and a problem." Donald Trump leads by 49 points among voters focused on immigration, but only 1 in 8 voters said immigration is the most important issue, the poll found. But not everyone has the same view on the issue. "I know a lot of immigrants that are here illegally that are working," Gonzalez said. "That are actively participating and contributing to the community in positive ways." Dragoon said that to solve other issues like immigration, national defense and the environment, the United States needs a good economy. "I think we need people that have the conceptual ability to understand all the interconnections from all the various factors that have an impact on the economy and how the economy effects all the other programs from education to health care to the military. You know, soup to nuts." Q: Which issue is the most important to you this election year? All Gender Age Race Male Female 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ White Black Asian/ Other Immigration 13% 15% 11% 12% 12% 11% 17% 13% 14% 11% Terrorism 18% 13% 22% 12% 16% 20% 21% 18% 19% 8% Economy 39% 40% 37% 35% 40% 42% 37% 38% 44% 39% National Security 12% 12% 11% 8% 16% 10% 12% 12% 9% 14% Education 6% 6% 6% 11% 5% 5% 4% 6% 5% 8% Environment 5% 6% 4% 7% 4% 6% 4% 5% 3% 10% Other 6% 7% 5% 10% 5% 5% 5% 6% 5% 8% Not Sure 2% 1% 3% 4% 2% 1% 1% 2% 0% 2% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Composition of Likely November Voters 100% 49% 51% 19% 26% 29% 27% 80% 14% 7% Party Affiliation Strong Rep. Republican Ind. lean Rep. Independent Ind. lean Dem. Democrat Strong Dem. Immigration 23% 17% 19% 13% 5% 7% 6% Terrorism 21% 19% 17% 14% 10% 21% 16% Economy 34% 41% 40% 37% 38% 43% 40% National Security 17% 13% 17% 9% 7% 9% 9% Education 1% 3% 0% 5% 14% 9% 10% Environment 0% 2% 0% 7% 14% 6% 9% Other 3% 4% 4% 13% 9% 2% 8% Not Sure 1% 2% 2% 2% 2% 4% 1% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Composition of Likely November Voters 16% 16% 13% 12% 9% 18% 15% Surveyed: 1,251 likely November voters Margin of sampling error: 2.8% This Bay News 9/News 13 Exclusive statewide Florida Decides poll was conducted by SurveyUSA from Oct. 20-24. SurveyUSA interviewed 1,400 state of Florida adults, 1,314 of whom were registered to vote. Of those registered, 1,251 were determined by SurveyUSA to be likely to vote in the Nov. 8 general election. Just 1 percent of voters interviewed for this survey said they "almost always" vote in presidential elections but will not vote in 2016 because they do not like any of the candidates on the ballot. Five percent of voters said they "almost never" vote in presidential elections but will vote in 2016 because they were drawn to one of this year's candidates. Importantly: These "new" voters are spread across the political spectrum; they are not disproportionately Trump supporters. All of the interviews for this survey were conducted after the third presidential debate and at a time when Trump described himself as "unshackled." This research was conducted using blended sample, mixed mode. Respondents reachable on their home telephones (65 percent of likely voters) were interviewed on their home telephones in the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Respondents not reachable on a home telephone (35 percent of likely voters) were shown a questionnaire on the display of their smartphone, tablet or other electronic device. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help to track down who shot a 5-year-old cat in the face earlier this month. 5-year-old cat found hurt, shot in the face Cat was euthanized because of its injuries, deputies said Call Flagler County Sheriff's Office with any information Christina Deangelis, who lives in Palm Coast, found her cat, named Baby Cat, severely injured in her driveway. She rushed the cat to Flagler Animal Hospital, where the veterinarian determined the cat was shot in the face, deputies said. The bullet entered the cat's jaw area and lodged above the cat's shoulder. The cat was euthanized because of its injuries. The incident happened Saturday, Oct. 15, and the Sheriff's Office launched an investigation. Despite interviewing several neighbors and checking with Palm Coast Animal Control for reports of any cat complaints in the area, the investigator didn't obtain any pertinent information about the incident. The Sheriff's Office said it still needs the publics help with the investigation. Deangelis, who lives on Laguna Forest trail, said she's concerned another one of her cats also might have been killed, because it disappeared earlier in October. She told deputies she has lived at her home for three years and hasn't had any problems with her neighbors or her animals. Deangelis said Baby Cat lived both indoors and outdoors. Deputies remind people that if you have a problem with animals in your neighborhood, contact the proper authorities below: Flagler Animal Services: 386-246-8612. They serve unincorporated Flagler County and the cities of Bunnell and Flagler Beach 386-246-8612. They serve unincorporated Flagler County and the cities of Bunnell and Flagler Beach Palm Coast Animal Control: 386-986-2520 386-986-2520 Flagler County Sheriff's Office's non-emergency line: 386-313-4911 Animal cruelty is a crime in Florida. According to Florida Statute 828.12, a person who kills any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner commits animal cruelty, a first-degree misdemeanor. Also, someone who intentionally commits an act to any animal that results in the cruel death or unnecessary pain or suffering commits aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony. Additionally, Florida Statute 790.15 makes it illegal to shoot a firearm in a residential neighborhood. Exceptions to this are as follows: A person lawfully defending life or property or performing official duties requiring discharge of firearm; If the discharge does not pose a reasonably foreseeable risk to life, safety or property; A person who accidentally discharges a firearm. Anyone with information about the incident involving Baby Cat is asked to call the Flagler County Sheriff's Office at 386-313-4911. You may remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 by calling Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477. Warships from the US Navy and allied nations have intercepted four weapons shipments from Iran to Yemen since April 2015, a US admiral said Thursday. "Either US ships or coalition ships... intercepted four weapons shipments from Iran to Yemen. We know they came from Iran and we know the destination," Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan told reporters at an undisclosed military base in Southwest Asia. Donegan's comments come after the US military's Central Command chief General Joseph Votel last week said Iran may have played a role in recent Huthi missile attacks against US warships in the Red Sea. Search Keywords: Short link: More than 1,000 voters cast early ballots during the first two days of voting at the Hale County Courthouse, with about 300 more heading to the polls Wednesday morning. Weve been busy, reports County Clerk Latrice Kemp. Its been really good. Early voting in the Nov. 8 General Election runs through Friday, and continues Oct. 31 through Nov. 3. Locations include the courthouse basement, Abernathy City Hall, Hale Center ISD Technology Building and Petersburg City Hall. Voters in Cotton Center ISD may cast early ballots in the districts Tax Ratification Election at the CCISD administration building. Kemp said 495 ballots were cast at the courthouse Monday with 571 on Tuesday. While reports across Texas and the nation have surfaced on vote switching, where votes cast electronically for one candidate register for an opponent has not been a problem in Hale County. It has not been an issue here, Kemp said Wednesday. We are staying close in case someone needs help, but we havent had any complaints about that. She thinks part of the problem could involve voters who select Straight Party voting on the first screen, then are confused when squares corresponding to that partys candidates are then automatically marked on subsequent screens. If they click those boxes again, it deselects that candidate. They can vote a straight party ticket, and then skip around on individual races, but they need to check the final screen which is a list of the candidates they have selected. They need to do that, and ask for help if they need it, before they push the red button to cast their vote. Kemp assures voters that Hale Countys election machines are completely secure. None of them are connected to the internet or wireless networks, she explains. They are not hooked up to an office network or intranet, and no external cards, drivers or other devices can be inserted by voters. According to Hart Intercivic, which supplies the machines, the companys voting systems and all embedded security features have been rigorously tested and certified by the federal Election Assistance Commission, as well as state election officials. Security features of Hart voting systems include physical hardware access controls and multi-factor authentication on software, the company explains. Audit features allow election officials to maintain and access a detailed electronic record of all activities that occur related to system software, as well as the ability to review anonymous cast vote records to verify that the system software tabulates properly. A strong chain of custody within jurisdictions prevent data manipulation as it is being transferred from the voting devices to a central count facility, Hart Intercivic adds. Multiple redundant data backups ensure any such manipulations would be detected. The Berlin Historical Society has scheduled a Story Share for Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Senior Center, 33 Colonial Drive. Was the snow really thigh deep walking to and from school, or were we just shorter then? Did we really get a better education in the days of slide rules and fountain pens? Many of us remember that a teachers authority was never questioned. Classrooms of the past may have had up to 40 students, sometimes with combined grades. Maybe teachers felt a bit overwhelmed, but rarely showed it. We like to think that we learned the basics in a no-nonsense environment, but its not as if school was all work and no play. At Story Share we often laugh over confessions of childhood highjinks. In 1907, Berlin renovated Worthington Town Hall to be the state of the art four-room Worthington School. In the same year, the old Kensington Town Hall on Percival Avenue became Percival School. Soon after, the town was building Hubbard School in East Berlin and Kensington Grammar in Kensington. Can you imagine the community support for opening four new schools within a few years of each other? There were also a dozen neighborhood schools scattered all over town. Some of these remain as private homes and public buildings. In oral histories, older residents tell us what it was like to go to school in Berlin. Weve heard stories of riding a horse to school, helping the teacher build a fire in the stove, and serving cocoa to fellow students before classes. Many remember days when most kids rode their bikes or walked a mile or more to a neighborhood school. Some seniors remember climbing into the attic of Worthington School to write their names on the rafters. Others vividly remember the potato salad salmonella emergency at the high school. We hear tales of legendary teachers and administrators, like Miss McGee, Mr. Harris and Miss Bruce. If you went to school in Berlin, you must have stories to share. Well pass a microphone through the audience, so there is no fear of standing before a crowd. Response from the public for these programs has been overwhelming. Participants continue to bring us photos to be scanned, expanding our collective knowledge of what life was like in Berlin and how the town evolved over time. Perhaps the best thing about these programs is that they provide an old home day experience for longtime residents, and for new members of the community who want to feel more rooted where they live. Registration for the Story Share is requested by calling 860-828-7006. The writer is Berlin Historical Society Secretary. MERIDEN Water leaking through the roof and steeple of the 19th-century church overlooking City Hall on Norwood Street has caused significant interior damage in the sanctuary, offices and recreation halls. Church officials hope to raise funds to repair the damage, which they estimate will cost at least $250,000. Holy Word Foundation Ministries bought the former Unitarian Universalist church for $350,000 in 2007. Pastor Joseph Sessions said the congregation spent about $300,000 on renovations after purchasing the church and another $100,000 for a new heating system. The whole entire church was renovated down to the carpet, the seating everywhere, Sessions said. The building seemed to be holding up until about two years ago when shingles began blowing from the churchs large steeple. It opened up space for leaks, Sessions said. Water damage is evident on the balcony overlooking the sanctuary, where the paint on the walls is coming off and the floors have warped. In a second-floor chapel, a tarp has been laid on the floor to protect it from water that comes from a large hole in the ceiling. The damage is widespread throughout the church. Its really tearing up the floors, Sessions said. It doesnt affect the activities of the church yet ... but its going to keep getting worse and after a while we will not be able to use it. While the steeple will likely cost $60,000 to repair, Sessions said he is awaiting an estimate on how much the other damage will cost to fix. With a congregation of about 60 families, Sessions said, the church does not have the revenue to cover the repairs, and he hopes for assistance from the community to raise the funds. Weve put a lot of money in this place and havent got any help from anybody to date, Sessions said. Church Mother Lorrie Pope-Wiggins said that with so much work going into the Meriden Green, the city should step up to support historic buildings in the vicinity. This is a historic district. This is a brownstone, Pope-Wiggins said. With the new park, the surrounding historic buildings should be in good shape. Sessions said the church will be planning fundraisers to seek community support. Those interested in donating can write a check to Holy Word Foundation Ministries and mail it to P.O. Box 5010 in Meriden, Sessions said. The church is also open to those willing to donate their labor to help make repairs. We just hope if any craftsmen may want to donate services and time, that would be a blessing, Pope-Wiggins said. Anyone willing to donate services may contact Sessions at 203-915-5172. ltauss@record-journal.com 203-317-2231 Twitter: @LeighTaussRJ Turkish prosecutors launched a probe Thursday into pro-Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtas after he condemned the detention of two mayors of the country's biggest Kurdish city. Gultan Kisanak and Firat Anli, co-mayors of the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, were taken into custody Tuesday as part of a "terrorism" probe, accused of having links to Kurdish separatists. The Diyarbakir prosecutor said in a statement the investigation into Demirtas, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), will look into whether he insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a speech on Thursday. The probe will also investigate whether he "incited people to disobey the law", "publicly humiliated the Turkish Republic and the state's judicial institutions" as well as "praised crime and criminals". In a speech outside the Diyarbakir town hall, Demirtas called on the prosecutor to prove the mayors' "terror links". "No one can accuse our municipalities of giving support to weapons, terror and violence... If you can prove a penny went (to the outlawed PKK), let's see it. These are all lies." Anli and Kisanak are also accused of making speeches in support of the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. They are also alleged to have allowed the use of municipal vehicles for the funerals of PKK members. "Until our municipality leaders can return to work, there will be resistance, there will be a struggle," he vowed, according to a write-up of his speech by the HDP. Demirtas said the two municipality leaders were not terrorist supporters but accused Turkey of having "supported terror" by "nourishing" the Islamic State group and the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front. Ankara strongly denies such claims. Demirtas, a former lawyer, also criticised the public prosecutor. "We are against those prosecutors acting with the palace perspective," referring indirectly to Erdogan. "What kind of prosecutor are you? No one acts more unlawfully than you." Search Keywords: Short link: Passionate, honest Editor: We are very fortunate to have Senator Dante Bartolomeo representing us in Hartford. She is a passionate and honest elected official who champions many causes for us: saving Middlesex Community College, supporting the exciting projects throughout our city, and devoting time and energy to address important constituent issues. She has been honored for her exceptional work by numerous organizations. Dante has earned our vote in November. She is a positive, optimistic voice in the State Senate and she serves her district well. Please join me in voting to re-elect Senator Dante Bartolomeo. Dennis Rodrigues, Meriden Fights overspending Editor: Dante Bartolomeo has stood firm against wasteful spending. She challenged Governor Malloy on his pet projects. She demanded that exorbitant salary increases for UConn executives be rescinded. She fought lavish pension benefits for state judges. Senator Bartolomeo also understands that the state must meet its commitments. She helped protect programs that serve children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. She won municipal aid increases for all the towns in her district (and that holds down our property taxes). We need to keep Dante Bartolomeo working for us, by re-electing her on November 8th. Ryan Walton, Meriden Think of the future Editor: The State of Connecticut will be facing a $300 million budget deficit as a result of the Democratic leadership in this state continually overspending with little regard to the effect it will have on our state and future generations. Facing one of the highest tax burdens in the country, people are leaving the state in numbers greater than they are coming in, including many who spent their whole lives here. We want future generations to grow and thrive in our state and this isnt going to happen if we continue electing Democrats to state offices. Tina C. Pugliese, Plantsville Vote no on tax hikes Editor: I will be supporting John Fusco and other local Republicans on the ballot this November. The Democrat-controlled legislature has had very little success in promoting growth in our state. We have lost businesses as well as citizens due to the high tax burden we are facing. We need to elect more politicians that will hold their ground and vote no for any and all future tax increases and John Fusco has vowed to do just that. Barbara Dietzel, Southington Childrens champion Editor: Without a doubt, Cathy Abercrombie is the most qualified person to run for State Representative, and I wholeheartedly support her. I have observed her accomplishments and her dedication first-hand and have seen how it has literally changed the lives of families. She recently was awarded the CT Early Childhood Alliances Childrens Champion award and she deserves it. In all she does, Cathy exemplifies leadership and thoughtfulness. We need her in office to continue to advocate for children. I urge you to vote for her and the Democratic team of Bartolomeo, Altobello and Santiago. Catherine R. Battista, Meriden The writer is a city councilor and director of the Meriden Family Resource Centers. Debate disappointment Editor: Absolutely flabbergasted that Len Suzio decided not to take part in the debate at town hall Wednesday night to speak to issues that are effecting Cheshire. His lack of judgment or even the stamina to fight for our town was on display. The people of Cheshire need to understand this and make their judgment that he lacks. Steve Whinfield, Cheshire Leader, visionary Editor: As someone who is very involved in this community, I appreciate Dave Zonis commitment to Southington and his presence in so many of our communitys functions. His support of the arts in our community is admirable, as he recognizes the inherent benefits of the arts to our lives. Dave has shown himself to be a leader and a visionary and someone who is willing to stand behind his constituents and fight for their beliefs and causes. I endorse Dave Zoni to represent the 81st District. We need his voice in Hartford, and his energy and enthusiasm for all things Southington. Mary DeCroce, Southington Your vote is needed Editor: I am going to be extremely political here. I dont care who you vote for! All I ask is that, dear lord, VOTE! PLEASE, your country needs you and if you dont vote, you should just leave the country, you just dont care, so why stay? Roy Blazejowski, Meriden No rubber stamp Editor: Sometimes, it feels like all of the campaign flyers and literature you get is the same. Just cover up the name, and they all advocate the same things: lower taxes, smaller government, and local control. The truth is that the states economy is a disaster, and we cant afford to elect anyone who will end up just being a rubber stamp for the governor to continue his failed policies. If you want true change from someone who actually has a proven track record, then the choice is clear. Vote Fishbein for State Representative. Samantha Beaudoin, Wallingford They have delivered Editor: I always tell people, Vote with your wallet. As a member of the Meriden City Council, I know firsthand that our Democratic State Delegation (Dante Bartolomeo, Cathy Abercrombie, Buddy Altobello, and Hilda Santiago) has done a phenomenal job bringing your tax dollars back to Meriden rather than letting them go to some other community. From our new high schools, to the Meriden Green, to the new train station, they have delivered time and again. Please vote Democrat this fall and keep Meriden moving in the right direction. Brian P. Daniels, Meriden The writer is majority leader of the Meriden City Council. Its about the economy Editor: This election is as much a referendum on the states economy and current administration as it is on the individual candidates. Voters need to cut through all of the smooth, moderate talk and realize that there are real choices in each race. You can vote candidates into office who will support Governor Malloy, or you can elect people who will challenge him and his failed policies. In seven years on the Town Council, Craig Fishbein has proven over and over again that he is no rubber stamp. We need people like Craig in Hartford, not more of the status quo. Barbara Dichello, Wallingford For the children Editor: A vote for Senator Dante Bartolomeo is a vote for our children and our future. Dante has worked tirelessly to improve services for children struggling with mental health issues and children living in the foster care system. She has secured increased funding for our public schools. She has won policy changes to better protect young athletes from concussions. In efforts to address college affordability, she has worked to lower loan rates, and offer loans to struggling families. We all know that our children are our future. Dante makes sure children are given every opportunity to succeed. Bianca Ferguson, Meriden Real accomplishment Editor: Len Suzio is Connecticuts Donald Trump. Like Trump, Suzio preys upon peoples fears and anger, preferring bombast to thoughtful problem-solving. Like Trump, Suzio complains that business is over-taxed, but never explains who will pay more or what government functions will be lost. Like Trump, Suzio protests that business is over-regulated, but seems to care little about how consumers, workers and the environment will be protected when those rules are gone. Instead lets support the candidate who brings people together, is a proven friend of small business, and has a track record of real accomplishment: Dante Bartolomeo. John Eno, Meriden Deserves our support Editor: Dave Zoni serves the people of CT with integrity and character. Dave shares my value set. He believes in the goodness of people and servant leadership. Dave is sincere, passionate, and has a humane heart. On many occasions I have discussed with Dave the issues facing our community, our state and our country. His commitment and loyalty to our community deserves our continued support. Please re-elect Dave Zoni to the House of Representatives on November 8th. Dr. Curtis D. Robinson, Plantsville Genuine concern Editor: I am supporting Serge Mihaly as Wallingfords next state representative. One day this past August, Serge stopped by my home. He was doing more than merely campaigning; he was learning the problems of his future constituents. While showing genuine concern for his town, Serge explained how he would fight on behalf of the common person. Mary Mushinsky has been in office for over 35 years and I cannot once recall her stopping by to simply check in on her constituents. A vote for Serge is a vote for a leader who is actually in touch with his constituents. Matt Esposito, Wallingford Hope for our children Editor: Dante Bartolomeo was the first State Senator I ever met, and the first public official to respond to my familys concerns. My son was bullied. He didnt understand why he was treated differently. He felt no one cared. He planned on running in front of a truck to end this cruelty. Dante heard our story and contacted us. She has kept my child, and all of our children, in her mind and heart as she works for us in Hartford. I humbly ask that we re-elect Dante to fulfill a promise of hope for our future and our children. Adrienne Serra, Wallingford Serving our community Editor: I am writing this letter in support of State Representative Dave Zoni, the kind of candidate we all hope for: genuine, positive, current on all topics locally and at the state level. He has been very involved since he has been serving our community, with a hands-on approach. He is here to serve all people for the greater good, not just related to party lines. We need to keep the ones in office who are able to work together across party lines, and serve our community with great care. Please vote and honor the freedoms we all have as Americans. Melissa Ericksen-Salmon, Southington Re-elect Dave Zoni Editor: Join me in voting for Dave Zoni as State Representative for the 81st District. Southington has greatly benefited from his representation. Dave had a significant role in obtaining funding for a much-needed renovation of our two middle schools, which are now beautiful and impressive, enhancing the learning environment for our children and teachers. Dave was instrumental in securing funding for a new senior center, which will also be an emergency shelter, and for the Cultural Arts Center, YMCA and Bread for Life. Please re-elect Dave Zoni, so he can continue to work for Southington and make our town even better. Christine Shanley-Buck, Plantsville Independent, positive Editor: These are difficult times in Connecticut. We dont need hysteria and panic. We need voices in Hartford that are reasonable, positive and responsible. We need voices like Dave Zonis. Daves is a positive voice. He does not toe the party line. He is an independent voice for reasonable discussion and thoughtful problem solving. Dont be deceived by the hysteria of his opponents. Dave will be an independent, positive voice in Hartford. We live in exceptional times, bombarded by hysterical claims that the sky is falling. Hysteria and scapegoating will not solve Connecticuts problems. Strong independent voices like Dave Zonis will. Bill Lutz, Plantsville Make America smart Editor: The current election cycle has made a few things very clear, perhaps most notable the need to expand access to higher education. With a major party candidate for President that lacks understanding of the complexities of our diplomatic, political, or economic systems AND exhibits a deep ignorance of the long-standing issues of racism, sexism, or the responsibilities of citizenship in a democracy, the need for expanded access to a college education has never been more evident. Dante Bartolomeo has demonstrated her support for a strong, affordable Connecticut University System time and again. Vote for Dante. Make America smart again. Chaucey Perreault, Meriden Deserves your vote Editor: Ive known Cathy Abercrombie personally and professionally for many, many years. Anyone that knows her will tell you there is no one more honest, generous, trustworthy, kind, competent, intelligent and consistent in her convictions. She is a true leader who has worked tirelessly for Connecticut families. Cathys re-election speaks to her passion for doing the right thing. She is more than ready to face another term with confidence, determination and perseverance. A great mom, a great wife, a great friend vote for Cathy Abercrombie to continue to be your great state representative. Cathy deserves your vote. We deserve the best. Kelley Moore, Meriden Working for us Editor: Meridens legislative delegation has been called the Fab Four for good reason. Dante Bartolomeo, Cathy Abercrombie, Buddy Altobello and Hilda Santiago are relentless in fighting for Meridens interests at the State Capitol. In tough budget negotiations, they stood up to Governor Malloy. Our impressive lawmakers have scored hundreds of millions for downtown revitalization, our high school renovations, the new green, and the new train station. Despite the states fiscal problems, they actually won increased state aid for Meriden, which holds down our property taxes. Vote for them on November 8 to keep them working for us. Michael Cardona, Meriden New team needed Editor: James Madison (Federalist papers, No. 39, pg. 241) makes it clear when he said it is essential that our republic be derived from a great body of the society. Our form of government is not designed or intended for the same people to be in office. Its time for new voices and a new party to restore Connecticut. Its time for the current Democrat Meriden team that currently represents us in Hartford to go to the stands. There is a new team that is capable and willing to serve you in Hartford. Vote Carter, Cope, Suzio, and Vollano. Maryann Santos, Meriden Experience and ability Editor: The mission of the Connecticut state university system is to make college education accessible to those who might not have that chance otherwise. As both a graduate and faculty member in this system, Ive seen many people fulfill that dream. Recently, it has become difficult for this to happen due to economic conditions. Pat Reynolds, a public school teacher, state university professor, negotiator on both sides of union and management has the background, experience, values and abilities to strengthen education and help our young people fulfill those dreams. Please vote for Pat Reynolds for state representative in the 90th District. Stephen Monroe Tomczak, PhD, Wallingford Energy and enthusiasm Editor: I am writing in support of Liz Linehan for State Representative in the 103rd district. Liz is a passionate, hard-working member of the Cheshire Town Council and will bring her energy and enthusiasm to Hartford. If you like full-day kindergarten and Sunday library hours, you can thank Liz. If you support cameras on school buses to record illegally passing drivers, you can thank Liz. If you believe in training police to interact with children and adults with autism, you can also thank Liz. She helped make these programs a reality. Please vote for Liz on November 8. Mary DiLeo, Cheshire False ideas of GOP Editor: One item the presidential campaign has brought is attention to the gross extermination of living wage manufacturing jobs here in the United States. To believe Republican candidate Trump cares about labor is foolish and naive. Trump and local State Senate candidate Suzio share common traits. Both are failed businessmen bailed out by others. Both promote cutting taxes on the wealthy and businesses, believing this creates jobs. These ideas are false. Democrats understand supporting labor puts money in the hands of the true job creators, the hard working men and women of this country. Vote Hillary Clinton and Dante Bartolomeo. Luke J. Ford, Meriden Voters have clear choice Editor: Republicans have had a shameful history, having fought against Social Security, affordable healthcare, minimum wage, paid sick leave, equal pay for women, and consumer protection. Republicans are now calling for more tax cuts for the wealthy and further de-regulation of big business. Democrats have been and continue to be on our side on these issues. In Congress and at our State Capitol, Republicans offer only negativity, divisiveness, rancor, and obstructionism. Voters have a clear choice in November. Vote Democratic. Kathy Ford, Meriden New ideas, energy Editor: I support both Len Suzio and Joe Vollano in their bids for state office. Len Suzio and Joe Vollano, when elected, will help turn Connecticut around to make the state Great Again. We have had enough of the same old thing that over many decades has pushed our State in to ruin. Len Suzio and Joe Vollano will bring new ideas, energy and a willingness to make state government work for all of us. Allan Pronovost, Meriden No trickle-down Editor: Len Suzio is a proponent of trickle-down economics. That long-discredited economic theory calls for tax reductions on the very wealthy and big business, assuming that if we give the upper crust everything they want, they will do right by the rest of us. In 1982, the economist John Kenneth Galbraith explained trickle-down economics this way: If you feed enough oats to the horse, some will pass through to feed the sparrows. That remains Len Suzios political platform today. No thanks, Len. Im voting for Dante Bartolomeo. Raymee Ferguson, Meriden Vote Len! Editor: Dante said, No more taxes but then / she helped raise our taxes again! / Now our deficit grows while we pay through the nose. / The solution is simple: Vote Len! Louis Nero, Cheshire 3 A fire lit by the Islamic State (IS) militant group at a sulphur plant south of the Iraqi city of Mosul was brought fully under control on Thursday, officials said. The fire set off by IS militants last week at the Mishraq plant released huge clouds of toxic smoke that caused hundreds to seek medical assistance and killed at least two civilians. Two hundred men from the federal police and civil defence fought the fire for a week at the huge quarry, civil defence chief General Kadhem Salman told AFP. "The fire is under control, but 4.5 square kilometres (1.7 square miles) have burned," he said. Iraqi forces launched a massive offensive 10 days ago on Mosul, the country's second city and the last major stronghold of the Islamist militants in Iraq. IS fighters have used obfuscating tactics -- setting oil wells, tyres and in this case a sulphur plant on fire -- to provide cover from the aerial assets of the Iraqi forces and their allies. The task of putting out the fire at the Mishraq plant was made difficult by "winds that changed directions sometimes seven times a day" and the nature of the soil, composed of highly pure sulphur. When IS militants blew up barrels of crude oil at the top of the yellow sulphur mountain, a total of 1.5 million tonnes could have been set ablaze, Luay Jawad, who heads the federal police's engineering corps, told AFP. The emergency teams dug a 2.5-metre (eight-foot) deep trench they filled with fire-extinguishing foam to prevent the fire from spreading, he said. The United Nations said Iraq's health directorate treated more than 1,000 cases of suffocation in several locations south of Mosul, mostly in nearby Qayyarah. It also said a water plant was affected by fighting that caused a chlorine leak for which 100 civilians sought treatment. The UN environment agency condemned "what appears to be a scorched-earth policy employed by retreating" IS militants. "This is sadly just the latest episode in what has been the wholesale destruction of Iraq's environment over several decades," said UNEP chief Erik Solheim in a statement. "This ongoing ecocide is a recipe for a prolonged disaster. It makes living conditions dangerous and miserable, if not impossible. It will push countless people to join the unprecedented global refugee population," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A search for a missing Chinese sailor, who set out from San Francisco on what he hoped would be a record-breaking solo voyage, was suspended after rescuers boarded his floundering vessel in the Pacific Ocean and found no sign of him, officials said. A Coast Guard search plane located Guo Chuans 97-foot sailboat Tuesday roughly 620 miles northwest from Oahu. But when rescuers boarded it late Wednesday, the sailor was missing and his life jacket was still on the boat, officials said. Mr. Chuan was a professional mariner with a deep passion for sailing, said Capt. Robert Hendrickson, chief of response for the Coast Guards 14th District in Hawaii. Our thanks to our Navy partners who helped us search for this vessel in a timely manner so far from shore in an attempt to locate Mr. Chuan. Our deepest condolences go out not only to his family and friends but also to his racing team and the sailing community. An experienced sailor, Guo, 51, had departed San Francisco on Oct. 18 in an effort to break the world record by reaching Shanghai in 18 days, three days quicker than the world record. More for you Top Chinese sailor who departed SF is missing at sea He had been in regular contact with family and officials back home in China, but his radio had been silent since late Monday, officials said. A post from Guos sailing support team to a website maintained by them speculated on two scenarios that could have led to an ocean disaster. Both involve difficult technical sail maneuvers for a solo sailor who could have been thrown off track by a bad wave that could have knocked a beam into the sailor, pushing him off the deck and into the ocean. A Coast Guard search plane launched Tuesday from the Barbers Point Coast Guard base in Hawaii initially located Guos trimaran vessel, the Qingdao China. A Navy helicopter reached the sailboat, named after Guos hometown, Wednesday, but rescuers said their repeated radio calls to the drifting vessel went unanswered. Choppy seas and high winds prevented a rescue swimmer dropped into the Pacific Ocean via helicopter from reaching the Qingdao China safely, the Coast Guard said. An inflatable boat and crew were then deployed and were able to reach Guos multihull boat and conduct a search Wednesday that came up with no signs of the sailor. The Qingdao China remained adrift Thursday, Coast Guard Officials said, with a downed mainsail and warning markings. A notice to nearby mariners alerting them to the potential hazard has been issued, as well, and the missing sailors racing team is making arrangements to recover the vessel, the Coast Guard said. Guo holds a world record for solo nonstop sailing around the world in a 40-foot yacht, a feat he accomplished in 2013 after a 138-day voyage that also made him the first person from China to sail around the globe on his own. He broke another record in 2015 when he sailed nonstop around the Arctic Oceans northeast passage with crew members from France, Germany and Russia. In an August interview with the No Frills Sailing blog, Guo said he only sleeps in short intervals during his perilous solo journeys. You have to be extremely vigilant throughout the journey as you are the only one on the boat. That means even if weather conditions are fairly stable you can only sleep for 20 minutes at most. If conditions worsen, you have to stay awake, however long it may take, he said. Visitors to Guos Facebook account maintained by his sailing support team were dismayed by news several called terrible and offered prayers that the missing sailor would turn up safe and sound. I sure hope hes washed up on an island and having a Mai Tai, one Facebook commenter wrote. Others said they were waiting for the missing sailor to come back. Our (captain), we wait for you coming back soon safe and sound, a commenter wrote. Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Lucchese is one of the most iconic brands to come out of Texas since Sam Houston and the boys laid the smack down on Santa Anas cronies at San Jacinto in 1836. It was the fall of 1882 when Salvatore and Joseph Lucchese came to Texas via Galveston from Palermo, Italy. RELATED: The story behind Texas' favorite cowboy hat, the Stetson The boys got a job at a shoe factory to support themselves for a spell and by late 1883 the pair founded Lucchese Bros. Boots and Shoes in San Antonio. They were continuing the legacy of their father, Gaetano Lucchese, who was known as a footwear maker in Italy. The company was soon making boots for military officers stationed at nearby Fort Sam Houston. Business got so good that more of the Lucchese family came over from the old country to join the other. Salvatore was the only one remaining in the family business just a few years later. Back in 1897 a pair of kangaroo boots would only set you back $9. These days a similar pair is considerably higher in price. Within time Lucchese was known as the best boot brand in San Antonio and its reputation was growing. According to the company, people from all over began coming to the factory to be sized for their own boots. Within decades famous Texans like LBJ and Robert J. Kleberg Sr. (from the King Ranch) were making history wearing the boots. RELATED: Legendary Houston boot maker Rocky Carroll has died John Wayne was a fan of the boots for nearly 50 years until his death. Were still bummed that Governor Rick Perry didnt wear a pair on that Dancing with the Stars show. Even Big Tex at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas wears a pair of Lucchese boots. His replica Lucchese boots are a size 96. You can order a pair of human-sized, hand-tooled replicas for about $10,000. So here we are in 2016 and the company is bigger than ever, headquartered in El Paso, standing out in a crowded market as one of the last, best hand-crafted bootmakers in the country. Radio, billboard and digital giant iHeartMedia Inc. is delaying the release of its third-quarter earnings by a week to Nov. 9, the company announced this week. The San Antonio-based company was originally scheduled to release its results on Nov. 2. The move is considered rare. IHeartMedia, which made the announcement Wednesday, offered no explanation. This is not at all common, said Jack Kranefuss, senior director for corporate credit rater Fitch Ratings in New York. A company doesnt announce an earnings date and then change it. Kranefuss said public company earnings reports sometimes are delayed at years end because those are audited for the full year, possibly requiring additional reconciliation, while quarterly results normally arent audited. The delay is only one week. Maybe the company is only finalizing it. We are all on virgin territory here to know what is happening, Kranefuss said. IHeartMedia hasnt turned a quarterly profit since 2009. The company spent $466 million on interest expense in the second quarter, largely to service its massive outstanding debt, which stood at $20.78 billion on June 30. The companys debt mainly stems from the 2008 leveraged buyout of the company by two Boston-based private-equity firms, which acquired 70 percent of the company. The rest of iHeartMedia is publicly traded. In March, iHeartMedia sued nearly 20 of its bondholders to block them from forcing it into default based on a transaction the group said violated its credit agreements. A Bexar County District Court ruled in May that the transaction was allowed and also issued an injunction against the bondholders from issuing future debt default notices. dhendricks@express-news.net Actors and actresses are praised for their gaze-gripping action scenes, but typically there is a stuntman or woman behind the most action-packed scenes. These brave souls are often looked over when the final product comes through, but we should all take a moment to acknowledge the physically and mentally challenging work they all do. After all, not everyone could jump off of a four story building to the ground or have a fight on a fly helicopter. When it comes right down to it, Inferno is all about vacation. The movie presents us with a series of popular destinations, all of which are photographed exquisitely, and over and over we find ourselves thinking, Oh, Ive been there! I remember that! Or That looks great, I have to go there. And as were admiring the sights, people are shooting at Tom Hanks. Inferno is like vacation in another way a brain vacation. It is a satisfying but thoroughly idiotic film in which relationships make no sense, character motivations change on a dime and Hanks has weird hair. But brainless as it is, its artful. It is a well-made bit of silliness, a piece of construction optimally designed to maintain audience interest while garnering absolutely no ones respect. In fact, if you put monetary considerations aside (which is a little like pushing a gorilla to the side), the movie almost qualifies as an act of collective altruism: Director Ron Howard and a talented cast set out to entertain, knowing that their reputations are not exactly going to be enhanced by this enterprise. The movie begins the festivities by throwing us into a sure-fire situation. Robert Langdon (Hanks), a noted expert in medieval and Renaissance symbols, wakes up groggy and drugged in a hospital. He thinks hes in the United States, but looks out the window and sees Florence (a very nice view). A nice young doctor (Felicity Jones) tells him that his head was grazed by a bullet, that someone tried to kill him and that the trauma has resulted in a temporary state of amnesia. More Information Inferno *** Quick take: A vacation for your brain See More Collapse Next thing you know, an assassin shows up at the hospital, and the doctor is pushing a very tired, disoriented symbols professor down the stairs, out the door and into the cab. All the while, he hallucinates. You might ask, what does an expert in symbology hallucinate? Scenes from Dantes Inferno as painted by Botticelli, of course. Come on, everybody knows that. Meanwhile youre going to love this theres an insane billionaire (Ben Foster) out there who is as obsessed with overpopulation as Ross Perot used to be with the national debt. This billionaire thinks humanity is heading toward extinction due to overpopulation, and so he has devised a way to cull the herd, as it were. For the sake of our children and our childrens children, he wants to kill half the people on the planet. You know, fresh start, eliminate the dead wood. Somehow Langdons situation is directly related to the billionaires quest, though that connection is revealed only gradually. In the meantime, everybody is either chasing Hanks, shooting at him or both. Not only are private assassins in pursuit, but so are the Italian police, members of an elite security firm and emissaries of the World Health Organization. And just to make things interesting/more absurd, the woman who runs WHO (Sidse Babett Knudsen) is the great lost love of Langdons life. So we have the spectacle of a man trying to get away from the woman who got away. The story, based on Dan Browns book, has two missions, one easy, and one requiring real skill. The first is to keep you wondering whats going on. The second is to keep you curious as to what is going on. Shifts in plot and character reversals arrive with a will of their own, and it becomes entertaining in itself to watch the actors try to find logical justifications for the utter nonsense coming out of their mouths. Brown tosses garbage out of a speeding car, and each time, the actors catch it and arrange it beautifully before it hits the ground. Every one of them is appealing or amusing. You want an audience to care about the fate of the protagonist, no matter what the situation? Cast Hanks. You want a young actress who can suggest fierce intelligence and conviction? Cast Jones. The movie wants us to believe that a Swiss WHO doctor is Langdons great love, and of course that makes sense, not because Langdon would ever meet such a woman, but because we saw the same actress with Hanks in A Hologram for the King. So we know they have a history. Irrfan Khan is particularly impressive as the head of the nefarious security firm. His performance is a mix of self-satisfaction and self-disgust, of suppressed anger with the vague but unmistakable suggestion of some buried decency, and he creates some of the movies best moments. He also looks terrific in an impeccable gray suit. Thats another thing about Inferno: Everybody looks crisp, tailored and of the moment. Obviously, not one of us would ever want to be chased through Europe by teams of international criminals in the service of a diabolical conspiracy. But if that were to happen, youd want costume designer Julian Day picking out your clothes. Likewise, if you had to run for your life, Florence, Venice and Istanbul are premium locations. That way, in your down time, you can get in a little sightseeing. Running time: 121 minutes MPAA rating: PG-13 (action violence, profanity) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Forbes magazine recently hailed, and, yes, questioned just a little bit, the logic of ScoreMore Shows staging its first annual hip-hop and EDM (electronic dance music) festival at the Lone Star Brewery in the relatively untapped market of San Antonio. But the music community says the timing is perfect for the first Mala Luna Music Festival, a two-day event that opens Saturday at Lone Star Brewery. The festival should feel like one of its attendees, Sacha Stone, ScoreMore co-founder, told Forbes. That it comes in right before Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos was part of the calculation, Forbes noted, as a strategic move ... to base the festivals character in San Antonios rich Mexican heritage. Austin-based ScoreMore is best known for JMBLYA, a touring hip-hop music festival, and its Neon Desert Music Festival staged annually in El Paso. According to Forbes, Mala Luna is hoping to attract 8,000 fans its first year. The bill features 23 hailed acts, including Travis Scott, Steve Aoki, Tory Lanez, Rae Sremmurd, Kaskade, G-Eazy, Kehlani, Lil Uzi Vert and G Herbo. (A 24th act, rapper Kevin Gates, had been scheduled to perform Sunday. But he was convicted of battery Wednesday in Florida for kicking a fan at a concert in August, 2015. His 180-day jail sentence was to begin immediately). KRTU general manager J.J. Lopez likes the concept and the lineup, noting that the concept dovetails with the idea that San Antonio is a vibrant city on the rise. More Information Vital info What: Inaugural Mala Luna Music Festival When: Saturday-Sunday Where: Lone Star Brewery, 600 Lone Star Blvd. Tickets: $89; two-day $119 (some VIP packages still available). On-site parking $35. malalunamusicfestival.com See More Collapse The practice of booking EDM and hip-hop has been something thats been pretty successful coast to coast but has kind of skipped Texas, Lopez said, acknowledging its forays into the Austin City Limits Music Festival and at Whitewater Amphitheater at Canyon Lake. Its very timely for San Antonio. In each of those genres, theres definitely an audience. Underneath the radar, there is a bustling rave scene. Lopez likes headliners Kaskade and Steve Aoki, who he said bridge generations. Several acts represent the latest club-oriented rappers. I hope its successful for them, Lopez added, with the caveat that it may impact this weekends Dia De Los Muertos festival (Muertos Fest) at La Villita. Its probably going to overlap. You know, San Antonio: city on the rise (versus) now weve got festival options type of thing going on. Lone Star Brewery is pretty timely. Its a hotbed of activity and everything is going that way. Its going to work to their benefits. Muertos Fest, it should be noted, is free, steeped in Chicano culture and arts, and features popular local Latino rock and traditional acts. Blayne Tucker, producer of the annual Maverick Music Festival, MuertosFest and co-owner of The Mix on the St. Marys Strip, called Mala Luna another example of the big-scale music scene changing for the better. If anybodys going to do it, and do it well, Sacha and the guys at ScoreMore, regionally, theyre the experts for larger EDM and hip-hop related events, Tucker said. In terms of the buzz, and captivating the younger audience, Ive heard nothing but good things. The music landscape especially that realm driven by millennials is ripe for it, he added. With the exception of venues like Club Rio and Cowboys Dancehall, such shows are the exception. Theres definitely a void for bigger hip-hop and EDM. When you combine those two, the idea is a natural fit for the market. Overall, San Antonio is an underserved market, Tucker said. The demand is definitely big there when it comes to the younger demographic, 18 to 24-year-olds, specifically. With regard to its impact on MuertosFest and the popular Alamo City Comic Con, which also happens this weekend, Tucker was upbeat. Its yet another indicator of how much can be going on in the city at one time, Tucker said. Its an exciting weekend for the entire city. Its nice, as a consumer, to have all these options all at once. If anything, theyre complimentary good. Really, San Antonio is the real winner. The street and social-media buzz has been positive across a range of music fans, added Ryan Brummett, who runs the indie-rock venue Paper Tiger, saying, it feels like a good time for it. Its sure to appeal to the likes of bass-heavy electronic performers such as Earnest Gonzales (an Irving Middle School technology teacher who also works as the National Public Radio-praised Mexican With Guns), who will be curating a silent disco show Sunday at the festival and sees the event as part of a huge growth spurt in the music scene and all art scenes in San Antonio. Im really excited, Gonzales said. People will be given headphones, and everything that Im playing, youll only hear through those headphones. So theyll be dancing around and there will be no sound. Its going to be pretty strange. Mala Luna offers a chance to see something new and fresh from the record charts. For example, Kranium is promoting his latest album, Rumors. Hes riding a modern reggae wave, the likes of which hasnt been seen in years. Atlantic Records president and CEO Craig Kallman told Billboard that because of Kranium, his label was back in the reggae business. Kranium, a young Jamaican sing-jay artist whos delivered reggae-infused dancehall hits such as Between Us, We Can featuring Tory Lanez, Rumors, Draw Me Out and a hip take on Justin Biebers Sorry, is one of the star attractions on opening day. Hes set to perform at 2:45 p.m. Saturday. His reggae-influenced phrasing is nothing short of amazing, blending R&B with a chill, sexy hip-hop electro/club vibe. I used to be a shouter, said Kranium (born Kemar Donaldson) about being mentored by his uncle, a performer who goes by Screw Driver. Melody is the key. He always said that to me: Melodies, bro. Melody is going to be your future. He said, less words and more melody. I started working on that skill. hsaldana@express-news.net UPDATE: Taking Kevin Gates' place Sunday at the Mala Luna Music Festival will be Atlanta rapper Jeezy (born Jay Wayne Jenkins), who's also known as Young Jeezy. His latest album is "Trap or Die 3," featuring the tracks "Let 'Em Know," "All There" and "Going Crazy." This week, he released the track "'Bout That" with Lil Wayne. The rapper, who has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement, first came on the scene 15 years ago as Lil J with the album, "Thuggin' Under the Influence." While hes still listed as one of the main attractions at the inaugural Mala Luna Music Festival at Lone Star Brewery this weekend, rap star Kevin Gates wont be onstage. US drone strikes targeted two top Al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan, American officials said, calling it the most significant attack against the militant group in the country in several years. The strikes on Sunday in Kunar province targeted Farouq al-Qahtani, Al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan, and his deputy Bilal al-Utabi. Multiple Hellfire missiles "levelled" two different compounds in Kunar where the men were believed to be hiding, the military said, voicing confidence that they were killed. "We are still assessing the results of the strikes, but their demise would represent a significant blow to the terrorist group's presence in Afghanistan, which remains committed to facilitating attacks against the United States, our allies, and partners," said Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook. Another US official said the attack represented the "most significant strike" against the Al-Qaeda leadership in Afghanistan in years. The Pentagon has been actively hunting for Qahtani for four years. He had longstanding ties with Osama Bin Laden before his death in the 2011 US raid on his Pakistan compound. Qahtani has operated in Afghanistan since at least 2009 and led a Qaeda battalion since at least mid-2010, officials said. "He was seeking to reestablish (Al-Qaeda's) control in Afghanistan," the US official said. "He was charged with the requirement to establish AQ safe-havens throughout Kunar and Nuristan provinces." His deputy Utabi, was seen as the second- or third-most senior Al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, the official said. In October 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks, the US launched military operations to dislodge the Taliban from Afghanistan and capture or kill Al-Qaeda militants they were harbouring. Their numbers have since been decimated, but the United States continues to target the remnants of the group. In June, the White House restored the Pentagon's authority to strike at insurgents. The new authority has given the US-led NATO troops greater latitude to order air strikes against a web of militant groups in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, Islamic State jihadists and Al-Qaeda. Qahtani and his deputy men were in Hilgal village in Kunar's Ghazi Abad district when they were attacked, US officials said. They were in two separate buildings a few hundred meters (yards) apart and were targeted almost simultaneously by multiple missiles. Provincial spokesman Abdul Ghani Mosamem told AFP at least 15 insurgents were killed, including two Arabs. A number of Pakistani Taliban fighters were also among the fatalities, he said. An Afghan intelligence official in the province also confirmed two Arabs were killed in the strikes. Qahtani and Utabi are well-known senior Al-Qaeda commanders in Kunar, and had been actively involved in recruiting local young people for the group. Qahtani was born some time between 1979 and 1981 in Saudi Arabia and is a Qatari national. In February this year, the US Department of the Treasury labelled Qahtani a specially designated global terrorist. Qahtani "has a long history of directing deadly attacks against US forces and our coalition allies in Afghanistan, along with plotting Al-Qaeda terrorist operations in the United States and around the world," Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam Szubin said at the time. Search Keywords: Short link: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Want to drink George Straits tequila? Now you can. The country music legend is a partner in a new tequila line, Codigo 1530, and is helping to roll it out around Texas. It was something I just kind of fell into with these friends of mine, Strait said in a phone interview. They have been letting us drink it and taste it for years, and they finally decided to put it out. I think its great. The name Codigo refers to the codes and customs that govern the making of tequila, and the year 1530 is when that tequilas home city of Amatitan was founded. The city of Amatitan (the home of Tequila Herradura) is near the city of Tequila in the state of Jalisco. The company behind this brand has been gradually introducing it since the summer and last week held a private gathering at the country music legends ranch near Boerne to showcase it to the San Antonio area. Its available at many liquor stores, including Twin Liquors, Specs, Alamo City Liquor and K&B Liquor in New Braunfels. Codigo 1530 is available in blanco ($49), reposado ($69), anejo ($119) and extra anejo ($249). Several San Antonio restaurants, including Aldacos, Peggys on the Green and some on the River Walk have signed on to carry the tequila. For more about this new tequila, read the full story on ExpressNews.com or in Sundays Taste section. etijerina@express-news.net Twitter: @etij This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A legendary Houston home, which was once partially stripped of its architectural significance, has been restored and is back on the market. And this time, it's cheaper. Completed in 1955, the Memorial-area, Bunker Hill home at 12020 Tall Oaks St. is the only structure in Houston designed by the late, internationally renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It's been reduced to $2.595 million from $3.5 million in 2013 (after going on and off the market for a few years). In 1954, insurance executive William Thaxton the home is now dubbed the "Thaxton House" commissioned Wright to design a house that was aesthetically consistent with the architect's modernist architecture, a style that came late in Wright's career. RETRO: Time capsule Texas homes showcase bright, retro appeal The visionary, capable of conceptualizing intriguing homes better suited to dramatic effect than to functionality, planned the house as a striking work of art without considering the needs of a Houston resident. (Story continues below.) Initially, the house was designed without air conditioning. It featured furniture that was bolted into the structure to accommodate the home's lack of right angles. Since surviving Houston's oppressive summers without a central unit is not something Wright considered, Thaxton and his engineer opted to secretly install air ducts in the floor. When Thaxton sold the house, the new owners disassembled the built-in furnishings and updated the interior, even installing columns that clashed with the home's mid-century build. By 1991, it was listed at land value only and faced demolition. "I guess I do kind of hope that someone will buy it and restore it, though I don't think anyone will. The money grabbers will get it, I'm afraid," Thaxton told the New York Times in 1991. Just four years later Thaxton's hope became a reality. Dentists Alan Gaw and Betty Lee bought the house and spent millions in an attempt to resurrect and re-install the original design. "We only went to see the house because it had received attention, and we had an interest in the architecture," Gaw told Houston House & Home."It was dilapidated and the beautiful red wood paneling had been painted over with many coats of paint." In addition to restoring the house to meet Wright's vision, the married couple called upon architect Bob Inaba of Houston-based Kirksey Architects to build an extension that now wraps around the back of the Wright-designed anchor. It remains the only structure in Houston dreamed up by Wright. His work can also be seen in Amarillo at the Sterling Kinney House (1957); in Dallas at the John Gillin House (1950) and the Kalita Humbreys Theater (1955). The present-day home is now nearly four times the size of the original residence. At more than 8,000 square feet, the house has six bedrooms and seven baths. Greenwood King Properties' Sharon Ballas has the listing. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate All this John Jay High School student wanted to do was squeeze in a nap en route to school before starting his Monday, but he ended up becoming a left-behind passenger and a instantaneous Twitter star. Isaac Maciel Rodriguez, 17, Snapchatted and tweeted the ordeal in typical teen fashion. Instead of hopping off the bus at his school, the student woke up in an empty bus parked in a lot with other parked school buses. RELATED: Drunk Texas A&M student hits cop car while taking nude Snapchat photo, police say "Don't sleep on your bus," he said in a tweet of the clip showing his walk through the rows of yellow. Retweets and favorites quickly rolled in, totaling for more than 40,000 instances combined and eventually landed the story on the desks at Buzzfeed. The San Antonio teen told the site an a.m. snooze on the way to school is part of his routine and he usually depends on his friend Monica to wake him up. For whatever reason, Monica didn't come through this time, causing Rodriguez to be an accidental stowaway. RELATED: NISD launches 'Young Gentlemen's Club' for elementary boys Rodriguez was not immediately available to speak with mySA, so it's unclear how long his nap lasted, but he told Buzzfeed he found the bus driver as he was clocking out. The driver apologized and drove the sleepy student to school in the bus. The faulty alarm clock, Monica, is also apologetic, Rodriguez said in the interview. "I told my friend about it she didn't even know I was still on [the bus]," Rodriguez said. "She felt very bad." RELATED: 9 students arrested for lunchtime brawl at Burbank High School With internet fame, the highest form of teen cool cred, surely all eyes will be on Rodriguez every morning and someone will wake him up. But, he's not taking anymore chances and said he won't be napping on the bus anymore or trusting Monica to wake him up. "Have your on alarm on your phone," he added. mmendoza@mysa.com Twitter: @MaddySkye DANBURY Last months closure of the citys juvenile court has local officials concerned about its effects on area children and families who now must travel to Bridgeport or Waterbury to have their cases heard. The states judicial branch closed the Main Street court as part of $77 million in state budget cuts. The closure is not in the best interest of these children, said Cecilia Buck-Taylor, a New Milford-based attorney and state representative who often handles juvenile court matters. They need something stable and local. Im not really sure who this is benefiting at this point. State Rep. Robert Godfrey, a Democrat whose district includes downtown Danbury, said he plans to meet with members of the Danbury Bar Association to discuss the issue and how it affects their clients. I didnt expect this kind of consolidation, he said. Dragging local kids to Bridgeport and Waterbury is not good for the administration of justice. When the states chief court administrator, Judge Patrick Carroll, says that we are getting close to the point where judiciary cant guarantee justice, thats frightening and just asking for a lawsuit. Danbury handled 1,173 new juvenile cases during the 2014-15 fiscal year, while the juvenile courts in Bridgeport and Waterbury handled more than 3,000 cases each during the same time period. Local attorneys are worried their clients will get lost in the shuffle. Its often beneficial as an attorney to have a good working relationship with the local court officials and prosecutors so you can talk to them about your case, Buck-Taylor said. But when you go down to Bridgeport, its a whole different story. She said local court officials and prosecutors often have firsthand knowledge of the programs and services available in the Danbury area, while that may not be the case in Bridgeport or Waterbury. Transportation is a concern, as well. For people who dont have a car, getting mass transit from Danbury to Bridgeport, well, I just dont see it happening, Buck-Taylor said. Not to mention that many of these kids will have to take an entire day off from school or work to make their court dates. There are probably a lot of other ways the judicial system can cut costs. But the issue has an up side, Abby Anderson, executive director of the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance, said the Danbury juvenile courthouse still offers probation services for juvenile offenders and houses support enforcement officers. Building staff has been reduced from about 12 people to five after the courts closure. Godfrey said restoring juvenile services to the local courthouse will be near the top of his priority list when the next General Assembly session starts in January. When we talk in Hartford about having to make tough decisions, this is exactly what we are talking about, he said. While the courthouse closed, state Department of Motor Vehicles and funding to Danbury Hospital have remained intact. Nobody is happy, he said, But what are the alternatives? This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany A revered Albany pastor and his wife were arrested on felony charges Thursday as part of a broader ongoing investigation of their personal finances and tens of thousands of dollars that was allegedly siphoned from a nonprofit program set up to help the city's minority community. The Rev. Edward B. Smart and his wife, Marion, surrendered Thursday afternoon to Albany County sheriff's investigators and were arraigned in City Court. They were released by Judge William A. Carter after an assistant district attorney said his office would consent to the couple's release without the need for bail. Each is charged with three felony counts grand larceny, welfare fraud and offering a false instrument for filing in connection with more than $12,000 in social services benefits the Smarts received by understating their income, according to the complaints. Smart, 67, who lives on South Main Avenue, became pastor of First Israel African Methodist Episcopal Church on Hamilton Street in Albany in 2004. Marion Smart, 52, is a prominent figure in the historic church, which is upstate New York's oldest black church and served as a station for the underground railroad. E. Stewart Jones, an attorney for the couple, declined to comment on the case outside court. Smart has been held up by city leaders as a strong voice in the city's inner-city neighborhoods. Before suffering a heart attack last year, he was chairman of the Albany Citizens Police Review Board and also served as vice chairman of the city's Gun Violence Task Force. For years, Smart has been a conduit between the black community and city leaders on issues including gun violence and officer-involved shootings. Last week, six people who work for the Israel Community Service Program, a bustling non-profit program established by Smart's church, were arrested on similar charges of welfare fraud and grand larceny. READ THE EARLIER STORY HERE. The ICSP, run out of the former YMCA building on Washington Avenue, offers services ranging from employment assistance to youth mentoring. The facility also has a state-certified child development center. In late August, a formal complaint was filed with the office of state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman that alleged Smart misclassified employees at ICSP as independent contractors and wrote himself a series of checks from the organization's account totaling more than $30,000. The checks were allegedly written without authorization of the board of directors. The Attorney General's Charities Bureau, which was assigned to look into the complaint, was not directly involved in the charges filed over the last week against the Smarts and the six employees of ICSP. Rather, that portion of the case was cultivated by the sheriff's department and the county's Department of Social Services. Smart, who drives a 2015 Cadillac Escalade and purchased his residence on South Main Avenue about a year ago, told the Times Union earlier this week that he had not done anything wrong and has spent a lot of his own money through the years helping others and supporting church-run programs. "As far as I know I've not done anything but have a massive heart attack and someone is envious, I believe," Smart said during an interview at his residence on Tuesday. "This is a witch hunt. I also believe, sir, that I've never attempted to do anything wrong." Records obtained by the Times Union indicate the checks cashed by Smart during the past 18 months were from the ICSP bank account, which has operated out of the Washington Avenue facility since 2010. The building also is used to conduct meetings of the Albany Citizens Police Review Board. A spokesman for the attorney general declined to comment on the investigation. Although Smart said he did not receive a salary from the ICSP, a person familiar with the organization's bookkeeping said that for a time Smart allegedly paid himself about $750 a week from the account. Records obtained by the Times Union indicate that several members of the ICSP board of directors tried to convene a meeting last March to discuss the questionable transactions. But Smart, who federal tax records indicate is president of the organization, canceled the meeting and expelled the board's vice chairman, the Rev. Maurice Drown, who tried to organize the gathering. After Smart dismissed Drown and others from the ICSP board of directors, he appointed several new members, including his wife, in apparent violation of the organization's bylaws as well as guidelines set by the state that govern the operation of non-profit groups. Also appointed to the board of directors was Frederick Mallory, who was among those arrested last week. Mallory listed "miscellaneous occupations" on an arrest report filed by sheriff's investigators. In a brief interview Tuesday, Mallory, 58, said he's done volunteer work for ICSP programs and characterized his arrest as "a misunderstanding." "I did not work for them. I'm a volunteer for them," Mallory said. A person familiar with the program said Mallory was paid for his work. During Thursday's arraignments, the judge noted Marion Smart had a pending arrest warrant for an unresolved 2012 traffic stop during which she was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and was issued tickets for talking on a cell phone and driving a vehicle with an expired inspection sticker and registration. The judge rescinded the warrant but said that case would be rolled into the new case for the sake of her release. The assistant district attorney assigned to the matter did not object. blyons@timesunion.com 518-454-5547 @brendan_lyonstu This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD More than 1,000 beige toe tags attached to 5-foot-long ribbons are dangling from the ceiling at UConns downtown campus. A majority of the tags, representing the cadavers of Americans killed by police this year, list names, ages, sex and cause of death. The rest are intentionally left blank for more deaths. Called ...and counting by Brooklynite conceptual artist Ann Lewis, the piece is part of an exhibit on display at the University of Connecticut-Stamford through Nov. 30. Displayed throughout the public atrium, Race and Revolution combines art and history to explore race relations in a variety of mediums. Curator Katie Fuller, a former English teacher and museum educator at the New York Historical Society, developed an interest in race and social justice that led to the project. Fuller was especially disturbed by the case of Sandra Bland, who died last year in Texas after the police officer who stopped her for a traffic violation alleged she assaulted him. Bland was found hanging in an apparent suicide inside the jail cell where she was kept for three days. Her sense of safety was so destroyed that she killed herself, Fuller said. That tone really stayed with me. If you cant count on police who can you count on? The sea of toe tags hasnt been without detractors. Even in the first iteration of Race and Revolution at New York Citys Governors Island, some visitors perceived the piece as anti-police. In many cases, however, the people killed who are 96 percent male were armed. If they took the time to look at it, theyd see that the police were sometimes in very dangerous situations, she said. Terrence Cheng, the new director at UConn-Stamford, said its his mission to foster uncomfortable dialogue. This is the kind of engagement a public university has to be a part of, said Cheng, who has fielded several complaints about ...and counting. Even with folks who dont agree, I am more than happy to have that conversation and to explain what our position is, he said. Its not an agenda. Its about engaging with difficult content. When you see that in front of you, youre forced to engage with facts. The pieces on display from eight other artists, who span ethic and cultural backgrounds, are equally as provocative. Nicholas Galanins You Are on Indisneylan Land features a pile of wood shavings in front of a photographed totem pole. Theres also Nona Faustines Not Gone With The Wind, a self-portrait photographed in front of Brooklyns historic Lefferts House in Prospect Park that was once a slave plantation. In it, Faustine is topless with baby shoes strung around her waist. Displayed among the pieces are excerpts from the George Washington Papers that detailed how Native Americans were savagely captured and enlisted as troops. We have to allow some discomfort in order to grow and change, Fuller said. Its never simple. When Race and Revolution was at Governors Island, Fuller was on-site every day to guide visitors though an experience that for many was emotionally triggering. There were a lot of tears, she said, but it was a gift. For more information, visit racerevolution.org. Albany A man with past convictions for a counterfeit money conspiracy and using a skimming machine to steal credit card numbers is facing new legal trouble after police said he entered a Western Avenue eye doctor's office Tuesday apparently armed with a handgun and started a fight. Kofi Opoku-Agyemang, 31, a former University at Albany student and native of the West African nation of Ghana, was picked up by Albany police Tuesday following the altercation at Gabriels Eye MDs at 960 Western Ave. in Albany, said Officer Steven Smith, a police spokesman. Opoku-Agyemang was arrested on an unrelated federal warrant, Smith said. The nature of that case was not known. He does not yet face charges in the Albany incident. Opoku-Agyemang entered the office of Dr. Christopher Gabriels about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday with "what appeared to be a handgun" and started the altercation that sent a few people to local hospitals with injuries, Smith said. Opoku-Agyemang is being held by U.S. marshals. In 2008, Opoku-Agyemang was sentenced to four months behind bars and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the federal charge conspiracy to utter counterfeit obligations or securities. Federal prosecutors said Opoku-Agyemang flew to Las Vegas, bought counterfeit $100 bills and provided the fake money to four people who used it, got change and returned the real money to Opoku-Agyemang. In November 2009, Opoku-Agyemang was arrested for providing a skimming device which steals credit card information to a cashier at Macy's department store in Crossgates Mall. A store security guard reported the cashier to Guilderland police, who contacted the U.S. Secret Service, which in turn interviewed the cashier and fit him with a wire to record Opoku-Agyeman. He was arrested in his car. In 2011, Opoku-Agyemang was convicted of possession of stolen access devices with the intent to defraud and possession of analog, electronic, or digital images of U.S. currency with the intent to defraud. Senior Judge Thomas McAvoy sentenced him to 5 years and 11 months in prison and 3 years supervised release. rgavin@timesunion.com 518-434-2403 @RobertGavinTU A United States law allowing victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia could have "serious implications" for shared US-Gulf interests, a top Obama administration official said Thursday. US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew made the comments at the opening of a meeting with finance ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, whose most powerful member is Saudi Arabia. The US Congress voted overwhelmingly in September to override President Barack Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). Fifteen of the 19 Al-Qaeda hijackers who carried out the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people were Saudi, but Riyadh denies any ties to the plotters. JASTA allows attack survivors and relatives of terrorism victims to pursue cases against foreign governments in US federal court and to demand compensation if those governments are proven to bear some responsibility for attacks on US soil. Lew said JASTA "would enact broad changes in long-standing international law regarding sovereign immunity that, if applied globally, could have serious implications for our shared interests." He said the Obama administration has proven its determination to hold people responsible when they commit "horrendous acts", but "there are ways to do that without undermining important international legal principles." In opposing the law, Obama said it would harm US interests by opening up the US to private lawsuits over its military missions abroad. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have also expressed concern about erosion of sovereign immunity, a principle sacrosanct in international relations. But the potential implications go far beyond the Gulf. Some British, French and Dutch lawmakers have threatened retaliatory legislation to allow their courts to pursue US officials, threatening a global legal domino effect. Riyadh and Washington have a decades-old relationship based on the exchange of American security for Saudi oil. Lew later met King Salman to discuss economic and financial cooperation between the region and the US, the official Saudi Press Agency said. Global oil prices have fallen by roughly half over the past two years, forcing crude-exporting Gulf states to raise local energy prices, control public sector wages, and reduce capital spending in response to fallen revenues. On a visit to Saudi Arabia in April, Obama said the US and the Gulf would launch a new high-level economic dialogue with a focus on adjusting to lower oil prices. "We consider today's meeting an informal start to that dialogue," Lew told his fellow ministers. He noted "ambitious reform initiatives" such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan for economic diversification and social change. The American official also held talks with Salman's powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who heads the kingdom's main economic coordinating body. Lew was to discuss the fight against terrorist financing and would meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Saudi Arabia's counter-terrorism chief whose experience is well-regarded by Washington. Search Keywords: Short link: GREENWICH When victims of domestic violence leave their abusers, often they depart home with no money, no clothes, not even a tooth brush. Middle and high schoolers from Greenwichs Jewish Community Council Teen Action Committee are trying to address this need. In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month, the Teen Action Committee is conducting a month-long drive to collect toiletries for women and children seeking refuge from abusive relationships. As much we have, we will give, said Leah Schechter, assistant director of the JCC Greenwich. The group of about a dozen teens have been collecting shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, lotion, hair products and baby supplies at the JCC during the month of October. They also collected supplies at the YWCA Greenwichs screening of The Children Next Door, a film about the effect of domestic violence on children, at Bow Tie Cinemas in Greenwich on Oct. 25. At the end of the month, the teens will package the supplies into emergency shelter bags that will be given to the YWCA Greenwich, Greenwichs only licensed provider of domestic abuse services, and the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, which also aids domestic violence victims. We have stuff overflowing at this point already, said Schechter, although she urged community members to continue donating through the end of October. This is the first year that the JCC has conducted the toiletry drive. Schechter said the idea for the initiative came directly from the teens. The kids wanted to do this, she said. Domestic abuse or abusive relationships are on their minds, but isnt the typical feeding the hunger, or helping the blind or giving toys to sick children. The teens recognized that they couldnt help victims directly in shelters because of confidentiality and safety precautions, so donating toiletries was a good way to get involved indirectly. Teens look for ways to resolve the things they see in the world around them, Schecter explained. She added, It matters what the end goal is, but its matters most that they are together and making an impact. emunson@hearstmediact.com; @emiliemunson This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Saratoga Springs As co-chair of the Skidmore College Republicans, an admittedly small group, Julie Budsey shares the disdain that a lot of mainstream GOP members have for Donald Trump and seriously doubts that she'll vote for him. Trump's stands on topics like immigration and foreign trade run counter to the free market values that this sophomore from Aspen, Colo., adheres to. Yet earlier this year, another Skidmore organization that Budsey was on, the Bias Response Group, condemned the unidentified person who wrote the phrase "Make America Great Again'' on several whiteboards at the school. While the condemnation was ridiculed on conservative websites as yet another zany politically correct campus episode, Budsey said it wasn't what it seemed. The "Make America great again" phrase was on an Asian-American professor's board, and Response Group members were convinced it was more of a personal attack than a purely political statement. Budsey, along with two other Skidmore Republicans, organized a panel discussion Wednesday night about the Trump phenomenon. Students filled a meeting room at the school's Tang museum as five of their instructors analyzed, pondered and dissected the Trump phenomenon. The talk mostly steered clear of Trump-bashing, despite Skidmore's reputation as a liberal hotbed where lots of students were ardent Bernie Sanders supporters. Rather than jeering at the candidate's name, the students listened raptly as their teachers brought an academic sensibility to the affair. Andrew Lindner, an associate professor of sociology, stressed that he doesn't care what his students think of Trump. He just wants them to analyze the circumstances that have led to his rise. Christopher Mann, an associate professor of political science, said Trump is feeding off an "ascriptive hierarchy," which is another way of describing the phenomenon in which people are born into a given class system. Citing psychological experiments, including studies done after the 9/11 terror attacks, psychology professor Sheldon Solomon suggested that fear of societal chaos, warfare and ultimately death, draws certain people to charismatic tyrants like Trump. It represents the "reptile" part of the brain which is seeking basic survival. Mann added that he knows people who are now using phrases like "that was a Trump thing to say," which describes a dumb comment they would like to retract. For the students like Budsey and fellow GOP co-chairs Gianluca Perrotti and Rachel McPherson, the Trump candidacy posed a more immediate predicament. They were painfully aware that the candidate, as Budsey put it, is tearing their party apart. "November can't come soon enough," said Budsey. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU Stillwater Candidates for the 43rd Senate District touched on campaign finances and water quality at Wednesday night's forum presented by the Saratoga County League of Woman Voters. Candidates for the 113th Assembly District also offered their cases for election on Nov. 8. Here's what Senate rivals said: Hoosick Falls The most emotionally-charged question of the night was about ongoing water crises in New York, including in Hoosick Falls. Shaun Francis, the Wilton Democrat union official challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Kathy Marchione of Halfmoon, said Marchione's response to the crisis is "the single biggest reason we can't re-elect" her. He accused Marchione of engaging in political opportunism, and said she fought against hearings and sided with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "flawed response." Marchione said "people have to follow the laws and have to know what they're doing is hurting" water sources, and noted public compliments from high-ranking Hoosick Falls elected officials for her response. Campaign finance Francis said he'd like to see campaigns financed publicly. He pointed to donations Marchione has received from a variety of businesses, arguing that publicly financing elections and limiting campaign contributions would prevent corruption and ultimately save taxpayers money in the long run. Marchione called state Democrats hypocrites for taking contributions while trying to change the law, and also noted the importance of understanding things like the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision to reform campaign finance. "We need to look at it holistically and look at all these entities," she said. The SAFE Act Marchione said the act, which added more stringent regulations and broadened the legal definition of assault rifles to include semiautomatic rifles, is "the worst piece of legislation I think our Legislature has ever passed." She spoke against it on her first day in the state Senate and has an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association. Francis framed the bill as part of an "ongoing culture of corruption" in Albany, and said the manner in which it was passed was not at all transparent. He touted endorsements from local gun rights supporters and said the SAFE Act was largely a cosmetic fix to a problem, though he doesn't believe a full repeal is possible or logical at this point. Assembly candidates Democratic incumbent Carrie Woerner of Round Lake and Republican challenger Chris Boyark of Mechanicville agree on the need to bring more economic reforms to upstate, but Boyark said his opponent was a weak voice in Albany. He also said Cuomo administration rules stifle business and cause college graduates to leave the state, adding Woerner voted against a handful of "clear cut" ethics rule changes, though she called those bills "political statements" that were ineffective, as they hadn't been examined by any rulemaking bodies. Woerner voted for both bills to strip convicted legislators of their pensions, and also cited the need for reforms to the state education funding formula. "The quality of education is a function of the ZIP code you live in, and that's not right," she said. 1 Amtrak settlement: Amtrak will pay $265 million to settle claims related to a deadly derailment in Philadelphia that killed eight people and injured more than 200 others. Lawyers who negotiated the settlement say people will have their awards in hand by June instead of going through years of legal wrangling. Amtrak has previously taken responsibility for the May 2015 crash. Federal law caps payouts for any one accident at $295 million. The injuries range from catastrophic, including one man left a paraplegic, to people who suffered emotional trauma. 2 Pot measure disqualified: The Arkansas Supreme Court disqualified a medical marijuana proposal from the November ballot less than two weeks before the election and with thousands of votes already cast, but voters will still be able to consider a competing plan. In a 5-2 ruling Thursday, the court sided with opponents of the proposed initiated act that would have allowed patients with certain medical conditions and a doctors recommendation to purchase marijuana from dispensaries. The proposal was one of two medical marijuana proposals on the ballot, and justices earlier this month rejected a challenge to a competing measure. The ruling comes after nearly 142,000 people have already cast ballots through early voting. HOUSTON - Fort Bend County authorities say eight gang members have been arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, money laundering and the delivery of marijuana. The county sheriff's office said in a news release that the arrests stem from a joint investigation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service targeting members of the Kream Clicc Gang for drug trafficking and money laundering. A man who drove his car into a house in Beaumont's Old Town neighborhood Wednesday night after being shot in the head likely knew his shooter, said Beaumont Police Sgt. Cody Guedry. The man was shot in his temple with a handgun around 6 p.m. in the 2200 block of Harrison, said Guedry. Bulldozers cleared mounds of debris and tore down makeshift shelters at the "Jungle" migrant camp on Thursday, and authorities said 6,000 people had been evacuated from the squalid site. Charities said however hundreds of migrants might have fled the camp rather than take part in a government programme to rehouse them across the country. The Jungle, a ramshackle, overcrowded shanty town, came to symbolise Europe's difficulty in dealing with record inflows of migrants from impoverished and war-torn regions of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, many of them bent on crossing the sea from Calais to Britain. President Francois Hollande, facing an election six months from now, decided under local pressure to close the Jungle and relocate its inhabitants in towns and villages throughout the country pending examination of their cases. "By next Monday, the camp will be no more. It is already gone but the (demolition) job will finished by Monday evening," local government prefect Fabienne Buccio told reporters as earthmovers flattened the camp, where the evacuation started on Monday. She said more than 6,000 migrants had signed up to be taken to other parts of the country as planned, and that matched the number of people that had been living there. Police patrolled the camp and other parts of Calais, where dozens of migrants were wandering. "Lots of children are sleeping outside. We had a group of Eritrean boys, 13 and 14 years old, last night, who slept outside," said Dorothy Sang, a worker with the Save the Children charity. "Other children fled. They lost faith in the system." A young man from Sudan who said his name was Clinton told Reuters he had arrived overnight from Germany and was "here for England" as a final destination. "But it is also okay if I can file an (asylum) request in France. It doesn't matter where I sleep tonight," he said. Buccio said she wanted to make clear to any would-be new arrivals in the French port that the camp was shut for good and the rehousing exercise finished. "It is not Calais' role to receive all the migrants of Europe," she said. BACK TO PARIS? There were signs that some migrants might have fled from Calais to Paris to avoid being roped into official processing of asylum requests. Heloise Mary, working to help migrants at a smaller camp under a bridge in north Paris, said numbers there had suddenly shot up. "We've gone from 2,000 to 3,000 in two days with the closure of Calais," she told BFM TV of the makeshift camp, where a railway bridge provides cover for hundreds of tents and mattresses. The numbers of irregular migrants reaching Europe are sharply down on the 1.3 million who arrived in 2015. But more than 300,000 have made the hazardous Mediterranean crossing in 2016 so far, and many are likely to head for Britain for work, launguage and family reasons. The British referendum vote this year to quit the European Union was in large part driven by worries over immigration, and stoked by scenes of the Calais migrants trying to force their way in. Now that Britain is leaving the EU, right-wing French politicians with an eye on next year's election want to tear up the agreement under which Britain's border controls are conducted in France. Search Keywords: Short link: Washington In the hours before the St. Louis County grand jury investigating the Michael Brown shooting death reported its decision not to indict policeman Darren Wilson on Nov. 24, 2014, top advisers to Hillary Clinton were debating how she should respond. In a series of email exchanges under the subject line of "Ferguson time sensitive," Robby Mook, now Clinton's campaign manager, and others in her not-yet-officially announced campaign circle traded ideas on how and when she should talk about the impending decision. In the end, she was criticized for not having a bold response. The discussion behind the scenes hinged on caution. The hacked email exchanges are among the latest put out by WikiLeaks, which has unleashed a steady stream of revelations on deliberations inside Clinton's inner circle. The leaks have drawn criticism from the Clinton campaign, who say they are the products of hackers from the Russian government or close associates of it. U.S. intelligence agencies suspect that Russian hackers are releasing them to influence the U.S. election. Early on that tumultuous day of the grand jury announcement, which ended with more violent protests in Ferguson, Clinton adviser Dan Schwerin wrote: "As you've probably heard, the grand jury in Ferguson has reached a decision on whether to charge the police officer in the death of Michael Brown. The decision is expected to be announced around 9pm ET. HRC (Hillary Rodham Clinton) is speaking at an open press event this evening sometime between 6:30-7:30pm. I believe it's her last scheduled open press event of the week. "After talking with Nick (Clinton adviser Nick Merrill), our suggestion is that we consider having her address Ferguson at the conclusion of her remarks, even though the decision will not be known yet. That way she can frame some of the larger issues at play and we can have her on camera. That seems better than a paper statement or tweet later on." Later, Clinton aides discussed whether it would be better to say nothing and to wait for the grand jury's announcement, which was the subject of international press coverage. "I think if we did this robust statement on camera beforehand, we could probably get away with a tweet afterwards along the lines of: "'Praying for both peace & justice in Ferguson. DOJ still investigating, but let's not wait on criminal justice reforms there & across U.S.,'" Schwerin wrote. "Content is strong and good," Mook wrote back. "My assumption is she will still be expected to react to the actual decision is this being seen as a replacement to that? I guess my inclination would just be to wait (why say two things rather than one?), but I don't feel strongly. I don't think, however, that she won't be expected to comment later even if she does this tonight." After the grand jury's decision was announced by St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch, protests erupted. But Clinton herself said nothing that day that got into the mainstream media discussion flow, and she was later criticized for not being more outspoken in that period. Ten days later, from New York, she did address Ferguson and the grand jury that had decided a day earlier to not recommend indictments in the death of Eric Garner while in police custody. In a speech in Boston, Clinton urged Americans to support criminal justice reform. A pair of Conroe ranchers accused of cruelty and neglect of horses they owned had their trial postponed for a fifth time Wednesday. Herman Hoffman and his wife Kathleen face 20 Class A misdemeanor counts of cruelty to livestock animals, which could land the couple in jail for up to a year. Montgomery County prosecutors are trying both Hoffmans in one trial, which was set to go before a jury Monday. In a last-minute effort, Hoffman filed a motion for continuance Tuesday that County Court-at-Law No. 1 Judge Dennis Watson granted Wednesday after hearing testimony from both Hoffman and prosecutors. Kathleen Hoffman has been suffering from heart complications that make it impossible for her to participate in any court proceeding, a doctor said in a sworn affidavit. Her health concerns were the center of a previous motion for continuance filed by Hoffman, who is acting as his own counsel for the time being. Watson granted the continuance so Kathleen Hoffman could become well before appearing in court. Herman Hoffman said that could be as soon as January or February 2017. Herman Hoffman and Montgomery County Chief Prosecutor Sheri Culberson are set to meet before Watson again Nov. 2 to set a trial date. Evidence Issues Watson will rule on a slew of evidentiary issues Hoffman raised Wednesday. In previous motions, Herman Hoffman has contended Montgomery County prosecutors are withholding evidence, which Hoffman believes would help make his case. In a 14-page motion, Hoffman asked for 911 call logs, law enforcement documents as well as the names of each individual on his property during the week and months before the seizure. He claims prosecutors have not been as transparent with him as the law requires. He even filed about 20 public records requests to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office to obtain evidence, most of which were denied and sent to the Texas Attorney General's Office for an opinion. "I want the discovery that I'm due," Hoffman said after the Wednesday proceeding, "And they won't give it to me." But Culberson denies that allegation, saying she's "100 percent confident" that her office has turned over everything in their possession on the case. "There are a few things the judge has asked me to look into out of an abundance of caution," Culberson said. "I think he's just being very careful, and I don't blame him, especially in light of Mrs. Hoffman's medical condition." Hoffman also asked prosecutors for information on the hundreds of horses that were seized, saying that without thorough documentation on those horses, he could have no case. "My defense is a herd," Hoffman said in court. "It's no four or five horses." Hoffman said it's pertinent to his defense that a jury gets to see the whole picture, meaning they should get a chance to see an entire herd of horses rather than just a few horses that are in bad shape. Watson will rule on the evidentiary issues and will set a trial date Nov. 2. HART -- Donna Lindley is the new pastor for Harts First United Methodist Church. She has a two-point charge: Hart and Kress. Donna became pastor in June after Wilbur Ormond and his wife returned to their home in North Carolina. Sunday morning worship at Hart begins at 9 a.m. Donna then goes to Kress for the worship service at 11 a.m. Members of the Kress congregation also have a Wednesday evening prayer group. Donna comes to Hart on Wednesdays to visit members and get acquainted with the community. She also is a member of the Hart Lions Club and attends its meetings. Donna lives in Kress with her husband Leon. They have called Kress home for six years. Leon works for Santa Fe Railroad and ferries engineers and conductors to work, driving them to and from locations where trains are so they will be in compliance with safety guidelines regarding hours worked. Donna grew up in Lubbock and graduated from her parents alma mater, Lubbock High School. She says her parents were both Lubbock High cheerleaders. She attended Texas Tech University. To experience the big city, Donna lived for a while in Dallas where she worked at a mall. Then it was back to Lubbock when she met her future husband. The couple has two daughters, Tricia of Santa Monica, California, and Amy of San Antonio. Tricia is in seminary in California and is the childrens and youth pastor at First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica; she isnt married. Amy is a tutor and her husband is a high school physics teacher. Donna recalls that from her early 30s, her pastor encouraged her to go into the ministry. She worked at St. Johns Methodist Church in Lubbock, where her family were members -- she did every job in the church at one time. After an accident, Donnas maternal grandmother lived with her, and with her own family she was very busy. In 2010, the Methodist district superintendent for this area told Donna, You would be a great preacher. She took the advice and began two years worth of seminary study in the summer, while pastoring a church. Her first church was Agape United Methodist Church in Lubbock. She has another year of seminary. She enjoys reading, writing and traveling. Donna is Kress first female pastor out of 52 previous male pastors. However, she is Harts third female Methodist pastor. Lillith Ardhuermuly was the first female pastor and later Quita Jones served the congregation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Candidates for Republican John Shabans open House seat in the 135th District agree on the importance of improving the states business climate, but differ sharply on other issues, including whether marijuana should be legalized. Republican Adam Dunsby, Easton first selectman and a former member of the Easton Board of Education and Conservation Commission, is running against Green Party candidate Bonnie Troy, who owns an organic lawn-care business. Shaban is leaving the seat to run for the U.S. House. Troy is the first Green Party candidate in the state to receive public funding for her campaign through the Citizens Election Program and is cross-endorsed by the Democratic Party. She has never held public office, but ran for the seat in 2014. She said she hopes to bring progressive ideas to Hartford and to reach across party lines. People are so tired of the same old, same old, he said, she said, they do, we do, she said. Its not about party lines at all. Its really about the work were doing in the community and what is the best we can do. Dunsby is in his second term as first selectman and plans to do both jobs if elected. He has founded two businesses. I want Connecticut to prosper, he said. I would want to do that if Connecticut were thriving or if Connecticut were facing some challenges, but the reality is Connecticut today does face challenges. Businesses are leaving, people are leaving, the state keeps borrowing more and more. We really need to change and fix some of those problems. To deal with some of these challenges, including the states budget deficit, he said he supports a spending cap and a call for Connecticut to switch to a defined contribution pension plan rather than a defined benefit plan. But he said the most important way to get the states finances back on track is by supporting businesses. To prevent companies from leaving Connecticut, the state should stop raising taxes and eliminate unnecessary regulations, he said. Ultimately it really all comes back to the business environment in Connecticut, he said. If we had businesses coming here, staying here, growing here, it would be much, much easier to address all of Connecticuts budget issues. Troy agreed this would help the state financially. She hopes to bring the solar and clean-energy industries to Connecticut, as well as mission-based sustainable companies that focus on benefiting their communities. (These businesses) dig in their roots, so they now have an investment in the state, she said. Its not just how much money can we make on the taxes and how much money can we make for the profit and then get out. And I just think thats a really good way to look at trying to create a new economy thats got more layers of socially responsible things. She said legalizing marijuana would help bring in revenue for programs such as education and transportation. All states are going to legalize marijuana, and the states that get in front of that are going to bring in a lot of revenue, she said. Maine and Massachusetts are in the process of looking at it now. If Massachusetts does it before us, then were going to watch people drive right through our state and spend the revenue there. But Dunsby said he is opposed to marijuana legalization, especially in light of the states opioid crisis. Creating a drug culture would only make that worse, he said. Its pretty sad that we should have to think about funding education by marijuana sales. The sweets factory got its sugar inventory back after prosecutors ordered release of confiscated supplies Edita Food Industries resumed operations in its factory in Upper Egypt after a three-day shutdown following the Egyptian authorities' confiscation of the company's sugar supply, the company announced on Thursday in a statement to the stock exchange. The company's shares rose 6.78 percent in Thursday's trading to close at EGP 8.98. On Wednesday, the Prosecutor General's office ordered the release of Edita's sugar inventory, which was seized last week at the company's factory in Beni Suef governorate, Upper Egypt. On Monday, the company suspended production after authorities confiscated around 2,000 tonnes of sugar, which the company said amounted to a three-week supply for making its pastries, cakes and snacks. The prosecution had opened an investigation into Edita to determine whether sugar found in storage was illegally purchased. Edita is the largest food company listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange. The shares of Edita and Juhayna, the second largest company listed in the stock exchange's food sector, plunged during Monday's midday trading by 4.85 percent (to EGP 7.79 per share) and 8.50 percent (to EGP 3.70 per share) respectively. The country has been facing a severe sugar shortage due to an acute dollar shortage, resulting in a price hike in unsubsidized sugar that has reached EGP 9-10 per kilogramme, up from EGP 4.5-6 in August. Search Keywords: Short link: United Nations The U.N. humanitarian chief accused Russia and Syria on Wednesday of using bombing and starvation tactics in eastern Aleppo to push people to surrender or to die, triggering an unusual verbal attack on a U.N. official from the Russian ambassador. The verbal fireworks exploded after Undersecretary-General Stephen O'Brien briefed the U.N. Security Council on what he called "the apocalyptic horror" in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, where 400 people have been killed and nearly 2,000 injured in less than a month, many of them children. He blamed Syria for besieging the city and at the same time carrying out a bombing campaign with its Russian allies in a deliberate campaign to "make life intolerable, make death likely." Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said it was "outrageous" that O'Brien spoke as if the bombings in eastern Aleppo are going on now when they have stopped for seven days, and for creating "the impression that chemical weapons have been used" in the rebel-held part of the city. He demanded the evidence and accused O'Brien of failing to mention that government-held western Aleppo "has been hostage to the terrorists of al-Nusra," the al-Qaida-linked extremist group. Churkin told O'Brien these and other omissions "make your statement unfair and dishonest." The council was supposed to go into closed consultations after O'Brien's briefing. Instead, Churkin, the current council president, allowed members to speak in the open session, which put a spotlight on the deep divisions that have made the U.N.'s most powerful body impotent in taking action to end the more than five-year Syrian conflict. Referring directly to Russia without naming it, O'Brien called on "all council members who have operational military assets in Syria to take concrete steps to halt the aerial bombardment of civilian areas." He also read from leaflets dropped on eastern Aleppo by Syrian and Russian aircraft which he said make their intention "chillingly clear." "This is your last hope ... Save yourselves," the leaflets read. "If you do not leave these areas urgently you will be annihilated. ... They left you alone to face your doom and nobody will give you any help." O'Brien demanded that all parties end "these medieval tactics" and grant humanitarian access to Aleppo. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In the nearly nine years since Port Arthur rapper Chad "Pimp C" Butler died, money coming in and out of his estate has been hard to keep track of, according to an attorney representing Butler's oldest son. Josh Heinz, attorney for Chad Butler Jr., told a Jefferson County district judge on Wednesday that bills have gone unpaid. Expensive jewelry is missing. The late rapper's Port Arthur home is in foreclosure. Pimp C's Bentley went back to the dealership when his widow could no longer pay the $2,800 monthly car note. Following a two-hour hearing, Judge Gerald W. Eddins approved Butler Jr.'s request to have Chinara Butler, his father's widow, removed as the administrator of Pimp C's estate. Eddins is expected to appoint a new administrator on Friday. Butler Jr., 23, petitioned to have his estranged stepmother removed as the estate's administrator in June. He told Eddins he does not receive money from the estate. Chinara Butler said she never kept Pimp C's family members from using his likeness to make money. More for you Port Arthur estate for rapper Pimp C mired in debt "I have not left (Pimp C's) kids abandoned," said Chinara Butler, who is the mother of Pimp C's youngest child. "I've invested my own money into this estate and done my best to keep Pimp C relevant." Pimp C, one half of the rap duo Underground Kingz, died in December 2007 from an accidental drug overdose. The 33-year-old had three children. He died without a last will and testament. "For entertainers, money is made from performances," Chinara Butler testified. "If he's not here to perform, how do you get a visual of him?" Heinz presented financial documents that show Chinara Butler spent $150,000 of the estate's revenue from 2011 to 2013 and more than $80,000 in the past two years. Public records show the estate has a $7.2 million federal tax lien and owes $5.1 million to former UGK manager Byron Hill. "Nobody's gotten any money," said Heinz. "She's on red carpets in Los Angeles and New York and these kids have nothing." A judge previously found Chinara misapplied $150,000 worth of jewelry and could not account for certain estate assets. She was removed as independent administrator of the estate in February 2010, when attorney Fred Theobold was appointed temporary administrator. Theobold resigned in June of that year, and a month later Chinara Butler was reappointed as head of the estate. Chad Butler Jr. said he became increasingly frustrated last fall when Chinara Butler started promoting an album "Long Live the Pimp," one of three posthumous albums produced since his father's death. The other two albums are "The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones" (2010) and "Still Pimping" (2011). Chinara Butler said she received little to nothing from the three albums. The mothers of Pimp C's three children signed a publishing deal in 2008 with Los Angeles-based Bug Music Inc., which Chinara Butler said she believed would take care of them all. "Someone's making money," she said. "We're just not making money." Most the estate's income has been reinvested into promoting the Pimp C brand, Chinara Butler said. Cherrell Rene, Chinara Butler's manager, said after the hearing that her client did not oppose Eddins' ruling because managing the estate was a burden. "No one can question her motives anymore or say she's doing anything ill," Rene said. "They can see just how much time and investment she's had to sacrifice to maintain the visibility this estate enjoys." Pimp C rose to fame in the 1990s. He and fellow Port Arthur native Bernard "Bun B" Freeman are best known for the 1996 UGK album "Ridin' Dirty" and for backup lyrics on Jay Z's 2000 single "Big Pimpin'" and the "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)," featuring Outkast in 2007. BScott@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/BrandonKScott This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate More voters have cast ballots in Montgomery County over the first couple of days of early voting than in any presidential election year since 2004, records show. In the first two days of early voting for the Nov. 8 Election Day, 33,214 residents voted, which is about 10.6 percent of all registered voters in Montgomery County. About 8,100 voters (24.6 percent) of those 33,214 were mail-in ballots, including 7,952 of which were cast Monday. Voters in The Woodlands' two locations made up 40.3 percent of in-person voters over the first two days, with the Montgomery and Magnolia early voting locations following closely behind. Montgomery County Elections Coordinator Suzie Harvey said Tuesday that the numbers could be up because of a push for voter registration prior to the election season. On years with presidential elections, voter turnout is historically higher than other years. "It's pretty close to any presidential election," Harvey said. "Some people only vote in the presidential election." But this year's numbers are not only up nominally. When looking at the percentage of registered voters who turned out in the first two days of early voting, it has more than doubled since 2004. Only 5.2 percent of registered voters turned out by day two of voting on Election Day in 2004. In 2008, 7.7 percent of voters turned out by day two; 9.6 percent cast a ballot by day two of early voting in 2012. But close to one out of every 10 registered voters already cast votes in the first two days, which Montgomery County Republican Party Chair Wally Wilkerson said he has been predicting for months. "It's going to be well over 200,000 (voters total) this time," Wilkerson said. "You're not able to see if they're Republican or Democrat just by looking at the numbers, but it will definitely be a record turnout. We're prepared for that." The GOP chair predicts Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump could very well win Montgomery County, but conceded Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton could do better than past Democratic nominees. Montgomery County Democratic Party Chairman Marc Meyer said he agrees with Wilkerson about Trump. "Obviously the race this year has been very heated and has generated a lot of interest," Meyer said. "Some of that interest is wanting to try and get this race over as soon as possible." Data for Wednesday's early voting turnout was not available. IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Thursday that Egypt is going through a currency "crisis," suggesting a quick devaluation to tackle a widening gap between the official and black market rates. Egypt has been struggling to shore up its foreign currency reserves in the political and economic turmoil following the January 2011 uprising that toppled former ruler Hosni Mubarak. The government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is rolling out an austerity programme and is seeking billions in support from abroad in order to meet conditions for a $12 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund and boost investor confidence. The country's foreign currency reserves stood at $19.6 billion in September, an increase from previous years but less than 50 percent of the level in early 2011. "In terms of exchange rate, there is currently a crisis, because if you look at the official price if you look at the grey market price, there is a 100 percent difference so that needs to be addressed," Lagarde said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Lagarde applauded the planned reforms, including the austerity programme, saying the IMF was ready to support the government if it takes the measures needed to meet the loan conditions. "If they decide to move forward we will certainly support that move, we will certainly accompany it, we'll put money on the table to help them along the way. But it's their call and it's their decision," she said. Responding to a question on whether a total free float or gradual devaluation might be the best, Lagarde said the right conditions were "going to be dictated entirely by the circumstances". "When you have very low reserves, when the difference between official and unofficial rate is very wide, historically we have seen rapid transitions being most efficient," said Lagarde, adding that "in other cases it has been gradual". Loans from Saudi Arabia and China would help Egypt gather the $5-$6 billion in additional financing required to complement the IMF lending, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters in Washington on Thursday. "I think they're very close and clearly the financing is one of the aspects that they need to lock in," Lagarde said, commenting on the loans. "Hopefully we'll be able to secure the IMF board approval in the next few weeks." Search Keywords: Short link: STAMFORD A political newcomer from the Republican Party is challenging a first-term state representative in Stamfords heavily Democratic 146th District on Nov. 8. Taking his first foray into politics, Arkadiusz Jakubowski known to friends as Arek is hoping to unseat seven-term city Board of Representatives veteran and state Democratic incumbent Terry Adams for the district, which includes the South End, Shippan and much of downtown as far up as the Ridgeway Shopping Center. Jakubowski, 29, who moved to Stamford almost three years ago from West Haven, said he has always been interested in politics, but after learning about Stamford and meeting Steve Kolenberg, who is challenging Caroline Simmons for her seat in the neighboring 144th District, he decided to get involved. Im a young guy looking to start a family at some point in the next five years, and I want to make sure the living environment here in Connecticut is suitable for young adults to start a family, instead of looking for opportunities outside the state, said Jakubowski, who works in logistics for Statoil, an international oil and gas company. Jakubowski is the son of a West Haven police officer who, at the age of 28, fled communism in Poland with $200 in his pocket. After years working a warehouse job, Jakubowskis dad got his badge at age 45. Jakubowski says he has seen firsthand about how hard someone has to work to succeeds in America and at the top of his to-do list is making downtown Stamford safer for pedestrians. More Information Terry Adams Incumbent - Yes Political party - Democrat Age - 59 Highest educational level - Some college Occupation - Manufacturing Employer - Pitney Bowes Marital status and family - Single What makes you the right choice for this seat? - "Terry will work for our community to create jobs and increase economic development, provide property tax relief, support our schools, invest in early education and champion after-school programs and support seniors by improving resources they rely on." Arkadiusz Jakubowski Incumbent - No Political party - Republican Age - 29 Highest educational level - Graduate or professional degree Occupation - Natural gas scheduler Employer - Statoil Marital status and family - Single What makes you the right choice for this seat? - "It's a very exciting time to be a resident of the 146th District. The growing appeal of the area is enticing many to choose this part of their state as their home. As someone who has been able to experience this district for the last six years, I believe I have an understanding of what the residents want and need." See More Collapse I walk around Stamford all the time and I get an idea where trouble spots are, but there are probably other trouble spots that dont come up, he said. Jakubowski said he would like to put a Wiki map up of the city and let people talk about where they see problems with pedestrians and cars. Id like to use the internet to crowd source ideas, he said, as well as creating a venue for people to talk about the Stamford railroad station. Pedestrian safety Adams already has a legislative record for pedestrian safety. During his first term he walked his bill through the legislature that increased the $82 traffic fine for striking someone in a crosswalk to $500. Another bill of his that became law takes into account the rent someone was paying before a low-income senior apartment was renovated and allow them to pay the same amount even though the renovation upgraded the residence to mid-income. Adams said he would like to make the streets even safer and is contemplating creation of a bill that would give pedestrians the right of way on all city streets. In Stamford, statistics show more people are killed in accidents on the street than by guns, something that Adams says is unacceptable. Over the past legislative term, Adams, 59, who is giving up his board of reps seat with this election, said he was a big supporter of Gov. Dannel Malloys Second Chance justice reforms, even though many people thought it was soft on crime. When you are putting kids in jail for two years for having one joint of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a school and costing taxpayers $53,000 per year, I say give the $200 ticket and keep the $53,000 in the bank. Lets give our taxpayers a break, he said. Adams said that he believes city residents appreciate the work the legislative team from Stamford has done to bring state and federal money back, such as $61.8 million to open up the New School on Strawberry Hill Avenue, $4.9 million to expand enrollment at Wright Tech, $10 million for school repairs and upgrades as well as $3.9 million to offset residential and commercial property taxes. He said its not easy to get people in Hartford to see that Stamford is a multidimensional and diverse city. Believe it or not, people up there (in Hartford) think this is the golden part of Connecticut and we all walk in our backyard and pick money off the tree. ... Im like, it aint like that. ... They have no idea. jnickerson@scni.com A man who was killed this week inside the home of San Francisco filmmaker Kevin Epps was shot in self-defense after he intruded in the home and made serious threats, Epps and his attorney said Wednesday. Epps, 48, who lives on the 100 block of Addison Street in Glen Park, was arrested on suspicion of murder after Mondays shooting. But the district attorneys office decided Tuesday not to file charges, at least for the time being, suggesting that evidence of self-defense was a consideration. Police officials have not elaborated on what preceded the 1:30 p.m. killing of 45-year-old Marcus Polk, who was homeless and knew Epps and his family. Epps said the shooting was self-defense but would not describe what happened or even confirm if he had pulled the trigger on the advice of his attorney, Mark Webb. Im just thankful to get back to my kids and family, Epps said. Im trying to be a beacon of hope and light. He said he hadnt slept since the shooting, saying, Its been a traumatic whirlwind of emotional events. Its heavy stuff. I just try to be strong and know what I stand on. Its about being part of the solution. Webb said he did not want his client to make any statements that could be used against him. There was a shooting, and there was a death and it was in self-defense, the attorney said. The person who was killed was an unwanted intruder making serious threats of death. Legal analyst Steve Clark, a former Santa Clara County prosecutor who now works as a defense attorney and is not involved in the San Francisco case, said people have a heightened right to self-defense if someone comes into your home rather than if you are outside your home. The law respects the sanctity of the home to a degree where you are allowed to use deadly force where elsewhere you wouldnt, Clark said. Family members and friends of the two men said Polk a registered sex offender with a criminal history including domestic battery and attempted robbery would often show up, unwelcome, at the home on Addison Street. Authorities booked Epps on suspicion of murder as well as being a convicted felon in possession of a gun. But he was released from San Francisco County Jail just before 1 a.m. Wednesday after prosecutors declined to file charges. There is insufficient evidence to charge the case at this time, said district attorneys office spokesman Alex Bastian. However, the case remains under investigation. San Francisco police officials said the decision by prosecutors to request additional investigation on a case is not uncommon. SFPD investigators work closely with the D.A.s office, and the SFPD homicide detail will be continuing the investigation into this matter, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a department spokesman. News of Epps arrest shocked many in San Franciscos arts community, where the filmmaker has been a visible presence since releasing Straight Outta Hunters Point in 2003. The film documented a turf war between rival gangs, providing a bleak picture of the violent and neglected neighborhood where Epps grew up. Epps, a street hustler in his younger years, eventually escaped the trappings of the neighborhood by picking up a camera. I took it upon myself to try to turn a negative situation into something positive, he told The Chronicle in a 2007 profile. Epps has been an outspoken voice against police brutality and has worked with nonprofit organizations to help San Franciscos impoverished neighborhoods. In 2011, he was named an artist fellow at the de Young Museum. But Epps has also had brushes with the law. He was charged in 2002 with penetration with a foreign object in Santa Cruz County, though his attorney, Ken Azevedo, said Wednesday that the charges were dismissed in 2005 after a hung jury trial. Court papers in that case show Epps had a prior felony strike on his record; details were not available. On Wednesday, Epps would only say, To be a black man, its always trials and convictions. Ive been subject to that. Being a convicted felon doesnt mean Epps would be legally barred from using a gun to defend himself if his life was in danger, experts said. Even if youre a felon, you can still defend yourself, Clark said. You dont lose the right to use deadly force for self-defense. Another factor in the case may be Polks history of being accused of threatening behavior. He was served with a restraining order in September, filed by a tenant at the Vista Del Monte apartments on Goldmine Drive in Diamond Heights, half a mile from Epps home. The tenant wrote that Polk moved in with him, refused to leave when asked, and once put out a cigarette on his collarbone. Polk has threatened to do bodily harm to me, the tenant told the courts, and declared were at war and youre going to pay. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky I just move around carrying my mobile camera and capturing endless shots; I like to take pictures of things, people, streets -- I dont have any particular use for these pictures but I just like to capture certain moments through my lens, said Shahira Selim. A translator by profession in her late thirties, Selim has no intention whatsoever to take the path of photography. She is not even budgeting for a simple digital camera to carry around. For her, the camera on her mobile phone has always been good enough first to keep record of special family moments, and I dont just mean occasions but moments like when the entire family sits around the living room to enjoy a nice home-made dessert, and later to capture shots from the streets, the stores and just anywhere I happen to be. Selim sometimes uses these exercises therapeutically just to get my mind off things I dont want to get overwhelmed with and sometimes to reflect on the meaning of certain things in life like poverty versus happiness and I find this often when I capture a picture of a clearly not so financially well off family that are in perfect joy while having some can sugar juice in a poorer Cairo neighborhood. For Selim pictures are important. They keep your memories; they kind of turn into a dairy and you dont necessarily share your dairy but you just like to keep it. This said, Selim is following with considerable passion the new and expanding trend of online photography. I have noticed that during the past two or three years, I am not sure when exactly but obviously one or two years after the Revolution [in January 2011] more and more people were establishing photography pages, she said. Those online photography pages have been also offering what Selim finds to be the very diverse narratives of Egypt. They are looking at Egypt, more or less, but each from his or her lens; just like I do with my mobile camera and of course each of us has a very different take and a very different photo story to tell, she said. And it is sometimes interesting to compare the narratives, she added. It is also interesting to compile these narratives and put together what could well be the story of Egypt today through the lens of many young men and women who are at times professional photographers and at times just amateurs who are still capable to produce good quality photos and to have them posted online, said Hossam Elouan, a photography researcher. Elouan has been investing a good part of his time during the past five years to re-visit the story of Egypt by going through the inspiring archives of photographers who had lived and worked across Egypt. He is convinced that the new trend for photography is certainly helping to add a new chapter to the story of life in Egypt from the 19th century onwards. Elouan also added that this is despite the drops that happened when the interest in photography, for the most part a profession that you needed to hire someone to do before the widespread of easy-to-use cameras, was compromised in favour of making videos before those too went out of fashion in favour of the new-found mobile phone cameras that allowed both for photos and videos. Today, Elouan said, it is always very interesting for example to go through the archives of early years of 20th century photography of Egypt and to compare say the pictures of little girls in rural areas posing for professional photographers who traveled through the Delta and compare them with pictures taken by some of the many adventurous photographers who just travel through the countries to capture stories through their lens and those are not very few nowadays. Aly Hazzaa is one of those. With a BA in mechanical engineering, Hazaa, in his late twenties then, decided to part ways with his academic degree and opt for his passion: photography. I knew that this was what I wanted to do and I finally had the courage to follow through with my passion, he said. With some professional but not so advanced cameras, Hazzaa experimented for a relatively long period before finally producing what he felt was a decent portfolio to take him into the world of professional photography. Hazaa first stop at the doors of photojournalism was in the independent daily Al-Shorouk.He recalls his three plus years in photojournalism as a very diverse experience whereby he went from one assignment to the other to see and document the big events, including of course the 18 days of the January Revolution, and the small details of the lives of people children at their schools, patients at the hallways of hospitals and young men serving tea and snacks in small cafes.It was more the human-interest side that captured the attention of Hazzaa.I mean it is true that during the past few years, especially with the January Revolution, photojournalism has gained an incredible space of the attention of news editors who were becoming more sensible to the value of photos but still for me it was the people and their lives that counted most, he argued.Hazzaa decided to go the path that many young photographers are now embracing: private photography that is administered essentially online.This he did upon a clear awareness of the fact that the growing interest in photos went way beyond the papers to the ordinary people who developed an almost fanatic interest in pictures because of social media I mean first with Facebook it was quite a hype and now with Instagram it is more so. According to Hazzaa yes, for the most part people post pictures that they have taken either with their mobile cameras or with their digital amateurs camera but during the past year or two there has also been this interest to post professional photos. Hazzaa found that this was especially the case not just with weddings, a typical occasion where everyone would resort for professional photography at least for a few nice portraits of the bride and the groom, but more and more often for large family assemblies and friend reunions. I am not sure how it works but people want to sort of hang on to their moments of joy so much nowadays, he argued. And as always, with private collections, I think people always find a particular joy in having their pictures taken and looking at these pictures now of course also and sharing these pictures on social media, according to Hazza. The resumed interest in soliciting the assistance of a professional photographer is not at all a leap back into the past, Hazzaa insisted.Because the way photo sessions are done now is very different, he said.He explained that with weddings, for example, there is not much attention in having the traditional studio-paused photo.You would get more interest for open-air photoshoots for the bride and the groom with shades of sunset or with a background of boats floating the Nile, he argued. Hazzaa added that there is also the growing interest in the pre-wedding photo sessions whereby the bride and the groom spend a half-day with close family and the photographer in an open-air setting usually a choice made jointly by the couple and the photographer and have a set of photo shoots that are not really paused. This is a new trend that Hazzaa is convinced is gaining considerable attention among young couples and it is often done by a professional photographer to secure good quality photos that you would often find the couples using as their profile pictures on Facebook rather than the actual wedding picture because there the couple are not all dressed and made up so it is love in the everyday life setting. Coming second in line for the request that many professional photographers get for commercial service are family photo sessions. This used to be a tradition mostly of the well-off families in pre-1952 Egypt where a family would have their individual portraits every year and then have a group family photo -- the tradition is coming back now, Hazzaa argued. The reason it is coming back, Hazzaa argued, apart from the interest in quality photos to show off on social media, is the obvious fact that more and more families are not living together in one country and for some families a full get together for parents and children and maybe also grandchildren, is a once a year or once every few year event it becomes a moment worth documenting in the nicest way possible. And according to photographer Roger Anis, the pursuit of professional-quality beautiful photos is actually experiencing a new high with some Asian tourists who visit professional photographers to accompany them to give them the perfect site-seeing photos. Most recently, Anis, a long-time professional photographer who does both photojournalism and private photography at the same time, joined another professional photographer to give no more than ten tourists from China their post-card quality photos. Some had pictures of post cards on their mobiles and requested and wanted these shoots reproduced and some just said they wanted beautiful photos, Anis said.He argued that it makes sense now with social media that tourists would want to have perfect sight-seeing photos and if they actually have an already big budget for a visit to faraway places which they might not come back to -- then it is worth documenting their moment of joy.Documenting joy and beauty is not the only choice a photographer could take although to judge by many of the private photography pages online most are dedicated to producing images of beautiful people in beautiful settings or simply of beautiful and exotic places. There is also the choice of documenting pain. Eman Helal, who also started as photojournalist after having graduated in the department of mass communication at Cairo University, is opting mostly for the second path. Helal, also in her early thirties now, spends a good part of her photography time to look at and capture moments from the lives of minorities. They are often overlooked in the midst of the larger masses and sometimes it is very rare to have them stand out but if we look closer and zoom in they are there with very special challenges and very special stories that are often untold, Helal said. Earlier this year, Helal was awarded a photography prize for a feature she did on physical harassment of women in Egypt. I know that it is perhaps more trendy to take pictures of smart looking women in ethnic outfits and I also like to do this once in a while but what I find interesting and really challenging with this particular photo-feature that I worked on is that it captures a rare moment of outrage that is not happening in the midst of a big political event but rather in the path of everyday life, she said. Having attended a training course for six weeks in New York on human rights photography last year, Helal became determined that she wanted her portfolio to carry more and more pictures of challenged men and women finding their way through the hard moments of life: girls who are struggling to access education in a rural neighbourhood, a Copt who has to travel a long way to reach a church for her prayers, a poor women carrying her newborn through her working hours and an elderly person finding his way through the voting queues in local elections. Most recently, Helal worked on a feature that documented the return of a few Coptic families to their villages in Upper Egypt that they had to flee because of incidents of anti-Coptic violence. There she saw faces that reflected " a very rare mix of pain and joy of fear and reassurance.These pictures might not make it to the front-page of any of the many dailies that she had worked for before so she opted to be a private photographer who takes independent assignments but they certainly find their way through the media on the internet and in this sense they do bring considerable awareness on issues related to the lives of minorities, Helal said. According to Hazzaa and Helal, the work of modern day photography that is essentially done by young men and women of various academic backgrounds is providing a very detailed image of the face of life in Egypt "inside out." Elouan agreed that this is very true. He added that unlike photography of from Egypt from the 19th century through the 20th century, the works of young Egyptian photographers is certainly way less posed and much more insightful as it goes beyond the perfect composition of the actual stories. With the return of professional photography to assume the attention of the public beyond photojournalism or the actual work of documenting events for books we are seeing a wealth in the making of material that would for long provide researchers with an incredible insight into the life of Egyptians from these years, Elouan said. He argued that efficient cataloguing and management of copyrights would be essential to make this information accessible for researchers in the future. And I think that this is one of the blessings of technology that photographers of previous generations were not privy to, he added. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WESTPORTDemocrat Jonathan Steinberg and Republican Cathy Walsh butted heads during their most contentious debate yet in the race for the 136th House District in Westport. When the question of potentially raising taxes came up at the League of Women Voters Debate on Oct. 25, Walsh delivered a harsh jab, My opponent, Jonathan, did vote for two of the largest tax increases. Thats not true, Steinberg retorted. Walsh added that Steinberg voted for the implementer bill in both 2011 and 2013, but clarified that he did not vote for the budget in 2015. Instead of raising taxes, which Walsh said she was against, she said the legislature needs to stop the flow of capital from our state. Walsh noted how when she moved to the state in 1990 there was no state income tax and the next year there was. She suggested that the high taxes in the state prompted 237,000 Connecticut residents leave the state along with their $ 13.7 billion of taxable income with them. Steinberg said raising taxes hasnt helped us and maintained the focus has to be on the spending side. The Connecticut 21 initiative has identified a half a dozen things that, if taken collectively and we institute them, represent a billion dollars in savings annually which happens to perform nicely with our annual deficit. When the topic turned to General Electrics departure and how to keep businesses in the state, Walsh said the key is the stability of a workforce. To stabilize the workforce Walsh proposed vocational schools and providing job retraining for those who have been thrown out of their careers mid-life. Small businesses need to be a focal point for the state, Steinberg said. He emphasized how the state is currently having companies coordinate with vocational schools to facilitate job placement by making sure the curriculum and skills learned directly transfer over to the jobs they will be placed in. As far as balancing the budget goes, Steinberg said a main reason for the states fiscal problems stems from some very poor deals with the state workers union. He said renegotiation such deals are going to be part of the conversation going forward. Walsh said the state employees need to transition from pensions to 401ks or defined contribution plans because of the financial burden imposed by pensions. She said pensions should be included in the spending cap. @chrismmarquette; cmarquette@bcnnew.com These days it seems like everyones apologizing. Wells Fargo is sorry for the cross-selling scandal; Samsung for the exploding Note7s; Donald Trump for the 2005 "hot mic'' tape in which boasted of sexually assaulting women; and Hillary Clinton again and again for those damn emails. Are their apologies effective? Are they convincing? Will they change minds and salvage damaged brands? Recently, psychological scientists and organizational development experts have identified seven crucial components of a Full Apology. These range from owning the mistake, and expressing empathy, to promising never again, and offering to make amends. Each component is important, and while respectful leaders will ensure that they engage in each when they apologize, some carry more weight than others. Sincerity is an intangible factor that plays a role in every apology. Without being genuinely contrite, any "apology" is a waste of time and effort which could make a bad situation even worse. Here are the seven components of a Full Apology and grading of the presidential candidates most recent apologies. 1. Own your behavior that caused hurt. The first step in any apology is admitting that you know you did or said something that hurt someone else. This is the most crucial step -- dont even bother apologizing if youre not going to admit this. Trump admitted in his Twitter, Facebook video and debate that that was his voice on the video, but he could have been more specific about admitting that he knew it was hurtful. Grade: B Clinton admitted repeatedly that she made a mistake in using a single email account to conduct State Department and personal business. Grade: A Related: 10 Harsh Lessons That Will Make You More Successful 2. Acknowledge that you hurt them. Acknowledging the pain you caused is a powerful part in any effective apology. Without it, the person youre apologizing to feels like you dont really empathesize with their pain. This is the second most important part of any apology. Trump doesnt seem to believe anyone was hurt by his behavior, which he calls locker room talk. This despite the fact that the targets of his behavior have gone on record as being hurt by it. Grade: F. Clinton doesnt seem to think anyone or the government was hurt by her behavior. Grade: F. 3. Make no excuses. Excuses shif blame off of your and onto someone or something else. Excuses are self-serving. In fact, the moment you say Im sorry, but or I didnt mean to you immediately undermine your apology. An effective apology contains the words There are no excuses. I did it. Im responsible. Trump called it locker room banter essentially saying its no big deal. Hes essentially minimalizing the behavior, making excuses for it. Grade: F. Clinton has said there are no excuses and I take responsibility. Grade: A. Related: 10 Unmistakable Habits of Utterly Authentic People 4. Ask for forgiveness. When you say the words Im sorry you need to ask for forgiveness but you cant take for granted you will receive it. Asking for forgiveness puts power back into the hands of those you hurt. Trump apologized, but did not ask for forgiveness. Grade: C-. Clinton apologized, but did not ask for forgiveness. Grade: C-. 5. Promise to never repeat the behavior. Promising to never to engage in the hurtful behavior again tells the person youve hurt that you will pay more close attention to your words and actions in the future. Trump promised to be a better man but wasnt specific about what that means. Grade: C. Clinton said "if I had it to do over again, I certainly wouldnt do it. Grade: B. 6. Offer to make amends. Its not enough to just apologize and say lets move on. You must offer to make it up to the individual you hurt in a meaningful way that they will appreciate, and they must have the opportunity to say "no." Trump made no offer of amends to any of the injured parties and recently said he plans to sue each of the women after the election. Grade: F. Clinton made no offer to make amends, but its not clear who the injured parties are. Grade: D. Related: 10 Habits That Will Make You Much Happier 7. Start making amends. Actions speak louder than words. Even if the person you hurt doesnt want you to make amends, you should still try to anyway. Trump Not happening. Grade: F. Clinton Not Happening. Grade: F. Overall, the apologies from both Trump and Clinton fall short in key areas, and sincerity is questionable in Trumps case. Their overall grades Trump gets a "D." He seemed insincere as though he was only making an apology because he got caught. Clinton gets a "B-minus." She seemed sincere, but whether it will change anyones mind Doubtful. No matter how well you execute your Full Apology it is the beginning of a process, not the end. Theres a lot more work to be done after youve said Im sorry. Related: Trump and Clinton Are Case Studies in How Not to Apologize 5 Positive Ways to Overcome Betrayal in Life and Business Fight Procrastination by Reading This Article Right Now Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Editors note: This is the sixth of a nine-part series in which Westport News reporter Laura Weiss takes part in the towns Citizens Police Academy and shares her experiences with readers. WESTPORT During the seventh week of the citizens academy, my classmates and I got an attorneys view into what happens after an arrest, from setting bail through the judicial process. Senior Assistant States Attorney Paul J. Ferencek, who tries cases in the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District that includes Westport, walked the class through what happens when someone is arrested and goes to court. The post-arrest process generally starts with arraignment, when the judge determines if there is probable cause to hold the arrestee, Ferencek said. In the case of a warrant arrest, the determination has already been signed off on by a judge so the court can skip the arraignment step. When an arrest is made without a warrant, Ferencek said a defendant has to go before a judge within 48 hours to be arraigned. Because Connecticut does not have night courts, a list of judges remains on call and if they need to review probable cause when court is closed. Documents and records are brought right to the judges homes in some cases, to ensure the legal timeline is met. Other than the traditional legal process, courts offer special programs including alcohol, drug and youth offender programs that, Ferencek said, while sometimes abused, can offer someone the chance they may need to fix their situation. He also highlighted that a missed court appearance does not immediately trigger rearrest for most case types. The system is really out to give people every chance they can to stay out of jail, Ferencek said. Ferencek said prosecutors can also decide to nolle, meaning not to prosecute a case. The decision not to prosecute would relate to details of the case and evidence, as well as an assessment by the attorney of how to best use their time and handle their caseloads. Sometimes the process is the punishment, he said. This year's Panorama runs from 2 to 12 November; films will be screened across Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said and Ismailia Check Panorama's complete section here Returning to Cairo this fall is the Panorama of the European Film festival, now in its 9th edition. Organised by Misr International Films in partnership with the European Union and Zawya, the festival runs from 2 November to 12 November. It is presided over by Marianne Khoury, with artistic director Stephanie Sicard. Drawing cinephiles and mainstream movie goers alike, Panorama has been bringing European films to the Cairo film scene since 2004. This year's programme brings to Cairo 43 feature films, 11 documentaries, and a selection of short films from 32 countries. Traditionally held in cinemas and other venues across Cairo and Alexandria, Panorama announced last week that it will be expanding screenings to Port Said and Ismailia this year. The decision follows successful screenings in Tanta and Minya last year, and an announcement by Youssef Shazli, managing director of Zawya, that popular demand encouraged the Panorama to expand to new cities. Cinemas and other venues In Cairo, the Panorama will screen films in Cinema Karim and Zawya in Downtown Cairo, Point 90 Cinemas in Fifth Settlement (Tagamoa El-Khamis), and Plaza Cinemas in Sheikh Zayed. Additional screenings will be held free of charge at Institut Francais d'Egypte, Goethe Institut, and Istituto Italiano de Cultura. In Alexandria, screenings will take place in Cinema Rio; in Ismailia at Cinema Donia; and in Port Said at Cinema Arkan. One feature of this years Panorama is a series of workshops and discussions aimed at bringing audiences and filmmakers together. A number of directors will join Q&A sessions during which they will discuss their films. They include Soner Caner and Baris Kaya (Rauf, 2016), Mikko Kuparinen (2 Nights Till Morning, 2015), Fredrik Gertten (Becoming Zlatan, 2015), George Amponsah (The Hard Stop, 2015), Gregoire Verbeke (the director of The Last Omelette which is the making of The Land of the Enlightened), and Jihane Chouaib (Go Home, 2015). More directors are soon to be announced. Screening Sections As with previous editions, films will be screened in several sections. The European Cinema section brings us films produced over the past two years which have gained international recognition in festivals around the world. The Emerging Directors section consists of films produced by up-and-coming filmmakers, such as Raufone of several Turkish films coming to the festival for the first time. The Documentary Rendez-Vous section brings documentaries highlighting contemporary issues and discussions going on around the world. Those Who Jump, which revolves around the lives of African migrants in Northern Morocco attempting to migrate to Europe, brings a new perspective to Europe's refugee crisis. For the third time, Panorama will also include Carte Blanche, a section in which three of our very own directorsthis year Khairy Beshara, Mohammed Hammad, and Hala Lotfyeach select a European film to screen and discuss how the piece impacted their work. New to the Panorama this year is a section titled Urban Lens: Spotlight on Berlin," which will include five films revolving around the featured city. According to organisers, Berlin was chosen for its demonstrated integration of different stories and cultures. The Panorama Classics section introduces three restored films that have charmed us in the past and are ready to do so again. Films include Youssef Chahines Adieu Bonaparte, on the French invasion of Egypt; Adenoid Hynkels The Great Dictator, starring none other than Charlie Chaplin; and Robert Rossellinis Rome, Open City. Returning for a second time this year is the Crossroads section, which features nine films portraying the realities and day-to-day lives of Arabs told through the eyes of European filmmakers. The programme has the potential to spark important discussion, with films like Sonita, the story of an Afghani female rapper in Iran, and Speed Sisters, which follows an all-women drag racing team in Palestine. The final section of this year's festival, Panoranimation, is brought to us in collaboration with the French Cultural Network Abroad, which holds screenings of animated films around the world throughout October. This sections films include a series of long and short animated films that employ a variety of animation techniques and bring back to the big screen some classic stories. Ticket information Tickets for the films will be available at the screening locations. In addition to the tickets, Panorama offers passes to university students with valid student ID, press with relevant ID and industry professionals, for screenings in the 10:30am, 1:00pm, and 3:30pm time slots. Passes range from EGP 25 for press, EGP 50 for students and EGP 75 for industry professionals and can be obtained through an online registration. Registration and pass processing will continue until 5 November. Check the panorama website for more details. Ahram Online is the media sponsor of The Panorama of the European Film and of Zawya. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Chocolate lovers the world over know it: nothing can quite match an indulgent chocolate feast It is not just about the feel good hormones that chocolate releases in the brain. It is also about the focused attention one gives to devouring a cup or piece of chocolate, which is close, in fact, to meditation. A real chocolate addict would neither be talking nor listening to company while immersing their taste buds in the perfect chocolate experience. They might nod and they might mumble some approving words. But otherwise, the world disappears in those moments of pure pleasure. The higher the quality of the chocolate, the more likely it is to completely take control, especially if generously served melted atop a perfectly baked waffle covered with fresh fruit, or in a pot where one takes the fruit to dip. This must be the idea behind Dip 'n Dip, the house of chocolate, sweets and coffee, with branches in New Cairo's Cairo Festival City Mall, Nasr City's City Stars Mall and the Americana Plaza Mall in Sheikh Zayed. Chocolate indulgence at Dip 'n Dip has many faces: there are crepes and waffles, or fruits, or marshmallows. There are also hot chocolate drinks and rich milkshakes. It is a hard decision to make, to choose between so many decadent choices. The cinnamon pouch crepe (a crepe filled with cream cheese, banana and apple chunks, along with cinnamon) served with a shot of melted chocolate and the banana wrap crepe (a full banana, wrapped in a crepe topped with chocolate) are good selections for those who do not wish to share. And there is much delight therein, except for the rough quality of the apples in the pouch, which irritate the mouth amid the otherwise velvet texture of the chocolate, banana and cinnamon. Those who opt for sharing can delightfully enjoy the Dip n Dip cream puffs pyramid with the small (around 15) choux a al creme, perfectly baked and adequately filled, and certainly satisfactory for three people. The consensus is that the quality of chocolate, promised by the menu to be Belgian, is good rated anywhere between seven to eight out of 10. Its volume is thick enough for the fondue pot, which is always kept warm, but a bit too thick for the celebrated spill-over chocolate that would get slightly clotted if not promptly consumed or if, as is the case particularly in indoor sections, the air-conditioning is a bit too cold. The menu of Dip n Dip has so much to offer and one or two visits are only the beginning of a potential addiction that might not even be deterred by the overly cordial attention of some of the waiters. The prices of Dip 'n Dip are within the range of most largely frequented cafe chains. For three orders, EGP 250 covered the bill and an adequate tip. The best autumn setting for the Dip n Dip experience is the outdoor section in Cairo Festival City, where the pleasant cool but still sunny weather is an added reason to surrender to chocolate decadence. Search Keywords: Short link: I was very lucky that my six-day trip to Siwa Oasis coincided with the union celebration in Dakrour Mountain I would never have believed that after travelling more than 300 kilometres through the desertfrom Marsa Matrouh, where we spent one night on our journey from CairoI would find such a rich culture in Siwa. Some 270,000 peoplebelonging to eleven tribes, ruled by 12 Sheikhslive in Siwa. Siwans have lived in this remote and isolated area for hundreds of years, which is why they tend to have their own traditions. They speak Berber or Amazighan unwritten language shared by other tribes in North Africa, to which Siwans bring a unique accent. Arabic, however, is spoken and used in public education. Siwans wear different clothes; ladies don exquisitely embroidered dresses, especially in weddings. The younger the lady, the more decoration she adopts in her dress. The oasis is rich in craft traditions like pottery, baskets and jewelry. They use five main colours in their crafts: red, green, orange, yellow and black, which symbolise the fruit of the date tree at different stages of maturity. Siwans depend on dates and olives for their livelihood. Huge patches of palm and olive trees are everywhere in Siwa. They use both in various ways, from decorating their houses with palm to making furniture with the trunks of olive trees and making date jam and paste, pickled olives and, strangely enough, olive jam, which tastes surprisingly pleasant. Special Siwa dishes include tagella enteeny and enkota, both made with dates and olive oil, of course. Education is very important for Siwans, including girls who are allowed to attend university if they want. Illiteracy among youth ages 15 to 35 does not exceed 5%. "Siwa is a Utopia nearly, which has a very special way of life. We dont have a court. The tribal rules govern us. Social support in weddings and funerals is another rule that governs us. Perhaps the union feast is the best example for that," relayed Omran Jeery, our trip guide. Union celebration, or the feast of peace The Dakrour Mountain union celebration commemorated the unity of east and west Siwa after decades of feudal fighting over land and water. Nowadays, they gather every year in the mountain to share a meal of fatta, sing, dance and pray," said Ahmed, a minibus driver. Dakrour Mountain witnesses the unity celebration or the 'feast of peace' on three full-moon nights either in October or November. This years celebration was held in October. The day before the feast, tens of men go to Dakrour Mountain to prepare for the feast. All houses deliver their share of traditional dry bread -megardal- to the mountain. On the first day, everyone prepares their three day accommodation of palm tree huts; many animals are slaughtered including two or three camels. The meat is cut and cooked with rice and pieces of bread and served on large traditional platters. Men and unmarried women are allowed to attend the festival. Girls must go home before dawn and men can sleepover in the Dakrour area. Married women are not allowed to participate but they gather in their houses and share a meal as well. "It is also a chance for young women and men to see each other and choose their future spouses," said Jeery. Besides, he added, Sufi religious rituals and prayers continue day and night throughout the three days. The Fortress of Shali The 12th-centry Fortress of Shali is built from karshif, the local soil which is made up of salt, fine sand and clay and is made hard by water and the sun. Shali is the name the inhabitants of Siwa gave to their town. In historical times, Siwans used to hide from their enemies inside the fortress's tunnels, and would use the well inside the fortress to drink from. The well is still there today, but it is nearly dry. While the sun made the karshif stronger, rain has a negative effect on it. The heavy rain caused a partial destruction of the fortress in 1928 and forced its inhabitants to abandon it. Al-Masjid Al-Ateek, or the fortress mosque, was built 500 years ago and is still used for prayers nowadays. Special places for ablution were built inside the fortress. The Siwan Museum, or El-Beit El-Siwi The Siwan Museum is located in a traditionally built two storey Siwan home. The first floor hosts exhibits, while the second contains rooms that paint a picture of the traditional Siwan lifestyle, displaying dresses, pottery, jewelry, cooking utensils and baskets. Unfortunately, the museum is in rather poor condition and in need of renovation. Adrere Amellal Adrere Amellal is a desert eco-lodge nestled into a mountainside, overlooking a crystal clear lake. It is a place for romantic and nature loving visitors. Its unique primitiveness imparted a magic atmosphere I have not found in any other hotel in the world. Adrere Amellal is fully furnished with natural material: the doors from the trunks of olive and palm trees, the furniture from salt and the candles from natural wax. Every room is unique and an example of how natural things can provide a special and rather cozy atmosphere. The lodge is not connected to electricity and is lit only by candles. I imagine it would have been even more magnificent at night, with the candlelight, serenity of the desert, the reflection of the stars on the lake and the fascination of the mountain. Its little wonder that Prince Charles chose the lodge when he visited Egypt a few years ago, staying in the highest roomindeed a room with a view. This hotel is perfect but very pricey. A room here would cost at least 450 USD a night. Getting there Taking a break in Marsa Matrouh on our way to and from Siwa provided us with a welcome rest to break up the 800 km journey from Cairo, and a chance to enjoy the serene sea and buy the special white seeds (Leb Abyad) of Marsa Matrouh. Nevertheless, the journey is long, and we had to stop twice on our way to Marsa Matrouh and once on our way to Siwa. Although they charge one pound for using the toilets in some of the rest houses along the way, the state of the toilets in most of them was appalling! Tip: While being mindful of your health, try to avoid drinking too much on the journey. Things you can do only in Siwa There are a few things that you can only do in Siwa, like spending an exciting day on a desert safari or taking a dip in the cold and hot water springs, both found in the middle of the desert and surrounded by palm trees. Safari ends in style, watching the sun set in the desert while drinking strong Siwan tea with lemon grass or cinnamon. You can feel the weightlessness and freedom of swimming in salt lakes, from which salt is also extracted, or bring home crystals of salt, said to absorb negative energy when kept in the home. A dip in one of the 200 or more natural sulphur springs including Fatnas or Cleopatra Springs is traditional. Take note, however, that Cleopatra never actually visited the spring. Rumor has it that a cafe owner near the spring gifted the name to attract more visitors. It is said that brides should come to the spring to wash their faces, for good fortune in marriage. At the end of the day you can watch the sun set over one of the crystal clear lakes and feed the fish. Believe it or not, fish like dates as well! Last but not least, you must pay a visit to the market for handmade souvenirs, dates and other Siwan products. Dont forget to try the olive jam Search Keywords: Short link: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Orange County plans to purchase a new Nativity scene for the courthouse's annual outdoor Christmas display, a year after a similar scene was removed from the Orange City Hall amid controversy with a local atheist organization. County commissioners voted this week to replace the county's broken Nativity scene, which had been in use for more than 20 years. The new scene, made of marine-grade plastic, will cost $560, according to County Judge Stephen Brint Carlton. Money for the replacement will come from the county's Buildings and Grounds account, he said. In a non-binding opinion released earlier this month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said state law allows commissioners courts to use county funding on holiday lights and decorations in public buildings. He added that legal precedent has found such decorations to be "passive and not coercive," meaning a court would likely determine that displaying them didn't violate statute. The county has put a Christmas display in front of the courthouse for "over 30 years," Carlton said. It currently includes the Nativity scene, elves, candy canes and a Christmas tree. The county is considering adding a Santa Claus this year, he said. Dana Hodges, associate state director of Concerned Women for America of Texas, a religious public policy organization, praised the commissioners after the vote. "When other cities and counties are cowering in the face of political correctness, Orange County is standing firm on their right to display this meaningful symbol," Hodges wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday night. Last year, the City of Orange moved its Nativity display from City Hall mid-season after it became the center of a controversy over religious displays on government property. The Orange County Atheists group asked the Orange city manager in December 2015 to hang a banner next to the City Hall Nativity scene that read: "Whether you are celebrating Saturnalia, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, the Winter Solstice, or any other holiday this time of year, The Orange County Atheists would like to wish you... Happy Holidays!" Instead of hanging the banner, the city opted to move the Nativity scene to Stark Park, a downtown green space maintained by the non-profit Stark Foundation. That decision drew the attention of Gov. Greg Abbott, who urged the city "to stand up to the demands of a select few who wish to see God thrown out of the public square." Clara Gilley, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Atheists, said on Wednesday that if the Nativity returns to City Hall this year, the group will request to hang the banner again. The group's members haven't decided whether they will ask to hang a similar banner at the courthouse, she said. The group does not object to the Nativity scenes or Christmas displays "as long as they're inclusive" of other beliefs, Gilley said. Carlton said that the Orange County Atheists "never gave us a formal request" to hang the banner at the courthouse last year, "but they did indicate they might be giving us one this year." "If and when we get their request, we'll make a determination," he said. LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz SAN ANTONIO As officials released the identity of a woman who was killed while chasing her vehicle that was being towed Tuesday on the North Side, family and friends expressed their shock and sadness on Facebook. Natalie Estelle Servantes, 28, died due to injuries sustained from a motor vehicle, the Bexar County Medical Examiner said Thursday. Her death was ruled an accident by the medical examiner, but police are still investigating the incident in an effort to "piece together what happened," said SAPD spokeswoman Romana Lopez. With just a three point lead in Texas, Donald Trump's campaign team here, called "Project Alamo," has turned to voter suppression tactics in an effort to give the Republican nominee an uptick in votes on Election Day, according to a new Bloomberg Businessweek article. Bloomberg reports the research team in San Antonio, which spends $100,000 on surveys weekly, along with Trump's national campaign effort, are targeting three voter groups: women, white liberals and African Americans. "We have three major voter suppression operations under way," a senior official with the campaign told Businessweek. RELATED: Everything you need to know to vote in San Antonio in the 2016 General Election The Trump camp is hoping those who have accused former President Bill Clinton of sexual assault will deter women from voting, Bussinessweek reported. On Oct. 24, the Trump campaign began running ads on African American radio stations in an attempt to discourage the group from voting. In San Antonio, campaign staffers are working on suppression tactics as well, campaign officials told Bloomberg. One staffer made an animation of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president, saying African Americans are "super predators." The animation will be published on Facebook in "dark posts" that allow "only the people we want to see it, see it," a campaign official told Businessweek. "It will dramatically affect her ability to turn these people out," a campaign official told Businessweek. RELATED: Donald Trump on Spurs: 'Wouldn't it be great if the country were run like that?' Project Alamo has some wondering if the Republican candidate has studied up on Texas history the state fell during the Battle of the Alamo. On Thursday, Trump tweeted that he had received a lot of call-ins about vote flipping at the voting booths in Texas. RELATED: Record voting continues a third day People are not happy. BIG lines. What is going on? he tweeted. Counties across Texas have seen record-busting voter turnout since early voting began Monday. In Bexar County alone, 40,186 people voted, marking the third consecutive day of record participation in a presidential contest. Between Monday and Tuesday, 74,000 registered voters cast ballots. On Twitter Thursday, one said the name Project Alamo was profoundly offensive, while others predicted Trump will lose in November with a project name involving one of the biggest defeats in Texas history. Another suggested the name meant, stop the Mexican invasion, coinciding with Trumps plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 A new wave of demonstrations starting 11 November would lead to Egypt's demise. However, the majority of Egyptians are likely to stand against that call In January 2011, the majority of Egyptians, befuddled and apprehensive, stayed at home but watched closely as history unfolded. They knew that change was needed; they realised that the calls of those in Tahrir Square were warranted, but they were extremely anxious over short and long-term repercussions. In the short term, imminent danger had Egyptians nights-on-end guard their homes and possessions from looting and thuggery. As prisons and police stations got broken into, as official buildings and churches were set on fire, and as streets became treacherous, Egyptians suffered nerve-racking panic and curfew restrictions. For the long term, they feared changes that would lead to economic hardships, terrorism, and unnerving culminations. We can honestly say that Egyptians had every right to be apprehensive, for today we are reaping what we sowed: the pandemonium synonymous with ousting President Mubarak, and soon afterwards, followed by President Morsis presidency and deposing. The chain of events intertwines like a Rubik's cube: a domino effect, where one event initiates a succession of others, and as much as I was for change in 2011, I am dead certain that we are where we are today because of the dim-sightedness we suffered back in 2011. President Mubarak wouldve stepped down six months afterwards had the activists in Tahrir not insisted on a prompt ousting. In those six months, Mubarak, whilst still in control, would have guaranteed that the Muslim Brotherhood became ineffective. Soon afterwards though, the grassroots revolution morphed into a Muslim Brotherhood victory. Had the disdain of anything related to Mubarak not taunted Tahrir and activists in general, Egypt would not have lost a precious year with Morsi in office. But once Morsi became president, the whole environment changed. The Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates assumed a powerful grip on Egypt, and in no way were they to let go of that power, ultimately devising the current turmoil. The slippery slope the Muslim Brotherhood initiated after the ousting of President Morsi continues to plague us today: every effort is being made to pull Egypt down. If it isnt overt terrorism, then it is other destructive measures. Tourists have long gone, and despite the hard-fought battle to have them return, resorts and monuments remain empty. The economy has been dealt a severe blow as manipulative hands incite a currency war, commodity shortages, and hiked prices. We are paying the penalty for not being wise enough to anticipate the ramifications of our own doings. No one can deny that had we envisioned the course we were to partake on and where it would lead us, we wouldve thought twice back in 2011. And today the same perennially dissatisfied and disgruntled cluster at one level, and the forever-raging dissidents in Turkey at another level, are calling for another wave of protests and demonstrative actions on 11/11. Heaven forbid that such a call be realised; but if it is, it will be the end of Egypt, for despite the mammoth efforts that the president and his team are implementing, we are facing compounded challenges and teetering between success and failure. Another wave of sit-ins, protests, upheavals, you name it, will be the cause of Egypts demise. Why 11/11? No one really knows, but some have interpreted it as four fingers, as in the Rabaa sign, and it makes sense to be just that. And if we are going to fall victims to another Muslim Brotherhood wave of dissent, then we deserve the collapse that we will inflict on ourselves and on Egypt. So as a reminder to those who are contemplating 11/11 because sugar is scarce or rice is unavailable, what will occur after a successful 11/11 will be by far more damaging than ever imagined, so beware, simplistic folks, beware of such Muslim Brotherhood schemes. But I have hope that those who watchfully sat out the first revolution will not let anyone harm their country once more. The Couch Party, the majority of Egyptians, those who watched perturbed but didnt budge during the first revolution, have gained a voice and a presence and will not let such an upheaval occur. They have learned their lesson the hard way. The change that is taking place in this group is crystal clear. The nonchalant attitude is long gone; they care about Egypt, exhibit their love, and encourage others to become hard workers and devoted Egyptians. Keen on lifting Egypt out of its difficult times, they promote and buy Egyptian products; they donate generously to Project Tahya Masr; they hail the Egyptian army and its martyrs, and they take pride in everything Egyptian. They effect change and demand attention. Their voice and spirit are loud and clear. And these are the Egyptians, the majority, who will stand behind Egypt against the call for its destruction. The writer is author of Cairo Rewind: The First Two Years of Egypt's Revolution. Search Keywords: Short link: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In what amounted to a harsh civics lesson, a would-be early voter spent some time Monday at the Comal County Jail in New Braunfels after wearing partisan political garb into a polling place. Charged with electioneering, a misdemeanor, Brett Mauthe, 55, of Bulverde was released on $500 bond. In an account he gave to KSAT 12 the next day, Mauthe admitted going into a polling place in Bulverde wearing a hat supporting Donald Trump and a T-shirt bearing the words Basket of Deplorables. RELATED: Trump blasts S.A. mayor over SAPD "Make America Great Again" hat reprimands Mauthe said that he got rid of the hat as requested but would not budge on removing the shirt, leading to his arrest. Contacted Thursday afternoon, he was less forthcoming. The reason Im not going to talk any more to the media is that the story gets twisted around, and I dont want to give you any comment, he said. Bulverde police did not return calls Thursday seeking information about the case. RELATED: Report: Trump's "Project Alamo" in S.A. is working to "suppress" voters Cynthia Jaqua, the Comal County elections coordinator, said while people occasionally have to be admonished, it is almost unheard of for anyone to be arrested on an electioneering charge. The law, she added, is not always well understood. Its in the election code. Electioneering is prohibited within a 100-foot marker. You cannot express views for or against a candidate or political party by wearing buttons, T-shirts, hats, whatever else or carrying signs, she said. Most people who make the mistake manage to avoid going to jail, she added. RELATED: Texas election officials: Voting booth selfies are illegal Every election we have to advise people. Even if its a school bond issue. They wear candidates shirts and we just have to remind them. Please go into the restroom and turn it inside out. This is the first time I recall someone getting arrested, she said, during two decades working at the county election office. A gentleman did walk in a little while ago with a slogan for Trump, and when I asked him to please take it off, he was real nice, and took it off, she added, while working a polling site Thursday afternoon in New Braunfels. And while Bexar County elections officials said Thursday they were not aware of any similar incidents thus far during extremely heavy early voting, Bexar GOP Chairman Robert Stovall reported otherwise. He said his partys unofficial poll watchers had observed a disturbing partisan T-shirt incident on the South Side of San Antonio. They (poll officials) made one of our voters, who had a Trump T-shirt, take the T-shirt off. The two ladies behind him with Hillary shirts didnt have to take their Hillary shirts off, Stovall said. You cant do it, Stovall said of electioneering. You can be belligerent if you want, but you wont end up in a good place, he said. A commercial drone operator has been ordered not to fly his camera-equipped craft over two dams at Medina Lake or publish photos or videos from previous flights by the agency that manages Medina Lake, whose lawyer cited the potential threat of terrorism in a cease and desist letter. Images from the flights have been posted online by Save Medina Lake, a group that has feuded with the Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Counties Water Control & Improvement District No. 1 over its management of the reservoir and its transparency. The group said it relies on drone flights to monitor how BMA releases water for downstream farmers because BMA wont provide the information. An 18-year-old in Texas has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2014 run-over death of a man who refused to buy beer for the underage youth. Prosecutors say Emmanuel Diaz was sentenced Tuesday in Abilene. Investigators say Diaz was 16 when he ran over and killed 58-year-old Jesse Cortinez on Oct. 31, 2014. RELATED: Police: Texas teen slashed art teacher with X-Acto knife during class Diaz was tried as an adult and convicted Friday of murder and deadly conduct. Authorities say Cortinez refused to buy beer for Diaz after the minor approached the adult outside a convenience store. Prosecutors say the deadly conduct charge for Diaz involved an unrelated drive-by shooting hours earlier. He received 10 years on that conviction, to run concurrently with the life sentence. RELATED: 12 facts about the gruesome, unsolved 1991 murders of 4 girls in a yogurt shop in Austin Diaz must serve 30 years before being eligible for parole. KTAB reported that the Cortinez family felt they could finally begin to heal after hearing Diazs sentence. RELATED: Middle school teacher accused of double murder acted 'completely normal' in class next day, student Theres a big void there but at least with the decisio, now we can move forward and start the healing process, said EZ Cortinez, Jesse Cortinezs brother. Theres no victory for either one of us. Either my family or Mr. Diazs family. There are no winners in this case. Like I said, were happy. The Associated Press contributed to this report. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 AUSTIN Get the National Guard or the Texas Rangers or whoever out to each house to see these kids now, state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, demanded Wednesday during a legislative committee hearing about the troubled state agency that is supposed to protect children. Hell, they may die before we get there. A special squad of state police is slated to fan out today to locate more than 2,800 children statewide who are reported to be at a high risk of being abused or neglected, all of whom have been on lengthy waiting lists for state intervention, officials confirmed. SAN ANTONIO Police officers shot and killed a man they say was armed and holding a woman against her will in an apartment near Terrell Hills on Thursday. Several San Antonio Police Department and San Antonio Fire Department units were dispatched to the Whispering Heights Apartments in the 200 block of Rainbow Drive around 2:05 p.m. for the incident. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A man was arrested in the shooting death of another after they exchanged gunfire during a dispute over drug sales and the woman the two were dating. Terrel Williams, 25, has been charged with murder in the death of Lester Devezin, 25, who was killed shortly after a shootout Sept. 18 in the 100 block of Koehler Court, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Devezin drove to a home on Koehler Court with his girlfriend after another man who lives at the residence called and said that Williams was in the front, the affidavit states. Witnesses said Devezin immediately went inside and returned with an assault rifle. Investigators were told that Devezin did so because he was in fear of their lives with the sudden arrival of Williams. After the shooting, detectives discovered that Devezin and Williams had been dating the same woman, and the two men had tension over drug sales territory and customers with the man who lived at the home, the affidavit said. Investigators said Devezin pointed his rifle at Williams and told him he could not sell drugs in front of the house and told him to leave. Without a word, Williams raised his handgun and started shooting at Devezin and the other man, the warrant states. Detectives said it was one of the bullets Williams fired that fatally struck Devezin. The man next to Devezin pulled out his own gun and began returning fire at Williams, striking him once, police said in the affidavit. Williams dropped his weapon and began running across the street, asking neighbors there for help. Both men were taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center in critical condition. Devezin was pronounced dead there, but Williams underwent life-saving surgery, investigators said. Williams bail was set at $100,000. He was still in jail as of Wednesday night. jbeltran@express-news.net Twitter: @JBfromSA This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO Area law enforcement are looking for a man who led an officer in a short pursuit and rammed the officers vehicle with a stolen car on Tuesday, prompting a local manhunt. Justin Kenneth Vollmer, 31, is considered armed and dangerous and is wanted for aggravated assault of a public servant following a Tuesday morning incident with police in Balcones Heights, officials said. RELATED: SAPD: Man struck by 2 vehicles while trying to help motorist involved in crash Balcones Heights Police Department spokesman Lorenzo Nastasi said the incident occurred about 10 a.m. Tuesday in Balcones Heights when an officer started pursuing a stolen vehicle. The person inside that vehicle, believed to be Vollmer, engaged in a short pursuit with police and eventually rammed the vehicle into the police officers vehicle. The officer fired his weapon at least once in an attempt to stop the stolen vehicle, but was unable to do so. The suspect later crashed the vehicle into a location near the First Unitarian Church and fled the scene on foot, Nastasi said. RELATED: Motorcyclist without helmet ejected after hitting SUV on I-10 in S.A. The spokesman said no one was injured in the ordeal and the suspect is still at large as of Thursday morning. Schools nearby had to be put on lockdown at the time of the incident, since it was reported. Vollmer has an extensive criminal background in Bexar County, including charges of possession of a controlled substance, burglary of a habitation, criminal mischief, unauthorized use of a vehicle and burglary of a vehicle, among other charges. RELATED: SAPD: 3 hospitalized after man in Lexus drunkenly T-bones vehicle on West Side Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Balcones Heights Police Department at 210-735-9212. If you see him, do not try to detain him, but call 9-1-1. Text "NEWS" to 72727 to sign up for breaking news from mySA twhite@mysa.com Twitter: @tylerlwhite This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A San Antonio man convicted last month on one count of sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child by contact has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. Frederick Lee, 39, initially was charged in a multiple count indictment after a 16-year-old girl told authorities in 2013 that Lee sexually assaulted her. The Express-News does not identify victims of sexual assault. The victim, now 19, testified at Lees trial that he abused her on two occasions, and gave her alcohol and a white, powdery substance, which she said Lee would put up her nose before he forced her to allow him to perform sex acts on her. I kept on telling him no, I didnt want to do this, she said. She said Lee told her he would rape her if she told anyone about the encounters. A jury convicted Lee on Sept. 26. State District Judge Lorina Rummel sentenced him Wednesday after prosecutors said Lee had served two prison terms in Louisiana on drug-related charges, according to a statement by the Bexar County District Attorneys Office. Sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact are both second-degree felonies punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Because Lee is considered a habitual offender, his punishment range was enhanced to 25 years to life in prison, according to the DAs office. The sentences will run concurrently, and Lee will have to serve at least half of his 30-year sentence before he is eligible for parole. ezavala@express-news.net (Beijing) As China seeks to develop its capital markets and broaden channels for investment and borrowing to spread financial risk, insurance companies have been winning a bigger slice of a growing pie. In 2013, firms such as China Life, Ping An Insurance Group and Minsheng Life Insurance got the green light to manage funds for external clients, or third parties, drawing on the firms' expertise in looking after their own money. In addition to taking on assets from smaller insurance companies that lack the expertise and market access of their bigger rivals, these third-party asset managers also manage funds handed to them by other institutional investors that originate from non-insurance sources. With the industry still in its infancy, third-party business still accounts for only a very small part of the total assets administered by an insurer-owned asset manager, according to Sally Yim, senior vice-president for Asia Pacific financial institutions at Moody's Investors Service. An asset manager with a large Chinese insurance company told Caixin that in a mature market, the third-party business in the insurance asset-management sector would account for more than 70% of the total assets under management (AUM). But the segment is growing rapidly and is providing insurance companies with a larger stream of revenue that helps bolster their earnings. Up-to-date industrywide numbers are not available, but the latest half-year earnings report from Ping An, the country's second-largest insurer, gives some indication of the growth in third-party business. As of June 30, Ping An Asset Management's assets under management from external clients were 276 billion yuan ($40.8 billion), 153% higher than at the end of June 2014. That's still small compared with Ping An Asset Management's total AUM of 2.08 trillion yuan at the end of June 2016, but the share of third-party business has jumped to 13.2% from 7.8% in just two years. Fees earned from external clients have more than tripled in the last two years, rising to 1 billion yuan in the first half of 2016 from 300 million yuan in the first half of 2014. Taiping Insurance Group's asset management unit, Taiping Asset Co., reported a total AUM of 400 billion yuan in 2015, with assets from external clients jumping by 30% to 150 billion yuan, accounting for more than a third of the total. Banks are a sought-after target for insurer-owned AMCs, as they outsource to external asset managers about 2 trillion yuan of the wealth management products they sell to customers, according to Haitong Securities. At the end of 2015, banks had outstanding wealth management products of nearly 24 trillion yuan, according to data compiled by China Central Depository & Clearing Co. Ltd. Insurer-owned AMCs are permitted by regulators to issue a range of products to third-party institutions to raise money for investment in state-backed infrastructure projects, real estate and asset-backed securities through what are known as asset-backed specific plans (ABSPs). They also set up mezzanine funds, M&A funds, real estate funds and other private equity funds for investors. The products are sold directly to institutions and cannot be publicly traded on the interbank market or sold on the stock markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen, which puts the AMCs at a significant disadvantage to rival asset management plans owned by securities companies and fund management companies whose products can be listed and traded on the exchanges. Insurer-owned asset management firms are keen to play up their strengths and advantages, pointing to their depth of experience in investing, risk management, asset evaluation, and ensuring assets and liabilities are properly matched. "The investment rates of return quoted by an insurer-owned asset manager are usually lower than those offered by fund and securities firms, which presents some difficulties in attracting investors," said Zhuang Yuemin, deputy general manager of Minsheng Tonghui Asset Management Co. Ltd, set up by Minsheng Life Insurance, one of China's largest insurers. "But we are confident that the assets we invest in are safe and lower-risk." But even as the market is growing, the challenges are also increasing. Concerned about the rise in non-compliant practices, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) took action in June, tightening regulations on the kinds of products insurer-owned AMCs can sell. It explicitly banned asset-backed securities derived from the pooling of different kinds of assets with different maturities and risks, which had become an increasingly important part of the AMCs' offering. The new rules appear to threaten the sale of asset-backed plans. Under an ABSP, an asset management company acts as a project manager for a special-purpose vehicle that's set up to securitize assets for a specific plan. Institutional investors subscribed to the plan are issued with beneficiary certificates. The funds raised from the plan are used to buy assets that are then pooled and packaged into tranches of interest-bearing securities classified according to their level of risk. The cash flow generated from the assets pays the interest due to investors. After suspending asset securitization following the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States that triggered the global financial crisis, the Chinese government allowed issuance to restart in 2012. The China Securities Regulatory Commission allowed securities companies to issue asset-backed plans and the CIRC issued rules that gave the green light to insurer-owned AMCs to sell plans to their clients, including third parties, in February 2013. The market boomed, and in the second quarter of 2016, the issuance of ABSPs surged 242% year-on-year to 100 billion yuan, with the number of plans issued rising to 84 from 37 a year earlier, according to data released by Fitch Ratings in September. Minsheng Tonghui was the first insurer-owned AMC to issue an asset-backed plan, raising 200 million yuan to buy securitized microloans issued by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s financial arm to businesses on the e-commerce giant's online platform in June 2013. "This was a very innovative product and it wasn't very well-accepted at the time," Zhuang, the deputy general manager of Minsheng Tonghui, told Caixin. But the business grew rapidly nevertheless in spite of the shaky start. Data from the CIRC showed that by September 2015, nine insurer-owned AMCs had issued 22 plans, raising a combined 81.2 billion yuan. The plans had an average maturity of 5.5 years and offered yields to maturity of 5.8% to 8.3%. But the management and sale of these ABSPs appears to have hit a roadblock after the CIRC issued new rules in August 2015. The original regulations issued back in 2013 were not clear on how such products should be managed and how the beneficiary certificates could be traded by investors. Although asset-backed securities plans sold by securities firms could be listed and traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, the beneficiary certificates of ABSPs sold by insurer-owned AMCs had no public exchange or trading platform. That meant investors could only buy and sell the certificates privately. The new rules in 2015 said that the beneficiary certificates could be traded on an insurance exchange. Although an insurance exchange in Shanghai was first proposed back in 2010, it still hadn't been set up when the CIRC made its pronouncement. The Shanghai Insurance Exchange was finally opened in June this year, giving investors a public platform to trade products sold by insurer-owned asset management companies. The industry is now pinning its hopes on the exchange to boost demand and create a more level playing field with rival asset managers whose products are traded on the country's two stock exchanges. Contact reporter Dong Tongjian (tongjiandong@caixin.com) Plainview police are investigating a simple assault that occurred between 2:15-2:20 a.m. Thursday in the 2800 block of West Fourth Street (a Class C misdemeanor) associated with the crime of interference with emergency request for assistance (interference with a 911 call). That offense is a Class A misdemeanor. No arrests were indicated on the initial police incident report. --A 19-year-old Levelland man was arrested about 11 p.m. Wednesday in the 1700 block of West 11th Street for driving with license suspended with previous conviction or suspension. He was held in Hale County jail Thursday on $1,500 bond. (Hong Kong) Hong Kong business tycoon Li Ka-shing has agreed to sell an office and retail property complex in Shanghai to an unnamed insurance company for 20 billion yuan ($2.95 billion), the latest property divestment on the Chinese mainland by the Hong Kong multibillionaire. Cheung Kong Property Holdings Ltd. and the Li Ka Shing (Overseas) Foundation both owned by the businessman sold their combined 100% share in investment holding company Mapleleaf Developments Ltd., Cheung Kong said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Wednesday. Mapleleaf indirectly owns the Century Link complex, located in Shanghai's Pudong New District. Cheung Kong said the buyer was a special purpose vehicle, majority-owned by "an established insurer," without disclosing its name. The remaining minority stake will be held by two funds managed by ARA Asset Management Ltd., which is partly owned by Li, according to the filing. The sale of the commercial and retail complex housing 130,000 square meters of office space and a 139,000-square-meter shopping mall will net Cheung Kong a profit of HK$6.22 billion ($802 million), and the deal is expected to be completed by 2018, the company said. The divestment comes as the offshore yuan continued its slide against the U.S. dollar, hitting a six-year low on Thursday, and as China's economy decelerated to its slowest growth rate in more than two decades. "There are various risk factors and uncertainties in China's market, and at the same time, there are a lot of investment opportunities globally," said Thomas Lam, head of valuation and consultancy department at Knight Frank, a London-based property consultancy group. "I believe that this is a good timing to offload some properties and to look for other investment opportunities with higher returns." In recent years, Li and his family have been disposing of office and retail space in Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing and Guangzhou while launching into an acquisition spree in Europe. This has stoked speculation that Li rated by Forbes magazine as the richest man in Hong Kong is staging a calculated pullout from the Chinese market. The Hong Kong tycoon reportedly put Century Link up for sale last year with an asking price of more than 16 billion yuan. Contact reporter Chen Na (nachen@caixin.com); editor Calum Gordon (calum@caixin.com) When the Texas Supreme Court recently declined to declare our convoluted school finance system unconstitutional, they betrayed our children. If SAISD voters dont vote for the tax ratification election on Nov. 8, well betray them too. The courts ruling was hardly an endorsement of Texas school finance structure. The opinion urged the Legislature to undertake comprehensive reforms, saying that Texas students deserve a revamped, non-sclerotic system fit for the 21st century. But we cannot wait for our notoriously slow-moving lawmakers to act. The Legislatures record of addressing school finance issues speaks for itself. Our citys economic vitality and the future of SAISDs 54,000 students hang in the balance. Like it or not, its up to us to get ourselves out of this mess. The tax ratification election is our communitys best way around a broken school funding system. TRE funds will go directly into classrooms to support students and teachers. Unlike increased revenues from rising property values, funds from the TRE are not subject to recapture by the state. In other words, TRE money stays local, unlike the tax revenues produced by increasing property values, which are recaptured and redistributed to other school districts. So, yes, downtown property values are up, but SAISD does not get to keep that money. TRE money not only stays within SAISD, it is matched by the state. The district anticipates the TRE will bring in $32.1 million per year, with $16.5 million from the state and $15.6 million from the SAISD community. In essence, the TRE is a way for us to bring more of our tax dollars back to our community. This investment is critical because SAISD students as a whole do not have the same academic opportunities as students just a couple miles away. The majority currently are not exposed to the technology theyll need to succeed in the job market, in school or at home, and SAISD struggles to hire and retain seasoned educators in a competitive job market. The TRE is the only comprehensive funding mechanism available to bring in more resources to directly address these problems. Bond money cannot be used in this way. While bonds are for buildings, the TRE is for the education that takes place within those buildings. The bond proposal is absolutely needed. The state of some SAISD schools, despite a truly dedicated and capable facilities staff, is mind-blowing. There is only so much a custodian can do to maintain a 40-year-old air chiller so antiquated the manufacturer has stopped making replacement parts. We can transform SAISD, but we need both the TRE and the bond to be approved by voters next month. Downtown San Antonio is experiencing growth that we havent seen since its heyday, but the momentum is missing the most vital element transformational investment in public education. Access to quality public education is one of the most important features of healthy neighborhoods. Good, well-supported schools create opportunity. It would be a mistake to keep pushing downtown forward and leave the schools behind. One look around the country provides cautionary tales of gentrified inner cities with neglected public school systems. Lets not do that to our city. Lets not do that to SAISD and its students. If you live within SAISD boundaries, please be sure to make it to the last page of your ballot. At the very bottom is an opportunity to right a wrong that will reverberate for generations. Remember to vote for both the TRE and the bond this November. Shannan Hern is the mother of two students who attend school in the San Antonio Independent School District. Re: Trump says S.A.s mayor should be feeling shame, Front Page, Oct. 19: Thanks for the reporting. I am still angry that those policemen would do such an outrageous thing. Im surprised Donald Trump didnt have them wear Crooked Hillary caps. They should understand that what they did was serious misconduct. It made a strong anti-democracy statement. Richard Sharer More like cursed In these troubled times, it is truly gratifying to see how our political discourse has risen to such a truly dignified, stately and intellectual level. Who can doubt that we are blessed above all nations? Robert Bogard Sad demise Does the Republican Party not understand that with its choice and backing of Donald Trump it has destroyed itself? Republicans have done to themselves what the Democrats have been unable to accomplish in the last 100 years. They have fallen on their swords. A very unimpressive ending to a once fine political group. My father is spinning in his grave. Unbelievable. Al Blomberg, Converse His bias is obvious Re: Trump is to blame for media imbalance, Brian Chasnoff, Oct. 18: This commentary railed about Donald Trump saying the media are in collusion against Republicans. On and on. What Brian Chasnoff should speak to are all the WikiLeaks that have come out showing the Hillary Clinton campaign was in bed with many people illegally. He basically makes Trumps point. He would rather drive him under than speak to the illegal practices of the Democrats! Diane Hogan The Fourth what? Remember when the Fourth Estate was the seeker of the truth and reported the truth of their findings after investigating the activities of all the government? There was a demonstrable pride in pointing out all the foibles of our investigated elected. Oh, how I would celebrate their return. The Fourth Estate was our ultimate protector, and they seem to have sold us out. I wonder how many even remember the term Fourth Estate. Michael Gehri Beyond climate Re: Rep. Smiths bully moves cross the line, Editorial, Oct. 18: I was saddened to hear that your paper would not endorse Lamar Smith for re-election to the U.S. House based on his climate change stand. I may differ with a few of his climate change views, but that alone would definitely not influence me to not vote for him. It seems that the Express-News is interested in climate change when endorsing Republicans, which it does not do enough. San Antonio and the nation have major issues in VA affairs (remember, San Antonio is Military City, U.S.A.); a national debt of $19 trillion; growing corruption at the federal level; a poor global leadership image; Islamic terrorism; a poorly run health care system; hackers; inadequate economic growth; education sluggishness; energy dependence; an almost completely open border; and overregulation of businesses. Rep. Smith has done so much to improve all of these areas. And you think that only climate change should be considered when endorsing someone? Take a look at New York, both the state and the city, where Hillary Clinton served as senator for years. Is it cleaner than this great city? Jerry P. Gonzales Pop and the media Re: Popovich staying patient for now, Sports, Oct. 18 The photo by Tom Reel is a perfect depiction of Gregg Popovich and his relationship with the media. You should enlarge the color version, frame it and let it be shown at every news conference with Pop. It might spur more intelligent questions. Herman Vela STAMFORD - A wild ride in a Stamford Town Center glass elevator while apprehending a man with a gun has led Mayor David Martin to commend Lt. Diedrich Hohn and Officer Luis Velez for their bravery. The incident began at 5:09 p.m. Wednesday when a citizen reported seeing a man holding a black gun to the side of his head and pulling the trigger next to the entrance of the Grey Rock Place parking garage. Just then a woman reported seeing a suspicious man walking on Summer Place carrying a black gun in his right hand. Police quickly turned up a video of the man and radioed a description to other officers on the lookout for him. Another officer, Ramon Gipson, went to Stamford Town Center to view the malls camera system in hopes of getting a picture of him. Gipson found a video of the man wearing an olive green jacket, rough beard and walking with a limp toward the mall. He freeze framed the image before emailing it to officers now converging downtown. More for you Stamford police chase, tackle Norwalk man with facsimile gun... After keeping an eye on the video monitors inside the mall, Gipson spotted the man about 10 minutes later on the seventh floor, walking toward the restrooms. Radioing the mans location to other officers, Gipson then saw him take an escalator to the fifth and disappear. Unbeknownst to Hohn and Velez as they entered the mall on the second floor, the suspect got into an elevator. As Hohn and Velez walked by the elevator, the lifts doors opened and the man fitting the description of the suspect stepped out. In his report, Velez said the man tried to walk past the two officers, but Hohn told the man to stop. When he did not, Hohn grabbed the man by the right shoulder. At that moment Velez said the suspect, identified as Mohamed Boumazzourh, raised his right hand from his waist area and he could see a black handgun in his right hand. Velez yelled gun, gun and the two ordered the man to show them his hands. The two then tackled Boumazzourh into the elevator and a violent struggle ensued as they tried to get the gun out of Boumazzourths hand. As the three fell into the car, the doors to the elevator closed sending the lift up and down several times before Velez was able to wrestle the gun out of Boumazzourths hand and the two got control over him. This was a nice job by all sergeants and officers in A Squad, Hohn said in his report. Everyone pitched in and played a part in bringing this dangerous situation to a successful conclusion. After being taken into custody, police discovered that the weapon was a BB gun, which looks just like a semiautomatic pistol. Martin is holding the commendation ceremony in his office at 11 a.m. Friday. Boumazzourh, 29, a resident of Norwalk, who recently arrived from Ohio, was charged with carrying and brandishing a facsimile firearm, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and breach of peace. At his arraignment Thursday, Judge Auden Grogins ordered that he be held in lieu of a $100,000 court appearance bond and be given a mental health evaluation. JNICKERSON@SCNI.COM; SACRAMENTO Support among California likely voters ballooned over the past month for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who now has a 26-point lead over her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, according to the latest Public Policy Institute of California poll released Wednesday. The poll showed Clinton ahead 54 percent to 28 percent a 10-point jump from September. The survey also found that only 38 percent of California voters are satisfied with their pick of candidates, far fewer than in past presidential elections. Republicans, in particular, lacked enthusiasm for this election. While 57 percent of Democrats said they were enthusiastic about voting, only 46 percent of Republicans reported feeling upbeat. Those feelings could influence down-ticket races and ballot measures, said PPIC President Mark Baldassare. Given that Republicans are already at the numerical disadvantage in California, they seem to have an enthusiasm gap compared to Democrats as well, Baldassare said. Last month, a PPIC poll found Clinton ahead by 16 points, 47 percent to Trumps 31 percent. Among Republicans, 70 percent said they support Trump, which Baldassare said is a bit on the low side compared with previous presidential elections. For example, 86 percent of Republicans in the state supported Mitt Romney in the 2008 election, while 75 percent supported John McCain in the 2012 election. Among female voters in California, Clinton holds a 59 percent to 25 percent advantage, but she also leads among men 48 percent to 32 percent. Clinton is ahead among all age, education and income groups, the poll found. Clinton led among different racial and ethnic groups, but that support widely varied. Among white voters, 45 percent support Clinton, while 36 percent support Trump. Among Latino voters, 71 percent support Clinton and 12 percent back Trump. The poll did not include separate categories for Asian American or African American voters due to the sample size being too small. In the U.S. Senate race, state Attorney General Kamala Harris widened her lead over Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez to 22 points. The two Democrats are seeking to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer. Harris leads Sanchez among white voters 39 percent to 17 percent, while Sanchez is ahead with Latino voters 41 percent to Harris 33 percent. Harris holds the advantage in all other subgroups, including wide margins among Bay Area and Los Angeles voters as well as among men and women voters. However, more than a third of Republicans say they will not vote in the U.S. Senate race. Among voters who support Trump, about half said they will not vote in the Senate race. If you look at this race starting with the primary in which Sanchez had about 20 percent of the primary vote and is at about 20 percent of likely voters now, it indicates there hasnt been really any significant shift in support for Sanchez between the primary and general, Baldassare said. A 2-to-1 lead for Harris, thats a substantial margin that isnt too different from the margin in the presidential race. Among ballot measures, all of which need a majority to pass, the poll found: Prop. 51 - The measure to authorize the state to issue $9 billion in bonds for school construction is behind in polling. When read the ballot title and label, 46 percent of likely voters said they supported Prop. 51, while 41 percent said they would vote no and 12 percent said they are undecided. Prop. 55 - Nearly 6 in 10 voters said they would support the ballot measure to extend temporary taxes on the wealthy, which were first created under the 2012 initiative Prop. 30. Support for the measure increased since September by 12 points. Prop. 56 - Voters support a tax increase on tobacco products, despite significant money going into defeating the measure. Among likely voters, 56 percent said they support the measure, compared to 38 percent who plan to vote no and 6 percent who said they are undecided. The measure increases the cigarette tax by $2 a pack in order to fund health care, prevention programs and law enforcement. Prop. 64 - More than half of voters said they would support the measure to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older and create state taxes on the sale and cultivation of the product. Of likely voters, 55 percent said they support the measure, while 38 percent said they did not and 4 percent said they are undecided. The PPIC surveyed 1,704 adults in California between Oct. 14 and 23 in English and Spanish depending on the callers preference. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. Half of the interviews were on landline telephones and half were on cell phones. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez (Beijing) The government agency that oversees China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) said it is stepping up efforts to crack down on corruption and punish poor decision-making that has cost large state-run conglomerates billions of yuan in losses in recent years. The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), a ministry-level body that directly oversees government owned industrial and service conglomerates, will set up three new supervision bureaus to conduct in-depth investigations to spot corruption and negligence, punish wrongdoers and push for reforms within SOEs, SASAC Vice Chairman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday. SOEs under the agency and its 32 provincial branches had assets worth 128 trillion yuan ($18.9 trillion) as of September. The announcement comes days after Yu Tieyi, a deputy general manager of a state-owned logistics company, was given a suspended death sentence for taking 307 million yuan ($45.4 million), the largest-ever bribe taken by an official in the history of the People's Republic of China. Currently, SASAC periodically sends supervisory teams to SOEs to evaluate their overall performance, but there was no specific department in charge of conducting follow-ups when cases of corruption, fraud or negligence were uncovered. The agency's ability to supervise SOEs has been weak, and many problems haven't been spotted, SASAC Chairman Xiao Yaqing said in March. Several high-profile graft cases involving top management at giant SOEs have raised concerns about allowing a few state-owned players to dominate key economic sectors such as energy and telecommunication. Wang Tianpu, former president of China Petrochemical Corp., and Liao Yongyuan, former president of China National Petroleum Corp., were both put under investigation last year for allegedly taking large undisclosed sums of money in bribes. Profits of SOEs declined 1.6% in the first nine months year-on-year from 2015, official data showed. Some of the losses have been blamed on fraud, embezzlement and poor decision-making by corrupt SOE managers. Contact reporter Coco Feng (renkefeng@caixin.com); editor Poornima Weerasekara (poornima@caixin.com) Security was called to a heated Planning Commission meeting Wednesday after developer Mike Hogan and residents of Ingram Hills appeared to be close to blows over a proposed low-income apartment complex. The commission approved Hogans proposal to build the 288-unit complex on a vote of 5-3 after the meeting devolved into insults and hisses. Hogan is applying for $14 million in federal low-income housing tax credits for the complex, named Majestic Ranch, which would limit it to renters making at or below 60 percent of the local median wage. Ingram Hills residents accused Hogan, a frequent contributor to city political campaigns, of violating their neighborhood plan and using his influence with City Hall to force the proposal down their throats. Hogans supporters said the residents were discriminating against low-income renters and working against the interests of the city as a whole. More density and affordable housing are needed as San Antonio continues its speedy growth, they said. When Hogan told the commission that the Ingram Hills Neighborhood Association broke off contact with him, the residents began hissing at him and yelling that he was a liar and a bully. Hogan spun around to Mike Phillips, whos helping to lead the fight against the complex, and angrily challenged him to step up to the podium. Shortly after, a security officer was called to stand between the residents and Hogan. I would frankly encourage all of you, regardless of the outcome of the vote, to please behave courteously, commission member Bradley Carson said before the vote. Hogans proposal is still subject to approval by the city Zoning Commission, which is expected to consider it on Nov. 1, as well as City Council. District 7 City Councilman Cris Medina, whose district would include the complex, hasnt officially endorsed the project but made supportive comments about it to the Express-News. Read the full story here, or turn to the Business section in Thursdays Express-News. rwebner@express-news.net @rwebner Plans to turn the historic Burns Building on Houston Street into a boutique hotel have fallen through after the prospective buyer had problems applying for historic tax credits. A hotel development group from Memphis was under contract to buy the five-story building, said Zach Dobin, director of San Antonio Commercial Advisors, which is representing the owner. But the group had trouble getting the state and federal historic tax credits it wanted because of its plans to make additions to the building, he said, while declining to name the group. According to the San Antonio Express-News, a VIA bus in San Antonio crashed through a mans house after a collision with another vehicle. No Passengers on Bus at Time of Crash The bus was traveling south on Spur Valley Street when a pickup truck ran a stop sign on Haven Valley. The bus collided with the pickup truck despite an attempt to avoid it, causing the bus to drive off the road and crash into a house. The driver of the bus suffered minor injuries, and fortunately there were no passengers on board the bus. According to the San Antonio Express-News, the pickup truck driver was taken to University Hospital. Landon Lum, the owner of the house, also sustained minor injuries in the crash. Lum says debris struck him as the bus smashed five feet through his home. San Antonio police are investigating the incident, reports the San Antonio Express-News. Information on Motor Vehicle Accidents Courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), here are some facts regarding motor vehicle crashes in 2014: 32,675 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States. An estimated 2.34 million people were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. For passenger vehicle occupants who survived fatal crashes in 2014, only 15 percent were unrestrained. Over the past 10 years, there has been a reduction of nearly 25 percent in the number of fatalities on the United States Contact an Experienced Bus Accident Attorney Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys have handled a multitude of commercial vehicle accidents over the past two decades and continue to handle many of the largest 18-wheeler accident cases throughout the United States. Whether the company is small or large, our success is not an accident; it is because we understand how trucking companies operate. We represent clients/victims all over the country. Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys are available to respond to truck and bus accidents at any hour, day or night. Our lawyers understand that the immediate acquisition, or acquiring, of evidence is paramount to understanding how the accident occurred. Remember, your choice does matter. Contact our offices we are available 24/7, nights and weekends. Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com. WILTON Members of the public vociferously supported the proposal for a new, state-of-the-art assisted-living facility at the former site of Youngs Nursery at the Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing Monday night, but a few commissioners were not impressed. Wilton resident Jennie Wong, who also serves on the towns Economic Development Commission (EDC), supported the assisted-living facility because she felt it could be an economic boon to the community. The towns Grand List has experienced stagnant growth since 2008, Wong said, so an influx of revenues from new sources would be welcome. I truly believe that if we have a vision for the town and a strategy, we can grow the Grand List and it will alleviate some of this internal fighting This application before you tonight fits with our town vision, Wong said. Wong estimated that there was about a half-million dollars that the town could expect in taxes from the facility proposed by Fairfield-based Senior Living Development (SLD). For the commissioners, however, an influx of cash alone did not justify a loosening of the towns regulations. One major sticking point was an amendment to zoning regulations that would change the allowable density from 12 to 24 units per acre. At their last meeting, Commissioner Joe Fiteni had asked SLD representatives to provide him with the allowable densities permitted by towns similar to Wilton. SLD brought back information showing that towns like Simsbury, Suffield and East Lyme allowed similar units per acre, but Fiteni still wasnt satisfied. Fiteni argued that what he had requested was a broader cross-section of towns of similar character, similar type, and similar population, not simply towns that allowed the density that SLD proposed for their facility. Until he saw a comparison with towns like Ridgefield, Bethel and Newtown, Fiteni said he could not make a decision. Despite the hang-ups, the public never wavered in their support of the facility. In fact, 81 percent of town residents actually supported higher density housing to meet the needs of seniors and others, Wong said, citing a Plan for Conservation and Development survey done in 2010. Despite the appeals from the public, the commission ultimately decided that they would need more time before adjudicating on the matter. For one, Commissioner Peter Shiue wanted more time to deliberate over the affordable housing aspect of the proposal. Wilton zoning regulations require that 20 percent of the assisted-living units be set aside as affordable housing for individuals earning at or below 80 percent of the Wilton median income. However, SLD sought to reduce the percentage of affordable units to 10 percent. If were going to do this, Id love to see the affordable aspect of this being retained, Shiue said. Shiue argued in favor of landing somewhere between the town-mandated 20 percent and the SLDs proposal of 10 percent. However, SLD managing member Mark De Pecol argued that, since the facility would be offering high-quality services, in order to increase the number of affordable units available, they would need to increase the density of apartments to make it financially feasible. If you raise it to 20 percent, I would envision something like 110 to 120 units would be necessary to pay for that burden, De Pecol said. Neighbors from nearby Orems Lane a group of residents who recently played a prominent role in getting an animal kennel proposed for the lot next to the former Youngs Nursery site shot down spoke out in the hopes of assuaging the commissions reluctance on the facility. Well probably be the most impacted out of anybody in this town we live right across the street and we are all for it, said Joe Lombardo, speaking on behalf of the seven residents who had shown up at the hearing. Phil Lauria a 30-year Wilton resident, member of the EDC and current president of Wilton Commons joined Lombardo in lending his voice to the cause. The need for assisted-living and senior housing is real, Lauria said. At the Wilton Commons alone, Lauria said, there are over 60 people on the waiting list for congregate and independent housing, and the need is only rising. According to the Connecticut Data Collaborative and Connecticuts Legislative Commission on Aging, Wiltons senior citizen population will rise between 4 to 7 percent. Theres an express need. I understand that we have to deal with all these planning and zoning regulations, and theyre all good and theyre things that you need to consider, but we also have to consider our population. Before you know it, Im going to be in that line and I want to stay here [in Wilton]. The proposal will be up for discussion again at the next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Nov. 14. ptomlinson@hearstmediact.com; 203-354-1046; @Tomlinson_PE (Beijing) A major Chinese state-owned container shipping company has been declared bankrupt after it struggled to repay debts of 8.45 billion yuan ($1.25 billion). The Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang province granted Zhejiang Ocean Shipping Co. Ltd.'s application to liquidate, according to a court document viewed by Caixin. Zhejiang Communications Investment Group Co. Ltd., the owner of Zhejiang Ocean Shipping, filed for liquidation of the shipping company in July, according to the document. China's container shipping industry has seen its profit shrink as it remains mired in an overcapacity crisis. Zhejiang Ocean Shipping doubled its shipping capacity from 1.1 million tons in 2009 to 2.28 million tons in 2013, a person with knowledge of the matter told Caixin. Contact reporter Chen Na (nachen@caixin.com); editor Kerry Nelson (kerry@caixin.com) Esteemed evangelist of the Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe Reverend Eliah Masiyane has died. He was 84. Rev Masiyane died at Gwanda Hospital, Matabeleland South Province, on July 15 after suffering a stroke at his home. He was once a member of Parliament for Gwanda South in the 90s. His daughter Ms Bokang Masiyane said her father collapsed at home last week. Everything was fine and he went to bath. Suddenly while in there he collapsed and from there he wasnt able to speak. He was rushed to hospital but, unfortunately, he died, said Ms Masiyane. She said funeral arrangements are being finalised. His body is still in Gwanda and we are waiting for the party to tell us when we could bury him as they have requested that my father be a national hero. At the moment we cant say when he will be buried, said Ms Masiyane. Born at Old Bethel in Gwanda on November 11, 1937, Rev Masiyane learnt at Bethel Primary School. For his secondary education, Rev Masiyane, learnt at Manama Mission and Chegato Mission. He started his calling of preaching in 1970 in Shashe in Beitbridge, in Matabeleland South province. Because of his political activities in Zapu, he was detained between 1975 and 1978 at Khami Prison and Whawha Prison. After his release, a year later he fled to Sweeden as a missionary as the Smith-led regime was persecuting revolutionaries. He then moved to the United Kingdom where he studied a Degree in Theology and Political Science at Birmingham University. Returning to Zimbabwe, Rev Masiyane taught at Hamilton High School in Bulawayo from 1986 to 1989, then moved to David Livingstone and then to Tongwe Secondary School in Beitbridge. In Matabeleland South, Rev Masiyane under the Zanu-PF ticket was elected as the Gwanda South MP, taking over from Cde Edward Ndlovu, from 1990 to 1995. Reverend Masiyane and his wife Sarah had seven children. Chronicle Breaking News via Email ATLANTA Mars Chocolate North America and Wrigley announced an extensive lineup of new products that will hit convenience store shelves in the coming months, including M&Ms Caramel Chocolate Candies and Orbit White chewing gum. These innovations will join newcomers Maltesers Candies, Snickers & Hazelnut Bar, three new flavors of gluten-free goodnessknows snack squares, two new flavors of Dove Fruit, Twix White Chocolate Cookie Bars, Skittles Trick Plays, Juicy Fruit America Pop, Doublemint Perfectly Sweet, and Extra and 5 gum Mega Packs. These new items made their debut at the NACS Show in Atlanta last week. We are laser-focused on involving our customers and shoppers in our decisions. Were listening, sharing insights and evolving to meet their needs, said Tim LeBel, president of Sales for Mars Chocolate North America. For example, we know that more consumers are sharing now more than ever, which has grown the bite-sized candy subcategory. Based on consumer and customer feedback, were converting laydown bags to a redesigned stand-up pouch format for M&Ms Brand Candies, Snickers Bites and Twix Bites. This conversion aims to transform the candy aisle by aligning packaging sizes and names across Mars bite-sized portfolio. This will make it easier for retailers to promote and merchandise across brands, plus it will improve the shopping experience for consumers. Edward Taylor, vice president of U.S. sales and operations for Wrigley, added: "The driving force behind our innovation is consumer choice. We dial into what consumers seek from our brands and implement our category-leading shopper insights to help our retail partners merchandise products to satisfy their shoppers needs. In addition to new products, Wrigley and Mars Chocolate introduced several co-branded initiatives at the NACS Show, including The Candy Bowl program that builds on the success of last years inaugural joint Super Bowl promotion. The companies also shared details on their merchandising tools and insights, which are already being implemented with more than 18,000 retailers and provide customized recommendations on strategic product placements to maximize sales. These collaborative initiatives reflect the recent announcement from parent company, Mars Inc., about the intent to combine the Chocolate and Wrigley segments to create Mars Wrigley Confectionery. The combination will help deliver greater value to customers, and enable the segment to address consumer trends and insights holistically in what is increasingly seen as one global confections category. Yves here. I strongly suspect that Naked Capitalism readers will find a lot not to love about this proposal, but Ill let you have at it in the comments section. Ill start with two. The first is setting up this program as bonds, when they are most like a trust account. And why should the amount of the grant be set at birth? A lot of children suffer severe setbacks after birth, like the death of a parent or debilitating injury. Second is that this proposal does nothing to address the expressed problem. The issue is that even though children from lower-income backgrounds might get into college, they cant mix much/at all socially with the better off students because they dont have the spending money to allow them to do that. But these bonds provide for spending money only for perceived-to-be-legitimate purposes, like the education itself. Even though going on ski trips with the other kids might be key to economic advancement, it would be politically unacceptable for a government program to pay for that sort of thing. By Lynn Parramore, Senior Research Analyst at the Institute for New Economic Thinking. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website Imagine that a black child from a family of modest resources gets the opportunity to attend an elite college preparatory school. Motivated by a love of learning and strong desire to achieve, he excels in school and goes on to attend highly regarded universities, earning advanced degrees. Surely that child is well positioned to ascend the ladder of economic prosperity in America, right? Not so fast. The goal of broadening financial wealth to all Americans, regardless of race, gets plenty of applause across the political spectrum. But so far this goal has remained devilishly elusive. To understand why you have to know how people come by wealth in the first place. Its popular to say that we build wealth through discipline by hitting the books, working hard and saving money. The reality is a little different. Past Injustice Shapes Present Reality Darrick Hamilton knows this from personal experience. Despite his familys modest means not poor but hardly affluent he attended the Brooklyn Friends School, an elite private institution where teachers emphasized social justice. Hamilton started college at Oberlin excited to seek out his path to the American Dream. But he soon found out that the path was smoother for some than for others. All around him, white kids from affluent families were getting checks in the mail from their parents money that could be spent on tuition, extracurricular activities, and the kind of socializing that builds professional networks. Black students of more modest means, on the other hand, were often at a disadvantage even when their parents were able to help financially. If they received money from home, things besides books demanded financial attention. The same was true if they had a job. Even when black students worked hard and saved diligently, the money was often spoken for before it was time to pay the tuition bill for the semester. The reason has to do with the cumulative effects of centuries of gross economic disadvantages that black families have endured, from slavery to Jim Crow and beyond. The legacy of those severe headwinds is that even when an individual family is able to reach the middle class, there is still likely to be a constellation of poorer extended family members in need of various kinds of financial assistance. When they call, you help, if you can. Economists call this wealth leakage. Hamilton noticed this phenomenon play out among black students at school and in the professional realm. Rather than enjoying resources from parents and grandparents, they often had to provide money for cousins, nieces, uncles, and siblings. After obtaining his Ph.D. in economics at UNC-Chapel Hill, Hamilton, who now teaches economics and urban policy at The New School in New York, focused on how poverty in the family increases the racial wealth gap for middle class black individuals. The source of wealth building in America, he realized, is less what you save than your capacity to invest in an asset through money given by parents and grandparents. These transfers are critical to the acquisition of assets, like a home or a small business the kinds of things that require huge down payments. If youre not fortunate enough to get that down payment or have that resource at a key juncture of your life, observes Hamilton, you will not have that pathway towards building economic security that somebody else has. You could be a jerk. You could be a good person. It has little to do with the particular individual. This logic flies in the face of the long-cherished belief that education and hard work are the great equalizers in American society. Many still insist that much present day inequality is caused by bad individual decisions and not by structural problems associated with discrimination. But the vast inequality between black and white citizens suggests that theres more going on than poor choices. In 2013, according to the Federal Reserves Survey of Consumer Finances, the median household wealth was $134,230 for whites compared to a paltry $11,030 for black Americans. The reason, says Hamilton, is pretty clear: In a capitalist system, if you lack capital, it just locks in inequality. Fortunately, he thinks the problem can be alleviated if we are willing to aim the attack at the source. Hamilton and his colleague William A. Darity, Jr. of Duke University are stratification economists, pioneers in an emerging subfield of social science who focus on the structural dimensions of a persons economic position. They propose a solution to wealth inequality that may appeal across the political spectrum: Why not give every American baby seed capital so they can grow up to take part in the capitalist system? This could be done, they argue, through Baby Bonds that would be set up for every child born. How Baby Bonds Work Baby Bonds, in Hamiltons formulation, would be funded directly out of Treasury and held in an account by the federal government, similar to Social Security. The amount a child receives would depend on the wealth position into which she is born. If shes the offspring of Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, she might get $500, but upwards of $50,000 if she is born at the lowest rungs of the economic ladder. The average amount for a child would be around $20,000. Accounts would be guaranteed a nominal one and a half rate of return, and the payout would not take place until the child becomes an adult. At that time, you get to spend the money but not just on anything. The funds would have to be used for a clearly defined asset enhancing activity, like financing a debt-free education, purchasing a business, or buying a home. (The program would need to be coupled with financial reform and regulation to mitigate predatory effects, including extraordinary tuition increases aimed at exploiting better-resourced young adult baby bond recipients). A commission would be set up to identify exactly what kinds of activities might qualify. These conditions are set up to protect the resource, says Hamilton. In my own situation, if I had received an infusion of cash as a young adult, there would have been a lot of family needs to take care of before I could begin thinking about self-investment like purchasing a home. Specifying what the money can be spent on may not guarantee an outcome, because people still choose the investment they engage in, but it at least ensures that the investment is an asset-enhancing endeavor which can help build wealth over the long run. Unlike some past proposals for child savings accounts, Baby Bonds are designed so that it doesnt matter if your parents can contribute or not. Hamilton says this is done so that however good or bad or affluent or poor your parents may be, as a citizen you get some seed capital so that you can take part in the American economic mobility system. But wouldnt such a program be too costly? Not at all, says Hamilton. He notes that there are about 4 million children born every year, so if the average account is at $20,000, the whole program might cost $80 billion. If you add another $10 billion, the very highest estimate for administering the program, it comes to $90 billion maximum. That might sound like a lot, but not when you consider what the federal government already spends trying to promote asset ownership through the tax code. He cites a report on all such policies (like the mortgage interest reduction and reductions in capital gains) by CFED, a Washington-based non-profit focused on expanding economic opportunities for low-to-moderate income Americans. All told, these programs cost over $500 billion dollars. (The mortgage interest deduction alone is estimated to cost more than $405 billion for tax years 2014 through 2018). Next to these figures, Baby Bonds looks like a bargain. They also have the advantage of distributing the capital where its needed most. Federal programs already in place tend to funnel money towards the more affluent, says Hamilton, noting that the bottom 60 percent of earners get about 5 percent of that $500 billion, while the top 10 percent get well over half. He thinks that Baby Bonds could be fully funded simply by capping the existing mortgage interest reductions. So how would a race-blind program help to close gaps in wealth and income between black and white Americans? Hamilton points out that about 85 percent of black households fall below the national median of the wealth distribution, so the means test for the Baby Bonds program as well as its target needs to be keenly focused on wealth. Baby Bonds address wealth in two ways: First, because of the way black people are clustered at the poorer end of the wealth distribution, more will qualify for the program. Secondly, because the program is focused on asset-enhancing activities, they will benefit when they become adults and are able to use the funds to build the kinds of assets that have so often been out of reach historically. A Potential Political Winner? Inequality has been a hot topic this political season, but much of the discussion has focused on student debt. Hamilton acknowledges that this is important, but its not enough to close the racial wealth gap. It will help avoid wealth leakage for millions of people and black individuals that end up going to college, he says. Its certainly the case that black students are disproportionately impacted by student debt. But this only helps those who actually end up going to college. Its limited in its approach. Something more is needed. He notes that in other countries, programs similar to Baby Bonds have already been implemented, such as a child trust program set up in 2005 that gave every British citizen born on or after September 1, 2002 an investment account to build savings that would help fund their transition to adult life. The U.K. program differed from Baby Bonds in several key ways: it was smaller in scale, parents could add to the account, and the trust was unconditional, meaning that the money could be used for anything rather than a specific set of potentially wealth-building activities. Unfortunately, the program sank under a wave of austerity in 2011 following the global recession, so its unclear exactly how well it worked because the children who received the accounts are not yet old enough to have used them. Could Baby Bonds work in America? Hamilton observes that in the past, both conservatives and liberals have endorsed programs designed to give American children a stake in the future. KidSave, a program conceived by then-Senators Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, with then-Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut as co-sponsor, would have allotted each child a small deposit at birth (around $1000), with additional $500 deposits every year for five years. The money would then be invested in a limited number of mutual funds, but it couldnt be withdrawn until retirement, when a substantial nest egg would have theoretically grown. Various versions of the plan attracted support from conservatives like Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and the Heritage Foundation. The premise behind Baby Bonds is slightly different; its based on the recognition that the problem in building wealth is not savings. Most Americans dont save, period, says Hamilton. Its really getting access to that asset thats going to appreciate. Homes give Americans most of their wealth, or, if not homes, some other asset. So this is moving us a bit from that narrative of how to leverage poor people to do better things by giving them incentives to saying, well, why dont we empower them with an account so that they actually can make decisions that can lead to their mobility. Hamilton observes that Baby Bonds simply arm everybody with the opportunity to benefit from the markets an idea the most die-hard free market champion might appreciate. If conservatives really believe in the fairness of the markets, he says, then lets give everybody opportunity to participate. Were talking about babies, so this is before we start coming up with narratives about the deserving poor or the undeserving poor. Were saying, at birth, were going to give everybody a chance to engage in economic mobility in America. Yves here. This Real News Network interview with Lawrence Wilkerson, not surprisingly, is pretty sobering. The rush transcript didnt have apostrophes, so I added them as best I could, but there are sure to be some spots I missed. SHARMINI PERIES, TRNN: Welcome to the Real News Network. Im Sharmini Peries coming to you from Baltimore. The Obama administration is currently considering a proposal to send more arms to CIA backed anti Assad forces in Syria. According to the Washington Post, Obama has not made a decision yet and could leave it up to whoever wins the election in November. This of course raises questions of what would a President Hillary Clinton or President Donald Trump do in Syria? This has also been the topic at the presidential debates, recently. Joining us to discuss the Clintons and Trumps approach as to foreign policy is Larry Wilkerson. Larry is a retired United States army soldier and former Chief of Staff to the United States Secretary of State Colin Powell. Hes also just published an article in National Interest, written together with Gordon Adams about this topic. Larry thank you so much for joining us today. LARRY WILKERSON: Thanks for having me Sharmini. PERIES: So Larry in your recent piece titled No Hillary Clintons Foreign Policy Judgment Isnt As Good As Everyone Says, you argued that a case for Clinton as a better foreign policy president on the basis on knowledge and experience. Now factoring all of this in, whats going on in Washington in terms of how they should behave or what foreign policy actions or military actions need to be taking place in Syria. How do you think Hillary Clinton would act? WILKERSON: Im very concerned about it. I can tell you that right up front. Her posture with regard to Syria in general when she was secretary of state and some of the remarks shes made during the campaign, lead me to believe that shell be very bellicose with regard to Syria. I hope Im wrong. I hope a better judgement prevails. But as I said in the National Interest article, I,m not all that convinced of it. Thats based primarily on her track record with regard to Libya which is now a disaster, and its my understanding that she was one of the if not the principle advocates of action in Libya when President Obama somewhat reluctantly decided to do it, following NATO into that country. And she was also an advocate of the war in Iraq and regime change there. So in those two instances, her judgement was flawed, seriously flawed you could argue, and based on her rhetoric with regards towards Syria, I certainly dont want to see that kind of judgement continued in that regard. PERIES: And in the recent debate, she was advocating a no fly zone over Syria. What does that mean and what implications will it have in terms of geopolitical allegiances at this time? WILKERSON: Were not dealing with a Libyan air force or an Iraqi air force or indeed a Syrian air force. What were dealing with here is Russian air forces perhaps even as you and I were discussing eventually Chinese air forces, so theyre not there now I dont think, and the Syrian air forces. So if we go in to establish a no fly zone and were serious about it, the first airplane that penetrates that zone is all important because youve just about got to shoot it down. If its a Russian airplane, youre in trouble because youve now performed an act of war against Russia and Syria. What that means, well just have to wait and see but I dont think itll mean anything good for either side, or ultimately for Syria. So were talking about if we lay down something like a no fly zone and say this is it as of midnight on such and such a time, no aircraft can fly through here. And suddenly 5 minutes later even, a Russian aircraft flies though, we have two choices. We shoot it down and risk war with Russia and that has all kinds of ramifications that are outside Syria as well as in Syria. Or we back off our claim and look like ineffectual boobs. I dont think either of those outcomes is conducive to US national security interests so I dont think we should go there in the first place. PERIES: Larry recently I did an interview with former CIA analyst, Ray McGovern and he said that President Putin in Russia, sees the next few months before potential Clinton presidency as a window of opportunity for consolidating Russias position in the Ukraine and in Syria. Now many world leaders are predicting that a Clinton, as you have just done, will likely to escalate the situation particularly in Syria that this is an area that President Obama has been restrained with. Do you think that Ray is correct, that Putin consolidating his power and will Hillary Clinton in her assessment, go ahead on with Putin? WILKERSON: Im concerned about it, as I said before because of her previous actions and because of some of the people she has advising her that look a lot like the people who were advising George W. Bush in his first administration from 2001-2005 of which I was a rather intimate member. So I am concerned about it. I hope that once she is in the Oval Office and if she indeed shes elected and she gets all the briefings and is brought up to speed and so forth. And she gets the council of her military leaders, she will be more circumspect and be more rational let us say than she is sometimes compelled to be on the political circuit and on the campaign trail. Thats my hope. But as I said, based on her track record, I have some concern. Perhaps not as much as Ray but I still have some concern. PERIES: Now theres been a number of other defense analyst in recent years who argue that the president has relatively little room to maneuver because the intelligence community, the Defense Department and the State Department are the ones that really policy strategy. To what extent is that correct, science youve been at the center of all of this? WILKERSON: Defense Department does have an enormous amount of influence on the national security decision making process. Theres no question about that. As do other nefarious influences like Lockheed-Martin, Halliburton and all the usual suspects weve heard about who influence congressional decision making and ultimately influence where the money goes and so forth. I think probably in this particular instance though with regard to Syria, what Im hearing is the military and particularly the joint chiefs of staff are reluctant to enter this trade with potential for starting a shooting war with Russia. So I hope that what Im hearing is correct and that they will act as a break on anything precipitant military action that secretary, then President Clinton or President Trump for that matter, would be willing or want to order. Let me just say that Trump has been all over the sheet of music if you will on this. But the remarks I have heard that resonate with me are those that would keep us out of these small wars on the periphery of empire if you will. They cost a fortune in blood and treasure and dont really promise to and rarely do solve anything. They certainly dont bring peace to instable regions and regions in conflict that Syria is today. They just make things worse. PERIES: Then finally Larry, when Hillary Clinton became the Secretary of State and then there was this very public pronouncement of resetting relations with Russia, what went wrong? Why are we where we are now where shes accusing the Russians of hacking into emails and as you know theres controversy over what she actually said in the debate in terms of the Russian involvement in all of this. Why is she escalating this and what went wrong with resetting the relations with Russia? WILKERSON: What went wrong with resetting the relationship was us. The US of A. We have wasted no opportunity to make Mr. Putin more powerful politically in his own country. As soon as he figured out that sticking his fingers in Washingtons eyes was a winning political formula, you could guarantee you were going to get more fingers in our eyes. More so than that, geopolitically and geostrategically, that is to say in the heart of Russias near abroad we have been making moves from Ukraine to Georgia. And we have been making moves that anyone including myself, being the ruler of a country first erstwhile great power and seeing it happen would be responding to and responding to with the elements of national power which I have that can compensate for weakness that I have too. By that I mean Id be responding with everything from cyber warfare to little green men, to whatever I had that was competent and powerful in my arsenal that I felt like I could win with against the United States and ultimately against NATO. Thats precisely what Putin has been doing. You could almost sit down and map it. Every time we make a mistake they capitalize on that mistake. I dont just mean mistakes as in execution or mistakes in being in somewhere where we shouldnt be at in a particular time. I mean policy mistakes. The policy mistake most glaringly pushing ourselves into Russias near abroad and NATO along with us with ballistic missile defense, with exercises and so forth. If I were Putin I wouldve responded the same way. I think that Id have been just as smart as he has and Id capitalize on my streets against weaknesses and I wouldve gained the political capital that hes gained in the course of this time. Its not all totally our fault but a whole lot of it is. PERIES: So if we are collecting our thoughts here, Larry Russian, Chinese now, possibly Iranian collaboration over Syria are serious times. WILKERSON: And Russia exercising for the first time since the death of Anwar Sadat with the Egyptians. Russia selling major armaments to the Egyptians for the first time since I think about that same time period. The world is changing. Power is shifting and the United States needs not to be fearful of such changes but it needs to be a lot smarter of how it plays those changes to its own benefits. One of the things it needs to be most hard about is fear of deployments of its own military forces to get engaged in things like weve been engaged in for the past 20 years. Things like Afghanistan, things like Iraq, things like Syria and so forth. We really have no capability to influence these conflicts, these basically civil wars and so forth. Trying to do so from the opening as we did in Afghanistan with Mujahideen for example by having the CIA essentially arm everybody that we can find that looks like he might be a freedom fighter, only to discover months or maybe half a year or so later that theyre anything but freedom fighters. Indeed, theyre using some of the weapons that we sold them on our troops or on our own formations is just not the answer. It simply doesnt work clandestinely or openly to the support elements in these conflicts that we know basically dont have a hares breath chance of winning. The mistake in Syria has been as I said all along. That is our attempt to get rid of Bashar al-Assad. We need to face up to that mistake. We need to be more receptive to his remaining in power and some guys. The best we can probably get at the negotiating table is that maybe hell be gone sometime in the unspecified future. But we need to understand that sometimes we have to give a little too, especially if we want to stop the bloodshed in Syria which is reaching proportions where everyone in the world ought to be appalled at. PERIES: Alright Larry. I look forward to your report next week as things really escalate and intensify over Syria. Thank you for joining us. WILKERSON: Well lets hope that no one else decides to throw in their lot with the forces in Syria. China and Russia are quite enough, thank you very much. PERIES: Indeed. I thank you again and thank you for joining us on the Real News Network. World wildlife falls by 58% in 40 years BBC. Holy shit. Sea Ice Extent Is Near Record LowsSouth as Well as North Wunderground The Planet Just Crossed Another Major Carbon Milestone Huffington Post American Paul Beattys race satire wins Man Booker Prize Reuters. EM: Asked about the language, [judging committee chair Amanda] Foreman said, Paul Beatty has said being offended is not an emotion.' Delta now lets you track your baggage in real-time TheNextWeb. More forcing people to use smart phones. App only. There does not appear to be a browser version. New Study Shows HIV Epidemic Started Spreading in New York in 1970 NBC 5 Psychology Experiments You Couldnt Do Today YouTube Apples profits in China down by almost a fifth Financial Times China? Refugee Crisis The Crisis of European Integration and the Challenges for the Left Sid Sinead CETA Panic Ukraine/Russia Big Brother is Watching You Watch Clinton E-mail Tar Baby 2016 Heres how much Obamacare premiums are going up in every state Business Insider The SECs Beef With Shadow Banks Could Be Bad for Some Bloomberg Guards for North Dakota pipeline could be charged for using dogs on activists Guardian New Jersey boys survive 100-foot fall with suicidal father Reuters. EM: Amazing both boys not only survived, but suffered no critical injuries. Given the latest revelations about AT&Ts mass-privacy violations, I have conflicted feelings about their role in this. If they only stuck to such life-and-death narrow-band phone tracking! Moi: Concussions are still pretty serious, and I would think even more so in kids so young. Redstone sues ex-girlfriends, says had to borrow from National Amusements Reuters. EM: My first take on the $100 million to cover tax obligations on gifts he gave to the women was what did he give them a third-world country?' Luxury retailers are abandoning New Yorks Fifth Avenue Business Insider PMI Services Activity Jumps; Markit Estimates 2.0% GDP for 4th Quarter Michael Shedlock Google Fiber just gave up on me and many of its employees CNET The Next 10 Years Will Be Ugly for Your 401(k) Bloomberg Class Warfare Antidote du jour (guurst). This was the winner in the black and white competition of the Natural History Museum in London. From a write-up of bird photograph winners in Audobon Magazine: In the first light of dawn, photographer Mats Andersson used black and white to capture the melancholy moment following the death of this Eurasian Pygmy Owls partner. The pair had accompanied Andersson on his daily walks through the forest during the early spring. The owls resting posture reflected my sadness for its lost companion, he says. See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. 2016 was always going to be a memorable year in Tankerstown National School as the school community marked the 150th anniversary of its first pupils. There is a long and proud tradition in the school of preserving its history and traditions. The school roll books and registers, which provide an almost seamless record of pupil enrolment since 1866, are preserved. It is an incredible testament to the custodians of the school over the years that between three different buildings (that we know of), these records are still with us today. In fact, though we do our roll call electronically now, we still input these records in the physical roll books just to maintain this wonderful record, said current school principal, Noirin Ni Mhaoldhomhnaigh. We, as a staff, knew that we wanted to mark this occasion in a very special way. We wanted our 97 pupils to enjoy an experience that they will be able to recall at the schools bicentenary in 2066! It was decided to mark it with the children with an experience of life long ago. They were invited to dress in clothes from any era and bring an old style lunch - nothing could prepare the staff for how the pupils and their families responded. All children dressed up and some carried school books tied up with a leather strap, others had the buideal bainne in the YR sauce bottle. Homemade soda bread with jam was the lunch of choice for many. The sight of the Crowe/Phelan and Finnane families descending from Cappa upon the school through the morning mist was like an image from Alice Taylors To School Through The Fields. An old school classroom was created, thanks to the generosity of Pat Slattery from The Cormackstown Heritage Museum, and many other donors of artefacts. Carol Welsh and Muriel Ryan, along with all the staff, left no stone unturned in making sure the attention to detail was accurate. Slates and chalk were the order of the day and while the leather strap and sally rod were on hand, thankfully the days of their use is long behind us. Tables were recited by rote and an old favourite Kilcash was taught to the children. Each class experienced yard games from the past including hopscotch, skipping and even had a skittles masterclass courtesy of Mr. Quinlan and Mrs. Butler! Mrs. Welch took each class for embroidery lessons. Holycross based artist and stonemason Philip Quinn is currently working on a Tipperary County Council sponsored project in the school. According to Noirin when invited to get involved in the Sesquicentennial Celebrations, Philip and his wife Lizzie did not hesitate. He took on the role of the local hedge school master and welcomed each class group to experience how they wrote, what they learned and what their classroom environment would have been like, right down to the turf fire! The Nature Walk was a day savoured by many generations so environmentalist and wildlife expert Albert Nolan took each group for a Biodiversity Walk. At 1.30pm the community gathered (the majority dressed in period costume) to hear past pupil Betty ODonnell (nee Tierney) and Liam Bergin (past pupil and retired principal of T.N.S.) give an account of their experiences of the school. Sam ODoherty got the crowd in good spirits with some songs. Betty's eloquence along with the lovely poem she read ensured there wasnt a dry eye in the house. Liam gave everyone a most informative account of Tankerstown N.S. 1866 to the Present, with a unique perspective as both past pupil and former principal. According to Liam The preservation of the 1866 roll books and the register show the first five boys were Thos Loughman, John Fahey, Patrick Cahill, Edmond Marnane and William Britt. Similarly the first girls were; Bridget Loughman, Maria Fahey, Kate Moloney, Kate Bourke and Ellen Whelan. Most of these names are still to be found in the area today. As he spoke, Mrs Olive Gaynor arrived from Cork. She had taught in Junior Room of the Old School approximately 60 years ago (then known as Miss Quinlan). Everyone was honoured that she made the trip and her presence made the occasion so special. Liam told the crowd of a difficult time for the country and the parish with the War of Independence and the Civil War causing grief and heartbreak in every community. Records show that there was no attendance on 20-10-1920 due to funeral of the ODwyer brothers, Ballydavid, murdered in the locality. The ODwyer brothers were past pupils of the school and were dragged from their beds and executed by Crown Forces having attended the funeral of Sean Treacy who was shot in Dublin. It is hoped to produce a book of memories of days gone by in the school. They are looking for contributions from past pupils of Ardane NS as it amalgamated with Tankerstown in the 70s and is a part of the TNS story. They also hope to arrange a reunion night. If you wish to get involved/ contribute email tankerstown150@gmail.com or ring 06254588. Keep up to date on Facebook: Tankerstown National School 150 Bliain ag Fas. The late Nora Kennedy The death has occurred of Nora Kennedy (nee Wixted), Bealaclave, Rearcross, Newport, Co. Tipperary, on October 26th 2016. Peacefully, at Deerpark Nursing Home, Lattin, Tipperary. Beloved wife of the late Denis and mother of the late Catherine. Deeply regretted by her loving son Michael (Mad Mick), daughter-in-law Patricia, grandchildern Denis and Elizabeth, great-grandchild Alex Denis, cousins, relatives and friends. Reposing this Thursday evening from 6 o clock at Our Lady Queen of Peace Funeral Home, Kilcommon, with removal at 8 o clock to the Church of the Visitation, Rearcross. Reqieum Mass Friday at 11.30 o clock with burial afterwards in the New Cemetery, Kilcommon. The late Alice Withero The death has occurred of Alice Withero, Blackthorn Grove and formerly Blind Street, Tipperary Town, on 25th October 2016, sadly missed by her loving daughters and their partners, grandsons, large extended family and her circle of friends. Reposing at Fogartys Funeral Home, Bank Place, Tipperary Town, Thursday evening, from 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm. Arriving to St. Michaels Church, Tipperary on Friday at 10.15 am for 10.30 am Mass. Burial immediately afterwards in St. Michaels Cemetery, Tipperary. Family flowers only. onations, if desired, to Alzheimers Society of Ireland. The late Nora Flynn The death has occurred of Nora Flynn ( O'Gorman), Ballinahinch, Birdhill, on 25 October 2016, peacefully at Millbrae Lodge Nursing Home, Newport. Beloved wife of the late Jimmy, deeply regretted by her loving sons Michael and Pat, daughters Bridget and Alice, grandchildren, extended family, relatives and friends. The late Patsy Kelly The death has occurred of Patsy (Patricia) Kelly (nee Carroll), Ballylina, Borrisokane, and Ballingarry (NR). Predeceased by her sister Maura and son Michael, deeply regretted by her loving son Kevin, husband Michael, daughter in law Loretto, adored grandson John, brothers Tom, Michael and Kevin, sisters Una and Kathleen, brothers in law, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, close neighbours relatives and friends. Reposing Thursday evening at st Joseph's funeral home, Borrisokane from 5pm until 8pm. Funeral arriving to the Pike Church, Ballingarry on Friday morning at 10:45am for mass at 11 o'clock. Burial afterwards in Ballingarry Cemetery. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired to a charity of your choice. The late Kathleen Cawley The death has occurred of Kathleen Cawley (nee Butler), Church View, Littleton, after a short illness, in the loving care of the Matron and Staff of the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles. Deeply regretted by her loving husband Bill, son William, daughter-in-law Annamarie, brothers Dan, Jimmy and Michael, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends. Reposing at Hugh Ryans Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles on Friday, 28th October, from 5pm to 7pm. Arriving at St Kevin's Church, Littleton for 7.30 pm. Requiem Mass on Saturday, 29th October, at 11.30am. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. District Administrator Paul Murray is to meet with one of the owners of the former Clonmel Arms Hotel tomorrow, Friday. Mr. Murray told this week's meeting of Clonmel Borough District that he shared the concerns of the council members about the site, and he would put those concerns to the owner. He understood that the property was in NAMA's control but this had yet to be confirmed. He said that he and Borough District Engineer Jonathan Cooney had met with the County Council's environment section and had started an examination of the property to try and issue a derelict sites notice that would make the building more secure. Cllr. Michael Murphy said that the building was an environmental hazard and surely the council had a role. There had been a frustrating lack of movement about the sale of the site and in the last number of months it had been withdrawn from sale. Cllr. Murphy said that since then it had been really sad to see the building and the town reflected in such a context from the reports in the Sunday World and Nationalist newspapers. This was the first time he had seen photos of the inside of the former hotel and it was sad to see the condition it was in now (pictured above). There was a significant amount of anti-social behaviour in the building and one tragic event had taken place there. Cllr. Murphy said that a redeveloped Clonmel Arms site would generate the footfall that was needed in the town centre to assist with its recovery. The council should send a message that they were available to assist in whatever way possible. The hotel had been closed for eleven years and they needed to do more. Cllr. Pat English said he wouldn't be too happy that Paul Murray would be speaking to the owner if the property was in NAMA, because his hands would be tied. He thought they should hold a special meeting to discuss this key site that had deteriorated immensely. The Clonmel Arms used to be the heart of the town. It was a hive of activity seven days a week and was a huge loss to the town. Director of Services Sinead Carr said that they should bear with Paul Murray and allow him to gather the relevant information before they considered holding a special meeting. Enjoy beautiful wines and support a worthy cause at the same time - that's the invitation to an exciting night in Clonmel on Thursday, November 24. Clonmel company Red Nose Wine has announced an exciting charity wine tasting on that night at Raheen House Hotel. South Tipperary Hospice headquarters in Clonmel - organisation will benefit from wine fundraiser. Winemakers from Bodegas Sommos, Northern Spain; Chateau Viranel in Southern France; and Champagne Duval-Leroy will all be present at the event showcasing some of their vineyard's finest and sharing their stories. A representative from Liberty Wines, Red Nose Wines esteemed Italian Fine Wine import partner will also be showcasing the best of fine wines from Italy. The team from Red Nose Wine will also be offering a large and diverse selection of wines and champagnes from their Christmas Collection for those in attendance. The event promises to be a great social event with an educational twist for those who want to learn a little or a lot while tasting on the night whilst raising much-needed funds for South Tipperary Hospice Movement. Viranel owners Arnaud (left) and Nicholas (right) to showcase a selection of exciting wines, share their story and answer your questions at the tasting. Looking more closely at the winemakers in attendance, Bodegas Sommos is a unique vineyard in the Somontano D.O. located in Northern Spain. The winery has 350 hectares of vines spread over 5 vineyards. They like to experiment and use a wide variety of grapes including Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, and Pinot Noir to make their various red wines. Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer are used in their white selection. Chateau Viranel will also be showcasing and although they have been making wine at Viranel in Saint Chinian since 1551, the vineyard has recently enjoyed a new lease of life as the next generation has taken over operations. Nicolas studied agronomy in Toulouse, travelled overseas to gain work experience in places as diverse as Peru, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, and California. In 2003, Nicolas started overseeing the grape harvest at Viranel and Arnaud joined him in 2009, to handle sales and marketing. Another family business, Champagne Duval-Leroy, has dedicated itself to the noble craft of champagne-making since 1859. Champagne pioneers, Duval-Leroy has always been driven by a quest for high standards and innovation in every aspect of the business, from quality, consistency and certification through to partnerships with sommeliers and chefs. It is a member of the very prestigious Relais & Chateaux partnership. Champagne Duval-Leroy have recently become the champagne of choice for the prestigious Cliff Group (who are also members of Relais & Chateaux), and their luxury hotels and restaurants in Ardmore, Co. Waterford, St. Stephens Green, Dublin and the new Cliff at Lyons in County Kildare. Gary Gubbins, Proprietor of Red Nose Wine commented - We have hand-picked these winemakers to attend as I feel they each bring a very different offering to the table. Champagne Duval-Leroy is a traditional champagne house and I think patrons should take advantage of the rare opportunity to taste Grand Cru champagne. Bodegas Sommos different approach to winemaking is fascinating and I expect people will be impressed by this experimental and innovative approach to the winemaking process. We have been working with Arnaud and Viranel for a number of years and I always look forward to meeting up with him. He is always full of infectious energy and has the gift of the gab that I think people will enjoy and it helps that he has super wines to boot. Tickets are 15 with all wines on the evening sponsored by Red Nose Wine to ensure maximum funds are generated for the charity. For further information and bookings visit www.rednosewine.com. NATO Defence Ministers wrapped up two days of talks in Brussels on Thursday, which marked progress in creating four NATO battalions in the Baltic States and Poland, closer cooperation with the European Union and training for Iraqi officers. Over the past two days, we assessed the various challenges confronting NATO, said Secretary General Stoltenberg. We took stock of our progress since the Warsaw Summit and we mapped out the road ahead. We are as united as ever in our determination to protect our citizens. Ministers discussed measures to strengthen NATOs deterrence and defence including the deployment of four multinational battalions to the east of the Alliance in early 2017, led by Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Secretary General called the deployment a transatlantic demonstration of rock-solid support for our Allies. He also said that the plan is on track, clear evidence that this Alliance does what it says and we deliver on our promises. Ministers also considered progress on NATOs presence in the Black Sea region, comprising a Romanian-led multinational brigade. They stressed the importance of cyber in NATO operations and discussed new demands of the NATO Command Structure. Another important topic of discussion was how NATO can enhance its efforts to project stability in its neighbourhood. In that context, ministers agreed that training and capacity-building of Iraqi armed forces should begin in Iraq itself in January, building on existing training of Iraqi officers in Jordan. The Secretary General called the expanded training mission an important contribution to the fight against ISIL. Ministers also decided that NATOs new maritime operation Sea Guardian will support the EUs Operation Sophia, providing situational awareness and logistical support. NATO will have ships and maritime patrol planes available to assist Operation Sophia in the Central Mediterranean within two weeks. Calling this cooperation yet another example of NATO and the EU working hand-in-hand to increase European security, the Secretary General stressed the importance of the two organisations developing closer ties. He also commented on recent initiatives to strengthen European defence, stating that as long as the two seek to complement not duplicate each other a strong Europe will make NATO stronger. Bulgaria and NATO will boost their cooperation on cyber defence. A new Memorandum of Understanding, signed during NATO Defence Ministers meeting in October 2016, will facilitate information-sharing on cyber threats and best practices, improve the prevention of cyber incidents and increase Bulgarias resilience to cyber threats. Furthermore, the new arrangement will facilitate assistance between NATO and Bulgarias cyber defence authorities in case of need. The Memorandum was signed at NATO Headquarters by the Bulgarian Minister of Defence Nikolay Nenchev and NATO Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Sorin Ducaru in his capacity as the Chairman of the Cyber Defence Management Board (CDMB). As the Alliance looks to the future, cyber threats and attacks will continue to become more common, sophisticated, and potentially damaging. While NATOs primary responsibility is to protect its own networks, NATO also facilitates co-operation on cyber defence including through multinational projects, education, training, and exercises and information exchange, in support of national cyber defence efforts. At the Warsaw Summit in July, Allied Heads of State and Government adopted a common pledge to strengthen and enhance the cyber defences of national networks and infrastructures, as a matter of priority. Prohibition never works; people who want 'contraband' will find a way (NaturalNews) If you're between the ages of 18 and 21, live in California and are a smoker, expect to be denied your favorite pack at the convenience store. Beginning in June, the new minimum age for officially jumped from 18 to 21, a prohibition move that lawmakers claim will curb the number of smokers in the Golden State, and ultimately help save lives.Joining both Hawaii and the city of Needham in Massachusetts, California is the third locale in the U.S. to raise the legal smoking age to 21. Officials there hope that, like in these other places, age restrictions on smoking will help reduce the number of smokers and minimize the number of individuals who develop smoking-related health conditions like emphysema and lung cancer.Citing statistics from Needham that show a nearly 50 percent reduction in the number of smokers in the five-year period following the change that was made in 2005, April Roeseler, head of the California public health department's Tobacco Control Program, told thethat she expects similar reductions in her state.In Needham, the number of high schoolers smoking cigarettes fell by nearly half, according to a study published last year. And adult smoking rates in the town also fell from about 18.1 percent to a mere 8 percent statistics that experts say can be replicated all across the country."If we can push that age up where fewer and fewer people start smoking as a teen, it's likely that we will start to have some tobacco-free generations ," thequotes her as saying.At this point, though, very little, if any, evidence exists to show that the rule change is working as intended. University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) professor Dr. Stanton Glantz, for instance, admitted to thethat the policy still needs time to "settle in." The California Smokers' Helpline also says it hasn't noticed any increases in the number of callers in the prohibited age range trying to quit, which suggests that not much has changed.There's also the contraband factor older kids still buying cigarettes for younger kids, for example, including those younger than the former threshold age of 18. Illegal buying has always been an issue, law or no law, which is something that the government never really seems to understand when it comes to issues of prohibition "They're hanging out and partying together, so they'll just get someone else to buy," says Leonard Charles, the owner of a liquor store in Oakland. Charles says he strictly enforces the new cigarette age law, but believes that if somebody wants cigarettes, he or she is going to find a way, regardless of the law.In the internet age, cigarettes are also freely available to anybody with a WiFi connection. People can order cigarettes off the web and have them delivered right to their doorstep, which means that state-level restrictions are basically moot.And what about e-cigarettes? The State of California classifies e-cigs as a "tobacco product" just like cigarettes, and they are subject to the same laws. However, everybody has them these days, they're very discreet, and they don't produce that typical tobacco smell that's so hard to get out of a room , so trying to enforce restrictions against their use is next to impossible, say experts familiar with the reality of how easy it is to obtain tobacco, regardless of what the law says.When asked how the new law will realistically work in light of the fact that smoking laws often aren't effective, Glantz responded, "The short answer is I don't know." OxyContin 'lit the match that ignited America's opiate and heroin addiction crisis' How Big Pharma created 2.1 million opioid addicts The insurance system is utterly broken, and uninsured patients are even worse off (NaturalNews) When word got out last year that a handful of hospitals throughout Florida were massively price-gouging their patients, experts predicted that the outrageous bills for services at these care facilities would quickly drop in response. But the exact opposite occurred, a new investigation has found, with many of these same hospitals not only charging the same ridiculous prices, but in some casesResearchers from the University of Miami looked at hospital prices both before and after the media picked up on the issue, evaluating the billing schemes at some 50 of the priciest Florida hospitals to see how they may have changed. They looked at these hospitals' total billing charges in the quarter of a year before news of the gouging first broke headlines, as well as in the quarter post-headlines.In a five-year period spanning from 20102015, Bayfront Health Dade City topped the list of Florida's most expensive hospitals, with price increases nearly doubling. Following were Kendall Regional Medical Center, Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, North Okaloosa Medical Center and Sebastian River Medical Center.All of these facilities, and many others, despite having their names tarnished for taking advantage of patients, were found to still be charging the sameprices in 2016, the researchers learned. Other than a minor setback of temporarily decreased share prices, these exploitative care facilities are continuing to get away with jacking their prices, and with no end in sight."We were thinking we would see a drop or lowering of some charges," Karoline Mortensen, co-author of a study published in thethat looked at hospital prices both before and after the publicity, told The Washington Post (WP) . "There's nothing stopping them. They're not being held accountable to anyone."Part of the problem is that hospitals in most states can legally charge whatever they want for medical services because they know that a bulk of their patients' insurance companies will simply foot the bill. Insurance companies are responsible for negotiating rates, which they typically do on behalf of patients, so in the end prices decrease, at least to some degree.But hospital costs are still prohibitively and unnecessarily expensive in many cases especially for patients who don't have insurance, and who thus have nobody to advocate on their behalf for fairer pricing schemes. In the end, hospitals are raking their uninsured patients over the coals, while these patients have little at their disposal to fight this medical tyranny Even government programs like Medicare and Medicaid negotiate better pricing in order to decrease costs, and yet hospitals are still overcharging them at an ever-accelerating rate. With the exception of Maryland and West Virginia, states have no regulatory functions in place to prevent such price-gouging, which is effectively ruining American healthcare.The other major factor is that among the hospitals included in the investigation only one operates as a non-profit. The rest are for-profit companies that apparently care more about making money than they do about caring for patients while charging a fair and appropriate rate for medical services."As hospital charges continue to rise and the best path forward to address price transparency continues to elude policy makers and stakeholders, it is important to recognize that hospitals may not respond quickly to public exposure and these initiatives," the researchers concluded in their earlier study, which likely reflects trends all across the country."The primary causes of extremely high markups in hospital markets are lack of price transparency and negotiating power of uninsured patients, out-of-network patients, and other disadvantaged payers." Nine-nine percent of electors have done what they're supposed to do throughout our history, but this is no ordinary election (NaturalNews) In recent weeks, Democrats have attempted to paint Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump as a lunatic for claiming that the election is going to be rigged in favor of his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton Even Republican politicians and former politicians are telling Trump to knock off such talk But, as usual, Trump's shrewdness and defiance of standard political decorum in which the "opposition" party merely rolls over and surrenders in the face of Democratic pressure is winning the day.None other than billionaire investor and longtime Democratic supporter George Soros has said that the fix is literally in for the election, in favor of Clinton no matter how much of the popular vote, and from which battleground states, Trump captures.As reported byand other outlets, during a recent interview with, Soros a Democrat mega-donor openly admitted that Trump will win the popular vote in a "landslide."However, he said that none of that would matter, because a President Hillary Clinton is already a "done deal."In the interview, which is now going viral, Soros says with certainty that Trump will take the popular vote, despite what the polls say now (which are completely rigged to oversample Democrats ), but not the Electoral College, which will go to Clinton.When the reporter asks if that is already a "done deal" that Clinton will be our next president no matter what Soros says "yes," and nods his head.Is Soros just making a prediction out of overconfidence? Or does he truly know something most of us don't know?In a recent column founder and editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, says that Soros and Democrats have "bribed electoral college representatives" in a bid to "fix" the election outcome in favor of Clinton. In truth, that would be the only way it could be done, short of massive voter fraud through electronic balloting, as some reports have already claimed Adams further pointed out that Soros was one of the main money men behind the Black Lives Matter movement, which is being blamed for generating hatred and mistrust of police officers all around the country some of which has led to the deaths of several officers already.Soros also funds left-wing websites and groups that locate, pay and deploy volunteer "agitators" at Trump rallies, to start fights and engage in physical violence against Trump supporters (acts that the establishment media then blames on).But aren't electors legally obligated to cast a ballot for the presidential candidate who won the majority vote in that elector's district? No, they're not.Per Archives.gov , there is no constitutional provision or federal law requiring electors to vote according to the results of the popular vote. Rather, these pledges fall into two categories: State law and those who are bound by promises made to respective political parties.In the past, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution doesn't require electors to be completely free to cast ballots as they please and, therefore, respective political parties may "extract pledges from electors to vote for the parties' nominees," Archives.gov notes. Some state laws hold that "faithless electors" could be subjected to fines or disqualification for casting an invalid ballot, and could then be replaced by a substitute elector."The Supreme Court has not specifically ruled on the question of whether pledges and penalties for failure to vote as pledged may be enforced under the Constitution. No Elector has ever been prosecuted for failing to vote as pledged," said Archives.gov.The site notes that throughout our history, 99 percent of electors have voted as required. But this is no ordinary time, and it's no ordinary election . And Democrats (and the establishment media) have already proven that they will do anything to stop a Trump presidency. Plus, establishment Republicans don't want Trump either, so you can bet they wouldn't balk at or challenge the buying off of electors. (NaturalNews) Chemotherapy is arguably one of the medical industry's biggest frauds . Perhaps that's why it recently landed on a list of ineffectual treatments drawn up by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC).The list was created by 11 top specialists, who were each asked to think of five treatments they felt provided little to no patient benefits. And surprise, surprise chemotherapy was one of them. Doctors from the AMRC said that chemotherapy cannot cure terminal cancer, and may bring unneeded distress in the final months of life.reported:"The treatment is 'by its very nature toxic', the college said. "Therefore, the combination of failing to achieve a response and causing toxicity can 'do more harm than good.'"Do more harm than good? You don't say.Research has shown that in some hospitals, up to 50 percent of cancer patients are dying, not from their disease, but from chemotherapy drugs. For the first time ever, researchers actually looked at the numbers of patients who were dying within 30 days of chemotherapy administration , which could indicate that the treatment was the cause of death rather than the cancer. What they found was horrifying.The study, which was conducted by Public Health England and Cancer Research UK, found that the average 30-day mortality rate across England was about 8.4 percent for lung cancer and 2.5 percent for breast cancer. But, in some hospitals, those numbers were much higher. For example, at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, the 30 day mortality rate for palliative chemotherapy for lung cancer was 28 percent. In Milton Keynes, the death rate for lung cancer treatment soared up to 50.9 percent.The research revealed that the death rate for lung cancer patients was higher than average in several areas, including Blackpool, Coventry, Derby, South Tyneside, Surrey and Sussex.The data also revealed that about 1-in-5 people who underwent palliative care for breast cancer at Cambridge University Hospitals died because of chemotherapy treatment.Of course, the industry was quick to defend their practices, with doctors suggesting that these occurrences could simply be the outcome of data problems, noting that even a few deaths could skew statistics.However, no one really argued with the fact that chemotherapy is indeed a toxin. It doesn't discriminate; it kills cancerous cells and healthy cells and therein lies the rub. It may kill the cancer, but not without increasing your risks of getting cancer again in the future.A 2004 study also found that cytotoxic chemotherapy does very little towards enhancing cancer survivors' 5-year survival rates. The research, which was led by scientists from the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre of the Royal North Shore Hospital, located in Sydney, Australia, raised serious questions about the actual efficacy of curative and adjuvant chemotherapies.What they found was that in Australia chemo only contributed 2.3 percent to the 5-year survival rate in adults, and in the U.S., that number dropped to 2.1 percent. These findings suggest that overall, chemotherapy truly provides very little benefit to any patient's survival. In their conclusion, the study authors wrote, "As the 5-year relative survival rate for cancer in Australia is now over 60%, it is clear that cytotoxic chemotherapy only makes a minor contribution to cancer survival. To justify the continued funding and availability of drugs used in cytotoxic chemotherapy, a rigorous evaluation of the cost-effectiveness and impact on quality of life is urgently required."The AMRC urges doctors and patients to question whether or not particular treatments are necessary. After all, unwarranted and harmful treatments are truly anything but medicine TRANSCRIPT (NaturalNews) Are North Dakota authorities waging a war against the public's right to know about the ongoing Standing Rock pipeline protests? We are joined by documentary filmmaker Deia Schlosberg, who was charged earlier this month with three felonies for filming an act of civil disobedience in which climate activists manually turned off the safety valves to stop the flow of tar sands oil through pipelines spanning the U.S. and Canada.The actions took place in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Washington state. Schlosberg is an award-winning filmmaker and was the producer of Josh Fox's recent documentary, "How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change." She was filming the action at a valve station owned by TransCanada in Walhalla, North Dakota. She was arrested along with the activists, and her footage was confiscated. Then she was charged with a Class A felony and two Class C felonieswhich combined carry a 45-year maximum sentence.(Article republished from DemocracyNow.org But we're joined right now in Los Angeles by Democracy Now! video stream by Deia Schlosberg, the award-winning documentary filmmaker, producer, who was arrested on October 11th in a different area of North Dakota, while reporting on a climate change protest in Walhalla, North Dakota, charged with three felonies, facing 45 years in prison, if convicted. Also with us, Josh Fox. His article in The Nation, "The Arrest of Journalists and Filmmakers Covering the Dakota Pipeline is a Threat to Democracyand the Planet." His previous documentaries include Gasland, which first exposed the harms of the fracking industry, nominated for an Academy Award, also made Gasland 2, which aired on HBO.We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Deia, describe what happened to you.Well, on October 11th, I was working as a climate reporter, as I've done for years and years and years, as Josh and I were doing, and the rest of the How to Let Go of the World team, when we made the film. And I was documenting people taking a stand, people on the frontlines of the fight to lessen the impacts of climate change. So, there werethere were five activists across four states that had planned to turn the emergency shutoff valves on the five pipelines that bring all Canadian oil sands into the U.S. And I was documenting this occurrence at the North Dakota site, outside of Walhalla, as you said. I wasI was filming the action. I was on public land. I was on a public road and at no point trespassed, at no point, you know, broke in or destroyed any property. I had nothing to do with the planning of the event. I was there to document it. I think it's essential for journalists tojournalists and filmmakers to go where the mainstream media is not. And there's a major hole in the coverage of climate change and people that are already dealing with the consequences of climate change and people that are fighting climate change. So, I take that responsibility very seriously.So when did the police come?The police came afterwell, the activist that was doing the action, Michael, had called the company ahead of time to say that he washe was going to shut off the valve, so they couldto give them ample time to take any emergency precautions. And then he turned the valve. And meanwhile, the company notified the local police. So, after the valve was closed, they came in probably about 15 minutes. I had my camera set up on a tripod on the public road. And they told me I was arrested for being an accessory to a crime, at which point I was brought to the local jail . I figured it wouldthings would just have to clear up once they realized what wasSo, they charged you with three felonies?that I was just, you know, exercising my First AmendmentWhat were the felonies?Conspiracythey were all conspiracy charges: conspiracy to theft of publictheft of property, conspiracy to theft of service and conspiracy of interfering with a publica critical public infrastructure.And you face 45 years in jail? What is your comment on this?What is my what? Sorry, the connection isWhat do say about this?It's absolutely outrageous. Yeah, I mean, this is what Ithis is what I do for my living. This is what I've done for years and years. There's absolutely no grounds for these charges.Read more at: DemocracyNow.org (NaturalNews) One of the food industry's most prominent players recently announced that they will be expanding their line of non-GMO products, due to the ever-increasing customer demand for clean food. Nestle may have wowed consumers with their choice, but it may make some waves with their good friend, Monsanto "The company is broadening its product offerings to give consumers more options with no GMO ingredients and identifying these products with the SGS-verified 'no GMO ingredients' claim," the food giant stated on Tuesday."Nestle USA understands that consumers are seeking choice and many prefer to select products with no GMO ingredients," they declared.Of course, this is not Nestle's first move towards GMO-free products. In April, Nestle announced that they would be removing GMO ingredients from six of their top-selling ice cream products, as well. The company states it is trying to evolve along with consumer demands. It is great to see that companies are beginning to realize that consumers want options; no one wants to be forced to buy GMO products.It is easy to want to applaud Nestle for their decision to continue to expand their line of non-GMO products. However, it is also clear that this company is doing so out of their own financial interests not because they care about what people are eating. Organic, GMO-free foods are the newest trend, and smart manufacturers are beginning to see that they will not win anyone over by insisting that GM, pesticide-laden food products are safe. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," is a philosophy Nestle has clearly taken to heart.Nestle is not an angelic company, even if they have decided to start serving up "GMO-free" options. Just three years ago, they donated millions of dollars to prevent and oppose GMO labeling in Washington state, along with Monsanto and other biotech firms.reports that on October 18, 2013, the Grocery Manufacturers of America disclosed that several of their largest, most powerful players silently donated large sums of money to oppose Initiative 522. This bill would have required grocery items containing GMO ingredients to be labeled as such. The group chose to voluntarily release the names of the silent donors, after Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against their concealment of corporate donors.Nestle was among the top three highest contributors, and donated a cool $1.5 million to keep GMO ingredients under wraps and off product labels. Nestle also made a large donation to oppose similar legislation in California the year before, in 2012. The bill ultimately failed, after Big Food and Big Biotech joined forces and together raised a staggering $46 million to prevent its passing. And we're supposed to believe they care?The controversial history of Nestle doesn't end with their consistent financial support of GMO labeling opposition efforts. It is a corporation that is wrought with wrongdoings and corrupt practices. Look no further than their outright theft of water in California.Given that the coastal state is currently being plagued by a devastating drought, you might be shocked to learn that just last year Nestle pumped a disturbing 36 million gallons of water out of one of the state's water sources, known as Strawberry Creek. Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute and author of, estimates that Nestle is making millions of dollars in this way."They're converting a public resource into private profit," he toldThe most shocking thing is that their permit to pump water from the creek expired in 1988. The forest service has allowed Nestle to gouge the creek for water at will, so long as they continue to pay a minuscule access fee. While bottled water accounts for only a small fraction of California's water use, the overall environmental impact of what their practices are doing to a drought-stricken state have yet to be examined.Nestle has been subject to countless other controversies, including human rights violations, and has been host to many environmental and product safety issues.To put it simply: Nestle may be trying to win over customers with their non-GMO products, but they don't deserve to. Monsanto may be shocked, but only because Nestle is still one of their own. The characteristic brain pathology and motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease are well established. But the details of the disease's cause and course are much murkier. 1. How does Parkinson's disease begin? Why it matters Damage to neurons may begin up to two decades before symptoms appear. By the time the disease can be diagnosed clinically, it may be too late for disease-modifying therapies to work. What we know A variety of non-motor symptoms, including sleep problems, loss of smell and constipation, show up long before motor symptoms. But scientists don't know which individuals with these symptoms will develop Parkinson's. Part of Nature Outlook: Parkinson's disease Next Steps Many scientists are searching for blood- or urine-based biomarkers, or imaging agents, that could objectively identify the risk of Parkinson's, but so far no leading contender has emerged. 2. What is the role of the -synuclein protein? Why it matters If -synuclein is one of the causes of Parkinson's, then therapies that stop it aggregating might be able to slow or even stop the disease's progression. What we know The brains of people with Parkinson's contain characteristic clumps of -synuclein. But whether these clumps are the cause or merely a marker of the disease is not yet certain. Next Steps Several therapies that block -synuclein are in early-phase clinical trials. And scientists are developing imaging techniques to detect -synuclein in the brain. These might also aid early diagnosis. 3. What is the role of the gut in Parkinson's disease? Why it matters If the pathology leading to Parkinson's begins in the intestines, then it might be possible to stop the central nervous system from being affected by modifying gut microbiota or bolstering the health of the gut lining. What we know People with Parkinson's often develop gastrointestinal problems before motor problems emerge. Tell-tale aggregates of -synuclein are found in neurons in the gut. But it is unclear whether gut pathology spreads to the brain, or brain problems spread to the gut. Next Steps Efforts to elucidate the earliest stages of Parkinson's will help to determine whether gut pathology is a cause. Broader efforts to understand the role of the gutbrainmicrobiota axis in both health and disease could also pay dividends for those with Parkinson's. 4. What is the best way to divide people with the disease into subtypes? Why it matters Physicians need to be able to match the right drug to the right patient. Subtypes will help in the design of clinical trials of drugs and give patients and their families more information about the prognosis. What we know Patients with a tremor tend to have a better prognosis than do those with rigidity, slowness or mainly non-motor symptoms. Various mechanisms are thought to contribute to Parkinson's, but how the mix differs between individuals is unknown. Credit: Stefan Postles Australia and New Zealand may have small populations and be geographically remote from the world's research giants, but their high-quality science competes on the global stage set by the United States, Europe and China. Like many countries, these Antipodean neighbours want their science and research efforts to drive innovation, boost their economies, and contribute to the advancement of society. A knowledge-led economy must be supported by high-quality research, underpinned by a substantial contribution from fundamental investigations. Nature Index 2016 Australia and New Zealand examines the basic science of both countries, looking at the output and strengths of cities and their institutions. Australia's contribution to world-class natural science, as tracked by the Nature Index, has grown considerably since 2012. The country's weighted fractional count (WFC) has increased from 856.03 in 2012 to 948.32 in 2015. This metric measures a country or institution's contribution to the 68 journals tracked by the index. Australia ranked 12th in the index global ranking in 2015. New Zealand's output has fallen slightly in the past four years, from 126.31 in 2012 to 109.48 in 2015. But, the nation ranked 30th in the global index rankings in 2015, ahead of several countries with vastly larger populations and economies such as South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Argentina. A close look reveals Melbourne as Australia's top producer of high-quality research, and a centre for chemistry and life sciences, followed by Sydney (page S58). Brisbane's output is the fastest growing in the index since 2012 (page S70). The Queensland capital is home to Australia's top-ranked university in the index, the University of Queensland (page S78). Using data obtained by Digital Science's UberResearch, the infographic on pages S6669 shows where Australian universities invest to produce papers in top journals. In New Zealand, the cities of Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland produce the largest portion of the country's top-level natural science. New Zealand's key research strength, Earth and environmental sciences, is bolstered by the benefits and challenges of its unique geology and isolated position on the outer edge of the Pacific (page S74). Incidents in the Bermuda Triangle have made headlines since Vincent Gaddis coined the term in February 1964, attributing any ships or airplanes that have gone missing to the region's supposedly paranormal properties. The waters surrounded by Miami, Puerto Rico and Bermuda has claimed many aircraft and sea vessels and continues to seize more victims up to the present time. Here are five of the Bermuda Triangle's most famous disappearing acts: 1918: USS Cyclops Vanishes With 306 on Board The U.S. battleship USS Cyclops had been fueling British ships in the south Atlantic after servicing the Atlantic fleet between the East Coast and the Caribbean. On February 16, 1918, it had been traveling from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Barbados and had reached its destination early the following month. That was the USS Cyclops' last known voyage before it disappeared along with its 306 crew members and passengers. The Naval Historical Center said, "It is one of the sea's unsolved mysteries." 1948: Star Tiger Bound for Bermuda Disappears A Star Tiger passenger plane with 30 people on board was headed for Bermuda from England when it vanished in January 1948. Upon investigation of England's Civil Air Ministry, it was found that a ship, the SS Troubadour, had spotted a low-flying plane between Bermuda and Delaware Bay. Speculation that this could be the Star Tiger also points out that it would have been dangerously off course. The MacMillan Committee of the Civil Air Ministry could not explain its disappearance, stating, "There would accordingly appear be no grounds for supposing that Star Tiger fell into the sea in consequence of having been deprived of her radio, having failed to find her destination, and having exhausted her fuel." 1963: The Sulphur Queen Goes Up in Smoke February 3, 1963 marked the disappearance of the Sulphur Queen, a 523-foot tanker that carried sulfur. According to Time magazine, the last radio report sent by the Sulphur Queen 230 miles southeast of New Orleans. A couple of weeks later, debris from the ship washed up on a Florida beach. The Coast Guard believes that the vessel was no longer seaworthy and had possibly exploded while at sea. 2008: Trislander's Last Trip From Santiago, a Britten-Norman Islander, also known as three-engine Trislander, charted a course to New York City on December 15, 2008 with 12 people on board. Half an hour after takeoff, it disappeared from the radar, and all communication was lost. Despite extensive search operations by the U.S. Coast Guard, no trace of the aircraft was ever found. 2015: The SS El Faro Was Hunted by a Hurricane The most recent Bermuda Triangle disappearance is described as one of the worst in three decades. The 790-foot container ship SS El Faro left Jacksonville (Florida) headed for Puerto Rico on October 1, 2015. With 33 crew members on board, it carried a large number of containers, trailers, and vehicles. Hundreds of miles away, a tropical storm intensified into a hurricane, all the while moving closer to circle the SS El Faro. All communications were cut off before the hurricane was over. Weeks passed before the ship was located 15,000 feet in the Atlantic with no sign that its crew was ever there. NASA celebrates its 10-year mission dedicated to studying the Sun using the Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) satellites. STEREO is instrumental in providing scientists with amazing and useful images of the Sun; one memorable output is the first simultaneous view of the center of the Solar System at once. STEREO was launched in 2006 and has continuously succeeded in staring into the Sun for 10 years. Categorized as a solar observation mission, STEREO makes use of satellites that are almost identical called STEREO-A and STEREO-B. The two satellites orbit the sun since 2006. Their orbit around the Sun creates an unusually distant dance with Earth, pulling ahead and sometimes behind the planet. Due to this, the satellites were able to capture many different angles and phenomena that occur in the Sun's surroundings and surface including the coronal mass ejections. The satellites were launched on Oct. 25, 2006, aboard the Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral, according to Popular Mechanics. Since then, STEREO managed to stare into the Sun from 93 million miles. "Until Stereo, all we had were flat images," Eric Christian, an astrophysicist in the heliophysics division of NASA's Goddard Space Center said in an interview. "So we couldn't see things like solar flares, ribbons, prominences in 3-D," Christian added. The STEREO mission is instrumental in the sense that it has provided tons of information about the Sun that hasn't been discovered before. It also captured the first 3D image of the Sun and the first to map the coronal mass ejections, according to a report. Also because of STEREO satellites and their unusual orbits, NASA was able to gather information from three different distinct points within the Solar System. NASA celebrates STEREO mission's 10th year anniversary by releasing a video about the mission and its achievements in the last 10 years. The mission also resulted in other major achievements such as the identification plasma eruptions from the Sun's corona and the comprehensive mapping of the Sun. By using the STEREO satellites, scientists can also offer help in tracking solar storms in space in observing the same space weather phenomenon. NASA may be successful in studying the Sun for the last 10 years but the agency has no plans of stopping just yet as more missions are being launched to observe objects deeper in the Solar System and even beyond. For years, many space agencies and organizations devoted their time in searching for Earth-like planets with suitable and habitable conditions for human life. One of the main components to consider is the presence of liquid water. However, recent reports say that, like everything in life, too much of something is also not a good sign. Excessive amounts of water may also make exoplanets less habitable. Water is one of the vital requirements for life. However, looking at it in a complex formation and evolution point of view, too much of it may hinder the progression of some life forms. This is considered true when it comes to the search for Earth 2.0 or the next habitable planet. Last August, the European Space Observatory (ESO) announced that scientists found evidence that an exoplanet within Alpha Centauri may be able to sustain life. The discovery lead to many speculations and ideas on how a human habitation might thrive someplace beyond the Earth. The recent Earth-like exoplanet is called Proxima B and it orbits the star Proxima Centauri. However, there is not a lot of information available yet about the exoplanet. Apparently, the exoplanet affects the tiny star making it "wobble" a little. Although there is very little knowledge about Proxima B, the thought of having another Earth ignited the excitement of many. Proxima B is also found in the Goldilocks Zone, meaning it is located at the right distance from the Sun to be able to sustain life. It won't be too hot or too cold and that liquid water may exist. In theory, where there is liquid water, there is life. But a recent study from the University of Bern said that the problem is that small exoplanets may have too much or very "large quantities" of water. "Our models succeed in reproducing planets that are similar in terms of mass and period to the ones observed recently," Yann Alibert, of the Center of Space and Habitability (CSH) at the University of Bern, said in a statement. "Interestingly, we find that planets in close-in orbits around these type of stars are of small sizes. Typically, they range between 0.5 and 1.5 Earth radii with a peak at about 1.0 Earth radius. Future discoveries will tell if we are correct," Alibert added. The study will be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. What makes the study more intriguing is that, if the model is correct, exoplanets may contain 10 percent water. This amount is excessive compared to Earth's 0.002 percent, according to reports. Although this does not suggest that the exoplanets may not be habitable at all, but scientists think it may "lessen" its chance of being habitable due to too much liquid water. "While liquid water is generally thought to be an essential ingredient, too much of a good thing may be bad," Willy Benz, the study co-author said in a statement. "But this is the case for the Earth, here we deal with considerably more exotic planets which might be subjected to a much harsher radiation environment, and/or be in synchronous " Benz added. A body with too much water means there will also be a more complex weather system. But the proponents of the study, whether or not these types of exoplanets, with huge deposits of liquid water, may be habitable or not, understanding them will be beneficial to scientists in the future. Federal officials are investigating Genesis II Church of Health and Healing for selling a so-called "miracle cure" for autism, which turns out to be nothing more than a household bleach. The miracle cure, or more commonly known as Master Mineral Solution (MMS), is marketed as a treatment that can not only cure autism, but also handful of diseases including cancer, acne, hepatitis and AIDS. It can be bought online for $12.94 per four ounce bottle and $96 for a package of 12 bottles. The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration have already issued a warning on MMS and other unproven treatments for autism in 2014. However, self-proclaim god and leader of the Genesis II Church responded to the FDA's warning saying they "should get on and tell everyone how poisonous the FDA-approved drugs are," according to a report from New York Daily News. Lab results on the MMS revealed that the miracle cure contains sodium chloride, which is primarily used as a bleaching agent and disinfectant. Federal prosecutors then proceeded to say that the miracle cure could be more useful in cleaning swimming pools and kitchen countertops, but not cure autism or any other diseases used in its advertisement. "They might as well be selling Clorox," said Ben Mizer of the U.S. Department of Justice, who has overseen the prosecution of at least one person selling the miracle cure, in a report from ABC News. "You wouldn't drink Clorox, so there is no reason you should drink MMS." At present, Humble is being prosecuted for selling the fraudulent cure. Mizer noted that forming a church won't protect anyone from being prosecuted for selling fake cures for any kind of diseases. Humble currently resides in Mexico as federal prosecutors continue to scrutinize his church and fraudulent cures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 68 children living in the US was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2012. Furthermore, about 1 in 6 children in the US had developmental disability, ranging from mild disabilities such as speech and language impairments to serious developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy and autism, in 2006 to 2008. In a span of four years, the hexagon formation on the Northern hemisphere of Saturn turned from blue to gold. The changing color baffles NASA scientists as they struggle to understand what caused the drastic changes in Saturn's surface. There is an ongoing 20,000-mile storm at Saturn's North Pole and it has intrigued scientists ever since it was discovered. But what's causing more confusion is that the 'hexagon' changed colors upon comparing images taken of Saturn's North Pole from 2012 to 2016. From the images released by NASA, it is evident the once blue color turned into yellowish-gold. The Cassini spacecraft observing the planet since 2004 captured the images. The change appeared to happen gradually based on the observation launched since Nov. 2012 up to Sept. 2016. The mystery hexagon is a cloud pattern in Saturn's northern hemisphere where an evident weather activity is taking place. Experts believe that the shape could have been caused by the varying wind speed in Saturn. Saturn, the second largest planet in the Solar System next to Jupiter, is also a gas planet. It is composed mainly of hydrogen, methane, and helium. But despite the surprising changes, astronomers and scientists already offered some potential causes of the unusual phenomenon. "In particular the change from a bluish color to a more golden hue may be due to the increased production of photochemical hazes in the atmosphere as the north pole approaches summer solstice in May 2017," a NASA official said in a statement. Some say that the change in color can be attributed to the planet's changing season. The color may vary depending on the amount of sunlight that is responsible for producing aerosols in the planet's atmosphere. "In particular, the change from a bluish color to a more golden hue may be due to the increased production of photochemical hazes in the atmosphere as the north pole approaches summer solstice in May 2017," a NASA official said in a statement. The hexagon shape that changes in color could also be a six-sided Jetstream that prevents particles from the outside to penetrate the planet. But there aren't enough evidence or studies yet to help confirm if the theories are correct. One thing is for sure, though, the unusual hexagonal shape on the tip of Saturn obviously changed its color and that is something for astronomers and scientists to figure out in the years to come. Our universe is full of mysterious objects, and the most recent of these is an object in a weird orbit beyond Neptune. Discovered in August by astronomer Ying-Tung Chen of Academia Sinca in Taiwan and an international team of astronomers from Harvard to Hawaii to Germany, the retrograde trans-neptunian object (TNO) was named "Niku," which means "rebellious." As suggested by its name, the object moves in the opposite direction of nearly everything else in the solar system. Meaning, it is traveling upwards on a plane that is tiled to everything else. According to their paper detailed in the arXiv, "Niku" was detected by the Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) Outer Solar System Survey. Niku has been observed 22 times by PS1 at two different oppositions as well as the 1-m Lulin Observatory Telescope (LOT) in Taiwan. Niku is an object with a diameter of about 124 and is 160,000 times fainter than Neptune. As mentioned by Space.com, Niku's orbit is inclined at an extreme 110-degree tilt with respect to the relatively thin, flat zone in which the eight major planets of the solar system orbit. Most TNOs are in much less inclined orbits, such as the 2008 KV42 (Drac), with 103.5 inclination. Meanwhile, scientists can't figure out what's causing it to orbit the opposite way from the typical orbit. Popular Mechanics cited some theories about Niku. One, is that a large object's gravity is influencing Niku's abnormal orbit -- Planet Nine, an unseen dwarf star called Nemesis, or an unknown dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt. But the researchers deem the theories all problematic. Furthermore, scientists speculated that there might exist more of objects like Niku, with similar inclined orbits beyond Neptune. Through their study, they have found out that indeed, there is an entire cluster (six objects) of similar objects is orbiting like Niku. "They're not randomly distributed in the sky - they all seem to be aligned," study co-author Matthew Payne at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, told Space.com. The scientists detailed their findings Oct. 17 at the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences and European Planetary Science Congress in Pasadena, California and said that they are still conducting further studies about Niku and the other TNOs. A group of artists transformed a roadway into a river of glowing books to fight pollution, noise and traffic. The interactive art installation is titled "Literature vs. Traffic" and was created by a group of anonymous artists called Luzinterruptus from Madrid, Spain. The project transformed the Hagerman Street in Toronto, Canada into a twisting river of 10,000 books donated by the Salvation Army. Pedestrians and visitors were encouraged to pick a book, read them and bring them home. The installation was featured in the "And The Transformation Reveals" program of Toronto's Nuit Blanche 2016 art festival, an annual all-night celebration of contemporary art. The book river serves as a symbolic protest against the effects of urban traffic and the battle between pedestrians and automobiles. For one night, pedestrians will have a moment of silence in the streets, free of pollution, noise, and traffic, as the roadway, which was always occupied by cars, will be full of meaningful stories, poems and other types of literature. "We want literature to take over the streets and conquer public spaces, freely offering those passersby a traffic-free place which, for some hours, will succumb to the humble power of the written word," Luzinterruptus said on their website. It took 12 days and 50 volunteers to install the piece, which was completed in time for the festival on Oct. 1. According to the group, the installation was self-dismantled in 10 hours, and the remains were collected by the street's maintenance service at dawn. Luzinterruptus is known for their use of light as a raw material, carrying out urban interventions like "Literature vs. Traffic" in public spaces all over the world. The same piece had been installed in Madrid, New York and in Melbourne. The group often uses donated or waste materials for their projects and work with volunteers. Since 2008, Luzinterruptus has been creating different projects and has been commissioned by various art events and museums to create installations for specific spaces. A tropical parrot bone has been discovered in Siberia, giving rise to the theory that these birds might have once populated even this icy region of Eurasia. Found in the Baikal region, the bone dates back to 16 and 18 million years ago. The research, published in the journal Biology Letters, was authored by Dr. Nikita Zelenkov from the Borissiak Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. He was very surprised by the discovery. "No-one before has ever found evidence of their presence in Siberia," he said. At Tagay Bay in the east of Siberia, Dr. Zelenkov unearthed part of a bone called a tarsometatarsus. Anatomically located in the lower leg of birds, this tarsometatarsus was discovered to have belonged to a small parrot. Dr. Zelenkov noted, "This locality is also interesting because it preserves a rich community of fossil birds. But no exotic birds have been found there before." In an interview with BBC News, Dr. David Waterhouse, senior curator of natural history at Norfolk Museums Service, noted that Dr. Zelenkov's findings were not completely unexpected. "Even though today we associate parrots with tropical and sub-tropical environments, you can get parrots in the Himalayas," he said. "So they can deal with those climates -- and during the Miocene period, it was even warmer than it is now. So when you put it together, it is not surprising." This research could modify the current theories of how early parrots came to the Americas from Africa. "This paper suggests -- and it is only a suggestion but it is an interesting one -- that we have parrots in Asia and the easiest possible route from Asia to North America is across what's now the Bering Strait, across from Russia into Canada and Alaska," stated Dr. Waterhouse. Dr. Waterhouse takes these findings as a further challenge to science, saying, "They've found something that even if it doesn't give us all the answers, it does raise more questions and starts us thinking about new hypotheses - and that's the kind of science that I like." Three Napa wineries may finally get some of their gold-medal winning wine worth tens of thousands of dollars back after James Allen Hall was arrested Friday in Wichita, Kansas. Hall faces charges of fraud and illegally purchasing, selling and distributing alcohol without a license. HOW DID ALL THAT WINE DISAPPEAR? Michael Quinn has owned Michael Scott wines since 1996. Its a small winery producing less than 5,000 cases of wine per year. So when Quinn received an order in August for 58 cases of wine from Jayhawk Beverages in Pittsburg, Kansas, he saw an opportunity to enter a new market. After a few conversations we decided to do business together, Quinn says. He sent us a purchase order. We sent out the wine. According to Quinn, it is standard practice to ship the wine at the clients expense and get paid after the wine arrives at the destination. A couple weeks went by and he mailed a check finally, which bounced, according to Quinn. After a while he just quit communicating altogether. I got a hold of some of the other wineries and they were having really the same story I was, Quinn says. Sedgwick County Jail THE THEORY The wine was shipped to a warehouse on 201 E. 5th St., in Pittsburg, Kansas. The building was a school furniture business at one point in time. A neighboring business tells The Investigative Unit the warehouse has been abandoned for the last five or six years. Quinn believes that if Hall could get the wine for free, he could sell it at twice the cost. If he was just selling it to wine shops and restaurants he would be able to double his money. So he could probably sell that wine for $17,000, Quinn says. And that's just with ours. With the other wineries, it might be closer to $60,000. The other wineries include Prolific Beverage, which produces a series of Cabernet wines with the One label. Owner Jason Hooten, told The Investigative Unit he delivered 28 cases of wine with a market value worth roughly $15,000. Hooten was not available for further comment. A third Napa winery also shipped wine to Hall, but did not wish to be identified. JIMMY HALLS PAST Quinn says he had to file a police report with the Napa Police Department in order for Pittsburg police in Kansas to open a case against Hall. That is when Quinn became aware of Halls questionable past. It includes an arrest warrant for grand theft of 401K contributions and an alleged fraudulent vacation home business. The arrest warrant by The State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation shows Hall had three financial firms acting as third party administrators of 401K plans in Florida. The warrant says Hall funneled other people's contributions to himself from 2010 to 2013, totaling $811,593. He was arrested on March 3, 2015 in Pittsburgh, KS on that warrant and booked into Crawford County Jail. Hall posted bond and was released. NBC Bay Area also obtained records from the Pinellas County Sheriffs Department in Florida. During the span of one year from April 2015 to 2016, five reports were made alleging Hall received rental fees and down payments for vacation rental properties in Madeira Beach, FL. Tourists claim they lost their money and that the properties may not exist. THE RAID On Friday, The Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control entered a warehouse in Wichita and arrested Hall. He was booked into Sedgwick County Jail. According to officials, the warehouse contained cases of alcohol and wine valued at approximately $70,000. Quinn says he warned Hall. I told him he messed with the wrong person this time. It's the principle of the thing and you know, he can't continue. THE SOLUTION For Quinn, there is some relief, but says that not everything makes sense. He's gone all his life ripping people off, you know," Quinn says. "Who does that? Authorities in Kansas say there is still a chance for Quinn and the other wineries to get back their wine. Jeannine Koranda is the spokesperson for the Kansas State Department of Revenue, which oversees the department in charge of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The Investigative Unit asked her what will happen to the cases of wine seized as evidence. In an email to NBC Bay Area, Koranda wrote, When it is released, the original owners will have the option of it being returned to them or it would be destroyed. Authorities in Kansas will not provide further information on the case against Hall. The U.S. Coast Guard suspended a search on Thursday morning for a missing 50-year-old Chinese sailor who departed San Francisco last week in an attempt to set a non-stop solo trans-Pacific sailing record. But Guo Chuan has still not been found. "Mr. Chuan was a professional mariner with a deep passion for sailing," Honolulu-based US Coast Guard Capt. Robert Hendrickson said in a statement. "Our thanks to our Navy partners who helped us search for this vessel in a timely manner so far from shore in an attempt to locate Mr. Chuan. Our deepest condolences go out not only to his family and friends but also to his racing team and the sailing community." Chuan was reported overdue while sailing his 97-foot super trimaran from San Francisco to Shanghai on Tuesday, officials said. His boat, the Qingdao China, had been located with no one on board. An airborne crew from the Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point was launched, along with vessels in the area, to search for Chuan. On Tuesday morning, watchstanders at the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu received word from Chinese maritime officials that the vessel, with one person aboard, had not been heard from for 24 hours. The Qingdao China was actively transmitting on an automatic identification system that showed the vessel's position at the time 620 miles northwest of Oahu. Chuan is regarded as a very experienced sailor and was reportedly in good health before he departed San Francisco on Oct. 18. It was only recently that he hadn't been communicating with his family and martime officials. New ride-hailing companies are going where the traditional ones cant, targeting kids and their parents who need help juggling work and parenting responsibilities. Eleven-year old Coco, of Los Gatos, California, uses Zum app four days a week to get to home from school, get a snack and get to gymnastics when her parents are tied up at work. It makes me feel independent and lets me be without my mom being on my tail all the time. Its nice to get a break from that sometimes, Coco, said. Zum is one of a handful of start-ups making inroads in the ride-hailing industry. Uber and Lyft drivers are not supposed to take unaccompanied minors, per company policies. Enter companies such as San Francisco-based Kango and Los Angeles-Based HopSkipDrive, which also provide drivers with childcare backgrounds to busy Bay Area parents. Three oclock to five was a stressful time for parents. A huge productivity loss for the company too, said Ritu Narayan, who founded Zum in Belmont after a stint at Ebay. Both of my kids were transitioning to school and suddenly I had this challenge of being in two or three places at the same time. Her company had 10 drivers when it launched last year. Now, more than 300 Zumers serve 3,000 families in the Bay Area and Orange County. All [the drivers] come from childcare experience. They go from phone interviews to in-person interviews. They are fingerprinted, background checked. They are Trustline certified, which is the gold standard for working in California, Narayan said. The majority of drivers are women: stay-at-home moms, nannies, teachers and graduate students looking to supplement their incomes. Plus, there are army veterans such as San Joses Rosanna Nguyen, who home schools her four kids. Being a stay-at-home mom, you often feel hidden inside your house. You kind of feel left out, Nguyen said. After only two months on the job, she says she feels empowered, bringing in anywhere from $24 to $32 per hour. It feels really good too, as a financial contributor to my family. My husband was like, Your confidence level has gone way up, Nguyen said. The price for parents? Rides start at $8 for carpools and $16 for solo rides, with add on costs for babysitting. Cocos dad says the extra cost is worth the peace of mind. He receives notifications during every step of his daughters journey. Life before Zum was really hectic, chaotic and unfortunately sometimes not the best for Coco. It was, Dad, dad, dad, dad, dad! Where are you? Where are you? Bobby Napiltonia said. For him at least, there is no guilt for not being able to leave work to drive his daughter to after school activities. He still takes Coco to school every morning and picks her up on Fridays. Plus, Coco prefers it this way. Going it alone makes her feel all grown up. I like being independent because Im an independent person, she said. Other specialized ride-hailing companies are popping up too. Coming soon: Lift Hero for seniors and SafeHer for women. The latter launched this fall in Boston and is coming to California sometime next year. Narayan is planning on expanding to at least a dozen more regions throughout the U.S. next year. The owners of the Millennium Tower units have suffered no real damage other than bad publicity and are partly responsible for their own troubles, the city of San Francisco alleges in its defense to an owners lawsuit. The city is one of many defendants in a legal action filed by dozens of owners of units at the building this summer. The suit was lodged after it was revealed that the 58-story structure at 301 Mission St. has sunk some 16 inches and is leaning north and west. In a filing earlier this month, attorneys for the city pointed the finger at both the developer of the sinking structure, Millennium Partners, their engineers and architects and the owners of the units themselves. Pat Dodson, the owner of a unit on the 42nd floor of the building, says the citys filing is just another example of the finger-pointing that has kept anyone from fixing the problem. Theres no reason not to go forward and fix the building, she said. Its only getting worse. In a filing lodged by the city last week, the City Attorneys office argues that that the owners learned about the sinking problem as least as early as June 2015 but did nothing to address it. The failure to do everything reasonable possible to fix the problem at the time, the city contends, legally bars the owners from suing for damages, according to the citys filing. In a separate argument, the city contends that despite the continued sinking of the building, the owners suffered no actual damage to their units other than "negative public perceptions due to bad publicity. The city contends that owners still have unimpaired use and enjoyment of each of their units. The city also represents the Transbay Joint Powers Authority the publicly funded agency that has been constructing the next door Transbay terminal project. In the response to litigation, the city suggests that owners should sue the developer, Millennium Partners, for not alerting owners sooner about the sinking condition. Documents show Millennium knew as far back as 2008. The city also suggests that owners should go after Handel Architects and DeSimone Engineers in litigation, since the city enjoys legal immunity. Jerry Dodson, who has filed a separate fraud complaint against Millennium, says the citys stance is outrageous, given clear evidence that the city officials knew about the problem since 2009 yet failed to alert residents. Dodson disagrees with the city conclusion that there has been no real damage to owners units because of the settlement of the building. The city knows better, he said. Clearly the building is not stable and not secure at this point from the risk of an earthquake. EDITORS NOTE: After our story initially aired we received the following comment from John Cote, a spokesman for the City Attorneys Office. "A group of Millennium Tower residents sued the city in a situation where they should be looking at the developer of this building. We are not blaming the individual homeowners, but we are obligated to take the necessary legal steps to protect the residents and taxpayers of San Francisco." Good Samaritans jumped into action Tuesday in San Francisco to help save a man from a potential stabbing death. It started with what police are callng a random attack in broad daylight in the middle of crowds on a popular stretch in the downtown area. Police said 37-year-old transient Sean Carsetti approached a 49-year-old man on the sidewalk and asked to borrow his knife. When the man handed it to him, Carsetti suddenly started to stab him in his upper body. A pair of city workers, now being dubbed heroes, stopped the assault. The two San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency workers, Frank Shreve and Paolo De Souza, were driving on Market Street near Fifth Street en route to the Embarcadero Station when they spotted the attack, police said. They stopped the truck to intervene and were able to subdue Carsetti with the help of other bystanders. "There was a gentleman lying on the street here; he was clearly injured," witness Ed Hesselgren said. "It almost looked like six, seven EMTs around him with a giant crowd gathered." Another witness, Nico Leyva, said he saw the victim as emergency personnel pulled him to the side and laid him on the ground. They started applying pressure to wound. "There were probably 40-50 cops," he said. "A lot of cops had the block entirely closed off." SFMTA Director of Transit John Haley sent out a letter of special recognition Wednesday, calling the Shreve and De Souza brave heroes. "While many others passed by observing this horrific crime, they did not intervene," the letter said. "However, Frank and Paolo took immediate action." Carsetti was booked into county jail on attempted murder. The stabbing was the fourth reported in the area in the past week. There were two stabbings an hour apart on Monday and a stabbing at Market and Seventh streets on Oct. 18. A contentious showdown is brewing in the Sierra LaMar murder trial as defense attorneys for Antolin Garcia-Torres appear to be contemplating a defense that says the Morgan Hill-area teen is still alive and has run away from home. On Monday, a hearing is set for attorneys to argue whether a note, possibly written by the missing teenager, will be allowed as evidence. The note indicates Sierra contemplated running away around the time she went missing. The runaway theory is something the defense has floated since the grand jury transcripts were released more than two years ago. But on Monday, the court will focus on documents that came out this week in pretrial motions that show why the defense believes it can prove the theory. Sierra disappeared after leaving her Morgan Hill-area home for school on March 16, 2012. Garcia-Torres was arrested and charged with murder, even though Sierra's body has never been found. Now, more than four years later, jury selection has started in the murder trial, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. Garcia-Torres has pleaded not guilty. On Monday, Judge Vanessa Zecher will hear arguments on proposed evidence that experts say is crucial to the defense. According to court documents obtained by NBC Bay Area, the defense wants to introduce a note found in Sierra's notebook that, if authentic, indicates the teenager planned to run away on the date she disappeared. Documents say the note, written in Spanish, says, "I hate my life" and "I will be in San Francisco by 3/16/12." "The defense is going to point to these statements that she allegedly made, and the friends' statements, that she was ready to run away," legal analyst Steven Clark said. The prosecution is ready to dismiss the theory. According to court documents, the District Attorney's Office points out the notebook was taken from Sierra's locker by students and then seized by school officials. The prosecution believes there is no proof the note was written by Sierra, and Sierra's sister says it's not in Sierra's handwriting. Prosecutors call the note an obvious prank. "The judge is going to have to decide whether or not this evidence is reliable enough to get to the jury," Clark said. Clark added that the runaway theory doesn't explain away DNA evidence or Torres' incriminating statements to police. Sierra's parents declined to comment Wednesday. They have said since the runaway theory first emerged two years ago that they do not believe she ran away from home. San Francisco filmmaker and activist Kevin Epps, who was arrested and released this week in the fatal shooting of a man inside his home, applauded the city's justice system Wednesday during an interview with NBC Bay Area. Epps was arrested Monday on suspicion of homicide after 45-year-old Marcus Polk, was found shot to death in Epps' home in the city's Glen Park neighborhood. The award-winning filmmaker was released Tuesday after the District Attorneys Office declined to charge him, citing a lack of evidence. Epps said he couldn't provide details about the incident, but he and his attorney said the DA's office made the right decision. He cried and wiped tears from his eyes as he spoke to NBC Bay Area on Wednesday. "I cant really convey what Im feeling because its highs, lows," Epps said. "This whole experience is still foreign to me. Im just really about uplifting and empowering my people." Epps has been doing that for the past 20 years through his films. Hes best known for documenting the effects of violence in San Franciscos poorest neighborhoods in the documentary "Straight Outta Hunters Point." Epps, who is a board member of the Bay Area Black Journalists Association, also directed the 2006 documentary "Rap Dreams." Rudy Corpuz, the founder of youth anti-violence group United Playaz, said he was stunned when he heard Epps was arrested in the killing. "Hes a revolutionary; he helped many many people," Corpuz said. Epps also never imagined he would become the focus of a homicide investigation. "I can tell you its a case of self defense, and it was a shooting and a death," Epps' attorney, Mark Webb, said. Investigators have said Epps and Polk knew each other. Polks son said Monday his father may have gone to Epps' home uninvited. "If you dont like that, call the cops," Polk Jr. said. "You dont have to kill him, man." Epps' release has not closed the case and there is the possibility there could be further charges, Webb said. "Thats why were being very careful about what we say," the attorney said. Both Webb and Epps applauded San Franciscos criminal justice system for not pressing charges. "There is justice for a black man," Epps said. "I got a lot of friends and stories, and Im one of them. I thank San Francisco for making the right and just decision." An energy company lawyer said Thursday that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas touched her inappropriately at a 1999 dinner in suburban Washington. Thomas denied the allegation. Lawyer Moira Smith said in a statement that she was 23 when "Justice Thomas touched me inappropriately and without my consent." Smith, now vice president and general counsel of Enstar Natural Gas in Anchorage, Alaska, was then a recent graduate of Georgetown University who was spending the year as a Truman Foundation scholar in Washington. Two of Smith's roommates back then confirmed to The Associated Press that Smith told them what happened just after the dinner. Smith didn't go public until this month. Thomas said the claim is "preposterous" and "it never happened." Smith's story and Thomas' denial were first published by Law.com. Thomas' high court confirmation in 1991 was nearly derailed by Anita Hill's claims that Thomas sexually harassed her. Smith first described the incident publicly on her Facebook page, saying "he groped me while I was setting the table" at a dinner hosted by her boss. Smith said she has since deactivated her Facebook page, but law.com reprinted the posting with its story. Smith said she was moved to share her experience after hearing that Donald Trump had been caught on tape making crude comments about women and then seeing an Internet meme that made light of the situation. Smith said on Facebook that she also had been the victim of date rape and was later groped by an acquaintance in a bar. "As the mother of a young daughter and son, I am coming forward to show that it is important to stand up for yourself and tell the truth. When powerful men commit sexual assault, they count on their victims keeping it a secret," she said in the statement. When Smith returned home from the dinner in June 1999, she recounted what happened to her three roommates, said one of the women, Carrie Farmer. "I can't recall if it was that night or the next morning, but she told us that she went to this dinner and then this awful thing happened," said Farmer, a health policy expert with the Rand Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I don't recall our reaction to it, except I guess we were young and we didn't know what to do with that kind of information." Another roommate, Laura Fink of San Diego, would only say that the account published in law.com was accurate. Fink is a Democratic consultant who made similar claims against former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, for whom she worked when he was running for Congress. In 2013, Filner resigned as mayor amid sexual harassment allegations and eventually was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement on charges related to the claims. Smith's account became public just as Thomas and his supporters were marking his 25th anniversary on the court. The commemorations included an event at the Heritage Foundation Wednesday night, where Thomas was asked whether there is hope for the Supreme Court confirmation process. Carrie Severino, a former Thomas clerk, said the justice treated his clerks with "the utmost respect" and allowed her to defer her clerkship for a year because she was pregnant. "The alleged conduct bears no resemblance to the man I worked closely with, whom I still count a friend after nearly ten years," Severino wrote in a blog post on National Review.com that the justice's defenders circulated Thursday. Recounts and legal challenges can take months to play out in some cases, but not in the election of a president: the Constitution sets strict deadlines, and not just the date for the inauguration. There have been some long fights for office elsewhere, NBC News reported. When Norm Coleman of Minnesota ran for the U.S. Senate in 2008, the election night count showed him beating Al Franken by a mere 725 votes. That triggered a process of recounts and court battles that played out for eight months. Al Franken wasn't sworn in until July 2009. In Washington state, Dino Rossi gave up fighting seven months after it appeared he'd been elected governor in 2004 by a margin of 261 votes, when a third recount declared Christine Gregoire the winner. One of the important things to know about elections is that, in the event of a close vote, state law determines how recounts work. As Seen On Ward Room's Election Day guide is a special column dedicated to informing voters about candidates in the lead-up to the November 8 general election. U.S. Senate Mark Kirk (R): Incumbent Kirk has served in the Senate since 2010. The senator is a retired Navy reservist who previously served as the congressman for Illinois' 10th Congressional District from 2001 to 2010. The pro-choice gun control advocate is considered to be a social moderate and fiscal conservative. Tammy Duckworth (D): Duckworth currently serves as the U.S. Representative for Illinois 8th Congressional. She lost both legs co-piloting a Black Hawk helicopter over Iraq in 2004 and subsequently served in the Illinois and national VA. She has advocated for gun control and pro-choice causes in Congress. Kenton McMillen (L) and Scott Summers (G) will also be included on the ballot. Storyline: Kirk and Duckworth are locked in one of the nations tightest Senate races. This years Senate elections are specifically important because the majority party will likely be tasked with leading hearings to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by deceased Justice Antonin Scalia. Illinois 8th Congressional District Raja Krishnamoorthi (D): Krishnamoorthi was appointed a special assistant attorney general in the Public Integrity Unity by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan before leaving the office to serve as Illinois deputy treasurer in 2007. He now serves as president of Sivananthan Labs & Episolar Inc., which develops and sells products in the national security and renewable energy fields. Krishnamoorthi has vowed to be an advocate for middle class families if hes elected to Congress. Pete DiCianni (R): DiCianni is the former mayor of Elmhurst and a current DuPage County Board member. The Republican looks to bolster the economy and create jobs while securing the countrys borders and supporting American military and law enforcement. Storyline: Krishnamoorthi and DiCianni are battling it out for the 8th Congressional District House seat that will be vacated by Rep. Tammy Duckworth. The congresswoman has held the seat since 2012 when she beat out Krishnamoorthi in the Democratic primary. Illinois 10th Congressional District Bob Dold (R): Incumbent Dold was originally elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, replacing fellow Republican Mark Kirk, who was elected to the Senate that same year. Dold, who is considered a moderate Republican, has listed jobs and the economy as his districts most pressing issues. Dold was defeated by Schneider in 2012, but regained the seat in a 2014 rematch. Brad Schneider (D): During his time in Congress, Schneider supported the Affordable Care Act, LGBTQ rights and sustainable energy, among other things. This time around, hes committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform and commonsense gun control legislation. Storyline: Dold and Schneider are locked in their third Congressional matchup in six years. Dold, who has a substantial fundraising edge, looks to retain the seat for consecutive terms, while Schneider looks to once again knock him off. Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger (R): Incumbent Munger was appointed comptroller by Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2015. Munger, who worked through the states year-long budget impasse, has proposed a no budget, no pay bill that would require lawmakers to pass a balanced budget in order for state constitutional officers and legislators to receive their salary. She has already delayed lawmakers paychecks, putting them in line with other state vendors. Susana Mendoza (D): Chicago City Clerk Mendoza previously spent ten years in the Illinois House of Representatives. Mendoza has said shes running for state comptroller because she believes the middle class is under attack from Rauner and Munger. She feels Rauners main priorities are destroying unions and taking away the social safety net that provides opportunities for Illinois families to lift themselves out of poverty. Claire Ball (L) and Tim Curtin (G) will also be included on the ballot. Storyline: The race is being billed as a proxy battle for Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Mike Madigan. Munger has referred to herself as Rauners budgetary wingman, while Mendoza has called Madigan a mentor. Donation caps for the race were broken in September and millions have been dumped into the race since. Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx (D): Foxx beat out incumbent Democrat Anita Alvarez in the March primary while the states attorney was still reeling from the Laquan McDonald controversy. Foxx is a Chicago native, raised in the Cabrini-Green housing projects. She served as an assistant Cook County states attorney for 12 years before working as chief of staff for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Christopher Pfannkuche (R): Pfannkuche served as criminal prosecutor for the Cook County States Attorneys office for 21 years. He ran unopposed on the Republican ballot. Storyline: Riding a wave of high-profile endorsements, Foxx is the clear favorite to become Cook Countys next states attorney. Illinois House District 20 Michael McAauliffe (R): Incumbent McAuliffe is the only Republican state representative whose district includes portions of Chicago. Hes represented the district since 1997. According to his campaign, the fiscal conservative is committed to addressing the areas most problematic issue, noise from OHare International Airport. Merry Marwig (D): Newcomer Marwig previously worked with a local company that manufactures tea in Illinois. Like McAuliffe, she looks to reduce airplane noise at OHare. She also supports a property tax freeze and wants to hire additional police officers. Additionally, shes pushing for improvements to local infrastructure to address flooding issues. Storyline: The race between McAuliffe and Marwig has been dubbed the most expensive statewide race nationwide, with Gov. Rauner backing McAuliffe and Speaker Madigan backing Marwig. Ward Room's Campaign Round-Up is a weekly column dedicated to keeping you in the know about the upcoming 2016 elections. Check the Ward Room blog for continued coverage. U.S. Senate In a new campaign ad released Wednesday, Sen. Mark Kirk continues to criticize Rep. Tammy Duckworths work at the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The new ad references a recent Chicago Tribune feature that criticizes Duckworth's work at the VA and in Congress. While Thousands of veterans died, the Inspector General reports Tammy Duckworth wasted millions, the ads narrator says. Fine china, personalized coins, even $97,000 on media training for herself. Duckworth put political ambition ahead of veterans. Duckworth campaign spokesman Matt McGrath responded Wednesday, contending the claims. This might be Republican Mark Kirks most dishonest ad yet, and thats really saying something, McGrath said in a statement. Its little wonder Illinois voters are rejecting his relentlessly negative campaign at the same time national GOP groups are spending tens of millions of dollars on just about every Senate race in the country but this one. Kirk has based his entire campaign on shamelessly attacking Tammys record and service to her fellow veterans, and no one is buying what hes selling, McGrath added. Duckworth, a combat veteran who lost both legs piloting a Black Hawk helicopter over Iraq in 2004, claimed the china was used for official duties, like hosting foreign dignitaries, according to the Tribune. The piece also explained the challenge coins in question were used to recognize outstanding performance by employees. Nevertheless, critics suggested the coins were overused and federal agencies have since pulled back public spending on them. This includes a new policy against personalizing the coins. "In late 2010, after Duckworth had already purchased her challenge coins with her name on them, the VA implemented a policy against personalizing the challenge coins," the Tribune report said. The Duckworth campaign also claimed the ad had no citation for the claim that Duckworth spent nearly $100,000 on media training for herself. Nevertheless, Kirks ad claims the senator fought to increase VA funding, whistleblower protections and real reform so vets get the care they deserve. Kirk put veterans first, the ads narrator says. Illinois Comptroller In the highly-contentious race for Illinois comptroller, Incumbent Republican Leslie Munger released a new campaign ad Wednesday the looks to tie Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Susana Mendoza spent her political career following Mike Madigans orders, the ads narrator says. Mendoza called him her mentor, but the Chicago Tribune called Madigan the architect Illinois financial downfall. Mendoza previously spent ten years serving in the Illinois House of Representatives under Madigan. The 30-second spot features Mendoza endorsing Madigan for the speaker role and claims the Democrats voted in favor of the states largest tax hike and raised their pay by 13 percent. Susana Mendoza, just a career politician, the narrator adds. And Illinois cant afford her." The comptrollers race is being framed as a proxy battle between Madigan and Munger, who appointed Munger in 2015 following the sudden death of Judy Baar Topinka. Last year, Munger referred to herself as Rauners budgetary wingman. The comptroller has received millions in funding from Rauner and his allies. Mendoza campaign spokeswoman Lauren Peters explained the footage of Mendoza endorsing Madigan was a "ceremonial speech where every Democrat and Republican voted in support of Mike Madigan for speaker." "The hypocrisy here lies with Munger, whose campaign is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Gov. Rauner after accepting $8 million from him and his billionaire friends, while following his orders to delay payments to social service agencies and to payout $4 million in bonuses at his direction," Peters said in a statement. "She will never be in a position to serve as a check and balance to this governor, which our Constitution demands." State Voter Registration Breaks Record With under two weeks until Election Day, Illinois voter registration is breaking records, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. According to the report, the state has had more that 7.9 million active registered voters as of Monday. This beats out the previous record of 7.8 million registered voters during the 2008 election, when local-favorite Barack Obama was first running for president. According to the Sun-Times, the new record holds until at least 1960, the earliest statewide registration figures available. In Chicago, there are roughly 1.5 million registered voters. This doesnt break records set in 1948 and 1952, when there were 2.3 million registered voters in the city, according to the Sun-Times. However, on Monday, the first day of expanded early voting, 17,493 voters had already cast ballots in Chicago, besting the 2012 day one city record of 15,000 early voters. The spike in early voting could point to a Democratic edge in Chicago and the Cook County suburbs. In the March primary, early votes ran roughly 90 percent Democrat to 10 percent Republican, according to the Sun-Times. In suburban Cook County, early votes ran 72 percent Democrat to 29 percent Republican. Notable Contributions Susana Mendoza reported more than $400,000 in contributions last week. That includes a $150,000 donation from the Democratic Party of Illinois. Democrat Merry Marwig reported $151,000 in contributions last week. This includes three $50,000 from Illinois House Democrats. Marwig is looking to unseat state Rep. Michael McAuliffe in Illinois 20th House district. McAuliffe the only Republican representing a district that includes parts of Chicago. Gov. Bruce Rauner, his family and his campaign fund have made $45.8 million in political contributions this year, the Chicago Tribune reports. According to the report, $21 million of the $29 million raised by the Illinois Republican Party this year has come from Rauner. A young mother was sentenced to 38 years in prison Wednesday after she pleaded guilty but mentally ill in the stabbing death of her 5-month-old son, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting. To say this case is chilling is an understatement, Cook County Judge Charles Burns said. Burns noted that Kimberlynn Bolanos has suffered from bipolar and obsessive compulsive disorders and has substance abuse problems. The judge said he believed what happened on May 30, 2013, was an isolated incident and urged the 24-year-old to better her life while she is behind bars. Bolanos admitted to authorities that she stabbed Isaac Bolanos because she had premonitions something bad would happen to him and was afraid authorities would take the infant away because of her crack cocaine habit, prosecutors said at the time. Bolanos killed the baby while she took him with her into the a shower at the Diplomat Hotel, in the 5200 block of North Lincoln, prosecutors said Wednesday. Isaacs father, who was also in the room, asked her if everything was OK and noticed blood on the floor. He asked her to open the door and saw the baby with severe injuries to his head, prosecutors said. The man ran from the room and flagged down police. Isaac was stabbed 30 times in the head, 12 times in the chest and his throat was slit, prosecutors said. Bolanos, of the 2700 block of West Balmoral, also stabbed herself. A 62-year-old Granby man who had been missing since Oct. 22 has been found dead, according to police. Daniel Gilbert was found dead in a vehicle Thursday night at Tunxis State Forest in Hartland, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. His death appears to be a suicide, officials said. A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy late Wednesday, crumbling churches and buildings, knocking out power and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets just two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. One person was injured in the epicenter of Visso, where the rubble of collapsed buildings tumbled into the streets. But the Civil Protection agency, which initially reported two injured, had no other immediate reports of injuries or deaths. The first quake carried a magnitude of 5.4, but the second one was eight times stronger at 6.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Because many residents had already left their homes after the first one struck at 7:10 p.m., with plans to spend the night in their cars or elsewhere, they weren't home when the second one hit two hours later, possibly saving lives, news reports said. "It was an unheard-of violence. Many houses collapsed," Ussita Mayor Marco Rinaldi told Sky TG24. "The facade of the church collapsed. By now I have felt many earthquakes. This is the strongest of my life. It was something terrible." Rinaldo said two elderly people were rescued from their home, where they were trapped. He said they appeared to be in good condition. Some 200 people in Ussita will sleep in the streets, given the impossibility of putting up tents in the night. Calling it "apocalyptic," he said the town and its hamlets were "finished." ''People are screaming on the street and now we are without lights." A church crumbled in the ancient Perugian town of Norcia, famed for its Benedictine monastery and its cured meats. A bell-tower damaged on Aug. 24 fell and crushed a building in Camerino, the ANSA news agency said. Elsewhere, buildings were damaged, though many were in zones that were declared off-limits after the Aug. 24 quake that flattened parts of three towns. "We're without power, waiting for emergency crews," said Mauro Falcucci, the mayor of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, near the epicenter. Speaking to Sky TG24, he said: "We can't see anything. It's tough. Really tough." He said some buildings had collapsed, but that there were no immediate reports of injuries in his community. He added that darkness and a downpour were impeding a full accounting. Schools were closed in several towns Thursday as a precaution. Italy's national vulcanology center said the first quake struck at 7:10 p.m. local time (1710 GMT) with an epicenter in the Macerata area, near Perugia in the quake-prone Apennine Mountain chain. The U.S. Geological Survey put the epicenter near Visso, 170 kilometers northeast of Rome, and said it had a depth of some 10 kilometers (six miles). The second aftershock struck two hours later at 9:18 p.m. with a similar depth. Experts say even relatively modest quakes that have shallow depths can cause significant damage because the seismic waves are closer to the surface. But seismologist Gianluca Valensise said a 10-kilometer depth is within the norm for an Apennine temblor. The Aug. 24 quake that destroyed the hilltop village of Amatrice and other nearby towns had a depth of about 10 kilometers. Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said residents felt Wednesday's aftershocks but "We are thanking God that there are no dead and no injured." The original Aug. 24 6.2-magnitude quake was still 41 percent stronger than even the second aftershock. Wednesday's temblors were felt from Perugia in Umbria to the capital Rome as far north as Veneto. It also shook the central Italian city of L'Aquila, which was struck by a deadly quake in 2009. The mayor of L'Aquila, however, said there were no immediate reports of damage there. A section of a major state highway north of Rome, the Salaria, was closed near Arquata del Tronto as a precaution because of a quake-induced landslide, said a spokeswoman for the civil protection agency, Ornella De Luca. The mayor of Arquata del Tronto, Aleandro Petrucci, said the aftershocks felt stronger than the August quake, which devastated parts of his town. But he said there were no reports of injuries to date and that the zone hardest hit by the last quake remained uninhabitable. "We don't worry because there is no one in the red zone, if something fell, walls fell," he said. In Rome, some 230 kilometers (145 miles) southwest from the epicenter, centuries-old palazzi shook and officials at the Foreign Ministry evacuated the building. The quakes were actually aftershocks of the magnitude 6.2 earthquake from two months ago. Because they were so close to the surface, they have the potential to cause more shaking and more damage, "coupled with infrastructure that's vulnerable to shaking," said U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Paul Earle. "They have a lot of old buildings that weren't constructed at a time with modern seismic codes," he said. Given the size, depth and location of the quakes, the USGS estimates that about 24 million people likely felt at least weak shaking. This original quake was about 20 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of the original shock, which puts it on the northern edge of the aftershock sequence and two months is normal for aftershocks, Earle said. Allies of Hillary Clinton felt threatened by the power of Sen. Bernie Sanders' candidacy and wondered about getting some signal of support from President Barack Obama in the heat of the Democratic primaries, according to the latest emails in a hacked trove from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. Ahead of the Illinois primary in March, liberal operative Neera Tanden asked Podesta, who formerly worked on Obama's transition in 2008, if the president could give any kind of indication that he was supporting Clinton over Sanders. Tanden asked Podesta whether Obama could "even hint of support of Hillary before Tuesday?" Obama stayed officially neutral in the primaries until Clinton clinched the nomination in June. Tanden wrote: "Maybe they don't want to do this, but the stakes are pretty damn high in this election for him." The email exchange was contained in more than 1,500 emails released Wednesday by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. The notes were stolen from the email account of Podesta as part of a series of high-profile computer hacks of Democratic targets that U.S. intelligence officials say were orchestrated by Russia, with the intent to influence the Nov. 8 election. Russia has denied the allegations. In a separate June 2015 email, the Clinton campaign worried that some state affiliates of the nation's largest labor union, the National Education Association, were set to endorse Sanders even though the national union had not yet made an endorsement. On June 22, 2015, Clinton's labor outreach director Nikki Budzinski emailed other campaign officials to let them know "NEA is concerned their VT affiliate could do a Tuesday (next week) recommendation of endorsement (with potential press release). This is not confirmed. The bigger concern is that RI and MA might go with VT as well." Carrie Pugh, the NEA's political director, had similar concerns and shared them with Clinton campaign officials. Budzinski said the move in Vermont "doesn't pose serious concern for the NEA overall endorsement" but called it an "optics problem" coming before a major meeting of NEA representatives. "I am working with Carrie Pugh on options to head this off," Budzinski wrote. The NEA ultimately endorsed Clinton in October 2015 despite some complaints that leaders hadn't taken Sanders seriously enough and should have waited. In an email to Podesta in January, Clinton pollster Stan Greenberg weighed in by urging that Clinton better position herself relative to Sanders on the issue of reforming big money politics and special interest giveaways. The memo hints that Clinton, a prolific fundraiser and longtime Democratic Party insider, had her doubts. "Her concern about authenticity and credibility on this issue is understandable but not right," Greenberg said. "There is nothing more important politically than Clinton getting ahead of money and politics," the pollster said. "It is a pre-requisite for getting heard on change and government activism, for competing and beating Sanders and establishing a key contrast with the Republicans." And both Podesta and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio warmed to the idea of setting up a "People's PAC" intended as a vehicle for Clinton to direct support toward liberal Democrats in the House and Senate and potentially draw Sanders' supporters to Clinton. The idea was floated in a March 2016 email from Huffington Post contributor Brett Budowsky to Podesta, which Podesta forwarded to de Blasio, who responded that the liberal PAC "has a lot of merit." The People's PAC never came to pass. "I think it's a good idea but think that our team will see it as a resource diversion," Podesta wrote to de Blasio. In an email on Jan. 22, 2016, Erika Gudmundson, with Chelsea Clinton's office, discusses ways that the campaign could help Chelsea Clinton draw distinctions between her mother and Bernie Sanders as the campaign grew more competitive. "The tone has changed would be great to highlight for her where contrasts should be made," Gudmundson wrote. What to Know Shirlene Quigley and her father stopped by the North Bergen Police Department Headquarters to thank them for reuniting her with family She went missing Monday after she was last seen boarding a Port Authority bus at 1 a.m. over the weekend Quigley has performed at an array of awards shows, including the Grammy's, VMA's, and ESPY Awards The North Bergen Police Department got a huge thank you from Shirlene Quigley when she dancer and her father stopped by police headquarters on Thursday. The 32-year-old and her father, Brad Quigley, thanked the members of the detective bureau for finding her and reuniting her with family, the New Jersey police department said. "We are beyond pleased this situation has come to a successful conclusion," police wrote in an Instagram post. "The North Bergen Police Department wishes Shirlene health, happiness and success in all of her future endeavors." Quigley, who lives alone in North Bergen, vanished near the Port Authority Bus Terminal at around 1 a.m. Sunday after making a cryptic comment to friends. Rihanna and Missy Elliott posted emotional pleas on Instagram for information on the whereabouts of Quigley, who has also performed with Beyonce. North Bergen police said in an Instagram post Tuesday evening that the dancer was found safe with the help of NYPD. She was at an undisclosed medical facility, and her father flew in from Los Angeles to reunite with her. In the post on Thursday, police said the public outcry was instrumental in helping to find Quigley. "The outpour of concern and assistance from the community and celebrities alike was quite touching. We could not have done it without their help," police wrote. Police are looking for 32-year-old Shirlene Quigley, a dancer from North Bergen. She has danced with Beyonce and Rihanna, among others. Missy Elliott posted photos of Quigley on her Instagram account and called her a sweet, caring spirit. Quigleys father, who last spoke to her on Friday, said shes everything to me, shes why I live. A Dallas man is in custody, accused of sexually assaulting a child inside a southeast Dallas home. Police say Michael Wade, 60, lured an 8-year-old boy inside an abandoned home on the 2900 block of South Boulevard near Fair Park. Neighbors say they have been have been complaining about the home for months. Jerald Evans was at a loss for words when he spoke about the vacant home problem in his southeast Dallas neighborhood. He claims it's only getting worse and says he's complained about unmanicured lawns, chipped paint, keep-out signs and broken glass to no avail. "I've been telling them about the property all the time how people are living in there, how they come on my property," he said. Evans's home is right next to where Wade was recently arrested for allegedly luring and sexually assaulting the child inside the vacant home. "As I look here on his rap sheet this man is someone that shouldn't even be on the street. He has one of the longest rap sheets that I've even taken a look at," said former Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway. Caraway has been on a vacant home crusade for years, but says the problem is only getting worse. "This is something that's widespread throughout the city, and we must come up with a plan that will address tearing down vacant houses," he said. Caraway argues police can only do so much. "Let this be another alarm for the need to knock down these vacant houses that are housing opportunities for predators and criminals," he said. They are concerns that Evans says Caraway and others should continue to address. "Can you make them board it up, clean it up, tear it down? You know, give me a break," Evans said. Federal agents in hazmat suits raided two locations in Lubbock Thursday, finding evidence they say of a drug so dangerous even small amounts can kill. The early morning bust in Lubbock highlights new concerns about fentanyl on Texas. The drug has caused hundreds of overdose deaths in other parts of the country. Now, there are new fears North Texas could be hit hard. In the early morning darkness agents from the DEA, Homeland Security and the Lubbock Police Department descended on a Lubbock apartment building. They arrested two women suspected of selling fentanyl a drug similar to heroin, only 50 times more powerful. "This is the most dangerous thing we deal with, by far," said veteran DEA agent Calvin Bond from the agency's Dallas division. Fentanyl is so dangerous DEA agents entering the apartment suited up more like astronauts than police. "I've been with DEA for 27 years and this (drug) is the scariest thing I've ever seen," Bond said. The hazmat gear protects agents from touching or inhaling tiny granules that can kill. It's so warm inside the protective suits they can only wear them for a short period of time. And each time they come out of the building they need to be decontaminated. As the sun rose through the morning fog it shed light on a new realization. The Lubbock area, and perhaps all of Texas, is facing a new drug crisis. It's one that Dallas's top federal prosecutor fears may sweep across Texas the same way it has in the Midwest and the Northeast, where it's been linked to hundreds of deaths. "Unfortunately I think what we are likely to see before it gets better is a continued increase and spike in the number of overdoses and deaths," said U.S. Attorney John Parker, the top federal prosecutor in Lubbock and Dallas. There have been three suspected fentanyl deaths in Lubbock in recent months, and now come Thursday's raids. A third person was arrested at a home in South Lubbock, where agents spent the afternoon seizing more evidence. Prosecutors say the group bought fentanyl from clandestine labs in China, communicating over what's known as the "dark web," making their purchases harder to trace. According to U.S. Attorney Parker one of the biggest concerns for law enforcement is how easily the drug can be shipped to Texas from places like China. Agents said they are already seeing more troubling signs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. "We know that fentanyl is coming through the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We have had some seizures, DEA has had some seizures of fentanyl," Bond said. That raises fears that more deaths, and more raids like Thursday's, could be on the way. Federal prosecutors identified the three people arrested in Lubbock as Sidney Caleb Lanier, 36; Jessica Christine Holl, 28; and Jamie Marie Robertson, 32. Authorities said a Dallas Area Rapid Transit paratransit van crashed into a pole Thursday morning. [[398845611,C]] DART officials said the van and another vehicle were involved in a crash before the van collided with the pole in the 2200 block of Metropolitan Avenue at about 5:30 a.m. No passengers were on the van, according to authorities. Both drivers went to hospitals complaining of back, neck and chest pain. No further details have been released. Police say they know who fatally shot two men outside their home in South Fort Worth early Sunday morning, but the question why remains a mystery. Daniel Haros and Phillip Evans stopped by a neighbor's Halloween party and briefly chatted with Cary Heath, who lived a few doors down, police said. According to an arrest warrant, the conversation was "friendly and cordial." But for some reason, Heath a teacher, Air Force veteran and father of four later got an assault rifle and shot both men, police said. He later told his wife he had just "killed two people" and asked her to clean the blood in his gun safe, police said. He also said he would never see his one-year-old child again. "There's no explanation for it," said Kevin Morgan, a longtime friend of the victims. "I believe they did nothing. They did nothing. Did the guy just flip out? That's what the question is. That's what we want to know." James Beaver, the manager of Dalton's Corner, a Burleson bar where the two victims often hung out, said the two men had no enemies. "It was horrific," Beaver said. "You couldn't think of two guys who deserved this any less." Sgt. Marc Povero, a Fort Worth police spokesman, said detectives were still investigating a possible motive. On Monday, Heath, 35, was arrested on a capital murder charge at Permenter Middle School in Cedar Hill, where he is employed as a teacher. Heath was booked on a $1 million bond. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney; jail records do not list an attorney for Heath. A spokesperson for the Cedar Hill Independent School District said Heath has been placed on administrative leave. Law enforcement officers dressed in riot gear and firing bean bags and pepper spray evicted protesters Thursday from private land in the path of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, dramatically escalating a months-long dispute over Native American rights and the project's environmental impact. In an operation that took nearly six hours, hundreds of armed state and local police and National Guard some on foot and others in trucks, military Humvees and buses pushed past burning barricades to slowly envelop the camp. No serious injuries were reported, though one man was hurt in the leg and received treatment from a medic. More than a dozen protesters who refused to leave were arrested and taken to the Morton County Jail, Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said. Among those arrested was a woman who pulled out a .38-caliber pistol and fired three times at officers, narrowly missing a sheriff's deputy, according State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong. Officers did not return fire, she said. Kirchmeier said that the camp had been cleared by nightfall although police were still dealing with protesters on the perimeter. Though officials earlier said they planned to turn the site over to private security, Kirchmeier said police would stay for now. "We're not leaving the area," he said. "We are just going to make sure that we maintain a presence in the area so the roadway stays open, and to keep individuals from camping on private land." Opponents of the pipeline over the weekend set up camp on private land owned by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners, which is working to complete the 1,200-mile pipeline to carry oil from western North Dakota to Illinois. The route skirts the Standing Rock Reservation and the tribe says it could endanger water supplies and disturb cultural sites. The state of North Dakota says no sensitive cultural sites have been found in the area. The tribe has gone to court to challenge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision granting permits at more than 200 water crossings. A federal judge in September denied their request to block construction, but three federal agencies stepped in to order construction to halt on Corps-owned land around Lake Oahe, a wide spot of the Missouri River, while the Corps reviewed its decision-making. Construction was allowed to continue on private land owned by the developer, with a goal of completion by the end of the year. Thursday's operation to push out the protesters began a day after they had refused to leave voluntarily. Law enforcement repeatedly asked protesters to retreat, at one point using a high-pitched whistle they said was intended to "control and disperse" protesters. The camp cleared on Thursday is located just to the north of a more permanent and larger encampment on federally owned land which has been the main staging area for hundreds of protesters, including Native Americans from across North America, environmentalists and some celebrities. Many protesters openly defied the officers, while others took part in prayer circles and burned sage. Cody Hall, a spokesman for the protesters, vowed a new camp would be built elsewhere in the pipeline's path, but on federal land. "It's going to take a lot to move them (protesters) from there," he said. Authorities said protesters set fire to four large pieces of construction equipment. At least two cars were also burned. Aaron Johnson, 50, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux in South Dakota, said he and other protesters weren't happy with the day's outcome. "I came here for peace and prayer," he said. "When somebody sets something on fire, that's not peace and prayer." The U.S. Coast Guard seized more than 5,600 pounds of cocaine and arrested five suspected drug smugglers in the Pacific Ocean off the Central American coast. That brings the total of coke seized by the Coast Guard this fiscal year to more than 416,000 pounds, according to Lt. Donnie Brzuska. In the most recent bust, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche from Alameda, California, working with the Joint Interagency Task Force South patrol aircraft from the U.S. Navy, intercepted a suspected drug smuggling vessel, carrying more than $73-million worth of cocaine on Sept. 6, Brzuska said. The ships have been out at sea until recently, which is why the Coast Guard announced the arrest on Thursday, more than a month later. Court records from Southern District of Florida, where the case is being prosecuted, identify the defendants as Arley Olaya Cuero, Norman Garcia, Jose Fernando Ayala, Gabriel Estrada, Jose Rodriguez. Each was arrested in late September on several counts of conspiracy to possess intent to distribute cocaine. Each listed Spanish as their primary language in court records. NBC Bay Area After waiving their Miranda rights, all five admitted to knowing they were involved in drug trafficking, according to an affidavit signed by DEA Special Agent Jamey R. Gavalier. All five have pleaded not guilty, records show, and are being held on $250,000 bond. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of life in prison. Law enforcement found the men by boat and armed helicopter and took them off the self-propelled, semi-submersible they were riding in, even though they tried to fill the vessel up with water to try and swamp it, Bruzuska said. But their plans didn't work. Two Alameda-based Coast Guard crew members were able to thwart that attempt and took more than 5,600 pounds of cocaine nearly three tons into custody, Brzuska said. Our Coast Guardsmen face significant risks posed by dangerous criminal organizations, Capt. James Passarelli, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche said in a statement. Our crew preserved valuable evidence and kept millions of dollars of illicit narcotics off Americas streets. This year alone, the Coast Guard has stopped six similar vessels, which authorities say are specifically constructed for illicit trafficking with a mostly submerged hull; a cockpit and exhaust pipe are visible just above the water. These types of vessels are extremely difficult to detect and interdict because of their low profile, Brzuska said. In 2015 and 2016, the Coast Guard removed more than 416,600 pounds of cocaine. The September bust marks nearly 86,000 pounds of cocaine, worth more than $1.5 billion, that have been intercepted by Alameda-based Coast Guardsmen this year. A man who had an ax to grind with Donald Trump was arrested Thursday morning after he destroyed the presidential candidate's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. James Otis, an heir to the Otis Elevator Company fortune, surrendered to police Thursday morning, his attorney said. Los Angeles police confirmed Otis was arrested and remained in custody late Thursday morning. Otis said he's been arrested over two dozen times in the past for protesting various causes. He appeared Wednesday in a Deadline Hollywood video dressed as a construction worker in work boots, a high-visibility safety vest and helmet smashing the Trump star with an ax and sledgehammer. "It was an act of civil disobedience, freedom of expression," Otis told NBC4. Otis said his intent was to remove the star and auction it off to raise money for the women who accused the presidential candidate of sexually assaulting them. "I did it, and I'm very happy I did it, and I'm proud that I did it," Otis said. The Republican presidential candidate and former "Apprentice" host received the star in January 2007 for his role on the NBC show. The star is in the 6800 block of Hollywood Boulevard, a prominent location on the Walk of Fame not far from the Hollywood and Highland Center, and was discovered broken into pieces early Wednesday morning. Otis said he camped out for several nights by the star to plan. On Wednesday, he brought his vest, helmet, tools and other items and went to work on clobbering the star. "He fancies himself a civil activist," said his attorney, Mieke ter Poorten. "Someone who fights for the right of the under-represented. "It didn't work out quite the way he wanted it to. What he was trying to do was that when you have a bad act, you accept responsbility for your bad act. And, you accept the responsiblity for your bad act." Otis said he takes full responsibility for his actions and promises to surrender to authorities, who were waiting to arrest him on charges of felony vandalism. "This area has been identified as a California historical landmark location, and we are looking at any additional penalties or charges that could be attached," said Capt. Cory Palka of the Los Angeles Police Department Hollywood Division. Trump has faced accusations from 11 women of sexual misconduct in recent weeks as the presidential campaign enters its final stages. He has denied the accusations. "I admitted I've broken the law, I've vandalized, I've stolen, and now I'm going to go get my punishment," Otis said. "And that's something Mr. Trump has never done." The Hollywood star belonging to the New York business magnate and reality show personality has become a target during the presidential campaign, ever since Trump announced his candidacy last year. It has been defaced with spray paint and surrounded by a miniature wall in protest of Trump's plan to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Walk of Fame star recipients are selected by a committee that considers hundreds of applications each year. The stars are purchased for a $30,000, rather than gifted. The Walk of Fame is administered by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which said in a statement that the star will be repaired immediately. The repairs will take several days, and the star will be covered to protect it during that time. "The Hollywood Walk of Fame is an institution celebrating the positive contributions of the inductees," said Leron Gubler, President-CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. "When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California state landmark. Our democracy is based on respect for the law. People can make a difference by voting and not destroying public property." NBC4's Nyree Arabian and Kim Baldonado contributed to this report. Amber Briggle said she was thrilled to see a long line at the Denton Civic Center Tuesday when she entered to cast her early vote, but once she got in the doors, a posting on the window cut some of her excitement. "I noticed that there was some signs posted on the window about 'photo ID required,'" said Briggle. As a member of the League of Women Voters and advocate, she said she made a note of the sign and checked into it when she got home. She found her suspicions were correct. Briggle said the signs posted at the polling place were out-of-date signs made for the state's former voter ID law. The old posters only list the seven accepted forms of photo ID but do not list the options for a voter that does not have a photo ID: options added after a July appeals court ruling that struck down the old law. Briggle posted a photo of the signs that a friend took to social media and immediately began calling Denton County elections officials. She said it was no quick process though, and it wasn't until Thursday morning that she heard the signs had been removed and replaced with updated ones. "It shouldn't have happened on day four (of early voting), only after several phone calls," she said. Denton County Elections Administrator Lannie Noble said it's been a busy week for his office. "I've been taking phone calls and trying to answer emails every day this week if someone's got concerns," said Noble. The week started with minor computer issues on day one that were quickly fixed. He said the issue with the signs was likely confusion as the law change came very late in the process and the new signs didn't arrive until just before the early voting process really got moving. "It appears in some random cases the old signs were put up and not the new signs," he said. All of this took place while the county experiences record early voting turnout that continued Thursday with 15-30 minute waits reported by some. Noble encouraged anyone who does experience an issue to tell workers and contact his office right away so they can make sure everything gets addressed. Briggle and the League of Women Voters are encouraging that as well, and she adds that if voters feel a problem isn't being taken care of, they should report it to Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE. "It may not be intentional, but the fact that it's happening at all, it needs to be addressed," she said. Denton County Republican Party Chairperson Lisa Hendrickson also weighed in on the matter, releasing this statement: "Upon hearing the concerns of my fellow Denton County Republicans, I contacted the Denton County Elections Administration. I have fully expressed the concerns raised by my fellow Republicans to the Elections Administrator and his staff. They have advised me all machines are now fully functioning. If you wish to early vote you can do so electronically at any polling location in Denton County. Those wanting a paper trail must request a PAPER BALLOT and can do so ONLY on Election Day, November 8, 2016 at their polling location, in their precinct in which they are registered to vote. If you have questions as to which precinct location you are required to vote in ON Election Day please visit www.votedenton.com or call 940-349-3200." The issues come as rumors of votes switching on ballot machines elsewhere in Texas have caught a lot of attention. Noble said Denton County has not experienced that. Department of Motor Vehicles offices across California are slowly returning to normal operating status Wednesday after the agency was plagued by in-house technical difficulties earlier in the week, according to its website and outgoing phone message. More than 100 DMV locations across the state of which 16 are in the Bay Area have been affected by a massive computer outage. DMV officials hoped to reestablish full operations statewide, but people were encouraged to check the DMV website to see if their neighborhood office is up and running before heading out of the door. By Wednesday, DMV officials managed to get about a dozen locations back online, but Santa Clara was not on that list. Many frustrated drivers were asked to visit one of the San Jose locations, which was back online. There, however, long lines were just as discouraging as a computer failure. Department of Motor Vehicles offices across California are slowly returning to normal operating status Wednesday after the agency was plagued by in-house technical difficulties earlier in the week, according to its website and outgoing phone message. Bob Redell reports. Matthew Knoll of Mountain View visited a DMV office in Santa Clara Tuesday only to be told that he would have to return the following day. That second trip turned into another bout of frustration. "The DMV said that the computers would be back up this morning and they're not so another wasted trip," he said Wednesday morning. The headache at the agency's offices kicked into high gear Monday, but some Twitter users complained about the issues as far back as Oct. 19. Jackie Garcia tweeted on Tuesday morning that she was having problems in Culver City. Angela Bo Bangela seemed desperate when she tweeted the Stanton office in Orange County was closed. "How can I get proof of license ASAP???" she tweeted. Anand Sudhini of Santa Clara has showed up to his neighborhood's office every day since the beginning of the week, but hasn't been able to successfully complete his paperwork. "Super frustrating," he said. "It's been three straight days at the DMV and you know how the DMV is. It's not a pleasant experience for anyone." Gary Leslie was told on Wednesday that he should return to the DMV on Thursday. Problem is, he says, he received the same message yesterday. "Getting in line today, they say the systems are still down," he said. A woman who answered the phone at the DMVs technical support line said that the glitch was affecting its internal computer operations, but customers could still use the agencys online services. That wasnt helping all of those customers, however, waiting in line. The DMV did issue a brief statement saying that offices would still continue providing driving tests, making return appointments, helping with paperwork, and answering customers' questions. There was no estimated time for restoration of services. The DMV asked those with problems to call its technical support services at 877-563-5213. To find out if a local field office is up and running customers can visit the DMV website for the complete list or call 1-800-777-0133. A U.S. fugitive wanted by the FBI for the Valentine's Day 2008 killing of a woman in Southern California was deported from Guatemala on Tuesday, a day after he was captured in the Central American nation. Guatemalan police spokesman Jorge Aguilar said 38-year-old Edward Lee LeBlanc was taken to Guatemala City's international airport for expulsion on a commercial flight and handed over to FBI custody. The FBI also confirmed his deportation and said the plane had left Guatemala City with an expected arrival in the United States later in the day. LeBlanc, whose name is also given as Leblanc in various FBI documents, is charged with murder in Riverside County, California. According to the bureau's website, U.S. authorities allege he stabbed Kristin Miner multiple times in the stomach and torso after they argued in the Palm Springs area. He allegedly then drove her body into the desert and burned and buried it in a shallow grave. The body was found about six months later. Guatemalan police said LeBlanc entered the country a little over six months ago and was living there illegally, doing security work for farms. He was arrested Monday in the town of Cuyotenango, about 100 miles (170 kilometers) west of Guatemala City. Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, said the detention came after the FBI received a tip about his whereabouts. She said via email that the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and District Attorney's Office have the murder case. An FBI statement said LeBlanc was to arrive in Miami and was expected to be booked there on the murder charge. It added that the U.S. government was expected to dismiss a federal warrant against him for alleged unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and he would be extradited to California for prosecution for murder. A teen was facing possible charges Wednesday in connection with an apparent gang-related shooting near Banning High School in Wilmington that left a young man dead and two other people wounded. The gunfire was reported about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Pacific Coast Highway and Broad Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Richard Tafoya, 18, died at a hospital, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter. Tafoya was a former student at the school, police said. Two teenage boys who are students at the school also were taken to a hospital for treatment and were expected to recover, police said. LAPD Officer Sal Ramirez confirmed the suspect is a juvenile, but no details on the arrest were immediately released. Words were exchanged prior to the shooting, said Capt. Michael Oreb, commanding officer of LAPD Harbor Division. Wednesday morning, parents and others from the community met on campus with school administration during a previously scheduled gathering. Parents expressed concerns about the brazen shooting so close to campus in the busy intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Broad Avenue. Word that a suspect had been arrested eased worries somewhat, said one of the attendees, Diana Medel, a Banning alumna and outreach coordinator for the community group "I Heart Wilmington." Medel and many parents said in recent years they have seen a decrease in gang influence in Wilmington, a working class community adjacent to the busy docks of the Port of Los Angeles. "I think the community is super resilient, and they come together not step back maybe even step up a little more and figure out what they can do to help the kids who go to Banning," Medel said. What to Know The Laundry Workers Center apparently staged the protest on the bridge from New Jersey to New York Delays on the upper level of the bridge into the city topped 90 minutes The Port Authority said 10 people were arrested; no injuries were reported The inbound upper level of the George Washington Bridge was closed by an immigrant rights protest on Wednesday morning, snarling traffic on one of the region's most important crossings at the height of rush hour. Delays at the bridge for traffic heading into New York from New Jersey were up to nearly 90 minutes; traffic cameras showed bumper-to-bumper traffic barely inching along. The protesters apparently chained themselves across the roadway to block traffic, unfurling large banners in an attempt to spread their message. One banner appeared to read "Resist, Organized, Act Up!" Drivers were clashing with the protesters in an effort to get the bridge open, according to witnesses. Police quickly detained the small group and traffic began moving again about 15 minutes. The Port Authority said 10 people who were blocking the eastbound lanes were arrested. No injuries were reported. The agency said it is investigating. Protesters Block Upper Level of George Washington Bridge The protest organization, Laundry Workers Center which was using the hashtags #WeAreVisible and #SomosVisible on social media was already planning a rally in Union Square Park Wednesday night. "We are a Grassroots Autonomous Movement campaigning for the right of every member of our communities to be visible, to be able to take part in the decision making process that affect our communities in our 'democratic' system, and for the ability to determine our destinies," the New York-based nonprofit said on its Facebook page. Also according to its Facebook page, the group works to improve the living and working conditions of workers in the laundry and food service industries. "Our work aims to combat abuses such as landlord negligence, wage theft, and hazardous and exploitative working conditions, all of which are endemic in low-income communities in New York City and New Jersey," the page says. [NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More The global gap in earnings between men and women will not be closed for another 170 years if current trends continue, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum. The Switzerland-based forum's annual Global Gender Gap Report also finds that the pay gap has reverted to where it was in 2008 after peaking in 2013. The report has more positive findings when it comes to the gender gap on educational attainment, which it says "could be reduced to parity within the next 10 years." The report says no country has fully closed the overall gender pay gap, but the five countries that top its Global Gender Gap index, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Rwanda, have closed more than 80 percent of theirs. The index measures differences in economics, education, health and political empowerment. Iceland has topped the Global Gender Gap Report's list of 144 countries for the last 6 years. It is one of the fastest-improving countries in the world, closing more than 12 percent of the pay gay over the past decade. They have committed to closing the pay gap entirely by 2022. Despite the progress the country has made, Iceland is still not satisfied with the 13 percent gap that remains. On Monday, women across Iceland left work at 2:38 p.m. to take part in the annual protest of the pay gap, The New York Times reported. Kvennafri, or "Women's Day Off," has aimed to raise awareness of the wage disparity for the last 41 years. The United States ranks 45th on the list, down from 28th in 2015, and has closed more than 72 percent of its gender gap. The US ranks 26th in terms of economic participation and opportunity for women, and 73rd for political empowerment. Yemen comes in last in the index, with the report finding that it has closed just over 51 percent of its overall gender gap. The report also noted that women around the world work an average of 39 days more per year than men. That averages to about 50 minutes more per day. Over three days in May 2015, a South Florida doctor is accused of botching four women's cosmetic surgeries. A medical malpractice hearing got underway in Fort Lauderale on Wednesday for Dr. Osak Omulepu. The State could suspend or revoke his license after four women were hospitalized after undergoing cosmetic procedures. The four women told an administrative judge the doctor's procedures landed them in the hospital with life-threatening complications. One of the women, Nyosha Fowler of Alabama, said she still can't feel her foot and has trouble walking after her Brazilian Butt Lift procedure more than a year ago. She was hospitalized for four months after the surgery. Fowler told the judge what she recalled after waking up from surgery. "I don't know I was out of it, I couldn't stand, let alone walk, I couldn't even stand my feet were like this, like my feet were like penguin feet," Flowler told the judge. The State said Dr. Omulepu injected fat not only into her backside but also into her sciatic nerve and also hit her bowel with his instruments. Fowler's mother testified about the conversation she had with Dr. Omulepu hours after the surgery. "He said 'I messed up, I messed up, that's all I can say is I messed up'," she said. Another patient, identified only as L.L., testified by phone. "I began running to the car because I knew that if I didn't get to the hospital in a timely manner that something bad was going to happen I felt the life was draining out of me," she said. A third patient told the NBC 6 Investigators prior to the hearing that the instruments used during her Brazilian Butt Lift punctured her liver. Donna McRae says she spent four months in the hospital after her surgery. "In hindsight, I shouldn't have done it. I honestly didn't need it," McRae said. "I had a beautiful figure before, I just wanted more. I almost died because of vanity." The doctor's attorney denied the allegations. During the administrative hearing, she said the patients all signed consent forms that show they acknowledged the risks of the procedures. She also said they were all known complications of these surgeries. "Dr. Omulepu is very happy that we finally have our day in court and I think at the end of this, he's going to be vindicated and we look forward to the decision," said attorney Monica Felder-Rodriguez. Omulepu's defense called another plastic surgeon to testify. He testified about the risks. "Unfortunately these things happen," Dr. Michel Samson of Port Orange. The judge's decision will be a recommendation that will then go before Florida's Medical Licensing Board. The discipline could range from a reprimand to getting his license revoked. It could be months before a final decision is made. Miami Police are looking for two people they say may have committed multiple armed robberies in the same part of the city earlier this month including one where a victim was shot. The first crime took place in the early morning hours of October 5th. The victim says he was robbed at gunpoint near the intersection of SW 1st Avenue and 12th Street. One week later, three people were held up at the same intersection only this time, the gunman begin to open fire and hit one of the victims. In both cases, the gunman was described as a black man between 23 and 25 years old, clean shaven between 58 and 511 tall. In the first case, the suspect was wearing a dark hat, shirt and pants while the suspect in the second case was wearing a hooded black shirt, pants and shoes. The second suspect in the first case was said to be a black woman between 21 and 23 years old, between 54 and 55 and wearing dark shorts and shirt. The victims of the second case were not able to give identification. In both cases, the suspects got away in a silver Chrysler and fled westbound on 12th Street. Investigators continue to examine whether the same people were involved in both cases. Anyone with information is asked to call Miami Police or CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Cuba's former president Fidel Castro met with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Havana on Wednesday. Rebelo de Sousa and Castro talked about the United Nation's General Assembly resolution that was overwhelming approved Wednesday by a vote of 191-0, with the United States abstaining for the first time in 25 years on the resolution condemning America's economic embargo against Cuba. Fidel Castro said during the meeting with the Portuguese president that Cuba is not willing to forget the human and economic damage caused by the blockade, and thanked de Sousa for his country's vote. They also talked about international issues and their friendly relations between both countries. De Sousa also met with Cuba's current leader, Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother. While much of the attention in the 2016 general election is being paid to the high profile races President, U.S. Senate for example residents in South Florida and across the state will be casting their vote for several local and statewide amendments that will have just as much of an effect on their lives. Unfortunately, voters can tend to skip over some amendments either because they dont understand the wording or dont think it matters to them. In 2016, several amendments have gotten national attention, but still have voters trying to figure out what they mean. Heres a general breakdown of what you will be voting on this election cycle: Florida Amendment 1 Solar Energy Over the past weeks, this amendment has become the most controversial of them all. The language declares that customers who dont use solar power are not required to subsidize the cost of backup power. Opponents of the amendment say the value of solar energy gets diminished if it passes as similar laws in other states has provided legal arguments for companies to raise fees on solar power users to make up for the difference. Supporters say it would encourage more people to use solar power, thus reducing the need for expensive power plants. Florida Amendment 2 Medical Marijuana The first attempt to pass this legislation in 2014 failed to get the required 60 percent for approval. The language would allow for legal use by those who have specific medical conditions including Parkinsons, MS and AIDS. Caregivers and distribution centers would be licensed by the state. It would not legalize non-medical use or possession. Other State Amendments Amendment 3 would give a property tax break to those first responders that are injured on the job and are permanently disabled. Amendment 5 would allow residents 65 or older to keep an already existing homestead exemption by locking in the value of their home from when they first applied, homes that are worth less than $250,000. All state amendments need 60 percent approval to pass. Miami-Dade County Amendments Special taxing districts would be governed by local municipalities and not by the county. Those districts collect fees from property owners that are used for lighting, security and other services. Allowing residents the right to make copies of public records (currently, they are only allowed to view them) while adding language to make the rights of county residents similar to those of the rest of the state. All county amendments need a majority vote 50 percent plus one for approval. City of Miami Amendments The city is looking for approval to sign a 30-year-lease with the Dade Heritage Trust to preserve the office of James Jackson, the first physician in the city of Miami. Another one would move runoff elections for both mayor and city commission from the second Tuesday in November to the third Tuesday. An amendment to provide further independence of the Civilian Investigative Panel the group that investigates actions and policy of the Miami Police Department. It includes the ability to hire or fire an executive director and independent lawyer. Another amendment would give Miami residents the right to sue the city and challenge potential violations of the city charter. All city amendments need a majority vote 50 percent plus one for approval. What to Know Ravi's roommate, Tyler Clementi, killed himself in 2012 by jumping off the George Washington Bridge Clementi's death started a national conversation about the treatment of young LGBT people Ravi was sentenced Thursday to probation plus 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to attempted invasion of privacy. A former Rutgers University student whose roommate killed himself after being captured on a webcam kissing another man has pleaded guilty to attempted invasion of privacy. Thursday's plea from Dharun Ravi comes after an appeals court last month threw out a 15-count conviction against him in a case that stemmed from the 2010 death of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi. Clementi's death started a national conversation about the treatment of young gay men and women. Ravi was sentenced Thursday to probation plus 30 days in jail, and won't serve any additional jail time under the plea agreement. He'd already fulfilled all terms of the sentence under a bias intimidation count that conviction that was tossed out because of a change in New Jersey law and ordered a new trial on other counts. "Reaching the plea agreement was a reasonable way to resolve the case in view of the appellate court decision, which dismissed a series of criminal bias charges that had been levelled against the defendant by a grand jury in Middlesex County," said Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey. In statement Thursday, Clementi's parents said legislators make constitutionally valid and clear laws and that "witnesses or bystanders need to become upstanders for those in our society like Tyler." "We call on all young people and parents to think about their behavior and not be bystanders to bullying, harassment or humiliation. Interrupt it, report it and reach out to victims to offer support," the parents said. "If this had happened in Tyler's case our lives might be very different today." Police are looking for a man captured on surveillance video sucker-punching an elderly man to the ground in a New York City park. The attack happened at about 3 p.m. Tuesday inside Carl Schurz Park, near Park Avenue and East 90th Street, police said. A man in his 40s approached the 85-year-old victim from behind and punched him on the side of the head, causing the elderly man to fall to the ground. The victim told NBC 4 New York on Thursday that he blacked out for a moment and when he opened his eyes, his attacker was standing over him. The attacker said nothing, then slowly backed away and took off. The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with cuts to the back of his head and above his right eye, police said. The suspect ran away southbound on the promenade. He was last seen wearing a black backpack, a black coat, blue jeans and a red knit cap. "It makes me really scared. I feel really bad for the poor man who was attacked," said Hadley Sachs of the Upper East Side. "This is generally a safe neighborhood where I walk alone multiple times a day, and this is definitely frightening." Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. Democrat Hillary Clinton has jumped out to a nine-point lead in the battleground state of New Hampshire, while shes tied with Republican Donald Trump in Nevada, according to two new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist polls. In New Hampshire, Clinton gets the support of 45 percent of likely voters, and Trump gets 36 percent. Libertarian Gary Johnson is at 10 percent and the Green Partys Jill Stein is at 4 percent. In a two-way race, Clintons advantage over Trump is eight points, 47 percent to 39 percent up from her one-point lead last month, 42 percent to 41 percent. In Nevada, meanwhile, Clinton and Trump are tied among likely voters, 43 percent to 43 percent, and Johnson gets 10 percent. Stein isn't on the ballot in the Silver State. In a head-to-head contest in Nevada, Clinton and Trump remain tied at 45 percent each. In Las Vegas terms, the contest for Nevadas six electoral votes is a push right now, says Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. According to Miringoff, Clinton could lose Florida, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio but still win the presidency by holding on to New Hampshire's four electoral votes and Pennsylvania. Russian President Vladimir Putin, while continuing to deny the Kremlin has sought to meddle in the United States election, praised Donald Trump on Thursday for energizing American voters "tired of the elites," NBC News reported. "Is America some sort of banana republic? America is a great power. Please correct me if I'm wrong," Putin said at the Valdai Club, an annual gathering of world policy experts. "Does anyone really think that Russia can influence the choice of the American people in any way?" Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security accused the Russian government of hacking the email servers of the Democratic National Committee. Putin denied Russia's involvement. Trump has also spoken positively of Putin and indicated his willingness to work with him as president. On Thursday, the Associated Press reported, Trump criticized rival Hillary Clinton at a rally in Ohio for speaking "very badly of Putin, and I don't think that's smart." For Lisa Stevens rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy meant down-sizing. The storm destroyed her bungalow in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. "I didn't build a mansion! I went smaller because that's what I could afford to do with my grant," Stevens said. But what has surprised Stevens most about the rebuilding process came in an email from the state of New Jersey. It was what has become to be known as a claw back notice. The email demanded that Stevens pay back more than $7,400 of the grant money she was given to help rebuild. It said she received "duplicate benefits." Stevens counters that her signed approvals show she did not receive duplicate benefits. They knew every dollar amount I was getting, Stevens said. They signed off on it. Stevens is among the 170-plus homeowners who have received similar notices from New Jerseys Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Elevation and Mitigation or RREM program. The NBC10 Investigators found some, like Julie Suarez, with far larger refund demands. Suarez, a public school teacher, was told she owes more than $51,000. You can send us a cashiers check at your earliest convenience. No why. No how to appeal. No how to make a payment plan. Just, you owe us 50-thousand dollars, she said. Amanda Devecka-Rinear with the New Jersey Organizing Project (NJOP) describes it as a gut punch for Sandy victims. Devecka-Rinear is the executive director of the advocacy organization set up to helping Sandy victims. She believes the number of refund demands will only rise as more families finish rebuilding. She also says better oversight could've prevented over-payments in the first place. NJOP wants the state to clarify its refund calculations, create realistic repayment options, and open a formal appeal process. "We've gotta look at what financial capacity folks have -- we don't want them to go further into debt, be threatened to lose these houses," said Devecka-Rinear. The NBC10 Investigators tried to take those requests to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. After two interview denials, reporter George Spencer and photojournalist Dan Lee went to the agencys Trenton, NJ office. Commissioner Charles Richman finally agreed to an interview at noon that day. But just two hours later, his communications director Lisa Ryan canceled the interview saying urgent and unexpected business came up. He has an obligation to answer questions about it, Spencer said. Weve provided you with a statement, Ryan replied. Spencer and Lee waited for Richman to return to the office but after five hours, he did not return. New Jersey officials have a legal obligation to recover funds that were duplicated, exceeded costs or were used on ineligible expenses. The DCA says any refund letters relate only to those over-payments. In a statement the agency points out that all impacted homeowners were afforded the opportunity to provide us with additional documentation (i.e., receipts, invoices) to offset potential recovery of grant funds. The NBC Investigators also reached out to Governor Chris Christies office. No one replied. Suarez gets emotional when she thinks about paying back more than $50,000. She says even on the States 36-month payment plan, there wont be enough time to pay the bill. And for Stevens, theres still no appeal process mentioned. I wish I could say this was just a dream, Stevens said. What to Know Ahmad Khan Rahimi is accused of planting bombs in New York and New Jersey that wounded 31 people last month The 28-year-old Afghan native was captured after a shootout with police in New Jersey two days after the bombings He has been hospitalized since he was shot multiple times in the gun battle The man accused of setting off bombs in New Jersey and New York last month initially told police who found him sleeping in the doorway of a building that he was homeless before getting in a gun battle with officers responding to the scene, newly-released police body camera footage shows. Footage released by prosecutors in New Jersey shows Ahmad Rahimi -- the man accused of setting off bombs in Chelsea and on the Jersey Shore on Sept. 17 -- curled up the temporary vestibule of a bar in Linden as the rain fell just moments before he fired on officers on Sept. 19. The video begins with the officer in his patrol vehicle. He sees Rahimi inside the vestibule and shouts from the car "You can't be sleeping on somebody's door" at the suspect. He then gets out of the vehicle and begins asking Rahimi why he's there. Rahimi responds by giving a false name and adds that he had been homeless since losing his job and being evicted from his apartment in Perth Amboy. "I lost my job and couldn't pay my rent," Rahimi says. The officer doesn't appear to buy the story, and can then be heard telling other officers to come to the scene shortly before the footage ends. "705 and any other units, you can just head this way, standby," the officer says. Sometime after the video cuts out Rahimi allegedly began firing on cops before being shot and wounded. He faces attempted murder charges in the case, but has pleaded not guilty. Rahimi also faces federal charges in connection with the bombings, but he would have to be moved to New York before he can be arraigned on those charges. It's not clear when he would be transported to the Empire State. Rahimi's public defenders have a policy of not commenting on cases. Altria, the makers of Marlboro, Virginia Slims and Parliament cigarettes, said it would close two manufacturing facilities in Limerick, Pennsylvania and Franklin Park, Illinois by early 2018. The Associated Press reports that about 580 workers would be affected, including 280 in Limerick. About 200 jobs in different states where the work is being consolidated will be available to those employees if they wish to transfer. Those who do not transfer will be given six months of severance, benefits and free job training. Altria (NYSE: MO) subsidiary The John Middleton Co. will transfer its Limerick operations to the company's manufacturing center site in Richmond, Virginia. The business was sold to Altria in 2007 by Philadelphia Phillies part-owner John Middleton for $2.9 billion. It makes Black & Mild cigars, Middletons Cherry Blend pipe tobacco and other products. To read full article, click here. For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal. The sloppy joe in school cafeterias is going the same way of newspapers, cigarettes and coal mining. At least in the Lower Merion school district. Sushi was a top seller in student cafeterias last year, with the Japanese cuisine turning a profit of $26,000 for the district. But the fact that sushi even finds its way onto school menus every Thursday has opened a raw wound for the attorney who successfully sued the district over tax increases this summer. "When I went to Northeast High (School in Philadelphia) back in the day, we got beans and franks," said Arthur Wolk, whose lawsuit led a Common Pleas judge to rule that Lower Merion schools must revoke their 2016-2017 tax increase. "These school officials need to wake up." The district has appealed to Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court to reinstate its 4.4-percent tax increase. The court will hear arguments Dec. 12 in Harrisburg. A spokesman for Lower Merion schools defended sushi as not "this spectacularly unique item," and he described it as a healthy option that some other area school districts also offer. "We don't offer spoonfuls of slop on plastic trays. If we did that, our food services department would go out of business," spokesman Doug Young said. "Nationally, there has been a big shift. It's more about healthy options than ever before." He said the students are a big part of the push toward healthier lunches. "In the past, chicken nuggets were real popular, hotdogs too. But kids are becoming much savvier about eating healthier," Young said. "The kids line up for it," he added. The district last year spent $48,000 on sushi from a Lansdale restaurant and had sales of $74,000. Wolk and his supporters, who argue that the district has increased taxes annually while also building up millions in cash reserves during the past decade, said it's less about revenue from sushi and more about the message it sends. "In Lower Merion public schools, a student can buy nine pieces of sushi for $6.50," Wolk said. "The Lower Merion School District is providing a lesson in inequality when, only 3.5 miles away, 84 percent of students at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch. Rather than setting an example of thrift and discretion for the children of affluence, Superintendent (Robert) Copeland flaunts the fact that Pennsylvania public schools are separate and unequal." A Common Pleas judge ruled in late August that Lower Merion improperly raised taxes above a state-mandated cap of 2.4 percent by using exemptions from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for special education and pensions. Wolk successfully argued that the district has more than $46 million in cash reserves, with much of that money in accounts for special education, pensions and capital improvements. About $10 million is in uncommitted surplus accounts, according to its 2016-2017 final budget adopted in June. A growing number of Pennsylvania school districts are applying for and receiving approval from the state Department of Education for exemptions to the caps on annual property tax increases, according to an NBC10.com analysis of DOE records. All you have to do is complete the form. Thats it, Springfield Township budget chief Ken King told NBC10.com. We dont use exemptions. We dont like to use them. But you start the budget process in October with very little known. There are a lot of things outside our control. Just to be safe, we file for exemptions. NBC10 Investigators also found that some school districts have chronically overestimated their annual expenses, creating surplus funds from taxes raised each year. The Lower Merion School District has increased taxes for property owners by more than 50 percent since 2006, according to court filings. With a dozen days left until Election Day, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are refusing to commit to working with each other after the election, putting in question their abilities to heal the country's wounds after a volatile presidential race. "I just want to make that decision at a later date," said Trump, when asked whether he would cooperate with a Clinton administration. "Hopefully I won't have to make that decision." He spoke in an interview broadcast Thursday on ABC's "Good Morning America." Clinton, meanwhile, dodged a question about whether she would meet one-on-one with Trump after the election. "I certainly intend to reach out to Republicans and independents, and the elected leadership of the Congress," Clinton told reporters on her campaign plane Wednesday. Traditionally, presidential candidates hold a well-publicized meeting in the weeks after the election. While the moment of bipartisanship is often short-lived, the public appearance sends an important signal to the country that both parties are ready to accept the will of the voters and move forward. In 2012, President Barack Obama and defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney shared an hour-long White House lunch of turkey chili and chicken salad. Four years earlier, Obama and Arizona Sen. John McCain pledged to work together on economic issues and national security after meeting in Chicago. Privately, the 2016 candidates may be striking a more conciliatory tone. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the New York Archbishop, has said that in a warm private exchange at an otherwise testy charity dinner last week, Clinton had told Trump that "whatever happens, we need to work together afterward." Trump, he said, told Clinton "you are one tough and talented woman." In the final weeks of the campaign, both candidates have begun to focus more on their post-election plans. Trump made two appearances at his hotels this week, raising questions about whether he's trying to shore up his corporate brand, amid signs that his campaign has hurt his family businesses. Trump has largely refused to back down from his defiant assault on the election's integrity, remaining unwilling to say whether he'd accept the results if he loses. "Don't worry about it," he told ABC. Clinton, too, has turned some of her focus to what happens after Nov. 8, though her efforts assume she wins. Deep in transition planning, she's begun retooling her campaign message to emphasize unifying the country after a divisive race. Clinton will campaign with Michelle Obama on Thursday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, marking the first joint appearance for the two first ladies on the campaign trail. Obama's appearances have become a key part of Clinton's effort to fire up women, particularly black women for whom she's a model and a source of pride. The presidential candidates and dozens of outside groups involved in the race are also due to file their final major fundraising reports before Election Day. These documents will show fundraising and spending between Oct. 1 and Oct. 19_giving a sense of what resources each side had available as the campaign entered its frantic final stretch. Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against John Hernandez Felix, the man charged with the murders of two Palm Springs police officers killed in an ambush, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday. Felix, 26, of Palm Springs, faces two counts of murder in the slayings of veteran training Officer Jose Gilbert Vega, 63, and rookie Officer Lesley Zerebny, 27, on Oct. 8. Felix also faces three attempted murder charges because three other officers were at the scene during the shooting, prosecutors said. One was treated at a hospital and released, officials said. Two others were not hit. The suspect also faces additional special circumstance allegations including multiple murders, murder of a law enforcement officer, and lying in wait, according to a news release from the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. "This was a heinous crime involving the murders of two police officers who were gunned down simply because they were police officers," Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in a news release. "The victims in this case were responding to a call for service and died in the line of duty protecting our community." Felix also faces allegations that he personally used a firearm, that he possessed armor-piercing ammunition, and that he wore a body vest during the commission of a violent crime, prosecutors said in the news release. Felix is also accused of unlawfully possessing an assault weapon, unlawfully possessing a firearm after being a convicted felon, unlawfully possessing ammunition after being a convicted felon, and possessing stolen property, the assault weapon used in the crime, prosecutors said. Prosecutors say he is a gang member. Authorities say the officers were responding to a domestic disturbance call on Oct. 8 when a 26-year-old ex-convict opened fire with an AR-15 rifle through a metal screen door at his family's home. Thousands of people gathered Oct. 18 to remember Zerebny, a rookie police officer, just back from maternity leave and Vega, a veteran only months away from retirement. The youngest of Vega's eight children, 8-year-old Vanessa, addressed the 10,000 people who converged on the Palm Springs Convention Center for the memorial service. Several Palm Springs officers picked her up from home and took her to school this week. "He will always stay in our hearts," she said of her father. "Even though we can't see him doesn't mean he can't see us." The deaths have rocked the tight-knit resort town 100 miles east of Los Angeles. Residents have left scores of bouquets, balloons and notes outside the police station and have sold T-shirts to raise money for the officers' families. Police also donated diapers to Zerebny's 4-month-old daughter. Felix has pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. He is being held without bail. Andrew Vega said his uncle was born poor and served as a role model for him and other young Latinos. The officer told his nephew to set a good example when he set out to become a teacher years ago. "I can only hope that my students looked at me the way I looked at him: sturdy, strong and an image of what is possible in this country," Vega said. San Diego Sheriff's County Deputies (SDSO) arrested two violent North Carolina fugitives at a San Diego casino Wednesday afternoon. Jonathan Richardson and Erin Hogsed, of Transylvania, North Carolina, were wanted for kidnapping, armed robbery and car theft out of North Carolina, deputies said. Transylvania County officials reached out SDSO deputies to advise them the men may be traveling to the San Diego area. Deputies spotted the stolen car related to the North Carolina fugitives' car in a parking structure at the Harrah's Casino in Valley Center at approximately 10:24 a.m. Wednesday. Valley Center deputies, members of the San Diego Fugitive Task Force and Harrah's security personnel found the pair and took them into custody without incident. The men will be booked into the Vista Detention Facility for the warrants out of North Carolina. They will remain in San Diego awaiting extradition. The Deputy Sheriffs Association (DSA) donated 30 bullet-proof K-9 vests to the San Diego County Sheriffs Office K-9 Unit on Wednesday. "Two-legged or four-legged, in today's world police personnel need protection," said George Olsen of U.S. Armor, the company that manufactures the vests. The vests, fitted to each of the K-9 Units 30 dogs, will protect their vital organs from most handgun rounds. At a cost of approximately $500 each, the vest to outfit a dog is made from the same materials as one for a human. Sheriff Bill Gore was on hand at the Sheriffs Training Facility on MCAS Miramar to accept the donation. If we can help these K-9s out there, Gore said.Give them some ballistic cover out there so theyre not hurt in the line of duty, what a win-win. The vests feature several different attachment mechanisms for control, search and rescue and tracking harnesses. They are even strong enough to assist in deploying a K-9 unit from a helicopter. Now that the unit has the vests, K-9 handling deputies will begin incorporating the vests into their training regimen. "It doesn't take weeks or months for the dogs to get used to wearing the vests," Sergeant Jacob Pavlenko of the Sheriffs K-9 Unit said. "We just put it on them and let them know that it's okay to wear, and they could be deployed in the field that day." The gift was funded by nearly $16,000 in donations by DSA members. Crews worked to board up and repair over a dozen hotel rooms damaged in a two-alarm fire at a Travelodge Motel in San Ysidro Wednesday night. After a caller reported seeing light smoke at the motel around 7 a.m. Thursday morning, crews returned to the motel for a short time. More than a dozen guests were displaced when a fire sparked inside the attic of a motel room at about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday on Calle Primera near Sycamore Road, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD). Black charred marks were visible on the roof above the area where the fire started. Up to 15 rooms were damaged from water, fire or smoke exposure as the firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. When firefighters arrived on scene, heavy smoke was seen coming out of the two-story motel. The fire started inside a room on the second floor of the motel, causing the room to collapse. Some motel guests told firefighters they heard a popping noise shortly before the fire. Firefighters evacuated approximately 50 people from the motel. One woman, who was unaccounted for at the time the fire broke out, was later found safe. One of the motel guests staying at the Travelodge that NBC 7 spoke with, which is a relatively large motel, was not aware that a fire was happening. "It was a bit frightening because I did see it on the news and I didn't realize...I'm from Australia and I'm not used to the area," said Ilin Dawws, a motel guest at the Travelodge. "And I didn't realize it was in my motel. I just caught the end of it." The fire was knocked down around 9:33 p.m. and no injuries were reported. The owner of the motel was on scene, helping those who were displaced to find housing, according to SDFD. The cause of the fire was undetermined. Fire officials estimate damage to the structure at approximately $1 million. No other information was immediately available. More than a dozen demonstrators backed by the NAACP gathered at the federal courthouse in Downtown San Diego Wednesday, calling for a restraining order against El Cajon police. The push comes after the fatal police shooting of Alfred Olango on Sept. 27 in the parking lot of a El Cajon strip mall. The demonstrators claim that police are infringing upon their first amendment rights by calling their peaceful demonstrations "Unlawful Assembly." Olango was shot and killed by El Cajon police officers during a confrontation behind Los Panchos, a Mexican restaurant. Officers had been responding to a mental distress call. Police said Olango pulled a vaping device from his waistband and pointed it officers. That's when one officer deployed a Taser while the other fired several rounds from his gun. The shooting prompted several protests in El Cajon, some peaceful while others turned violent. Police declared "unlawful assembly" for some of the protests. On Wednesday, the NAACP and demonstrators gathered at the downtown courthouse in hopes that the judge would issue a temporary restraining order to stop El Cajon police from declaring "unlawful assembly'' and arrest peaceful demonstrators. Its wrong because its a public space. Its a place where one of our brothers was murdered so weve been there grieving and were humans," said El Cajon protestor Jahsun Kine. "We have every right to be wherever we want to be. We havent done anything for them to come and attack us the way they have. But some business owners in El Cajon told NBC 7 that the protests and demonstrations are hurting their business. If they wanna do it, its not my problem," said Los Panchos manager Carolina Medina. "But the thing is like, for us, we lose so much customers. They dont wanna come, theyre scared. Last week, officers arrested eight people gathered in the strip mall parking lot after declaring "unlawful assembly." According to the NAACP, peaceful demonstrators shouldn't have their freedom of speech violated by police. But police said some of the demonstrations have not peachfulprotestors often blocking traffic, slashing car tires, and destroying public property. Several new safety measures are now in place at the strip mall where the shooting happened, including a look-out tower. "Right now, police are camped out at the site, telling us we can't be there at all unless we're inside a business and that's not right," said protestor Carl Box. Police told NBC 7 that the changes were impleted at the request of the property owner. Meanwhile, the judge announced that she will make a decision soon on this issue. State officials are cracking down on registered sex offenders, just as Halloween is around the corner. It's called "Operation Boo," which requires registered sex offenders who are currently on parole to adhere to certain curfews and restrictions between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m., starting on Halloween night. They also cannot put up Halloween decorations or give out candy to trick-or-treating children. However, this year, the individuals are not required to post a sign on their door to ward off trick-or-treaters. The change comes after a lawsuit was filed by a registered sex offender in Chula Vista who was told to post a sign on his door reading: "We Do Not Participate in Trick or Treating. The sign resulted in a federal lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), claiming it was unconstitutional and put sex offenders' safety at risk. As part of the settlement, NBC 7 was told that a memo was sent to parole agents reminding them of the existing policy. We're out looking at them and making sure they abide by special conditions of their parole that says they have to stay home and can't try and lure kids into their home with candy, decorations or anything else, said Luis Patino, a spokesman for CDCR. But some parents say they are concerned with the change. Ill be more cognizant about which homes are safe and which are not," Point Loma mom, Trisha Santoro said. Santoro told NBC 7 that there are currently six registered sex offenders living within a two-mile radius of her home, according to the sex offender registry. State officials advise parents to search online for any possible registered sex offenders that may live near your home Registered sex offenders who are homeless must report to special reporting centers where they will spend the curfew under supervision. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconers commissioned a local university to conduct a study on traffic stops made by San Diego police. The study was conducted by San Diego State University (SDSU) over a two-year period and looked at 259,000 traffic stops. According to the study, blacks and Latinos are more likely to be stopped north of Interstate 8 compared to white drivers. In general, blacks and Latinos are more likely to have a field interview, and be searched. The study also found that those drivers are also less likely to have contraband on them at the time of the stops. In a public meeting at City Hall, a spokesperson with SDSU said the study is missing key information because it is not recorded at the time of stops. Their suggestion to better analyze profiling is to change the policy and collect data at the time of the stops, such as: demeanor of driver, condition of vehicle, and makeup of the officer. Faulconer is not releasing the study to the public at this time. He said he wants to analyze the details of the study and plans to release it in a meeting on November 30. This election has gone to the dogs. It started when the local entrepreneur noticed his dog, Cody, barking every time the Republican presidential candidate came on TV. An idea was formed: How about a Donald Trump chew toy? Were just trying to make pets great again, Josh Morse quipped. The recent San Diego State University graduate created a design and ordered his first batch of 1,000 Trump toys earlier this fall. They sold out in a few weeks. With no formal marketing plan, Morse took the toys to events around San Diego, like the Pride Parade and the Ocean Beach Street Fair. Dog owners loved them, and not just because of their political persuasion. Their pups loved them, too. Once people see them, they go crazy for them. They laugh, he said. Ive had Republicans. Ive had conservatives and people across the political spectrum by them. Today, Morse, in his first year of law school, has 10,000 toys stacked up in a shop in Ocean Beach. He has a website, Chompachump.com (his name for the parody dog toy business), where you can order your own one for $10. His one-man business is still informal. He ships them all himself, all over the world. One of his orders came from Orsay, France. What I do is I pack them up, grab my skateboard and skate down to the post office and drop them off, he said. Its an unconventional approach for a guy with a unique story. During part of his childhood, Morse lived homeless. But he valued education, so he attended Point Loma High School, enrolled at San Diego State and became the universitys student president in 2013. Now, hes using the Chompa Chump business to help pay for law school. For every Trump toy sold, he will donate one to an animal shelter. So be prepared to see a lot of squeaky, miniature Trumps around town. And if you think its a politically biased business, Morse said hes developing a Hillary Clinton dog toy. So theres plenty of politically charged gnawing to go around. My hope is if this takes off, Ill be excited. Im not going to say no, he said. Other people have made their fortune off of even crazier stuff. Why cant I make it off a Donald Trump parody dog chew toy? A San Diego County Sheriff's deputy who saved a woman trapped inside a smoking car seconds before it went up in flames said his instinct and training took over. SDSO Deputy Steve Gusman, an 11-year-veteran with the department, was driving back to the North Coastal substation Sunday morning when he passed what looked like a cloud of fog on Manchester Avenue. The deputy stopped his car and got out to investigate. He told NBC 7 San Diego that, on closer examination, he realized it was a smoking car: A Honda Civic that had gone off the right side of the road, into a marsh area. Gusman said because it was so dark and the car was filled with smoke, he couldn't tell if anyone was inside. At the time, he saw only a glow underneath the vehicle, not flames. He couldnt see the passenger through the smoke, but heard a woman, who appeared to be in shock, saying she couldnt move. "That's why I just called out and I was actually very surprised when I heard somebody respond, because I couldn't see," Gusman recalled. "I just yelled out, 'Sheriff's Department.' I heard someone yell out, 'Oh my God, thank God you're here.'" The driver could communicate, but she couldn't move and that's when, Gusman said, his instinct and training took over. "At that point, I just pulled her out," Gusman said. "I tried to escort her out, but wasn't able to, she couldn't move, so just natural instinct, I threw her over my shoulder. We had to get out of there." Deputy Gusman got the woman out of the car, placed her over his shoulder and carried her over the embankment just moments before the car became engulfed in flames. Training kicks in. You don't think about stuff like that," Gusman said. "It's muscle memory." The woman had no injuries, deputies reported, and there were no other passengers in the car. Every officer would have done the same thing. I know that as a fact. It was just my time I happen to be there, Gusman said. He was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. The woman was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and booked into the Vista Detention Facility. Authorities have found two young girls who were reported missing from Dana Middle School in Point Loma on Wednesday, according to school officials. The girls were reported missing Wednesday afternoon when one of their mothers noticed her daughter was missing after she went to go pick her up in the afternoon, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD). The school also informed police that the girls never showed up in class. They were found safe and unharmed at approximately 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The girls were found together in Old Town. SDPD officers say the incident is not considered to be suspicious. No other information was immediately available. The Ninth Court of Appeals in Pasadena has rejected the City of San Diegos efforts to throw out two separate San Diego Police Department shooting cases. Both cases involved San Diego Police officers shooting an unarmed man and both involved alleged discrepancies in what the police reported, including where the officers were standing and what the dead men were doing at the time of the confrontation. One of the cases involves the shooting death of Victor Ortego in June 2012. The second involves the shooting death of Angel Lopez by Officer Kristopher Walb. Christina Denning represents Ortegas widow, Shakina. Both she and attorney Eugene Iredale spoke before the appellate court last week in back-to-back hearings over the two death cases. She told NBC7 that in both the Lopez case and the Ortega case, the physical evidence did not match up to the stories of the officers. The Ortega shooting began with a domestic violence call that led to a foot chase, with McCarthy running Ortega down in a breezeway near his home. There were no witnesses, but the officer claimed Ortega tried to wrestle his gun away from him. He shot Ortega twice because he feared for his life, he claims. Attorney Denning said there were inconsistencies in the variations of Officer McCarthys story as it went from the investigation to the litigation stage." She added that the autopsy shows at the time he was shot, Victor Ortega was in a submissive position and bent forward, flexed forward and the trajectory of the bullets were such that McCarthy was in a superior position at the time of the shooting. The appellate court said that in cases of officer-involved deadly shootings in which the officer and decedent are the only witnesses, courts must 'carefully examine all the evidence in the record' to determine if the officers story is 'consistent' with the known facts. In Ortega v. San Diego Police and Jonathan McCarthy, the appelate court is returning the case to San Diego Federal Court and Judge Larry Burns for trial." They found a jury could conclude that McCarthy shot Ortega while he posed no threat to the officer." Eugene Iredale, the attorney for Angel Lopezs family, told NBC 7 that what they claim was a split second decision that required them to kill someone to save their own lives begins more and more to look like an execution. Its Iredales contention that when SWAT officers ordered Lopez to get down, get down, he did as ordered. Attorneys representing Walb from the City of San Diego said this is not what happened. Walb said in his deposition that Lopez was standing upright, at an angle to the officer. The evidence says otherwise, says Iredale. Lopez was in a kneeling submissive position and was hit three times, he says. The ballistic evidence shows he was not shot in the front of his body or even on the side of his body as their story would require, according to the Medical Examiners report. The report said the wound paths made by the bullets are all back to front and upward. Officer Walb claimed had told the man to put his hands up, but Lopez didnt put up his right hand completely, and his left hand remained in the pocket and hidden from Walbs view. As I shot, he was turning towards me," said Walb. In fear for his life, Kristopher Walb tapped the trigger of his MP-5 submachine gun twice. Six bullets shot, three hitting the mark. Iredales ballistic expert Lance Thomas Martini testified in a deposition that the physical evidence is consistent with Angel Lopez complying with the officers commands. This link will take you to Martinis testimony. On page 21, you can see illustrated various scenarios for the shooting; Martini says they are valid possibilities based on the physical evidence." Only one scenario matches the autopsy findings of where the bullets struck Lopez. Its titled Aligns with: Mid Torso, Upper Torso, Head. The appeals court said a jury could credit the testimony of the officers and find that the use of deadly force was permissible, however, a jury could also conclude from the physical evidence that Lopez was in the process of complying with the officers commands to get down when he was shot. This case, too, is returning to San Diego Federal Court and to Judge Gonzalo Curiel. Trial start dates in both cases are unknown at this time. Responding to the courts ruling on the cases, Gerry Braun with the San Diego City Attorneys office said: In both cases, an appellate court states it will be up to a jury to determine that the officers acted correctly in protecting the publics safety. These cases will now go to trial, where jurors will hear evidence that strongly supports such a verdict. Police say an airline pilot in Rapid City, South Dakota, was arrested Wednesday and charged with attempting to fly while drunk, NBC News reported. Authorities were called when the pilot, Russell Joseph Duszak, 38, showed up to Rapid City Regional Airport smelling of alcohol Wednesday morning. He was supposed to fly SkyWest Flight 4574 to Salt Lake City, but was taken off the plane, and arrested on a charge of operating an aircraft under the influence of alcohol. The flight was delayed for more than two hours until a replacement pilot was found. A statement from the airline apologized for the incident, and said the pilot is barred from flying, pending investigation. Duszak could spend up to a year in jail and face a $20,000 fine if convicted. After their condo association failed to pay utility bills, 77 Maryland families were forced out of their homes Wednesday. But even on one of the worst days of their lives, there were signs of hope. Community organizations, politicians and local businesses converged on the Lynnhill Condominiums in Temple Hills to try to help the families who remained. Their homes were declared unfit to live in after electric and gas service was shut off Tuesday. The condo association hadn't paid $1.2 million in utility bills. That meant all the residents had to leave. They were given three days to move out -- with no electricity. "We were sleeping in cars yesterday, " said Dana Messey Moore, wiping away tears. "The shelters ran out of space." She stuffed belongings into containers as she struggled to move her family. "It doesn't feel good," she said. "To have something taken from you that you worked so hard for." The good news: People have flocked to the condominium in the wake of news coverage of the eviction. One group that responded was Mess Movers, which showed up with trucks. The company is donating its services. "We had to do what we could to make a difference," said Terry Epps, owner of the company. Gates, Hudson and Associates, an apartment management company, arrived to help residents find new homes in their available properties in the county. They are waiving application fees. The company offered a grateful Messey Moore a chance to apply for an apartment. Meanwhile, Prince George's County's emergency management department brought a large light down to help people see as they pack. The drama at Lynnhill Condominiums in Temple Hills has been building for years; the complex has a history of code violations that stretches back into the late 1990s. The complex filed for bankruptcy protection in 2010. More recently, the condo association alleged that a past management company was misusing residents' condo fees. "What they did was they were taking owners' condo fees and not paying utilities," said Stanley Briscoe, the condo association's treasurer. The condo board treasurer said he was frustrated, because he had hoped the association could reach an agreement with Pepco. The utilities have said they had worked with the complex for years, but said they had no choice after failed payment plans couldn't get accounts caught up. To help the Lynnhill residents, click here and go to "Neighbors in Need." A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to shooting and killing a 17-year-old boy in southeast D.C. in September. The Washington Post reports that the teen, who was originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kevin Anthony Jackson II, pleaded guilty Wednesday in the District of Columbia Superior Court to involuntary manslaughter and a firearms charge. A prosecutor said during Wednesday's hearing that on the day of the shooting, the teens got into an argument on a street. Jackson and his friends stayed in the area, while the 15-year-old left. He returned later with a handgun and shot Jackson. Judge Jennifer Anderson ordered a mental health evaluation for the teen before a sentencing date is scheduled. He is in the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation services and could face a maximum of six years of detainment. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a deal with the U.S. Army Wednesday for the District to take over 66 acres of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The deal is expected to bring about 5,000 jobs to D.C. as the government plans to completely redevelop the Northwest campus into three million square feet of residential, office and retail space. "The Walter Reed Campus is one of the most important development projects in the District--it will bring jobs, affordable housing, economic opportunity and pathways to the middle class for thousands of residents," Bowser said. The District is paying about $22 million for the property. Some of the first projects to open at the campus include the District of Columbia International School (DCI), which is expected to open for 775 students by the 2017 school year, and a $12 million fire station. Bowser has also promised more than 400 units of affordable housing. "It presents an incredible opportunity for Ward 4 and our city. It will enhance the quality of life for our residents and businesses and provide growth opportunities for our most northern neighborhoods," said Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd. D.C. has been working to acquire and develop the campus since 2009. Earlier this year, Bowser signed the Walter Reed Development Omnibus Act of 2015, which authorized the District to acquire 66 acres of the 110-acre property. Wednesday's ceremony formalized and acknowledged the transfer, allowing the District to move forward with the redevelopment of the old military campus. To see the redevelopments plans, visit the Walter Reed Campus website. What to Know Luis Gustavo Reluzco, 48, of Olney, agreed to the plea to vehicular manslaughter last month. Noah Leotta, 24, was critically injured the evening of Dec. 3, 2015, after volunteering to work on a special holiday drunk-driving patrol. Reluzco had at least three previous alcohol-related arrests, police said in February. The driver who police say struck and killed a Maryland police officer -- while driving with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit and with evidence of marijuana and Xanax in his system -- will spend the next decade in prison. Judge Ann Herrington sentenced Luis Gustavo Reluzco to 10 years in prison Thursday, the maximum allowed under law. Reluzco pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in April. Noah Leotta, 24, was critically injured the evening of Dec. 3, 2015, after volunteering to work on a special holiday drunk-driving patrol. He had stopped a suspected drunken driver at Rockville Pike and Edmonston Drive in Rockville, Maryland, and was outside his cruiser when Reluzco smashed into the police car and then struck him, police said. Leotta was rushed to a hospital but died on Dec. 10. Jay Alvey, NBC4 "On Dec. 3, you made a conscious decision for personal pleasure, and you sentenced to death one of the brightest lights of the community," Herrington said. Reluzco had been indicted on charges of manslaughter by automobile and failing to move over for an emergency vehicle. The "move over" charge was dropped in the plea agreement, court documents quoted by the Washington Post indicated. Reluzco had at least three previous alcohol-related arrests, police said in February. Reluzco admitted drinking beer and bourbon for about three hours Dec. 3, police said. Moments after getting behind the wheel, Reluzco slammed into Leotta and sideswiped his police car before coming to a stop, never realizing he hit the officer, investigators said. "You have offered to help MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) as a spokesperson. You have a future. You will return to your family with a new purpose," Herrington said. "The Leotta family has a very different future. They won't be able to joyously plan Thanksgiving." In court, Reluzco apologized to the Leotta family saying "I'm eternally sorry for what I've done. There's no sentence that would be enough for your son's life." In court, Reluzco apologized to the Leotta family saying, "I'm eternally sorry for what I've done. There's no sentence that would be enough for your son's life." Leotta's father, Rich Leotta, spoke with Reluzco's family moments after the sentencing. "They expressed their condolences and I expressed my sorrow for what they were going through. Nobody wins in this," Rich Leotta said. The tragedy turned Leotta's family into activists, who campaigned for stronger punishment of drunk drivers in Maryland. Their campaign succeeded earlier this month, when "Noah's Law" went into effect in Maryland. Fairfax County police are looking for a 16-year-old girl who has been missing from the Alexandria section of the county for nearly a month. Police say Xya McClure may have left with her mother voluntarily on Oct. 3, but her mother is not her custodial parent. McClure is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. She has brown hair, brown eyes, pierced ears and a scar behind one leg. Police say McClure and her mom may still be in the Alexandria area, but they may have traveled to Washington, D.C.; Columbia, Maryland; Arizona or New York. Anyone with information about Mcclure's whereabout should call Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131. A woman driving under the influence Wednesday night in Prince William County, Virginia, hit eight cars, hurt two drivers and tried to assault an officer who was arresting her, police say. Aaliyah Mahasin Saahir, 35, was arrested after Prince William County police responded about 6:50 p.m. to a report of someone driving eratically near Dale Boulevard and Minnieville Road in Woodbridge. Multiple callers said the driver of a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban had hit several cars. Saahir, of Dumfries, was found in the disabled vehicle near Caton Hill and Minnieville roads, police said. Saahir initially refused to exit the SUV, police said. She tried to hit an officer as she was arrested, officials said. She was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and "suspected PCP," police said. Two drivers of vehicles police say Saahir hit were taken to a hospital. Saahir was treated for a minor head injury and also taken to a hospital. She was charged with five counts of hit and run, in addition to attempted assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, reckless driving and driving without a license. Saahir is being held without bond and is due in court Dec. 13. Police said this was her second DUI offense in the past decade. An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of a popular horse in Barre, Vermont. Quinton Clayton was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing the quarter horse, Bunny. Police responded to a call on Prospect Street three weeks ago where they found the horse dead. Bunny was a well-known fixture among the local equestrian community; the loss was mourned by many. After further investigation, officers have found the bow and arrow they believe killed Bunny were reported stolen the day of the shooting. One of the arrows was recovered at the scene, and the bow was later found at a residence in Barre City. Clayton previously had outstanding warrants for failing to appear in violation of conditions of release, selling drugs to a minor on school property, and damaging property after leaving the scene of an accident. He has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and unlawful mischief. Bail is set for $300.00. A Boston city councilor is calling for change after a trench collapse that killed two people last week. If they have a valid license to do this work, theres not a lot we can do, said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh of the Boston contractors who dug the trench that collapsed, killing two people. necn Investigates first broke the news last week that Atlantic Drain Services had a history of serious and repeat violations. The construction site where two workers were killed Friday lacked protections including no trench box to brace against collapse. Atlantic Drain Services had been cited for that same violation before and federal records show slapped with more than $100,000 in fines. Now Councilor Michael Flaherty is calling for change to toughen the law. He wants contractors to be forced to disclose violations and unpaid fines. Two days before the trench collapse, Flaherty proposed a law to require contractors applying for building permits to sign an affidavit listing their open permits, the addresses, work status and completion date. Now he wants to force contractors to disclose violations and unpaid fines before getting permits. State Representative Tackey Chan has tried for years to toughen state regulations unsuccessfully and wants more oversight. This raises a flag on the permitting process for the reputation of the company to perform the work safely, Chan said. Speaking of Atlantic Drain, Chan says, They never came into compliance because its a repeat offense. Walsh wont comment on the trench collapse citing the ongoing investigation by the District Attorney and OSHA. I think there are some concerns I have, Walsh said. I see a lot of work going on in our city right now. I see some other work in the city as I go around, mostly in private development, there is no safety precaution going on. With little to no government oversight and no one forcing companies to pay their fines, necn Investigates is questioning how many inspectors are there and how many permits are revoked due to violations. OSHA says their investigation could take up to 6 months to complete. I think there is the larger question on what else is going on in this industry whether it be OSHA fines or consumer complaints, Chan said. If you are looking to hire a company, you can check their safety violations with OSHA. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has responded to the New Haven Register building because of white powder that was mailed to them, according to New Haven police. New Haven Register Publisher Kevin Corrado told NBC Connecticut that two employees who came into contact with the white powdery substance had to be quarantined inside the building while everyone else was evacuated. The two employees then went through a decontamination process and were taken to the hospital as a precaution. As of 5:30 p.m., employees were allowed back into the offices. NBC Connecticut reached out to the FBI, but they said at this stage they had no information to release and had not identified the substance. No additional information was immediately available. Check back for updates. The owner of a quirky roadside attraction in central Vermont that was destroyed by fire Tuesday said his first priority is figuring out how to get a massive pile of charred debris removed from his property. "It's a tragedy," Will Knight said Wednesday of the loss of his Spider Web Farm in Williamstown. Flames swallowed the three-story barn late Tuesday morning. Investigators blamed the flames on a mistake operating the wood stove inside the 150-year-old structure. For nearly 40 years, Knight's Spider Web Farm attracted visitors from all over who wanted to see how he preserved real spider webs on wooden plaques. necn visited the attraction October 30, 2015, and asked Knight if the business had been a good one for him. "Yeah, sure," Knight answered. "My wife bought a new car!" The spider web farmer explained his preserved webs are tributes to the beauty of the natural world. "I appreciate nature," Knight said in 2015. But today, the showroom where Knight displayed his wares is gone. The damage was estimated to be at least $300,000, fire investigators said. Still, the 90-year-old was trying to stay positive Wednesday. "Everything depends on your attitude," Knight said. "And the attitude is, keep happy." Asked if he's been able to keep happy since the loss of his building, Knight choked back tears as he said, "Things always get better. Can't get worse, right? So, they'll get better." Knight said he was very grateful his house next door wasn't damaged. What is still uncertain is if this web farmer will be able to continue his craft. "We've got to do something else," Knight said. "And that something else right now is clean up this mess." The senior citizen said friends and neighbors have been calling him with suggestions of ways he may be able to have the debris removed. He said he may inquire with the fire department about the possibility of a controlled burn. The Spider Web Farm, which billed itself as "the original web site" had operated in Williamstown since 1977; in its most recent location since 1983, Will Knight's son said. The outrage over war veterans being forced to re-pay enlistment bonuses is likely to hit Massachusetts. necn Investigates has confirmed that one senior guard official is warning the bonus scandal will be a problem in every state. Meanwhile, National Guard bureaus across the country - including Massachusetts - are searching thousands of names in databases. While the Defense Secretary Ash Carter stepped in, ordering the National Guard in California to stop forcing soldiers to repay their bonuses, its putting all National Guard soldiers under the microscope. At the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the National Guard offered hefty bonuses, some $15,000 or more, to Guardsmen willing to re-enlist. Thousands who had gone to war stepped up. Then 10 years later, they were ordered to pay them back after an audit showed that false claims were filed by a guard manager. Amid outrage this week, Carter put a stop to those forced re-payments. The National Guard Bureau in Washington confirms to necn Investigates that all states have been ordered to audit their soldiers. Because it involves millions in federal dollars, the findings will be forwarded to the Department of Defense. Now new information shows Congress knew about the bonus repayment issue two years ago when the California National Guard told members of the state's federal delegation, but no action was taken. The California Guard confirmed to necn Investigates that a senior official Monday sent a letter to the California delegation sounding the alarm saying, This is a national issue and affects all states. The official said improper bonuses had been paid to National Guard members in every state. That puts more soldiers at risk of having to pay off huge debts. Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton is a former Marine who served four tours in Iraq. He also sits on the House Armed Services Committee that may eventually investigate the matter. The truth is that this one case has brought to light a bigger issue," Moulton told necn Investigates. "The DOD and the VA have a history of using coercive collections tactics against our troops and our veterans to recoup overpayments that are the fault of these agencies - not the troops themselves. Putting the blame on our troops for the DODs clerical mistakes hurts the credit and well-being of the volunteers who wear the uniform of the United States military. Congress is already threatening to intervene if soldiers are ordered to pay back the bonuses for re-enlisting. The National Guard Bureau and Department of Defense both tell necn Investigates that it will be early next week before they finish the audit of all states. If you are a member of the Massachusetts National Guard and have been notified or are concerned you need to repay your bonus, we want to hear from you. Contact our investigator Karen Hensel by email at Karen.Hensel@nbcuni.com or call 617-630-4212. We have a lot more than we bargained for on the way tomorrow and Friday. What initially looked like a straight rain and high elevation snow event now has evolved into... A heavy rain event... A heavy snow event... And a strong wind event. Rest assured, it's not the same everywhere. We certainly have all the bases covered in terms of weather variety though. Let's start where we always do... from the top. Snow/mix and rain will sweep in by mid-morning tomorrow in Western New England. As that shield of precipitation moves east through the early/mid afternoon, there will still be enough cold air in place to see some flakes fly along the 495 belt and into Southern NH. Along the coast, winds stirring from the east should boost us into the mid-40s, so we're not concerned about any mix/snow in Boston, Portsmouth or Portland. Rain cranks up in concert with the storm Thursday night, with heavy bursts into the wee hours. Winds will also speed up along the coast, Cape and Islands where gusts may hit 40+. Elsewhere, the wind should be light...a testament to the ability of cold air to stabilize the low levels of the atmosphere. As the storm moves into the Gulf of Maine, the cold air will rush back to Central Maine and switch the rain to snow...but just at the tail end. Some slushy accumulation is likely in Central and Interior Southern Maine Friday afternoon. Meantime, where it will stay mostly snow in the mountains of Northern New England, the snow will pile up. 6-10 inches is possible above 1000 feet! Nice helping hand from Mother Nature to hasten the openings at a few resorts. Storm wraps on Friday night and we settle back for a quieter - and more temperate - weekend. At this point, Halloween also looks like a winner. Longer range, some warmth may sneak back into the picture next week. Updates and snowfall maps will be found here. Check back often! A stalled contract negotiation between teachers and the Warwick School District in Rhode Island escalated Thursday when 83 teachers called in sick. Now, the teacher's union is being accused of a coordinated protest. The union is denying that, accusing district leaders of trying to undermine their reputation and bargaining power with false information. "They're playing games, because they want everyone to think they're in the right, and we're in the wrong," Darlene Netcoh, the union's president, said. The sick calls impacted some of the 21 schools in the district. But the union says that can happen this time of year because it's cold and flu season. On Wednesday, Warwick Superintendent Phil Thorton sent out a district-wide memo and email to parents, saying "we have received several credible reports that the Warwick teachers union is pressuring its membership to 'call in sick,' in an attempt to disrupt schooling as a way of protesting the state of teacher contract negotiations." Thornton would not comment for this story. But he admitted in the letter it could have been a rumor, and that he wanted parents to be prepared in case classes had to be cancelled. The teacher's union says the school district walked away from contract negotiations earlier this month, and there's no date set to resume talks. Those 83 teachers make up about 10 percent of all teachers in the district. Passengers were evacuated from a smoky MBTA train, some climbing out windows, in Boston's Back Bay during the Wednesday afternoon commute. The train's doors did not open as smoke filled Back Bay Station, though the MBTA said its doors were not supposed to open. The train's motorman opened doors manually, while passengers evacuated themselves or with assistance from authorities. MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo initially told necn the train's motor overheated. The agency later said in a statement that the cause has yet to be determined, but that it was "most likely related to the motor." At least three people were hospitalized for evaluation. A video taken by Twitter user @cloudfrye and shared with necn shows responders rushing people off the Orange Line train. Twitter user @cloudfrye recorded video of passengers being evacuated off an MBTA train at Back Bay Station in Boston. The user, identified as Claudia, says passengers were calm until police arrived. "Basically everyone was calm and there was a ton of smoke outside the train and then a police officer starts hammering the window WITHOUT WARNING and then walks away and another police officer enters and screams for everyone to calm down," she wrote to necn. "Of course, everyone starts panicking and he opens the door and we get off the train." Claudia said that people were jumping out of the windows and doors of other train cars, "probably hurting themselves trying to get out because of the incited panic." According to the MBTA, "some passengers began to self evacuate and were assisted by transit officers and the motor person" around 4:41 p.m. The agency said the fact that the doors did not open was not the result of a technical issue. "Doors on the subway remained closed because the train had moved away from the platform. Doors did not malfunction. The motor person had begun promptly opening doors to allow passengers to evacuate safely, away from the live third rail," the MBTA wrote in a statement. Boston fire crews evacuated the train station at 4:57 p.m., according to the MBTA. Service on the Orange Line's southbound side resumed at 5:41 p.m. and service the northbound side resumed at 6:15 p.m. This isnt the first time trains along the Orange Line have had trouble. In February, passengers were forced to flee after a strip of metal from the side of a train car fell onto the tracks near State Street and sparked a fire. The MBTA then inspected all 120 of its Orange Line cars and determined 13 of them needed to be repaired in order to prevent future issues. A man suspected in a New Hampshire kidnapping was taken into custody, and the woman who was missing was found safe with him, according to Londonderry Police. Authorities were looking for 22-year-old Victor Rosario of Manchester in connection with a possible abduction of a female victim from ECCO USA on Delta Drive. An employee called 911 around 3:45 p.m. Rosario's cell phone was pinged on I-290 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, and police stopped his vehicle in neighboring Worcester. The woman was uninjured in the car with Rosario, who the caller identified as her boyfriend. Police initially did not say anything about a child victim. When they announced that Rosario had been caught, they added that the "woman and child [were] accounted for and safe." However, later Thursday night, police said the child had been in the care of family members and was not involved. Rosario was detained by Massachusetts State Police, but released as the investigation continues. Londonderry Police say potential charges include simple assault and kidnapping. Anyone with information is urged to contact Londonderry Police at (603) 432-1118. A private memorial service was held at St. Anthony Church in Hartford for a Middletown woman who was lost at sea during a fishing trip with her son a month ago. Linda Carman has been missing since September, when the boat she and her son were on sank during the weekend of Sept. 17. Her son, Nathan Carman, was rescued by a freighter about 100 miles off the coast of Martha's Vineyard eight days later. "I wish desperately that my mom was rescued. I hope that she will be found," he said after the church service. "As difficult as this is, I'm glad that family and friends had a chance and that friends came together to remember my mom to support each other in this very difficult time." Carman said he's grateful to the friends and family members who attended the service." "I'm glad that many of my mom's friends chose to attend. And I think the service was a good time for us to come together and support one another," he said. An attorney for Carman told the Hartford Courant that friends and family were invited to a private service on Wednesday morning. But Linda Carman's sisters released a statement questioning the memorial service with the sinking still under investigation by multiple police agencies and did not attend the services on Wednesday. "I wish very much that my whole family would have come together to pray for my mom and I made sure that they were invited, that they had an opportunity," Nathan Carman said. A memorial Mass was originally scheduled at a church in West Hartford, but church officials said it was canceled. A Rhode Island lawmaker has been charged with trying to steal the political signs of another candidate. Brian Coogan was arraigned Tuesday in Providence on misdemeanors including attempted larceny and conspiracy. Police say a witness saw 46-year-old Coogan and a woman attempt to remove from a fence a sign for City Council candidate Bruce Rogers while on a motorcycle in East Providence. Police say they couldn't get it off because it was too tightly secured. They say a different stolen sign fell off the bike. The Providence Journal reports Coogan has denied stealing the signs and says the allegations are political retaliation. Coogan recently lost his bid for the House seat in District 64 against City Councilman Helder Cunha. He told the newspaper Cunha and Rogers are political allies. A Providence man who was arrested in New Bedford is facing drug trafficking charges. According to authorities, Christian Castellano, 21, was hiding 66 grams of fentanyl in a hidden compartment in his car. Police said they found the drugs, along with $180 in cash, during a traffic stop in the area of Rockdale Avenue and Allen Street around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities said they received information that Castellano was dealing fentanyl in the city. Castellano was charged with charged with trafficking fentanyl, as well as trafficking in a class B substance near a park. The street value of the drugs was estimated at approximately $6,600. Police continue to search for a suspect who exposed himself on a local trail in Marblehead, Massachusetts Wednesday morning. The assault happened on Marble Trail when a man approached a woman on her bike and exposed himself before attempting to grab her. The woman was able to get away. The incident occurred near the Tower School that hosts pre-5th to 8th graders. The school was on lockdown until school was let out. The suspect is described as a man riding a pale yellow, trek-style bicycle. Cheshire Animal Control is reminding residents to protect their families make sure pets are vaccinated after a family of five and their two dogs came into contact with a rabid skunk. NBC Connecticut spoke exclusively with that family. The Linehans spent Wednesday night at Yale-New Haven Hospital getting round one of rabies vaccines after running into a rabid skunk outside their home on Sycamore Lane in Cheshire Monday night. Honestly, I was terrified, said Liz Linehan. Linehan, who is running for state representative, said her two dogs came across the skunk Monday night. Then on Tuesday afternoon her kids found the same skunk dead underneath the familys deck. The animal was sent to a state laboratory for testing where it came back positive for rabies. We did all come in contact with either the animal or some blood from the animal, Linehan said. The two dogs involved were up to date on their vaccinations and are being quarantined at home for the next 45 days. The family will go through three more rounds of shots over the next two weeks. Cheshire Animal Control said they only test animals for rabies if theyve come in contact with pets or people. They remind residents that rabid animals could be anywhere and to stay alert. The Linehans said theyre glad theyve learned that lesson. Never approach a wild animal whether they are alive or dead, Linehan said. Vicar to share Israel journey of discovery in Norwich Rev Cameron Collington from London will visit Norwich on November 8 to share fascinating highlights of his journey of discovery after spending time in Israel. Cameron will be speaking at The House of Prayer, the Fishergate Centre, Fishergate, Norwich, NR3 1SE, on Tuesday November 8, at 7pm. All are welcome, admission is free, so do invite your friends, say the organisers, the East Anglia Friends of Israel (EAFI), which was established in May this year when more than 200 people attended an impressive gathering at Soul Church in Norwich. The launch event brought together members of the local Jewish community and Christians from across the region to demonstrate their support for Israel. A warmly recommended speaker, Cameron Collington has been Vicar of St Simons Church in Shepherds Bush in London since 2005 and is Chaplain of Queens Park Rangers. He has five children between 10 and 17 years. In 2012, Cameron spent time in Israel and felt God leading him to study more of Israels history and the Old Testament, exploring the uniqueness of Israel. The result of this was far more than he had bargained for - so do join us on November 8 to hear more of Camerons journey of discovery, says EAFI Pictured above is Rev Cameron Collington. Ex-Brighton vicar, Rev Phil Moon, will offer tips on how to keep going in ministry to the Transforming Norwich leaders lunch on Wednesday November 16. Ex-Brighton vicar, Rev Phil Moon, will offer tips on how to keep going in ministry to the Transforming Norwich leaders lunch on Wednesday November 16. Quiet Waters in Bungay offers healing retreat Quiet Waters Christian Retreat in Bungay is holding a gentle day retreat exploring healing in the Kingdom of God. Read more Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more Norfolk ministry coaching duo are guest speakers Former church leaders and now freelance ministry coaches, Jonathan and Paige Squirrell, are the guest speakers at the next dinner of Norwich FGB on Monday, November 21. Read more Bringing light to Halloween Anna Price encourages Christians to engage positively with Halloween rather than hide away, on what many see as the darkest night of the year. Read more First service takes place at Norwich church site SOUL Church hosted around 400 people for a special service on the site of their new building on Heartsease Lane. Read more Dereham draws up list of warm places for winter As rising energy prices make it harder to heat homes, churches in Dereham are leading the way in creating warm spaces where people can go. Read more South Norfolk church scoops national award A medieval Anglican church in a tiny hamlet in South Norfolk has won a national award and a 10,000 boost. Read more Dereham churches help people to help themselves A group of churches in Dereham have launched an ambitious project which aims to meet needs in the town, including the provision of food and skills training. Read more Executive assistant and nursery manager jobs SOUL Church is a vibrant, welcoming and growing church in Norwich. They are seeking an organised and versatile Executive Assistant to provide key support to the churchs Senior Pastors, as well as a qualified Nursery Manager to head up SOUL Nursery. Read more Halloween light in Gorleston church On Halloween this year, St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston will be preparing to welcome around 200 families to experience their Light on a Dark Night event. Read more An opportunity for Norwich to pray for the nation Rev Nigel Fox, who has served as a Methodist Minister for 15 years in Norwich, shares an open invitation to pray for the nation at a crucial moment. Read more Norwich church seeks musicians Kingdom Ambassadors International Church is appealing for instrumentlists, keyboardists and guitarists to be part of their worship experience. Read more Please keep Rishi in your prayers Andy Bryant urges us to pray for our political leaders, especially the new Prime Minister, and avoid unhelpful judgementalism. Read more Emilys art boosts growing Yarmouth foodbank A pupil at a primary school in Bradwell has been selling her pictures in order to raise money for the Yarmouth and Magdalen Foodbank, which is expanding its capacity and is seeking more volunteers. Read more Patrick Regan helps Norwich to bounce forwards On Saturday St Stephens in Norwich hosted Bouncing Forwards as part of a national tour by the mental health charity Kintsugi Hope. Read more Painting and biblical feasting in Overstrand There will be opportunities to improve your painting skills and indulge in some biblical feasting next month at the Pleasaunce in Overstrand in North Norfolk. Read more National award for Dereham Christian bookshop The Green Pastures Christian bookshop in Dereham has won a national award for providing boxes of Christian books to 21 local schools. Read more A security researcher has devised a method of hijacking a wide variety of radio- controlled airplanes, helicopters, cars, boats and other devices that use a popular wireless transmission technology. The attack was developed by Jonathan Andersson, manager of the Advanced Security Research Group at Trend Micro DVLabs, and targets a "wideband, frequency-agile 2.4GHz signal protocol" called DSMx. This protocol is used in radio-control (R/C) toys, including in drones, that are owned by millions of users. Andersson's attack exploits weaknesses in DSMx and was presented in detail Wednesday at the PacSec security conference in Tokyo. The researcher built a device that he dubbed Icarus, using off-the-shelf electronic components and software-defined radio (SDR). With it, he can take over the control of drones or other R/C devices and lock out their real owners in seconds. The hijacking is possible because the various bits of secret information needed to pair a remote transmitter to a DSMx receiver can be extracted from the protocol or can be brute-forced, the researcher explained in his presentation. Furthermore, a timing vulnerability allows sending control packets before the legitimate transmitter, causing the receiver to ignore the latter. Horizon Hobby, a global distributor and manufacturer of R/C products headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, which developed the DSMx technology, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hobbyist R/C airplanes, helicopters and other flying drones are increasingly causing problems for manned aircraft and even for home owners who feel that their privacy is being invaded when these devices are flown close to their private property. There are certain no-fly areas for drones, for example near airports, but some users ignore these restrictions. The rising number of drone sightings in no-fly areas and of near-miss incidents between drones and manned aircraft have led regulators in the U.S. and Europe to consider legislation that would restrict the use of such devices. It has also led to the development of commercial solutions for disabling in-flight drones. There have even been reports of people, including police, shooting down drones. Hijacking drones and landing them safely instead of shooting them down and damaging them is a more elegant solution and could make possible trespassing investigations easier. Andersson noted in his presentation that his technique can also be used to passively monitor areas for unwanted drone activity and to record unique drone IDs that could later be used to identify their owners. Market Place smokehouse run by former Newbury firefighter and wife A NEWBURY smokehouse deli opened just over a year ago by a former firefighter and his wife is the best takeaway in the South and thats official. BooBars, in the Market Place, beat off stiff opposition at the Food Awards England 2016, at the Mercure Hotel Piccadilly in Manchester on Monday, to win a trophy as the souths best takeaway. The Kintbury proprietors of BooBars, Sid Shepherd and his wife Charlotte, said that they had travelled Route 66 to bring back the authentic taste of American barbecue. "These travels are what inspired us to create our very own slaws, rubs and sauces to complement classic barbecue favourites. The meat at BooBars smokehouse is cooked low and slow for a minimum of 15 hours over a traditional wood fire which makes it exceptionally tender with a rich smoky flavour. The award was presented by Miss United Kingdom Supranational Rachelle Perez, who hosted the ceremony. There were three awards, for the best takeaways in the North, South and Midlands, and the best of these went on to win the title of best takeaway in the country. Mr Shepherd said afterwards that the couple were disappointed to be pipped to the post for the national title, but winning the crown for best takeaway in the South had compensated them. Setting up a business is really hard work and we couldnt have done it without all at BooBars working extremely hard and the support of all our customers, said Mr Shepherd. We would like to thank everyone. BooBars, which opened in July last year, also just missed out on securing the title of best newcomer when it came second on Thursday at the finals of the regional food and drink awards organised by Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Life magazine. Two worthy causes will benefit from annual event HUNGERFORD Christmas Fair will be supporting two worthy causes this year. The fair will benefit both the local branch of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and also Amref Health Africa. The 2 entrance charge, and all proceeds raised from the raffle, will go to the MND Association, while 10 per cent of all sales from the stallholders will go to Amref Health Africa the charity supported by Kathini Graham who ran the fair for more than 25 years. The two-day event takes place in the Corn Exchange tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday, between 10am and 4pm. Jane Gilbert of the Reading and West Berkshire branch of the MND Association said: Were so grateful to organisers Sally Poltimore and Caroline Preston for supporting our vital work and helping to raise awareness of this debilitating disease which has no known cure. For more information about the event, or to book a stall, email hungerfordchristmasfair@gmail.com By PTI NEW DELHI: The government has mandated support for Indian languages in all mobile phones that will be sold in the country from July 1, 2017, an official release stated. "In exercise of the power conferred by clause 10(1) of the Bureau of Indian Standard Act, the Central government, hereby includes the Indian language support for mobile phones as per IS 16333(Part-3) to the schedule of the 'Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement for compulsory Registration) Order, 2012'", the release stated. As per the new mandate, all mobile phones in the country will have to provide text reading support in all Indian languages on their devices. The new standard mandates mobile phone companies to provide message typing facility in English, Hindi and a regional language of their users choice. "The provisions of the 'Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order 2012' shall apply to the aforesaid inclusion by virtue of this order with effect from July 1, 2017," the notification stated. The notification mandates both smartphones and feature phones to provide language support. "It was one of most awaited step and a landmark decision which will pave way for connecting the next one billion people, most of whom will be non-English speaking. The order is in line with Digital India vision of bridging digital divide," Indian Cellular Association National President Pankaj Mohindroo said. He said that government and industry were on the same page on this issue. "The support for Indian language has potential to grow e-governance transactions, e-commerce business etc multifold, once non-English speaking people are able to access mobile platform in their own language," Mohindroo said. NEW DELHI: The government has mandated support for Indian languages in all mobile phones that will be sold in the country from July 1, 2017, an official release stated. "In exercise of the power conferred by clause 10(1) of the Bureau of Indian Standard Act, the Central government, hereby includes the Indian language support for mobile phones as per IS 16333(Part-3) to the schedule of the 'Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement for compulsory Registration) Order, 2012'", the release stated. As per the new mandate, all mobile phones in the country will have to provide text reading support in all Indian languages on their devices. The new standard mandates mobile phone companies to provide message typing facility in English, Hindi and a regional language of their users choice. "The provisions of the 'Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order 2012' shall apply to the aforesaid inclusion by virtue of this order with effect from July 1, 2017," the notification stated. The notification mandates both smartphones and feature phones to provide language support. "It was one of most awaited step and a landmark decision which will pave way for connecting the next one billion people, most of whom will be non-English speaking. The order is in line with Digital India vision of bridging digital divide," Indian Cellular Association National President Pankaj Mohindroo said. He said that government and industry were on the same page on this issue. "The support for Indian language has potential to grow e-governance transactions, e-commerce business etc multifold, once non-English speaking people are able to access mobile platform in their own language," Mohindroo said. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Civil aviation ministry on Thursday said it is keenly watching the developments and purported disclosures made by ousted Tata group chairman Cyrus Mistry about AirAsia India and will act once the matter is brought to its notice. Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey said the ministry has not received anything on allegations made against Air Asia India. We are waiting for official inputs and would act when we get a formal complaint. Choubey was reacting the Mistry's raising ethical concerns in Tata group's aviation joint venture with AirAsia India. Mistry has alleged fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore involving non-existent entities in India and Singapore on behalf of Air Asia India. A senior official with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that if anything new is brought to its notice it will act in accordance to the powers delegated to the regulator. DGCA is India's aviation regulator. Mistry in a letter to the Board members of Tata Sons on Wednesday had claimed that owing to Ratan Tata's passion for aviation, the Tata Sons board had increased capital infusion in the aviation sector much more than what was initial committed. ``Malaysia Board members and trustees are also aware that in the case of AirAsia, ethical concerns have been raised with respect to certain transactions as well as overall prevailing culture within the organisation. A recent forensic investigation revealed fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore involving non existent parties in India and Singapore," Mistry said in the letter. Mistry has further alleged that executive trustee Mr Venkataraman, who is on the board of Air Asia and also a shareholder in the company, considered these transactions as non-material and did not encourage further study". Mistry was unceremoniously and abruptly removed as chairman of the Tata Group on October 24 and replaced by his predecessor Ratan Tata. Ratan Tata will head the Tata Group for the next four months till the Board finds a new chairman. AirAsia India is co-owned by Tata Sons (41%) and AirAsia Malaysia (49%). The airline started its operations in June 2014 and currently has a fleet of 8 narrow-bodied Airbus A320-200 planes and has a market share of 2.2 %. AirAsia India is the first foreign airline to set up a subsidiary in India. Its launch brought back Tata's to the aviation industry after 60 years, after it ceded Air India in 1946. Tata's also have a JV with Singapore Airlines in India and operate a full service carrier like Jet Airways and Air India with 13 narrow-bodied Airbus 320-200 planes. It started its domestic operations in January 2015 and its market share is 2.8%. NEW DELHI: The Civil aviation ministry on Thursday said it is keenly watching the developments and purported disclosures made by ousted Tata group chairman Cyrus Mistry about AirAsia India and will act once the matter is brought to its notice. Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey said the ministry has not received anything on allegations made against Air Asia India. We are waiting for official inputs and would act when we get a formal complaint. Choubey was reacting the Mistry's raising ethical concerns in Tata group's aviation joint venture with AirAsia India. Mistry has alleged fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore involving non-existent entities in India and Singapore on behalf of Air Asia India. A senior official with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that if anything new is brought to its notice it will act in accordance to the powers delegated to the regulator. DGCA is India's aviation regulator. Mistry in a letter to the Board members of Tata Sons on Wednesday had claimed that owing to Ratan Tata's passion for aviation, the Tata Sons board had increased capital infusion in the aviation sector much more than what was initial committed. ``Malaysia Board members and trustees are also aware that in the case of AirAsia, ethical concerns have been raised with respect to certain transactions as well as overall prevailing culture within the organisation. A recent forensic investigation revealed fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore involving non existent parties in India and Singapore," Mistry said in the letter. Mistry has further alleged that executive trustee Mr Venkataraman, who is on the board of Air Asia and also a shareholder in the company, considered these transactions as non-material and did not encourage further study". Mistry was unceremoniously and abruptly removed as chairman of the Tata Group on October 24 and replaced by his predecessor Ratan Tata. Ratan Tata will head the Tata Group for the next four months till the Board finds a new chairman. AirAsia India is co-owned by Tata Sons (41%) and AirAsia Malaysia (49%). The airline started its operations in June 2014 and currently has a fleet of 8 narrow-bodied Airbus A320-200 planes and has a market share of 2.2 %. AirAsia India is the first foreign airline to set up a subsidiary in India. Its launch brought back Tata's to the aviation industry after 60 years, after it ceded Air India in 1946. Tata's also have a JV with Singapore Airlines in India and operate a full service carrier like Jet Airways and Air India with 13 narrow-bodied Airbus 320-200 planes. It started its domestic operations in January 2015 and its market share is 2.8%. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The Bengaluru City Police on Thursday arrested four persons in connection with the murder of RSS worker Rudresh R on October 16. The accused have been identified as Mohammed Sadiq [35], resident of JC Nagar, Mohammed Mujibulla [44], resident of R T Nagar, Waseem Ahmed [30], resident of Austin town, and Irfan Pasha (30), resident of Govindapura. Rudresh [38] was murdered in the heart of Bengaluru after participating in an RSS route march at RBANMS grounds. Police commissioner N S Megharikh said Rudresh he was attacked with a machete by Waseem as he was speaking to three friends. After the murder, Waseem fled from the spot along with Mohammed Sadiq. Two others were waiting a few metres away guarding Waseem and Sadiq. Investigations are on to ascertain whether the accused had links to radical groups, the commissioner said. Police had formed five teams including a technical team of Central Crime Bureau to nab the accused. BENGALURU: The Bengaluru City Police on Thursday arrested four persons in connection with the murder of RSS worker Rudresh R on October 16. The accused have been identified as Mohammed Sadiq [35], resident of JC Nagar, Mohammed Mujibulla [44], resident of R T Nagar, Waseem Ahmed [30], resident of Austin town, and Irfan Pasha (30), resident of Govindapura. Rudresh [38] was murdered in the heart of Bengaluru after participating in an RSS route march at RBANMS grounds. Police commissioner N S Megharikh said Rudresh he was attacked with a machete by Waseem as he was speaking to three friends. After the murder, Waseem fled from the spot along with Mohammed Sadiq. Two others were waiting a few metres away guarding Waseem and Sadiq. Investigations are on to ascertain whether the accused had links to radical groups, the commissioner said. Police had formed five teams including a technical team of Central Crime Bureau to nab the accused. Sangeeta Bora By Express News Service BENGALURU: The proposed steel flyover has now earned the ire of former ISRO chief Prof U R Rao. The scientist is concerned about the flyover coming up in close proximity of the planetarium. On Wednesday, Prof Rao met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Bangalore Development Authority commissioner Rajkumar Khatri and put forth his objections. There is no respite in sight for people using JC Road. The BBMP, which was considering constructing a 2.35km steel flyover here, has now dropped the plan after a series of protests against the steel flyover on Airport Road | Vinod Kumar T Rao said, I have an issue with the way the construction is planned. The flyover is too close to the planetarium, which should not be allowed. I have requested the government to make the necessary changes so that aesthetics of the planetarium and visitors safety can be ensured. We have, in fact, given sketches of two alternatives that the BDA can opt for. The first option is to push the flyover far from the planetarium and take it through. The second option is take it over the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain. Interestingly, BDA officials visited the planetarium on Monday. Besides the aesthetics of the place, teachers and children who visit might be get hurt if vehicles are running so close to our premises. Every year, we receive two lakh visitors and we have to take care of them. The CM and the BDA chief have promised me that they will come up with certain modifications. I will be waiting for their reply, Rao said. The 6.7km steel flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal was approved by the government three weeks ago, raising questions about the lack of transparency. Besides, the project will cut 812 trees, which has attracted the ire of environmental groups. BENGALURU: The proposed steel flyover has now earned the ire of former ISRO chief Prof U R Rao. The scientist is concerned about the flyover coming up in close proximity of the planetarium. On Wednesday, Prof Rao met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Bangalore Development Authority commissioner Rajkumar Khatri and put forth his objections. There is no respite in sight for people using JC Road. The BBMP, which was considering constructing a 2.35km steel flyover here, has now dropped the plan after a series of protests against the steel flyover on Airport Road | Vinod Kumar TRao said, I have an issue with the way the construction is planned. The flyover is too close to the planetarium, which should not be allowed. I have requested the government to make the necessary changes so that aesthetics of the planetarium and visitors safety can be ensured. We have, in fact, given sketches of two alternatives that the BDA can opt for. The first option is to push the flyover far from the planetarium and take it through. The second option is take it over the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain. Interestingly, BDA officials visited the planetarium on Monday. Besides the aesthetics of the place, teachers and children who visit might be get hurt if vehicles are running so close to our premises. Every year, we receive two lakh visitors and we have to take care of them. The CM and the BDA chief have promised me that they will come up with certain modifications. I will be waiting for their reply, Rao said. The 6.7km steel flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal was approved by the government three weeks ago, raising questions about the lack of transparency. Besides, the project will cut 812 trees, which has attracted the ire of environmental groups. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: A 15-year-old Class X student was hospitalised after receiving head injuries as the class teacher thrashed him for not paying a fine of `100 for being absent from class. The incident was reported from Rajadhani School in Papireddy Nagar under Jagadgirigutta police limits in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The injured student has been identified as Suresh. Suresh fell unconscious soon after he was beaten by his teacher. Later, he was admitted in a private hospital. According to police, they received a complaint from the boys parents alleging that the class teacher Rama Devi had assaulted Suresh for not paying a fine of `100 that was imposed on him for not attending the school for three days. Based on a complaint, police registered cases against the teacher and the management of the school. However, president of the Balala Hakkula Sangham, Anuradha Rao, demanded that the police to register an attempt to murder case against the teacher for assaulting the student for not paying fine. HYDERABAD: A 15-year-old Class X student was hospitalised after receiving head injuries as the class teacher thrashed him for not paying a fine of `100 for being absent from class. The incident was reported from Rajadhani School in Papireddy Nagar under Jagadgirigutta police limits in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The injured student has been identified as Suresh. Suresh fell unconscious soon after he was beaten by his teacher. Later, he was admitted in a private hospital. According to police, they received a complaint from the boys parents alleging that the class teacher Rama Devi had assaulted Suresh for not paying a fine of `100 that was imposed on him for not attending the school for three days. Based on a complaint, police registered cases against the teacher and the management of the school. However, president of the Balala Hakkula Sangham, Anuradha Rao, demanded that the police to register an attempt to murder case against the teacher for assaulting the student for not paying fine. By Express News Service KOCHI: A trade delegation from New Zealand, led by Prime Minister Rt Hon John Keyon, visited the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Thursday. During the visit, John Keyon inspected the baggage handling system set up by New Zealand firm Glidepath at the newly-built international terminal. After reviewing performance of the baggage handling system, John Keyon said New Zealand had been shifting its focus from the tradition fruit industry to hi-tech manufacturing. The country is also keen on strengthening its trade ties with India. Glidepath has also set up a `100-crore X-ray-baggage screening facility that works on the computed tomography technology (CTX) at the new terminal. The CTX machines used here are among the first in Asia, and first in India. The outbound departure system set up by Glidepath is capable of processing 6,000 bags per hour. In addition, 17 integrated explosive detection systems (EDS) have also been installed at the new terminal. The 4.2-km conveyor includes 1.8 km of carousel conveyor, said the officials. The delegation, including John Keyons wife Bronagh Key, arrived at the airport at 5.10 pm by a Royal New Zealand Air Force flight. The team left for Jakarta in Indonesia around 6.40 pm. CIAL managing director V J Kurien, NZs High Commissioner to India Grahame Morton, Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Sanjiv Kohli and others were also present at the CIAL. KOCHI: A trade delegation from New Zealand, led by Prime Minister Rt Hon John Keyon, visited the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Thursday. During the visit, John Keyon inspected the baggage handling system set up by New Zealand firm Glidepath at the newly-built international terminal. After reviewing performance of the baggage handling system, John Keyon said New Zealand had been shifting its focus from the tradition fruit industry to hi-tech manufacturing. The country is also keen on strengthening its trade ties with India. Glidepath has also set up a `100-crore X-ray-baggage screening facility that works on the computed tomography technology (CTX) at the new terminal. The CTX machines used here are among the first in Asia, and first in India. The outbound departure system set up by Glidepath is capable of processing 6,000 bags per hour. In addition, 17 integrated explosive detection systems (EDS) have also been installed at the new terminal. The 4.2-km conveyor includes 1.8 km of carousel conveyor, said the officials. The delegation, including John Keyons wife Bronagh Key, arrived at the airport at 5.10 pm by a Royal New Zealand Air Force flight. The team left for Jakarta in Indonesia around 6.40 pm. CIAL managing director V J Kurien, NZs High Commissioner to India Grahame Morton, Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Sanjiv Kohli and others were also present at the CIAL. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jet Airways will launch two daily flights from Kerala to the UAE from October 30. The Thiruvananthapuram-Dubai daily flight will depart at 8 am and reach Dubai at 12.30 pm IST (11 pm local time). The return flight will depart at 11.59 pm local time (1.29 am IST) and will arrive at 5.45 am IST. The Kozhikode-Sharjah flight will depart from Kozhikode at 9.25 pm and arrive at Sharjah at 11.55 pm local time (1.25 am IST). The inbound flight will leave Sharjah at 3.50 pm (4.20 pm local time) and arrive in Kozhikode at 9.45 pm IST. Kerala is 1.30 hours ahead of United Arab Emirates. The new service will make Kozhikode the third Indian city to be connected by Jet Airways to Sharjah, adding to the daily flights that the airline already operates to the UAE from Kochi and Mangaluru. Jet Airways operates daily flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Muscat, Dammam, and Doha. Despite the reports on oil crisis, the Gulf region is becoming an increasingly popular destination among the Indian population, be it for business travel, tourism or employment. We are positive about operating flights as the state has a major portion of non-resident Indians in the country, Gaurang Shetty, whole-time director of Jet Airways, said on Thursday. Jet Airways, in a press release, said it would deploy Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft on those routes. It has 13 international flights and four domestic flights from three airports in the state, said Shetty. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jet Airways will launch two daily flights from Kerala to the UAE from October 30. The Thiruvananthapuram-Dubai daily flight will depart at 8 am and reach Dubai at 12.30 pm IST (11 pm local time). The return flight will depart at 11.59 pm local time (1.29 am IST) and will arrive at 5.45 am IST. The Kozhikode-Sharjah flight will depart from Kozhikode at 9.25 pm and arrive at Sharjah at 11.55 pm local time (1.25 am IST). The inbound flight will leave Sharjah at 3.50 pm (4.20 pm local time) and arrive in Kozhikode at 9.45 pm IST. Kerala is 1.30 hours ahead of United Arab Emirates. The new service will make Kozhikode the third Indian city to be connected by Jet Airways to Sharjah, adding to the daily flights that the airline already operates to the UAE from Kochi and Mangaluru. Jet Airways operates daily flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Muscat, Dammam, and Doha. Despite the reports on oil crisis, the Gulf region is becoming an increasingly popular destination among the Indian population, be it for business travel, tourism or employment. We are positive about operating flights as the state has a major portion of non-resident Indians in the country, Gaurang Shetty, whole-time director of Jet Airways, said on Thursday. Jet Airways, in a press release, said it would deploy Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft on those routes. It has 13 international flights and four domestic flights from three airports in the state, said Shetty. By IANS LOS ANGELES: American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has described his first meeting with the late King of Pop Michael Jackson as "crazy". Hilfiger recalled meeting Jackson at his "deserted" Neverland home to discuss plans to collaborate on a clothing line, and he could not believe his eyes when he saw elephants and a giraffe in the grounds of the abode, reports pagesix.com. The designer delved on the music legend -- who died in 2009 -- in his memoir "American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion and Business". He wrote: "A choo-choo train, with a conductor and everything, picked us up. We were driving through Neverland, and no one was there. As we passed the Ferris wheel, it started up. Every seat was empty. We saw teacup rides and a racetrack and an amphitheater, all deserted. "We pulled up in front of the house, and a butler came out wearing white gloves. 'Hello,' he said. 'Michael will be coming; he is expecting you.' We were standing in front of this massive gingerbread-style house when a giraffe walked by, followed by a string of baby elephants. (Hilfiger's brother) Ally and (Hilfiger's daughter) Andy were looking at each other, like 'This is crazy!'" Hilfiger further described the experience: "Prince and Paris came barreling down the stairs dressed as characters from a Broadway show or 'The Sound of Music' - velveteen knickers, dirndl jumper, ruffled blouses, patent leather shoes, each in full make-up, their hair bleached blonde with dark roots. Blanket was an infant in nanny's arms." LOS ANGELES: American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has described his first meeting with the late King of Pop Michael Jackson as "crazy". Hilfiger recalled meeting Jackson at his "deserted" Neverland home to discuss plans to collaborate on a clothing line, and he could not believe his eyes when he saw elephants and a giraffe in the grounds of the abode, reports pagesix.com. The designer delved on the music legend -- who died in 2009 -- in his memoir "American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion and Business". He wrote: "A choo-choo train, with a conductor and everything, picked us up. We were driving through Neverland, and no one was there. As we passed the Ferris wheel, it started up. Every seat was empty. We saw teacup rides and a racetrack and an amphitheater, all deserted. "We pulled up in front of the house, and a butler came out wearing white gloves. 'Hello,' he said. 'Michael will be coming; he is expecting you.' We were standing in front of this massive gingerbread-style house when a giraffe walked by, followed by a string of baby elephants. (Hilfiger's brother) Ally and (Hilfiger's daughter) Andy were looking at each other, like 'This is crazy!'" Hilfiger further described the experience: "Prince and Paris came barreling down the stairs dressed as characters from a Broadway show or 'The Sound of Music' - velveteen knickers, dirndl jumper, ruffled blouses, patent leather shoes, each in full make-up, their hair bleached blonde with dark roots. Blanket was an infant in nanny's arms." By PTI MUMBAI: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says the shoot of his upcoming film "Sarkar 3" is likely to end way ahead of schedule, thanks to advancement of technology in filmmaking. The 74-year-old actor, who reprises his role of Subhash Nagre in the third installment of Ram Gopal Varma's political thriller, is currently shooting the film here. "... The digital camera, now in use, is a chip of endless time and storage. So, we carry on without stopping to run the camera, it is just such a convenience of so many sorts and most importantly of speed," Bachchan wrote on his blog. "The usage of multiple cameras prevents the time taken in shifting and relighting another shot for the close up or the long shot, because the multiple camera set up gives the director a facility to use different lenses at different angles, so that the set up or the machine does not have to move about, or the actor to keep re preparing himself or herself for the next shot. "And so what happens, we finish the schedule ahead of time which is what it looks like is going to happen with 'Sarkar 3'... Finish perhaps many days ahead of schedule." Also starring Manoj Bajpai, Jackie Shroff, Yami Gautam, Ronit Roy and Amit Sadh, "Sarkar 3" will release next year. MUMBAI: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says the shoot of his upcoming film "Sarkar 3" is likely to end way ahead of schedule, thanks to advancement of technology in filmmaking. The 74-year-old actor, who reprises his role of Subhash Nagre in the third installment of Ram Gopal Varma's political thriller, is currently shooting the film here. "... The digital camera, now in use, is a chip of endless time and storage. So, we carry on without stopping to run the camera, it is just such a convenience of so many sorts and most importantly of speed," Bachchan wrote on his blog. "The usage of multiple cameras prevents the time taken in shifting and relighting another shot for the close up or the long shot, because the multiple camera set up gives the director a facility to use different lenses at different angles, so that the set up or the machine does not have to move about, or the actor to keep re preparing himself or herself for the next shot. "And so what happens, we finish the schedule ahead of time which is what it looks like is going to happen with 'Sarkar 3'... Finish perhaps many days ahead of schedule." Also starring Manoj Bajpai, Jackie Shroff, Yami Gautam, Ronit Roy and Amit Sadh, "Sarkar 3" will release next year. S Subhakeerthana By Express News Service As cliched as it sounds, the Number One slot in the movie circuit keeps changing every Friday. But despite competition, Trisha has managed to survive in Ktown for more than 12 years, and remains to be one of the most sought-after actresses even today. Did she just get lucky? No, there seems to be an equal amount of hard work, grit and determination that made Trisha who she is today. When we met her for a quick chat, she was all smiles, chirpy and totally relaxed. Excerpts from the interview... You are pairing up with Dhanush for the first time in Kodi. Tell us more about the film. Working with Dhanush was so much fun and Im glad that we are finally sharing screen space. Both of us were supposed to do a couple of films initially. Unfortunately, nothing materialised due to dates and other issues. I can see everywhere that expectations are quite high. After many years, I am doing a rural-based script. Both of us have powerful roles and not the usual romantic ones; but there is a separate love track. My character (Rudra) has negative shades as well, which will make the second half interesting. For the first time in my career, I am attempting something of that sort in terms of dialogue delivery and body language. But, it is not a stereotypical villainous role. Overall, its a simple, well-executed story. Youve been working in the industry for more than a decade. How do you feel? I feel blessed when I think I am sustaining. I enjoy what I am doing and I have also grown along with the trends of the industry. I am happy with the way things have worked out for me, such as commercial hits, appreciation, and so on. Especially in the last two to three years, the journey has been amazing, and I feel more confident, thanks to the new crop of directors. At the same time, I am not on a signing spree. I dont accept films unless they excite me. Do you have any regrets when your films dont do well? None whatsoever! In a long career, thats bound to happen. Its something natural. Every job tends to have highs and lows. Also, we dont know the fate of the film until it gets released. Of course, I sign every film with so much goodwill hoping that it should be a box-office hit. (smiles) Now that Kodi is releasing, whats on your mind? Well, I must tell you, I treat every film as my first one. Even now, theres this sense of excitement the previous night before every films release. I have made it a ritual to watch all my films on the First Day First Show. I cant wait to wake up on Friday and see how the audience is going to react to my performances. You know, I give it my all. Theres no place for complacency. I dont believe in number games and to me, quality work is important. Id be happy being home and do nothing, instead of acting in a film that I dont believe in. You seem to be content doing more women-centric roles these days. Comment. I am enjoying the phase I am in today. I have the liberty to choose whatever interests me. I dont believe in sticking to a monotony. Thats why I have no issues doing mass-commercial projects too. I want to try out different genres and I play characters that I feel would work with the audience. I go by certain norms, which have proved to be right so far. You have done many films across industries. Can you name a few roles you cherish? Ah, thats going to be difficult to pick out a few from a long list. Let me try. The first three films that I did in Telugu are close to my heart. Varsham (2004), Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005) and Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule (2007). In Tamil I love my roles in Abhiyum Naanum (2008), Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) and Yennai Arindhaal (2015). (Pauses) How can I forget Saamy (2003) and Ghilli (2004)? They made me what I am today! (Laughs) Are you excited about Saamy 2? Yes, I am. Pretty much! But I dont think Hari even has the script. Since the announcement, everybody has been talking about it and it is trending on Twitter. People want to see Vikram and me together again. I get their excitement. Things are in a premature stage. Honestly, I dont know where its headed. With whom do you think you share a good onscreen chemistry? I have realised that chemistry works because of the good film. Its never about two people. If the characters work, the chemistry naturally works. Whats next in the pipeline? I am finishing up with Mohini. We have a few weeks of work left. Its a fun film, and has a lot of elements like romance and comedy. I think its the first Tamil horror film to be completely shot in London. And, I have started shooting Sathuranga Vettai 2 with Arvind Swami. Why havent we seen you in a film with Superstar yet? (Laughs) People ask me this question wherever I go. I would love to act with him. I think I am going to be here for some more time and hope my wish gets fulfilled. As cliched as it sounds, the Number One slot in the movie circuit keeps changing every Friday. But despite competition, Trisha has managed to survive in Ktown for more than 12 years, and remains to be one of the most sought-after actresses even today. Did she just get lucky? No, there seems to be an equal amount of hard work, grit and determination that made Trisha who she is today. When we met her for a quick chat, she was all smiles, chirpy and totally relaxed. Excerpts from the interview... You are pairing up with Dhanush for the first time in Kodi. Tell us more about the film. Working with Dhanush was so much fun and Im glad that we are finally sharing screen space. Both of us were supposed to do a couple of films initially. Unfortunately, nothing materialised due to dates and other issues. I can see everywhere that expectations are quite high. After many years, I am doing a rural-based script. Both of us have powerful roles and not the usual romantic ones; but there is a separate love track. My character (Rudra) has negative shades as well, which will make the second half interesting. For the first time in my career, I am attempting something of that sort in terms of dialogue delivery and body language. But, it is not a stereotypical villainous role. Overall, its a simple, well-executed story. Youve been working in the industry for more than a decade. How do you feel? I feel blessed when I think I am sustaining. I enjoy what I am doing and I have also grown along with the trends of the industry. I am happy with the way things have worked out for me, such as commercial hits, appreciation, and so on. Especially in the last two to three years, the journey has been amazing, and I feel more confident, thanks to the new crop of directors. At the same time, I am not on a signing spree. I dont accept films unless they excite me. Do you have any regrets when your films dont do well? None whatsoever! In a long career, thats bound to happen. Its something natural. Every job tends to have highs and lows. Also, we dont know the fate of the film until it gets released. Of course, I sign every film with so much goodwill hoping that it should be a box-office hit. (smiles) Now that Kodi is releasing, whats on your mind? Well, I must tell you, I treat every film as my first one. Even now, theres this sense of excitement the previous night before every films release. I have made it a ritual to watch all my films on the First Day First Show. I cant wait to wake up on Friday and see how the audience is going to react to my performances. You know, I give it my all. Theres no place for complacency. I dont believe in number games and to me, quality work is important. Id be happy being home and do nothing, instead of acting in a film that I dont believe in. You seem to be content doing more women-centric roles these days. Comment. I am enjoying the phase I am in today. I have the liberty to choose whatever interests me. I dont believe in sticking to a monotony. Thats why I have no issues doing mass-commercial projects too. I want to try out different genres and I play characters that I feel would work with the audience. I go by certain norms, which have proved to be right so far. You have done many films across industries. Can you name a few roles you cherish? Ah, thats going to be difficult to pick out a few from a long list. Let me try. The first three films that I did in Telugu are close to my heart. Varsham (2004), Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005) and Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule (2007). In Tamil I love my roles in Abhiyum Naanum (2008), Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) and Yennai Arindhaal (2015). (Pauses) How can I forget Saamy (2003) and Ghilli (2004)? They made me what I am today! (Laughs) Are you excited about Saamy 2? Yes, I am. Pretty much! But I dont think Hari even has the script. Since the announcement, everybody has been talking about it and it is trending on Twitter. People want to see Vikram and me together again. I get their excitement. Things are in a premature stage. Honestly, I dont know where its headed. With whom do you think you share a good onscreen chemistry? I have realised that chemistry works because of the good film. Its never about two people. If the characters work, the chemistry naturally works. Whats next in the pipeline? I am finishing up with Mohini. We have a few weeks of work left. Its a fun film, and has a lot of elements like romance and comedy. I think its the first Tamil horror film to be completely shot in London. And, I have started shooting Sathuranga Vettai 2 with Arvind Swami. Why havent we seen you in a film with Superstar yet? (Laughs) People ask me this question wherever I go. I would love to act with him. I think I am going to be here for some more time and hope my wish gets fulfilled. By PTI MUMBAI: Megastar Chiranjeevi recently shot a special song for his career's 150th film "Khaidi No 150". The song "Rathalu Rathalu" was shot last week at a massive set that was specially constructed in Hyderabad. The song has been choreographed by actor-director Raghava Lawrence, who specially incorporated some of the superstar's signature moves into the choreography. The song composed and penned by music director Devi Sri Prasad features Chiranjeevi and Lakshmi Rai. Directed by V V Vinayak , the commercial entertainer is being produced by superstar Ram Charan, under his home production Konidela Production Company. "We recently shot the song for 'Khaidi No 150' and I am very happy with the way it has turned out. I can't wait to present it to Chiranjeevi fans across the globe," Ram Charan said in a statement issued here. MUMBAI: Megastar Chiranjeevi recently shot a special song for his career's 150th film "Khaidi No 150". The song "Rathalu Rathalu" was shot last week at a massive set that was specially constructed in Hyderabad. The song has been choreographed by actor-director Raghava Lawrence, who specially incorporated some of the superstar's signature moves into the choreography. The song composed and penned by music director Devi Sri Prasad features Chiranjeevi and Lakshmi Rai. Directed by V V Vinayak , the commercial entertainer is being produced by superstar Ram Charan, under his home production Konidela Production Company. "We recently shot the song for 'Khaidi No 150' and I am very happy with the way it has turned out. I can't wait to present it to Chiranjeevi fans across the globe," Ram Charan said in a statement issued here. By IANS TAIPEI: The fusion of two activities -- signalling against bandits and sending up wishes and prayers during the Chinese New Year -- has resulted in tourists flying lanterns to the Gods in Shifen village in Taiwan. Lined up along the narrow gauge railway track in the mountainous Shifen village in the Pingxi district near Taipei are shops selling huge single- or four-colour paper lanterns. Hundreds of tourists buy these lanterns (shaped like a big inverted basket) and pen down their wishes/requests to the Gods. A few moments later, after the shopkeeper lights up the lantern's fuel sheets (thick paper dipped in diesel), the tourists let go of the lanterns which slowly rise high up into the skies. "At night the lit lanterns look like big fireflies, with the mountains in the background," Francis Hu, a Taiwan Tourism Bureau authorised tourist guide, told IANS. According to tourist literature, in the 19th century, when the settlements first came up, life was relatively peaceful and prosperous only occasionally disturbed by bandits who raided the villages soon after harvest. To avoid the bandits, the Shifen villagers retreated to the mountains with their farm produce. A few days later a scout would be sent to the village to survey the area for the presence of bandits. He would send up a lantern signalling that the area was safe and free of bandits for the villagers to return. As for the history of the sky lanterns, it is said that they were closely associated with Chinese statesman Zhuge Liang who apparently used to send up sky lanterns as military signals and also to confuse the enemy's readings of celestial bodies. Tourist guide Hu said that during the Chinese New Year, people used to write their wishes/prayers on a lantern at their homes. But this lantern was not sent up into the skies. "Over a period of time, the practice of writing down wishes on lanterns and sending them up got fused, which is now a great tourist attraction," Hu added. "Please let me ace my exams," a student sent her prayer to her God through a lantern. Now, the lantern festival forms a part of the New Year celebrations when several thousand people gather at Shifen village to send up their lanterns. "We sell around 20 lanterns per day. We make the lanterns ourselves while the paper is sourced from outside," lantern-seller Liad Jiahuei told IANS. She said tourists, irrespective of their nationality or religion, send up the paper lanterns, most of which burn for around 10 minutes. A four-colour lantern costs around Taiwan $200 (USD6.5) and a single-colour lantern is priced at Taiwan $150. Whenever a narrow gauge train passes through the region, the lantern activity comes to a standstill. "Every hour there will be a train" and we stop sending up the lanterns so that they do not hinder the rail transport or vice versa, Hu said. One other attraction of the Shifen village is the Shifen waterfall Taiwan's largest such that can be reached by a short walk from the parking lot. Shaped somewhat like a horse shoe, it resembles a miniaturised Niagara Falls. The pool below the Shifen waterfall is called the Rainbow Pool as on clear days, the moisture above the pool is conducive for a rainbow's formation. TAIPEI: The fusion of two activities -- signalling against bandits and sending up wishes and prayers during the Chinese New Year -- has resulted in tourists flying lanterns to the Gods in Shifen village in Taiwan. Lined up along the narrow gauge railway track in the mountainous Shifen village in the Pingxi district near Taipei are shops selling huge single- or four-colour paper lanterns. Hundreds of tourists buy these lanterns (shaped like a big inverted basket) and pen down their wishes/requests to the Gods. A few moments later, after the shopkeeper lights up the lantern's fuel sheets (thick paper dipped in diesel), the tourists let go of the lanterns which slowly rise high up into the skies. "At night the lit lanterns look like big fireflies, with the mountains in the background," Francis Hu, a Taiwan Tourism Bureau authorised tourist guide, told IANS. According to tourist literature, in the 19th century, when the settlements first came up, life was relatively peaceful and prosperous only occasionally disturbed by bandits who raided the villages soon after harvest. To avoid the bandits, the Shifen villagers retreated to the mountains with their farm produce. A few days later a scout would be sent to the village to survey the area for the presence of bandits. He would send up a lantern signalling that the area was safe and free of bandits for the villagers to return. As for the history of the sky lanterns, it is said that they were closely associated with Chinese statesman Zhuge Liang who apparently used to send up sky lanterns as military signals and also to confuse the enemy's readings of celestial bodies. Tourist guide Hu said that during the Chinese New Year, people used to write their wishes/prayers on a lantern at their homes. But this lantern was not sent up into the skies. "Over a period of time, the practice of writing down wishes on lanterns and sending them up got fused, which is now a great tourist attraction," Hu added. "Please let me ace my exams," a student sent her prayer to her God through a lantern. Now, the lantern festival forms a part of the New Year celebrations when several thousand people gather at Shifen village to send up their lanterns. "We sell around 20 lanterns per day. We make the lanterns ourselves while the paper is sourced from outside," lantern-seller Liad Jiahuei told IANS. She said tourists, irrespective of their nationality or religion, send up the paper lanterns, most of which burn for around 10 minutes. A four-colour lantern costs around Taiwan $200 (USD6.5) and a single-colour lantern is priced at Taiwan $150. Whenever a narrow gauge train passes through the region, the lantern activity comes to a standstill. "Every hour there will be a train" and we stop sending up the lanterns so that they do not hinder the rail transport or vice versa, Hu said. One other attraction of the Shifen village is the Shifen waterfall Taiwan's largest such that can be reached by a short walk from the parking lot. Shaped somewhat like a horse shoe, it resembles a miniaturised Niagara Falls. The pool below the Shifen waterfall is called the Rainbow Pool as on clear days, the moisture above the pool is conducive for a rainbow's formation. By Express News Service Guwahati: Union Minister Maneka Gandhi wants the Centre to end the illegal trade and consumption of dog meat in the Northeast, particularly Nagaland and Mizoram, but in a region where it is a delicacy, concerns expressed against cruelty to animals may not only be misplaced but may also go unheard. In a letter to DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, Gandhi cited the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011 which does not allow dogs, cats and other animals to be slaughtered for food. She argued that the consumption of dog meat was both illegal and cruel. But the Nagas say they cannot and will not stop eating something which they have been eating for centuries. The Indian laws, whether they are related to religion or food habits, cannot be imposed in Nagaland. Nobody can stop us from eating dog meat. We have been eating it since the time of our forefathers. We view it as medicines, retorted Chuba Ozukum, president of Nagalands apex social organisation, Naga Hoho. Enforcing a ban on its sale and consumption will not be possible. We will oppose it. The entire Naga population will oppose it, he warned. The Nagaland government too feels that enforcing a ban will be difficult. I personally feel that even if there is a ban on its sale and consumption, enforcement will be very difficult, the states Additional Chief Secretary RB Thong told Express. The states health department said it was looking into the aspect of cruelty. As regards butchering, instructions have been already passed on to the traders on the process to be followed. They have also been told how they should treat dogs and other animals, Commissioner-Secretary in the department, Abhijit Sinha, said. But he was quick to add that the people in Nagaland had been eating the meat of dog for centuries. In March, the Nagaland government had asked senior officials to look at the feasibility of banning the sale and consumption of dog meat. This followed the receipt of a legal notice from an Assam-based petitioner against the illegal sale. But nothing has moved since. Dog meat is not farmed in the state. Dogs are smuggled from neighbouring states, particularly Assam. The meat is sold for around Rs.300 a kilo in Nagaland. Some restaurants and hotels sell a variety of dishes made from dog meat. According to Assam wildlife activist Sangeeta Goswami, the smuggling of dogs is illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The concerns of the activists are often about the cruel transportation, starvation and thirsting of the dogs. Dogs have also been a part of traditional Naga therapy. The Nagas believe that dog meat cures tuberculosis and gives strength to people who eat it. Guwahati: Union Minister Maneka Gandhi wants the Centre to end the illegal trade and consumption of dog meat in the Northeast, particularly Nagaland and Mizoram, but in a region where it is a delicacy, concerns expressed against cruelty to animals may not only be misplaced but may also go unheard. In a letter to DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, Gandhi cited the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011 which does not allow dogs, cats and other animals to be slaughtered for food. She argued that the consumption of dog meat was both illegal and cruel. But the Nagas say they cannot and will not stop eating something which they have been eating for centuries. The Indian laws, whether they are related to religion or food habits, cannot be imposed in Nagaland. Nobody can stop us from eating dog meat. We have been eating it since the time of our forefathers. We view it as medicines, retorted Chuba Ozukum, president of Nagalands apex social organisation, Naga Hoho. Enforcing a ban on its sale and consumption will not be possible. We will oppose it. The entire Naga population will oppose it, he warned. The Nagaland government too feels that enforcing a ban will be difficult. I personally feel that even if there is a ban on its sale and consumption, enforcement will be very difficult, the states Additional Chief Secretary RB Thong told Express. The states health department said it was looking into the aspect of cruelty. As regards butchering, instructions have been already passed on to the traders on the process to be followed. They have also been told how they should treat dogs and other animals, Commissioner-Secretary in the department, Abhijit Sinha, said. But he was quick to add that the people in Nagaland had been eating the meat of dog for centuries. In March, the Nagaland government had asked senior officials to look at the feasibility of banning the sale and consumption of dog meat. This followed the receipt of a legal notice from an Assam-based petitioner against the illegal sale. But nothing has moved since. Dog meat is not farmed in the state. Dogs are smuggled from neighbouring states, particularly Assam. The meat is sold for around Rs.300 a kilo in Nagaland. Some restaurants and hotels sell a variety of dishes made from dog meat. According to Assam wildlife activist Sangeeta Goswami, the smuggling of dogs is illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The concerns of the activists are often about the cruel transportation, starvation and thirsting of the dogs. Dogs have also been a part of traditional Naga therapy. The Nagas believe that dog meat cures tuberculosis and gives strength to people who eat it. Ritu Sharma By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India on Thursday asserted itself in a move that can further rile up China over the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and said Tibetan spiritual leader an honoured guest of India was free to travel any part of the country, including Tawang. Tawang the town on Indo-China border- has been the bone of contention between the two countries and Beijing has objected to Dalai Lama visiting the town earlier in 2009. The Tibetan Spiritual Leader, who had taken shelter in India in 1959 after fleeing China, has been extended an official invitation by the Arunachal Pradesh government to visit the Tawang, Itanagar and eastern districts of the state next year. You are all aware that HH Dalai Lama is revered spiritual figure and an honoured guest of India. He is absolutely free to travel to any part of the country, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday. It is a fact that he has a sizeable following among the Buddhists in Arunachal Pradesh who like to seek his blessings. He has visited the state in the past as well and we see nothing unusual if he visits again. Tawang that China claim to be part of the southern China has links to the history between the two countries as it was through its passes Dalai Lama had crossed over to India. The announcement about Dalai Lamas visit comes close on the heels of the top US diplomat Ambassador Richard Verma visiting Tawang to attend the Tawang Festival. The visit also had official sanction as the Envoy was accompanied by the Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Later on Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju also reached there for inauguration of the festival. Rijiju himself hails from the state. China has criticized the visit of the US Diplomat and asked Washington to refrain from meddling in the disputed region. New Delhi responded by saying that the visit was not unusual as Verma visited a province of India. NEW DELHI: India on Thursday asserted itself in a move that can further rile up China over the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and said Tibetan spiritual leader an honoured guest of India was free to travel any part of the country, including Tawang. Tawang the town on Indo-China border- has been the bone of contention between the two countries and Beijing has objected to Dalai Lama visiting the town earlier in 2009. The Tibetan Spiritual Leader, who had taken shelter in India in 1959 after fleeing China, has been extended an official invitation by the Arunachal Pradesh government to visit the Tawang, Itanagar and eastern districts of the state next year. You are all aware that HH Dalai Lama is revered spiritual figure and an honoured guest of India. He is absolutely free to travel to any part of the country, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday. It is a fact that he has a sizeable following among the Buddhists in Arunachal Pradesh who like to seek his blessings. He has visited the state in the past as well and we see nothing unusual if he visits again. Tawang that China claim to be part of the southern China has links to the history between the two countries as it was through its passes Dalai Lama had crossed over to India. The announcement about Dalai Lamas visit comes close on the heels of the top US diplomat Ambassador Richard Verma visiting Tawang to attend the Tawang Festival. The visit also had official sanction as the Envoy was accompanied by the Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Later on Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju also reached there for inauguration of the festival. Rijiju himself hails from the state. China has criticized the visit of the US Diplomat and asked Washington to refrain from meddling in the disputed region. New Delhi responded by saying that the visit was not unusual as Verma visited a province of India. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Dont behave like Vijay Mallya, Delhi High Court on Wednesday told controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi and directed him to return to India by mid-November and appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money laundering case against him. Do not behave in a fashion Vijay Mallya did, Justice A K Pathak said as he turned down a plea of Qureshi, who is in Dubai, for interim protection from arrest or any coercive action by the agency for 15 days. Dont take the line of businessman Vijay Mallya. You have to first appear for questioning. You are not in India. This shows that you do not want to appear. First you return to the country and join the questioning, the court said, adding it was not inclined to grant any interim order. Moin Qureshi It further said it was not going to restrain the agency from taking any coercive steps against Qureshi, who had recently managed to go abroad despite a Lookout Circular (LC) issued against him by the ED. The court, however, stayed till November 16 the LC issued against Qureshi by ED to detain him at the entry-exit points in India and directed him to appear before the agency on November 22. The High Courts direction came on Qureshis plea, filed through his daughter Sylvia Qureshi, in which he has sought a restraint on the law enforcement agency from arresting or taking any coercive action once he joins the investigation. Qureshis counsel R K Handoo also urged that he should be protected for at least 15 days, otherwise great prejudice would be caused to his client. I will straightway come to your (ED) office after landing in India, Handoo said, adding that Qureshi was subjected to extreme humiliation and ridicule in India and abroad, portraying him as an absconder, who is evading the law and government agencies and has allegedly given the slip to the authorities by leaving the country on October 15. On being stopped at IGI Airport on October 15, following issuance of the LC, Qureshi had left for Dubai after showing a trial court order obtained in an income tax case in which he was granted bail. In a related development, the ED has issued summons to Qureshi and his wife to appear before the agency next week in the money laundering case. The agency officials alleged that Qureshi had spent crores of rupees while shopping in other countries. For these purchases, the money was allegedly paid by different companies in the respective countries. The agency believes that this money was routed through hawalas. Qureshi has been told to report to the investigating officer in connection with the criminal case registered against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. NEW DELHI: Dont behave like Vijay Mallya, Delhi High Court on Wednesday told controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi and directed him to return to India by mid-November and appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money laundering case against him. Do not behave in a fashion Vijay Mallya did, Justice A K Pathak said as he turned down a plea of Qureshi, who is in Dubai, for interim protection from arrest or any coercive action by the agency for 15 days. Dont take the line of businessman Vijay Mallya. You have to first appear for questioning. You are not in India. This shows that you do not want to appear. First you return to the country and join the questioning, the court said, adding it was not inclined to grant any interim order. Moin Qureshi It further said it was not going to restrain the agency from taking any coercive steps against Qureshi, who had recently managed to go abroad despite a Lookout Circular (LC) issued against him by the ED. The court, however, stayed till November 16 the LC issued against Qureshi by ED to detain him at the entry-exit points in India and directed him to appear before the agency on November 22. The High Courts direction came on Qureshis plea, filed through his daughter Sylvia Qureshi, in which he has sought a restraint on the law enforcement agency from arresting or taking any coercive action once he joins the investigation. Qureshis counsel R K Handoo also urged that he should be protected for at least 15 days, otherwise great prejudice would be caused to his client. I will straightway come to your (ED) office after landing in India, Handoo said, adding that Qureshi was subjected to extreme humiliation and ridicule in India and abroad, portraying him as an absconder, who is evading the law and government agencies and has allegedly given the slip to the authorities by leaving the country on October 15. On being stopped at IGI Airport on October 15, following issuance of the LC, Qureshi had left for Dubai after showing a trial court order obtained in an income tax case in which he was granted bail. In a related development, the ED has issued summons to Qureshi and his wife to appear before the agency next week in the money laundering case. The agency officials alleged that Qureshi had spent crores of rupees while shopping in other countries. For these purchases, the money was allegedly paid by different companies in the respective countries. The agency believes that this money was routed through hawalas. Qureshi has been told to report to the investigating officer in connection with the criminal case registered against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. By IANS NEW DELHI: India on Thursday "categorically" denied that a Pakistan High Commission staff member was manhandled after he was detained for engaging in spying activities. "Categorically deny this. He was treated with courtesy befitting his diplomatic status," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters here. Swarup said Pakistan mission staffer Mehmood Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi Police on Wednesday "receiving sensitive documents pertaining to the national security of India". "In fact, it was Akhtar who resorted to subterfuge by concealing his real identity," Swarup said, adding that the alleged ISI spy even showed a fake Aadhar card. Akhtar "himself said he was treated well" when the accused officer was handed over to a Pakistani diplomat in the presence of External Affairs Ministry officials, Swarup said. Earlier, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, in a statement in Islamabad, condemned "the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official" and denied the allegation that he was involved in espionage. NEW DELHI: India on Thursday "categorically" denied that a Pakistan High Commission staff member was manhandled after he was detained for engaging in spying activities. "Categorically deny this. He was treated with courtesy befitting his diplomatic status," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters here. Swarup said Pakistan mission staffer Mehmood Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi Police on Wednesday "receiving sensitive documents pertaining to the national security of India". "In fact, it was Akhtar who resorted to subterfuge by concealing his real identity," Swarup said, adding that the alleged ISI spy even showed a fake Aadhar card. Akhtar "himself said he was treated well" when the accused officer was handed over to a Pakistani diplomat in the presence of External Affairs Ministry officials, Swarup said. Earlier, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, in a statement in Islamabad, condemned "the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official" and denied the allegation that he was involved in espionage. By Express News Service SRI NAGAR: A Border Security Force officer was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him during ceasefire violations on Tuesday night along the International Border (IB) in Jammu. A BSF spokesman told Express that Pakistani troops fired mortar shells towards their posts in Arnia, R S Pura and Akhnoor sector along IB in Jammu district. He said the firing started last evening and continued till 8.30 am. BSF Assistant Sub Inspector A K Upadhayay sustained minor injuries when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He sustained splinter injures in the hand and has been hospitalized, the spokesman said. In the past 24 hours, 10 civilians including seven women members of one family have been injured due to the ceasefire violations in R S Pura sector. The injured are undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu. Several villages along the IB in the R S Pura sector wear a deserted look as the residents after spending two nights of horror decided to migrate to safer places after Pakistan violated the ceasefire, targeting the civilian population. As one enters the border villages, locked doors can be seen and an eerie silence prevails that is punctuated by the sporadic noise of bullets or mortar bombs. We spent the past two nights in horror, when bombs fired from the Pakistani side landed on our houses and in our front yards. We thought that it might pass away, but today (Wednesday) we decided to move out and shift to a safer place, Bhushan Kumar, a resident of Korotana Khurd village, said. While a majority of the villagers have left for safer locations, one or two men have stayed back in every village so as to provide fodder to the cattle. We are risking our lives to feed our cattle, a resident of Budhipur village said.(With PTI Inputs) SRI NAGAR: A Border Security Force officer was injured when a shell fired by Pakistani Rangers exploded near him during ceasefire violations on Tuesday night along the International Border (IB) in Jammu. A BSF spokesman told Express that Pakistani troops fired mortar shells towards their posts in Arnia, R S Pura and Akhnoor sector along IB in Jammu district. He said the firing started last evening and continued till 8.30 am. BSF Assistant Sub Inspector A K Upadhayay sustained minor injuries when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He sustained splinter injures in the hand and has been hospitalized, the spokesman said. In the past 24 hours, 10 civilians including seven women members of one family have been injured due to the ceasefire violations in R S Pura sector. The injured are undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu. Several villages along the IB in the R S Pura sector wear a deserted look as the residents after spending two nights of horror decided to migrate to safer places after Pakistan violated the ceasefire, targeting the civilian population. As one enters the border villages, locked doors can be seen and an eerie silence prevails that is punctuated by the sporadic noise of bullets or mortar bombs. We spent the past two nights in horror, when bombs fired from the Pakistani side landed on our houses and in our front yards. We thought that it might pass away, but today (Wednesday) we decided to move out and shift to a safer place, Bhushan Kumar, a resident of Korotana Khurd village, said. While a majority of the villagers have left for safer locations, one or two men have stayed back in every village so as to provide fodder to the cattle. We are risking our lives to feed our cattle, a resident of Budhipur village said.(With PTI Inputs) By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India hailed New Zealands constructive approach to its Nuclear Suppliers Group membership bid after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with his counterpart from that country, John Key, on the issue on Wednesday. Sources said New Zealand had showed an understanding of the energy needs of India and the importance of predictability in the rules of global nuclear commerce. I am thankful to Prime Minister Key for New Zealands constructive approach to the consideration of Indias membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Modi said at a joint event with Key. However, Key remained non-committal about Indias quest to join the 48-nation NSG. New Zealand would continue to contribute constructively to the process currently underway in the NSG to consider Indias membership, he said. New Zealand is committed to working with NSG members to reach a decision as soon as possible. There is a process underway within the NSG on the membership issue. It reiterated its commitment to the total elimination of all weapons of mass destruction including in particular nuclear weapons. Pending the global elimination of nuclear weapons, India will uphold global non-proliferation and work with partners such as New Zealand to advance nuclear disarmament, a joint statement said. India has held only one country responsible for obstructing its entry into the NSG. However, at the plenary session in Seoul New Zealand, Turkey, Brazil, Austria and Switzerland had expressed reservations on the Indian membership application as India has been the first applicant to NSG that is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. NEW DELHI: India hailed New Zealands constructive approach to its Nuclear Suppliers Group membership bid after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with his counterpart from that country, John Key, on the issue on Wednesday. Sources said New Zealand had showed an understanding of the energy needs of India and the importance of predictability in the rules of global nuclear commerce. I am thankful to Prime Minister Key for New Zealands constructive approach to the consideration of Indias membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Modi said at a joint event with Key. However, Key remained non-committal about Indias quest to join the 48-nation NSG. New Zealand would continue to contribute constructively to the process currently underway in the NSG to consider Indias membership, he said. New Zealand is committed to working with NSG members to reach a decision as soon as possible. There is a process underway within the NSG on the membership issue. It reiterated its commitment to the total elimination of all weapons of mass destruction including in particular nuclear weapons. Pending the global elimination of nuclear weapons, India will uphold global non-proliferation and work with partners such as New Zealand to advance nuclear disarmament, a joint statement said. India has held only one country responsible for obstructing its entry into the NSG. However, at the plenary session in Seoul New Zealand, Turkey, Brazil, Austria and Switzerland had expressed reservations on the Indian membership application as India has been the first applicant to NSG that is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. By PTI NEW DELHI: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and his wife Bronagh Key today visited Jama Masjid and Sis Ganj Gurudwara here to pay their obeisance. The couple spent about 15 minutes in Jama Masjid, one of the largest in the country, and visited its various areas. They were given a shawl as a mark of respect by the mosque's administrators, officials said. Later, they went to Sis Ganj Gurudwara and spent about half an hour there, they said. The New Zealand Prime Minister also served food at the 'langar' (common dining facility) in the gurudwara, officials said. Heavy security arrangements were made for the visits. The New Zealand Prime Minister had been on a four-day visit to India from October 24-27. NEW DELHI: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and his wife Bronagh Key today visited Jama Masjid and Sis Ganj Gurudwara here to pay their obeisance. The couple spent about 15 minutes in Jama Masjid, one of the largest in the country, and visited its various areas. They were given a shawl as a mark of respect by the mosque's administrators, officials said. Later, they went to Sis Ganj Gurudwara and spent about half an hour there, they said. The New Zealand Prime Minister also served food at the 'langar' (common dining facility) in the gurudwara, officials said. Heavy security arrangements were made for the visits. The New Zealand Prime Minister had been on a four-day visit to India from October 24-27. Ritu Sharma By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In reminiscent of 1990s and a plot straight out of Bollywood flicks, a Pakistan Embassy staffer wielding a fake Indian Identity card was caught red handed on Thursday while receiving secret security-related documents. New Delhi acted promptly by expelling him and asking Pakistan Embassy officials to refrain from indulging in activities inimical to Indias interests. Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on Thursday morning and was informed that India had intercepted an official of Pakistan High Commission in the pursuit of the espionage and he was being declared persona non grata. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the espionage ring was busted as a result of intelligence sleuths tailing Mehmood Akhtar, who has been posted in Pakistan High Commission since September 2013, for the last six months. He has been recruited the 40 Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1997 and later came on deputation to Pakistans spy agency - Inter Service Intelligence (ISI). In Pakistan High Commission he was working as Assistant to Counsellor (Trade) Farukh Habib. In keeping with the accepted norms for treatment of members of the Diplomatic Mission, he was treated with utmost courtesy and handed over to a diplomat of the Pakistan High Commission soon thereafter, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. India has asked Akhtar and his family to leave India in 48 hours i.e. by October 29. The Foreign Secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pak High Commissioner that the Pak High Commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status, Swarup added. Pakistan has, however, termed the incident as an Indian action accompanied by an extremely negative and orchestrated media campaign. Rejecting Indian claims a statement by Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the charges against his staff member were unsubstantiated. Investigators have recovered sensitive defence documents on the deployments and strength of the Border Security Force and the Indian Army along the India-Pakistan border, especially in Gujarat and the Sir Creek area, from the accused. So far 15 people have already been arrested from across the country. Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra Yadav, who headed the team that unearthed the espionage ring, stated that around four to five more spies are absconding. Two residents of Rajasthan, Maulana Ramzan and Sohaib Nagaur, involved in the network were identified and arrested for passing on secret information and documents in lieu of money to Akhtar. Initially Akhtar tried to pass off as an Indian citizen showing a fake Aadhar card indentifying him as Mehmood Rajput from Rajasthan. However, following sustained interrogation he broke down and revealed his actual identity as a staffer in the Pakistan High Commission of Delhi. This was verified through Ministry of External Affairs and after confirmation and as per the due procedures, he was handed over to the Pakistan High Commission diplomats in presence of MEA representative, Yadav said. Earlier in 2003 the then top Pakistani diplomat in India and the present Pakistan High Commissioner to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani, was expelled from New Delhi after he was allegedly found supplying cash to the Hurriyat leadership. It was one of its kinds of incident as it is rare that a countrys chief of mission is asked to pack up his bags and leave. Maulana Rehman and Subhash Pak spy arrested by Delhi police Special cell in New Delhi | Shekhar Yadav (EPS) NEW DELHI: In reminiscent of 1990s and a plot straight out of Bollywood flicks, a Pakistan Embassy staffer wielding a fake Indian Identity card was caught red handed on Thursday while receiving secret security-related documents. New Delhi acted promptly by expelling him and asking Pakistan Embassy officials to refrain from indulging in activities inimical to Indias interests. Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on Thursday morning and was informed that India had intercepted an official of Pakistan High Commission in the pursuit of the espionage and he was being declared persona non grata. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the espionage ring was busted as a result of intelligence sleuths tailing Mehmood Akhtar, who has been posted in Pakistan High Commission since September 2013, for the last six months. He has been recruited the 40 Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army in 1997 and later came on deputation to Pakistans spy agency - Inter Service Intelligence (ISI). In Pakistan High Commission he was working as Assistant to Counsellor (Trade) Farukh Habib. In keeping with the accepted norms for treatment of members of the Diplomatic Mission, he was treated with utmost courtesy and handed over to a diplomat of the Pakistan High Commission soon thereafter, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. India has asked Akhtar and his family to leave India in 48 hours i.e. by October 29. The Foreign Secretary also strongly conveyed to the Pak High Commissioner that the Pak High Commission must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status, Swarup added. Pakistan has, however, termed the incident as an Indian action accompanied by an extremely negative and orchestrated media campaign. Rejecting Indian claims a statement by Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the charges against his staff member were unsubstantiated. Investigators have recovered sensitive defence documents on the deployments and strength of the Border Security Force and the Indian Army along the India-Pakistan border, especially in Gujarat and the Sir Creek area, from the accused. So far 15 people have already been arrested from across the country. Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra Yadav, who headed the team that unearthed the espionage ring, stated that around four to five more spies are absconding. Two residents of Rajasthan, Maulana Ramzan and Sohaib Nagaur, involved in the network were identified and arrested for passing on secret information and documents in lieu of money to Akhtar. Initially Akhtar tried to pass off as an Indian citizen showing a fake Aadhar card indentifying him as Mehmood Rajput from Rajasthan. However, following sustained interrogation he broke down and revealed his actual identity as a staffer in the Pakistan High Commission of Delhi. This was verified through Ministry of External Affairs and after confirmation and as per the due procedures, he was handed over to the Pakistan High Commission diplomats in presence of MEA representative, Yadav said. Earlier in 2003 the then top Pakistani diplomat in India and the present Pakistan High Commissioner to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani, was expelled from New Delhi after he was allegedly found supplying cash to the Hurriyat leadership. It was one of its kinds of incident as it is rare that a countrys chief of mission is asked to pack up his bags and leave. Maulana Rehman and Subhash Pak spy arrested by Delhi police Special cell in New Delhi | Shekhar Yadav (EPS) By Express News Service KOLKATA: Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Trinamool Congress has sounded the bypoll bugle, raking the issue of direct transfer of centrally-funded MGNREGA amounts into the accounts the beneficiaries. It has termed the move as interference into the federal structure. With a weakening left and a rising right, the seventh national party Trinamool Congress aims to use this issue in the two Lok Sabha constituencies of Cooch Behar and Tamluk. The party will undertake rallies in the two Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha constituency Manteswar from November 3-11. The polls to the three constituencies are slated on November 19. Though Bharatiya Janata Party may not give a tough fight to the ruling Trinamool in south Bengals Tamluk and central Bengals Manteswar, it may be a force to recon with the northern district of Cooch Behar. The issue of communal violence that rocked four urban towns of the state has started to be used as a political weapon by both the Trinamool and the BJP with both parties indirectly and directly blaming the other. Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee had warned the BJP against playing communal politics in the state. Starting an issue is easy but controlling it is difficult, she said. The BJP has always accused the Trinamool Congress government of minority appeasement. Each of the three constituencies going to vote have a percentage of Muslims from 24% in Cooch Behar, some 30% in Tamluk to around 40% in Manteswar. The different religious communities have till date irrespective of religion fought in elections coming under the banner of either CPM or TMC, depending on their loyalties. However, with the saffron party gaining strength, local points of tension may be raked for polarisation is what is feared by many TMC loyalists. In Tamluk, the joining of Haldia strongman Lakshman Seth by merger of his Bharatiya Nirman Party into BJP, his influence may be extended to the coastal industrial belt but the northern part of the constituency will vote en masse to the TMC candidate, a Trinamool district-level functionary told Express. It has been speculated that actress-turned-politician Locket Chatterjee may be announced as the BJP candidate for Tamluk seat. Both the parties have not yet announced candidates for the Lok Sabha seats. KOLKATA: Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Trinamool Congress has sounded the bypoll bugle, raking the issue of direct transfer of centrally-funded MGNREGA amounts into the accounts the beneficiaries. It has termed the move as interference into the federal structure. With a weakening left and a rising right, the seventh national party Trinamool Congress aims to use this issue in the two Lok Sabha constituencies of Cooch Behar and Tamluk. The party will undertake rallies in the two Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha constituency Manteswar from November 3-11. The polls to the three constituencies are slated on November 19. Though Bharatiya Janata Party may not give a tough fight to the ruling Trinamool in south Bengals Tamluk and central Bengals Manteswar, it may be a force to recon with the northern district of Cooch Behar. The issue of communal violence that rocked four urban towns of the state has started to be used as a political weapon by both the Trinamool and the BJP with both parties indirectly and directly blaming the other. Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee had warned the BJP against playing communal politics in the state. Starting an issue is easy but controlling it is difficult, she said. The BJP has always accused the Trinamool Congress government of minority appeasement. Each of the three constituencies going to vote have a percentage of Muslims from 24% in Cooch Behar, some 30% in Tamluk to around 40% in Manteswar. The different religious communities have till date irrespective of religion fought in elections coming under the banner of either CPM or TMC, depending on their loyalties. However, with the saffron party gaining strength, local points of tension may be raked for polarisation is what is feared by many TMC loyalists. In Tamluk, the joining of Haldia strongman Lakshman Seth by merger of his Bharatiya Nirman Party into BJP, his influence may be extended to the coastal industrial belt but the northern part of the constituency will vote en masse to the TMC candidate, a Trinamool district-level functionary told Express. It has been speculated that actress-turned-politician Locket Chatterjee may be announced as the BJP candidate for Tamluk seat. Both the parties have not yet announced candidates for the Lok Sabha seats. GS Vasu By In what could be described as a Perestroika moment for the Indian judiciary, a senior sitting judge of the Supreme Court, for the first time in its history, has come out in the open and questioned its decision-making process, particularly the lack of transparency in the appointment and transfer of judges. In the development that is likely to stir a nationwide debate on the state of our judicial system, Justice J Chelameswar is understood to have shot off a three-page letter on Thursday to the Chief Justice of India, Justice T S Thakur, expressing his unwillingness to attend meetings of the Supreme Court Collegium. The judge, it is learnt, skipped the Collegium meeting scheduled on Thursday though it was attended by the remaining four judges, including the Chief Justice. The meeting was expected to discuss the revised Memorandum of Procedure for appointment of judges but was deferred in the light of Justice Chelameswars letter. In October last year, Justice Chelameswar was the lone dissenting judge when a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court shot down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act. The Act provided for a six-member panel, comprising the CJI, two Supreme Court judges, the Union law minister and two eminent persons, to appoint judges to the Supreme Court and the High Courts. While his four brother-judges favoured the Collegium system, Justice Chelameswar argued against the total elimination of the government from the selection process, as it was against democratic principles. Transparency is a vital factor in constitutional governance. Transparency is an aspect of rationality. The need for transparency is more in the case of the appointment process. Proceedings of the Collegium were absolutely opaque and inaccessible both to public and history, barring occasional leaks, Justice Chelameswar wrote in his verdict. After striking down the NJAC Act, the Supreme Court advised the Union government to draft a Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for the appointment of judges but has since been repeatedly turning down suggestions made by the government on the method to be adopted. One of these suggestions was that the government reserves the right to reject names recommended by the Collegium if they are not in national interest. The government also wanted dissent, if any, expressed by the members of the Collegium over any proposal or recommendation, to be recorded in writing, which is not the case at present. According to highly-placed sources, Justice Chelameswar stated in his letter that nothing thats discussed in the Collegium meeting remains on record and therefore, he saw no purpose in attending the meeting. Instead, he has suggested that the recommendations be sent to him in writing to record his views and return them to the Chief Justice. Indications are that Justice Chelameswar is in no mood to change his stand. This is more or less in line with what he said in his dissent judgment on the NJAC Act and the judge seems to have taken the view that the country expects transparency in public administration, including the decision-making of the Supreme Court. In fact, in the aftermath of the October 1993 landmark judgment that paved the way for the Collegium system, several former judges of the apex court have been openly critical of the opaqueness in the process being adopted for the appointment of judges. The verdict, delivered by a nine-judge bench headed by the then Chief Justice JS Verma, in what is popularly known as the Second Judges Case, gave the judiciary or in other words, the Chief Justice of India, primacy in the appointment of judges and ruled that the executive cannot have an equal say in the matter. Many years later, Justice Verma himself commented that the judgment needs to be reviewed and clarified that what he meant was somewhat different. Things have now reached such a pass that Justice Chelameswar reportedly commented that the process is opaque even to the members of the Collegium themselves. His colleague Justice Kurien, who was also on the constitutional bench that struck down the NJAC Act, had sailed with the majority view but admitted in his judgment that the present Collegium system lacks transparency, accountability and objectivity. In fact, Justice Kurien went to the extent of saying that the Collegium system needs to be improved requiring a Glasnost and a Perestroika. It seems the moment has finally arrived. In what could be described as a Perestroika moment for the Indian judiciary, a senior sitting judge of the Supreme Court, for the first time in its history, has come out in the open and questioned its decision-making process, particularly the lack of transparency in the appointment and transfer of judges. In the development that is likely to stir a nationwide debate on the state of our judicial system, Justice J Chelameswar is understood to have shot off a three-page letter on Thursday to the Chief Justice of India, Justice T S Thakur, expressing his unwillingness to attend meetings of the Supreme Court Collegium. The judge, it is learnt, skipped the Collegium meeting scheduled on Thursday though it was attended by the remaining four judges, including the Chief Justice. The meeting was expected to discuss the revised Memorandum of Procedure for appointment of judges but was deferred in the light of Justice Chelameswars letter. In October last year, Justice Chelameswar was the lone dissenting judge when a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court shot down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act. The Act provided for a six-member panel, comprising the CJI, two Supreme Court judges, the Union law minister and two eminent persons, to appoint judges to the Supreme Court and the High Courts. While his four brother-judges favoured the Collegium system, Justice Chelameswar argued against the total elimination of the government from the selection process, as it was against democratic principles. Transparency is a vital factor in constitutional governance. Transparency is an aspect of rationality. The need for transparency is more in the case of the appointment process. Proceedings of the Collegium were absolutely opaque and inaccessible both to public and history, barring occasional leaks, Justice Chelameswar wrote in his verdict. After striking down the NJAC Act, the Supreme Court advised the Union government to draft a Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for the appointment of judges but has since been repeatedly turning down suggestions made by the government on the method to be adopted. One of these suggestions was that the government reserves the right to reject names recommended by the Collegium if they are not in national interest. The government also wanted dissent, if any, expressed by the members of the Collegium over any proposal or recommendation, to be recorded in writing, which is not the case at present. According to highly-placed sources, Justice Chelameswar stated in his letter that nothing thats discussed in the Collegium meeting remains on record and therefore, he saw no purpose in attending the meeting. Instead, he has suggested that the recommendations be sent to him in writing to record his views and return them to the Chief Justice. Indications are that Justice Chelameswar is in no mood to change his stand. This is more or less in line with what he said in his dissent judgment on the NJAC Act and the judge seems to have taken the view that the country expects transparency in public administration, including the decision-making of the Supreme Court. In fact, in the aftermath of the October 1993 landmark judgment that paved the way for the Collegium system, several former judges of the apex court have been openly critical of the opaqueness in the process being adopted for the appointment of judges. The verdict, delivered by a nine-judge bench headed by the then Chief Justice JS Verma, in what is popularly known as the Second Judges Case, gave the judiciary or in other words, the Chief Justice of India, primacy in the appointment of judges and ruled that the executive cannot have an equal say in the matter. Many years later, Justice Verma himself commented that the judgment needs to be reviewed and clarified that what he meant was somewhat different. Things have now reached such a pass that Justice Chelameswar reportedly commented that the process is opaque even to the members of the Collegium themselves. His colleague Justice Kurien, who was also on the constitutional bench that struck down the NJAC Act, had sailed with the majority view but admitted in his judgment that the present Collegium system lacks transparency, accountability and objectivity. In fact, Justice Kurien went to the extent of saying that the Collegium system needs to be improved requiring a Glasnost and a Perestroika. It seems the moment has finally arrived. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has decided to rein in costs in private hospitals and get them to be more transparent in their billing procedures. The state is all set to bring a new bill to regulate the functioning of private hospitals and improve services in government hospitals. There have been complaints that private hospitals charge patients exorbitantly behind opaque billing systems. An expert committee headed by retired High Court chief justice Vikramjit Sen has been constituted to study the functioning of private hospitals and suggest measures to regulate them. It will have members from the Health Department, private hospitals, civil society and the legal fraternity. It will report in eight weeks, minister for health and family welfare Ramesh Kumar said Thursday. The committee's suggestions would be incorporated in the proposed bill. Presently private hospitals in the state fall under the purview of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act [KPME] 2007. The state government is planning to bring them under the Central-level Clinical Establishment Act [CCEA]. Disclosing other decision, the minister said post-graduate degree and diploma courses would be started in all government medical colleges in the state by the next academic year. Rural candidates will get a higher share of seats in these courses. Ambulance services will be boosted with the purchase of 367 new ambulances, and Jan Auhsadi pharma stores, which sell generic drugs at low cost, would be opened in 200 hospitals around the state, Ramesh Kumar said. BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has decided to rein in costs in private hospitals and get them to be more transparent in their billing procedures. The state is all set to bring a new bill to regulate the functioning of private hospitals and improve services in government hospitals. There have been complaints that private hospitals charge patients exorbitantly behind opaque billing systems. An expert committee headed by retired High Court chief justice Vikramjit Sen has been constituted to study the functioning of private hospitals and suggest measures to regulate them. It will have members from the Health Department, private hospitals, civil society and the legal fraternity. It will report in eight weeks, minister for health and family welfare Ramesh Kumar said Thursday. The committee's suggestions would be incorporated in the proposed bill. Presently private hospitals in the state fall under the purview of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act [KPME] 2007. The state government is planning to bring them under the Central-level Clinical Establishment Act [CCEA]. Disclosing other decision, the minister said post-graduate degree and diploma courses would be started in all government medical colleges in the state by the next academic year. Rural candidates will get a higher share of seats in these courses. Ambulance services will be boosted with the purchase of 367 new ambulances, and Jan Auhsadi pharma stores, which sell generic drugs at low cost, would be opened in 200 hospitals around the state, Ramesh Kumar said. By Express News Service PUDUCHERRY: The Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday seized 11 idols depicting Hindu gods, worth crores of rupees in the global market from a French nationals house in Colas Nagar in Puducherry. Following the arrest of Pushparaj, an accomplice of idol smuggler G Deenadayalan (86), a team led by A G Pon Manickavel, Inspector General of Police (IG), Idol Wing, reached Puducherry based on Deenadayalans confession and raided a house after getting approval from the Puducherry district court. Police seized five Nataraja idols and idols of Parvathi, Chandrasekar Sivan, Mahisasura Mardhini, wedding pose of Shiva and Parvathi, Amman and Somaskandar. The idols are being taken to Chennai to produce it before the Chennai District Magistrate. The police have learned that these idols were stolen from temples in Melpadi, an ancient town in Vellore district, said Manickavel and added that a similar Nataraja statue was earlier sold at a cost of `31 crore in Australia. According to sources, experts would be called in to determine the accurate age and worth of the idols. Sources also said that some of the idols are expected to be dated to the Chola era (10th to 12th centuries AD). Ranjith Kumar (36), an associate of Pushparaj, who is a carpenter by profession, was also arrested on Tuesday, following the arrest of Pushparaj in Chennai on Monday. Kumar was arrested near the new bus stand in Puducherry when he was waiting for one of his customers to sell an idol. The three-storey building was owned by a French national, Perumal, who passed away about a year ago with his children settled in France, one of whom is Vanila Rajaratnam. They have been renting the second and third floor to an import and export company. The private company, according to a source, used the higher floors to smuggle idols. Meanwhile, Gokul Krishna Yadva, a practising lawyer in the Madras High Court, who claims to be the advocate of Vanila Rajaratnam, said that his client belongs to the Kondapa family and her grandfather who died 20 years ago, had purchased several idols from various places including Chidambaram during the French rule. PUDUCHERRY: The Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday seized 11 idols depicting Hindu gods, worth crores of rupees in the global market from a French nationals house in Colas Nagar in Puducherry. Following the arrest of Pushparaj, an accomplice of idol smuggler G Deenadayalan (86), a team led by A G Pon Manickavel, Inspector General of Police (IG), Idol Wing, reached Puducherry based on Deenadayalans confession and raided a house after getting approval from the Puducherry district court. Police seized five Nataraja idols and idols of Parvathi, Chandrasekar Sivan, Mahisasura Mardhini, wedding pose of Shiva and Parvathi, Amman and Somaskandar. The idols are being taken to Chennai to produce it before the Chennai District Magistrate. The police have learned that these idols were stolen from temples in Melpadi, an ancient town in Vellore district, said Manickavel and added that a similar Nataraja statue was earlier sold at a cost of `31 crore in Australia. According to sources, experts would be called in to determine the accurate age and worth of the idols. Sources also said that some of the idols are expected to be dated to the Chola era (10th to 12th centuries AD). Ranjith Kumar (36), an associate of Pushparaj, who is a carpenter by profession, was also arrested on Tuesday, following the arrest of Pushparaj in Chennai on Monday. Kumar was arrested near the new bus stand in Puducherry when he was waiting for one of his customers to sell an idol. The three-storey building was owned by a French national, Perumal, who passed away about a year ago with his children settled in France, one of whom is Vanila Rajaratnam. They have been renting the second and third floor to an import and export company. The private company, according to a source, used the higher floors to smuggle idols. Meanwhile, Gokul Krishna Yadva, a practising lawyer in the Madras High Court, who claims to be the advocate of Vanila Rajaratnam, said that his client belongs to the Kondapa family and her grandfather who died 20 years ago, had purchased several idols from various places including Chidambaram during the French rule. S Gurumurthy By Betrayal If what Justice J Chelameswar, a judge of the Supreme Court, is reported to have written to his Chief on the ways of the courts Collegium is true, it is not just shocking that the Collegium has been violating with impunity the Third Judges case judgement which had founded it. Chelameswar seems to indict that the Collegium has betrayed the trust reposed in it by five eminent judges of the Court who constituted it. The core mandate of five judges in the Third Judges case [para 22 of the order dated October 28, 1998] which the Collegium ought to abide by may be summarised thus: In respect of each of the recommendations of the Collegium, the opinion of all its members, and of the senior-most judges of the court who hail from the High Courts to which the recommendation relates, should be in writing. Their views must be conveyed by the Chief Justice to the Government with his recommendation. The others views the Chief Justice or members of the Collegium may elicit might not be put in writing, but that should also be communicated by way of a memorandum to the government. The two fundamental principles laid by the Court are: the Collegium must record and communicate the views of all its members and others, including their dissent, to the government. Collegium indicted Now, 16 years after the Third Judges case, Justice Chelameswar shocks the nation when he says that one, the Collegium does not record nor communicate the views of its members to the government. Two, it does not even maintain minutes of its own meetings. Three, the views or dissent of its members are not recorded nor communicated to the government. Four, nor are the views of the Chief Justices of the High Courts are made known to the government. Chelameswars letter to the Chief Justice is a stinging indictment of the Collegium. In fact, it is a confession from within the guild about its guilt. Chelameswar has also decided not to attend the Collegium meetings and has asked the Chief Justice to send him the recommendations which he will examine from his chamber and give his views. The judge has also taken a high moral ground by stating, In less than two years I am going to retire. I will not look up to anyone for any post-retirement jobs. I will not be seen around working for this Commission or that. I have no personal agenda nor is there anything personal in my objection to the way the Collegium is functioning. He does not need to adduce more proof to claim that he is speaking only in public interest. He has said, rightly, Let there be a public debate about the issue. The public is the only stakeholder in judicial appointments. How can you keep the whole society out of it? By his courageous action he has made the Collegium directly answerable to the public. The Chief Justice of India, who cried before the Prime Minister, also publicly indicted him for not dealing with judiciarys issues in his Independence Day address, has responded to Justice Chelameswar by saying, We will sort it out. But the chief of the highest judiciary ought to know that it is now beyond the four walls of the Collegium to sort it out as the genie is out of the bottle and into the public domain. Capitulation 1970s and 1980s The judicial leadership of India will do well to recall that when the Judiciary-Executive confrontation began with the call for a committed judiciary by the Indira Gandhi regime and the supersession of the three judges in 1973, the moral credentials of the judiciary were very high and the stock of the political Executive was very low. Now the judiciarys credibility is certainly no higher than the political Executives. The judiciarys moral stock declined gradually first and expeditiously later. During the Emergency when it was required only to stand up, the highest judiciary betrayed the nation and the Constitution in the ADM Jabalpur case by endorsing the dictatorship almost as integral to the Constitution. The judiciary began giving on a platter all judgements supporting the socialist order which the political Executive demanded, by reading the Directive Principles of the Constitution over the Fundamental Rights. Today none of those judgements will form constitutional precedents because the political Executive itself has given up socialist policies! Again, in the early 1980s the judiciary meekly surrendered its primacy in making judicial appointments to an executive that had brought the judiciary to its knees and kept it under leash for over two decades, eroding its credibility further. No one in the high judiciary talked of judicial independence or primacy in judicial appointments between the 1970s and 1980s. In was only in the Second Judges case in the early 1990s, with the political dynasty out of power and the political Executive weakened by coalition politics, that the highest judiciary asserted its institutional independence and primacy in appointments. It declared that the views of the Chief Justice in the domain were unquestionable and binding. Very soon the emphasis on the Chief justices primacy seemed misplaced. On a Constitutional reference by the most moderate political Executive in Indias democratic history, in 1998, the Third Judges case instituted the Collegium mechanism of recorded collective opinion making for judicial appointment. Now Justice Chelameswar discloses that the Collegium does not make any record and functions so opaquelyread secretly. Chelameswar has let out a well kept secret that neither the letter nor the spirit of the Third Judges case was complied with by the Collegium. Corruption charges Any charge of judicial corruption against the higher judiciary was blasphemous till the early 1970s. No more now. The first instance of higher judicial corruption was the infamous Justice Veeraswami case, an FIR against whom was filed in 1976. In 1979, the Chief Justice of India permitted the CBI to file a charge sheet against the judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The matter never reached the trial stage. From associating a judge with bribes being considered a sin till the early 1970s to judges being increasingly accused of corruption, the reputation of the Indian judiciary began nosediving. Here is a birds eye view of how its moral decline occurred. After the Veeraswami case, during 1991-93 Justice V Ramaswamis impeachment proceedings shook the judiciary. In 1995 A M Bhattacharjee, chief justice of the Bombay High Court was forced to resign after it was found that he had received `70 lakh as a book advance from a publishing firm known to have links with the underworld. In 1996, Ajit Sengupta, a High Court judge, who was alleged to have passed routine ex parte orders and ad-interim stay on anticipatory bail pleas of smugglers having links with the Mumbai underworld, was arrested for FERA violations after retirement. Between 1996 and 2001, two chief justices of the Supreme Court were in the news for very wrong reasons that bordered on corruption. In 2002, allegations of sex for acquittal were made against a judge of the Rajasthan High Court. In 2002, three judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court were charged with cash for jobs for their kin, leading to two judges resigning and one judge being kept out of judicial work. In 2002-03 there were allegations of a sexual brawl against three High Court judges of Karnataka which led to an inquiry by the Chief Justice of India who gave them a clean chit. In 2003, a judge of the Delhi High Court resigned when, in a CBI raid on property developers, a draft judgement by him was found in their possession. And the judiciarys reputation reached its lowest point in September 2009 when the civil rights activist Prashant Bhushan openly charged in a media interview that, half of the last 16 chief justices were corrupt. A reputed senior counsel, as amicus curiae, initiated proceedings for criminal contempt against Prashant Bhushan and a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir issued notice to Bhushan. It became worse in September 2010 when Shanti Bhushan, former law minister and one of the senior-most counsels of the Supreme Court, filed an affidavit telling the Court to its face that, at least eight of the 16 chief justices of India were definitely corrupt, naming many of them and adding that six of them were definitely honest, but he could not comment on the remaining two judges. The contempt proceedings have not seen the light of day till now. Seven years have passed by. The latest report of the Court on September 9, 2016 says that there is no order by the Court even for listing the matter. To make it worse, Justice Katju, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, spoke about how a corrupt judge was successfully imposed on the Court by the UPA government which two of the Chief Justices of Indiaread Collegium under themcould not resist. Judicial leadership should worry That was the state of the judiciary when, in 2015, Parliament almost unanimously passed the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act which attempted to make judicial appointments a more transparent affair. The Supreme Court shockingly struck down the entire law, holding that the law would affect judicial independence and the primacy of the judiciary, which are basic features of the Constitution. The Court did not even attempt to do what it normally does, namely, read down the law to make it constitutional. Now look at the facts. Given the facts about the multiplying judicial corruption which was totally absent till the 1970s, it needs no seer to say that the judiciary does not command the high respect it undoubtedly commanded three decades back. The situation has turned worse in the last decade when half of the chief justices of India are openly charged as corrupt and the apex court could not even proceed with the contempt charge against such a serious allegation. The judicial leadership itself should be worried about this rot. Instead of addressing the serious decline, it seems to be obsessed with its claim of primacy of the judiciary which, as Justice Chelameswar has exposed, has virtually ended up as only a claim of privacy of the judiciary. This serious matter needs a national debate and should not be left only to the judiciary to decide in a way as a judge in its own cause. Appeal to brooding spirit of law Justice Chelameswars reported letter is consistent with his sole dissent in the NJAC case. In his separate judgement, he pleaded for transparency as vital for constitutional governance, argued against opaqueness in the Collegiums work, asserted that the assumption that primacy of the judiciary in the appointment of judges is a basic feature of the Constitution is empirically flawed, pointed to the lack of accountability because of default of documentation, voted against exclusion of the government from the process of appointment of judges and upheld the NJAC law vetoed by the other judges. Chief Justice Hughes [Supreme Court of USA [1936]] said that a dissenting judgement is an appeal to the brooding spirit of the law, to the intelligence of a future day, when a later decision may possibly correct the error into which the dissenting judge believes the court to have been betrayed. Justice Chelameswars dissenting order is indeed such an appeal to the future intelligence to correct the erroneous approach to judicial appointment into which the present Court has been betrayed into. PS: After the NJAC verdict, the government is asking the Collegium to do what the Third Judges case had directed the Collegium to do, namely to record and send to the government the views including the dissent of any member. Chelameswars dissent is a protest against the Collegium not recording and sending the views of all to the government as mandated by the Third Judges case. This in short is the reason for the stand off between the judiciary and the executive today. The solution is for the Collegium to go by the Third Judges case which seems to be precisely the demand of Justice Chelameswar too in his letter. The writer is a well-known commentator on political and economic affairs. Email: guru@gurumurthy.net BetrayalIf what Justice J Chelameswar, a judge of the Supreme Court, is reported to have written to his Chief on the ways of the courts Collegium is true, it is not just shocking that the Collegium has been violating with impunity the Third Judges case judgement which had founded it. Chelameswar seems to indict that the Collegium has betrayed the trust reposed in it by five eminent judges of the Court who constituted it.The core mandate of five judges in the Third Judges case [para 22 of the order dated October 28, 1998] which the Collegium ought to abide by may be summarised thus: In respect of each of the recommendations of the Collegium, the opinion of all its members, and of the senior-most judges of the court who hail from the High Courts to which the recommendation relates, should be in writing. Their views must be conveyed by the Chief Justice to the Government with his recommendation.The others views the Chief Justice or members of the Collegium may elicit might not be put in writing, but that should also be communicated by way of a memorandum to the government. The two fundamental principles laid by the Court are: the Collegium must record and communicate the views of all its members and others, including their dissent, to the government. Collegium indictedNow, 16 years after the Third Judges case, Justice Chelameswar shocks the nation when he says that one, the Collegium does not record nor communicate the views of its members to the government. Two, it does not even maintain minutes of its own meetings.Three, the views or dissent of its members are not recorded nor communicated to the government. Four, nor are the views of the Chief Justices of the High Courts are made known to the government. Chelameswars letter to the Chief Justice is a stinging indictment of the Collegium. In fact, it is a confession from within the guild about its guilt.Chelameswar has also decided not to attend the Collegium meetings and has asked the Chief Justice to send him the recommendations which he will examine from his chamber and give his views. The judge has also taken a high moral ground by stating, In less than two years I am going to retire. I will not look up to anyone for any post-retirement jobs. I will not be seen around working for this Commission or that. I have no personal agenda nor is there anything personal in my objection to the way the Collegium is functioning.He does not need to adduce more proof to claim that he is speaking only in public interest. He has said, rightly, Let there be a public debate about the issue. The public is the only stakeholder in judicial appointments.How can you keep the whole society out of it? By his courageous action he has made the Collegium directly answerable to the public. The Chief Justice of India, who cried before the Prime Minister, also publicly indicted him for not dealing with judiciarys issues in his Independence Day address, has responded to Justice Chelameswar by saying, We will sort it out. But the chief of the highest judiciary ought to know that it is now beyond the four walls of the Collegium to sort it out as the genie is out of the bottle and into the public domain.Capitulation 1970s and 1980sThe judicial leadership of India will do well to recall that when the Judiciary-Executive confrontation began withthe call for a committed judiciary by the Indira Gandhi regime and the supersession of the three judges in 1973, the moral credentials of the judiciary were very high and the stock of the political Executive was very low. Now the judiciarys credibility is certainly no higher than the political Executives. The judiciarys moral stock declined gradually first and expeditiously later.During the Emergency when it was required only to stand up, the highest judiciary betrayed the nation and the Constitution in the ADM Jabalpur case by endorsing the dictatorship almost as integral to the Constitution. The judiciary began giving on a platter all judgements supporting the socialist order which the political Executive demanded, by reading the Directive Principles of the Constitution over the Fundamental Rights. Today none of those judgements will form constitutional precedents because the political Executive itself has given up socialist policies! Again, in the early 1980s the judiciary meekly surrendered its primacy in making judicial appointments to an executive that had brought the judiciary to its knees and kept it under leash for over two decades, eroding its credibility further.No one in the high judiciary talked of judicial independence or primacy in judicial appointments between the 1970s and 1980s. In was only in the Second Judges case in the early 1990s, with the political dynasty out of power and the political Executive weakened by coalition politics, that the highest judiciary asserted its institutional independence and primacy in appointments. It declared that the views of the Chief Justice in the domain were unquestionable and binding. Very soon the emphasis on the Chief justices primacy seemed misplaced. On a Constitutional reference by the most moderate political Executive in Indias democratic history, in 1998, the Third Judges case instituted the Collegium mechanism of recorded collective opinion making for judicial appointment. Now Justice Chelameswar discloses that the Collegium does not make any record and functions so opaquelyread secretly. Chelameswar has let out a well kept secret that neither the letter nor the spirit of the Third Judges case was complied with by the Collegium. Corruption chargesAny charge of judicial corruption against the higher judiciary was blasphemous till the early 1970s. No more now. The first instance of higher judicial corruption was the infamous Justice Veeraswami case, an FIR against whom was filed in 1976. In 1979, the Chief Justice of India permitted the CBI to file a charge sheet against the judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act.The matter never reached the trial stage. From associating a judge with bribes being considered a sin till the early 1970s to judges being increasingly accused of corruption, the reputation of the Indian judiciary began nosediving.Here is a birds eye view of how its moral decline occurred. After the Veeraswami case, during 1991-93 Justice V Ramaswamis impeachment proceedings shook the judiciary.In 1995 A M Bhattacharjee, chief justice of the Bombay High Court was forced to resign after it was found that he had received `70 lakh as a book advance from a publishing firm known to have links with the underworld.In 1996, Ajit Sengupta, a High Court judge, who was alleged to have passed routine ex parte orders and ad-interim stay on anticipatory bail pleas of smugglers having links with the Mumbai underworld, was arrested for FERA violations after retirement. Between 1996 and 2001, two chief justices of the Supreme Court were in the news for very wrong reasons that bordered on corruption.In 2002, allegations of sex for acquittal were made against a judge of the Rajasthan High Court. In 2002, three judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court were charged with cash for jobs for their kin, leading to two judges resigning and one judge being kept out of judicial work. In 2002-03 there were allegations of a sexual brawl against three High Court judges of Karnataka which led to an inquiry by the Chief Justice of India who gave them a clean chit. In 2003, a judge of the Delhi High Court resigned when, in a CBI raid on property developers, a draft judgement by him was found in their possession. And the judiciarys reputation reached its lowest point in September 2009 when the civil rights activist Prashant Bhushan openly charged in a media interview that, half of the last 16 chief justices were corrupt.A reputed senior counsel, as amicus curiae, initiated proceedings for criminal contempt against Prashant Bhushan and a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir issued notice to Bhushan. It became worse in September 2010 when Shanti Bhushan, former law minister and one of the senior-most counsels of the Supreme Court, filed an affidavit telling the Court to its face that, at least eight of the 16 chief justices of India were definitely corrupt, naming many of them and adding that six of them were definitely honest, but he could not comment on the remaining two judges. The contempt proceedings have not seen the light of day till now. Seven years have passed by. The latest report of the Court on September 9, 2016 says that there is no order by the Court even for listing the matter.To make it worse, Justice Katju, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, spoke about how a corrupt judge was successfully imposed on the Court by the UPA government which two of the Chief Justices of Indiaread Collegium under themcould not resist. Judicial leadership should worryThat was the state of the judiciary when, in 2015, Parliament almost unanimously passed the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act which attempted to make judicial appointments a more transparent affair. The Supreme Court shockingly struck down the entire law, holding that the law would affect judicial independence and the primacy of the judiciary, which are basic features of the Constitution. The Court did not even attempt to do what it normally does, namely, read down the law to make it constitutional.Now look at the facts. Given the facts about the multiplying judicial corruption which was totally absent till the 1970s, it needs no seer to say that the judiciary does not command the high respect it undoubtedly commanded three decades back. The situation has turned worse in the last decade when half of the chief justices of India are openly charged as corrupt and the apex court could not even proceed with the contempt charge against such a serious allegation.The judicial leadership itself should be worried about this rot. Instead of addressing the serious decline, it seems to be obsessed with its claim of primacy of the judiciary which, as Justice Chelameswar has exposed, has virtually ended up as only a claim of privacy of the judiciary. This serious matter needs a national debate and should not be left only to the judiciary to decide in a way as a judge in its own cause. Appeal to brooding spirit of lawJustice Chelameswars reported letter is consistent with his sole dissent in the NJAC case. In his separate judgement, he pleaded for transparency as vital for constitutional governance, argued against opaqueness in the Collegiums work, asserted that the assumption that primacy of the judiciary in the appointment of judges is a basic feature of the Constitution is empirically flawed, pointed to the lack of accountability because of default of documentation, voted against exclusion of the government from the process of appointment of judges and upheld the NJAC law vetoed by the other judges.Chief Justice Hughes [Supreme Court of USA [1936]] said that a dissenting judgement is an appeal to the brooding spirit of the law, to the intelligence of a future day, when a later decision may possibly correct the error into which the dissenting judge believes the court to have been betrayed. Justice Chelameswars dissenting order is indeed such an appeal to the future intelligence to correct the erroneous approach to judicial appointment into which the present Court has been betrayed into.PS: After the NJAC verdict, the government is asking the Collegium to do what the Third Judges case had directed the Collegium to do, namely to record and send to the government the views including the dissent of any member. Chelameswars dissent is a protest against the Collegium not recording and sending the views of all to the government as mandated by the Third Judges case. This in short is the reason for the stand off between the judiciary and the executive today. The solution is for the Collegium to go by the Third Judges case which seems to be precisely the demand of Justice Chelameswar too in his letter.The writer is a well-known commentator on political and economic affairs. Email: guru@gurumurthy.net By AFP BEIRUT: Air strikes that hit a school in rebel-held Idlib province in northwest Syria killed 22 children and six teachers, the UN children's agency UNICEF said Wednesday. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," said UNICEF director Anthony Lake. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "warplanes -- either Russia or Syrian -- carried out six strikes" in the village of Hass, including on a school complex, killing at least 35 civilians including 11 schoolchildren. Lake said the school compound was "repeatedly attacked," adding that it may be the deadliest attack on a school since the war began more than five years ago. "When will the world's revulsion at such barbarity be matched by insistence that this must stop?" added the UNICEF director. Asked about the attack, Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin responded: "It's horrible, horrible. I hope we were not involved." Syrian government forces and their Russian ally have been accused by rights groups of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure. The White Helmets civil defence group released pictures of four rescue workers clambering over a mound of rubble in search of survivors after what it said was a "double-tap" strike on the school. The raids hit Hass around 11:30 am (0830 GMT), an activist with the opposition Idlib Media Centre told AFP. "One rocket hit the entrance of the school as students were leaving to go home, after the school administration decided to end classes for the day because of the raids," the activist said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Other activists from the province circulated a photograph on social media of a child's arm, seared off above the elbow, still clutching the strap of a dusty black rucksack. Shaky video footage depicted rescue workers sprinting towards the site of the raids and pulling a frail, elderly man out of a collapsed building. The authenticity of the pictures and footage could not be independently verified. The latest attacks took to 89 the number of civilians killed in air strikes on Idlib province in the past seven days, said the Observatory. 'Intentional' attack A leading opposition group condemned the raids. The Istanbul-based National Coalition said Russian and regime warplanes "targeted children in their schools, deliberately and intentionally hitting civilians with high-explosive material". Idlib province is controlled by the Army of Conquest, an alliance of rebel groups and jihadists including the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after breaking off ties with Al-Qaeda earlier this year. Syrian and Russian warplanes regularly bomb Idlib, but air strikes have intensified in recent weeks, according to the Observatory. Russia is facing pressure at the United Nations to rein in its Syrian ally and halt air raids in rebel-held east Aleppo, where 250,000 civilians have been living under siege since July. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said he was "incandescent with rage" over the Security Council's failure to take action, deploring that "nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering." With food growing scarce, "civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow," said O'Brien. "Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone." Russian ambassador Churkin shot back, accusing O'Brien of making "arrogant remarks" and failing to recognise that Russia had declared a humanitarian pause that he maintained had been holding for eight days. "If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church," Churkin quipped. The ambassador blamed opposition rebels and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists for the failure at the weekend of a UN plan to evacuate the wounded from Aleppo and charged that the UN official was not objectively presenting the facts. US ambassador Samantha Power criticised Russia, saying it had never worked cooperatively with the United Nations during the pauses to ensure humanitarian relief. "You don't get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week," said Power. The bitter exchange came as the latest attempt to revive a ceasefire fell flat. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and his British counterpart Michael Fallon said an offensive to drive IS out of its Syrian stronghold of Raqa, 160 kilometres (100 miles) east of Aleppo, would begin in the next few weeks. The US-led coalition is currently supporting a 10-day-old assault by Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the jihadists' main Iraqi bastion of Mosul. Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. But it has since evolved into a multi-front war, pitting jihadists, rebels, government forces and Kurdish militia against each other. More than 300,000 people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes. BEIRUT: Air strikes that hit a school in rebel-held Idlib province in northwest Syria killed 22 children and six teachers, the UN children's agency UNICEF said Wednesday. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," said UNICEF director Anthony Lake. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "warplanes -- either Russia or Syrian -- carried out six strikes" in the village of Hass, including on a school complex, killing at least 35 civilians including 11 schoolchildren. Lake said the school compound was "repeatedly attacked," adding that it may be the deadliest attack on a school since the war began more than five years ago. "When will the world's revulsion at such barbarity be matched by insistence that this must stop?" added the UNICEF director. Asked about the attack, Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin responded: "It's horrible, horrible. I hope we were not involved." Syrian government forces and their Russian ally have been accused by rights groups of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure. The White Helmets civil defence group released pictures of four rescue workers clambering over a mound of rubble in search of survivors after what it said was a "double-tap" strike on the school. The raids hit Hass around 11:30 am (0830 GMT), an activist with the opposition Idlib Media Centre told AFP. "One rocket hit the entrance of the school as students were leaving to go home, after the school administration decided to end classes for the day because of the raids," the activist said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Other activists from the province circulated a photograph on social media of a child's arm, seared off above the elbow, still clutching the strap of a dusty black rucksack. Shaky video footage depicted rescue workers sprinting towards the site of the raids and pulling a frail, elderly man out of a collapsed building. The authenticity of the pictures and footage could not be independently verified. The latest attacks took to 89 the number of civilians killed in air strikes on Idlib province in the past seven days, said the Observatory. 'Intentional' attack A leading opposition group condemned the raids. The Istanbul-based National Coalition said Russian and regime warplanes "targeted children in their schools, deliberately and intentionally hitting civilians with high-explosive material". Idlib province is controlled by the Army of Conquest, an alliance of rebel groups and jihadists including the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after breaking off ties with Al-Qaeda earlier this year. Syrian and Russian warplanes regularly bomb Idlib, but air strikes have intensified in recent weeks, according to the Observatory. Russia is facing pressure at the United Nations to rein in its Syrian ally and halt air raids in rebel-held east Aleppo, where 250,000 civilians have been living under siege since July. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said he was "incandescent with rage" over the Security Council's failure to take action, deploring that "nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering." With food growing scarce, "civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow," said O'Brien. "Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone." Russian ambassador Churkin shot back, accusing O'Brien of making "arrogant remarks" and failing to recognise that Russia had declared a humanitarian pause that he maintained had been holding for eight days. "If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church," Churkin quipped. The ambassador blamed opposition rebels and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists for the failure at the weekend of a UN plan to evacuate the wounded from Aleppo and charged that the UN official was not objectively presenting the facts. US ambassador Samantha Power criticised Russia, saying it had never worked cooperatively with the United Nations during the pauses to ensure humanitarian relief. "You don't get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week," said Power. The bitter exchange came as the latest attempt to revive a ceasefire fell flat. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and his British counterpart Michael Fallon said an offensive to drive IS out of its Syrian stronghold of Raqa, 160 kilometres (100 miles) east of Aleppo, would begin in the next few weeks. The US-led coalition is currently supporting a 10-day-old assault by Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the jihadists' main Iraqi bastion of Mosul. Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. But it has since evolved into a multi-front war, pitting jihadists, rebels, government forces and Kurdish militia against each other. More than 300,000 people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes. It's no surprise, then, that white-collar workers with finance-savvy wives are much envied. In a survey of attitudes toward retirement plans among Korean and Japanese women, jointly conducted by the Chosun Ilbo in cooperation with Fidelity International and the Hyundai Economic Research Institute, the same trend appeared evident: while many Korean women depend on their husbands to provide for them after retirement, Japanese women rely more on themselves to make a living. Many Korean women believe that husbands should be responsible for supporting the family as the main bread-winner, while wives should take care of household spending. Korean Women More Reliant on Husbands Korean and Japanese women both voted financial difficulties as the greatest source of concern after retirement. Some 76 percent of Korean women and 71.7 percent of Japanese women expressed anxiety over not saving enough before retirement. However, the second largest group of Korean women said they only felt vague apprehensions of possible financial instability in the future, a striking difference from a similar proportion of Japanese women who said they were concerned about shrinking pensions. "Korean women tend to rely more on their husbands than Japanese women to leave behind some means of subsistence for their surviving family after their deaths," said Yi Chul-sun, a researcher at the Hyundai Economic Research Institute. "Their heavy financial dependence on their husbands often leaves Korean women with a bit more carefree attitude and less fear of the future." Some 62.4 percent of married Korean women said they thought their husbands might plan some financial preparations for their surviving family after their deaths, as opposed to 39.2 percent of the Japanese women who said the same. But 67.8 percent of Korean women said they had not even discussed such plans with their husbands. "Husbands and wives must work together if they hope to set up a successful and sound post-retirement financial plan," said Kim Eun-jung, head of the private banking department at Shinhan Bank. She cited, as an example, that prudent wives can keep their husbands from going astray or getting lured by get-rich-quick schemes. Japanese Women More Investment-Savvy The difference between the two groups was also evident when making financial plans for retirement. About 54.8 percent of Japanese women said they made their own independent decisions on investing, but 42.2 percent of Korean women chose to consult with their husbands or entrust all such decisions to them. For this reason, about 26.3 percent of Korean women did not hold any financial assets in their names. "Women must consider the possibility of taking up the burden if their husbands should become unable to make money and make long-term plans to prepare for life after retirement," advised Lee Jae-gyung, an executive at the Samsung Securities investment consulting branch. By IANS ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) declined to commit funds for a $14 billion dam project in Pakistan, authorities said. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," ADB president Takehiko Nakao said on Wednesday at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. He said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the Diamer-Bhasha dam on the river Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that while it was a very important project for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, it called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, Dawn online reported. "We haven't decided (whether to fund) this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date. The ADB was originally seen by Pakistan as the lead financier of the strategic project, which would have a water storage capacity of over six million acre feet and a power output of 4,500MW. Repeated efforts to rope the World Bank in as a co-lender failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from India for the project. Instead, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha, saying the government would simultaneously go ahead with both projects. ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) declined to commit funds for a $14 billion dam project in Pakistan, authorities said. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," ADB president Takehiko Nakao said on Wednesday at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. He said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the Diamer-Bhasha dam on the river Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that while it was a very important project for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, it called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, Dawn online reported. "We haven't decided (whether to fund) this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date. The ADB was originally seen by Pakistan as the lead financier of the strategic project, which would have a water storage capacity of over six million acre feet and a power output of 4,500MW. Repeated efforts to rope the World Bank in as a co-lender failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from India for the project. Instead, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha, saying the government would simultaneously go ahead with both projects. By IANS TORONTO: A bill to proclaim October as Hindu Heritage Month annually in Canada's Ontario province has been introduced in the provincial assembly here. Ontario is home to more than 700,000 Indo-Canadians. Introducing the bill in the Ontario assembly here, Joe Dickson, who is a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP), said that by proclaiming the month of October as Hindu Heritage Month, Ontario will recognise the "important contributions that Hindu Canadians have made to Ontario's social, economic, religious, political and cultural fabric." Dickson said the first Hindu immigrants began to arrive in Canada at the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, they have made big contribution in all fields - science, education, medicine, law, politics, business, culture and sports. "Right from the start, Ontario's Hindu communities helped build our province into the greatest place to live, work and raise families. We're all proud of the achievements of the Hindu community and how they have helped each other and enriched our province," the MPP said. Dickson said October held a special significance for Hindus. "Each year, three important festivals that members of the Hindu community celebrate occur in and around October. These festivals include Navratri and Durga Puja, which were celebrated earlier this month, and Diwali, the festival of lights, which will begin next week." He said if his bill is passed, the "Hindu Heritage Month would give all Ontarians an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Hindu Canadians and the important role that they have played to date and continue to play in communities across Ontario." Interestingly, the Ontario assembly has just passed another bill to proclaim October also as Islamic Heritage Month. April has already been proclaimed as Sikh Heritage Month in Ontario. In a bigger victory for Tamils, January has been proclaimed as Tamil Heritage Month across Canada. The Canadian parliament passed a motion in this regard earlier this month. There are over 1.2 million Indo-Canadians living in the country. TORONTO: A bill to proclaim October as Hindu Heritage Month annually in Canada's Ontario province has been introduced in the provincial assembly here. Ontario is home to more than 700,000 Indo-Canadians. Introducing the bill in the Ontario assembly here, Joe Dickson, who is a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP), said that by proclaiming the month of October as Hindu Heritage Month, Ontario will recognise the "important contributions that Hindu Canadians have made to Ontario's social, economic, religious, political and cultural fabric." Dickson said the first Hindu immigrants began to arrive in Canada at the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, they have made big contribution in all fields - science, education, medicine, law, politics, business, culture and sports. "Right from the start, Ontario's Hindu communities helped build our province into the greatest place to live, work and raise families. We're all proud of the achievements of the Hindu community and how they have helped each other and enriched our province," the MPP said. Dickson said October held a special significance for Hindus. "Each year, three important festivals that members of the Hindu community celebrate occur in and around October. These festivals include Navratri and Durga Puja, which were celebrated earlier this month, and Diwali, the festival of lights, which will begin next week." He said if his bill is passed, the "Hindu Heritage Month would give all Ontarians an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Hindu Canadians and the important role that they have played to date and continue to play in communities across Ontario." Interestingly, the Ontario assembly has just passed another bill to proclaim October also as Islamic Heritage Month. April has already been proclaimed as Sikh Heritage Month in Ontario. In a bigger victory for Tamils, January has been proclaimed as Tamil Heritage Month across Canada. The Canadian parliament passed a motion in this regard earlier this month. There are over 1.2 million Indo-Canadians living in the country. By The Daily Telegraph BRITAIN will send hundreds more troops to deploy on Russia's border, as the Prime Minister said the West also had to "put pressure" on Moscow over the Syria crisis. Around 800 soldiers - along with tanks, armoured vehicles and drones - will now head to Estonia in the spring in a Nato effort to reassure the Baltic states over Russian aggression. The boosted deployment, up from 500 announced earlier this year, will be Britain's largest long-term -deployment to one of Russia's neighbours since the end of the Cold War. Defence sources said the six-month deployment to Tapa army base, around 100 miles from the border, was the start of a persistent British presence. The British troops will form one of four Nato battalions being deployed in response to a perceived threat from Russia to the alliance's eastern allies. The announcement came as Russia abandoned plans to refuel and provision warships headed for the war in Syria at a Spanish port following international pressure on Madrid. Russia's embassy in Spain said on Wednesday that vessels from a squadron led by the Admiral Kuznetsov, -Russia's only aircraft carrier, would not stop as planned for refuelling in Ceuta, a Spanish port in North Africa. Eight ships from Russia's northern fleet, including the Admiral Kuznetsov and the Peter the Great, a missile--carrying battle cruiser, passed through the English Channel en route to Syria last week. The group is expected to join a flotilla operating off the coast of Syria, where the Kuznetsov's planes may be used in bombing raids over Aleppo. Theresa May said: "What we have seen, sadly, is that the Russians are -already able to unleash attacks on innocent civilians in Syria. What matters is that we put pressure on Russia to do what everybody agrees is the only way that we are going to resolve this issue, which is to ensure that we have a political transition in Syria, and that's where we should focus our attention." Defence -Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the battle to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa, the capital of -IS's so-called caliphate, will begin within weeks. Meanwhile, concerns were growing about the apparent deployment of two powerful Russian missile corvettes to the Baltic. Both carry long-range -nuclear-capable Kalibr cruise missiles, and will join Russia's Baltic fleet in -Kaliningrad, Izvestia, a pro-government broadsheet, reported. BRITAIN will send hundreds more troops to deploy on Russia's border, as the Prime Minister said the West also had to "put pressure" on Moscow over the Syria crisis. Around 800 soldiers - along with tanks, armoured vehicles and drones - will now head to Estonia in the spring in a Nato effort to reassure the Baltic states over Russian aggression. The boosted deployment, up from 500 announced earlier this year, will be Britain's largest long-term -deployment to one of Russia's neighbours since the end of the Cold War. Defence sources said the six-month deployment to Tapa army base, around 100 miles from the border, was the start of a persistent British presence. The British troops will form one of four Nato battalions being deployed in response to a perceived threat from Russia to the alliance's eastern allies. The announcement came as Russia abandoned plans to refuel and provision warships headed for the war in Syria at a Spanish port following international pressure on Madrid. Russia's embassy in Spain said on Wednesday that vessels from a squadron led by the Admiral Kuznetsov, -Russia's only aircraft carrier, would not stop as planned for refuelling in Ceuta, a Spanish port in North Africa. Eight ships from Russia's northern fleet, including the Admiral Kuznetsov and the Peter the Great, a missile--carrying battle cruiser, passed through the English Channel en route to Syria last week. The group is expected to join a flotilla operating off the coast of Syria, where the Kuznetsov's planes may be used in bombing raids over Aleppo. Theresa May said: "What we have seen, sadly, is that the Russians are -already able to unleash attacks on innocent civilians in Syria. What matters is that we put pressure on Russia to do what everybody agrees is the only way that we are going to resolve this issue, which is to ensure that we have a political transition in Syria, and that's where we should focus our attention." Defence -Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the battle to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa, the capital of -IS's so-called caliphate, will begin within weeks. Meanwhile, concerns were growing about the apparent deployment of two powerful Russian missile corvettes to the Baltic. Both carry long-range -nuclear-capable Kalibr cruise missiles, and will join Russia's Baltic fleet in -Kaliningrad, Izvestia, a pro-government broadsheet, reported. By AFP IRAQ: The United States said on Thursday that up to 900 Islamic State group jihadists have been killed in the offensive to retake Iraq's Mosul, as camps around the city get filled with fleeing civilians. Iraqis who fled their homes expressed joy at escaping IS's brutal rule as they were given shelter and assistance, in some cases reuniting with relatives they had not seen in more than two years. The offensive, launched on October 17, is seeing tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north in a bid retake the last major Iraqi city under IS control. Backed with air and ground support from a US-led coalition, federal forces allied with Kurdish peshmerga fighters have taken a string of towns and villages in a cautious but steady advance. General Joseph Votel, who heads the US military's Central Command, told AFP on Thursday that the offensive was inflicting a heavy toll on the jihadists. "Just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate they've probably killed about 800-900 Islamic State fighters," Votel said in an interview. There are between 3,500 and 5,000 IS jihadists in Mosul and up to another 2,000 in the broader area, according to US estimates. The offensive has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, with Iraqi forces later expected to breach city limits and engage the jihadists in street-to-street fighting. Families Reunited Aid workers have warned of a major humanitarian crisis when fighting begins in earnest for Mosul, which is home to more than a million people, but thousands have already been fleeing surrounding areas. Iraq's ministry of displacement and migration said Thursday that more than 11,700 people had been displaced since the operation began. "There's been quite a dramatic upturn in the last few days. As the Iraqi troops get closer to Mosul, more people are getting displaced, there are more populated areas," said Karl Schembri, regional media adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council. At a camp in Khazir, about mid-way between Mosul and the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, Massud Ismail Hassan peered through a chainlink fence, looking for family members as peshmerga fighters registered the displaced. "Once all these procedures are finished we will be able to give them food and drink and blankets we brought with us," he said. Other families had already found each other, and tearful relatives clutched hands through the links of the fence. Saddam Dahham, who lived under IS control in a village near Mosul for more than two years, fled to Khazir with his wife and their three children. "We were not allowed to smoke, to use phones, not allowed to watch TV and we had to let our beards grow long," the 36-year-old said. One of the first things he did after arriving at the camp was joyfully shave the "heavy thing dangling from my chin," Dahham said. "I'm finally going to resume a normal life," the former truck driver said. Schembri said the Norwegian Refugee Council, other aid agencies and the United Nations were planning for 200,000 people to be displaced in the next few days, though it may not reach that figure. Not Enough Room at Camps If anything close to 200,000 people are displaced in the immediate future, there will be a major shortage of places in camps. "In terms of... camp facilities, there are only spaces available for 60,000" people, Schembri said. After seizing control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in mid-2014, IS declared a cross-border "caliphate", imposed its harsh interpretation of Islamic law and committed widespread atrocities. Its rule was especially harsh for religious minorities and on Thursday two Yazidi women activists who escaped IS in Iraq were to be awarded the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize, European sources told AFP. The prize was to be awarded to Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar during a midday session of the assembly in Strasbourg, the sources said shortly before the official announcement. IS pursued a brutal campaign of massacres, enslavement and rape against the Yazidi minority. If Mosul falls, Raqa will be the only major city left under IS control and Western officials have said they hope to launch an offensive to retake the Syrian city within weeks. An assault against Raqa is likely to be far more complicated than the assault on Mosul, however, as unlike in Iraq the coalition does not have a strong ally on the ground in Syria. IRAQ: The United States said on Thursday that up to 900 Islamic State group jihadists have been killed in the offensive to retake Iraq's Mosul, as camps around the city get filled with fleeing civilians. Iraqis who fled their homes expressed joy at escaping IS's brutal rule as they were given shelter and assistance, in some cases reuniting with relatives they had not seen in more than two years. The offensive, launched on October 17, is seeing tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters advancing on Mosul from the south, east and north in a bid retake the last major Iraqi city under IS control. Backed with air and ground support from a US-led coalition, federal forces allied with Kurdish peshmerga fighters have taken a string of towns and villages in a cautious but steady advance. General Joseph Votel, who heads the US military's Central Command, told AFP on Thursday that the offensive was inflicting a heavy toll on the jihadists. "Just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate they've probably killed about 800-900 Islamic State fighters," Votel said in an interview. There are between 3,500 and 5,000 IS jihadists in Mosul and up to another 2,000 in the broader area, according to US estimates. The offensive has so far been concentrated in towns and villages around Mosul, with Iraqi forces later expected to breach city limits and engage the jihadists in street-to-street fighting. Families Reunited Aid workers have warned of a major humanitarian crisis when fighting begins in earnest for Mosul, which is home to more than a million people, but thousands have already been fleeing surrounding areas. Iraq's ministry of displacement and migration said Thursday that more than 11,700 people had been displaced since the operation began. "There's been quite a dramatic upturn in the last few days. As the Iraqi troops get closer to Mosul, more people are getting displaced, there are more populated areas," said Karl Schembri, regional media adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council. At a camp in Khazir, about mid-way between Mosul and the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, Massud Ismail Hassan peered through a chainlink fence, looking for family members as peshmerga fighters registered the displaced. "Once all these procedures are finished we will be able to give them food and drink and blankets we brought with us," he said. Other families had already found each other, and tearful relatives clutched hands through the links of the fence. Saddam Dahham, who lived under IS control in a village near Mosul for more than two years, fled to Khazir with his wife and their three children. "We were not allowed to smoke, to use phones, not allowed to watch TV and we had to let our beards grow long," the 36-year-old said. One of the first things he did after arriving at the camp was joyfully shave the "heavy thing dangling from my chin," Dahham said. "I'm finally going to resume a normal life," the former truck driver said. Schembri said the Norwegian Refugee Council, other aid agencies and the United Nations were planning for 200,000 people to be displaced in the next few days, though it may not reach that figure. Not Enough Room at Camps If anything close to 200,000 people are displaced in the immediate future, there will be a major shortage of places in camps. "In terms of... camp facilities, there are only spaces available for 60,000" people, Schembri said. After seizing control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in mid-2014, IS declared a cross-border "caliphate", imposed its harsh interpretation of Islamic law and committed widespread atrocities. Its rule was especially harsh for religious minorities and on Thursday two Yazidi women activists who escaped IS in Iraq were to be awarded the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize, European sources told AFP. The prize was to be awarded to Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar during a midday session of the assembly in Strasbourg, the sources said shortly before the official announcement. IS pursued a brutal campaign of massacres, enslavement and rape against the Yazidi minority. If Mosul falls, Raqa will be the only major city left under IS control and Western officials have said they hope to launch an offensive to retake the Syrian city within weeks. An assault against Raqa is likely to be far more complicated than the assault on Mosul, however, as unlike in Iraq the coalition does not have a strong ally on the ground in Syria. By IANS ISLAMABAD: In a tit-for-tat measure, Pakistan on Thursday night declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non grata and asked that he leave the country by Saturday. In a statement, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry had summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale and conveyed the decision to this effect. The Foreign Secretary also expressed "deep concern" over the activities of the Indian official, which he said, was in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms. The Indian High Commission was asked to make necessary arrangements to make Surjeet Singh and his family leave Pakistan by October 29. The move comes hours after Indian authorities detained a Pakistani High Commission official, Mehmood Akhtar, in New Delhi on charges of running a spy network. The Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned the Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit and asked that Akhtar, a visa officer, be sent back within 48 hours. ISLAMABAD: In a tit-for-tat measure, Pakistan on Thursday night declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non grata and asked that he leave the country by Saturday. In a statement, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry had summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale and conveyed the decision to this effect. The Foreign Secretary also expressed "deep concern" over the activities of the Indian official, which he said, was in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms. The Indian High Commission was asked to make necessary arrangements to make Surjeet Singh and his family leave Pakistan by October 29. The move comes hours after Indian authorities detained a Pakistani High Commission official, Mehmood Akhtar, in New Delhi on charges of running a spy network. The Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned the Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit and asked that Akhtar, a visa officer, be sent back within 48 hours. By Associated Press SAN JUAN: Wanda Serrano arrived at Puerto Rico's largest public hospital before dawn to take her 17-year-old son to an appointment. Six hours later, they were still in the packed waiting room hoping to see a doctor. They had gone to San Juan's Centro Medico to see one of the many kinds of specialists the teen needs for treatment of a genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis, which can cause tumors to grow on his brain, kidneys and other organs. But specialized medical expertise is increasingly difficult to find in the economically troubled U.S. island territory. Six hours in a waiting room is no longer the exception, but the norm. A pediatric neurologist recently told Serrano that her son, Cedrik, needed to wait 10 months for an appointment. "I live terrified every single day," Serrano said one recent morning as she clutched his medical records and peered anxiously down a fluorescent-lit hallway for a nurse or doctor. "You feel powerless. You can't do anything except wait for that date to arrive." Doctors have gradually left Puerto Rico during a decade-long recession that has gripped the island and driven more than 200,000 people to the U.S. mainland seeking better opportunities. Now, the steady departure of pediatricians, surgeons, orthopedists, neurologists and others has become a stampede as the economy shows no sign of improving and financial problems in the territorial health insurance program make it nearly impossible for doctors to stay in business. Up to 700 doctors are expected to leave Puerto Rico this year, double the number from two years ago, said Dr. Victor Ramos, president of the island's Association of Surgeons. The territory's number of doctors has dropped from 14,000 to 9,000 in the past decade, the majority leaving for higher salaries and lower living costs on the U.S. mainland. The island of 3.5 million people now has only two pediatric urologists, one orthopedist specializing in ankle and feet, one pediatric cardiologist, and a handful of geneticists and endocrinologists. It can take a year to see a specialist, Ramos said. "People are waiting much longer for appointments, including one that could be a matter of life or death because there is simply no room," he said. Dr. Hiram Luigi, an orthopedic surgeon, said he has to realign the bones of patients a couple of times each month because they did not see a specialist in time. "I have spent 30 years in orthopedics, and I have never seen something like this," Luigi said. The lack of specialists has adversely affected patients, whose health conditions often worsen before a doctor sees them. Many people like Serrano have moved to the U.S. specifically to get medical care. "I'm searching for quality of life," she said. Puerto Rico's financial woes are largely to blame. The government is behind on insurance payments as it scrambles to make payments on debts that have ballooned in recent years to nearly $70 billion. Doctors not only struggle with delayed reimbursements for services but receive less money through the government's Medicare and Medicaid programs as well as private health insurance than they would for the same services on the U.S. mainland. Many specialists no longer accept patients with Medicaid, which covers roughly half of Puerto Rico's population. The great majority of patients like Serrano's son now seek specialists at Puerto Rico's largest public hospital, lining up as early as 1 a.m. daily for medical care. "It's truly the final stop for many people," said Edgar Colon, dean of the University of Puerto Rico's School of Medicine. "We can't keep up." The hospital is buckling under a surge of patients as it operates with a dwindling budget, unable to buy certain medical supplies like it used to when the government could still borrow money. Jorge Vidal, president-elect of Puerto Rico's Radiology Association, said he cannot perform some procedures because he can't obtain two types of specialized needles. "There's a very simple reason they haven't bought them," he said. "They cost $300." Such problems pushed pediatrician Dr. Hector Nieves to move to Florida in February 2015. In his new office, the answering machine offers same-day appointments. "I don't regret leaving," Nieves said. "Puerto Rico's problems are much bigger than people think." Those who have stayed say it will only get worse. More than 20 percent of the island population is 60 years and older, and that percentage is expected to spike as not only doctors but all types of Puerto Ricans leave for the U.S. mainland. Serrano and her son will move soon to Orlando to join her husband, who found a job there. She is optimistic about finding specialists to provide the checkups her son needs every six months. "I'm leaving in peace," she said. "I feel like I've been born again." SAN JUAN: Wanda Serrano arrived at Puerto Rico's largest public hospital before dawn to take her 17-year-old son to an appointment. Six hours later, they were still in the packed waiting room hoping to see a doctor. They had gone to San Juan's Centro Medico to see one of the many kinds of specialists the teen needs for treatment of a genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis, which can cause tumors to grow on his brain, kidneys and other organs. But specialized medical expertise is increasingly difficult to find in the economically troubled U.S. island territory. Six hours in a waiting room is no longer the exception, but the norm. A pediatric neurologist recently told Serrano that her son, Cedrik, needed to wait 10 months for an appointment. "I live terrified every single day," Serrano said one recent morning as she clutched his medical records and peered anxiously down a fluorescent-lit hallway for a nurse or doctor. "You feel powerless. You can't do anything except wait for that date to arrive." Doctors have gradually left Puerto Rico during a decade-long recession that has gripped the island and driven more than 200,000 people to the U.S. mainland seeking better opportunities. Now, the steady departure of pediatricians, surgeons, orthopedists, neurologists and others has become a stampede as the economy shows no sign of improving and financial problems in the territorial health insurance program make it nearly impossible for doctors to stay in business. Up to 700 doctors are expected to leave Puerto Rico this year, double the number from two years ago, said Dr. Victor Ramos, president of the island's Association of Surgeons. The territory's number of doctors has dropped from 14,000 to 9,000 in the past decade, the majority leaving for higher salaries and lower living costs on the U.S. mainland. The island of 3.5 million people now has only two pediatric urologists, one orthopedist specializing in ankle and feet, one pediatric cardiologist, and a handful of geneticists and endocrinologists. It can take a year to see a specialist, Ramos said. "People are waiting much longer for appointments, including one that could be a matter of life or death because there is simply no room," he said. Dr. Hiram Luigi, an orthopedic surgeon, said he has to realign the bones of patients a couple of times each month because they did not see a specialist in time. "I have spent 30 years in orthopedics, and I have never seen something like this," Luigi said. The lack of specialists has adversely affected patients, whose health conditions often worsen before a doctor sees them. Many people like Serrano have moved to the U.S. specifically to get medical care. "I'm searching for quality of life," she said. Puerto Rico's financial woes are largely to blame. The government is behind on insurance payments as it scrambles to make payments on debts that have ballooned in recent years to nearly $70 billion. Doctors not only struggle with delayed reimbursements for services but receive less money through the government's Medicare and Medicaid programs as well as private health insurance than they would for the same services on the U.S. mainland. Many specialists no longer accept patients with Medicaid, which covers roughly half of Puerto Rico's population. The great majority of patients like Serrano's son now seek specialists at Puerto Rico's largest public hospital, lining up as early as 1 a.m. daily for medical care. "It's truly the final stop for many people," said Edgar Colon, dean of the University of Puerto Rico's School of Medicine. "We can't keep up." The hospital is buckling under a surge of patients as it operates with a dwindling budget, unable to buy certain medical supplies like it used to when the government could still borrow money. Jorge Vidal, president-elect of Puerto Rico's Radiology Association, said he cannot perform some procedures because he can't obtain two types of specialized needles. "There's a very simple reason they haven't bought them," he said. "They cost $300." Such problems pushed pediatrician Dr. Hector Nieves to move to Florida in February 2015. In his new office, the answering machine offers same-day appointments. "I don't regret leaving," Nieves said. "Puerto Rico's problems are much bigger than people think." Those who have stayed say it will only get worse. More than 20 percent of the island population is 60 years and older, and that percentage is expected to spike as not only doctors but all types of Puerto Ricans leave for the U.S. mainland. Serrano and her son will move soon to Orlando to join her husband, who found a job there. She is optimistic about finding specialists to provide the checkups her son needs every six months. "I'm leaving in peace," she said. "I feel like I've been born again." Express News Service COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has a population of over 20 million with about 13 million in the employable age-group. However, less than a million of its residents pay income tax. According to Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, there are tax files on only 694,000 in the Inland Revenue Department. He told parliament on Wednesday, that the government hopes to increase the number of direct tax payers to about 1.4 million. He was speaking on the Bill to increase VAT from 11 percent to 15 percent, a measure which had drawn heavy flak from the opposition as well as a section of the governments allies. However, the Bill was passed by parliament on Wednesday with a margin of 53 votes, enabled by 65 abstentions. Prior to that, the Supreme Court had certified the bill as being in accordance with the constitution. With a 4 percentage point incease in VAT government hopes to mop up LKR 10 billion (US$ 68 million) a year. Karunanayake said that the four percentage point increase in VAT was necessitated by the requirement to repay the huge unproductive loans taken by the previous government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Listing the losses inflicted by the projects executed by the Rajapaksa regime, the Finance Minister said that the Mattala airport (the worlds emptiest international airport) is running at a loss of LKR 13,600 million (US 92.5 million) an year; the Hambantota port is running at a loss of LKR 37,000 million (US$ 251.8 million); the Hambantota Conference Centre is losing LKR 850 million (US$ 5.7 million). Karunanayake said that the present government has got a Chinese company to convert the US$ 1.1 billion debt in the case of the Hambantota port into equity, and run the facility as a commercial venture to earn profits. Debt Burden Enterprises Development Minister Eran Wickramaratne intervened to say that the per capita government debt, which was LKR 63,000 in 2000 , had risen to LKR 4 million in 2015. But governments revenue, which was 17 percent of GDP in 2005, had come down to 12 percent in 2015. Though government is in need of revenue and has had to increase VAT from 11 percent to 15 percent, it has had to exempt 25 items of consumption so that the common man is not affected. Also, the VAT net has been narrowed by excluding traders with a small turnover, Wickramaratne said. IPS Study According to the latest report of the Colombo-based Institute of Policy Studies, the Sri Lankan economy is in a sorry state. In 2015, the economy grew at a modest 4.8 percent and the fiscal deficit was high, at 7.4 percent of GDP. A low tax base and a plethora tax exemptions coupled with falling exports had hit revenue.The share of exports in the GDP hit a new low of 14 percent in 2015 .In 2016, export earnings have contracted by 6 percent. Sri Lanka also failed to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which remains at 1.5 percent of GDP in 2016. FDI inflows fell by 30 percent in 2015 and by a further 53 percent in the first six months of 2016. In 2008, due to pressure from local protectionist entrepreneurs, Sri Lanka abandoned a bid to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India, which would have brought in Indian and international investments. These investments could have made use of the already existing India-Sri Lankan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to increase exports to the huge Indian market. The present Wickremesinghe government is keen on entering into an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India by year end, with some safeguards for Sri Lankan professionals. But ETCA is proving to be as controversial as CEPA in the public domain, casting doubts about its coming to fruition anytime soon. COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has a population of over 20 million with about 13 million in the employable age-group. However, less than a million of its residents pay income tax. According to Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, there are tax files on only 694,000 in the Inland Revenue Department. He told parliament on Wednesday, that the government hopes to increase the number of direct tax payers to about 1.4 million. He was speaking on the Bill to increase VAT from 11 percent to 15 percent, a measure which had drawn heavy flak from the opposition as well as a section of the governments allies. However, the Bill was passed by parliament on Wednesday with a margin of 53 votes, enabled by 65 abstentions. Prior to that, the Supreme Court had certified the bill as being in accordance with the constitution. With a 4 percentage point incease in VAT government hopes to mop up LKR 10 billion (US$ 68 million) a year. Karunanayake said that the four percentage point increase in VAT was necessitated by the requirement to repay the huge unproductive loans taken by the previous government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Listing the losses inflicted by the projects executed by the Rajapaksa regime, the Finance Minister said that the Mattala airport (the worlds emptiest international airport) is running at a loss of LKR 13,600 million (US 92.5 million) an year; the Hambantota port is running at a loss of LKR 37,000 million (US$ 251.8 million); the Hambantota Conference Centre is losing LKR 850 million (US$ 5.7 million). Karunanayake said that the present government has got a Chinese company to convert the US$ 1.1 billion debt in the case of the Hambantota port into equity, and run the facility as a commercial venture to earn profits. Debt Burden Enterprises Development Minister Eran Wickramaratne intervened to say that the per capita government debt, which was LKR 63,000 in 2000 , had risen to LKR 4 million in 2015. But governments revenue, which was 17 percent of GDP in 2005, had come down to 12 percent in 2015. Though government is in need of revenue and has had to increase VAT from 11 percent to 15 percent, it has had to exempt 25 items of consumption so that the common man is not affected. Also, the VAT net has been narrowed by excluding traders with a small turnover, Wickramaratne said. IPS Study According to the latest report of the Colombo-based Institute of Policy Studies, the Sri Lankan economy is in a sorry state. In 2015, the economy grew at a modest 4.8 percent and the fiscal deficit was high, at 7.4 percent of GDP. A low tax base and a plethora tax exemptions coupled with falling exports had hit revenue.The share of exports in the GDP hit a new low of 14 percent in 2015 .In 2016, export earnings have contracted by 6 percent. Sri Lanka also failed to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which remains at 1.5 percent of GDP in 2016. FDI inflows fell by 30 percent in 2015 and by a further 53 percent in the first six months of 2016. In 2008, due to pressure from local protectionist entrepreneurs, Sri Lanka abandoned a bid to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India, which would have brought in Indian and international investments. These investments could have made use of the already existing India-Sri Lankan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to increase exports to the huge Indian market. The present Wickremesinghe government is keen on entering into an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India by year end, with some safeguards for Sri Lankan professionals. But ETCA is proving to be as controversial as CEPA in the public domain, casting doubts about its coming to fruition anytime soon. By IANS ISLAMABAD: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday distanced itself from Sharbat Gula, Nat Geo's famed 'Afghan Girl' who has been detained by authorities in Pakistan for alleged forgery. The United Nation's refugee agency in Pakistan claimed that Sharbat Gula - known as Afghanistan's green-eyed Mona Lisa - is not a registered refugee. "We cannot extend any assistance to the detained Afghan woman as she is not registered refugee with UNHCR," Senior External Relations Officer UNHCR Pakistan Dan McNorton told Dawn.com. Sharbat Gula, who fled Afghanistan during Soviet occupation shot to fame after her photograph as a young refugee was published on the cover of National Geographic back in 1985 on her arrival to Peshawar. Gula was arrested a day earlier from her Peshawar residence by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged forgery of a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC). She faces seven to 14 years prison time and fine between $3,000 to $5,000 if convicted by court over fraud, a National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) official said Wednesday. Nadra's vigilance department and an official of the FIA rejected information provided on the Nadra form as fake, and the FIA official ordered cancellation of CNICs of Gula and her alleged sons. Details of the form had claimed that Sharbat Gula had two sons. The FIA official maintained that she has two daughters and a two-year-old son. According to the UN refugee agency, the first census of Afghan refugees in Pakistan started in 2006 and the refugees that turned out at registration offices got Proof of Registration (PoR) cards thus getting permission of their legitimate stay in Pakistan. "I think Sharbat Bibi missed that opportunity and could not register herself as refugee," Duniya Aslam Khan explained when asked as to why the refugee agency could not register her. The UNHCR was contacted by Afghan diplomats in Islamabad anticipating that she will be rescued by the refugee agency for being refugee. Expressing concern over the arrest of Sharbat Gula, the Afghan government has decided to take up the issue with Pakistani government, sources said Thursday. An official at the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar told DawnNews the Afghan government will pursue the case in a Pakistani court and provide a lawyer and legal assistance to Gula, who is an Afghan national. "She is an Afghan national and our embassy in Islamabad will take up the case with the Foreign Office for early release of Sharbat Gula," he said, requesting not to be named. Quoting family members, the official said Sharbat Bibi was not feeling well and they were also worried about her health. Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omer Zakhilwal tweeted in Pashto saying the Afghan government will help rescue the detained Afghan woman from police custody and will rehabilitate her in Afghanistan. Sharbat Gula became famously known as the 'Afghan Girl' when National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry captured her photograph at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp situated on the edge of Peshawar in 1984 and identified her as Sharbat Gula. She gained worldwide recognition when her image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine at a time when she was approximately 12 years old. That photo has been likened with Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. National Geographic also made a short documentary about her life and dubbed her the 'Mona Lisa of Afghan war'. She remained anonymous for years after her first photo made her an icon around the world and until she was discovered by National Geographic in 2002 Meanwhile the American photographer who took the iconic National Geographic image of Gula in 1985 has vowed to do "anything possible" to help after reports she has been arrested in Pakistan. Photographer Steve McCurry posted to Instagram that this was "an egregious violation of her human rights". He wrote: "We are doing everything we can to get the facts by contacting our colleagues and friends in the area. "I am committed to doing anything and everything possible to provide legal and financial support for her and her family. "I object to this action by the authorities in the strongest possible terms. She has suffered throughout her entire life." ISLAMABAD: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday distanced itself from Sharbat Gula, Nat Geo's famed 'Afghan Girl' who has been detained by authorities in Pakistan for alleged forgery. The United Nation's refugee agency in Pakistan claimed that Sharbat Gula - known as Afghanistan's green-eyed Mona Lisa - is not a registered refugee. "We cannot extend any assistance to the detained Afghan woman as she is not registered refugee with UNHCR," Senior External Relations Officer UNHCR Pakistan Dan McNorton told Dawn.com. Sharbat Gula, who fled Afghanistan during Soviet occupation shot to fame after her photograph as a young refugee was published on the cover of National Geographic back in 1985 on her arrival to Peshawar. Gula was arrested a day earlier from her Peshawar residence by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged forgery of a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC). She faces seven to 14 years prison time and fine between $3,000 to $5,000 if convicted by court over fraud, a National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) official said Wednesday. Nadra's vigilance department and an official of the FIA rejected information provided on the Nadra form as fake, and the FIA official ordered cancellation of CNICs of Gula and her alleged sons. Details of the form had claimed that Sharbat Gula had two sons. The FIA official maintained that she has two daughters and a two-year-old son. According to the UN refugee agency, the first census of Afghan refugees in Pakistan started in 2006 and the refugees that turned out at registration offices got Proof of Registration (PoR) cards thus getting permission of their legitimate stay in Pakistan. "I think Sharbat Bibi missed that opportunity and could not register herself as refugee," Duniya Aslam Khan explained when asked as to why the refugee agency could not register her. The UNHCR was contacted by Afghan diplomats in Islamabad anticipating that she will be rescued by the refugee agency for being refugee. Expressing concern over the arrest of Sharbat Gula, the Afghan government has decided to take up the issue with Pakistani government, sources said Thursday. An official at the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar told DawnNews the Afghan government will pursue the case in a Pakistani court and provide a lawyer and legal assistance to Gula, who is an Afghan national. "She is an Afghan national and our embassy in Islamabad will take up the case with the Foreign Office for early release of Sharbat Gula," he said, requesting not to be named. Quoting family members, the official said Sharbat Bibi was not feeling well and they were also worried about her health. Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omer Zakhilwal tweeted in Pashto saying the Afghan government will help rescue the detained Afghan woman from police custody and will rehabilitate her in Afghanistan. Sharbat Gula became famously known as the 'Afghan Girl' when National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry captured her photograph at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp situated on the edge of Peshawar in 1984 and identified her as Sharbat Gula. She gained worldwide recognition when her image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine at a time when she was approximately 12 years old. That photo has been likened with Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. National Geographic also made a short documentary about her life and dubbed her the 'Mona Lisa of Afghan war'. She remained anonymous for years after her first photo made her an icon around the world and until she was discovered by National Geographic in 2002 Meanwhile the American photographer who took the iconic National Geographic image of Gula in 1985 has vowed to do "anything possible" to help after reports she has been arrested in Pakistan. Photographer Steve McCurry posted to Instagram that this was "an egregious violation of her human rights". He wrote: "We are doing everything we can to get the facts by contacting our colleagues and friends in the area. "I am committed to doing anything and everything possible to provide legal and financial support for her and her family. "I object to this action by the authorities in the strongest possible terms. She has suffered throughout her entire life." By PTI WASHINGTON: The US has carried out precision strikes against two top al Qaeda leaders, including one involved in plotting deadly attacks against American forces, in Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said. The US forces launched the strikes on October 23 in Kunar Province, targeting Faruq al-Qatani and Bilal al-Utabi, two of al-Qaeda's most senior leaders in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said yesterday. The US military believes the leaders were killed, but has not yet confirmed whether the strikes were successful. "We are still assessing the results of the strikes, but their demise would represent a significant blow to the terrorist group's presence in Afghanistan, which remains committed to facilitating attacks against the United States, our allies, and partners," he said. Al-Qatani served as al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan and was assigned by the group's leadership to re-establish al-Qaeda safe havens in Afghanistan. He was a senior planner for attacks against the US and has a long history of directing deadly attacks against US forces and our coalition allies, Cook said. Likewise, al-Utabi is assessed to have been involved in efforts to re-establish a safe haven in Afghanistan from which to threaten the West and to recruit and train foreign fighters. After an extensive period of surveillance, the US targeted al-Qatani and al-Utabi at what was assessed as command-and-control locations in remote areas of Kunar province, Cook said. "If these strikes are determined to be successful, eliminating these core leaders of al-Qaeda will disrupt efforts to plot against the United States and our allies and partners around the world, reduce the threat to our Afghan partners, and assist their efforts to deny al-Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan," Cook said. WASHINGTON: The US has carried out precision strikes against two top al Qaeda leaders, including one involved in plotting deadly attacks against American forces, in Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said. The US forces launched the strikes on October 23 in Kunar Province, targeting Faruq al-Qatani and Bilal al-Utabi, two of al-Qaeda's most senior leaders in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said yesterday. The US military believes the leaders were killed, but has not yet confirmed whether the strikes were successful. "We are still assessing the results of the strikes, but their demise would represent a significant blow to the terrorist group's presence in Afghanistan, which remains committed to facilitating attacks against the United States, our allies, and partners," he said. Al-Qatani served as al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan and was assigned by the group's leadership to re-establish al-Qaeda safe havens in Afghanistan. He was a senior planner for attacks against the US and has a long history of directing deadly attacks against US forces and our coalition allies, Cook said. Likewise, al-Utabi is assessed to have been involved in efforts to re-establish a safe haven in Afghanistan from which to threaten the West and to recruit and train foreign fighters. After an extensive period of surveillance, the US targeted al-Qatani and al-Utabi at what was assessed as command-and-control locations in remote areas of Kunar province, Cook said. "If these strikes are determined to be successful, eliminating these core leaders of al-Qaeda will disrupt efforts to plot against the United States and our allies and partners around the world, reduce the threat to our Afghan partners, and assist their efforts to deny al-Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan," Cook said. By AFP HANOI: Vietnam customs officials have seized nearly one tonne of ivory hidden in a timber shipment from Kenya, an official said Thursday, the third major illegal haul of precious tusks in less than a month. The communist nation is a popular transit route for illegal ivory from Africa heading to other parts of Asia, namely China, where it is used for decorative and medicinal purposes. Ivory products are also hot in Vietnam, though the trade is officially banned. The latest haul from Kenya was discovered at a port in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, where it was carefully hidden in a shipment of timber logs -- a common practise among smugglers. Some 3.5 tonnes of ivory have been discovered at the city's Cat Lai port this month, all in crates of wood, including a hefty two-tonne haul packed into a single shipment. "All that ivory was not just to be consumed in Vietnam," a customs official told AFP, requesting not to be named. "We believe much of it was to be later be transferred to the main market, China." This week's cache reportedly originated in Kenya's Mombasa port and was sent to Malaysia's Tanjung port before arriving in Vietnam, according to state-run Thanh Nien newspaper. Vietnam outlawed the ivory trade in 1992, but shops still sell ivory dating from before the ban and weak law enforcement has allowed a black market to flourish. A two-week survey by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) last year found out that more than 16,000 ivory products were available in Hanoi. Vietnam is hosting an international conference on illegal wildlife trade from November 17 to 18, which will be attended by Britain's Prince William, a vocal critic against illicit wildlife trafficking. HANOI: Vietnam customs officials have seized nearly one tonne of ivory hidden in a timber shipment from Kenya, an official said Thursday, the third major illegal haul of precious tusks in less than a month. The communist nation is a popular transit route for illegal ivory from Africa heading to other parts of Asia, namely China, where it is used for decorative and medicinal purposes. Ivory products are also hot in Vietnam, though the trade is officially banned. The latest haul from Kenya was discovered at a port in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, where it was carefully hidden in a shipment of timber logs -- a common practise among smugglers. Some 3.5 tonnes of ivory have been discovered at the city's Cat Lai port this month, all in crates of wood, including a hefty two-tonne haul packed into a single shipment. "All that ivory was not just to be consumed in Vietnam," a customs official told AFP, requesting not to be named. "We believe much of it was to be later be transferred to the main market, China." This week's cache reportedly originated in Kenya's Mombasa port and was sent to Malaysia's Tanjung port before arriving in Vietnam, according to state-run Thanh Nien newspaper. Vietnam outlawed the ivory trade in 1992, but shops still sell ivory dating from before the ban and weak law enforcement has allowed a black market to flourish. A two-week survey by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) last year found out that more than 16,000 ivory products were available in Hanoi. Vietnam is hosting an international conference on illegal wildlife trade from November 17 to 18, which will be attended by Britain's Prince William, a vocal critic against illicit wildlife trafficking. Paul Beatty has become the first American writer to win the prestigious Man Booker prize. Beatty's "The Sellout," a caustic satire on U.S. race relations, won the $61,000 prize, which was previously open only to writers from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth -- an alliance of countries that used to be part of the British Empire. Historian Amanda Foreman, who chaired the judging panel, said the book "plunges into the heart of contemporary American society, and with absolutely savage wit -- the kind I havent seen since [Jonathan] Swift or [Mark] Twain." "The Sellout" is set in a rundown Los Angeles suburb called Dickens, where the residents include the last survivor of the Little Rascals television show and the book's narrator, Bonbon. Bonbon is an African-American man on trial at the U.S. Supreme Court for attempting to reinstate slavery and racial segregation. By PTI TOKYO: Senior officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed today to step up pressure on North Korea as they stick to their goal of persuading the communist state to abandon its nuclear weapons. Their pledge comes just two days after US National Intelligence Director James Clapper publicly called that goal a "lost cause." He said the best hope is capping its capability instead. The deputy foreign ministers who held talks in Tokyo made clear that North Korea now poses a new level of threat and requires broader international pressure and tougher sanctions. US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, said their policy has not changed. "We will not accept North Korea as nuclear state, we will not accept North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, period," Blinken said. "We are focused on increasing the pressure on North Korea with one purpose: to bring it back to the table to negotiate in good faith. Denuclearization. That is the objective." Getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program has long been a headache in multilateral diplomacy with Pyongyang. Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama, who hosted today's talks, cited North Korea's recent tests showing the country's missile and nuclear capability had entered a new level of threat. "We need to respond differently than in the past," he said. Officials cited the sanctions and missile defense that have been already in place, but did not elaborate on their different approaches other than fresh sanctions pending at the United Nations and possible separate additional measures by the three countries. Meanwhile, South Korea said today it plans to restart talks with Japan on a military intelligence sharing agreement to better cope with threats from North Korea. Information from Japan's network of satellites and other intelligence-gathering systems would be critical in monitoring and preparing against North Korea's fast developing nuclear weapons and missile programs, South Korea's Defense Ministry said. The United States, South Korea and Japan signed a joint intelligence-sharing pact in 2014, but under the framework Seoul and Tokyo only share intelligence about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs via Washington. A bilateral agreement between South Korea and Japan would enable a quicker transfer of information between the countries in urgent situations. TOKYO: Senior officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed today to step up pressure on North Korea as they stick to their goal of persuading the communist state to abandon its nuclear weapons. Their pledge comes just two days after US National Intelligence Director James Clapper publicly called that goal a "lost cause." He said the best hope is capping its capability instead. The deputy foreign ministers who held talks in Tokyo made clear that North Korea now poses a new level of threat and requires broader international pressure and tougher sanctions. US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, said their policy has not changed. "We will not accept North Korea as nuclear state, we will not accept North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, period," Blinken said. "We are focused on increasing the pressure on North Korea with one purpose: to bring it back to the table to negotiate in good faith. Denuclearization. That is the objective." Getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program has long been a headache in multilateral diplomacy with Pyongyang. Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama, who hosted today's talks, cited North Korea's recent tests showing the country's missile and nuclear capability had entered a new level of threat. "We need to respond differently than in the past," he said. Officials cited the sanctions and missile defense that have been already in place, but did not elaborate on their different approaches other than fresh sanctions pending at the United Nations and possible separate additional measures by the three countries. Meanwhile, South Korea said today it plans to restart talks with Japan on a military intelligence sharing agreement to better cope with threats from North Korea. Information from Japan's network of satellites and other intelligence-gathering systems would be critical in monitoring and preparing against North Korea's fast developing nuclear weapons and missile programs, South Korea's Defense Ministry said. The United States, South Korea and Japan signed a joint intelligence-sharing pact in 2014, but under the framework Seoul and Tokyo only share intelligence about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs via Washington. A bilateral agreement between South Korea and Japan would enable a quicker transfer of information between the countries in urgent situations. A U.S. government oversight body is proposing a way to hold banking and investment executives more accountable for criminal activity and fraud committed by staffers against their customers. An inspector general is suggesting that top Wall Street executives be required to sign an annual statement promising that criminal or civil fraudulent activity did not occur while they were in charge, a pledge that could lead to more top executives being sent to prison. The proposal is included in a quarterly report sent to Congress on Wednesday by the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which was created in 2008 to bail out a U.S. financial system that was battered by historic crashes in the housing and securities markets. The report said 85 bankers have been charged with a crime and 36 have been sent to prison while more than $10 billion in misappropriated money has been recovered in the past few years. "The United States has always voted against this resolution," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the General Assembly ahead of the vote. "Today the United States will abstain." For the past 25 years, the UN General Assembly has held a symbolic annual vote calling for an end to the sanctions, which was imposed during the Cold War. Last year, the international community was nearly unanimous in its call, with only the United States and Israel voting against lifting the embargo. This year both nations abstained. For the first time, the United States has abstained from a UN resolution urging the lifting of Washington's nearly 60-year old economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. Failed policy She said the shift is because the policy is not working. "Instead of isolating Cuba, as President Obama has repeatedly said, our policy isolated the United States -- including here at the United Nations," Power said. But she said that abstaining does not mean that the United States agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government, particularly on human rights. Nor does it mean Washington agrees with states who say the U.S. actions are contrary to international law and the UN Charter. "We categorically reject the statements in the resolution that suggest otherwise," she said of the General Assembly measure. Cuba Welcomes Abstention Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, welcomed the abstention, saying it is a positive step for the future of relations between the two countries, but that the U.S. needs to go further. "Lifting the blockade is the key to be able to advance towards the normalization of relations with the United States; it is what will give some meaning, depth and soundness to what has been achieved so far," he said. He said executive measures have been positive, but had very limited "scope and effect" and he urged the loosening of controls on telecommunications, banking and other sectors. He said over the last six decades the embargo has cost Cuba some $125 billion in economic and development damages. Most member states denounced the blockade as against international law and the principles of the UN Charter. "It is our firm belief that differences between states should be settled through engagement, not confrontation, and by inclusion, not isolation," said Singapore's Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, speaking for ASEAN countries. Member States Welcome Thaw Member states also welcomed the thaw in relations between the two nations. "The renewal of relations between these two neighbors signals a new era of engagement for both countries," said Jamaican Ambassador Courtenay Rattray on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In the nearly two years since President Barack Obama ordered full restoration of diplomatic relations with the island nation, the two countries have reopened embassies in the other country, direct flights have been resumed, and travel restrictions eased. Earlier this month, the U.S. lifted its prohibition on travelers bringing Cuban cigars and rum into the country, but exports of those products to the U.S. continues to be illegal. In March 2016, President Obama made an historic visit to Cuba, marking a milestone in the normalization of relations between the two nations, but only the currently Republican-held U.S. Congress can lift the 56-year old embargo. Surging prices of coal are working against international efforts to sanction North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs. Coal is one of major products North Korea exports to China, accounting for over 40 percent of its total exports, and the rising prices are boosting funds for the North's weapons program. Trade volume in money terms between the two countries increased 3.4 percent on-year in the third quarter this year. "North Korean coal prices have surged by 68 percent in value recently... The average price of its anthracite coal arriving at major Chinese ports rose to US$99 a ton in recent weeks from around $59 in early August," the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. "In August, North Korea exported 2.47 million tons of coal to China, the highest monthly total on record. Exports slipped in September but remained higher than a year earlier." The main reason is new mining restrictions in China to tackle overcapacity and supply disruptions after heavy rains there in July. Global coal supply has also dwindled because of shutdowns at two major coal mines in Australia. The Bank of Korea is warning of a housing oversupply and recommended that developers cut their investments in new residential projects. As the population stagnates due to a low birthrate, Korea could end up suffering a collapsing real estate bubble like Japan's, the BOK said. In a report published Wednesday, the central bank said investment in construction accounts for 15 percent of Korea's GDP. In advanced countries where per-capita income exceeds US$30,000 a year, construction investment accounts for just eight to 10 percent of GDP, and in countries with $25,000 to $30,000 like Korea for around 10 percent. The BOK said Korea's proportion is so high because construction investment has been used aggressively as part of pump-priming measures. Vote now! Who is The Daily News Athlete of the Week for Oct. 24-30? Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 A high resting heart rate and blood pressure in youth predict an increased susceptibility for anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder later in life, reveals an extensive study conducted by the University of Helsinki and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. The connections between resting heart rate, blood pressure and psychiatric disorders were studied using register data from more than one million Swedish men. The study was published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Many mental health disorders have been found to be associated with abnormalities in heart function and blood pressure. Heart rate and blood pressure are regulated by the autonomic nervous system which controls the body's basic functions. There has previously been no comprehensive research on whether discrepancies in the function of the autonomic nervous system could precede the onset of psychiatric illnesses. The research used heart rate and blood pressure measurements from conscripts for the Swedish army, linked with information from national patient registers. The results indicate that men whose resting heart rate was higher than 82 beats per minute during their youth were 69% more likely to later be diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder than men whose resting heart rate was lower than 62 bpm. The risk for schizophrenia increased by 21% and for anxiety disorders, 18%. The study considered several factors that could contribute to the connection, such as BMI, socioeconomic status, ethnic background, cognitive ability as well as physical fitness measured through an exercise test. However, these factors did not fully account for the correlation between psychiatric disorders and heart rate or blood pressure. The average follow-up period was 32 years. The study also shows that low resting heart rate was linked to an increased risk of substance abuse and convictions for violent crimes. "These results are interesting, because they provide new information on the role of the autonomic nervous system in psychiatric disorders," explains University of Helsinki postdoctoral researcher Antti Latvala, who led the project. Latvala points out that the mechanisms underlying this connection still require a great deal of further study. "Our observations indicate that differences in physiological responses, such as stress reactions, are linked to the risk of mental disorders. It is also known that psychiatric illnesses are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Our results open new opportunities for studying this connection as well," Latvala says. Researchers from the Universitat de Valencia (UV) and the Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles have partnered to describe a biological mechanism that generates cells which are better equipped to fight off serious infections caused by the Candida albicans fungus. The fungus, which is often found in innocuous form in the oral cavity, vagina and gastrointestinal tract, can cause superficial skin and mucus infections in healthy people. It can also cause serious internal or invasive infections in immunodepressed patients and is as such considered an opportunistic pathogenic fungus. The research, published in Microbes and Infection, analyses the interaction between hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells with this fungus. Maria Luisa Gil, professor or microbiology at the University of Valencia, explains: "When stem cells interact directly with the Candida albicans microorganism, this leads quickly to the conversion of these cells into mature mieloid cells -neutrophil, monocyte, macrophages and dendritic cells-, which are what fuel our natural immune system, our first defense against infections". The fact of stems cells interacting with the C. albicans microorganism is important because until now it was thought that only mature cells recognised and responded directly to microorganisms and derivatives. The study shows that this interaction can lead to the generation of cells that are functionally better prepared to face off an infection. Indeed, the discovery of this new host/pathogen interaction mechanism and its consquences in the modulation of immune response may provide a new target for intevention in the fight against serious infections. Source: Asociacion RUVID Local company, Bedfont Scientific, urges people to quit smoking with the Smokerlyzer after latest figures from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) find smoking still causes the majority of lung cancer deaths in the UK. Lung Cancer Awareness month approaches again in November 2016, in the hope to make people aware of the facts and figures that can save peoples lives. Bedfont Scientific, based in Harrietsham, Kent, manufacturer of the Smokerlyzer, a breath carbon monoxide (CO) monitor used to help people quit smoking, is encouraging people to quit the habit which contributes to 86% of lung cancer deaths in men and 72% in women, according to latest ASH statistics. A staggering 81% of patients diagnosed with advanced lung cancer die within a year and smoking is the single biggest preventable risk factor of lung cancer. A leading manufacturer of exhaled breath and gas monitoring instruments, who in 2016 are celebrating two important anniversaries 40 years in business and 30 years of one of their most successful exports the Smokerlyzer, Bedfont Scientific are revered as pioneers in the medical gas analysis market. Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont Scientific, comments: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a major problem worldwide. Molecular biologist Changsheng Wu explored innovative methods of developing new antibiotics more simply and more easily. He also discovered a new type of antibiotic. New functions More and more bacteria are threatening to become resistant to the antibiotics currently available. The problem is even so great that diseases like tubercolosis that had almost been eliminated are occurring again. The results of Changsheng Wu's research, carried out at the Institute of Biology (IBL) under Professor Gilles van Wezel and Dr Young-Hae Choi, provide hope in the search for new antibiotics. Wu showed, for example, that by applying modern analytical methods, molecular structures can be linked to biological and physical functions. Unique biological compounds can then be created in the lab. These new compounds encompass new activities and sometimes completely new functions that do not occur in nature, and that can impact every aspect of human life. Actinomycetes In developing antibiotics and other medical-natural applications, use is made of micro-organisms belonging to the group of actinomycetes (soil bacteria from which most of our antibiotics come, Ed.). Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), the newest method of unravelling the genetics of organisms, shows that the potential of these actinomycetes is far from being fully utilised. So-called dormant bacteria occur, that is bacteria that are not made under standard growing conditions and that are therefore never discovered by industry. The big challenge now facing scientists is to activate these antibiotics (to awaken their potential, as it were), in order to be able to screen them and where possible apply them as medicines in the clinical environment. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today The new molecule Lugdunomycine During his PhD research, Changsheng Wu discovered a number of different molecules with new chemical structures. Many of these were similar to already known molecules, but a pioneering discovery is that of Lugdunomycine: an antibiotic with antibacterial properties to combat gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and the multiresistant MRSA. It is only very seldom that a molecule is discovered that in terms of structure is so different from known molecules, which emphasises the importance of Changsheng Wu's research. These and other examples show that using a combination of methods can make it easier to discover new molecules. At the same time, it is possible to identify genetic information responsible for the biosynthesis route. Co-cultivation In his work, Wu combined different methods of cultivating micro-organisms using NMR metabolomics (in simple terms, a method of detecting the intermediate and end-products of cultivating cells or tissues). His research showed that co-cultivation, developing two or more micro-organisms in the same medium, in this case a fungus and a Streptomyces bacterium, can generate new compounds. Multidisciplinary approach Wu now advocates that scientists who are involved in the search for new antibiotics should have the necessary biological knowledge and practical genetic tools in their repertoire. Far-reaching multidiscipliniary cooperation between scientific experts, in his opinion, offers the best chance for making sure the search for new antibiotics is successful. Source: Leiden University "This discovery reverses food allergies in mice, and we have many people with allergies volunteering their own cells for us to use in lab testing to move this research forward," said professor John Gordon, lead scientist behind the discovery just published in the current issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The findings open the door to test this new allergy treatment in "humanized mice"mice with non-existent immune systems implanted with cells from a human immune system, for example, from a peanut-allergic person. With Health Canada approval, the first human trial could begin in about one year, Gordon said. "If we can reliably 'cure' food allergies, or related conditions such as asthma or autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis with this new therapy, it would be life-changing for affected individuals." Roughly 2.5 million Canadians self-report having at least one food allergy. Anaphylaxis, defined as a severe rapid-onset allergic reaction, can be life-threatening and treatment options are limited. The discovery involves generating a type of naturally occurring immune cell that sends a signal to reverse the hyper-immune response present in allergic reactions. That signal triggers another "off switch" that turns off reactive cells further along the allergic pathway. "We predict the treatment could be on the market within the next five to 10 years," said Gordon, who is also a research leader in the Allergy, Genes and Environment (AllerGen) Network. AllerGenpart of the federally funded Networks of Centres of Excellence programaims to help Canadians address the challenges of living with asthma, allergies, anaphylaxis and related immune diseases. Gordon's team will collaborate with other AllerGen investigators located at the U of S, McGill University, Queen's University, McMaster University, and University of Alberta to pilot the new technique. "This discovery portends a major breakthrough towards a therapeutic reversal of food allergen sensitivity," said Dr. Judah Denburg, scientific director and CEO of AllerGen. "The treatment prevents anaphylactic responses in what were previously fully sensitive mice, opening the door for translating this therapy into the clinic." There is compelling evidence this technique could be effective in humans. In 2010, Gordon's team demonstrated they could reverse an asthmatic response in human cells in a test tube. Using three applications of a similar therapy in a 2012 study, the researchers effectively eliminated asthma in afflicted mice, within only eight weeks. "Even if we only cure 25 per cent of subjects, we will dramatically improve the health of those individuals, and also reduce healthcare system expenses," said Gordon, who worked with Wojciech Dawicki, a research associate and the primary author and lead researcher in this study. Master's student Chunyan Li and lab technicians Xiaobei Zhang and Jennifer Town also worked on the project. Here's how the technique works: The key component of this research is dendritic cells, which serve as the gate-keepers of the immune system and are present in tissues in contact with the external environment, such as the skin and the inner lining of the nose, lungs, stomach and intestines. Gordon's pioneering treatment involves producing dendritic cells in a test tube and then exposing them to a unique mix of proteins, a vitamin A-related acid naturally occurring in the human gut, and to the allergen, in this case, peanut or ovalbumin (egg white protein). The modified dendritic cells are then reintroduced into the mouse. Using this technique, the researchers were able to nearly eliminate the allergic reaction by converting allergen-sensitive immune cells into cells that mimic the response seen in healthy, non-allergic individuals. The treatment reduced the observed symptoms of anaphylaxis, and lowered other key protein markers in the allergic response by up to 90 per cent. Food allergy is a growing public health issue in Canada. Currently, there is no known cure. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, an estimated 171,000 Canadians visited emergency rooms for allergic reactions from 2013 to 2014, the rate of anaphylaxis visits increased by 95 per cent from 2006 to 2014, and the severity of reactions is increasing. Gordon said the new technique also shows promise for treating autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. "It would take very little to adapt the therapy for autoimmune diseases," he said. Source: University of Saskatchewan More than 4,000 children and teens are diagnosed with brain cancer each year and the disease kills more children than any other cancer. Writing this week in the journal Cell Reports, researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah report they have identified an existing group of drugs that appear to reduce or eliminate a certain subgroup of childhood brain cancers while sparing normal brain tissue. The research was conducted using a new zebrafish animal model system developed by the researchers, which closely resembles an aggressive subtype of pediatric brain tumors. "For many pediatric brain tumors no cell or animal model exist to test targeted, or personalized, medications that could significantly improve survival and alleviate the harmful side effects of conventional therapies," explains Rodney Stewart, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah and an HCI investigator. "Indeed, children with rare brain tumors have few options for life-saving treatment. Our hope is by creating this animal model we will be a step closer to finding effective therapies." The researchers studied a particularly aggressive pediatric brain tumor, known as primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the central nervous system (CNS-PNET) for which few animal or cell line models exist. Without an animal model or cell lines, Stewart explained, treatments could not be tested. Over the course of seven years, Stewart and his team worked to develop a model which, at the genomic level, closely modeled the human condition they hoped to study. "We spent a lot of time comparing brain tumors arising in fish with related human brain cancers at the molecular genetic level," Stewart says. "This is important because these childhood brain cancers are rare and as a result, there are few patient samples to study for comparisons." Human tissue samples were necessary, however, in order to construct a reliable model. "We needed to reach out to several groups," he explains, including Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Dr. Stewart credits discoveries announced by two other groups studying similar cancers that opened the way for his group to move forward. "They were able to re-classify CNS-PNET tumors into distinct subgroups at the molecular level. That opened up a new avenue for our team because that stratification made it possible for us to really nail down what the zebrafish brain tumor model represents." Using the model, Stewart's lab was able to test already existing compounds to see if they could find a targeted therapy that would work on one of the newly identified subgroups: the oligoneural or NB_FOXR2 CNS-PNET subgroup. Through work they had done to create the tumor model, they knew that a particular drug already in human clinical trials might work. "When we treated the fish with MEK inhibitors -- drugs that inhibit an enzyme -- they exhibited a remarkable response," says Stewart. "Not only was the tumor burden reduced, it completely eliminated the tumor in about 80% of the fish and those tumors have not come back. This is a durable response from a transient treatment. It's what we look for in cancer therapy, an effective drug that can be taken for a certain amount of time but, after the cancer is gone, patients can stop taking the drug and go on living their lives." Stewart is careful to emphasize that while the brain tumor type between fish and humans is similar, more studies are needed to determine if the results can be translated into the clinic. He would like to see his discovery in the hands of physicians as soon as possible. "Currently, the outcome for children with these cancers is deplorable. We don't want to wait much longer," he says. It is unfortunate that it is only on his removal that allegations and misrepresentation of facts were being made about business decisions that the former chairman was party to for over a decade in different capacitiesThe record, as and when made public, will prove things to the contrary," a statement on behalf of Tata Sons released on Thursday evening said. The latest statement by Tata Sons didnt reply to the allegations levelled in the email but hinted a detailed rebuttal could be in the offing. The Board of Directors of Tata Sons is composed of several eminent personalities from all walks of life. This is not a group of people who one would expect to act without exercising proper judgement in the best interests of the entities they sit on the boards of. : TATA Sons have hit back at ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry for making "public in an unseemly and undignified manner the contents of a confidential mail and said it was beneath the dignity of the group to engage in a public spat with regard to the unfounded allegations."Mistry was removed as chairman of the over $100-bn conglomerate in a surprise move on Monday reinstating Ratan Tata as interim chairman, a move which surprised the markets and the general public alike. Although the board of Tata Sons didnt give any reasons for the removal, an email written by Mistry soon started doing the rounds that raised questions of financial impropriety, questionable business judgement and conflict of interest."It is a matter of deep regret that a communication marked confidential to Tata Sons board members has been made public in an unseemly and undignified manner. The correspondence makes unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations, casting aspersions on the Tata group, the Tata Sons board and several Tata companies and some respected individuals. These will be responded to in an appropriate manner," it said.In his email, Mistry had also said that Rata Tatas influence behind the scenes reduced him to a "lameduck" chairman.Tata Group has refuted that by saying the board gives its Chairman complete autonomy to manage opportunities and challenges."However, the tenure of the former Chairman was marked by repeated departures from the culture and ethos of the group," the statement said.It is unfortunate that Mr. Mistry had overwhelmingly lost the confidence of the Members of the Board of Directors for a combination of several factors. The Directors of the Tata Sons board had repeatedly raised queries and concerns on certain business issues, and Trustees of the Tata Trusts were increasingly getting concerned with the growing trust deficit with Mr. Mistry, but these were not being addressed. The Tata Sons board, in its collective wisdom, took the decision to replace its Chairman in the manner undertaken," the statement said."There is a multitude of records to show that the allegations made by Mr. Cyrus Mistry are unwarranted and these records will be duly disclosed before appropriate forums, if and when necessary, sufficiently justifying the decision made by responsible Boards of Directors, of Tata Sons and its Group companies," the statement said."The Tata way is to not run away from problems, or constantly complain about them, but firmly deal with them and build a better tomorrow," the statement said. (Photo: Reuters/The set of 176 original emoji characters which have been donated to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City are seen in an undated handout image.) Smiley faces and images of food and cats designed almost 20 years ago by a Japanese phone company and used in digital messages worldwide have now attained the status of art.The Museum of Modern Art in New York has been licensed to display the emojis in its permanent collection alongside works by Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock, it said on Wednesday.It was not clear how the emojis would be displayed at MoMA, but the installation is due to open in early December.Japanese national carrier Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, or NTT DOCOMO, developed the original set of 176 emojis and released them for cellphones and pagers in 1999.The 12 x 12 pixel images of hearts, arrows and hand gestures were the blueprint for the emojis widely used today, and they expanded the ways to communicate using the limited screen space available on devices of the time.Paola Antonelli, a senior curator at MoMA's Department of Architecture and Design, said part of the museum's mission had always been to collect and display timeless art and design."Emojis as a concept go back in the centuries, to ideograms, hieroglyphics, and other graphic characters, enabling us to draw this beautiful arch that covers all of human history," Antonelli said in a statement.The original emojis, designed by developer Shigetaka Kurita, proved very popular in Japan, and the rest of the world soon caught on. By 2006, Alphabet Inc.'s Google (GOOGL.O) was offering emojis for use in its Gmail service, and Apple (AAPL.O) added them in 2011 to its iOS messaging app.The emoji display comes six years after MoMA made headlines when it added the @ symbol - used in email addresses and on social media - to its collection, citing its "design power." Indian festivals are to be celebrated with a lot of Bollywood dance and music, and even these policemen in faraway New Zealand seem to have figured it out right.At a recent Diwali function organised by the Christchurch Police Department, a group of officers were seen dancing to Bollywood songs from actor Salman Khan's films. And let us tell you, they were all really amazing!Copying the actor's signature dance moves and getting the audience grooving is no joke, but these officers totally nailed it.As for their choice of Salman Khan dance numbers - well, we know that the Bollywood star's fan base has expanded far beyond India and the Middle East.The video, which was shared by multimedia journalist Chris Lynch on his verified Facebook page, has over 3 lakh 86 thousand views and more than 6 thousand likes and shares. The video has gone massively viral on social media and has Internet users grooving with the officers.We bet you will love watching the officers dance too.Watch the full video here:Earlier, on October 15, Singapore launched its first Diwali-themed train on its North East Line (NEL) for the occasion of Diwali. Also, Australia's iconic Sydney Opera House will be lighted in gold to celebrate the festival of lights. Chandigarh: Punjab Police on high alert after intelligence agencies warned about twelve Babbar Khalsa terrorists who managed to enter Punjab to carry out subversive activities in the northern parts of India. The revelation came following the interrogation of suspected terrorist Kamaldeep Singh, who was arrested on October 23 from Punjab. Kamaldeep, a resident of Kashmir, claimed that 12 highly trained Khalsa terrorists managed to enter India for terror activities. He also claimed that all of them were trained in Pakistan and are heavily armed. Sources in the police department said that the terrorists entered to disrupt the poll related activities in the state. Meanwhile, the state director general of police had an urgent meeting with the senior police officials and asked them to launch massive search operations in the state and bordering area. Srinagar: The five-member civil society delegation led by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Thursday completed its three-day visit to Kashmir during which it met various stakeholders to "understand the situation" and "share the pain" of the people here. The delegation will now discuss the future course of action after meeting in Delhi. "We came here to understand the situation and share the pain of the people. We will sit down (after going back to Delhi) and see how we can proceed further," Sinha told reporters after completing meetings with various sections in the valley, including separatists. Sinha said the delegation, which does not have any official status, met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday and Governor N N Vohra on Thursday. Since its arrival here on Tuesday, the delegation met hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat and representatives of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry -- the apex trade body of Kashmir. Sinha, former External Affairs Minister, disagreed when asked whether the meeting with the separatists could be seen as a breakthrough since they opened their doors to the delegation members unlike the members of all-party delegation who were turned away by Geelani earlier in September. "It was good on their part they decided to meet us. We had extensive discussions with various stakeholders here," he said. The other delegation members -- Wajahat Habibullah, the former chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Kapil Kak, former Air Vice-Marshall, Journalist Bharat Bhushan and Sushoba Barve of Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation -- met Geelani again today. Jammu: A BSF officer who was injured during shelling by Pakistani Rangers around the civilian areas and Indian paramilitary posts on Wednesday in two sectors of the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir succumbed to his injuries on Thursday morning, BSF said. "Assistant Sub Inspector of BSF A K Upadhayay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He received splinter injures in his hand," a BSF spokesman said. Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said Pakistani troops on Wednesday also targeted civilian areas including Sai Kalan, Bure Jaal, Treva and Arnia. He said the BSF gave a "befitting reply" to the Pakistani fire and the authorities ordered closure of schools and advised people to shift to safer places. "Shelling started in Sai Kalan also. Arnia also came under shelling from 0130 hours. People were inside their houses, so no human casualty," he said. On Wednesday,Pakistani troops again resorted to firing and shelling in Arnia sector. "At 20:35 hours, Pakistani troops from two posts started firing flat trajectory weapons in the areas of RS Pura," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Dharmendra Pareek said. He said Pakistani side was targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with heavy mortar and small arms fire. The BSF was effectively retaliating and the firefight was going on, Pareek said. Pakistan also resorted to heavy mortar shelling in the Arnia town of the district. "Heavy mortar shelling has started at Arnia also," Simrandeep Singh said. The DC said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International Border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border and people were moving to safer locations. "In the wake of the heavy firing, border residents are migrating to safer locations. Whenever there is lull, they leave their houses to shift to either safe camps or to their relatives houses at safer locations," he said. (With inputs from PTI) New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed the plea against the auctioning of the Taj Mahal Hotel by New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The appeal was filed by the Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), which runs the Taj Mahal Hotel on 1, Man Singh Road in the national capital. A bench of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Pratibha Rani, while pronouncing the judgement, said, The appeal is dismissed. In its defence, the Tata group has told the Delhi High Court that the group has invested 21 times more than what New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has done. Senior advocate Harish Salve who is representing the Taj Mahal Hotel told Delhi HC that NDMC has invested merely Rs 6 cr while, Taj pumped in over Rs 129 cr, paid license fee of over Rs 400 crore. The company further said that Tata Group has contractual right of renewal and NDMC must renegotiate with Taj. The company pointed out that Taj is not a mere lease holder and partnered NDMC in building brand and it can't be expected to bid for value that Taj itself created. The division bench had on October 24 reserved the verdict on IHCL's plea in which they have challenged the single judge order dismissing their suit seeking to restrain NDMC from auctioning the property. The single judge, in his September 5 judgement, had not acceded to IHCL's request for renewal of licence for a further period saying it was not entitled for the extension. "In view of the discussion above, and the request of the plaintiff (IHCL) for renewal of licence for further period has not been acceded to and noting that the plaintiff has no right seeking renewal or grant of licence for further period and the decision of the defendant (NDMC) to go for auction, the plaintiff is not entitled to extension of licence as claimed in the suit," the single judge had said in its verdict. The property, owned by NDMC, was given to IHCL on a lease for 33 years in 1978. The lease had ended in 2011 and the company was given nine temporary extensions since then on various grounds, with three of them granted last year itself. NDMC had in January this year said it was in the process of assessing the assets of the hotel in preparation for the much-delayed auction of the property. IHCL had approached the single judge bench seeking a decree of permanent injunction restraining the NDMC from interfering in any manner with the possession, right to operate, run and maintain the hotel premises at the prime location of 1, Man Singh Road in Lutyen's Delhi. It had also sought a direction to restrain the NDMC from conducting an auction for running the hotel premises. (PTI inputs) "PM exhorts nation to send Diwali 'sandesh' to soldiers. B'crats reduce disability pension n lower status vis-a-vis civilians. Happy Diwali!," Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd) tweeted, a view echoed by serving officers in the three Services. The armed forces continue to be upset with the government over a Defence Ministry circular regarding rank parity vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts at the Service headquarters even though the Ministry issued a statement on Thursday, saying no downgrading had been done.Two days after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar promised to look into the concerns of the military personnel, the Ministry issued a statement saying there has been no downgrading or any change in the existing equivalence of the Service ranks whatsoever."The existing functional equivalence as clarified in 1991 and further reiterated in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2005 has only been re-affirmed," the statement said.It, however, failed to placate the armed forces, including some retired officers.As per the circular issued on October 18, an army Major General (rear admiral in the navy and vice-marshal in the air force) was to be on par with a principal director in the Armed Force Headquarters (AFHQ) Civil Service.A Brigadier/Commodore/Air Commodore (with about 24 years of service) was to be equivalent in rank to a director (with about 14 years of service), and a Colonel/Captain/Group Captain to a joint director in the civil service, sources in the armed forces said.So far, a colonel was equated with a director. A Brigadier did not have a clearly defined equivalence in the civilian hierarchy. However, they were treated at par with a deputy director-general. A major general was treated as the equivalent of a joint secretary.In the letter of 1992, it was clearly mentioned that a Major General was equivalent to a Joint Secretary and equivalent ranked civil officers in the Service Headquarters.Defence Ministry sources said that a Joint Secretary is equal to a Principal Director in the Services Headquarters in terms of pay band.However, sources in the Services say that the Ministry should put it in writing that a Joint Secretary is equivalent to a Principal Director.Sources in the armed forces said that the Services had issued an order for "Redesignation of Appointments of AFHQ Civil Service Officers posted at Headquarters between 2003-08) under which a Director was re-designated as Principal Director and a Joint Director as Director.It was clearly brought out that designations were purely local and would be used for day-to-day purposes alone and not entail change in status, prevailing rank and equivalence, sources said."It is further clarified that the present reiteration of rank equivalence is only for matters of assigning duties and functional responsibilities as is already existing in different offices of the respective Service HQrs of the Army, Navy and Air Force having component of Service personnel as well as civilian officers."It has no bearing on civilian employees outside these offices of the Service HQrs. It is reiterated that there is no change in the rank structure or the status of the Armed Forces personnel," the statement said.However, sources alleged that Office of JS (Training) and Chief Administrative Officer has been issuing regular orders establishing protocol and status equivalence based on the redesignation.They fear that with the letter of October 18 a Joint Secretary in the MoD will go a notch higher than a Major General. New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs has prepared a Cabinet note to declare controversial Islamic scholar Zakir Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation an 'unlawful organisation', sources said on Wednesday. Sources told CNN-News18 that investigations by the Home Ministry found four grounds for the NGO to be banned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, putting an end to months of speculation on its legal validity. According to the MHA's draft note, Naik, who heads the IRF, has allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda. Police in Maharashtra and Odisha have registered criminal cases against Naik for his alleged involvement in radicalisation of youths and luring them into terror activities, a source said. Naik also allegedly transferred IRF's foreign funds to Peace TV for making "objectionable" programmes. Most of the programmes, which were made in India, contained alleged hate speeches of Naik, who had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists" through Peace TV, sources claimed. The 50-year-old Mumbai-based preacher came under the scanner of the security agencies after Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Star reported that one of the perpetrators of the Dhaka cafe attack in July quoted Naik in a Facebook post. Naik in a lecture, aired on Peace TV, had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists". The Islamic orator is banned in the UK and Canada for his hate speech aimed against other religions. He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia. Naik has denied all these allegations. It is totally illogical to say that I promote terrorism. Not a single investigative agency says Dr Zakir Naik promotes terrorism. The Home Ministry is most welcome to go through all my speeches," he told CNN-News18 in July. Sources said the MHA's note will be put up before a meeting of the Union Cabinet for approval next week. Delhi Police let off the arrested Pakistani spy Mehmood Akhtar after he invoked his diplomatic immunity during interrogation. He is not a diplomat, and by initial accounts, is a low-ranking staff employed at the Pakistani High Commission. So how does the idea of diplomatic immunity apply to him? News18's Debayan Roy explores: * International Law governs the principle of diplomatic immunity. Article 29 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, says that 'The person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. He shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. The receiving State shall treat him with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity.' This Article ensured that diplomats could work in a foreign country without any fear or intimidation. * But Akhtar is not a diplomat. So can he claim immunity under Vienna Convention? Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha, Director of the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, says when any staff member is accused of espionage at a foreign high commission he can invoke diplomatic legal immunity if we go strictly by the Vienna Convention. "A strict perusal of Article 1 of the Vienna Convention, shows that all 'members of the commission' is entitled to the immunity, and that includes a staffer too, hence diplomatic immunity with regard to international law, is difficult to decline, even if it's not an ambassador or a diplomat, but a mere staff member," he said. * G Parthasarathy, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, however feels the answer to Akhtar's claim of diplomatic immunity could be both Yes and No. "They are never arrested but detained. Plus when we talk of reports about diplomatic immunity enjoyed by the staffer, it is often just the case of declaring him a 'Persona Non Grata' and sending him back to his home country within 48 hours," he said. * Ranjit Gupta, a retired diplomat and a former member of the National Security Advisory Board, says that it often depends upon the bilateral terms and conditions agreed upon by the countries to deal with such a situation. "A staffer does not enjoy full diplomatic immunity like a diplomat, also because he has an official passport and not a diplomatic passport. But these staffers are often let off after questioning and made to leave the country as soon as possible," he said. * Bhaskar Balakrishnan, former president of the Association of Indian Diplomats, says this kind of a situation is very rare and even if it happens 'frequently', it doesn't spill out in the public domain. "A staff member of the commission is a very technical term and it can be very complicated to decide whether he is entitled to diplomatic immunity or not. But it often boils down to the agreed terms and conditions between both India and Pakistan, but border tensions can often play a role in magnifying such a detention." Balakrishnan says that Akhtar would be sent back to Pakistan at the earliest and in a "mode of retaliation', it is likely that Pakistan would expel an Indian diplomat or commission staff member. That the health and environment secretary has skipped meetings called by Delhi government ministers stands testimony to the grim fact: Delhi has been left to the Delhiites to suffer. We hoped that by this winter they would be able to check the risings pollution levels. But were waiting to see a clear implementation strategy with known timelines and accountability, says Anumita Roy Chowdhury, head of the air pollution control unit at the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which frequently works with the government. The Delhi government had a good comprehensive plan for road management where they want to green dividers too, but thats stalled, said Mukherjee. The lone silver lining here is the absence of smog, said Dr Lal. If we dont get smog till November 20, well have a better year, he said. Any kind of rapprochement however unlikely between Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could come, literally, as a breath of fresh air for Delhiites.A News18 status-check of the anti-pollution measures announced last winter revealed that theres not much to show on ground, thanks mainly to the ongoing turf war between the LG-appointed bureaucrats and the AAP government.Meanwhile, the national capitals air quality continues to nosedive with the last ten days oscillating from poor to very poor, as measured by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).The Air Quality Index (AQI) for Thursday stood at 355, which, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, is hazardous and the standard operating procedure would be to instruct that everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors.Senior officials in the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), told News18 that because of the internal feud little work had happened, despite experts giving plans and guidelines to the government well in advance.One official said that no work was going to happen when some bureaucrats felt they had a godfather protecting them, and others were transferred away from posts too soon for them to make changes.In August, the LG had overridden the AAP government and shuffled around many senior bureaucrats. Soon after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted as to how LGs appointees hindered his work.Chowdhury said any action to curb pollution levels in Delhi has come so far only after court intervention.The task force on air pollution and solid waste management of the Delhi Government had its first meeting on October 24, chaired by state Health and PWD minister Satyendra Jain.On Wednesday, the team sat down with all stakeholders: the municipal corporation, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.On Thursday, the government, following a Supreme Court directive, said they had set in motion the process for the installation of Radio Frequency Identification Devices and Weigh-in-Motion machines to regulate commercial vehicles entering Delhi to check air pollution. This comes a week after the NGT directed the government to take all bodies in board, plan for the coming season, and present that to court on November 16.The current head of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) Chandrakar Bharti recently made headlines for skipping meetings with the health minister in his capacity as the health secretary.News18 tried multiple times to reach Bharti but he refused to respond. A detailed email questionnaire sent in this regard went unanswered.Satyendra Jain, head of the air pollution task force, refused to comment for this story.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed EPCA pulled up the same bodies for the utter lack of accountability and inability to mark out their territories. EPCA means to use its recently released HawaBadlo app, to enforce this accountability in multiple authorities.Though the air quality had lifted up thanks to a full monsoon this year, by September last week, as the wind speed dropped, levels of particulate matter in the air (PM2.5) escalated.Yet, EPCA and CSE, that works along with the court body, has no clarity on what the government is planning to do, especially after studies have shown that the Odd-Even scheme may have reduced traffic congestion but had only negligible impact on pollution levels.A CPCB official defended his organisation saying it had issued directives to the DPCC soon after the winter of 2015-2016. However CSE, which is also a part of EPCA, argued these directives were neither well-thought out nor practical. They want to install air pollution filters in vehicles in 60 days, something weve tried for 20 years, said Polash Mukherjee, research associate with CSEs air pollution control team.The CPCB recommendations for road dust management included more fountains and vacuum cleaning. Both Mukherjee and EPCA chairman Dr Bhure Lal said Delhi roads were so unsuited to vacuum cleaning that the idea had to be junked. The three machines, acquired during the Commonwealth Games, were meant for flat areas such as campuses, and their speed was so slow they caused traffic jams. Nor does the city have water resources for more fountains.Experts felt that a labour-intensive country like India needed to work better with its sweepers. Mukherjee said a 2005 Supreme Court order directed the SDMC to implement night-time sweeping. It had raised some labour concerns, such as the safety of women sweepers at night. But instead of solving those, the body chose to neglect the order.The Badarpur power plant that the Delhi government had shut down the last winter has come back to life this summer. The 35 year old plants five units two of 295 megawatts and three of 95 megawatts produce expensive electricity that Delhi doesnt need, said Mukherjee. It needs to shut down again, along with its 600 acre fly ash pond (a polluting byproduct) that adversely affects the air, he said.Delhis problems have always been the same crop burning in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, garbage and leaf burning in the city, construction debris, road dust, vehicular pollution so are the solutions, he said. Pak High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, given 48 hours to leave India: MEA pic.twitter.com/vRlE3L4N8J ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 The Delhi Police on Thursday arrested a Pakistan national, Mehmood Akhtar, working at the country's High Commission in the national capital on charges of espionage, and was declared a persona non grata. He was also asked to leave the country within 48 hours.New Delhi informed Pakistan's high commissioner, the top Pakistani diplomat in the country, that embassy staff member Mehmood Akhtar had until Oct. 29 to leave the country, the ministry said in a statement.The Crime Branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the staffer.A Delhi Court has sent both Pakistani spies to 12 days of police remand.Mehmood Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi police on Wednesday while he was receiving sensitive documents pertaining to national security of India, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).He was let off after interrogation within hours owing to his diplomatic immunity and has been told to return to Pakistan immediately.Addressing the media on Thursday post the arrest, Delhi Police said that Mehmood Akhtar was under watch for almost six months now and was held with classified documents and maps related to Indian Army's defence positions.The MEA, categorically denying that Akhtar was manhandled, said that "he was treated with courtesy befitting his diplomatic status".Responding to the Pakistan denial, the MEA said: "The denial by Pakistan is something which has by now become quiet characteristic." The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms, the release said. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan has expelled an employee at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, hours after New Delhi declared a Pakistani national working at the country's High Commission here as persona non grata on charges of espionage.A release issued late at night by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Surjeet Singh, an official with the Indian mission, has been asked to leave the country by October 29. However, Islamabad didnt say what were the charges against him.The Delhi Police on Thursday morning had said it arrested a Pakistan national, Mehmood Akhtar, working at the country's High Commission in the national capital on charges of espionage. The MEA declared him a persona non grata, and Akhtar was asked to leave the country within 48 hours.The Crime Branch had also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the staffer. A Delhi Court has sent both to 12 days of police remand.Delhi police intercepted Mehmood Akhtar on Wednesday while he was receiving sensitive documents pertaining to national security of India, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).He was let off after interrogation within hours owing to his diplomatic immunity and was been told to return to Pakistan immediately.Addressing the media on Thursday post the arrest, Delhi Police said that Mehmood Akhtar was under watch for almost six months now and was held with classified documents and maps related to Indian Army's defence positions.The MEA, categorically denying that Akhtar was manhandled, said that "he was treated with courtesy befitting his diplomatic status". Delhi: Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit leaves from MEA after being summoned over ceasefire violations. pic.twitter.com/DhhVVi8hTj ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 Two others arrested by Delhi Police crime branch on spying charges. pic.twitter.com/5pGJ7cjekO ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 : Delhi Police has arrested a Pakistan national working at the country's High Commission in the national capital on charges of espionage, a move that is sure to set off a series of tit-for-tat arrests straining further the troubled relationship between the two countries.However, he was let off after interrogation within hours owing to his diplomatic immunity and has been told to return to Pakistan immediately.Addressing the media on Thursday post the arrest, Delhi Police said that Mehmood Akhtar was under watch for almost six months now and was held with classified documents and maps related to Indian Army's defence positions.Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit with regard to the incident.The Crime Branch has also arrested two persons who are Indians, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the Pakistani spy agency ISI."The two Indians are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. The spies were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information and have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir," Delhi Police officer Ravindra Yadav told the media."This module has been operating from the past 1.5 yrs. We have got input that they were working as a spys for the Pakistanis and they have been sharing documents with people in Pakistan. They were purposely placed in the visa section of the commission and would lure people into committing the espionage on behalf of Pakistan. They were also paid for their deed. Another spy identified as Shoaib will be arrested soon for his involvement," Yadav added.Sources claim that the Central government was initially reluctant to give a go ahead for Akhtar's arrest. The arrested staffer had been in touch with his local contacts for months to get sensitive information on defence and other issues.In the past, such incidents have set off a series of retaliatory incidents with Pakistani sleuths on occasions even manhandling Indian staffers at the High Commission in Islamabad.In November 2015, a spy ring associated with the Pakistan intelligence was busted and the police arrested at least five persons in connection with the case.(With inputs from PTI) Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector this morning, six civilians injured in mortar shelling. pic.twitter.com/lts1ibOoIr ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed and seven civilians were injured on Thursday during heavy shelling between Indian and Pakistani forces troops along the Line of Control in R.S.Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir.This is another ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops in last 24 hours. The injured were rushed to the nearby hospital and rest of the villagers was shifted to safer positions.There was no loss of life to anyone in the firing, a police officer said."Pakistani troops resorted to firing by small arms and 120 mm mortars along the LoC. We also retaliated," a police officer said.The bordering areas in Kashmir including RS Pura is known for Basmati rice cultivation and a large numbers of farmers are suffering due to heavy firing by the Pakistani rangers. New Delhi: Straining the troubled relationship between the two countries further, India on Thursday asked a Pakistan High Commission staffer to leave the country immediately after he was caught red handed in an espionage attempt. The spy ring was busted leading to the arrest of two Indians and a Pakistani who was found to be in possession of sensitive defence documents and a map that showed Indian Army movements on the border. Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted that Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit "to convey that (a) Pakistan High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities". But this is not the first that a Pakistani spy racket has been busted from within the sensitive confines of the Indian establishment. Here is a brief backgrounder on Indian and Pakistan High Commision officials who were expelled by their host countries: *On December 1, 1988, India expelled Brigadier Zaheer Abbasi, then Pakistani military attache. A police team, complete with a hidden video camera, had caught him in the decidedly downmarket Hotel Ranjit, Delhi, handing over Rs 25,000 for classified documents. Abbasi was declared persona not grata within 24 hours. *In February 2003, Jalil Abbas Jilani, then Charge d'Affaires at the Pakistan HC, was summoned by the MEA and told to pack his bags because his activities were not in keeping with his diplomatic status. Four others in the Pakistan High Commission were expelled along with him. Just about four hours later, Pakistans foreign office which has traditionally believed in Newtons third law of motion: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction announced its tit-for-tat action. But the Pakistani response, as usual, more than matched Indias as apart from expelling Indian Acting High Commissioner Sudhir Vyas, Islamabad expelled four officials in the Indian High Commission there, including a diplomat, First Secretary Rahul Rasgotra. *In August 2006 India and Pakistan expelled diplomats from each other's countries after Pakistan accused an Indian visa official of "undesirable activities". Pakistani officials said Deepak Kaul, who worked at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was caught "red-handed" with sensitive documents. India denied the allegation and expelled a Pakistani diplomat in return. Distressed over being handcuffed blindfolded and detained for several hours, Mr Kaul denied that any document was seized from him by Pakistani officials. He, however, made a disclosure about his unlawful detention and misbehaviour with him . Mr Kaul alleged that he was picked up from the Islamabad-Lahore motorway on Saturday morning by a group of persons who pounced on him in bizarre action. He, however, did not reveal the mode of interrogation at the hands of Pakistanis. He said such action showed that Islamabad wanted an excuse to expel him on flimsy grounds. Between 1989 and 2003, 55 Pakistani diplomats were thrown out of the country. New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi who is also an MP from Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh will be affected by the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court which deals with the contentious issue of politicians seeking votes on religious grounds. On Thursday, a petition challenging the election of Sonia Gandhi came up for hearing in the SC - alleging that the Congress president had violated the election laws in 2014 Lok Sabha polls as an appeal was made to the Muslim community to vote for the Congress party by Imam Bukhari on her behalf. But the SC deferred the hearing on petition saying the issue raised is already being heard by 7 Judges constitution bench and it would want to wait for the judgment by the bench. This appeal filed by Ramesh Singh - contends that Sonia Gandhi had during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections met Syed Ahmad Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid and sought his help to ensure that Muslim votes should not be split in the Lok Sabha elections. The petitioner alleges that subsequently, an appeal was made by Syed Ahmad Bukhari which was given wide publicity by the media, and had influenced the Muslim voters to vote in favour of Sonia Gandhi due to which the respondent won the election. The petitioner contended that the appeal by Syed Ahmad Bukhari to vote on religious lines is a corrupt practice and, therefore, the election of Sonia Gandhi is void under Section 100(1)(b) of the Act. The petition by Ramesh Singh was originally filed in Allahabad high court but the HC judgement dismissed it. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet's move to set up an Aadhaar-linked National Academic Depository (NAD) comes on the heels of a Supreme Court hearing on Friday on a writ petition challenging the constitutionality of the new Aadhaar Act. The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved setting up of NAD as part of its Digital India campaign under which academic awards and certificates are verified, authenticated, accessed and retrieved in a digital depository. The database is linked to Aadhaar, making it the latest such scheme after a recent circular made Aadhaar compulsory for claiming LPG subsidies. There were petitions earlier in the court, arguing that these linkages are in violation of an interim order by the apex court dated October 15, 2015, that had limited Aadhaar's voluntary use to six schemes (PDS, NREGA, LPG, NEPS, and social assistance programs). It had prohibited the government from making Aadhaar mandatory for receiving any benefits or services, and hence the government move amounts to contempt of the court, they argued. Todays writ petition challenging the vires of the Aadhaar act has been moved by SG Vombatkere and Bezwada Wilson. The case will come up before the bench presided by Justice Chelameswar on Friday. Prasanna S, a Delhi-based lawyer who had moved the Supreme Court on behalf of social activist Aruna Roy for the earlier contempt petitions, told News18 that linking Aadhaar to NAD is a gross violation of the Supreme Court order. "This move is nothing but contempt of court," he said, adding, "When a student decides to opt for a government or a private job, does he have a choice of not giving his consent? These are false choices. Now all the corporate entities will also join the NAD bandwagon, further compelling a student to be in the depository," Prasanna said. Not everyone agrees with Prasanna though. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Bhartruhari Mahtab told News18 that the Narendra Modi government has taken various corrective measures to address the discrepancies that the petitioners have raised. "I don't see any impediment to the NAD being implemented successfully across the country," he said. In fact, several educational institutions have already voluntarily moved to an Aadhaar-linked online database even before NAD comes into place. Jamia Millia Islamia and Punjabi University, Patiala, among others, recently announced issuance of online graduation and post-graduation certificates, which is also linked to the students' Aadhaar number. Critics like Dr. Usha Ramanathan, an independent law researcher studying Aadhaar since 2009, maintain that Aadhaar needs to be "called off as a flawed project". "Time has come for the apex court to be a bulwark against the over-ambitious state," Ramanathan had told News18 a few days before the NAD announcement. Currently, there are two legal strictures governing the validity of the Aadhaar: one is the apex court order of October 15, 2015, limiting the card's voluntary use to six schemes (PDS, NREGA, LPG, NEPS, & social assistance programs) and prohibits the government from making it mandatory for receiving any benefits or services. The other is the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, which is under challenge today. Both these strictures have distinct operational status, but recent government directives of making Aadhaar mandatory, petitioners allege, raise the question of whether the interim order of the SC is shadowed by the Aadhaar Act or if the government is in effect defying the orders of the apex court. A recent directive from the oil ministry making Aadhaar mandatory for claiming LPG subsidy had also fuelled the "contempt" debate. A source in the ministry, however, maintained that the regulation was in accordance with the Aadhaar Act, 2016. "Any person who has an Aadhaar has to produce it, and whoever does not have one will be assisted by the oil companies to enroll for the Aadhaar card," he said, requesting anonymity. Image: This image is for representational purpose only Image: This image is for representational purpose only Image: This image is for representational purpose only Much has been spoken and written about the gender pay gap, but here is one industry in the country where men are actively discriminated against - fashion.Models, designers and others in the profession who spoke to News18 said the difference in pay packets of male and female clotheshorses is appalling. The ratio at times is as bad as 1:3, though some foresee things getting better for the boys in the coming years as the segment picks up."India has a fashion industry dominated by women. You have seen that at fashion weeks. The men lag behind, both in money and in the number of shows. Female models charge a bomb, we are not even close to these girls, says model Saud Khan.Aleem Siddiqui, who has worked for a top model agency in the past, confirms this: "The pay gap ranges from Rs 10-30 thousand depending on whether you are a senior or a fresher. If theres a pool of 20 models, a seasoned female model will be paid Rs 15-20 thousand a day while a seasoned male model gets 5-12 thousand a day. It also depends on the nature of the shoot and of course, if theyre foreigners, theyll be paid even more, he says.This means fewer men on the ramp, and the reasons according to agencies could be many - fewer designers foraying into menswear, main revenues generated from womens collection or simply, less money being invested in mens apparel and products.Siddiqui points out that that campaigns of all leading designers, except Sabyasachi, are female-centric. "There is more money in female couture as compared to menswear. And since the wedding season will be here soon, women's attire are more in demand, he adds.Designer Dhruv Vaish, who is known for his wedding collection for men, explains why it is hard to account for the difference in margins. He says, The margin for female creations is hard to account for because you dont how much work goes into it - embellishments, embroidery and so much more. For menswear, its pretty straight out just fabric and stitching. So one cant command big margins.For every 20 designers for women there is only one for men, says Vaish, expressing hope that male models get more opportunities in the future.But while modelling for men is not a great money-making option, it is a great stepping stone to a field where, ironically, the discriminatory pay gap is reversed - films.If you look at male models, a lot of them turned to acting. John Abraham, Sidharth Malhotra, Arjun Rampal, I feel thats the best thing that can happen to them, says Vaish.Well-known model Aishwarya Sushmita sympathises with the men, but also puts across the view that they make it worse for themselves by "getting desperate".Male models get a little desperate because the competition is intense and theres a clear dearth of opportunities. In LFW, there are male models who walk the ramp for free. All they need is just the tag. If a designer has an option like this, hell opt for it."A quick glance at figures on pay packets suggest the scene could be similarly loaded against male models in other parts of the world. For instance, in Forbes list of highest paid supermodels, Gisele Bundchen took home over US $47 million in 2013, while the top-earning male model Sean OPry, earned just over US $1.5 million that year.Male models though feel that things are actually getting better for them. Says Saud Khan, When I started, the ratio was 10:1, but things are gradually improving. There are many designers who want to focus on menswear and theyre eager to take male models. Mens collection is a fast-growing trend. Maybe in 2-3 years, youll see a 1:1 ratio.Others in the industry may see that as a lot of optimism. Nothing makes you more homesick than festivals and holidays. If you cant go home this Diwali and are missing out on all the food, hugs, gifts and crackers dont be down because Netflix is here for you. With these classic titles, your memories of home, family and friends are set to come alive. Even better, call your sibling and reminisce about the good times that each of these movies brought.: A road trip to Kolkata brings Piku, an architect, closer to her ageing but nagging father Bhaskor Banerjee despite their disparate ideologies and fights over trivial issues.Orphaned siblings Pari and Chotu embark on a journey to restore Chotu's eyesight.Sunny, an assistant film director in Mumbai, aspires to become a superstar. While working with an American crew, he is mistakenly kidnapped by an Islamic terrorist group. Cinema comes to his rescue.Family Party: The film stars Jaya Prasad, Vishal Vaidya, Jai Ahuja, Rahul Nalamasu, and Hunter Milano who are group of teens that decide to sneak out of a family event and go to a local concert.Prem madly loves Nisha, his brother Rajesh's sister-in-law. But when Rajesh's wife dies, the families urge him to marry Nisha for the sake of his baby. Prem and Nisha decide to sacrifice their love.Amar and Prem belong to middle-class families but dream big. Gaiety ensues when they both vie to win over a multi-millionaire's daughter to become her suitor.A small village in India hears tales of life in America through letters sent home by a resident. New Delhi: Congress on Thursday virtually ruled out any grand alliance in poll bound Uttar Pradesh including with Samajwadi Party insisting that Rahul Gandhi wanted to set things right in the state which is in bad shape for past 27 years in non-Congress rule. "Our stand is more than clear..We have been saying '27 saal, UP behal'. Rahul Gandhi's yatra .....Is not founded on lust for power but to bring new paradigm of politics in the state", Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters here. He said that the Congress has been holding the SP, BSP and BJP "squarely responsible" for shifting focus from the issue of development through politics of division of different kind. When told that Rahul Gandhi had described UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as a "good guy", he said that the Congress Vice President has no personal enmity with any leader and that politics cannot be founded on likes and dislikes of individuals. Surjewala's remarks are significant as they came in the backdrop of reports that only yesterday 17 Congress MLAs from the state had a meeting with Rahul Gandhi in which they conveyed to him that he should look at forming an alliance with "secular forces" to fight the assembly elections. He also discounted suggestions that JD-U leader Sharad Yadav's meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi two days back and with party General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday was indicative of a grand alliance. Yadav had also met UP SP chief Shivpal Yadav yesterday. Noting that the Congress has an alliance with the JD-U in Bihar, he said that it would be wrong to interpret the meetings in any other way. To a specific question whether he was ruling out Congress tying up with any party in Uttar Pradesh in future, he said how could he say what would happen six months from now. Interestingly, Samajwadi Party's UP president Shivpal Yadav had yesterday hinted at a tie-up with the RLD and Congress to stop "communal forces" in the Assembly polls scheduled early next year. BSP is reluctant to go for any alliance and the possible options put forward by most of the MLAs were the RLD and SP, an unnamed MLA was quoted as saying after the meeting with Gandhi. Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, , who led a delegation to meet separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Syed Geelani, said, "We have come here to speak to the people, listen to their grievances, relate to their pain and share their grief." Asserting that the delegation is satisfied with the meeting, he said that they now understand the situation in Kashmir much better. Political circles are agog with the suddenness of the move given that Shivpal took time out to leave Lucknow where he is engaged in a bitter power struggle with his chief minister and nephew Akhilesh Yadav. Shivpal Yadavs visit was about the silver jubilee celebrations of the SP slated for November 5. All those who believe in the ideals of Ram Manohar Lohia and Charan Singh have been invited, he said. Congress strategist Prashant Kishors presence in a meeting between Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav and JD (U)s KC Tyagi has fuelled rumours that the ace campaign manager is being roped in to thrash out a grand alliance of secular parties against BJP in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls slated early next year.News18 learns that after the meeting held at Tyagis residence in New Delhi on Wednesday evening, Shivpal Yadav visited JD (U)s Sharad Yadav. He also had a telephone conversation with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, RJD supremo Lalu Yadav and RLD leader Ajit Singh.While journalists in Delhi were hoping to meet Shivpal at the UP Sadan in Chanakyapuri, his first stop was KC Tyagi's residence.Tyagi, who hosted the Shivpal-Kishor meeting, didnt elaborate on what all transpired except that it was all about SP completing 25 years. Kishor and Shivpal were unavailable for comment.However, a top leader close to the developments told News18 that the meeting was not all about Lohias ideals and Charan Singhs legacy.They talked about the contours of a grand alliance for Uttar Pradesh, a repeat of the Bihar experiment, he said, on condition of anonymity.The Bihar Mahagathbandhan comprising JDU, RJD and Congress had emphatically trounced the BJP in the assembly elections held last year. Ironically, the SP under Mulayam Singh had pulled out of the alliance at the last moment after being an active participant in the initial stages.Kishore, who began his political career as a strategist for then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, had shifted base to the Nitish Kumar camp before the Bihar elections.A JD (U) leader said he expected Kishore to initiate talks with the Congress leadership for a grand alliance. Given the personal relationship between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, this is only a natural alliance, he said, pointing out that the UP CM was one of the few politicians who openly supported the Congress vice-presidents controversial Khoon ki dalaali remarks about prime minister Narendra Modi after the surgical strikes. New Delhi: Is Navjot Singh Siddhu and his new political formation Awaaz-e-Punjab ready to bury differences and join hands with AAP ahead of Punjab polls? A crucial meeting between leaders of Awaaz-e-Punjab and the AAP on Wednesday at the Delhi residence of former BJP MP Sidhu has fuelled fresh speculation that the front could either merge into AAP or reach some kind of political understanding with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. Sources told News18 that Durgesh Pathak who is AAPs Punjab-in-charge and another AAP leader from Punjab Gurpreet Bhatti discussed threadbare the possible options with Siddhu and Awaz leaders Balwinder Bains, Simarjit Singh Bains and Pargat Singh. Siddhu, who was elected to Lok Sabha from Amritsar twice before on a BJP ticket, had quit the party recently after prolonged confrontation with the ruling Badal family of Shiromani Akali Dal which has a long-standing alliance with BJP. While both sides were tight-lipped about what transpired at the meeting at Siddhus residence, News18 learns that details of seat sharing and contours of a probable pre-poll alliance were discussed. The only decision that has been taken is to re-engage in talks, Pathak told News18. Political observers said even the decision to re-engage in talks with Sidhu itself is surprising given the bitter charges that Sidhu levelled against AAP supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who, he had accused, wanted to limit Sidhus role to being just a show piece. AAP has not offered the post of Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister to Navjot Singh Sidhu, and the partys constitution says that two members of one family cannot be given tickets. So if the Sidhus join AAP, only one of them will be able to contest, and if AAP sources were to be believed, it would be Navjot Kaur. An Awaaz leader told News18 that no decision will be taken in a hurry. We will do whatever is best for Punjab, and the options of allying with AAP as well as merging with AAP are under consideration, he said. Significantly, he also indicated that the option of joining the Congress party was also under consideration and that all the members of Awaaz will stay united in their choice. News18 learns that AAP is aware that Sidhu and Awaz has also a channel open with Congress but the party wanted to appear open to credible homespun leaders from Punjab. The Bains brothers, Navjot Kaur, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Pargat Singh can be reasonably confident about winning their respective seats, if they contest, which is likely making it five reasonably winnable and assured seats. AAP also wants to do all it can to stop Awaz from joining the Congress party thus jettisoning any possibility of splintering of anti-SAD votes To apply science to boost rural economy, the government has launched two new programmes -- Biotech-KISAN and Cattle Genomics. Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said the intent of the programmes is to form a network to farmers directly with the scientists and experts. The Minister in his address here said the Prime Minister's emphasis "on the importance to work on the problems faced by our farmers is a great motivation factor for the scientist community". "The Prime Minister has emphasised that it is important for scientists to work on the problems being faced by our farmers. Biotech-KISAN is a new programme that empowers farmers, especially women farmers," the Minister said. The second programme 'Cattle Genomics' will focus on livestock yield. Explaining Biotech-KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network), the Minister said the programme focuses on the small, least educated marginalised farmers and women farmers. "The scientists will spend time on farms and link communication t ools to soil, water seed and market. The aim is to understand individual problems of the small holding farmers and provide ready solutions," the Minister said. Women farmers will be offered fellowships for training must the scheme. This scheme will connect farmers with science in the 15 agro-climatic zones. In each of these 15 regions, a farmer organisation will be the hub connected to different science labs, Krishi Vigyan Kendra and State Agriculture Universities co-located in the region. The hub will reach out to the farmers in the region and connect them to scientists and institutions. The minister added that the network will have a commuication cell to make radio and TV programmes. Adding the demand for animal food products in India will increase by 2020, the minister said that the second programme Cattle Genomics would focus on selective breeding of the native livestock Officials of Biotechnology department said that genomic selection will ensure high-yielding, disease-resistant, resilient livestock. "Traditional Breeding takes time. Genetic improvement of livestock through traditional selection for increasing livestock productivity has major limitations. To overcome these, genomic selection has played a crucial role in livestock industry globally," the department said in a statement. Under this programme, a high-density DNA chips will be developed to reduced the cost and time interval of breeding. Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) declined to commit funds for a $14 billion dam project in Pakistan, authorities said. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," ADB president Takehiko Nakao said on Wednesday at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. He said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the Diamer-Bhasha dam on the river Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that while it was a very important project for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, it called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, Dawn online reported. "We haven't decided (whether to fund) this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date. The ADB was originally seen by Pakistan as the lead financier of the strategic project, which would have a water storage capacity of over six million acre feet and a power output of 4,500MW. Repeated efforts to rope the World Bank in as a co-lender failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from India for the project. Instead, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha, saying the government would simultaneously go ahead with both projects. Beijing: President Xi Jinping was on Thursday anointed as the "core" leader of China's ruling Communist Party, conferring on him a status similar to that of party founder 'Chairman' Mao Zedong and allowing him to further tighten his grip on the party, military and government. At the same time, a key meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) decided to carry on with the collective leadership system, introduced in 1981 to ensure that no individual dominated the party leadership. A communique issued by top CPC leaders after a four-day close-door meeting of 370 top leaders here called on all its members to "closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core", the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Sixty three-year-old Xi also heads the party as general-secretary of the CPC, and the military besides the presidency. The move to make Xi the "core" leader gives him greater influence over the looming top reshuffle of the party late next year, analysts say. But contrary to the speculation that the party may dispense with the over three-decade rule stipulating collective leadership, the plenum stressed the importance of adherence to the collective leadership system of CPC. "They discussed the matter at the sixth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, calling for a combination of collective leadership with individual responsibility," the report said. Speculation was rife earlier that it may be amended. Xi currently heads a seven-member Standing Committee of the party which virtually rules China. The seven members looking after various aspects of governance included Premier Li Kiang. The Standing Committee embodies collective leadership in CPC parlance. Since taking over as the leader of the party in November 2012 and as President and chief of the military in 2013, Xi has been regarded as the most powerful leader after Mao wielding enormous powers, thus reducing the importance of the Standing Committee. As an important part of the CPC's fundamental organisation principle of democratic centralism, the collective leadership system "must always be followed and should not be violated by any organisation or individual under any circumstance or for any reason," the communique said. Party committees at various levels must adhere to the system, it said. The communique called on leading officials to enhance their understanding of the overall situation and relevant responsibilities, and to resolutely enforce decisions made by party organisations. The plenum also approved two documents on the discipline of the party including the norms of political life within the party under the new situation and a regulation on intra-party supervision, Xinhua quoted a communique as saying. The meeting also said CPC would resolutely address election malpractice, putting an end to the buying and selling of official posts or vote rigging. Los Angeles: A man with an axe destroyed Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday in a video protest over sexual misconduct allegations dogging the Republican presidential candidate. The protester, dressed in city construction worker overalls, can be seen on footage posted to YouTube and several other websites hacking away the gold lettering and camera logo from the tribute. Giving his name as James Otis, he calmly explains he is "terribly upset" with 70-year-old Trump, who vigorously denies claims by almost a dozen women that he groped or was sexually aggressive toward them. "Four of my family members were sexually assaulted," he says in the video, an amateur clip which appeared to show at least one professional crew filming the incident. The man told a local news agency he had originally intended to remove the entire star from the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard. He said he was going to auction it and donate the proceeds to Trump's alleged victims -- every single one of whom the real estate tycoon has vowed to sue after the November 8 election -- but was unable to lift the slab. "It was very difficult. The stone was like marble -- hard to get through," he said about an hour after the 5.45 AM attack on the star, awarded in 2007 for Trump's work on "The Apprentice." He added that he planned to surrender to police, either on Wednesday or Thursday, but was still working out arrangements with his attorney. "I'm not frightened of jail and I'm certainly not frightened of Mr Trump," he said, claiming to have been arrested around two dozen times for protesting various causes. There was no immediate response from Trump, but the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which awards the honors, said the star would be repaired in the coming days and would remain covered in the meantime. "When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California state landmark," chamber head Leron Gubler said. This is not the first time Trump's Walk of Fame star has been targeted. In July, a Los Angeles street artist built a tiny wall of wooden planks topped with barbed wire around it, in protest at Trump's campaign vow to build a wall on the Mexican border. Last year, excrement was left on the star and someone drew a large yellow X over it. A swastika and a mute symbol were also drawn on the red tile earlier this year. United Nations: Russia angrily accused the United Nations' aid chief of bias and arrogance after he told the Security Council that Aleppo had become a "kill zone" under Russian and Syrian bombs. The accusations in turn drew sharp responses from the United States, Britain and France in one of the stormiest council sessions on Syria in weeks. Russia is facing pressure at the United Nations to rein in its Syrian ally and halt the air strikes in rebel-held east Aleppo, where 250,000 civilians have been living under siege since July. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien on Wednesday said he was "incandescent with rage" over the council's failure to take action, deploring that "nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering." With food growing scarce, "civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow (Thursday)," said O'Brien. "Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone." Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin shot back, accusing O'Brien of making "arrogant remarks" and failing to recognize that Russia had declared a humanitarian pause that he maintained had been holding for eight days. "If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church," Churkin quipped. The ambassador blamed opposition rebels and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists for the failure at the weekend of a UN plan to evacuate the wounded from Aleppo and charged that the UN official was not objectively presenting the facts. "Please leave this kind of report to a novel that you might write one day," said Churkin. The pause declared by Damascus and Moscow ran out at 1600 GMT on Saturday, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported there were air strikes afterwards against an opposition-controlled district in Aleppo. On Wednesday, air strikes hit a school in rebel-held Idlib province, killing at least 35 civilians including many children, according to the observatory. US Ambassador Samantha Power took the floor to criticize Russia, saying it had never worked cooperatively with the United Nations during the pauses to ensure humanitarian relief. "You don't get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week," said Power. The US ambassador insisted the goal of the Russian and Syrian bombing campaign was to "make civilians relent and cry uncle" and again challenged Moscow's argument that it is fighting terrorists. Washington: Allies of Hillary Clinton felt threatened by the power of Sen Bernie Sanders' candidacy and wondered about getting some signal of support from President Barack Obama in the heat of the Democratic primaries, according to the latest emails in a hacked trove from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. Ahead of the Illinois primary in March, liberal operative Neera Tanden asked Podesta, who formerly worked on Obama's transition in 2008, if the president could give any kind of indication that he was supporting Clinton over Sanders. Tanden asked Podesta whether Obama could "even hint of support of Hillary before yesterday (Tuesday)?" Obama stayed officially neutral in the primaries until Clinton clinched the nomination in June. Tanden wrote, "Maybe they don't want to do this, but the stakes are pretty damn high in this election for him." The email exchange was contained in more than 1,500 emails released on Wednesday by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. The notes were stolen from the email account of Podesta as part of a series of high-profile computer hacks of Democratic targets that US intelligence officials say were orchestrated by Russia, with the intent to influence the Nov 8 election. Russia has denied the allegations. In a separate June 2015 email, the Clinton campaign worried that some state affiliates of the nation's largest labor union, the National Education Association, were set to endorse Sanders even though the national union had not yet made an endorsement. On June 22, 2015, Clinton's labor outreach director Nikki Budzinski emailed other campaign officials to let them know "NEA is concerned their VT affiliate could do a Tuesday (next week) recommendation of endorsement (with potential press release). This is not confirmed. The bigger concern is that RI and MA might go with VT as well." Carrie Pugh, the NEA's political director, had similar concerns and shared them with Clinton campaign officials. Budzinski said the move in Vermont "doesn't pose serious concern for the NEA overall endorsement" but called it an "optics problem" coming before a major meeting of NEA representatives. "I am working with Carrie Pugh on options to head this off," Budzinski wrote. The NEA ultimately endorsed Clinton in October 2015 despite some complaints that leaders hadn't taken Sanders seriously enough and should have waited. And both Podesta and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio warmed to the idea of setting up a "People's PAC" intended as a vehicle for Clinton to direct support toward liberal Democrats in the House and Senate -- and potentially draw Sanders' supporters to Clinton. Washington: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has claimed he has personally contributed USD 100 million to his campaign and did not take any outside funds during state primaries. "I will have over USD 100 million in the campaign, and I am prepared to go much more than that," Trump, 70, told CNN in an interview yesterday (Wednesday) when asked if he is ready to pump in more of his personal money into the presidential campaign. The New York-based billionaire said his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, 69, has not contributed any money from her personal finances. "Hillary Clinton has nothing in the campaign. She has all special interests and donors and they are giving her money, then she will do whatever they tell her to do," he said. Trump said he did not take any contributions during the primaries, adding that in the run up to the general elections, he has started raising funds for the party. "I will have over USD 100 million in, I am willing to invest more than that," he said. Trump, however, did not give details as to how many more money from his personal account he is willing to pay. Even as he is trailing in majority of the polls, Trump said he is headed for a victory. "I predicted Brexit. I am not even saying this is Brexit, but I think the result is going to be the same, if not more so. We are going to have a tremendous victory," he said. Trump said people do not want four more years of Obama. They do not want Hillary with all of the corruption and all of the problems. "You see all of these WikiLeaks coming out and they are a disaster and when you see John Podesta who I think is terrible the way he speaks about her that she has bad instincts. "Podesta saying that the person he works for has bad instincts, I think it is terrible. But so many other things even worse than that are out, it is about their honesty and their dishonesty. I really think that we are going to have a tremendous victory," he said. "We are going to be fighting hard. Now, we will be fighting hard, but I believe we are winning. I actually think we are winning. I do not even think it is a question of we are going to try and win," Trump said. He said new polls are coming out. "You start looking at the polls, what is happening, and more importantly, start looking at all the people going to vote and sending in their ballots, we are way ahead on virtually every state, every area, and I think we are going to have a great victory. "We are leading Florida, we are doing great in North Carolina, we are doing great in Pennsylvania, we are doing great all over. We are doing really well in New Hampshire, Ohio, as you know, and Iowa, are doing fantastically well. I am telling you, CNN does not say it, but I think we are going to win," Trump added. New York: America's youngest voters are overwhelmingly supporting Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for president but a majority of them say they are "fearful" about the country's future and do not feel hope,a Harvard poll has said. The national poll of America's 18 to 29 year olds by Harvard's Institute of Politics (IOP), at the prestigious John Kennedy School of Government found Clinton leading Donald Trump by 28 per cent. Clinton captured 49 per cent of likely young voters' support while Trump received 21 per cent in a four-way race. In a two-way match-up between Clinton and Trump, the former Secretary of State received 59 per cent to Trump's 25 per cent among likely voters. Clinton is also polling ahead of President Obama's 2012 polling numbers among key groups within this demographic. The poll also shows that a majority of 18 to 29 year olds are fearful about the future of America, with 51 per cent of young Americans saying that feel "fearful" and only 20 per cent "hopeful". Every demographic surveyed felt more fearful, with white women (60 per cent) and white men (54 per cent) exhibiting the most anxiety. The poll said these concerns about the future of America are focused on the attainability of the "American Dream". Less than 32 per cent white females believe they will be better off financially than their parents. When asked why they were fearful, one young respondent said, "Everything seems out of control, and our politicians care more about themselves than doing the right thing for all Americans. We're extremely divided, and very few seem to have any interest in trying to unite us." Harvard Institute of Politics Polling Director John Della Volpe said "young voters are fearful about the future of America, and that is moving them to action. I am hopeful that the next president and leaders in Congress will empower and engage them after the election to move our country forward." The survey found that 49 per cent of the young millennials surveyed indicated they will "definitely be voting" in this election, one point higher than the 48 per cent who indicated the same in 2012. Notably, 51 per cent of young females indicated they will definitely vote, up from 45 per cent in 2012, while 47 per cent of young males indicated the same, down from 51 per cent four years ago. Clinton is performing better among woman, white and non-college voters, while Trump is under-performing by 17 percentage points among young Republicans. The poll also found that an overwhelming majority of young people of color believe they are "under attack" in the US. Nearly nine in ten young African Americans and 72 per cent of Hispanics believe that "people of [their] own racial background are under attack in America". While there is little confidence that race relations will improve dramatically under a potential Clinton administration, there was significant concern it could worsen under a potential Trump administration, the poll said. A dual enrollment agreement between Central Virginia Community College and Liberty University will provide new opportunities for students seeking to transition from CVCC to LU. The agreement was announced in a joint news release Wednesday afternoon. According to dual enrollment details released by both schools, the agreement will allow up to 50 students to enroll at both CVCC and LU. Dual enrollment students will be allowed to take one class per semester at LU while simultaneously taking a minimum of six credit hours at CVCC. The agreement was a topic of discussion at the CVCC Local Board meeting Wednesday. The bottom line is that students will be able to attend classes here at CVCC, and if they know they want to go to LU, they will be taking classes there too, Muriel Mickles, vice president of academic and student services, told the local board. Mickles said being able to attend LU would allow students a taste of the campus culture, something she said often was a deciding factor in whether a student chose to stay at a school. She added CVCCs goal with dual enrollment was to make the transition as seamless for the student as possible" for those going on from CVCC to complete a bachelors degree at LU. The program is predicated upon the notion that students complete [an associate] degree at CVCC before they transfer to LU, John Capps, CVCC president, told the local board Wednesday. In addition to the new partnership with LU, CVCC has had dual enrollment agreements with Lynchburg College since 2013 and Randolph College since 2015. In the joint news release, LU President Jerry Falwell Jr. stated cooperating with other local institutions such as CVCC is beneficial to students, the workforce and the region as a whole. This agreement provides an excellent opportunity for current and future CVCC students to experience Liberty University while completing their Associates Degree at CVCC. This is a continuation of our strong partnership with CVCC, Falwell Jr. said. CVCC board member Steven Troxel noted dual enrollment would allow students to take pre-requisites for certain majors at LU so they could work ahead on their chosen degree program. I love the idea, because they can go take some of those early pre-requisites while theyre still going here and get a leg up so they can get through in four years, Troxel said. The credit transfer will work both ways so dual enrollment students can take an applicable class at LU and transfer it toward requirements for an associate degree from CVCC if they choose to. Dual enrollment students, who will be considered as part-time students at LU, also will be able to access most amenities at each campus and attend LU convocation. Those interested in the dual enrollment program, which is slated to begin January 2017, should contact the Registrars Offices at both CVCC and LU. For many seniors, owning a home is their greatest asset. A free service from Generation Solutions, a company that provides home health care to seniors, has been introduced to help the elderly find trustworthy contractors to do home maintenance and avoid scammers free of charge. Called the Contractor Alliance, the service matches callers to contractors who have been vetted by Generation Solutions. With 22 contractors operating from Lynchburg to Roanoke and the surrounding counties, the alliance has several contractors in various areas of home maintenance including plumbing, electrical, lawn care, gutters, windows, tree service and others. The program was introduced in Lynchburg on Wednesday during a kickoff event at the Craddock Terry Hotel. The most vulnerable part of our population is at risk, said Tulane Patterson, CEO of Generation Solutions. Most people say, well no, kids are most vulnerable, but most kids have an advocate. Who advocates for the seniors? The difference between them and kids is that they have assets that somebody wants, and by golly, these are our neighbors and our friends, and we need to help them. While one in 20 seniors report being financially abused in a wide variety of phone and mailer scams, according to a 2014 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, Generation Solutions decided to target contractor fraud specifically. What we want to focus on is the area of scams that we think we can do something about, and thats contractor scam, Patterson said. You dont get too many of these in life, but this is a win-win. The senior and their family get a quality contractor to help them maintain their home, and the trustworthy contractors get work. According to Patterson, the idea has been in the works for about a year, but they did not start finding contractors until this summer through an extensive vetting process. The company checked with the Better Business Bureau, area chambers of commerce and the Virginia State Corporation Commission and looked in local circuit court records. Im not just going out to anyone; it has to be someone that has met all of our qualifications, he said. We as a community can help prevent elder abuse and crime. Together we are protecting our seniors that are our heritage and our history. In addition to connecting seniors with contractors, Generation Solutions also will make sure contractors call back, and the work gets scheduled. They also will provide the service of reaching out to the contractor on the phone if the caller is not able to do it themselves. Its awesome to have Generation Solutions to partner with community contractors and different organizations that partner with seniors, said Lynchburg Vice Mayor Treney Tweedy, who attended Wednesdays event. These are their livelihoods and their savings, and to see people try to take from them, its sad. If we can work together as a community to improve that and keep them safe, thats what its all about. To take advantage of the free service, call Generation Solutions at (434) 455-6500. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us. Suriname to ship fresh water to Barbados Scheduled to depart the South American nation around November 25, the shipment of a maximum of two million litres of surface water in a flextank was made possible by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Barbados and Amazone Resources (AR); a Dutch- Suriname company, in April 2015. The announcement, some 18 months later, that a trial shipment would be sent to Barbados, was made by ARs Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Auke Piek, on Tuesday (October 25) during a press conference on the sidelines of the 2016 edition of the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) Conference and Exhibition, October 24 - 28, at Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain. We would like to have the launch of the flexbag on November 21 or 22 and after that, it will be sent to Barbados with (drinkable) surface water from the rivers. The journey should take four to five days, using a tugboat to pull the floating flexbag/flextank...We will test, through our trial, how does the water behave during transportation. Piek said the MOU allowed AR to organise the first test trial with fresh Suriname water and from there, we will grow our business model. We (humans) need water to survive, we need water to grow our vegetables, to (run) our industries. Because the population is growing, we need to have this commodity. AR had an independent consultant company test the water in many, many places in Suriname, including the Suriname River and the Coppename River, and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), water thats at a depth of two metres is drinkable already. Piek explained that because fresh water floats on salt water, the flexbag or flextank (he used both terms) will be about ten to 12 centimetres above the surface of the water. Each bag can hold 40 million litres or 10.5 million gallons, is 600 metres in length and, as Piek put it, is like an iceberg which means in the event of a hurricane, the flexbag, like an iceberg, will move with a hurricane. It will not really be disturbed. The bags will also be equipped with GPS signals for tracking purposes as well as for constant monitoring of the water quality en route to Barbados. This is something I hope you would see, in a few years, plenty of (flextanks) cruising around the Caribbean waters providing fresh water to us all, Piek said with a smile, as he shared his passion for the long-term sustainable supply of potable water. Although Barbados has agreed to accept this first shipment, Piek could not say how the water would be used since this is a test run. He did note that following a sustained period of drought on the island, there is an urgent need of fresh water, both for agricultural and industry but also for human beings. Once the water arrives in Barbados, it can either be left in the flextank; which would serve as an offshore storage device, the water can be transferred to the utility companys storage tanks or even sent to end-users. At this moment, all options are open. We can leave the flextank offshore of Barbados... as a storage tank because its our plan not only to have one bag but maybe 400 or 600 bags in the future. So we can use the bags as a storage facility...it just needs enough space to be connected to the floating bouy systems, Piek stated. Surinames Minister of Natural Resources, Regilio J Dodson, was also in attendance at Tuesdays presentation. He explained that his governments role is to facilitate government to government arrangements, following which AR can enter into supply arrangements with State and/or private entities. What we want to do, as a government, is set up the government to government structure to get this going, to get the idea across (about) the potential water supply, Dodson stated Champions of Business 2016 The induction and award ceremony titled Champions of Business celebrates the outstanding and exemplary contribution of members of the business community. Early next month, on Saturday November 12, Champions of Business Induction Ceremony and Gala Cocktail Reception will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain. Originally titled Business Hall of Fame, the event was re-branded Champions of Business in 2013. Two new categories were introduced at that time - Emerging Entrepreneur and Internationally Known T&T Owned - while the prestigious Business Hall of Fame was retained as a category. The awards were further expanded last year through a partnership with EY for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year category. This collaboration with the TT Chamber allowed EY a platform to select a winner in the Master Entrepreneur category. As is customary, this winner would then go on to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year competition, held in Monaco. Young, enterprising self-starters are also recognized in the category of Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year. The TT Chamber is pleased to have EY return as exclusive Category Investor in 2016. First Citizens, a company that has partnered with the TT Chamber almost from the inception of the award ceremony, has consistently lent its invaluable support each year. This year, First Citizens will join us in an exclusive partnership for the Internationally KnownT&T Owned Company of the Year award. Initiated specifically to reward mediumsized business, this category is open to member companies of the TT Chamber which are at least 75% owned by TT nationals. Additionally, the company must have expanded profitably through business development either regionally or internationally. As it transitions to its new role as Exclusive Category Investor, the TT Chamber looks forward to a continued cordial relationship with the banking group. The TT Chamber will retain the signature Business Hall of Fame category, in which we will continue to honour senior executives for lifetime achievement in the sphere of business. To date, no fewer than 27 luminaries of business have been inducted, after being selected based on criteria that include exemplary business practices and philanthropic contributions. For the Business Hall of Fame, the selections are not limited to TT Chamber members only and remain open to all who have made their mark on the national business landscape. The gala event has undoubtedly grown in stature over the years, attracting high attendance from across all business sectors in an evening of celebration and networking. The TT Chamber recently revealed the names of the awardees and finalists to be honoured in 2016. They are: Business Hall of Fame Joe Pires Snr (posthumously) and Ignatius Ferreira; Internationally KnownT&T Owned Company of the Year Label House Group Ltd.; EY Master Entrepreneur of the Year Satyakama Maharaj (Sacha Cosmetics); EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists Anya Ayoung Chee (Anya Ayoung Chee Ltd), Isabel Brash (Cocobel Chocolate) and David Thomas and Rachel Renie (Market Movers Ltd). In addition, EY will make a special award for Winning Woman to Jenny Dan Sharma of Jennys on the Boulevard. The TT Chamber is very pleased to have secured Gordon Butch Stewart, founder of Sandals Resorts International, as the feature speaker for the event. Sandals is one of the most successful Caribbean operations with a presence in seven islands, and still on a growth trajectory. The TT Chamber looks forward to welcoming members of the business community again this year as we celebrate the past, present and future of business. Preparing for disaster The category 5 hurricane destroyed homes and livelihoods across the region and caused a catastrophic loss of life as it moved. Haiti was the Caribbeans worst hit country and its effects have caused their largest humanitarian catastrophe since the earthquake in 2010, according to the United Nations. Many non-profit organisations have announced plans to support Haiti. CCRIF SPC, formerly known as the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, announced that its preparing to pay out around $20 million to the Haitian government to support its recovery - the organisations highest ever sum which will help mitigate the short-term cash flow problems that small developing economies suffer after major natural disasters. Sponsors of CCRIF SPC include the governments of Canada, the UK, France, Ireland and Bermuda, as well as the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank. Additionally, Jamaica has also activated the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) disaster recovery assistance mechanism for Haiti and the Bahamas which was also badly damaged. Hurricane Matthew has been a stark reminder of the dangers posed by extreme weather. Tropical storms are not uncommon to the Caribbean and unfortunately disaster occurrences cannot be eliminated. But the effects highlight the importance of disaster risk management. In the public sector, many government departments work together in a disaster response to save and sustain live protect livelihoods. The consequences of not being able to recover from a natural disaster in a timely manner can include loss of reputation in the eyes of public and other government departments, inability to provide timely reporting and the loss of public confidence. Organisations need to have a robust disaster risk management plan in place. This includes asset and threat identification, quantifying the potential losses, assessment of vulnerabilities, and evaluation of counter measures. It should also include definition of incidents and crisis assessment criteria, escalation procedure; and crisis management team roles and responsibilities. Without effective plans in place, businesses can find it difficult to respond immediately. But its important to remember that a plan only works as a safety net to mitigate the impact of a disaster; you can never disaster-proof a company. Many businesses across the Caribbean have been directly affected through the loss of assets and future business, the effects of which must now be considered in the annual and interim financial reports. Thousands of holidaymakers abandoned plans to travel parts of the Caribbean and Florida. Many airlines had to cancel flights to destinations and Floridas world-famous theme parks closed. Walt Disney Worlds closure represents only the fourth time on history the theme park has closed. But even if companies are wellplaced to cope with extreme weather and minimise damage, the wider impact on local economies remains an issue. Many businesses have prepared their responses to such disaster to help those worst affected. It was recently announced that Haiti will receive a donation valued at over J$2.5 million in non-perishable food items from GraceKennedy Ltd, which is one of the Caribbeans largest conglomerates. Items include crates of porridge mixes, corned beef, sausages, mackerel, cheese, beans, juices and water products. In Jamaica, GraceKennedy staff are also planning to collect items of clothing and other essentials to send to Haiti through Food For the Poor (FFP) Jamaica, the largest charity organisation in Jamaica. Other forms of contribution from GraceKennedys subsidiaries and partners are also under way. Hi-Lo Food Stores (Jamaica) has set up collection points at its 13 locations and is supporting FFPs appeal for non-perishable items. All donations will be collected by FFP, which is organising shipment of items to Haiti. FFPs Haiti office will handle distribution there. Walmart, the worlds largest retailer, has become adept at responding to natural disasters, sometimes more quickly than governments, most notably during Hurricane Katrina, reported The Wall Street Journal. The retailer, in a statement on its website, said that within the first three days following the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011, its associates, working across Japan, quickly took action to help by setting up distribution points for relief items in its store parking lots when the stores themselves were too damaged to open. In the immediate aftermath, its stores and distribution centres provided donations to the victims including water, food and sanitary items. The statement added that Walmart associates worked around the clock to keep supplies going to the Seiyu stores as the chain is called in Japan which had become a lifeline for local communities. Natural disasters can come from anywhere at any time. Nobody has the power to know when a disaster will hit, but everyone has the power to prepare. Businesses that prepare for the worst will always be grateful that they did. Passing the baton Those who speak of welfare for artists continue to defend the Endowment, asserting that it promotes philanthropic giving, makes cultural programs accessible to those who can least afford them and protects Trinidad and Tobagos cultural heritage. In addition, there has been an alliance, whether Holy or not, between the state and religious bodies. Indeed, there are those who may suggest that funding for culture offers little more than a direct subsidy to the cultured, upper-middle class, a benefit associated with political support. Gone are the days when some separation between politics and religion was considered correct behavior. After 50 years of independence perhaps a national dialogue should begin about governments funding of culture and religion. Is this healthy for our social, political, cultural, and religious growth? Where should our hard-earned funds be placed? What must be our national priorities? Not too long ago when ISPAT closed its doors, there were strong arguments against a rescue package for the steel industry. In fact, from many sources there were persons arguing the merits of no financial support for struggling industries and even state enterprises. So why arent we having a similar conversation about government financial support to religious organizations and for cultural events? The Arts will have more than enough support if government funding is reduced as a careful review of other countries suggests a number of alternative strategies available to replace such funds. Economist Tyler Cowen noted an ominous effect to government arts programs: Once donors believe that government has accepted the responsibility for maintaining culture, they will be less willing to give. Government funding also threatens the independence of art and of artists when the State gets in the business of subsidizing art and culture; the impact upon both is often pernicious. Aside from such blatant cultural engineering, there is the tendency to promote politically correct art. One only must reflect on some of the calypsos and the political controversies that arose a few years ago. After a few decades of increased government funding, we need studies that assess the impact of this involvement; did it hinder the growth of culture? In fact, it may be argued that it hampers the growth and development of business models by the private sector and hinders their involvement. Corporate social responsibility cannot be encouraged if, for many a religious activity, the government funds the lion share of the cost. In addition, consider how much stronger a religious and cultural organization will be if they can develop sound business models that can achieve self-sustaining growth. Religion and culture is a basis of personal pride that can inspire, unify, and reveal a nation at its best to the outside world. There is great possibility of using PPPs in the growth of culture when encouraging philanthropists and private investors the added value and opportunities that culture, as a sector of activity, offers them for successful partnerships at the financial, social and environmental corporate responsibility echelons. The Government however, needs to provide a strong enabling environment whereby the capacities of the various cultural organisations and religious bodies together with the entrepreneurship and innovation of the private sector can create a mutually beneficial relationship without the need for the heavy involvement of the government. The time may have come for the government to pass the baton. TSTT Vigilance partners with Ministry for regional security conference The conference was hosted by Trinidad and Tobago in its capacity as chair of the XII CDMA and sponsored by TSTT Vigilance, the Telecommunications Partner for the conference. Attendance consisted of delegates from 34 countries in the hemisphere, from Canada in the north and Argentina in the south, including Latin America and the Caribbean. Major General (Retired) Minister of National Security the Honourable Edmund Dillon served as President of the XII conference and Carl Francis, the Ministrys Permanent Secretary, served as its Secretary General. Darryl Duke, TSTTs Senior Manager for Government, Security and Directories Business congratulated the Ministry of National Security on a successful conference and said, As the only fullservice, national telecommunications provider, TSTT is a stakeholder on national development issues and we are proud to have partnered with the Ministry since the conference addressed issues that are important for national security going forward. He assured that TSTT will continue to partner with the Ministry to make Trinidad and Tobago a safer and better place and stated, We have an ongoing partnership with the Ministry of National Security since before 2009 because technology plays an important role in fighting violence and crime, as well as addressing solutions for the security and defense of our country. In addition to partnering with the Ministry on initiatives such as this, as the national leader in CCTV deployments, TSTT supports the Ministry in their efforts with over 1,600 pervasive CCTV cameras utilised by the National Security Network across Trinidad and Tobago and 80 percent of all primary and secondary schools connected with our broadband solutions. Francis indicated that the XII CDMA was hosted at a time when the CARICOM region and the rest of the hemisphere face common threats to national security which require collaboration and cooperation among its hemispheric partners. He remarked, We cannot reduce crime in Trinidad and Tobago without treating with issues that impact on our region. It is important to address measures for enhanced security cooperation and joint emergency assistance, as well as the evolving role of the military in how we can come together to better respond to situations. Francis continued, If we are able to have discussions with other countries to reduce common threats this will have a positive impact on Trinidad and Tobago as we will benefit from the decisions made and policies developed from the various conference working groups. This is part of the overall fight against crime in Trinidad and Tobago. The main theme was Strengthening Defense and Security Cooperation in the Hemisphere in an Increasing Volatile Global Environment. Discussions centred around three subthemes: 1. Security and defense of the Americas in a changing international environment: The evolving role of the armed forces; 2. Environmental protection and resilience; and 3. Hemispheric security and defense cooperation policy: A case for strengthened humanitarian emergency assistance. As the Telecommunications Partner for the XII Conference, TSTT Vigilance provided free WiFi at the conference and free mobile phones and SIM cards for the visiting defense ministers, delegates, liaison officers and the conference secretariat. Francis thanked TSTT Vigilance for coming on board and supporting them from early in their preparations, thus ensuring that the event was a success. He noted that the XII CDMA was an historic event since this was the first time that Trinidad and Tobago hosted the CDMA and it was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of National Security, the XII CDMA Secretariat and corporate sponsors, making the initiative a true national effort. He added, The feedback received from the delegates is this was the best CDMA of the 12 held. We were able to reach a conclusion on a number of things and they were especially pleased with the administrative arrangements and the opening ceremony. Festival tourism: the way for small hotels She was making a presentation on Marketing through Festival Tourism on the second and final day of the Fourth Encounter of the Inter- American and Caribbean Network of Small Hotels, held at the University Inn and Conference Centre on the campus of The University of the West Indies at St Augustine. The encounter was organised by the Organisation of American States; Red Interamericana & del Caribe PEQUENOS HOTELS, and the Small Tourism Accommodation Owners of Trinidad and Tobago. Rostant said Scotland generates revenue year round by promoting itself as a festival destination. She said in a survey of the visitors, 92 percent of them described the festivals as must see events which they would not have had a chance to see otherwise. She said Australia was another example, where many states facing rural decline had made efforts to revive their communities by hosting rural festivals and now these festivals have proliferated and are creating non-traditional niches for tourist attraction. She said that a study conducted by the University of Wollongong in Australia between 2005-2008 with the festival organisers found that hosting the festivals stimulated meaningful monetary benefits for the surrounding community through spending by the visitors. She also cited the Envision Festival in Costa Rica, held over three days in February, which she said demonstrated the peoples passion for life through music, art and dance. She said Festival tourism creates an ecosystem including not only the festivals themselves but different types of sustainable enterprises, cultural exchanges, the showcasing of unique, creative and cultural products which we know we have a plethora of in the Caribbean, marketing opportunities for key stakeholder groups and audience development, which is again critical for the sustainability of anything. Another presenter, Rebecca Gutierrez, Director of Marketing for OBM International, a leading global architectural firm based in Miami, Florida, who also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and Masters Certification in Hospitality and Tourism Management, highlighted the opportunities for tourism promotion in Social Media Marketing Trends and Tools. She said You Tube is an invaluable asset for the owners of small hotels and that short videos dominate attention spans, adding that a mobile website is a necessity. She showed scores of short videos about what might seem mundane things such as boarding a bus in Trinidad and Tobago; holidaying in Dominica; interesting things about other destinations, even videos shot with smartphones. She drew the attention of the participants to the thousands of people who had watched these videos, pointing out that all those were potential visitors to their properties. She said that 76 percent of visitors to a small hotel property will share pictures of their vacation and property owners should encourage this kind of sharing through the designation of selfie spots which she said are beginning to pop up at many hotels. She said that the selfie spot is simply a position somewhere on the property marked out by the owner from which guests are encouraged to take their selfies because it provides a dramatic backdrop that will attract other visitors. She said a study found that 52 percent of social media users admitted that their travel plans were inspired by photos posted on social media sites by their friends; 55 percent of vacationers liked pages related to their trips and 96 percent of millennials the much-talked about millennium generation comprising persons born after 1980 and coming to young adulthood around the year 2000 share photos. Last Thursday, the opening day of the encounter, Vicki Assevero, the manager of the San Antonio Green Market in Santa Cruz set the dominant note for the day with her presentation on Sustainable Tourism through Agriculture, which Denise Aleong-Thomas, Vice-President (Caribbean) of the Inter-American and Caribbean Network of Small Hotels said really kick-started the encounter by making the point that agriculture depends on tourism and tourism depends on agriculture. And that is a good way of trying to diversify the economy and also stimulating economic growth and stuff because what we are saying is that if tourism supports agriculture and agriculture supports tourism then both sectors would grow and therefore generally the economy would grow. Aleong-Thomas said the point about the need for collaboration between the agriculture and tourism sectors was also made by the St. Lucian Minister of Tourism, Dominic Fedee, a special guest at the encounter. He told delegates that when he visited a destination he, like most tourists, wanted to buy something authentic from the destination and if he is buying something authentic then he doesnt care how much it costs. The subject was extended into Thursday afternoons session of the encounter with a presentation by Dr Leslie-Ann Jordan-Miller, senior lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of the West Indies, who, speaking on Tourism Product vs Hotel Room, suggested that instead of just selling a hotel room, small hoteliers sell a product- the authentic, heritage destination that is Trinidad and Tobago. She spoke about taking some of our tourists to some of our weekend markets and having specialised, customised activities such as teaching them to make a coconut bake or callaloo culinary tourism, Aleong-Thomas said. The Caribbean not just a beach So says Dominic Feedee, St Lucias minister of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting. Drawing reference to his own journey to TT for the 4th Encounter of the Inter American and Caribbean Network of Small Hotels at which he was speaking, Feedee said small hotels provided that indigenous touch to visits that larger hotels could not. Here I am staying in this unique place, in this unique part of Port-of-Spain with mixed use, residential and commercial and living among local people. I had the most amazing taxi driver who picked me up at the airport. When I asked him to try some local food, he took me to have some doubles. A Trini experience. He said that was an experience large hotels could not match because they were usually all inclusive and had a factory operation. He said it was sad that more opportunities were not taken to include these local experiences in Caribbean travel packages as these had the ability to differentiate the region in a very competitive market. This was especially important given the regions dependence on tourism. Quoting figures for his own country and Aruba, Feedee said 60 per cent of St. Lucias GDP depended on tourism while 90 per cent of Arubas was. Even in oil rich Trinidad, he told the audience, they are coming to understand the importance of tourism. Saying that it was time to dispel the myth of the Caribbean as just a beach, Feedee said current research showed that cruise ships and casinos were out of favour with Millennials. They are looking for more experiential type vacation packages. They are not looking for hotels on the beach anymore. They are looking for experiences like the one I had. Moreover, he said tour operators in the UK and Canada were also seeking small hotels for more customised Airbnb type packages. Because of their size, Feedee said, small hotels were best able to respond to these emerging trends. The St Lucian tourism minister criticised lecturers who socialised generations of Caribbean nationals to believe that tourism was just another form of slavery. That is misconstruing the role this industry could play, said Feedee. He also said being a small hotel did not mean that the product offering was cheap or of low quality. Drawing reference to his own country again, Feedee said some of the most awarded and most profitable hotels were under 75 rooms, mentioning specifically the Hotel Chocolat, which had around 10. Here we had this derelict cocoa plantation. No one knew what to do with it. A guy from England came and said. I am going to put some cottages here and develop a chocolate themed vacation. The concept creates great PR. Every journalist that comes wants to write about Hotel Chocolat. People come to experience what life was like on a cocoa plantation and learning to dance the cocoa. That is where the industry is moving to. That is what people are looking for. Unique experiences. TRINI PIRATES We come to your country to buy food to feed out starving families back home. Our homeland is in turmoil and there is no food in the stores. What we got was guns pointed at our face by masked men and a woman who came upon our boats in a vessel with the word CUSTOMS painted on it. They ordered us to pass the bags, Adrian Lopez told Newsday. The 11 Venezuelan nationals were in two pirogues (seven in one and four in the other) on their way to Trinidad to buy basic food items when they were attacked at 3.30 am. Lopez, 33, of Guiria was one of seven men aboard the pirogue Santa Ana. He said the masked men pointed guns and ordered the engines of the two pirogues to be switched off. They told us to pass the bags and they searched it and handed it back to us. They then left. It was only when the sun rose and we checked our bags that we realised all of the money we had, which we were going to use to buy food for our families...all of it was missing, Lopez said. We go back home with no food, no toilet paper and with none of the money we left with. How you think the reception will be for us? What will we tell our loved ones who are waiting on us, Lopez asked. As Lopez, in broken English, explained to Newsday how the ordeal played out, he rose his hands to show how he surrendered when the pirates intercepted his boat. A female wholesale vendor who stood nearby as the Venezuelans were being interviewed at Kings Wharf in San Fernando, said visiting Venezuelans are her regular customers as she vouched that all they are interested in is food and personal items such as soap and toilet paper. When they come, they buy basic food items like rice, oil, flour and sugar. It is a shame that Trini bandits would seek to attack people who are coming here to buy food, she said as she called on the Coast Guard to protect the Venezuelans. The Venezuelans said they will report the incident to the police and Customs. Efforts by Newsday to reach the Comptroller of Customs as well as Venezuelas Ambassador to TT Coromoto Godoy Calderon for comment yesterday, proved futile. Julien Rogers quits CNMG I take this opportunity to thank Mr Rogers for his service to the company during his tenure, said the statement. In the interim, Ms Sandra Maharaj will be responsible for the operational functions of the organisation. Minister of Public Administration and Communication, Maxie Cuffie, in a statement confirmed the resignation. Yes, I have been informed of his resignation. The Board has accepted his resignation and is working on filling the vacancies arising, said Cuffies statement. You should remember that Mr Rogers was hired on a short term consultancy while the company was recruiting a CEO. That process, I understand, is nearing completion. Rogers resignation comes a fortnight after the exit of CNMG human resource manager, Jessell Moraldo-Cumberbatch, whose role ironically Rogers had then taken on for a brief period until present. The Human Resources Managers contract has ended and she is no longer employed with CNMG. I take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Moraldo-Cumberbatch for her service to the Company during her tenure. In the interim, the Chief Executive Officer (Acting) will be responsible for the day-to-day functions of the portfolio and I look forward to your co-operation in this regard. Newsday was unable to contact Rogers. Zoo helps out Haiti As announced by the President of the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago, Gupte Lutchmedial, starting from Friday October 28th straight into Monday October 31st, all entrance fees collected will be donated for Haiti as part of the relief efforts following Hurricane Matthew. All accounts coming out of Haiti tell a story of devastation and our Caricom neighbour needs our help more than ever, declared Lutchmedial. He explained that this is a joint venture with Rotary which is well known for service above self. Lutchmedial explained that the situation in Haiti requires a sustained effort and this 4-day weekend was chosen as it is a period of high visitation. Halloween time at the Zoo is one of our biggest events with very exciting offerings including our Haunted House and decorations throughout. Over the years we have witnessed an increase in visitors who want to enjoy this experience and we therefore expect our contribution to have a positive impact, stated Lutchmedial No One Has Done This Before in Billboard's History (Newser) Oluremi Oyindasola, a 66-year-old live-in nanny, was napping on the couch of a Maryland home when 8-month-old Enita Salubi toddled over to her in a walker, crying, and woke her up. What police say happened next is unimaginable. Oyindasola, they say, was captured on home surveillance video trying to feed the baby while she was still in the walker, failing, then taking her out of the walker, holding her around the chest, removing the nipple from a baby bottle, and pouring "a large amount of white liquid directly inside" the baby's mouth. The 8-month-old is seen on the video squirming and resisting for 25 seconds. Then Oyindasola allegedly force-fed her a second bottle, during which Enita started having trouble breathing and went into medical distress. She died at a hospital Tuesday afternoon, the Washington Post reports. "She forcefully poured the two bottles of what looks to be milk down the baby's mouth, causing her to not be able to breathe, suffocating her, and eventually she died at the hospital," says a police spokesperson, per NBC Washington. Police say Oyindasola called Enita's father when the baby became unresponsive and he rushed home, calling 911 on the way. An autopsy found white liquid inside Enita's lungs, and the medical examiner determined she died of asphyxiation. Oyindasola, who was the only person watching the baby when she died, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in death, and more. Multiple neighbors tell NBC they had been concerned for the baby: "That baby just cried [and] cried," says one. "Every time I came outside, I'd hear that baby cry." (Read more child murder stories.) (Newser) The pilot of a Delta flight from a South Dakota airport was arrested less than 30 minutes before departure time Wednesday morning when a TSA agent told police he smelled like booze. Russel Duszak, 38, was found to have a blood alcohol content of more than 0.04 and was placed under arrest for operating an aircraft under the influence of alcohol, the Rapid City Police Department said in a Facebook post. Duszak, a pilot for SkyWest Airlines, which was operating the flight for Delta, had been scheduled to fly to Salt Lake City, his hometown. Duszak has been removed from flying duties and placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated, reports CBS News, which notes that 10 other pilots in the US were arrested last year for having a blood alcohol content of 0.04 or higher. A passenger tells KOTA that at first, the airline told passengers "the plane wouldn't start." When passengers spotted police on the gangway with a member of the flight crew, the airline admitted there was a "crew issue," he says. (Two United Airlines pilots were arrested for suspected intoxication in August before a flight from Scotland to New Jersey.) (Newser) A former GOP congressman claims he will be taking up armsantiquated onesif Hillary Clinton wins the election. "On November 8th, I'm voting for Trump," Joe Walsh tweeted Wednesday. "On November 9th, if Trump loses, I'm grabbing my musket. You in?" Walsh, who represented a Chicago-area district for a single term in the House and is now a conservative radio host, later told CNN's Jake Tapper that musket-grabbing "means protesting. Participating in acts of civil disobedience. Doing what it takes to get our country back." Walsh's tweet caused amusement as well as outrage on social media, with former Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings tweeting: "Joe Walsh musket. Joe Walsh musket who? Joe Walsh musket a lot of visits from the Secret Service," the Wrap reports. To that, Walsh tweeted: "Nope. They understand that a musket hasn't been used in battle in almost 200 years." Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, wasn't laughing: "Joe Walsh's continued vile and violent rhetoric has no place in our political discussion," he said in a statement. In July, Walsh tweeted, "This is now war. Watch out Obama" after five police officers were shot dead in Dallas. (Read more Joe Walsh (politician) stories.) (Newser) Students claimed earlier this year that Brigham Young University silenced victims of sexual assault by focusing investigations on whether a victim had broken school rules prior to the assault. No more. The Mormon college in Utah says it will adopt 23 recommendations from an internal advisory committee regarding sexual assault, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. Among the changes: An office that provides services to victims will be separated from one that investigates school conduct, a new victims' advocate will be hired, and victims and witnesses will not be punished if they violated the school's Honor Codesay by drinking or consenting to premarital sex around the time of the assault, per the Washington Post. The goal is to encourage more students to report assaults, says the advisory council's chair. "We cannot offer help and support to those traumatized by such a crime if we are not aware that such a crime has occurred," she says. "By having an amnesty clause, we hopefully will let [victims] know that they should not hold any self-blame, that we are here to provide help to them," adds a nursing professor and council member. Two victims who previously spoke out against the school's policies welcome the changes but say more are needed, per the AP. For example, the policies don't suggest new training on how Mormon bishops handle being told about sexual assault. Brigham Young says it will discuss concerns with the church. (Read more Brigham Young University stories.) (Newser) Donald Trump's poll numbers among black Americans are abysmalhe's polling at around half the 6% Mitt Romney received in 2012but he hasn't given up trying. On Wednesday, he offered a "new deal for black America" in a policy-heavy speech delivered to what the Washington Post reports was a largely white audience in North Carolina. The "deal is grounded in three promises: safe communities, great education, and high-paying jobs," Trump said, per the Hill, blaming Democrats for "total violence" in inner cities. He promised to provide incentives for companies to move to "blighted communities," and to allow cities and states to declare such places disaster areas to receive federal funding. In other election coverage: Earlier Wednesday, Trump took the morning off from campaigning to attend a ribbon-cutting at his new hotel in Washington, DC, reports Politico. "My theme today is five words: under budget and ahead of schedule," he said. He went on to describe America as a great country where there is "no task or project too great" and "no dream outside of our reach." At the DC event, Trump congratulated Newt Gingrich on his "great interview" with Megyn Kelly, in which Gingrich accused Kelly of being "fascinated with sex." Deadline reports that on The Kelly File Wednesday night, Karl Rove told Kelly that Trump had wasted precious time opening the hotel and "complimenting Newt Gingrich on having a food fight with you last night." The Wall Street Journal looks at the latest damaging WikiLeaks release on the Clintons. A 2011 memo from then-Bill Clinton aide Douglas Band outlines how his fundraising work on behalf of the Clinton Foundation also led to paid speaking engagements and other business opportunities for the former president. The New York Times spoke to Trump supporters at rallies in six states and found that many believe there will be violence, or even a "new Revolutionary War," if Hillary Clinton wins the election. But some still expect a landslide Trump win. "You go through any neighborhood and see how many Trump signs there are and how many Hillary signs there are, and I guarantee you it's not even going to be close," a 44-year-old Florida man says. "The only way they've done it is by rigging the election." The AP reports that Clinton, who celebrated her 69th birthday Wednesday, said she was struck that Trump "was paying more attention to his business than to the campaign. That's his choice, but we're going to keep working really hard to reach as many voters as possible." (Wednesday was a very bad day for Trump's Hollywood star .) (Newser) A sensational trial that was practically a national soap opera in Indonesia has wrapped up, and a woman is going to jail for 20 years as a result. Australia's Jessica Wongso, 28, was found guilty of murdering friend Mirna Salihin, 27, by lacing her iced coffee with cyanide in a cafe in Jakarta earlier this year, reports ABC Australia. In a trial broadcast live on TV to huge audiences, prosecutors claimed Wongso was jealous of her friend, who'd recently gotten married, and angry that she'd previously told Wongso to break up with a boyfriend, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Judges called the crime "vile and sadistic," reports the AP, though Wongso continues to insist she's innocent and plans to appeal. One key factor in the case: A full autopsy wasn't conducted for religious reasons, reports the Australian AP. The defense called toxicologists who testified there was no proof that cyanide was the cause of death. The judges disagreed, and a former boss testified that Wongso once told her she knew "the right dose" to kill someone. During the trial, Wongso said she couldn't recall her actions in the cafe but denied poisoning her friend's drink. Surveillance video does not show her tampering with the iced coffee. One of her lawyers says Wongso was so confident she would be exonerated that she told her family not to attend the verdict as she would soon be home. (Read more Indonesia stories.) (Newser) An institution calling itself the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing is anything but, according to a man who says an elixir promoted by the church as a "miracle cure" is the same concoction that killed her, ABC News reports. Doug Nash says he and his wife, Sylvia Nash (or Sylvia Fink, per a March Washington Post article), were on a sailing trip around the world in 2009 when they stopped in the Vanuatu Islands. It was there they ran into other travelers hawking an anti-malaria concoction, and after purchasing a sample of Miracle Mineral Solution, or MMS, Sylvia tried it. Right away, things went wrong. "She said, 'Oh my God, that's awful," Doug says, recalling that about 15 minutes after her negative taste test, Sylvia started complaining about not feeling well. By evening, her symptomsdiarrhea, vomiting, nauseahad become so bad, Doug suspected she'd been poisoned. His 56-year-old wife died before help could arrive. The autopsy noted she had ingested sodium chlorite (MMS' main ingredient), which is basically industrial bleach, federal prosecutors say. "They might as well be selling Clorox," the DOJ's Ben Mizer tells ABC. The "healing" medicine was traced back to a firm called Project GreenLife, and in 2015, operator Louis Daniel Smith was convicted and sentenced to four-plus years in prison for hawking the product as a cure for a variety of maladies. But the Genesis church founded by Jim Humblean elderly man who says he came from another galaxy, per the Posthas built up its following around MMS and claims thousands of success stories. Making things harder for the feds: Supplements like this aren't FDA-regulated. Meanwhile, its promoters keep pushing it. "If they do lock me up, I know how to do out-of-body travel. I can go anywhere, see anything I want to see," one of the church's "bishops" told the Post. (An "Elixir of Long Life"?) (Newser) The guy who smashed Donald Trump's star on the Walk of Fame with a pickax apparently told witnesses his real name, which helped Los Angeles police track him down Thursday. James Otis, who admitted to the crime, was arrested on felony vandalism charges in West Hollywood hours before he planned to hold a press conference at Trump's shiny new star, swapped out for the damaged one, reports TMZ. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, however, Otis says he was sick of Trump's "aggressive language toward women" and "his sexual violence with women and against women." Otis adds he plans to auction chunks of the damaged star with proceeds going to Trump's accusers, and will "gladly pay the damages," estimated at $2,500. (An artist gave Trump's star a border wall.) (Newser) A 13-page memo detailing what an aide calls "Bill Clinton Inc." was made public Wednesday by WikiLeaks and will only add to Republican criticisms of the Clinton Foundation, the Washington Post reports. The memo, sent by Douglas Band, lays out how he and his company, Teneo, helped secure donations for the Clinton Foundation while lining up paid gigs for Bill Clinton. According to Salon, the memo says Teneo helped raise more than $150 million for the foundation. At the same time, Band says he secured tens of millions of dollars in income for Bill Clinton. For example, he got financial company UBS to donate $540,000 to the Clinton Foundation; he also got UBS to pay Bill Clinton $900,000 personally to give three speeches, the New York Daily News reports. The memo was written in 2011 after Chelsea Clinton expressed concern about Teneo's role in raising money for the Clinton Foundation. Band admits his methods are "unorthodox" but argues that his raising money for the foundation was completely separate from getting paid gigs for Bill Clinton. "As the memo demonstrated, Teneo worked to encourage clients, where appropriate, to support the Clinton Foundation because of the good work that it does around the world," Teneo said in a statement released this week. Republicans have claimed the Clinton Foundation allowed corporations and others to buy access to Bill and Hillary Clinton. For example, the memo reveals Coca-Cola gave more than $4 million to the foundation between 2004 and 2010 and its chief executive was able to meet with Bill Clinton at home in 2009. (Read more Clinton Foundation stories.) (Newser) A Texas A&M student was arrested Wednesday after she allegedly crashed into a police car while taking a "topless selfie" for her boyfriend, KAGS reports. According to the Eagle, the cruiser was parked in the street with its emergency lights flashing when it was rear-ended by an SUV. Police say that as the officer approached the SUV, he saw 20-year-old freshman Miranda Rader trying to put her shirt back on while wearing an unhooked bra. She allegedly had an open bottle of wine in the center console. Police say Rader admitted she was taking a Snapchat photo for her boyfriend when she crashed into the cruiser. She was charged with DUI and ticketed for being a minor in possession. (Read more selfie stories.) Dr. Gordon Hamilton, a British Scientist that was sent to study and conduct research for several seasons on the White Island in the Ross Archipelago in Antartica, found dead after falling into a crevasse that caused a 100ft plunged according to the National Science Foundation. The incident happened last October 22 when Hamilton is conducting his NSF-funded research. The 50-year-old glaciologist camped together with his team, in an area full of crevasses of the "shear zone" where ice can grow up to 650ft thick. The team was looking and identifying holes at the time of the incident According to the Umaine website, Hamilton was studying the behavior of modern ice sheets and its role in climate change. His current research projects include ice - ocean interaction in Greenland and ice shelf stability in Antartica. Hamilton's remains have been recovered and are set to return to his family in the US. The National Science Foundation was exceedingly sorry about this loss, and extending their greatest condolence to Hamilton's friends and relatives. "I am deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Dr. Hamilton. Our thoughts are with the family and entire community as we mourn this loss," said Dr. France Cordova, director of the NSF. Also, the University of Maine extended its deepest condolences and stated that the institution had lost one of its leading scientists. Hamilton was a teacher in Umaine undergraduate and graduate courses. The Institution's President Susan J. Hunter stated Hamilton's work was "second to none," she also added that Hamilton leaves a legacy and an outstanding scientist, a caring mentor, and a well-known teacher to all of his students. Jeffrey Hecker, Umaine executive vice president, describe Gordon as the "quintessential scientist and educator." Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 7F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low -1F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Raipur: Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday directed to suspend eight police personnel who were indicted by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for setting houses ablaze in Tadmetla area of south Bastar during an anti-Naxal operation in 2011. The DGP has issued directives for taking action of suspension and line attach as per the rules against the then eight special police officers (SPOs now turned assistant constables) of Dantewada and Sukma districts who have been charge sheeted by CBI in connection with Tadmetla incident, an official statement said. A letter in this regard has been issued to the superintendent of police of both, it said. The statement was released late Wednesday evening. According to a senior police official, CBI had filed its report in special CBI court here in the state capital last week in which it has charged SPOs with arson and causing grievous hurt for allegedly setting ablaze 160 houses of villagers during the anti-Naxalite operation in Sukma district (erstwhile Dantewada district) in March, 2011. In another development, the state government has ordered a probe into the protest staged by assistant constables in Bastar on October 24 during which they burnt the effigies of some social activists and political leaders. Taking cognisance of the complaint that some police personnel and government employees burnt the effigies of the people associated with social organizations, an administrative enquiry has been ordered into it, the release said. Bastar division commissioner has been assigned to probe this incident. Assistant constables (auxiallary personnel), many in uniform, had staged protest on the streets in Bastar region, shouting slogans and burning the effigies of activists and political leaders. During protest they said they were angry because they risk their lives every day to fight Naxals, but they had to face allegations due to the naxal sympathisers. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board (MSWB) headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis granted permission to 19-year-old Thackeray, younger son of Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to conduct research on species of freshwater crabs in the Sahyadri landscape. Tejas, whose is known for his love for animals and wildlife, had earlier this year discovered three new species of freshwater crabs endemic to the Western Ghats, one of which was named after his family's surname. This included Ghatiana atropurpurea (Amboli), Ghatiana splendida (Chakul) and Gubernatoriana thackerayi (Raghuveer Ghat). Finance and Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the meeting had consented to Tejas' application for collecting live samples from protected areas in the Western Ghats for scientific research and study on the species. These locations may include Koyna, Radhanagari, Bhimashanker, Kalsubai, Karnala and Tansa. Mungantiwar said that the samples will have to be collected under the supervision of the divisional forest officer (DFO). The proposal said the collection of live samples will not affect the animals in the protected areas or their habitat in any way. Under section 29 of the Wildlife (protection) Act 1972, carrying live samples outside the protected forest needs special permission by the wildlife warden. The proposal, in turn, comes to the board for approval, said an official from the forest department. Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said Tejas sought permission as he wanted to carry out scientific research on the crabs. The species which Tejas wants to research are found in the Radhanagari, Koyana, Bhimashankar and Kalsubai sanctuaries in the Sahyadris. We were told about Tejas application only when it came up in the meeting, he said. The proposal says Tejas has sought permission to collect live samples of the Ghatiana, Gubernatorana, Ingletelphusa and Barytelphua crabs. Tejas had discovered and described the freshwater crabs that live in the Western Ghats. His paper was published in the Zootaxa journal on February 23. The MSWB has also decided to encourage the conservation of wild buffaloes in the Kolamark conservation reserve in Gadchiroli. The crab he discovered has an attractive red shell and saffron-red pincer-like claws. He also published a paper regarding this in the journal Zootaxa on February 23. Tejas elder brother Aditya is Yuva Sena chief and leads the partys youth wing. Tejas told an English daily that he wanted to gather more information about the crab, as no document is available at present. I had proposed research and collection permits for freshwater crabs in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. These crabs are not protected by the law and are not on the schedule list. We have virtually no information on these crabs. Its a very poorly studied group. Hence we wish to study the diversity of species, the endemism, distribution pattern, ecology and behavioral pattern. The information we gather from this study would be a key to the conservation of the species and help us understand and protect the Western Ghats, keeping in mind the wide array of biodiversity they host." For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The RS Pura sector in Jammu and Kashmir was once again under the grip of heavy mortar shelling on Thursday morning as Pakistan continued to resort to ceasefire violation. Six civilians have been reported injured in the heavy mortar shelling. This has been the third consecutive day that Pakistan violated ceasefire along Line of Control (LoC). On Wednesday, Pakistan violated ceasefire in RS Pura sector targeting the Indian posts with mortar and small arms fire, according to DIG BSF, according to reports. Till Wednesday night, at least 10 civilians, including seven women members of one family, have been injured due to the ceasefire violations in RS Pura sector. The district administration has instructed closure of educational institutions in the border areas and has asked the people to remain cautious. Ever since India carried out surgical strikes across LoC on terror launch pads, there have been over 40 ceasefire violations by Pakistan. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Indian Army is celebrating its 69th Infantry Day on o remember and honour all the officers and soldiers of the Infantry who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting Pakistani Raiders in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. Why is Infantry Day celebrated on October 27th is celebrated as Infantry Day by the Indian Army as it was on this day that an Infantry company of the First Battalion of the SIKH Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Kashmir from the invading tribals who were supported by Pakistan Army. This action was ordered by then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession acceding Jammu Kashmir to India. How important is the Infantry's role in the Combat Doctrine of an Army Infantry is one of the fighting arms of an army that engages in military combat on foot. As the troops who engage with the enemy in close-ranged combat, infantry units bear the largest brunt of warfare and typically suffer the greatest number of casualties during a military campaign. Historically, as the oldest branch of the combat arms, the infantry are the tip of the spear of a modern army, and continually undergo training that is typically more physically stressful and psychologically demanding than that of any other branch of the combat arms. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Ajay Devgn's Diwali release 'Shivaay', that is making headline for its action sequences not only because Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' are set to release on the same day. Ajay Devgn's 'Shivaay' will not only have a wide release in India, but will also open in 60 countries simultaneously.The competion has become more interesting as Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) came to a definite conclusion that they will not be screening Fawad Khan starrer 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' in four states that was slated for a Diwali release. Reportedly, the scale of the film attracted queries from not only traditional territories, but also from non-traditional markets across Europe, Latin and South America. The film, that also stars newbie Sayyeshaa, Polish actress Erika Kaar and British child artiste Abigail Eames, will release in countries like Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Chile among others. Shibasish Sarkar, from the corporate looking into the overseas distribution, says, "The scale, action, and the emotional story will appeal to the audience worldwide. Ajay and the international starcast have raised expectations. So, we made sure the film reaches audiences across the spectrum." Watch Trailer here: For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit on Thursday protested with Foreign Secretary Jaishankar at "detention & manhandling of Pakistan High Commissioner staffer on Wednesday in violation of 1961 Vienna Convention." Basit also asked Indian Government "to ensure that such harassment should not happen in future." Basit "denied accusations of Indian Government", saying Pak HC never engages in activity that is incompatible with its diplomatic status." A Pakistan high commission staffer was detained on Wednesday after he was found in possession of defence-related documents while two others were arrested on espionage charges, police said on Thursday. Live updates: # Pakistan High Commission staffer given 48 hours to leave India. # Delhi Court has sent two Pak ISI operatives caught by Delhi Police Crime Branch to 12 days of police custody. # Pakistan says charges against its diplomatic official "false and unsubstantiated". # Pakistan condemns Indian action of declaring Pakistan High Commission Staff member as Persona Non Grata (PNG) # "We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which was indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere. Pakistan High Commission has always been working within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms. This act clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission," says Pakistan in a press release on Thursday. # Pakistan High Commission staffer asked to leave india over espionage charges. # According to sources, Pak HC staffer Mehmood Akhtar used to give cash range between Rs 2,000 to Rs 2 Lakh to his ISI agents. Following a tip-off by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) sleuths, Delhi Police Crime Branch took the staffer named Mehmood Akhtar, 35, in custody. Two others arrested by Delhi Police crime branch on spying charges. pic.twitter.com/5pGJ7cjekO ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 Akthar was released from Chanakyapuri police station after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. #PakHighCommission officer Mehmood Akhtar who was detained on espionage charges pic.twitter.com/Cc2fkc7Thh News Nation (@NewsNationTV) October 27, 2016 The Crime Branch also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar. The detained staffer initially tried to mislead officials by saying that he is an Indian citizen and also showed his Aadhaar card, ANI quoted Delhi Police officer Ravindra Yadav as saying. On initial interrogation, the Pak HC official said he is an Indian citizen and also showed a fake AADHAR card: Ravindra Yadav,Delhi Police pic.twitter.com/bnbIqKgEgJ ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 Police said that Mehmood was a havildar in Baloch regiment of the Pakistan Army. He was later hired by the Inter-Services Intelligence and was placed in the visa department of the high commission office. Police said that the three accused were carrying out their activities for the past one-and-half years. The trio was being watched by the intelligence sleuths for the past six months. "The spies are working for Pakistan's ISI. They were in touch with Akhtar and were providing sensitive information," said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir. The detention came a day after Pakistan summoned Indian deputy high commissioner to Islamabad for alleged ceasefire violation along the Working Boundary and the Line-of-Control (LoC). This was the second day in a row when an Indian envoy was summoned by the neighbouring country over such allegations. Abdul Basit summoned Akhtar's detention prompted the ministry of external affairs to summon Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit to seek explaination in this regard. Delhi: Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit leaves from MEA after being summoned over ceasefire violations. pic.twitter.com/DhhVVi8hTj ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 Read: Pak summons Indian envoy over ceasefire violation for second day in a row India and Pakistan have been at odds over the Kashmir issue ever since their independence, fighting two of their three wars over the Himalayan region. Tensions have escalated sharply between New Delhi and Islamabad following the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army to destroy terrorist launch pads along the Line of Control and inflicted significant casualties. Pakistan has denied such a strike had taken place but vowed to retaliate against any Indian aggression. Read: One BSF Personnel dies in ceasefire violation by Pak in J&K The raid by the army was a direct response to a militant attack on an army camp in Uri that left 19 soldiers dead. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: Prime Minister of United Kingdom Theresa May praised the contribution of British- Indians and has said she would highlight their success during her first official visit to India in November. May praised British-Indians in her message at the annual Diwali celebrations in the House of Commons on Wednesday. "In Britain's Indian communities, we can see the good that can be done when people's talents are unleashed. I think of all those running their own businesses, taking risks and working hard so that they can provide for their families and take on staff," May said in her message, read out by Bob Blackman, the parliamentary host of the annual Diwali event organised by the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB). She said that she would be highlighting this success when she visits India in November on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also Read: British PM Theresa May set to pay maiden visit to India in November "I will be so proud to highlight the achievements of British-Indians next month when I make my first official visit to India as Prime Minister at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," May said. The event organised on the House of Commons Terrace Pavilion overlooking the river Thames began with the reciting of mantras and was attended by leading Indian-origin parliamentarians including Lord Swraj Paul, Lord Dolar Popat, Lord Jitesh Gadhia and Shailesh Vara. "I am incredibly proud, as a British-Indian and a British Hindu to see this event go from strength to strength. It is a celebration for all of us from all backgrounds," said Priti Patel, the UK's International Development Minister and the senior-most Indian-origin minister in May's Cabinet. Also Read: The event this time coincided with a Jammu and Kashmir delegation's visit led by Maharaja Kumar Ajatshatru Singh, the grandson of the Maharaja Hari Singh who signed the accession treaty for J&K to become a part of India on October 26, 1947. Blackman declared that October 26 would now be marked as J&K Day every year in the UK Parliament. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Delhi: The Supreme Court issued notice on Thursday to the Uttar Pradesh government and stayed court proceedings against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas in connection with a criminal case. The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by both the leaders challenging the summons issued to them by a lower court. The counsel for AAP leaders had mentioned the matter for urgent hearing before a bench headed by Justice AR Dave, which listed the plea for hearing on Thursday. During the last Lok Sabha elections, an FIR was lodged by the assistant election officer on April 20, 2014, against Kejriwal and Vishwas under sections including 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 341 (wrongful restraint),353, 171G (false statement in connection with an election) of IPC. The petitioners had challenged the summons in Allahabad high court on grounds including that they had all the requisite permissions for a rally and there was no prohibitory order in force at the time of alleged offence. They had also told the court that the local administration and police had filed frivolous complaints against them to cause impediments in their election campaign in Gauriganj area of Amethi district. The charge sheet was filed on April 13, 2016 and on October 7, the court of additional chief judicial magistrate, Sultanpur, issued summons against them. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. United Nations: In an unusual development, the United States will for the first time abstain from a vote at the United Nations which calls for an end to the US embargo against Cuba, Ambassador Samantha Power said on Wednesday. "The United States has always voted against this resolution. Today the United States will abstain," Power told the General Assembly, drawing loud applause. The 193 UN member states were set to adopt for the 25th time the annual resolution presented by Cuba criticising the embargo, imposed in 1960 at the height of the Cold War. Washington's abstention was in line with calls from President Barack Obama for the opposition-controlled Congress to lift the decades-old embargo as part of a historic normalization of relations. The United States restored diplomatic ties with Cuba in July in 2016 and Obama made a landmark visit to the communist-ruled island in March. But the final decision to restore full trade and financial ties with Cuba would require legislative action by Congress. Power recalled that Obama had made clear his opposition to the embargo in December 2014 and had acknowledged that the policy designed to isolate Cuba had instead isolated the United States. Last year, the United States and Israel were the only two countries that voted against the non-binding resolution, but 191 voted in favour -- the highest level of support yet for the measure at the United Nations. Power said the United States and Cuba must continue to find ways to engage, even as differences persist over human rights. "Today, we have taken another small step to be able to do that. May there be many more -- including, we hope, finally ending the US embargo," she said. The assembly has voted each year since 1992 to approve the resolution that highlights Washington's isolation over its Cuba policy. This year's draft resolution takes note of steps taken by the Obama administration to ease the embargo, describing them as positive but "still limited in scope." The measure calls on all member states to refrain from applying the embargo and to "reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation." For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Government plans to make changes in the six decades-old cinematography law to tone up the functioning of the censor board, which has been at the centre of many controversies. Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu says he is examining the recommendations made by Justice Mudgal committee and Benegal committee but right now he cannot give a timeline on bringing the measure in Parliament. Justice (Mukul) Mudgal committee and (Shyam) Benegal committee have made some important recommendations. I am examining them. At the end of the day, you have to implement those. I may have to make some changes in the law also. I am moving in that direction. I cant give you any time frame because of the Winter session. I dont think I will be able to complete this. My efforts will certainly be to take up the new legislation in the session thereafter, he told PTI. Naidu says he has even sought the opinion of board members on the recommendations of the two committees as he believes they have an insiders perspective on the problems. Recently, I called the secretary of the censor board. I told him that some important recommendations have been made. You sit among yourself and discuss. And come to some conclusion... I told him to study and get back. Government is open to making necessary changes... Cinematograph Act came in 1952 and film certification has to be done under that Act. Naidu, who took over the charge of the ministry about four months ago, says he is aware of the controversies surrounding the censor board and feels there should be some restraint from both the sidesCentral Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and film industry. I am aware of certain controversies with regards to censor certificate issue and censor board. Controversies per se should have been avoided. People should not speak outside, both sides. Film industry is all about creative people and film production has to follow certain grammar. Certification procedures should take into account this grammar of cinema and its nuances. Both the board and producers and directors should work in a collaborative manner in the larger interest of this creative industry. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Hours after India declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar as persona non-grata for espionage activities, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup revealed some details about him. Akhtar was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. Excerpts from Vikas Swarup's press conference on Pak HC staffer's involvmenet in espionage- #If today Pak is feeling isolated, it's because of its misguided policies; People of Pak should urge govt to adopt policies that favour peace #Denial that has come out from Pak (on Mehmood Akhtar), would say that this is something which has by now become quiet characteristic #Mehmood Akhtar stated that he had joined Baloch regiment of Pak army in 1997, came on deputation to ISI in 2013. #When Mehmood Akhtar was handed over to the Pak High Commissioner in the presence of MEA official, he himself said he was treated well. #Mehmood Akhtar was posted in Sep 2013 to Pak High Commision, where he's currently working. #In fact it was Mehmood Akhtar who resorted to subterfuge by concealing his real identity. ALSO READ | Pakistan High Commission official detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage ring #Mehmood Akhtar stated that he had joined Baloch regiment of Pak army in 1997, came on deputation to ISI in 2013. #Categorically deny this,he was treated with courtesy befitting his diplomatic status: MEA on allegations of Mehmood Akhtar being manhandled #Mehmood Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi police y'day while he was receiving sensitive documents pertaining to national securityof India. #Pak High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, given 48 hours to leave India. Read More | Defence-related espionage racket: India asks Pak high commission staffer to leave with family within 48 hrs Earlier on Thursday, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to his office to convey Indias action following brief detention of the staffer who was later released. Foreign Secretary summoned Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, said Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs. Basit strongly protested with Indian Foreign Secretary the detention and manhandling of Pakistan High Commission staffer yesterday in violation of 1961 Vienna Convention, according to Pakistan Foreign Office. The Pakistani envoy also strongly rejected the accusations, terming them false and unsubstantiated. Acting on inputs, Delhi Police crime branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar in custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity, police said. The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar, they said. The alleged spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistans ISI. They were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information, said a senior police officer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, he said. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In an exclusive interview to News Nation, Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf says that terrorism should not be categorized, a terrorist is a terrorist, however, those who are fighting in Kashmir are Mujahideen. Answering on a range of issues, the retired four-star army general when asked if Pakistan has been isolated on the terrorism issue, he asserted that yes, Pak has been isolated on international stage, owing to PM Modi's diplomacy. Watch this exclusive interview of Pervez Musharraf tonight at 9 PM only on News Nation. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Shoaib, the Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent allegedly involved in espionage racket, was detained near his home town Thursday evening, police said. A Pakistan High Commission official, identified as Mehmood Akhtar, was detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage racket involving sharing of sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. Two people, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir were also arrested for sharing sensitive information and defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. ALSO READ: (Pakistan High Commission official detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage ring) He (Shoaib) was responsible for recruiting Subhash and Maulana in the module. He was detained near Jodhpur today evening, said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police(Crime). Shoaib had come in contact with Maulana around one-and-a-half year back, who lured the latter to join him in collecting vital information about the installations of army and para-military forces in Gujarat and Rajasthan, the officer said. Yesterday, after getting a tip-off about the presence of Akhtar along with Shoaib, Ramzan and Jangir at Delhi Zoo, the police had nabbed Akhtar along with Ramzan and Jangir but Shoaib had managed to escape, said the officer. We had sent a request to Jodhpur Police about detaining Shoaib and today evening he was detained. He will be brought to Delhi soon, said the officer. Shoaibs questioning is likely to reveal about the network of other spies who were recruited in the module. ALSO READ: (Espionage racket: Pak HC staffer Mehmood Akhtar asked to leave India within 48 hrs, MEA says he came on ISI deputation in 2013) Police has also got to know Nagaur-based Ramzan used to recruit locals which included army and para-military forces personnel to pass on information/documents, said Yadav. He had introduced Subhash as a para-military officer to Mehmood for getting high money for sharing of important documents, police said. ALSO READ: (Defence-related espionage racket: India asks Pak high commission staffer to leave with family within 48 hrs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Srinagar: Two Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were arrested in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla, reports said. The militants were nabbed in a joint search operation by 46 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group Baramulla. An AK-47, a pistol with ammunition, Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, UBGL grenades and pouches were recovered from their possession. More details are awaited. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A Pakistan High Commission official, identified as Mehmood Akhtar, was detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage racket involving sharing of sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. 1.Another Pakistani spy identified as Shoaib arrested by Rajasthan Police, being brought to Delhi for further probe Shoaib, the Jodhpur-based passport and visa agent allegedly involved in espionage racket, was detained near his home town Thursday evening, police said. A Pakistan High Commission official, identified as Mehmood Akhtar, was detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage racket involving sharing of sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI. 2.Mulayam skips Yash Bharti award function organised by UP chief minister Akhilesh Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday gave a miss to an event where Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav distributed Yash Bharti awards to 73 renowned personalities in diverse fields including social works, sports, literature. 3.Watch Pervez Musharraf exclusive interview on News Nation at 9pm today In an exclusive interview to News Nation, Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf says that terrorism should not be categorized, a terrorist is a terrorist, however, those who are fighting in Kashmir are Mujahideen. 4. Pak HC staffer Mehmood Akhtar asked to leave India within 48 hrs, Hours after India declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar as persona non-grata for espionage activities, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup revealed some details about him. 5. Tata Sons denies Cyrus Mistry's allegations, says board gives its Chairman complete autonomy Tata Sons on Thursday issued a statement and denied allegations levelled by ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry in his letter written to the company on Wednesday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan's former military ruler and former President Pervez Musharraf admitted on Thursday that Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar is a terrorist and is behind all the bomb blasts that have been occurred in Pak. However, he did not give a clear reply as to why Pakistan has not been asking China to get Masood declared as an International terrorist. "Why should China be involved when it has nothing to do with him," he said. While talking to News Nation, Musharraf also said Pakistan has always progressed under the military rule. Here are the top quotes from Musharraf's interview on News Nation- # If you do an 'East Pakistan', attacks like Pathankot will continue to happen. Such acts are a fallout of that. # ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be beneficial to Pakistan's growth. # Pakistan is a nuclear state with a strong army. It can't be bullied through 'surgical strikes'. # My deliberation with former Indian prime minister AB Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh and we had mutually agreed upon the issue of Sir Creek and Siachen. Navies of both the countries had demarcated the boundaries. The army too had mutually agreed upon their controlled areas. A formal pact in this regards is yet to be inked. # A four-point agenda suggested by me on the Kashmir issue is still relevant. Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh had agreed that Kashmir is a disputed territory. Being a big country, India should also show a big heart. ALSO READ | Pervez Musharraf hails Burhan Wani as a 'young leader' # PM Modi's impromptu visit to Pakistan to wish Nawaz Sharif on his birthday is just an artificial gesture. Some concrete steps are needed to improve ties between the two countries. # On detention of Pak high commission staffer on espionage charges: These things happen. We also nab Indian spies. # Pakistan is not Bhutan. It has to be dealt with priority. # Due to the diplomatic failure of the incumbent government, Pakistan has been isolated. # On straining Pak-US ties: There are certain contentious issues the Pakistan Army is dealing with and it will be solved amicably. # There is no your terrorist and my terrorist. A terrorist is a terrorist. Those fighting in Kashmir are not terrorists. Pakistan calls them mujahideen. # Burhan Wani was a young leader not a terrorist. # Masood Azhar and those who were hiding in Lal Masjid were terrorists but Hafiz Saeed and Syyed Salahuddin are not. # Musharraf refuses to comment on Gen Raheel Sharif taking over as a military ruler but says Pakistan had better growth trajectory under military rule. #India must not behave as a ' big brother ' and force the smaller nations in the region to support its agenda. #When asked about the ongoing unrest in Balochistan, Sindh and PoK, he tried to turn the focus of his reply by referring to Kashmir and the slain terrorist Burhan Wani. #When asked on the 'surgical strike' and military might of India he said, Pakistan is a nuke power with a strong army which cant be bullied. Who is Pervez Musharraf? Pervez Musharraf, the former Pakistani military ruler, also governed the country as a President from 2001 until tendering resignation to avoid impeachment in 2008. Musharraf then remained in self-imposed exile for several years and returned to his homeland in 2013 to participate in the general elections Considering Pakistan's foreign policy, Musharraf is the most outspoken leader of the lot and has spoken on various topics in the past 10 months. No stranger to controversies The controversial leader had recently stated that democracy was not tailored to his countrys environment and the army has always had a role since independence mainly because of misgovernance by all the so-called democratically-elected governments. Hardline stand on Balochistan Musharraf doesn't seem to favour a softened approach when it comes to the unrest in Balochistan. Recently, Musharraf even asked the Indian government not to provide asylum to Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti calling him a terrorist. I totally condemn it, he shouldnt be given any asylum. Hes a terrorist. You cant demand that your terrorists are our terrorists but our terrorists are not your terrorists, Musharraf had said in an interview in September. Bugti had approached the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva for filing asylum papers. In January, Musharraf was acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the 2006 murder case of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, the first major relief to the ex-army chief entangled in several high-profile cases. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Backing Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs praise for Burhan Wani at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Pakistan former president and former Army Chief General Parvez Musharraf on Thursday called slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander a young leader. He said this while speaking to News Nation in an exclusive interview. "I was in the army and I well understand who can be called a leader ", he said when asked whether a person carrying AK-47 is seen as a leader in Pakistan. When asked about the ongoing unrest in Balochistan, Sindh and PoK, Musharraf tried to turn the focus of his reply by referring to Kashmir Burhan Wani. ALSO READ | Masood Azhar is a 'terrorist', Pervez Musharraf tells News Nation Musharraf called Masood Azhar a 'terrorist' and said that he has been involved in blasts even in Pakistan. However, he refused to give a clear reply as to why Pakistan has not been asking China to get Masood declared as an International terrorist. Why should China be involved when it has nothing to do with him," he said. It may be recalled that China had been blocking India's move to brand Masood Azhar as a terrorist. He blamed the Nawaz Sharif government for Pakistans global isolation, saying it lacked aggression. On the September 29 'surgical strike' across the LoC by the Indian Army and military might of India he said, Pakistan is a nuke power with a strong army which cant be bullied. On the latest arrest of espionage by staffer of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi on Thursday, he said, "I am not aware of it ", but soon added, "If at all has happened, shouldn't be encouraged ". When asked how many terror camps are there in PoK, he said I don't know ", however, he sarcastically added, "I will let you know only once I get the count of these camps which you are talking about". For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Washington: More than 60 individuals and entities, an overwhelming number of them Indians, were on Thursday charged by the Justice Department for allegedly participating in a multi-million dollar scam involving call centres based in India which conned thousands of American citizens. Twenty of these individuals were arrested in the US today, while 31 of these individuals and five call centers have been charged for their alleged involvement in the scam. An additional US-based defendant is currently in the custody of immigration authorities. Many of these, who were arrested in India recently, faces deportation to the US. The indictment alleges that the defendants were involved in a sophisticated fraudulent scheme organised by conspirators in India, including a network of call centers in Ahmedabad, the Department of Justice said. Using information obtained from data brokers and other sources, call-centre operators allegedly called potential victims while impersonating officials from the Internal Revenue Service or US Citizenship and Immigration Services. According to the indictment, the call-centre operators then threatened potential victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay taxes or penalties to the government. If the victims agreed to pay, the call-centres would then immediately turn to a network of US-based co-conspirators to liquidate and launder the extorted funds as quickly as possible by purchasing prepaid debit cards or through wire transfers, federal prosecutors alleged. The prepaid debit cards were often registered using misappropriated personal identifying information of thousands of identity theft victims, and the wire transfers were directed by the criminal associates using fake names and fraudulent identifications, the indictment said. According to the indictment, the co-conspirators allegedly used hawalas to direct the extorted funds to accounts belonging to US-based individuals. These individuals were expecting the hawala transfers but were not aware of the illicit nature of the funds. The co-conspirators also allegedly kept a percentage of the proceeds for themselves. Mumbai Police unearthed the scam, involving more than Rs 500 crore, after raiding seven call centres on Mira Road. The con job had been going on for a few months, police have said. The daily transactions of the call centres stood at around Rs 1.5 crore. This is a transnational problem, and demonstrates that modern criminals target Americans both from inside our borders and from abroad. Only by working tirelessly to gather evidence, build cases and working closely with foreign law enforcement partners to ensure there are no safe havens can we effectively address these threats, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R Caldwell told reporters at a news conference here. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Reacting to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs order to Pakistan High Commission staffer to leave India in next 48 hours, Pakistans government has declared Surjeet Singh (official of Indian High Commission in Pakistan) as persona non-grata and asked him to leave Pakistan in next 48 hours. Foreign Office said in a statement that the decision was conveyed to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale who was summoned to foreign ministry. "The Foreign Secretary (Aizaz Chaudhry) summoned the Indian High Commissioner today and conveyed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to declare Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non-grata," the statement said. The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms, it said. The Indian High Commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by October 29. Pakistans has taken action just like the way India had acted against Pakistans high commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar. Akhtar was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. Earlier, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, Vikas Swarup has said that if today Pak is feeling isolated, it's because of its misguided policies; People of Pak should urge govt to adopt policies that favour peace. Denial that has come out from Pak (on Mehmood Akhtar), would say that this is something which has by now become quiet characteristic, said Vikas Swarup. India declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer in New Delhi as persona non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border. oreign Office said in a statement that the decision was conveyed to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale who was summoned to foreign ministry. "The Foreign Secretary (Aizaz Chaudhry) summoned the Indian High Commissioner today and conveyed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to declare Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non-grata," the statement said. The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms, it said. The Indian High Commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by October 29. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In an exclusive interview with News Nation, former Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf has described Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist, saying he has been involved in bomb blasts even in his country. Musharraf accepted Pakistan government's diplomatic failure on international front. He, however, said it does not mean that Pakistan should be taken for granted. Below are the top 10 quotes of Musharraf: 1. PM Modi's impromptu visit to Pakistan to wish Nawaz Sharif on his birthday is just an artificial gesture. Some concrete steps are needed to improve ties between the two countries. 2. On detention of Pak high commission staffer on espionage charges: These things happen. We also nab Indian spies. 3. Due to the diplomatic failure of the incumbent government, Pakistan has been isolated. 4. There is no your terrorist and my terrorist. A terrorist is a terrorist. Those fighting in Kashmir are not terrorists. Pakistan calls them Mujahideen. ALSO READ | Masood Azhar is a 'terrorist', Pervez Musharraf tells News Nation 5. Burhan Wani was a young leader. 6. Masood Azhar and those who were hiding in Lal Masjid were terrorists but Hafiz Saeed and Syyed Salahuddin are not. 7. Musharraf refuses to comment on Gen Raheel Sharif taking over as a military ruler but says Pakistan had better growth trajectory under military rule. 8. India must not behave as a ' big brother ' and force the smaller nations in the region to support its agenda. ALSO READ | Pervez Musharraf hails Burhan Wani as a 'young leader' 9. When asked about the ongoing unrest in Balochistan, Sindh and PoK, he tried to turn the focus of his reply by referring to Kashmir and the slain terrorist Burhan Wani. 10. When asked on the 'surgical strike' and military might of India he said, Pakistan is a nuke power with a strong army which cant be bullied. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Corruption: Justice Dept. wont prosecute EPA worker over Gold King mine spill If you or I or any citizen, really had done what EPA contract workers did to the environment in Colorado recently, wed not only be facing huge fines that would take a lifetime to repay, wed also very likely be in court fighting for our freedom. But of course, our government always makes sure to protect its own, as evidenced by the way the Obama administration has ensured that the presidents heir-apparent, Hillary Clinton, didnt face prosecution for harming national security and mishandling classified materials. Now, we find out, the Obama Justice Department isnt going to prosecute those responsible for the disastrous Gold King Mine toxic spill in August 2015, which dumped more than 3 million tons of toxic chemicals into many tributaries that stretched through three states. As reported by AMI Newswire, Jeffery Lagda, an EPA spokesman, said the DoJ made its decision to let the contract workers off the hook October 6 after the agencys Office of Inspector General presented its findings about the spill to U.S. attorneys in Colorado. The OIG investigated whether the EPA worker violated provisions of the Clean Water Act and made false statements to the OIGs investigators, Lagda said. The Star added that the OIG did find evidence the worker made false statements and violated the Act. The spill at the mine, located in southwestern Colorado, released millions of tons of water containing arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, and contaminated the Animas and San Juan rivers. The pollution spread downstream into parts of Utah and New Mexico. Three committee heads in the House were incensed over the corrupt Justice Departments inaction and demanded that members of DoJ appear before them to explain why no charges were filed for obvious violations of EPA regulations. By not taking up the case, the Department of Justice looks like it is going easy on its colleagues at the EPA, Republican Reps. Jason Chaffetz, Rob Bishop and Cynthia Lummis said in their letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, AMI Newswire reported. Its lack of action on these charges gives the appearance of hypocrisy and seems to indicate that there is one set of rules for private citizens and another for the federal government. The spill left the rivers and tributaries a rusty orange for days until the toxic sediment dispersed. The House members also noted that in 2013, the U.S. Attorneys office in Colorado prosecuted a business owner in Longmont for discharging 1,000 gallons of sewage into a ditch that led to a reservoir. In that case, prosecutors alleged a clear violation of the Clean Water Act and the business owner was handed a $10,000 fine. But of course, he was a private citizen not working for a federal agency. The EPA disaster deserves the same level of accountability to which private citizens are held, said the congressmen, who requested a congressional briefing on the matter no later than October 26. Of course it does, but in the age of Obama and Clinton, there are now two sets of rules: Those for the elite meaning there are no rules and those for the rest of us. Sources: AMINewswire.com TheStar.com Submit a correction >> Obama admin continues to escalate war with Russia Earlier this year, it was reported that more than half of the population of Yemen, referred to as the poorest country in all of the Middle East, were facing starvation. It comes as a bit of a surprise that a country facing such dire economic and humanitarian crises would then, less than a year later, choose to launch a missile attack against such a formidable opponent as the United States Navy. This is the official story being told, despite an outright denial from the Houthi rebels that the missiles originated from their territory. The Houthis are a group of Shiite Muslims who came about following a 2004 uprising led by Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi which subsequently resulted in his killing. The U.S. has long suspected that the Houthis have been receiving clandestine aide from the Iranian government. Iran has adamantly rebutted this accusation. As a result of the alleged attack, the U.S. decided to get involved in the ongoing conflict by means of retaliatory strikes, the first in the region against the Houthis. Among the various sites to receive Tomahawk cruise missiles were three radar stations currently under control of the rebel group. This just continues the ongoing violence in the war torn country which began in March of 2015, when a group of countries led by Saudi Arabia and backed financially by the United States and United Kingdom began a bombing campaign against the Houthis. In turn, the Iranian government, viewing the strikes as nothing more than impetuous hostility, deployed a fleet of ships to the Gulf of Aden. The act of aggression over an event that is still being debated and investigated is eerily and historically similar to the means by which the United States entered the Vietnam War. While Yemen is of little importance to the United States, the country is in a geographically key position for other possible future endeavors. The event just furthers the ongoing notion previously evidenced in both the South and East China Seas and Syria that everything eventually leads back to Russia. Additionally, many countries have condemned the United States for backing Saudi Arabia, a country with a history of human rights violations, and have either withdrawn support for the US or have outright pledged their support to Russia. More and more in recent years, it seems as though the United States is preemptively preparing for an escalated conflict with Russia. There is still no word from the long-quiet anti-war left, although with the way the official story has been portrayed this should come with little surprise. Sources: TheDailySheeple.com TheIntercept.com Submit a correction >> Organizer claiming responsibility for violent Chicago protests on Hillarys payroll The Clinton Campaign has once again been embroiled in a new controversy showing that not only was the use of violence condoned for activists protesting Donald Trump rallies, but that those who created such a dangerous environment were in fact being compensated for doing so. In March, protests in Chicago turned violent, leading to the cancellation of a Trump rally. This past Monday a video surfaced in which Zulema Rodriguez claims responsibility for the protest having the outcome it did. Rodriguez also states that another incident in Arizona, during which protestors shut down a major highway near another Trump rally, was also her doing. Rodriguez received two checks from the Clinton Campaign directly before the event disruption in Chicago and was also given rather sizable sums from MoveOn.org and the Stand Up For Ohio PAC. The video, which was produced by James OKeefe for Project Veritas, also coincides with an email released by Wikileaks. The clip shows an undercover discussion with Scott Foval, the national field director of Americans United for Change, during which he recounts not only planting people at rallies to incite violence, but also busing people in for even further distractions The filmmaker, who was posing as a donor, had already tried to get similar information from Democracy Partners head Robert Creamer, but was unable to. Instead, Foval, who had worked as a sub-contractor in Creamers group, readily gave up the information that would incriminate both of them. Foval unknowingly goes on record as saying that those types of events make it rather easy for Trump supporters to pop off due to protestors wearing shirts from Planned Parenthood or that equate Donald Trump and his supporters to national socialists. From there, he says it was easy to get them to assault protestors. Foval was relieved of his duties and Creamer decided to step down from his position so as not to interfere or cause a distraction from the Clinton Campaign. The Democratic National Committee was quick to distance themselves from the topics discussed in the video with interim Chairwoman Donna Brazile releasing a statement that the ideas and values brought forth in the clip do not represent that of the DNC or its policies. Coming from the same group that recently lost four of its top committee members when it was revealed that they had conspired to sabotage Bernie Sanders campaign, it seems that the DNCs policies may need a major overhaul. Source: TheDailyCaller.com FoxNews.com Submit a correction >> UN finally admits responsibility in Haiti cholera outbreak which killed at least 10,000 people If there is one thing weve learned over the past year, its that the United Nations should just stay out of everything, because it seems as though everything they involve themselves in immediately gets worse. Without even mentioning the sexual assaults committed by their global police state group of peacekeepers, the UN has proven to be a disgusting, evil organization through their charitable ventures. It was recently revealed that the United Nations in the Haiti cholera outbreak that began six years ago and has cost at least 10,000 people their lives. These are the people that are supposed to be ensuring that the world is safe. You just cant write this stuff. The cause of the cholera outbreak was revealed to be human waste disposal at a UN base where nearly 500 of their Peacekeepers were stationed. After relieving themselves, the Peacekeepers waste would then runoff into a nearby river, effectively infecting the Haitians that use the river. Even worse, people are still continuing to get infected with cholera and die as a result. The outbreak is not under control in any way, but at least the UN is accepting fault. Finally. Fiona MacDonald of Science Alert reports, According to official stats, the epidemic has killed at least 10,000 people, but some researchers say the number could be much higher. The UN has never accepted any level of responsibility until now, and have maintained theyre immune from any legal action brought against them relating to the outbreak. Yes, the United Nations is avoiding taking full responsibility for the outbreak by claiming that they have no obligation to fix it. This is an organization that never seems to stop patting itself on the back for saving the world from all its problems, but now it refuses to fix the deadly problem that it is directly responsible for. This is the globalist mindset in a nutshell. Nothing is ever their fault. They take credit for things they had no part in fixing and pass the buck when they themselves make egregious errors. They view themselves as being completely above the law, making it to where people have to take care of their problems for them. Health problems are a major concern in Haiti as it is. The last thing those poor people need is the UN coming back to help out again. With 10,000 dead already, theres no reason that number should rise any higher Sources: ScienceAlert.com Reuters.com ABC.net.au Submit a correction >> This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW MILFORD - Volunteers and residents, huddled under umbrellas in the rain, read the names written on a 250-foot wall in Youngs Field on Thursday afternoon. A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be in town until Sunday for residents to remember the young men and women who lost their lives in the war. By the end of this year, the wall will have traveled to 35 different towns across the country. Jenny Rehnberg from the Roger Sherman chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution worked for more than a year to bring the wall to New Milford. Her father was a prisoner of war in World War II, her son served in Iraq and her brother and cousin served in Vietnam. Honoring our veterans comes naturally to me, she said. She hopes the wall will educate those who do not know much about the Vietnam War. Organizers have several events planned throughout the weekend, including a candlelight ceremony for prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action at 8 p.m. on Friday. Volunteers also aim to read each of the more than 58,000 names out loud throughout the weekend. Tim Tetz, director of outreach for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, said about 50 people came to the opening ceremony Thursday morning, but that attendance dropped later in the day with the rain and snow. One of the first attendees was a Vietnam veteran whose best friend died in the war. Tetz said the man walked the wall in the snow, pausing at each of the 140 panels to honor the names. Those are the things you see when you bring it to a town that move you beyond emotion, Tetz said. Patrick Peet, volunteer and veteran from a 1965 conflict in the Dominican Republic, whose two brothers served in Vietnam, was among the people at the wall Thursday afternoon. Its very important that people remember the Vietnam veterans, he said. During those times there was a lot of negativity about the war and soldiers were treated pretty rotten. Both his brothers survived, but he said the war has stayed with them. I think my younger brother goes through some recalls quiet a bit, he said. Residents can also see the memorial funds mobile education center, which includes television monitors that cycle through the 32 names of the Vietnam vets from Litchfield County and the names of deceased who would have celebrated their birthday that day. Thats what makes this special, Tetz said. Thats why everyone whether theyve seen the wall in D.C. or not needs to come down and take part in a national memorial in their backyard. The memorial fund has photographs of most of the soldiers from Litchfield county, but hopes to collect the missing ones by the end of the weekend. I would love to see the wall find all the photographs so they become not just names, Rehnberg said. Tetz said younger generations often see veterans as older, white-haired men, but they dont realize that there are eight female nurses with their names on the wall or that the soldiers died at the average age of 20 years and nine months. They dont realize the heroes and stories of the people on that wall, he said. Asian Development Bank declines to fund Pakistan dam project Pakistan,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Business/Economy, Wed, 26 Oct 2016 IANS Islamabad, Oct 27 (IANS) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) declined to commit funds for a $14 billion dam project in Pakistan, authorities said. "We did not really make any commitment. This is a very big project," ADB president Takehiko Nakao said on Wednesday at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the conclusion of the 15th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme. He said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was conducting a feasibility study on the Diamer-Bhasha dam on the river Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that while it was a very important project for Pakistan's energy and irrigation requirements, it called for the formation of more partnerships that could provide funding for the project, Dawn online reported. "We haven't decided (whether to fund) this project yet because it needs big money," he said, adding that the ADB might consider joining the financing of this project at a later date. The ADB was originally seen by Pakistan as the lead financier of the strategic project, which would have a water storage capacity of over six million acre feet and a power output of 4,500MW. Repeated efforts to rope the World Bank in as a co-lender failed two years ago when the government declined to seek a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from India for the project. Instead, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar accepted a funding offer from the World Bank to start the Dasu Hydropower project, downstream of Diamer-Bhasha, saying the government would simultaneously go ahead with both projects. --IANS ksk Fearless about adventures in New Zealand: Sidharth Delhi,Cinema/Showbiz, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) River rafting in Rishikesh was one adventure that Sidharth Malhotra had experienced before he took the plunge for a SkyWalk, a deep sea dive, a skydive and more in New Zealand last year. Now geared up for yet another trip to the picturesque country next month, the actor says he was fearless about taking the risks because of the safety norms and professionals who are involved in it. As the Indian ambassador of Tourism New Zealand, the Bollywood star had made his maiden debut to the country last year and indulged in myriad adventure activities. Now on his second trip, on which he will embark on next month, he hopes to explore more. "I have grown up in Delhi, and for us, adventure meant going to Rishikesh. There weren't much adventure options. When I went to New Zealand, I jumped off a plane 15,000 ft in the air. It offers a great view and their safety norms are very much in place. My skydive was with a person who had an experience of 30,000 dives. So, I felt safe with professionals," Sidharth said at an event here on Thursday. Was he afraid? "Well, the fear was never about safety there. The only thing I wasn't too sure of was the Skywalk as I didn't know what it would be like. I still knew what the skydive was about. But walking on the edge of the SkyTower in Auckland was interesting," he said and added that the variety of adventures that the country offers is something one will "sadly" not get to experience in India. He said he found it fascinating how within an hour or so, a person can go from being on a glacier to underwater diving. The adventures apart, the "Baar Baar Dekho" actor recounted his culinary experiences in New Zealand, and said he was particularly impressed by an oyster farm which was located below a property that he stayed in. Sidharth shared the dais at the event on Thursday with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. --IANS rb/bg UNHCR distances itself from 'Afghan Girl' Sharbat Gula Pakistan,Human Interest/Society, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Islamabad/United Nations, Oct 27 (IANS) The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday distanced itself from Sharbat Gula, Nat Geo's famed 'Afghan Girl' who has been detained by authorities in Pakistan for alleged forgery. The United Nation's refugee agency in Pakistan claimed that Sharbat Gula - known as Afghanistan's green-eyed Mona Lisa - is not a registered refugee. "We cannot extend any assistance to the detained Afghan woman as she is not registered refugee with UNHCR," Senior External Relations Officer UNHCR Pakistan Dan McNorton told Dawn.com. Sharbat Gula, who fled Afghanistan during Soviet occupation shot to fame after her photograph as a young refugee was published on the cover of National Geographic back in 1985 on her arrival to Peshawar. Gula was arrested a day earlier from her Peshawar residence by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged forgery of a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC). She faces seven to 14 years prison time and fine between $3,000 to $5,000 if convicted by court over fraud, a National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) official said Wednesday. Nadra's vigilance department and an official of the FIA rejected information provided on the Nadra form as fake, and the FIA official ordered cancellation of CNICs of Gula and her alleged sons. Details of the form had claimed that Sharbat Gula had two sons. The FIA official maintained that she has two daughters and a two-year-old son. According to the UN refugee agency, the first census of Afghan refugees in Pakistan started in 2006 and the refugees that turned out at registration offices got Proof of Registration (PoR) cards thus getting permission of their legitimate stay in Pakistan. "I think Sharbat Bibi missed that opportunity and could not register herself as refugee," Duniya Aslam Khan explained when asked as to why the refugee agency could not register her. The UNHCR was contacted by Afghan diplomats in Islamabad anticipating that she will be rescued by the refugee agency for being refugee. Expressing concern over the arrest of Sharbat Gula, the Afghan government has decided to take up the issue with Pakistani government, sources said Thursday. An official at the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar told DawnNews the Afghan government will pursue the case in a Pakistani court and provide a lawyer and legal assistance to Gula, who is an Afghan national. "She is an Afghan national and our embassy in Islamabad will take up the case with the Foreign Office for early release of Sharbat Gula," he said, requesting not to be named. Quoting family members, the official said Sharbat Bibi was not feeling well and they were also worried about her health. Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omer Zakhilwal tweeted in Pashto saying the Afghan government will help rescue the detained Afghan woman from police custody and will rehabilitate her in Afghanistan. Sharbat Gula became famously known as the 'Afghan Girl' when National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry captured her photograph at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp situated on the edge of Peshawar in 1984 and identified her as Sharbat Gula. She gained worldwide recognition when her image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine at a time when she was approximately 12 years old. That photo has been likened with Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. National Geographic also made a short documentary about her life and dubbed her the 'Mona Lisa of Afghan war'. She remained anonymous for years after her first photo made her an icon around the world and until she was discovered by National Geographic in 2002 Meanwhile the American photographer who took the iconic National Geographic image of Gula in 1985 has vowed to do "anything possible" to help after reports she has been arrested in Pakistan. Photographer Steve McCurry posted to Instagram that this was "an egregious violation of her human rights". He wrote: "We are doing everything we can to get the facts by contacting our colleagues and friends in the area. "I am committed to doing anything and everything possible to provide legal and financial support for her and her family. "I object to this action by the authorities in the strongest possible terms. She has suffered throughout her entire life." --IANS rn Sky lanterns in Taiwan's Shifen village carry tourists' wishes to the Gods (Travelogue) Taiwan, Province Of China,National,Human Interest/Society, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Taipei, Oct 27 (IANS) The fusion of two activities -- signalling against bandits and sending up wishes and prayers during the Chinese New Year -- has resulted in tourists flying lanterns to the Gods in Shifen village in Taiwan. Lined up along the narrow gauge railway track in the mountainous Shifen village in the Pingxi district near Taipei are shops selling huge single- or four-colour paper lanterns. Hundreds of tourists buy these lanterns (shaped like a big inverted basket) and pen down their wishes/requests to the Gods. A few moments later, after the shopkeeper lights up the lantern's fuel sheets (thick paper dipped in diesel), the tourists let go of the lanterns which slowly rise high up into the skies. "At night the lit lanterns look like big fireflies, with the mountains in the background," Francis Hu, a Taiwan Tourism Bureau authorised tourist guide, told IANS. According to tourist literature, in the 19th century, when the settlements first came up, life was relatively peaceful and prosperous only occasionally disturbed by bandits who raided the villages soon after harvest. To avoid the bandits, the Shifen villagers retreated to the mountains with their farm produce. A few days later a scout would be sent to the village to survey the area for the presence of bandits. He would send up a lantern signalling that the area was safe and free of bandits for the villagers to return. As for the history of the sky lanterns, it is said that they were closely associated with Chinese statesman Zhuge Liang who apparently used to send up sky lanterns as military signals and also to confuse the enemy's readings of celestial bodies. Tourist guide Hu said that during the Chinese New Year, people used to write their wishes/prayers on a lantern at their homes. But this lantern was not sent up into the skies. "Over a period of time, the practice of writing down wishes on lanterns and sending them up got fused, which is now a great tourist attraction," Hu added. "Please let me ace my exams," a student sent her prayer to her God through a lantern. Now, the lantern festival forms a part of the New Year celebrations when several thousand people gather at Shifen village to send up their lanterns. "We sell around 20 lanterns per day. We make the lanterns ourselves while the paper is sourced from outside," lantern-seller Liad Jiahuei told IANS. She said tourists, irrespective of their nationality or religion, send up the paper lanterns, most of which burn for around 10 minutes. A four-colour lantern costs around Taiwan $200 (USD6.5) and a single-colour lantern is priced at Taiwan $150. Whenever a narrow gauge train passes through the region, the lantern activity comes to a standstill. "Every hour there will be a train" and we stop sending up the lanterns so that they do not hinder the rail transport or vice versa, Hu said. One other attraction of the Shifen village is the Shifen waterfall Taiwan's largest such that can be reached by a short walk from the parking lot. Shaped somewhat like a horse shoe, it resembles a miniaturised Niagara Falls. The pool below the Shifen waterfall is called the Rainbow Pool as on clear days, the moisture above the pool is conducive for a rainbow's formation. (Venkatachari Jagannathan was in Taiwan at the invitation of Scoot Airlines and Taiwan Tourism Bureau. He can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in) --IANS vj/vm/sac/ky Russia denies involvement in Syria school attack Russian Federation,Diplomacy, Thu, 27 Oct 2016 IANS Moscow, Oct 28 (IANS) Russian Defense Ministry denied the involvement of the alleged airstrikes on a school in Idlib in Syria, saying the evidence spreading among media was "fabricated." "The video of an alleged airstrike that appeared in a various foreign media was made of ten clips put together, and shot with a different resolution at different time," the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Thursday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Wednesday that an air raid, allegedly carried out by Russian warplanes, targeted civilian areas in Idlib, including a school compound, killing at least 26 civilians, Xinhua news agency reported. "This is a tragedy. It is an outrage. And if deliberate, it is a war crime," executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund Anthony Lake said, calling the strike "the deadliest attack on a school" in the five-and-a-half-year-long crisis in the war-raged Middle East country. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for "an immediate and impartial investigation" into the attacks. "If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing.--IANS vgu/ Despite overwhelming evidence that Physician Assistants Improve Care and Save Money, Many Provinces are still not using PAs effectively. WINNIPEG, Oct. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's healthcare system would provide better, more affordable quality care if Physician Assistants (PAs) were being used more broadly, says a new report from the Conference Board of Canada released this week. The report was released on the eve of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistant's annual conference in Winnipeg. "When I talk to the leaders of other global PA Associations they're shocked when I tell them how few there are in Canada," said Rhule. "Jurisdictions like the Netherlands, the UK, and the US are utilizing PAs to a greater extent than we are. They are already seeing the value and improved access to care. At a time when provinces are wrestling to keep wait times down and contain costs, and the federal government is wanting to see things done differently, we should be expanding the role of PAs." PAs are currently practicing in Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Alberta in emergency rooms, primary care, long-term care, orthopedics and elsewhere. PAs in these jurisdictions are helping to provide better, faster and affordable care to patients in every environment they practice in. In all cases, studies have demonstrated that patients and providers are seeing the benefits that PAs bring to the health system. Despite the successes in these provinces, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland don't use PAs. "After reviewing the evidence from jurisdictions in Canada and across the Globe where PAs are practicing, PAs can save the health care systems money," said Louis Theriault, Vice-President Public Policy from The Conference Board of Canada. "Better integrating them into Canada's health care system could save millions in efficiency gains." On October 28 almost half of Canada's Physician Assistants are gathering in Winnipeg calling on provincial government to expand on PAs across the country. Patients would be the winners with increased access to affordable quality care. http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=8347&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share SOURCE Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Image with caption: "Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CNW Group/Canadian Association of Physician Assistants)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161027_C1430_PHOTO_EN_805356.jpg For further information: Natalie St-Pierre, Director, Communications and Stakeholder Relations, 613-854-0675, [email protected] This quarterly earnings news release should be read in conjunction with our Third quarter 2016 unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) as well as our 2015 Annual Report which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars. GUELPH, ON, Oct. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Co-operators General Insurance Company (Co-operators General) today released consolidated financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The consolidated net income was $16.3 million compared to a net loss of $21.4 million for the same quarter in 2015. This resulted in an earnings (loss) per common share of $0.71 for the quarter compared to ($1.07) in the same period last year. During the quarter, there were no material changes to the Company's estimated net losses for the Fort McMurray wildfires. "Guided by our corporate strategy, our staff and advisors across the country are dedicated to putting clients at the centre of our decision-making and solution delivery. Their efforts are producing results, as we continue to achieve growth in all lines of business across the country," said Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators. "Our performance continues to be very strong, although our results reflect the impact of an increase in the severity of claims as well as significant unfavourable auto claims development during the third quarter. Offsetting our underwriting results was an improvement in our investment performance." CO-OPERATORS GENERAL'S THIRD QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS ($ in millions, except for earnings per share and ratios) 3rd quarter 3rd quarter 2016 2015 2016 2015 YTD YTD Key financial data Direct written premium (DWP) 691.0 650.9 1,933.1 1,820.9 Net earned premium (NEP) 614.8 586.0 1,779.7 1,703.9 Net income (loss) 16.3 (21.4) 16.6 58.9 Total assets1 5,929.4 5,303.2 5,929.4 5,303.2 Shareholders' equity1 1,503.0 1,458.6 1,503.0 1,458.6 Key success indicators DWP growth 6.2% 6.7% 6.2% 4.8% NEP growth 4.9% 4.8% 4.4% 4.6% Earnings (loss) per common share 0.71$ (1.07$) 0.49$ 2.48$ Return on equity 5.1% (6.2%) 1.7% 5.9% Combined ratio - excluding market yield adjustment 109.0% 104.0% 106.0% 98.7% Minimum Capital Test (MCT)1 213% 225% 213% 225% 1 Balance sheet data and MCT results for 2015 are as at December 31 Third quarter review DWP improvements during the third quarter were attributable to policy and vehicle count growth in all lines of business paired with higher average home and farm premiums. In the third quarter, DWP increased by 6.2% or $40.1 million to $691.0 million. NEP increased during the third quarter by 4.9% or $28.8 million compared to the same period last year. The increase in NEP is seen in all geographic regions and all product lines. The combined ratio, excluding the market yield adjustment for the quarter, was 109.0% compared to 104.0% for the same period last year. Undiscounted net claims and adjustment expenses have increased by 11.6% from the third quarter of 2015, bringing the loss ratio to 77.2%. The increase was driven by the severity of current accident year claims across all lines of business, except farm, combined with higher unfavourable claims development within the auto line of business. The expense ratio increased by 0.3 percentage points, to 31.8%, as compared to the same period in 2015, driven by an increase in distribution staffing levels. Net investment income and gains increased by $90.0 million versus the third quarter of 2015. In the third quarter of 2016, unrealized preferred share gains were $28.1 million higher than the same period in 2015, combined with realized common share and bond gains that were $29.9 million and $5.3 million higher, respectively. Impairment losses and favourable currency movements also supported improved results. The Company's investment portfolio is comprised of high quality and well diversified assets. The credit quality of the bond portfolio remains high with 86.4% rated A or higher and 98.4% are considered investment grade. The equity portfolio is 75.6% weighted in Canadian stocks. Capital The Company's capital position remains strong, as the Minimum Capital Test for Co-operators General was 213% at September 30, 2016, well above the internal and regulatory minimum requirements. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This document may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, including statements regarding the operations, objectives, strategies, financial situation and performance of Co-operators General. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "would", "should", "could", "trend", "predict", "likely", "potential" or "continue" or the negative thereof and similar variations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements or information. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Consequently, we make no representation that actual results achieved will be the same in whole or in part as those set out in the forward-looking statements and information. For further information, refer to our Third quarter 2016 MD&A or our 2015 Annual Report. SHAREHOLDER AND INVESTOR INFORMATION About Co-operators General Insurance Company With assets of more than $5.9 billion, Co-operators General is a leading Canadian multi-product insurance company. Co-operators General is part of The Co-operators Group Limited, a Canadian co-operative. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, wealth management as well as investment management products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability, and is listed among the Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt. Co-operators General Class E, Series C Preference Shares trade under ticker symbol CCS.PR.C on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Further information can be found at www.cooperators.ca. SOURCE The Co-operators For further information: P. Bruce West, Executive Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Telephone: (519) 767-3036 CALGARY, Oct. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Great Events Catering, a member of the Great Events Group of Companies, is excited to announce their "Haunted Hot Chocolate Crawl" happening October 31, 2016 in support of the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. Great Events will pop-up in public locations across the city of Calgary with different "haunted hot chocolate" featuring severed fingers, radioactive capsules, strawberry blood syringes and more. Complete with three pop-up locations across the city and a private event for the kids at the Alberta Children's Hospital, the event aims to collect donations at each pop-up station with all proceeds going to the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation in support of the 95,000 kids and families that rely on the hospital each year. Pop-ups will appear in the following locations: The Great Events Haunted Hot Chocolate Crawl: October 31st Dracula's Lair at Stephen Avenue Outside Banker's Hall Time: 11:30am 1:00pm Outside Banker's Hall Time: The Witch's Cauldron at Anderson C-Train Station Park and Ride Lot Time: 4:30pm 6:00pm Park and Ride Lot Time: Goblins and Ghouls at the Cross Iron Mills Bass Pro Shop Halloween Bash Cross Iron Blvd Time: 5:00pm 8:00pm As one of Calgary's top Catering companies, Great Events Catering is looking forward to "showing off" for the City of Calgary and spreading Halloween fun. We invite you to Join us on October 31st for tricks, treats and, we're not too shy to say, some of the best spooky hot chocolate you've ever tasted. About Great Events Catering Part of the Great Events Group of companies, Great Events Catering has been a staple in the Calgary food and beverage industry for over 30 years. Great Events is proud to provide Calgary and the surrounding area with catering services for all events including corporate, weddings, concerts, sporting events, stampede parties and more. For more information, visit www.greateventscatering.ca About Great Events Group Great Events Group is a conglomerate of businesses the service Calgary's food, beverage and event industries. Companies include Great Events Catering; Great Events Rentals; Office Gourmet Catering; Flavours Boutique Catering; Cravings Market Restaurant; Cravings Cafe & Bistro; Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant; Meadow Muse Pavilion and Annie's Cafe. For more information, visit www.greateventsgroup.com About The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation inspires our community to invest in excellence in child health, research and family centered care. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation provides funding for innovative programs, state-of-the-art equipment, advanced medical training and internationally-recognized pediatric research. For more information, visit childrenshospital.ab.ca, follow us on Facebook at Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, or follow us on Twitter: @achfkids SOURCE Great Events Group Image with caption: "Ghoulishly Delicious Hot Chocolates (CNW Group/Great Events Group)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161027_C6160_PHOTO_EN_805245.jpg Image with caption: "Great Events Catering (CNW Group/Great Events Group)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161027_C6160_PHOTO_EN_805243.jpg For further information: Britney Wilson, Director, Marketing, 587 215 3198, [email protected] OTTAWA, Oct. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, along with the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, issued the following statement today: "Our priority continues to be first and foremost the wellbeing of children. Our government welcomes, accepts and is complying with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal rulings and orders regarding Child and Family Services on reserve and Jordan's Principle. Our government is committed to nothing less than a systemic overhaul of child and family services from coast to coast to coast. This is why today, we announced the appointment of Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux as the Minister's Special Representative (MSR) responsible for leading a national engagement process and providing advice on the reform of the on-reserve First Nations Child and Family Services program. Dr. Wesley-Esquimaux's work will reflect renewed Nation-to-Nation relationships with First Nations communities, through engagement with a number of key partners, including First Nations youth and leadership, national and regional organizations, services providers and the provinces and Yukon Territory. This is a concrete step in our commitment to engage with partners to develop options for full-scale reform. For Jordan's Principle, we have introduced a new approach, integrated with provinces and territories, with an expanded scope to make sure no child falls through the cracks, and have provided an additional $382 million over three years in new funding. As a result of this new approach, we have confirmed coverage for almost 900 First Nations children to receive services and supports through Canada's expanded definition of Jordan's Principle. A great proportion of these children are receiving support for respite care, and funding has also been provided for supports such as specialized medical equipment and supplies; medical transportation; specialized day programs; and addiction treatment programs. Our government has also committed to enhancing service coordination and to working with our provincial and territorial partners to ensure that First Nations children have access to the same publicly funded health and social services available to other children where they live. Budget 2016 also made historic investments in First Nations child welfare, with nearly $635 million over five years in new funding. This includes $71 million this year for immediate relief for additional prevention services to address the most pressing concerns. When the Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners wrote the Calls to Action they wisely began with child welfare. In the same manner, our government is committed to reforming child and family services and ensuring we are putting the needs of Indigenous children first. Through working in genuine partnership we will truly be able to change the status quo." This statement is also available on the Internet at www.aandc.gc.ca and www.hc-sc.gc.ca . Stay Connected Follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Flickr. You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds or e-mail. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.aandc.gc.ca/subscriptions. SOURCE Government of Canada For further information: media may contact: Andrew MacKendrick, Office of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983; Sabrina Williams, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, 819-997-0002; Media Relations, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, 819-953-1160 TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) will release its third quarter 2016 financial results on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, after markets close. The Company will hold its earnings conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET the following day. Date: Thursday, November 10, 2016 Time: 10:00 a.m. ET To listen to the live webcast and view the presentation slides, visit www.sunlife.com/QuarterlyReports 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation. An archive will be available on the website following the event. To listen via telephone, please call 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time as follows: Participant Dial In (Toll Free): 1-866-521-4909 Participant Dial In (International): 647-427-2311 A replay of the conference call will be available from Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. ET until 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 24, 2016 by calling 404-537-3406 or 1-855-859-2056 (toll free within North America) using conference ID: 92121618. About Sun Life Financial Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2016, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $865 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars Media Relations Contact: Gannon Loftus Manager, Media & PR Corporate Communications T. 416-979-6345 [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Greg Dilworth Vice-President Investor Relations T. 416-979-6230 [email protected] SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc. - Financial News A Chinese state-owned company said to have been involved in Beijings island-building in the South China Sea signed a deal to construct islands for rival claimant the Philippines as its President Rodrigo Duterte visited last week. CCCC Dredging will create four artificial islands totaling 208 hectares of reclaimed land in Davao, the port city on the southern island of Mindanao where Duterte was mayor, the Beijing Youth Daily reported. The islands will spread along eight kilometers of coastline and be used for government buildings, commercial spaces, residences, ports and industry in a project to be completed by 2019, it added. UPDATE More details on Chinas dredging fleet and the Philippine island deal and plans The four new artificial islands appear to be planned around Davao. They will be developed for mixed-use, business and residential purposes along the coastline under a P39-billion reclamation project that city government plans to undertake with a major private developer. SOURCES- Spacewar, Jnquirer.net Chinas Communist Party gave President Xi Jinping the title of core leader on Thursday, putting him on par with past strongmen like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, but it signaled his power would not be absolute. The core leader title marks a significant strengthening of Xis position ahead of a key party congress next year, at which a new Standing Committee, the pinnacle of power in China, will be constituted. Since assuming office almost four years ago, Xi has rapidly consolidated power, including heading a group leading economic reform and appointing himself commander-in-chief of the military, though as head of the Central Military Commission he already controls the armed forces. Deng coined the phrase core leader. He said Mao, himself, and Jiang Zemin were core leaders, meaning they had almost absolute authority and should not be questioned. Judging by recent past precedent, Xi should step down at the 2022 congress after a decade at the top, but speculation in leadership circles has swirled that he may try and stay on, perhaps giving up the post as president but remaining as party leader, the more senior of the posts SOURCES- Free beacon, South China Morning Post The Norwegian business model is made possible by the Boeings Dreamliner 787. the model is to have long-haul toures with discounted rates and the promise of a comfortable journey. The Dreamliner is built using unprecedented techniques. Boeing says it is 20 percent more fuel efficient than previous models which, in an industry where fuel makes up a third of total costs, is a huge cost-saving measure for any airline over the planes lifetime. Norwegian has taken delivery of four of the new aircraft this year and expects nine in 2017. By the end of the decade it will take on 11 more. In 2012 Norwegian placed the largest single European aircraft order in history for 222 new planes including 122 Boeing 737s, and 100 A320s from rival aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The new 737 and A320 are also new super fuel efficient models. The longer range means more direct routes. This has been a huge success for Norwegian as passengers mostly avoid extra transfer through hubs. Norwegians explosive growth has positioned the airline as Europes third largest low-cost carrier, flying 400 routes to more than 130 destinations in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Thailand, the Caribbean and the US. Last year 26 million passengers opted for Norwegians low-cost offers and the airline expects the 11 percent growth seen last year to continue as it opens more routes in the coming years, with Canada, South America and South Africa all on the cards. This pace of growth should see them double in size every 6 years. Norwegian has been locked in battle with the US aviation authorities over approval to operate flights from the US. Norwegian has been waiting for more than a year for approval from the UK subsidiary, and from its Irish one an unprecedented three years. The typically routine request is usually concluded within two months. But Norwegian has failed to win approval from the US over concern that competition from the new entrant would hit local airlines. What the US fears is that Norwegian will offer $69 one way tickets from the East coast of the USA to Europe will crush US carriers. Nyseth is adamant that the approval will come through after the US general election next month. There is no way that they can deny Norwegian the approval. If they could, they would have done it by now, he says. SOURCES- Telegraph UK Russias Strategic Missile Forces has test fired a RS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile on October 25, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Russian military analysts believe that the launch was a test of a new hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), the YU-71, also known as Project 4202, a warhead purportedly capable of penetrating any missile defense shield. Senior Russian defense officials have repeatedly stated that Russias defense industry is working on fielding hypersonic weapon system capable of penetrating advanced missile defense systems by the early 2020s. One of the major difficulties remains the YU-71 HGVs accuracy since engineers have so far been unsuccessful in developing functioning missile control system, according to a Russian defense industry source. Missile scientists also need to develop new materials that can withstand temperatures of 1,500C, generated by speeds of Mach 5 and above. The hypersonic gliding phase enables the YU-71 HGV not only to maneuver aerodynamically and perform extreme evasive moves and also extends the range of the missile. The YU-71 could eventually be mounted on Russias new super-heavy thermonuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile, the RS-28 Sarmat. With its 10 heavy or 15 (some sources say 16) lighter warheads The Russian Defense Ministry announced at the beginning of 2016 that the Strategic Missile Forces would test-launch a total of 16 ICBM throughout the year, with 14 dedicated to testing new missiles and warheads including the RS-28 Sarmat SOURCES- Dimmitomsk, The Diplomat Not less than four prominent Nigerians have turned down President Muhammadu Buhari's appointment and nomination since May 29, 2015. Not less than four prominent Nigerians have turned down President Muhammadu Buhari's appointment and nomination since May 29, 2015.Apart from the disappointment from the APC chieftains and governors over the inability of the Presidency to inform them about the nomination from their States, some of the nominees are unaware of the appointments as well.Here are four Nigerians who have rejected President Buhari's offer:He rejected President Buharis ambassadorial nomination, and he was convinced not to mention his decision to the media.He said: Regarding the published nomination for an ambassadorial posting, I have not spoken to the press and may not do so anytime soon.I thank those who think me fit for the job, but I have so much in my hands already, especially the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), which is the only broad platform in the North driving development. I have weighed the options and have decided to remain home and continue the struggle for development and good governance.Thank you for the concern, support and prayers.is the former deputy governor of Plateau state. She is also a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) board of trustees. She turned down the offer for nomination for ambassadorial appointment to attend to her ailing husband.It is a hard decision I had to take but I have to, because he is my primary responsibility, she said.is a Nigerian American engineering professor at the electrical engineering and computer science department of Massachusetts institute of technology.Professor Akinwande rejected an offer by the president to serve in the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as chairman.Akinwande was said to have turned down the offer based on the alleged fact that he was not consulted before the nomination was made.The federal government on Saturday, February 13, 2015, appointed Muhammad as the chairperson of the governing board of the Dutse federal university through a paid advertorial on a national daily. He rejected the offer by saying: Sir, I Najatu Muhammad wishes (wish) to thank you so much for considering me worthy of being appointed the chairperson of Dutse Federal University.Its however unfortunate that I was not consulted before the announcement in the media. I also regret that I have to use the same medium to announce that I cant accept the appointment for personal reasons. Aisha Buhari The Adamawa League of Women Empowerment has said that Aisha Buharis recent BBC Hausa Service interview breached the no... Aisha Buhari The Adamawa League of Women Empowerment has said that Aisha Buharis recent BBC Hausa Service interview breached the norms and values of a decent housewife of a serving president.They also described it as ill-timed and counter-productive, saying it was critical of President Muhammadu Buharis approach to governance.At a press briefing in Yola on Thursday, the women through their spokesperson, Ms. Maryam Ibrahim, said that Aisha, who is a Fulani woman from Yola, did not exhibit the character expected of a Fulani woman who should respect the traditional Pulaaku.The women said Aishas statement had created a negative impression of her status as the wife of the President and exposed both her husband and the entire family to mockery and disrespect before Nigerians and the world at large.They added that her action was capable of encouraging Buharis enemies to assault him.The statement read in part: It is also necessary to point out that Aisha Buharis media outburst has breached the norms and values of a decent house wife of a serving president.In fact, she has set a bad precedent, as no presidents wife in Nigeria has ever exposed her husband to this state of shame and ridicule.However, we would like to use this forum to reiterate our total support for and cooperation with President Muhammadu Buhari in his effort to restore the lost glory of Nigeria as the giant of Africa.The statement continued: It is against this backdrop, that we collectively faulted Mrs. Aisha Buharis BBC interview because it is ill-timed, counter-productive and was done in bad taste.Consequently, Mrs. Aisha Buharis action negates the spirit of Pulaaku, modesty and decorum which are virtues of Fulani. The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Segun Oni, has said if he were a Supreme Court judge, the min... The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Segun Oni, has said if he were a Supreme Court judge, the minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi, would have been arrested if indeed he attempted to influence court judgments.Speaking to newsmen, Oni said the allegations by the judges against Amaechi would not be taken seriously because of late timing.Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro, both justices of the supreme court, had accused Amaechi of attempting to bribe them.I am not in the position to defend Amaechi, but I feel very sad. I am very sad that a justice of the Supreme Court could come up much later to say somebody attempted to bribe him, he said.If I am a justice of the supreme court, that person would not spend another week before he is arrested. So, because it is a crime, if you see somebody committing crime and you keep quiet and now you are talking about it, do you want people to take you seriously?Its like somebody saying I saw somebody committing rape last year and I didnt do anything about it. I dont think that sounds wise. I am not exonerating anybody and there can be investigation, he added.He dismissed the statement of Timi Frank, deputy national publicity secretary of the APC, who said the party may cease to exist by 2019.Oni said APC was the strongest base that any political system has in Nigeria today.I dont see that as a reasonable thing to say. I am sorry, whoever said that, I dont see it as a reasonable thing to say, he said.If anybody says it would not last till 2019, I would say that is wishful thinking, and it is not one of the most reasonable things to say.We can have problems, we will face our problems as its comes, we are not saying that there wont be turbulent times. If there are turbulent times, we go through it. Turbulent times are normal.Even the PDP in its own period had turbulent times and it went through it, but to say that the APC may not exist till 2019, we are already in 2016, you shouldnt take such a person seriously. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC has alerted the public of the existence of employment racket within the command. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC has alerted the public of the existence of employment racket within the command.The NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Shuaibu Jibrin, said on Thursday that the racket had been collecting money from applicants in the guise of offering them employment into the organisation.Jibrin, however, assured that its searchlights had already been beamed on the perpetrators while explaining that all recruitment exercises by the organisation are properly advertised through the mass media.He said, Currently, the NSCDC is not carrying out any recruitment, the NSCDC recruits based on certain criteria and merit which is always advertised through the mass media.He said applicants had never been charged during NSCDCs recruitment exercises, and assured that those behind the syndicate would soon be apprehended and brought to justice. Controversial Nigerian cross-dresser and expert in bleaching, Bobrisky is currently speaking as a panellist at the social media seminar cu... Controversial Nigerian cross-dresser and expert in bleaching, Bobrisky is currently speaking as a panellist at the social media seminar currently holding in Abuja.There was a public outcry yesterday after Presidential media aide, Bashir Ahmad and an executive at Alder Consulting, Subomi Plumptre, pulled out as panellists because Bobrisky had been listed as one of the speakers.Many Nigerians accuse him of being a homosexual, an allegation he has rebuffed severally. President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), at the Presidential... President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.The meeting was held inside the Presidents office.The meeting of the two leaders was the second one in two months.They had earlier met on August 23 before Gowon travelled out of the country.The former military leader did not speak to reporters after the Thursday meeting. Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday withdrew from handling a case of terrorism filed by the Department of... Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday withdrew from handling a case of terrorism filed by the Department of State Service (DSS).The case is against one Haruna Abbas and two others.Ademola said at the mentioning of the case that it would not be fair for him to continue with the case.He announced that he would return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment.The matter was here last on June 13, and it involves the DSS; I dont want to handle any of its matters anymore.In the interest of fair hearing, I think I will move the file to another court because it will not be fair to me and to DSS. So, I will return the file to the chief judge to reassign.The case file is hereby returned to the chief judge for reassignment to another judge on personal grounds, he said.However, one of the accused, Abbas, prayed the judge not to withdraw from the case.Abbas said that he and his co-accused would prefer to be tried by Ademola. Ademola on Oct. 18 withdrew from a case brought against a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, by the DSS. The Lagos State Government will not relent in its effort at making the state the safest place to live in by providing a safe environment, ... The Lagos State Government will not relent in its effort at making the state the safest place to live in by providing a safe environment, the Commissioner for The Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare has said.Adejare made the assertion at the official flag-off of the Lagos State Market Deratisation Programme, aimed at ridding the state of the Lassa Fever vector at Obalende market on Thursday.The government is collaborating with Phosguard Fumigants, an NGO, to promote the programme through Kill rats, make more money in Lagos.Under the programme, the residents are encouraged to kill rats in their environs which the programme implementers, Phosguard will buy at a yet-to-be determined price for proper disposal.The commissioner said the government was resolved to make Lagos State one of the safest places in spite of its increasing population.As a bourgeoning global urban agglomeration with a population of over 22 million people and daily waste generation of 13,000 metric tons, Lagos requires proactive environmental management to control pest and by extension diseases.Lagos is a mega city with the highest population which is still growing though in terms of landmass it is the smallest state in the country.According to a UN report, our nation still ranks among the countries with the highest number of infant mortality, hence we need to look inward to know how we can control this.In lieu of this, we are looking at how we can free Lagos from diseases, pestilence and infestations. We talk about mosquito control, pest control and other dangerous animals in our society.The administration of Gov. Akinwumi Ambode is committed to ensuring that we have the safest place to live in not minding anywhere we are in Lagos, he said.Adejare said that to provide a safe environment for the people, vector control remains the ideal strategy. The mega structure of the state has, however, provided the opportunity for transmission of pathogens between animal species and humans which are heightened by the unprecedented increase in the movement of people.No doubt, the alluring feature of our state exposes it to a number of threats that if unchecked can spell doom for the wellbeing of the residents in general.The environmental and health hazards that vectors present to our people can therefore not be ignored. Therefore, to protect the population from epidemics, such as Lassa fever, vector control remains the way out.Vector control is a means of eradicating mammals, birds and other arthropods collectively called vectors which transmit disease pathogens, he said.Adejare said that the government was using the most environmental friendly vector control intervention with no known side effect.To take advantage of the many benefits of vector control, less illness, safety of homes, building and markets, the government is delivering effective deratisation through the use of tested technology.It is noteworthy that all over the world vector management has grown to become an economy on its own; we wish to take advantage of the enormous economic opportunities.Therefore, as beneficiaries of this initiative, it is our responsibility to cooperate with the agents of government going round to rid our markets of rodents and other disease vectors.The vector control programme is in line with our goal of regenerating the environment to make it liveable for all and for certain, we all have a role to play in the proper sanitation, he said.The sole administrator of Ikoyi Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Goke Ona-Olawale, lauded the government for the initiative and pledged the councils cooperation for its success.We are lucky to have the flag-off of such an epoch initiative starting with our council. Obliviously, this council has so many important features to qualify it as first.Most of the past presidents of the country lived in this community and we are also privileged to have two main barracks, Dodan and the Police barracks sited here.We will ensure that all hands are on deck to ensure the success of the programme aimed at providing a safe environment for us all to live in. The people have also pledged to give the government the necessary support because this is a programme that will directly benefit them and they are well aware, he said.The Iyaloja of Obalende, Alhaja Jokotade Logun, thanked the state government for its efforts at providing a safe environment for the market women and also pledged their support.This is a good thing coming to us, it shows that we have a government that is fully committed to our welfare and we will not disappoint, we will provide the necessary support.For our markets to be free of filth, we have also evolved a plan within ourselves to compliment the government efforts, and I have the backing of our members toward achieving it.We have been discussing about how we can improve on the sanitation within the markets and now that government has taken a bold step at helping us, we will also make sure we do not disappoint, she said.NAN reports that the government has provided two Toyota Hilux vans and other logistics for the hitch-free implementation of the programme. Also, the field officers from Phosguard Fumigants demonstrated how to bait for the rodents and evacuation of the dead rats. John Danfulani, a former lecturer at the Kaduna state university has been remanded in prison for criticising the administrative style of G... John Danfulani, a former lecturer at the Kaduna state university has been remanded in prison for criticising the administrative style of Governor Nasir El Rufai.The former political science lecturer has been embroiled in a battle with the state government over comments he made on Facebook in December 2015 indicating his displeasure with the government he campaigned for.He was arraigned on January 2016 before a Magistrate Court by the States Commissioner of Police and he spent six days in prison before his bail application could be heard, but the case was subsequently struck out for lack of merit when it came up for hearing.He later on resigned from his job, citing harassment from authorities.However, on Wednesday, the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice filed a fresh case against him at the State High Court, before Justice Bilkisu Mohammed, signed by both Bayero Dari and Abdullahi Isiaka.They said the criminal charges against Dr. Danfulani fell under section 417 and 418 of the Penal Code and alleged that the post he made about fuel scarcity, high foreign exchange and a high number of out of school children in the north, sought to excite hatred and contempt against the people of Nigeria.Dr. Danfulani, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him but the Judge said he should be remanded in prison till the 7th of November, 2016, when she would be back from a seminar to listen to the bail application.(Daily Post) The Police Service Commission, has dismissed six senior officers for impersonation, forgery, insubordination, negligence and disobedienc... The Police Service Commission, has dismissed six senior officers for impersonation, forgery, insubordination, negligence and disobedience to lawful order.The dismissals involved Superintendents of Police, Assistant Superintendents and a Chief Superintendent of Police.The commission at its plenary meeting on Thursday in Abuja, also rejected the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for special promotion of 12 officers.These were part of the decisions taken by the Commission on 55 disciplinary cases brought before it, a statement on Thursday in Abuja by the Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, stated.It explained that the commission rejected the recommendation for special promotion of one Deputy Superintendent of Police and one Inspector and also returned the recommendation for the appointment of a Deputy Commissioner of Police on acting capacity for proper presentation.It also withheld the special promotion of nine other senior police officers for failure of the police to provide convincing reasons for such promotions, the statement added.The PSC however promoted 135 officers, including four Deputy Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Commissioners, adding that the CPs had earlier appeared before the commission, where they were subjected to questions on the change agenda of the Nigeria Police Force.The new CPs are, Posi Ajunwa; Akinsanmi Ayo; Kenneth Ebrimson and Akpoebi Egbuson.The commission also elevated 17 Assistant Commissioners of Police to Deputy Commissioners and 78 CSPs to Assistant Commissioners of Police.The two-day meeting, presided over by the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Mike Okiro, a retired Inspector General of Police, also endorsed the promotions of one SP to CSP; 12 DSPs to SPs and one ASP to DSP.Two CSPs were also appointed ACPs on acting capacity, two SPs to acting CSPs, two DSPs to acting SPs, six ASPs to acting DSPs and 12 Inspectors to acting Assistant Superintendents of Police, the statement said.Meanwhile, the IG has canvassed for a better funding of the police, noting that the force needed more than 10,000 personnel to fill the vacuum created by those who died or retired.Idris, who stated this when the Senate Committee on Police Affairs paid him a visit at the Force Headquarters, also suggested that the judicial system be improved to avoid delayed trials and prison congestion. President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that Nigeria will emerge better and stronger from its current socioeconomic situation. Buhari stated this in a message to the 7th National Prayer Breakfast titled; A tree and its fruits, is yours a blessing or a curse.The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, said leaders in the country must strive to be a light to the people they lead.He said, As leaders we must strive to be the light of the world, we must resist to talk about our current socioeconomic situation with despondency.As for me, I have complete faith that Nigeria will emerge from this crisis strong, united, prosperous and secured.I believe that all these will come to fruition in the life time of this government, the life time of this executives, legislature and the judiciary.In a sermon, Rev. Abu Banko defined a politician as a model for all citizens, adding that a politician must be ready to give not steal from the nation.He said that a politician should also be ready to promote the general welfare of the people, and help raise their standard of living.Banko, therefore, urged all public office holders, including civil servants, lawmakers and those in the executive, to lead Nigeria to its destiny.He prayed God to guide them steer the affairs of the nation with love, humility and sacrifice.Banko urged all Nigerians to be humble, turn away from sins and seek the face of God, so as to end current problems in the country.(NAN) The United States police have arrested a 66-year-old Nigerian nanny, Oluremi Oyindasola, for murder. The United States police have arrested a 66-year-old Nigerian nanny, Oluremi Oyindasola, for murder.Oyindasola of Glenarden, Maryland has also been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse, resulting in death and other offences.This is coming after she force-fed an eight-month-old baby girl to death.According to Prince Georges County Police, a home surveillance system recorded the accused taking a nap when the crying infant, eight-month-old Enita Salubi, approached her in a toddler walker.Col. Harry Bond with Prince Georges CountyPolice said Oyindasola unsuccessfully tried to feed the child, then when she got frustrated with the infant not wanting to eat, she proceeded to pour a large amount of white liquid directly inside the victims mouth.Bond said, On October 24th, at about 4.10pm, she forcefully poured the two bottles of what looks to be milk down the babys mouth, causing her to not be able to breathe and suffocating her.The baby had been rushed to a hospital after she became unresponsive at home. She was pronounced dead a short time later.An autopsy on Tuesday revealed the babys cause of death was asphyxiation. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.The preliminary investigation revealed the injuries to the baby occurred while in the sole care and custody of Oyindasola.Oyindasola is in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Nigeria's first automobile brand, Innoson Motors, manufacturers of some nice and affordable cars, buses and SUVs recently launched thi... Nigeria's first automobile brand, Innoson Motors, manufacturers of some nice and affordable cars, buses and SUVs recently launched this stunning SUV, "IVM G6" that got Nigerians talking.In reaction to this achievement, many Nigerians applauded the indigenous automobile company and enjoined fellow countrymen and woman to patronize it.Other Africans from countries like Ghana, Zimbabwe, also commended the Nigerian automobile company."I am a Zambian, but I must say I'm really impressed with your progress and determination. Keep flying high the African race," a foreigner commented.Some also advised the company to set up its advertising strategy, as many people are still unaware of its products."Why is the company doing low-key? No adverts, nothing. Just one powerful advert is enough to bring Nigerians to you and make you go international...Mr Innoson... Just one," someone observed.Another social media user claimed it was an achievement for the Igbo race and a step towards actualizing Biafra."If you wait for Nigeria to patronise Innosson Motors, you're wasting your time. I suggest all easterners should show the way. They should patronise their own first and stop going for Japanese cars. You cannot be talking about Biafra and yet you don't patronise a biafran car. Let's be objective. If all Igbos buy Innosson cars, I don't think the chairman of the company will have enough cars to meet demand," she said.See more comments below: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday in Abuja berated the Senate over its approval for the re-introduction of toll gates across t... The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday in Abuja berated the Senate over its approval for the re-introduction of toll gates across the country.The NLC General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, while reacting to the development, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigerias policy making processes needed to be interrogated.NAN recalls that the Senate had on Tuesday passed a motion seeking to resuscitate the collection of tolls on federal highways across the country.The Upper House argued that toll collection from motorists was the only way to construct and maintain roads and enhance their efficiency.However, Ozo-Eson, in his reaction said:We used to have toll gates and we started them under pressure from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, among others.We built a number of toll gates and the government itself came and tore down those structures.To come back again to re-introduce the toll gates means another waste of public resources and this shows that something is fundamentally wrong.According to him, the first experience became an avenue for rewarding favoured cronies, who were given the franchise to collect the tolls.He also noted that the nation never benefitted from the first experience as some set of people fed fat on the tolls and the roads were never maintained.Unless we are able to put in place a mechanism that will ensure that the revenues from the tolls are used for the development and maintenance of the roads, any attempt to bring the toll gates will again be a failure. The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday dismissed an application by Senate President Bukola Saraki challenging the jurisdiction the Cod... The appeal court said its ruling was because Mr. Sarakis trial at the tribunal, CCT, followed due process.A five-member panel of judges led by Abdul Aboki therefore dismissed the application for lacking in merit.The court said Mr. Sarakis application that his trial at the CCT would not be in the interest of the public was based on sentiments.The charge against the appellant is according to due process; and whether it is in the interest of the public, the appellants submission is held with sentiments, said Mr. Aboki.It will be a circumvention of justice if the court is carried away by sentiments.The appeal is unmeritorious, appellants appeal is therefore dismissed and judgement of the CCT judge Danladi Umar of March 28 is upheld and affirmed, the court said.The appeal court, however noted that Mr. Saraki remains innocent, until he is proven guilty by a court of law.Mr. Saraki approached the appellate court after his appeal, challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him, was dismissed by the CCT in April.He has made various applications challenging his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal since he was first charged in September, 2015.Mr. Saraki is facing 16-count charge for alleged false declaration of asset to the Code of Conduct Bureau, while governor.He has denied all the accusations.The trial at the code of conduct is still on despite what seems to be a political solution to Mr. Sarakis differences with the executive arm of government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.Recently, the Attorney General of the Federation withdrew forgery charges against Mr. Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. Both men and two civil servants had been charged with allegedly forging the house rules with which Messrs. Saraki and Ekweremadu were controversially elected leaders of Nigerias senate last year.The withdrawal of the charges was commended by several leaders of Nigerias ruling All Progressives Congress including former vice president Atiku Abubakar and ex-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu. The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, says political leaders must stop lamenting the economic recession and find a way to get Nigeria ... The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, says political leaders must stop lamenting the economic recession and find a way to get Nigeria out of the doldrums.Oshiomhole spoke on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the 2016 National Women Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials in Lagos.He said, Lamentation will not bail the country out of its economic downturn; taking the right step in the right direction will do that.The governor, at the event attended by the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu, also urged women to be resilient and demonstrate their potential as great economists.Oshiomhole lauded Ambodes efforts at boosting the states economy, adding that improved traffic management had reduced travel time and stress for residents.He said, You have shown that our task as leaders is not to lament what does not work, but to think through on how to make it work and that is what you are doing; what you have done and I know it is what you will continue to do.Oshiomhole said as the governor of Edo State, he had had cause to borrow ideas from Lagos State, expressing optimism that his successor and Governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, would also be willing to use good ideas from anywhere.COWLSO Chairman, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, said the three-day conference had opened the minds of participants to new ideas, information and statistics, saying that the women were better empowered to become change agents. The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will continue the global campaign against Boko Haram insurgency in a lecture he would deliver at the Harv... The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will continue the global campaign against Boko Haram insurgency in a lecture he would deliver at the Harvard University, Boston, in the U.S. on Thursday.A statement issued by the Vice Presidents spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, on Thursday, said the lecture at the Harvards Nigeria in the World seminar is at the invitation of the university.It added that Prof. Osinbajo would be talking on Destroying Boko Haram and the Rebuilding of Nigerias North-East.Akande said Osinbajo would highlight the progress made by the Buhari presidency in degrading Boko Haram resulting in the freedom of thousands of Nigerians in Boko Haram captivity, including some of the abducted Chibok girls.The Vice President who left Abuja on Wednesday after attending the Federal Executive Council meeting and the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative, is expected back on Sunday. TRENTON -- A Carlstadt roofer was sentenced Wednesday to six months in prison and six months of home confinement for hiding more than $191,000 in income from the Internal Revenue Service. Michael Tattoli previously pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in Trenton to a charge of personal income tax evasion, according to a statement from the IRS Criminal Investigation division in Newark. Between 2010 and 2012, Tattoli, owner of Mike's All Seasons Roofing and Construction Co., deposited approximately $191,295 in checks payable to his business directly into his personal bank account, the statement says. Authorities say Tattoli intentionally avoided reporting the funds on his tax returns for those years. The total amount of tax owed on the funds would have been approximately $62,000, according to court paperwork. In addition to the prison term, Judge Anne E. Thompson sentenced Tattoli to one year of supervised release and fined him $3,000, the statement says. Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook. MOUNT LAUREL TWP. -- Four Dakota Access Pipeline protesters were arrested Thursday afternoon as they participated in an act of civil disobedience at the corporate campus of TD Bank. The bank, they say, is financially backing the contested crude oil conduit through Midwestern states and Native American lands. "We're hopeful that TD Bank will divest their investment," said Margo Simmons, a Green Party member with family at Standing Rock Sioux reservation. Things didn't exactly go their way at the protest. Demands that TD Bank CEO Mike Pederson cut funding to the pipeline went unaddressed and on-site company representatives declined to speak with those who stayed behind and risk arrest to prove their point. "So just for peacefully and prayerfully sitting in at TD U.S. headquarters, these folks have been arrested for standing up for indigenous rights, indigenous sovereignty and water," said Matt Smith, a Food & Water Watch organizer. The charges against those arrested were not immediately clear. The 1,172-mile pipeline would stretch from North Dakota to Illinois and transport nearly 500,000 barrels of domestically produced oil per day, according to daplpipelinefacts.com. Critics claim TD -- which has its U.S. headquarters in Cherry Hill -- signed a $2.5 billion loan to fund construction and that a spill would threaten the drinking water of 8 million people living downstream. Fewer than half of that amount has been distributed so far, and the New Brunswick-based chapter of Food and Water Watch argues that there's still time for the financial institution to back out. "TD supports responsible energy development. We employ due diligence in our lending and investing activities relating to energy production," Judy Schmidt, TD's head of corporate media relations said Thursday. "We also work with our customers, community and environment groups, and energy clients to better understand key issues of concern, and to promote informed dialogue." "Our oil and gas sector lending represents less than 1 percent of our total lending portfolio," Schmidt added. Protests at Standing Rock have been held over the past several months as the native tribes have tried to appeal to the U.S. government to reroute the proposed pipeline. Simmons claimed that the land isn't even owned by this country's government, making the pipeline illegal. As the group advanced on the TD corporate campus under Thursday's charcoal-colored skies, Smith held the front door open and a banner reading, "Water is Life," was extended in front of the branch teller's front desk. Mount Laurel police arrived minutes later and dispersed all but four protesters, who remained seated on the floor and were eventually arrested and taken away in police vehicles. , hoots and hollers of support came from people ordered across the street as each protester was placed in the back of a squad car. Dottie Ji, an East Brunswick resident, said she is "very concerned about climate change and the effect pipelines have on climate change." "I wanted to stand up for Standing Rock," said Ji, one of those who stayed behind in the lobby. Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook. TABERNACLE TWP. -- Geneva R. Moore, who previously led New Jersey's board of agriculture and cultivated South Jersey's staple cranberry crop, died last week as a result of cancer. Moore, a lifelong educator who spent 16 years on Tabernacle's board of education, died on Oct. 22 at the age of 70. According to her obituary, Moore was past president of the Burlington County Agriculture Board, past vice president of New Jersey's State Board of Agriculture and past president of the North American Cranberry Growers Association. Her husband, Samuel Moore, told philly.com that his late wife was "ambitious" and a "go-getter" and had lived in Tabernacle since 1977. The report adds that she co-owned Moore's Meadow Blueberry & Cranberry Farm, in Tabernacle, and that 140 acres of their land was dedicated to growing cranberries. Relatives and family are invited to Moore's services on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Lechner Funeral Home, at 24 N. Main St., in Medford. Funeral services begin at 11 a.m. Internment is at Mechanics Cemetery, in Tabernacle. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society. Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook. IRS Form 1095 Relating to Health Insurance Internal Revenue Service Form 1095-A relating to the Affordable Care Act. (ThinkStock.com) While the presidential candidates argue over the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also called Obamacare, and as reports of premium hikes and insurers pulling out of ACA marketplaces plague the program, scammers are taking notice. The bad guys are trying to capitalize on the Obamacare confusion to steal from you. Scammers are sending fake tax bills to consumers, saying money is owed related to the taxpayer's health care coverage and Obamacare, according to a new warning from the IRS. The notices, labeled CP2000, are for the 2015 tax year. Now, a CP2000 notice is a real thing. It's sent by the IRS when income reported from third party sources -- such as an employer -- does not match the income reported on the tax return, the IRS said. "Unlike the fake, it provides extensive instructions to taxpayers about what to do if they agree or disagree that additional tax is owed," the IRS said. "A real notice requests that checks be made out to 'United States Treasury.'" The phony notices may come by regular mail or by email with an attachment, the IRS said. The fakes say they're coming from an address in Austin, Texas, and the notices say the problem is related to the Affordable Care Act. It then requests information about your coverage, the IRS said. A look at the real CP2000. It includes a payment voucher "105C," the IRS said, and requests checks be written to "I.R.S." and sent to the "Austin Processing Center" at a post office box. The emailed versions of the scam will include a payment link. The IRS will never, never, ever send you an email to collect a tax. And a real CP2000 will only come via regular mail, the agency said. Here's a look at the real thing. If you've received one of these notices, report it to the IRS by forwarding the email to phishing@irs.gov, or report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Learn more about how to report tax fraud here. OTHER IRS SCAMS Scammers have been cashing in on IRS impersonation scams for years. In fact, for the last tax season, the IRS reported a 400 percent surge in phishing and malware incidents. Among the most popular scams on the IRS' Dirty Dozen scam list: ID Theft/Refund Fraud: Hucksters steal your identity and then file a fake tax return using your name and Social Security number. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim. Phone scams: Crooks will call you, saying they represent the IRS and that they're calling to collect your overdue tax debt. The caller will often threaten arrest or deportation if the debt isn't paid immediately. Phishing: The con artists are especially fond of impersonating the IRS via email, another form of communication the IRS will never use for billing or notification purposes. If you click on a link or download an attachment from one of these emails, you could end up infecting your computer with malware or end up at a fake site, urged to share your personal information. Also note the IRS will never ask for payment via iTunes gift cards. One of the reasons these scams are so successful for con artists is that lots of people really do owe money to the government. A 2015 report by the Treasury Department found of the $1.3 trillion (yes, trillion) of receivables (not including taxes owed, by the way), $162.1 billion of debt is delinquent. But the government's attempts to recapture what it's owed can be confusing for citizens in the wake of all these scams. Government agencies can use third party debt collectors to try to get payments from taxpayers who really owe money to the IRS. Or from those who owe federal student loans, or mortgage debt, or judgments and others debts. But it can be hard to tell the difference between the real debt collectors and the scammers. And the 2015 budget legislation had a surprise tucked inside: government agency debt collectors can now use robocalls. There's legislation that would overturn that unpleasant addition, but we're not there yet. In any case, the IRS last month released the names of four third party contractors who can start collecting "certain overdue federal tax debts" from delinquent taxpayers. You should know the debt collector names, just in case you're on the list. They are CBE Group of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Conserve of Fairport, N.Y., Performant of Livermore, Cal. and Pioneer of Horseheads, N.Y. But of course, scammers will probably start contacting taxpayers, now impersonating these legit debt collectors. So if you're contacted by someone claiming to be a debt collector for the IRS or another government agency, play it safe. Don't make any payments or share any personal information. Instead, contact the IRS directly. Uncle Sam will be happy to tell you if you owe the government any money. Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter. TRENTON -- The trend has already started in some classrooms across the state. Students are getting into position, following breathing instructions and practicing yoga along with learning reading, writing and arithmetic. But a Hindi leader said Wednesday that yoga in some schools just isn't enough. Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, issued a statement calling for yoga in every public school across New Jersey. He urged Gov. Chris Christie and the state Department of Education to work toward incorporating yoga as a part of the curriculum for the state's schools. Though introduced by Hinduism, yoga is "a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all," Zed said. The call comes as yoga has become increasingly popular in schools nationwide as a technique to reduce student stress and help students gain focus. In some instances, schools have even replaced detention with yoga. But the practice has also drawn opposition, including a lawsuit in California that argued a school's yoga program promoted Hinduism. Zed's push for yoga in New Jersey follows a report about a yoga program in the Mount Holly school district, which Zed lauded. John Brainerd Elementary School offers a 20-minute yoga class every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning for students in kindergarten through 2nd grade, the Burlington County Times reported. "I've seen such an amazing increase in their ability to focus," Natalie Izzi, the teacher who leads the class, told the paper. New Jersey already requires school districts to address social and emotional health and wellness in their curriculum for health and physical education, Department of Education spokesman David Saenz said. It's up to local districts to decide how they want to meet that requirement, he said. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. WEST DEPTFORD TWP. -- A group of former Riverwinds Restaurant employees claim in a lawsuit that business operators withheld tips they were owed and shorted their base pay in violation of state and federal law. Riverwinds Restaurant in West Deptford. (File photo) The class-action suit was filed by Marlton attorney Matthew A. Luber, who represents many of the same former Riverwinds employees in a sexual harassment suit against the restaurant. In this new case, plaintiffs claim that Riverwinds failed to pay its waitstaff -- employees who receive tips -- the federal minimum cash wage of $2.13 per hour. The Riverwinds waitstaff was paid $1.94 per hour, the suit contends. The plaintiffs also say they were denied proper overtime pay when they worked in excess of 40 hours a week. Plaintiffs include former bartender Patricia Crawford and waitresses Jessica Howley, Danielle Lawrence and Colleen Monaghan-Girardo. The suit names Riverwinds co-owners Fotios Farmakis, George Drakos and Helena Balis. Attorney John Eastlack, who represents Riverwinds in both cases, said the allegations lack merit. "The claims against Riverwinds Restaurant and the individuals named are baseless and we look forward to addressing these matters in court. The case also alleges tip skimming. The plaintiffs were required to "tip out" at the end of their shifts, meaning they had to share a portion of their earned tips with bussers and bartenders. Restaurant management often failed to pay the bussers and bartenders the tips collected from waitstaff "and/or skimmed a portion of such tips for the restaurant," the suit claims. The plaintiffs also claim management skimmed off a "substantial portion" of their tips earned when serving large parties. " ... Defendant Farmakis systematically took 6% of the regularly-contracted tip amount (20%) paid by customers for parties, luncheons, banquets, and other events, thereby cheating Plaintiffs and Class Members of their hard-earned tips." The restaurant also broke the law when it failed to notify employees that they were taking a tip credit, plaintiffs claim. Employers are allowed to take this credit, meaning they can count an employee's tips toward the obligation of paying a minimum wage. New Jersey's minimum wage is $8.38 an hour. The tip credit wage and the tips received from customers must at least equal the minimum wage. "Because of Defendants' unlawful failure to properly inform Plaintiffs and the Tipped Employees of their intention to utilize a "tip credit" as required by federal law, Defendants were ineligible to take the "tip credit," and therefore, have unlawfully applied a "tip credit" against the wages paid to Plaintiffs ... thereby paying them less than the mandated minimum wage in New Jersey." The allegations in this suit came to light as the law firm representing the former employees were investigating the sexual harassment claims contained in the suit filed last month, Luber noted. In that case, four former employees allege they were sexually harassed by Farmakis. An amended version of that complaint was filed last week and includes two additional plaintiffs, including a minor. The plaintiffs claimed in that suit that they were victims of a workplace environment "rife with discrimination and sexual harassment." "During the course of our investigation into the sexual harassment allegations, we turned our focus to what appeared to be a flagrant disregard of wage and hour laws," Luber said. "Siphoning gratuities from hard-working servers, bussers and bartenders, as alleged here, not only is unlawful, it is morally reprehensible." Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. BAYONNE -- A nonprofit foundation has awarded the city's Fire Department over $16,000 worth of turnout gear including coats, pants, boots and gloves. The new equipment, which will replace seven sets of old gear, was awarded by the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis said in a statement that "It is important that our firefighters have the key resources they need when entering hazardous fire conditions. "Resources like turnout gear allow firefighters to provide safe and efficient services to the community if and when necessary. Many thanks to the Firehouse Subs Foundation for this generous grant." In a similar vein, Jackie Gubbins, the foundation's Senior Manager of Foundation Programs, said the gear "will provide firefighters with critical protection on the job." "It's a great feeling to know we're helping protect hometown heroes who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of their communities," Gubbins said. Bayonne Fire Chief Keith Weaver and Deputy Fire Chiefs William Bartos and Stephen Peterson accepted the new gear -- valued at $16,440 -- at a dedication ceremony in Totowa on Wednesday. The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is a nonprofit with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment, and educational opportunities to first responders and public safety organizations nationwide. The foundation has given more than $23 million to hometown heroes in 46 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. More than $274,000 has been granted to communities in New Jersey alone since the foundation's inception, according to a press release. The other public safety entities to be awarded grant money and/or equipment from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation are: the Park Ridge Fire Department, Eastern Pike Regional Police Department, West Milford Fire Department Station 6, Oradell Volunteer Fire Department, West Orange Fire Department, as well as the Wayne and Florham Park police departments. Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. The Senate's actions are not in line with the Kerala University Act, 1969, Khan alleged. "It is a blatant abuse of power," Khan said. Two and a half years after Ariana Runner pleaded guilty to her role in an armed robbery at a Kenner Raising Canes that ended in the brutal sl WASHINGTON (AP) The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all. Welcome to non league daily news now - your number one spot for all things relating to the National League System. Our dedicated reporters have come straight from the sidelines to bring you news fresh from the dugout - but not before theyve stopped off at the burger van first! We know that non league football fans are full of heart, passion, and belief. You trust the manager, you believe in the team, and, for some strange reason, you trust those rickety stands, too! Here at Non League Daily, we hope we can become your trusted non league news resource - a platform thats just as passionate about non league daily news now as you. Come rain or shine, well be out reporting on the latest non league fixtures. Well also be scouring the news, refreshing social media, and sourcing information from team websites in the hopes of finding the latest breaking non league daily news for our readers. As youll soon see, weve got exclusive match reports on the Vanarama National League, weve got transfer speculation thatll affect the National League South, weve found great stories thatll spice up the National League North, and weve even got news on the latest giant killers of the FA Cup. We may not be able to agree on who is going up this year, but we can all agree that any news on the NLS worth knowing will be published here, at Non League Daily. Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. Stephanie Fisher, administrator of Liberty House in North Platte, and North Platte Nurse Shirleen Smith are offering a 10-week medication aide training, beginning Nov. 3. Classes will meet from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays in the second-floor meeting room at Liberty House, 420 W. Fourth St. The cost is $60, which is the cost of the training manual. The state offers testing for those who complete the course. The medication aide certification will give state approval to administration of medication as ordered in the home, medical provider office, assisted living and nursing home. Early registration is encouraged as only 10 students will be accepted. To reserve a spot, call Fisher at 308-534-1796 or Smith at 308-530-7194. Fisher has been a medication aide and certified nursing aide since 2004. In 2004, she was also an administrator of an assisted living facility. She later became director of clinical research at Heartland Pharma Development. She received a diploma in PC support in 2014 and also became administrator of assisted living at Liberty House in North Platte in 2014. Smith established North Platte Nurse in 2008 to provide nursing and personal care to help individuals stay in their homes. Smiths experience includes labor and delivery, intensive care, intravenous therapy, registered nurse clinical instructor, Home Health and Hospice director, house supervisor, community health coordinator and public health director. She can do injections, blood draws, wound care, and assessment and administering medication either at her office or in the clients home. She also can help arrange for personal care needs, respite breaks or help provide caregivers for 24-hour assistance in the home. Smiths extensive experience includes serving 15 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, with three years active duty at Tripler Medical Center in Oahu, Hawaii. She also served a six-month activation to Fort Hood, Texas, where she served as a community health nurse. This was followed by six years in the Nebraska Army National Guard as head nurse and case manager at the medical/dental clinic in Lincoln. She served a six-month tour of active duty in Kabul, Afghanistan, training Afghan instructors to care for wounded Afghans. She also spent two weeks in Bolivia, South America, on a humanitarian mission and two weeks in South Korea working at a military hospital. Smith was also deployed to assist after Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. The results of the upcoming election will define which direction Nebraska will go on fiscal and social issues. Referendum 426 is a proposal presented by citizens to repeal LB 268, Senator Chambers 2015 successful legislation to eliminate the death penalty. I believe a civilized society must in the strongest way send the message that it does not and will not tolerate evil. As a statewide community, we must protect the innocent from harm and we must protect our law enforcement within and outside the prisons of our State. I am voting for the repeal of LB 268. Love my neighbor, yes; and I can think of no better way on this issue to do so than to assure them that society does not tolerate hideous crimes of murder by those blinded by evil. After a majority of voters repeal LB 268, it will send a clear message to the Legislature and Governor to fix the process and make the death penalty not just a mere threat, but a reality. Every 2-year election cycle, half of the State Legislatures senate seats are up for election. This year, 11 of those are open seats due to term limits, the remainder are incumbents running for reelection for a second four-year term. The outcome of those elections will have a huge effect on who will be elected as Speaker of the Legislature and who will be chosen by their peers as Committee Chairpersons. The Chairperson and the members of each committee are the deciding factor as to which issues, through related bills, make it to the floor of the Legislature for debate and passage. For example: I am for looking at giving more equal parental involvement in child custody, but unless a majority of the 8 members of the Judiciary Committee vote to bring it out of committee I, as one of 49 senators, will not have an opportunity to debate the issue and eventually vote for reform. Regionally on issues of property taxes, transparency in government, government involvement in economic growth through tax policy manipulations and the overall role of government in our lives, I would like the opportunity to work with Steve Erdman in District 47 and Colonel Tom Brewer in District 43. I have friendships with individuals on all sides of contentious political issues, but when it comes to the work of filling in the hole we are in, dug by bad political decisions, I would prefer that the friends I am working with are also shoveling the hole shut instead of digging it deeper. I am in Lincoln this week working on proposed legislation for the coming year. We are finalizing a proposed bill which would allow the natural resource districts involved in the N-CORPE project to sell the approximately 19,000 remaining acres of land while maintaining water rights for the original purpose. The proceeds of the sale would be mandated to pay down the bonded debt and therefore allow a decrease in the $10-per-acre occupation tax on irrigated acres. Other benefits of course would be to put the land back on the tax rolls and allow for elimination of the expenses that are used to operate the project. This is not an original idea; Colorado has a similar groundwater river recharge project but unlike Nebraska, the land remains in private taxpayer ownership. We are spending a lot of time in research trying to find the best approach to correct the imbalance of how we fund our public schools. The State Aid to Education Formula (TEEOSA) continues to push the cost ratio of funding our schools towards property taxes and away from income and sales taxes. With 50-70 percent of your property taxes going to public education, if we are going to reverse the higher property tax trend, TEEOSA is going to have to be a major part of the fix. There is no assurance that any legislation will become law; starting the conversation by proposing it is the first step. Many factors come into play: the aforementioned makeup of the Legislature, the governors approval and how much influence the behind-the-scenes arm twisting by lobbyists has with senators. Please do not hesitate to contact my office by emailing mgroene@leg.ne.gov or calling 402-471-2729. OLD LYME, Conn. This quaint shoreline community, proud of its role as a nursery of American Impressionist art, fears the destruction of its heritage if a federal proposal to someday run an East Coast high-speed rail line through its historic center becomes reality. Residents of Old Lyme, population 7,600, have enlisted nearby communities in Connecticut and Rhode Island to stop a 50-mile portion of the proposed Northeast Corridor Future plan. Theyre awaiting a recommendation, possibly before the end of the year, from the Federal Railroad Administration on a preferred alternative route for a faster, modern Boston-to-Washington line. Communities in Northwest Indiana and Illinois are facing some similar issues, as plans for high-speed rail routes between Chicago and Detroit and Chicago and St. Louis proceed thanks in part to more than a billion dollars in funding made available by the Obama administrations stimulus plan. The Chicago-to-St. Louis route is 284 miles long and Amtrak trains will be running at speeds of 110 mph on much of the route by next year. The project is funded primarily with $1.2 billion in federal stimulus funds approved in 2010. The Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac route is still in the study stage and is not expected to see many of its projects complete until the middle of the next decade. The project has a $2.4 billion to $3 billion price tag. The proposal in the Northeast includes a bypass between Old Saybrook, Connecticut, and Richmond, Rhode Island, that would run new high-speed Amtrak trains in some places, on elevated tracks through historic neighborhoods, an arts college, marshlands, commercial districts and tourist attractions, including the Florence Griswold Museum. I think this region, whether its a tourist engine or just something worth preserving, its worth the fight, said Gregory Stroud, an Old Lyme resident and academic who formed SECoast, a regional group leading the local opposition. It has enlisted the support of state and local politicians and is raising money to prepare for a possible legal challenge, depending on the Railroad Administrations recommendation. Beginning in 1900, more than 200 painters, including influential American artists Henry Ward Ranger, Childe Hassam and Willard Metcalf, lived in and created art in Old Lyme, making it a cultural site of historic importance. The proposed Northeast Corridor Future plan marks the first time since 1978 that federal officials have proposed a new blueprint for prioritizing improvements along the nearly 500-mile-long rail transportation spine for the Northeast. Serving 750,000 riders and 2,000 trains daily, the corridor includes the main Amtrak line from Washington to Boston and feeder lines that serve eight commuter and four freight railroads. The effort began in 2010, when a commission with members from the eight states and District of Columbia asked the Railroad Administration to create a framework for the billions of dollars needed to improve passenger rail capacity and service through 2040. Advocates contend the rail corridor faces serious challenges, with its century-old infrastructure, outdated technology and insufficient capacity to meet ridership demands. Some have also warned that tracks, which in many spots in New England hug the coastline, could flood as climate change raises sea levels. Combined with capacity problems in the densely populated regions highways and airports, worries abound that failing to modernize the rail system could hinder the Northeasts economic future. Some concepts have been applauded by commuters, business groups, and others calling for faster, more frequent and reliable trains. Acela Express trains, introduced in 2000, provide Amtraks current high-speed service along the Northeast Corridor. But the trains can reach their highest speeds of 150 mph in only two spots along the entire corridor: in rural Rhode Island and in southeastern Massachusetts. The proposed 50-mile bypass through southeastern Connecticut and southwest Rhode Island is one of several options for the region; another one includes taking no action at all. The bypass has been projected to help reduce a trip by about 25 minutes. The route would be farther inland, running roughly parallel to the existing rail line and mostly hugging Interstate 95. Federal rail officials argue the northern end of the Northeast Corridor cant support the traffic it has today, let alone future growth. In addition, trains on the coast east of Old Saybrook must slow down to cross five bridges that lift or swing to allow boats through, as well as to navigate curves. In some spots, speeds drop to 50 mph. HAMMOND Mainstream media is changing. Traditional media like the print newspaper, television broadcasting and radio have expanded to include additional modes of communication like social media, allowing people to reach across the world to communicate through Facebook, Twitter, blogs and YouTube. The podcast distributed in audio and video format is growing at an exponential rate thanks to people being able to listen at work or in the car. Purdue University Northwest at the Calumet campus is getting in on the ground floor. Professor Mark Mabrito created a new class this fall called English 435 Interactive Digital Media Project. Its one of five classes that students are required to take to earn an Interactive Media Certificate, which can take 12 to 18 months to complete. Summer Moore, digital and audience engagement editor at The Times of Northwest Indiana, contacted Mabrito last year year to talk about how the two entities could work together. Mabrito said Moore initially was looking for students who could do internships for the papers latest website 219.nwi.com. She wanted to get students to produce interactive media for The Times, he said. We met and brainstormed. She wanted millennials to produce content for the page. Its a great marriage for the certificate program. I decided to create a podcast course for this year. We talked about the kinds of pieces those students would produce and that they will be published on this new 219 site. The Interactive Media Certificate program was established in 2009. It is all online with the exception of this new English 435 class established this fall. The online certificate is available to students at either Purdue Calumet campus or Purdue North Central campus, or anyone outside of Purdue, he said. The English 435 course is a special topics course created specifically for the project with The Times. Its an extra course for the certificate, but all other certificate courses are online, Mabrito said. The course meets once per week at Purdues Calumet campus, where Mabrito teaches the class and Moore sometimes sits in. It also meets once per week at The Times newspaper in Munster where Moore teaches the class. The students also can interact with other journalists at the paper. The student work is all published at 219.nwi.com, which gives our readers more content and gives the students published work for their resumes, she said. Real-world experience beneficial The students have gone to a variety of festivals and interviewed local students and community leaders. Miya Holden, 23, of Gary, spent July 2015 in Korea. In her first podcast, she interviewed Korean students, who are exchange students at Purdue as well as Purdue students who have studied in that country. Holden said she wants to teach English abroad. This class is teaching me about podcasts and how to do them, she said. Im doing a lot of editing and using computer programs. Im learning a lot. Purdue senior Andrew Hasty, 27, of Lowell, did a podcast on a Lakes of the Four Seasons firefighter who served in the military during 9/11. He talked about how the military influenced him and shaped the person he is, Hasty said. Im really enjoying it. Im majoring in English literature, and had planned to be a high school teacher, but this program is giving me a taste of other kinds of media. Ive written a couple of stories for a magazine. I like being able to bounce things off on professionals, seeing what works and what doesnt work. Evan Blackwell, of Kansas, said he discovered Purdues online certificate program by doing Internet research. Blackwell said a couple of the classes in the program have specifically been beneficial to him in his job as a marketing copywriter for a publishing company called Walsworth in Overland Park, Kansas. Im responsible for writing blog posts and other types of web copy every week, so I still call on the lessons we learned in the Writing for the Web and Writing for Social Media classes, he said. Mabrito said what he really likes about the arrangement between the university and the newspaper is that his students learn about interactive media and they have a real world outlet to publish their work. It doesnt just stay in the classroom. Its an excellent portfolio builder, he said. The steel industry worked for more than seven and a half years to get Congress to pass the Enforce and Protect Act, which lets steelmakers and unions ask for investigations into whether foreign rivals are ducking tariffs when they import metal here. Now that the law is in place, a steelmaker asked U.S. Customs and Border Protection to look into whether tariffs should have been imposed on circular welded pipe that may have actually come from China, and was not pleased with the result. U.S. Customs and Border Protection declined to open an investigation into the first duty evasion claim filed under the new law, which was brought forward by Wheatland Tube, which has a plant in Chicago. It is owned by Chicago-based Zekelman Industries, which also runs Atlas Tube plants in Hegewisch and South Deering. I am disheartened by this news, said Barry Zekelman, chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries. We followed the rules set forth by the Enforce and Protect Act and the EAPA regulations of Customs and Border Protection. This is a legitimate allegation by a respected U.S. manufacturer, but they have chosen to not investigate to determine if there is any foul play. Zekelman said the new law was specifically passed for exactly this type of situation. Wheatland alleged that a foreign company shipped over 56,774 metric tons of welded pipe, and should have been required to pay more than $81.5 million in duties. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said there wasnt enough evidence of duty evasion to initiate an investigation. Zekelman objected that the agency is the only one with access to the relevant confidential import data. If Customs wont even investigate the claim, which they have the data and the ability to do, what protections are there for legitimate U.S. manufacturers who pay U.S. taxes and create jobs for Americans? he said. The law is supposed to help catch foreign steel dumpers who duck tariffs, such as by misrepresenting where the steel originally came from. The federal government estimates it has failed to collect $2.3 billion in anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of products like steel between 2001 and 2014. Steel officials are concerned about whether the agency is willing to enforce the new law to collect tariffs. At the very least, we would like CBP to use the data that they have already collected regarding the importing of this product to determine if duties were properly paid, said David Seeger, president of Zekelman Industries. Two local artists capture the Regions industrial landscape in a new exhibit at the South Short Arts Crown Point Gallery in downtown Crown Point. Calumets Industrial Heritage: Works by Kathy Los-Rathburn and Matthew Kaplan is on display at the gallery at 123 N. Main St. Running through Dec. 18, the show features photographs and watercolors of steel mills, factories, the Calumet River and the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. Los-Rathburn is a Griffith-based painter who specializes in nature paintings and has previously exhibited at the Chesterton Art Gallery, the Art Barn in Valparaiso, the White Ripple Gallery in Hammond and the Hammond Public Library. Kaplan is a professional photographer from Chicago who has shot street photography in the city and heavy industry in the Calumet Region. The Calumet Heritage Partnership, which has been pressing to create a National Heritage Corridor that would promote the diffuse attractions of the Calumet Region, is sponsoring the exhibit on the complex beauty and nature of the regions industrial landscape as part of its 2016 Calumet Heritage Event Series. The Calumet Region, which extends from southern Chicago to central LaPorte County, is likely the Chicago metro areas best untapped resource, the nonprofit said in a news release. Mostly known as the industrial powerhouse that once provided much of the nations steel, the region is now appreciated for its natural beauty, biodiversity, expanding artist communities and excellent outdoor activities. The South Shore Arts Gallery in Crown Point is open to the public free of charge from noon until 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information on the exhibit, call South Shore Arts at (219) 663-0200. Prince's Paisley Park recording studio and home will begin operating as a permanent museum this week, following a Minnesota city council rezoning vote. The Chanhassen City Council signed off on the rezoning request Monday, but also will require a traffic study to address concerns from council members and residents about pedestrian safety, traffic and parking, the Star Tribune reported. Earlier this month, the council tabled the request by the trust company overseeing the late superstar's estate, a move that nearly delayed the museum's Oct. 6 opening before a temporary operating permit was granted. The museum's website said tours will begin again Friday. Mayor Denny Laufenburger told the newspaper that he was pleased with the city council's decision, calling it a "big benefit for the community." But St. Paul resident Shelia Claytor, who was one of 30 people to attend Monday's meeting, said everything was "a rush job." The museum, which displays Prince's guitars, "Purple Rain" motorcycle and his ashes in a decorative urn, is expected to draw 600,000 people a year. "Prince's museum is going to outlive us all," said Joel Weinshanker with Graceland Holdings, which is overseeing the museum. Prince died April 21 of an accidental overdose at Paisley Park, a 65,000-square-foot complex outside of the Twin Cities area. Online: Paisley Park museum website: https://www.officialpaisleypark.com/ DYER Federal agents arrested a Dyer man Thursday morning in connection with a wide-ranging international federal investigation into a fraud scheme that targeted some of societys most vulnerable, authorities said. Fahad Ali was one of 20 individuals arrested and 61 charged in an indictment unsealed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Seven of the other 61 people indicted lived in the Chicago suburbs, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Department of Justice officials said in a news conference in Washington, D.C., which was live-streamed on the DOJ website, that nine search warrants also were executed in eight states as part of the three-year investigation. The defendants are accused of taking part in a sophisticated fraud scheme with conspirators in India to use information obtained from data brokers and other sources to call potential victims and pose as agents of the Internal Revenue Service or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, authorities said. A network of call centers was located in Ahmedabad, India, according to a Department of Justice news release. About 15,000 people lost hundreds of millions of dollars, and 15,000 were victims of identity theft in connection with the scam, officials said. These fraudsters exploited the immigrants fears of deportation and the insecurity of the elderly with this deceitful assertion of power, Homeland Security Inspector General John Roth Roth said. Call center operators threatened victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they failed to come up with money to pay purported taxes or penalties to the government. When victims agreed to pay, the alleged fraudsters used prepaid debit cards or wire transfers to obtain the money. They immediately turned to U.S.-based co-conspirators to liquidate and launder money, using stolen personal identifying information or fake names and fraudulent identifications, authorities said. The defendants also are accused of using alternative fraud schemes where call center workers would offer victims short-term loans or grants. The fraudsters would ask victims for a good-faith deposit to show ability to repay a loan, or payment to process a grant. The victims never received any money after making such payments, officials said. Ali was arrested before 8:30 a.m. in the 500 block of Wellington Drive in Dyer. Agents appeared to be focused on a townhome on the quiet street. Ali is accused of working as a runner, or someone who purchased prepaid cards, forwarded card numbers to payment processors, purchased money orders using prepaid cards funded with fraud proceeds, retrieved cash payments and deposited scammed funds into bank accounts. Ali was scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Hammond later Thursday, an ICE spokeswoman said. Roth said during the news conference the investigation was possible, because victims overcame their embarrassment and fear and reported the scams. Federal officials said Thursdays arrests are not expected to eliminate IRS and deportation scams. They warned residents the U.S. government will never call and demand immediate payment. Anyone who receives such a call should simply hang up and report it, they said. The U.S. attorneys offices in the Northern District of Indiana and Northern District of Illinois, along with police in Hoffman Estates and Naperville, were among a long list of local, state and federal agencies that provided significant support, the Justice Department said. These fraudsters exploited the immigrants fears of deportation and the insecurity of the elderly with this deceitful assertion of power. Homeland Security Inspector General John Roth Roth CROWN POINT For half his life, 30-year-old Hobart resident Rusty Windsor has racked up felony and misdemeanor charges, spending time in jail and prison. His addiction to heroin played a major part in his life of crime, Windsor said during his most recent sentencing hearing. On Monday, Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell accepted Windsors plea agreements for two separate crimes that occurred in 2015 and 2016, and sentenced him to two consecutive prison terms totaling 4.5 years with the Indiana Department of Correction. The judge also said Windsor should participate in the DOCs therapeutic communities for drug addiction and ruled that he wont be considered for sentence modification. The plea deal was worked out between Windsors defense attorney Richard L. Mayer and the Lake County prosecutors office. Windsor was charged with theft, a level 6 felony, in Hobart that occurred on Jan. 25, 2015. The burglary charge, a level 5 felony, took place on June 9, 2016, when Windsor broke into an auto body shop in Griffith. This crime occurred while Windsor was out on bond in the Hobart theft case. Cody Polovitch, owner of the shop, read a victim impact statement that described what he saw on video surveillance from the day of the burglary. Going through the shop and taking tools, Rusty looks like hes on a shopping spree, Polovitch said. Then he entered my office. Once inside the office, Polovitch said Windsor took numerous personal items including jewelry, cash, credit cards, a laptop computer with personal information about employees and three guns that were locked in a cabinet. The most valuable gun is still missing, Polovitch said. Windsor took many of the items to a Porter County pawn shop to obtain money to feed his heroin addiction, and used the credit cards, the victim said. Ive forgiven Rusty, but I dont feel sorry for him. He doesnt understand the consequences, Polovitch told Boswell. He used the guns (to commit other crimes). Id like to see Rusty in prison. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Maureen Koonce cited Windsors long criminal history in asking for the maximum prison sentence of 18 months for the theft charge and three years for the burglary. Windsor also faces felony charges in Porter County, she said. In June, Windsor was arrested in Portage and charged with felony counts of pointing a firearm and criminal recklessness. During his statement to the court Monday, Windsor apologized to Polovitch. He also admitted he had a drug problem, but said wanted to clean up his act. When Boswell asked him if he wanted to appeal his sentence, Windsor said, no. PORTAGE An accidentally popped hood led to the arrest of a South Haven man on drug charges Wednesday. Alex Jimenez, 20, was driving southbound on the Willowcreek Road bypass about 6:45 a.m. Wednesday when the hood of his truck popped open, blocking his vision to drive. A police officer was driving behind him and soon activated his emergency lights to help Jimenez pull to the curb. Once Jimenez stopped, he jumped out, nearly being struck by a semi, closed the hood and told the officer everything was OK, according to the report. However, the officer continued to walk towards the truck and smelled the odor of marijuana. The office looked inside and saw a hand-rolled blunt in plain sight on the driver seat, along with an open bag of what appeared to be marijuana. Jimenez was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor possession of marijuana and transported to Porter County Jail. VALPARAISO County police found themselves in the unusual position early Tuesday of arresting someone they did not initially want to take into custody. They said 22-year-old Rachel Wright, of Valparaiso, showed up in the lobby of the jail at 12:19 a.m. wanting to turn herself in for missing a court hearing the day before. When police told her there was no active warrant for her arrest, she threatened to begin throwing items around in the lobby so she would be arrested for disorderly conduct, police said. She threw a magazine twice, yet an officer refused to arrest her and asked her to leave. When Wright asked what would happen if she refused to leave, police reportedly said they would arrest her for trespassing. After making sure the charge was a misdemeanor and not a felony, police took her into custody after asking her more than five times to leave. "Wright further thanked me for arresting her for trespassing while at the booking counter, telling me I did my job," according to the arrest report. SPRINGFIELD With a little more than a week to go until Election Day, more than 6 percent of Illinois record 8 million active registered voters have already cast their ballots, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. As of Thursday morning, 485,410 Illinoisans had voted in the Nov. 8 election either by mail, in person or using grace period registration, which allows people to register and cast their ballots at the same time. In the 2014 general election, about 6.6 percent of registered voters cast their ballots early, accounting for 13 percent of the overall turnout of nearly 3.7 million. In 2012, the last presidential election year, nearly 16 percent of active registered voters voted before Election Day, representing 22 percent of the nearly 5.3 million ballots cast. Jim Tenuto, a spokesman for the elections board, said early voting has become increasingly popular as the state has expanded opportunities for people to cast ballots ahead of time. Voters could begin casting ballots Sept. 29 by mail and at the offices of local election authorities. More early voting locations opened across the state Monday and will remain open daily through Nov. 7. Given the contentious presidential race and the fact that this is the first general election in which residents of Illinois more populated counties will be able to register at their polling places on Election Day, its hard to predict what the overall turnout will be, Tenuto said. It just seems like with all the registrations going up that hopefully that translates to a big turnout, he said. The previous state record for active registered voters was a little less than 7.8 million in 2008, the year then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois won the presidency. Overall turnout that year was nearly 72 percent. So far this year, Rock Island County is among the top five jurisdictions for early voting, with 10.6 percent of the countys 98,732 active registered voters having already cast ballots. The northwestern Illinois county is also one of the areas from which the Illinois attorney generals office has heard complaints about voters not receiving mail-in ballots after sending in applications they received from third parties, spokeswoman Eileen Boyce said. Advocacy groups, political parties and others often distribute applications for mail-in ballots, which is legal, but voters who send in the applications should make sure theyve been received by their local election authority, the attorney generals office said Thursday in an alert. Those wishing to vote by mail must fill out an application, which their local election authority must receive by Nov. 3, the attorney generals office said. Once voters receive their ballots, they must fill out, sign and postmark them by Nov. 8. They can also be hand-delivered to the local election authority by 7 p.m. on Election Day. The attorney generals office and the state elections board encourage those who have requested or submitted a mail-in ballot to follow up with their local election authority to make sure theyve been received. Contact information can be found at elections.il.gov. Those whove applied and havent received a ballot or received one but havent sent it in are allowed to vote in person, either early or on Election Day. Aside from Rock Island County, early voting rates are higher than the statewide average in several downstate jurisdictions. In the city of Bloomington, 9.8 percent of registered voters have already cast ballots, though the rate is 5.8 percent in the rest of McLean County. The early voting rate so far is 8.1 percent in Coles County, 7.5 percent in Jackson County and 7.3 percent in Macon County. EAST CHICAGO A city official said Tuesday only a limited number of children being relocated from the West Calumet Housing Complex so far have had their blood tested for lead. The news is troubling, East Chicago City Attorney Carla Morgan said, because exposure to lead can cause permanent neurological damage. Children with confirmed elevated blood lead levels are eligible to receive case management services, including treatment for learning disabilities and in-home assessments to mitigate health risks. The whole point is to give kids the best possible shot at life, Morgan said. A total of 1,152 people have been tested since the city Health Department began a program last summer, according to data released by the city late last week. Of those, just 263 were children younger than 7. About 670 children lived at the West Calumet Complex before the city ordered residents to relocate in August. Of the 263 children tested, preliminary results showed 33 with elevated blood lead levels. Confirmatory tests showed 12 of the 33 had blood lead levels of 5 micrograms per decliter or more, the level of concern set by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 2005 to 2015, preliminary tests showed more than 20 percent of children tested in the census tract that includes the West Calumet Housing Complex had elevated blood lead levels, according to data provided by the Indiana State Department of Health. More than 10 percent of children in the census tract encompassing two cleanup zones to the east of the complex had elevated blood lead levels during the same time period, data show. Children younger than 7 are particularly at risk of lead poisoning, because their growing bodies more readily absorb the metal. Pregnant woman also should take precautions. Even low levels of lead in the blood can lead to lower IQ, impair a childs ability to pay attention and cause lower academic achievement, according to the CDC. The State Department of Health on Wednesday said it will be expanding its one-stop shop for residents in the USS Lead Superfund site, which includes the entire Calumet neighborhood. Residents can obtain blood testing, birth certificates, vouchers for ID cards and drivers licenses, immunizations and help navigating the health insurance market. Blood samples collected at the clinics will be analyzed at no cost by State Department of Health laboratories. The one-stop shop schedule is: 1 to 6 p.m. Friday at Riley Park, 1005 E. Chicago Ave. 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the West Calumet Housing Complex recreation center, 4925 Gladiola St. 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at Riley Park. 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at West Calumet Housing Complex recreation center. 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at West Calumet Housing Complex recreation center. One of four Lake County sheriffs officers on special assignment with Homeland Security in North Dakota accidentally shot himself in the foot Oct. 25 while checking his department-issued rifle, an official said.* The officer received medical treatment and is recovering, sheriffs spokesman Mark Back said. The officers are among about three dozen from Indiana who responded to the state of North Dakotas request for assistance in Morton County under an Emergency Management Assistance Compact contract. In addition to the Sheriffs Department, officers from Munster, Hammond, Schererville, Griffith and Michigan City are part of the Region contingent. Protesters trying to stop construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline were bracing for a confrontation with police Thursday after the demonstrators refused to leave private land in the pipelines path, The Associated Press reported. A months-long dispute over the four-state, $3.8 billion pipeline reached a crisis point when some 200 protesters set up camp on land owned by pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners. The disputed area is just to the north of a more permanent and larger encampment on federally owned land where hundreds of protesters have camped for months. Law enforcement officials demanded that the protesters leave the private land on Wednesday, but the protesters refused. Northwest Indiana officers from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security District 1 Task Force were deployed Saturday and will remain there for about two weeks under the contract, said Munster Police Chief Steve Scheckel, also the states Homeland Security liaison. North Dakota will be responsible for reimbursing out-of-state police agencies for various costs, said John Erickson, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Such costs include wages, overtime, officer benefits, meals while officers are on duty, a per diem while officers are off duty, lodging and mileage for the communities that sent vehicles. Times staff writer Lauren Cross and The Associated Press contributed to this report. For questions about reporting from North Dakota, contact the The Associated Press' Bismark bureau at (701) 223-8450. * Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the date of the accidental shooting. The Times regrets the error. LAPORTE Catholics at Sacred Heart Catholic Church were advised to listen to what they believe God is telling them when they go to vote Nov. 8, even if it means not choosing any of the major political party candidates for president. If I was a young person, I would be so jaded by the politics of today because so much of it seems to be about ego and power. Is it really about the common good? said the Most Reverend Don Hying, bishop of the Gary Diocese. No preference about any one political party or candidate was mentioned during the two-hour presentation and question-and-answer session that followed with about 150 audience members on Oct. 24. Hying said among the Catholic teachings that should guide voters are sanctity of life, the definition of marriage between a man and woman and the ability to work with dignity to provide for families and give back to society. One of the audience members, Johann Forman Jr., said he feels betrayed by one of the political parties over matters like abortion and same-sex marriage and angered by what he believes is a concerted effort to suppress the message of Christ. I believe we are heading toward a government that is trying to control us. One side protects us Christians. The other side has abandoned Christians. They ask for our vote but come to destroy us, Forman said. Its time for some people to wake up, he said. Mary Padula spoke emotionally over what she believes is lack of respect for the unborn child and reluctance by many social groups to address the issue. Whats happening in our country? Padula asked. Gene Clingenpeel said, I despise this election, but while coming to the presentation discussion had an epiphany that theres only one choice. He also asked why our priests in charge of our souls are not shouting from the rooftops to fight this intrinsic evil. Hying said strong families that are good for nurturing children in a culture pulling us apart from our families and restrictions governing immigration are among the other Catholic teachings voters should pray about before casting their votes. He said the election this year is an extremely difficult one, especially with the great divide over social matters between the parties and the candidates falling short of perfection as they usually do in what God would like to see in this world. Its been so tough to decide that Hying said he, like many voters, has often told himself, I just want somebody else to vote for. I mean, cant there be a third option? INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana gubernatorial candidates say they would likely grant a pardon to a Chicago man whose request hasnt been acted upon by Gov. Mike Pence for two years despite evidence he was wrongly sent to prison for an armed robbery conviction. Republican Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb said during a Tuesday debate that he understands Pences stance that 49-year-old Keith Cooper should first exhaust all court options to clear himself of the 1996 robbery in Elkhart, Indiana. Coopers pardon request, which the Indiana Parole Board recommended be approved in 2014, has received renewed attention since Pence became Donald Trumps vice presidential running mate. The governors general counsel wrote a letter to Coopers attorney last month that it would be unprecedented for an Indiana governor to grant a pardon based on an innocence claim. Holcomb said he would want to further review the case, but clearly signaled a difference with Pence on how to proceed. I would look forward to quickly exonerating, quickly pardoning, swiftly, if the facts bear that out, Holcomb said. Democratic candidate John Gregg said he would immediately pardon Cooper based on his knowledge of the case. The facts in this are pretty clear, Gregg said. ... When the system has made a mistake, we need to correct it immediately and move on. The governors office didnt immediately reply to requests for comment Wednesday. Cooper was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the robbery during which a teenager was shot in the stomach, but advances in DNA testing and a nationwide offender database excluded Cooper as the attacker and identified another person. The Indiana Court of Appeals overturned his co-defendants conviction in 2005, and Cooper was given the choice of being released with a felony record or facing a new trial before the same judge who had convicted him. He elected to be released to go home to his wife and three children, who at times were homeless during his incarceration. Cooper has sought a pardon since 2009 and the prosecutor who handled his trial asked Pence this year to approve the pardon, which would remove the felony conviction from his record. Pence has pardoned three people since he became governor in 2013, while denying 39 pardons and not acting yet on 20 requests, The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette reported. Pences predecessor, Republican Mitch Daniels, issued 62 pardons during his eight years as governor. It's a concise message, clear enough to knock the chip off our collective shoulders. Northwest Indiana abounds with innovative ideas and promising young professionals ready to take our Region to a new level of excellence. Just look at the Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators' recently inducted class of 2016. Great individuals and teams with incredible ideas for improving all facets of life and industry were honored after considering the best Jasper, Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Pulaski and Starke counties have to offer. The selection of our individuals and team members culminates a rigorous six-month process based upon nominations reviewed by leaders serving as reviewers and judges, said OMerrial Butchee, director of the Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Ivy Tech. Our goal is to select the most innovative individuals and teams in our seven counties. This year's class included a Goliath 377 individual inductees resident sons and daughters who restored and repurposed historic buildings, streamlined local higher education and enhanced our Region's sense of place and quality of life, among so many other accomplishments. For a detailing of the specific inductees and their ideas, read Times Business Reporter Keith Benman's article, "Society powers up innovation, honors 377," at nwi.com. The Times Media Co.s recent "20 Under 40" honorees also provide inspiring proof that young professionals are forging new pathways for our Region's future and hopefully plan to stay for a while. Innovations in immigration law, compassionate provision of health care and historical preservation are just a few of the general themes in the wheelhouses of these fine young professionals. Find their stories at nwi.com by searching for The Times Media 20 Under 40 slideshow. All these innovators and young professionals help reinforce that our best years are yet to come, not blurred in a fleeting past. I support Jim Harper for state senator. I have voted for Judge Mary Harper, Jim's mother, since 1984. I have voted for Bob Harper for county commissioner. A person's parentage does not always guarantee success, honor or trustworthiness. But having known Jim and his family, I can state without hesitation that he brings the ethics, willingness to serve and knowledge that his family members have brought to bear for Porter County. Thousands of city students could soon be left without a way to get to school. Members of a school bus drivers' union voted overwhelmingly last night to authorize a strike as soon as Tuesday. It affects more than 850 employees of Jofaz Transportation and Y&M Transit. After months of negotiating, talks broke down between Teamsters Local 553 and the two companies, which are owned by the same person. They carry thousands of students on 600 routes in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Union members say the companies are forcing workers to pay for future health care cost hikes and only offered some employees a raise. They say many of the bus drivers make minimum wage and cannot afford the extra costs. "We need to have better wage increases and everything else. Our medical insurance was going to go through the roof. We can't afford that. Our salary doesn't warrant that," said Lisa Cilone, a driver with Y&M Transportation. "We never had to pay for our medical. That was already paid for us as part of our pay. But now, they want us to pay every week." The Department of Education says it's disappointed with the vote. It says it will offer either a MetroCard or alternative bus service for students if necessary. The bus companies did not comment. Time Warner Cable News' Valarie DElia takes a deep dive into the Caribbean, with a cruise that starts and ends in San Juan, in this Travel With Val report. Viking Star came steaming up the Hudson River recently paying a visit to New York City for the very first time. The 930 passenger ship was enroute from Europe to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where it will homeport for a series 11-day Caribbean cruises through February. Viking Star will visit eight ports of call as far south as Barbados, an itinerary designed to get passengers out of the cold weather fast. "For New Yorkers you might as well just hop on a plane and go to San Juan, and then go with us and you are right in the middle of the Caribbean," says Torstein Hagan, chairman of Viking Cruises. Before repositioning to San Juan, the non-revenue sailing from New York was an opportunity for media and travel agents to become familiar with the Viking brand, one that a devoted clientele knows more for its river cruises. The Viking Star and its sister Viking Sea typically appeal to mature couples 55+, with no kids and no casino on board. The mostly-inclusive nature of the ship covers shore excursions and beer and wine at meals. From now through October 31st, save up to $1,000 off cruise fare and another $1,000 on air. For more Travel With Val, visit travelwithval.com. DAKAR, Senegal President Obama looked across the Atlantic Ocean as he stood in a stone doorway at Goree Island, a symbolically important landmark that serves as a reminder of ships bound for America bearing African slaves in shackles. Americas first black president spent about a half-hour inside the slave house on the edge of the water, walking quietly with his wife, Michelle Obama, a descendant of slaves, by his side. Photographers briefly captured a reflective-looking president in the door of no return. Afterward, Mr. Obama was stoic, describing the visit only as a very powerful moment that helped him to fully appreciate the magnitude of the slave trade, which for so long defined the history of blacks in the United States. Season 1, Episode 5: The Mission Welcome back to the White House! This weeks episode of Designated Survivor revolves around a military strike, and contains all the classic elements of the show weve come to know and (maybe) love: ominous lead-chasing, flirtatious-yet-strained banter, close-ups on widening eyes, thickly laid moral dilemmas. Most interestingly, it implicitly floats the idea that President Kirkman is not, in fact, the hero of this story. In the central scene, the show follows a Navy SEAL mission in Algeria, which ends in the successful capture of the suspected terrorist Majid Nassar. The scene toggles between a view inside the mission and Kirkmans monitor screen; the feed flickers and warps, and its unclear at times what is happening. Its a tense and skillfully filmed scene, but for a show that presumes to explore the moral complexities of American governance, it takes a pretty conventional approach to some of its portrayals. Each SEAL officer is a stoic, good-hearted, all-American family man working for a righteous and immaculate military. The bad guys are often easy to spot: Theyre the ones with the beards and turbans. Despite ample evidence to the contrary, the more hardened, nuanced approach of a film like Zero Dark Thirty has apparently been deemed too sophisticated for a mass audience. While good battles evil in Algeria, the scene in Washington is more subtle. Virginia Madsen, in particular, is electric as Congresswoman Hookstraten, who conveys volumes with each look from her steely eyes. The congresswoman strode into the first episode like she was entering to the Darth Vader theme song, but shes more wild card than evil villain. Shes also a skilled operator. Here, she needles Kirkman into revealing his covert military plans and then threatens to turn on him if the operation goes awry. Shes a doll to Seth Wright but a snarling pit bull to Congressman MacLeish: Her coming, Peter? as she leaves the Oval Office is searing. T20 World Cup: 'He Was Superb in Warm Up Match, Lot of You Weren't There'-Rahul Defends Rahul T20 World Cup: 'Thats One Place Where You Feel Secure, Thats Taken Away'-Coach Rahul Dravid Says Virat Kohli 'Absolutely Fine' After Privacy Breach T20 World Cup: 'Horrible Weather' In Store for IND vs BAN, 70 Percent Chance of Rain Hurt Prithvi Shaw Posts Emotional Insta Story After Snub from Team India; 3 Other Players Follow Suit Jack T. Chick, whose religious cartoons, known as Chick tracts, became known worldwide as tools of religious salvation, but which were also attacked as instruments of hate speech, died on Sunday at his home in Alhambra, Calif. He was 92. The death was confirmed by David W. Daniels of Mr. Chicks company, Chick Publications. To some, Chick tracts are American folk art or even a form of religious pornography, titillating and somewhat dangerous, Brills Content wrote in 1999. Chick is the ultimate underground artist. Chick Publications says that almost 900 million copies of the cartoons have been printed and sold in 102 languages to missionaries, churches, youth groups and others. The pocket-size tracts blend typical comic-book illustrations with a chatty, contemporary tone. Who Cares? begins with a picture of a plane approaching the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. In subsequent frames a character named Omar and his mother worry about anti-Muslim sentiment after the terrorist attacks. On Tuesday, two reporters from The New York Times visited a car auction held in Queens by the New York City Department of Finance. It was a lesson in how consumers can purchase cars that have deadly defects and how sellers have few obligations to disclose those defects to the public. The department was auctioning 20 cars, which had probably been abandoned or towed, to a group of about 50 bidders. The vehicles were in various states of disrepair and no one had even bothered to remove trash from the interiors. The list of vehicles, along with their vehicle identification numbers, was posted on the departments website before the auction. It took the reporters less than a half-hour to run all 20 cars through a federal database of safety defects something any interested potential consumer can do. That search showed that half of the cars had been recalled for various reasons, including faulty ignition switches and Takata airbags, which between them have killed or injured hundreds of people worldwide. Your bank really wants to chat. This week Bank of America, MasterCard and several financial start-ups announced new tools known as chatbots that will allow customers to ask questions about their financial accounts, initiate transactions and get financial advice via text messages or services like Facebook Messenger and Amazons Echo tower. The early versions of the financial chatbots generally do little more than answer basic queries about recent transactions and spending limits. But companies are aiming to build the chatbots into full-service automated financial assistants that can make payments and keep track of your budget for you. What will banking be in two, three or four years? Its going to be this, Michelle Moore, the head of digital banking at Bank of America, said in describing the banks new offering, which it has named Erica. The outdoor lot of Mr. Z Towing in Flushing, Queens, looked like an automotive graveyard. A beat-up Pontiac Grand Prix, one of 20 towed or abandoned cars that the New York City Department of Finance was auctioning on Tuesday, came with a Popeyes fried chicken box on its dashboard. Others were scuffed and dented. The cars did not even have keys. Some of the vehicles on offer had another serious flaw: safety problems for which recall notices had been issued but repairs were never made. That included explosive Takata airbags that have been linked to 15 deaths. The airbag defect claimed another life last month, a 50-year-old Riverside, Calif., woman whose 2001 Honda Civic had been sold three times at auto auctions much like the one in Queens, before her son bought it from an acquaintance. The woman, Delia Robles, was on her way to get a flu shot when her car collided with a pickup truck. The death has highlighted a group of drivers especially vulnerable to dangerous vehicles: second, third or even fourth owners, who purchased their vehicles in transactions far removed from the protections offered to buyers of new cars. The revealer clue at 35A pretty much gives away the concept, although solvers will still have quite a bit of work to do to get the theme consistently. The clue is Full of ghosts ... like four answers in this puzzle? and the answer, of course, is HAUNTED. While those four theme answers are not highlighted in any way, they may be recognizable simply because it will seem like you need more squares to fill in the correct answer. For example, at 22A, the clue is Like many celebrity memoirs, and we have a seven-letter slot. Instinctively, we know that the answer is GHOSTWRITTEN, but where to put the extra five letters? Nowhere, thats where; GHOSTs are invisible. So just fill in WRITTEN and let that GHOST float away. Now for the crossing Down entries, which is where the brilliance comes in. Ill get you started with the first letter. At 8D, the clue is Knights ride and the answer is STEED. Now we dont have enough letters to fill that slot. What goes in there? Just that W from [GHOST] WRITTEN, making a perfectly legitimate word. That is true for all of the crossing Downs, by the way, and its an insanely hard trick to pull off. So kudos to Mr. Beckman and the editors on the work that went into this puzzle. More like this, please, even if I do tank miserably at them the first time. Its worth the blow to my dignity to enjoy work this good. Here is the entire GHOST theme set: 22A: [GHOST] WRITTEN 24A: [GHOST] TOWN 51A: [GHOST] STORY 53A: [GHOST] BUSTERS Tricky Clues 1A: Hi kids! Long before there was streaming and even Blu-ray, people recorded television programming (ask your folks) that they wanted to watch at a later date on machines called VCRs. The medium for recording was a large, brick-shaped videocassette that you inserted into the front of the machine, if the children in the household had not already inserted Play-Doh into it first, not that I would know. Your folks may even still have some video cassettes. Check under the leg of that wobbly table in the dining room. 19A: I met the Worlds Most Dangerous Group, N.W.A., back when they first got started and my ex-husband worked with them in his recording studio. They are very nice people, but showbiz spin is showbiz spin. I cannot print what the entire abbreviation of the groups name stands for, but the last two words are ... With Attitude. Will you be dressing up this Halloween? How about your friends and siblings? What will you be wearing and how did you decide what costume to wear? How do you know when a Halloween costume crosses the line from being edgy or original to offensive? In Clowns, Candidates and Other Halloween Costume Missteps, Christine Hauser writes: In a matter of days, many Americans will find themselves facing an important but risky decision. No, not the election: What to wear for Halloween. In a year of a bitterly divided presidential campaign, a growing divide on matters of race and gender and bizarre news events like creepy clown sightings, it seems harder than ever to find a costume that wont get you into trouble. Some cities have banned or strongly discouraged clown outfits, while costume sellers have faced protests from Native Americans, Muslim Americans and other groups about anything that mimics traditional ethnic or religious dress. The fall ritual of dress-up has particularly haunted American universities, where past problems have led to annual warnings about costume choices. Media outlets have a new October staple, helpful guides about what to avoid: generally anything involving blackface, Nazis, suicide bombers or the sexualizing of children. Students: Read the entire article, then tell us: When does a Halloween costume cross the line? What advice would you give to someone who is unsure whether a planned costume is offensive? Are there rules to follow or questions you can ask that might provide guidance? Should cities or colleges ban certain costumes with the goal of promoting safety or preventing anything offensive? Why? Ms. Coleman also emphasized that so far, only part of the story had emerged. In her 30 years of legal experience, she said, Ive never seen a case that is more different when you get on the inside than it looks on the outside. For now, the way it looks on the outside is extremely damaging to her client. In court documents, witnesses, all of whose names were redacted, have said that on the day of the crash, Mr. West and his four passengers had been drinking at Log Bay Day, an annual celebration on the lake. It began decades ago as a way for Lake Georges youthful summer work force to let off steam, but over the years it has evolved into an alcohol-and-drug-saturated bacchanal. After they left the festivities, Mr. West and his friends stopped for dinner on the lake and headed home. Then, one of the passengers, Matthew J. Marry, told the police, We hit something. When I looked back, I realized it was a boat we hit, Mr. Marry, 28, of Kingsbury, N.Y., told the police. We waved to the boat and asked if they were O.K. They just looked at us and kept driving. A member of the McCue family who was aboard the wooden boat told the police what happened from the familys perspective. All of a sudden, there was a bow of another boat charging up the right side of our boat near Courtney and Charlotte, he said. The boat cleared ours and Courtney screamed, Were hurt. Charlotte was mangled badly, her head and body cut. I just screamed, No, no, no, the family member said. I knew she was hurt bad, she wasnt saying anything, her eyes were a different color to me they looked dead. He added: I just tried to hold her to keep her together. She was cut so bad. Not wanting anyone else to see Charlotte this way, he covered her with a blanket. The move reflects a growing recognition across the country that the people who disproportionately bear the brunt of serious crime mostly young minority men are also the least likely to get help. The federal budget for the Victims of Crime Act, passed in 1984, grew in 2015 by $1.6 billion, part of what advocates say is a broad shift toward recognizing that money for social services needs to flow into high-crime neighborhoods, just as resources to support law enforcement have for decades. Our outreach is going to include people who havent always felt that there are victims services available to them, said Susan Herman, the departments deputy commissioner for collaborative policing. We will be reaching out to people who dont necessarily identify as victims of crime, but have experienced violence, have experienced assault, and in particular young men of color who may not see themselves as someone who would typically go to a victim services agency. The program was announced on Wednesday as the citys police commissioner, James P. ONeill, and Chirlane McCray, the wife of Mayor Bill de Blasio, addressed a class of Safe Horizon trainees in the agencys Brooklyn office. Since last month, advocates have been working in 13 precincts in Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx. Another class of advocates will move into 13 more precincts, including some in Queens and Staten Island, next week. The department did not say how much it is spending on the program. By 2018, most precincts will have two victims advocates, one focused on domestic violence and the other on general crime; precincts with lower crime rates will have a single advocate. The advocates would sift through crime complaints each morning and eventually send a letter, signed by the precincts commanding officer, to each crime victim. Some victims would also receive phone calls or home visits from an advocate. Updated, 9:53 a.m. Good morning on this rain-soaked Thursday. Last week: an Indian summer, with sunshine and highs in the 80s. This week: cold days and frigid nights, with lows in the 30s. Aside from throwing off the chi of your closet, these seemingly drastic changes are nothing to be concerned about. Its actually very common for this time of year, said John Homenuk of New York Metro Weather. Air masses are changing all the time, he explained, and last week we experienced a very warm one. This week, a much cooler one. This particular air mass is quite cold its definitely anomalous, 15 degrees below normal, Mr. Homenuk told us. But whats normal are these swings where you get big rises and drops in temperature. Thats what fall is known for. Surprised by the unexpected opportunity, Democrats are pouring millions into the race. Surprised by the unexpected challenge, Mr. Issa is, too. Though he has called President Obama one of the most corrupt presidents in modern times, Mr. Issa is mailing out fliers with a nice photo of Mr. Obama at his desk in the Oval Office. I am very pleased that President Obama has signed into law the Survivors Bill of Rights legislation I co-sponsored to protect the victims of sexual assault, it reads. Mr. Obama traveled to La Jolla on Sunday to laugh at that flier, calling it the definition of chutzpah. At a $10,000-per-plate dinner for Mr. Applegate, Mr. Obama said defeating Republicans like Mr. Issa meant rejecting the climate inside the Republican Party that resulted in Donald Trump getting the nomination. Mr. Issa is worth about $250 million, and he built his fortune on the Viper, a car alarm that uses Mr. Issas recorded voice to command passers-by to step away from the car. Republicans have been stepping away from Mr. Issa recently, finding the Viper King too vituperative even for them. When he was chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Mr. Issa, who has trumpeted his tireless commitment to transparency, used his considerable investigative power on inquiries that proved better at generating publicity for himself than uncovering any actual wrongdoing by the administration. Mr. Issa had the Benghazi investigation wrested away from him after nobody could substantiate his claim that as Americans were being attacked, the defense secretary, Leon Panetta, was told to stand down by Hillary Clinton. Mr. Issas investigation into the Internal Revenue Services scrutiny of conservative nonprofit groups dissipated in a cloud of hyperbole and intraparty fighting as Mr. Issa angled unsuccessfully for his committee to be the first to interrogate key players. This event in history, like Watergate, like Teapot Dome and like many other historic events, will be studied by future generations, he intoned during one hearing. Less than a year later, Republican leaders rejected Mr. Issas bid to extend his term-limited appointment as chairman, and moved his imposing portrait from the wood-paneled wall of the committee chamber to a less-revered spot near a coat rack. The effort to oust President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela through a referendum was always a long shot. But it represented the best hope of ending an era of authoritarian rule and epic economic mismanagement through peaceful, constitutional means. Last week, however, allies of Mr. Maduro in the courts and on the electoral commission shut down the process, with predictable results. On Wednesday, enraged protesters took to the streets, where some came under attack by security forces, while their leaders called for a demonstration on Nov. 3 that will end at the presidential palace. The latest confrontation between the government and the opposition began with regional court rulings that tossed out signatures supporting the referendum on grounds that some were gathered fraudulently. Based on those rulings, the electoral commission, run by acolytes of the president, last Friday suspended the next step of the process, the collection of signatures from roughly 20 percent of voters. That decision makes it almost certain that a referendum will not be held before Jan. 10, the latest date under which a plebiscite would trigger a new election. Venezuelas Parliament, which is run by Mr. Maduros opponents, but which he has rendered largely powerless, reacted with rightful indignation. During a hearing on Sunday, opposition leaders said the electoral commissions decision represented a rupture of constitutional order and a de facto coup of the legislative branch. The hearing devolved into pandemonium and bloody scuffles after a band of government supporters burst in. The second group, termed the Disinherited in the UVA-IASC survey, comprises religiously conservative whites without college degrees. Republicans outnumber Democrats 52.3 to 11.1, and 60.9 percent say the Republican Party represents their views very or fairly well. They plan to vote for Trump by 74.3 to 13.5 percent. James Davison Hunter, a professor of religion, culture and social theory at UVA, and Carl Desportes Bowman, director of survey research at the IASC, write that half of the Disinherited live on less than $50,000 per year compared to 10 percent of the Social Elite. The majority of the Disinherited (58%) describe their familys current financial situation as only fair or poor, with half (52%) seeing their prospects in the future as worse, 21 percent seeing their prospects as much worse. Conversely, six out of ten (58%) of the Social Elite have family incomes that are $100,000 or over, compared to 13 percent of the Disinherited. The Social Elite are aware of their good fortune: 73 percent describe their current financial situation as good or excellent and an even stronger majority (79%) see their future as staying the same (36%) or getting better (43%). More affluent and well-educated white voters have substantially different policy agendas from their less affluent and less well-educated fellow citizens. First, the downscale whites. Nearly half say they feel alienated from contemporary America (a stranger in their own land), that they have little or no power to change the course of events 84.4 percent believe public officials do not care what people like me think. 83.5 percent agreed that in general, Americans lived more moral and ethical lives 50 year ago. These voters are convinced (72.6 percent) that they can no longer get ahead in America through hard work, and that the government in Washington threatens the freedom of ordinary Americans (75.3 percent). In a nation where same-sex marriage has gained public acceptance and gays routinely appear in television and movies, 54.9 percent of these voters say their own beliefs and values are different from those of gays and lesbians, and 66.2 percent oppose requiring every state to permit same-sex marriages. Then the Social Elite. 74.2 percent say the economy is holding steady or improving; 71.1 percent say that 25 years from now people like you will be doing the same or better; 66 percent disagree with the statement that people like me have no say in government; 68.8 percent say that in America you still get ahead by working hard; 56.7 percent are personally in agreement with the values and beliefs of the cultural elite. 57 percent disagree with the statement that people like me dont have any say in what the government does. These upscale white liberals like government. 52.5 percent have some or a lot of confidence that public officials will tell the truth, compared with 17.1 percent of the Disinherited. 68.7 percent of the Social Elite disagree with the statement the best government governs least, compared with the 75.3 percent of the Disinherited. 74.4 percent disagree with the statement that the government in Washington threatens the freedom of ordinary Americans. There is, in addition, a significant difference in the attitudes toward the poor coming from voters in the social elite and those from the disinherited. Asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement Most Americans who live in poverty are there because of their own bad habits and choices, the social elite sharply disagreed, 81-19, while the disinherited were split (47.2 percent agree, 52.8 percent disagree). It has been a riveting few days in the tragicomic opera known as Bridgegate, now playing at the federal courthouse in Newark. Bridget Anne Kelly, whom we last saw disappearing under the wheels of a bus, shoved there by Gov. Chris Christie, re-emerged on the witness stand, testifying in her own defense. In an emotional climax to the six-week trial, she pointed the finger at her former boss as a bully and a liar. If you havent followed Bridgegate, its one tortured libretto. Ms. Kelly was Mr. Christies deputy chief of staff, until he fired her after the scandal broke. She and a co-defendant, Bill Baroni, a top Christie appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, are accused of scheming, then covering up, the closing of lanes at the George Washington Bridge, causing an epic four-day traffic jam. Their alleged motive was to punish the mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing Mr. Christies re-election. Mr. Christie, who is not on trial, says he didnt know about the lane closings, though three people have contradicted him under oath Ms. Kelly, Mr. Baroni and David Wildstein, a former Christie ally who pleaded guilty to orchestrating the plot and was a chief prosecution witness. The defense rested its case on Wednesday. Summations were scheduled for Thursday, and jury deliberations for Monday. The testimony and evidence are a pileup of contradictions and self-serving exculpation. Emails in evidence suggested that Ms. Kelly, Mr. Baroni and others on the Christie team took cruel pleasure in the traffic disaster and in the vain pleadings by the mayor for help. But Ms. Kellys defense skillfully wove a tale of the scorned aide as a terrified victim, someone who had honestly believed the lanes had been closed for a traffic study. In this account, a seemingly damning email (Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee) was sent matter-of-factly; she wasnt cackling. In the poignant phase of her testimony, Ms. Kelly told of her efforts to belong to the Christie club and the abuse she took from the boss, who, she said, once threw a water bottle at her. Senator McCain or, more precisely, a staff member speaking on his behalf quickly backed off, and Senator Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican who heads the Judiciary Committee, said in response that the Senate cant just simply stonewall but rather had the responsibility to vet a presidents nominees. Im not sure what that means. Maybe it means that the tattered thread of a norm by which the confirmation process is hanging is at least sufficient to require the Republicans to say that, of course, they wont do the very thing that they will do, if they can call it by a different name and bring it off. Its important to understand just how far from the norm the current situation has descended. Did the titanic battle that led to the defeat of Robert H. Bork, President Ronald Reagans Supreme Court nominee, open the door to this kind of behavior? You often hear such a claim, but the fact is that no, it did not. The Bork battle remains the outlier, not the standard. Judge Bork, lets not forget, got a hearing, a committee vote, and a floor vote. Months after defeating the Bork nomination by a bipartisan vote of 58 opposed to 42 in favor, the Democratic-controlled Senate voted 97 to 0, a month into the 1988 presidential election year, to confirm Anthony M. Kennedy to the seat Judge Bork was to have filled. President Bill Clintons two Supreme Court nominees, Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1993 and Stephen G. Breyer the next year, were confirmed by votes of 96 to 3 and 87 to 9. It is only by a distorted view of history that the Bork battle can be said to have ushered in or authorized flat-out obstruction of a Supreme Court nomination. Republican obstruction of President Obamas nominations to the lower federal courts is equally ahistoric. Of the presidents 49 pending nominations, 38 have been waiting even longer than Merrick Garland for a vote. According to figures compiled by the Brookings Institution, there is nothing normal about the near-shutdown that has existed since Republicans took control of the Senate in January 2015. Since then, the Senate has confirmed 29 percent of President Obamas nominees to the federal district and circuit courts. (Note that until recently, District Court nominations were considered noncontroversial and were usually confirmed at a rate of nearly 100 percent.) The Brookings study compared confirmation rates in other presidential cycles, looking at what has happened in the period from January of a presidents seventh year in office until the end of the eighth-year summer recess. In 1987-88 (with Ronald Reagan in the White House and Democrats in control of the Senate) the confirmation rate was 70 percent; in 1999-2000, it was 65 percent; and in 2007-08 it was 59 percent. That puts this cycles 29 percent in perspective. Are the federal courts disabled by the current vacancy rate of slightly over 10 percent? No, not yet. Senior judges, those who are semiretired and usually carry less than a full load of cases, are picking up some of the slack. But the federal court system itself has identified 36 courts as suffering from judicial emergencies, defined by the ratio between the number of cases reaching a court and the number of judges available to decide them. And Ive heard plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that highly qualified lawyers are turning down judicial appointments rather than put their law practice on ice for a year or more on the diminishing chance that they might eventually be confirmed. This is an under-the-radar brain drain that can hurt the entire system in the long run. Its one of the dangers that lie ahead if whats happened during this corrosive election year becomes accepted as the new normal. Ill end with where I began, with the graceful departure of President George H. W. Bush. Before he left the White House on inauguration morning, President Bush went to the Oval Office and left on the desk a handwritten note for his successor. This in part is what it said: Dear Bill, When I walked into this office just now, I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too. I wish you great happiness here You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well. Your success is now our countrys success. I am rooting hard for you. Good luck. George This Election Day, good luck to us all. Whats surprising is just how many Republicans men and women have been all too happy to smell like him. Political operatives feigned ignorance about whether grabbing a womans genitalia is sexual assault (it is), while female supporters claimed these werent important issues to women (they are). Voters will punish the party for this collective shrug. Alienating women who vote in higher numbers than men, and who have voted Democratic in every presidential election after 1988 would seem a flawed business model for the Art of the Deal mogul. Women are not unwinnable for Republicans. Ronald Reagan won a majority of them in both of his elections, and by 10 points in 1984. The largest spread in recent history was in 1972, when Richard Nixon, even with that mug, won women by a whopping 24 points. Still, more than 20 years is a long time to go without women. Id argue conservative policies were badly explained and liberals benefited from more emotional messaging. But its going to be much harder to make that case now. When women flee the Republican Party in the coming years, no autopsy will be necessary. The explanation is all too clear. And yet we have to try to repair the relationship between the Republican Party and women. Not just so that Republicans can be competitive in national elections, but because I believe our policies are genuinely better for women. Democrats lofty language about empowering women sounds great (and way better than Mr. Trumps), but President Obamas economy has done just the opposite. By many metrics, women (and men) are worse off. The poverty rate is higher than it was in 2007. Real median household income is down. More Americans are dependent on the government for assistance. Homeownership is down. Student debt has skyrocketed, along with the national debt. We now know that Obamacare is becoming unaffordable. Put another away, if journalism is the first draft of history, Twitter is the first draft of journalism. The nations founders recognized the importance of speedy dissemination of news when they provided for low postal rates for newspaper subscribers and allowed newspaper printers to mail one another newspapers without charge. The content of many newspapers consisted mostly of reprints of articles obtained from these exchanges. In the same way, links in tweets serve as an indispensable guide to the best of journalism that originates outside of Twitter. So who better to rescue Twitter than Mr. Page, a founder of the company dedicated to organizing the worlds information? Twitter takes the first cut of doing that organizing, in real time. Mr. Page also commands an empire built on algorithms. And Twitter has a pressing need for better algorithms to keep the platform free of the sludge discharged by racists, anti-Semites and other trolls. The Anti-Defamation League, in a recent study, counted 2.6 million tweets with anti-Semitic language in a year, but despite Twitters disavowal of hateful conduct, the league found, only 21 percent of the anti-Semitic accounts were suspended. Twitter relies on humans, not software, for enforcement, and they are overwhelmed. This computer-science problem filtering out trolls remains as difficult as any of the moonshots being tackled in Alphabets Google X division. If Mr. Page developed a way to help Twitter keep the hate speech out, that technology would not only win back the advertisers who are fleeing because of trolls, but also, if shared, enable newspapers to reopen their comments sections at their own websites, promoting the airing of differing views in public space. What service to the public could surpass that? While Im offering Mr. Page unsolicited advice about what he should do with his money, Ill also note that Twitters current market capitalization, of around $12 billion, is a triumph of hope over reality. If Twitters revenue and user growth fail to surge, the asking price will fall. Look at Yahoo: Eight years ago, the company spurned an acquisition offer from Microsoft for more than $45 billion. This year, it accepted an offer from Verizon for about a tenth of that. Popular culture is having something of a male nudity breakthrough. In the last couple of years, there has been a surprising boomlet of penises on television and at the movies. Although it begins (barely) to catch men up to decades of topless (and bottomless) women, theres still inequality at play: The penises deemed safe enough to see tend to be white ones. Seeing a black penis is rare. So is experiencing healthy black sexuality in popular culture. A rich but grim history, which reaches back to slavery, reveals a systematic, institutional degrading of black people by white people, from farmers and politicians to entertainers. You can observe the maintenance of that system not only in the national news but also in a centurys worth of American pop culture, from 1915s The Birth of a Nation to 2015s Ted 2. Eventually, it hurts seeing yourself degraded this way, even if you know its nothing new. But recently there has been an upside. Black people have been taking their sexuality into their hands, so to speak, making work films, shows, internet porn thats fun, adventurous and aware of, say, Hollywoods indifference to black people as being more than their sex organs. Moonlight, a new movie by Barry Jenkins about a young, gay black man in Miami, is a poignant, stunningly handsome antidote to a lifetime of stuff like Ted 2. The sculptor Mark di Suveros New York studio occupies a complex of warehouses on an isolated stretch of the East River in Astoria, Queens. But the outward anonymity belies whats inside: something like a bustling artists commune, over which di Suvero presides. There are large, live-in studios set aside for younger artists, and several glossy exhibition spaces display his work. (The legendary dealer Richard Bellamy, who gave di Suvero his first show and helped find the studio, which the artist purchased in 1980, ran a little-known gallery out of one of these rooms for close to 15 years.) Theres a touch of luxury outdoors a small vineyard near the bank of the river but its buffered by di Suveros brutal workroom, which functions as a kind of graveyard of unfinished sculptures, scattered among forklifts and laser cutters. In a common room, stacks of books stretch to the ceiling. On a recent morning, two large dogs slept in a corner there, and a group of assistants sat around a large wooden table. Many of them had worked with di Suvero for years and had, at one point or another, lived in the warehouse or in one of his other studios. A small di Suvero sculpture a sturdy mass of steel sitting atop a vertical chassis that looked like some immovable, upside-down anchor was situated between them. Di Suvero entered the room wearing an orange hard hat and a dirty red work shirt, walking with two canes, the result of a construction accident that broke his back just before his first solo exhibition, at Bellamys famous Green Gallery, in 1960. Di Suvero uses a wheelchair more and more these days hes 83 but he still does much of the work on his sculptures by hand. Its important to him, one of the assistants said. Its his reason for getting up in the morning. Di Suvero is one of the last surviving Abstract Expressionists, and virtually the only artist from that era still making new work. (Hell open a show at Paula Cooper Gallery in New York on Nov. 3.) His sculptures have been celebrated since the first Green Gallery show, but in his six-decade career, di Suvero has also given his time and resources to other artists, playing a quieter role as a political operator. The studio in Queens has provided work space or housing for so many artists including Ursula von Rydingsvard and Heidi Fasnacht that di Suvero has lost count. He built it out of a crumbling pier on a section of the East River called Hell Gate, and for years after he moved in, the surrounding neighborhood lived up to this name. The artist described a stretch of road where Astoria Boulevard comes to an end as a popular spot for carjackers, who would hide behind the tall bushes at the intersection, embracing the element of surprise. When people in the neighborhood complained about the situation, di Suvero said, the citys solution was to trim the bushes. Microsoft is trying to light a creative spark under the struggling personal computer industry. On Wednesday, the company, which is based in Redmond, Wash., unveiled a desktop personal computer that turns into a digital drafting table. Surface Studio, as the new device is called, is the companys first desktop PC, and a reminder of Microsofts growing presence in the hardware side of the industry that it once left entirely to its partners. At an event in New York, Microsoft also announced an update to its Windows 10 operating system that is designed to make creating, manipulating and viewing 3-D objects easier. The new Microsoft machine is a handsome specimen of the all-in-one PC category best exemplified by Apples iMac. It has a sleek aluminum body with 28-inch screen that rests on top of a stand. Microsoft also showed a new accessory device called the Surface Dial that augments computer mice, giving users a precise way to zoom in images and perform other actions. This is a product that we believe truly brings out the creator in all of us, said Panos Panay, a Microsoft corporate vice president. Welker White plays a character referred to in the script merely as Mom, often seen at the side of the stage, mostly looking worried or, as in an early sequence, frantically calling 911 because her son has locked himself in his room. But in addition, she stands in for the people who interview the parents of the characters in the show, eliciting testimony about their experience. Despite the complexity of its structure, the productions emotional fluency is bell-clear, as is its honesty about the complex and sometimes mysterious roots of the characters problems. Dig beneath the usual stories of broken marriages and adolescent angst and we discover wells of darkness that seem to have no bottom. Michael (Jake Williams) developed an unruly, even violent temper after that most mundane of family crises an unpleasant divorce. I had an airtight childhood, and then it went south pretty quickly, he says, although his language is saltier, and we eventually learn that his story is much bleaker. Elizabeth (Caitlin Goldie) was also the child of divorce. Her father reveals that her mother had violent rages and was subsequently diagnosed as bipolar. A particularly searing moment: Elizabeths confession that her mother tried to hang her when she was 9. On the other hand, Cole (Riley Suter) cannot point to anything that caused him to slide into sadness and addiction at an early age. Nor can his parents. The best his father can offer is, The beginning is, you know, he was always an interesting and emotionally sensitive kid. Travelers will soon be able to book accommodations to Cuba through TripAdvisor, one of the worlds largest travel websites. Its the latest development in an American travel industry that is slowly expanding tourism to the Communist nation. The license, granted by the United States Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (O.F.A.C.), will allow TripAdvisor to book travel to Cuba for both United States and non-United States citizens, including for hotels, flights, cultural tours and short-term rentals, the company said. TripAdvisor expects to begin travel-related sales to Cuba within the next few months, the company said. TripAdvisor looks forward to helping travelers all over the world discover Cubas vibrant history, people and culture as we begin the important work to make these trips possible, said Stephen Kaufer, the president and chief executive of TripAdvisor. Women still have confidence in their views, even when they see that their status is low, said Tali Mendelberg, a Princeton University professor who is co-author of The Silent Sex: Gender, Deliberation and Institutions, a study from Princeton and Brigham Young University published in 2015. But theyre not confident that what they have to say is valued, and that in turn shapes how willing they are to speak, and what is discussed. Society signals that the domains of power are still reserved for men. Toni Carter, elected in 2005 to the Board of Commissioners in Ramsey County, Minn., said she struggled to advance the agenda shed come to office with: overhauling the juvenile justice system, improving education and bringing light rail service to some of St. Pauls low-income neighborhoods. Sometimes, my voice would just sit there, almost like nothing was said, said Ms. Carter, who nonetheless did go on to accomplish some of her goals by building networks among policy makers, experts and civic groups. You have to develop allegiances and teams. For example, when the path of St. Pauls light rail service was under discussion, Ms. Carter encouraged community groups to come to meetings to talk about the child care issues of female riders, who typically make more stops on public transit. I may have accustomed myself to the fact that Im not always heard at first, but there are strategies to make sure the agenda can be accomplished. Kelly Dittmar, a professor with the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, says female officials at all levels say they share Ms. Carters experience: Women know the reception is going to be skeptical, so they wait to speak up until they have overwhelming evidence and support. Womens silence also extends to discussion of public affairs on the internet, where womens voices are outnumbered by three to one in news comments, according to data from the University of Sydney and Stanford University. If approved, Proposition 61 could mean savings for Californias public employees and retirees, its prison system and part of Medi-Cal, the states Medicaid program. But the size of savings is unclear, and could range from relatively little to significant, according to the nonpartisan state legislative analyst. One reason for the uncertainty is whether state agencies will be able to determine what Veterans Affairs pays for certain drugs. Another reason is that pharmaceutical companies might try to offset Proposition 61 by charging higher prices to other customers, including the V.A. Advertisements opposing Proposition 61 that now saturate the airwaves often feature veterans saying the measure would raise prices for them and others. Still, the drug manufacturers paying for these commercials are probably worried less about the mechanics of Proposition 61 than the precedent its approval would set for more government control of prices. Other states may try similar measures. And Medicaid programs in all states might have to be offered the lower prices paid by California agencies. Supporters of the initiative say the threat of countervailing price increases is an empty one and that it is time to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry. Almost all of the more than $14.7 million contributed to support the measure comes from its sponsor, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which runs pharmacies and treatment centers for people with H.I.V. Other supporters include the California Nurses Association and the state branch of AARP. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has held rallies in California to campaign for the measure, which he said would be a real blow against this greedy industry that will reverberate all over America. In the years before Hillary Clinton announced she would run again for president, her top aides expressed profound concerns in internal emails about how foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation and Bill Clintons own moneymaking ventures would affect Mrs. Clintons political future. The emails, obtained by hackers and being gradually released by WikiLeaks this month, also are revealing how efforts to minimize potential conflicts at the foundation led to power struggles and infighting among aides and Mrs. Clintons family. One top aide to Mr. Clinton, Douglas J. Band, noted in an email that the former president had received personal income from some foundation donors and gets many expensive gifts from them. Chelsea Clinton accused her fathers aides of taking significant sums of money from my parents personally, of hustling during foundation events to win clients for their own business, and of even installing spyware on her chief of staffs computer. Today I want to talk about how to grow the African-American middle class and to provide a new deal for black America. That deal is grounded in three promises: safe communities, great education and high paying jobs. 3. Pan of supporters clapping to Trump on stage 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican US presidential nominee: My vision rest on a principle that has defined this campaign right from the beginning, and you have seen where weve come from and where we are right now - its called America first. Every African-American citizen in this country is entitled to a government that puts their jobs, wages and security first. Im asking today for the honour of your vote and the privilege to represent you as your president. 5. Cutaway 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican US presidential nominee: Our campaign is about change, optimism and the future. I am asking people to break from the bitter failures of the past and to imagine the amazing possibilities for our future, and our future together. Our opponent (Democrat Hillary Clinton) represents the rigged system and the failed thinking of yesterday. ++BLACK FRAMES++ 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican US presidential nominee: There will be only one set of rules, not a two-tiered system of justice like we have right now. You see that with Hillary Clinton, think of it. Think of it, she deletes 30,000 emails after getting a subpoena from the United States Congress and she has no trouble, and in your community you know what you are going through. Can you imagine if you did that? Can you imagine if I did that? I think they would reinstitute the electric chair. Forget about you, how about me, would I be in trouble. NORFOLK, Va. With the polish of a seasoned politician, Khizr Khan strode through the door of a seafood restaurant to the serenade of clicking cameras, clasped hands with cheering Democratic lawmakers and, as he has become famous for doing, unflinchingly argued that Donald J. Trump must not be president. To the naked eye, Mr. Khan, whose son was an American soldier killed in Iraq and who skewered Mr. Trump at the Democratic National Convention, could have been mistaken for someone running for office. But as he made his first appearance on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton on Wednesday, he said his mission was greater than politics. Donald Trump as a candidate has proven himself to be temperamentally unfit to be the commander in chief of this great nation, Mr. Khan said, his voice shaking. There are no second chances. Mr. Khan emerged as one of the Clinton campaigns most effective weapons after he made an impassioned plea for tolerance at the convention in July and accused Mr. Trump of not understanding the Constitution or personal sacrifice. When Mr. Trump responded by insinuating that Mr. Khans wife, Ghazala, had not spoken at the convention because she was muzzled by her Muslim faith, he faced intense backlash for attacking the grieving mother of a fallen soldier. A University of Wisconsin student was arrested this month on charges that he sexually assaulted a female student, prompting dozens of women to contact the police about encounters they said they had had with the man, according to the police and several news reports. The student, Alec Cook, 20, was arrested last week and accused of attacking a 20-year-old woman at his apartment in downtown Madison on Oct. 12, according to a police report. News of the arrest prompted another woman to come forth. And then another. I saw the news story and was empowered by another girl being able to tell what happened to her, that I thought I could now finally tell, the second woman told a police detective, according to the report. A third woman reported that Mr. Cook had assaulted her last year. Mr. Cook, who is being held without bond, is expected to be formally charged on Thursday in four sexual assaults, according to The Wisconsin State Journal. UNITED NATIONS The International Criminal Court has begun investigating war crimes in Georgia, is looking into British soldiers accused of torture in Iraq and, in one of its most politically delicate missions yet, sent a team to Israel to discuss crimes in Gaza. But as the court tries to expand into new geography and investigate new types of crimes, it faces the most serious challenge to its existence: Three nations, all from Africa, have announced that they will no longer work with the tribunal, intensifying a longstanding debate over whether it is biased against the continent. This week, Gambia, known for crushing political dissent, announced its intention to pull out of the tribunal, denouncing it on state television as the international Caucasian court. Though most of the courts judges are not white, almost all of its full-fledged investigations have focused on Africa. And the planned withdrawal carried an extra barb: Gambia is the home country of the courts chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda. Before that, Burundi announced its plans to withdraw, months after Ms. Bensouda announced that she would open a preliminary examination into the killings of antigovernment protesters there. JENDOUBA, Tunisia Two Americans were detained in this small town in northwestern Tunisia, suspected of involvement with a terrorist organization, police officials said on Wednesday. The men were arrested on Tuesday and then transferred to the countrys main counterterrorism center in Tunis, the capital, the police said. They were released and driven away in a United States Embassy car on Wednesday, police officials said. The United States Embassy in Tunis said it could not comment on the case and referred questions to the State Department in Washington. A State Department spokesman, John Kirby, said in an email statement that the agency was aware of reports that American citizens had been arrested on suspicion of terrorist activities, but he declined any additional comment. The men are brothers, Nathan Wells Lawwliss, 32, and Patrick Alan Lawwliss, 31, according to both the police and a man who rented them an apartment. The police in this small, hardscrabble town have been dealing with terrorist suspects for several years. Islamist fighters operate in the low scrubby mountains that rise behind the town and occasionally they ambush police officers or lure youths to join them. But the police were scratching their heads over the latest arrivals: two Americans from Michigan with long beards and unkempt hair, who rented an apartment and said they were enrolling in the local university. The men did not fit the stereotypes that most Tunisians have of Americans. Usually Americans are clean and physical, said Lotfi Ouerghli, 52, a cafe owner who rented the men an apartment. They seemed like they had not been living in the city. They looked like they had been living in the wild. Jorge Batlle, the brash scion of a political dynasty who had been groomed to be president of Uruguay since he was a teenager, got elected to the post on his fifth try and then audaciously presided over a pro-American administration that survived a brush with bankruptcy, died on Monday in Montevideo. He was 88. His death, less than two weeks after he suffered brain injuries in a fall and the day before his 89th birthday, was announced by the Uruguayan government. Mr. Batlle (pronounced BAH-zhay), a generally revered soul of Uruguayan politics for five decades, first sought the presidency in 1966 and then was barred from electoral politics by the ruling military dictatorship. After three more tries he won a five-year term in 1999. (The countrys Constitution does not allow consecutive terms.) When he took office, in 2000, he was the countrys first civilian president since the military relinquished power in 1985 to seek the remains of dissidents who vanished in the 1970s and 80s during an urban guerrilla war. The military yielded after general strikes led to a restoration of the Constitution and elections. WASHINGTON The United States military carried out airstrikes on Sunday in eastern Afghanistan aimed at two of Al Qaedas most senior leaders operating in the country, an attack described as one of the most significant in Afghanistan in several years, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday. An official statement said the Defense Department continued to assess whether the two men, Faruq al-Qatani and Bilal al-Utabi, were killed in the airstrikes. Peter Cook, the Pentagon press secretary, said on Wednesday night that their demise would represent a significant blow to the terrorist groups presence in Afghanistan. He said the attacks came after an extensive period of surveillance over remote areas of Kunar Province. Mr. Qatani was described as Al Qaedas emir for northeastern Afghanistan, assigned by the terrorist groups leadership to re-establish havens for operations throughout the country. GENEVA Women in Parliaments around the world routinely experience threats, intimidation and sexist put-downs, according to a study of female lawmakers made public on Wednesday. Sexism, harassment and violence against women parliamentarians are real and widespread, according to the study, which was made public by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, an organization of parliamentary bodies worldwide, at its annual assembly. Psychological violence intended to cause fear or distress was particularly prevalent, the study said, concluding that the phenomenon knows no boundaries and exists to different degrees in every country. Only 55 women took part in the study, but they came from Parliaments in 39 countries on five continents. JERUSALEM The timing was surely good for Israel, whether or not it was coincidental. As Unesco, the United Nations cultural organization, approved a resolution on Wednesday that ignored a Jewish connection to an ancient, hotly contested holy site in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority produced a rare papyrus fragment from the seventh century B.C., written in ancient Hebrew, that mentions Jerusalem by name. Archaeologists interpreted the two lines of text on the papyrus as a concise shipping document reading, From the kings maidservant, from Naarat, jars of wine, to Jerusalem. The antiquities authority, an independent government body, said it was the earliest known source aside from the Bible to mention Jerusalem in Hebrew, and added in a statement that the other place mentioned, Naarat, appeared in the biblical book of Joshua (16:7). The authority noted that Jerusalem was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah at the time, known as the First Temple period. In an Indiana Jones-like twist, the unusually preserved fragment had been plundered from a cave in the Judean Desert by a band of antiquities robbers, the antiquities authority said. It was retrieved several years ago by what the authority described as a complex operation. A school compound in a rebel-held part of northern Syria was repeatedly hit by airstrikes on Wednesday in an assault that monitoring groups and rescuers said had left dozens of people dead, including many children. Unicef, the United Nations Childrens Fund, said the assault in Idlib Province may have been the deadliest on a school since the Syrian war began more than five years ago. Twenty-two children and six teachers were killed in the strikes, Unicef said. Other estimates, including those from witnesses quoted by Agence France-Presse, said at least 35 civilians had died. This is a tragedy, it is an outrage, and if deliberate it is a war crime, Anthony Lake, the executive director of Unicef, said in a statement. When will the worlds revulsion at such barbarity be matched by insistence that this must stop? BAAD/JACK (Thursday through Nov. 5) The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance and JACK, an experimental performance presenter in Brooklyn, team up to showcase four artists from those boroughs. Filip A. Condeescu presents a romantic duet for two men; Milteri Tucker Concepcion blends modern and Caribbean folk dance; Isabella Diaz uses interviews to address disability; Niall Noel Jones calls his work a disruption, a manipulation and a fantasy (1:20). Thursday and Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., Jack, 505 1/2 Waverly Avenue, near Fulton Street, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, jackny.org. Nov. 5 at 8 p.m., Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, 2474 Westchester Avenue, at St. Peters Avenue, 718-918-2110, baadbronx.org. (Schaefer) BALLETCOLLECTIVE (Friday) As a member of the New York City Ballet corps, Troy Schumacher often performs classics. But as a choreographer, both for City Ballet and BalletCollective, his own plucky troupe, he likes to experiment with collaborators. This week, he introduces two new works that take inspiration from music and architecture, pairing the architects Carlos Arnaiz and James Ramsey with the composers Judd Greenstein and Ellis Ludwig-Leone. A handful of Mr. Schumachers City Ballet colleagues do the dancing (1:15). At 7:30 p.m., Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 La Guardia Place, at Washington Square South, Greenwich Village, 866-811-4111, nyuskirball.org. (Schaefer) JEROME BEL (through Monday) Known as the philosopher of dance, Jerome Bel is more concerned with concepts than choreography, challenging ideas of what constitutes dance. The results can be brilliant or amusing or infuriating, or some combination. The Crossing the Line Festival offers a broad look with Jerome Bel (0:50), a starkly pared-down duet between a man and a woman, both nude (Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., the Kitchen, 512 West 19th Street, Chelsea, 212-255-5793); and, through Monday, Artists Choice: Jerome Bel/MoMA Dance Company (0:30), featuring museum staff performing sporadically throughout the day in the museums atrium. At various times, Museum of Modern Art, 212-708-9400). (Schaefer) COMPANY XIV (through Nov. 12) The Judgment of Paris is a Greek myth in which the mortal must choose the fairest of three goddesses. Company XIV, the flirty collective created and directed by Austin McCormick, offers an adults-only interpretation of the tale and transfers it to a French dance hall where opera flair blends with burlesque naughtiness. The companys signature style embraces elements of ballet, circus and cabaret with song, dance and overall seduction. Contains partial nudity, 16 and older (2:00). At 8 p.m., Irondale Center, 85 South Oxford Street, Fort Greene, Brooklyn, companyxiv.com. (Schaefer) GIBNEY DANCE COMPANY (Wednesday through Nov. 12) Gina Gibney has been busy with the opening of a major new downtown dance center, finding little time to create in recent years. Folding In is her first new work since 2013, made for five members of her revamped dance company. It arrives in time to celebrate the troupes 25th anniversary. With family-like intimacy, Folding In is an abstract reflection on the process of development, featuring music by the Icelandic cellist and composer Hildur Guonadottir (1:00). Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday through Nov. 5 and Nov. 10-11 at 8 p.m., Nov. 12 at 5 and 7 p.m., Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, 280 Broadway, near Chambers Street, Lower Manhattan, 646-837-6809, gibneydance.org. (Schaefer) IF such events can be said to have an upside, the Inquisition had one for Spanish and Portuguese Jews: It propelled them to the Americas, where they largely found the tolerance and opportunities denied them in Europe. The story of the havens Jews established in the New World is the focus of an exhibition opening on Friday at the New-York Historical Society. With rare manuscripts, Bibles, prayer books, paintings, maps and ritual objects, The First Jewish Americans: Freedom and Culture in the New World, chronicles how Jews, expelled from Spain and Portugal after being driven out in earlier centuries from England and France, established thriving communities in New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, Newport and, even earlier, on Caribbean islands and in South America. In the United States, they, like their fellow Americans, were tossed about in historys currents, finding themselves on both sides during the American Revolution, the movement to abolish slavery and the Civil War. And their welcome was sometimes short-lived or illusory. The exhibitions most arresting artifact is a threadbare 4-inch-by-3-inch, 180-page memoir and prayer book handwritten by Luis de Carvajal the Younger in colonial Mexico in 1595, where the Inquisition had extended its sinister reach of torture and execution. The art world feud between the actor Alec Baldwin and the gallery owner Mary Boone took another turn on Thursday when lawyers for Ms. Boone filed a motion in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan accusing Mr. Baldwin of committing fraud by failing to pay sales tax on a painting he bought from her six years ago. The filing comes just over a month after Mr. Baldwin sued Ms. Boone, asserting she had defrauded him in 2010 by promising him a painting, Sea and Mirror, by the artist Ross Bleckner, for which he had paid $190,000, but supplying him another, similar Bleckner painting, also called Sea and Mirror. Mr. Baldwins dispute with Ms. Boone, a prominent gallerist who built her reputation in the 1980s, has lifted a curtain on a part of the New York art world outsiders dont always see. When Mr. Baldwin confronted Ms. Boone with his accusations in an email this year, he compared her to an armadillo, someone who was used to blasting your way out of corners like this on more than one occasion. Although the landscape painter Ralph Albert Blakelock spent two decades in mental hospitals in and near New York, he still managed to keep working. Starting around 1900, as he cycled in and out of lucid periods at the hospitals, he captured scenes of moonlit skies, glades of leafless trees and multicolored streaks of clouds. For art supplies, he had to forage. He dismantled window shades and wooden cigar boxes to create fabric and panel backings for his paintings. He formulated watercolor pigments with tobacco juice. His paintbrushes were made from cat hair that he wired into bundles. From Nov. 11 through Dec. 10, Questroyal Fine Art gallery in Manhattan will show about 125 works in Ralph Albert Blakelock: The Great Mad Genius Returns. (Prices for works start at around $10,000.) Some scenes on view had originally belonged to hospital staff members and to friends and relatives who visited him at the institutions. During a preview of the exhibition, Louis M. Salerno, an owner of the gallery, explained how Mr. Blakelock (1847-1919) added textures to his thick paint layers by scratching them with stones and meat skewers and running them under water. Blood red signatures are scrawled in the corners of some canvases. It is unclear how many of his paintings survive. He destroyed many of his own major pieces. In his lifetime, admirers and forgers started copying his landscapes to sell to collectors fascinated by his determination to paint despite bouts of depression, mania and paranoia. PHILADELPHIA Politics or beauty? Take your choice. Conventional wisdom says they dont mix. But Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism, 1910-1950 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art argues, with reservations, otherwise. The show is the first all-out attempt in the United States in seven decades to grapple with the contradictions of early-20th-century Mexican political art. (The last one was also at this museum.) It has plenty of pumped muralist muscle all those clenched fists but offsets it with pictures as pretty as valentines. Organized with the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, where it will travel in February, the show focuses on pioneers of the Mexican movement for artistic nationalism, following the timeline of revolutionary events. In 1911, the countrys longtime president, Porfirio Diaz, was chased out of office. He had kept peace for decades by pampering the elite, enriching the army, and treating the poor, which meant practically everyone else, like dirt. Finally, dirt said no, and everything changed, including art. In April, the Hayses met with the French culture minister, Audrey Azoulay. We told her we had decided to give all of our art to the French people, Mr. Hays said. The only thing we wanted to be sure she would do for us, we wanted it in one place, we want it all together, we dont ever want any of it to be sold, and we never want it to be stored; we always want it on the wall. A decisive moment came in June, when Ms. Azoulay had lunch with the couple at Giverny, Monets old haunt in Northern France, and expressed the French states full political will to work to secure this exceptional donation, said Marie-Christine Labourdette, director of the national museums in France. Mr. Hays would not say if they had ever been in talks with any American museums. There are museums in the United States that could handle it, but we felt that it belonged here, and we felt that way for many reasons and one is theyre French painters, he said. I first heard the violinist Alexi Kenney this summer, under adverse circumstances. He was giving a poorly attended recital at David Geffen Hall, an appetizer to a full-orchestra main course during the Mostly Mozart Festival. Onstage, he was surrounded by empty chairs and crowds of black music stands; in the audience, some people rustled plastic bags between their feet while others energetically shushed them. The 25-minute recital was made up of almost laughably fragile music for this setting: a brief Fantasy by the Baroque composer Nicola Matteis; a whispered Nocturne by Kaija Saariaho; and the Chaconne from Bachs D minor Partita, the pinnacle of the literature for solo violin. Mr. Kenney, a lithe 22-year-old with a dancers composure, played with feathered bow strokes and a sweet amber sound that sometimes, in the vaulted heights of the Chaconnes most solemn variations, gained alluring body and depth. By the end of the program, he had not only, Orpheus-like, calmed rows of restless New Yorkers. But he had also established an emotional connection of a kind rarely felt so deeply on the citys concert scene. Mr. Kenney is still finishing his artist diploma at the New England Conservatory, but he recently moved to Brooklyn and is poised to become a regular sight on stages across New York. On Friday evening, he performs Piazzollas Seasons with the Riverside Symphony at Alice Tully Hall, and this week, I joined him for an ichiju-sansai meal at one of his favorite lunch spots, a tiny Japanese restaurant in Williamsburg. City of the Living Dead Anthology Film Archives East Village, Manhattan Saturday The gates of hell unleash fury in this 1980 gore orgy directed by Lucio Fulci, whose work, including his intensely macabre horror films, is enjoying a timely retrospective on the 20th anniversary of his death. Expect to see a premature burial, head drilling and hand-scooped brains. Dirty Work at the Wax Works Sideshow by the Seashore Coney Island, Brooklyn Through Monday If the presidential election is not your kind of horror show, head out to Coney Island and mingle with the politically minded undead at this revival of Coney Island USAs old-school spook encounter. It features zombies eating Richard Nixons brain and a funeral interrupted by a booger hanging off of George Washingtons nose, as the shows website (coneyisland.com) explains. Parade of Zombies United Palace Theater Washington Heights, Manhattan Sunday Why should The Walking Dead actors have all the fun? Be your own living dead at the first zombie costume parade. After the pageant there will be a free screening of the horror-comedy Juan of the Dead, Cubas first zombie movie, and a panel discussion about the zombies place in modern, um, life. Tracey Ullman must have a soft spot in her heart for makeup artists, because she is keeping a crew of them employed with her new sketch comedy series, Tracey Ullmans Show, which receives its American premiere Friday night on HBO. Not all of the sketches are home runs, but even in the weaker ones, it can be fun just trying to figure out which character shes playing and how the crew managed to effect such a transformation. Ms. Ullman was still in her 20s when many Americans first discovered her in 1987 on The Tracey Ullman Show, a variety series that was among the initial offerings of the new Fox network. That show, which ran for four seasons and is today probably best known for introducing the world to The Simpsons, was heavy on sketch comedy, with Ms. Ullman playing a wild variety of characters. And theres something heartwarming about seeing her revisit the form now, when shes a star. Sketch comedy has, of course, exploded since the 1980s, and nothing in the new show feels as audacious as it would have 30 years ago, but the technique and versatility on display are admirable. Ms. Ullman gives us an assortment of characters who recur throughout the six-episode series, some ordinary people, others impersonations of famous ones. Her spot-on version of Judi Dench is a perverse delight; turns out Ms. Ullmans fictional version of the great actress has a penchant for shoplifting, vandalizing hotel bathrooms and sneaking into movies, deflecting suspicion when she is caught by invoking her status as a beloved institution. On the other end of the social spectrum, the best of the Ullman gallery is Karen, who has just returned to her lower-class home after 28 years in an Asian drug prison. The neighborhood and life in general have changed quite a bit while she has been away. Ms. Ullman makes Karens readjustment both hilarious and, occasionally, touching. Because the entire value of the car is not being financed, the payments are less on a monthly basis than they would be if the vehicle were purchased over the same period. That is a main reason that leasing is so popular: It lets consumers drive cars that are more expensive than those they might be able to afford to buy. When the vehicle is returned at the end of the lease, the only additional costs are those incurred if the vehicle was driven more than the maximum agreed-upon mileage, any amount due for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and any turn-in fees. The lessee may also decide to purchase the vehicle, for that contracted residual value. One reason car leases tend to be so inflexible is that the deal is a three-party contract: The dealer signs the lease with the customer, and then assigns the contract to a leasing company. Leases can be voided if the original agreement was made under untruthful conditions if the lessee is a minor, for example, or does not possess a valid drivers license. In those cases, the leasing company would not want to be part of a fraudulent contract. This is not as rare as one would think people do fraudulent deals all the time, said Randall McCathren, managing director of the Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors, a trade group. In addition, if the lease terms or the vehicle was misrepresented, the lessee can try to void the lease under each states laws on unfair and deceptive acts and practices, Mr. McCathren said. But in a legally struck deal, even death will not necessarily free one from a lease obligation. Typically, the dead persons estate becomes liable for the obligation, although some car finance companies will make exceptions. Still, it never hurts to try to seek concessions. It absolutely pays to contact the leaseholder and try to work out some consideration, Mr. McCathren said. He noted that leasing companies will typically defer payments if a lessee is in the hospital for a limited period of time. There are panels on film, art, dance, literature and popular culture, as well as politics. Is there one youre particularly excited about? Im maybe most excited about the dance panel, with Benjamin Millepied. I really dont know anything about ballet. I do know about the flak that he got at the Paris Ballet, and that theres debate around race in ballet, but I dont know anything about the history. With the exception of two panels Im moderating, I chose things Im not an expert on. I just asked myself, what would I like to know? Are many of the speakers people you met in Paris? In Paris I was lucky enough to sit a few times with Nacira Guenif-Souilamas [a sociologist who has written about structural racism and Islamophobia in France]. Shes a dual citizen of both France and Algeria, and just listening to her talk about that experience showed me why it was dangerous to make a one-on-one comparison between black folks there and black folks here. Her experience sounded a lot more similar to African-Americans, with the Algerian war being a rupture, in the same way the Civil War was a rupture. Maboula Soumahoro [a scholar who has tried to establish an offshoot of Black History Month in France] is someone else who is going to be really brilliant. When I came to these people, I felt like a 5-year-old, with all my dumb and silly questions. Youre moderating the opening panel, When Will France Have Its Barack Obama?, which features Jelani Cobb from The New Yorker, along with three French scholars, including Pap Ndiaye, the author of La Condition Noire and a founder of black studies in France. Whats your answer to that question? Im going to let the folks on the panel talk. But Id say that Barack Obama, to an extent that is not fully understood, is really a product of black institutions. Its not like he ran from Hawaii. He went to the South Side of Chicago, which has a long, long political tradition. There was a community to root himself in. How does that happen in France? There you had the lack of a trenchant Jim Crow system, the lack of slavery on the mainland. The things that made racism so severe here actually gave black institutions much of their vigor. And there is a strong sense of community held together by those institutions. I could be dead wrong about this, but it would be tough to look for a Harlem in Paris. There are black neighborhoods, dont get me wrong. But thats not all Harlem is. The Albertine bookstore, which is co-organizing the festival, is sort of like a gorgeous dream version of a French bookshop. Did you have a favorite bookstore in Paris? Its horrible to say, but my favorite was the English-language bookstore Shakespeare & Company. They have a really quiet reading room where you can just sit and look at the river. People always asked me if I got in touch with my inner Baldwin. I didnt feel too much of that, but in that room I felt deeply connected. BRUSSELS A stalled deal to deepen commercial ties between the European Union and Canada appears back on track, after Belgium overcame objections that had threatened to derail the regions entire trade agenda. The deal, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, was held hostage by the French-speaking portion of Belgium, Wallonia, where the rust belt has been hit hard and farmers worry about potential competition. The Belgian prime minister, Charles Michel, said on Thursday that the countrys leaders had reached a compromise that would restrict biotech crops and address a disputed legal provision. Although the breakthrough paves the way for a deal, it could still run into problems. The Belgium regional parliaments have to vote on the compromise, which the prime minister said was expected by Friday at midnight. The other 27 countries in the European Union must agree. And Canada needs to sign it. This is a positive development, but there is still work to do, Alex Lawrence, the press secretary for Chrystia Freeland, Canadas international trade minister, wrote in an email. Canada remains ready to sign this important agreement when Europe is ready. LONDON The Japanese carmaker Nissan, one of Britains largest overseas employers, announced on Thursday that it would build a new car at its existing plant in Sunderland, giving Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain a considerable political gift. Sunderland has been a symbolic flash point in Britains decision to leave European Union. In the run-up to the vote, Nissan had threatened to stop investing in the plant, creating the potential for thousands of job losses in the area. But the economic uncertainty did not dissuade the residents of Sunderland from voting overwhelmingly to exit. The Nissan deal will be closely dissected for early indications about how Ms. May will potentially navigate the thorny negotiations with major industries. Nissan acted after getting reassurances from Mrs. May that the company would be protected from any negative economic impact from the so-called Brexit. Mrs. May called the announcement fantastic news for the U.K., saying that Nissan was at the heart of this countrys strong automotive industry, which is almost entirely foreign-owned and ships more than half its exports to the European Union. HONG KONG It may well take years to tabulate the full damage Samsungs discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 will have on the companys brand. But on Thursday, the South Korean electronics giant offered a quick glimpse of just how costly its combustible phone has been. The Galaxy Note 7 debacle virtually wiped out profits at its high-profile mobile communications division during the third quarter, Samsung said. The division posted an operating profit of $87.9 million. By contrast, a year ago the division posted a profit of about $2.1 billion. In a statement, Samsung said it hoped that in the next quarter its mobile operating profits would return to last years levels, also around $2 billion. Previously, Samsung had estimated the cost of the discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 after a number of the phones caught fire to be around $3 billion. Volkswagen reported its latest financial results on Thursday, offering a lens into how the carmaker is faring in the wake of its emissions scandal. Its earnings remain burdened by the deception, in which the company equipped 11.5 million cars worldwide with software intended to cheat emissions tests. The costs of the scandal have risen to nearly 19 billion euros, or $20.7 billion, adding to the pressure on management to slash production costs, stabilize revenue and revive the profitability of its marquee brand. But the financial fallout shows signs of stabilizing. Volkswagen improved its outlook for the full year, predicting that sales would match last years 213 billion. Here are the takeaways from the results: Back in Black Net earnings swung to 2.3 billion for the three months to Sept. 30, from a loss of 1.7 billion a year earlier. The profit shift reflects a respite in Volkswagens still-mounting legal costs and other expenses related to the emissions scandal. The sum set aside this period amounted to more than 400 million, compared with 6.8 billion a year ago. Misconception: Drinking buckets of cranberry juice can cure, and even prevent bladder, infections. Actually: You may enjoy the taste (see: vodka) but it wont cure and, probably, wont prevent recurrence. This purported remedy is centuries old and there is a considerable amount of research investigating it. While some studies suggest that cranberry may reduce repeated infections in younger women, it is certainly not a treatment for an active case. The gold standard for treatment is antibiotics. Sometimes doctors just recommend rest and ibuprofen. I was hoping it would work, said Dr. Manisha Juthani-Mehta, an infectious disease specialist at the Yale School of Medicine, and the lead author of a study published Thursday in the journal JAMA, which showed no reduction in urinary tract infections for female nursing home patients who took standardized, high-dose cranberry capsules the equivalent of 20 ounces of juice daily for a year. Im not sure its worth spending money on, particularly for patients on a fixed income, she said. Times Insider shares historical insights from The New York Times. When talk turns to worldwide conspiracies, the long shadow of the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, purportedly a blueprint for Jewish world domination, can never be far away. On Oct. 13, Donald J. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, said his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, meets in secret with international banks to plot the destruction of U.S. sovereignty in order to enrich these global financial powers. In The New York Times, Jonathan Martin said Mr. Trump veered dangerously close to the territory of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The Protocols holds a tenacious grip on the popular conspiratorial imagination. But The Times has never portrayed it as anything other than a fraudulent work of anti-Semitic propaganda. (Though that fact might only further persuade believers of the documents authenticity. After all, Protocol No. XII says a Jewish-controlled press will subjugate Gentiles minds to such an extent that almost all of them see world events through colored glasses which we put over their eyes.) Finding Babel follows Andrei Malaev-Babel, a Florida acting teacher, as he retraces the steps of his grandfather, Isaac Babel, the author of Red Cavalry and The Odessa Tales and a vivid chronicler of the early years of the Soviet Union. A Jew who, working for a newspaper, had gone riding among Cossacks, Babel is discussed as a voracious observer of details and ambiguities. Arrested in 1939 by the Stalinist secret police and executed in 1940, he was granted posthumous official rehabilitation in 1954. Much of his work is lost. Some of the drier travelogue material is better-suited to a podcast. Even so, the director, David Novack, tries to give viewers a sense of Babels prose style. In a voice-over, Liev Schreiber reads excerpts accompanied by montages and animation. We also see pieces of the 1926 film Benya Krik, for which Babel wrote the screenplay. Another fascinating figure in the documentary is Babels widow, Antonina Pirozhkova, who died in 2010 and who had worked as an engineer designing subway stations in Moscow. At its most engaging, Finding Babel doubles as literary criticism, as when Mr. Malaev-Babel rehearses his grandfathers play Maria with actors in Paris he meets with Marina Vlady, the star of Jean-Luc Godards 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her and teases out the dramas political themes. Late in the film, there is a powerful moment when he visits the site of Babels arrest. Despite this ones subject and Mr. Herzogs fondness for the word catastrophe, Into the Inferno is surprisingly buoyant, partly because of Mr. Oppenheimer, whos credited as a collaborator. The movie was inspired by Mr. Oppenheimers 2011 book, Eruptions That Shook the World, an inquiry into the impact of worldwide volcanic activity. From fire and brimstone to killer plumes and dinosaurs, it explores claims that, he writes, volcanism shaped prehistoric and historic social trajectories. The film shares places with the book and narrows in on the impact of assorted eruptions, starting in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, a lush archipelago thats home to active volcanoes. Mr. Herzog brings the beauty and provides the on-and-off narration, the probing questions and the occasional glint of characteristic deadpan comedy, but he also relies on Mr. Oppenheimer as an on-camera interpreter. Mr. Oppenheimer is a charming interlocutor and, with his easy manner and slightly elfin face, he soon becomes an emblem for scientific inquiry at its most accessible and exciting. He grounds the movie in science but he also helps give it a conversational lightness, as he stands and delivers on, say, molten rock and Mr. Herzog ponders creation. Its a winning, sneakily warming division of labor partly because this is also a documentary about friendship. NEWARK The judge presiding over the trial of two former aides to Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey in the George Washington Bridge lane closing case abruptly sent the jury home and adjourned court on Thursday morning just as lawyers were about to begin their closing arguments. The sudden adjournment raised the possibility of a major hiccup at the end of a six-week trial. The judge, Susan D. Wigenton, gave little reason for ending court for the day shortly after 10 a.m., telling the jury that because she had spent so long about 45 minutes in a conference discussing a legal issue with the lawyers, it would be better to start closing arguments on Friday morning. But it seemed an unusual explanation, given that Judge Wigenton has moved the trial at a rapid pace, rejecting previous requests from lawyers to end even an hour earlier than usual on the occasional day, and pushing them to continue calling witnesses even when there have been few minutes left in the days schedule. Two were veterans entitled to burial in a national military cemetery; three had the resources for private burial, which were discovered through a public administrators office; and one man was retrieved by a private funeral home after his mother learned belatedly of his death. All, Ms. Bolcer insisted, had been the subject of a diligent outreach investigation before they were sent to Hart Island, as had the new bodies buried that day. But, concerned that The Times had reached relatives that were never contacted by the city, she initiated a new round of outreach focused on the March 10 burials. One call went to Mr. Hansons ex-wife, Donna Hanson. Somebody already told us, she said before passing the phone to her daughter, Ms. Bradshaw. Youre the ones that had his body for three years and didnt call me. Ms. Hanson, who remarried years ago, kept the same name and still lives in New Jersey. They couldnt get ahold of anybody before, but now it was easy to find her? her daughter scoffed. Its so they dont look like jerks. They dont want a lawsuit. She was angry, she said, when the caller began fishing around to find out how much she knew, and then suggested her fathers body could be disinterred. Later, grieving for her hopes of a reunion, she signed up for one of the monthly family visits allowed on Hart Island. They were booked until August. A Search Ends On the ferry to Hart Island on Aug. 6, Ms. Bradshaw kept thinking of another summer day, the last time she saw her father. How he tried really hard to pretend that he was sober. How he won a television set, playing the wheel of fortune on the boardwalk, and wanted her to have it. If he took it home, he told her, Somebody would sell it for drugs. It was the last thing he ever gave her. That and his cellphone number, which she called the next day. It had been disconnected. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, American business executives and political leaders of both parties repeatedly put forward what I label the China fantasy: the view that trade, foreign investment and increasing prosperity would lead to political liberalization in the worlds most populous country. Trade freely with China, and time is on our side, said President George W. Bush. He was merely echoing his Democratic predecessor, Bill Clinton, who called the opening of Chinas political system inevitable, just as inevitably the Berlin Wall fell. To say the least, things in China havent turned out that way. Over the past few years, the Chinese regime has become ever less tolerant of political dissent to such an extent that, these days, American leaders have become far more reluctant to make claims about Chinas political future or the impact on it of trade and investment. The China fantasy got the dynamics precisely wrong: Economic development, trade and investment have yielded greater political repression and a more closed political system. The Jungle, a sprawling migrant camp in northern France that had come to symbolize Europes dismal failure to cope with the waves of desperate people fleeing violence and hunger in the Middle East and Africa, is finally gone, cleared in a three-day French operation that will disperse the migrants and refugees among centers across France. But the greater problem that brought them there in the first place is far from cleared. Razing the tawdry, unsafe and unhealthy camp in Calais was overdue and necessary, and the thousands of people including hundreds of unaccompanied youths who had somehow reached the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in the largely false hope of reaching Britain, the promised land for so many refugees, will now have a chance at least to live in a degree of safety while they try to get permission to stay in France. But the Somalis, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Afghans, Iraqis, Syrians and others who have risked everything to flee their hellish lands are still arriving in a continent that still has no unified, humane policy to deal with them. That the Jungle existed in the first place testifies not only to their desperate resourcefulness, but to Europes fecklessness. The refugees had to navigate war zones, cross a sea, sneak ashore and travel for hundreds of miles to get there. Europe did a poor job of processing them, on arrival and an even worse job of distributing them fairly. Britain, the most prized destination for many of the refugees, closed its doors the tightest. Protected by geography and outside the passport-free Schengen zone, it accepted only a handful of asylum seekers, opted out of most E.U. asylum policies and effectively left it to France to hold back the refugees who reached the Chunnel. Even then, purportedly uncontrolled immigration was one of the biggest reasons Britons voted to opt out of the European Union. YEKATERINBURG, Russia Not long ago, I was invited to a sauna in Yekaterinburg, the fourth-largest city in Russia, just on the Asian side of the Urals. Going to the sauna is a full-day event in Russia, and I was not alone. The owner of the sauna had also invited his burly, self-assured, middle-aged friends. After a particularly hot steaming, we left the sauna so new that some of the boards still wept sap and went to a porch to cool down. Still glowing from the heat, I heard the same questions I had gotten over my year of living and teaching in the Urals: What is an American doing in Yekaterinburg? Do I like it here? Do I miss America? Then I got the question I dreaded: What do I think of Donald Trump? Most of the Russians I have met follow the news about the American election, and everyone from my students to taxi drivers has asked me about it. Having been through enough frustrating conversations, I did my best to avoid answering. Still, the mere existence of the law does not obviate the tangled roots of this crime. Honor killings have abounded in South Asia for centuries, driven by a code that deems women the vessels of family honor. The killings are not restricted to Islamic societies: They have been reported in some Hindu and Sikh populations as well. Yet before the mid-1990s, in Pakistan they were committed secretly, shrouded in shame. Only two decades ago did Pakistans mainstream media begin to report on them in rural areas. Typically, a Pakistani woman (or, less often, a man) who was accused of besmirching family or tribal honor would be sentenced to death by an informal village court or a gathering of tribal elders, with the conviction almost always based on hearsay. Male adulterers could find reprieve through an apology and paying material compensation to the aggrieved party usually the wronged husband. By contrast, a woman would have no chance of defending herself to the all-male court, or of being pardoned, and she would go to a merciless death by stoning, shooting or being buried alive. Or there would be no trial; the womans own blood relatives would simply decide that she must die for committing what her family and society dictated as indecent or dishonorable behavior. In most cases, the killers were never confronted, or they were jailed briefly, then walked free after being forgiven by the womans heirs her own surviving relatives. Women could be killed for wanting to marry of their own choice, or divorcing abusive husbands. Harmless acts like speaking to a man or boy outside the family became criminalized, for example. In one case, four young girls who were filmed dancing in a rain shower were executed by their cousin for immorality. The methods of death became more and more grotesque: Last year a schoolteacher accused of helping a friend marry a man of her choice was tied to a van and burned alive. Saba, the young subject of Sharmeen Obaid Chinoys documentary, was shot in the head by her father, who then left her to drown. A mother in Lahore killed her 18-year-old daughter for eloping, then ran in the street, shouting she had done it for honor. One of the evils of the practice has been that when a woman was killed for honor, inquiries often revealed a trumped-up adultery case that hid a property dispute, a tribal enmity or even a mans wish simply to rid himself of a first wife in order to marry a second. Now the challenge is convincing the entire society that women are equal citizens under the law whose lives cannot be stolen on the whims of the masculine ego. Pakistan must build a new tradition that combines legal compulsion with quick and immediate punishment, and most important, a strong and robust activism that drives home the value of womens lives. Otherwise, honor killings will simply return to the murky underground existence they had before the 1990s: committed in secret, with the bodies of countless murdered women left in unmarked graves. Europeans are coming to realize that Brexit is changing Europe. Britain has long been a semidetached part of Europe, but in that capacity it played a crucial role. It was partly a balancing power, partly a therapist for the Franco-German couple that constituted the core of European politics. In Germany and France, it is a common refrain that they each need Britain as a counterweight to the other. The European integration story began in optimism, but now seems mired in misunderstanding and miscommunication. French and German people dont speak each others language, and literally dont understand one another. Thats not just a linguistic issue; it is one that appears in every political and economic discussion. It also follows that politicians and central banks talk about economics in English, a foreign language in both nations, and so its hardly surprising that ordinary people feel excluded and lost. The question Europe currently faces is what kind of shock do France and Germany need to get them to start communicating effectively? There are plenty of challenging issues and bad events to which they might and should respond collectively: from energy and the environment to refugees to the terrorist threats that at first seemed a French peculiarity but have recently hit Germany hard, too. The root of the tension between Paris and Berlin is their different understanding of economics and politics. They each think about the state in contrasting ways. The clash remained beneath the surface as long as there was economic growth, but during the European debt crisis, it erupted into the open. The Affordable Care Act has faced a rocky six months. First, major national insurers scaled back their participation, leaving about one in five people buying coverage through health exchanges with only one plan to choose from. Then this week, the Obama administration announced that exchange plans would post an average premium increase of more than 20 percent (though most enrollees would be insulated from the full increase by subsidies for their coverage). As someone involved in the debate over the Affordable Care Act from the start, I dont find these unhappy events all that surprising. From the outset, Ive argued that without a public option a Medicare-like plan that would be available to all Americans buying health insurance insurance competition would dwindle and premiums would skyrocket. Now that they have, its time to do now what we should have done then: take the simplest route to a more stable and affordable health care system. Critics of the public option are convinced its a one-way ticket to single payer (the government alone provides coverage). History suggests the opposite: The public option isnt a threat to a system of broad coverage through competing private plans. Instead, its absolutely critical to making such a system work. Were already heading toward single payer in sections of the nation only its a private plan doing the paying. Next year, five states will have only one insurer in their exchanges, the online marketplaces set up to allow uninsured Americans to buy subsidized coverage. Nine more states will have just two insurers. Much later, a wave of brown rats spread northeast, into Japan and Siberia. Another emigrated west, eventually reaching Europe in what appear to have been three major arrivals on the Continent. These rats may have traveled on overland routes, or perhaps hidden on ships that sailed along the coasts of Asia and Europe. The new study suggests that brown rats were slower to spread around the globe than our other familiars, the black rat and the house mouse. Geography may be the reason: House mice originated in the Fertile Crescent, and black rats in India. Farming societies and widespread trade arose in those places much earlier than in northern China, giving the black rat and the house mouse early opportunities to travel. But in the past three centuries, the brown rat has more than made up for lost time. Brown rats in Alaska and along the Pacific Coast of the United States and Canada can trace much of their ancestry to Russia, Dr. Puckett and her colleagues found. Their ancestors may have stowed away aboard ships that traveled to fur-trapping communities in the New World in the 1700s and early 1800s. But the brown rats of Europe became the true globe-trotters. As Western European countries colonized other parts of the world, they took the rodents with them. The brown rats of New York and other Eastern American cities trace their ancestry to those in Western Europe. So do brown rats in South America, Africa, New Zealand, and isolated islands scattered across the Atlantic and Pacific. Floridas biggest electric utility companies are backing a proposed constitutional amendment that, the campaign says, promotes solar in the Sunshine State. Not so: If Florida voters approve the ballot measure, it could pave the way for utilities to raise fees on solar customers and cast a heavy cloud over the future of rooftop solar energy in Florida. Utilities and their allies have spent more than $20 million on the campaign, including inescapable broadcast ads and mass direct mailings. While there is no reliable polling on the measure, unscientific surveys suggest that the amendment can win. Daniel Smith, a professor of political science at the University of Florida, said, It has a decent shot at passing because the language is deceptive. If approved Nov. 8, the measure would take immediate effect. As a constitutional amendment, it needs to pass with at least 60 percent of the vote to be enacted. A woman enters her small studio apartment after work. She neatly puts her shopping away and changes into loungewear. She prepares a light dinner, listens to the radio, flips through a catalog, uses the bathroom. Bedtime awaits. Its a quiet, solitary evening at home, and it makes up the entirety of Request Concert. The German playwright Franz Xaver Kroetzs 1973 drama takes naturalism to its extreme, and doesnt offer the crutch of a plot: We watch 78 continuous, humdrum minutes in the life of one Frau Rasch as she putters wordlessly around her home. Fans of Chantal Akermans 1975 epic of domestic alienation, Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, will be in familiar territory. A collaboration between the Polish companies Laznia Nowa Theater and TR Warszawa, Yana Rosss revival of Request Concert is both sophisticated in its design and performance, and simple in what it tells us yet that simplicity doesnt make the show any less devastating. Citing gross incompetence, Pennsylvania has moved to revoke the license of a treatment center for troubled young people and to relocate dozens of residents after a 17-year-old boy died in a confrontation with staff members, according to documents from the state. The report from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, dated Monday and first obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer, describes a confrontation that began after 8 p.m. on Oct. 13 at Wordsworth Academy in northwest Philadelphia. During the struggle, the report says, one staff member punched the boy, referred to as Child #1 in the documents, in the ribs multiple times while another held his legs. It describes the scenes conclusion as told to investigators by other residents who witnessed it: The children also then overheard Child #1 yelling get off me, I cant breathe and then everything went silent. The boy, who was not identified, was pronounced dead by emergency responders. I cant breathe were also the last recorded words of Eric Garner, who died after a New York police officer placed him in a chokehold. Since Mr. Garners death in 2014, the phrase has become a rallying cry for civil rights activists around the country and one of the most recognizable slogans associated with the Black Lives Matter movement. The Philadelphia police confirmed that the victim was 17 and black. A statement provided by Officer Tanya Little, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia police department, said that the police responded to a call from the academy at about 9 p.m., and discovered the victim lying unresponsive on the floor. ORLANDO, Fla. The sound of a ringing iPhone makes Omar Delgado sweat and freeze in place. His heart pounds. He closes his eyes to fight back the ghastly images that no one should ever have to see. He hears the marimba-like tone and he is back at Pulse nightclub on June 12 as a police officer pinned down in an hourslong standoff surrounded by dead bodies, their phones ringing again and again with calls that would never be answered. I literally felt like I was standing there at the club, my feet hurting, my arm hurting from holding my weapon, Officer Delgado recalled, thinking of the times just after the slaughter when the phone rang and the panic came back. It has been more than four months since a security guard, Omar Mateen, gunned down 49 people at the gay club here. Officer Delgado, 44, who works in nearby Eatonville, was on the job briefly over the July 4 weekend but suffered a flashback on duty and has not been on patrol since. He has spent the past few months being treated for nightmares and depression while managing red tape and cuts in his take-home pay because he no longer earns overtime. MODESTO, Calif. For more than 15 years, Representative Darrell Issa has not so much as put out a yard sign. A Republican comfortably ensconced in his Southern California seat, he has blown by one challenger after another since being elected in 2000. The days of his double-digit victories may be over. When the campaign season began, Mr. Issa was on nobodys list of vulnerable incumbents. Often cited as the wealthiest member of Congress, he is said to be able to bankroll his own campaign. His district has not undergone major demographic changes. And for years, he had promised to be the most vigilant interrogator of the Obama administration from his perch on an oversight committee, which Republicans cheered. But in this upside-down year, Mr. Issa finds himself suddenly in danger of defeat, a prognosis worsened by his decision to embrace Donald J. Trump. Its a mystifyingly bad campaign that Issas run, said David Wasserman, an editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. And he is in grave danger. Donald J. Trump has polarized men and women, with the sexes parting ways to such a degree that Election Day could produce the biggest gender gap in decades. And now that division is being amplified by a gender war in the Republican Party itself. Men and women are taking sides over accusations of Mr. Trumps mistreatment of women, with the latest controversy a blistering exchange between Newt Gingrich and Megyn Kelly of Fox News. Increasing numbers of Republican women have turned on their partys male leaders for defending Mr. Trump against accusations that he groped or forcibly kissed more than 10 women. Many are complaining publicly that for years, they stood up for the party against Democrats who accused it of pursuing a war on women. They are unable to do so any longer, they say, and they see hypocrisy in Republican men rallying behind Mr. Trump after the same leaders for years accused former President Bill Clinton of predatory behavior. These are spineless men, said Brittany Pounders, a Republican activist and political blogger from Houston. Their pairing on Thursday made for a tableau impossible to imagine eight years ago when Mr. Obama was engaged in a battle with Mrs. Clinton for the Democratic nomination. But on Thursday in the center of a large arena, the first black first lady stood beside the former first lady who is seeking to break yet another historic barrier by becoming the first woman to be president, making common cause against Mr. Trump. It doesnt get any better than being here with our most amazing first lady, Mrs. Clinton told a packed hall here at Wake Forest University. Comparing Mrs. Obama to the author and poet Maya Angelou, Mrs. Clinton called the first lady another woman whose voice we need now more than ever. I wish I didnt have to say this, but indeed, dignity and respect for women and girls is also on the ballot in this election, Mrs. Clinton said, and I want to thank our first lady for her eloquent, powerful defense of that basic value. Starting with a prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention in July, Mrs. Obama who has done little to hide her distaste for campaign politics has become an invaluable asset for Mrs. Clinton. Her phrase denouncing the personal attacks of the campaign When they go low, we go high has turned into a favorite call-and-response that her audiences recite rapturously, similar to Mr. Obamas Fired up? Ready to go! chant in his 2008 campaign. Casting our vote is the ultimate way that we go high when they go low, Mrs. Obama said again on Thursday. As the first lady has become a louder voice in the campaign, Mr. Trump has tried to call attention to the friction that once existed between Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Clinton. One of his tactics has been to resurrect an eight-year-old comment the first lady made during the 2008 primaries. Our view was that if you cant run your own house, Mrs. Obama said at the time, you certainly cant run the White House. The remark was interpreted by some as a veiled dig at Mrs. Clinton that was meant to refer to Bill Clintons sexual indiscretions. The Obamas insisted then that it was a comment about their own family, seeking to explain how they balanced politics with the raising of their daughters. DIFFA, Niger The military convoy was rumbling across a river near the border last month when soldiers suddenly realized they were surrounded. More than 100 Boko Haram fighters, some of them on horseback, had encircled the vehicles, ready to strike. The 300 soldiers from Niger and the handful of American Special Operations forces accompanying them called for help. Soldiers from Chad rushed to the area, and fighter planes from Niger buzzed overhead, bombing the militants, killing some and sending others fleeing. This time, at least, the quick international teamwork averted what could have been a deadly militant ambush. Defeating Boko Haram was a flagship campaign promise of President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, the former general who took office a year and a half ago. Since then, the Nigerian military, aided by neighboring countries along with training from the United States, Britain and France has made huge advances. Mr. Buhari has claimed for months that Boko Haram has been defeated, and this month he reveled in the release of 21 of the nearly 300 girls kidnapped from a school by Boko Haram more than two years ago. Yet a troubling new series of attacks in Nigeria and the neighboring country of Niger, including one that killed dozens of soldiers, highlights how Boko Haram is far from eliminated. With the rainy season ending and roads becoming passable again, officials are bracing for more ambushes like the one at the river crossing. NAIROBI, Kenya The shots rang out in front of the American Embassy on Thursday afternoon. Boosh! Boosh! A knife-wielding assailant attacked an armed Kenyan police officer guarding an entrance to the embassys visa section, which was closed at the time. Kenyas capital is hardly known as the safest city in the region, but this attack was happening outside one of the most heavily fortified buildings in East Africa, on a congested street, with diplomatic cars stuck in traffic right nearby. JOHANNESBURG After thieves broke into her car, a white South African motorist lashed out at the responding black police officers. She called black people plain and simple useless before unleashing the most offensive racial slur around. Not the N-word, but the K-word: kaffir. The word is South Africas most charged epithet, a term historically used by whites to denigrate black people and considered so offensive that it is rarely said out loud or rendered fully in print. Now because of her racist tirade, caught on video early this year, the driver of the car, Vicki Momberg, is on trial and will probably face a hefty fine. Because of her rant and several others like it, lawmakers in South Africa, where the wounds of apartheid remain raw, are moving to make hate speech a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. This week, South Africa released a draft law that would criminalize racism by referring future hate speech cases to criminal courts instead of the civil courts where they are currently heard. In the coming decades, millions of people around the world are expected to be displaced from their homes because of climate change. China has already been grappling with environmental resettlement for many years, particularly in the north, where drought, poor industrial and water policies, and other factors have resulted in rapid degradation of the land. This week, The New York Times published two stories from the deserts of northern China that look at the plight of what the government calls ecological migrants. The first of these is a visual narrative about people living on the eastern edge of the expanding Tengger Desert. The second is on the worlds largest environmental migrant resettlement project, in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The Chinese government has made efforts to hold back the growth of deserts and to resettle people in those regions. But is it doing the right things? In an interview, Troy Sternberg, a researcher in geography at the University of Oxford, shared his views. What are some ways in which the discussion over desertification in China is politicized? In particular, how does this affect herders? Desertification is a contentious and manipulated issue. I wrote a paper last year, Contraction of the Gobi Desert 2000-2012. Academics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said it was due to strong government policy. Mongolians at the Mongolian Institute of Geography and researchers at the National University of Mongolia said it was more precipitation. The latter is valid. But facts seldom matter in the Chinese debate. BEIJING Guo Chuan, an oceangoing Chinese adventurer, set off on a trimaran from San Francisco last week, hoping to establish his latest sailing record with a 20-day sprint to Shanghai. But on Thursday, the American Coast Guard said it had found Mr. Guos 97-foot, red-hulled boat drifting and unmanned in the Pacific Ocean almost halfway to his destination. His life jacket was still onboard. Officially, Mr. Guo remains missing. But the Coast Guard said it had suspended its search and offered commiserations to his family. Mr. Guo was a professional mariner with a deep passion for sailing, Capt. Robert Hendrickson, the chief of response for the Coast Guards 14th District, which oversaw the search, said by email. JAKARTA, Indonesia The quiet afternoon coffee date nine months ago at an upscale Jakarta cafe ended when Wayan Mirna Salihin, after one sip of her iced Vietnamese coffee, collapsed suddenly. Hours later, she was dead. An autopsy on the 27-year-old womans body found that she had died of cyanide poisoning. On Wednesday, a court in Indonesia ruled that her coffee companion, Jessica Kumala Wongso, killed her friend by spiking her drink. The verdict, in what has been called the coffee murder case, was read on live television. TV One, a private national broadcaster, showed every minute of the trial, which gripped Indonesia as well as Australia, where the women attended college together. When Ms. Wongso was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison, her supporters, who packed half the courtroom, could be heard gasping at the verdict. Ms. Wongso denounced the ruling as unfair and one-sided as she was led from the courtroom by the police. Members of the victims family broke down in tears. NEW DELHI India announced on Thursday that it was expelling a Pakistani officer at the countrys diplomatic mission in New Delhi, accusing him of using his consular position to develop an espionage ring, a move likely to worsen tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. The Delhi police said the officer, Mehmood Akhtar, had served for more than two years in the missions visa section, which they said had allowed him to recruit Indian citizens to spy for Pakistan. A statement from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry rejected the accusations as false and unsubstantiated. In a tit-for-tat announcement Thursday evening, Pakistan announced it would expel an Indian official posted in Islamabad, giving his family 48 hours to leave the country. Prince Mikasa, an Imperial Army veteran who turned pacifist and the independent-minded younger brother of Emperor Hirohito of Japan, who reigned during World War II, died in Tokyo on Thursday. He was 100. The Imperial Household Agency announced his death. Japanese news reports said he had been hospitalized since May, initially because of pneumonia. Prince Takahito Mikasa was born in Tokyo on Dec. 2, 1915. He was the uncle of the current emperor, Akihito, and fifth in line to the throne. Ever since he was a child he has made it a habit to confound the imperial household, Time magazine said of the prince in 1955. These may not seem like the makings of a major scandal. But as Ms. Park nears her last year in office, the revelations have sent her polling numbers to new lows, and a prominent member of her party has called on her to resign from it, while some South Koreans want her impeached. In part, the accusations have resonated because they feed into longstanding criticism that the president is a disconnected leader who relies only on a trusted few. But for most South Koreans, the real drama is that Ms. Choi is the daughter of a religious figure whose relationship with Ms. Park had long been the subject of lurid rumors. The figure, Choi Tae-min, was often compared to Rasputin here, and now critics say his daughter is playing the same role. Mr. Choi was the founder of an obscure sect called the Church of Eternal Life. He befriended Ms. Park, 40 years his junior, soon after her mother was assassinated in 1974. According to a report by the Korean intelligence agency from the 1970s that was published by a South Korean newsmagazine in 2007, Mr. Choi initially approached Ms. Park by telling her that her mother had appeared in his dreams, asking him to help her. Image Choi Soon-sil, who Ms. Park described as an old friend, in a photo taken from an online news report. Credit... Jeon Heon-Kyun/European Pressphoto Agency Mr. Choi was a former police officer who had also been a Buddhist monk and a convert to Roman Catholicism. (He also used seven different names and was married six times by the time he died in 1994 at the age of 82.) He became a mentor to Ms. Park, helping her run a pro-government volunteer group called Movement for a New Mind. Ms. Choi became a youth leader in that group. SEOUL, South Korea South Korea said on Thursday that it would restart talks with Japan about a military intelligence-sharing pact, four years after a similar agreement was canceled in the face of a domestic furor. Officials at the Defense Ministry said in a news briefing on Thursday that such an agreement would allow South Korea to better address the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. The South hopes to sign a deal by the end of the year, the officials said. The United States has also pressed Japan and South Korea, its allies, to increase military cooperation so that the three countries could more effectively work together to monitor and confront the military threats from the North. Senior officials from all three countries met in Tokyo on Thursday to discuss ways of increasing pressure on North Korea. But South Koreans remain wary of cooperating too closely with Japan, especially given its relatively nationalist administration under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which some say has tried to glorify Japans brutal colonial rule of Korea in the early 20th century. BEIJING President Xi Jinping of China received a potent boost to his status on Thursday, when a Communist Party meeting elevated him to core leader, putting him in the same revered ranks as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Mr. Xis newest title, carrying echoes of those political strongmen, reinforces his power to shape the new leadership of the party. It is also a warning that officials should fall in line, though some privately fear he has amassed too much control and has eroded traditions of collective leadership, built up to prevent a return to the arbitrary abuses of Maos final decades. Since he became general secretary of the party in 2012, the leadership with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core has acted on its words and led by example, said a communique from the four-day assembly of the Central Committee. For a country and for a party, a leading core is vitally important, said the document, which was solemnly read on Chinese state television news. Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, two young Iraqis who escaped sexual slavery by the Islamic State and became advocates for womens rights, were honored on Thursday with the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the European Unions top human rights award. Ms. Murad and Ms. Aji Bashar are among thousands of women and girls from the Yazidi community whom the terrorist group kidnapped, sexually assaulted, enslaved and in many cases killed. In the summer of 2014, they were enslaved when the Islamic State overran their home village, Kocho, near the northern Iraqi city of Sinjar, a longtime hub of Yazidi life. Separated from her mother and siblings, who were also captured, Ms. Murad, now 23, fled in November 2014 and made her way to a refugee camp in northern Iraq and then to Germany. The Guggenheim Museum has its own program, the UBS MAP Global Art Initiative, with a goal not just to research new art but also to buy it. Set up in 2006, the initiative, funded by the Swiss-based financial service company UBS, began successive art-shopping sprees in three broad geographic areas: South and Southeast Asia; Latin America; and the Middle East and North Africa. Three curators, hired on two-year contracts and working individually, made the acquisitions and organized group shows of their purchases. Some good work has come into the collection through the initiative, though the whole endeavor feels somewhat arbitrary and scattershot, an exercise in instant globalism. The curators were assigned enormously broad swaths of cultural turf. If you judge their efforts by the Western market-vetted buys, they confined their searches to art fairs and biennials. The museum has announced no plans to continue the collecting once theyve departed, contributing to a hint of opportunism around the project. Maybe the museum feels that theres no need (or cash) for more than this short-term effort, particularly given the extensive buying thats been undertaken to fill the still-unbuilt Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. That franchise, part of the Saadiyat Cultural District, which also includes a branch of the Louvre, has been advertised as a virtual monument to cultural globalism, showcasing parallel bursts of creativity from around the world, in the words of Richard Armstrong, the director of the Guggenheim. But the superluxury setting has led to the projects being prejudged as an emblem of globalization rather than of global consciousness-raising. New or expanded architecture, increased digital access and social media outreach are, at bottom, about promotion. They pull audiences into a museum and can provide potent teaching tools. But global consciousness is what museums teach, or should teach: the simultaneous existence of many different cultures, and the equal value of those cultures, everywhere, through the centuries, and right now. Its a lesson that stands in exact opposition to the pall of intolerance in the air at present. In the end, art is small, pebble-size, not globe-size, and it cant do much. But if it can persuade people to gather for a meal instead of for war, thats something. And museums can play a part in that persuasion. For those of us who are terrified by numbers, the idea of presiding over an auction is more than enough reason to run screaming from the room. Its not that higher math is required to wield a hammer (thats what its called, by the way, not a gavel). But you do have to be able to count. Fast. In increments. While keeping track of in-person, online and telephone bidders. And while being entertaining, funny, composed and remembering your primary mission above all else: to get the highest price for whatever art, jewelry, clothing, automobile, real estate or cattle you have been enlisted to sell. You have to stay 100 percent focused, said Diana Bramham, 38, a vice president and specialist in Latin American art at Christies who is also an auctioneer. Your mind cant wander for even a second. You have all these things going on, but you have to look poised and calm and in control. Thats a lot to do at one time. That may be the understatement of the year, a fact that quickly became evident at a tutorial with Nicholas D. Lowry, 48, the president of, and principal auctioneer at, Swann Auction Galleries in New York. Fall is an excellent time for serious nonfiction. We all have that lingering back-to-school imperative that makes us more inclined to learn something new or delve deep into a favorite subject. And the weather is finally accommodating, allowing for that seasonal desire to snuggle into a big armchair in front of the fire with a good book. With that in mind, here are some books to get you asking big questions and finding some answers. Theres a big biography of Karl Marx, a harrowing story from the Jim Crow South and a biography of Grant. But there are also more intimate, sensory pleasures to be found here, whether its in a collection of highly personal critical essays about art or a roving reporters tales from the land of internet sex. There, that got you interested. Pamela Paul Editor of The New York Times Book Review HOW TO SEE: Looking, Talking, and Thinking About Art, by David Salle. (Norton, $29.95.) Our critic Dwight Garner hails the painter David Salles new book, a collection of essays that wrest art away from critics and go in search of aesthetic bliss. Salle is interested in the nuts and bolts of why paintings work. His book works because he has good feelers and a sensitive, sunny style. ALBERT MURRAY: Collected Essays and Memoirs, edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Paul Devlin. (Library of America, $45.) This welcome collection of Albert Murrays best nonfiction on race, class, the South, jazz and the blues is jumbo-size yet feels intimate, according to Dwight Garner. The reader, as if he or she were a disc jockey, can drop the needle almost anywhere. Lord of the Flies was published in 1954, the year that I turned 17, and I read it not long after. I was in the habit then (as I still am today) of finding, in each book I read, the fictional character with whom I identified the one with whom I would travel. If you are new to this book, as I was then, you will meet Ralph right up front. I felt an immediate kinship with Ralph, even before I knew his name. He is the first character introduced, and for a few pages he is called only by his description: the fair boy. I could relate to that. I was also fair, which I took to mean blond, and, though I wouldnt have thought this through at the time, I played fair. I followed the rules. It seemed Ralph did too. Yes, Ralph: Soon he also had a name. And soon thereafter, he began to have a personality, and it was one that I found likable; he had a sense of humor, chortling with laughter as he blew farting sounds into the conch. And then yes, this appealed to me greatly he took charge. He established order, made rules, saw to everyones well-being and, with very little opposition, was chosen to be chief. Me? I was a follower, always, not a leader; but I secretly yearned to be the kind of kid who would be chosen as chief. Next you meet Piggy. Piggy made me squirm a little. I sympathized with him; he was clearly bright and well intentioned, but needy. And in some ways he was uncomfortably like the parts of me that I thought needed changing. Like Piggy, I was something of an outsider, always. In the previous four years I had attended four different schools, and the process of learning to fit in was too familiar to me; now, as a young student at a very large university, I felt as vulnerable as Piggy and disliked him for that reason he revealed too much about my own self. As for Jack? It was clear to me right off that Jack Merridew was not to be trusted; for one thing, the black cloak he wore gave me the creeps. And he was described as ugly, with a crumpled and freckled face and eyes that could turn angry. Spotting a man outside one of his restaurants, Mr. Samuelsson clapped his hand and invited him to a party that night in honor of his latest project. That guy I said hi to, its just as important to be connected to him as it is to be connected to Thelma Golden, Mr. Samuelsson said (Ms. Golden is the director of the Studio Museum). Theyre all messengers of information and connectivity. Without that, theres no restaurant. The restaurant he was referring to is Red Rooster Harlem, on Lenox Avenue (also known as Malcolm X Boulevard) near 126th Street in Harlem and the culmination of years of thought and effort on Mr. Samuelssons part. The party that night, held at Ginnys Supper Club in the basement of the restaurant, would celebrate The Red Rooster Cookbook: The Story of Food and Hustle in Harlem, released on Oct. 18. I came to this country with $300 and a vision, but that was to be a great chef and to hopefully get some stars, said Mr. Samuelsson, who arrived in New York in 1994 for an apprenticeship with Aquavit, a high-end Scandinavian restaurant in Manhattan. Just one year later, when Aquavit earned three stars from The New York Timess restaurant critic, he was its executive chef. He was 23 at the time. At 27, Mr. Samuelsson won the James Beard Award for rising-star chef. With so many accomplishments under his belt before he even turned 30, Mr. Samuelsson wondered what would come next. He considered his personal concerns with the world of fine dining. There were no women and everyone who taught me cooking was women, he said. And there were no people of color. I wanted to make sure those narratives were in the movie. When Night of the Living Dead opened in 1968, mostly in grindhouse theaters, Vincent Canby of The New York Times dismissed it in a three-sentence review as a grainy little movie acted by what appear to be nonprofessional actors, who are besieged in a farmhouse by some other nonprofessional actors who stagger around, stiff-legged, pretending to be flesh-eating ghouls. He said the filmmakers were some people in Pittsburgh. As it happened, Living Dead followed a trajectory rare in American film: Partly fueled by other, more scandalized reviews (including one by a young Roger Ebert, in Readers Digest), it went on to cult success, and two years later was recognized as being sufficiently artful to be placed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Its influence, particularly on the now nearly ubiquitous subgenre of zombie horror (The Walking Dead on TV, and the movies 28 Days Later, World War Z and Shaun of the Dead) is broadly recognized. But the filmmakers themselves the people from Pittsburgh who formed a company they called Image Ten to make the low-budget movie have been able to gain from their groundbreaking work only in a limited way. The films original distributor, the Walter Reade Organization (named for its founder, a pioneer of art-house distribution), did not file for a new copyright after changing the title from the original Night of the Flesh Eaters to Night of the Living Dead. That meant the movie went into the public domain almost immediately. As was once the case with Frank Capras Its a Wonderful Life, the movie has been subjected to many unofficial, though legal, iterations. Maybe it was their first word, like bagel, or the detailed subway directions they gave to tourists. Or maybe it was when they didnt know what something was; a mall, for instance. Those are the kind of moments readers shared when asked to recall when their child, or a young person they knew, said or did something that screamed New York City kid. Comments are edited for accuracy, length and clarity. Of the more than 300 replies to our call-out, most memories related to the subway, the outdoors and New York City moxie. Following is a selection. Notes From the Underground Used to be that when we asked her, What does the train say? she would answer Bing-bong! Steven Lenard, 40, of Ditmas Park, about his daughter, Clara Lenard, 2 Thomas had a fever, so we took the subway to the pediatricians in Park Slope. As we rode the train, he looked at me and said with genuine alarm, But Mommy, what if Im the sick passenger? Beth Dunfey, 43, of Ditmas Park, about her son, Thomas Nisson, 5 She declined one with a combination washer-dryer that reminded her of the little toys that kids have, like an Easy-Bake Oven. A sublet arose in the 1929 co-op building Ageloff Towers on East Third Street. But the apartment, for $3,700 a month, seemed too expensive and was nearly double the size of the others she had seen. I am not going to be in it enough to really justify getting a much bigger apartment, Ms. Turner said. She feared the need for co-op board approval might cause delays, and wasnt sure whether she would be able to renew the lease indefinitely. The hunt quickly grew tiresome. It seemed the same kind of thing over and over, she said. So she chose the place she liked best, the fifth-floor walk-up with the gray paint, paying a broker fee of one months rent and arriving shortly before starting work. The neighborhood is, just as she thought it would be, ideal for a dog. Moose romps in the Tompkins Square dog run with his dog friends. Its nice to have him run around without me having to run around, Ms. Turner said. With her long and unpredictable hours as a first-year associate, she found a dog day care service that would drop off Moose at days end. I come home to my apartment and he is magically here, she said. First, a snack: asun, dark, smoky goat meat sifted with what looks like crimson dust and proves to be Scotch bonnets, smashed into powder and weaponized. This is a fine thing to gnaw on the sidewalk, mouth burning, by a food truck with bright green hubcaps and a beach scene with silhouetted palms on its flank. In Nigeria, the goat would come with the skin still on. It has to, said Godshelter Oluwalogbon, the chef behind the Divine Flavored Nigerian Food Truck, which parks weekdays in front of the Nigerian Consulate, a few blocks east of Grand Central Terminal. But the version he serves here is skinless, he said with a sigh: For the general public, we have to make accommodations. Fortunately, those accommodations are few. Its rare that the general public has a chance to encounter, on the streets of Midtown Manhattan, the likes of gizdodo, chicken gizzards boiled just short of tender, then fried with Scotch bonnets and red onions and folded with dodo, plantains caramelized in curry powder and thyme: gooey, sugary and meaty, all at once. Or moi moi, malleable bundles the texture of mashed potatoes, made of honey beans dismantled by soaking overnight. Steamed in foil, they taste of the sea, contoured in brine from dried shrimp and sardines, with buried slivers of hard-boiled eggs. The Culture Issue If the first paragraph of this article were the start of an Adam Curtis film, it would begin with a flat, declarative statement. Something like: This is a film about a curious afternoon in the summer of 2016, when an American novelist pretending to be a journalist went to meet a British journalist who wanted nothing to do with being called an artist. The British journalists name is Adam Curtis. Now 61, Curtis has written or directed more than a dozen hypnotically watchable, hilarious and ominous films, all of which explore nothing less than the cultural and political subconscious of the last half of the 20th-century and the first decades of the 21st. Id been obsessed with Curtiss work for years; to meet him felt like a privilege. I was in a mighty fine mood too, having finished both a novel and a semester of teaching just days before. I was informed, by the friends who offered me a room in their Camden Town flat, that the London weather was good. Not good, great. Never mind that the world was in tatters and Donald Trump was smirking unstoppably toward Republican coronation. When Curtis suggested I meet him in the famous lobby of the BBC, I borrowed my hosts London map and tackled the crazy-quilt streets. My two-mile walk was exultant. A person who for years had been only an odd, welcome intruder in my brain was about to take me to lunch. Outwardly, Curtiss films are journalistic exposes in a documentary mode. They often extend to three or four or even five one-hour episodes; more recently theyve consisted of single continuous presentations lasting more than two hours. Curtis is not an underground presence, not in England. He is a longtime employee of the BBC, a.k.a. (sentimentally) the Beeb, a pillar of 20th- and 21st-century British self-understanding. The films take familiar subjects the Cold War, the growth of public relations or financial or military-industrial bureaucracies, the premises of the ecology or anti-psychiatry movements, the enmeshment of Western democracies in quasi-colonial military adventures in the Middle East and render them strange. Stories that might seem like social studies fodder become, in Curtiss hands, compulsive, like a giddy horror film you cant quit watching. His method is one of serenely bizarre juxtaposition. He pursues the art of the wild leap, at the level of both form (the editing in his films, which consists of abrupt jumps between disparate sequences and images) and content (his factual assertions, the lines he traces among seemingly unrelated events and historical actors; the music, which veers between trance-inducing techno-beats or ambient indie pop of the Brian Eno persuasion and satirically iconic standards or show tunes; and his own narration, which drones on authoritatively except when suddenly giving way to aphoristic headlines that flash on-screen in the manner of a Barbara Kruger-style gallery installation, or vanishes in favor of undigested imagery and song). It is as if your history teacher had decided to show you the brainwashing films that Malcolm McDowell was forced to watch in A Clockwork Orange. Like McDowells character, you at once resist and are seduced, and by the end your brain is both exhausted and enlarged, full of new things that dont all seem to fit together. Unlike McDowells character, if you are me, you want more, and are willing to prop your own eyelids open to get it. Long before preparing to meet him, Id been prone to spending too-long nights on Curtis binges on my laptop, resulting in Curtis hangovers the following day. Now, I wont offer too much more of this rote, no-longer-very-New Journalism stuff I swear never to mention anything either Curtis or I ate or drank but its crucial that I offer a behind-the-curtain glimpse here, because it exemplifies a difficulty native to Curtiss films. This difficulty could be called: Where Is This Voice Coming From? One of Curtiss central subjects, running through all his work, is the possibility that were listening to the wrong voices in public life, and in our own heads; that the ideas we find authoritative and persuasive about our politics and culture are in fact a tenuous construction, one at the mercy of bias, invisible ideological sway and unprocessed, untethered emotions (principally, fear). What this brings up, reasonably enough, is the problem of Adam Curtiss authority: Who is he to be telling me this? Probably this was already in the back of my head during my happy walk through Regents Park. Had Curtis asked to meet in the lobby, rather than some modest cafe nearby, in order to underscore his platform at the BBC? Or to play against it? Or was there perhaps no modest cafe nearby? And, despite the humble cards Ive played (weather, map, hangovers), lets not ignore my present platform. This is a film about a curious afternoon in the summer of 2016, when The New York Times came to make a polite visit to the BBC, in order to enclose one of Englands most unusual journalists within its own sphere of influence. For some readers, these major-brand affiliations may be ennobling, and inspire confidence. For those more suspicious, the names of the mighty news organizations will be proof that deeper truth has, like Elvis, left the building. Curtis prefers you to be suspicious, alert to bullying ideologies that whisper in the guise of neutral authority (like The Paper of Record). And yet he wants you to believe him. Why shouldnt he? And so a Curtis account of our meeting would reveal, through his dry, airy, insinuating narration, what youre really seeing: not simply a jaunty middle-aged American stepping into a famous lobby to greet a boyish, alert, middle-aged Brit, but two media conglomerates in communion as well. The voice is essential. For, as Curtis would be the first to tell you, systems of power, influence and control are extremely difficult to depict on camera. I arrived, in fact, as Curtis was laboring at edits on his new film, HyperNormalisation, a nearly three-hour epic pegged to several present crises: Brexit, European immigration, suicide bombing, the war in Syria. The sequence under Curtiss editorial hand today involved the financial firm BlackRock, which operates a powerful computerized risk-management network called Aladdin on the outskirts of an innocuous town in Washington State. Curtiss belief is that Aladdin, in guiding the investment of now more than $14 trillion of assets around the world, has become an enormous unacknowledged force for stasis in an innately dynamic world. But how to show it? All he had to work with were a few archival talking-head clips, an Aladdin advertising reel, some footage he shot of the sheds housing Aladdins server farms and his own narration. Curtis was frustrated. How do you illustrate something invisible? he asked, as if hed never solved this problem before, or at least not to his satisfaction. Its not even people doing keystrokes on computers. Its just things roaring away. Ill show you this 37-second shot, my driving past those sheds. As we watched, Curtis told me about his admiration for the recent movie The Big Short, which tried to portray, for a popular audience, another facet of those invisible forces at work. This is the whole thing about good and evil its a naive view of the world. The problem is bigger, its a system. Curtis and I briefly discussed a word coined by the critic Timothy Morton to describe a problem so vast in space and time that you are unable to apprehend it: a hyperobject. Global warming is a classic example of a hyperobject: its everywhere and nowhere, too encompassing to think about. Global markets, too. But naming a hyperobject alone is of limited use; human cognition knows all too well how to file such imminent imponderables away, on a to-do list thats never consulted again. I thought it was a brave stab at it, Curtis said, continuing his analysis of The Big Short. But my argument would be that even the financial system theyre pointing to is only a component of something even bigger, that we havent really put together. That bigger thing: Its my hyperobject. I want to be Adam Curtis when I grow up. These words were tweeted last year by the gadfly American documentarian Errol Morris, director of The Thin Blue Line and The Fog of War. Morriss tweet greeted the release of Curtiss film Bitter Lake, a two-and-a-quarter-hour historical fugue on the American, Russian and British interventions in Afghanistan. Im embarrassed, because the amount of stuff Ive learned from Adam Curtis is almost unending, Morris told me. Theres really no one like him here. I think of Seymour Hersh, whos a different kind of animal altogether. Theres this raw intelligence lets call Curtis sui generis. Had I ever heard of Qutb before I watched The Power of Nightmares? Maybe you had I hadnt. Morris was talking about Sayyid Qutb, the Egyptian author, Muslim theologian and anti-Western propagandist, who is one of the twin poles the other being the Chicago-based conservative academic Leo Strauss around which Curtis wove his three-part 2004 series, The Power of Nightmares. Qutb, who was partly educated in the United States, became a leader of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood and was executed in 1966 for plotting to overthrow the government of President Gamal Abdel Nasser. His intellectual lineage runs directly through Ayman al-Zawahri to Osama bin Laden. And no, I hadnt heard of him before Curtiss film either. The Power of Nightmares, a study of the parallel growths of radical Islamist violence and the neoconservative movement that defined the U.S. response to 9/11, was the first Curtis film that Morris, or I, had seen. The films thesis: that the present disaster was in some sense called forth by two oddly compatible apocalyptic responses to the anxieties raised by the fulfillments and disappointments of Western-style liberalism. Uncomfortable in 2004, the films assertions still attract dispute even as the central thesis has trickled into the popular imagination such that many who have never seen Curtiss film now accept it as a given. If Americans like Morris and myself have tended to learn of Curtiss work beginning with The Power of Nightmares, his British viewers usually started earlier, with his landmark treatises on the biases of technological utopian social thinking (Pandoras Box, 1992); on propaganda, historical amnesia, brainwashing and nostalgia (The Living Dead, 1995); on the growth of popular psychiatry and public relations, and the merging of the cult of personal fulfillment with consumerist imperatives (The Century of the Self, 2002). The Century of the Self, in particular, is seen by many in Britain as Curtiss signature accomplishment. These early works construct a kind of bible of Curtiss thinking, upon which his later arguments build. The British director Stephen Frears began with The Mayfair Set (1999), which depicts a group of entrepreneurs who, starting in the 60s, dismantled the power of the British state and helped usher the free market back into politics, with disastrous results. Its absolutely brilliant, Frears says. I was just watching television, and I couldnt believe what I was seeing. It was such a dazzling analysis. Hes a cult figure in England, but he has access. The BBC is the greatest broadcasting organization in the world. In Bitter Lake, he had all the material. Hes standing in the right place, inside that archive. Even among those skeptical of Curtiss narratives, his masterly use of the BBC archive his uncanny capacity to excavate sequences from the dark side of journalisms moon and the expressive power he finds in their juxtaposition produces awe. Curtis possesses a dazzlingly acute eye, wrote Andrew Anthony in The Observer, even as he accused him of superimposing his own creative theory as journalistic fact. Curtis is justly proud of his adeptness in the archives: Its all stored in a giant warehouse on the outskirts of West London, deliberately kept anonymous. Its the biggest film archive in the world. The cataloging is good, although its been done at different stages. But, because the BBC is an organization that has a vast global news output, I discovered that, throughout the 1980s, there were these giant two-inch videotapes, called COMP tapes, onto which satellites would just dump stuff overnight. And theyre not well cataloged. You can go to a news item and see; if there was a COMP tape for that day, you can order it up. Those two-inch tapes start to degrade, but theyve been transferred, and theyre amazing. Pause. Or no. Sometimes theyre very boring. Sometimes theyre like an hour of a chair waiting for someone to come to it. I dont do that Andy Warhol stuff of a chair for an hour. But then, someone will come to the chair and prepare, and youve got that moment. When one of those COMP tapes turns up for me because of something Ive ordered, I just press fast forward and go through it all. Until something catches my eye, and then I will then digitize it. And Ive got a very good memory. I have a pattern memory, an associative way of thinking. Pause. If you really want to know, its like a computer game, the archive. There are different levels. Most people can only get to Level 1. I can get to Level 6. Readers may recall a sequence from Michael Moores Fahrenheit 9/11, in which Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz was inadvertently caught licking his comb as he readied to go on camera. The moment was imperishable, and cruel. As it happens, Curtis has made it a recurring emblem of his work to show familiar figures of power Tony Blair, Ronald Reagan, Thatcher, Putin, many others in interstitial moments of a similar kind, often precisely when they have taken a chair in preparation for the red light to go on, and are either unaware they are already being recorded or too bored to care. Curtiss brief against world leaders or at least the policies theyre chosen to embody, at the cost of great misery is pretty savage. Neoliberals fare as poorly as neocons. Hes got no love for tyrants either. But he doesnt opt, as Moore did with Wolfowitz, to expose his politicians as pathetic. The tiny portraits he carves from the archives are, instead, strangely tender. The human souls in question often appear introspective, as if measuring their self-possession, or discreetly consulting some inner oracle. Bill Clinton coughs. Hillary Clinton nods to herself, hesitates, smiles. Putin shrugs. Hafez al-Assad merely waits, thinking. Curtiss films often have surprise bonus protagonists guest stars, in television terms. In HyperNormalisation, it is Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi who steals the show, thanks to a stream of uncanny archival appearances of this kind, including one in which he pours himself a healthy glass of milk from a pitcher. Curtis, by testimony of his narration, regards the sinister, flamboyant Qaddafi as the Wests polymorphous dupe, less a monster than a man monstrously acted upon a fictional character in a story the West told itself to skirt harder truths. Violence born out of political struggles for power, Curtis said, became replaced by a much simpler image, of the head of a rogue state, who became more like an archcriminal who wanted to terrorize the world. With each new bit of footage, a glance, a shy smile, Qaddafis human presence seeps unexpectedly into the viewers sympathies. Reagans does as well. Curtiss politicians, ultimately, contend with their own bafflement in the face of the unseen forces shaping their world. Theyre traveling with us, stuck inside the hyperobject. Curtis grew up in Platt, North Kent, just outside Greater London. His father was a cinematographer who worked with the British documentarian Humphrey Jennings, with the Death Wish director Michael Winner and on The Buccaneers, a pirate-themed television program starring Robert Shaw. Curtiss family was left-wing. According to family talk, he said, his great-uncle was a committed Trotskyite. His socialist grandfather, meanwhile, would stand as a member of Parliament for seats he would never, ever win and he did it every election. Curtis earned a degree in the human sciences at Oxford, then briefly taught there. Unsatisfied with academia, he took a job at the BBC, eventually going to work in the early 80s as a segment producer on Thats Life! a kind of cross between 60 Minutes and Candid Camera. There, Curtis learned his craft. One week I was sent up to Edinburgh to film a singing dog, he said. His owner said that when he played the bagpipes, the dog would sing Scottish songs. We set the camera up. The owner dressed up in a kilt and started to play the bagpipes. The dog refused to sing. It just sat there looking at me just saying nothing. It just sat there, with a really smug look on its face. This went on for about two hours. Curtis phoned his producer. She said: Darling, that is wonderful. Dont you see that the dog refusing to sing for a man dressed up in a kilt is actually very funny? Go back and keep filming. Film the dog doing nothing. But film the man as well. So I did. We ran a long close-up shot of the dogs face with the sound of out-of-tune bagpipes. It was quite avant-garde, but the audience loved it, especially when you cut it against the face of the man puffing at the bagpipes who genuinely believed that the dog was about to sing. That time with a dog taught me the fundamental basics of journalism. That what really happens is the key thing; you mustnt try and force the reality in front of you into a predictable story. What you should do is notice what is happening in front of your eyes, and what instinctively your reaction is. And my reaction was that I hated the dog as it looked at me silently. So I made a short film about that. Despite his Oxford education, a hint of a provincial resentment defines Curtiss attitudes toward Londons cultural intelligentsia. Americans might model this as the John Lennon syndrome (as opposed to the sense of ease and entitlement exhibited by, say, Mick Jagger). The snooty people disagree with me, he said. The posh literary lot. They dont like me because they think Im not elegant and literary and I dont make enough references. And what I do is I play fast and loose not with the facts, theyre not interested in that but with my aesthetic responses. I put pop music, David Bowie, in the middle of an Afghan film. Its all a bit vulgar. Curtis foregrounds such tonal collisions, and he still delights in the comedy of dogs refusing to sing on cue, especially when the dogs in question are influential scientists, famous politicians or pontificating news presenters. He underlines the pratfalls and discontinuities of our neoliberal consensus not only with pop songs but also with an occasional boing! sound straight out of a cartoon soundtrack. Curtis isnt frightened, and he doesnt want to frighten you either. I try to do the very opposite, he said. He prefers using all sorts of devices and jokes and parodies of fear to undercut the fear, to try and pull the poison. Because people are overwhelmed. Movies are an authoritarian medium, wrote David Foster Wallace in 1996. They vulnerabilize you and then dominate you. Wallaces cautionary tone typifies humanistic reservations about the power of the moving image, in the hands of a spellbinder like Curtis (or, in Wallaces essay, David Lynch). Films overwhelming power isnt news, Wallace continued. But different kinds of movies use this power in different ways. Art film is essentially teleological: it tries in various ways to wake the audience up or render us more conscious. Curtis alludes to such aims only in the plainest terms. I use music and all the cultural references that I would talk to my friends about, so it feels like a program made by someone you know, he said. Also, what I do deliberately, is I show the joins. Theres no reason you cant join any two pieces of film up. So I will often in the editing deliberately make a discordant edit. It just makes you aware of what it is you are watching. Curtis has as at least as much in common with installation artists like Kruger or Christian Marclay as he does with shoe-leather reporters like Hersh indeed, his most anomalous project, Everything Is Going According to Plan (2013), consisted of a site-specific film-concert hybrid at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan, in collaboration with the band Massive Attack. But Curtis defiantly resists being called an artist. If youre an artist, you tend to have that rather smug sense of, Im doing this great work, he said. I dont have that at all. I go out and I find stories, and I find ways of doing them in an imaginative way. Im a journalist, and Im responding to my time. Thats it. Forget Curtiss collaborations with rock musicians; never mind the cover its art might offer him from critics complaining that he lacks footnotes and dabbles too much in allusion and mood; and never mind how every plumber is supposed to want to be a poet. Curtis wants no part of it. His grudge against contemporary art can seem either a provocation or an eccentricity, until he places it in relation to a few of his key terms, like consumer capitalism and the self. The problem is that the central ideology of our age is the idea of self-expression, he said. That the self, being expressive, is the good thing. Its what I trace in The Century of the Self. Expressing yourself through consumerism is central. So, the dilemma for artists is that however radical in content their paintings, their performance art, their video works, the mode in which theyre doing it self-expression feeds the strength of the very thing theyre trying to overthrow, which is modern consumer capitalism. Curtis prefers Balzac, the novelist of intricate social tapestries, to the modernist tradition of interiority defined by Woolf and Proust. But the novelist he claims as inspiration is Dos Passos, whose U.S.A. trilogy he read when he was a boy, and whose centrifugal blend of pastiche and documentation may be the key to Curtiss style. At the other end, Curtiss artistic nemesis is Andy Warhol. Ive got this idea. I call it the I.A.R., the Inappropriate Aesthetic Response. I date it back to Warhol. Its this idea you can take horrific images like the electric chair and aestheticize them. The beheading videos, the orange jumpsuits against the desert background; ISIS uses that knowingly. I have a ruthless theory, that the radical-art movement, which grew out of the failure of revolutionary politics, becomes the outriders for the property developers. You need the aesthetic of decline in order to make those buildings desirable. HyperNormalisation is a summation of one of Curtiss major themes: that liberalism since the collapse of certainty about how its values would transform politics, finance and journalism has in fact become genuinely conservative. In a world of unpredictability, it has retreated from genuine frontiers, instead opting for holding actions that can make it feel stable and safe. So we live, thanks to our advanced systems of monitoring, compensation and control, in a bubble of our own devising. And in Curtiss critique, contemporary artists and hipsters do as much to create this bubble as the internet itself. On a social-media network, its very much like being in a heroin bubble. As a radical artist in the 1970s, you used to go and take heroin and wander through the chaos and the collapsing Lower East Side, and you felt safe. Thats very like now. You know you arent safe, but you feel safe because everyone is like you. But you dont have to take heroin, so its brilliant. You dont get addicted, or maybe you do. Mostly you do. Under Curtiss riffing spell, gripes so familiar as to be almost embarrassing artists paving the way to gentrification, sure; the internet seals us up in self-flattering silos, right appear as thunderbolts lighting up a shadowy landscape. For an instant, Patti Smith and Richard Hell are as culpable in the Catastrophe of the Now as Alan Greenspan and Wernher von Braun. Jane Fonda, too. Fonda is fascinating because shes radical, and then she does the next shift, which is to say, If you cant change the world, you change yourself, your body. And she kick-starts the VHS revolution with her exercise tapes. Then marries Ted Turner, who doesnt want to analyze the news; he just wants to watch the news. Curtis paused for breath. Thats the foundation for this modern conservatism: Oh, my God. Its so terrifying. Whatever we do leads to disaster. So what we have to do is shift around and plan for danger, in order to keep stable you have to have the right body mass index and instead of analyzing the world in order to change it, you just monitor it for risk. Curtiss critiques of the internet sometimes echo those of skeptics like Jaron Lanier, who sees it as a dead end for art, and Evgeny Morozov, who questions its ability to effect social change. The internet was invented by engineers, Curtis tells me. When engineers build a bridge, they dont want it to develop, they want it to stay stable. And the same is true of the fundamental engineering system of the internet. Its based on feedback. And feedback is about stability. So, what happened with Occupy, and with Tahrir Square, is that it was a great system to get everyone together into a group, but then it had absolutely no content. Its a really terrible mistake they made they mistook an engineering system for a revolutionary set of ideas. Elsewhere, Curtis sounds like a science-fiction writer one from the 1950s, when S.F. writers began accurately satirizing the world we find ourselves in today. The utopia they hold out is a world where machines make everything for you and you have endless leisure time, you become creative and everyones happy. And the only thing is, actually, everyones incredibly unhappy because they havent got anything to do. What we call our jobs today are actually fake jobs. We sit in our offices in front of our screens in order to get the money to go out and buy stuff. Our job is really to go shopping. And the rest of the time, we sit in our offices doing complicated managerial things, and when were not, were actually watching the internet. The internet is there to keep you happy during your fake job. Curtiss antic side, however, cant turn away from the bloody wreckage. I see people in shops now, going through Instagram, and then looking at things like Is this right? Its almost like theyre reading the Bible. Its absolutely fascinating. Instagram is the aestheticization of everything. What began with Modernism, which is to actually worry about how things are done rather than about what theyre saying, has now ended with Instagram. I love it. What will happen to the internet in the future? Hes riffing again. Will it become a bit like a John Carpenter movie? You go there, amidst the ruins, and its weird, and you can be nasty just have fun and be bad, like a child. From about 96 to about 2005 people built these lovely websites, they put up masses and masses of fantastic information. Theyve left them sitting there, but its like a city that everyones gone from. And whats come in instead is a weird world where you dont know whats real just people shouting at each other. Its good fun, but its not real. Though Curtis regards the internet with ambivalence and who among us doesnt? his current method of disseminating his films, and his ideas, wouldnt be possible without it, particularly in America. This contradiction he embraces. Speaking of The Power of Nightmares, he told me, A lot of people said, Oh, the television networks in America would never show it. What Id noticed is that the moment I put it out, it went up on the internet. I understood at that point that it would have more political power and be seen by many more people if I let it be a thing that people want to find illegally. (Virtually all of Curtiss films are available to the intrepid Googler for free viewing, but if I told you where to find them, they might vanish.) Curtis seems to cherish his place in America as a voice seeping from under the floorboards. In a way, the ruined apocalyptic John Carpenter city appears to be where he wants to live. Even in Britain, Curtis made Bitter Lake not for television broadcast but as an experiment in releasing his work to the BBC iPlayer website instead. HyperNormalisation had an exclusive iPlayer release as well, on Oct. 16. It has freed him, in Bitter Lake, to play with moody, wordless sequences sustained longer than anything in his earlier pieces, and to include violence too disturbing for television broadcast. Its a good place to experiment. The woman who runs iPlayer I was the first person to do an original thing for her is giving me a great deal of freedom. It wont last. They will bring the palace guards into the internet quite soon, and well have to follow more rules, but for the moment its a very good place to be. Because Adam Curtis is a journalist, and because Donald Trump is the black hole toward which all journalistic light presently bends, a portion of Curtiss new film concerns the Republican nominee. HyperNormalisation will be essential viewing for American audiences if for nothing more than a sublime six-minute film-within-a-film that depicts Trump in his role as a casino proprietor. Curtis tells the story of Trumps entanglement with a probabilities analyst named Jess Marcum and a Japanese gambler named Akio Kashiwagi, who some believe may have been murdered by the Yakuza. Was it Kashiwagis mysterious death, which voided a several-millions debt to Trump, that spurred Trump out of the risk-laden world of actual construction, investment and management and into the realm of speculative virtuality the practice, that is, of selling his name for others to slap onto buildings, even as he became a television and tabloid personality to make that name more valuable? In Curtiss portrait, anyway, Trump is an avant-garde figure. From the films narration: Trump had realized that the version of reality that politics presented was no longer believable. And in the face of that, you could play with reality. In the wake of Brexit, though, what did Curtis think of the rise of Trump? For a lot of the people who support Trump and the new right in Europe its not really nationalism, he suggested. Its a class thing. He thought again for a moment; that wasnt quite it. You know when youre told to adopt the brace position in an aircraft because youve got some turbulence? Its as if everyones in the brace position at the moment, and they dont dare look out of the window and see the world for what it is. All the people terrified of Trump are in the brace position you know, as you gulp another whiskey, Oh, my God are we going to drop down 20,000 feet? If youre in that position and someone starts walking around the aisle, you want them to stop. Youre in the brace position. Theyre teasing you. They know youre frightened. They decided to get up and walk around the plane, and you dont like it. But Trumps supporters are, of course, also deeply enbubbled. Trump, according to Curtis, may himself be only another form of feedback system, similar to a chat-bot who replies to you by restating your questions in a flattering style. Hes a hate-bot. You go, Im angry, and he goes, Im angry, too! And nothing changes. But the system likes it: Angry people click more. I asked whether the prospect of Trumps actually winning concerned him. At the time of my visit with Curtis, many national polls showed the candidates tied. Im trying to abstract myself from the frightened-bunny view of Donald Trump, he told me. Its the end of something thats what I would think and if its the end of something, then its about time we started inventing something new. In his pauses I felt Curtiss thinking as a tangible presence in the room. He wasnt so much measuring his willingness to provoke or offend as negotiating with his own frightened-bunny view of the question. I mean, I think hes dangerous, he concluded, but I think there are lots of other dangerous things around in the world. If the end of this article were the end of an Adam Curtis film, it wouldnt find its way to any very definite conclusion. Instead, the pileup of astounding facts and images and insinuations would leave you wanting both less and more, but with a very certain sense of having been taken out of yourself for a while of having tested the edge of the bubble, if not actually escaped it. This is what I like best about his films and what I liked best about picking Curtiss brain up close for three days: Further thinking will always be required. He seems to feel the same way. Maybe Im part of the conservatism that Im being incredibly rude about, he said. Uncovering this reservation seemed almost to delight him. I should have the humility to recognize that the sort of films I make are locked in the past. If I was going to really attack myself a lot of people also did in the 1990s what I did in film. Which they called sampling. Basically just going and replaying stuff and remaking it into new things, which is really good fun. But fundamentally, its doing what Im accusing BlackRocks computer of doing: constantly monitoring the past, reworking it into other patterns, as a hedge against the future. Am I giving you any vision of the future? The question felt earnest, but if Id said yes hed have laughed at me. In fact, actually the great thing about human beings is that theyre protean, Curtis told me, near the end, before I let him get back to his editing. They can be anything you want them to be. Theyre amazing. But were stuck with the idea that there is a fixed self. Were stuck with the idea that there is a body mass index that you must have. Were stuck that this is the food you must have. Were stuck with the system of finance. Its just stuck. And maybe, Im part of the stuckness. Several times, Curtis and I circled back to the notion of the hyperobject that which is too big in time and space to comprehend. Perhaps this is merely shorthand for the sensation of apprehending that we are creatures born into a world that seems to demand our understanding, but will never grant it. You have to recognize that youre part of the thing, he said. But the point about journalism is to try to portray the thing you are part of. I think thats the best you can do. Jonathan Lethem is the author of 10 novels, including A Gamblers Anatomy. He lives in Los Angeles and Maine. Educators call for better funding this World Educators Day Teachers and support staff around New Zealand will be marching, rallying and gathering together on World Educators Day this Saturday (October 29) as part of a nationwide call for Better Funding, Better Learning for education."World Educators Day is a great opportunity to acknowledge the teachers and support staff who work with our children and are dedicated to ensuring kids get the best possible education," said NZEI president Louise Green, who'll be speaking at the event in Wellington."Most of the education budget is spent on people. It is people teachers and support staff who are at the heart of our world class education system."This World Educators Day we are calling for the Government to end its freeze on school operational funding and early childhood education funding (ECE) and to ditch its proposal for bulk funding," she said.In its May Budget this year, the National Government froze the school operations grant, which pays for support staff and other school running costs, and failed to restore quality teacher funding in ECE which has had per-child funding frozen for the past six years.Economics research institute, Infometrics, has estimated the freeze on operational funding will see school income reduced by 0.5% in real terms since 2015.We are very worried that the impact of the funding freeze will be to force schools to make awful trade-offs between cutting support staff hours and pay and other running costs.Children in early childhood education have already suffered the loss of qualified teachers, and resources as a result of funding freezes and bulk funding, and the last thing school children need is for the experiment to be repeated on them."The Government's radical funding proposals will lead to bigger class sizes, fewer teachers and less money for public education. This is why teachers and support staff have resoundingly rejected its bulk funding plans, Ms Green said.Details of events around the country can be found here. Surgeons at East Alabama Medical Center will now have an extra arm and more detailed imaging to assist them on the operating table. The culmination of almost 10 years of planning and two of construction, renovation and shifting will occur Tuesday when Dr. Stephen Lock performs his first surgery in the hospitals new Hybrid Operating Room. The new room, which replaced two operating rooms on the second floor of EAMC, is equipped with an Artis zeego hybrid operating room system from Siemens Healthcare. The system includes a robotic arm with imaging capabilities that can be moved around a patient on the operating table. The table itself is also adjustable, allowing surgeons to adjust patients without the assistance of others. Surgeons are able to make all adjustments to the table and robotic arm by adjusting knobs on a control panel next to the table. Tom Luebeck, clinical application specialist with Siemens, said the system is like the surgeons new right hand. In addition to the positioning capabilities, the Hybrid Operating Room also brings advanced imaging capabilities to surgeries performed at EAMC. With the capabilities of the robotic arm, doctors are able to capture clearer 3D and 2D images of larger sections of anatomy while patients are on the operating table. Assessing the situation One benefit of this is that it allows doctors to assess whether the work they have done, such as performing a bypass, was successful. After processing the images from the operating room, surgeons can see whether the issue is solved or whether they need to go back in. Previously, physicians would have to send patients to another department to have CT and other scans done to determine whether surgery was successful. If you think about it, it creates less work for the physician, it confirms what he did initially and its less time for the patient moving around the hospital moving going from department to department and they feel like theyre just being shuttled around more or less," Lueback said. "It just makes it more efficient and more effective across the board." Lock will be one of the primary surgeons to use the operating room and will perform the rooms inaugural surgeries Tuesday, which include an intravascular repair of a celiac artery aneurysm and treatment of a blockage. Occasionally, despite all our devices, were not able to get through the blockage and have to convert to an open bypass procedure, said Lock, who has worked at EAMC for 30 years. Whereas before, a lot of times we had to back out and bring them in a separate day, we can proceed at this time with a bypass type procedure. It also saves the patient a trip a lot of times and makes it more efficient for them to be able to get it all done at once. Changing treatment Lock said hes seen treatment for vascular disease change tremendously over the years. When he first started at the hospital, he performed an open bypass procedure on a man who took about eight weeks to recover. But Tuesday, he treated a woman with the same issue who was able to go home Wednesday. This room takes us here at East Alabama to the next generation of being able to treat people better, more efficiently, Lock said. Were able to see things and do things that we were not previously able to do, and the things we were doing, were able to do a lot better. Connie Gaston Hamil February 5, 1965 - October 22, 2016 Mrs. Connie Gaston Hamil, age 51, peacefully left this earth on Saturday, October 22, 2016, to prepare an eternal home for her family. Connie was born February 5, 1965, in Alexander City, Alabama. She leaves behind her parents Ronnie Lee and Betty Whitley Gaston; her husband of 32 years, Scott Boyd Hamil; and two children, Andrew Boyd Hamil and Alexandra Marie Hamil, whom she loved more than words could ever express. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Wood Gaston, Sr. and Marie Dean Gaston; her maternal grandparents, Emmett Whitley and Bertha Thornton Whitley. Connie was a 1983 graduate of Opelika High School and received her Bachelor's degree from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. She was retired from Auburn University. Connie truly lived life to the fullest and was always happiest when she was helping others. She loved her family and truly enjoyed spending time with them. Connie is also survived by her sisters, Selena Gaston Tapley (Gerry), Leigh Ann Gaston Thompson (Gregg), her brother, Michael Shane Gaston (Rebecca) and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. Family, friends, and others whose lives Connie touched are invited to visitation on Friday, October 28, 2016 at Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home in Valley from 10:00 EDT until 11:00A.M. EDT. Funeral services will be held in the Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home chapel at 11:00A.M. EDT on Friday. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery in Lanett. Please visit our website at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to sign the online guest book. Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley is directing. SANTA ANA Imagine waking up and walking down a staircase to grab a cup of coffee from Portola Coffee Lab at 4th Street Market. Work could be just a few blocks, or a trolley ride away. Thats closer to becoming a reality. 4th Street Market building owner Ryan Chase announced at the Grow Conference on Tuesday his plans to turn the structures vacant second story into two dozen small residential lofts at Fourth and Bush streets. The 500- to 700-square-foot units would be the first residences in mixed-use buildings in Santa Anas core downtown, according to city records, and each would have a balcony or terrace overlooking the activity below. At the end of the day, they dont need a living room, Chase, 33, said. They need a bed, a bathroom, and their backyard is 4th Street Market, downtown Santa Ana. Instead of carving out the mostly one-bedroom units, Chase could have more cheaply converted the space into creative offices. But he said his housing decision is about sending a message to other investors and developers. Housing, in my humble opinion, is the only thing that downtown Santa Ana is really lacking. We need more urban housing and we need it now, Chase said at the fourth annual conference on economic development, held at Discovery Cube Orange County. We want to be leading the charge. Chase said he plans to rent the residences above 4th Street Market at market rate. His application for residential units would be the first in the core downtown, Santa Anas Principal Planner Vince Fregoso said. City staff have had preliminary discussions with Chase on his concept. A few buildings outside of the core downtown on Broadway, Third and Fourth streets with residential units above ground-floor retail have been in place for more than two decades, Fregoso said. In 2010, the city approved a transit zoning code for the core downtown where 4th Street Market sits and the building is mixed-use, meaning the ground floor must be kept commercial but permission is not needed to convert the second floor into residential. We allow a mix of uses to be together in the same building, so you dont need a car to get to and from a vicinity, said Hassan Haghani, executive director of the citys Planning and Building Agency. This is what we want our downtown to look like, mixes next to each other or on top of each other like New York. Since Santa Ana started allowing new multifamily developments in 2007, the smallest units have been approximately 600 square feet, Fregoso said. There may be smaller units built more than 30 years ago, he said, but the city is unable to verify they exist. For multifamily residences, Santa Ana has a minimum requirement of 450 square feet for a studio and 550 square feet for one-bedroom units. The city has started receiving applications for units as small as 500 square feet, but the projects have yet to be approved, Fregoso said. Career College of California the former tenant on the floor above 4th Street Market went out of business in January. Some of its classroom signs and whiteboards still line the walls of the deserted 18,000-square-foot floor. Many of the walls will have to be knocked down, as will the drop ceiling, to expose a roomier loft feel, said Tobin White, project manager for Studio One Eleven, the architectural firm that began working on Chases project four months ago. Its really about opening up a lot of the walls and creating deep flats with as much natural light coming in as possible, White said. The residences above 4th Street Market will be the first housing project for the Chase family, which has been in the area for four generations and is the largest property owner in the core downtown. Ryan Chase has led recent redevelopment of Fourth Street, notably the market that has become a foodie destination. While some longtime Latino business owners have blamed Chase for gentrification, the downtown earlier this month was designated as one of five Great Neighborhoods by the American Planning Association, a national distinction. Chase said he hopes his project which he plans to break ground on in the next nine to 12 months will be the first of many. We cant do this ourselves. The more people can buy into the idea of residential urban living, the better, Chase said. This is our biggest challenge and our biggest opportunity. Contact the writer: 714-796-7762 or jkwong@ocregister.com or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong Its a standard line in almost any Hollywood legal drama: A prosecutor tells a herd of reporters he wont answer a question because I dont want to try this case in the court of public opinion. In real life, that premise might be changing. Go to YouTube this week and punch in the words Orange County District Attorney and Kenneth Clair and youll find a legal drama playing out almost exclusively in the court of public opinion. On one side is the first in a series of short videos from the District Attorneys Office explaining why it thinks there should be no new trial, or any leniency for Clair, who in 1987 was convicted of the murder three years earlier of Linda Faye Rodgers, a Santa Ana nanny. On the other side are several videos from people who argue that Clair is innocent and, at the very least, should get a new trial. The case has become a cause celebre on the internet, with 160,000 signatures nationwide on a change.org petition supporting Clairs release and more than 18,000 views on the ReasonTV videos. Clair is not the only defendant to use an online petition in hopes of swaying Orange County prosecutors. Its also hardly the first time local prosecutors have gone online to issue a message. There are at least 79 YouTube productions from the Orange County District Attorneys Office, mostly public service announcements about topics such as teen drinking and driving. But the prosecutions new Clair videos (as of Wednesday only two of the planned seven had been released) might mark the first time an Orange County case has been discussed, explained and argued in such detail outside court. Frankly were not getting a fair shake from the media, said Susan Kang Schroeder, chief of staff for the Orange County District Attorneys Office. Were trying to get the truth out. Its not good for the people to believe an innocent man is sitting on death row. Clairs supporters have a different take. They say that an eyewitness to the killing a child described the attacker as a white man. Clair is black. They say that DNA found inside the victim did not belong to Clair. And they say incriminating statements made by Clair after the killing were taken out of context. Records show the child witness later recanted and the DNA pointed to another male who was a child at the time of the killing. For those reasons and others, prosecutors still believe Clair is guilty and are preparing to re-sentence him in January to life in prison. Clair previously had been given the death penalty, but it was overturned last year in appellate court. The D.A.s videos, so far, feature Rodgers adult daughter and brother, relating their emotional loss. The videos are heavy on blood spatters and crime scene photos. Assistant District Attorney Dan Wagner sets the scene, describing how Rodgers was a live-in baby-sitter for a Santa Ana family. The first video opens with District Attorney Tony Rackauckas sitting at a desk and saying that the internet is a powerful tool and that his goal in making the video is to clarify what he views as misstatements online about the Clair case. There is nothing in the first two segments that directly refutes Clairs supporters, only Rodgers tearful daughter, Kristy Nicole Rodgers, saying that the effort to free Clair makes her feel disgusted, as if her mothers life didnt matter. While Schroeder said there is no ulterior motive for the offices decision to make the videos, legal experts said it was a smart move, although one based on outside pressure. Such pressure increasingly is common, for all prosecutors, and it often comes via social media. Last year, a victims statement in the sentencing of Stanford swimmer Brock Turner for rape went viral. The message prompted a national discussion about sentencing (Turner was sentenced to six months in jail and three years probation on a charge that could have carried 14 years in prison), race and the nature of rape, among other things. Today, the judge in the case faces a recall, in part because of publicity about the case generated online. Closer to home, in 2013, supporters of psychology professor Norma Patricia Esparza sent more than 6,000 online signatures to Rackauckas to gain her release on a murder charge. She ultimately pleaded guilty. Lawrence Rosenthal, a professor at Dale E. Fowler School of Law at Chapman University, said prosecutors tend to reserve their arguments for the court. When you see a prosecution office depart from a time-honored technique, you know that the prosecution office is feeling the pressure, Rosenthal said. This is a good thing. This is a sign something healthy is going on in Orange County. The Clair tug of war comes in the midst of a national debate over the use of jail informants in Orange County and the withholding of evidence from defense attorneys. Orange Countys justice system has landed on the opinion page of The New York Times and is the subject of an upcoming 60 Minutes segment and a CNN documentary. By taking the Clair case to the general public, Rackauckas is appealing to people in a way that will become the norm, Rosenthal predicted. I think what you are looking at is the future, he said. Boston jury consultant Edward P. Schwartz noted that Rackauckas cant afford to let negative information fester unanswered, tainting the jury pool, swaying potential judges and eroding the public trust. Schwartz said such a negative atmosphere could affect unrelated cases down the line. A little bug has been planted in the ear of a prospective juror, Schwartz said. You dont want them going on the web and finding a one-sided argument. Thats not what you want in the front of peoples minds. Schroeder insists Rackauckas doesnt have any high-tech intentions in mind, other than to get out what he feels is the correct information. And this is the new medium, she said. People take in information more effectively when its on video. Contact the writer: tsaavedra@scng.com WASHINGTON Seeking to lash Hillary Clinton to her husbands sprawling post-presidential empire, Donald Trump accused the couple of turning to corruption to enrich themselves while in public service. Michelle Obama boosted Clinton at a North Carolina rally, meanwhile, as the candidate cheered her on. On Thursday, the GOP nominee cited newly released emails from her campaign chairmans personal account showing Doug Band, a former Bill Clinton aide, describing overlapping relationships between the Clinton Foundation and the familys private gains. Mr. Band called the arrangement unorthodox. The rest of us call it outright corrupt, said Trump at the first of three campaign rallies in Ohio. If the Clintons were willing to play this fast and loose with their enterprise when they werent in the White House, just imagine what theyll do in the Oval Office. Band wrote the 2011 memo to defend his firm, Teneo, describing how he encouraged his clients to contribute to the foundation and get consulting and speaking gigs for Bill Clinton. Some of his work included obtaining in-kind services for the president and his family for personal travel, hospitality, vacation and the like. The message was released by WikiLeaks after a hack by others of Clinton campaign chairman John Podestas private email account. I think weve had enough of the Clintons, in all fairness, Trump said. Dont you think? The hacked emails, as well as recent news of an Obamacare premium hike, have appeared to hand Trump a pair of potent gifts in the campaigns final fortnight. But to the frustration of many in his party, Trump has struggled to stay on message, often turning to personal attacks against private citizens who he feels have wronged him, like the Gold Star family of Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim-American soldier killed in action. On Thursday morning, Trump told ABC News that had he been president during the Iraq war, Khan would still be alive. Honestly, I dont understand how anyone would want to rub salt in the wounds of a grieving family, Clinton told thousands of supporters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she was campaigning with Michelle Obama, marking the first joint appearance for the two first ladies on the campaign trail. Mrs. Obamas emotional take-downs of Trump have become a key part of Clintons effort to fire up women, particularly black women for whom the first lady is a model and a source of pride. Mrs. Obama offered an impassioned tribute to Clinton, praising her as the most prepared candidate for the presidency ever, adding: Yes, more than Barack, more than Bill. The women were unveiling a new $500 million policy plan aimed at reducing bullying. The Clinton campaign said her policy would provide funding to states that develop comprehensive anti-bullying efforts. It would be paid for through Clintons proposed tax increases on the wealthy. Mrs. Obama also accused Trumps campaign of trying to depress voter turnout by deriding the election as rigged. She told supporters that presidential races are decided on a razors edge. If Hillary doesnt win this election, that will be on us, she said. With a steady lead in the race for weeks, Clintons campaign is concerned that her advantage could prompt some of her backers to stay home on Election Day or cast protest votes for a third-party candidate. A new Associated Press-GfK poll released Wednesday found Clinton on the cusp of a potentially commanding victory, fueled by solid Democratic turnout in early voting, massive operational advantages and increasing enthusiasm among her supporters. The survey shows her leading Trump nationally by a staggering 14 percentage points among likely voters, 51-37. That margin is the largest national lead for Clinton among recent surveys. But other polls generally have shown her ahead of Trump for the past several weeks. The presidential candidates and dozens of outside groups involved in the race are also due to file their final major fundraising reports before Election Day. These documents will show fundraising and spending between Oct. 1 and Oct. 19 giving a sense of what resources each side had available as the campaign entered its frantic final stretch. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Catherine Lucey contributed to this report from Des Moines, Iowa and Springfield, Ohio. Cal State Fullerton President Mildred Garcia recently was named one of 25 top education leaders by The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine. Under Garcia, CSUF has seen a 24 percent rise in six-year graduation rates for first-time freshmen. Since arriving in 2012, Garcia has overseen the elimination of the achievement gap between underrepresented students and their peers for transfer students and cut it in half for first-time freshmen. The magazine honored several college and university presidents from around the nation as Hispanic leaders and role models in higher education. Garcia previously was president of Cal State Dominguez Hills, becoming the first Latina president in the countrys largest system of public higher education. At CSUF, she leads one of the largest universities in the CSU system. Garcia also serves on President Barack Obamas Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for Hispanics. Contact the writer: 714-796-7724 or bwhitehead@scng.com WASHINGTON Veterans and lawmakers throughout Southern California expressed relief Wednesday at the Pentagons decision to suspend efforts to force at least 6,500 California National Guard soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to repay their enlistment bonuses that may have been improperly awarded. Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the suspension after angry reaction from congressional Republicans and Democrats. Lawmakers demanded he ease the financial burden on guard members after news reports that some soldiers were ordered to repay bonuses that totaled more than $25,000. The announcement does not end the reimbursement process but postpones collection efforts while the Pentagon and Congress look for a long-term solution. Damon Alexander, first vice-commander of the American Legion in San Bernardino, said hes pleased collections have been suspended. Those vets have put their lives on the line, said Alexander, who served in the Marines. They deserve better. Joe Moseley, a combat-wounded veteran of the Iraq war and a San Bernardino resident, said more needs to be done to stop future collection efforts. It would be nice if politicians would stop the collections, and the best way to get that done is through local veterans organizations, he said. We need to develop legislation in Congress. For Jack Decker, the bonus was icing on the cake he already planned to join the California National Guard after leaving the Army in 2008. He wanted to be with his guardsman wife, who like him was an intelligence officer. But then, in 2013, shortly after he retired from the guard, he received a letter saying he was being audited. I was a little worried at first, the Anaheim resident said. But I had all the documentation. His story ended on a happy note: The audit found he was owed an additional $5,000 for joining the guard and finishing his four-year enlistment. They had a bonus for intelligence officers, Decker added. But not everyone he knew in the guard was so lucky. I know people who didnt qualify who took the bonuses, Decker said. They were told itll be fine. Decker didnt give names, but he said one officer he knows was offered and accepted $90,000 to pay off his student debt if he re-enlisted in the Guard. But there were two problems, Decker said: The bonus was for enlisted infantry, not officers; and it was an enticement for civilians to enter the military, not for those already active. I think a lot of people felt like they deserved those bonuses for serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, he said. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama was pleased with the decision to suspend collections, but said it was important for the Pentagon to follow through by finding a long-term solution. Obama had warned the Defense Department earlier this week not to nickel and dime service members who were victims of wrongdoing by overzealous recruiters. In a statement issued during a meeting of defense ministers in Brussels, Carter said efforts to collect reimbursement from guard members should stop as soon as is practical. Carter said he has ordered the department to set up a streamlined process by Jan. 1 to help troops get relief from the repayment obligation, because the current program has moved too slowly. Peter Levine, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, told reporters Wednesday that the process of identifying and processing the California Guard members who might have to repay the money may take up to 10 days. If we determine that recoupment was unjustified, there will be a process that allows the recovery of that and the reversal of that money, Levine said. Levine said they are looking to set up a one-stop place for those affected to get a hearing and review, noting that the goal is to eliminate a bunch of sequential processes. The details of that process have yet to be determined, he said. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain said the move by the Defense Department is a long-overdue first step, and he vowed to work with Senate colleagues to explore all options available to hold those responsible for this unacceptable situation accountable and to ensure this never happens again. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, called the measure a weak and ham-handed attempt to shift the focus away from the Obama administrations shameful treatment of service members and veterans. Carter seems to have no plan to make those whove already been forced to pay back their bonuses whole, and by focusing only on the California Guard, he is ignoring what media reports indicate could be a national problem, Miller said. The Los Angeles Times reported over the weekend that the Pentagon demanded that thousands of soldiers repay their enlistment bonuses after audits revealed overpayments by the California National Guard. Recruiters under pressure to fill ranks and hit enlistment goals at the height of the two wars improperly offered bonuses of $15,000 or more to soldiers who re-enlisted. Soldiers who refuse to pay back the bonus could face interest charges, wage garnishments and tax liens. While some soldiers knew or should have known they were ineligible for benefits they were claiming, many others did not, Carter said, adding that the new process will put as little burden as possible on any soldier who received an improper payment through no fault of his or her own. At the same time, it will respect our important obligation to the taxpayer. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield., welcomed the development, saying he spoke with Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work on Tuesday night and vowed to work with other members of Congress to provide a legislative solution so the repayment issue does not recur. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said lawmakers need to find a permanent solution. The heroes who served our country in uniform deserve every bonus and benefit they received in good faith, she said. We all must work together to swiftly address this situation and monitor any additional issues that come up in California and other states. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, said he hopes the suspension of collection efforts will provide relief to soldiers and their families. While this will help some families sleep a bit easier at night, he said, it should not fall on the shoulders of those who serve our country to pay for the mistakes of others that offered these incentives improperly. Staff writers Chris Haire, Ryan Hagen and Michel Nolan and The Associated Press contributed to this report. SANTA ANA It wasnt anger but disbelief that hit the Newport Beach woman upon learning that her close friend and neighbor had taken her engagement ring to upgrade and given her a fake in return. Debra Sanner would soon learn that she wasnt the only person to lose her precious jewelry at the hands of Charles Jayson Hanson between 2012 and 2014. On Tuesday, nearly two years after Sanner confronted Hanson over the fake diamond ring, a jury found him guilty of five counts of felony grand theft and one misdemeanor count of petty theft, along with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white-collar crime. Hanson, 53, sat quietly as the verdict was read. Minutes later, he was handcuffed and taken into custody. It was Sanners decision to go to police that kickstarted the investigation into Hansons history of high-end jewelry theft, leading authorities to at least 11 other potential victims. While he is in jail he cant hurt any more people. The bleeding has stopped, Sanner said after the verdict. He was such a good friend I didnt believe he would actually do it. Authorities believe that Hanson ripped off at least 12 people. He was charged with stealing from seven of those people, and convicted in five thefts. Jurors deadlocked on the two additional counts of grand theft. Deputy District Attorney Paulie Fabian described Hanson, who ran now-shuttered Stoned Jewelry at the South Coast Connection, as a fraudulent jeweler who replaces his clients real diamond earrings and rings with cubic zirconia or moissanite fake diamonds. He kind of held himself up as an artisan jeweler, Fabian said. I think the most egregious thing is he is in a position of trust. The prosecutor noted that thefts like Hansons often fly under the radar. Its probably out there more than we think, Fabian said. A lot of people trust their jeweler and they dont go to a second jeweler. Hansons attorney did not respond to requests for comment on the verdict. For Sanner, who turned to Hanson to upgrade her engagement ring from four to six carats, the betrayal hit particularly hard. Sanner and her husband met Hanson and his wife through their young daughter. The two families grew increasingly close, attending a variety of events and holidays together. Sanner had even come to think of Hansons daughter as her own. Hanson ultimately agreed to help design and upgrade the ring. In exchange, he asked for Sanners old ring valued at about $88,000 as well as a $16,000 cash payment. There is a trust factor, because you know someone, Sanner said. Sanner grew frustrated as the months went by without Hanson finishing the work and appearing to dodge her phone calls and emails. Finally, on Dec. 21, 2013, Hanson dropped the ring off at Sanners home. Sanners relief turned to shock, however, when several days later, she took the new ring to be appraised by another jeweler for insurance reasons. According to the prosecutors trial brief, the second jeweler determined the diamond was a fake. Hanson agreed to come to the second jewelers shop, according to the court filing, where he also inspected the ring and agreed that it was fake. Hanson couldnt explain how Sanner had ended up with a fake diamond, according to court filings, and refused to refund her money. I felt like I was gutted, Sanner said. Sanner contacted Newport Beach police. Hanson told detectives that he knew the diamond was fake, that he had sold the original ring and he was in the process of trying to remedy the situation, according to the trial brief. Soon, the list of potential victims began to grow. According to court records, Hansons victims included Kenneth Lopour, who paid Hanson to re-work an old ring into a new engagement ring for his fiancee; William Barton discovered fake diamonds in an anniversary ring he had bought for his wife; Anya Delancellotti wanted her diamond earrings re-set and received fake earrings back; and Duane Gilmore had his wifes diamond ring reworked and got a fake diamond back. Hanson is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 6. He faces up to 9 and a half years in prison. Contact the writer: semery@scng.com JOHANNESBURG Until last week, no country had withdrawn from the International Criminal Court. Now, three African states South Africa, Burundi and Gambia have made official decisions to leave. Gambia announced its decision late Tuesday. Concerns are high that more African countries now will act on years of threats to pull out amid accusations that the court unfairly focuses on the continent. Heres a look at what it all means. Created to take on genocide Many in the international community cheered when the treaty to create the ICC, the Rome Statute, was adopted in 1998 as a way to pursue some of the worlds worst atrocities: genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Not all countries signed on, and as of last week, the treaty had 124 member states but the United States, China, Russia and India are among those who havent signed on. Some countries are wary of The Hague, Netherlands-based courts powers, seeing it as potential interference. But only Africans have been charged Only Africans have been charged in the six ICC cases that are ongoing or about to begin, though preliminary ICC investigations have been opened elsewhere in the world in places such as Colombia and Afghanistan. Experts point out that most of the ICC cases in Africa were referred to the court by African countries themselves or the U.N. Security Council. One case that caused considerable anger among African leaders was the ICCs pursuit of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was alleged to have a role in the deadly violence that erupted after his countrys 2007 presidential election. The case later collapsed amid prosecution claims of interference with witnesses and non-cooperation by Kenyan authorities. The African Union has called for immunity from prosecution for heads of state, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at his inauguration in May with al-Bashir in attendance declared the ICC to be useless. And the courts powers are limited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has become a symbol of the limitations facing the ICC, which does not have a police force and relies on the cooperation of member states. Al-Bashir has been accused of genocide and other crimes in Sudans Darfur region; hes been wanted since the U.N. Security Council first referred the case to the ICC in 2005. Since then, however, al-Bashir has visited a number of ICC member states, including South Africa, Malawi, Kenya, Chad and Congo. His visit to South Africa in June 2015 caused uproar, and he quickly left as a court there ordered his arrest. The ICC has no power to compel countries to arrest people and can only tell them they have a legal obligation to do it. The ones who have left so far Burundi kicked off the ICC departures this month when lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to leave the tribunal, months after the court announced it would investigate recent political violence there. President Pierre Nkurunziza signed the bill last week. South Africa last week announced it would leave as well, saying that handing a leader over to the ICC would amount to interference in another countrys affairs. Its a dramatic turnaround for a country that was an early supporter of the courts creation in the years after South Africa emerged from white minority rule and near-global isolation. With one of Africas most developed countries now pulling out, observers feared that more states would follow and now Gambia is doing so. Not an immediate departure Withdrawal doesnt happen when a country announces it. The country must officially notify the U.N. secretary-general of its intention to leave, and the pullout becomes effective one year after the receipt of that notice. So far, the U.N. has said it has received South Africas notice, and the one-year countdown started Wednesday. Countries still have to cooperate with any ICC proceedings that begin before withdrawal takes effect. As Californians consider Proposition 64, the November ballot measure to legalize recreational, nonmedical marijuana use, voters must understand how the measure would worsen the growing problem of drugged driving. According to new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research, fatal crashes involving drivers who recently used marijuana more than doubled from 8 percent to 17 percent in Washington one year after the state legalized the drug for recreational use. This translates to one in six drivers involved in fatal crashes testing positive for active-THC, the ingredient in marijuana that causes impairment. While the data analyzed for the study did not include enough information to determine which driver was at fault in a given crash, the trend is troubling because the proportion of fatal crashes involving marijuana in Washington had been relatively stable between 2010 and 2013. In fact, marijuana decreases driver performance and attention, and increases reaction time and lane deviation. Furthermore, previous research shows that drivers killed in crashes who tested positive for marijuana were 1.3 to 6.6 times more likely to have caused the collision. The AAA Foundation research also found that, unlike tests used today by law enforcement to measure blood alcohol content, or BAC, to enforce drunk-driving laws, there is no similar, reliable or scientific way to test for marijuana impairment. For example, some drivers with high active-THC levels may not be impaired, while others with relatively low levels may be unsafe behind the wheel. There is just no easy way to test whether a driver is impaired by marijuana. Unlike alcohol, it cant be determined by breath or blood tests alone. These limitations and uncertainties pose a serious challenge for law enforcement to identify and prosecute marijuana-impaired drivers. Without solid measures in place to detect and prosecute for marijuana-impaired driving, California would essentially legalize a drug with little knowledge of its impact on traffic safety and no good way to enforce against on our streets and freeways. Based on AAAs research in Washington, we can assume that the availability and use of marijuana will increase, which will naturally lead to increases in drugged driving and, sadly, traffic deaths. Earlier this month, the Auto Club hosted a statewide drugged driving summit bringing together professionals in a multitude of fields to learn what California faces if recreational marijuana is legalized. Experts discussed their findings regarding marijuanas and other drugs effects on traffic safety, including the fact that while drunk driving has decreased in recent years, drug-impaired driving is on the rise both statewide and nationally. A prominent 2014 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey of alcohol and drug use by weekend nighttime drivers at 300 roadside checkpoints across the nation revealed some disturbing results. While alcohol use by drivers dropped between 2007 and 2014, the proportion of drivers with a drug in their systems grew from 16.3 percent to 20 percent in the same time period, a significant increase. The drug showing the greatest spike was marijuana, with an increase of 48 percent. The 2012 California Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers revealed that nearly one in five fatal collisions involved at least one driver who tested positive for drug use. Drugged driving is clearly already a significant problem for the state. The Auto Club and the California Police Chiefs Association oppose Prop. 64. We have a genuine traffic safety concern related to the legalization of recreational marijuana use. It has taken generations to educate the public about drinking and driving and to strengthen laws to reduce drunk driving. Prop. 64 would create new traffic safety issues and increase the problem of impaired driving. The AAA Foundation research raises many concerns about whether we are prepared to address the traffic safety risks Prop. 64 poses. More studies are needed before making such a far-reaching policy change that could have unintended, but tragic, consequences for traffic safety. Prop. 64 is a gamble on the publics safety, which isnt a risk worth taking. Robert. T. Bouttier is CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California and Ken Corney is board president of the California Police Chiefs Association and chief of police at the Ventura Police Department. NEWPORT BEACH The City Council breezed through its Tuesday meeting in a little over two hours, tackling issues ranging from a ballot measure, Marina Park and new roof systems for the police department headquarters and a fire station. Here are the highlights: Proposition 57 The council unanimously supported a resolution opposing the ballot measure. If passed, nonviolent felons would be allowed more parole and good behavior opportunities. The measure would also allow judges, not prosecutors, to decide whether to try certain juveniles as adults. Newport Beach Police Jon Lewis said the measures definition of on nonviolent includes vehicular manslaughter, rape, assault with a deadly weapon among other offenses. One person called the resolution an attempt by the council to influence voters during public comment. City at Marina Park The council was given a review of the first eights months of the visitor-serving marina, which is now open for nightly rentals. The numbers of vessels staying overnight increased during the summer after a slow start during March and April. Revenue from rental fees totaled $84,660 since opening in February. The marina is more than half-booked during the week of the Christmas Parade, with more than 80 percent of guests coming from across the state according to a staff report. However, marina officials want to reach out to a larger audience that includes specialized boating magazines, yacht clubs as far north as Vancouver, British Columbia and cruising clubs said Shannon Levin, a harbor analyst for the city. Moving forward we need to hit a broader stroke, she said. The new marina is the first visitor-serving marina in Orange County. The facility offers wifi, utilities and, showers and laundry services offshore. New roof The city will spend just over $1 million to replace the roofs of its police headquarters and fire station, 868 Santa Barbara Dr. In a 5-2 vote, the council approved the item with council members Duffy Duffield and Scott Peotter dissenting. Peotter had concerns with the proposed roof for the fire station, which would require gravel placed on top. Gravel is not a roof thats used very widely, he said. I think that getting rid of gravel ends up with an easier more maintainable roof. Each of the roofs were installed 40 years ago and deemed in-need of replacement during a recent inspection. Both will have a 30-year warranty. The contractor will have 80 days to complete the work. PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (AP) Cambodias foreign minister assured the United States on Thursday that the political deadlock in the country will ease soon since opposition lawmakers have agreed to end their boycott of the parliament and attend its upcoming plenary session. Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn made the assurance during a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel R. Russel, who is on an Asia visit. Prak Sokhonn informed Russel of the positive development in the political situation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Chum Sounary told reporters after the meeting. He said the minister also hopes Prime Minister Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party will also resume talks soon to end political tensions. Relations between the sides deteriorated last year after the opposition tried to exploit a volatile issue by accusing neighboring Vietnam, with which Hun Sens government maintains good relations, of land encroachment. The move proved politically popular, and the government reacted by stepping up intimidation of the opposition party in the courts, which are seen as being under its influence. The opposition stopped attending parliamentary sessions about four months ago after ruling party lawmakers stripped some opposition lawmakers of their legal immunity, leaving them open to lawsuits. The party said Wednesday its members would rejoin the session. It is expected soon but no date has been set. Critics say Hun Sen is manipulating the courts to weaken the oppositions chances in next years local polls and the 2018 general election. The opposition made an unexpectedly strong showing in the 2013 general election, which it claimed it was cheated out of winning. On Oct. 10, a court sentenced opposition lawmaker Um Sam An, who has been a strong critic of the governments handling of demarcating the border with Vietnam, to 2.5 years in prison for online postings he made. Last month, the deputy leader of the opposition, Kem Sokha, was sentenced to five months in prison for twice ignoring a summons to answer questions related to a case involving his alleged mistress. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has remained abroad since November when an old conviction for defamation was restored and his parliamentary immunity was stripped by the governments legislative majority. Hun Sens party has often been accused in the past of using violence or the threat of violence against opponents, but in recent years has stalked its foes mostly in the courts. Lets talk about the biggest new thing at the Disneyland Resort this year construction. Its all over the place at the resort, from the 14-acre dirt field that greets visitors as they drive across the Ball Road flyover from I-5, to the scaffolding that has consumed the resorts tallest icon The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. While Disney has done a relatively good job of keeping the Star Wars land construction at Disneyland out of the view of guests inside the park, its that Tower of Terror construction at Disney California Adventure that has Disney fans talking. I love the description from one follower on Twitter, Its like Universals The Simpsons Ride come to life. You now actually can go on a ride as its being demolished. Disney is converting the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to a Marvel-themed ride to be called Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout! Park officials have announced that the current version will close on Jan. 2, but the companys gotten a head start on the conversion, removing exterior decoration before closing the ride inside. Which was the better call for Disney and its fans: To close the ride before doing any construction work and preserve the total experience, or to leave the ride open until the last possible moment, allowing more fans to ride, even if in a scaffold-covered tower? The only clear answer is that someone would have complained either way. After all, the only decision that some Disney fans would accept is not to change the tower at all. Fans reactions to construction walls can tell you a lot about the state of a theme park. A few years ago, I loved seeing all the construction walls around Disney California Adventure. And more than a decade ago, the sight of the scaffolding-covered tower rising above the parks Hollywood Land thrilled Disney fans. Disney California Adventure back then was dismissed by many as a failure a billion-dollar shopping mall that lacked the charm and excitement of Disneyland and the companys other theme parks around the world. At that point, any change was a good change, so construction walls probably meant better times ahead for the park. These days, following another billion dollars in additions and refurbishments, Disney California Adventure is a hit the seventh most-visited theme park in America and 11th in the world, according to the most recent industry estimate. It draws two million more fans each year than any other theme park in Southern California outside its big brother, Disneyland. All that construction yielded the original Tower of Terror ride, followed most recently by Cars Land and Buena Vista Street all widely beloved additions to the park. But when a company boards up a beloved attraction to replace it well, then, at that point the construction walls arent so welcomed, though the new version could be just as, or more exciting to the younger crowd. I drove up to Six Flags Magic Mountain last weekend to activate my annual pass. Walking around the park, I noticed the construction fence around a large section of the old Movie District in my opinion, the dreariest section in the park. Yet seeing all that fencing (lined in theme parks traditional Go Away green) made me happy because I know thats going to be the site of the parks new Justice League Battle for Metropolis ride; it will be a 3D interactive dark ride thats exactly what Magic Mountain needs to enliven that section of the park, which lags both the local Disney parks, Universal, Knotts and SeaWorld in annual attendance. But when I later drove down to Anaheim to visit Disneyland, I joined the crowd in rolling my eyes when I got to the construction wall blocking the old Big Thunder Trail in Frontierland. As much as Im looking forward to Star Wars land, having to walk back through the ever-crowded hub every time to get from Frontierland to Fantasyland is growing ever more annoying. I am looking forward to those walls coming down, I hope, next year. So lets consider construction walls a conveniently ironic way to gauge the health of a theme park. If the sight of them instantly makes fans happy, the parks probably not been doing so well. But when some fans complain, that just shows how much they appreciate what they once had. Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThemePark. Every once in a while the American people decide to change their mind on a contentious, hot-button issue of the day. It usually happens gradually, as people age and newer generations with different opinions replace them. Weve seen this happen on a large scale with policy regarding civil rights, gay marriage and how we treat the mentally ill. As we look back on these changes, most would say they are for the better, but rapidly shifting attitudes toward drugs and addiction have the potential to take the Golden State to a very dark place in the form of Proposition 57. Prop. 57, comically dubbed the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act, would reduce prison costs and population by allowing early parole to non-violent felons, with sentence credits for good behavior and rehabilitation or education. Supporters claim Prop. 57 could save the state tens of millions of dollars. Recent history suggests that if voters read that summary without doing more research, Prop. 57 will sail to victory; California voters are coming to believe that drug addiction should be treated more as a medical problem than a criminal offense. In 2000, California voters approved Proposition 36, which changed state law to allow defendants convicted of non-violent drug-related offenses to receive a probationary sentence in lieu of being locked up. As part of their probation, defendants were obligated to attend drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. In 2014, voters approved Proposition 47, which reduced the classification of most non-serious and non-violent property and drug crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor. Now Prop. 57 is being sold as the next humane step at reducing the states non-violent prison population. But were being sold a bill of goods. What makes Prop. 57 different from the previous propositions is that it would very deceptively and fundamentally change the definition of what constitutes a non-violent offense. If Prop. 57 passes, criminals convicted of the following crimes could be released from prison early: rape by intoxication, rape of an unconscious person, human trafficking involving sex acts with minors, drive-by shooting, assault with a deadly weapon, taking a hostage, domestic violence involving trauma, supplying a firearm to a gang member, lewd acts upon a child, hate crime causing physical injury, failing to register as a sex offender, arson causing great bodily injury, felon obtaining a firearm, discharging a firearm on school grounds and false imprisonment of an elder. Just to name a few. And to think all this time I naively thought drive-by shootings were violent offenses! Silly me. Former Los Angeles County Prosecutor Robin Sax told me that Prop. 57 would be an epic disaster for state residents. Proposition 57 has nothing to do with rehabilitation or education, as the emotionally laden term the drafters chose suggests. Instead, Prop. 57 is all about undermining victims rights, undoing years of real measures to ensure public safety, and has no plan for implementation. This measure is not about low-level drug offenders. Child molesters, human traffickers and elder abusers, among many more, all become eligible for release if Prop. 57 passes, she said. Robin Sax isnt the only person ringing the alarm bells. Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens warned, Make no mistake. If Prop. 57 passes, every home, every neighborhood, every school will be less safe than it is today. Theres no question that Californians views on drug crimes are evolving; but if Proposition 57 passes because voters are being tricked, and people end up getting hurt, there will be blood on the hands of Prop. 57s authors and supporters. John Phillips is a CNN political commentator and can be heard weekdays at 3 p.m. on The Drive Home with Jillian Barberie and John Phillips on KABC/AM 790. CAMP PENDLETON Harold Wadley has many memories of serving with then Cpl. Reckless at the Vegas Outpost during the Korean War. But the scene hell never forget is the horses silhouette on the ridge as she carried ammunition to Marines as incoming and return fire collided over her head. Then hed see her return alone from the front lines carrying wounded Marines. var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([embed]); http://launch.newsinc.com/js/embed.js During her time with the 5th Marines at the outpost, on one day alone, during the Battle of Outpost Vegas, Reckless made 51 trips covering 35 miles. God made all horses, said Wadley, 83, from Indian Mountain, Idaho. Only on Reckless, hed placed an angel that rode her those nights at Vegas. I dont know how she lived through it except for that. On Wednesday, Wadley was in dress blues recounting his story for more than 600 people who had come to Camp Pendleton for the dedication of a bronze statue in the mares honor. The dedication marked exactly 64 years to the day Reckless joined the Marine Corps. Wadley was among dozens of Korean War veterans, Marine Corps command staff, Marine veterans and community members who came to salute the small chestnut Mongolian mare purchased by Lt. Erick Pederson, leader of the 5th Marine Regiments recoilless rifle platoon, for $250 at a Seoul racetrack. The statue created by Jocelyn Russell is similar to one unveiled in honor of Reckless in July 2013 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia, a day before the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. A collaboration between Robin Hutton, a Camarillo-based author, and retired Marine Col. Richard B. Rothwell, president of the Camp Pendleton Historical Society the statue was dedicated in a ceremony at the Pacific Views Event Center. Four Marine Corps horses and their Marines flanked Reckless statue as the ceremony closed with the playing of Taps. For Hutton, who uncovered the horses story and in 2014 wrote a book, Sgt. Reckless: Americas War Horse, the ceremony was the culmination of a 10-year mission to make sure Reckless would never be forgotten. I need to thank you for just being Reckless, Hutton said, overcome by emotion. This is an amazing journey youve taken us on. Youve changed my life forever. Reckless wasnt just a horse, she was a Marine. Lt. Col. Rafael Candelario, executive officer of the 5th Marine Regiment, accepted the Korean War Veteran Medal posthumously for Reckless. This is an important legacy of the Regiment, he said. We have all types of heroes. Reckless is more than a horse. She contributed to the success and livelihood of Marines and sailors. She displayed courage in the face of extreme danger, something any Marine can emulate. For the Korean War veterans, Reckless is a symbol of the often-forgotten conflict. She is the only horse to be buried with full military honors at the Stepp Stables on the base. She also was awarded two Purple Hearts and is the only animal ever awarded an official rank in the Marine Corps. Her final rank of staff sergeant was given to her in 1959 by Gen. Randolph McCall Pate, then commandant of the Marine Corps. In Marine jargon, recoilless rifles were known as reckless rifles. And thats how the mare got her name. The Marines trained her to carry 75 mm recoilless rifle rounds. Pederson trained Reckless to lie down during incoming fire and pick her way through barbed wire. Reckless would go into mess halls and eat pancakes with maple syrup, and shed hang out with Marines in tents and drink beer. She earned more than her stripes when the Chinese attacked the Vegas outpost about 60 miles north of Seoul in March 1953. Seeing Reckless statue brought back a flood of memories to Debbie McCain. Her father, Col. G.M. Jinx McCain, served as a captain with Reckless in Korea. At 6 years old, Debbie McCain wanted nothing more than to meet the mare she had heard so much about. When her father was transferred to Camp Pendleton, her dream came true. We got out here and the first thing we did was go to the stables and visit Reckless, McCain, 67, said following the ceremony. McCain, of Fallbrook, spent every weekend with Reckless, then at the base stables at Camp Pendleton. I brushed her, put ribbons on her and loved on her, she said. When I had my birthday, my mother made one cake for me and one for Reckless. Later, as a teen, McCain was back at Camp Pendleton. Her father had been wounded in the Vietnam War and was recovering on base. Between her visits with him, McCain would got to the stables to see Reckless. Whenever she saw me, shed nicker and come running over, McCain said. McCain was there in May 13, 1968 when Reckless, at 20, died after getting a severe infection. She was down and the vet was working on her, she said. I went and said goodbye. She gave her whole life to the Marines. When they bought Reckless, history was made and a Marine was born. If it hadnt been for her, theres literally a generation of families that wouldnt be here today. All because of a little horse. Contact the writer: 714-796-2254 or eritchie@scng.com or on Twitter:@lagunaini Re: The choice is clear this election [Letters, Oct. 25]: Ed Pyle is, like most liberals, focused on trashing Donald Trump, but refuses to address the issues. If you like Obamacare, which will be going up 20 percent next year, you like Black Lives Matter who have declared war on the police, you like Syrian immigrants flooding into the country, you like someone who cannot define the enemy as Islamic radical fundamentalism, you like someone who has failed miserably in foreign policy matters, who wants to raise taxes which will stifle small businesses, who is a serial liar, then you should vote for Hillary Clinton. As a deplorable, I will be voting for the candidate who represents a stronger military, reduction in corporate taxes to stimulate the economy, who will halt illegal immigration, who will get rid of sanctuary cities, who will define the enemy, will stand up to Chinese and Mexican trade policies and who is a law and order advocate. Ron Williams Irvine Im sure the Register had reasons for printing letter-writer Ed Pyles letter in the paper. Must have been to raise the ire of all us sensible, rational letter-writers. At first glance, I thought Ed was describing the Clintons since all the disgusting attributes he laid out fit those two to a tee. But, then I figured Ed must have seen the latest polls which show Trump and Clinton in a close race and it frightened him to the point of emotional breakdown. Never fear, Ed, well survive a Trump presidency and you might even learn to love him. Rodger Clarke Santa Ana Ive been reading Ed Pyles letters to the Register for quite some time now, and just have to disagree with his latest assessment of Donald Trump. At least Trump didnt leave four Americans to die in Libya and then lie about the event. How quickly the American people forget. Tony Barone Huntington Beach I alone can fix this When citizens place feelings over critical thinking, they sow the seeds of disorder. When unrestrained liberties cloud out intelligence, all is soaked with turmoil. When indignation replaces calm, it nurtures mayhem. From this chaos grow dictators proclaiming, I alone can fix this. Steve Bell Laguna Niguel MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, who nurses a longtime grudge against the United States, has declared he wants a separation and on Wednesday added that he wants American troops out of his country in two years. Speaking in Tokyo, Duterte said that he was willing to revoke the 2014 agreement letting the Pentagon use five Philippine military bases, a critical component of the Obama administrations plan to bolster U.S. influence in Asia. I want them out, he said of the U.S. troops in his country. While his threats have tapped a deep strain of resentment among Filipinos who feel as if they are treated like a second-class ally, the countrys deep cultural, economic and military ties to the United States make it unlikely that they will follow him on the path to divorce. Especially not, as Duterte suggested in Beijing last week, all the way to China. Practically every family here has a relative in the U.S., said Roilo Golez, who served as national security adviser to former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. They dont dream of going to China and living there. The close relationship between Philippines and the United States, while complicated and at times acrimonious, has existed for more than a century, and the Philippines has been the closest U.S. ally in the region for 70 years. Dutertes vow to upend that kinship has frustrated even some of his supporters. I voted for him, but Im not sure what he is doing right now, said Jess Custodio, 56, a bank executive in Manila. It is baffling to me. It would tear out the heart of many Filipinos to separate. The bonds with the United States run wide and deep. About 4 million Filipinos and Filipino-Americans live in the United States, and the money they send home to relatives is a mainstay of the Philippine economy. Another major sector of the economy call centers, largely serving U.S. companies employs more than 1 million Filipinos. Partly because of the high level of English spoken in the Philippines, the industry is one of the fastest-growing segments. American movies, music, fashion and consumer goods are popular here. In an earlier era, Filipinos working in the United States would send balikbayan boxes filled with hard-to-get American food and gifts. Now, shopping malls are packed with American-brand clothes, cosmetics, appliances, foods and other products. More Filipinos hold a favorable view of the United States than even Americans do, 92 percent compared with 82 percent, according to a 2015 survey by the Pew Research Center. Whenever the Philippines has been included by Pew in surveys dating back to 1999, more Filipinos have had a favorable view of the United States than people in any other country. That support extends to the military, where there is considerable backing for the partnership with the United States, especially the assistance that U.S. forces have provided in combating extremists in the southern Philippines. Many Filipino military officers were trained in the United States, and the two nations have staged joint military exercises for decades. President Duterte risks creating a lethal combination of adversaries if he moves to truncate the alliance with the United States, said Ernest Z. Bower, the president of the consulting firm BowerGroupAsia. He would alienate his military, which wants the help of the U.S. The military has at times played a major role in political affairs and has twice sided with civilian protesters in ousting presidents. The talk of separation has also caused anxiety among some foreign businesses, which may become more cautious in investing or expanding operations here, analysts said. Duterte seems aware of the risks. Perhaps out of concern for the need for military support, he has made numerous speeches at military bases around the country since taking office in June. And after he returned from Beijing last week, he sought to soften his call for separation. He did not mean cutting diplomatic relations, he explained, which would not be feasible. Why? he asked. Because the Filipinos in the United States will kill me. While the tortuous history of the two countries provides enough fodder to nurture both sides of a love-hate relationship, Duterte largely sees a pattern of abuse and exploitation. His foreign minister, Perfecto Yasay Jr., recently said the Philippines must shake off the invisible chains of being the Americans little brown brothers. Another low point in the relationship resulted from Washingtons support for the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. After his ouster in 1986, the Philippines adopted a new constitution banning foreign military bases, which led to the eviction of U.S. forces from Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Base. Relations later recovered, and the 2014 agreement allowed the United States to maintain a small force on five Philippine military bases. It was that agreement that Duterte threatened to cancel on Wednesday. His policy shift has put Japan, another important ally of the United States in Asia and the Philippines largest trading partner, in the delicate position of trying to retain a balance in an increasingly tense region where Japan fears any further tilt toward China. In a meeting on Wednesday, Duterte and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan discussed the importance of both the alliance between Japan and the United States and the alliance between the Philippines and the United States. If the Philippines is the most U.S.-friendly country in the world, the anti-American view has a strong constituency as well. Maybe its time to find a new alliance or depend on other countries, said Rod Rivera, 24, an unemployed kitchen worker in Manila. The Philippines has been an underdog of the United States. Even among the military, there are complaints that the United States often provides outdated hardware, second-rate hand-me-downs. Duterte has indeed tapped into a deep and atavistic frustration of many Filipinos that the U.S. approach to their country has been paternalistic, Bower said. These feelings are real, and sharpened by the coexisting affinity for U.S. culture, brands and people. For all Dutertes anti-American talk, the United States has not received any request to curtail programs, reduce cooperation, cut aid or sever ties, the embassy here said. But if Dutertes goal was to receive more attention from Washington, he has succeeded. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel R. Russel, a top State Department official, visited Manila this week and met with Yasay. Afterward, Russel told reporters that the United States fully supported the Philippines having an independent foreign policy and welcomed a reduction in tensions between Manila and Beijing. But he also cautioned that confusion created by Dutertes comments was bad for business. The succession of controversial comments, and a real climate of uncertainty about the Philippines intentions has created consternation in many countries, not only in mine, and not only among governments, he said. There is growing concern in other communities and the expat Filipino community, in corporate board rooms as well. Thats not a positive trend. Duterte responded true to form on Tuesday, lashing out at the American business community before leaving for Japan. Go ahead, pack your bags, he said. We will sacrifice. We will recover, I assure you. One of the strangest initiatives on the ballot, Proposition 59, would do absolutely nothing and it should be rejected for exactly that reason. Prop. 59 calls on elected California officials to do all they can to overrule the Supreme Courts decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which held that corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money in election campaigns. I share the views of supporters of Prop. 59 that Citizens United was a terribly wrong decision. Corporations always could spend money in election campaigns by creating political action committees that raised funds for this purpose. Citizens United changed the law, and overruled earlier Supreme Court decisions, by holding that corporations can spend money from their treasuries. Corporate spending can have a great effect in deciding elections, especially state and local races where there is less visibility and differences in spending really can matter. My hope is that the Supreme Court will overrule Citizens United and restore the law to what it was before the decision. But Prop. 59 would do nothing to advance this goal. It calls on Californias elected officials to use all of their constitutional authority, including, but not limited to proposing and ratifying one or more amendments to the United States Constitution to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and other applicable judicial precedents to allow the full regulation or limitation of campaign contributions and spending. To begin with, Californias elected officials do not have the authority to overrule a Supreme Court decision. Members of Congress, of course, can propose a constitutional amendment to overrule Citizens United. But I think that would be a waste of time and not a good idea. The simple reality is that the Constitution is not going to be amended to overrule Citizens United and it is not worth the time and effort to try. A constitutional amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and then ratified by three-fourths of the states. Strong Republican opposition to such an amendment ensures that this will never happen. Moreover, I worry greatly about amending the First Amendment and its protection for freedom of speech. The proposed initiative concludes by saying that the amendment should make clear that corporations should not have the same constitutional rights as human beings. But it is far more complicated. Newspapers and other media are owned by corporations. Would a constitutional amendment risk taking away their protections under the First Amendment? Prop. 59 says nothing about the specific content of the proposed amendment and no one should support amending the First Amendment without knowing exactly how it would be done. Efforts to amend the Constitution to overturn Citizens United detract attention from the many things that could be done to lessen its impact. I would favor a ballot initiative or a state law or for that matter a federal law that would impose much stricter disclosure requirements on campaign spending. I would support laws that prevent corporations that do business with the government from spending money on behalf of candidates for elected office in that government. I would like to see laws adopted, by initiative, or otherwise that keep corporations from spending money in campaigns without the consent of the shareholders. But Prop. 59 would do none of these things and nothing to encourage them. I am a skeptic about the initiative process as a way of adopting laws. I worry that it often leads to lousy law-making as poorly drafted initiatives get on the ballot because there is not the careful drafting and vetting process that is involved in the Legislature. I worry that people often vote on complicated initiatives based on election campaigns that leave voters with little sense of what the initiative is even about. The initiative process serves its most important purpose in giving the people a chance to act when elected officials fail to do so. But Prop. 59 does not accomplish this. It is just a way for people to express their disagreement with a Supreme Court decision. Opinion polls can do that just fine. If this passes, I imagine a long list of initiatives disagreeing with other Supreme Court rulings. There are many that I would suggest. Prop. 59 is well-intentioned, but it is misguided and should be rejected. Erwin Chemerinsky is dean of the UC Irvine School of Law. Remember the days when you had to enjoy your Cuban rum and cigars stealthily? Well, thanks to the ongoing thawing of relations between the U.S. and its former Cold War-era Caribbean foe, you can smoke and drink your Cuban booty out in the open now. With the change in duty rules that went into effect this month, most travelers returning from Cuba will now be able to bring back as many as 100 cigars and several bottles of rum. Viva la revolucion indeed. Which leads to a logical question for spirits fans: What rum should I buy? (Im guessing well be seeing more and more Cuban labels on the domestic market, since rum is still having its moment in the mixological sun.) Here are a few recommendations from imbibers who, unlike me, have a clue: Cuba Journal recommends Santiago de Cuba 11 Anos. Its not as well known as its 12-year-old sibling but thats because its something special. This is a wonderful aged rum, sweet with notes of candied fruit, caramel and a lovely, semi-dry finish. Its best enjoyed neat, like all great Cuban rums. According to the Rough Guide, which sounds like the kind of guide that would include rum reviews, Havana Club Gran Reserva and Santiago de Cuba Extra Anejo reputed to be Fidel Castros preferred rum are the best regarded among Cubans. Its interesting to note that no Cuban rums are mentioned in The Fifty Best list of rums from around the world (thefiftybest.com). But that might be because theyve been relatively inaccessible in the U.S. since 1959. Or it could be that rum producers in Cuba, like its once-celebrated cigar factories, have suffered under Fidel. The only way to know for sure is to go there. (I wonder: What are my chances of funding a research trip through Kickstarter? I could call it The Yo Ho Ho Tour.) SPOOKY FOOD AND DRINK SeaLegs is known for pushing the envelope. Take, for example, the Huntington Beach restaurants Halloween special events, each for $55. Heres whats on offer this weekend: The Blood of the Vine dinner, served at SeaLegs Wine Bar, features a three-course menu with wine pairings: pumpkin soup topped with creme fraiche and sunflower seeds, paired with Daou Chardonnay; seared lamb with red wine bordelaise, cipollini onions, roasted fingerling and baby heirloom carrots, paired with True Myth Cabernet Sauvignon, and an eyeball cheesecake cake pop, paired with a port wine. The Dias de los Muertos dinner, served across the parking lot at SeaLegs newer restaurant, SeaSalt Woodfire Grill, features three paired courses as well: roasted bone marrow with bacon onion jam, paired with Hexed Apple Cider cocktail; grilled venison with butternut squash, hen of the woods and red wine demiglace, paired with a Smoking Squid Ink cocktail; and bloody eyeball panna cotta, paired with Boozy Horchata. Reservations are recommended. SeaLegs Wine Bar, 21022 Beach Blvd., No. 105; 714-536-5700 SeaSalt, 21214 Beach Blvd.; 714-804-5545 Online: sealegswine.com or seasaltwoodfiregrill.com. HOLIDAY-WORTHY WINES Badia a Coltibuono 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva ($37): It opens very closed and ungenerous, but give it time. The fruit reasserts itself after decanting, and its a classic, big but rounded chianti. Earthy, leathery, ripe, with hints of black cherry, baking spice and dried herbs. A great pasta wine, it would also work with some meats, although its tannins are fairly light. 93 points, Wine Enthusiast. Foley Estates 2014 Steel Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills ($30): Citrusy on the palate, then morphing into apple and slight pineapple. From the chilly climate of Santa Rita Hills between Lompoc and Buellton, this is an austere but refreshing and light wine thats balanced and not too fruit-forward. It could almost use a bit of oak, though, to give it more personality. Contact the writer: 714-796-7979 or phodgins@scng.com Many Beijing residents go to great lengths to avoid breathing the citys smoggy air, especially when it reaches critical pollution levels, but one local entrepreneur decided that canning and selling this poor quality air as a souvenir would be a great idea. Believe it or not, he was right. After seeing a number of companies achieve commercial success by canning fresh air from countries like France, Canada or Australia and selling it in China, Dominic Johnson-Hill, a British-born citizen of Beijing and owner of the Plastered 8 souvenir shop, decided to turn the idea on its head and sell canned Beijing air throughout China and abroad. Id seen people going crazy to buy canned air from Canada and Australia, so I thought it was time to push business the other way, the entrepreneur said. Theyre perfect gifts! What else are you going to take home when you go home from Beijing? A roast duck? A Plastered T-shirt? These cans are light, portable, you can just imagine someones face when they unwrap if for Christmas. The few mouth-fulls of Beijing air come in standard tin cans featuring a couple of iconic city landmarks as well as a snarky description of the contents: a unique blend of nitrogen, oxygen and some other stuff. The tongue-in-cheek souvenirs cost 28 RMB (US$4) and are available at the Plastered 8 shop, as well as on its online shop. But if youe actually considering buying some, youd better ask shop, as they are virtually flying off the shelves. Johnson-Hill told Ruptly that his shop is selling hundreds of Beijing air cans every day. One thing thats not particularly clear is if the air is really collected from Beijing, as the cans are labeled as Made in Shenzen. Theres a big chance thats just Plastered 8 humor, as they also list Chocking Hazard and May have come into contact with nuts as warnings. Photos: Plastered 8 via The Beijinger When a code-enforcement officer in Frankfort, Illinois decided to donate half his liver to someone that had never met before, in order to save their life, he had no idea that person would one day become his life partner. In March 2014, completely out of the blue, 27-years-old Heather Kruger was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer, and learned that she only had a few months left to live. Doctors told her that her only chance for survival was a liver transplant, but with so little time left, waiting for a liver from the states transplant list was not the best option, so they suggested finding a living donor. They immediately told me I was going to need a transplant, she recalls. There was not much time to find a donor. By that time I could really feel my body shutting down. Her salvation came from a total stranger. Code-enforcement officer Chris Dempsey was in the lunch break room when he overheard Krugers cousin, Jack Dwyer, talking about her health problem and how she needed to find a donor or she would die. Dempsey had never heard about this person, let alone met her in person, but he immediately knew he wanted to help. I spent four years in the Marine Corps and learned there never to run away from anything. So I just said to myself, Hey, if I can help, Im going to help,' he says. So Chris just approached Dwyer and told him he wanted to get tested to see if he was a compatible donor, and it turned out that the two were a perfect match. When Heather heard what a total stranger was willing to do for her, she simply couldnt believe it. I got off the phone and ran down the hallway, and my mother and I were both crying our eyes out in disbelief, she remembers. The two met for the first time, shortly after that, to talk about the details of the medical procedure. Then they hecked into the University of Illinois Hospital for the operation which involved removing about half of Chris liver and everything went perfectly. Both their livers have since regenerated and apart from some initial complications and Heather regularly having to take anti-rejection medication, they both live perfectly healthy lives. After the surgery, even though Chris told Heather You owe me absolutely nothing for this. We can go our separate ways if thats what you want, she felt that there was a special bond between them. She admits that it was confusing at first, because she thought she might be feeling this way because of the his incredible act of kindness, but as time went by she realized it went beyond that. The two remained in touch, steadily became closer and, last year, on December 10, Chris asked Heather to marry him, to which she enthusiastically answered yes. Earlier this month, they got married in a beautiful ceremony, and Heather used her vow to let her husband know just how much he means to her. You are the most incredible man I have ever known. You believe in me and you make me feel amazing every single day. Because of you, I laugh, smile and I dare to dream again, she wrote. Looking back at the last few years, Heather says she still cant believe everything that has happened. I think about all the what-ifs, like the fact that he normally didnt go into that break room for lunch, or that my cousin is a seasonal worker who happened to be in there that day, or whether someone else would have come forward, and would it have been in time? Krueger told TODAY.com. I had an angel watching over me. I think first of all that it shows everyone, when all you hear is negativity, that there really are sincerely true, kind people out there, she concluded. May they have a long and happy life together! Sources: CBS News, TODAY.com Adam Crapser was just three years old when he was flown from South Korea to be adopted by a U.S. family, but because they never bothered to apply for his naturalization, he is to be deported back to his native country 37 years later. Adam was born Shin Song Hyuk, to a mother who abandoned him and his older sister when he was three years old. They ended up in an orphanage outside Seoul, and five months later they were flown to the United States to be adopted by an American family. Their adoptive parents fought often and punished the children viciously Crapser remembers being whipped and forced to sit in a dark basement. But six years later, they decided they didnt want the Korean kids anymore, so Child Services split up the siblings and put them in various foster homes. Adam ended up with a family in Oregon, which turned out to be even worse than the first one. Thomas and Dolly Crapser, always had their house full of foster and adopted children, sometimes as many as ten at a time. They also subjected their kids to gruesome punishments, like slamming their heads against door frames, burning them, duct-taping their mouths to shut them up. Adam remembers Thomas once broke his nose just because he couldnt find his missing car keys. They were eventually charged with dozens of counts of child abuse, including rape, sexual abuse and criminal mistreatment, and in 1992, they were convicted on several counts of criminal mistreatment and assault. However, Thomas served only 90 days in prison, and Dolly got three years probation. Photo: video screengrab At age 16, Adam Crapser was kicked out of the house after an argument with his adoptive mother, moved into a homeless shelter, then stayed on friends couches and, finally, in his car. Anything was better than the hell he had called home for so many years, but the young man would soon find himself in trouble again. He was caught trying to sneak back into the Crapser house to retrieve the only things that tied him to his past life in Korea a pair of rubber shoes and an old Korean bible. He pleaded guilty to burglary and ended up spending 25 months in jail. Soon after being released, he was found guilty of unlawful firearm possession, which was followed by a couple of misdemeanors and an assault conviction after a fight with a roommate. Two years ago, he violated a protection order taken out against him by an ex-girlfriend with whom he had a child, by trying to telephone his son. Crapser admits he has done a lot of things he is not proud of, but he has been trying to turn his life around. Since his last trouble with the law, he married, became a full time dad, and started looking for a stable job. And heres where things started getting really tricky. The problem with securing long-term employment was that he wasnt a legal citizen of the United States. Neither his first family, nor the Crapser had bothered to file for citizenship on his behalf, so after spending over three decades on U.S. soil he was still an illegal immigrant. But he didnt give up, and after years of fighting, he finally got his adoption papers from Thomas Crapser and filed for a green card. That triggered a background investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, which revealed his criminal record, and, according to U.S. law, made him subject to deportation. In February of this year, officers of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement knocked on the door of Adams apartment in Vancouver, Washington. They informed him that the agency was opening deportation proceedings to send him back to South Korea, a country he hadnt been to for 37 years and whose language and culture he knew almost nothing about. Adam Crapser spent the last eight months in detention at the Northwest Tacoma Detention Center, separated from his family including three children, hoping that a judge would grant him a discretionary form of relief called cancellation of removal, which would have allowed him to stay in the United States, but on October 24, 2016, Immigration Judge John C. ODell decided he didnt deserve any clemency and ruled to have him deported to South Korea. Adam was so desperate to get out of detention that he waived his right to an appeal and accepted to be sent back to a country he considers foreign. I was told to be American, he told the New York Times. And I tried to fit in. I learned every piece of slang. I studied everything I could about American history. I was told to stop crying about my mom, my sister, Korea. I was told to be happy because I was an American. Only it turns out that due to the negligence of others, he wasnt, and after spending virtually his entire life on U.S. soil, America now just wants to get rid of him. Sadly, while Adam Crapsers bizarre and tragic story has garnered the most media attention, it is not the only one. Nobody knows exactly how many international adoptees have the exact same problem as Adam, because many of them dont know themselves until they apply for a loan or try to register as voters, but records show at least three dozen other international adoptees have also faced deportation charges or have been deported. Congress did try to address the problem in 2000 by passing the Child Citizenship Act, which granted automatic citizenship to children adopted by U.S. citizens, but it only applied to children under the age of 18 at the time it went into effect, leaving people like Adam vulnerable. Adoptee rights organizations have been appealing to Congress to pass further legislation for years, but so far their pleas have fallen on deaf years. While I am disappointed in the judges ruling and worried about my familys future, I hope that what has happened to me will further demonstrate the importance of passing the Adoptee Citizenship Act, Adam Crapser said after hearing his verdict. He will be deported as soon as Immigration makes the necessary arrangements to have him flown to South Korea. Sources: The New York Times, NBC News, CBS News Media advisory The OECD Development Centre , CAF and ECLAC will launch their joint report Latin American Economic Outlook 2017 - Youth, Skills and Entrepreneurship at the XXV Ibero-American Summit, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia Friday 28 October 2016, 18:00 PM Location: Convention Centre Cartagena, Barahona Room The Latin American Economic Outlook 2017 will launch on Friday 28th October at 18:00h at the XXV Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. This edition focuses on youth, skills and entrepreneurship for more inclusive and sustainable growth in the region. It provides in-depth analysis of Latin Americas youth participation in society as well as in productive activities by examining the role of youth in the labour market, their acquired skills and entrepreneurial activities. The report includes a macroeconomic analysis at the regional level and 11 country notes. Since 2007, the annual report Latin American Economic Outlook has analysed issues related to economic and social development in Latin America. It is currently a joint production between the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the development bank of Latin America ( CAF) and the Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report will be presented by: - Alicia Barcena, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) - Enrique Garcia, President and CEO, Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) - Gabriela Ramos, Chief of Staff and G20 Sherpa, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) With the honourable interventions: - Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, President of the Republic of Peru - Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia Republic - Rebeca Grynspan, Executive Secretary, General Secretariat (SEGIB) This report will be embargoed until Friday October 28, 2016 18:00 PM Colombia (GMT -5). Requests for advance copies, available in English and Spanish, should be directed to Bochra.Kriout@oecd.org (Tel: + 33 145 24 82 96). More information about the report can be found at: http://www.latameconomy.org. You are invited to include this link in Internet articles associated with the report. Follow the launch at # LEO2017. Important: the rules of the OECD embargo prohibit any radio or television broadcast, or online publication from sharing any information from the study before the end of the embargo period. The media that have been provided embargoed OECD material are informed that if there is a breach of the OECDs rules, they will automatically be excluded from receiving any future embargoed OECD information. Press contacts: - CAF: rvalls@caf.com, Tel: +57 (1) 743-7368 - ECLAC: prensa@cepal.org Tel: + (56 2) 2 210 2040 - OECD Development Centre: bochra.kriout@oecd.org; Tel: +33 145 24 82 96 Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... Cabelas stock might be at lofty levels, but its not because of performance like that reflected in third-quarter earnings the company released Wednesday. Investors instead have been reacting to the news that the Nebraska-based outdoors retailer will be acquired by competitor Bass Pro Shops, headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. Bass Pro will pay $5.5 billion $65.50 per share as part of the deal. The stock has hovered around $63 since the announcement nearly double what it was trading at last October. But the earnings released Wednesday exhibit why Cabelas may have been a target for activist investor Elliott Management, a New York hedge fund that amassed a stake in the company a year ago and pressed for a sale of the company to unlock shareholder value. Elliott is known for targeting undervalued companies and agitating for changes that will boost the stock price. An aggressive expansion that led to its own stores biting into profits at others; stiff competition in the outdoors retail world; and weak sales since at least 2014 especially in apparel categories led the company to scale back its expansion in October last year. Less than a week later, Elliott announced an 11 percent stake and said it would push for a sale of the company, or of the valuable Worlds Foremost Bank, which operated the Cabelas Club Visa card. (Capital One will take over operation of the credit card in partnership with Bass Pro.) Wednesdays earnings show that Cabelas is still facing the same problems it did then: Comparable store sales for the third quarter fell by 2.3 percent, despite heavy discounting that cut into profits. Cabelas said net income fell 35 percent to $28.2 million, or 41 cents a share, from $43.7 million, or 62 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 7.6 percent to $996.5 million. Cabelas reported earnings of 53 cents per diluted share; analysts polled by FactSet expected the company to earn 81 cents per share. The retailer is winding down as a publicly traded company, saying Wednesday that it expected to hold no conference calls with analysts or investors until the combination with Bass Pro comes to a conclusion next year. Theres not really much they can say because as the managers of Cabelas, they dont really know whats going to happen. Theyre not going to be there, most likely, said Lee Dunham, a finance professor at Creighton University. Johnny Morris, chief executive of Bass Pro, will lead the combined companies out of Bass Pros Missouri headquarters. Cabelas said the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2017. Cabelas also said expenses are being slashed as the new regime prepares to take control. We have been very pleased with our expense and process improvement initiatives, which have continued to exceed our expectations, Cabelas Chief Executive Tommy Millner said in a statement. It is important to note that the third quarter marks the fourth consecutive quarter of expense leverage at Cabelas. Earnings were released a day earlier than scheduled. That could be an effort to get information to investment banks handling the deal, or even attorneys, Dunham said. Regulations of publicly traded companies by the Securities and Exchange Commission bar Cabelas from releasing financial information only to certain parties. This is a deal thatll probably get done faster than most deals because its a relatively small potato acquisition, so I think the sooner they can get info out, the better, Dunham said. Costco Chief Executive Officer Craig Jelinek said Wednesday the retailer is still pursing its plans for a poultry operation in eastern Nebraska but has not given the project a final go-ahead. That would come after the company secures the needed permits, he told The World-Herald. He said the company is working with the City of Fremont on those. Fremont City Administrator Brian Newton said Wednesday that the city has received a site development permit application and is in the process of reviewing it. Until we have the permit in our hand, we dont commit to anything, Jelinek said. He said Costco hopes to start construction in 2017. We hope to get it done. The project may also need state approval. A spokesman for the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality said Wednesday that Costco has not submitted any permit applications. State environmental permits would be required for emissions or wastewater discharge. The department has held informal meetings with Costco covering the types of permits a poultry plant might need, the spokesman said. Costco looks to control more of its supply chain in making what would be an unusual move for a grocery retailer. It would provide its Midwestern stores with chicken by building a poultry processing plant in Fremont and establishing a network of contract poultry growers in eastern Nebraska. The plant and network would be operated by a third-party company, Lincoln Premium Poultry, a Georgia company. Jelinek said the project makes sense because of the volume of chicken Costco sells. Costco stores are known for $4.99 rotisserie chickens. We think we can bring a better value to our members by doing it ourselves, Jelinek said. Were able to take some of the costs out of it, while still paying high wages. Theres not another supplier in there taking the profitability out of it. The project has faced stiff opposition from some Fremont-area residents who say the operations would contribute to water and air pollution and could be financially risky for farmers. Some have also expressed concern about a possible influx of immigrant workers, which they have said would be a negative thing. The City of Fremont is facing a lawsuit from residents who say the City Council violated the law by declaring productive farmland as blighted and substandard for the purpose of opening the door for tax-increment financing for the chicken project. Jelinek described Costco as environmentally conscious and said the plant would bring more than 1,000 jobs. I think we can be a benefit to the economy in Nebraska, he said. * * * CenturyLink and Level 3 Communications two companies with Omaha roots could merge, according to a Thursday report by the Wall Street Journal. The deal could be announced in the coming weeks, according to people familiar with the matter whom the Journal didnt name. The discussions are said to be at an advanced stage, but a deal could still not come to pass. A Level 3 spokeswoman told The World-Herald that the company wouldnt comment on rumor or speculation. A CenturyLink spokesman told The World-Herald that the company also wouldnt comment. Timothy Horan and Ray McDonough, analysts with Wall Street firm Oppenheimer & Co., said in a note to clients that they expected CenturyLink to be the surviving company, should the merger go forward. The combined entitys headquarters most likely would be in Louisiana, where CenturyLink is based, they surmised. The two companies are the only ones in the U.S. that have built national long-distance fiber-optic Internet networks in the past 25 years, the Oppenheimer analysts said. Combining both long-distance assets would create massive synergies, they said, using business parlance for opportunities to cut where companies operations overlap. They pegged those opportunities in the $1 billion to $2 billion range. Oftentimes, when companies combine, that means job cuts for positions that overlap. If Louisiana is the combined companys headquarters, that could be especially bad news for Level 3 home office employees in the Denver area, where the company is based. Level 3 at times has employed people in Omaha and Lincoln; the company on Thursday wouldnt disclose the number of people it employs in either city, only to say that it does employ people in Nebraska. As of last month, CenturyLink employed around 920 people in Omaha, though a recent round of national layoffs might have reduced that number; a spokesman in September wouldnt release specific information on job cuts or how they might affect Omaha. A spokesman Thursday said the 920 figure for the number of local employees sounds right. Level 3 started in Omaha as a division of Peter Kiewit Sons Inc.; it was spun off as a separate company in the 1990s, when it also moved its headquarters to Broomfield, Colorado, outside Denver, where executives at the time said it would be able to better attract tech workers. It is one of the providers of the so-called Internet backbone that carries Web traffic. Because of its Omaha connection, there are many local shareholders in the company. The company first offered shares to the public in 1998; it didnt turn a full year of profit until 2014. It also was profitable last year. Its stock has taken investors on a bumpy ride, rising to more than $130 a share in 2000, then sinking to around 80 cents in 2011 before a complicated stock split helped prop the value of shares. Recently, its stock has traded around $50 a share. CenturyLink, the telecommunications provider that is based in Monroe, Louisiana, bought Qwest Communications of Denver in a deal completed in 2011. Qwest traced parts of its roots to Northwestern Bell, which had its headquarters in Omaha until 1984, when it employed 4,300 employees before moving to Denver to merge with another company to form U.S. West, which became Qwest. Along with selling to businesses, CenturyLink has legacy direct-to-consumer businesses, including telephone, cable TV and DSL Internet service. Level 3 doesnt deal directly with retail consumers. Level 3 was No. 333 on the most recent Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. companies. It had more than $8.2 billion in revenues last year. CenturyLink was No. 159, with nearly $18 billion in revenues. Level 3s stock spiked higher in the wake of the report on a possible merger, rising more than 10.5 percent Thursday to close trading at $51.87 a share on the New York Stock Exchange. CenturyLink stock also jumped, rising nearly 10 percent to close at $31 a share. A man remained in critical condition Monday after he was shot in the head last week as the car he was driving exited an Omaha freeway at the start of the evening commute. Cristian Pastrana-Marin, 32, was taken to Creighton University Medical Center on Wednesday in critical condition. Omaha police arrested two people in connection with the case. On Friday, Darwin Johnson, 20, was charged with attempt of a Class I felony and use of a firearm to commit a felony. In addition, Page Green, 18, was charged with accessory to a felony and tampering with physical evidence. Pastrana-Marin apparently had taken the 30th Street exit from the southbound lanes of the North Freeway and had neared 30th Street when he was shot after 4:45 p.m., Police Lt. Mark Matuza said. Emergency dispatch reports indicated that he had been struck in the head. Pastrana-Marin was taken to the Creighton hospital, which is just north of the scene. An employee at the University Inn across the street from the shooting scene said she had heard four or five shots and saw a man in a hooded sweatshirt running south along 30th Street, though her view of the shooting itself was blocked. An Omaha police helicopter was dispatched to help search for a suspect. The exit ramp was closed during the investigation. Pastrana-Marin also was injured in August during a disturbance outside the El Dorado restaurant, 5134 S. 24th St. Police located Pastrana-Marin with stab wounds in an alley behind the restaurant. He told police he had been involved in a disturbance with several other people. The disturbance may have been the result of an ongoing dispute between Pastrana-Marin and others, police said. World-Herald staff writers Emerson Clarridge and Kevin Cole contributed to this report. Next week, Springfield residents will be able to put on their dancing shoes for a night out on the town, all while raising money for Springfield Days festivities. A fall festival fundraiser dance will be held in the Springfield Community Building, 104 Main St., from 8 p.m. to midnight on Oct. 28. Cost is $15 per person and $25 per couple. Tickets will be sold in advance at Springfield Drug, City Hall, Trojan Tavern and Springfield Memorial Library. Tickets also can be purchased at the door. There is no dress code for the event. The Springfield Days committee was considering new ways of raising money for the annual event and though having a dance would be something new and different. It was a collective effort, not only to raise money but to generate interest among the community, said Andie Ledenbach, member of the Springfield Days committee. Springfield Days 2017 is expected to be larger than in past years because the parade and festivities will be held in coordination with Nebraskas 150th anniversary of statehood. The committee also is applying for a matching grant for each dollar raised during the fall festival dance. If were able to get money from the grant, well be able to do it bigger and better, Ledenbach said. Springfield Days will be held in June and will include a parade, car show, fireworks, teen dance and other activities. At the fall festival fundraiser dance, Trojan Tavern will set up a bar at the event. Appetizers will be provided by volunteers. The event is only open to ages 21 and older. Music will be provided by Blame it on the Karaoke by DJ Anthony Infante. The event will also include a raffle. This is the first year a dance like this has been held at the Springfield Community Building and Ledenbach hopes to see it continue in the future. I would love to see it be an annual tradition, Ledenbach said. She sees the event as a way to not only raise money for a major event next June, but also to bring Springfield residents together as a community. Itll just be a fun evening, Ledenbach said. Wind down from the week and start your weekend off with a little celebration. Of the $96,340 that was awarded, $20,500 was awarded from MCFs Education Fund and $6,200 from MCFs Military Fund which were established with proceeds from the Foundations Reflection Ball events in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The remaining $69,640 was awarded from MCFs General Fund. The CEO of Goodwill Omaha defended the charitys executive compensation Wednesday, calling his leadership team one of the best in the country, but his first statements in response to a World-Herald investigation fell short of satisfying some in the public including one significant Goodwill donor. The nonprofits board also issued its own statement, indicating that it was taking a serious look at the issues raised by the newspaper and would respond after going through our due diligence. But CEO Frank McGree broadly defended the charity in his statement, even as he confirmed many of the newspapers findings. He called Goodwills executive pay fair and deserved, arguing that the Omaha charity is unique and so complex that it cant be compared to any other nonprofit organization here or elsewhere. He also defended the employment of close relatives within Goodwills upper ranks including his own daughter saying the charity is lucky that it gets referrals from friends and family that already bleed Goodwill blue. The statements from McGree and the board were blasted by Susie Buffett, whose Sherwood Foundation pledged $140,000 this year for a Goodwill program training youth in construction skills. I think his statement is outrageous, Buffett said in an interview. I think the board should be embarrassed. I think (McGree) should have been fired Monday or earlier. I dont know why hes still there. They will never get another penny from the Sherwood Foundation. There is my statement. Capping a four-month investigation, The World-Herald reported this week on McGrees corporate-styled pay package, which in 2014 included a $519,000 retention bonus that pushed his total pay close to $1 million. Even without the bonus, his pay was more than double that of Omahas other prominent social service nonprofits and the Goodwill affiliates in our region most comparable in size. An analysis of the nations largest Goodwills also found that none could match Goodwill Omaha in the percentage of budget that it put into CEO pay and the rate at which it paid six-figure salaries to its leaders. Goodwill Omaha last year had 14 executives and managers paid more than $100,000, three times more than would be expected for a Goodwill its size. The paper also found that despite Goodwills slogan that shopping at and donating to its thrift stores help the charity assist the disabled and other needy job-seekers, just a fraction of its store profits fund such job training programs. Instead, those dollars are being largely consumed by its administrative overhead, including much of the pay for the charitys leaders. Goodwill for two months refused to allow The World-Herald to interview any of its leaders or board members, who by law set its executive pay. Goodwill also did not respond to a set of questions emailed six days before the newspaper published its stories. He broadly defended the organization and his own performance, saying that during his tenure Goodwill Omaha has become one of the top-performing nonprofits in the nation. McGree defended the $519,000 bonus that he received in 2014 based on a retention agreement that he signed with the board in 1993. He noted that only 59 percent of it was contributed by Goodwill, with the rest being accrued interest. He said the payment had no negative effect on the organization. McGree ignored The World-Heralds request that it provide the list of peer organizations that it compares itself to in determining its levels of pay. He said he considered Goodwill Omaha unique, not comparable to any other local nonprofits or other Goodwill affiliates nationally. Asked why Goodwill Omaha had 14 employees paid $100,000 or more when like-sized Goodwills in Iowa City and Kansas City had two and one, respectively, McGree defended the charitys pay, saying it was based on the longevity of many staff members. He said such cursory comparisons are dangerously uninformed and can lead to poor management decisions. Weve been lucky enough to retain a consistent team of some of the most experienced leadership of any nonprofit in the country, and the combined years of experience at our executive level is astonishing for an organization like ours, he said. Goodwill Omaha has an additional $1.15 million in deferred compensation liability still due to its executives. McGree ignored a question asking who that money is owed to, but he defended deferred pay as a way to retain talent. Our ability to retain top leaders has been a major part of our success, he said. The World-Herald found that while Goodwill runs $10 million in job programs annually, those are nearly completely funded by outside grants and contracts. The newspapers analysis found that the charity was making $4 million in profits on its thrift stores but putting only $557,000 of that into job programs. The store profits were essentially consumed by $4 million in overhead costs for management and fundraising. The numbers that McGree offered Wednesday largely confirmed The World-Heralds conclusion that Goodwills overhead costs leave little room for job programs. McGree said store profits were $3.7 million last year and administrative costs were $3.5 million. It was unclear if McGrees figures included the charitys overhead costs of $560,000 for fundraising, which would have pushed its total overhead to more than $4 million. Asked whether the public should be concerned about family ties among top Goodwill executives, McGree said no. Not only is McGrees daughter, Shannon, a retail executive at Goodwill paid over $100,000, the charity has a vice president of retail who has a sister working under her as a retail director and a board member whose daughter-in-law is paid $130,000 as a vice president. Until recently, the chief operating officer had a son who ran Goodwill stores. Im really proud that we foster brand advocates out of our employees that are constantly making referrals of friends and family that already bleed Goodwill blue, he said. Of course we have a policy in place to guide decision-making, but in regards to the aforementioned roles, our primary objective was hiring top-notch talent. Those individuals were hired on demonstrated ability, proven experience and passion for our mission, and they prove their value daily. McGree also acknowledged that Goodwill is paying some disabled workers less than minimum wage, which is legal under a controversial federal program. He said the policy affects 32 workers but is under review, adding were trying to work through the complexities involved. McGree also confirmed that Goodwill had a contract with a Council Bluffs firm under which Goodwill employees repackaged Chinese-made hair curlers into bags that said Made in America. However, he denied that executives knew that the hair rollers were made overseas. Several sources told The World-Herald that Goodwill Omaha executives knew about the China-to-U.S. switch as far back as 2010, when an employee complained about the practice. The practice also was discussed and affirmed in a meeting of executives earlier this year that included McGree and Todd Milbrandt, vice president of corporate engagement, the sources said. McGree suggested Wednesday that no executives had prior knowledge but indicated that the program has now been discontinued. I talked to Todd several times, and we have no indication that anyone at the executive level knew, he said. Again, I am disappointed that it took so long for the discrepancy to get in front of us and that our teams didnt feel empowered to take action themselves. McGree also seemed to confirm another story related by former employees: Companywide Christmas parties were canceled in 2013, but executives continued to have company-paid Christmas parties. He said that because of difficult finances in both 2012 and 2013, we decided that we could not pay for departmental holiday parties with Goodwill money. In January of 2014, I had the leadership group to my house to say Thank you for bearing with us through everything. In summary, McGree said, Goodwill has heard the publics concerns and will add them to the charitys list of opportunities and challenges. We are extremely lucky to have a seasoned, experienced and highly engaged board to complement one of the top executive nonprofit teams in the country, he said. The statements by McGree and the board left some far from satisfied. Do they have any openings? asked Mike Boyle, a member of the Douglas County Board, after hearing McGrees defense of the charitys pay. Oh my God, Im stunned. I cant believe that guy is really making and drinking his own Kool-Aid. Dozens of readers have reached out to The World-Herald by phone, email and online in the wake of the newspapers investigation, with many saying they would no longer shop at or donate to Goodwill until the charity makes changes. Several of those people contacted by the paper Wednesday said the statements from McGree and the board didnt change their feelings. Chris Pellman of Omaha said she was appalled that all the recent donations she made to Goodwill after a family move have contributed to inflated salaries instead of job programs. Theyre trying to gloss over these high wages and defend it, but it still seems way outside the bounds of a nonprofit. There has to be major changes, including more money going into programs and getting rid of paying less than minimum wage. Carol Miklas of Omaha was particularly struck that McGree seemed to defend the hiring of relatives at Goodwill. Its a joke, she said. I will no longer give to them maybe when its all settled and they get rid of them. I think the mans ready to retire after 30 years of being there. Mike Pence struck an upbeat tone Thursday, saying anyone who thinks this years presidential race is over and Hillary Clinton has already won is mistaken. Dont be fooled for a second this race is on, the Republican vice presidential nominee said at an Omaha rally. Pence also urged all Republicans to come home on Election Day and unite behind their partys nominee. Its time to come home and do our part and make sure Hillary Clinton is never elected president, Pence told a boisterous crowd of about 800 people. Pence appeared at a warehouse in central Omaha owned by Midstates Construction Co., a business that sells construction supplies. His visit in the final stretch of the 2016 presidential race underscores the competitive nature of the Omaha-based 2nd District, where Donald Trump and Clinton are vying for a single electoral vote and where both candidates have offices. It also underscored the drama in this years race. Both Pence and the crowd at the rally were in high spirits, with many shouting encouragements for the GOP ticket and condemnations of Clinton throughout Pences 45-minute speech. The crowd frequently broke into now-familiar chants of lock her up and drain the swamp. There also were a few visible flashes of anger in the crowd, with several people approaching members of the news media to criticize their coverage. And when a single protester was escorted out of the rally after shouting Dump Trump, a woman in the audience screamed: This is America, if you dont like it, get out. This is our country. For his part, Pence gave a spirited stump speech, defending Trump as a fighter and lambasting Clintons tenure as secretary of state, saying she and Democratic President Barack Obama have weakened Americas standing in the world. You have nominated a man for president who never quits, Pence said. Hes a fighter and hes a winner. Pence was introduced at the rally by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican who is said to be on friendly terms with the vice presidential candidate, the governor of Indiana. After he took the stage, Pence called Ricketts a great governor but he joked that Ricketts flattering introduction was a little too long. I was for Pete Ricketts before it was cool, said Pence. He knows me well enough to know the introduction I prefer is a little shorter: Im a Christian, a conservative and a Republican. Pence argued that both Clinton and Obama deserved the blame for the rise of the terrorist group known as the Islamic State. The decision to pull troops from Iraq, Pence said, left a vacuum that the Islamic State quickly filled. (Democrats say that it was former President George W. Bush, a Republican, who negotiated the date of the troop withdrawal in Iraq and that Obama had to honor that date.) There is no question today, the world is more dangerous than the day Barack Obama and Clinton took over, Pence said. Pence said Trump would make America strong again on the national stage by rebuilding the nations military. He also said Trump would end illegal immigration once and for all and that he would quickly revoke every single executive order issued by Obama during his two terms in the White House. Finally, Pence said Republicans would repeal Obamas signature legislative victory known as Obamacare the controversial health care law that has expanded health coverage to more Americans. Pence noted that in recent days it has been reported that the average health insurance premium under the law has gone up 25 percent. We said this was going to happen. We said premiums were going to go up and coverage was going to go down. The only thing thats going to get bigger is the government, Pence said. The crowd was clearly in Pences corner. Georgia Ebel, 87, of Omaha said at the rally that shell cast her vote against Hillary Clinton. Ebel said her top issue is abortion and said she thinks Clinton is hypocritical for focusing on childrens issues while supporting abortion rights. I fully agree with Mike Pences stances, his governing ability, his philosophy, Ebel said. Donna Pechnik of Blair, too, said she opposes Clinton. Shes corrupt, she said. The whole clan is. Pechnik said Pence was a good vice presidential pick and she thinks Trump will keep America secure. Andy Anderson, 31, said he likes Pences governing philosophy. Hes a good man, Anderson said. He comes across as more of a servant. World-Herald staff writers Jeffrey Robb and Roseann Moring contributed to this report. There couldnt have been a more pivotal moment in the U.S.-Mexican relationship for the Philadelphia Museum of Art to open a landmark exhibit of Mexican art. Of course, the timing of this stunning show is coincidental, coming in the midst of a presidential campaign in which Donald Trump has labeled illegal Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists. He has also repeatedly denounced the NAFTA accord with Mexico. Yet it is impossible to separate this brilliant show called Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism 1910-1950 from politics. These masterpieces by Diego Rivera and other greats were painted at a time when Mexicans were furiously debating their political direction; they arrive here while America is going through unprecedented political turmoil. Mexican immigrants and the U.S.-Mexico relationship have been used by Trump as a pinata that he constantly whacks to woo his faithful. Last week, I had a chance to discuss all this with Mexicos elegant foreign minister, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, who was in Philly for the exhibit opening and who has made 30 trips this year to the United States. She hopes to set the record straight. We see the need to inform the American people better about the strategic value and many benefits of our relationship, she told me. The best way to meet prejudices is to talk objectively about the contributions of our community to the United States. Of Trumps broad-brush portrayal of migrants as criminals, she says, The picture Trump has presented is misinformed and prejudiced. It ignores the fact that most illegal immigrants work, and a large percentage pay taxes (and it also insults the many successful Mexican-American businessmen and professionals). Moreover, Trump never tells you that Mexico has a negative rate of migrant inflow into the United States. As documented by the Pew Research Center, since 2009 more Mexicans have returned to Mexico than have migrated here (most undocumented immigrants now crossing the border come from Central or South America or the Caribbean). One reason for the falling numbers is that border security and deportations have increased in recent years. However, Massieu is quick to say that the problem of undocumented immigrants needs addressing by both countries. We have to work together to meet the challenge of migration flows, says Massieu. We also need to work on root causes of migration in countries of origin. Trumps talk of lining the border with a concrete wall debunked by most experts as geographically impossible and prohibitively costly doesnt fly with Mexico. Will Mexico pay for the wall, as Trump insists? We wouldnt even consider it, Massieu swiftly responds. This is an absurd proposition. Why then did Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto invite Trump to visit and never publicly repudiate the Wall proposal in his presence? Massieus explanation: Our government believes in dialogue, particularly when there is a candidate who has a glaring lack of knowledge of what our country contributes to U.S. growth. Which brings us to the subject of NAFTA, a trade accord with Mexico and Canada that was passed on President Bill Clintons watch. Trump calls it one of the worst deals ever and says hed renegotiate or junk it because it has sucked out American jobs. He pledges to bring our jobs back. What Trump doesnt say is that many of those manufacturing jobs so prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s have been overtaken by automation and are never coming back. Moreover, Mexico, the United States, and Canada are now tied into a single integrated economy that would be extremely difficult to tear apart. For every dollar spent on Mexican exports, 40 percent is U.S. content, Massieu says. In other words, the less complex parts of an American car may be made in Mexico, the more complex parts in the U.S., and the car assembled there or here. Technically it is possible (to disrupt that chain), but in reality it is not possible to undo the commercial chains and production ties we have, says Massieu, especially because those chains extend beyond governments and link industries in many states directly to Mexico. If Trump tore up NAFTA and imposed tariffs on Mexico, it would destroy many jobs north of the border without the certainty of creating new ones. American consumers would have to pay far more for their goods. None of this is to say that there are not problems with immigration or some provisions of trade deals. Pressed from the left by Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton has echoed Trump in rejecting the trade deal that was supposed to supersede NAFTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Mexico is waiting uncertainly to see what she would do, if elected, on trade. But there is no question whom the Mexicans would prefer to win the U.S. election. Candidate Trump doesnt have the knowledge of our bilateral relationship that Mrs. Clinton has, says Massieu. She knows the strategic value of our relationship. We will work with whatever government, no matter who wins, the minister adds. But the U.S.-Mexican relationship would no doubt turn frosty under a President Trump. A couple of hundred protesters again faced off with riot-gear-clad law enforcement officers on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation along the Missouri River south of Bismarck. But this time, the use of pepper spray and military-style Humvees was averted when elders of the Standing Rock tribe brokered a truce on a bridge littered with burnt-out vehicles and police barricades. A national political group with a pro-renewable energy bent is pouring $50,000 into an ad campaign to unseat incumbent Fred Ulrich from the Omaha Public Power District board of directors. The campaign of radio and digital ads supporting OPPD Subdivision 4 challenger Rick Yoder began airing Wednesday afternoon, less than two weeks before the Nov. 8 election. American Wind Action, based in Washington, D.C., is behind the ads that tout Yoders experience to put Nebraskas wind potential to work for us. Yoder, a sustainability consultant, has supported expanding wind power within the district since he began campaigning during the primary. But Ulrich said OPPD already supports a robust renewable energy portfolio. The 30-year incumbent said he was surprised by the significant outside advertising. The subdivision includes portions of Sarpy County along with Cass, Otoe, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee and Richardson Counties. Its particularly unsettling that theyd try to buy that seat, since thats basically what theyre saying, Ulrich said of the wind power group. I dont know how that will go down over here. People are pretty stubborn, and Im not sure theyd like being bought and sold. Yoder acknowledged that the late support from an outside organization could create perception issues among voters, especially because his campaign has been mostly self-funded to this point. But he said he has no quid pro quo arrangement to push a particular agenda if elected. Even though many of the people I have talked to are still a little skeptical about wind, it just makes sense, Yoder said. It brings in jobs, and it has the potential to reduce local property taxes. Plus, Yoder said, were incredibly rich with our own natural resource (in Nebraska) that we dont utilize as fully as all of the surrounding states. Ulrich said candidates in OPPD races typically spend between $20,000 and $25,000, but because his subdivision is primarily rural, raising even that kind of money can be a challenge. Through Oct. 4, Ulrichs campaign for the general election had spent $8,110, while Yoder had spent $6,815, according to filings with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. By comparison, candidates Craig Moody and Tom Mulligan, who are seeking to represent portions of west and central Omaha, had spent $34,419 and $33,435 over the same period, respectively. American Wind Action launched in June and has supported down-ballot wind proponents in states including Colorado and Iowa. The group in July announced it would support U.S. Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, who represents southwest Iowas 3rd District, with $200,000 worth of radio and digital ads. The group plans to increase the advocacy capacity and political strength of wind energy advocates in 2016 and beyond, according to a press release announcing its support for Yoder. He understands that renewable energy, specifically wind power, will help lower energy costs for Nebraskans and boost the local economy now and for generations to come, said Sam Enfield and Jeff Clark, two of three board members for American Wind Action, in a joint statement. Enfield is founder of a company that helps wind developers find financing for projects. Clark is executive director of The Wind Coalition, a renewable energy advocacy group comprising large energy corporations. A third board member, Jim Reilly, is senior vice president for legislative and political affairs for the American Wind Energy Association. Analysis: Could the UP Yadav syndrome afflict Tamil Nadus DMK? India oi-Oneindia By R. Mani The bitter Yadav family feud that's roiling the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh has, unsurprisingly, turned people's attention to the state of affairs in another family-based party down South, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), especially since that party is also ripe for a transition from a father to a son at the helm. The last few days have thoroughly exposed the bitter animosities that exist within the SP's first family. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has openly challenged the authority of his father and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. Akhilesh is involved in a running feud with his uncle, and Mulayam's younger brother, Shivpal Yadav. He dismissed Shivpal from his Cabinet, and the latter retaliated by suspending Akhilesh's man Ram Gopal Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP and a cousin of Mulayam, from the primary membership of the party. At what was to be a reconciliatory meeting of the SP's top level on October 24, both sides instead vented anger openly and all the dirty linen was washed in public, on national television. [Also Read: SP Pari'war': Who is standing by whom in the Yadav clan?] After witnessing the UP drama, political observers in Tamil Nadu have begun to ask, could this happen between Karunanidhi and his son and successor M.K. Stalin, too, at some point of time? If a leader like Akhilesh, who is in his forties, can indulge in rebellion, what is to stop Stalin, who is in his late sixties but is yet to get the reins of the party in his hand, from getting impatient sooner or later, and start rebelling against the 92-year-old Karunanidhi. After all, Akhilesh has been in politics for only a few years, Stalin has been waiting in the wings for over four decades. But, of course, this comparison is not an easy one to comprehend because there are some basic differences between the two. For one the DMK president M Karunanidhi is not Mulayam Singh Yadav - Mulayam began to pave way for his son five years ago at 72; Karunanidhi is now 92, agile of mind, and not yet ready to hand over the reins. Akhilesh Yadav is a sitting chief minister whereas Stalin is just the DMK's treasurer and the leader of opposition in the state assembly. This makes a huge difference, because Akhilesh has the entire state machinery at his command to carry out his orders, whereas for Stalin, power comes from the barrel of his loyal guns. Akhilesh can use state power and resources to target his opponents, that option is not available to Stalin. [Also Read: We are one, says Mulayam, claims truce in Samajwadi party] Moreover, in the SP, there are now two power centres, but in the DMK, there have for long been four or five - Karunanidhi himself, Stalin, the patriarch's daughters Kanimozhi and Selvi and the powerful Marans. Karunanidhi's estranged son M.K. Alagiri is also waiting for an opportune time to strike. Above all, Mulayam, unlike Karunanidhi, is not instigating his family members against his own son, Akhilesh. Yet, there are things to be said for Stalin's ability to do an Akhilesh, too, with levers that the latter does not have access to. For one, unlike Akhilesh, Stalin has control of the entire power structure of the DMK. The key nodes of this structure are the DMK Trust, the Murasoli Trust, party headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam' and Kalaignar TV. The DMK Trust owns properties worth over Rs. 6,000 crore in Tamil Nadu and the Murasoli Trust owns properties worth several hundred crores at least. In fact, those who control these two trusts alone can control the DMK and that's why the post of party treasurer is crucial in the DMK's affairs. Today, Stalin loyalists are completely in charge of these two trusts. Likewise over 90 percent of those who staff Anna Arivalayam and Kalaignar TV are his men. The key question that arises from this is, of course, with his key men manning all important positions, why is Stalin still not able to take full control of the party, that too from a 92-year-old man? It's not resistance from the party rank and file that's preventing Stalin from doing so but solid opposition from within his family that has tied his hands. Long-time DMK observers easily understand why it is difficult to topple Karunanidhi. Despite his shortcomings, Karunanidhi is a force to reckon with in Indian politics. After all, don't forget, the DMK is the only political party in all of India that has been a constituent of three different political formations that have ruled India since 1996 - first the short-lived Third Front governments of Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral from 1996 to 1998, then the Vajpayee-led NDA government from 1999 to 2003, and lastly the Manmohan Singh-led UPA 1 and 2 until 2013. It's not an easy task for any party and its leader to be able to straddle the extremes of the Indian political spectrum, and speaks of the chameleonic ability and Machiavellian character of Karunanidhi, a streak that remains strong even at 92. So, will Stalin just have to wait for his turn, or will he lose patience, sooner or later, and stage a putsch? We can only wait and watch. (R. Mani is a veteran journalist and commentator on Tamil Nadu politics) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 27, 2016, 11:14 [IST] Are these parties part of Samajwadi Party's Grand Alliance? India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Oct 27: On Wednesday, Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav hinted that a grand alliance is on the cards to take on the BJP in the forthcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. Although there was speculation that the Congress is likely to be a part of the grand alliance, the party denied it. The Nov 5 event of the Samajwadi Party being held to celebrate its silver jubilee would give a clear picture as to who would be part of the alliance. For this grand event, the Congress has not yet been given an invitation. In fact UP Congress President, Raj Babbar himself made it clear that he had received no such event. Who will be part of the grand alliance: Sources say that the invitations have gone out to leaders from four parties. They are Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav of the JD(U), Laloo Prasad Yadav of the RJD, Ajit Singh and Jayant Choudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal and H D Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (Secular). Observers in Uttar Pradesh say that this invitation could be an indication as to who would be part of the grand alliance. It is an idea that was originally floated by Mulayam Singh Yadav and the charge of making it a reality has been given to his brother Shivpal. Shivpal, in fact, said that Netaji (Mulayam) had authorised him to meet with several leaders and bring secular parties under one roof. He, however, said that this was being done to prevent communal forces from coming to power. If the grand alliance does become a reality and manages to succeed, then it would be Shivpal who would walk away with the credit. Even the last time, it was Shivpal who brought together a grand alliance after the BJP won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. That alliance comprised the SP, RJD, INLD, Samajwadi Janata Party (C), JD(S) and the JD(U). The alliance, however, did not work and after conducting a few demonstrations against Narendra Modi in Delhi, it fell apart. The SP hopes that this time the alliance would stand together as there is an election to fight. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 27, 2016, 15:14 [IST] India always views war as last resort, but... : PM Modi to armed forces in Kargil Armed forces fume despite Ministry's clarification over parity India oi-PTI New Delhi, Oct 27: The armed forces continue to be upset with the government over a Defence Ministry circular regarding rank parity vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts at the Service headquarters even though the Ministry issued a statement today, saying no downgradation had been done. Two days after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar promised to look into the concerns of the military personnel, the Ministry issued a statement saying there has been no downgradation or any change in the existing equivalence of the Service ranks whatsoever. "The existing functional equivalence as clarified in 1991 and further reiterated in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2005 has only been re-affirmed," the statement said. It, however, failed to placate the armed forces, including some retired officers. "PM exhorts nation to send Diwali 'sandesh' to soldiers. B'crats reduce disability pension n lower status vis-a-vis civilians. Happy Diwali!," Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd) tweeted, a view echoed by serving officers in the three Services. As per the circular issued on October 18, an army Major General (rear admiral in the navy and vice-marshal in the air force) was to be on par with a principal director in the Armed Force Headquarters (AFHQ) Civil Service. A Brigadier/Commodore/Air Commodore (with about 24 years of service) was to be equivalent in rank to a director (with about 14 years of service), and a Colonel/Captain/Group Captain to a joint director in the civil service, sources in the armed forces said. So far, a colonel was equated with a director. A Brigadier did not have a clearly defined equivalence in the civilian hierarchy. However, they were treated at par with a deputy director-general. A major general was treated as the equivalent of a joint secretary. In the letter of 1992, it was clearly mentioned that a Major General was equivalent to a Joint Secretary and equivalent ranked civil officers in the Service Headquarters. Defence Ministry sources said that a Joint Secretary is equal to a Principal Director in the Services Headquarters in terms of pay band. However, sources in the Services say that the Ministry should put it in writing that a Joint Secretary is equivalent to a Principal Director. PTI Bihar: When asked to take off hijab to check for bluetooth device, Muslim student leaves exam centre Bihar: 15 convicted, 23 others acquitted in Senari massacre case India oi-PTI Jehanabad, Oct 27: A Bihar court today convicted 15 persons and acquitted 23 others for lack of evidence in the sensational massacre of 34 people of a particular caste by the outlawed Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) ultras 17 years ago. Additional District Judge (ADJ)-III Ranjit Kumar Singh passed the order convicting the 15 persons under relevant sections of the law and acquitted 23 others for want of evidence against them in the Senari massacre case. The judge will pronounce the quantum of punishment against the convicts on November 15. According to the prosecution, the MCC ultras had on March 18, 1999 killed 34 persons of a particular caste by slitting their throats with sharp objects after forcing them to gather near Thakurbari in Senari village under Karpi police station area which was then part of Jehanabad district, now under the jurisdiction of Arwal district. Seven other persons had sustained injuries in the incident. A woman Chintamani Devi, whose husband and son were among those masscred by the MCC ultras, was an informer in the Senari massacre case, the prosecution had said. The police had subsequently lodged an FIR against one Vyas Yadav alias Naresh Yadav and 500 unidentified persons. The charge sheet was filed against 74 accused persons in 2002 and the trial was held against 56 persons as 18 others were absconding. Charges were later framed against 45 accused persons, two of whom died during pendency of the case, while five others went missing. PTI Cyrus Mistry's explosive letter to Tatas: 'I cannot believe I was removed for non-performance' India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Cyrus Mistry, who was ousted on Monday as Tata Sons chairman at a board meeting of the entity that lords over the sprawling Tata empire, has struck back at the board and specifically Ratan Tata, making it clear that he holds the latter responsible both for his downfall and for the conglomerate's troubles. To: Directors of Tata Sons Ltd. CONFIDENTIAL I was shocked beyond words at the happenings at the board meeting of October 24, 2016. Apart from the invalidity and illegality of the business that was conducted, I have to say that the board of directors has not covered itself with glory. To "replace" your chairman without so much as a word of explanation and without affording him an opportunity of defending himself in a summary manner must be unique in the annals of corporate history. The suddenness of the action, and the lack of explanation has led to all manner of speculation and has done my reputation and the reputation of the Tata Group immeasurable harm. At the outset, I have to say that I have great respect for the Tata Group and the thousands of employees who are working hard despite the challenges. I am writing this letter to the board to emphasise the total lack of corporate governance and to point out the failure on the part of the directors to discharge the fiduciary duty owed to stakeholders of Tata Sons and of the group of companies. Also read: Cyrus Mistry's bombshell revelations: Rs 22 cr fraud transactions in Tata group's aviation JV All of this does not augur well for the future of the group. All that is said here is well known to many among you, but I would like to put in one place my journey as chairman of Tata Sons. It is important to emphasise the enormity of what has transpired in the group and what corrective action is to be taken. Each of you is already in receipt of and familiar with the Strategy 2025 document that I presented to you, and in which I had articulated our growth strategy for the future. In 2011, after some exploration by a search committee, I was approached by both Ratan Tata and Lord Bhattacharyya individually to be a candidate for the position. I politely declined. I had myself built a business which I would continue to run. However, as the search process progressed and the committee was unable to find a suitable candidate, I was asked to reconsider. After consulting my family and in the broader interests of the Tata Group, I took courage to overcome my initial reluctance and agreed to consider the position. Prior to my appointment, I was assured that I would be given a free hand. The previous chairman was to step back and be available for advice and guidance as and when needed. After my appointment, the Articles of Association were modified, changing the rules of engagement between the Trusts, the board of Tata Sons, the chairman, and the operating companies. Inappropriate interpretation indeed followed, and as elaborated below, it severely constrained the ability of the group to engineer the necessary turnaround. I am not sure if the individual board members and the trustees truly appreciated the extent of the problems I had inherited. I cannot blame them, for I myself, as a nonexecutive director, did not have a clear grasp of the gravity of the issues involved. Without meaning to air a laundry list, let me outline some of the major challenges faced at the time of my entry . As is public knowledge, the foreign acquisition strategy , with the exceptions of JLR and Tetley, had left a large debt overhang.The European steel business faced potential impairments in the excess of $10 billion, only some of which has been taken as of date. Many foreign properties of IHCL and holdings in Orient Hotels have been sold at a loss.The onerous terms of the lease for Pierre in New York are such that it would make it a challenge to exit. Tata Chemicals still needs tough decisions about its UK and Kenya operations. IHCL, beyond flawed international strategy, had acquired the Searock property at a highly inflated price and housed in an off balance sheet structure. In the process of unravelling this legacy , IHCL has had to write down nearly its entire networth over the past three years. This impairs its ability to pay dividends. Tata Capital had a book that required significant clean up on account of bad loans to the infrastructure sector. The loan to Siva was under the strong advice of Executive Trustee Venkatraman (sic) which had since turned into a non-performing asset. All of this resulted in Tata Capital to recognise an abnormal rise of NPAs. Of all the companies in the portfolio, the telecom business has been continuously haemorrhaging. If we were to exit this business via fire sale or shut down, the cost would be $4-5 billion. This is in addition to any payout to DoCoMo of at least a billion-plus dollars. The original structure of the DoCoMo transaction raises several questions about its appropriateness from a commercial or prudential perspective within the then prevailing Indian legal framework. In light of all this, our strategy over the past three years has been to increase the EBITDA from Rs 400 crore to Rs 2,500 crore, in the hope of being a potential player in consolidation of the industry . Tata Power aggressively bid for the Mundra project based on low-priced Indonesian coal. As regulations changed, the losses in 2013-14 alone amounted to Rs 1,500 crore. Given that Mundra constitutes Rs 18,000 crore of capital employed (40% of the overall company's capital employed), this substantially depresses the return on capital for Tata Power as well as carries the risk of considerable future impairment. An even more challenging situation arose in Tata Motors, both on the commercial and passenger vehicles. Before 2013, in order to shore up sales and market share, Tata Motors Finance extended credit with lax risk assessment. As a result, the NPAs mounted to being in excess of Rs 4,000 crore. Historically, the company had employed aggressive accounting to capitalize substantial proportion of the product development expenses, creating a future liability. Beyond this, the Nano product development concept called for a car below Rs one lakh, but the costs were always above this. This product has consistently lost money, peaking at Rs 1,000 crore. As there is no line of sight to profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company requires to shut it down. Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision. Another challenge in shutting down Nano is that it would stop the supply of the Nano gliders to an entity that makes electric cars and in which Mr Tata has a stake. Also read: Financial statements true and fair view: Tata Steel On the performance of the portfolio, as you are aware from my presentations to you in the recent past, if we look at the aggregate data between 2011 and 2015 and limit the analysis largely to the legacy hotspots (IHCL, Tata Motors PV , Tata Steel Europe, Tata Power Mundra, and Teleservices), it will show that the capital employed in those companies has risen from Rs 132,000 crore to Rs 196,000 crore (due to operational losses, interest and capex).This figure is close to the networth of the group which is at Rs 174,000 crore. A realistic assessment of the fair value of these businesses could potentially result in a write down over time of about Rs 118,000 crore. In the face of the above challenges, I had to take many tough decisions with sensitive care to the group's reputation as well as containing panic amidst internal and external stakeholders. Despite bad press, impairments were taken to clean the books but substantial exposure remains. Dividends were reduced, e.g. Tata Motors and IHCL, to conserve cash needed for investments in the teeth of shareholder fury. Apart from hotels, the group made several exits in the fertilizer business, UK steel operations, and of course in small companies such as the logistics company , DIESL. I had to ease out hangerson who are prone to flaunt their proximity to power. On the more positive side, Kalinganagar, the largest domestic capital investment of the group was completed overcoming significant obstacles that had left the project in doubt previously . Early in my tenure, our foray into the aviation sector began when Mr Tata ushered me into his office and handed me a report on AirAsia by Bain & Co. He had concluded negotiations to partner with AirAsia and wanted the proposal tabled at the forthcoming Tata Sons board meeting. My pushback was hard but futile. However, I was able to extract a promise of no debt to be raised at the level of the JV as well as limiting Tata Sons investment to 30% of the $30 million equity. A few months later, I was surprised to be confronted with a similar situation requiring me to execute a fait accompli JV with Singapore Airlines. Without the benefit of time and experience to fully evaluate the proposal, I had to accept that Tata Sons would take a 51% stake in a $100 million joint venture. The passion for the airlines sector has led Mr Tata to continue his involvement with the strategy of the two airlines. It is on his advice that the Tata Sons board has increased the capital infusion in the sector at multiple levels of the initial commitment. Board members and trustees are also aware that in the case of AirAsia, ethical concerns have been raised with respect to certain transactions as well as the overall prevailing culture within the organization. A recent forensic investigation revealed fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore involving non-existent parties in India and Singapore. Executive Trustee, Mr Venkatraman (sic), who is on the board of Air Asia and also a shareholder in the company , considered these transactions as non-material and did not encourage further study. It was only at the insistence of the independ ent directors, one of whom immediately submitted his resignation, that the board decided to belatedly file a first information report. Despite all of the above, during my term, the operating cash flows of the group have grown at 31% compounded per annum. The Tata Group valuation from 2013 to 2016 increased by 14.9% per annum in rupee terms as against the BSE Sensex annual increase of 10.4% over the same period. That Tata Sons networth has increased from approximately Rs 26,000 crore to Rs 42,000 crore, after considering the impairments. This has significantly strengthened our balance sheet, enhancing our ability to absorb further shocks from restructuring in the companies. To come back to the amendments in the Articles of Association, as feared, the inappropriate implementation created a flux in the decision-making process. I have often presented to the trustees, before and after Tata Sons board meetings. This created alternative power centres without any accountability or formal responsibility, invalidating the very governance role of the Tata Sons board and the chairman, resulting in dysfunctional governance. The trust nominated directors, who I would assume would use their own independent judgment and discharge their fiduciary duties, were reduced to mere postmen. As an example, once, the trust directors (Nitin Nohria and Vijay Singh) had to leave a Tata Sons board meeting in progress for almost an hour, keeping the rest of the board waiting, in order to obtain instructions from Mr Tata. Such a work pattern has also created the added risk of contravening insider trading regulations and exposed the Trust, apart from exposing the trustees to potential tax liabilities. These circumstances forced me to circulate a note on corporate governance in order to clarify the distinct roles of Tata Trusts, Tata Sons board, and the boards of the operating companies. I cannot believe that I was removed on grounds of non-performance. As you are aware, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee comprising Vijay Singh, Farida Khambata and Ronen Sen, independent directors (two of whom have voted for my removal now), had only recently lauded and commended my performance. In keeping with Tata Group values, to engage employees and have a favourable impact on the communities we operate in, we launched a volunteering programme, challenging group employees to volunteer a million hours in 2015 and the result was volunteering of 1.2 million hours, making it one of the top ten global volunteering programmes. I hope you do realize the predicament that I found myself in. Being pushed into the position of a "lame duck" chairman, my desire was to create an institutional framework for effective future governance of the group. I believe I had to be true to myself and the best interests of the organization. While I would be lying if I said I am not disappointed, I have a sense of pride and dignity intact in the efforts I have taken to professionalise and institutionalise, regardless of the outcome of effect, I now witness. Since the developments at the board meeting were purported to have been initiated at the instance of the Trusts, I am copying the Trustees. Sincerely, Cyrus (Cyrus P Mistry) C.C. Trustees of Tata Trusts From Jaish terrorists to Pak mission officers, how do they get Aadhar cards? India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Oct 27: When Mehmood Akthar the officer in the visa department at the Pakistan High Commission was confronted by the Delhi police, he was quick to display an Aadhar card. He also claimed that he was a citizen of India. This is the second time that such an incident has occurred in which a Pakistani national has displayed an Aadhar card to the police to prove that he is an Indian national. In Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, Abdul Rehman a resident of Pakistan occupied Kashmir was arrested. He had infiltrated from PoK and was carrying out recruitments in Kashmir. An operative of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, he at the time of his arrest displayed an Aadhar card. It was further learnt that five more cadres of the Jaish were provided with Aadhar cards when they landed in Kashmir. Fake or genuine: The big worry for the Intelligence Bureau officials and other security personnel was whether these were genuine or fake cards. Investigations have found that these cards were fake. They have been printed in fake names and handed over to the Pakistanis who come to India on a mission. When Rehman was arrested, the army had said that a specific probe would be initiated where the Aadhar cards were concerned. The army had said it would be a great matter of concern if the card turned out to be genuine. If it is fake then it would not be a matter of great concern, the army also explained. The probe that was conducted established that these were fake cards. Even in the Delhi case that broke out today, it is more or less established that the card possessed by Akthar was fake. Akthar had not used the card. In fact he had only displayed it at the time he was confronted by the Delhi police. Intelligence Bureau officials explain that when the Aadhar was first launched there were several cases where touts would take Rs 100 and get a card issued. There was a rush to push as many cards as possible to make the government initiative a success and in the bargain the security checks or verification hardly took place. However today the scenario is better, the officer explained. The officer further explains that terrorists are provided with Aadhar cards, but they never use it extensively. It acts as a shield at check points and at times they get an easy passage by displaying the cards. Not in every place are the finger prints verified to check whether the card and the address on it are genuine or not, the officer explains. With so many cases coming to the forefront, there are directives issued to security personnel to do a more through check when people especially in the border areas display an Aadhar card. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 27, 2016, 18:20 [IST] Global TB Report 2016: What it means for India India oi-Oneindia By Sachi Satapathy World Health Organisation's (WHO) flagship Global TB Report 2016, released on Oct 12 considers India as the most vulnerable country to this infectious disease. The report comes up with a revised estimate of the new TB cases in India to 2.8 million in 2015 as compared to 2.2 million in 2014. The severity of the challenge can also be found with a whopping 480,000 people losing their lives to this disease in the country, which is about a quarter to the total of 1.8 million deaths globally. The new report is a wake-up call for India to break the status-quo in how TB and its drug-resistant forms are being diagnosed and treated. India is also among other five countries (Indonesia, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa) accounted for 60% of total new TB cases. The most worrying fact that comes up as a threat to tackle this challenge is the low rate of decline in TB incidence, which has remained static at 1.5 per cent from 2014 to 2015. This low decline rate needs to be scaled up to the level of 4% to 5% annually by 2020 to reach the first milestone to end the TB strategy. The new report comes out very strongly revealing the gaps in testing for TB and reporting new cases as there are 6.1 million of the estimated 10.4 million new cases detected and officially notified, leaving a huge gap of 4.3 million. This problem is surfacing because of under-reporting of TB cases, particularly in a country like India, where there are quite a high number of unregulated private sectors, who are mostly not reporting TB cases and large instances of under diagnosis because of inaccessible care. 480,000 people diagnosed with MDR TB in 2015 with India, China and Russia, accounted for more than 50% of such cases globally. Unfortunately, one out of five people have only got the access to second line treatment and overall global cure rates of MDR-TB continue to remain low at about 52%. Ten countries account for 77% of the total estimated gaps between incidence and notifications, with India, Indonesia and Nigeria alone accounting for over 60% of the gaps between enrolment on MDR TB treatment in 2015 and the estimated number of incident MDR/RR TB cases in 2015. Globally, 7234 patients with XDR-TB were enrolled for the treatment (more than twice the level in 2014). Most of these cases in 2015 were notified by India (2130), Ukraine (1206), Russian Federation (1205) and South Africa (719). Treatment success rate of MDR TB cases was more than 50% in countries with the largest cohorts; India, Philippines, Russian Federation, South Africa and Ukraine. This is primarily due to high death rate in India, South Africa and Ukraine, high treatment failure rates in the Russian Federation and Ukraine and high rate of loss of follow up or missing data in India, Philippines and South Africa. Among six countries with XDR- TB cohorts of more than 100 individuals, mortality was highest (less than 40%) in India and South Africa. The WHO official note also brought out a new way of advocacy effort with government. According to the new observation, Minister of Health is not the right person to speak in the government, rather all efforts should be directed to the Finance Minister and Prime Minister in high TB burden countries like India. The report comes as an early warning for India to tackle this epidemic. India has to show its strong political commitment and allocate more funding to check this disease. The country can no longer afford to allow the poor dying of TB and remain silent leaving many undiagnosed and untreated and create the cycle of TB transmission and death. This has to stop. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 27, 2016, 12:25 [IST] Guj Assembly polls to be held in December 2017, CM indicates India oi-PTI Ahmedabad, Oct 27: Amid speculation about early Assembly polls in Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today indicated that the polls would be held only in December 2017, as per schedule. "This is the first Diwali of this new government. As the Assembly polls are in December next year, this government will also celebrate the second Diwali in 2017," Rupani said, speaking to reporters in Valsad when asked if his government would celebrate next year's Diwali too. Rupani took charge as Gujarat Chief Minister in August this year after Anandiben Patel stepped down. Since this sudden change of guard, Gujarat Congress leaders have been claiming that early Assembly elections are possible. State Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki recently asked the party workers to gear up for early polls. "BJP will face severe defeat in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab where polls will be held in the mid-2017. BJP may not want to cloud their prospects in Gujarat with those defeats. So it is highly possible that polls in Gujarat would take place simultaneously with Punjab and UP," Solanki had said. PTI Security forces get go ahead to shoot down drones on International Border Intruder killed by BSF troops along International Border in Jammu Heavy shelling continues in RS Pura, Jammu India oi-IANS By Ians English Jammu, Oct 27: Heavy shelling continued between Indian and Pakistani troops on Thursday in Jammu district's RS Pura sector of the International Border (IB). The shelling along with firing exchanges started late Wednesday night, police said. "After Pakistan Rangers used 82 mm mortar shells to target civil and Border Security Force (BSF) facilities in R.S.Pura, the BSF retaliated effectively using same calibre weapons," police sources said. "Shelling and firing exchanges took place in Korotana Kurd, Bidipur, Jattan, Abdullian, Chandu Chak, Shamka and Hansu Chak areas." Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector this morning, six civilians injured in mortar shelling. pic.twitter.com/lts1ibOoIr ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 Loud explosions could still be heard in these areas. No reports of human casualty or damage to property have so far been reported, the sources added. But six people were injured during the same. IANS Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary How spy rings operate out of Pakistan missions in India and Sri Lanka India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Oct 27: First a consular officer in the Pakistan mission in Sri Lanka and now a staffer at the Visa department in Delhi. The detention and subsequent release of Mehmood Akthar, an officer in the visa department of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi has once again raised doubts about the country's intentions towards India. Towards the end of 2014, Indian Intelligence officials had successfully managed to bust a module and spy ring operating within the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka. The job of creating a spy ring and then launching a 26/11 styled attack in Chennai was handed over to the consular officer in Sri Lanka, Amir Zubair Siddiqui. Spies in the Pakistan high commission: Intelligence Bureau officials explain that the ISI picks people out of their agency and sends them to the high commissions. The job assigned to them is to build up a network of spies and gather as much sensitive information as possible. If one were to look at the Sri Lanka case, then it went beyond spying. In the Sri Lanka case, it was found that the consular officer, Siddiqui had not only built up a network of spies to gather information on India, but also set up a full fledged module. It was also found that he had hired several Sri Lankan Muslims to carry out reconnaissance in South India. How the spy ring in the Pakistan Mission was busted? The tip off about a major attack being planned in Chennai came following the arrest of two persons in Chennai by the National Investigation. One of the persons arrested who operated under the name Arun spilled the beans about the entire modus operandi. He revealed that it was Siddiqui in the high commission who had ordered this operation. Further probing also revealed that Siddiqui's job was to set up a full fledged module in South India apart. It was also learnt that he had brought in a charity outfit to open shop in Sri Lanka so that a base for the Lashkar-e-Tayiba could be built. India had sought action against Siddiqui and had even moved to question him. However Pakistan immediately took him out of the mission and packed him off home. If one were to go deep into today's Delhi case, it becomes clear that this was an operation being planned since early 2015. Akthar, a hawaldar in the Baloch regiment was sent to India and directed to work in the Visa section in the Pakistan High Commission. He had over a period of time built up a network of spies comprising Indians and gathered sensitive information on the defence from them. In 2015 the arrest of five persons including a non-commissioned officer in the Air Force revealed that a module was being operated from New Delhi. The detention of Akthar and his subsequent release led to the arrest of two spies from Rajasthan. Another person reporting to Akthar identified of Shoaib too will be arrested soon, the Delhi police say. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 27, 2016, 15:09 [IST] Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary How the spy ring in the Pakistan Mission was busted? India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Bengaluru, Oct 27: In the month of August 2015, the Intelligence Bureau picked up crucial intercepts which suggested that there were some men within the Pakistan mission who were running a spy ring. At that time, the police had arrested five people including a non-commissioned officer of the Air Force. This case of 2015 was just a tip of the iceberg and since then the IB has kept a very close watch on the activities of each one in the Pakistan mission. On Thursday, Mehmood Akthar, a staffer in the Pakistan High Commission was detained and later released due to diplomatic immunity. Following his questioning, two others-Subhash Jahangir and Maulana Ramzan were arrested from Rajasthan on the allegation that they had passed on crucial information on defence strategy to Akthar. Akthar was planted into the Pakistan mission in New Delhi by the ISI. He was a hawaldar in the Baloch regiment of the Pakistan army. He was roped in by the ISI and sent to India. At the time of his detention, he was working in the visa department of the Pakistan mission. The Intelligence Bureau kept a close watch on Akthar. Following the Uri attack and the surgical strikes that took place on September 29, there was hectic activity along the border. Also read: Pak high commission staffer detained for espionage, released It became clear that for the last 15 days Akthar was in touch with a group of people who were closely associated with the 2015 module. He was regularly seeking out information from people living along the border areas. Most of his information came from his men in Rajasthan. Two arrested by Delhi Police crime branch on spying charges. pic.twitter.com/MyYSZb0cqh ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 On being questioned, Akthar immediately told the Delhi Police that he was an Indian citizen. He also showed the Delhi police a fake Aadhar card. However, on further questioning he admitted to them about his activities. Akhtar will be deported to Pakistan after he was declared persona non grata ( an unwelcome or unacceptable person) by the Indian Ministry for External Affairs. OneIndia News Ratan Tata's special welcome message for passengers aboard Air India: Listen to what he said What kind of a petition is this? Delhi HC on PIL seeking Bharat Ratna for Ratan Tata Watch: Greatest pleasure is trying to do what everybody says 'can't be done', says Ratan Tata In defence of Cyrus Mistry, friend, politician Supriya Sule says hes hardworking, focussed India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Mumbai, Oct 27: The former chairperson of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry, is known as a reticent man in the corporate world. Mistry, who was recently sacked from his job by the board of the country's largest conglomerate, however, is not without friends. In fact, Maharashtra Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, who is also Mistry's friend, defended the executive and called the entire episode "unfortunate" in a television interview on Wednesday. Speaking to the NDTV, Sule, who is also the daughter of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, said Mistry was a hardworking and focussed man. Sule termed the entire episode "unfortunate". "Mistry surrendered his entire family time and family business after being named chairman of the Tata Sons and it is wrong to suggest that he performed poorly," Sule added. [Read: Cyrus Mistry ouster: Ratan Tata writes to PM Narendra Modi] Earlier, the interim chairman of Tata Sons and predecessor of Mistry, Ratan Tata, informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday about the change in the top management of Tata Group. Moreover, with Sule throwing her weight behind Mistry, the whole massive corporate controversy is definitely taking a political turn. OneIndia News Lack of development in J&K for decades was one of the reasons behind rise of terrorism: Rajnath Singh 40 down and counting: Forces on the verge of wiping out Pakistani terrorists in Valley J&K: Normalcy in sight as talks likely to be unconditional India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Oct 27: There appears to be a resolution in sight when the Kashmir issue is concerned. Highly placed sources say that the talks with all the stakeholders in the Valley is likely to be unconditional. All parties have indicated that they want an immediate resolution to the problem in Jammu and Kashmir. The Valley has been on the boil since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. For the past one week there have been enough feelers being sent both by the government as well as the stakeholders in which a resolution to the crisis was sought. The immediate step would be to restore normalcy in the Valley. Normal life has to be restored, a senior official informed. He also said that the security forces want to deal entirely with the external threat and as long as the Valley is on the boil, that would not be possible. Also read: Kashmir unrest- Ice broken, is peace round the corner? Security forces cannot focus on both the domestic as well as the external threat, the officer also informed. "Hence restoration of normalcy in the Valley becomes extremely crucial," he also informed. Ice broken, is peace around the corner The ice was broken following a visit by a delegation led by former external affairs minister, Yashwant Sinha. The delegation called on the separatists of the Valley. Both parties indicated that the talks were cordial. The separatists had demanded for the historical perspective of the Kashmir issue which is pending for its final resolution since 1947. Further separatists also demanded that all those arrested must be released and also cases against them must be withdrawn. The police have so far arrested 6,000 people and booked 450 under the Public Safety Act. However, after the meeting the separatists isssued a fresh calendar of protests. As per the calendar, protests would be held between October 28 and November 3. However, this time around the separatists have not said in any of the events that prayers for Pakistan or pro-Pakistan slogans must be raised. Experts view this as a change of stand while also adding that this could possibly be the last calendar of protests that they would be issuing. OneIndia News Amit Malviya alleges criminal conspiracy by The Wire, says will lodge police complaint Delhi Police files FIR against The Wire on complaint by Amit Malviya Modi trying to run country on 'Manuwad': BJP ex-leader India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Oct 27: Jat leader and former Rajasthan minister Hari Singh on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to run the country on Manu's principles (an ancient Hindu legal code) instead of Gandhian principles. "The democratic values are being eroded under this government. Therefore, people are returning to the Congress," said Singh, who rejoined the Congress on Thursday along with another Jat leader Subhash Meheriya. He had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2013 after quitting the Congress in 2011 after differences with the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Meheriya, who served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, said joining the Congress was like a homecoming for him. A three-time Member of Parliament, Meheriya was denied a Lok Sabha ticket by the BJP in the 2014 general elections and subsequently expelled when he contested from Sikar in Rajasthan as an Independent. Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Sachin Pilot and Leader of Opposition in assembly Remeshwar Dudi were present on the occasion. IANS Why is 'Mr. Bean controversy trending on Twitter after Zimbabwe beat Pakistan? Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary Imran Khan again targets Pakistan's establishment on Day 2 of protest march; govt rules out talks over snap polls Amid turmoil at home, Pakistan PM Sharif to visit China to felicitate Xi for his record win News flash: Terrorists hurl grenade at a police post in Handwara India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Oct 27: Strong earthquake rattles central Italy and Rome, shaking centuries-old buildings in capital. In other news, Union Cabinet meeting scheduled to take place in the afternoon today. Get all the latest news updates of the day: 12:30 am: We are ready, dont want any casualties. This is heavy shelling, says official. 12:15 am: Pakistan shelling: People have left the village. Everyone is so scared 12:00: LoC shelling: HM Rajnath Singh speaks to BSF DG on heavy shelling in LoC area. 11:40 pm: Ceasefire violation underway in KG Sector. 11:25 pm: Heavy shelling in LoC area and some sectors around it. 11:00 pm: Tamil Nadu to implement food security scheme from November 1st 2016. 10:45 pm: Supplementary charge sheet filed in Louis Berger bribery case against ex-Goa CM Digambar Kamat. 10:35 pm: Pak Foreign Secy conveyed decision of Govt of Pak to declare Surjeet Singh (an official of the Indian High Commsn) as persona non grata. 10:30 pm: Pakistan expels Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh. 10:00 pm: US to shut down India call centers that cheated victims of hundreds of millions of dollars: AFP 9:45 pm: Pakistan MoFA summons Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale. 9:15 pm: U.S. charges 61 over India-based IRS impersonation scam: Reuters 9:00 pm: Terrorists hurl grenade at a police post in Handwara district of J&K. No casualties. 8:40 pm: 8:15 pm: India ready to welcome Pakistan at Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar. India yet to receive official confirmation from the country. 8:00 pm: Three days before Diwali, Delhi's air quality 'severe', city govt says critically polluted days ahead. 7:45 pm: NGO promoted by Zakir Naik to be banned under the anti-terror law soon,reports PTI citing official sources. 7:26 pm: Kutch (Gujarat): 17 army personnel injured in a bus accident; 3 critical. 7:10 pm: Mistry family said not currently planning to sell its stake in Tata. 6:54 pm: Four persons arrested in connection with RSS worker's death in Bengaluru. 6:50 pm: 10-15 kgs of explosives found in Palghar district of Maharashtra, Mumbai ATS conducting further probe. 6:45 pm: Chennai: Special prayers being offered for the speedy recovery of Tamil Nadu CM Jaylalithaa at Mariamman Temple. 6:32 pm: A government college in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh distributed bags to students which say 'SC/ ST scheme.' 6:23 pm: SheenaBora murder case: Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria & 2 others examined by CBI in connection with the case. 6:12 pm: Ceasefire violations by Pakistan using automatic weapons and mortars in Kathua sector of J&K, BSF strongly retaliating. 5:55 pm: Government draft Cabinet note to declare Zakir Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) as unlawful. 5:25 pm: One jawan lost his life, another injured after army foiled an infiltration bid in Tangdhar sector of J&K, encounter underway. 5:10 pm: Mumbai Police issues order prohibiting use of "Flying Lanterns" . Action under Sect 188 of IPC to be taken against violation of this order. 5:00 pm: Afghan spy agency confirms Al-Qaeda leaders killed in airstrikes: AFP. 4:50 pm: When Mehmood Akhtar was handed over to the Pak High Commissioner in the presence of MEA official, he himself said he was treated well: Vikas Swarup. 4:40 pm: If today Pak is feeling isolated, it's because of its misguided policies;Ppl of Pak should urge govt to adopt policies that favour peace:MEA. 4:30 pm: Pak High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, given 48 hours to leave India: MEA. 4:25 pm: These allegations (levelled by Cyrus Mistry) are not based on facts or the true state of affairs: Tata Sons statement 4:20 pm: Tata Sons releases statements says "There is a multitude of records to show that the allegations made by Cyrus Mistry are unwarranted" 4:14 pm: I may not be with CM Akhilesh (Yadav) but I will always be with Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh: Amar Singh. 4:05 pm: Fresh firing reported in Arnia & RS Pura Sectors. 4:00 pm: Two Indians arrested for aiding Pak staffer have been sent to 12 days of police custody 3:48 pm: I was not behind the newspaper report, which mentioned Aurangzeb and Shahjahan. I never used word Napunsank for Ramgopal Yadav: Amar Singh. 3:40 pm: Cabinet gives in-principle approval to Niti Aayog's proposal for PSU strategic sale. 3:30 pm: When Akhilesh Yadav replaced Shivpal Yadav as the UP Samajwadi Party President, even then I was blamed for it: Amar Singh 3:20 pm: I don't want any Ministerial positions, not interested in it. Will fulfil whatever responsibility Netaji gives: Shivpal Singh Yadav. 3:00 pm: CCEA clears Rs 500-cr Special Prime Minister Horticulture Package to Jammu and Kashmir. This will help apple growers in the J&K. 2:52 pm: Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval for setting up of Indian Institute of Science Education & Research at Berhampur (Odisha): Arun Jaitley 2:50 pm: Cabinet clears release of installment of Dearness Allowance to Cent Govt employees & Dearness Relief to Pensioners w.e.f 01.07.2016: Jaitley. 2:45 pm: Finance minister Arun Jaitley briefing the media after Cabinet meeting. 2.30 pm: PM Narendra Modi interacts with IAS officers of the 2014 batch during their Valedictory Session as Assistant Secretaries. Delhi: PM Narendra Modi interacts with IAS officers of the 2014 batch during their Valedictory Session as Assistant Secretaries. pic.twitter.com/Sr6Fl9KNwS ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 2:10 pm: Cabinet approves 2 per cent DA for central government employees. 1:46 pm: CPIM files intervention petition in SC over 'Hindutva'. 1:42 pm: NIA writes to external intelligence agencies seeking details of Lashkar poster put up in PoK claiming responsibility for UriAttack. 1:40 pm: Spy case: IB suspects some defence personnel deployed in sensitive area also part of this network. More arrests likely. 1:30 pm: There should be a thorough investigation: Former Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa on former CM Kalikho Pul's death case. 1:18 pm: Pak envoy Basit protested with FS Jaishankar at "detention & manhandling of Pakistan HC staffer yesterday in violation of 1961Vienna Convention". He asked Indian Government "to ensure that such harassment should not happen in future". 1:00 pm: FS summons Abdul Basit to convey that Pak High Commissioner staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities: MEA 12:52 pm: British PM Theresa May hails contribution of British-Indians in Diwali message. 12:44 pm: All 3 were involved in espionage for over one-and-half years; shared information with Pak intelligence agencies: Police. 12.34 pm: Defence deployment, BSF deployment maps, visa related documents recovered from both the spies (Ramzan and Subhash): Delhi Police. 12.12 pm: SC defers hearing of petition against Sonia Gandhi that she in her speech appealed to voters to vote in name of religion. 11.57 am: SC issues notice to UP Govt and stays UP court proceedings in the 2014 Arvind Kejriwal and Kumar Vishvaas hate speech case. 11.40 am: Two Rajasthanis arrested in Spy racket, they had passed sensitive info to Pak HC staffer. 11.32 am: Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit reaches MEA after being summoned by MEA over ceasefire violations. Delhi: Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit reaches MEA after being summoned by MEA over ceasefire violations. pic.twitter.com/1MS7tp5Qzi ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 11.22 am: Delhi HC dismisses TATA Group appeal for hotel Taj Mansingh. TATA will now have to take part in an auction, HC gives nod to NDMC for auction. 11.10 am: 3 Indian fishermen along with one boat arrested by Sri Lankan navy from Rameswaram for allegedly possessing 2 kgs of heroin. 11.07 am: Pak High Commission officer, who was arrested, has been released due to diplomatic immunity. 10.35 am: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit over ceasefire violations. 10.12 am: A Pakistan high commission official has been detained on charges of espionage in Delhi. 10.00 am: Issued clarification on news reports that outgoing Tata chief says group faces $18 billion in write-downs: Tata Steel. 9.50 am: Ahead of polls, police warns of likely presence of 12 babbar khalsa terrorists trained in Pak, planning to strike Punjab. 9.20 am: Tata Power down by 3%, Tata Motors down by 2.75% & Tata Communications down by 4%. 9.17 am: There is no bar on Dalai Lama visiting any place in India, hence Arunachal visit in March next year is technically not a problem 8.50 am: Six civilians injured in mortar shelling after Pakistan violated ceasefire in RS Pura this morning. Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector this morning, six civilians injured in mortar shelling. pic.twitter.com/lts1ibOoIr ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 8.33 am: Police brutally thrash protesters to silence Black day protests in PoK Police brutally thrash protesters to silence Black day protests in PoK pic.twitter.com/3GpC9kmDMU ANI (@ANI_news) October 27, 2016 8.00 am: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector this morning, six civilians injured in mortar shelling. OneIndia News Watch: Greatest pleasure is trying to do what everybody says 'can't be done', says Ratan Tata Ratan Tata meets LIC chairman India oi-PTI Mumbai, Oct 27: Amidst rising worries about the plunging value of Tata Group companies after Cyrus Mistry was shown the door earlier in the week, interim chairman Ratan Tata today met V K Sharma, the acting chairman of LIC which is one of the major investors in Tata companies. While Bombay House sources confirmed the meeting between Tata and Sharma, they refused to share what transpired between the two. Tata Group officials also met other leading domestic fund houses to allay fears about the investors worries following the dramatic developments in the nation's largest corporate group. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has an exposure of over Rs 37,500 crore to different Tata Group companies whose market cap eroded by over 5 per cent since the dramatic development on Monday when Mistry was summarily sacked and Tata took over. While LIC owns 3.2 per in TCS, which is the most profitable Tata firm, it owns 1.9 per cent in Tata Steel which is the most troubled group company now due to the lingering troubles in its British operations. In Tata Power LIC owns 13.1 per cent stake, 5.2 per cent in Tata Motors, 8.8 per cent in Indian Hotels and 9.8 per cent in Tata Global Beverages. Meanwhile, a section of the media reported that Tatas are planning to get the Mistry family that owns 18.5 per cent in the Tata Sons, out of the group by getting some sovereign wealth funds to buyout the single largest non-Tata family investor in the group holding company. When asked whether this was a point of discussion between Tata and LIC, the sources refused to comment. Cyrus Mistry ouster: Ratan Tata writes to PM Narendra Modi Meanwhile, Tata Steel had a half-a-day long meeting with investors and analysts today at the Bombay House. Though the company spokesman confirmed the meeting feigned ignorance about the discussion topic. It is rumoured that one of the reason for the summary sacking of Mistry was his bid to sell the troubled Tata Steel UK, whose networth has completely eroded since the past few years. The Tatas bought the then Corus steel for a hefty USD 12.8 billion at the peak of the commodity price cycle and got its fingers burnt after the macroeconomic crisis in Britain and Europe engulfed the sector. PTI Late actor Puneeth Rajkumar to be conferred with 'Karnataka Ratna' award today; Rajinikanth, Jr. NTR to attend Karnataka Rajyotsava 2022: Add these 5 songs to your playlist to hum Kannada glory Bengaluru police arrest 4 in connection with RSS worker's murder India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Bengaluru, Oct 27: In a major breakthrough the Bengaluru police arrested four persons in connection with the murder of RSS worker Rudresh. The four arrested persons are Mohammad Sadiq, Mohammad Mujibullah, Wasim Ahmed and Irfan Pasha. The Bengaluru police commissioner N S Megharik said that all these persons are from Bengaluru. Investigations are on he also said. Rudresh the mandal president of the Shivajinagar Shikha of the RSS was also the secretary of the BJP unit in Shivajinagar. He was murdered pn October 16. Bengaluru: Bandh in Shivajinagar today to protest killing of RSS activist He had taken part in a route march near the RBANMS Grounds before he was murdered. He had stopped his motor cycle at the Kamraj Road and was talking to three of his friends when two men on a motor cycle attacked him. Rudresh was immediately taken to hospital, but was declared brought dead. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 27, 2016, 19:56 [IST] Sabarimala temple entry: Ready to wait, says this women's group India oi-Vicky It is Ready to Wait vs Right to Bleed and Right to Pray in the Sabarmala temple entry rights matter. A woman's group has now to filed an application to intervene in the matter in which another group had sought permission for women in the age group of 10 and 50 to enter the Sabarimala temple. A petition had been filed in the Supreme Court against the rules of the temple which bars the entry of women in the age group between 10 years to 50 years. The petitioners said that such rules comes in the way of the Right to Pray. However, a Chennai based organisation called the People for Dharma moved the Supreme Court stating that they were ready to wait until the age of 50 to enter the temple. The group said that women who were questioning the rules were self appointed champions of the rights of women devotees. "The 'feminist' petitioners' have no clue about the scientific and philosophical basis of a temple and false and foolishly equate the process of Sanatan Dharma with inborn discrimination in Semitic religions," the group also claimed. The Supreme Court will take up the matter in November. A three judge Bench headed by Justice Dipak Mishra is expected to take up the matter for hearing after November 7 when the court re-opens after Deepavali vacations. OneIndia News UP: SP leader's car hit by truck, dragged for more than 500 meters in Mainpuri | VIDEO Samajwadi Party war: Akhilesh Yadav hits the campaign trail alone, releases new video India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer In the midst of a pari 'war', Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav has released a new video, as part of his election campaign on Wednesday. The sleek video, mostly revolving around the Chief Minister's developmental projects--targeting the youths and minorities--don't feature any of the other powerful leaders of the Samajwadi Party (SP), reports the NDTV. The video covers a day in Akhilesh's life, where he is seen addressing the janata and working for their welfare. The video also features his wife Dimple, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh and their two children. The video showcases the Chief Minister as a family man, who is committed to his "bigger" family-- the state of Uttar Pradesh and India. The video opens with the line, "Every day I commit myself to the future of Uttar Pradesh". "Uttar Pradesh, India... My family," the video ends with the message. At a time when Akhilesh is openly fighting a political war with his father and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and uncle Shivpal Yadav, it's not surprising why no other senior leaders from the ruling party have been featured in the video. [Read: UP's Yadav Family Mahabharata: This Samajwadi Party drama has some great filmy dialogues ] The video is a part of Akhilesh's Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2017 campaign, which is due early next year. In fact, the Chief Minister on Wednesday finalised his massive campaign-- Vikas rath yatra-- which will leave from Lucknow to Kanpur on November 3. "Lakhs of youths will participate in the yatra, which will prove to be the turning point of politics. At every halt, Akhilesh will be welcomed by youths, farmers, minority and he will also address the gathering," Cabinet minsiter Rajendra Chowdhury said. [Read: SP Pari'war': Who is standing by whom in the Yadav clan? ] "The yatra will be a sort of catalyst for a change in politics. Akhilesh will try to break communalism and casteism through the yatra in which he will be highlighting development works done by his government," he added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 27, 2016, 12:22 [IST] India's steel industry now 2nd biggest, target is to double crude steel output in 10 years: PM Modi Fact Check: Rishi Sunak never said India needs a PM like Manmohan Singh From being a victim of terrorism to exploring global solutions: India praised at UN's Counter Terrorism meet India asks Pakistani diplomat to leave, Pakistan retaliates International oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi/Islamabad, Oct 27: Marking a sharp downturn in ties, India on Thursday asked a junior Pakistani diplomat to leave by Saturday for running a spy ring. Pakistan retaliated with a similar move, asking an Indian official in Islamabad to leave. Hours after Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in New Delhi to protest against Mehmood Akhtar, a visa officer at the Pakistan High Commission, who India accused of spying, Islamabad hit back. In the evening, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale in Islamabad and declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non grata and asked that he leave the country by Saturday. Pakistan denied the espionage charges levelled against Akhtar as "false and unsubstantiated", and alleged that Indian police "manhandled" him. Pak high commission staffer detained for espionage, released Akhtar, detained on Wednesday and let off because of diplomatic immunity, had served in the mission for over two years during which he recruited Indians to spy for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Delhi Police Joint Commissioner Ravindra Yadav said. He was caught near the Delhi Zoo receiving defence-related vital information from two Indian nationals, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, who were also allegedly working for the ISI, Yadav said. One more person, Sohaib Nagaur, was arrested in Jodhpur on Thursday evening. The three are residents of Rajasthan and were being interrogated. "They had collected information regarding defence, BSF (Border Security Force) deployment on the borders" in Rajasthan and Gujarat and also carried deployment charts and maps of some Indian positions, Yadav said. The documents, including information about several retired Indian Army personnel and BSF officers serving on borders, were given to Akhtar in exchange of money, he said. The police officer said Akhtar initially presented himself as an Indian citizen and also showed a fake Aadhar card, claiming he was Mehboob Rajput of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. Yadav said after sustained questioning he admitted that he was a soldier with Pakistan Army's 40 Baloch Regiment since 1997 and was deputed to India by the ISI in 2013. "He was a kingpin" of the spying network that was active for 18 months, the police officer said, adding the involvement of other staff members in the ring was not being ruled out. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry said the diplomat was detained for three hours on "false and unsubstantiated" charges of espionage before he was returned to the mission. "We condemn the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official," a statement said. "This act clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of the Pakistan High Commission," the statement. It noted that Akhtar's detention violated the Vienna Convention. India categorically denied that the accused officer was mistreated. "He was treated with courtesy befitting his diplomatic status," Swarup said. "In fact, it was Akhtar who resorted to subterfuge by concealing his real identity. Pakistan must ensure that none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India or behave in a manner that is incompatible with their diplomatic status." Conveying the decision to expel the Indian high commission official, the Pakistan Foreign Secretary also expressed "deep concern" over the activities of the Indian official, which he said, was in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms. The Indian High Commission was asked to make necessary arrangements to make Surjeet Singh and his family leave Pakistan by October 29. The tit-for-tat expulsions come as India and Pakistan are locked in bitter diplomatic tension after militants attacked a military base in Jammu and Kashmir last month. The attack prompted the Indian Army to carry out surgical strikes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, destroying seven terror launch pads and killing an unknown number of terrorists and their sympathizers. IANS Kashmir is a matter for India, Pak to sort out: Theresa May International oi-PTI London, Oct 27: British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that the UK's stand on Kashmir remains unchanged and it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan to address. The issue was raised in the House of Commons during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session on Wednesday by Pakistani-born Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi, who asked if the Kashmir issue would form part of May's discussions during her visit to India next month. "I take the same view as this government has since it came into power, and indeed previously, which is that the issue of Kashmir is a matter for India and Pakistan to deal with and sort out," the British PM said in Parliament, clearly indicating that Kashmir was unlikely to be on the agenda during her bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she visits India between November 6 and 8. Also read: Visit to India shows importance of bilateral relations: Theresa May Qureshi, who represents a heavily Pakistani-origin constituency of Bolton in north-west England, had questioned in the Commons: "Will the Prime Minister meet with me and cross-party colleagues to discuss the human rights abuses and the issue of self-determination for Kashmiri people, as was set out in the resolution of the UN in 1948 and can she raise this issue with the Indian Prime Minister." May, while dismissing any meeting herself, said: "The foreign secretary [Boris Johnson] has heard her representations and I am sure will be interested in taking those issues up with her." The British PM is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on November 6 for her first overseas bilateral visit outside Europe. Besides inaugurating the India-UK Tech Summit alongside Modi, she will be holding talks with her Indian counterpart before heading to Bengaluru. May will be accompanied by a business delegation comprising small and medium enterprises from across the UK and her international trade minister, Liam Fox. PTI Russia hits out at UN aid chief over 'kill zone' Aleppo International oi-PTI United Nations, Oct 27: Russia angrily accused the United Nations' aid chief of bias and arrogance after he told the Security Council that Aleppo had become a "kill zone" under Russian and Syrian bombs. The accusations in turn drew sharp responses from the United States, Britain and France in one of the stormiest council sessions on Syria in weeks. Russia is facing pressure at the United Nations to rein in its Syrian ally and halt the air strikes in rebel-held east Aleppo, where 250,000 civilians have been living under siege since July. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien yesterday said he was "incandescent with rage" over the council's failure to take action, deploring that "nothing is actually happening to stop the war, stop the suffering." With food growing scarce, "civilians are being bombed by Syrian and Russian forces, and if they survive that, they will starve tomorrow," said O'Brien. "Aleppo has essentially become a kill zone." Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin shot back, accusing O'Brien of making "arrogant remarks" and failing to recognize that Russia had declared a humanitarian pause that he maintained had been holding for eight days. "If we needed to be preached to, we would go to a church," Churkin quipped. The ambassador blamed opposition rebels and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists for the failure at the weekend of a UN plan to evacuate the wounded from Aleppo and charged that the UN official was not objectively presenting the facts. "Please leave this kind of report to a novel that you might write one day," said Churkin. The pause declared by Damascus and Moscow ran out at 1600 GMT on Saturday, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported there were air strikes afterwards against an opposition-controlled district in Aleppo. Yesterday, air strikes hit a school in rebel-held Idlib province, killing at least 35 civilians including many children, according to the observatory. US Ambassador Samantha Power took the floor to criticize Russia, saying it had never worked cooperatively with the United Nations during the pauses to ensure humanitarian relief. "You don't get congratulations and credit for not committing war crimes for a day or a week," said Power. The US ambassador insisted the goal of the Russian and Syrian bombing campaign was to "make civilians relent and cry uncle" and again challenged Moscow's argument that it is fighting terrorists. AFP When is Dev Diwali 2022? November 7th or November 8th? Know timings, significance and more Pak high commission staffer detained for espionage, released New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Oct 27: The Delhi Police has arrested an officer in the Pakistan High Commission on charges of espionage. The officer was said to be in possession of documents relating to defence. The officer has been identified as Mehmood Akhtar. The Intelligence Bureau, which had kept tabs on him, reported the same to the Delhi Police. Following his arrest, he has been taken to the Chanakyapuri police station for further questioning. The officer was questioned and then released because of diplomatic immunity. He will be deported to Pakistan in the next 24 hours. Sources tell OneIndia that the documents found on him were incriminating in nature. There were details relating to the defence. He had allegedly gathered information for the past couple of months and was set to pass on the same. The details relating to the defence comes at a time when there is extreme tension along with the border. The officer also said that he will be questioned by a team of the Delhi police and the Intelligence Bureau. "We are in the process of ascertaining the extent of information he had gathered. Further we will get information from him about his local contacts from where he has been sourcing the information," the officer has said. In this connection, the Pakistan High Commissioner, Abdul Basit has been summoned by the external affairs ministry. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 11.30 am on Thursday. OneIndia News A staffer of Pakistan High Commission, Mehmood Akthar was detained for spying but was later released due to diplomatic immunity. He is likely to be deported to Pakistan in the next 24 hours. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. euronews (in English) 14 Oct 2022 Discover the power of hieroglyphs at the British Museum, the power of cinema at Berlin's Human Rights film festival and take a.. Zee News 31 Oct 2022 The trailer of upcoming thriller webseries 'Mukhbir - The Story of a Spy' has been released. It traces the journey of a secret.. HuffPost NOW News 04 Sep 2020 Despite his claims to respect veterans more than anyone, President Donald Trump has frequently made offensive statements about.. euronews (in English) 20 Oct 2021 Navalny, one of Vladimir Putin's most prominent critics, was nominated alongside Bolivian lawyer Jeanine Anez and the women of.. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more New Managers BULLETIN: Assets, hires, performance, closures Glen Point raises $2 billion It is one of the largest hedge-fund startups in Europe this year. Former BlueBay Asset Management managers Neil Phillips and Jonathan Fayman have raised almost $2bn including money from George Soros, for their hedge fund Glen Point Capital, according to Bloomberg. Glen Point bets on macroeconomic trends with a focus on emerging markets. BlueBayclosed its $1.4bnmacro hedge fund after Phillips, 46, and Fayman, 33, left in November 2014. People joining Broad Reach, Light Sky Macro Broad Reach Investment Management, the emerging markets-focused hedge fund set up by former Spinnaker Capital portfolio manager Bradley Wickens in March, has been hiring. According to eFinanialCareers, Dan Worth, who was most recently a partner and portfolio manager at hedge fund Vinci Zaffarano Capital (which shut this year), has signed up. Ed Steele, who was most recently the chief risk officer and COO at Nomura's now shuttered equities business, has the taken same role at Broad Reach.Isidore Smart, who was an associate within the fixed income strategy team Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York, has joined as an economist. Charlie Bird, who previously worked for Brevan Howard and Och-Ziff Capital Management, is an execution trader. Ben Melkman, who left Brevan Howard in June after seven years to start his own hedge fund, Light Sky Macro, has just started hiring for his new fund: Joseph Mauro, the former he...................... To view our full article please login Currently: Cash Looking to: Buy @ 108.337 As of 3/21/21 @ 9:21pm EST: 108.857 LAST WEEK: We suggested buying dips in USDJPY to 108.337 and holding for a run up to 111. We suggested honoring stops on longs on a close below 107.75. UPDATE: The USDJPY is up early on Monday after trading sluggishly all last week. We still feel the cross will trade down to 108.337 (or lower). No changes to last weeks trade recommendations. Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump - Caricatures (Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA I would never vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, and therefore have no dog in this fight. That said, I am an interested spectator, and clearly see that Ms. Clinton is playing a very dangerous game by using the Russians as an election issue and blaming them for everything. When asked about her leaked e-mails in the last debate, she skillfully avoided the damaging content of the e-mails, and turned the table on the Russians, claiming they are the danger. She argued we should all be alarmed at the attempt by Russia to manipulate our election, a charge which is totally untrue, and without any evidence. The leaked DNC e-mails clearly show that she and the DNC, not Russia, were successful in manipulating the election to defraud Sanders. Ms. Clinton lied about US intelligence agencies. She lectured Trump, saying 17 intelligence agencies said the Russians were behind the Wikileaks release of DNC emails. That is a lie on several counts. First, 15 agencies never said a word about leaked e-mails. Only two said anything, and this is what they said: The hacks "are consistent with the methods and motivations of Russian-directed efforts. These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process. Such activity is not new to Moscow -- the Russians have used similar tactics and techniques across Europa and Eurasia, for example, to influence public opinion there. We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities." Read it again. That's a far cry from saying the Russians did it, and here is the proof. To this day no one knows who leaked the e-mails to Wikileaks. No one. Clinton's using Russia as a political scapegoat is very dangerous. At a time when there is bad blood between the two thermonuclear powers, it is irresponsible, and demonstrates a callous lack of judgement to falsely accuse Russia of such a deed without the slightest bit of proof for purely political reasons. Provoking the Russians for political reasons speaks volumes about Ms. Clinton. Perhaps the moderator should have asked Ms. Clinton: Has the US ever attempted to influence another nations election, or have you Ms. Clinton, in your capacity, ever tried to influence another nations election? Trump, not a quick thinker, should have attacked Clinton, asking: Are these the same intelligence agencies that lied about WMD in Iraq resulting in over one million useless deaths? Another well founded accusation against her candidacy is her eagerness to make war. She supported the illegal war on Iraq which killed millions of innocents. She pushed and continues to push for the 15-year war in Afghanistan. She supported "the surge" in Afghanistan, a total failure. She assisted the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Honduras by supporting the military and a dictator. She was the one of the primary architects of the Libyan debacle, which led to the bombing and total disintegration of Libya. It is now the leading terrorist breeding ground in Africa. It was Clinton who took on Cabinet members who argued against military intervention in Libya. She had her way. Result; utter disaster! Ms. Clinton never saw a war she did not want to avoid. But now she is playing with fire. Russia has made it clear that they will not tolerate another Iraq in Syria. They will support the Assad regime and not allow the US to overthrow yet another Middle Eastern government. Russia insists the US is intentionally trying to promote anarchy in Syria by destroying the country, maintaining brutal sanctions that only harm innocents, and giving "moderates" heavy weapons to help bring down Assad. Russia has drawn a line in the sand, and Ms. Clinton is showing a severe lack of judgment in provoking and blaming them for all that ails the world. She has even compared Putin to Hitler, which historically, is tantamount to declaring war. Manuel Noriega was called Hitler, Saddam Hussein was called Hitler, Muammar Gaddafi was called Hitler. The pattern is clear. Vilify the enemy and attack. Ms. Clinton, we are told, is intelligent. Her actions indicate she is either stupid, or she has no sense of sane judgment, or both. She has called for a No-Fly Zone in Syria, which General Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, would mean war with Russia and Syria. As Secretary of State Ms. Clinton's job was to maintain peace, not start a war. She was not interested in peace as Secretary of State, but did start wars, and added fuel to the many we are currently fighting. She compared Putin to Hilter. No respectable Secretary of State, the nation's chief diplomat, would call another world leader Hitler. Nor does the Chief Diplomat look for and argue for war, by shouting down all who wished to avoid war in Libya. What is even more alarming is that mainstream media has followed their leader, Ms. Clinton, in demonizing Russia. The press has lost its way and is merely an echo chamber for Ms. Clinton and her neocon supporters who are vengeful, militaristic, and bombastic. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Recently, around midnight, two young men were trying to steal some money from my car. Unknowingly, they tripped the car alarm and I woke up as soon as it went off since my bedroom is very close to the driveway. They stole my registration and insurance card. I immediately called Middle Township Police. The police were very kind and helpful, and I'd like to thank them. This is one example of many of increasing terror/criminal activities in New Jersey, which is an issue we need to address without delay. We have to make sure we are taking appropriate action to deter crimes throughout New Jersey. According to a report on NJ.com, the 2015 FBI data showed there were 363 murders in New Jersey -- up from 349 the previous year. The slight bump increased the rate to 4.1 murders per 100,000 residents. Sexual assault, murder, manslaughter, rape, and robbery are also increasing. Last month, in some counties, disputes between police and criminals resulted in shootings. Crime seems to be rising steadily and violently at an accelerating rate in New Jersey's major counties. The above-mentioned issues might affect tourism, which in turn will affect New Jersey's economy as a whole. New Jersey is a beautiful state but recently, higher taxes, limited job opportunities, crimes and poorly paid workers are adding to poverty, and need to be addressed properly. I think this has and will hinder the growth of New Jersey's economy and the rise of crime now and in the future. The executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Yury Fedotov, told the Convention in Vienna, the 2030 agenda for sustainable development acknowledged that confronting crime and promoting the rule of law were essential to the achievement of the sustainable-development goals. World Health Organization said, "We need to integrate violence prevention into social and educational policies, and thereby promote social equality." Article Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their articles after publishing them. To see if the article was renamed or re-published, please click here. From National Memo There is an epic clash of two cultures -- one with a guiding ethic of harmony between people and nature, the other driven by an ethos that encourages the exploitation of both. Yet, for months, our clueless media gave this match-up little coverage. For the face-off is between Energy Transfer Partners, one of the world's largest pipeline corporations, and the Standing Rock Lakota Sioux Tribe. It's not merely big news, but the panoramic story of America itself. It's a real reality show -- a cultural, political and moral drama featuring raw greed, grassroots courage, class war, ancient rites, human rights, defenders of the common good, the most nefarious Texas oilman since J. R. Ewing, a historic gathering of Native tribes and a Bull-Connor-style sheriff -- all on location near a North Dakota town named Cannon Ball! The Dakota Access Pipeline is a massive 1,172-mile-long pipeline being constructed by EPT. It will cut through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. This pipeline, owned by oilman Kelcy Warren, crosses 200 rivers and countless farms, and it cuts through the ancestral lands and burial grounds of the Tribe. DAPL risks economic and environmental disaster. The corporation plans to bury its oil pipeline under the Missouri, beneath the Lakota people's main source of water for drinking, bathing, irrigation, fishing, and recreation. As a Lakota phrase says -- water is life -- and one rupture could be ruinous. In April, the Standing Rock Sioux made their stand. Some 35 tribal leaders established Sacred Stone Camp, just off their reservation and near where ETP's engineers intend to tunnel under the river. After the tribe's social media network spread word of the rebellion, a spontaneous migration of Native people -- not coordinated by anyone -- began arriving at the camp to stand in solidarity against ETP. They came in cars, campers, and caravans -- some even paddled down the Missouri in traditional canoes. By August, representatives of 280 Native American tribes had joined, making this the largest, most diverse, cross-tribal action in U.S. history. Sacred Stone Camp pulsated with a sense of rediscovered power, ancestral duty, and indigenous culture. Not only were spirits high, but the extraordinary unity of so many diverse Native cultures -- boldly gathering in a show of strength and shouting "NO" to yet another arrogant act of gross injustice -- seemed to herald a reawakening. As the protest gained strength -- and was joined by thousands of progressives and covered by independent media -- ETP and its political minions responded predictably: with panic, whining, lies, and brute force. North Dakota's governor, Jack Dalrymple falsely wailed that "unlawful acts associated with the protest near Cannon Ball have led to serious public safety concerns and property damage." He declared a state of emergency, set up road blocks to seal off the reservation, brought in riot-clad troopers, removed state water and health services from the protest area, and used his state PR machine to demonize the activists as a violent threat to surrounding towns of white people. ETP's legal beagles have attempted to silence protesters by filing hokey lawsuits against several tribal leaders and activists that may be aimed at bankrupting defendants with legal fees; seeking a federal injunction against anyone interfering with pipeline construction; and threatening to prosecute Native Americans for -- Oh, the irony! -- trespassing on land that was theirs before it was stolen from them. On Labor Day weekend, a DAPL crew suddenly started construction on the under-river tunnel, reportedly damaging tribal burial sites. When unarmed protesters put their bodies in front of the machinery, a line of private "pipeline guards" showed up and blasted at least 30 protesters with pepper spray and sicced a pack of attack dogs on them. At least six people were bitten, including a child and a pregnant woman. At least four reporters have been charged with everything from criminal trespass to conspiracy for trying to cover what the mainstream media won't touch. Charges are still pending for some of these journalists. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. Donald Trump has long campaigned on the promise of running the country the way he's run his businesses. On that basis, we essentially already know what it would mean if he entered the Oval Office and applied his personal business acumen to this nation (and the rest of the world). There's a surprisingly full record to cite. Who can forget, for instance, what happened to his signature gambling resorts in Atlantic City? Who can forget their serial failures in what was still relatively good times in that city, including the repeated trips to bankruptcy court and the way he stiffed local contractors and suppliers, running them out of business? As Russ Buettner and Charles Bagli of the New York Times summed it up: "He put up little of his own money, shifted personal debts to the casinos and collected millions of dollars in salary, bonuses, and other payments. The burden of his failures fell on investors and others who had bet on his business acumen." In his pre-political years, he perfected what Kurt Eichenwald of Newsweek dubbed "the art of the bad deal": "lost contracts, bankruptcies, defaults, deceptions, and indifference to investors." And from every bad deal for those who supported him, he's almost always walked away better off. All in all, it's quite a record (and don't even mention Trumped Up University). There is no reason to believe that this pattern of behavior would change in the White House. After all, The Donald's record shows a remarkable consistency, so it's possible to imagine with a fair degree of accuracy what you're going to get. Take election night 2012 when The Donald was still a Mitt Romney supporter. CNN recently reported on his tweets that night and judging by his comment on the Chinese invention of climate change, his complaints about polling violations, his outburst about "sham" elections, and in the wake of Romney's loss his call for "revolution," there hasn't been much truly new under the Trumpian sun in 2016 -- not even his last tweet of that night four years ago: "We have to make America great again!" In other words, his record should be considered remarkably predictive. So count on this: from the Oval Office, he'll walk away a richer man, leaving the rest of us holding the bag, and his supporters, particularly white working class men, in a striking version of hell. Then, of course, there's the other candidate. You know who -- the woman who never saw a bank CEO she couldn't get a couple of hundred thousand dollars from for giving thoroughly unsurprising speeches. Today, TomDispatchregular Nomi Prins, author of All the Presidents' Bankers, explores what our world might be like if The Donald goes down in flames and Hillary Clinton enters the White House next January. Consider this, economically speaking, the definition of a hold-onto-your-hats election, no matter who wins. Tom Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). We've long had early voting - by a few days, as I recall. And this wasn't something people were prompted to do. In most 'democratic' countries, campaigning stops twenty-four hours before an election, and during the election, exit polls are not broadcast until very late in the day. This year, for the first time, I believe, large numbers of people are voting weeks ahead of the election date, and what is most disturbing, is that the media is broadcasting the trends - so many democrats, so many republicans - even if they those votes have not yet been counted, and there could be any crossovers. I haven't seen anything about this on television and I presume the NYT has kept quiet about it, but it certainly doesn't look kosher to me. In the last two articles of this series (Who will win this Election and Who will win this Election, Part II) we described the makeup of voters and considered the likely outcomes under a variety of different voting systems. Here we will repeat that thought-experiment but consider a different makeup of the voter attitudes. In the chart below, the results for the various voting systems are shown for both systems, serving both as a review and as a preview. But more importantly, the chart illustrates the difference between traditional voting systems and balanced ones. It is worth noting that in the traditional column, only Celeb (celebrity) candidates are competitive whereas in the balanced column the non-celebrity (Ghost) candidate is consistently at least competitive. (Image by Paul Cohen) Details DMCA Clearly, by these results, the balanced systems tend to be open to more candidates, and sometimes different candidates, than traditional systems. The difference stems from the fact that balanced voting systems explicitly take into account both support and opposition of candidates -- whereas traditional systems only consider support. This election is between three candidates, two of whom are celebrities, well known by nearly all voters. Al Celeb has strong support from 35% of voters but is strongly disliked by 60%. Beth Celeb is strongly supported by 33% of the voters but very much disliked by 52%. The other candidate, Ghost, draws his support from the 12% of voters, who disapprove both of the Celeb candidates. Ghost is well regarded by the relatively small number of voters who know much about him. You might now take some time to think about which of the four candidates deserve to win the election. If the election were held using plurality voting, it is pretty clear that Al Celeb would be the winner with 35% of the vote. The fact that both Celeb candidates have more opposition than support does not matter because opposition is not a factor in traditional voting systems like plurality voting. On the other hand, if the election were held using balanced plurality voting, then presumably 35% of the voters would vote for Al Celeb and 33% would vote for Beth Celeb. But each of the Celeb candidates will face opposition votes as well. Al Celeb might have as much as 60% of voters casting votes against him, or as few as 48% against him if all 12% of voters who favor Al Ghost choose to vote for Ghost. So Al Celeb will have a net vote of somewhere between -13% and -35% of the voters. By the same reasoning, Beth Celeb will receive a net vote between -7% and -19% of the vote. Ghost, with between 0% and 12% of the vote will win the election. When opposition to them is taken into account, celebrity candidates lose their great advantage. With approval voting, Al Celeb and Beth Celeb will respectively get 35% and 33% of the vote while Ghost will get only 12%. As with plurality voting, Al Celeb will be declared the winner. With balanced approval voting, (where the voter is asked to indicate approval or disapproval -- or neither - for each of the candidates), Al Celeb and Beth Celeb will respectively get -25% and -19% of the vote while Ghost will get 12% so Ghost will be declared the winner. In this election there are few enough candidates that one might question the motivation for using ration voting, but for the sake of providing an example we can consider it nonetheless. Each voter would be handed three plurality ballots (it could be more or less than that, but three seems reasonable with just three candidates). It seems likely that a Ghost voter would cast all three ballots for Ghost, giving Ghost 12% of the vote. But Al Celeb and Beth Celeb would respectively receive 35% and 33% of the vote. Al Celeb would be declared the winner. However, if sentiment among Ghost voters favored Beth Celeb over Al Celeb then some might cast some of their ballots for Beth Celeb and this could turn Beth Celeb into the winner. If this election were held using balanced ration voting, each voter would be handed three balanced plurality ballots. Any outcome is possible for this election, the voters have free reign to decide. This may not immediately obvious to you -- it was not to me. I had to set up a spread-sheet to try out scenarios to see this to be the case. It is the Ghost voters who will make the selection between the two Celeb candidates and that will be by deciding how many of their 12% of ballots will go to Celeb candidates. If 2% more of those 12% are cast against Al Celeb than are cast against Beth then the race between the Celeb candidates is a tie. Of course if more than 2% go against Al Celeb then he will lose and the contest will be between Ghost and Beth Celeb. If that margin is less than 2% then the contest will be between Ghost and Al Celeb. Also as might be expected, whether Ghost can win will depend on how many of the Celeb voters decide to vote against the candidate they dislike (rather than for the Celeb candidate they like). If 23% of voters (Celeb voters) decide to cast votes against the Celeb candidate they dislike then the race becomes a toss-up. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Market Will Witness Growth Based On Rising Growth Major End-Use Industries Including Electronics, Automotive Till 2020 http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/polymethyl-methacrylate-pmma-industry The global polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) market is expected to reach USD 10.87 billion by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing demand for LED flat panels and LED TVs is expected to be one of the key factors driving PMMA demand, especially in Asia Pacific, which is a major hub for electronic manufacturing. Growth of major end-use industries including electronics, automotive and signs & displays, mainly in emerging economies of China and India, are expected to boost the demand for PMMA over the forecast period. Grand View Research further observes that increasing R&D activities for developing bio-based PMMA coupled with emerging applications for optical grade PMMA in medical and healthcare, coatings and emulsions and solar power sectors is expected to drive its future market.PMMA extruded sheets alone accounted for over 55% of global market volumes in 2012. Extruded PMMA sheets find wide applications in numerous industries including electronics, signs and display, construction and automobiles among others. Owing to its new found use in coatings and emulsions market, PMMA beads (powder) form is expected to be the fastest growing market, at an estimated CAGR of 7% from 2013 to 2020. Cell cast sheet and blocks is another PMMA form widely used for construction activities owing to its impact strength and weather resistance.Browse full research report on Global Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Market:Further Key findings from the study suggest: Global PMMA market volume is expected to reach 2.85 million tons by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2013 to 2020 Signs and display applications emerged as the largest market for PMMA, with over 35% of global volumes in 2012. The electronics industry, including flat display screens, is expected to be the fastest growing application market for PMMA at an estimated CAGR of 7.7% over the next six years. In addition, broadening application of PMMA in other end use industries such as furniture and interiors, sanitary ware, fashion and apparel among others, is expected to boost its consumption over the next six years Asia Pacific dominated the PMMA market, accounting for over 65% of the global demand in 2012. Along with being the largest market, Asia Pacific is also expected to be the fastest growing market for PMMA, at an estimated CAGR of 7.3% from 2013 to 2020. Europe is expected to witness moderate growth rate in the near future, while Middle East and Africa and Central and South America are expected to show above average growth for PMMA demand Growth of electronics industry, mainly in Taiwan, South Korea and China is expected to boost the demand for PMMA over the next six years. Asia Pacific is considered to be the most attractive market, with relaxed regulations and cheap availability of labor and technology. Increased production of LED flat panels and LEDTVs has given a boost to PMMA demand in recent years, a trend which is expected to continue over the forecast period The global market for PMMA is highly consolidated and dominated by top multinational corporations. Top four companies namely, Mitsubishi Rayon, Altuglas International, Evonik Industries and Chi Mei Corporation account for approximately three-fourth of the total PMMA produced worldwide in 2012Grand View Research has segmented the global PMMA market on the basis of product, application and region:Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Product Outlook, Extruded Sheets Cell Cast Sheet & Blocks Pellets BeadsPolymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Application Outlook, Construction Electronics Automotive Signs & Display OtherPolymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Regional Outlook, North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the WorldAbout Grand View ResearchGrand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.Press ContactSherry James - Corporate Relations Specialist28 2nd Street, Suite 3036San Francisco, CA 94105United StatesPhone: 1-415-349-0058Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Technical Ceramics Market Will Witness Growth Based On Rising Technical Ceramics Use As A Substitute To Plastics And Metals In Numerous High-Performance Applications In The Medical And Automotive Sector Till 2024 http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/technical-ceramics-market The global technical ceramics market () is expected to reach USD 134.58 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising product need in various end-use industries owing to their cost effectiveness and increased life span as opposed to their traditional counterparts is expected to positively impact the market over the forecast period. Increasing automobile demand among consumers particularly in Asia Pacific countries including China and India on account of rising disposable income and changing lifestyle is expected to fuel technical ceramics market over the forecast period. Also, rising product use as a substitute to plastics and metals in numerous high-performance applications in the medical and automotive sector is expected to propel growth over the next eight years.These products have been gaining acceptance over the past few years on account of growing awareness regarding their benefits such as biodegradability, durability, and high tensile strength. Rising environmental concerns coupled with stringent regulations by governments in North America and Europe are expected to further propel product demand over the next eight years.Further key findings from the report suggest: The global technical ceramics market value was USD 56.7 billion in 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 10% from 2016 to 2024. Titanates are expected to be the fastest growing material segment from 2016 to 2024 at a CAGR over 11% in terms of revenue owing to their increasing use as capacitors. Rising need for energy storage worldwide is expected to propel product demand. The monolithic ceramic market was estimated at over USD 45 billion in 2015. The product is employed in numerous insulation and lining applications as they are resistant to thermal shock as well as abrasion and can withstand tremendously high temperatures. These factors are expected to positively impact growth over the forecast period. Bioceramics application was valued at above USD 2 billion in 2015. The segment is expected to grow at a fast pace over the next eight years on account of its rising use in joint and hip replacements. Medical sector demand for the product was estimated at above 6 billion in 2015. Increasing need from this industry in various applications such as dental implants and bone & tissue replacements is expected to propel product industry over the forecast period. North America was one of the largest markets for the product and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 9% from 2016 to 2024. Stringent environmental regulations have led to increased product use as it aids in controlling pollution. Additionally, stringent emission standards in North America and Europe are expected to provide growth opportunities for the product over the next eight years. In November 2015, Oerlikon Metco signed an agreement with Laser Cladding Services, LLC to acquire its traditional ceramics business. In July 2015, Morgan Advanced Materials invested in the semiconductor market in order to improve its production capabilitiesGrand View Research has segmented the global technical ceramics market on the basis of material, product, application, end-use and region:Technical Ceramics Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Alumina ceramics Titanate ceramics Zirconate ceramics Ferrite ceramics Aluminum nitride Silicon carbide Silicon nitrideTechnical Ceramics Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Monolithic ceramics Ceramic coatings Ceramic matrix compositesTechnical Ceramics Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Electrical equipment Catalyst supports Electronic devices Wear parts Engine parts Filters Bioceramics OthersTechnical Ceramics End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Electrical & electronics Automotive Machinery Environmental Medical OthersTechnical Ceramics Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) North Americao U.S. Europeo Germanyo UK Asia Pacifico Chinao India Latin Americao Brazil MEAo Saudi ArabiaAbout Grand View ResearchGrand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.Press ContactSherry James - Corporate Relations Specialist28 2nd Street, Suite 3036San Francisco, CA 94105United StatesPhone: 1-415-349-0058Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Application Delivery Controller (ADC) Market Is Projected To Witness Growth Based On Rising Data Center Traffic Till 2024: Grand View Research, Inc. http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/application-delivery-controller-market http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/network-security-software-and-services The global Application Delivery Controller (ADC) market is expected to reach USD 4.34 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The application delivery controller market is anticipated to witness a high growth over the forecast period. This may be accredited to the increasing globalization and distributed enterprise architecture, which requires networks that can deliver their business-critical applications faster, thereby ensuring security. The increase in the data center traffic and the growing ADC popularity, particularly in the consolidated data center segment, are expected to be the major factors spurring the ADC market growth over the forecast period.The increasing adoption of the BYOD phenomenon has led to the widespread usage of tablets and smartphones particularly in large organizations as it significantly increases the scope and span of enterprises. This, in turn, has resulted in a rise in the ADC demand in order to balance and maintain the server load. In addition, emerging technologies, such as software-defined storage (SDS) and software-defined networking (SDN), are also anticipated to spur the ADC market growth over the coming years.Browse full research report on Global Application Delivery Controller (ADC) Market:Further key findings from the report suggest: The virtual segment captured over 30% of the total revenue share in 2015 and is anticipated to exhibit growth exceeding 5.0% from 2016 to 2024. This can be attributed to the improved IT agility, performance, and cost benefits offered by them over the hardware-based ADCs as well as the increasing cloud-based data center traffic. The small & medium enterprise (SME) segment is expected to gain prominence over the forecast period exceeding a compound annual growth rate of 5% from 2016 to 2024. This is ascribed to the increasing adoption of web-enabled services and web-based apps for running their business as well as to the proliferation of internet-enabled devices. The IT & telecom segment accounted for a significant revenue share in 2015 capturing over 25% of the overall revenue share in the same year. The segment is expected to grow at a CAGR exceeding 5.5% from 2016 to 2024. This is majorly due to the integration of ADCs into enterprise IT systems to enhance efficiency. Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as the fastest growing segment accounting for more than 20% of the overall share in 2015. This growth is due to increasing investments in the IT infrastructure, primarily in China and India. Furthermore, the rising demand in this region can be ascribed to the high market penetration, owing to the webification of organizational applications along with the growing ADC application in server firewalls and network security systems. The key application delivery controller market purveyors comprise F5 Networks Inc., Citrix Systems, A10 Networks Inc., Array Networks, Inc., and Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. Companies, with their extensive distribution channels and worldwide presence, lay emphasis on adopting the best practices for developing solutions to achieve competitive advantage in this industry.Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research:Grand View Research has segmented the application delivery controller market on the basis of deployment, enterprise size, end-use, and region:Application Delivery Controller Deployment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2024) Hardware-based ADCs Virtual ADCsApplication Delivery Controller Enterprise Size Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2024) Small & Medium Enterprise Large EnterpriseApplication Delivery Controller End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2024) IT & Telecom BFSI Government Healthcare Retail OthersApplication Delivery Controller Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2024) North Americao U.S.o Canada Europeo U.Ko Germanyo France Asia Pacifico Chinao Indiao Japan Latin Americao Brazilo Mexico MEAo Saudi Arabiao UAEAbout Grand View ResearchGrand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.Press ContactSherry James - Corporate Relations Specialist28 2nd Street, Suite 3036San Francisco, CA 94105United StatesPhone: 1-415-349-0058Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Palm Oil Market Will Witness Growth Based On Rising Demand From Diverse End-Use Industries Till 2022: Grand View Research, Inc. http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/palm-oil-market http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/palm-oil-market In 2014, global palm oil market() was valued at USD 61.09 billion. The market is poised for growth owing to the increasing demand from the various end-use industries. Government and other correlated organizations across many countries have taken measures to limit the trans-fat intake over the past few years. Protocols regarding increased utilization of palm oil in the form of biodiesel as well as fuel mixing with bio-based fuel has gained recognition in recent past.Technologies and research & development initiatives to create viable means of production offer immense prospects for the industry participants. Meting out operations to deliver products with a high value offer huge opportunities for growth of global palm oil market over the forecast period.Crude palm oil dominated the global palm oil market accounting for over 75% of the market in 2014. Growing application in surfactants, cosmetics, lubricants, edible oil and biodiesel was responsible for this high market share. Crude palm oil is also expected to experience the maximum growth rate, at a probable CAGR of 7.5% from 2015 to 2022. It is used extensively for the purpose of cooking. Crude palm oil has relatively lower prices as compared to its competitors which make it the best-chosen cooking oil, predominantly in South East Asia and West Africa.Edible oil had the largest market share of over 65% in 2014. Rising health concern regarding high consumption of trans-fat has made consumers shift from vegetable oils and animal fats to edible oil which has relatively lower trans-fat content. Biodiesel is predicted to grow at a very high growth rate, at an expected CAGR of 8.8% from 2015 to 2022. Quick development of the global biofuel market with an aim of reducing dependence on conventional fuels is likely to drive the biodiesel demand.Browse full research report on Global Palm Oil Market:Easy availability of significant raw materials along with the increased disposable income levels in India, South East Asia, and China is anticipated to benefit the overall Asia Pacific market over the forecast period. Asia Pacific ruled the market accounting for more than 60% of the market share in 2014.India is accounted to be the major palm oil importers in the world. Central & South American market is anticipated to experience increased production capabilities. Companies have eyed these markets owing to their plentiful arable land and favorable climatic conditions.Global palm oil market is integrated having few companies ruling the market and is characterized by increased threat of new market players. Key industry participants comprise of Wilmar International Ltd., ADM, London Sumatra, Sime Darby, Cargill Inc., Godrej Agrovet Ltd. and IOI Corp. These corporations have taken up measures to attain a competitive advantage and to diversify their product line.Grand View Research has segmented the palm oil market on the basis of product, application and region:Global Palm Oil Derivatives Outlook (Volume, Million Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) Crude Palm Oil Palm Kernel Oil Palm Kernel Cake OthersGlobal Palm Oil Application Outlook (Volume, Million Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) Electrical & Electronics Automotive & Transportation Industrial Machinery Consumer Goods Construction OthersGlobal Palm Oil Regional Outlook (Volume, Million Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) North Americao U.S. Europeo Germanyo UK Asia Pacifico Chinao India Middle East & Africa Central & South AmericaAbout Grand View ResearchGrand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.Press ContactSherry James - Corporate Relations Specialist28 2nd Street, Suite 3036San Francisco, CA 94105United StatesPhone: 1-415-349-0058Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Encryption Software Market Is Projected To Witness Growth Swiftly Owing To Enhanced Demand In Defense & Aerospace Sector Till 2024: Grand View Research, Inc. http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/encryption-software-market The global encryption software market() is expected to reach USD 8.402.9 million by 2024, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Organization vulnerabilities are on a rise with enterprises working through the disaggregated point solutions and a multitude of management platforms, which is anticipated to drive the encryption software market over the forecast period.Encryption software enables the protection of confidentiality of the information stored in the database and data in transit as per the compliance and security requirements of any organization. This renders the data unreadable even to the authorized person, thereby enhancing the security of confidential data. Publicized data loss together with new governance and compliance regulations is expected to drive the need for customers to encrypt data. Organizational best practices point towards data encryption as a key solution for data privacy. However, the lack of budget is the key reason cited by organizations for being unable to make extensive investments in encryption solutions and this is presumed to challenge the industry demand.Further key findings from the study suggest: The BFSI segment is anticipated to witness a healthy demand and penetration as these institutions are aggressively and proactively adopting these software solutions to secure confidential and sensitive information. The segment captured over 25% of the overall revenue share in 2015 and is anticipated to witness growth at a CAGR exceeding 16% from 2016 to 2024. In 2015, the on-premise deployment segment accounted for over 60% of the market share. The segment is expected to witness a substantial growth over the forecast period. This is ascribed to the growing need to minimize the scope of compliance audits along with avoiding public disclosures after a data breach. The disk encryption segment is anticipated to experience a growth at a CAGR exceeding over 15% from 2016 to 2024. This healthy growth is accredited to the increasing adoption of the disk coding software to secure desktop and laptops by encrypting all the data at rest on a hard drive. Europe is estimated to witness a modest growth over the forecast period, which is primarily attributed to the recovering economy resulting in demand across several end-use industries including retail, BFSI, manufacturing, healthcare, and telecom. The IT upgrades in the existing infrastructure are anticipated to spur the product demand over the next eight years. The industry is fragmented in nature with the presence several new and well-established players. A few notable players in the market include Bloombase, Microsoft Corporation, Symantec Corporation, Intel Security (McAfee), Sophos, Check Point Software Technologies, EMC Corporations, and Cisco Systems, among others. Since the industry is dynamic in nature with enterprises having to deal with several data security issues, companies focus on continuous product development in compliance with regulatory standards and evolving end-use requirements.Grand View Research has segmented the global encryption software market on the basis of deployment, application, end-use, and region:Deployment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024 On-premise Cloud-basedApplication Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Disk Encryption File/Folder Encryption Database Encryption Web Communication Encryption Network Traffic Encryption Cloud Encryption OthersEnd-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) BFSI Healthcare Retail Government & Public Administration Telecom Defense & Aerospace Education ManufacturingRegional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) North Americao U.S.o Canada Europeo Germanyo UKo France Asia Pacifico Chinao Indiao Japan Latin Americao Brazilo Mexico Middle East & AfricaAbout Grand View ResearchGrand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.Press ContactSherry James - Corporate Relations Specialist28 2nd Street, Suite 3036San Francisco, CA 94105United StatesPhone: 1-415-349-0058Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Irish Technology Firm, Isle Systems, Expands to Denmark Wicklow based Technology company Isle Systems has appointed Danish company, CARE-CALL as a premier partner to expand the companys geographical footprint into Denmark. Isle Systems is a leading developer and provider of lone worker and personal emergency solutions.Mark Hanley, Isle Systems, said There are strong synergies between our businesses in terms of the verticals we serve and our ethos.CARE-CALL provides consulting services along with the supply and servicing of call, communication and personal security solutions to the Health sector, Government Institutions, Education and General Business sectors.Isle Systems has over the last decade built a substantial client base in Ireland and the UK across the Pharmaceutical, Government and Health sectors, along with Manufacturing and Utilities. This has been driven through the companys focus on the development of innovative market leading technologies that have surpassed the competition, many who are hamstrung by legacy systems that simply cannot keep pace with the versatility offered through our suite of products.Fleming Lindberg Nielsen, speaking on behalf of CARE-CALL highlighted the ease their clients have in understanding the advantages of Isle Systems suite of products and pointed to an agreement they are looking forward to inking off shortly.Isle Systems is a leading developer and provider of lone worker and personal emergency SOSsolutions. The company was formed in response to increased health and safety legislation which makes company directors and senior managers responsible for the health, safety and security of its employees.We invest heavily in research and development to provide our clients with the latest solutions for their changing needs.These include, Automated monitoring, GPS positioning, Man Down detection, in-door positioning, live audio streaming and multiple discrete alarm devices. Our systems provide the most feature rich and cost effective solution available.Isle Systems,Unit 3A, Sea RoadKilcoole,Co. Wicklow,Ireland.Press Contact: David HanleyAddress details: as aboveTel: +35312810730Email: DaveHanley@islesystems.com The Goddard School's Dynamic Learning Through Play Curriculum Opens New Connecticut Location Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI), the franchisor of The Goddard School preschool system, announces the opening of its sixth location in Connecticut. Located at 288 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, CT 06468, the new school is owned by franchisee Kim Murray. While Murrays entrepreneurial background is in the salon and spa industry, her passion for helping kids drew her toward early childhood education. She decided to open a location of The Goddard School at the recommendation of her sister, a kindergarten teacher in Philadelphia, and, after further research, fell in love with the high standards to which the preschool system held teachers and franchisees. Murray has twin daughters who will attend the school after previously being enrolled at The Goddard School in Danbury, Connecticut. The Goddard School preschool system prides itself on its unique dual-management system, a distinguisher in the early childhood education industry. Franchise owners are onsite at each location and work alongside an educational director, whose focus is to communicate and work with teachers, as well as to implement The Goddard School curriculum. This dual-management system ensures a hands-on, community-focused approach when it comes to early childhood education. With each school opening, The Goddard School also has a local economic impact, creating an average of 20 to 25 jobs within the community. The Goddard Schools play-based approach, called Fun, Learning Experience (or F.L.EX.), is grounded in research on how children learn best: children experience the deepest, most genuine learning when they are having fun. At The Goddard School, the focus is on building each childs emotional, academic, social, creative and physical skills to provide a well-rounded experience and ensure each one becomes confident, joyful and fully prepared in school and in life. With nearly 30 years of experience in early childhood education, The Goddard Schools unique dual-management system creates lasting community bonds as owners are on-site at the Schools to provide support to the communities they serve, said Joe Schumacher, Chief Executive Officer of Goddard Systems, Inc. One area that truly sets us apart from other childcare systems is our philosophy based on learning through play, designed to teach and reinforce 21st century skills, including social behaviors such as communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. This philosophy fosters a lifelong love of learning and creates meaningful connections at an early age. Jobs relating to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) are currently the fastest growing segment of the U.S. economy, and a focus on developing 21st century skills such as creativity and innovation as well as the abilities to collaborate, communicate and think critically, is expected to increase over time. By introducing 21st century skill concepts early on, children develop a strong foundation and a passion for STEAM at the very beginning of their education. I chose to open The Goddard School based on its stellar reputation for service to children and families, said on-site owner Murray. I want to serve the Monroe community and make parents feel as comfortable entrusting my staff and me with their children as I have felt with mine at The Goddard School in Danbury. The Goddard School located in Monroe Connecticut is located at 288 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, CT 06468. To reach this location, please call 203-544-2110 or email MonroeCT@goddardschools.com. For general information and franchising opportunities, please visit www.goddardschoolfranchise.com . ABOUT THE GODDARD SCHOOL FRANCHISE The Goddard School Franchise, franchisor of The Goddard School preschools, was named the No. 1 Childcare Franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine for the fifteenth consecutive year (January 2016) and one of the Top 200 Franchise Systems (in worldwide sales) by Franchise Times for the tenth consecutive year (October 2016). Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, The Goddard School Franchise currently licenses more than 450 franchised Schools with more than 50,000 students in 36 states. The Goddard School's AdvancED- and Middle States-accredited F.L.EX. Learning Program (Fun Learning Experience), a comprehensive play-based curriculum developed with early childhood education experts, provides the best childhood preparation for social and academic success. With a proven system in place and a strong network of dedicated franchisees, The Goddard School Franchise is the acknowledged leader in franchised childcare and a premier educational childcare provider. For more information, visit www.goddardschoolfranchise.com . Konnect Agency 888 S. Figueroa Street, Ste 1000 Los Angeles, CA 90017 This release was published on openPR. Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release. Polypropylene Foam Market: Would Register a Healthy Growth Rate During the Forecast 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3250 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3250 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Polypropylene foam (PP), also known as polypropene, is an engineering plastic material with advanced chemical and physical properties such as energy absorption, structural strength, thermal insulation and acoustical properties. Polypropylene foams are used in range of applications such as, textiles, high performance plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, automotive components, and polymers bank notes.Request for Sample Report:On the basis of chemical composition the global polypropylene foam market can be broadly categorize in two different markets variant namely expended polypropylene (EPP) and Extruded poly polypropylene. On the basis of end user application of the polypropylene foam, the market can be further segmented in the four broad categories namely, automotives, packaging, consumers product and others. Automotive application segment of polypropylene market holds the largest share in 2013 and it is also experiencing the fasted growth rate over the last few years.Some of the major drivers of the global polypropylene foam market include, growing concern towards environment sustainability, strict government regulations, and the cost benefits associated with recyclable properties of polypropylene foam as polypropylene foam can be fully recycled. Moreover enhanced physical properties such as quality, lightweight nature & excellent energy absorbing property, and durability, is propelling the demand of polypropylene foam market in growing end user industries such as automobiles and food and beverages packaging.Asia Pacific is the largest producer and consumer of polypropylene foam market. It is then followed by Europe and North America. The polypropylene foam market is growing in double digit in Asia Pacific. Over the last few year china became a global hub for the automobile manufacturing.Moreover increasing automobile market in other developing countries of Asia Pacific such as India and Indonesia is expected to keep the growth rate high during the forecasted period. Germany and Italy are the biggest market of polypropylene foam in Europe owing to higher concentration of automobile manufacturers in this region. The U.S. accounts for largest market of polypropylene market in North America.Request for Table of content:Major companies operating in polypropylene foam market include BASF S.E., Ds Smith Plc, Borealis Ag, Jsp Corporation, Kaneka Corporation., Mitsui Chemicals, Pregis Corporation, Sonoco Products Co., Synbra, Sekisui Alveo, Furukawa Electric Co., K. K. Nag Ltd., Ssw Pearlfoam Gmbh, and Zotefoams Plc.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market Segments and Key Trends 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2016 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2016 www.futuremarketinsights.com Bioprocessing referred as biopharmaceutical manufacturing, is a part of bioprocess engineering which aims at establishing reproducible and robust manufacturing process for the production of therapeutic cells. The products of bioprocess are of high commercial value and targeted application. Bioprocess Manufacturing is differentiated into two major processes: Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream process involves steps such as media development, cell culture, and development, harvesting of cells and fermentation. This process is done under the stringent aseptic condition, and particular temperature and pH levels are maintained throughout the process. Cell Banking is also done by upstream processes. The primary objective upstream processes are to provide an environment necessary for the growth of cells. Since the upstream process is a part of bio manufacturing process, it involves the production of therapeutic proteins, antibiotics, hormones, enzymes, blood substitutes, and vaccines. Many of the diseases like lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus and growth hormone insufficiency that can be treated by specific proteins produced from bioprocesses. There are two types of cells used in the bioprocessing equipment, mammalian cells, and bacterial cells.Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: Drivers and RestraintsAs the prevalence and incidence of chronic diseases have increased, there is a need to increase the production of substances to cure them. With innovation in technology, equipment with the well-established production system, providing high-quality biologic drugs and increased productivity is possible. This, in turn, increases the usage of upstream processing equipment which drives the biopharmaceutical market. Along with this increase in the need for cell therapy research, drug discovery, antibody production, monoclonal antibody and recombinant productions are also the major drivers for the upstream bioprocessing equipment market. However, the high cost incurred in setting up an upstream processing unit, its maintenance as the current challenge is to eliminate the contamination and the space required for the setup are the major restraining factors for the growth the Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment.Request Free Report Sample@Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: SegmentationThe upstream bioprocessing equipment market can be segmented according to the type of cell used, type of processing, by product, by end users, and by geography. By type of cell, the upstream bioprocessing equipment is segmented as mammalian cell and bacterial cell. According to the processing, the market is segmented into disposable, single use bioprocessing system and continuous bioprocessing systems. By type of product the bioreactors and fermenters. By end users, the upstream bioprocessing equipment market is segmented into biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies and research organizations. Geographical segmentation is North America, West Europe, APEJ, Japan, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa.Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: OverviewThe Single-use bioprocessing units are the major drivers in the coming decade as single-use bioprocessing units eliminated the risk of contamination. It also reduces the time required for the sterilization between batch which in turn also increases the efficacy. Over a decade disposable and single use processing units have gained momentum as it is possible to develop a small amount of drugs used for pre clinical and clinical testing. The future in the upstream bioprocessing system is single bioprocessing units as it has all kinds of the system used in upstream processing such as bioreactors, membrane absorbers, bioprocess containers, disposable mixers, and samplers.Request For TOC@Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: Regional OverviewGeographically the market for bioprocessing equipment is increasing globally. The U.S. and Europe been the strong regions for the growth of upstream processes equipment has it has shown double-digit growth over last year. In U.S. the Single-use bioprocessing units have grown significantly when compared to continuous bioprocessing system. Along with Europe and U.S., the emerging markets like Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa shows great potential for the growth of upstream bioprocessing equipment market. Japanese beverage, food and pharmaceutical industry are diversifying into high-value products which boosted the growth of upstream bioprocessing equipment in Japan. The government in Japan also provides financial support for research and development to industry players for the growth, which enables the industry to prosper.Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment Market: Key PlayersThe top players in the Upstream Bioprocessing Equipment market are GE Healthcare, Merck KGaA, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co.KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific, BiOZEEN and Katalyst Bio EngineeringABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Plant Health Improvement Agents (PHIA) Market: Information, Figures and Analytical Insights 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3256 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3256 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Plant health improvement is maintenance of plants for sustainable growth of biofuel feedstock and fungi. There are various agents such as symbionts, pathogens and biocontrol agents which can harm the growth of plants, dramatically affecting proper growth of plant species. Protection of plant health has become major responsibility for the governments, growers, traders and general public.Request for Sample Report:In recent era quarantine measure (separate and restrict the movement of persons nothing but state of enforced isolation) are taken to keep the foreign pest away from the area where they can cause damage to crops, trees and other plant species. Restriction of import and movement of plant and plant produce is one of the quarantine measure followed by the government and the farmers.Various plant health improvement agents are used to improve the health quality of the crops, plants and other plant species. On the bases of their uses the plant health improvement agents market can be bifurcated into synthetic fertilizers (nitrogen-based nutrients), micronutrients (Chelates) and plant growth regulators (minerals such as zinc, manganese and magnesium). Synthetic fertilizers have the largest market share for plant health improvement agents followed by micronutrients and plant health regulator.North America has the largest market share for plant health improvement agents, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific region is expected to become threat for North America as major market of plant health improvement agents. Asia-Pacific market is expected to witness double digit growth in the forecasted period owing to the technological advancement in the developing countries such as China and India.Increasing awareness about the importance of plant health paired with increasing horticulture knowledge is driving the global plant health improvement agents market. Additionally, rising healthcare costs coupled with healthier eating habit of the individual have increased demand for high values nutritious products such as proteins, nuts, vitamins and minerals. This is pushing the demand for plant health improvement agents use in horticulture. Also, farmers need to maximize their productivity yield per acre and to produce more with fewer resources is further increasing the demand of smart fertilizers, micronutrients and plant growth regulators.Request for Table of content:Some of the major companies operating in the global plant health improvement agents are Agrium Inc., ICL Fertilizers, The Mosaic Company., Yara International and Plant Health CareAbout Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Specialty Silicas Market: Information, Figures and Analytical Insights by 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3424 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3424 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Specialty silicas are chemical compounds that are made predominantly from silica or silicon dioxide (SiO2). Specialty silicas are found in shape of chunks, sawed or trimmed blocks, round pebbles, and other shapes. Specialty silicas are widely adopted in food and beverages industry, footwear manufacturing, rubbers and production of green tires.Request for Sample Report:On the basis of silica type, the global silicas market can be segmented as precipitated silica sol, silica gel, and fumed silica. Precipitated silica sol is the largest market segment of specialty silicas market owing to the increase use of it in automotive tyres manufacturing. Based on the various end user applications, the market can be segmented in three different categories namely chemicals, rubber, and food and beverages. Rubber was the largest market segment of specialty silicas in 2013. It is expected that rubber will be also the fastest growing market segment in the forecasted period owing to the increase adoption of silica rubbers in environment friendly automotive tyres. The demand of Silica sol is mainly expected from growing end user industries such as paper coatings and semiconductor polishing market.Increasing global concern over environmental sustainability coupled with different labeling regulations by the government in different part of the world is the major driver of this industry. Moreover better performance specification of green tires made up of specialty silicas such as higher resistance, less rolling friction enhance vehicle fuel economy, and increasing consumption of processed food and beverage, are some of the dominant drivers of the global specialty silicas market.Asia Pacific is the largest market of the specialty silicas followed by Europe and North America. The growth is highest in Asia Pacific region owing to growth of the sizable Chinese market especially in automotive industry. China accounts for more than half of the total market share of specialty silicas in Asia Pacific. It is then followed by India and Japan. Middle East and Europe are the other two fasted growing market of specialty silicas attributed to growing export-oriented manufacturing industries in this region. North America specialty silicas market is heading towards maturity and a below average growth is expected from this region.Request for Table of content:Some of the major companies operating in global specialty silicas market include, Akzo Nobel NV, Cabot Corporation, Ecolab Incorporated, Evonik Industries AG, Gujarat Multi Gas Base Chemicals Private Limited, Imerys SA, Oriental Silicas Corporation, Solvay SA, and Zhuzhou Xinglong Chemical Industry Company Limited.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Patient Warming Systems expected to account for a share of 71% of the Patient Temperature Management Market. Patient Temperature Management System Market Research Report and Forecast Till 2021 http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/research-report-healthcare-market/global-patient-temperature-management-market-strategic-assessment-and-forecast-till-2021/ http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/contactus/ The Patient Warming System is expected grow at a CAGR of 7.99% till 2021- Says a recent report published by Beige Market Intelligence. The report Patient Temperature Management Market- Strategic Assessment and Forecast Till 2021 gives a detailed analysis of the growth aspect of the market.The patient temperature management systems are the medical devices used to regulate patient temperature i.e. to maintain normothermia. Normothermia is defined as a bodys core temperature of 36C - 38C.The patient temperature management systems are used for both raising and lowering the temperature of the body to bring it to an optimum temperature which results into enhanced health outcomes. These systems offer several benefits such as lesser surgical site infections (SSIs), less stress and pain, reduced hospitalization, and reduced loss of blood. The large number of surgical procedures globally is the major factor propelling the growth of the market.Patient Warming SystemThese systems are used to increase the body temperature to an optimal stage. There are two types of patient warming system Convective Warming Systems - These systems warm the filtered air passing through the hose of the warming system, which is circulated and distributed evenly through various delivery channels Intravascular Warming Systems - Infusion of the heat through the fluid or blood that flows through sterile, disposable, latex-free, and non-pyrogenic cassettes that are loaded on the device. Surface Warming Systems - Circulating water mattresses, gel pads, heating pads, table pads, and heated water bottles are used to induce heat.The patient warming systems account for the large share of the market and are expected to grow at a highest CAGR of 8.0% during the forecast period -says the analyst at Beige Market Intelligence.Factors such as growing demand of warming systems owing to the benefits as compared to patient cooling systems is driving its growth. Rising demand for surgical procedures and guidelines set by the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) for adoption of patient warming systems in several indications is driving the market growth for patient temperature management solutions in perioperative care. The treatment of brain and CNS tumour involves surgical procedures or chemotherapy depending on the nature of tumour. These surgeries employ patient warming devices to provide warmth to the patient during surgeries. Patient warming therapy reduces the risk of complications in surgeries hence giving a major propel to the use of Patient Warming System.Patient Cooling SystemPatient cooling systems are the systems used to bring down the temperature of a persons body during emergencies to offer a better chance of survival. There are two types of patient cooling systems - invasive cooling systems - Inducing hypothermia and regulating it using femoral venous catheter or peripheral cannulanon-invasive cooling systems- Method of bring down temperature circulating cold water and cold forced air through blankets and cooling pads.The selection of these systems takes place depending on the health conditions of the patient.The patient cooling systems account for the 29% share of the market according to the report by Beige Market Intelligence.The treatment of chemotherapy used to treat cancer patients employs patient cooling systems to protect hair follicles and prevent hair loss. Thus, with the rise in number of cancer cases, the market for patient cooling systems is likely to propel.The various factors attributing to the growth of patient cooling and warming systems market are developing healthcare infrastructure, government initiatives increasing the affordability of patients for healthcare services.For More Information on the Report.To Purchase the Report with Discount, Click HereAbout Beige Market IntelligenceBeige Market Intelligence is a provider of competitive business intelligence, working across various industry verticals. Our expertise and knowledge ensures that the market analysis Beige provides is comprehensive, detailed and complete. The analysis helps our client organizations become aware and to make educated decisions, as far as investing or devising a marketing strategy is concerned. The actionable insights delivered through our market research provide a comprehensive market analysis for every level of market segmentation in an industry.Our team of experts ensure the analysis you receive is not just analyzed and presented, but can also be customized based on the clients requirement. Our deliverables guarantee our current global client base do not look beyond Beige when it comes to competitive intelligence.Beige has an employee base present across the globe. Our analysts come with numerous years of industry experience, which ensures we not only understand our clients but deliver high quality reports as well.Khyama PBeige Market IntelligenceChinnapannahalli Main Road, Bangalore-560037Mail: contactus@beigemarketintelligence.comUS: +1 347 903 9949UK: +44 20 323 99499APAC: +91 99 012 75473 Global Trade in Bicycles Wasted Its Growth http://www.indexbox.co.uk/store/world-bicycles-and-other-cycles-not-motorized-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2020/ http://www.indexbox.co.uk/news/global-trade-in-bicycles-wasted-its-growth/ www.indexbox.co.uk According to recently published IndexBox research World: Bicycles And Other Cycles (Not Motorized) - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2020 (), the global trade in bicycles amounted to 9,553 million USD in 2015, fluctuating mildly over the period under review. A significant drop in 2009 was followed by robust growth over next three years, until it levelled off through to 2015. Overall, there was an annual increase of 6.1% from 2007 to 2015.China continued to dominate in the global supplies of bicycles. In 2015, China's exports of bicycles totaled 3,516 million USD, which accounted for a 37% share of global exports. Taipei, the Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal were the other key global suppliers of bicycles in 2015, with a 37% combined share of global exports.Germany (+12.4% per year) and the Netherlands (+10.9% per year) were the fastest growing exporters from 2007 to 2015. The Netherlands strengthened its position in the global export structure, growing its share from 6% in 2007 to 9% in 2015.On the other hand, USA (20%, based on value terms), Japan (9%), Germany (8%), the UK (7%), and the Netherlands (6%) were the leading destinations of imports of bicycles in 2015. Imports to the Netherlands grew at a quick pace of +10.1% per year from 2007 to 2015. By contrast, the UK contracted its imports of bicycles over the same period. The Netherlands increased its share of global imports by +2 percentage points, while the share of the UK illustrated negative dynamics (-3 percentage points).Source and figures:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. We conduct market research and publish reports. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, LondonWebsite: Vietnam Emerged as Major Global Exporter of Cash Registers http://www.indexbox.co.uk/store/world-cash-registers-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2020/ http://www.indexbox.co.uk/news/vietnam-emerged-as-major-global-exporter-of-cash-registers/ www.indexbox.co.uk According to recently published IndexBox research World: Cash Registers - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2020 (), the global trade in cash registers amounted to 2,864 million USD in 2015, showing strong fluctuations over the period under review. A significant drop in 2009 was followed by a recovery over the next three years, until exports posted a slight decline in 2013, bouncing back the year after. Overall, there was an annual increase of +7.5% from 2007 to 2015.According to IndexBox estimates, China continued its dominance in the global supplies of cash registers. In 2015, China's exports of cash registers totaled 894.9 million USD, which accounted for a 23% share of global exports. Vietnam, USA, Malaysia, and Taipei were the other key global suppliers of cash registers in 2015, with a 36% combined share of global exports.Vietnam and Malaysia were the fastest growing exporters from 2007 to 2015. Vietnam rushed into the global cash registers exports, growing its share from fairly 0% in 2007 to 14% in 2015.On the other hand, USA (23%, based on value terms), the UK (8%), Australia (4%), Singapore (4%), and Germany (4%) were the leading destinations of imports of cash registers in 2015. Imports to Singapore grew at a rapid pace of +28.7% per year from 2007 to 2015. By contrast, USA significantly contracted its imports of cash registers over the same period. The share of Singapore in terms of global imports increased significantly (+3 percentage points), while the share of the USA illustrated negative dynamics (-8 percentage points).Source and figures:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. We conduct market research and publish reports. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, LondonWebsite: South Africa Corrosion Protection Coatings & Acid Proof Linings Market to Reach US$ 318.4 Mn in 2016 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-za-1767 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-za-1767 www.futuremarketinsights.com The undue exposure to chemical and mechanical abrasion continues to distress the operational efficiency in several end-use industries, fuelling demand for effective corrosion protection coatings and durable acid proof linings in South Africa. In 2016, the corrosion protection coatings and acid proof linings market in South Africa is expected to reach US$ 313.1 Mn, growing at a y-o-y growth of 4.3% over 2015. Additionally, the rising trend of adopting technologically-advanced corrosion coatings has induced the need for developing materials that can sustain highly-volatile deterioration.In addition to the eminent need for protecting industrial surfaces against exterior erosion, the increasing focus on safeguarding the operational performance in South African end-use industries is considered to be a major driver for the growth of the regions corrosion protection coatings and acid proof linings market. The growing automation in the manufacturing of automobiles and chemicals has resulted in the demand for enhanced coatings that provide a permanent solution to mechanical as well as chemical corrosion. On the other hand, the growth of the South Africa corrosion protection coatings and acid proof linings market is curbed due to the recent downfall of the regions mining and quarrying industry, which has been recognised to be the foremost end-user industry for corrosion protection coatings and acid proof linings.Request Free Report Sample@By product-type, polymer coatings are expected to witness robust growth, with total revenues expected to reach US$ 227.6 Mn in 2016. Moreover, the demand for waterborne polymer coatings is expected to surpass the demand for solvent-based coatings owing to growing VOC emission regulations.Based on the end-users, the oil & gas industries and the chemical manufacturers in South Africa are expected to register impressive growth in 2016. Due to the decline in mining sector, the end-user consumption of corrosion protection coatings and acid proof linings in metallurgy industries will endure a noticeable decline. Further, the automotive and construction segment will continue to increase its market share to 17.7% by the end of 2016.Send An Enquiry@The change in manufacturing paradigm of corrosion protection coatings and acid proof linings will exhibit the growth in production of eco-friendly coating materials, inciting the consumption of such coatings among several end-users. Key manufacturers include, BASF SE, The Weir Group PLC, Ferro South Africa (Pty) Ltd., and SGS South Africa (Pty) Ltd., among others. PUMBA LININGS, J&J Rubber Linings (Pty) Ltd. and Thermalloy (Pty) Ltd., are among the leading service providers, whereas The Dow Chemical Company, Ashland Inc., and AMPA Plastics represent the raw material suppliers for corrosion protection coatings and acid proof linings in South Africa.Long-term Outlook: In terms of market value, the South Africa corrosion protection coatings and acid proof linings market will expand at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period 2016-2026.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Ambulance and Emergency Equipment Market Global Trends, Analysis and Forecast 2015 to 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3826 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3826 Ambulance and emergency equipment refers to the medical equipment that facilitates patient care during medical exigencies, such as accidents and surgeries, helps prevent loss of life, and minimizes personal injuries. Emergency equipment can be found in laboratories and hospitals. Technological advancement, increasing incidence of accidents, and growing aging population are some of the main boosters driving the ambulance and emergency equipment market. On the basis of medical services, this market can be segmented into transportation equipment, equipment used for burn care, diagnostics and infection control equipment, blood and hemorrhage control devices, and respiratory, hypothermia, and cardiac equipment. On the basis of modes of transport, the ambulance and emergency equipment market can be classified into ground ambulance service, air ambulance service, and water ambulance service. On the basis of equipment, this market can be divided into advance life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS).Request to view Sample Report @North America, followed by Europe, has the largest market for ambulance and emergency equipment owing to technological advancement, increasing prevalence of chronic disorders, rise in healthcare expenditure, and developed healthcare infrastructure in this region. Asia is expected to exhibit a high growth rate in the ambulance and emergency equipment market in the next few years given the developing healthcare infrastructure, rise in prevalence of accidents, increasing disposable income, growing incidence of various diseases, increasing elderly population, and rise in awareness about emergency equipment available in the market in the region.Growing need for emergency medical services, rise in aging population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, government initiatives, changing lifestyle, growing number of emergency medical hospitalization cases, and technological advancement are expected to drive the global market for ambulance and emergency equipment. In addition, increasing incidence of natural calamities, changing lifestyle, favorable reimbursement scenario, increasing incidence of accidents, and wide range of application area for ambulance and emergency equipment are expected to propel this equipment. However, high cost related to emergency care services and lack of skilled professionals are two major factors restraining the growth for global ambulance and emergency equipment market.Request to view Table of content @Growing demographics and economies in the developing countries, such as India and China, is expected to fuel the expansion of the ambulance and emergency equipment market in Asia. In addition, innovations along with technological advancement, rise in demand for emergency medical services, rising incidence of accidents, increasing research and development activities, incessantly growing aging population, and discovery of more applications of ambulatory and emergency equipment are expected to offer new opportunities for the said market. Market trends include frequent mergers and acquisitions, rise in the number of collaborations and partnerships, and new product launches. Major companies operating in the global ambulance and emergency equipment market are 3M, CO., BLS Systems, Ltd., Covidine, GE Healthcare, MCKESSON CORP., Stryker, and Allied healthcare products. Some other companies operating in this market are Drager Medical, Inc., Tree Medical, Ambu A/S, Emergency Medical International, First Care Products, Ltd., and Emergency Medical Products, Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Market is progressing towards a strong growth by 2015 - 2021 Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Market, Augmented Reality Virtual Reality Market http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4723 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4723 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The global augmented reality & virtual reality market is expected to grow at a substantial growth rate especially in training and infotainment market. Heavy penetration is the wide spectrum of application areas for these technologies. Virtual reality application in healthcare shows a tremendous growth and driving the market for augmented reality & virtual reality. It is a field of computer research which deals with the combination of real-world and computer generated data. Augmented reality consists of various benefits which includes interactive in real time, also data can be generated in real-time. Augmented reality has various applications which include video games (physical interaction with 3D models), presentations, television, theme park, and simulations (driving, flying etc.).Request for TOC @The report contains the global scenario of augmented reality & virtual reality market discussing detailed overview and market figures. The research report analyses the industry growth rate, industry capacity, and industry structure. The report analyses the historical data and forecasts the augmented reality & virtual reality market size, production forecasts along with key factors driving and restraining the market growth.The global augmented reality & virtual reality market is segmented into two major categories, on the basis of technology into augmented and virtual reality technologies, on the basis of sensors and components into sensors, semiconductor components, augmented reality sensors and components, virtual reality sensors and components. The market is also segmented by application into E-commerce, gaming, medical, education, military and other industrial applications. The market is further segmented by geography into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and rest of the world regions. Among these regional markets, Asia Pacific registered the fastest growth rate during the forecast period from 2013 to 2019.The global augmented reality & virtual reality market is driven by factors such as the increasing demand in healthcare, boosting demand for smartphones. Rising Prevalence of Computer Technology and Internet Connectivity will also act as drivers for the global augmented reality & virtual reality market.Some of the factors inhibiting the growth of the global augmented reality & virtual reality market are privacy and awareness, image latency. Requirement of hardware is also restraining the growth of the global augmented reality & virtual reality market. Programming physics, costs, under development and graphics are also other factors restraining the growth of the global augmented reality & virtual reality market. The emerging applications and increase in R&D initiatives will serve as an opportunity, fuelling the growth of the global augmented reality & virtual reality market.Request for Sample Report @Some of the key players dominating the market are Blippar, Catchoom, Innovega Inc., Laster Technologies, Metaio Gmbh, Total Immersion, Vertalis Ltd, Augmented Pixels Co., Kooaba AG, Kishino Limited, Qualcomm Incorporated, Wikitude Gmbh and others. Earlier the global augmented reality & virtual reality market was dominated by players with relatively low brand image. However, after the entrance of new big players in the industry, the demand for augmented reality & virtual reality has increased among the consumers.Key geographies evaluated in this report are: North Americao U.So Canada Europeo France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UKo Eastern Europeo CIS APACo Chinao Indiao Japano Australiao Others Latin Americao Argentinao Brazilo OthersKey features of this report Drivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality market dynamics Latest innovations and key events in the industry Analysis of business strategies of the top players Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Bioabsorbable Stents Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2015 to 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3827 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3827 Stents are commonly used in the treatment of blocked arteries. They are tiny and expandable mesh tubes that hold arteries open and help treat coronary and peripheral artery diseases. Bioabsorbable stents are defined as fully biodegradable stents that completely disappear overtime.Request to view Sample Report @Bioabsorbable stents can be broadly classified into two main types: polymeric bioabsorbable stents and metallic alloy bioabsorbable stents. Polymeric bioabsorbable stents are widely used in cardiovascular devices. Polymers used in bioabsorbable stents are Poly-L-Lactic acid (PLLA), Poly (D, L-lactide/glycolide) copolymer (PDLA), Polyglycolic Acid (PGA), and polycaprolactone. Usage of bioabsorbable polymer coating reduces the need for extended dual anti-platelet therapy and reduces thrombotic events. Poly-L-Lactic acid is widely used in medicine and breaks down lactic acid into natural metabolites in the human body. After that, Poly-L-Lactic acid enters into Krebs cycle and metabolized carbon dioxide and water.Iron and magnesium are the most frequently used metal alloys used to make metallic bioabsorbable stents. Factors that determine the biocompatibility of these metal alloys are their solubility and degradation products. Magnesium bioabsorbable stents are the most commonly used metallic alloy stents in disease management as magnesium is an essential element of the human body. It induces rapid endothelialization and lowers thrombogenicity. Magnesium bioabsorbable stents have a lower degradation time of about 2 3 months compared to iron-based bioabsorbale stents.Geographically, North America dominates the global bioabsorbable stents market owing to the increased awareness about the important role played by bioabsorbable stents in the treatment of coronary ailments in the region. In addition, technological advancements in bioabsorbable stents products is also supporting in the growth of this market in North America. The U.S. represents the largest market for bioabsorbable stents, followed by Canada, in North America. In Europe, Germany, Italy, the U.K., and France holds major shares of the bioabsorbable stents market. However, Asia is expected to exhibit a high growth rate in the next five years in the global bioabsorbable stents market given the increasing public awareness about various coronary and peripheral artery diseases in the region. Japan, China, and India are expected to be the fastest growing bioabsorbable stents markets in Asia.In recent times, increasing prevalence of coronary and peripheral artery diseases is the key driver of the global bioabsorbable stents market. Bioabsorbable stents avoid stent-in-stent procedures. They also eliminate the need for dual anti-platelet therapies and treat coronary artery diseases more effectively. Accurate stent placement and low cost treatment also attract patients to adopt bioabsorbable stents for disease management.However, slow adoption rate of stents in disease management is the key restraint faced by the global bioabsorbable stents market. High risks of complications associated with bioabsorbable stents and high selling price also hampers the market growth. In addition, inadequate reimbursement policies and presence of substitutes are some of the major challenges faced by the global bioabsorbable stents market. Rising number of product launches and increasing mergers and acquisitions between key players are key trends of this market.Request to view Table of content @Major companies operating in the global bioabsorbable stents market are Abbott Laboratories, Arterial Remodeling Technologies SA, Amaranth Medical, Inc., BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG, REVA Medical, Inc., Kyoto Medical Planning, Co., Ltd., and Elixir Medical Corporation.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Bone Grafts Market Would Register a Healthy Growth Rate During the Forecast 2015 to 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3836 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3836 Implants are used to treat orthopedic, dental and spinal injuries. In many medical conditions, such as injuries and trauma, bone grafts are used to stimulate the growth of new bone which supports implants. Most bone grafts materials are derived from human and animal bones.Request to view Sample Report @In addition, bone grafting is a surgical procedure which is used to fix problems associated with joints or bones. Bone grafting and transplanting of joint tissue plays a vital role in fixing of bones after injuries and trauma. The bone used in a bone graft can come from patients own body, from a donor, or could be entirely manmade. Bone grafts are mainly classified into two types: allograft and autograft. In allograft, graft uses bone from a donor or a cadaver that has been stored in tissue banks. However, autograft is defined as those types of grafts which are made from a bone inside patient body such as hips and ribs. The use of bone grafts depend on the types of injuries and diseases. For instance, allograft is mainly used in the treatment of knee, hip, arms and legs injuries.The global bone grafts market is segmented into standard allografts, demineralized bone matrix (DBM), machined bone allografts, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), synthetic bone grafts and stem cell based bone grafts.In terms of geographic, North America dominates the global bone grafts market. This is due to increased awareness about importance of bone grafting procedures in the region. In addition, increased adoption of cell-based matrices is also supporting in the growth of bone grafts market in the region. The U.S. represents the largest market for bone grafts followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, Germany, Italy, the U.K. and France holds major share of bone grafts market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global bone grafts market. This is due to increasing public awareness towards bone regeneration in the region. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing bone grafts markets in Asia.In recent time, rising number of aging populations is key driver of the global bone grafts market. Increasing number of spinal fusion and joint reconstruction surgeries, along with advanced bone grafts and increased public awareness of bone regeneration achieved through biologics are also supporting in the growth of global bone grafts market. Moreover, rising prevalence of periodontal diseases coupled with increasing incidences of dental fractures have fueled the demand of dental bone grafts market.However, stringent regulations obstruct the growth of bone grafts market. In addition, high cost of bone grafting surgeries and inadequate reimbursement policies for bone grafting also hampers the growth of global bone grafts market. Rapid product launches and increasing mergers and acquisitions between bone graft systems manufacturing companies are some of the major trends in the global bone grafts market.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major companies operating in the global bone grafts market are Zimmer Holdings, Inc., BioMimetic Therapeutics LLC, Wright Medical Technology, Inc., Stryker Corporation, Smith & Nephew Plc, RTI Surgical, Inc., Olympus Biotech Corporation, NuVasive, Inc., NovaBone Products LLC, Medtronic, Inc., LifeNet Health, Inc., Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, Exactech, Inc., DePuy Spine, Inc., Synthes Inc., DePuy Synthes Companies, Biomet, Inc. and AlloSource.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Global Purified Terephthalic Acid Market: In-Depth Market Research Report 2014 - 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3434 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3434 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Purified terephthalic acid (PTA) is a chemical which is synthesized from crude oil. It is majorly used to manufacture polyester fiber. Its end-user industries include textile and home furnishing where PTA is required to manufacture garments such as bed sheets, curtains and clothes.Request for Sample Report:The market for purified terephthalic is expected to witness noticeable expansion in the coming years with the growing demand for polyester, specifically in China. Furthermore, the country is emerging as a global textile manufacturing hub with low-cost labor further driving the growth of the purified terephthalic acid market. Polyethylene terephthalate which acts as a successor to PTA is also expected to make an impact on the PTA market in accordance to its end-user industries.Several growth factors such as growing per capita consumption in emerging regions such as China and significant growth of the textile industry is expected to boost the demand for the PTA market. However, fluctuating prices in energy sources such as crude oil required to produce PTA is expected to affect profitability of PTA manufacturers thereby impacting the growth of the market. Beer and other alcoholic beverage industries as well as household product containers are still dominated by the glass industry, which could be an unexplored market for PTA consumption thereby, providing new opportunities for the growth of the market.Asia Pacific was the largest consumer for purified terephthalic acid, followed by North America and Europe. Future market growth is expected to be from Asia Pacific as well owing to the improving living standards as well as cross-country usage of PTA products.Request for Table of content:Alfa, S.A.B. de C.V., CPC Corporation, Far Eastern Group, Honam Petrochemical Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc., Reliance Industries Ltd., Samyang Chemical Co., Ltd. and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation are some of major producers of purified terephthalic acid dominating the market.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Botanical and Plant Derived Drugs Market is Rising due to the Worldwide Usage of these Drugs http://bit.ly/2dZcwhz http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/botanical-plant-derived-drugs.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Botanical drugs are drugs develop through botanical drug and research pathway, whereas plant derived drugs are combination of botanical as well as other approved drugs that contains plant materials, synthetic and semi synthetic substances. These botanical products are intended for use in the mitigation, cure, diagnosis and treatment or prevention of diseases in humans.Get the Market Growth Factors of Botanical and Plant Derived Drugs at:The global market for botanical and plant derived drugs is witnessing a significant growth over recent years due to rising usage of these drugs in different parts of the world. Increased focus of research institutes and clinical trial studies, price reduction and improved technological and sociological development are major driving factors for the growth of this market. However, low acceptance of these drugs for the treatment of lethal diseases is a major restraint for the market. On the other hand, rising number of FDA approved botanical drugs and their application is a key opportunity for the market. Some of the major classes of botanical and plant derived drugs are Tarpenes and Steroids, Glycosides, Ergot Alkaloids, Morphine Alkaloids and Vinca Alkaloids.Read the Forward Looking Perspective of Botanical and Plant Derived Drugs Industries at:Global market of botanical and plant derived drugs market is primarily divided into two segments: based on geography and based on therapeutic applications. The U.K., Germany and France are major countries of the European Region. On the basis of therapeutic application, the market is segmented into hormone related disease therapy, infectious diseases, pain and central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, respiratory and oncology diseases treatment. Some of the major players operating in the market are Abott Laboratories, Bayer Healthcare, Bionova, Bristol Myers and CurapharmTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Nuclear Power Safety Backups Market Global Market Opportunity Assessment Study 2020. http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2921 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Rapid rise in the global demand for nuclear power is expected to boost the demand for nuclear power industry and thus nuclear power safety backup market. New programs developed by governments worldwide are estimated to propel the demand for nuclear power industry. Post-Fukushima, several governments have recommended installation of backup generators for nuclear power plants to guard against floods and tsunami. Increasing number of countries worldwide is introducing energy generation from nuclear power plants as a part of their generation mix. This is expected to boost the demand for nuclear power safety backup devices for nuclear power plant in the future.The market for the global nuclear power plant safety backups can be segmented on the basis of the safety measures and geography. The global market for nuclear power plant safety backups on the basis of safety measures can be segmented as: a robust containment to prevent the release of radioactivity, a combination of active and passive to remove heat from the core of the reactor, and shutdown systems and thus shutdown the reactor safely.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights :The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safety standards are likely to fuel an additional demand for nuclear power plant safety backup worldwide. The safety standards establish fundamental safety measures, requirements and principles to control radiation exposure, to restrict the likelihood of events in the future. Moreover, the safety standards fundamental safety measures requirements and principles to control the release of radioactive material to the environment and to mitigate consequences of such events in the future is expected to boost the demand for nuclear power plant safety backups around the world.The market for the nuclear power plant safety backup is rising and is expected to rise moderately in the future. The following underlying factors are the key drivers of growth in the global nuclear power plant safety backup market. The increasing share of nuclear power plants in the total power generation mix of the nations are the key drivers of growth in the global nuclear power plant safety backup market. Rapid rise in global demand for energy along with depleting fossil fuels is estimated to propel the demand for nuclear power plant safety backup measures and devices.Increasing efforts by governments of both developing and developed nations to raise public awareness of safety tests and reassure them of the safety of both existing as well as proposed plants. Deteriorating support for nuclear in the countries (the U.S, Japan, France, Germany) could impede growth in the nuclear industry. However, IAEAs safety standards are anticipated to boost the global demand for nuclear power plant safety backups.The global market for nuclear power plant safety backup is expected to rise significantly in the future. North America and Europe are estimated to hold the considerable share of the nuclear power plant safety backup devices and equipments. Asia Pacific is one of the key players in the nuclear power plant backup market. The market is expected to register moderate to high growth in this region on account of increasing demand for nuclear power plants in China, India, and Japan among others.Some of the key players in this industry segment include: Chubu Electric Power Company, Kansai Electric Power Company, Tohoku Electric Power Company, and Japan Atomic Power Company among others. The responsible agencies for the security of nuclear power plants include: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Defense Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR), Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (India) among others.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207 Needle Guidance System Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2016 - 2024 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11722 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/11722 Needle Guidance System is breakthrough technology in diagnosis and ultrasound-guided procedures as well as other critical procedures and surgeries. Needle guidance system provides needle localization information enabling the medical professional to perform a particular procedure. Inserting needle blindly onto the epidural space was difficult and led to various risks during the procedures such as biopsy, invasive radiology and others, therefore improved guidance system such as needle guidance systems are introduced in real-time procedures. The needle guidance system monitors the needle to enter the target that is in the epidural space enabling the health providers to increase access to care. There are significant advances in the field of anesthesiology, major medical technology companies are primarily focusing on developing new features such as electromagnetic sensors and GPS technology to improve efficiency in performance and aid medical professionals. Ultrasound needle guides are widely used in various types of procedures such as peripheral nerve block, the system enhances visualization of needle and reduces the potential of complications increasing patient safety.Request for Sample Copy@Globally, the number of diseases are increasing rapidly due to the factors such as changing lifestyle, aging, smoking, weak immunity, alcohol consumption and obesity. These factors the lead to various health disorders such as arrhythmia, cancer which when diagnosed at proper stage are treatable if not, ultimately leading to death. Varicose disease is one of such disease where needle guidance systems are used to clear the veins by sclerotherapy. There are various advantages of needle guidance system such as improving accuracy, visualization of needle, reduces risks associated during intraneural and intravascular injections. Real-time 3D ultrasound based motion tracking is one of the focus segments where needle guidance systems can have a potential application, as suggested by scientists. Physicians are now changing their focus from general or traditional methods of biopsies to using advanced technologies such as needle guidance system to perform better procedures.With increasing number of biopsies, the needle guidance system market is expected to have substantial growth prospect during the forecast period (2016-2024). The major factors which are expected to be driving the growth of needle guidance system market are increasing prevalence of cancer and cardiac disorders, advancement in diagnostic technologies, increasing healthcare infrastructure. While the factors affecting the needle guidance system market are lack of healthcare accessibility, limited number of skilled medical professionals, low adoption of advanced technologies in developing countries and more. Needle guidance system market is rapidly gaining acceptance in North America and Europe, where hospitals and diagnostic centers are adopting the innovative systems to perform surgical procedures. Image-guided needle biopsies have proven to be useful in definitive diagnosis of breast cancer with high accuracy and clinical benefits as well as ease of operation.Request for Table of Content@On the basis of regional presence, needle guidance system market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Currently, North America is expected to capture the largest market share for needle guidance systems due to high adoption rate and advanced healthcare facilities. Europe, is estimated to capture second largest market share in the needle guidance system market. The needle guidance system market in Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa is expected to register high CAGR owing to increase in healthcare expenditure and emerging medical technology companies in coming years.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Global Military Mobile Computing Systems Market To Exhibit 7.51% CAGR 2016-2020 Propelled By Rising Demand For Rugged Computers http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/825416 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Military mobile computing systems comprise of electrical devices and systems that are primarily used to transmit real-time information, voice, videos, and data signals that are essential for handling defense operations. The defense industry is consistently implementing new mobile computing systems in their operations with an aim to shift to the new-generation systems. The advancing technology has made new mobile computing systems more reliable, cost-effective, flexible, secure, and faster than the traditional ones. For the defense and military authorities, mobile computing systems have become an important tool to enhance their operations in harsh environments. These are some of the findings of a new report added by MarketResearchReports.biz to its database of research reports.The report, titled Global Military Mobile Computing Systems Market 2016-2020, states that the global market is predicted to exhibit a 7.51% CAGR during the period between 2016 and 2020. The global military mobile computing systems market is primarily propelled by the rising demand for rugged computers. However, the analysts predict that the global market is likely to be challenged by a secure military cloud. Although the global market is challenged by a few factors, it is expected to be benefited by the new developments and product launches from key companies. The entry of new companies is also likely to contribute towards the growth of the global military mobile computing system market. Advancements in military programs is a new trend in the global market, expected to benefit the key players.The global military mobile computing systems market is segmented on the basis of region, device, and system. By system, the global military mobile computing systems market is classified into radio, smartphones, tablet, and PCs/laptops. Leading manufacturers are focusing on manufacturing new mobile computing systems that are suitable for different smartphones. The rising demand for smartphones and rugged computers is expected to propel this global market, say the analysts. Based on region, the global military mobile computing system market is divided into the Americas, APAC, and EMEA.For Sample Copy, click here:BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Harris, Rockwell Collins, Thales, Elbit Systems, L-3 Communications, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon are some of the leading companies operating in the global military mobile computing systems market. Companies are currently focused on introducing new mobile computing systems that are compatible with rugged computers.As new companies plan to enter the mainstream, they concentrate on adopting new technologies so as to increase their share in the global market. With mergers and acquisitions, the startup companies are likely to benefit in the form of new technologies and trends, which is likely to benefit the global market for military mobile computing systems. By acquiring new companies, key companies are planning to maintain their dominance throughout the forecast period.MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Centurysoft tied up Channel Mark Ventures to improve AI-Based CRM called Inteladesk. Centurysoft tied up Channel Mark Ventures 2016 New York, United States Centurysoft, a software professional company today announced investment partnership with Channelmark, a smart consultant and capital investment company to develop Artificial intelligence CRM call Inteladesk.Channelmark is an strong business entity and well known capitalist who is investing more into modern technologies and upcoming innovations. Whereas Centurysoft has a strong technological expertise who are always keen in adapting advance skill set and capable of working on niche technologies into various industry. Looking at the industry prospect both of them decided to collaborate by forming a partnership and merge into a product called Inteladesk.Centurysofts capabilities of developing enterprise solutions has always open new doors for entrepreneur .We as a team has always been first choice for out of the box thinkers. Inteladesk concept is still like a time travel for companies who are working hard to establish themselves in this industry. Amazing part about Inteladesk is it can be trained on different decision taking and logical models.Its a Next big thing. Says Mr. Khalid RizwanInteladesk is an robust AI Solution for Customer Care industry, this solution is designed to user experience with capabilities to grow sales, lead captures , and deliver great customer service. Inteladesk is a Live Artificial Intelligent Virtual Agent automated engagement website visitor management system that complements any insight-driven / sales acceleration / customer response business for their specific domain, allowing Inteladesk to essentially drive a personalized sales experience for your website.Centurysoft is an young professional company who are very rich in their thoughts. I appreciate their enthusiasm and passion toward developing Inteladesk and making it success, said Mr. Danny Oshea, Head of Channelmark.About CenturysoftCenturysoft is a dynamic technological solution company. We provide world class modern business solutions to the wide range of Industries.Centurysoft is known for providing clients a superior engagement experience through a combination of business acumen, intellectual curiosity, collaborative work style, and strong partnerships with award-winning vendors into Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligences Technologies. Centurysofts deep technical expertise mitigates project risk and reduces total cost of ownership for our customers.We empower customers with rapid increase into Business performance by understanding their core Business requirements and delivering them high performed tailored solutions.ChannelmarkFounded in 2002, Channel Mark is an integrated digital marketing agency and venture investment company.Were redefining the term capital investor with the inception of Brand Capital Investors a new model venture that brings emerging digital innovations together with our companys proven creative brand building capabilities. We utilize industry leading vertical integrations to build exceptional brands from the ground up.Recent NewsCenturysoft made a commitment to always be a step ahead in providing business intelligence servicesCenturysoft proved to be a highly-skilled, flexible workforce that adapts to evolving technologies.A product launch spearheaded by Centurysoft was held in the Tableau 16 ConferenceCenturysoft made it to the list of elite companies with expertise in artificial and business intelligenceCenturysoft topped the list of the most reputable tableau service providers in the worldCenturysoft is a dynamic technological solution company. We provide world class modern business solutions to the wide range of Industries.Centurysoft is known for providing clients a superior engagement experience through a combination of business acumen, intellectual curiosity, collaborative work style, and strong partnerships with award-winning vendors into Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligences Technologies. Centurysofts deep technical expertise mitigates project risk and reduces total cost of ownership for our customers.We empower customers with rapid increase into Business performance by understanding their core Business requirements and delivering them high performed tailored solutions.Name- CenturysoftAddress- 80 Red Schoolhouse Rd, Suite 109,Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977Mail- pr@centurysoft.comMobile Number- 7741884540 Bone Metastasis Therapeutics Market Expand Their Businesses With New Investments by 2024 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11731 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/11731 Increasing investment by multinational companies in cancer research is expected to drive the growth of global bone metastasis therapeutics market during the forecast period. Based on treatment type, the global market for bone metastasis therapeutics has been classified as drug treatment, Tumor ablation therapy, and surgery. Drug treatment segment is foreseen to lead the market owing to easy availability of drugs and better reimbursement policies. Targeted therapeutic agents sub-segment of drug treatment segment is expected grow rapidly due to increasing acceptance of biological therapy owing to lesser side effects.Request for Sample Copy@By end user, the global bone metastasis therapeutics market has been segmented into hospitals, Clinics, cancer rehabilitation center and ambulatory surgical centers. Hospital end user segment is anticipated to contribute the maximum share among end users owing to the requirement of advanced healthcare infrastructure for management of bone metastasis symptoms. According to a study conducted by Amgen Inc., average hospitalization stay of cancer bone metastasis patients is 5.9 to 11.6 days, and almost 59% of the inpatient cost is attributed to skeletal-related events (SREs) such as radiation to the bone, spinal cord compression, pathologic fracture, etc.By regional presence, bone metastasis therapeutics market is segmented into five key regions viz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. North America will continue to dominate the global bone metastasis therapeutics market for due to high prevalence of malignant neoplasm. Europe is expected to hold second largest market share in global bone metastasis therapeutics market.Request for Table of Content@Some of the major players in global bone metastasis therapeutics market include F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Bayer AG, Merck & Co., Pfizer Inc. Novartis AG, Amgen Inc., Pharmalucence, Inc., Fresenius Kabi AG, Omega Laboratories Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company, and others. The majority of the key players are involved in development of new methods for treatment of cancer bone metastasis in collaboration with cancer research institutes such as M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, etc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Contrast Media/Contrast Agents Market Grows Owning To Innovations In Technology, 2016 - 2024 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10750 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10750 Contrast media and agent market have significantly evolved over the past century. Initially, Iodine and Barium-based agents were used by radiologists and practitioners, now gold nanoparticle and radio pharmaceuticals are used. Advanced techniques such as gas micro bubble technology in gas and MRI imaging technology will prove as an essentials drivers in the wide use contrast agents.Request for Sample Copy@Global contrast agent and media market is fairly mature at current stage and still have the potential to groom in coming years. Some factors supporting to the growth of this market are diagnostic imaging, image guided surgical procedures, increasing rates of cardiac and cancer disorders and advancements in diagnostic technology. U.S. is currently holding the maximum shares of this market, followed by Japan and Europe.Increasing demand for image guided procedures and diagnostics, increasing incidence and mortality of cardiac and Cancer diseases, technology advancements in medical imaging market are some of the major driving forces resulting into the growth of the market. With these economies undergoing medical reforms affecting the sales of contrast agents and economic slowdowns are some factors restraining the growth of the market. Growing investments in immature markets and advanced contrast reagents having properties of contrast media and radio pharmaceuticals are some opportunities in contrast agent market.Contrast media and agents market is segmented on the basis of product type, route of administration, medical procedure, indication, application and geography. On the basis of product the market is segmented into Barium-based contrast media, Iodinated contrast media and Gadolinium-based contrast media. On the basis of route of administration the market is segmented into oral, injectable, rectal and ureteral. With this, on the basis of medical procedure the market is segmented into X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound and Catheterization laboratory. The indication based market segments are cardiovascular disorders, Respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal disorders and nepoherological disorders. On the basis of application the market is segmented into radiology, interventional radiology and interventional cardiology. On the basis of geography the market is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC and RoW.Request for Table of Content@Amag pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bayer healthcare pharmaceuticals, Bracco Imaging Spa, Covidien, Cmc Contrast AB, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., GE Healthcare, Genovis AB, Guerbet Group,Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., Nanopet Pharma GmbH., Nanoscan Imaging, LLC.,Sanochemia Pharmazeutika AG, Spago Imaging AB, Subhra Pharma Private, Ltd. and Taejoon Pharm Co., Ltd., are some of the key players in contrast media and agents market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Global Electronic Access Control Systems Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.6% from 2014 to 2019 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/2885 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/electronic-access-control-systems-market/toc Persistence Market Research Released New Market Report on Global Market Study on Electronic Access Control (EAC) Systems: Biometric Systems to Witness Highest Growth by 2019, the global Electronic Access Control systems market was valued at USD 15,406.1 million in 2013 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.6% from 2014 to 2019, to reach an estimated value of USD 31,187.8 million in 2019.View Sample Report @Increasing crime and terror attacks demand high-end security. Need for better security systems to tackle fraudulence, illegal immigration, and criminal activity has propelled governments to invest in better security systems. Among which Electronic Access Control system stands apart from other security system. Rising terrorist attacks, vandalism, and violence in public places such as city centers, educational institutions have made security as one of the major concerns for every individual, organizations and government agencies. Advantages such as high accuracy, convenience, and time efficiency of Electronic Access Control (EAC) systems increase its attractiveness in the global security market. Rising terrorist attacks, vandalism, and violence in public places such as city centers and educational institutions are some of the factors leading to increasing demand for Electronic Access Control systems market. According to Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), one of the worlds top terrorism trackers, 2012 witnessed 69% rise in terror attacks and 89% increase in fatalities caused by them over 2011. Increasing crime and terror attacks demand high end security.Increasing international trade and privatization have influenced the government and private sector to invest in better infrastructure facilities. Construction of roads, residential buildings, healthcare centers and educational institutes are expected to increase in the coming future increasing the demand for EAC system market in order to attain better security levels. Local and national government have instructed the private sector to invest in security systems for the prevention of population and property from illegal acts. Mobile device with advanced sensor technologies is currently generating a shift toward biometrics system. EAC system is bifurcated into three major technologies, authentication system (biometric and card based authentication system), intruder alarm system and perimeter security system (free standing, buried cable and fence mounted security system) and end-user segment (government, commercial, industrial and residential).Request TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:The global market for EAC system in value term grew from USD 10.1 billion in 2009 to USD 15.4 billion in 2013, and is expected to grow to USD 31.2 billion in 2019 growing at a CAGR of 12.6%. The authentication system (largest market in 2013) increased by 13.1% CAGR during 2009-2013 to reach USD 11.7 billion in 2013. The Asia-Pacific EAC systems market is expected to record the highest CAGR growth of 16.7% to reach USD 9.6 billion in 2019. Usage of EAC system in commercial sector (largest end-user in 2013) increased by 13.9% CAGR during 2009-2013 to reach USD 4.6 billion in 2013.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Tech-nology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Elec-tronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business deci-sions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solu-tions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com IoT Security Market : One of the major factors driving the market growth is need for the regulatory compliance, 2021 IoT Security Market, IoT Security http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4982 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4982 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The Internet of Things has access to organizations existing operational technology (OT) networks and information technology in addition to multiple devices, sensors and other smart objects. Increasing dependence on the existing network connectivity gives rise to challenges including security threats. The priority and focus of the IT network is to protect data confidentially and secure access, ensuring operational and employee safety. Thus, there is an increased demand for IoT security solutions at workplace. The companies such as Cisco systems are trying to develop the approach that combines physical and cyber security components for employee safety and protection of the entire system.Request for TOC @Internet of Things (IoT) connects devices such as industrial equipment and consumer objects on to a network, enabling gathering of information and management of these devices through software to increase efficiency and enable new services. IoT combines hardware, embedded software, communication services, and IT services. IoT helps create smart communication environments such as smart shopping, smart homes, smart healthcare, and smart transportation. The major components of IoT include WSN (Wireless Sensor Network), RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), cloud services, NFC (Near Field Communication), gateways, data storage & analytics, and visualization elements. IoT helps in effective management and monitoring of the multiple interconnected. IoT security can be addressed through network powered technology.To ensure the efficient functioning of devices such as smartphones, tablets, and PDAs at workplace, it is crucial to maintain network infrastructure security. The global IoT security market can be segmented on the basis of end-users and geography. Based on end-users, the market can be segmented into utilities, automobiles, and healthcare among others. On the basis of geography the global IoT security market can be segmented on five major regions which includes North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and Middle East & Africa.The need for the regulatory compliance is one of the major factors driving the market growth. With huge amount of digital information being transferred between people, the government of several economies are taking steps to secure networks from hackers and virus threats by establishing strict regulatory framework. Thus, compliance with such regulations is expected to support the demand for IoT security solutions. Furthermore, with advancements in technologies such as 3G and 4G LTE, threats such as data hacking have increased, which in turn have forced governments across the globe to establish stringent regulatory framework supporting the deployment of IoT security solutions. Emergence of smart city concept is expected to offer sound opportunity for the market growth in the coming years. The governments in the developed economies have already taken steps to develop smart cities by deploying Wi-Fi hotspots at multiple locations within a city. However, the market for IoT security solutions suffers from high cost of installation. The cost of installation is usually high to provide machine to machine communication, which has impeded the market growth in emerging cost sensitive economies.Request for Sample Report @Some of the key players in global IoT security market includes Cisco Systems, Infineon Technologies, Intel Corporation, Siemens AG, Wurldtech Security, Alcatel-Lucent S.A., Axeda Machine Cloud, Checkpoint Technologies, IBM Corporation, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, AT&T Inc., and NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc. among others.Key geographies evaluated in this report are: North Americao U.So Canada Europeo France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UKo Eastern Europeo CIS APACo Chinao Indiao Japano Australiao Others Latin Americao Argentinao Brazilo OthersKey features of this report Drivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the IoT Security market dynamics Latest innovations and key events in the industry Analysis of business strategies of the top players IoT Security market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Web Leasing - The SEO Company in Penrith Provides Top Notch Local SEO Solutions http://webleasing.com.au/seo-penrith/ http://webleasing.com.au/ https://www.prlog.org/12597368-web-leasing-the-seo-company-in-penrith-provides-top-notch-local-seo-solutions.html PENRITH, Australia - Oct. 27, 2016 - PRLog -- Penrith Online Marketing Agency WebLeasing is a complete digital marketing agency anxiously beginning SEO. With persistence for the growth of commerce through the purposes of internet marketing, SEO Company in Penrith WebLeasing uses this like a mean to interact their audiences. In addition, their variety of strategists, designers, writers, as well as developers try to optimize the web presence amongst customers. Penrith SEO Company WebLeasing supplies a selection of digital services which integrates into an inbound marketing strategy. Including responsive web design, SEO, SEM, and also social media management. They're changing the best way audience obtained messages through the digital landscape. Ultimately, SEO Company in Penrith WebLeasing produces the content that turn other people into leads and leads into clients. And lastly, the promoters of the brand.The focus on detail which Penrith SEO Company WebLeasing applies to their work is incredible. Using their designs towards the content they offer, and all things in between, Penrith SEO Company WebLeasing knows that bigger picture is just as beautiful since smaller components which brings it together, said the Sales Representative of WebLeasing.With 91% of individuals don't proceed past the very first page of the search engine results of a search engine, previously 2 decades search engines are becoming the main source of information, items, as well as services using a majority of people with the big three: Google, Yahoo, as well as Bing. At Penrith SEO Company WebLeasing, they discovered that content is the important thing and could be the deciding factor whether your website is at the very top or bottom of the search results.Consequently, Search Engine Optimization is powered by using popular key phrases. Furthermore, the harder keywords and key phrases your website contains, the greater chance it's in working its in place the list as well as being seen by 1000s of prospective customers. Penrith SEO Company WebLeasing takes SEO to an exceptional level, studying the keywords which will optimize your own presence when customers look for topics and themes associated with your business.Along with your site, SEO may also put on your social media pages, blogs, as well as newsletters. With regards to discovering your business online, strive for the top spot along with Penrith SEO Company WebLeasing SEO services, because they offer the required outreach and promotion for achievement. Their features consist of Social Media, Blog management, key phrase analytics & reporting, and article marketing & custom writing.At SEO Company Penrith WebLeasing they all are about using what works as well as improving exactly what doesnt. They'll assist with creating sharable content upon various social media platforms as well as actively utilize them to succeed your SEO usefulness. Then, they'll aid you in creating a blogging strategy which be used in addition to their SEO strategies to increase your presence online and generate content which is custom-tailored for your ideal website users, whilst utilizing the required keywords and topics to draw in prospective customers.Actually, 80% of your prospective clients are utilizing Google to obtain the services or products they require. Where would you stand? At Penrith SEO Company (), utilizing their SEO strategies to the course! Using methods increases your brand visibility on the internet to assist your audience help you find. They will place your brand in the bulls eye of search engines like google.Started in 2011, WebLeasing () is a Penrith based digital marketing agency. We are dedicated to aiding businesses engage their viewers through optimization of the digital presence. Like a variety of digital strategists, creative designers, writers as well as developers, our own goal is to provide the most beneficial strategies for both your business as well as brand. Additionally, we aim to eliminate stress we realize occurs from checking up on digital trends.PR Resource -At WebLeasing we want to ensure you are getting a high-quality service. For us to provide a quality service, we have to be confident that we are the best at what we do.WebLeasingsupport@webleasing.com.au02 8035 4417Level 1, 331 High Street Penrith NSW 2750 LTE Infrastructure Market growth is driven by rising demand for high data rate transmission and improved spectral efficiency (2015 - 2021) LTE Infrastructure Market, LTE Infrastructure, Long Term Evolution Infrastructure, LTE http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/5063 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/5063 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Elements of LTE infrastructure include E-UTRAN (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network), E Node B, and EPC (Evolved Packet Core). Due to the saturation in 2G and 3G networks and quest for higher data rates, demand for global LTE deployment is increasing considerably. With the evolution of the LTE network, service providers have been looking for data-only networks, carrying voice in a packet data form. Furthermore, LTE infrastructure is being installed to upgrade core networks, backhauls and base stations in order to make systems more modern and spectrally efficient. Increasing usage of internet and smarter mobile devices has been creating demand for more refined web-based applications. This, in turn, creates demand for more sophisticated infrastructure. With small cells achieving strong momentum, the infrastructure market is expected to experience further growth. Rapid proliferation of infrastructure for internet and smart devices has created high demand for sophisticated web applications that in turn demand more sophisticated infrastructure. There is an increasing trend of integrating LTE infrastructure with existing UMTS network infrastructure. In order to save cost, service providers often prefer sticking to existing vendors to avoid any compatibility issues.Request for TOC @The growth of LTE infrastructure is driven by rising demand for high data rate transmission and improved spectral efficiency, which in turn is driven by increased data usage. Further, rising demand for public safety LTE infrastructure is expected to drive the growth of LTE infrastructure market in the coming years. Lack of availability of compatible devices, especially for LTE Advanced, is one of the major challenges for growth of LTE infrastructure market. However, it is anticipated that mobile phone manufacturers would launch more devices that would be compatible to emerging LTE technologies. Anticipated large scale adoption of LTE in Asia Pacific, especially China, is a major opportunity in this market. Traffic average throughput per user was almost double in 2013 as compared to 2012. Telecom companies and service providers need to maintain secure, high quality network infrastructure and interoperable communication and services. Cost saving is of utmost importance. Choosing the right network equipment supplier from the onset requires utmost intelligence regarding vendors, equipment and service performance, cyber security, network design and quality management. Network equipment integrators provide the service of network installation and maintenance, and have a high degree of integration with network equipment vendors.North America was the largest geographical market in terms of revenue generation for LTE, followed by Asia Pacific in 2012. Major drivers for the growth of LTE in North America include rising demand for faster networks with increase in smarter devices and rapid growth in deployment of public safety LTE networks. The market for LTE in Asia Pacific is set for dynamic growth during the forecast period, as operators in the region have taken up large scale build and trial of LTE networks to cope with the massive amount of data traffic. TD-LTE is likely to experience a boom in adoption as China, the U.S., Middle East, Australia, East and North Europe, and South Asia are either launching or have planned the launch of networks for TD-LTE.Request for Sample Report @In the coming years, LTE Advanced is poised to drive the growth of LTE infrastructure as major operators across the globe have been assessing and testing the LTE Advanced networks. South Korea based SK Telecom rolled out LTE Advanced in 2013 across the country. Key players in this market include Alcatel-Lucent SA, Antenova, CDG, Berkeley-Varitronics Systems, Cisco, Ericsson, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks B.V., Qualcomm Inc. and ZTE Corp.Key geographies evaluated in this report are: North Americao U.So Canada Europeo France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UKo Eastern Europeo CIS APACo Chinao Indiao Japano Australiao Others Latin Americao Argentinao Brazilo OthersKey features of this report Drivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the LTE Infrastructure market dynamics Latest innovations and key events in the industry Analysis of business strategies of the top players LTE Infrastructure market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Telecom Cloud Billing Services Market Research, Size, Shares, Growth, Key Vendors Analysis and Forecast 2015-2019 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=517518 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=517518 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, Oct 27: Technavio market research analysts estimate, telecom cloud billing services reached a market size of USD 2.3 billion in 2014. The market is dominated by prepaid subscribers with close to 79% of GSM subscribers using these services. Most telecom operators cater to the requirements of this market. Currently, many telecom service providers are adopting a customer-centric business model to increase their prepaid customer base. As a result, they are combining multiple services and offering bundled services based on individual requirements.Such business models require real-time billing for every individual service usage. Because of the customer-centric approach, the demand for bundled services is increasing rapidly in the prepaid customer segment. The market is experiencing the growing prevalence of many operation support systems (OSS)/ and business support systems (BSS) solutions that accommodate multiple services and a large subscriber base for real-time and online billing processes. As per the market forecast, most telecom operators are likely to shift to an online billing process for bill generation and payment receipt during the forecast period.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:To calculate the market size, Technavio market research analysts have considered revenue generated from the sale of cloud billing services, that include subscription and update charges. The revenue from the following segments is considered:- Embedded billing- Convergent billing- D2C billing- Prepaid billing- Post-paid billingGeographical segmentation of the global telecom cloud billing services market- APAC- Americas- EMEAIn terms of telecom billing, APAC leads the market with approximately 35% market share due to the increase in the number of mobile subscriptions in the region. In China, the increasing adoption of multiple telecom services by customers drives the market. In India, due to the increased competition, many communication service providers are providing flexible tariff plans and multiple services. The market scenario in APAC will present a significant opportunity for cloud billing services companies in the region through 2019.The increased usage of data services being provided by telecom operators has created a need for a robust billing system. Intense competition in the global telecom billing software market drives the adoption of telecom billing software. To counter the declining average revenue per user, telecom operators are expected to capitalize on value-added services (VAS). It is expected to emerge as a key revenue channels in developed markets such as North America and Europe.- Amdocs- CSC- CGI- NetCracker- OracleEnquiry at:Key questions answered in this report:-- What are the key factors driving the telecom cloud billing services market?- What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the telecom cloud billing services market- What are the various opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the telecom cloud billing services market?- Trending factors influencing the market shares for EMEA, APAC, and Americas?- Key outcome of the five forces analysis on the telecom cloud billing services market?- Growth forecast of the telecom cloud billing services market until 20ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at: Wireless Medical Technologies Market to Register a Strong Growth During Forecast Period 2015 to 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3534 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3534 Wireless medical technologies facilitate wireless devices to communicate with nearby healthcare service providers and receivers that are connected with cellular systems, landline networks and broadband facilities to access the internet. They reduce the need of long wires and cables for data transmission and provide safe and efficient services to healthcare professionals and patients. In addition, they create a safe workplace for medical professionals for their healthcare practices and more comfortable environment for the patient. Wireless medical technologies permits patients to get outside treatment from medical environments, reduces health care costs and enables physicians to obtain vital medical information without the need for office visits and hospital admissions. Furthermore, they offer less time consuming services and reduce the risks of infections.Request for Sample Copy of Report @Wireless medical technologies play an important role in implementation of electronic medical record (EMR) systems in hospitals. In addition, they are also used in devices that are implanted and worn by the user to control and measure body functions. Wireless devices are mainly classified into two main types: implanted devices and external devices. Implanted devices monitor hypertension, controls heart beats and provides functional electrical stimulation of nerves. External devices assist the movement of artificial limbs and monitor vital signs.In terms of geographic, North America and Europe dominates the global wireless medical technologies market. The U.S. represents the largest market for wireless medical technologies followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France, Germany and the U.K. holds major share of wireless medical technologies market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global wireless medical technologies market due to increasing aging population in the region. For elder people, wireless medical technologies based devices offer important solutions for preventative and managed care at their home. In addition, increasing awareness among people about wireless medical devices is also contributing in the growth of wireless medical technologies market in Asia. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing wireless medical technologies markets in Asia.In recent time, increased inaccessibility of healthcare services in rural and remote areas is key driver of global wireless medical technologies market. For instance, in India, about 70% of people are living in rural area. They are unable to receive effective healthcare services for management of chronic diseases. To overcome this problem, wireless medical technologies play a vital role in delivery of healthcare services in rural areas. Patients from distant locations can directly interact with physicians for their health concerns.Request for Table of content @In addition, increased adoption of EMRs and wireless medical devices are also supporting in the growth of global wireless medical technologies market. Moreover, increasing healthcare spending has also fueled the growth of global wireless medical technologies market. However, lack of IT infrastructure and privacy and security issues in EMR systems are some of the major restraints for the global wireless medical technologies market. High maintenance costs of wireless medical technologies based devices also obstruct the growth of global wireless medical technologies market.Some of the major companies operating in the global wireless medical technologies market are Cisco Systems Inc., GE Healthcare Ltd., Philips Healthcare and McKesson Corp..About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Global Spectroscopy Market to post a CAGR of close to 6% over Forecast 2015-2019 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=517515 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=517515 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, Oct 27: Market research analyst predicts the synthetic latex polymers market to grow at a CAGR of around 3% during the forecast period. The increased demand for paints, coatings, and adhesives and sealants due to the global recovery of the housing market is driving the market growth. The housing market in countries such as China, Russia, Turkey, Luxemburg, Singapore, Columbia, and India are witnessing substantial growth thereby driving the demand for latex polymer based paints and coatings.The increase in investments in the development of commercial infrastructure in APAC and Latin America is anticipated to contribute to the growing demand for synthetic latex polymers. Synthetic latex polymer based paints are being increasingly adopted in the APAC region due to the increased awareness about the harmful effects of VOCs released by solvent-based paints. Moreover, the rising demand for synthetic latex polymers for manufacturing latex gloves and bio-adhesives for the growing healthcare industry in Brazil and Argentina is also expected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Paints and coatings segment accounted for 38% of the market share during 2014 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period. The rapid development of the house remodeling and commercial housing segments in the APAC region are the key drivers for the growth of this segment.The report offers an analysis of each of the following segments and discusses its impact on the overall market growth -- Paints and coatings- Adhesives and sealants- Paper- Construction- Glove dipping- Carpets and nonwovens- TextileAcrylics dominated the market during 2014 with a market share of 43%. This research report predicts this segment to grow at a CAGR of 3% during the forecast period. The increased global spending on construction and infrastructure activities is anticipated to drive the growth of this segment until the end of 2019.The report offers an analysis of each of the following segments and discusses its impact on the overall market growth -- Acrylics- SB latex- PVA- Vinyl copolymers- PUEnquiry at:Key questions answered in this report:-- What are the key factors driving the telecom cloud billing services market?- What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the telecom cloud billing services market- What are the various opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the telecom cloud billing services market?- Trending factors influencing the market shares for EMEA, APAC, and Americas?- Key outcome of the five forces analysis on the telecom cloud billing services market?- Growth forecast of the telecom cloud billing services market until 20ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at: Global D-Lactic Acid Market 2016 - Musashino Chemical (Japan), Corbion (Netherlands), Yancheng Huade (China), Wuhan Yuancheng (China) http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/1041/request-sample http://www.fiormarkets.com/report/global-d-lactic-acid-market-outlook-2016-2021-1041.html www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com This report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for D-Lactic Acid from 2011-2016, and provides extensive market forecasts (2016-2021) by region/country and subsectors. It covers the key technological and market trends in the D-Lactic Acid market and further lays out an analysis of the factors influencing the supply/demand for D-Lactic Acid, and the opportunities/challenges faced by industry participants. It also acts as an essential tool to companies active across the value chain and to the new entrants by enabling them to capitalize the opportunities and develop business strategies.Request for sample report atD-lactic acid is colorless or yellowish, nearly odorless, syrupy liquid having a slight acid taste. It is hygroscopic, and all soluble in water, ethanol or ether, but insoluble in chloroform.Global D-Lactic Acid Market Outlook 2016-2021, has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global D-Lactic Acid market collected from specialized sources. The report covers key technological developments in the recent times and profiles leading players in the market and analyzes their key strategies.Access full report atThe competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players. The major players in the global D-Lactic Acid market areMusashino Chemical (Japan), Corbion (Netherlands), Yancheng Huade (China), Wuhan Yuancheng (China).The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Rest of World. In this sector, global competitive landscape and supply/demand pattern of D-Lactic Acid industry has been provided.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: System Integration Market is Projected to Grow at a Healthy CAGR During the Forecast Period 2015 - 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4709 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4709 System integration (SI) enables to build computing systems for end users by combining hardware and software products from several vendors. By implementing systems integration, a company can acquire cheaper, pre-configured components of software. These small components of software help company to achieve key business goals. Otherwise the companies have to purchase customized, more expensive software; this may also require manufacturing of unique products or original programming. Creation of these information systems include designing and building a new customized applications or architecture, after building software components, they are integrated with the existing or new software and hardware packages and communication infrastructure. There are some system integrators such as SAP providing more specialized and specific applications.Request for Table of content @High investments in IT in last decade have created a huge demand for the system integration market. As the information technology developed the adoption and implementation of information technology system were high, this generated the distributed information system all over the industries and organization generating the demand for integration of the distributed systems. Thus high investment in distributed information technology system is the main driver for the system integration market. With this there are many emerging technologies supporting system integration market such as bid data and cloud. Cloud implementation and big data solutions implementation is the new trend in the information technology systems market. Thus companies are adopting the integration of their data with adoption of these technologies such as big data and cloud providing added advantages to the companies implementing it. Development in automation sector is driving system integration market, as adoption of system integration technologies is high in automation sector.High implementation cost and time required for the effective implementation of system integration is resulting into less adoption of system integration technologies. With this there are very less number of international standard protocols for the communication between two or more information technology sub-systems resulting into complexities for the system integrators. If the industry previously is using legacy systems then it results into increased complexities for system integration. For system integration the network infrastructure must be standard, thus lack of network infrastructure is resulting into deferred demand for the system integration market.System integration market is segmented on the basis of system integration service type, end-use industry and geography. On the basis of type the system integration market is broadly segmented into three major types namely infrastructure system integration services, application system integration services and business consulting services. Infrastructure system integration services are segmented into network management, data center management, building management, security and surveillance management, cloud based integration management and enterprise management. Application system integration services are segmented into data integration, unified communication, integrated social software, application integration and others. Further business consulting services are segmented into business process integration, business transformation and application lifecycle management.System integration market is segmented on the basis of end-user industry into banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), defense, healthcare, telecommunication and IT, oil gas and energy, transportation, retail and others (pharmaceuticals, public sector, education and automotive). And on the basis of geography system integration market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW).Request for Sample Copy of Report @Some of the major players in system integration market are Accenture Plc., BAE Systems Plc., Capgemini S.A., Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Fujitsu Limited, General Dynamics Corporation, Harris Corporation, IBM Corporation, Infosys Technologies, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Company, Leidos Corporation, Tata Consultancy Service Limited and Wipro Limited. With this global players system integration market in Asia Pacific is dominated by local players, such as there are many local players in China and India dominating and holding the maximum market shares.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Online Advertising Market Expand Their Businesses With New Investments by 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4711 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4711 Online advertising is likewise known as internet advertising or digital advertising which makes usage of the cyberspace to communicate the promotional marketing message to the customers.Request for Sample Copy of Report @The online advertising term is broadly categorized on the basis of types of advertising which includes search engine optimization (SEO), banner marketing, search engine advertising (SEA), email marketing, online video advertising, local online advertising, social media optimization (SMO) strategies and additional types of online advertising. These online advertisings appear on the internet more often than traditional advertising media such as television and newspapers.Search engine advertising and pay per click marketing are the fastest evolving advertising concepts for numerous assortments of businesses. Pay per clip is comparatively simple and effortless to carry out scalable, enormously cost efficient and in house. PPC is a huge component of effective and efficient online advertising for the business.Online advertising uses numerous tools and techniques for online marketing functions which include sales CRM, e-commerce, e-mail, marketing automation, WCM, social CRM and web analytics. All these software tools collectively facilitate an organization to develop and implement effective and efficient marketing strategies.The global online advertising market continues to rise in tandem with the global internet user base, social networking websites, income and widespread adoption of broadband. The industry is being motivated by mobile internet activity, increasing attractiveness and fame of mobile devices which includes tablets and smart phones that are proving to be beneficial.The main factors that are driving the online advertising market are increased focus on digital media, cost effective, smart phone penetration, advertising by content providers and rising numbers of advertisers on social networking sites. The main factor that is restraining the growth of online advertising are lack of skilled personnel and still use of tradition advertising factors such as television and newspapers. The main opportunity for the growth of online advertising in future would be the emergence of SAAS based solutions.The online advertising market is segmented on the basis of advertising sectors which include online classifieds, search, directories, and general advertising. In addition, the market is segmented on the basis of its mode of interaction which includes web sites, commercial online services, email providers, as well as other companies selling online advertising. Further, the online advertising is segmented on the basis of end use industry which includes BFSI and automotive industry among others. Furthermore, the market could be segmented on the basis of geography which includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and RoW.The North American region dominates the market of global online advertising industry and is remain the market leaders in future as well. Asia Pacific region is expected to be the biggest emerging market for online advertising because of the large customer base.Request for Table of content @Some of the major companies that are dominating in the online advertising market include IBM Corp., SAP AG, Oracle Corp., Salesforce.com Inc., Aplicor LLC, Adobe Systems Inc., ComScore Networks Inc., Ebay GSI Commerce, Lithium Technologies Inc., Demandware Inc., Attensity Corp., Microsoft Corp., LongJump CRM, OpenText Corp., StrongMail Systems Inc., Percussion Software Inc., Zoho CRM Inc., Yahoo Analytics, SugarCRM Inc., Netsuite Inc. and Sitecore Inc. among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Mobile Relay Networks Market Set to Grow Exponentially During the Forecast 2015 - 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4712 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/4712 A relay network is a wide set of network topology usually used in mobile or wireless networks. In such networks the destination and source are interconnected by the help of few nodes. In such a design of network the destination and source are unable to communicate directly with each other as the distance between the destination and source is larger than their transmission range, hence the requirement for intermediate nodes to relay. These networks help to expand the distance between the source and destination by increasing the number of nodes. When a mobile relay is connected to a wireless relay network it gets converted into mobile relay network. Mobile relays are specialized nodes that travel all through the network to gather data from source nodes and convey it to the access point or destination node. They are free to follow a fixed or variable route, at variable or constant speed.Request for Sample Copy of Report @Mobile relay forwarding (MRF) concept is a result of tremendous innovation done in the networking sector. There exist particular mobile relays (nodes) in the network that are used to collect transmission from the source nodes, and either delivers it to the destination or closer to the destination. The number of mobile relay in a network may differ depending on number of factors such as amount of data traffic to managed, number of regular nodes, costs and quality of service (QoS) requirements.Some of the important factors which are used in designing mobile relay network are coordination between nodes, node mobility, mobile relay destinations, number of mobile relay and mobile relay speed among others.The major driver for this mobile relay networks is the increase network scalability by the addition of extra relay to the network structure with increasing the routing complexity. Mobility of mobile relays (MRs) can be controllable or non controllable in nature depending upon the need for deployment. These MRs can be a preexisting part of the system, or deployed just to improve routing performance. In addition, MRs usually has lesser resources availability limitation as compared to other nodes of the network. Thus, they can effectively increase connectivity of the network and data delivery in the networks.The mobile relay network market is segmented on the basis of type of mobility into task driven mobility or message driven mobility. In addition the market is segmented based on the type of routing in the network into infrastructure based and infrastructure less. Further, the infrastructure based is sub segmented into context-based and dissemination-based. On the basis of mobile relay type the market is segmented into MR as a part of the environment and MR specifically designed to be the element of the network infrastructure.Request for Table of content @The key players of the mobile relay network market are Megatone Electronics Corp., Changan Group Co. Ltd, Excel Cell Electronic Co Ltd (ECE), Wenzhou Start Co. Ltd, Meisongbei Electronics Co. Ltd, Archers Electronics Ltd, Xiamen Jinxinrong Electronics Co. Ltd and Huge Electrical United Development Co. Ltd among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) Market : Cloud computing services offers access to the computing resource in virtualized environment (2015 - 2021) Cloud Infrastructure Service Market, Cloud Infrastructure Service, IaaS market, Cloud Infrastructure market http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/5090 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/5090 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The cloud infrastructure for data storage offers numerous options for sourcing, approach and control. It brings well-defined set of services that are perceived by customers to have continuous availability, infinite capacity, improved cost efficiency and increased agility. To attain these attributes in customers minds, information technology (IT) must move its traditional server centric approach to service centric approach. This entails that IT must go from organizing applications in silos with the minimal leverage among environments to deliver applications on a pre-determined standardized platforms with agreed service levels. A hybrid strategy that uses numerous cloud options at the same time would become a norm since organizations choose a mix of several cloud models to meet the specific needs.Request for TOC @Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) is a model where an organization is able to outsource the equipment used to support operations, including hardware, storage, networking components and servers. The service provider owns equipment and is accountable for running, housing and maintaining it. Cloud IaaS adoption is growing, as enterprises are turning to cloud based IT model to decrease the capital expenditure. Characteristics and several components of IaaS are: Billing model and utility computing service Computerization of administrative tasks Dynamic scaling Desktop virtualization Offers policy based services Internet connectivity Delivers resources such as storage and network components as services and servers Eliminates the need for hardware maintenance and administrationCloud infrastructure-as-a-service is among three fundamental service models of the cloud computing beside Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). As with cloud computing services, it offers access to the computing resource in virtualized environment, the Cloud, across public connection, normally the internet. In case of IaaS, the computing resource offered is particularly that of virtualized hardware, in the other words, computing infrastructure. The definition involves offerings such as virtual server space, bandwidth, network connections, IP addresses and load balancers. The pool of hardware resource is dragged from a multitude of networks and servers normally distributed among several data centers, all of that the cloud provider is responsible for maintaining. The client, on other hand, is given access to the virtualized components in order to create their own IT platforms.Some important factors supporting the growth of cloud infrastructure-as-a-service market include decreased IT structure, disaster recovery plans and support for business continuity, improved compliance and security profile, and reduced IT staff. Cloud IaaS helps reduce complexity by elimination of software, servers, disaster recovery and backups. However, concerns about application reliability and performance, security risks and unwillingness to retreat controls are factors act as a challenge to this market.Request for Sample Report @Some of the major players for cloud infrastructure as a service market include Amazon Web Services, Bluelock, CA Technologies, Cloud Scaling, Datapipe Inc., Rackspace, Hewlett Packard, Logicworks, GoGrid, Layeredtech, Verizon, Savvis, OpSource and NaviSite among others. Amazon Web Services is the market leader in this market followed by Rackspace and Verizon.Key geographies evaluated in this report are: North Americao U.So Canada Europeo France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UKo Eastern Europeo CIS APACo Chinao Indiao Japano Australiao Others Latin Americao Argentinao Brazilo OthersKey features of this report Drivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the Cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) market dynamics Latest innovations and key events in the industry Analysis of business strategies of the top players Cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Latest Report Examines Factors Driving Global Atorvastatin Calcium Sales and Growth Rate 2021 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=822475&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-atorvastatin-calcium-sales-market-report-2020.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com/category/chemicals-market-reports-57.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Global Atorvastatin Calcium Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020.Companies across the world can face several obstacles in gathering in-depth market intelligence, often owing to the unavailability of personnel trained for the purpose. While detailed data about the market may be easily available, analyzing the same and drawing useful conclusions requires the services of experienced market experts. This report offers a solution to this problem by presenting a detailed analysis of the diverse components of the global Atorvastatin Calcium market. The report examines the important factors playing a determinant role in the growth of the Atorvastatin Calcium market and examines the present value as well as the expected valuation of the market in the near future.The report presents voluble information about the development of the global Atorvastatin Calcium market by including reliable primary and secondary research. The detailed case studies included in the study make the report a must-have accessory for new as well as established players in the Atorvastatin Calcium market. The profiles of key players in the market have been included in the report as well.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The global Atorvastatin Calcium market has been studied on the basis of multiple relevant criteria in the report, which helps provide a granular view of the market. The demand patterns for each of the product types have been analyzed and the historical growth and projected growth trajectory of each of the service segments have been studied in the report.The supply chain of the global Atorvastatin Calcium industry has been examined in the report, with analysis of crucial upstream and downstream components. The existing demand and supply trends in the market and recent developments regarding the same have also been mentioned in order to offer a complete overview of the market.The report provides detailed information about the key Atorvastatin Calcium market players, including their product catalog, revenue channels, and recent developments. By analyzing the competitive landscape of the global Atorvastatin Calcium market, the report will help readers formulate well-informed and astute market strategies.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsChapter One Atorvastatin Calcium Industry Overview1.1 Atorvastatin Calcium Definition1.1.1 Atorvastatin Calcium Product Pictures & Product Specifications1.2 Atorvastatin Calcium Classification & ApplicationChapter Two Atorvastatin Calcium Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.1 Atorvastatin Calcium Raw Material & Equipments Supplier and Price Analysis2.2 Atorvastatin Calcium Labor & Other Cost Analysis2.3 Atorvastatin Calcium Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.4 Atorvastatin Calcium Manufacturing Process AnalysisChapter Three Atorvastatin Calcium Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Atorvastatin Calcium Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Atorvastatin Calcium Manufacturing Plants Distribution3.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Atorvastatin Calcium R&D Status and Technology Sources3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Atorvastatin Calcium Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four Atorvastatin Calcium Production by Regions, Technology and Applications4.1 2010-2016 Atorvastatin Calcium Production by Regions(such as US, EU, China and Japan etc)4.2 2010-2016 Atorvastatin Calcium Production by Product Type & Application4.3 2010-2016 Atorvastatin Calcium Price by key Manufacturers4.4 2010-2016 US & China Atorvastatin Calcium Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value Analysis4.5 2010-2016 Europe and Japan Atorvastatin Calcium Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value Analysis4.6 2010-2016 US and China Atorvastatin Calcium Supply Import Export Consumption4.7 2010-2016 Europe and Japan Atorvastatin Calcium Supply Import Export ConsumptionChapter Five Atorvastatin Calcium Sales and Sales Revenue by Regions5.1 2010-2016 Atorvastatin Calcium Sales by Regions (such as US, EU, China & Japan etc)5.2 2010-2016 Atorvastatin Calcium Sales Revenue by Regions (such as US EU China Japan etc)5.3 2010-2016 Atorvastatin Calcium Sales Price by Regions (such as US EU China Japan etc)5.4 2010-2016 Atorvastatin Calcium Demand by ApplicationsRead More @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Scotch Whiskey Market Size, Shares, Trends, Demands, Opportunitiesm and Forecast 2015-2019 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=517503 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=517503 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, Oct 27: Market research analyst predicts the global scotch whiskey market to witness a steady growth at a CAGR of around 5% during the forecast period. The rise in disposable income and the growing demand for premium whiskey has been fueling the growth of this market. Around 88% of consumers globally, consider whisky as an affordable luxury, which is driving manufacturers to launch more premium and super-premium offerings to meet the demand.Rising trends such as organic scotch whiskey is also expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. Organic whisky distilleries avoid the usage of artificial colors for enhancing the appearance of the whisky. Some of the distilleries that offer organic scotch whiskies in the market are Benromach, Bruichladdich, Organic Spirits Company, and Da Mhile.Segmentation by product and analysis of the global scotch whiskey market- Malt scotch- Grain scotch- Blend scotchGet a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Blend scotch accounted for nearly 79% of the market shares during 2014. This market research report predicts this segment to continue its dominance during the forecast period owing to the high demand from consumers. Some of the popular brands in this segment are Bells, Dewar's, Johnnie Walker, Whyte and Mackay, Cutty Sark, J&B, The Famous Grouse, Ballantine's, and Chivas Regal.Geographical segmentation and analysis of the global scotch whiskey market- Americas- APAC- Europe- MEAThe global scotch whiskey market is dominated by Europe, which had a market share of 34% during 2014. France, Spain, and Germany are the major contributors in the scotch whisky market in the region. This research report anticipates Turkey to be an emerging market during the forecast period, fueling the demand for scotch whisky in Europe.Competitive landscape and key vendors -The global scotch whisky market is fragmented due to the presence of numerous small and large suppliers. These vendors compete on the basis of price, quality, innovation, service, reputation, distribution, and promotion. The report predicts the market to witness a reduction in product prices due to the increasing competition among vendors. Diageo was the largest provider in the market during 2014 with a market volume share of 24%.The leading vendors in the market are- Bacardi- Diageo- Pernod-Ricard- William Grant & SonsEnquiry at:Key questions answered in this report:-- What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2019?- What are the key factors driving the scotch whiskey market?- What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the scotch whiskey market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global scotch whiskey market?- Trending factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, Europe, and MEA?- What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the global scotch whiskey market?ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at: Search Engine Marketing Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Growth, Trends Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=13760 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Internet has now become an important part of human life, it has connected individuals worldwide through social media, e-mail and exchange of information. Search engine marketing, commonly referred to by its acronym SEM, is cost effective method of Internet marketing which is often used to gain visibility and traffic on search engines. Basic purpose of SEM is to improve websites ranking on various search engines such as Google or Bing. SEM is very broad term which refers to number of different activities including search engine optimization (SEO), search retargeting, and social media marketing. During the recent years, SEM has become popular with the rising number of Internet users around the globe and numerous IT and non-IT enterprises aiming to expand their business by strong Internet marketing. SEM helps an organization to gain return over investments (ROI) by enabling proper search engine marketing strategies.Information seekers and Internet shoppers prefer using keyword searches for getting desired result, thus, by using the keywords which are commonly used by individuals an organization can increase its visitors substantially. A keyword search deals with fetching the popular search terms in order to carry search engine optimization (SEO) of content on any site, thus helping them to rank higher in search results, this also helps to drive amount of activity on the site. Search through keyword is a step that cannot be ignored because it sends right kind of visitors to a site by simply using the right keywords, thus an enterprise can increase its possibility of turning traffic into revenue. SEM benefits organizations in increasing presence over major search engines and provides another channel to promote the brand and company. This also allows an organization to speak directly, openly and honestly to its customers. SEM helps in maintaining competitiveness in the market enabling an organization to stay on top.Get Sample PDF file of Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Market :Although SEM drives the business and creates opportunities for site traffic conversion. SEM results take time, thus delaying the time to get an ROI. Furthermore, lack in control over optimization due to continuous changes made into algorithms affects the ranking, creating need for continuous revision of SEM strategies. For companies with small budgets it is not always possible to formulate new strategies, which is hindering the growth of the market.There are many new features that companies are looking forward to integrate in their SEM strategies. Video advertising, the incorporation of YouTube advertisements in Google AdWords and YouTube shopping advertisements are some of the key trends in SEM. Video advertising is anticipated to stay an important element of SEM during the coming years and interactive advertising, which enables user to test an application or perform another interaction is expected to gain increasing traction during the coming years. Furthermore, mobile is expected to be future of computing, hence website owners have optimized their websites for mobile devices which will give rise in demand for specialized mobile device SEM services during the coming years.With the rising number new entrants in every industry, the companies are focusing on provision of new competitive SEM strategies to promote their company. Some of the SEM vendors include 360i, WordStream, Google Inc., Analytix, Screaming Frog Ltd. and Internet Marketing Inc.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape.The study is a source of reliable data on:Key market segments and sub-segmentsEvolving market trends and dynamicsChanging supply and demand scenariosQuantifying market opportunities through market sizing and market forecastingTracking current trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive insightsOpportunity mapping in terms of technological breakthroughsAbout Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Blood Preparation Market size worth over $64bn by 2024 Global Market Insights, Inc. http://bit.ly/2ePDRBX http://bit.ly/2dOtJXO http://bit.ly/2dKEyME https://www.gminsights.com Blood Preparation Market size will reach USD 64.38 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.Increasing geriatric population and rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, glomerulonephritis will increase the patient pool requiring transfusion. Furthermore, favorable government initiatives to spread the awareness regarding blood disorders will drive the business growth. For instance, NIH and CDC are organizing awareness programs to prevent thrombosis-related complications within the country.Introduction of novel antithrombotic drugs exhibiting higher efficacy should drive blood preparation market size. Furthermore, presence of strong pipeline of drugs for thrombosis and other blood disorders will propel growth.Request for a sample of this research report -Technological advancements in testing equipments such as centrifuges and analyzers have enabled rapid and accurate diagnostics of hematological disorders. Early diagnosis of disorders coupled with increasing number of cost-effective therapeutic drugs should accelerate forecast industry growth. However, acquiring blood transmitted diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B during transfusion is a major restraint for the industry growth.Whole blood preparation market size was responsible for over 45% global income in 2015 and will reach nearly USD 29.5 billion by 2024.Anticoagulants led the overall antithrombotic and anticoagulants market share with revenue of over 60% in 2015 due to increasing prevalence of blood related diseases and growing demand for cost-effective and efficacious drugs.U.S. blood preparation market is poised to exceed 25 billion by 2024 owing to initiatives taken by regulatory organizations to spread awareness about the complications associated with pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). FDA regulates collection, storage, preparation, and transport of blood and collaborating with other agencies for implementation of health insurance to achieve adequate reimbursement for blood components.Make an inquiry for buying this report @France and Germany will be frontrunners from Europe, with German revenue to exceed USD 4.2 billion owing to the growing aging population and better healthcare facilities. China holds majority regional revenue share owing to high population with unmet needs, growing geriatric population base, and rise in patient awareness levels. Moreover, introduction of advanced technological products and rising healthcare expenditures will drive the blood preparation industry share.Pfizer, Sanofi, AstraZeneca GSK, Baxter, and Celgene are major companies, spending heavily in R&D for rapid acting, effective, and cheap drugs for the treatment of thrombocytosis and other associated disorders.Browse key industry insights spread across 175 pages with 173 market data tables & 15 figures & charts from the report, Blood Preparation Market Size By Product (Whole Blood, Blood Components, Blood Derivatives), By Application (Thrombocytosis, Pulmonary Embolism, Renal Impairment, Angina Blood Vessel Complications), By Antithrombotic and Anticoagulants (Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors, Fibrinolytics, Anticoagulants), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Italy, China, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Key insights from the report include: Global Blood preparation market size will reach USD 64.3 billion by 2024, with more than 4% growth, due to increasing geriatric population base and rising awareness of thrombosis and other blood disorders. U.S. dominates the industry contributing to share of over 90% of regional revenue. The blood preparation market size was valued at USD 19.1 billion in 2015 with growth expectations of 3.5% through the forecast period. Germany and France will drive industry by collectively attributing to over 45% of regional revenue share by 2024. France will grow at a faster rate of 2.3% while Germany will grow at 1.8% CAGR during the forecast period. Japan have contributed to over 51% of regional revenue share with USD 4.3 billion in 2015 and expected to manifest robust growth of 5.9% during the forecast timeframe. Key industry players are focusing on R&D to develop cost effective novel technologies to consolidate their market position.Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Corporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb: Stadium Security Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Growth, Trends Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=13745 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Sporting events are highly susceptible to security breaches and terror attacks. A significant contributing factor is the emotional state of crowds, wherein, sometimes these emotions can lead to destructive behavior and create chaos and vandalism of properties in the stadium. Stadium security provides a very big market opportunity for security system manufacturers and integrators. Large-scale events are further susceptive to security threats considering the large crowd present in an enclosed stadium. During the recent years, stadium security market has gained significant growth momentum due to stadiums emerging as potential targets for terrorist attacks. Terrorism is a serious threat while managing sporting or other events at stadiums which have large attendance of audiences and celebrities. The continuous advancements of technology in security systems such as HD cameras, IP video surveillance and biometrics have added to the growth in adoption of security systems in stadiums to manage vital events. The growing support from government sector and police forces to advance security and prevent the frequent incidents of crime and terror attacks will fuel the growth of stadium security market in the coming years.Although the advancements in security technologies has benefited the security management; however, certain challenges at larger events such as multiple locations that are farther apart and multiple entrances create logistical challenges. Stadium security efforts need to take into account the multiple access points at stadiums and the diverse areas inside a stadium which need to be addressed on very short notice in case of security emergency.Get Sample PDF file of Stadium Security Market :Security systems interoperability issues and privacy concerns are major challenges to the growth of stadium security market. At the same time, vulnerability of security systems to attack by hackers is another major challenge to stadium security market. As the security in stadiums needs to be upgraded after short intervals with new threats and ongoing risk assessments, the stadium security market presents large opportunities. The prominent trend that will shape the stadium security market during the coming years is convergence. During the coming years, almost all stadiums physical security systems will rely on IT systems and networking protocols to support their operations. This growing convergence will bring flexibility in deployment of physical security in stadiums and drive the global stadium security market in the years to come.The components of stadium security market include hardware, software and services. The key systems includes under hardware segment of the stadium security market are video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection and fire safety. Access control further includes radio frequency identification (RFID), biometrics, and card-based access control. Various services in stadium security market include security consulting, maintenance and operation, integration and installation and cloud based services.The key players operating in the stadium security market are Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Axis Communications AB, Bosch Security Systems, Inc., Canon, Inc., Panasonic System Networks Co. Ltd., Pelco, Inc., Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. Ltd. and Honeywell Security Group.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape.The study is a source of reliable data on:Key market segments and sub-segmentsEvolving market trends and dynamicsChanging supply and demand scenariosQuantifying market opportunities through market sizing and market forecastingTracking current trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive insightsOpportunity mapping in terms of technological breakthroughsAbout Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Best Vacation with Panama City Beach Rentals www.aqua-gulf.com Date: 27 to 28 October, 2016Address: 15625 front beach road,Panama city beach, Florida 32413Contact Number: (855)858-6954Website:Email: info@aqua-gulf.comKnow more about vacation with beautiful beaches and exciting nightlife as well as the plenitude of dining along with shopping options. Then it should become as known for this surprise that is the popularity of the Panama City and it has furnished rentals or continues to be on a rise. When you visit here with your family as well as your friends then this place is perfect for everyone. We are provided with many opportunities for you to enjoy with these activities. You will find the perfect accommodations for your family where they can stay comfortable and relaxed. The aqua is offered for luxury resorts as well as condos for rent much more.Each condo has offered by a full view in Gulf of Mexico and you will love with their full-length of windows or elliptical terrace and much more. So, here you can choose from the variety of floor plans and there is something suit for every taste. The Aqua is offering the luxury best Panama City Beach Rentals in the form of one, two or three bedrooms in these condos. Then our fully appointed suites for their it's the perfect place for relaxation and unwinds for after the day for enjoying more fun as well as adventure. Combine to rentals with the excellent dining and sunny warmth with the great family-friendly atmosphere. Its peaceful environment and it is easy to see that why Panama City Beach is one of the top destinations place in whole Florida. With all these activities you will be glad for you to why you will pick the Beach rental condos and resorts for your perfect beach vacation.The Aqua Gulf is offering the luxury Panama City Beach Rentals in the form of one, two or three bedrooms in these condos as well as the plenitude of dining along with shopping options.Panama city beach, Florida 32413 Semiconductor Lasers Market to Exhibit 7.10% CAGR, Driven by Diverse Applications Across Industrial Sectors http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/semiconductor-lasers-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=5387 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com As semiconductor laser technology rapidly emerges as an integral part of modern laser-based systems, the demand for the same will correspondingly rise, surpassing the market for conventional lasers. Laser diodes exhibit diverse applications in communications, CD players, industrial processing machineries, laser printers, and research and development. A new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), titled Semiconductor Lasers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020 presents a holistic overview of the present dynamics and growth potential of the global semiconductor lasers market. As per the findings of the report, the global semiconductor lasers market, which stood at US$4.8 bn in 2013, is anticipated to reach US$7.7 bn by the end of 2020. If the figures hold true, the market will exhibit a CAGR of 7.10% between 2014 and 2020.Browse the full Semiconductor Lasers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020 report atA semiconductor laser diode offers multiple advantages over conventional laser systems such as gas lasers or solid state lasers due to their small size, light weight, low current and power requirements, low voltage, low maintenance, wide-angle beam, and high electrical efficiency. Hence, the application of semiconductor lasers has expanded to consumer electronics, medical, and other growing sectors. While the low output of semiconductor lasers limits their adoption in high-power industrial applications and deep space communication, the development of novel designs and materials intended to improve the output power of semiconductor lasers will help manufacturers mitigate the challenge in the forthcoming years.The various types of semiconductor lasers available in the market include compact disc lasers, fiber optic lasers, red lasers, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, green lasers, violet lasers, and blue lasers. Among these, fiber optic lasers accounted for the largest share of the semiconductor lasers market owing to their use in communication applications. Fiber optic lasers will witness a steady rise in demand for marine and space communications and high broadband services. However, during the reports forecast period, high-power diode lasers are expected to witness the fastest growth due to their increasing application in solid-state laser pumping, material processing, space communication, fiber laser pumping, optoelectronics manufacturing, and defense. In the meantime, red lasers will be rapidly replaced by blue, green, and violet lasers for application in defense, printing, and optical storage devices.Among the key application segments, semiconductor lasers are demanded the most for communication applications, which also held the largest share of the global semiconductor lasers market. However, in the near future printing application segment is likely to exhibit the fastest growth in demand. Furthermore, the market will also witness increasing demand from display manufacturing, sensors manufacturing, healthcare industry, and industrial machinery.PDF Sample For Latest Innovation And Upcoming Advancements @Regionally, Asia Pacific held a dominant 37.5% of the global semiconductor lasers market in 2013. The region is also likely to exhibit the fastest growth during the forecast period due to rapid industrialization witnessed by the region and increasing demand for computers.The report provides a comprehensive blueprint of the global semiconductor lasers market, covering a top-down analysis of the competitive landscape. Some of the companies profiled for the purpose of the study include Coherent Inc., Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc, Trumpf GmbH + Co KG, ASML Holding NV, Newport Corp., Axcel Photonics Inc., and IPG Photonics Corp. Of these companies, Coherent Inc., has emerged as the leading supplier of semiconductor lasers worldwide.The semiconductor lasers market is segmented as below:By TypeFiber optic lasers (FOL)Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL)Compact disc lasers (CDL)High power diode lasers (HPDL)Red lasersViolet lasersGreen lasersBlue lasersBy ApplicationOptical storage devicesLithographyHealthcareDefense and R&DSensorsDisplayPrintingCommunicationIndustrialTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Tunable Diode Laser Analyzer Market to Expand at 10.20% CAGR till 2021, Driven by Rapid Industrialization http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=5183 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/tunable-diode-laser-analyzer-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market will witness significant growth in the coming few years as tunable diode laser analyzers (TDLA) are a relatively new technology. This technology is used to detect and measure gases including HF, HCL, O2, NH3, and CO in very low air density surroundings. Worldwide, the demand for measurement technologies such as TDLA is rising due to the air pollution caused by the rapid industrialization releasing noxious gas in high volumes in the atmosphere.The global tunable diode laser analyzer market is driven by the rising demand for the measurement of toxic gases in the atmosphere. Moreover, the growing demand for safety devices and the increasing demand for these analyzers in several industries will also support the growth of the global tunable diode laser analyzer market. Nevertheless, the global tunable diode laser analyzer market will be suppressed by the lack of awareness about tunable diode laser analyzers and the high cost associated with the research and development of this technology.PDF Sample For Latest Innovation And Upcoming Advancements @Broadly, the global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market is segmented on the basis of measurement type, industrial application, and region. By measurement type, the global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market is segmented into in situ and others. The in situ TDL analyzer segment represented a share of 67.4% in the global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market in 2014. A high number of measurement faults associated with gas sample extraction and conditioning are driving the adoption of in situ TDL analyzers measurement.According to industrial application, the global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market is divided into cement, fertilizer, pulp and paper, chemical, healthcare, mining and metal, oil and gas, power, and others. In 2014, the oil and gas segment represented the largest share of 25.0% in the global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market. This region is projected to continue its dominance during the forecast period.Region-wise, the global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market is classified into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. In 2014, the Asia Pacific segment dominated the global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market with a share of 37.0%. In Asia Pacific, the adoption of TDLA is high, thus enabling this region to hold its lead position.Players in the global tunable diode laser analyzer market will benefit from the comprehensive improvements in TDL analyzers. Some of the key players operating in the global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market are General Electric Corp., Mettler-Toledo, Sick AG, Yokogawa, ABB Ltd., and Honeywell International Inc.Transparency Market Research (TMR) has published a report, titled Tunable Diode Laser Analyzer Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021. According to this report, the global tunable diode laser analyzer market will expand at a CAGR of 10.20% during the forecasting horizon from 2015 to 2021. The global tunable diode laser (TDL) analyzer market was estimated at US$280 mn in 2014 and by 2021, the market is expected to be worth US$548.8 mn.Browse the full Tunable Diode Laser Analyzer Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021 report atKey Segments of the Global Tunable Diode Laser Analyzer MarketBy Measurement TypeIn SituOthersBy Industrial ApplicationPowerOil and GasMining and MetalHealthcareChemicalFertilizerPulp and PaperCementOthersTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Lucintel identifies and prioritizes opportunities for growth in the airbag for automotive industry by airbag type, vehicle type, and region Insights that Matter www.lucintel.com According to a new market report published by Lucintel, the future of airbags in the global automotive industry looks good with strict governmental regulations on vehicle safety and increasing vehicle production. Airbags in the global automotive industry is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2016 to 2021. The major drivers of growth for this market are governmental regulations on safety standard, increasing number of traffic fatalities, increasing awareness on vehicle safety, and development of low-cost airbags.In this market front, side, curtain, and knee are the major application areas of airbag components in a vehicle. Front airbag is the largest segment by airbag type and is expected to remain the same during the forecast period. Lucintel predicts that the demand of airbag in the small car is likely to experience the highest growth in the forecast period supported by safety regulations implied by various governments and increasing production of small car. On the basis of its comprehensive research, Lucintel forecasts that small car segment is expected to show above average growth during the forecast period.Within the global automotive airbag market, the small car segment is expected to remain as the largest market by volume consumption. The development of low-cost airbag for small cars is expected to spur growth for this segment over the forecast period.Asia Pacific is expected to remain the largest market due to increasing light vehicle production; China will remain the leading market in terms of vehicle production.Asia Pacific and North America are expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period because of increasing penetration of airbag components in vehicles in North America due to strict vehicular safety standards & regulations.For market expansion, the report suggests innovation and new product development to enhance the passengers safety by reducing the impact of road accidents. The report further suggests the development of partnerships between OEMs and automobile manufacturers to create win-win situations and the development of low-cost solutions for the end users without compromising passengers safety.Emerging trends, which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the industry, include development of flexible venting technology, application of bioplastics materials in airbag module, development of lightweight airbag inflators, and development of low-cost airbag Electronic Control Unit. Autoliv Inc., Takata Corporation, ZF TRW Automotive Holding Corp, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., and Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. are among the major suppliers of airbag component to the automotive industry.Lucintel, a leading global strategic consulting and market research firm, has analyzed growth opportunities in the global automotive airbag market by airbag type, vehicle type,and region and has come up with a comprehensive research report, Growth Opportunities in the Global Automotive Airbag Market 2016-2021:Trends, Forecast, and Market Analysis. The Lucintel report serves as a spring board for growth strategy as it provides a comprehensive data and analysis on trends, key drivers, and directions. The study includes a forecast for the growth opportunities in the global automotive airbag market by airbag type, vehicle type, and region as follows:By airbag type [Volume (Million Units) and $M shipment analysis for 2010 2021]: Front Airbag Side Airbag Curtain Airbag Knee AirbagBy vehicle type [Volume (Million Units) shipment analysis for 2010 2021]: Small Car Mid-size Car Large Car MPV and LCV SUV OthersBy region [Volume (Million Units) and $M shipment analysis for 2010 2021]: North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the WorldThis 190-page research report will enable you to make confident business decisions in this globally competitive marketplace. For a detailed table of contents, contact Lucintel at +1-972-636-5056 or helpdesk@lucintel.com. Lucintel offerings include Mass Transportation, Transportation Market Report, SWOT Matrix, Due Diligence and Mergers & Acquisitions.This report answers following 11 key questions:Q. 1 How big the opportunities for automotive airbag by airbag type, vehicle type and region?Q. 2. Which segments will grow at a faster pace and why?Q. 3. Which region will grow at a faster pace and why?Q.4 What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the drivers and challenges of the market?Q.5. What are the business risks and threats of this market?Q.6 What are emerging trends in this market and reasons behind them?Q.7 What are some changing demands of customers in the market?Q.8 What are the new developments in the market? Which companies are leading these developments?Q.9 Who are the major players in this market? What strategic initiatives are taken by key players for business growth?Q.10 How is the competitive rivalry and threat of substitution in this market?Q.11. What are the recent M & A activities in the past 2-3 years in this market? What reasons can be attributed to these activities and how have they impacted the industry?Lucintel, the premier global management consulting and market research firm, creates winning strategies for growth. It offers market assessments, competitive analysis, opportunity analysis, growth consulting, M&A, and due diligence services to executives and key decision-makers in a variety of industries. For further information, visitLucintel222 Las Colinas Blvd West, Suite 1650, Irving, TX 75039, USAPh: +1-972-636-5056 Fax: +1-877-883-5140marketing@lucintel.com Digital OOH Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Growth, Trends Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=13775 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Digital out-of-home (DOOH) form of advertising is a dynamically-served visual mode of advertising that targets customers when they are outdoors, in-transit, and waiting or at commercial venues. It intercepts customers with extremely targeted messages when they go about their day-to-day activities and effectively increases a brands message, thus creating a deep level of engagement with on-the-go customers. Such advertising campaigns take into account the customer mindset and location. The traditional mode of OOH advertising is the use of billboards. In recent years, there has been substantial growth in digital billboards and place-based networks. Digital OOH is dynamic media distributed across place based networks at locations such as colleges, gas stations, bars, health clubs and restaurants. DOOH networks feature stand-alone screens and kiosks. Recent years have seen these advertising networks transform into real-time marketing platforms because of the increased use of mobile beacons and dynamic data feeds. DOOH encompasses a variety of screen shapes, sizes as well as levels of interactivity. It provides a bridge between context and location and has high level of impact and flexibility. Each DOOH advertising campaign is relevant to the unique environment outdoors.The growing mobility of customers is increasing the visibility of outdoor media. This is contributing significantly to the growth of digital OOH market. Also, the price erosion of digital screens has further fostered this markets growth. DOOH advertising can also be implemented on public transport. With long travel times and increase in leisure travel, it is continually reaching a large number of target audiences. Innovation in this form of advertising has resulted in real-time campaigns. Advertisers are able to target the right people by being able to change the content of ads based on location, time of the day and weather. The relevance achieved as a result of the flexibility and the ability of DOOH to be able to reach the masses is giving brands the chance to create campaigns that will be remembered by the customers. Also, the use of text, images and real time content is more attractive to customers and has a significant influence on their purchasing decisions. However, the high initial spending incurred in installing digital signage is a barrier in the growth of DOOH market. Also, the return on investment of such campaigns is hard to calculate and can become further complex when the costs incurred on the repair and maintenance of screens is also considered.Get Sample PDF file of Digital OOH Market :The digital OOH market can be categorized into billboards, street furniture, and transit. Billboards can be traditional billboards and digital billboards. Street furniture can be further categorized into bus shelters, mall kiosks, telephone booth advertising and news racks. Also, transit advertising can be further categorized into electronic advertising at bus stops, train stations, airports and advertising in buses, taxis, airplanes and subway advertising.Some of the companies offering digital signage software include Broadsign, Scala Digital Signage Software, Ayuda Media Systems, Signagelive Limited, Net Display Systems, ONELAN Limited, YCD Multimedia, Four Winds Interactive, ADFLOW Networks, DISE International AB, Omnivex Corporation and Navori digital signage software.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Vacuum Packaging Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=16151 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com (Material Type - Polyethylene (PE), Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), Polypropylene (PP), Polyester (PET), Polyvinylchloride (PVC), and Polyamide (PA); Pack Type - Rigid Packaging, Semi-rigid Packaging, and Flexible Packaging; Application - Pharmaceuticals, Food and Beverage, Industrial Goods, and Consumer Goods)Global Vacuum Packaging Market: SnapshotThe vacuum packaging market has expanded at a rapid pace over the past few years and is likely to observe healthy growth over the next few years. Approximately 20% of the product manufacturers have switched to vacuum packaging from conventional packaging options in the past five years. The trend is likely to amplify over the next few years, resulting in the increased demand for vacuum packaging solutions globally. A host of factors can be attributed to the markets remarkable growth trajectory in the past, including the rising consumption of packaged and processed food and rising consciousness about food safety and hygiene among consumers. Factors such as rising household income and the rising inclination to spend for hygienic food are anticipated to bolster the growth of global vacuum packaging market during the forecast period.Transparency Market Research estimates that the global vacuum packaging market, which valued at US$15.0 bn in 2015, will surpass US$22.8 bn by 2024, registering a CAGR of 4.9% between 2016 and 2024.Demand for Polypropylene to Rise at Most Promising PaceOf the key materials used in vacuum packaging, the segment of polyethylene (PE) is expected to dominate the global vacuum packaging market, accounting for over 38% of the overall market by 2016. The segment is also expected to remain the dominant contributor to the revenue of the global vacuum packaging market throughout the forecast period, but witness stagnant growth, registering a 4.6% CAGR over the forecast period.Get Sample PDF file of Vacuum Packaging Market :The rate of growth of the polypropylene (PP) segment is expected to outpace that of the other key material types used for vacuum packaging over the forecast period. The segment is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.7% over the period between 2016 and 2024, and grab a bigger piece of the pie by the end of the forecast period. High-barrier films and extended shelf life of polypropylene packaging are the key factors leading to the materials increased adoption in the vacuum packaging industry. Segments with vinyl content i.e. polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polyvinylidenchloride (PVDC) are estimated to collectively account for over 20% of the market by the end of 2016 and are anticipated to lose 0.5% of their share in the market by 2024.In terms of geography, the market for vacuum packaging in Europe is expected to be the most favorable in terms of incremental opportunities for high revenue generation over the forecast period. The market in Europe is also estimated to dominate the global vacuum packaging market with a 32.4% of the market in 2016, followed by markets in North America and Asia Pacific. Markets in Asia Pacific and North America are highly regulated and are likely to create a substantial demand for vacuum packaging, worth more than US$5.2 mn in 2016, approximately 10% higher than 2015.Over the forecast period, the market in North America is expected to exhibit the most promising growth and gain high traction, registering a healthy CAGR of 5.3% from 2016 through 2024. In North America, US is likely to continue to dominate the market for vacuum packaging. The country does not only consume vacuum packaging in large volumes, but also features the presence of a large number of manufacturers.The market in Middle East and Africa, which is another prominent market for vacuum packaging, is expected to suffer the most prominent loss in terms of incremental opportunities. Consumption of vacuum packaging in Latin America, which presently accounts for a very small share in the global market, on the other hand, is expected to exhibit a 4.9% CAGR over the forecast period, second only to North America.Some of the key players in the global vacuum packaging market are Amcor Limited, Berry Plastics Inc., Bemis Company, Wipak Group, Sealed Air Corporation, and Mondi Group.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: LLP Registration & Annual filing Services enhanced by Corporate CapitalVentures (CCV) http://ccvindia.com/llp-limited-liability-partnership-registration http://ccvindia.com/annual-filing CCV overhauls LLP registration and annual filing services by extending online presence which is an effort to coincide these services with the digital trends. The aim of elevating online presence is to help corporates in registration and compliance management by providing a simpler interface. This corporate structure is a mix of partnership firm and company, providing multiple benefits. LLPs are easy to incorporate with minimum compliance and no capital requirements. There are also no mandatory audits but annual filing with MCA is a compliance that needs to be maintained in form 8 and form 11 by all LLPs annually within 60 days of closure of financial year.LLP is a popular corporate structure best suited for small enterprises because of no capital obligations for registration and minimum compliance requirements. LLP is incorporated with two partners which apply for DPIN and DSC. It is followed by naming the business as per the guidelines after searching for availability on ROC website. LLP() deed or partnership agreement is the constitution stating capital contribution, profit sharing terms, dispute resolution mechanism, etc. With many crucial aspects, legal expertise is needed for careful drafting this document.Every LLP has to maintain annual returns(), profit and loss account, and balance sheet for compliance with statutory requirements. LLP form 8 and form 11 need to be filed annually reflecting state of affairs with MCA. When annual turnover of LLP exceeds Rs 40 lakhs, accounts need to be audited by a qualified CA. Digital signatures (DSC) of partners is required while uploading documents for filing e-forms.CCV is a leading business consultancy for incorporation services, it performs compliance management, business advisory, RBI consultant, SEBI consultant, and merchant banking functions. It is also renowned for FEMA advisory, NFBC compliance, company law advisory, and securities law advisory.CCVIndia Corporate Capital Ventures Pvt. Ltd.160,(Basement),Vinoba Puri,Lajpat Nagar-II,New Delhi-110024Email id:- ccvindiaa@gmail.com Prescription Arthritis Treatments Market - Singapore and Indonesia, Size, Growth and Industry Analysis http://bit.ly/2ePROQz http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Singapore and Indonesia Prescription Arthritis Treatments Market: OverviewArthritis is becoming an extremely common problem in the world today. Although it is commonly used to describe joint pain, there are over 100 different types of arthritis spread across several categories and sub-categories. Arthritis is also not gender dependent; it can happen to anyone and is often a result of negative lifestyle choices. It is a chronic illness that is affecting a large percentage of the geriatric demographic and is highly prevalent in developed economies. Arthritis is in fact one of the leading chronic illnesses affecting the population of the U.S. From the economic perspective, arthritis has an extremely negative impact as it not only impairs able citizens, but also significantly increases the cost to healthcare services. Studies show that close to half of the patients suffering from arthritis are unable to undertake full-time jobs, causing a severe dent in the economic growth rate.Request Sample pages of premium Research Report:The report focuses on the markets for prescription arthritis treatments that exist in Singapore and Indonesia. The two regions have shown a massive increase in their demand for arthritis treatments, boosting the pharmaceutical industrys production rate of prescription drugs for arthritis. Researchers have taken special steps to ensure an all-encompassing report that covers both nations and the current state of prescription arthritis treatments. Based on these current statistics and the ones from the recent past and the trends that are visible, the report provides a pinpoint forecast for the Singapore and Indonesia prescription arthritis treatments market for the coming years.Singapore and Indonesia Prescription Arthritis Treatments Market: Trends and Opportunities:The primary factor driving the Singapore and Indonesia prescription arthritis treatments market is the growing percentage of the geriatric demographic. The elderly are highly prone to arthritis of all types and therefore generally form the leading population segment that is in need of arthritis treatments and therapeutics. The number of elderly in Singapore and Indonesia is not only increasing, but advancements in healthcare outreach have contributed to a greater overall population to be studied and treated.Furthermore, the Singapore and Indonesia prescription arthritis treatments market is also expected to benefit heavily from the growing number of international players paying attention to the Asia Pacific pharmaceutical industry. This increasing number of players, coupled with a growth in the number of innovations and developments occurring in arthritis-based pharmaceuticals, Singapore and Indonesia are expected to show a steady growth rate in their demand for prescription arthritis treatments.Singapore and Indonesia Prescription Arthritis Treatments Market: Region-wise Outlook:Both Singapore and Indonesia show a very high proportion of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis over other types of arthritis. The matter can be further complicated in Indonesia due to high disparities in the national age structure and the high prevalence of other infections. These complications are creating a heavy need for advanced treatments and prescription drugs for arthritis in Singapore and Indonesia. Apart from that, there are also organizations such as the National Arthritis Foundation in Singapore that combat arthritis through increasing awareness and promoting a better level of physical health.Companies Mentioned in the Research Report:Numerous players already exist in the Singapore and Indonesia prescription arthritis treatments market. At the top of the charts are a number of companies that are either globally prominent entities that bring with them high brand value and recognition, and local players that have established themselves long age. This list of key players includes Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis International AG, Pfizer, Inc., Roche, Regeneron, and UCB.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Stretch and Shrink Film Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Growth, Trends Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=9809 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Stretch and Shrink Film Market: SnapshotThe global stretch and shrink films market was valued at US$14.1 bn in 2015 and is projected to reach US$21.1 bn by 2024. The sales revenue is expected to rise at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period, owing to the increased demand for packaged foods and beverages. Over the last few years, the industry has witnessed the emergence of multiple players operating globally. However, Transparency Market Research has found that there is an increasing shift in dynamics towards market consolidation.TMR Predicts Limited Growth for Stretch and Shrink Films in Food and Beverages SectorBy product type, the stretch and shrink films market is led by shrink films and the segment is estimated to be most preferred product type throughout the forecast period owing to the rising applications of light-weight packaging films.GET MORE INFO IN PDF FILE OF : Stretch and Shrink Film Market - (Product Type - Stretch, Shrink; Materials Type - Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), Polypropylene; End-use - Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Electronics, Paper & Textile) : -The low density polyethylene (LDPE) material segment is the leading contributor to the growth of stretch and shrink films market. However, it is projected to lose significant market share to other materials such as PVC, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and polypropylene.Based on end use, the food and beverages sector leads the stretch and shrink films market but is expected to lose market share by the end of the forecast period owing to the mature nature of the industry when it comes to the use of stretch and shrink films.North America, Europe to Lose Market Share to Asia Pacific by 2024On the basis of geography, the global stretch and shrink films market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).Asia Pacific is expected to lead the market throughout the forecast period and also register the fastest growth. The stretch and shrink films markets in North America and Europe are rather mature and are expected to lose a significant share of the global market to Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific offers new opportunities for players engaged in manufacturing stretch and shrink films as the region has been witnessing an increase in investments in the manufacturing sector, rapid pace of urbanization, and rising disposal income. Key players operating in developed stretch and shrink films markets such as North America and Europe are focusing on APAC in order to multiply their revenue by optimally utilizing the cheap resources available in India and several ASEAN countries.Europe is expected to witness sluggish growth over the forecast period. Nevertheless, Germany and France are expected to continue contributing to the overall sales of stretch and shrink films in the region. The presence of organized retail outlets in the region is the key factor driving sales in Europe.In MEA, the sales of stretch and shrink films are expected to witness moderate growth during the forecast period, with most of the demand stemming from GCC countries.Key participants in the stretch and shrink film market include Anchor Packaging, Berry Plastics, AEP Industries Inc., Bemis Company Inc., Dow Chemical Company, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co (DuPont), FUJI Seal International Inc, and Intertape Polymer Group Inc.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Author Frances Fuller Issues An Urgent Message About Syria From Those Who Know Aleppo Author Frances Fuller http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com While Obama ponders four options for intervening in Syria, one them bombing positions of Assads Army, we get pictures of bloody children pulled from the rubble and contradictory messages about who is destroying Aleppo. The truth about what is happening is complicated and hard to know, and what we should do about it is burdened with biases.For these reasons Frances Fuller decided to use her personal contacts and go to those who are the closest to the conflict and have the biggest stake in its outcome. What she tells us has been backed up by Syrian Christians onsite in Aleppo and people in personal contact with others in the city."I have the word of a medical doctor who lives in Western Aleppo that Assad and his partners are trying to rescue the Christians who are threatened with massacre by ISIS, and they, plus many Muslims, stand solidly on his side," Fuller stated."His view corroborates reports from Vanessa Beely, an independent reporter who recently returned from Aleppo. She says that the regime of Bashar al-Assad, supported by Russia, Iran and Hizballah, has regained 65% of the Syrian territory which was occupied by ISIS and is now assaulting the rest, primarily Eastern Aleppo. Meanwhile, ISIS and other rebel groups in Eastern Aleppo lob shells into Western Aleppo while virtually holding hostage a civilian population of more than 200,000 people."Reports in American media that these attacks are coming from Syrian and Russian weapons are not true, according to Beely and my on-the-ground contacts."One of these, a Syrian Christian who lives in Lebanon but travels to Syria frequently and visited two weeks ago with residents of Western Aleppo, observes that the U.S. was largely silent while churches were destroyed, bishops were kidnapped, hundreds of thousands of people were killed or injured, and millions became wandering refugees but is now considering stepping into the conflict. He concludes, as I do, that it is because our own interests are threatened. Our dominance of the region, our status in the world is shaken. In other words, our biases now cloud our judgment. It happens that the U.S. government dislikes every military group that is marching on Aleppo. We dont want any of them, Syria or Iran or Russia or Hizballah, to win."While I also have biases against all of these groups, I know that under the Assads the Christians of Syria have been safe and free. For this reason the Christians have supported the regime in this chaotic conflict."Robert Naiman, policy director at Just Foreign Policy, in a recent article on HuffPost points out that the Obama Administration cannot bomb Syrian government forces without the approval of Congress, because that would be an act of war against another country. Not only is Naiman right about this, but bombing the Syrian government will be an attack on the last hope of the Christian population and, besides that, a foolish risk, unless we would really like to start World War III."When my own biases are put aside, I see clearly that for America to attack the Syrian Army---partially motivated by our distrust of Iran or our dislike for Hizballah or some rivalry with Russia---would be to fight our own wars on Syrian soil, which is immoral to say the least. To hinder anyone from liberating the Christians of Syria and the population of Aleppo will mean fighting on the side of ISIS and be a wicked use of our power and a mistake that will leave us with few friends in the Middle East."Frances Fuller puts a face on the Middle East many Americans have not yet seen. Her award-winning memoir, 'In Borrowed Houses', gives readers a penetrating glimpse of the Middle East from the inside.The Syrian occupation of Lebanon during that countrys long civil war is part of Fullers experience in the Middle East, related in her memoir. Told in short episodes, Fullers book reveals the alienation, confusion and courage of civilians in the Lebanese civil war, introducing to the reader a variety of real people with whom the author interacts: editors, salesmen, neighbors, refugees, soldiers, missionaries, lawyers, shepherds, artists, students. With these people she works, studies, plays games, prays, laughs and cries, all to the accompaniment of gunfire. Together these small stories tell what war is like for civilians caught on a battlefield, and they create the impression of the Lebanese as a fun-loving, witty, patient and resilient people. Fuller's stories compose not a political history, but a historical document of a time and a place.Critics have praised In Borrowed Houses. A judge in the 22nd Annual Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . . Another reviewer described the book as Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this storyfull of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at Payhip. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website.Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.PO Box 1618Shallotte NC 28459 Automated External Defibrillator Market - Global Industry Analysis & Advancement In Medical Technology http://bit.ly/2ePPQQa http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Over the recent years, global automated external defibrillators (AED) have witnessed double digit growth rate owing to the factors such as aging population and rising incidences of various cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, advancement in medical technology and widespread availability of medical services for patients suffering from SCA are some of the major drivers for this market. A Cardiovascular disease such as sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the major disorders affecting the population worldwide.Request Sample pages of premium Research Report:SCA is a condition in which the heart unexpectedly and suddenly stops functioning or beating which ultimately leads to the stoppage of blood supply to the brain and other vital organs. Many patients (about 95%) who suffer from SCA die within a minute. This arrest is due to a disturbed heat rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. To treat such diseases a portable electronic device named Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is used to check the heart rhythm or enable diagnosis of potential life threatening cardiac arrests of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in patients. It works on the principle of application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia by re-establishing an effective rhythm.By technology, the AED market is segmented into Semi-automated and automated external defibrillators. The Implantable/Internal Cardiac Defibrillators segment is one of the largest segments whereas External Cardiac Defibrillators is one of the fastest growing segments. The growth in External Cardiac Defibrillators is due to increased awareness in the US healthcare system. The end-user market for AED consists of Pre-hospitals, Hospitals, Public access and other alternate care market. Among all geographical regions, North America accounts for a larger share of the Global AED market followed by Europe and China. Asia-Pacific region is also one of the fastest growing regions.Some of the major players in this market include Boston Scientific Corporation, Defibtech LLC, Biotronik GmbH & Co. KG, Cardiac Science Corporation, Nihon Kohden Corporation, St. Jude Medical Inc., GE Healthcare Ltd., HeartSine Technologies Inc., Sorin SpA, Medtronic Inc., Welch Allyn and Philips Healthcare.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: